Kotaku Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:40 AM
Save $40 on the Samsung PRO Plus microSD card and boost the storage on your smartphone, camera, drone, gaming console, and much more. The post Samsung PRO Plus 1TB microSD Memory Card With Adapter Is Now $15 Cheaper Than Black Friday Pricing appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:25 AM
IO Interactive is hitting pause on its third-party publishing plans after the open-world debacle The post <i>Hitman</i> Maker Distances Itself From Disastrous <i>MindsEye</i> Launch appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:40 AM Forget Buying a New Desktop, Intel Core Ultra 7 at Its Cheapest Ever Turns Yours Into a 5.5GHz Beast
Amazon's making this killer 20-core processor an absolute steal at just $259, hundreds less than you would pay for an all-new PC tower. The post Forget Buying a New Desktop, Intel Core Ultra 7 at Its Cheapest Ever Turns Yours Into a 5.5GHz Beast appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:13 AM
Despite rumors the show had been canned earlier this year, shooting will begin in January The post Amazon's <i>Tomb Raider</i> TV Series Is Alive, Confirms Sophie Turner As Lara Croft appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:10 AM
This $130 clearance-level bargain is good on all 9 colors of this Bluetooth speaker that has over 30,000 rave reviews at Amazon and puts $50 back in your pocket. The post Amazon Forgot Labor Day Is Over, Still Selling JBL Charge 5 Portable Speaker for Peanuts appeared first on Kotaku. |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:57 AM How long is Hollow Knight Silksong? Team Cherry's long-awaited sequel is finally here, and there's a lot to discover. With over 40 bosses to beat and countless secrets to unearth, progression in Silksong can be different for everyone. Taking a closer look at the size of the Silksong map, most players will get lost occasionally, making it difficult to determine exactly how long the journey in the Metroidvania game will last. As a result, your final completion time depends on how good you are at the game and how much time you spend combing through every path. We can make an educated estimate of how long Hollow Knight Silksong takes to beat, though. Continue reading How long is Hollow Knight Silksong? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hollow Knight Silksong bosses, Hollow Knight Silksong system requirements, Hollow Knight Silksong map |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:45 AM Herman Miller is one of the most high-profile names in office furniture, with its Aeron chair being a favorite for fancy office fit-outs for generations. Given that pedigree, it was no surprise that a company such as Logitech would look to tap into the company's expertise to create some gaming gear. The Herman Miller x Logitech Embody is one part of that collaboration, combining the company's existing Embody chair with some Logitech styling to create a new gaming chair. With Herman Miller's legendary build quality backed by a 12-year warranty, this Logitech-branded chair is certainly one that you can expect to stand the test of time. But, is it actually comfortable, easy to use, and worth its colossally high price? Those are all questions I'll answer in this review. I've spent the last month or so using it as my main desk chair, where it has been standing in for my two regular options, a Herman Miller Aeron and our top recommendation on our best gaming chair guide, the Secretlab Titan Evo, which you can read about in my Secretlab Titan Evo review. Continue reading Herman Miller x Logitech Embody gaming chair review MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Logitech G502 X Plus review, Logitech G Pro X 60 Lightspeed review, Best gaming mouse |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:23 AM What are the best Sims 4 sex mods? Sex mods are a huge market among fans of the life sim - we all want a little more action when our Sims get, uhh, close. Thankfully, the fantastic mod community knows it. There are plenty of varied Sims 4 sex mods that let you tailor your experience in countless ways, from just canoodling in bed to buying a strip club and the altogether more risqué. Plus, of course, getting rid of that pesky mosaic blur. Unsurprisingly, most of the best PC games don't include much hanky-panky. Well, some do, and you'll find them in our list of the best sex games. We all know, meanwhile, that The Sims has always featured relatively subtle WooHoo, but what if you could make it all a little less... vanilla? Well, while some of the best The Sims 4 sex mods are still pretty PG, you'll find features listed here that wouldn't fly on Stardew Valley. There are even naughtier mods for the life sim out there if you want to find them, but here's our list of the best Sims 4 sex mods. Continue reading The best Sims 4 sex mods for PC MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, The Sims 4 cheats |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:09 AM The Metal Gear Solid Delta Steam Deck rating doesn't make for great reading if you're hoping to play this huge remake on the Valve handheld. Ongoing issues with Unreal Engine 5 games on PC and home consoles have been bad enough, but they're further amplified on a handheld such as the Deck. We still rank the Steam Deck as the best gaming handheld your money can buy on our buying guide, even if it is starting to struggle with some of the latest releases. A big reason for this recommendation is the Steam ecosystem and the ease with which SteamOS just works on the device, compared to Windows on a handheld PC. Continue reading Is Metal Gear Solid Detlta Steam Deck compatible? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:20 AM Who are the best characters on the ZZZ tier list? HoYoverse's latest gacha comes with a full roster of playable agents that sport unique abilities, attributes, and combat specialties. With so many characters to choose from, it can be difficult to decide who to add to your team. We've tested each one to bring you a complete and reliable tier list that ensures you're investing your time and level-up materials into the right units. Our expert Zenless Zone Zero tier list is based on the current stats and performance in the latest Zenless Zone Zero update, so be aware these rankings may be subject to change. We regularly update this tier list as new characters are introduced in Zenless Zone Zero banners, so check back for the latest developments in the gacha game. Let's get into the best (and worst) characters in Zenless Zone Zero 2.2. Continue reading ZZZ tier list - best characters in Zenless Zone Zero 2.2 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Zenless Zone Zero review, Zenless Zone Zero codes, Zenless Zone Zero banners |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:37 AM When is The Witcher 4 release date? CD Projekt Red initially confirmed the existence of a new game in The Witcher series via a press release in March 2022 and a title update in October 2022. Following a long wait - one that felt like an eternity for fans of the series - The Witcher 4 was officially revealed at The Game Awards in December 2024 alongside its first trailer. We know that the upcoming open-world game is the first installment in a new trilogy, and sees Ciri take on the role of the protagonist. While CDPR's global PR director had previously hinted the next installment wouldn't be called The Witcher 4, the official reveal trailer has confirmed its position as a direct sequel in the mainline series. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Witcher 4 release date, The Witcher 4 Unreal 5, The Witcher 4 School of the Lynx |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:09 AM The new set of Last Epoch patch notes bring some welcome changes to the ARPG, as Eleventh Hour Games continues to build on its excellent third season. It's hard to find space for all these great loot-chasing games, with Path of Exile 2's Abyssal league underway and the recent early access launch of Titan Quest 2. I'm therefore grateful for any ways to squeeze the most out of my time, and this Last Epoch update does just that, making it easier to get your hands on Season 3's most enticing drops. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Last Epoch review, Last Epoch builds, Last Epoch tier list |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:02 AM If you've read PCGamesN over the past month, you'll already know that I love me a Lord of the Rings game. From Battle for Middle-earth 2 to Tales of the Shire, I'll try anything with a hobbit or dwarf in the mix. There are even parts of Gollum I enjoyed! Not many of them, but the Gandalf and Thranduil designs were excellent. However, the most expansive Lord of the Rings game I've ever played, and the closest to Tolkien's books, is The Lord of the Rings Online. If you were looking for the impetus to jump in, developer Standing Stone Games has just released a bunch of paid content for free. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best free MMOs, Best MMORPGs, Best fantasy games |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:04 AM What are the best Fortnite skins? Everyone has their personal preference, but in the years since the debut of Fortnite, Epic has rolled out tons of iconic original skins and partnered with artists, movies, and TV shows to attract more fans to the multiplayer game. The sheer amount of Fortnite skins is astounding, giving players a near-endless way to express themselves in the battle royale game before they've fired a single shot. Each event and update brings multiple skins to help cosmetic lovers stack up their inventory, and then there are Fortnite Festival skins and Lego Fortnite skins to boot. So, to help you figure out who to buy when they next appear in the Item Shop, here are over 100 of the best Fortnite skins ever. Continue reading The best Fortnite skins September 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 7:43 AM What are the latest Disney Dreamlight Valley codes? We've done some digging to make sure we've got the latest codes available from Gameloft. To celebrate the release of Dreamlight Valley multiplayer, there are two new codes below. The Dreamlight Valley golden potato code was the first to come to the Disney game, and gives you just that, a golden potato. It doesn't even do anything yet, but the exciting news is that it appears to be part of a future Dreamlight Valley quest. The code might no longer be available, but if you still don't have a golden potato, you can pick one up in Scrooge's shop, and notes hidden around the valley suggest that the potato might be put to use any day now. Other codes have since been released with various celebrations and events, and all current Dreamlight Valley codes can be found below. Continue reading All Disney Dreamlight Valley codes September 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dreamlight Valley recpie list, What's the next Dreamlight Valley update?, Disney Dreamlight Valley guide |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 7:13 AM Which characters are in 2XKO? Predicting the final roster isn't as easy to do with the League of Legends spinoff. After all, there are over 140 potential Champions to pick from. Just like League of Legends and Valorant, we're fully expecting Riot to add to their roster of characters in the fighting game every so often. It's difficult to say how long it takes to create a fighter for 2XKO, but if other fighting games are anything to go by, we could expect a new roster addition every few months. The 2XKO release date is set for later this year, giving us plenty of time to analyze and assess the current roster of 2XKO characters and their movesets. Continue reading All 2XKO characters and movesets MORE FROM PCGAMESN: 2XKO release date, LoL tier list , 2XKO characters |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:51 AM Are you stuck with a clicker that keeps letting you down in-game? It's time to switch things up with a brand new Razer gaming mouse upgrade. The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro is on sale right now for just $109.99, giving you a whopping 31% saving on its MSRP. For the price, you're getting a top-spec wireless gaming mouse with a 30K DPI sensor and a decent battery life. Our best gaming mouse guide is filled with Razer recommendations, including the newer and more expensive upgrade to the Basilisk V3 Pro, which you can check out in our Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K review. This OG Basilisk V3 Pro mouse might be older, but it's still a great option for gamers with fantastic specs, and it's now on offer with an even better price attached. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Razer Blade 16 2025 review, Razer DeathAdder V3 review , Best gaming mouse |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:35 AM When is the 2XKO release date? If you ever wondered what a League of Legends 2D fighting game would look like, you're about to find out. Formerly known as Project L, 2XKO was confirmed as the game's official name in early 2024, featuring the likes of Yasuo, Darius, and Braum. Along with the name change, 2XKO has transformed into a 2v2 tag-team fighter, introducing plenty of mechanics that may be familiar to Marvel vs Capcom fans. If you can't wait to learn more about this League of Legends fighting game, here's everything we know about the 2XKO release date so far. Continue reading 2XKO release date estimate, closed beta, characters, and more MORE FROM PCGAMESN: 2XKO release date, LoL tier list , 2XKO characters |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 7:03 AM What are the Zenless Zone Zero banners? If you're looking to expand your roster of playable agents, then wishing on banners is your best bet. These digital gacha machines form the basis of developer HoYoverse's monetization strategy, and they should be instantly familiar to anyone who's dipped into Genshin Impact or Honkai Star Rail. Zenless Zone Zero includes several event banners that offer the chance to pull characters, weapons, and Bangboo. Banners rotate regularly, so it's important to think strategically about whether to spend your ZZZ Polychrome on the current banner, or hold off until the next one. The ZZZ 2.2 banners include brand-new agents that can shake-up your Zenless Zone Zero team comps, so get set to start spending in HoYoverse's urban gacha game. Here's who you can pull in Zenless Zone Zero banners. Continue reading Zenless Zone Zero banners - next, current, and 2.3 banners MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Zenless Zone Zero review, Zenless Zone Zero codes, Zenless Zone Zero banners |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:31 AM Wuxia-inspired MMORPG Sword of Justice has opened pre-registrations for its global launch, and you can grab free rewards for signing up. The Netease-published game delivers a gorgeous experience that offers the immaculate vibes of Ghost of Tsushima in a Chinese setting, and it's already been a huge hit with over 40 million players in its home country. Now, it's coming to the West, and you can put your name down today if you want to be among the first to try its international version. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMOs, Best free MMOs, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:22 AM Who are the Marvel Rivals characters? With any new Marvel game comes playable Marvel characters, and in Netease and Marvel Games' new 6-vs-6 shooter, there are plenty to choose from. Spanning across some of the biggest and best comic book series, you can pick from a growing list of legendary heroes and villains. There are 41 Marvel Rivals characters as of Season 3.5, each bringing their unique flair to the multiplayer game. Check out all the upcoming characters at the bottom of this list to see who's joining the cast in Season 4 and beyond, as well as the latest leaks. Who will you decide to play as in Marvel Rivals in your bid to be the best around? This primer aside, our Marvel Rivals tier list can also help you make that decision. Continue reading All Marvel Rivals characters and full roster MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Marvel Rivals codes, Marvel Rivals characters, Marvel Rivals tier list |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:35 AM September 4, 2025: We added one new ZZZ code and removed three expired codes. What are the new Zenless Zone Zero codes? We love a freebie. Whether it's free Polychrome, Investigator Logs, or Bangboo Algorithm Modules, the latest in-game redemption codes are the fastest, cheapest, and easiest way to get free items while also skipping the gacha grind. With that in mind, we've collected all the latest codes available to redeem right now. HoYoverse periodically release ZZZ codes for their gacha games that coincide with major updates and livestreams, but the developer also loves to stealth drop codes, too. Now that Zenless Zone Zero is finally here, there are a ton of redeem codes waiting for you to scoop up. As our Zenless Zone Zero review attests, there's a lot of currency and materials to gather in the free PC game, so here are all the Zenless Zone Zero codes to get ahead in the latest update. Continue reading ZZZ codes September 2025 and how to redeem MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Zenless Zone Zero review, Zenless Zone Zero codes, Zenless Zone Zero banners |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:24 AM What time does Silksong release? Today's the day! Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to 2017's immensely popular Hollow Knight. We don't use the phrase 'long-awaited' lightly either, since over half a decade has passed since its announcement. Just like its predecessor, Hollow Knight Silksong is a 2D Metroidvania game set in an underground realm inhabited by bugs. You can expect to explore gloomy grottos and ancient citadels in classic platform game style, fight off their quarrelsome occupants, and unlock powerful skills and equipment. Here's the Silksong global release times and a look back at trailers and gameplay during our release countdown. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hollow Knight Silksong bosses, Hollow Knight Silksong system requirements, Hollow Knight Silksong map |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 7:25 AM What is the best PC case? You might think of a case as a purely aesthetic choice, but making the right choice is essential for fitting all your preferred PC parts and getting the performance you want. The best cases can also keep your gaming PC temperatures low, maximising performance, keeping your system stable, and giving you more headroom for overclocking your CPU and GPU. And, yes, they can look great too. The best PC case overall is the Hyte Y70, which combines a stunning wraparound glass-panelled view into your system with fantastic cooling performance. A more affordable yet stylish option is the NZXT H7 Flow, while the microATX NZXT H3 Flow is great for compact budget builds. For more options, including large E-ATX and tiny mini-ITX models, read on below. If you want some further guidance on your PC case choice, check the how to choose a PC case section at the bottom of this guide, and browse the FAQ that answers all your PC case questions. Continue reading Best PC case 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 7:15 AM When is the Dreamlight Valley Wishblossom Ranch release date? We went on a treacherous adventure with Jafar with A Rift in Time before being split between Maleficent and Hades in The Storybook Vale. Now, a less dramatic and far more sweet Dreamlight Valley expansion is on the way with Wishblossom Ranch. The next Dreamlight Valley update may be bringing more familiar faces from Beauty and the Beast back to the valley, but a new expansion set to arrive later this year is adding a huge amount of new content to the life game, including characters, companions, and even mounts. Like A Rift in Time and Storybook Vale before it, we expect Wishblossom Ranch to be a paid DLC, and here's everything we know about it so far, including the next Dreamlight Valley DLC release date window. Continue reading Dreamlight Valley Wishblossom Ranch DLC release date window MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dreamlight Valley recpie list, What's the next Dreamlight Valley update?, Disney Dreamlight Valley guide |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:00 AM When was the ZZZ 2.2 release date? The latest update for Zenless Zone Zero has finally arrived, and it's time to look ahead to what awaits us in version 2.2. If you've been saving up your Polychrome, we've got a full itinerary of everything coming to HoYoverse's urban fantasy in the next few weeks. ZZZ 2.2 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' is the latest update to hit the gacha game, and it picks up right after the Miasmic Fiend's defeat in Zenless Zone Zero's last update. This update shines a spotlight on Obol Squad, particularly Isolde and Seed, now that TOPS has been put in its place. We've also got an early look at upcoming characters set to make a mark on our Zenless Zone tier list, new locations, and more. Continue reading ZZZ 2.2 release date, banners, characters, events, and story MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Zenless Zone Zero review, Zenless Zone Zero codes, Zenless Zone Zero banners |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:33 AM What's the complete Read or Not missions list? The situation in Los Sueños is volatile, to say the least, as violent crime surges across the city. Placed into the tactical boots of LSPD Commander David 'Judge' Beaumount, it's your job to crack down on crime and return Los Sueños to a peaceful state. Ready or Not's single-player Commander mode features 18 missions in the base game, plus six more through DLC. Your first playthrough of the tactical FPS game should take around ten hours, though you'll quickly ramp up your playtime if playing on hard mode or if you're trying to rack up S-rank mission scores. Read on for the complete Ready or Not missions list. Continue reading Full Ready or Not missions list - all main and DLC levels MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ready or Not missions list, Best Ready or Not mods, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:21 AM Every week I write about Minecraft, and every week I come away incredulous. How players can transform the simple blocks into remarkable structures is passé at this point, as they are now diving into the code and modifying the game on a fundamental level. The latest impressive feat that I've stumbled across is that someone has created a working mirror in the game, thanks to the addition of mannequins in the latest snapshot. There's a bit of trickery involved, but the result is magnificent. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:31 AM September 4, 2025: We added one new Once Human code and removed two expired codes. What are the latest Once Human codes? There are times in all of our gaming lives when we need a little bit of help. Call it a handout, a freebie, call it whatever you like, but receiving a gift occasionally is lovely - and vital when there are eldritch abominations around each corner, ready to turn you into their next meal. Whether you're just starting off in Nalcott or working towards the last of the Once Human bosses, you could always use a little help. As with many free PC games, Once Human offers redemption codes to give you a boost. The Once Human codes below can help you fill your coffers without having to spend hours collecting resources and risking your life outside your cozy home base. Continue reading Once Human codes and how to redeem MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best open-world games, Best survival games |
PCGamesN Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:10 AM September 4, 2025: The GTA 6 release date is still on track according to the latest news from Rockstar Games and Take-Two. When is GTA 6 coming out? Given how many years it takes to create open worlds of the same caliber as GTA 5, it's no surprise that Rockstar Games has already spent years developing GTA 6. Rockstar prefers to keep its secrets close to its chest until close to the end of development, but Take-Two has now confirmed when exactly we can expect it to arrive. The Grand Theft Auto 6 release date has certainly been a long time coming. Early gameplay leaks of GTA 6 surfaced online last year, along with lines of source code and development footage for the open-world game. There have been plenty of rumors and speculation surrounding the release date since then, but we finally have confirmation of the GTA 6 release date, story, and setting. Here's all the latest on GTA 6, including trailers and news, right here on PCGamesN. Continue reading GTA 6 release date and time, trailers, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GTA 6 release date, GTA 6 map, GTA 6 soundtrack |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:33 AM  Content warning for discussion of mass killings, sexual assault and sectarian hatred. Very early on in Hell Is Us, you come to a village that might as well be titled "War Crimes Theme Park". |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:09 AM  After rapidly declaring that they were looking into action the other day, Helldivers 2 developers Arrowhead have released a hotfix aiming to rectify some of the crashing that's affected players diving Into the Unjust. Unlike the giant worms I've still seen hide nor mandible of, it didn't take the studio long to address reports of an uptick in technical issues for the shooter following the update's arrival on Tuesday. Here's hoping that these fixes'll help keep thing a bit more stable. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 4, 2025 7:29 AM  Roblox will roll out selfie-based "facial age estimation technology" as a mandatory requirement for all of its players, as part of efforts to "limit communications" between minors and adults they don't know. The corporation behind the massive game filled with smaller games, many of which are made by young people, say they aim to bring in this measure by the end of 2025. The news is part of a "long-term" vision for child safety in the wake of the US state of Louisiana's lawsuit against Roblox Corporation over child safety concerns, with Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill accusing the game of being a "overrun with harmful content and child predators". |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:57 AM  Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel's funky cat breeder Mewgenics has meandered back into the kitchen and emitted the first in a series of informative meows that'll build up to its release next year. McMillen has revealed that "all the big important bits" are now sorted, and to celebrate, has released a 50 minute-long video playthrough. Mewgenics has been in development for a while, but efforts to finally have it emerge from the carrier have really begun to click into place this year. There have been a couple of trailers and the decision to push the release date back to February 10th, 2026, allowing Binding of Isaac developer McMillen and Glaiel more time to polish their strange fur baby. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:57 AM  Thanks to a combination of datamining and public paperwork, we know that Valve are working on, have recently been working on, or are vaguely interested in working on a thick catalogue of different PC hardware. Besides a long-rumoured Steam Machine successor, we've also seen evidence of an all-in-one VR headset – codenamed Deckard – and a new take on the Steam Controller, while preliminary tinkerings with a Steam Deck 2 are likely underway even with Valve's warnings that it's a few years off. Now, it looks like one of these has a name: the Steam Frame. |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:41 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:41 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:40 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:39 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:38 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:38 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:37 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:37 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:37 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:36 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:35 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:35 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:35 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:34 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:34 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:33 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:32 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:32 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:31 AM  |
Twinfinite Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:30 AM  |
Siliconera Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:00 AM
Furyu has a habit of making games that feel heavily inspired by Atlus' Persona titles to varying degrees of success. Usually, it's a little more of a lose representation and homage, even though you can clearly see how Shin Megami Tensei or similar series inspired it. With Varlet, the company's latest JRPG, it not only is its weakest attempt, but it also pulls so strongly from Persona 4 that it feels like it lacks an identity.
I first started to bring these constant similarities Varlet shares with Persona 4 in my preview. Our character can't stay at home with his family, so he's temporarily shipped off to live with his absentee uncle and cousin. (She's older than him, rather than younger like Nanako.) Immediately in his class, he befriends a girl with short hair in a green jacket with a Chie-like personality and a boy with Yosuke-sort of inferiority and easygoing traits and a similar orange sort of color scheme. They learn that people are getting trapped (or tossed) into the Midnight Channel-like Glitch dungeons, where they are trapped with Desires (Shadows) who attack them. Since our avatar and his two instant friends end up in his cousin's Student Support Services group at the school, they essentially decide to make it their mission to save folks from those Glitches, starting with the idol (with a pink color scheme and hime style aesthetic like Yukiko) who gets chucked into one of these dungeons.
While at least ensuing SSS members aren't as Persona 4 coded in Varlet, the concept is all incredibly familiar in a way that I feel keeps the JRPG from seeing any story or character-based redemption. That's because so many other elements don't really feel like they add much to the experience or are handled as well as Atlus or other modern-setting titles. Things constantly feel middling and bland, even compared to past Furyu titles. While it also attempts to touch on issues that high school students would deal with, like bullying and burnout, it's so surface level that it doesn't really explore any of them in a fashion that makes it feel like they matter. The Caligula Effect 2 is better at handling those sorts of social issues.
For example, Varlet really wants to follow the Persona 4 daily life sort of pattern and style. However, there's no real freedom. When we go through the different periods of the day, there are no moments in class when we'll need to act or answer questions. There are no after-school clubs or substories that feel meaningful, even though we can go through Character Episodes by "heading home" with SSS members after class. We do get Trust Points that are used to improve their abilities. But I felt like these episodes weren't as well fleshed out as any Persona Social Links or even the scenarios found in Furyu's Caligula Effect. Since we can't see them all, it's best to only focus on folks we use in battles. Also, there's no "life" outside of seeing the story scenes, doing some running around in the Kousei Academy to do some busywork for "likes," and heading into Glitch dungeons. You don't really talk or interact with anyone else. You don't take on after school jobs or experience town. You read, wander a courtyard, go into the current chapter's major Glitch dungeon when it comes up at story related points, then repeat.
Said Glitch expeditions in Varlet also aren't as interesting or engaging as the Persona 4 Midnight Channel dungeons, by the way. So that doesn't offer a reprieve or motivation. There are very few Desire enemy types. The Glitches all tend to look the same. There are no real challenging puzzles when exploring. Even the battles themselves aren't any trouble, especially after you recruit the idol Aruka, who becomes your healer after recovering her from that initial Glitch. While there are attempts to make the turn-based fights more interesting by watching the timeline to see when people might attack, stun enemies, combo with allies, and trigger a Blitz Mode for what sort of feels like the Varlet take on Persona 4 All Out Attacks, it's all just so easy and unsatisfying.
Even the one unique element to Varlet ends up feeling poorly implemented. The game begins with a quiz to assess your personality, which then assigns you points in the Altruism, Morality, and Sympathy Light Triad and Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy Dark Triad stats. Yes, getting certain numbers in these can mean you get different response options in conversations or boosts to certain types of attacks and abilities. But at the same time, I didn't find them all that influential. I did some save scumming and there were times when selecting different dialogue options didn't make all that big of a difference. It didn't feel meaningful in the way I hoped.
The same goes for the non-scripted SSS Activities segment that happen each day. It almost feels more like that's an excuse to wander around an open, not-hostile space in the JRPG, since there aren't exploration opportunities otherwise. Students there? They won't talk to you. You can collect their information, just like in Caligula Effect, but it's far less interesting than that since it isn't like they'll become allies or matter to you. You might find a Glitch to head into, be tasked with placing an ad in one of the few designated, unchanging spots, or have a moment where your response could boost one of your Light or Dark Triad stats. But I didn't enjoy the flavor text conversations from the folks there and there are no meaningful rewards from actually attending these SSS sessions.
The only things that I found really memorable were some of Varlet's design elements, as it is a Furyu JRPG with great music and cool looking characters. Ema and Taiga especially look great. And when everyone transforms when they enter into a Glitch, their in-combat costumes can be very inventive and unique. Due to the nature of its design, it also looks and runs quite well on the Switch. But then, it isn't the most intensive game, so it would be disappointing if it didn't.
Varlet suffers from a lack of originality and meaningful activities, and the JRPG relies too heavily on concepts from Persona 4. It's so bland and hollow compared to other Furyu games, with even The Caligula Effect titles doing a better job of telling a story, offering engaging gameplay, and showing off original characters and concepts. The battles are boring and involve repeated types of enemies. Most characters feel like folks we've seen before. There's no real sense of exploration, as the SSS activities are basic, and I didn't feel like I connected to anyone in its version of "social links." Even if you enjoy Furyu JRPG releases, this might be one you may want to skip in favor of replaying one of The Caligula Effect games again instead.
Varlet is available on the PS5, Switch, and PC.
The post Review: Varlet Borrows too Heavily From Persona 4 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:48 AM
The Emotional Rescue update in Disney Dreamlight Valley has brought with it a fresh Star Path event packed with loads to tackle and earn. The Retro Roadtrip Star Path is a big one, with plenty of duties you can complete for rewards.
Like all Star Path events, this one comes with quite a few tricky tasks to solve. You need to get all of them done if you want to earn the many prizes available, though, so here are all the Retro Roadtrip Star Path duties and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
All Retro Roadtrip Star Path duties in Disney Dreamlight Valley
There are 73 duties you can complete throughout the entirety of the Retro Roadtrip Star Path event. This event also has a new feature called routine duties, which are some additional tasks that unlock weekly, so there are also some additional missions to get done as the event progresses.
Here are all of the main duties you can complete in the Retro Roadtrip Star Path event.
All Retro Roadtrip Star Path routine duties in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The Retro Roadtrip Star Path is the first event to feature routine duties. These are fresh missions that unlock weekly every Wednesday at 8am CT. Throughout the course of the event, there will be five sets of routine duties to finish, so we'll add them here as they become available.
Week one
Week two
Week three
All Retro Roadtrip Star Path rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The Retro Roadtrip Star Path has six pages of event rewards plus three bonus ones if you manage to claim all of the standard prizes. The bonus rewards are mostly just recolors of the standard items, but the grand prize is the Cozy Cone Motel, so it's certainly worth getting all tasks done to claim it.
Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!
The post All Retro Roadtrip Star Path duties and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:28 AM
The next expansion pass for Disney Dreamlight Valley has been unveiled, and it promises to bring plenty of exciting content to the village. If you're eager to start exploring Wishblossom Ranch, you may want to review the patch notes to learn everything it includes.
Expansion passes always come with a wide variety of fresh content to explore, and it can often be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin and making sure you don't miss anything. To ensure you're ready to dive in, here are the early patch notes for the Wishblossom Ranch DLC in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
All Wishblossom Ranch features in Disney Dreamlight Valley
New characters
Snow White and Tinker Bell are confirmed to be featured in this DLC. According to the official Steam page for this expansion, there are four characters featured in this pack, so two of them are currently a mystery.
Maximus from Tangled is also in this pack, but he's an interactive horse, not a full-on character. The identities of the other two characters haven't been revealed yet, although we do know that one of them is a villain.
At around three seconds into the official Wishblossom Ranch trailer, you can see the two other biomes featured in this pack way off in the distance. One of them has stacks of honey pots, perhaps hinting that Winnie the Pooh or another character from this world could be one of the characters joining this DLC.
As for the villain, all we know so far is that they're someone who left the ranch in a state of decay. It could be the Evil Queen to go with Snow White, Cruella, since she's known for being mean to animals, or perhaps even Hans, as the main biome does give off some serious Frozen vibes.
Horse mounts
Horses are a central focus point in Wishblossom Ranch, and they add several new abilities to the world of DDV. The main feature is the addition of mounts, as all horses can be ridden. The wording in the trailer makes it seem like this feature could perhaps go beyond even horses, but they're the only confirmed mounts so far.
We can also feed, brush, pet, and otherwise care for Horses with a fresh interaction system. While riding Horses, you can still perform all kinds of important tasks like gardening, mining, and cleaning. Some of the Horses we'll meet are iconic ones from Disney films, like Maximus from Tangled, but there's also one you can freely customize.
New biomes
Wishblossom Ranch is divided into three unique biomes, granting plenty of fresh space to explore and decorate. This world seems to be quite vast, but luckily we'll have some helpful mounts to make travel a lot quicker.
New critters
DLC packs always come with an array of new critters you can unlock as Companions. The trailer prominently featured a Goose, so this is likely one of them. Considering the emphasis on animal interaction in this pack, it's possible critters might have a bit more to them than we expect, as the Goose seems to be a bit more important than the usual animals.
New recipes, ingredients, forageables, and other items
The vast new world of Wishblossom Ranch comes with plenty of new items to unlock, including recipes, ingredients, crops, and likely much more. The trailer showed off quite a few new crops being watered while on horseback. There are likely several other important items we haven't seen yet, like Gems and other similar items that can usually be found around all unique worlds.
New storyline and quests
A fresh story to unravel and many unique quests to tackle are featured in this pack. The ranch has fallen into a state of disrepair thanks to the mysterious villain we have yet to unmask, and it's up to you to get things fixed and running again. All characters included in this DLC will also come with their own quests to tackle.
When does Wishblossom Ranch release in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
An official release date for the Wishblossom Ranch DLC hasn't been unveiled yet, but it's confirmed to launch sometime in November 2025. There's a DDV showcase scheduled for Oct. 15, when we will learn much more about this pack and likely get an official launch date.
Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!
The post Disney Dreamlight Valley Wishblossom Ranch early patch notes – Snow White, Horses, mounts, and more appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:27 AM
It is eerily quiet this morning, Destructoid, with a vast majority of the internet waiting for one thing: the launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong at 9am CT. There isn't a drop of news or things to discuss as the whole internet waits for peak to launch.
It's essentially a waiting game as we await one of the most anticipated indie game releases ever, and it's already being considered a Game of the Year contender before its release. That goes to show the immense hype and expectation surrounding this title, which is being felt worldwide after a seven-year wait.
It doesn't help that the game is not only $20, making it one of the cheapest and most affordable games on the market right now despite its hype, but it's also going to be a day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass, allowing a multitude of people to play the game at a cheap entry point.
So, while I and others wait to jump into the game and content creators wait to try and speed run to the final boss to get those sweet, sweet views and monetization points, how are you handling the morning wait for one of the biggest games of the year, Destructoid? Are you at work and won't be able to play till later? Are you passing the time playing other games? What are you doing to gear up for what is probably going to be a very long weekend of gaming?
It's hard even to process that this is coming out so suddenly, considering a month ago I was at Gamescom playing a demo for the first time in five years at the Xbox booth, and now we have a release date that has really come out of nowhere. The lines at Gamescom for what was a tiny booth offering were also unreal, and you had to be there to see it.
For me, I'll be planning coverage for the game on-site while I await the launch later on in the day, but I know other people have plans or coping mechanisms to prepare themselves for the release. So, let me know in the comments below what you plan to do, because by 9am CT, I know I won't be able to see anyone else for a while, as we all play what I hope will be a fantastic indie game that was well worth the wait. Bring on Silksong! Meme no more!
The post This morning is the calm before the Silksong storm—how are you spending it? appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, September 4, 2025 3:40 AM
Tackle Shiny Chi-Yu and stock up on Herba Mystica
It's been a fun summer for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet fans, as Game Freak has offered up Shiny versions of the Treasures of Ruin Legendary quartet for players to take on. The catch, however, is that Trainers cannot catch them, but if the community manages to take down a million of each, then a Mystery Gift will be offered with a Shiny version of the Pokémon featured.
Thankfully, so far, players have demolished three of the four Pokémon, and now it's the turn of Shiny Chi-Yu. It seems very likely that Scarlet & Violet players will meet the threshold, but if you're still regularly ploughing through Paldea, you will still want to take part, not only to do your part, but also because this is a very easy way to farm Herba Mystica. The Legendary Pokémon drop many items, such as Exp Candy, and Herba Mystica have a very good chance of being among the prizes offered.
So, here's the quickest and most reliable way to take down Shiny Chi-Yu and ensure we all get the Mystery Gift distribution, and you get some Herba Mystica in the process.
How to take down Shiny Chi-Yu Tera Raids in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
First up, Chi-Yu is Dark and Fire-type, making it 2x weak to Water, Fighting, and Ground. It also has the ability Beads Of Ruin, which reduces the Special Defense of every Pokémon on the field except for itself. So, either bring a Pokémon with high Special Defense, or think of ways to increase your Defense throughout the battle.
Chi-Yu backs up its Ability with a huge 135 Special Attack, plus it can use Heat Wave, which has a chance to Burn your Pokémon. So, bringing a Pokémon immune to Burn would be ideal. One such Pokémon is Araquanid, which uses the ability Water Bubble to completely resist the Burn status effect.
Other things to focus on are Pokémon that lower defense, such as Hisuian Samurott and Razor Shell. Plus, Hisuian Samurott has the hidden ability Sharpness, which increases the power of slicing moves by 50%, adding even more punch to Razor Shell.
Finally, you can use Pokémon that resist both types, such as Azumarill and the classic Belly Drum tera Raid strategy, or Quaqaval. While Ursaluna completely ignores the Burn status effect with the Ability Guts, while also hits for Super Effective attacks thanks to the Ground typing.
So, here are the best Pokémon to quickly and efficiently take down Shiny Chi-Yu in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Tera Raids.
The post Best Shiny Chi-Yu raid build and counters in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, September 4, 2025 2:26 AM
NBA 2K26 continues to receive improvements in the advanced access period, and v1.2 will iron out plenty of bugs that continue to be within the game.
As of now, this patch doesn't include any gameplay alterations, but that can change with a hotfix. Visual Concepts also continues to monitor the problems around crossplay, which seems to remain messy. However, this update is pretty important, and especially for those who are grinding The City part of MyCareer.
Complete NBA 2K26 v1.2 patch notes
According to Visual Concepts, a bigger patch will be released in the future ahead of Season 2. However, there's plenty of time left before that can happen. In the meantime, players will have to rely on these smaller patches to escape from the bugs that have plagued them till now.
While there are no gameplay tweaks to report, here's the remaining set of changes to expect once the update goes live.
THE CITY
MyCAREER
MyTEAM
MyGM
Just like v1.1, v1.2 will be going live initially on the current-gen consoles of Xbox and PlayStation, before being added to other platforms. The update goes live at 2am PT/4am CT on Sept. 4, and it should automatically download on your console.
Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!
The post NBA 2K26 v1.2 patch notes – The City bug fixes and more appeared first on Destructoid. |
iDev Games Feed Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:58 AM Long live HULK HOGAN... |
MonsterVine Thursday, September 4, 2025 9:00 AM With the Switch 2's launch, Street Fighter 6's last season two character, Elena, has finally been revealed and released in tandem with a Switch 2 version of the game. What this also meant was that news about Season Three would not be far behind. Many anxious fans got their wish granted in short order at […] |