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Sep 23, 18:00


GamersHeroes Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:38 PM
    

Acclaim, Inc. announced that Fer Factor's Dreamcast love letter Tossdown will participate in this year's Gamathon Nigeria event.

The post Dreamcast Love Letter Tossdown Part of Gamathon Nigeria appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:21 PM
    

EA SPORTS FC 26 is a fantastic football package. Not only is this the best the franchise has looked in years, its nuanced yet worthwhile gameplay improvements keep every match fresh and exciting.

The post EA SPORTS FC 26 Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:10 PM
    

Paying host to high-octane 3v3, 4v4 or even 5v5 matches since its launch earlier this year, Season 1 of Sloclap's online action footballer Rematch brings with it crossplay, 3v3 ranked, and more.

The post Action Footballer REMATCH Season 1 Live appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Tuesday, September 23, 2025 2:51 PM
    

A brand-new creature-collecting farming sim, Pocketpair has announced their new Palworld spinoff Palworld: Palfarm.

The post Palworld: Palfarm Spinoff Announced appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:34 PM
    

The newest arc in the ongoing Borg Multiversal War awaits with today's release of Arc Games and DECA Games' Star Trek Online: Unleashed for the PC.

The post Star Trek Online: Unleashed Now Available on PC appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:51 PM
    

Borderlands 4 is easily the best entry since the hallowed Borderlands 2, reclaiming its title as the best looter shooter in the biz.

The post Borderlands 4 Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:07 PM
    

The next season of Team Jade's action-packed shooter Delta Force, dubbed "War Ablaze," is finally here.

The post Delta Force New Season "War Ablaze" Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:35 AM
    

Super Evil Megacorp's radical roguelike adventure Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is getting that much bigger with the inclusion of Metalhead September 30.

The post Metalhead Joining Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate September 30 appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:43 PM
    

A Steam page display's a user's collection.

Valve just gave SonixLegend an achievement for owning over 40,000 Steam games

The post This Player Just Won Steam After Buying More Games Than Anyone Else Ever appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:21 PM
    

The Mega Charizard X ex card is coming in the Phantasmal Flames set in November

The post This Incredible Mega Charizard Card Is About To Set The <em>Pokémon</em> Collecting World On Fire appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:12 PM
    

Pokemon Card

This pack's a great way to kick off your Pokemon card collection.

The post This Official 50-Pack of Pokemon Cards Sells for $0.10 Each, Amazon Is Liquidating Its Inventory appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:58 PM
    

Dji Mini 4k

It's one of the few DJI drones that fly free of FAA rules.

The post DJI Is Clearing Out Its Summer Stock of Mini 4K Drones, Prices Back to Black Friday Lows appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 2:23 PM
    

Boomer shooters like Forgive Me Father 2, Nightmare Reaper, Wizodrum, Dusk, and many more on sale as part of the Boomstock event

The post A Whole Bunch Of Awesome Shooters Are Cheap Right Now On Steam appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:44 PM
    

Logitech G305

This mouse is the secret weapon you need to dominate every game.

The post Logitech Is Selling Off the Final Stock of G305 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse, Now Going for Pennies appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:28 PM
    

Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar

Minecraft steals the spotlight from Star Wars and Harry Potter.

The post The LEGO Minecraft Advent Calendar Is Selling for Pennies, but Only if You Buy Early appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:20 PM
    

Watch Dogs Movie

According to lead actor Tom Blyth, this movie is 'very film'

The post <i>Watch Dogs</i> Movie Still Exists, Is 'Not The Game,' Says Star appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:15 PM
    

Bluettiac70

Save 45% on the BLUETTI AC70 power station to kick of the Fall.

The post This BLUETTI Portable Power Station Is Almost 50% Off, A Discount You Didn't Even See on Last Prime Day appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:08 PM
    

Bandit looks at his TV.

The Star Wars channel is getting more expensive just a week after bending the knee to Trump

The post Disney Chose A Wild Time To Hike Everyone's Subscription Prices appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:57 PM
    

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora's upcoming DLC will be connected to the new movie arriving in theaters in December

The post Ubisoft's Overlooked <i>Avatar</i> Game Is Getting New DLC Two Years After Launch appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:20 PM
    

Baseus100wcharger

Amazon has the Baseus 100W USB-C charger going for a record 40% off.

The post Baseus 100W USB-C Charger Block Drops Below Prime Day Pricing and Lets You Charge More Devices at Once Almost Free appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:07 PM
    

Trump talking into a microphone

The president held a press conference to try to link the painkiller to a condition that predates the brand

The post The Internet Reacts To Trump Claiming Tylenol Causes Autism appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:38 AM
    

Plus: A Sonic song is still in legal limbo, a new Palworld game is coming, and we get a small update on Stardew Valley 1.7

The post Costco Seems To No Longer Be Selling Xbox Games Or Consoles appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:10 AM
    

Logitechsuperlight2

Amazon has the Logitech G Pro X SuperLight 2 gaming mouse on sale for 28% off for a limited time.

The post Logitech G's Gaming Mouse Trusted by League of Legends Pros Hits Record Low After Several Price Drops appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:36 AM
    

The main character of Faros kneels on the ground.

The 35-minute showcase will include a new look at Housemarque's Saros

The post PlayStation Announces Mercifully Short State Of Play For Tomorrow appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:14 AM
    

Blockblaster

BlockBlasters drained the wallet of Raivo Plavnieks as he tried to raise money for treatment

The post A Crypto Malware 'Game' On Steam Stole $32,000 From Cancer-Stricken Streamer appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:10 AM
    

Kamruiminipc

This KAMRUI mini PC has come down to all-time low for a limited time at Amazon.

The post The 2025 Enhanced Ryzen 5 Gaming Mini PC Just Hit Its Lowest Price, Over 2x Cheaper Than Mac Mini appeared first on Kotaku.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:00 PM
    

Blending Cities Skylines' building with Civilization 7's historical focus, Celestial Empire is out right now, and it's absolutely beautiful.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:00 PM
    

Starfield is a sci-fi RPG supernova, and this new IP just hit its lowest price, so don't miss this huge discount worthy of the stars..


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 2:00 PM
    

After a difficult early access launch, Stormgate CEO Tim Morten breaks down exactly what went wrong, and what he would do differently.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:54 PM
    

Here's how long it takes to beat Silent Hill f, the standalone horror game in the Silent Hill franchise, taking into account the game's tough puzzles.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:49 PM
    

A list of all Silent Hill f voice actors and their roles, for both the English and Japanese version of the latest Silent Hill game.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:27 PM
    

Developer Steel Balalaika has admitted that anti-cheat is a "top priority," but players will have to wait for it to be implemented.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:22 PM
    

The most useful Silent Hill f Omamori can help you in tricky combat situations, when you're struggling, or even just as you explore.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:16 PM
    

Delta Force has revealed some ambitious new features and upgrades for Year 2 as it braces for Battlefield 6 and Escape From Tarkov 1.0.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:10 PM
    

All the latest news on the next Valorant Night Market, including how it works, eligible skins, and how to access your exclusive offers.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:01 PM
    

FSR 4 upscaling has been made to run on older AMD RNDA 2 and 3 graphics cards, with better graphics and only a small drop in performance.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:00 PM
    

Arthurian roguelike Sworn challenges for Hades' crown days before Supergiant's sequel launches, but can Celtic myth beat the Greek pantheon?


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:49 AM
    

To help you find the correct Ema to unlock the Silent Hill f Shrine Path gate, we're here to walk you through the full Otherworld puzzle.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:41 AM
    

Fans will finally be able to face off in a 2D fighter with their favorite League of Legends champions when 2XKO, formerly Project L, arrives.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:23 AM
    

The Dark Shrine is riddled with tough puzzles trying to stall your progress, and the Silent Hill f altar puzzle is one of the first.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:02 AM
    

2XKO is almost here after years of waiting, and League of Legends' brawler cousin aims to hit the ground running with a packed Season 0.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:15 AM
    

Owlcat's Dark Heresy is shaping up to be the Warhammer 40k CRPG I've always dreamed of, as well as Baldur's Gate 3's first real rival.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:17 AM
    

She's no Pyramid Head, but, as one of the hardest bosses in the game, the Silent Hill f Rinko Otherworld form is a tough enemy to take down.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:17 AM
    

All the best mods we've seen in Cyberpunk 2077, from adding a revenge system for gangs, to including weapons from the Edgerunners series.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:15 AM
    

With another Dreamlight Valley update always on the way, new Disney and Pixar faces join the valley every few weeks, and here's who's next.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:53 AM
    

With electric-assisted lumbar support adjustment, Libernovo claims this new office chair is ultra comfortable and will massage your spine.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:26 PM
    

As someone who loves playing archers and always specs into lightning when it comes to magic, I can't wait to play Erenshor's new class.


PCGamesN Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:47 AM
    

Following the recent remake, players are wondering if there will be a Silent Hill f Game Pass release so that they can test the game.


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:26 PM
    

With Marathon having received an indefinite delay back in June, that just leaves one game to test whether extraction shooters can make it mainstream: Arc Raiders. While this one has been cooking for a while now, it actually has a release date, October 30th. There's been a few tests along the way, and it turns out the devs have one last one in them!

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:05 PM
    

Fancy a kickabout? After launching in the much warmer June (why is it already so cold, it's only bloody September), Rematch has finally received its first proper season, elevating it into a true, blue live service game. This comes with, as you may have guessed, a season pass, which comes with a pair of themes for your football stadium, one being iceberg oriented, the other providing a volcanic atmosphere, alongside some new cosmetics too.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:57 PM
    

Another day, another Baldur's Gate 3 hotfix, this one being number 34, or version 4.1.1.6931813 of the game if you really want to be specific. There's a number of fixes we'll get to in a minute, but first the thing you're probably most excited to hear: it has a native Steam Deck build now! Developer Larian Studios shared word of this change in a Steam news post today, and what exactly it means for you.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:01 PM
    

Ananta is a bit of an alarming game to look at. The open world game is so clearly an anime-esque riff on GTA, with some Spider-Man style web swinging thrown in for reasons I'm not entirely sure of. All of that's been obviously more or less since its announcement. But the game just received its first gameplay trailer at Tokyo Game Show, and it looks scarily… expensive.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:52 AM
    

Earlier this year, I had a good old time with Jump Space (née Ship)'s Steam Next Fest demo, in part because the demo's spaceship crewing and on-foot FPSing seemed to be in better technical shape than previous jaunts into the starry wastes. The bad news is that in the light of a full early access release, it's become easier to spot the cracks in the hull and the improperly fastened screw heads in the life support system. The good news? It's still good enough at inducing a high-fiving co-op buzz that I am, at the very least, willing to give it the time to tighten up.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:40 AM
    

This week, a streamer attempting to raise money for their own cancer treatment instead lost $32,000 to malware added to a new Steam game after release. The Steam game, BlockBlasters, has now been yanked from sale, and the malware distributors reportedly identified and confronted by free-roaming cybersecurity nerds. The streamer in question, RastalandTV, has also been compensated for the theft. It's a happier ending than you often get from malware infection stories, and a reminder to be wary of random free games on Steam.

Read more


Twinfinite Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:53 AM
    
Check out our article for the latest news on Azure Latch codes!

Siliconera Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:00 PM
    

TGS Trailer Shows What's New in Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake

Square Enix shared a new Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake trailer ahead of TGS 2025, and this time the focus is on what's new in the games. The four minute video starts by looking at the first title. Then, at about one minute into it, we get to see what was added into both the first and second entry. Toward the end, footage includes segments looking at the newly added Princess of Cannock in the second game.

Things in the video begins by showing off Dragon Quest I. The trailer mentions the new characters, dungeons, and story elements. It also showed battles aren't just one versus one anymore. After introducing Sigils, it starts talking about elements added to both games. These Sigils can affect actions in battles, adding new attacks, instead of just being a story item in both. Scrolls appear here and in the first game now, however only certain allies can learn them in the second game. Mini Medals are hidden away in both games too. Dragon Quest II also takes players to the Ocean Floor area for the first time, with a new storyline there. Memories of the World are also on the Ocean Floor. Finally, things wrap up with a look at the Princess of Cannock, who will be a playable ally for the first time. 

Here is the full TGS 2025 Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake trailer that shows what's new in the compilation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMAjBWGdatA

Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake will come to the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on October 30, 2025, and TGS 2025 runs September 25-28, 2025.

The post TGS Trailer Shows What's New in Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:00 PM
    

Atlus Makes Persona 3 Manga Volume 1 Free

Atlus announced on social media that people can get the English and French versions of volume 1 of the Persona 3 manga for free via the Reload website as of September 23, 2025. It noted it is a gift to thank people for their support. However, the company didn't tell us how long it will be available. This is the full first digital copy, which originally debuted in September 2016, and normally costs $13.99.

As of time of writing (2:10pm ET on September 23, 2025), the link in both the tweet and in the manga section on the website is broken for both the English and French versions. However, this will eventually lead to a pdf of the first volume of the Persona 3 manga. This is a retelling of the events of the original game, starting from the protagonist returning to Tatsumi Port Island years after his parents died, joining Gekkoukan High School, and staying at a dorm that turns out to be designated for SEES members who fight Shadows at Tartarus during the secret Dark Hour every night. 

This comes ahead of the Switch 2 release of Persona 3 Reload. As part of the preparations for that version, Atlus shared a new Beginner's Gameplay Guide showing how the JRPG works. It offers a story summary and shows the difference between daily school life and dungeon-crawling. A demo is also available for that version of the game. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI_paVHmKUM

Persona 3 Reload will come to the Switch 2 on October 23, 2025, and the demo is available worldwide now. The game is already on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the same trial is available on those platforms too.

The post Atlus Makes Persona 3 Manga Volume 1 Free  appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, September 23, 2025 2:00 PM
    

ANANTA TGS 2025 Trailer Shows Project Mugen's GTA Style City

NetEase's last major update on ANANTA, its open-world, GTA style game with anime inspired graphics confirmed the full title of Project Mugen, and now the 2025 Tokyo Game Show the Captain and Taffy major characters exploring Nova City and engaging in various activities. There are two over seven minute long trailers available, with one showing the English voice acting and the other the Japanese one.

You can see the English ANANTA TGS 2025 trailer below, which really highlights GTA style elements such as walking around the city on foot as either character, riding motorcycles, driving cars, fighting enemies, using major guns like rocket launchers, using emotes, taking selfies, browsing in-game social media, and grappling like one would in Spider-Man games. While Captain is the primary focus for the first half of the video and is shown as a playable avatar, we do see a few scenes with Taffy, Richie, and Seymour after the 3:10 mark. There's also an opportunity to see how the character swapping mechanic will let you use multiple members of the department on a mission, changing between them for different tasks. All of them are members of the ACD solving crimes and situations around the city, and they were already introduced on the official site.

You can see the English ANANTA TGS 2025 trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhuqYZnHkW0

Here's the Japanese trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCLKQCylA30

ANANTA is in development for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, pre-registration is open via the official site, and TGS 2025 runs September 25-28, 2025.

The post ANANTA TGS 2025 Trailer Shows Project Mugen's GTA Style City appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:30 PM
    

Interview: Preparing Slime Rancher 2 for Its 1.0 Launch

Slime Rancher 2 first debuted in early access on September 22, 2022, and now the 1.0 release is set for September 23, 2025. It's been quite some time, with things like a Beatrix Nendoroid and movie confirmation appearing in the meantime. With it finally launching today, Siliconera got a chance to speak with Monomi Park Co-Founder and CEO Nick Popovich about Slime Rancher 2 development, how the team responded to early access feedback, and some gameplay elements making their debut.

Jenni Lada: From the very start, you put the call out for Slime Rancher 2 feedback on Discord and social media. What is the biggest change that resulted from early player reports and request?

Nick Popovich: The first things that come to mind are a bunch of accessibility options that we've added over the course of Early Access, with still more on the way after launch. And it's been great to see the rest of the industry on this trend of providing more of these as well. The more people that can enjoy games to the fullest is better for the industry as a whole. Someone who has a better experience with your game might mean they're in the market for mine down the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHjvTdgS_p0

Weather is an influential factor and alters gameplay in Slime Rancher 2 1.0. How did you come up with different reactions and are there any you hoped to implement, but couldn't due to how they functioned in-practice?

Popovich: I think one of the things we did well with our weather system that is similar to all of our updates is separating the feature into two categories, broadly. The first is the stuff that will help drive the experience forward, or how parts of it fit into the game economy, how it affects the gameplay loop, etc. This is par for the course in gamedev, and we wouldn't be doing our jobs if we didn't do this stuff. 

But the second part is how the feature creates little moments of surprise, or fosters emergent behaviors, or just makes the player feel to experience it. It's all the soft stuff that usually gets deprioritized in gamedev, and we're always making sure it's there. So to that end I think our weather system is really great in delivering the vibes.

And as far as what we hoped to implement but couldn't, we honestly even got that one in. I mean, it sometimes rains slimes for goodness sake haha.

How did you rebalance Quantum Drones for Slime Rancher 2 1.0 and ensure they'd be as user-friendly as possible?

Popovich: Quantum drones are an upgrade over the original model in that they can be deployed both on your ranch and out in the range. This gives you the flexibility of choosing to use them to automate portions of your ranch, or send them out into the wild to look for new resources. It actually adds a nice bit of ambiance to the world as you see them busily searching for Slime Science materials… that may or may not exist in this reality.

There will be an action-packed end game included in Slime Rancher 2 after 1.0. How did you work on balancing and implementation, considering this wasn't an element we've seen before?

Popovich: It's definitely a change of pace from the original. The final moments especially are completely unlike anything we've done before in terms of the action and the urgency. But the stakes are also a lot higher narratively and so we felt like it fit. And we've also been building to this moment, slowly. Slime Rancher 2 begins not unlike the original but eventually you find yourself in the Grey Labyrinth and navigating it and dealing with its hazards is a step up from the easier pace Slime Rancher typically presents. So by the time you experience the finale I think we've done a good job training the player to deal a little more. It's still 100% Slime Rancher, but definitely demanding a bit more of you.

How would you feel about Slime Rancher 2 crossover slimes and characters with the 1.0 launch?

Popovich: Put Beatrix in Smash you cowards!

Slime Rancher 2 is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, as it left early access and 1.0 debuted on September 23, 2025.

The post Interview: Preparing Slime Rancher 2 for Its 1.0 Launch appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:00 PM
    

HoYoVerse Shared Petit Planet Teaser for Its Animal Crossing Like

HoYoVerse opened up a social media and YouTube account for Petit Planet, a new game that appears to be its life sim inspired by titles such as Animal Crossing. This ended up accompanied by a first YouTube Short teasing some mascot characters and the PC and mobile icon for the title. However, details on the project are still rather slim ahead of the 2025 Tokyo Game Show.

The trailer is set in a wooded area near a waterfall and river. A few mushrooms are in the center of the screen. A fluffy mascot with two legs and big, blue eyes drops. After floating around in the air a bit, it drops down onto the head of a white and black animal with a long, rainbow-colored tail and two tiny black horns on its head. The video closes out with the image shrinking down to the square-shape used for HoYoVerse game icons and the company's name below it. Those two same mascots appear on the social media account icon and banner.

Here's how that teaser looks: 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/u3wPvW0ocPU

This marks the second new HoYoVerse game in development. However, while Petit Planet seems designed to feature some Animal Crossing like life sim elements, Honkai: Nexus Anima has more in common with Pokemon. It is also further along in development, as its first Nexus Bond closed beta test ran in September 2025. That title is still very early in development though, and HoYoVerse even shared a statement noting that it plans more main character customization, environment, and quest updates for future tests and the 1.0 release.

Petit Planet is in development, and Tokyo Game Show runs between September 25-28, 2025.

The post HoYoVerse Shared Petit Planet Teaser for Its Animal Crossing Like appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:00 PM
    

Review: Baby Steps Is an Approachable Bennett Foddy Game

A lot of Bennett Foddy games can seem deceptively simple, but quickly put some people off due to how difficult they can be to truly succeed. Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy is a great example, but the difficulty of VVVVVV and execution in entries like QWOP and CLOP could make them difficult to play for most people for long periods of time. Baby Steps sees him reuniting with Gabe Cuzzillo and Maxi Boch for a game along the lines of QWOP that feels approachable, delightful, and even meaningful. It'll still absolutely smack you down, especially if you feel like you "mastered" certain skills and terrain types. But I found it easier to bounce back here than in past games.

Nate is not doing great. He lives with his parents. He spends most of his time watching TV or playing games. His social skills aren't good, and it seems like he isn't the best at taking initiative. One day, while he's doing his thing, he finds himself teleported to another place, dropped in a pool in a cave. From there, we help him find his way walking through the wilderness, doing things like finding hats and toilets along the way. Of course, there are also the campfires, which feel like poignant messages and insights into his psyche and development. But the incidental activities and surprising "quests" you can happen upon can feel just as fulfilling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t11z-8K_9ik

Baby Steps is another Bennett Foddy style physics game with deceptively simple controls. The triggers will make Nate lift his left or right legs, and you move the left analog stick to control how far forward, backward, left, and right he moves with each step. Depending on the angle and presses, Nate could walk leisurely along flat surfaces or even sort of gradually scale more steeper structures or landscapes. Different types of terrain work differently, such as standard grass or pavement, wet ground, sand, or actual ponds and streams. This means it is very easy for the environment to influence our control over Nate, as well as Nate and his momentum to affect certain items around him.

Which, as you can guess, is what makes Baby Steps feel so satisfying and entertaining. Our initial task is pretty easy. Walk out of a cave. Things gradually get more difficult. Find a way around a locked gate keeping us from a different area. Reach a toilet that Nate can actually use to relieve himself. I think the game feels like a mixture of QWOP and Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy most of the time, since we'll need to complete a certain objective, have the tools and perhaps even the skills to do it, but the timing, layout of the world around us, and sometimes even a little luck regarding positioning and precision will determine if we manage to push forward. 

Now, I never beat Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, as that game absolutely beat me instead. It infuriated me sometimes. With Baby Steps there are times that it will get me down, but it feels more fleeting. The combination of the controls and approachability that allows us to explore other options for certain situations made it feel less daunting. Like if I didn't have luck with one approach, maybe I try something else? Things like mud, sand, and ice absolutely suck, of course, as does the final area. But I really feel like if you spend enough time controlling Nate, you pick up skills that make things feel more manageable. Also, due to the way things are broken up and spaced out, I didn't feel like I lost as much progress here as I did at times in Getting Over It.

I don't know if it also is due to the fantastic soundtrack, where the sounds of nature around Nate begin to pipe up into a symphony once you find a rhythm, get going, and make substantial progress, but I found it easier to find a good groove. The control scheme meant if I found a relatively flat or slightly angled trail for a spell, I could even almost get him up to a solid sprint. And even if a portion of the mountain or an area looks too intimidating to climb, I suspect it could be possible. There were times I somehow managed to work my way up some unwelcoming spots by moving carefully, taking my time, and really playing around with footholds. 

Baby Steps also features some unexpectedly fun incidental changes in Nate as we play. For example, we can find a hat! I did it! It ended up ruining my life for a bit, since I was determined to keep it and it would very likely fall off when he'd fall. At one point it fell off when I got across a river with waterfall. I stepped wrong after getting across, and it fell off. I pressed A to retrieve it, and the way Nate bent meant he went too close to the water when he got it. Nate and the hat went cascading down with the flow, and I never saw that hat again. Cursed. Also, he'll get dirty if you fall a bunch and you'll see sweat stains form if you manage to maintain a good stride for a long period. Head to a cold area, and that will be reflected too.

It is also blatantly and intentionally hilarious. Some of it is toilet humor. (Literally and figuratively.) It's the funniest game I've played this year. Putting up with all the frustration is worth it when you make it to certain NPCs, animals, or items.

I've been primarily playing Baby Steps on a handheld gaming PC (Lenovo Legion Go), and it works perfectly on it. It looks fantastic. There's no lag when walking. The controller support is wonderful. Support for Steam Deck style devices is great, and it felt just as solid here as it did on an actual PC. 

Baby Steps is yet another example of a Bennett Foddy game that can test you, frustrate you, and make you laugh at the silliest situations.. The controls are fantastic, so it feels like they never fail you. The types of terrain and situations can be goofy and challenging. At the same time, there's a message about growth and development that comes through that made me feel like I wasn't just having an absolute ball flailing my way through strange spaces, but learning more about Nate and rooting for him in the process. 

Baby Steps is available for the PS5 and PC

The post Review: Baby Steps Is an Approachable Bennett Foddy Game appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:00 AM
    

A Loporrit Sits on the Final Fantasy XIV Crescent Moon Lamp

Taito announced a piece of Final Fantasy XIV merchandise it will offer as a prize in Japanese arcades, and it is a FFXIV Crescent Moon Lamp with a Loporrit sitting on it. That will begin showing up in Japanese arcades in late September 2025, though there is no exact release date for it just yet. At the moment, only one retailer that ships outside Japan is selling it. Aitai Kuji has a listing live for ¥3,500 (~$24), and it says people can expect it to ship in November 2025.

This pairing makes sense. In FFXIV, the rabbit-like Loporrit is a race that calls the moon its home. They first appeared in the Endwalker expansion for the game, and have shown up in various situation since. The one appearing on the lamp bares a passing resemblance to the NPC Namingway. 

As for the moon itself, it is a yellow crescent moon with silver embellishments at the top and bottom. It sits on a black stand. When turned on, it emits a pale yellow glow. It stands at over five and a half inches tall (~14cm). 

Here's the first photo of it:

This is the second game-related lamp Taito is offering as a prize in Japan in the near future. It also will release a Death Stranding 2 "Like" lamp that is triggered by motion. When someone sets it off, it lights up and plays a sound effect from the game. That shows up in November 2025. 

The Final Fantasy XIV Crescent Moon Lamp with Loporrit will appear in Japanese arcades at the end of September 2025, and FFXIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC worldwide. 

The post A Loporrit Sits on the Final Fantasy XIV Crescent Moon Lamp appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:20 AM
    

Tokyo Game Show 2025 State of Play Stream Set for Tomorrow Saros

Sony confirmed via the PlayStation Blog that it will hold a dedicated State of Play stream showing PS4 and PS5 games during the 2025 Tokyo Game Show, and it will air on September 24, 2025. It will appear at 2pm PT/5pm ET/11pm CET. This State of Play will also be shorter than the TGS 2025 Nintendo Direct, which lasted 60 minutes, and be 35 minutes total. The showcase will air on Twitch and YouTube.

We only know about one confirmed title that will appear during this presentation. Saros will appear during it. This is from Housemarque, which worked on Returnal, and it is set to appear on the PS5 in 2026. That confirmation also helps us pin down more details about the schedule for this showcase. Sony already confirmed that game's portion will take up 5 minutes of the total presentation. That means the other 30 minutes will look at other developers' titles. The company did note that first party, third party, and indie games will all take part.

The placeholder for this TGS 2025 State of Play is already live on YouTube. You can set a reminder and find it below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QcEoGC51ZY

The 2025 Tokyo Game Show runs September 25-28, 2025, and Sony will discuss new and upcoming PS4 and PS5 games during its TGS 2025 State of Play stream at 2pm PT/5pm ET/11pm CET on September 24, 2025. 

The post Tokyo Game Show 2025 State of Play Stream Set for Tomorrow appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:27 PM
    

I'm Not a Robot against white background

I'm Not a Robot tests whether you're truly a human with 48 levels of mini-games and captcha prompts. And while you think it might be a simple walk in the park, some levels are tougher than others.

Here are all the levels you'll find in I'm Not a Robot and how to beat them.

All levels and answers of I'm Not a Robot

  • Level 1 - Checkbox: Check the box. Did you really need my help for that?
  • Level 2 - Stop Signs: Select the four boxes where the red stop sign is. Easy peasy!
  • Level 3 - Wiggles: This wiggling captcha is fairly straight forward: Enter the letters or numbers you see into the text box and hit "Submit." Also, yes—you do need to capitalize the letters.
  • Level 4 - Vegetables: Do you know your veggies? Hint: Tomatoes aren't considered a vegetable. Get with the times! Select the carrots, onions, eggplant, and corn to beat this level.
  • Level 5 - Rotation: Reassemble the intersection by clicking on each box. The outside corners, the circles, connect at the middle. If it's still not allowing you to continue to the next level, try rotating the center piece a few times.
  • Level 6 - XOXO: Win at Tic Tac Toe. Simple enough, right? To get the upper edge, refresh the puzzle using the button to the left of the "Verify" so you can get the first move. Center square is always the best starting play, eh?
  • Level 7 - Word Search: Look for "Stop," "Sign," and "Bike." This puzzle looks a bit different for everyone, but in my experience, the words have all touched each other every time I've played through I'm Not a Robot. If you can find one word, you'll soon find the others.
  • Level 8 - License Plate: Enter the "perpetrator's" license plate. Why are they a perpetrator? Who knows!
  • Level 9 - Nested: Select all the squares with a stop sign. They'll divide into more squares when you click on them, but eventually, they'll turn blue. There's a total of 29 squares you need to select to pass this level.
  • Level 10 - Whack-a-Mole: Whack! That! Mole! And be quick with it! You need to bop that sucker five times before you can select "Verify" and proceed to the next level.
  • Level 11 - Waldo: Sheesh, this one's a headache, isn't it? You'll have to find Waldo among a sea of beach-goers. Let me make it easy on you: Look for the striped tent that can be found a couple of squares down from the tide and three squares to the left of the picture's rightmost edge. Three squares to the left of the tent will be our boy Waldo. You need to select both squares he appears in to move on to the next level.

Waldo in I'm Not a Robot
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 12 - Muffins?: Muffin or Chihuahua? Only a human would know. There's six doggos in this picture—though I'm not going to lie: I could really go for a muffin right now...
  • Level 13 - Reverse: Select all the images that don't have a traffic light in them. A little different from what we're used to, but nothing a human couldn't easily overcome.
  • Level 14 - Affirmations: Select the "I'm not a robot" option out of all the "I AM a robot" variations. Hint: It's the one nine rows down, second column from the left.
  • Level 15 - Parking: Hope you have your diver's licenses for this one. Park the Waymo in the parking spot using the arrow keys. Just don't hit any of the cars next to it. I don't think these things come with insurance. And yes, you have to be between the lines. Don't be "that guy."
  • Level 16 - Now in 3D!: Enter the text shown in the image. Best of luck to those of you who get a six or nine in your prompt.
  • Level 17 - Perfect Circle: Draw a circle that's 94 percent accurate or better. It'll take you a couple of tries, but there's no shame in that—drawing on any digital device is by no means easy.
  • Level 18 - Sisyphus: Select all the squares with a fire hydrant. The squares refresh once you select them, and some will be replaced with more fire hydrants. Just keep selecting them, and eventually you'll be left with zero fire hydrants.
  • Level 19 - In the Dark: Enter the text in the box below. Where's the text, you ask? It's hiding! Use your mouse to shine a light and reveal the letters. Type in what you see from left to right, then hit "Verify."
  • Level 20 - Rorschach: Ever seen a Rorschach inkblot test? Well, now you have. Type in what you see, even if it's something weird. I, for example, saw two moles high-fiving. But you can put basically anything, and the level will be marked as complete.
  • Level 21 - CRAFTCHA: Make a Diamond Pickaxe by arranging Wood Sticks and Diamonds in the Minecraft-style crafting box.

Pickaxe game in I'm Not a Robot
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 22 - My Ducks Ahhh: Time to get all your ducks in a row. Click on each duck to wrangle it back into its box, and then move on to the next level.
  • Level 23 - Panorama: Find either the guitar cat or the kissing couple. This is a little creepy, isn't it? Luckily they're always in the same spot.
  • Level 24 - Eye Exam: The first three answers are: "EDFCZP," "8," and "34" for the dots. The last part of this level varies, so apologies for those of you who can't see the different hues. The good news, though? The boxes don't move, so if you have to click through all of them, get to clickin'.
  • Level 25 - Creativity: Use all of the tools provided to "express yourself." Make a masterpiece, or just scribble some lines using each tool. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is it not? Just make sure to use at least three different colors.
  • Level 26 - Parallel Parking: This two-stage level requires you to park the Waymo in the parking spot by parallel-parking the car. What, they didn't teach you that in driving school? Yes, it's going to take an embarrassing amount of time to park that stupid car. That's probably why they made Waymos driverless—because AI can do it better than you. Sorry!
  • Level 27 - Networking: Connect each block to the other block of the same color by clicking on it and drawing a pathway. All blocks must be filled, like in the image below.

A chart where there are boxes of different colors and lines attached to them all. This is the answer to level 27 of I'm Not a Robot.
You did come here for the answer, did you not? Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 28 - Day Trader: Buy low, sell high! That's how those big wigs make their investments, at least. Hit "Buy" when you see the point on the right-side of the graph go down. Then hit "Sell" when it goes up. Simple enough, right? So why haven't you earned millions in the stock market, then? Hmmm?

Profit game in I'm Not a Robot
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 29 - Soul: Woooof. Wasn't expecting to think this deep in a browser game, didja? Level 29 asks you to select all the items with a "soul." I picked the dog and the octopus and got verified off that.
  • Level 30 - Sliding Tiles: For this one, you have to reassemble the tiles the make a stop sign by sliding tiles over to an empty space. It's like those old puzzles you used to find as a kid. I hate them just as much now as I did back then.

Sliding tiles game in I'm Not a Robot
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 31 - Traffic Tree: Select all the squares with the oddest-looking traffic light you'll ever see. Answer: It's all of the square minus the top left and top right corners.
  • Level 32 - Drum Verify: Play the sick beats! This is really just a "follow-the-leader" situation, where you have to click on the tiles in the same order they light up. This happens three times, after which you'll be able to progress to the next level.
  • Level 33 - Brands: This is just a standard captcha, but instead of letters, you have brand logos. Don't you just hate capitalism?
  • Level 34 - Mathematics: Math was never my strong suit in school. Since you're here, I'm guessing it wasn't yours either. What makes this level even more difficult is it varies from person to person. But I recommend googling each equation, writing down the answer, and then sorting that way. Here's what my final answer looked like:

A bunch of equations in boxes labelled one through nine.
Math was never my strong suit in school. Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 35 - Shuffle: It's the ol' cup-in-a-ball trick. Follow the ball and select the right cup three times in a row to move on to the next level. I recommend using your mouse pointer or finger to follow along.

Pick the cup game in I'm Not a Robot
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 36 - Not Candy Crush: It's definitely not Candy Crush. It might look like Candy Crush. It might even play exactly like Candy Crush. But it's definitely not Candy Crush. Line up the jewels to reach the required score.
  • Level 37 - Imposters: Select all the men that are AI generated. This one's pretty easy; just select all the fake-looking men. But if you want the answer—and I know you do, since you clicked on this article—here's the combination you need to get to the next level.

A series of photos showing men in a captcha-like box.
There's only three AI-generated men among us. Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 38 - Tough Decisions: Park the Waymo (yet again!) in the empty space. Based on the design of the road, it might look like you need to decide between hitting an old woman and a baby on your way to the parking spot. But guess again! You can drive around the bushes, off the map, to avoid hitting both. Guess that decision wasn't so tough after all, huh?
  • Level 39 - Facial Exam: Be happy! Now be sad! Now mad! Now act surprised! You'll need a camera on this one.
  • Level 40 - Slot Machine: No, we're not going to Las Vegas. But you do get to play slots! Well, sort of. Type in the numbers or letters you see in the slot machines as they come up.
  • Level 41 - Grave: You might think you need to type F to pay your respects, but that's not going to work 'round here partner. Here's what you need to do: Click on the tombstone. Then use the brush to clear it of moss. Light the candle. Then pick flowers and drag the bouquet to the tombstone.

Grave game in I'm Not a Robot
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 42 - Reverse Turing: There's a few main aspects of engaging in a conversation, and I believe they play a role in this level: Asking thought-provoking questions and responding to what the other speaker said. I found that the deeper the question, the more the confidence level went up. But asking questions about what the chatbot said and using similar words also increases the level, too.

A screenshot from the browser game I'm Not a Robot showing level 42
This is a totally normal conversation. Screenshot by Destructoid

Level 43 - Ikea: If you've ever put together an Ikea table, you're going to pass this test with flying colors. Unfortunately, this one doesn't come with instructions. The below image shows the design you should be aiming for.

A blonde-wood chair from the game I'm Not a Robot
It's a chair! An ugly one, but still a chair. Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Level 44 - Grandmaster: Hope you've been polishing up on your chess skills! In this level, you have to win one game of chess. And if you lose, you gain one extra queen. It's a consolation prize, but a prize nonetheless.
  • Level 45 - Jessica: Break up with your AI girlfriend. How hard can it be? I don't know why exactly, but I passed this level by telling her I slept with her mom and then saying I loved her. For some reason, that worked.
  • Level 46 - Floors: For this level, you need to select all squares on the 64th floor of the Empire State Building. Don't feel like counting? Yeah, I don't blame you. In that case, refer to the image below to see which row of squares to click.

The Empire State Building, as shown in the 46th level of I'm Not  a Robot, and all of the squares on the 64th floor are selected.
The third row down from the top of the building to the left of the Empire State Building. Screenshot by Destructoid.

Level 47 - Din Don Dan: Do you hate this as much as me? Somehow I managed to get an 88 percent accuracy rhythm. Dance to the rhythm using the key strokes as they appear on the screen, and with a high enough accuracy rating, you too will be able to move on to the next level.

Level 48 - The Inventor: The 48th and final level of I'm Not a Robot is a video from the man himself, the inventor of the CAPTCHA, Luis von Ahn. He congratulates you on completing the game, and you can download your very own certificate of humanity.


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The post How to beat I'm Not a Robot – Complete walkthrough and all answers appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:25 PM
    

Players celebrating in FC 26

One of the most irritating aspects of the previous games has been eliminated in FC 26, but shadows remain a problem.

There are plenty of stadiums available in the game, and some of them have shadows (when you play in the afternoon). While they might look realistic, shadows can cause different visual problems for the players. They can make certain areas of the pitch dark and mess with the jersey colors.

Thankfully, a new feature added to the game allows you to turn them off. Unfortunately, the feature is currently bugged (as of writing this guide on Sep. 23).

How to turn off shadows in FC 26

Turning off shadows in FC 26 is pretty straightforward.

  • Turn on the game and let it load to the main screen.
  • Open Settings.
  • Open Game Settings.
  • Go to Visual.
  • Scroll all the way down to Accessibility.
  • You'll find the option to turn off Shadows (as shown in the screenshot below).

Turning off shadows options in FC 26
Screenshot by Destructoid

Go back to the game, and load a match, and there won't be any shadow on the pitch. However, that's under an ideal situation when the feature works as intended. There's a current bug that still creates stadium shadows despite being turned off.

FC 26 shadows fix

A permanent solution will hopefully appear from EA Sports in a future update. For the time being, here's what you can do.

  • Once you have turned off the shadows, don't start a game. Instead, restart FC 26 and then go to settings once again. Turn on the shadows and turn them off again from Game Settings before proceeding to start a new match.

This has worked for me on console, but it's highly inconsistent in my experience. Here's what you can do to avoid the problems.

  • If you're in Ultimate Team, use a stadium item that doesn't have shadows. The best option is the default stadium, which has no shadows at all.
  • If you're playing in other modes, go to match settings. Set it to night, which will hide the sun (and the resulting shadows).

Additionally, try to use lighter-colored kits, which prevent the jerseys from getting messed up in the shadows.


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The post How to turn off shadows in FC 26 – shadows bug fix appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:23 PM
    

Karlach from BG3, Dorian from Dragon Age Inquisition, and Nemesis from Hades 2, side by side.

Romance in video games always felt secondary to me. If I don't need to do it or if there's no big reward waiting for me after the romance storyline, I skip it. But after my recent chat with games and media researcher Amy Brierley-Beare, I'm inclined to go back to some titles and play them differently.

I found Amy after reading her paper The Language of Digital Love on Game Studies. She's a lecturer at the University of Adelaide in Australia and specializes in how romance and intimacy are represented in gaming. Her goal with this article was to categorize love relationships in video games so everyone can better understand how each type of romance affects player experience.

Since Amy often uses big games like Fallout 4, The Witcher, and Grand Theft Auto as examples in her paper, I've reached out to her and asked for games with great romance she'd recommend as an expert in the field.

Not only did Amy give me a list of great games, but she also gave me a tip on how to look at romance in games differently. Along the way, she gave great examples of the three types of gaming love she describes in her paper: limerent, domestic, and ludic.

Here are some of Amy's top romance game recommendations.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

The inquisition
Image via EA

One of the three types of romance Amy describes is called "limerent romance." It's about building a deeper connection and relationship with a character, as if you were deeply in love with them. You want to make the right dialogue choices and develop your relationship with the character the right way, even if that dictates how you play the game and the choices you make.

"Dragon Age: Inquisition is a good example of limerent representations as there are multiple, optional, in-depth intense relationships that are likely to be fairly all-encompassing," Amy explained. "So your focus here is going to be getting to know the character, their motivations, and you'll be working towards the development of the relationship."

If you're a passionate person who wants to fall in love with a character and build a relationship with them throughout the story, Dragon Age: Inquisition is a great game to try.

Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield

How to Romance Sarah Morgan in Starfield featured
Screenshot by Destructoid

Amy says that some Bethesda games are a great representation of what she calls "domestic romance". Unlike limerence, domestic romance has a generic emotional connection that features a utilitarian relationship. You are given items, buffs, and general benefits in the game in exchange for romance. It's about gamifying a relationship, essentially.

"The point here isn't a courtship," Amy clarifies. "It's about creating a family and the utility that comes from that. In this way, it is akin to a digital dollhouse where the focus is curating your character's house and family, more so than it is about actually developing a relationship."

While players lose the element of passion in domestic romance, they get more with customization and role play. They can choose to get married, to customize their house, have children, and decide on other aspects of their character's personal life that aren't covered in the main storyline.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Yakuza: Like a Dragon character
Image via SEGA

The third and final romance category Amy mentions is "ludic romance." It throws away the goal of sharing a life with a character to instead join a game of flirting and romance with no long-term perspective. The focus is on having fun, which is usually represented with side activities and minigames.

"Ludic representations will also often encourage getting to know multiple partners rather than having one romance per playthrough," Amy reveals. "A fairly comprehensive example is Yakuza: Like a Dragon, where you need to raise your stats to enter into relationships, and you get boosts. You're rewarded to develop multiple relationships at once. In fact, to quote one of the romance guides for this game, 'the biggest bonus comes from romancing all six women at once.'" 

Florence

Florence game screenshot of two characters kissing
Image via Annapurna Interactive

Amy's paper focuses on video game romance mostly as an optional activity, which made me curious if she had a game recommendation where it was instead central to the gameplay.

"Florence is one I think is not only beautiful in how it explores developing relationships, but also the ending of a relationship," Amy said. "What was really impressive was the metaphors of the mechanics in the play. At first, puzzles are easy to fit when developing the relationship, but as the couple in the game were drifting, the tasks became more difficult, and then impossible. It's interesting to see players get so frustrated and sad they can't fix the relationship, and I think it's an excellent, simple example of subjective positioning in play."

Hades (1 and 2) and Date Everything

Is Echidnas coming to Hades 2? - Melinoe with Ares
Image via Supergiant Games

When I asked Amy about games released in the last five years that revolutionized or did something unique with romance, she categorically said we couldn't look into mainstream gaming to find it.

"I would encourage players to check out indie titles and experiences published on itch.io. These spaces allow for more boundary pushing and less copy-paste structure that happens in big-budget gaming."

However, she mentioned both Hades and Date Everything as honorable mentions in the big gaming space.

"Hades was excellent at showcasing different, diverse representations of romance with many different characters who had distinct desires, responses, and motivations," Amy said. "Date Everything is a fun example of something recently that straddles the line of satire while deconstructing popular mechanics and tropes found in dating simulators."

Baldur's Gate 3

To get all achievements in BG3, you'll need to play through on the game's hardest difficulty
Screenshot by Destructoid

Amy was quick to recommend Baldur's Gate 3, but for reasons that weren't obvious to me—so, not because of the bear scene.

"The game broke down popular game romance conventions of the time and surprised players with potential paramours who were motivated to romance the player rather than the player being the only one with agency," Amy explained. "If nothing else, looking at how invested fans are and the sheer amount of support and fan-content shows that the game was tapping into something some players feel extremely passionate about. "

Change how you see romance in video games

Wrapping up our interview, Amy gave a last piece of advice on how to look at romance in games with a critical point of view that will let you understand and enjoy games better.

"Something I would encourage all players to do when they're engaging with romance is think about what certain mechanics are making them do," she suggests. "Are they rewarded for getting married? Having multiple partners? Are you supposed to buy gifts for your potential paramour? Talk to them in a certain way? Or do you have to do something unrelated (is being good at something else signalling to the game that you're eligible to date?) Thinking about how these experiences make us feel and how we should react is helpful when being critical and working out why certain games are satisfying and/or interesting."

"You'll never know when you'll encounter romance in gaming," Amy concludes. "It has bled into a lot of experiences that could surprise you—it's really not just contained to a few styles of games. Some players aren't always happy to see romance, but I think it can be really fascinating to see how games are exploring this extremely nuanced, complex, and intimate element of life."

The post Romance expert gave me 8 great games for love fans plus an eye-opening lesson on video game love appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:01 PM
    

Painful burden off my chest scarecrow

Silent Hill f allows you to play with your keyboard and mouse or opt for a more streamlined approach with your controller.

While the main set of controls feels very familiar to the older Silent Hill titles, there are a few additions. This guide will help you understand the basic controls, irrespective of whether you use a keyboard, mouse, or controller.

All Silent Hill f keyboard controls

Here are the default controls applicable for PC users, using a keyboard and a mouse.

  • Move Forward: W
  • Move Backware: S
  • Move Left: A
  • Move Right: D
  • Run: Shift
  • Check: F
  • Dodge: Space
  • Light Attack: LMB
  • Heavy Attack: RMB
  • Focus: Ctrl
  • Lock On/Reset Camera: C
  • Special Action: T
  • Item Shortcut: MMB
  • Use Item 1: 1
  • Use Item 2: 2
  • Use Item 3: 3
  • Use Item 4: 4
  • Use Item 5: 5
  • Use Item 6: 6
  • Use Item 7: 7
  • Use Item 8: 8
  • Switch Weapon Left: Q
  • Switch Weapon Right: E
  • Look Up: Up
  • Look Down: Down
  • Look Left: Left
  • Look Right: Right
  • Pause: P
  • Map: Tab/M
  • Journal: G
  • Equipment: B
  • Confirm: F
  • Cancel: C
  • Menu Action 1: R
  • Menu Action 2: V
  • Menu Options: Arrow Keys
  • Switch Tab Left: Q
  • Switch Tab Right: E
  • Previous Page: Page Up
  • Next Page: Page Down
  • Map Zoom In: +
  • Map Zoom Out: -

All Silent Hill f controller controls

Here's the default set of controls applicable to your controller.

Default controller layout in Silent Hill f
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Move: LS
  • Run (Toggle On Only): Press LS down
  • Special Action: Press LS and RS down
  • Rotate Camera: RS
  • Lock On/Reset Camera: Press RS down
  • Lock On/Reset Camera: X
  • Switch Weapon: Y
  • Dodge: B
  • Check: A
  • Focus: LT
  • Item Shortcut: LB
  • Heavy Attack: RT
  • Light Attack: RB
  • Map: Menu Button
  • Pause: Pause Button
  • Journal: D-pad up
  • Equipment: D-pad down
  • Switch Weapon: D-pad left and right

How to change controls in Silent Hill f

If you're using a controller, you can choose between different layouts. If you're on a PC, click on a control and press the new button. Be careful about pressing a button that is already mapped to another control, since it will automatically alter that option.


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The post All Silent Hill f keyboard and controller bindings appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 2:19 PM
    

Looking at the Oinari-sama cleansing pool to purify the Sacred Sword, but the water is blood

Silent Hill f is available on PC and console, and you may want to tweak the settings to get better performance from your hardware.

My initial hours with the game were surprisingly smooth, but only after I used the correct settings. Whether you have relatively weaker hardware or a beastly PC, this guide will help you get the best performance.

Best Silent Hill f graphics tips for smooth performance

Before I explore what I believe are the best graphics settings, it's essential to check the basics.

  • Update your graphics drivers: New updates have already been released for Silent Hill f, and the first task should be to install them. Whether you're on an AMD or Nvidia device, you can download and install the update using the app. This will allow you to optimize the drivers and get the best possible performance.
  • Cap the FPS: My FPS was uncapped at first, which could have led to the only crash I endured. Since then, I have capped my crash, and the performance has been consistent and smooth.
  • Disable V-Sync: If your hardware meets current standards but isn't top of the range, you can disable V-Sync to reduce the load on your system.

Let's look at the best graphics settings to use in the game.

Best graphics settings to use in Silent Hill f

The game's general performance has been extremely smooth so far. My hardware setup consists of the Ryzen 5600G, 12 GB Nvidia RTX 3060, and 16 GB of DDR5 RAM. I have been running these settings since early access began.

Best graphics settings for Silent Hill f
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Screen Mode: Fullscreen (I use Borderless Window due to my multi-screen setup)
  • Frame Limit: 60
  • V-Sync: Off
  • Preset: Balanced
  • Screen Percentage: 100%
  • Indirect Lighting: Lumen Epic
  • Reflections: Off
  • Shadow Quality: Medium
  • Texture Quality: Medium
  • Shader Quality: High
  • Visual Effects Quality: Medium
  • Post Processing Quality: Medium
  • View Distance Quality: Medium
  • Anti-Aliasing: DLSS (since I have an Nvidia device)
  • Anti-Aliasing Quality: Balanced
  • Motion Blur: Off

This is important: if you're still experiencing performance issues, reduce all the settings from Medium to Low and from High to Medium. This should automatically remove any problems that might arise and help you complete all the missions with ease.

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Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 2:02 PM
    

BO7 Zombies Enemy and Crew

Call of Duty's hugely popular Zombies mode has changed a lot over the recent releases in the series, and not everyone is a fan of those changes.

With additions like armor, the ability to equip all Perk-a-Colas, fully equipped weapon loadouts, and being able to end the round by exfiltrating in a chopper, it's become a bit of a departure from the classic experience that players came to know and love in games like World at War and the early Black Ops games.

BO7 Zombies Key Art
Image via Activision

But according to one prolific leaker, classic Zombies fans will have a lot to sink their teeth into in Black Ops 7's variant of the mode, and they won't have to wait for a seasonal release or content drop to play the way they like.

The news comes from noted CoD leaker Hope, who has leaked several prominent stories in the franchise over many years. According to Hope, BO7 will launch with a Zombies mode called "Cursed" that is much more akin to the classic round-based experience than the entries in games like Black Ops 6, Modern Warfare III, or Black Ops Cold War.

Hope says that Cursed will have its own separate wallbuy weapons, Mystery Box selection, and allowed weapon list from the standard Zombies mode that will come with the first map at launch, Ashes of the Damned.

The leaker also reported that Cursed will have no minimap, a limit of four Perk-a-Colas, no exfil, no armor, the classic points-based system for purchasing items and unlocking doors, and you will start with nothing but a pistol. That's about as close to the OG Zombies experience that we've had in a while.

Personally, I enjoy both kinds of Zombies experiences, so the fact that both may be available to play in BO7 when it drops on Nov. 14 can only be considered a positive for the Zombies community.


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Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:55 PM
    

Stills from the cancelled Prey 2

Various videos allegedly showing gameplay from the cancelled sequel to Prey, the 2006 original, not the 2017 one, recently surfaced online. Nobody knows why such an unearthing has taken place just now, but it certainly reminds us of how much has been lost, because it looked so amazingly good.

https://twitter.com/DaveOshry/status/1966540390938579013

The quick and responsive gunplay, the modern movement, and the beautiful neon-fuelled aesthetics of this fresh alien world make it hard to believe you're looking at an in-development game, especially one from 2011.

Not only is it clear that the minds at Human Head that made the original Prey such an original FPS still had a lot of juice left in them, but also that the game was surprisingly far into its development, despite the official channels only showing off a few previews before announcing its cancellation. How come we got robbed of a game that looked as cool as Cyberpunk 2077 ended up, minus all of its early gameplay bugs?

Why did Bethesda cancel Prey 2?

2006's Prey remains one of the most underrated shooters of all time. Though successful, it just fell short of sending the shockwaves through the FPS world that it should have. Anyone who'd played it is likely to remember its many unique takes on FPS level design and will certainly remember that it did portals even before Valve's Portal made them cool. Prey sold over one million copies. A sequel went into development, and Bethesda bought the rights to the IP. We even got to see a cool teaser in 2011, but after a supposedly long development hell, the game was cancelled in 2014. The reasons would forever remain the stuff of myth.

Though Bethesda claims development issues led to the game never reaching the company's ambitions as the main reason behind its cancellation, Jason L Blair, Prey 2's narrative designer and writer, took to Twitter in 2013 to allege that Prey's sequel was actually completed.

https://twitter.com/jasonlblair/status/340655497860489216

We'll probably never know what the true reason behind Prey 2's cancellation was. But all this footage, should it be real, sure does seem to tip the scales towards the less Bethesda-friendly side of the debate.

In his brilliant Destructoid Checkpoint piece, Aidan O'Brien mentions the works of Jacques Derrida and Mark Fisher, authors who, to put it very succinctly, delved into the arts and entertainment industry's current addiction to foregoing any attempt at originality, opting instead for repackaging an old thing as new to sell it over and over again. The Prey sequel we ended up getting suffers from that in the most baffling way.

2017's Prey is a damn good title, features an original story, and provides one of the most unique FPS experiences in a long while. That's strange, considering it has the same name as its predecessor, denouncing Bethesda's bizarre attempt to popularize it via association with an unrelated brand that was never that big in the first place, let alone one decade later. Bethesda cancelled one Prey, then made a completely fresh title look like it was a repetition of something else. Nobody gained anything from this. Gamers never got Prey 2, Bethesda lost one game due to a supposed competitor that was anything but, and the Prey series suffered a profound and incomprehensible blow to its identity, one that possibly deterred non-fans from getting into a series they didn't know.

Though Prey was never a massive hit, Prey 2's cancellation still echoes as one of the saddest of all time to me. It's a damn shame we'll never get to play this one, especially now that one might wonder if it's somewhere out there, ready to play.

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Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:49 PM
    

Looking at the Heritage of Crimson Water

Unless you've left no stone unturned, you may have missed the entrance to the secret Heritage of Crimson Water, a secret location and key to one of the five Silent Hill f's endings.

Hiding the Agura no Hotei-sama vial within, you have to wonder whether a mere mortal is allowed to meddle with such divine things. But Hinako does whatever she wants, especially in the Otherworld.

Here's everything you need to unlock the Fox's Wedding ending in Silent Hill f.

Silent Hill f: Agura no Hotei-sama location

First, complete Silent Hill f at least once. There are two ways to get the same ending: either by obtaining the Sacred Sword or ignoring its existence completely. I found the sword in a previous playthrough, so I'm including it here, that way you can get all the ending criteria for the Fox's Wedding conclusion.

You can either revisit one of your manual saves, preferably at the Chase after Fox Mask objective in the Main Hall, or you can start a new playthrough. The Main Hall is right before the Sakuko boss fight. We recommend a new playthrough when you're on the hunt for all Jizo statues, that way you can load up a previous save and get two to three endings from a single save file.

Heading back to this section in Silent Hill f means you won't have the Sacred Sword in your possession, but you can get it after finding the last Jizo statue when you return to Ebisugaoka again.

Head to the south-east corner of the Main Hall, where a four-legged monster will spawn in. Getting this ending in your second playthrough is best, as you can quickly and easily bypass most monsters using the upgraded Focus feature. Go to the upper section, passing the Fox Shrine (where the messed-up cutscene happened), and defeat the monsters upstairs, using the Focus one last time to enter the Hermitage of Crimson Water.

The Agura Hotei-sama vial in Silent Hill f
Screenshot by Destructoid

Find the Hotei-sama Sitting Cross-legged medicine bottle on the table in the only building of this secret area. This isn't all you need to do to seal your fate on the Fox's Wedding path.

Silent Hill f: Crimson Water puzzle solution (Lost in the Fog difficulty)

Before you leave the Heritage of Crimson Water, make sure you complete the puzzle in this mysterious area atop the Main Hall. I solved this puzzle on Lost in the Fog difficulty, so our guide looks to explain that (for now), however, we imagine Story and Hard mode will be written similarly. You can find the puzzle on the stone across the northern bridge.

All around you are five bells you can ring. You must ring one bell per shishi-odoshi strike (audio only), totalling three bell chimes. The solution for the Crimson Water puzzle on Lost in the Fog difficulty is:

  1. "Trapped under a great stone" - Mountain
  2. "In the lake's abyss" - Water
  3. "Once lush great tree has met a withering fate" - Tree

Locate the symbols Mountain, Water, and Tree in that order, interacting with each after every shishi-odoshi strike. You will know when you did it correctly when Hinako's journal updates and the Hermitage of Crimson Water map becomes blood-soaked. This puzzle is also relevant for the Ebisugaoka in Silence ending.

Where to purify the Sacred Sword in Silent Hill f

So you've got Hotei-sama and the Sacred Sword from the Divine Tree, but you're wondering where to go next to cleanse the blade. The only indication of where to go is by looking at the map when you're travelling to the Shimizu Residence. You should see the same blood-soaked markings from the Hermitage of Crimson Water now on the Ebisugaoka map, just north of the fifth Jizo statue after handing over the final offering.

Pass the monsters in the area and head upwards until you reach the Oinari-sama and the cleansing pool. Go up to the pool of blood and hold the interact key to cleanse the Sacred Sword. This step is optional in the Fox's Wedding ending, but purification is compulsory for Ebisugaoka in Silence.


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Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:39 AM
    

OD KNOCK gameplay

I must admit, and this is no secret to anyone who knows me, but I really do love me some Hideo Kojima.

Kojima's games have been a steady influence throughout my life, from Metal Gear Solid to Death Stranding and everything in between. He's a very polarizing figure for many, but for me, I love how he is always creating something different and unique. And through tough times, looking forward to whatever's next from him and others like him has kept me going.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHCqxLtwy5g

Today, to celebrate Kojima Productions' 10th anniversary, Kojima hosted a showcase and revealed new looks at both of his upcoming projects in development: OD KNOCK and PHYSINT. Both titles could definitely use some work (the latter is likely a codename for now), but boy, do they both look promising.

First, Kojima invited Xbox head Phil Spencer on stage to show off the Xbox Game Studios title OD KNOCK, which looks to be a unique first-person horror experience. The footage, which Kojima says is all gameplay in Unreal Engine 5, shows a girl played by actress Sophia Lillis lighting candles as part of some ritual.

The atmosphere is thick with dread, tense with the creepiest sound effects, and most lifelike visuals we may have seen yet (Kojima says he scanned an entire building to make it look that good). The player is apparently tasked with lighting the candles somehow, but the tension picks up and horror intensifies a la the defunct P.T. Silent Hills demo from many years ago that Kojima helped create.

OD KNOCK definitely evokes P.T. vibes, and that's enough to get excited about. To this day, P.T. has some of the best atmosphere and most uncomfortable gameplay I've ever experienced. If OD KNOCK can recreate this, we may have a new horror classic on our hands. The game's cast also includes Udo Kier and Hunter Schafer.

OD KNOCK is in progress and likely still a year or two away, but Kojima's other project that's definitely more in my wheelhouse is many, many years out, and that means I no longer can root for the rapture to take us all because I need to see this come to fruition.

Image via Kojima Productions

Kojima then flexed his muscles again by showing off PlayStation head Hermen Hulst, who sent a video message about his next game. Starring actors Don Lee, Charlee Fraser, Minami Hamabe, and an unknown actor as the character depicted above (many are claiming and hoping that it's The Batman's Robert Pattinson), PHYSINT won't release before 2030 at the earliest. Damn!

All we know so far about PHYSINT is that it's a tactical espionage action game. And that's all I need to know. If Kojima can rekindle some of Metal Gear Solid's magic under a new IP with the technology that will be available five-plus years down the line, I'm all aboard. He teased some of how the game would look in-engine with a stunning visual of Hamabe, who he has already scanned in, and it's beautiful.

PHYSINT is in the concept stage and Kojima is still casting roles, but just this one minor sneak peek of the title has me fiending for more. He said he will be looking to further break the barrier between movies and games, and I would expect nothing less.

PHYSINT Minami Hamabe actress
Screenshot by Destructoid

Between OD KNOCK and PHYSINT, I have two incredible-looking projects to look forward to for a long time. By the time PHYSINT comes out, I will be in my 40s (yikes). For another decade or so more, Kojima has me grinding out daily life just so I can experience some more of his games, and that's really more than I could ever ask for from any artist.


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Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:38 AM
    

Cover image of Plants vs Brainrots on Roblox.

In Plants vs Brainrots, obtaining very rare brainrots can be difficult, especially early on. However, there is an easy way to get decent ones without relying on RNG, and that is by fusing plants and brainrots in the Fuse Machine. Now, as each of these special brainrots requires specific components to be fused, we prepared the following guide on all Plants vs Brainrots fuse recipes to help you out.

List of Plants vs Brainrots Fuse Recipes

A player holding the result of a fusion in Plants vs Brainrots Roblox experience.
Example of a fused brainrot.

Below is a list of all fuse recipes in Plants vs Brainrots. Each recipe takes one plant and one brainrot to work. As a result, you receive an enhanced version of a regular brainrot you defeated.

Plant Brainrot Fused Brainrot
Cactus Noobini Bananani Noobini Cactusini
Strawberry Orangutini Annanasini Orangutini Strawberrini
Pumpkin Svinino Bombondino Svinino Pumpkinino
Sunflower Brr Brr Patapim Brr Brr Sunflowerim
Dragon Fruit Bananita Dolphinita Dragonfruitina Dolphinita
Eggplant Burbaloni Luliloli Eggplantini Burbalonini
Watermelon Bombardiro Crocodilo Bombardilo Watermandrilo
Cocotank Giraffa Celeste Cocotanko Giraffanto
Carnivorous Plant Tralalero Tralala Carnivourita Tralalerita
Mr Carrot Los Tralalitos Los Mr Carrotitos

How to Use the Fuse Machine in Plants vs Brainrots

  • A player using the fuse machine in Plants vs Brainrots Roblox experience.
  • A player using the fuse machine in Plants vs Brainrots Roblox experience.
  • A player using the fuse machine in Plants vs Brainrots Roblox experience.
  • A player using the fuse machine in Plants vs Brainrots Roblox experience.

To fuse a plant and a brainrot together in Plants vs Brainrots, first place the plant and the brainrot into the Fuse Machine. Each plant has only one corresponding Brainrot it can be fused with, and you will be able to see which brainrot it is after placing the plant into the machine. When you are ready, activate the fuse machine and wait for the fusing process to complete. The fused brainrot will go directly into your inventory, so make sure to sell some brainrots before activating the Fuse Machine.

That concludes our list of all Fuse Machine recipes in Plants vs. Brainrots. Check out our complete Plants vs Brainrots plant and brainrot list for more information about the other ones available in the game.


Plants vs Brainrots Fuse Recipes FAQs

How long does it take for a fusion to complete?

On average, the fusing process takes around 5 minutes.

Why did my fused brainrot disappear?

When the fusing process completes, the brainrot is sent directly to your inventory. Unfortunately, if your inventory is full, the fused brainrot will be deleted in the process.

Can you fuse more than one brainrot at a time?

No, as there is only one fuse machine available, you can fuse only one brainrot at a time.

The post All Plants vs Brainrots Fuse Recipes appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:22 AM
    

A screenshot of an event with a bunch of people in it and a white tent.

Level 11 in I'm Not a Robot introduces the first picture-based challenge in the game, and you'll have to find Waldo.

While this sounds like an easy task, the actual puzzle is tough. The image is larger than it appears at first, and you'll need to zoom out to find Waldo. This guide will help you find him without much trouble.

How to locate Waldo in Level 11 in I'm Not a Robot

Level 11 opens with an image of a beach with thousands of people on it. There's an ocean and some structures on the beach. Trying to locate Waldo in this scene can be a nightmare.

  • First, zoom out to see the whole image.
  • Waldo is located on the beach, so you can ignore the ocean and all those people on it.
  • Next, look to the right side of your screen.
  • You'll notice a stall with a red and white colored shade on it.

Waldo is located to the left of the stall. Go to the third grid from the left of the store, and you'll find Waldo over there.

Waldo in I'm Not a Robot
Screenshot by Destructoid

To select him, click on the two boxes marked on the screenshot above. Click on Verify, and you'll be taken to the next test. Locating Waldo is at Level 11, and there are 48 levels to complete. We have detailed solutions about what you have to do to crack each level and proceed to the next one.

Finding Waldo isn't the only picture-themed challenge. There's the kissing couple to find, along with a black cat who remains disguised behind innocent strangers.


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The post How to solve Level 11 of I'm Not a Robot and find Waldo appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:45 AM
    

Disney Dreamlight Valley Return to Beast's Castle image

Gameloft has officially announced the return of Disney Dreamlight Valley's Beauty and the Beast Realm. As part of a free content update, the Return to Beast's Castle update will introduce new characters, add additional realm quests, and include a brand-new Star Path to explore.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Return to Beast's Castle update release date

Disney Dreamlight Valley Beauty and the Beast realm
Image via Gameloft

Disney Dreamlight Valley's Return to Beast's Castle update will officially launch on Oct. 1 at 8am CT. It'll be free for everyone to access, regardless of whether you've participated in previous updates or purchased any expansion packs.


[hurrytimer id="1121442"]

Here's a breakdown of when the update will come out in various time zones:

  • PT: Oct. 1 at 6am
  • CT: Oct. 1 at 8am
  • ET: Oct. 1 at 9am
  • BST: Oct. 1 at 2pm
  • CEST: Oct. 1 at 3pm
  • JST: Oct. 1 at 10pm
  • AEST: Oct. 1 at 11pm

The Return to Beast's Castle update continues DDV's story within the Beauty and the Beast Realm, where you first unlocked Belle and The Beast. Throughout this storyline, we explored multiple rooms of the castle, including an outdoor courtyard, bedrooms, and a library, while searching for these two.

If you haven't completed its story yet, you'll need to progress through its quests first before diving into its second half. Unlocking the realm's door costs 12,500 Dreamlight, letting you complete a few quests that lead to Belle and The Beast joining your village.

This time, we'll meet Lumière and Cogsworth, who'll help navigate us through more of the castle and, eventually, join our village and friends. At the time of writing, there's no word on what their quests entail, or whether the castle itself will expand beyond the rooms we previously explored.

With the Return to Beast's Castle update comes a new Star Path, fit with a new set of cosmetic unlocks, motifs, and Moonstones if you finish everything it has to offer. There are currently no further details on what the Star Path's rewards and theme are.

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The post Disney Dreamlight Valley Return to Beast's Castle update countdown: Exact start time and date appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:28 AM
    

PlayStation State of Play February 2025 Recap

Gaming's latest worst-kept secret was finally announced today, as PlayStation confirmed a new State of Play live stream will hit the airwaves tomorrow.

Sony revealed that this State of Play will consist of "more than 35 minutes of reveals and news from developers around the world," including "new looks at anticipated third-party and indie titles, plus updates from some of our teams at PlayStation Studios."

The main course for this event appears to be SAROS, with five minutes of gameplay for Returnal dev Housemarque's next title ready to be shown off. But beyond that, we're left a bit in the dark as to what to expect. But here's what we're thinking we could be shown.

Sept. 2025 State of Play predictions

Marvel's Wolverine

Marvel's Wolverine PS5
Image via PlayStation

You ready, bub? I certainly hope Logan is ready to show off how he's looking over four years since the next title from Insomniac Games was revealed. It's been nearly two years since the massive hack that dropped a bunch of pre-alpha gameplay and story details for the game, and I think it's high time for the Marvel Spider-Man's dev to reveal what it's been working on since.

And while we're at it, why not confirm Marvel's Spider-Man 3? It's years away, but confirmation that it's coming would bring enough hype to sate the fanbase for a while.

Resident Evil Requiem

Resident Evil Requiem RE9 Grace
Image via Capcom

A plethora of rumors have pointed to the next RE9 showcase finally confirming that Leon Kennedy will be a second playable character in the survival horror sequel. Now's the time to start ratcheting up the hype leading towards the game's release at the end of February, and Leon is the perfect agent for that. If not during this State of Play, then expect RE9 next week at TGS.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

Intergalactic The Heretic Prophet revealed
Screenshot by Destructoid

Heading into 2026, Naughty Dog's new IP is one that PlayStation is banking on. A new trailer showcasing some gameplay or more story elements, along with a confirmed release window, would really light things up.

Marathon update

Marathon promotional image
Image via Bungie

Bungie's sci-fi extraction shooter was meant to release this week, but after a disappointing closed beta test and plagiarism scandal, the Destiny dev has been working on fixing wrongs and bringing the game up to snuff. I'd expect an update on the game as well as a new release date during this showcase.

Fairgame$? Maybe? Hello?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Jp4K02L1I

This game may be dead in the water, or maybe Haven Studios has been working hard behind the scenes on the PvPvE heist game that hasn't been heard from since its reveal two years ago. Either way, I would love to know more.

Ghost of Yotei

A woman wearing Japanese robes and a straw hat and holding a katana in her hand in Ghost of Yotei.
Image via Sony

The State of Play takes place one day before Ghost of Yotei reviews begin popping up, so I'd expect another short trailer or launch trailer to be shown during the showcase.

Third-party titles

It's reasonable to expect several trailers and updates for games not made by PlayStation, but ones that could have a big impact on the rest of the year. Battlefield 6, ARC Raiders, and some other titles coming in early 2026 could pop up. GTA 6? I won't hold my breath.

The September 2025 State of Play kicks off on Sept. 24 at 4pm CT, and will be live-streamed on PlayStation's YouTube and Twitch channels.


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The post Sony finally confirmed this month's PS5 State of Play, and here's what we're expecting to see  appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:05 AM
    

I'm Not a Robot against white background

Level 39 of I'm Not a Robot is intuitive. All you have to do is turn on your webcam or phone camera and express emotions when prompted. What complicates this level is that it won't always work properly, so here's how to solve these issues and complete the level.

As soon as you enter level 39, you'll be prompted to turn on your webcam. Accept it, and if it all works fine, you'll see yourself on the screen. First, show a big smile to express happiness, which should fill up the bar at the top as you hold that smile. If that doesn't work, the game might be bugged, as it was in my case. When I tapped the refresh button on the bottom left of my image in the game and tried again, the happiness bar started filling up normally.

Then, repeat that process for sadness, anger, and surprise. If at any point the bar doesn't fill up, tap that refresh button in the game.

How to solve level 39 if your webcam doesn't work

When I first played this level, my PC webcam didn't start, even though I let the game access it. The game simply unlocked the Verify button a few seconds later and let me skip the level without doing any facial expressions. If your camera doesn't work, wait and see if you can click Verify to move on.

If you don't have a camera, see if this same skip is possible. Otherwise, try playing the game on your phone if you are on the PC.

If you're still stuck in later levels, check out the full walkthrough for I'm Not a Robot.

The post How to solve Level 39 of I'm Not a Robot appeared first on Destructoid.


WGB Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:25 PM
     PlayStation will host its State of Play on September 24, featuring over 35 minutes of reveals, including gameplay for Saros, a new Wolverine trailer, and potential announcements for upcoming titles.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, September 23, 2025 5:30 PM
    

A developer update video was also released.

The post 2XKO Early Access Release Date Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:56 PM
    

Confirming recent rumors.

The post State of Play Announced For This Week appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:36 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:04 PM

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 4:00 PM
     Sloclap has officially launched Season 1 of Rematch, the high-energy online action footballer that has already drawn in more than 6 million players worldwide. The update is now live across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, bringing one of the community's top requests: crossplay support. The update also introduces a new 3v3 ranked mode, […]

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 3:00 PM
     Claw machines are usually known for their mix of excitement and frustration. But for solo developer Typin, that thrill of anticipation became the foundation for something entirely new: Cupiclaw, a roguelike deckbuilder built around the familiar claw machine experience. Featuring a colorful, expressive art and heartfelt inspiration tied to both arcade trips and personal memories, […]

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 2:00 PM
     Independent publisher HARRISONWORLD has announced that Dragon Song Tavern: Cozy & Adventurous will officially launch on Steam for PC on September 24, 2025. The team also confirmed that the game will be showcased at Tokyo Game Show 2025, giving attendees a chance to experience its blend of cozy tavern life and mythical adventure firsthand. From […]

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:30 PM
     After nearly three years in Early Access, Slime Rancher 2 has officially launched Version 1.0, titled "A Hero in Time." The full release is now available digitally on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Developer Monomi Park has packed the launch with long-awaited features, including new story content, […]

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:00 PM
     During the Beyond the Strand 10th Anniversary livestream, Hideo Kojima revealed new information about Physint, his next major project at Kojima Productions. Described as a "next-stage tactical espionage action" title, Physint is still in the early conceptual phase, but Kojima outlined his vision, approach to casting, and the advanced technology that will power the experience. […]

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:01 PM
     Some games try to be fun and entertaining interactive experiences and some try to tell engaging and gripping stories, and some are desperately trying to be movies. But sometimes they manage to catch a vibe. You kids with your broccoli hair and your iPads might not remember the desolate feeling of flipping around basic cable […]

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:00 AM
     Arc System Works has officially launched "Rise and Rock", the second entry in the Guilty Gear -Strive- official select album series. Starting today, fans can stream the album worldwide on Spotify, Apple Music, and other major platforms. A Follow-Up to "Echo of the Rulers" Following the success of Volume 1: Echo of the Rulers, this […]

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:30 AM
     During the Kojima Productions 10th Anniversary Livestream: Beyond the Strand, Hideo Kojima and Xbox's Phil Spencer shared new insights into OD, the mysterious horror project currently in development. The segment featured a new teaser built in Unreal Engine, revealing just how experimental and unsettling Kojima's latest vision will be. Phil Spencer on OD and Xbox […]

MonsterVine Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:01 AM
     I dabble in the esoteric games around these parts, but when our fearless leader DMed me to say "We got the code for Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 1 Re-Raptored for ya," I thought I was being trolled. I like 'em weird, but that's going a little too far… but then I checked, and it is, […]

Level Up Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:49 PM
     Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora's New Story Expansion Arrives The Same Day As The Third Film 2December 19 is shaping up to be a great day for Avatar fans. In addition…

Level Up Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:21 PM
     New Baldur's Gate 3 Native Steam Deck Build Features Better Framerate And Faster Load Times 6Larian Studios has released Hoxfix 34 for Baldur's Gate 3, and it brings with it…

Level Up Tuesday, September 23, 2025 1:08 PM
     Kojima Productions Reveals Three Cast Members, Poster For Action Espionage Title Physint 10Koijima Productions' Beyond the Strand presentation revealed a few new details for <a href="https://gameinformer.com/2025/05/19/hideo-kojima-says-physint-his-next-action-espionage-game-is-5-6-years-away">Physint</a>, the…

Level Up Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:50 PM
     Hades-Style TMNT: Splintered Fate Adds Paid DLC, Massive Free Update Next Week 14<a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2025/09/12/hades-ii-launches-into-10-on-switch-2-switch-and-pc-this-month" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="96f5a186-90d9-4225-bdea-99efab207a75" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Hades II may hit this week</a>, but that isn't stopping developer…

Level Up Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:09 AM
     Death Stranding Animated Film Announced 18Kojima Productions has unveiled an animated film set in the Death Stranding universe called <em>Death…