Oct 23, 20:00


GamersHeroes Thursday, October 23, 2025 6:55 PM
    

Proudly overthinking what you under think, comedian, writer, actor, filmmaker, and internet personality Alec Hamlin of @DontBeSmartAlec will be a Guest of Honor at Sac Gamers Expo 2025 this December.

The post Sac Gamers Expo 2025 Welcomes Special Guest Alec Hamlin appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:14 PM
    

Seeing a reimagined new format in 2026, the Game Developers Conference (GDC) Festival of Gaming is set to provide five days of nightly activities and offerings for everyone from all corners of the industry next March.

The post GDC 2026 Festival of Gaming Details Unveiled As Registration Opens appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:02 PM
    

The dark fantasy world of Arc Games, Asmodee, and Cephalofair Games' tactical RPG Frosthaven is getting that much bigger with today's free "Awakening Protocol" update.

The post Dark Fantasy Tactical RPG Frosthaven "Awakening Protocol" Update Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 5:33 PM
    

But hey, at least John Carpenter wished us all a happy Fallout Day!

The post Todd Howard Can't Wait To Tell You All About <i>Fallout 5</i>, But Not Today appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 3:45 PM
    

The God of War DualSense controller

The DualSense Edge has ruined me on other controllers, even this cool Kratos one

The post All Video Game Controllers Need Back Paddles, Damn It appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 2:40 PM
    

Ramza blows through a reed.

Resist the urge to immediately claim achievements you didn't earn

The post Bizarre <i>Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles</i> Glitch Instantly Pops Every Achievement appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 2:07 PM
    

This is the first mainline Fallout game to arrive on a Nintendo console

The post Bethesda Bringing <i>Fallout 4</i> To Switch 2 Next Year appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:08 PM
    

Escape From Duckov

The duck-themed extraction shooter isn't a gag, but rather a compelling and in-depth experience

The post There's A Damned Good Reason <i>Escape From Duckov</i> Has Sold A Million Copies In A Week appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:00 PM
    

Ramattra with a red fish covering up his nether regions.

Ramattra's latest skin has something happening between his legs

The post <em>Overwatch 2</em> Just Gave Its Robot War Criminal A Penis appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:54 PM
    

The open-world RPG will be available on Nintendo's new console in December

The post <i>Assassin's Creed Shadows</i> Looks Like Another Impressive Switch 2 Port From Ubisoft appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:45 PM
    

Soundcoreselect4go

Listen to music anywhere, even your shower, with the Soundcore Select 4 Go for 31% off.

The post Anker's Soundcore Select 4 Go Speaker Is Practically a Steal After Dropping to an All-Time Low appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:44 PM
    

Kirby fights a monster.

Masahiro Sakurai is leaving it all on the field, again

The post <i>Kirby Air Riders</i> Feels Like A Direct Attack On <i>Mario Kart World</i> appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:15 PM
    

Firetv+soundbar

Save 31% on the 2024 Amazon Fire TV 4-Series and receive a free Fire TV Soundbar.

The post Amazon's 50″ Fire TV With Soundbar Combo Hits Record Low, It's Cheaper Than Buying the TV Alone appeared first on Kotaku.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:00 PM
    

The first Pacific Drive DLC has arrived, and Whispers in the Woods is all about cults, dark mysteries, and a challenging new mechanic.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:00 PM
    

Defect's new gameplay trailer shines some gloriously brutal light on the 4v4v4v4 cyberpunk shooter, and now I can't wait to play it.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 23, 2025 3:30 PM
    

Path of Exile Keepers of the Flame is a sequel to 2016's Breach, arrives with PoE 3.27, and lets you graft body parts to your character.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 23, 2025 2:51 PM
    

Get the low-down on the two free Epic games this week, they're yours to download free of charge and keep forever as of October 23, 2025.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:31 PM
    

The Fallout 76 Burning Springs release date is confirmed for December, as the Amazon Prime show's Ghoul joins our survivors on a trip to Ohio.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:02 PM
    

To honor the tenth anniversary of the 'tide series, developer Fatshark has revealed a spectacular roadmap of updates for Vermintide 2.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:00 PM
    

As a part of developer Fatshark's anniversary celebrations for the 'tide series, Warhammer 40k Darktide is getting a brand new class.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:21 PM
    

KCD2's last hurrah is almost here, as Warhorse unveils new details and a launch date for Mysteria Ecclesiae, the RPG's final expansion.


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:00 PM
    

Watch out. There's a musician mystery afoot. They've gone missing, mysteriously. So says Silver Pines, a Twin Peaks-inspired survival horror puzzler that's set to arrive next year, according to an announcement trailer that's just barged into my house in a trench coat, waving a gun about and demanding to know whether I did it.

No, I respond calmly, there are no missing musicians around here. For a moment, I fear he might notice the outline of a guitar's headstock buried under the carpet. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, he says, as all detective-ish types do. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:00 PM
    

Looking back on it, when I played a preview build of zoological band management game Rockbeasts earlier this year, I think I went along with it a bit too easily. I didn't question why people were now animals, how those animals had acquired the opposable thumbs necessary to play Black Sabbath riffs, or whether the bulldog version of Simon Cowell I signed up with at the end might have any ulterior motives.

Luckily, the clearly Bojack Horseman-inspired game about trying to get some musicians you've dubbed Pearl Spam to their gig on time, so they can jam out in their silly hats, has a gotten a fresh trailer at today's Galaxies showcase that asks some of those questions for me.

Read more


Siliconera Thursday, October 23, 2025 6:00 PM
    

New Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Trailers Show Cloud, Rinoa, Terra, and Krile

Square Enix is gradually sharing videos of Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy characters on social media ahead of launch, and the next four focus on Krile from FFV, Terra from FFVI, Cloud from FFVII, Rinoa from FFVIII. This means the latest round of footage features a mix of Melee, Ranged, and Support footage. All of the gameplay teasers show the characters in their traditional costumes.

Krile is a Support-type character in the game. She will be the youngest character in the game at launch. The post accompanying the teaser noted she can increase the Bravery of others in the party to ensure their attacks hit harder. That footage also shows her using the Legend of the Deep Forest UR Ability.

https://twitter.com/DDFF_EN/status/1980833995496583383

Meanwhile, Terra is one of two Ranged DPS Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy characters to come up in the latest announcements. We see her first use Tornado, then the UR Riot Blade Ability in her video.

https://twitter.com/DDFF_EN/status/1980924588038176914

Cloud is the lone Melee DPS in this Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy announcement batch. His video starts with him using Ascension, before then using the SR Sprint Ability. That's followed up with an SR Finishing Touch attack.

https://twitter.com/DDFF_EN/status/1981196379423715488

Finally, Rinoa is the second Ranged DPS in this batch of Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy videos. That clip begins with her using the Sorceress' Leap move to close the distance between her and an opponent. Once close, she uses the R Frigid Rain Ability to attack. The next segment shows her using the UR Meteor Ability against enemies.

https://twitter.com/DDFF_EN/status/1981286976209744374

Right now, Square Enix seems to be sharing these clips at a rate of two per day. The Warrior of Light from FFI and Kain from FFIV already showed up online.

Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy will come to Android and iOS devices in 2026, with the closed Android beta test taking place between November 7-14, 2025.

The post New Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Trailers Show Cloud, Rinoa, Terra, and Krile appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 23, 2025 5:00 PM
    

Palworld Halloween Mission Unlocks Zoe and Depresso Costumes

All the details about the promised Halloween Palworld update are here, and we'll be able to get Zoe Rane and Depresso costumes by playing the game. There's a specific "Halloween Mission" tied to those cosmetics. However, there's also another new "Zoe's Sphere" mission that lets us recruit Zoe & Grizzbolt.

Zoe and her signature Pal partner Grizzbolt head up the Rayne Syndicate and guard the Windswept Hills tower. She's the first boss we fight in the game. After getting through the Palworld "Halloween Mission," she can be dressed in a cat witch outfit. As for the Depresso costume, that's a new type of armor for our avatars. This looks like the standard version of the character.

Here are the official screenshots for both of the new costumes.

This is the second year in a row Pocketpair released Halloween skins. The 2024 ones didn't feature a mission tied to them. All someone needed to do was log into the game to claim them. The four designs were Halloween Cattiva, Halloween Croajiro, Pirate Pengullet, and Spectacled Katress.

Palworld is in early access on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Halloween 2025 update with two. costumes is live. The release date for the 1.0 version will fall in 2026. 

The post Palworld Halloween Mission Unlocks Zoe and Depresso Costumes appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:00 PM
    

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Gets FFXIII Crossover Next Week

The Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis roadmap back in September 2025 confirmed FFXIII elements would show up via a crossover event and costumes, and now we know when the crossover will appear in the FFVII spin-off. Everything starts on October 29, 2025. There will be a story event with Lightning as a boss fight, crossover events and costumes for Aerith and Tifa, we can earn the Army of One Enemy Ability, and Glenn can get gear and a weapon based on Snow. A trailer went over everything.

The Flash of Destiny FFXIII crossover event is confirmed to start in FFVII Ever Crisis the day everything starts. The story shows Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa encountering Lightning in what could be Nibelheim. Aerith suggests she might have met Lightning before. (This could be a reference to the Dissidia games.) Lightning also brings up Fal'Cie. The closing scene shows Lightning stating she has to fight them, and we get a glimpse at her in-battle. 

The Panel Mission rewards should also be available right when everything starts. Glenn's Snow gear and weapon both will be earned that way. Both pieces of equipment seem based on the character's appearance in Lightning Returns: FFXIII. The Army of One Enemy Ability is also a Panel Mission reward.

Finally, both Aerith and Tifa will get a FFVII Ever Crisis equipment banner with weapons and gear costumes based on Lightning and her FFXIII look. We don't know if this will be one banner with both or if they'll be available on two separate banners. However, one daily free draw will appear while the event is live.

Here's the full trailer for the event:

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

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is available for PCs and mobile devices, Final Fantasy XIII is on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, and the FFXIII crossover comes to the FFVII spin-off on October 29, 2025. 

The post Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Gets FFXIII Crossover Next Week appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 23, 2025 3:00 PM
    

Sadako Noodle Stopper Figure Includes The Ring Well

Ahead of Halloween 2025, FuRyu announced it will make a noodle stopper figure of Sadako from The Ring. It will include the well from the book and movies too. It will launch in April 2026 in Japan. As stores like Good Smile Company, Crunchyroll, and Amazon also carry FuRyu merchandise, we'll likely see it worldwide after that.

While most noodle stopper figure designs involve a character in a sitting position that could be placed on top of cup noodles to hold it closed or on a shelf, the Sadako one shows her crawling out of her well from The Ring. We only see the upper half of her, with her long, black hair covering her face, and her right arm outstretched. 

Here are the first three images of the in-progress figure.

While this is a more faithful adaptation of Sadako, others we've seen in the past offered more stylized adaptations. The Kotobukiya Bishoujo figure of her includes a face plate that offers a peek at her eye, and it is designed to make her look more beautiful. Good Smile Company's Nendoroid of the character is a little more comical chibi rendition.

The Ring Sadako noodle stopper figure will launch in Japan in April 2026. Both the original Ring movie and remake are available worldwide, and Vertical released the Koji Suzuki book in English. 

The post Sadako Noodle Stopper Figure Includes The Ring Well appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 23, 2025 2:00 PM
    

Umamusume New Career Scenario and Half Anniversary Teased

The Umamusume: Pretty Derby accelerated global schedule means the worldwide version will get the Half Anniversary event this week and new Career Scenario in early November 2025. Ahead of both, Cygames shared in-game announcements going over what to expect. There will be free Carats, free scout banner pulls, and special paid banners for the celebration, with those starting to appear on October 26, 2025. There's no lead-up celebration for Unity Cup: Shine On, Team Spirit though.

The Umamusume: Pretty Derby Half Anniversary event starts with a Countdown Login Bonus, Daily Free Scouts, and Celebration Missions on October 26, 2025. The login event will give free Carats each day. However, that announcement didn't note how many will be given out. With the Daily Free Scouts, there will be one free each day on the Pretty Derby Scout banner. The Support Card Scout will feature a free 10-pull every day for a limited time starting on November 6, 2025. The Part 1 Celebration Missions start in October 2025, with Part 2 showing up on November 3, 2025 and Part 3 on November 6, 2025.

As for the paid Half Anniversary event, there will be two three-star guaranteed scout banners. In each case, the 10th and final "pull" on each of the 10-pulls will be an SSR Support Card or a Trainee. Each one can only be done once. Both will be available on November 3, 2025. Each one will also include all possible characters or cards available prior to November 3, 2025.

As for the new Career Scenario in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, we only know Unity Cup: Shine On, Team Spirit will show up in "early November 2025." The two new characters who will show up as rivals in it are Bitter Glasse and Little Cocon. The former is voiced by Aino Shimada, and the latter is played by Saho Shirasu. 

Here's the key art for that campaign and those characters:

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is available for the PC and mobile devices, the Half Anniversary event begins on October 26, 2025, and the 

The post Umamusume New Career Scenario and Half Anniversary Teased appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:00 PM
    

Switch 2 Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Delayed

Bandai Namco and FromSoftware stated that the Switch 2 version of Elden Ring, known as the Tarnished Edition, is delayed. It initially had a 2025 release window. That is now 2026. The announcement on social media noted this is due to "performance adjustments."

The publisher and developer didn't go over exactly what kinds of performance adjustments it will be making. However, the game did appear at some events over the past few months. During those, the builds seemed to show some performance issues including ones tied to FPS. People at Gamescom and PAX West 2025 could find it at booths like Nintendo's. 

As a reminder, this will be a complete edition of the game when it does appear. People get the base title and Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. There's only one major new feature exclusive to this release. You can adjust how your mount Torrent looks.

As a reminder, here's that first announcement trailer that appeared during the April 2025 Nintendo Direct:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4qESdsPE_k&t=24s

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition is delayed and will now come to the Switch 2 sometime in 2026. The game is already available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, as is its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion

The post Switch 2 Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Delayed appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 5:26 PM
    

Manager holding his hands up in Football Manager 26

Football Manager 26 is now out on advanced access beta, and things aren't looking too good for the community.

As expected, there are reports of crashes that are occurring for some players. The problem appears to happen on Windows and Mac alike. There are also incidents when the new game engine doesn't run well visually, according to expectations.

Thankfully, there are a few things we can do to minimize the chances of crashes till the full launch takes place on Nov. 4.

How to prevent Football Manager 26 crashes

The primary reason for the crashes currently happening in Football Manager 26 appears to be the advanced access beta state. As expected, the current build feels under-optimized despite your hardware meeting all the requirements.

Here are some basics to minimize the chances of crashes.

  • Update your graphics driver to the latest version. This is important irrespective of whether you're using an Nvidia model or an AMD model. You can use your native client to first check for an update. An updated driver, if available, will automatically download and install on your system.
  • I have found that it's better to run Football Manager 26 beta in Windowed mode instead of full screen. While the Windowed mode has certain limitations, it seems to be running smoother when you're live in a match.

I have also mentioned what I believe are the best settings to use while we are still in the advanced access beta.

Best graphics settings for Football Manager 26

Here's the current batch of settings that I am using, and the performance after the initial round of stutters and crashes has been stable.

Best graphics settings in Football Manager 26
Screenshot by Destructoid

  • Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 (personal preferences)
  • Text Scaling: Normal
  • Graphics Quality: Balanced (put this to Low or Very Low based on your system)/Custom

If you opt for Custom, make the following changes.

  • Mesh Detail: Low
  • Shadow Quality: Medium
  • Texture Quality: Low
  • Anti-Aliasing: Disabled

If your system is still struggling, simply switch to a 2D setup during matches. While you'll miss all the glories of the new match engine, you'll ensure better progression on your save (only if your hardware isn't capable enough).


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The post How to solve Football Manager 26 advanced access beta crashes? Best graphics settings for minimum lag and more appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 5:25 PM
    

Project TAL screenshot

As someone who consumes and creates content around video game on a daily basis, I'm rarely blown away by trailers. But this latest one out of Korea did the trick, even if I'm skeptical.

Earlier this afternoon, the PlayStation YouTube channel dropped the announcement and gameplay trailer for a game called Project TAL, which is in active development and a few years from ever seeing the light of day. But wow, it is stunning to see in action.

Project TAL big snake skeleton monster thing
Screenshot by Destructoid

The game's description says that it will deliver "deep immersion, strategic combat, and a rich narrative shaped by your journey" in the single-player, open-world action RPG. The gameplay tidbits shown are reminiscent of other titles in the genre, but one that comes to mind immediately is Dragon's Dogma, thanks to its usage of what seem to be AI companions as the player fights massive, scary beasts.

"Throughout your adventure, you'll fight alongside distinctive in-game ally characters — each with unique abilities, personalities, and combat styles — who grow with you and influence how the story unfolds," the description reads. "Together, you'll face colossal creatures, uncover hidden realms, and experience a seamless blend of battle, exploration, and storytelling in a vibrant, living world."

The visual fidelity is something to behold, but the disclaimer warns that it the trailer contains a "mix of gameplay and cinematics, rendered in Unreal Engine 5." UE5 is enough cause for concern considering its reputation in 2025, but the game is also being worked on by a studio that I haven't heard of until today.

The developer is called MADNGINE, and its only other game appears to be an NFT-based MMORPG called Night Crows, which is available on PC and mobile. So, yeah, there's not much of a track record to go off of here, but this debut is something to behold, so my curiosity is absolutely piqued.

Project TAL is currently slated for release some time in 2027, and I will definitely be keeping my eye on its developments until then. Check out the trailer below for yourself to see what I'm talking about, because it sure does look mighty impressive on first appearance.

Project TAL dragon and dragonrider boss
Screenshot by Destructoid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm6w2ufD6ME

Either way, I hope to see more of this game sooner rather than later, but odds are the wait for this one will be quite long.


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The post This stunningly gorgeous open-world RPG from Korean devs looks too good to be true, and I'm hoping they prove me wrong appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:58 PM
    

Players in a forest standing around a creepy bunker in Don't Scream Together.

Don't Scream, a 2023 survival horror game where you can't raise your voice above a certain threshold lest you invite evil and death onto yourself, is getting a co-op sequel. Called Don't Scream Together, the game is set to come out soon and retains its predecessor's mechanics.

As announced by studio Digital Cybercherries, Don't Scream Together places up to four players in a dark, dank, and eerie forest, forcing them to work together in deafening quietude, for if anyone raises their voice too much, or lethally farts ever so loudly, it'll spell the doom of the entire group. That, or the one who dealt it is gonna come back as a ghost to try and scare the others into, well, screaming together.

https://twitter.com/HyperchargeGame/status/1981424687302242540

It's a natural evolution of the original game, building upon its concept and adding proximity voice chat on top, which is all the craze with the kids these days, having even spawned its own quirky genre. I won't say its name, but it starts with the word "friend."

Don't Scream Together is also going for a Blair Witch sort of vibe from what we can see in its first trailer and screenshots. A shoddy, VHS-style camera takes up the screen, with desaturated and muted colors dominating the atmosphere, creating a purgatory-like environment that is simply perfect for this type of game.

It's a crying shame it won't be available for this Halloween, especially since my friends and I are dying for some proper co-op horror to mark the year's spookiest season.

Anyhow, Don't Scare Together is "coming soon," with the release date yet to be confirmed, which will, hopefully, be sometime soon.


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The post Watch out for killer farts: Don't Scream is getting 4-player co-op appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:54 PM
    

Three guardians clad in Star Wars-inspired armor stand on a desert in space.

Destiny 2's Renegades expansion in December promises new goodies to chase, and doubly so if you haven't played the game in some time. Bungie is adding extremely generous bonuses to returning players in an upcoming bounty rework, aiming for a bigger audience as player counts reach historic lows.

An army of Cabal clad in Stormtrooper/First Order-inspired suits from Star Wars.
Renegades will be a game-changer, one way or the other. Image via Bungie

The group of bountiful incentives announced in today's This Week in Destiny blog post marks the first time Bungie has done something of this magnitude in Destiny 2. With a focus on lapsed guardians, it heralds special rewards for completing orders—the future replacement to bounties.

With Renegades on Dec. 2, Destiny 2 players will automatically receive orders when logging in. These are streamlined to take your loadout and activity preferences into account, which should be a "natural thing to do as you play." Bungie also made assists grant progress to orders, albeit at a reduced rate, so you don't necessarily have to fight teammates for kills.

Orders come in different levels, which affect how much Bright Dust you get from each. And, as expected, there's a cap on how much of this resource you can earn in a given time period. Common orders grant 10 Bright Dust each, while Legendary ones grant 100 per completion. There is a catch, however: your progress slows down considerably after you've earned a total of 1,000 Dust per week from Common and Legendary orders. At this point, Common orders don't drop Dust, and Legendary orders only drop 10 Dust each—or 10 percent of the usual value.

A Sarlacc Pit from Star Wars, in a Destiny-inspired environment with a Fallen Ketch in the background.
Watch out for the Sarlacc Pit in Renegades. Image via Bungie

If you're lucky, you can obtain an Exotic order, which awards 300 Dust upon completion. There's a bigger catch here, though: you can earn 6,000 Dust per season from this rare type of order, at which point you'll receive only 30 of this resource per completion. Daily and weekly challenges in the Portal also award Bright Dust.

While the order system can have its perks, it may also not inspire faith in jaded players, especially given how parts of the community perceive the studio's undertakings toward new systems. "I literally said out loud: 'this is what they've been working on? Another new system no-one asked for?,'" one Reddit user asked. "Total waste of time to keep overhauling minor game systems that work just fine. Bungie needs to innovate, not spin its tires in the mud," another wrote.

The order system applies to everyone in the game, and current players also get benefits if they're in a mission alongside a returning veteran. The sweetest part of the pot by far, however, is in the hands of those who dive back into the game.

Bungie outlined the extra incentives for guardians to reinstall Destiny 2 under a section called "Are You a Returning Player? Read This!" in the weekly blog post. Players who haven't logged in or gained 30 levels in the season pass since Edge of Fate are eligible to become "returners," with a suite of benefits.

A mix of the Destiny 2 Pragmat Harrier body with a sterile, First Order-adjacent Star Wars ship.
The studio hopes returning players will land in droves. Image via Bungie

Returning players will gain more experience for the following six months, and completing orders can award them with a gift (capped at 30 max). They may include gear, Exotic Engrams, 1,000 Bright Dust, and a special variation on the beloved Nonary Engrams from Rite of the Nine.

If you're not eligible to be a "returner," playing with one will grant you increased XP gain, bonus Portal engrams, the chance for an exclusive emblem, and possibly auto-completing orders while helping, which doesn't seem impressive at all compared to the prize for returning players.

Destiny 2 has struggled with retaining players, especially since its highly controversial Edge of Fate expansion. The new incentives to come back may bring more guardians to the fold, but it hinges on how well it's implemented. Otherwise, the studio may risk losing both returning and loyal players.

The post Bungie really, really, really wants Destiny 2 players to return in Renegades appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:44 PM
    

A duck from Escape from Duckov and makeshift ducks behind it.

Escape from Duckov is one of 2025's weirdest games, combining the most unlikely of themes, styles, and genres.

And, the devs being great as they are, the game has official mod support, with most mods available through the Steam Workshop. However, it can be challenging to navigate through them all, given that many of them are in Chinese, so their functions are somewhat obscure.

But we're here to help, and have compiled a list of the best mods you can get to enhance your Escape from Duckov experience.

Here's all you need to know.

Top Escape from Duckov mods, listed

Co-op mod

A fight happening in a forest in Escape from Duckov.
Any extraction shooter is more fun with friends. Screenshot by Destructoid

You knew I was going to mention it, so let me get it out of the way first. This revolutionary community-made mod enables what is otherwise a singleplayer game to be played in co-op, which allows it to truly encapsulate the extraction shooter experience. Games in the genre are almost exclusively online or co-op, and Duckov's signleplayer-exclusive approach just didn't sit well with many.

Thankfully, modders are there to rescue us out of every plight, and so they made a co-op mod that's super easy to install and get running. We've made a dedicated guide explaining the whole process, so be sure to check it out here.

Display Cash with Money

A small mod indeed, this community creation counts the Cash you have in your inventory as Money that's displayed in the top part of the screen. Cash and Money are separate entities in the base game but serve the same function and are, essentially, the same thing. With this mod, any Cash you find in the world will be tallied to your total Money, allowing you to keep track of how much dough you have in stock to spend on various weapons, items, and upgrades.

Show Quest Area on Map

Solving quests is an important part of Duckov's gameplay loop, and especially so during your initial few hours of the game. However, with relatively few and quite big maps, finding the necessary items and locations associated with particular quests can become daunting and, frankly, boring. With this mod, you should be able to see in which general areas any given quest requires you to be, streamlining the process and enabling quicker, much easier progress.

Quest Tracker

Escape from Duckov looting screen in a forest.
Solving quests in the overworld will be much easier with this mod. Screenshot by Destructoid

Speaking of quests, this mod will add a permanent quest tracker embedded in your bottom right corner, which lets you freely and easily track your progress in any given quest(s). This removes the need to constantly pause and browse through the relevant quests in the game's menus, again streamlining and speeding up gameplay through minor quality-of-life additions.

Better Duckov

Sometimes, default values and tweaks done by the developers just don't do the job of enabling fun and headache-free gameplay. With Better Duckov, you should be able to tweak and configure many of the game's aspects on your own, including maximum carry weight, stack sizes, durability, and so on and so forth.

The mod, originally in Chinese, now officially has an English-language option, which is enabled by clicking the relevant button at the very bottom of the mod's configuration screen in-game.

You will find that a lot of these mods are in Chinese or have significant parts in the language, but as the game grows in popularity across the Pacific, many are being updated to support English as well.

Show the Cost! - Item Value Rarity Display

Looting is the name of the game in Duckov, much like it is in any other extraction shooter, but the game fails to indicate well how much any given item is worth or how rare it is. With these two mods, you'll fix precisely that problem, helping you not to pick up a load of junk, only to figure out it's basically worthless by the time you scrape by and return to the bunker.

The first mod does as it says: shows the values of any given item you find in the world, telling you exactly how much you can sell it for. On the other hand, Item Value Rarity Display adds a custom "tier" system to Duckov, changing item colors and art to indicate if they are of higher or lower rarity (value), which synergizes well with the other mod.

If you experience mod conflicts, I advise you to stick to the latter, since it does a much better and more creative job at providing extra information to you.


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The post Best Escape from Duckov mods appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:40 PM
    

A juvenile Triceratops with their parents in Jurassic World Evolution 3

Jurassic World Evolution 3 has a host of controls for you to master if you want to manage your park as efficiently as possible.

If you're on a PC, you can use your mouse for most of the operations. However, using your keyboard shortcuts will be immensely beneficial for you to save more time. If you're on a console, you can use the more streamlined controller settings to complete most of the tasks quickly.

All Jurassic World Evolution 3 PC controls

The section below has all the default controls applicable if you're playing with your keyboard and mouse.

Common

  • Open Options Menu/Cancel: ESC
  • Menu Left: Left
  • Menu Right: Right
  • Menu Up: Up
  • Menu Down: Down
  • Previous Tab: [
  • Next Tab: ]

Camera

  • Forward: W
  • Backward: S
  • Left: A
  • Right: D
  • Zoom In: Page Up
  • Zoom Out: Page Down
  • Rotate Left/Raise: Q
  • Rotate Right/Lower: E

Shortcuts

  • Management: F1
  • Expedition Map: F2
  • Fossils: F3
  • Research: F4
  • Staff Management: F5
  • Marketplace: F6
  • Park Rating (Management View): E
  • Site Map: M
  • Site Map (Toggle Security Rating): I
  • Nearest Park Response Team Facility: R
  • Nearest Paleo-Medical Facility: T
  • Nearest Maintenance Team Facility: Y
  • Follow Notification: Tab
  • Capture Mode: C
  • Demolist Mode: Delete
  • Path Mode: P
  • Transport Mode: F

Time Control

  • Pause: Space
  • Slow Motion Speed: '
  • Normal Speed: 1
  • Fast Speed: 2

Building Placement

  • Toggle Snap Placement: Shift
  • Rotate Item Left: Z
  • Rotate Item Right: X

Capture Mode

  • Left: A
  • Right: D
  • Forward: W
  • Backward: S
  • Raise: R
  • Lower: F
  • Zoom In: Page Up
  • Zoom Out: Page Down
  • Roll Left: Q
  • Roll Right: E
  • Reset Roll: Home
  • Slow Movement: Ctrl
  • Fast Movement: Shift
  • Show/Hide Controls: G

All Jurassic World Evolution 3 controller keybindings

The section below has all the default controls applicable if you're playing using a controller.

Default controller settings in Jurassic World Evolution 3
Screenshot by Destructoid

Basic

  • Park Team Shortcuts: LB
  • Zoom Out: LT
  • Park Team Shortcuts: RB
  • Zoom In: RT
  • Select: A
  • Back: B
  • Control Room: X
  • Site Map: Y
  • Help: Press RS
  • Orbit Camera: RS
  • Build Menu: D-pad
  • Follow Notification: Press LS
  • Move Camera LS
  • Options: Pause
  • Time Controls: Screenshot

Car

  • Brake/Reverse: LT
  • Accelerate: RT
  • Interact: A
  • Back: B
  • Handbrake: X
  • Aim Mode: Y
  • Lock On: Press RS
  • Orbit Camera: RS
  • Switch Equipment: D-pad up and D-pad down
  • Switch Camera: D-pad left
  • Take Photo: D-pad right
  • Horn: Press LS
  • Steer: LS

Capture Mode

  • Raise Camera: LB
  • Zoom Out: LT
  • Lower Camera: RB
  • Zoom In: RT
  • Back: B
  • Show/Hide Controls: X
  • Speed Up Camera: Y
  • Orbit Camera: RS
  • Move Camera: LS

Whether you're using a keyboard/mouse or a controller, there are more controls aside from the ones mentioned above. However, their keybindings are the same, and the game will make the switch situationally.


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The post All Jurassic World Evolution 3 PC and controller key bindings appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:21 PM
    

BO7 gameplay Headquarters

The wait for the newest Call of Duty is now down to just less than three weeks, and Treyarch is already talking about the first content drop coming post-launch in Black Ops 7.

CoD bringing back old maps is nothing new, especially considering that it feels like Nuketown makes its way into seemingly every Treyarch game. But one of the maps coming in season one specifically hasn't been brought back since Black Ops 2.

Black Ops 7 season 1 maps
Screenshot by Destructoid

Meltdown is coming alongside fellow BO2 classic Standoff as two of seven new maps in season one of BO7, which should begin a few weeks after the game launches on Nov. 14. And I'm pretty pumped, because the memories I have tied to both of these maps are substantial.

Standoff was a perfect map for competitive modes like Capture the Flag or Domination back in the day, but Meltdown was specifically one of the better Search and Destroy maps that the series has ever seen. For my money, it's one of the most underrated maps there is, and I'm glad it's coming back.

I'm not sure what's taken CoD so long to bring back Meltdown, but I'm glad it's finally coming. Standoff was previously remastered for Black Ops Cold War a few years ago, and it's an all-time great, but I'm glad to see Meltdown getting some shine. It's great for SnD, but I remember it working just fine for respawn modes like Hardpoint and Domination just as well.

Season one will also bring several new maps called Fate, Utopia, Odysseus, and Yakei, along with Nuketown 2025 dropping early on Nov. 20, which is just six days after launch. The others will join in season one, which is likely to begin in the first week of December.

https://twitter.com/Treyarch/status/1981421047376465996

In a new Dev Talk video today, Treyarch also confirmed that season one will add a whopping seven new weapons, three Zombies maps, and limited-time modes for players to enjoy around the holiday season.


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The post Two of Call of Duty's best maps ever return in Black Ops 7 season 1, and it's about damn time appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 3:04 PM
    

Falllout 4 universe

Ten years after first launching, Fallout 4 is getting a whole new release, now titled as the Anniversary Edition.

This follows Bethesda's previously-established re-release scheme which took on the most extreme form with Skyrim, which you can literally play on your fridge. But does this new Anniversary Edition bring anything new to the table or is it just another rehash? Here's all you need to know.

Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition, explained

Fallout 4 launched 10 years ago
Can you believe it's been a decade already? Image via Bethesda

Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition is launching as a celebration of Fallout 4's 10th birthday, with the original game coming out in 2015. That was a huge year for gaming, with titles like The Witcher 3 and Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain all coming out at around the same time.

Bethesda's celebratory re-release of the title will bring along every DLC ever released for the game, all in one package, allowing players to experience the full breadth of content the game has officially received from Bethesda itself. However, official expansions aren't the only thing that comes with this new edition of the game.

Over 150 community-created mods will be incorporated into the Anniversary Edition, ranging from well-known ones to those that are as of yet unreleased, tailor-made for this release. Bethesda claims these mods cover almost everything out there, from small additions like changing Dogmeat's breed to full-blown quest expansions. This could prove quite substantial for the ten-year-old title, whose modding community remains nonetheless robust.

Lastly, the Anniversary Edition of Fallout 4 will introduce Creations, a new way to upload, download, and share mods. It's akin to what we saw added to Skyrim and Starfield, which could also mean paid mods, but it's not guaranteed.

Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition also has the chance to break a lot of mods that you might already be running on other versions of the game, so make sure to take that into account before delving into the Wasteland again.

Modders will probably start making the switch or porting their mods to this new edition, but time will tell if it's gonna stick with people like Skyrim's editions did.

When does Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition come out?

The big ben in a ruined London in Fallout: London.
Mods might end up adversely affected by this edition change. Image via Team FOLON

Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition launches on Nov. 10 for the PC and current-gen consoles. Unfortunately, old-gen seems to have been left out of the equation this time around, which could signify that Bethesda is doing much more with the game than meets the eye.

Additionally, the game will come to the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2026, with the official release date to be confirmed. This is yet another major franchise coming to the Switch 2, significantly improving its standing among current-gen consoles and decoupling it from Nintendo's own ecosystem, which it has come to be synonymous with.


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The post Everything included in the Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:49 PM
    

Battlefield 6 Ice Lock Empire State

Battlefield 6's battle royale is confirmed to be on the way, but EA never revealed to us when exactly it'll release. However, leakers have been continuously claiming it's just around the corner, with one particularly adamant it's launching on Oct. 28.

For the past few days, X account ModernWarzone has been relentlessly hinting at battle royale coming to Battlefield 6 as a shadow drop on Oct. 28. Now, they've revealed new information from a datamine, which supposedly substantiates this claim, which they've also previously backed up with various hints from EA itself.

"A new content drop for Battlefield 6 that is NOT Season 1 codenamed "Granite" with a release date of Oct. 28 has been datamined from the EA App," they wrote. "It's safe to say this is the BF6 battle royale," they added. EA and DICE have confirmed that a BR mode would come to Battlefield 6, but the game's been out for a couple of weeks now with no BR in sight.

https://twitter.com/ModernWarzone/status/1981402959180427611

The game's first season is set to drop on Oct. 28, which ModernWarzone claims will also bring the battle royale, despite EA not announcing anything of the sort.

ModernWarzone has always been "in the know" about battle royales, specifically Warzone as their name implies, often sharing info ahead of official reveals from relevant Activision studios.

Whether or not Oct. 28 will prove the definitive release date of Battlefield 6's battle royale mode is as of yet unclear, but strong indications do point to ModernWarzone being right.

After all, BRs have become almost mandatory modes for modern shooters, with countless other titles containing at least some form of it ever since PUBG broke ground in 2017. And we do know, as mentioned above, that it's in the works, so EA shouldn't take too long to release it anyhow.


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The post Battlefield 6's BR mode might be dropping sooner than we thought appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:35 PM
    

Player taking a finesse shot in FC 26

The Ratings Reload Challenge 5 SBC is now live in FC 26, and you can complete it to win some packs for free.

Like all fodder challenges, you can complete this one quite easily with lower-rated items that are already there in your club. In exchange, you'll get a pack that could reward you with walkout/promo cards if you're lucky.

This guide will help you solve the challenge and unlock all the available rewards without any trouble.

FC 26 Ratings Reload Challenge 5 SBC task

The Ratings Reload Challenge 5 SBC has only one task, and here are its requirements.

Ratings Reload Challenge 5 SBC

  • Max. 5 Players from the same League
  • Max. Nationalities in Squad: 2
  • Max. 4 Players from the same Club
  • Exactly Gold Players
  • Min. Team Rating: 79
  • Min. Squad Total Chemistry Points: 31

Completing this challenge is going to be hard. You can't use more than five players from the same league while also taking the squad chemistry to points to 31/33. However, we have a solution for you to try in case you get stuck.

FC 26 Ratings Reload Challenge 5 SBC solutions

While the main objective is to use cards that are already available in your collection, the high chemistry requirement is a stumbling block. The following solution will help you to complete the SBC without any issues.

  • Nmecha ST 76
  • DeMelo CAM 80
  • Martinez CAM 78
  • Vobian CAM 77
  • Schade LM 78
  • Maximilian Arnold CDM 79
  • Dydasco LB 78
  • Dahlkemper CB 80
  • Stegemann CB 76
  • Karl LB 80
  • Leno GK 80

Completing the challenge is going to earn you a Prime Gold Players Pack. While the contents are untradeable, you can get a walkout/promo card. The pack includes 12 Gold Player items, with six guaranteed to be Rare and one guaranteed to be rated 82 or above.


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The post FC 26 Ratings Reload Challenge 5 SBC tasks and solutions appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:32 PM
    

Neopets Mini Games

I was never a Neopets player growing up, but I have several friends who shrieked when I told them about this exciting announcement today.

The Flash-based web browser game was a massive title with kids in the 2000s, and now a big hit of nostalgia is coming in 2026 by way of Neopets: Mega Mini Games Collection, in both physical and digital editions, across PC and console. It's a big deal to them, so it might be to you, as well.

Neopets Mega Mini Game collection physical edition
Image via Neopets

Mega Mini Games Collection includes 25 mini-games from Neopets (which are still available for free online), and an all-new 26th game called Starlight Symphony. The trailer for the news showcased some of the mini games in action, along with the official release date.

The physical edition of the game looks very cool, including the 26 mini games plus a "27th hidden mini game to discover," along with physical goodies like a copy of the game, a sticker sheet, art postcards, a double-sided poster, and a scratch card surprise packed in a shiny foil Neopets collector's bag.

There's also a story mode where you can "navigate a fully mapped Neopia...guided by Nyx, your Neopet companion and narrator, as you tackle challenges and uncover the world's charming lore." Additionally, the press release says you can link the game with Neopass for global leaderboards, earnable cosmetics, currency, and exclusive digital items,

Hey, I'm all for nostalgia these days, especially as we get older and can all better appreciate the fun things we grew up with that take us back to a more innocent and happier time in general, so I'm all for this collection and happy for anyone who's thrilled by the news.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlJC4h4NGH4

Neopets: Mega Mini Games Collection is set to launch on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4 on March 26, 2026.


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The post Neopets' new game wants to make you forget Flash ever died appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:19 PM
    

Premier League ball in Football Manager 26

Sports Interactive has announced the date for Football Manager 26 beta, and it's coming soon.

After much speculation, we have an official timeline. Titled Advanced Access Beta, you'll be able to jump in early and enjoy all the content. This guide will help you keep track of the exact moment when the beta goes live.

Football Manager 26 beta release countdown

We have known the full launch date for quite some time, as Football Manager 26 goes live on Nov. 4. Typically, the beta used to launch a couple of weeks in advance during the last few years. This time, Sports Interactive will launch the Advanced Access beta on Thursday, Oct. 23. The date was confirmed on the first gameplay livestream, which featured West Ham star Jarrod Bowen.

As of writing, Sports Interactive has revealed that the beta will go live in the evening at 8pm UK time. The countdown is set to 8pm BST. The exact times will be revealed on Oct. 23, but you can follow the countdown based on expected times.


[hurrytimer id="1131749"]

The countdown is based on the following times.

  • 12pm PT
  • 2pm CT
  • 3pm ET
  • 7pm UTC
  • 8pm BST
  • 9pm CEST

We have updated our countdown to the official beta launch timings.

How to play Football Manager 26 Advanced Access beta

The Football Manager 26 Advanced Access beta is available on PC. To play, you'll need to pre-order the game, and you'll get a 10% discount, as well. Once you pre-order your copy, you can then jump into the Advanced Access beta when it goes live.


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The post Football Manager 26 beta release countdown: Exact date and time appeared first on Destructoid.


WGB Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:43 PM
     Bethesda announces Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, releasing on November 10, 2025, for multiple platforms. It includes DLC and Creation Club content but disappoints fans with no special features or physical release.

WGB Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:44 PM
     A report by Jason Schreier indicates Microsoft demands Xbox achieve a 30% profit margin, prompting job cuts and price increases. This goal contrasts with previous targets, raising concerns over Xbox's financial viability.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, October 23, 2025 5:36 PM
    

A trailer was also released.

The post Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:58 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:24 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:05 PM

MonsterVine Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:00 PM
     Publisher Kwalee and developer Flash Cat Games have released a brand-new demo for Talespinner, the upcoming roguelike deckbuilder steeped in Japanese mythology. Available now on Steam, the demo lets players experience the game's unique blend of narrative-driven deckbuilding and mythic storytelling. Players can begin their journey as one of several storytellers, guiding their chosen hero […]

MonsterVine Thursday, October 23, 2025 4:00 PM
     Publisher Kwalee and independent developer Malformation Games have announced that their upcoming retro-inspired survival horror Ground Zero will officially launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026, alongside its previously confirmed PC release. To mark the announcement, the team released a new narrative gameplay trailer, offering a chilling preview of the nightmarish horrors […]

MonsterVine Thursday, October 23, 2025 3:48 PM
     Blumhouse Games is marking the first anniversary of its debut title, Fear the Spotlight, with a trio of major announcements that expand the game's haunting legacy. Developed by indie studio Cozy Game Pals, the acclaimed coming-of-age survival horror experience was first released in 2024, and this Halloween season, fans have three new ways to step […]

MonsterVine Thursday, October 23, 2025 12:00 PM
     Azeroth in Blizzard Entertainment's MMORPG World of Warcraft has been on fire for the last year, and there's no sign of that stopping anytime soon. This all started with the previous expansion, The War Within, when we saw Thrall, Anduin, and others go toe-to-toe with Xal'atath and her deadly allies. With the ending of The […]

Level Up Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:54 PM
     Assassin's Creed Shadows Sneaks To Switch 2 In December 1Ubisoft has rolled out its Fall roadmap for <a href="https://gameinformer.com/review/assassins-creed-shadows/dont-stop-me-naoe-because-im-having-a-good-time">Assassin's Creed Shadows</a>, and perhaps the…

Level Up Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:05 PM
     Elden Ring's Debut On Switch 2 Delayed To 2026 4Switch 2 owners itching to visit The Lands Between on the go will have to…