Oct 30, 18:00


GamersHeroes Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:16 PM
    

Players will be able to feel the rush in Respawn Entertainment and EA's Apex Legends' Amped, featuring a reworked Olympus, movement and Wildcard updates, and more starting November 4.

The post Apex Legends: Amped Bringing Reworked Olympus, Wildcard Updates, and More appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 5:07 PM
    

Spooky2

The Xbox subscription service has some good spooky picks

The post 17 Excellent Horror Games You Can Play For Free With Game Pass This Halloween appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:47 PM
    

Don't expect to be dressing up as cartoon characters or festive figures in the recently released extraction shooter

The post <i>Arc Raiders</i> Joins <i>Battlefield 6</i> In The War Against Goofy Skins appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:01 PM
    

Mega Raichu X and Y jump out of a portal opened by Hoopa, which also has the Exp. Share logo in it.

While Legends: Z-A strays a little bit from this design philosophy, it also doubles down on it with the series' mascot

The post So, Almost All Of Pokémon's Mega Evolutions Are X And Y-Shaped, Right? appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 3:06 PM
    

Mario appears on a villager's TV.

A callback to the GameCube game gets an unfortunate paywall

The post Retro Games Are Coming To <i>Animal Crossing: New Horizons</i> But You Have To Pay To Play Them appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 2:03 PM
    

Perter Berg is teaming up with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan to make Paramount's live-action adaption of the hit FPS series

The post <i>Friday Night Lights</i> Creator Is Making The <i>Call Of Duty</i> Movie appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 1:28 PM
    

Hyperkin's new wired Xbox controller looks and feels like a PS5 Dualsense

The post This New Controller Is Really Good But Broke My Brain appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 1:13 PM
    

Ecoflow Delta 3 Classic Generator

EcoFlow's 1800W power station drops to gas generator pricing at $399.

The post EcoFlow Drops Black Friday Deals, 1800W Delta 3 Now Cheaper Than Budget Gas Generators appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:46 PM
    

A Trump Halloween mask appears in front of candy.

Halloween candy hauls will shrink as prices soar

The post Trump Take Candy appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:22 PM
    

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New World: Aeternum has received its final update after Amazon put the game on life support

The post Amazon Is Abandoning One Of Its Biggest Games, But Not Before The Devs Got To Say Goodbye appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:14 PM
    

The latest entry in the prehistoric park builder adds baby dinos, advanced customization, and more

The post <i>Jurassic World Evolution 3</i> Is The Best <i>Jurassic Park</i> Game Ever Made appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:59 AM
    

Sam and Frodo are tired.

Also: bad news for Resident Evil fans on Switch 2

The post Did Amazon Just Kill Its <i>Lord Of The Rings</i> MMO? appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:50 AM
    

Pokemon Vs Palworld

The patents on which Nintendo is relying aren't looking too solid

The post Nintendo Was Just Dealt A Big Blow In Its Battle Against <i>Palworld</i> appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:47 AM
    

The Creeper Lego Minecraft

This iconic Creeper LEGO set drops to its lowest price ever.

The post LEGO Offloads Minecraft Sets, the Creeper Is Selling for Pennies on the Dollar appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:41 AM
    

An Animal Crossing character sitting on a Lego couch.

The Switch 2 edition and 3.0 update have given Animal Crossing fans something to look forward to again

The post The <em>Animal Crossing</em> Community Just Woke Up Like A Sleeper Agent appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:23 AM
    

Govee Ceiling Light

Say goodbye to boring white lights. This smart ceiling light instantly upgrades the vibe of any space.

The post Govee Smart LED Ceiling Light Is Going for Peanuts, Already Selling Out Fast After the Price Drop appeared first on Kotaku.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 3:00 PM
    

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is expected to be one of 2025's main GOTY contenders, and Sandfall's RPG has hit its lowest price to celebrate.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 1:43 PM
    

While free VPNs may be tempting, this new Android app is reportedly malware, with a focus on stealing crypto while pretending to protect you.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:42 PM
    

Eager Frostpunk 2 players have "stunned" 11 bit studios with city sizes the team thought were "not achievable" in the apocalypse sim.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:39 PM
    

Arc Raiders' design director tells us Embark wants to give players freedom to express themselves, but not at the cost of breaking immersion.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:33 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 30, 2025.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:32 PM
    

A list of each of the flaws in The Outer Worlds 2, how the flaw system works, and how to equip flaws by unlocking additional perk points.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:51 PM
    

Our top 30 Steam Deck games list is packed with indie adventures, AAA titles, and more, all compatible with Valve's handheld gaming PC.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:52 AM
    

Dying Light The Beast update 1.3 introduces new enemy behavior for humans, including a chance to surrender and more execution animations.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:49 AM
    

Discover what you need to do to access The Outer Worlds 2 console commands, and use our extensive list of commands and cheats to do anything you want.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:16 AM
    

You've just six days left to enter this competition to win one of five special edition Monster Hunter Wilds editions of AMD's current flagship gaming GPU.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:19 AM
    

There's no use in slaying the Rift if you don't looking good doing it, so here are the skins that are currently on sale in the League of Legends store.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:10 AM
    

The rarest League of Legends skins are often only available in a specific place, so here's what's available in the LoL Mythic shop.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:57 AM
    

A new update for Broken Arrow takes a huge stride towards solving its cheating problem, rebalances factions, and adds zombie hordes.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:52 AM
    

The Logitech Astro A50 X is the ideal gaming headset for those living the multi-platform life, as it can connect to multiple consoles and a PC all at the same time.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:38 AM
    

Built by a subset of Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40k Dawn of War developer Relic Entertainment, Earth vs Mars is out now on Steam.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:26 AM
    

In a bizarre turn of events, Echoes of the End, Deep Silver's action-adventure game that released two months ago, has an enhanced edition.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:00 AM
    

Respawn devs tell us that the CAR SMG will be the new care package weapon for Apex Legends Season 27, and it comes with a powerful twist.


PCGamesN Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:19 PM
    

Here's everything we know about a possible Steam Deck 2, with all the rumors regarding a Steam Deck OLED follow-up from Valve.


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:55 PM
    

Onion Games have released the English language version of Stray Children, a "bittersweet, fairytale RPG" I hadn't heard of till Oisin wrote it up in June, and then became very excited about.

Created by Onion Games, the developers of Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, Stray Children takes place in a world of kids besieged by monstrous adults. The kids live in a stronghold, while the adults, aka Olders, roam the landscapes beyond, each "carrying the heavy load of their own inadequacies, self-doubt, and all of the grievances that grown-ups gather".

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:06 AM
    

Apex Legends is rolling out its Season 27 update next Tuesday, November 4th, and RPS has been furnished with an overview of its meatiest rejigging work. I haven't playtested this megapatch so unlike with Season 25, I can't say from experience how any of these changes will get you killed. Still, since it tweaks my favourite map, my favourite playable Legend, and my favourite hovercar, I feel uniquely qualified to declare without evidence whether they're good or not.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:00 AM
    

To the boats, sword stabby and arrow shooty folk! Well, to the boats as of November 26th, which is when Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord's War Sails expansion finally arrives. Until then, maybe practice climbing some rigging, hosting mainsails, or scrubbing a deck in preparation for the naval warfare the DLC's unleashing.

Or just do whatever you've been doing for the few months which've passed since the expansion's original June release date passed by. Developers TaleWorlds clearly needed more time to shift some coastal villagers around like pebbles on a war-torn beach.

Read more


Siliconera Thursday, October 30, 2025 6:00 PM
    

Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake Patch Adds Earrings

Square Enix confirmed there is a day-one patch for Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake, and people will need to get it if they want to hear additional English voice acting or get certain earrings accessories for the first game in the collection. It is immediately available on all platforms. You can tell if you're already set if your game is at version 1.0.1.0.

The two types of accessories added to Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake are the returning Anti-freeze Earrings and Asbestos Earrings. Both of appeared in other entries, such as Dragon Quest III HD-2D. Each one isn't limited by a character's vocation and is designed to offer protection against an element. Traditionally, the Anti-freeze ones offer about 25% protection against ice, while the Asbestos offer 25% protection against fire. 

More English voice acting is the other major addition here. Both games feature some during some story segments. Once the patch is applied, this will cover even more of the game. Square Enix didn't note how many more additional voice overs will appear, 

Here are the full day-one patch notes for Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake rom Square Enix support:

  • English voices have been added to some event scenes.
  • More Traveller's Tips (i.e. tutorials) have been added.
  • The Anti-Freeze Earrings and Asbestos Earrings have been added to the obtainable accessories in Dragon Quest I.
  • Some adjustments have been made to the "Tactics" AI and enemy behavior AI.
  • Miscellaneous changes, minor bug fixes and stat adjustments, and performance optimization.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake and its day-one patch are available for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.

The post Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake Patch Adds Earrings appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 30, 2025 5:00 PM
    

FFXIV x Fall Guys Returns in November 2025

Square Enix confirmed that we'll see a Final Fantasy XIV collaboration event back again next month, as the FFXIV x Fall Guys event quest, rewards, and Blunderville show will appear between November 6-27, 2025. This is a returning series of activities and rewards, so you can pick up where you left off and won't see any new items this time around.

The Fall Guys event first debuted in FFXIV on October 31, 2023. Since then, we've seen it show up again around that time each year. As usual, you need to have reached level 15 and completed the Gridanian, Lominsan, or Ul'dahn envoy quests to first take the "It Could Happen to You" quest in Ul'Dah - Steps of Nald (X:9.6, Y:9.0). After that, you can head to the Gold Saucer at X:4.8, Y:6.1 to take "Just Clowning Around" and gain access to Blunderville. You can then go through Fall Guys style stages to earn Manderville Gold Saucer Fame (MGF) points for themed rewards at Blunderville Square at X3.8, Y:3.1. 

All the rewards are the same. This means the most expensive ones are the Gentlebean avatar cosmetics that are 410 MGF for each part, the Rhiyes mount for 410 MGF, and the Victory Reveal emote for 410 MGF. You can also get a Pink Bean Minion and Pegwin Minion for 350 MGF each.

Here's the promotional trailer for the event again, as a reminder of what to expect:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBClG1JJmTw

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, Fall Guys is on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices, and the event will run in FFXIV between November 6-27, 2025. 

The post FFXIV x Fall Guys Returns in November 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:00 PM
    

Warner Bros' Hello Kitty Movie Won't Debut Until 2028

Warner Bros and Sanrio finally issued another update on its promised Hello Kitty movie after quite a few years. It is in development and now has a release date. It will show up on July 21, 2028.

This came up in a movie teaser that featured someone in the Hello Kitty mascot costume on the Warner Bros lot. It showed the company's iconic water tower with the character's bow on the upper right side of the logo. You can watch that clip below:

https://twitter.com/warnerbros/status/1983687023920869382

We've known a film was in the works since 2019, but updates appeared infrequently. First, we learned Warner Bros was working on one. Then in 2021, Deadline reported it would be both a live-action and animated film. The last one in 2024, which came up at Fortune, only mentioned it was still in development. We don't know if Jennifer Coyle and Leo Matsuda are still in place as its directors.

While this Sanrio movie won't be around for a while, there are some recent shows that are immediately available to view. Netflix is the home of both Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventureand My Melody & Kuromi

Warner Bros will release the Hello Kitty movie in theaters on July 21, 2028. 

The post Warner Bros' Hello Kitty Movie Won't Debut Until 2028 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 30, 2025 3:00 PM
    

Pop Mart Selling Evangelion Super Mini Figures

Pop Mart announced its new collection of anime figures will be a Super Mini Figure set based on the Rebuild of Evangelion movies. Blind boxes for them will show up online starting at 7pm PT/10pm ET on October 30, 2025. The site didn't note when they'll begin appearing in retail stores. 

Each of the figures is only about an inch and a half tall (4 cm). They all feature a chibi design that shows characters in sitting positions. 18 designs are available, with two being the "rares." Of those, 10 characters from Evangelion are represented. We don't know the odds of getting the two rarest figures, but do know the Secret Edition is a Q version of Asuka and Super Secret Edition is a long hair version of Rei. 

Here's the full list of all Rebuild of Evangelion characters that will appear in this Super Mini Figures line at Pop Mart. Note that there are some spoilers for the movies below:

  • 4th Angel
  • Asuka (Plugsuit)
  • Asuka (Q)
  • Asuka (School Uniform)
  • Gendo Ikari
  • Kaworu (Plugsuit)
  • Kaworu (School Uniform)
  • Lilith
  • Mari (Plugsuit)
  • Mari (School Uniform)
  • Penpen
  • Rei (Long Hair)
  • Rei (Plugsuit)
  • Rei (School Uniform)
  • Shinji (Plugsuit)
  • Shinji (School Uniform)

And here are the sample photos Pop Mart shared that show how all of them will look:

The new Evangelion Super Mini Figures will show up at Pop Mart on October 30, 2025. The anime is on Netflix and the Rebuild of Evangelion movies are on Amazon. An XR game based on the series will show up in 2026.

The post Pop Mart Will Sell Evangelion Super Mini Figures appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 30, 2025 2:00 PM
    

LoveR Kiss Endless Memories PC Dating Sim Heads to GOG and DLsite

Dragami Games promised it would find a new home for the PC version of LoveR Kiss Endless Memories, the dating sim that also includes photography elements, and it announced it will be available via both DLsite and GOG. While the former doesn't have a product page live for it yet, GOG already does so someone can set up notifications or wishlist it.

We first learned LoveR Kiss Endless Memories, an updated version of a dating sim with all old content and improved graphics, would appear worldwide on the Switch and PC and in English for the first time in July 2025. At the time Dragami noted Steam would be the official storefront for the PC release. Then at the end of October 2025, it brought up that circumstances changed for that version. As a result, it wouldn't show up on Valve's storefront. 

With the GOG page live for LoveR Kiss Endless Memories, we have a few ideas of what to expect. This version will be DRM-free. It will also include the English and Traditional Chinese translations in addition to the original Japanese. People will have 30 days to get a refund if it isn't what they expect, as is typical for titles sold on that storefront.

LoveR Kiss Endless Memories will appear on the Nintendo Switch and PC via DLsite and GOG on November 27, 2025.

The post LoveR Kiss Endless Memories PC Dating Sim Heads to GOG and DLsite appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 30, 2025 1:00 PM
    

Honkai: Star Rail Kafka Nendoroid Releases in 2026

HoYoVerse and Good Smile Company revealed the Kafka Honkai: Star Rail Nendoroid will appear next year, with the figure coming to Japan in May 2026 ahead of a worldwide debut in Q4 2026. She'll cost ¥7,500/$51.99. People who buy her directly through Good Smile Company's storefronts also get a bonus acrylic stand of her.

Kafka will come with a number of bonuses which seem to reference her Caressing Moonlight Skill and Twilight Trill Ultimate. She has her standard smiling face, one in which she's winking, and a third in which she seems to be going "Boom!" like she does for her Ultimate. She also comes with both of her guns, so she can wield one in each hand. You can display her with her coat on her shoulders or off.

Here's how this Kafka Honkai: Star Rail figure will look:

Here's the photo of the acrylic stand that is a Good Smile Company store bonus:

Kafka is the second Honkai: Star Rail Nendoroid of a Stellaron Hunter to appear. Blade was the first.

This comes just after a confirmation that we'll the Stellaron Hunters again in-game. Ahead of the 3.7 update, a trailer appeared showing what Kafka, Elio, Silver Wolf, Blade, and Firefly were up to during the Amphoreus saga. That also hinted they may be showing up again for the 4.0 storyline.

The Honkai: Star Rail Kafka Nendoroid will come to Japan in May 2026, with the figure following worldwide in Q4 2026. Pre-orders are open until December 10, 2025. The game is available on the PS5, PC, and mobile devices.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Kafka Nendoroid Releases in 2026 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:00 PM
    

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Bug That Keeps Us From Catching Pokemon Will Be Fixed

Nintendo and Game Freak announced a major Pokemon Legends: Z-A bug that keeps us from catching Pokemon will be fixed and the Ranked Battle Mega Stone rewards will be adjusted. The former only happened under certain circumstances and could keep you from getting new characters. The latter will make it easier to avoid missing getting Mega Stones only available via hitting certain Ranked Battle tiers in the game

The new Pokemon Legends: Z-A patch will address the bug that stops people from catching any Pokemon or being able to attack certain opponents. These both only happened under set circumstances. Nintendo noted the former happened if your Pokemon Boxes filled up before the first Rogue Mega-Evolved battle in the story, that it would be impossible to catch any after that. The other bug only kicked in if you were in a battle when the game transitioned between night and day or vice versa. No attacks would land. 

In the case of the Pokemon Legends: Z-A Ranked Battle Mega Stones, we'll no longer need to hit Rank K to get them. For season 1, which is happening now, we needed to get to that point by November 5, 2025 to get Greninjite for Mega Greninja. Starting with Season 2 on November 6, 2025, these will be relaxed. People will get a second chance to get Greninjite by hitting Rank Y in the next season. The Mega Delphox Mega Stone Delphoxite will be earned by getting to Rank S. 

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is available for the Switch and Switch 2, and the new patch and update are on the way.

The post Pokemon Legends: Z-A Bug That Keeps Us From Catching Pokemon Will Be Fixed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:00 AM
    

Snow Miku and Kuromi figure by Good Smile Company

Good Smile Company has revealed the global release timings for its upcoming crossover figure featuring Snow Miku and Kuromi, after it previously unveiled the figure in June 2025. People residing in North America can immediately pre-order the figure from Good Smile Company U.S. for $165.99. Those residing elsewhere worldwide can instead head to the Japanese international website, where the same figure is available at ¥26,500.

This crossover figure will have Snow Miku hold the Sanrio mascot on her right hand. Miku's twintails will also feature translucent parts with pearlescent paints. The whole figure will have an approximate total height of 22.3 cm / 7.78 inches.

Here are some of the sample images for the new figure:

Good Smile Company is not the only one to produce a crossover figure between Snow Miku and Kuromi. FuRyu is also making its own version of the crossover with a gothic lolita twist. The latter is slated to appear as crane game prizes in Japanese arcade centers in February 2026.

The pre-order window for Good Smile Company's 1/7 scale Snow Miku and Kuromi figure set will close in Japan on December 10, 2025, and in North America on December 24, 2025. The company will start shipping the figures worldwide from Japan in November 2026. The same figure is expected to arrive in North America between March 31 and June 30, 2027.

The post Good Smile Opens Snow Miku Kuromi Figure Pre-Orders appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:40 PM
    

A fireball in Arc raiders circling a room with a player inside it.

ARC Raiders is filled to the brim with various items, tools, and weapons that you can find in its post-apocalyptic world.

But some are just cryptic and have no clear purpose, or can be highly challenging to obtain, which is how we could describe Fireball Burners. These mysterious pieces of equipment can only be found among a particular enemy, itself quite elusive.

So, here is how you can find Fireballs and Fireball Burners in ARC Raiders, and how to use them.

How to find Fireballs and Fireball Burners

A fireball shooting a stream of fire at a player in ARC Raiders.
Fireballs do not mess around. Screenshot by Destructoid

Before you can use them, Fireball Burners must first be acquired, which is a lot easier said than done. This item only drops from Fireballs, a special type of ARC that spawns across the game's many maps and is a real nuisance to deal with.

In the Dam Battlegrounds, Fireballs tend to spawn in interiors of large compounds, such as the Testing Annex in the far east side of the map. They can appear just about anywhere and will immediately attack you on sight, either rushing you and exploding in your face or burning you to a crisp.

Killing a Fireball nets you a Fireball Burner, a unique item tied only to this enemy. Fireball Burners are not a guaranteed drop, so you're going to rely on RNG to obtain this rare item from an enemy rarer still.

On Buried City, I've spotted Fireballs at a much higher frequency, noticing them in multiple locations on the map. They appear to be a more common spawn on that map than Dam Battlegrounds, so if you're on the hunt for Fireball Burners, then that's the level you should be queueing up for.

How to use Fireball Burners

An inventory screen highlighting the Fireball Burners item in ARC Raiders.
Fireball Burners can be used as fire grenades or turned into ARC Alloys. Screenshot by Destructoid

Fireball Burners have several highly specific purposes, most of which aren't directly tied to gameplay. They are necessary for several quests in the game, which require you to get them and kill ARCs or Fireballs using them. In this sense, they can be used in the same way as any other throwable in the game, creating fire when used.

On the other hand, Fireball Burners can be recycled into ARC Alloy, a vitally important component for much of the game's crafting. If you don't have any quests tied to the Fireballs, then I suggest you simply melt it down for parts, as you'll find much more use in ARC Alloys than Fireball Burners.

Fireballs themselves are also quest-specific, with some Feats requiring you to do damage to them by any means, awarding Cred currency for completion. I'd also keep a stock of Fireball Burners on the side should the need arise for them down the line, but most you can just turn into good ol' alloys.

The post How to use Fireball Burners in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:30 PM
    

Player aiming at other players in ARC Raiders

Lemons and apricots are among the most important early game resources to find in ARC Raiders, and they have multiple uses.

These two resources are not only required as crafting items, but you'll also need them for upgrades. It won't take you long to find them, but knowing where they spawn is going to make your life easier.

Lemons and apricots location in ARC Raiders

Incidentally, both lemons and apricots are located at the same location, and you can find them in Dam Battlegrounds. To be more precise, you'll have to get close to the Water Treatment Control. You'll notice a patch of forest area to the left of the Water Treatment Control building (to its west).

To the west of Water Treatment Control is the South Swamp Outpost. This is by far the best place to look if you're looking for Lemons and Apricots. You can find both in small bushes at the location, and they're not too hard to find at all. Just pick and collect as many as you can, because they will be extremely useful.

This location also has Field Depots and Field Crates if you're looking to find them. You'll need to find them to complete various quests in ARC Raiders.

Lemons and Apricots location in ARC Raiders
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid

How to use lemons and apricots in ARC Raiders

You can use lemons and apricots to craft items with their applicable recipe, or to upgrade Scrappy.

Crafting

  • 1 Fruit Mix (Requires one Lemon, one Apricot, and one Prickly Pear)
  • Unexpected Initiative quest item (One Water Filter, three Lemons, and one Water Pump)

Upgrades

  • Scrappy III (Five Lemons and five Apricots)
  • Scrappy V (Twelve Apricots, Twelve Mushrooms, and three Comfortable Pillows)

It's up to you how you want to use them. Your first choice should be to upgrade Scrappy, and then use the items for crafting purposes.

The post How to find and use lemons and apricots in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:29 PM
    

R.E.P.O Apex Predator monster

When you first play R.E.P.O., your main goal is to collect items without getting killed by monsters. As you advance through each level, you'll discover weapons and strategies that let you defeat these enemies, making your money-making life much easier.

The catch? Some monsters are easier to kill than others. While some aren't particularly threatening, others can wipe your team before you can even blink, completely changing your approach. Here's a complete breakdown of how to beat every monster in R.E.P.O.

Best ways to beat every monster in R.E.P.O.

Every monster in R.E.P.O. has its own health point values, strength requirements, and attacks that influence how you defeat them. The Overcharge feature will make you second guess your strength build from now on. Thankfully, firearms are more reliable than they've ever been.

While smaller enemies like gnomes are easily broken by grabbing and throwing them to the ground, others, like the Robe or Trudge, are much harder to tackle. In this case, your best bet is using the Shotgun or Tranq Gun to stun and kill most larger monsters.

That said, some strategies work better than others for certain monsters, especially ones with mechanics unique to them. Let's dive deeper into specific strategies for defeating all of R.E.P.O.'s monsters.

Apex Predator

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Apex Predator monster.
Image by Destructoid

The Apex Predator is an adorable duck you'll randomly encounter early in your R.E.P.O. runs. Unlike other enemies, grabbing the duck turns it into a chomping machine that'll rapidly bite your character, inflicting 10 hit points per bite. Generally speaking, if you don't touch it, you won't have to worry much about it. But the Apex Predator wants you to grab it and will stop at nothing to force your hand.

If you want to kill the Apex Predator because it is damaging your items or being a nuisance, you can shoot it with a Shotgun to instantly kill it or lure it into pits, cauldrons, or inside the Extraction Point to stun and kill it. It'll follow your cursor so use that to your advantage.

Animal

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Animal monster.
Image by Destructoid

Next on the list is Animal, a terrifying yet surprisingly weak entity mainly here to scare you. It has around the same health as the Apex Predator, making it an easy target for the Handgun or Baseball Bat.

If you upgrade your strength or work with teammates, you can pick up the Animal and drop it into a nearby pit before the Overcharge blasts you. Animal isn't much of a threat if you're standing on an elevated surface but it will wreak havoc on your valuables so keep the C.A.R.T. away from its erratic pathing.

Banger

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Banger monster.
Image by Destructoid

Another small enemy you can encounter in R.E.P.O. is Banger, a small skull creature that runs up to you and explodes shortly after. These explosions pack a bunch, so try to run away if you can.

While they are deadly in these cases, they also have lower health than most enemies, making them easy to pick up and slam into the ground. Our recommended approach is to keep them at bay by picking them up and using the scroll wheel to send them away from you as you move to another room. You can also purposely ignite their fuse by getting their attention and drawing them to another monster with a higher health pool like the Robe, Clown, or Trudge.

Bella

Bella's bicycle in R.E.P.O
Screenshot by Destructoid

Bella is a poltergeist riding a red bicycle. You cannot see her until she attacks you. Do not pick up the bicycle, stand in its way, or try to ride it. Doing any of these will cause Bella to attack, throwing you around a room as she drives over you like a child having a temper tantrum. She's surprisingly difficult to deal with as she's invisible atop the bicycle unless she's being aggressive. So the best way to deal with her is to leave her alone. Let her go wherever she pleases and if you hear her bell ring, look around as you're probably blocking her path.

Birthday Boy

Birthday Boy around his red balloons
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Birthday Boy is always celebrating his special day, inflating balloons around the map like he's cosplaying as Pennywise. He will even use a balloon to float back to the surface if he falls off the map. The Birthday Boy doesn't attack you unless you pop one of his balloons. There's some bias here as he doesn't get angry if a monster bursts them. He will however, go into a close-range frenzy if you pop one, behaving like the offspring of the Apex Predator and Gnome.

You can ruin his time with a firearm, stunning and shooting again before he gets back up, bringing his special day to an end. But there's no reason to, so just avoid the red balloons and you'll be safe. Good luck getting your C.A.R.T. past them on McJannek Station.

Bowtie

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Bowtie monster.
Image by Destructoid

Bowtie is another enemy that can either be more of a distraction than anything or deadly if you're unprepared for its attacks. It'll shoot wind at you, pushing you back and dealing five damage per hit. It'll also run away shortly after, making it difficult to chase after it. The problem with the Bowtie is that it can knock you into death pits, but it is capable of blowing over the largest of monsters too.

The Bowtie is surprisingly one of the weakest monsters in R.E.P.O. and can be easily killed with a Frying Pan or Baseball Bat. There's no reason to waste precious ammunition of one of these guys.

Chef

REPO chef enemy
Image by Destructoid

The Chef often spawns in groups of two or more. It'll briefly charge up its attack before launching at you, swinging knives around and inflicting 10 damage per hit. You can easily run away from this attack and use furniture to avoid becoming a part of its menu.

A great way to deal with the Chef is to lure it towards lava pools or death pits as the Chef cannot really control where it ends up after its attack. Falling into a pit kills it on impact.

Cleanup Crew

Holding the Cleanup Crew's head with his body in the background
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Cleanup Crew is an amalgamation of heads. The one atop his shoulders will pop off, blasting towards you, bouncing around until eventually imploding. Its effects are much like the Bangers. This head can continuously regenerate, having three short phases before it fires your way again. The Cleanup Crew also has a close-range attack where its stomach heads blast outwards like spikes, hurting like the Clown's kick.

It's not particularly fast so you can stay away from it with ease and its head is easy to avoid so long as you're not trapped in a room with the Cleanup Crew. You can use environmental hazards to hurt the Cleanup Crew's head but this is separate to its body. A firearm can kill the Cleanup Crew fast if you want it out of your lobby.

Clown

REPO Clown enemy
Image by Destructoid

The Clown is our first difficult monster in this list when it comes to health, damage output, and strength requirements. If you're far away from it, it'll shoot a laser beam at you, dealing 100 damage on impact. This is an instant KO in the early game, even if you're at full health. Otherwise, it'll kick you if you're in melee range, dealing around 60 damage. You can avoid both attacks by crouching and jumping, utilizing the Tumble Launch and cover to avoid its blast.

Despite having relatively high health and two deadly attacks, it can be stunned with the Tranq Gun, granting you time to leave. The Clown is particularly slow and doesn't have the best eyesight, so use cover to get around it, or take it on at point blank range with the Shotgun, retaliating after it misses you with the laser.

Elsa

Elsa lovingly looking up at the camera
Screenshot by Destructoid

Similar to the Apex Predator, Elsa just wants a bit of affection. It's legit this time though. No tricks. What appears as a cute dog on the surface and a loyal companion to your mission quickly turns into a horrifying meme. If neglected, Elsa's eyes turn red and transform into a muscular bipedal canine powerhouse. Elsa will then charge at you, just like the Apex Predator.

It's simple: Pet the dog. But if you cannot, you best take Elsa out before she reaches her final form. Stun or shoot her, but be sure she doesn't get back up as her health pool increases tremendously once the creatine hits.

Gambit

The Gambit is an odd one. It looks like a large hand gone wrong. They often spawn in pairs and will run at you if you come into close contact or touch it. The Gambit plays a game, forcing you to spin its wheel while it has you in its grasp. Depending on what you land on determines what's done to you and how much damage you're dealt.

They're a difficult monster to get around so shoot on sight if its wheel is exposed, or use cover to avoid being grabbed. Running around aimlessly or fleeing from a monster will likely result in the Gambit game. You can equip and attack a Gambit during its game.

Gnome

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Gnome monster.
Image by Destructoid

Gnomes are one of the easiest monsters to deal with as they have a fragile health pool. Gnomes attack your valuables and C.A.R.T., but they will pickaxe your ankles if there's nothing lying around. Don't waste anything on them. Instead, use your grab to pick one up at a time, dropping them from a height or slamming them into one another, breaking them on impact.

Headgrab

Headgrab full body
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Headgrab is a goblin with excellent martial art skills. He takes a while to notice you, but he's just as hard to spot in return. Headgrab takes a moment before he strikes, but once he does, he's hard to evade. He'll run away after his combo, moving like a dung beetle searching for his next score. Headgrab isn't around much and doesn't attack often, but he can be a nuisance if he spots you before you spot him.

He likes to wear any killed semibot's head which you can remove to stun the Headgrab. You can defeat Headgrab with firearms or melee weapons before he attacks, where there's no reason to stun him unless he's already seen you. Attack him when he's resting or right before his combo activates.

Headman

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Headman monster.
Image by Destructoid

Jumping to one of R.E.P.O.'s most challenging enemies is the Headman, a very quick and lethal monster that rapidly chases you on sight. It'll chomp at you if you're within its range, dealing 50 damage with each hit.

The Headman can be evaded by sprinting around corners, hiding from its line of sight behind doors, under cover, or in alcoves. It is a persistent threat if it has you in its gaze at all times. We highly recommend using either the Shotgun or Handgun to deal with the Headman. Hit it with a Tranq Gun dart first if you want to save bullets. Don't use Mines or Grenades on if for this floating beast will float past them.

Heart Hugger

Heart Hugger pink hearts hypnotism
Screenshot by Destructoid

This is the weirdest R.E.P.O. monster. Appearing as a root from the ground, the Heart Hugger jumps around the map like the Peeper or Oogly. This monster sprouts and changes into a pink heart, fluttering away as it sends out a particle beam. If you're caught in this beam, you're drawn directly to the Heart Hugger, stuck in Tumble animation. This monster then transforms into a Venus flytrap when you get close, chopping down on you repeatedly until vanishing back into the ground.

You can easily avoid this monster by using cover when its beam searches for you. The Heart Hugger cannot do anything if you're outside its radius. You should only attack it in the window before it transforms into the pink heart. This is when it's growing. It's difficult to spot and attack as the window's quite small. But teammates can save you from the Heart Hugger or attack it when you're being pulled inwards.

Hidden

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Hidden monster.
Image by Destructoid

As the name suggests, Hidden is an invisible enemy that thrives on hiding around the map and kidnapping you, bringing you to far reaches of your current map. He doesn't damage you in any way, but he can bring you into the radius of other monsters or somewhere you've yet to discover, putting you in frustrating or vulnerable positions.

The Hidden is identifiable by his visible exhale and footprints. Don't stick around for too long or he'll grab you. You can stun him and use a melee weapon to defeat him, but you have to act quick.

Huntsman

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Huntsman monster.
Image by Destructoid

The Huntsman has several strategies and tips for handling him, as he relies entirely on sound detection and has several moments of weakness. If you make any sound, whether through speaking, using text chat, or handling items, he'll shoot toward the sound's direction, inflicting around 100 damage.

You can easily stun the Huntsman by using the environment, Tranq Gun, or Stun Grenade. Be careful picking him up while stunned as the window is incredibly short. Instead, use Mines as his pathing is predictable and a firearm to take him down quickly. You can also make the Huntsman inflict damage on other monsters by dropping valuables or using the Tumble Launch.

Loom

Full body shot of Loom
Screenshot by Destructoid

Without a doubt, the scariest monster in R.E.P.O. is the Loom. A towering grotesque lady in black that seems to know where you are at all times. Cowering in fear doesn't do much here. There's a visual warning that the Loom is after you when two hands appear closing in on your screen (like dying to the Tarot Cards in Phasmophobia). The Loom's sheer height, uncanny smile, and eyes fixed on you makes her utterly terrifying and it's hard to know what to do against her.

Avoiding the Loom is incredibly hard and she remembers your last hiding spot and checks the area when you're trying to leave. She can only target one player at a time. You can dodge her lethal move by sprinting past her but it's risky. Arm yourself for the only way to deal with this horrible creature is to shoot at her with the Handgun from afar for its grasp will kill you extremely fast. The Loom is Robe on steroids.

Mentalist

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Mentalist monster.
Image by Destructoid

The Mentalist has as much health as the Apex Predator, a high damage output, and an appearance that puts Signs to shame. If you end up in the Mentalist's attack radius, it'll levitate you before slamming you into the floor, dealing 50 damage and making it difficult to fight against.

Use the Tranq Gun to stun the Mentalist or place Mines in its vicinity and lure it into attacking, escaping its two to three meter radius so you don't take any damage. This'll let you hurt him without using ammunition or a melee weapon. You cannot get close to the Mentalist without risking your life, but a friend can grab you in Tumble animation if you get caught.

Oogly

Oogly flying in circles in a room
Screenshot by Destructoid

Oogly is a flying praying mantis-like creature that acts as the security system for levels. A rarer monster than others, Oogly is the more aggressive Peeper. This monster circles the ceiling of a room, using its green spotlight to find semibots. You're lifted into the air and thrown around the room if you walk into the light. It's as if you're caught in a hurricane of lightning. You're then dropped from a tremendous height, dealing the final blow that could easily throw you off the map in double-digit levels.

Unlike the Peeper, Oogly is likely killable but we haven't had the chance to try that yet. For now, avoid the green light when you see it as Oogly cannot grab you outside of it. As it has a very obvious visual cue to when it's around, treat this monster like the Peeper, and avoid at all costs.

Peeper

REPO Peeper enemy
Image by Destructoid

The Peeper is the only enemy that you can't kill. It appears as a massive eyeball that forces you to look at it, locking eye contact and inflicting two damage per second. Rather than attacking it, your goal is to break eye contact by hiding behind an object, leaving the room, or holding an item in front of it.

Look out for its closed eyelids when you enter a room and plot your route around it, having cover nearby so you can quickly block its deadly gaze. Breaking eye contact will "defeat" the Peeper, causing it to disappear, but it will reappear in another room so be aware of that.

Reaper

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Reaper monster.
Image by Destructoid

Another tricky monster is the Reaper, a scarecrow that will speedily walk after you while swinging deadly blades. Although each blade hit does fairly low damage, it can easily stun-lock you in place, making it virtually impossible to escape from once caught.

Like other entities in R.E.P.O., you can attack the Reaper using melee weapons after stunning it, or choosing a firearm to take it out at a distance. However, the Reaper is slightly easier to avoid compared to other enemies, making it very easy to run away, crouch, and hide until it forgets about you and moves on.

Robe

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Robe monster.
Image by Destructoid

Robe is one of the most challenging monsters to face in R.E.P.O. Like the Headman, it has high health, damage output, and strength requirements for lifting it, making it difficult to handle unless you have a Tranq Gun, shotgun, or melee weapons on hand. Even then, looking at it causes it to move toward you quickly, giving you a small window of opportunity to kill it.

So long as you're aware of where the Robe is at all times, you can keep this monster around simply by ignoring it. Be sure to keep a distance as bumping into it will get you killed, but otherwise act like it isn't there. You can keep its lower half in your vision, but looking at its face is what makes the Robe attack. As it can deal 100 damage per swipe, it's best to hide under cover and wait for the Robe to pass. Otherwise, use the Tranq Gun or Stun Grenade to bring it to the ground and use a Shotgun to finish the job.

Rugrat

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Rugrat monster.
Image by Destructoid

The Rugrat is here to be irritating, and it sure does accomplish that. Rather than constantly hurting you, it'll grab your valuables and throw them at you, dealing damage and destroying the item. If you want to watch thousands of in-game money disappear quickly, the Rugrat will do it for you.

Fortunately, it's also easy to handle, with a few strength upgrades being enough to lift and damage it. You can easily kill it with a melee weapon or Handgun.

Shadow Child

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Shadow Child monster.
Image by Destructoid

R.E.P.O.'s Shadow Child entity isn't much of a challenge when you know not to look at it. Listen out for its child-like chuckle and avoid its gaze. Treat it like a Minecraft Enderman. You don't have to defeat it, but if you don't want to risk looking away from it then you can Tumble Launch back into it to make it disappear or throw a Stun Grenade, swapping to a firearm to kill it quick.

Spewer

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Spewer monster.
Image by Destructoid

You need precision to take down a Spewer with a melee weapon but it is possible. The Spewer is helpful in dealing damage to monsters with low-to-medium health pools, but it can and will hurt teammates if caught in its acid bath. Only use a melee weapon against the Spewer for anything else is a waste.

Tick

The Tick in R.E.P.O
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Tick is the most harmless monster in R.E.P.O. You'd expect this thing to latch onto anyone who accidentally walks in front or on top of it, but no. The Tick only drains your health if you pick it up. Its creepy human-like face gives it an edge of curiosity where you just want to pick it up, but don't waste your precious health bar. While the Tick fills up on your blood, running off with its full belly, it has a very surprisingly tiny health pool. You can easily kill it with one hit from a heavy valuable or melee weapon. Like the Gnome, the Tick doesn't drop an orb so maybe just leave this guy wandering around.

Trudge

R.E.P.O in-game screenshot of the Trudge monster.
Image by Destructoid

It's time for R.E.P.O.'s tankiest and hardest-hitting enemy, the Trudge. It has around to triple the health points of most enemies and deals anywhere between 100 to 200 damage with every hit. It can launch an area-of-effect attack by smashing its mace into the floor, so watch out if you're sticking in a group with other players.

While the Trudge's attacks are deadly, they're also very slow. It can be defeated but it takes an awfully long time and a lot of firepower. Due to its slowness and how you can hide from its two eyes (one on its head, the other on its stomach), it's best to just avoid going into the same room as the Trudge. If you want a fight, stun it with a Tranq Gun and use everything you have: Shotgun and Mines to defeat R.E.P.O.'s tank.

Upscream

R.E.P.O screenshot of the Upscream monster.
Image via Semiwork

Last but not least is Upscream, a surprisingly dangerous enemy on maps with a lot of holes, pits, or inescapable areas. If you come into contact with it, it'll scream in your face, launching you upward, dealing 10 damage, and briefly stunning you. It'll repeat this as long as you're in range, leading to some unfortunate stunlocking if you're unable to escape.

Outside of this, you can treat it much like a Banger, Spewer, or Gnome with its low health, damage output, and strength requirement. Use the environment like the Upscream does, throwing it off the map after stunning it. The Upscream moves quick so it's best to stun and then punish with a melee weapon. Standing on top of furniture doesn't help much as the Upscream has god-like skills where it can grab you even from afar.

The post How to beat every monster in R.E.P.O. appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:11 PM
    

ARC Raiders

Like other extraction shooters before it, ARC Raiders is full of fetch quests and tasks from vendors who give you rewards.

One of the earlier quests in the game called A Bad Feeling is tied to the story and given by Celeste, who trades you gear for seeds she can use to plant crops. As part of this quest, it's time to seek out specific ARC and loot them to keep the story going.

Here's how to find and search any ARC Probe or ARC Courier in ARC Raiders.

ARC Raiders - A Bad Feeling quest guide

Screenshot by Destructoid

The quest "A Bad Feeling" is given by Celeste in the early hours of ARC Raiders, and it tasks you with finding and searching any ARC Probe or ARC Courier. These can be found in various areas around the map, including on Dam Battlegrounds, the first locale in the game.

Both Probes and Couriers appear to spawn in various areas, but I've had the most luck in the South Swamp Outpost area on Dam Battlegrounds. And to follow the advice directly from Celeste herself:

"ARC Probes emit signals that you can hear from afar, and if you see a smoke plume in the distance, chances are you can trace it back to a crashed Courier."

Probes are missile-shaped drones that have landed and you can crack them open to loot what's inside. Like Celeste said, they make a beeping sound that you can hear from a distance. Couriers often crash to the ground and leave behind a smoke trail that you can see from a distance to get up close and loot them, too.

Couriers are often found on the southern region of the map, between Testing Annex and Water Treatment Control, and they may have set spawns. But if someone else loots them before you, you're out of luck and will need to find another or come back some other time.

ARC Raiders Probe
Keep your eyes peeled and ears opened for Probes like this. Screenshot by Destructoid

Here's what you get when you properly find and search a Probe or Courier:

  • Quest rewards

    • 10x Metal Parts
    • 5x Steel Spring
    • 5x Duct Tape

The post How to find and search an ARC Probe or ARC Courier in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:03 PM
    

ARC Raiders Key Art

ARC Raiders season is finally upon us, with hundreds of thousands of players flocking to Speranza to try their luck topside.

But raiding is no easy feat, and you'll need to be well-equipped for each and every journey you make through the tubes, which is where the game's branching skill tree comes into play. With three distinct paths that you can take, you could be easily confused and not know where to spend hard-earned XP.

So, we've compiled this list of the best skills from each tree to make your life a lot easier.

ARC Raiders skills, ranked

Best Conditioning skills

ARC Raiders player shooting at a robot in a desert.
Your weapons are crucial, and this skill tree ensures they aren't a downside. Image via Embark Studios

Conditioning focuses on improving your stamina and health regeneration, as well as providing you with extra utility for your melee, whether that be breaching or combat. However, some of the skills in this tree are outright not worth your points, so here are precisely which ones you should focus on:

  • Used to the Weight: Shield impact on movement speed is reduced.
  • Survivor's Stamina: Stamina regeneration is buffed when you're critically injured.
  • A Little Extra: Loot that requires breaching rewards extra items.
  • Loaded Arms: Weapons don't encumber you as much.
  • Back on Your Feet: HP regenerates to up to a point after you're critically injured.

You may need to put a level into some other skills in this tree to unlock all of the above. You don't have to buff each and every one of these skills to max, either, and I would recommend you give it your all to get A Little Extra ASAP, as breached loot is already pretty stacked and only gets better with this passive buff.

Best Mobility skills

ARC Raiders PvE shooter trailer
ARC Raiders is very much a movement game, and especially so when a massive (and fast) ARC is after you. Image via Embark Studios

As the name implies, the Mobility tree is all about movement, and some of its buffs are outright mandatory for any build out there. So, to maximize your traversal, here are the skills you should prioritize:

  • Nimble Climber: Vaulting and climbing are faster.
  • Marathon Runner: Moving costs less stamina.
  • Youthful Lungs: Boosts max stamina (crucially important!)
  • Slip and Slide: For the CoD players, this one's a must - boosts slide distance and speed.
  • Vaults on Vaults on Vaults: Vaulting doesn't cost any stamina.

Like with the other tree, some skills will be mandatory, so put a point into them and try to forget about it. With the skills above, your speed is going to be unmatched, whereas your stamina will be large enough to handle your nimbleness. ARC Raiders puts a strong emphasis on movement, so carrying these buffs is going to ensure you survive more often than not, especially if being chased by an ARC.

Best Survival skills

Field Depot in ARC Raiders
Looting is a crucial component of any extraction shooter, and the Survival tree only enhances it. Screenshot by Destructoid

The Survival tree sort of acts like a combination of the previous two, enhancing all aspects of your character to ensure they can survive the harsh realities of a post-apocalyptic world. It'll also give you a lot of good tools to work with in a PVP environment, such as double-sized and quicker looting, which'll give you an edge over everyone with time.

Here is what I recommend:

  • Looter's Instincts: Loot in containers is shown to you sooner.
  • Broad Shoulders: Boosts maximum carry weight.
  • Looter's Luck: Gives a chance to see double loot at once.
  • In-Round Crafting: Provides you with the Field Crafting ability, allowing you to make items on the fly.
  • Traveling Tinkerer: Unlocks more Field Crafting items.
  • One Raider's Scraps: When looting fallen Raiders, you can find Field Crafted items.
  • Security Breach: Allows you to breach Security Lockers.

Yeah, just about every part of this skill tree is useful to some degree. The Field Crafting is especially helpful when you run out of crucial items, which you can create on the go and boost your odds of surviving until the elevator comes. Naturally, more loot and quicker looting provide you with extra resources and help you spend less time in any given location, which, combined with the other skill trees, will see you on the move constantly, always ahead of the enemy.

The post Best Skills in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 4:02 PM
    

Pointing a flashlight at the Loom inside McJannek Station

10 new monsters, fitting for R.E.P.O.'s Monster Update this October 2025. Sure, the new enemies are the headliners, but with new content in the form of larger maps, mechanics, and obstacles to get around, R.E.P.O. just got incredibly exciting again. So, are you ready for the next challenge?

Moon levels are in full force, changing the way the game works every five levels. With it comes the rigorous training to adapt to the newest threats the Taxman has thrown at you. The fun stops at Reaper's pumpkin head, for the Monster Update introduces the scariest enemy to date and it's one that'll surely send chills up your spine. Here is everything you need to know about semiwork's big R.E.P.O. update for Halloween 2025. Spoiler: It's a goodun!

All new R.E.P.O. monsters in v0.3.0

Holding the Cleanup Crew's head with his body in the background
Screenshot by Destructoid

This is probably why you're here, so we were sure to immediately jump into the game the second v0.3.0 dropped. We searched high and low for the 10 new R.E.P.O. monsters and found them all. Here's a teaser of what you can expect:

Monster Threat level Description
Bella Low A poltergeist riding atop a red bicycle. Don't get in its way.
Birthday Boy Low A little boy happily blowing up his birthday balloons. Try not to burst them.
Cleanup Crew Medium Strange amalgamation of heads. Capable of regenerating itself after shooting its primary head towards you, which implodes shortly after being fired.
Elsa Low-Medium Pet the dog.
Gambit Medium Forced to play a game with your life if you're grabbed by one of these hand-like creatures.
Headgrab Medium A goblin that's pretty good at martial arts.
Heart Hugger Low-Medium Pink hearts force you towards its way as you're trapped in the Tumble Launch animation. It then transforms into a Venus flytrap when you get close, chopping down on its prey.
Loom High The scariest R.E.P.O. monster to date. A foreboding warning of hands on your screen appears before you see this tall creature, who knows where you are at all times.
Oogly Low-Medium An aerial threat that scans a room with a green spotlight, lifting you into the sky and dropping you to your death.
Tick Low A relatively harmless bug that won't hurt you unless you pick it up.

Monster Update new content

Semibot heads on spikes in Museum of Human Art
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Monster Update has added new mechanics, upgrades, and expanded each map with new rooms.

The Death Head Possession allows you to control your semibot's head, helping your teammates find it or to warn them of what killed you. This has a battery charge, meaning you can't use it indefinitely.

A new Tumble Grab lets you grab objects, items, and weapons, making you more of a threat while evading monsters or hiding under cover.

Upgrades include the Death Head Battery, increasing how long you can possess your semibot head after death. Then the Tumble Climb! which helps you execute tight platforming.

A dragon skull in Swiftbroom Academy
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Swift Broom Academy has 24 new valuables and a new room. Headman Manor adds eight new valuables and two new rooms. McJannek Station sees 22 new valuables, but no new rooms. Finally, the Museum of Human Art has 20 new rooms, making this gallery look more like a refugee camp for semibots that's since been invaded by monsters.

Outside of this, Steam shows the current level of a player and friends in a lobby appear as a group. You can now join a friend's game via Discord. Any corrupted save files (which you can now name) are now saved and you can get them back via the Restore from Backup button. Lastly, you can now toggle on or off auto-grab with Item Unequip Auto Hold.

R.E.P.O. v0.3.0: All changes, listed

A statue covered with a sheet in McJannek Station
Screenshot by Destructoid

There's a handful of changes across the board, from the game design to specific maps. Here's what's changed:

  • All maps have unique valuables.
  • Main menu has new music.
  • New ambient sounds in map rooms.
  • Players no longer take damage during level outro animation.
  • Crouch Rest upgrade now triggers in Tumble Launch.
  • Truck Chat points out if there are multiple extractions remaining.
  • Truck Healer activates after the final extraction.
  • Non-lethal water no longer looks radioactive.
  • Window curtains and new flooring in Headman Manor
  • Improved textures in Headman Manor, McJannek Station, and Swiftbroom Academy.
  • Updated car models in the Shop.
  • Bar appears more fully charged before impact on Overcharge.
  • Optimized save files to reduce file size.
  • Shadow Child deals more damage.
  • Phase Bridge auto-aligns and remains wherever you release it.
  • Battery drains slowly when Torque Drone and Zero Gravity Drone are attached to monsters.

And finally, here are the v0.3.0 fixes:

  • Player no longer gets stuck or falls through the map after being revived.
  • Fixed grabbed item movement degrading on strength exceeding 90.
  • Monsters no longer spin when multiple players grab them.
  • Monsters shouldn't get stuck anymore and their jump logic has been improved to reduce them accidentally falling into death pits.
  • Bowtie particles no longer linger after death.
  • Chef cannot hurt you through walls.
  • The Peeper takes longer to release you.
  • C.A.R.T. now resets and can be steered while you're inside it.
  • C.A.R.T. Canon is enabled inside the extraction point.
  • Fixed bug where some items had more uses than intended.
  • Fixed bug where equipped item light lingered.
  • Upgrade particles after use should always be visible.
  • Fixed Truck countdown failing if player left the truck after entering it.
  • Duplicate items shouldn't spawn upon dying in the Shop. Grenades and Explosive Mine can be ungrabbed during explosion and TrapZap resets properly.
  • UI fixes with health and energy when above 999.
  • Moon level now shows the right graphic.
  • Fixed save file deletion after reviving and quitting the game.
  • Memory usage optimized.
  • Fixed valuables on ledges being undiscoverable from low angles.
  • Cursor is invisible when the map is open and the grabbable object is targeted.
  • Fixed reticle when set to "Medium."
  • Fixed Chat enter key issue.
  • Invert Vertical Aim works properly when spectating.
  • Flicker of lines above text fixed on Value UI.
  • Fixed close sounds playing on the setting page.
  • Multiple level issues fixed on Headman Manor, Swiftbroom Academy, and Museum of Human Art.

The post R.E.P.O. v0.3.0 Monster Update — Full patch notes, listed appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 3:38 PM
    

Captain Price in MW3

The long overdue Call of Duty movie now has a creative team behind it, and it contains some big names that have a long track record of success in both TV and movies.

Paramount Pictures announced today that the CoD live-action film will be directed by Peter Berg, who will also serve as co-writer and producer alongside Taylor Sheridan. Berg is an industry veteran who's worked on all sorts of projects over the years, but Sheridan is the name that has given me hope.

Promo image for Black Ops 7
Screenshot via Activision

Sheridan is the writer and creator of successful TV shows like Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, and 1923, so he has found a way to keep busy, especially over the past few years. These shows have all reviewed decently well, and with Berg helping to write the movie, there's reason to believe they could cook up something fun.

Berg has been around for decades, most notably directing the original Friday Night Lights movie, Will Smith superhero movie Hancock, Patriots Day, and Deepwater Horizon, alongside many TV episodes in shows like The Leftovers, so he's got plenty of experience with a budget.

CoD has a ton of source material to pull from, so I will be curious to see if the movie takes on the Modern Warfare or Black Ops era. There are also a lot of iconic characters that could come into the fold, including Captain Price, Soap, Frank Woods, and other globetrotting soldiers to pick from, and the potential for sequels is pretty limitless. The hope is that this writing team will handle the storyline with care while also bringing the bombastic action the franchise is known for to the big screen.

A CoD film doesn't have to have an award-winning script or Academy Award-level acting, but I don't think anyone would be opposed to either scenario. As long as it's fun and maintains the action setpieces the franchise's gameplay is known for, we could be in for a good time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQcZrvSkp0r/

The CoD movie was officially announced at the beginning of September, and it does not currently have an estimated release window.

The post The Call of Duty movie officially has a writing team and director, and I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about it now appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 3:18 PM
    

Pippin crying after Gandalf's death in Lord of the Rings

The recent Amazon layoffs heavily affected its gaming division, and now a former developer's LinkedIn post implies that the Lord of the Rings MMO in development has no one working on it and is likely cancelled.

The wording on the now-unavailable post by a former senior gameplay engineer doesn't explicitly confirm cancellation, and Amazon hasn't formally announced it—unlike how they announced New World will no longer receive updates. However, it's understood that everyone, or at least most people working on the LOTR game, is no longer at Amazon due to being included in the 14,000 cuts announced last Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/IntelMMO/status/1983907058526068763/

This is the second time Amazon has failed to release this Lord of the Rings MMO. Back in 2021, after two years of development, the company announced the first cancellation shortly after Tencent acquired one of their partner developers in China, Leyou Technologies. Following this acquisition, Amazon claimed it couldn't reach new terms with Tencent, and development had to be halted.

Two years later, in 2023, Amazon partnered with Embracer Group and Middle-earth Enterprises to recreate the Lord of the Rings game, now without Tencent's influence. They were expecting an open-world MMO adventure to finally release without external interference. But Amazon couldn't survive its own challenges. This week, after another two-year cycle, the future of Lord of the Rings looks bleak.

It's interesting how every major news about this game follows a two-year cycle: first announcement in 2019, cancellation in 2021, new development in 2023, and a potential second cancellation in 2025. It's unclear if this reflects some bi-annual cycle within Amazon, but it hints that if the company ever wants to reuse Lord of the Rings assets, we'll probably only hear about it two years from now.

We're still waiting for Amazon to officially confirm or deny this cancellation. But it looks grim for what could have been an MMO based on a massively successful franchise that might have elevated Amazon Games to a big developer status.

The post Amazon's Lord of the Rings MMO is reportedly canceled again, and they have no one else to blame this time appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 2:28 PM
    

Bounou's base card in FC 26 Ultimate Team

The Phantom Dash Evolution presents a unique opportunity to evolve one of your goalies in FC 26, and there are plenty of great options.

Your chosen item will receive stat upgrades, new roles, and playstyles. While the evolution is available for free, you can use it only once. Let's look at the best options based on the requirements and offered upgrades.

FC 26 Phantom Dash Evolution requirements

Here are the requirements of Phantom Dash Evolution in FC 26.

  • Overall: Max 82
  • PlayStyle: Max 3
  • Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
  • Position: GK

FC 26 Phantom Dash Evolution upgrades

The evolution has two levels of upgrades, and there are certain conditions to fulfil. Both tasks are fairly straightforward and should be completed relatively quickly.

Level 1 upgrades

  • Overall: +8|84
  • Diving: +3|81
  • Handling: +3|77
  • Acceleration: +15|85
  • Sprint Speed: +15|85
  • Weak Foot: +1|3

Level 2 upgrades

  • Kicking: +2|81
  • Reflexes: +5|84
  • Positionin: +2|83
  • Acceleration: +15|85
  • Sprint Speed: +15|85
  • PlayStyles: Rush Out|4

Level 1 upgrade requirements

  • Win 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.

Level 2 upgrade requirements

  • Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.
  • Win 3 matches while conceding 1 goal or less in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rivals, Champions, Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.

Best players to use in Phantom Dash Evolution

Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution.

  • Bounou
  • Thomas Strakosha
  • Alexander Nubel
  • Vicario
  • Kasper Schmeichel
  • Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
  • Edouard Mendy

While the upgrades are minor, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and upgrade their stats further.

The post Best players for FC 26 Phantom Dash Evolution appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 2:16 PM
    

ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders presents the player with numerous quests and assignments to make each venture topside much more meaningful. They're also a great way to earn extra rewards on top of all the loot, giving everyone a better sense of accomplishment.

But not all quests are quite clear nor are all the items out in the wild clearly explained, and Field Crates in particular seem to be messing with player's minds. They're tied to a quest, a feat that awards extra Cred, and can lead to additional loot and rewards on their own.

So, here's where you can discover Field Crates and how you can put them to good use.

Where to find Field Crates and what you should do with them in ARC Raiders

A Field Crate on the ground in ARC Raiders.
Field Crates are big silver boxes that spawn at various locations in ARC Raiders. Screenshot by Destructoid

Field Crates can be found across numerous locations in the Dam Battlegrounds, the first map of the game. They're located in proximity to Field Depots, which are also spread out across this map. They are a big silver box that you have to manually pick up and carry to these depots, and you're unable to shoot or do most actions while doing so.

We've compiled a full list of all Field Depot locations, which you can refer to and get a greater sense of where Field Crates might be located.

The best place to look for them, and the easiest by far, is the Water Towers, located near the south edge of the map, beneath the Electrical Substation. A Field Depot lies exactly in between the Electrical Substation and the Water Towers, with Field Crates spawning in the former's northernmost building. Field Crates can spawn in several locations in the Substation, so explore the location if you don't find it in the building in question.

The images below show the exact location of both the Field Depot and where I usually discovered the Field Crate.

Once you've deposited the Field Crate into a depot and collected the reward, both the Feat and the Down to Earth quest should be completed. Collecting this extra loot is a great idea for beginners as Field Depots tend to be close to elevators and can award items of higher rarity and value.

The post How to use Field Crates and where to locate them in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 1:31 PM
    

Xbox Showcase 2025

Microsoft doesn't seem worried about the recent backlash to the Game Pass price hike. In fact, they're expecting subscriptions to increase and cut losses in Xbox's services division next quarter.

In their latest earnings call for Q1 fiscal year 2026 (July to September), Microsoft executives revealed that Xbox's content and services revenue, which includes Game Pass, is stable and even seeing growth. This period doesn't include revenue from the Game Pass price hike, which took effect in most countries in October and will roll out everywhere else in November. We'll only see its effects on the next earnings call in late January 2026.

A slide from Microsoft's FY26 Q1 presentation.
The latest Xbox financial results. Image via Microsoft

Interestingly, one executive said that despite expecting losses in services and subscriptions, they're anticipating an increase in Game Pass subscriptions.

"And in Xbox content and services, we expect revenue to decline in the low to mid-single digits against a prior year comparable that benefited from strong first-party performance, partially offset by growth in subscriptions."

This language is curious. Are they expecting subscriber numbers to rise, or just revenue? If subscription numbers decrease less than revenue increases from the price hike, it could still be viewed positively. But it does sound like Xbox is betting more people will subscribe to Game Pass.

They're likely confident because of the sheer volume of day-one releases on Game Pass, like Outer Worlds 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Xbox has invested heavily in fresh game availability, and Microsoft believes this library will keep people subscribed or attract new subscribers.

However, this doesn't reflect the sentiment when Microsoft announced the price hikes. Many players, including ourselves, became skeptical about Game Pass's future, believing it would make gaming less accessible. A $30 price tag for the full library doesn't feel worth it anymore, considering Game Pass's main appeal was paying less than an indie game's price to access not only indies but also expensive titles. At $30, it might make more sense to save that money and buy games for $60 or $70 and actually own them instead of subscribing.

Microsoft's strategy suggests either they genuinely believe their products will be compelling enough to justify the higher price, or they're trying to reassure investors amid community backlash.

The post Microsoft bets on Game Pass growth despite upcoming price hike and subscriber backlash appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 1:31 PM
    

Invisigal in Dispatch pointing her finger at Robert

Another week has rolled around, and Dispatch has received two extra episodes, marking the mid-point of the game's episodic release structure.

And boy was it worth the wait. Building on the initial introductions made by the first two episodes, this new batch expands on almost every character in the game, with interpersonal relationships between the cast coming to the forefront.

Split-second decision-making is taken up a notch, and while there are no quicktime events in this part, there is no shortage of gameplay, nor is the player ever left out of moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist.

Here is our review in progress for this pair of episodes.

A bunch of villains sitting at a table in Dispatch.
Dispatch Episodes 3 and 4 are so incredible I am at a loss for words. I know I wrote this much, but few words can describe the experience accurately. Image via AdHoc Studio

Dispatch Episodes 3 and 4 pick off right where they left off, following again Robert Robertson as he settles into his new position as a dispatcher for villains-turned-heroes, all of whom are on the edge of crashing out almost constantly (the last episode cutting off just as one said crash out happened).

This time around we know all the faces, so introductions are less than necessary. The game understands that, and instead chooses to show us how these characters relate to each other. The writing is incredible, to say the least, and Dispatch takes a step towards a very mature approach to superhero storytelling.

It ditches every trope and stereotype that'd be expected of such a genre and setting, and brings everything down to the ground floor. These people are flawed, conflicted, layered, and oftentimes misunderstood, cast into villainy (or heroism) by their upbringing or circumstances.

Robert, the main guy, is a hero-in-name-only, born with no actual powers of his own and merely using a powerful suit, but even so, he manages to relate to our troubled bunch whose abilities seem to them more a burden than a boon.

Depending on how you play the game, things will happen drastically differently, and we finally get to see the first hints of actual romances that the player can engage in. Will you discipline the cast, relate to them, or will you be a cold know-it-all who sees them as nothing but an unruly mob? It's all up to you, and, as I've said, no quicktime events are necessary to see that play out.

Choice-and-consequence is an AdHoc trademark, and Dispatch takes the concept more than seriously, making these four episodes, and especially the second batch, an unprecedented level of replayability and variation that'll ensure every player has a markedly different experience.

Invisigal, Royd, and Robert standing in a room in Dispatch.
Romances make a proper appearance in these episodes, and nothing about them is forced or corny. Image via AdHoc Studio

Another huge character, in a literal sense, finally takes up a spot in the story in these two episodes. He is AdHoc's version of the "evil superman" or rather, the "not-human-but-very-human superman that might turn out evil at some point." That was a mouthful, but it's the best description I have of the guy.

He is sort of a combination of Omni-Man and Superman, and I cannot wait to see how his character is developed in subsequent episodes. I believe he's quite a unique take on an overdone trope, but I sense there's a lot more to him than meets the eye.

Of course, the episode features a bunch of actual dispatch gameplay where you manage the heroes and send them out on missions, which is probably the most fun part about the game. It's actually so addicting that I wouldn't be opposed to AdHoc releasing a standalone experience that's just that.

Overall, these two episodes take the foundations laid by the previous two and do nothing but build, improve, and develop on them, offering a deep and insightful and very mature (and I mean 18+) take on superheroes and, more importantly, the people behind the masks.

I love everyone in the cast, even the bat dude voiced by Charlie White of Hunger Games fame, and I am ecstatic to see what next week has in store for us.

The post Dispatch Episodes 3 and 4 Review-in-Progress – Daring, mature, deeper than the ocean appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 1:25 PM
    

Server Slam backpack in ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders is a hoarder's worst nightmare—or is it the ultimate fantasy?

Venturing out into the topside world and leaving the safe haven of Speranza is as daunting as it is exciting. There's a lot of danger out there, but there's also a lot of loot, and you can pick up and take home just about anything you can find out there.

But as many players are finding out, inventory space is limited for players to stash their items like weapons, ammo, and crafting materials. Upgrading the amount of items you can hold in your base is a crucial part of the ARC Raiders experience, and it's not readily apparent how this is done.

Here's how to increase your inventory slots in ARC Raiders.

How to upgrade your Inventory in ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders Key Art
Image via Embark Studios

In ARC Raiders, you have your personal backpack inventory when you go topside on missions, and you have your stash Inventory where you can store all of your items. Both of these can be expanded to hold more items, but in very different ways.

To be able to hold more items while playing the game and have more slots to pick up more loot, you need to equip an Augment. Augments offer different inventory buff,s including the number of slots for each kind of item, what kind of shields you can carry, and more.

For example, the Looting Mk.1 Augment offers 18 backpack slots, while the Combat Mk.1 Augment offers 16, and Tactical Mk.1 Augment offers 15. If you're looking to carry more gear, use a Looting Augment. These Augments can be found in the world or crafted within Speranza.

How to Expand Stash in ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders Expand Stash screen
Screenshot by Destructoid

You will quickly run out of Inventory space for your stash, so you need to use the Expand Stash button from the Inventory screen to buy more slots. The Expand Stash button can be found on the top left of the screen (pictured below), and you can purchase additional slots using Coins.

Expand Stash Inventory in ARC Raiders
Screenshot by Destructoid

The first upgrade is for 5,000 Coins and expands your stash slots by 24. The next upgrade is 10,000 Coins and expands it even further so that you can hoard more items that you don't take with you on missions since you're afraid of losing them. I may be projecting.

This is a good investment in the early game of ARC Raiders, because using the Free Loadout Augment and successfully extracting will quickly load up your stash with items, and you will run out soon. As you play and gain more Coins, you can continue to upgrade

The post How to increase your inventory size in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:58 PM
    

Field Depot in ARC Raiders

The Off the Radar quest in ARC Raiders requires you to find the Field Depots on the map, and this can be a tricky one to solve.

Once you receive the quest from Shani, you'll have to head to the Dam Battlegrounds on the map. The location has six Field Depots you can find to complete the Off the Radar quest.

All Field Depot Locations in ARC Raiders

While Dam Battlegrounds is the easiest location to find the Field Depots, they can be found elsewhere. As I mentioned earlier, there are six Field Depots in this region. Field Depots are metallic buildings with a radar on top of the roof. To complete the Off the Radar quest, you need to spot just one in ARC Raiders.

All Field Depot locations in  ARC Raiders
Remix by Destructoid via Embark

While I have marked the locations of all six on the map, here's a brief rundown of their location.

  • Dome Complex: The Dome complex has a Field Depot right in the middle of the zone.
  • Water Treatment Control: The Field Depot is located towards the east by the Loading Bay.
  • Power Generation Complex: The Field Depot is located outside the complex on the edge of the cliff.
  • South Swamp Outpost: The Depot is located in the southern swamp area.
  • Red Lakes Berm and Lower Gallery: The Depot is in the Lower Gallery to the west of Testing Annex.
  • Water Towers and Electrical Substation: The Depot is between the four crates found in this region.

How to complete Off the Radar quest in ARC Raiders

To complete the Off the Radar quest, you'll have to head to a Field Depot location and repair the antenna on top of it. You'll find the radar dish on the roof: interact and you'll get the prompt to repair it. Wait for a few seconds for the task to complete, and you'll finish the Off the Radar quest. A successful extraction is not necessary as long as you have repaired the radar.

The post All Field Depot locations in ARC Raiders – Off the Radar quest walkthrough appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:29 PM
    

Several Anbernic RG DS models side by side.

Anbernic, which makes handheld consoles for emulating several classic systems, recently threw all the hype the company built with the retro gaming community in the trash. 

The company already has a dedicated user base because of how its emulation devices look like actual handheld consoles like Game Boy, GBA, and GBA SP. Now, it has announced a new console that looks exactly like the Nintendo DS and would be able to emulate DS and 3DS games with a touchscreen. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIKgUUbZT20

The Oct. 14 was enough to hype the retro community. That's because emulating the two Nintendo DS screens while keeping the touchscreen functionality and all physical buttons is really difficult. So, Anbernic's take on the DS looked like the perfect solution, and players were hyped to see how well it would work. 

That is, until the specs leaked on AliExpress on Oct. 29. 

The processor is a Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A55, which is the bare minimum to run several Nintendo DS emulators and not enough for the recommended specs. That means the RG DS might not support more demanding games or extra visual features that make the emulation look closer to the real DS and 3DS experience. 

The system will also run Android 14, which is considered too heavy for that processor. Because of that, players are worried about how the device will perform and what features it will actually be able to use.

Another problem is the battery. It's supposed to last about six hours, but it takes a whopping three and a half hours to fully charge, which feels too much when compared to the lower charging times of more robust handhelds like the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch 2.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ANBERNIC/comments/1ojs8fa/the_new_rg_ds_leaked/

"We quickly went from 'they cooking' to 'this is so cooked'," a fan wrote on Reddit. "Way to kill any hype I had for this, congrats Anbernic," a second one added. "Should be called RG DB (deal breaker)," a third one joked. 

These main pain points of weak specs and slow charging have made the retro gaming community go from extremely hyped about the RG DS to extremely disappointed. Anbernic hasn't commented yet, and the official reveal with confirmed specs and pricing should be coming soon. But if the leaks are true, it seems Anbernic might have fumbled one of its best chances to deliver the perfect handheld for DS emulation.

The post 'This is so cooked': This retro console lost all hype overnight after leaks killed expectations appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:19 PM
    

ARC Raiders Key Art

The latest and greatest shooter game has arrived, and Raiders everywhere are heading topside for loot while dealing with massive robotic threats and other humans.

Welcome to ARC Raiders, where your experience is only as good as the loot you find, the teammates you befriend, or the enemies you make in a post-apocalyptic world taken over by terrifying robotic enemies called ARC.

The new game from Embark Studios (makers of The Finals) is off to a big start despite releasing around several other big-name shooter games. But just how many players are logging on for expeditions to find loot and fight bots?

Here's everything we know so far about how many players are playing ARC Raiders.

ARC Raiders player count

ARC Raiders player shooting at a robot in a desert.
Image via Embark Studios

In the hours following ARC Raiders' launch on Oct. 30, 2025, over 200,000 players are online on Steam. This does not include players on PS5 or Xbox, so the overall number is likely way larger and will only climb throughout its opening weekend.

You can see the active player count on any Steam game by checking out the game's Community Hub page. A website known as SteamDB also tracks concurrent players and shows a history of it, so you can stay in tuned with how many players are online at any given time on Steam. But as far as other platforms go, that information is not readily available.

For official full player count numbers, Embark Studios will likely have to reveal or make an announcement since concurrent players are not public knowledge. But the game's success on day one bodes well for more players to join in over the coming weeks and months as the game expands with new content and story beats.

Congrats to Embark on a successful launch, and be prepared to see that number climb steadily very soon.


This article will be updated with more up-to-date information when it becomes available.

The post How many players are playing ARC Raiders? appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:00 PM
    

ARC Raiders scary sight

ARC Raiders might be ideally built to play with your buddy, but you can thrive and survive on your own with the correct build.

The emphasis changes significantly when you're not playing with a partner. The world of ARC Raiders has plenty of dangers in the form of other players and the bots, so you'll always have to be on your toes. When playing alone, my utmost focus is to go on a build that well-utilizes all three trees, with the highest emphasis on survival.

Best ARC Raiders solo build

The build I have gone for is basically a jack of all trades (and master of some). It has a good distribution of points in the Mobility and Survival trees, as both are vital to outlast enemies in the wild. However, I haven't forgotten about Conditioning, given the role those skills play, especially when you're on your own.

Best solo build in ARC Raiders
Remix by Destructoid via Metaforge

The image above has my build at level 50, which will take a fair amount of time for players to reach. The maximum level cap at launch is 75, so you can continue with this build as you level up. Let me share my idea on the build and how it works.

Skills

Here's how I have distributed the skills (up to level 50).

Conditioning

  • Used to the Weight: 1
  • Gentle Pressure: 1
  • Proficient Pryer: 1

Mobility

  • Nimble Climber: 1
  • Marathon Runner: 5
  • Youthful Lungs: 5
  • Slip and Slide: 3
  • Sturdy Ankles: 1
  • Calming Stroll: 1
  • Carry the Momentum: 1

Survival

  • Agile Croucher: 3
  • Revitalizing Squat: 5
  • In-Round Crafting: 1
  • Looter's Instinct: 1
  • Silent Scavenger: 5
  • Suffer in Silence: 1
  • Good as New: 1
  • Traveling Tinkerer: 1
  • Broad Shoulders: 4
  • Looter's Luck: 4

Nodes

We begin the build from the three basic nodes that should be your first unlocks. The skills allow you to move quickly while crawling, and having a shield has a lesser negative penalty on movement. The priority should be to unlock Proficient Pryer, as it allows you to scavenge quicker and better.

Here are some of the key nodes you should activate as early as possible:

  • Marathon Runner: Moving around will cost less stamina.
  • Youthful Lungs: Raise your maximum stamina.
  • Calming Stroll: Enhances stamina gain during walking.
  • Revitalizing Squat: Stamina regeneration during crouches is enhanced.
  • Silent Scavenger: Less noise while looting.
  • Broad Shoulders: Raises the maximum weight that you can carry.

So which two end nodes should you target with this build? I will list down two good options.

  • Security Breach: Allows you to gain access to Security Lockers (you'll still have to breach them).
  • Vaults on Vaults on Vaults: Vaulting no longer costs any stamina.
  • Back on your feet: Allows you to regenerate a portion of your health when you're critically hit.

If you go for Back on your Feet, this build will suddenly become skewed towards Conditioning (which is absolutely fine).

As for the order of investing the points, it's better to go with your judgment. Every person plays differently, and it's better to focus on the area that might be one of your weaknesses.


The post Best ARC Raiders build for solo play appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:56 AM
    

The best Legendary items in Pixel Quest depend on both your build and whether you're going for a boss raid or farming mobs. Below I'll be rating all weapons, abilities, armor and equipment including the current highest tier. Here's my complete Pixel Quest tier list for everything in the game so that you can make the best build.

Pixel Quest Weapon Tier List

pixel quest weapon tier list
Image by Destructoid

In general, the best weapons in Pixel Quest are Staves and Bows for clearing bosses/elites due to their range and Swords for crowd clearing due to their AOE. Axes and Daggers tend to be somewhere in the middle and quite flexible though they lack Staff/Bow range so you really have to learn patterns well. Also, special abilities and stat bonuses from Legendary items come into play here so let's dive into the ranking reasons below.

Weapon Categories Ranking Reasons Stats

Staff of the Worm

Ahi's Reaper

T4 Staff

Coral Staff

Lily Staff

Sylvan Staff
Boss Ranking
• SoW and Ahi's Reaper are the best boss-killers due to their reliable Range, single target shots and DPS
Wear Ahi's Amulet with the Reaper for optimal DPS
• The T4 Staff also does the job quite well for all bosses
• Coral Staff is good DPS with the extra projectiles but they're more spread out so it's more like a bow meaning you have to get closer
• Lily Staff has such as bad damage range with 5-20 but it's still a Staff so the range is good
• Sylvan Staff is bad due to the range

Mob Ranking
• All staves aren't the best for groups because they don't pierce but SoW and Ahi still do great against elite Dungeon groups
• Coral Staff is really good for crowds due to the bullet hell spread from your passive

• Worm Staff
Damage: 45-55
Range: 10 Tiles
Shots: 1
Rate of Fire: 2.5/s
On Equip: +10 Wisdom, +30 Mana
 
• Ahi's Reaper
Damage: 30-35
Range: 12 Tiles
Shots: 2
Rate of Fire: 2.5/s
On Equip: +8 Speed
On Shot: If "Ahi's Amulet" is equipped, shoot an additional projectile dealing 20-25 True Damage

• Executioner's Staff T4
Damage: 22-26
Range: 10 Tiles
Shots: 2
Rate of Fire: 2.5/s

• Coral Staff
Damage: 20-25
Range: 10 Tiles
Shots: 1
Rate of Fire: 2.5/s
On Equip: +10 Wisdom
On Shot: 50% Chance to fire 2 additional projectiles dealing 25-30 damage
Valor Boost: 1%
 
• Lily Staff
Damage: 5-20
Range: 10 Tiles
Shots: 2
Rate of Fire: 2.5/s
On Equip: +50 Mana

• Sylvan Staff
Damage: 5-20
Range: 4 Tiles
Shots: 8
Rate of Fire: 2.5/s
On Equip: +5 Wisdom


Mushroom Bow

T4 Bow

Hand Cannon
Boss Ranking
• Rush Wisdom with Mushroom Bow for a shotgun weapon that's got great range and decent damage for safe boss clears
• Hand Cannon is a single shot so lower DPS due to the lower attack speed if you don't hit all shots on regular bows but Cannon has more DPS on single shots with the recent buff

Mob Ranking
• Cannon is okay here but it's only a single shot even with the pierce whereas the spreading from Bows works good in crowds

• Broadbow T4
Damage: 17-21
Range: 8 Tiles
Shots: 3/Pierce enemies
Rate of Fire: 2.4/s
 
• Mushroom Bow
Damage: 25-30
Range: 8 Tiles
Shots: 2/Pierce enemies
Rate of Fire: 2.4/s
On Stat: At 45 WIS, gain 3 additional projectiles dealing 10-15 damage
Valor Boost: 2%

Flame Claymore

T4 Sword
Boss Ranking
• Flame Claymore is tons of DPS if you have Heavy Armor but it's B since you have to stay close to the boss which can be dangerous

Mob Ranking
• Obliterates crowds and non-boss dungeon enemies

• Flame Claymore
Damage: 75-85
Shots: 1
Rate of Fire: 1.3/s
Sword Category: Shots hit multiple enemies in a cone & pass through solids.
On Equip: +5 Attack
On Shoot: If the "Heavy Armor" category is equipped, gain 65% chance to shoot 5 additional burning projectiles dealing 10-15 Damage.
Valor Bonus: 1%
 
• Emerald Sword T4
Damage: 70-101
Shots: 1
Rate of Fire: 1.3/s
Sword Category: Shots hit multiple enemies in a cone & pass through solids.

Putrid Knife/Dagger of the Bog

T4 Dagger
Boss Ranking
• Daggers are awkward against bosses since you have to aim well and also dodge well at the same time but PK has great damage with Bombs
• The regular dagger is really hard to play against bosses if you don't have a healer so it's lower

Mob Ranking
• Daggers are bad against crowds but PK is actually good due to the Bomb synergy

• Putrid Knife (Dagger of the Bog)
Damage: 45-54
Range: 6 Tiles
Shots: 1
Rate of Fire: 3.75/s
On Bomb: Fire 9 slowing projectiles dealing 25-30 damage each.
Valor Bonus: 2%
 
• Gilded Dagger T4
Damage: 51-55
Shots: 1
Range: 6 Tiles
Rate of Fire: 2.7/s

Captain's Axe

Warped Axe

T4 Axe
Boss Ranking
• Axes are like Daggers in the sense that you have to both aim well and dodge well for DPS
• That said Captain's Axe has amazing DPS if you keep hitting shots

Mob Ranking
• Warped Axe is slower so worse for bosses but better against crowds due to stacking defense

• Warped Axe
Damage: 94-96
Range: 9 Tiles
Shots: 1/Pierces enemies
Rate of Fire: 1.25/s
On Enemy Kill: Gain 2 DEF for 10 seconds
 
• Captain's Axe
Damage: 50-57
Range: 9 Tiles
Shots: 1/Pierces enemies
Rate of Fire: 1/s
Inflict: Burning on enemies for 5s 16.5 DPS
On Bomb: 60% Chance to Gain 10 VIT for 2 Seconds.
 
• Verdant Axe T4
Damage: 88-92
Range: 6 Tiles
Shots: 1/Pierces enemies
Rate of Fire: 1/s

Pixel Quest Abilities Tier List

pixel quest abilities tier list and guide
Image by Destructoid

The best Abilities in Pixel Quest are all about whether you're going in a team raid or solo and if you're fighting bosses or farming mobs. I chose to rank Legendaries and T4 but if you don't have as much mana you can think of the T4 rankings as T3 or T2 which spend less mana. Check out the rankings reasons below.

Abilities Ranking Reasons Stats

T4 Totem
Boss Ranking
• A must-have in large boss raids for healing your team and yourself

Mob Ranking
• Good in Dungeons overall but you don't really need it that much in the overworld for farming

• Divine Totem T4
Heal Wave: 92 HP on Contact + Self
Shots: 1
Size: 3 Titles
Speed: 14 Tiles/s
Range 5 Tiles
MP Cost: 70
Cooldown: 4s

Damage Bombs
Boss Ranking
• Annihilates bosses, especially because some high tier weapons have On-Bomb synergy like the Putrid Knife
• The highest DPS for your Ability slot and the Legendary is just a little bit better than the T4

Mob Ranking
• The best Ability in the game for crowds and farming

• Seige Bomb
Damage: 37-73
MP Cost: 60
Max Distance: 20 Tiles
Cooldown: 0.8s
Applies: Burning on enemies for 5s 61.7 DPS
 
• Toxic Fluid
Damage: 50-70
MP Cost: 60
Max Distance: 20 Tiles
Cooldown: 0.6s
On Equip: +15 Dexterity, +5 Speed
Valor Boost: 2%

Spells
Boss Ranking
• Not as good against bosses because there's no weapon synergy currently like with Bombs
• While Venom Spell got buffed to do 40-45 x8 which is 320-360 if you hit all shots, Bombs do comparable DPS for less Mana and they're easier to hit

Mob Ranking
• Great for crowds and farming

• Spectral Spell T4
Damage: 37-55
Range: 14 Tiles
Shots: 6/Pass through solids
Rate of Fire: 2/s
Cooldown: 0.5s
MP Cost: 45
 
• Venom Spell
Damage: 40-45
Range: 5 Tiles/20 Tiles for the shots
Shots: 8/Pass through solids
Rate of Fire: 2/s
Cooldown: 0.5s
MP Cost: 45
Valor Boost: 2%

Flags
Boss Ranking
• At least 1 or 2 people should have Flags in Boss Raids to boost team DPS
• They're about equal but the T4 Flag is usually better than the legendary for reliable weapon damage

Mob Ranking
• You don't really need a flag for clearing overworld and farming since Bombs or Spells are better

• Royal Guidon T4
MP Cost: 70
Radius: 6 Tiles
Cooldown: 9s
Applies:
Tanky on allies for 5s (+10 DEF)
Rallied on allies for 5s (+30% PROJ SPD)
Strengthened on allies for 5s (+23 ATK)
 
• Blossom Flag
MP Cost: 70
Radius: 6 Tiles
Cooldown: 9s
Applies:
Focused on allies for 10s (+20 WIS)
Rallied on allies for 10s (+30% PROJ SPD)
Healing on allies for 10s (+15 VIT)

Mushroom Bomb
Boss Ranking
• Interesting alternative to the Totem for boss raids that's slightly less effective but has a unique ability since you can heal from far away due to longer range

Mob Ranking
• No need here

• Mooshroom Bomb
Damage: 0
MP Cost: 60
Max Distance: 20 Tiles
Cooldown: 0.8s
On Hit: Heals yourself and allies for 70 HP
Valor Boost: 2%

Pixel Quest Armor Tier List

pixel quest armor tier list and guide
Image by Destructoid

More details and item stats coming soon for the best armor in Pixel Quest. For now note that my ranking criteria was usually geared toward DPS rather than survivability. Once you learn boss patterns you won't be getting hit anyway and you have Totems or Soothing Pendant to fix any mistakes with healing. That's why armor pieces that boost Attack, Dexterity, Wisdom and Mana are higher. Shoutout to Ahi's Hide that boosts Speed so that you can dodge boss patterns better. Also the Worm's Robe for +50 Mana +10 Wisdom +23 Attack and immunity to sickness.

Pixel Quest Equipment Tier List

pixel quest equipment tier list and guide
Image by Destructoid

More details and item stats coming soon for the best equipment in Pixel Quest. I ranked all Legendary and T4 Belts, Boots, Bracelet, Crowns, Hats, Helmets, Pendants and Rings. For now note that my ranking criteria was usually geared toward DPS rather than survivability. Once you learn boss patterns you won't be getting hit anyway and you have Totems to fix any mistakes with their healing. That's why equipment pieces that boost Attack, Dexterity, Wisdom and Mana are higher. Shoutout to the Soothing Pendant that you can spam equip and unequip to heal.

That's it for my Pixel Quest tier list for all weapons, armor, abilities and equipment. Check out my list of all Legendary item drop locations (I'll update it tomorrow with the latest ones from this tier list).

The post Complete Pixel Quest Tier List [Weapon/Ability/Armor/Equipment] appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:56 AM
    

ARC Raiders sniper aim

The latest hot shooter game ARC Raiders is off to a solid start on Steam on its launch day with a Very Positive rating and almost 200,000 concurrent players in its first few hours, marking another hit 2025 title.

ARC Raiders is indeed a great game, and that's saying a lot coming from me when I don't really enjoy the extraction shooter genre all that much. It's well-polished, strikes a good balance between PvP and PvE, and feels really fun to play, regardless of how perpetually bad it feels to lose all of your loot on a doomed run.

ARC Raiders
Image via Embark Studios

One thing that players are already speaking out about is the lack of a purely PvE mode, which is a trend as far as conversations go in this genre. This stems from the fact that a lot of gamers do not enjoy PvP experiences, but still want to play the latest shooter game with friends. Are extraction shooters inherently PvPvE? Yes, but do they have to always be? I think that there's a missing niche out there for an extraction shooter that's purely PvE, and I know I'm not alone in this sentiment.

"Good game, but I still hope one day someone will make a good extraction shooter that lets you just do the PvE," one positive Steam review said.

After my first excursion in ARC Raiders this morning, I agree more than ever. I was attempting to return safely with some loot when I came behind another player. Using VOIP, I told them I was friendly and that we should team up to take down the ARC that was blocking our exit. They turned around and shot me. So I ran, we both got downed by the ARC, and I got the last laugh by extracting safely before they could crawl to the elevator. It was hilarious, but I would have liked to see how the encounter would've went as purely co-op. Not having that option at all feels like a missed opportunity.

I think nothing proves the desire for a purely PvE extraction game more than the explosive popularity of recent release Escape From Duckov. The silly top-down duck game inspired by Escape From Tarkov is PvE only, and it's currently got more concurrent players on Steam than ARC Raiders on its launch day. I know it's not a direct comparison to a game like ARC Raiders or Tarkov, but it does make me think.

Imagine ARC Raiders (or a game like it) finding a way to nail the thrill of the extraction genre without the need to run into other players who can ruin the experience. Extraction shooter purists will likely hate this idea, and I think that offering multiple modes on top of the base game may segment the playerbase, but it's something that should be considered.

Duckov gameplay
Image via bilibili

Another upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, features similarly fun PvE combat that is interrupted by PvP experiences. Fans of that game who've played in previous playtests have also asked for a PvE only mode, but I doubt it will happen right away. But hey, maybe that could be Marathon's niche in the market.

I'm sure there are various reasons why games in the genre don't go purely PvE, but I think the first game to truly tackle and master it may find success like Duckov.


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The post ARC Raiders finds success in early hours of launch—but there's still one change players want from the extraction genre as a whole appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, October 30, 2025 11:49 AM
    

ARC Raiders hiding from giant ARC tank

Who's up raiding their ARC? Not you if you keep getting error codes.

ARC Raiders error ARMR0002 is a pain in the backside, regardless of whether you're the type of player to work in co-op or hunt down everyone you see when you go above ground. Life is sometimes unfair that way.

Here's what we know about the ARMR0002 error in ARC Raiders and how to potentially fix it.

ARC Raiders ARMR0002 error

ARC Raiders player shooting at a robot in a desert.
Image via Embark Studios

The "ARMR0002 error" in ARC Raiders is an unfortunately-named error code with a bunch of letters and numbers that basically means the game is having internet connection-based problems. In most cases, this is because there are server issues.

This error code has been popping up since the game's early playtests, and while there likely isn't a go-to fix to get it to stop happening, there are a few things you can try to do since the error appears to do with your connection to the game. The error also happens and prevents players from joining up with their friends.

First, try re-launching the game to see if the issue subsides. If not, there may be a problem with your own internet connection, so reset your modem to try and iron out any possible issues on your end. If the problem persists, it's likely a bigger underlying issue with the ARC Raiders servers and Embark Studios will need to deploy a fix, or the dilemma may eventually subside on its own.

If you're looking for a more focused area of help, try joining the official ARC Raiders Discord server and letting the team know that you're having problems. You may also find other players experiencing the same issue, which would indicate a widespread server outage that is out of your hands entirely.

On launch day, Embark indicated that there were issues with Xbox players specifically having problems connecting and getting the error. The Discord server is where this info was communicated.

You may need to step away from the game to touch grass before you can eventually touch grass in-game outside of Speranza while ARCs and Raiders hunt you down. Just sit tight and keep troubleshooting your own game and connection if you are impatient.


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The post How to fix error ARMR0002 in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.


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     Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is Getting A Big Free Content Update And An Improved Switch 2 Edition 2Nintendo has announced a Switch 2 edition of the hit 2020 game, <a href="https://gameinformer.com/review/animal-crossing-new-horizons/a-wholesome-island-oasis-animal-crossing-new-horizons-review">Animal Crossing:…

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