PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 3:00 PM Proxy hosting services have reported a striking increase in business from UK users since the Online Safety Act was introduced, with one, Decodo, recently citing a 65% increase. Following the Act, some British internet users are finding that reliable VPNs are more expensive than they'd anticipated – and relying instead on proxies. To some extent, this makes sense, because if you want a decent VPN that can handle streaming and other demanding uses, you're not going to be able to get it for free, but you can get a free proxy. Continue reading UK users are swapping VPNs for proxies - at their own peril MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:32 PM August 9, 2025: Three new Blue Lock Rivals codes are here. What are the new Blue Lock Rivals codes? While your metavision may let you play the perfect pinpoint pass, you'll need a little extra assistance perceiving all the freebies the Roblox game offers. Blue Lock Rivals throws you into world soccer's biggest pressure cooker, putting your skills to the test as you channel the playstyles of the hit series' biggest hitters on the field. You'll need to be on your A-game to succeed in this Roblox experience. Read on to find out the anime game's latest codes and how to redeem them. Continue reading Blue Lock Rivals codes August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:33 PM August 9, 2025: Two new Basketball Zero codes are here for the Psychic update. What are the new Basketball Zero codes? Stemming from a collaboration with the original owner of smash-hit Roblox sports game Blue Lock Rivals, the legendary developer is now letting you shoot hoops with anime icons big and small. If Roblox is your main source of play, do consider checking out our Blue Lock Rivals codes, Volleyball Legends codes, or Anime Rangers X codes guides. We check more than 100 of the most popular Roblox games for new codes constantly, helping to ensure there's always a steady stream of freebies to grab while you wait for your favorite titles to update. Continue reading Basketball Zero codes August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:28 PM Path of Exile 2 Season 3 has crept up on me somewhat. There are so many excellent ARPGs on the calendar nowadays, from the reliable heavy hitters like Diablo 4 and PoE to strong indie challengers such as The Slormancer and Hell Clock. I've just started playing the newly released Titan Quest 2, and I'm having a blast, but now Grinding Gear Games has reignited the flames of anticipation as it prepares to launch the next PoE 2 update. A new, cryptic image has sent the community into speculation mode, and could well hint at the arrival of the fourth act of the Path of Exile 2 campaign. Continue reading New Path of Exile 2 teaser hints at the ARPG's next major update MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:26 PM How do you make a smoothie in Grow a Garden? If Chris. P wants to cool down after a long day of stuffing his face, this is the treat to tackle. Added in the second leg of the Roblox game's big cooking event, these Grow a Garden smoothie recipes can be whipped up in around six minutes with some very easy crops. Even if you miss his smoothie craving window, you can use any mutated smoothies in Grow a Garden to score some unique Roblox rewards from the rat opposite Chris P. Still eager to please the piggy? Stock up to score big by learning how to make salad or how to make a burger in Grow a Garden, too. Continue reading How to make a smoothie in Grow a Garden MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:30 PM August 9, 2025: We've updated our Grow a Garden guides list with over a dozen recipes for the cooking event. How does Grow a Garden work? Now officially the biggest game on the planet (if its concurrent user counter is to be believed), this simple Roblox game has a tight time-based gameplay loop designed to keep you coming back throughout the day. You plant seeds, harvest their fruits, and sell them to afford more exotic species for your dream allotment. As you progress through Grow a Garden, participating in weekly Roblox events and setting up stock notifiers can expedite progress. And given you're always tending to your farm surrounded by like-minded players, showing off fruits can encourage others to compete for bigger and better botanicals. Grab the latest Grow a Garden codes to get some freebies for your crops. Continue reading Grow a Garden wiki guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:25 PM August 9, 2025: The new Grow a Garden code from the start of the cooking event is still active. Use it now. Need new Grow a Garden codes? Now confirmed as the biggest Roblox game of all time, Grow a Garden codes can help you, well… grow your garden! Get loads of free seed packs and other boosts by redeeming each new code before it expires. Given it's a game you don't always have to pay close attention to - and by that we mean your garden continues to grow while you're offline - you can jump into other picks from our best Roblox games list while you wait for things to grow. For freebies elsewhere, look to our guides on Mugen codes, Climb and Jump codes, and maybe even Basketball Legends codes if you're the sporty type. Continue reading Grow a Garden codes August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 12:41 PM How do you make candy apple in Grow a Garden? If Chris P. the piggy wants a Halloween favorite to see off summer, who are we to deny him? Introduced in the second week of the Roblox Grow a Garden cooking event, these candy apple recipes can deliver plenty of sweet treats into your pocket. As long as you have some rare seeds, that is. Yes, most of the Grow a Garden candy apple recipes require rare goods like sugar apples and sugarglaze. If you don't have those, prep for the next craving by learning how to make pie and how to make pizza. If he's going healthy, see how your farm can help you make salad instead. Any mutated meals he isn't craving can be handed over to the Food Connoisseur for some new Roblox rewards. Continue reading How to make candy apple in Grow a Garden MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 12:39 PM Starfield might have a fairly lacklustre reputation, but I think this is unfair and the result of people hyping it up for so many years and Bethesda's earlier RPGs (like Skyrim and Fallout 4) leaving some big shoes to fill, but if you ask me, Starfield is nothing short of incredible. With a beautiful universe and a huge mystery driving its main narrative, Starfield is a great role-playing game to spend time in, and you can now grab the game and its first expansion, Shattered Space, at its lowest price ever - but only for a short time. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield mods, Best RPGs, Best space games |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 12:11 PM How do you get the Grounded 2 Crimson Avenger? Shrunken, stranded, and alone in Brookhollow Park, you'd think you'd be pretty terrified, not to mention unarmed. But, alas, this isn't your first rodeo as a tiny teen, and crafting and scavenging are your forte. Among the seven Grounded 2 secret weapons, the easiest to pick up is the Crimson Avenger. Luckily, this also happens to be an incredible blade against spiders thanks to its slashing-type damage. With this weapon by your side in the survival game, Orb Weavers will fall to you in mere seconds, and you can even take it with you to the final Grounded 2 boss battle - but we won't say more than that. Continue reading How to get the Grounded 2 Crimson Avenger MORE FROM PCGAMESN: How to get water in Grounded 2, How to clear dead roots in Grounded 2, Where to find grass seeds in Grounded 2 |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 12:00 PM How do you make porridge in Grow a Garden? If you're not sure how to cook up a wet meal that isn't soup, you're not alone. As one of the new recipes added in the second week of the Roblox game's cooking event, Chris P. isn't letting anyone know how he prefers his porridge recipes. But we've figured out a few below. Dying to become a top-tier chef for Chris P? Learn how to make salad or how to make a burger, too. And for when he wants a meatier meal, learn how to make pie and how to make pizza in advance to score some easy points. If you have any spare meals that mutated in the pot, hand them to the Food Connoisseur instead for new Roblox rewards. Continue reading How to make porridge in Grow a Garden MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 11:57 AM The Battlefield 6 open beta is absolutely flying. It's been four years since the last entry in the legendary FPS series, and developers DICE, Motive, Criterion, and Ripple Effect appear to have cooked up a winner in that time. Currently, the free-to-access public test has nearly half a million players on Steam alone, topping even the numbers hit by Monster Hunter Wild's massive beta earlier this year. As debates around weapon balance and time to kill rage on, the question remains: Is Battlefield back? So far, it looks like the answer is yes. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 6 preview, Battlefield 6 release date, Battlefield 6 weapons |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 11:50 AM Dying Light: The Beast comes out next month, and we're all waiting patiently for its release. In the meantime, you can prepare for its release by playing Dying Light 2: Stay Human, which is currently 67% off over at Fanatical. The Beast is the third part in the series, so this'll help make sure you're all caught up on lore, while also giving you something to scratch that same infectious itch while you wait. Continue reading Before Dying Light The Beast, grab its prequel at over 60% off MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dying Light 2 review, Dying Light 2 factions, Best zombie games |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 2:23 PM How do you get the Grounded 2 Gloom Skewer? If you're looking for a strong poking stick to take on your travels, this is it. While not the best spear in the game, it's a great grab early on. So long as you're up for some tunnel delving and a potential big boss battle, you're all set to search for this secret stabby stick. Whether this is the first or the last of the seven Grounded 2 secret weapons you're going for, you'll be well equipped to take on any other challenge in the survival game with this speedy one-handed option. Its long reach makes it suited to brawling winged creatures and lunging buggies. Here's how to get it. Continue reading How to get the Grounded 2 Gloom Skewer |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 11:24 AM How do you make sweet tea in Grow a Garden? As the first discovered new recipe from the second week of the cooking update, there's a lot of experimentation left to do. Thankfully, new Sweet Tea recipes in Grow a Garden on Roblox are being discovered at a rapid pace, with the goal being to find one that doesn't require rare seeds or those from past events. Cook up a storm for Chris P. by learning how to make salad or how to make a burger in Grow a Garden, too. And if he's craving a bigger meal, we've covered how to make pie and how to make pizza, too. Get lucky with a mutation, and you can hand any he isn't craving over to the Food Connoisseur instead for some new Roblox rewards. Continue reading How to make sweet tea in Grow a Garden MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 11:00 AM This gorgeous gaming PC build proves how far we've come since the beige boxes of old. Featuring a striking combination of white components against vivid pink water coolant, this build looks like it's stepped back from the future, cleverly disguising the parts that make it a significantly powerful gaming rig. An all-white color scheme for a PC build can really make it stand out, offering a sharp relief against the usual black or gray PC cases that you'll see out there. This build proves you don't need to compromise on style or power when you go for a white PC build, either, with AMD and Nvidia components that easily rival the rigs in our best gaming PC guide. Continue reading This stunning white gaming PC build pops with a touch of vivid pink MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 11:06 AM August 9, 2025: There's a new Prospecting code to mark the Wandering Trader update. What are the new Prospecting codes? Whether you need a new pan with a finer filter or a simple luck boost, these Roblox Prospecting game codes should be able to help. This experience borrows from the simple gameplay loop of Fisch, Dig, and other foraging simulators, simply tasking you to find the diamond in the rough and the gold from the garbage. Want to see where the idea likely stemmed from? Check out the latest Dig codes, the best Dig shovels, and the Dig Charms tier list to get off to a flying start in unearthing treasures. Prefer a little less manual labor? Pair the latest Fisch codes with the Fisch rods tier list to make it through the content from that game's prime time in the spotlight. Continue reading Prospecting codes August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 10:51 AM August 9, 2025: A new update means a new Brainrot Evolution code. Want new Brainrot Evolution codes? We can help you keep up your dependency on the latest and greatest memes out there. Get free EXP Potions, coins, gems, and everything else with these Roblox Brainrot Evolution game codes and evolve your favorite brainrot character in record time. If you're on the lookout for other Roblox adventures, check out the latest codes for other huge games on the platform. We're always hunting for new Blue Lock Rivals codes, Blox Fruits codes, and Meme Sea codes. We have well over 100 Roblox games we're always keeping a watchful eye on to ensure we have the latest freebies ready to go. Continue reading Brainrot Evolution codes August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 10:24 AM From the very early days of the studio through to GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, Dan Houser's name has been synonymous with Rockstar, which he co-founded alongside brother Sam and several other collaborators. He left the developer in 2020, and while it's been working to bring us Grand Theft Auto 6, Houser has formed Absurd Ventures. His new team has been creating everything from podcasts to novels, several of which take place in a sci-fi universe called A Better Paradise. Now, its untitled, upcoming open-world game has been signed by publisher Smilegate, best known for online games Lost Ark and Crossfire. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GTA 5 RP servers, GTA 6 release date estimate, GTA 5 cheats |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 9, 2025 10:17 AM August 9, 2025: With some Grow a Garden admin abuse picking up heat on update day, we've added seven of the new mutations that came with its weather effects. What are the best Grow a Garden mutations? Whether you want to build a garden that's perfect to show off to friends, or one that's designed to just make money, there are Grow a Garden mutations you'll want, others you'll want to avoid, and you'll need to know the effects one mutation might have when paired with another. Since Grow a Garden works while you're not even playing, check out the best Roblox games around for something else to play while things grow. If you're open to quick recommendations of the biggest games around, check out the latest Blox Fruits codes or Blue Lock Rivals codes. Of course, be sure to check for new Grow a Garden codes, too. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
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Siliconera Saturday, August 9, 2025 3:00 PM
One of the Nintendo Switch Online perks is that Nintendo will let subscribers purchase special controllers designed to work with the retro games available via the exclusive apps, with the Switch 2 exclusive being a GameCube controller. Initially, it seemed like the sort of controller that would be limited in its use. Like you get it out when you're going to go through the Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics titles. But now that I own it and have gotten to use it with other things, it's making me hope that if further exclusive controllers exist, they could be as versatile.
Like the other Nintendo Switch Online exclusive controllers, the GameCube one for the Switch 2 is basically identical to the original, but with tweaks and adjustments to ensure it works with the app. We have newly added suspend, screenshot, Home, GameChat, and pairing buttons on the top. Turns out gyroscopic controls are present internally, for additional game features. The D-pad is actually improved, so it works and feels better. But in general, this is a pretty solid replica of the familiar, purple controller we loved for that classic system.
And it works well with the GameCube games in the Switch 2 Nintendo Classics library! I've been primarily using it with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which I've been popping into when I had free time, but also played a few SoulCalibur II matches using it. It's responsive. The buttons are responsive. The latency seems good.
I just didn't expect it to also be as practical for other Switch 2 games. Because of the nature of this controller and the included gyroscope, it isn't difficult to head into the Accessibility settings' Button Mapping to arrange a workaround for it to be used with other games on the system. As in other Nintendo Classics games for, say, the NES or GBA, or actual Switch and Switch 2 games. For example, I have been using it for Mario Kart World a lot, since the shape of the controller is so comfortable and familiar.
But the other thing about it is that the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube controller for the Switch 2 does make me hope if we get more, they are just as adept. During the Switch era, ones for the NES, SNES, Genesis, and N64 all appeared. When compared to this peripheral, those other ones seem a bit barebones. Yes, they work fine for what they are. However, the limitations mean those really do feel like they're destined for the Nintendo Classics apps in a way that keeps them from being as handy.
Now, due to the nature of those older systems, I get it wouldn't be possible for them to offer the same range. The NES pair features far too few input options. Plus, I'm going to be honest here, it's not as comfortable as successors. The Genesis one has the same issue. But when the N64 controller appeared, there was some additional hope. It can connect to a PC over Bluetooth, for example, to be used for games.
But really, I would love to see Wii Nintendo Classics support for the Switch 2 one day! And if that happened, I'd love to see a Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and Classic Controller pack that could result in some shenanigans with other games. Again, the Wii Remote nature would mean some limitations. But the fact that we do have the Accessibility Button Mapping options could result in some fun creativity and options for titles. And since we did see gyroscopes added for this GameCube controller, maybe some additional elements could be added to make something for a hypothetical Wii one feel as special.
I just really appreciate how much I can do with the GameCube Switch 2 controller Nintendo released. I expected an item I'd only be using occasionally with Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Classic games or perhaps Smash Bros. I didn't expect a peripheral that could be more useful in other situations and with other standard Switch and Switch 2 titles. It also makes me hope that, if the Nintendo Switch Online retro library expands, we could see more controllers that also could prove as versatile.
The GameCube Switch 2 controller is available for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to order direct through Nintendo.
The post Switch 2 GameCube Controller Makes Hopeful for Future NSO Controllers appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 5:13 PM
BitLife's Bad Teacher challenge has officially arrived. While the previous challenge had us living as a French painter with a troubled past, this challenge is all about going to school, becoming a teacher, and having some special relationships with people you meet throughout your academic journey.
BitLife's Bad Teacher challenge has five objectives to complete:
Table of contents
BitLife Bad Teacher challenge guide
You won't need any special career packs or expansions for this challenge. Instead, you'll need to know how to become a teacher and get lucky with various hook-ups. This'll largely depend on luck, but there are some strategies you can use to make your attempts easier.
Be born in Tennessee
The first task of this challenge is to be born in Tennessee. To do this, pick the United States as your starting country and Nashville as your place. Since Nashville is a large city in Tennessee, it's your best choice for this challenge.
Although not mandatory, having high starting stats, particularly in looks, will make the rest of this challenge easier. You don't need them at 100 percent, but having high stats will help. You'll also want to avoid engaging in crime, as having a criminal record makes it much harder to become a teacher.
Hook up with your college professor
Once you've created your character, age up until they turn 18. From here, you can apply to university by heading into Occupation, Education, and University. Choose Education as your program, as you'll need this to become a teacher later.
After entering university, head into its menu and select Faculty. Ideally, you'll want to talk to a single professor, as this will make your attempt easier. Talk to them until your relationship with them is maxed out before asking to hook up. If they say no, attempt it with someone else until one of them says yes. If they all say no, age up and try again.
Hook up with a college classmate
Hooking up with a classmate in BitLife is easier than going for a professor. To do this, head back to the university menu and scroll through your classmate list. Go for someone single and whose sexuality matches yours before befriending them. You can gauge their interest by flirting with them first through their friendship menu.
Once they become your friend, they'll appear in your Relationships list, where you can ask to hook up with them. If they say no, make another friend and repeat the process until someone says yes.
Become a teacher
Once you graduate from university with an education degree, check the full-time job list and look for a school teacher position. It'll appear with an apple emoji and a "School District" tag next to its name. If it doesn't show up right away, close and reopen BitLife or age up and recheck the list. From here, you just need to apply for the job and pass the interview to become a teacher.
Hook up with a co-worker at your school
The last task of BitLife's Bad Teacher challenge is to hook up with a co-worker. After becoming a teacher, head into Job, School Teacher, and Co-workers. Like the previous tasks, your goal is to find someone who's single. While this can work on married NPCs, the odds are usually lower.
Once you find someone you're interested in pursuing, improve your relationship with them before selecting Hook Up. If they say yes, you'll do the deed and complete the final task of the Bad Teacher challenge. As a reward for your efforts, you'll receive a special cosmetic prize that you can use on any future character. If you're interested in learning about previous challenges, check out how to complete the Paint it Black challenge in BitLife.
The post How to complete the Bad Teacher challenge in BitLife appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 4:07 PM
Madden 26's Franchise mode once again brings back the tags and motivations system, and you should be paying a lot of attention to how they work.
Not every athlete develops in the same fashion in Franchise mode. This will primarily depend on their in-game stats and how much in-game experience they gain, but also depend on their motivations and tags. In Madden 26, the tags logic have been modified to large extent, so let's take a look at them first.
All player Tags in Madden 26 Franchise mode
Every athlete in the Franchise mode reacts differently to certain situation. This is determined by their tags. While the tags so far in my research appear to be same in terms of options, their in-game roles have changed.
All player Motivations in Madden 26
Motivations are like additional traits that determine how an athlete will react to developing situations in your Franchise save.
The post All player tags and motivations in Madden 26 Franchise Mode appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 4:05 PM
It's official folks. With just its severely limited open beta, Battlefield 6 has crossed over half a million concurrent players on Steam alone, eclipsing its predecessor's launch numbers almost fivefold and cementing itself as 2025's most-hyped game.
According to data tracking site SteamDB, Battlefield 6 has peaked at 517,102 players as of this article, crossing well over half a million concurrent players. The game's open beta has finally been opened for everyone after it initially started on Aug. 7 for those with early access keys, which obviously pulled in a lot of players who were eagerly waiting to get their hands on EA and DICE's new title.
Compared to Battlefield 2042, which peaked at 107,376 players at launch, this upcoming entry to the franchise is nearly five times as popular, which says a lot about just how bad 2042 was.
This also puts Battlefield 6 at the top as the most-played BF title on Steam in history, a title previously held by 2042 itself. The numbers are, to put it lightly, mind-boggling, and indicate a severe symptom of fps drought as players are flocking head over heels to what just might be one of the best first-person shooter experiences in recent memory.
Outside of games like Counter-Strike 2 and other veteran titles, first-person shooters, especially ones with large-scale gameplay and arcade elements, have gotten pretty stale. Call of Duty has been eroding slowly for the past several years, while Battlefield itself has been stuck in limbo ever since 2042 came out, the player base usually going back to older titles to scratch that itch.
Now, with Battlefield 6's unified fast-paced arcady combat and massive large-scale battles, both CoD and Battlefield players are gunning for this new title, which seems to have attracted both veterans and newcomers alike. Whatever the actual reason for BF6's incredible popularity, one thing is certain: EA and DICE finally have something to be proud of. Let's hope they don't end up ruining it by launch.
The post Battlefield 6's open beta crosses 500,000 concurrent players, nearly five times more than 2042's full release appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 4:03 PM
Payday 3 will likely never become more popular than the good "old" Payday 2. The problem is, despite remaining incredibly fun Payday 2's years already show.
It could do with some improvements. Luckily, Payday 2 has a community dedicated to modernizing the game with quality-of-life fixes and fresh new mods.
Table of contents
Better Bots
Bots are the lifeblood of horde shooters, so it's no surprise that Better Bots is the most popular Payday 2 mod ever. It improves and adds a multitude of functions to the bots that greatly improve the game's overall experience. They become more deadly and dangerous, and not because they'll simply deal more damage.
This mod grants the bots dozens of new mechanics, such as the ability to dominate cops, melee enemies, throw concussion grenades, mark turrets, and even to hit any enemy from any distance, including snipers. And that's just to name a few. This is the mod to get for anyone looking for a much more intricate Payday 2 experience.
Re-Texture Project
Payday 2 looks good for a 12-year-old game, but it doesn't look Battlefield 6 good. That's ok, though, because anyone who doesn't find the improved bots and animations enough to make it feel like a modern game can get the game's best fan-made texture overhaul to date.
Re-Texture Project adds a bunch of visual flair, so much so that this mod is rather demanding, even for modern computers.
Dynamic Weapon Animations
Though this mod doesn't feature any sort of graphical overhaul, it introduces some greatly-improved animations in terms of regular weapon movement, head bob, tilt, jump, sway, ADS, and more. It also reduces the unwelcome camera shake.
When it comes to mods that give Payday 2 a nicer and more modernized look and feel, it's hard to beat the Dynamic Weapon Animations mod.
Silent Assassin: Definitive Edition
Just like the name suggests, this very simple mod gives undetected players the ability to execute enemies without having to worry about their pagers going off and alerting the other bots. This results in a much more fun experience for players who want to go all ninja on their targets.
Silent Assassin is a somewhat divisive mod that some fans of the game call out as a cheat for making the game too easy. Still, it's so popular that we just cannot let it go down silently.
Third Person
This is another case of a very simple mod that scratches an itch that exists for so many players.
Many first-person perspective games could totally work in third person as well, but we'll never see many of them making the perspective shift for one reason or another. The good part is that it's usually easy to make that shift a reality — even when the devs don't want that to happen.
This mod has a few issues, like needing to relearn how to aim because its aiming system had FPP in mind, and some animations that just don't work. Still, it remains one of the most popular amongst the fanbase.
Download here
Extra Heist Info
Whereas some games feature too much information that serves no purpose other than to clutter the screen, many argue (correctly, in my opinion) that Payday 2 lacks in the HUD department.
Extra Heist Info is a very simple mod that displays a bunch of useful tracker indicators to help you with your big score.
Hotline Miami HUD
The Hotline Miami HUD mod bestows upon Payday 2 some of the slickest visuals and creates an unofficial collab of sorts with another fan-favorite crime game.
There are other cosmetic overhauls for Payday 2, but the Hotline Miami HUD mod has been the most popular one ever since its release.
VR Fixes (For Payday 2: VR)
Payday 2 VR is a woefully underrated way of enjoying the full scope of the Payday experience. Sadly, its release version needs some tweaks to ensure stability, so it never got as popular as the original. Still, anyone looking for the most immersive Payday 2 experience yet should try out the VR Fixes mod, as it fixes the most glaring problems in the original version and makes it one of the coolest VR experiences out there.
The Particle Massacre
It's hard to ignore the power of visual flair when it comes to convincing players of a game's modernity. If textures alone aren't enough to sell you on Payday 2, then you should give The Particle Massacre a chance. This mod won't kill any of its users with shrapnel, but instead introduces a wide array of new particle animations that will greatly enhance the wow factor.
The post Best Payday 2 mods appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 3:40 PM
Madden 26's multiplayer modes offer a lot of different options, and there's an underrated way of playing with your friend as part of the same squad.
The easiest way to play with a buddy is to challenge them H2H via friendlies. This will let you decide which of the two of your contests is the better player. But what if you and your buddy want to play together as part of the same squad? This can be done with a few tweaks and play as part of the same team (either in duos or three of you together).
Madden 26 2v2 and 3v3 online guide
Whether you're playing 2v2 or 3v3, the core process is the same. Playing 1v1 is easier, as you can use the online H2H mode to play. Results in friendlies don't matter, but if you're opting for 2v2 (or 3v3), the available options are in the Superstar mode and Madden Ultimate Team. I have always preferred the latter, so let's find out the exact steps.
The similar option in Superstar mode is under Play a Friend. Again, you can invite up to two more friends, or just roll out in duos. Take note that your results in duos and trios will count and will have an impact on in-game progression. Hence, it's better to focus on the wins and coordinate well with your friends to raise the chances of a victory.
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Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 2:23 PM
Zach Cregger, director of horror movies Barbarian, Weapons, and the upcoming Resident Evil adaptation, said this next RE flick is going to be "fresh and edgy and weird." While I am excited, given his track record, I hope the new protagonist equals Mila Jovovich's cool factor.
As per Insider Gaming (via The Hollywood Reporter), Zack Cregger, who is writing and directing the upcoming Resident Evil movie adaptation, commented on the flick's original and separate nature, saying it'll not follow the previous films' story. "That's an original screenplay, by the way. It's a weird story," he said, adding he believes it'll turn out "fresh and edgy and weird" if all goes to plan.
Given that it's an adaptation of a series out of Japan, a country known for its exceptionally strange approach to horror, you'd expect it will be weird at least, if not outright mind-boggling.
However, there's nothing official regarding the Resident Evil movie save for these little bits and pieces Cregger gives out sometimes, so any information is enough to build hype. What would build a lot of my hype is the return of Milla Jovovich, the actress portraying the protagonist of those old quirky and cheesy Resident Evil movies, Alice.
At least, I'd like to see a protagonist as awesome as her. Leading the plot with a gun in hand, 2000s style, would genuinely bring a lot of nostalgia back for me, especially if Cregger and his crew picked only what "worked" in those old flicks, and we know a lot didn't, which is just a fact of life for early video game adaptations.
Female main characters are sort of my jam, particularly in the Resident Evil franchise, which has no shortage of heroic, kickass, awesome and cool women, much like Alice is in the OG movies. Guns, guts, zombies, and "the cool factor"—that is what I want to see in a new RE movie.
Yeah, and a more accurate adaptation of the story, since it's pretty good as is and doesn't really need a big Hollywood makeover.
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Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 2:07 PM
The All Glown Up Evolution introduces another opportunity for all EA FC 25 players to upgrade one of the lower-rated items, who are originally having overalls of 74 or less.
The latest evolution is available for free, and the choices are plenty. This is one of those evolutions that will allow you to add hidden gems to your Ultimate Team squad. However, that will be after completing all steps of the evolution, which will unlock all the updates.
Table of contents
EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of the Hybrid Core evolution in EA FC 25.
EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution upgrades
There are five levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 5 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade conditions
Level 2 upgrade conditions
Level 3 upgrade conditions
Level 4 upgrade conditions
Level 5 upgrade conditions
Best players to use in Hybrid Core evolution
Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution.
Your club's evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad.
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Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:29 PM
One of the key aspects of excelling in Madden 26's Superstar mode is to ace the scouting combine interview by answering as many questions correctly as possible.
Just like real life, the scouting combine questions will determine how good your potential offers will be. For most questions, there are no right or wrong choices. But some answers will have better results for your prospects of getting offers from a team at the top end of the table.
All Madden 26 scouting combine questions and answers
The table below will provide you with all the available answers for the questions you can be asked during the scout combine. Some questions are locked to your player position: you'll never face these questions if you have a different position. Other questions are universal in nature, and can be asked irrespective of your on-field position.
There are more questions in all likelihood, and we will keep adding them as we discover them. If you're loving the Franchise mode instead, make sure to learn more about all the relocation options.
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Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:29 PM
The Horizon franchise is one of Sony's best, both in terms of sales and quality. It's so good, in fact, that Tencent decided to liberally take a few pages out of its book, but overdid it a little, leading Sony to file a formal copyright lawsuit.
Now, however, Tencent's Horizon clone, called Light of Motiram, has been refurbished with new looks and content to differentiate it from Sony's IP. Any and all content resembling Horizon's assets, story, characters, or otherwise has been removed from promotional materials, including the game's Steam page. Additionally, its release date has been pushed back significantly, with Light of Motiram now slated for release in the fourth quarter of 2027.
All this came as a result of Sony's vehement and angry lawsuit, where the company alleged Tencent significantly infringed on its Horizon IP by copying its content, art style, characters, story, and world, among other things. Sony notoriously did not spare words when speaking of Light of Motiram, which it called a "shameless... slavish clone," and even cited its own fans who dubbed Motiram as "Horizon Zero Originality," per Reuters.
The snarky lawsuit seems to have put enough pressure on Tencent, forcing the company to delay its game and remove anything that could be viewed as a "copy" of Horizon. And, from what I saw prior to Light of Motiram's updated promotional material, there was quite a lot of it. At first glance, you couldn't even tell if you were looking at an entirely new game or just another screenshot from the Horizon titles, and it only makes sense that Sony decided to do something about it.
What the epilogue of the lawsuit will be now that Motiram's been remedied is anyone's guess, but I don't think these changes will be enough to satisfy a very disgruntled Sony.
The post 'Shameless,' 'slavish,' and unoriginal: Sony's snark-filled lawsuit forced Tencent to backtrack on its Horizon clone appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 12:51 PM
Cheaters seem to be trying their hardest to hack in Battlefield 6, using what appear to be highly sophisticated pieces of software (and probably even hardware) to inject various nefarious stuff into the game. However, EA's intrusive measures are proving effective, as over 330,000 cheaters got banned in two days.
According to EA's SPEAR anti-cheat team, the Secure Boot requirement is proving quite effective at combating cheaters, given that the system allows EA to recognize anything that seems to be "off." Paired with player reports and the kernel-level Javelin anti-cheat, EA has managed to ban over 330,000 cheaters since Battlefield 6's open beta began on Aug. 7.
Additionally, SPEAR is working closely with other EA teams to improve detections, add new ones, and is intensively cooperating to ban as many reported cheaters as possible (that is, after each and every report is verified, of course).
EA will also continue building on its countermeasures, using the open beta to see what works and what does not, and how Battlefield 6 specifically needs to be handled to minimize cheating. Though I've reached out to EA yesterday regarding this precise issue, I haven't yet received a response, but I'd argue that secure dedicated servers with community admins could be one potential means to a cheaterless end.
For those out of the loop, Battlefield 6 is already seeing cheaters, with over 40,000 reports in the open beta's very first day. Videos have been circulating online showing hackers using wallhacks and aim assist, among other things, bypassing EA's extensive and heavily intrusive anti-cheating measures, including a kernel-level anti-cheat, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0.
Thankfully, it seems the company is working hard to combat any and all hacks during this open beta window, which will hopefully mitigate potential cheating once the full game is released on Oct. 10.
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Destructoid Saturday, August 9, 2025 12:35 PM
For a short moment at this year's Evo in Las Vegas, I was gifted the chance to talk to one of the names that probably defined the early years of the FGC, created its most famous moment that still gets talked about today, and is a player that holds such a high calbire that it cannot be understated how much he has helped define the legacy of not only Evo, but fighting games, as a whole, on the past couple of decades.
That player is Daigo "The Beast" Umehara, the man who gifted us Evo Moment 37, a legendary play that is still meme'd and talked about today, despite happening over 20 years ago in 2004. It's stunning to think that a player who competed over 20 years ago is still playing to this day to try to be an Evo champion, but for Daigo, it's hard for him to see himself doing anything else.
When I asked Daigo what keeps him coming back to play fighting games for over 20 years since that precious moment, he paused for a bit and seemed to think deeply about the answer.
"There are a variety of things, but the biggest one is that this is what I love to do," Daigo told Destructoid. "Second is that it's my job. Those may seem like conflicting motivations, but to me, they fit together in a way that isn't contradictory. I guess I've been able to make sense of it, or digest it. My biggest motivator is the desire to always be doing my best in the present."
Daigo went on to say that it was the most important thing for him, and while many players praise and remember him for the feats he was able to perform in the past, he still wants to be appreciated as a player now. Telling us, "If I'm not appreciated in the now, then the praise is meaningless to me. That's why I want to keep fighting against the people who are here right now. I want the people of the present to see me, and I want to be of value in the present. You could say that's my perpetual pursuit."
However, it is hard to escape his past and the achievements he has reached, and Diago shared with us his past self, highlighting what he was most proud of.
"It's not much next to any EVO achievement, but looking back, I think there was value in how fully I devoted body and soul to fighting games in a time when video games weren't so respected in Japan," Daigo said. "If I hadn't, I doubt I would be receiving the kind of treatment I get today, and the future would've looked different. Before the scene got so big, in an age when you couldn't expect to get anything in return for your efforts, I really put my heart into it purely for the love of the game. In a way, I feel like I pulled off something difficult."
There is also a wish for Daigo to still see himself playing over the next 20 years. He told us how he hoped to be still playing the games he loves, and it was "a wish I hold strongly," but did note that, sometimes, things don't go the way you expect.
"I hope I'm still playing," Daigo told us. "That's a wish I hold strongly, but if it's not meant to be…it's hard to say whether I'll still be in this industry or not. As I said before, it's important to stay focused on the now. If I'm not still playing, I don't think I'd be able to stick it out mentally, because I'd feel like I was just being credited for past achievements and prestige."
But even without the prospect of him still being around, Daigo has high hopes for the FGC as a whole.
"It's hard to predict the future, but it's hard to imagine the fighting game scene suddenly disappearing after getting this big. And while the speed and extent to which it grows may vary, I think the simple fact is that it's only going to keep getting bigger from here." Diago said. "Assuming things go normally, it'll probably end up like traditional sports, where you have non-player positions, like coaches and trainers. In fact, we may already be in that phase."
The post One of the FGC's biggest legends discusses past, present, and the future ahead appeared first on Destructoid. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, August 9, 2025 5:04 PM The trailer showcases combat, several characters, cutscenes, and more. The post Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Gets New Gameplay Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, August 9, 2025 4:48 PM Showcases its critical acclaim. The post Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Gets New Accolades Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, August 9, 2025 4:38 PM The latest update was also announced. The post Mortal Kombat 1 Sales Surpass 6.2 Million Units appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |