Jan 14, 16:00

GamersHeroes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 3:58 PM Blue Archive's "Occult Investigation Society!" Update Live       Dubbed "We Are the Occult Investigation Society! Ancient Spells and Mysteries" (a truly impressive title!), Blue Archive's latest update is now live. The post Blue Archive's "Occult Investigation Society!" Update Live appeared first on GamersHeroes.

GamersHeroes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 2:42 PM Genshin Impact Version Luna IV Now Available       Version Luna IV of HoYoverse's Genshin Impact, dubbed "A Traveler on a Winter's Night," is now available. The post Genshin Impact Version Luna IV Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes.

GamersHeroes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:09 PM iam8bit X "Wiggly Forever" Slime Rancher 2 Anniversary Emblem Revealed       Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Slime Rancher series, iam8bit and Monomi Park together have released exclusive physical editions of Slime Rancher 2. The post iam8bit X "Wiggly Forever" Slime Rancher 2 Anniversary Emblem Revealed appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 3:50 PM PS Plus Extra Packs A Big Lineup This Month Just In Time For Resident Evil 9       Resident Evil Village and more round out some strong additions The post PS Plus Extra Packs A Big Lineup This Month Just In Time For <i>Resident Evil 9</i> appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 3:14 PM The Live-Action God Of War Series Has Found Its Kratos       Ryan Hurst is known for his work on Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead The post The Live-Action <em>God Of War</em> Series Has Found Its Kratos appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 2:30 PM The 'World's Smartest Pokédex' Is Something Straight Out Of Your Childhood Dreams       BigRig Creates and Mr. Volt are the latest to create a working Pokédex, but they took it a step further than most The post The 'World's Smartest Pokédex' Is Something Straight Out Of Your Childhood Dreams appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 2:04 PM One Of These Games Is From 2012 And The Other Is From 2026       Meltdown from Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 definitely looks different in Black Ops 7, but does it look worse? The post One Of These Games Is From 2012 And The Other Is From 2026 appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:04 PM Star Wars Modders Have Taken Battlefront 3 Into Their Own Hands And It Looks Great       A fan project brings unofficial new content to Battlefront 2 The post <i>Star Wars</i> Modders Have Taken <i>Battlefront 3</i> Into Their Own Hands And It Looks Great appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:34 PM The 10-Year Wait For 'Minecraft Killer' Hytale Is Finally Over       The cube-shaped survival game is out in early access, after a fraught decade of development The post The 10-Year Wait For '<i>Minecraft</i> Killer' <i>Hytale</i> Is Finally Over appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:20 PM Split Fiction Director Warns About Taking The Wrong Lessons Away From Clair Obscur       Josef Fares argues for publishing diversity in the gaming industry The post <i>Split Fiction</i> Director Warns About Taking The Wrong Lessons Away From <i>Clair Obscur</i> appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:15 PM This Asus TUF Gaming Desktop PC (Nvidia GPU, 512GB SSD) Is So Cheap You'll Want to Buy It Instantly       Game better with the ASUS TUF T500 PC without paying the full price. The post This Asus TUF Gaming Desktop PC (Nvidia GPU, 512GB SSD) Is So Cheap You'll Want to Buy It Instantly appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:11 PM The Coolest Thing About Deadpool In Marvel Rivals Isn't The Role Swapping       The hero shooter's next addition is one of the most elaborate characters in the game The post The Coolest Thing About Deadpool In <em>Marvel Rivals</em> Isn't The Role Swapping appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:35 AM This 15″ Portable Monitor Costs Half the Price of a Basic Desktop Screen, Whether for Gaming or Work       KYY portable monitor is easy to travel with, and offers multiple viewing modes. The post This 15″ Portable Monitor Costs Half the Price of a Basic Desktop Screen, Whether for Gaming or Work appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:28 AM Rockstar Is Now Selling $200+ GTA Roleplay Mod Bundles On Its New Marketplace       Some bundles sell for as much as a PS5 The post Rockstar Is Now Selling $200+ GTA Roleplay Mod Bundles On Its New Marketplace appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:10 AM Forza Horizon 6 Will Take Fans To Japan Soon According To New Leak       The next entry in Xbox and Playground's popular racing series is set to launch later this spring The post <i>Forza Horizon 6</i> Will Take Fans To Japan Soon According To New Leak appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:00 AM A Detail About GTA 6′s Super Secret Multiplayer Just Got Accidentally Revealed       Rockstar claims this tiny detail about GTA Online's successor is highly confidential The post A Detail About <i>GTA 6′</i>s Super Secret Multiplayer Just Got Accidentally Revealed appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:56 AM Anker P20i Wireless Earbuds Are 50% Off on Amazon, Apple Is Facing Real Competition       Because everyone deserves a great pair of earbuds. The post Anker P20i Wireless Earbuds Are 50% Off on Amazon, Apple Is Facing Real Competition appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:49 AM Animal Crossing: New Horizons' 3.0 Update Drops Early As Fans Race Back To Their Islands       The Switch 2 version isn't live yet, though The post <i>Animal Crossing: New Horizons'</i> 3.0 Update Drops Early As Fans Race Back To Their Islands appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:42 AM Stranger Things Documentary Director Says She Never Saw ChatGPT Being Used To Write The Finale: 'I Witnessed Creative Exchanges'       Fans allege the Duffer Brothers used the chatbot to write the finale without any substantial proof The post <em>Stranger Things</em> Documentary Director Says She Never Saw ChatGPT Being Used To Write The Finale: 'I Witnessed Creative Exchanges' appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:36 AM Anker's 4-Port Wall Charger Costs 3x Less Than the Belkin Sold by Apple, Now at a Record Low       If you need to get your devices back up to speed, you can do it quickly and easily. The post Anker's 4-Port Wall Charger Costs 3x Less Than the Belkin Sold by Apple, Now at a Record Low appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:55 AM Battlefield 6 Is Trying To Do Too Much       Also: what's the 'AAAA' game Eidos Montreal has spent seven years working on? The post <i>Battlefield 6</i> Is Trying To Do Too Much appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:37 AM Ex-BioWare Dev Explains How Anthem Could Live On As A Single-Player Game       Mark Darrah has released a lengthy postmortem on the loot shooter that's worth watching The post Ex-BioWare Dev Explains How <em>Anthem</em> Could Live On As A Single-Player Game appeared first on Kotaku.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 2:40 PM As Fable's Peter Molyneux returns to the spotlight, legendary parody account 'Peter Molydeux' announces its retirement       Fable creator Peter Molyneux is back with his new strategy game, Masters of Albion, but as one titan returns, another has moved on.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:39 PM It took less than 24 hours for Hytale modders to find a way to carry over your favorite Minecraft creations       Minecraft build conversion tools are already appearing for Hytale, letting you turn schematics files into prefabs for the new game.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:26 AM The best Elden Ring builds       If you are looking for powerful setups for Shadow of the Erdtree, then we've got all you need to craft the best Elden Ring builds for both PvP and PvE play.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:22 AM System Shock remake studio was 'reported to the FBI' during its troubled development and is still "amazed it ever came out"       Nightdive Studios' perseverance finally got its System Shock remake over the line, but it wasn't without a lot of pressure and criticism.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:05 AM All Hytale console commands - How to teleport, spawn items, and more       Save yourself time and an unfortunate trip back to your dropped loot with Hytale console commands like fly, heal, and teleport.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:42 AM The dev behind 2025's most popular horse game will not use AI "without prior notice," as its gen-AI studio sparks backlash       Cygames, the creator of gacha hits Umamusume Pretty Derby and Granblue Fantasy, has confirmed it isn't using generative AI in its games.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:07 AM Escape From Tarkov lead seems to be teasing a new game with big Starfield energy, but it may be something far more disappointing       Nikita Buyanov, Escape From Tarkov's director, has shared a new interactive website packed with information about a space sci-fi universe.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:04 AM Blizzard hasn't managed to crush World of Warcraft addons yet, as Midnight pre-patch shows various mods still work       Coming into World of Warcraft Midnight, Blizzard has attempted to crack down on addons and mods, but some are slipping through the net.

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:04 AM Steam Machine Verified games are incoming, but they'll be very different to Steam Deck Verified       Valve has confirmed that there will be a Steam Machine Verified games program, but it won't be nearly as strict as Steam Deck verification.

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:47 PM What's next for GOG? Publishing games, maybe, but its new owner isn't in any rush       Right at the end of last year, Cyberpunk and Witcher developer CD Projekt Red sold off its game distribution company to its original co-founder, Michał Kiciński (who is also the co-founder of CD Projekt itself, so, go figure). With this sort of new owner, the plan is generally to stick to what it knows best, i.e. sprucing up old games and making sure any game on the platform is DRM-free. But in a new interview, Kiciński also shared his interest in the platform doing some publishing. Read more

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:56 PM As if making the System Shock remake wasn't tough enough, someone apparently called the FBI on Nightdive during development       It is not news to anyone that Nightdive Studios' System Shock remake took a while to make. The remake started development in 2015, with a successful Kickstarter project held for it the following year. After a few engine changes and attempts at making the thing, it finally released back in 2023, a good eight years after development had started. But such a long wait is absolutely not worth calling the FBI over, folks, are we being serious right now? Which is, apparently, a thing that happened to Nightdive. Read more

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:53 PM Rockstar launch official roleplay mods store where you can spend $67 to turn GTA into Euro Truck Simulator 2       If you've ever wanted to spend somewhere in the region of $67/£50 to turn GTA 5 into a fishing simulator, today's your lucky day. Rockstar-partnered GTA roleplaying server operators Cfx.re - the folks behind FiveM and RedM - have launched the Cfx Marketplace, a store where you can buy a bunch of GTA roleplaying mods, some of which are free and some of which seem pretty damn expensive. Read more

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:05 PM Playing Hytale on the Steam Deck takes some classic PC spannering, but the effort is rewarded       Right up until its early access release, Hytale's chances of Steam Deck-enabled portability were anyone's guess. Even the blocky sandbox's developers Hypixel seemed unsure, announcing a SteamOS-friendly native Linux version (good!) but forgoing an actual Steam release (less good!) and warning Deck owners of Hytale's absent controller support (definitely not good!). However, as fellow cube enthusiast Minecraft would know, the Steam Deck doesn't always let something like an apparent lack of basic functionality keep it down. The device itself provides all the tools you need to get Hytale up, running, and playable, and while the process is hardly a one-click install, the fruit of your toils is a game that Valve's handheld PC can happily keep going for hours. Read more

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:01 PM I have no idea what you do in Hypnos, but its cosmic horror, megastructure world looks so pretty I'm not bothered       A position I take that is quite hard to explain in any way that is actually helpful is that for a game to catch someone's attention it must have aesthetic sensibilities that no other game has. To truly get someone's attention anyway, enough marketing budget can undo that, but for an indie game, a vibe (mysterious, unquantifiable) that I haven't felt before will pull me in quicker than listing off genre conventions it follows. This is how Hypnos, a first-person adventure and exploration game "set in a lovecraftian megastructure fever dream," got me to pay attention. Read more

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:38 AM The Elder Scrolls 6 in the Summerset Isles would be cool, or so recently unearthed Daggerfall-era dev D&D notes have convinced me       As someone who admittedly struggles to feel at home whenever I try to go back and play the older Elder Scrolls entries, I'm surprised how fun I've found reading through some notes from a D&D game some devs on the series played around the time of Daggerfall's development. Said notes have just been made public following the recent death of Julian LeFay, a key figure in the early days of Bethesda, who hosted this freshly unearthed campaign and another more well-known one. Read more

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:17 AM Forza Horizon 6's release date might have raced onto the streets faster than planned, thanks to an ad       What's that screaming around the bend, tyres squealing and RPMs peaking? It's Forza Horizon 6's release date arriving ahead of schedule, assuming a pop-up ad allegedly spotted in Forza Horizon 5 is the genuine article. If that's the case, then the open-world racing series' trip to Japan is booked to arrive in May this year. Read more

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:51 AM Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick accuses Embracer of secretly organising a lawsuit against him and Microsoft       I'm going to keep this one as succinct as possible, because every word is causing me psychic damage. Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has alleged that an ongoing lawsuit accusing him of rushing Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard to avoid the fallout from company-wide sexual misconduct allegations was, in fact, secretly orchestrated by noted layoff manufacturer Embracer Group to boost sales of Embracer's own games. Read more

Twinfinite Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:10 AM Azure Latch Codes (January 2026) [Ranked & QOL]       Check out our article for the latest news on Azure Latch codes!

Siliconera Wednesday, January 14, 2026 4:00 PM Wudwud Headgear Available in Monster Hunter Wilds Event Quest       Capcom announced Eager Wudwud α headgear is the latest cosmetic in Monster Hunter Wilds, and it is available via an Event Quest called "Playing the Long Game." It is available to earn in-game until January 27, 2026. As with other missions of this type, you need to have unlocked Wounded Hollow and progressed far enough in the campaign to take these tasks to take part. "Playing the Long Game" isn't too difficult of an Event Quest. It has an eight star rank. You must be at minimum HR 41 to take part. The fight involves facing both Balahara and Mizutsune. If you do, you'll get the materials and ability get the Eager Wudwud α headgear in Monster Hunter Wilds.  This makes it look like that species of Lynian is riding on your head, getting a piggyback ride from your hunter. To craft it, you need one Mizutsune Water Orb, two Balahara Black Pearls, three Hunter Symbol IIIs, and three Wudwud Likey-Likes. There are two variants to craft, with one featuring a plain Wudwud and another with a pair of glasses, scarf, and wig on. Here are the two screenshots Capcom shared of the cosmetic we can get in the Monster Hunter Wilds "Playing the Long Game" Event Quest: Images via Capcom The Wudwuds are Lynians first introduced in this installment. They look a bit like otters and have a village in the Scarlet Forest area. Monster Hunter Wilds is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.  The post Wudwud Headgear Available in Monster Hunter Wilds Event Quest appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Wednesday, January 14, 2026 3:00 PM Kagurabachi Chihiro Rokuhira GEM Series Figure Debuts in October       Bandai Namco, MegaHouse, and Shueisha announced a Kagurabachi Chihiro Rokuhira figure will join the GEM Series in October 2026. The manga's star is only showing up on Premium Bandai in Japan at the moment for 27,500円. However, it will eventually appear worldwide. One of the first storefronts to list it is Big Bad Toy Store, which is selling it for $226.99 and shipping it in November 2026. When you get this figure, it's a static one with no extra parts and pieces. It shows Chihiro in the midst of attacking with the Enchanted Blade Enten. When he uses it, he can summon one of Kunishige's three goldfish for a specific attack. In this instance, we see him calling upon Kuro.  Here's how that looks from different angles. Images via Shueisha, MegaHouse, and Bandai Namco This is the second recent Kagurabachi figure announcement we've seen, as the first involved a Chihiro Nendoroid. Good Smile Company announced it back in October 2025. That is expected to ship in Japan in April 2026, though we won't see it worldwide until Q3 2026.  The Kagurabachi GEM Series Chihiro Rokuhira figure will launch in Japan in October 2026, and we'll see it worldwide after. The manga is handled by Viz Media outside of Japan. There's no word on an anime adaptation yet. The post Kagurabachi Chihiro Rokuhira GEM Series Figure Debuts in October appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Wednesday, January 14, 2026 2:00 PM New Ecco the Dolphin Site Opens for Games and Products       Following past confirmations about upcoming Ecco the Dolphin games from A&R Atelier and Sega, there's an update again about titles and products, a new website, and an official Discord server. The site itself also features a countdown in the lower left corner that, at time of writing said 2352:58:20, signifying something will happen in about 2,352 hours. That would suggest a possible reveal on April 22, 2026. Details are vague still. We do know from May 2025 that A&R Atelier already confirmed remasters of both Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time. In the game section of the site, there's only art of the character leaping out of the water, surrounded by other dolphins and fish. That page also notes, "Developed by A&R Atelier" and has a 2026 trademark. The About section says that updates will appear here and that people can create an account and sign in for updates. The home page also features links to official social networks like Discord.  Here's a screenshot of the site homepage, with the countdown clock highlighted in red. Screenshot by Siliconera There were five original Ecco the Dolphin games total, though two were Ecco Jr spin-offs. The last entry released was the Dreamcast and PS2 reboot Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future. However, that's one of those rare instances where the PS2 version only appeared outside of Japan. The Genesis games and spin-offs frequently appeared in collections and compilations, and the original game is part of the Sega Genesis Nintendo Switch Online app. We should learn more about the new Ecco the Dolphin games and products in the near future. The post New Ecco the Dolphin Site Opens for Games and Products appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:00 PM Sony Selling Hatsune Miku LinkBuds Fit Earbuds Set       Sony opened orders for the Hatsune Miku version of its LinkBuds Fit limited edition earbuds set. They are only available through the direct storefront for $249.99. That includes the green version of the headphones, an acrylic earbuds display stand with the Vocaloid on it, and two models of the character to use in Gugenka's HoloModels app on mobile devices. In the case of the earbuds, there is nothing special or different from them. They are identical to the standard LinkBuds Fit green variant that is sold for $229.99 on its own. That includes a case, as usual, noise canceling options, Ambient Sound Mode, and Sound Connect app support. The earbuds alone can last for about five and a half hours on a single charge. It's the extra accessories in this set that bring in the Hatsune Miku element, with the acrylic stand in particular featuring art of her wearing the LinkBuds Fit earbuds. The base of that has a spot that can hold the headphones and case. As for the HoloModels, the two you get with this bundle do need that Gugenka Android and iOS AR app to use. When you do, you can also hear her sing "Believe Day."  Here's how the earbuds and acrylic stand look: Images via Sony and Crypton In the past, ASUS also made a Hatsune Miku pair of headphones.  The Hatsune Miku LinkBuds Fit limited edition earbuds set is available now worldwide.  The post Sony Selling Hatsune Miku LinkBuds Fit Earbuds Set appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:00 PM Cygames Says No Generative AI Used in Its Games and Products       Just under a week after opening Cygames AI Studio in Japan, the Cygames proper released a statement worldwide on social media accounts stating no generative AI is in its games, anime series, or products. However, the announcement also said the company "won't implement generative AI into our products without prior notice." This means the notice, while expressing appreciation for human work and apologize for not initially addressing concerns, doesn't include a commitment to avoiding AI in things like its games and anime series completely.  When Cygames AI Studio first came up, the site noted it would be a subsidiary. It claimed that part of the company would make its own model for game services and tools. That announcement also included a number of job listings.   Here is the statement Cygames released regarding generative AI in its products like games and anime. "Over the past few days, we've received numberous comments expressing anger and disappointment from many of you. This was because we released a simplified statement in Japanese concerning the founding of Cygames AI Studio, Inc., without addressing any of the current problems and social debates surrounding generative AI. We sincerely apologize for the concern we've caused. "We would like to take this opportunity to state that art produced from generative AI isn't used in our products. Furthermore, we won't implement generative AI into our products without prior notice. We hold in the highest regard those who love games, as well as the dignity, passion, and heart of the creators and artists who act as the architects of gaming culture. The art for all current Cygames games and other products is crafted from the technical know-how and manual work of our many staff members. "Once again, we deeply apologize for causing our beloved fans much grief and anxiety. We at Cygames will continue to honor creators, as well as champion the free expression of people, and, in doing so, will continue to strive to be the best in entertainment. Thank you for your continued support." Cygames' most recent worldwide release is Umamusume: Pretty Derby. However, it also announced that it will finally release Granblue Fantasyworldwide on PCs via Steam in 2026. That will be a separate than the existing Japanese and English version, so people's accounts won't work.  The post Cygames Says No Generative AI Used in Its Games and Products appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:00 AM Gundam x Hatsune Miku Special Tribute Songs Album Debuts       Sunrise Music and Crypton Future Media have just released a compilation album featuring theme songs from the Gundam franchise covered by the Vocaloid Hatsune Miku. The album's full title is Gundam x Miku Special Tribute Songs, and it is available physically at ¥3,410 (~$21.50). Hatsune Miku had previously sung theme songs from the first Gundam, G Gundam, and Gundam Wing in the Gundam Metaverse throughout 2024 and 2025. This album further expands that collaboration by featuring more theme songs with arrangements from famous Vocaloid song composers, such as Hachioji-P and Yunosuke. Here is the full track list of the album: "Fly! Gundam!" - Opening theme of Mobile Suit Gundam, arranged by Hachioji-P "Just Communication" - 1st Opening theme of Gundam Wing, arranged by Sheeno Mirin "Invoke" - 1st Opening theme of Gundam SEED, arranged by Ichinose LUPO "Ash Like Snow" - 2nd Opening theme of Gundam 00, arranged by Aira "Freedom" - Opening theme of Gundam SEED Freedom, arranged by Twinfield "G no Senkou" - Ending theme of Reconguista in G, arranged by buzzG "Beyond the Time" - Theme song of Char's Counterattack, arranged by Mwk "Flying in the Sky" - 1st Opening theme of G Gundam, arranged by Yunosuke "Asu he" - 1st Opening theme of Gundam AGE, arranged by R Sound Design "Ai Senshi" - Theme song of Mobile Suit Gundam's 2nd movie, arranged by Yuyoyuppe "Anime jyanai" - 1st Opening theme of Gundam ZZ, arranged by SAWTOWNE "Arashi no Naka de Kagayaite" Opening theme of The 08th MS Team, arranged by 164 "Idol Warrior" - Original song composed by Mitchie M A music video for the new original song "Idol Warrior" is also available to watch via Gundam Channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EXWmuKg-RI The Gundam x Miku Special Tribute Songs is now available for purchase in Japan. The post Gundam x Hatsune Miku Special Tribute Songs Album Debuts appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:00 AM Mos Burger Turns My Melody and Kuromi Into Nuggets       Mos Burger will release mascot keychains of My Melody or Kuromi looking like fried chicken. You can pre-order them on the Internet, or you can purchase them after they come out at the stores. The pre-order period lasts until January 28, 2026. Then, you can go to the stores between February 5 and 20, 2026 to get them. Even if you don't order them, you can get them from the stores between February 5 and 28, 2026. However, these keychains are only while supplies last. Mos Burger warns of the possibility that it'll run out of the keychains during the special online pre-order period. The keychains are part of a set, so you can also get some fried chicken while you're there to pick up your new Sanrio mascot. Each set costs 1200 JPY ($7.55). The My Melody set gives you five chicken nuggets alongside the toy. You'll need to buy a dipping sauce separately. The Kuromi set comes with a Mos chicken. Both keychains are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Images via Mos Burger, Sanrio Last year—2025—marked the 50th anniversary of My Melody and the 20th anniversary of Kuromi. Because of that, many companies collaborated with Sanrio to release commemorative merchandise or snacks of the two popular mascots. For example, Seiko released a special collaboration watch, while McDonald's released a special McFlurry flavor and campaign. The My Melody and Kuromi keychains from Mos Burger will be available in February 2026, and the pre-order period lasts until January 28, 2026. It is recommended that one pre-orders them first to guarantee one. The post Mos Burger Turns My Melody and Kuromi Into Nuggets appeared first on Siliconera.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 2:58 PM How to complete Modern Prometheus in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check and find zombie parts       The Modern Prometheus quest is an endgame task in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check that will expose you to the madness of a particular NPC. The action begins on the 20th day when you'll meet an NPC named Stuart. He will have a proposition that sounds lunatic to say the least (more on that in the following section). While you can choose not to complete this quest, the guide will help you finish the tasks (if you do decide to complete it). Table of contents How to start the Modern Prometheus quest in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check How to find the zombie parts in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check How to start the Modern Prometheus quest in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check The quest triggers when you begin Day 20. You'll meet a survivor named Stuart (appearance will vary across saves). He will tell you that the undead besieged his bunker, and he had managed to secure the head of a project he was working on. Image via Devolver Digital You'll find the head from Stuart's bag. Your first job is to confiscate it immediately (Stuart will then start telling his story). Confiscating the infected body part will cost you a few bucks. You can choose to liquidate Stuart, as he should be tagged as infected, as per the rules. However, you can also choose to send him to the Survivor's Block to continue the questline. Image via Devolver Digital How to find the zombie parts in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check This part of the task will depend on your luck. You'll need to wait for another survivor to arrive with the remaining three missing zombie body parts. Of course, this NPC will be carrying a bag, and you'll need to open it to find the infected parts. What you do with this survivor doesn't matter. Immediately confiscate the remaining body parts and talk to Stuart. Go to the Survivor's Block, and you'll find Stuart waiting for you. He will tell you about beginning his experiment that evening. Your task for the remainder of the day will be to finish all your inspections. Screenshot by Destructoid When you wake up the next morning, you'll get a notification about deaths in the block, which, to nobody's surprise, is due to Stuart's mad experiment. Your last task will be to kill all the zombies you find in the Survivor's Block. After you've killed all the zombies with your pistol, you'll get to learn that Stuart's experiment was actually successful. However, he had to pay for it with his life. You'll find a collectible in his tent, along with $500 for all the trouble. The post How to complete Modern Prometheus in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check and find zombie parts appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 2:09 PM Where to find Cooling Fans in ARC Raiders       Loot is a core part of ARC Raiders, with all sorts of items and pieces of loot necessary to progress in the game, whether it be upgrading workstations, advancing the Expedition projects, or crafting the best equipment and weapons. Cooling Fans were required for one of the Expedition projects, and will probably be necessary to advance other events and projects down the line, making them a good item to stock up on just in case. Here's where you can find them. How to get Cooling Fans in ARC Raiders The Launch Towers are a generally fantastic loot spot, but also a great source of Cooling Fans. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid Cooling Fans can be found in Technological loot zones, which are located on just about every map in the game. However, we've had the most luck with them when raiding the Launch Towers on the Spaceport map, specifically the very top parts. All the containers and tables are chock full of every kind of item you can think of, including Cooling Fans, which tend to spawn quite often (you'll usually get at least one per run, unless your luck is really bad that day). On the other hand, this item can spawn within Server Racks, breachable containers that spawn on a lot of the maps, but are most easily accessed on Dam Battlegrounds. They can only be opened if you have the relevant perk unlocked in the Survival tree, which I suggest you get not only for the Cooling Fans, but for a lot of additional great loot that spawns within them as well. Cooling Fans are, as said above, necessary for the Expeditions, so you'd do well to have a few lying in your inventory just in case they're required for any further events. The post Where to find Cooling Fans in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:54 PM Where to find Synthesized Fuel in ARC Raiders       ARC Raiders is chock full of various items that you must find by any means necessary to progress. Many of the game's quests, alongside much of its secondary progressions, are tied to unique items that can be either looted, crafted, purchased, or recycled from other pieces of loot. Synthesized Fuel is one such item, though it's a lot easier to obtain than most other loot we've covered so far. If you're having trouble finding it, here's what you should do. How to get Synthesized Fuel in ARC Raiders The Assembly is a great place to look for Exodus items like the Rocket Thrusters that'll provide two Synthesized Fuels when recycled. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid The absolutely easiest way to obtain Synthesized Fuel is to purchase it from Celeste. She sells it from time to time for a few Assorted Seeds a pop, meaning you'll have to stock up on these through topside runs, looting them straight or recycling Herbs that you find across the game's maps. On the other hand, Synthesized Fuel can be looted or recycled, with the latter being the more productive way. On Spaceport and Stella Montis, you can find Rocket Thrusters in Exodus loot areas, with each providing you with a couple of Synthesized Fuels per recycle. The item doesn't have that much use outside of being recycled or sold, so it's a very productive source of Synthesized Fuel, which will put your mind at ease. It's almost guaranteed to appear in the Assembly on Stella Montis or other Exodus areas in the game, so you should check them out if Celeste purchases aren't an option. The post Where to find Synthesized Fuel in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:26 PM All 1 of 3 87+ Thunderstruck/Joga Bonito/WW/Unbreakables Campaign Mix PP SBC rewards       A new 1 of 3 87+ Campaign Mix PP SBC is now live in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can get guaranteed fodder by exchanging your fodder. While we have had previous Campaign Mix with 87+ overall guaranteed, this one changes the featured promos. Let's look at all the cards available in the rewards if you're interested in completing it ahead of the TOTY celebrations. Table of contents Complete 1 of 3 87+ Thunderstruck/Joga Bonito/WW/Unbreakables Campaign Mix PP SBC rewards in FC 26 Thunderstruck Joga Bonito Unbreakables Winter Wildcards Complete 1 of 3 87+ Thunderstruck/Joga Bonito/WW/Unbreakables Campaign Mix PP SBC rewards in FC 26 The new 1 of 3 87+ Campaign Mix PP SBC includes four different promos: Thunderstruck, Joga Bonito, Winter Wildcards, and Unbreakables. Thunderstruck Aubameyang ST 87 Woltemade ST 87 Bonansea LM 87 Dumornay ST 87 Olga Carmona LB 87 Gravenberch CDM 87 Zaccagni LM 87 Diogo Dalot RB 87 Timber RB 87 Geyoro CM 87 Brandt CAM 87 Greggi CM 87 Cerci ST 87 Mahrez RM 87 Calhanoglu CDM 88 Pedro Neto RM 88 Kerr ST 88 Hernandez LB 88 Stanway CDM 88 Oblak GK 89 Endler GK 89 Kante CDM 89 Musiala CAM 89 Russo ST 90 Raphinha LM 90 Rodri CDM 91 Jude Bellingham CAM 92 Alexia Putellas CAM 92 Joga Bonito Zeballos RM 87 Ederson GK 87 Cherki RW 87 Murillo CB 87 Sanchez RW 87 Matheus Cunha CAM 87 Lucas Paqueta CM 87 Joao Cancelo RB 87 Alaba CB 87 Olise RM 88 Kvaratskhelia LW 88 Yildiz CAM 88 Chloe Kelly RW 88 Cole Palmer CAM 89 Frenkie de Jong CM 89 Aitana Bonmati CM 91 Vitinha CM 91 Unbreakables Catarina Macario CAM 87 Joelinton CM 87 Caicedo LW 87 Eriksen CM 87 Santi Cazorla CAM 87 Inaki Williams RM 87 Junior Messias RM 87 Luis Diaz LM 87 Eduardo Camavinga CM 87 Sadio Mane LM 88 Berger GK 88 Guirassy ST 88 Swanson LM 88 Luka Modric CM 89 Bukayo Saka RW 90 Khadija Shaw ST 91 Mohamed Salah RM 92 Winter Wildcards Lacroix CB 87 Fowler RW 87 Raum LB 87 Schlotterbeck CB 87 Kingsley Coman LM 87 Rafael Leao LW 87 Rulli GK 87 Thuram CM 87 Rogers CAM 87 Bethune CAM 87 Marmoush ST 87 Bacha LB 87 Ruben Neves CDM 87 Claudia Pina ST, LW 88 Rodman RM, ST 88 Joao Neves CDM, CM 88 Schade LM 88 Schick ST 88 Jonathan Tah CB 88 Nico Williams ST, LM 89 Gabriel CB 89 Lauren James RM, ST 89 De Bruyne CAM, CDM 89 Buhl LM 89 Rodrygo RW 89 ALvarez ST 89 Mac Allister CM 89 Patri ST, CDM 90 Marcus Rashford LM 90 Valverde CM, RB 90 Pedri CM 90 Ousmane Dembele ST, CAM 91 The post All 1 of 3 87+ Thunderstruck/Joga Bonito/WW/Unbreakables Campaign Mix PP SBC rewards appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:37 PM How to get and use Cobalt in Hytale       Cobalt is one of the several metals you can find in Hytale, and it will be your source for getting some wonderful armor pieces. The metal is necessary for crafting various gear pieces, and it's less common than Copper or Iron. Once found, you'll also need to convert it into ingots. You can then use them in recipes, depending on what you have unlocked. Let's look at how to get Cobalt in Hytale, and what its best uses are. Table of contents Best location for finding Cobalt in Hytale How to use Cobalt in Hytale Best location for finding Cobalt in Hytale To find this rare item, you'll want to head to the Whisperfront Frontiers biome. This snowy area has plenty of Shale columns located around the biome. You can mine them to get Cobalt. Typically, the amount of resources you get will be low due to their rarity. Once you find a deposit, extract as much as you can. Screenshot by Destructoid You can also find Cobalt in the same biome, but below the ground. The quantity you'll get is significantly lower, so it's not my favorite choice. How to use Cobalt in Hytale The raw Cobalt you get can't be used as a standalone item. The first thing you'll require is a Furnace. You can make a Furnace at your base, which will then allow you to smelt metals (including Cobalt). When you add fuel and Cobalt to your Furnace, you'll get Cobalt Ingots in return. Here's a list of recipes I have found so far that require Cobalt Ingot. Cobalt Sword Cobalt Helm Cobalt Cuirass Cobalt Gauntlets Cobalt Greaves Cobalt Shield You will also require a bunch of Cobalt Ingots to upgrade the Furnace, which allows you to do better smelting (and add efficiency). If you've already found the necessary items but are unsure how to use them, here's a list of all craftable weapons and armors in the current build. The post How to get and use Cobalt in Hytale appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:55 AM How to unlock crafting recipes in Hytale       Survival crafting games are always a good time when it comes to progression and getting bigger and better gear. Hytale is the latest survival-craft game similar to Minecraft, and a lot of the fun is in unlocking new recipes and items to craft to help you on your journey. There are a couple of ways that this is done in Hytale, and it's crucial to know how to gain the ability to craft more and better items as you advance. How to get more crafting recipes in Hytale Screenshot by Destructoid A lot of crafting recipes are unlocked once you upgrade your Workbenches. When you interact with any of the different Workbenches in the game, the right side of the screen will show what you need to upgrade it. Upgrading the bench will unlock new recipes and the ability to craft better items. Additionally, some of the advanced crafting recipes are locked behind progression in The Forgotten Temple. To unlock more recipes and upgrade items, you must log Memories in the temple, and the more memories you log, the more recipes you unlock as you rank up. Screenshot by Destructoid The Forgotten Temple is marked on your map and compass (as seen above) and can be found not far from the original spawn area. A golem monster will be defending the portal to head inside, so kill it and enter the portal to go to the temple area. Memories are unlocked by finding new animals and enemies to interact with. Coming into contact with animals you find in Hytale, along with different enemies and monsters you fight, will unlock their Memories. Return to the altar in The Forgotten Temple to log your Memories and gain new items. Screenshot by Destructoid Here's the running list of recipes and upgrades you unlock and the Memories needed to get them: Memories Required Reward 10 +3 Decorative Chests +2 Eternal Seeds 25 +3 Decorative Chests +4 Eternal Seeds +1 Maximum Teleporters 50 Crafting Recipe: Morph Potions +3 Decorative Chests +4 Eternal Seeds +1 Maximum Teleporters 100 Crafting Recipe: Ancient Gateway Crafting Recipe: Portal Fragments Crafting Recipe: Backpack Upgrade II +3 Decorative Chests +2 Eternal Seeds +2 Maximum Teleporters 200 Crafting Recipe: Harvest Trophy +2 Decorative Chests +2 Eternal Seeds +2 Maximum Teleporters The post How to unlock crafting recipes in Hytale appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:48 AM How to craft all weapons in Hytale       As the RNG can quickly show you, setting out without the right weapons for the job is a recipe for disaster in Hytale. After all, an adventurer can only be as good as their tools. But that also means that upgrading your arsenal is a matter of necessity, especially when solo. To help you make quick work of the early game and prepare for the late stages, here's how to craft all weapons in Hytale. Table of contents How to craft all weapons in Hytale All sword recipes All mace recipes All battleaxe recipes All dagger recipes All shortbow recipes All staff recipes All shield recipes How to craft the crossbow in Hytale How to craft all weapons in Hytale When looking at the main weapon types, you can craft a total of seven different tiers of swords, maces, broadaxes, daggers, and shortbows in Hytale, with most being available via the Backsmith's Anvil. As you can see below, all Thorium and Cobalt weapons will demand a Tier 2 Anvil, while the Adamantite and Mithril versions require a Tier 3. You can also craft two staffs with the Arcanist's Workbench and six shields with the Armorer's. All sword recipes Crude Sword: 2x Rubble, 2x Plant Fiber, and 2x Stick Copper Sword: 4x Copper Ingot, 4x Trunk, and 3x Plant Fiber Iron Sword: 6x Iron Ingot, 3x Light Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Thorium Sword: 8x Thorium Ingot, 3x Medium Leather, and 3x Line Scraps Cobalt Sword: 10x Cobalt Ingot, 3x Heavy Leather, and 3x Shadoweave Scraps Adamantite Sword: 11x Adamantite Ingot, 4x Heavy Leather, and 3x Cindercloth Scraps Mithril Sword: 6x Mithril Ingot, 3x Storm Leather, and 1x Voidheart All mace recipes Crude Mace: 6x Stone, 3x Trunk, and 4x Plant Fiber Copper Mace: 6x Copper Stone, 10x Trunk, and 2x Plant Fiber Iron Mace: 10x Iron Ingot, 4x Light Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Thorium Mace: 12x Thorium Ingot, 4x Medium Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Cobalt Mace: 14x Cobalt Ingot, 4x Heavy Leather, and 3x Shadoweave Scraps Adamantite Mace: 16x Adamantite Ingot, 5x Heavy Leather, and 3x Cindercloth Scraps Mithril Mace: 10x Mithril Ingot, 4x Storm Leather, and 1x Voidheart All battleaxe recipes Crude Battleaxe: 6x Stone, 3x Trunk, and 6x Plant Fiber Copper Battleaxe: 6x Copper Ingot, 6x Trunk, and 4x Plant Fiber Iron Battleaxe: 10x Iron Ingot, 4x Light Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Thorium Battleaxe: 12x Thorium Ingot, 4x Medium Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Cobalt Battleaxe: 14x Cobalt Ingot, 4x Heavy Leather, and 3x Shadoweave Scraps Adamantite Battleaxe: 16x Adamantite Ingot, 5x Heavy Leather, and 3x Cindercloth Scraps Mithril Battleaxe: 10x Mithril Ingot, 4x Storm Leather, and 1x Voidheart All dagger recipes Crude Daggers: 3x Rubble, 2x Plant Fiber, and 2x Sticks Copper Daggers: 4x Copper Ingot, 3x Trunks, and 3x Plant Fiber Iron Daggers: 4x Iron Ingot, 2x Light Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Thorium Daggers: 6x Thorium Ingot, 2x Medium Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Cobalt Daggers: 8x Cobalt Ingot, 2x Heavy Leather, and 3x Shadoweave Scraps Adamantite Daggers: 9x Adamantite Ingot, 3x Heavy Leather, and 3x Cindercloth Scraps Mithril Daggers: 10x Mithril Ingot, 3x Storm Leather, and 1x Voidheart All shortbow recipes Crude Shortbow: 4x Sticks and 6x Plant Fiber Copper Shortbow: 4x Copper Ingot, 4x Trunks, 6x Plant Fiber Iron Shortbow: 6x Iron Ingot, 3x Light Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Thorium Shortbow: 8x Thorium Ingot, 2x Medium Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Cobalt Shortbow: 10x Cobalt Ingot, 2x Heavy Leather, and 3x Shadoweave Scraps Adamantite Shortbow: 11x Adamantite Ingot, 3x Heavy Leather, and 3x Cindercloth Scraps Mithril Shortbow: 6x Mithril Ingot, 2x Storm Leather, and 1x Voidheart All staff recipes Flame Crystal Staff: 1x Ruby, 8x Silver Ingot, 8x Gold Ingot, and 20x Essence of Fire Ice Crystal Staff: 1x Sapphire, 8x Silver Ingot, 10x Azure Log, and 20x Essence of Ice All shield recipes Copper Shield: 2x Copper Ingot, 1x Trunk, and 3x Plant Fibers Iron Shield: 4x Iron Ingot, 3x Light Leather, and 3 Linen Scraps Thorium Shield: 5x Thorium Ingot, 3x Medium Leather, and 3x Linen Scraps Cobalt Shield: 6x Cobalt Ingot, 3x Heavy Leather, and 3x Shadoweave Scraps Adamantite Shield: 8x Adamantite Ingot, 4x Heavy Leather, and 3x Cindercloth Scraps Mithril Shield: 4x Mithril Ingot, 3x Storm Leather, and 1x Stormsilk Scraps How to craft the crossbow in Hytale Available from the moment you unlock the Backsmith's Anvil, Hytale players can craft the crossbow in exchange for 3x Linen Scraps, 3x Light Leather, and 6x Iron Ingots. Unlike a shortbow, you can shoot continuously with it by loading up to six arrows at once. We will update this piece as we uncover more craftable weapons or new recipes are added, so keep your eyes peeled and your tools at hand. The post How to craft all weapons in Hytale appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:36 AM All South Park weapons and items in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1       The South Park collab is now live in Fortnite, featuring plenty of items and weapons that are heavily influenced by the show. Here's how you can make the most of them. Table of contents How to find all South Park weapons and items in Fortnite Stick of Truth Cheesy Poofs Kenny's Respawn Token Stealth Rush How to find all South Park weapons and items in Fortnite The table below has information about all the South Park-themed weapons and items that are now available in Fortnite. Stick of Truth Image via Epic Games The Stick of Truth is a new Mythic item that's part of a special Rift Anomaly of the same name. The event happens randomly during a live game. Controlling the item will allow the holder to change the position of the storm circle. It can be used only once inside a match. Only one player can wield its power in a round; the Stick of Truth spawns at the Cartmanland POI. Cheesy Poofs Cheesy Poofs have different roles based on how you're using the item. If you use it on yourself, you'll be healed. If you throw it at an ally, they will also restore health over time. Hence, it's an excellent support item to have in your inventory. However, you can also throw it at an enemy to do damage. You can find this item at random from different locations on the map. I have found most of the Cheesy Poofs from common treasure chests. Kenny's Respawn Token Image via Epic Yes, Epic has killed Kenny, but his death hasn't been in vain. He has blessed us with his Respawn Token that can be found at the Chaosblast mini-game parlor at Cartmanland. Once added to your inventory, this item will trigger automatically when you die. The cause and nature of your death don't matter. Once triggered, you'll revive on your own through a portal and drop from the sky, but you'll lose all your old inventory along the way. Stealth Rush The Stealth Rush is an explosive item that doesn't deal any damage. Instead, it splashes you with a cloak of invisibility for 30 seconds. Anyone trapped in its blast radius will automatically have the cloak active for them. Like Cheesy Poofs, the Stealth Rush item can be obtained randomly from different chests and sources on the map. The post All South Park weapons and items in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:16 AM How to find more Syringe Analyzers in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check       The Syringe Analyzer is the easiest way to find out an infected person in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check who is about to turn into a zombie. However, the item is limited, and finding the next one could be a real challenge. Unlike other items available inside the game, Syringe Analyzers don't have to rely on any symptoms. It allows you to immediately understand if the person standing in front of you is infected or not. This guide will help you figure out how it works and how to find more of it. Table of contents How to use the Syringe Analyzer in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check How to get more Syringe Analyzers in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check How to use the Syringe Analyzer in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check You unlock the Syringe Analyzer at the start of the 11th day after you complete the second evacuation. You'll find the item from Georgie, who will ask you to use it on a survivor. Using the item is very easy: press your LMB to hold it down on a survivor. Screenshot by Destructoid Once used, the screen on the analyzer will either go red or green. If the result is green, the survivor in front of you isn't infected. They're safe to be added to the Survivor's Block. Image via Devolver Digital If the result is red, however, the person in front of you is sick and infected by the undead virus. This person will eventually turn into a zombie, and you should immediately send them to Liquidation. The Syringe Analyzer always provides 100% accurate results, so there's no chance of a mistake. How to get more Syringe Analyzers in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check While the Syringe Analyzer is a fantastic item to use, it's extremely limited. Every syringe can be used only once, and you can only find more through evacuation. When an evacuation happens, you'll be rewarded with a Syringe Analyzer for a certain number of survivors sent to the Science Truck. Screenshot by Destructoid You'll get a Syringe Analyzer for sending the following number of survivors to the Science Truck. 5 14 18 22 You'll also be rewarded with RP when you send the survivors to the Science Truck that can be used to get different upgrades. Hence, the only way to obtain additional Syringe Analyzer is through the evacuation that takes place every five days. The post How to find more Syringe Analyzers in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:45 AM Hytale's best RPG-like feature is what separates it from Minecraft in the best way        Hytale's once-doomed status has been redeemed after just one day in early access, with a shocking number of players around the world logging on for the Minecraft-like experience. On launch night, there were reportedly 2.8 million users playing Hytale, according to an in-game message posted by CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme. That's nothing to scoff at, and while the game is in very early access and is a massive work-in-progress, the base foundation is already quite strong. Screenshot by Destructoid My personal favorite feature in the game, and one that many others are enjoying as well, is The Forgotten Temple. Found very early on in any playthrough, this location functions as a sort of codex where players are rewarded for exploration and discovery to record "Memories" and rank up. The area is still under construction (there are several areas blocked off with "work-in-progress" signs), but there are NPCs, merchants, and other things to discover within. And according to Collins-Laflamme, it was his idea to add the temple in, and for good reason. "I had to find a way to motivate players to explore, and NPCs were already somewhat spawning everywhere and could be easily tuned," he said in a reply on Twitter/X. "I figured it would be fun to tie it into the lore of restoring the memories of Orbis to bring it back. Decided to then remake the temple, put the memories in there and have players find it within the first 15-30 minutes of gameplay to give a sense of 'oh, ok, this is an RPG as well.'" Logging new Memories, which include animals and other monsters, rewards players with new crafting recipes and upgrades to continue and enhance their journey, and Collins-Laflamme also called it "a bit of our community center/quest hub that will evolve over time." This makes it feel like the lore is in there, even though the game's story mode is not quite ready yet, and has begun the worldbuilding from the beginning. When it comes to survival games, I often lose interest quickly. But in Hytale, the incentive to explore, interact, battle, and discover has me ready to dig in for some lengthy play sessions as I get immersed in the world around me. It feels less like a sandbox and more like a world to learn about, and I love it so far. Image via Hypixel Studios Hytale is off to a raucous start, with Collins-Laflamme saying yesterday that the amount of pre-orders alone will fund the next two years of development on the game. There are already dozens of mods available for players to customize the game, as well, and that number will exponentially grow over time. This is just the beginning, but with a foundation as solid as this one, Hytale fans could be in for several more years of fun. The post Hytale's best RPG-like feature is what separates it from Minecraft in the best way  appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:30 AM Disney Dreamlight Valley The Winter Floating Festival puzzles and event walkthrough       A new event has arrived in the valley, bringing with it plenty of new goodies you can unlock in Disney Dreamlight Valley. The Winter Floating Festival is a big one, and it has quite a few tricky puzzles for you to work through. Since the entire event is built around hidden puzzles, it's likely you'll find yourself stumped at one point or another. Luckily, all of them are easy to tackle once you know what you're looking for and what needs to be done. Here's a complete walkthrough for The Winter Floating Festival event in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Table of contents How does The Winter Floating Festival event work in Disney Dreamlight Valley? How to complete The Winter Floating Festival event in Disney Dreamlight Valley All The Winter Floating Festival puzzles in Disney Dreamlight Valley All The Winter Floating Festival rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley How long is The Winter Floating Festival in Disney Dreamlight Valley? How does The Winter Floating Festival event work in Disney Dreamlight Valley? Screenshot by Destructoid The Winter Floating Festival event takes place on a magical, floating island you can access through a portal in the Plaza during the event's duration. On this island, you'll find a winter wonderland packed with five unique puzzles you can complete to earn five exclusive event rewards. This is only the second floating island event, so it's a newer concept for DDV. If you previously participated in The Haunted Floating Festival event, you already have a solid understanding of how this one works, as it's basically the same idea, just on a new island with new puzzles and prizes. How to complete The Winter Floating Festival event in Disney Dreamlight Valley You can complete the entire The Winter Floating Festival event by finishing all five puzzles around the holiday island. While other events like Gift of Giving and Trick-or-Treat come with loads of tasks to tackle, items to craft, and more to do, The Winter Floating Festival is a more focused event that homes in on five main missions. These quests do have smaller tasks within them, but overall, you have five key goals to complete. All The Winter Floating Festival puzzles in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid There are five puzzles you can work on throughout The Winter Floating Festival event. Three are available right away, while the other two unlock later in the event. Here are all the missions you need to get done and what to do to knock out each one. Puzzle Unlock date Task Frosty Rabbit Puzzle Jan. 7 Track down three red chests around the island to learn the event Hot Cocoa recipes, all of which require Festive Cocoa Beans to make. Then, find the blue Frosty Rabbit on the island and feed them the Hot Cocoa of the day. Monday – Festive Mint Hot Cocoa Tuesday – Festive Cherry Hot Cocoa Wednesday – Festive Blueberry Hot Cocoa Thursday – Festive Cherry Hot Cocoa Friday – Festive Mint Hot Cocoa Saturday – Festive Blueberry Hot Cocoa Sunday – Festive Cherry Hot Cocoa Repeat this process for four days to obtain all four fragments and piece together the memory, which shows a golden dig spot. Visit the spot pictured in the memory, equip your Royal Shovel, and use it to dig up your reward. Chocolate Fountain Puzzle Jan. 7 Find the empty fountain on the event island. Interact with it to transfer over 10 Cherry Hot Cocoa, 15 Blueberry Hot Cocoa, and 20 Mint Hot Cocoa, which you'll need to cook up yourself. As soon as you do, the fountain will start up again, allowing you to claim your reward. Snowman Pillar Puzzle Jan. 7 Count how many of each type of snowman there are around the island to match the correct symbol and number on the pillar. I – Bow Mother Snowman II – Top Hat Dapper Snowmen III – Cap Kid Snowmen IV – Beanie Father Snowmen Street Lamp Puzzle Jan. 14 Find and repair 12 Street Lamps around the event island. Each one needs to be fixed by installing a shiny Gem that matches the color of the light. Fix the three yellow Street Lamps using shiny yellow Gems, like Shiny Citrine and Shiny Topaz. Fix the three red Street Lamps using shiny red Gems, like Shiny Garnet, Shiny Ruby, and Shiny Spinel. Fix the three blue Street Lamps using shiny blue Gems, like Shiny Aquamarine, Shiny Blue Zircon, Shiny Pure Ice, Shiny Sapphire, and Shiny Star Sapphire. Fix the three green Street Lamps using shiny green Gems, like Shiny Emerald, Shiny Jade, and Shiny Peridot. Snowy Fortress Snowman Questions Puzzle Jan. 21 TBA All The Winter Floating Festival rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley For completing each event puzzle, you get to claim a special prize that's exclusive to The Winter Floating Festival event. There are five rewards in total to go with the same number of puzzles you can complete. Puzzle Reward Image Frosty Rabbit Puzzle Taupe Winter Hat Chocolate Fountain Puzzle Winter Chocolate Fountain Snowman Pillar Puzzle Dapper Snowman Street Lamp Puzzle Printed Winter Leggings Snowy Fortress Snowman Questions Puzzle Taupe Winter Coat TBA How long is The Winter Floating Festival in Disney Dreamlight Valley? The Winter Floating Festival runs from Jan. 7 to 28, giving all players three full weeks to tackle everything it has to offer before it ends. Some of the puzzles and rewards aren't available until later in the event, so you'll need to log on a few times throughout the event's duration to get everything done. The post Disney Dreamlight Valley The Winter Floating Festival puzzles and event walkthrough appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:19 AM How to update Animal Crossing New Horizons – Switch 2 and 3.0 update       It's been a long time since I booted up Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but now is as good a time as any to return. The 3.0 update for New Horizons is available now, and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game is not far behind. The update adds new features like a hotel that you can decorate and host tourists in, and you can even add new Zelda and Splatoon-themed villagers if you have the proper Amiibo. The update download for the new content is not readily apparent, so we've got the details on how to get your game up to date so you can face off with your lonely villagers who feel abandoned in stunning 4K resolution. Table of contents How to update Animal Crossing New Horizons Animal Crossing - Switch 2 Edition vs. 3.0 update How to update Animal Crossing New Horizons Image via Nintendo To update to the 3.0 version and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons Download the game on your Switch or Switch 2. Press the + button on the Animal Crossing app from the Switch menu. Select "Software Update." Select "Via the Internet." Download the update. The update download will begin, and once finished, you can access the 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The Switch 2 Edition update is also applied if you pre-ordered it or bought the Upgrade Pack for $4.99, but it appears to be rolling out on a regional basis. For example, the update became available in the morning hours of Jan. 14 in the US, but the Switch 2 Edition update (offering enhanced 4K resolution, mouse control support, GameChat support, 12 player co-op, and a megaphone feature) will become available on Jan. 15 alongside the full launch of the update. When I try to play the paid Switch 2 Edition on my Switch 2, the game doesn't recognize it quite yet because it's not available in my region. This issue should subside once it becomes Jan. 15 in your region, at which point the Switch 2 Edition will be available. But for now, you can play the new hotel and other gameplay features as part of the free 3.0 update as soon as you download it. Animal Crossing - Switch 2 Edition vs. 3.0 update Image via Nintendo Here's what's included for free vs. what's included in the $4.99 Switch 2 Edition upgrade: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade ($4.99) 4K resolution Mouse controls for decorating A megaphone to call residents GameChat support with Switch 2 camera Support for 12-player multiplayer sessions Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update (free on both Switch 1 and Switch 2) A new hotel on the island Slumber Island location 100-plus new items to collect New Villagers via Amiibo figures or cards More The post How to update Animal Crossing New Horizons – Switch 2 and 3.0 update appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:18 AM All armors in Hytale and how to craft them       Hytale's early access build offers a wide range of armor you can craft and use to protect yourself on your adventures. Armors in Hytale are divided into four parts and six rarities. You can make the parts separately based on the materials you have in your inventory. This guide will list all armor recipes, followed by the crafting process. Table of contents All armor recipes in Hytale All Helm recipes All Cuirass recipes All Gauntlet recipes All Greaves recipes How to craft armor in Hytale All armor recipes in Hytale Armors have four different kinds. Helm Cuirass Gauntlet Greaves All crafted armors will also have their own rarity based on the main building material. Copper Iron Thorium Cobalt Adamantite Mithril All Helm recipes Name Workbench Requirements Recipe Copper Helmet N/A Copper Ingot ×6 Plant Fiber ×2 Iron Helmet N/A Iron Ingot ×9 Light Leather ×4 Linen Scraps ×3 Thorium Helmet Armorer's Workbench Tier 2 Thorium Ingot ×11 Medium Leather ×4 Linen Scraps ×4 Venom Sac ×2 Cobalt Helmet Armorer's Workbench Tier 2 Cobalt Ingot ×12 Heavy Leather ×4 Shadoweave Scraps ×4 Adamantite Helmet Armorer's Workbench Tier 3 Adamantite Ingot ×15 Heavy Leather ×5 Cindercloth Scraps ×4 Mithril Helmet Armorer's Workbench Tier 3 Mithril Ingot ×12 Storm Leather ×4 Essence of the Void ×40 All Cuirass recipes Name Workbench Requirements Recipe Copper Cuirass N/A Copper Ingot ×11 Plant Fiber ×4 Iron Cuirass N/A Iron Ingot ×16 Light Leather ×7 Linen Scraps ×6 Thorium Cuirass Armorer's Workbench Tier 2 Thorium Ingot ×11 Medium Leather ×4 Thorium Ingot ×20 Medium Leather ×7 Linen Scraps ×7 Venom Sac ×4 Cobalt Cuirass Armorer's Workbench Tier 2 Cobalt Ingot ×24 Heavy Leather ×7 Shadoweave Scraps ×7 Adamantite Cuirass Armorer's Workbench Tier 3 Adamantite Ingot ×28 Heavy Leather ×8 Cindercloth Scraps ×7 Mithril Cuirass Armorer's Workbench Tier 3 Mithril Ingot ×12 SMithril Ingot ×24 Storm Leather ×8 Essence of the Void ×80 All Gauntlet recipes Name Workbench Requirements Recipe Copper Gauntlet N/A Copper Ingot ×5 Plant Fiber ×1 Iron Gauntlet N/A Iron Ingot ×7 Light Leather ×3 Linen Scraps ×3 Thorium Gauntlet Armorer's Workbench Tier 2 Thorium Ingot ×9 Medium Leather ×3 Linen Scraps ×3 Venom Sac ×1 Cobalt Gauntlet Armorer's Workbench Tier 2 Cobalt Ingot ×8 Heavy Leather ×3 Shadoweave Scraps ×3 Adamantite Gauntlet Armorer's Workbench Tier 3 Adamantite Ingot ×12 Heavy Leather ×4 Cindercloth Scraps ×3 Mithril Gauntlet Armorer's Workbench Tier 3 Mithril Ingot ×12 SMithril Ingot ×24 Mithril Ingot ×8 Storm Leather ×2 Essence of the Void ×20 All Greaves recipes Name Workbench Requirements Recipe Copper Greaves N/A Copper Ingot ×9 Plant Fiber ×3 Iron Greaves N/A Iron Ingot ×13 Light Leather ×6 Linen Scraps ×4 Thorium Greaves Armorer's Workbench Tier 2 Thorium Ingot ×15 Medium Leather ×6 Linen Scraps ×6 Venom Sac ×3 Cobalt Greaves Armorer's Workbench Tier 2 Cobalt Ingot ×18 Heavy Leather ×6 Shadoweave Scraps ×6 Adamantite Greaves Armorer's Workbench Tier 3 Adamantite Ingot ×22 Heavy Leather ×7 Cindercloth Scraps ×6 Mithril Greaves Armorer's Workbench Tier 3 Mithril Ingot ×12 Mithril Ingot ×18 Storm Leather ×6 Essence of the Void ×60 How to craft armor in Hytale To craft any armor, you'll need to make the Armorer's Workbench. Here's the list of resources that you'll require. Screenshot by Destructoid Two Copper Ingot Ten Tree Trunks Five Stone Once done, place the crafted Armorer's Workbench at a suitable location. You'll be able to view all the available recipes that you can make with different materials. Choose the armor slot you want to make. Add the required items from your inventory. Craft the armor piece. If the applicable slot is empty, it will get equipped automatically. The post All armors in Hytale and how to craft them appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:07 AM Best item and base upgrades in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check       The job of managing your outpost in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is easier said than done, and you'll have to invest in various upgrades consistently. Upgrades are done using Research Points that you gain via different in-game activities. There are two types of upgrades: the ones you make to your items and the ones that you apply to your base. Each upgrade has its own advantages, but you can't have them all. This guide will list what I consider the best upgrades for your RP. Table of contents Best base upgrades in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check Best item upgrades in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check Best base upgrades in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check Your base is the centre stage of all your operations. It's where you receive survivors and decide what to do with them. Every five days brings an evacuation that allows you send survivors and get cash/RP in return. Here are some excellent base upgrades to consider. Screenshot by Destructoid All Tent upgrades: The more survivors you manage to take in from inspection, the more resources you get from evacuation. Hence, upgrading your tents will allow you to take in more survivors and get more RP/cash in the process. Those two will make your base management easier, and more RP means faster and better upgrades. Ability Accelerator in Defense Center: While I love the minigame where you get to shoot at zombies with drones, the Ability Accelerator will speed up the reload times of every gun in your arsenal. Atfirst, this will feel like a fun task. When you survive around the 15th day, the waves become extremely dangerous to handle. Most of the undead that spawn have a lot of health, so a quicker reload time ensures that your wall stands tall. Screenshot by Destructoid Generator 3 and Hydroponics: Making your base resource-efficient will save your hard-earned cash. Generator 3 raises the fuel efficiency of your generator and increases the power output. Having more power will ensure that your facilities are up and running. Greater efficiency helps reduce the cost of resupplying the fuel. The Hydroponics upgrade for your Canteen allows you to make eight meals a day on your own. You won't need to buy any resources or packaged meals, and having eight extra meals daily saves plenty of cash. Additionally, your Canteen will run on autopilot mode if the number of survivors is low. Best item upgrades in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check As you complete more days in your job, you'll unlock new tools or items. These items allow you to detect more symptoms to figure out who is infected and who isn't. However, you can also make these items far more efficient. Screenshot by Destructoid Clear View for Scanner: The current early access build of the game doesn't make things easier when it comes to detecting visual symptoms. Some of the skin cuts can be easily confused with mud and vice versa. The Clear View upgrade ensures that your scanner will completely ignore dust and mud when you're trying to investigate a survivor. Titanium Head for Hammer: While the Hammer is a pretty useful tool, its effectiveness is questionable. Instead of trying to hit all body parts, you can get the Titanium Head upgrade instead. With this addition, you can hit the head of every victim. If someone is infected and about to turn, the Hammer will do more damage. Autofocus for Matioscope: No longer will you need to manually change the focus of the Matioscope and waste more time doing so. This upgrade allows the Matioscope to focus on the current layer automatically. The post Best item and base upgrades in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check appeared first on Destructoid.

Destructoid Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:02 AM How to solve The Winter Floating Festival Street Lamps puzzle in Disney Dreamlight Valley       The Winter Floating Festival is a puzzle-focused event, which means there are many tricky tasks to get done throughout it in Disney Dreamlight Valley. One such mission is the Street Lamps puzzle, and it can be a tough one to solve. You're not given any guidance for this task, so figuring out where to begin and what needs to be done is rather tricky at first. If you're unsure what to do, here's how to solve The Winter Floating Festival Street Lamps puzzle in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Table of contents How to complete The Winter Floating Festival Street Lights puzzle in Disney Dreamlight Valley How to fix the Street Lamps in Disney Dreamlight Valley The Winter Floating Festival Street Lamps puzzle solution Disney Dreamlight Valley The Winter Floating Festival Street Lamps puzzle reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley How to complete The Winter Floating Festival Street Lights puzzle in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid To complete the Street Lamps puzzle, you need to repair all the broken lights around the event island. These lamps can be found all over the island, along the main paths, and close to the other puzzles you can work on in the event. Each one is surrounded by a glowing blue and purple VFX to let you know which ones are broken and which ones still need to be fixed up. How to fix the Street Lamps in Disney Dreamlight Valley To fix the Street Lights in DDV, you need to repair each one with a Gem of the corresponding color. The Gem you use must be a shiny variant, as only the finest jewels will help you get the lamps back up and running. All blue lights need blue Gems, yellow lamps need yellow gems, and so on for all other colors. Once you have a Gem that matches, all you need to do is walk up to the lamp and interact with it to initiate the repair process. Screenshot by Destructoid The Winter Floating Festival Street Lamps puzzle solution Disney Dreamlight Valley In total, there are 12 Street Lamps you need to find and fix around the island, with three of each color. Here's the correct solution for repairing all Street Lamps in this tricky The Winter Floating Festival puzzle. Fix all three yellow Street Lamps using yellow Gems. Yellow Gems you can use include Shiny Citrine and Shiny Topaz. Fix all three red Street Lamps using red Gems. Red Gems that count include Shiny Garnet, Shiny Ruby, and Shiny Spinel. Fix all three blue Street Lamps using blue Gems. Blue Gems that can be used include Shiny Aquamarine, Shiny Blue Zircon, Shiny Pure Ice, Shiny Sapphire, and Shiny Star Sapphire. Fix all three green Street Lamps using green Gems. Green Gems that count are Shiny Emerald, Shiny Jade, and Shiny Peridot. I used Shiny Emerald, Shiny Ruby, Shiny Topaz, and Shiny Aquamarine to tackle this task, as these were the four Gems I had the most of out of the available options. Any Gems you have work, though, as long as they match the color of the lamp. The Winter Floating Festival Street Lamps puzzle reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid Completing the entire Street Lamps puzzle unlocks some exclusive Printed Winter Leggings as a reward. They pair quite well with the other clothes you can earn as prizes throughout this event, so be sure to complete other trials like the Frosty Rabbit puzzle, the Pillar puzzle, and the Chocolate Fountain puzzle next. The post How to solve The Winter Floating Festival Street Lamps puzzle in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

WGB Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:42 AM Forza Horizon 6 Release Date Leaked In Forza Horizon 5       Forza Horizon 6 will be showcased at Xbox Developer Direct, with a potential release date of May 19 leaked via Forza Horizon 5. The game may feature over 550 cars and future expansions.

WGB Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:06 AM Ubisoft Layoffs Strike Again, Reported At Abu Dhabi Studio       Ubisoft has laid off additional employees, notably at its Abu Dhabi location, as it restructures to establish its new subsidiary, Vantage, which will manage key franchises like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 14, 2026 3:46 PM January 2026 PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Games Announced       Several exciting titles. The post January 2026 PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Games Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 14, 2026 3:19 PM Battlefield 6 Season 2 Delayed Following Player Backlash       Announced in a blog post. The post Battlefield 6 Season 2 Delayed Following Player Backlash appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 14, 2026 3:03 PM Forza Horizon 6 Release Date Seemingly Leaked       According to a recent post. The post Forza Horizon 6 Release Date Seemingly Leaked appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 14, 2026 2:47 PM Meta Officially Shuts Down Several VR Studios       According to a recent report. The post Meta Officially Shuts Down Several VR Studios appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

MonsterVine Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:00 PM Slime Rancher 2 to Celebrate Series' Anniversary With Physical Editions       iam8bit and Monomi Park have announced that Slime Rancher 2 has received a special commemorative physical edition to celebrate the Slime Rancher series tenth anniversary. The iam8bit physical editions of the game will have a "Wiggly Forever" anniversary emblem on the cover, a slime sticker sheet that includes six slimes, and an exclusive O-sleeve that has Beatrix LeBeau […]