GamersHeroes Saturday, March 7, 2026 4:47 PM Hosted by Milady Confetti, The Gayming Foundation has announced the Gayming Pride Parade - an official Summer Game Fest stream that will spotlight LGBTQ+ representation in games along with the talent behind them. The post Pride-Themed Showcase Gayming Pride Parade Planned for Summer Game Fest appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Saturday, March 7, 2026 5:00 PM  Investigative action has freed Cookie's Bustle from harm. You are free to dance now, Cookie. Free to be happy. |
Kotaku Saturday, March 7, 2026 4:22 PM  Jabba's baby Rotta is grown up and glowed up |
Kotaku Saturday, March 7, 2026 2:43 PM  Ubisoft's aging loot shooter has a new lease on life thanks to a new mode and future updates |
Kotaku Saturday, March 7, 2026 1:09 PM  Olivier Gay's latest comic uses similar French turn of phrase as its title |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, March 7, 2026 6:00 PM  To be cringe is to be free. I stand by this saying! The moment you unshackle yourself from the notion that something is embarrassing simply for existing, you will have a much easier time enjoying things. However. I do think I will be a bit embarrassed telling you about Rizz Dungeon: Skeleton Key to My Heart, a dungeon crawler where you are a useless failgirl who flirts with and subsequently recruits monster girls to do all her battles, because oh my gods why would you call a game Rizz Dungeon. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, March 7, 2026 4:26 PM  Do all roads lead to gacha? It feels like an inevitability, the endpoint of the universe. When there is nothing but a handful of atoms left, the rolls will keep on coming. It's destiny! That's the only explanation I have for Wikipedia Gacha, a simple browser game that truly is what it says on the tin. Let me explain it for you anyway. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, March 7, 2026 1:56 PM  Menace, the latest very XCOM-ish game from Battle Brothers developer Overhype Studios, has been out in early access for about a month now, and with that the arrival of a roadmap has appeared to grace us with very sparse details regarding what you can expect in the game's numerous updates to come. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, March 7, 2026 1:01 PM  Upon Marathon's launch earlier this week, Bungie revealed a pair of in-game currencies that you have to use to unlock various bits. One is called SILK, which you can earn through play and is used to unlock rewards in rewards passes. The other is LUX, a premium currency you have to spend real, cold, hard cash on to get, though its sole purpose is for cosmetics. However, much like all in-game currencies that cost real-world money, the amount you can buy and the amount it costs to buy cosmetics didn't line up, leading to a good bit of pushback that has resulted in Bungie simply giving you more bang for your buck. |
Siliconera Saturday, March 7, 2026 3:00 PM
The romantic manga dynamic of a popular, outgoing girl paired with an introverted, more passion-focused classmate isn't uncommon. We've seen the concept used with great success in series like My Dress-Up Darling and The Guy She was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All. What tends to ensure a series like this is enjoyable comes down to the characters involved. While Otaku x Gal is just starting its North American run, the nature of lead heroine Yua Narumi in the first volume already makes it feel like so much fun.
Editor's Note: There will be some minor spoilers for the first volume of the Otaku x Gal manga below.
Things begin with Yua already making a very good first impression. The series begins with lead Koichi Otakuraestablishing that he is an otaku, but that he's hiding it at school. However, while Yua seems like the typical "gal" kind of character who might not be paying attention to someone outside of her sphere, she immediately refers to him by the nickname Otaku-kun and brings up how she saw his artistic abilities. It's then that she asks for his help. She wants artistic and trendy nails like she's seen online, but when she tried to do so herself failed. She hoped maybe he could help. When she shows him what she attempted to do at the source, Koichi was also immediately impressed. Since he's familiar with painting gunpla and models, he agrees to try. Which, in turn, leads to their new friendship.
Basically, it's a similar sort of setup as My Dress-Up Darling, only with more ordinary, daily life applications of Koichi's passions ending up being practical for Yua's daily life.
What helps the situation here is how genuine Yua is as a person. She approached Koichi initially due to being impressed by his artistic abilities. She wanted to consult with someone she felt was talented and respected. When he agrees to assist, she's incredibly thankful and kind. She immediately considers him a friend, and likewise gives him full credit and hypes him up when showing off the finished nails to others at school.
While that respect, kindness, and tendency to reach out to others are all initial positive aspects of Yua's personality, the first volume of the Otaku x Gal manga also shows how willing she is to stand up for people she likes and appreciates. Even if that also means disagreeing with a close friend. When her and Koichi are going to go shopping after school, her friend Riko refers to him as an otaku and makes fun of him. Riko even suggests it would be "cringe" if Yua dated him. In turn, Yua immediately defends Koichi and calls out Riko for her inappropriate and disrespectful comments. She stands up for him, waits for him, and they go about their planned outing as usual.
Later, even though Riko and her disagree, Yua also stands alongside her when she's being bullied and puts together a plan (with Koichi) to help her out. (Including with a rather hilarious back-up plan if her initial strategy fails.) So the series also establishes her loyalty to and consideration for others.
While Koichi is also the focus of the first volume of the Otaku x Gal manga, Yua really feels like the selling point. It feels like these initial chapters are dedicated to showing off her personality and what a kind and considerate person she can be. It's like it's designed to help get you to keep reading so you can get to know her better.
Volume 1 of Otaku x Gal is available now, and Square Enix will release future volumes of the manga series outside Japan.
The post Otaku x Gal's Heroine Makes the Manga appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Saturday, March 7, 2026 7:15 PM
It hasn't taken long for the puzzles to arrive in Marathon, and there are six Cryo Archive ARG terminals to be found across the Perimeter map.
Launched ahead of the first weekend post-launch, players started to witness strange terminals all over the map. While these terminals were present previously, they used to remain off. Now, these terminals will play strange videos and possible clues to future content.
Let's look at where you can find all six terminals.
Table of contents
How to find all Cryo Archive terminal locations in Marathon
The map below showcases the locations of all six terminal locations on the Perimeter map. Their locations are fixed, so you can use the map as a guide. I have also explained where the terminals are located to make it easy for you to find them.
While they're usually hard to find, you just need to reach the marked locations in the image below and explore. Some of them are located on specific floors (mentioned below).
South Relay terminal location
Head to the marked spot and you'll find a white building. Head inside, and take the stairs to reach the first floor. Go through the door on the first floor, turn left, and move straight. You'll come across the terminal on the office wall.
Station terminal location
To find the terminal in the Station, head to the marked spot (refer first image). You'll find an Orange and White building. If you stand at its entrance, you'll see a walkway in front of you that leads to a UESC comms tower. Head through the door, go straight, and you'll find the terminal past a few cylindrical containers.
North Relay terminal location
If you're at the marked location, you'll find an isolated building. Head inside and turn to your left to find the terminal on a wall.
Data Wall terminal location
Enter through any of the entry points and reach the stairs that go upstairs. You'll need to reach the third floor. If you're facing west on the compass, you'll find a small room with an open doorway to your right. The terminal will be inside the room.
Hauler terminal location
Once you're at the Hauler, head to the Research Lab on the upper floor. You'll find a terminal in this room along the west wall (of the lab).
Overflow terminal location
To find the terminal, head to the shack that you'll find at the marked location. You'll find the terminal inside the shack.
The post All Cryo Archive ARG terminal locations in Marathon appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, March 7, 2026 6:29 PM
Protect/Destroy 5 contract is the final one in the same sequence that you can complete for the MIDA faction in Marathon, and finishing it will be easier if you know what needs to be done.
Like the previous contracts in this series, there are three different tasks to complete. Let's look at how to complete the tasks and finish the final Protect/Destroy contract.
Table of contents
Marathon Protect/Destroy 5 contract walkthrough
The Protect/Destroy 5 contract can be broken down into three separate parts.
How to hack shipping database in Intersection
The first task takes place at the Intersection POI on the Dire Marsh map. Once you've reached the marked location, you'll find a cyan-colored building. The terminal is on the first floor of the building. Take the stairs, go up, and you'll find the quest marker showing the location of the terminal.
Interact with the terminal to hack the shipping database, and then we can proceed to the next task.
How to use explosives and blast open a container in Complex
The second part of the contract requires you to blast open a container to get a UESC Resource Stockpile. However, it's not just some random container, and you'll have to reach the spot marked on the image above.
When you're at the spot, you'll find a container in front of the building. Look for "022" written on its side (or refer to the image below) to identify it. Throw an explosive at it, and you'll be able to retrieve the UESC Resource Stockpile.
To complete the contract, you'll need to safely exfil with the item. If you die, you need to restart from the first step. Finish the contract, and it will wrap up the Protect/Destroy line of quests.
The post How to complete Hack shipping database in Intersection in Marathon – Protect/Destroy 5 contract guide appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, March 7, 2026 5:15 PM
Ironclad is the first character you'll play Slay the Spire 2 with, and he is surprisingly good if you know how to use him.
As with any character in the game, you'll have to build a proper deck to stand a chance. This requires you to understand how Ironclad works and what its pros and cons are. This guide will give you brief explainers on what to expect from Slay the Spire 2's knight.
Table of contents
How does Ironclad work in Slay the Spire 2
Ironclad's greatest strength is his ability to scale his damage with Strength. He is the only character who has a heal mechanism. Since he is the first character, he is also the easiest one to understand for beginners.
With Ironclad, you don't have to focus on any complicated combos like Regent. He auto-heals at the end of every combat, which leaves you with some room to make an error. However, he really struggles once you're past Act 2 if you don't have a great deck to counter his limitations. Additionally, Exhaust isn't the easiest of mechanics to master.
For Ironclad, you can take different approaches. Exhaust is one great choice for a deck archetype, but it's hard for beginners. I always prefer going with a deck that ramps up his Strength since that's going to be the easy to master (don't mistake the ease for weakness).
Best cards for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2
Going for the best cards for Ironclad can be slightly confusing. The tables below include cards that work well with Strength decks. If you opt for other archetypes, the cards mentioned below won't be effective.
Early commons and uncommons
To clear Act 1, you'll be mostly using these cards (based on whether you manage to draft these options).
Best cards
If you get the chance to draft any of the following cards, you should add them to your deck as a priority.
Best relics for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2
Here's a list of relics you'll want to prioritize on if you're going for a Strength-focused deck.
Best Block build for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2
If you want to play something with more synergy than Strength, you can try out the following Block build. First, here's a list of cards you will want to add to your deck.
For Relics, you can opt for anything that helps you to gain Block. You can also get Parrying Shield that does 6 damage for every 10 Block that you gain.
The post Best Ironclad build in Slay the Spire 2: Cards, strategy, and more appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, March 7, 2026 3:58 PM
Deadlock, Valve's worst-kept secret, often receives massive updates that change or alter just about every part of the game. Since it's a project still in active development, huge pivotal patches are nothing surprising, but this latest one is huge, no matter which way you cut it.
By introducing over 800 changes, Deadlock's March 6 patch is certainly one of its biggest, targeting every hero in the game. A few dozen alterations were made to the general systems of the game, such as how much money is earned for destroying towers, how much HP towers have, and so on. Every aspect of regular play has been touched up at least somewhat, but items and heroes were primary targets for this latest patch.
About a hundred or so tweaks were made to the game's many items. A new item, Golden Goose Egg, was added to the game, while some, like the Backstabber, were renamed for the sake of making them fit with the game's theme and aesthetic more. That item is now called Stalker, which is a minor change but also one that'll help make the item stand out more.
Renames were particularly present among heroes, however. Abilities, like Paige's "Conjure Dragon," were given more lore- and character-appropriate titles, i.e., "Bookwyrm," reflecting Paige's nature as an avid reader of fantasy stories. Likewise, her "Defend and Fight" spell was renamed to "Plot Armor," again playing into her characteristics. Other heroes received similar changes, but I found these to be the most quirky and interesting of them all.
Valve loves a good wordplay (just open any Dota 2 hero's voice lines and look at their appearance, and all will be made clear), and its introduction to Deadlock at this level indicates to me that the bulk of the Dota 2 development team has been switched to this title.
The massive update, which not only dealt with superficial changes like names and flair but also fundamentally rebalanced the entire roster, implies that development of Deadlock is slowly but surely picking up pace. The game is still far off in my opinion, and we probably won't be seeing it before 2027, but the size of this update proves many people are working on it, and man, are they putting in the effort.
It hasn't even been a few months since Deadlock received its last major overhaul, the one that saw the entire map changed, alongside most of the game's aesthetics and art style. Valve isn't playing around when it comes to making this thing and perfecting its formula that stands to revolutionize the world of competitive multiplayer titles.
You can read the entire, exhaustive patch notes here, as there were simply too many tweaks for us to put into the article itself.
The post Deadlock revamps its whole hero pool as new patch introduces over 800 changes appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, March 7, 2026 2:29 PM
Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi has been working on a spiritual successor to that franchise, Gang of Dragon, with Korean actor Don Lee. It was unveiled at the 2025 Game Awards ceremony, and its flashy cinematics and guttural gameplay seemed promising. However, there is a strong chance the game will never come out, as publisher NetEase has officially cut funding for the project.
This comes as Nagoshi Studio reportedly asked for budget expansions and an additional $44.4 million to complete the game, Bloomberg writes. NetEase notified Nagoshi Studio's staff of the decision yesterday, March 6, and confirmed to Bloomberg that it would indeed cut its support for Gang of Dragon as of May.
Whether or not the game's development can be completed within the current framework is anyone's guess, but it has been reported that Nagoshi has been seeking out new sources of funding, but without any success.
Even if he does succeed in securing new backing, NetEase will only allow the studio to continue independently if it can "pay its way out," i.e., if it can buy the IP and everything that was developed so far. "The studio has been informed by NetEase that while it's free to continue on its own," Bloomberg writes.
If the situation continues as it is, odds are that Nagoshi Studio will be shuttered and that Gang of Dragon will not be released. It could be that NetEase will find ways to complete the game and put it out there if secondary deals fall through, but I wouldn't be betting my money on that.
NetEase has been closing studios and pulling funding from projects recently, and Nagoshi Studio isn't the only one impacted. Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studio, also based in Japan, much like Nagoshi's crew, was closed by NetEase in December 2024. Last February, NetEase fired Marvel Rivals game director Thaddeus Sasser alongside the rest of his US-based team.
Layoffs and downsizing happened across the board within studios owned and operated by NetEase itself, as the company pushes for better profit margins under chief executive William Ding. The extra $44.4 million for Gang of Dragon would likely not have looked great on earnings reports, and so we are in this unfortunate situation.
The gaming industry has been suffering from significant financial woes over the past couple of years. Since early 2024, tens of thousands of jobs have been lost in the gaming industry, primarily at large, AAA, big-budget studios that are no strangers to spending literal billions of US dollars on projects.
On the other side, independent studios and developers are making a name for themselves, with the likes of Slay the Spire 2 clocking in over 526,000 concurrent players, despite being made by a handful of people with little more than pure passion in their hearts.
The post NetEase cuts funding for Yakuza creator's new game as the studio anticipates 'impending closure' appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, March 7, 2026 2:20 PM
The Protect/Destroy 4 contract switches the action to the Outpost map in Marathon, and you'll need to complete three different tasks in a single run.
The three tasks are based around three separate locations on the new map. Let's look at how to complete the contract so that you can work your way up towards improving your standing with the MIDA faction.
Table of contents
Marathon Protect/Destroy 4 contract walkthrough
The Protect/Destroy 4 contract can be broken down into the following three tasks.
How to download shipping manifest from terminal in northwest Processing
For our first task, we have to head to the south of the map, where you'll find the Processing POI. Here, you'll need to download a manifest from a terminal in the northwest area of this location. I have marked the spot where you'll find the terminal.
Enter the building, and find the stairs that take you to the second floor. Once you're on the second floor, you'll have the quest marker pop up, highlighting the location of the terminal. Interact with it to download the shipping manifest.
How to scan tagged containers in Airfield
From Processing, head to the extreme north of the map, where we will have to scan the tagged containers. Enter the building on the right through the main entrance, and you'll find two containers on your right.
The first two containers are inside the building (one right in front of you when you enter through the entrance, and the other by the stairs near the main entrance). The remaining two are outside. Exit through the door near the second container, head straight, and you'll find the two remaining containers.
I have added images of what the containers look like. If you can't find them, roam around the location, and quest markers will pop up.
How to hack second-floor terminal in Flight Control
This was the hardest one to find. You have to head to the Flight Control POI and enter the main building at the marked location. What confused me was the exact floor since the marker doesn't pop up until you're on the correct one.
Head to the second floor (take the stairs irrespective of which entrance you've taken). The terminal is located in one of the rooms with a glass window display. If you're on the second floor, roam around a little if the marker doesn't pop up.
Once the marker pops up, interact with the terminal to complete the hack.
This will complete the Protect/Destroy 4 contract and bring you to the final one in this series.
The post How to download shipping manifest and hack second-floor terminal in Marathon – Protect/Destroy 4 contract guide appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, March 7, 2026 2:04 PM
The FUT Birthday Fiesta 2 tournament is now live in FC 26, and you can compete in it to get some amazing rewards.
The list of rewards includes guaranteed promo items belonging to the FUT Birthday celebrations. Let's look at how you can obtain every available reward from the tournament.
Table of contents
How to get all FUT Birthday Fiesta 2 tournament rewards in FC 26
Just like the Fiesta 1 tournament, the rewards for the second are spread across two objective sets. First, you can win rewards for winning games and qualifying for the latter rounds of the tournament.
FUT Birthday Fiesta 2 Bonus
Next, we look at the additional rewards you'll get from completing playing and scoring goals in the tournament.
FUT Birthday Fiesta 2
By completing both sets of objectives, you'll get the following rewards.
Moreover, you'll also need to finish the FUT Birthday Fiesta 2 objective to complete the FUT Birthday Fiesta Tournament Bonus Objective. Doing so will get you a 4 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack, an exclusive evolution, and a 1 of 4 88+ FUT Birthday Team 1 Player Pick.
The post All FC 26 FUT Birthday Fiesta 2 rewards and how to get them appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, March 7, 2026 1:25 PM
The Birthday Fullback Evolution is now live in FC 26, and you can use it to upgrade one of your wide defenders in Ultimate Team.
The evolution isn't exactly cheap (costs 65,000 coins to unlock) but offers excellent upgrades. Let's quickly look at the best possible options for this evolution based on the requirements and the offered upgrades.
Table of contents
FC 26 Birthday Fullback Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of Birthday Fullback Evolution in FC 26.
FC 26 Birthday Fullback Evolution upgrades
The evolution has five levels of upgrades, each with certain conditions to fulfill.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 5 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Level 3 upgrade requirements
Level 4 upgrade requirements
Level 5 upgrade requirements
Best players to use in Birthday Fullback Evolution
Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution.
The post Best players for FC 26 Birthday Fullback Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. |
MonsterVine Saturday, March 7, 2026 1:32 PM Capcom used its latest showcase to highlight new content for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflectio, including a new launch trailer, upcoming animated content, and several bonuses for players ahead of the game's release. The upcoming RPG arrives on March 13, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. […] |
MonsterVine Saturday, March 7, 2026 1:23 PM Fans of the Mega Man franchise will soon be able to revisit a beloved spin-off series as Capcom confirmed that Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection launches on March 27, 2026. The collection will release for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. Seven Games with Modern […] |
MonsterVine Saturday, March 7, 2026 1:14 PM During the latest Capcom Spotlight broadcast, Capcom shared a major update for its long-awaited sci-fi adventure Pragmata, confirming the game will now launch slightly earlier than expected. The mysterious action-adventure will arrive on April 17, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. Alongside the new release date, Capcom […] |