Looking to spice up your Tuesday (heh)? Now available for PS VR2, get ready to swing through forests, gather ingredients, and cook up joy with today's release of Pomshine Games and DANGEN Entertainment's Umami Grove for the platform.
A game that loves you back, Windup Minds' mixed reality simulator Stay: Forever Home is now available and optimized for Meta Quest 2, 3, and 3S devices.
"Gotham City is a place where every day you wake up you could experience everything from Batman punching thugs to a person celebrating a new business that's about to open"
People reported an issue with the Code Vein II Character Customization saved appearance data disappearing in both the Character Creator demo and full game, and Bandai Namco said a fix is in the works. It confirmed on social media that it is aware of the problem. While there are patches 1.0.1 and 1.0.2 live, they don't fix the issue yet and it is present during the advanced access period for Deluxe and Ultimate Edition owners.
The problem with Character Customization save data disappearing happens if someone resumes a Code Vein II file by choosing to either load a save or hitting continue. If they do that and then enter System settings or Photo Mode anytime after without first going to the MagMell Hot Spring's Dresser and going into Character Customization, you will lose your modifications. However, the company noted that making one of the first things you do after loading going to the Dresser and double-checking your appearance will keep the issue from happening. If you do that first, then you can use Photo Mode or adjust System settings without any issues.
Meanwhile, the 1.0.1 and 1.0.2 patches do add new gameplay elements and should be downloaded before playing. One element is Regional Pathos that gives you buffs by going to Pathos in the field. The other is a Buddy action called Restorative Offering that will restore your health.
Here's the Code Vein II launch trailer, in case you missed it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIY1tG1OIpE
Code Vein II will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on January 30, 2026, though advanced access already started and a Character Creator demo is live now.
Back in June 2025, Good Smile Company announced it would release a Nendoroid of Eve from Stellar Blade, and now the figure has a 2026 launch window. It will show up first in Japan in July 2026. The worldwide launch will then follow in Q4 2026. She costs ￥7,600/$46.99. Buying her through Good Smile Company instead of other places like Amazon or Crunchyroll nets you a bonus canned drink accessory she can hold.
Eve is a fairly standard Nendoroid. She comes with three face plates, with one featuring a neutral smile, another looking a bit gentle and melancholy, and a third that makes her look like she's shouting angrily in the midst of a fight. She is in her Planet Diving Suit (7th) costume, which is her default look, and her Blood Edge Blade. She also has a Fusion Cell she can hold, and if you get her direct from the company can look like she's holding and offering someone a can of soda.
Here's a closer look at this Eve figure from different angles and with her accessories.
Images via Good Smile Company and Shift Up
And this is what the extra accessory looks like if you go directly through the company.
Image via Good Smile Company and Shift Up
While this is the first Nendoroid based on the series, we have seen other Stellar Blade figures appear. These included not only Eve, but also characters like Tachy.
The Stellar Blade Eve Nendoroid will show up in Japan in July 2026 and worldwide in Q4 2026. Pre-orders are open until March 18, 2026. The game is available on the PS5 and PC.
The Headwinds update has dropped different types of Rubber Ducks that you can find in ARC Raiders, and getting them could certainly make you pretty wealthy.
Rubber Ducks have always been a popular item among the playerbase, despite not having any practical use. The Headwinds update has added more types to collect, so let's find out how.
As of writing, there are seven types of collectible Rubber Ducks you can find in ARC Raiders. This is based on the types that the community and I have discovered. If there are more, I will add them to this guide.
Rubber Duck (Common)
Tropical Duck (Uncommon)
Gentle Duck (Uncommon)
Alien Duck (Uncommon)
Doodly Duck (Rare)
Flashy Duck (Rare)
Familiar Duck (Epic)
Image via Embark
The process of obtaining all types of Rubber Ducks is the same. However, the ones that are rare will be harder to find.
How to get Rubber Ducks in ARC Raiders
To find Rubber Ducks, you'll have to wait for the Bird City map modifier. This map modifier, released as part of the Headwinds update, will be exclusively available for the Buried City map. When the modifier is active, you'll have to search the chimneypots.
Image via Embark
If you're lucky, you can find Rubber Ducks among the items that spawn at the chimneypots. To collect, just search the bird nests.
What do with the Rubber Ducks in ARC Raiders
All types of Rubber Ducks that you can find are considered trinkets. You can stack up to 15 of each type in your stash, and then sell them for trinkets. The rarer a Duck, the more money you'll get from your sales.
Image via Embark
Hence, you can make plenty of money by finding at least a few of them on your raids in Buried City.
The Revival is one of the two new augments added to ARC Raiders in the Headwinds update, and having the blueprint will allow you to craft it at your workstation.
Like almost all blueprints in the game, there's no fixed location. Since it's of Epic rarity, the blueprint is going to be rarer. Let's look at some of the spots you can potentially target to raise your chances of success.
As of writing, you can only find the Revival via blueprints. In other words, a pre-built version can't be found in the loot. One way of obtaining the blueprint is to kill another player who was carrying it in their inventory. However, this method is not only unreliable, but you could end up getting killed in the process.
I found the blueprint from the Village POI on Blue Gate. There's a locked room in this location. I had the key to access the place. Typically, the key spawns randomly in areas tagged as Commercial and Residential.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
The locked room rewarded me with the Revival blueprint, but it doesn't mean you have a guaranteed chance. If you're lucky, you might end up with the blueprint from the same location as me. As an alternative, you can try to search areas that are marked as high-tier loot. Every map has such zones, and they're colored in red. However, these spots will also have higher chances of other players, aside from the stronger ARC population.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
The Stella Montis map is also a great map to target. I was lucky to obtain the Safekeeper blueprint from the Security Checkpoint room (opens with its own keycard). You can also target the following locations and browse the surrounding areas, as you'll typically find something valuable in the cases and containers.
You can also try your search during the Night Raid map condition if you don't mind trying a harder challenge.
How to craft the Revival augment in ARC Raiders
Once you've found the blueprint, you can craft the Revival augment using the following resources:
Two Advanced Electrical Components
Two Processor
Image via Embark
The augment is pretty unique as it heals you 1 health every five seconds. The healing is endless, but it stops for 30 seconds if you take damage. Once the 30 seconds are over, your healing will resume. You also get a built-in defibrillator that you can use on yourself or give to someone else.
Highguard, launched with nearly 100,000 players, has seen an 80% drop to around 18,000 concurrent players within 30 hours. With "Mostly Negative" reviews, its future depends on maintaining a stable player base.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From The Ashes is like looking into a universe where the Avatar franchise was a venerable 80s/90s action staple. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From The Ashes Developer: Massive Entertainment Price: $24.99 Platform: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), PC, Xbox Series X|S MonsterVine was supplied with a PlayStation 5 code for review […]
Widely regarded as one of the architects of modern day MMOs, Arc Games and Cryptic Studios announced that Jack Emmert will serve as the new CEO of Cryptic Studios.
A whimsical, family-friendly 8-bit adventure, the final Dev Vlog for Exquisite Laundry Pet and Mega Cat Studios' 8-bit adventure Gumball in Trick-Or-Treat Land puts the spotlight on its story beats and postgame treats.
The crafting, cloning, and comedy of Tlön Industries, indienova, and V Publishing's Kentum is better with a friend with today's free local co-op mode update.
It feels anticlimactic to say so, and I don't know why Geoff likes it so much, but Highguard seems decent. Adequate. S'alright. It's a fine competitive FPS that's capable of producing spirited, back-and-forth gun battles between spec ops wizards on bearback, which can in turn tickle the itches of anyone burnt out on battle royales or exasperated with extraction shooters. That's me. I'm talking about me.
Darkest Dungeon developers Red Hook have announced that game files for Mythic's troubled boardgame adaptation will be given away to project backers, after grimly concluding that Mythic are no longer able to manufacture or deliver the thing.
Well, the last one might have only appealed to folks open to taking on a mission that demands a bunch of crouch-walking, but you can't say Helldivers 2's second warbond of 2026 isn't offering plenty of bang for your buck. It's got an exploding hammer. There's other stuff in this Siege Breakers warbond too, but I'll be honest, none of that can boast being a stick with a thing that goes boom taped to the end.
Good news everybody! Geralt of Rivia is dead. He lies beneath a pile of naked, sculpted, drunken bodies in a castle ballroom. Actually, that's not right - he's been eaten by a dragon. Actually, that's not right either - he drowned himself in a flagon of syrup. Fair audience, please consider which of these tragic eventualities is most befitting of your hand-claps and progression points. None of them meet your standards? Then I, Dandelion, must sing Geralt's death anew.
Nerial and Devolver Digital have partnered with CD Projekt RED to make Reigns: The Witcher. I'm sure I don't need to explain that this is a new version of Nerial's cherished card-swiping narrative strategy game, which takes place in The Witcher's grotty and magical medieval universe. The game casts you as temporarily embarrassed 'master poet' Dandelion, who is both Geralt's best mate and very often, the biggest pain in his arse.
Last week, Ubisoft canned the long-in-development Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake amid a raft of cancellations and delays which have come to serve as the starting bell for a bunch of organisational changes that are currently crystalising into job cuts. Now, actor Eman Ayaz has released a video in which she discusses having learned last week that three years worth of her work on an unnamed project had been tipped down the drain.
Valve's lawyers won't be able to file away one of the legal legalings they've been dealing with for a little while now, at least not yet. A tribunal have ruled that the £656m lawsuit brought against the company by digital rights campaigner Vicki Shotbolt and law firm Milberg London LLP last year - the one that could net UK dwellers who've bought stuff on Steam since early June 2018 up to £44 in compensation - can go ahead.
As a result, Valve's Lionel Hutzes will have to face the lawsuit's accusations that the company have used Steam's "dominant position" in the PC market to behave "anti-competitively", with the end result that regular folks are "paying too much for PC games and in-game content and have lesser PC Game platform alternatives".
Quick confession: every time I come up with an absolute Frankenstein's cocktail of allusion-cobbling Google-bait like the headline for this article, a fairy dies. But that's OK, because Hell Express is a top-down 3D extraction shooter about delivering letters to the dead. When I play it – there's no release date yet – I will convey a note of apology to the soul of the fairy I've just slain with my appalling SEO practices. This may be difficult, however, because many of the underworld's denizens are hostile. The only thing you'll be delivering to them is bullets, fire and explosives.
You're shuffling through the desert scrub, wondering if the clawed beasts just a few yards away have spotted you yet. You've made sure to pop a Stealth Boy just to be extra safe, and told Raul that if his knees creak at an inopportune moment, he's on his own. Then, you realise you brought Rex along, and he's gotten stuck on a rock several meters behind you. Finally freeing himself, the good boy bounds towards you at full speed. This should be the point in some Fallout New Vegas stealthing that you realise it's brown trousers time.
It isn't, because Obsidian weren't total sadists when they designed the thing. It does take you out of your Mojave roleplay a bit, though. Thankfully, I can report that a modder has taken it upon themselves to ensure that New Vegas now benefits from the finest in sneaking dog technology.
Sega announced the Sonic the Hedgehog Presents: The Chaotix Casefiles audio drama podcast earlier in January 2026, and Episode 0 is now available online. This covers the adventures of The Chaotix Detective Agency as they solve mysteries when not participating in the fight against Eggman. It is now available on services like Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and YouTube.
After some exposition from Vector the Crocodile explaining the goal of The Chaotix Detective Agency and his work with Espio the Chameleon and Charmy Bee, a mystery presents itself. Sonic the Hedgehog comes in at this point of The Chaotix Casefiles audio drama podcast to check in, bringing up the group's first case on the way. He called their attention to a delivered package, which turned out to have a Buzz Bomber inside. This sets in motion events that lead to a cliffhanger with Vector and Sonic thrown together again.
Here's Episode 0 of the Sonic the Hedgehog audio drama.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9yIbivGjsU
Here's the full cast list for this Sonic the Hedgehog podcast so far:
Charmy Bee: Colleen O'Shaughnessey
Espio the Chameleon: Matthew Mercer
Sonic the Hedgehog: Roger Craig Smith
Vector the Crocodile: Keith Silverstein
As a note, O'Shaughnessey is also well-established as the voice of Tails in the series.
Episode 0 of Sonic the Hedgehog Presents: The Chaotix Casefiles is available now, and we should see new episodes of the podcast on platforms on a regular basis.
Good Smile Company confirmed its next Nendoroid Funs Winter 2026 stream will air on its YouTube channel on February 5, 2026. It will air at 7pm JST that day, which is 2am PT/5am ET/11am CET. Merchandise based on 25 series and organizations are confirmed to appear, and nine "mystery" ones are indicated by question marks. Among the confirmed one are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Danganronpa V3, Persona, and Trigun Stargaze Nendoroid reveals. There will also be some items that will be "featured" and available to pre-order that same day after the showcase ends.
Here's the list of all the anime and game series and Vtuber companies that are confirmed to have new figures or merchandise updates appear during the Nendoroid Funs Winter 2026 stream.
These types of updates tend to appear a few times each year. The last one Good Smile Company shared appeared on October 1, 2025, and that was considered the Autumn installment.
Nendoroid Funs Winter 2026 will appear at 2am PT/5am ET/11am CET/7pm JST on February 5, 2026, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Danganronpa V3, Persona, and Trigun Stargaze are among the 25 confirmed series with figures on the way.
Cover and Funko announced a merchandise partnership involving Hololive Vtubers, and things will kick off with three Funko POP Animation figures of Calliope Mori, Kiara Takanashi, and Sakura Miko. This means we're seeing both English and Japanese branches of the company represented. All three launch on January 27, 2026, and they are $14.99 each. They will be available through the company, as well as retailers like Amazon.
Calliope Mori, Kiara Takanashi, and Sakura Miko are all standard Funko Pop figures, which means the Hololive Vtuber renditions are non-standard scale and don't feature any additional parts or poses. Each performer appears in the standard Pop style, which means they have a chibi appearance with oversized head and wide, solid-color eyes. In the case of these three, their eyes are their eye color and not black as with standard Pops. Each member of the company is wearing their signature default costume from when they first debuted. They are all about four inches tall, though Sakura Miko stands slightly taller at four and a half inches due to her hairstyle and pose.
Here's how all three of them look both in and out of their boxes. The Calliope Mori one is number 2,292. Kiara Takanashi ended up being 2,293. Finally, Sakura Miko is number 2,294. In the case of the English members, Calliope is holding a scythe, and Kiara is holding a KFP drumstick.
Image via Cover and Funko
Funko regularly turns various pop culture characters into Pop figures. For example, tons of characters from games showed up in the collection. The lead character from Metaphor: ReFantazio appeared in 2025. So did the avatars fromGenshin Impact. Some of the most recent are Yuta from Jujutsu Kaisen and Denji with Beam from the Chainsaw Man movie.
The Hololive Vtuber Funko Pop figures of Calliope Mori, Kiara Takanashi, and Sakura Miko are available now.
We know the Switch and Switch 2 versions of Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack will get Virtual Boy games, and now we know seven titles will be available at launch. This will all show up on February 17, 2026. Some of the more notable games for the system, like 3-D Tetris, Teleroboxer, and Virtual Boy Wario Land will be part of the debut. A trailer went over all of them, as well as some NSO features and upcoming Virtual Boy games.
First, here are the seven Virtual Boy games that will be playable on the Switch and Switch 2 when they join NSO Expansion Pack. You can change the controls for all of these, create suspend points, and rewind briefly.
3-D Tetris
Galactic Pinball
Golf
The Mansion of Innsmouth
Red Alarm
Teleroboxer
Virtual Boy Wario Land
As for upcoming 2026 games, here's the list:
D-Hopper (Previously Unreleased)
Jack Bros
Mario Clash
Mario's Tennis
Space Invaders Virtual Collection
V-Tetris
Vertical Force
Virtual Bowling
Zero Racers (Previously Unreleased)
Only those nine are confirmed for 2026 as well. Later in the year is also when we'll be able to change the screen color.
Here's the full Nintendo Classics Virtual Boy trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVvaCe4esCQ
As a reminder, there are also going to be replicas of the console to use with the games and systems. One is a cardbard model, while the other is a full plastic replica of the system.
The Virtual Boy Switch and Switch 2 NSO games and headset peripherals will appear for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack members on February 17, 2026.
Toei has revealed a new movie adaptation of the 2001 TV tokusatsu show Kamen Rider Agito that will launch in 2026. It will help celebrate the 25th anniversary of Agito, as well as the 55th anniversary of the Kamen Rider franchise.
The new movie is so far known only by its Japanese title, Agito: Chounouryoku Sensou. This title roughly translates into English as Agito: Superpower War.
Toei has announced that the police officer Makoto Hikawa will be the main character of this movie. Jun Kaname, the actor who performed as Makoto in the 2001 TV show, will return to reprise the same role. The teaser trailer also reveals that Kamen Riders G3 and G3-X from the Metropolitan Police Department will return to action.
The trailer published on the Japanese official website is geo-locked to Japan only. However, Toei has also published the same trailer on its global YouTube channel. This version includes options for subtitles in English, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGqE1goUG8g
This anniversary title will be a new major Kamen Rider live-action movie that is not based on the franchise's annual TV show. The previous one was Shin Kamen Rider, a reboot of the 1971 Kamen Rider show directed by Hideaki Anno, which launched in 2023.
Agito: Chounouryoku Sensou will launch first in Japanese theaters on April 29, 2026. Toei has also teased that the same movie will be available overseas afterward.
We're in an era of crunchy, meticulous games. I feel like the success of titles such as The Roottrees are Deadand Return of the Obra Dinn showed how many of us get excited about the idea of really poring over elements in an attempt to solve mysteries. Inkle's been pretty good at offering these types of experiences before, what with Heaven's Vault making us consider our choices and deciphering texts, and TR-49 offers the same kind of delightfully difficult experience.
TR-49 is designed to be immersive and, even though we're largely spending our time looking at an ancient textual reassociator computer of the same name and data, it's quite successful at it. We happen upon an unusual, perhaps even eerie, computer made by Beatrice Dooler and Cecil Caulderly for Bletchley Park. By we, I mean Abbi, a woman who wakes up in a church basement in front of this odd machine. She's told by Liam, a man she can only hear over an intercom, that she must sort through the records within by finding the correct codes. Said codes consist of the first two letters featuring the author's initials, then the second two numbers noting the year. By looking up data, deciphering text, checking notes, and seeing which other texts and input data that leads to, you can find out what's going on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEIyvjVQCAE
The thing about TR-49 is that it is a game that could look incredibly confusing, perhaps even daunting, if you watch a trailer or look at screenshots. The text of the books that were fed into the machine can be scrambled and encoded, so you can't really get accustomed to the nuances unless you're immersed in it. The idea that you're working out what the author and year codes might be can be a lot to take in, until you really start finding the texts you need and noting the patterns. It's a thoughtful detective game for sure, but it also feels like a visual novel that would appeal to people who enjoy doing intense research to find answers that might not even exist. Basically, you're constantly reading entries, checking notes, and seeing where each text (real or created for this game) takes you.
The ambiance surrounding all of this happens to be great, which I found helps with staying on-point. Inkle ensured there's fantastic voice acting present, so even though there is a lot of reading, it feels like there's a deeper connection to actual people. The best way I can describe it is that it discourages detachment. Especially since we can also have Abbi check in with Liam about the situation as we explore.
However, I will say there is a downside. This is a fascinating game and the texts and codes we decipher in TR-49 is interesting. I also appreciated the twists and finding out what's happening. However, it does involve falling into a very repetitive routine. I love these types of titles and simulations that can involve constantly plugging in data to uncover more data or track things. I also play, well, a lot of visual novels. Also, while it does feature puzzles, there is sometimes too much input guiding me instead of letting me work things out and possibly make mistakes on my own.
Images via Inkle
As a plus, there are some quality of life elements here that make it easy to play even as you're doing the same actions over and over. One is that controller support is great. It also isn't finicky about accepting correct answers, so you won't find Inkle being persnickety about not being exactly perfect as long as you found the right bit of data in the machine. You can also get multiple endings in a single save file, which is helpful if you want to see other options without replaying the whole game.
TR-49 is a perfect type of puzzle for people who love reading through tons of data to complete intricate investigations. While the perspective seems simple, it's well executed and features immersive voice acting and interesting texts. It can get repetitive, given the nature of its gameplay, but people who get caught up in the mystery might not even notice.
The Creative Director Evolution is now live in FC 26, and it allows us to upgrade two items in our Ultimate Team.
The latest evolution is available for free and provides some really interesting upgrades. Let's look at the best possible choices based on the offered upgrades and requirements.
New York Yankees' slugger and reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge is back on the cover of MLB The Show this year, and I'm happy for him, but it's not the accolade he needs most.
Judge was announced as the cover star for MLB The Show 26 this morning, marking the second time he's earned the honor after MLB The Show 18. That year, Judge was coming off a monster rookie season. Eight years later, he's added three MVP awards (it should've been four) and a massive contract.
Image via PlayStation
But one thing is still missing from Judge's achievement shelf. And it's the biggest one of all: a World Series trophy. Yes, I'm a Yankees fan, and I have been my whole life. Judge is easily one of the two best players in the world right now (Shohei Ohtani is the other), but his lack of a ring is starting to grate on me.
It's not all on Judge. Of course it isn't. It takes 26 players to win a championship, and countless more in the organization to enable that to happen. But his performance in the playoffs is notably worse than his regular season stats (.236 batting average to go with 17 home runs in 65 games), and it's a black mark on his record thus far.
Judge is an excellent choice for the cover star. He's one of the faces of the game, and he's earned it with his three MVP awards and excellent statline. He's averaged a staggering 1.028 OPS and 52 home runs over the first 10 years of his career. Before he's finished, he may well end up pushing 500 career home runs.
But he needs the ring. Especially as a Yankee. The Yanks haven't won a World Series since 2009. This is the second-longest drought in the franchise's history, and if they don't win this year, it will tie the record (first set between 1979 and 1995, some of the darkest days in the team's history).
As for this year's game, the devs won't be teasing much until Feb. 3, when a gameplay trailer will be released. After that, we should learn more about Franchise mode, Road to the Show, Diamond Dynasty, and all the others that players expect out of the baseball sim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfsvi2X37z8
For Judge to go down as an all-time great Yankee, he needs the ring. Being on the cover of MLB The Show 26 doesn't help him get that, and I don't think him playing as team captain for the United States in this year's World Baseball Classic will either. But I hope I'm wrong.
MLB The Show 26 launches on March 17 (with early access beginning four days prior) on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The Yankees' season begins 11 days later in San Francisco against the Giants, and I'm hoping it'll be the start of something big, lest Judge's starpower will genuinely begin to lose some luster in the eyes of many.
The Safekeeper is one of the two new augments added to ARC Raiders, and obtaining its blueprint will allow you to craft it if you have the resources.
The exact location of the blueprint is random, and obtaining it will depend on luck. There's also a chance to find the item, which is less optimal, since you can use it once if you don't extract safely.
Thankfully, there are a few popular locations to hit if you want to increase chances.
Best Safekeeper blueprint locations in ARC Raiders
The Safekeeper blueprint is extremely rare, so you'll need to hit the high-tier loot areas that you can find on any map. The zones will be marked in red, but these locations will have plenty of ARC enemies to keep you on your toes.
Screenshot by Destructoid
I found the blueprint at the Stella Montis Security Checkpoint room. This area remains locked, and you'll need the key first. Obtaining the key will be a challenge in itself (I had one in my inventory). The Stella Montis map, in general, will be a good choice as it's known to hand out plenty of blueprints.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
To raise your chance of finding the Safekeeper blueprint, you can also target the Night Raid event on any map. While this raises the base difficulty of surviving the map, you can also get better rewards. I marked all the spots on the image above where you might get the Safekeeper blueprint if luck is on your side.
How to craft the Safekeeper augment in ARC Raiders
You'll be able to craft the Safekeeper augment once you manage to get the blueprint. You need the following resources to craft one.
This epic-tier augment allows you to get a unique Safe Pocket in your inventory. Unlike the standard one, you'll be able to keep any item in this Safe Pocket, which can also include guns.
Highguard's launch day has come and gone, and boy, I'm exhausted already.
I like the game, I think it's fun, unique, and I enjoy the core gameplay loop. I said as much after playing the game early at an event in Los Angeles last week, where the feedback was mostly positive from those on hand. The majority of the people I played with and spoke to had a great time with Highguard and were excited for the launch.
Image via Wildlight Entertainment
After leaving LA last week, I'm not sure any of us who played the game saw this level of hate train coming. But I should have. The game is fun, I stand by that. Obviously, it's not for everyone, because no game is, but the excessive dogpiling on social media and Steam reviews is pathetic. But that's just the way gaming culture, and social media in general, seems to be doing things these days.
Shortly after launch, Highguard was bombarded with negative reviews on Steam. Many of them complained about the login queue, while others were annoyed with performance problems on PC, and the vast majority are from players with less than two hours of play time (around 11,200 of 15,000 total reviews as of 9:30am CT this morning). It feels like people were logging in ready to hate it.
On social media, it's only gotten worse since then, with everyone chiming in with their memes and jokes. That's expected. And those who do enjoy the game are getting drowned out by the noise, or made fun of by those who feel the need to tell everyone how much they think it sucks, or being accused of being paid to play it, or "bought out" by the developers. It's really tiring.
First of all, the game is free. So, if you try it and don't like it, that's totally cool. But no. Everyone has to announce their departure like they're in an airport while incessantly crapping all over it. I don't really understand the thought process behind the need to "dunk" on things I don't enjoy. Because if I don't enjoy something, I don't let it take up my time or space in my mind. On social media, though, negativity breeds engagement, so it's encouraged.
Other complaints say the game has an identity crisis. It's an amalgam of different ideas that combine to make something new. But if those ideas were taken out, or if it were another extraction shooter or battle royale game, then what? Would it be blasted for being a copy-paste job? I don't know what gamers want anymore.
Screenshot by Destructoid
Unfortunately, the fact is that the game has become the target of a lot of vitriol due in large part to the fact that it got a featured spot at The Game Awards, a slot usually held for legacy titles, and rumors leading up to the event had gamers hoping for Half-Life 3, potentially the most sought-after sequel ever. Impossible expectations.
Geoff Keighley also doubled down on his decision to feature the game, further provoking the angry mobs who were ready to go at him for it. And his recent replies on Twitter/X especially are a cesspool of people who are pissed off that he did it. This is mostly unfortunate for the devs who worked on it for years, only to have it receive the hatred it has because it's not what they want/were expecting from a big title, and that's just not fair to them or the game.
If you don't like the game, again, that's totally fine. I don't think anyone was expecting it to be universally well-received. But to dunk on it because of Keighley's encouragement and excitement for the title, harass him about it, and then inevitably send targeted malice at the developers themselves, is unacceptable.
Room for improvement
Image via Wildlight Entertainment
I agree with the sentiment of many that the maps feel big for three-vs-three. I personally don't mind the player count, but experimenting with four-vs-four or even five-vs-five could be fun. I still think that getting used to the nature of the gameplay loop of looting, fighting over the Shieldbreaker, and then attempting to raid the base takes some time, and many aren't willing to give it that.
Leaning more into the MOBA-like qualities of the game and adding some minor PvE mobs at the looting areas to make that period feel more active may also be a positive addition. Shortening the looting phase could also be a good first step in bringing the action to the forefront, because the raid phase of each match is where the game shines.
There are also a lot of legitimate complaints about problems with mouse acceleration, the inability to use hold-to-crouch as a button, how the game runs, and optimization is a big issue on PC. I've been playing on PS5, personally, and the game is blurry and the framerate chugs in combat at times. Optimizing the game is probably going to be step one as Wildlight Entertainment heads to the office today.
At the event, we were playing on special gaming rigs that were likely way more powerful than the average gaming PC, so there were no issues. But as a studio, Wildlight definitely needs to improve in getting the game running on a variety of builds. The game's settings are also pretty lackluster when it comes to customization.
Highguard is also not friendly, at all, for solo players. It feels very sweaty at times, and not communicating with your team or playing with a group means you're destined to fail. It's absolutely a more enjoyable experience with a group of friends. This is a side effect of the three-vs-three nature, I think, so expanding on game types and squad sizes feels necessary. But again, the game came out yesterday, and I'm sure any constructive feedback is being fielded. The hard part will be finding it in the ocean of angry negativity.
The Game Awards trailer for Highguard was not good for the game, and Wildlight's co-founders told me as much. But the number of people actively rooting for it to fail since then is so disheartening to me, and that's an upsetting trend we've seen over the past few years, as now there are people hoping for the game shut down and for people to lose their jobs.
Image via Wildlight Entertainment
In hindsight, the radio silence since Highguard's debut was also a misstep. Perhaps giving more information and time for players to digest it ahead of launch would have served better than what has happened over the past day or so.
Unfortunately, first impressions are important, and it's gotten off to a bad start for many. But the part being lost on a lot of players is that this is a live service game, and day one is just the start, with updates coming and already being worked on, including different modes and ways to play.
"We're leaning into competitive, but the goal would be that we could introduce new modes of play as time goes on," game director and Wildlight co-founder Chad Grenier told me. "Two weeks after launch, we're turning on ranked. All of the sweaty competitive players should gravitate towards ranked. That will make the entry a little bit easier for casual players to stay out of ranked, and that should help. And then future seasons, we want to do limited-time game modes and also some new permanent modes, anywhere from super casual to also highly competitive. And so, I think as live service continues, the game lives on, we'll listen to what our playerbase wants, but also introduce new ways to play. We've got some funny ideas floating around the office and things that we're working on now."
Monitoring social media is a part of my job and that of developers. I don't envy them whatsoever for trying to make something that they enjoy and hope others would enjoy too, only to be met with the latest wall of negativity. It's mentally draining. I worked on covering the game for about a week, and I'm discouraged about the reaction it's gotten, so I can't imagine how the devs who worked on it for years feel. That's where my mind is at today.
Since I like Highguard, I'll continue to play it and hope that future updates will improve the experience and change the narrative once it's stopped being fashionable to crap on it. It's going to be an uphill battle.
The demand for finding the remains of a Deforester Husk has increased in ARC Raiders post the Headwinds update launch, and it's for pretty good reason.
These gigantic remains of massive ARCs are different from the more common First Husks. If you aim to complete A Prime Specimen quest, you'll need to find and loot one. Here's where you can find one.
As of writing, there are two known locations of the Deforester Husk. Both locations are present on the Blue Gate map. I have marked the locations on the image below.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Once at either location, you should be able to spot the remains quite easily. The massive size makes the Husks pretty easy to spot in the open. Spotting them is only one part of the task, though, as you'll also need to open and loot them.
How to open a Deforester Husk in ARC Raiders
For this part of the task, you'll need to bring at least 2 ARC Powercells. To get ARC Powercells, you have to destroy ARC enemies and then loot their leftovers. You can also bring a few from your base inventory if you have them.
Image via Embark
When entering the Deforester Husk, you'll find an interactable panel on your left. Before you reach the next panel, a wave of fire will try to roast you.
Image via Embark
Avoid it at all costs, and go through. Interact with the second panel, and you have opened the Deforester Husk.
Image via Embark
Exit the Husk and crawl up to reach the lootable area. Go straight and jump to find the lootable area. You can simply search and grab all the items you find. However, be prepared to meet enemies at these spots since other players might also be trying to complete the A Prime Specimen quest.
There are already over 50 characters who call the valley home in Disney Dreamlight Valley, with more arriving consistently every month or so. The village is already quite vast, but DDV sees new updates fairly frequently, with plenty more planned to arrive in 2026.
Knowing who is on their way can be helpful if you're looking to set up a spot for them to live ahead of time. It's also nice to know what there is to look forward to, so you can see whether your favorite characters are arriving in the village anytime soon. If you're eager to learn about what's coming next, here's the roadmap for all planned Disney Dreamlight Valleyupdates in 2026 so far.
All planned Disney Dreamlight Valley updates for 2026
Screenshot by Destructoid
There are three confirmed DDV updates for the first half of 2026 so far. We'll get more details about them as they approach release, and a fresh roadmap will be launched once we're mostly through everything this one entails. Here's a full breakdown of everything we know about the updates arriving in 2026.
Early 2026 Lady and the Tramp update in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The first big DDV update of 2026 is themed around Lady and the Tramp. The teaser for it says, "Bond over spaghetti and meatballs" alongside a picture of the Lady and the Tramp table we currently have in the valley.
In the 2025 showcase stream, the devs said we'll get to meet a "lovable canine couple with a craving for spaghetti and meatballs" in this update, so it sounds like we're getting both Lady and the Tramp in this one. This update is arriving early in the year, likely on or very close to Feb. 11, since the Winter Warmth Star Path ends on Feb. 9.
Spring 2026 Pocahontas update in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The second planned update for 2026 is Pocahontas themed. The teaser for this one says, "Discover the beauty of nature alongside a free-spirited adventurer." Pocahontas's signature necklace is sitting on the ground next to a raccoon and some swirling leaves, highlighting that she's the star of this update.
She's the only confirmed character, and there aren't many others from her film who feel like a good fit for the valley, so it's likely we'll only see her in this update. We might also see a new Realm in this update.
With Pocahontas's arrival in 2026, we'll officially have all the Disney princesses except for Raya. This update is debuting sometime in Spring 2026, likely around late March or sometime in April, depending on when the first update arrives.
Summer 2026 Hercules update in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Screenshot by Destructoid
We've already got Hades in the valley with The Storybook Vale DLC, but the world of Hercules is expanding with the Summer 2026 update. This update is certain to include the titular protagonist himself and likely at least one other character.
The teaser for this one says we'll "embark on a mythological adventure," which likely means that it comes with a new Realm to explore. The image featured here is a statue of Phil the satyr next to Hercules' signature sandals. In the 2025 showcase stream, the devs also mentioned stepping "into a world of myths" to "discover real courage, strength, and perseverance."
We usually get a maximum of two new characters in updates, so it's likely we'll see either Megara or Phil join the valley as the second update character. Meg is a bit more of a main character, so I suspect she'll be the one to arrive with Hercules, but the statue featured in the teaser is of Phil, so it could go either way. Hercules feels like a guarantee, but as for who will join him, we'll just have to wait and see.
New roadmap, more updates, and new DLC
Screenshot by Destructoid
We only have a look at the first chunk of 2026 so far, but based on past update schedules, we can expect to get at least one or two more roadmaps for additional content that's releasing afterwards. A fresh roadmap will likely be released sometime in the summer, as this is as far as the current one goes.
Based on past years of DDV, we can likely expect at least three more major updates throughout the year. There will also likely be a new paid expansion, similar to Wishblossom Ranch and The Storybook Vale, launching in the back half of the year, as has been the case with the past DLCs.
As for who and what else might come in these updates and additional paid content add-ons, we don't really have any solid hints to work off just yet. The only small hint we've gotten so far occurred at the end of the Wishblossom Ranch DLC, which showed a red balloon floating through Hunny Falls as Winnie the Pooh's voice says, "Oh, bother!" This means Winnie the Pooh is definitely in the works, but when and how he's scheduled to arrive is unknown.
Another character who may arrive later this year is Ralph from Wreck-It Ralph, as he's the only character featured in the original trailers for DDV that hasn't arrived yet. Cinderella was one, too, but she finally made her way to the valley in the last update of 2025, so perhaps it's finally time for Ralph to join his best buddy, Vanellope, in the valley.
Screenshot by Destructoid
All upcoming characters in Disney Dreamlight Valley
As of the time of writing, there are at least five characters expected to be arriving in the valley throughout the first half of 2026. None of these villagers has been officially confirmed, but the clues we've gotten can only point to a few individuals, so we do at least have a general idea of what to expect. As any further details emerge teasing who is arriving next, we'll add them here.
Early 2026 – Lady and the Tramp
Spring 2026 – Pocahontas
Summer 2026 – Likely Hercules and Meg, but possibly Phil instead of Meg
Movie Night is one of the seven new quests in ARC Raiders added as part of the Headwinds update, and it's thankfully fairly simple to complete.
You can get the quest by speaking with Apollo. You'll need to find a stack of movie tapes at different locations and then deliver them to Apollo. There's also a Portable TV that you'll need to finish the quest.
The Movie Night quest can be broken down into the following parts.
Deliver a Portable TV to Apollo
On Stella Montis, search the Cultural Archives for old movie tapes
Deliver the Stack of Movie Tapes to Apollo
On Stella Montis, search the Cultural Archives for old movie tapes
To find the old movie tapes, head to the Cultural Archives. The stack is in the southwest of this spot. The nearest entrance to the location is via the Atrium. You'll come across a set of furniture at the marked location in the image below.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Interact with the pile to collect your stack of Movie Tapes. I entered via the Atrium and went down the stairs. Turn right where the stairs end, and you'll find the pile of furniture. There's a blue circle with a cross symbol on the wall behind it.
Once you get the tapes, make sure to add them to your safe pocket. To complete the quest, you'll need to hand them over to Apollo. Hence, extracting safely with the item is necessary to progress.
Deliver a Portable TV to Apollo
This part of the quest requires you to hand over a Portable TV to Apollo. The Portable TV is relatively easy to find and shows up in random locations. You can usually find it in Residential Areas. The Buried City is an excellent map as it has plenty of Residential areas.
Screenshot by Destructoid
However, I found mine at the Ruby Residence location on Dam Battlegrounds. This is also a great area to look for the Deflated Football and Bicycle Pump if you're looking to complete The League quest.
The cast of South Park has overtaken the Fortnite island, unleashing plenty of chaos and fun to enjoy. There's also quite a collection of rewards you can earn for playing if you work through the Born in Chaos quest series.
Many quests featured in this event challenge you to tackle some fairly tricky tasks. The free goodies that are up for grabs are well worth the effort, though, so here's how to complete all Born in Chaos quests in Fortnite.
The Born in Chaos event is broken into several different themed quest series, which are continuously unlocking around every week or so. Each unique quest you can tackle in each series grants you 400 CRED, which can be used to claim event pass items, except for the Memberberry-focused missions, which instead grant you one Memberberry.
Here are all the quests in the Born in Chaos event and what you need to do to complete each one.
Part 1 – Friendly Faces Everywhere
Quest
How to complete
Ride different rides or eliminate players at Cartmanland.
While at Cartmanland, ride five different rides, like the Ferris Wheel and the rails that are all around the park, or eliminate five enemy players.
Hit opponents with SMGs.
Deal a total of 100 damage against enemies using SMGs. This includes both bosses and enemy players.
After getting knocked, eliminate a player.
After being knocked, come back to life and take out one player. To come back to life, you'll either need a friend to revive you or you must have Kenny's Respawn Token.
Become a boss.
Locate a boss around the island, defeat them in battle, and pick up their Medallion to take on the boss form.
Use a Flusher in three different rounds. Flushers are blue Port-a-potties you can find around the map. A good spot to look for them is at the Voyage to the Center of the Planet waterslide ride in Cartmanland.
Damage opponents within 10 seconds of swimming.
Deal a total of 200 damage against enemies within 10 seconds of swimming. Cartmanland is a great spot to work on this quest, as it's a very popular spot where there's lots of water to swim in, with the lazy river and pools. I recommend hopping into the lazy river and floating along until you find a player to fight.
Complete four Friendly Faces Everywhere quests to get a Memberberry.
Finish at least four missions in this series to earn a Memberberry.
Screenshot by Destructoid
Part 2 – Sweet!
Quest
How to complete
Damage opponents at Carmine Lodge, Clawsy Lodge, or Tiptop Terrace.
Deal a total of 750 damage against enemies, either NPCs like bosses or players, while at Carmine Lodge, Clawsy Lodge, or Tiptop Terrace.
Gain shields from Slurp Juice, Shield Potion, or Chug Jug.
Gain 350 shields from consuming Slurp Juice, Shield Potion, or Chug Jug. This is much more than the maximum, so you'll likely need to work on this mission across the course of a few rounds unless you lose a lot of shields the first time around.
Thank the bus driver.
While in the battle bus, thank the bus driver three times across the course of three different matches.
Emote on the stage at Cartmanland.
Perform an emote on one of the two stages at Cartmanland.
Maintain a speed below 40 in a vehicle for 30 seconds.
While in a vehicle, keep your speed below 40 for 30 seconds. The easiest way to do this is by pressing on the gas slightly early on, then letting the car roll afterward. Anytime you start to get close to stopping, give it a little bit more gas. Keep a very close eye on your speed in the bottom right corner to ensure you don't go too fast.
Obtain the Stick of Truth by surviving fairly late into the round and having it spawn as a Rift Anomaly.
Complete four Sweet! quests to get a Memberberry.
Finish four of the quests in the Sweet! series to earn a Memberberry.
Part 3 – You Know, I Learned Something Today
Quest
How to complete
Search containers or destroy objects at Classified Canyon.
Search 25 containers or break 25 items while at Classified Canyon. It's generally best to break items for this quest, as finding 25 containers to open here takes a lot longer.
Spray or emote within 10 meters of Cartman's statue.
Head to Cartmanland and locate one of the Cartman statues there. Get as close to it as possible, then perform one emote or place down one spray to finish this task.
Eliminate players with assault rifles.
Vanquish five players using an assault rifle.
Complete matches without using a zipline or ascender.
Finish two full matches without using a zipline or ascender. Ziplines are used to carry you horizontally across spaces, while ascenders can be grabbed to lift you vertically. Getting around certain areas can be tricky without them, so plan your landing spot carefully when you're working on this mission.
Restore health or gain shields.
Replenish 250 health or shields using any healing items.
Damage bosses.
Deal a total of 500 damage against bosses around the island, like Brutus or Human Bill.
Complete four You Know, I Learned Something Today quests to get a Memberberry.
Successfully finish four missions in the You Know, I Learned Something Today quest series to claim a Memberberry.
Hire a specialist and have them deal 200 damage against enemies during any fights you encounter.
Eliminate an opponent while in water.
Hop into a body of water, like a pool or river, and take out an enemy while remaining inside the water.
Eat or hit players with Cheesy Poofs.
Eat 15 Cheesy Poofs or hit players with a total of 15 Cheesy Poofs.
Turn left in a vehicle.
While in a vehicle, turn left a total of four times.
Destroy objects in Bumpy Bay or Artsy RVs.
Visit Bumpy Bay or Artsy RVs and destroy 25 objects using any tool or weapon you prefer while there.
Complete four Looks Like You're About To Get Pwned quests to get a Memberberry.
Finish four quests in the Looks Like You're About To Get Pwned series to claim a Memberberry.
Part 5 – Mph Mmmph Mhh Mmph
Quest
Description
Task
Mph mpphmmph
"I'm an angel keeping watch over the city at night."
Visit Battlewood Boulevard. You simply need to travel to this POI once to check off this quest.
Mmmmpmpph mmhhmph
"In loving memory, Kenny McCormick."
Respawn using Kenny's Respawn Token one time. Find his token by looting around the island or visiting Cartmanland to play Chaosblast or emote near the stage. Then, take enough damage to perish, at which point the Medallion will kick in and save you.
Mph mpmphh mmmph
"I'm being serious. I really, really can't die."
Be revived by another player. You have to be playing with at least one friend to make this happen, so it's a bit of a tough one to complete if you usually play alone. Luckily, you only need four missions in this section to earn a Memberberry, so you can skip it if needed.
Hit 10 headshots. These shots can be against opponent NPCs, like Human Bill, or actual enemy players.
Mmmh mpphh mmmph
"Wee! He can fly! He can fly!"
Travel 200 distance in the air. You can slowly work on this over time by simply jumping around or off edges, or get it done swifty using a Wingsuit to fly around.
Mph mpph mhppmmph
"My followers shall help see me through until I am accepted as a princess by all."
Recruit a hired specialist. Characters who can be hired for this task include Carina, Carter Wu, Cat Holloway, Miles Cross, and Kingston.
Screenshot by Destructoid
Part 6 – Oh, Hamburgers!
The sixth part of the Born in Chaos quest series isn't available yet. Once it's unlocked and able to be completed, we'll add the quests here. This seems to be the last part of the event, but if any additional missions are added, they'll be listed here.
All Born in Chaos quest rewards in Fortnite
The Born in Chaos quest series has a free event pass page packed with South Park rewards you can earn. As you tackle the event missions, you'll rack up CRED, which then earns you an array of prizes.
Rest Well, Kenny Emote – 1,000 CRED
Level Up – 2,000 CRED
South Park Face Banner Icon – 3,000 CRED
Backpack of CRED Back Bling – 4,000 CRED
Level Up – 5,000 CRED
Awesom-O Attack Spray – 6,000 CRED
Born in Chaos Loading Screen – 7,000 CRED
Level Up – 8,000 CRED
Towelie! Emote – 9,000 CRED
Cheesy Poofs Rocketship Emote – 10,000 CRED
Awesom-O Reveal Spray – 11,000 CRED
Terrance and Phillip Pickaxe – 12,000 CRED
Screenshot by Destructoid
Additionally, if you claim all six Memberberries by completing four quests in each part of the event, you can also claim the Imaginationland Airship Glider for free. All prizes in the South Park Born in Chaos event are completely free, all you have to do is work through the missions in it to work your way through claiming the rewards.
The first expansion pack of 2026 is nearly here, bringing with it the regal new world of Ondarion and plenty to explore in The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy. There's nothing else like this in The Sims 4 yet, so you may be curious to know how soon you can start playing.
As a massive The Sims Medieval fan, this is one of the packs I've been most excited for. We don't have any royal or medieval-style gameplay yet, so this one is sure to implement some truly game-changing new features. If you're as eager as I am to start playing, here's the exact time and date when The Sims 4Royalty & Legacy will be released.
The Royalty & Legacyexpansion pack for The Sims 4 is confirmed to launch on Feb. 12. We don't usually get an official release time announcement, but luckily, all expansion packs have launched on a reliable release schedule, so we can expect this one to as well. The pack should go live at 12pm CT, since this is when Adventure Awaits, Enchanted by Nature, and all other recent packs were released.
Our countdown is set to precisely 12pm CT on launch day, so you can check back here leading up to release if you're curious how much longer you have to wait. We've also translated this time across major time zones, so you know when the pack will be live in your area.
[hurrytimer id="1171214"]
PT: 10am on Feb. 12
CT: 12pm on Feb. 12
ET: 1pm on Feb. 12
BST: 6pm on Feb. 12
CEST: 7pm on Feb. 12
JST: 3am on Feb. 12
AEST: 4am on Feb. 12
The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy expansion pack features
Screenshot by Destructoid
The Royalty & Legacy expansion pack for The Sims 4 mostly focuses on adding new regal features that can be used to help your Sims leave their mark on the world, securing a long-lasting legacy. There are plenty of other additions, too, though, so here's a full breakdown of everything it entails.
New world – A new world named Ondarion is included in this pack. This world has three neighborhoods, including:
Dambele, a neighborhood where the arts and community are beloved. Here, you'll find lots where you can spend time with and meet other Sims, like the palace gardens and communal market.
Verdemar, a neighborhood near the sea, where you'll find cunning nobles and sneaky outlaws.
Bellacorde, a fancy and formal neighborhood where romance and regality thrive.
New lot type – The Backroom lot is sort of a two-in-one lot location that transforms between day and night. In the day, it might be a Museum, Library, or Gym, but at night, it becomes a Nightclub.
Powershifts – A gameplay feature called Powershifts adds all kinds of mystical mayhem waiting to be found throughout Ondarion. This includes features like the Sword In Stone you can try to pull, a Noble Frog you can attempt to woo, magical Crystal Slippers you can wear, and an intriguing Enchanted Mirror you can learn secret truths from.
New skill – Swordsmanship is a new 10-level skill you can work on to hone your sword-wielding abilities and use them to duel for love, promotions, Simoleons, and more. There are also Swordsmanship Tournaments you can participate in, which are goaled events that you can tackle around the world.
New career – Rise through the ranks until you become the Kingdom Leader in the new Noble Career pathway. This multi-levelled career comes with lots of choices and events, like hosting grand events, gaining Favor, choosing how to handle community concerns, and completing daily Royal Duties.
Screenshot by Destructoid
Secret Passageways – You can now place and use Secret Passageways to travel between connected points on your lot or around the world. Secret Passageways are also a new Woohoo location and feature a Cuckoo Clock that Sims can mess with to potentially eliminate other Sims with the new death type, which is Death by Cuckoo Malfunction.
Dynasty System – This new gameplay system allows you to shape your house's identity by defining key values, assigning heirs, and creating lore for future generations to learn about. There are lots of new interactions to go with this system, including Designate Heir, Designate Outcast, Usurp Family Headship, and Expel a Sim from a Dynasty.
Scandals System – Rumors are dangerous and can now spread, causing absolute mayhem thanks to the new Scandals System. Sometimes, the Scandals may be small, like vandalizing a monument, while others may be massive and completely shake everything up, like illegitimate heirs or forbidden romance woes. Scandals impact everything, and the bigger they are, the more impact you'll see.
The On The Map quest can be broken down into the following parts.
Head to where the Fuel Lines snapped and transmit your location.
Head to the antenna near the Fuel control and transmit your location.
Head to the cactus patch in the wall breach.
Transmit your location from the roof of the Container Storage building.
Find the container covered in tarp and mark it.
Head to where the Fuel Lines snapped and transmit your location
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
To begin the quest, we have to travel to the Fuel Lines location on the Spaceport map. Reach the marked spots on the image above, and you'll find the areas to triangulate the positions. These are the spots where the Fuel Lines have snapped.
Head to the antenna near the Fuel Control and transmit your location
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Next, we head to the marked location on the image above, where we will come across an antenna in the Fuel Control area. Stand near the tower, and you'll get the option to triangulate your position.
Head to the cactus patch in the wall breach
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
The next location is near the Container Storage area. Here, you'll find a cactus patch. Go to the middle of the patch, and you'll get the option to triangulate your position.
Transmit your location from the roof of the Container Storage building
From the cactus patch, head to the Container Storage building, which is the building in front of you. Use a zipline to get to the roof of the building. You'll find the spot (refer to the image in the cactus patch section) from where you can triangulate the position.
Find the container covered in tarp and mark it
Image via Embark
Finally, we have to find the required container and mark it with spray paint. The container is in the ground section of the Container Storage building. Get close to it to spray using paint to complete the final task.
I was thinking about Grand Theft Auto 6 the other day, and I suddenly remembered that a movie about GTA came out just over a decade ago. And it's terrible.
Produced by the BBC in 2015, The Gamechangers was supposed to be a dramatic, stylish retelling of the myriad legal battles between GTA developer Rockstar Games and anti-game activist Jack Thompson. What it ended up being was a bumbling, undercooked recreation of a fascinating story.
The Gamechangers is a rebel too scared to find a cause
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np7SfEK6_RY
Clip from Entertainment Access
If The Gamechangers were a math problem, I'd tell it, "You've got all the right numbers." The movie has a lot going for it: rich mise-en-scène, stylish lighting, and two incredibly talented actors helming the cast. Daniel Radcliffe plays Sam Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, while Bill Paxton steps into the Oxfords of Jack Thompson, delivering what would be one of his last performances before his death in 2016.
The film follows two main threads: the tumultuous development of GTA: San Andreas and Thompson's quest to hold Rockstar Games criminally responsible for the psychological damage he believes GTA inflicts on children who play it. Both sides of the story intersect in the courtroom, where famous legal cases like the trial of GTA-obsessed cop-killer Devin Moore and the fallout of San Andreas' Hot Coffee mod play out on screen.
With all this going for it, The Gamechangers could have been a great movie about video games. Unfortunately, it flubs the landing so badly that it sets the airport on fire. Radcliffe and Paxton's performances are stiff as steel, strangled by a script that cares more about delivering exposition than exploring the debate on violent video games in any way other than grandstanding. Even worse, it can't even decide which side of the fight it's on.
In some scenes, the film presents Houser's unflinching dedication to his craft as admirable. Then, in another, he's painted as a pretentious auteur who screams at his co-workers when things go wrong. Thompson doesn't get off any easier; in one scene, he's quoting Martin Luther King, backlit by heavenly light; the next, he's so obsessed with winning his cases that he's letting his family duties collect dust.
For all its posturing, The Gamechangers refuses to actually delve into the fight between artistic expression and censorship. Instead, it tosses out vague platitudes about art and responsibility and runs away before the discussion gets too deep. It leaves the film looking less like a hungry lion and more like a lost lamb.
Ten years later, The Gamechangers' fears of violent games feel quaint
Image via Rockstar Games
Over a decade out from its release, I think it's safe to say that The Gamechangers hasn't become the talking point it so desperately wanted to be. In fact, it's straight-up lost media. The film's all but vanished from the BBC's catalogue, and only official trailers and scant clips remain as proof it ever existed.
While it may not be a cinematic masterpiece, The Gamechangers stands as a fascinating time capsule. Back in 2015, violent video games' alleged ability to turn kids into killing machines was the single greatest video game controversy out there. It terrified authority figures, sparked national debate, and led to high-profile legal battles that reached the Supreme Court. Looking back on it now, though, the whole thing seems pretty tame.
Like almost every GTA game, The Gamechangers reflects the era it spawned from. While it failed to reach its audience or leave an impact, the film remains an undeniably fascinating chapter in GTA history.
On Deaf Ears is one of the trickier quests to complete in ARC Raiders, and completing all the tasks can certainly test you.
You begin the quest by reaching Stella Montis, and you need to discover more details about a researcher. Let's look at how to complete all the tasks in On Deaf Ears.
The On Deaf Ears quest can be broken down into the following parts.
Find the Researcher's guest logs on the Reception computers.
Find where the researcher held their lecture and access their notes.
Find information about the prototypes on the Medical Research computer.
Find the printed shipping logs in the Assembly Workshops.
Find the Researcher's guest logs on the Reception computers
The first task is to travel to the Reception in Stella Montis. Go to the marked area, and you'll find a long panel of computers. Interact with the highlighted computer to send the information to Lance.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Find where the researcher held their lecture and access their notes
Next, you have to figure out where the researcher held their lecture notes to access them. This part of the task is tricky as the location isn't revealed. Thankfully, the second computer is nearby. Go straight through the open door and turn right to find the stairs. Go down, and you'll find another door in front of you.
Don't take the door; instead, turn left, and you'll find the second computer. Interact with it to send the data to Lance. You'll find the marked locations on the image above to help you locate both computers.
Find information about the prototypes on the Medical Research computer
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Head to the Medical Research lab, and you'll find a computer by one of the doors. I approached via the North Wing entrance. Head inside, and go straight to find the room. You can refer to the image above for the exact location.
Image via Embark
Once you find the computer, interact with it to send all the data to Lance.
Find the printed shipping logs in the Assembly Workshops
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Finally, head to the Assembly Workshops (marked above) to collect the printed shipping logs. When you get there, you'll find a computer by one of the doors and a box beside it. You'll get the option to search the box and collect the shipping logs.
Image via Embark
Once done, you're free to leave and end the quest after speaking with Lance in Speranza.
Magic & Divinity is an epic choice-based story where you try to make it as a spellcaster and reach great heights. Luckily, there is a Trello where you can check out all the magic options, routes, lineages, and more. Here are the Magic & Divinity Trello and Discord links.
The best place to start is the Magic & Divinity Trello because it is a wiki-like hub of information. It's got everything you need, both for progression and checking random aspects of the game as you play. You can find info on:
Basic information, mechanics, and FAQ
Progression guide
All magic paths and elements
All routes
Reincarnations
All weapons
All armor
All items
All lineages
All traits
All achievements
And more useful data
Then I would jump into the Discord because it is where the developers are most active. It's a go-to place for news, announcements, update logs, and everything you need to know regarding the game's future. For example, in the log channel, you can check out all the buffs, nerfs, and changes to the magic paths.
And don't forget Discord is also the best place to track codes, giveaways, and any special events. Don't miss an opportunity to win some free goodies. Last but not least, there is a Forum channel where you can ask all sorts of different questions and get responses from the community. It's the best way to get tips and tricks from experienced players.
That's it for my guide on the Magic & Divinity Tello board and Discord server links. Check out our Magic & Divinity codes article for a bunch of free rewards.
The League is a new quest added to ARC Raiders as part of the Headwinds update, and it can earn you some really cool rewards.
You can obtain the quest from Apollo. You'll need to find some items for the kids to play with in the settlements, and completing the quest will help you get them.
ARC Raiders The League quest walkthrough
The League quest can be broken down into the following subparts.
Deliver a Deflated Football to Apollo.
Deliver a Bicycle Pump to Apollo.
On the Dam Battlegrounds, photograph the goal by the Water Towers.
On Buried City, photograph the football magazines in any kiosk.
The first task requires you to find a Deflated Football, which is an uncommon rarity item. It's pretty simple to find, and I found it in the Ruby Residence area on the Dam Battlegrounds map. You'll want to look in containers of areas marked as Residential.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Next, find a Bicycle Pump. I also found this in Ruby Residence, but it's a harder loot to find. You can obtain the Bicycle Pump from loot in Residential areas.
Screenshot by Destructoid
For the third task, you'll need to travel to the following location on the Dam Battlegrounds map, where you'll find the Water Towers. You'll find a goalpost near a big football statue. Get close to the area, and you'll find a spot from where you can take a picture of the goalpost. You can also find the Bicycle Pump and Deflated Football at this location.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
The last task is the most difficult one, and you'll have to head to Marano Park in Buried City. If you go to the marked spot, you'll come across a kiosk with several magazines. Get close to the spot, and you'll find the prompt for clicking a picture.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Once done, head back to Spearanza and interact with Apollo to complete The League quest.
Here's a list of all the rewards you'll get from completing the quest.
Five Firecrackers
Five Tagging Grenades
Faded Flush (Aviator Outfit color)
While the Faded Flush is a cosmetic item, the remaining rewards can be beneficial for your raids. The Tagging Grenades are used to mark enemies so that their locations are always revealed. Firecrackers, however, have no practical use, but you can collect and burst them for some fun.
Most new expansion packs in The Sims 4 come with extra items that you can only unlock if you buy the pack early on. Royalty & Legacy has the most freebies up for grabs of any pack that's been released so far, with loads of pre-order bonuses you may be interested in.
All pre-order items are exclusive, which means you must buy the expansion pack within a certain timeframe to claim them, or miss out on them forever. It's a big choice to make, but it's much easier if you know what you might miss out on. Here are all of the pre-order bonuses you can claim with The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy expansion pack.
The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy pre-order bonuses
Screenshot by Destructoid
The Royalty & Legacy pack comes with three main pre-order bonus items, as most pack expansion packs have, but there's also a special promotion that gets you some extra goodies. The main pre-order assets featured in this pack are:
A Crown of Leaves and Sparkles – An intricate, delicate, and detailed crown your Sims can wear.
Enemies to Lovers Practice Dummy – A dummy your Sims can use to practice swordfighting. This item has at least a couple of different iconic character swatches, including the Grim Reaper and the Tragic Clown.
Under the Stars Lantern – A fancy lighting item that's meant to be placed outdoors.
For the first time ever, you also get two free kits when pre-ordering this expansion pack. This deal is automatically granted as long as you buy the pack during the pre-order window. The two kits you can claim are:
Silver Screen Style Kit – A CAS kit with looks that are "inspired by the mystique and glamour of a classic era," including plenty of "dramatic gowns, sharp suits, bold accessories, and iconic outerwear."
Tea Time Solarium Kit – A Build/Buy kit that can be used to create a "refined retreat bathed in sunlight and elegance," with "expansive glass walls, graceful windows, and garden-inspired furnishings."
The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy pre-order bonus deadline
To secure all the pre-order items tied to Royalty & Legacy plus the two free kits, you must buy this pack between Jan. 15 and March 15, 2026. This offers all players three full months, including an entire month after the pack has been released, to decide whether this offer is worth it for them.
Screenshot by Destructoid
Are The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy pre-order bonus items worth it?
Because you also get two free kits with your purchase, yes, the pre-order bonus items are very worth it for The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy. I'm usually pretty against pre-order content as a concept, since it means there are many players who will miss out no matter what, but this time around, the deal has been sweetened quite a bit, making it seem much more worth it.
The three pre-order items themselves are just okay, but combined with two full kits, you're getting a lot of extra content for the price. If you're going to buy the pack anyway, it's certainly worth doing so within the pre-order timeframe to secure all the extra add-ons.
If you're on the fence, wait until the pack actually comes out so you can get a better look at what it includes. It releases on Feb. 12, so you'll have just over a month to make the choice that is right for you.
The Rotary Encoder is a rare Exodus material that's hard to find in ARC Raiders, but you'll need to retrieve at least one to complete the new quests.
With a View is one of the seven new quests added as part of the Headwinds update, and you'll need to find the Rotary Encoder to complete one of the tasks. This guide will help you reduce the randomness so you can save some time and energy.
The Rotary Encoder's base drop rate is low to begin with. Moreover, its exact drop location will be completely random and depend on map rotation. I found one so far in the Medical Storage area of Stella Montis. However, there are other high-tier loot areas you can look for.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
The image above has all possible locations from where you can potentially find the Rotary Encoder. Once again, they will be hidden in containers and cases, and you might have to raid a few before you find one. Also, the Rotary Encoder can be found only on the Stella Montis map, as it doesn't spawn elsewhere.
Once you find one, you can refer to this With a View quest guide for finishing the tasks and getting all the available rewards.
How to use the Rotary Encoder in ARC Raiders
The Rotary Encoder is a quest item required to complete the With a View quest. You'll need to put it in a computer and then proceed along the questline. Aside from the quest, there's sadly not much use for this material.
It's not a crafting ingredient, so you don't need it in any recipe. However, you can choose to recycle it for Electrical Components and Processor. As an alternative, you can sell it for 3000 coins if you're short on cash.
The With a View quest has been added to ARC Raiders as part of the Headwinds update, and completing it will help you get new rewards.
The quest requires us to reach Stella Montis and find a specific item. It begins after you obtain it from Shani. Let's quickly look at how you can complete the quest.
ARC Raiders With a View quest guide
The With a View quest can be broken down into the following parts
Obtain a Rotary Encoder.
Visit any of the Control Rooms near the Assembly Line.
Use the Rotary Encoder to activate the server switch.
Interact with a nearby computer to help identify the correct parts.
Deliver an Ion Sputter to Shani.
Image via Embark
The Rotary Encoder is an Exodus material, which means that it's pretty rare, and finding it involves some luck. I found mine in the Medical area, hidden in a drawer. However, its location will vary based on the raid rotation. I have marked some of the possible areas where you might find the Rotary Encoder in ARC Raiders, along with other Exodus materials.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
The next part of the quest requires you to use the Rotary Encoder in any of the control rooms. There are several such rooms in the Assembly area of Stella Montis. Each room has a special yellow-colored level that you can use to activate the Rotary Encoder. Once done, put it in your secure pocket.
Next, look for a computer terminal bank, which should be near where you used the Rotary Encoder. Interact with the computer to complete all but the last step of the quest. You have to extract safely with the Rotary Encoder to complete the With a View quest.
Image via Embark
Finally, the last task is to deliver an Ion Sputter to Shani. The Ion Sputter is also an Exodus material that can be found in different areas in Stella Montis. They're random, so you'll either have to search for one or just give Shani one from your current stash.
Here's the list of rewards you'll get from completing the With a View quest.
A Prime Specimen is one of the many quests added to ARC Raiders as part of the new Headwinds update, and it's rather simple.
You obtain the quest from Shani in Speranza, who tells you about what needs to be done. Let's look at how you can complete it with almost no hassle.
ARC Raiders A Prime Specimen quest walkthrough
A Prime Specimen can be broken down into two major parts.
Obtain two ARC Powercells
Interact with any ARC Deforester
Loot an ARC Deforester
The first task is one of the easiest you can expect. You have to bring down two ARCs, which can be any of the enemies. Every ARC enemy rewards you with an ARC Powercell, and you only need two. You can complete the task on any map, but I recommend Blue Gate. The reason is simple: the second part of the quest needs us to travel to the Blue Gate map to find the ARC Deforester.
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
The ARC Deforester is a gigantic broken ARC that can be found at the location marked on the image above. Here, you'll find the ARC Deforester. Make sure to have your Powercells in your inventory. Interact with ARC Deforester panels.
Image via Embark
Interacting with the first will create a fire hazard, so be careful of that. Interact with the second panel, and it will complete the second task.
Image via Embark
Finally, you'll have to loot the ARC Deforester. Typically, you might find some unique rewards, but it all depends on your luck. You'll also get more rewards from Shani upon completing the quest.
Image via Embark
To complete the loot, head out and get on top. You can then jump onto the ARC Deforester to find the lootable spot.
Image via Embark
Go straight on the bridge-like structure, and you'll be able to interact with the core and loot all available items.
Here's the list of rewards you'll get from completing the quest.
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