SPOILER ALERT: A happy marriage success isn't easy: 7 things your romance novel doesn't tell you.
It's easy to have a happy marriage, is it not ?
Just open up a romance novel for proof.
An A to Z story that promises an incredible connection, lust, trust, compatibility and amazing sex-- with no baggage, little stress and few disagreements worth writing about.
Turn the pages and bear witness: while the protagonists may struggle with external plot demons, there's a certain easy-breezy look and feel to the inevitable falling-for-each-other experienced by the two fated lovers-to-be.
It's the author's imagined version of romantic love.
In our opinion, that "perfect marriage" version of romantic relationships for married couples simply doesn't exist.
WARNING: If you're a newlywed expecting the honeymoon to last forever, delete this message. Maybe it will be that way-- for you*. This relationship message is for "ordinary couples that struggle and want better" only.
REAL TALK: Marriage can be hard.
(who'd really want to be married if they knew going in just how hard…without also knowing about the correspondingly awesome potential benefits?)
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* When love is fresh and/or marriage is new, it's easy for a couple to believe their little two-person exception to the rule has everything figured out for marriage success and unblemished happiness together -- to be sure that nothing will cause them to argue, cause her to to raise her voice, or cause him to become irrationally angry (certainly nothing as dumb as dirty laundry left on the floor).
We don't mean to be condescending.
Many couples have this easy, hand-in-hand period of blithely skipping along through life together-- before being asked to carry a heavy load of each other's emotional baggage, or having to swerve around many stumble-causing obstacles and potholes in the partnership path. It's our sincere heart-felt wish for you that this blissful rose-tinted-glasses phase lasts forever for you (even though our heads know it won't…and can't).
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Straight from IGN Fan Fest, Windup and Knights Peak have released a new Deep Dive video for their heartwarming adventure Hela that explores its unique Froggy Backpack.
Played by Grammy Award-winner Lenny Kravitz, IO Interactive and Amazon MGM Studios have released an extended gameplay trailer for 007 First Light that puts the spotlight on the charismatic and unpredictable Bawma.
For hedge heads on the go, EA's beloved tower defense title Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is 25% off on both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 through March 9.
Streetwear and pop-culture jewelry brand King Ice will take your heart with its official Persona 5 Royal jewelry collaboration kicking off February 26.
A Drift Tuning-ready Utility vehicle that is primed for Drift Races, all those that dive into Rockstar Games' GTA Online this week can get behind the wheel of the new Shitzu Keitora.
The team at iam8bit is partnering with WaterTower Music to bring Ooo to life with the release of both the Adventure Time: Come Along with Me Soundtrack 1xLP and CD and the Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Soundtrack 2xLP and CD.
Coming in like a hurricane this Thursday, Atari and Digital Eclipse's The Disney Afternoon Collection is now available digitally for both the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2.
Stardew Valley, as of today, as temporally upsetting as it is to write this, is officially 10 years old. An entire decade! A far cry from being able to vote, but in the UK it could be convicted of a criminal offence, if such a situation were to arise. And to commemorate such an occasion, creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone shared a 22 minute long video showing some old builds of the game, shared some behind the scenes and tidbits, and revealed the new marriage candidates coming in the farming sims' 1.7 update.
When a game like Highguard, with its Apex Legends creators and reported Tencent funding, comes out and just kind of flops, you have to wonder what happened to get it to this point. Well, a new report from Mr. Scoop himself Jason Schreier over at Bloomberg appears to have shed a bit of light on the whole palaver through speaking with former Wildlight staffers.
Samson looks like it'll offer the sort of dumb action fun I can't resist, and it's now locked in a full release date. Liquid Swords, the Swedish studio founded by former Just Cause and Mad Max developer Christofer Sundberg, are set to let their game about a bloke attempting to brawl and car chase his way out of crippling debt loose in early April.
Why do they always make cyborg types in movies and games talk like that? You know what I mean, that kind of "I'm not a robot but I talk as if I am one," kind of cadence. We may never find the answer, but in any case, such a case has cropped up again in the latest update for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which introduces the Techmarine class for you to spill some guts with.
I'm finding Surgent Studios, the developer of Tales of Zenzera: ZAU and Dead Take, increasingly difficult to pin down, though, not in a bad way. Those two games are a far cry from one another in both atmosphere, genre, and mechanics, and now the studio's next game is something completely different once again: FixForce, an extraction platformer, a combination of words that might finally pin down Those Types of Games.
Antarctica is quite possibly the perfect setting for anything remotely horror related, given its absolute remoteness. All you'll find there are penguins, seals, and fungus, it is as no where as no where can be, of course serving as the setting for The Thing, so I guess maybe that's there too. And soon, the tundra will be home to another piece of horror media, a psychological horror game called Cryptica "where the apocalypse is just the beginning." Oh goody!
A decade on from its 1.0 launch, action-RPGGrim Dawn is getting some new Fangs of Asterkarn DLC that adds 5.5 square kilometres of in-game terrain. Picture the extra geography barrelling out of the atmosphere like a boisterous asteroid, teeming with bosses and minibosses and unique items. Look out below!
The DLC will increase the size of the base game by 76%, and will be prefaced by a free update with a new scaleable UI and revised stash feature, offering dedicated crafting and components pages. My, my, Grim Dawn, you're certainly looking sprightly and well-padded, for a Diabbler of your seniority.
Colony sim and city builder Going Medieval will leave early access on 12th March, at which point it will presumably be retitled Gone Medieval. Yes, this is the sort of joke that ought to get you imprisoned – imprisonment being one of many features added to Going Medieval since the winter of 2021, when Sin described it as "a buildier, friendlier Rimworld spinoff".
Other elements introduced over the long, increasingly Medieval years include fire, water, siege weapons, and a trading system. The 1.0 launch will bring "a proper endgame, wonderful improvements, new content, and a lot of achievements", write developers Foxy Voxel on Steam. God be praised! Break out the good wine, slaughter the prize calf and let the trumpets ring from the battlements! Here's a trailer.
Ayn announced its new base model Thor Android devices that resemble the DS and 3DS are now shipping in its official Discord alongside a confirmation that prices are expected to go up due to DRAM and storage prices rising. The systems are shipping now, with Lite, Pro, and Max ones starting to ship the first week of March 2026. The fourth pre-order batch is also about to open on March 1, 2026. The cost increase is expected in April 2026. [Thanks, Nintendeal!]
While the Ayn Thor features a clamshell design like the DS and 3DS, it features larger a larger 6" OLED top screen and has a lower screen that's more in line with Nintendo's handhelds at 3.92 inches. It displays at 1080p, with a 120Hz refresh rate on the top screen and 60Hz on the bottom. It is an Android 13 device with Snapdragon 865 on the lite model and 8 Gen 2 on the other variants. All models have a 6,000mAh battery. The Lite has 8GB ram and 128GB storage, while the other three models have 8GB ram and 128GB storage in the base, 12GB and 256GB for the Pro, and 16GB and 1TB for the Max. Accessories are also already appearing.
Here are the current prices for the Ayn Thor batch 3 pre-orders ahead of the increase. In the statement, Ayn cited AI driving up costs and noted the company is unsure how much the increase on devices like this and the Odin 3 will be.
Lite model: $249
Base model: $309
Pro model: $369
Max model: $449
Here's how the four different color options, which are black, white, rainbow, and clear purple, look:
Image via Ayn
The Ayn Thor Base model is shipping now and Lite, Pro, and Max are expected to ship the first week of March 2026, and batch 4 pre-orders start on March 1, 2026. Prices are expected to increase in April 2026.
HoYoVerse announced on social media that another Honkai: Nexus Anima confidential beta test called the Aspect Exploration Project will be held. This sounds as though it will be smaller than the Nexus Link one held in 2025. There's no date for it yet. The company also revealed two new anima type Honkai: Nexus Anima characters named Fyrklor and Hoggit.
In the announcement, HoYoVerse repeatedly referred to the Aspect Exploration Project as "small-scale" and "confidential." It did confirm there will be a public recruitment process for it. This will be held in all regions, as the actual beta test will be "multilingual," though supported languages weren't mentioned. Platforms also weren't noted, though the Nexus Link one appeared on iOS mobile devices and PCs. The goal for this test will involve getting feedback from players on different designs.
As for the new Honkai: Nexus Anima characters, the two anima feature matching gold, red, and white aesthetics. Fyrklor is a Strength-type character with a catlike appearance. It is white with a fiery red cape, and it wields a greatsword. Hoggit is a Satiation-type character. It looks like a red piglet wearing a white outfit with gold crown.
Here are the official images for both new characters:
Images via HoYoVerse
Honkai: Nexus Anima is in development for PCs and mobile devices, and a Aspect Exploration Project beta test is on the way.
Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone promised to share the 1.7 Stardew Valley romance options in a 10th anniversary video, and we now know the new bachelor and bachelorette marriage candidates are Clint and Sandy. The video also acted as a retrospective for the farming life sim. This arrived on the same day The Yetee released new merchandise like the soundtrack on cassettes.
Both of these are established characters already present in the game. Clint has been around since launch. He owns the blacksmith shop. Meanwhile, Sandy is from the Calico Desert. Once you repair the bus, you can start heading to her Oasis store. The new Stardew Valley marriage candidates Clint and Sandy join existing bachelors Alex, Elliot, Harvey, Sam, Sebastian, and Shane and bachelorettes Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru, and Penny.
Here's the full reveal in the "Stardew Valley 10-year Anniversary Video."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geiTg6Z7w3A
As for The Yetee Stardew Valley merchandise, there are two types of soundtrack cassette tapes, a print, and a sweatshirt. The $69 sweatshirt is a green unisex item in sizes small through XXXL. It features five Junimo sprites on it. The $15 eight inch by ten inch print features raccoons in a tree. The soundtracks are $15 each and limited editions in Iridium Purple and Gold Bar. Each has 54 songs on it from the game. The shirt and print will ship in March 2026, while the cassettes will go out in April 2026.
Here's how those items will look:
Image via The Yetee
Stardew Valley is available on the Switch, Switch 2, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices, and the new romance options will appear in 1.7. There is also a Vita version, but it is no longer updated.
Hori will release five new Pokemon Pokopia Switch 2 goods and accessories, such as a controller or a Pokedex-shaped cartridge case, to commemorate the release of the game. These Nintendo-licensed products will come out in April 2026. There's no word on a worldwide release yet, though Hori products do tend to appear worldwide. [Thanks, Famitsu!]
The goods are all specifically Ditto-themed, as you'll be playing a Ditto in Pokopia. Some goods all feature different Pokemon, such as Peakychu or a Drifloon. The prices for everything are:
You can get them all via Amazon or Rakuten. As a note, the Ditto decoration Switch 2 case is customizable. The case itself comes plain (aside from the in-built Ditto patterns), and you get four patches that you can stick onto the case however you like.
Images via Hori
Pokemon Pokopia is an upcoming Pokemon spin-off that plays more like a life sim or Minecraft. Instead of playing as a human trainer, you play as a Ditto that's transformed into a person. This lets you build things, terraform the island, and communicate with other Pokemon. Pokemon that are confirmed to show up in this include Combee and Charmander, as well as new variants like Peakychu.
Pokemon Pokopia will come out on the Switch 2 on March 5, 2026, and the Switch adjacent goods will come out in April 2026.
NIS America announced a new Disgaea spin-off game called Disgaea Mayhem that eschews turn-based strategy for more active battles will show up worldwide in Summer 2026. We'll be able to find it on the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and PC. It will be available digitally and physically, and a $99.99 limited edition will be sold direct through the NIS Online Store. However, Switch 2 physical copies are game-key cards and not full cartridges.
The star of the Disgaea Mayhem is N.A. He's a mercenary who's also a master of Magichanging. That means he can shift to use any kind of weapon. Princess Tichelle hires him to get her desserts like her favorite flan. So he heads out exploring in the world, beating up enemies, swapping through seven weapons, and passing Dark Chocolate Assembly bills to ensure he'll become stronger and deal more damage.
Here's the full trailer that shows off how the action-RPG gameplay works this time around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJNRLUvEMH4
As for the limited edition, it's about what you can expect from a NIS America collector's edition. You get a Switch, Switch 2, or PS5 physical copy of the game. An art book and soundtrack CD is packed into the box. So is an acrylic keychain of Princess Tichelle and an acrylic standee of her with N.A.
Here's the initial art showing how that will look:
Image via NIS America
The new Disgaea Mayhem spin-off game launches on the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and PC in Summer 2026. The last mainline game was Disgaea 7.
The Pokemon Company has revealed that it is working with All Nippon Airways (ANA) to launch three new Pokemon jet planes to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary. The new liveries, themed after the series' first-generation Game Boy releases, will appear sometime within the year 2026.
ANA has also provided a few more details on the jets via its own press release, which is also available in English. The new planes will be a Boeing 787-8 Pokemon Jet Red, a Boeing 787-9 Pokemon Jet Green, and a Boeing 737-800 Pokemon Jet Blue.
As a refresher, the first-generation Pokemon games originally appeared in Japan as Pokemon Red and Green on February 27, 1996, with Pokemon Blue appearing as the third special edition in October 1996. While Nintendo released the games internationally as Pokemon Red and Blue in 1998, the new Red and Blue Pokemon Jets will only fly domestically inside Japan. The jet named after the Japan-exclusive Pokemon Green will instead be the only one to serve international routes.
ANA has also published a teaser trailer for the new Pokemon 30th anniversary jets on its YouTube channel. This trailer particularly shows how the airliner has had a long-term collaboration with The Pokemon Company, with its first Pokemon livery plane featuring creatures like Pikachu launched in 1998.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-y9D2WiPko
All Nippon Airways will publish more details about the new Pokemon 30th Anniversary jets, including the actual livery designs and launch dates, in May 2026.
To celebrate the return of Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem, let's look into the most horrifying moments in the popular series. It's a fantastic way to stop a character we've missed for so long from deciding to leave again immediately, isn't it?
Ben Bertolucci's demise in Resident Evil 2 (and Resident Evil 2 Remake)
The premise of Resident Evil is simple: things that are not quite alive—but not as dead as you'd like them to be—are out there to eat you. You only ever expect the threat to come from the outside, but Resident Evil 2 flips the script by having a creature bursting out of a poor guy in a manner that, despite the PS1 graphics, is still, I'd say, even cooler than the famous chestburster scene from the original Alien.
https://youtu.be/xXl_poVGbRU
Poor Ben can die in one of two ways in the original game, and gets awarded a third death in the remake! I still find his death in the original Scenario A the best, but the new one is arguably the scariest such scene in the remake, meaning Ben Bertolucci is probably the best-killed guy in the series. How enviable.
https://youtu.be/nyhq3sip6xA?t=34
Resident Evil REmake's surprise
A superb remake requires modernization and the addition of cool stuff that nobody expected. The GameCube remake of the original Resident Evil far exceeds the original game by completely overhauling not just the graphics but the tone, improving gameplay elements, and also because of Lisa Trevor. She is a brilliant wildcard whose tragic story surprised even the most hardcore of fans.
Resident Evil 4's most terrifying enemy shows up
Resident Evil 4 spends most of its runtime perfectly selling itself as a rebranding into more action-y territory. After we last saw him in Resident Evil 2, Leon graduated from Badass University with an SSS rank, which caused most of his opponents to step up as well. Most enemies in RE4 are faster, stronger, bigger, and Spanish. That's not the case with the Regenerator, however, a deliberately slower and eerily calm monster that'll seem completely immortal at first.
There's no big jumpscare, just his confident stroll that changes the game's pace to something much closer to the original Resident Evil titles and easily earns the Regenerator's intro a spot on this list.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4G7rR-_LHG0
Nemesis in the police station
Aside from the unkillable monster who employs psychological (and bazooka) warfare to terrorize players throughout, Resident Evil 3 falls short of Resident Evil 2's inventiveness in terms of scares. It does, however, perfect some of the best scares from Resident Evil 2. The best in-game scare of Resident Evil 2 involves a Licker and a mirrored-glass window, and I definitely would've put it on this list if it weren't for RE3 having an improved version.
I'm talking about the Police Station area, where Nemesis comes out from where players least expect when they're just passing by with their minds casually focused on a puzzle. The Licker's jumpscare is great; this one is just something else.
https://youtu.be/e6e4uElYPyQ
Itchy, Tasty, Resident Evil
Despite its status as a horror masterwork, the original Resident Evil doesn't get much credit for its writing. While most of the game's tone is rather campy, it does feature a note that can send chills down the spines of even people used to more serious horror.
I'm talking about what's commonly known among Resident Evil fans as "Itchy Tasty," the diary of a man who unwittingly documents the gradual loss of his mind after getting infected with the T-Virus.
I'm really glad I grew up when Resident Evil games had much worse graphics, because I really don't know how I would've dealt with the big baby from Resident Evil Village.
Most of the game actually isn't that scary, but the lack of scare factor works wonders in luring unsuspecting players into what might just be the most unsettling moment in the series' history.
https://youtu.be/l_EJqaEuztk
I often see the first zombie we encounter in the original game listed as one of the scariest moments in the series, but there's something about his all-white face that always struck me as too goofy to be scary. Did I get anything wrong, and, more importantly, does Resident Evil: Requiem deserve any spots on this list?
The Marathon Server Slam is now live on PC and consoles, and you can change a fair amount of settings on the former platform to get the best out of your hardware.
While the Server Slam isn't the full launch version, things are looking pretty well-optimized. However, you still make a few more tweaks to get the smoothest gameplay, minus any lag or stutter.
Best Marathon graphics settings
Before I deep dive into the best settings, here's my current system.
AMD Ryzen 5600G
NVIDIA RTX 3060 12 GB
16 GB of DDR5 RAM
Here are my current settings that I am using for the Server Slam.
Screenshot by Destructoid
Resolution: 1920x1080 (Depends on your personal setup)
Vsync: Off
Frame Rate Cap Enabled: On
Frame Rate Cap: 60
Field of View: 90
Graphics Quality: Custom
Anti-Aliasing: NVIDIA DLSS/AMD FSR
Resolution Scaling: Performance
Screen Space Ambient Occlusion: Highest
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Texture Quality: Medium
Shadow Quality: Low
Environment Detail Distance: High
Character Detail Distance: High
Foliage Detail Distance: Medium
Light Shafts: Medium
Motion Blur: Off
Chromatic Aberration: Off
NVIDIA Reflex: On
UI Refresh Rate: Medium
A few pointers to note about the settings.
Playing Marathon with uncapped FPS is definitely the way to go, but it seems to cause stutters on my end when an enemy explodes. Keeping the FPS capped to 60 has removed that problem for me and allows me to keep things smoother. A lag in a gunfight can be absolutely terrible, and more so if it's against an enemy player.
I have turned off the Vsync since it offers very little, but eases the hardware load. This should be a must (turning it off) if you have relatively older hardware.
That's about the best video settings you can use in Marathon right now. Things could change before the full launch next week if Bungie decides to tweak internal settings based on the feedback from the Server Slam.
As shockwaves continue to echo throughout the gaming industry following the retirement of Phil Spencer and his controversial replacement, it would appear that Sony could be rethinking its release strategies, bringing the dream of multiplatformity into question.
In a recent discussion on the Triple Click podcast, reputable journalist Jason Schreier said that Sony could be considering pulling back from porting its flagship singleplayer titles to PC, thereby strengthening the position of the PlayStation console against the tumultuous tide of uncertainty in the console space. Xbox's pivots and restructurings could have impacted these decisions, and while nothing is yet official, Schreier even added that Sony could be setting down that path as soon as this year, with Wolverine to be the first major title affected.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it never came to PC," Schreier remarked on Wolverine, saying the title is more than likely to remain a PlayStation exclusive, rather than turn into a multiplatform release like previous Insomniac titles. Sony has been speeding up its porting process, thus shortening the exclusivity period of its first-party games, but from what Schreier said, we could be seeing a significant slowdown in the coming months.
Insomniac's Wolverine is set to become the studio's best and most-succesful game, and it's coming this September. Image via Insomniac Games
He explained in a Resetera post that nothing of what he said is speculation, but that there isn't enough information to develop a fully-fledged story out of it yet, which is why he spoke of it in the podcast rather than a report.
Nevertheless, the current state of the console industry is rather uncertain. Microsoft, with Asha Sharma at the helm of the corporation's gaming division, could be preparing major moves to win back some territory in the console space. Phil Spencer's insistence on day-one multiplatformity and subscription services seems not to have brought Xbox enough market share in the wake of Sony's much stronger, much more stable platform.
As Schreier notes, Sony would maintain its strength in the sphere no matter what. Even if it does port its games after some time spent in exclusivity, it wouldn't lose ground to Xbox, at least for the time being. Despite that, though, it seems Sony is bracing for a storm as we get nearer to the next generation of consoles. By shutting down Bluepoint, the Japanese gaming giant appears to have its sights set on exclusive, big-budget, first-party blockbusters instead of remakes that the PlayStation 5 launched with.
And, if that is the case, it'd only make sense for Sony to keep its own games for itself. PC release profits were massive for many of its ports, but that wasn't as ubiquitous as some would think.
Spider-Man 2 peaked at only 28,000 on Steam, compared to over 66,000 that the first Spider-Man port had. More than a 50 percent decrease port-to-port had to have raised some eyebrows at least, and while Sony continued to bring more of its games and release others from exclusive deals, now is probably the time to pull back.
What will happen is anyone's guess. The industry is in dire straits in more ways than one, with the corporate side of things seeing significant impact. Thousands of jobs have been lost in huge gaming studios since the start of this year, and more are likely to be cut by the end of the fiscal year. It's a gloomy period in video games, with AI overlords and profit-over-art mindsets festering in board meetings.
And, ultimately, someone has to lose. In this case, it'd be the PC fans. But of course, we'll still have the indies.
Marathon, Bungie's turbulent take on the extraction shooter genre, has just started its server slam beta. And, to my genuine surprise, it has attracted over 140,000 concurrent players within the first hour or so of the beta's release, with the Steam chart set to keep rising as the day progresses.
According to SteamDB, Marathon's server slam is seeing about 142,028 concurrent players at the time of writing, with the beta opening about an hour before this article's release. And this is just the PC side of things, where we have easily verifiable charts to leer at compared to consoles, which no doubt have just as many players hopping into the game to try it out.
Image via Bungie
So many folks are trying to get in that a server queue has appeared, and even Steam itself started glitching out and throwing up error after error for those trying to install the game. We haven't seen site-crashing activity like this for a while. The last time it happened was Silksong's release day, and while that level of catastrophe is yet to be replicated, Marathon is on the path to becoming one of Steam's most-played games before it even releases.
This has to count as a major victory for Bungie, who hasn't had the best experience developing Marathon into what it is today. After changing several directors, suffering from major internal woes, and sowing doubt among players, Marathon seems to have emerged like a phoenix out of the ashes, captivating a huge crowd as soon as it became available.
We'll have to wait and see how players will like it in the long run and how many of them will remain in the wake of ARC Raiders' strong position in the extraction shooter genre, but these initial numbers do look mighty impressive.
Start planning your next big date, Stardew Valley fans. We now know who the two marriage candidates for the farming simulator will be in the 1.7 update, and hopefully it's exactly who you wanted.
Developer ConceredApe unveiled Clint and Sandy as the new bachelor and bachelorette during the game's 10-year anniversary video today. With the addition of these two marriage candidates, Stardew's number of eligible romances has bumped up to 14.
To celebrate 10 years of Stardew, ConcernedApe showed off earlier builds of the game (which was originally called Sprout Valley) with commentary about the development process and scrapped features, including an underground goblin village. At the end of the video, the developer revealed the marriage candidates by opening an envelope with their names inside.
Screenshot by Destructoid via ConcernedApe
Those of you who want to get down with the new marriage candidates will need your farmer to be single, but in case you're not and you don't want to make a new save file, you'll need to get your hands on a Wilted Bouquet. You can make the item by throwing a Bouquet into a furnace. Then give it to your current spouse, and you'll become single and ready to mingle. Just don't be surprised when your ex-to-be doesn't like you very much after that.
Though we don't know too much about the new marriage candidates' romance dialogues, you'll likely need to reach level eight with them before their romance will begin, as is the case with the other 12 characters. You'll also need a bouquet from Pierre's, which can be bought for 200 gold.
The 1.7 Update will include other content outside of the marriage candidates, though ConcernedApe remained rather tight-lipped about what else fans can expect.
Marathon's Server Slam event has begun, and the Matter Transfer Failure Error seems to pop up randomly for players.
When this specific error occurs, you'll find a bridge red warning on your screen, followed by the error code "beet". The error seems to cause massive problems as you're about to begin a round. While an official solution is yet to be devised, there are a few things you can try.
Marathon Matter Transfer Failure Error fix
The Matter Transfer Error seems to occur when you're about to start a new round. Once the loading screen ends, you end up getting the error message (along with the code). The leading cause of this error appears to be the incoming traffic.
Screenshot by Destructoid
With Server Slam just going live, plenty of players are trying to log in at the same time. While there are no login queues, the errors appear to be happening as a result of the excessive player traffic. This problem should resolve automatically on its own once the initial batch of players has logged in.
However, there are some more reasons behind why you might find the error code "beet". According to Bungie, the error can take place if your system doesn't meet the requirements. If your PC does meet the recommended settings, you can ignore the following solution.
If you're unsure about the qualities of your hardware, go to the video settings and reduce the graphics quality to reduce the load. Close all background applications that might be running to reduce the RAM consumption of your system. This should reduce the chances of getting the "beet" error code.
That said, the likelier cause (as I verified with a few friends) appears to be the rapidly expanding number of new players joining the Server Slam. Hopefully, Bungie will resolve the problems soon so that we can jump into Tau Ceti and begin our adventures.
As we slowly but surely approach the launch of Total War: Warhammer 40,000, whenever the exact date may be, Creative Assembly has taken upon itself to host periodical podcasts discussing its in-development project, including this highly anticipated title.
Taking place primarily in the cosmos, i.e., among the burning stars and boiling skies of the Milky Way galaxy, Warhammer 40,000 has uncountable space battles in its lore and stories, with just about every faction being a space-faring powerhouse with planet-busting weaponry. They are a fundamental aspect of the franchise, but many, myself included, believed they wouldn't make any sort of appearance in this upcoming Total Wartitle, at least not initially.
https://www.youtube.com/live/n2YXPtt3lUc
CA holds these community-oriented podcasts every now and then, with a major one to come in the spring.
Collum said that both he and the teams working on Total War: Warhammer 40K would love to see space battles in the game, but couldn't say if they will be introduced by the time the game launches. "It is very lore-appropriate," Collum said.
"It's something that I want, something the teams want," he added. "Will it be there for launch? Maybe not."
He further explained that space battles "will definitely" be in the game "eventually," probably via an expansion, an update, or a subsequent entry in what could become a trilogy, much in the same way that Total War: Warhammer had three full games come out over the span of several years.
"The when is a big question," Collum said.
Warhammer is a massive IP, especially in terms of lore. As Collum explains, even his reading 40 books set in the universe "is barely scratching the surface," given just how much content there is in the setting. No matter what CA ends up doing, they probably will not have the chance to cover it all, leaving at least one fan out there sad or disappointed that their particular slice of the galactic pie didn't make it into the game.
It's good to have it confirmed that space battles are, in fact, going to feature at some point. Speculations arose following the game's announcement that Games Workshop sells separate licenses for 40K, meaning a game set around planetary combat will not be able to license space battles, and vice versa. Because of that, we had games like Battlefleet Gothic - Armada, set exclusively in space and revolving around interstellar encounters between massive fleets.
It would appear that CA managed to get the best of both worlds, however. Despite that, we will have to be patient and wait and see how that will turn out, given that space battles could be a significant change to the flow of the combat if they're not there at launch.
After all, if there are no such encounters (and we are, like in Warhammer: Total War, forced to disembark to be able to fight), it'd fundamentally shift the combat to add actual space battles. We'd get used to one system and then have to switch to another, one that will probably require different units, tactics, strategies, and so on, utterly transforming the core experience.
It'll probably be a challenge for CA to mitigate this, but even so, I remain excited. I want to watch the galaxy burn and see up close how the suns melt away into the vacuous darkness, and doing so from the comfort of a planet (unless a Death Star is orbiting around me) is not going to cut it.
Marathon's server slam has officially begun. However, some players on Steam are experiencing a critical error that is preventing them from even downloading the game. The "connection time out" error, as it appears on Steam, is blocking any attempts at installation, so here is what you can do to fix it.
Marathon 'Connection time out' Steam error, explained
The error appears to Steam players trying to download the game. Screenshot by Destructoid
When trying to download the Marathon server slam on Steam, you will probably be met with the "An error occurred while installing Marathon server slam: 'Connection time out'" message, which is caused by increased traffic and tons of players attempting to download the game at the same time.
To fix the issue, you have two options:
First, add the game to your library before trying to download it. This will refresh the Steam store page and enable you to retry the download query by pressing "Download" for a second time. This has worked for some players, likely because the store page is bugging out amid increased server traffic.
Second, if that does not work, you should restart Steam and run it as an administrator. Refreshing the entire platform in this way could get rid of the bug, allowing you to start downloading the game. If all else fails, just keep refreshing the Steam store page and trying to download the game; it will work after a few attempts as the query is successfully processed for you and, likely, tens of thousands of others who are pressing "Download" at the same time.
No matter what, it will eventually start downloading for you. There will likely be a queue once you do get in, leading to more waiting. So, be patient, we're all going to Tau Ceti very soon.
The Midfield Dynamo Evolution is now live in FC 26, and you can improve one of your defensive units with some nice stats and playstyles.
The latest evolution can be used once, and it's available for 20,000 coins. Let's look at the best possible options for this evolution based on the requirements and the offered upgrades.
Here are the requirements for the Midfield Dynamo Evolution in FC 26.
Overall: Max 87
Pace: Max 89
Total Positions: Max 4
PlayStyle: Max 10
PlayStyle+: Max 1
Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
Position: CB
FC 26 Midfield Dynamo Evolution upgrades
The evolution has three levels of upgrades, each with certain conditions to fulfill.
Level 1 upgrades
Positions: CDM
PlayStyles: Pinged Pass, Anticipate|8
Roles: Box Crasher++
Level 2 upgrades
Physical: +4|89
PlayStyles+: Anticipate|1
PlayStyles: Inventive|8
Roles: Holding++, Deep-Lying Playmaker++
Level 3 upgrades
Passing: +7|87
Defending: +7|90
PlayStyles: Press Proven|8
Roles: Wide Half+, Centre Half++
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.
Level 3 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.
Best players to use in Midfield Dynamo Evolution
Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution.
Mokio Future Stars
Matheus Dias Fantasy FC
Jill Scott Winter Wildcards
Aurelien Tchouameni Captains
Zagadou Winter Wildcards
Stankovic Star Performer
Dante Time Warp
Alex Sandro Joga Bonito
Zakaria TOTW
Marc Bartra Time Warp
Joe Gomez Winter Wildcards
The evolution is available for cheap, and the boosts are decent. Since it doesn't increase the overall rating, you can quickly put the evolved card into another evolution to increase its stats further.
The always-online world we live in extends to our passions and hobbies, and gaming is one of them, especially in 2026.
A game like Bungie's Marathon, a PvPvE extraction shooter, is purely online. This means there's nothing you can do without an internet connection, and worse, sometimes server problems and maintenance prevent anyone from playing at any given time.
Online server complications can quickly make a night of gaming with pals and turn it into a quiet night of scrolling on your phone, and that just sucks. But there are ways to be prepared and see if a game like Marathon if currently having snags, or if you just may need to get a new ISP.
In the days ahead of Marathon's launch, Bungie is releasing an open beta "server slam" for players to try out the game, rank up, and unlock rewards for the full title on March 5. With this simultaneous worldwide release, however, it's expected that there may be server problems.
Those attempting to log in exactly at 12pm CT on Feb. 26 alongside the server slam's launch should expect error codes, server problems, and a login queue before you're able to even access the game. Those sorts of issues could persist throughout the weekend.
How to check Marathon server status
Image via Bungie
If you're having difficulty connecting to Marathon (or if you're waiting in a login queue) there may be problems plaguing the game's servers. Naturally, you may want to check online to see if there's a widespread server troubles, or if it's something specific to your game or internet.
These are the Twitter/X accounts to follow for news and updates on Marathon and its servers:
This is the main account for Marathon where news is announced.
A website like DownDetector could also be of use if there are others having issues with the game. And as always, checking social media to see if others are having problems like you are is one of the first steps to take to make sure that the game is having problems. And if so, sometimes all you can do is just wait it out.
It's always a bummer when you sit down to game and the internet powers that be prevent you from doing so.
Server queues are one of these complications that could arise when trying to connect to an online-only game, like PvPvE extraction shooter Marathon. Launching a game and getting stuck in line like you're waiting for a burger at the hot new restaurant in town is not fun, but sometimes it's completely necessary for the health of the game's servers.
With all of that in mind, here's what we know about the login queue in Marathon and why it's happening.
If you're seeing a login queue in Marathon, it's likely due to the fact that many people are trying to log in and play the game at the same time. This is expected to happen during or after server maintenance, or after a new update drops and excitement to log in is high when the servers open up again.
The first taste of server queues or problems is expected to happen during the Marathon Server Slam open beta test, which runs from Thursday, Feb. 26 at 12pm CT to Monday, March 2 at 12pm CT.
"The Server Slam is a technical stress test," Bungie said. "We are turning everything on worldwide, inviting as many of you in as we can, and then watching the systems closely as you do what you do best: log in, crew up, infil, exfil, log out, repeat."
Because of the technical test nature of the server slam, Bungie also warned to expect login queues (especially during "peak hours"), server disconnects and error codes, and that the game may need to be brought down for server maintenance on short notice.
Marathon - Login services 'currently being throttled'
Image via Bungie
During the 2025 closed alpha test, many players were met with a message that said, "due to increased traffic, login services to Marathon are currently being throttled." It asked players to "please stay on this screen until login services stabilize and you are logged into Marathon." The issue eventually stabilized.
Screenshot by Destructoid
If you're seeing a login queue in Marathon, the only thing you can do is wait for it to finish. Once your spot in line comes up, you can hopefully get into the game and play it with no issue. However, if server issues pop up, you may face an error code or disconnect and have to start the queue all over again.
Bungie has had similar server login queue for Destiny 2 for many years, so we expect the situation to be similar in Marathon. If you get a queue, wait for your turn and hopefully you can play without problems shortly.
To keep up to date with the latest info on Marathon and its servers, be sure to follow official social media accounts like @MarathonDevTeam or @BNGServerStatus on Twitter/X.
Patch 12 has officially released in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, and you can complete the Operation Disruption to enjoy the new update.
The 12th operation takes place on Avarax, and the goal is to shore up the Cadian defense on the planet and prevent the Thousand Sons from being successful at the Ecclesiarchy Cathedral. The job can be slightly tricky, but this guide will inform you about what needs to be done.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Disruption Operation walkthrough
The Disruption operation can be broken down into the following parts.
Reach the Cadian forces
Hold position until the gates are ready to close
Defend the generators from Gargoyles
Defend the generators from swarming Tyranids
Rendezvous with the Dreadnought
Advance in the Dreadnought's wake
Follow the Dreadnought to the Cathedral
Provide suppressive fire for the Dreadnought
Chaos Barrier Integrity
Eliminate the snipers
Gather and set explosive charges
Return to the Dreadnought
Contain heretics until detonation
Reach the Cadian Forces
Image via Focus Interactive
Once you've been briefed about the mission, reach the Cadians holding the ground while being surrounded by the enemies. Commander Otel will inform that they are being overrun by the Tyranid, and they will fall soon. You had to meet Major Kevar, but he is dead, and Otel is now leading the 22nd Company.
Complete the short fight featuring the Thousand Sons and the Tyranids, and meet with teh Cadians. Thus begins your task of pushing through the Cathedral to reach the main army.
Hold position until the gates are ready to close
Image via Focus Interactive
The next part involves ensuring that the Cathedral gates are shut to hold the sector. You'll face threats from incoming Tyranids who will target the power generators. Ideally, moving down will have made things easier, but you can't. You can only shoot from the top and try to get as many with your shots as you can. There can be potentially melee combat, as Tyranids will jump onto your ledge if they can get close enough.
A second stage takes place involving the generators of the Zeta sector. Go east from the main generators and take the stairs to clear the small swarm of Tyranids. Once done, return to the main generators.
Defend the generators from Gargoyles
Once the Tyranids are dealt with, your next task is to defend the generator that's by teh main gate. Eliminate all the Gargoyles that are trying to attack it. Once done, you'll see the Cathedral Gates close. Until the gates are completely closed, you'll have to defend and hold your ground. The step ends with Commander Otel thanking you for your efforts.
Rendezvous with the Dreadnought
You'll now find out that a Redemptor Dreadnought is being deployed to help your cause against the Thousand Sons. Take the lift to go to your destination.
Advnace in the Deadnought's wake
Your next task is to complete the rendezvous with Valtus (the Redemptor Dreadnought) by going around the canal. You'llmeet a Helbrute on your way to Valtus. Thankfully, you'll find Cadian forces helping you to fight it (they don't much, but it's honest work). Once the Helbrute is dead, eliminate the remaining areas. Go to the structure, and clear all the enemies you can find in the area.
You'll spot Brother Valtus in the next area, who is stuck on the other side. Help him out by defeating the enemies surrounding him, and proceed to the next assemble point.
Follow the Dreadnought to the Cathedral
Image via Focus Interactive
For the next step, follow Valtus to the Cathedral. You'll meet different enemies fighting among themselves, but they will target you once you're spotted. Clear the enemies, and keep following the path to reach the underground passages. Eventually, you'll reach a room with another assemble area, and there begins your final part of the operation.
Provide suppressive fire for the Dreadnought
Your next job is to provide support to Valtus as he fights the arcane barrier. The Thousand Sons will have snipers who will target you. First, clear those long-range shooters. Next, try to focus on any of the remaining enemies since the Dreadnought's external armor is quite thick.
Once the barrier gets destroyed by Valtus, make your way across the bridge and meet with him. At this point, you'll find a Heldrake that attempts to stop you. However, it will be shot by the Dreadnought, so don't worry.
Gather and set the explosive charges
Image via Focus Interactive
Once the Heldrake is dead, you'll be contacted by Arch-Deacon Zoenia. She will inform you that she can't escape, and her support has been wiped out for the dark ritual. Next, you'll find an open rift that's being used as a medium by the enemies.
First, gather explosives charges from the nearby fallen soldiers. Then, follow the directives and place the explosives. Place the explosives on the pillar next to the rift and on the pillar rights above it. You can use the objective markers, so don't worry too much. Expect to find attackers, however, as you attempt to plant the explosives.
Return to the Dreadnought
After the explosives are set, advance to the Egress Point before the Cathedral crumbles. Valtus will instruct Zoenia to follow him, but she will choose to stay back and offer prayers in the Cathedral before it is destroyed.
Contain heretics until detonation
The final part of the task is quite simple, as you'll have to defend your ground until the explosives detonate. Shoot the heretics that are within the Cathedral to prevent them from coming outside. Wait for the countdown to appear on the top-right-hand side of your screen.
Hold your ground until the countdown runs out, and a cutscene will play out about the destruction of the rift gate, followed by teh Cathedral. This will complete the Disruption operation.
There are many quest series tied to larger mysteries and secrets you have to slowly unravel over time in Disney Dreamlight Valley. One such series involves Mementos, a collection of items with strong emotional ties.
These items have been slowly added to the game over the years of updates, which means it can be tricky to piece together how many there are, how to get each one, and what they're meant to be used for. Collecting them all is crucial for unlocking a very special character, so here's how to get all Mementos in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Five of these items are small quest objects that stay in your personal inventory after completing certain missions. The only one of the Mementos that's a bit different is the New Comfort Bear, which is a furniture item you can place anywhere in the valley. When you actually get to the mission where you use Mementos, which is The Moose Hunt quest, Merlin will automatically transfer the magic from the bear to a new Special Plush Bear Sewing Machine item.
What are Mementos in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
Screenshot by Destructoid
Mementos are items that stay behind upon completing certain quests due to strong emotions being attached to them. They usually cause a lot of chaos and magic, resulting in some issues you have to work through, like the dangerous storm in the Meatballs quest or the Alice clone in The Fractured Glass mission.
How to unlock all Mementos in Disney Dreamlight Valley
All Mementos you can unlock are tied to different characters and quests that can be tackled around the village. Generally, you have to work through most or all Realm or friendship quests tied to a specific character to unlock each one, but the process is unique for all items. Here's what needs to be done to acquire each item.
How to get The Secret Journal from Jasmine in Disney Dreamlight Valley
You unlock The Secret Journal item from Jasmine upon completing her level 10 friendship quest, which is called Wild, Wild Wishes. This item first appears during her level seven quest, Hold and Cold, but isn't actually given to you until you fully maximize your relationship with her.
How to get Kaleidoscope from Alice in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The Kaleidoscope Memento is given to you after finishing Alice's level 10 friendship quest, A Very Merry Unbirthday. You'll first encounter it during the Mimsy Were the Borogoves mission, which unlocks when you reach level four friendship with her. It's not given to you as an unlocked quest item until you fully finish her last quest, though.
Screenshot by Destructoid
How to get Birthday Party Invitation from Cogsworth and Lumiere in Disney Dreamlight Valley
How to get Nostalgic Instant Photos from Cinderella in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The Nostalgic Instant Photos drop during Cinderella's A Dream Come True quest. They appear on the floor in Fairy Godmother's house at this point. This quest is Cinderella's level seven friendship mission, so you don't have to get very far with her to unlock it.
Screenshot by Destructoid
How to get New Comfort Bear from Joy and Sadness in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The New Comfort Bear is one of the toughest Mementos to unlock, as you must work through all of the friendship quests given by both Joy and Sadness to receive it. Throughout their missions, you'll steadily obtain pieces of the bear before eventually piecing it together in the last one. The quests you have to get done to unlock this item are as follows.
You unlock The New Comfort Bear Memento in Sadness's level 10 friendship quest, which is Create a Bear. At the end of this mission, it's added to your furniture inventory rather than your personal one, so you can't store it with the rest of the items in this collection. You don't need to worry about where you place it, though, as Merlin will give you a Special Plush Bear Sewing Machine in place of it when the time comes to use it.
How to get Pluto's Collar from Lady and Tramp in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Screenshot by Destructoid
Pluto's Collar is broken into two pieces, which you earn throughout missions tied to Lady and Tramp. The first piece is the Well-Loved Dog Collar, which you get inthe Lady and the Tramp Realm while working through the Meatballs quest. This is one of the later Realm missions you'll encounter, so to reach this point, you'll first need to tackle the Canine Courtship quest and The Jailbreak quest.
The second piece is Pluto's License, a pendant that hangs on the collar and is unlocked during the A Curious Dish quest. Near the end of this mission, you'll be tasked with recombining the two, which is how you get Pluto's Collar.
What to do with Mementos in Disney Dreamlight Valley
All the Mementos you can get throughout various villager missions are part of a larger quest series that leads to unlocking Pluto. To unlock the friendly canine as a Companion, you must have all six Mementos unlocked. You'll use them to help make Merlin's Memento spell during The Moose Hunt quest. After they've been used, Merlin will create a Memento Display Shelf you can display in the valley to reflect on this journey.
Destiny 2 has been a target of much buzz and controversy in the past years. The game has oscillated between dominance and decadence, and it's hard to know if it's worth coming back to the game or taking the plunge into it altogether.
Still, there's something that keeps players tethered to it. Maybe you've heard the fervor in a friend's words when talking about their time, or you looked at the Hive and thought that was cool, or maybe you just want to know what the fuss is about. Here's why we think it may be worth trying Destiny 2, as long as you know what you're getting into.
Is Destiny 2 worth starting in 2026?
Prismatic is one of the biggest and best additions to the game. Image via Bungie
This may be a controversial opinion, but yes, it's worth starting Destiny 2 right now—though with big caveats.
If you're a fan of looter shooters and space magic, Destiny 2's gunplay is unparalleled. There's a reason the franchise still has an ardent following 10 years later.
The financial barrier to try it isn't huge: a good chunk of the game is free to play and expansions often come with major discounts. You can snag the Legacy Collection for less than $10 on Steam sales, getting you the lion's share of content for cheap. It's more than worth the buy-in if the game interests you in the slightest, even if you'd like to save it for a dry spell in your favorite games.
That said, the new player experience is labyrinthine at best. It takes a considerable amount of time and effort to feel like you're only half lost. The dwindling player count means it's trickier to find active clans to play with or other guardians to help, and it's hard to find resources for new players that have the necessary depth to figure out its systems. Not even Bungie succeeded.
Diving into Destiny 2 would be like starting to watch Game of Thrones now. You won't have many new people to share the hype with, and those you do come across may be burned out or disenchanted. But it's hard to find anything else like it, even with its blatant downsides, and you could find yourself hooked by the time you start remembering everyone's names. At the end of the day, if Destiny 2 really clicks with you, it's best to play a bad version than to not have played at all.
Is it worth returning to Destiny 2 in 2026?
Exotic class items are a game-changer, even if farming them is annoying. Image via Bungie
If you already know how Destiny 2 goes, the answer is a bit trickier and depends on how long it's been since you last logged in.
The Final Shape put a riveting end to the Light and Dark saga, closing out a narrative that's been going on for the past 10 years. That alone is worth the $10 entrance ticket, even if you're just coming back to say goodbye. Bonus points if you missed The Witch Queen, almost universally lauded as one of the best DLCs in the game.
If you've already seen how the Light and Dark saga ends, though, there's less to justify a comeback. The Edge of Fate did little to spark the interest of the general playerbase, with flaws too heavy to overcome. Renegades was better, bringing heaps of weapons, a dungeon, and an engaging activity, but it's not the revolution fans were hoping for.
The game has evolved a lot in the past years—not always for the best—but its core remains the same. If you're diving back in, what you're getting is closer to more Destiny than to a betterDestiny. Some of it, like Prismatic, the Lawless Frontier, and the stat rework, is indubitably fun enough to keep you busy for a few dozen hours.
Should you play Destiny 2 in 2026?
Yeah, you can probably skip this one. Image via Bungie
It's worth playing Destiny 2, but it's not worth setting high expectations for it. It's not terrible enough to consider burning memorabilia or having your Ghost tattoo removed, but it's safe to assume you're probably not getting another one. In a sense, it's like going for House of the Dragon or A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms after being disappointed by Game of Thrones—as good as they may be, it's still not the same, and there'll be the lingering feeling that something is missing.
Regardless of how you feel, the community is laden with the unavoidable impression that Destiny 2 has lost its shine, so go in with tempered expectations. If you're a new player getting into it, you may struggle to shake off the feeling that it could be much more; if you're coming back, it likely won't live up to the good old times. Take Destiny 2 for what it has become and dial back the energy you put into the game. Otherwise, being disappointed is almost inevitable.
