GamersHeroes Wednesday, April 30, 2025 9:11 PM Set in a Japanese spirit world inspired by Studio Ghibli, players will be able to serve dishes and win over yokai patrons with the new demo of Who is Terry? and Targem Games' The Way of the Tray. The post Japanese Restaurant Sim The Way of the Tray Demo Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:59 PM Featuring a magical miniature clockwork world, oddities and wonders await with the release of Sabotage Studio's free Sea of Stars DLC "Throes of the Watchmaker" May 20. The post Free Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker DLC Launching May 20 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:10 PM The team at MoreFun Studios has launched its next season of Arena Breakout: Infinite, dubbed "IGNITION," complete with new content and gameplay upgrades. The post Arena Breakout: Infinite New Season "Ignition" Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5:25 PM Gearbox and 2K Games' mayhem-fueled looter shooter Borderlands 4 got itself a new gameplay trailer, along with a new release date - September 12. The post Borderlands 4 Gameplay Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, April 30, 2025 2:54 PM Get ready to whoop up a storm - Playtonic Friends and Castle Pixel have announced that Cattle Country is launching May 27 for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC! The post Rootin' Tootin' Cowboy Title Cattle Country Launching May 27 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5:55 PM  Today, we learned a lot more about Borderlands 4 during a roughly 20-minute PlayStation State of Play dedicated exclusively to Gearbox and 2K's upcoming sci-fi looter shooter sequel. |
Kotaku Wednesday, April 30, 2025 4:45 PM  Atari has put out updated versions of multiple classic consoles in recent years, following up its Atari 2600+ replica console from 2023 with the 7800+ in late 2024, all accompanied by honest-to-god physical cartridge releases containing classic Atari games like Berzerk, Space Duel, and Ninja Golf. However, the retro… |
Kotaku Wednesday, April 30, 2025 4:30 PM  Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft's latest entry in its long-running historical fiction franchise, is set to receive some big updates over the next few months as explained in a new content roadmap released on April 30. |
Kotaku Wednesday, April 30, 2025 4:10 PM  I can already feel how much sleep I'm about to lose when Balatro becomes one of the free monthly games for PlayStation Plus in May. The 2024 GOTY contender and viral high score chase sensation is only a year old and about to win over a whole new group of converts to its Joker-worshipping cult. |
Kotaku Wednesday, April 30, 2025 3:00 PM  Earlier today racing game developer Codemasters announced that it was no longer developing any future dirt rally racing games, ending a 25-year run that started back in 1998. |
Kotaku Wednesday, April 30, 2025 2:35 PM  The Nintendo Switch received a major firmware update today that paves the way for its integration with the Switch 2 and institutes a less than stellar new regime of virtual game sharing. But firmware version 20.0.0 also made some other equally notable but less advertised changes, including a major shift to how… |
PCGamesN Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:59 PM  Fresh from announcing that its release date has been brought forward - yes, forward - Borderlands 4 has just shown off loads of gameplay footage and released some new info during a PlayStation State of Play livestream. With new movement mechanics, a new weapons system that lets you mix and match manufacturers, and a lineup of new abilities for its Vault Hunters, things are looking pretty good. However, today's showcase also addressed one of the biggest complaints from Borderlands 3 - the drop rates of high-rarity loot. Confident that Borderlands 4 won't suffer from the same issues, Gearbox promises that it has "added the magic back to our loot chase." MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best RPG games, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5:02 PM  The Minecraft Marketplace is awash with excellent blocky creations, and to celebrate May 4, it's slapping a generous discount on some Star Wars-themed content packs. From character skins to iconic locations from the Star Wars movies and spinoffs like The Mandalorian, there's plenty on offer. Plus, Mojang is giving away a free item while its Star Wars Day event is running. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Wednesday, April 30, 2025 3:38 PM  As any experienced World of Warcraft player will tell you, WoW addons have become an essential - some may say, necessary - asset when it comes to taking on certain aspects of the MMO. These third-party mods and tools come in all shapes and sizes, but those that assist players in high-difficulty combat encounters are among the most popular and widely used. Despite there being many years of acceptance from Blizzard about the use of addons, today the developer has revealed that it'll be changing tact. It wants to gradually outlaw the use of combat-focused addons, and instead replace them with its own in-house UI improvements, features, and tools. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, WoW The War Within review, The best WoW addons |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5:19 PM  Ubisoft today revealed the year one update roadmap for open world weather-appreciate-em-up Assassin's Creed Shadows. It includes a steady drip feed of new quest and story updates, some fan requested features like NG+, and a few additional quality of life bits. However! None of this matters. Shoo, less important details. The real headline here is that the series built around making jumping between rooftops feel good is making jumping between rooftops feel even better. Excellent news. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, April 30, 2025 4:12 PM  The recent round of layoffs at Respawn parent company EA reportedly lead to around 300 to 400 job losses, plus cancellations of two incubation projects. It's since come out that one of those projects was likely an extraction FPS set in the Titanfall universe, codenamed 'R7'. This joins an unannounced single player Titanfall game cancelled in 2023, alongside the perpetually rumoured but yet-to-materialise Titanfall 3. It has, in brief, been a rough forever to be a fan of Respawn's exciting mix of parkour shooting and mech piloting combat. But what's this? Nestled in the replies to this good Bluesky post lies the promise of a mechful consolation prize. "Oopsie I dropped this legally distinct fan project," writes Diesel Knights developer Xavier B. Johnson, alongside one of those Steam links I know you all enjoy. "Diesel Knights is a 6-v-6, Mech/Movement Shooter set in a pulp-inspired, dieselpunk world", and you can request access to the upcoming playtest right now. |
Siliconera Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:00 PM
Sonic Rumble, the free-to-play, Fall Guys-style battle royale that will mark Rovio's first title involving the Sonic the Hedgehog property, won't appear worldwide in May 2025, as the global debut is delayed. Sega initially said it would show up on May 8, 2025 on PCs and mobile devices. There's no release window for it, and Rovio and Sega didn't share any dates for the 1.2 version either.
In the notice on the official site, Sega and Rovio's statement cited a desire to ensure overall quality of the game. It did mention the 1.2 patch will add Crews for players to join, a Rumble Ranking that lets you earn league rewards for your performance in the game, and the ability to get skills for each character. The companies did note that there will be a Discord Q&A about both this decision and future additions to the game at 6am PT/9am ET on May 2, 2025.
While the Sonic Rumble global debut is delayed, Sega did implement something of a staggered release in some regions worldwide. For example, pre-launch 1 began in August 2024. That made the game available in Colombia, Peru, and the Philippines. After that, people in places like Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden got to play. Pre-launch 2 followed in October 2024, granting access to over 30 additional countries. Among them were Australia, Canada, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
There is no new global release window for the Sonic Rumble PC and mobile worldwide launch yet.
The post Sonic Rumble Global Debut Delayed Out of May appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5:00 PM
Sony Music Entertainment Japan announced that it terminated the contract of Alba Sera, a Vtuber who debuted with VERSE and transferred to VEE. Her activities ended as of April 30, 2025, though she made one last statement on social media in both Japanese and English. The company cited her going against policy, and noted it will stop selling her merchandise and accepting fan letters on June 30, 2025.
Here is the full statement that Alba Sera shared on her official social media account:
"I think I have surprised you and saddened you with my suddenness. I am truly sorry.
"I would like to thank Kane Mama, Labyrinth Explorers, everyone who supported my activities, all the creators and activists who helped me in my activities, everyone who knew me and got involved with me, thank you for everything you have done for me.
"If I have been able to stimulate your daily lives even a little, I believe that my existence was worthwhile. I sincerely apologize that this is the way I have to leave you. And thank you for all the love."
Alba Sera debuted as a Vtuber back in October 2021 with VERSE, before that agency was absorbed into Sony's VEE in April 2024. She's been incredibly active since then and is known for her original songs and covers. In fact, she just performed a cover of the Kagamine Len Vocaloid song by *Luna, "Attract Light," on April 29, 2025. Holostars member Banzoin Hakka shared that on social media, and you can hear that below:
Her last original song and music video was "Frontier," which appeared in September 2024. You can watch that below:
This is one of many graduations, terminations, and departures that happened in the Vtuber space in April 2025 and May 2025. Hololive Vtubers Nanashi Mumei and Gawr Gura both left Cover. Nijisanji English lost Fulgur Ovid and Ike Eveland. Matara Kan will leave VShojo and continue as an indie. Former Production Kawaii Vtuber Lua Asuka, who went indie, will graduate.
Vtuber Alba Sera is now no longer with Sony Music Entertainment Japan and performing, following the contract termination on April 30, 2025.
The post Sony Terminated Contract for VEE Vtuber Alba Sera appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, April 30, 2025 4:00 PM
During the February 2025 State of Play, Ultizero and Sony assigned Lost Soul Aside a May 30, 2025 release date, but now it's delayed. While the Steam page still reflects that China Hero Project game's original date, a new announcement confirmed the developer pushed back its launch by three months. It will now appear on the PS5 and PC on August 29, 2025.
The official statement about Lost Soul Aside being delayed offered a very brief explanation for it not showing up when expected. Basically, it is about quality control. Ultizero wants to ensure the game will be in the best possible position at launch. This means the three months will be used to "polish" it.
Here's Yang Bing's official statement about Lost Soul Aside:
"We are truly grateful for the positive response we've received from players all over the world since we announced Lost Soul Aside. We remain committed to delivering a high-quality game experience. To match the standards Ultizero Games have set for ourselves, we are going to take some additional time to polish the game. Lost Soul Aside will now release on August 29, 2025.
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to our fans waiting for the launch."
As a reminder, we follow Kaser in Lost Soul Aside. He and his sister were a part of the GLIMMER resistance group fighting against a corrupt emperor and his government, but the invasion of interdimensional invaders changed their entire focus. Especially since Louisa was lost in the process. Kaser now faces these new opponents to save his sister and all humankind.
The last trailer for the title offered a little more insight into its story and gameplay, and you can see it below:
Now that Lost Soul Aside is delayed, the new release date for the PS5 and PC game is August 29, 2025.
The post Lost Soul Aside Release Date Delayed by 3 Months appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, April 30, 2025 3:00 PM
Gawr Gura announced her final concert performance, as the Hololive Vtuber will hold a Graduation Mini Live on YouTube at 5pm PT/8pm ET on April 30, 2025. Her last day with the company is May 1, 2025.
Details about the Gawr Gura Graduation Mini Live concert are quite slim. She didn't note how long it will be or how many special guests might appear to sing with her. In the case of Nanashi Mumei's last concert, it mostly featured her performing solo. This also means we don't know if she'll perform her last original song that she released in April 2025, "Ash Again."
Here's the placeholder for that final performance:
Ahead of this upcoming concert performance, we saw two notable, recent streams from Gawr Gura ahead of her graduation. First, she appeared on Kiara Takanashi's Holotalk, and she performed an unarchived karaoke stream after that.
You can watch that "talk show" appearance below:
Kiara also featured Mumei on Holotalk ahead of her graduation, with the two talking about various topics and sharing memories.
As a reminder, this marks the second Hololive English Myth departure. Amelia Watson left and stepped back to an affiliate role with the company in September 2024. However, because she is an affiliate, this means she can return sometimes. She showed up for Kiara's recent Kiara & Friends: Hip Cover Song Spring Concert to sing a song with her and Koseki Bijou. She showed up at the about the 11 minute mark.
Vtuber Gawr Gura will graduate from Hololive on May 1, 2025. The three remaining members of Myth, the first English generation of Vtubers Cover launched, are Calliope Mori, Kiara Takanashi, and Ninomae Ina'nis.
The post Watch the Last Gawr Gura Graduation Mini Live Concert Today appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 8:02 PM
In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Alicia plays a key role throughout the story. As you reach the endgame, you'll finally have the chance to talk to her, but the mission is easy to miss. Here's how to find Alicia during the Maelle Relationship quest.
Table of contents
How to unlock Alicia's quest for Maelle's Relationship in Expedition 33
You can unlock Alicia's quest by reaching Relationship Level 5 with Maelle. Like Esquie and Monoco, you can level up this Relationship by speaking to Maelle when setting up camp. Fortunately, during the camp session, you can hang out with her multiple times, which allows you to catch up if you missed any opportunities to spend time together.
A special dialogue scene will unlock in Act 3, where she will ask you to help her find Alicia.
How to find Alicia in Expedition 33
You can find Alicia at the top of the Reacher tower, near the Monolith. Before you locate Alicia, you may want to unlock the Paint Break ability first to break glowing rocks for hidden rewards. You'll acquire this skill when finding all nine Lost Gestrals for Sastro. You can also improve your team's stats by reaching Level 50 or higher, increasing your survivability for the battle ahead. If you aren't at this level, check out our guide on the best XP farming spots.
When entering the Reacher, head straight forward and go up the rope. You'll encounter one of the glowing rocks here, which you can hit to gain a reward ahead. Continue on the path, and you'll eventually grapple your way over to the other side. You'll come across your first crossroads, where you must take a right towards a lower ramp near the rope.
You'll know you're on the right path when you can use a hot air balloon that takes you up. Then, utilize the Expedition 61 flag as a resting point, guiding you to the mountainside.
Upon reaching the mountains, take a left to get closer to Alicia. You'll stumble on another hot air balloon to get you further up.
There are many interesting spots to explore in this area, including a Manor door at the bottom. To stick to the path to Alicia, focus on the stairways. Although one of the stairs may look unusable, you can utilize it to reach a grappling point.
When you come across the Orphelin creature, a cutscene will begin. Go past the Orphelin to find another hot air balloon. You'll then need to take a right in the foggy area. Travel up once again in a hot air balloon to reach the peak.
You'll now encounter the final crossroads, where you must take a right near the wooden platform. Alicia is right at the end of this pathway. Ensure to interact with the rest point here, just in case things go wrong in the upcoming battle.
How to defeat Alicia in Expedition 33
After the cutscene commences, it's time to battle Alicia. You can only use Maelle for this fight, so you should bring some healing items. Pictos and abilities that help boost solo expeditioners can also be handy. Like Maelle, Alicia is swift in movements and utilizes a sword for maximum damage. I suggest getting familiar with her patterns to help you parry/dodge her attacks.
While it may seem harsh given Alicia's origins, fire attacks are effective against her, as it's her weakness. You should also be prepared for a Gradient Attack when she performs her Phantom Strike. It may take you a few attempts to take her down, but hopefully, you'll become familiar with her patterns each time. By the end, you'll trigger yet another cutscene, allowing you to reach Maelle's maximum Relationship Level in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
The post How to find Alicia in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Maelle Relationship quest appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:34 PM
No matter the Game Difficulty level, grinding is essential. Some areas offer better rewards than others, but it largely depends on where you are in the game's story. This guide will highlight the best spots for efficient XP farming in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, maximizing your experience gains.
Table of contents
Complete Expedition 33 XP farming guide
While it's easy to gain XP when encountering new enemy types, you'll quickly find the rewards dwindling as you face familiar foes or out-level the threats around you. XP farming spots will also shift and evolve throughout the narrative, making it challenging to discover suitable spots for your distinct level. Let's break down the best locations for the early, mid, and end stages of your journey.
Best early game places for XP farming in Expedition 33
Hidden Gestral Arena
As you explore the map of Expedition 33, you'll discover the Hidden Gestral Arena, located to the right of one of the Gestral Beaches. Unlike the typical team-based challenges, this one pits a single expeditioner against challenging foes. While you'll only earn XP for each individual character, every enemy you defeat will rack up massive XP. It's also possible to use this spot for the mid-game, particularly with the final boss battle.
Flying Waters
Flying Waters is teeming with enemies, providing endless opportunities for early-game XP farming. With a constant stream of foes to battle, you'll never run out of targets to take down, leveling up Gustave, Lune, and Maelle at an instant rate.
Best mid-game places for XP farming in Expedition 33
Sirene
With more of the map now accessible, the mid-point offers a broader range of high-yield XP spots. Once you unlock Esquie's swimming ability, head to Sirene and wipe out the dancing fiends along the way. Enemies crowd nearly every corner of this area, so sticking to the main path from start to finish provides plenty of opportunities to level up.
Beaches
In Act 2, the beaches become some of the most rewarding locations for farming XP in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. One notable spot lies on the west side of the map, where each battle can earn you around 50,000 XP. To keep the grind going, you must set up camp to respawn enemies and fight them again. If the repetition becomes too much, you may want to focus on Sirene instead.
Best endgame places for XP farming in Expedition 33
The Monolith
Compared to the early and mid stages of the game, Act 3 offers the most abundant XP farming opportunities. One key location is the formidable Monolith, as nearly every enemy grants a generous amount of XP. Start from the main entrance and clear the path to accumulate experience quickly. While the grind can become repetitive, it helps to find a nearby rest spot, defeat the surrounding enemies, heal up, and repeat. Since enemies continually respawn, this method remains one of the most efficient ways to level up.
Frozen Hearts
To the right of the Carousel, you'll find the Frozen Hearts—an ideal spot for endgame XP farming. This frigid wasteland lets you hone your counter skills, rewarding you with extra points for perfect parries. However, navigating through the high-level enemies lurking here won't be easy. You'll likely need to be around Level 50 to take full advantage of this area.
Endless Tower
You can't miss the Endless Tower, as it's marked with a massive gold circle in the center of the map. Step inside, and you'll face 11 grueling stages, each packed with 33 intense trials. Even if the journey is undeniably brutal, the rewards and XP you'll earn make it all worthwhile.
Renoir's Drafts
Renoir's Drafts is considered the best endgame XP farming location in Expedition 33. You can tally up millions of XP, but it comes with a steep challenge—some of the game's fiercest enemies. If you're aiming to reach the coveted Level 99 rank, Renoir's Drafts could be your golden ticket to success.
Dark Shores
While you can access Dark Shores at the midpoint, it's best to wait until Act 3 to truly dive in. The enemies here are significantly tougher, but their attacks can be easily dodged and parried with the right timing. Plus, you can use nearby rest spots to trigger enemy respawns, making it an efficient place to farm before reaching Expedition 33's ending.
The post Best places for XP farming in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:29 PM
After your Disney Dreamlight Valley character unlocks and enters the Alice in Wonderland Realm, you'll reunite with Alice and the Cheshire Cat for the first time since before The Forgetting. While most realm storylines involve you inviting its characters to your village, the Cheshire Cat works a little differently.
Be careful while progressing further—this page includes spoilers for how the Alice in Wonderland realm's storyline progresses and ends!
Table of contents
When is the Cheshire Cat arriving in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
Although the Alice in Wonderland Realm and its characters originally arrived in Disney Dreamlight Valley on April 24, the Cheshire Cat won't become available as an unlockable character until May 7. Throughout this two-week gap, various events will unfold around your village involving the Cheshire Cat and his antics, with his official welcome quests arriving after the third and final act.
Here's a complete breakdown and timeline of the Cheshire Cat's events that lead up to you inviting him into your Dreamlight Valley village:
While anyone logging into Disney Dreamlight Valley before May 7 will have to wait for each event to arrive separately, those who join later can experience it all back-to-back. However, you'll still need to complete each quest in this sequence to unlock the Cheshire Cat.
How to invite Alice to your Dreamlight Valley village
Before you can invite the Cheshire Cat to your village, you'll need to complete the Alice in Wonderland Realm's storyline and unlock Alice herself as a friend. Doing this requires completing the following quests:
Unlocking the Alice in Wonderland Realm's door will automatically begin the Wonders of Wonderland quest, letting you chase a bunny around the Plaza before jumping into a rabbit hole. This rabbit hole brings you into the realm where you'll meet Alice and the Cheshire Cat.
Following this sequence of events is the rest of the Wonders of Wonderland quest alongside three additional missions involving Alice herself. The Cheshire Cat is involved but isn't the main character here. Nonetheless, locating Alice and helping her will let you invite her to your village and set the stage for the Cheshire Cat's arrival.
How to complete the Mannequin Madness quest
After completing the Alice in Wonderland Realm's storyline, you'll be able to begin the Mannequin Madness mission. Unlocking this quest initially requires entering Scrooge McDuck's shop, where you'll see trash piles and a strange mannequin that wasn't there previously.
This introduction leads into the rest of the mission where you, Scrooge, and Alice will work together to discover what the Cheshire Cat was trying to do here. Along the way, you'll interact and clear away the mannequins, revealing some new clothing items to buy at Scrooge's shop. It's a relatively short mission, but it's the key to unlocking the Cheshire Cat later in your playthrough.
How to complete the Chaos in the Kitchen quest
Next on the list is Chaos in the Kitchen, which begins right after Mannequin Madness ends. After completing this quest and entering Chez Remy, you'll notice pink footprints everywhere, initiating the Chaos in the Kitchen quest. Talking to Remy will have him asking if you can help clean up the mess.
Clearing away the paws will teach you a recipe for Cheshire Cat Tail, leading into your next task. You can make this dish using the following ingredients:
Fortunately, these are all early-game items, while Cocoa Bean is a mid-game ingredient from the Glade of Trust and Sunlit Plateau. Once you collect everything, cook the dish and gift it to Remy before leaving the restaurant. You'll notice more messes around Chez Remy for you to clean up.
Once you tidy up the area and return to the restaurant, you'll discover the Cheshire Cat waiting for you. Talk to him and humor his riddles to complete the Chaos in the Kitchen quest, bringing you one step closer to unlocking him as a character.
We'll continue updating this page with more details as we learn about the Cheshire Cat's questline.
The post How to unlock Cheshire Cat in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:13 PM
When the credits roll on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it truly begins to sink in just how dark and depressing the game's story is. I mean, it is rough.
Grief, and how everyone deal with it differently, is a core theme of the story of Expedition 33. It's something everyone can sympathize with and feel deep down into the essence of their being, and it's heavy. And that's why the Gestrals are so, so important in a game like this.
I'm going to get into heavy spoiler territory, so if you haven't finished the game's story and seen its emotional ending, most importantly, Monoco's Relationship Level mission "Sacred River," then come back once you have.
The Gestrals are a big source of comic relief in Expedition 33, but they also have so much heart within their wooden bodies, hidden behind their dopey-sounding Gestral language and silly dialogue. Do they actually have hearts? I have no clue. In fact, I don't really know exactly what they are beyond machinations within the world, but they are necessary in this game to illustrate the purity behind its very idea: a painted world for children and family to play in. And that's exactly what the world of Expedition 33 is, as is revealed in the end: a Canvas world created by a boy named Verso that has been corrupted by the grief of his family in the wake of his untimely death.
The Gestral Village is one of the more lighthearted areas in the entire game. You visit it early on, and so I kind of moved past it in my own head, but I recently went back after continuing my quest to clear the game's map and viewed it quite differently. It's more than just goofy inanimate objects saying silly one-liners. Its identity is playful and pure, in a world that has been darkened by the most dark human emotion that now encapsulates everything within.
The Gestrals are paintbrush people who can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There's tall ones, strong ones, weak ones, baby ones, and everything in between. But one common thread is found within all of the Gestrals: they are dumb and simple. But they do not lack emotional intelligence or the ability to seek out joy in the darkness around them.
In act three, players are able to complete a sidequest as part of Monoco's Relationship Level that tasks them with reviving Noco, the little Gestral pal who you meet very early on in the game and who helps lead you to the Gestral Village that kicks off the expedition's big adventure.
Gestrals can die, but they can also be resurrected at this Sacred River, which is where the crew heads once Esquie can fly in act three. To resurrect Noco means skipping the queue of others who are waiting, and Village Chef Golgra and her dangerous fighting capabilities stand in your way.
And so, Monoco demands a trial by combat, in which Verso participates in with him. Decades of friendship between the wizened warrior Gestral and mysterious heartthrob means that of course he fights alongside his friend. There's no question about it.
Monoco later explains that Verso (the real Verso) "gave us the gift of the river" because he "wanted us to experience the excitement of new beginnings," and I think everyone can relate to that sort of exciting fearful feeling we all get whenever one thing ends and another thing begins.
It's never explicitly explained what the Gestrals are, but it seems clear to me that their silly appearance and childlike innocence are the creations of a boy looking to have some fun with his painted friends, and that lives on through them despite Verso's death.
The innocent joy found within the Gestrals is a reminder of what hobbies, art, and playfulness can bring, and it's where the journey of grief eventually takes us all: the ability to smile and laugh again, even if only for a moment frozen in time, like a painting.
The post I still have no idea what Expedition 33's Gestrals are, but I know that I love them appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:10 PM
Soul Gems are the key to enchanting your equipment in Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered. While Petty and Lesser Soul Gems will recharge your gear a small amount, Grand Soul Gems are where you'll see the greatest boost. You can even use them to cure vampirism.
However, Grand Soul Gems can take on two forms: empty and filled gems. While you need filled Soul Gems for enchanting, the Vampire Cure quest requires empty ones. Let's dive into how to find empty and filled Grand Soul Gems in Oblivion Remastered.
Table of contents
Where to find Grand Soul Gems in Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered
You can find Grand Soul Gems by purchasing them from Mage Guild members, exploring ruins around Cyrodiil, and defeating mages in battle. You can also buy them from the Mystic Emporium in the Imperial City's Market District.
As you play through Oblivion Remastered, you'll occasionally find Grand Soul Gems as rare drops from mage enemies, including necromancers. While it's much rarer than petty, lesser, and common variants, you can still get lucky and obtain them occasionally. If any attack you, defeat them and check their bodies first in case there's a Soul Gem to grab.
You'll also find extra Grand Soul Gems in the following locations:
Several of these methods require lockpicking into difficult containers to steal these gems. Make sure to brush up on your skills and bring some extra lockpicks or the Skeleton Key along.
Another consistent way to get Soul Gems, particularly Grand Soul Gems, is to visit the Mystic Emporium in the Imperial City's Market District. Aurelinwae and Calindill have a chance to sell them, so check their inventories before heading out. They usually cost under 100 gold if they're empty and around 300 if they're filled, but you can haggle it down slightly if you're low on cash. You can also buy them from mage merchants in Mage Guilds around the map.
How to fill Soul Gems in Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered
While empty Grand Soul Gems are necessary for curing vampirism, you can also use filled ones to enchant weapons and armor or recharge your gear. You can fill Soul Gems by casting Soul Trap on enemies just before you eliminate them.
Using Soul Trap requires obtaining a scroll or weapon with this ability. If you've yet to get accepted into Arcane University, you can complete the beginning of the Mage Guild questline and request a wand with Soup Trap on it. Otherwise, you can purchase scrolls and weapons with Soul Trap from merchants around Cyrodiil or find them around the map as random loot.
The post How to find Grand Soul Gems in Oblivion Remastered appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5:25 PM
The daddy of the looter shooter genre is back in Borderlands 4, which is "hands down our best Borderlands ever," according to Gearbox Software in a new State of Play today.
Two of the four new Vault Hunters in the game were revealed during today's presentation, including the new Siren named Vex who can summon a big pet cat to wreck enemies, and an ex-Tediore soldier named Rafa, who wields an experimental exosuit to really pop off with wild abilities like dual scythes.
But there's plenty of returning characters, too, such as Moxxi, Claptrap, Amara, and many others, like the assumed-dead Lilith, who the hunters seem to be looking for in the new world of Kairos. And the new world will have a "more grounded" tone, meaning less of the poop and fart jokes that seemingly took over Borderlands 3. Yes, it appears Gearbox was listening to feedback on that.
The new Vault Hunters have new movement abilities regardless of class including gliding, climbing, and better overall traversal to deal with other new features like dynamic weather and wildlife that attack in flocks while you traverse the world looking for the best, weirdest guns.
The gameplay also teased a new "gameplay experience" called a Silo, which are active events that don't require mission pick-ups and can be triggered immediately in the game world. Finishing Silos can give hints like locations of Vault Fragments and access to dungeons. Taking a page out of Destiny 2's book (after Destiny took many pages from Borderlands), there's also a player vehicle that Vault Hunters can pull out at any time. Say goodbye to Catch-A-Ride?
But what about the weapons? Yup, there's a lot. Jakobs, Maliwan, Vladof, Tediore, and Torgue are all back, but new gun manufacturers are being introduced as well, called Order, Ripper, and Daedalus. But the RNG has never been wilder, as weapons can spawn with different parts from different manufacturers, creating a seemingly endless possibility of weapons to earn.
Vault Hunter builds are also looking deeper than ever, with differing skill trees, traits, passive abilities, and a whole lot more to customize the experience for different players and characters. And grinding weapons and loot with those Vault Hunters has never been easier with the addition of the ability to replay bosses and missions. Whew.
Borderlands 4, which will be a PS5 Pro Enhanced title, drops later this year on Sept. 12. Check out the full gameplay deep dive above and get ready to loot and shoot.
The post Borderlands 4 promises 'more grounded tone' along with full crossplay in return to series roots appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 3:44 PM
The Mages Guild questline is one of the longest in all of Oblivion Remastered, but one of the toughest quests you'll complete for it is called "Vahtacen's Secret." This is the third quest you take on at Arcane University, and it will likely stump you more than anything else in Cyrodiil.
To learn how to complete Vahtacen's Secret and get past that magic pillar, check out the guide below.
How to start Vahtacen's Secret in Oblivion Remastered
You can only begin this quest after you've made your way to Arcane University with all seven Mages Guild recommendations and completed two quests for Raminus Polus. After an encounter with the Count of Skingrad, Polus will assign you the Vahtacen's Secret quest, which begins by speaking with another mage, Irlav Jarol, in another building at the university.
When you speak to Irlav Jarol, he'll tell you about a secret research project titled Vahtacen. Jarol tasks you with visiting its location at an Ayleid Ruin south of Cheydinhal. There, you'll meet the head of the project to learn more about it.
The easiest way to reach the Vahtacen ruins is to fast travel to the Cheydinhal Stables in the northeast part of Cyrodiil and head southeast from there. The cave is marked on your HUD compass.
How to activate the magic pillar in Vahtacen in Oblivion Remastered
When you arrive at the ruins, head inside and travel down the narrow corridors while following the green quest marker.
Eventually, you'll reach a large cavern where you can speak to an Argonian named Skaleel, who is extremely annoyed at the project they've been tasked with, but they still fill you in on the details. Apparently, there's a large pillar in the ruins that has unknown magical properties, and none of the other mages have been able to crack the mystery behind it. All Skaleel can tell you is that you need to use single-effect spells to try and activate the pillar. Anything more complicated and you'll be quickly damaged.
After Skaleel finishes talking, follow your green quest marker down a path through a gate to reach the cavern with the magical pillar in it. In each corner of the room, you can see four red crystals along with tablets on the wall that read different magical phrases when they're activated. The red crystals shoot lightning at you if you use an improper spell while in the room.
To crack the code of the pillar, here's what you need to do:
Finishing Vahtacen's Secret in Oblivion Remastered
Now that you're through the pillar, follow your quest marker to the next location. You'll have to go through some more caverns and tight hallways, most of which are filled with traps and ghosts, but just keep following the quest marker until you reach a huge room with an elevated stone platform.
Go past the platform and head up some stairs on the other side of the room. On the right side of those stairs, you can find a button to push that raises a stone staircase so you can access the elevated platform.
Head up to the platform and press a button on a pillar near the Ayleid Crate in the center. This lifts up the crate and reveals an Ancient Elven Helm, which you can take. You'll have to battle some ghosts here, so make sure you use magic to take them down.
Once you have the helm, head back up the stairs on the other end of the room to head through a newly revealed doorway. Keep going until you're back in the pillar room, and then make your way back to Skaleel. Tell her you found something, and she'll recommend you return to Arcane University to tell Jarol about it.
Fast travel to the university, follow the quest marker to Jarol, explain what you found, and then the Vahtacen's Secret quest is complete in Oblivion Remastered. You can now go to the Arch-Mage's Lobby to find Raminus Polus and accept your next quest for the Mages Guild.
If you want to stick around at the Mages Guild, you can make your own spells if you have enough gold.
The post How to complete Vahtacen's Secret in Oblivion Remastered appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 2:18 PM
Hey Call of Duty gamer, do you enjoy cannabis culture? If so, Season Three Reloaded in Warzone and Black Ops 6 is the update for you!
The return to Verdansk has gone up in smoke, and now it's time to hop on the train to another fun-filled update with new features in battle royale like a new weapon, new modes, and even Hollywood action superstar Seth Rogen!
Here's what to expect from the newest update in Warzone when it goes live on May 1.
Table of contents
Warzone Season 3 Reloaded early patch notes
Weapon buffs and nerfs
When the new season goes live on May 1, expect buffs and nerfs to existing weapons to help shake things up, including a big nerf for the AK-74, but surprising buffs for older guns like the M4 and TAQ-56 from MWII.
For the full list of weapon changes, visit the CoD website.
Ranked Play
For the first time ever, Ranked Play comes to Verdansk. Rank up by getting kills and placing well to earn rewards and climb through the ranks. Here are all of the rewards to get this season:
Train Station opens
Chugga chugga CHOO CHOO! The train is back in Verdansk, opening up Train Station as a POI for more looting opportunities. Plus, the train has embarked from the station and will now travel around the map carrying high-tier loot and contracts.
Seth Rogen and another "dope" event
CoD's incessant need to harp on marijuana usage comes full circle in Season Three Reloaded, as Seth Rogen himself joins the roster of operators alongside the High Art event, which includes a $10 event pass to dress up as the actor for some reason.
New SMG: Ladra
A new potential close-range meta weapon, the Ladra SMG, will be unlockable as part of the High Art event's free track.
"What this SMG lacks in power it more than makes up for with a blistering fire rate that's effective even in mid-range fights due to the weapon's low recoil," Activision said. "Consider an Extended Mag to cut down on reloads and aim for the head to improve your damage output. Pairs well with Scavenger and the Assault Pack, giving you the ammo reserves you need to keep up the pressure and continue spitting out damage."
Limited time modes
High Trip Resurgence is a fun, "high" octane mode in Verdansk where players will "deploy with one of several predetermined weapons and their fists," but then be able to "seek out Shades found in supply caches, giving the operator various boosts, including faster reloads, super speed, and no fall damage."
And then there's Massive Resurgence, which ups the player count in the mode to 120, causing pure mayhem across Verdansk.
This article will be updated with more information when it becomes available.
The post Warzone Season 3 Reloaded early patch notes – Ranked Play, Seth Rogen, new SMG, and more appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 2:17 PM
Get ready to drop back in and load back up, a new Black Ops 6 update is set to arrive in Call of Duty.
Another seasonal midway point means more content to refresh the Call of Duty grind. After season three's Verdansk-centric launch, BO6 multiplayer takes center stage again with new additions like maps, a gun, a perk, new limited-time events, and a lot more.
Here's everything coming in BO6's Season Three Reloaded update, a free update for all players on May 1.
Table of contents
BO6 Season 3 Reloaded early patch notes
New maps
Three new maps join BO6's multiplayer offerings with the update, including Signal (six-vs-six or two-vs-two), Haven (six-vs-six), and a pothead repainting of Nuketown called Blazetown. Signal is the most interesting one as it turns back the clock to Black Ops 1 and brings players back to the notorious Numbers Station from its legendary campaign.
New weapon: Ladra SMG
The newest gun in BO6 is coming as a reward as an in-game event in Season Three Reloaded. According to Activision, the Ladra SMG has an "extreme rate of fire, excellent range, and low recoil," and "headshots can help offset lower base damage."
"What this SMG lacks in power it more than makes up for with a blistering fire rate that's effective even in mid-range fights due to the weapon's low recoil," Activision said. "Consider an Extended Mag to cut down on reloads and aim for the head to improve your damage output. Pairs well with Scavenger and the Assault Pack, giving you the ammo reserves you need to keep up the pressure and continue spitting out damage."
Weapon buffs and nerfs
Some slight tweaks have come for new guns like the Kilo 141 and CR-56 AMAX, which have had minor reductions to their medium damage range. Meanwhile, big buffs are inbound for the C9's 10mm Auto 30-Round Mag attachment.
For the full list of weapon changes in BO6 for this update, visit the CoD website for all the info.
New Perk
A new Recon Perk for slot two, Vendetta will be up for grabs for free as an event reward.
"On respawn, mark your killer's last known position for a short duration," its description reads. "Get a bonus score for eliminating that enemy. The Vigilance Perk counters being marked by Vendetta."
New Goblin Mk2 attachment
Another event reward, the Goblin Mk2 7.62 Mini-Rocket Conversion turns the rifle into a full-auto weapon that fires rocket ammunition, offering splash damage at the expense of bullet velocity and fire rate.
New limited time events
Two events, Blaze of Glory and the Call of Duty Endowment Got Your Six event will be the main source of new content for players to grind through and unlock in the second half of season three, likely taking up the majority of May before a new season begins at the end of the month or beginning of June.
New BO6 Zombies content
For Zombies fans, the newest map Shattered Veil will have its Directed Mode debut in the new update. But there will also be a limited-time event called Zombies Snacks and the introduction of a new Field Upgrade, Frost Blast.
This article will be updated with more information when it becomes available.
The post Black Ops 6 Season 3 Reloaded early patch notes – 3 new maps, new SMG, and more appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Wednesday, April 30, 2025 2:13 PM
Monster Energy and Call of Duty continue their standout collaboration with a new twist for the HusKerrs Howl tournament. Enter the Combat Flannel Operator skin—rugged, stylish, and completely free. Here's how to unlock this Monster Energy gear and other valuables.
Table of contents
How to unlock the Combat Flannel Operator in BO6
You can get the free Combat Flannel Operator by tuning into the HusKerr's Howls tournament on May 2 at 12pm PT/2pm CT/3pm ET. The stream will be available on Monster Energy's Twitch channel, where you can watch a high-stakes 2v2 challenge. It will serve as the finals day, following two qualifier rounds held in the days prior.
To prepare for the stream, ensure that your Twitch and Activision accounts are linked. Look under the Social Networks section on your account and set up your Twitch from there. Then, when the HusKerr's Howls event goes live, the new Operator skin will be yours for the taking, provided you've watched enough of the stream. At the time of writing, there's no official confirmation on how long you need to watch, but you can always check your Twitch Campaign page to see how much time you have left.
There's also no set duration for the stream; it will depend on how long the competitors play. Hopefully, it will last long enough to provide a decent window to claim rewards, as they're only available while the HusKerrs Howl event is live. Once the stream ends, the free Operator skin will likely become unavailable; however, there may be another opportunity later.
How to get the Monster Energy charm and weapon blueprint in BO6
Besides the sweet new Operator skin, you can earn two more rewards during the HusKerrs Howl tournament. Watch any of the participating livestream channels for 30 minutes to get the Monster Ice Cold Bling, followed by 45 minutes for the Monster Extended Energy weapon blueprint. Here's a list of the channels you can watch:
As long as one of the streamers is live, you should see a pop-up for the Monster Energy rewards. Select this notification, and it will take you to the Campaigns section to begin your Monster Energy x Call of Duty adventures. You can also check the Inventory section to track your progress toward claiming both cosmetics.
If one of the streamers is offline, I recommend switching to another channel until you find at least one that's live. Staying active and rotating between channels can help ensure steady progress. In return, you should receive the two Monster Energy rewards, provided your Twitch and Activision accounts are properly linked—so double-check that to avoid missing out. For those interested in unlocking more Operators, be sure to check out our guides on Season 3 Reloaded's Jay and Silent Bob and Seth Rogen skins, which tie in with the overall seasonal event themes.
The post How to get free Monster Energy Combat Flannel Operator in Black Ops 6 appeared first on Destructoid. |
WGB Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5:48 PM EA has halted the development of new rally titles by Codemasters, marking a significant change in the franchise's history. The company will continue supporting existing players with EA Sports WRC. |
WGB Wednesday, April 30, 2025 3:38 PM In May, Sony announces free PlayStation Plus Essential games: ARK: Survival Ascended, Balatro, and Warhammer 40K: Boltgun. Available from May 6 to June 2 for active subscribers. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, April 30, 2025 3:59 PM Announced on Twitter. The post Returnal Gets New 'PS5 Pro Enhanced' Update appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, April 30, 2025 3:35 PM Includes several games. The post PlayStation Plus Monthly Games Lineup for May 2025 Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, April 30, 2025 3:14 PM From the previous May 30. The post Lost Soul Aside Has Officially Been Delayed appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, April 30, 2025 2:40 PM Also announced on Twitter. The post Electronic Arts Lays off Hundreds, Cancels Early Titanfall Game appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
MonsterVine Wednesday, April 30, 2025 6:28 PM The Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker release date has been set for the beloved old-school RPG's upcoming free DLC. The free post-game DLC is set to release on May 20 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It features a full storyline of approximately eight hours, […] |
MonsterVine Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5:13 PM Funcom has released a new Dune: Awakening trailer for the upcoming survival MMO that shows off the title's crafting system in-depth. The new trailer shows off the expansive building system that allows players to craft their own base on Arrakis. By allying with one of the warring factions (Atreides or Harkonnen), you can build a unique […] |