GamersHeroes Wednesday, May 7, 2025 2:42 PM Featuring exclusive, limited-time items, NEXON's KartRider Rush+ is partnering with beloved dessert café Cafe Knotted to celebrate the title's fifth anniversary. The post KartRider Rush+ Partnering with Cafe Knotted appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, May 7, 2025 2:08 PM In the days ahead, Pokémon GO Trainers will have the ability to join Shadow Raids and Max Battles remotely using Remote Raid Passes! The post Pokemon GO Shadow Raids and Max Battles Can Soon Be Joined Remotely appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:08 PM The team at Starforge Systems has revealed an aesthetic refresh of their GLOOMY BEAR Limited Edition PC line, featuring Crunchyroll's infamous murderous (and lovable!) teddy bear. The post Starforge Systems Announces Dangerously Cute GLOOMY BEAR Limited Edition PC appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:40 PM Proudly overthinking what you under think, comedian, writer, actor, filmmaker, and internet personality Alec Hamlin of @DontBeSmartAlec will be a Special Guest at this summer's Fire & Ice RGX 2025 event. The post Alec Hamlin of @DontBeSmartAlec Special Guest at Fire & Ice RGX 2025 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:02 PM Set to release for the Nintendo Switch 2 June 5, SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have revealed the English voice cast for Yakuza 0: Director's Cut. The post Yakuza 0: Director's Cut English Voice Cast Officially Revealed appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Wednesday, May 7, 2025 5:45 PM  Rockstar Games are known for their big open worlds and ambitious cinematic swings, but they are just as much about painstaking attention to detail and meticulously fusing the real and the imaginary into an uncanny send-up of American culture that's both fun to play and hard not to marvel at. So it's not entirely… |
Kotaku Wednesday, May 7, 2025 5:25 PM  Are you looking for a new video game to play on your PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, or even your aging PS4 console? Do you not want to spend more than, like, $20 bucks? Well, today is your lucky day. Sony is running a massive PSN sale focused on $20-or-less video game deals. |
Kotaku Wednesday, May 7, 2025 4:00 PM  Grand Theft Auto 6's second trailer is packed with a lot of action, crime, and vehicular mayhem. This is the kind of stuff you expect to see in a GTA game. But what it also contains is something we've never really seen before in a Grand Theft Auto sequel: a couple cuddling and having a real relationship. And that's … |
Kotaku Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:10 PM  Star Wars Andor is back just over two years after its first season ended on Disney+. The first three episodes of season two premiered on Disney+ on April 22 and the show is just as good as before, with lots of great dialogue, intense action, and a whole bunch of tension. And sprinkled throughout Season 2 are some… |
Kotaku Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:50 PM  The grind is just as important as the hunt in Monster Hunter Wilds. While we all want to grind away to make stylish armor, Artian Weapons are a huge focus for grinding in this installment. They're a new customizable weapon type that functions as endgame equipment and they can come across as a little daunting between… |
Kotaku Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:45 PM  What would happen if you blended the mascot horror of Five Nights at Freddy's with the parkour goofiness of Fall Guys? You'd get developer SUPERLOU's twisted game show adventure Finding Frankie. And yeah, it's every bit as wacky and unsettling as you're thinking. |
Kotaku Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:35 PM  It's no secret that the game that would become Dragon Age: The Veilguard had a troubled development. However, every time a new story comes out about how studio in-fighting and corporate favoritism affected the project, it feels like more of a miracle that the fantasy RPG got out the door looking like a classic BioWare… |
Kotaku Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:15 PM  Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade was one of the last-gen blockbusters revealed to be getting a Switch 2 port during the recent Nintendo Direct. But that game is already five years old. What about the rest of the trilogy, including last year's gargantuan RPG adventure Rebirth? It sounds like the Switch 2 will get… |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:46 PM  07/05/25 A representative working on behalf of Activision has contacted PCGamesN directly to confirm that this leak is not true. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is rumored to lock limited-time events, and the associated rewards, behind a battle pass paywall. That's according to one recent leak and fans are, unsurprisingly, not happy about the possibility of having to pay to access these game modes. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 review, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:08 PM  It's hard enough to keep a videogame character alive on Earth. In games like Sons of the Forest or The Long Dark, avoiding danger and withstanding the elements is a difficult task to be overcome. Horizon Journey is a new game that wants to add even more desperation to the genre, taking note from the space exploration of No Man's Sky or Starfield while leaning into the perils of trying to survive and create a new life in the inhospitable environment of Mars. It's also just announced an Early Access launch date that's coming up very soon. Continue reading New space game Horizon Journey is like The Forest but set on Mars |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 2:26 PM  The first Greedfall wasn't an incredible game, but it was a solid effort at a Bioware-style RPG game from a much smaller studio that managed to capture some of the appeal of classics like Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins. Its sequel, Greedfall 2: The Dying World, came out last fall to much less acclaim, however, with our own review calling it "a buggy, boring mess" that "needs a lot of work." Spiders, the studio behind the game, is actively putting in that work as it progresses through Early Access, though, which, along with a new discount and stronger user reviews, makes now a good time to see how far it's come along for yourself. Continue reading Struggling RPG Greedfall 2 is much better now, and cheaper than ever MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Upcoming games, Best PC games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:29 PM  When a game has been around for as long as Dead by Daylight has, new changes that serve to freshen up its play are always welcome. The multiplayer horror game, which stands out in a genre that includes The Outlast Trials, GTFO, and R.E.P.O, has just introduced its latest shake-up in the form of today's Steady Pulse update, which looks to transform the healing meta with a new support-focused survivor called Orela Rose. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:00 PM  If you're on the hunt for a new survival game to play with friends, you'll want to check out Railgods of Hysterra. Your home base is a moving train. The world is a Lovecraftian nightmare. Contrary to a lot of the genre staples, where realism reigns supreme, Railgods is driven by a vivid, eccentric central concept. So if you're tired of Palworld, Rust, Sons of the Forest, or V Rising, the game's Steam Early Access launch is definitely one to check out. Continue reading Lovecraftian survival game Railgods of Hysterra is finally out now MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Best co-op games, Best horror games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:43 PM  The future rarely looks all too bright in videogames. From the dystopian cityscapes of Cyberpunk 2077 and Deus Ex to the war-torn outer space settings of Titanfall 2 or Stellaris, it's all pretty grim. As might be expected from a new studio created by former Metro Exodus veterans, the future of its debut game La Quimera seems dismal, too. Fortunately, it's also looked like a fascinating place to explore since we first heard of the game and now, at last, you can check it out for yourself thanks to its surprise launch today on Steam. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best co-op games, Best war games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:03 PM  Back in the late summer of 2020, RyseUp Studios put its roguelike FPS Roboquest out on Steam Early Access, after many years working on the game before it was ready for players to preview. Over time, it went on to garner a solid reputation, its all-time 'overwhelmingly positive' user rating on Valve's platform placing it alongside renowned fast-paced shooters like Echo Point Nova and action-heavy roguelikes such as Returnal or Hades 2. Now, after supporting the game for nearly five years, RyseUp has announced that it's ready to cease work on Roboquest. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best roguelikes, Best co-op games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:01 PM  What are the new Fortnite weapons? We all know May 4th as Star Wars Day, but Fortnite has extended the celebrations to a full month with the Galactic Battle season. With it comes new weapons inspired by the iconic franchise, so you'll need to get used to a whole new arsenal. Once you're done having a gander at the latest Fortnite map, brush up on the new Fortnite guns and weapons available in the lastest season of the battle royale game. Obtain these weapons from an armory and complete challenges to earn bonus gold bars - and get some practice in. Plus, you can also obtain the best weapons from Fortnite NPCs. We all know grabbing a legendary early on can turn the game in your favor. Continue reading New Fortnite weapons - all the guns in Chapter 6 Season 3 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons |
PCGamesN Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:05 PM  What is the best gaming projector? A gaming projector can give you a huge and immersive picture without having to invest in a TV or monitor. Unlike home cinema projectors, projectors for gaming need to have a low input lag (we recommend under 30 milliseconds) to keep gameplay smooth and your responses fast with the best PC games. Our pick for the best gaming projector overall right now is the BenQ X3000i thanks to its crisp 4K resolution, overall image quality, and low input lag. Our relatively budget choice is the Acer Predator GM712 which offers a great image but doesn't have many extra features. Meanwhile, the XGIMI Halo+ is our best portable choice. There are plenty more options below and you can also check out the How to choose and FAQ sections for advice on what to look out for and answer to common gaming projector questions. Continue reading Best gaming projectors 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, May 7, 2025 2:17 PM  This is just a quick write-up, because it's outside office hours, but... Mobius Digital, creators of wondrous virtual orrery and gravitational stageplay Outer Wilds, are making a new game. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:30 PM  There's a new king of RTX 5080 laptop deals, and it's this HP Omen Max 16 configuration. At $2,609.99 shipped with promo code PC10DEAL, it undercuts the competition by hundreds of dollars without compromising on power. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:26 PM  Sony have announced a new PlayStation studio made up of former developers of Destiny, Halo, League Of Legends, Fortnite, and Roblox, plus a few industry newcomers. Called teamLFG - where "LFG" stands for Looking For Group, not the other, naughty phrase you're thinking of - they're based in Bellevue, Washington, and are dedicated to "exceptional action-based gameplay, moment-to-moment game feel, and richly social virtual worlds". Uuuuuurrrgh. Their first project is a "comedic" and "lighthearted" team-based action game set in a new science-fantasy universe. The PlayStation blogpost announcing all this is a wearying paean to an idea of the live service game that dates back to the original Destiny in 2014. It's written in the style of a cyborg that is trying to remember how to love. There is, however, a spark of eccentricity at the end that makes the labour of being preached to about engagement processes worthwhile: the team claim to be inspired by "frog-type games". What is a frog-type game? A Frogger homage? A real estate sim about Finishing Rooms Over Garages? Did they just misspell "frag"? The mind froggles. |
Siliconera Wednesday, May 7, 2025 5:00 PM
Taito and Banpresto released a new One Piece plush, which recreates the Monkey D Luffy straw hat as a soft cushion. It will be over 16 inches long (42cm). It is currently appearing in actual arcades in Japan, as well as online crane games. It isn't showing up in any
As you'd expect, the One Piece plush of Luffy's straw hat is yellow, with a red band around it. As this is designed to be used as a decorative piece and cushion, the brim is incredibly thing and small, and the crown is much larger than usual.
The official Japanese Banpresto Crane Game image highlighting the plush also teased a second one. An Imu toy is in development. This character only appears toward the end of series.
Here are the two official pictures of the new One Piece plush:
This is one of multiple One Piece pieces of merchandise and collaborations that launched in Japan recently. Another memorable one involved Baskin Robbins selling different kinds of ice cream based on the series' Devil Fruit.
The One Piece Luffy straw hat plush is in Japanese arcades now. The manga is handled by Viz Media outside Japan, and the anime is streaming on services like Crunchyroll and Netflix. Netflix is also the home of the live-action adaptation, and a second season of that will appear.
The post One Piece Luffy Plush Straw Hat Is Over a Foot Long appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, May 7, 2025 4:00 PM
On the official Facebook page for Genshin Impact, HoYoVerse announced it will require age verification for everyone in the US who plays the game by May 20, 2025. It noted this is part of a measure to comply with laws in the country. This will be mandatory, and accounts could be suspended if people don't comply by July 18, 2025. There's also the prospect of potential deletion.
HoYoVerse actually mentioned two dates with regards to cut-offs for US players and the Genshin Impact age verification process. In the first part, it noted that someone needs to provide their date of birth by July 18, 2025. The consequences of meeting that date involve an account being suspended, friends on the friend list being deleted, all chat records being wiped, and notifications on mobile devices being disabled. The announcement didn't note if complying after that date could result in the suspension being lifted.
Toward the end of the announcement, it noted a HoYoVerse account would be deleted starting on July 20, 2026 if these conditions aren't met. The announcement said this would be irreversible. The official terms and conditions for the game noted that people who play must be at the minimum age of consent for Personal Data Collection and mentions being an adult.
Here's a screenshot of the notice on Facebook:
Notably, this notification doesn't appear on Facebook pages for other HoYoVerse games like Honkai Impact 3rd, Honkai: Star Rail, Tears of Themis, and Zenless Zone Zero.
Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices, and US age verification will start on May 20, 2025 and be required by July 18, 2025. The latest update is now live and added Ifa and Escoffier as playable characters.
The post HoYoVerse Genshin Impact US Age Verification Starts in May 2025 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:00 PM
Square Enix announced new pieces of NieR Replicant and NieR: Automata merchandise featuring Emil's face, with the Black Box from Automata and Mama from NieR Reincarnation also appearing. All of them are expected to launch in Japan on July 26, 2025, and AmiAmi is taking orders for them and shipping worldwide. Due to the Trump tariffs, these items didn't show up in the US store yet.
The Emil NieR Replicant drawstring bag costs 2,530円 (~$18). It's over seven inches tall (195mm) and seven inches (180mm) wide. There is a brocade-style pattern on the back, with Emil's face on the front.
Here's how that looks:
Each of the three rubber trays are also 2,530円 (~$18) each. These are all based on identifiable icons from the games. So the NieR Replicant representative for this series of merchandise is Emil, the NieR: Automata one is the Black Box, and the NieR Reincarnation design features Mama. In the case of the Black Box, it also glows in the dark. Each one is about 5 inches (130mm) tall and 5 inches (125mm) wide.
Here are all three of those designs, and Square Enix also shared a picture of the Black Box when it is glowing in the dark with us.
Speaking of NieR Reincarnation, something could be happening with the now-dead mobile game. On the anniversary site's page for a short web novel, text appeared suggesting a potential return.
The NieR Replicant Emil drawstring bag and rubber tray, NieR: Automata Black Box rubber tray, and NieR Reincarnation Mama rubber tray will debut in Japan on July 26, 2025. NieR Replicant is available on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, while NieR: Automata can be found on the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The NieR: Automata anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.
The post New NieR Merchandise Focuses on Emil appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, May 7, 2025 2:00 PM
Billboard updated its charts for the week, and the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 game soundtrack hit the number one spots in both the Classical Albums and Classical Crossover Albums categories. This is its first week in first place in both divisions.
The Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack released on April 24, 2025, the same day the game launched. It could be found on streaming services like Soundcloud and Spotify, as well as purchased via storefronts like Amazon, Apple, and Steam. Lorien Testard composed the entire score, with Alice Duport-Percier contributing vocals. As a whole, the album consists of 154 tracks that appear throughout the game.
The process that led to Testard composing the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack is an unexpected one. As Sandfall shared on the game's launch day, Director Guillaume Broche found songs Testard composed in the hopes of becoming a video game music composer on a forum and SoundCloud. After hearing the examples and talking with him, Broche offered Testard the job.
There's also a "Behind the Music" video that explained Testard's process and showed some recording session footage while playing samples of the game's tracks.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC worldwide.
The post Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Soundtrack Topped 2 Billboard Charts appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:00 PM
Sega announced the English voice actors who will play characters in Yakuza 0 Director's Cut on the Switch 2, and many will return to voice people they played in past games. Most notably, Matt Mercer, who played Goro Majima in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Yong Yea, who was Kazuma Kiryu in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, will return for this installment. There are also two trailers highlighting moments with Kiryu and Majima in English.
First, here's how Yea sounds when he appears as Kiryu again in the game.
Next, we can see how Mercer portrays Majima.
Here's the full list of Yakuza 0 Director's Cut English voice actors
There's also a video highlighting the "Bubble" theme song for the Switch 2 release of Yakuza 0 Director's Cut.
As a reminder, in addition to the new English voice actors appearing in Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, there are a number of other exclusives in this new Nintendo-exclusive version of the game. It runs at 60fps in 4K. There will be 30 new cutscenes to help expand on the game's story. A co-op, online multiplayer mode called Red Light Raid also ended up being added.
Yakuza 0 Director's Cut will come to the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. The original version of the game is on the PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
The post Many English Voice Actors Return for Yakuza 0 Director's Cut appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 7:32 PM
The Blood of Daedra is one of the most interesting quests to complete in Oblivion Remastered, and it's your gateway to collecting Daedric Artifacts.
The main objective is to provide Martin Septim with a Daedric Artifact that he will use in a ritual. While the result is the same, your approach can be different. This guide will provide you with all the important information required to complete the quest.
Table of contents
How to begin the Blood of Daedra Quest in Oblivion Remastered
First, you'll have to finish the Spies quest. Head to the Cloud Ruler Temple, and you'll meet Martin Septim. He will be on a mission to decode the Mysteries of Xarxes that you obtained from the Mythic Dawn base. You'll be informed that he'll require a Daedric Artifact to open the gates to Camoran's Paradise.
This marks the start of the quest.
How to complete the Blood of Daedra Quest in Oblivion Remastered
Martin will ask you to use the Modern Heretics book, and you'll find the Shrine of Azura in it. A new quest log entry will occur, asking you to visit the Shrine and find a Daedric artifact.
Go to Lake Arrius Caverns, and go north to arrive at the Shrine of Azura. Talk with Mels Maryon to learn about the requirements of the Azura quest. Make sure to check out our guide about how to obtain the Star of Azura, which is incidentally one of the best Daedric Artifacts to obtain.
Once you have obtained at least one Daedric artifact, go back to Martin. Talk with him, and you'll have to provide him with an artifact. If you've more than one, you'll be able to pick which one you want to submit.
Martin will ask you to speak with Jauffre, which will mark this quest as complete.
Which Daedric Artifact should you give to Martin?
The objective is to provide Martin with an artifact that doesn't have any substantial benefit. The artifact you provide to him will be destroyed, and the best choice is Namira's Ring. This artifact is obtained once you complete the Namira quest. The quest is available pretty early (you'll have to reach player level five to unlock it), which makes it easy for you to obtain the item.
The effect of Namira's Ring is unique as far as Daedric Artifacts are concerned. It reflects a small amount of physical and magical damage, but the effects can be replaced by other methods (by the use of spells/potions). This is the artifact that you should ideally be giving away to Martin for him to use in the ritual.
The post How to complete the Blood of Daedra quest in Oblivion Remastered appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 6:50 PM
The best PS2 games began the hype of the most popular franchises we know today. This includes the likes of God of War, Kingdom Hearts, and Ratchet & Clank; here are the games that represent the best experiences on Sony's best-selling platform.
20. Burnout 3: Takedown
The PS2 era was a golden age for racing games, with legends like Need for Speed and Gran Turismo tearing up the track. But Burnout 3: Takedown didn't just race; it roared to the front with unmatched style and energy. Often hailed as one of the greatest racing games ever made, it delivers a full-throttle blend of speed, chaos, and excitement. Every moment is a rush, from the bone-crunching takedowns that send rivals flying to the tight, responsive handling that makes every turn feel exhilarating. It's more than just fun; it celebrates pure game racing.
19. Guitar Hero 2
Guitar Hero rocked the world when it first debuted on the PlayStation 2, breaking away from traditional controllers and putting a guitar in players' hands. While the original kicked things off with style, the sequel took everything to the next level. Guitar Hero 2 brought a killer lineup of iconic songs that inspired players to add them to their playlists (it even made me want to pick up a real guitar). The sequel felt bigger, bolder, and more alive, with expanded venues, more instruments, and an even greater sense of show-stopping fun.
18. Ico
Team Ico has a gift for crafting games that feel like living art, and Ico is no exception. At its heart is a timeless tale of rescue and companionship as a young boy and a mysterious princess embark on a wonder-filled journey. The bond between Ico and Yorda deepens with every step, making the story all the more powerful. The game's puzzles challenge your mind without breaking the atmosphere, and its quiet beauty and emotional weight leave a lasting impression.
17. God of War
God of War is one of the PS2's most iconic games, and for good reason. It features outstanding character action as you whip your enemies with the Chains of Olympus and take them down in grisly detail. The storyline is epic, the visuals are still cinematic to this day, and you'll love the intense boss battles from this game. Kratos might be one-note in this PS2 interpretation when compared to the reboot-quel PS4 series, but it's still fun to take down the Greek gods one by one.
16. Beyond Good & Evil
One of the most underrated games on the PS2 (and also one of the best) is Beyond Good & Evil. It features a riveting story that has you uncovering a sci-fi conspiracy. You're taking pictures for the IRIS Network, revealing details about a corrupt organization that is taking prisoners. It's set up in a Zelda-like way, where you solve puzzles, take down bosses, and try to get through each "dungeon" alive. It also has an open world to explore with plenty of secrets to find. There are lots of animals to take pictures of to get money and other rewards.
"The game manages to draw one in and keep the player involved with a charming game world and a strong, atypical female protagonist," said our review of the 2011 HD version.
15. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series defined what skateboarding should be in games: pure, unadulterated fun. The third installment stands tall as the absolute best in the series. I have endless memories of losing myself for hours in a skateboarding paradise. The objectives to tackle only made it better, giving you unique challenges to conquer before the timer ran out. Like Guitar Hero 2, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3's playlist shaped my musical taste in ways I never expected. There's nothing quite like skating while jamming out to a great beat.
14. Sly Cooper & The Thievius Raccoonus
After playing this game very recently on the PS5, thanks to PlayStation Plus Premium, Sly Cooper & The Thievius Raccoonus holds up exceptionally well. The art style looks stunning on screen as it has comic book-like visuals. It's fun to clobber enemies with Sly's cane and stealthily move across each level with the abilities this raccoon gets from his ancestors. The developer Sucker Punch Productions (inFAMOUS, Ghost of Tsushima) continues to throw in twists to the gameplay to keep Sly's adventure fresh from beginning to end.
13. Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
From one platforming hero to another, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is by far the best of this Naughty Dog-developed trilogy. It features bright, bold visuals, with plenty of entertaining platforming challenges across the game's world. The biomes are varied and present engaging game designs. Additionally, Daxter is a successful comedic relief for the game as he tries to shake Jak back alive after he is taken down by his enemies. The Precursor Legacy's controls still stand the test of time, where Jak rolls and jumps his way to each platform. It is an impressive visual spectacle for the PS2 and should be praised.
12. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Before the rise of the Assassin's Creed series, there was Prince of Persia, an action-adventure game that pushed puzzle-solving to new heights. While the trilogy holds a special place in my heart, The Sands of Time is easily the crown jewel. It was the first time we had the legendary dagger capable of bending time itself. Every puzzle felt like a challenge, but failure never felt punishing—you could rewind and fix your mistakes. As a kid still learning the ropes, that made all the difference. The story kept me hooked as the prince and princess developed an unexpected connection in a world filled with danger and wonder.
11. Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal
Arguably, the best of the three platforming mascots from the PS2 era is Ratchet with his best pal Clank. I challenge you to find a PS2 game funnier than Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal. It has the hilarious antagonist Dr. Nefarious alongside his straight-person sidekick Lawrence with witty banter and well-timed slapstick. You also get Courtney Gears, a funny albeit dated reference to Britney Spears. Ratchet and Clank are also fantastic as the protagonists of the game, with quips of their own.
Up Your Arsenal features all kinds of weapons at the Lombax's disposal. You have the electrifying Shock Blaster, the powerful Plasma Whip, and the Qwack-O-Ray, which turns your enemies into explosive ducks. The developer Insomniac Games is so creative with its weapons, and the platforming is also varied all the way through, with fun segments like using the gravity boots and riding grind rails with Ratchet's footwear.
10. Silent Hill 2
After all these years, Silent Hill 2 remains one of the most chilling horror experiences in gaming. Stepping into its fog-covered world is genuinely terrifying, but the kind of fear that keeps you moving forward, eager to see what happens next. The horror alone doesn't carry the game; its haunting soundtrack, gripping story, and thoughtful character development all play a part in making it something truly memorable. The recent remake brings everything into sharper focus, making the fear hit harder and the atmosphere even more unsettling.
9. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
You've got plenty of choices when it comes to Grand Theft Auto PS2 games, but the one that truly stands out is San Andreas. Even as a kid who wasn't allowed to play it back in the day, I could tell greatness when I saw it. Compared to its predecessors, San Andreas offered so much more, with a vast world to explore. Combined with CJ's captivating storyline, it was an experience like no other. What really set it apart, though, was its unique features, like the realistic weight system that changed based on your exercise habits. It's something even the newer GTA games don't quite replicate. Here's hoping Grand Theft Auto 6 takes a few notes from this masterpiece.
8. Bully
Staying in the realm of Rockstar Games, here's the next best thing: Bully. I love this game so much that I didn't even realize I was wearing my Bullworth hoodie as I wrote this. That's how much it's stuck with me. I still find myself playing it almost every year. For me, no game has done the time system quite as well as Bully. I can still remember that first class around 9:30 am, then the second at 1:30, followed by the 11 pm curfew. Sure, it's a tight schedule, but isn't that exactly how it feels to be a student at Bullworth Academy?
The world of Bully may be small, but it's packed with fun distractions, from a tattoo shop to an amusement park. Every area has something new to discover, making exploration just as exciting as the quests. And the story of Jimmy Hopkins, a boy on a mission to become king of Bullworth and its bullies, is entertaining enough to keep you hooked from start to finish. Taking down all the cliques and becoming their leader one by one is incredibly satisfying.
7. Resident Evil 4
While Resident Evil 4 hasn't aged the best when compared to other games on this list, you can't deny its importance in the industry. It revolutionized the third-person shooter genre with great controls (at the time), powerful guns, and exhilarating blockbuster moments that kept us glued to the screens. It also brought in an era of quick-time events, which began a cinematic era in gaming, for better or for worse. This Capcom game delivers a successfully creepy atmosphere with its dark European aesthetic. The storyline is also effective as you try to save the President's daughter, who has been kidnapped by this scary cult.
"The game proves that sometimes all you need is a simple gameplay hook, as well as the bravery to stick with it, in order to drive home a compelling experience," said our review of this game's HD version in 2011.
6. Okami
Before the PlayStation 2 era was almost over, Okami arrived just in time to leave its mark. The art style was unlike anything else, with each scene resembling a beautifully crafted painting. The game's world is rooted in Japanese mythology, where you step into the paws of the sun goddess Amaterasu, fighting off demons drawn from ancient legends.
One of the most captivating aspects of Okami is its combat system. Forget traditional weapons or fists; here, you wield the Celestial Brush, using it to paint powerful abilities that can defeat enemies. But the brush isn't just for destruction; you can draw a circle to light up the sky or create lily pads to cross water. The freedom to paint anything you need, anytime you want, makes it one of the most creative and unique combat systems I've ever experienced. I can only imagine how this concept will evolve further in the Okami sequel.
5. Persona 4
The Persona series is well-renowned, and for good reason. After you finish each entry, you'll feel like you're saying goodbye to your friends with a tearful smile, and that's the same with Persona 4. Each character is well-rounded with likable traits and weaknesses that they show throughout the deep storyline. You'll also get to know them through your social links, and as you increase your bond with them, your abilities grow.
The combat revolves around collecting different monsters called Shadows and using their abilities in battle. You can even fuse them to create stronger creatures for your moveset. It's a fantastic game loop and will keep you playing for many, many hours. We gave the Golden version on Vita a 10/10 rating in our review. "The summoning system of the Persona games has been likened to Pokemon's monster collecting and, while they're similar in the collection aspect, I feel Atlus' work is quite a bit deeper in scope, and certainly more adult," it said. "For being engrossing they're on the same level."
4. Kingdom Hearts 2
Square Enix delivered one of the best PS2 games in 2005 when Kingdom Hearts 2 launched that December in Japan. It has an engaging narrative with fascinating original characters to meet, in addition to Final Fantasy and Disney heroes along the way. The combat is stellar and still has the best action RPG system to date. The reaction command mechanic has you dynamically react to enemy attacks, and the combat options available to the player, such as abilities, magic, drive forms, summons, and more, are immense.
The boss battles are also epic as you confront the powerful Organization XIII, Heartless, and Nobodies that stand in your way. I'll never forget pressing triangle and cross as fast as I block Xemnas' constant barrage of lasers toward Sora and Riku. The scale of each world is incredible, too, especially considering that it was developed for PS2. The World That Never Was features a massive castle that you need to work your way up to stop Xemnas' plans. The attention to detail in each Disney world is also immaculate. Mulan's visual art style with the smoke and fire is replicated to perfection, and Beast's Castle looks as impressive as it does in the movie Beauty & The Beast.
3. Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is an artistic masterpiece that every gamer should get the chance to play. With incredible visuals and stunning music, you play as Wonder on an incredible journey to save his love. To do that, you have to take down these gigantic creatures, fittingly called colossi. The game features a protagonist who isn't perfect. He is slim, stumbles around, and can fall down easily. It sounds frustrating at first, but part of the charm is that you're playing as this weaker man fighting against these terrifying beasts. He isn't Kratos, he's relatable.
The colossi themselves are levels as you're trying to find a way to scale up them and strike your sword into their weak spot. When the puzzle of how to climb a colossus is solved, you get a rush of satisfaction as the magnificent track "The Opened Way" blasts out loud in glee. Everything in this game comes together in a beautiful package, and it's one of PlayStation's best games ever.
2. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater has been my favorite game of all time for as long as I can remember. And I know I'm not alone, as many still consider it one of the best PlayStation 2 titles ever made. Since it's a prequel, you don't have to worry about getting lost in the tangled web of Metal Gear lore. You can jump in with zero knowledge and experience the powerful story of Naked Snake. The narrative is packed with twist after twist and showcases one of my all-time favorite characters, the legendary Boss, who also happens to be Snake's mentor. It's the perfect origin story, blended with real-world events that helped me understand history in a unique way.
The gameplay goes far beyond the usual point-and-shoot formula. You have countless ways to take down enemies and can even complete the entire game without taking a single life. Survival is key, too. You need to hunt for food, treat realistic injuries with specific medical tools, and constantly adjust your camouflage to blend into the environment. All of these systems work together to create a sense of isolation and immersion that few games have ever matched. You genuinely feel like you are deep in enemy territory, relying on your instincts to survive.
And then there are the boss battles, which deserve their own spotlight. Each one has a distinct weakness, forcing you to rethink your approach every time. My favorite will always be the battle against The End, an old sniper hidden in a vast jungle. It was more than a fight—it felt like a real hunt. I remember holding my breath, scanning for movement, listening for the faintest sound that might give away his position. It was tense, slow, and unforgettable. Moments like that are why this game has never left my mind.
1. Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X is arguably Square Enix's magnum opus, delivering a stellar story that continues to resonate with players. As a fish out of water, the main protagonist, Tidus, experiences a new world 1,000 years in the future. The characters he meets along the way have interesting personalities that change the trajectory of the narrative significantly. They all have their own roles to play in the party. You'll get invested in every character, especially Yuna and Tidus, who share a touching romantic story across the game's lengthy campaign. The voice performances are also impressive, especially if you consider this is the first mainline game in the Final Fantasy series to feature voice acting.
I cried multiple times when I played this as a kid, and after playing through the game five or so years ago, I had the same reaction. What helps add to the drama and emotion of the narrative is the impeccable soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu, who delivers his best work with themes like "To Zanarkand" and "Movement in Green."
Spira takes your breath away
What is just as memorable is the sights of Spira, the land where Final Fantasy X takes place. The designs of the temples, the gorgeous scenery of Besaid, and the grand cities of these islands stick in my mind decades after playing Final Fantasy X for the first time.
Additionally, the turn-based combat system is one of the best that the legendary Final Fantasy series has to offer. You can switch our party members for strategic depth, interact with objects during the battle in a puzzle-like fashion against bosses, use special abilities, and utilize the mega-customizable Sphere Grid that lets you progress your characters in your own way.
"Its story, which follows summoner Yuna on her journey across the world of Spira to fight Sin, is one of Square Enix's best," said our review of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD remaster. "Likable characters with memorable outfits, a fantastic musical score, and a powerful ending made this game one of the best role-playing games of the PS2 era."
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 6:15 PM
Juno is one of the better characters to use in Overwatch 2's Stadium mode, and using her with an optimum build is going to make her incredibly effective.
Typically, a DPS, an optimum build for Juno, will revolve around her powers, and you should focus on increasing the amount of damage she can dish out. This guide will help you make the best possible build with Juno, allowing you to dominate matches in the Stadium mode.
Table of contents
Best powers for Juno in Overwatch 2 Stadium
There are two ways to go with Juno. Her Glide charges are amazing, and an optimum build towards that ability can be helpful. But an easier option is to go with powering up her Torpedoes, which will suit well with more players in general. Keeping that in mind, here are the four powers you should focus on.
All four powers are specifically geared towards Juno's Pulsar Torpedoes and raise their damage potential. Once built up fully, the torpedoes should be able to dish out a lot of damage, and you should concentrate on targeting the squishier enemies.
The powers mentioned here will be unlocked during the first, third, fifth, and seventh rounds. The priority should be Pulsar Plus, as it will increase the damage and healing potential of your Torpedoes. The choice between Medicinal Missiles and Cosmic Coolant would depend on your preference. Go with the former if your team is lacking a good healer.
Since the last one is fairly difficult to unlock, I have gone for Stinger, as it will cause your Mediblaster to do more damage.
Best items for Juno in Overwatch 2 Stadium
The success of Juno's build will also heavily depend on the items you're purchasing in the game. You'll be able to purchase items following the completion of the Armory phase. As you complete more rounds, you'll earn more currency and get better items.
These are quite easily the best items to purchase to make the most of Juno's abilities in the Stadium mode.
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 6:14 PM
What are these mysterious paw prints and purple cracks scattered around Dreamlight Valley? The Cheshire Cat is up to some mischief again in a chaotic event, and it's up to us to figure out what's going on. We'll even get some Wonderland-themed furniture items as a reward.
One of the tasks you'll encounter during Disney Dreamlight Valley's Cheshire Chaos event is Jungle Bungles. However, unlike others requiring you to venture into regions like the Toy Story realm, this one has some unexpected hidden requirements.
How to complete the Jungle Bungles duty in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Completing the Jungle Bungles duty during the Cheshire Chaos event requires unlocking and exploring the Lion King realm. You'll need to complete the Lion King's quest line and unlock both Simba and Nala as villagers before beginning this duty. Here, you'll find purple paw prints scattered around, which you can clear away using your Royal Watering Can.
However, you won't spot these paw prints right away. While the Toy Story realm has several to clear away, the ones in the Lion King realm aren't available until after May 11, potentially as late as May 15. Here are all the details you need about the Cheshire Chaos event's schedule, according to an announcement from Gameloft:
Looking at the Cheshire Chaos event's duty list, the Lion King realm will likely begin spawning paw prints on May 11. However, there's a chance they'll appear in the Aladdin Realm instead for the More Than a Mirage duty, so watch for both in case the situation changes. If the Cheshire Cat visits the Aladdin Realm instead, you'll know the Lion King realm will have its paw prints from May 15 until May 20.
Entering the realm and exploring the area will reveal small pink-purple paw prints dotted around. They spawn every 10 minutes, with up to five available at one time. Leaving for several hours won't let you stockpile 20 paw prints in one spot, so you'll have to return periodically to finish this duty.
When does the Cheshire Cat Chaos event end?
Disney Dreamlight Valley's Cheshire Cat Chaos event originally began on May 7 and ends on May 20. These dates give you around one week to enter the Lion King realm and clear away 20 paw prints alongside finishing the event's other duties. Now's a good chance to finish Clean Your Room and Calmer of Chaos before transitioning to More Than a Mirage and Jungle Bungles.
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 5:54 PM
Creator of PUBG, PlayerUnknown, has scheduled a playtest for its upcoming survival game, Prologue: Go Wayback! It's available on both Steam and Epic Games Store, and here's how you can sign up for it.
Table of contents
How to get Prologue: Go Wayback! Playtest access
You have to follow the steps below to get access to the Prologue: Go Wayback! Playtest or closed beta:
Since I chose Steam as my preferred platform, I received a 15-character code. I had to activate the code from Steam itself. In case you choose Epic, the process will be similar. You'll get a code that you have to redeem from your Account tab.
Prologue: Go Wayback! closed beta schedule
The Prologue: Go Wayback! closed beta schedule is from Wednesday, May 7 at 5pm CEST or 8am PT to May 14.
The devs has confirmed on their official Discord server that a playtest for June is also on the horizon, however, the dates are yet to be announced.
Prologue: Go Wayback! closed beta minimum PC specs
Here are the minimum specs you must have to play the closed beta in May:
What's Prologue: Go Wayback! about?
Prologue: Go Wayback! is a survival game, similar to Rust, where every decision of yours will play a major role in determining your fate. It's a completely single-player experience with a vast open world featuring classic survival mechanics, such as gathering resources, finding shelter, foraging for food, and keeping an eye on the horizon for danger.
It also has procedural generation, which means the number of possible maps becomes limitless. The world is dynamic and unpredictable, the weather can change at a moment's notice, forcing you to adapt to harsh storms, freezing temperatures, and the relentless forces of nature.
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 5:17 PM
We're a little over three weeks away from Marvel Rivals' midseason update, which will add Ultron as a new playable Strategist hero. But there's still changes to be made to the game in the meantime.
A new update going live tonight adds an interesting quality-of-life update that I didn't know I needed, but now I'm thankful for it because it just makes sense. It's also a great example of some of the small changes that help make a liveservice game that much more.
The issue in question? The emote and spray wheel. NetEase Games says the May 8 update for the game will now split it into two separate wheels, one for emotes and one for sprays, instead of having them both on the same button. Hotkeys can be assigned for the separate options.
Not only that, but a new option will allow you to set your spray wheel to be shared across all heroes, which is my favorite part of this update. I cannot be bothered to go into each hero and customize the sprays, which are also in big need of organization options in the future. Now, I can have the spray I want in the same slot across every hero. And if you don't want the uniformity, you can keep things as is no problem.
In short, it's a welcome change, even if it wasn't actually a problem to begin with. In similar games, sprays and emotes also have their own buttons, so this type of change is a no-brainer, now that I do think about it. The hard part, though, will be un-learning all of the muscle memory used in the game over its first five months since launch. I shudder at the thought.
And hey, while we're talking about quality-of-life changes, Marvel Rivals could also do well with a "play of the game" feature like and killcams like Overwatch 2 has, because what's the point of a good spray or emote if I can't use it to taunt my enemies after I pop off with a team wipe? Come on, NetEase, get it together.
You can check out the full list of changes on the game's official website.
The post Marvel Rivals' latest patch fixes a feature that no one knew was broken appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 4:26 PM
Disney Dreamlight Valley's Cheshire Chaos event has been live for some time now, and with it came mysterious purple cracks in the earth and pink paw prints inside the world's realms. What is the Cheshire Cat up to now? What happens when you investigate this further?
You'll quickly find these answers by completing the event's duties, with More Than a Mirage being among the last. Let's dive deeper into how to complete this task and get one step closer to completing Disney Dreamlight Valley's Cheshire Chaos event.
Table of contents
How to complete the More Than a Mirage duty in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Completing the More Than a Mirage duty during the Cheshire Chaos event requires finding paw prints in the Aladdin realm. Much like the Toy Story and Lion King realms, you'll find purple paw prints dotted along the ground, including inside alleyways and atop the city's walls. Accessing them requires completing the Aladdin realm's storyline and unlocking both Jasmine and Aladdin as villagers.
But these paw prints aren't available on the event's May 7 start date. Instead, you'll have to wait until after May 11, potentially as late as May 15, before accessing these prints. Here's a breakdown of the event's schedule, according to an event announcement from Gameloft:
Based on the Cheshire Chaos event's duty list, the Aladdin Realm for the More Than a Mirage duty will most likely start spawning paw prints on May 15. However, it may appear sooner, so watch out for both this and the Lion King realm on May 11 for more details.
Like previous Cheshire Chaos event duties, the paw prints spawn every 10 minutes, capping at five per realm. Your best bet is to collect all five, leave for an hour, and return before repeating the process a few times. You can complete other duties in between or finish a few friendship quests you might've missed in the past. Once you clear away 20 paw prints, you'll complete the More Than a Mirage duty, rewarding you with another event prize.
When does the Cheshire Cat Chaos event end?
Disney Dreamlight Valley's Cheshire Cat Chaos event is running from May 7 until May 20. You have two weeks to explore the Toy Story and a week for the Lion King and Aladdin realms. You'll also spot purple Cheshire Cracks in Dreamlight Valley for the Calmer of Chaos duty.
When the event began, the only two tasks you could complete were Calmer of Chaos and Clean Your Room. Jungle Bungles and More Than a Mirage are available starting on May 11 and May 15, giving you plenty of options for realm exploration and paw print cleaning in the event's latter half.
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:57 PM
So Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally, actually happening. After shadow-dropping the second trailer for the game yesterday morning and breaking the internet, the dust has settled—and realizations are setting in.
Yesterday was a bit of a whirlwind. I've had Rockstar Games' Twitter notifications on for months waiting for this exact news, so I was prepared for it. What I wasn't prepared for, however, was how my mentions would be totally overwhelmed for the day after posting an innocuous musing about how the main characters likely won't be getting a happy ending, as is Rockstar's modus operandi of late.
The blooming love story between GTA 6's lead characters, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, seems doomed from the get-go, and most people can agree with that fact, since the crime-doing duo seem heavily inspired by Bonnie and Clyde (it very famously did not end well for them). But beyond that, everyone seems to be struggling to come to an agreement on just how that love story will end.
"Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them," GTA 6's synopsis reads. "But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."
Yeah, it's gonna get bad, and it seems like everyone is already preparing for the worst.
Just over a day since posting my tweet speculating how players will have to choose between the lovebirds, it clocked in 174,000 views, over 350 reposts, nearly 8,000 likes, and almost 100 replies of people who have their own thoughts about how things might, should, and could end between the two. It's not exactly super viral, but it's a big one for me, and so I've been having a great time reading everything.
It's all silly conjecture about a game that's over a year away from launching (and unfortunately, may get delayed again), but the topic is hotter than Vice City in the summer, with no shortage of opinions coming in from across the apps. We haven't even seen gameplay yet, but when it comes to this unfathomably hot couple that has been described as "bisexual panic," that doesn't matter.
What I can gather from wading through my replies is that, if GTA 6 comes down to a choice on who survives like in GTA 5's ending, then Jason, my boy, you're cooked. Lucia is a hottie, a cutie with a booty, a salacious Latina who has captured the hearts and wandering minds of everyone online.
I found several funny memes about how players would not think twice about offing Jason to protect Lucia, and I'm inclined to agree. Lucia is bad bad, and as one person said, "too hot to die." But I'd be lying if I said Jason wasn't a smoke show either, even if he's not my own personal particular thing. They are both red hot.
As one person so eloquently put it, "this game was made for bisexuals."
Many others are sick to their stomachs about even entertaining the thought of killing either one of them, like one person who said "I'll kill myself before letting anything happen to either one of them." Another chimed in with how they are "definitely killing the white man and saving the thick Latina," telling gamers "sue me early."
One of the most popular theories I keep seeing is that Jason is an undercover cop and will screw over Lucia in the end, while others think Lucia will be forced to turn on Jason for some reason. But in the court of public opinion after trailer two, Jason is stacking L's.
Here's some of my other favorites about how Jason will be buried if given the choice:
A lot of gamers are already torn on the idea and are hoping for a secret third option where they both live because they already feel an attachment to the two of them. And with just two trailers and a handful of screenshots released thus far, that's saying a lot.
There's always the chance for a happy ending where the couple rides off into the sunset (not likely), or they go out and die together in a romantic blaze of grimy glory (very possible), but for now, all we can do is sit and discuss and wait for the truth to be revealed next year.
We are 384 days away from the currently-scheduled launch of GTA 6. Keep those theories and wants coming.
Update on May 7, 2:57pm CT: Well, actually! Rockstar Games has now confirmed that the trailer is "comprised of equal parts gameplay and cutscenes" while being captured entirely on a PS5.
The post Lucia's a baddie and Jason's probably dead: The internet is convinced it knows the fate of GTA 6's protagonists appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:54 PM
Skirk is expected to be released in the upcoming Genshin Impact 5.7 update. She is one of the most hyped characters in the game, so a lot of players are waiting for her arrival. Interestingly, Skirk's animations were recently leaked, which show her idles and other combat animations.
Skirk idle, Elemental Skill, and Burst animations in Genshin Impact leaked
Dim is one of the most reliable sources in the community, and they have leaked all the in-game animations for Skirk. This includes her idle and combat animations. The developers have slightly changed Skirk's model, and it looks brighter. Some may prefer the old version.
Idle animation
Skirk's first idle animation is a simple one as she just floats in the air before summoning a crystal and staring at it. However, her second animation is one of the best in the game. Skirk summons her sword and dashes forward before going back again mid-air. In addition, a crack appears behind her, similar to the one she threw Childe in during the Fontaine Archon Quest.
Normal Attack
Her regular Normal Attack animations are pretty basic ones, which should be surprising. You also wouldn't be using them much since Skirk deals most damage in her enhanced state. However, transforming her weapon into a double-bladed sword on her third Normal Attack is pretty cool.
Elemental Skill
Skirk's Elemental Skill animation also looks amazing. She enters a special mode and starts floating mid-air before summoning a second sword. Additionally, Skirk switches to a battle outfit, and you can see a long translucent fishtail behind her.
Elemental Burst
Her Elemental Burst animation is a pretty fast one. It starts with a dark screen with the Abyss color scheme, and it cracks before Skirk appears and performs a slashing move with a large sword.
Overall, it is safe to say that Skirk has one of the coolest animation moves in Genshin Impact. That said, it is still in the beta phase, so there may be changes upon official release.
Check out Skirk's ascension and talent materials guide if you plan to get her.
The post Genshin Impact Skirk gameplay animations leaked – Idle, Skill, and Burst appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:48 PM
2025 has been a fantastic year for gaming so far, with shadow drops that blew us away and major releases that surpassed expectations. While 2023 was an exciting time, gaming in 2024 was slightly underwhelming, but 2025 has been a blast so far.
It is very easy to forget the sheer volume of games that launch throughout an entire year. One month alone can have dozens of releases, let alone the rest, as game development teams announce their plans.
If you're looking to plan ahead or tell others about an upcoming release, we have an ongoing list of games confirmed to launch in 2025. We'll also continue updating this list as we learn about new releases and delays.
Updated May 7, 2025: Updated with new titles, both within the indie and AAA space, announced through early 2025.
Table of contents
January 2025 game releases
February 2025 game releases
March 2025 game releases
April 2025 game releases
May 2025 game releases
June 2025 game releases
July 2025 game releases
August 2025 game releases
September 2025 game releases
October 2025 game releases
Games with unknown release dates (2025)
Games with unknown release dates (2026)
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:42 PM
Despite the guidance of Revenge of the Savage Planet's tutorial, one resource is only briefly touched on. This material is none other than Silicon, which you'll need to construct new upgrades. Find out how to get Silicon in RofSP.
Where to find Silicone in RofSP
In the Making a Splash quest, you'll have to find 300 Silicon to craft the mighty Power Hose. It won't be as easy to discover as the rest of the recipe, but there is a way to quicken the process. You can farm Silicon fast by defeating enemies, who typically drop these resources alongside Carbon. Although it's possible to mine Silicon veins, I didn't have much luck finding this material with this method.
Any enemy seems to drop Silicon in Revenge of the Savage Planet, including Raccoccos. Kick them or use your gun, and you'll see the Silicon floating near their grimy corpses. If you prefer a more peaceful approach, you can search for yellow-colored veins and punch them for this resource. As mentioned, the veins aren't as common as other resources, and you may need to rely on enemies instead. There might be a spot rich in Silicon that I haven't found yet, so feel free to explore the area for better chances. As you progress through the story, you'll also have more opportunities on the remaining planets.
Once you've gathered enough, return to your 3D Printer to craft the Power Hose. This weapon allows you to take down slimy and plant-based creatures, as well as clean off anything murky. Your first task with it requires you to clear off the slime outside your Habitat's dish. It's the only way to get your base fully functional. The Power Hose isn't the only upgrade you can use Silicon with, since this material is also found in a variety of modernized creations, such as the Snork Heat Sink, Rawhide Utility Belt, and Pyrex Loot Magnet.
You can keep track of how much Silicon you have in your inventory by looking for the yellow circular icon. It appears alongside the other two crucial resources: Aluminum and Carbon. Fortunately, Aluminum and Carbon appear more frequently than Silicon. You'll need all three to craft numerous upgrades and builds that help you survive longer in Revenge of the Savage Planet. For more tips and tricks, check out our guide on Dave the Diver's exclusive in-game outfit and all the correct answers to the Welcome to Your New Home survey.
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 2:56 PM
In case anyone was unconvinced by the validity of the visuals in Grand Theft Auto 6's gorgeous new trailer, the game's developer Rockstar Games has come out to nonchalantly confirm it's all legit.
Rockstar followed up yesterday's surprise drop trailer that broke the internet with confirmation that all of the beautiful visuals in GTA 6's second trailer were "captured entirely in-game from a PlayStation 5," and not only that, but the footage is "comprised of equal parts gameplay and cutscenes."
It's tough to blame anyone for being skeptical of whether the lifelike visuals in the trailer were pre-rendered or real. They're just that impressive. And the detail shines through even further with a slew of screenshots to go right alongside it, and so Rockstar felt compelled to confirm what was shown and how after the online discussion centered around everything about the trailer since it released.
A lot of game companies use PC footage to showcase their games, even if the game isn't available on the platform. GTA 6 also won't be at launch (it will most likely come to PC some time after), since it represents the best visual quality possible. But if this is what it looks like on PS5 (base model or Pro not specified), then we're in for a feast for the eyes.
Getting the game to run smoothly, however, is a different story entirely. With fans expecting 60 FPS at minimum as the industry standard now on consoles, it remains to be seen if the ambitiously massive map and high-fidelity imagery will provide a crisp experience without frame drops.
GTA 6 is likely the biggest entertainment launch in the history of anything, including movies, books, TV shows, and everything in between. The development cost is likely reaching into several billions of dollars when all is said and done. And so, it will be under the microscope from day one once it launches.
For now, though, Rockstar is saying that its first steps towards actually releasing the game should get your hopes up for what else is to come. If the release date trailer was already this hyped, imagine what actual gameplay footage and GTA Online news will garner...or at least what expectations will now be.
The post Rockstar Games flexes, confirming gorgeous new GTA 6 trailer is all in-game appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 2:17 PM
Your Alta Interglobal career may be short, but there's still money to make. Kindred Trainings offer quick cash, starting with the "Welcome to Your New Home!" survey. Nail the answers, and you'll profit fast. Here's your cheat sheet for mastering the quiz in Revenge of the Savage Planet.
What are the correct answers to the Welcome to Your New Home survey in RotSP?
Once you've activated your Habitat, head to the computer on the left to begin your Kindred Trainings. The quiz will explain what you can or cannot do on this planet, guiding you through Alta Interglobal's proper etiquette. Choose these answers to ace the Welcome to Your New Home survey in Revenge of the Savage Planet:
Even if Alta Interglobal just kicked you to the curb, your quiz answers must still put their interests first. For the first question, pick the option that alerts Alta. In this scenario, they would transfer you to a planet with better resources. Profit comes first, and they do not like you mingling with the lower class. Moving onto the second question, you can choose options A and B. This answer would have you report this so-called security team and record their wrongdoings with the AltaEye.
The last question is tricky, as you might feel tempted to report the gossip. But in this case, the correct move is to do nothing. You have to trust that Alta will handle it on their own. Strangely, even if you choose "Say nothing," it might still say you got it wrong. I'm not sure why it comes up incorrectly. Maybe it's just Alta being Alta, pulling their usual shenanigans to ensure you're always in the wrong.
Regardless, you'll receive the 80,000 Alta Bucks by completing the Welcome to Your New Home survey. Enter the Living Quarters to use it, allowing you to buy furniture from the catalog. Unfortunately, you can only afford another Camping Bed and a Lama Poster with this money. The best thing you can do is to save this cash to afford the more extravagant stuff, like the Fast Fashion' Wardrobe, Brizzik' Stove, and Sci-fi Arcade Cabinet. If you want to discover more unique content in Revenge of the Savage Planet, check out our guide on how to get the Dave the Diver outfit.
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:42 PM
The Marathon Man Evolution is now available in EA FC 25, and players can spend their coins to upgrade a card of their choice.
The latest evolution is perfect to use on a CM item, costing 60,000 coins to unlock. In return, players will get substantial stat boosts, roles, playstyles, and more. This guide will help you make the best decision regarding which card to use.
Table of contents
EA FC 25 Marathon Man Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of the Marathon Man Evolution in EA FC 25.
EA FC 25 Marathon Man Evolution upgrades
There are five levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 5 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade conditions
Level 2 upgrade conditions
Level 3 upgrade conditions
Level 4 upgrade conditions
Level 5 upgrade conditions
Best players to use in the Marathon Man Evolution Evolution
Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution. There are more than 50,000 cards to choose from.
While these are all great options, check your club for any potential contenders, including evo chains.
The post Marathon Man EA FC 25 Evolution: Best players to use appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:04 PM
Trainers worldwide can finally rejoice. The Pokémon Go developer has confirmed Remote Raid Passes will be available for both Shadow Raids and Max Battles in May—and the change is permanent.
The number of Remote Raids you can use a day will also be increasing from five to 10, giving you even more chances to take part as the developers make changes to the game. Here are more details on these exciting gameplay changes:
The news will be a welcome sign for all trainers who had pleaded with Niantic when it owned the game to increase the amount of remote raiding options and also stop having some features be local only. This feels like the first step in winning over trainers across the globe, and more changes could be on the horizon depending on the success of everything.
Destructoid has reached out to the Pokémon Go team for further information about the changes and what went into changing the approach to local raids after all this time. We will update this article if we hear more information.
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:53 PM
Call of Duty: Warzone's season four update is a few weeks away, but season three is changing with some big nerfs and buffs to existing guns today.
The new update, now live in Warzone, aims to shake up the meta by reducing the efficiency of some top guns like the CR-56 AMAX, and bringing some others up to speed with some help, like the Krig C and C9 SMG.
Season Three Reloaded added Ranked Play to Warzone, so it's important for battle royale grinders to know what weapons are at the top of the heap when it comes to stacking W's and rank points. That's why we're here to help.
Check out what's new in Warzone by reading the patch notes below.
Warzone patch notes today: May 7
Well, it was fun while it lasted, AMAX. The nostalgic AR has had its time to shine in Verdansk, and according to Activision, that time is now over. The AR received some nerfs to its headshot multiplier, sprint to fire speed, and aim down sight speed.
The AK-74 (max damage nerf) has been brought down a notch in the update, while the C9 SMG got a buff to its maximum damage. The Krig C has also gotten buffed with some changes "to allow it to compete at longer range engagements." And in one final nerf, the HDR sniper rifle that's been terrorizing Verdansk also got taken back a bit.
The HDR nerf in question is all about flinch resistance, which prevents aim punch while aiming down sights with the sniper. It's been nerfed by a whopping 60 percent in the update, along with further nerfs to flinch resistance for a couple of popular Stock attachments.
Read below to see the specific changes to the top guns and reconsider your loadouts before dropping back in tonight.
CR-56 AMAX
AK-74
Krig C
C9
HDR
The post Warzone's newest update just nerfed several top tier meta weapons in Verdansk appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:48 PM
After causing so much chaos in the valley, the Cheshire Cat has a change of heart and wants to make things right in Disney Dreamlight Valley. He wants to throw a Nonsense Party for the villagers, and it's up to you to help him in the It's All Nonsense! quest.
Setting up a full party is no easy task, so there are lots of steps you need to complete to get this event set up. Here's a complete quest walkthrough for It's All Nonsense! in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
How to complete It's All Nonsense! in Disney Dreamlight Valley
To finish the It's All Nonsense! quest, you need to assemble all the Nonsense Party necessities, including crafting materials for decorations, villagers who can attend, and delicious dishes for all to enjoy. Putting together this entire event is a lot of hard work, so here's a full breakdown of everything you need to do.
Gather ingredients for the Cheshire Cat's recipes
No part is complete without some delicious snacks, so your first task is to gather ingredients for them. The Cheshire Cat asks you to make Garlic Chocolate Tarts and Tea Sandwiches, so here are all the ingredients you need to cook them.
Cook the meals for the Cheshire Cat's Nonsense Party
Now that you have all the ingredients you need, it's time to start cooking. Cheshire Cat asked you to make two Garlic Chocolate Tarts and two Tea Sandwiches, so double up on both dishes.
Once you have all four of the required desserts made, head to Cheshire Cat's tree and talk to him to hand them over. Now that the food is ready, it's time to decorate.
Gather materials for the Cheshire Smile Balloon Arch
The main decoration piece you need is a special Cheshire Smile Balloon Arch. Before you can craft this item, you need to gather all of the materials it requires.
Craft Cheshire Smile Balloon Arch
With all the required materials gathered, head to a crafting station to get to work making the Cheshire Smile Balloon Arch. You can find this item in the Furniture category. Once it's made, you can finally decorate for the party.
Place some items haphazardly around the Cheshire Cat's tree
Venture to the Cheshire Cat's tree, wherever you placed his home in your valley. Open Furniture mode and get to work decorating with the required items by placing them all near his house.
Wear a clashing outfit
Before you can attend the Nonsense Party, you need to get dressed for the occasion. Since it's the Cheshire Cat's party, this means putting on a clashing outfit with colors and tags that make for a rather peculiar look. There are three specific requirements you need to meet to finish this task.
Invite some villagers to the Nonsense Party
The Cheshire Cat has a specific guest list in mind, so your next quest is to invite four villagers to the party. The villagers you need to find and interact with for this task are:
After talking with all four guests, return to the Cheshire Cat's tree to let him know they'll be attending. He lets you know there's just one step left before you can get the party going.
Place the Nonsense Banquet Table next to the Cheshire Cat's tree
Enter furniture mode and select the Nonsense Banquet Table to place it close to the Cheshire Cat's tree. As soon as you do, all of the invited villagers will appear, and you'll enter photo mode so you can snap a picture of the occasion.
Talk to the villagers who attended the Nonsense Party
The final step in this quest is to chat with all of the villagers at the party. Talk to Remy, Tiana, Daisy, and Scar to discuss the event. Once you hear all of their thoughts, return to the Cheshire Cat and talk with him one last time to officially conclude the It's All Nonsense! quest.
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Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:26 PM
Although video game soundtracks rarely climb the Billboard charts, some defy the odds, from Minecraft's eerie serenity to Cuphead's brassy swagger. Now, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ascends with artistic force, captivating listeners beyond gaming and proving that music born in pixels can echo far beyond the screen.
A glance at the Billboard Classical Albums chart reveals Expedition 33 proudly at number one, and rightfully so. Beyond its gripping story and fun-filled turn-based RPG mechanics, the soundtrack stands out as unforgettable. The main menu alone drew in so many players, myself included, with its captivating tone. I've found myself humming its theme all week, immersed in the haunting vocals and the delicate arrangement of strings.
What makes this triumph even more impressive is the serendipitous journey of Lorien Testard, the composer behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. His path to the project began in the most unexpected way—by sharing his SoundCloud compositions on a video game forum. There, Guillaume Broche, Game Director of Sandfall Interactive, discovered Testard's work, setting the stage for a fortuitous collaboration that would define the soundtrack of Expedition 33. It just goes to show how anything can happen in the video game industry, even if it starts off as a simple conversation on a forum.
Testard's journey through the world of video games has profoundly influenced his approach to composing. On the official Expedition 33 page, he mentions that The Legend of Zelda features one of the most "unforgettable soundtracks." I can certainly see the inspiration behind this in Expedition 33, where echoes of that iconic score can be felt in the sweeping melodies and richly layered orchestration. But, of course, Testard adds his own unique spin to the world of music, and I reckon his work may inspire other virtuosos in future projects.
Considering that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has claimed the number one spot on Billboard's Classical Albums, it's certainly a strong contender for Best Score and Music at the Game Awards. Heck, I would even argue it has the potential to take home the crown for Game of the Year, though there's still plenty of time left before 2025 draws to a close. With the year unfolding, the journey of Expedition 33 is far from over, and it will be exciting to see just how much more it leaves its mark on the world of gaming and music.
The post This beautifully crafted, tearjerking RPG is now making its mark on the Billboard charts appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, May 7, 2025 12:00 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.
The Cheshire Cat is one of the trickiest villagers to recruit. He's got a very complex unlocking process with many different tasks to tackle, so here's a full breakdown of everything you need to do to unlock the Cheshire Cat in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
How to get the Cheshire Cat in Disney Dreamlight Valley
You can unlock the Cheshire Cat by completing the Cat Tree Catastrophe quest in DDV. This is a pretty tough quest to get to, though, as the Cheshire Cat has a long sequence of tasks you need to complete before you can recruit him to your village.
All Cheshire Cat unlock prerequisites in Disney Dreamlight Valley
There are seven quests you need to fully finish to unlock the Cheshire Cat:
In addition to these seven quests, you also need to recruit Alice as a villager before the Cheshire Cat becomes available. The unlock process for her is tied to most of the previously mentioned quests, so you'll naturally unlock her while working on getting 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 by completing Wonders of Wonderland, The Queen's Maze, Teeny, Tiny Problems, and Leaving Wonderland.
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 with 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 crucial for 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.
How to complete the Cat Tree Catastrophe quest
The final quest to unlock the Cheshire Cat is Cat Tree Catastrophe. This quest starts with you speaking to Moana about some strange occurrences near her boat. Follow her to it, then equip your Phone to snap a photo of the strange Cheshire Catfish there.
Next, grab your Royal Fishing Rod and venture around Dazzle Beach to catch five Cheshire Catfish. These striped fish can be fished out of golden ripple spots all throughout the ocean. Head to Alice's house once you have all of them.
Inside, you'll find the Cheshire Cat waiting to speak with you. He's finally ready to join the valley, but before he does, you need to find the Cheshire Cat's Mini Tree in Alice's house. Once you find it, snap a picture with it, then chat with the Cheshire Cat about what to do next.
The final step in the unlock process is to place the Cheshire Cat's tree anywhere around the vast valley. You can place it in Dreamlight Valley, The Storybook Vale, or Eternity Isle. Wherever you choose to place it, approach the Cheshire Cat at his new home to officially unlock him as a villager.
The Cheshire Cat doesn't have an introductory Wishing Well cutscene like most other villagers, so although it might not feel like he's an official villager, he becomes one as soon as you complete the Cat Tree Catastrophe quest.
The post How to unlock Cheshire Cat in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, May 7, 2025 5:25 PM For PC and consoles. The post Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Release Date Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, May 7, 2025 4:25 PM As spotted on Twitter. The post Hideo Kojima Says Grand Theft Auto 6 is Affecting Other Games appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:27 PM Will create a team-based action game. The post Sony Announces New Studio teamLFG appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, May 7, 2025 2:56 PM Announced in a press release. The post The Next Battlefield Game is Expected To Be Announced This Summer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |