Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 1:50 PM  After two seasons, The Last of Us series director Neil Druckmann is stepping down for his role as a showrunner on the HBO adaptation. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 1:15 PM  Xbox's Perfect Dark reboot, announced back in 2020, has reportedly been canceled as part of the ongoing layoffs at Microsoft. The studio developing the game has reportedly been shut down, too. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:45 PM  Not to be a prisoner of the moment, but Ironheart's exceptional series finale did what it needed to do at a high level. The six-episode miniseries concluded last night by introducing one of the scariest entities in the history of Marvel Comics and avoided one of the MCU's biggest pitfalls. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:34 PM  Marvel Rivals' next season has it all: Phoenix and Blade as playable characters, a brand new map, changes to the customization options, and an itsy bitsy crash-out by Spider-Man fans. The latest furore is likely a momentary blip until developer NetEase fully unveils all the cosmetics releasing in Marvel Rivals' third… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:28 PM  Reports and rumors of massive layoffs at Xbox have been building since late last month, and the first blood has now been spilled. Bloomberg reports that Candy Crush maker King is cutting 200 employees, or roughly 10 percent of its 2,000-person headcount, while multiple games across various Xbox studios, including the Perf… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:20 PM  As with many free-to-play games, Splitgate 2 offers multiple in-game currencies. Unfortunately, also like other free-to-play games, it's a little unclear what each currency does. In particular, the purple Proelium is a little vague on its use. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:55 AM  Final Fantasy XIV is not only one of the most popular entries in the JRPG franchise, but also one of the most successful MMO's created. So it's no surprise that it got its very own Magic: The Gathering Preconstructed Commander Deck. The deck does a fantastic job of bringing a large number of different heroes to the… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:34 AM The latest entry in the long-running Rune Factory series is here. This time, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma takes players to an eastern setting inspired by ancient Japanese culture instead of the usual fantasy and steampunk-ish settings from the previous games. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:00 AM  Whether you're a fan of the Legend of Zelda franchise or are simply looking for a thrilling open-world game to sink your teeth into on your fancy new Switch 2, you can rest assured that 2023's Tears of the Kingdom can provide a hell of a good time. This is a dense, lengthy title that can keep you busy for weeks or… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:41 AM  Rather than doing the humane and dignified thing of telling thousands of people all at once whether or not they're going to have a job tomorrow, Xbox is laying off over 9,100 employees today in waves. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer told workers in an email message (thanks, IGN) that this is to "position Gaming for enduring… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:06 AM  When I started testing headsets on my new Nintendo Switch 2, I dove in from a casual perspective seeking a pleasant experience with pals on GameChat while running some Knockout Tours in Mario Kart World. I'm not an audiophile, after all. I'm just a guy who enjoys an easy-to-use, comfy headset with generally good sound… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:42 AM  Although hunting is a big part of Monster Hunter Wilds, you aren't limited to just slaying them. Besides Zoh Shia, all the large creatures you come across can be captured. This is a wonderful alternative to completing hunts quicker or when you've been carted too many times. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:30 AM  Unknown Worlds' Subnautica 2 is due to release into early access soon, which makes the news that its development team's bosses have just been apparently ousted even more shocking. Charlie Cleveland, the director and lead programmer on the original Subnautica, is gone, along with Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:15 AM  Every piece of equipment you use in Monster Hunter Wilds is vital for the next hunt. That doesn't just include your armor and mantles, but your choice in Talismans too. These function exactly like Charms from prior titles, with all of their names and descriptions even referring to them with that term. What's more… |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 1:59 PM One of the most beloved stealth shooters of the 2000s, Rare's Perfect Dark is still remembered fondly to this day. For years, we've been patiently waiting for its ambitious reboot to arrive - a tumultuous development cycle means it's been a long time coming. Last year, we finally got to see gameplay of the new Perfect Dark, and it looked absolutely stunning. However, as part of today's devastating round of layoffs at Microsoft, which impacts several teams under the Xbox Game Studios banner, the project has been canceled. It also means that The Initiative, the internal studio formed by Xbox to create the Perfect Dark reboot, has been shut down completely. Continue reading The reboot of classic stealth game Perfect Dark has been scrapped MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best upcoming games, Best FPS games, Best old games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:59 PM Microsoft is today laying off 9,000 employees, and a decent chunk of those workers are part of the Xbox side of the business. Developers under the Xbox Game Studios banner are being squeezed, and The Elder Scrolls Online creator Zenimax Online Studios is among them. Despite being busy supporting ESO for many years, the studio has been toiling away at another project, reportedly codenamed Blackbird. However, due to this new round of layoffs, Blackbird - thought to be another ambitious MMO - has been canceled. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, Best fantasy games, Best single-player MMOs |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:38 PM If you're keen to get your hands on Where Winds Meet, you'll have a chance to do so incredibly soon. Developer Everstone Studio is having one final global beta test for the game ahead of launch, and it promises to be the biggest yet. Whether you love fast-paced combat or gorgeous historical worlds, this is definitely an RPG you need to keep an eye on. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best PC games, Best RPG games, Best free games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:57 PM What is the next Monopoly Go event? With so many limited-time events in Monopoly Go, it can be hard to keep track of the rewards you can get your hands on. Monopoly Go events can last anywhere from a few hours to a week, so bookmark this page as we'll keep it regularly updated with the next events and their start and end dates. Monopoly Go is the latest online board game sweeping the globe, but completing all of these events won't be easy without some free Monopoly Go dice links, so check out our daily updated guide for some freebies and rewards before you get started on the next Monopoly Go tournament. Continue reading All Monopoly Go events, tournaments, dates, and rewards - July 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:30 PM Save the date, because Asus is giving away an Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series graphics card as part of its 30 year anniversary celebration. Additional prizes are up for grabs, including power supplies and other graphics cards, and here's how you can be in with a chance to win them. On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Asus will unveil a series of contests via a commemorative browser game in which Nvidia RTX 50 series hopefuls can earn points and enter a number of as-of-yet undisclosed giveaways. You'll also have a chance to win additional prizes by sharing on YouTube and social media moments you've experienced with some of the best graphics cards from Asus over the years. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 review, Asus ROG Ally X review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:27 PM A founding member of the original Xbox project has weighed in on the new Asus Ally Xbox handheld, saying there's "literally no reason to buy" the new device, while also saying that she personally thinks "Xbox hardware is dead" now. Formerly the director of the Xbox Advanced Technology Group, Laura Fryer shared her thoughts in a YouTube video, in which she said Microsoft is now "betting the entire business on Game Pass." The new Xbox Ally handheld lineup was unveiled in June 2025, and it has a similar spec to the existing Asus ROG Ally X, but with the latest AMD Ryzen Z2 hardware, rather than the older Z1 chips. The device was designed by Asus, rather than Microsoft, and has Xbox-style controller grips on the sides. It stands in stark contrast to the Steam Deck, which Valve developed itself over several years, progressing through a number of prototypes, rather than just sticking Steam branding on a third-party device. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 review, Asus ROG Ally X review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:09 PM How do you avoid the Peak Scoutmaster? You're warned very early on in your Peak journey to never leave your friends. It's kind of the most important rule when climbing a mountain, apparently. Sometimes, though, you'll find yourself separated from the pack, and you might just get a visit from the man in charge - the Scoutmaster. There are plenty of things to be aware of if you're trying to conquer Peak, and you'll need to master them all if you want to stand any chance of succeeding. Legendary items like the Cursed Skull and the Faerie Lantern can be game-changers if used correctly, saving your friends from the brink of death. One thing those legendary items can't save you from is the Scoutmaster. Continue reading Peak Scoutmaster explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Peak capybara location, How to revive in Peak, Peak bugle explained |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:06 PM Some of the Occult Crescent changes previously planned for FF14 patch 7.3 in August will now arrive this week, producer and director Naoki Yoshida announces. The adjustments, designed to make the MMORPG's new Forked Tower raid easier to access, will instead be implemented with emergency maintenance in order to more immediately improve the experience of tackling it. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMOs, FF14 Dawntrail review, FF14 Island Sanctuary guide |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:23 PM When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz? This special, limited-time event allows players to trade the usually locked golden stickers up to five times a day. This is an ideal solution for grabbing elusive missing stickers and completing albums quickly. While you can trade these up to five times a day, each event is limited to two specific stickers, set by Scopely. There's no official schedule for Monopoly Go's Golden Blitz event, so we can only estimate the date of the next Star Wars GO Golden Blitz based on previous events and official sticker polls. However, we check daily for official word on the next trade. While you wait, be sure to participate in other Monopoly Go events for a chance to earn rare sticker pack, and keep on top of freebies with our free Monopoly Go dice rolls guide, which is updated regularly with the newest links. Continue reading When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:17 AM What does the Faerie Lantern do in Peak? There are many items in Peak, including a few legendary finds that can really aid you and your pals on your journey to the top of each mountain. The Faerie Lantern is one of those useful items, and likely one of the best items in the game. Here's where to find it and what it does. If you've picked up the Faerie Lantern in Peak, you might be wondering how it differs from a normal lantern, and if, like us, you were afraid to turn it on in case something bad happened - maybe you've been burnt by Peak's Cursed Skull. Fortunately, it's a highly valuable item and, like Peak's Bugle, can save you and your party. Continue reading Peak Faerie Lantern explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Peak capybara location, How to revive in Peak, Peak bugle explained |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:00 AM Want to know the best Overwatch 2 Stadium support build codes? The Stadium game mode has taken the Overwatch 2 player base by storm, but there's quite a big learning curve to past, even for seasoned veterans. Not only can you play from a third-person perspective, but you also need to think about your character-specific build. Overwatch 2 Stadium support builds codes are here, and you need to carefully pick your weapons, items, and abilities while considering your economy. Support characters keep the team alive with their healing abilities, and with the right build, they can also deal a surprising amount of damage. We're here to break down which Overwatch 2 characters you should use in the multiplayer game along with the best Overwatch 2 Stadium support builds to get you up and running. Continue reading Best Overwatch 2 Stadium support build codes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: All Overwatch 2 characters, Best Overwatch 2 settings, Overwatch 2 tier list |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:50 AM Save for No Man's Sky many moons ago, I can't remember being more crushed and underwhelmed by a game's launch than Battlefield 2042. A buggy, rushed FPS game that reworked or stripped out some core, defining Battlefield features, it was extremely disappointing when it first dropped. However, these days, it's a different story. I know its reputation is hard to look past, but over the last three and a half years, developer Dice has invested a lot of energy into improving the game. Today, it's an enjoyable, solid entry in the series, and right now you can grab it for a ridiculously low price. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 2042 review, Best multiplayer games on PC, Best FPS games on PC |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:00 AM Which games are coming out in 2025? If you're anything like us, your time is already stretched trying to play all the great games out right now, and the year isn't slowing down any time soon. Hope and anticipation, agony and elation - the endless cycle of emotions we go through during the annual PC release schedule. Year in and year out, videogames are produced in such varying degrees of quality that not a single one of them is destined for certain success. Some of the best PC games of all time release alongside utter disasters, series are born while others dwindle, and occasionally a game lives up to our expectations. Below, you'll find all the upcoming PC games to keep on your radar, and it's wildly varied. There are racing games, story games, city builders, and more, plus all of their expected release dates. Continue reading Upcoming PC games 2025 and beyond MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GTA 6 release date, GTA 6 map, GTA 6 soundtrack |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:07 PM PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) is one of the most well-known survival shooter battle royale games you can dive into, and the PUBG system requirements remain unchallenging. In fact, the minimum specs calls for decade-old hardware, so even a dusty laptop or entry-level gaming PC should be able to get the game running with confidence. PUBG doesn't demand the best graphics card but if you're chasing the highest fps possible, it will certainly help. In any online multiplayer experience, fps becomes a matter of victory or defeat, so you'll want to know what the best PUGB settings are. If you only just meet the minimum specs and aren't getting a decent fps, you might want to consider an upgrade if you want to see the phrase "Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!" Continue reading PUBG system requirements MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best battle royale games, PUBG 2 release date, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:16 AM The Sins of the Horadrim season is now live, and we're bringing you the best Diablo 4 settings for both PC and Steam Deck if you plan on jumping into the hugely popular ARPG for this latest content drop. Whether you're chasing the best visuals, performance, or mix of both, our tests offer an ideal starting point for you to use and improve your experience in-game. Continue reading Best Diablo 4 settings for PC and Steam Deck MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred review, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:25 AM AMD may have only just pushed its latest RDNA 4 GPUs out the door, but the company is apparently already hard at work on developing its next-gen AMD Radeon graphics card tech at a fast pace. According to Mark Cerny, lead architect on the Sony PlayStation 5, AMD is "moving extremely quickly" on its next-gen graphics tech, and Sony is having direct involvement with its development too. While we were really impressed by the latest AMD graphics tech in our Radeon RX 9070 XT review, the company currently has no high-end GPUs to counter the mighty Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, or even the RTX 5080 for that matter, and it will be keen to address this situation. While high-end GPUs might not get huge sales, being able to say you've made the fastest gaming GPU is hugely important in terms of brand recognition and market perception. As it is, Nvidia has the high-end spots on our best graphics card guide all to itself right now. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 9070 XT review |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:22 AM The Lost Ark Paradise mode is set to arrive this month, as Amazon Games and Smilegate lay out a fresh roadmap for the free-to-play MMO and ARPG. The experimental system aims to offer a more approachable way to play, with new activities and equipment designed to appeal to players who might have been turned away by the endgame-focused grind. Also included in the latest Lost Ark roadmap are the Valkyrie class, a female Paladin counterpart, and a limited-time event dungeon and eight-player raid. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPG – top MMOs you should play, Lost Ark class tier list, All Lost Ark Mokoko Seeds locations |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:35 AM What are the best Rimworld mods? There are plenty of Rimworld mods out there to add extras and quality-of-life tweaks to your playthroughs, ranging from basic improvements to brand-new mechanics. With such a vibrant modding community at your fingertips, you might be a little lost on where to start, so we've picked out the very best of the bunch just for you. What's more, the vast majority of these Rimworld mods are available from the Steam Workshop, so they can be installed with the simple click of a button. Rimworld is a colony management game with a very simple premise: you must ensure the survival of a ragtag bunch of colonists, each with their own randomly generated skills, backstories, and idiosyncrasies. Depending on the AI storyteller settings, your experience might fall anywhere between a 'wholesome farming game' and a 'relentless cascade of disaster'. If you're ready to move on from the horrors that have befallen your colonies during the mod-free experience of Rimworld, then our collection of the best Rimworld mods is for you. Continue reading The best Rimworld mods 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Rimworld mods, The best games like Rimworld and Dwarf Fortress, RimWorld multiplayer guide |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:28 AM When is the Black Ops 6 Season 4 release date? Following up Season 3 was a tough one: huge changes came into play, and the Call of Duty team had quite the job on trying to keep the pace and keep things interesting. Not only did we get a new Zombies map, Shattered Veil, last season, but a host of new game modes, and three new guns. While it's true that the headline addition with Season 3 was Verdansk's return, there's also been a lot to love in Black Ops 6. Season 4 piled on the new content, with new maps, weapons, and LTMs, and there's more to come when the Season 3 Reloaded release date rolls around. Continue reading Black Ops 6 Season 4 release date and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 review, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:47 AM If you've been waiting for the perfect chance to try out Star Citizen, this is it. The space MMO is free-to-play right now for a limited time, which should give you enough of a chance to familiarize yourself with its gigantic universe. You don't have long, though, so you'll want to jump in while you can. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best simulation games, Best multiplayer games, Best space games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:31 AM It's fair to assume that meeting the best Persona 5 The Phantom X settings is a simple task, given that the game runs on PC and mobile. This will be the case for anyone with a powerful gaming PC, but those with older or budget setups may find it tricky to hit the 120fps frame cap without some adjustments. Persona 5 The Phantom X is the latest in a long line of gacha games, the big appeal of this one being that it's the first to be exclusively set in the Persona universe. In our short time with the game, it plays very much like you would expect from a traditional Persona game, just with the addition of monetisation opportunities running throughout. You can check out the Persona 5 The Phantom X system requirements if you want to make sure your gaming PC is up to the task of running the game before taking a deep dive into settings. Continue reading Best Persona 5 Phantom X settings for PC and Steam Deck MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:31 AM Who are the Marvel Rivals characters? With any new Marvel game comes playable Marvel characters, and in Netease and Marvel Games' new 6-vs-6 shooter, there are plenty to choose from. Spanning across some of the biggest and best comic book series, you can pick from a growing list of legendary heroes and villains. There are 37 Marvel Rivals characters as of mid-Season 1, each bringing their unique flair to the multiplayer game. Check out all the upcoming characters at the bottom of this list to see who's joining the cast in Season 2 and beyond, as well as the latest leaks. Who will you decide to play as in Marvel Rivals in your bid to be the best around? This primer aside, our Marvel Rivals tier list can also help you make that decision. Continue reading All Marvel Rivals characters and full roster MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Marvel Rivals codes, Marvel Rivals characters, Marvel Rivals tier list |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:25 AM What is the best racing sim cockpit? To elevate your sim racing games to another level, nothing beats investing in a dedicated racing rig with a proper seat. Providing a place to mount your racing wheel and pedals and your gaming monitor, they're a comfortable and true-to-life way to truly immerse yourself in your driving. We've picked out the best options you can buy right now, whatever your budget. The best racing sim cockpit overall is the Next Level Racing GT Track Cockpit as it balances features, build, and price while being suited to a wide range of driving styles. For a budget option, though, the Playseat Challenge is the one to go for. For Formula 1 fans, the Best premium F1 racing sim cockpit is the Playseat Pro Formula while the Next Level Racing F-GT Formula and GT is a great value F1 option. Check out the list below for more options and check out the racing sim cockpit FAQ to find answers to your racing rig questions or read the how to choose section for advice on what to look for in a racing wheel. Continue reading Best racing sim cockpits 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:08 AM What does Bing Bong do in Peak? No matter how far you've made it through the latest climbing game hit, you'll no doubt have already seen Bing Bong, the cute mascot of Bingbong Airlines. Not only does his cute face appear on the airline's marketing, but there's a cute Bing Bong plush item in-game, as well. Plenty of Peak items have important uses. There's a powerful Peak magic bean that's a real boon in a pinch. Other items are essential for reviving Peak teammates in the co-op game. When you first wake up on the shore, though, some of the loot scattered around you might look less crucial - even if they are super cuddly. If you're wondering whether to use up a valuable inventory slot on the Peak Bing Bong plush, here's what you need to know. Continue reading What does the Peak Bing Bong plush do? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Peak capybara location, How to revive in Peak, Peak bugle explained |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 2, 2025 7:51 AM With a very quiet launch, and a distinct lack of review samples doing the rounds, the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 isn't the talk of the town right now, but we have now been given our first glimpse of its performance. Graphics card maker Inno3D has revealed the results from some of its own benchmarks, where it pitted the new budget gaming GPU against the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060, and while the RTX 5050 wins in some synthetic tests, the RTX 4060 is faster in real game benchmarks. The RTX 5050 represents the first time Nvidia has produced a sub-$299 gaming GPU since the RTX 3050 back in January 2022, but it has a severely cut-down spec compared to its next GPU up in the range, which we tested for our GeForce RTX 5060 review. With just 2,560 CUDA cores at its disposal, the RTX 5050 has much less rendering power than the 5060, which has 3,840 CUDA, but it looks as though the improvements from moving to the Blackwell architecture do enable this new GPU to line up with the last-gen RTX 4060. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 review, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 1:12 PM  The current custodians of the World of Darkness tabletop RPG universe are bang up for doing more video game adaptations like the troubled Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, according to White Wolf brand marketing manager Jason Carl. In fact, they may be working on a few already, with Carl naming Mage: The Ascension, Changeling: The Dreaming and the Dark Ages setting as deserving of "the Bloodlines treatment". People who've been keeping up with the vamps and their video game misadventures may find that last phrase a bit rich. For clarity, I assume that by "Bloodlines treatment" Carl means "we're going to make a big 3D RPG with a lot of lore". Rather than "we're going to delay it so often it becomes a running joke, fire the original narrative director, hand it to a different studio with no real track record for RPGs, then tell people it's more spiritual successor than sequel". |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:43 PM  Update: ZeniMax Online Studios senior producer Chris Linn has confirmed the MMO's cancellation in a post on LinkedIn. Original story follows: Microsoft have reportedly cancelled an MMORPG that was in the works at ZeniMax Online Studios, developers of The Elder Scrolls Online, as part of the company's wider layoffs. This is according to a post from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, which follows separate reports that the layoffs have seen the cancellation of Rare's Everwild. It very much looks like a pool of canned projects are accumulating at MS's feet as part of these cuts, though the company are still yet to confirm anything. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:10 PM  As a faction, the strength of Total War: Warhammer 3's Bretonnia lies in their knightly calvary. The peasant infantry is basically just there to squishily hold the enemy in place for charges. However, I'm feeling revolutionary today, so we're staging a serf uprising. Let's see how long we last. Pretty simple rules here, then. No knights. No horses. Conquer the entirety of Bretonnia. Defeat every horse I see in one-on-one combat. Indeed, the serfs of Carcassonne had suffered too long under feudalism's gussied-up protection racket, and the battle fought for their freedom had been long and bloody. Bretonnia's knightly class were better armed and better trained, their bodies nourished and strong. The bones of the common folk creaked from years of tireless field work. Their frames were frail from a diet of nettles, bruised turnips, and a wide selection of delectable artisanal French pastries which they all refused to eat, French being the language of their oppressors. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:00 PM .jpg?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp){kind=tracking} Storage, screens, rigs and chairs, I've found the whole loadout today. There's speedy microSD cards for your Steamdeck and ROG Ally, some slick upgrades for your battlestation, and a few big names slashing prices on premium gear. From a beastly gaming PC to the comfiest chairs in the game, these deals are full in Independence Day deals material. Let's get into |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:25 AM  If you're prone to passing the bread at the supermarket, totally forgetting you've already got plenty at home, picking some fresh up because you probably need bread, then realising later that you now own two full loafs with the same best before date, I have good news for you. Helldivers 2 developers Arrowhead are taking action to stop something similar happening when people buy the game's Super Citizen Edition. They're replacing the Steeled Veterans warbond in this special edition with a token that you'll be able to redeem for any one of the warbonds released for the game so far. The aim is to prevent those who're already Steeled Veterans owners - via in-game purchase or by upgrading to the Super Citizen Edition - accidentally buying the war bond again. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:51 AM  Y'know what, I think we've lived long enough in the post-Steam Deck world that it bears weighing up what the current best handheld PCs are. A few years ago this would have just been a vaguely-ranked list of whatever portables were available, but after Valve demonstrated that the palm-resting format could not just work, but actually be good, handhelds have arguably become the most interesting and rapidly-changing thing in all of PC hardware. Even Microsoft are having a go, slapping their branding on the upcoming Asus ROG Xbox Ally – though here, I'm sticking strictly to the finest handhelds that I've tested and that you can buy. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:40 AM  Microsoft have cancelled Rare's wistful bucolic ramble Everwild as part of wider layoffs at the company this month, according to a report. Microsoft themselves have yet to comment, but the news wouldn't be unexpected given that Everwild has been in development for around a decade, including its prototype phase, yet remains something of a mystery. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:00 AM  Microsoft have reportedly set in motion the wave of layoffs the company were said to be gearing up for last week - the fourth round of major job cuts to hit Xbox in 18 months. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:07 AM  Look, EA and Maxis, did you really have to do this? The Sims 4's virtual humans, who've long been able to take solace in the fact that random virtual people in the street couldn't see absolutely everything their despotic overlords force them to do indoors, no longer have that privilege. The game's latest update has made glass walls for houses a thing. You can also stick plants on roofs, to give your prisoners something nice to stare at through their transparent cells when you inevitably delete all of the doors and watch them die. Yep, I know the myriad crimes that've been perpetrated with pool stairs over the years, and this looks like it'll start a terrifying new chapter for sim cruelty. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 7:24 AM .png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp){kind=tracking} Copper golems and new types of copper equipment are coming in the next big Minecraft update, which is available to test now in Minecraft Bedrock and available shortly as a Snapshot for the Java edition. The golems actually date back to Minecraft's 2021 Mob Vote - players cruelly snubbed them in favour of the musical, item-fetching Allay. Classic case of robophobia, if you ask me. What can some fairy jukebox junkie do that a golem can't. Luckily for you nay-sayers, Mojang have seen fit to add the oxidisable automatons to Minecraft anyway, in keeping with the idea that Mob Vote outcomes are more of a guide for development than a rigid prescription. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 7:06 AM  Nexus Mods is set to introduce age verification for folks in the UK and EU attempting to gander at NSFW add-ons, as part of incoming changes to how the site handles mods containing adult or "illegal" content. In a news post, Nexus Mods content team lead SlugGirl outlined that these changes are being made in response to the UK's Online Safety Act and the EU's Digital Services Act, along with guidance being issued by UK regulator Ofcom. Site founder Robin 'Dark0ne' Scott has commented on the post in an effort to reassure users that these policy adjustments aren't a result of Nexus Mods' recent change in ownership, and would have had to happen regardless. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 6:34 AM  What is an indie game? Is a self-published game an indie game? Is a game with a small team size an indie game? Is it an indie game if it makes you go "oooo, haven't seen that before"? I got a letter this morning that made me feel slightly wistful but with undertones of mercurial optimism. Is the concept of post, therefore, an indie game? Are you ok? You're looking a bit pixelated this morning. Are you an indie game? |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 6:08 AM  Publishers Krafton have removed multiple senior staff at Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds in a sudden shift that swaps the leadership team for a single head honcho from the studio who made sci-fi horror game The Callisto Protocol. It's not clear why. At Unknown Worlds, co-founder Charlie Cleveland, CEO Ted Gill, and technical director Max MacGuire have all been "replaced" by Steve Papoutsis, CEO at Striking Distance, the creators of the Dead Space-ish game. |
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Siliconera Wednesday, July 2, 2025 1:00 PM
Following the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 2 on June 30, 2025, Capcom confirmed it is aware of an Investigation Quests bug. However, it noted that the issue won't be fixed for quite some time. It will remain until patch 1.021 launches in early August 2025. As an apology, the company will send in-game items to everyone in October 2025.
This bug affects monster sizes in Monster Hunter Wilds Investigation Quests that were taken before Title Update 2 debuted. After patching the game and loading it up, the monster sizes will be different. This won't affect any missions taken after the patch was applied. The 1.021 update will fix it.
As for the bonus, two types of items will be sent to everyone to make amends for the issue. 10 Heavy Armor Spheres will be doled out to everyone, which can be used on equipment upgrades. We'll also all get 30,000 Guild Points. That's the item that can be put toward Investigations, Pop-Up Camps, and the weather.
Monster Hunter Wilds is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Investigation Quest Bug will be fixed in 1.021 in early August 2025. The next free title update is expected to arrive in late September 2025.
The post Monster Hunter Wilds Investigation Quests Bug Won't Be Fixed Until 1.021 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:00 PM
The Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXVII stream went over quality of life changes in addition to teasing new additions, and among Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida's announcements were promised changes to the FFXIV The Occult Crescent The Forked Tower: Blood field operation and raid. Those were supposed to debut in August 2025 alongside the 7.3 patch. Some of these will now appear earlier, with two adjustments expected on July 3, 2025 or earlier according to a Lodestone statement.
One of the immediate changes will involve participation. This is a situation in which up to 48 people can be a part of the instance and take part. However, right now it's more of a random affair, as if there is a larger group the selection for getting into The Forked Tower in FFXIV will be random. The update changes that. Yoshida noted one priority is "the ability to enter the Occult Crescent instance with a preformed alliance of up to 48 players." This would mean if you did have a large enough group ready, you could be guaranteed you would all go into the field operation and raid together.
The second part of these changes involves the Auroral Mirages weather needed to even access The Forked Tower in FFXIV. Ahead of the patch, it could take almost 40 minutes for those conditions to appear. If you miss the chance, then it could take almost that same amount of time for Auroral Mirages to return again. Naoki Yoshida didn't state exact update times after the changes, but noted the update will allow "auroral mirages to generate sooner after the Occult Crescent instance has loaded."
Naoki Yoshida also explained why this decision to add two of the five planned changes tied to The Forked Tower will come up in FFXIV this first week of July 2025. Here's his explanation from the Lodestone website:
"However, when evaluating our development and QA capacity to release a potential emergency maintenance update, it became apparent we would be able to do so with minimal effect to our schedule. Rest assured that there will be no impact on the release of Patch 7.3 as a result of this advance update.
It should be noted that the planned emergency maintenance update may introduce some technical issues. However, we determined that the benefits of implementing these changes in a timely manner outweigh the minor risks involved and will do our utmost to ensure the update is released in a stable state."
The remaining changes Yoshida specified are still coming are:
Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the FFXIV patch 7.3 update arrives in early August 2025.
The post FFXIV Forked Tower Changes Arrive Ahead of 7.3 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:00 AM
HoYoVerse will soon let us know what's coming to Zenless Zone Zero livestream later this month, as a Special Program 2.1 showcase will air this week. It will take place on July 4, 2025, which is also when the company will be at Anime Expo 2025 in Los Angeles, California. It will appear as early as usual, as we'll need to be up at 3:30am ET/6:30am ET/12:30pm CET to catch it on Twitch and YouTube.
The teaser key art for the next Zenless Zone Zero livestream highlights what to expect. They will be Alice Thymefield and Yuzuha Ukinami. The two of them both are tied to the Spook Shack faction. Each one is a Thiren, and it seems they're associated with the Yunkui Summit area. It's unknown if the Japanese version of the program could touch on the new voice actress for Alice, however. Natsumi Murakami needed to step back from the role for health reasons.
We ended up seeing a number of changes in the 2.0 update for the game. One of them being the inclusion of a whole new area. There was an S-rank agent giveaway to celebrate the occasion as well. A crossover event with Fanta took place in China. That followed a Beard Papa crossover in the US.
Zenless Zone Zero is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices, and the Special Program livestream for 2.1 will happen at 3:30am ET/6:30am ET/12:30pm CET on July 4, 2025. Since the Ju Fufu banner ends on July 15, 2025, we should see the next update on July 16, 2025.
The post 2.1 Zenless Zone Zero Special Program Debuts This Week appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:00 AM
Bandai Namco has announced that it will start scaling down its operations for The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage. There will be no more new songs, idol costumes, and dialogues added after the game's 10th anniversary on September 3, 2025. In addition, Bandai Namco and DMM Games will take down the PC version on August 21, 2025.
Bandai Namco had also added crossover content to the long-running game alternatively known as DereSute, such as cover songs from Key's visual novels in 2020 and the appearance of Hololive's Hoshimachi Suisei in 2024. However, this content will also be gradually phased out. Haruhi Suzumiya's songs will be the first to be removed on July 31, 2025. All other cover songs will follow suit the month after, on August 31, 2025.
But even though Bandai Namco is gradually scaling down Starlight Stage, the company promises that it will continue producing new songs that feature Cinderella Girls idols. It is also planning to hold new xR live concerts in the near future.
The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage will remain playable for Android and iOS devices for the foreseeable future, although there will be no more new content added after September 3, 2025. The game's PC version on DMM Games will only be available until August 21, 2025.
The post The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage Scaling Down appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:00 AM
I've found Destruction characters in Honkai: Star Rail end up being my most reliable units. One of my favorite teams puts Blade and Jingliu with Jade and Luocha, and I love Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae even though he's so SP-hungry. Now that I've spent time with Phainon, the power-creep feels even more real due to how strong his kit is and the focus on him becoming the "main character" during any Honkai: Star Rail fights.
Editor's Note: There will be Honkai: Star Rail Phainon spoilers below.
Phainon pretty much served as the main character for the Amphoreus storyline in Honkai: Star Rail, and this is maintained in his role in a party. He's designed to function as the star and is part of the Flame-Chase. I absolutely love this about him, and it reminds me of how good HoYoVerse is at incorporating story elements into character kits. It happened with Acheron as a Emanator of Nihility, due to her Ultimate pulling from debuffs afflicted on enemies, and the undying Blade's retaliatory damage and self-healing mechanics come into play with his moveset. Phainon compiling Coreflames to build his Ultimate and his use of Titans bring up everything we know about Amphoreus and worked toward.
This means he is designed to be the "protagonist" in battle, and his Ultimate is tied to being recognized as such. You need Coreflames to use He Who Bears the World Must Burn. These are acquired by his using his skill or him being the target of single-character buffs and debuffs. While it can be a little more difficult to get the 12 needed from enemy debuffs, getting the buffs and skill uses is genuinely pretty easy. And since his Ultimate then does shift his state to make him the only character on the field using his Creation: Bloodthorn Ferry, Calamity: Soulscorch Edict, and Foundation: Stardeath Verdict Titan, it really showcases his power and authority in a fun (and devastating) way.
Another thing I love about this concept is that it means Phainon ends up being an extraordinarily free-to-play friendly character. March 7th's Hunt version, which is free, is an option as a support since her Skill would only target him. A Remembrance Trailblazer's Mem could just target him, though the critical damage boost isn't much help to Phainon. Lynx is a perfect free healer to use with him, since her HP buff will help build toward his Ultimate while healing him. Since he's dealing all the damage and will often be the only one on the field, it doesn't matter so much if your other characters are only four-stars or aren't among the top-tier meta favorites.
The only downside I noticed in a Phainon team is he's incredibly skill point-hungry, and so are strategies designed to help him use his Ultimate and get to his optimal form. Gallagher can be helpful, especially thanks to Special Brew. Bronya with her first Eidolon is ideal, since she'll have a chance of refunding her SP from her Skill and her using that on Phainon gives him more turns and opportunities to use his Skill to build Coreflames.
Essentially, Phainon is an ideal unit worth pulling for in Honkai: Star Rail. If you're free-to-play and constantly saving up Stellar Jades and tickets, he's worth spending on them due to his damage dealing and versatility with teammates. If you're someone paying for bundles or an Express Supply Pass, he's worth it since he'd pair well with other invaluable folks like Bronya or Sparkle. He's really strong, with a kit that pulls from his lore and the current storyline in a fun way.
Honkai: Star Rail is available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Phainon banner is live in the game until July 23, 2025.
The post Phainon Feels Designed to Be the Best Honkai: Star Rail DPS appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:37 AM
An Omega-Level mutant threat wielding the cosmic powers of the prime universal force of life has arrived in Marvel Rivals.
Jean Grey, also known as Phoenix as she wields the indestructible power of the Phoenix Force, is the latest Duelist to join the ever-growing roster of heroes in Marvel Rivals at the start of season three on July 11, 2025.
Here's everything that we know so far about Phoenix and her kit, abilities, and ultimate in Marvel Rivals.
Marvel Rivals - All Phoenix abilities
Official information about Phoenix's kit and abilities will be coming in the days before season three, but we can glean a lot about how she plays from her character reveal trailer, along with previously leaked ability names.
As the video shows, Phoenix is a ranged Duelist who fires hitscan blasts out of her hands, meaning the projectiles will immediately hit the target similar to heroes like Hela, Punisher, Black Widow, Luna Snow, Star-Lord, and Adam Warlock, and not projectiles that need time to travel.
Her Shift ability, like other heroes in the game, is movement-based, allowing her to dodge incoming fire or utilize the Phoenix Force to take temporary flight, while her Right Click seemingly activates an AOE explosion on enemies that she has hit with her primary fire. Her E ability is currently unknown.
Her ultimate ability allows Phoenix to launch into the fly through the air and crash into the ground with an impact that will deal damage but also destroy all summons, like Rocket Raccoon's beacon or Peni Parker's spider mines, effectively clearing the battlefield.
It also appears that the ultimate has a 20 second timer on it, which sounds like a lot, but we'll see how it feels once she becomes playable.
This article will be updated with official information about Phoenix's abilities whenever it becomes available.
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Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:12 AM
Marshmallows are one of the most peculiar ingredients in Disney Dreamlight Valley due to their specific spawn requirements. While they originally appeared as a collection log entry before the 2024 End of Summer event, they've since returned in a second iteration.
Table of contents
Where to find marshmallows in Disney Dreamlight Valley
You'll find pink and blue marshmallows during Disney Dreamlight Valley's Summer Sizzle event from July 2 to 22. During these few weeks, you'll spot pink marshmallow bushes in the Plaza and blue marshmallows scattered around the following biomes:
Pink marshmallows are easier to find than their blue counterparts, as they appear as small pale pink items on berry bushes. The bushes are similar to raspberry ones, with the tiny marshmallows differentiating it from regular berry plants.
Blue marshmallows are slightly harder to spot initially, as they appear on the floor around various biomes. While they spawn regularly around the map, much like easter eggs during the Eggstravaganza event, they're a little hard to see, so keep your eyes peeled for them.
How to use marshmallows in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The main use of pink and blue marshmallows is to cook roasted marshmallows and s'mores during Disney Dreamlight Valley's Summer Sizzle event. You'll need these dishes for two objectives, Share Some Sweetness and Savor Some Sweetness, to earn additional rewards.
The Summer Sizzle event features several camping-related furniture crafting, questing, and cooking. These two recipes are only available once you've obtained your first few marshmallows. They require pink and blue marshmallows, among other ingredients.
Alternatively, you can sell both marshmallow types if you collect a bunch and don't want to cook them all. However, you'll make more money cooking them than selling them as raw items, so it's worth spending time and resources converting them to roasted marshmallows and s'mores. You can also keep a few extras on hand in case they appear as daily favorite gifts for random villagers.
A third option is to keep them for future events. Disney Dreamlight Valley's Summer Sizzle event is recurring, with its first version, End of Summer, originally taking place in September 2024. Both versions are identical, so a third round may appear next year. If you want to reduce your farming time next year, you can stockpile some extra marshmallows, roasted marshmallows, and s'mores in a chest so you can hand them in right from the get-go, giving you a few chill weeks to focus on other quests.
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Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:10 AM
This morning, I logged on to my PC and opened up Marvel Snap on Steam for what feels like the nine millionth time since it launched in 2022, and something dawned on me.
This game has become a part of my everyday routine. But, it's also a game that I open up whenever I look at my library of unplayed titles, an ever-growing backlog, and get stressed out deciding what to play next. Marvel Snap is just always there for me to play, so I keep going back to it.
In reality, there's always something new and different to play, but there's at least one game that all of us undoubtedly have that we return to no matter what. Whether it be because it's a "safe" game for us to pick up and play at any time, or it's a comfort game that brings you joy when you don't know what to play next from the backlog, or a game that's constantly getting new updates as a live service title.
Marvel Snap is just one of these games for me. Others include Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, and Destiny 2. But my list also includes singleplayer classics like Metal Gear Solid or Final Fantasy VIII, and relaxing games like Backpack Battles that I open up when I want to give my brain a break.
And so, I'm curious. I now ask you, Destructoid reader, what's the one game you keep coming back to no matter what? Answer our poll and let us know in the comments below.
The post We all have that one game we return to when there's 'nothing' to play. What's yours? appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:42 AM
Disney Dreamlight Valley is about sharing joy with others, from completing friendship quests to giving your villagers their favorite gifts. During the game's Summer Sizzle event, you'll get another opportunity to show your care by collecting and sharing marshmallows in exchange for a special reward.
Table of contents
How to finish the Share Some Sweetness duty in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Completing the Share Some Sweetness duty requires finding marshmallows, turning them into Roasted Marshmallows, and sharing them with your villagers during the Summer Sizzle event. You'll need pink and blue marshmallows to make the meal, which you can then gift to any character in Dreamlight Valley.
The End of Summer event introduced two marshmallow recipes:
Don't give any s'mores away during this event. Instead, keep them for the Savor Some Sweetness duty, as you'll need to eat 25 to get your second reward. Gifting your s'mores won't count toward Share Some Sweetness.
If you participated in the September 2024 End of Summer event, you may have some leftover s'mores, Roasted Marshmallows, and regular marshmallows. This year's versions are the same, so take advantage of this by using up the rest of last year's items before farming for more. If you're lucky, you'll have enough to finish most of the task.
Roasted Marshmallows recipe
You can make Roasted Marshmallows using the following recipes:
Once you have each item, use them in a cooking pot to create the dish. Repeat this 25 times to get everything you need for the Share Some Sweetness duty. You can then gift them to your villagers to finish the task and get a cosmetic prize.
How to find marshmallows in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Marshmallows are only available during Disney Dreamlight Valley's Summer Sizzle event, which lasts from July 2 to 22. You'll get them by harvesting marshmallow plants in the Plaza and finding them on the ground in various biomes.
While pink marshmallow bushes spawn exclusively in the Plaza, blue marshmallows appear in the following biomes:
Once the Summer Sizzle event begins, you'll unlock camping-related furniture and items alongside marshmallow plants and randomized floor spawns. You'll encounter both marshmallow types after logging into Disney Dreamlight Valley during the event, making them easily accessible even for new players.
The post How to complete Share Some Sweetness in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:41 AM
Season three is bringing loads of fresh content to Marvel Rivals, and if you're eager to dive in, you need to know what's new. Reviewing the patch notes ahead of time is a great way to learn what you should be looking for.
Like all other seasons, this one brings tons of new additions to the game. It can be a lot to navigate, so here are the complete early patch notes for everything coming in season three of Marvel Rivals.
Table of contents
Marvel Rivals season three patch notes
Here's a full breakdown of everything we know about season three so far. As new details are shared, we'll add them here, so you can check back to stay up to date with all of the latest patch notes information.
New hero: Phoenix
Phoenix is soaring onto the battlefield as a ranged Duelist with a fiery new skillset. She wields the immense power of the Phoenix Force, has a unique chain reaction mechanic, clears away enemy summons, and much more.
Season 3 battle pass - New costumes
While the full contents of the battle pass for season three will be revealed soon, the Dev Visions video teased the battle pass screen with Venomized/Symbiote skins for Rocket Raccoon, Jeff the Landshark, and Squirrel Girl, along with a Phoenix Force skin for Emma Frost.
Several other new skins were teased, like Knullified Hela, Blade's half symbiote/half Phoenix Force skin, along with Phoenix Force skins for Magik and Wolverine, but it's unknown if those will be in the pass or found in the shop.
New Team-Ups
Two new Team-Ups are being added to the available collaborations you can use. These Team-Ups are:
Team-Up changes
There are also some adjustments to existing Team-Ups. Hela is joining in on the Symbotite Shenanigans with Venom and Jeff the Land Shark. Squirrel Girl is aligning herself with Ultron and Iron Man in Stark Protocol.
Storming Ignition, with Storm and Human Torch, and ESU Alumnus, with Squirrel Girl and Spider-Man, will be retired in season three as most of these heroes move on to fresh Team-Ups. The Guardian Revival Team-Up will remain, but it's being slightly nerfed.
New map: Klyntar
A fresh battleground is emerging in season three. This map is Klyntar: Celestial Husk, a new location that has similar Symbiote vibes to the already existing Klyntar: Symbiotic Surface map.
Buffs and nerfs
As all seasons do, this one is bringing an array of buffs and nerfs for certain characters the devs feel need an adjustment. All of the nerfs and buffs that have been shared are as follows.
Nerfs
Buffs
Hero accessories
A new form of customization called hero accessories will become available with the launch of this season. Hero accessories are small items that attach to characters, similar to keychains.
The first batch of them has accessories for Psylocke, Winter Soldier, Jeff the Land Shark, Groot, Rocket Raccoon, Invisible Woman, Emma Frost, and Spider-Man. Points to acquire these items are earned by playing Quick Match and Competitive rounds.
Ultimate VFX
Some outfits will offer a new type of customization called Ultimate VFX after this update. As the name hints, this will unlock special new visuals for your abilities in combat. These changes will only be visible to you to maintain clarity on the battlefield.
More in 3.5
When the first half of season three ends, season 3.5 will bring even more content to Marvel Rivals. Some of the exciting additions have already been teased, including Blade's highly anticipated arrival and new Team-Ups.
We'll learn more about this update as soon as the official patch notes go live. When they do, we'll update with all other key features coming to Marvel Rivals here.
This article will be updated with more information when it becomes available.
The post Marvel Rivals season 3 early patch notes – Phoenix, hero accessories, new Team-ups, and more appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:34 AM
One of the most enjoyable parts of Disney Dreamlight Valley is cooking, especially when you experiment with different combinations to see what works. The Summer Sizzle event brings this to the next level by reintroducing marshmallows, which you'll use to share and savor some deliciously sweet desserts.
Table of contents
How to finish the Savor Some Sweetness duty in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Completing the Savor Some Sweetness duty requires making and eating s'mores during the Summer Sizzle event. S'mores is a four-star meal requiring pink and blue marshmallows, which you'll find growing from Plaza bushes and as a ground item.
While Share Some Sweetness requires making Roasted Marshmallows, you'll need 25 s'mores dishes for this task. Rather than sharing them with other villagers, you'll eat them all yourself, giving you a massive energy boost and a cosmetic item once you savor all 25 meals.
If you participated in the September 2024 iteration of this event, you may already have some marshmallows and s'mores on hand or in your storage chests. You can use these to complete this task as well if you have some leftover, but you may need to farm extras if you're short a few marshmallows.
S'mores recipe
You can make Disney Dreamlight Valley's version of s'mores using the following ingredients:
Using all four items at a stove or in the Chez Remy kitchen will give you a plate of s'mores, bringing you one step closer to finishing Savor Some Sweetness. After making 25 in total, eat them all to finish the Dreamlight duty and redeem your reward.
How to find marshmallows in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Marshmallows are an ingredient available exclusively during Disney Dreamlight Valley's Summer Sizzle event. From July 2 to 22, you'll find marshmallows in bushes and on the ground in most biomes, which you'll use to cook various recipes. They'll only appear during this three-week period, meaning you won't be able to finish these Dreamlight duties until the event begins.
Making s'mores requires collecting pink and blue marshmallows. Pink marshmallows spawn in bushes that grow in the Plaza, while blue ones randomly appear on the ground in the following regions:
Both marshmallow types appear immediately after you log in during the event, allowing you to obtain them as soon as you step foot into the village. They're the same types featured in the September 2024 End of Summer event, so you can combine any you gathered previously to make the farming process easier.
The post How to complete Savor Some Sweetness in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:26 AM
Microsoft has issued another round of layoffs, including in its gaming division, according to an internal memo sent to the company's staff by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. These layoffs follow those that hit throughout 2024 and within the first half of 2025.
As reported by Bloomberg, some of the layoffs took place in the company's gaming division, particularly Bethesda and Candy Crush's development team, King. The total number of layoffs affected just under four percent of the organization's 228,000 employees.
The memo from Phil Spencer reads as follows:
Microsoft has experienced multiple rounds of layoffs over the past two years, with a batch of 1,900 employees in January 2024, 650 in September 2024, and over 6,000 between May and June 2025. This also follows the closure of several ZeniMax teams, including Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, the team behind Hi-Fi Rush.
Editor's note on July 2 at 11am CT: This article has been adjusted for clarity.
The post Microsoft lays off nearly 9,000 employees, including from gaming division and Candy Crush development team appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:06 AM Warzone Season 4 Reloaded patch notes – Rebirth Island Ranked Play, new weapons, new modes, and more
Beavis and Butt-Head are invading Call of Duty: Warzone in Season Four Reloaded, but it might not be happening in a traditional Solos playlist.
Activision revealed that "standard Solos has underperformed compared to other playlist options," confirming the reasoning behind its removal from Warzone in season four. It's instead been replaced by Casual Solos, which includes bots, but it's been returned to the game in a playlist update as of June 26. And yet, it can be removed again at any time.
But it's not all doom and gloom. Season Four Reloaded in Warzone does include some new content like new weapons, the return of Ranked Play in Resurgence mode, a new Perk, new equipment, and some new limited-time modes.
Here's what's to come in Season Four Reloaded of Warzone when it goes live on July 2 at 11am CT.
Table of contents
Warzone BO6 Season 4 Reloaded patch notes
Weapon buffs and nerfs
If you're sick of using and getting killed by the same handful of guns, the new update will hopefully bring some substantial weapon changes to shake up the meta. In this latest update, sweeping changes to a number of weapon attachments introduce buffs across the board for most of BO6's weapons.
Rapid Fire, Recoil Springs, several barrels, several muzzle attachments, and several foregrips have all been buffed for every weapon they are available on. For the full list of changes, visit the CoD website for the extensive patch notes.
Rebirth Island Ranked Play
Resurgence Ranked Play is back on Rebirth Island, offering another ladder for players to climb when it comes to competitive Warzone. A unique set of rewards is available for those who rank up in the mode.
New weapons
The new Olympia shotgun will be a Special weapon, meaning it can slot into your Secondary slot in loadouts, making it a potential must-pick. The Pickaxe melee weapon is also being added. Both are unlockable as event rewards.
New equipment
The Care Package killstreak arrives in battle royale mode, bringing with it the chance for high-tier loot like the Specialist Perk, and two new additions:
New Perk
New modes
Beavis and Butt-Head
90s cartoon stars invade Warzone as part of both a limited-time event and store bundles. Skins can be bought or unlocked via the event, along with several weapons, attachments, and other cosmetics.
This article will be updated with more information whenever it becomes available.
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Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:04 AM
While all eyes are looking to Black Ops 7, there are still a few months' worth of juice left in Black Ops 6's live service calendar, including Season Four Reloaded.
The new midseason update launching on July 2 includes new content such as the Olympia shotgun and the return of a favorite Black Ops 3 map. It's also got a new collaboration featuring classic cartoon characters Beavis and Butt-Head, among others, new limited-time events, and a bunch of free unlockable rewards to add to your growing CoD collections.
Here's everything there is to know about the new content coming to BO6 as part of Season Four Reloaded.
Table of contents
BO6 Season 4 Reloaded patch notes
Weapon balancing changes
Weapon buffs and nerfs are on the way to level the playing field when it comes to balancing on Ranked Play and other modes, with this update in particular being potentially more influential than others before it.
In the full patch notes, Treyarch outlined sweeping changes to attachments for nearly every gun in the game, including the Short Barrel, Lightweight Foregrip, Precision Foregrip, Fast Motion Laser, Target Laser, and Combat Stock, among other specifics for individual weapons.
"When it comes to attachment balance, our goal is not for every attachment to be viable on every weapon," Treyarch said. "That said, we want every attachment to have a place across the many builds and playstyles in Black Ops 6."
For the full, massive list of changes, check out the CoD website.
Two new maps
Classic Black Ops 3 map Fringe returns as part of the update, along with a new small-sized map for two-vs-two or six-vs-six called Eclipse.
"Battle to the beat in this underground nightclub in Avalon where neon lights illuminate the halls and dance floor," Activision said. "Head straight to the middle to duke it out center stage or engage enemies down the sides, remaining watchful for enemy movement while passing the dining tables set along the way. Get a view over the action from the DJ Booth or set up in the corner Coat Check and tag passing targets."
Two new weapons
The Olympia shotgun and Pickaxe melee weapon will be available in the update as event rewards.
"The iconic double-barreled Olympia returns for its Black Ops 6 debut, designated as a Special Weapon well-suited to close-quarters engagements as a handy secondary choice," Activision said. "Each shot sprays a cloud of pellets at your target; aim down sights for a tighter spread or fire off the hip for a wider shot. Via Gunsmith, attach the Short Barrel for an even wider spread and the Cut-Off Stock for improved handling. Make every shot count."
Beavis and Butt-Head
The foul-mouthed teens who loved watching and critiquing music videos star in this update's collab, joining as operator skins along with other characters from the cartoon. Both skins will be available as part of store bundles, along with an in-game event that includes more cosmetics.
New BO6 Zombies modes
Two new limited-time modes are coming to BO6 Zombies as part of Season Four Reloaded. Abomination Challenge summons a highly difficult variant of the massive zombie monster that you must defeat before unlocking exfil (among other modifiers), and Starting Room confines you to the starting area where you must take a stand.
New events
There are two events during Season Four Reloaded before season five begins sometime in July, including the Beavis and Butt-Head event and CODtoons.
Unlockable items in these LTMs include the Olympia, Pickaxe, operator skins, and several new weapon mods and attachments.
This article will be updated with more information whenever it becomes available.
The post Black Ops 6 Season 4 Reloaded patch notes – New maps, new weapons, Beavis and Butt-Head, and more appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:04 AM
The Nature's Calling event challenges you to interact with many unique gameplay features and locations you may not be super familiar with in The Sims 4. One of the trickier tasks to get done in this event asks you to venture to Foundry Cove.
This is a region you likely visit often but don't know the name of, so finding it can be fairly tricky. It's not too difficult to track down once you know where to look, so here's where to find Foundry Cove in The Sims 4.
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Foundry Cove location in The Sims 4
Foundry Cove is one of the neighborhoods in Willow Creek, the base game world all players have access to in The Sims 4. It's one of six neighborhoods you can visit. You can find this area near the southeast end of the world. There are five lots you can travel to to visit this location, all of which are residential locations unless you replace them with something else.
Travel to Foundry Cove in The Sims 4
There are a couple of different ways you can travel to Foundry Cove for the week two Nature's Calling event quests. The methods you can use to access this area are as follows.
Dig up some rocks in Foundry Cove in The Sims 4
Once you're at Foundry Cove, the next task you need to tackle for the event is digging up a rock around the area. Willow Creek is one of the few worlds rich with collectibles for you to find, so simply search around the outdoor area until you find a rock you can dig up.
With all week one and week two Nature's Calling quests out of the way, you've already tackled some of the most important tasks in this event. There's still plenty more to get done if you want to claim all rewards, though, and it's best to do so before the Enchanted by Nature expansion pack is released so you can switch to focusing on Fairies as soon as it arrives.
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Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:55 AM
Getting some of the best classes in 99 Nights in the Forest heavily relies on grinding Achievements and collecting Diamonds from chests. The Assassin might be the strongest option for now but there are still great affordable classes you can get that aren't 500 Diamonds. I'll also show you how to farm Diamonds for all classes. Here's my 99 Nights in the Forest class tier list and guide.
Table of contents
All Classes in 99 Nights in the Forest Ranked
Each class has their use but we're here to outline the best classes in 99 Nights in the Forest based on their general usefulness for solo and in a team. You unlock classes by buying them with Diamonds which you get from Achievements, in-game Rare Chests, surviving until Day 99, and Robux. Once you get a class, you can progress it to unlock its Level 2 and Level 3 ability by doing tasks like cooking Food, gathering Wood, killing monsters, etc. Let's dive into the ranking reasons and tips for each class below.
S-Tier Classes
A-Tier Classes
B-Tier Classes
C-Tier Classes
D-Tier Classes
How to Farm Diamonds in 99 Nights in the Forest
You unlock classes by purchasing them with Diamonds so how can you get more Diamonds? Here are all ways to farm Diamonds in 99 Nights in the Forest:
That's it for my 99 Nights in the Forest class tier list and guide. Don't forget to stay tuned to our 99 Nights in the Forest codes to check if there are any new ones.
The post 99 Nights in the Forest Class Tier List And Guide appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:28 AM
I've been watching a strange trend on parts of the internet manifest over the past few days that has got me oddly hooked on the concept. It's pretty simple: take a well-known celebrity and give them a Pokémon team based on some of their iconic roles or themes.
One of the more popular ones recently popped up on Reddit and features Steve Irwin, with his team comprising, unsurprisingly, a lot of croc and Australian-looking Pokémon that might have been found in the Australian outback. The post, as well as many others, has led Pokémon fans to come up with their unique teams, and I wanted to jump in on the trend based on one of my favorite British actors. Henry Cavill.
So humor me here. It's going to be more of a fun article, and I'll try to explain some of my reasoning behind each pick. But I'd also love to hear your own celebrity team combinations below in the comments section if you can think of some fun ones!
Palafin
The first Pokémon that came to mind was Palafin for all the obvious reasons. One of Henry Cavill's best-known roles is Superman, so what other Pokémon, other than the literal Hero Pokémon, is best suited to represent one of his iconic roles? Palafin can also switch forms, making it every bit as important as the flagship Pokémon in the actor's hypothetical team.
Aegislash
The Witcher series, and fantasy in general, screams Henry Cavill, and when I thought what Pokémon could represent his recent role on shows like The Tudors and in general the love of the fantasy genre, really only Aegislash came to mind, being a literal sword and shield.
Porygon-Z
Ok. Humor me with this one.
Henry Cavill is a well-known gamer and a big fan of PC gaming. So, when I thought what Pokémon would represent that love for technology and all things software, the Porygon line seemed like the most obvious pick.
Calyrex (Shadow Rider)
Coming back to fantasy and more notably, The Witcher series, where Cavill played Geralt, I had to pick something that branched out from Aegislash while retaining that feel of the series. And considering there is only one Pokémon that rides a literal horse, Calyrex Shadow Rider fits with that aesthetic. It's also a powerhouse of a Pokémon and perfect for any team in general.
Tinkaton
I'm sure there are far better picks for this reasoning, but I found it too funny not to include.
Of all the things to do with Henry Cavill, he is a well-known geek for all things Warhammer 40k and has even been rumored to be in a project surrounding the property. So when I was looking through the list of all Pokémon to figure out what represented that more than anything, it was proving difficult. THEN I saw Tinkaton, holding a literal massive metal hammer, and went 'yup, that'll do it!'
Smeargle
Smeargle is an outside-the-box pick for a number of reasons. It's an artist who loves painting with his tail, which is a nod to Cavill's love of painting Warhammer figures. There are also links to the arts and films with the Pokémon as well, and for those who really go deep down the Smeargle rabbit-hole, it once dressed up as Sherlock Holmes in a single episode of the anime, tying it to another role Henry Cavill once portrayed.
But there you have it, my proposed team of six if Henry Cavill ever had a Pokémon team. I think it fits together pretty well, even if the team itself is a typing disaster. I was originally looking for other Pokémon based on other aspects of his career, including trying to find a nod to the Cavillrine in Deadpool and Wolverine, but nothing really seemed to make sense.
Either way, I'd love to hear your own opinions on whether you feel any other Pokémon would make a better fit than the ones above! Or any of your own celebrity-themed Pokémon teams.
The post If Henry Cavill had a Pokémon team, it would probably be this appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:18 AM
Update: Nintendo has since replied to Destructoid about the sales data that was shown on its website. In a short statement, a Nintendo representative said, "The data that was shown temporarily was a test page to check the update process of the web page, and was accessible by accident. The data shown temporarily was merely a placeholder, and is not actual sales data."
As such, we can consider the below article information null and void at this time.
____
The Nintendo Switch 2 appears to have sold 5 million units worldwide in June, according to Nintendo's official finance site, which is quite staggering. The image showcasing the sales has since been taken down, which could allude to either a Nintendo mistake or projected sales, but was caught before the update.
When you checked out Nintendo's official finance website and clicked quarterly, total console sales in June 2025 included one million Nintendo Switch consoles and a staggering five million Switch 2 consoles to make six million total console sales for that month across the board for Nintendo.
For comparison, the PS5 was able to sell 3.4 million units in the first four weeks of release during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first month of sales of the Xbox Series X was not publicly revealed by Microsoft. The Nintendo Switch also sold 15 million units in its first year, so the Switch 2 was able to sell a third of the Switch's first-year sales in a single month.
To put that number into perspective, Nintendo has been able to sell over one-third of the Wii U's lifetime sales in a month. The Wii U sold 13.56 million units by the end of its lifetime, and if these figures are to be believed, the Nintendo Switch 2 could outsell the Wii U in three months if these sales patterns continue and stock remains regularly available.
The million Switch 1 sales would also put the Nintendo Switch within one million more sales from the Nintendo DS's lifetime sales (154.02 million DS sales vs the 153.12 Switch sales), but it's still far away from the PS2's record of a lifetime sales total of over 160 million units.
The Switch 2 has also now outsold the Stream Deck, with sales of the portable console estimated to be around 4 million units worldwide for both versions of the system.
Back to the Switch 2, though, the sales are wild. We are talking about a console that launched within a backdrop of tariffs from the US government and with a singular Nintendo launch title in Mario Kart World. July sees the launch of Donkey Kong Bananaza, and there are a slew of new Nintendo Switch 2 games scheduled for the end of the year that could push console sales further as we get closer to the holiday season, including the launch of Pokémon Legends Z-A and Metroid Prime 4.
It's a huge win for Nintendo, and if momentum continues, there's no telling where the Switch 2 will be a year from now due to its strong first-year lineup of games.
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Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:11 AM
One of the most important events you'll find in Monopoly GO is Golden Blitz. Since you can't trade gold stickers outside of this event, it's a rare opportunity to obtain specific cards during brief 24-hour periods before they become restricted to card packs and Wild Stickers again.
It's also rare for Golden Blitz events to repeat past cards, meaning you might miss out on one you need if you're not online during a specific time. Let's check out every past Golden Blitz sticker during the Star Wars season to determine whether you'll still get an opportunity to trade a particular card.
Updated July 2, 2025: Added information about the latest Star Wars GO season's Golden Blitz events.
All past Golden Blitz stickers in Monopoly GO
Since Monopoly GO's Star Wars GO Season began on May 1, we have had seven opportunities to explore Golden Blitz, with the latest running between July 1 and July 2. Golden Blitz allows you to trade up to two different gold stickers with others. The rarities typically range from mid-tier four-star stickers to rare, high-value five-star ones that can give you thousands of dice if you complete their respective albums.
Since the season ends on July 2, we won't get any Golden Blitz events until at least a week or two into the new season. At the time of writing, there is no official word from Scopely on when we'll encounter the next season's first Golden Blitz. With that in mind, here's the complete list of Golden Blitz events from the Star Wars GO season, including the stickers involved, their rarities, and the start and end dates.
The July 1 Golden Blitz is the last one we'll experience during the Star Wars GO season. The season ends on the same day, so we won't get any more until the next one starts.
During Star Wars GO, there was a several-week delay from the season's start to the first Golden Blitz, with follow-up events being weekly. The next season will likely follow a similar pattern.
The previous season, Movie Night, followed a bi-weekly pattern before unveiling a surprise finale shortly before the season's end. Let's also look at Golden Blitz events from the previous season to get an idea of what future ones, including Star Wars GO, might look like:
Scopely surprised us during Movie Night by releasing another shorter season with a surprise Golden Blitz event near its end. While this has been a trend for some time, there have been seasons in the past where we were lucky to see more than two in one month unless it was in the season's second half.
There's no word on when the first Golden Blitz of the Summer Escape season will start, especially during its first couple of days. We anticipate the next Golden Blitz sometime in the middle of July, but only time will tell how it unfolds.
The post Monopoly GO: All past Golden Blitz stickers, listed appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 8:56 AM
The Sims 4's Nature's Calling event is live from June 24 to August 5. During it, you'll spend time in the outdoors, explore the world, and even discover a location you might not have known about before. You'll also find a mysterious tree with unknown origins.
What is this tree? Where can you find it? What does it do? These are all questions you'll unravel throughout the quest. Let's break down where to find the Mysterious Tree in The Sims 4.
Mysterious Tree location in The Sims 4
You'll find the Mysterious Tree within Foundry Cove in Willow Creek. During the event, you'll travel to Foundry Cove through your phone, letting you visit the neighborhood's starter homes and explore its surroundings. You'll spot the tree next to Crick Cabana along the canal's edges.
At first, you'll visit Foundry Cove by heading into your phone's Travel menu and selecting "Travel to Foundry Cove." Following the pop-up, you'll arrive at Bargain Bend, an empty lot in Willow Creek near the BFF household and Streamlet Single.
If you need to revisit this location at any point, you can use the Travel to Foundry Cove option or go to one of Willow Creek's starter homes.
Upon arriving at Foundry Cove, you'll have other quest objectives, such as digging up rocks and spending time outdoors. Completing these leads to your next task of finding the Mysterious Tree. If you're at Bargain Bend, turn your camera toward the nearby houses and follow the road until you reach a curve in the canal, a fishing spot, and the tree near two starter homes.
At the time of writing, you can only view the Mysterious Tree for the event's missions. There's a chance it'll return in future tasks, but there's no telling what, exactly, that'll entail. Once you view the tree, you'll receive some event points and get one step closer to completing the Enigma of the Cove.
Shortly after, you'll unlock other tasks involving spending more time outdoors, adopting a pet if you have Cats and Dogs, and looking for signs through a telescope, depending on which objectives you already have completed. Finishing every mission in Enigma of the Cove will unlock your next list of tasks during The Comfort of Nature, giving you another chance to gain event points and redeem more rewards.
Enigma of the Cove and The Comfort of Nature are part of the Nature's Calling event's second week, with the third set releasing on July 8. The Sims 4's Nature's Calling event will end on August 5, so be sure to finish these quests before it ends so you can claim all of its rewards.
The post Where to find the Mysterious Tree in The Sims 4 appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 8:32 AM
The trailer for Marvel Rivals season three was unveiled on July 1, and Jean Grey/Phoenix and Blade are officially the next two heroes joining the roster. With back-to-back Duelists charging into battle, I'm curious who you're more excited to play.
Phoenix and Blade have drastically different play styles, with one harnessing telepathic and fiery magical powers and the other tapping into vampiric abilities and dishing out deadly melee damage. They're about as opposite as can be for two characters fulfilling the same role, so I'm interested to see who will end up being the more popular pick.
A lot of it ultimately comes down to what their abilities are, how effective they are in battle, and how they flow with the rest of the team. We won't know the answers to any of this until they're officially out, but based on what we do know about them as characters and what they showed off in the season three trailer, we can certainly speculate.
Phoenix was confirmed to be the first character launching with the start of season three during the latest dev diary, so she'll be the first new unit to join the roster. Of the two characters arriving throughout this season, she's who I'm more excited for and the one I think might make an overall bigger impact.
I love playing any characters with telepathic and magic powers, so Phoenix is much more suited to my playstyle than Blade. Her skillset, which we so far know includes a unique chain reaction mechanic, harnessing the Phoenix Force, lending her powers to Wolverine with a fresh Team-Up, and the ability to clear away enemy summons based on the season three patch notes, also seems like it could massively shake up the battlefield and redefine the meta. She seems to have real potential to become one of the most impressive and flexible Duelist units if done right.
After a lengthy and well-deserved nap in Wakanda, Blade is also finally ready to join the action, although his debut won't be for another month after season three begins, when the second half is released. Most of Blade's abilities and kit have already been leaked, so we have a solid idea of what his skillset is expected to look like.
Although he looks absolutely awesome, Blade's alleged skillset isn't really all that exciting to me, nor does it seem like a set of abilities that is going to massively impact the game. All of his leaked skills seem to be mostly generic melee attacks. His ultimate is the only real part of his kit that sounds intriguing, as it supposedly allows him to unleash his vampire form and either steal health or prevent healing from happening.
He sounds cool, but outside of his ultimate, I don't see him being a really big player who shakes up the game long term. I could be wrong, though, and after how long we've had to wait for Blade to arrive after he was initially teased, I sure hope I am.
As a Strategist and Vanguard main, I'm not super thrilled about the arrival of back-to-back Duelists. It's at least nice that they are extreme opposites, as this makes the arrival of two members of this class a bit more bearable. Phoenix is also one of my favorite characters, so I can't be too mad about her joining the roster.
I do wish we'd even out the roster a bit before adding two Duelists in a row, though. My ideal release format would actually be only Strategists and Vanguards for a bit to even out the roster, then a consistently rotating schedule between the three moving forward. It's already hard enough to get other players to jump on these two roles—especially Vanguard with the flying meta—and two fresh Duelists are only going to make this issue worse.
So, Destructoid, what do you think? Are you looking forward to playing Phoenix or Blade more, and which one do you anticipate will have a bigger impact on the game overall? Let us know your thoughts.
The post Blade vs Phoenix—of Marvel Rivals' newest characters, which makes the biggest impact? appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 8:02 AM
Mecha Break's global release marks the start of the opening Twitch drops campaign, and PC/Xbox users can earn some cool rewards by watching livestreams.
While the rewards are mostly cosmetic, they look pretty unique. Moreover, these rewards are all exclusive to the campaign; if you miss out, there are no alternate ways to earn these goodies. Let's take a look at all the available rewards, followed by how you can earn them.
All Mecha Break Twitch drops rewards
The maiden Twitch drops campaign for Mecha Break offers five unique items. To unlock them, you'll have to watch the streams for a specific period.
To obtain all the rewards, you'll have to watch a total of three hours of streams. This doesn't have to be in one stretch, and you can watch streams of any partnered content creator. Doing so will make you eligible for the available rewards. The opening campaign will be available for the whole duration of July.
There's a weekend drop program running separately as well.
Week One (July 5 to July 7)
Week Two (July 12 to July 13)
Week Three (July 19 to July 20)
Week Four (July 26 to July 27)
How to claim Twitch Drops rewards in Mecha Break?
The first step is to create your in-game character. Without completing this step, you won't be able to redeem the rewards.
Make sure to claim all the rewards before the current Twitch drops campaign is over on July 31.
The post All Mecha Break Twitch drops rewards and how to get them appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 7:37 AM
Let's go through the best Stands in World of Stands for both PVP and PVE. I'll be taking a look at all moves as well as the overall damage output and start-up speed. Then, I'll also rate Stand Skins and sort them by rarity & value. Let's check out our full World of Stands tier list for all Stands and Stands Skins.
Table of contents
World of Stands Tier List for all Stands
These are the best Stands in World of Stands for both PVP and PVE. I ranked them based on both the damage output and the flexibility of the move set for speed, zoning, mobility, defense, and counters. Ultimately, this is just my personal opinion from tons of testing and in general most stands, no matter the rarity, can be good if you master them and know how to fight other stands. Let's dive into all Stands separately below.
Best Stands in World of Stands
S-Tier Stands
A-Tier Stands
B-Tier Stands
C-Tier Stands
World of Stands Skin Tier List
Besides wondering which are the best Stands mechanically for PVE and PVP, let's also take a look at the best Stand Skins in World of Stands. These are determined by rarity and value and I'll rate all skins separately for Common, Rare, and Legendary Stands. Note that they go from best to worst from left to right so the left-most one is the best value.
Common Stand Skins Rated
Rare Stand Skins Rated
Legendary Stand Skins Rated
That's it for my World of Stands tier list for all Stands and Stand Skins. Don't forget to check out our World of Stands codes for free goodies.
The post Ultimate World of Stands Tier List – Best Stands & Skins (July 2025) [PT3] appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, July 2, 2025 7:28 AM
Festive summer fun has arrived in Disney Dreamlight Valley with the Summer Sizzle event. There are lots of duties you can work through to claim exclusive prizes while this event is live, so you need to get going on it as soon as possible.
Although this event is smaller than most other ones, there are still some decently tricky parts to it and plenty of content to explore. If you're not sure where to begin, here are all Summer Sizzle event duties and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
All Summer Sizzle event duties in Disney Dreamlight Valley
There are two event duties you need to get done in the Summer Sizzle event. Although there are only two specific tasks to tackle, there are plenty of other unofficial quests you need to work through too.
All Summer Sizzle event rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley
For tackling event duties, you can earn two prizes. Both of these items are cosmetic accessories you can equip on any outfit to give yourself some nice extra details.
All Summer Sizzle event crafting recipes in Disney Dreamlight Valley
There are five crafting recipes tied to this event. Making them doesn't grant you any special prizes, but you do gain access to some fresh furniture you can place and use around the village.
All Summer Sizzle event items in Disney Dreamlight Valley
There are two special items you can find around your valley during the event. These items are essential for tackling all parts of the event, so stocking up on them is crucial for progression.
All Summer Sizzle event recipes in Disney Dreamlight Valley
To complete the tasks included in this event, there are two recipes you need to make lots of. These recipes and all of the required ingredients to make them are as follows.
When does the Summer Sizzle event end in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
The Summer Sizzle event is live for all players to tackle from July 2 to 22. This gives you about three weeks to get everything in it done, so there's plenty of time to work through it and claim all available prizes. If you miss out on anything, it will likely return again in summer 2026. You can also tackle most parts of this event when it's not actually live as long as you gather enough marshmallows to do so.
The post All Summer Sizzle event duties and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid. |
WGB Wednesday, July 2, 2025 1:29 PM Xbox studio The Initiative has been shut down after seven years without releasing a game, canceling the Perfect Dark reboot. Microsoft is also cutting 4% of its workforce, affecting other projects. |
WGB Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:54 PM Turn 10, the creator of Forza Motorsport, faces severe layoffs, reportedly cutting nearly 50% of its staff due to poor reception and performance of its latest game, contributing to uncertain future. |
WGB Wednesday, July 2, 2025 12:10 PM Xbox's recent layoffs have led to the cancellation of Zenimax Online Studios' Project Blackbird, their first MMORPG since 2014, amidst chaotic staff terminations and communication failures. |
WGB Wednesday, July 2, 2025 11:47 AM Xbox is implementing significant layoffs, including the likely cancellation of Rare's Everwild, which has faced ongoing delays since its 2019 announcement. Employees express concern over job security amid these cuts. |
WGB Wednesday, July 2, 2025 9:54 AM Microsoft is undergoing significant layoffs, affecting studios like Zenimax and King, despite Xbox's growth. Phil Spencer acknowledges the impact on employees while emphasizing the need for strategic business adjustments. |
iDev Games Feed Wednesday, July 2, 2025 8:43 AM You are the core. Evolution is your only weapon.... |