GamersHeroes Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:23 AM We recently asked PUBG STUDIOS Production Director Seungmyeong Yang questions around PUBG: BLINDSPOT's community, tactical options, and MVP matches - learn more with our interview. The post PUBG: BLINDSPOT Interview – Production Director Seungmyeong Yang Talks Community, Tactical Options, and MVP Matches appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:13 AM Featuring skill, speed, style - and alliteration! - Undercoders and Fireshine Games' Denshattack! has players grinding trains in a way that'd make any foamer froth. The post Denshattack! Preview – Grind Trains in a Colorful Japanese Dystopia! appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:10 AM Turning chess on its head, master tactical twists, invest one's winnings, and discover new rule-bending Gambits with the new Steam Next Fest demo of Blukulélé, Sidekick Publishing, and Stray Fawn Publishing's Gambonanza. The post Turn-Based Chess Roguelike Gambonanza Steam Next Fest Demo Live appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:04 AM Blending together exploration, story-driven puzzles, and immersive audiovisual design, a new Steam Next Fest demo for Dionous Games' dark atmospheric title Inner Voice is now available. The post Dark Atmospheric Adventure Inner Voice Revealed appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:03 AM Letting players turn their screen into a lively hamster village, a new Steam Next Fest demo for LINE Games' social idle game Hamster Talk has been released. The post Idle Game Hamster Talk Steam Next Fest Demo Released appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:50 AM  Christopher Judge was approached by a fan at a convention and talked about the remakes and what he's doing next |
Kotaku Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:30 AM  The loot shooter's entire calendar has been pushed back another three months |
Kotaku Thursday, February 19, 2026 10:59 AM  40 devs have been laid off at Watch Dogs, Far Cry studio Ubisoft Toronto |
Kotaku Thursday, February 19, 2026 10:56 AM  Hello, Mario is free to download and out now on phones and the Nintendo Switch |
Kotaku Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:30 AM  Todd Howard is cautious about what the new tech can and can't help with |
Kotaku Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:12 AM  Ludovic Mbock is known for playing Chun-Li in Capcom's fighting game series |
Kotaku Thursday, February 19, 2026 8:42 AM  The new mode will be focused on raiding |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:07 AM Stalcraft, the Stalker and Minecraft mashup, is giving away a starter pack of goodies as part of the latest free games lineup on Epic. |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 19, 2026 10:53 AM Make sure you're running the best Overwatch settings on PC to improve your frame rate while keeping the visuals looking clean. |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:39 AM Planning cool new ideas for your Minecraft world is tough, so we've rounded up some inspiring builds, from pirate ships to pretty gardens. |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 19, 2026 8:10 AM Destiny 2 Shadow and Order gets delayed by 14 weeks, and while that clears the way for Marathon, it could also impact D2's next expansions. |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:47 AM Rising VRAM costs mean gamers are being asked to pay more for graphics cards, but according to new data, many buyers aren't interested. |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 19, 2026 6:51 AM Todd Howard reaffirms that Bethesda is not using AI tools "to generate anything" and discusses his pro-remaster, "anti-remake" stance. |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 19, 2026 6:03 AM The Resident Evil Requiem minimum requirements and recommend specs are very low by modern standards, although 16GB of RAM is required. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, February 19, 2026 10:23 AM  When the website of Highguard suddenly began blaring that it was "unavailable" not long after news broke of layoffs at developer Wildlight, you could have been forgiven for thinking a Concord-style pulling offline might be in the shooter's near future. That doesn't look to be the case, though, with the studio having just announced a couple of new additions set to arrive in the game this week. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:29 AM  There's now a mod for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties which swaps out the likeness of actor Teruyuki Kagawa. Kagawa's casting in the remake, which saw him lend both his voice and likeness to secondary villain Goh Hamazaki, caused fan backlash due to a 2022 report from Shukan Shincho detailing sexual assault allegations against the actor. Kagawa apologised at the time, but didn't specify what he was apologising for or confirm the events reported in the article. Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties director Ryosuke Horii recently said Kagawa's casting was the result of developers RGG Studio having "tried to think of someone who makes you go, 'This guy's a creep'". |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:00 AM  For months, I've been keeping an eye out for Denshattack!, an enticingly loud stunt-action game that's somewhere between an autorunner and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, if Tony Hawk was an electric locomotive and not a man of mortal flesh. I played it last year and was instantly smitten with its speedy, tricksy rail riding, and now that there's a newly released Steam demo, perhaps you will be too. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:00 AM  "Since the last round of EMTERR 'stabilisation', they've been trying to force us lifers out," the phantom line engineer tells Zero Parades protagonist Hershel Wilk. "We can't be fired, not easily, but they can take away the work that made us stay in the first place," he continues. "I have two options. I could falsify my reports and declare line 9 safe for construction anyway, or I could quit. Either way, the company can't lose." Approximately 15 minutes later, I'm talking to a monkey sat atop a pile of goods in a random abandoned house. "YOUR PRESENCE IS WEAK. FATE DELIVERS ME AN UNWORTHY ADVERSARY," it says, before declaring its name to be the KING OF TRADE. Immediately, one of voices in Herschel's inner chorus, dubbed Statehood, starts shouting back about needing to defeat the forces of capitalism. Both of these are scenarios I ran into while playing the Next Fest demo of the spy CRPG finally emerging from ZA/UM, following years of reported bad times and discord at and around the Disco Elysium studio. Both of them feel simultaneously like encounters you could plausibly have run into in the original Disco, and like they could just as easily be pale imitations dressed up to resemble that first game's much quoted trenchcoat of surrealist detecting. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:32 AM |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:28 AM  Former staff of Enotria: The Last Song developers Jyamma Games have revealed to RPS that they're owed months of unpaid salary, following layoffs at the company last year. They've shared an inside look at a troubled independent studio dealing with payment delays, multiple changes of direction, and general confusion that stretches back to spring 2025. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, February 19, 2026 6:57 AM  In the aftermath of reports claiming that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) deepened their reliance on Microsoft's cloud technology last year, No Azure for Apartheid have issued a statement demanding the company cut ties with the agency. No Azure for Apartheid are the same worker-led group who've carried out protests against Microsoft's dealings with the Israeli military, amid what Amnesty International and a UN enquiry have called a genocide in Gaza. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, February 19, 2026 5:33 AM  "I mean, look, I think everybody knows why we announced it that way then." Stay calm, I've got to get my dinner first. "We know some things we're doing." Please stop trying to jump on the bench. "It's going to be a while yet." Some of these are things I often have to say to my cat when the clock ticks to within an hour of feeding time. Some of them are things Todd Howard has said about The Elder Scrolls 6 in his latest bout of interview chatter about the RPG. He's confirmed it's running on a new version of the Creation Engine, but will also be a return to Bethesda's "classic style". |
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Siliconera Thursday, February 19, 2026 12:00 PM
The fourth Sonic the Hedgehog movie is in development, and the new character in Sonic 4 will be Amy Rose. The voice actress for her is confirmed to be Kristin Bell. There's no trailer showing her yet, but we will likely see teasers leading up to the March 19, 2027 release of the next film in the series. [Thanks, Hollywood Reporter!]
Bell will mark the fourth person to voice Amy Rose in a Sonic the Hedgehog project in English. The most recent voice of the character is Cindy Robinson, who first stepped into the role with the 2010 game Sonic Colors and has appeared in animated adaptations like Sonic Boom and spin-offs like 2025's Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.
As a reminder, here's the cast list for the movie versions of all the characters from the games. Colleen O'Shaughnessey is the only person who reprises her role from other adaptations.
It's very easy to catch up with the previous films in the series. Paramount Plus features all three of them streaming. Hulu and Disney+ offer the first and second movies as well. All three are available physically as well, with the first two even bundled together with a digital copy.
The fourth Sonic the Hedgehog movie is expected to debut in theaters on March 19, 2027. All of the previous films are available digitally and physically.
The post Kristin Bell Will Be Amy Rose in Sonic the Hedgehog Movie 4 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:00 AM
A collaboration tie-up featuring Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse and its characters will appear in the Iseshima region of Japan's Mie Prefecture. Square Enix revealed the plan via its Japanese official social media account for the Paranormasight series.
One of the highlights in this collaboration will be the pamphlet that ties Kameshima, the location featured in the new Paranormasight game, with the real Kamishima island in Mie Prefecture. While the inspired island only has one different letter in the alphabet, the Japanese kanji used has a wordplay that replaces "God Island" with "Turtle Island." Square Enix will also place panels featuring the game's main characters across the prefecture.
The official Japanese announcement tweet is also available to view right below. Square Enix has noted, however, that the images in this tweet are still under supervision and pending final approvals. The company will announce the exact dates for the tie-up campaigns at a later time.
The new Paranormasight entry had its world premiere reveal at the early February 2026 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. Square Enix later added that the game is coming to not only Nintendo Switch but also PC via Steam, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.
Square Enix also separately announced that it will publish an official setting book for the Paranormasight series on April 23, 2026, at 3,080 yen (~$19.90). This book will contain more details on the characters and stories from both the first entry (The Seven Mysteries of Honjo) and the new game.
Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse is releasing worldwide for Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, and Android on February 19, 2026.
The post Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse Tied to Mie Prefecture appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 19, 2026 10:00 AM
Nintendo revealed a Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition and released it on the same day. It is available via the eShop, though a physical version will appear in retail stores on April 16, 2026. If someone already owns the Switch version, the upgrade costs $4.99. A price wasn't mentioned for the cartridge yet.
Xenoblade Chronicles X originally ended up being the "lost" entry, as it only appeared on the Wii U until the updated release on the Switch in March 2025. It features a crashed ship from Earth landing on a strange planet, with the custom player character joining the group BLADE to assist New Los Angeles in surviving and thriving.
As the lower price of the upgrade suggests, there are really two main changes to Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition. One is an improved framerate. It can now run at 60fps. The other is that it supports 4K resolution. A trailer highlighted both elements, first showing the fps change before showing the direct difference with visuals.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition is out now, though physical copies won't show up at retail until April 16, 2026. The original Switch game appeared in March 2025.
The post Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Version Drops appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:00 AM
When the Little Nightmares series lost Tarsier Studios as a developer, following its Embracer acquisition, the developer's absence ended up immediately felt. However, that sort of experience isn't lost to us. The company's latest horror adventure Reanimal is a similar sort of beast, though one that's more gruesome than its past games.
A boy is in a boat. He's alone, heading toward an island. As he drives through the dark, he eventually stops and pulls in a young girl from the water, who immediately tries to attack him. They separate, ending the altercation, and move onward. The two are alone, searching for missing friends. What happened to them? Why were they separated? Where are all these hostile beings coming from? Reanimal might not give you all the answers, but maybe you'll draw your own conclusions by playing.
Like the Little Nightmare series, Reanimal focuses on the horror that comes from being very small children with very limited ways to respond to the hazards around them attempting to traverse foreboding areas. There's more freedom in how to tackle things this time, as there's nonlinear progression as you go to different areas to search for missing friends. However, when you are in spaces they are incredibly atmospheric, with occasional puzzles that involve observing surroundings or working with your CPU/human-controlled sibling. There can be traps. You'll need to use your brain to figure out the right actions to move forward. There will also be major encounters with the sorts of large-scale opponents like we'd seen in Little Nightmares, forcing us to run or figure out a way to successfully deal with what might appear to be an unstoppable force.
Now, in some of those situations I did notice some bugs. The biggest ended up being some frame rate issues in Quality Mode. I did notice that seemed to be addressed in a patch that was released just around Valentine's Day, however. Performance Mode, which prioritizes frame rate, always seemed to work well. Especially in handheld mode.
I will say that I do wish some elements of Reanimal had been handled a bit differently. The non-linear nature I think takes away from the narrative a bit. While in Little Nightmares 1 and 2, we had a very defined since of things and story being told, the obscure tendencies and vagueness of Reanimal took away some of the punch of some set pieces. It's also a far darker game with lots of blood, corpses, and unsettling imagery, with lots of references to suicide. Given it's a horror game, that's not necessarily bad, but pairing that with the story structure meant I found myself looking for meaning in some of it that didn't seem to be there.
On the plus side, the art direction is very good. The locations and perspective used is quite cinematic. This applies to every situation. General exploration, escaping or fighting enemies, and even quieter moments all end up seeing otherworldly and haunting. The enemy design is also quite well-handled, with some truly frightful entities roaming about.
Another thing I liked about Reanimal is that if you are taking your time or good at handling the dangerous situations, you can come across a number of collectibles. The big one involves finding the five coffins in the world, but it's also possible to get posters to unlock concept art, masks to change how the brother and sister look, and light candles at statues. It offers a little replay incentive, especially if you want to see a short epilogue or want an excuse to go through the adventure again with someone else.
Speaking of which, the multiplayer in Reanimal works well, but there are some GameShare issues. Only one full copy of the game is needed, with the person owning it as the host. I did notice lag that hampered some of the more treacherous encounters when playing it over the internet with another person. So I think local multiplayer would be the way to go on the Switch 2. If you don't have someone to play with, the CPU intelligence is quite competent in single-player, and I'd recommend going it alone if you can't have someone sit in locally to join you on this console.
Reanimal is an ominous, tense adventure that puts you in unsettling situations and leaves you to draw your own conclusions about what's going on. So much so that it almost feels like the end is only the beginning of analyzing what's happened here. While short, there are some interesting puzzles and encounters, the pacing is good, the NPC intelligence in single-player is competent, and there's some great character and environmental design elements at play. A few bugs that will likely be patched out in a few weeks aside, it's a great horror game.
Reanimal is available on the Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
The post Review: Reanimal Revives the Little Nightmares Style Experience appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:49 AM
The Sims 4 has been around for over 10 years, and it's still going strong with frequent new releases. With so many DLC options to choose from, it can be tricky to determine which expansion packs are good and which ones you should skip.
If you're trying to figure out which DLC is right for you and worth the hefty price point, here are all of the expansion packs in The Sims 4 ranked.
Table of contents
All The Sims 4 expansion packs ranked from worst to best
Here's our overall ranking of all 21 expansion packs that have been released for The Sims 4 so far. We've also got separate sections for CAS, Build/Buy, gameplay, and worlds, since all Simmers are different and value certain aspects more than others.
21) Get to Work
Get to Work is the first expansion pack that was ever released, and it shows. The CAS and Build/Buy items in this pack are very career-specific and mostly unusable outside of workspaces. The three careers, Scientist, Doctor, and Detective, are fun at first, but get old quickly since they're all active, meaning you must play through work days to progress.
20) For Rent
For Rent is such a promising concept, and when it works right, its placement is much higher. Unfortunately, this pack is supremely bugged and has been since it launched on Dec. 3, 2023. It's gotten so bad that it's corrupting save files, so it's tough to truly analyze this pack with such a great risk involved with using the pack's core feature, Residential Rentals.
When this issue (hopefully) gets properly fixed, we may move our ranking around. For now, though, it's one of the worst expansions you can get, as the promised features don't function well and can break your entire save file. When it does work, Residential Rentals are great, as they allow you to break up larger spaces into separate units, but there's also not a whole lot beyond this.
19) Get Famous
If you want to live the celebrity lifestyle, you'll love Get Famous, but for the average Sim player, this one likely won't mesh well with your everyday gameplay. The active Actor career is fun, but similar to the jobs in Get to Work, it gets old fast. Del Sol Valley is a disappointingly small and boring world, and both the CAS and Build/Buy items are overly glamorous and niche, making them tough to use outside of a celebrity lifestyle.
18) Island Living
Island Living has one of the most gorgeous worlds you can live in, with some unique CAS and Build/Buy items to complement it. Unfortunately, the gameplay in this pack is nearly non-existent, and the Mermaid Occult included in it is one of the worst.
17) High School Years
There's not enough for Teen Sims to do in The Sims 4, and High School Years is one of the only packs that has ever tried to fix this problem. Unfortunately, many parts of it feel rather surface-level, and important events like prom and graduation are often quite buggy and don't work. This pack does have some excellent CAS items, though.
16) Discover University
Discover University might suffer from being a bit too realistic, as passing college is quite difficult and often feels like far more effort than it's worth. Still, it's a really solid pack that delivers a well-rounded and rewarding experience. The CAS items and Build/Buy are a true standout in this one, too, as both feature versatile, staple items I use all the time.
15) Eco Lifestyle
A truly unexpected and original pack idea for The Sims franchise, Eco Lifestyle delivers a unique way of living with a strong emphasis on sustainability. You can make your own water, electricity, furniture, food, and other such items, enhancing the number of ways you can live on your own. It's also fun that you can change the world over time, either shaping it for the better with blooming greenery or smogging it up with more industrial vibes.
14) Horse Ranch
Horse Ranch is a solid pack that delivers exactly what its name suggests and little more. If you want to care for some fully customizable horses, meet tiny animals, make Nectat, and otherwise run a ranch, you'll love this pack. It's a great pack for this purpose, but otherwise, it does feel a bit niche, as many aspects don't integrate well outside of this specific lifestyle.
13) Enchanted by Nature
Enchanted by Nature is mainly focused on Fairies, although it also delivers some other new features like the Nature Living skill, house plants, and foraging. Some parts of this pack, like Ailments and Luck, can get a bit annoying, but Fairies is one of the best Occults, and Natural Living blends well with everyday gameplay. Innisgreen is also a stunning world.
12) Snowy Escape
Mt. Komorebi is a gorgeous, lively world that's the perfect vacation destination, or a great place to live all year round in Snowy Escape. There's loads to do and see in this pack, including hiking, snowboarding, skiing, rock climbing, and so much more. It's a rich pack with a lot of depth, and great items all around to complement it.
11) Lovestruck
Lovestruck is a pack that mostly works in the background, bringing more meaning and depth to all interactions rather than adding big, obvious, flashy features. It's a must-have for the expansions to the romance system, especially the dating app Cupid's Corner.
10) Get Together
Get Together has the biggest world in all of The Sims 4, with 27 gorgeous lots. It's worth getting for the world of Winderburg alone, but it also comes with the robust, versatile club system and plenty of other features to love.
9) Royalty & Legacy
For all my fellow The Sims Medieval lovers, Royalty & Legacy is a pack that feels like both a nostalgic and fresh take on a similar genre. This is a pack for the drama lovers, with glorious gameplay systems that add immense depth and storytelling through dynasties, family trees, scandals, nobility, balls, and so much more.
The CAS items are a real win and by far some of the most gorgeous pieces in any pack, especially the gowns, crowns, and hairstyles. The world is stunning, huge, diverse, and hides plenty of secrets, including magical items that can help you rise or fall in power, like Simcalibur and The Enchanted Mirror.
Some large parts of this pack may be a bit niche and not as usable for everyday gameplay, especially if you want to live a more modest lifestyle. Everything it does, it does extremely well, though, and there is still plenty to enjoy regardless of whether you're living a regal lifestyle.
8) Life & Death
There's so much attention to detail in Life & Death, and no matter how much I play it, I feel like there's always still more to discover. Ghosts are a fully fleshed-out Occult with this pack, and there's plenty to love for both the dead and living, like the Grim Reaper career, funerals, a grief system, bucket lists, and more. Death feels more impactful and provides a gateway to so many new opportunities thanks to this pack, changing how the life cycle works in The Sims 4 forever.
7) City Living
City Living is another pack that's worth buying for the world alone, especially since there's no other city world like it, but it also has plenty of other exciting additions that only enhance its value. Festivals are one of my favorites, as there's always something exciting going on in San Myshuno.
6) Adventure Awaits
Adventure Awaits is a rich, gameplay-forward pack with complex systems designed for Simmers who are in it deep. Custom venues and getaways give your Sims so much more to do, with unbelievably detailed systems that allow you to truly customize their experiences however you like.
Gibbi Point is also one of the best worlds we've ever gotten. It's massive, with loads of lots to visit and plenty to find out in the world, like the Peculiar Plumbird and Butterflies and Moths. This pack also has some exciting additions for child Sims, like Imaginary Friends, Formative Moments, and modular playgrounds.
The weakest part of this pack is the CAS items, specifically, the clothes. Most of them feel too similar to other items we already had before this pack launched. Adventure Awaits does have some of the best hairstyles we've ever gotten, though.
5) Cottage Living
If you're a fan of the cozy game genre and titles like Stardew Valley, Cottage Living is a must-have. This pack allows you to take care of animals like llamas, cows, and chickens, grow oversized crops, live off the land, and embrace a tight-knit community. It's a well-rounded pack, with a gorgeous world, engaging gameplay, plenty of nice CAS items, and solid Build/Buy assets.
4) Growing Together
The best packs are the ones that blend well with any style of gameplay and always fit into what you're doing, and this is exactly what makes Growing Together so great. The features here aren't big and flashy, so it's not always obvious that you're using them, but they integrate seamlessly into everyday gameplay, especially if you're a family-focused player. Milestones, social dynamics, self-discovery, baby showers, social compatibility, treehouses, and family bonds are just a few of the many additions featured in this pack.
3) Businesses & Hobbies
The more packs you own, the better Businesses & Hobbies is, which might make it a bit of a controversial one, but I firmly believe it's one of the best packs we've ever gotten. The possibilities are endless, as you can freely create and design any small business you can think of. This pack has some solid CAS and Build/Buy items, but gameplay is definitely the star.
2) Cats & Dogs
Everything is better with a furry friend at your side, and Cats & Dogs delivers not only some adorable fluffy allies but also some of the best CAS and Build/Buy items. Everything in this pack is super versatile and usable across all types of gameplay. Brindleton Bay is also my favorite world in the game, delivering perfectly cozy beachside vibes.
1) Seasons
Since it first launched on June 18, 2018, Seasons has been considered one of the greats. This pack has many features that feel fundamental, like weather, holidays, seasonal activities, and so much more. The CAS and Build/Buy are great, but gameplay is where this one truly shines.
The only downside of this pack is that it doesn't come with a world. All of the other features are so good, though, that it still gets the coveted number one spot. If you can only get one expansion pack, and you're seeking the most well-rounded, impactful one, you won't find a better option than Seasons.
The Sims 4 expansion packs ranked by CAS
For our CAS rankings, we've ordered the packs in terms of the overall most useful, flexible, and well-rounded collections. Some packs, like Horse Ranch and Island Living, feature more niche fashion, so even though they're ranked low, they're not necessarily bad, just less versatile.
The Sims 4 expansion packs ranked by Build/Buy
We're looking at Build/Buy in a similar way to CAS, so we're focusing on the overall versatility and usefulness of the items featured in each pack. There may also be some packs ranked lower here, like Island Living or Get to Work, with many useful items that work well for your particular needs.
The Sims 4 expansion packs ranked by gameplay
If you're solely looking for the packs that bring the most gameplay, here's how we'd rank the expansion packs. Depending on what you're looking for, some packs might fit your needs better than others. If you're really into Occult Sims, for example, packs like Life & Death and Enchanted by Nature might fit you best, while family-oriented gameplay Simmers would find more fulfillment with packs like Growing Together and High School Years.
The Sims 4 expansion packs ranked by world
If you're looking for the best world, here's how the worlds featured in these expansion packs rank. All expansions come with a fresh location to explore, except for Seasons. It also doesn't seem fair to really count Get to Work as having a world, since the "world" is just four lots meant for retail shops.
There are always new packs slated for release in The Sims 4, so we'll update our rankings as any new ones arrive, or as any bug fixes change how we view past ones.
The post Best Sims 4 expansion packs, ranked appeared first on Destructoid. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:16 AM
Fantasy FC Team 1 is coming soon to FC 26, and you can expect some fantastic cards in Ultimate Team.
So far, EA Sports has been largely tight-lipped about what's coming after Knockout Royalty. It appears that the ongoing promo will be a one-team affair, and Fantasty FC (or FC Fantasy) is all set to be the replacement.
Let's look at all the information that has already crept onto social media ahead of the official launch.
Table of contents
All FC 26 Fantasy FC Team 1 players
The full first team has been leaked ahead of the full launch.
Fantasy FC will feature dynamic cards eligible for upgrades. The upgrades will be based on certain stipulations that will likely depend on real-life football. If you have played Ultimate Team in the last few years, you'll have a fair idea about what to expect. The promo will feature Heroes alongside active footballers (as showcased in the list above).
FC 26 Fantasy FC Team 1 release countdown
The first team of the Fantasy FC promo will go live on Friday, Feb. 20. The new promo will replace the ongoing Knockout Royalty cards from packs. The following countdown will expire once the first set of Fantasy FC cards is added to the packs.
The countdown is based on the following times.
This is the usual schedule EA Sports follows with promo launches. While most of the cards will be available in packs, we should get new SBCs and objectives to complete. These will be alternate options to get the promo cards without relying on pack luck. We will know which cards eventually make it to the first week of the new promo on Friday.
The post All FC 26 Fantasy FC Team 1 players and release countdown appeared first on Destructoid. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:08 AM
SealChain Call of Blood is coming soon to PC, and it could be a good pick for those who love to spend their time with roguelike deckbuilders.
While there have been previous playtests, the full launch will offer additional features that we haven't been able to enjoy in the past. This guide will help keep track of the upcoming launch so that you can jump in the moment SealChain Call of Blood goes live.
Table of contents
SealChain Call of Blood release countdown
SealChain Call of Blood goes live worldwide on Friday, Feb. 20. The following countdown will go live once the game is released on Steam.
The countdown is based on the following timings.
The timings are based on the information available on SteamDB. I will duly update the timings if there is any change before the actual launch (unlikely at this hour).
What to expect from SealChain Call of Blood
SealChain Call of Blood is a roguelike where items can be combined to form chain reactions. You can also use them to create seals that grant you special effects. You have to use the power of the seals to cleanse the land of all the evils.
The core gameplay revolves around different items. How you use these items will depend on you and vary across runs. You can also use them to enhance your best options to raise your chances of winning your run.
You can also enjoy different playable characters, and all of them have unique builds, skills, armor, and weapons. Then, set up unique builds for your character, and bring them to complete world events that will help you get more rewards.
Unfortunately, the game doesn't have a demo to try out, but you can currently wishlist it on Steam.
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Destructoid Thursday, February 19, 2026 8:47 AM
Disney Dreamlight Valley often has secret prizes you can earn by navigating through long quest series. Mickey's trusty hound, Pluto, is one such reward, and he's by far one of the trickiest animals to find and meet.
If you're eager to get this pup at your side, you're going to have to put in quite a lot of work to make it happen. Recruiting him is a long process that requires you to check off many different missions along the way, so here's how to unlock Pluto in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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How to get Pluto in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Pluto is a quest reward Companion granted after completing a series of missions in DDV. He was added in the Feb. 11 update and won't be officially obtainable for a few weeks, as new missions tied to him are releasing on a weekly basis.
We'll provide updates here as all details surrounding his unlock process become available. So far, here's everything we know you need to have done to recruit him to your valley.
Unlock the Lady and the Tramp Realm
The first step in this process is to unlock the Lady and the Tramp Realm. If you have all other Realms unlocked, it'll cost you 13,000 Dreamlight to enter this one. The price may vary from this if you don't have all other Realms open, as the pricing scales based on how many doors you've opened.
Unlock Lady and Tramp
Once you've entered the Realm, get to work on all quests you get there to unlock Lady and Tramp. There are three missions you need to work through to unlock Tramp, and one additional one to recruit Lady.
Complete The Spaghetti Incident quest (Feb. 11)
After getting the iconic dog duo in your valley, you need to unlock and start a quest called The Spaghetti Incident. This is the first official mission in the quest series for unlocking Pluto. Here's what you need to do to start and work through it.
Complete the Life's a Meatball quest (Feb. 18)
The next mission you'll need to get done to unlock Pluto was unlocked on Feb. 18 and is called Life's a Meatball. This one asks you to visit the home of a canine villager to find some mysterious meatballs, then to explore three villager homes to clear away the meatball debris left in each. Here's what needs to be done throughout this quest.
Feb. 25 quest
A third main mission for unlocking Pluto drops on Feb. 25. This one will focus on finding some mysterious floating tomatoes around the valley and seems to be the last spaghetti ingredient we'll have to deal with.
Acquire all Mementos
When it comes time to actually get Pluto, you'll need to have obtained all available Mementos. There are five of them from your past adventures, plus the Well-Loved Dog Collar you found during the Meatballs quest with Lady and Tramp. Here's how to get each one.
Complete The Memento quest
Once you have all of the Mementos besides the Well-Loved Dog Collar, Merlin will send you some mail to start The Memento quest. All you need to do for this one is meet up with him and chat about the strange items you've acquired.
There's more to be revealed with the unlocking process for Pluto, but many of the key steps are already known, so you can get going on them to ensure you're ready to recruit him as soon as he's available. We'll update this guide with all the latest details as they become available, so check back here weekly to work your way through the next steps.
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Destructoid Thursday, February 19, 2026 8:42 AM
The Royal Envoy has all kinds of wacky missions for you to tackle in The Sims 4's Lost Legacies event, most of which help you learn more about the lore within the Royalty & Legacy expansion pack. One of the trickier quests you'll encounter asks you to inspect Cordelia's Statue.
There are many different statues around the various worlds you can visit, so finding the right one for this task is a fairly tough ask. Viewing it is easy enough once you know where to look, so here's how to inspect Cordelia's Statue in The Sims 4.
Where is Cordelia's Statue in The Sims 4?
Cordelia's Statue can be found at Municipal Muses in The Sims 4. This is a museum lot in Willow Creek that is specifically located near the bottom left corner of the map, among the row of community lots found in Crawdad Quarter.
The Cordelia's Statue item is a regular piece of furniture, which means you can technically find it in Build/Buy Mode and place it on any lot you like for the hefty fee of 1,400 Simoleons. For the purposes of the Lost Legacies event quests, though, you'll need to be at the Municipal Muses Museum to interact with it. Placing and attempting to inspect it anywhere else may cause the mission to glitch out, so ensure you're at the right spot before doing so.
If you replaced this lot with a different building, checking off the quest related to Cordelia's Statue may be tricky. You can try purchasing the statue, placing it down, and interacting with it to see if the quest works, but if it doesn't, you'll have to put in a bit more work to get the lot you need.
The first option is to place down the original Municipal Muses lot by finding it in the Gallery. If you don't want to change it out, though, you can also switch save files and give it a go with a different Sim. Either an old save file that has the original lot or a fresh one you start from scratch works for this purpose.
Inspect Cordelia's Statue in The Sims 4
You can inspect Cordelia's Statue by clicking on it and selecting the "Inspect" option. You must be at the Municipal Muses Museum lot to use this interaction and progress the event quest series. There are lots of different statues and art pieces on display here, so another tough part of this mission, after tracking down the right lot, is finding the right statue.
Cordelia's Statue is a simple, light tan bust of a woman that can be found sitting on a black pedestal on the first floor of the lot. It's close to a window, next to a knight statue, and right underneath some sword and shield wall decorations. As soon as you enter the front door of the building, turn right to spot it in the corner nearby.
Now that you're done investigating Cordelia's Statue for the Royal Envoy from Ondarion, you can move on to other key quests. If you're unsure what to work on next, consider winning a chess match against the Royal Envoy, finding the Blacksmith, and completing the Tangible Traces quest.
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Destructoid Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:53 AM
Scar stole and hid Tramp's Bones, and it's up to you to recover them in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Lady helps you a bit along the way in her Getting on Like Cats and Dogs quest, but it's mostly up to you to find them.
Like many scavenger hunts you'll encounter around the village, this one comes with a few vague clues to solve. Each one points to a specific location around the valley, but figuring out where each clue wants you to go can be pretty tricky. If you're unsure where to look, here's where to find Tramp's Bones in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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Tramp's Bones locations in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Tramp's Bones can be found in golden ripple spots at Dazzle Beach, the Glade of Trust, and in the Forest of Valor. The hints you're given to find the precise location of each one are as follows.
Each Tramp Bone must be fished up using your Royal Fishing Rod. You can also equip the Substitute Snout you unlocked during The Jailbreak quest to spot a few scent trails you can follow to each location, but since the valley is rather large, it can still be rather difficult to find the right spot on your own. Here's precisely where you'll find each bone around the village.
Near the parent of glass where waves lap and turtles play in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The near the parent of glass where waves lap and turtles play clue refers to the Dazzle Beach biome. The Sand you dig up from here can be converted into Glass, thus making the Dazzle Beach biome the "parent of glass." Along the beach, you'll also encounter Sea Turtles near the ocean.
Tramp's Bone is specifically located in a golden bubble spot near Ariel's boat, just off of Skull Rock island. You can distinguish it from other ripple spots thanks to the pointy white bone sticking up out of it. Equip and use your Royal Fishing Rod to get it.
Swimming deep in mud and muck, where crocodiles roam in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The second clue mentions swimming deep in mud and muck, where crocodiles roam, which refers to the Glade of Trust biome. This swampy biome is home to plenty of mud, muck, and Crocodile critters. Tramp's Bone in this region is located in the massive ancient ruins water pool near the northern end of the biome. I found the ripple spot for it near the very right edge of the water.
Seek the border between forest and frost and the gift that snow grants to flame in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The final clue tells you to seek the border between forest and frost and the gift that snow grants to flame, which hints at the edge of the Forest of Valor biome close to the Frosted Heights. To find Tramp's Bone here, head to the water pool sitting near the north end of the Forest of Valor, right beneath the waterfall that's in the Frosted Heights biome. This is also the pool located directly next to Elsa's icy cave house.
Now that you've found and recovered all three Tramp Bones, you can continue working through the Getting on Like Cats and Dogs quest. When you're done with it, there are plenty of other missions worth tackling next around the village, like the Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness quest, unlocking Pluto, and finding all Lady and the Tramp Realm secret bone locations.
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Destructoid Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:04 AM
The Last Chieftains DLC has been a pretty massive addition to Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, and it brings plenty of new civilizations to enjoy.
There are three new civilizations that you can access with the help of the DLC. But that's not all, since eight new unique units are also part of the DLC. Themed around South America, let's look at all the major aspects of the new DLC.
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All new civilizations in Age of Empires 2 The Last Chieftains
If you get The Last Chieftains DLC, you can play as the Mapuche, the Muisca, and the Tupi. All three civilizations have their roots in South America, and the cultural influence shows in the buildings and design elements.
All three civilizations also have their own campaigns that you can complete as part of the DLC.
All unique units in Age of Empires 2 The Last Chieftains
The table below has information on all the unique units and how they can be obtained.
That's pretty much all you need to know about the eight new unique units. Overall, the Lost Chieftains DLC is a strong enough reason for you to try out Age of Empires 2: DE once more.
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Destructoid Thursday, February 19, 2026 6:57 AM
Lady and Tramp have settled into the village nicely in Disney Dreamlight Valley, but the latter has perhaps gotten a bit too comfortable with his new home. In the Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness quest, you're tasked with helping Tramp clean up a bit.
Helping Tramp and the valley become squeaky clean again is a pretty big task, so you may need some help working through it. If any part of this mission has you stuck, here's a complete walkthrough for the Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness quest in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
How to complete Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Go inside Lady and Tramp's House
To get things going for this mission, head to Lady and Tramp's home to see the mess Tramp mentioned when you first unlocked this mission. Inside, chat with Lady to learn about what's been going on and why there's a mess around their home.
Use your Royal Watering Can to clean up the mess in Lady and Tramp's House
Now that you understand the situation, it's time to get to work remedying it. Equip your Royal Watering Can and walk over to the living room area in Lady and Tramp's home. Water the four stinky spots around the area and pick up the four special soils that drop from them.
Talk to Daisy inside her house
Lady and Tramp's home is clean, so you can shift your focus to helping Tramp himself get cleaned up now. Visit and chat with Daisy in her home to see if she can help out with the situation.
Her house is wherever you previously decided to place it, either in the main village or a DLC world. If you're not sure where you placed it, look for the house icon with a purple circle around it, as her residence is marked once you get to this stage of the mission.
Plant the flower seeds that Daisy gave you
Daisy's willing to help Tramp out, but she needs some special flowers to help get him clean. Take the Fragrant Hydrangea Seeds and the Fragrant Purple Rising Penstemon Seeds from her, exit the building, and plant five of each. Water them, then wait five minutes for them to bloom.
Harvest the Fragrant Flowers for Daisy
Once the flowers are done growing, harvest all 10 Fragrant Hydrangeas and Fragrant Purple Rising Penstemons. Then, return to Daisy in her home to pass her the flowers. She's got the materials she needs to help make him smell better, but not a place to wash him.
Order an Edwardian Dog Bath from Scrooge
Daisy needs a place to clean Tramp, so head to Scrooge McDuck's shop to see what he has available. Purchase an Edwardian Dog Bath by talking to him, selecting the "I'd like to order or sell some items" option, choosing Furniture, clicking on the Tramp quest icon, and spending 1,380 Star Coins to unlock it. Head back to Daisy's house to give it to her once you've got it.
Put the Heavy-Duty Dog Shampoo in the Edwardian Dog Bath
Interact with the sparkling Edwardian Dog Bath in the middle of Daisy's home and place the Heavy-Duty Dog Shampoo she gave you in it. The bath is now ready for her to use, so you can shift your focus elsewhere.
Gather ingredients for Mike's cologne
Mike is disappointed that Tramp is getting a clean, as the smell of wet dog is quite a commodity in Monstropolis. To help him feel better, you decide to craft a special cologne for him, so you now need to gather the ingredients for Mike's cologne.
Cook the Eau-de-Chien-Soggy
With all of the required ingredients now gathered, head to a cooking station to make the Eau-de-Chien-Soggy for Mike. Toss in one Clam, one Seaweed, one Infused Rich Soil, and one Wet Fur to make this strange recipe. Then, track down Mike around the valley to give it to him.
Go see Daisy inside her house
Head back to Daisy's house to check up on the progress. Chat with Tramp inside to see how he's feeling and officially finish the Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness quest now that he's cleaned up. You also unlock the Edwardian Dog Bath as a reward for your hard work.
There are plenty of other missions worth tackling after checking this one off. If you're unsure what to work on next, consider starting the process for unlocking Pluto, completing the Life's a Meatball quest, finding all Lady and the Tramp Realm secret bone locations, and completing the Canine Cuisine quest.
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Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, February 19, 2026 11:24 AM In a recent livestream. The post God of War Voice Actor Teases New Details On Upcoming Games appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, February 19, 2026 9:30 AM According to Todd Howard. The post The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Developed on Creation Engine 3 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:50 AM Announced on social media. The post Destiny 2: Shadow and Order Expansion Delayed appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:19 AM According to Bethesda Creative Director Todd Howard. The post Starfield News is Coming "Soonish," But Starfield 2.0 Is Not Planned appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
MonsterVine Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:00 AM The demo for Witchspire will launch next week on Steam, alongside a brand-new gameplay trailer, just in time for Steam Next Fest, which runs from February 23 through March 2. The open-world survival craft adventure featuring multiplayer co-op and creature collecting has already surpassed 100,000 wishlists on Steam, with more than 80,000 players signing up […] |