GamersHeroes Monday, June 16, 2025 8:38 PM Players will be able to master new Arcana and elements, experiment with spell combinations, and become the next Wizard of Legend with the full release of Dead Mage and Humble Games' Wizard of Legend 2. The post Fast-Paced Roguelite Wizard of Legend 2 Full Release Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, June 16, 2025 5:15 PM Time is running out to back Clever Cat Games and Mega Cat Studios' 8-bit musical adventure Echoes of the Unread - with 48 hours to go, see what's to come with this page-turning Kickstarter. The post Echoes of the Unread Entering Last 48 Hours on Kickstarter appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, June 16, 2025 4:44 PM The development team at Kabam has announced that its popular fighter Marvel Contest of Champions is officially launching on Steam June 18. The post Marvel Contest of Champions Launching on PC June 18 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, June 16, 2025 3:59 PM Big Hops Interview – Luckshot Games' Chris Wade Talks Speedrunning Community, Stellar Team, and More Gamers Heroes recently spoke with Luckshot Games' Chris Wade on Big Hops' froggy adventure, talking everything from its community to its dream team to even its fantastic voice over work - learn more with our interview. The post Big Hops Interview – Luckshot Games' Chris Wade Talks Speedrunning Community, Stellar Team, and More appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, June 16, 2025 3:39 PM Just in time for the chill summer vibes, Monster Couch's award-winning strategy card game Wingspan is arriving on a new continent with today's release of the Wingspan: Asia Expansion across all platforms. The post Wingspan: Asia Expansion Now Available on All Platforms appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, June 16, 2025 3:37 PM For those looking to go even further beyond in Niantic's Pokemon GO, the new rare item Gold Bottle Caps will allow players to increase the HP, Attack, and Defense of a Pokémon that is a Great Buddy or higher through Hyper Training. The post Pokemon GO Gold Bottle Caps Revealed appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Monday, June 16, 2025 6:00 PM  Remember that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake Ubisoft announced back in 2020? The one that was supposed to launch four years ago? Well, it's still in development according to a new update from the publisher after the game was a no-show during Summer Game Fest. |
Kotaku Monday, June 16, 2025 4:30 PM  It took hackers over a year to jailbreak the original Switch, but the Switch 2 has one vulnerability its predecessor didn't: backwards compatibility. Some new console owners have already tried to use a type of flash cartridge associated with the piracy of Switch 1 games on their Switch 2 consoles, and were promptly… |
Kotaku Monday, June 16, 2025 3:46 PM  Marvel just can't help itself. The house that Stan Lee built (and Kevin Feige turned into a mega mall of blockbusters) has been mashing characters from different universes together and making villains out of heroes for the better part of this decade. But this time, the comic book powerhouse may have gone off the deep… |
Kotaku Monday, June 16, 2025 3:30 PM  For over a year now, online retailer Amazon hasn't directly sold new first-party Nintendo games or accessories. It also skipped out on the Switch 2 launch. But over the weekend, the situation changed, and now some first-party Switch 2 games and accessories are available on the retailer. |
Kotaku Monday, June 16, 2025 2:45 PM  Cyberpunk 2077 is a huge game with a big map and a lot of noise in the margins, and that's before you even account for its excellent Phantom Liberty expansion. It has a myriad of side-quests, and frankly they vary in quality; the peaks and valleys of Night City become increasingly apparent as you spend more time… |
PCGamesN Monday, June 16, 2025 6:32 PM WWII was one of the deadliest human conflicts in history. The scale of the devastation is mind-boggling to consider. But these grave facts have not prevented generations of comedians, artists, and game developers from getting silly with it. Heroes of Valor is a more absurd take on the chaos of Battlefield: 1942. It's a class-based team shooter in the spirit of Team Fortress 2. The game recently launched into early access and currently has a "very positive" rating on Steam. Continue reading Chaotic new multiplayer shooter is a WW2 version of Team Fortress 2 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best war games, Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Monday, June 16, 2025 6:13 PM Looking for the latest Steal a Brainrot codes? Taking clear cues from Grow a Garden, this new Roblox experience dismisses the idea of patience, perseverance, and the rewards that follow and instead has you steal the hard work of others. It's poetic in a way. So much so that we're not sure what to make of it. But freebies are freebies, and that's what Steal a Brainrot game codes are good for. But players are loving it. While it's far from meeting the lofty concurrent player goals of its inspiration like Grow a Garden codes or Blox Fruits codes, it's putting Brainrot Evolution codes on high alert. Already certain it's not the one for you? Consider trying out Blue Lock Rivals codes instead. That's a Roblox game with an idea that copycats are struggling to replicate. Continue reading Steal a Brainrot codes June 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Monday, June 16, 2025 5:41 PM Have you ever wanted Fallout to be more chaotic? A chance encounter with a deathclaw can get pretty hairy, but the VATS system in modern Fallout allows you to take a beat, get acquainted with the situation, and undertake the perfect reaction. The original games had turn-based tactics. What if you could wander the waste with no other recourse besides your preparation and your trigger finger? Atomic Exile mixes the chaos of any good twin-stick or extraction shooter with the methodical and granular systems of an RPG. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best apocalypse games, Best survival games, Best games like Fallout |
PCGamesN Monday, June 16, 2025 4:50 PM It's odd to say about such a critically-acclaimed game (at least after multiple overhauls) but Cyberpunk 2077's combat is underrated. It may not have the multifaceted depth of Deus Ex, but it is expressive and exhilarating, the obvious product of multiple years of thoughtful iteration. However, the scrappy, claustrophobic feeling of the game's early hours quickly give way to absolute domination as you gain ever more powerful abilities. Parkside: Decayed Soul Manipulation, an upcoming indie game from developers Banana Hardsoft, promises to up the ante on scrappy chaos, and you can play the demo now. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best upcoming games, Best old games |
PCGamesN Monday, June 16, 2025 3:40 PM After the success of Avowed, a first-person RPG set in the same universe, it is hard to know whether a third isometric Pillars of Eternity game will ever come. But if it does, one of its key architects has given us a peek of what it could look like. In a new interview with RPG designer and writer Josh Sawyer, he discusses his vision for what Pillars of Eternity 3 could be, and it sounds a lot like Baldur's Gate 3. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Pillars of Eternity 2 release date, Pillars of Eternity 2 companions, Pillars of Eternity 2 cities |
PCGamesN Monday, June 16, 2025 2:12 PM With games like Metal Gear Solid 5 and Splinter Cell, it's easy to think of stealth games as expansive, even bombastic affairs. The proliferation of open world stealth has meant an increased interest in massive toolsets and complex level layouts. That kind of clockwork design can be incredibly thrilling, just look at Hitman World of Assassination. But even the most elaborate games cannot forget the thrill of waiting in the shadows for the right moment to strike. Mark of the Ninja Remastered is a lean stealth classic because it focuses on the fundamentals. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, June 16, 2025 2:30 PM  NVIDIA's latest GPUs are here, and whatever you think about them, the combination of DLSS, Reflex, frame generation and more makes them impressively capable. |
Siliconera Monday, June 16, 2025 8:00 PM
HoYoVerse announced a collaboration between Fanta and Zenless Zone Zero in its native country of China. More details of the collaboration will appear later on. [Thanks, ZZZ_Goods!]
Images of Miyabi, Yanagi, and Harumasa promoting the event by holding cans of Fanta have appeared on Fanta's official Weibo page. Harumasa's post has him raving about how delicious Fanta tastes, as well as how it's been a hit at the Section 6 office. Miyabi is also a big fan of Fanta's flavor. She says that it tastes as good as a melon when she drinks a can after an operation. Finally, Yanagi wonders if red bean buns would taste good with Fanta.
Miaybi, Yanagi, and Harumasa, the poster characters so far for the Fanta collaboration, are both playable units who hail from the Section 6 faction in Zenless Zone Zero. The popularity of the faction (as a whole and as individual characters) has seen them appear in multiple real-world promotions for the game. Back in December 2024, FamilyMart in Japan released exclusive merchandise of the characters, as well as decorated some stores with giant stickers of them.
Zenless Zone Zero is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. More details of the Fanta and Zenless Zone Zero real-life collaboration event will appear later.
The post Fanta Zenless Zone Zero Event Heads to China appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 16, 2025 7:00 PM
We got a better look at the next Resident Evil Nendoroid during Smile Fest 2025, as Good Smile Company shared an update on the Ada Wong figure. There's no release window for it yet. However, a painted prototype of the character appeared showing what we can expect from the release. This means she's so far along in development that pre-orders will likely open within a few weeks.
The announcement offered a look at one pose that will be possible with the final figure. She'll wear her red dress with pistol harnesses for the figure, and she still has her long black boots. She'll have only one hair part, which shows her short hair cut. Only one face plate appeared in the example, showing her with a small smile. She'll also come with a handgun that she can hold.
Here's the first photo of the painted prototype.
Ada Wong has been a part of the Resident Evil series since the second game. While she has yet to be the main character in an installment, she is sometimes playable. This happened in both Resident Evil 2 and 4 during certain parts and scenarios.
This marks the third Nendoroid based on characters from the series. The first one was Chris Redfield. That launched in March 2017. A Leon S. Kennedy one followed in June 2024.
There's no release window for the Resident Evil 4 Ada Wong Nendoroid yet, but given she is in the painted prototype phase we should see pre-orders for the figure open in the next few weeks. The original game can be found on the PS2, PS3, PS5, Switch, GameCube, Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. There's also a version on the Meta Quest 2. The remake can be found on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices.
The post See the Resident Evil 4 Ada Wong Nendoroid appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 16, 2025 6:00 PM
Good Smile Company used Smile Fest 2025 to reveal its next Junji Ito figure will be a Nendoroid of the character Tomie. She's been the star of multiple movies and short stories. There's no release window for the character yet.
Since this figure is so early in development, we have no idea what she'll look like. The announcement only included official art of Tomie by Junji Ito. It does suggest that this could be another monochromatic figure. That happened with the first Nendoroid based on one of his characters. The Kirie Goshima Uzumaki one ended up being a greyscale figure. The same happened with the Pocket Curse series of figures.
Here's the official image announcing the next Junji Ito Nendoroid:
While the Tomie Nendoroid will be the first figure from Good Smile Company, another one appeared recently. In May 2025, a Yoshiki Fujimoto one was sold by Mamegyorai. That was a scale figure that was over 10 inches tall.
Most recently, we saw Tomie appear in Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre. The Netflix anime featured an episode dedicated to her called "Tomie・Photo."
The Tomie Nendoroid is in development, and there's no release date for the Junji Ito figure yet.
The post Next Junji Ito Nendoroid Is a Tomie Figure appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 16, 2025 5:00 PM
During Smile Fest 2025, Good Smile Company shared an update on Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight figures of the heroes Makoto Yuki and Ren "Joker" Amamiya. Both are now in the unpainted prototype stage. Only one photo was shared to show the both of them on the official site. We don't know when final version will debut.
As this is based on the dancing game, both Makoto and Ren wear casual outfits for these figures. They each feature active poses that make it look as though they are dancing. The bases feature nods to the Moonlight and Starlight subtitles. However, both also feature the generic "Hero" name on the base instead of the canon names for the characters. It is unknown if the two are attached at the bases, or if they'll be able to be purchased and poses separately.
Here's the first unpainted prototype photo of the two:
A number of other characters from these spin-off games. In the past, Aigis, Ann Tamaki, Makoto Niijima, Morgana, and Rise Kujikawa ones showed up.
This is one of many announcements from Smile Fest 2025. Another one offered a look at the Snow Miku figure that pairs the Vocaloid with the Sanrio mascot Kuromi. That's a bit further along in development than this figure, however. A painted prototype of it showed up at the event.
The Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight figures of the heroes Makoto Yuki and Ren "Joker" Amamiya are in development, and there's no release window for either one yet. Both games appeared on the PS4 and Vita worldwide.
The post New Persona 3 and 5 Dancing Hero Figures in Development appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 16, 2025 4:00 PM
Studio Trigger shared the release date for New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt on social media, as well as confirmed Amazon Prime Video will be the streaming home for the anime. It will begin airing worldwide on July 9, 2025. New episodes will appear every Wednesday.
Here's the most recent New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt anime trailer, which confirms the Amazon Prime streaming release. It's only available in Japanese. In addition to Panty, Stocking, Garterbelt, Brief, Scanty, and Kneesocks, new characters Polyester and Polyurethane appear.
This marks a change from the original Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. That can be found on Crunchyroll. However, physical copies of the series on Blu-ray and DVD can be found on storefronts like Amazon too. The DVD version will be more expensive, since that first released in 2012. However, the original series costs $29.98 normally on Blu-ray, since that first debuted in 2019.
There is also a manga available outside Japan via Dark Horse Manga. That debuted in 2015. That Gainax and Tagro series is usually $2.99 digitally and $11.99 physically.
This is the second particularly notable anime series to only appear on Amazon Prime Video. We learned Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX would only appear there as well.
New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt will debut on July 9, 2025, and it will be streaming on Amazon Prime.
The post New Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt Anime Will Be on Amazon appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 16, 2025 3:00 PM
Back during WonHobby 39 in February 2025, Good Smile Company announced it would make a Hatsune Miku figure of her Snow Miku variety that also included the Sanrio character Kuromi. At the time, only an unpainted prototype showed up. Now that it's closer to its launch and Smile Fest 2025 appeared, we know exactly how it will look. A first photo showed up on the official site.
This Snow Miku and Kuromi model will be a scale figure with no additional parts or pose options. Miku will be wearing an outfit in a darker shade that matches the Sanrio character's design. She'll also be holding the character in her right hand. Her Yukine rabbit mascot will appear on the ground beside them.
Here's the official photo of the prototype of this Hatsune Miku Kuromi figure.
This is part of an ongoing line of Hatsune Miku figures and merchandise with the character and Sanrio mascots, with the first featuring Cinnamoroll. A Standard scale figure and a Nendoroid appeared. Since then, we've also seen other Vocaloids paired up with other Sanrio characters for stuffed toys and shirts.
There's no release date for the Snow Miku Kuromi figure, but we could see pre-orders open in the next few weeks due to it already passing the painted prototype stage.
The post See the Snow Miku Kuromi Figure appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Monday, June 16, 2025 6:23 PM
Nexus Mods' long-term owner is selling the site and stepping down from his position, he announced in a Monday post. Two new people are to take the helm, known only as Foledinho and Rapsak (Victor and Marinus, respectively), with the owner assuring minimal changes. However, the community doesn't seem all too thrilled.
"After almost 24 years of running Nexus Mods, the time has come for me to step back from the day-to-day management of the site," Nexus Mods' founder Dark0ne wrote in the June 16 community update. He said that while the site has been a passion of his for over two decades, the "strain of being responsible for the behemoth I created has taken its toll." Thus, he would be selling the site to two new owners, which Dark0ne believes are "the exact right people for the task."
Both Foledinho and Rapsak have been long-term gamers and tech enthusiasts and, as Dark0ne says, "they give a damn" about the site and its community.
"They have my complete trust, and I'm incredibly proud to be bringing them onboard," Dark0ne declared at the end of the update.
The reactions to these new changes have been all but positive. The comments under Dark0ne's update were so negative that the moderators decided it was best to shut them off altogether.
"I hope nexus doesn't just start allowing AI slop mods," one user wrote, while some others were skeptical of who exactly is taking over the site. No company is mentioned in the post, nor are many details given of the new owners, leading users to speculate on things not being as clear-cut as Dark0ne presented them.
According to a Resetera thread, the company that acquired Nexus Mods goes under the name Chosen, a gaming and tech business scaling firm. Being specialized in growing businesses and income leaves many skeptical of what the future of Nexus Mods might look like, with some fearing the introduction of additional paywalls and monetization.
"Pretty concerned for the future of the site. Selling it to some finance tech bros does not instill any confidence," one user remarked.
A lot of the "positive" comments under the post were jabs aimed at Dark0ne himself. Many accused Dark0ne of ruining the website, thanking him for departing and expressing relief that censorship might go alongside him. A lot of politics played into the discussions as well, with the words "woke" and "alt-right" cropping up all over the place as two sides bickered over Dark0ne's legacy.
Whatever the outcome of this venture, Nexus Mods will likely continue to be a dominant platform for modders and community creators for years to come. Even if it doesn't, the gaming community has proved resilient time and time again, and will probably make due with some new platform down the line.
The post Nexus Mods owner sells site, assuring minimal changes—but not everyone is convinced appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, June 16, 2025 6:11 PM
Destiny 2's Rite of the Nine event brought an arsenal of 12 weapons for players to farm ahead of the game's next expansion. The limited-time celebrations bring new firearms with some of the best perks for their categories, giving you a little something to keep busy before Edge of Fate's release.
If you're looking for the best Rite of the Nine weapons in Destiny 2, we've ranked all the event's drops below—including nine you should farm and three that may not need your hard-earned Nonary Manifolds. None of the weapons in this event are truly bad, but some of them pale in comparison to alternatives, and you're bound to earn enough of all weapons if you're playing the event consistently.
All Rite of the Nine weapons, ranked
Cold Comfort
The once-king of rocket launchers is back on the menu for Rite of the Nine with a couple of new tricks. This was one of two best-in-slot heavies once Bait and Switch moved out of Vow of the Disciple's weapons. Though Vault of Glass' Hezen Vengeance is on the top of the food chain these days, the new Rite of the Nine event gave Cold Comfort Envious Arsenal and Reconstruction on the third column, with Bait and Switch and the newly minted Elemental Honing as options to pair with them.
Judgment
Hand cannons are always a popular weapon in Destiny 2, and Judgment doesn't stray from that pattern. This weapon made waves when Prophecy loot was reissued in Season of the Wish, and the new perk pool from the event gives it a little bit more room to shine with the addition of perks that weren't readily available then.
Demolitionist, Headstone, and Rapid Hit are great choices for column three, with Rimestealer as a particularly synergistic option for builds that use Stasis. Paracausal Affinity is also a tried-and-true weapon buff in most scenarios, and you can always get Timed Payload or Adrenaline Junkie as backup options. A couple of PvP options also appear in Lone Wolf or Keep Away matched with Opening Shot or Precision Instrument.
Greasy Luck
Greasy Luck's new form is the most recent Solar glaive in the game—though before the reissue, its base version was also the latest addition to that category. The new Greasy Luck gets Beacon Rounds, Reconstruction, and Heal Clip as new additions in the third column, while Redirection, Chain Reaction, and Sword Logic are the flagship new traits in column four.
No Survivors
If you were fond of this Solar SMG, the Rite of the Nine version might make you love it even more. New combinations include Heal Clip, Rewind Rounds, or Attrition Orbs paired with Master of Arms or Sword Logic. Demolitionist and Incandescent have been on the table since this gun released, so if you're lucky with your Holofoils, you can get a weapon with Demolitionist/Heal Clip and Master of Arms/Incandescent. What a dream.
A Sudden Death
The Rite of the Nine version of this shotgun has plenty to chase, including the pairing of One-Two Punch and Trench Barrel (which are mutually exclusive in the dungeon's base version). Envious Assassin, Slideshot, and Discord also make for strong perks in column three. The second part of this deadly recipe includes Trench Barrel, Redirection, Paracausal Affinity, or Destabilizing Rounds. It could be hard to decide.
Prosecutor
Prosecutor was a good weapon before Rite of the Nine, but it got a little better with the event. Subsistence and Attrition Orbs are new to the pool, but the real perks to watch out for are Paracausal Affinity, Onslaught, and Rolling Storm. Voltshot also works, but this is available in this auto rifle's regular version.
The weapon has a couple of downsides, though: the lack of Jolting Feedback hurts it compared to VS Pyroelectric Propellant from Vesper's Host, and a great roll—Dragonfly/Voltshot—is also present in the gun's base version. If RNG doesn't go your way, though, at least you can get a free Prosecutor with Rewind Rounds/Golden Tricorn from the chest by the Emissary.
Relentless
The Prophecy weapons made the cut in our rankings of the best Rite of the Nine weapons, and this Strand-aligned pulse rifle is no exception. It had a good perk pool in its own right, but the new event added amazing perks for both activity types. Rapid Hit/Desperado is available in the base prophecy pool and in this event, but Firefly, Tear, and Slice are new. Column four also has Paracausal Affinity and Elemental Honing, and PvP players can aim for Rapid Hit, Keep Away, or Lone Wolf alongside Headseeker, Closing Time, and even Desperado.
Long Arm
The first Legendary 120rpm scout rifle hasn't changed that much. Rapid Hit or Subsistence with Explosive Payload or Redirection have been staples of Long Arm's perk pool since Spire of the Watcher's release, but the reissued version also brings Dual Loader and Rolling Storm. Those in the Crucible can count on Lone Wolf paired with Precision Instrument or Keep Away.
Wilderflight
If you have a VS Velocity Baton from Vesper's Host or a Lotus-Eater from a Nightfall, you might want to focus your Nonary Manifolds in other Rite of the Nine weapons, assuming those two guns don't see changes with Edge of Fate's release. Wilderflight may not be the most exciting drop, but you can use Auto-Loading Holster with Destabilizing Rounds or Withering Gaze as a fire-and-forget way to spread debuffs on your enemies. Frenzy and Vorpal Weapon are good for most targets, and there's even Envious Arsenal if you'd like to slot this in your damage rotation.
Terminus Horizon
Terminus Horizon isn't a bad machine gun, but Destiny 2 has given a few good options for Arc weapons in that slot. Heresy's Watchful Eye is the newest on that list (and has a better archetype), and Song of Ir Yût from Crota's End has access to Bait and Switch. Still, Envious Arsenal/Jolting Feedback is nothing to scoff at, and you can use Precision Instrument if you're confident on your aim.
New Pacific Epitaph
New Pacific Epitaph didn't have the best perk pool at the time of its release, and Echoes' Lost Signal (a Wave-Frame grenade launcher) set out to accomplish far more than this weapon did. Rite of the Nine gave this weapon better perks, such as Chain Reaction and Elemental Honing on column four. If Lost Signal stays unchanged with Edge of Fate, it's probably worth saving your Nonary Manifolds for something other than New Pacific Epitaph.
Liminal Vigil
Liminal Vigil is a solid Stasis sidearm made better by the Headstone/Desperado combo. Since its release, however, a new competitor has emerged: Tinasha's Mastery, the Stasis-aligned rocket sidearm from Iron Banner that has arguably become the newest hot-ticket item in Destiny 2. Like most pistols, Liminal Vigil also struggles with range a bit, which can be an issue depending on your playstyle and the type of activity you're running.
If you're looking for a primary Stasis sidearm, aim for Headstone, Attrition Orbs, or Enlightened Action alongside Rimestealer, Desperado, Kill Clip, or Desperate Measures. For the Crucible, Lone Wolf and Tap the Trigger might be good, with Rangefinder and To the Pain as options alongside some other perks.
The post Best Rite of the Nine weapons in Destiny 2 appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, June 16, 2025 5:58 PM
With the launch of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach just around the corner, I decided it was high time to try out the original game. And, after playing for about 10 hours, I have to admit that I was dreadfully wrong about it.
Back when the title first came out (nearly six years ago, by the way), I followed all the mainstream gaming YouTubers and commentators that were memeing the hell out of it, giving me a very, very different first impression than most had.
I believed the title, young and dumb as I was, to be a janky mess that simply had a boring and unintuitive gameplay loop revolving around your walking around poorly mapped terrain to deliver packages, jankier still that you lost at every corner. Enriched by this recent experience, however, I don't believe this to be true one bit.
In fact, Death Stranding is some of the most fun I've had with a game since God knows when.
First of all, the jank delusion. I played the game on keyboard and mouse, and it features an amazing camera controller that at high fps and refresh rate is just so smooth to use. The game also performs fantastically, with my 6900XT outputting consistent triple-digit fps at 1440p, allowing for that smooth camera to be maintained at all times.
All the controls are very intuitive and snappy, further dispelling my wrongful conviction of its being super janky to play.
I'd be getting up early in the morning before my daily routine was set to begin and steal a few hours of the day to devote to trekking across a wrecked United States in the hopes of reconnecting what's left of it. The last time I did so was with Bloodborne in 2020, the only game I can think of that hooked me so strongly.
The very act of delivering packages across the map is incredibly soothing, particularly if you're locked in and focused on the game. You're walking, alone, over the deserted remnants of what was formerly a great nation, now infested with the souls of the dead that simply will not rest.
It's an exceptionally unique experience, especially elevated once that trademark Kojima Hollywood music kicks in and the camera zooms out, allowing you to really take everything in.
Speaking of the music, the songs chosen for this title are fantastic. From atmospheric to emotional, Kojima definitely put every single song into Death Stranding deliberately and for a good reason. Not one of them felt out of place, even though most of the music was recorded and published before the game was launched and that there isn't much of an OST there.
The cutscenes, though long and frequent, feel better than most of the movies I've watched in recent years. I'm well acquainted with Kojima's cutscene direction, having played through most of his Metal Gear titles before, but even so, the ones in Death Stranding seemed to me much more refined and as evolutions of Kojima's style.
There's also the genre that plays a very big part. Stuck somewhere between science fiction and fantasy, Death Stranding's genre is difficult to define. Whatever it may be called, it's some of the best stuff I've seen to date, and I sincerely hope the sequel is just as good.
In 10 days' time as of this article, we will have our hands on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach which, given its promotional material, should be bigger and better than the original game. And, having thankfully given this franchise a shot now, I simply cannot wait to see what Kojima has in store for us.
What about you, Destructoid? Have you played Death Stranding and are you planning to hop onto the seuqel? Let us know below.
The post I gave Death Stranding a chance ahead of its sequel—and man, was I wrong about it appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, June 16, 2025 5:15 PM
Marvel Snap's developer Second Dinner recently went totally independent recently, and if the game's latest limited time mode is any indication, there's going to be some growing pains.
For example, the fan-favorite mode High Voltage just went live in the card battler with a twist this afternoon. High Voltage Overdrive puts a wrinkle on the fast-paced, shorter mode by adding a bunch of random cards and effects into the equation, causing pure chaos and RNG.
The reception on the mode itself is mixed, but there has been universal anger in response to the game mode's shop prices. Players can purchase a couple of new, powerful cards using a currency earned in the mode (Volts), but the prices in the shop are astronomically high. And of course, the grind can be skipped entirely by using real world money to purchase the currency needed.
One of the new cards, Kid Omega, costs a whopping 50,000 Volts. Players can complete bounties every eight hours to earn 875 Volts for free, but bounties can be refreshed for 300 Gold (about $3), and there are some Volts on the event's reward track too.
The math is complex, but for now, it seems as though the new card cannot be earned without spending real currency, which is something the game elsewhere avoids. Avid players of the game are pretty upset by the development, with Snap's announcement about High Voltage Overdrive on Twitter/X being met with a lot of anger.
"I've been playing this for years but the corp greed is getting extreme and really off-putting," one player said.
"I truly want to know how you guys reach the decisions that get approved to get put out into the public, like who sees this shop and says 'YUP' this makes sense," said another gamer. "Went from hyped to absolutely not caring about the new cards."
I've played a whole heck of a lot of Snap myself over the past few years, and the seemingly insurmountable price of Volts for Kid Omega makes it seem not worth the grind, on top of the fact that I really do not like the randomness of Overdrive and miss the original High Voltage.
Unfortunately, it seems as though Second Dinner is standing its ground on the prices.
"Our ongoing goal with Limited Time Game Mode (LTGM) Shop rewards is to give players more control and flexibility over how they spend their earned currencies," said Second Dinner community manager Griffin Bennett in the game's official Discord. "Most rewards in the LTGM Shop will be fully earnable using LTGM currencies alone. However, some top-tier items may require additional gameplay in other modes to earn enough Gold to make up the difference. For example, Kid Omega from HV:O is priced in the Shop at a premium to that of a standard Series 5 card. Players who want to acquire it can use their earned Volts to reduce the cost by buying it directly and supplementing with Gold. Alternatively, players can use Gold to purchase bonus Mission Refreshes that help them earn more Volts."
Second Dinner is usually pretty receptive to feedback, so I'm hoping that a change or two will be made since the mode is only here until next Tuesday. Otherwise, I think I'll spend my time in another game for the time being.
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Destructoid Monday, June 16, 2025 2:34 PM
The Pro Edition and the Elite Edition for REMATCH are very similar in their structure, price, and content, but they do differ slightly.
If you want to jump in and enjoy the early access, you can go for either the Elite or the Pro Editions. However, the in-game bonuses offered by the two editions vary slightly, making it important to decide beforehand. You can't change your decision once you choose to go with a particular edition.
This guide will explain the exact differences between the two editions and help you make up your mind before your purchase.
Table of contents
All REMATCH Pro Edition Contents
The Pro Edition offers the base game and 72 hours of extra gameplay (already live). However, there are additional items you get for your in-game journey.
All REMATCH Elite Edition Contents
Again, this edition includes 72 hours of early access (already live) to the base game and certain extra items.
Which one should you get?
The Standard Edition of REMATCH is a good option if you don't care about cosmetics and are willing to sit out the next three days. You get everything required to enjoy the game, with the only loss being three days of less gameplay and enjoyment.
However, if you want in-game customization options with cosmetics, the Elite Edition is worth the money. You get two Captain Pass Upgrade tickets, which means more rewards from the season passes. If you go for standalone purchases of the pass, the difference between the Pro and the Elite Edition will cost more, and you won't get a few exclusive items that are part of the Elite Edition. Hence, either go with the Standard and save your budget, or go all-in and opt for the Elite Edition.
The post Rematch Pro Edition vs Elite Edition, explained appeared first on Destructoid. |
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