Jun 20, 16:00


GamersHeroes Friday, June 20, 2025 12:43 PM
    

As one of the highest reviewed Five Nights at Freddy's games to date, Mega Cat Studios' physical edition of Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit - done in collaboration with iam8bit - is now available.

The post Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit iam8bit Physical Editions Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Friday, June 20, 2025 11:53 AM
    

Celebrating its success, Funcom recently released a new accolades trailer for Dune: Awakening that highlights the exciting things people are saying about the title - including us!

The post Dune: Awakening Accolades Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Friday, June 20, 2025 11:38 AM
    

Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts' Apex Legends is ringing in summer with a mid-season update for Prodigy.

The post Apex Legends: Prodigy Mid-Season Update Announced appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 1:20 PM
    

Yes, it is officially summer as per the magical calendar. Blessed Litha to all who celebrate. You might have some fun stuff lined up given that the weather is…well, at least here in New York it's not terrible—yet. So maybe you want to go outside. Maybe you want to stay in? Either way, if you want to get some gaming in…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 1:10 PM
    

Playing in Mirror Mode is like racing on every Mario Kart course's slightly weirder twin, and it's back again in Mario Kart World. If you've already memorized every twist and turn of the game's courses and are looking for an extra challenge, flipping their layouts via Mirror Mode might spice up your gameplay—it just…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 1:01 PM
    

You wake up at 1 am to score a pre-order. You put yourself in manageable debt to finance it. You confirm the card on file is valid when it ships. You stay home to make sure UPS doesn't drop the package down an open manhole instead of your door. You make sure nobody stapled the goddamn receipt to the screen that's…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 12:35 PM
    

When I first heard about the actually real product Sprite + Tea, I was intrigued. I like tea. I like Sprite. In fact, I'd go as far as to say Sprite is one of my favorite soft drinks. But would this odd combo work? Would it be my new favorite drink on a hot Summer day? No. It sucks.

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 12:29 PM
    

The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally launched, along with the brand-new Mario Kart World. There are a lot of fresh mechanics to learn in this latest entry, but some returning features unfortunately don't have any proper clarification. Two great examples of this are Smart Steering and Auto-Accelerate. No worries if you're…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 12:15 PM
    

Magic: The Gathering's Beyond Universes crossover with Final Fantasy offers a beautiful trip down memory lane with some really cool Commander cards and deck synergies to boot. It has also made everyone lose their minds as the best-selling expansion in the card game's history sees prices skyrocket, including one…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 11:45 AM
    

Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is Atlus remaster of the classic 2006 PS2 game for modern consoles. With a complete battle system overhaul and fantastic quality-of-life features like fast travel and no more random encounters, Raidou Remastered is a much smoother adventure than it was almost 20…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 11:30 AM
    

Nintendo has a history of packing in tutorial games with some of their hardware, so players were reasonably frustrated to find that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour would run them $10. But while this tutorial-focused title should've probably just been included with the Nintendo Switch 2, it may still be worth buying for…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 11:06 AM
    

If you're a fan of previous Funcom titles, such as Conan Exiles, then you know the lore, while interesting in small doses, isn't the focal point. It's just the flavoring helping you immerse yourself in the sprawling landscape. In Dune Awakening, the story takes a high seat at the table, but it's still not the center…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 10:40 AM
    

Many Elden Ring Nightreign players, myself included, thought they were finally ready to call it quits on FromSoftware's multiplayer roguelike boss-raid generator. We defeated the Night Aspect. Maybe we even finished every achievement. It was time to walk away. Then, out of nowhere, the studio dropped its toughest boss…

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Kotaku Friday, June 20, 2025 10:05 AM
    

Newspapers have offered puzzles in some capacity for as long as anyone can remember, with crosswords being the most renowned. But when TheNew York Times bought Wordle at the start of 2022, things shifted up a gear. Only earlier this week, The Atlantic magazine announced it was launching daily challenges, and…

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PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 3:47 PM
    

FBC Firebreak, the multiplayer spin-off set in the world of Alan Wake and Control, tanked on Steam at release, but developer Remedy is promising major changes to come. In a new statement from the studio, it promises to overhaul the game's first hours and make progression less grindy. The statement was released alongside FBC Firebreak's first major patch, which implements some of these changes.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best FPS games, Best Game Pass games

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 3:09 PM
    

The basic premise of Chrono Odyssey, a gigantic fantasy MMO with a seamless open world, is far from unique. However, the game's time travel theme and its science-fantasy premise, where an eldritch force straight out of Alien hits a medieval world, give a special flavor in a crowded space. Evidently, Steam players have found it memorable. Since the playtest opened, Chrono Odyssey has hit an in-game peak of 64,886 players (as of publication), which is impressive for a closed playtest from an unproven developer.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMO games, Best open-world games, Upcoming PC games

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 1:21 PM
    

A debut trailer just dropped for the dark fantasy shooter Chains of Lukomorye, a gorgeous looking game which draws inspiration from the folkloric fantasy of Dark Souls and the wasted WW1 landscapes of Battlefield One. By wading into the Soulslike genre, as well as the cinematic, narrative-driven fare of PlayStation, the game is heading for crowded territory, but its detailed Slavic setting, its shooter sensibilities, and its dreamy, war-torn landscapes set it apart.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best story games, Best fantasy games, Best war games

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 12:23 PM
    

Monster Hunter Wilds is not doing well, at least not on Steam. This open-world game, the latest entry in Capcom's hugely popular series, has seen its Steam reviews plummet. Monster Hunter Wilds' recent rating is down to Overwhelmingly Negative and 2018's Monster Hunter: World has more concurrent players than Wilds.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Monster Hunter Wilds armor, Monster Hunter Wilds weapons, Monster Hunter Wilds review

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 11:50 AM
    

Are you a Once Human fan who wishes they could shake things up a little? Then you'll be happy to hear that  Starry Studio, developer of this post-apocalyptic survival game, has finally given players the ability to run their own official custom servers. That includes the ability to tweak its gameplay parameters, so that anyone joining the server has to play by these new private rules.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best open-world games, Best survival games

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 11:47 AM
    

The new Rimworld Odyssey DLC is about to transform how maps look and feel in the iconic base-building colony sim. The expansion introduces the ability to build your own gravship, opening up the ability to traverse to new lands, or even to poke up beyond the atmosphere and explore nearby satellites and asteroids. It also adds five more biomes, along with all manner of animals to be tamed, traded, or turned into snacks. In a new developer blog, Ludeon Studios explains how it's overhauling map generation to ensure that every trip looks completely different from the last.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Rimworld mods, The best games like Rimworld and Dwarf Fortress, RimWorld multiplayer guide

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 11:13 AM
    

Final Fantasy 14's Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida and Toshio 'Foxclon' Murouchi kicked off Live Letter 87 a bit differently than usual to showcase FF14 patch 7.3. The stream gave both responses to player concerns, and the info we've come to expect in terms of new quests, dungeons, trials, side content, and more that is coming in patch 7.3. There were some surprises in this Live Letter that players might not have been expecting, but since it's only the first such livestream for patch 7.3, the info was much more general than it will be for Live Letter 88, which will premiere about two weeks before patch 7.3, which is currently scheduled for early August.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMOs, FF14 Dawntrail review, FF14 Island Sanctuary guide

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 9:42 AM
    

When is the Clockwork Revolution release date? Clockwork Revolution is the latest game from InXile Entertainment, known best for its long-running Wasteland series. In this steampunk first-person RPG game, you have the ability to turn back time using a special device, capable of altering the course of history.

InXile is looking to blend its RPG game expertise with shooter mechanics, and we're all for it. Before you take your first steps in changing the city of Avalon, here's everything we currently know about the Clockwork Revolution release date, as well as all trailers and gameplay details revealed so far.


PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 9:26 AM
    

June 20, 2025: We searched for new Fragpunk codes.

What are the new Fragpunk codes? This 5v5 shooter breaks all the rules when it comes to traditional shooters, providing you with access to Shard Cards that let you drastically change the game on the fly. For example, you can strengthen your weapons to give you an edge in battle, or instantly regain health right after a tough encounter.

Let's be clear, our list of the latest Fragpunk codes won't make you any better at the FPS game. However, the in-game rewards they provide should make you look cooler, and really, isn't that all any of us want in life? If you do want to strengthen your fragging skills, check out our Fragpunk tier list to study the competition so you know what to look out for in combat. For now, here's our list of the active Fragpunk codes available right now.

Continue reading Fragpunk codes June 2025
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best roguelike games, Best multiplayer games

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 9:07 AM
    

June 20, 2025: We've combed through the UPD 27 announcement video for new Blox Fruits codes.

What are the new Blox Fruits codes? We've compiled a regularly updated list of all Roblox Blox Fruits game codes to redeem in-game freebies like XP boosts, free Beli, and stat resets for your pirate adventures. Need a boost to take on the increasingly tricky competition? We've got you covered.

Blox Fruits is one of the biggest Roblox games ever, thanks to its fun, anime-inspired pirate action. That said, it can be challenging to find new free codes, so we've done the hard work and listed all the active Blox Fruits codes in 2025, including any Update 23 and Blox Bulletin codes, below. Once you're up to date on the new Blox Fruits codes, consider checking out our ultimate Blox Fruits guide or our in-depth Blox Fruits tier list for the current meta.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 11:12 AM
    

June 20, 2025: Make sure to have your Grow a Garden stock trackers set up for new seeds set to drop with the Summer update.

What's the best Grow a Garden stock tracker Discord? These can save you from the mammoth task of logging into the game every 10 minutes to check for new seeds, tools, and pets. With stock changing several times per school period, the best way to avoid GoG fatigue is to semi-automate the process of panning for new plants.

New to the Roblox Grow a Garden trend? To jumpstart your allotment, take a look at the Grow a Garden codes and Grow a Garden value list. Both can help you avoid spending all your sheckles on crops that don't always deliver. We've ranked the best critters to set free on your farm in our Grow a Garden pets tier list, too.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 11:12 AM
    

June 20, 2025: Read up on the Grow a Garden summer update feature list ahead of tomorrow's release.

When is the next Grow a Garden update? Grow a Garden has quickly become the biggest Roblox game of all time with over two million active players. Fighting through the noise of anime RPGs and obbys, this tycoon game stands out in a field of its own thanks to its relaxing farming sim gameplay and idle progress.

Another reason for the Roblox game's immense popularity might be the creator's dedication to providing regular content updates. New Grow a Garden pets, seeds, mutations, and more are added every week, making it one of the best Roblox games around. If your garden is full of watermelons and bamboo right now, you might be wondering which new GaG seeds to grab during the next Grow a Garden update, so here's what we know so far

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 11:12 AM
    

June 20, 2025: Get ready for new mutations with tomorrow's Grow a Garden Summer update.

What are the best Grow a Garden mutations? Whether you want to build a garden that's perfect to show off to friends, or one that's designed to just make money, there are Grow a Garden mutations you'll want, others you'll want to avoid, and you'll need to know the effects one mutation might have when paired with another.

Since Grow a Garden works while you're not even playing, check out the best Roblox games around for something else to play while things grow. If you're open to quick recommendations of the biggest games around, check out the latest Blox Fruits codes or Blue Lock Rivals codes. Of course, be sure to check for new Grow a Garden codes, too.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 11:12 AM
    

June 20, 2025: We're looking toward this week's new Summer Grow a Garden update and any new pets it might drop.

What are the best Grow a Garden pets? With an ever-increasing number of pets and wild animals to have roaming your garden, it makes sense to question the best use of pet slots and which eggs to shell out your shackles on.

Need a free seed pack to use alongside the pets you have roaming around in the biggest Roblox game ever? Check out all of the Grow a Garden codes. And after you sow your seeds, get a head start in other popular Roblox titles with the latest Blue Lock Rivals codes or Climb and Jump codes. For more help in making money in Grow a Garden, check out our Grow a Garden values list.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 11:13 AM
    

June 20, 2025: We'll be updating the Grow a Garden value list with the Summer update this weekend.

Need a Grow a Garden value list? If you're wondering if it makes sense to bankrupt yourself by buying that super rare seed you've got your eye on, our list of Grow a Garden crop prices should help you out. Though weight, mutation, yield, and growth time all play a part in the value of a fruit, vegetable, or flower, there's some simple logic to keep in mind.

New to the world of Roblox horticulture? Check out the latest Grow a Garden codes for some free seeds to get you started. Once you've established your allotment, take a peek at the Grow a Garden seeds tier list to see what's worth ditching once your planting space starts to fill up with valuable perennials.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 8:20 AM
    

June 20, 2025: We added new HSR codes from the livestream event.

What are the new Honkai Star Rail codes? If you're just starting your adventure through developer HoYoverse's gacha RPG, you might be wondering if there are any freebies to give you a boost. Thankfully, HoYoverse has delivered, and we've got the complete list of working promo codes for you to redeem.

HSR codes are released periodically and often appear in livestreams and social channels ahead of major updates. These codes can net you some high-value currency, including Honkai Star Rail Stellar Jade, which you can use to pull the best characters from Honkai Star Rail banners. To save you time, we've collected all the latest promo codes in Honkai Star Rail, so be sure to check back regularly before they expire.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, Honkai Star Rail tier list

PCGamesN Friday, June 20, 2025 10:54 AM
    

Rematch, a multiplayer-focused soccer-sim from the developer of Sifu, is wiping the floor with the competition. This five-a-side footie game launched just a day ago and it's already hit a peak of 92,841 concurrent Steam players. That's 30,000 more than are playing EA Sports FC 25, the game's closest competitor. And between Steam, Game Pass and console, it's hit over one million unique players.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sports games, Best soccer games, Best multiplayer games

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, June 20, 2025 1:21 PM
    

Indie horror game developer Ruled are onto a nice little spree with their shortform Itch.io releases - seemingly, they are skipping from phobia to phobia. First there was Automatonophobia, a game that navigated the fear of subterranean golems, then there was Chrometophobia, a game dedicated to the fear of spending money, and also to the act of finding "grimbo" gibs for a delicious pie. What's next on the menu? Ah yes, scarecrows.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, June 20, 2025 12:23 PM
    

While the prospect The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered turning out to be a real thing had folks wondering what that might mean for Oblivion remake mod Skyblivion's release, Bethesda were quick quell fears of a shutdown.

Both sides have been openly chummy since that point, with the studio behind The Elder Scrolls even having the team of modders pop by for a visit around the time their project was being shouted out on the official channels. We've now learned a bit more about how that social call went and what the two sides chatted about.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, June 20, 2025 12:20 PM
    

Blood Message is a new singleplayer third-person action game from NetEase, publishers of Marvel Rivals and Naraka: Bladepoint. It follows the journey of a "nameless messenger" and his son across Tang dynasty China, and is laced with the "customs, culture, and rich history of the era". Amongst other sights and sounds, you will join an uprising in Shazhou, Dunhuang and tread the legendary Silk Road trade routes as you "etch a final tale of loyalty" into the helpless, screaming face of Unreal Engine 5.

I know absolutely nothing about any of these historical and cultural precedents, so I will frame things in terms of the mechanics and skits I recognise from opulent manly bonkfests like God Of War. You will: shimmy through narrow gaps, presumably so that the next area has time to load! Lift a huge sliding door so that your AI-controlled partner can scamper under it, bookending your progress! Mash somebody's mug into the woodwork while performing an environmental finisher! Topple over and slide uncontrollably through collapsing scenery! Remorselessly QTE a cartwheel while trapped beneath the speeding vehicle! There, now - between those two paragraphs, you don't even need to watch the following trailer.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, June 20, 2025 12:01 PM
    

I am getting a real kick out of Rematch. As a football game, its closest analogue isn't FIFA or eFootball, but a certain nitro-boosting sports 'em up that has been going for ten years. I've already seen it jokingly described as "Rocket League without cars." An infuriatingly accurate description that does half my job for me. My list of irritations with it is long. But there is something so compelling about the kick-by-kick play, each match a little drama, that I will gladly scrunch that list of complaints into a ball and toepoke it into a waste paper basket on the other side of the room. GOOOAAALLL!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, June 20, 2025 11:30 AM
    

I saw her in MindsEye. I saw her in minds, aye. I saw her in minds, why?

I don't know, but in MindsEye, I can't stop seeing her.

"Could have been worse," Robin Hood says to me, hours after I saw her, "At least she wasn't naked, on the toilet, or naked on the toilet."

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, June 20, 2025 10:22 AM
    

PC gaming hasn't seen much 3D hardware since Nvidia shuttered its goggles-based, Alec-damaging 3D Vision prospect in 2019. Death by lack of compelling use cases, or by VR coming along and doing the whole "S'like it's coming right at me" thing more comprehensively? Maybe a bit of both, but in any case, Samsung is having another go with its new Odyssey 3D gaming monitor. Outwardly resembling just another 4K IPS screen, its three-dimensification of select games involves collaborations with their original developers, with the final effect being delivered without the need for any glasses or headwear at all.

I recently had a go on the Odyssey 3D, and it's certainly a few steps up from yer dusty Nintendo 3DS. A combination of eye-tracking cameras and an internal array of lenticular lenses produces the 3D effect, maintains it as long as your head stays roughly centred, and at least for me, manages to avoid inflicting agony of the eyes or brain. It's impressive tech, though if it's to become a serious desk-topping option, the Odyssey 3D will need a lot more games to get on board with it.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, June 20, 2025 9:30 AM
    

To suddenly make a leviathan 4X strategy game like Victoria 3 free to play the day before the weekend is either an act of historic generosity or a masterstroke of cruelty. My dear friends at Paradox Interactive, I have literally just sent Nic my contributions to this weekend's What Are We All Playing round-up. And now, sirs and madams, you would have me reckon with approximately a century's worth of densely tabulated imperialism, optional child labour and people called Leopold.

Not only have I popped my monocle, sirs and madams, but my top hat has gone off like a volcano and my handlebar mustache has twisted itself into a pair of propellers, which are now flying me away into the sunset. I bid you good evening, sirs and madams! I say again: good evening and good night!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, June 20, 2025 8:47 AM
    

While prowling the ramparts of this year's Summer Game Fest, I rode a zipline to a broken attic window and snuck into a sealed chamber containing Thick As Thieves, the unofficial multiplayer Thief game from Otherside Entertainment. Also in the sealed chamber: celebrated Looking Glass dude and Deus Exman Warren Spector, who walked us through a hands-off demo of the PvPvE heisting sim.

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Twinfinite Friday, June 20, 2025 11:49 AM
    
Avoid deadly robots, hack every panel, and redeem Anchored codes to make it through every floor unscathed!

Twinfinite Friday, June 20, 2025 10:09 AM
    
Hone the secret techniques, master complex moves, and redeem New Eden codes to get the best possible stats!

Twinfinite Friday, June 20, 2025 8:26 AM
    
Anime Eternal codes are just what you need to be like *insert currently popular Shonen character*.

Siliconera Friday, June 20, 2025 3:00 PM
    

FFXIV Hrothgar and Viera Headgear Support Coming for More Hats

During the Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXVII stream, Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida and Global Community Producer Toshio "Foxclon" Murouchi stated more headgear support for FFXIV Hrothgar and Viera avatars will add new hat and helmet options. The different caps will start to be available in 7.3 when that debuts in early August 2025, and eventually those races will be able to wear helmets. That patch will also offer support for people who wear hoods, allowing their hair's bangs to show out from under them. 

In the showcase, Yoshida and Murouchi confirmed the expanded Hrothgar and Viera headgear support will start to roll out with more hats available when FFXIV 7.3 first appears. This applies to both the male and female versions of those avatars. In the case of the Viera, we'll also be able to toggle whether or not their ears will appear out of the top of the caps too, and that can be saved. 

Here are the initial screenshots showing some of the newly supported hats, as well as what it will look like if someone chooses whether or not to hide a Viera's ears.

As for the bangs visibility update, here are two comparison screenshots Yoshida and Murouchi shared that show the difference. In the first, no hair can be seen from under the hood. In the second, you can see hints at the characters' hairstyles.

Here's a gallery of all three slides from the Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXVII that went over the FFXIV Hrothgar and Viera headgear and hat options and bangs announcement.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and patch 7.3 will release in early August 2025. 

The post FFXIV Hrothgar and Viera Headgear Support Coming for More Hats appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, June 20, 2025 2:00 PM
    

Danganronpa V3 Kokichi Oma Nendoroid Debuts in 2026

During the June 2025 Nendoroid FUNS showcase, Good Smile Company showed off a nearly-ready Kokichi Oma Danganronpa V3 Nendoroid. Now we know he'll be here next year. He'll debut in Japan in January 2026, followed by a US release in Q2 2026. The character will cost ¥7,300/$48.99. Orders from the official storefront include a themed base with the game's logo and his name on it. 

Since Kokichi Oma comes with a removable hat and cape, the figure doesn't include any accessories for the character to hold. However, it comes with three face plates as usual. One features a standard, closed-mouth smile. Another is a wider, more enthusiastic smile with bright eyes. The final face plate looks a bit sneaky, as he has a smirk and narrowed eyes in it.

Here's how the Kokichi Oma Nendoroid looks, and Good Smile Company shared a photo of the Danganronpa V3 stand we can get with it. That stand is only available through the two first-party storefronts, and places like Amazon, AmiAmi, or Crunchyroll won't offer it with a purchase.

The Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Kokichi Oma Nendoroid will debut in Japan in January 2026, followed by a worldwide launch in Q2 2026. Pre-orders close on July 30, 2025. The game is available on the Switch, PS4, Vita, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices.

The post Danganronpa V3 Kokichi Oma Nendoroid Debuts in 2026 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, June 20, 2025 1:00 PM
    

Next FFXIV Chronicles of Light Volume 2 Book Debuts in 2025

Near the end of the Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXVII, a new FFXIV Chronicles of Light Volume 2 book appeared. This volume will be a collection of short stories consisting of ones released online for certain expansions, like Shadowbringers and Tales from the Shadows, or hallmark occasions, such as Tales Under the New Moon for the MMORPG's 10th anniversary. It will launch digitally worldwide on October 7, 2025, and Square Enix will release $24.99 English physical copies on December 16, 2025. 

There will be 30 FFXIV short stories in this collection, and they'll be compiled in a 304 page hardcover book. Of those, only four of them are entirely new for this release. The others all already appeared online on various official sites for the game. 

Here's a breakdown of which stories from each past releases are available, along with links to the pages online where you can read them ahead of this compilation. Note that there are spoilers in some of these tales. 

  • Tales from the Shadows that initially launched in 2020.

    • "One Name, One Promise"
    • "Echoes of Delusion"
    • "A World Forsaken"
    • "Through His Eyes"
    • "Small Mercies"
    • "A Dream Partnership"
    • "Ere Our Curtain Falls"
    • "An Unpromised Tomorrow"

  • Tales from the Twilight started appearing in 2021.

    • "The Burden of Duty"
    • "Her Father's Daughter"
    • "Set with the Sun"
    • "True of Heart"
    • "An Empty Throne"

  • Tales from the Dawn stories, which came up for the ninth anniversary in 2022.

    • "A Friendship of Record"
    • "In Pursuit of Knowledge"
    • "A Question of Life"
    • "A Question of Death"
    • "Days Gone by, Days Yet to Come"

  • Tales Under the New Moon that first debuted in 2023.

    • "As Azure Fades"
    • "Bringer of Shadow, Bringer of Light"
    • "In Storm's Wake"
    • "A Legacy of Hope"
    • "Whispers from the Dark"
    • "Footprints of a Traveler"
    • "An Abiding Aspiration"
    • The First of Many Festivals"

Here's a full look at the cover of FFXIV Chronicles of Light Volume 2.

The Final Fantasy XIV Chronicles of Light Volume 2 release dates for digital copies is October 7, 2025 and a physical book is December 16, 2025, and FFXIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. 

The post Next FFXIV Chronicles of Light Volume 2 Book Debuts in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, June 20, 2025 12:00 PM
    

Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast will appear in Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan has announced that it will add an expansion to its Minion Park on July 11, 2025. It will primarily add Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast, which will be known in Japanese as Minion Hachamecha Mission ~Path to the Supervillain~.

For the record, an attraction with the same name has also been available at Universal Orlando Resort. Participants will get to blast things with the E-Liminator X blaster as they strive to get the highest points to join the Vicious 6. But while the minimum height requirement of 122 cm (48") is applied universally, the Japanese theme park does not seem to have a restriction for hand-held infants as opposed to Orlando.

The Minion Park has been available in Universal Studios Japan for quite some time. The area has been primarily represented by two attractions: Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem (alternatively known in Japanese as Minion Hachamecha Ride) and Freeze Ray Sliders (Minion Hachamecha Ice). The aforementioned addition of the third attraction will expand the area size of Minion Park by around 1.4x.

Universal Studios Japan has also been known for hosting attractions themed after famous Japanese anime and game franchises. A Spy x Family VR roller coaster and an interactive attraction themed after The Apothecary Diaries will simultaneously appear temporarily from July 1, 2025, until January 4, 2026.

The Minion Park in Osaka's Universal Studios Japan will newly get Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction on July 11, 2025.

The post Universal Studios Japan Getting Minion Park Expansion appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, June 20, 2025 11:00 AM
    

Patch 7.3 for FFXIV Debuts in Early August 2025

During the Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer LXXXVII with Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida and Global Community Producer Toshio "Foxclon" Murouchi, the two confirmed the release window for FFXIV Dawntrail patch 7.3. It will arrive in early August 2025. The two also offered a brief summary of things we can expect to see when the 7.3 patch series starts to roll out. While general teases came up now, there's no exact schedule for updates yet and the next Letter from the Producer Live will continue to cover 7.3.

In order of the Yoshida and Murouchi reveals, here's a list of things we can expect to see in FFXIV patch 7.3.

  • New Main Scenario Quests (MSQ) will continue Dawntrail's story.
  • New Allied Society Quests for the Yok Huy will appear in Tural.
  • Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures will continue that side story.
  • A new dungeon called The Meso Terminal will appear.
  • A new Trial with Normal and Extreme difficulties will launch, but Yoshida didn't share its name.
  • FFXI Echoes of Vana'diel will be in the second part of FFXIV patch 7.3. It will feature a San d'Oria: The Second Walk Alliance Raid. Prishe appeared in the screenshots shared.
  • The Wreath of Snakes (Unreal) Trial will launch.
  • Vault Oneiron will be the new Treasure Dungeon.
  • The new Crystalline Conflict Arena Bayside Battleground will debut. 
  • New Crystalline Conflict tiers will be added. Going forward, they will be Unranked, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Crystal, Omega, and Ultima, with the top three determined by Crystal Credit.
  • Phaenna will be added as a new Cosmic Exploration Star.
  • Phantom Weapons will get Weapon Enhancement Quests.
  • A New Deep Dungeon called Pilgrim's Traverse will launch, and there will be a secret Duty tied to it.
  • Optional Chat Bubbles will be added in 7.3. The Whiteboard feature brought up when that was first introduced will be part of 7.4.

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 Patch 7.3 Debuts in Early August 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, June 20, 2025 10:00 AM
    

Honkai: Star Rail Fate/Stay Night Crossover Starts Mid-July

While we already knew the 3.4 Honkai: Star Rail update release date was July 2, 2025, now we know when exactly the Fate/stay Night crossover event begins. That won't be available immediately after maintenance is done and the patch is live. Rather, we need to wait until July 11, 2025 for it to start. However, it will be available through nearly three versions, only ending once 3.6 ends and patch 3.7 arrives.

We already knew that the Fate/Stay Night Servants Saber and Archer would both appear in Honkai: Star Rail once the event starts, with Archer also being given away for free. Now we know more about how the five-star units work and the storyline tied to them. Saber is a Destruction character that deals Wind damage with Excalibur. Her Core Resonance allows her to eventually attack again and refill Ultimate Energy. Archer is a Hunt character dealing Quantum damage who can enter a Circuit Connection state that lets him keep using his Skill repeatedly until Skill Points run out. Five-star Light Cones will appear for both of them.

The event will be tied to the Penacony area and involve our Trailblazer avatars being summoned to take part in Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail War. Servants from the region's past will be there, with Aventurine, Boothill, and Robin apparently appearing as additional Masters. While Lancer won't be a playable unit, the character will show up as part of the story. 

As for the rest of the update, 3.4 continues the Amphoreus adventure. That storyline is drawing to a close as we all head to the Vortex of Genesis to place a Coreflame. The first banners available when the version is live will be Phainon, Tribbie, Sunday, and Sparkle. The second half will feature Firefly, Blade, and Jingliu. Both Blade and Jingliu are getting updates in this patch, and there will be a costume called Spring Missive to buy for Firefly. The story skip function also appears in this patch.

Here's the trailer, which goes over both the 3.4 update and the Fate/Stay Night crossover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwj-WxggXcI

And here's the full 3.4 Special Program:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4OmLnWnmno

Honkai: Star Rail is available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Fate/Stay Night crossover event starts on July 11, 2025. 3.4 arrives on July 2, 2025.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Fate/Stay Night Crossover Starts Mid-July appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, June 20, 2025 9:00 AM
    

Preview: Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 Build Mysteries

I didn't quite know how I wanted to cover Deltarune's latest releases. We're at the point at which the game is a paid product. With the third and fourth chapters, a great deal of the story is here. But given it is still unfinished, a review didn't feel right. It really came down to my thinking about how many answers we got as of this latest launch, as well as new questions remained. Turns out, there's a lot. So for now, given how much of the story remains untold, instead it comes down to yet another preview. Deltarune Chapters 3-4 do even more to ensure the story seems fascinating and poignant, while introducing new gameplay mechanics via certain minigames.

Editor's note: There will be no Deltarune Chapters 3-4 story spoilers below.

With Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4, we're put in two interesting positions. In one, we're entirely in the Dark World dealing with Tenna's TV World and its associated minigames. There are some Light World elements to it, but it tends to focus on providing unusual gameplay experiences unlike ones we've seen in the title so far and some additional revelations about Darkners and some of the antagonistic forces. In Chapter 4 there are far more Light World experiences, offering insights into the lives of some characters and what happened to them since events in Chapter 2, while also involving a new Dark World location and some of the biggest revelations in the story so far. As a result, I feel like I enjoyed Chapter 3 more in terms of experiences, but found Chapter 4 more valuable to the overall experience. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN4ZcGJoZac

With Deltarune Chapter 3, there's this sense of experimentation and tribute felt throughout. There are these The Legend of Zelda style segments packed with humor and genuinely interesting gameplay. The idea of going through these challenges to complete objectives, while also enjoying a presentation complete with CRT filters and the group in front of a TV is so inventive. Likewise, the eventual cooking and rhythm minigames are these novel experiences that perfectly fit into the theme of this world and Deltarune world at the same time. The real revelations come from actually reaching the end of the chapter and final fights. While the insights and information we're gaining her might not feel like they're as critical as the ones in Chapter 4, they carry some major weight and deepen the mystery surrounding Kris, the Darkners, and an appearance from a major antagonist we've only seen mentioned in the first two chapters.

Deltarune Chapter 4 represents a shift in tone in many ways. In part, it is because we get a substantial amount of time to explore both the Light and Dark Worlds with a lot less pressure than normal. It feels like a true calm before the storm moment at parts. So even if we are learning some information about an area, we're also getting a chance to breathe before the final stretch. Which is good because once we do see Kris and Susie unite with Noelle, we get to go through one of the most fascinating gameplay segments in this chapter. Throughout the game, the concept of choices, people's motivations, and impact of decisions come up. We also question identity and different characters' motivations. We get this extended period of that here. Then, once we return to the Dark World for the "dungeons" for this segment, there are even more answers and questions. The puzzles and fights are also quite satisfying, both in terms of difficulty and what we get out of the experiences.

With Deltarune Chapters 3-4, it really feels like we've gotten into the meat of the game. We're on the precipice of major revelations and answers after really interesting experiences. The minigames in Chapter 3 are really well handled and add some extra diversity, and the lore, character insights, dungeon experiences, and advancements in Chapter 4 build things up in a satisfying way. Truly, this feels so much more substantial than the first two chapters, though the second ended up being quite big and revolutionary in its own way. At this pace, Chapter 5 and Deltarune as a whole could easily end up being just as phenomenal and important as Undertale.

Deltarune Chapters 1-4 are available now on the Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, and PC. There's no release date for Chapter 5 yet.

The post Preview: Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 Build Mysteries appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Friday, June 20, 2025 1:55 PM
    

Games in College Football 26 where a RB is trying to receive the ball while getting tackled

The first gameplay deep dive for College Football 26 revealed plenty of interesting features and changes in this year's title.

This is the first instance where EA Sports has discussed some major features in detail. To make matters easier, I have simplified the explanations and reduced the full details available on the official site.

All major College Football 26 gameplay features

While some of the showcased features are brand new, others have been refined from what was available in College Football 25. Let's begin by checking out the brand-new substitution features, which include some subtle but fun changes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsKxOhw9J6g

Dynamic Subs and better sub control

No longer will you have to pause and make substitutions, as you can roll changes on the fly. Use your D-pad to assess who has to sit on the bench and who should be a starter. Get the changes done effortlessly without having to overthink. That's not all, as there are some other key areas to focus on.

  • Manage your Defense and Offense as single units or break them into specialized positions.
  • Switch back to your starters with the help of a single button.
  • Use the Wear and Tear indicators to better understand which athletes need time on the bench.
  • Dynamic overall ratings will help you understand the active effectiveness of a player.

The Dynamic Sub system could become a fan-favorite of College Football 26 community in the upcoming months.

College Football 26 Wear and Tear System explained

Wear and Tear system will be even better than last year. For starters, you'll get fully customizable Auto-sub settings and sliders, allowing you to make better decisions based on the scenarios.

You can also change the in-game effects of every play associated with the Wear and Tear system.

  • Normal Tackle Impact
  • Catch Tackle Impact
  • Hit Stick Impact
  • Cut Stick Impact
  • Defender Tackle Advantage Impact
  • Sack Impact
  • Block Impact
  • Impact Block Impact
  • Per-Play Recovery
  • Per-Timeout Recovery
  • Between Quarter Recovery
  • Halftime Recovery
  • In-Game Healing Reserve Pool

You'll have to pay more attention this year to the Toughness rating of a player and how much damage they're taking from the tackles (unless you want them to get injured).

College Football 26 Archetypes, Abilities, and more

Ten new Archetypes have been added to this year's title, allowing you to enjoy more options. All Archetypes will have their unique skills and playing patterns. Moreover, players will gain substantial physical boosts if they gain Momentum. All Platinum-tier abilities will be upgraded to Heisman tier, which translates into enhanced effects. But players can also downgrade if they're performing poorly.

Heisman tier platinum abilities being triggered in College Football 26
Screenshot via EA Sports

The upgraded Wear and Tear mechanic will fit perfectly with every ability tagging into the upper or lower body.

Here are some more of the new and changed features to expect.

  • 45+ new formations and 2800+ new plays
  • Greater playbook individuality
  • New motion categories
  • Expanded runs and smarter route options
  • Height will be important in Field Vision. Runners blocked by taller defensemen will lose track of balls mid-air, which could result in a turnover if the opponent can capitalize on the chance.
  • Increased progression system for QBs based on feedback from College Football 25.

We will have a separate explainer on the revamped defensive mechanics that have been handed a major overhaul.

The post College Football 26 Gameplay Deep Dive – All major features and more appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, June 20, 2025 11:56 AM
    

Camera emote in FFXIV where a player is taking a snap

Third-party plugins might or might not help you play Final Fantasy XIV (ignoring what Square Enix feels on the topic), but some of them, like PlayerScope, can create trouble with the community. The story of the so-called "stalker plugin" (for what it did) has now ended based on a message from the developer on Discord.

This news will be music to the ears of all who don't want their data to go public in the first place. It's unclear what steps Square Enix might have added to the cease-and-desist letter, but it seems to have done its job. As of writing, the plugin has been completely shut down, and any version you might still find is certainly a clone and could also be malicious.

The PlayerScope plugin has always been a major worry for Final Fantasy XIV players

PlayerScope allowed anyone to find someone using their Final Fantasy XIV character name. This would reveal all the account details, including all other characters linked to the same account. The information was also on PlayerScope's servers, with no information on how it was used or stored.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/1lfgia4/playerscope_stalker_plugin_ceases_development_due/

Earlier on June 19, Reddit user u/Registeredfor shared the screenshot of a Discord server where it was announced that PlayerScope's development and services are being terminated. The backend has been taken offline, and all stored data has been permanently deleted. All the files have also been removed from sites like GitFlic and GitHub. The developer has also announced that this will be the end of all kinds of support and development for the project from their side.

It's been well-known at this point that Square Enix has never liked the use of third-party plugins, and the nature of PlayerScope makes it worse. Earlier in February this year, Square Enix announced that they would make changes to the blacklisting process of characters.

While the much-maligned and controversial plugin has been delisted, we hope that no traces of user data have been exploited or sold to other parties illegally.

The post Final Fantasy XIV's controversial "stalker plugin" is taken offline after cease-and-desist threat as fans rejoice appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, June 20, 2025 11:51 AM
    

PlayStation game nominees of 2024

Has the PS5 and Xbox Series era been disappointing? I know that sounds like a very open-ended question, but with Xbox and Sony both announcing they are working on their next generation systems, I had a look at both my PS5 and Series X and felt that, overall, I was let down with my purchases.

Xbox Series X has felt like a great console that isn't needed anymore, with Xbox launching all their games on PC and moving towards a "play anywhere" idea that doesn't need a system at all to play some of the biggest titles. Xbox is also moving to have its games appear on other systems, making the thought of getting an Xbox console for its exclusives obsolete nowadays.

And for PS5, while there have been some great exclusive games for the system, especially around launch, it feels like the first-party offerings have been slim pickings in comparison to, say, Nintendo, which seems to offer a big first-party lineup for games for the Switch and Switch 2 every month. I'd argue that PlayStation has some of the biggest IPs around in gaming, but doesn't seem to do much with them.

Then there are also the fiascos. Does anyone here remember what happened with Concord and PlayStation's push for live service games for a while?

Maybe you think, though, that one system has done better than the other. I can't deny there have been some positives to come out of this generation, but overall, when I weigh up the good and the bad, it all feels very disappointing and not worth the purchase of the system. I didn't even bother getting a PS5 Pro because it felt like there wasn't anything that was going to push the console to its limits on the selection of games.

Really. This generation of games has been a story of third parties. Capcom has been killing it, we've had some amazing games from AA studios like the recently released Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and it's been a mammoth few years for indie games from Lethal Company and beyond—games that didn't even come to any consoles.

So I ask you, what are your thoughts? Did PS5 and Series X/S drop the ball this generation? Do you have a different take? Let me know in the poll or drop your thoughts in the comments below.

The post POLL: Has the PS5 and Xbox Series era been disappointing so far? appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, June 20, 2025 11:43 AM
    

Disney Dreamlight Valley the beginning of the Valley Pirate quest

Uh oh, your Disney Dreamlight Valley village is under attack by pirates. At least, that's the story Peter Pan comes up during his level ten friendship quest, "The Valley Pirates," as a way to have some fun. It's a little childish, but that's what he's all about.

Buy and wear a Black and Red Top Hat

Before you can start thwarting the plans of these "pirates," you'll need to look the part by creating a Lost Boys costume. Although the only requirement is buying a black and red top hat from Scrooge McDuck's shop and wearing it, wearing bold, quirky, and traditional clothes is a bonus.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Black and Red top hat
Screenshot by Destructoid

You can make this portion of the quest much easier by using your Wardrobe menu's filter system to sort by the Valley Pirates quest or these three tags.

Find Eric the Meek

Now that you look like a true pirate, it's time to search for Prince Eric, known during this quest as Eric the Meek. You'll find him inside Olaf's Cave, which you previously visited while searching for glowing musical notes during Skull Rock's storyline.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Eric acting as a pirate in Olaf's Cave
Screenshot by Destructoid

Upon entering the cave, you'll notice several ice spikes blocking access to Eric. Break four of them before speaking to him to learn more about this game you're all playing. Keeping up with the pirate theme, Eric reveals there's a First Mate you must bribe and speak to before you can talk to the team's captain.

Bribe the First Mate in the Dreamscape

Before you can find and talk to the quest's First Mate, you'll need to gather the following bribes:

  • Minerals (5)
  • Gold Nuggets (10)

"Minerals," in this case, include any gem available in Disney Dreamlight Valley. You can either go out and farm five or pick up any you've stockpiled over time if you have some spare.

Gold nuggets are also relatively easy to obtain by this point in your playthrough. You can get them from the Sunlit Plateau, Frosted Heights, and the Forgotten Lands.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Fairy Godmother acting as a pirate in the Dreamscape
Screenshot by Destructoid

With everything on hand, head to the Forgotten Lands and enter its treehouse to access the Dreamscape and find the Fairy Godmother. It turns out that she's the First Mate in this game. She'll make an honest attempt to keep up with her role before sending you off to Skull Rock.

Get past Skull Rock's pirate guard

Our next objective is to head to Skull Rock and confront its pirate guard. You'll spot Ariel, the guard, almost immediately after stepping into the cave.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Ariel acting as a pirate guard
Screenshot by Destructoid

She'll stay in character surprisingly well, telling you about a secret regarding mermaids and the Lost Boys before reminding you to search for the pirate's captain.

Locate the Valley Pirates' treasure chest

Our final goal is to find the pirate's captain and claim their treasure chest. Heading up the nearby wooden plank ramps, you'll quickly notice several spotlights that act as barriers. Walking into these will cause you to teleport back to a checkpoint, so you'll need to be stealthy and agile to get past them. Having sprint energy helps a lot during this sequence.

Disney Dreamlight Valley spotlight obstacles in Skull Rock
Screenshot by Destructoid

As you avoid these lights, you'll occasionally notice members of the Dreamlight Valley Lost Boys standing around. Don't worry: they're on your side, so you don't need to dodge them. Advancing will eventually bring you to the music room, where you'll learn the true identity of the pirate's captain.

Following a brief chat with Peter Pan, you'll learn that the pirate's captain in this game is The Forgotten. Continuing to dodge the spotlights, approach The Forgotten and engage in a make-believe swordfight until you win. The dialogue here doesn't matter too much, so feel free to get creative here. After the fight, The Forgotten will give you a key to open the nearby treasure chest, letting you interact with both in your character's inventory.

Opening the treasure chest reveals a second, larger set of chests to place in your village. Place the chests anywhere before taking a picture in front of them to wrap up the "The Valley Pirates" quest and Peter Pan's storyline.

The post The Valley Pirates quest walkthrough in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, June 20, 2025 11:15 AM
    

Destiny 2 Year of Prophecy art

The wholesale changes and reworks keep on coming in Destiny 2 for its Edge of Fate expansion next month, including how melee attacks and their effects work.

Starting in Edge of Fate, melee effects will be additive instead of multiplicative, meaning the effects will be added together instead of creating a multiplier. For example, two 50 percent damage increases now create a 2.25x multiplier, but in Edge of Fate they will combine to make a 100 percent increase.

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Hunter with a sniper rifle
Image via Bungie

Bungie says that the change "does result in a lower damage ceiling for melee abilities, and it is unlikely that most bosses will ever be one-shot with melee abilities going forward," which will disappoint some. But the changes will buff "almost all" of the effects that increase melee damage, and in PvE, melee damage-increasing effects will "always stack at full value."

Armor 3.0 is also introducing a new stat, Melee, which is basically what Strength is now, so players looking to create a melee-centric build will want to find armor with high Melee stats to keep themselves swinging fists and knives.

"Our goal with these changes is to make it much easier to create a personalized build that works the way you want," Bungie said. "Many, many potential combinations of melee abilities and buildcrafting atoms are now much stronger than they were. We are very excited to see what melee builds y'all cook up in The Edge of Fate with these new changes!"

It's all just a confusing bunch of numbers right right now, and it will be tough to understand how this all works until players get to play the expansion on July 15. Before that, though, Bungie will host a live stream on June 24 to further detail what to expect, including new ability stats, new weapons, Armor 3.0, and the new destination Kepler.

As a long-time player who feels little excitement for this DLC thus far, I'm hoping that some of the changes coming will reinvigorate my love of the looter shooter that has been steadily waning for years.

The post Destiny 2 is totally changing melee attacks in Edge of Fate, and I can't wait to punch and slap everyone to try them out appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, June 20, 2025 11:05 AM
    

Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters

Borderlands fans, you won. Gearbox Software heard the feedback about Borderlands 4's lack of a minimap loud and clear, and has been working behind the scenes on fixing things.

When Gearbox revealed there'd be no minimap in Borderlands 4, opting for a compass with red markers indicating enemies instead, fans were not thrilled. After playing the game last month, I got used to the minimap-less gameplay, but Gearbox was quietly working on adding something new to address concerns.

https://twitter.com/DuvalMagic/status/1935807719014822300

Yesterday, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford revealed that the team has been working hard on a combat radar option for the game. The radar will sit top right on the screen, but will be off by default, so players can choose to add it to their experience if they want it. And I think that's an excellent compromise.

When I visited Gearbox to play Borderlands 4 early last month, senior project producer Anthony Nicholson defended the game's decision not to have a minimap, but also stated that everything they do is for the fans and what players will find fun.

BL4's lack of a minimap was "more of a philosophy based on the design of the game," Nicholson told me on May 14, "because we want you to be able to go out and explore more." The new Destiny 2 Ghost-like ECHO-4 bot that follows you around and scans the environment is meant to replace the mini map, but the player complaints were apparently loud enough to find a middle ground.

The combat radar isn't as detailed as a minimap in the past, and the game's map can still be seen from a separate menu. It shows enemies in your vicinity as red dots, showing their locations nearby and indicating if they are above and below you.

Gearbox's willingness to listen to feedback was already apparent based on what I played, but this decision only hammers that point home further. I'm looking forward to playing more when Borderlands 4 launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on Sept. 12.

The post Borderlands 4 will have a radar option after all, as Gearbox doubles down on listening to community feedback appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, June 20, 2025 10:49 AM
    

scoutmaster hurls the player in peak

The Scoutmaster is the one element of PEAK that leaves players in fear on an otherwise peaceful game about climbing up a mountain, but a lot of players don't know how to make him appear.

The Scoputmaster is a tall, green, gangly enemy that is all but immortal and always chases down one player, but for solo players, or those who stick close to their friends, you might not even know he exists, or how to get him to spawn.

So, how do you find him to unlock the game's rarest achievements?

How to get Scoutmaster to spawn in PEAK

scoutmaster runs towards a player in peak
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Scoutmaster can only spawn via. two methods, one of which is easy, while the other is quite difficult.

For solo players, you are only going to be able to get the Scoutmaster to spawn by using an item known as Scoutmaster's Bugle. This legendary mythical item is incredibly rare to find and has a very low rate of appearing, but if you find it, you can blow into it to max out your extra stamina at the cost of the Scoutmaster spawning.

Over a minute, he will constantly hunt you down, and there is no known way to defeat him or get rid of him. Even the Blowdart does not affect him, so what is the point of it!?

The second way to get the Scoutmaster to spawn is via multiplayer. If you, as a lone player, stray away from your group and reach the peak of the mountain with them still struggling, the Scoutmaster will appear to punish you and will only chase down the player who left their friends behind. Don't break rule 0, after all!

Every other player will be safe, and the Scoutmaster will only hunt down either the person who blew the Bugle or got too far away from their friends.

Finding the Scoutmaster and having him grab and hurl you unlocks the achievement Mentorship Badge; you also unlock the Inverted Eyes cosmetic for your character for being chased down by this zombified cryptid.

Hopefully, there is a way to deal with him in the future, as the only thing you can do right now is run and pray he doesn't catch up to you. Climbing is pretty useless as well, as he climbs faster than you, so if he is chasing you, try to stay on flat ground and run around in circles until he eventually gives up and runs away.

The post How to find the Scoutmaster in PEAK appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, June 20, 2025 10:37 AM
    

Blood Message vista view in ancient China

The latest Unreal Engine 5 flex has come out of China with the reveal trailer for an upcoming action game that is just stunning to behold.

Described as "an ode to the unsung heroes," Blood Message is the first AAA singleplayer title from NetEase Games and 24 Entertainment, the studio behind melee-centric battle royale game Naraka: Bladepoint. And with just one reveal trailer, the hype is already building.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6IwsMWTVGI

The trailer is mostly cinematic in nature, but features some glimpses of action combat gameplay. The 848 AD time period and Tang Empire setting offers some unique opportunities for gorgeous open landscapes in what's described as "a cultural landmark of Chinese history that frames the story with customs, culture, and rich history of the era."

Blood Message features "narrative-driven gameplay anchored in cinematic storytelling," using action combat that blends stealth with survival mechanics, set to the tone of "a deeply emotional journey exploring themes of family, honor, sacrifice, and cultural identity."

In Blood Message, "players take on the role of a nameless messager who embarks on a perilous eastward journey to deliver a message that holds the fate of his homeland," a press release about the game said. "Alongside his son, they must survive relentless enemy sieges and a treacherous three-thousand-li odyssey, fighting against impossible odds to return to the heart of the Tang: Chang'an. Amidst the desert sands, they etch the final tale of loyalty in the Great Tang."

Really, the trailer speaks for itself. The visuals are stunning, the gameplay looks promising, and gamers are here for it. Some are calling it the spirit of Uncharted 5, while others are already hailing it for its linear, singleplayer design. It's me, I'm players.

Blood Message has no timetable for release, but it will be coming to PC and consoles when it's ready to be delivered.

The post A jaw-droppingly gorgeous action game set in ancient China was just revealed, and gamers are in awe by how great it looks appeared first on Destructoid.


WGB Friday, June 20, 2025 4:00 PM
     Xbox is collaborating with Meta to release an Xbox-themed Quest 3S headset on June 25, priced at $399, enabling game streaming but lacking native Xbox game support.

WGB Friday, June 20, 2025 9:33 AM
     Video games often feature utterly useless skills and perks that frustrate players. Highlights include Handsome Jack's motivational ability, the broken "In Shining Armor" perk, and the redundant "Here and Now."

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, June 20, 2025 3:07 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, June 20, 2025 2:55 PM
    

An animated trailer was also released.

The post Palworld Tides of Terraria Update Release Date Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, June 20, 2025 1:54 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, June 20, 2025 1:30 PM

MonsterVine Friday, June 20, 2025 12:00 PM
     It didn't take long for Escape Academy 2 to remind me why the first game was such a sleeper hit. The original had a great hook—escape room challenges with a fun academic twist—but this sequel feels like the team at Coin Crew Games broke the format open and rebuilt it from the ground up. After […]

MonsterVine Friday, June 20, 2025 9:00 AM
     If you've ever wondered what Thief would look like with a competitive multiplayer twist, Thick as Thieves delivers that fantasy with style and sabotage. During a hands-off gameplay demo, OtherSide Entertainment showed off nearly 30 minutes of real-time match footage from their pre-alpha build, and even in its early form, it's clear that this stealth-action […]

Level Up Friday, June 20, 2025 10:26 AM
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Level Up Friday, June 20, 2025 9:42 AM
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Level Up Friday, June 20, 2025 9:00 AM
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