A new bundle deal is up on Fanatical, and for anyone looking to grab a few anime-themed games, this is a pretty solid collection of titles to look at as Street Fighter 5 and River City Girls 2 are available at terrific prices. Fanatical's Build Your Own Bento Deluxe Bundle deal starts with two games for $15 ($7.50 per game). The more you add the more you save, and the best value here is five games for $35 in total.

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition

As mentioned above, Street Fighter 5 at this price is a solid deal. While Street Fighter 6 is awesome, Street Fighter 5 is still a great game that's worth playing. This is for the Champion Edition as well, so you're getting Street Fighter V, 24 characters, and every piece of add-on content released for the game. In its complete state, it's a heck of a great fighting game and a significant entry in the series.

Speaking of animated characters throwing hands, River City Girls 2 is a brilliant beat-'em-up adventure packed with new abilities, enemies, allies, locations, and more. It features the return of Misako, Kyoko, Kunio, and Riki--as well as new faces Marian and Provie--and its combat is deeper than ever. If you'd prefer something more thought-provoking, A Space for the Unbound is a fascinating slice-of-life adventure game with beautiful pixel art set in the late '90s of rural Indonesia. The game tells the story of overcoming anxiety, dealing with depression, and the relationship of a boy and a girl with supernatural powers.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is pure metroidvania magic crafted in the gothic dark fantasy style of Castlevania. It was produced by Koji Igarashi, a former development lead on the Castlevania series. If you're a Castlevania fan, Bloodstained is a spiritual successor that's worth your time. You can also pick up Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection, a collection of six classic Capcom games from the GBA and DS era: Mega Man Zero 1, 2, 3, and 4, as well as Mega Man ZX, and ZX Advent.

Other highlights include the baseball-inspired platformer Bat Boy, Shantae and the Seven Sirens, and Nexomon: Extinction, an RPG heavily inspired by Pokemon. And if you're in a metroidvania mood, you can pair Bloodstained with Afterimage and The Knight Witch, two solid metroidvanias that scratch a similar itch.

For more, you can see the full list below of what you can grab from this Fanatical bundle.

Fanatical Build Your Own Bento Deluxe Box Sale

• Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi (Steam Deck Playable)
• ANNO: Mutationem (Steam Deck Verified)
• A Space for the Unbound (Steam Deck Verified)
• River City Girls 2 (Steam Deck Playable)
• Shantae and the Seven Sirens (Steam Deck Verified)
• Dream Tactics
• Astria Ascending (Steam Deck Verified)
• Bat Boy (Steam Deck Verified)
• Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection (Steam Deck Verified)
• Affogato (Steam Deck Playable)
• Rabi-Ribi (Steam Deck Verified)
• Nexomon: Extinction (Steam Deck Playable)
• Street Fighter V: Champion Edition (Steam Deck Playable)
• Yangyang Mobile Double Pack
• MAMIYA (Steam Deck Verified)
• Puzzles For Clef (Steam Deck Playable)
• Mahokenshi - The Samurai Deckbuilder (Steam Deck Playable)
• Tiny Life (Steam Deck Verified)
• Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers
• Afterimage (Steam Deck Verified)
• The Knight Witch (Steam Deck Verified)
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (Steam Deck Playable)
• RWBY: Arrowfell

Disclaimer: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.

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In celebration of Minecraft's 15th anniversary, Lego is releasing a new diorama kit based on the Minecraft Crafting Table that players are sure to recognize. The kit is packed with references from the game, including customizable landscape scenes and a collection of new microfigures based on Minecraft characters, NPCs, and enemies. The set launches later this year, but preorders are already available online.

The Lego Minecraft Crafting Table is a 1,195-piece kit that, naturally, resembles the in-game crafting table, but with two open sides and a removable top that reveals an interior landscape diorama. The inner diorama includes 12 mini scenes based on the game's many biomes, including overworld zones like the Plains, Forest, and Cherry Grove, and underground sections like Dripstone Cave, Deep Dark, and more. The model assembles into a cube that stands 5.5 inches tall, six inches wide, and six inches deep.

Lego Minecraft Crafting Table

To fit with the set's compact size, the Lego Minecraft Crafting Table comes with eight "microfigures," which are even tinier versions of the iconic Lego minifigures. The eight microfigures for this set include the Minecraft mascots Steve and Alex, in-game monsters like the Creeper, skeleton, and witch, and friendly NPCs the villager, cow, and pig. There is also a selection of swappable display bricks featuring famous phrases from the game, like "Create New World," "You Are The Player 1," and the Minecraft logo that you can place on designated panels on the outside of the diorama. The official description also promises Easter Eggs and references hidden throughout the set, so this sounds like it'll be a fun build for long-time fans of the game.

The Lego Minecraft Crafting Table set launches on August 1 for $90. You can preorder it now at Amazon and Lego's online store.

More Lego Minecraft Deals

Over on Amazon, you can grab a selection of other Minecraft sets at a discount, including large-scale scenes like The Deep Dark Battle for $52 (was $65) and smaller kits like The Armory for $16 (was $20). Check the list below for even more Lego Minecraft deals at Amazon.

• Lego Minecraft The Animal Sanctuary -- $17 ($20)
• Lego Minecraft The Armory -- $16 ($20)
• Lego Minecraft The Abandoned Mine -- $17 ($19)
• Lego Minecraft The Swamp Adventure -- $8.29 ($10)
• Lego Minecraft Steve's Desert Expedition -- $9.59 ($11)
• Lego Minecraft The Devourer Showdown -- $42.49 ($45)
• Lego Minecraft The Axolotl House -- $21.59 ($27)
• Lego Minecraft The Pumpkin Farm -- $34.49 ($40)
• Lego Minecraft The Crafting Box 4.0 -- $71 ($80)
• Lego Minecraft The Bee Cottage -- $20 ($25)
• Lego Minecraft The End Arena -- $20 ($25)
• Lego Minecraft The Frozen Peaks -- $28 ($35)
• Lego Minecraft The Sword Outpost -- $36 ($45)
• Lego Minecraft The Panda Haven -- $40 ($50)
• Lego Minecraft The Deep Dark Battle -- $52 ($65)
• Lego Minecraft The Bakery -- $23.72 ($25)
• Lego Minecraft The Llama Village Farm House -- $130 ($147.40)

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As part of this week's Summer Game Fest celebrations, Giant Bomb is taking one of its fan-favorite shows on the road. On Sunday, June 9, the crew is headed to Los Angeles to host @ Nite in front of a live audience.

According to Giant Bomb, the upcoming live show is "the largest one we've ever tried to pull off," and will feature a rotating cast of special guests, special giveaways, and "more surprises." The event will be hosted at one of Downtown LA's newest venues, The Bellwether, and as of publishing tickets are still on sale. However, the team has stated they will also be streaming the show on Twitch, YouTube, and the official Giant Bomb website for those unable to grab tickets or make it in person.

In addition to the Giant Bomb crew, the live show will feature a number of special guests. These include renowned journalist Jason Schreier, former-Funhaus star Elyse Willems, comedian Ify Nwadiwe, and more. As of right now, confirmed guests include:

• Jason Schreier
• Parris Lilly
• Alanah Pearce
• Patrick Klepek
• Ify Nwadiwe
• Brad Shoemaker
• Elyse Willems
• Mary Kish
• The Nasty Boyz!

Guest appearances aren't the only thing to look forward to. Giant Bomb also revealed that there will special giveaways from NZXT in the form of "taxable moments." Additionally, fans looking for more Giant Bomb-related merchandise to take home will also get the chance to purchase never-before-seen apparel and more at the show.

For those looking to spend even more time with the Giant Bomb crew, VIP tickets featuring a private Q&A with the entire Giant Bomb crew are still on sale. VIP holders will also gain early access to the venue and premium seating.

Giant Bomb @ Nite kicks off at 8 PM PT at The Bellwether in Downtown Los Angeles. Both general admission and VIP tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster, and are on sale for $40 and $100 respectively.

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Happy Birthday, Neurodiver

It’s a few days before we submit our game to certification. Our release date announcement trailer is behind us and we’re adding in the last few updates to Read Only Memories: Neurodiver. For the eyecatch sequences, I give the Neurodiver itself a birthday: May 16, 2024, and we proceed to let it go out into the world.

The Day After

May 16 has come and gone and the game is out now. I’ve been working on this with several others who have come and gone for the past six years. A lot has happened with MidBoss, our team, and the world during this time, but the game is finally out and a wave of relief washed over us, followed quickly by a lot of anxiety. The game, after all, is shorter than our previous one, and its story is brisk. I still find myself playing and enjoying it in my off time, though, and I’m proud of what our team accomplished. I got to work and collaborate with a lot of wonderful people.

Past and Present: Planning the Game

Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a very personal project, both in its story– however brief it may be–and in its development. I was the original director and lead artist/animator for 2064: Read Only Memories. It’s a game I have a complicated relationship with. A lot happened with it, the original team, and myself. I’m finally comfortable sitting with my housemates and watching them play it as we celebrate the release of our current game. My head is spinning at all of the interactions it has and the logistics involved now. It’s very impressive that we pulled it off. I’m proud of that game just as well, but its development was at a great cost.

We couldn’t aim for the same scope as the previous game. It was simply out of the question. But after working out the initial story planning, ,  we were delighted with the result: an engaging] light and brisk adventure. A pseudo-sequel with an established protagonist that can dive into memories, chasing a rogue psychic that hides within them. Whose memories would we be exploring? I wanted to revisit some old friends from the original game, a chance to see how they’re doing five or six years later.

Dive into the Details

Luna Cruz de la Vega, or ES88, is a young and ambitious psychic agent working at Minerva. The only one bonded to a special genetically engineered esper called the Neurodiver. This Neurodiver allows her to not only view and interact with memories, but also repair them. Each day she wakes up diving directly into work. ES88 wants to prove something to herself and her peers, and though she has confidence in her abilities, she still questions herself.

A psychic entity called Golden Butterfly is haunting people’s memories, fragmenting them, causing lingering anxieties to bubble up. These fragments range from something as simple as a lost password, all the way up to forgetting where you left off with someone important to you. It’s ES88’s job to repair these fragments and drive out Golden Butterfly. It’s a big task. Could it be too much? How much is she willing to push herself?

Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a capsule filled with a lot of the things we love. ES88’s days play out like an episode in an anime, commercial bumpers and all. She dreams of herself as a magical girl. The soundscape is filled with glossy, vibrant FM tones reminiscent of old Yamaha powered sound cards. It was a joy animating every expression. Every character is voiced exactly how we imagined them to be in our heads. And it’s all framed within an homage to Japanese adventure games of the past.

Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a game that’s filled with our enthusiasm for the things we love. It was a chance to spend time with some old friends again while meeting some new ones, and while it’s a brief journey, I hope it’ll continue to stay in your memories.

Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER

Chorus Worldwide Games

☆☆☆☆☆ 3

★★★★★

$14.99

Get it now

ES88 is an esper tasked with capturing Golden Butterfly, a psychic entity hiding in the memories of others. Play as ES88 and join her cyborg colleague GATE, and the creature known as a NEURODIVER to help repair the memories Golden has damaged and stop them in their tracks in this "psy-fi" adventure! You Are A Psychic Agent Take on the role of ES88, a young esper employed by MINERVA, a powerful organization specializing in information science, neurotechnology, and extrasensory phenomena. She has been tasked with tracking down Golden Butterfly, a mysterious psychic entity hiding in and fragmenting the memories of Neo-San Francisco's citizens. Who are they? Why are they doing this? And how will you stop them? The NEURODIVER The Neurodiver is a bioengineered psychic creature made to assist in boosting an esper's natural abilities. With its help, you'll be able to collect clues and thoughts in your subject's memories in an effort to piece together distorted fragments inside them, pushing Golden Butterfly out! New And Old Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER is a return to the vibrant sci-fi world of Neo-San Francisco from 2064: Read Only Memories with a whole new story, and a whole new cast of characters. It's an adventure that newcomers can easily dive into, but those familiar with the original game might notice a lot of familiar faces making a comeback! An FM Sound Sensation! NEURODIVER's soundtrack is inspired by the OPNA/YM2608 sounds of the PC-8801 and PC-9801 series of computers, brought to you by Scarlet Moon composer and sound designer, Ken "coda" Snyder (Tree of Knowledge)! If you love the sharp and glossy tones generated by late 80s and early 90s FM chips found in a variety of old computers, sound cards, arcades and consoles, then you'll be right at home here. Long live the power of FM sound!

The post Read Only Memories: Neurodiver, Creator’s Diary appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios Group is shuttering two studios and, as a result, is laying off roughly 9% of its overall workforce, according to a statement on its website. Avalanche is the latest developer to announce studio closures and staff layoffs in a year that seen thousands of layoffs in the gaming industry.

"Since its inception over two decades ago, Avalance Studios Group has grown to encompass five locations worldwide: Stockholm, New York, Malmö, Liverpool, and Montreal. Today, we regretfully announce the closure of two of those locations: New York and Montreal," the statement reads. "This means we'll be parting ways with around 50 valued friends and colleagues, which represents roughly 9 percent of Avalanchers worldwide."

The closure of the Montreal location is especially surprising given the fact that the studio has only been open for about eight months, first opening its doors in October 2023.

On Twitter, current and former Avalanche employees are mourning the decision, including Christofer Sundberg, creator of the Just Cause franchise and founder of Avalanche's headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Sundberg left Avalanche in February 2019.

Avalanche recently entered a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its Swedish employees, who unionized in the hopes of establishing "standardized frameworks around essential areas such as salaries, benefits, employee influence, and career support."

"This is an exceptionally difficult decision, but we believe it's necessary to ensure a stable and sustainable future for the company," Avalanche's statement regarding the closure of the Montreal and New York studios added. "Our focus is now on supporting all Avalanchers through this challenging time. We're grateful for the invaluable contributions of those leaving and remain committed to creating incredible gaming experiences for our players."

Avalanche is currently working on a new game called Contraband, which it describes as "a co-op smugglers' paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan." Little is known about the project--including its release date--but we do know that Contraband will be available on Game Pass at launch.

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2024 marks the 35th anniversary of Nintendo's Game Boy, and it remains one of the most influential and popular handhelds of all time. In 2021, the Analogue Pocket was launched as a way to give modern gamers a new option to play their Game Boy games as well as games from other discontinued handhelds. Now, Analogue Pocket has a new competitor in the form of ModRetro's The Chromatic, and it may be even more enticing to Game Boy fans.

Game Boy was bundled with Tetris at its launch, so it's only fitting that The Chromatic will also be launching with Tetris included. Tetris is just one of the new Chromatic Game Boy carts launching alongside the handheld. Though the carts are designed with the Chromatic in mind, they will work with original Game Boy hardware. Additionally, all original Game Boy and GBC cartridges are supported.

ModRetro also went out of its way to pay tribute to the original Game Boy and its successor with a custom 2.6-inch LCD screen that has "identical pixel structure, identical layout, identical resolution, and size to the Game Boy Color," according to the accompanying video. Even the colors are accurate to the way they were displayed on the Game Boy Color. The Chromatic's sapphire crystal glass screen is designed to be resistant to scratches.

The Chromatic comes in a magnesium-alloy shell that will be available in six different colors. Preorders are already live on ModRetro's official site, and the price of the handheld is $199.

More Chromatic carts are available to purchase separately, including an updated version of the Game Boy Color classic Toki Tori and several indie games from contemporary Game Boy developers.

Additionally, ModRetro announced that GameStop will be the official retail partner for The Chromatic, which will launch during the holiday season later this year.

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• Category: Games

June 3, 2024

Five Exciting New Features Coming to Destiny 2 With The Final Shape, Launching June 4

• Danielle Partis

Final Fanasy XIV's next big expansion, Dawntrail, launches on July 2. In celebration of the new release, Square Enix is teaming up with Secretlab on a Final Fantasy XIV edition of the Titan Evo gaming chair. You can preorder the first Final Fantasy Secretlab chair now for $624, and orders will begin shipping on June 20.

The Titan Evo Final Fantasy XIV edition features Secretlab's NEO hybrid leatherette fabric with a unique blue and gold color scheme themed after the game. The front of the chair is emblazoned with the game's iconic logo and crystalline detailing, while the back sports a large decal of the Crystal Ecarch's Ocular--a location FFXIV players will be very familiar with. You can also customize the chair with magnetic interchangeable patches featuring the DPS, healer, and tank role icons that attach to the left shoulder padding. All three patches are included with the chair.

Gallery

Not only does the Final Fantasy XIV edition Titan Evo gaming chair look great, but it also includes all the excellent features and ergonomics that make it our favorite gaming chair on the market, including the cold-cure foam padding, adjustable armrests, and dynamic lumbar support.

The new Titan Evo design is just one part of the Final Fantasy XIV x Secretlab cross over, there are also new designs for Secretlab's memory foam lumbar pillow based on the Alpha Chocobo and Fat Car in-game companion critters that you can add to your chair as an additional purchase.

The new Final Fantasy XIV edition Titan Evo gaming chair and two new lumbar pillows are available for $59 each at Secretlab.

• Titan Evo Final Fantasy XIV edition gaming chair -- $624
• Secretlab Alpha Chocobo lumbar pillow -- $59
• Secretlab Fat Cat lumbar pillow -- $59

Secretlab has been on a roll with the collabs lately. Last month, the company announced a similar Titan Evo crossover design based on the Space Marines from Warhammer 40K. Both the Warhammer and Final Fantasy XIV designs join the long list of official designs available for the Titan Evo.

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A Google employee reportedly accessed private videos on Nintendo's YouTube account and then leaked that information ahead of planned announcements. That's according to a new report from 404 Media based on a copy of an internal Google database that tracked six years of self-reported privacy and security issues.

While we don't have many details on the incident, the report states that Google's internal review of the incident concluded that it was "non-intentional"--it's not clear what that actually means in this case. The report mentions dozens of other instances of Google violating its own privacy policies (usually by accident), including one where Google Street View was transcribing a large number of license plate numbers and another where a Google speech service mistakenly logged speech data (including that of "1,000 children") for about an hour. The tech giant told 404 in a statement that all data related to these incidents has been purged.

Though this incident is relatively minor in the grand scheme of gaming leaks, it's a good example of how tech companies have practical access to a staggering amount of information that could be leaked--accidentally or not. The copy of the database was sent to 404 Media by an "anonymous tipster," and Google confirmed "aspects of its contents," per the report.

Nintendo is an extremely litigious company, though it's unclear what actions it has taken, if any, in this instance. In the past, Nintendo went after Bowser himself for involvement in a hacking group.

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Summer Games Done Quick returns this month, as the annual charity speedrunning event looks to build on last year's $2.6 million raised for Doctors Without Borders. Today, the Games Done Quick Foundation released the full schedule of events for this year's marathon, which takes place June 30 to July 6 in Minneapolis, and it includes the return of one very good speedrunning Shiba Inu.

Peanut Butter, the dog who made headlines by speedrunning Gyromite during Awesome Games Done Quick back in January, is back with another run. This time, the Shiba speedrunner will be playing Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball for Super Nintendo, where he'll try to simply win a single game. The run is currently scheduled for 5:35 PM PT / 8:35 PM ET on Thursday, July 4.

The SGDQ 2024 schedule also includes multiple recent releases like Alan Wake 2, Animal Well, and Another Crab's Treasure. The final event of the marathon, which is currently scheduled for July 6 at 8:05 PM PT / 11:05 PM ET, will be a speedrun of November's Super Mario RPG remake using real-world time as the metric, with an estimated completion time of two hours and 45 minutes.

Highlights from each day of Summer Games Done Quick 2024--which kicks off on June 30 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET--are below:

• Sunday, June 30
  • Yoshi's Story (Wii Virtual Console), 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
    • All Melons, estimated time 2 hours, 45 minutes
  • Halo 2 (PC), 6:04 PM PT / 9:04 PM ET
    • Legendary difficulty, estimated time 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (PC), 7:49 PM PT / 10:49 PM ET
    • Tomb Raider I Any% Glitched, estimated time 1 hour 12 minutes
• Monday, July 1
  • Live A Live (PC), 4:50 AM PT / 7:50 AM ET
    • Twilight of Edo Japan, Present Day, Prehistory, estimated time 45 minutes
  • Balatro (PC), 5:05 PM PT / 8:05 PM ET (Bonus run with TBD donation milestone)
    • 3 Deck Random Seed, Skipless, estimated time 45 minutes
  • Metroid Fusion (Game Boy Advance), 7:22 PM PT / 10:22 PM ET
    • 100%, estimated time 1 hour 45 minutes
• Tuesday, July 2
  • Alan Wake 2 (PC), 9:49 PM PT (7/1) / 12:49 AM ET
    • Alan% (Initiation Only), estimated time 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PC), 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
    • Any%, estimated time 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Outer Wilds (PC), 7:22 PM PT / 10:22 PM ET
    • 100% Base Game Shipless, estimated time 1 hour 15 minutes
• Wednesday, July 3
  • PowerWash Simulator (PC), 11:46 AM PT / 2:46 PM PT
    • 6 Players, SpongeBob DLC, estimated time 35 minutes
  • Hollow Knight (PC), 5:12 PM PT / 8:12 PM ET
    • True Ending NMG Race, estimated time 1 hour 20 minutes
  • StarCraft: Brood War (PC), 8:49 PM PT / 11:49 PM ET
    • Terran Campaign Any%, estimated time 39 minutes
• Thursday, July 4
  • The Talos Principle 2 (PC), 9:43 AM PT (7/3) / 12:43 AM ET
    • Any%, estimated time 48 minutes
  • Halo 3 (PC), 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
    • 4p Co-op Legendary, estimated time 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Sekiro (PC), 6:12 PM PT / 9:12 PM ET
    • Any% Hitless, estimated time 40 minutes)
• Friday, July 5
  • Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1, 2, 3, and 4 (N64 and PC), 12:11 AM PT / 3:11 AM ET
    • 100% (1), All Goals & Golds (2, 3), Any% (4), estimated time 1 hour 16 minutes
  • Stardew Valley (PC), 6:20 AM PT / 9:20 AM ET
    • Skull Caverns 100 Glitchless 4 Player, estimated time 55 minutes
  • Animal Well (PC), 12:56 PM PT / 3:56 PM ET
    • Any% No Flute Warps NMG, estimated time 16 minutes
• Saturday, July 6
  • Another Crab's Treasure (PC), 12:27 PM PT / 3:27 PM ET
    • Any% Restricted Race, estimated time 40 minutes
  • Baldur's Gate 3 (PC), 2:16 PM PT / 5:16 PM ET
    • Honour Mode Glitchless, estimated time 1 hour
  • Elden Ring (PC), 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET
    • Any% Glitchless, estimated time 1 hour 25 minutes

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The remake of Riven, the sequel to Myst, arrives on June 25. This modernized version of the 1997 PC classic has been rebuilt from the ground up and is coming to PC and VR headsets.

Riven has been reimagined by its original creators at Cyan Worlds. The game now boasts full freedom of movement, updated gameplay, improved graphics, and reworked puzzles. It also introduces new content through characters, challenges, and storytelling.

See it in action in the game's new trailer below: 

Riven will be available on PC, Mac, and Meta Quest 2 and 3. To learn more about how this remake came together, writer Adam Morgan visited Cyan World and spoke to its principal creators about the game in this in-depth feature. You can also keep up with all the big upcoming video game remakes by checking out this handy list. 

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• Category: Games

June 3, 2024

A Day in the Life of Sushi Bot, Rolling Hills’ Premiere Aspiring Chef

• Brea Timmerman, Humble Games, Associate Director of Brand Marketing

UK high street retailer GAME will shutter its long-running reward programme on 31st July 2024, the chain has announced. This applies to the standard GAME Reward scheme and also the Elite membership tier.

No further reward points will be earned from purchases made in GAME stores or GAME's website from two weeks' earlier - on 15th July.

As of 31st July, you will no longer be able to redeem reward points, either.

Read more

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Following news earlier this year it was planning to roll out PS VR2 support on PC, Sony has announced the PlayStation VR2 PC adapter.

With this adapter in play, users' VR headsets will become compatible with PCs, which in turn will allow them to expand their libraries with a large number of games on SteamVR. Yes, that includes titles such as Half-Life: Alyx.

In addition to the adapter itself, players will also need to ensure they have a DisplayPort cable that is compatible with DisplayPort 1.4. A Steam account is also required, and you will need to ensure your PC is up to the task of supporting the hardware.

Read more

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Nvidia has revealed Project G-Assist, a program designed to help PC users by giving them access to more game knowledge through the use of generative AI.

"Whether it's a new player trying a game for the first time, and overwhelmed by massive skill trees, or a seasoned veteran looking for that perfect weapon to min-max that DPS build, many of us spend hours researching, scouring the internet to learn, to dig deeper and ultimately enjoy more of what the game has to offer," Nvidia senior project manager Guillermo Siman said in the Project G-Assist pitch video. "This is where Project G-Assist comes in. It uses AI to make sure information is readily available whenever we need it."

Siman added that G-Assist works by by taking in speech or a text prompt from a player and then adds context from the screen. This is then fed into a large language model enhanced by the developer's game-knowledge database, and these AI models can run on the cloud or can be locally accelerated by a GeForce RTX GPU. To demonstrate its potential, Nvidia has partnered with Studio Wildcard to demo the technology through Ark: Survival Ascended. Project G-Assist will help answer questions about creatures, items, lore, objectives, difficult bosses, and more in the survival game.

Where G-Assist could come in more handy on PC is through the optimization of games. While Nvidia does offer a PC-optimization tool through its GeForce Experience app, Project G-Assist could potentially fine-tune a gaming system for optimal performance and efficiency based on an individual user's hardware. Nvidia says that depending on the system, Project G-Assist could apply a safe overclock and even intelligently reduce power consumption while aiming to reach a performance target.

This wouldn't be the first time that a company has attempted to evolve gaming guides and walkthroughs. The PlayStation 5 console launched with a Game Help feature meant to provide assistance in titles, although only a few games have provided in-depth guides through this option. Sony also announced Community Game Help for PS5 in March, a new "enhancement" for Game Help utilizing user-generated content to help players out of difficult situations in games. It'll be going live later this year.

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<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/06/03/59d242fc/psvr-2-playstation-vr-pc-hook-up-cord-half-life-alyx.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="PlayStation VR2 Half-Life Alyx PSVR2" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p><a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/02/22/sony-testing-pc-support-for-playstation-vr2">After teasing PC support tests earlier this year</a>, the PC adapter for PlayStation VR2 arrives this August, the company has revealed. More specifically, the device will cost $59.99 and hit select retailers and PlayStation's online store starting August 7. With this device, you can use the PlayStation VR2 hardware to play SteamVR games, including the critically acclaimed <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/half-life-alyx">Half-Life: Alyx</a>. </p> <p>Ironically, PlayStation gamers have been asking for a Half-Life: Alyx port for PlayStation VR (and now PlayStation VR2) for years. Though that still isn't happening, this PC adapter at least allows players to use their PlayStation VR2 device to play the game through Steam. They can do the same with hundreds of other SteamVR games, like <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/fallout-4-vr">Fallout 4 VR</a> and War Thunder. </p> <p><strong>Here's a look at the minimum PC requirements to use PlayStation VR2 on your PC</strong>: </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/06/03/fa025491/screenshot_2024-06-03_at_10.27.05_am.png" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>However, as exciting as being able to use your PlayStation VR2 device on PC is, it comes with some distinct drawbacks. </p> <p>"PS VR2 was designed from the ground up specifically for PS5 – so you'll notice that some key features, like HDR, headset feedback, eye tracking, adaptive triggers, and haptic feedback (other than rumble), are not available when playing on PC," the PlayStation Blog <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/06/03/playstation-vr2-players-can-access-games-on-pc-with-adapter-starting-on-august-7/">post</a> reads. "However, other high-fidelity and sensory immersion features on PS VR2 are supported, including 4K visuals (2000 x 2040 per eye), 110-degree field of view, finger touch detection, and see-through view, as well as foveated rendering (without eye tracking) and 3D Audio in supported games." </p> <p>PlayStation says the most immersive way to experience PlayStation VR2 will remain the PS5, even after this PC adapter is available for purchase. </p> <p>To set up the PC adapter, you will have to connect PlayStation VR2 to your PC using the adapter and the DisplayPort 1.4 cable. After that, download the PlayStation VR2 App and the SteamVR app from Steam. This will allow you to set up the device on PC, customize your settings, and play SteamVR games. </p> <p>The PlayStation VR2 PC adapter will be available for purchase starting August 7. </p> <p>For more, read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/half-life-alyx/half-life-alyx-review-an-amazing-return-to-city-17#:~:text=From%20a%20story%20perspective%2C%20Half,grenade%20launcher%20or%20laser%20sight."><em>Game Informer's </em>review of Half-Life: Alyx</a>, and then read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/02/16/playstation-vr2-review-an-upgrade-as-opposed-to-a-revelation"><em>Game Informer's </em>review of PlayStation VR2</a>. </p> <p><em>Are you going to purchase the PlayStation VR2 PC adapter? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>

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<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/06/03/a2bdc105/metalslugtactics1.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Metal Slug Tactics release window trailer" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>It’s been a while since we last got an update on <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/e3-2021/2021/06/10/metal-slug-tactics-transforms-the-series-into-turn-based-strategy">Metal Slug Tactics</a>, the turn-based strategy spin-off of the popular side-scrolling shoot 'em up. The game was first announced during the online-only E3 2021 and has suffered a few delays since then with minimal updates. After a long wait, the game has finally reemerged with a new trailer and a fall 2024 launch window.</p> <p>The new video shows off the game's spin on tactics, with long-time stars Marco, Eri, Fio, and Tarma taking literal turns obliterating the opposition. The game sees players building squads of classic Metal Slug characters, each with unique loadouts of recognizable series weapons, to take on signature villains and bosses, like the warship in the video.</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kjQ5hyo-Jkk" width="640"></iframe> <p>Metal Slug Tactics is developed by Leikir Studio and is published by Dotemu, the team behind <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-shredders-revenge/old-school-thrills-new-school-polish">TMNT: Shredder's Revenge</a>. Famed composer <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/exclusive/2023/11/13/listen-to-three-songs-from-pennys-big-breakaway-the-next-game-from-the-team">Tee Lopes</a> (Shredder's Revenge, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/games/sonic_mania/b/xboxone/archive/2017/08/14/sonic-mania-game-informer-review.aspx">Sonic Mania</a>) is developing the game's soundtrack.&nbsp;</p> <p>When first revealed, Metal Slug Tactics was only slated to launch for Switch and PC. Today's trailer confirms that it's also coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.&nbsp;</p>

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Developer Ember Lab has announced that its action-adventure game Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which released in 2021 as a console exclusive on PlayStation, is headed to Xbox soon.

The game releases on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on August 15. Here at GameSpot, reviewer Phil Hornshaw loved Bridge of Spirits, scoring the game a 9/10 in our Kena: Bridge of Spirits review.

Mixing the adventure influences of The Legend of Zelda with character-driven storytelling and challenging combat, the game was well-received by critics and players. Kena was the debut title from Ember Lab, and was highly regarded not only at GameSpot but across a variety of other outlets. The game has an 81 metascore on GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

An anniversary edition of Bridge of Spirits came to PS5, PS4, and PC in September 2022, containing a photo mode, new game+, and other welcome updates and improvements.

In other Xbox news, the company's big Xbox Games Showcase takes place this Sunday, June 9, during which the company will unveil what's next for Xbox. The event will be followed by a briefing dedicated to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

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Baldur's Gate 3 already has plenty of mods, but they can be fiddly and difficult to install at times. Now, developer Larian Studios has said that the hit RPG is getting an official modding toolkit in an upcoming patch, and it's being released in a closed alpha so that mod authors can test it out and (ideally) adapt their existing mods to it.

The blog post announcing the upcoming patch clarifies that the closed alpha starts on June 3, to be followed by a closed beta targeting roughly 1,000 players in July. This official mod toolkit will release first on PC and roll out to Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox "shortly after," which is great news for console players. Larian is targeting a September launch for Patch 7, which will also include a number of other improvements and additions, including new evil endings and a number of other bug fixes.

The post also features a lengthy Q&A explaining what Baldur's Gate 3's native mod support will look like; in it, Larian notes that while the curated and officially supported mod channels will help these projects reach more players, some mods (such as NSFW ones) will have to remain outside of the pipeline. The studio also emphasized that it has no plans to limit modding outside of these official channels.

Larian also stated that other improvements will be coming to Baldur's Gate 3 in upcoming patches, including a photo mode and crossplay. Studio CEO Swen Vincke recently said the company's next game is codenamed Excalibur, and that the team doesn't quite know what it is yet, so don't expect to play it anytime soon.

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Sony has announced that it will be releasing a PlayStation VR 2 PC adapter on August 7 at select retailers, including the PlayStation Direct store. The device will cost $60.

In order to use the adapter, players will also need a separately sold DisplayPort cable that's compatible with DisplayPort 1.4, as well as a Steam account. The PC also needs to meet some minimum specifications.

• Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit/Windows 11 64-bit
• Processor: Intel Core i5-7600 / AMD Ryzen 3 3100 (Zen 2 or later architecture is required)
• RAM/memory: 8 GB or more
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or later (Turing or later architecture is required) -NVIDIA RTX series-AMD Radeon RX 5500XT or later/AMD Radeon RX 6500XT or later
• DisplayPort: DisplayPort 1.4 (must have a standard DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort output port)
• USB: Direct connection only
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 or later

To set this up, plug PSVR 2 to the PC using the adapter, then download the PSVR 2 and SteamVR apps from Steam.

The biggest difference between playing PSVR 2 on PS5 and PC are the available features. Ones like HDR, headset feedback, eye tracking, adaptive triggers, and haptic feedback (apart from rumble) are not available when playing on PC. However, 4K visuals, 110-degree field of view, 3D audio, finger-touch detection, and other sensory features are supported.

Back in February, Sony announced that it was testing PC compatibility to its PSVR 2 headsets. While the PC compatibility expands the market, the headset is quite expensive for console users, as it requires a PS5 and the total cost for the two devices is around $1,000. Thankfully, PSVR 2 is also on sale for Days of Play.

In March, Sony reportedly paused production on additional PSVR 2 headsets due to slow demand. In GameSpot's PSVR 2 review, we said, "PlayStation's second VR headset is powerful and elegant, but Horizon Call of the Mountain is doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to games."

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• Category: Xbox Games Showcase

June 3, 2024

How to Watch the Xbox Games Showcase and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct on Sunday

• Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

It’s almost time – this Sunday, June 9, we invite players from around the world to a huge double feature: the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, immediately followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct. This will mark the first Xbox Showcase featuring games from our portfolio of studios across Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda and Xbox Game Studios, not to mention our incredible third-party partners. Plus, the Showcase will be immediately followed by a deep-dive into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

It’s our biggest moment of the year to show you the future of gaming with Xbox, and we hope you can join us. With that in mind, here are all the details you need to know ahead of Sunday:

What time does Xbox Games Showcase begin? The Showcase will take place on Sunday, June 9, beginning at:

• PT: June 9, 10am
• ET: June 9, 1pm
• BST: June 9, 6pm
• CET: June 9, 7pm
• JST: June 10, 2am
• AEST: June 10, 3am

What time does Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct begin? Immediately following the Xbox Games Showcase.

How do I watch the Xbox Games Showcase and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct? The Xbox Games Showcase and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct will be streamed live on official Xbox, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard channels, including the below:

• YouTube.com/Xbox
• Twitch.tv/Xbox
• Twitch.tv/XboxASL
• Facebook.com/Xbox
• YouTube.com/Bethesda
• Twitch.tv/Bethesda
• YouTube.com/ActivisionGames

The show will also be streamed out simultaneously on regional Xbox and Bethesda channels around the globe.

Please note the /Xbox, /Bethesda and /ActivisionGames streams on YouTube will be in 4K at 60fps, while all other channels will be 1080p / 60fps.

Is the event available in languages other than English?  We will be providing subtitle support in  the following languages: Albanian, Arabic (MSA), Bangla, Bosnian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan), Chinese (Traditional, Hong Kong), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Filipino, French, French (Canadian), Gaelic (Irish), German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Maltese, Māori, Norwegian, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese, Punjabi (Gurmukhi), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Castilian), Spanish (Mexican), Swahili, Swedish, Tamil, Thai, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Welsh and Zulu. While we expect to have all languages available with the show’s live broadcast, it is possible that select languages may need to be added in the days following the broadcast if they have not finished translating.

The easiest way to find your preferred language is to go to your region’s Xbox page, or by viewing on the official Xbox YouTube channel at YouTube.com/Xbox and clicking the gear icon in the lower right corner.

Is Xbox Games Showcase going to be Accessible to those with low/no hearing or low/no vision? There will be a version of the show with Audio Descriptions (AD) in English on the Xbox YouTube channel, American Sign Language (ASL) on Xbox’s YouTube channel and the /XboxASL Twitch channel, and British Sign Language (BSL) on Xbox On’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/XboxOn.

I’m not going to be able to watch, where can I find out what was announced? As announcements roll out during the broadcast, the Xbox Wire team will be publishing detailed blog posts for key announcements right here on Xbox Wire (with localized versions in Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, LATAM Spanish, and Japanese to follow). A full show recap will be published on Xbox Wire immediately following the end of Xbox Games Showcase, and a separate recap for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct will go live after that show ends. Plus, stay tuned to Xbox Wire in the days following the show for more exclusive articles.

Will Xbox be broadcasting post-show content? Starting from Monday, June 10 and running throughout that week, the Official Xbox Podcast will be airing a series of special episodes offering updates and deeper dives into titles featured during Xbox Games Showcase. These shows will be published daily on Xbox’s YouTube channel and podcast services, with accompanying articles on Xbox Wire. We look forward to sharing more details after the Showcase concludes.

Co-streamer and content creator notes for the Xbox Games Showcase and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct: We at Xbox greatly appreciate any co-stream efforts and aim to ensure you have a smooth experience if you choose to do so. However, due to forces beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that glitches or disruptions by bots and other automated software won’t interfere with your co-stream. For those planning to create post-show breakdowns of the Xbox Showcase in the form of Video on Demand (VOD) coverage, we recommend you do not use any audio containing copyrighted music to avoid any action by automated bots, and to also consult the terms of service for your service provider.

We can’t wait for you to join us for Xbox Games Showcase, followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct on Sunday, June 9.

The post How to Watch the Xbox Games Showcase and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct on Sunday appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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If you were hoping to see one last surprise at the end of Summer Game Fest Live, Geoff Keighley has some bad news for you: What you see is what you get. In a recent stream, the host acknowledged that while a last surprise is often a tradition at game showcase events, this year's SGF will not have one.

"It's not really one of those shows," Keighley explained. "Our shows don't typically have that." He noted that neither Gamescom Opening Night Live nor The Game Awards (two events that he's known for hosting) do not feature those sort of "bonus" announcements. However, he did say that the organizers put "a lot of thought" into the order of the reveals and trailers, from the first game to the last game.

He then cited a humorous example, saying that those who expect Gabe Newell to walk out at the end and announce Half-Life 3 will be disappointed. "It'd be cool, but it's not happening on this show," he said.

Summer Game Fest 2024 will take place on Friday, June 7 at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET. The show will now take the spot formerly held by E3, the long-running video game trade show once seen as the premier event in gaming, which was permanently canceled last year. While we don't know much about the event, we do know that it will feature a full reveal of Batman: Arkham Shadow, a VR game. Tickets to the physical event in Hollywood Park (Los Angeles) are still being sold.

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Preorders are now live for the Asus ROG Ally X which launches in July as a major revision to the Windows PC gaming handheld introduced by Asus last year. This new version from Asus looks set to address some of the problems from the original device, as it has made several tweaks to its design.

While the Steam Deck is still seen as the go-to gaming machine in the market, the ROG Ally emerged as a strong alternative thanks to its flexibility and powerful mobile technology packed inside of an attractive frame.

The ROG Ally X will be released on July 22 and is priced at $800.

ROG Ally X

Gallery

For the ROG Ally X, Asus has addressed the criticism from users related to the 2023 model. It has upgraded battery life, RAM, storage, and a more ergonomically friendly chassis design, as well as improved cooling and connectivity.

Internally, you'll find a 1TB M.2 SSD, 24GB of LPDDR5X-7500 RAM, and a monstrous 80Wh battery alongside improved joysticks--rated for 5 million rotation cycles-- and a more precise D-pad. The PC gaming handheld will still be using a Z1 Extreme chipset and the same seven-inch 120Hz VRR screen, but these parts of the original model's design were lauded for offering a powerful gaming experience.

These changes have made it slightly heavier as it now weighs 678g, but alongside a custom cooling system, lighter circuit boards, and other improvements, the ROG Ally X is aiming to be a longer-lasting and more comfortable device to play your games on. Thanks to its design, the internal storage space can be upgraded easily, and the SD card reader has also been replaced. Hopefully, this will fix the issue of the ROG Ally randomly ejecting Micro SD cards.

Last year's ROG Ally was a great device when it first launched, even with several issues like the aforementioned poor battery life and its bad habit of weaponizing Micro SD cards. The Z1 Extreme version proved to be more than capable of running demanding games once you'd made a few graphical concessions, and in our own testing, we had titles like Marvel's Spider-Man, Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6, and Forza Motorsport running very smoothly on it.

The other big plus was the adoption of a Windows operating system, which gives you more room to download your favorite games from a variety of digital marketplaces, like Steam, Ubisoft Connect, the Epic Games Store, and the Xbox store. If you have a Game Pass subscription, it's quite nice to have a massive library of games right out of the box. Admittedly, Windows on a small screen isn't the best to use, but in terms of performance, it runs pretty smoothly on the ROG Ally.

Asus ROG Ally X specs

Operating System	Windows 11 Home
CPU	AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor: Zen 4 architecture, 8-core/16-thread (up to 5.1 GHz boost)
GPU	AMD Radeon Graphics (AMD RDNA 3, 12 CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops)
APU Power Draw	9 to 30 Watts
Display	7-inch IPS panel (Glossy finish, 500 nits peak brightness, 7ms response time, touch screen)
Resolution	1920x1080 @ 120 Hz refresh rate (AMD FreeSync Premium)
Memory	24 GB LPDDR5X
Storage	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (2280)
Ports	1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x Thunderbolt 4 support DisplayPort / power delivery 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort / power delivery 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC)
Battery	80WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion
Power Supply	65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3.25A, 65W Input: 100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal
Weight	678 g / 1.49 lbs

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Kena: Bridge of Spirits is making the leap to Xbox in August. The 2021 action-adventure game has been available only on PlayStation and PC, and its move to Microsoft’s platform comes with some new in-game goodies.

As the debut title by Ember Lab, this story-driven action game stars Kena, a young spirit guide who must unravel the mystery of a destroyed village by helping lost souls move on to the afterlife. She’s assisted by the Rot, tiny, adorable spirits Kena can command to aid in puzzle-solving and combat. The game’s design draws inspiration from series such as The Legend of Zelda, while combat has shades of From Software’s Dark Souls. 

Kena hits Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One on August 15 and will include exclusive pirate-themed Rot hats, a Golden Rot skin, and a unique staff for Kena. A new physical premium edition will also be available and will consist of these items, a digital soundtrack, and an exclusive sticker sheet. 

We awarded Kena: Bridge of Spirits a 9 out of 10, with former editor-in-chief Andrew Reiner writing in his review, "Bridge of Spirits stumbles a little in spots, yet confidently sprints into the heart of the adventure, rewarding the player with secrets galore and visuals that are almost always worth admiring. If you love Zelda-like games or are just looking for an experience that will make you smile every step of the way, you can’t go wrong with Kena: Bridge of Spirits." The game was also a sales success, recouping its development costs a month after its initial release in September 2021. 

You can learn more about Kena: Bridge of Spirits by checking out our behind-the-scenes features in our cover story hub.

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The renewed interest in the Fallout franchise has led to one person playing the first game in the post-apocalyptic RPG series on a platform discontinued years ago: Nintendo 3DS. That's right, it's now possible--thanks to a mod--to visit the wasteland in its original form on the handheld system.

The Gamer spotted that someone is playing through Fallout in a way that didn't seem possible. The RPG is technically only available on PC, without any sort of port on Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox. However, a Reddit user transferred their "original, legally purchased copy" over to 3DS and says it's "running great." The only issue they've experienced is the fact you have to "cycle between left and right click with [the] L button."

It's worth noting that Nintendo disputes the legality of playing a ROM of a game on another system simply because you own a physical copy already.

Fallout games have seen massive player boosts since the Prime Video TV series premiered in April. However, the main beneficiaries from the franchise have been those easily available on current consoles, such as Fallout 76, Fallout 4, and Fallout: New Vegas. Things don't stop there, though. The latest Fortnite season has Fallout crossover content, including the T-60 power armor, and a leak points to a Call of Duty collaboration with Fallout in the near-future as well.

Meanwhile, Nintendo 3DS was officially retired in 2020 when the company stopped production on the handheld. The system, which launched in 2011, ended up selling over 75 million units over its lifetime.

Looking ahead, new Fallout games are being planned at Bethesda, but no timeline has been given for when the next entry could arrive. A second season of the Fallout show is also in the works.

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