PlayStation has announced it is bringing its 2022 hit PlayStation-exclusive game, God of War Ragnarök, to PC. It revealed this during today's State of Play with a new trailer alongside a September 19 release date. 

This follows PlayStation's recent trend of bringing its single-player, narrative-driven games over to PC years after they first launch on PlayStation. Just this month, it brought Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut to PC, and today, PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst revealed all live-service games will launch day-and-date on PS5 and PC while "tentpole" single-player games will launch at later dates on PC. 

As you might expect, the PC version of God of War Ragnarök will feature unlocked frame rates, Nvidia DLSS 3.7. (and AMD FSR 3.1 and Intel XESS 1.3), super ultrawide support, and other PC features. This version of Ragnarök will feature the free Valhalla DLC from last year, too, and pre-purchasing the game gets you in-game rewards like the Kratos Risen Snow Armor and Atreus Risen Snow Tunic. 

Check it out for yourself below in the God of War Ragnarök PC reveal trailer: 

God of War Ragnarök hits PC on September 19, 2024. 

For more, read Game Informer's God of War Ragnarök review. 

Are you going to check out this game out on PC later this year? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Fortnite community has had mixed reactions since the start of Season 3, with a major complaint being that the vehicles are too strong. But thanks to the game's latest patch, vehicles will no longer be as strong as they were at the start of the season.

In a tweet posted on the official Fortnite X/Twitter account, it was announced that boss cars will no longer automatically regain health like they used to, and vehicles will now have less health than usual when playing Solos. In addition, the accuracy of machine guns will be reduced, and the grenade launcher will do less damage to structures.

On top of that, vehicles will receive more damage whenever they're shot from Boom Bolts. The Nitro Gauntlets will now have a longer recharge time, and players will take less damage whenever they take damage from a Nitro shoulder bash.

Even though the latest patch brings many balance adjustments, it also unvaulted the Boogie Bomb, a fan-favorite weapon, though they're not long for this world. Epic teased that it would be bringing back a "widely-requested electric throwable to replace Boogie Bombs sooooon."

Not everyone has been frustrated with this season's focus on car combat. Read why one GameSpot editor thinks it's actually the best season of Fortnite ever.

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If you're looking forward to Destiny 2: The Final Shape, you might want to clear some space off your HDD, because you're going to need it. The good news is that you have some time to decide what you need, because Destiny 2 is going offline for 25 hours in early June to prepare for the launch.

Bungie recently published a lengthy blog post that broke down what players can expect in The Final Shape. That downtime is scheduled from 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT on June 3, and it will end 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT on June 4. Preloading will be available on all platforms during that time. Additionally, the post revealed the install size requirements for the patch on every platform, and they're a doozy, exceeding 110GB on every platform, and requiring nearly 300GB during the update process on Steam. Once the update is complete, the final install size will (in many cases) be smaller, but still quite large. The maximum file sizes, which vary depending on your installed languages, can be seen in the table below.

The post also talks about a number of Destiny 2 developments, including the announcement of a collaboration with Dungeons & Dragons, with D&D-inspired looks and cosmetics coming to the store on June 4. The post includes a lengthy preview of what Artifact perks players can expect to get in the early days of The Final Shape, including columns for Solar, Void, Arc, and the different kinds of weapons. Finally, as usual, Bungie is sponsoring a race to see who will be the "world first" to complete the new Salvation's Edge raid, so keep an eye out for that.

In other The Final Shape news, huge spoilers for the game have apparently leaked online, so if you're concerned about that, we recommend you stay off social media for the next few days. Also, make sure to complete the content that's leaving Destiny 2 before this downtime, and spend your Legendary Shards.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape Install Size And Update Space Requirements

* Destiny 2 Install Size may vary based on languages installed, size shown is maximum size possible

** PlayStation 4: Includes current installed version of Destiny 2 (110.70 GB) + Update 8.0.0.1 pre-load (18.61 GB) = 129.31 GB

*** Steam: Includes current installed version of Destiny 2 (up to 144.20 GB) + Update 8.0.0.1 pre-load (up to 155.50 GB) = 299.70 GB

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Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s latest trailer has unveiled fusion warriors for its roster. It also seems to tease another announcement on the horizon.

The trailer reveals the additions of Gotenks (the fusion of Goten and Trunks), Kefla (the fusion of Caulifla and Kale), Fused Zamasu, and Goku and Vegeta’s fusions, Vegito and Gogeta. Watch them trade blows in the trailer below: 

Since each fusion includes the fighters that make them up and their various transformations, the full list of characters joining the roster amounts to 21. Check them out below. 

• Trunks (Kid)
• Trunks (Kid), Super Saiyan
• Goten
• Goten, Super Saiyan
• Caulifla
• Caulifla, Super Saiyan 2
• Kale
• Kale, Super Saiyan
• Gotenks
• Gotenks, Super Saiyan
• Gotenks, Super Saiyan 3
• Kefla
• Kefla, Super Saiyan
• Kefla, Super Saiyan 2
• Vegito
• Vegito, Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Gogeta (Super)
• Gogeta (Super), Super Saiyan
• Gogeta (Super), Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Fused Zamasu
• Fused Zamasu, Half-Corrupted

The trailer ends with a message serving as a classic callback to the anime that states, “Next time on Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero: Summer Game Fest 2024.” Could we be getting a release date at Geoff Keighley’s showcase? Given that the game was revealed during another Keighley show, The Game Awards 2023, it wouldn’t be surprising.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is the next entry in what’s known in the West as the Budokai Tenkaichi series (Sparking is the franchise's original Japanese name). The roster is only halfway revealed, but we’ve already seen a number of confirmed fighters from Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super, including multiple versions of the same characters. The game has no release window but is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. You can learn more about the game's new mechanics and features here. 

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Treasure goblins are set to invade Diablo 4 and Diablo Immortal for each game's respective anniversaries, bringing with them even more loot and bonus rewards than usual.

Called March of the Goblins, the event will run from June 6-13 and see increased numbers of treasure goblins in Diablo 4 to celebrate the game's one-year anniversary. Their "greed filled bags are rumored to be richer than ever before," according to Blizzard, and Greed shrines, which grant increased gold, will also appear more frequently. In dungeons, players will be able to find Treasure Goblins in pairs, with "some tall tales insisting an even larger pack of them together," teases Blizzard.

But that's not all. Diablo 4 players will also get to enjoy 25% increased XP gains and 50% more gold thanks to another event, Mother's Blessing, which will last 10 days in total. Blizzard at time of writing had not released an exact start or end date for the Mother Blessing XP and gold buffs. A number of free cosmetic items will be up for grabs too, including weapon appearances and a mount. Players will have until June 20 to claim the free gifts.

March of the Goblins is coming to Blizzard's mobile game Diablo Immortal too, which is celebrating its two-year anniversary with increased Treasure Goblin appearances and an anniversary event that will see players earning rewards for completing various weekly tasks. One of Diablo 4's world bosses, Avarice the Gold Cursed, will be added to Diablo Immortal for players to challenge, as will a mysterious new Legendary Gem that will be granted to all players for free, but must be claimed by June 20. The game's Trial of the Hordes has been reimagined as the Trial of Plunder, with increased treasure goblin-appearances there as well.

Last but not least, a 36-hour Goblin's Plunder buff that will increase rewards by 200% from various activities, will be granted to all Diablo Immortal players. However, players get to choose when to activate the buff, and it will only count down while in-game. Players will have until June 20 to activate the buff and reap the rewards. Diablo Immortal's March of the Goblins event will run June 6-20.

Diablo 4's latest season, Loot Reborn, dramatically reworked the game's loot and upgrade systems and has gone over well with fans. The first expansion for Blizzard's ARPG, Vessel of Hatred, is slated to release in late 2024. Meanwhile, Diablo Immortal is set to reintroduce Diablo himself later this year. The free-to-play mobile ARPG recently introduced its second new class to the Diablo franchise, the water-bending Tempest.

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• Category: Games

May 30, 2024

After 13 Years, Test Drive Unlimited Makes its Grand Return

• Romain Ledig, Product Manager, Nacon

Test Drive Unlimited launched on Xbox 360 in 2006. At the time, it revolutionized the open-world multiplayer racing genre. Set on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, the map offered a variety of landscapes, roads, and locations to explore. A focus on multiplayer aspects made a significant impact: for the first time, players experienced exploring an open world together, driving their favorite cars.

For 13 years, racers have eagerly awaited the return of a franchise that captivated a generation of passionate fans. But this isn’t about tapping into nostalgia, the teams at Nacon and Kylotonn are rekindling the excitement that made the Test Drive games so iconic over a decade ago. It’s a tribute to everything that made the series legendary while (excuse the pun) reinventing the wheel with the introduction of new features and improvements to enrapture a new (and old) generation of petrolheads.

We’re excited to reveal here that Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is set to launch on September 12, 2024 and that pre-orders are live on Xbox Series X|S.

It was Test Drive Unlimited 2 that built on the foundations laid by its predecessor, adding a dynamic weather system and a day-night cycle. The addition of a new island, Ibiza, included expansion to social interactions, with new ways for players to interact and connect, and where friendships were formed over friendly competition. The social aspect enhanced immersion, turning the second installment into a true lifestyle-oriented racing game. 

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is a new frontier for massively multiplayer online open-world racing games. We’ve fully replicated the island of Hong Kong, recreated at a 1:1 scale. This technical feat took the team three years to achieve. It’s also far more than a neon-lit cityscape, brimming with unique places to explore. Yes, you’ll drift around small alleys and race along highways, but there are also various mountains, beaches and other places to take your driving off-road.

Rediscover the iconic elements that made Test Drive Unlimited iconic in Solar Crown. While exploring a vast open world, shopping in real dealerships, putting your own touch on your vehicles and avatar via extensive customization options and competing against players across the world. Just like the original games, these features can be enjoyed solo or with other players. The open world, dealerships, garages, races, and clan HQs are all interconnected social hubs, where players meet through their avatars and cars.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is much more than a return after 13 years; it’s the highly anticipated sequel to a franchise that marked an entire generation of players. It’s a love letter to the franchise’s rich DNA, while introducing a new map, and providing a high-quality visual and auditory experience.

Pre-order Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown now and experience the ultimate lifestyle & racing adventure starting September 12, 2024.

The post After 13 Years, Test Drive Unlimited Makes its Grand Return appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Though The Sims team might be hard at work on series' next title, Project Rene, that doesn't mean they aren't taking some time to implement some big changes to the series' current iteration. EA has announced that limited-time events are coming to The Sims 4.

According to an EA blog post, these events will reward players for logging in daily with free items, traits, and more. Font, a senior game designer on The Sims 4, wrote that the newly-added events feature is focused on adding "new opportunities to your game."

"Our team created a platform for these new events to live. Something that is flexible, easier to update, and will be easy for you to find and claim those rewards," Font said. "Our designers have been busy making this new system shine and preparing for the first Event, while our artists have been creating new objects and Create-a-Sim pieces."

The game's first event, The Sims 4 Happy at Home Login Event, kicks off today and is scheduled to run for four weeks. The event contains a handful of items that "will help create a comfortable hangout space for your Sims," as well as the Practice Makes Perfect trait, which will allow your Sims to learn skills faster. A full list with descriptions of all eight rewards coming can be found over the official EA blog.

Considering The Sims 4 is known for its ever-expanding (and costly) catalog of DLC, the studio has already assured players that all the items included in events are entirely free. According to Font, all players have to do is engage with the event. Once a reward is claimed, it can be found within the Base Game.

However, Font also explained that the requirements for unlocking items will differ. While Happy at Home just requires that players login, some events might take players on "quests" where they will have to complete goals to earn rewards.

Font also explained how joining an event late will work, writing:

"There's plenty of time during the event to jump in if you are coming in late. Each day you launch the game counts as a login to unlock the next available reward. If you come in late to the event there's still time to catch up, but it will take eight days of logins to unlock all of the rewards. We've provided an extra week to login and claim those remaining rewards."

With that in mind, Happy at Home should run through the first week of July. EA has not yet announced what event will follow, or how frequent events will be. For those looking to spice up The Sims 4 themselves, here are 25 mods we recommend checking out.

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Nintendo Switch owners who still adore the GameCube controller design for Smash Bros. and other games can take advantage of great deal on a unique gamepad right now. The NYXI Wizard controller reimagines that classic device for the Switch and adds a few modern touches, and if that sounds like a good time, you can save up to 25% off the regular price in this Amazon Lightning Deal. This deal won't last for long, so check it out while you can.

The NYXI Wizard acts as an alternative to Joy-Con controllers. You can attach them to your Switch just like Nintendo's official controllers for handheld mode, or you can keep them connected together to have a chunky GameCube-style controller for docked play.

• NYXI Wizard Controller (Black) -- $52.49 ($70)
• NYXI Wizard Controller (Orange) -- $56 ($70)
• NYXI Wizard Controller (Purple) -- $59.50 ($70)

Beyond the familiar shape and input arrangement, the controller also comes with Hall Effect joysticks, which are far more durable and more resistant to drifting than the sticks on a typical Joy-Con. The ABXY face buttons feature customizable color effects that sync with your gaming actions, there are two programmable back buttons, and six-Axis gyroscope motion-sensing technology for games that require twists and turns. Pretty useful for Mario Kart 8!

Additionally, the programmable buttons have adjustable turbo response and vibration intensity and the mechanical triggers can be fine-tuned to provide rapid-fire accuracy in competitive games. Overall, this makes for a robust and feature-packed controller, especially for when you want to play ports of classic GameCube titles on your Switch. For the colors, you can choose from black, orange, and purple models.

For a more conventional alternative for handheld play, Switch owners will want to check out the Nitro Deck, a slick cradle for your Switch when you're on the move. This connects to the Switch via the USB-C port on the bottom of the console for faster response times, and other features include Hall Effect joysticks, four programmable back buttons, Bluetooth support, and more. Normally $60, you can grab one now for $45 from a selection of five different colors. The Nitro Deck is on our list of the best Nintendo Switch controllers.

• CKRD Nitro Deck (Black) -- $45 ($60)
• CKRD Nitro Deck (PAL Grey) -- $45 ($60)
• CKRD Nitro Deck (Retro Blue) -- $45 ($60)
• CKRD Nitro Deck (Retro Pink) -- $45 ($60)
• CKRD Nitro Deck (White) -- $45 ($60)

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Witcher games are single-player experiences, but if you're looking to socialize and you don't mind moving from a console to a tabletop, this Witcher board game is worth picking up. For a limited time, you can save on The Witcher: Old World board game at Amazon. Multiple expansions for the strategy-rich game are also on sale.

Priced at $71.70 (average price is $92), The Witcher: Old World is designed to be played by up to five players, with each session lasting 90-150 minutes. Like the video games, you'll explore the deadly Continent, make meaningful story choices, and develop your unique Witcher character across several adventures. A deckbuilding miniatures game, you'll choose from a wide range of abilities, attacks, and magical skills for the journey that lies ahead. Along the way, there'll be some hard choices to make across immersive events, and these decisions will provide you with new opportunities and rewards.

For the expansions, you can grab three of them at a great price. Legendary Hunt adds seven large boss miniatures to your games and cards to control them. You'll also gain new special combat cards and a new boss monster mode to try your luck in. The Skellige Hunt expansion adds three new locations, boat travel, and cute boat miniatures for your naval adventures. Finally, the Mages expansion adds five new playable magic-wielding characters, wizards who hunt down dangerous creatures to harvest them for rare ingredients to help them become more powerful.

• Legendary Hunt -- $56
• Skellige Hunt -- $72
• Mages -- $59

For something different, you can also score a 20% discount on the new Dune board game. Dune: War for Arrakis is a miniatures-based game that launched earlier this year and you can also grab new miniatures and strategies to use in battle with its expansion, Dune: The Spacing Guild. Several other notable games are on sale, and you can check the list below for more details.

Amazon board games sale

• Dune: War for Arrakis -- $112 ($140)
• Dune: The Spacing Guild expansion -- $45 ($50)
• Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City -- $88 ($110)
• Fallout: The Board Game -- $52 ($70)
• Stranger Things: The Upside Down -- $36.60 ($50)
• Bloodborne: The Board Game -- $110
• Bloodborne: The Board Game - Chalice Dungeon Expansion -- $69 ($80)
• Bloodborne: The Board Game - Hunter's Dream Expansion -- $37.32 ($40)
• Bloodborne: The Board Game - Cainhurst Castle Expansion -- $45.33 ($60)
• Bloodborne: The Board Game - Forbidden Woods Expansion -- $43.70 ($60)
• Marvel Zombies core box -- $97
• Marvel Zombies: X-Men Resistance -- $104 ($130)
• Marvel Zombies: Fantastic 4 Under Siege -- $42 ($60)
• Marvel Zombies: Hydra Resurrection -- 48 ($60)
• Marvel Zombies: Clash of the Sinister Six -- $41 ($48)
• Marvel Zombies: Guardians of the Galaxy -- $36 ($50)

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The final patch for Redfall--the much-maligned co-op shooter from Arkane Austin--has arrived, and it brings a large number of new changes and systems to the game. These include a "Community Standing" mechanic that rewards you for completing objectives, a new type of vampire nest to take down, and the introduction of an offline mode.

Community Standing is arguably the biggest addition here, as it affects many aspects of Redfall from the ground up. Players will now earn this reputation by unlocking Safehouses, completing Safehouse missions, rescuing civilians, and killing an Underboss. You can then spend this reputation to unlock rewards from the Safehouse Skill Tree, which has 39 different rewards that are tiered through six different ranks.

The new Elder Nest is the other headline inclusion, which are boss-focused encounters that challenge players to defeat particularly difficult vampires. Once you defeat the powerful boss within, you'll receive big rewards, as well as a temporary buff called a Heart Shard, which gives you and your party members a randomized bonus, like holstered weapons regenerating ammo.

This update also brings a number of quality-of-life changes to the game, including the inclusion of offline mode, which allows you to play the game without being connected to the internet. It adds single-player pausing, so that players no longer have to find a safe corner to hide in to adjust their kit.

Notably, there are no full patch notes for Update 4, and that the update text states that it has other additions for players to find. This makes sense, given that this is the final patch for Redfall due to the closure of its developer Arkane Austin. Microsoft shuttered the studio as part of a wave of closures that included Hi-Fi Rush studio Tango Gameworks. Arkane Austin was reportedly pitching an "immersive sim" similar to its previous game Prey before the hammer dropped. Microsoft has stated that Redfall will remain online.

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Ahead of the launch of The Final Shape expansion next week, Bungie has unveiled a Dungeons & Dragons crossover for Destiny 2. Like previous collaborations, players will be able to don stylish armor sets inspired by the popular tabletop game franchise, including Faerûn inspired armor for all classes. The new armor sets include the Apex Draconic set for Titans, the Spectral Displacer set for Hunters, and the Flayer’s Dominion set for Warlocks. There'll also be an Owlbear Chariot, Queen of Dragons ship, the Eye Tyrant Ghost Shell, and more added to Destiny 2 when the crossover rolls out.

It's worth noting that these are purely cosmetic pieces of armor and they have no effect on your gear's stats or properties. These premium armor ornaments typically require you to spend some cash to own them and previous collaborations have been priced at 2,000 Silver, or around $20 in real-world cash. This isn't the first time Destiny 2 has crossed over with another popular franchise, as previous team-ups have seen Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Fortnite armor sets added to the game for a limited time.

Only a few more days remain until The Final Shape launches, and after players were able to access some of the expansion's content due to an accidental update, Bungie is cautioning fans to be wary of potential spoilers.

For more details on the Destiny 2 expansion, you can check out GameSpot's previews of the weird new location you'll explore inside of the Traveler and how Prism avoids repeating the mistakes of the Strand subclass. You can also check out The Final Shape launch trailer for a spooky look at what the Witness has planned for the universe.

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Humanity is an action-puzzle game that puts you in the role of a Shiba Inu trying to rebuild mankind after its destruction at the hands of a rogue AI, and it launches today on Xbox. If you’ve got Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass, you can download and play right now! If you’re not yet familiar with Humanity, check our announcement Xbox Wire post here.

When you’ve got a job as big as single-handedly (paw-edly?) saving the human race, you could probably use a few pointers. We’ve got you covered. Here are seven tips to ensure you start off on the right foot—er, paw.

1. Fixing Your Flow

In each Humanity stage, you place commands on the ground to direct the humans over obstacles and solve puzzles to get them into a goal. The goals fill with light as humans stream into them. But sometimes, you may notice a goal isn’t filling or only fills partially. This means you need a bigger flow of humans to trigger it. Check your route and make sure no people are straying off the path and that you have a steady number walking in.

2. Don’t Worry About Losing Some Humans

Humanity‘s story takes place in a hub area called the Testing Grounds, with AI “Cores” running experiments to rebuild mankind. The humans you lead are made of light—so when they perish, they turn back into light and walk through the door again. So don’t feel bad when you (inevitably!) lose a few to cliffs or falling blocks or weapons. The only human-shaped characters you should be worried about losing are the bonus Goldy, which unlock game progression, cosmetics, and more. And for them, consider…

3. Putting Your Humans in a Holding Pattern

The never-ending, always forward-moving line of people doesn’t need to be stressful. If theme parks have taught us anything, putting humans in a queue can save everyone from headaches. Make the queue work for you by directing the humans into a circular or back-and-forth pattern when you need to temporarily hold something safely. It’s perfect for ensuring you don’t lose any bonus Goldy mid-stage.

4. Use Diving for Quick Traversal and Higher Jumps

At the end of the game’s Prologue, you learn a very important technique—diving. When you hit the jump button in mid-air, you’ll dive into the horde of humans and can traverse among them as if they were water. It’s a great way to travel around stages quickly, but there’s a more advanced trick to it. You can use momentum as you emerge from a dive (pressing jump again) to jump higher than you normally can. This allows you to scale walls that are three blocks high with ease.

5. Make Use of Retry Keep Commands

Not long into Story Mode you’ll unlock the ability to Retry a stage but keep the commands you’ve already laid down in place. It’s called Retry Keep Commands, and it’s maybe the most important option when you’re puzzling out a route for the humans to take. Because if you realize you’ve made a mistake that there’s no time to correct, you can simply reset the flow of humans with Retry Keep Commands and make fixes (you can also optionally use Retry Clear Commands to clear the stage entirely).

6. Stuck? Check the Solution Video

Humanity is a puzzle game; sometimes you might need a hint—a push in the right direction. We didn’t want you to get stuck on a puzzle. Select Solution Video from the pause menu and watch as much or as little of the clip as you want. It won’t spoil how to get the Goldy though. That’s up to you!

7. Want More Humanity? Play Thousands of User-Made Stages

Here’s one of the biggest tips of all. If you love a particular type of puzzle in Humanity or just want to play more even after you finish the story, go to Play Stages from the title screen. Here, you’ll find playlists of user-made levels—almost 10,000 have already been uploaded. Each stage even indicates how difficult it is so you can find stages that meet you at your puzzling skill level. You can search by specific puzzle types and sort by the highest-rated, clear rate, or newest uploads. For launch, we have a specially selected playlist of stages inspired by Xbox.

And there you have it, seven essential tips to get the very best experience from Humanity. It’s available right now on Xbox, and with Game Pass and PC Game Pass. Best of luck saving mankind!!

Humanity

Enhance

☆☆☆☆☆ 3

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

A unique blend of puzzle-solving and action-platforming, HUMANITY puts the fate of all mankind in your hands. Er, paws. Did we mention you’re a dog? You are a Shiba Inu charged with commanding massive, marching crowds to jump, turn, push, float, shoot, and climb their way to salvation. Guide the masses through 90-plus stages filled with obstacles, enemies, puzzles, unlockable skills, and wild boss fights in the narrative campaign, or browse a wide array of user-made levels (or build your own!) crafted via the super easy-to-use in-game Stage Creator. Whether on your standard display or in the (PC only) optional VR Mode, watch as breathtaking swarms of people follow your commands to the exit, all in HUMANITY’s stark iconic style, courtesy of director and celebrated visual designer Yugo Nakamura and famed game creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez Infinite, Tetris Effect: Connected).

The post Master Humanity: 7 Essential Tips for Saving Mankind appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Pocket Stables, which is available for pre-order today, is a game where you can raise your very own racehorse. If you are a horse racing fan, you have probably dreamed of owning a racehorse. In this game, you are the owner and rancher, and you can produce everything from facilities and training methods to jockeys and horse breeding.

Aiming for a Fantastic Farm

Improved facilities are also essential for the training of racehorses. In addition to training facilities, you should also develop facilities for tourists visiting your ranch. If the ranch becomes an attractive tourist destination, funds and other resources for raising racehorses will increase.

Feel the Release and Excitement of Victory

This game is packed with not only the excitement of sports, but also a relaxing element.

The colorful scenery of the ranch and the sight of horses and trainers training together will leave you feeling enriched. Also, it will be exciting to see the racehorses you have worked so hard on win the race!

Raise your dream Triple Crown horse with your own hands and reach the pinnacle of glory.

Pocket Stables

Kairosoft

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$11.99 $10.79

Pre-order

Manage a ranch while training your racehorses to race for a Triple Crown. Manage your very own ranch while training your racehorses to win big in exciting races! Build training facilities like dirt courses and pools amidst the beautiful natural surroundings of your ranch. Increase your ranch's fame and entice visitors to spend some dough at your ranch's amenities, like ice cream stands and gift shops. Find horses with the right combination of stamina and speed and intensity and train them to race. Keep winning races to earn bigger and better prizes, as well as the ability to compete in even bigger and more exciting races on an international scale. Send once-great racehorses out to stud. Find effective pedigree combinations and breed a new generation of talented colts. Can you train a Triple Crown winner and bring fame and glory to your ranch?

The post Dream Racehorse Training Game Pocket Stables is Out Now on Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Bethesda's Todd Howard has called Fallout's recent renaissance "beyond anything [he's] ever seen in [his] 30 years of doing this".

This renewed interest in the series all came about thanks to Amazon's Fallout adaptation, which debuted last month. The show's success - which saw 65 million viewers tuning in in its first 16 days of release - led to droves of players venturing into one or many of Fallout's wastelands, to find out what delights were in store.

Fallout 4 actually became the best selling game in Europe at one point in April, despite having been out for almost a decade. Meanwhile, earlier today, it was announced that Fallout 76 has now welcomed 20 million total players, several years after its initial release.

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The upcoming Silent HIll 2 remake is highly anticipated--after all, it's based on one of the best horror games of all time--and fans eager for a taste got a new trailer as part of PlayStation's latest State of Play presentation. In a trailer that recreates several memorable scenes from the 2001 original, you can get your first glimpse at the game's performances, combat, and more. Oh, and it's been dated for October 8, most importantly of all.

The Silent Hill 2 remake is a PS5 console exclusive. It will tell the story of writer James Sunderland arriving in the titular town in search of his wife, whom he believed to be dead. The game uses a modernized gameplay style and perspective and will use 3D audio, haptic feedback, and the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers.

Unlike the original Silent Hill 2, developed internally at Konami, Bloober Team is responsible for the Silent Hill 2 remake. The studio is best known for its Layers of Fear games, as well as its supernatural horror adventure The Medium.

Silent Hill 2 lands on PS5 and PC on October 8, 2024.

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Sony has officially unveiled Concord, its latest live-service game from developer Firewalk Studios. The game was given its first reveal at the latest PlayStation State of Play celebration, showing off the 5v5 shooter. Concord launches on PS5 and PC on August 23, with a pre-launch beta running in July.

Concord was revealed with a story trailer showing off some of the characters and the world of the multiplayer shooter. The game has a sci-fi setting, with a variety of different aliens. Characters are shown to have different abilities, like robot legs to jump high and diamond skin to absorb extra damage. The different groups are Freegunners, which basically mercenaries, complete with Guardians of the Galaxy-inspired banter and jokes.

The team shooter is 5v5, featuring unique named heroes with their own weapons and special abilities. The game looks heavily inspired by other hero shooters, like Overwatch 2, with teams battling out in different objective-based modes. Some unique mechanics include special equipment, like healing pads and trip mines, that carry over not just between deaths, but even across rounds. There will be 16 characters at launch, with new story content added to the game regularly, in addition to new characters, modes, and more.

Concord is Firewalk Studios' first game. Unlike most of Sony's first-party projects, it was previously announced to be coming to PC alongside the PS5 version. A teaser trailer previously showed space travel, and Firewalk says that each multiplayer match is a "new story."

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A Just Cause movie is in on the way.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie – based on Square Enix and Avalanche Studios' action series – will be led by Blue Bettle director Ángel Manuel Soto, and produced by Kelly McCormick and David Leitch, who also produced The Fall Guy.

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Evercade is responsible for some of the most popular retro hardware on the market, with the Evercade handhelds and and home console boasting a library of over 500 games across 50-plus cartridge compilations. Arcade games have been a major component of Evercade's approach to bringing classics to the modern era--the Evercade EXP and upcoming EXP-R even offer TATE mode, which has a vertical screen orientation that's ideal for some arcade games. And later this year, Evercade will introduce an even more authentic method for playing arcade games. The Evercade Alpha is a countertop arcade machine releasing this November. Preorders go live June 4, and you'll be able to save $20 on your order thanks to Evercade's introductory offer.

Other notable features include a vibrant 8-inch display, stereo speakers, headphone jack, and Wi-Fi support for updates. There's even a swappable light-up marquee if you want to change your style. Each cabinet includes a few additional marquees, while others will be sold separately.

The specs are the same across the pair of Evercade Alpha cabinets, but their game lists are completely unique. Here's a look at what you'll find on each. Most of these games have never been available for Evercade. The company previously included a built-in library of 18 Capcom games with the Evercade EXP and a smaller library of Capcom titles in the budget-friendly Super Pocket.

Mega Man Alpha

• Mega Man: The Power Battle
• Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters
• Carrier Air Wing
• Final Fight
• Knights of the Round
• Strider

Street Fighter Alpha

• Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition
• Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo
• Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo
• Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams
• Street Fighter Alpha 2
• Street Fighter 3 Alpha 3

Shoppers looking for something more premium can step up to the Deluxe Edition, which costs €289.99 (roughly $315 USD). This gets you all available marquees, a certificate of authenticity, Sanwa arcade stick controls, and an exclusive Evercade USB controller. The Deluxe Edition is exclusive to UK retailer Funstock; however, North American customers will be able to order it without paying extremely high shipping costs, as the Evercade Alpha will be shipped from the US warehouses for US buyers.

Evercade has been busy on the hardware front as of late. The Evercade EXP-R and VS-R, new versions of the company's handheld and home consoles, are set to release this summer.

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While the next Resident Evil entry is still a mystery, a new store listing has popped up for Resident Evil 9: Revenant Shadows. Play-Asia posted the PS5 game page for the unannounced game with a "preliminary picture" of what appears to be Leon Kennedy in the shadows.

Spotted by Eurogamer, Play-Asia also put up listings for Resident Evil 5 on PS5, Resident Evil: Code Veronica, and Resident Evil Zero. The last two are intriguing since a recent report stated that Capcom is working on remakes for both games in the survival-horror series.

However, well-known leaker Dusk Golem has poured some cold water on these listings on X (formerly known as Twitter), advising people not to "put much stock into" them. Dusk Golem was also the one behind the Resident Evil Zero and Code Veronica remake rumblings earlier this week.

Capcom has confirmed it's remaking more Resident Evil games, but the company hasn't detailed which entry will be next. Additionally, while it's strongly believed Resident Evil 9 is in development, Capcom hasn't officially announced the title. The Revenant Shadows subtitle is new to the Play-Asia listing.

In March, Dusk Golem reported that Resident Evil 9 could be an open-world game, utilizing the RE Engine. It's thought the game won't come out until late 2025 at the earliest.

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Bethesda boss Todd Howard has confirmed the studio is planning future Fallout games. Speaking to Variety, Howard said Bethesda is "always" thinking about what's next in the game series, and this also applies to Fallout. These comments are not surprising given that Howard, years ago, started talking about plans for Fallout 5.

"Games take a good five-ish years. So we're in plans for future games in this series, and nothing to talk about right now, but we're always planning," he said.

With the Fallout TV show winning praise from critics, and a second season coming up, many are wondering if Bethesda is going to try to capitalize with a new game release. As Howard mentioned, games take a long time to make, so Fallout 5 or anything else that might come next won't be here soon.

For now, though, the success of the Fallout TV show helped Fallout 76's lifetime playerbase surge beyond 20 million, with older Fallout games also seeing a bump.

"Depending on the Fallout game, you're looking at a 4-6x increase in daily players, which is beyond anything I've ever seen in my 30 years of doing this," Howard said. "Having an event that brings that many people into games that you have and who have never played your games before, that's a big thing. New players who have never played a game or never played one of our games. It's a really, really unique moment."

Fallout 5 is likely still a long time off. After all, Howard previously said Bethesda will release The Elder Scrolls VI first, and then Fallout 5, and no one should expect either game to release anytime soon. Whether or not Bethesda has plans for additional Fallout titles beyond Fallout 5 remains to be seen.

It's not just Bethesda thinking this way. PlayStation boss Hermen Hulst recently said Sony is looking to help grow its gaming audience through transmedia adaptations like HBO's The Last of Us.

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Hogwarts Legacy is getting its first major update in a while this summer, and it includes a number of features that players have been asking for. The free update arrives June 6, and it includes a photo mode, a new Onyx Hippogriff mount, Harry Potter's glasses, and other additions.

We don't have the full details on this update yet, but we do have an idea of the highlights thanks to an image that publishing label Portkey Games posted to social media. It includes a screencap of the photo mode in action, with typical options like tilt, depth of field, and different character poses. It also notes a new quest, titled the Haunted Hogsmeade Shop, which will bring some fresh adventure to the game.

The update will add the ability to reset your character's talent points, which is always a welcome option in any game with a talent tree. The post also lists a few other minor additions that are coming with the patch, including the aforementioned Hippogriff mount and Harry Potter's glasses (titled The Glasses That Lived), an Azkaban Prisoner outfit, a Lavender Borealis broom, and the Felix Felicis Potion recipe.

The first major game in the Harry Potter universe in years, Hogwarts Legacy has enjoyed strong sales since its release. For example, it recently ranked as the 20th most downloaded PS5 game for the month of April, more than a year after it first came out.

Hogwarts Legacy is developed by Avalanche Software, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game has been embroiled in controversy due to transphobic remarks from Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Although she is not personally involved with its development, she stands to profit from its success. For more, read our in-depth article on how Rowling's comments have impacted the trans community. In this article, you will also find links to trans creators you can support, as well as charities you can donate to.

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What a jam-packed weekend we have for you with Free Play Days! Driving and Dragon Ball fans jump in, as Assetto Corsa Competizione and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday May 30 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, June 2 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. 

Ahoy fellow Pirates! Enjoy a full week long trial of Skull and Bones which will be unlocked from Thursday May 30 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Thursday, June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Additionally, Call of Duty Modern Warfare III (Multiplayer/Zombies Only) is free for all Xbox members from Thursday May 30 at 12:01 a.m. PT until Monday, June 3 at 10am PT. (Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate not required) for Free Play Days for All! 

Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire. 

How To Start Playing

Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Keep The Fun Going

Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.

Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)

Assetto Corsa Competizione

505 Games SpA

☆☆☆☆☆ 240

★★★★★

$39.99 $11.99

Get it now

Assetto Corsa Competizione
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Assetto Corsa Competizione is the new official GT World Challenge videogame. Thanks to the extraordinary quality of simulation, the game will allow you to experience the real atmosphere of the GT3 homologated championship, competing against official drivers, teams, cars and circuits. 

DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆ 901

★★★★★

$19.99 $9.99

Get it now

Free Trial

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Go Super Saiyan this weekend with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2! Immerse yourself in the largest and most detailed Dragon Ball world ever developed: train with all iconic characters such as Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Trunks, Cell, Frieza and more to create your perfect fighter and protect the history of the Dragon Ball universe. Join an online hub of up to 300 players from around the world to team up for hard raid missions or measure your strength! There’s never been a better time to jump into Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, now out for Xbox One, Series X & S, and on sale this weekend at up to 50% off. Future Saga Chapter 1 DLC is also available now — read more about it in on Xbox Wire! 

Skull & Bones

Ubisoft

☆☆☆☆☆ 335

★★★★★

$69.99 $55.99

Get it now

Skull and Bones 
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Ahoy Pirates! From May 30 to June 6, don’t miss on the opportunity to play for free and save 50% on Skull and Bones! Embark on the vast naval open world in this online action RPG where you rise to become the most fearsome pirate kingpin. Customize your fleet, craft unique ships, and forge formidable weapons to dominate in exhilarating sea battles against your foes, all while expanding your pirate dominion.

During this Free Play Days, you are free to play any content you want, whether it is to progress through the main storyline or tackle challenging content with your friends. And when you purchase the full game, you will be able to keep all the progress you made. 

Free Play Days For All

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III – Cross-Gen Bundle

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 2258

★★★★★

$69.99 $45.49

Get it now

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III (Multiplayer/Zombies Only) 
For a limited time until June 3rd, play Multiplayer and Modern Warfare Zombies in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III for FREE. Dive into Multiplayer in Call of Duty and check out the brand-new 6v6 map Paris, along with additional fan-favorite 6v6 maps such as Das Haus, Stash House, and Rust – playable across five core modes including Demolition, new to Season 4. Plus, the free access offer includes Modern Warfare Zombies. It’s time to see what you’re made of. 

Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news. 

The post Free Play Days – Call of Duty Modern Warfare III (Multiplayer/Zombies Only), Skull and Bones, Assetto Corsa Competizione and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2  appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Dataminers have found new details about Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

As shown in the posts below, the next Call of Duty game will reportedly release on both previous and current generation consoles. This ties in with reports earlier in the month, when images of a GameStop pre-order screen for the game started making the rounds online.

Additionally, those interested will seemingly be able to pick up a 'Vault' edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, as well as the 'Standard' edition.

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There are two ways PlayStation plans to keep game budgets from growing even bigger: outsourcing and utilizing co-development teams. Hermen Hulst, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment's studio business group, addressed this issue during the company's latest business update. He admitted "there has been pressure on the cost side" for PlayStation.

Spotted by KAMI on X (formerly known as Twitter), Hulst explained how PlayStation is combating rising costs now and going forward. "We also have a very tight development strategy," Hulst said. "For every title, we have really rigorous review processes where we focus on the sustainability of our investments in these titles.

"We include areas such as looking what can be outsourced, for example, to avoid too high peak resource on development teams because costs can be sticky. We're looking at co-development options in areas where the costs per resource is maybe somewhat lower than the average or on the American west coast."

Last year, the budgets of The Last of Us Part II and Horizon Forbidden West were accidentally revealed, and they weren't cheap. Each first-party PlayStation game cost over $200 million to make, which is higher than even some blockbuster Hollywood movies.

On top of budgets, Hulst also revealed why Sony doesn't release most PS5 games on PC the same day and date. Basically, Sony's live-service titles will come to PC at the same time, while single-player games won't.

Later today, Sony will hold a PlayStation State of Play Showcase at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET. Sony will focus on 14 games for PS5 and PSVR 2. In the meantime, tons of PS5-exclusive games are on sale for PlayStation's Days of Play.

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