Saber Interactive, the team behind the highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, has recently confirmed that "there aren't any microtransactions" in the game. Everything that players pay for is purely cosmetic.

The news comes from a community update in which the team reiterated what many of the trailers revealed, such as players will be able to play solo or with two friends in co-op, a quick rundown of the new PvE mode Operations that'll take place alongside the main campaign, and the newly announced PvP mode.

As the community update continued, the team went on to explain how paid DLC will be handled:

"Hence, we're happy to confirm that there aren't any microtransactions in Space Marine 2. No in-game cash shop. All gameplay content and features will be free to all players. Any paid DLCs will be cosmetic only."

Sylvain Le Roux, a senior brand manager at Focus Entertainment, also echoed this statement in an interview with PCGamesN. Le Roux went on to say that the team plans to implement season passes similar to other games, such as Fortnite, where everything players earn is cosmetics only. They then continued by saying, "All of the gameplay additions, whether it's new missions or new enemies, all of that will come for free to all players."

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will launch on September 9 and be playable on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For more Warhammer news, check out our story highlighting all the recently announced games at Warhammer Skull: 2024.

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Yet another Diablo 4 patch will look at reducing the amount of gold needed in its endgame, specifically when it comes to Masterworking items.

Update 1.4.1 won't officially arrive until May 28, but Blizzard has already released the official patch notes. The biggest change coming in the update is the reduced gold cost for Masterworking, Diablo 4's new endgame upgrade system introduced as part of Season 4, Loot Reborn. Masterworking improves the values of an item's affixes, making them much more powerful, with the other materials required obtained from a new endgame dungeon, The Pit.

Though the cost of lower Masterworking ranks will remain the same, the cost from rank 5 upwards will be reduced. At the max rank of 12, players will be spending 7.5 million less gold per item.

"We want to make the main push for Masterworking to be focused on the acquisition of materials, and less focused on needing the gold," Blizzard writes in the patch notes. "We want to avoid the possibility of having the materials available, but needing to take extra time to collect the gold."

Other changes related to Masterworking coming in the patch include Masterworking unlocking for all characters once it's unlocked by one character and the ability to transmute Masterworking materials directly instead of needing to open a materials cache to acquire them.

Blizzard's previous hotfix already addressed Masterworking material trasmute costs, reducing the gold required by millions. Taken together with the upcoming changes, it should be much cheaper overall for players to Masterwork their items without feeling the need to hoard all their gold.

Though the Masterworking changes are the star of the patch, there are a few other minor changes as well, like how Hellborne enemies in Helltides will deal additional fire damage come the update, the drop rates for Scattered Prisms will increase, and how much armor a player needs to hit the armor cap will now be displayed via a tooltip on the character stats page. There is also a long list of bug fixes, including one that will potentially kill a popular Barbarian build. Due to a bug, the Barbarian's Bash ability was dealing multiplicative instead of additive damage when combined with a certain Tempering affix. That will be fixed come patch day.

Diablo 4's Loot Reborn update has gone over well with fans, with some on places like Reddit and Steam commenting on how much more fun it is and stating the game as it is now is how Blizzard's ARPG should have been at release. Players can even craft Uber Uniques now, items that were so rare at launch, Blizzard had to confirm they even existed. The first expansion for Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, is slated to release in late 2024.

Diablo 4 Patch 1.4.1 Notes

GAME UPDATES

• The Enchanting window now explicitly informs you that you can't re-roll into a Greater Affix.
• Hellborne enemies in Helltide now deal additional fire damage with their attacks.
• Masterworking materials can now be directly transmuted instead of requiring the opening of a Materials Cache to receive them.
• Once Masterworking is unlocked by one character, it is now always accessible on all characters across realms.
• The Gold cost of Masterworking has been reduced.
  • Examples:
    • Ranks 1-4: Unchanged
    • Rank 5: reduced from 450,000 to 400,000
    • Rank 8: reduced from 1,000,000 to 800,000
    • Rank 12: reduced from 10,000,000 to 2,500,000

Developer’s Note: We want to make the main push for Masterworking to be focused on the acquisition of materials, and less focused on needing the Gold. We want to avoid the possibility of having the materials available, but needing to take extra time to collect the Gold.

• The Armor cap is now displayed in the tooltip when hovering over Armor in character stats.
• The surge damage from Sorcerer's Enhanced Charged bolts has been increased from 30% to 45%.

Developer’s Note: We investigated an issue where the surge from Enhanced Charged Bolts was happening too frequently when enemies were tightly stacked together, which caused performance issues. We also found that the surge damage was doing less damage than intended while the Piercing Static aspect was equipped. While fixing those two issues (see bug fixes below), it was decided that a 50% buff to the surge damage would compensate for reducing how often it procs when enemies are stacked together.

• The drop rates for Scattered Prisms have been increased from multiple sources.
  • Treasure goblins now drop Scattered Prisms more often.
    • 15% Chance in World Tiers I and II
    • 25% Chance in World Tier III
    • 30% Chance in World Tier IV
  • World Bosses now always drop Scattered Prisms, and the amount they drop increases by World Tier.
    • World Tiers I and II: 1 Scattered Prism
    • World Tier III: 2 Scattered Prisms
    • World Tier IV: 3 Scattered Prisms
  • The Butcher will always drop a Scattered Prism on defeat.
• Reworked item stat comparisons to be more intuitive when the same stat appears on an item multiple times, which most often occurs with tempered items.

Developer’s Note: Previously, if you compared an item’s stats and it had a value appear twice (such as Cooldown Reduction,) it would display those two different values individually. We have now updated this to combine those individual values to only display one value, making it easier to compare stats across items.

• The Whisper bounty requirements for defeating Hellborne has been reduced from defeating 3 to defeating 1.

Developer’s Note: We've made this change to compensate for a bug fix that can be seen further down in the patch notes.

BUG FIXES

Accessibility

• Fixed an issue where the Screen Reader did not properly announce supported item slot categories for Aspects in the Codex of Power.
• Fixed an issue where the Screen Reader did not properly differentiate between locked and unlocked Tempering recipes.

User Interface and User Experience

• Fixed an issue where Bloodmarked players could not send party invites to each other.
• Fixed an issue where trading Gold to a player at the Gold cap would exit the trade without any feedback to the player.
• Fixed multiple instances where Skill tooltips did not update after being affected by Sorcerer Enchantment effects or new affixes introduced with Tempering.
• Fixed an issue where the tooltip for Tempering re-rolls was inconsistent.
• Fixed an issue where the preview and comparison tooltip values for Tempered Amulets and Two-Handed weapons were inaccurate.
• Fixed an issue where the way interacting with Tempering recipes was inconsistent between Keyboard and Mouse play and Controller play.
• Fixed an issue where the Masterworking menu could become locked when switching World Tiers.
• Fixed an issue where the icons for denoting levels of Masterworking on an item were inconsistent.
• Fixed an issue where the Progress section on the Trials screen would fail to update when a new Class completes the Gauntlet for the first time on the same account.
• Fixed an issue where several skills newly labeled as Core Skills, such as Kick and Firewall, would not come up when searching for Core Skills in the Skill tree.
• Fixed an issue where saving changes in the Wardrobe by switching tabs would not reflect the changes.
• Fixed an issue where Soudeh's dialogue was missing a line after defeating the Blood Maiden.
• Fixed an issue where the visual size of Stun Grenades did not increase with the actual effect's size when using the Tempered Affix that increases their size.
• Fixed an issue where the Greater Affix icon on an item overlapped with socketed Gems.
• Fixed an issue where item stat comparisons were incorrect when one of the items involved in the comparison had two different sources of the same item stat. Now, multiple sources of the same stat will be condensed into a single value for item comparison purposes.
• Fixed an issue where the tooltip for Veiled Crystals could be seen in the Replace Affix menu when enchanting an item.
• Fixed an issue where stacks of Baneful Hearts did not display as multiple when on the ground.
• Fixed an issue where a popup would mistakenly state that a new Pit tier had been unlocked when it had not actually unlocked.
• Fixed an issue where the penalty timer applied to Mastery for dying in the Pit would still display even after the Mastery timer had expired.
• Fixed an issue where tier 130 for The Pit in the Artificer's list was incorrectly labeled as 131.
• Fixed an issue where Helltide Chests in World Tiers I and II took 3 seconds to open instead of 1.5 seconds.
• Fixed an issue where Objective markers did not display on the map when the Confront Doomsayers whisper was active.
• Fixed an issue where the button to start the Gauntlet did not display that it is unavailable during the rotation blackout period when it rotates each week.
• Various miscellaneous fixes and quality-of-life improvements for the Tempering, Masterworking, and Codex of Power menus.
• [PC Only] Fixed issues with NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation, a setting available to players with NVIDIA 4000 series graphics cards, which was temporarily disabled due to stability issues. These issues have been fixed, and the setting has been re-enabled.

Gameplay

Helltide

• Fixed an issue where Hellborne enemies that despawned after Player death would drop loot.
• Fixed an issue where Helltide Zealots could spawn underground.
• Fixed an issue where Screaming Hell Veins could be looted multiple times when in a party.
• Fixed an issue where Aberrant Cinders did not reset when logging back in to an active Helltide with a character that previously had Cinders.
• Fixed an issue where the damaging effect from Spires of Corruption did not match the visual effect.
• Fixed an issue where Trembling Mass enemies could infinitely respawn.
• Fixed an issue where enemies during the Waves of Darkness could engage and chase nearby Iron Wolves, which made earning mastery for the Event more difficult.
• Fixed an issue where Hellborne Disciples spawned during a Blood Maiden Encounter counted towards the Cull Hellborne Whisper Objective.

Developer’s Note: The Hellborne Disciples that spawn while fighting the Blood Maiden do not count as Hellborne in other contexts, such as the fact they do not drop loot like normal Hellborne. This change is to ensure these enemies are treated consistently.

• Fixed an issue where Threat progress could become permanently locked if the player exited Helltide while Threat was near zero.
• Fixed an issue where Hellworms could sometimes leave behind invisible walls after disappearing.

The Pit

• Fixed an issue where Orb beams from the Den Mother could damage players before they had been released.
• Fixed an issue where you could only interact with the Pit Obelisk if you had Rune Shards in your inventory.
• Fixed an issue where Runeshards could drop in World Tier III Nightmare Dungeons and from the Seething Abomination in the Fields of Hatred.

Skills and Class Mechanics

• Fixed an issue where the surge damage from Enhanced Charged Bolts was exploding too often on enemies that were stacked together (as noted previously in Game Updates).
• Fixed an issue where the surge damage from Enhanced Charged Bolts was doing less damage than intended when using the Piercing Static Aspect.
• Fixed an issue where the Druid Spirit Boon Overload's damage was Physical Damage instead of Lightning damage.
• Fixed an issue where the Aspect of the Alpha did not properly mark the Wolves skill as a Werewolf skill in-game.
• Fixed an issue where Boulders orbiting the player from the Dolmen Stone Amulet could stop doing so indefinitely when destroyed by projectile-destroying entities, such as Suppressor Fields or monster-spawned walls.
• Fixed an issue where Barbarian's Bash was dealing multiplicative damage instead of additive damage when combined with the Tempering Affix that causes Bash to cleave.
• Fixed an issue where Rapid Fire used with the Scoundrel's Kiss Unique Ring had a further range than intended, allowing enemies to be damaged and defeated off-screen.

General

• Fixed an issue where walls spawned by Elites with the Waller Affix could be destroyed by other monsters coming into contact with them. Hell’s Legions care little when it comes to morality, but they do not mess around with keeping Walls up to code.
• Fixed an issue where the Head Librarian in the Sunken Library could spawn behind the locked door, which would block progression.
• Fixed an issue where items dropped in the Cathedral of Light had a higher level requirement than they should.
• Fixed an issue where End Game bosses, i.e. Uber Duriel, could still drop gear that was lower than Rare quality.
• Fixed an issue where End Game bosses were dealing more damage than intended in certain scenarios.
• Fixed an issue where a Shrine could reset after you take a teleport out of a dungeon and then re-enter.
• Fixed an issue where Cooldown Reduction granted by the following Tempering affixes was less for higher tier recipes.
  • Defensive
    • Frost Cage
    • Nature Magic Wall
    • Barbarian Strategy
  • Utility
    • Alchemist Control
    • Daze Control
  • Resource
    • Companion Efficiency
    • Weapon Mastery Efficiency
    • Subterfuge Efficiency
  • Fixed the debuff from the Beast in Ice boss fight persisting after death and stacking unintentionally.

Miscellaneous

• Fixed an issue where the Blood Maiden’s Mantle Trophy cosmetic dropped by the Blood Maiden didn't function properly.
• Fixed an issue where the Leave Dungeon animation would play but the actual portal would stop if the portal was started while moving.
• Fixed an issue where Andariel's rotating laser was invisible when VFX quality was set to low.
• Fixed an issue where taking a Town Portal right after killing the Blood Maiden during the Voice of the Night quest could block quest progression.
• Fixed an issue where some Legacy items had their affixes re-rolled during Seasonal migration.

Developer’s Note: The intention of the change is that all stats on items should either be completely restored to what they were, or get the maximum stats if the previous values were unavailable.

• Fixed an issue where killing Echo of Lilith did not reward a Resplendent Spark.

Developer’s Note: Anyone who has killed Echo of Lilith in any season will receive a Resplendent Spark this season. In future seasons, you will have to defeat her again to get one. This implementation is to retroactively reward players who have defeated Echo of Lilith this season, but did not receive a Resplendent Spark. For players that have yet to defeat Echo of Lilith this season, defeating her will still grant you a Resplendent Spark.

• Various UI, visual, audio, stability, and performance improvements.

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A new entry in Sony's beloved Astro Bot series is reportedly in development and set to be officially unveiled very soon.

That's according to extremely reliable PlayStation leaker Billbil-kun, writing for Dealabs. Word of a new Astro Bot game first surfaced earlier this year via journalist and prolific leaker Jeff Grub, but Billbil-kun says the project - in development at Astro Bot studio Team Asobi - is set to be formally unveiled within the next two weeks.

Details are limited but it's claimed the new Astro Bot - likely be called exactly that - is partly set in a desert environment and will feature a robot character resembling a fennec fox.

Read more

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If you're on the hunt for home theater deals during Memorial Day Weekend, you should check out the bevy of limited-time discounts on Sony TVs, audio gear, and cameras that are available at Amazon. You can grab tons of great stuff during the sale, including the WH-100XM4 noise-canceling headphones for $248 (was $348), the Sony LinkBus S true wireless earphones for $128 (normally $220), the 55-inch Sony Bravia OLED 4K TV for $1,398 (was $1,700), and more.

We sifted through all the Sony electronics deals in Amazon's Memorial Day sale and rounded up our favorites in the list below. Keep in mind these deals are only available through Memorial Day, May, 27--unless they sell out first--so grab any that catch your eye while they're still on sale.

Sony headphone deals

Sony WH-1000XM4 and WF-1000XM5

The majority of the discounts are for Sony's line of noise-canceling wireless headphones. This includes over-ear models like the WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4, as well as true-wireless earphones like the WF-1000XM5 and LinkBuds S, and even neckband speakers like the Sony SRS-NB10. Check out a selection of the many discounted headphone models in the list below.

• Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones -- $328 ($400)
• Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Headphones -- $98 ($150)
• Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones -- $38 ($60)
• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones -- $248 ($348)
• Sony ULT WEAR Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones -- $178 ($200)
• Sony WF-1000XM5 True Wireless Earphones -- $248 ($300)
• Sony LinkBuds S -- $128 ($220)
• Sony LinkBuds -- $128 ($180)
• Sony SRS-NB10 Wireless Neckband Bluetooth Speaker -- $98 ($150)

Sony TV deals

Sony Bravia XR OLED

Amazon's Memorial Day sale also includes discounts on select Sony smart TVs. There are multiple size options for the various Bravia XR OLED, Mini, LED, and full-array LED models, as well as Sony's other Google TV-equipped smart TVs. We picked out a few specific TVs for the list below, but be sure to click through to see more sizing options available.

• Sony 55 Inch 4K TV With Google TV -- $548 ($700)
• Sony Bravia XR 75-inch Full Array LED 4K TV -- $1,498 ($1,900)
• Sony BRAVIA XR 55-inch OLED 4K TV -- $1,398 ($1,700)
• Sony BRAVIA XR 75-Inch Mini LED 4K TV -- $2,498 ($2,800)

Sony soundbar, speaker, and receiver deals

Sony HT-S400 2.1 Channel Soundbar

This sale is also a great opportunity to upgrade your home theater's audio setup with a new soundbar like the HT-S2000 Dolby Atmos Sound Bar, a portable Bluetooth speaker like the Sony ULT Field 7, or the Sony STRDH590 surround sound receiver. Check the list below for a few more of the Sony home theater audio deals available at Amazon.

• Sony HT-S400 2.1 Channel Soundbar -- $258 ($300)
• Sony HT-S2000 3.1 Channel Dolby Atmos Sound Bar -- $298 ($500)
• Sony ULT Field 7 Bluetooth Speaker -- $398 ($500)
• Sony SRS-XV500 Bluetooth Speaker -- $298 ($400)
• Sony SA-RS5 Wireless Rear Speaker With Built-in Battery -- $498 ($600)
• Sony SA-SW5 300W Wireless Subwoofer -- $598 ($700)
• Sony STRDH590 5.2 Channel Surround Sound Home Theater Receiver -- $248 ($350)

Sony camera deals

Sony Alpha ZR V Mirrorless Camera

A small selection of Sony-made cameras and camera accessories is also on sale, including digital options like the Sony ZV-1 and ZV-1 II and full-frame mirrorless models like the Sony Alpha 7R V. You can also grab lenses like the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens.

• Sony ZV-1 II Vlog Camera -- $798 ($900)
• Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera -- $648 ($750)
• Sony Alpha ZV-E1 Full-Frame Vlog Camera (Body Only) -- $1,900 ($2,200)
• Sony Alpha ZV-E1 Full-Frame Vlog Camera with 28-60mm Lens -- $2,198 ($2,500)
• Sony Alpha 7R V Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera (Body Only) -- $3,498 ($3,900)
• Sony - FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens -- $198 ($250)

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Diablo 4 Season 4 has introduced a ton of new ways to improve builds, and that includes Uber Unique crafting. In order to craft an Uber Unique, you will need four Resplendent Sparks, which can only be obtained a few ways. Once you have the four Resplendent Sparks and 50 million gold, you can speak to the Alchemist in any major city and go to the Transmutation tab. In that tab look for Transmute Sparks, which is where you can craft Uber Uniques.

What is an Uber Unique?

Only Uber Uniques that can be used by your class will be available to craft.

Uber Uniques are ultra-rare items that have very low drop rates. These are different from the regular Uniques that occasionally drop in Diablo 4. These items always drop at max item power and have some of the most powerful aspects in the game. Since they almost never drop, only occasionally appearing from some world bosses like Duriel, it will be much easier to craft than get one naturally.

There are only eight Uber Uniques in Diablo 4:

• Andariel's Visage (all classes)
• Ahavarion, Spear of Lycander (Druid and Sorcerer)
• Doombringer (Barbarian, Necromancer, Rogue)
• Harlequin Crest (all classes)
• Melted Heart of Selig (all classes)
• Ring of Starless Skies (all classes)
• The Grandfather (Barbarian and Necromancer)
• Tyrael's Might (all classes)

How to get Resplendent Sparks

There are four ways to get Resplendent Sparks in Diablo 4 Season 4.

Complete the Seasonal Quest

The first method is to complete the Seasonal Quest by getting your Wolf's Honor Rank to level 18. You earn Wolf's Honor by completing the related quests and by completing tasks in Helltides. Killing enemies, completing events, and opening Helltide chests all award some amount of Wolf's Honor. At level 18, you are guaranteed to receive one Resplendent Spark as a reward. This can be done once per Season 4 character, so you can grind Resplendent Sparks by rolling new characters.

Defeat Uber Lilith

Uber Lilith can be fought in the Echo of Hatred in Fractured Peaks. This tough boss battle will require you to be at least level 90 and have a pretty well-made build. If you don't have max armor and resistances, it can be incredibly difficult to survive this fight, especially solo.

Defeating Uber Lilith the first time in Season 4 rewards both a Resplendent Spark and a random Uber Unique. If you don't like the Uber Unique that drops or aren't happy with the roll, you can scrap it for another Resplendent Spark.

Tormented Bosses

In Diablo 4 Season 4, you can summon Tormented versions of the various endgame bosses. Summoning the Tormented versions require you to be on World Tier 4 and to use an increased amount of summoning materials compared to normal. For example, summoning Varshan usually requires one Gurgling Head, Blackened Femur, Trembling Hand, and Malignant Heart. Summoning Tormented Varshan requires three of each and two Stygian Stones as well.

These Tormented versions are a higher level and much tougher to fight. Each boss drops one Resplendent Spark the first time you beat it, so if you have an abundance of summoning materials, it's worth doing.

Farm for Uber Uniques

The last method available to you is to farm for Uber Uniques by taking on the two endgame bosses that actually have a chance to drop them. Those bosses are Duriel and Andariel, both of which require you to get summoning materials from defeating other endgame bosses. You aren't likely to get Uber Uniques using this method, but it's the only method that is repeatable on the same character. Scrapping an Uber Unique you don't want will reward one Resplendent Spark.

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Sadly, the PS5 console isn't natively portable or we'd be using it nonstop. That doesn't mean that you have to stop gaming when you're not home, as there are devices that allow you to take PS5 gaming with you on the go. If you don't want to shell out $200 for the PlayStation Portal, your smartphone is powerful enough to serve as a handheld PlayStation for Remote Play. The best way to experience this is with a Backbone controller, which turns your phone into a Switch-like handheld. And right now, you can get a free Backbone controller (valued at $100) with the purchase of a PS5 Slim.

PS5 Slim with Backbone PlayStation Edition

First up, the deal here is for the new revision of the PS5, the slimmer model with a built-in disc drive. A good-looking machine with an impressive library of games, the PS5 also comes with a DualSense controller that features advanced haptic feedback technology. With last year's stellar lineup of games and this year's impressive selection, this is a great gaming platform to grab--plus, it doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player. While Verizon is selling this at its standard price, it is including a Backbone controller valued at $100, for free. Note that you do not need to be a Verizon cell phone or internet subscriber to take advantage of this deal.

This specific model of the Backbone is the PlayStation edition with USB-C, so it'll work with iPhone 15 as well as Android devices

As mentioned, you can do a lot of gaming on your smartphone these days, and accessing a library of games is surprisingly easy. If you have a Netflix subscription, you already have access to excellent games like Hades, or if you're into anime, Crunchyroll's game library included with its premium subscription plan is also full of indie gems that'll run just fine on even modest smartphones. You can even try a trial of Apple Arcade if you're on an iPhone, for more even more great experiences, or Remote Play via Xbox and PlayStation's respective programs. You can also stream select games via the cloud with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PlayStation Plus Premium subscription.

A Backbone is a convenient cradle for your phone that you can easily equip. This gives you a traditional layout to use when playing games, like twin sticks for movement, the standard assortment of face buttons, and shoulder buttons. It basically turns your phone into a Nintendo Switch or a Steam Deck, and when not in use, it can quickly fold up and sit comfortably in your pocket until you're ready to use it again. Backbone even has its own handy app for iOS and Android that gives you a console-like user interface.

Alternatively, Walmart is selling the Marvel's Spider-Man 2 PS5 bundle for $450, which is an awesome deal. You'll save $50 on a PS5 console and you'll get a download code for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, one of 2023's best games. You're saving $120 overall versus buying the console and game separately. You can use that savings to make your own bundle by grabbing the Backbone separately for $100 at Amazon.

• Marvel's Spider-Man 2 PS5 Slim bundle -- $449 ($500)
• Backbone Gen 2 Controller -- $100

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With rumors suggesting a PlayStation showcase-style event could be coming soon, a new report has revealed a game that is said to be getting an imminent announcement. And it involves one of Sony's most recent platforming heroes, Astro Bot.

According to Dealabs, developer Team Asobi is working on a new Astro Bot game simply just titled, Astro Bot. There is reportedly a desert-like area or level and one of the new characters introduced is a fennec in the form of a robot, similar to Astro.

Additionally, the game will reportedly be exclusive to PS5, and not tied to PSVR 2. The game is reportedly going to be revealed within the next 15 days, which could mean it shows up during a PlayStation showcase if one does indeed take place soon.

Dealabs has had a consistent track record when it comes to insider information about PlayStation. They reported on Until Dawn getting PS5 and PC versions, and Sony indeed revealed them back in January. Earlier this month, Dealabs reported that God of War Ragnarok would be coming to PC, which has yet to be officially announced, and also reported that more details about Sony's upcoming live-service, Concord, will be revealed soon.

The first game in the series, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, was released in 2018 for PS4 and PSVR. The sequel, Astro's Playroom, was released in 2020 and came pre-installed with every PS5 console. Both games were critically well-received and Astro's Playroom served as a tech demo for the PS5's DualSense controller.

Back in 2021, Team Asobi revealed that it was working on its "most ambitious game yet" but it's unclear whether the game is referring to this potential Astro Bot one or a completely different project.

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Jeffrey Wright is joining the cast of The Last of Us Season 2.

The actor - who has previously starred in James Bond films including Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and No Time to Die - will appear as Isaac, the same character he played in the video game version of The Last of Us Part 2.

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It's the penultimate weekend before The Final Shape launches, and with Legendary Shards being phased out next month, it's time to splurge on some new Exotics. Fortunately, Xur is here and is still willing to accept that form of currency in exchange for Exotic arms and armor. Here's where Xur is this weekend, and everything he has for sale.

This week you can find Xur in The Tower, inside the Hangar. For his weapon, Xur is offering Prometheus Lens. Hunters can pick up Shinobu's Vow gauntlets; Titans can grab the Eternal Warrior helmet; and Warlocks can buy the Skull of Dire Ahamkara.

Xur Location

Xur's location inside the Tower.

Spawn in using the Courtyard transmat zone in the Tower to find Xur this week. Head left and down the stairs to enter the Hangar section, then hang another left. Make your way to the north end of the area and look for a staircase that will take you onto a catwalk, where Xur is waiting.

Xur Exotic and Legendary Items

• Exotic Engram - 97 Legendary Shards
• Prometheus Lens - 29 Legendary Shards
• Shinobu's Vow - 23 Legendary Shards
• Eternal Warrior - 23 Legendary Shards
• Skull of Dire Ahamkara - 23 Legendary Shards
• Hawkmoon - 200 Legendary Shards, 125,000 Glimmer, 1 Ascendant Shard, 1 Exotic Cipher
• Xenology quest - Free
• Legendary weapons and armor - 50 Legendary Shards, 1,000 Glimmer

Xur is present every weekend in Destiny 2, starting with the daily reset at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET each Friday. His exact location is always a mystery when he first arrives, as he is not listed on the map, and for novice players, he can be easy to miss. However, there are a set number of locations where he takes up residence, including the Tower Hangar area, on Nessus in Watcher's Grave, and in the Winding Cove area of the EDZ.

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Hello, Xbox community!

I’m Ahmin Hafidi, game designer at Polylabo, a micro (emphasis on the micro) game studio based in Tokyo, Japan.

Today, I would like to introduce you to Polylabo’s first game, Grappin.

Grappin is a first-person adventure game focused on exploration, action and grappling hook action.

You wake up alone in your village, heavy rain and it’s dark. Your only way is forward and soon enough, you will stumble upon the Grip, a mysterious artifact that you also can use as a grapple hook. Very convenient, right?

Your goal is set: you need to bring back the Grip to the Grip Shrine, perched on top of the highest mountain. Easier said than done, believe me!

In Grappin, you’ll embark on an epic first-person adventure to reach the top of the mountain. A variety of biomes are waiting for you to explore, each with its own unique challenges. Start your journey in a wide valley at the base of the mountain, navigate through blazing hot lava caves and brave a dangerous icy ridge as you make your way to the summit. And more!

The core of Grappin‘s gameplay revolves around the versatile grappling hook called the Grip. The Grip has two distinct forms: the Normal Grip, which allows you to hookshot yourself to clay surfaces, and the Trace Grip, which also hook to clay surfaces but capable of covering very long distances at high speed, making it ideal for backtracking and exploration.

There are over 50 relics scattered throughout the world waiting to be discovered. The legend says that getting them all will uncover the mystery surrounding the mountain and the Grip itself, rewarding those who take the time to explore every nook and cranny. Exploration is key!

Me and Benoit, the game composer, have poured our hearts into the making of this game and we hope that you will enjoy your journey to the top of the mountain.

It has been a dream of mine of releasing my own independent title on consoles and I’m beyond happy to finally say this:

Grappin is now available for pre-orders on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC!

Launching on June 6!

Enough talk, now go on sharpening your grapple hook, put on your polar coat and scarf!

Are you ready for a gripping adventure?

GRAPPIN

POLYLABO

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$12.99 $11.04

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HOOK INTO ADVENTURE Experience the thrill of adventure and put to the test your climbing and platforming skills in GRAPPIN, the first-person adventure game that takes you to new heights. EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN After a mysterious awakening, you discover the Grip, an artifact that serves as your grappling hook. Your mission is clear: return the Grip to the Grip Shrine, located at the summit of the highest mountain. CLIMB TO NEW HEIGHTS Navigate through challenging environments and overcome obstacles as you journey to the top of the mountain. From blazing hot lava caves to treacherous ridges, you'll need to master the use of your grappling hook to survive. As you explore, uncover more than 50 Relics to unravel the mystery surrounding the Grip and the mountain. Are you ready for a gripping adventure?

The post Climb to New Heights with Grappin, Available for Preorder Now appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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HBO and PlayStation have found their Isaac for The Last of Us Season 2, and it's Jeffrey Wright, the actor behind the voice of Isaac in The Last of Us Part II. Perhaps best known for roles like The Watcher in Marvel's What If...?, Commissioner Gordon in The Batman, and Bernard in HBO's Westworld series, Wright will return to Naughty Dog's post-apocalyptic world to give Isaac another go. 

HBO announced this today with a quick post on X (formerly Twitter) that you can see below: 

We're beyond thrilled that Jeffrey Wright is joining the cast of The Last of Us Season 2, reprising his role as Isaac! https://t.co/g7tlLBrHWe

— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) May 24, 2024

The news of Wright's casting comes a couple of weeks after we got our first look at Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2.

Wright joins several other newcomers to this series, which premieres next year. Booksmart's Kaitlyn Dever will play Abby, while Young Mazino joins as Jesse. Manny, Mel, Nora, and Owen will be played by Danny Ramirez (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Top Gun: Maverick), Ariela Barer (Runaways), Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and Spencer Lord (Riverdale), respectively. 

We won't spoil these characters' roles in The Last of Us Part II, which is likely to match their roles in HBO's The Last of Us Season 2, but if you know, you know. 

Fans of Naughty Dog's Last of Us games eagerly await the second season of HBO's The Last of Us. The first season debuted in January of last year, covering the events of the first game and its Left Behind DLC. HBO quickly confirmed the show would be getting a second season, which is set to premiere next year.

We loved the first season and can't wait to see how it adapts The Last of Us Part II, which got the remaster treatment in January. It seems we aren't alone either – The Last of Us' premiere was HBO's second-largest debut since 2010, and viewers stuck around for the entire season. 

The first season of The Last of Us won eight Emmy awards. For more, read Game Informer's review of The Last of Us and then read Game Informer's review of The Last of Us Part II. 

Did you like Isaac as a character in The Last of Us Part II? Let us know in the comments below!

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A new season of Fortnite is now live, and it brings Fallout, Magneto, plenty of nitrous oxide, and some Mad Max-esque flair to the battle royale. Titled "Wrecked," Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 3 follows last season's Greek Gods-themed season with a new battle pass, new weapons and skins, and more. 

"A ferocious sandstorm recently moved over the Island, creating a new biome in the south dubbed the wasteland," an Epic Games blog post reads. "The 'Wasteland Warriors' have already called shotgun on owning the place (they did ride in with the sandstorm, after all). This crew moves as fast as their decked-out cars, proven by the places they've already established." 

We'll break down those new locations and more below. 

Everything You Need To Know About Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 3 – Wrecked

Let's start with the battle pass. It features some newly made characters by Epic Games, known as original skins within the Fortnite community, and some collaboration skins in the form of Bethesda's post-apocalyptic Fallout series and infamous X-Men villain, Magneto. 

Check out all the skins in the battle pass below: 

New Points of Interest

One of the first new points of interest, or map locations, is Redline Rig. It's a Nitro refinery run by The Machinist, the Wasteland Warriors' master mechanic who is also available in the battle pass.

Also in the south of the island is Nitrodrome. Here, Ringmaster Scarr, who is available in the battle pass, runs the circus-like car spectacle known as the Nitrodrome.

From the Nitrodrome, you can easily reach Brutal Beachhead. Here, Megalo Don is the person in charge. He's the Wasteland Warriors' "master muscle," according to the blog post, and taking him on won't be easy. 

Epic says there are other changes to locations on the map, though. For example, Snooty Steppes is now Sandy Steppes. 

Going Nitro

Across the Island, you'll find Nitro Splash and Nitro Barrels, both from Redline Rig. Nitro Splash is a portable version of a Nitro container, which you can throw down to infuse you or your car with Nitro for a fiery boost. Nitro Barrels are Nitro containers that "Nitro-fy" on contact, and when you hit them, they'll fly away and explode on landing. 

Here's how Nitro works in Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 3 – Wrecked: 

• Vehicles that are Nitro-fied get a driving speed increase, explosive ramming power that deals damage and knockback, fuel consumption decrease, and a buff to attached attack mods. 
• Players that are Nitro-fied get a movement speed increase, explosive bashing power that deals damage and knockback (and it can bust through builds), a stamina consumption decrease, a reload speed increase, and fall damage immunity. 

New Weapons And More

One of the new additions to the Battle Royale fight are the Nitro Fists, which allow you to perform a three-punch combo, uppercut, or aerial punch that dashes you through the air. 

Nitro Fists have four charges, and each charge recharges every eight seconds. The uppercut and aerial punch use one charge each, while the three-punch combo uses none. If you aerial punch the ground instead of the air, "the impact will be meteoric to surrounding enemies," Epic writes in the blog post. 

The Boom Bolt is a new fast-firing, moddable crossbow that fires explosive bolts. A few shots can take down a vehicle, Epic says. 

Returning weapons include: 

• Cerberus' Gatekeeper Shotgun
• Combat Shotgun
• Gatekeeper Shotgun
• Hammer Pump Shotgun
• Oscar's Frenzy Auto Shotgun
• Warforged Assault Rifle
• Tactical Assault Rifle
• Enforcer AR
• Thunder Burst SMG
• Harbinger SMG
• Huntress DMR
• Ranger Pistol
• Hand Cannon
• Shockwave Grenade

There are some new ways to fortify your vehicles in Fortnite now, too, because mods are back. Here's what to expect: 

• Machine Gun Turret (roof slot)
• Grenade Launcher Turret (roof slot)
• Spiked Bumpber (front bumper slot)
• Cow Catcher (front bumper slot)
• Bulletproof Tires (tires slot)
• Chonkers Off-Road Tires (tires slot)

All you need to do to equip a new mod is hit a Vehicle Mod Box and one will automatically attach to your vehicle. You can tell which mod you'll get based on the symbol on the box, too. 

You can repair your vehicle and its mods with the new Repair Torch or Repair Boxes, which are scattered around the map. Plus, Service Stations have replaced gas pumps, allowing you to refill your vehicle's gas and health while parked on a station pad. 

Joining the vehicle roster is the new Behemoth Car Body, which is an SUV vehicle. 

Outside of weapons and vehicle fortifications, there's the Nuka-Cola, which restores a bit of health (over time) and shield. 

And there's also the Kind Cacti, which gives players (and vehicles) a splash of healing when pickaxed or driven through. 

New Bosses

The Machinist will drop The Machinist's Medallion upon her defeat. This medallion generates your shield over time. If you defeat her inside Redline Rig, you can also use this medallion to open the garage holding her car. Regardless of where you defeat her, she drops The Machinist's Combat Assault Rifle. 

Defeating Ringmaster Scarr nets you the Ringmaster Scarr's Medallion, giving you infinite ammo and a small damage buff. Defeat her in the Nitrodrome to open the garage holding her car. Regardless of where you defeat her, she'll drop the Ringmaster's Boom Bolt. 

And finally, defeating Megalo Don gives you the Megalo Don's Medallion, which will infuse you with infinite Nitro. Plus, defeating him gives you Megalo Don's Nitro Fists. 

And that's everything you need to know about Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 3 – Wrecked. 

Are you excited about this new season? Let us know in the comments below!

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Ubisoft is currently working on a fix for XDdefiant's hit detection, as the development team is aware players think that the function is working poorly.

Twitter users were calling on Ubisoft San Francisco to fix the hit detection in XDefiant, and the game's director, Mark Rubin, responded they it was something that the team was looking into. Hit detection is the game's ability to detect the accuracy of projectiles. In a first-person shooter game like XDefiant, hit detection would be applied to things like bullets.

XDefiant is Ubisoft's Call of Duty-like game, and Rubin had been a longtime Call of Duty executive. The game also tries to differentiate itself from Activision's popular shooter game by not implementing skill-based matchmaking.

XDefiant launched this week on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It has faced a litany of issues so far, including matchmaking problems. However, Ubisoft San Francisco is continually working on the the game in order to get it into its best shape as it's still in pre-season. XDefiant seems to have gotten off to a hot start, though, as it reportedly reached 1 million players within its first three hours of release.

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Ubisoft's free-to-play arena shooter XDefiant's first patch has been released.

Entitled "Preseason Patch 1", it addresses a number of specific issues, including one with loading into the Practice Zone – some players found themselves "in a hellscape" outside the world – and another that sees devices dropped at players' feet should they die during device deployment. Up until now, they would still be thrown as if you hadn't just carked it.

This means Practice Zone has been turned back on, although the team warns "it's possible weird things could still happen". So make of that what you will.

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Last year, Lance Reddick passed away shortly before one of his final films, John Wick: Chapter 4, hit theaters. Reddick had a long list of credits to his name, including Commander Zavala in the Destiny video game franchise, a role that he originated in 2014. Zavala is set to return in the next expansion of Destiny 2, The Final Shape, with veteran actor Keith David taking over the part from Reddick. Now, Bungie has shared a brief glimpse at David's first appearance as Zavala.

The footage featuring David as Zavala was part of Bungie's short documentary series about the making of The Final Shape. Both clips are extremely brief, but they seem to have a larger meta meaning beyond the game as Zavala mourns for an unseen comrade whom he says he would give anything to bring them back. In the second scene, Zavala vows not to lose another soldier to the war.

Reddick was more than just an actor in the Destiny games, he was also an avid player who logged on to play Destiny 2 the night before he died. Additionally, Reddick frequently interacted with Destiny fans online. His connection to the other players was so profound that they staged an in-game tribute to the late actor. Reddick's final contributions to the series were released last year.

Destiny: The Final Shape will be released on June 4.

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• Category: Next Week on Xbox

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 27 to 31

Avalanche founder Christofer Sundberg has hit back at Mad Max film director George Miller for claiming the studio's game "wasn't as good as [he] wanted it to be".

During promotion for the new Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga film, Miller was asked by GamingBible about whether a new game was considered alongside the film.

He responded that Avalanche's previous game "wasn't as good as I wanted it to be", adding "I'm one of those people that I'd rather not do something unless you can do it at the highest level". He then said he'd love for Hideo Kojima to take on the challenge of a Mad Max game - because, of course.

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The last couple of weeks have been pretty demoralizing in Helldivers 2, but developer Arrowhead is looking to motivate its community with a chance to unlock a shiny new mech. This week's major order is live, and it's simple enough: Valyria 5 needs to be liberated and players need to take over an Automaton "petafactory" before it's too late.

The reward for this objective will be a new mech-suit strategem: the EXO-49 Emancipator Exosuit. This model rocks a pair of Dual-Autocannons, making it an absolute beast for demolishing enemy forces. The mech leaked a few months ago in Helldivers 2, and each arm carries 75 Autocannon rounds, which is more than enough firepower to demolish an overpopulated Terminid hive.

It also looks better than the first mech unlocked by players, as the Patriot Exosuit originally had a small design flaw that would cause it to violently explode if its rocket launcher was fired while it was turning. This major order also comes on the back of several losses in Helldivers 2, as these events have steadily become more difficult to complete, partly due to the Helldivers 2 community naturally shrinking since the game was first released in February.

Hot off the momentum of a successful launch, Arrowhead has begun taking the next steps to grow as a studio. Johan Pilestedt has stepped down as CEO and is now the studio's chief creative officer, with his former role being filled by Shams Jorjani. Arrowhead wants to become the next From Software or Blizzard, and it plans to do so by focusing on making "really great" co-op games, retaining a manageable number of employees, and staying independent.

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If you are looking to get your hands on Dave the Diver's free Godzilla DLC, there is a limited time you will be able to do so.

This DLC adds three new missions to Dave the Diver, each of which will be available after chapter five's close. There are also new dishes to discover, and a number of Godzilla figures scattered throughout the ocean for players to collect.

You can see a little teaser for Dave the Diver's Godzilla DLC in the video below.

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The Alters is a strange, genre-blending sci-fi survival game that's centered around cloning its protagonist. After Jan Dolski--a spaceship engineer--crash-lands on a desolate, uncharted planet he must clone himself to survive. It's an odd premise, but it's one that developer 11 Bit Studios tackles earnestly. Cloning Jan is built around a series of "What If?" questions: What if Jan pursued chemistry instead of engineering, or what if he stood up to his abusive father? These "What If?" questions are at the heart of The Alter's themes and narrative.

The demo begins as Jan crash-lands on a black sand beach with jagged cliffs and rough water. The Alters has a strong visual identity, with the almost-monochrome world punctuated by bright and colorful flares lighting up the sky as rain pours down. The world looks beautiful, ferocious, and alien all at once. As Jan makes his way to the Mobile Base--a giant wheel-like structure--he learns that his whole crew, including the captain, died on impact. He's alone and very, very far from home.

Upon reaching the Mobile Base, Jan learns that he must relocate the base before sunrise, otherwise the sunlight will fry everything it touches. In order to get it up and running, Jan needs natural resources and a technician. And to accrue the necessary resources, Jan must set up mining outposts on top of mineral deposits in the surrounding area. The materials can then be transported to the Mobile Base by daisy-chaining pylons together. It's a rather straightforward process with just enough quirks and intricacies to keep it engaging. However, recruiting a technician is a bit tougher considering Jan is on the planet all by himself. This is where cloning comes in.

Each time you clone Jan, you are presented with a timeline of his life, and you can create branches at key moments that result in different Jans with different personalities and skill sets. As you create more Jans, more game systems open up and your odds of survival increase. However, cloning Jan comes with its own set of repercussions that 11 Bit Studios seems eager to explore. The first alternate Jan you create is a technician, and when he finds out he's a clone living in a universe where his childhood did not exist, he's understandably frustrated and confused.

Jan's decision to clone himself doesn't come easily, either. The logistical and ethical implications weigh heavily on him, but one person can't run the Mobile Base alone. Due to the urgency of the situation and pressure from the unsavory organization that funded the expedition, he suspends his moral dilemma and clones himself.

Backed by some light social-sim mechanics and dialogue options, proto-Jan must earn technician-Jan's trust by spending time and bonding with him. Chatting with Jan's alter is surprisingly novel. Sure, they are biologically the same person, but because technician-Jan chose a different path than proto-Jan, it's fascinating to see how their parallel lives have impacted who they are and how they navigate the world. The Alters, based on my two-hour preview, seems like the perfect setup to explore its themes of individualism and identity, and the complicated relationship of nature vs. nurture.

According to game director Tomasz Kisilewicz, "Learning and understanding their storylines while managing them effectively is at the core of…the game." While not every Jan will be as frustrated as technician-Jan, many of them will have their own flaws and insecurities that proto-Jan must navigate. Sometimes that’s through dialogue and other times it’s by creating a Jan that can compliment or uplift another. It's tough to say how deep these social-sim mechanics go, but considering how many genres 11 Bit Studios is balancing, a bit of restraint might go a long way. Too much sim management might muddle the experience, and too little might make it feel superfluous. After all, The Alters is a survival game first and foremost, and most of my time was spent outside of my ship, exploring the planet.

It's clear that 11 Bit Studios has a story it wants to tell, and this linearity seems to facilitate that narrative.

Like many survival games, much of your time is spent harvesting materials, building structures, and researching new technologies. However, The Alters' survival mechanics aren't as freeform as something you might see in Grounded or Valheim. The Mobile Base--at least in the first few hours--only moves for plot reasons. This means that players will likely experience the world in a similar manner: Explore the same areas, mine the same resources, and inhabit the same sections of the map. While this may turn some survival fans off, this linearity feels intentional. It's clear that 11 Bit Studios has a story it wants to tell, and this linearity seems to facilitate that narrative. Unlike other survival games, The Alters seems to have a definitive ending with clear goalposts: Build up the Mobile Base enough in order to fly back home.

If anything, the gameplay diversity lies in its management-sim mechanics. After you unlock the technician, a handful of different alters become available, and as long as you have the resources you can create whichever Jan you think is most helpful. From there, you can choose which technologies you'd like to prioritize, which alter is working on what, and how you'd like to arrange and upgrade your ship and its various modules. As you create more alters, you'll need to build more facilities to appease the growing demand. Eventually, your ship could become a small self-sufficient colony populated by Jans.

When I asked Kisilewicz about how 11 Bit Studios balances and blends all these disparate genres, he said, "We wanted to find the tools and elements of different genres that would suit the message…Combining them together was a big challenge, but also something exciting. If we can make these work together it’s going to be something else. Something different." In order for the player to feel like they are exploring an uncharted planet with a crew of clones, the gameplay needed to support that. That meant social-sim mechanics to give the crew a bit of dynamism, survival elements to make the planet feel dangerous, and management systems to fully utilize the crew.

Based on my hands-on session, it seems like 11 Bit Studios has found a way to merge these disparate genres in a way that feels elegant. No one mechanic or system felt overbearing, and all of them had a tangible purpose that fit with the overall premise. That said, The Alters is spinning a lot of plates at once, and I feel like it could all come crashing down with the slightest push. It's hard to say if that "push" will ever come based on my playtime, but after chatting with Kisilewicz, it seems like the team is well aware of their lofty ambitions. If 11 Bit Studios manages to blend all these genres together and thoughtfully explore its themes, I think The Alters could be something special.

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Apex Legends developer Respawn is recruiting a design director with "multiplayer FPS experience" to join its incubation game team.

While there are no clues about whether the position will contribute to a new franchise or an existing one, the fact Respawn is applying its first-person shooter chops to an unannounced game is welcomed news for many shooter fans, particularly as the studio's Star Wars project - reported to be a Mandalorian game - was cancelled amidst EA's recent cull of 670 employees.

Whatever the project is, don't expect a gameplay trailer any time soon, though. The position is described as "a rare leadership opportunity to drive the game design on a new incubation project in the early stages" – pre-production, in other words – which suggests we're a long way off getting concrete details yet.

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Arrowhead's chaotic alien-shooter Helldivers 2 became PlayStation's fastest-selling game ever, but despite its initial success, player numbers have since declined.

A look at the game's Steam charts shows a steady drop since February, when the game launched. According to SteamDB, at its peak in February shortly after launch, there were 458,709 concurrent players. In comparison, its peak over the last 30 days is 166,305. That's a drop of 64 percent.

Looking by average players, February had 208,303 helldivers in the game. That average player count has dropped to 78,634 over the last 30 days (a 62 percent drop).

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Fortnite Festival's next update is introducing some improvements to the Pro Lead and Pro Bass song parts introduced with Season 3. While the Pro parts initially required a specialty guitar controller, the new update will introduce options for playing them on a standard keyboard or gamepad across all consoles and PC.

Unlike standard Fortnite Festival parts, Pro parts require players to hold down the correct fret key and strum to hit a note. Pro Lead and Bass parts also have unique note types called hammer-ons and pull-offs, which replace standard parts' Lift Notes. To hit these notes, which look visually different to normal notes, you just have to press the corresponding key with no strumming.

With the new update, v30.00, players will be able to keybind their own controls for Pro Lead and Bass, mapping the five colored notes as well as the strum key. This will allow players to use any keyboard or controller they like for Pro parts, in any configuration they like. By default, the keyboard mapping has fretting on keys 1-5 and strumming on Right Shift and Enter, allowing you to hold the keyboard as you would a guitar... if it were missing a string.

The update is also making some changes to how Pro parts work as a whole, introducing some improvements to hitting hammer-ons and pull-offs without strumming, as well as adding the option to toggle input labels under the note highway on in Pro parts.

While it won't arrive in this update, Fortnite is also working on improving the feel of guitar controllers, with some players saying fret forgiveness currently feels too strict. Fortnite is also working on plans to expand the number of guitar controllers compatible with the game.

The new update also has some added options for non-Pro parts, such as the option to view multi-colored notes instead of Fortnite Festival's standard single-color track, and the option to play all parts, including drums and vocals, with a supported guitar controller.

The new update v30.00 arrives today.

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GTA 5 will no longer be part of the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium games catalogue offering as of the middle of next month, as the countdown continues to GTA 6.

Rockstar's hugely-popular open world is now listed among the games labelled as being your "Last chance to play", visible from your PlayStation console.

Eurogamer has spotted a dozen games set to depart the service on 18th June, with other top picks including indie adventure Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and sci-fi puzzler The Talos Principle.

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The developer of MultiVersus has gone "above and beyond" to ensure the game is protected from dataminers.

The free-to-play fighter is out next week and includes villains like The Joker and Agent Smith from The Matrix, both of which were rumoured long before their reveals.

Now, it seems the developer has put stronger defences in place to protect the game from future dataminers, though there's no guarantee there won't be further leaks.

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