S.O.P.H.I.A.

We're living in a golden age of metroidvania games, and if you think you've seen it all, then Ultros is going to be a big surprise when you lay eyes on it. Ultros is a psychedelic romp through living levels that launched today (February 13), and you can score a big discount over at Green Man Gaming. You can pick the game up for $18 instead of its regular $25 asking price (it's $22.49 on Steam right now). Meanwhile, the deluxe edition with the included digital art book and soundtrack has also been discounted from $35 to $25.19. Both editions of the game will be delivered instantly as Steam keys. If you recently finished Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ultros is a logical next game to try.

• Ultros (standard edition) -- $18 ($25)
• Ultros (Deluxe edition) -- $25.19 ($35)

There is a slight catch here, as you'll need to be a bronze-tier member of Green Man Gaming's XP rewards program. Joining the program is free, but you'll need to gather 10 points to reach the bronze level of the membership, which means spending at least $1 on a game. The quickest way to buy yourself into that membership sphere is to check the available games, categorize from low to high, and grab something that catches your eye.

But once you do that, you're free to get a great game at an even better price. Ultros is more than just a trippy metroidvania, as it combines roguelite themes with a few other genres to create a game that feels constantly rewarding to play.

"Ultros' experimentation with elements from both roguelites and metroidvanias creates an enthralling combination accentuated by a captivating setting," Alessandro Barbosa wrote in GameSpot's Ultros review. "Ultros is a collection of novel ideas such as these that elevate it beyond its metroidvania underpinnings and help it stand out in the genre as something distinct."

Ultros is also available for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and you can grab a physical deluxe edition for $40.

If you're looking for another new metroidvania-style game, the puzzle-focused game Airhead just launched this week, too. The titular character is described as a "small Body and the round inflated organism it uses as a Head." Like Ultros it's a side-scroller set in an interconnected world, where you'll explore, evolve, and solve intricate puzzles. Normally $20, you can pick it up for $14.39 as part of your Green Man Gaming XP membership perk on the bronze tier.

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A new update arrived to both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone on February 13. This small update includes quality-of-life changes, bug fixes, and some weapon balancing. Here's everything you need to know.

For Warzone, the update adds a new label that shows when selecting a mode on the main menu and indicates the estimated match duration. It also makes a change to stowing armor and ammo. Armor and ammunition will now show the "Stow" prompt when the backpack is not full, and the "Swap" prompt when the backpack is full.

Season 2 made plenty of weapon balancing changes at launch, but this week's update adds a buff to the Striker 9 submachine gun. The Striker 9 now has increased bullet velocity, less hip fire spread while firing, and decreased recoil gun kick.

The Longbow sniper rifle also has a change to its JAK Tyrant 762 conversion kit to offer better movement speed. It includes a decrease in aim-down-sight time from 470ms to 390ms, and increased aim-down-sight movement speed from to 2.5m/s to 2.8m/s. It also adds a 30% hip fire spread reduction benefit.

For MW3, the patch notes reveal a stability update that addresses a crash that occurred during offline play while selecting a weapon or operator. It also resolves several issues that caused players to be unexpectedly kicked back to the menu.

Multiplayer receives similar weapon balances changes, with buffs to the Striker 9 submachine gun. The weapon received several changes, including increased bullet velocity, maximum damage, and maximum damage range. Additionally, the developer says the tuning for this gun significantly adjusts the recoil pattern, resulting in increased control while firing.

While weapon stats are typically different across multiplayer and Warzone, the Longbow receives the exact same change as battle royale, with the adjustments to its JAK Tyrant 762 conversion kit to offer better movement speed. This includes the decrease in aim-down-sight time, increased aim-down-sight movement speed, and the hip fire spread reduction benefit.

The update brings a fix for the Assassin Vest perk, resolving an issue that prevented lethal equipment from being equipped.

For MW3's Ranked Play, Sub Base Hardpoint has been temporarily removed from the map pool. It also bans all sniper rifles for use in competitive play.

The full patch notes can be found below for Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone, as shared by Activision.

Season 2 currently features a Zombies-themed event with The Walking Dead, but players shouldn't expect any new enemy types or perks to arrive in MW3's Zombie mode.

WARZONE

GENERAL

• Estimated Match Time
  • A new label has been added when selecting a mode on the main menu which indicates the estimated match duration.

GAMEPLAY

• Armor and Ammunition Stowing Quality of Life
  • Armor and Ammunition will show the "Stow" prompt when the backpack is not full.
  • Armor and Ammunition will show the "Swap" prompt when the backpack is full.
  • Players can use the "Hold to Stow" function to swap items at any point, regardless if the stow prompt is visible.

• Gas Station on Tac-Map Quality of Life
  • Players will only see gas stations on the Tac-Map when in a vehicle.

WEAPONS

Weapon Adjustments

» SMGs «

• Striker 9
  
  • Decreased hipfire spread while firing by 6%.
  • Decreased recoil gun kick from to 35deg/s, down 54.93deg/s.
  • Increased horizontal recoil to 16.17deg/s, up from 9.70deg/s.
  • Increased vertical recoil to 50.93deg/s, up from 40.65deg/s.
  • Increased bullet velocity to 560m/s, up from 540m/s.

» LMGs «

• TAQ Evolvere
  • Increased movement speed to 5.1m/s, down from 4.4m/s.
  • Decreased rate of fire to 500rpm, down from 706rpm.
  • Increased target flinch to 0.8n, up from 0.5n.
  • 556 Belts (Magazines)
    • Increased movement speed benefit by 16%.
    • Added 40% hipfire spread reduction benefit.
    • Increased aim down sight time benefit by 15%.
    • Increased aim down sight movement speed benefit by 17%.
    • Added rate of fire benefit at 857rpm.

» Sniper Rifles «

• Longbow
  • JAK Tyrant 762 Kit
    • Decreased aim down sight time to 390ms, down from 470ms.
    • Increased aim down sight movement speed to 2.8m/s, down from 2.5m/s.
    • Added 30% hipfire spread reduction benefit.

» Handguns «

• WSP Stinger
  
  • Increased recoil gun kick to 57.96deg/s, up from 31.05deg/s.
  • Decreased horizontal recoil to 18.64deg/s, down from 28.39deg/s.
  • Increased vertical recoil to 35.2deg/s, up from 33.65deg/s.

» Attachments «

• No Stock
  
  • Removed hipfire crosshair sway.

WARZONE RANKED PLAY: RESURGENCE

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue that prevented assists earned when other players kill a target from appearing in the SR breakdown.

• Fixed an issue that showed an incorrect SR amount awarded for some SR Challenges.
  • Reminder: Players can complete the below challenges once per Season.
    • First Kill or Assist: +100 SR
    • 10 Kills or Assists: +100 SR
    • 25 Kills or Assists: +100 SR
    • 50 Kills or Assists: +100 SR
    • 100 Kills or Assists: +100 SR
    • Reach Top 8 Squad: +100 SR
    • Reach Top 5 Squad: +100 SR
    • Reach Top 3 Squad: +100 SR
    • Win a Match: +200 SR

• Fixed an issue that prevented SR Challenges from displaying an in-game notification when completed.

BUG FIXES

• Fixed an issue that caused geography and buildings to appear in areas of the world that they did not belong to.

• Fixed an issue with the Champion’s Quest victory sequence causing it to show more teams than intended.

• Fixed an issue causing players to unintendedly remain immune to gas damage during the Eradication Contract.

• Fixed issues related to the Zarkour Parkour flag.

• Fixed an issue preventing Stun Grenades from affecting zombies.

• Fixed an issue that allowed players to remain alive in the gas indefinitely by combining the effects of the Irradiated and Quick Fix perks.

• Fixed an issue that allowed players to duplicate items while interacting with the backpack.

MW3 GLOBAL

STABILITY & PERFORMANCE

• Addressed a crash that occurred during offline play while selecting a Weapon or Operator.

MULTIPLAYER

UIX

• Bug Fixes
  • Resolved various issues causing the player to be unexpectedly kicked back to the menu.
    • Viewing Prestige Calling Cards
    • Filtering Locked Operator Challenges
    • Removing options from Quick Settings
  • Previewing Weapon Completionist rewards will no longer cause the menu to become inoperable.
  • Addressed an issue preventing the Activate Armory Unlock prompt for Controller inputs from functioning.
  • Replaced placeholder name for the Imago RAM-9 Submachine Gun Camo.
  • Replaced placeholder reward images in the Horde Hunt Event menu.

GAMEPLAY

• Bug Fixes
  • Akimbo Weapons will now be displayed properly after infiltrating maps via an elevator.
  • Addressed an issue preventing Hybrid Optics from being toggled while a Comb Attachment is equipped on the BP50 (Assault Rifle).

PROGRESSION

• Increased XP earned for the first Challenge in Week 1 from 1,000 to 2,500.
• Increased Bonus XP per Match for using a Featured Operator Skin during an Event from 1,000 to 2,500.
• Removed aim down sight requirement from the RAM-7 (Assault Rifle) Forged Camo Challenge.
  • Get 10 Operator Kills while Sliding with the RAM-7.

MAPS

• Operation Tin Man (War)
  • Players can now respawn at Tactical Insertions placed in the South Lookout area.

MODES

• Hordepoint
  • Dying while an Insta-Kill Powerup is active will no longer cause it to deactivate.
  • Zombies will now prioritize Operators over Killstreaks and Field Upgrades.
  • Stun Grenades will now temporarily stun Zombies.
• Team Gun Game
  • Performing a Finishing Move will now deduct Score from the enemy team.
  • Melee Kills and Setbacks are now properly tracked on the After-Action Report Scoreboard.
• Private Match
  • Adjusted game rules to align with the Competitive Settings v1.1 ruleset while a CDL game mode is selected.
    • Dynamic Map Elements (Global)
    • Next Zone Reveal Time (Hardpoint)

WEAPONS & ATTACHMENTS

» Submachine Guns «

• Striker 9
  • Increased enemy nameplate reveal distance from 33m to 38.1m (+15%).
  • Decreased hipfire spread while firing by 6%.
  • Decreased recoil gun kick from 54.93deg/s to 35deg/s (-36%).
  • Increased horizontal recoil from 9.70deg/s to 16.17deg/s (+67%).
  • Increased vertical recoil from 40.65deg/s to 50.93deg/s (+25%).
  • Added the ability to aim down sight while sliding.
  • Increased bullet velocity from 540m/s to 560m/s (+4%).
  • Increased maximum damage from 29 to 32 (+10%).
  • Increased near-medium damage from 25 to 28 (+12%).
  • Decreased minimum damage from 20 to 18 (-10%).
  • Increased maximum damage range from 10.7m to 14m (+31%).
  • Decreased medium damage range from 22.9m to 20.3m (-11%).
  • Decreased near-medium damage range from 35.6m to 27.9m (-21%).

The recoil pattern of the Striker 9 has been significantly adjusted, resulting in increased control while firing.

» Light Machine Guns «

• TAQ Evolvere
  • Increased movement speed from 4.4m/s to 5.1m/s (+16%).
  • Decreased rate of fire from 706rpm to 500rpm (-29%).
  • Increased maximum damage from 34 to 40 (+18%).
  • Increased maximum damage range from 35.6m to 40.6m (+14%).
  • Increased medium damage range from 40.6m to 53.3m (+31%).
  • Increased head damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.4 (+17%).
  • Increased neck, upper-torso, upper-arm, and lower-arm damage multipliers from 1x to 1.2x (+20%).
  • Increased target flinch from 0.5n to 0.8n (+60%).
  • 556 Belts (Magazines)
    • Increased movement speed benefit by 16%.
    • Added 40% hipfire spread reduction benefit.
    • Increased aim down sight time benefit by 15%.
    • Increased aim down sight movement speed benefit by 17%.
    • Added rate of fire benefit at 857rpm.
    • Decreased maximum damage from 34 to 30 (-12%).
    • Decreased medium damage from 30 to 24 (-20%).
    • Increased head, neck, and upper-torso damage multipliers from from 1.1x to 1.2x (+9%).

Our primary goal for these changes is to better differentiate the two ammunition types of the TAQ Evolvere. 7.62 is a slow, yet accurate, long-range competitor. Conversely, 5.56 favors aggression and is built for run-and-gun playstyles.

7.62 rewards accuracy and sees an increase to target flinch, allowing it to better compete with Sniper Rifles at range.

5.56 sports a significantly faster rate of fire that is both easier to handle and consistent with locational damage multipliers.

» Sniper Rifles «

• Longbow
  • JAK Tyrant 762 Kit
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 470ms to 390ms (-17%).
    • Increased aim down sight movement speed from 2.5m/s to 2.8m/s (+12%).
    • Added 30% hipfire spread reduction benefit.

» Handguns «

• WSP Stinger
  • Increased recoil gun kick from 31.05deg/s to 57.96deg/s (+87%).
  • Decreased horizontal recoil from 28.39deg/s to 18.64deg/s (-34%).
  • Increased vertical recoil from 33.65deg/s to 35.2deg/s (+5%).
  • Increased maximum damage from 24 to 29 (+21%).
  • Increased near-medium damage from 23 to 24 (+4%).
  • Increased medium damage from 18 to 20 (+11%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 15 to 18 (+20%).

With these changes, the WSP Stinger has reduced recoil which is also easier to control, pairing well with its increased damage.

» Attachments «

• No Stock
  • Removed hipfire crosshair sway.

PERKS

• Assassin Vest
  • Resolved an issue preventing Lethal Equipment from being equipped.

KILLSTREAKS

• Wheelson-HS
  • Zombies can now be run over and killed in Hordepoint Mode.

MWIII RANKED PLAY

GAMEPLAY

• Maps & Modes
  • CDL Hardpoint
    • Sub Base Hardpoint has been temporarily removed from the Ranked Play map pool.
• Content Restrictions
  • Weapon Restrictions
    • Sniper Rifles
      • All

ZOMBIES

GAMEPLAY

• Perk-A-Colas
  • PHD Flopper
    • Addressed an issue that prevented PHD Flopper from protecting players against various damage sources

KILLSTREAKS

• Sentry Turret
  • Adjusted the amount of active Sentry Turrets players can place at a single time to three to improve server stability.

STABILITY

• Added various crash and stability fixes.

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Baldur's Gate 3's next update made headlines for how it will improve the game's kissing animations, but the upcoming patch 6 will bring some other notable improvements to Larian's RPG that should make for a better overall experience.

As Larian details in a thread on X (formerly Twitter), come Patch 6, players will no longer need to run all around their camp to dismiss and then recruit companions to their party. Instead, players will be able to dismiss a party member by speaking to the companion that will be their replacement, fixing a complaint players have long had since Baldur's Gate 3's launch.

Also related to companions is a change so that automatically triggered dialogue will prioritize the player as the main speaker, as opposed to party members stepping in to steal the show. In another fix coming as part of the update, the Shield Bash and Rebuke of the Mighty abilities will now correctly trigger Saving Throws.

Even with those additions, the star of the update will still be the improved kissing, but there are a few other changes outlined by Larian to be coming as part of the update. Patch 6 will also add idle camp animations and new "Legendary Actions" for those playing on the game's highest difficulty.

Larian is advising players to potentially clear up some storage space ahead of the patch's arrival, as it will take 21GB on consoles and a whopping 150GB of storage space on PC and SteamDeck. If that's too much to handle, Larian says players should uninstall and then reinstall the game with the patch included.

The patch still doesn't have an official release date or official patch notes just yet, but Larian previously stated it would arrive this week, just in time for Valentine's Day. Baldur's Gate 3 recently won Game of the Year at the community-voted Steam Awards, while some Xbox users enjoying the RPG earlier this year received bans for recording some of Baldur's Gate 3's more explicit scenes using the console's capture tools.

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The next Dune movie arrives in theaters soon, and to celebrate, Microsoft has an Arrakis-themed promotion on the way. Microsoft Flight Simulator players can take the Royal Atreides Ornithopter out for a spin in the free Dune expansion, a first for the series as it heads to a fictional planet. But the big draw here is the unveiling of custom Xbox hardware, including the world's first floating Xbox Controller.

Gallery

How does it float? Probably through magnets, high-power fans, and other fancy technology, but we also want to say magic. Or maybe it comes with a bag of Arrakian spice to inhale so that you think it's floating, dude. The controller also has a custom finish, combining the film logo and symbols with a windswept paint scheme to make it stand out. As for the custom Xbox Series S console, this has a vibrant design that evokes the grandeur of Arrakis in the cosmos and even uses the grill as a stand-in for the planet.

To enter, you can Xbox on X/Twitter and retweet the official Xbox sweepstakes tweet during the entry period starting February 13 and ending on March 25. For official rules and eligibility details, you can click this link for all the fine print.

Dune: Part Two will be out on March 1, and follows Paul Atreides as he assembles an army of Fremen natives to take back control of Arrakis from House Harkonnen. For a sneak peek, you can check out any of the film's trailers or this seven-minute sequence showing Paul's first sandworm ride. And if that's not enough Dune for you, there's even a special-edition popcorn bucket available for purchase, although you probably won't want to stick your hand in it.

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Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered begins with a content warning that explains the trilogy contains "offensive depictions of people and cultures rooted in racial and ethnic prejudices".

The message states that these depictions are "inexcusable" but have been kept intact to acknowledge their "deeply harmful" inclusion and learn from it.

There's no detail in the statement on which specific elements of the games it refers to - though one likely example can be found in Tomb Raider 3, Eurogamer fans of the games tell me, where stereotypical South Pacific islanders attack Lara Croft with bows and arrows.

Read more

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Immortals of Aveum didn't light the world on fire when it was released, and now former employees have come out to talk about what went wrong with it.

According to a report from IGN about how layoffs have impacted the video games industry, one alleged former Ascendant Studios said, "At a high level, Immortals was massively overscoped for a studio's debut project. The development cost was around $85 million, and I think EA kicked in $40 million for marketing and distribution."

They went on to explain that while the studio has a skilled developers, Immortals of Aveum just wasn't a good idea in today's gaming climate. There were many factors going against it such as its genre and bloated campaign, according to the dev. "Sure, there was some serious talent on the development team, but trying to make a AAA single-player shooter in today’s market was a truly awful idea, especially since it was a new IP that was also trying to leverage Unreal Engine 5," they added.

A current employee chimed in as well, but with a different perspective, saying that it simply just didn't find an audience. "It's not a sequel or a remake, it doesn't take 400 hours to beat, has zero microtransactions, no pointless open world grinding," they explained. "Although not everyone loved it, it reviewed pretty well, currently sitting at a 74 on OpenCritic and a Mostly Positive on Steam. No one bought it."

Ascendant Studios CEO Bret Robbins previously blamed the game's commercial failure on an inopportune release window as well as launching at a $70 price tag. As a result of low sales, Ascendant Studios laid off almost half of its staff back in September 2023.

In GameSpot's Immortals of Aveum review, we said, "The first-person shooter action of Immortals of Aveum suffers from a difficult-to-navigate control scheme and lackluster story."

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Hawked, the extraction shooter with an art style reminiscent of Fortnite, is headed to consoles very soon. The game will launch as a free game on Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and PS5 on February 15. The game is already available for PC through Steam via the My.Games launcher.

For anyone just catching up, Hawked has teams of up to three players race to collect and extract Artifacts from an island known as X-Isle. Players choose from a roster of characters, known as Renegades, and each their own unique skills and abilities (some of these include boomerangs and a scouting falcon).

Players must fight against other human characters, as well as computer-controlled monsters to collect the Artifacts. There are also traps and puzzles on the island that players need to avoid and solve to stay alive.

The first team to successfully extract from the island wins, but players can grab less valuable loot known as trinkets and convert them for currency each match whether they survive or not. The aim, the developer says, is to ensure Hawked is rewarding each session.

Gallery

Coinciding with the console version's release date announcement. My.Games released a developer diary that dives deep into the studio's vision for Hawked.

"We wanted to create the ultimate treasure hunt," executive producer Andy Duthie said. "A game that brings that sense of adventure into every game whilst also being approachable and with a laser focus on creating a fun experience in every match. For that we always had consoles in mind from the very beginning. We can't wait for players to enjoy their hunt together through cross-play and wreak adventuring havoc across X-Isle retrieving artifacts and becoming a legendary treasure hunter."

Additionally, Season 1 for Hawked is going live February 15. Called Issue #1: Renegades, the debut season will deliver "new secrets and mysteries" that culminate in an "explosive climax" that contains clues about what's to come in follow-up seasons. Check out the graphic above to see a roadmap of what's to come in the next Hawked seasons.

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The Nintendo Switch's next big exclusive is just days away. Mario vs. Donkey Kong launches this Friday, February 16. You could order your copy at any major retailer for $50, but there's also a way to save on your preorder. Geek Alliance is currently offering a $5 discount on the US version of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. However, since the Switch is region-free, you should may want to grab the international version for $42 (down from $50). The game is still in English and will operate like normal, with the only difference being the ratings board logo (it won't be ESRB).

Unsurprisingly, this is the best deal we've seen on Mario vs. Donkey Kong ahead of launch. Switch exclusives tend to not receive discounts from major retailers until months after launch. Geek Alliance offers public-facing stock updates. At the time of writing, there were just over 350 copies of the North American edition in stock and 500 international copies. As such, we wouldn't be surprised to see both versions sell out in the next few days.

The only downside to this deal is you won't get launch-day delivery. Geek Alliance will ship your order for free with USPS ground shipping on launch day. The delivery estimate for preorders is three to five days. Naturally, shipping times will vary by location, and even though Geek Alliance ships worldwide, buyers outside of the US should be aware it can take weeks for your order to arrive. If you want to start playing on Friday, Amazon is still offering launch-day delivery for Prime members.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of the first entry in the series that originally released on Game Boy Advance. It brings new features such as cooperative play and reworked graphics. At the heart of the action is a mixture of platforming and puzzle-solving, making it more methodical than most side-scrolling Mario games. If you are a fan of the classic Donkey Kong arcade game or the Game Boy edition of Donkey Kong, there's a good chance you'll enjoy Mario vs. Donkey Kong.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong Deals

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong -- $45 ($50)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Import) -- $42 ($50)

Again, unless you care about getting a North American copy for your collection, it makes sense to save a few bucks by opting for the imported version, as it offers English language support and will work on Switch without issue. The only scenario where you could potentially run into issues is if DLC is announced for Mario vs. Donkey Kong. You'd have to buy the DLC from the eShop associated with the base version of Switch games. However, DLC for a remake like Mario vs. Donkey would be very abnormal.

For more details on the game and other preorder information, take a look at our full Mario vs. Donkey Kong preorder guide.

Looking for more great Switch deals? Head over to Target, where you'll find a few games listed for $40. Similar deals have already sold out at Amazon, so be sure to check them out before they disappear.

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WWE 2K24’s Showcase mode will let players relieve some of the most iconic matches in WrestleMania history. A new trailer shows off a few of those bouts, and 2K has unveiled some of the matches the mode has to offer.

Like previous years, Showcase challenges players to play significant matches and recreate pivotal moments by fulfilling historical objectives. The matches occasionally transition to real footage of the match, letting you watch as well as engage. 2K24’s Showcase of the Immortals consists of 21 matches, and 2K has revealed 16 of them below. 

• Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat (w/ George “The Animal” Steele) vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) - WrestleMania III
• Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) – WrestleMania III
• “Ravishing” Rick Rude (w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) vs. Ultimate Warrior - WrestleMania V
• Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper – WrestleMania VII
• Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania X
• Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock – WrestleMania X-Seven
• Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle – WrestleMania XX
• The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25
• Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton - WrestleMania 31
• Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair - WrestleMania 35
• “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena in a Firefly Funhouse match – WrestleMania 36
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens – WrestleMania 38
• Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 39
• Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes – WrestleMania 39
• Bianca Belair vs. Asuka - WrestleMania 39

WWE 2K24 launches on March 8 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. To learn more, check out our hands-on preview, and you can watch us play a Showcase match and other modes in this episode of New Gameplay Today. Be sure also to read our gaming-focused interview with one of the cover stars, Cody Rhodes.

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Xbox and Microsoft Flight Simulator are immersing gamers worldwide in the captivating world of Arrakis, commemorating the highly anticipated release of “Dune: Part Two.”  Enthusiasts can anticipate a free game expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator launching, bespoke Xbox hardware, and an awe-inspiring gaming simulator-all intricately inspired by the film.

Dune Comes Alive Like Never Before in Free Expansion

Microsoft Flight Simulator, working with Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, for the first time ever is taking you beyond Planet Earth into the harsh deserts of the world of “Dune” and the planet Arrakis.  The skies of Arrakis are traversed by a deft craft called an ornithopter, a nimble flying machine propelled by four precisely tuned oscillating wings. The Royal Atreides Ornithopter is a special ultra-performance variant of the craft, renowned for its lightning acceleration, blazing speeds, and precision maneuverability when under the control of pilots skilled in its operation – and who have the fortitude to survive the harsh extremes of Dune.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Aviators have the unique opportunity starting today to put their courage and skills, to the test in the cockpit of the Royal Atreides Ornithopter in this latest expansion.  which includes three tutorials: take-off, landing, and freefall. Once simmers have mastered the basics, they can move on to attempt the package’s six activities: five-time trials and a daring rescue mission where aviators must save their flight instructor before a massive sandstorm engulfs him.

Custom Xbox Series S with Dune-themed Ornithopter Stand and World’s First Floating Xbox Controller

A specially designed console holder inspired by the Ornithopter captures the vibrant colors of Arrakis’s sun, planets, and sand. This custom Xbox Series S is a true collector’s item for fans. In addition, Xbox introduces the world’s first floating Xbox Controller. Hovering above oceans of sand dunes like an Ornithopter, the visually stunning design will look great in any living room. Fans have the chance to win this set of custom hardware by following Xbox on X (formerly Twitter) and retweeting the official Xbox sweepstakes tweet during the Entry Period. The giveaway runs exclusively from February 13, 2024 through March 25, 2024. For official rules and eligibility details, visit here.

Ornithopter Gaming Simulators

Following their appearance at the world premiere in London and at the U.S premiere in New York, Xbox will bring two life-size Royal Atreides Ornithopter gaming simulators to the London Microsoft Experience Center on Oxford Circus starting February 16th and New York Microsoft Experience Center on Fifth Avenue starting February 26th. Take your skills to the skies in the Microsoft Flight Simulator: Dune Expansion pack and explore the custom Dune-themed hardware on display for a limited time only.

The sky is calling!

About Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter).

About “Dune: Part Two”
“Dune: Part Two” explores the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. 

Denis Villeneuve returns to direct from a script he wrote with Jon Spaihts, based on Frank Herbert’s novel. Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Villeneuve, Tanya Lapointe and Patrick McCormick produce. The executive producers are Josh Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, with Kevin J. Anderson serving as creative consultant.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present a Legendary Pictures Production, a Film by Denis Villeneuve, “Dune: Part Two.”  A Warner Bros. Pictures’ release, the film will be only in theaters and IMAX on March 1, 2024.

About Legendary Entertainment:
Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with film (Legendary Pictures), television and digital (Legendary Television and Digital Media) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to worldwide audiences. Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment including some of the world’s most popular intellectual property. In aggregate, Legendary Pictures-associated productions have realized grosses of more than $19 billion worldwide at the box office. To learn more visit: www.legendary.com 

The post Xbox and Microsoft Flight Simulator unveil Dune Expansion and Floating Controller appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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The CEO of one of the biggest artificial intelligence companies has come out to say he's not worried that killer robots will rise up, but he still has concerns and has issued a renewed call for regulations on the technology.

Speaking during the World Government Summit this week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed how AI could potentially go wrong, but not in the way movies like Terminator and other dramatic sci-fi works have suggested.

"I'm not that interested in the killer robots walking on the street direction of things going wrong," he said, as reported by the Associated Press. "I'm much more interested in the very subtle societal misalignments where we just have these systems out in society and through no particular ill intention, things just go horribly wrong."

Also during his talk, Altman said it is of paramount importance that people take AI seriously as it relates to an "action plan" for guidelines and regulations. Altman previously called for world governments to come together to create an oversight body not unlike how the International Atomic Energy Agency was created after World War II to address nuclear proliferation.

"We're still in the stage of a lot of discussion. So there's you know, everybody in the world is having a conference. Everyone's got an idea, a policy paper, and that's OK," Altman said. "I think we're still at a time where debate is needed and healthy, but at some point in the next few years, I think we have to move towards an action plan with real buy-in around the world."

Altman was briefly ousted from his position as OpenAI CEO in 2023 before being reinstated days later. And while Altman is saying he is for regulation of AI, his company has also made moves to loosen some existing regulations already.

OpenAI is one of the biggest companies in the AI space. Microsoft paid the company $10 billion as part of a partnership where Microsoft wants to put AI into every product it makes, including Xbox.

Many have serious concerns about the rise of AI as it relates to job losses and other impacts on people. In Hollywood, actors and writers won protections against AI in their labor strikes. In the video game space, people have expressed concerns that AI could eliminate or negatively impact some positions.

Experts have warned that AI is an extinction-level concern similar to nuclear war.

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Persona 3 Reload, a wonderful remake of the classic PS2 RPG, launched earlier this month. Offering improved graphics, quality-of-life features, and new voice acting, the remake has some serious improvements over its predecessor. The game just launched on February 2, but Amazon is already offering a nice $10 discount for Persona 3 Reload on PS5.

The deal brings Persona 3 Reload to just $60 (down from $70), and it's the lowest price we've seen since launch. Unfortunately, this price cut doesn't apply to the PS4 or Xbox versions of the game, but Xbox users can play Persona 3 Reload on Game Pass. It's unlikely Persona 3 Reload will get much cheaper than this in the near future, so be sure to check out the deal while you can.

Amazon also has the collector's edition available for PS5 and Xbox. Along with the base game, you'll get a Persona 3 Reload DLC Pack Voucher, an art book, a soundtrack, and an Aigis figure. All these goodies come packaged in an exclusive collector's box and cost $200.

If you're shopping for PC, skip Amazon and head over to Fanatical. Here, you'll find the standard, digital deluxe, and digital premium edition on sale. The digital deluxe version includes a digital art book and soundtrack, while the digital premium edition adds the Persona 3 Reload DLC Pack.

Best Persona 3 Reload PC Deals

• Persona 3 Reload: Standard Edition -- $60.89 ($70)
• Persona 3 Reload: Digital Deluxe Edition -- $69.59 ($80)
• Persona 3 Reload: Digital Premium Edition -- $87 ($100)

These deals at Fanatical come with a 5% off voucher for your next purchase. They also qualify for the current Lunar Sale promotion--since you're spending over $12, you'll get a random gift that includes either a free game or an additional voucher. We're not sure how long these deals will stick around, so cash in while you can.

Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.

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The annual WWE 2K Showcase mode has highlighted individual wrestlers in the past, beginning with Rey Mysterio in 2K22 and then following with John Cena last year. For WWE 2K24, however, the attention shifts to Wrestlemania, the biggest show on the WWE calendar, as 2K Sports has released first details on WWE 2K24's Showcase Of The Immortals Mode.

This year's showcase will feature 21 matches spanning all five decades of Wrestlemania, from the late 1980s to last year's two-day event in Los Angeles. As with previous years, players will unlock new matches by completing each individual match, with extra unlocks for completing certain challenges. The mode will also feature instant transitions from in-game action to real-life footage of the match being played using the game's Slingshot technology.

2K has revealed 16 of the 21 matches players will experience in their Showcase Of The Immortals runs, which feature members of the WWE 2K24 roster like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt, Rhea Ripley, and more. One notable exception from the revealed list is Brock Lesnar, who has recently been removed from the game's cover art due to his alleged connections with the Vince McMahon lawsuit.

The list of matches for the Showcase mode revealed by 2K is below:

• Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat (w/ George “The Animal” Steele) vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) - WrestleMania III
• Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) – WrestleMania III
• “Ravishing” Rick Rude (w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) vs. Ultimate Warrior - WrestleMania V
• Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper – WrestleMania VII
• Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania X
• Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock – WrestleMania X-Seven
• Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle – WrestleMania XX
• The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25
• Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton - WrestleMania 31
• Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair - WrestleMania 35
• “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena in a Firefly Funhouse match – WrestleMania 36
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens – WrestleMania 38
• Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 39
• Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes – WrestleMania 39
• Bianca Belair vs. Asuka - WrestleMania 39

WWE 2K24 launches March 8 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. Those who preorder the Deluxe or 40 Years Of Wrestlemania editions of the game can access the game three days early, on March 5.

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Splatoon 3 is offering players a new way to paint the town red--or blue, or yellow, etc--in Side Order, a new expansion releasing later this month. Nintendo has released an overview trailer on the mode, which introduces roguelite elements into the splat-based shooter on February 22.

Side Order follows Agent 8, an Octoling who finds themselves in the mysterious Spire of Order. The world is devoid of color, and in order to restore it, Agent 8 must travel through the entire tower, with a new sidekick--who claims to be Pearl from Splatoon 2's Off The Hook--in tow.

Traveling through the tower brings a new roguelite spin to the Splatoon 3 format, with each of the 30 floors offering different challenges with every attempt--and different bosses on every 10th floor. Players will collect color chips during each run that temporarily enhance their abilities, and at the end of each run, those chips will be converted to a currency which can unlock different--and more permanent--upgrades.

We took the Side Order expansion for a spin in our video preview above, which called it "the perfect excuse to jump back into Splatoon." The preview also says that the "roguelite take on Splatoon ended up feeling so natural, that we're kinda surprised it wasn’t already a thing," as "the pieces have always been there."

Splatoon 3 is available now exclusively on Nintendo Switch. The Side Order expansion will be available February 22 as part of the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass.

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January used to be a slow month on the gaming calendar, as after the traditional Q4 rush of AAA game releases, most developers and publishers opted to take a brief break at the start of a new year. Times have changed in the last few years, and these days, it's not unusual to see several big games released to help kick the year off with a bang. What is unusual is to see these games face stiff competition from legacy titles, as the most-downloaded games on the PlayStation Store for January feature old favorites at the top.

There are some caveats to these numbers, as the charts obviously don't include physical sales and are based solely on PlayStation platforms. In the US and Canada, Tekken 8 slugged its way to fourth place on PS5, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Madden NFL took the top three spots. In Europe, Bandai Namco's new fighting game debuted in fifth place, while GTA 5 celebrated a first-place finish for the month.

January's other big game release was Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but it finished in 14th place on the US and Canadian PS5 download charts. In Europe, the return of Ichiban Kasuga didn't even crack the top 20, but it is worth noting that Infinite Wealth was released late in the month on January 26. Publisher Sega and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio did confirm that Infinite Wealth is the fastest-selling game to date in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series, having sold more than one million units worldwide across PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.

Meanwhile, EA Sports FC 24 is a regular on these lists when looking at Europe's top downloads, as it was the second-most-downloaded PS5 game in that region and the most-downloaded game on PS4. You can take a closer look at the top PSN games below, and for February, we might see Square Enix's new team-based bubble-shooter Foamstars make a big splash. The game is currently available as one of the February PS Plus for Essential downloads alongside Steelrising and Rollerdrome.

Most-downloaded PS5 games in the US and Canada

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
2. GTA 5
3. Madden NFL 24
4. Tekken 8
5. NBA 2K24
6. Baldur’s Gate 3
7. EA Sports FC 24
8. Hogwarts Legacy
9. Gran Turismo 7
10. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
11. The Last of Us Part II Remastered
12. Hell Let Loose
13. UFC 5
14. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
15. Mortal Kombat 1
16. God of War Ragnarok
17. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
18. Granblue Fantasy: Relink
19. Prince of Persia The Lost Crown
20. ARK: Survival Ascended

Most-downloaded PS5 games in Europe

1. GTA 5
2. EA Sports FC 24
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
4. Hogwarts Legacy
5. Tekken 8
6. Baldur’s Gate 3
7. Gran Turismo 7
8. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
9. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
10. The Last of Us Part II
11. UFC 5
12. It Takes Two
13. Prince of Persia The Lost Crown
14. NBA 2K24
15. ARK: Survival Ascended
16. Cyberpunk 2077
17. The Crew Motorfest
18. Elden Ring
19. Need For Speed Unbound
20. Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Most-downloaded PS4 games in the US and Canada

1. Minecraft
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
4. Need for Speed Heat
5. Batman: Arkham Knight
6. GTA 5
7. theHunter: Call of the Wild
8. Mortal Kombat X
9. EA Sports FC 24
10. NBA 2K24
11. A Way Out
12. Injustice 2
13. Gang Beasts
14. Hogwarts Legacy
15. Overcooked! 2
16. Call of Duty: Black Ops III
17. God of War III Remastered
18. Resident Evil 6
19. God of War
20. CarX Drift Racing Online

Most-downloaded PS4 games in Europe

1. EA Sports FC 24
2. Minecraft
3. Need for Speed Heat
4. Red Dead Redemption 2
5. A Way Out
6. GTA 5
7. Hogwarts Legacy
8. Need for Speed Payback
9. Batman: Arkham Knight
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
11. theHunter: Call of the Wild
12. Mortal Kombat X
13. CarX Drift Racing Online
14. Battlefield V
15. Gang Beasts
16. WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship
17. Lego Marvel Super Heroes
18. Goat Simulator
19. Star Wars Battlefront II
20. Resident Evil 6

Most-downloaded free-to-play PS5 and PS4 games in the US and Canada

1. Roblox
2. Fortnite
3. The Finals
4. Call of Duty: Warzone
5. Apex Legends
6. Fall Guys
7. Rocket League
8. The Sims 4
9. War Thunder
10. Lego Fortnite

Most-downloaded free-to-play PS5 and PS4 games in Europe

1. Fortnite
2. Roblox
3. Call of Duty: Warzone
4. The Finals
5. Rocket League
6. Fall Guys
7. Fortnite Battle Royale
8. The Sims 4
9. Apex Legends
10. eFootball 2024

Most-downloaded PlayStation VR2 games in the US and Canada

1. Beat Saber
2. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2
3. Among Us VR
4. Job Simulator
5. Pavlov
6. Moss: Book II
7. Horizon Call of the Mountain
8. Vertigo 2
9. Ultrawings 2
10. Arizona Sunshine 2

Most-downloaded PlayStation VR2 games in Europe

1. Beat Saber
2. Among Us VR
3. Pavlov
4. Horizon Call of the Mountain
5. Moss: Book II
6. Ultrawings 2
7. Job Simulator
8. Kayak VR: Mirage
9. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2
10. Arizona Sunshine 2

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Nearly one in five gamers are members of the LGBT+ community, yet LGBT+ storylines and characters account for less than two percent of all games.

That's according to the first ever GLAAD Gaming Report, the global leader in advocacy for LGBT+ representation, alongside market research company Nielson.

A previous report from Nielson three years ago stated 10 percent of gamers were LGBT+. Now that's up to 17 percent - an increase of 70 percent.

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Team Ninja's ambitious next game, Rise of the Ronin, will not be released in South Korea.

The news was covered by several Korean outlets yesterday, after the game was pulled from the Korean PlayStation Store and all promotional material except for for trailer was removed from PlayStation's Korean YouTube channel.

As reported on Korean community site Ruliweb, Sony Interactive Entertainment Korea has released a statement confirming Rise of Ronin won't be released in Korea physically or digitally.

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Inkulinati will leave early access later this month, on 22nd February, at which point it will become available for the first time on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.

Previously, Inkulinati was only available on PC via Steam Early Access and on Xbox through Game Preview.

"Your support and feedback during the Early Access period have been invaluable to us. Your comments, suggestions, feedback, reviews, and words of encouragement have made Inkulinati a better game. And behind the scenes, we've worked really hard on making Inkulinati an engaging and polished experience," Yaza Games and the teams at Daedalic wrote on Steam.

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Arceus, the god Pokémon, won't turn up in Pokémon Go for this month's upcoming Go Tour: Sinnoh.

Its apparent absence had been hotly debated by fans, though has now been confirmed to Eurogamer by developer Niantic. It means Go Tour: Sinnoh will be the first one of Pokémon Go's popular annual Tour events not to let players complete their Pokédex for the corresponding region.

Two other Sinnoh species will also be absent: Mythical creatures Manaphy and Phione.

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Two F-Zero games exclusively released on Nintendo's Satellaview SNES service have been restored by fans and are available to play for free.

The BS F-Zero Grand Prix games were first made available in a series of broadcasts in 1996 and 1997, including remixed courses from the original SNES game and some exclusive tracks too.

However, these games appeared to be lost in the mute city of time - until now.

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A mobile version of hit survival horror Lethal Company has popped up on the iPhone App Store and Google Play - but isn't what it seems. The game's developer Zeekerss has warned players this is "likely a scam of some sort", and not made with its permission.

Lethal Company has become incredibly popular since its debut last year, and prompted praise for the game's mix of genuine horror and almost slapstick comedy. Now, it appears others are trying to profit off Zeekerss' success by releasing their own rip-off of Lethal Company on mobile. Don't be fooled.

Writing on the Lethal Company Discord, a moderator stated this mobile version "was made with no explicit permission and is most likely a scam". They asked users to refrain from linking to any fake games, to avoid anyone falling foul of "devious and malicious intentions that may be behind that operation".

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Former lead designer Sébastien Benard has further discussed the decision made by publisher Motion Twin to end Dead Cell's development - something he previously dubbed "the worst imaginable asshole move".

Benard originally shared his sentiments on the end of Dead Cells development via the game's Discord server, where he said the official statement from Motion Twin was "total marketing bullshit" from a company he called "greedy".

Now, Benard has shared an update with further thoughts on his blog, in a bid to shed more light on his previous words.

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Hit comedy game What The Golf? is coming to PlayStation consoles next month.

The game will be available on both PlayStation 4 and 5 from 14th March, in addition to its previous releases on mobile (Apple Arcade), PC (Steam, Epic, GoG), and Switch.

If you haven't played it yet, then, there's really no excuse. It's hilarious stuff.

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Developer Arrowhead has released a new patch for its PC version of Helldivers 2.

With this update in play, users should be able to get into games a little more easily. In addition, this patch addresses some progression issues, with the developer stating it has now "fixed the daily and difficulty progression error".

Arrowhead said many of the issues in Helldivers 2 were being caused by a large number of users in the game and server capacity. Writing on Steam, the developer said this cocktail had created "unexpected behaviours".

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Microsoft's Xbox and PC exclusive Pentiment will make its way to PS5 and Nintendo Switch, alongside the previously-leaked Hi-Fi Rush.

That's according to a new report from The Verge ahead of Thursday's podcast from Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer, Xbox president Sarah Bond and head of Xbox game studios Matt Booty, where the trio will reveal Xbox's new business strategy - including, it's believed, the launch of exclusive games on rival platforms.

Sources confirmed to The Verge that Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment will be the first two games on the way, with Sea of Thieves planned for later this year. Other first-party titles are simply described as being under consideration.

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