An emergency Diablo 4 update makes the Mythic changes we all wanted last week

Blizzard has capitulated to fan demands with a new Diablo 4 update that makes crafted Mythics far more useful, along with increased drop rates across the board. The developer also promises further rewards that will be coming to the RPG next week, including extra payouts of its top-end Superior Lair Keys, and more Mythic Tributes to help boost your chances of netting the rarest loot in the game. It’s a rapid response to what ended up being a rather underwhelming patch, and good news for us all.

“We’ve heard your feedback on Season of Death Awakening, including Mythic Unique drop rates, equip limits, and more,” Live Service Design Director Dan Tanguay writes in a post shared to the Diablo 4 forum. Blizzard’s previous patch, announced last week and deployed on Tuesday, made crafting Mythic Uniques easier and the materials to do so more plentiful. However, because there was a hard cap on wearing just one crafted Mythic at a time (despite them typically being weaker than naturally dropped ones), the upgrade process still felt a little pointless.

“In a patch releasing today, we’re increasing the drop rate for Mythics from the Corrupted Reaper boss fight and removing equip limits from Mythic Uniques,” Tanguay confirms. That update is live right now, so if you have any extra crafted Mythics you weren’t able to make use of, you can now grab them. That also means you can use both the ‘regular’ ones made with Pandemonium Fragments, and the Iconic Mythics made using Resplendent Sparks, meaning there’s actual value in both currencies again. The former’s ‘upgrade to Mythic’ option still remains a random roll, rather than a deterministic upgrade path, but that’s much easier to swallow now that there’s no restriction on how many you can wear.

It’s a great change, and after bemoaning that it didn’t come with the last patch, I’ll give Blizzard credit for responding much more swiftly this time around, even going so far as to sneak the hotfix out quickly. Alongside that, next week we’ll be getting two more notable extras: Superior Lair Keys from the repeatable Glints of Hope seasonal rep turn-in, and improved drop rates for Mythic Tributes in the Kurast Undercity. Blizzard has also confirmed on the forums that it’s continuing to look into the natural drop chances for Iconic Mythics.

“Seasons are where we experiment with new ideas and push Diablo 4 in new directions,” Tanguay remarks. “Not every idea lands exactly as intended, but we’ll continue listening to your feedback, addressing what’s not working, and applying those lessons to future seasonal updates. As always, we’ll keep you updated as we have more to share about the future of Mythics.”

While it’s always important to exercise some caution in not simply knee-jerk reacting to any complaint that springs up, it’s good to see this swifter turnaround time from the Diablo 4 team. Many players, myself included, had already finished the vast majority of our grinding by the time that first patch landed two weeks into the season, and while this new update probably will get me to go back for some more, it would have been even better if some of the feedback had been addressed in week one. Still, let’s call this a win for everyone involved.

FF14 Mobile is officially dead, will shut down in September

FF14 Mobile is officially shutting down at the end of September, as Square Enix and its Tencent-owned developer Lightspeed Studios confirm that their licensing agreement has been terminated “through amicable negotiation.” The standalone sister project, which aimed to recreate the mainline MMORPG in a new format beginning with A Realm Reborn, was first announced in November 2024, and launched in its initial form in China in June 2025. Now, it’s coming to a close, with plans for a global release also canceled.

FF14 Mobile has been a continued talking point among the wider Final Fantasy 14 community. Its initial release, which covered the vast majority of the launch content for A Realm Reborn, garnered attention for its unique cosmetics, convenient menus, and some additional quality-of-life features that the main game was lacking. Naturally, this led to quite a few instances of players pointing to certain aspects that they’d love to see introduced to the PC and console version.

Unfortunately, the Lightspeed-developed incarnation is no more. “Thank you for your support for Final Fantasy 14 Mobile,” the team writes in a post announcing its termination of service. On the launch day in the Chinese mainland, we said, ‘Resonate with the Light, and blaze as one,’ and promised that the adventure had just begun. Over this time, it is you who have truly brought ‘Mobile Eorzea’ to life.'”

“Today, however, we must regretfully share an important announcement,” the post continues. “Due to adjustments in business operations and changes in the market environment, Tencent and Square Enix have, through amicable negotiation, decided to terminate the licensing agreement for Final Fantasy 14 Mobile (Chinese Edition).”

Final Fantasy 14 Mobile will cease operation in China on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. As of today, Friday, July 17, the ability to register new accounts or make in-game microtransaction top-ups has been removed. The associated forums and customer support will be closed on Thursday, October 15. The planned global version has likewise been canceled.

The news isn’t entirely unexpected; in recent weeks and months, players had begun to notice a lack of updates, and links to the official website began not redirecting as expected. Now we have confirmation of its fate. The developer adds, “To everyone who has journeyed with us until now, we sincerely apologize that we must end this service without being able to fully live up to your expectations.

“At the same time, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have supported us along the way. Thank you, truly, from the bottom of our hearts. To everyone who has been looking forward to the global version, we also offer our sincere apologies for being unable to meet your expectations.”

Slay the Spire 2 makes painful but necessary nerfs, and some scary buffs, in a big new balance overhaul

A new Slay the Spire 2 patch is here, and it’s going to hurt a little more than the abundance of fresh cards we were handed two weeks ago. Sometimes, making a game that stands the test of time requires making careful cuts around its most beloved parts, and Mega Crit has proven itself a master of this over the years. Log into the roguelike deckbuilder’s beta branch now and you’ll find a lot of dramatic balance changes; there are some striking buffs I’ll be looking forward to, but a handful of nerfs that strip away some of the strongest picks in the game. Either way, you’re going to want to read your cards closely.

I’ll start with something fun. Neow has two more relics that you can find when you start a fresh run of Slay the Spire 2 The first is Dowsing Rod, which gives you a zero-cost quest card that transforms after you have entered five mystery rooms. It becomes Abundance, a one-cost skill with exhaust that lets you choose one of three powers to add into your hand, which you can then play for free this turn. If you upgrade Abundance, the options presented to you will likewise be their upgraded versions.

The other relic is Neow’s Sacrifice, which gives you an Ambergris potion and a Guilty curse card (unplayable, removed from your deck after five turns). The new potion is basically a one-time get out of jail free, healing you for 50% of your max health and granting you an extra turn after the current one. It might not be the most immediately enticing option, but having a safety net that lets you take on Act One elites with more confidence is certainly strong, and it’s often going to be even stronger in the late game.

Okay, nerfs. Nonupeipe’s Diamond Diadem (take half damage if you play two or fewer cards in a turn) has been redesigned. It now starts you with 20 block, and stops block from being removed at the start of your turn, meaning it still has the potential to be extremely good, but is slightly more reliant on having a deck to match it. Tanx’s Meat Cleaver now only grants five max health instead of nine when cooking at rest sites, although I’d argue that removing two cards from your deck at a time is still the part of it you actually care about.

The History Course relic will now only repeat your last-played attack at the start of your turn, ignoring skills. Three of the new multiplayer cards get nerfed: Midnight’s damage has been significantly reduced, and the scaling per use on The Ball lowered. Blade Symphony now costs two for its two Shivs given to every player, with the upgrade dropping its cost back down to one but not giving you an extra Shiv.

Regent loses one of its most potent block generators in Pillar of Creation, which now grants you more block when creating a card but only does so once per turn. The class also sees a damage decrease on Collision Course, one of the best companion pieces for that generation. Necrobinder’s Eidolon is no more – instead, it now plays all Ethereal cards that have been consigned to your exhaust pile, then exhausts itself. That’s such a dramatic redesign that we’re going to have to test it to see whether it’s actually practical, because often when you let Ethereal cards go it’s because you don’t want them any more.

With the exclusively bad news out of the way, there’s quite a few other changes to talk about. The Ironclad’s Bloodletting (lose three health, get two energy) is now uncommon. That is another nerf, but fellow generator Expect a Fight no longer stops you from gaining additional energy that turn, bringing back some potential infinites. Cruelty and Dominate have had their rarities swapped, and Taunt is moved from uncommon to common to give a more reliable source of vulnerable, but with slightly less block attached.

The Silent gets three reworks. Well-Laid Plans is now rare, but instead of retaining one or two cards, you simply keep your whole hand when your turn ends. It’s also now available in multiplayer. Mirage, which previously generated block based on enemy poison stacks, is now a zero-cost skill that gives you one (or two) energy the next turn. Welcome back, Outmaneuver from the first game. Finally, Expertise now draws just two (three) cards instead of six (seven), but they gain retain for that turn.

The Defect’s changes are less notable, with small damage buffs on Hyperbeam and Sunder, and Trash to Treasure’s upgrade lowering its cost instead of providing innate. Going back to the Ancients, however, there are a couple of potential heavy hitters to watch out for. Tezcatara’s Toybox now gives five wax relics instead of four, but it’s Vakuu’s Fiddle that’s scarier, giving you three additional cards at the start of turn instead of two (with the same downside of no extra draws).

There are a couple of enemy adjustments as well. Act Three boss Aeonglass is still being reined in, if only a touch. It now hits a little less hard with Ebb at 22 (26) instead of 26 (32), making the first turn slightly less scary. Conversely, Torchhead Amalgam gets a new turn-one attack, Strong Tackle, making it hurt a lot more than before on that initial round at 26 (32), up from its previous 18 (22).

Elsewhere, multiplayer will now allow you to use “nearly any potion” on other players, and map ink circles should be consistent across your team. Game seeds have been made 12 characters long (up from ten), with a larger internal seed. The patch also introduces new art, initial support for Traditional Chinese, and a hefty helping of bug fixes. Of particular note is that the VSync setting in the options menu will now actually correctly show whether it’s on or off (previously it had a tendency to visually reset).

Slay the Spire 2 patch 0.109.0 is live now on the game’s beta branch. You can switch over by right-clicking the game in your Steam library, selecting properties, and navigating to the ‘game versions and betas’ menu. If you’d rather stay on the live build for now, expect the majority of these changes to make their way across some time in the weeks to come.

Path of Exile 3.29 just shattered a fundamental rule, and I’m not talking about its new underwater combat

There was a moment during the reveal of Path of Exile 3.29, Curse of the Allflame, that stole the air out of the room in a collective gasp during our press showing. Game Director Mark Roberts of Grinding Gear Games announced that one of the oldest fundamentals of the action RPG since its earliest days was changing: “Sockets, at a basic level, don’t have colors any more.” It’s a transformative shift that will send waves across the meta, but one I’ll get to a bit later, because as Roberts tells me ahead of the announcement, he’s “a little bit sad” that the topic has distracted us all from just how unique and interesting this underwater league’s new core mechanic is.

“I was like, ‘Oh man, we put so much work into all the other stuff,'” Roberts remarks, before admitting, “I mean, I understand it 100% – it’s probably been the thing most people have been talking about on our end as well.” Let’s rewind slightly, then, and talk about the new Path of Exile league, which is by all accounts a very novel concept. After that, we can get into all of the other additions to the endgame, that socket shakeup, the return of Mercenaries, and yet another new Ascendancy being added to the Scion class.

For Curse of the Allflame, we’ll be joining corsair captain Val, who’s on the hunt for treasure deep below the roiling waves. Stepping onto her reappropriated Oriathan ship, The Sovereign, we’re introduced to its literal heart and soul, Vesper, a body bound to the vessel and eternally burning with the Allflame’s Curse. This grants you the ability to create giant pockets of air across the ocean floor by planting down Allflame Lanterns, so hop into a Bathysphere and descend into the dark depths.

You won’t be alone down there, of course, with all manner of monstrosities and treasures to be dealt with as you explore. You’ll need to keep planting down more lanterns to extend the safe area – while you won’t immediately die should you step out beyond the boundary, it’ll only be a short few moments before you succumb to a watery grave. Helpfully, while there is the option to manually place these, you can ask Val to fire them down automatically as soon as they’re needed, allowing you to keep blasting through the hordes at speed.

Once you’ve reached your lantern limit, however, their power will begin to flicker and fade away, causing even more denizens of the deep to rush in as the light starts to vanish. This turns the final act of each dive into a desperate race back to the Bathysphere, dealing with anything that gets in your way, before the last lantern snuffs out. Using every lantern at your disposal is essential, however, because you aren’t just grabbing goodies, you’re also charting the area itself for the next stage of the process.

Once you have mapped out enough regions under the sea, talk to Val to plan a Voyage. This brings up a board of nine squares, into which you’ll place your various charts to craft a supercharged expedition. Every one you plop down applies modifiers to either adjacent charts or the full set, and these stack up with additional ‘currents of corruption’ that run alongside the edges of the Voyage map, amplifying the threats and potential prizes in equal measure.

This Voyage will therefore take you through a huge array of juiced-up zones, which means ample opportunity to fill your pockets with loot. To ensure you’re able to get it all out, every chart region contains a capsule capable of holding “about an inventory worth” of treasure, so stuff them full as you go, and they’ll all be pulled up once you’re satisfied with your finds. Alongside the regular rewards, you’ll encounter a special new crafting currency called Ducats, along with a hefty supply of Dead Man’s Sulphur.

Bring the latter back to Vesper and you can take advantage of the league-specific crafting system. Simply hand over an item and a crafting material, along with your fee in Dead Man’s Sulphur, and you’ll be shown several possible outcomes from that combination. You’re then allowed to choose one (but only one) of them to keep. The Ducats, meanwhile, offer some particularly welcome tricks, such as swapping one attribute on an item to another, or splitting a gear piece into four ghostly copies, each bearing one of its mods, to use as crafting bases.

“For the first time in Path of Exile we’re finally going under the sea,” Roberts remarks, joking, “Some might even say this is the first real boat league.” If you’re someone who’s always scared of using that crafting item for fear you might miss your roll, Curse of the Allflame provides a way to approach crafts with a welcome safety net. Even if you’re a confident crafter, it’s still a powerful tool to have, and I’m eager to see what else awaits us in the watery depths.

Alongside this, the Mercenaries of Trarthus are making their grand return for PoE 3.29. Introduced for just one league during the 3.26 Secrets of the Atlas update, these budding opponents are now part of the core game and will begin showing up from act three. You’ll be offered the chance to stake some of your gold against one of their equipped items in a duel. Should you emerge victorious, you’ll claim your prize, and will also have the chance to bring the merc along as an ally for several areas.

In their redesigned, permanent form, mercenaries are now temporary companions, and they no longer count as a player-level party member, meaning no accompanying increase to monster life or drops. Should you wish to enlist them on a more long-term basis however, you can utilize the new Scion Ascendancy, the Luminary. This “natural leader” can hire up to three mercenaries (one actively accompanying you and two waiting patiently back in your hideout), and upgrading the Ascendancy will enable you to equip them with powerful unique gear.

Two other mechanics are being reworked in 3.29 – Abyss and Legion. For the former, you can expect a lot of the core quality-of-life improvements introduced in PoE 2’s Abyss, replacing the awkward backtracking with a more dynamic and responsive experience. This isn’t just a Path of Exile 2 copy, however, as many of the PoE 1 fundamentals remain. Abyssal Jewels and Abyssal Sockets are still present, and there’s a new endgame pinnacle boss that will require some real head-scratching to figure out the “unique way of accessing it.”

Grinding Gear Games is working to give every one of its systems “distinct and interesting rewards that are exclusively available from that mechanic.” Abyss benefits from this here, as does Legion. Incubators are being removed, as their payouts weren’t anything original. In their place are Enshrouding Crystals: wrap these around a piece of unique armor, take it to the Domain of Timeless Conflict, and you can transform it into an entirely new unique item bearing a ‘vestigial’ implicit modifier from the object it once was.

There are more quality-of-life improvements, too. You no longer need to kill every single monster to start a Legion encounter, just a significant enough majority. The foe you’re battling will drop fewer Splinters but in larger stacks, reducing how much clicking is required to pick it all up. The progress system has been redesigned to remove visual clutter, and Unrelenting Timeless Emblems are gone, with the key effects moved into their regular variants.

Also getting a fresh look are Talismans, which are now exclusive to the Bestiary. Every red beast in your compendium has a specific Talisman drop associated with it. They no longer appear as corrupted, making them easier to craft with, and their special modifiers are now enchantments rather than implicits, which gives them the potential to be “significantly more powerful than before.” All the unique Talismans can show up during these encounters as well.

One final thing, and then I promise we’ll talk sockets. Atlas Anomalies are a new addition to the Path of Exile endgame, spawned by the continued destabilization of Zana’s efforts throughout recent leagues. These can appear any time you complete a Voidstone-impacted map, and unlike regular locations, they don’t need an item to enter and won’t disappear after a single visit, remaining in place until you’ve finished dealing with everything inside.

What you’ll actually find varies based on the Anomaly in question. The Manor Foyer brings you to Cadiro Perandus, who has a range of trade deals to peruse. You can also run into powered-up variants of league mechanics that you might not have invested into, giving you a taste of what they have to offer. You might find a fully revealed Heist Blueprint complete with rogue companions, for example, or an Expedition Logbook packed with remnants, monsters, and chests. Roberts teases more possibilities, pondering: “I wonder what will happen if I sacrifice my Headhunter to the Vaal?”

That’s all the new content, but then there’s the character and skill balancing. Yes, it’s true, socket colors as we knew them are gone. If you’re a PoE 2 player who’s yet to dip into its predecessor, know that this is a Wraeclast-shattering change. The first Path of Exile determines your skills by socketing gems into your gear, and that means every item you equip needs the right number of sockets, in the right color, and all linked together.

While it was a cool concept, Roberts admits that the colors in particular “not only prevented upgrading gear, it limited build experimentation.” If you found an upgrade with stats you wanted but it was lacking the right sockets, you simply couldn’t use it until you’d invested enough into crafting them into shape. You’ll still need to get the number right, and the links, but by removing color restrictions, you’ll now at least be able to keep all of your skills active.

Although most sockets will now be colorless, you will still find the occasional one in red, blue, or green. These still don’t have any restrictions on what you can place into them, but will apply a quality bonus to gems of a matching color, giving you a reason to consider your placement. It’s an exciting change, but one that definitely feels like breaking a ‘sacred rule’ of Path of Exile. “Well,” Roberts remarks, “some of them need to be broken.”

He says that, once the team got past the “shock factor” of the suggestion, it quickly realized that this was an obvious move. He recalls the discussions: “‘Isn’t it just better for the game?’ We went through it, we talked about it, how much of a benefit it is to veterans and new players, and we were like, ‘I guess we’ll just change it.'” He says each dev at GGG that found out quickly turned into more positive feedback. “Every single person was like, ‘Whoa, you guys are crazy, what do you mean you’re changing that? But also I love it.'”

Path of Exile 3.29 also makes a broad list of balance changes across the rest of the game’s skills, with particular attention paid to giving spellcasters fresh love. Roberts tells me the list of adjusted gems is “currently over 100, I think it’ll be 160, primarily spells. You’ve got all these new kinds of builds – you’re not just going to have everyone playing Magma Orb, hopefully.” That’s a bold claim; the skill he’s talking about, which these days is actually called Rolling Magma, has been the cornerstone of early levelling in every single build I’ve played in the last several years.

Caster staves will now be more likely to roll caster-friendly modifiers, many of which should appear at higher values. In particular, powerful options such as those adding Spell Gem levels will be “much more frequent’ on staves versus one-handed caster weapons. Elsewhere, GGG is introducing a skill called ‘Mana-Charged Staff’ that infuses your staff with Arcane energy. This raises your block chance, reduces the mana cost of spells, and causes you to retaliate with waves of Arcane lightning each time you take a hit.

There’s also a new set of Exceptional Skill Gems called Pacts, designed primarily to introduce more scaling options to assist self-cast archetypes. These are each themed around striking a bargain with a specific demon, empowering your spells but lumbering you with an affliction debuff in turn. “Don’t worry too much,” Roberts reassures us, “the rewards will be worth it.”

Path of Exile 3.29, Curse of the Allflame, launches on Friday July 24. You can play for free on Steam, or via the standalone launcher. If you’ve been pulled in by PoE 2 and are yet to try out its predecessor, this latest round of changes should make it one of the most exciting times to do so yet.

One notable absence this time is Mirage – the extremely popular 3.28 league mechanic won’t be sticking around for the time being. Game Designer Christopher ‘Octavian’ Laferriere, who has stepped up to take on more of the PoE 1 workload as of that previous update, tells me he “would very much like” to see it return, “and I don’t see a good reason why it shouldn’t eventually.” He notes that it will, however, “need some careful consideration before we bring it core” on the programming side, due to the fact that it affects literally every other mechanic in the game.

Roberts adds, “With leagues going core, you generally find we let it disappear for a while and then come back.” He explains that this is typically because of the need to improve and balance a mechanic while it’s the focus of an active league. “If we’ve reworked the league to make it core, we kind of lose our capacity to fix it internally if something was to go wrong.” Don’t fear too much, Mirage enjoyers. There’s every chance it’ll get its chance to make a grand return in the future. For now, PoE 3.29 will keep us more than busy enough.

Gorgeous sandbox action-RPG Emberville is bringing a stacked cast of favorites to your town, from Leon and Aerith to… Ben Starr

As it confirms the launch date for Emberville early access, developer Cygnus Cross has just revealed an impressive roster of actors who will be bringing their voices to the action-sandbox RPG. Boasting names behind the likes of Resident Evil heartthrob Leon Kennedy, Baldur’s Gate 3 favorite Shadowheart, and The Witcher 3’s Geralt himself, it seems a sure thing that you’re going to be double-taking with each new character you meet, and there are now just a few months before its early access begins.

Emberville comes from Cygnus Cross, a studio co-owned by popular YouTuber and Twitch streamer Ben ‘Cohh’ Cassel. While it resembles the likes of Stardew Valley, Emberville bears more in common with Terraria, Necesse, and Core Keeper, tasking you with rebuilding the eponymous town and delving into the depths of the vast, eternal prison that lies beneath it. That home for the unwanted, known as the Vitromotus, grows ever more dangerous and foul as you plunge deeper into its depths, demanding you grow your strength to match.

Rescue troubled souls and they’ll be able to help you with the revitalization project, which is where most of these iconic names come into play. We already knew that the Emberville cast would include favorites such as Doug Cockle (The Witcher’s Geralt), Abubakar Salim (Assassin’s Creed Origins’ Bayek), and Amelia Tyler (Baldur’s Gate 3’s narrator). However, an extended cast reveal has now given us a much broader look at who else you’ll meet on your adventures, and it seems like you’ll be bumping into a familiar voice at every turn.

Arguably gaming’s most dominant trio right now is out in force: Matthew Mercer, Jennifer English, and Ben Starr are all present and correct. Things don’t stop there, however. We’ve got Nick Apostolides (Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil), Anjali Bhimani (Symmetra in Overwatch), Rich Keeble (Monoco in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33), Jane Perry (Diana Burnwood in Hitman), Briana White (Aerith in the FF7 Remake trilogy), and Elias Toufexis (Adam Jensen in Deus Ex).

The list just keeps going, and also includes a handful of notable content creators such as Lily ‘LilyPichu’ Ki and Cahla ‘Cahlaflour’ Thorman, both of whom have performed in other cameo roles previously. Emberville has already been a mainstay of my wishlist since it was first announced, as the more action-heavy focus is very much my speed, so this announcement feels more like a cherry on top, but it’s certainly a delicious one.

Emberville launches in early access on Steam Tuesday, October 27. You can wishlist it now if you want to be notified when it’s available.

Cygnus Cross promises that its early access will include “a full playable experience with a substantial amount of content,” pushing into the mid-game. It will support melee, magic, and ranged combat along with its class system, equipment, skills, and all the fundamentals of base-building, crafting, gathering, farming, and cooking. It anticipates a year-long run through early access, although it notes that “community involvement may introduce unforeseen features, potentially extending this timeline.”

We’re getting “a little bit more” of Warframe’s Jade Shadows, as Digital Extremes knows Constellations “didn’t give players as much as they wanted”

Jade Shadows is, perhaps, one of the best videogame quests ever made. It’s a Warframe story, and thus it takes place in a world far different from our own. We’re in outer space, dashing around as The Stalker, a relentless, vicious hunter intent on spilling Tenno blood. And yet, somehow, Jade Shadows manages to be wonderfully human. It’s a story of loss; it deals with a mother’s passing during childbirth; a forbidden love shrouded in mystery. It’s perhaps one of the only quests that I’ve ever seen tackle feminine trauma well – it’s beautiful and impressively fearless.

Jade Shadows: Constellations, then, was highly anticipated from the get-go. “It really was our first attempt at a true sequel to a quest,” Community Director Megan Everett tells me. “Obviously, the Warframe storyline is a continuation of where the story gets left off, but we’ve never done a ‘part two, serious, true to story’ sequel.

“Rebb [Warframe’s Creative Director Rebecca Ford] always knew that, when we finished the original Jade Shadows, and there’s obviously that choice at the end, that that [decision] was going to do something later on. We didn’t know what that something was; we didn’t know when that something was going to happen. But [Rebb] always felt, in her heart, that she wanted to do a part two.”

“When we knew we wanted to do Jade Shadows: Constellations, we did take a different approach – you could say they’re both two very different stories and different quests,” Everett muses. “Jade Shadows ‘One’ scratched that emotional itch, whereas Jade Shadows ‘Two’ had a moment of that as well, but it was more of the fighting and the violence that people are used to with Warframe.”

She notes that the team wanted to go the “anime route” with the “two brothers fighting in the sky; eternal conflict and war. We got a lot of love from that quest as well for how crazy we went with Sirius and Orion and how their kit works. Players appreciated that.”

If you haven’t played Sirius and Orion yet, they’re effectively two entities in one Warframe. They have their own unique skills and abilities, effectively giving you a two-for-one deal; it’s certainly ambitious, but ambition is what I’ve come to expect from DE.

“Obviously [the duo, or ‘duoframe’ as I’m coining it] had some hiccups, because our entire game runs on the code philosophy that you are one entity doing a task – you are one Warframe picking up a data mass; you are one Warframe hacking a console,” she says. “Then we were like, ‘what if you were two Warframes?’ Our game was like, ‘What the hell?’ We did that to ourselves, introducing some bugs in that realm.”

“But, from a quest reception standpoint, while we got a lot of feedback like, ‘I wanted more, give me more,’ that’s also a good thing, because it means people liked the story and engaged with it enough that they’re like, ‘I’m hungry! I wanted more than that!’ It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t give them as much as they wanted.”

While Jade Shadows’ sequel was woefully short, and as a Garuda lover I felt like her Protoframe, Vena, didn’t quite get the screentime I’d hoped for, Everett highlights that Constellations dropped just before TennoCon, Digital Extremes’ annual Warframe and Soulframe festival. “We kind of put ourselves in a situation of, weeks before TennoCon, let’s put out a quest and a crazy Warframe – we did that to ourselves!” she laughs.

“But we’ve also committed to saying, as of recently, that we are going to add a bit more lore for Vena and Ryoku [Garuda and Ash’s Protoframes, respectively]; they didn’t really have their time to shine in Constellations. So, we are going to add a little bit more later in the year, and honestly, that’s because that’s what the players wanted. They really resonated with that, and they want that, and we’re willing to make the time to continue that story for them.”

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: while Warframe is undoubtedly a bit of a slow-starter when it comes to the overarching campaign, when Digital Extremes is left to cook, it creates some wild, wonderful things. Warframe does quests in a way that no other multiplayer game does; it explores darker themes with confidence, and it touches on aspects of real life that I can’t ever see Fortnite, League of Legends, or Minecraft doing.

Jade Shadows and Constellations are a testament to that creative thinking, and proof that we need more female leads in videogame development as a whole. With Tau on the horizon and Ford highlighting its overarching themes of “addiction,” I’m intrigued to see how Digital Extremes handles what looks to be one of Warframe’s darkest chapters to date.

Land or Die codes (July 2026)

Barely days after social media became awash with another potential friendslop game all about landing a troubled passenger jet, a shockingly similar concept arrived on Roblox. It’s likely far from the first, honestly, but if it’s your first time piloting a plane, you’re going to want to use these Land of Die codes before it’s too late. And you honestly don’t have much time.

Land or Die is a simple enough concept: the pilot is out of action, and someone needs to bring this levitating metal can down in a way that doesn’t result in some kind of fiery inferno. 

Here are the new Land or Die codes:

CodeRewardTHANKS50M Copy codefree Miles (new!)THEYAREHERE Copy codefree Miles (new!)MAYDAY Copy codefree Miles (new!)AGENTBACON Copy codeAccess Denied message (unknown reward/effect)

Once you’re back on solid ground, let your heart rate come down by taking a moment to follow us on Google. If the time spent trawling that page for new code guides doesn’t calm you down, the sheer volume of new codes to redeem probably will.

How do I redeem Land or Die codes?

You won’t need to worry about flying a plane and redeeming codes if you follow these steps:

• Launch Land or Die on Roblox.
• Click the ‘Shop’ button on the left side of the screen.
• Tap the ‘Codes’ tab along the top.
• Enter a working code.
• Click the big tick button to claim your rewards.

How do I get more Land or Die codes?

Not only are new codes exclusive to the Land or Die Discord, but they’re (at present) locked behind teaser trailers posted within the ‘game-updates’ channel, too.

That means unless you rely on the list above and check back whenever you need a few free miles, your only way of finding new codes is sitting back and enjoying the in-flight entertainment that is an update highlight video on the Land or Die Discord. That, or simply checking in with us instead: we’re always rawdogging longhaul flights to bring the latest codes straight to his page.

If Discord is still the method you’re willing to subscribe to, just look for the iconic logo at the bottom of the game page. Click it, and you’re in. If you don’t see it, chances are your Roblox account isn’t appropriately age-verified for external chat permissions. Fix that, give the page a refresh, and you should be good to go. 

Ready for take-off? With the Land or Die codes above, you should be.

+1 DMG Per Revive codes (July 2026)

If you’re hoping to get a damage buff for reasons other than dramatically biting the dust, these new +1 DMG Per Revive codes are for you. Good for boosts of valuable pray and more, they’re an essential time-saving measure in a game about running out of just that.

Sounding like an existential perk in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, +1 DMG Per Revive sees you get ever so slightly stronger with each death. At least, that’s what we took from the title. Turns out we were exactly right – and now we’re ironically deathly afraid of an executive catching wind of this million-dollar idea and retrofitting it into a microtransaction-laden RPG. A permanent damage buff every time you pay to revive in Diablo Immortal? Why didn’t we think of this before?

Here are the new +1 DMG Per Revive codes you can claim:

CodeRewardsGuildboss Copy codeten Pray (new!)Like50k Copy codeone Upgrade Stone (new!)Update9 Copy code30 Prayguildtest Copy codefive Pray

Done enough praying for one day? If you’re positively overflowing with divine power, relish in your newfound boost of strength as you click here to follow us on Google. Not only will you find code guides for the biggest and best Roblox games around – as well as some absolute stinkers some folk just can’t get enough of – you’ll find the latest industry news and general gameplay guides, too. There’s a lot to love.

How do I redeem +1 Damage Per Revive codes?

You won’t have to hit the dirt even once to redeem new +1 Damage Per Revive codes if you stick to these steps:

• Launch +1 Damage Per Revive on Roblox.
• Click the ‘Shop’ icon along the right side of the screen.
• Scroll to the very bottom of the shop.
• Enter a working code.
• Click the ‘verify’ button.

How do I get more +1 Damage Per Revive codes?

Lucky for you, you’ll find any new codes for this lightly incremental title on the +1 Damage Revive Discord server. You’ll find a link to it at the bottom of the game page. Once you’re in, just look for the ‘codes’ channel to find not only new codes, but their projected expiration dates, too.

Most new codes have a shelf life of around two weeks, which means you can probably forget about the Discord server entirely and just check back here whenever you’re ready to play. Even if you’re only an occasional reviver, unless you often go 14 days between logging in, you’ll find a couple of new codes to claim above long before they expire.

Expired codes

key-evostone-09446254

Ready to die… and revive, of course? With these +1 Damage Per Revive codes, you’re set to make the most out of every attempt to cling to this mortal coil.

Andreas Thorstensson on Goals’ future and the importance of player feedback

Tom is an expert in all things Fortnite or the latest RPG release, but is probably spending too much time on the latest EA FC game.

Published: July 16, 2026

Multiple brand-new soccer games have come and gone in recent years, attempting to bring disenchanted players over from the likes of EA Sports FC, but ultimately failing. “Seeing more than one million installs in the first ten days confirmed there’s a huge appetite for what we’re building,” Goals CEO Andreas Thorstensson told us in an exclusive interview, proving that the game has done better than most of its competitors when it comes to infiltrating the monopolized genre.

Launch was mixed; “Overall, we’re very happy. We unfortunately had some technical issues at launch that resulted in some negative feedback early on, but we’ve worked hard to address them quickly,” Thorstensson says. That was just the start, though, and the team was quick to begin improving the game, reacting to players’ comments, and planning for the future. “Goals is a live game, and we’re continuously improving everything from gameplay and progression to new modes like 5v5.”

However, not every update has been well received. One in early July was implemented to alter defensive play and improve overall gameplay balance, but fans were quick to say that it changed things too much. On social media, replies were filled with people saying Goals ruined the game and that it was too much like the other titles that they were looking for an alternative to.

“Some of the criticism was absolutely fair,” Thorstensson said. “One thing we’ve learned is that it’s not enough to improve the game – we also need to communicate our vision more clearly. Players naturally have different opinions on what soccer should feel like, so listening to feedback is incredibly important. But it’s equally important to filter that feedback through a clear vision.”

This feedback loop hasn’t just been useful for Goals understanding player sentiment, but it has also helped the team understand how best to communicate. Clarity about what it’s trying to build is vital. “If you don’t know what game you’re trying to build, you’ll end up chasing every opinion. Our job is to listen, learn, and improve while staying true to the experience we believe in.”

Thorstensson is firm in his belief that player feedback is “essential” to the evolution of Goals. “Some of our best ideas come directly from the community. At the same time, feedback isn’t about implementing every suggestion – it’s about understanding the underlying problem players are experiencing.” The studio has had to swim through all the noise and contradictory comments to understand how the majority of players are feeling. It can’t keep everyone happy, so it has to understand what players are seeing and use that feedback to improve the implementation of its vision.

That will only improve Goals in future updates. We’ve already spoken to Thorstensson about the team’s vision and plans for an esports ecosystem, but updates to the game will continue to come thick and fast.

“We’ve just started our regular update cadence. Hotfixes are for smaller balance adjustments and urgent fixes, while our monthly updates introduce larger gameplay improvements, new systems, and features,” he says. “Movement, passing, attacking AI, and overall responsiveness remain major areas of focus, and you’ll continue seeing meaningful gameplay improvements every month.” As changes are made, the player feedback and update implementation loop will only improve, hopefully creating a soccer game that stands the test of time and has a real chance against the behemoth competition.

Roblox Plus is taking away unlimited private servers because players gave out “thousands” for free

You’ll no longer be able to benefit from unlimited private servers with Roblox Plus, as the Roblox Corporation stamps down on generous actors exploiting the deal to provide “thousands of free paid private servers” across the community. It describes the change as necessary due to the disruption of game economies, and the loss of potential revenue opportunities for creators through the sale of additional private servers.

When the change comes into action on September 24, Roblox Plus subscribers will be restricted to just one free private server per game. “When we first introduced unlimited private servers, our goal was to give Plus members as much flexibility as possible,” the developer writes. “However, we found that a small number of Plus members were creating thousands of free paid private servers per game with broad access, which unintentionally impacted creator revenue. We didn’t expect this, and we’re fixing it.”

Speaking to Roblox creators, it explains that most Plus members only use a single free private server per game anyway, hence why it set the limit to just one instead of a small count such as five. The studio notes that the option to purchase extras at the creator-set price will continue to exist, “opening up a direct opportunity for you to earn more from players who want additional private spaces.”

If you already have multiple private servers for a game in Roblox, then all but one will stop renewing after September 24, unless you choose to manually renew the extras at the price set by the creator.

You can see which server has been marked to remain by going to your subscriptions menu and finding the one listed as ‘Included with Roblox Plus.’ Creators can, of course, offer private servers for free if they want, and in cases where this applies, you’ll still be able to make as many as you like. Any that charge will be limited to just a single one, however.

I’m consistently impressed by the entrepreneurial nature of the Roblox community, and Plus subscribers realizing they could share their bonus-server benefits with as many people as they wanted did bring a smile to my face. It’s unsurprising that Roblox Corp ended up clamping down on this, however, given that private servers are a consistent source of income for both it and many of its creators.

I am a little surprised team Roblox didn’t allow for at least a small handful per game to dodge potential negative backlash from players who want to have, say, one open server and one private one for their friends, or adults making a separate server for their kids to use. In the meantime, if you have been making use of the feature, you’ll want to check which server is set to stick around after September 24 so you don’t lose the one you care about most.

GTA RP gets a massive upgrade next week, as FiveM Enhanced sets early access launch date

When it comes to Grand Theft Auto 5’s online mode, GTA RP is still the biggest game in town, and it’s about to get a significant overhaul. Modding studio FiveM, which is now Rockstar’s in-house team for all things relating to custom GTA multiplayer games, has confirmed that its support for GTA 5 Enhanced will now launch into early access on July 21. The new edition is much more than basic compatibility however, as the team has been working to “rebuild many core components of the platform” to provide the best experience possible.

FiveM became part of Rockstar Games back in August 2023, making it the official way to get your GTA roleplay on. Since tracking site SteamDB started monitoring its traffic separately, it’s consistently ranked above both the Legacy and Enhanced versions of GTA 5 (its 24-hour peak sits at 170,000, compared to 90,000 for Legacy and 120,000 for Enhanced). You’ve probably already encountered GTA RP in some form, especially if you’re reading this, but just in case, it’s where players join giant MMORPG-style servers that enforce rules designed around letting you play a character in their world.

You can take on a regular job, join the player-run police force to stamp out troublemakers, and potentially act out all manner of improvised storylines. There are a multitude of GTA RP servers to suit your tastes, whether you want a primarily action-focused experience, something more narrative-driven, or simply a sandbox to spend your days in. Naturally, bringing FiveM support across to GTA 5 Enhanced edition with all its graphical bells and whistles has been a much-requested move, and the team behind it has sprinkled plenty more on top.

To start with, FiveM Enhanced will introduce an overhauled “network synchronization engine.” That means more stable performance with less CPU usage “and potentially higher framerates,” and should also lower bandwidth and memory consumption demands for server owners, enabling higher player counts on comparable hardware. You can expect “improved reliability under poor network conditions,” and server owners can increase the tick rate up to 120 for more precise hit detection and consistency, which will be extremely welcome in PvP.

The developer has also ensured backwards compatibility with custom scripts and servers using them, plus enhanced support for C# scripting, and has provided a converter to assist in bringing 3D assets over to the Enhanced version. There’s a revamped VoIP system for voice chat, a new installer that makes managing your client simpler, and fresh developer tools that have been improved from FiveM’s existing legacy set. Simply put, this should let GTA RP servers be bigger, better, and smoother than ever before – and this is just the start, with more to come as early access continues.

FiveM for GTA 5 Enhanced Edition releases into early access on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Because it will use a separate client launcher from GTA 5 legacy, you’ll need to download the new version from the FiveM website, which will be made available on release day.

The developer adds: “As with any early access launch, we expect to continue identifying and resolving issues and look forward to working closely with the community to improve the platform. Thank you for your continued support.”

I’m not bothered about hidden blades, but I do miss Black Flag’s environmental finishers

Paul’s an expert in Videogames, Star Trek, flannel shirts – in that order.

Published: July 16, 2026

The absolute best part about Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is its total disinterest in all things assassin. One of the first things our protagonist, Edward Kenway, does is pick up the iconic wrist-mounted hidden blades and toss them aside – they don’t help with his life of sailing and plundering, so why bother?

Although Edward does eventually find himself with a bladed appendage, it’s more out of necessity than anything else; he has to blag that he’s someone else, and that someone else uses this tool. When it comes down to it, a life on the high seas is more conducive to rapiers and muskets than it is hidden blades. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age, perhaps, but having several pistols strapped to my torso is more effective.

Black Flag Resynced wasn’t just a visual upgrade to the best pirate game of all time; the combat, among other things, received a bit of an overhaul, too. Breaking an enemy’s posture and defense allows for finishers – Edward can only use the weapons he has on him to dole out damage, which is a bit of a shame.

The original game has a system whereby you could disarm an enemy, using their firearm or weapon against them to finish the fight. It felt great, it looked great, and it made the fight feel more of the environment – an improvisational, messy way to get the job done. Much like I’d imagine a pirate would do.

The new combat system is sleek, and it’s more precise, but it feels slightly less ramshackle, and I think it loses something in that. Using whatever is around to my advantage feels very pirate-like. While parrying and wearing down an opponent is ultimately more consistent, there’s an element of predictability that creeps in – a bit of that rogue showboating is lost.

Another thing removed from Black Flag Resynced is the ability for Edward to equip his hidden blades as a primary weapon. This one, for me, wasn’t as noticeable. Kenway is very much pirate first, potential assassin second, so thematically it makes sense that the more traditional suite of weapons would be the preference. 

It’s impressive, taking on a group of enemies whilst seemingly unarmed, but that’s not how it’s done on the high seas. You go big, you go loud, and then you go home – hopefully with a hold full of valuables.

I had a blast with Black Flag Resynced, as you can read in my review, but I do wish it kept those finishers in. I’m glad the hidden blades take a backseat, though. They’re rubbish.

Arc Raiders is down but not out

Paul’s an expert in Videogames, Star Trek, flannel shirts – in that order.

Published: July 15, 2026

Extraction shooters haven’t been around for all that long, really, and more often than not, skew to the hardcore end of the spectrum by their very nature. The idea that a player could lose everything with one wrong move, or one over-extension, makes those victories taste so sweet, but the losses so bitter. It’s a serious genre with relatively limited appeal – until Arc Raiders arrived.

Escape from Tarkov, Hunt Showdown; these games are, and have been, incredibly popular in their niche. Extraction shooters are a siren call for PC gamers who want that sense of risk and a challenge – Arc Raiders, though, managed to take what makes the genre so compelling and propel it into the mainstream, without watering down the concept.

The idea of Arc Raiders, on paper, doesn’t look that much different from many of its extraction brethren: go on 30-minute runs in the wilderness, loot as much as you can, try to exfil in one piece. What it did, though, was inject a layer of accessibility and add a social context into the normal grind.

The threat of harm in Arc Raiders is twofold: there is the Arc itself, roaming robotic enemies that shoot on sight, and there are the other Raiders. The Arc can quickly overwhelm and easily carry enough firepower to take down an inexperienced Raider in no time, while the other players can often be a little more insidious in their operation. Co-operation often ensures safety, but trusting the strangers you meet can be a big ask, especially with your entire inventory on the line.

People love talking in Arc Raiders – I’ve never really seen anything like it. Whether friendly or otherwise, those on excursions Topside are constantly communicating. It’s amazing, really. The standard greeting for those you meet is the “don’t shoot!” selection from the emote wheel, but many have taken to voice comms. “Friendly?” I’m asked often – sure I am.

Streamers flocked to this at launch, farming clips of humorous interactions, feats of stupidity, and even heartbreaking betrayals. A combination of genuine enthusiasm and what turned out to be a surprise package of a game was the thing that caused Arc Raiders to break containment and go fully mainstream.

It also helps that the nuts and bolts of Arc Raiders are unbelievably well put together. Every location you visit while topside feels authentic, lived-in, and subsequently abandoned due to the overwhelming robot presence. The Arc threats themselves, the sometimes walking, often floating AI enemies that want to immolate you on sight, they move convincingly, naturally – as naturally as a heavily-armored drone can.

The authenticity of location and foe gives it a grounded feel, and that’s before the soundscape comes into play. From footsteps on concrete tiles to swishing through a bog, the atmosphere on show here is astounding. Ambience envelops, so when I hear an Arc threat or the sound of one of the many firearms cutting through, it gets my attention. Meaty clunks, deafening explosions – it comes together to form one engrossing whole.

Arc Raiders received some very valid criticism at launch about its use of AI voices, utilizing text-to-speech technology to flesh out every item name and location in-game. Design Director, Virgil Watkins, has since spoken about the AI usage and has gone on record stating that many of the generated lines have been re-recorded using real actors since launch. I hope this continues and puts the devs off from using TTS tools in the future – there’s so much good, human work in Arc Raiders, and even a peripheral use of genAI tools is a huge black mark in my opinion.

With a steady release of updates, maps, and game modes since launch, there’s plenty here for someone arriving fashionably late to Arc Raiders. The issue is: those who have been playing since day one are running out of things to do outside of the regular gameplay loop – significant additions to the game are now only coming twice a year, with the first of these in October. Because of this, Arc Raiders has seen a steady decline in player count, beginning in December of 2025.

From almost half a million daily players last year to around 50 thousand today, there’s no denying that plenty have dropped off after moving on with their favorite streamer or simply ticking off every box Arc Raiders has to offer. This drop has steadied somewhat, but with the next large update not due for another four months, it may get worse before it gets better.

The issue with this for the newer player stems from one of Arc Raiders’ strengths: its matchmaking system. Your actions while on a run are monitored and ranked in terms of aggression – some players are kill-thirsty and non-cooperative, while others enjoy working together with strangers against the Arc threat. Over time, players are placed into matches with those of a similar mindset.

This aggression-based matchmaking ensures that players are theoretically placed in their ideal lobbies. Those who enjoy PvP can go in all guns blazing, and others can make a judgment call depending on the vibe from a particular Raider. With less of a pool to pull from, though, especially if the numbers continue to dwindle, it means that players on opposite sides of the playstyle spectrum will begin to be thrown in the same lobbies. PvP players will likely enjoy this, but those who enjoy a more cooperative experience will suffer.

This is the worst-case scenario, mind, and at the moment, everything is still working as intended. I can load into a match right now, say hi to a passing Raider, and get on with my business, no problem. There’s still a tension when brushing up against humanity Topside as there always is, but that’s part of what makes Arc Raiders so compelling in the first place – I hope it never goes away. A high ceiling for kindness makes those who eschew humanity all the more galling.

The next big update for Arc Raiders isn’t coming for some months. In the meantime, we have trials (missions) and the expeditions (Arc’s version of a wipe), which can probably keep the hardcore ticking over, but those who aren’t quite as committed may simply run out of things to do.

I can’t wait for the Frozen Trials update – a new biome, new Arc threats, a new map. Embark is also working on significantly improving the progression systems, giving players a more meaningful way to grow within the game. No idea what this is, but I hope it’s good enough to make the wait worth it. Such sweeping changes make the next update almost feel like a relaunch, and with it, the hope to reach those dizzying concurrent player counts again.

The question of whether players should still play Arc Raiders today is an easy one for me to answer: yes. New players have a huge amount to explore and experience, and the integrity of morality and the matchmaking system are still finely balanced. The real test for Arc Raiders is the Frozen Trail update – reducing the volume of expansions inherently puts more pressure when one does come along, but I think Embark has what it takes to bring those old Raiders back.

“Safety is never an endpoint.” Roblox’s James Kay on age verification and commitment to player safety

Tom is an expert in all things Fortnite or the latest RPG release, but is probably spending too much time on the latest EA FC game.

Published: July 15, 2026

As a platform with a traditionally younger audience than other videogames, Roblox player safety and security are extremely important. The studio has done a lot of work on improving those aspects of the game in recent years, and we spoke to James Kay, Senior Director of International Communications for Roblox, about what’s been done, the impact of the UK social media ban, and how player safety will continue to be a priority in the future.

“A lot of what we’ve been doing is very, very safety-focused,” Kay told me. “I would sort of chart this back almost to November 2024 when we introduced new parental controls on the platform, and we’ve really kind of been on a roll, adding lots of major enhancements and updates to the way we operate safety.”

Of course, Roblox has to ensure children are safe when they play, but also maintain a platform is still a viable one for players of all ages. “I think if you were to ask the average person on the street, they’ve heard of Roblox. How would they describe it? They would describe it as a kids’ game,” Kay says. “We obviously are not a singular game. We’re a platform for games app like 345win. We have a community worldwide of creators that [create the games], and we’re not exclusively for kids. And actually, I think what we’ve seen in recent years is our age demographic broadening, and an older user base being on the platform. Around a third [of our playerbase] are under 13, just over a third are 13 to 17, and then just under a third are 18 or older.”

With a unique playerbase, age demographic-wise, “your approach to safety has to evolve,” Kay says. “A lot of that thinking has gone into some of the changes we’ve announced recently. There’s also, what is the safety technology capable of? And I think there’s been this running question around age verification: how do you age-verify users at scale accurately?” This has been the big addition to Roblox’s safety systems. The game first introduced facial age estimation for a limited set of features back in July 2025, and Kay says the team always had it in mind to expand it for other features.

“And so you’ve seen us be on that journey over the last year, where then in November last year we introduced those facial age checks as a mandatory requirement in order to access any of our chat features. Once we know your age, we then place you within a certain age bracket, so you can only chat with people within your age bracket or the age bracket kind of adjacent to you, which we think creates not just a safer experience, obviously, for our players, but actually a better experience. You know, kids generally want to be playing and chatting with other kids, and adults generally want to be playing and chatting with other adults. So, actually, putting people by that age group is not just a safety feature. It’s actually creating a better experience for our player base.”

Kay is aware that Roblox can’t simply implement the changes and sit back; it’s got to react to attempts to bypass safety measures, and continue to improve them. “People will always try to circumvent tech for various reasons. I would argue actually, it’s funny because I think it’s often ingrained, especially in teenagers.”

“You get access to more and think it’s better to be older. I actually think in the case of Roblox, you know, if you’re a 12-year-old and somehow you’re on a kind of 18-plus account, it’s actually a way worse experience because you can’t chat with any of your friends now. We’re not just kind of hanging our hat just on the age checks piece. So, in terms of getting the age right, it is accurate within about 1.4 years on average.”

Kay also agrees that there needs to be some input and responsibility from young players’ parents. “So that’s a great question. It’s a question I get asked in the school playground,” he says when I asked what advice he has for parents. “The first thing is definitely create a sort of parent account that you link your kids’ accounts to. Make sure you set the parental controls. You know, obviously we do have defaults in place for different ages, but every child is different. And as a parent, you know your child better than anyone, and those cover a whole range of things like what games they can play, who they can chat to, how much they can spend, all of that. So yeah, definitely engage with those. I think the other big thing is playing with your kid. There’s a lot of great games that I think the parents will actually really enjoy, and that’s something we’re kind of trying to encourage all the time: co-play between parents and kids.”

Of course, how parents manage their kids’ time on Roblox will go hand-in-hand with the impending social media ban for under-16s in the UK. Enjoying Roblox to its max is often aided by social media. Players get codes for in-game freebies from the likes of X, YouTube, and Discord, or use TikTok to find the next big thing. To a degree, discovery and engagement may be harder. Kay doesn’t believe access to codes and the like will change too much, though. “If I’ve learned one thing from my tenure at Roblox, it’s to never underestimate the ingenuity of creators. I don’t know exactly what they’ll do, but I’ve got no doubt they will find a solution. They’re a very, very inspiring bunch. I’m sure they will figure out ways to make sure that they’re serving their community in the way that their playerbase needs,” he said.

“If I’ve learned one thing from my tenure at Roblox, it’s to never underestimate the ingenuity of creators.

James Kay, Senior Director of Communications at Roblox

He also confirmed that Roblox will continue to implement what’s necessary, keeping a close eye on what’s required from the social media ban. He explained: “I think it’s important that there’s the distinction between gaming and social media, because the type of social interaction that can happen on the game [Roblox] is very different from what you see from social media. I mean, look, there’s obviously a lot of details still to come in terms of what the requirements will be, and we’ll wait to see what is published. I think, from our perspective, our philosophy has always been to go above and beyond what the regulation says is necessary. And I think you’ve seen that with the approach we’ve taken to age checks. Yeah, we’ve rolled this out globally. We’ve rolled out everywhere. It’s not necessarily mandated in all these spaces, but we’ve done it because we think it’s the right thing to do from a player safety perspective, and I think the approach that we have taken is certainly very distinct from other large platforms and social media platforms.”

Age checks, verification, and what Roblox has already done to improve safety on the platform doesn’t end here, though. “I think safety is never an endpoint, right?” Kay said. “So there’s constantly going to be things we’re doing to enhance it and improve. I couldn’t speculate on what the next things will be. I think each month we’re announcing something new.”

It’ll be interesting to see how Roblox continues to adapt with the times when it comes to player safety and security. Whatever happens, it’s good to know that it’s at the forefront of the creators’ minds, and that they’re determined to keep improving the platform.

I’m already sold on The Blood of Dawnwalker, but its time-hopping sequel plans will be Rebel Wolves’ make or break moment

Ken coolly serves the hottest news stories and has played, we think, every game ever made.

Published: July 15, 2026

The Blood of Dawnwalker made an unexpected statement at Summer Game Fest by showing what appeared to be a modern-day take on its bloodthirsty protagonist, Coen. A far cry from the medieval setting of the upcoming RPG, it was instead a glimpse of plans to come. In the studio’s newest teaser, Rebel Wolves Narrative Director Jakub Szamałek describes The Blood of Dawnwalker as “the first installment in what we hope will become an epic series,” one “where you will see the world change” across dramatic time jumps. As its initial act nears, that bold ambition is at once exciting and terrifying.

I don’t need any more convincing to play The Blood of Dawnwalker; I was already all but sold from the initial pitch, and getting several hours of hands-on time only further cemented the vampire game’s spot atop my wishlist. One of its great strengths is in that 14th-century setting of Vale Sangora, which is itself a nebulous approximation of Slavic and Balkan influences placed loosely among the Carpathian Mountains. During my time at the preview, Game Director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz and Environment Artist Adam Payet explained the foundations of that location to me, along with hinting towards its future.

Payet tells me the team wanted to pull from a range of countries to “mix it up a little bit,” resulting in something that felt familiar but original. “It has a very strong sense of place that you look at and you immediately know where you are geographically,” he remarks, “but it’s not exactly specific to ‘Oh I know that this is this particular village.'” I was immediately taken by Vale Sangora, and the tantalizingly short amount of time I got to spend there has left me craving the freedom to explore it in full.

For the future, however, the plan is to leave the familiar behind. Instead of simply continuing Coen’s story into the next year, or the next decade, Rebel Wolves says his tale will be one “spanning centuries and carrying him into various corners of the world, far beyond Vale Sangora.” Szamałek elaborates in a new developer diary: “With each game in the series we want to push the time forward, take you to different places, and explore different timelines. We want you to see Coen changing as he gains experience, as he ages, as he learns more about the hidden truths of the world.”

When I asked Tomaskiewicz about the post-launch plans for The Blood of Dawnwalker, he told me the current focus was on polishing the current game and fixing any lingering bugs (the team confirmed just today that it had ‘gone gold,’ meaning the launch build is ready for manufacturing and distribution). Beyond that, the specifics of what comes next are up in the air. “When we decide, we will talk openly about what we will do,” he teases, “but for sure we have the sequels in our minds, we know what it will be about. We have this whole story arc for the saga – we’ve now shown the conclusion in the present times at Summer Game Fest.”

There’s an obvious parallel here – the early years of Assassin’s Creed. Back in those initial years, our time with Altaïr, Ezio, and Connor was all part of an overarching promise: the gradual progression of their shared modern-day ancestor, Desmond Miles. Like many fans, I always held out hope that the time-hopping series would end up in the modern day, where Desmond would bring the skills he had inherited into an unfamiliar setting. What we got was a far cry from that, and Ubisoft is now going as far as to strip its modern-day interludes out of recent remake, Black Flag Resynced.

The vampire mythos is a perfect fit for the era and setting that The Blood of Dawnwalker begins in, and I don’t think anyone would blame Rebel Wolves for sticking to that period for its successors. The approach it’s taking instead is a risky one, full of potential pitfalls in everything from game design to audience response. How do you bring its slick melee combat into a more modern setting, such as one where guns exist? Does it have to change gameplay style at a fundamental level as a result? Even if you pull that shift off, will players that enjoyed the original want to come on that journey with you?

That’s why, as someone so smitten with what we’ve seen of The Blood of Dawnwalker so far, I find myself at once intrigued and worried about what the future might hold. Despite this, I always maintain that the best games are those that developers actually want to make. If leaping boldly forward in the timeline is what Rebel Wolves has its heart set on, I’m willing to trust in the process and find out what awaits us.

Bungie pulls “unfinished” Marathon gun skins, but promises you’ll get them back next week

Marathon has certainly had its ups and downs, but one thing it’ll always have going for it is just how striking it is to look at. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the game’s visuals are immune to issues, and developer Bungie has just announced that it’s pulling four weapon skins from action until next week due to “unfinished art” that could result in them appearing “mostly invisible.”

The affected bundle is the Arcana Crusade pack, which boasts some rather gorgeous black-and-white themed designs that simply weren’t displaying correctly. The most notable example of this can be found on the Bully SMG, which has just been appearing as a bright block of color that rotates through the spectrum. Players on the Marathon Reddit page quickly dubbed this look the ‘RGBully’ as a result, and are already asking whether Bungie can make the glitch available as a separate, novelty skin.

The developer confirms that the affected weapon skins will be unavailable for use until a fix arrives, and that this is expected to happen as part of next week’s mid-season update. It reassures anyone who bought them that “ownership is preserved,” so you’ll be able to equip them again once the patch rolls out. It even jokes, “The RGBully will always remember this time with you fondly.”

As for the rest of the Marathon mid-season update, which is scheduled for Tuesday July 21, Bungie promises that it’ll have a blog later this week, acknowledging “we know we’ve been a little quiet out here.” It’s been a difficult period for the developer amid layoffs, and Marathon’s player counts certainly don’t look promising when placed next to the continued support for Destiny 2 in the wake of its final update, but the team is aiming “to get the ball rolling again.”

While the full patch notes will be saved for launch day, Bungie says the blog will give us more details on its new Vault Breaker mode, which will give you a way to dip into its endgame Cryo Archive in a repeatable format that limits you from bringing its loot out into the main economy. There will also be “balance changes, a few much-needed weapon adjustments, and details on a buff to Cradle progression.”

The studio adds that “our ear is to the ground,” asking players for their current thoughts on the state of Marathon. Responding to one request for more storytelling and worldbuilding, it adds that the team continues “working hard to make a story that can be injected into as much of Marathon as possible.”

GTA Online’s grindy new update sends exactly the wrong message ahead of GTA 6

If Rockstar was hoping that its latest GTA Online update would be a way to drum up fresh excitement on the road to GTA 6, it’s been sorely mistaken. The arrival of the new Kortz Center Heist sounds great on paper, and it could even act as a testbed for what’s to come in the future. However, its payouts, while initially respectable, are severely nerfed for a repeat attempt, within the same week, and the patch has also obliterated the value of heist rewards across several of the multiplayer game’s most lucrative missions. The result of that is players questioning who’s actually pulling off the master plan here – us, or Rockstar?

Before you can even start the Kortz Center Heist in Grand Theft Auto 5’s multiplayer mode, you’ll need to spend a cool $4.7 million in GTA dollars to set up an Art Studio in your mansion. That’s presuming you already own a mansion, otherwise you’ll be looking at another $11.5 million minimum on top of that before you can tackle this new mission. Fortunately, Rockstar notes that “the treasures contained inside the museum’s hallowed halls make it one of the most lucrative undertakings throughout Southern San Andreas.”

Is that actually true, however? A first completion certainly is, with players reporting a pretty respectable $2 million payout for a successful art theft. Unfortunately, this is largely thanks to a big bonus awarded for your first completion of the week. Repeated attempts will only bring in $400,000 (for a $100,000 setup fee). Rockstar justifies this as your stolen goods “saturating the market and leading to buyer fatigue along with decreased payouts.” At least you can choose to keep the artworks for your own displays instead if you want.

Alongside this, Rockstar has also seriously nerfed the potential payouts of many of the most profitable heists in GTA Online. The chart above compares some of the expected rewards based on the loot type you find in the Cayo Perico, Diamond Casino, and Doomsday Heists. Even that doesn’t tell the whole story however. Looking at the weighting values in the game files, it appears that less valuable prizes are now more commonly encountered, while the best-paying options are even less likely to show up.

For example, in the Cayo Perico Heist, those valuable Pink Diamonds previously had a 10% chance to show up. It’s now down to just 2%. Bearer Bonds drop from 15% to 8%, and the Pearl Necklaces from 15% to 10%. The least worthwhile loot, Tequila, will now be your primary haul in 80% of attempts (up from 60% previously), and it’s also had its value cut down pretty significantly from $630,000 down to just $400,000. Ouch.

It all feels rather cruel and unusual. Many of these heists have been in the game for so long now that suddenly and unexpectedly nerfing them is mostly going to hit any returning players who are coming back to check out the new mission. Should you be met with a funding shortage for your Art Studio, you’ll now have a much tougher time making up the difference – unless you buy a real-money Shark Card. GTA Online YouTuber ‘Tylarius’ sums it up with a pretty simple question: “Rockstar, what are you doing? I don’t understand this. Why are you being so mean?”

User comments on both the Kortz Center YouTube trailer and Rockstar’s announcement post via X are almost universally talking about this extra grind, and any discussion of whether the new heist is a winner has been lost to the ether. “The heist is so good that they had to cut the payout from everything else just to make sure people will play it,” one writes, “maybe it’s time to move on.” Another remarks, “What a way to kill heists, the bread and butter of the game.”

I’ve got a crew that meets once every few months for a GTA Online catchup, and we were loosely trying to figure out when we could all get on to try out the Kortz Center Heist. Now the conversation has become whether we can scrounge the cash together to even afford it – and if the answer is no, I’m seriously questioning whether we’ll bother at all. If this is a sign of what we can expect from the GTA 6 multiplayer component, it’s rather concerning. If, instead, it’s an incentive for people to think about moving on, I suppose it’s doing its job.

Riftbound Vendetta card reveal – Helm of Suppression stops ramps dead, and ruins late-game spellcasting

Sometimes, you look at a new Riftbound card and go ‘huh, that looks decent.’ You take a few days off, come back, take a look at it again, and go ‘oh, that’s kind of busted.’ That’s exactly what’s happened with Helm of Suppression, a new Epic Gear card that’ll drop as part of upcoming set, Vendetta. This Calm (green) card is anything but calm as, when Empowered, it becomes a mid-to-late game monster.

Let’s quickly talk about the Empowered mechanic, as it’s central to how Helm of Suppression works. It’s relatively simple: when you play your card, it has a base ability. If you pay its Empowered cost, that ability evolves and gets better, opening up new possibilities for play. You can Empower a card at any time – you don’t need to pay the cost immediately – and the Empower appears to last for the duration of the game; no need to keep paying the cost over and over again.

Helm of Suppression makes use of said Empower mechanic. At base, it’s a four-cost with an additional Calm rune, which you’ll have to recycle. When played, enemy spells now cost one extra Energy to cast, so a two-Energy spell like Block now costs three, as an example. When Empowered, however, enemy spells will cost one extra Energy and a recycled Rune of any color to play. So, using the Block example, it’ll go from a simple two-cost to a three-cost, and you’ll have to recycle one of your Runes.

Empowering Helm of Suppression costs another four Energy and a recycled Calm rune, which is pretty hefty. To get this thing live on-entry, you’d be spending eight Energy total with two Calm Runes being recycled. But, as aforementioned, you can Empower it at any time, so I’d advise dropping it in the mid-game to slow down more aggressive or ramping decks, then Empowering it when you can to get a stranglehold over spell-heavy, late-game monsters.

Helm of Suppression is a strong card; no doubts there. While the cost is high, it massively slows down aggro decks (take the Jinx precon as an example), and messes with the tempo of spell-focused decks. Mind-heavy decks will obviously struggle here, but Chaos and even other Calm decks will also take a bit of a hit.

Having done a quick scout of existing Riftbound Gear cards (with some help from my wonderful partner), there doesn’t seem to be any other Gear cards that use the ‘enemy pays [x] cost to play’ mechanic. We’ve seen similar in Magic: The Gathering (Rhystic Study is a good example), but Helm of Suppression seems to be the first of its kind in Riftbound. It’s not exactly revolutionary, but by God, it’ll do.

League of Legends Riftbound Set 4, Vendetta, launches on Friday, July 31 worldwide. It’s currently out of stock on Riot’s website, but check your local game store and anywhere else that you buy cards. Just avoid scalpers; no one likes scalpers.

Vendetta sees the debut of the new Showdown decks, which are akin to Magic’s Starter Kits. Featuring dueling ninjas Shen and Zed, it’s priced at $34.99. There are no extra precons as a result, but you’ll still be able to buy the usual booster boxes and a new Vault featuring everybody’s favorite assassin, Akali.

VPNs are under fire, as new UK government survey says 22% of kids are using them

As mandatory age checks roll out worldwide, a survey by the UK government shows that 26% of children have used a VPN in their lifetime, with 22% picking one up in the past three months. 22% of that 26% have been helped by a parent, with 43% of children reporting that their guardians pay for the service.

The primary reason for VPN use is, of course, concerns over privacy. Some have also been trying to watch videos from other countries (region-locked Netflix shows, for example), while others have been attempting to access adult content.

“Location-changing tools are most often used to reach gaming and adult content,” the survey reads. Said content makes up 35% of viewership, followed by livestreaming at 34% and messaging apps at 33%.

Additionally, children are consistently seeking out platforms that don’t have mandatory age checks, with the survey noting that “the most common types” of sites with no age verification requirement are “online games and gaming communities,” with 53% of platforms not needing any checks.

The government concludes by saying that “over half (53%) of children have experienced certain harmful online exposures in the last three months,” with sexually explicit content taking the lead, followed by speaking to adults and violent content. The latter two have been primarily associated with videogames, as online multiplayer titles like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Call of Duty all allow you to interact with other players while also depicting combat. Of course, Minecraft’s violence is a far cry from Call of Duty’s.

The government has concerns about VPN usage; that much is obvious. The result, however, is twofold. Banning VPNs entirely feels like an impossible task and bluntly, one that would likely be met with severe backlash. Instead, I suspect that we’ll see mandatory age checks put in place as part of the purchasing process, as well as tighter restrictions on free VPNs. While this doesn’t really fix the issue of adults buying VPNs for their kids, it will mean that those using free services have to ask their parents in the first place, some of which will likely say no.

Right at the very top, the government says that it will use the survey’s results “to inform future policy development in this area.” Whether it goes the aforementioned ban route, or another one entirely remains to be seen. Either way; VPNs are under the microscope in the UK.

GERONIMO Free Download – WorldofPCGames

DOWNLOAD GAME

GERONIMO Direct Download:

Inspired by games such as: Ready or Not, Ground Branch, CoD: Modern Warfare and Insurgency: Sandstorm. GERONIMO is a highly realistic, tactical and immersive CQB shooter that has been built from the ground up for Virtual Reality. Play Solo, or with your friends and carry out your operations through our missions, some even inspired by real world raids. Palworld

COOPERATE
Whether deploying solo or with a full 6-player squad, Geronimo brings unforgiving tactical shooter gameplay into VR, where careful movement, clear communication, and calculated teamwork are essential. Train with your team in dedicated practice environments, including shooting ranges with dynamic targets and customizable killhouses built for refining your tactics before the real mission begins.

IN-DEPTH CUSTOMIZATION
In GERONIMO, your equipment is built around how you want to operate. Shape your operator’s look, choose your clothing and armor, then fine-tune your weapons and rig with a high level of control. Position pouches where they make sense, configure your vest for the role you’re playing, and set up each weapon platform with the attachments and layout that fit your style. Every choice has a practical impact once you’re in VR. A heavier setup can slow you down and make long engagements more demanding. Poor optic placement can make target acquisition harder. A full-length rifle may give you reach in open spaces, but become awkward when clearing tight rooms. Your loadout is not just cosmetic — it defines how you move, fight, and survive.

DETAILED GUN MECHANICS
Every weapon is built with a focus on physical interaction, mechanical detail, and believable handling in VR. Firearms are not treated as simple props — they are systems you manipulate by hand, with actions such as manual bolt locking, magazine changes, charging, and slide operation designed to feel deliberate and responsive. A high level of animation and interaction work supports each weapon platform, from carefully authored hand poses to moving parts that behave as expected during operation. Slides cycle with accurate barrel movement, controls are placed and handled with intention, and small details are modeled so that using a weapon feels tactile rather than abstract. The result is a gunplay system where precision, familiarity, and muscle memory matter.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel i5-6400K 2.7GHz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1070
Storage: 25 GB available space
VR Support: OpenXR on SteamVR with Index, WMR HP Reverb G2, and Meta Quest 2/3; or OpenXR on Meta with Meta Quest 2/3. Standing only
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

DOWNLOAD GAME

The making of Diablo 4’s iconic soundtrack

Ken coolly serves the hottest news stories and has played, we think, every game ever made.

Published: July 10, 2026

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred marks a key turning point in Blizzard’s latest tale, acting as the culmination to its first major narrative arc. Where its grimdark tale will wind next remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: it’ll sound phenomenal. Starting from more ambient origins, D4’s soundtrack has grown more defined over the years in tandem with its storytelling. I recently sat down with Diablo 4 Lead Composer Ted Reedy and World of Warcraft Lead Composer Leo Kaliski (who previously worked with Reedy on D4’s base game) to discuss how they found and evolved the RPG’s musical identity, and the underpinning technology that helps keep your adventures feeling fresh after hours of grinding.

Reedy has now been with Blizzard for five years, during which time he’s been at the forefront of bringing Diablo 4 to life through its audio. “The first Diablo had a very simple premise,” he recalls, “but the way the score was crafted, and almost part of the sound design soundscape, it was entirely atmospheric and just drew you in. There wasn’t much story, but that was enough to keep you going.” Each subsequent iteration has seen Diablo grow larger and more complex, with bigger stories to tell and more characters to meet. That means evolving the music alongside it, but also remaining faithful to its core.

“Just going back to Diablo 1, and the town track there – Tristram is probably the most well-known track in the Diablo franchise, for any game music fan, it’s such an iconic piece,” Reedy says; I’ve certainly got no argument. “There’s kind of two little ideas, and it’s all based on five notes.” He hums the unmistakable melody. “Then there’s also the descending cadence, which starts it all over again. If you use those two things, instantly it feels ‘Diablo,’ but you don’t want to overuse it either.”

You’ll still hear those core melodies returning in Diablo 4. “Those little motifs sort of weave their way through the score,” Reedy continues, “so we try to keep that as a central touchstone while also developing the new themes for whatever region we’re going to.” For Lord of Hatred’s journey to Skovos, Reedy began with the very first track you’ll hear – Firstborn.

“It defines the region of Skovos based on the history there and the Pools of Creation and the Firstborn,” he recalls, “and as it turned out that was five notes as well. So this five-note idea can appear in multiple ways, but it’s also a way to tie new themes back to the original Tristram theme, to kind of have that throughline from 30 years ago.”

When Diablo 4 first launched, it was much more focused on the open-world elements, with each act taking you to a different region of Sanctuary and a lot of the action kept to the overworld. “We knew where [base] Diablo 4 was going to end, but we didn’t know where it was going after that, and so a lot of Diablo 4 musically felt sort of like a question as you’re exploring and getting deeper into the world and story.”

Reedy recalls that the score of the base game “was generally well received,” but that he “would see comments from people that didn’t notice it, or said it, for whatever reason, didn’t come to the forefront of their experience. I feel like a lot of that had to do with us making the base game more open-ended and ambient. What that told me is that there was a certain group of people that wanted more storytelling, wanted more action, in some places of the score, so I feel like I always wanted to do a little bit more of that, but when it made sense.”

The opportunity to bring that growth in came with the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, and Blizzard’s winding path towards the rise of Mephisto as its focal antagonist. “In expansion one, it’s more clear that Mephisto is the villain who we’re trying to stop,” Reedy remarks. Watch the very last scene of Diablo 4’s initial story, where Neyrelle departs on the boat, and you’ll catch a rapid, repeating three-note motif that comes in right as things fade to black. Reedy says this would become the foundation for that growing sense of peril.

“It was executed in very fast strings, but then it was slowed down in Vessel of Hatred as a sort of underlying motif of, ‘Mephisto’s out there,’ like this sort of feeling of dread. But then with Lord of Hatred it became very clear that this was the path to the final battle, the stakes were even higher, and we were going to meet him and stop him at the very end – it made a lot of the score feel like it wanted to just be driving toward that conclusion, and that’s sort of where Lord of Hatred ended up.”

It’s not all dark despair and hopelessness, however. “Skovos is supposed to be one of the most prosperous areas in Sanctuary,” Reedy notes. “For a change, it’s not all dreary and dreadful and death and demise – they’ve had success and it’s beautiful there, and now that beauty is facing a threat and facing corruption. How do you define that world to be that, but also feel like it’s being threatened?”

One of the most unique challenges faced by game composers, especially in a game like Diablo that is designed to support a long endgame grind, is balancing the desire for a strong score to deliver the full emotional weight of the main narrative with music that won’t tire your player out after dozens of hours of running Nightmare Dungeons and The Pit. During my discussion with Kaliski about the evolution of World of Warcraft’s soundtrack, he described how Blizzard creates a wide variety of alternative variations that can keep a zone feeling fresh each time you return. Diablo 4 is one step ahead of that.

“Leo and I really wanted to address this in the base game of Diablo 4,” Reedy tells me, “so with all the music that we did, we basically put all the stems of every single track into the in-game engine. All the different pieces that comprise the total – the strings, the brass, the woodwinds, the guitars – every single instrument is on its own in the engine.” Then, the game is able to randomize which layers are active on each loop to create a constantly shifting soundscape, enabling variety in a new way that WoW’s older tech simply can’t support.

This was particularly important early on, where players were expected to spend so much of their time in the open areas. “We did a little bit less of that in the expansion,” Reedy recalls. “In Vessel of Hatred we deployed the same approach, but with Lord of Hatred we kind of just focused on making longer, more driving, high-stakes pieces to support the story.” Ultimately, he says that his team’s focus “first and foremost is just the immersion of the storytelling for people that want to be fully engaged in the story and the world.”

As for the blasters pushing up the Paragon ranks? Reedy understands if you eventually switch over to your own tunes. “I feel like the people that grind have played the game for 500 hours, or are not fully invested in being fully immersed in the world, and they may be doing other things at the same time. It kind of makes sense if they want to do their own thing at that point. It’s a constant thing that we’re aware of, but I think at the end of the day the best we can do is make that initial narrative experience the best it can be.”

inside Dead by Daylight’s incredible decade of scares

Lauren spends most of her time dead in League of Legends, or equally as dead in Valorant. Don’t ask her about Vampire: The Masquerade.

Published: July 10, 2026

“Ten years ago today, where was Dead by Daylight?” I ask Creative Director, Dave Richard. He smiles. “We were going around crazy, trying to get all of the features we wanted in as a last little crunch before the big release. We were finalizing achievements, still polishing some lore text, wondering if we should weaponize the Survivors with kicks when they were on the hook, or using flash grenades to save people, which we decided we wouldn’t be doing. We were straight out of beta; it was very, very early. It was the first time that players played the game, and we saw that ‘oh! We think it’s going to work, people are interested.'”

Fast-forward to June 14: Richard is standing in front of a room full of Dead by Daylight fans, revealing all of the game’s tenth anniversary content. There’s The Life Road, DBD’s new, Native American-inspired chapter, and confirmation that Terrifier’s Art the Clown will join the Killer roster. There are Diablo 4, The Walking Dead, and Scooby Doo collaborations, and, perhaps the biggest reveal, a colossal, game-changing foundational update that enhances character models and map audio/visuals, paving the way for another ten years of DBD. Things, then, have certainly changed.

Dead by Daylight is, in many ways, reminiscent of Digital Extremes’ Warframe. It also launched to largely mixed reviews, but has seen an impressive, resilient growth curve. “I remember Gamespot, for example, gave us a six, and we were like, ‘aww,'” Richard recalls. “But it was kind of to be expected; [DBD] was very indie, very strange; and kind of an unbalanced, crazy scenario. Then, a few years later, they gave us a nine out of ten, yay! They updated it because they were like, ‘hey, now this makes sense.'”

The game’s trajectory has generally been an upwards one; there are the usual peaks and troughs as content ebbs and flows, but generally Dead by Daylight’s growth is a developer’s dream come true. A steady trend upwards, consistent new concurrent player peaks – what Behaviour has achieved is nothing short of a miracle in the modern live-service climate. In 2026, DBD sees between 70k and 105k players log in every single day – and that’s just on PC.

How did we get here? How did a seemingly ‘niche” horror game experience become one of the biggest online multiplayer games? That’s what I’m here to explore, while asking one overarching question: why should I play DBD in 2026?

Dead by Daylight is an extremely universal fantasy.

José Ramos, DBD Executive Producer

Back in 2016, there was nothing quite like DBD on the market. Asymmetric games are a nightmare when it comes to balance – something both Richard and Executive Producer José Ramos have grappled with over the years – and the horror genre, while colossal, is very much suited to a specific type of player. In some ways DBD is a horror fan’s playable paradise, but to those outside the genre, it lacks the visual spectacle and high-octane action of shooters like Counter-Strike or Valorant, or MOBAs like League of Legends and Dota.

I ask the duo about whether or not, when the game launched, Behaviour had sought to embrace that niche, versus aiming to please the wider multiplayer market. “The strategy is to build a fun experience that we’re passionate about, but one that also isn’t in the Red Sea – the place where all of the other games are being built,” Richard says. When it comes to the horror space as a whole, while it’s still considered by some to be a “niche,” Richard stresses that the genre “is massively consumed – and even more today. People love the social experience of being scared together, and that’s something that we discovered very early while designing this game. Being scared together then talking about your experience is the true potential of a game like Dead by Daylight. It’s just like a movie where you’re being scared together.”

While Ramos wasn’t there for those early days – he joined Behavior in 2022 – he says that “Dead by Daylight is an extremely universal fantasy. There are not many games that you can fully understand in just a few words. DBD is one of [those games].”

Beyond just the gameplay, however, both DBD’s Killer and Survivor rosters feature some of the biggest names in the history of horror media. Michael Myres, Freddy Krueger, and now Jason Voorhees are all playable as Killers, while Survivors include Resident Evil’s Leon Kennedy, Alien’s Ellen Ripley, and, erm, Nicolas Cage? I did say ‘biggest names.’

Licensed Killers and borrowing from other IPs have become a central part of Dead by Daylight; as a Castlevania fan I can tear Survivors asunder as Dracula (or The Dark Lord, as he’s known in-universe), or I can channel my inner Matt Mercer and cause chaos at Dungeons and Dragons villain, Vecna. “It’s part of our DNA to create pitches, sign licenses, and transform them into games,” Richard says. The game’s first licensed chapter was, aptly, Halloween, adding Michael Myres and Laurie Strode, and he recalls that it was “very difficult to get as [we were] unproven.” Halloween, then, was a “first badge of validation from the horror industry, saying ‘this is a legit universe that you’re building.'”

I’ve spoken at length, however, about my general disinterest in crossover content – Fortnite, Overwatch, and myriad other live service titles have lost their identities over the years, trading out solid ideas for ill-fitting collaborations and a quick injection of cash. More generally with Dead by Daylight, I’ve always felt myself more drawn to its original characters – the woeful Artist, flamboyant Trickster, and even the ever-blinking, jump-scaring Nurse.

These characters themselves have become iconic; they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the greatest faces in horror history, and they don’t slouch by comparison. Dead by Daylight released with just three Killers: The Trapper, The Wraith, and The Hillbilly; now it’s an expansive universe that includes comics, spinoff games, and, as revealed during the tenth anniversary showcase, a movie.

“What we wanted to prove with those three original characters was that Dead by Daylight was more than just slasher: it’s about the whole horror subgenre, and that everything has its place,” Richard says. “We started with The Trapper, and yes, he’s the slasher archetype: grounded, using tools to maim, torture, and kill. The second was the hillbilly genre, and the chainsaws as power was really interesting and visceral for us to put in. Then The Wraith, a personal favorite of mine, was all about the supernatural aspect and the folkloric monsters. They prove that many genres can exist within Dead by Daylight.

“It’s amazing to see that our original characters can stand side-by-side with these legends and are becoming legends of their own,” Richard beams. “We’re at ten years, that’s amazing, but we’re barely getting started. We have way more in the tank.”

We have seen character launches slow down over the past couple of years, however. It’s no secret that Dead by Daylight has had a rough patch, with its core systems seemingly giving way underneath the weight of its content. The result was a much-needed refocus; new additions and chapters were placed to the side as the team worked to restabilize the core DBD experience. The self-dubbed quality of life initiative has largely been a success; while there were some rather ugly holes in the All-Kill Comeback Trickster’s Delusion map, Behaviour has been quick to implement fixes. Ramos tells me the team is fixing more bugs at a faster rate, but admits that things are “not where [Behaviour] wants them to be.”

“The TLDR version is: happy with the progress, not where we want to be. I think that’s a very, very short version of it. Part of it is some elements which are extremely boring – production pipelines and things like that where we want to be a bit more disciplined in terms of how ready we are in advance of the release, things like that. We are bringing a bit of ‘discipline.’ It’s also about making sure we have enough people in the right place to bring enough quality-of-life effort.

“We opened the BetaHub for more public-facing ability to report bugs, and honestly that’s been super helpful,” he continues. “We haven’t shared data about this yet, but the amount of bugs that we have solved essentially in those past six months or so is so much superior to what it was previously, but also the amount of bugs that we are bringing with each new release is reducing quite strongly.

“Are we where we want to be? No. I think that is true for many games, but that’s no excuse,” he says. “It’s still something that’s very, very high on our priority list. I think it would be ill-advised almost to hope or aim at perfection – that’s a lost fight at every level. But there are bugs that we know have been frustrating to players for a long time – some even bring accessibility issues. We’re not underestimating the frustration. We are lucky enough to have a great amount of players with a number of hours in this game, and the more time you spend in the game, the more you’re going to feel those little things that can be frustrating. I feel like, with the Killer bugs, which were one of the biggest elements of frustration, we are making good progress. But we see the list; we see the backlog. We still have a way to go, so it’s not going to stop being a focus for us.”

The future, however, looks bright for Dead by Daylight. There’s the aforementioned ground-up overhaul, that reinvigorates the game’s gory visuals, and truly brings its Survivors to life. Behavior is opening up creative modding, and slowly but surely adding voiceover for its older character roster. Richard jokes about “guns, boats, and flying sharks,” and a part of me doesn’t think he’s actually kidding. Post-tenth anniversary reveals, its player count has hit a new peak. Not bad for a ten-year-old game.

There are currently “over 400 people working on DBD,” Ramos tells me. “Our past two years have been our most successful years ever, back-to-back. Getting to ten years in such a healthy state is a privilege. There are very, very few games in the market that have had this chance. Being able to not only do that, but feel like we’re just getting started, is – what more can you ask for? It’s the perfect situation.”

We offer the ultimate horror experience.

Dave Richard, DBD Creative Director

“At the start of this interview I asked what you were doing ten years ago today, before Dead by Daylight launched,” I respond. “Ten years later: why should people play Dead by Daylight in 2026?” Richard doesn’t miss a beat. “Because of the guns and the boats – I thought I was clear!” We devolve into laughter.

“There’s something I’d like to mention, which sometimes feels counterintuitive because, as soon as you are a PvP game, the topics of competitiveness and toxicity all exist,” Ramos says. “But I will actually argue that the wholesomeness and positivity that exists within this community is incredible. I know it might not sound like the first thing you should think of, but there’s such an incredible element of participation – fan art, cosplay, tournaments. I don’t know so many games that have achieved that. I don’t want to make comparisons, but I’ve worked on different titles before, and when I joined DBD and saw the percentage of people playing with friends, I was amazed. It’s such an incredible social experience, and I think that’s what makes it quite special.”

“Genuinely the game today is more interesting than it was,” Richard continues. “It’s much deeper, its community is super interesting, there is so much to discover, and what is about to happen to the game will refresh it for new players to be able to experience a modern version of Dead by Daylight. I believe that all of the choices we are making right now – for that visual update, for the future of Dead by Daylight – the immersiveness, the horror, is closer to our pre-release in 2016 vision and dream than everything in-between.

“I do believe we offer the ultimate horror experience, and that’s why players should play.”

War Thunder to put 128-player boots-on-the-ground battles in action in Infantry’s “largest map” yet

War Thunder continues to prove an immensely popular MMO over a decade after its initial launch, with SteamCharts showing more players today than on its 2013 release date. Now, Gaijin Entertainment is working towards the game’s next phase, bringing in fully controllable characters in its Infantry update, with up to 128 players in 64v64 battles.

Before that, though, the third phase of its closed beta test will take place in July. While no dates have been revealed right now, applications are open for your preferred platform. The testing phase is slated to drop light car troop vehicles alongside the previously seen boots-on-the-ground combat. These vehicles allow for up to five players to be transported at once, with functionality to change from passenger to driver as needed.

The Infantry update will mark a new turn for the military-based MMO game, adding controllable FPS characters outside of vehicles for the first time. Previously, characters have been controlled through over 2,500 vehicles across armored vehicles, aviation, and naval vessels, with over 140 battle maps from throughout history.

Kivu – a new map set in Central Africa that features five capture points by way of its own mission mode – makes its way into the rotation with the closed beta, too. Gaijin stated that they have “put significant effort into server optimizations, so we plan to once again launch a 64-vs-64 player format (128 players per session) to ensure everything is running smoothly.” It’s also said to be the “largest map that has featured in an Infantry CBT to date, being roughly four times the size of the previous locations.”

The third testing stage also promises larger battlefields to feature updated resawn rules alongside “significant changes” to the four soldier classes, including weapon presets changing. Additionally, “specialized equipment such as RPGs, MANPADS, and drones [are] no longer available to every soldier.”

A new set of vehicles and equipment is available across both the Soviet and US, including the M4A1, Kord 6P67, XM5, PP-19, as well as the LAV-AD and T-90M.

Arcade Battles are also set to make their return, with changes to marker display logic to represent a player’s line of sight more intuitively, as well as adjusting how quickly soldiers carrying a lot of equipment move. Players can also look forward to independent graphic settings for the infantry following feedback, and even an alternative weapon grip option has been added.

The full details of what’s making an appearance in the test can be found on the game’s latest development post, but I think it’s safe to say regular players can expect an influx of fans from other franchises checking in to see what Gaijin has got up their sleeve.

July 2026’s big releases let you return to some of the best games of the last 20 years

Published: July 13, 2026

The summer is often a quiet time for new releases. With GTA 6’s price being confirmed and pre-orders beginning, it seems like the release date for Rockstar’s huge game is locked in. Therefore, other publishers are racing to get their game in players’ hands before then, with this September shaping up to be one of the busiest of all time. This July, however, the sun is far from setting on new releases – from remakes giving beloved classics like Assassin’s Creed and Halo a new lease of life, to the highly anticipated 1.0 release of Palworld and the brand new Moss: The Forgotten Relic.

Arguably, the biggest of the lot is Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. First released in October 2013, Black Flag has become a fan favorite and is considered by many to be the best Assassin’s Creed game of all time. This remake has been rebuilt from the ground up in the Anvil engine that was used for the gorgeous Assassin’s Creed Shadows. As a result, what was already a vibrant game has become more colorful and beautiful than ever. The shimmering blue seas, the sandy beaches, and dense island forests all pop like never before, making the adventure feel like a jaunt around paradise. That is, until you get into brutal ship combat, anyway.

Maybe the most exciting aspect of Black Flag Resynced is how much new content has been added. Ubisoft boasts that it’s added more than six hours of new stuff to play, from Blackbeard quests to the recruitment of three new ship captains. By removing the always distracting real-world segments, Black Flag Resynced is able to focus on Kenway’s pirate story.

We got our hands on the game a few months before launch. In his preview, Tom wrote: “With a story that’s full of fun personalities, an impressive suite of new content, and some of the most vibrant visuals I’ve ever seen, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a brilliant update to one of the series’ most iconic games.”

The other big remake coming out in July 2026 is Halo: Campaign Evolved. In our heads, the original Halo still looks great, but if you put it side by side with the newest version, the difference is night and day.

Yes, Campaign Evolved is missing the multiplayer that introduced so many players to online gaming, but don’t let that dampen your excitement – this is still a rare chance to return to one of the most iconic first-person shooter campaigns ever made. The nostalgia is going to hit hard the moment you pick up that original Needler again. Much like Black Flag Resynced, Campaign Evolved features a handful of new missions, and it’ll be interesting to see how they are woven into the story. The original campaign tells a pretty tight and fast-paced story, so it’ll be important that the new content doesn’t get in the way of what made Combat Evolved great.

Both of these games can be picked up on G2A.COM. Used by 35 million users worldwide, the platform is a great place to buy games, gift cards, subscriptions, and more from a selection of verified sellers.

The final major release coming in July is the long-awaited 1.0 release of Palworld. The creature-catching survival game took the world by storm when it launched in early access at the start of 2024. It may have been rough around the edges in places, but its irresistible blend of mechanics created something that players couldn’t put down.

Now, the full, final release of the game is here. The latest version introduces a suite of changes, many of which go beyond simple bug fixes and improvements. 1.0 adds the World Tree endgame zone, Sky Islands for you to explore, over 25 new Pals to add to your team, a PvP mode to test your skills in, and even a breeding system that’ll let you attempt to make the best version of your favorite Pals.

The amount of new content makes it the perfect time to return to Palworld, whether you drafted away after launch or never quite found the right moment to jump in. Players who fell in love with it back in January 2024 will find plenty of reasons to make their comeback, and with so much new content to discover, the 1.0 release feels like the definitive reason to see what Palworld has truly become

I also couldn’t cover July 2026’s new releases without mentioning Moss: The Forgotten Relic. It reimagines the excellent VR platformer as an experience that has no need for a headset. How the gameplay will stand up without the virtual reality quirks remains to be seen, but the Moss games are wonderfully whimsical and endearing, and there’s no doubt that’ll translate to standard systems, too.

Whether you’re returning to Palworld or looking forward to the upgraded version of hugely popular games from earlier in the 21st century, July 2026 is an exciting month for games. All three of the highlights are available on G2A.COM, so be sure to pick them up there.

Zombie Island codes (July 2026)

The only thing between you and a handy new class could very well be these new Zombie Island codes. Even if they don’t quite get you every gem you need to unlock a killer team comp, they’ll get you part of the way there. Time saved is, well… time saved.

Though Zombie Island makes a big deal about being largely inspired by the developers’ previous game Zombie, Endless Horde – not Endless Horse, as we nearly wrote there – hop in and you’re more likely to spot the resemblance to games like 99 Nights in the Forest and 100 Days at Sea instead. It’s the same principle: a cooperative wave-based survival game in which every class combination can have dramatic consequences on your general likelihood of surviving.

Here are the working Zombie Island codes right now:

• Zombie – 1k gems (new!)
• Summer – 1k gems 
• UPD1 – 1k gems
• Release – 1k gems

After a rough night against the shambling horrors conveniently confined to an island, why not click here to follow us on Google? Not only can reading be a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of going ten rounds against the undead, but you might come across a code guide for a game you’d rather play instead.

How do I redeem Zombie Island codes?

You don’t need to do anything but follow these steps to redeem new Zombie Island codes:

• Launch Zombie Island on Roblox.
• While in the lobby, click the present icon at the top of the screen.
• Enter a working Zombie Island code.
• Click ‘redeem’ to score your rewards.

How do I get more Zombie Island codes?

In a refreshing twist, you don’t need to join the Zombie Island Discord to find new codes to claim. Though you’ll certainly find them there – under the ‘FAQ – codes’ and ‘announcements’ channels on the odd occasion, new codes feature at the bottom of the in-game patch notes panel right after a shutdown.

If you do still want to join the Discord, you’ll find a link to it at the bottom of the game page. If not, either read the in-game patch notes, or check back here whenever a new update or event kicks off. If a code drops, we’ll add it to the list. And with forthcoming updates actually dated on the game page, you’ll know exactly when to come back to find your latest freebies, too.

Oh, and some new Zombie Island codes are hidden around the map. We’ll note those on the list when they’re found. We wouldn’t want you risking a limb out there for nothing.

Anime Overseer codes (July 2026)

Anime Overseer codes can get you through a tough spot. Though the first few challenges can probably be cleared without equipping a secondary unit, the time to practice a proper strategy won’t be far behind. And with the Naruto characters lacking faces, you’ll need to keep your eye on the prize – they can’t see it.

In Anime Overseer, the overseer of the anime is you. That’s because it’s another anime Roblox tower defense title. One with a grand lobby, some fancy shaders, and a pretty depth of field effect that certainly makes for a good (graphical) first impression, but another Roblox TD title nonetheless.

Here are the working Anime Overseer codes right now:

• PakGMisCool – 40 trait discs, 2k gems, and 1.5k gold (new!)
• Weout! – 2.5k Coins, 500 Gems, 20 Meat, and five Trait Disks (new!)
• Overseer! – 500 Gems, three Trait Disks, ten Soul Crystals, five Super Soul Crystals (new!)
• BelieveInYourself! – 3,000 Coins, 35 Meat, and five Soul Crystals (new!)
• WhereGameDesignersAt! – 6767 Coins, 676 Gems, five Trait Disks, five Soul Crystals, five Super Soul Crystals, and five Meat (new!)

Once you’ve got a sound strategy on auto-play, why not click here to follow on Google? You’ll have plenty of time to read through a few new guides and news hits while your team of anime-inspired towers defends the base. Unless your strategy wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, of course.

How do I redeem Anime Overseer codes?

You’ll need to jump through a few hoops to redeem new Anime Overseer codes, but we’ll guide you through them below:

• Launch Anime Overseer on Roblox.
• Close the game.
• On the game page, give it a thumbs up.
• Favorite the game.
• Click the developer link beneath the game name and join the group.
• Launch Anime Overseer again.
• Click the ‘codes’ button on the right side of the screen.
• Enter a working code.
• Click the redeem button.

How do I play Anime Overseer?

With so much going on in the first few seconds of the game, it can be hard to figure out how to actually start a round in Anime Overseer. Given the size of the lobby, the best way is to click the ‘teleport’ button on the left side of the screen and click the fourth option. This whisks you away to the match gates.

If you’ve played a Roblox TD title in the last few years, you’ll know what’s going on here. If not, just walk up to an empty glowing wall to choose your challenge. If you want to join someone else, walk into an occupied gate and hope they don’t let it time out.

How do I get more Anime Overseer codes?

It’s surprisingly easy to spot new codes once you join the Anime Overseer Discord server. Find the link at the bottom of the game page and you’ll soon spot a ‘codes’ channel on the left side of the app. Hop in, and you’ll have a long list of new codes to choose from – the same codes you’ll find on the list above. 

Of course, that means if you don’t want the hassle of joining another Roblox Discord server, you really don’t have to: we have all the working codes for Anime Overseer right here on this page.

Once you catch wind of a new update, chances are new Anime Overseer codes will be ready to claim. Check back here whenever you’re ready to take on a wave, and you might just get some free gems toward your next great pull.

The next PlayStation looks more and more like a PC, and that’s not a bad thing

Ava is a fan of all things relating to The Sims and Dead by Daylight, to immersive RPGs, MMOs, and cozy games

Published: July 10, 2026

Welcome to your discless future, PlayStation gamers. We’ve been here for a while.

Sony’s announcement that physical disc production is ending in January 2028 has sent the console world into a meltdown. A petition to appease the announcement has already gained over 200,000 signatures at the time of writing. People have flocked to a video on PlayStation’s YouTube channel from 13 years ago that ‘shows’ gamers how to share used games with one another on PS4 (the joke being that you simply hand it to the other person), leaving hundreds of comments in their wake.

The old adage of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ comes to mind here. But if Sony adapts to consumer needs and a decision they’re unlikely to reverse, console gamers could end up in a much more positive spot long term. Digital content as it stands works, we can see that with PC due to storefronts like Steam and regular discounts from places like Humble Bundle or Fanatical. What’ll make or break the future we’re heading towards is that the onus is now on Sony (and the wider console market) to make sure there’s a steady flow of good discounts and sales – instead of consistently high digital prices.

Physical media is something many of us have grown up with. The excitement of purchasing a game, examining the disc, trying not to get scratches on it (and the inevitable rubbing it with your t-shirt to try to remove them), or excitedly flipping through an instruction manual (rest in peace) is something that’s absolutely nostalgic for me. There’s no question about that. But take case instruction manuals from back in the day, for one. They’re a ‘nice to have’, not a need.

Taking off the rose-tinted glasses and stepping back after this news dropped, it became really apparent that not owning a disc of a game I’ve purchased hasn’t affected me in any tangible way, really ever. Sure, sometimes I mull over the idea of going out and building an analog collection of my favorite games, rejecting the internet and the modern world, but I know they’d ultimately end up sitting in a drawer or on a shelf collecting dust.

Recent news of purchased Studio Canal content through the PlayStation Store being removed from people’s libraries does raise a rightful concern around owning content long-term. But as someone who predominantly accesses all of my content on PC digitally and uses my PS5 primarily for streaming video content, no longer using it for gaming after spending hundreds of hours in Red Dead Online, I haven’t bought a physical disc in years. I remember buying a new PC in the mid 2010’s and being genuinely confused that it didn’t include a disc drive, sure, but I quickly got used to buying my games digitally and never gave it a second thought. Each PC or laptop I’ve purchased since has been without one. Playing entirely discless is something that most PC users will likely have experienced for a very long time. It’s just another gap closed between what makes consoles what they are, and a PC a PC.

During the PS5 launch, I actively chose to purchase the Digital Edition – mainly because it was cheaper, sure – but also because I’ve never actively sought to own cases and discs. And even when I did buy games with discs in earlier years, it never even crossed my mind that owning one is what I loved about the experience. It’s just how it was.

The other side of the coin is how this sets a precedent for an entirely discless future, and how it’ll contribute further to dwindling sales in spaces like mom and pop shops. That’s something that definitely concerns me, and it’s perhaps the most brutal thing to come out of this. I remember trading my games in as a kid to pick up something new, renting something to play on my PS3 over a weekend, or excitedly waiting outside a store at close to midnight for the launch of 2013’s Tomb Raider. The scope for those memories will be dramatically reduced. I’m only one person, of course, and everyone has their own reactions and past experiences to draw on regarding this news. It’s frustrating to lose something you love, but second-hand media is becoming more and more niche.

I think we can have our cake and eat it, too, though. Here’s my suggestion: Limited edition physical disc releases. This means those who actively want to own their collection of games in a physical format can do so. Publishers can push out a smaller set of discs at launch, and depending on sales, release more in batches over time as needed. Future consoles can provide disc drives as a separate add-on (assuming that Sony’s future consoles would be discless, given the physical disc production news). This also means that down the line, people who do purchase these discs can pass them on to second-hand stores or loved ones. It’s not a perfect solution by any means, and it wouldn’t help to reduce the barrier of entry to physical discs due to likely higher resale prices and additional hardware costs. But it would act as a way to keep physical content alive in the world we’re hurtling towards, while also reducing production costs and, in turn, waste.

Ultimately, this news brings PC and console players one step closer to one another – and that might not be a bad thing in the end. Whether or not it is depends entirely on what corporations do next.

Half-Life-inspired Invariant re-announced following Steam delisting, but was “never meant to be” a clone

Survival horror fans can add another upcoming title to their Steam wishlist in the form of Invariant from Faros Game Studio following the game’s reappearance on the platform. Touted to combine “atmospheric horror with intense first-person combat and logical puzzles”, the survival horror game also blends “exploration, tense firefights, and resource management into a constant struggle for survival.”

In an announcement on Invariant’s Steam page in June, solo developer Josip Makjanić (a former level designer at Croteam who worked on the Serious Sam games) said of the game’s previous disappearance: “A lot happened behind the scenes that pulled the project away from what it was originally supposed to be. Rather than continue building on a foundation that didn’t feel right, I made the decision to step back and restart from scratch with a clear direction and full creative control.”

Starting as a passion project and as “a love letter to the games [Makjanić] grew up with,” the FPS survival horror is said to be “heavily influenced by the PS2 era philosophy of game development,” and cites titles like The Thing, Half-Life, and Silent Hill 3 as a form of inspiration.

In early June, a Devlog was published to the game’s YouTube channel, where Makjanić spoke more about Invariant’s themes and its development. “A major focus of the game is the feeling of being trapped in an isolated and hostile environment where something has gone terribly wrong,” Makjanić says, adding that “the game combines slower atmospheric exploration and survival horror with moments of intense combat and progression, resource management, and a strong focus on immersion and tension rather than constant horror.”

While the game was initially started by Makjanić and friend Tino Petrović, “as the project gained attention, another person became involved.” and eventually, differences “became clear” that stopped Invariant from progressing “in a healthy direction.”

He goes on to say that “Invariant was never supposed to be presented as some kind of Half-Life 3 or as a replacement for Half-Life,” but that the project was “inspired by certain things from Half-Life, just like it was inspired by other games, films, and ideas, but it was never meant to be a Half-Life clone.”

Prior to the game being delisted, a demo was made available, with Makjanić sharing that it was built by “combining systems and content originally created for the trailer” but lacked “the polish, structure, and strong-long term foundation it truly needed.” Publishers “liked the concept but considered it too risky to fund at such an early stage.” Eventually, the decision was made to delist the game from Steam and start over.

With the game available for wishlisting once more on Valve’s storefront, ultimately, the goal is “not to compete with massive cinematic productions or chase industry trends”, stating that there’s “value in embracing” its indie game nature.

Invariant is now being rebuilt in the Godot engine and is expected to be available for both Windows and Linux users upon its eventual launch.

Tau isn’t “Warframe 2,” but it’s a bold new step for Digital Extremes

Lauren spends most of her time dead in League of Legends, or equally as dead in Valorant. Don’t ask her about Vampire: The Masquerade.

Published: July 11, 2026

Tau has forever been somewhat of an enigma. An eerie, terraformed star system that acts as the de facto home of the Sentients, it’s been referenced many a time over the past few years, but we’ve never actually seen it. At TennoCon 2025, Digital Extremes confirmed that it’d be taking us to Tau in 2026, setting things up with The Old Peace. 365 days later at TennoCon 2026, we’ve finally caught our first glimpse of Warframe‘s new system, and it’s a noir-infused nightmare come true.

As Brysko – our mysterious new Chimera Frame – boards a hovercraft and ventures out into the wider city of Fornax, my mind immediately flicks to Critical Hit Games’ Nobody Wants to Die. There are, of course, lashes of CD Projekt Red’s Night City, and there’s a broodiness that L.A. Noire would be proud of. Yet, simultaneously, it’s quintessentially Warframe. Drug-riddled Sentients line dark alleyways; ominous, oil-like ooze drips from the rooftops, and black rain falls from the skies. It’s not like Deimos with its dark blacks and neon reds – on Tau, there’s an eerie green malaise in the air. If LA is, to quote Herschel Biggs at the start of L.A. Noire, “a city of undercurrents,” Tau is its galactic sister.

Our mission – given to us by Entrati – is to cozy up to The Hunra, Fornax’s premier mob boss. We confront twin Sentients that can fight both as one, fused-together entity, and as separate parts. They’re creepy; they screech and warble that they’re sick and tired of killing us. Their movements are robotic, yet fluid; it’s indicative of the wider feel of Fornax. Even The Hunra’s casino, which we’re guided through at the end of the demo, feels oppressive in its aliveness.

“One of Rebb [Warfame’s Creative Director Rebecca Ford]’s favorite shows is Sopranos, so she took a lot of inspiration from there,” Community Director Megan Everett tells me. “There’s also a lot of elements in the city that are very mutated and [H.R.] Giger-eque, and that kind of nasty, fleshy route that really fits the Sentient faction as a whole because of just how freaky and put together they are. There’s definitely the Al Capone casino route, L.A. Noire route in there – we took very literal things, a casino is a very human thing, and turned it Sentient.”

It’s a new look for Warframe. The traditional blues, golds, and whites have been cast aside for grit and grime; in some ways it’s reminiscent of the Germanopunk feel of 1999, but where there were recognizable human elements there, everything on Tau is alien. In many ways, it’s disarming; a roulette table becomes a thinking entity – everywhere you go, something is watching.

It ties into the general “mafia theme” that Everett says the team was going for. “Going to Tau isn’t going to be happy,” she stresses. “There’s no world where what has transpired equals a happy Tau, sunshine and rainbows type of situation.”

At the core of 2026’s demo, however, is Brysko. As mentioned, Brysko is a “Chimera Frame,” a part-Warframe, part-Protoframe created by long-running man of mystery, Albrecht Entrati. He communicates in the form of an inner monologue, which feels like it’s ripped straight out of an old detective flick. Voiced by Critical Role icon Matthew Mercer, Brysko’s soliloquies are equal parts brooding and gritty: “being beat to shit down at the docks was enough excitement for me,” he murmurs, implying that this isn’t his first rodeo. There are more curse words than I expected; there’s a viciousness, an idgaf-ness. As someone who adores the noir aesthetic and detective feel, I fell in love with him immediately.

We don’t see much of Brysko’s in-game kit – he uses playing cards in the style of Ragin’ Cajun Gambit, and we’ve seen his revolver-esque gun in action, but that’s everything for now. What I do enjoy, however, is his slow, more methodical approach to gameplay. As he meanders through the bowels of Tau, he stops and the screen goes gray. He analyzes the world around him; you can imagine him pinning threads to a corkboard in his mind. It’s a slower pace than Warframe’s usual gameplay – something that Digital Extremes trialed with the Follie’s Hunt mode in the Shadowgrapher update, to a somewhat mixed response.

I ask Everett if this slightly slower pace is intentional or if it’s slowed down and more cinematic for the purpose of the demo. “It’s definitely intentional,” she replies. “If you look at The Old Peace, it’s just war, and it was like ‘holy shit, go, go go – we’re in the trenches, we’re at war, we’re at battle, oh my God.’ Players have been wanting to go to Tau for so long; it would feel wrong for us to rush through it and for them to not experience [it].

“Having those beats of Brysko actually assessing the situation of those Sentients who got their heads busted in; the cards on the ground – he’s piecing things together. All of this stuff is very much intended to really slow things down and let the player drink in the environment, because we’re finally here. This has been years and years in the making. I don’t think anyone envisioned that Tau was going to look like a Sentient, drug lord kind of a city, but we’re here.

“You have to have the twin boss fight; you’ve got to have the peaks and valleys [of action],” she continues. “But because we’re going weird and wacky, there’s so much to look at and understand the environment. Every drug addict Sentient that you see has a voiceline, and those voicelines matter because they’re saying these weird, creepy things. We’re finally in Tau; let’s take a look.”

It’s going to be one of the biggest updates we’ve ever done.

Megan Everett – Warframe Community Director

With Tau, however, comes an entirely new System with its own unique planets and locations. Akin to The Origin System, you’ll be able to jump between them, exploring entirely new worlds on your quest to learn more about the mysterious Hunra – which Ford describes as being more of a “title” than a specific race or faction. Everett is keen to stress that this “doesn’t mean we’re leaving the old Star Chart behind,” but agrees that Tau, in many ways, feels like a new chapter for Warframe.

“We would never just be like ‘nope, see you later, this is Warframe 2, this is all that you’re going to get.’ We would never do that. But, it is a huge step. We flirted with that a bit when we did our open worlds; that was kind of our way of being the expansion of Warfame; ‘look at these open worlds!’ We did three of them – obviously we also went to 1999, which was crazy – but that’s the kind of extent as to where we’d say that we grew location-wise.

“This is a separate Star Chart, all-new planets. I wouldn’t necessarily call it ‘Warframe 2’ or anything, but it definitely is its own thing. It’s going to be huge; it’s going to be one of the biggest updates we’ve ever done.”

Warframe’s Tau update is set to launch in 2026. Before then, however, we can expect the ‘Unannounced Fall Update,’ called the Iceblade of Narin. There’s a new, female cold-aligned Frame, Citrine Prime, and Deluxe skins for Banshee and Qorvex. Banshee is also receiving a rework, with more information to be announced further down the line.

Tau, however, is easily one of the biggest things to ever come to Warframe. It kickstarts a whole new era for the game; a game that continues to shatter internal records and lurk at the top of Steam’s most-played charts. More than that, however, it’s yet another welcome curveball – I’ve praised Digital Extremes time and time again for its ability to shock me; I think I’ve seen it all, then DE does something unexpected. The future of Warframe looks bright, even in the bowels of some of its darkest regions yet.

TennoCon 2026 was a triumph for Digital Extremes. Here’s what went down

Lauren spends most of her time dead in League of Legends, or equally as dead in Valorant. Don’t ask her about Vampire: The Masquerade.

Published: July 12, 2026

TennoCon 2026 feels like a return to form for Digital Extremes. We’re kickstarting a new age of Warframe with Tau, a new, explorable star system with its own unique planets, noir aesthetic, and Chimera Frames. In Alca, however, we’ll finally be able to summon mounts, and we caught our first glance of Soulframe‘s latest Fable, Warsongs, which injects a bit of grit and grime into the otherwise ‘nature fantasy’ feel of DE’s upcoming MMO.

Yet, when I attended the TennoConcert last night – the second iteration of what may, presumably, become an annual event – it felt like more of a throwback than anything else. Last year there was a 1999 focus – a full, live rendition of the update’s soundtrack, complete with On-lyne and crowd favorites like We All Lift Together. This year, however, was a celebration of Warframe’s extensive history, brought to life in orchestral form, with acrobats and Taiko drummers to boot. If TennoLive was all about the future of Warframe and Soulframe, the TennoConcert was a reminder of where we’ve been.

The result is an event that feels like a turning point: like the start of a new adventure. Tau is shaping up to be, to quote my interview with Community Director Megan Everett, “one of the biggest updates” Digital Extremes has made to the game. Soulframe’s demo, however, is the most cohesive the game has ever felt; Warsongs feels more representative of the game as a whole. Both demos showcase DE at its best; while the glitz of Warframe 1999 and the majesty of The Old Peace certainly proved that the studio hasn’t lost its touch, 2026 – and 2027 by proxy – feel like they’re going to be Digital Extremes’ best years to date.

Putting both demos aside, however, there’s myriad new features coming to both Warframe and Soulframe ahead of these two colossal updates. So, let’s start with what Warframe’s got coming in the next few months: spoiler alert, there’s more On-lyne.

Let’s start at the beginning. Alongside TennoCon we’ve got the launch of Mesa Heirloom which, let’s be real, is kind of a big deal. At a preview conference I attended, Creative Director Rebecca Ford joked that Mesa represents “job security,” and as someone who doesn’t want to confirm or deny that she’s picked it up, I’d be inclined to agree. The Heirloom skin is available in-game right now. Speaking of things that are available immediately, Excalibur is also now in Fortnite, because of course he is.

Next up is the new, limited-time Amir’s Shockwave battle pass, which will be taking over the ever-iconic Nightwave in August. For those unfamiliar with the system, Nightwave is effectively a free battle pass, where completing challenges earns you points, which can in turn be spent on various rewards. You’ll get some automatically as you level the pass, and there’s also a wider store for you to buy items.

Shockwave is themed around Fables and Frontiers, an in-universe, legally distinct Dungeons and Dragons-esque TTRPG. Amir’s been desperate to run the game for the rest of the Hex, and he’s converted a room in the Hollvania Central Mall into his high fantasy paradise. There are myriad rewards themed around various Hex members and their Fables and Frontiers (F&F?) personalities, and the KIM messaging system is getting a group chat – how else are you going to coordinate your games?

There’s also a brand new On-lyne song available on the Shockwave track, aptly called ‘Running Late,’ because let’s be real there’s always someone who’s late to TTRPG night, and it absolutely isn’t me. This is the third song from 1999’s beloved boy band, and I can’t wait to spam it in the car.

Moving into fall, however, we’ve got the Unannounced Fall Update – a long-running joke title. This one does have a name, though; the Iceblade of Narin. We’ll be getting a new, female cold-aligned Frame, as well as Citrine Prime and Deluxe skins for Qorvex and Banshee. The latter is finally getting a rework, too.

While you can read my full breakdown on all things Tau here, Digital Extremes has confirmed that the update will launch in 2026. Given that we’ve also got the Iceblade of Narin – which we’ll learn more about at the TennoVIP Seoul devstream on Friday, September 4 – I suspect it’ll be towards the end of the year.

At a press briefing ahead of the event, Ford confirmed that Tau will include a completely new star map, with two regions being available at launch. We’ll be able to check out Fornax – the planet we see in the TennoCon 2026 demo – as well as one other. Fornax itself is a three-hub world (the casino we see is one of those hubs), and features its own, Warframe-unique card game. She describes it as being akin to the Golden Saucer from Final Fantasy, but again, legally distinct. We’ll also get access to Brysko – voiced by Critical Role’s Matt Mercer – with Tau’s launch.

With Tau comes a new approach to mission and system design. She remains relatively tight-lipped there, but confirms that we’ll see the current system undergo a little bit of a shakeup as we venture off into the noir unknown.

Now onto Soulframe. The primary highlight is, of course, Warsongs, which is expected to arrive ‘Fallish 2026.’ You can read more about that here. There’s also the aforementioned ability to summon mounts, and squad up in multiplayer, which is slated for Fall 2026 – a little bit of a firmer launch date.

Beyond that, Warsongs is accompanied by ‘vegan fishing,’ because let’s be honest, it isn’t a videogame if there isn’t fishing, right? With its own unique catch system, you’ll be able to while away the hours ethically hooking some ‘lil scaly guys for fun, setting them free afterwards. We see a brief clip of it in the Warsongs demo.

Then there’s the new Vadagar Pact, which inverts the primary Virtues of Courage, Spirit, and Grace, and replaces them with Death, Doom, and Wrath. Focused on turning the corruption that the Ode uses against them, you’ll wield an eerie, malleable sword as your primary weapon, with inky magic that can suspend enemies in mid-air, or summon spectral horses that leave trails of poison in their wake.

Finally, if you’re looking to access Soulframe Preludes, the closed, pre-alpha experience that’s currently invite-only, you can sign up right now to receive a guaranteed spot. You’ll have to do so before 8:59pm PDT / 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, July 12, or 4:59am BST / 5:59am CEST on Monday, July 13, and you’ll be able to take on Warsongs boss, The Mendicant Reinbreaker from the get-go.

TennoCon 2026 marks the beginning of a bold new adventure for Digital Extremes. It’s a company that has continued to throw curveball after curveball with its content, and I maintain that no one else comes close to its creativity in the online multiplayer sphere. Let’s not beat about the bush: there’s risk here – a huge new star system for Warframe, and a darker feel for Soulframe. These demos set the trajectory for the years to come. But, if this weekend is anything to go by, I’ve got no concerns.

Asking everyone to run on faith for months isn’t great

Hytale has now been out for six months, following its miraculous resurrection at the hands of Hypixel Founder Simon Collins-Laflamme. I’ve dipped into the sandbox game on somewhat regular occasion, and have been generally quite impressed by what’s already there in its starting state. The big question among the community of late is what its first major early access update will bring, however. The Hytale boss explains that the team was deliberately keeping this well under wraps, but he says that’s now about to change.

Collins-Laflamme took to X to discuss Hytale Chapter 1 “and why we’ve been so quiet about it.” The original plan at Hypixel was to keep the entirety of the new content completely hidden until release day, in order for it to be “one big surprise” for players to discover. “I still believe in that for impact,” he remarks, “but there’s a downside I’ve been thinking about.

“Until we have a chapter or two actually out, all you see from us is weekly patches and foundation work, and from your point of view it’s fair to wonder if the new content is actually happening.” He goes on to say that the “hard part internally” for the team as things stand is not a lack of things it could show, but instead keeping track of just how many different elements it’s got in production at once.

Collins-Laflamme acknowledges that the team has yet to ship any significant new content updates, and notes that this is “by design,” as Hypixel doesn’t want to try and push sales before it feels like the game will make the first impression it desires. “But actions speak louder than words,” he admits. “Asking everyone to run on faith for months isn’t great either. We know how that went in the past. So I’m going to be more open about what’s behind the scenes.”

You can expect a full blog post in the coming “week or so” that will explain some of what’s currently in development for Chapter 1. “Quite a bit of what’s in production isn’t chapter content at all,” Collins-Laflamme adds. “A few of these things are honestly blog post material on their own, and a couple deserve a mini showcase down the line.”

This first proper update will be “light on final visuals,” focusing instead on “explanations and work-in-progress peeks,” ensuring that the majority of the surprise can still be kept for the launch itself. It’s sounding pretty substantial, however: Collins-Laflamme mentions that he’s already put a first draft together, and upon seeing it, Hypixel Community Manager ‘BuddhaCat’ simply commented, “Damn, this is a big boi.” I’ll be waiting with bated breath.

Finally complete after 11 years, Angels Fall First delivers massive FPS space battles with old-school Battlefront vibes, at a must-have price

Do you ever get the itch for the days of classic Battlefront 2, or wish that you could throw Battlefield 2142’s multiplayer and Star Citizen’s space dogfights into a blender and come out with a ready-to-eat combination of FPS and spaceship battler? If you answered yes, you need to try Angels Fall First. Quietly plugging along for more than a decade in early access under the watch of developer Strangely Interactive, this ambitious project has earned itself a small but dedicated audience. Now, it’s finally blasted into 1.0, and I need you to check it out.

“Angels Fall First exists because it must exist,” Strangely Interactive explains. While its arrival in early access came in 2015, the team behind it had already been building it for more than seven years prior to that during evenings and weekends. They were fans of Star Wars: Tie Fighter, and of Battlefield, and “waited patiently for the game which would inevitably unite the vast scale and spacefights with the close and personal firefights and thunderous vehicle battles… But it never really appeared.”

So the team made it themselves. “Only in AFF can you spawn in your crew quarters, run to the bay watching the space fight out of the windows, launch a dropship, fight through the defenders to the enemy flagship, breach the hull, run and gun your way to the bridge, and shoot the enemy captain in the back of the neck.” I couldn’t have put it better myself, and the developer admits, “it’s this slightly twitchy passion which has driven us to create such a monster.”

What a monster it is. 64-player battles that encompass infantry combat, ground vehicles, and spacecraft. Broad battlefields and capital ships with complete interiors that you can enter and fight through. A blend of the fast-paced action of classic multiplayer games and more modern systems like loadouts, customization, and persistent unlocks. Oh, and it even allows for completely offline play, with robust bot support ensuring that you’ll have a full match whether you want to run completely solo, bring just a few friends into your lobby, or open it up to the world.

Perhaps Angels Fall First is a little out of step with modern trends. In fact, scratch that – it absolutely is, but that’s what makes it so appealing. It certainly doesn’t have the level of shine and polish that Battlefield 6 or Arc Raiders boasts, nor the tight, refined gunplay of Call of Duty, and I couldn’t care less; it might even be all the better for it. Strangely Interactive isn’t asking a lot for it, either, especially given the impressive length of that development cycle.

Angels Fall First 1.0 is out now, with a 10% introductory discount through Tuesday July 21. Expect to pay $16.19 / £12.03 if you buy it before then, or $17.99 / £13.37 afterwards. You’ll find it right here.

“We grew old making this, and we got grumpy watching everyone else release their cool games,” Strangely Interactive concludes. “We’re from a time when games were about blowing stuff up for points and glory and now, finally, we want to go out there and share this crazy passion with all of you.” If that strikes a chord in your heart, then please don’t let Angels Fall First pass you by.

Palworld dev celebrates “staggering” Steam response to 1.0, proving lightning can strike twice

It’s safe to say that Palworld has still got the magic. Two and a half years ago, the charming open-world creature collector with sinister undertones skyrocketed its way into the history books, reaching the second-highest player count peak on Steam of all time (a feat only topped since by Black Myth Wukong). Now, Palworld 1.0 has finally arrived, and the full release proves the survival game is no mere one-hit wonder, leaving developer Pocketpair celebrating once more as its concurrent users threaten to reach seven digits for a second time around.

“I promise I’ll try not to just be posting Steam numbers every day, but… really, thank you so much, gamers,” Community Manager John ‘Bucky’ Buckley writes via social media. At the time of writing, Palworld 1.0 has a peak concurrent player count of 855,525. It’s not quite the 2.1 million of its early access release, but it’s a figure that only 13 other games have ever reached on Valve’s platform, and a welcome affirmation for the developer that players have come to appreciate the substance beyond the initial novelty of whether its Pal designs bore too much similarity to Pokémon.

Nintendo’s lawsuit against Pocketpair is quietly rolling on behind the scenes, with the presentation of evidence currently expected to take place in October. In the wake of the legal action, Palworld adjusted some of its features such as Pal Spheres and the ability to ride your companions through the sky. As part of the 1.0 update, several Pals also saw slight visual redesigns, although newcomers such as Hoodle suggest the developer isn’t too wary of adopting some broadly familiar themes.

Despite the background legislation, Pocketpair is very much looking ahead to the future, and it’s clearly working. “Obviously, we had high expectations for 1.0 internally, but this is staggering,” Bucky remarks. “We really hope you are enjoying your time in Palworld again. Thank you.”

Speaking of new additions, Palworld 1.0 introduces a total of 72 extra Pals (bringing the total to 287), along with rebalancing across the entire roster. The player’s level cap has gone up from 65 to 80, and there are all-new systems, such as ‘Awakening’ to bring out your Pals’ true power, and ‘Mutations’ that cause newborn Pals to hatch with higher stats and unique passive abilities. Partner skills and passives have been overhauled, and a fresh suite of animations helps bring out your companions’ personalities.

The list just keeps going and going. There’s the floating lands of Sunreach, an overhaul to Wildlife Sanctuaries, and an enhanced and expanded story that leads to the secrets of the World Tree. A wide range of new weapons and equipment is up for grabs, along with plenty more building parts, and there are improvements to the crafting interface and the behavior of Pals who are helping you with labor tasks. In-game voice chat. Fresh visual polish. Reworked raids. Pocketpair hasn’t missed an inch, and the results are clear.

All of that, and Pocketpair didn’t even increase the price. There was no question in my mind that Palworld’s 1.0 launch would bring plenty of players back to the game. I would have been much more tentative about predicting it doing so in quite such spectacular fashion, however, although I’m glad to see it. If you’ve been considering joining in on the action, there’s a discount available right now to make it yet more tempting.

Palworld is 30% through Thursday July 23, meaning you’ll pay just $20.99 / £17.49 for your copy. Will this weekend’s huge player surge be the highest it reaches, or could we see Palworld climb even further in the weeks to come? I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.

A storming new Total War Warhammer 40k gameplay reveal has made me excited about cover

We’ve just been given our first extended look at Total War: Warhammer 40k in action, and watching a battle play out has instantly ratcheted my excitement levels up into the stratosphere. Creative Assembly’s new gameplay video was showcased at the BiliBili World exhibition in Shanghai, and features a much longer demonstration of a conflict where the Imperium of Man’s Astra Militarum is called in to help defend a planet against Ork invasion. In particular, it’s got me thinking a lot about cover, which has been a big question for the more futuristic setting that this twist on Total War brings.

With this Total War: Warhammer 40k showcase taking place in China, that naturally means the demo is narrated in Chinese, but fortunately it comes with full English subtitles provided by Creative Assembly, so there’s no need to rely on translation tools. It looks to be an extended cut of the fight we caught some brief glimpses of at the PC Gaming Show, and my most immediate takeaway is just how good it all looks. The vast plains are punctuated by industrial complexes and towering walls, and the wave of Orks clad in yellow metal sweeping across it is suitably terrifying.

The stakes are set: the Orks are pushing towards a key city that, if it’s taken, will mean losing the planet itself “and all the economic benefits that come with it.” Fortunately, we’re told that, with our capital ship in orbit, we’re able to deliver a bombardment to “soften up the enemy” before our troops move in. The Astra Militarum boasts a huge range of forces, but won’t stand up to the brute strength of the Orks in close combat, so smart tactics will be essential to success.

To me, this is exactly the kind of setup that provides the most memorable Total War experiences. When I think back across CA’s numerous strategy games, the moments that stick with me are almost always the times I was able to outwit a force that was more powerful on paper by employing smart battlefield tactics to turn an unfavorable matchup into a victory. The stage as I described it feels unlike either the open battlefields or the tighter city sieges of Total Wars past.

The closest comparison point is CA’s Warhammer games, but obviously the futuristic setting means a different approach. Our frontline is primarily Cadian Shock Troopers and Kasrkin elites, and by lining them up alongside structures, we’re able to put them into cover that both increases their defense and lowers the chance they’ll be hit by enemy fire. It’s somewhat reminiscent of barricades in their various forms over TW’s past, but one of my big questions around Warhammer 40k has been whether cover would play a key role, so I’m very glad to see it in action.

Not everyone gets to benefit from sheltering behind low walls, of course. The mighty Ogryn infantry aren’t really suited to hiding, but their Ripper guns do make them a force to be reckoned with up close. Meanwhile, our Scout Sentinels – highly mobile and with long vision, and capable of being customized with all manner of weaponry from Autocannons to Flamers – are pushed forward on the right and hidden behind supply trains to create a potential opportunity for an ambush or flank as the Orks pass through.

The key chokepoint is a bridge to the left side of the river, so we set up a defensive tank line led by the fearsome Baneblade. Its mobility might be lacking, but in this position its sheer firepower is enough of a deterrent to force the Ork Meganobzs into wading across the river instead. This slows them down and causes them to clump more closely together, letting us demolish them with Valkyrie rocket strikes.

Unfortunately for the Astra Militarum, the Orks came prepared with squadrons of Stormboyz. Capable of leaping clear over even the likes of large buildings with their Jump Packs, they simply launch across the river and land directly among our units in cover, letting them tear through our forces with their brutal melee weapons. This defense no longer looks as clear cut.

It’s time to throw in a curveball: the hidden forces from earlier blast their way through the train carriages to push in from the flank and split the focus of the Orks. CA says destructible environments will be a crucial part of finding the edge that turns the tide. “It is common across different battle maps to find many different buildings and objects that can be destroyed,” the narrator notes, “opening up new tactics, routes, and strategies.”

Another aspect that feels very 40k is an efficient brutality towards your own troops. With the Stormboyz having thrown that front line into chaos, the Astra Militarum calls fresh reinforcements in to create another further back. But what of the ongoing fight? “Sometimes sacrifices must be made. These men did their duty.” A colossal strike lands among the battling forces, sending Ork and Man alike flying in all directions in a shower of metal and gore. CA even pauses for effect, rotating the camera to show just how much grisly detail is on display.

The Orks aren’t done yet, however. They bring in mighty Stompas – giant walking battle fortresses cast in the likeness of Gork and Mork. As our tanks redirect in an attempt to hold them off, it’s time to call in the orbiting capital ship once more. Its presence allows the use of a Lance Strike, a devastating beam of focused energy from the heavens that gradually breaks down the Stompa’s armor. For today, at least, we’re safe. “Like all Total Wars, battles are won and lost based on your balance of power,” our guide concludes.

There’s still no release date for Total War: Warhammer 40k, but you can wishlist it on Steam or register your interest in joining its closed beta. Getting a lengthier look at both how it differs from other games in the series, as well as just how pretty its grimdark horrors of war are, has definitely piqued my attention.

League of Legends Classic isn’t the launch experience, it’s a “greatest hits” of the early years

Riot Games has finally lifted the lid on League of Legends Classic as promised, and my big takeaway is that this isn’t just a transportation back in time to 2009, but rather a greatest hits collection of its first few seasons. That said, there are certainly a lot of the fundamentals of that initial experience in LoL Classic: Riot promises the old-school map, gameplay design, and “original champions, items, and metas from the early days” of the MOBA. AP Yi, Deathfire Grasp, stunlock Sion – get ready, because League Classic arrives in just a few weeks on Wednesday July 29. Let’s take a closer look.

To showcase League of Legends Classic to its fullest, Riot hosted a showmatch on its main stage ahead of the MSI Grand Final, which is taking place right now in Korea. It featured two teams of iconic faces from League history, including the likes of William ‘Scarra’ Li and Yiliang (Peter) ‘Doublelift’ Peng. You can catch the full game below, so I won’t spoil the result, but it’s all here: builds like TP/Revive Karthus, the classic Hunter’s Machete for Junglers, and yes, even Mana Potions and Crystalline Flasks.

To tell us more, LoL’s Executive Producer Paul ‘Pabro’ Bellezza’ sat down with regular tournament host Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere. “It was so much fun,” he says of the showmatch, “seeing little Baron, seeing everyone’s picks, seeing Doublelift do what he does – it was nostalgic, it was really cool.”

“We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time – the community’s been asking for it,” Pabro remarks of LoL Classic. He says the concept actually came from a group of Rioters working in the studio’s experimental ‘Thunderdome,’ explaining, “it’s like a hackathon that we do.” The initial prototype was based on Season Three, and the rest of the team enjoyed it so much that it decided to expand it into a full thing.

League Classic isn’t just taking things back to day one. It’ll start roughly around the Season Three mark, but wiggling “a little bit before and after” as well. Pabro thinks of it more as “a greatest hits of League.” There will be 60 champions, with the original 40 all present and correct, although Pabro notes that “some will unlock over time.” You’ve also got the original Masteries with Offense, Defense, and Utility trees, and the return of Runes. “Forget the grind,” Riot writes, “You’ll start with a base page and naturally unlock more as you level up.”

“We’ve taken some of the more fun character designs… and some of the less egregious ones,” Pabro continues, noting that Riot put “ones we knew were not that great” back into storage. “For the most part, it should feel like the way it did then.” Interestingly, Riot also mentions that you’ll be able to “vote with the community to shape the future of the Classic experience,” suggesting that we’ll have some measure of control over how it grows and evolves.

It may be just a few weeks out, but we’ll have even more details on League Classic much sooner than that. Head of League Studio Andrei ‘Meddler’ van Roon confirms via Reddit that there will be a “PBE and a dev blog that covers a range of things” on Tuesday. He notes that this blog will also address other details including the way skins are handled – I was a little surprised to see more modern designs and post-rework champion models in the showmatch, such as three-tailed Skarner rather than his pre-VGU look.

In another response, Meddler elaborates, “The champs that are in this build aren’t all the champs that will ever be in Classic, just the first wave.” He mentions being most excited to try Urgot and Graves, and confirms “Old Sion should be there day one.” You can expect “additional old-school champs added over time,” but Meddler notes that the team has “a stopping point in mind from 2013 when it comes to champ releases.” However, he says that the actual progression we get “will depend on what people who play Classic want.”

League of Legends Classic launches on Wednesday July 29, alongside patch 26.15. It’ll be accessible through the regular League of Legends client, so if you’re returning especially for it you’ll want to make sure your account is up to date.

I’m tentatively excited for what we’ve been shown. I personally had my fingers crossed for the full old-school look, from janky hero models to that original UI, and that isn’t what we saw during today’s showmatch. Perhaps it’ll be available as a toggle down the line, however, or integrated by Riot in the future if there’s enough demand from the audience. As someone who struggles to keep up with the pace of modern LoL as anything more than a spectator, however, I’m certainly eager to give League of Legends Classic a try.

TennoCon 2026’s demo is the “darkest Soulframe has ever been,” but perhaps the most intriguing, too

In the midst of all things Warframe, Soulframe can sometimes feel like it gets lost at TennoCon. Digital Extremes’ highly anticipated fantasy MMO has been lurking in the shadows for a while, with consistent updates transforming it into a very different beast from the game we saw oh so many years ago. This year, however, it’s on the main stage at TennoLive, with its own unique devstream during the day, too. With a lengthy new demo featuring Expedition 33 favorites Ben Starr and Jennifer English, we learn a little bit more about the mysterious villain faction, The Ode, and after years of waiting, we’re finally getting mounts. Yes, you’ll be able to ride the big wolf.

Let’s start with access. At the moment, Soulframe Preludes is a closed, invite-only alpha. For TennoCon weekend, however, the doors to Alca are open, and you’ll be able to sign yourself up for permanent access to Preludes until the end of the event, and take on a new boss, the Mendicant Reinbreaker.

Back to the mounts, though. As of Fall 2026, you’ll be able to summon your own wolf mount, with various customization options. Squad up with your pals to form a pack in multiplayer, and traverse the world with ease. There’s a full bonding track with your mount, too, because let’s be real, who doesn’t want to spend time petting the dog? We’re also getting fishing, because what are videogames if not fishing simulators? Skyrim has it. Diablo has it. Even Warfame has it. Now, Soulframe will too, with its own Animal Crossing-esque catch screen to boot.

There’s also a brand new Pact (or class), Vadagar. A darker, inverted version of Soulframe’s existing Virtues – Courage, Spirit, and Grace – you’ll be tapping into Wrath, Doom, and Death this time around, allowing you to wield the magic that’s corrupting the Omen Beasts. Digital Extremes’ CEO Steve Sinclair says that it’ll allow you to “become the monsters that The Ode are creating and use that against them.”

As seen in the demo, your kit revolves around various shadowy powers, with slam attacks and the ability to stop enemies in their tracks. By far the most flashy is the ability to summon multiple, goo-spewing versions of the Mendicant Reinbreaker’s horse, which you’ll be able to use as a mount after you defeat them. There’s also the eerie, bonelike sword, which is fully malleable and has extended range.

“This is our Spider-Man 3 update for Soulframe,” Sinclair continues, describing it as the movie where “he gets emo and dances.” If that doesn’t sell it, I don’t know what will.

Described by Sinclair as “the darkest Soulframe has ever been,” the TennoCon demo, named after its associated Fable, Warsongs, is pretty gritty. Animals get hurt (but thankfully healed back up), and the overall tone is much more grim than the high fantasy feel of previous gameplay. “We talk about the game having optimistic themes,” Creative Director Geoff Crookes says, “but to make those stronger, you need contrast. What we want to show [in the demo] is that the player is as susceptible to the poisons in the world as the beasts are that we’re there to help.

“What we’re also very excited about with this quest is that it’s going to give you a better sense of the player’s history in the world, but also reinforce the villains and their role.” We meet Ben Starr’s Tempest Bayor, one of The Ode’s loyal servants who has been sent to “remind” Alca of the faction’s power.

We then see a flashback from your mother’s past, where, after fending off an Ode invasion, she comes face to face with Bayor and his eerie, magical sword. The action flicks to a childhood memory sequence, where the Envoy themself comes across Bayor and The Ode while playing. His voice echoes among the trees, and it fades to white – we’re back in the present, and you’re fending off the Vadagar corruption that’s attempting to overtake your soul while Jennifer English’s Empress goads you.

To hold back on the spoilers, we find out the fate of the Envoy’s mother, as well as face off against Bayor in the present day. It’s far from the happiest quest in the world, but, for me, it is perhaps the most intriguing that we’ve seen so far.

Digital Extremes hasn’t confirmed the Soulframe release date, but as previously mentioned, you can sign up via the game’s official website right now to receive permanent access to Preludes. You’ll have to do so before 8:59pm PDT / 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, July 12, or 4:59am BST / 5:59am CEST on Monday, July 13 for guaranteed access. The Warsongs update is set for ‘Fallish,’ so no exact date there.

I’ve had my reservations about Soulframe. While I love the ideas conceptually, I’ve felt like previous demos have been disparate parts of a whole, showcasing specific mechanics more than the game itself. Warsongs is the opposite: it’s cohesive, exciting, and finally gives us a real look at what the finished product can be. This is easily the most excited I’ve been; Fallish can’t come soon enough.

New Diablo 4 patch notes make Mythics easier to get, so hold your turn-ins for now

Blizzard has dropped new Diablo 4 patch notes for Season 14, and while there are some welcome changes in here, there are several notable issues that get no mention. Given that we’ll be two weeks into the new season by the time the patch hits, it’s a relatively light offering. With that said, there are still enough reasons to look forward to the update, which arrives this coming Tuesday. Take particular note of what’s in store, because you’ll probably want to hold off on handing in your seasonal rep until then.

The biggest adjustments to watch for are increased rewards across seasonal and endgame activities, which will help you to get your hands on more loot – including the elusive Mythic Uniques in particular. These have been a particular point of frustration with the latest Diablo 4 season because, despite Blizzard enabling the potential for any Unique in the RPG to appear as a Mythic (and sporting bonus stats to match), they’re extremely rare to come by.

Once Diablo 4 patch 3.1.1 is deployed, you’ll be guaranteed a Pandemonium Fragment (used to craft Mythics) every time you turn in Glints of Hope, the repeatable reward earned by filling up the seasonal reputation bar after completing its other quests. There’s a good chance you’ll already have some of these to your name, so hold off on cracking them open until Tuesday if you want the best payout. You’ll also get up to two Pandemonium Fragments for defeating the Corrupted Reaper, with the prize based on your Torment level.

Blizzard is also cutting the number of Pandemonium Fragments needed to use the ‘upgrade to Mythic’ option at the Horadric Cube from five to four. That’s nice, but it doesn’t solve one of the biggest issues with the mechanic, which is that it’s not an upgrade of the item you put in at all. Instead, it’s a randomly rolled Mythic Unique in the same slot. Given that you’re only allowed to use a single crafted Mythic in your build at a time (a restriction that includes the ultra-rare ‘Iconic Mythics’ made with Resplendent Sparks), this feels overly punitive.

It’s not changing yet, however, so you’re still going to have to find ‘naturally’ dropped Mythic Uniques to complete the rest of your character’s shopping list. The good news is that these should also be easier to come by, as Blizzard has fixed an issue “preventing certain sources of Uniques from dropping as Mythic, including Lair Bosses.” My sincere apologies to streamer ‘Wudijo,’ who farmed 2,000 of those earlier in the week in an ultimately fruitless attempt to get his hands on some Iconic Mythics.

The chance of Mythic drops being an Iconic Mythic has also been raised, which should give you a better chance of finding one. Additionally, one of them – El’Druin, Sword of Justice – was missing from the Blacksmith’s Mythic Unique Cache pool, and has now been included. Small nudges, and we aren’t given any indication of exactly how far the loot knob has been turned, but any move in the right direction helps.

Elsewhere, the seasonal reputation board can now be found in Temis, which is helpful given that it’s both Lord of Hatred’s hub city and the mainstay for D4’s new War Plans-centric endgame. Similarly welcome is that Deathtoll Chambers (spawned by Season 14’s Realmwalkers) will now guarantee at least one Superior Lair Key at high Torment tiers, ensuring they’re actually worth the short time they take to complete.

Outside of a few bug fixes, there are no real class balance changes to speak of in the patch. I’m not too crushed by this – I’m generally of the belief that fiddling too much with anything beyond the most egregious imbalances midway through a season, whether through buffs or nerfs, just leaves your players frustrated. Given how dramatically Barbarian is dominating while the likes of the Warlock struggle, however, I am a little surprised we didn’t see any notable nudges at all.

Diablo 4 patch 3.1.1 goes live on Tuesday July 14, 2026. Keep those Glints of Hope reputation rewards saved up until then, and consider holding off on attempting to roll Mythic Uniques at the Horadric Cube until the cost comes down. Despite my complaints, I’ve actually still had a relatively good time with this season, although I suspect that’s partly because I didn’t get to spend as long with the previous one, so it all still feels relatively fresh. Hopefully the new Mythic system gets a fresh shakeup when the Season 15 PTR arrives.

The Minecraft Movie votes are in and, despite controversy, everyone’s a winner

Which community-made build will feature in A Minecraft Movie Squared? The upcoming sequel brings back Jack Black and Jason Momoa as Steve and Garrett, alongside Kirsten Dunst in the role of Alex. To embrace the spirit of player creativity, developer Mojang announced during its latest Minecraft Live showcase that it would be holding a competition where you could create a design that you wanted to see appear in the new movie. With three finalists chosen, the winner came down to a vote – but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

Mojang had hand-picked the three builds that were in contention for the final vote, but with the tally already underway, players brought an issue to the Minecraft developer’s attention. The ‘Tree Village,’ submitted by Ben V., had been made using blocks from multiple different biomes. This went against the rules set during the submission process. “While we appreciate that the build was created with good intentions, we ultimately had to remove the Tree Village build from grand prize consideration for this reason,” Mojang states.

Rather than allowing this to sour the mood, however, it took the opportunity to give even more people a chance to make the big screen. While the eventual winner – the ‘Lightning Rod Lighthouse’ from Francisco C.M. – will take pride of place, the other finalist (‘Copper Badlands Castle’ by Rosanna C.) will also appear at some point, as will Iola Y.’s ‘Tranquil Taiga Tower,’ which originally fell in the semi-finals. Not only that, but the Tree Village will still be included “as an honorable mention.”

“While going over the submissions, we were blown away by the talent and creativity of every participant,” the team writes. “Narrowing it down to three finalists wasn’t an easy task – and both Mojang Studios and the filmmakers were huge fans of the entire final roster.” It confirms that the full set will appear somewhere in either the movie or the end credits; “All the builds have unique styles and fit so well in their respective biomes, so we’re very eager to showcase them on the big screen.”

While it made the decision to disqualify the Tree Village, Mojang notes it received “strong support from both the community and our judging panel – including the filmmakers,” hence the decision to give it a spot anyway. “We try to put our community first in everything we do, and we think that including Tree Village follows that principle,” it explains. It also adds that the newly arrived Tranquil Taiga Tower “is the build that would have advanced to the finals if we’d noticed the extra biome blocks in the Tree Village build in time.”

Given that voting had already begun when the issue was highlighted, Mojang says this decision “felt like the most equitable approach to the situation, while also creating an opportunity to highlight more of the community’s creativity in the final movie.” I’m in full agreement. In many cases like this, such as during Minecraft’s old Mob Votes, I couldn’t help but wonder why we didn’t simply get to have all of the finalists. Having the winner be the focal point, but still finding space to include the others, is the right move.

As for exactly how these builds will show up, Mojang is keeping specifics a secret for now. It notes that “a few small adjustments may be made” to them to ensure they work as needed for their place in the movie, but promises that “the filmmakers are preserving the creativity and spirit that made each build special.”

A Minecraft Movie Squared will release in theaters on Friday July 23, 2027. I’m already bracing myself for the fresh wave of memes and brainworms that will inevitably follow. Any takers on which mob will become next year’s ‘Chicken Jockey?’

EA SPORTS College Football 27 Free Download

DOWNLOAD GAME

EA SPORTS College Football 27 Direct Download:

In EA SPORTS™ College Football 27, step into the modern era of college football where personal ambition meets program pride. Engineer your program with Dynasty Blueprint, build your player, take on new positions in Road to Glory, and play as your favorite mascots in Mascot Mashup while immersed in the iconic traditions and pageantry of game day. Moonlight Peaks

DYNASTY
All-new Dynasty Blueprint puts you in control of your program’s future. Navigate Athletic Director Expectations and use Dynasty Points for recruiting, NIL, staff, and facilities to build your college football powerhouse.

ROAD TO GLORY
Define your path in Road to Glory and experience new customization options and positions as you build your player. Earn NIL deals, chase the Heisman, develop your Draft Stock, and raise your Legacy Score with each decision you make.

MASCOT MASHU
Play as your favorite mascot in Mascot Mashup. Collect over 120 larger-than-life icons, and bring the chaos to wild 11-on-11 matchups packed with over-the-top celebrations and mascot antics fueled by pure school spirit.

STORYTELLING & PRESENTATION
Feel every moment of game day, and experience college football at its height. Dynamic weather, expanded pageantry, and a new broadcast package delivers deeper immersion as dynamic storytelling connects your journey to the sights, sounds, and stakes of Saturday.

GAMEPLAY
Turn every touch into a highlight. Feel the difference of standout athletes impacting every play, from smarter route running and coverage to explosive WR vs. DB battles, while more streamlined, customizable pre-play adjustments fuel strategic and electric on-field action.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
OS: Windows 11
Processor: Intel Core i3-10300 (4 cores, 8 threads) / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT / Intel Arc A580
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 50 GB available space
VR Support: not supported
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

DOWNLOAD GAME

Is the new GTA Online heist a last hurrah, or a sign of things to come?

It isn’t quite what I envisioned when I wished for GTA on PC in 2026, but Rockstar has just announced that its new GTA Online expansion The Kortz Center Heist is mere days away. That’s right, it’s time to load up Grand Theft Auto 5’s multiplayer mode once more, and I’m particularly taken by the theming, which is an elaborate art theft. With GTA 6 on the horizon and no sign yet of what the long-awaited sequel means for Online, however, it begs the question of whether this is a final goodbye, or the way things will be for a while.

It was six years ago that the Cayo Perico Heist came to GTA 5, and while we did get the smaller-scale Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid in 2024, I’d sort of assumed that Rockstar had wound up production on these large-scale endeavors for the multiplayer game. The Kortz Center Heist proves me wrong, and while I am happy to have an excuse to bring my GTA Online crew back together for one last job, I’m left wondering exactly what its purpose is.

There are several possible outcomes. It could be a simple send-off mission before we move into whatever the next evolution of GTA Online ends up being. But I fear things may not move that swiftly; Rockstar’s confirmation of the GTA 6 price was accompanied by an assertion of its single-player nature at launch, and it could well be that the multiplayer side of the equation is still a long way out (even putting aside the frustratingly unknown factor of the PC port).

It feels like a relatively safe assumption that, if a ‘new’ GTA Online is on the cards as expected, a fresh GTA 5 heist like the Kortz job will probably be acting as a testing ground for some of the ideas Rockstar is planning to implement in its successor. I’ll certainly be watching it closely: the developer says that “the Kortz Center Heist offers a unique new level of replayability,” with “three new paintings to steal each week and tons of variability in how you approach them.”

While GTA has long been an action game first, stealthy heisting can often be just as thrilling and rewarding, and it certainly seems that the Kortz Center Heist is leaning down that route. We’ll be working with sinister banker Mr. Faber and his fixer-in-chief Raf De Angelis, instructed to “meticulously stake out the museum and carefully plot your approach, then snatch the Kortz Center’s most valuable exhibits.”

This is no smash-and-grab, at least not if you want the big bucks. Rockstar emphasizes that “covering your tracks and being covert will be crucial for a maximum take, since art known to be stolen will be harder to fence, commanding lower prices.” You’ll first have to set up an Art Studio of your own and bring in a counterfeiter to design forgeries that you can switch out for the real thing. That means visiting the gallery and snapping some “candid photos” of your targets without arousing suspicion. 

You’ll also want to plan carefully before enacting your final heist. To start with, we’ll almost certainly be noting down patrol routes, cameras, and exit points to figure out the optimal path. On top of that, the Kortz Center plays home to “an abundance of fine art that can be stolen as secondary targets,” and Rockstar remarks that scoping out the goods beforehand will help you identify what worthwhile treasures you can snatch while you’re there.

Combine that with the promised replayability, and I’m hopeful that means each attempt will feel meaningfully different. For as much as I love the majority of the GTA Online heists, most of them have become fairly rote, with the main variety coming from how many hostiles you have shooting at you as you work your way through. If this is a mission designed to be pulled off without ever raising an alarm, it needs to shake up other factors to ensure it doesn’t become a tiresome task of ticking boxes each run.

There is, of course, one other possibility. If GTA 6 Online is still a long way off, and it could be, then perhaps this isn’t the last big update for its current incarnation. Rockstar simply branded this as ‘The Next Big Score,’ after all. What if there’s more on the cards, and this is simply the beginning of a fresh wave of support designed to keep the multiplayer community happy for the foreseeable future until its new form is finally ready?

Personally, I’d be more than happy with that outcome, especially if it allows more time for the studio to experiment with new ideas and collect community feedback about what the future of GTA Online should actually look like. Regardless of how things end up playing out, there’s an inevitable reckoning of sorts to come, as Rockstar must decide what it’s going to do with all of those players that have invested a decade-plus of time and money into their characters and accounts.

The GTA Online Kortz Center Heist comes to Grand Theft Auto 5 on Tuesday July 14, 2026. If you’re reading this before then, you still have time to snag some free GTA$, with $500k available simply for logging in and another cool million if you finish a heist by Monday July 13. Will this be the end of the road for our time in Los Santos, or the start of a new era?

Doom dev Id is now “about the same size we were when making Doom 2016” after layoffs

It’s been a tough week for Doom studio Id Software. The team that established the groundwork for basically all FPS games to come with classics including Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake was hit with devastating layoffs this week. With 3,200 job cuts announced by Xbox amid wider losses impacting 2.1% of Microsoft’s global workforce, a Texas WARN notice put the impact on Id at 136 people. That’s reportedly more than half the team, but a new message shared by the developer reassures that it’s still big enough to continue.

“Thank you for all the support this week,” the Id Software social media account writes. “While our studio was impacted, those changes were spread across teams. We still have the crew we need to build the games and tech we’re known for.” Id’s legacy goes far beyond what we actually play, of course: its proprietary Id Tech engines are among the slickest around, and have been used by studios including MachineGames and Tango Gameworks.

Indeed, Valve’s ‘GoldSrc’ engine, developed for Half-Life, was a heavily modified form of the original Quake engine, built by Id Co-founder John Carmack (who shared his own thoughts on the layoffs this week). In a way, you could even look at the legacy of Id as an essential step to the Steam-centric world of modern PC gaming. That backend work has continued through into Id’s most recent release, Doom: The Dark Ages, and while it was its most demanding creation yet, the team continues to set a high standard for optimization, delivering some of the smoothest-running games on PC.

There have naturally been concerns about how many people were left at Id, and this new post aims to settle some of that uncertainty. In fact, it says that its current team is “about the same size” as it was when building the 2016 Doom reboot (still my personal favorite of its catalog). “We have always had a flat studio where everyone is a maker,” it continues, “and we will remain true to that philosophy moving forward.

“We are focused on supporting each other and the team members impacted,” the studio says in conclusion. “We’re going to keep building the great games and tech that have defined us for the past 35 years, and we’re looking forward to seeing you at QuakeCon this August.” It’s some measure of reassurance, although the message can’t possibly take the sting off the huge swathe of job losses, or the toll the layoffs will take on those who remain.

I’m also not sure that diving straight back into Doom is the answer. One of the greatest assets Doom 2016 had in its corner was a hunger for its return, with more than a decade passed since Doom 3 (we’ll leave the mobile-only Resurrection as its own beast). Could it be time for a proper, single-player Quake? Only time will tell, but I wish everyone involved the best.

A Manor Lords update has just fixed its “degraded” systems

Four months of Manor Lords technical overhauls have just moved across from the beta branch to the live build, bringing core under-the-hood improvements to the medieval city-building game. Developer Slavic Magic recently announced it was putting some of its planned content drops and its trade rework on pause briefly, in order to prioritize “taking a hard look at systems that had quietly degraded over time.” Now, that backend work is ready to go, and you should feel the changes immediately. “Next stop: more content.”

Earlier this week, Manor Lords Lead Developer Greg Styczeń expressed his own frustration with the pace of updates. “I wish, more than anyone, that progress on content was quicker, but we’re doing everything we can, and I truly think that the team can’t grow any larger without introducing risk.” He emphasizes that the team’s commitment to fixing bugs and optimizing is important: “Please remember that the game has a relatively large audience, which makes even quite obscure bugs ruin people’s playthroughs on a daily basis. In other words, if it wasn’t important, we wouldn’t prioritize it.”

Now, Styczeń has followed up with the seventh major Manor Lords update. He also takes a moment to thank the community “for the support and the kind words after the last post,” saying it “means a lot.” He then moves into a summary of everything that’s been introduced across the past four months of beta tests that are now in the live version. This includes those aforementioned pathfinding reworks; the system, naturally core to most parts of the Manor Lords experience, had started to crack under the weight of “gradually stacking inefficiencies.”

With Manor Lords update seven, your villagers and workers should spend less time looking for paths. There’s an ‘island’ system designed to quickly reject routes that try to move through different enclosed zones, such as riversides that don’t have a bridge connection between them. Character locomotion and collision has been refactored, as have the squad-move commands (if you want to use the old style of moving squads, simply hold the Alt key while issuing orders). That means less bumping into objects, more efficiency, and hopefully smoother performance overall.

The full patch notes are packed with hundreds of lines of changes, thanks to the months of balancing, bug fixes, and minor improvements. Level-one families no longer consume ale. Families won’t become homeless if their house catches fire, only if it burns down (a minor distinction on the face of it, but an important one). You can now select buildings that end up in the Manor area – this isn’t supposed to happen, so this one is a temporary fix until town walls are ready and working as intended.

Tasks and worker behavior have been overhauled to make your population feel smarter and more responsive to the jobs that actually need to get done, and even let them perform tidy-up duty such as returning handcarts to the shed if they’d otherwise be idle. The boundaries of churches have been expanded as future-proofing for additional levels to come, while quarries are now larger to solve clipping issues when you place them side by side.

Manor Lords update seven is live now on the game’s main branch. With that sorted, it’s back to fresh additions. “For those who worry, even if technical issues are distracting us, we are constantly working on new content and features, it’s just things that aren’t ready to be published yet,” Styczeń reassures. He also notes that any votes he hosts via social media “are usually about low priority improvements that we’re considering,” and not “our main concern at the moment,” so don’t take them the wrong way.

After 19 months of waiting, Project Zomboid’s next update will finally deliver a stable build, “and it’s a big one”

It’s been an agonizing wait for Project Zomboid build 42 if you prefer to stay on the stable side of things. It’s been 19 months and 19 major iterations since it arrived on the ‘unstable’ branch of the zombie game, and in that time The Indie Stone has continued to update it with significant changes to the likes of ranged combat and skill progression, the reintroduction of multiplayer, and the addition of a happiness buff when consuming chocolate milk. Now, the developer confirms that Project Zomboid update 42.20 will be the one to move to the stable branch – “and it’s a big one.”

To mark the real-world equivalent of the canonical day your journey through Knox Country begins, the Project Zomboid developer is here “to lay out our overall plans for the rest of the year.” It starts with unstable build 42.20, which it says is in testing. Along with teasing its sheer size, The Indie Stone promises “a few yet-to-be revealed surprises a big portion of the team has been designing and creating.” It’s currently targeting the patch for “later this summer,” which doesn’t leave too much room, although it says players “have at least a few weeks” with the current version.

More importantly, however, The Indie Stone has “identified 42.20 as the build candidate that will move to the stable branch.” This will bring those 19 months of updates to the broader Project Zomboid community that favors the more reliable main build, where there are no fears about potential issues breaking saves, servers, or mods. The team says that this build will become the default launch option on Steam when it arrives, “barring unforeseen circumstances.”

For those who have been on the experimental side, it’ll finally offer a breather from worrying about whether or not your save will be compatible with the next patch. “Additionally,” The Indie Stone notes, “unstable players will want to be aware that we have also been addressing issues around the following: character spawns, controllers, meat yield from butcher hooks, vehicle towing, zombie culling in multiplayer, map chunk loading when driving in multiplayer, and loads more.”

Unfortunately, with so many changes in the works (going beyond what’s listed above), the dev confirms that your build 42.19 saves won’t be transferable to the new version. You will be able to carry them on after the update through the ‘outdatedunstable’ branch if you wish, however.

Build 42’s arrival on the stable branch won’t be the end of things. Once it’s sorted any immediate issues with hotfixes, The Indie Stone plans to work next on “a patch consisting of tweaks and adjustments based on player feedback, primarily aimed at the late game.” It remarks that opening build 42 to its entire audience will allow the team to collect data and responses from a wider crowd, as well as from “more uninterrupted, longer-term playthroughs.”

Past that, the plan is to release the latest mapping tools, along with Project Zomboid’s in-house animation editor and integration tool, to the community. “We believe that having greater control of animations will be of huge benefit to modders looking to unleash their creativity,” it says. Work continues on community-driven localization, and budding contributors are still welcome to apply to help.

“Throughout the rest of 2026, we will also be working on a build 42 support update that focuses on optimization, additional modding support, and some player-requested features and polish that didn’t quite make the build 42 stable cutoff,” the developer concludes. “This will benefit from many of our learnings from build 42 and the recent process changes the team has implemented, as well as addressing technical debt that has built up over time, and is aimed at continuing to improve our development pipeline.”

Beyond that point, The Indie Stone teases that, of course, “there is plenty of work ahead on the road to our future major builds.” Submit your guesses now for when the elusive number 43 eventually comes across our desk.

A new Deadlock update leaves Graves and Silver gleeful, but Valve still can’t get Shiv right

Valve has dropped a fresh Deadlock update on our heads, and while it’s not nearly as substantial as last week’s shakeup it’s still likely to impact some of the MOBA’s most popular heroes. We’ve got more changes for the Soul Urn (stop me if you’ve heard this one before), the Unstable Rift (our newly minted name for the King of the Hill objective), and some roster balance changes. As a Graves and Silver enthusiast, I’m pleased to report that both of their stocks are rising again, but it’s bad news if you’re a Shiv or Drifter main.

Now that Valve has separated the Urn and Rift into two distinct objectives, it’s honing their balance as it continues taking feedback from the Deadlock community about what’s working and what isn’t. Catching the Urn runner should now be easier: they’ll get less of a benefit to their move speed and sprint (meaning no bonus at all on the latter unless you’re behind). The Urn will also call out its position more often, every six seconds instead of eight, and it can be heard from even further away to help you track its location down.

The Unstable Rift, meanwhile, is being made even more worthwhile. The wave of buffed-up Rift Troopers earned by the winning team now come with Spirit Resist (starting at 30% and scaling up to 45%) and Melee Resistance (a flat 25%). They’ll spawn at a marginally slower rate, staggering them out a bit more, but the total number that you can get if your team is behind has gone up from 12 to 14. As for the Rift itself, the warning time is down from 25 seconds to just 20, making scouting its location beforehand extra valuable, and the size of the resist aura it provides for the trailing team has grown from 20 meters to 35.

Before we get into hero-specific adjustments, there’s one more notable change to core mechanics: the bounty split provided by objectives to nearby players has been lowered from 40% to 30%. In effect, Valve explains, this means a slightly bigger portion of the bounty is split team-wide rather than being given to an individual player. The power of tier-four Spirit item Scourge’s damaging aura has also been very slightly nerfed again.

As I mentioned, the big winner today feels like Graves. The Necromancy specialist now builds her Jar of Dead faster from neutral creeps, and it provides 60% more spirit scaling on the heal effect. Melee hits now count towards Essence Theft’s stat-stealing effect, and it can target one extra opponent at max rank. The increased Ghoul speed on her ultimate has been moved from tier two to tier one, and the second upgrade gains the benefit of causing them to spawn faster. Her only slight nerf is to the immobilize duration of Grasping Hands, but it gets four more seconds knocked off its cooldown at tier three.

One day, I believe Valve will be satisfied with Shiv. It’s not today. Bloodletting’s active now clears less of the deferred damage it’s holding back, and the cooldown at base level is five seconds longer (you’ll get this back once it hits tier one). The fatal health threshold on Killing Blow has been lowered, although this is compensated for when you max it out. He also now has less spirit scaling on Serrated Knives and Slice and Dice, along with less Spirit Resist reduction on the second-tier upgrade.

My favorite werewolf is back, too, with Silver’s ultimate cooldown dropped back down to just 60 seconds, making it much more viable to have ready for every engagement. If you’re keeping track, it’s still less potent than the 40-second CD it used to boast a month ago, but it’s a huge improvement from the 80 seconds Valve had gradually pushed it up to across multiple patches.

Yamato’s Flying Slash has had its range slightly reduced, down to 26 meters from 28. Once at level three, the delay between its additional charges has been raised from three to four seconds. Most notably, however, targeting an ally to dash to now specifically requires you to use the alt-cast input. This might take a little getting used to, but I think it’s a change all Yamato fans will ultimately welcome – it ensures much more consistency when you’re dealing with situations where multiple characters are in your vision at once.

Across the remaining patch notes, the other big loser is Drifter, who gets markedly less Bullet Damage gain per boon. The early game cooldown on Stalker’s Mark has also been nerfed, not recovering until tier two, and the bleed bonus at max rank has been lessened. Elsewhere, Mirage trades faster cooldowns on Djinn’s Mark and max-level Traveler for worse Fire Scarabs and Dust Devil spirit scaling, Holliday’s Powder Kegs lose some power, and Victor’s ultimate cooldown gets a welcome 35-second reduction.

This Deadlock update is live now. The big question on everyone’s lips, however, is what comes next. We’re rapidly approaching six months since the arrival of Old Gods, New Blood, and I’m sure Valve has been cooking up another major upgrade in the background as it toyed around with finding the right mix of mid-match objectives. Hopefully we’ll have that fresh evolution in our hands soon, whatever it might be.

The Dark Ages Premium Edition Free Download (v20760608 & All DLCs)

Download File

DOOM: The Dark Ages Premium Edition Free Download

BECOME THE SLAYER IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELL
DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine.

REIGN IN HELL

As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for.

STAND AND FIGHT

Experience an epic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this cinematic and action-packed story. Bound to serve as the super weapon of gods and kings, the DOOM Slayer fends off demon hordes as their leader seeks to destroy the Slayer and become the only one that is feared. Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war. New Heights: Realistic Climbing and Bouldering

DISCOVER UNKNOWN REALMS

In his quest to crush the legions of Hell, the Slayer must take the fight to never-before-seen realms. Mystery, challenges, and rewards lurk in every shadow of ruined castles, epic battlefields, dark forests, ancient hellscapes, and worlds beyond. Armed with the viciously powerful Shield Saw, cut through a dark world of menace and secrets in id’s largest and most expansive levels to date.

Features and System Requirements:

• DOOM: The Dark Ages Premium Edition delivers brutal demon-slaying in a dark medieval hellscape
• Experience fast, aggressive combat with new weapons like the Shield Saw
• Fight across massive battlefields with epic scale and savage intensity
• Premium Edition includes DLC access, cosmetics, and digital extras
• A bold reimagining of DOOM with raw power, metal vibes, and chaos

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
OS *: Windows 10 64-Bit / Windows 11 64-Bit
Processor: AMD Zen 2 or Intel 10th Generation CPU @3.2Ghz with 8 cores / 16 threads or better (examples: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or better, or Intel Core i7 10700K or better)
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA or AMD hardware Raytracing-capable GPU with 8GB dedicated VRAM or better (examples: NVIDIA RTX 2060 SUPER or better, AMD RX 6600 or better)
Storage: 100 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Games need to succeed, not just be beloved

“I have been trying to find something meaningful to say about the Id Software layoffs.” It’s a sentiment all of us share, but a particularly strong one for its Co-founder John Carmack. A WARN notice filed in Texas states that 136 jobs are being cut at the Doom developer, reportedly more than half of its current workforce, as part of extensive layoffs across Microsoft and Xbox studios. Responding to the news, Carmack writes that he’s “saddened, but can’t muster anger or outrage over it.”

News of the layoffs broke right alongside the launch of new DLC for Id’s latest game, Doom: The Dark Ages, turning what should have been cause for celebration into a moment of mourning. “My ‘Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the brand’ statement isn’t aging well,” Carmack admits via X, adding, “this is certainly going to dampen the mood of the founder reunion at QuakeCon next month.” He doesn’t lay the blame at Microsoft’s feet, however, instead discussing the effects of increasing pressure to succeed within the gaming business.

One of the biggest frustrations surrounding the layoffs is the sudden culling of a studio with so much heritage: Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake are the very foundations of FPS games at large. Carmack says that simply isn’t enough any more. “I suspect that Id Software was a marginal business from Microsoft’s perspective. I believe the reports that Minecraft revenues have been carrying several other studios. To continue being produced long term, games need to succeed, not just be beloved.”

“Games are competing with every other option for spending your leisure time and money, and the competition is brutal,” Carmack explains. “You can’t rule out the possibility that executives are idiots, but that shouldn’t be your default belief. I don’t think there is any obvious path that would have doubled the revenue from Id games.”

Carmack ponders alternative solutions: might a different pricing strategy have helped Doom to thrive in the crowded modern scene? Should Id have been making things faster, or cheaper, or pushed their products to a wider audience of “players that would have loved and bought the game” with more cost-effective marketing?

Perhaps Doom needed to evolve more, Carmack contemplates. “Could they have changed the game designs and broadened the appeal to more players without alienating existing ones?” Back in 2016, the Doom reboot felt like exactly the breath of fresh air that was needed – the formula was a perfect blend of old and new, retaining the fundamentals that made those ’90s classics so beloved and yet simultaneously pushing modern shooters forward.

Doom: The Dark Ages showed fresh willingness from Id to experiment again: its incarnation of the Doom Slayer was slower, more methodical, almost tank-like. It won some hearts, but bounced off of others. The new Revelations DLC was an attempt to strike a balance between the two styles, with Edward praising its “perfect balance” of the distinct styles of The Dark Ages and Doom Eternal. Unfortunately, it arrived too late to have a chance to swing the needle.

Would any of those changes Carmack proposes have turned Id’s fortunes around? Would any of them even have been possible in the first place? “I really don’t know,” he concludes. He isn’t writing Id off completely, though: “The game isn’t over yet, and I hope the studio rallies through.”

Asked whether he would be interested in reclaiming ownership of the Doom IP, Carmack responds that he’s sure it’s valued “at substantially more than my personal net worth, even if it was just sitting on a shelf for potential future use,” and adds that he doesn’t believe he would be the right person for the job anyway. He does, however, offer a “$1M guarantee to allow Team Beef to commercialize the legacy open source games on VR.”

Digimon Story Time Stranger Free Download (Build 23514637)

Download File

Digimon Story Time Stranger Direct Download:

You control a customized agent from a covert group called ADAMAS (or Atomus) that investigates digital glitches in Tokyo. EA SPORTS College Football 27

The Inciting Incident: An apocalyptic disaster known as the “Shinjuku Inferno” shatters reality.

The Mission: Miraculously surviving, you are hurled eight years into the past. You must piece together how the world collapsed and prevent the disaster from ever happening. The Worlds: Your journey loops through real-world Tokyo districts and a fresh, intricately detailed server environment called the Digital World: Iliad. Along the way, you form a core bond with a human companion named Inori and an amnesiac Digimon called Aegiomon

The game plays like a blend of classic turn-based JRPGs and deeper monster-taming simulators.Active Turn-Based Battles: Combat uses a 3v3 layout with an expanded system of 11 distinct elemental types and unique monster traits. Strategy is highly flexible because you can swap team members or use items mid-fight without burning your turn. Data Scanning Over Catching: You do not physically trap wild monsters. Instead, fighting enemy Digimon scans their data.

Once a scan profile hits 100%, you can generate that Digimon directly into your roster from anywhere. Infinite Evolution Paths: True to the franchise, you can evolve and intentionally de-evolve your creatures. This allows you to master massive branching skill trees and carry over top-tier stats to build a personalized team. Personality Matrix: Conversing and interacting with your Digimon alters their unique personalities. These traits directly dictate how their combat stats grow

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 / Windows 11
Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 /AMD Ryzen5 3600
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 [4 GB] / AMD Radeon RX 580 [8 GB] /Intel Arc A580 [8 GB]
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 27 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Valve just changed how CS2’s bomb works, and it’s terrifying

Counter-Strike 2 Season 5 is here, and Valve continues to show a willingness to shake up its beloved FPS. Along with all the usual skins, stickers, and armory adjustments you’d expect, and the official implementation of Cache, the most striking part of the new CS2 patch notes is a redesign of the way bombs detonate. The more realistic explosions will give you more options to survive, if you’re smart about it. Alongside this comes an interesting console command that lets you manually shoot grenades to detonate them, which now has me mulling over the possible ramifications for the future.

The bomb explosion has been a constant in CS2 for years. You know where you stand, quite literally: too close, and it’s goodbye when it blows. Season 5 redesigns the effective range and extent of C4 damage, meaning it’s time to finally rethink that formula. “Now, when the bomb detonates, an explosive wave of destruction will flow from the bombsite through the map,” Valve describes. My first impression is that the new-look detonation is far more terrifying to watch, sending a rapid wave of force and fire curling around corners. The good news is that it might make survival easier.

Standing too close to the bomb will still be just as deadly as before, but, as Valve explains, “the shockwave dissipates around corners and doesn’t go through walls, so at a certain distance you can use your wits to survive.” This has been pre-calculated for all official defusal maps, and you can actually test it for yourself using CS2 console commands. Type in ‘cl_bake_bomb_damage_debug 1’ to see site A’s detonation pathing, or use a ‘2’ instead for site B. You’ll also see your expected damage reflected on your health bar before the bomb goes off.

‘Gabe Follower’ demonstrates the commands in action in the video above. That’s not all, because players have found another interesting console trick in the new update. Using ‘mp_shoot_dropped_grenades 1’ will allow you to shoot and damage thrown grenades to detonate them. This can also cause chain reactions. Like the previous command, this will only work in private testing. It does throw up the question of whether this is something Valve is testing as a possible inclusion for the future, however.

With the launch of CS2 Premier Season 5, Cache comes into the active duty map pool, replacing Overpass. In other modes, the rotation takes out the community maps Warden, Stronghold, Alpine, and Sanctum. Coming in to replace them in Competitive, Casual, and Deathmatch are Boulder, Fachwerk, and Shelter, while Debris and El Dorado join the lineup for Wingman.

You might remember Valve putting out a call to arms for more custom skins based on spy tech and Arabian mythology at the end of 2025. Both of those collections are now here as part of the Season 5 Armory update, along with the ‘Fruits and Vegetables’ and ‘Auto Racing’ sticker sets requested at the same time. The full release notes also address some bugs, such as being unable to pick up dropped weapons through the buy menu, and include a fix for a pixel gap outside tunnel in Dust II.

The Counter-Strike Season 5 update is live now. I’d certainly recommend heading into the testing ground just to get a feel for how the new detonations work and looking for good spots to retreat to. As for me, I’m sitting here quietly hoping that those grenade chain reactions become a real thing soon, because it could open up the door to some really clever plays and memorable highlight moments – and that’s what CS2 is all about.

Total War Warhammer 3’s new attempt at fixing its campaign AI woes promises a “more dynamic and interesting” late game

Total War: Warhammer 3 update 8.1 has just landed, which means it’s time for developer Creative Assembly’s latest attempt to polish its computer-controlled campaign factions. The colossal strategy game’s new patch notes are equally massive, also introducing more landmarks and technology to support Grand Cathay and their Tiger Warriors. With hundreds of lines of balance changes, battle improvements, and bug fixes, there’s something in here for just about everyone.

The conversation around Total War: Warhammer 3’s troubled campaign AI came to a head in late 2025, with CA capping off what it called “a frustrating year” with a deep-dive into why its rival factions were often leaving armies standing around doing nothing. There have been improvements since, but similar struggles are still a regular sight in campaigns. It’s not completely game-breaking, but when we’re talking about one of the biggest and best Warhammer games, it has been below the standard TWW3 deserves.

The 8.1 patch notes bring a fresh swathe of changes to the table. Senior Community Manager Steve Coleman explains that one of the common problems encountered are “certain campaign AI tasks that lead to its armies clustering and idling” because it’s focusing on defending key regions. This update is more than just changing some numbers: “We’ve added a new mechanism that allows us to control exactly what the campaign AI prioritizes, depending on how many turns have passed since campaign start.”

Coleman says that this new system not only solves some more immediate issues, such as allowing CA to lower the priority of tasks such as defending specific regions in the late game when doing so is less useful, but also tackle future misbehavior on the part of the campaign AI. With 8.1, you should see fewer cases of armies standing idle, clustered up around settlements, “making the late game more dynamic and interesting to play.”

Instead of simply turtling up and reacting to what you do, computer-controlled factions will now “seek to expand and compete” more deeply into the endgame, with an increased priority for “tasks that target enemy forces.” That’ll make them more interesting to play against in a human-vs-AI situation, but it should also mean fewer instances of “situations where multiple endgame factions end up in a stalemate, not attacking each other, only defending.”

We’re still not out of the woods yet, though. CA notes that there are still several other AI-related issues that it’s “working on solving.” This includes “clumping behavior” caused by a range of possible factors: endgame factions that spawn prior to turn 40, multiple endgame scenarios triggering at the same time, and direct borders between factions (whether or not they’re at war). Fights over contested borders or provinces can also lead to a standoff, with a higher chance the more evenly matched the two sides are.

Total War: Warhammer 3 patch 8.1 also gives more attention to Grand Cathay, which was recently expanded with the new Bhashiva DLC that adds her Tiger Warriors to its lineup. Cathay gets four more landmarks. The Monument of the White Tiger makes Tiger Warriors cheaper and stronger. The House of Secrets is an alternative way to recruit Alchemists and lower their cooldowns. The Terracotta Road improves defensive supplies and lets you recruit more Terracotta Sentinels, and the Grand Maritime Lift removes the movement cost to embark and disembark, along with shortening the time that journeys take on Sea Lanes.

The Tiger Warriors get a further buff with two extra techs. ‘Tiger’s Call’ lowers the upkeep and raises the damage of Tiger Warrior Stalkers, and brings the recruitment cost of all Tiger Warrior units down by 10%. ‘Honed Sense’ reduces upkeep and increases the speed for both Dual Axes and Iron Claw units, and adds two to the recruitment rank of all Tiger Warrior Units. That should make the new additions both cheaper and more effective.

Grand Cathay also sees both the Yin and Yan variants of the Dragon-Blooded Shugengan Lord handed personalized skill lines. Elsewhere, the Goblin Big Boss, Goblin Great Shaman, and Orc Warboss have all been handed approval to use chariot mounts in the campaign, Mio Ying’s starting army has been buffed to help her out in the early stages of a campaign, and CA has addressed some problems where Slaanesh factions could stack up too many speed bonuses across their units. You’ll now have a tougher time applying such broad boosts.

As mentioned, the full patch notes run for quite literally hundreds of lines, ranging from ability cost and effect rebalancing to visual fixes such as getting the Tiger Warrior Stalker’s hair under control. If you want to know whether your favorites have changed in any impactful ways, be sure to scan the list in its entirety.

Total War: Warhammer 3 patch 8.1 is live now. Coleman encourages anyone who runs into any new bugs or issues to report them via the forums. With Total War: Warhammer 40k on the horizon, I’m hopeful that all this backend work will set Creative Assembly up to deliver something both majestic and mechanically magnificent out of the gate.

Taylor Swift needs to be a skin in Fortnite

Ava is a fan of all things relating to The Sims and Dead by Daylight, to immersive RPGs, MMOs, and cozy games

Published: July 9, 2026

A new Fortnite rumor has started circulating online that Taylor Swift could be the next Fortnite Festival headliner, which in turn could mean her very own Icon Series Skin coming to the battle royale. As a huge Swiftie and someone who considers themselves a serial casual Fortnite player (starting with Save The World way back in the day), this isn’t the first time this sort of thing has been speculated about on the internet – so it always gets an eyeroll from me whenever it comes back around. Social media is awash with concepts of what she could look like in-game.

But this time has really made me think ‘why haven’t we?’ Of course, Swift just may not be interested in having her likeness digitalized so gamers can run around an island as her. At the same time, though, her discography would make for some killer emotes and Jam Tracks. Think “Cruel Summer,” “Look What You Made Me Do,” or the recent hit “Opalite,” for example. Those scream Fortnite dance material.

It’s not just her discography that makes sense for the pop princess to head on into Fortnite’s Battle Bus, though. Since 2024, we’ve seen female music legends like Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Karol G, Lady Gaga, Laufey, Lisa, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter all headlining. Let’s also not forget Ariana Grande – who appeared even before Fortnite Festival was a thing in her own Rift Tour in 2021 – and the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey making a wintry appearance. That’s a stacked set of A-list stars, so Taylor Swift would be in very good company.

The returning players and buzz this could generate from outside gaming would likely be insane. I remember coming back to Fortnite after a break solely because Sabrina Carpenter was headlining in 2025. I got her skins, played a good few matches, secured a couple of Victory Royales, and quickly dipped again without looking back. With Swift, though, you can imagine the fan theories, the hunting for easter eggs in costumes, or any references made to her on the island.

An Eras Tour-esque costume would look absolutely stellar in-game, and bundles focusing on her different eras (think “RED” album with the black-brimmed hat and “Not A Lot Going on At The Moment” t-shirt or a woodlandy, “folklore”-inspired dress) would be something I’d struggle to convince myself not to pick up.

There’s a skin in-game that makes me think of Swift whenever I see it: 2020’s Siren from the Hit Squad set, shown above. With a bleached blonde bob, red lips, blue eyes, and a black outfit that feels very “reputation”, it’s a far cry from the star herself – but maybe that’s the closest we’ll ever get to the real thing.

Whether or not this rumor ends up being true, I know the feeling of wishing that a Taylor Swift skin could come to the game “All Too Well”. I just hope it ends up coming true one day.

This week’s Epic Games Store free games has you exploring a 2D planet or setting up as a tattoo tycoon

Epic Games Store is back with their free games of the week, and this time around, you can blast off to a mysterious planet to explore and build in Nova Lands, or manage your very own tattoo parlor in Tattoo Tycoon.

If you’ve ever wanted to create your own industry, BEHEMUTT’s Nova Lands is a steal. Typically retailing at $19.99 and with a 4.8 rating on Epic, the open world 2D title has you building up a base with an emphasis on automation. Able to sustain your production without you needing to intervene through bots, they can collect resources for you, meaning you can head off for a spot of exploration.

Starting off on a small island, you’ll unlock more to venture out on as you play, finding different resources and creatures as you go. If you’re a fan of questing, you’ll come across NPCs to talk to, and whether you prefer combat or would rather avoid it, that choice is up to you.

The game’s store page says “if you were to mix Factorio, Forager, and Satisfactory, Nova Lands would be just that”. If that sounds like your cup of tea, make sure to claim the deal before it’s over.

Tattoo Tycoon is very much what it says on the tin. Retailing at $29.99 outside of the deal, Crazy Bunch’s management sim will have you reviving a business and putting your own stamp on it. With the option to open up shop when you choose, and in different locations, you can actively tattoo customers through a little mini game, decide where to put them, and unlock new tats for use.

The tattooing process has you needing to keep an eye on each customer to read their pain tolerance and wiping excess ink away. Not doing so could see you coming away without a single penny. Consulting prospective clients is also a big focus, where you’ll need to chat to them to learn about their likes and dislikes to help you decide on what tattoo they might like.

With a 4.1 star rating on EGS’ storefront, if you’re a fan of games like the Two Point series, The Sims, or House Flipper, the interior design aspect, management, and character creation should be right up your street.

The Nova Lands and Tattoo Tycoon are both available for free via the Epic Games Store between Thursday July 9 and Thursday July 16 at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BST / 5pm CEST. They’re yours to keep once claimed – so head here and grab them while you can.

how Riot grew Valorant into its second global esport

Lauren spends most of her time dead in League of Legends, or equally as dead in Valorant. Don’t ask her about Vampire: The Masquerade.

Published: July 9, 2026

The energy at Valorant Masters London is electric. Everywhere I look, there are people. They’re dressed as their favorite Agents – there’s many a Jett, Gekko, and Sage. They’re wearing their country’s flags, draped around them like colorful capes – I see myriad Scottish saltires; a fond reminder of home. Then, there’s a guy dressed as The Pope. He’s got a Glasgow accent and a flash of ginger hair, and his Pope name is derived from Celtic Football Club founder Brother Walfred, now elevated to Pope status. Masters London is a melting pot of cultures and, apparently, religious leaders: it’s an event that transcends ‘big videogame convention:’ it’s the meeting place of a global community.

“The reality is that we host so many of these events across the year, but every time we go to a new city it doesn’t get old,” Valorant Esports’ Head of Product Strategy Bill Pan tells me. “It’s awesome being here, and I wish a lot more people on our team could come here and experience the excitement from the fans. That’s when you can see the tangible work back at home materialize in real life. It’s awesome.”

We’re sitting in a little pod behind the scenes at The Copper Box Arena, with a crystallized Sage staring down at us. The Copper Box Arena hosts up to 7,500 fans, and Valorant Masters has sold out. It’s a far cry from the early days of First Strike, and the inaugural Red Bull Home Ground after that. Pan doesn’t know that I’ve got my Home Ground hoodie back at the hotel: ‘2021 New Edition’ it says on the sleeve. That was five years ago.

Now Valorant esports is a global phenomenon; perhaps second-only to Riot’s sister title, League of Legends. Masters London peaked at 9.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched VCT event of all time. That beats out League of Legends Worlds 2025, and Counter-Strike 2’s Cologne Major, which was running parallel to VCT London. While 80% of Masters’ audience was China-based (likely tuning in to watch EDward Gaming), it’s nothing to smirk at.

Pan has been working on Valorant esports for almost four years, and has watched the ecosystem blossom into what it is today. I ask him what that journey’s been like, especially given that the game’s esports adventures began mid-COVID-19 pandemic.

“Esports, for Valorant, has always been at the core of what the game is supposed to be to some extent,” he says. “Now you need the game to be successful for any sort of scale to happen on the esports side, and that’s what we really saw. As the game grew over time and the fans showed up, we were able to scale up what kind of shows we could put on, what kind of ecosystem we could build, and what kind of financial incentives we could give back to the pro teams. The growth from back then until now is very much a reflection of both the game and the excitement that fans have shown to us; the want to bring events to cities around the world.

“In the beginning, around First Strike, we were also hitting the [COVID-19] pandemic. We still had to put on an awesome broadcast show, but we really didn’t have the scale of fans we wanted until we were able to open it up post-pandemic. By the time we hit Champions Istanbul and LA, that’s when we really started seeing the return to what we thought Valorant esports should be, back in the day. Definitely an awesome path from then until now.”

It’s not easy to build an esports ecosystem these days, however. In 2022, GamesBeat’s Jordan Fragen foretold of an “esports winter;” “diversify to survive,” she warned. Livestreaming was dropping off post-pandemic; sponsorships were dying; esports was slowly becoming associated with the likes of sports betting and NFTs. It paints a dire picture of the sphere in 2022, just when Valorant was on the rise.

In 2026, some of what she forecast has come to fruition; to the outside eye esports is dying. The likes of the Esports World Cup and its associated Nations Cup are backed by the ever-controversial Saudi Investment Fund, and there’s been a recent flood of betting sponsors. In many ways, it feels bleak. I ask Pan how Valorant has continued to be successful, and if Riot has felt the effects of said ‘winter.’

“If you think of the first principals of why esports exists in the first place: games are fun, people like games. So as long as there’s a games industry out there there’s a baseline,” he replies. “Within the games industry, there’s always going to be a subsegment of players that want to play highly-competitive, team-based sports. That’s always going to be intrinsic to human behavior. To marry that together with the fact that games exist, means that I think esports, naturally, will never go [away]. It will always be a really exciting part of the industry.”

Esports, naturally, will never go [away]

Bill Pan – Head of Product Strategy, Valorant Esports

“Now your question is a good one; to what scale does that industry exist? We’ve gone through ebbs and flows. If you think about five years ago, ten years ago, a lot of the industry depended on sponsorship and BD revenue as [its] lifeblood. If you think of the other pro sports, a lot of their lifeblood is broadcast and media rights. Those conditions are different through esports of ten years ago versus pro sports, and I would argue that conditions are different today.”

He explains that Riot has attempted to diversify alongside those primary revenue pillars, noting that “digital goods in-game should actually be a bigger piece of how the esports industry really thrives. For Valorant specifically, we spent a lot of time thinking about what the digital goods are offering, and how that can fund the esports industry on our side. That’s been the biggest unlock for us. We don’t have to rely on external sources to try and break even or [hit] profitability in the way other companies need to.

“We think there’s enough value that the esports provides back to the game, both monetarily through skins, but also through awesome events and heightened competition. And when you wrap that all together, I think that’s why we still think esports is quite strong. Now that model might not work for everyone, but it certainly has been working well for us.”

Riot, however, owns two of the biggest esports in the world with League of Legends and Valorant, and that sets aside the likes of Wild Rift and the competitive sphere for its TCG, Riftbound. It has a lot of experience building these ecosystems, so I ask Pan if League of Legends’ esports journey served as both a source of inspiration, but also as somewhat of a success blueprint.

“We’re fortunate enough to learn from League, but also other games out there,” he says. “We learn a ton from Overwatch, Counter-Strike, and all of these titles that have come before us. The learning comes in a bunch of different ways; but we also learn a lot about what works and doesn’t work for fans. The experience that the League of Legends fan wants ten years ago is different from today; the average age has matured over time, the content they like has matured over time, and the delivery mechanisms – shortform content – also change over time.

“[League] has had to adapt to a lot of those changing variables, and for us, we see them making those edits and adjustments, and we now know to focus a lot more on what the cohort of players and fans want. Really, five years ago, our players were young,” he laughs. “They were coming from Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite. The way they think about a live esports event and what content means is very different to League of Legends of the same timeframe. Our learnings from League really [revolve around] how they think about audiences more than anything else, in addition to physical production and all of the things we need to do to run an event.”

It’s an interesting conundrum: a good live-service game ages alongside its playerbase, but how exactly does it do that? As a longtime League of Legends player, I’ve found the tease of a new rank intriguing, largely because the base player today does know more than a fan of the same level five years ago. That battle for relevance isn’t helped by the constant influx of new, ‘fast fashion’-esque content; TikTok, Instagram, YouTube – they’re ruthless battle royale-style platforms where everyone is vying for a mere two seconds of your attention.

I ask how Pan and the team hope to maintain that relevance; how do you grab that invaluable two seconds of time? How do you hold that interest for ten seconds, or a minute? “It’s challenging,” he laments. “If you think about five years ago, we had a really solid understanding of who our audience was, and as they’ve changed over the last five years, it’s not enough to just try to have a good understanding of where they are now. We also have to understand, who are the new audiences today, and how are they different? It’s almost like there’s more work today than ever to try and have a better understanding of our players.

“This is on top of the entertainment industry changing; what’s hot right now versus before aren’t the same. Then that’s on top of distribution channels changing. It’s an incredibly difficult job to work out how to best serve our audiences. What we’re trying to do is take a lot of shots in a lot of different directions and basically let the fans come to us in the different vectors we’re trying to build.”

He mentions the likes of new approaches to shortform content and esports highlight packages – “who has time to sit through hundreds of games a year for any sport?” he says with a laugh. “Even for the most die-hard soccer fan it’s impossible to sit through every game. Those are the things we’re going to continue to push our bounds on. This is an ongoing battle; this won’t end. We’re very focused on continuing to innovate.”

As Pan and I talk, there are waves of applause from the main hall. There’s electricity and excitement; genuine hype. We laugh as I nudge my microphone closer to him. “It’s getting so loud,” I say, vaguely panicked that the interview wouldn’t record correctly. He smiles.

That ebb and flow of cheering perfectly encapsulates the excitement of live esports – the highs and the lows of watching your team either thrive, or fall at the final hurdle. It’s an excitement that Riot events just understand: whether it’s League of Legends Worlds, MSI, or VCT Masters London, it just gets it. I’m excited to see Valorant thrive; I’ve been intertwined with its esports sphere since the beginning; I’ve grown with it, instead of joining later on as I did with League. I’m excited to see what happens next; excited to see what happens at Champions Shanghai. Just give me a Paper Rex win, then it’ll all be sunshine, rainbows, and gunfire.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Free Download (HYPERVISOR)

Download File

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Direct Download:

Pre-purchase now and get the exclusive Blackbeard’s Crimson Pack bonus. Includes a costume for Edward, a sword, and a pistol. Esports Manager 2026

Strike fear in your foes as you board and sink enemy vessels as Edward Kenway, captain of the Jackdaw. Whether blending into crowds or leading daring assaults, switch between silent takedowns and fierce brawls as you effortlessly wield swords, pistols, and the Hidden Blade. With a cast of historical pirate legends at your side, defy empires amidst the age-old conflict opposing Assassins and Templars.

Combat has been rebuilt for more dynamic encounters, emphasizing parries and takedowns, while stealth and parkour have been improved for smoother escapes and assassinations. Continuously upgrade the Jackdaw to face powerful enemy ships with enhanced naval mechanics featuring new alternate fire modes. Quality-of-life additions also address previous pain points, ensuring your experience is improved.

Whether you’re sailing the open seas or journeying across untamed lands, discover a seamless open world built with the latest Anvil engine. Take in sweeping vistas as you brave stormy waters, dive into underwater shipwrecks, or push through dense tropical jungles. Enhanced by features such as Dolby Atmos and ray tracing, every scene feels more immersive, bringing the world’s beauty to life.

Building on top of the original story, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced introduces exclusive new content. Familiar faces will return, with new storylines dedicated to fan-favorite characters such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. Unexpected allies will also cross your path, as three officers join you on your journey as part of the main narrative. More surprises await such as new sea shanties, pets, a photo mode, and more.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 (64 bit only), Windows 11
Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K 3.7 GHz, AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (6GB), AMD Radeon RX5500XT (8GB) or Intel ARC A580 (8GB)
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 65 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Chameleon codes (July 2026)

Keeping on top of these new Chameleon codes won’t make your job as a seeker any easier, but it will effectively reduce the number of wins needed to secure a cool new cosmetic for your fancy paint gun. That fishbones skin? A must-have.

Chameleon is the latest attempt by a dev team looking to capitalize on someone else’s truly unique gameplay idea. It’s virtual hide and seek, but not in the same vein as the prop hunt game mode that took the world by storm long before the “friendslop” flood. Instead of becoming a prop, you paint yourself into the environment to avoid the detection of a gun-totting detective. It’s a simple idea, but a mechanically complicated one to execute.

Here are the latest Chameleon codes on Roblox:

• 150KVisits – 1.5k coins (new!)
• FULLRELEASE – 1.5k coins

Once you’ve painted yourself into a wall, click here to follow us on Google instead. Take a peek at the other code guides there, and you might just avoid an unfortunate misclick that could make you an easy target. It’s hide and seek, not run and scream.

How do I redeem Chameleon codes?

You can redeem codes in Chameleon between rounds by following these steps:

• Launch Chameleon on Roblox.
• Click the ‘codes’ button on the left side of the screen.
• Enter a working code in the box.
• Click the ‘redeem’ button.

Why can’t I use the Chameleon code box?

If you’re struggling to enter a code in the box after following the steps above, closing and relaunching the game is usually enough to fix the issue. If that doesn’t work, scroll up through the shop and make sure to claim any freebies that are available. That can sometimes make the code box work again. It’s a known problem, so it should get patched out with the next update. 

How do I get more Chameleon codes?

You’ll find any new codes on the Chameleon Discord server. Though there’s no dedicated channel just yet, they’re easy to spot at the bottom of patch note posts on the ‘update-log’ channel. To join the server, click the Discord logo button at the bottom of the game page. You won’t see it if your Roblox account isn’t appropriately age-verified. Refresh the page once you’re done, and it should appear.

If digging around a Discord server sounds like your idea of a bad day, leave the rest to us. We trawl the Discord servers of hundreds of the biggest Roblox games every week so that we can offer easy-to-use redeem code lists just like the one above. Any time saved is more time you can spend playing Roblox. That’s a fair deal, right?

Expired codes:

EARLYBIRD

Got your Chameleon codes? Get to hiding.

Moonlight Peaks Free Download (Build 23966928)

Download File

Moonlight Peaks Direct Download:

Experience life as a vampire in a magical town full of werewolves, witches, mermaids, and more! In this heartwarming, supernatural life-sim, you will raise mystical crops, learn spell-casting and potion-making, and befriend – or even romance – the locals. And at the same time, show your skeptical father that a life of compassion is possible – even for the undead. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Settle down in your family’s abandoned homestead and make it your own. Build your farm with magic crops and livestock, customize your cottage with gothic style, and make friends with other creatures of the night. Embrace immortality and unlock ancient abilities, all in the name of a more bountiful harvest. Unravel the mysteries of the seven families that inhabit Moonlight Peaks and bring a bit of light back to this spooky settlement. Just remember to be back in your coffin before the sun comes up!

Customize your perfect vampire persona and build relationships with the people of Moonlight Peaks to learn more about the town’s history. Uncover the secrets of the seven families who dwell there – and maybe even find your “tomb” love from any of the two dozen romanceable characters in the process. Design your cozy gothic homestead, turning a forgotten farm into the ideal sanctuary. Obtain new tools and develop your property to grow even more enchanted crops and raise magical livestock.

Embrace your supernatural lineage! Shapeshift into other forms to explore all the town has to offer, and study witchcraft to learn spells that will help you on the farm or when gathering resources. Beyond the farm, you’ll be able to enjoy fishing, foraging, and potion-crafting, along with activities like embroidering, flower arranging, and more. You can even collect cards for the town’s favorite game, Nokturna, to play against other residents.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
OS: Windows 10 64 bit
Processor: Intel i3 Processor
Memory: 6 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 2GB
DirectX: Version 10
Storage: 8 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Palworld dev delivers “important” 1.0 mod warning

Palworld 1.0 is finally upon us. It’s yet another scary reminder of the passage of time that it’s already been two and a half years since the creature-collecting survival game proved itself more than mere parody and exploded to become one of the biggest games ever on Steam. As developer Pocketpair leaves early access, it gives one final warning to anyone who has toyed around with mods, noting that a failure to act could cause crashes, corrupted save data, or hard blocks on quest and event progression. “This is actually quite important, gamers,” community manager John ‘Bucky’ Buckley emphasizes.

Palworld mods have always been supported by Pocketpair, and the Palworld team says it is “grateful to all of our fans who have dedicated time into modding the game up until now.” However, with 1.0 making “significant changes to the game’s systems,” it warns that previously installed mods – particularly those that came out during the first year of its life – can cause some serious problems after transitioning to the new update.

“Please note, simply turning mods ‘off’ or ‘disabling’ them is not enough,” the developer stresses. “Mod files and mod loaders that remain in the game folder may still be loaded when the game starts, even if they have been disabled, and can cause issues.” As a result, it says you need to manually remove any associated files. “If you have ever installed mods in the past, even if they are currently turned off, please make sure to delete the files.”

In order to do this, Pocketpair gives some quick instructions. You’ll first want to back up your save data (this can be done by right-clicking Palworld in your Steam library and clicking ‘manage’). If you’re using Steam Workshop mods, ensure you are unsubscribed from them all. Then head to the game’s install directory (‘manage, browse local files’) and delete both ‘Pal\Binaries\Win64’ and ‘Pal\Content\Paks.’ Finally, return to the properties menu, go to ‘installed files,’ and verify the integrity of your installation.

After finishing, you’ll want to check that the game runs as expected without any mods installed before you download the update. If you’re still having trouble, you can uninstall Palworld as a last resort, but make sure to delete your entire local files directory before attempting to reinstall. This is also a good idea if you haven’t had the game downloaded recently, but did have mods active last time you were playing.

Once you’re up and running on the new version, Pockepair recommends that you only begin reinstalling mods “after confirming that the mod creators have updated them for 1.0, and then testing them one by one.” It notes that any issues that occur while using mods and modified game data “are not covered by support.” Given how seriously the developer is treating this issue, I would encourage following its advice to the letter, just to be on the safe side.

Palworld 1.0 launches on Friday July 10. While it doesn’t give an exact time, Pocketpair says it is “planning to release Palworld 1.0 around 12:30 JST.” That’s 4:30am BST / 5:30am CEST, or Thursday July 9 at 8:30pm PT / 11:30pm ET in America. 

EA SPORTS College Football 27 Free Download

Download File

EA SPORTS College Football 27 Direct Download:

In EA SPORTS™ College Football 27, step into the modern era of college football where personal ambition meets program pride. Engineer your program with Dynasty Blueprint, build your player, take on new positions in Road to Glory, and play as your favorite mascots in Mascot Mashup while immersed in the iconic traditions and pageantry of game day. Moonlight Peaks

DYNASTY
All-new Dynasty Blueprint puts you in control of your program’s future. Navigate Athletic Director Expectations and use Dynasty Points for recruiting, NIL, staff, and facilities to build your college football powerhouse.

ROAD TO GLORY
Define your path in Road to Glory and experience new customization options and positions as you build your player. Earn NIL deals, chase the Heisman, develop your Draft Stock, and raise your Legacy Score with each decision you make.

MASCOT MASHU
Play as your favorite mascot in Mascot Mashup. Collect over 120 larger-than-life icons, and bring the chaos to wild 11-on-11 matchups packed with over-the-top celebrations and mascot antics fueled by pure school spirit.

STORYTELLING & PRESENTATION
Feel every moment of game day, and experience college football at its height. Dynamic weather, expanded pageantry, and a new broadcast package delivers deeper immersion as dynamic storytelling connects your journey to the sights, sounds, and stakes of Saturday.

GAMEPLAY
Turn every touch into a highlight. Feel the difference of standout athletes impacting every play, from smarter route running and coverage to explosive WR vs. DB battles, while more streamlined, customizable pre-play adjustments fuel strategic and electric on-field action.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
OS: Windows 11
Processor: Intel Core i3-10300 (4 cores, 8 threads) / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT / Intel Arc A580
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 50 GB available space
VR Support: not supported
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced review

Paul’s an expert in Videogames, Star Trek, flannel shirts – in that order.

Published: July 8, 2026

Verdict

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced improves what was already the best AC game ever. Come for the fancy updated visuals, stay for the best pirate adventure you could possibly hope for.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced doesn’t mess about, despite what the super-long title would suggest. It opens with several explosions, throws away the wristblades, and gets you on the high seas in less than 20 minutes. From there, it’s chasing the horizon and gutting Spaniards, not necessarily in that order.

A remake of the 2013 entry into the Assassin’s Creed universe, Black Flag Resynced overhauls the pirate game, bringing it up to modern standards and getting rid of a lot of guff – it was great then, and it turns out it’s great now. It’s kind of always been the anti-Assassin’s Creed, what with the protagonist not really being that fussed with the band of hooded rascals as they are. It’s about building a better life and raging against the machine, in theory.

Black Flag follows a man named Edward Kenway as he attempts to break from normality and live as a privateer. This eventually manifests as straight-up piracy, which is where we come in, guns blazing. It plays much like any other early Assassin’s Creed game – pre-RPG enemy and item levels – with a main story and several different types of sidequests taking you all over the open world map.

After the explosive intro, I find myself in Havana. It’s a moderately built-up area, perfect for those assassin parkour runs; it’s dense without being overwhelming, and showcases a more traditional AC style of play. I tail a few soldiers, sneak into a heavily guarded fort to steal a few items – this is all very familiar. It’s after this, though, where Black Flag shines.

Once I’m let loose in the world, things really start to take shape. In my ship, the Jackdaw, I can sail pretty much anywhere on the huge open-world map; there are so many small activities that cross my path wherever I go, and it’s part of the constant drip-feed of stuff that makes Black Flag so compelling.

I’m not usually one for faff, but there’s a strange balance here that works. There are so many small tasks that cross my path when I’m sailing from A to B – swathes of English and Spanish ships that can be looted, forts to be assaulted, spots to dive shipwrecks for treasure, and stretches of ocean prime for whaling. This doesn’t cover everything, but to say there’s a buffet of activities ahead of me whenever I set sail is an understatement.

None of these little sidequests alone would be enough to satisfy, but together they form to make the world seem alive and full of possibility. I never get tired of anything because there’s always something else within arm’s reach; I have to move to the next thing, there’s someone else to blow up, there’s more loot to gobble up, there’s another desert island to explore.

Ship-to-ship combat is a huge part of Black Flag, and it hits with a punch like nothing else. I feel my vessel splinter as I’m hit with a volley of cannon fire; I brace against mortars while unleashing a volley of my own. It’s a back-and-forth of positioning and timing as I attempt to balance offense and defense, and when the cannons go quiet, I have another decision to make.

Boarding another ship is one of the very specific delights of Black Flag; after disabling my opponent with cannon fire and the occasional high-speed ram, I’m given the option to sink it or dock alongside and draw swords. Backflipping from deck to deck and diving into a fierce melee is never-not exciting – the noise from both crews fighting for their lives as I weave through the maelstrom is so engaging, and cutting down the now-previous owners of the vessel with Kenway’s bag of tricks is satisfying.

Black Flag isn’t a pirate game in the Assassin’s Creed universe; it’s an Assassin’s Creed game in a pirate universe. It could function just as well as a standalone game about setting up a paradise for the unwashed. This isn’t some shoehorned, destiny-riddled tale of fate – not really. With all of the modern sections removed, it plays like a really good game about being a pirate, which is obviously great.

Edward Kenway thinks the titular assassins and their creed are a lot of faff; too much fuss, a bunch of people running around in cloaks and hoods, fighting against another mysterious organization, risking their spines on little bales of hay – where’s the profit in that? Edward questions the morality of the Creed and keeps himself at arm’s length while striving for a better life for him and his. Piracy is questionable, but Kenway’s motives seem pure enough. Maybe. Chaotic neutral with a slight good-leaning, I guess.

The thrust of a lot of Black Flag revolves around breaking away from the norm. Kenway wants to create a place where people can be free, where he can make some coin, and where he can be at peace. The haven I build teeters on the piles of bodies it took to lay the foundations – my budding empire grows as I play, and I feel the stakes getting higher with each mission. What begins as a simple swindle grows into what could be all-out war.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a remake of the highest order. It strips the original of the dead weight while expanding on its characters, and ultimately, it gives me more pirate things to do, which is never a bad thing. It feels more alive than it did in 2013 – locations are dense, bustling affairs when they need to be, or eerie and desolate when it calls for it. The PC version adds all the fancy gubbins like ray tracing, and with the removal of loading screens as I sailed across the Caribbean, it all feels interconnected and smooth in a way that I guess just wasn’t possible over ten years ago.

Black Flag Resynced is definitely worth another playthrough for those who mined the original for all it was worth, and an absolute gift for those who have never heard of Edward Kenway. Get your swords, store your grog, and find the most disreputable crew you can: we’ve got loot to plunder.

Riot believes League of Legends ‘mage bot’ strats are “healthy diversity” and “need to be viable”

Riot Games has pulled planned Brand buffs from the upcoming League of Legends patch 26.14 due to “concerns around mages bot,” but says it’s still committed to supporting the divisive strategy as a viable way to play the MOBA. In a preview post covering the new update, Lead Gameplay Designer Matt ‘Phroxzon’ Leung-Harrison explains the team’s current feelings on the importance of allowing mage champions to oppose traditional ADC options in the bottom lane, and frankly, I’m glad to hear its reasoning.

“We know this is a contentious topic,” Phroxzon says of mages going bot lane. The idea of trading out your classic carry picks for a mage isn’t new, but its prominence in the ongoing MSI 2026 tournament has thrown the strategy into the center of conversation. The matchup can be a rather frustrating one for some of the standard bot lane picks, but I’m hugely in favor of shaking up the traditional meta. As someone who plays and watches both League of Legends and Dota 2, the latter’s more flexible team compositions are something I’ve always wanted to see more of in LoL.

Phroxzon seems to agree, stating that Riot sees “mages bot as creating healthy diversity for the bot lane experience overall, even though for some traditional marksmen, they can be quite frustrating.” He points out that there is still a “roughly four-to-one ratio of traditional marksmen to mages,” but says this alternative option existing lets players “experience a mix of games at high intensity (eg. playing ADC against Rengar/Talon and mages bot) and also games that are more comfortable and low threat (maybe Ivern jungle).”

“Too much intensity or too little intensity would make the game unfun in the long run,” Phroxzon adds. I fully agree here; when I’ve found myself drifting away from League, it’s always been because things felt too formulaic and stale. He then suggests, “Mages bot also need to be viable picks to allow teams to undoom themselves in champ select for an AD-mid pick like Zed/Yone/Yasuo.”

Anticipating your next question, Phroxzon continues: “That said, mages bot have pretty high win rates (often the highest), so aren’t they overpowered?” He acknowledges that they are “definitely strong for several reasons,” but then suggests that “win rates don’t tell the full story.”

While the simpler mages “have quite shallow mastery curves,” he explains, ADCs “are typically harder to play but also reward that mastery depth more, meaning their win rates are relatively suppressed compared to mages bot.” That doesn’t mean high-level mages are weak (pro play shows this isn’t the case), just that playing a mage is “often more forgiving and can be more tolerant of matchup.”

a similar effect to if you played autofilled malphite top (high skill floor)
– adcs by contrast are typically harder to play but also reward that mastery depth more, meaning their winrates are relatively suppressed compared to mages bot
– I’m not saying that mages at high levels of mastery/skill are weak (see them in pro play or high elo ranked), but mainly saying that winrates don’t tell the full story and we see them as relatively similar in power level overall, just often more forgiving and can be more tolerant of matchup
– adcs also have accelerated 3 item spikes in this season (compared to the other roles) due to bot quest, which also presents an interesting strategic balancing point (the mages a bit stronger on early item spikes and weaker on later ones)
– another balancing aspect of mages bot is that they typically represent a composition tradeoff. Eg. ori + yunara/lulu bot lane and win on 2/3 items or AD mid plus ziggs+engage bot and need to end the game fast
– if struggling with mages bot, champs like ezreal/sivir/zeri can be quite effective against them (dodge skills and have strong 2/3 item spikes and out scale)
– anyway, a nuanced conversation that I’ll dig into more in a video later.”” class=”wp-image-517707″ loading=”lazy” srcset=”https://www.pcgamesn.com/wp-content/sites/pcgamesn/2026/07/league-of-legends-mages-bot-discussion-riot-phroxzon-350×196.jpg 350w, https://www.pcgamesn.com/wp-content/sites/pcgamesn/2026/07/league-of-legends-mages-bot-discussion-riot-phroxzon-776×436.jpg 776w, https://www.pcgamesn.com/wp-content/sites/pcgamesn/2026/07/league-of-legends-mages-bot-discussion-riot-phroxzon-1140×641.jpg 1552w” sizes=”(max-width: 800px) 350px, 776px”>

Tempo also plays a big part in the mage-bot matchup; typically, they can get online faster with just a couple of items compared to the three or so that ADCs tend to require. However, the trade-off is that the mage’s team needs to take advantage of that power spike and end the game quickly before their opponents can catch up and outscale them.

“ADCs also have accelerated three-item spikes in this season (compared to the other roles) due to bot quest,” Phroxzon remarks. He gives a couple of examples, such as Ori with Yunara or Lulu in bot lane needing to look to win with two to three items, or “AD mid plus Ziggs and engage bot” having a similar requirement to end fast while its advantage lasts.

The decision to hold off on those Brand buffs for now certainly isn’t the end for this topic, or a sign that Riot is fed up with seeing mages move into the bot lane. “A nuanced conversation that I’ll dig into more in a video later,” Phroxzon concludes. For the time being, he recommends countering with champions that boast dodge skills, who can “have strong 2-3 item spikes and outscale,” such as Ezreal, Sivir, or Zeri. As long as Riot keeps players thinking carefully about their strategies right from the champ select screen, I’m in favor of it.

Everything new in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Paul’s an expert in Videogames, Star Trek, flannel shirts – in that order.

Published: July 8, 2026

If, like me, you spent your formative years on a virtual ship doing virtual seaborne crimes, the remake of Black Flag should be a welcome sight. Way back when, I mined Black Flag for everything it had; ticking off islands, knocking off every fort – even seeking out every animal so my wardrobe would be exotic and morally questionable. A remake was welcome news, but I couldn’t help but wonder what, if anything, had been added for this new version that made it worth my while.

The good news, then, is that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced not only gives the game a much-needed facelift but also adds a ton of extras on top of what is already an already stacked adventure game. I’ve played a metric ton of it, and have, what I think, are the main additions and changes to Black Flag.
`
As far as the main story goes, things are more or less as we left them – the sidequests are where the bulk of the expansions come. There are a few new shipmates that, when their mini questlines are completed, will add a new feature to your ship. The shipwright, priest and another mysterious figure are each in their own spot of bother, and if Edward finds time in his day to help them out, they’ll join his motley crew, adding ship abilities and a new presence on board the Jackdaw.

Some old faces are also getting a bit of love. Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet’s stories have been fleshed out, giving them much more satisfying conclusions to their tale. It was always a bit of a disappointment that these characters I spent so much time with in the original game kind of just fizzled out, so being treated to a proper ending is a huge boon.

If the story of Black Flag isn’t the thing that propels you, I’m sure the sidequests did (or will), and Resynced sees them refined and expanded, with assassination missions and naval contracts being easier to accept. Milo van der Graaff is now present in person this time around to hand out the target ships. He’s an interesting sort; I’m getting a nefarious vibe.

It’s a lot, and that’s before we get into the general improvements to the base systems. Parkour has been brought to 2026 standards; combat has had its rough edges shaved down to create more of a fluid, fancy affair, with gadgets now available mid-combo, allowing Edward to adapt and flow to whatever ends up in front of him.

There are upgrades to ship combat, with secondary firing modes for each side of the Jackdaw, you can dive underwater anywhere (provided there’s water, of course), and astonishingly, there are no loading screens beyond when you boot the game up. You can travel anywhere on the huge map and just be, which is good because there are also a ton of new islands to explore, many of which hold loot, secrets, and probably the Spanish.

If I had any concerns about retreading old ground, these additions and improvements to Black Flag settled those down completely – not only has the experience been streamlined and modernized, but there’s a ton more there to explore than there was before. It feels fresh, and if whether you’re playing it for the first time or the tenth, there’s a lot to love here – check out my Black Flag Resynced review if you want to know more.

I almost missed the fantastic Granblue Fantasy: Relink. It just got even bigger

I am once again asking you to play Granblue Fantasy: Relink, this time as developer Cygames drops its beefy Endless Ragnarok expansion. For too long, I let all the praise of this action-heavy party JRPG pass me by, and after finally succumbing to peer pressure I’m now adding my voice to the chorus enthusing you to do the same. As if the base game wasn’t more than enough to keep you satisfied for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours, the new DLC brings a fresh story, a combat summons system, extra quest tiers, more bosses, and additional ‘master traits’ to elevate your builds beyond previous limits.

At its heart, Granblue Fantasy: Relink falls somewhere between the methodical combat of Monster Hunter and the party-driven explosiveness of action-JRPGs like Xenoblade, Ys, or even Dragon’s Dogma. You could spend its entire main campaign mastering just a single character, or branch out across its vast swathe of other playable allies, each of whom has a full suite of attacks, skills, and a passive tree that would justify them being a protagonist in their own right. Add in some absolutely unforgettable set piece moments scattered throughout its main campaign, and Relink serves as the best introduction possible to the world of Granblue Fantasy.

However you like to play, Relink has got the answer. Do you want to be an unstoppable tank, smashing foes with your fists? Then Ghandagoza is your man. Prefer to snipe from range? Eugen lets you focus down weak points while your allies bear the brunt of the aggression. If you prefer a more flashy approach, Zeta dives through the air like a Final Fantasy Dragoon, while Ferry combines long-range whip attacks with a range of pets. Ride alongside a squad of computer-controlled teammates, or go online and tackle foes across myriad Monster Hunter style missions (now with crossplay support following today’s expansion-accompanying update); the choice is yours.

Whether you just saw the story to its conclusion and dipped out, or have spent hundreds of hours enjoying the endgame grind and additional narrative beats that Cygames drip-feeds throughout, Endless Ragnarok promises the thing I’ve been wanting most of all: a fresh main-line adventure. With that said, you’ll need to get through most of that post-game story (akin to Monster Hunter’s ‘high rank’ missions) in order to start your new journey. Unlike the base game, however, the expansion’s main questline does promise full co-op play.

The good news if you’ve yet to wrap everything up in the original progression is that there’s another big helping hand. This comes in the form of a new, roguelite-inspired mode called The Conflux. Along with being a unique challenge in its own right, The Conflux is designed to help you farm a lot of the more awkward materials and quickly get up to speed for Endless Ragnarok’s main quest. If you weren’t into the long-term grind required to earn the likes of Terminus Weapons, this is a welcome boon.

Alongside that, purchasing Endless Ragnarok will get you access to the new ‘Chaos’ difficulty of quests, along with the ability to summon allies in to aid you in battle. Some of these are key NPCs or powerful beasts, which you’ll get to take direct control of for a short while, while others are supportive sorts like cheering villagers and friendly cats that will provide buffs and assists to help you out from the sidelines.

The expansion also introduces six more characters to learn, including a couple of familiar faces from the main story that I’m very excited to get my hands on. There’s the new ‘master traits’ progression system to push you even further beyond the previous limits, and a whole range of additional trophies, sigils, stickers, and other rewards to earn.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok is out now, priced at $29.99 / £24.99 for the upgrade, or $59.99 / £49.99 if you buy it with the base game. You can grab them here. There’s also a demo available for the DLC if you want to try it out first.

I really can’t emphasize enough just how surprised I was by Relink, a game that kept growing on me the deeper I got. If you’ve yet to give it a go and are unsure about committing to the full thing, I’d certainly recommend giving at least the core experience a try – it’s regularly on sale, so keep your eyes peeled. If you’re an enthusiast, the DLC feels like an easy way to breathe even more life into what was already one of the most packed JRPGs around.

Goals is building an exciting esports ecosystem “where everyone can compete”

Tom is an expert in all things Fortnite or the latest RPG release, but is probably spending too much time on the latest EA FC game.

Published: July 8, 2026

Hitting one million installs within ten days of its free-to-play launch, Goals has proven that there’s a real appetite for a soccer game beyond the established IPs. Now, a month post-launch, Goals has announced its ambitious plans for an esports ecosystem for the game, which will let anyone compete. We spoke exclusively to Goals CEO Andreas Thorstensson to learn more about the system, as well as the future plans for the game’s competitive aspect.

“We want anyone to be able to compete,” is a message Thorstensson reiterated a couple of times. Goals’ esports ecosystem will not be a closed shop, both in terms of competing and spectating. “At the grassroots level, anyone can enter the Goals Open through regional single-elimination qualifiers and earn a place in the regional finals. At the top end, the best players qualify for Goals Majors through the in-game leaderboard and official qualifiers, leading up to our live Goals Masters championship.”

That level of inclusion is made possible because the game’s competitive aspect will be closely connected to the modes in the game. “Competitive play is built around the in-game leaderboard, and over time, we’ll introduce more esports-related content like team kits, celebrations, and other cosmetics. And who knows, maybe one day an esports legend becomes an Original in Goals,” Thorstensson explains. You’ll be able to represent teams when you play, showcase your fandom, and try to join the ranks of competitive play directly from Goals.

What’s extremely interesting is how accessible Goals wants to make it for players to build their own tournaments. “Community has been at the center of Goals from day one,” Thorstensson says. To that end, it wants to “make it easy for people to organize tournaments, create content, and build local communities around the game.” That’s easier said than done, and requires a lot of tools to be provided to fans who want to be more involved in the competitive space. They’ll need basic tools to create events, as well as spectator features and broadcast support, which Goals have committed to providing. That creates wider interest in the Goals competitive scene, and more opportunities for players to get involved, which is exciting.

That personalization expands to how in-game teams are utilized in the esports ecosystem. Unlike competitive scenes in similar games, you’ll use your own unique players in Goals esports events. Players won’t be provided a pool of players, instead having to ensure their own team is as good as it can be. “That’s part of what makes Goals different,” the game’s CEO told us. “Your generated players become your stars over time. Fairness comes from matchmaking, progression balance, and making sure skill remains the deciding factor rather than simply having the strongest squad,” he continued.

Since a big part of team building in Goals is luck, it’ll be interesting to see how balanced squads are. Thankfully, we won’t see the same midfields running around on every team, and Claudia Pina in every attack. That’s the most refreshing aspect of Goals, and it’s great to hear it being carried over to competitive play.

When it comes to official events, for the best players in the world, there will be a €10,000 prize pool. However, Goals plans to expand the prize offering with the help of players. “Longer term, we want to build a sustainable ecosystem where players and fans can help grow the competitive scene, for example through tournament-specific cosmetic items that contribute to future prize pools,” Thorstensson explained.

He was keen to stress that Goals’ competitive play will remain inclusive as time goes on. “We want to build an ecosystem where everyone can compete, regardless of skill level. Whether you’re playing in your first community tournament or competing on the biggest stage, there should always be a clear path forward,” he said. That makes it clear that Goals esports will be more than just a closed tournament for the top ten in the world. There will be opportunities to showcase your skills no matter who you are, no matter where you are in the world.

The studio is making the esports scene more accessible when it comes to following teams and watching the action. The Open events will be broadcast officially on Twitch and YouTube, but they’ll also be shown in-game, allowing you to tune into the action without leaving Goals. There will be an “in-game esports hub where players can follow tournaments, watch matches, discover upcoming events, and stay connected to the competitive scene.” The Goals Open live Grand Final will take place in Stockholm on Saturday September 12, 2026.

More will be revealed on Goals’ esports scene in the coming weeks, and keep an eye on the news in-game for further details on how you can get involved yourself. For now, keep trying to improve your level in Ranked play.

Subnautica 2’s olive branch to fend off threats is just enough to preserve the terror

A new Subnautica 2 update arrives today – the first big overhaul from Unknown Worlds since it pushed the ocean survival game out into early access. The focus for now is very much on quality-of-life improvements, with bigger implementations like multiplayer features and new biomes further down the line. The patch does at least address an issue that’s been top of the priority list for a large swathe of the playerbase, by giving us ways to better fend off hostile predators and other underwater pests, although the developer seems firm in its intent to keep you from any permanent solutions.

While you still won’t be able to kill the various animals bothering you in Subnautica 2, the deterrents at your disposal will feel a lot more valuable. Game Director Anthony Gallegos notes that “most creatures in the game now have good flinches, so if you smack them with the survival multitool, you’ll get a reaction out of them before they flee.” This should make it more easily apparent that you’re fending them off. The other mode of dissuading would-be attackers is the Sonic Resonator, and this will now cause many creature types to go into a distinct stun state when struck, causing them to float awkwardly downwards.

In accordance with this, Unknown Worlds has been working to tone down nasty surprises. In the blighted regions, the Bloom Parasites that guard Angel Combs now more clearly communicate when they’ve noticed you and are shifting into aggressive mode. Improved voice line prioritization will help ensure that the most important messages come through immediately, instead of queueing up a whole list of lines. Field notes will now have a play button in your data bank, rather than automatically rolling when you collect them.

I’m largely on board with the direction Subnautica 2 is moving. While I can see the argument that allowing players to kill creatures directly offers a more immersive survival experience, I’ve always (tentatively) embraced the inherent terror of the great blue in Subnautica. This is their home, not yours, and hoping to merely deter potential threats from considering you as a snack feels much more conducive to that. I never want to feel like I’m the one who’s in control of an encounter.

As for the rest of the update, biomods are being expanded. Look out for “a bunch of new biolabs” across the early game to let you discover new biomods (and swap out those you have equipped). In the later stages of the current progression, you’ll be able to scan creatures with a new tool to unlock more passive biomod slots, meaning you’ll no longer be limited to just a single one.

Gallegos teases new things to discover among the wrecks: “a little bit more puzzle solving, very light, a little bit more gameplay, and a lot more work on the visual cohesion.” The PDA has been reorganized with new categorization and a fresh UI. Also included is a personal storage chest – this one isn’t connected to fabricators or processors, because it’s designed to keep your own things separate from the other players in your game.

Looking further afield, Gallegos notes that Subnautica 1.2, its “co-op centric update,” will come a non-specific “some weeks after” today’s release. That’ll include player trade and reviving, proximity voice chat, and features like new emotes. He then clarifies that the big ‘EA2’ drop the team previously discussed is set for later in the year. This is where we’ll be heading into the actual home of the Collector Leviathan (its current hangout spot is merely temporary). The artwork seen above also shows multiple Great Jaws, including a particularly colossal one, but worryingly lacks many other places to hide.

Gallegos adds that the region will play home to the next stage in the progression, additional story content, and another vehicle chassis to unlock. We’ve already been promised that we’ll be able to “get stompy” in the new zone, and the teaser art seems to all but confirm a new incarnation of the PRAWN Suit for Subnautica 2. Going back to our earlier conversation, I’m curious to see how its introduction impacts our relationship with the local wildlife – although I suspect the Collector will see it as little more than another shiny trinket.

Subnautica update 1.1 launches today, Wednesday, July 8. “Again, this is just the first of all of our updates that we’re going to be doing,” Gallegos notes, “so if you want to continue to make your voices heard, please communicate with us anywhere you can.”

building the next era of World of Warcraft

Lauren spends most of her time dead in League of Legends, or equally as dead in Valorant. Don’t ask her about Vampire: The Masquerade.

Published: July 8, 2026

Game Director Ion Hazzikostas is, perhaps, the perfect person to ask about World of Warcraft. Having joined Blizzard in 2008, he’s spent almost 18 years working on the game, with ten of them as its Game Director. His tagline is ‘Watcher,’ and it makes a lot of sense: he is the backbone of WoW; its caretaker and its driver.

It makes an equal amount of sense, then, that when we chose to relaunch PCGamesN, we set up a chat with Hazzikostas. World of Warcraft is a seminal PC gaming experience – it’s still limited to Blizzard’s Battle.net client, and while rumors swirl that it’ll appear on Xbox Game Pass at some point™, it remains a PC staple. It’s also a game that spans across every iteration of PCGamesN – in 2024, WoW turned 20, and the Warcraft franchise hit 30. World of Warcraft is a game that’s older than a lot of people, but in the same vein, it’s a game that unites generations.

Yet, in 2026, it feels like the MMO is in somewhat of a transition state, akin to how Dragonflight felt following Shadowlands. It’s not a bad thing – Midnight is the Worldsoul Saga’s middle child, and we’ve still got The Last Titan to go. It does, however, feel like the perfect time to check in and ask how Hazzikostas believes things are going.

I think there couldn’t be a better time to jump in than right now.

Ion Hazzikostas – WoW Game Director

Midnight, you see, feels like the meeting point of OG World of Warcraft and modern Retail. Gone are the celestial, multiversal themes of Shadowlands; Azeroth and its plight take center stage here, and we’ve spent a lot of time revisiting old, iconic zones like Quel’Thalas. Yet, in terms of features, Midnight – and the Worldsoul Saga as a whole – has ramped things up to eleven. We finally have player housing – something Blizzard certainly took its time with, but that I’d argue has paid off massively. The War Within also saw the introduction of Delves, single-player-oriented content that has helped expand the solo experience. It’s a meld of the familiar and the unfamiliar, wrapped in a coat of violet paint.

I ask Hazzikostas about Midnight’s launch, as well as that fusion of old and new. “Overall, we’re really happy [with Midnight],” he says. “I’m very proud of the team’s hard work and what they pulled off. It was really exciting to return to the lands of Quel’Thalas, Silvermoon, and Zul’Aman, and to see players’ enthusiasm for returning to some iconic locations.

“I think that [returning to the past] was something that was a little bit of a question mark – like a little bit of slight doubt or concern on the team’s part,” he confesses. “[We wondered] whether the players would embrace returning to familiar locations that have been reimagined, or whether they would see it as just ‘oh, this is rehashing old stuff.’ We’re very excited to see them embrace it, because it opens so many doors in terms of our ability to revisit, update, and reimagine iconic locations that are so central to World of Warcraft’s history, and tell new stories in them.

“The story of modern World of Warcraft, for many years now, has been about broadening our approach to try and offer for all the different types of players that have decided to make Azeroth their home. Midnight takes that to an all-new level.”

Midnight, however, hasn’t been without its faults. The launch of Patch 12.0.5, Revelations, marked one of the most bug-ridden periods in the game’s history, with housing being taken offline entirely due to a glitch that saw decor snap to the floor and save there. The bug – which Hazzikostas explains was the knock-on effect of a change to Mists of Pandaria’s Siege of Orgrimmar – is one of the ugliest in WoW history, and that’s without mentioning drops in performance in Silvermoon, among myriad other trials and tribulations.

In a separate interview, I asked Hazzikostas about the team’s learnings from 12.0.5, and how the upcoming 12.1 update plans to continue squashing bugs. The TLDR is that Blizzard knows Revelations’ lack of polish wasn’t up to snuff, but that it has streamlined and refined its internal processes to catch issues quicker. “We’re only going to do absolutely critical bug fixes because of the risk that has to the stability of the product,” he says.

“That’s not to say that we’re not going to fix things once we’re live – we’re constantly rolling out fixes and updates to the service. But that risk of doing something that messes up a release isn’t really fair for us to take.”

Where Midnight has also made waves, however, is with its UI. WoW addons have been a part of the game’s community almost since its inception, as players attempted to plug the holes in Blizzard’s UI with their own creations. WeakAuras, GTFO, BigWigs, Deadly Boss Mods; we’ve all heard of them, and we’ve all used them at some point in our WoW career.

While most addons simply provide missing, trackable information, Blizzard has taken aim at the ones that give you a little too much of a helping hand. Hazzikostas admits that addons were having an impact on encounter creation, with the team often having to “design [instances] around the addons.” He stresses that mechanics have never been created “with the intent that addons would be used to solve them. Instead, “players have been looking for ways to solve in real time the different challenges we were throwing at [them], and that was not leading the game’s encounter and class design down a good path.”

As such, WeakAuras has bit the dust, as have myriad other community-made creations. It’s an attempt by Blizzard to “level the playing field” for newer players, while ensuring that we’re not getting too much behind-the-scenes information.

It’s a move that’s divided the community; addon creators have seen years of work collapse, while longtime players have lost some of the core systems that they’ve been reliant on. I ask Hazzikostas about this decision – it’s not as damning as Final Fantasy 14’s no-addon policy, but it’s a huge step for WoW’s UI.

“I know this may be a controversial statement, but I will say that, overall, [the new UI] has been successful so far. It’s not done, it’s not perfect; there’s more work to go, and we are continuing to undertake that work. But I think that, by and large, the vast majority of people are completing the same level of content that they were before, and far more are doing it without feeling like they need to seek out external tools. There have been some exceptions to that where the community has figured out ways of making some computational logic work, and we didn’t want to keep breaking things in the middle of a patch.

“The 12.1 update has what we think is a more comprehensive overhaul of the security backend of our addon interface, which should make it a little easier for addon authors to write addons, but also close some of the loopholes we’ve seen pop up here and there. Alongside that, we’re continuing to improve our base user interface.

“All of this has been in service of a more approachable experience and a more level playing field,” he says. “It was a challenging concept to explain in some ways. In the lead up to Midnight players took it as ‘Blizzard is killing addons, they’re getting rid of all addons,’ and that led to a very understandable, very negative reaction around that idea because addons have been a part of WoW for 20 years. We’re looking forward to them continuing to be a part of WoW for many years to come.

“I think, while it’s certainly been a transition with its challenges, we’re excited to have this new baseline and foundation, and things will only continue to get better from here, both as we continue to add functionality to the base UI, and we continue to empower addon authors to add customization options,” he continues. “And as we, frankly, internally relearn some aspects of how we can build encounters in this new world. I think that’s going to open up new doors and possibilities for players in raids, dungeons, Delves, and everything in between.”

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article: Ion Hazzikostas has worked on World of Warcraft for 18 years. He’s seen WoW in so many different states, times, and iterations; he’s watched the game grow and evolve. I ask if he’s happy with the state the MMO has landed in, and more generally why a player should play WoW in 2026, even if they’ve never stepped foot in Azeroth before.

He gives a nod to WoW Classic, where you can “revisit where it all began.” But in terms of Retail, he notes that Blizzard “has been learning for 20 years, and refining [its] ability to serve players, tell stories, offer depth, offer meaningful rewards, and offer increasing flexibility.

World of Warcraft today, in 2026, is still a game that will absolutely give you as much as you put into it

Ion Hazzikostas – WoW Game Director

“World of Warcraft used to be known as a game that would consume your life, and as a game that, if you didn’t have tons and tons of time to play it, you shouldn’t even bother picking it up because it required tons and tons of time to get anything out of it. World of Warcraft today, in 2026, is still a game that will absolutely give you as much as you put into it; that you can sink a ton of time into if you’re looking to really go deep and immerse yourself in a game. It’s also a game where you can log in for 20 minutes or so after lunch and accomplish something meaningful.

“It’s a game where you can play solo; it’s a game where you can play with a large group of friends. We haven’t moved away from something we used to be into something new; we’ve broadened and expanded our focus so that it’s all of those things and more. With an epic story going on; an updated new player experience to get them right into the latest content; a wide variety of ways to adventure, progress, collect, decorate, roleplay, PvP and so forth, I think there’s something for everyone in WoW today.

“I’m biased,” he says with a smile. “But I think there couldn’t be a better time to jump in than right now.”

Minecraft finally adds seats after 17 years, but the potential for builders is even bigger

A new Minecraft update is here, and after 17 years, Steve can finally sit down. That’s right, Mojang has officially added the ability to plonk your butt down onto a comfy cushion as part of its latest Java Snapshot and Bedrock Preview patches. The latest incarnation of what will eventually become the third Game Drop of 2026 actually introduces two new ways to rest, one for the home and one for the field. Both have potential that stretches beyond simple utility, however, as the developer continues to hand building enthusiasts more tools to be creative.

“Weary from all that hiking? Seek out an abandoned camp to rest your blocky bones on the Cushion,” Mojang teases. The new point of interest was introduced two weeks ago with the first test build for the upcoming Minecraft Game Drop, alongside the arrival of a new Dappled Forest biome. It’s been a great time to be a builder, giving us long-requested additions like the Poplar Wood set, Wool Stairs and Slabs, and even bouncy Shelf Mushrooms that are ideal for establishing both form and function. Mojang even confirms that, yes, it’s seen you using the Poplar Trapdoor as a toilet seat, and it’s impressed by your creativity.

If you need to take a load off after all that construction, now you can. Enter the Cushion. After decades of squatting awkwardly in ‘chairs’ made from Wood Stairs, Minecraft finally has a proper, official seat. Take three Wool Slabs (in any of the 16 colors), and you can make a square Cushion to rest on. They need to lie on a supporting block, but they don’t have collision, which means you can put it on the lower part of Wood Stairs to make an instant chair design. Mojang has clearly already anticipated this as a popular trick, ensuring there’s no awkward clipping.

The Cushion is actually remarkably flexible in what you can place it on, meaning it’s perfect for all manner of decorative purposes, whether you’re setting a carpet or rug to relax on, or using it to top off an object’s design. You can place one on a Button or Pressure Plate, although it’ll depress and break the Cushion when you sit on it. This doesn’t seem to happen with Trapdoors, however, so that’s yet more potential for seat creation. How about a lovely, gentle stair set in the color of your choosing when combined with snow stacks? The possibilities keep coming.

What if you’ve had enough rest and want to explore? The Straw Bed is your new best friend. Take three Hay Bales placed in a row, and you’ll get four of these (which stack up to 16). These allow you to sleep through the night, but won’t set a spawn point, so they’re perfect to take on your adventures for those moments when you wish you could fast-forward to morning without committing to your new location. They’re single-use and break when you wake up, but cheap enough to bring several with you. Plus they can also make nice decorative items in their own right.

Minecraft Java 26.3 Snapshot 3 and Bedrock Preview 26.40.30 are live now, including the new Cushion and Straw Bed items. You can simply switch to the test build via the Minecraft launcher if you’re ready to take a load off your feet. I’m already impressed with the creative ways people are discovering to use these in their builds, so it promises to be an exciting time ahead.

Steam Machine review – it’s all about the games you play

Edward Chester is PCGamesN’s hardware editor. He writes the site’s hardware news, reviews, and guides.

Published: July 7, 2026

Verdict

A massively inflated price right now is in some ways the least of the Steam Machine’s worries, as its meagre performance and TV/controller-focused gameplay means it has plenty of other limitations too. It’s a fantastic bit of hardware with some great features, but its appeal is going to be very niche.

Pros

• Fantastic hardware design
• Runs cool and quiet
• SteamOS interface is fantastic on a TV
• Performance is good enough for 1080p gaming

Cons

• Advertised 4K gaming often doesn’t deliver
• Only certain games suit a controller/TV setup
• Price is simply too high

Everybody knows the story so far with the Steam Machine. When it was revealed, there was a great hope that it would transform living room PC gaming, bringing console ease of use for a Steam Deck-like price. However, by the time it finally landed, PC price rises had taken their toll, and the Steam Machine was arriving overpriced and underpowered. However, while that is largely the story of the so-called Gabe Cube, so much of what should determine your choice to buy one actually comes down to the games you play.

Unlike most of the best gaming PC options, the Steam Machine’s use of SteamOS and its focus on living room gaming, with the Machine connected to a TV and played via a controller, means that while it can play most of the great wealth of games that exist on Steam, it excels only at some.

Specs

 
Steam Machine specs

CPU
Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 six-core/12-thread (up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP)

GPU
Semi-Custom AMD RDNA 3 28CUs (2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP)

RAM
16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM

Storage
512GB NVMe SSD or 2TB NVMe SSD

Networking
2×2 Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, integrated 2.4GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter, gigabit Ethernet

Extras
17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability

Front ports
2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, microSD

Rear ports
Rear: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB-A 2.0, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2

Warranty
One year

Dimensions (W x D x H)
156 x 162.4 x 152mm

Weight
2.6kg / 5.7lbs

Price
Starting at $1,049 / £879

As has long been established, the Steam Machine’s specs aren’t exactly its strongest suit. While its GPU is roughly four times as powerful as that of the Steam Deck, and its CPU is ~50% faster too, the specs of this machine are modest by modern gaming PC standards.

Specifically, the semi-custom AMD CPU (i.e., a slightly modified version of an existing AMD design) is based on the company’s last-generation architecture, and while it has six cores – plenty enough for gaming – only two of these are fully optimized for speed, with the other four being slower-clocked cores aimed at more power-efficient multi-core operations.

Meanwhile, the GPU is again a previous-generation design that’s basically equivalent to the laptop version of the Radeon RX 7600. A quick look at our RX 7600 review reveals just how modest that card’s performance was, even at its release over three years ago.

Crucially, for anyone considering the Steam Machine and who would be willing to upgrade the device’s components, neither the CPU nor the GPU is upgradeable. Not only do they not use conventional desktop PC parts, but they’re in fact soldered in place.

What is upgradeable are the SSD (above left) and RAM, though the latter uses laptop RAM modules. The SSD, though, is a conventional M.2 drive, such as you’ll find in our best SSD guide, so that is an easy swap, though you’ll need to manually copy the data from one drive to the other using another PC.

Otherwise, in terms of form factor, the Steam Machine is astonishingly tiny. At 156 x 162.4 x 152mm, it’s dwarfed by both the PS5 and latest Xboxes, and it is far smaller than any mini-ITX gaming PC. It also weighs just 5.7lbs. That’s still a decent amount of weight that makes for a dense-feeling cube, but it’s a quarter of what a typical small PC weighs.

As for connectivity, the Steam Machine provides a decent balance. The two USB-A and one USB-C ports around the back are just enough for any extra peripherals – a wireless headset adapter and emergency keyboard, perhaps – while the one HDMI and one DisplayPort should be enough for most typical single TV or single monitor setups. The use of a built-in power supply needing just a figure-of-eight mains cable means there’s no bulky power brick to hide away.

A wired Ethernet port also means you don’t have to rely on WiFi, and Valve makes a point of noting that the Machine includes dedicated WiFi and Bluetooth antennas for reliable connections. There’s also a Steam Controller adapter built right into the system.

Round the front, two more USB-A ports are enough for temporary connections, such as extra wired controllers or USB thumb drives, while a microSD slot provides a quick and simple way to expand the device’s storage. The choice of microSD, rather than full-size SD, is an intriguing one, as while it makes it easy to swap drives with a Steam Deck, I question how many people will actually want to do that.

You can pick up the Steam Machine in 512GB or 2TB versions, either with a Steam Controller or without. If you’re happy to only have one or two triple-A games downloaded at a time, and the rest of your library is smaller indie titles, 512GB is going to be enough. Otherwise, the 2TB will be enough that you almost never have to worry about uninstalling one game to accommodate another. However, considering the 2TB model costs $300 extra, and the SSD is technically upgradeable, it’s an expensive luxury.

Design and build

If there’s one area where all the fuss over the Steam Machine was entirely justified, it’s in its design. Its simple cuboid form factor is utterly charming, and while being limited to black only might disappoint a few fans of other gaming gear color schemes, the fact that you can swap out the front plate opens up what should be enough design-tweaking options for most.

What’s more, there’s loads of potential for easy modding of the cover. You could 3D print your own, add a custom paint job, apply stickers, and more, all without ever affecting the main PC unit.

Valve included a solid walnut wood and an orange flocked/felt cover with our review model, and both look good in and of themselves. However, they don’t particularly match the rest of the black cube. The wood is a dark enough color that it lacks the contrast to set off the black – a lighter wood, such as beech, seems like it would’ve worked better – while the orange again just looks a bit out of place.

It’s hard to tell based on these two plates whether it’s just those particular colors/finishes that don’t quite work, or if any of the custom plates will look a bit out of place. Time will tell on that front. However, one thing I did notice is that stacking the wooden plate on top of the black plate (the magnets embedded in them connect to each other), as you can see below, resulted in a look I found to work a little better – the slight overhang it creates somehow makes it look more purposeful.

Otherwise, the Machine is a very solidly built item with a design that’s easy to take apart for upgrades and maintenance. The device uses Torx head screws, but otherwise, all the screws are easy to access, and Valve has even gone so far as to have the rubber feet on the underside have holes in the middle, so you can access the screws below – such feet are so often used to hide screws, to limit user tampering.

Inside, a single 120mm fan is used to cool the entire system, with air pulled from underneath the device – so it isn’t suitable for placing on a carpet or other soft surface – and blowing it out the back. The device runs remarkably cool and quiet. Under full load, the CPU hit just shy of 70°C and the GPU just 75°C, all while that single fan only hit under 35dB.

The experience – SteamOS and game compatibility

The overall experience of the Steam Machine isn’t one that can be summarized purely in specs and benchmarks. Valve’s use of its own SteamOS operating system, instead of Windows, means it has some major advantages and some major disadvantages that set it apart.

On the plus side, as anyone who has used a Steam Deck will know, SteamOS is still streets ahead of Windows when it comes to providing a slick console-like gaming experience. The device boots quickly, bringing you straight to your game library, it can be put to sleep mid-game, the various menu overlays for adjusting the device mid-game all work intuitively and quickly, and there’s just generally none of the sense of this being a normal desktop PC with a flaky interface bolted on top, but rather the experience is built from the ground up to make it easy to just get gaming.

This also extends to the fact that Valve has added HDMI CEC support (which means the Machine can communicate with your TV and other AV gear to automatically switch inputs) and that the Steam Controller can power on the Machine remotely. These things aren’t down to SteamOS as such, but are features simply not available to a typical gaming PC.

The fact that this cube only needs two cables to get up and running can’t be overstated either. Being able to pick up the cube, its power cable, a spare HDMI (though even that’s often not necessary, if you have another device you can unplug from your TV/monitor), and a controller, and know that in most situations, you’ll be able to get set up at a friend’s house is just so compelling. It’s somewhat possible to do the same with an equivalent tiny PC, but the likelihood that you need to keep a keyboard and mouse with you just in case, that you need to carefully carry the WiFi antenna from your motherboard (or bring an Ethernet cable), and that such a system is likely to be at least twice as large and heavy just makes it feel so much less viable.

However, on the flip side, SteamOS and the Steam Machine experience have some major limitations. For a start, most games that have an anti-cheat simply won’t work on SteamOS. The likes of Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, and League of Legends can’t be played on this device.

For several of those, the fact that they’re keyboard and mouse-focused titles will mean a lack of compatibility on a purely living room/TV-focused PC isn’t a major factor – the number of people wanting to play League on a TV with a keyboard and mouse balanced on their lap is presumably vanishingly small. However, the likes of Apex and Fortnite are widely played with controllers, and for more casual rounds, the setup here would otherwise be viable if it had that compatibility.

What’s more, despite the Steam Controller’s trackpads enabling reasonable mouse-like input, playing a lot of keyboard and mouse-focused games is still quite awkward. Given the choice, a PC with a desk is still going to be preferable for a lot of games.

This leaves a far from small, but still limited number of game types for which the Steam Machine feels like a device you’d naturally want to use. Third-person action RPGs, casual racing games (where a controller suffices as opposed to a racing wheel), platformers, and all the other types of games that lend themselves to a console/controller/TV experience work great, but a lot of those tend to be modern triple-A titles. If you want to fire up Forza Horizon 6, go on an adventure with Indy in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, or you’re desperately waiting for GTA 6, all these games will work on the Steam Machine, but these experiences then bump up against the other limitation with this device, which is its performance.

Performance/benchmarks

 

Let’s be quite clear, the Steam Machine has enough horsepower to play basically any game on Steam right now. Just about everything will run, and for thousands and thousands of games, it will run them perfectly well, at playable and even fast frame rates at 4K. If you want to have a chill game of Balatro or Stardew Valley, or you’re looking to play through Half-Life 2 again, performance is not an issue.

In fact, even for triple-A titles that aren’t overly new, you’ll still get solid performance. However, if you’re hoping the Steam Machine can be both an easy way to play your indie/old game library and play the latest triple-A titles, well, it has its limitations.

For a start, the Steam Machine defaults to running all games at 1080p, rather than 4K. Considering Valve famously advertised the Steam Machine as being able to provide 4K gaming at 60fps – something it has since pulled back on, now simply saying you can get “Up to 4k gaming” – the fact that the device defaults to 1080p is more than a little surprising. To enable 4K gaming, you’ll have to jump into the settings to change the default resolution.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to fire up your games in 4K, but when it comes to actual in-game image quality, it more often than not won’t be true 4K. That’s because, to run any reasonably modern, graphically demanding game at 4K, you nearly always have to rely on FSR upscaling, and quite aggressive upscaling at that. You’ll generally need to use FSR Performance (rather than Quality or Balanced), which upscales from 1080p to 4K, with FSR frame generation sometimes also required to get a 60fps+ frame rate.

What’s more, ray tracing in particular is a huge weakness of this device. AMD’s Radeon RX 7000 series always had relatively weak ray tracing performance compared to Nvidia’s cards at the time, and the RX 7600-class GPU here is the entry-level version of that generation of cards. As such, ray tracing is largely not a viable option, which is a major drawback as games steadily start to embrace ray tracing more and more (for better or worse).

Another point to note is that most games default to settings far lower than they need to. Forza Horizon 6, for instance, defaulted to Low settings and looked, frankly, terrible. However, the game is actually playable at medium to high settings. So, again, unlike most consoles, you may find there’s a fair amount of settings tweaking to get your games running right.

To demonstrate just where the Steam Machine’s performance sits, we fired up a few benchmarks:

Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk is notoriously still quite a demanding game, despite being a few years old now. However, it serves as a great baseline for performance testing any PC, and it really shows the limitations of the Steam Machine.

For a start, using the demanding Ultra Ray Tracing preset with which we normally test desktop graphics cards, it’s a total non-starter. At just 1080p, it struggles to 15fps average. Dropping back to just High detail settings without ray tracing, though, and performance leaps up to 80fps at 1080p.

This would suggest that using FSR to upscale from 1080p to 4K might be a breeze for the Machine. However, this wasn’t the case. At 4K with FSR performance, the game hit just 38fps average. Adding in-frame gen got this to 61fps, but by this point, the experience is quite compromised, with motion that’s not as smooth as you’d expect for 61fps to feel.

Realistically, you’re looking at dropping further to Medium settings to get a smooth 45fps+ frame rate at 4K with Performance upscaling.

Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6 is, in some ways, an ideal potential showcase for the Steam Machine. Casual racing games like this are classic console fodder that lend themselves to playing with a controller on a TV. Sure enough, it’s a very playable game, but again, only at certain settings.

Engage the game’s ray-traced global illumination mode, and you’ll experience a chugging 25fps even at 1080p. Switch this mode off, though, and just run the game at High settings, and you’ll get 69fps at 1080p.

At 4K High, you’ll get 37fps, which is actually reasonably playable, although, oddly, engaging FSR upscaling to try to get a slightly higher frame rate only got us a 1fps increase. So, again, we’re still not quite hitting really convincing 4K gaming without dropping to Medium settings or lower.

Indiana Jones and Great Circle

Another great controller and TV game is the easy-going, cinematic adventure that is Indiana Jones and Great Circle. However, this is another perfect example of where the Steam Machine isn’t entirely convincing. It copes just fine at lower settings, with our test at 1080p with Medium details delivering a steady 77fps.

However, jump up to 4K and performance tanks. At 4K Medium, the game struggles to 20fps, and 4K High is a slideshow at 7fps. Even engaging FSR set to Performance, High detail settings are a no-go, with just an 11fps frame rate. However, 4K at Medium detail settings with FSR set to Performance does finally get us to 50fps. At Medium, the game still looks decent, but there’s a clear step up with High detail settings. 

Price

The Steam Machine price starts at $1,049 / £879 for the 512GB version without a controller and rises to $1,428 / £1,208 for the 2TB version with a controller, making it far more expensive than Valve ever planned it to be. Recent RAM and other PC component prices have risen so much that what was widely believed to be a device meant to launch at ~$750 / £600 has had to launch for far more.

This high price is largely the biggest limitation of the Steam Machine, with it being far more than other game consoles, and not overly competitive compared to a normal PC of similar power. There are several other factors that come into play when it comes to making your buying decision, but based on pure value alone, the Steam Machine struggles.

It’s worth noting that part of the reason the Steam Machine is so expensive is that Valve isn’t able to subsidize the cost of the Steam Machine in the same way that Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox can with their consoles, as Valve has no way to guarantee a buyer will ever actually use Steam to buy games and thus make back its money through game sales. Because it’s just a normal PC in terms of functionality, a buyer could, for instance, install Windows and only ever play Xbox Game Pass games.

However, comparably priced conventional gaming PCs can offer a lot more performance. A ~$1,050 PC can get you an RX 9060 XT or GeForce RTX 5060, both of which offer far more performance than available here.

Verdict

Much as I want to love the Steam Machine, it’s effectively DOA as a genuinely compelling, good-value mini gaming PC. Yes, the entire gaming PC industry is being affected by component price rises, but whereas most PC users can navigate that by choosing to only upgrade certain components, buying secondhand, and generally taking advantage of the swappable, upgradable platform that is PC gaming, the Steam Machine doesn’t offer that. It’s a $1,000+ lump sum, up front.

Crucially, though, it struggles in two further areas. For one, even at its originally intended/hoped-for price of somewhere around $700, it would still have been quite expensive compared to the likes of the PS5, while delivering performance that is inferior. It would have been a much closer fight, and overall been a more compelling option, but still far from the utopian ultra-budget mini gaming PC of which some might have dreamed.

Finally, there’s the fact that, even though you absolutely can use this as a desktop PC – whether by installing Windows or using SteamOS’ own Linux-based desktop interface – it is quite explicitly being sold as a living room machine as an alternative to consoles, and that simply means it bumps up against quite a different type of gaming experience and user.  There’s a reason gaming PCs in the living room haven’t really taken off, and it’s not just because Windows was a poor interface for use with a controller and TV. It’s also because they just feel so fundamentally different, and most users have a game library that isn’t really meant for TV.

The impact of this will depend on the games you like to play, so if you absolutely know there’s a long list of controller/TV-friendly titles you’d like to play that are also not too graphically demanding, well then the Steam Machine could be ideal for you, if still overpriced right now. However, if you already own a PS5 for TV gaming and/or a PC for PC-focused games, there’s a good chance the Steam Machine will end up being little more than a glorified indie/casual game box.

The Steam Deck arguably had the same issue, but its compelling combination of delivering your Steam library in an easy-to-use but also portable and touchscreen form factor transcended this limitation. Plus, it could double as a TV console when docked, so it could already unlock that casual/indie/retro experience on a bigger screen.

In contrast, the big sell of the Steam Machine is that it delivers that slick SteamOS interface but with the horsepower for more demanding games, and it just falls short. Not that far short, but short enough. By the time you’re limited to playing the latest games at 1080p medium settings when spending $1,000, I think most PC gamers would compromise a fancy SteamOS interface for just spending their money on a GPU upgrade and plugging their regular PC into their TV (or streaming over Steam via their Steam Deck).

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an uncompromising, human RPG

Coolly serves the hottest news stories and has played, we think, every game ever made.

Published: July 7, 2026

The highest compliment I can pay The Blood of Dawnwalker is that the moments where it least feels like The Witcher 3 are those where it pushes above and beyond its closest point of comparison. I’ve been given but a taste of the upcoming RPG from Rebel Wolves, and yet it’s become that first drop of blood to a newly minted vampire – leaving me scratching and clawing at my calendar, desperate to sink my fangs into the full-bodied experience. Vicious, glorious, and uncompromising in its vision, I’m now convinced this is going to be one of the most talked-about games by the time the year is out.

Rebel Wolves now numbers 160 developers, but many of its key figures are veterans of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red, right down to Game Director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who was previously one of the leads for The Witcher 3. The team isn’t shy of that heritage. From the question marks dotting the map, to Coen’s ability to scour the environment for clues with a monochromatic investigation filter, and even the way dialogue options are presented as yellow if they’ll move the conversation forward and white if they won’t, this is a setup that will feel immediately familiar to Witcher fans.

Ultimately, however, those are minor presentation notes, and why fix what isn’t broken? Where The Blood of Dawnwalker stands apart is where it truly matters: in its escalation of choice and consequence to tell a player-driven story that should feel unique to everyone, and in a frantic combat system that had me grinning from ear to ear, even as I fell to Murohn the Malformed Monstrosity for the fourth attempt in a row. It’s a game that had me constantly reaching for the quick-save key, and yet was still able to push me into situations and decisions I wasn’t fully comfortable with.

Before I get too deep into that, let’s set the scene. We’re in 14th-century Vale Sangora, a fictional region in the Carpathian Mountains pulling from Slavic and Balkan influences. The area is in the vice grip of a powerful vampire – a Vrakhir, in Dawnwalker’s parlance – called Brencis. Each month, he visits your village for a simple but unrefusable trade: a font full of blood, taken ‘willingly’ from all the adults, each paid in return with a sip of his own, which is capable of curing all diseases.

This is of little comfort to protagonist Coen and his family, however. The Vrakhiri blood can’t help Coen’s mother Esme, who is suffering from mental trauma and refusing to eat. This is where our tale begins, with a desperate plea to local herbalist Anca, who prepares a stronger drink to get Esme through the upcoming Blood Mass. It will cost twice what we usually pay; I can’t afford this, and I tell Anca as much. Reluctantly, but warmly, she lets it slide for the lower price. She also invites me to stay a while and catch up, at which point the game informs me this will double the time my visit takes.

Time is everything in The Blood of Dawnwalker. It doesn’t progress automatically, but rather with every key action you take – everything from advancing a side quest to learning a new skill comes with an hourglass count. Eight of these make a day, and another eight the night, with the world on a constant cycle. I have to help my mother and be at Blood Mass by sundown, so I reluctantly decline the offer. Even in this introductory segment, there are far more activities than I have time to complete, and speaking to others at the preview event it becomes clear that what you choose to do matters. Some options feel so immediately essential to me, however, that my typical choice paralysis barely even rears its head.

Esme makes it to Blood Mass, and is able to offer her requisite blood, but not before Brencis clocks that she’s struggling. “It appears this herd shall soon need culling,” he snarls. Coen can’t help it; he snaps back: “Monster.” Brencis offers a chilling response: “Offend me ever again, young man, and you shall find out I truly am one.” At this point, I’m going to fast-forward us slightly and establish that this pointed threat doesn’t take too long to manifest, resulting in Coen’s life being torn apart; his family are snatched away to captivity in Greifberg Castle, and his body is twisted into a new form.

The Vrakhiri transformation bestowed upon you doesn’t take as it should, leaving you half vampire, half human – a Dawnwalker. This isn’t under your control; it’s tied directly to that day/night cycle, forcing you to think smartly about your actions and when you choose to undertake certain activities. In the dark, traditional food and medicine do nothing for you. Your only method of healing is to drink blood, whether human or animal. Fail to do so, and you’ll begin to succumb to your primal instincts.

This can have serious ramifications – while in conversation with other characters, dialogue choices will begin to flicker: “Give in to the hunger.” Mistakenly click one of these – or grow so thirsty that your other options simply fade away altogether – and you might find yourself going to chow town on someone you’d rather have kept around. Within mere minutes, I was desperately snatching at rats on the ground, draining one after another dry in an attempt to keep myself from more serious consequences.

The good news is that you gain some powerful abilities as a Vrakhir – we’re talking instant teleportation and walking on walls and ceilings, and that’s just what you learn five minutes in. Peering at the skill tree I see the potential to learn mind control, a blood-fuelled rage mode called “Crimson Rush,” instant-kill moves on enemies below me, and even the ability to shapeshift into a wolf any time I’m running about the world. From night one, unleashing the vampire within feels immensely freeing, giving me easy access to locations I would be awkwardly locked out of in human form.

That doesn’t mean Coen is powerless in the daytime. Under the guidance of Anca – surprise, she’s actually a witch – I’m taught magical abilities, earned by carving hexes into my skin. Again, Dawnwalker wastes no time in starting small; my first trick is the ability to compel the dead to speak. This won’t hurt, Anca emphasizes, although she warns that it comes with an unshakable trauma that won’t soon leave. Why did she learn it, then? “To see if I could – it seemed exciting,” she responds, with a grim sarcasm. “Curiosity, famous killer of cats.”

Both your Witchcraft and Vampirism powers offer plenty of ways to amplify your battlefield potential, but Dawnwalker’s real ace is its directional combat. Every attack you deliver comes from the left, right, top, or bottom, and every block or dodge must be angled to match those of your enemies. It’s not the first of its type, but the implementation is sublime – I’m playing on mouse and keyboard, and after a few flubbed attempts I’m dancing in and out of groups. It doesn’t rely on heavy animation locks, so you can quickly shift gears to counter an incoming threat, and when you get it right you feel incredible.

The action is relentless and lethal, however, even on the standard difficulty, and quick-save quickly becomes my best friend. Stronger enemies, such as the aforementioned Murohn, throw out moves in rapid succession, and having to deal with even three enemies at once forces you to think carefully about your positioning. One thing is certain: it’s absolutely exhilarating. The successes and the mistakes are mine. It’s the sort of battle system where even after dying three or four times to the same encounter, I’m gleefully smacking the reload key and running back in for more. Fighting was always more a necessity than a joy in The Witcher 3, but here it’s possibly my favorite part of the game.

If the chaos gets too much, you can block without a directional input, which guarantees a safe response but at the cost of more stamina. If you’re less of a fighter, there are accessibility features to mitigate the challenge further, such as the ability for incorrect directional inputs to still work with a stamina penalty, or the freedom to access your full inventory of consumables mid-combat, not only those in your quick slots. Should you prefer to make things harder, you can hide the directional input indicators, forcing you to rely on watching animations alone – the toughest difficulty setting also enables this, and makes the action more lethal for both Coen and his opponents.

Dawnwalker’s dialogue comes out swinging in similar fashion. I’m frequently presented with multiple ways to handle a situation, and the optional beats strike a good balance of informative and chatty, including several lines that I deliberately avoid picking for role-playing purposes. One aspect that lands particularly well is the ability to embrace vulnerability: “I’m scared,” I have Coen tell Anca as she attempts to parse what’s happening inside his body. There’s real humanity at play here, most notably with the dynamic between this particular pair, and I find myself hanging onto every word.

Prior to the Blood Mass, I took a moment to teach the kids to fish, which turned into a tense standoff with one of Brencis’s soldiers. Fortunately, his senior arrives: Uriash, a gruff beastman. “I give orders. You follow.” The leering guardsman is forced to stand down from his threats. Uriash hands us a small gift for our young sister Lunka: he tells us he doesn’t want to have to kill people. “Valley big. Big enough for all.” It’s an unexpectedly sweet moment, and much the same subversion of expectations that The Witcher 3 often delivered so well.

Later, I stumble onto some farmland at night, looking for the cousin of an accomplice of Coen’s. This turns out to be a mistake: the place is crawling with guards. One asks Coen’s name. I deflect, he persists. I attempt a bluff with my young brother’s name: “I’m Mirto, sir, a local farmhand.” Unfortunately, his companion remembers it as one of their captives. Fortunately, I’m able to convince him that it’s commonplace, and am let off with a warning. Elsewhere, I stumble into another soldier camp, and one draws steel with a shout, only to relax when I quickly turn tail and step away. There’s a pleasing nuance to these encounters, the kind of ‘dancing around danger’ that makes poking the boundaries of Hitman feel so good.

Back to the story, and in the wake of Coen’s transformation, he learns that Brencis plans to keep his family in captivity for 30 days and 30 nights, ready for his grand coronation. Rebel Wolves note that the game doesn’t immediately end after this deadline – you’re free to keep playing and exploring the world – but it is a hard line in the sand, limiting how long you have to prepare for your assault on Greifberg Castle. Outside of that main goal, everything else you choose to pursue is up to you.

You can gather allies, you can work to build your own strength and skills, but you cannot do it all. “You will not unlock everything in one playthrough,” Tomaszkiewicz tells me at the event. “Giving this freedom to the players, the way of shaping their character and experience through the game, I think that this is very important. Because on the one hand, you need to accept that people will not see everything we created in one playthrough – that’s for sure. But on the other hand it gives a lot of possibilities, a lot of replay potential, and a lot of conversations between the players. We cannot wait to read and see what people will do.”

You could, if you want, throw all of that aside and head straight for the castle. “It’s doable, but hard as hell,” Tomaskiewicz remarks. He motions to the fact that I’ve already faced Brencis in battle during the prologue – an encounter that didn’t go well for me, to put it lightly. Had I defeated him there, he says, my mission would have already been a success. Environment Artist Adam Payet adds, “If you think about it, in the village, he’s just in a village, not in his castle. A significantly more defensible position, where all of his generals are.” Point taken: I’m going to have my work cut out for me to get ready for this one.

Rebel Wolves seems willing to routinely throw you into the fire and see if you’re prepared. While making the herbal concoction for my mother, I’m asked for the correct steps to take, and realize that I’ve failed to read the recipe book as instructed. I take the safest option: I hit Escape and load my most recent save. It’s the coward’s way out this time, but be warned that you’ll be asked to use some intuition on occasion; even once I have studied the correct method, I have to actually remember it when putting the process into practice.

With The Blood of Dawnwalker, the studio has done an excellent job of putting its own unique spin on its mythos, crafting a tale that feels fresh and exciting. Its characters feel well grounded in the world, and its decisions carry a weight that ensures you’ll want to make every last second count. At the same time, the intense action had me ready and willing to face every encounter head-on. As the final minutes of my hands-on time tick away, I’m left charging across the landscape in my newfound wolf form, looking for any trouble I can find, just to get one last taste of its sublime swordplay.

I’ll close by touching briefly on performance, just to say that I ran into no issues during my preview time. I was obviously on a fairly controlled build, with a well-equipped machine, but I had no complaints there. The most awkward thing I saw was Coen’s animations struggling to keep up when I attempted to push my luck and scramble over some rocks that probably weren’t designed for climbing, instead of walking around the path, but I still managed to pull it off, and the brief experience was more fun than frustrating. Other than that, it’s looking in fantastic shape already.

The Blood of Dawnwalker releases on Monday September 3, 2026. It’s unquestionably the game I’m most eager to play right now. I can tell its deadly combination of time pressure and meaningful choice is going to tear me apart, but at the same time its full commitment to that ethos is strangely freeing. How much of a monster will you become? When it’s this much fun to embrace your bloodthirsty side, I’m not sure I know myself.

Xbox setting Compulsion and Double Fine free is the only good thing to come out of Microsoft’s layoffs

Lauren spends most of her time dead in League of Legends, or equally as dead in Valorant. Don’t ask her about Vampire: The Masquerade.

Published: July 7, 2026

Xbox‘s layoffs are catastrophic. 1,600 people lost their jobs in one day. 3,200 will lose their jobs by June 2027. If you include all of Microsoft, that number jumps to a staggering 4,800 – around 2.1% of the company’s overall workforce (as surveyed in 2025). We all knew that Xbox’s ominous July 6 ‘layoff day’ would be bad; I’m not sure we quite expected something of this scale.

The immediate repercussions are obviously gut-wrenching; people have and will lose their jobs. It’s important to keep the human cost of all of this in mind; the games industry can’t function without developer passion. On the flip side, however, some of the best studios out there are either going independent, or will be overseen by new management. The latter is still a slightly scarier prospect, but at least it’s a freshish start. The former, however, means more independent videogame studios, and I’m all for that.

Let’s take Compulsion as an example. While I’ll never say it was flawless, I have very fond memories of We Happy Few. As a videogame experience, it wasn’t great: it was janky, the survival loop was overly punishing, and it struggled with performance. What made it so iconic, however, was the sheer imagination on display; the neo-dystopian, post-war Britain themes; the stiff-upper-lip mentality, carefully moderated and curated via systemic drug use. I wanted it to be a better videogame – I still do when I play it every few years – but I can’t help but applaud the ingenuity.

It’s that same creative spirit that drew me to South of Midnight. Aesthetically, it was gorgeous, and in terms of narrative, it told a truly unique, meaningful Black story. Yet again, however, it really struggled with the gameplay; the stop-motion movement was great in principle, but vaguely headache inducing in practice, and the repetitive, uninteresting combat grew old very, very quickly. The final boss fight remains a huge fumble, and the game felt like it wrapped up a little too quickly – I suspect a money pot ran out somewhere.

I don’t entirely lay the blame with Compulsion for South of Midnight’s lackluster launch, however. It’s no secret that triple-A developers – Ubisoft, Xbox, EA – have consistently tried to make games for everyone over the past few years. It feels, in many ways, like there’s a tickbox: open world? Check. Combat? Check – after all, everybody loves combat. South of Midnight didn’t need any of that; in some ways I wish it had gone in a similar direction to the likes of Death Stranding or Indika. As someone who loves Compulsion for its storytelling abilities, I’d rather have just spent time wandering around soaking in the bayou, parkouring up magical, living trees while hearing its stories.

That idea flies in the face of triple-A development, however; it breaks away from the established ‘what makes a good videogame’ plan. Double Fine’s Keeper – also published by Xbox Game Studios – took that route, and received a woeful lack of advertising and promotion despite rave reviews. These aren’t the types of games triple-A wants to publish, so perhaps it’s good that Xbox has simply let them go.

It’s no secret that the independent and double-A spheres are where the innovation is at; Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Blue Prince proved that. Compulsion and Double Fine returning to a world where they have the creative freedom to do whatever they want is a good thing – no more red tape, no more checkboxes. I hope that this means we’ll finally see games that are authentically them; the ones that made us fall in love with them as developers in the first place. I know that I’ll be doing whatever I can to support them – be that buying their games, or writing about them here. Every little thing helps.

Epic Games makes peace with ex-Fortnite insider as huge leak lawsuit comes to an end

After uncovering former Epic Games contractor Hayden Cohen as a Fortnite leaker, the gaming giant has put its ongoing lawsuit to bed. The high-profile case, which began in March, emerged when Epic learned that Cohen had been breaching NDAs surrounding upcoming content. From new skins to in-game events, Cohen had previously signed documentation in September 2025 that forbade him from talking about unannounced aspects of the massive battle royale.

As reported by Game File, court filings show both sides agreed to a proposed settlement that would permanently ban Cohen from possessing, accessing, using, or sharing Epic Games’ confidential or trade secret information. The agreement also prevents him from helping anyone else leak anything surrounding Fortnite. A judge still needs to approve the settlement, though.

The settlement does not include any public payment, even though Epic originally sought financial damages. Epic said it has nothing more to share about compensation. Cohen originally operated under the alias ‘AdiraFNInfo’, before Epic began accusing him of repeatedly leaking unreleased Fortnite content while working as an associate producer on the game.

Epic claims Cohen revealed dozens of upcoming collaborations before they were announced, including Minecraft, South Park, Peak, Overwatch, Game of Thrones, Kingdom Hearts, and Solo Leveling. The company said he shared details about new characters, cosmetics, release dates, and development plans across X and Discord, including leaking the South Park crossover just two days before its official reveal.

Cohen’s access to internal systems was later revoked, as Epic sent him a cease-and-desist letter, but claimed he continued to violate his obligations. The company argued that the leaks hurt its relationships with partners, reduced the excitement of future announcements, and forced Epic to spend significant time and money investigating the leaks.

Speaking to Game File, Epic Games spokesperson Natalie Munoz says that “we’ve asked the court to approve the stipulated injunction to ensure they cannot publish or share Epic’s confidential information again.” There are still other notable scoopers in the game’s community, such as ‘ShiinaBR’ and ‘HYPEX’, so it remains to be seen how Epic interacts with them in the future.

Some of Cohen’s leaks are yet to materialize in Fortnite, notably Kingdom Hearts. It’s possible the leaks have pushed back or caused Epic to cancel them entirely, but that’s currently unconfirmed.

Esports Manager 2026 Free Download (v1.0.0)

Download File

Esports Manager 2026 Direct Download:

Welcome to Esports Manager 2026, a strategy-simulation game where you take charge of a competitive esports organization from the inside out Serpent’s Gaze

Start from scratch or take over one of the existing teams. Navigate the complexities of player recruitment, team development, tournament schedules, and business operations. Whether you’re optimizing training, making key transfer decisions, or managing the mental health and motivation of your roster, every move counts toward your legacy. There’s no scripted campaign or forced ending—your journey continues as long as your manager stays active. Grow, adapt, and lead your team to the top.

• Realism and Depth
  Inspired by the real-world challenges of esports management—balancing financial, psychological, legal, and organizational responsibilities with no hand-holding.

• Real Organizations, Real Players
  Choose from a wide range of authentic teams and manage a roster filled with real professional players. Build your lineup your way.

• Player Market and Transfers
  Buy, sell, and loan players to create the best roster for your goals. Market dynamics, contract negotiations, and timing all matter.

• Player Development and Morale
  Design weekly training plans that target both skill growth and well-being. Use team-building, psychology sessions, and smart scheduling to shape high-performance athletes.

• Leadership and Player Interaction
  Get to know your players. Understand their needs and motivations, and guide them through ups and downs both on and off the stage. Use the in-depth Talk module to communicate with players and staff, understand their needs, and leverage the result of the conversation into something truly unique and useful.

• Tournaments and Rankings
  Enter your organization into a full calendar of events, from smaller competitions to major championships. Aim for the Grand Slam and leave your mark.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Memory: 2 GB RAM
DirectX: Version 10
Storage: 4 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Chronic Blunt Punch Free Download

Download File

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch Direct Download:

Brawl your way through the streets and mall in the View Askewniverse as Jay and Silent Bob where you unleash a dizzying array of irreverent combos, special moves, collect and summon assists, in this over-the-top beat ‘em up. You’ll need to harness every ounce of smoke-fueled creativity to get past the throngs of hockey-stick wielding teenage thugs, dookie demons, hipsters with babies, old grumpy danglers and massive, movie-inspired boss battles.  Salt and Sanctuary

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch combines incredible stylized, hand drawn animation, character design, and over the top combat and badass catchphrases in a side-scrolling, tag-team, beat-’em-up. Our heroes embark on an epic adventure from their humble, suburban New Jersey Quick Stop to an unearthed mystical mall that has unleashed an evil hold on the city.

No matter if you play solo and tag swap between characters or with your hetero lifemate in couch co-op, you’ll be performing special moves and outrageous combos.Developed with the full blessing, enthusiasm and voice-acting quips from Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith themselves, Chronic Blunt Punch gives players the ultimate, profound, and profane Jay and Silent Bob experience.

Features

• Hand-Drawn Art and Animation: Incredibly detailed, expressive and highly inspired hand-drawn animations.
• Insane combos: Bust out a cornucopia of irreverent special moves and combos that link together to create explosive finishers.
• Super Moves: Build up your super meter to launch video game inspired super attacks or save up your super meter and transform Jay and Silent Bob into Bluntman and Chronic to freeze time and deliver a devastating attack.
• Local Co-Op: Play solo or with your hetero lifemate with two-player couch co-op. Tag you’re it, snackpack.
• Cameo-palooza: During your journey, interact with cameo characters from the Viewaskewniverse and call them in to help you during intense moments.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 11
Processor: Intel Core i3-540 or AMD FX-4350
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640, 4GB or AMD Radeon HD 5750, 1GB
Storage: 8 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Limmy has finally been banned from Dead by Daylight, but he’ll be back very soon

“It has finally happened,” Limmy says. “Hello everybody; I have been banned from Dead by Daylight for having a laugh.” It’s official: Limmy has, indeed, been banned from playing Behaviour’s iconic horror game. For now.

The alert on-screen is pretty simple: “You have been banned” it warns, framed aptly by the current loading screen’s raging fire. The reason? “Griefing: intentional game play abuse.” Limmy’s response? “Oh dear.”

“How many years did that take exactly?” He asks. “About four. What’s the crime? I don’t know, just saying things like ‘let’s have some malice bets; let’s jump into Dead by Daylight and ruin the game for people.'” That’ll probably do it.

He then spots, however, that the gameplay ban is only for a couple of days – until Tuesday July 7 at “01:41:21 UTC” to be precise. “I’m unbanned in two fucking days,” he grins. “That’s not a ban; that’s a suspension. Easy. I’ll do the time standing on my fucking head.” More accurately: “al do the time stauning on ma fucking heed.” I’m also Glaswegian, I’m allowed to write that.

What exactly has he been banned for, though? As mentioned, Limmy loves a good ‘malice bet’ – essentially allowing people to spend accumulated Twitch channel points to bet on a game’s outcome. I’ll flag that there’s no actual money changing hands or being lost here; channel points are purely accumulated through viewership.

Sometimes, the bet is simply “will two or more escape?” when he’s playing Killer (probably The Nurse), but when he plays as a Survivor he often attempts to either befriend the Killer and rat out his teammates, or annoy his colleagues enough that they eventually retaliate.

An example is his tendency to jump in front of other Survivors and block their escape path, making catching them easier. He’ll also jump in and out of lockers near where players are doing generators to attract the Killer’s attention. If you see a mischievous-looking Dwelf in your game, expect some psychic damage.

Now don’t get me wrong: I absolutely love watching Limmy play Dead by Daylight. His downright troll behaviour is genuinely funny (and, some might say, down to earth). I can admit, however, that, if he was on my team, I’d probably want to kill him.

It’s a fine balance between entertainment, and genuinely ruining people’s games. Generally most players don’t rise to it, and simply don’t help him if he does get hooked. Others will retaliate with the same behavior, but it feels like it’s largely in the same, playful spirit as Limmy himself.

It’s a difficult line to tread, but I’ve been expecting a Limmy ban for quite some time, even if it’ll ruin my lunch breaks for the next few days. I’m sure he’ll be back with a vengeance, however, and I’m equal parts terrified and excited to see what that looks like.

Will Gabe Newell bring a Steam Machine onboard his $800 million deep-sea vessel? I hope so

Valve co-founder, president, and all-round chill guy Gabe Newell is putting his gigantic fortune behind deep-sea exploration with an $800 million research vessel that could become one of the most capable ocean science ships ever built. Rather than another luxury yacht, the 531-foot RV11000 is going to Inkfish, Newell’s marine research organization, and will house up to 130 scientists, engineers, crew members, and operators. Surely he’s bringing a Steam Machine with him?

When he’s not working on the Steam Machine or giving us copium for a Steam Deck 2, the project is another reminder that Newell’s interests stretch far beyond Valve. Built by Norwegian shipbuilder Vard, the project is the largest single-vessel order in the company’s history and aims to push research into parts of the ocean that remain largely unexplored. RV11000 is built to reach places few vessels can. According to Pubity, it will support missions at depths of up to 36,000 feet, enough to reach the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench.

It will also feature the largest battery system ever installed on a ship, allowing up to 12 hours of silent operation to reduce emissions and underwater noise during scientific missions. While fans continue to speculate about future Valve games and hardware, the billionaire has spent years investing in marine science through Inkfish, funding research and several expeditions.  At a glance, it may come across as an unusual direction for one of gaming’s most influential figures, but this is the man who delivered Steam Decks to customers’ doors personally.

The vessel is the latest addition to Inkfish’s growing research fleet, joining the smaller RV6000, as well as Newell’s existing research ships, Hydra and Dagon. Inkfish says the data gathered by its expeditions will be shared through open scientific repositories, helping researchers around the world study an environment where less than 30% of the seafloor has been mapped to modern standards.

While RV11000 is the centerpiece of Newell’s ocean ambitions, it won’t be working alone. His 364-foot superyacht Leviathan serves as the flagship for exploration missions, supported by the recently rebuilt 304-foot Draak. Formerly the luxury yacht Tranquility, Draak has been transformed into a dedicated expedition support vessel with dive facilities, heavy-lift cranes, specialist equipment, and extra accommodation for scientists and crew, allowing Leviathan to focus on research while Draak handles the logistics behind each expedition.

Meanwhile, on the shore, chaos is swirling around Valve’s latest hardware offering. Steam Machine reservations are appearing on eBay at eye-watering prices, while Valve itself is killing off promising merch like Dbrand’s Steam Machine Companion Cube. Amid the ongoing RAM crisis and ever-increasing hardware prices, I’m still hopeful that a Steam Deck 2 is on the horizon. While I’m a ROG Ally Z1E user, with BazziteOS installed, I’m eager to see what Valve’s learned as more rivals have entered the market.

You can check out our list of the best handheld gaming PCs if you’re in the market to take your games on the go.

Gakuran codes (July 2026) – PCGamesN

Whether you’re looking to beat that short king reputation with a lucky race reroll or pay off a debt through your nostalgic flip phone, these new Gakuran codes might just get you what you need to survive another day of school.

Gakuran is a Japanese high school life simulator. That means it’s as much about running a part-time job as it is about attending a basically mandatory after-school club. While there’s a lot to do, its obtuse systems and convoluted controls make it a natural juvenile delinquent simulator. As soon as you figure out how to leave your desk, you’ll soon learn that most students rush to the iconic rooftops to duke it out well into the night. It’s a real “put up or shut up!” situation, where farming aura on a bench reads like you’re begging for a beatdown.

Here are the new Gakuran codes:

• 15REROLLS – 15 rerolls (new!)
• GAKURAN – ten rerolls (new!)

Once you think you’re safe out in the courtyard, cowering away in the corner of the first-floor hallway, or resting up in the nurse’s office after an embarrassing beatdown, take a load off and click here to follow us on Google. You’ll find loads more code guides, which could give you reason to leave the brutal high school life behind you for good.

How do I redeem Gakuran codes?

Even if you manage to jump through the hoops required to enroll in Gakuran, you might struggle to redeem new Gakuran codes if you don’t follow these steps:

• Launch Gakuran.
• Click the tiny arrow on the left side of the screen to open the menu.
• Click ‘Codes’ at the bottom.
• Enter a working code in the small window.
• Click ‘Redeem’ to claim your freebies.

How do I reroll in Gakuran?

To reroll in Gakuran, follow the code redemption steps above up until the point where you pop open the menu. Rather than click the codes button, tap into the stats screen at the top. Here, you can reroll almost any stat at the same cost, from your race and height, right down to your fighting style and accessories.

Note that height reroll ranges are tied to your character’s ethnicity. With a 95% chance of spawning as a Japanese student, you’ll only have a 4% chance of hitting that coveted 6ft mark. And with around a 2% chance to roll any race that can break that boundary without resorting to breaking their own legs, the odds of you towering over the other students are minuscule.

How do I get more codes in Gakuran?

Like most Roblox games these days, you’ll find a simple list of new codes on the Gakuran Discord server. To join, look for the Discord icon at the bottom of the game page. If you can’t see it, make sure your Roblox account is appropriately age-verified and try again. Once you’re in, look for the ‘codes’ channel. You’ll find any new and active codes there.

With a few new Gakuran codes in your pocket, you should be all set to take on the dreaded days of high school.

Roll to Defend codes (July 2026)

If you’re in need of a mountain of coins or even some spare brains, these new Roll to Defend codes can save you time, rolls, and ammunition. You’re only a supervisor in this slow and steady base defense game, but you’ll feel like an admin after redeeming a code or two.

Roll to Defend adds a little bit of luck to the standard wave-based defense simulator. It’s far from an original Roblox experience. Still, by borrowing the upgrade tile mechanic popularized during the glory days of Pet Simulator, it’s taken on a life of its own, amassing tens of thousands of concurrent players who are happy enough to roll their way to a sturdy lineup of staunch defenders.

Here are the working Roll to Defend codes right now:

• ADMINABUSED – 1m coins and 35k brains (new!)
• JULY4TH – 10k coins, 5k brains, traits, and rerolls (new!)

Instead of simply watching your gun-totting fellas blast the undead back into the ground, why not click here to follow us on Google? You’ll find loads more codes to redeem in some of the biggest Roblox games around. Once you’re up and running, this one barely needs your attention, making it the perfect excuse to redeem codes elsewhere.

How do I redeem Roll to Defend codes?

Follow these steps, and you’ll be redeeming Roll to Defend codes before you’ve even hired a single noob:

• Launch Roll to Defend.
• Click the ‘Shop’ button.
• Scroll all the way down to the bottom.
• Enter a working code from the list above.
• Click the ‘redeem’ button to the right.

Is there a max rebirth level in Roll to Defend?

According to one very active player in the Roll to Defend Discord server, there’s no max rebirth level in Roll to Defend right now. It’s quite literally an endless grind to the top. And with the best players amassing a whopping 32k Luck boost by fighting back against the zombie horde, it won’t be easy to catch up.

How do I get more Roll to Defend codes?

We source our list of codes almost entirely from the Roll to Defend Discord server. If you want to check it out for yourself, click the link at the bottom of the game page. If you don’t see it, chances are you just need to verify your Roblox account to unlock the appropriate external chat permissions.

If you don’t know how to do that, you’re likely not old enough to use Discord in the first place. For that reason, check back here whenever you need more coins, brains, traits, and rerolls. Any code we find on the Roll to Defend Discord is added to the list above. Check back often, and you’ll never miss out on any freebies simply because you’re not in the Discord community.

All set? With the Roll to Defend codes above, you should be.

Project Mirror Labyrinth codes (July 2026)

Looking for new Project Mirror Labyrinth codes? You’re either a fresh face on these neon-lit streets or a hunter hoping for any competitive edge after a hard time in the dungeons. Either way, we can accommodate your needs – if you’re quick enough to redeem the codes below, that is.

With an addictive citypop synthwave soundtrack, meandering around the streets of this suburban adventure is like stepping into the closest thing to a cyberpunk landscape as you’ll find in Roblox. It’s not a bandit beater. In fact, from the second you spawn in, there’s little chance of you understanding this one at all. From the mouths of its caretakers, it’s Slay the Spire, Library of Ruina, and Limbus Company all rolled into one – a roguelike deck builder built around the Project Moon universe and specifically set “shortly after” a particular bad ending from one of its key inspirations. We’ll let you figure that out.

Here are the working Project Mirror Labyrinth codes:

• NEPOFFICE – 405 fragments
• WORKSHOPRELEASE – 405 Fragments
• DieciUpscale – 405 fragments
• ENTER – 405 fragments
• UpperLibrary – one Mega Reflection ticket
• 5MVisits! – one SR guaranteed mega ticket
• FellBulletUpscale – 405 fragments
• AprilRoadmap – 405 fragments
• LCCBManager – 405 fragments
• UIUpscale – 405 fragments

Too scared to step out onto the mean streets of Project Mirror Labyrinth? While you regain your composure, consider clicking here to follow us on Google, where you’ll find many more code guides that might just whisk you away from this world and straight into a more relaxing adventure. We suggest one of the platform’s many fishing games, for example.

How do I use Project Mirror Labyrinth codes?

If you know your way around Roblox, you probably won’t even need to read the following steps to redeem new Project Mirror Labyrinth codes:

• Launch Project Mirror Labyrinth on Roblox.
• Close the game.
• Like the game and click the author name.
• Join the group.
• Relaunch the game.
• Click the ‘Settings’ button on the left menu column.
• Enter a working PML code in the ‘Codes’ box that appears.
• Click the ‘Confirm’ button.

How do I get more Project Mirror Labyrinth codes?

Though the code on the game page would suggest it’s the best place to find new PML freebies, attempting to use it will perfectly highlight why it’s never a good idea to rely on the developers to stick to a simple plan. The code expired a long time ago, with many more being published in the weeks and months since.

So, what’s plan B? Click the Discord button at the bottom of the game page to join the Project Mirror Labyrinth Discord server, where you’ll find every working code in a dedicated channel along the left side of the screen.

If you don’t want to open yourself up to a world of 3am pings, just check back in with us whenever you’re ready to play. Time it with a new update, and you’re sure to find new codes in the list above.

Expired codes:

TeamIndex | TeamMiddle | ILOVEEGG | Luxcavation | Bloxpurgis1End | 1MVisits! | WaywardUpscale | NewYears2026 | Roadmap2026 | DawnAdjustment | PrescriptTime | Jolly2025 | TechLiberation | HCFix | Testing | DarkCloud | Release | TechLiberation | GlobalResetFix | NailsSweep | AlmostValentines | Unchanging | AbnoBreach | FirstEverBloxpurgis | 4MFChange | SkoshiUpscake | FULL-STOP | Welcome

There you have it – new Project Mirror Labyrinth codes to get you free fragments and reflection tickets.

Overwatch’s Steam reviews creep up to “mixed” as playercount surges

Ah, Overwatch, what are you up to now? Well, apart from cosmetic prices that give my wallet the shakes, it seems that Blizzard Entertainment’s shooter is having a bit of a moment again, at least on Steam. Between new heroes like Shion and an upcoming YOASOBI collaboration, there’s enough there to certainly get me to redownload it. However, despite Blizzard’s best efforts, players are dealing quite a beating to the game’s overall reception on the Steam Marketplace.

It isn’t uncommon to see new PC games or existing titles have a cultural shift on Steam. That’s especially true of FPS games, with genre titans like Call of Duty proving they’re not immune to the voices of disgruntled players. Remember when the launch of Warzone 2 was immediately sent to the Steam gulag? Well, Overwatch is still feeling that same wrath, as it’s currently sitting at “mixed” when it comes to recent reviews.

To be fair, it’s actually an improvement. Before Overwatch 2 rebranded itself to simply Overwatch, reviews on Steam sat in the “mostly negative” range. Out of over 7k recent additions and 136k reviews left in English, Overwatch is creeping back up ever so slightly. However, a glance at what people are saying paints a different picture. As you’re probably expecting, a lot of it is aimed at Blizzard’s aggressive microtransactions.

One example calls Blizzard a “greedy trash company, now charging $100 for a bundle, bonkers even $60 is unreasonable.” If you’re wondering just how bad things are on that front, the Overwatch Nyan Cafe Ultra skins are a particularly egregious case of money getting in the way of enjoyment. Do you have $100 / £84.99 spare to get dripped up for your next skirmish in the arena?

With the new Overwatch season currently underway, it is seeing a steady stream of teams head into battle. According to Steam Charts, Overwatch has seen a recent 24-hour peak of just over 74k players. That has fallen to the 66k mark at the time of writing, but it’s still a sturdy foundation. Comparatively, June saw one of the biggest peaks yet, with over 102k players booting up the game. It’s not quite near the high of 164,636, but it’s a start.

Considering that the numbers lingered between 45k and 50k between January 2025 and January 2026, with some occasional spikes in the 60k range, it’s a notable improvement. Whether Blizzard can maintain this momentum is another question. We’ll have to see what upcoming Overwatch events can do to keep players interested.

Fortnite’s American Dad bundle is missing one crucial thing, so save yourself 2,700 V-Bucks

With Family Guy making its debut in Fortnite in December 2023, it was only a matter of time before American Dad landed in the Item Shop. That moment is here, as Epic Games has cooked up another bundle of Seth MacFarlane-inspired cosmetics. It might be tempting to top up your V-Bucks for this one, but compared to the likes of The Simpsons crossover last year, it feels like more of an afterthought.

I don’t know about you, but I expect Fortnite collaborations to come with a certain pedigree of quality. Some of the best crossovers, like John Wick or last year’s addition of David Corenswet’s Superman, pay tribute to these characters well. The big blue boy scout even got an entire season themed around his arrival, marking a drastic change from the usual focus on Marvel superheroes. In the case of American Dad, it just seems lackluster.

For 2.7k V-Bucks, you get Fortnite skins of Stan and Francine Smith, Stan’s Foam Finger pickaxe, Threat Level Fridge Magnet backbling, Francine’s Purse pickaxe, a Klaus Heisler, and Stan’s Jam as an emote. While the Fridge Magnet is an admittedly nice nod to a pretty niche and often overlooked running gag in the show, I wish the bundle dug a little deeper. The absence of Roger is a sorely missed opportunity. Epic could easily whip up some nods to Outer Space Land, a theme park that Roger comes to adore as it resembles his homeland.

Considering Fortnite is increasing its presence of themed vehicles, such as the DeLorean or James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, it’s surprising that Stan’s SUV doesn’t get a mention here. However, there’s one sin that this bundle is committing, and that’s the lack of a Jam Track. The Simpsons gave us both Danny Elfman’s theme and The Monorail Song, both available to use in Festival and on the Jam Stage.

I can’t tell you how much laughter I’ve gotten out of concocting cursed beats using the stems of these tracks in the latter mode.

Again, it’s an opportunity the hit battle royale game could have easily grasped. A shame, really. However, if you feel compelled to add Stan or Francine to your locker, you can purchase them individually for 1.5 V-Bucks. They’re both available until July 18, 2026, in the Item Shop, so there’s plenty of time to decide.

In the meantime, check whether there are some new Fortnite codes, and be sure to let us know if you’re hopping into the current season over at the PCGamesN Discord server.

Boss themes, sagas, and Goblin Jazz: How World of Warcraft’s music reflects a shifting Azeroth

World of Warcraft and music go hand in hand. It’s been three decades since the original Warcraft: Orcs and Humans introduced us to Azeroth, and in that time its soundtracks have grown and shifted. In 2026, we’re smack-bang in the middle of the Worldsoul Saga, marking the first ‘connected trilogy’ of expansions. How does modern WoW reflect the journey it and its players have taken? I recently had the chance to speak with current World of Warcraft Lead Composer Leo Kaliski, alongside Blizzard’s Music Director Derek Duke and Principal Producer Charlotte Pyle, about how sound has evolved with the MMORPG over the years.

Music has been synonymous with World of Warcraft since its inception, and much of that carried over from the previous Warcraft games. We’re now 22 years deep on the MMO, and 32 for the full series. That’s a heavy legacy, and a lot to keep track of. “WoW has such a long history of music and so many themes – that was probably one of the most daunting things when I came on as the lead,” Kaliski admits. “There’s a patch about the Night Elves, wanting to make sure I know all the Night Elf Music really well and decide what we reference and what we don’t.

“We’re definitely always looking back, because the fans know the WoW music really well,” Kaliski continues. “If we ever do something that doesn’t feel faithful to the original cultures’ music, they pick up on it.” As Blizzard’s Music Director for the past 25 years, Duke also plays a key role in overseeing this process. “Even something as simple as Troll music being too different from these Trolls, or too much like those Trolls, you can get pretty nitpicky,” he adds, “It’s too much like Forest Trolls, it’s too much like Amani Trolls.”

Production quality has long been one of Blizzard’s strengths, and Duke says the team thinks of itself “as game developers more than composers, because we write the music, but it’s so much more than just writing music. It’s not just a single element to add to the games, it’s not just something to add in at the last minute. It’s something that’s integral to the games themselves – it’s a piece of the puzzle.”

“I think a big part of it, especially in recent years, is how many composers we have working on it,” Kaliski tells me. WoW Midnight features nine composers; “It really creates this melting pot sound to it. It’s not one person’s voice, it’s a lot of different voices.” Blizzard likes that variety, he explains, “because it’s such a big world, and having more musical voices makes the world feel bigger.”

One thing that has become more prominent across the World of Warcraft soundtrack as the years have gone by is the presence of strong, defined themes. In the early years, when WoW was less focused on its main story, there were a lot of ambient tracks that enhanced the worldbuilding and let the community elements shine. “It was more about the social experience,” Kalinski recalls.

“The further it’s come along, the more there are now really strong cinematic narratives with each expansion, and that kind of demands the music to become more cinematic, more thematic, bolder,” Kalinski muses. However, he says the team is cognizant that there’s still a demand for that older style of ambience. “We don’t want to get away from the ambient roots – I’m always trying to find ways to infuse that. If there are players that are just out in the world, picking flowers, leveling their Herbalism, they don’t need to hear some big, cinematic piece of music.”

Duke agrees. “I don’t think we’ve abandoned creating the ambient stuff, and I think you’ll hear more of that coming through in expansions to come.” Right now, however, the connected trilogy of the Worldsoul Saga – The War Within, Midnight, and The Last Titan – gives the team the potential to create an audio throughline. “Previously, with just one expansion at a time, you’re confined to just one theme at a time,” he notes, “but being able to work on longer-arcing storylines opens that up a bit more.”

Kalinski says Blizzard approached the Worldsoul theme “as if it was a new game, almost.” The team established a base, and then came up with varying thematic adaptations of it: “Something that’s sad, something that’s an action version, an evil version, an uplifting version.” He notes that The War Within didn’t offer “as many opportunities to show it,” but that there’s been more space for it to “live within the game” during Midnight. “Certainly it’ll be a major theme in the next expansion, too.”

Some of WoW’s greatest musical successes in recent years have come from more dramatic experimentation. “The Goblin Jazz album was a pretty big departure, and the community absolutely loved it,” Kalinski remarks. Goblin music has always been “a bit jazzier,” but when it came to Undermine, the capital city, “it felt really appropriate to take that even further. It was full jazz music, we hired a jazz band… there was no orchestral music in that patch. It was pretty different, but it felt right.”

Another personal favorite of Kalinski was the boss track he composed for Dimensius, at the climax of The War Within’s final raid, Manaforge Omega. “That was a very involved, very cinematic, multi-phase, narrative-focused track that WoW doesn’t normally do,” he recalls. “It was such a big time investment. I hoped the community would love it, but you never know, especially in a boss fight with a bunch of sound effects and stuff going on. Do they even notice that extra work you did?”

The good news is that players did notice, and their enthusiasm has spurred Kalinski and his team onward. “It was great, and it has reinforced us to continue trying to do that with bosses going forward,” he tells me. “I definitely think we pay attention to the community response – the stuff that is working for them and not working for them – and then we think about that as we move to the next thing.”

As an MMO, players spend a lot of time in World of Warcraft, often doing the same things or revisiting the same areas over and over. To keep the music feeling fresh, the team crafts a suite of alternative renditions. “We’ll take a three-minute piece of music and turn it into 20 to 30 minutes with a bunch of variations that are trying to be as creative as possible,” Kalinski says. “Not just ‘remove the melody’ or ‘this one has the melody under the accompaniment.’ Really trying to do more ambient or bolder changes to it, so it still feels related but almost like a new piece of music.”

Pyle explains the process, which starts with a ‘hero’ version. Then, in the recording sessions, the recordings are separated out by instruments – the strings, wind, brass, percussion, and so on. This helps give the composer more freedom to create distinct variations. “There’s a lot of depth that goes into that creative process. For Midnight, as an example, I think we did about three hours of hero music across that expansion, but with the alternate arrangements that turned into 15 hours of music that was actually implemented.”

“Fatigue is a big thing we look for in music,” Kalinski adds. “As soon as someone is getting bored of the music and it’s starting to wear on them, that’s when they’re going to turn it off and put on their own music.” In Midnight’s Voidstorm zone, for example, the Devouring Host themes might have been fantastic, “but the campaign was really sending you to these spots and not much in between, so you kept hearing that music over and over again,” he recalls. After some back and forth with its composer, they queued up some more ambient alts that push out the driving melody, while remaining tonally similar, providing a much kinder long-term experience on the ears.

For as much as World of Warcraft and its soundtrack continue to grow and change, there will always be importance in nostalgia. “There’s always a legacy with Blizzard games,” Duke emphasizes. “We always want to evolve the music as we go – but we always like to balance nostalgia with whatever the goals are. Whether it’s nostalgia or whether we just want to hint at something from the past, there’s always some sort of motivation – we’re always quite careful with those.”

“There’s so much legacy with Blizzard,” Pyle agrees, “and making sure that’s an important part of what happens, but also moving forward and keeping it fresh – and making sure that everybody has what they need to be able to do that creatively – that’s the most important thing.” Whatever the future may hold for World of Warcraft, Duke concludes, “We are always looking to level up. We never rest on our laurels, we are always trying to keep moving forward. We never just stand still.”

Epic Games makes peace with ex-Fortnite insider as huge leak lawsuit comes to an end

After uncovering former Epic Games contractor Hayden Cohen as a Fortnite leaker, the gaming giant has put its ongoing lawsuit to bed. The high-profile case, which began in March, emerged when Epic learned that Cohen had been breaching NDAs surrounding upcoming content. From new skins to in-game events, Cohen had previously signed documentation in September 2025 that forbade him from talking about unannounced aspects of the massive battle royale.

As reported by Game File, court filings show both sides agreed to a proposed settlement that would permanently ban Cohen from possessing, accessing, using, or sharing Epic Games’ confidential or trade secret information. The agreement also prevents him from helping anyone else leak anything surrounding Fortnite. A judge still needs to approve the settlement, though.

The settlement does not include any public payment, even though Epic originally sought financial damages. Epic said it has nothing more to share about compensation. Cohen originally operated under the alias ‘AdiraFNInfo’, before Epic began accusing him of repeatedly leaking unreleased Fortnite content while working as an associate producer on the game.

Epic claims Cohen revealed dozens of upcoming collaborations before they were announced, including Minecraft, South Park, Peak, Overwatch, Game of Thrones, Kingdom Hearts, and Solo Leveling. The company said he shared details about new characters, cosmetics, release dates, and development plans across X and Discord, including leaking the South Park crossover just two days before its official reveal.

Cohen’s access to internal systems was later revoked, as Epic sent him a cease-and-desist letter, but claimed he continued to violate his obligations. The company argued that the leaks hurt its relationships with partners, reduced the excitement of future announcements, and forced Epic to spend significant time and money investigating the leaks.

Speaking to Game File, Epic Games spokesperson Natalie Munoz says that “we’ve asked the court to approve the stipulated injunction to ensure they cannot publish or share Epic’s confidential information again.” There are still other notable scoopers in the game’s community, such as ‘ShiinaBR’ and ‘HYPEX’, so it remains to be seen how Epic interacts with them in the future.

Some of Cohen’s leaks are yet to materialize in Fortnite, notably Kingdom Hearts. It’s possible the leaks have pushed back or caused Epic to cancel them entirely, but that’s currently unconfirmed.

My Dino Park codes (July 2026)

Running out of meat for your carnivorous creatures? Veggies for your voracious herbivores? Simply need a little extra moolah for another Mussaurus? These new My Dino Park codes can help you build the park you (and your visitors) have always dreamed of.

Feed your dinos and show the world that Jurassic Park wasn’t such a terrible idea after all – My Dino Park is all about building your perfect prehistoric playground. Hatch eggs, build enticing enclosures, and reinvest the profits of your dino delight back into making it the best possible place to see the creatures of yesterday today.

Here are the new My Dino Park codes:

• UPDATE2 – 20k and 200 teeth (new!)
• BESTDINOGAME – 300 teeth (new!)
• DINOSLOVESU – free Frozen Egg and 10k cash (new!)
• THX4PLAYING – 650 cash
• WELCOME – 1k cash

While Spider-Man checks out your biggest and best dinosaurs, why not take a moment to follow us on Google? We’re not trying to whisk you away to another game, but if it’s codes you’re here for, you’ll find loads more freebies for the biggest Roblox experiences around right there.

How do I redeem My Dino Park codes?

Once you complete the short and sweet tutorial, just follow these steps to redeem new My Dino Park codes:

• Launch My Dino Park on Roblox.
• Click the ‘Store’ button.
• On the same tab, scroll to the bottom.
• Enter a working code in the ‘Redeem a gift code’ box.
• Hit Enter on your keyboard.

How do I get more My Dino Park codes?

Just as your best dinos have comfy enclosures, so too do the latest codes for My Dino Park. If your Roblox account is appropriately age-verified for chat permissions, you’ll find a link to the My Dino Park Discord at the bottom of the game page. Join it, then look for the ‘codes’ channel along the left-hand side. There, you’ll find every working code for the game in one simple spot.

New codes – usually around three – arrive with each major update to the game. Keep an eye on the game’s events page, and you’ll know exactly when to expect a few more. If that all sounds a little too much to handle, focus on your park and just check back here whenever you need a boost. There’s a decent chance you’ll find a new code ready to go.

Not sure what to do after redeeming the new My Dino Park codes above? The quests on the right side of the screen can keep you earning more cash and teeth.

Build a Soccer Squad codes (July 2026)

If the pulls from the past update aren’t cutting it on the field in the current season, it’s time to redeem new Build a Soccer Squad codes. Keep up with the latest list of free rerolls and refreshes, and you might just pull a top-tier striker to show off in the plaza.

Build a Soccer Squad is a natural extension of the Roblox pack-ripping meta, and one that reunites it with the virtual team-building game mode of the big-budget soccer games that forever crowd console best-sellers lists. You roll for the best players from across the ages, then build your vision of an unstoppable soccer squad. It’s less about putting the team to work and more about hoping another player acknowledges your rare rolls and strategic squad formation.

Here are the latest Build a Soccer Squad codes:

• DOUBLE – 20 rerolls and refreshes

All out of rerolls? While you wait for your allowance to replenish, why not click here to follow us on Google? You’re only standing around the park anyway. Give us a click, and you’ll find some new codes to redeem in some of the other massive games on the platform.

How do I redeem Build a Soccer Squad codes?

With a simple UI, you don’t need to do much to redeem new Build a Soccer Squad codes other than the following:

• Launch Build a Soccer Squad on Roblox.
• Complete the tutorial by building your first team.
• Click the ‘codes’ button on the right side of the screen.
• Type (or paste) a working BaSS code into the box.
• Click the ‘Enter’ button.

How many players are in Build a Soccer Squad?

According to the game page, there are over 1000 players to collect in Build a Soccer Squad. Spanning 56 years of the iconic sport, this one lets you build the Avengers of soccer teams – one that could theoretically put both Pelé and Karim Benzema under the same flag for one legendary season.

How do I get more Build a Soccer Squad codes?

Without any social links littering the bottom of the game page, there isn’t much you can do to source new codes in Build a Soccer Squad. There’s no BaSS Discord server to crowd into, and certainly no Twitter or YouTube page to sift through. Even the game group is completely abandoned.

The game description currently hosts the one working code, but you’ll find it in-game, too. And with no word on why new codes might drop outside of in-game events, there’s no guarantee that giving it a thumbs-up will lead to a new code.

So, the best advice really is this: just come back here whenever you need free rerolls or refreshes. Any new code posted to the game page or the game itself will end up on the list above. You won’t be able to miss them.

There you have it – free rerolls and refreshes courtesy of new Build a Soccer Squad codes.

If you want this free Arc Raiders skin, you need to play the most underrated FPS around

I really dig Arc Raiders, but its cosmetics often leave me wanting more. However, every once in a while, Embark Studios cooks up something rad that I’d love to wear around Blue Gate or Buried City. It’s no surprise that this outfit, the Voltage Marauder set, comes from The Finals – one of, if not the most stylish, dripped-up shooters out there. If you’re willing to test your mettle in the arena, you won’t need to spend a single Raider Token to give yourself a makeover.

To get your hands on the Voltage Marauder set, you need to link your Embark ID in both Arc Raiders and The Finals. Don’t worry, it isn’t too complicated and will take you less than five minutes if you’ve got both games ready to go. Just head to the Embark ID portal here and connect it – it’s really that easy. Once that’s sorted, jump into a match on The Finals, and it’ll automatically award the cosmetics to your account. Embark Studios says it’s the “last chance” to grab them, too.

Whether you’re playing as a cunning Light class or a tanky Heavy, you can equip any of the game’s wearable items across each build. Just be aware that this set is exclusively available in The Finals, so you won’t be able to wear it in Arc Raiders. I know that’s a little lame, but stick with me for a moment. You don’t need to head back to Speranza just yet.

If you haven’t played The Finals, this is Embark Studios’s first title, originally set to release after Arc Raiders. As the latter needed more time in development, The Finals became the debut taste of what the developer is capable of. And it absolutely cooks. I’ve got over 800 hours in The Finals. I’ve hit Emerald One twice, and I intend to do it all over again when Season 11 drops on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The premise is simple: steal a transportable cash vault from other players, deposit it, and defend it until a short timer runs out.

That’s the game’s mode, Cash Out, which splits the action into a chaotic 3v3v3v3 skirmish. Other modes, like Power Shift, take notes from Overwatch, as you defend a moving platform to the finish line. Comprised of ex-Battlefield talent, Point Break taps into the developer’s roots, delivering a mode that’s similar to Conquest. But no matter what mode you pick, the real thrills come from The Finals’ bombastic action. At least 90% of what you see in any of the FPS game’s maps is destroyable, letting you shape the arena to your liking.

Toppling buildings to make steals more difficult? Collapsing apartments to disorientate your enemies? Making bridges of goo to snipe people from afar? All of that and more is just a small taste of what can happen. It’s this unpredictability and scale that keep it fresh for me. I can safely say that no two matches of The Finals are the same, and I hope this continues as we head into Galaxy Masters, the next major update.

Whereas Season Ten gave us a medieval flavor, Season 11 is taking us to space by the looks of it. I’ll see you in the arena, contestant.

Alongside its own big successes, Saber Interactive is sticking with indies – here’s why

Saber Interactive has a long list of recent winners to its name, including the likes of Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2, Roadcraft, and John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando. Alongside its own creations, however, the studio’s publishing side is adamant about sticking with indie games. At Summer Game Fest, we sat down with Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits and Head of Publishing Todd Hollenshead to discuss why Saber believes so strongly in continuing to support smaller teams.

Saber parted ways with former owner Embracer Group in 2024 after four years, returning control back to co-founder Matthew Karch’s Beacon Interactive. Hollenshead notes that 2025 action-adventure game The Knightling, developed by Twirlbound, is one carry-over from that era. “We signed that game in the Embracer years, when we were just sort of going out and signing lots of different things. I think it was one of the experiments we took on – that style of game, I don’t know that it’s necessarily really where our wheelhouse is.”

As a result, he says that working with Twirlbound “was a good experience for Saber.” Stepping outside its comfort zone has helped the greater studio to grow and evolve, and that extends to its other partnerships as well. “Now that we’ve had the experience of working on smaller games with smaller teams, I think we’ve learned from it. I think we took lessons in working with the guys at Stillalive on Bus Bound.” The blend of driving sim and transport management launched at the end of April.

“We have plans, as they say, to continue to do that in the future,” Hollenshead continues. “We continue to look at independent teams that we would be interested in working with. We are open to signing deals where the fit is right – I think we’ll have more to say about specifics in the future, when those games get closer to where we’re ready to expose them to the public.”

Speaking to Saber’s success more broadly, Willits believes that the secret is in the way it focuses on a key idea rather than aiming too wide. “We have a group of folks that are really passionate about making great games – and we do focus on what’s important in a game, and we scope it correctly. Our games are not over scope, but they’re a heck of a lot of fun.

“We find that thing. Swarms in World War Z. Being Tidus in Space Marine. How to drive through the mud in Snowrunner. How to build a road in Roadcraft. All the way up to how to have crazy, over-the-top, goofy action in Toxic Commando, and to scare people in Hellraiser. We focus on the core of the game, we scope it well, we give the time and resources that they need, and we try to stay small.”

“We’re 3,500 people, and we work on a lot of games, but we try to stay ‘small,’ you know, and energetic,” Willits concludes. “We try to stay small in our decision making by being agile and working on the games that we love, and focusing on what makes those games fun.”

Additional reporting by Tom Hopkins for PCGamesN at Summer Game Fest.

UnLoop Free Download – WorldofPCGames

Download File

UnLoop Direct Download:

Welcome to UnLoop – the most chaotic VR game out there. You need a highly coordinated squad to survive this space station. The catch? YOU ARE THAT SQUAD. Master Healer Kale with useless party

Every time the loop resets, your replica is left behind to repeat your exact physical movements, gestures, and voice in real-time. Yell instructions at your future-self, flip off your uncooperative past-self, and desperately try not to step on your own toes.  Ever wanted to argue with a room full of people who all sound exactly like you? You’ve come to the right place. After a few loops, you will be surrounded by your own past-copies, all screaming the same expletives at each other. They all disagree with you. And worst of all… they are technically correct.

It’s chaotic, it’s loud, and yes – the voices in your head are entirely real.
Ruined the timeline? Didn’t catch a crucial item? No problem. Just raise your laser gun, shoot yourself, and instantly reset the loop. Or shoot your copy who made a bad throw, you are the original one anyway!

Death isn’t a failure here. It’s just a tactical undo button.
Every puzzle is solved by coordinating with your past actions. Which sounds brilliant, until you realize your past-self had no idea what they were doing either. Experience the sheer, unadulterated ego trip of figuring things out all by yourself. When you finally spend 15 minutes coordinating three of your past-copies just to pass a single keycard through a door, you’ll feel like an absolute mastermind solving the mysteries of the universe.

We’ll let you have that. You’re welcome!

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-4590/AMD FX 8350
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or greater
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 2 GB available space
VR Support: OpenXR/SteamVR; Supported controllers & headsets: Meta Quest, Pico, Valve Index, HTC Vive Wands
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Aura Monster Simulator codes (July 2026)

It’s leg day! Grind aura like you mean it with these new Aura Monster Simulator codes. As one of the most straightforward incremental simulators you’ll find on Roblox right now, new codes will either help you climb faster or reduce how far you need to climb. Either way works. Honestly, it’s largely dependent on how you choose to spend the free gems.

Believe it or not, Aura Monster Simulator is by no means the first Roblox game to task you with simply climbing stairs. It’s the first, that we’ve seen, at least, to offer a straight ascent. These stairs aren’t curved. And sure, that reduces the risk of falling off, but this one’s littered with spikes. One literal misstep and you’ll lose that hard-earned aura. Oh, and stand still, and you’ll surely lose your head. It’s like something out of a Stephen King book.

Here are the working Aura Monster Simulator codes:

• HUGE1KLIKES – 500 gems (new!)
• HAPPYBIRTHDAYDANIEL – secret code
• 500LIKES – 200 gems
• LATE100LIKES – 100 Gems
• AURAMONSTER – 2x Aura for one hour

Given there’s a pretty low chance of getting sniped on the staircase, weigh up the risk of your aura and click here to follow us on Google. If you’re safe from a rogue shot in the skull, click around – you’re sure to find a new code guide for what could be your new favorite Roblox experience.

How do I redeem Aura Monster Simulator codes?

Redeeming codes in Aura Monster Simulator really couldn’t be easier. We mean it. Just follow these steps:

• Launch Aura Monster Simulator.
• Click the ‘codes’ button on the left.
• Enter a working code.
• Click the ‘redeem’ button.

How do I climb faster in Aura Monster Simulator codes?

Almost anything you do in this incremental simulator will boost the potential of your next run. The higher you climb, the stronger you’ll be for your next ascent. Immediately after your first, be sure to equip your new title by clicking the appropriate tab on the inventory page. That’ll get you a few small Aura and Multiplier boosts after your first fall.

After that, speak to the Info/Titles NPC and work toward the nearest title goal. Once you hit 1k gems, grab an Aura from the shop, and you’ll be good to go.

How do I get more Aura Monster Simulator codes?

Every working code for the game can be found on the Aura Monster Simulator Discord. To join, look for the Discord link at the bottom of the game page. If you can’t find it, ensure your Roblox account is appropriately age-verified and give the page a refresh.

Once in, just check the ‘updates’ and ‘announcements’ channels for any working codes, or search “NEW CODE” in the bar at the top. The team is pretty consistent with how they announce new redeemables, so either option should pull up any code that hasn’t been deleted.

That’s exactly how we find new codes for hundreds of Roblox games every week, which means the list above is also the easiest way to spot new codes to claim. Leave it to us, and you won’t have to trawl another Discord server for free gems in Aura Monster Simulator. Save those clicks for the climb.

There you have it: new Aura Monster Simulator codes for free gems and more.

Minecraft shaders 2026 – Java and Bedrock graphics packs

How a game looks is one of its most important factors, especially in an age of photo-realism and ray tracing. So, even if you’re playing one of the most aesthetically uncomplicated video games to come out of recent years, you’re still entitled to want it to look its very best.

With Minecraft shaders, you can instantly level up the look of your Minecraft world, even without an expensive RTX graphics card. By adding special lighting mechanics, realistic raindrops, colored fog, and more, the best Minecraft shaders put a spectacular filter on your favorite game. We’ve tested out the best for both Java and Bedrock editions, and compiled a list of them right here.

Here are the best Minecraft shaders:

Java shaders

Stracciatella Shaders

Designed with Distance Horizons mod in mind, Stracciatella Shaders adds multi-light-sourced colored lighting to make the game look stunning, and it does this without taxing your PC as it’s surprisingly lightweight. Seeing is believing, so check out the video above to get a better idea of what DrDesten has accomplished.

Download Stracciatella Shaders.

Dreamlight

Dreamlight Shaders from HoneyStudios offers a lightweight shader pack that aims for a fantasy-inspired look, featuring realistic sunrises and sunsets coupled with enhanced skies and soft clouds. The result is a picturesque landscape that looks stunning at all times, and there’s even a cinematic tone mapping toggle that is perfect for taking screenshots or recording gameplay capture.

Download Dreamlight Shaders.

Vanilla Plus

Described as giving Minecraft “a modern and streamlined visual overhaul while staying faithful to the original visuals,” Vanilla Plus adds small, subtle tweaks to the base game’s style. We love Vanilla Plus for its beautiful muted tones. While colors remain bright, they have a slight pastel tint to them, making Minecraft easier on the eye. You can see this demonstrated in the image above, which compares Vanilla (center) with Chocopic (right) and SEUS (left).

Download Vanilla Plus.

Cursed Fog

Unlike the other horror-inspired shaders we have in this list, Cursed Fog applies a CRT mask to give Minecraft a creepy ’80s-nostalgia feel, almost as if you were playing the game through a VHS player. Cursed Fog offers a great way of changing up the feel of Minecraft without bogging down your system with heavy effects.

Download Cursed Fog.

Beyond Belief

Like the raindrops in Astralex, perhaps the most appealing feature of the Beyond Belief shader is its wet effect, which shows a subtle surface change on surfaces when it rains. There are also stunning volumetric clouds, motion blur, and slower, more natural animations for flora. To top it off, almost everything is toggleable to your preferences.

Download Beyond Belief shader.

Body Camera Shader

Experience Minecraft in an entirely new way with the Body Camera Shader from LoLip_p that simulates the effects of a traditional body camera. The fisheye effect and auto exposure functionality add a realistic element to the game, providing you with a fresh perspective for your next Minecraft adventure.

Download Body Camera Shader.

Bliss Shaders

With a mystical fog surrounding the whole world, green smog filling swamps, and a whirling storm above your head in The End, playing Minecraft with Bliss Shaders installed is almost like playing an entirely new game.

Download Bliss Shaders.

Rethinking Voxels

Rethinking Voxels improves the light and color in vanilla Minecraft, closely replicating what we might have seen if the official RTX version of our favorite game ever came to fruition.

Download Rethinking Voxels.

Photon Shaders

Photon Shaders really sticks out for its sky details, featuring starry night skies, auroras, and the most beautiful sunsets you could hope to see. The water, shadows, lighting, and other changes are just a bonus, and everything can be toggled on and off.

Download Photon Shaders.

Kappa Shader

Kappa Shader is a realistic shader pack with cute, fluffy clouds and leaves, as well as realistic blocks, water, and more. Some of the best aspects of this shader pack are its lens effects (which can be turned off), including lens flares and customizable depth of field.

Download Kappa Shader.

Spooklementary

Based on Emin’s Complementary Shaders, also featured below, Spooklementary features many of the best-loved things about Complementary: its fluffy clouds, realistic water, and glowing lava, but with a thick layer of grime on top, resulting in what you can see above. And it looks bloody brilliant.

Download Spooklementary.

Complementary Shaders Unbound

Complementary Shaders often stands heads and shoulders above its competition thanks to the customization options granted, including those based on your PC abilities and two different shader variants. Unbound is one of the two Complementary variants, and our favorite. However, you might prefer the Reimagined style which maintains some elements of vanilla Minecraft, like the surface of water and blocky clouds, while still maintaining that gloss of a good shader pack.

Download Complementary Shaders.

Super Duper Vanilla

Many Minecraft shaders are looking to fill the gap left when the Super Duper Graphics update was cancelled, but perhaps none get quite as close as Super Duper Vanilla. This stunning shader pack overhauls the lighting and shadows in every Minecraft realm – we particularly adore the sky in The End – and it even runs well on fairly low-end PCs.

Download Super Duper Vanilla.

Astralex Shaders

Astralex Shaders is a stunning texture pack based on BSL and Continuum. Focused mainly on lighting, water, and effects, this pack literally glows, giving the illusion of ray tracing. What we really love in Astralex is the raindrops that appear as it rains. We also can’t get enough of the toggleable film grain overlays and brilliantly starry night sky, complete with constellations and shooting stars.

Download Astralex Shaders.

Minecraft PSX Shader

The Minecraft PSX shader pack looks incredibly nostalgic, and such great attention to detail has been paid to the feel of the game. We’ve not done it justice with a simple image above, but we’d rather leave the initial feeling for when you load into your world, as even moving has the same shaky feel of ’90s PlayStation games.

Download Minecraft PSX shader pack.

PixelCraft

Similar to the PSX Shader, PixelCraft shaders transform Minecraft into a pixel-style retro game, this time using Complementary shaders as a base to create a truly unique effect. PixelCraft works particularly well when taking beautiful screenshots, but you might find it difficult to play with this on, as it can feel like your eyesight has suddenly gone bad.

Download PixelCraft shaders.

Continuum Shaders

Upon installing Continuum, you’ll be greeted with photo-realistic lighting effects: color gradients across the skybox, true-to-life clouds, and shadows that adjust in shape and angle with the sun’s position.

Download Continuum.

Sildurs Vibrant Shaders

Sildurs Vibrant Shaders offers plenty for budding graphics enthusiasts, overhauling the lighting tech to add the holiest volumetric lighting imaginable, gorgeous reflections, and bloom effects. Alternatively, there’s the Enhanced pack, which has some neat effects and can be tuned in case your rig resembles a potato with some jump leads attached to it.

Download Sildurs Vibrant Shaders.

Werrus

While most will rightly point out the impressive shadow work in the Werrus Shader Pack, the water effects merit its inclusion on this list. The color, gentle waves, and sense of depth are difficult to beat, and it runs on pretty much any PC. The lighting and shadows are at their best at night and make encountering a skeleton archer in pitch-black terrifying.

Download Werrus Shader Pack.

BSL Shaders

BSL Shaders deliver some of the best visuals you can get in Minecraft without breaking your rig. The lighting is warm and welcoming, the water is realistic without contrasting too much with the blocky environment, and there’s a tangible atmosphere wherever you look.

Download BSL Shaders.

Solas Shaders

Solas Shaders were created as an offshoot of BSL Shaders, the successor to the Prismarine shaders. What makes Solas stand out is its fancy sky effects, including the aurora borealis, the Milky Way, and the Ender Nebula. If you aren’t too afraid to venture out into the overworld after dark, there are some splendid sights to behold with these shaders installed.

Download Solas Shaders.

Pastel Shaders

The Minecraft Pastel shaders feature a subtle color change to the world around you. With various color profiles to choose from, you can give your world a pink, blue, or yellow hue. From there, you can decide whether to add other shaders and texture packs to further alter your world or stick to the slightly more pastel-tinged vanilla environment.

Download Minecraft Pastel shaders.

Insanity Shader

Perfect for the horror fans, Elocin’s Insanity Shader Pack adds a spooky look to any Minecraft game but is a particularly great addition to a horror mod pack. A nice, blue sky becomes grey and gloomy, rain becomes a deep, dense fog, and every scene, night or day, just has that lick of eerie paint over it.

Download Insanity Shader.

Ebin Resurrected

Ebin Resurrected shaders were inspired by SEUS, although out of the box, they look very different. The most noticeable change is that the clouds and foliage are impressively realistic, but there are some slight visual improvements everywhere you look.

Download Ebin Resurrected.

Nostalgia Shader

The Nostalgia Minecraft shader has a retro vibe and plenty of upgrades for performance and new features. We particularly like how it looks at dawn and during sunsets. Like a few other teams and packs on this list, the Nostalgia creators are also working on an RTX-like shader pack, NostalgiaVX.

Download Nostalgia.

Unreal Shaders

Unreal Shaders is a combination of shaders and textures that you can mix and match to perfect your Minecraft world to your liking. Including three different shaders and texture packs, as well as new biomes, immersive sounds, and more, Unreal is a simple way to change the look of Minecraft with just one download – you don’t even need Optifine.

Download Unreal Shaders.

Oceano

Oceano is renowned for its water effects because of its respect for the original, vanilla look of Minecraft. The landscape surrounding its realistic waters maintains a more vanilla look. That said, you’ll notice some other nice changes, like full grass blocks and textured trees.

Download Oceano.

SEUS

Named SEUS for short, Sonic Ether’s Unbelievable Shaders improves the realism of your Minecraft. Soft natural lighting, rain that adds a glossy sheen to every surface it touches, procedurally generated clouds, and much more await you in SEUS. While Sonic Ether does continue to work on modding projects, their shaders haven’t been updated for modern Minecraft. Fortunately, someone has converted the shaders to work with the latest versions of the game over at ResourcePack. Forget Minecraft RTX, this is true beauty.

Download SEUS.

How to install Java shaders

Getting Minecraft shaders up and running is a simple enough process. Before you start installing a shader pack, though, you’ll want to download and install Forge or Optifine. Remember that these aren’t always updated, so your options are limited if you want to run shaders on the latest version of Minecraft Java. Likewise, you must ensure the shader you’re downloading is for the same version of Minecraft Java you’re running.

To install Minecraft shaders in Java edition:

• Download the desired shader pack.
• Place the shader pack zip file in the Minecraft > .shaderpacks folder.
• .shaderpacks should be located in your AppData folder. If you can’t find it, type %appdata% in your search bar and locate the .minecraft folder within it.
• From the Minecraft Launcher, select the Optifine or Minecraft game version you need to run the shader and hit ‘Play’.
• Load your world or create a new world, and go to Options – Video Options – Shaders, then ensure the shader you want is selected, as seen in the image above.

Bedrock shaders

Vibrant Visuals

Vibrant Visuals is an official graphics option within Minecraft that is, according to Minecraft.net “a dazzling visual refresh” that leads to stunning shadows, reflections, and fogs. You can turn Vibrant Visuals on in the in-game ‘Video’ settings, and you can combine it with many of the shader packs below.

Revolution Vibrant Visuals

This improvement on the vanilla Vibrant Visuals provides a warm glow over your whole world, as you can see in the image above – you’ve never seen sunsets quite like these. The goal of Revolution is to bring the look of Bedrock as close to that of Java as possible, and you’ll barely be able to tell the difference.

Download Revolution.

Lumenix Shader

For something a little more saturated, Lumenix is a great pick, adding a pop of color to your Minecraft world. Most of the shaders on this list are more toned down and realistic, but we can’t help but be drawn to something with a bit more vibrancy. Make sure you have the base Vibrant Visuals setting turned on to get the most out of Lumenix.

Download Lumenix.

BSLB Shaders

BLS Shaders is one of the most popular Java edition shaders, but what if you’re playing on Bedrock? Well, luckily, celebrated Bedrock creators Honey Studios have created BSLB, or BSL Bedrock, offering the same warm and realistic lighting, fog, and clouds as the original BSL.

Download BSL Bedrock.

How to install Bedrock shaders

To install Minecraft shaders in Bedrock edition:

• Check for any prerequisite downloads before downloading your desired shader pack.
• Locate the .mcpack in your downloads and double-click it to install it, then launch Minecraft.
• For a new world, click ‘Play’, then ‘Create New World’.
• For an existing world, click ‘Play’, locate your world and hit the ‘Edit’ button next to it.
• Scroll down to ‘Resource Packs’ and find your newly installed shader pack. Hit the ‘Activate’ button next to it.
• Complete any other settings you want for your new world, and click ‘Create’.

And there you go, the best Minecraft shaders to upgrade the game’s visuals and improve all of your favorite Minecraft biomes. If you’re looking to add a unique atmosphere to your favorite Minecraft maps, you can’t go wrong with any of our hand-picked shaders.

Slay the Spire 2 just got 15 new cards out of nowhere, including some big co-op heavy hitters

A new Slay the Spire 2 patch has just hit the beta branch, and this is a big one. In fact, you might want to pay attention even if you aren’t one to toy around with the testing side of the roguelike deckbuilder, because there’s a whole heap of additional cards that are designed to enhance co-op play, and some of them sound particularly strong. There are also a bunch of fresh balance changes in the works, a shiny visual overhaul for the latest boss Aeonglass, and some modding fixes that are planned “to come to the main branch soon.” Let’s take a look at exactly what’s in store.

The most exciting element of this Slay the Spire 2 update is the new cards. They might be specific to co-op, but playing with friends has quickly established itself as one of the best ways to enjoy StS 2, and if you haven’t tried it out yet, I’d highly encourage it. There’s one new colorless card, two for the Regent, and three for all of the other classes. Alongside this, Mega Crit has nerfed how much enemy block values scale up in two-player multiplayer specifically, making foes a little less tanky when you’re just in a pair.

You can read through the full list below, but the most notable takeaway is that a lot of them feel really strong, which seems to lean into the vibe of co-op Slay the Spire 2 being more about setting up cool combos and synergies rather than careful strategy. A lot of them will require you to communicate with your teammates that you’re going to play them (as they’ll affect the strength of their cards). The notable risk on some, such as Outrage, is that you’ll want to be careful you don’t accidentally mess up your teammate’s carefully built deck.

Here are all the new Slay the Spire 2 co-op cards:

Ironclad

• Midnight (rare attack): Cost 12 – Deal 99 (120) damage. Costs one less for each card exhausted this combat by anyone.
• Blaze (uncommon skill): Cost 2 – Give another player 5 (7) strength.
• Outrage (uncommon attack): Cost 0 – Deal 9 (13) damage. Add a copy of this card into everyone’s discard pile.

Silent

• Blade Symphony (uncommon skill): Cost 1 – Add 2 (3) Shivs to all players hands.
• Concoct (uncommon skill): Cost 0 – Another player’s attacks apply 3 (4) poison this turn.
• Fade (uncommon skill): Cost 0. Retain. Another player gains 6 (9) dexterity this turn.

Regent

• Plot (uncommon skill): Cost 1 – Next turn, all players draw 2 (3) cards.
• Constellation (uncommon skill): Cost 0 – Another player draws one card, gains one energy, and gains 9 (12) block.

Necrobinder

• Underworld (uncommon skill): Cost 2 – Whenever other players deal attack damage this turn, apply that much doom. Exhaust (upgrade removes exhaust).
• Soulbound (uncommon power): Cost 1 – (Upgrade adds Innate.) Choose an ally. Whenever you create a Soul, add a Soul to their draw pile.
• Cacophony (rare power): Cost 2 – Every 33 cards drawn by all players, deal 66 (99) damage to a random enemy.

Defect

• Hibernate (uncommon skill): Cost 2 – Channel 2 (3) Frost. This turn, your Frost grants all allies block.
• One For All (rare power): Cost 1 – Everyone’s zero-energy attacks deal 3 (4) additional damage.
• Imitation Learning (rare skill): Cost 1 – Choose another player. The next 2 (3) times they play a power, you play a copy of it. Exhaust.

Colorless

• The Ball (uncommon attack): Cost 1 – Deal 10 damage. Increase this card’s damage by 15 (25) this combat and give it to a random ally.

That’s an incredible amount of power across the board. Being able to create double the Souls, duplicate power effects, or enhance all of your partners’ attacks with the likes of doom or poison is almost assuredly going to lead to some very broken combos. I’m curious to see whether Mega Crit is just pushing the boat out to test whether this is a fun setup designed to embrace the more casual nature of co-op, or if it starts reining things in over future patches.

Across the rest of the balance changes, the most notable are a re-ordering of end-of-turn effects to help keep you safe from doom. Both the healing effect of the Regen Potion and the passive effects of Defect’s Orbs now trigger before doom is calculated, meaning you will now stay alive in cases where doom on your character would have previously killed you. This also means Orbs will be more effective at finishing off a doomed enemy.

Most of the other balance tweaks are buffs, although there are a few small block nerfs for the Ironclad and Regent, along with a cutback to the Silent’s Tracking. There’s also a randomize button for custom runs that will shuffle in two good modifiers and one bad one, along with picking a character for you. The Bestiary continues to expand with a stats section and event combat encounters, and there’s a handful of new art and animations.

Finally, Mega Crit has introduced a few major modding improvements, along with a handful of more niche minor ones that are specific to mod creators. It notes that modded and unmodded saves are kept separate from one another “as a protective measure,” which previously made it look as though progress had been wiped. Now, instead of starting fresh, your modded save will import a copy of your unmodded one (although progress after that will be kept separate). There should also be fewer ‘version conflict’ errors in modded multiplayer.

Slay the Spire 2 patch 0.108.0 is live now on the beta branch. You can take part via the properties menu, accessed through your Steam Library. Mega Crit is hoping to bring those big modding upgrades to the live version of StS 2 as soon as it can, while the other changes will likely arrive a little further down the road.

Windrose’s new Ashlands biome will expand your pirate escapades “significantly in scope”

Now that the post-launch waters have settled, Kraken Express is steering the ship towards its first big Windrose update. The pirate survival game exploded onto the scene in April in fittingly dramatic fashion – racking up more than two million sales and even briefly outstripping the pace of the mighty Rust on Steam. That’s a lot of adventurers ready for their next outing across the water, and the studio promises that our journey to the Windrose Ashlands will see “the main story and side quests grow significantly in scope.”

The Windrose developer makes clear up front that work on this next update “is still in its early stages,” and longer-term plans beyond that “are still taking shape.” However, it emphasizes, “We have always wanted Windrose to be a survival adventure with a strong narrative layer,” and with Ashlands that comes in the form of navigating the arrival of new factions in your hunt for the next of the Obols. “Hidden somewhere among the ruins of a long-forgotten Spanish colony, the Obol’s power has twisted lands already ravaged by volcanic eruptions, making them more dangerous than ever,” it teases, “and let’s just say you’re not the only one searching for the artifact.”

The Ashlands, unsurprisingly, are covered with volcanic ash, which preserves all manner of relics and secrets beneath it. As with other regions, it will comprise multiple islands, playing home to all the usuals: new enemies, items, resources, recipes, and a big boss showdown. “We want every biome to feel and play differently,” Kraken notes, “so on top of all the new content, we’re also looking into new biome mechanics to experiment with.”

Alongside this map expansion, the team believes that the core ship gameplay of Windrose “has a lot of room for expansions,” and it’s already pulled together a big list of community ideas and requests. While it doesn’t expect to get to all of these for the Ashlands update, it is currently investigating “at least one” more ship class (the brigantine, fluyt, and galleon are all in the works right now) along with faction-specific variants. It’s cooking up improvements to ship combat, and enhancements to the AI “such as NPC ships behaving more naturally, sailing in formations, and so on.”

What about wind? It’s obviously a fundamental aspect of real-life sailing, and Kraken Express is “aware” that it’s a popular request. “We’ll definitely be exploring this idea as well, and we originally intended to. But let us be crystal clear: we want it to be fun and simple. Windrose aims to be an adventure, without some of the more hardcore simulation aspects.” There’s also the promise of our sea shanty selection being “significantly expanded.” The developer thanks players for their enthusiastic response: “We were deeply touched by how well these were received.”

Also on the cards for the update is improved base building. Taking notes from the “amazingly creative builds you showcased,” Kraken is working on “a plethora of new decorations,” functional additions to existing building sets to help address gaps in the current lineup, and some building quality-of-life improvements. “We’re also happy to see that our camp NPCs were well received,” it concludes, “so we’ll be looking to expand this system as well.”

This is all still more of a “general direction” for the time being, Kraken Express reiterates, although it’s says it’s happy to take additional suggestions and questions from the community as it works on the Ashlands. “We’ll be sharing more details, including an estimated release window, as development progresses.”

The best WoW addons July 2026

What are the best WoW addons? Blizzard’s critically acclaimed MMORPG hides a lot of useful data it collects, and picking up a mod that offers a peek behind the curtain can be a literal game-changer when going up against deadly bosses. Of course, the best World of Warcraft addons aren’t just aimed at avid raiders. Some are more focused on utility and freshening up the MMO’s UI, while others help track material nodes for professions, décor pieces to be collected for your player home, or adds a GPS-style navigation tool to help you move around Azeroth and beyond.

With so many options, it’s tough to know which WoW addons are worth your time – or even work following Blizzard’s controversial mod crackdown for the Midnight expansion. We’ve dug deep and tracked down the best of the bunch for general, all-purpose use in one of the best PC games of all time. These must-have World of Warcraft addons will make your experience much more pleasant, whether you’re a raider, trader, or simply keen to level up fast.

WoW Midnight addons

Before we dive in, our list of WoW addons comes with a big caveat. Some addons that track real-time combat data, such as WeakAuras, no longer work following Midnight’s launch. While it’s typical for older and abandoned addons to be incompatible after new expansions drop, this ‘addon purge’ was a concerted effort from Blizzard to introduce new in-house tools and “level the playing field” for its players.

Here are the best WoW addons:

ElvUI

One of the most popular all-in-one addon collections, ElvUI earned its unique status as one of the best WoW addons. It provides a sleek revamp of the entire default WoW user interface, combining many of the most popular improvements to spell bar placement, inventory view, portraits, and basic utility. It automatically configures your display based on your role, and provides easy options for changing configurations, moving windows, binding keys, and a host of other tweaks to display and function.

Text windows are helpfully divided between chat channels, loot, and other screen-scrolling information. At the bottom of those windows and your mini-map, tiny configurable status displays tell you everything, including your resources, durability, and bag space. They can also give one-click access to your bags, your guild, or your friends list.

ElvUI is updated ridiculously often. Unlike most WoW addons, this package can’t be added to the Curse client; instead, you’ll need to update separately. There’s a paid client to do that automatically, but the ElvUI collection is available to install manually for free.

Waypoint UI

Bumper packs are all well and good, but sometimes, the best WoW addon is the one that points you in the right direction without any of the extra bells and whistles. Waypoint UI does just that, spawning a beam of light at the location of your tracked objective. As minimalist as it seems, there’s a ton of built-in customization and toggleable information, including sound effects, icons, contextual descriptions, and estimated arrival times.

And if you’re looking for an alternative, TomTom is another great choice, allowing you to also enter coordinates into the chat window (like those in our Decor Treasure Hunt riddle solutions guide), instantly spawning a location tracker for you to follow.

Home Bound

Home Bound is a relatively new addon that’s surged in popularity in WoW leading up to and following on from the release of Midnight, with over 4.9 million downloads as of July 2026. If player housing is something that’s right up your street and you’re looking to collect as many pieces of décor that you possibly can, this addon is it.

Providing handy 3D models of each individual item, as well as giving details on exactly what needs to be done to get it, you’re able to hide completed achievements easily to focus on what you’ve got left to do, as well as tracking additional items available through vendors, professions, and drops. With this one in tow, you’ll have the best decorated house your neighborhood has ever seen.

Plumber

Plumber is the QoL addon pack you’ve always wanted, extending WoW’s UI functions beyond the base game’s capabilities. With this mod installed, you can track items by adding them to the backpack currency counter bar, convert talking head frames to clean subtitles, create drawer macros to group spells together, enjoy seamless auto-loot, and more. Be warned: once you enable Plumber, you won’t be able to go back.

All The Things

Want to track those achievements, rare kills, items, treasures, pets, transmogs – or anything else you’re missing – and display them by the zone or area you’re in? The All The Things WoW addon has come to your rescue. It identifies everything you’re missing and presents them to you in one simple interface, allowing you to feed your inner Warcraft completionist obsession.

The mod gives you a nice heads-up for game content you might be missing and also provides extra tooltip information about the things you’re collecting. A fanfare of chimes announces when you’ve collected or lost new appearances, pets, or items. All The Things is a must for Warcraft collectors and a fun addon for most players.

Separate databases keep All The Things from slowing down your gameplay, too.

Deadly Boss Mods

For five-man dungeons, Deadly Boss Mods is a great quality of life improvement, giving you warnings about important things – the boss is about to use a spell, you need to interrupt that mob’s cast to save your buddy – and generally acting as your gameplay guide.

For raids, DBM is essential, helping you to navigate tricky boss mechanics, giving you timers for when important events are coming in a fight, and generally giving you advance notice about all the things you need to do to keep your groupmates from yelling at you.

DBM is our choice because of the funny choices in its sound files; for example, a mechanic that makes you scatter from your teammates is typically accompanied by Karazhan’s Big Bad Wolf yelling at you to “Run away, little girl, run away!” If you find that obnoxious, BigWigs Bossmods is another solid choice with less whimsy.

Details!

There are plenty of damage and healing counters out there, but Details! is our favorite for its flexible displays, intuitive handling of things like pet damage, and lightweight installation. This mod allows you to track your damage or healing output (including absorbs like shields) based on the spells you cast and the abilities you use, how they hit your opponents, and how you compare against your group.

We especially like the ability to mouse over individual players to quickly glance at what they’re casting and why they’re doing bigger numbers than you are. You can easily see segments like a single boss fight, or totals for an entire dungeon.

GTFO

This simple WoW addon does one thing: bark at you when you’re standing in something awful. A lifesaver for hectic boss fights, GTFO sounds a blaring alarm when you’re standing in fire and a warning tone when you’ve been hit by a single ability you could have avoided.

Simple, lightweight, and a shortcut to looking very smart in groups. This is largely an audio addon that is now ostensibly only usable in boss encounters post-Midnight. Nonetheless, it’s still very handy.

Auctioneer

There’s a lot of money to be made via the WoW auction house – if you know what you’re doing. Auctioneer goes some way to streamline the process. This addon for WoW effectively appraises items, providing you with an intelligent price to sell a product for, making it easy to undercut others in the auction house.

It doesn’t stop there, though. The Auctioneer suite also tracks your bidding, postings, and mail, making it a breeze to list plenty of items at once. There’s also extensive support for enchanting, with figures available for disenchanting as well as selling enchantments. Used correctly, it’s quite the moneymaker while saving you the effort of completing market analysis yourself.

Auctioneer boasts a truly impressive toolset, but it can be overwhelming if you use the Auction House on a more casual basis. If you find that many of the options available through Auctioneer are surplus to requirements, Auctionator is a lightweight alternative that’s guaranteed to fit the bill.

That said, if you really want to feed your inner goblin, TradeSkill Master is the state-of-the-art for tracking and placing auctions, undercutting, combining raw materials from the auction house into items that sell for more, and the like. It comes with its own desktop app for maximum gold-making analysis and requires a separate download. It’ll identify good deals currently posted for sale and tell you what things should be worth. Using TSM correctly is a skill in itself, so we don’t recommend it for beginners.

Bagnon

Keeping an eye on your inventory is a complex business once you own a few large bags, or you have multiple characters. Bagnon is a lifesaver in this context. Instead of having to view items bag by bag, it collates all your items together in one simple-to-view inventory screen.

Each item has a different color assigned to it, depending on item quality, and there’s an intelligent search engine, too. This means you can see at a glance what’s going on inside your bags and that makes it easier for you to tidy them up.

Going one step further, the WoW addon also shows what all your characters possess, from how much gold they own to if certain items are duplicated across multiple characters. If you’re trying to move possessions from your main to an alt, it’s the perfect way to keep on top of everything.

Mythic Dungeon Tools

Mythic dungeons are WoW’s equivalent to military operations. They demand careful planning and forethought to complete, and going in unprepared can result in a quick wipe. If you’d prefer to skip homework, the Mythic Dungeon Tools mod is the ideal addon. This extensive dungeon planner maps out all NPCs on interactive map, which you can use to build a dungeon route to share with your party members. It even has a note system to let you communicate more complex strategies, too.

Rarity

Finding a rare item drop is immensely satisfying, but often it can be quite frustrating, too. The Rarity addon for WoW acknowledges that you want to know what the odds are of getting a good drop, tracking how many times you’ve tried to obtain everything from mounts to toys and battle pets.

In each case, it tells you how likely you are to obtain the item, tracks how long you’ve been trying, and determines how lucky you’ve been so far. No longer will you have to question whether you’re making progress or not, as you’ll have a proper idea of your chances through statistical analysis. Basically, it’ll keep you sane.

Due to a change in the way Warcraft handles looting, Rarity does poorly at tracking items that drop from mobs that come in groups or drop nothing at all. If they drop gold, you’ll get the correct count; if they don’t, that ‘attempt’ won’t register. Still, it’s a useful tool.

HandyNotes

World of Warcraft’s map is fairly good at showing you where you need to go, but it’s not perfect. HandyNotes fills an important gap in the form of being able to add notes as you go along. A quick alt-right click on the world map lets you type in whatever you need to remember. More importantly, published collections of HandyNotes allow you to keep track of everything from the locations of treasure chests in Battle for Azeroth to the location (and whether you’ve killed them!) of rare creatures in Nazjatar or Mechagon.

As a result, HandyNotes is great for keeping track of locations such as secret entrances or even particularly scenic spots for light roleplaying. Prepackaged HandyNotes collections are their own WoW addons, but they all require HandyNotes to run. Alongside the Midnight HandyNotes, we highly recommend the Battle for Azeroth Treasures collection, and Nazjatar or Mechagon by TomCat’s Tours.

Angrier World Quests

WoW Legion brought with it World Quests: special daily and weekly quests for maximum-level characters. The problem was that World of Warcraft’s UI did a poor job of highlighting them and making them easy to track. Angrier World Quests does the job for Blizzard, tracking quests in previous zones as well as those in Battle for Azeroth.

It lists quests directly on the world map, showing what the rewards will be and allowing easy filtering for quests that fulfill today’s emissary requirements and those that award gold, Azerite power, loot, or War Resources.

While the original Angry World Quests has been effectively abandoned since 2018, Angrier World Quests is a worthy successor that continues to implement fixes and received regular updates into The War Within. However, if you’re looking for an alternative, we’d recommend World Quests List or World Quest Tracker, both of which offer similar functionality.

Bartender 4

Bartender 4 is a very useful mod that allows you to customize your action bars. It gives you full control over ten action bars, allowing you to customize their scale, position, fade-out settings, and more.

RareScanner

Never miss a nearby rare enemy again – RareScanner triumphantly announces rare monsters, treasures, and events in your immediate vicinity. Whenever a ‘vignette’ appears on the minimap – a star that denotes a rare, an event, or a treasure – an alert will sound, and a button will appear in the middle of your screen with the rare’s name and the loot that it drops. If you want to go after it, click the button, and a skull will appear over the NPC so you can track it down. RareScanner also adds icons for everything rare you discover and will show extra information about it on a tooltip.

BugGrabber / BugSack

If you’re a WoW addon fiend, odds are you’ve encountered the dreaded LUA error pop-up. This error usually occurs when one of your addons requires an update, and often appears at the most inopportune moments. BugGrabber and BugSack work together to catch these LUA pop-ups before they happen and produce a bug report to pass on to your favorite WoW addon creators. The more addons you have installed, the more likely you are to run into a bug, so these two are well worth picking up if you’d rather not have to deal with a pesky pop-up while you’re on the cusp of a raid wipe.

LiteMount

LiteMount is the best WoW addon for avid mount collectors, offering smart customization that outstrips WoW’s own mount randomizer button. Instead, LiteMount lets you summon rarer mounts more often, and can even identify the most thematically appropriate mounts to summon based on your location, faction, and class. It even takes into account druid travel forms, as well as item and journal mounts, so you can experience the full scope of your stable as you play.

Plater Nameplates

Plater Nameplates are an OP tool in World of Warcraft. With the game’s default UI, all you’ll see is an enemy’s health bar. However, once you’ve slapped Plater Nameplates on you’ll gain access to a world of information, including debuff tracking, enemy cast bars, and more. This is incredibly important if you’re whittling away at M+ or are looking to make a name for yourself in your raid group, as it’ll help you perfect your timings and understand AI behavior better. You can also color-code your plates, which is great when you need to quickly mark priority targets on a pull for your own reference.

Immersion

Immersion is the ideal WoW addon for players who find it difficult to parse the constant walls of text that appear when taking on quests or picking through lore. Instead, Immersion breaks it into bite-sized paragraphs you can click through at leisure. It also splits WoW’s bulky, old-fashioned quest frame into individual frames, complete with talking heads and dialogue selection buttons, allowing you to take in your surroundings (and the words on the screen) without sacrificing your immersion. If you prefer a clean UI that gets right to the heart of any matter in Azeroth, then Immersion is a must-have mod.

If you’re looking for an alternative in the same vein as Immersion but still want something feeling similar to vanilla WoW, DialogueUI adds a beautiful, modern-feeling parchment-paper replacement for the default quest window and Azeroth’s many books. It also adds a swooping camera the pulls in towards you and an NPC as you chat to them for that familiar RPG feel.

Narcissus

If you’re trying to showcase your transmog as if you’re at Stormwind fashion week, then Narcissus makes capturing your blue steel incredibly simple. It comes bundled with plenty of other character UI QoL improvements, too, including a cleaner way to compare gear, parse through different NPCs in a dedicated viewer, and take group selfies with the gang.

Clique

Clique is one for the macro lovers in the audience, allowing you to bind spells and macros to mouse and keyboard combinations, then ‘click-cast’ or ‘hover-cast’ over unit frames and other in-game elements. The value you get out of this WoW addon directly correlates with how much you put into it – healers and raid-ready spellcasters will have the most to gain from this addon, but Clique is guaranteed to cut down on reaction times across all classes.

Raider.IO

Raider.IO is a companion addon that accompanies the popular raid rankings site of the same name. Naturally, you’ll only see the benefit if you’re a dedicated Raider.IO user – but if you are, it’s well worth the installation. Instead of endlessly switching tabs to look up the raid progress and mythic scores of other players, you can see all that information in their in-game name panel, so you can spend less time in your web browser and more time raiding.

Scrap

Do you love to pack your inventory with junk but hate the arduous process of selling it all off? Scrap is a lightweight WoW addon that automatically sells off all your junk items whenever you speak to a merchant, with optional junk filters that identify any other non-grey items you typically prefer to sell as well. This lightweight WoW addon also repairs your equipment for you, leaving you with an empty bag and fresh gear at the click of a button.

Pawn

Are you tired of making endless mathematical calculations to decide whether to replace your equipment with the latest gear in your bag? No need to give up and equip any old item – Pawn is here to ensure that your gear score is always in tip-top shape. This lightweight WoW addon helps you to easily differentiate between items and see how they can benefit your specific class and spec by running all those calculations and spitting out a value in each item’s window pane, which you can easily compare and contrast at a glance.

Pawn even comes with an extensive site of options to import custom stat weights and track multiple specs at once if you switch your build on the regular. Unfortunately, previous WoW updates have disabled Pawn’s signature green arrows, but creator TravisSpomer assures that you can still get them back with your favorite bag addon.

Altoholic

If you have a ton of alt characters and keep losing track of them, salvation has arrived in the form of Altoholic. This f-alt-less add-on collates every data point you could possibly want across each of your characters, displaying them in an easily-parsable UI. Whether you want to check how breaded your alts are, or what they’ve got stashed away, Altoholic provides the goods.

OPie

Cluttered action bars can be an absolute nightmare to navigate, and a messy UI can more than mar your immersion. OPie offers a pretty slick solution, granting you the ability to stack bindings into action rings – action rings that only appear on your screen when their keybind is pressed. It might take some getting used to, but the drag and release element of selecting what to use in each ring is really slick when you get the muscle memory down.

RCLootCouncil

Dishing out loot after a raid can often become a contentious moment for any guild. The Loot Council system certainly has its pros and cons, but at the very least, with RCLootCouncil, it won’t take an age to divvy up the goods. Based on the need/greed/pass system, RCLootCouncil sends all of the loot to a Master Looter (typically the group leader), who then opens a session. Once gear candidates have made their choice, council members can then make an executive decision on who gets what. Simple.

Ultimate Mouse Cursor

WoW’s default cursor can be a bit of a pain to keep track of, especially in certain environments and during hectic encounters. Ultimate Mouse Cursor is the perfect pointer panacea, adding a set of rings around your clicker that not only add clarity, but show your cast and global cooldowns.

SenseiClassResourceBar

SenseiClassResourceBar is a bit of a mouthful, but this plugin is anything but obtuse. Providing crisp, clean resource bars that automatically detect your character’s class, this is a great set-and-forget addon that will help keep your UI crystal clear. It’s also incredibly customizable and resizable, so you can really go to town on making it fit your setup.

Now you’ve got the best WoW addons up and running, be sure to brush up on the best World of Warcraft console commands.

Additional contributions by Ava Thompson-Powell, Heather Newman, and Jennifer Allen.

Stuntman Hollywood is a genius idea with a massive amount of replayability

A new Stuntman game, the first one in 19 years, was one of the last things I expected to be revealed at PlayStation’s summer showcase. The more I thought about it, though, the more it became clear that Stuntman Hollywood is a genius idea. A nostalgic racing series that is good for both casual and hardcore fans, which utilizes Universal’s near-endless suite of IPs, is such a smart game to develop.

I spoke to Todd Hollenshead, Saber Interactive’s Head of Publishing, and Tim Willits, Chief Creative Officer, about the process behind the racing game’s conception, and it’s fascinatingly simple. “Literally, there was this database you could search through all the names of all the different IPs,” Willits said about Saber’s time under the Embracer group banner. “And it’s kind of like, whoa, Stuntman, that’s interesting,” he continued, suggesting Saber stumbled across the idea for Stuntman Hollywood when looking through what they had access to.

Still, they had to partner with Universal, having already worked closely with them on the Turok and Jurassic Park games. Hollenshead said “when we went to Universal, they were like, ‘we’ve got 1,000 movies, like, take your pick,’ and because we were using slivers of them, like it’s not a Fast and Furious game. It’s Fast and Furious; it’s Back to the Future; it’s Miami Vice; it’s Earthquake; it was great because the franchise owners thought it was cool.”

And that’s probably the most exciting aspect of Stuntman Hollywood. During my hands-on time with the game at SGF, I played levels from all of the films Hollenshead mentions, and it’s wonderful to live out both iconic scenes from billion-dollar blockbusters and reimaginings of oft-forgotten cult classics like Earthquake.

It’s a simple game. You jump into a car as the resident Stuntman erm… stuntman, and the director tells you what to do as you speed through the set. Get as close as you can to that parked car, take that jump as high as you can, or nail that drift between parked police cruisers. It’s fast-paced, chaotic, and extremely nostalgic. There’s not a whole lot that’s new for the series; you’ll know what you’re doing if you’ve played the previous game – it’s the IP tie-ins that are the new selling point.

The cars feel great, whether that’s the iconic DeLorean or Fast and Furious’ muscle cars, so you’re able to weave between obstacles with ease. There’s a level of precision that’s needed, but that only increases as you try to hit high scores and get all of the stars in each scene.

Both the original Stuntman game and Ignition were intensely tough games. “It’s important for us to make this as broad a base as possible,” Willits tells me, but that doesn’t mean the game is easy. While getting through a level with a mediocre score is simple enough, hitting green on every stunt in every scene will be reserved for only the most dedicated of players. Hollywood has a huge amount of replay value, not just for the hits of nostalgia, but to try and better your score again and again. Since it’s quite a simple game at heart, replayability is vital to making the game something you stick with and don’t just delete once you’ve beaten every level.

Getting that difficulty balance right wasn’t easy, though. The developers needed to ensure Hollywood isn’t as hard as the original game and not too easy for embattled racing fans. I spoke to Hollenshead and Willits about this to understand how tough it was for them.

“It’s funny you said that, because Todd will back me up on this. We have had so many discussions about that exactly, and it is tricky, because then there are people that say ‘I gotta get all the stars, I got this,’ but sometimes, for normal muggles it may be too difficult, so we’ve been spending an enormous amount of time balancing the game.

“We don’t want to discourage people from having fun, you know, so we have the different difficulty settings, but then you can go kind of hardcore, so we have the director scenes, and then we have some free-form stunts, so for folks like you that want to maybe have a little more challenge, we have those opportunities.”

I’m excited to get to grips with the challenging side of Stuntman Hollywood in full, and I want to see how many unexpected movies appear in the game. Stuntman is one of the most unique racing series ever released, and I’m glad it’s making a comeback.

The best Minecraft mods – PCGamesN

While vanilla Minecraft is amazing all on its own, its modding community has shipped a colossal amount of custom content over the years. The sheer volume of free Minecraft mods allows for endless possibilities, from massive texture packs to scary mods that introduce stalker enemies.

Before we begin, we must point out that we’ve stayed away from recent Minecraft mods built using AI tools, so you don’t need to worry about your computer being infected with potentially malicious files. Our ultimate list of the best Minecraft mods takes your game to another level, letting you reshape the sandbox game to your exact specifications. We’ve been curating our mod collection for quite some time, and it includes essential mods for everyone alongside new Minecraft mods stealing the spotlight.

Here are the best Minecraft mods right now:

Minecraft modpacks

Quark

For most experienced players, Quark is practically essential to any Minecraft playthrough. Quark is a huge modpack with a variety of features that significantly improve the base game across practically every aspect. From small quality-of-life tweaks that show exactly how much health items provide, to major changes like adding new biomes, mobs, and blocks, Quark offers everything you could want in one pack.

All the Mods 10

With around 500 mods included, All the Mods 10 features some of the best Minecraft mods around. There are automation mods, shaders, resource packs, and plenty of other world, optimization, and vanilla mods. If you aren’t sure what you want and are sick of scrolling through thousands of mods, All the Mods takes out a lot of the work.

Liminal Industries

Trapped inside the backrooms, a seemingly endless maze of office-like walls, Liminal Industries is essentially a giant escape room that you can only break free from by building a factory using the scraps from old, wooden office parts. The sheer size of the backrooms is daunting enough making it easy to get lost, but things really begin to heat up when you discover some of the monsters lurking in the darkness.

This modpack is definitely for more experienced Minecraft players due to its technical factory-building elements, which may force less knowledgeable players to reach for a wiki. Liminal Industries may be built in Minecraft, but the core gameplay loop couldn’t be further from the base game. Surviving in this strange space is only half the battle – the other half is trying to work out what you need to do to escape.

Minecraft world mods

Botania

If you’re wildly enthusiastic about magic and nature, then don’t sleep on the Botania Minecraft mod. Using the power of the earth, you can grow new mystical flowers and magical devices that can be used for automation. In comparison to other automation mods like Immersive Engineering, Botania is more natural in focus, so if you prefer dirt to metal, this is the engineering mod for you.

Aquaculture 2

If you love a bit of peaceful fishing in Minecraft but are tired of pulling up the same salmon and cod, then give Aquaculture 2 a try. This Minecraft mod adds over 30 new fish, the ability to fish while swimming, new fishing rods, bobbins, and bait. There’s also an incredible new treasure loot table for fishing, which includes the mod’s own Neptunium tools and armor.

Cobblemon

As the latest Pokemon x Minecraft mod, Cobblemon has crafted new models for each Pokemon using Minecraft’s pixelated style, so these cute critters look more like actual Minecraft mobs. The world itself is fairly similar to Pixelmon, with the usual Minecraft world generation only slightly altered by a few new textures, including apricorns growing on normal vanilla Minecraft trees.

Alex’s Mobs

We know from the now-defunct Minecraft mob vote that players are always clamoring for additional animals, monsters, and humanoids to be added to vanilla Minecraft. Well, you don’t need to wait for the next big Minecraft update with Alex’s Mobs’ 89 new animals. This mix of realistic and fictional creatures includes skunks, tigers, sugar gliders, and a bone serpent, many of which have unique mechanics and drops.

Mystical Oak Tree

Next up is the Mystical Oak Tree mod by Supplementaries. We couldn’t resist including this mini-mod, where you can interact with a wise old talking oak with over 300 custom lines. Keep your eyes peeled for an oak tree with a face in any of the overworld biomes, and interact with the tree to hear jokes, facts, and more. Be careful not to talk to them during the day, as they don’t take it well to be woken from their sleep.

Ars Nouveau

The massive magical Ars Nouveau mod brings an incredible array of new features to Minecraft, allowing you to perform rituals to invoke weather patterns, craft your own spells to aid your survival, create different artifacts, and even summon magical mobs to use in automation.

Tinkers’ Construct

In Tinkers’ Construct, one of the best tool mods for Minecraft around, slime is an essential resource. There’s new slime, there are slime islands, and you can use them all to create smelteries and manufacture a range of new items, tools, and gear.

RLCraft

Still one of the most popular Minecraft mods of all time, RLCraft plays into the world’s love of fantasy with dragons, fairies, and more added to your Minecraft world. In addition to the range of terrifying and adorable new mobs, RLCraft features new biomes, new auto-generated structures like towers and dungeons, and an all-new survival experience.

Twilight Forest

This gorgeous mod adds a new portal and an entirely new dimension: the Twilight Forest. You’ll need to play as normal until you’ve gathered the materials to build the portal shown in the image above, but then you can completely overhaul your Minecraft experience with new dungeons, mythical creatures, and unique types of loot.

MCA Reborn

Replacing the identical villagers of old, MCA Reborn introduces you to uniquely named villagers, like Samantha shown above – but the changes don’t stop at appearance. As you interact with these new villagers, you build a relationship with them, ask them to follow you, carry out tasks for you, and once you’ve nurtured that relationship enough, ask them to marry you. Expanding on the original Minecraft Comes Alive, MCA Reborn takes inspiration from the likes of The Sims, giving your villagers moods and personalities that define your relationships with them.

Better Archeology

Expanding the Minecraft archeology mechanic, Better Archeology adds several new fossils to discover, and there are entirely new structures to scope out. The Temple of Light and the Catacombs add a certain Lara Croft element to Minecraft, tasking you with uncovering the secrets and hidden items within the walls of these spooky areas.

The archeology table, which you can see above, is required to unlock the secrets of unknown artifacts. Brush away the dirt, and you can find a unique new enchantment, including tunneling, which allows you to dig two blocks at a time. There’s so much more to find in Better Archeology, so we recommend you just dig in.

BetterEnd

The BetterEnd mod from BetterX overhauls The End into a spectacularly beautiful world with an incredible 24 biomes, new mobs, and stunning new flora. The End is an entire game within a game with this mod, and you’ll lose hours exploring the glittering new environment.

Better MC

The maker’s vision of what Minecraft should have been, Better MC is a collection that adds multiple bosses, mobs, crops, items, dimensions, quests, and more to give you the comprehensive Minecraft experience you never knew you needed. Minecraft will never be the same again once you’ve tried Better MC.

Serene Seasons

While you can get from winter to summer in Minecraft by traveling between a Snowy Taiga and a Desert biome, the Serene Seasons mod brings seasonal changes to biomes, including amended crop growth and weather patterns. Biomes that aren’t usually snowy will see snowfall with Serene Seasons turned on, and you’ll see brown and orange leaves throughout autumn.

Minecraft horror mods

From the Fog

Do you ever wish the Herobrine myth were real? In case you’re unaware, this myth is about a creepy NPC that stalks you as you roam the world at night, with its bright white eyes peering out at you from behind trees. From the Fog is a terrifying Minecraft mod that not only bring the myth to life, but zombie sculk Herobrine along with it.

Weeping Angels

If you’ve ever seen the incredible Doctor Who episode that inspired this mod, then you’ll know exactly what you’re in for. The Weeping Angels mod introduces the new Weeping Angel mob, a stony statue that looks harmless enough all the time you’re looking at it. Turn your back, though, and the once-static entities turn deadly.

Cave Dweller

Most Minecraft horror mods simply add new and terrifying mobs to freak you out as you play. Of those, Cave Dweller is among the best. Adding another deadly creature to the survival game’s cave system might not seem like much when you’re used to skeletons and zombies, but this is something else entirely.

The Cave Dweller is a dark creature that’s difficult to see hiding in the shadows and can follow you down corridors as if appearing from nowhere. And if that weren’t enough, there are new scary sounds to accompany it. This Cave Dweller mod is the original, but it’s so popular that there are plenty of spin-offs and extended versions to try, too.

The Knocker

So, you’ve got Cave Dweller installed, you’ve survived another day underground, and you peacefully head back to your home above ground. Doesn’t that seem just a tad too simple? Add The Knocker into the mix, a terrifying above-ground mob that knows where you live and isn’t afraid to let himself in.

Nyf’s Spiders

The Nyf’s Spiders mod changes the behavior of Minecraft’s eight-legged creatures to make them more realistic. They climb walls and ceilings in a more realistic manner than in the vanilla game, and their pathing has been improved to make them less janky – meaning they can reach you more easily. Quick, run away!

Minecraft performance mods

Optifine

You’ll likely need Optifine installed before you can run Minecraft shaders, but even on its own, it provides dynamic lighting, improved textures, and a performance boost. Optifine should be fine on most PC setups, but if you’re playing on a potato, grab Fastcraft instead. It significantly improves performance on lower-end machines, particularly with many Minecraft mods installed.

Sodium

Sodium is one of the most popular Minecraft optimization mods, downloaded by millions of players to help run the game more smoothly. Essentially, thanks to lots of smart technical stuff in the background, Sodium improves the stability of Minecraft on many PCs, decreasing the number of lag spikes while playing and improving the way traversing your Minecraft world and battling monsters both look and feel.

Distant Horizons

The Distant Horizons mod allows you to up that render distance without majorly affecting your frame rate. Naturally, to do so, it’s not quite the same view as what you’d get from just upping the in-game distance, and the distant horizons, if I may, are made up of simplified terrain.

Rather than being used to scope out structures, Distant Horizons makes your world look that much more beautiful – instead of cutting off at a sharp cliff. For reference, the image above has a standard render distance of 12 chunks, with a mod render distance of 512, with anything past 12 being rendered at the simplified level.

Mouse Tweaks

When you’re an expert Minecraft player, you should know all the tricks of the trade to get the job done as fast as possible. With the Mouse Tweaks mod, you can add a whole new set of shortcuts to your arsenal with a revamped right-click dragging mechanic, new left-click dragging tricks, and tweaks to the scroll wheel.

Minecraft survival mods

Waystones

With such a massive open world, getting back to where your home base is can sometimes be a giant hassle. However, with the Waystones mod, you can craft Waystones in survival mode and place them to allow travel between them. You can also make Warp Scrolls or Warp Stones to teleport from anywhere. The mod also allows for random generation in the world of these items and global Waystones for Minecraft servers or Minecraft adventure maps.

Traveler’s Backpacks

While the crafting recipe for bundles might be tough to complete, they’re an essential addition for adventuring and mining – but that doesn’t mean Tiviacz’s cute Traveler’s Backpacks aren’t still worth playing with instead. This adorable mod not only increases your storage capacity when you’re exploring the world, but it does so in style, giving you a choice of cute backpacks to match your environment.

Immersive Engineering

Where other automation mods might have fantastical machines that make extraction and crafting simpler, Immersive Engineering has realistic, resource-intensive machines that look and feel better. Sure, you might have to actually dig ores out of the ground with the massive, multi-block excavator that in itself requires building from scratch, but think how good it’s going to feel when it’s chugging along.

Supplementaries

The Supplementaries mod is an excellent complementary mod to use alongside vanilla Minecraft and adds many new Redstone items, decorative blocks, and other tools and equipment. If you ever felt like you needed a pulley system or a weather vane that produces a Redstone signal, then Supplementaries has it. Make sure to also keep in mind that you’ll need to also install the Moonlight Library to use this mod.

Biomes O’Plenty

If there aren’t enough vanilla Minecraft Biomes to keep you busy, Biomes O’Plenty adds masses of new areas across both the Overworld and the Nether: from the Alps to the Wasteland and everything in between. It adds a little more variety to tools, armor, food, and color while also adding a few extra blocks to build with.

Better Caves

After playing Minecraft for hundreds of hours, you’ll start to recognize how the game generates the world. Once that illusion has been shattered, things inevitably start to feel boring. That’s where Yung’s Better Caves mod comes in, providing a new way to reexperience the mystery of exploring caves. You’ll find underground lakes, flooded caverns, and lava-filled pools, among other things, in this essential mod.

Dungeons Enhanced

Minecraft has always been fairly limited in terms of the structures or dungeons you can happen upon in the open-world game. It stands to reason, then, that this could get repetitive. Enter the Dungeons Enhanced mod. This mod adds new dungeons and structures, increasing the total types to 27, and they all fit a medieval or fantasy theme. Download this mod, and you’ll soon be stumbling upon huge mazes, castles, or even a pyramid or two.

Better Fortresses

As illustrated by the image above, Yung’s Better Fortresses transforms the terrifying Nether by greatly extending its existing fortresses into even bigger, more magnificent structures, spanning multiple floors and featuring castle-like main buildings.

Better Mineshafts

With Yung’s Better Mineshafts mod installed, mineshafts now vary to match their biomes, and a rare mushroom biome can even be found if you explore enough. There are also new places to find valuable loot. On top of the usual minecart chests, you can also find materials at workstations and in cellars.

HarvestCraft

Pam’s HarvestCraft brings some serious variation to your Minecraft diet, giving you more to eat than the usual beef and carrots. Pam’s HarvestCraft is split into four separate mods: Food Core, Crops, Trees, and Food Extended, resulting in a Minecraft diet that is both lavish and balanced. If you want to make this a necessity rather than just a fun extension to vanilla Minecraft, use it alongside The Spice of Life, which both punish your poor eating habits.

Farmer’s Delight

If HarvestCraft isn’t for you, Farmer’s Delight by vectorwing is a perfect mod for Survival, letting you don your metaphorical chef’s hat and apron to cook up more tasty-looking voxel meals, including everything from salads to desserts. That’s not all, though, as perhaps the most important part of this mod for the mode is the addition of a brand new tool to help you scavenge resources with, as well as specific types of meals providing different buffs like Comfort for regenerating health, or Nourishment to prevent hunger.

Minecraft vanilla mods

Hole Filler

Arguably one of the best mods for anyone who hates messy environments, the Hole Filler mod from DannyBoyThomas instantly fills any holes that you have in your world. This is particularly useful after a creeper attack that has left the environment in ruins; now you can throw a Hole Filler into the chasm and immediately repair the damage.

Journeymap

With Journeymap, your map opens up as you explore, and you can view it on a full-screen map and a minimap, both of which are super customizable. While there are more Minecraft tools for finding your way than ever, from the recovery compass to the Lodestone, it’s still incredibly helpful to have a full map at your disposal.

Xaero’s Minimap

Xaero’s Minimap maps your world as you explore, letting you mark waypoints of interest and even warning you when Minecraft mobs sneak up behind you. The resultant minimap can be a unique rotating square or a classic circle, depending on your preferences, and while the minimap is kept as minimal as possible to avoid affecting performance, you can get even more features by adding Xaero’s World Map.

Nature’s Compass

Nature’s Compass and the Explorer’s Compass can be used to find any biome you’re after. Use the compass to bring up a list of biomes, select the one you want, and follow your compass. Shift-right-click to reset the compass to world spawn, or choose a new biome to change its direction. It’s as simple as that and feels a little less like cheating. The Explorer’s Compass works in the same way, leading you to structures instead of biomes.

Immersive Portals

It can be pretty scary throwing yourself headfirst into a Minecraft Nether or End Portal without knowing what’s on the other side. Thankfully, Immersive Portals changes that by showing you precisely what awaits on the other side.

Better Combat

The Better Combat mod has taken inspiration from Minecraft Dungeons’ combat animations, adding some much-needed flair to Steve’s fighting skills. With this mod, your Minecraft avatar can now swing, jab, and slice any which way you like – and even show off a combo with certain weapons. With a range of one-handed, two-handed, and even dual-wielding attack animations included, your fighting style has never looked or felt better.

Better F3

Better F3 doesn’t change gameplay, but it changes the incredibly useful F3 interface. If you have trouble parsing the information when it’s all the same color (we certainly do), Better F3 adds colored sections. This allows you to better differentiate between all those details and find exactly the information you’re looking for.

Peaceful Progression

The jump between creative and survival mode can be daunting, and while you do have access to peaceful difficulty, some elements aren’t available in this setting. With xen_42’s Peaceful Progression mod, you gain access to several items that require specific hostile mobs without needing to harm anything in the process. It also adds hunger to peaceful difficulty, but the effects are purely cosmetic and will not cause you to lose any health if you can’t eat anything.

Enchantment Descriptions

For those who need a reminder of what the Minecraft enchantments do at a glance, the Enchantment Descriptions mod gives you the description of any enchanted book in your inventory. This mod also supports modded enchantments and will display these tooltips in over 13 languages.

Carpet

Carpet is a complex peek behind the curtain of your vanilla world, and we wouldn’t recommend it to players new to the modding world. However, if you’re familiar with some of the more intricate aspects of the game, then you can use the Carpet mod to alter and mess with your own vanilla world, risk-free.

With Carpet installed, you automatically load into any of your existing Minecraft worlds, and nothing has changed. However, you can use Minecraft commands to meddle with things, including fixing bugs, changing mechanics, and utilizing creative tools. Carpet is fully customizable and compatible with vanilla Minecraft, so you can turn commands on and off at will, including all of them at any time, simply reverting to your vanilla world.

Not Enough Animations

When it comes to playing in third-person, not a lot of love and care has been placed into making the animations truly shine. Created by tr7zw, the Not Enough Animations mod fixes this glaring issue by adding in some much-needed animations. Simple things like being able to watch your player model eat and drink, or even read maps, have been addressed. Our personal favorite fix is the change to boat rowing, making it so that the player in the boat isn’t sitting there staring into the void.

Physics Mod

Haubna’s Physics Mod can be smoothly implemented into a vanilla world without changing much, but the crumbling structure mechanic is a pretty darn cool addition to have. Break a few blocks, and, depending on gravity and the surrounding blocks, the area comes crashing down. This won’t deal any damage to you and doesn’t impact resource collection.

This isn’t the only feature, though, as there are also crumbling mods or ragdoll mods, whichever you prefer, and items no longer float about the ground as they fall to the floor in a more natural way.

Veinminer

Veinminer might be a mod you’ve seen content creators using, allowing you to mine an entire vein in one go, which makes mining so much faster. Even better, Veinminer is vastly customizable, so you can make sure the settings suit your needs and give yourself the option to mine a single mine or a full vein depending on the situation.

World Edit

World Edit gives players an easy way of building magnificent creations in Minecraft, with copy, paste, and move features and the ability to switch out one block type for another. Whether you’re playing in Creative or Survival mode, this is one Minecraft mod to know about if you’re a builder.

Just Enough Items

If you need an antidote to the pain of alt-tabbing to a wiki while playing Minecraft, then turn to Just Enough Items (or JEI). It lets you look up the recipe for any item through a nifty interface on Minecraft’s inventory screen.

Presence Footsteps

Mojang is making a concerted effort to improve the overall atmosphere of vanilla Minecraft right now. The 1.21.5 update released in 2025 introduced falling leaves, desert sound effects, and pretty firefly bushes, along with wildflowers and leaf litter. What they haven’t yet added, though, are crunchy footsteps as you walk through those leaves or step on the desert’s dead bushes.

That’s where Presence Footsteps comes in. This mod, based on a mod by Huricaaan, doesn’t only add satisfying underfoot sound effects but also includes creaky chests and bubbling magma. A perfect addition to the base game.

The One Probe

The One Probe, or TOP, is a more highly configurable version of Waila and Jade. The others have the UI available at all times, which you might like, but you may also find it a little intrusive. TOP, on the other hand, can be configured to only show what you’re looking at when you are holding the probe. This gives you more control over the appearance of the interface. What’s more, you can further customize just which information you want to see, including block break progress and mob health.

How to install Minecraft mods

There are several ways to install Minecraft mods, depending on whether you want to install a management app or implement each mod individually. It might also depend on the mod itself, so check individual mod pages for specific instructions; for example, BetterEnd can only be installed via Fabric.

To install Minecraft mods using a mod manager:

• Download your chosen mod manager. We recommend Modrinth, Forge, Fabric, or Curseforge.
• Open your chosen launcher, and find and install mods within the app.
• Create separate profiles to load multiple mods at once.
• Load Minecraft through your mod manager.

The benefit to this option is that you can see all your downloaded mods in one place, and group them together into mod packs easily. It’s also much easier to run more than one mod at once through a manager.

To install Minecraft mods manually:

• Download your chosen mods using the links above.
• Unzip files, and move unzipped files into your Minecraft mods folder.
• Launch Minecraft.
• If you are unsure where to find your Minecraft folder, type %appdata% into your search bar, and find the folder named .minecraft.

Now that you’ve got the best Minecraft mods, install Minecraft Forge for a handy tool to manage them all. We’ve also got the best Minecraft seeds to take your new mods for a spin in community worlds. Finally, don’t forget to check what’s coming in the next Minecraft update, or when we expect the next Minecraft Live.

WW2 RTS Company of Heroes has just been totally reimagined as a new, standalone roguelike

This is Company of Heroes, but like you’ve never seen it before. Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand is a new, standalone expansion that takes the fundamentals of the WW2 RTS series and reimagines it with a roguelite twist. Despite the naming, it’s a fully separate thing, meaning you won’t need to own CoH 3 to get in on the action (although you’ll benefit from a discount if you do). It supports single-player and co-op runs with a persistent progression system that lets your squad and tactics gradually evolve over time.

If you’re looking for a more replayable PvE strategy offering that keeps you on your toes, Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand is an idea I can support. The most recent entry in the series has long split fan opinion, but Relic Entertainment has been gradually evolving and improving it since launch, and the PvE side is in a good place nowadays. Final Stand takes that robust core and injects the run-based randomness of roguelikes, tasking you with surviving against a dozen increasingly challenging waves of enemy attacks.

As your run continues, you’ll be routinely offered the choice between potential upgrades. That could mean deciding if you should incorporate the ranger squad and their bonus weapon drops, or an M4 Sherman Bulldozer tank designed to crush through enemy infantry. Or it might ask you to decide between command abilities, from recon marking that makes your targets more vulnerable to attack, to airstrikes and long-ranged bombardments.

Final Stand brings in four stalwarts from the Company of Heroes lineup: the US Forces, the British Forces, the Wehrmacht, and the Deutsches Afrikakorps. Each faction has its own unique progression tree that you’ll be able to unlock as you complete runs and achieve certain goals, permanently increasing their power in various ways. To help ensure you don’t become too overpowered, there are a total of eight difficulty levels to work your way through, along with an optional endless mode.

The action takes place across five distinct battlegrounds, built by Relic to support the more wave-based nature of Final Stand versus more traditional RTS campaigns. It boasts a total of 36 boss units and 18 dynamic events that you can encounter over the course of the run. Whether you’re curious for a fresh spin on the tried-and-true format, or are interested in what should be a more approachable take on WW2 strategy, Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand is sounding like a good way to answer the call of duty.

Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand will be released on Wednesday July 29 via Steam, priced at $29.99 / £23.99. You can wishlist it now. There will be a 10% discount for everyone at launch, while anyone who already owns Company of Heroes 3 will get a bonus 20% bundle saving.

The series turns 20 in September this year, and Relic also recently announced that it would be giving the first entry a fresh coat of paint via the Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition. It’s also rolled out numerous additional pieces of battlegroup DLC for CoH 3 in recent months, and promises “continued support, update, and new content across the franchise” for the future.

Rust’s Common Ground update lets you set up clans, a shop, or kick back in your apartment

The July update for Rust, ‘Common Ground’ is finally here, bringing with it a set of patch notes and a huge amount of new features. Now, Facepunch is looking to its Monuments, adding two brand new ones: The Apartment Complex, which lets you rent rooms when getting started with a wipe, and Rentable Shops to sell items to other players.

A brand new Clan system is also arriving in Rust, proving that common ground can be found anywhere – well, as long as you manage it at the new Clan Tables. But that’s not all, as progression changes to the survival game’s Softcore mode also show up, with adjustments to when raids can actually take place, too.

The Apartment Complex lets you rent rooms that offer their own perks, all the way from basements up to penthouses. You’ll also be able to find a master key if you’re feeling particularly light-fingered, whether you’re looking to steal from a room or at the second Monument. On the other side of the fence, if you’re feeling business savvy, Rentable Shops let you set up and modify what’s in stock, and you can even show off your personal style by changing up what appears on the shop’s sign.

Softcore fans get a way to earn resources a bit faster, as a 2x multiplier has been added for animals, food, ore, and wood. And if you’re someone who dreads raiding getting in the way of your decorating, you can now set aside plenty of time for creating a cozy space before setting out on a raid between 6 and 9pm on your server’s local time. Just make sure you’re inside a Tool Cupboard’s radius.

According to Facepunch’s patch notes, “Clans are a more advanced version of teams where you can have more members with different roles/permissions. There is a separate clan chat channel and announcement/MoTD text for communicating with clan members.”

While the system is unavailable in hardcore mode (because you lot definitely don’t want to make anything easier for yourselves), you’re otherwise able to set these up and manage them at Clan Tables, and it’ll give you functionality like seeing your members’ locations if they’re nearby when looking at a map.

Elsewhere, you’ll find updated player animations when sprinting with a rifle or with one handed melee weapons, alongside 27 wallpapers to use within your base. The update also comes alongside plenty of improvements and fixes to dive into.

The Rust Common Ground update is live now.

Rumors claim Xbox wants to close Obsidian, but Jason Schreier says otherwise

It’s been a weird year for Xbox. While new CEO Asha Sharma’s commitment to returning to a better of era of Xbox has tickled many, the company has been plagued with concern of late, as myriad reports allege that it’s trying to sell off or shutter some of its most beloved studios. Compulsion Games, Arkane, and Double Fine have all been caught in the crossfire, with Ninja Theory and Undead Labs potentially getting hit with cuts despite new trailers for Senua and State of Decay 3. The most recent name to be added to the list, however, is Obsidian. Yes, the developer of Fallout: New Vegas.

According to a new report from The Game Business, Obsidian may also fall victim to Xbox’s new cuts. “Studios such as Compulsion, Ninja Theory, Double Fine, Obsidian, Undead Labs, and others are deep in negotiation with Microsoft to avoid closure,” Chris Dring reports. Obsidian released three titles last year: Avowed, Grounded 2, and The Outer Worlds 2, all of which debuted to critically positive, if not somewhat muted response.

Dring claims that frustrations are running high at Xbox, which is allegedly fighting to return to profitability. He writes that Sharma has brought a “start-up mentality” to the company, prioritizing speed over methodical development. “Certain studio heads feel Sharma is listening too much to the consultants, and not enough to the people building the games,” he writes.

Some studios also allege that they’re being punished for the poor performance of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which was lambasted for its poor campaign, Endgame, and use of AI generated art, even if Jamie found its multiplayer segment genuinely fun.

“Even if Obsidian had delivered an incredible year, even if The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed had performed five times the numbers that they did, it wouldn’t have offset the drop on Call of Duty,” Dring writes. “A game like that, and Candy Crush, and Minecraft, and Warcraft, make a lot of Xbox’s output seem almost insignificant.”

This is where things get a little more complex, however. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier has since taken to Bluesky, claiming that he “can confirm Obsidian is not in negotiations to avoid shutting down. Plenty of details are still up in the air surrounding the layoffs (picture will be clear on Monday) but Xbox is keeping Obsidian, according to people familiar with the situation.”

It certainly feels like it’d be a colossal mistake: a Fallout: New Vegas remaster or remake would send the gaming sphere into meltdown – especially in the wake of Amazon’s Fallout TV show’s success. As he says, we’ll have to wait and see on Monday, but if Obsidian does go, I’ll have to pick my jaw up off of the floor.

Equally, if Xbox chose to sell Obsidian, I’m sure it’d manage to find a buyer somewhere. It’s a stellar studio with an equally-stellar developer roster. We’ll have to wait and see what the coming weeks bring, but between Compulsion, and Arkane, it looks like some of gaming’s greatest may bite the dust.

This week’s Epic Games Store free games include a nightmarish piece of PC gaming history, and a way to cleanse your brain afterwards

Dark, disturbing, and controversial, I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream is one of those essential touchstones of PC gaming history. It’s an experience to be recommended with caution – a refrain you could apply to many classic adventure games – but one that ardent point-and-click enthusiasts will want to see. If you’ve yet to tread Harlan Ellison’s twisted dystopia, the Epic Games Store is giving you the chance to do so for free, and it’s even throwing in the stylish, brash beat-em-up River City Girls 2 to clear your head afterwards.

Harlan Ellison’s digital adaptation of his own bestselling, post-apocalyptic short story might share the same name, but the I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream game is a different beast; not quite a sequel, but rather a reimagining. In a future where humanity is all but wiped out by a supercomputer intelligence known as ‘AM,’ you take charge of its final five victims, each trapped in a terrifying extended lifespan where they are submitted to psychological torture based on their respective pasts.

The result is always unsettling, often upsetting, and something I’d only recommend with caveats of the extreme subject matter it dips into. Nevertheless, it’s a striking tale that will speak to those who love delving into the darker aspects of horror and the human condition. Re-released under the care of Nightdive Studios in 2013, it’s a hallmark on the shelf of grimdark point-and-click adventures, sitting alongside the likes of Sanitarium and Phantasmagoria, and those eager to round out their collection will certainly want to grab it while it’s available for free.

Whether you’ve journeyed through the horrors of Harlan Ellison’s creation and need something to wash away the nightmares, or would simply prefer to dodge that particular minefield altogether, River City Girls 2 is ready for the job. This high-octane beat-em-up combines bright, pixel-art action with a storming soundtrack. WayForward’s modern spin-off from the Kunio-kun series (known best in the west for its third entry, which was localized as River City Ransom) proves that there’s still space for the genre today, standing tall alongside hits such as Streets of Rage 4, Absolum, and TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.

River City Girls 2 steps up from the sequel by adding four more playable characters to bring the total to six, along with support for up to four-player co-op either locally or online. It’s got a bigger environment, deeper combat systems, a whole heap of NPCs to chat with, and a gleefully tongue-in-cheek sense of style. If you were left questioning your existence by this week’s other free giveaway, this is the ideal antidote, so thanks to Epic for preparing it in advance.

The I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream game and River City Girls 2 are both available for free via the Epic Games Store between Thursday July 2 and Thursday July 9 at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BST / 5pm CEST. They’re yours to keep once claimed, so head here to grab them while the offer lasts.

Notoriety codes (July 2026) – PCGamesN

See something in the store you can’t afford? These new Notoriety codes might ease the sting. In fact, with some codes awarding free chips on top of unique skins, redeem enough over time, and you could come out with some premium products without ever opening up your wallet. It’s a steal. You’re roleplaying a master criminal in this one, so it’s ok.

Notoriety is an officially sanctioned take on bringing the world of Payday – one of gaming’s most resilient and iconic co-op PvE experiences – to the Roblox platform. Though you don’t have to go through the trouble of scouting out the location of your next heist before breaking and entering, you still get to go in guns. That’s if you like to sign off on your criminality with a bang. You’re really supposed to play it cool. Those weapons are there to get you out of a jam, not put you into it.

Here are the working Notoriety codes for the game’s 12th anniversary:

• notoriety12 – Chicago Typewriter weapon skin and 100 free chips (new!)
• hotsauce – ‘Top Secret’ badge
• next – 100k cash
• d4rkn1njarx – 500k cash
• whatadeal – 600k cash
• ninja – free Nightmare Shadow Bank contract
• banksy – free Nightmare Downtown Bank contract
• test – Cardboard Safe
• 100m – three Ruby Safes
• shinysafe – Diamond Safe
• hellodarkness – free Normal Shadow Raid contract
• downtown – free Normal Downtown Bank contract
• gunupdate – two Diamond Safes
• nighttime – free Nightmare Haunted Forest contract
• onehundredk – 100k cash
• robber – 5k cash
• transport – a Nightmare Transport contract
• mutation – two Mutation Points
• 100kmembers – free 100% EXP/Moeny boosters 1 h/r
• moonstone – 25 Infamous safes

Sitting back while you leave the rest of the crew to nab the goods? We know you’re actually on the floor and seconds away from an arrest, but we won’t judge your methods. It’s a distraction, right? Just do us a solid and click here to follow us on Google. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find something new to play while you’re in the back of a patrol car.

How do I redeem Notoriety codes?

You barely need to lift a finger to redeem codes in Notoriety. Just follow these steps:

• Launch Notoriety on Roblox.
• On the main menu, click the Store button.
• Click the ‘Codes’ tab along the right-hand side.
• Enter a working code.
• Hit ‘Redeem’ to claim the freebies.

How do I get more Notoriety codes?

For the first time in a while, the redeem code hint in-game is actually accurate – outside of it respectfully deadnaming X as Twitter, anyway. That means following realEvanPickett on the ailing social media platform really is the best way to spot new Notoriety codes as they come.

Second to that is Discord – as it always is. To join the Notoriety Discord, look for the link at the bottom of the game page. If you don’t see it, make sure your Roblox account is appropriately age-verified and refresh the page. You should see it now.

From there, you’ll have to click through to the Roblox devforum links on the main Notoriety channel to spot new codes. They’re included in the published patch notes.

Of course, if you don’t want to mess around with social media platforms, just come back here whenever a new update drops. Before Notoriety’s 12th anniversary code, we hadn’t had a new one in quite some time. And while there’s no guarantee that will change, the revival spurred by a single new code could be enough to have more codes drop with its usual monthly updates.

Expired codes

thanksepic | favorite | bigbank | medic | boosterseat | safes | cookingoff | 600kvisits | shadows | bmoney | stealthy | masked | gundate | evan | 1milk

Now, get spending those free chips. We recommend a six-hour boost and the Gold Rush safe.

Next Minecraft Live date estimate – here’s how to watch it

When is the next Minecraft Live 2026? As the spiritual successor to Minecon, Mojang’s bi-annual livestream event is a major landmark on the Minecraft community calendar. It covers the latest content updates, developer insights, and exclusive previews for spin-off games and other ancillary projects.

In short, the next Minecraft Live is a must-see event for any Minecraft fan, especially if you’re looking forward to the next update. The Tiny Takeover stole the spotlight at the first Minecraft Live of this year, triggering an avalanche of adorable Minecraft mobs alongside the Chaos Cubed update available in Java. We expect an update of similar scope to be announced in the next livestream – but when is it? Here’s how to tune in and see the reveals for yourself.

When is the next Minecraft Live?

Currently, we estimate that the next Minecraft Live will air sometime in September 2026.

This is because the most recent Minecraft Live was held on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The livestream runs on a bi-annual cycle, so the next one is almost certain to arrive around six months after that, putting its air date sometime this fall, around the end of September. What’s more, the air dates for 2025’s Minecraft Live were also held in March and September – lining up with our expectation for this year’s remaining event.

Contrary to its name, Minecraft Live is a pre recorded broadcast. It’ll last between thirty minutes and an hour, so tune in early to avoid missing out on any big reveals!

How to watch Minecraft Live 2026

You’ll be able to watch the next Minecraft Live right here on PCGamesN – we’ll embed the official YouTube broadcast above. Simply click on it to start watching.

Minecraft Live is also available to view on YouTube, Twitch, and the official website.

The pre-show event kicks off around half an hour before Minecraft Live’s official event time. Traditionally, this segment includes a recap featuring well-known Minecraft content creators looking back on everything that’s happened since the previous livestream.

Minecraft Live announcements, leaks, and rumors

It’s a little too early for Mojang to offer any clues or teasers for the next Minecraft Live, but we have a general idea of what to expect based on previous livestreams.

The broadcast usually includes at least one content drop, plus a roadmap update and a surprise reveal. During the last Minecraft Live broadcast, these announcements consisted of Tiny Takeover, Chaos Cubed, and Minecraft Dungeons 2.

Since Chaos Cubed is still in the testing phase, it’s almost certain that Minecraft Live September 2026 will include the full release version alongside a snapshot of what comes next. We wouldn’t be surprised to see a new biome or experimental mechanic to extend the uses for the sulfur cube.

Since the Minecraft Dungeons 2 reveal only consisted of a brief announcement trailer, the next Minecraft Live will likely include an in-depth look and actual gameplay footage ahead of its release date on September 29, 2026. A late-2026 livestream would also be the perfect opportunity for Mojang to launch a marketing push for Minecraft World, a theme park area opening next year at Chessington World of Adventures in the UK.

You’re all prepared for Minecraft Live! Be there and be square. We’ll bring you a full rundown of everything announced after the livestream wraps, along with all the latest news for the next Minecraft Live after that. In the meantime, hop into our favorite Minecraft servers and install the best Minecraft mods to dive into new experiences ahead of the livestream.

Tour de France 2026 Free Download

Download File

Tour de France 2026 Direct Download:

FACE THE ELEMENTS Supermarket Chaos
Each Tour de France is unique, and it never goes the same way twice. Under the blazing sun or in the pouring rain, each stage becomes a new challenge. Slippery roads, technical descents and changing conditions will test your reflexes and control: on the Tour, the slightest mistake can cost you the victory.

Just like in real life, the weather can change at any moment. A stage that begins under clear skies can end in heavy rain, forcing you to adapt your strategy mid-stage. In the rain, the agility and technique of your riders makes all the difference: control your lines, manage risks and use your rider’s balance skills to stay in the lead.

NEW RACES AND AN EXTENDED CALENDAR
In Tour de France 2026, enhance your season with an even more comprehensive calendar and the arrival of two new licensed races, offering new challenges and trophies to collect. Kick off your year far away from traditional European landscapes on the scorching roads of Oman with the Muscat Classic. With intense heat and climbs exceeding 10%, this explosive race will showcase the puncheurs. Finish your season on the demanding dirt roads of Paris-Tours. Your bike handling and positioning skills will be essential if you are to take the lead in the muddy sections, surprise the sprinters and be the one to cross the finish line.

EVEN MORE NEW FEATURES TO DISCOVER

• • New in-race interface
• • Official route of the 2026 Tour de France, with iconic landmarks such as the Sagrada Família and Montmartre
• • Improved AI for more realistic peloton behaviour
• • New routes for the World Championships (Oman, Italy, Basque Country, France)
• • 100 playable stages

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, 4 GB or AMD Radeon RX 570, 4 GB or Intel Arc A310, 4 GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 32 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

AMD graphics cards likely to rise by 10%, according to new leak

AMD graphics cards could be set for a significant price increase in the near future, if a recent report turns out to be true. With AMD apparently charging its board partners 10% more for the combined GPU and VRAM packages that it sells to graphics card makers, that extra cost likely to be passed on to gamers.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen AMD increase its prices to its board partners, and, given the way the industry is going, it might not be the last. However, despite this, the AMD RX 9070 still remains the best graphics card you can buy right not in terms of overall value. It just remains to be seen how long that remains the case.

News of this AMD GPU price increase comes from Chinese chip industry forum, Board Channels, with a post from user “Expert No.1” claiming that “recent news from the storage supply chain indicates that the graphics card industry is about to enter a new round of price adjustments.”

They go on to say that “AMD has officially issued price increase notices” to the likes of Asus, Sapphire, and XFX, notifying them that GPU and VRAM bundles will increase in price by 10%. Which GPUs are affected isn’t specified, so it’s unclear if AMD’s whole product stack will get a 10% increase, or if the ratio will change depending on the product type. After all, it’s the VRAM that has so increased in cost recently, so an entry-level GPU with 16GB of RAM is going to be disproportionately affected by VRAM getting more expensive than a high-end GPU with the same amount of RAM.

It’s because of this imbalance that we’ve already seen a reduction in the supply of entry-level GPUs with higher amounts of VRAM, as they’re just no longer cost-effective. Indeed, that’s largely seen as the reason why Nvidia is believed to have cancelled its RTX 5000 Super series of graphics cards. These were expected to get increases in VRAM for several cards, such as the RTX 5070, but that might not happen.

Speaking of Nvidia cards, this report doesn’t make any mention of Nvidia also increasing its GPU+VRAM packages right now. However, it’s possible the company will make its own price adjustment in the coming months.

This all follows a generally extremely negative outlook for RAM and GPU prices, and the PC gaming space in general over the last few weeks and months. From severe Steam Deck price increases and the Steam Machine arriving at a far higher price than people expected, to RTX 5090 cards costing $4,000, and predictions from suppliers that prices will stay this high for years to come. The AI bubble bursting could have negative consequences for many, but it can’t come soon enough for PC gamers.

Doom The Dark Ages’ new Revelations DLC is “the culmination of 35 years of Doom” and movement is back

Shorn of his armor, Shield Saw smashed, the Slayer of the new Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations DLC is less of a tank than in the main game, and that’s a good thing, because it means movement is back. In this new paid-for DLC, id Software has drawn on 35 years of Doom, delivering an expansion that looks like it could be the perfect balance of TDA’s fearless tanky combat and Doom Eternal’s more movement-focused gameplay.

The key to Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations movement is a new Chain Spear weapon that evokes memories of the Meathook chain grapple of Doom Eternal, but cranks it up a notch. It lets you swing, stab, and sling your way to victory over the ultra-challenging new arenas of combat in this “10 to 12 hour” expansion. We recently got a sneak peek of what to expect, and spoke to both id Software’s Game Director, Hugo Martin, and the game’s Executive Producer, Marty Stratton.

Commencing with the Slayer having been condemned to his tomb, Revelations is, in part, a campaign-driven expansion. You’ll follow the Slayer as he regains his strength and powers following his downfall, building back up to be the all-conquering demon stomper that he is and culminating in a moment where “the Slayer’s action will change the world around him forever.”

The remaining 40% of the game, though, is all about endgame experiences, with Master Level challenges, new ways to traverse the single sprawling map that makes up the DLC, Praetor suit challenge arenas for upgrades, Slayer Trials, puzzles, new resources, and classic levels. The latter are literally levels from the earliest Doom games – mostly Doom 2 – recreated on the new engine and packed with demons.

The endgame culminates in unlocking the Astral Key that lets you try and take on the Uber Boss, which, once defeated, then unlocks four further “super intense” combat spaces. These, id says, are the hardest encounters in the game.

Back to that movement, though, and the Chain Spear is a new weapon that can be wielded instead of the Shield Saw, and which provides “most of the skill expression” in the new DLC, according to Martin. With it equipped, you can parry enemy fire, throw it at enemies for extra damage, or use it as a grappling hook. It’s the latter that really opens up a whole new world of movement tech into the game, with you able to sling the Spear into enemies, then leap upwards to fly over them or come crashing down on them, plus you can swing around them, pummelling them with gunfire as you do so.

What’s more, a dash/double jump feature has been added, so you can use the grapple to fling yourself into the sky, then redirect your movement in mid-air. It’s not quite the overall movement combination of Doom Eternal, but the Chain Spear is so much more powerful than the Meathook, with you able to wield any weapon with it, not just the super shotgun.

So much potential skill expression does this new feature add that Stratton suggests you’ll struggle to really master it in one playthrough, and that “you’re learning things [in the] second, third playthrough.”

A handful of new enemies also join the fray, with the Archvile and Pain Elemental from previous Doom games added back in, plus the Whiplash gets an “invisible” Spectre version, and there are purple (for example, buffed and explosive) Hell Knights and Zombies. A new Wizard character also presents a particular challenge as they’re very evasive and can buff other demons.

Filling out the DLC, a new Slayer’s Hub provides a base for upgrading the Slayer – a bit like the Doom Eternal ship – and also includes some encounters, “Metroidvania-esque elements,” and puzzles that “make it worth your time to explore,” we were told. There’s also an update to TDA’s Ripatorium endless arena mode that adds new maps, the new Revelations demons, and the Chain Spear – all the other weapons are the same as in the core game.

Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations is available July 7 for $19.99, with the base game required to access the DLC. However, right now, the full game is only $23.09 on Steam, thanks to the Steam Summer Sale, so you can grab the full game and DLC for under $45.

World of Warcraft patch 12.1 tackles bug fixes and housing decor costs, as Blizzard focuses on delivering a “polished experience”

It’s no secret that World of Warcraft‘s latest expansion, Midnight, has had its struggles. While, on paper, it opened the doors to a brave new Azeroth with the addition of player housing and improved UI, in practice, it’s been one of the buggiest WoW releases to date. With said housing being disabled for an entire day due to a weird bug that spawned from Mists of Pandaria’s Siege of Orgrimmar raid, Blizzard’s classic MMO has begun to buckle under the sheer weight of its old code; in many instances, fixing something means breaking something else.

Blizzard has been quick to make adjustments, however. Patch 12.0.7 fixed issues with performance drops in Silvermoon City, squashed a bug that prevented area and auto-looting (that one was a kicker), and finally reduced repair costs by nuking ‘wear and tear’ from swinging your swords.

World of Warcraft’s next update, 12.1, continues that work, taking aim at even more bugs and improving the overall UI experience. It also reduces the cost of earnable housing items, allowing for more creativity than ever before, while simultaneously introducing a one-time Professions reset to help give your Profession choice some extra weight. It’s not a silver-bullet fix; it’s impossible to crush every single bug, but it continues to be a step in the right direction.

Ahead of Blizzard’s latest blog post, I caught up with WoW veteran and Game Director Ion Hazzikostas to discuss the current state of Midnight, and how Curse of Ula’tek hopes to fix some of the game’s biggest issues.

We start on patch 12.0.5, which was dubbed by many a player as being somewhat of a disaster. The aforementioned housing downtime kicked off an update riddled with bugs, from issues with Holy Paladin’s justice, to loot duplication problems with Nebulous Voidcore. At the time, Blizzard said that the patch simply “wasn’t up to standard,” so I asked Hazzikostas about the team’s learnings, and how it plans to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

“12.0.5 was not the smoothest release to say the least,” he says. “While we got the experience to a pretty stable place within a few days, there were more bugs at launch than we found acceptable. To some extent, given the sheer breadth of WoW, some number of bugs are inevitable – you poke at one piece of the code, and something breaks in a far-off location. But, at the end of the day, our players aren’t interested in the intricacies of maintaining a 20-year-old game: they want a good, polished experience.

“A lot of what contributed to 12.0.5 and the way it played out was actually aspects of our internal processes involving fixing bugs, where I think we were fixing bugs too late in the process in ways that made it nearly impossible for ourselves and our quality assurance analysts to catch some knock-on effects from those fixes.”

He gives the example of the game-breaking housing bug, which caused items to lock to the floor and save there. “It wasn’t something we could fix right away, but we didn’t want to hold the entire game down, so we disabled housing.

“How does that happen?” he asks, rhetorically. “How does that bug sneak into the system so late? Did we not test it? Did we not have people checking housing? Of course we did. But there was another tricky bug that got caught late in the process that actually involved, of all things, the elevator in the Siege of Orgrimmar raid from Mists of Pandaria, which suddenly was broken and players weren’t properly attaching to it. Turns out that that was broken by some earlier fixes to the housing code involving attaching objects to other objects.

“A fix was done to the Siege of Orgrimmar elevator very late in the process, just a few days before the patch was supposed to go live. QA checked it; the elevator worked perfectly fine. We did not, at the time, go back to recheck housing, and a fix to one bug caused an issue elsewhere. I could cue all of the ‘spaghetti code’ memes that the internet will come up with,” he says with a smile. “But sometimes game development is very much a set of moving targets.”

12.1 is, in some ways, more about adjusting the game’s quality of life versus shiny, new features. Hazzikostas tells me that a lot of the major features and campaign beats are, of course, “pre-planned,” but that there’s still room to be “reactive” in order to “listen to what players are telling [them].” This allows the team to “focus on addressing pain points, improving quality of life, and fixing bugs when they crop up.”

One of the main QoL improvements with 12.1 is the decrease in housing decor prices. While this is only for earnable decor versus items you can purchase with actual cash, it’s great news all around – while I’m no stranger to a good ol’ grind, it has felt like collecting items from some of the older pieces of content has been a bit of a slog.

Hazzikostas says it’s all about “striking the balance. We want this to be a meaningful progression; something that people can really dig into as they revisit old locations and as they go through new content to earn the decor that they want. But, at the end of the day, if you feel like it’s too tedious or you can’t get enough of the things you want, that’s just going to undermine your enjoyment in the whole system.

“As we often do, and I think that we are, at times, very fairly criticized by the community for this – when building a system like this that has to stand the test of time, we tend to start on the conservative side because, if we overshoot as we did, it’s not that challenging to lower the prices and that’s how they’ll be going forward. If we came in too low, we really couldn’t justify raising the prices of the decor. We really want to make sure that there’s enough depth to the system to make the time that people spend, and the differentiation in the decor collections that people have, be something that has some substance to it.”

12.1 also comes with a Profession reset. We saw one in The War Within, and Midnight is once again allowing you to respec all of your Knowledge Points. “We want the choices players make to be meaningful and help them differentiate themselves from other crafters,” Hazzikostas says.

“There are very, very, very, very few choices – especially in the progression space – that you can make in WoW today that aren’t freely resettable and swappable. But, with Professions, because of the macroeconomic community here, it’s important that there’ll be some people who are better at making this type of craft, versus others who are better at making that type of craft. People have niches where they can make and sell things for a profit.

“If you could respec freely with no restrictions, you could always just respec to be the best at making the thing you want to craft in the moment. Complete flexibility wouldn’t really work,” he continues. “It would undermine a lot of the goals of the system.”

In response to player concerns and the general movement of the game, however, Blizzard has opted to “give everybody a chance to reallocate their points knowing what they know now,” but he stresses that “from there it will still be locked for the rest of the expansion, and how you spent those points this time around needs to be a meaningful choice.”

World of Warcraft patch 12.1 doesn’t have a release date just yet, but will also fix a few noticeable bugs – Valeera will no longer randomly die in Delves, and you won’t casually be booted off your mount in transit from Zul’Aman to Eversong. There are also a slew of UI improvements, with a new account-wide autolooting feature, the option to display map coordinates, and a tidy up of the currencies tab with new collapsible menus.

There’s also all of the new content, including The Coiled Isle, a new Troll-focused questline, and various raids, dungeons, Delves, and more.

Krafton agrees to pay bonuses to Subnautica 2 devs following a year-long legal battle

Krafton Inc has finally brought the curtain down on a year-long legal battle with its subsidiary Unknown Worlds, agreeing to a settlement with the studio’s co-founders to pay bonuses to every member of staff following the success of Subnautica 2.

In July 2025, the relationship between publisher Krafton and developer Unknown Worlds exploded when CEO Ted Gill and other members of senior staff were fired. Krafton’s deal to publish Subnautica 2 included sales targets that would trigger a $250 million payout to Unknown Worlds, something that the company allegedly wanted to avoid. This was speculated to be the reason behind the survival game’s delay from 2025 to May 2026, and the reason given for why Gill and other senior staff were let go.

Gill and the fired staff members responded by filing a lawsuit against Krafton, accusing the company of terminating their employment to avoid paying the fee. The judge in the case agreed and reinstated those sacked, following testimony that claimed Krafton CEO Changhan Kim used ChatGPT to brainstorm ways to avoid the massive payout.

Following claims that Krafton would be forced to pay the $250 million fee due to the success of Subnautica 2, Bloomberg is now reporting that Krafton and Unknown Worlds have come to a legal settlement that will see every employee receive a bonus and bring an end to the legal proceedings.

In an interview with Jason Schreier, Gill stated that the development team will be “compensated significantly more” than under Krafton’s initial acquisition agreement back in 2021, and that there will be “further incentives” throughout the game’s lifecycle. The original deal only included payments for top executives at Unknown Worlds, whereas this settlement includes everyone working at the company.

As part of this settlement, Ted Gill will depart the company just four months after his dramatic return. He claims that he and Krafton “mutually agreed to part ways,” with Gill stating that he felt “new leadership is the best way for the studio to move forward.” The report suggests that Unknown World’s next CEO will be appointed from outside both companies.

According to Unknown Worlds, Subnautica 2 has been a massive success and sold over four million copies. The game is still in early access, with a full launch and more updates still to come.

Battlefield 6 accidentally announced an XP Booster change that everyone loved, and now it’s not doing it

Sometimes, it feels like game developers rarely make popular decisions. As someone who has spent most of their life playing Call of Duty games, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read patch notes for an update and immediately rolled my eyes. So, when Dice announced a great change to the way XP Boosters work in Battlefield 6, I was delighted. Unfortunately, that joy wouldn’t last for too long.

XP Boosters are fairly easy to explain: Players can activate them to earn double the XP for a period of time. These boosts make it easier to rank up, unlocking new weapons and earning seasonal content. Before the announcements, XP Boosters in the popular FPS game lasted for a specific amount of time. For example, if you had a 20-minute Booster, then for 20 minutes, any XP you earned in-game would be doubled. This was great, but it also meant that any time you spent in lobbies between matches, your Booster was still counting down.

But on June 30, an in-game message appeared announcing that Dice was changing how they worked, saying that it was improving the feature by making it “count down based on in-game time instead of real time.” Unsurprisingly, Battlefield 6 players loved this change, calling it a “neat surprise” and a “Big W.”

Unfortunately, players found that even though the announcement said it would only count down during matches, it was still wasting time in menus when they tested. While some believed it was a bug, a few pessimists figured that the announcement was an error, and as it turns out, they were right.

In two posts on X, Battlefield Comms confirmed that both an update to an in-game text description and an in-game message had been sent in error, saying that the message had since been removed and “there are no changes to how XP Boosters currently work.” The developer then thanked players for their feedback on the topic and said they would continue to pass on feedback to relevant teams.

How you accidentally send an in-game message to everyone with information you don’t intend to follow through on is beyond me, but that appears to be what has happened. XP Boosters work the way they always have, and we all got our hopes up for nothing.

Still, the comms team did promise to pass on feedback to the devs, so maybe if we all complain enough, they’ll actually follow through and make the change happen. It’s worth a try, I guess.

Ex-PlayStation boss explains why PC releases were a good thing, as reports claim Sony is ending blockbuster launches

Former President of Sony Interactive Entertainment of America Shawn Layden has explained why PC releases were a good thing for PlayStation, as reports continue to circulate that the company intends to stop releasing its blockbuster narrative games on the platform.

For a long time, PlayStation-exclusive games weren’t available on PC, meaning the only way to enjoy the best that the company had to offer was by owning one of its consoles. That came to an end in 2020, when Sony started porting its offerings to PC, although they usually released a year after their PS5 releases.

Unfortunately, that is all coming to an end, as reports suggest that PlayStation will only release online multiplayer and live-service games on PC moving forward, with its narrative games reserved for the console. Layden says that decision will make their future projects more difficult and defends PlayStation games on PC, explaining why it was actually a good thing for other parts of their business.

Speaking to PSI on YouTube, he said that the original strategy behind releasing Sony games on PC wasn’t to make money, but to get its biggest games in front of more players, saying his focus was on how to get properties like Horizon in front of people who didn’t own PlayStations.

“The PC thing, in my mind at the time, was not to make money, frankly. It was ‘How do I get my intellectual property in front of people who wouldn’t normally see it? How do I get the world of Horizon to be seen by people who aren’t in the PlayStation world?’ Not necessarily because they’re going to buy a PlayStation, I wasn’t that crazy. But as we take our [IP] across other media, whether it’s into film, television, comic books; you need to have as many eyeballs that are aware of this character.”

“Just concentrating on the PlayStation population and only telling them these stories, and then trying to bring it off that platform into other media, that’s going to be a hell of a jump.”

Layden also argued that it wasn’t costing PlayStation hardware sales either, as if someone was truly desperate to play a game, they’d buy a console to do so, saying: “If someone’s waiting 18 months for something to come to PC, we didn’t lose a sale to them. They weren’t going to buy the hardware anyway.”

The former Sony of America boss makes a good point, especially when you consider that games like Uncharted, Gran Turismo, Until Dawn, and The Last of Us have all been made into movies or TV shows in the last five years. Getting those games in front of as many gamers as possible could only have helped build hype, but they may find it more difficult to generate excitement for upcoming projects if they’re locked behind one ecosystem.

PlayStation, however, doesn’t see it that way, and reports suggest it felt that the quality of the ports was inconsistent and didn’t drive enough revenue to make it worth continuing. Whether that’ll have an effect on upcoming media projects that are in development like Astro Bot or Bloodborne remains to be seen.

Modern Warfare 4 is coming to Xbox Game Pass, but not for a long time

As hype continues to build for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, a new notification from Xbox has confirmed that the next installment of the franchise will arrive on Game Pass, although it won’t be on launch day. In fact, it won’t appear on the service for another year, after the release of the next CoD title.

For the last two years, new Call of Duty games have been released on Xbox Game Pass on launch day, giving those with an Ultimate subscription the ability to play the FPS game without buying the full thing outright. While both Black Ops 6 and 7 were included in the membership, Xbox confirmed earlier this year that Modern Warfare 4 would not follow them to Game Pass.

While some assumed that the days of Call of Duty on Xbox Game Pass might be completely over, it has now been confirmed that that won’t be the case. Modern Warfare 4 will arrive on the service – but not for a long, long time.

As Xbox continues to advertise Modern Warfare 4 ahead of its October 23 release date, it has been sending out notifications to Game Pass subscribers urging them to buy the full game and warning them that MW4 won’t be on the platform at launch.

As spotted by CharlieIntel, it reads: “Xbox Game Pass members: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 won’t be available in Game Pass at launch. Game Pass availability starts Holiday 2027. If you’d like to jump in on day one, you’ll need to purchase the game.”

So while it won’t be on Game Pass at launch, it will come to the service eventually. That Holiday 2027 window is a long way away, though, especially when you consider that a new CoD game will launch in Fall 2027, unless there’s a major change to the franchise’s yearly release schedule. 2027’s game is currently believed to be developed by Sledgehammer Games and to feature a new franchise away from the likes of Black Ops and Modern Warfare, and will be out and playable before MW4 hits Game Pass.

So, whether you want to wait around for MW4 to launch on Game Pass and miss out on a year of FPS action is really up to you. Activision and Xbox are trying their best to entice people into buying the full game though, as Microsoft’s gaming arm continues to struggle. Accepting the fact that Xbox isn’t sustainable and a need to cut costs, which includes the reported closure of studios under their umbrella, they’ll be hoping for an influx of cash from this year’s big CoD launch.

Modern Warfare 4 includes new bullet tech, a new movement system, and major upgrades to DMZ, and launches on October 23, 2026.

Heroes of the Storm esports is back, but it’s just for one day

Not a day goes by without me lamenting the death of Heroes of the Storm. While League of Legends will always be the premier MOBA, HoTS took all of my favorite games and smushed them into one, perfect place. It’s a game that I have far too many fond memories of; I used to be an absolute beast on Sylvanas Windrunner, but could happily spend games healing up my squadmates as Diablo’s Auriel or WoW’s Alexstrasza. But HotS is effectively in stasis at the moment, kept alive with the odd balance patch and update, but nothing more. I think we’re all secretly hoping that Blizzard brings it back, but BlizzCon 2026 is doing the next best thing.

BlizzCon 2026 will host the brand new Blizzard Classic Cup; a cross-title esports tournament that includes WoW Arena and Mythic Dungeon International, as well as the Overwatch World Cup. That’s pretty standard fare, but the Classic Cup also sees reruns of old legacy matches for StarCraft, StarCraft 2, and – you guessed it – Heroes of the Storm.

Let’s start with HoTS. The Classic Cup will be a rerun of the ever-iconic 2018 HGC finale, where Dignitas faced off against Gen.G. Four members of the original Dignitas roster will be taking the stage, while Jeong ‘KyoCha’ Won-ho will be the only returning Gen.G member. The rest of the squads are made up of BlizzCon alumni, though, so there are a lot of famous faces.

The 2018 finale lives in my head rent-free. I vividly remember being on the edge of my seat – as a Dignitas fan (I’m UK-based) I was so excited to see a British squad make it to the finale, even if they did get absolutely obliterated. 2018 marked the end of a somewhat rocky run for HotS esports, and while I’d liked to have seen something a little more competitive to close things out, I can’t help but smile at the memory.

But it’s not just HoTS that’s back: Blizzard is also reigniting two of StarCraft and StarCraft 2’s most heated rivalries. Lim ‘BoxeR’ Yo-hwan and Kang ‘Nal_rA’ Min are back for a StarCraft Remastered rematch, and these two esports veterans have a long, intertwined history. It’s a similar story with Gregory ‘IdrA’ Fields and Jang ‘MC’ Min-chul, who take to the stage once more for a good ol’ fashioned StarCraft 2 bout. The sparks are going to fly.

Warcraft 3 is also back, with Yoan ‘ToD’ Merlo and Zeng ‘TeD’ Zhou returning for yet another bout. TeD’s won four out of six of the duo’s skirmishes, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can make it five.

Blizzard claims that these three matches “are just a taste of what’s in store with the Blizzard Classic Cup.” That could mean that there’s more to be added to the roster – imagine a rerun of a GOATs-era match in Overwatch Classic. The possibilities are endless.

As someone who loves esports and spends far too much of her time on Twitch, this is very exciting. Bar World of Warcraft, Blizzard’s struggled to break into the competitive gaming sphere – even OWL didn’t really make a mark. Yet, I truly believe that its esports scene was truly special; partly because of the communities around it, but partly because Blizzard’s games are so beloved and unique. I’d love to see the company give it another bash, but that one feels like somewhat of a pipe dream. But, then again, never say never – maybe the Classic Cup with spark a revolution.

Anime Card Farm codes (July 2026)

With the genre showing no signs of slowing down, these Anime Card Farm codes might be the only way to make good progress out of the gate. Given it’s another in a long line of AFK/works offline tycoon-style games, you won’t really have to do much to pull some top-tier cards, but ACF codes can at least speed things up a little.

Anime Card Farm is a true amalgamation of all three key Roblox sub-genres. There’s anime, there’s cards, and there’s a farm – in the Roblox sense of it, anyway. That last part is where the AFK mechanic falls into place. Ripped packs aren’t immediately chucked in the bin. Instead, they continue to generate cards for as long as they have a place on your farm. And while it makes sense to upgrade them for short-term gains, you’ll want to swap them out for rarer packs down the line.

Here are the latest Anime Card Farm codes:

• BRUTALCOMEBACK! – Potions and Gems (new!)
• TRAITS! – 100 Trait Gems and some potions (new!)
• POTIONS – three different potions (new!)

While your farm rips packs for you, why not click here to follow us on Google? You’ll find codes for the biggest and best Roblox games right there – perfect if you’re the multi-boxing type looking for another game to play while this one essentially plays itself.

How do I redeem Anime Card Farm codes?

You only need to follow these short steps to redeem codes in Anime Card Farm:

• Launch Anime Card Farm on Roblox.
• Click the ‘Shop’ button.
• Scroll to the bottom.
• Enter a working code in the ‘redeem code’ section.
• Hit the ‘Redeem’ button.

How do I get more Anime Card Farm codes?

Codes for Anime Card Farm can be found on the game’s Discord server. You’ll find a link to it at the bottom of the game page. If you don’t see it, ensure your Roblox account is appropriately age-verified for external chat permissions and refresh the page.

Once you’re in the server, just look for the ‘codes’ channel. If you don’t trust the developer to list new codes there as they drop, which happens more often than you’d think, just check around the ‘announcement’ and ‘update-log’ channels, too.

If you don’t want all that hassle, leave it to us. There’s a reason this ACF codes page exists. Come back whenever you catch wind of an update, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a new code in the list above. New codes drop for reasons including concurrent player and total visitor milestones, as well as to mark major updates or apologize for downtime and bug fixes. Update timeframes are typically posted as events on the game page, so you’ll know exactly when a new code might drop.

So, if you need a few extra gems, potions, or trait rolls, the Anime Card Farm codes above should be able to help.

Minecraft servers are apparently “illegal,” according to the Vice President of America’s biggest gaming association

Minecraft servers are “illegal” and “not in any way affiliated with Microsoft or Mojang.” At least, that’s what Jennifer Gibbons, Vice President of State Government Affairs at the Entertainment Software Association, told the California State Senate’s Professions and Economic Development Committee on Monday, June 29.

The committee was voting on Assembly Bill 1921, which you may know better as the Protect Our Games Act. The legislation aims to prevent publishers from making server-dependent games unplayable, requiring full, advance notice from developers before service is terminated. It would also force developers to provide support that ensures the game is playable when servers go offline, or offer refunds to consumers if that isn’t possible.

The bill passed through the California State Assembly on June 1, but faced the State Senate on June 29. Present at the hearing was Jennifer Gibbons, Vice President of the Entertainment Software Association. The ESA is the trade association of the videogame industry in the United States and represents the interests of developers and publishers when it comes to legislation like this. In California, she was there to convince members of the committee to vote against AB 1921, which is where she made the bizarre comment about Minecraft servers.

In opposition to the bill, Gibbons stated that no other digital product faced the same scrutiny that AB 1921 would bring to videogames, and suggested that the requirement for refunds did not consider the years of enjoyment that consumers would have received from the game before it was sunset.

When asked by the committee about the possibility of community servers being used to keep games alive, and whether that would be a breach of copyright and technically possible, California Assembly Member Chris Ward stated that popular games like Minecraft and Call of Duty currently use community-hosted servers, and confirmed that it was an option.

In response, Gibbons claimed: “They’re illegal, and they are not in any way affiliated with Microsoft. Microsoft, for Minecraft, has gotten a lot of criticism because of those community servers not employing the same safety standards as Microsoft servers.” When asked by a committee if community servers were “the black market of videogames,” Gibbons replied: “Yes, we consider it piracy.”

Unsurprisingly, this raised quite a few eyebrows among the gaming community. If you’ve played Minecraft, you’ll know that not only are community servers a huge part of the sandbox game, but they are actually promoted by Mojang and Microsoft. For example, on the official Minecraft website, there is a section dedicated to playing with friends that includes a mention of community-run servers.

On top of that, the official Minecraft website literally provides players with the software required to create and run their own server. Odd behaviour if Microsoft and Mojang view them as “illegal,” as suggested by Gibbons. PCGamesN has reached out to Mojang for comment on the matter, and will update this story should we receive a response.

In the end, AB 1921 did not pass through the State Senate; however, the Stop Killing Games initiative, which brought the act, stated that it had “never expected to get this far” and would return with amendments to the bill in the future.

Minecraft creator Markus ‘Notch’ Persson has previously thrown his support behind the initiative, calling on gamers to “host your own servers” and saying that “if buying a game is not a purchase, then pirating them is not theft.”

Rockstar devs could go on strike before GTA 6 launch as unionization talks grow

Developers at Rockstar Games are attempting to gain official union recognition following mass firings last year, with hopes of pushing it through before Grand Theft Auto 6 drops later this year. The move not only includes those who have helped to create GTA 6, but also employees who work at the company on other projects and in other roles.

Work is continuing at pace on the game, as the Grand Theft Auto 6 release date on November 19 continues to loom large. There have already been allegations of crunch conditions at the company as it pushes to complete GTA 6 production on time, but it appears there could be another issue for Rockstar in the run-up to launch.

That could come in the form of a strike by employees at the firm, who suggest that the possibility is not off the table if Rockstar doesn’t voluntarily recognize the union before the fall.

Reported by The Guardian, employees are looking to unionize in the wake of 31 firings in October 2025. While Rockstar says that those firings were related to the distribution of confidential information in a public forum, those who were let go accused the company of union-busting, as every person let go was a union member. Rockstar has denied these allegations, calling them “entirely false and misleading.”

Jordan Garland, who was one of the 31 let go last year, says that employees are trying to “ensure this sort of thing never happens again, not just at Rockstar but anywhere in the industry,” and calls on Rockstar to voluntarily recognize the union, meet with them, and “make it a celebration of people who make the games possible.”

Shanti Easton-Steel, a Production Coordinator at Rockstar North in Edinburgh, Scotland, praised both current and former members of the team, saying that because of their hard work “[they] are now in a strong enough position to pursue formal recognition.” She continued by saying that while “it’s painful that our dismissed colleagues are not here to share this milestone moment, the best way we can honor their contribution now is by succeeding in the fight they helped us to start.”

The Guardian understands that, while the members hope Rockstar voluntarily recognizes the union, they are prepared to take further action to ensure that it happens. This could result in more action, including a possible strike in the run-up to release day.

The union hopes to secure “formal channels for collective bargaining with management” and additional workplace protections and rights for members and union representatives. With just over four months until GTA 6’s big launch, the ball seems firmly in Rockstar’s court if it wishes to avoid any action that could hamper the release.

Star Wars Galactic Racer is surprisingly deep and pod racing at its finest

“I don’t know why,” Kieran Crimmins, Creative Director at Fuse Games, told me when I asked why he thinks no-one has made a Star Wars racing game in a long time. To me, it seems like an obvious win for a lot of studios, and having got an hour of hands-on time with Star Wars Galactic Racer at SGF, the developers behind Need for Speed and Burnout have done a phenomenal job with it.

“I’d say that it’s a very difficult type of game to do from a development skill point of view… we were ready to make a new game, and that was one of the most obvious ones,” Crimmins continues. They know what they’re doing when it comes to racing games, being led by a lot of ex-Criterion senior developers.

It’s the scale of the Galactic Racer’s locations that amazed me more than anything else. Even though there are defined boundaries, they’ve been cleverly woven into the wider planets, so you often feel like you’re racing in massive open spaces. Moon-sized ships loom large over the horizon, and the desert of Jakku rolls off into the distance as you speed between wrecks. The sense of wonder you get is unrivaled for a racing game, which fits the world of Star Wars perfectly.

Crimmins explained how important that was to the Fuse Games team. “One of the classic kinds of cinematic things is that everything is big; it literally doesn’t fit on the screen. So we just tried to replicate that, really. So, all the tracks are absolutely massive mega structures.” Everything I played looked incredible visually.

However, you don’t get a lot of time to marvel at your surroundings. Galactic Racer is an intense experience. It’s not a simple accelerate-and-brake racing game. This isn’t Burnout. There’s a boost, a kinetic boost for certain speeder types, and a whole pre-race preparation quick-time event that lets you boost without having to wait for it to recharge, and even combat to think about. Winning races is a real battle, and you need to use everything at your disposal to come out on top. It’s fast and frenetic, which makes the action consistently fun.

Fuse Games has “a kind of mantra: pick up and play, so you know, easy to learn, hard to master kind of thing,” Crimmins tells me. You can have a lot of fun messing around in the single-race modes, but getting through the campaign while building a speeder that fits your style is a lot trickier.

The team wanted “all those extra systems and different vehicles to represent the breadth of vehicles,” and to ensure you’re experimenting with the best builds possible. As you work through Galactic Racer’s interestingly roguelike-esque story mode, you’ll wander around hub areas in third-person, get invested in a brand-new Star Wars plot, and choose between a variety of parts and upgrades to improve your speeder. Those parts can upgrade your speeder’s stats, improve your boost, or make your chassis more durable. “The combinations are in the trillions for different builds,” I was told. Fuse Games wants to “encourage people to experiment, whereas, in like a [racing] traditional game, you will build up your car to the top, and then you will win everything.” Even from my short time with the game, it’s clear that you’ll want to tinker with your speeder all the time, making changes for each event type and location. Improvement is much more involved, and that’s rare for a racing game.

Causing your opponents to crash is immensely enjoyable, too. I can see hints of Burnout Paradise and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit in the presentation of said crashing, and there’s a very satisfying ding sound when you take someone out. It sounds authentically Star Wars, but also makes you want to be a bit of a menace on track.

That’s even more the case in Galactic Racer’s pod racing. It’s something Star Wars fans have wanted for a long time, and Fuse knows it has to get it right. Thankfully, it feels great, the action being significantly faster and more intense than the standard racing. “You cannot have a Star Wars racing game without pod racing in it. Pod racing has got to embody the fantasy that’s displayed in those movies. It’s the pinnacle of racing; it’s the pinnacle of racing in Star Wars,” Crimmins said, and he’s not wrong. It’s promising that the studio knows that, and I’m interested to see how prominent a role it plays in the story mode.

Star Wars Galactic Racer isn’t just a wonderful representation of racing in a Star Wars world, but it’s a racing game with some truly unique features. The complex racing mechanics, the unique structure of the campaign mode, and the deep upgrade system all make for a far more engaging game than I expected. This isn’t a game for people who like to just hold the accelerator button and relax, which is both surprising and exciting.

Don’t panic, Discord isn’t losing GIFs as Google shuts down Tenor API

I’ve said it many times here: I’m old. Recently, my little cousin mocked me for using a reaction GIF because “those are for old people.” While he may not care for the animated images, if you’ve been on social media today, you’ll have seen word that Google is shutting down Tenor’s API, and you may be concerned that your favorite apps like Discord are suddenly going to become GIF-less. Thankfully, that’s not the case.

Tenor is a library of GIFs that has been used across the internet for over a decade. Users can go in and search for one that matches an emotion or references something being discussed and post it on social media. For a long time, Tenor has been the home of GIFs online, and was acquired by Google in 2018.

Its place at the top of the GIF mountain came to an end earlier this year, however, when Google announced plans to make the API, which apps like Discord and Twitter/X used to incorporate the library into their systems, private, essentially signalling the end of Tenor on those platforms.

Now, on June 30, Google has confirmed that Tenor’s API is going offline today, and if you’ve been browsing X today, you’ll see hundreds of people in sheer panic that their ability to use GIFs is about to be taken away permanently. Well, I’m here to confirm that isn’t the case, and many of your favorite apps have already stopped using Tenor in the build-up to this announcement.

For example, Discord has been testing both Klipy and Giphy since the Spring, moving away from Tenor before the API stopped working. The changeover has been extremely smooth, with your favorite GIFs still appearing in the search box, so many people haven’t noticed. However, if you go to Discord right now and look for a GIF, you’ll see the box now says “Search Klipy.”

WhatsApp also switched off Tenor back in January and opted to go to Klipy, while X has moved to a currently unknown GIF library.

So, if you use GIFs as a form of communication, or just love posting them in response to any questions you’re asked, don’t panic, as they’ll still be available, just from a new provider. I, however, will be limiting my use of them, at least when my judgmental family is around.

If you’re not a GIF fiend, though, you should definitely test out Discord’s new Spatial Audio system, which makes it sound like you’re sitting in the same room as your buddies when you’re shouting at each other while playing games.

All Minecraft biomes in 26.2

Minecraft Biomes are the different areas of Minecraft, across the overworld, Nether, and The End. Each is vast, varied, and full of things you need to survive, from the buried treasures found in the oceans to the exotic loot found in the Deep Dark. As you randomly generate each world, there are never any guarantees about where you’ll find the Minecraft biome you’re looking for, but there are clues to follow if you pay close enough attention.

Each Minecraft biome offers different resources that you may require in your journey, whether that’s to beat the Ender Dragon or simply to create the best Minecraft house in the land. They also house different creatures, building blocks and materials, NPCs, and even loot. This means that, while finding all of them is rarely essential to your progress, it can make things a bit easier.

All Minecraft overworld Biomes

All the primary Minecraft biomes in the overworld are:

Dappled Forest

Added in June 2026, the Dappled Forest is a new iteration of the forest biome, and it can be found near other cold biomes. You’ll be able to find Poplar Trees, both fallen and standing, as well as Shelf Mushrooms around them.

You’ll also find various passive and neutral mobs in the biome. You’ll find Sheep, Chicken, Cow, Pig, Rabbit, and Fox, with their cold variants spawning when relevant. The Dappled Forest biome was added to Minecraft at the same time as the Abandoned Camp structure, and there’s a special variant of those camps for the new biome.

Plains

The plains are one of the most common biomes in Minecraft, and are home to lots of wide open spaces, grass, flowers, farm animals such as sheep, cows, and pigs, and the occasional oak tree. You might also be lucky enough to stumble upon a Minecraft village or two while exploring a plains biome.

The plains biome is probably most appealing for its building options, thanks to the mostly flat land. You can also decorate your Minecraft house with some of the colorful flowers found around the area, and use them to make dyes. Speaking of flowers, one of the variants of the plains biome is the sunflower plains, which is full of tall yellow flower.

Forest

Forest biomes are, funnily enough, full of trees. The basic forest is specifically home to oak and birch trees. While you can find animals within them, they’re mostly good for farming wood. Forests are also home to many flower variants as well, including tulips of all colors, two-block peonies, and lilac.

Speaking of flowers, there is also a flower forest variant of this biome. You’ll know you’re in one from the masses of flowers across a vast area. While you can find Minecraft bees in most plains and forest biomes, you’re also incredibly likely to find them in flower forests thanks to their love of pretty plants.

Dark Forest

Now we’re getting into the good stuff – or the good wood variants to be precise. Unlike oak or birch forests, dark forests house huge dark oak trees. Dark oak are great for farming wood thanks to their 2×2 trunks, but their wood type also looks great in Minecraft builds owing to its darker brown tone.

Dark forests are also recognizable by huge mushrooms interspersed throughout the trees, making this biome look like something out of a fairytale.

Another key difference between these and normal forests is that this biome is dangerous – more hostile Minecraft mobs can spawn due to the lack of light. That said, it’s always worth taking a stroll through a Dark Forest as they can also spawn a rare woodland mansion, and is the only biome in which they can be found.

Cherry Grove

The Cherry Grove is one of the newer biomes, added in the 1.20 update in 2023. This stunning area is also the first to bring a more colorful tree and wood variant to the overworld with pink Sakura trees aplenty. There are also pretty petals strewn across the ground that can be picked up and placed wherever you want them, even in another biome, so be sure to collect some while you’re there.

Of course, the main draws of this biome are its cherry trees and the pink wood variant they drop. That said, they can also provide some stunning backdrops on which to build your base. Most often found high up near mountain biomes, you can frequently find cherry biomes surrounded by snow-topped peaks, making for an incredible view.

The Pale Garden

This incredibly unique biome was added in December 2024 and is the first of its kind. Adding dynamic features to Minecraft, the Pale Garden changes between night and day and even has its own atmospheric sound changes that trigger as soon as you set foot in the spooky forest.

Eyeblossom flowers can only be found in this biome, and they open up at night, showing off a different design depending on the time of day. What’s more, this biome comes with another wood type: Pale Oak. This white wood is a beautiful building material – but watch out for The Creaking, a dangerous mob unique to the Pale Garden, when you’re out sourcing logs.

By successfully killing Creakings, you might notice that some of the trees around you change their texture, too. This is because the essence of those Creakings find their way into the wood, forming Resin. This material can be gathered from these wood blocks and turned into Resin building blocks.

Swamp

Normal Minecraft Swamps don’t contain a wood variant, as they are also home to oak trees, but they do have long vines growing from them here, which can be obtained with shears. You can also gather lilypads from the green-tinged waters here, so it’s perfect if you’re gathering materials for a more natural or overgrown build – keep your eyes peeled for some beautiful, blue, swamp-exclusive orchids, as well.

Aside from pretty rare flowers and other plants, the swamp is also the only place you might come across a witch hut. These small structures aren’t all that useful, but it’s pretty cool to say you’ve found one. Just be careful that the dangerous witch resident isn’t at home.

Finally, swamps are also the only place slime spawns overground. They only appear at night, but if you’re kitted up with armor and weapons, trawling a swamp after dark is a great way to farm Minecraft slime. You can find plenty of clay here, too, thanks to all the shallow water.

Mangrove Swamp

This rare biome always makes us think of that Kiss the Girl scene in The Little Mermaid. Added in The Wild Update 1.19 in 2022, the Mangrove Swamp is a watery biome with winding tree roots arching across its muddy floor. There are a heap of unique blocks to pick up here, including mud itself, which can be used to produce mud bricks, mangrove wood, which has an interesting purple tint, and hollow Mangrove root blocks.

Unless you’ve got a specific idea in mind for a cool mangrove swamp base, this isn’t the best biome to make home: it’s dark, dangerous, and very difficult to traverse. That said, it’s very cool, and we’d certainly recommend seeking one out to have a look around, and perhaps to row your own boat through the weaving vines and roots, just like Ariel and Eric. Surely there’s a Minecraft mod to add singing wildlife…

Jungle

Jungles are full of huge, towering trees covered in vines and can be a great place to find unique resources. Along with ocelots, this is the place where you can find cocoa pods and melons, making this biome a useful source of food. Occasionally, you can also find jungle temples here, which are fun little dungeons full of stone and loot.

Taiga

The taiga features yet another type of tree: the spruce. This variant is another dark brown and one of our personal favorite types of wood for building. The taiga comes in a few variants, but the most obvious are normal and snowy. While taiga villages can spawn in either, snowy taiga villages are objectively the best, with berries and campfires surrounding snowy wood cabins. We won’t hear anything to the contrary.

Another completely unique biome, the taiga is also where you can find podzol, a unique type of dirt block. To take any elsewhere, you must have a tool enchanted with Silk Touch or it’ll just turn to normal dirt. Podzol is the perfect environment for mushrooms to grow, but you’ll also find plenty of berries around this biome, and Minecraft foxes and wolves are the major wildlife attraction here.

Snowy Plains

Snowy tundras are covered in snow and ice blocks. These areas are often similar to plains in terms of underlying structure, but everything is a lot colder. Instead of rain, snowy tundras have snow falling, and you’ll often find a spattering of spruce trees and roaming wolves. There’s a variant of this Minecraft biome called the ‘Ice Spikes Plains’, which is covered with spikes of packed ice. A great place to host your Minecraft Christmas.

Ice Spikes

One of the most interesting Minecraft biomes, Ice Spikes are immediately recognizable, even from a distance, from their tall spires of ice. Other than these formulaic pointed structures, there isn’t much that’s different about ice spikes than other icy biomes, and they’re usually found adjacent to others, so you’ll see polar bears, strays, and other such entities around here.

Desert

It might surprise you to learn that deserts are full of sand and sandstone. Along with things like cacti, you can occasionally find desert wells and desert temples. It’s not the most exciting area in the game, but glass can be made from sand, so if you’re planning on a Minecraft build with windows, it’ll be good to keep an eye out for your nearest desert biome.

Badlands

The badlands are a completely unique, barren, hot biome, home to red sand and terracotta. While these orange deserts were neglected for a long time, the addition of the Minecraft Armadillo in 2024 brought some life to the wasteland.

As well as being a gorgeous sight, badlands are actually an amazing biome to explore. You’ll find that gold ore spawns more generously underground here, as do mineshafts, with the interconnecting passageways taking over most of the area. They’re even accessible from above ground, and you’re likely to find minecart loot chests abandoned on the surface.

Savanna

Savannas can often be found adjacent to either deserts or badlands and is a sort of halfway point between the more vibrant plains and the wastelands. Along with acacia trees, you can also find villages, horses, and even llamas. It also never rains here, which is nice.

Mushroom fields

Mushroom fields are strange islands, usually away from the main landmass of any given world, covered in a variant of dirt called mycelium. You can find giant mushrooms here, along with a mob called a Mooshroom, a cow made of mushrooms that you should protect/destroy at all costs because it is cute/deeply haunting.

Mountains

Mountain areas feature huge stone hills that often conceal hidden caves and can lead to some more spectacular sights in the crafting game. Waterfalls, lava falls, huge cliffs and deep valleys are all fairly commonplace here. This is a great biome to visit for early-game access to ore, as the caves that spawn here are often easy to see from a distance.

Ocean

Surprising absolutely no one, the ocean is a big old mass of water. It’s genuinely huge and is full of aquatic animals, which vary depending on how deep you are and also how warm or cold it is. The deep ocean is a variant that goes much deeper but can also have abandoned mineshafts, ocean monuments, and other opportunities for exploration, provided you can hold your breath for long enough.

We recommend brewing some potions to help with that: while you’re down there, keep an eye out for the infamous Minecraft trident as well!

All underground Minecraft biomes

The Deep Dark

The Deep Dark is the most dangerous and exciting underground biome – perhaps the most dangerous and exciting biome period. This glittering turquoise biome is identified by the presence of the Sculk family of blocks, so if you see any while mining away, you know you’re in the Deep Dark. This could also be a sign that you’re near an Ancient city, as this is the only place in which they spawn, and they themselves are home to the terrifying Minecraft Warden mob, so there’s a lot going on here.

Dripstone Caves

The Caves and Cliffs update of 2021 completely overhauled the underground cave system, making them larger and more incredible, while adding two cave biomes: Dripstone Caves and Lush Caves.

The star of Dripstone Caves are the Dripstone stalagmites and stalactites hanging from the ceiling and rising from the floor. Not only do they look cool, they also deal damage when they fall onto entities or entities fall onto them (yourself and mobs included), so they can make for pretty interesting traps and treacherous adventures.

Lush Caves

Incredible lush caves can be among the most stunning views you’ll come across in Minecraft, all while underground. In contrast to the dark and gloomy caves elsewhere, glow berries hang from the ceiling of Lush Caves, lighting the area, while the more dim Glow Lichen adds a more subtle glow.

Speaking of glowing things, you might even be lucky enough to find some Glow Squid in these flora-filled caves, as well as Minecraft axalotl, tropical fish, flowering azalea, and dripleaves. The whole area is also likely to be covered in pretty, atmospheric particles as well, dripping from spore blossoms growing above your head.

Despite all of this, perhaps the most interesting thing about these caves is that you can locate them from above ground. Azalea oak trees with pink flowering leaves can appear in any biome and are an indicator that their roots are set in a lush cave beneath your feet.

Minecraft Nether biomes

Another huge update that added a bunch of biomes was the Nether update of 2020. This update transformed the barren hellish landscape of netherrack into a beautiful and varied realm – but it’s still pretty hellish.

Crimson Forest

The Nether was already a pretty red-heavy realm, and the Crimson Forest takes that one step further with nether wart, crimson trees, and weeping crimson vines. Almost everything you can see here is a bright shade of red, lit by orange-tinted Shroomlights.

You can find plenty of Piglins to trade with here, but you might also come across plenty of Hoglins, too, and these can charge at you and deal serious damage. Piglins themselves aren’t safe either, as they’ll attack unless you’re wearing something gold – sadly, Hoglins aren’t distracted the same way and attack regardless.

Warped Forest

The Picturesque turquoise alternative to the Crimson Forest, the Warped Forest features aqua-tinted nylium and fungus. Be careful as you take in your surroundings, though – instead of Hoglins, the Warped Forest is home to Endermen, and looking around casually could accidentally rile them up. It does, however, make it the perfect place to farm some of their eyes.

Nether Wastes

The Nether Wastes are essentially the old Nether. Filled with netherrack and lava, these biomes are home to most Nether mobs, including Pigmen, Skeletons, and Ghasts.

Soul Sand Valley

Of course, every biome in the Nether is dangerous, but we’d take extra care when venturing into a Soul Sand Valley. Skeletons reside here more than any other mob, so you need to be aware of ranged attacks coming from every side. What’s more, you’re slowed down significantly on soul sand, so it’s harder to get away once one locks onto you.

This gray and gloomy biome is instantly recognizable from the dull soul sand and bright-blue flames, but you can also find large fossils here, perfect for farming plenty of bonemeal.

Basalt Delta

If you’re wondering why we haven’t mentioned those adorable-but-deadly Magma Cubes yet, don’t worry, they’re all here in the Basalt Delta.

Probably the most difficult Nether terrain to cross, Basalt Deltas are full of jagged mounds of basalt. The uneven ground isn’t the thing to be aware of here, as small, one-block wells of lava are also common, and one wrong step could spell your doom. That’s if a Magma Cube doesn’t get you first.

How to know which biome you’re in

On Java Edition on PC, there is a simple way to know which biome you’re currently in: press F3. This keybind opens a menu with all sorts of information, including your current coordinates, light level, and which block you’re looking at. On the right-hand side, as shown in the image above, you can also see exactly which biome you’re in.

Minecraft biome finder

Looking for a particular biome in your Minecraft seed? You can use the Minecraft biome finder command to locate the nearest instance of each biome. Simply type /locate biome [biome name] into the chat window, and you’ll be given the biome’s coordinates, which you can use to teleport yourself there (or walk, of course).

If you search for a biome that is not present in your current dimension or can’t be found nearby, the game tells you it “could not find [biome] in reasonable distance.”

That’s everything you need to know about Minecraft Biomes. We tend to see brand-new biomes or variants alongside major updates to one of the best PC games, so we’ll keep adding to this guide as we hear more information about upcoming features. For Minecraft tips, make sure you check out the best Minecraft skins so you can dress your best no matter the location.

Portal 2 just got a Steam Frame compatibility rating, hinting at the VR headset’s imminent launch

Valve has already committed to the Steam Frame launch sometime this summer, and a fresh clue has just appeared. Portal 2 just got given its Steam Frame compatibility rating, which shows the classic Valve puzzler is rated as Playable.

This rating is surprising, as Portal 2 has long been a favorite for VR gamers. However, Valve cites the game’s lack of support for the Steam Frame’s native resolution as the main reason for it only getting a Playable rating.

Regarding the rest of the game, Valve notes that it does support the headset’s default controller configuration, handles Steam Frame controller icons properly, has default graphics settings that perform well, and has readable interface text. In other words, the game runs perfectly well, but you won’t be able to play at the full resolution of the headset.

As to that resolution, the Steam Frame is a big step up in resolution from the Valve Index. That headset came with a 1,440 × 1,600 resolution display for each eye, while the Steam Frame jumps up to 2,160 × 2,160.

The new headset also adds standalone gaming capabilities, so you can use the headset either connected to a PC or on its own – in a similar vein to the Meta Quest 3, for instance. In contrast, the Valve Index could only be used when connected to a PC. It’s this standalone gaming ability that is being tested with the Steam Frame compatibility rating, with compatibility when connected to a PC, depending on the rest of your PCs hardware, which Valve can’t test.

These specs mean this headset isn’t set to become one of the best VR headsets for sheer image quality. However, it should be a big upgrade over the Index, and expectations are high that it will offer a smooth, easy-to-use experience, as gamers have become accustomed to with recent Valve hardware.

The new Steam Frame compatibility rating, meanwhile, works in just the same way as the Steam Deck compatibility rating and the newly-added Steam Machine rating. Valve will test each game with the devices and provide a rating of Unsupported, Playable, or Verified, where Unsupported means the game is effectively unplayable, perhaps due to a complete lack of support, an anti-cheat that is incompatible with SteamOS, or due to controls not working, for instance.

Meanwhile, Playable means just that: the game will work, but, as demonstrated above, some aspects of the game might not perform in an ideal manner. Finally, Verified is Valve’s official seal of approval that a game works perfectly well on the device.

Valve confirmed the Steam Frame release window a few weeks ago, confirming it would be arriving this summer. However, it hasn’t further clarified exactly when that will be. The Steam Machine just launched, around eight weeks after the Steam Controller, so a release towards the tail end of August seems likely, giving Valve a few weeks to allow the Steam Machine launch to pass before moving on to the Steam Frame.

Bad news, Blizzard won’t be running a fresh Season of Discovery server in WoW Classic

Season of Discovery has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to the recent Fresh community event on Wild Growth. As players flock to the server, leakers discovered some new WoW Classic builds, prompting many to believe that a fresh SoD server was on the way. Unfortunately, that’s been shut down by Blizzard developer Josh Greenfield, who confirmed that there are no plans for a fresh Season of Discovery Server.

Season of Discovery is a fun World of Warcraft Classic server that breaks all the rules. It includes new talents, dungeons, and raids separate from the main experience. Items are different and have interesting new twists, and you can even combine talents that you wouldn’t normally be able to to create a unique experience unlike anything else in World of Warcraft.

While Blizzard ended active development in June 2025, WoW fans haven’t been able to let go just yet. The community banded together to create the Fake Fresh event, which attempts to create the feeling of a brand-new server without actually being one. Players have flooded back in, with player numbers doubling to 4,600 since the event started. Many hoped this would grab the attention of the MMO’s developer and prompt them to create an official fresh server. Unfortunately, those hopes have been dashed.

On June 27, as reported by WoWhead, players found a new WoW Classic build with the name “1.15.9.68185.” While this collection of numbers may not mean anything to you, those with an in-depth knowledge of the game immediately spotted that Season of Discover was released on build 1.15. With this appearing to be an update to that build, it’s no surprise that we all got excited.

Sadly, WoW Classic Senior Game Designer Josh Greenfield confirmed that wasn’t the case, stating that there were no plans for a fresh Season of Discovery server while responding to a player who was concerned about starting to grind the Fake Fresh event, only for their progress to disappear if an official fresh start came.

“There will be no fresh SoD,” he answered. “‘Just open a new server’ is not as trivial as most people think it is. It requires many teams and a large portion of the Classic team to make that happen. Then there’s an ongoing effort to manage each phase as it rolls out. With other things we have going on, that’s a distraction we can’t afford.

“I hate to come in and definitively say things like this but as you say, it would suck to NOT play this current revival in the vain hope some fresh realm will spin up and yeah, that just isn’t happening right now. While I obviously love SoD and I’m very excited about the current event that’s happening, it would be irresponsible for us to split our time on this right now.”

So, there you have it. Blizzard has no plans for Season of Discovery, but on the plus side, we now know for certain that we can jump into SoD and enjoy the Fake Fresh event with no fear of losing our progress. It’s not ideal, but it’s definitely better than nothing.

Fake Fresh events are running on both NA and EU servers, so jump into the action and relive all the fun of Season of Discovery right now.

Valve just killed the Steam Machine Companion Cube

Both prospective Steam Machine buyers and new owners alike have just been dealt a huge blow: Valve has stepped in to stop Drband from producing its much-coveted Companion Cube case.

After developing the product off its own back, without initially seeking licensing approval, Dbrand has been denied retroactive licensing for the project, forcing it to completely pull the plug on what has been one of the most celebrated potential add-ons to the Steam Machine.

The case was a plastic cube into which the Steam Machine could be fitted, giving the mini PC the look of the much-loved Weighted Companion Cube from Valve’s Portal games. It’s a simple, and in some ways obvious idea, but brilliant nonetheless.

However, with thousands of people having placed orders for the cube, the company has been forced to refund buyers and completely down tools on further continuing the project. Taking to Reddit, the company posted a statement explaining the situation:

“As you’ve probably noticed, the Steam Machine Companion Cube was eviscerated from our website, YouTube, and other social media platforms last week.

“The blunt version is that we made the Companion Cube without a license from Valve. Everyone who purchased a Companion Cube will have their refund issued by end-of-day. Everything else beyond this is just detail. If you want the full story, keep reading.”

In that further reading, Dbrand explains that it launched the Companion Cube project on November 12, 2025, the day the Steam Machine was announced, and that 15,000 people signed up to show interest in the cube (myself included). It then developed the product, taking over 1,000 hours and requiring the development of 44 injection moulds, eventually launching it on June 22.

However, despite it becoming “the second-fastest selling product in our 15-year history, behind only the Switch 2 Killswitch” the story quickly took a negative turn. Valve’s legal team reached out, forcing Dbrand to pull the plug on the project. The company requested a retroactive licensing agreement, but Valve said no.

Dbrand goes on to admit that the situation is entirely its own fault, and that Valve shouldn’t be blamed, saying, “Valve didn’t do anything wrong here. They built a game franchise a lot of people love and they alone get to decide how it’s used.” However, it’s not clear why Valve didn’t reach out much earlier, as Dbrand was public about its intentions from the outset.

This is a decidedly sad turn of events for what seemed like such a positive, fun celebration of a beloved gaming character/entity/object. It’s possible Dbrand and Valve may be able to resolve the situation, but the suggestion from Dbrand’s post is that the ship truly has sailed. To quote Portal’s GLaDOS, “You euthanized your faithful Companion Cube more quickly than any test subject on record.”

Tomb Raider: Underworld Free Download

Download File

Tomb Raider: Underworld Direct Download:

Tomb Raider: Underworld represents a new advancement in exploration-based gameplay. As fearless adventurer Lara Croft explore exotic locations around the world, each designed with an incredible attention to detail resulting in breathtaking high-definition visual fidelity that creates a truly believable world and delivers a new level of challenge and choice. SpaceCraft

• Master your surroundings: Reach new heights with the broadest range of acrobatic abilities and utilize objects within the environment to uncover new paths to explore.
• Explore epic and unknown worlds: Discover ancient mysteries of the underworld hidden within the coast of Thailand, frozen islands of the Arctic Sea, the jungles of Mexico, and more.
• Treacherous and unpredictable challenges: Each level is an elaborate multi-stage puzzle masked within an interactive environmental playground offering more flexibility over how the area is solved.
• New range of combat options: Choose to pacify or kill, target multiple enemies at once with the new dual-target system, and shoot with one hand while suspended with the other.
• New state-of-the-art gear: Utilize the latest technology in Lara’s upgraded inventory to navigate the world including:
  – Active Sonar map: A revolutionary new tool that emits an active sonar ping to create a 3D image of Lara’s surroundings, perfect for uncovering hidden items and locations.
  – Multi-purpose grapple: A claw-like device with a high-tension cable designed for climbing, rappelling, performing wall runs and manipulating objects within the environment.
  – All-terrain hybrid motorbike: A unique vehicle design built to drive on everything from mud to snow and ice.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Supported OS: Microsoft Windows XP (admin rights required)/Microsoft Windows Vista (admin rights required)
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3+GHz or AMD Athlon 2.5+GHz
Memory: 1GB (Windows XP) / 2GB (Windows Vista) system memory
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6 series 6800GT (or better) / ATI 1800XT (or better)
Sound Card: Direct X 9.0c compatible sound card and drivers
Hard Drive Space: 8 GB Free Space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

The Lost Adventures codes (June 2026)

These new The Lost Adventures codes should serve to get you ahead in this popular new urban adventure. You wouldn’t guess from the name alone, but this is yet another Roblox anime adventure based wholly around JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Ok, maybe the last part would give it away, but only if you’re a seasoned JoJo nut. For anyone else, you thought you were getting something original, but it was this: another JoJo game on Roblox!

As of its Gold Experience Requiem update, you can get that very same Stand to appear before you. Diavolo makes an appearance as an end-game boss, and an iconic colosseum emerges as a new place of interest on a huge new map. With the TLA codes below, you’ll get the yen you need to fund meaningful combat upgrades, as well as the keys needed to tackle loot-laden bosses.

Here are the new The Lost Adventure codes:

• REQUIEM – 5k yen, keys, and more (new!)

Need to sit down after all that standing up? Take a rest break and click here to follow us on Google, where you’ll find hundreds of other active Roblox code guides ready to get you freebies in some of the biggest experiences on the platform.

How do I claim The Lost Adventures codes?

You’ll need to jump through a few hoops to claim codes in The Lost Adventures. Here’s how it’s done:

• Launch The Lost Adventures on Roblox.
• Close the game.
• Like the game.
• Click the author link beneath the game name.
• Join the game group.
• Launch The Lost Adventures again.
• Click the house icon under your health bar.
• Click ‘Codes’
• Enter a working code.
• Click ‘Use code’ to claim your rewards.

How do I get more The Lost Adventures codes?

We’ll admit that finding new codes in The Lost Adventures codes isn’t easy. Though they’re on the The Lost Adventures Discord server, which you’ll find a link to at the bottom of the game page, they’re scattered about its various channels. You won’t find a dedicated code channel on there. Instead, you have to rummage through months of old posts. It’s a pain.

What’s the alternative? You can trust us to do our job in providing an up-to-date list of new The Lost Adventures codes – like the one you’ll see above.

Expired codes

STARBOUND | SORRYFORDELAY1 | SORRYFORDELAY2 | THANKSFOR6KMEMBERS

Need more yen? Come back here from time to time. There’s a good chance you’ll find new The Lost Adventures codes to give you a little boost.

Valorant’s Neon is “curbed” for now, but Riot says “balancing her is definitely challenging”

Balance will always be the primary talking point when it comes to online multiplayer games. There’s never a silver-bullet solution: someone somewhere is going to hate that 0.1% nerf, or that 10% buff. Valorant is a game that’s seen myriad OP characters come and go: remember Chamber on release, and even the original version of Jett. One of the most frustrating Agents to deal with, however, has always been Neon. Give her a Bucky or a Judge and away she goes, tearing down anyone in her path and planting the Spike before you even know she’s on-site. She’s always been a menace, but in 2026, she’s been absolutely disgusting.

The issue with Neon is, perhaps unsurprisingly, her raw speed. Using her High Gear she can zip across the map, with her slide allowing her to duck out of harm’s way, while her Fast Lane walls obscure her. Then there’s the bunny hopping. With Neon’s High Gear, she was able to bhop around the map popping heads with ease. 2026 has been a rough one for non-Neon enjoyers like me.

Following a brief period on the bench, the Filipina Duelist has (thankfully) been hit with the nerf hammer; High Gear’s jump speed now matches every other Agent’s, and her fuel gauge can only be replenished when she scores kills with her ultimate. She’s taken a little bit of a tumble down the Valorant tier list as a result, replaced by the ever-dominant Clove, but generally, these changes have been for the better.

On the ground at Valorant Masters London – where Neon had a pick rate of just 32% compared to 45% in Santiago – I asked Lead Agent Designer Dan ‘penguin’ Hardison and Agents & Live Product Manager Tiffy ‘TiffyMunchsnax’ Tsay about the Neon saga, and if they’re happy with where she’s landed.

“Balancing Neon is definitely challenging,” Hardison says. “I think Duelists are some of our harder characters to balance because our internal expectation for them is that they that go forward, take space, and take risks for their team. That can obviously come with challenges, and over time as we’ve balance the game, we’ve found that getting players to move off of Jett and Raze – the mobility Duelists that can fly over setups or take space really quickly – is really challenging.”

Patch 8.11 marked the team’s “first experimental design swing to get characters who are grounded to take space in the same, effective ways.” Said update was accompanied by the controversial Neon and Iso buffs, with Hardison admitting that there were some “tuning challenges as a result of those changes” but notes that he believes “[the game] ended up in a decent spot.”

“The recent changes for Neon were mostly what we call game health-oriented changes; it wasn’t strictly like we just wanted a bar graph of Neon’s power to go down,” he continues. “We wanted to improve the ‘playing against’ experience for Neon’s opponents. The hypothesis was that she could take too much space without expending abilities or having to use similar tools compared to other characters because of her bunnyhopping while sprinting.

“That was the change we ended up making, and I think we’ve done a decent job curbing some of her power. She’s still really, really powerful, but we’ve seen a much more spread out set out Duelists at this tournament so far, so from my lens I think the changes were successful in the short term. We’ll have to see if she crops back up, but in general, every time we do a game-health-oriented list and it seems to curb some player frustration and make the ecosystem more varied, we consider that a win on the dev side.”

Tsay agrees, noting that it’s all about “what is the right way to have the player playing as a Duelist, but also give the players playing against it a reasonable expectation. This is where we thought the new fuel system with Neon might be the best swing of it for now.” She stresses that the team doesn’t want to hamper Neon’s “expressive movement,” but acknowledges that the bunnyhopping needed a “hit.”

While Neon’s reign of terror is somewhat over, she’s an Agent that’ll always either feel completely broken, or completely useless. It’s a balancing dance that I don’t envy, but for now at least I’m just glad she’s not obliterating me a minute into the round.

RAM prices “will never be like last year again,” predicts PC maker Lenovo

High PC RAM prices really are here to stay, it seems, as Lenovo is the latest PC maker to admit that it could be years before the AI data center-induced rise in RAM and SSD prices begins to fall. In a recent presentation at ISC 2026, the company stated that RAM prices “will never be like last year again,” and while the delivery of this line was made in a somewhat joking manner, the underlying message was clear.

Elaborating on when the best RAM might become more affordable again, Lenovo referred to a “new normal” that could appear from 2030 onwards, although even this is likely to see higher prices than in 2024 and 2025.

More troublingly, the Legion Go maker’s prediction already takes into account that production capacity from memory manufacturers is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. The likes of SK Hynix and Samsung are due to open new manufacturing plants as quickly as possible, but demand is expected to be so high that it won’t see prices fall.

It’s worth noting that RAM prices in recent years, particularly just before the big RAM price increases at the end of last year, were so low that manufacturers were sometimes losing money. As such, a new norm arguably should be at a higher price. However, 32GB of DDR5 RAM going from costing as little as $70 to now typically costing $400 is well beyond what most would consider a reasonable reset.

The news of Lenovo’s comments comes from German tech site Computerbase, which reports that Lenovo also gave advice on how to survive the current RAMpocalypse. Talking more specifically about business/server applications, but with advice that’s somewhat applicable to PC buyers too, the company explained that buyers should consider their requirements carefully and consider optimizing their operation in other ways before exploring options for how much RAM they need.

In terms of gaming PCs, this could be applied by considering whether you really do need 32GB of RAM, for instance, or whether 16GB is enough. For the last few years, we’ve recommended opting for 32GB, mainly to provide a bit of headroom, given that RAM prices were so cheap. However, when it comes to gaming, 32GB is still far from necessary, and 16GB is enough to run any modern title at maxed-out settings. You just might need to close every other application on your system so you don’t run out of memory, but otherwise you’ll be fine.

Conversely, if you’re regularly streaming, like to record your gaming sessions, have multiple browser tabs open in the background while you game, or have video editing projects still sitting open in Premiere, that’s when you might want to stump up the cash for 32GB or more.

Steam Machine reservations are already being resold on Ebay for up to $2900

Valve tried its best with the Steam Machine launch, but not even a randomized queue and limit of one device per buyer has stopped the mini gaming PC from falling victim to scalpers. Several of those lucky enough to obtain a Steam Machine reservation slot have already taken to the likes of Ebay to resell their units for prices as high as double that of the device itself.

In one example, a 2TB Steam Machine with a controller is listed for $2,899.99, just over double its official $1,428 price. With many considering the Steam Machine price to already be far higher than they hoped, these listings put further strain buyers that can’t wait for the next restock.

In a couple of examples spotted by Videocardz.com, two 2TB Steam Machines with controllers were apparently listed for $2,899.99 and $2,700, while we’ve spotted a still-live listing for a 512GB Steam Machine without a controller being sold for $1,800.

These Steam Machine reservation listings are essentially a promise that the seller will pass on the device to the buyer once they have the product in hand. Technically, they are legal on Ebay, so long as the listing makes it clear in the title and description that the product isn’t in-hand, which most of the listings spotted so far have done.

We saw similar reselling of as-yet-not-obtained devices following the Steam Controller launch. However, Valve initially allowed buyers to order two Steam Controllers at once, making the option of buying two controllers then selling one a much more tempting option.

Also, with those devices costing a-not-exactly-budget, but reasonable value $99, the $200 to $300 price range seen for resold units was a much more affordable one that likely tempted many buyers. However, the Steam Machine is a much more expensive device, with prices starting at $1,049, so paying double that is simply not going to be an option for even the keenest Valve hardware fans.

Those who didn’t get a Steam Machine purchase slot on the original randomized reservation list may still be able to buy direct from Valve, avoiding having to pay scalper prices or wait many months for fresh stock. I missed out on that first run, and the email I received from Valve notes that, “As we work our way through the reservation queue, some customers may cancel their reservations. If that happens, you may be moved into the reservation queue, and you’ll be notified via email that you have a reservation after all.”

All this leaves me very intrigued to see how the launch for Valve’s upcoming VR headset, the Steam Frame, goes. Is there enough latent demand for fresh VR hardware – and anything made by Valve – that there will be a frenzy for that device too, or are there simply too many other great options now available for VR enthusiasts? The best VR headsets already comfortably surpass its capabilities, are SteamVR compatible, and have been out for a long time. Time will tell.

Monkey Soccer codes (June 2026)

Looking for new Monkey Soccer codes? Anything to gain an on-pitch advantage, right? We can’t blame you. When a feather touch gone wrong can derail an entire match in seconds, you need to look for any sort of leg up.

Monkey Soccer takes the boot-iful game and adds the high-flying fun of being a master acrobat to the mix. The result is a multi-dimensional take on one of the world’s biggest sports, adding vertical shots, strikes, and satisfying curveballs to an already complex and hard-to-master attempt to get a ball around a small army and into a faraway net.

Here are the latest Monkey Soccer codes:

• Brazil – 1k bananas (new!)
• sixseven – a lucky spin and 670 bananas (new!)
• lucky – a lucky spin (new!)

Need a break? Grab a banana and click here to follow us on Google, where you’ll find loads more code guides for some of the biggest Roblox games around.

How do I redeem Monkey Soccer codes?

You barely need to step foot on the pitch to start claiming Monkey Soccer codes – just follow these steps:

• Launch Monkey Soccer on Roblox.
• Click the ‘shop’ icon.
• Scroll to the bottom.
• Enter a working code in the text box.
• Click the ‘redeem’ button.

How do I get more Monkey Soccer codes?

You’ll find the majority of the new codes hidden away on the Monkey Soccer Discord server. To join it, just look for the link at the bottom of the game page. It won’t be visible if your Roblox account isn’t appropriately age-verified for chat permissions. If that’s a problem, don’t worry: that’s what the code list above is for.

If you can join the Discord, just hang around the “game-announcements” channel. Each new update log includes new codes highlighted in their own section.

How do I spin in Monkey Soccer?

Once you’ve used a couple codes to add some free spins to your account, you just need to spend them on style rolls. Click the ‘Styles’ button at the bottom, pick whether you want to use a regular or a lucky spin, and go.

A single normal spin costs 250 bananas, so consider those code rewards as a handful of less potent style spins. A lucky spin, on the other hand, has a boosted chance to unlock a rarer Monkey Soccer style, like the legendary Banana Sentinal ability. Those cost Robux, but you can get a few with the codes above.

There you have it – new Monkey Soccer codes to claim all the ripe bananas and the odd free spin to keep your scoring.

Delta Force’s “biggest update of the year” adds a radioactive map, Terminator-style enemy agents, and a transport chopper

A new season of Delta Force is imminent, and the free-to-play shooter remains a quietly serious challenger to many of the more talked-about names. Offering both large-scale, Battlefield-style action with its Havoc Warfare mode, and an extraction format courtesy of Hazard Operations, the FPS game continues to outpace many of its rivals on Steam. This weekend alone, its peak player count matches that of Call of Duty, the standalone CoD MW2, and Battlefield 6 combined, and that’s before Team Jade has dropped what it’s dubbing the “biggest update of the year.”

The new Delta Force update is ‘Season Meltdown,’ and arrives on Tuesday June 30. The developer has just unveiled exactly what’s being added, and there’s certainly a lot to look forward to, whichever side of the multiplayer game you prefer. In Havoc Warfare, there’s a new map, Coliseum, which has a branching event where a Haavk rocket targets the giant arena. If it gets intercepted, debris will rain down on the streets, while if it lands as intended, both sides will push inside for a final showdown.

There are two extra weapons – the RM277 Assault Rifle, and the SVCH Marksman Rifle – plus a range of additional attachments and ammo types. Alongside this comes the new CSV-35 transport helicopter, offering the combination of vertical takeoff and landing with fixed-wing flight speeds. That makes it great at quickly getting soldiers and small vehicles across the map, and it also comes equipped with modifiable weapon systems.

New operator Gabriel ‘N-Two’ Mercier joins the fray with a rather frosty disposition. His signature grenade launcher fires freezing projectiles that get faster with consecutive shots, and he also carries a tracking stun grenade and a cryo-flask that deploys a freezing gas. This can lock down closed doors along with disrupting enemies in its radius. As your victims get colder, their movement slows until they are completely frozen. This effect also reduces fracture resistance in Operations, and limits vehicle handling in Warfare.

Over in the land of Hazard Ops, there’s a new location to visit, the AZ3 Nuclear Plant. This plays host to both easy and normal operations, and as you might expect, boasts some serious radiation hazards. Stepping into leak zones or searching through radiation containers will build up your exposure level. Fortunately, there’s a new Decontamination Chamber that you can unlock in your Black Site to improve your radiation tolerance and recovery.

Also lurking in the AZ3 Nuclear Plant is a new enemy boss type – the Neural Device Agent H1000. In what seems to be a pretty clear nod to the Terminator (Studio 369 even describes them as “outfitted with neural devices and jacked into Skynet”), these agents are “fast, lethal, and unpredictable.”

The Delta Force ‘Season Meltdown’ update launches on Tuesday June 30, alongside the season ten mission line. Studio 369 notes that the patch requires a 33.5 GB download, with a Steam update package of approximately 57.3 GB. If you haven’t checked in with the shooter for some time, or are yet to do so, this should be a good moment to jump in. Just keep your eyes peeled for those Agents.

Medieval town-building sim Noble Legacy ramps up the realism with a transformative survival update

Medieval colony sim Noble Legacy has just become a lot more demanding and realistic, incorporating all manner of survival game elements into its existing blend of town building and people management. This major overhaul is “one of the largest changes since entering early access,” including improved starting progression, faster access to dedicated player homes, an expansion to the wider world, and a range of stats to monitor and maintain such as hunger, warmth, energy, and hygiene. Best of all, you can even get a free dog.

Noble Legacy is approaching a full year in early access, and in that time developer Studio 369 has responded to player feedback with a gradual ramping up of more ‘realistic’ elements. Earlier this year, it introduced factors such as sickness and death, and this new, fittingly named Survival Update expands on those basics dramatically. That means you’ll need to start a new save if you’re playing in the main, progression-led Kingdom Mode, although Creative Mode worlds will be unaffected.

The changes begin right from your first night, where you’ll now have to survive your first days in Greenwood before you can start establishing a proper settlement. This also serves as a way to establish the new systems and some other fundamentals: cooking, warmth, shelter, hunting, crafting, and storage will all be introduced as you learn to keep yourself alive in the wilderness. From now on, you’ll need to eat enough, watch your temperature, get regular rest, and bathe yourself to wash off the grime of a hard day’s graft.

As you wander the world, you’ll encounter all-new lakes, ponds, and freshwater locations, along with the ability to discover a poplar forest biome (we’re having a real poplar renaissance right now, with the wood variety also coming to Minecraft of late). Resources have been redistributed and rebalanced “to create a more logical and immersive gathering experience, while encouraging players to explore different regions of the map.”

Wild flax has been added as a resource, and there are several more recipes to learn – roasted mushrooms, wild meat skewers, and basic craftable torches, bandages, and salves. You’ll now be able to build a house of your own much earlier on, rather than having to wait for the fancier Lord’s Manor to become available. You can set up a steward’s workbench and desk here, and also assign your own personal bed to rest in (more on that in a second). Studio 369 says these are “the foundation for future marriage and legacy features.”

As part of this transition, traditional manual saves have been traded out for a system where you record your progress by going to bed. You’re free to do this during the daytime if you simply want to check in, while doing so at night will have you rest, restoring your health and energy along with removing any minor afflictions, and pushing the activity in your camp forward. “Our goal is to create greater tension, encourage preparation, and make exploration, hunting, and survival decisions feel more meaningful,” the developer explains.

Still not intense enough for you? There’s also the option to switch on permadeath as part of the expanded Custom Game options. “As Noble Legacy’s marriage, family, and heir systems come into play, death will eventually become part of a broader legacy system where players may continue their story through a surviving heir rather than losing their entire kingdom,” Studio 369 notes. “Until then, permadeath remains an optional challenge designed for players seeking a harsher survival experience.”

Those elements shouldn’t be too far off, either, as the team is now looking ahead to its next big milestone, which will be the Hearth and Heart Update. “While this update focuses on enduring the wilderness, Hearth and Heart will focus on the people who inhabit your kingdom,” it teases. “Marriage, households, children, heirs, and legacy progression will play a much larger role in shaping your story.”

The Noble Legacy Survival Update is live now, and the game is 30% off in the Steam Summer Sale, which ends on Thursday July 9, so expect to pay just $17.49 / £14.69. As a token of thanks for early access adopters, the developer is giving all existing owners the Alaunt War Dog companion DLC for free for a limited time.

“We know the journey hasn’t always been smooth,” it writes. “Many of you have endured bugs, balancing changes, major gameplay overhauls, save wipes, and experimental systems as we’ve continued building Noble Legacy into the game we envision it becoming. The Survival Update represents one of the largest transformations the game has undergone so far, and many of the systems included exist because of feedback directly from the community.” It concludes, “As a small development team, we simply could not do this without you. Thank you for your patience, your support, and for believing in our vision.”

Control Resonant lets Remedy’s creativity shine, so avoiding generative AI was a “pretty natural” decision

Control Resonant is looking set to deliver that beautiful fusion of visuals, sound, and narrative that makes Remedy Entertainment’s games such a treat for the senses. I came away from my recent preview of the action game very satisfied that the developer is continuing to excel in the areas it always has done. While I was there, I had the opportunity to chat with Lead Gameplay Designer Sergey Mohov, so I took the chance to ask him about the likes of the new enemy designs, the studio’s decision to steer clear of gen AI use, and whether we can expect a similar musical spectacle to the first game’s iconic Ashtray Maze.

We got confirmation that Remedy did not make any use of generative-AI content in the creation of Control Resonant several months ago, but I was curious to ask whether that was a decision the team had to actively labor over. Mohov’s response suggests it was an easy answer: “It just comes down to, we are creative individuals at Remedy. We’re very much artists and designers, and everybody really cares about making sure that the game is made by us,” he tells me. “We believe in the creative freedom of the artist to make the art, so I think it was a pretty natural thing overall for the company.”

While it steps out of the Oldest House and onto the streets of a twisted Manhattan, Control Resonant maintains all the hallmarks of its predecessor’s aesthetic, from the signature reds and blacks of its color palette to the unsettling sound designs of the Hiss, and the crackly real-life FMV through which it deploys nuggets of story. One of the most important changes from the first Control, however, is an expansion of the enemy variety, which previously felt a little too one-note in the monsters it constantly threw your way.

“I love the bus,” Mohov tells me. The Hiss-infested vehicle is one of the recurring larger enemies you’ll encounter, and it floats jarringly off the ground, tipped vertically, with desperate passengers clawing out of its windows. These lost souls actually act as weak spots, and destroying them can fast-track you to taking down the full bus, which does its best to slam violently into the floor and disorient you with shockwaves in the meantime.

“It’s my personal favorite,” Mohov says, “because I think it is a really fun encounter whenever you find it – especially if it is in a gravity anomaly – and then it is spawning bus seats that are attacking you. I like a good summoner-type enemy, but also, I think that aesthetically, it’s really cool that it shows how the Hiss has evolved from the first game.” One of many major threats in Control Resonant, this returning force has greatly expanded its capacity for carnage.

“It used to be that it would only possess individuals and control their will, and they could only do mostly the things that they were able to do while they were human, plus some telekinetic tricks that the Hiss would give them,” he explains. ” In this game, the Hiss can actually merge people with buses and geometry, and morph the environment as well, and this enemy is a really great example of this. Plus it has a really cool execution animation where you jump inside and make it explode from the inside.” I’ll vouch for that one too.

In a similar vein, music has always played a key role in Remedy’s catalogue. 23 years ago, Max Payne 2 enhanced its emotional storytelling with a slow-build of the Poets of the Fall song ‘Late Goodbye,’ which can be encountered in various forms, scattered throughout key moments in the story. That particular band has now become almost synonymous with Remedy, and features heavily in the form of its in-universe alter egos, Old Gods of Asgard.

Both the ‘Herald of Darkness’ musical scene in Alan Wake 2 and Control’s Ashtray Maze, where you navigate a shifting labyrinth to the sounds of ‘Take Control,’ are frequently cited among their most memorable moments – so can we expect a similar sequence in Control Resonant? Mohov obviously isn’t going to give anything too specific away here: “I think one big reason why those work is that we never spoiled those.” He does, however, acknowledge, “it’s always been important to us to use music well in our games.”

Mohov recalls, “As far back as Max Payne, we used music quite a lot in those, it was already quite iconic. Then we just started integrating it more and more inside the gameplay, and building real levels around it, that sort of thing.” He points to the ‘Paranatural Manhattan’ trailer that debuted during the Summer Game Fest showcase, which features an exclusive track, ‘Manalan Mailla,’ from Finnish folk singer Vilma Jää.

“That song was custom-written for Control Resonant,” he notes, ” so it actually has to do with the story of this game – it’s very important to the game. Generally music plays a big part in Control Resonant, but I don’t want to go too much into detail.” I’m told that translating the lyrics from Finnish – which helpful Remedy enthusiasts have of course already done – might be a good way to get some more hints about what awaits Dylan as his journey unfolds. I’ll get you started: “Manalan Mailla” simply means “the land of Manala,” which is one of several names for the underworld in Finnish mythology.

Control Resonant launches on September 24. You can read my full preview if you’re curious for more of a deep-dive into how it actually plays, but suffice it to say that I’m very much looking forward to what Remedy has been cooking up.

Minecraft’s new, free inventory-expanding backpack has been eating players’ loot

Your Minecraft inventory can fill up rather quickly once you start exploring, so having a bit more space to hand is a welcome boon. There have almost always been ways to do this with the help of Minecraft mods, but this week Mojang showed off a new addition to the Minecraft Marketplace that is too good to pass up. The Herschel Backpack Trials add-on is free, and when you’ve finished upgrading it you’ll have access to 16 pages of space, for a total of 384 slots. There’s just one problem: some players are logging in to find their bags mysteriously empty.

The new add-on is a collaboration with Herschel, and arrived alongside an actual backpack of the same design, which is just one of a wide variety of Minecraft-themed accessories being sold by the company. The real-world dirt block edition sold out rather rapidly, but you can easily get your in-game version for free from the Minecraft Marketplace. It comes with a series of challenges to complete, which gradually upgrade the amount of pages in your bag, along with adding other useful optional features such as automatic sorting, depositing, restocking, smelting, and even a handy lantern.

There’s a soul bound feature, too, ensuring the backpack stays with you if your exploration turns fatal. Unfortunately, some players have reported that after logging out and then returning to their worlds later, the items they had left in their backpack were all gone. One user even says that they tested this a second time: “I tried to repeat this by loading the pack up with stuff, exiting the game, and entering again, and once again, the pack items were gone.”

Several other players have responded saying that they have also fallen foul of this item-snatching bug. “I had been mining for five hours,” writes one distraught adventurer. Another says they still ran into the issue with the soul bond upgrade enabled. The original poster has also submitted a bug report for this via Mojang’s support system, which remains marked as ‘unresolved’ at the time of writing.

It’s worth noting that the number of reports for this are relatively few, while the backpack add-on boasts a very respectable 4.5 stars on the Minecraft Marketplace, so it’s likely that the issue is only affecting a small number of players. With the sheer amount of stuff you could theoretically be cramming into the backpack over the course of a play session, however, even a tiny chance of having it all vanish is potentially morale-shattering.

Given that Mojang has been promoting the new Herschel Backpack add-on via its main channel, this nasty bug will probably get priority attention soon enough. For the time being, however, you might want to just play it safe and make sure that you empty out your backpack before logging off for the day.

12 years on, roguelike royalty The Binding of Isaac is suddenly bigger than ever

I love seeing new releases explode in popularity, and this year has been filled with such stories, from returning favorites like Slay the Spire 2 to fresh names: Meccha Chameleon, Super Battle Golf, Far Far West. There’s something just as pleasing in watching a familiar face rise back up the ranks. The Binding of Isaac, not only one of the best roguelikes but among the most influential, is serving as a reminder that even 12 years on (and 15 since its original Flash release), it’s every bit as good as it always was. Bolstered by a huge Steam Sale saving, Isaac has just exploded in popularity to reach all-new highs on the Valve store.

If there were a Mount Rushmore of roguelikes, The Binding of Isaac would certainly make the list. It merges Zelda-style room-by-room dungeon crawling, twin-stick shooter combat, the run-based and mystery elements of Rogue, and a signature gross-out cartoon style heavily inspired by creator Edmund McMillen’s Christian upbringing. The result is a foundational entry in a genre that has since grown into one of the most popular around, particularly among indie games.

After it was rebuilt by Nicalis in a custom engine, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth continued to grow through multiple expansions. Honestly, the base game alone has enough replayability to keep you going for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours – but the option to pack even more weird and wonderful weapon and item combinations in there, along with new challenges to face, means you’ll never run out of possible permutations. It’s even introduced online multiplayer.

Right now, you can get The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth at a frankly ridiculous 90% discount. If you only want the base game, it’ll set you back just $1.49 / £1.09. For the complete package with everything that’s been added since launch, you’re looking at $5.06 / £3.70. I’ll stress again: the original release by itself can easily keep you going for hundreds of hours if you’re a roguelike fiend.

The result of this significant saving is that The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is now pulling in more players at once than ever – substantially so, and right amid the chaos of all the other deals up for grabs in the Steam Summer Sale. In the past 24 hours, it’s broken the 100,000 concurrent user mark for the first time, dramatically surpassing its previous record of 70,000 to reach a new peak of 109,557. We could see that number climb even higher if the sales continue to pull in new people.

Perhaps you missed The Binding of Isaac at the time, and are curious why it was such a key influence on the genre. Maybe you got hooked on Mewgenics, McMillen’s 2026 cat-breeding tactics extravaganza, and want to see his older work. Whatever the reason, you’ll struggle to find a better-value offering among the Steam sales than this one.

Omen Exitio: Hunger Free Download

Download File

Omen Exitio: Hunger Direct Download:

February 11, 1927. Brooklyn. Ratty Catty

A boy named Billy Gaffney disappears from his apartment building. The case is real. The killer is real. The man who took him was real. But his purpose was from another plane of existence. Omen Exitio: Hunger is a Lovecraftian investigative gamebook set in the darkest corners of 1927 New York. You are a journalist. The city needs you to find the truth. The truth needs you to go somewhere you cannot come back from.

Your Choices Shape the Case
Omen Exitio: Hunger is a gamebook, and every decision you make leaves a mark. You cannot be everywhere, and what you choose to pursue shapes not just the investigation but the story itself. Paths you ignored three scenes ago will close quietly, without warning. As the investigation deepens it will pull you beyond the streets of New York, into dreams, other worlds, and the Lovecraftian mythology that underpins everything. Multiple endings await, shaped by every choice you made and every one you did not.

Every Word Is a Clue. Every Silence, Too.
Not every witness wants to be found. Not every suspect will tell you the truth. Talk to suspects and persons of interest, extract what they know, and persuade them to collaborate when they would rather not. New dialogue mechanics let you push, empathize, or apply pressure depending on who is sitting across from you and what the case demands. What people say matters. What they choose not to say matters more.

Key Features

• Branching narrative inspired by true events from 1927 New York
• A story that remembers every decision you make, from the first scene to the last
• Interactive city map: choose where to direct your investigation
• Investigative Hidden Objects: examine locations and search for clues
• Investigative dialogue system built around deception, empathy and pressure
• 5 unique endings
• Over 900 original illustrations, inspired by the work of Frank Miller and Corrado Roi
• Cinematic sound design crafted to immerse you in the atmosphere of 1927

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS *: Windows 7
Processor: 1.8GHz Dual-Core CPU
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Integrated graphics
Storage: 900 MB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Card Chronicles codes (June 2026)

If you can picture yourself at the top of your server’s highest spins board, you’re going to want to start using these new Card Chronicles codes fast. Claim the lot, and the long list of luck potions should have you pulling a decent bit of virtual cardboard in no time. The free trait rerolls can’t be passed up, either.

Card Chronicles feels very much like an updated attempt at the card RNG genre that swept Roblox in early 2026. You roll, you earn cards, and you keep rolling. Why? To earn rarer cards, of course. It’s a largely one-click AFK game where your role (heh) is to sit back, relax, and bank on pulling something with lower odds than a lottery win. At least you get to pop Luck potions here. A lottery win doesn’t come with a cool cutscene now, does it?

Here are the working Card Chronicles codes right now:

• MemoryCompensation! – requires 25k rolls
• Tyfor3kccu! – loads of potions, boosts, gems, and rerolls
• Tyfor400kvisits! – requires 25k rolls
• AvailableForEveryoneNow – 100 trait rerolls
• EarlyAccess! – requires early access
• Sorry! – loads of potions, boosts, gems, and rerolls
• Sorry2! – requires 25k rolls

Got the auto roll going? With all that free time on your hands, why not click here to follow us on Google. You’ll find loads more code guides for the biggest Roblox games around right there – perfect for multi-boxing on a second device.

How do I redeem Card Chronicles codes?

Can’t figure out how to claim codes in Card Chronicles? We don’t blame you: it’s a little hard to spot. Follow these steps, and you’ll get your rewards in no time:

• Open Card Chronicles on Roblox.
• Click the cog icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the settings menu.
• Enter a working code.
• Hit enter on your keyboard.

How do I get more Card Chronicles codes?

While you won’t find any new codes on the game page, you will find a dedicated section for codes on the Card Chronicles Discord server.

If joining yet another chat channel is something you’re ok with, click the link at the bottom of the game page to jump in. If you can’t see it, ensure your Roblox account is age-verified for chat privileges in your region. Give the page a refresh, and it should show up.

From there, look for the ‘codes’ channel along the left column, and… you’re in! Codes for days. You can also check the ‘announcements’ and ‘update-logs’ channels – Roblox devs have a knack for dropping new codes there, too.

Not feeling all that? Whatever your reason for not joining, just know that we’re always scuttling around Roblox Discord servers for the latest codes. That’s why a quick revisit to this page will often be a slightly more convenient way to get new Card Chronicles codes as they come.

If there’s a game update, there’s probably a new Card Chronicles code. Load up this page, and bam – freebies galore.

Star Wars Galactic Racer is “a marriage made in heaven” for its creators at Fuse Games

We’ve got a packed year ahead of us, but few games have me quite as excited as Star Wars: Galactic Racer. Former Burnout developers – including many names behind my favorite racing games of all time – making a spiritual successor to the best Star Wars game, Episode I: Racer. It’s so far up my alley that I have to pinch myself every time I see it to make sure I’m not dreaming. At Summer Game Fest, we sat down with Kieran Crimmins, Creative Director at Fuse Games, to discuss why Galactic Racer is such a perfect fit for the studio, and how important it was to get the feel of podracing right.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer spreads its action across four different styles of vehicle. To start with, you’ve got landspeeders, skim speeders, and speeder bikes, each bringing a different speciality to the table. Landspeeders are more sturdy and excel at drifting, speeder bikes can employ a ‘kinetic burst’ to overcome awkward terrain, and skim speeders give you the most maneuverability. Crimmins admits it was tough balancing these against one another, but was eager to represent the way you see them flying around one another in the movies.

“We wanted to balance them all together – so being in a tiny little speeder bike and going for a shortcut, but then having a skim speeder fly around you.” Then, there are the podracers. “Balancing pods against the skimmers is so hard,” Crimmins laughs, “so the pods are kind of in a slightly different league of their own.” That’s to be expected: they might as well be the Star Wars equivalent of F1 cars, after all. Despite this, there was never any question whether they would be anything other than an integral part of the Galactic Racer experience.

“You cannot have a Star Wars racing game without podracing in it,” Crimmins emphasizes. “Podracing has got to embody the fantasy that is displayed in the movies: it’s the pinnacle of racing in Star Wars.” He says the team at Fuse loves the old Episode I: Racer and Racer Revenge games; “We play them all the time. Not only the games, but also the movie sequences – I just can’t imagine a game where we didn’t get the podracing in.”

Fuse Games certainly has the chops to deliver – it’s a big part of why I’m so excited to get my own hands on Galactic Racer. A studio built from former Criterion devs, it boasts arguably the most impressive history in the genre (at least for my money), from the still-unmatched Burnout series through to its work on peak Need For Speed entries such as Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted. You can see that heritage shining through in everything here, from the sheer pace to the glorious racer-on-racer impacts and the tumbling crashes.

“Yeah, I mean, we made all of those [games],” Crimmins responds with a chuckle. “It’s kind of part of the DNA of the studio – we love arcade racers, we live and breathe them. That kind of ‘elbows-out, smash people into the wall, have these kinds of amazing cinematic moments,’ it’s something that’s baked into our DNA.”

He points to the original, defining podracing scene in Episode I and how much aggression is shown between the racers, implying that it was likely an important influence back when the team was first building Burnout. “If anything, it’s a marriage made in heaven, where this is what Star Wars are doing, and it’s right up our street – and also we’ve got this DNA in this style of racing, so we know the intricacies of those mechanics.”

Another very important thing to capture, Crimmins adds, is the value of building rivalries. “I think when you race in any racing game, and particularly this one, you want to know who you’re racing against. You want that wonderful satisfaction of beating someone – and if those people don’t have personalities and you don’t know who they are, I think the satisfaction of beating them is lost.”

You can certainly expect some familiar fan favorites – we couldn’t have a podracing tale without Sebulba showing his ugly mug, of course – but Crimmins promises a “rich cast of new characters” as well. You can expect both the fresh and returning faces to display both their personalities and unique racing styles as you encounter them through the campaign, but then in multiplayer, you’ll have the ability to step into their shoes for yourself.

To close, we ask Crimmins what Fuse Games plans for Galactic Racer after launch. “I wish I had a good answer,” he says. “We’ve thought of many places we can be, but we’re focused on making the game.” He stresses the importance of ensuring the launch game feels complete and satisfying first. Beyond that, “watch this space – we’ll definitely do something, but I honestly don’t know what it’s going to be, and I think some of it will be reactive to how fans react.”

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set to be released on Tuesday October 6. You can wishlist it now to be kept up to date. I’m already checking my oil and polishing my goggles so I can secure my spot on the starting grid.

Additional Reporting by Tom Hopkins for PCGamesN at Summer Game Fest.

Legacy of Atlantis is “perfect” for newcomers, because it’s “the foundation of where Tomb Raider is going”

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a game caught between two, or arguably even three, audiences. There are those like me who grew up with the ’90s originals, and still hold that affinity for ‘classic’ Lara Croft, the sharp-edged explorer. Then you have the group that came in with the 2013 reboot trilogy, where the iconic lead is treated more as a survivor on the back foot. Now, another decade-plus on, Legacy of Atlantis is striking a balance between them. We’ve also got Tomb Raider: Catalyst on the horizon, however – so if you’re new to the series, is this throwback to the olden days still worth your time?

“I say yes,” Experience Director Jeff Adams remarks. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a reimagining of the first game – albeit one operating at a “much deeper” level – while the upcoming Catalyst will tell a brand-new adventure. If you’ve never played the action-adventure games before, you might assume that this means Catalyst will be the better point for you to jump on board, but the teams at Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog want to emphasize that this is the place to start.

Speaking to PCGamesN at Summer Game Fest, Art Director Arek Tomaszewski tells us that he believes the almost ten-year gap since Shadow of the Tomb Raider is beneficial to the level of interest in Legacy of Atlantis. “This is just my gut feeling, but people need to get hungry enough for a new one. It’s actually really good timing, because people are hungry for it, and we were hungry to make it.” That’s presumably doubly true when you’re planning two games in relatively close proximity.

Adams plays coy on how the Lara we see in Legacy of Atlantis will compare to her Catalyst incarnation, but he does say that “Legacy of Atlantis provides the foundation of where Tomb Raider is going, so it’s actually the perfect place to come in and get seated.” Game Director Raul Siqueira adds, “It’s also a ‘no homework needed’ type of entry point.

“If you’ve played the other games, you’re probably going to grab a lot more of the Easter Eggs and little nods that we’re doing,” Siqueira continues. “Because we’re all fans, so obviously we put a bunch of them in the game. But if you know absolutely nothing about Tomb Raider, Legacy of Atlantis stands on its own feet and does a great job of introducing who Lara is as a character, and what her journey is all about.”

Looking to the future, has the team thought about the possibility of more reimaginings in this format? “If it’s up to us, we consider all of them forever,” Siqueira answers. “Making Tomb Raider games, it’s one of the greatest privileges that I have in my career, and if it’s up to me I’ll keep making them until someone takes it off us.”

Before Crystal Dynamics can think too hard about what’s next, however, it needs to deliver on Legacy of Atlantis. “Let’s get this right,” Adams chimes in. “You get this right, reintroduce Lara to her core fans, present her for new fans, and establish this really great foundational starting point. Then the world is wide open.”

Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis will release on Friday February 12, 2027. You can wishlist it on Steam to be notified when it arrives – whether you’re there for nostalgia purposes or as a fresh-faced adventurer.

Additional reporting by Tom Hopkins for PCGamesN at Summer Game Fest.

Jujutsu Legacy codes (June 2026)

Looking to get ahead in the next big Jujutsu Kaisen-inspired Roblox adventure game? These Jujutsu Legacy codes could help. Just don’t expect miracles. This one has actually been around for a while now, meaning any veterans returning for its rework update will likely still be a bit too tough for you to tackle in a fair fight.

Welcome back to Jujutsu Legacy, where “exploits will result in a permanent ban.” That’s the enticing first line on the game page expected to warn cheaters and potentially draw in players who just want a clean scuffle. Back for a second round, this 2023 Roblox action RPG doesn’t do anything massively different, but it’s an old favorite bandit beater with a heavy PvP hook, and one that’s staging a coup against the growing list of modern JJK Roblox games.

Here are the latest Jujutsu Legacy codes:

• SkillIssue – three technique spins
• Just This Once – ten technique spins
• Cursed – ten technique spins
• SkyManipulation – 20 technique spins
• Takaba – 20 technique spins
• Sorry – 20 technique Spins
• AlwaysBetOnHakari – 20 clan spins

If someone blocks you in the reroll dojo with a Domain Expansion, you’ll have to wait around two minutes to make your escape. With that time, you can easily click here to follow us on Google. And, if they do it again, you’ll have a few minutes to search for code guides for a game that isn’t rife with spawn campers and annoying griefers. Sometimes you just have to make the most out of a bad situation.

How do I use Jujutsu Legacy codes?

Once you hit the level requirement, follow these steps to redeem codes in Jujutsu Legacy:

• Launch Jujutsu Legacy on Roblox.
• Complete quests to reach level five.
• Click the ‘Menu’ button.
• Enter a code where it says “insert the code.”
• Click the ‘OK’ button.

How do I get more Jujutsu Legacy codes?

If you don’t want to come back here time and again to check for new codes, our advice is to join the Jujutsu Legacy Discord server. You’ll find a link to it at the bottom of the game page if your Roblox account is age-verified.

From there, you only need to check the dedicated ‘codes’ channel for a regularly updated list of new redeemables. It’s also a good idea to check both the ‘updates’ and ‘announcements’ channels, too.

How do I spin and reroll in Jujutsu Legacy?

You only need to make a mad dash to the dojo to spend any Jujutsu Legacy spins you might have. From the spawn point, just look for the larger building with the staircase and head inside.

Run straight to the back, and you’ll find three NPCs who’ll gladly help you spend your technique, race, and clan spins. And make yourself comfortable: there’s a good chance someone will use a Domain Expansion to lock you in there.

Turns out you don’t need to grind quests to gather up rerolls – Jujutsu Legacy codes will do the trick.

Payday 2’s next update is “a massive undertaking” to modernize the FPS, stop crashes, and cut its install size by 60%

It’s been nine months since Starbreeze handed the Payday 2 reins over to Sidetrack Games to continue supporting it, while the original developer focused on improving Payday 3. So far, the numbers are very much in Sidetrack’s favor, with Payday 2 still routinely pulling 30,000-player peaks on Steam as its successor struggles to stay at just 1,000. Rather than simply rest easy, however, the new team is preparing for its biggest overhaul yet, transporting the heist shooter across to a fresh engine that should result in smoother gameplay at a massively reduced file size.

Arguably, Sidetrack had an easy enough job – Payday 2 already had over a decade of development under its belt when it was passed along, and remains among the most beloved co-op FPS games on PC. It is now 13 years old, however, and so the new shepherds are earning their keep by giving it a full under-the-hood makeover. Lead Engine and Tools Developer Leon Theodoridis confirms that the much-requested switch to a 64-bit engine is actually happening, and it’ll kick off with an open beta at the end of June.

“We’ve seen all your comments, and they’ve been bugging us for quite a while,” Theodoridis says with a smile. “You guys have practically been begging us to port the engine to 64-bit, reduce the game’s file size, as well as make it run better in general on more modern hardware. Now, after nine months of development on Payday 2 at Sidetrack Games, I am finally able to share what we’ve been working on for so long.”

This “massive engine upgrade” will be branded Diesel 3.0. “It’s a massive rewrite of the entire code base,” Theodoridis explains. He notes that the backend nature of this update means you might not immediately notice every single improvement that comes as a result, but you’ll certainly benefit from a lot of them.

The first and most impactful change is the switch to the more modern 64-bit architecture, which should bring the plague of out-of-memory crashes to an end. Theodoridis calls this “by far one of the biggest requests over the last ten years.” The rendering has moved from DX9 to DX11; “This will not lead to a visual improvement, but it’ll use a lot less texture memory on your graphics card,” he notes. That’s especially good news if you’re on older hardware, but everyone should benefit to some extent.

Making those changes means asking players to re-download the whole game, so Sidetrack ‘took the opportunity to revamp the game’s packaging and bundling system.” The result of this is a reduction in install size from 86 GB down to just 32 GB – that’s a 63% drop. If you weren’t running the game on an SSD, Theodoridis recommends you now do so, as you should see more benefits from the faster loading times.

The Payday 2 Diesel 3.0 open beta begins on Tuesday June 30, and will run until the end of July. Full details on how to take part will be provided at launch, but I would expect that you’ll be able to join through the ‘game versions and betas’ tab in the properties menu, accessed via your Steam library.

There’s one small caveat. “With such a substantial engine change, sadly it’s inevitable that some mods will break,” Theodoridis notes. “During the beta period, we encourage modders to try and repair what can be repaired, and we will be there to help out with new file formats where we can.” It’s a small price to pay, but with all these promised improvements, likely a worthwhile one for most.

League of Legends Classic is real: “This was the right time”

League of Legends Classic is official. We weren’t really supposed to know yet, but Riot Games had a bit of a slip-up and accidentally leaked a significant enough chunk of it onto the PBE that it was impossible to keep pretending. Instead, the developer did the best thing it possibly could: embrace the meme, and drop an incredible LoL Classic update video featuring Executive Producer Paul “Pabro’ Bellezza and Head of League Studio Andrei ‘Meddler’ van Roon. “I mean, everyone else seemed to be announcing it,” van Roon jokes, “so we figured we’d get in on the action.”

Rumors about League of Legends Classic have been circling for quite some time now. As someone who got into the game during its early years, back when I was in uni and still had the sort of free time needed to learn a MOBA from scratch, I’ve certainly got my rose-tinted nostalgia glasses for the era. LoL Classic promises a return to those ‘good old days’ before we had literally hundreds of champions at our disposal. Remember classic Runes, or the old Summoner Mastery trees? Oh, to hold them in my hands again, one more time.

Meddler reveals that Riot’s original plan was to put out its League Classic teaser video just ahead of the upcoming MSI Finals on Sunday July 12. However, he then acknowledges via Reddit that “Given we leaked a lot onto PBE today we figured better to just start the train rolling properly.” The resulting dev update is an incredible bit, with Pabro playing the part of a manic researcher, complete with scattered pinboard and red string. “When is it, you know? Let me ask you this, Andrei: What is League to you?”

Pabro grows increasingly erratic (Meddler notes that “he let slip he’d done a little bit of theater in college”). “Two Shens in the game! Is it OG Beta when there were 40 champions? Look at Lux – look at the way she used to look.” Meddler strokes his chin thoughtfully; “I mean, I would kind of like to play old Graves again. What would you call this thing if we did it, though?” A few answers are tossed around, and then it comes. “League… Classic.”

So what does it actually mean? The leaked PBE details showed more than just the original League roster, and Meddler confirms in that Reddit thread that it’s “not just the original 40” that we’re dealing with, although he says you’ll have to wait a bit longer for the full lineup. Graves, of course, will be among them (and notably didn’t appear in the leaks, implying that you shouldn’t take what you might see floating around online as the final version).

There will be old gameplay kits. “I’m going to hold off on gameplay specifics generally for now,” Meddler adds, “want to see exactly how much we leaked and how much we can still hold as something to reveal next month.” The PBE release did point to both old-style Runes and the Summoner Mastery system making a return, although again, nothing is set in stone. Meddler remarks that Riot is willing to change things as it goes. “We’ll always do some contingency planning in case we’re wrong about some of our assumptions and need to make adjustments post launch.”

Meddler admits that having the big moment spoiled hurts. “Not going to lie, little grumpy we got so close to the planned reveal and then leaked some stuff at the last minute. But bigger picture, not a big deal, and we do some contingency planning in case things like this happen.” He notes that League Classic will take place in the same client, with “modern tech under the hood,” and therefore will have the 2026 LoL system requirements.

“It has meant some extra work,” he says of the integration. “In some cases we were able to resurrect old client functionality, in others we had to rebuild it.” As for why now, he simply explains, “We figured this was the right time for Classic (celebrate the OG days before looking to the future).”

The full League Classic reveal is set for Saturday July 11 at 11pm PDT, which is Sunday July 12 at 2am EDT / 7am BST / 8am CEST. More news on League Next will be unveiled at Worlds in October.

Dear Rockstar: Please stop dancing around the GTA 6 PC release, it deserves better than this

In a parallel universe where GTA 6 came out in late 2025 as initially planned, there’s a chance we would be playing it on PC right now. That’s obviously a slightly pointless hypothetical; Rockstar Games decided there was more work to be done to get the biggest-budget game ever made up to the level of polish it wanted to achieve, and I’ll take a delay over developer crunch every single time. Yet I can’t help but feel some frustration around the studio’s continued intent to pretend that its next behemoth won’t be coming to PC eventually.

We’ve seen the trends before, and people aren’t stupid. GTA 5 came to PC in April 2015, 19 months after its original launch on PS3 and Xbox 360 (and five after its move to PS4 and Xbox One). Red Dead Redemption 2 took a little over a year to make it from consoles to PC; GTA 4 was even faster at just seven months. Grand Theft Auto 6 will do the same, sooner or later, and it’ll almost inevitably end up being the best-looking version of the open-world game for those with enough hardware heft to max out its settings.

If we all know that a GTA 6 PC version is on the horizon, does Rockstar even need to say it? No, but it feels rather childish to play this game of ‘hide the port’ in 2026. We can speculate all day on the reason the developer has continued to adopt this staggered release schedule with all of its recent games. Perhaps it simply wishes to focus on getting the console builds perfect before turning its attention to the PC. Maybe it doesn’t want the fanciest-looking edition to be overshadowing the others on day one.

There might be concerns about an increased vulnerability to potential piracy with the more open-ended nature of PCs… Or Rockstar could just be hoping that as many people as possible give in to the temptation of buying the game on console, only to double-dip when it lands on PC later. My money’s on that last one. Even if that were true, however, I don’t think confirming those plans would change much.

Most GTA 6 buyers will fall into one of two camps: ‘I need to play it on day one,’ and ‘I’m happy to wait for my preferred platform.’ If you can’t bear to miss out on the Zeitgeist, you’re still going to stump up your hard-earned $80 (or more likely $100, given the number of things Rockstar is stacking into the ultimate edition) for the console launch, even if you know for sure it’s coming to PC later on. If you’re content to wait, well, you’ve already made your choice.

In my heart, I’d like to tell Rockstar that the PC version deserves to come out right alongside the console ones, and I suspect many of the developers who have been working their butts off to perfect a game the world has spent years dreaming of would probably feel the same way. It seems a shame to not deliver what should ultimately end up as the best version of your game on day one. I’m prepared to give the benefit of the doubt, however, and let the console release be the testbed that ensures GTA 6 is absolutely sparkling when it does land on PC.

I only wish we didn’t have to all sit on our hands and speculate about its very existence. A date would be nice, certainly, or at least a rough window, so I have room to think about whether I can squeeze in an upgrade for my rig in time. I’d settle for just a simple “it’s coming,” though. Rockstar’s PC audience deserves at least that much – and the game itself does as well.

Dota 2’s Dark Carnival has begun, with a huge story chapter and five automaton hero personas

At last, weeks of speculation and mystery can finally be put to bed: the Dota 2 Dark Carnival has begun. Valve’s latest big event is here, and as many were hoping (myself included), it’s a full-scale story campaign in a similar format to 2024’s Crownfall. This time, the tale opens with Legion Commander and Hoodwink trapped on board a clanking circus train, imprisoned by the dastardly Ringmaster.

The first chapter of the Dota 2 Dark Carnival is ‘Midnight Run,’ which follows our unfortunate duo as they attempt to work their way along the spider-legged convoy to reach the very front. It comes with a comic to set things up, and full voice acting across the entire event. From there, you’ll track a pathway from the rear of the train across multiple rooms in each carriage, earning rewards and learning more about the Ringmaster’s plans as you progress.

At given stages along the route, you’ll need to insert particular ticket types to progress. These are earned by actually playing the MOBA, with the hero you choose determining the tickets you’ll get. Every character is tied to three of the possible options (some guarantee three different ones, while others include duplicates – Tiny offers two Stars and a Fool, while Chaos Knight fittingly brandishes a trio of Wheel of Fortune tickets).

Win a regular match and you’ll earn all three of their tickets. Lose, and you’ll instead receive just one of them, selected at random. Play a round of Turbo Dota 2 instead and you’ll get two tickets for a win, but none if you lose. There’s also a trade feature, which allows you to turn in either a set of three matching spares, or four different ones, in an attempt to pick up those that might be assigned to characters you’re less fond of.

Along your journey, you’ll earn Discount Coins, Candy, and Treasures of Wonder. Once you’ve collected ten Discount Coins, you can trade these in for a real-money saving on items in the Dark Carnival store. The exact value of this varies by region, but the US amount is $7.99, while the UK one is £5.89. The item or bundle you buy must cost at least that much in order to be eligible for the deal – but if it’s priced at exactly that, you’ll get it for free.

Crack open a Treasures of Wonder chest and you’ll get one of 15 new hero cosmetic sets. Among the full collection, you’ll find Drow Ranger’s harlequin-style ‘Motley Marauder,’ Queen of Pain as the ‘Mistress of Ceremonies,’ Monkey King’s ‘Bonobo the Clown’ outfit, the lion-like ‘Mane Attraction’ for Primal Beast, Io as a ‘Madame Scrio’ crystal ball, and a ‘Fairy Godmummer’ design for Dark Willow. There’s even a clockwork ‘Woodcutter’ look for the Toy Pudge persona (which you’ll get thrown in as a bonus if you don’t have it).

Speaking of personas, there are five new automaton-themed overhauls for Axe (which you may have seen yesterday), Oracle, Legion Commander, Morphling, and Bristleback. These come complete with a full set of custom animations, effects, and ability icons, along with re-processed voice lines to capture their unfortunate fates. They’ll set you back $14.99 / £11.09 per character, although they are therefore each eligible for the Discount Coins offer.

There are four more themed sets that you won’t find in the store – instead, you can get your hands on the outfits for Phantom Assassin, Crystal Maiden, Invoker, and Magnus by discovering them hidden throughout Ringmaster’s train as you progress the Dark Carnival storyline. Expect plenty of other showcase decorations, loading screens, sprays, and emoticons to collect as well. The familiar Candyworks is back too, with the ability to grab a variety of rewards from hero sets to wards and couriers.

Last but not least in the Dark Carnival shop is the Secret Rooms Pack, priced at $14.99 / £11.09. “All Dota players are free to explore the main story event,” Valve notes, “but there are hidden areas to explore as well, filled with secrets and side quests.” Grab this and you’ll get immediate access to themed creeps and an event music pack, along with a selection of Secret Room Tickets granting you passage into these bonus sections of the map.

The Dota 2 Dark Carnival is live now. The first two carriages are already open for business, with another pair becoming available two weeks from now, and the final duo two weeks after that.

10 great games to grab during the Steam Summer Sale 2026

June is a hot one, and not just in terms of the weather. After a huge start to the year with the likes of Resident Evil Requiem, Slay the Spire 2, Monster Hunter Stories 3, Forza Horizon 6, and Mina the Hollower, we’ve got just a smidge of breathing room before ‘big release season’ comes crashing in on us from September onwards. If you’re looking to beat the heat and stay inside, the Steam Summer Sale is here to deliver us some incredible deals. The Valve store right now is absolutely stacked full of huge discounts across many of the best PC games in recent years, making it tough to know where to start.

To help you out, I’ve rounded up ten of the top picks among everything featured in the ongoing Steam sale, including several big names at their lowest recorded price, and a handful of hidden gems that you might have missed. As always, I’ve tried to include a broad mix of genres, and I would love for this list to be even longer than it is, but hopefully whatever you’re into you’ll find something worth checking out here. If anything catches your eye, be sure to pick it up by Thursday July 9, when this run of Steam savings ends.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: 60% off – $19.99 / £15.99

FF7 Revelation is real, and we’re getting a same-day launch on PC this time around, with no need to wait for exclusivity windows. With the final act set for Spring 2027, now is the time to catch up on the first two installments of this grand reimagining if you’ve been waiting to do so. This is a dramatic drop in price from the game’s previous biggest Steam discount of 40%, and there’s also a similar saving if you want to buy Remake Intergrade – or you can get the pair together for just $31.99 / £25.59.

Dave the Diver: 50% off – $9.99 / £8.49

Dave the Diver is the gift that keeps on giving. What starts out as a simple blend of underwater spear fishing and managing a sushi restaurant quickly grows into something far greater. Developer Mintrocket continues to surprise and delight with new mechanics and story beats at every turn. On top of that, it’s just delivered a delicious Dave DLC dessert, In the Jungle, which whisks you away for another ten-hour bonus adventure. This is the cheapest the base game has ever been, and there’s even a 42% saving if you buy the complete collection to get it all.

Skin Deep: 40% off – $11.99 / £9.29

Immersive sims are an oft-underappreciated segment of PC gaming, bringing us classics like Deus Ex and 2017’s Prey. Skin Deep combines the freeform, experimental nature of the genre with developer Blendo Games’ penchant for silliness. Sneak around in the vents and pickpocket key items, or go loud and disarm guards with a cloud of pepper, before leaping onto their back and smashing them through a table as they sneeze uncontrollably. Tear their head off and dunk it into a trash chute to ensure their automated recovery gear can’t reach the ship’s respawn chambers – or cut out the middle man and simply shatter a window to suck your would-be captors directly out into space.

Blasphemous 2: 75% off – $7.49 / £6.24

The Penitent One’s second grisly outing just got even bigger, courtesy of the free Third Sin expansion. The Game Kitchen’s latest gift introduces a new weapon, a trio of helpful familiars, and a castle roughly the quarter of the size of the base game and its Mea Culpa DLC combined. Instead of pushing the price up, the studio has in fact cut Blasphemous 2 down to its cheapest ever for the Steam Summer Sale. You’ll want a firm will and a strong stomach to battle through its grotesque, grimdark world, but you don’t need to have played the original to enjoy this one (although it’s 90% off right now, so you might as well).

Robocop: Rogue City: 90% off – $3.99 / £3.49

We’ve extolled the virtues of Teyon’s bombastic Robocop FPS on numerous occasions here at PCGamesN, and here I am once again asking you to play Rogue City. This is very much a game that understands its source material – you are not the underdog here. You are Robocop. Where others might duck behind cover, you punch down walls and barrel through enemy goons with an M60. It’s glorious and satisfying, and yours for the price of a coffee. There’s also a 60% saving on standalone expansion Unfinished Business, if you want more.

Death Howl: 25% off – $14.99 / £12.59

A deckbuilder that embraces permanence among myriad run-based offerings, Death Howl can be more closely compared to soulslikes than the Slay the Spires of the world. It’s a grim but gorgeous dark fantasy tale following Ro, a solitary hunter on a journey into the depths of the Spirit World to try and bring her son back from the dead. Its grid-based combat is packed with positional considerations and strategic planning, and your exploration will bring you into contact with all manner of spirits seeking your help – some friendly, others decidedly not. This is one that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

MIO: Memories in Orbit: 25% off – $14.99 / £12.47

I’m a little torn on this one, with French news outlet Le Figaro reporting this week that developer Douze Dixièmes is set to shut down. That being the case, their latest entry deserves to be seen and appreciated; it’s one of the most hauntingly beautiful, narratively memorable, and mechanically fulfilling Metroidvanias I’ve ever played (and I’ve played a lot). It boasts some of the strongest ability and encounter design around, and its subtle storytelling worms its way under your skin and into your soul. Push past the slightly slow-burn starting hours, and I promise you won’t regret it.

Roboquest: 50% off – $12.49 / £9.99

Roboquest is simply a good time. This roguelite FPS embraces the cartoonish aesthetic and varied gun designs of Borderlands, wrapped into a slickly paced run-based formula. The builds you can craft range dramatically, from high-speed movement shooting to precise sniping out of cover, and you’ll feel yourself getting tangibly better with each attempt. It’s a game I dipped into on a whim when it first arrived in early access, only to rapidly pour dozens of hours into. Since then, developer RyseUp Studios has massively expanded what’s on offer, before neatly putting a bow on it almost five years after launch.

Hotline Miami: 90% off – $0.99 / £0.85

Check your pockets. If you have a dollar to your name, and you don’t have a copy of the Dennaton Games masterpiece that is Hotline Miami, you should correct that equation right now. A neon-stained bloodbath that bounces relentlessly along to its mesmeric electronic soundtrack of techno and synthwave, Hotline Miami is essential: breakneck, brutal, and brilliant. You’ve probably heard enough people praise it to realize it’s more than worth 99 cents, but if you haven’t, you’re in for a true treat at its lowest-ever price on Steam.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: 90% off – $3.99 / £2.49

There’s also a record-low 70% saving on CDPR’s Cyberpunk 2077, but given that we recently got confirmation of a third Witcher 3 DLC set to arrive in 2027, this feels like the more fitting pick. It’s a disgustingly small amount to ask for one of the best RPGs of all time, and you can even grab the complete edition with both previous expansions at 80% off ($9.99 / £6.99). 11 years on (mandatory ‘oh no, I’m old’), Geralt’s climactic tale remains nigh-unmatched in how it weaves main and side quests seamlessly together, creating a fantastical yet believable world where every choice feels like it actually matters.

The Steam Summer Sale 2026 runs from Thursday June 25 until Thursday July 9. It ends at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST, so be sure to buy anything you want before then. Hopefully this list has set you up with some great ideas, but I’m always eager for more heartfelt recommendations if you have them.

Terraria 1.4.5.7 is finally giving my favorite weapon type the love it’s deserved for years

There’s not much you could have said to get me more excited for the next Terraria update than this. Re-Logic is currently working on a big round of balancing and additional weapon changes for the upcoming patch 1.4.5.7, with the goal of making every class feel worthwhile and fun to play. As part of that, it’s finally taking a look at what is unquestionably the most fun offensive option in the sandbox indie game – yoyos. In a new Terraria State of the Game for June 2026, Head of Business Strategy Ted ‘Loki’ Murphy talks about yoyo upgrades, crossplay plans, and the largest hotfix in Terraria’s history.

“Another month in the books,” Murphy begins, calling June “a hectic one indeed.” He says the team is “very ready to get what we hope will be the last (or darn close to it) hotfix update for Bigger and Boulder into your hands and then to get rolling on what comes next.” It truly seems as though Re-Logic is ready to put the perpetual ‘will they, won’t they’ jokes about ‘final updates’ behind it and admit that Terraria will simply keep chugging along indefinitely. “Crossplay and beyond, the future is going to be a fun one,” Murphy adds.

Before we get to that future, however, the studio is “getting ever closer to wrapping up what has to be the largest ‘hotfix’ type update in Terraria’s history.” It’s been a pretty long wait for this one – 1.4.5.6 launched in early March – but Murphy promises that “the time taken will be well worth it, as we are trying to tackle a number of outstanding topics at once.” A big part of that is balancing: “We have spent a lot of time this go-around looking into entire classes of weapons – making sure things feel fun, relevant, and worthwhile.”

The team then specifically calls out a video made by Terraria YouTuber James ‘Chippy Gaming’ Bennett, titled “Terraria has a yoyo problem.” I am a huge advocate of the yoyo, and find myself almost inevitably falling back on it every time I play. It’s a perfect sweet spot between melee and ranged, feels very satisfying to use on a mouse, and lets you do some real cheesy nonsense with attacking enemies around corners or through tiny gaps in otherwise impassable barriers that you’ve built.

The problem with yoyos, as Chippy elegantly explains, is that their progression is all over the place. The rate at which you move from each tier of yoyo to the next is remarkably uneven, and often reliant on either some seriously rough RNG and drop luck, or a deliberate step outside of the more natural path through the game. Things get even worse in hardmode (Terraria’s ‘halfway mark’ through the main game), where you get access to over half of the yoyo upgrades immediately and then almost nothing of note for the rest of the game until its final boss.

That’s exacerbated by the fact that the effects of different yoyo types range from pretty underwhelming to nonexistent, so there isn’t much incentive to switch between them. Fortunately, it sounds as though that’s all about to change. “We’ve seen this feedback before and have decided to go ahead and finally take action on it,” Murphy acknowledges. “We’re looking into making some yoyos more interesting/unique.”

There’s one other small 1.4.5.7 spoiler this week, which appears to be some sort of ice projectile. To me, it looks more like a gun with the speed that it fires, but it could fall into another category too. After that patch hits, Murphy says the team is already in the planning phase to establish its “internal roadmap for what comes next,” with the hope that “what we come up with there should flow seamlessly into development work right after crossplay.

That leaves the delicate matter of Terraria crossplay itself. Re-Logic is still not ready to set a date, but Murphy reveals that its rollout plan (which will come “post 1.4.5.7”) is already in place. “As for what the plan might entail? Well, you will have to wait and see there.” Frustratingly teasing, perhaps, but I’m glad to hear that the mode is in a good place and should arrive in the (relatively) near future. In the meantime, you’ll find me practicing my best yoyo tricks.

Haunted Chocolatier is taking a long time because it “has to be perfect,” creator Eric Barone explains: “I torture myself over every last detail”

“I know it’s taking a long time.” Haunted Chocolatier was first announced back in 2021 by Stardew Valley creator Eric ‘ConcernedApe’ Barone, yet we’ve still seen relatively little of the upcoming sandbox life game. In a fresh update on development, Barone reassures his ever-eager audience that he’s still very much working on the project alongside continued efforts on Stardew, but says he’s reluctant to share “too many screenshots” along the way. “It feels like I’m serving a half-baked bread,” he remarks. “I would rather serve a fully baked bread.”

“I’m still working on the game,” Barone writes in his newest blog post. “Feels kinda dumb posting this same thing over and over, but that’s the reality.” He’s aware it’s a slow process from the outside, but says this is in large part due to him “being very thoughtful about every aspect of the game.” He explains: “The things in the game which the player will be interacting with or using very often need to be ‘perfect.’ They need to be seamless, clear, intuitive, satisfying, and aesthetic.”

Barone adds that Haunted Chocolatier “is a big game. So there are many things for me to fuss over. But this is what it will take to make a game I’m satisfied with.” He has previously stated that its world is larger than that of Stardew Valley, and he now gives one detailed example of a single, particular system that he’s been working on: the recipe book used for making chocolates. Obviously, this will be a pretty central element.

“As with many things in the game, I’ve iterated on this many times, each time bringing it closer to its final form,” Barone muses. “To me, it’s not a simple task, as I torture myself over every last detail. This is a UI you will be using fairly often, so it has to be perfect. You need to be able to accomplish your goal with the minimal number of clicks. There needs to be just the right amount of data presented to the player: not so much as to be overwhelming, but not so little as to be trivial or mundane.

“The way that this data is laid out on the page is crucial,” he continues. “If the data is all clustered together, it will be disgusting to look at. The data needs to be grouped into compelling, intuitive, and easy to read and understand groupings. It needs to look appealing and intriguing. And this is just the bare minimum, which players will likely take for granted. If all of that is accomplished then the player is now comfortable while perusing the recipe book. But I want more than just comfort. I want to delight the player.”

Barone says that the pursuit of this perfection – not simply to satisfy, but to delight – often requires multiple iterations for every single system, of which there are many. It’s a meticulous approach, but I can certainly respect the process. There’s a reason Stardew Valley continues to stand as a shining example of its genre, even as many other contenders step up with variations on the formula.

As mentioned earlier, Barone is also reluctant to show off too much ahead of time. This is partly because he doesn’t want to present “half-baked” goods, but also because elements are likely to change as his work continues. “If I reveal them early, I risk disappointing players if the final product does not match their expectation.”

Don’t expect to see huge swathes of Haunted Chocolatier screenshots until the game is actually ready, then. Nor should you expect Barone to rush it to release until he’s fully satisfied. “Fortunately, I’m in a position where I don’t need to market the game, so I can take my preferred approach,” he concludes. “As always, I really appreciate your patience.”

Best Minecraft seeds 2026 – updated for 26.2

Starting a new Minecraft world requires making plenty of tough decisions: in which direction to head, where to build, when to start mining, and more. Before any of that, though, do you allow Minecraft to pick your world generation for you, or do you improve your odds of survival with the best Minecraft seeds?

Whether you’re looking for the best Minecraft seeds for survival, somewhere truly beautiful to build your home, or the easiest way to mine diamonds fast, the world seeds we’ve listed here offer what you need.  Once you’ve picked your favorite from the selection below, pop it into the advanced world options when creating a new game, and get ready to punch some trees.

Best Minecraft Seeds

All the seeds we’ve listed below have been tested using the latest Minecraft version in Java, and we’ve also verified that these seeds can be used in Bedrock. The biome layout should be mostly the same; just be warned that some structures may differ.

Looking for the best of the best seeds? We’ve picked out five excellent experiences that will provide you with a great time in Minecraft. That said, we still have plenty to offer as we highlight several seeds across the five major categories: Village, Survival, Speedrun, Cool, and Beautiful.

Here are the best Minecraft seeds:

Category
Seed Name
Seed

Village
Pillagers and Villagers
8110137054462309706

Speedrun
Speedrun WR
-8717682453392808086

Cool
Underground Lava Temple
2482490754905255652

Beautiful
Flower Forest Island
2048005618087379093

Survival
Survival Structures
-7417157268905316998

Pillagers and Villagers

Seed: 8110137054462309706

If you want a challenge as soon as you spawn in, this seed is a good way to test your skills. Head east from spawn to find a handy savanna village to get started and find some loot before turning your attention south, where you can find a pillager outpost and ruined portal. Those pillagers will be on you almost as soon as you spawn in.

What makes this seed even better is that you can get to know the recent armadillo mob addition in the spawn savanna biome, and there are some incredibly interesting cave entrances all around this dangerous area. There are also loads of surface ore nearby and plenty of passive mob spawns to keep you fed.

Great finds: Village (225, 0), Pillager Outpost (215, 261), Ruined Portal (347, 242), Second Village (523, 266), Cherry Grove (202, -382), Bamboo Jungle (524, -299)

Speedrun WR

Seed: -8717682453392808086

If you want to test your mettle as a speedrunner, this is the seed used by the current record holder, lowkey. It might not look the best with those Stronghold coordinates above, but take a look at lowkey’s speedrun video to see how it’s done by the very best, and then practice in the seed itself. Due to changes to the vanilla game, speedruns are generally completed in Minecraft 1.16, so you’ll need to change and double-check your game version before loading up this seed.

Great finds: Village (648, 1,128), Nether Fortress (-101, 203), Stronghold West (1,612, 372), Stronghold East (980, 1,076)

Underground Lava Temple

Seed: 2482490754905255652

Yep, that’s a desert temple floating in lava in a lush cave. What’s more, this wonderful area is directly beneath you at spawn. There are lush caves for miles around, mineshafts and amethyst geodes aplenty, and the nearest Trial Chamber is only 300 blocks away. You have to go a little further to your closest village, but it’s still not too bad.

Great finds: Desert Temple in Lava (21, -46, 16), Nearest Village (281, -281), Trial Chamber (176, -512)

Flower Forest Island

Seed: 2048005618087379093

If you’re not sure where to build your perfect home, this could be it. We can’t think of a better place to build a cute Minecraft house, a spectacular tower, or even an incredible castle than on the island on which you spawn in this seed. Surrounded by a lake and further encircled by a pretty cherry grove, this spawn island offers such incredible views that you may never want to leave. If you do, there’s plenty more to see, with a village just outside the cherry grove, plenty of Ancient Cities underground, and a warmer climate, should you want it, to the north.

Great finds: Nearby Village (-272, 112), Ancient City (8, -51, 232), Badlands (910, -1,265), Pillager Outpost (192, -192)

Survival Structures

Seed: -7417157268905316998

We love an easy Minecraft survival seed, which is why we love this seed. A village is always the perfect place to find early on so that you can set a spawn point, sleep through the night, and hide from terrifying mobs. This plains village is just a short walk southeast from spawn.

The village is also near some important structures and the biomes. There’s a ruined portal in the village, so you have easy and safe access to the Nether. A Trial Chamber can be found directly below the spawn zone, giving you access to incredibly valuable loot once you’re geared up enough to take it on. And we personally love that ravine in the village too, perfect for building a unique ravine base.

Great finds: Village (315, 343), Ruined Portal (297, 340), Trial Chamber (294, 2, 290), Ocean Ruins (435, 661)

Minecraft village seeds

Ultimate Desert

Seed: 486362209

The Ultimate Desert has four desert villages and two desert pyramids within 300 blocks from spawn. To give you an idea of how close everything is, you can see Villages 1 and 2 and Desert Temple 1 in the image above.

There are also mineshafts under the surface, so there’s loads of great gear to be found within just a few chunks of launching the world. Desert pyramids are a great way to get started with Minecraft archeology as well, so make sure you craft a Minecraft brush as soon as you can.

Great finds: Village 1 (-192, 32), Village 2 (-144, -176), Village 3 (48, -144), Desert Temple 1 (-136, 24), Desert Temple 2 (24, -232)

Rare Swamp Village

Seed: -2295595817529477063

Swamp and jungle villages don’t spawn naturally in Minecraft, but they do have unique villager trades. This usually means you either have to be lucky enough to find your ‘parent’ villagers close to one of these biomes or transport them via Nether portal, boat, minecart, or a combination of all three.

In this rare seed, however, a normal taiga village just happens to generate at the edge of the biome, overlapping with a swamp. Not only does this make it easy to create a villager farm in the swamp, but it also means swamp villagers, with a unique look, may even spawn naturally, making this a very handy seed.

Great finds: Swamp Village (704, 672)

Cliffside Village

Seed: 6391130274229160289

This may not look all that spectacular, but it’s all about the vision, especially if you’re into terraforming the land. Imagine a cliffside being sculpted into a ragged, stony, zig-zagged staircase. Maybe add a small sandy beach, then rework the buildings. We’d also make that midway village meeting area the focal point of your new village home.

Great finds: Spawn Village (112, -144), Cliffside Village
(5,404, 64), Pillager Outpost (5,330, -215)

Overpowered Loot

Seed: 2059666523504992

This overpowered Minecraft seed hands you three nearby villages (and their valuable loot) on a silver platter. Village 1 is in the east, Village 2 is in the southwest, and Village 3 is in the northeast. They’re close to trees, cave systems, water, and various other biomes, so you won’t suffer any shortages.

Furthermore, there’s a ton of buried treasure on the beach to the north and a Ruined Portal to the southeast (x=150, z=210). The Nether Portal spawns you right inside a Nether Fortress, making it easy to grab even more loot.

Great finds: Village 1 (-176, 80), Village 2 (128, 32), Village 3 (144, -208)

Frozen River Village

Seed: 9009245503860775875

We love a snowy taiga village; it’s our favorite place to set up an early game home in Minecraft, but they’re not always that easy to find. Well, this seed changes that. This cute, large, snowy taiga village is nestled in a normal taiga biome but gathers a light dusting of snow thanks to being perched on a frozen river. It might not be the safest place to build houses, but it looks gorgeous and allows for a bit of ice skating in your spare time, too.

Great finds: Taiga Village (0, -368), Swamp Biome (136, 20), Underground Ruined Portal (85, 16, -264)

Cherry Grove Lake

Seed: 69420018030897796

This is a great seed for Cherry Grove lovers, as this huge lake village is located just below a large cherry blossom biome. Even better, YourLocalKnight on Reddit has found the Bedrock equivalent, -2032795982907864146, so you can enjoy a Cherry Grove lake village seed on whichever platform you play.

Great finds: Village (64, 48)

Minecraft survival seeds

Ruined Portal at Spawn

Seed: -128114970508797305

It’s incredibly rare to find a Ruined Portal at spawn, and it’s even more unusual to find the obsidian, flint, and steel needed to trigger the portal right away. Redditor ‘LiteralG0D’ has discovered a seed that has both of these elements right next to your spawn point, making this perfect for anyone looking to speedrun the game.

Great finds: Ruined Portal (21, 67, 14)

Structure Island

Seed: -3420545464665791887

This Minecraft island seed provides one of the most challenging and unique places to start your game. It’s only a small island, but it houses a large taiga village and a woodland mansion. Thanks to the taiga and dark forest biomes, you won’t suffer from a shortage of trees. We won’t tell you where they are, but the nearest Strongholds are pretty handy, too.

Great finds: Woodland Mansion (120, 56), Village (128, 176), Ancient City (1,160, 792)

Easy Nether

Seed: -4517475607999363428

Don’t take us too seriously when we say “easy”; nothing in the Nether is ever easy, but this seed certainly sets you up for success. When launching into this world, you spawn on a small island, which itself is home to some vital resources like coal, iron, and gravel.

Place a Nether Portal on this island, and you’ll find yourself right inside (or close to) a Nether Fortress. That’s not all, as there’s also a Bastion Remnant located just 100 blocks to the North. Just make sure you’re kitted out with gold, armor, and other essentials before you try to venture into the underworld.

Great finds: Fortress (13, 27), Bastion (25, -119)

Survival Shipwreck

Seed: -8065848147699287859

While finding shipwrecks is one of the best ways of gathering valuable resources early on, there’s still a significant challenge involved in being stranded on a shipwreck in a completely open ocean, and that’s precisely what this seed offers. Carefully go underwater to loot the shipwreck’s chests for all you can get, which does, thankfully, include some iron; grab some of its wood to make a boat, and see how far you can make it.

Great finds: Shipwreck (64, -544)

Minecraft speedrun seeds

Set Seed Speedrun

Seed: -6405782700478242821

Lowkey, the holder of the speedrun record above, is only third for the set seed run. In first place at the time of writing is KenanKardes, and you can watch their run here. Given the ability to practice and knowledge of structure locations before starting, set seed speedruns are obviously much faster, and Kenan’s record is just 1:29. Again, you’ll need to play this one in version 1.16.

Great finds: Village (184, 168), Nether Fortress (-69, 123)

Snowy Speedrun

Seed: -4496590507308278848

If you’re looking for a chilly seed to speedrun through, then look no further than this one. Perfect for jumping into and completing while you’re off for the holidays, or even just if you’re not a fan of the summer, this seed has a basement igloo not too far from spawn, directly over not only an Ancient City but also a Stronghold, meaning you can check out three of the rarest Minecraft structures in quick succession and complete the game.

Of course, you also need a Nether Fortress to do this, but as luck would have it, head into the Nether from the coordinates above, and you are only a short walk from the nearest Nether Fortress, at x = 126, z = 274. To get back to your stronghold location, we recommend building your way to the fortress with a path that you can follow back to your portal.

Great finds: Igloo (648, 1,544), Stronghold (548, 1,540), Ancient City (548, 1,736)

Cool Minecraft seeds

The Question Mark

Seed:-39006482427340374

This seed isn’t going to help you with survival, getting to The End, or speedrunning, but it’s another one of those really cool Minecraft sights, and it’s worth seeing for yourself. This is a naturally generated question mark dug into the sand. What does this Minecraft seed want to know?

Whether you have the answers or not, this is sadly a difficult sight to see in survival Minecraft, being over 10,000 blocks from spawn. You can always play in Creative and use Minecraft commands to teleport to the location shown above. If you’re dedicated, you can still find this site in survival mode – it may just take some time and commitment.

Great finds: Question Mark (-1,854, -11,407)

Herobrine Seed

Seed: 478868574082066804

The infamous Herobrine seed, also known as the one where the urban legend was supposedly sighted. You can now visit the creepy forest yourself – as long as you use Minecraft’s Java Alpha 1.0.16_02 version. Of course, the myth of Herobrine is merely a decade-old copypasta, so we shouldn’t expect to find an actual ghost here… Right?

Great finds: Herobrine Forest (5, -298)

Title Screen Seed

Seed: 2151901553968352745

While the Minecraft title screen now rotates, changing with every new major update, there’s one classic title screen seed that players spent years hunting down. The seed in question is for the panorama that can be seen on the title screen from versions 1.8 through 1.13.1, a period that lasted from 2011 until 2018. However, it took eagle-eyed players until 2020 to find it in-game, but now, thanks to them, you can still play it today. It doesn’t look the same in newer versions, so, for a real nostalgia trip, you must load this one up in the ancient Beta 1.7.3 version.

Great finds: Title Screen View (61.48, 75, -68.73)

Ancient City Spawn

Seed: 1606377695512438131

We don’t mean to alarm you, but we might have a new contender for the coolest Minecraft seed that spawns you in an Ancient City. If you weren’t aware, there’s a chance you can spawn close to bedrock if there’s nothing but air above you, and thus the first solid ground at those coordinates is on a low y-level. That’s precisely what happens here as you spawn in on y-level -49 with natural light pouring down to illuminate the Ancient City (and diamonds) around you. Just don’t forget to go quietly if you would rather not awaken the deadly Minecraft Warden.

Great finds: Ancient City (spawn), Cherry Grove village (173, -12), Mineshaft (-80, 31, -33), Trial Chamber (-238, -16, -20)

Infinite Mineshaft

Seed: 107038380838084

Once you’ve kitted yourself out, head underground anywhere on the z-axis 8, and you’ll find one long mineshaft that spans the world’s entire x-axis. Right near spawn, it even opens into a lush cave, lighting the path ahead with glow berries. Our only advice: try not to get lost.

Great find: Mineshaft Intersection (0, 8), Early-Game Village (96, 192), Nearby Trial Chamber (41, -31, 9)

Tiny Ocean

Seed: -1996523481016217001

What sets this seed apart from the best is one very specific location, approximately 2,000 blocks south of spawn. Here, you’ll find a small, round ocean biome, complete with an underwater shipwreck. There’s the potential for some seriously amazing builds here, perhaps a fishing village around the edge or an abandoned town, lost to time and encroached upon by Mother Nature.

Great finds: Shipwreck (-360, 2,712), Ruined Portal (-312, 2,632)

Desert Surrounded By Ice

Seed: 8888929339822832972

On this unique seed, we recommend building a massive Minecraft tower in the middle of the desert, providing a spectacular view of the surrounding ice areas. You start right in the center of this desert, as outlined in the coordinates above, and we’ve included the location of a nearby village to get you started with some basic gear fast.

Great finds: Desert Center (-343, 72), Village (48, 176)

Giant Cheese Cave

Seed: -5172090044501194762

Since the Caves and Cliffs update, we’ve seen some pretty big cheese caves, but this might just be the biggest yet. Just off spawn, this is the perfect cave for those of us who get a bit too scared in those dark caves, as you can make your way down to diamond with daylight still streaming in. Okay, of course, it’s still pretty dark at the bottom, but it’s a lot easier to roam around this cave than normal, and it’s much easier to find your way back out of it.

Great finds: Giant Cave Entrance (-100, 60, 130), Trial Chamber (39, -9), Closest Village (832, -240)

Perfect Pale Garden

Seed: -3930782522362688416

The Pale Garden is a new biome that arrived with the Winter drop in December 2024. The update added not only this creepy, dynamic new biome but also a new mob to boot. The Pale Garden biome is fairly rare and usually small, but we found this great Pale Garden seed, which features a decent-sized section of the biome, plus it’s combined with one of our other favorite areas in beautiful surroundings.

Through the Dark Forest just to the southwest of spawn, you’ll soon stumble across a ruined Nether portal that marks the border between the forest and the Pale Garden. This in itself is pretty useful; even if you don’t use it to later enter the Nether, there’s an almost full set of enchanted golden armor in there, which is great for a starter set. There’s also a village to the west of spawn, so you could take a detour through there for an even better survival head start.

Great finds: Village (-304, 0), Nether Portal (-296, 216), Pale Garden (-296, 216)

Temple Lake

Seed: -2332803749585407299

First off, there’s that jungle lake with a little island that would make a great base location. Then there’s the jungle temple just 200 blocks northwest of the lake. Back at spawn, there’s a desert temple and village in one. Then, if that wasn’t enough, head into that crevice in the village, and you’ll find a huge, stunning, lush cave that we’ll leave you to explore.

Great finds: Desert Pyramid (42, 60), Village (80, 90), Lake Island (-39, 73), Jungle Temple (-218, -200)

Woodland Mansion Spawn

Seed: 844424960210770

Why search for a Woodland Mansion if you can spawn on top of one? This Minecraft Woodland Mansion seed does exactly that. Moreover, the mansion is situated right in the middle of a river, with a large nearby cave area and easy access to the ocean. Just be careful when climbing down from the rooftop; the west side of the building offers the safest way to descend.

The downside to this seed, we must warn you, is that there aren’t any villages around the area for miles, so you’ll have to hope you can get kitted up enough to survive the dangerous mansion another way. Perhaps down in some of the surrounding mineshafts.

Great finds: Woodland Mansion (24, 8), Mineshaft (264, -104), Trial Chamber (55, -22, 281), Nearest Village (256, -960)

Witch Huts Galore

Seed: -9215772017318341931

This amazing Minecraft witch hut seed spawns four nearby witch huts. As a nice bonus, they surround a massive Woodland Mansion. All four huts are close to the Mansion (500, 420), so it’s best to look for this hard-to-miss landmark first, just a one-minute walk south of the original spawn point. Once there, circle the swampland around the giant building to find the witch huts (north, south, and west of the mansion).

Great finds: Woodland Mansion (504, 456), Witch Hut 1 (360, 376), Witch Hut 2 (376, 520), Witch Hut 3 (536, 536), Witch Hut 4 (536, 344)

Village Monolith

Seed: -6537256334104833826

You can find this peculiar village to the west of the island where you spawn. These intrepid villagers have made a home around a tall, jagged cliff jutting out of the sea, with harbors on every side, buildings perched on top, and farmland carved into the cliffside. While it looks cool, it’ll take a while to scale this huge vertical island.

Great finds: Village (-416, 128)

All Biomes Near Spawn

Seed: 4405134068028

Don’t want to be stuck in the same biome for too long, do we? This legendary Minecraft seed, contains every biome within 1,000 meters of the original spawn point (yes, every single one).

Great finds: Dark Forest (192, 112), Taiga (150, 150)
Mushroom Fields (312, -112), Swamp (-240, -662), Desert (950, -777), Badlands (819, -891), Cherry Grove (752, 81), Snowy Plains (-731, 971)

Zombie Villager Prison

Seed: 8014621782944328921

If you’re someone who worries about having somewhere to rest your head on your first Minecraft night, and you like to find rare structures, then look no further than this Minecraft seed with an igloo at spawn. With a bed, a chest, some food, and even a villager to trade with, you’re off to a good start with this seed before you’ve really even started.

From here, we recommend heading southwest, either underground or above ground, but you’ll find a mineshaft ripe for looting if you travel underground. There’s a shipwreck just under the water’s surface, full of other valuable gear, including a treasure map and armor-smithing templates.

Great finds: Igloo (168, -136), Shipwreck (5, 126)

Mega Ancient City

Seed: 111111111111111111

We’re calling this the Mega Ancient City, but do let it be known that there is some space between some of them, so you might think it a little misleading. That said, there’s still no denying that 26 Ancient Cities within 5,000 blocks is spectacular, especially considering how big each individual structure is.

What makes this seed even better is that these underground structures start quite close to spawn, and there’s a picturesque snowy village on your way to the first. Stop here, make yourself at home, and prepare for your adventure, then head underground towards -210, -700 to start your ancient city exploration. Head west, and the majority of the cities are on a straight line.

Great finds: Village (0, -464), Mineshaft (-203, -26, -653), First Ancient City (-210, -52, -700)

Ancient Trial Stronghold

Seed: 1669984371247603308

This amazing seed puts the three rarest and most valuable overworld structures together in one place: an Ancient City, a Trial Chamber, and even a Stronghold. What you can’t see is the Stronghold just 300 blocks behind you to the northwest. Once you’ve kitted yourself out in your best armor and are ready to face the Ender Dragon, you can kill two birds with one stone, or explore three structures in one adventure.

Great finds: Ancient City (8,920, -51, 6,648), Trial Chamber (8,951, 6,631), Stronghold (8,676, 6,756)

Easy Armor Trims

Seed: -3700836276160199646

Minecraft armor trims arrived with the Minecraft 1.20 update and allow you to flex an armor fit as you battle monsters and mine precious ores. Getting these armor trims, or the smithing templates used to forge your armor, is no easy task. Most are looted from well-protected chests in dangerous locations.

If you don’t want to stray too far from your base, or even spawn, for some of the most hard-to-find smithing templates, then this seed makes things easy and has a lot more to offer, too. Just a short walk to the southwest, you find an outpost on an island, the significance of the island being that it makes this outpost much safer to be near, as pillagers struggle to cross water.

Great finds: Outpost (-192, 80), Ruined Portal (-328, 120), Village (-496, 176), Nether Fortress (27, 27), Bastion Treasure Room (288, -160)

Beautiful Minecraft seeds

Lush Cave Island

Seed: -950547527103331411

This may be one of the most breathtaking natural seeds we’ve ever laid eyes on – huge thanks to ‘gaberdo_84’ on Reddit for spotting this gem. The Lush Cave Island seed features an almost castle-like aesthetic inside the cave, providing you with a picturesque view that lets you see across the ocean directly from your new home. We’ve included coordinates so you don’t have to track down this scenic site, placing you at a safe location inside the cave.

Great finds: Inside Cave (-216,  99, -281)

Lush Pale Garden lake

Seed: 2231252140388046750

This might just be the best Pale Garden seed we’ve seen so far – just look at that stunning Lush Cave grotto! There are so many options for building a base here, whether you choose to reside in the mountains among the Pale Garden and its Creakers, on top of the lake itself, or even in the lush cave.

Wherever you choose to build, the other good news is that this area is only 500 blocks from spawn, so you can start right away. The only downside with the seed is that the nearest villages are quite far, but the view nearly makes up for it, while the nearby Woodland Mansion and Ancient City definitely do.

Great finds: Pale Garden Lake (-200, 500), Ancient City (-312, 584), Woodland Mansion (-600, 600), Nearby Village (830, 880)

Ice Rink

Seed: -123456793079414942

Get into the winter spirit with this Ice Rink seed, featuring a perfect pool of water surrounded by mountains. This is similar to the Tiny Ocean seed further up in the list, except this ice-rink-style pool gives you the ideal environment to create a wintery village. Getting to the water requires quite the trek, so use our coordinates to get to the location in our screenshot right away.

Great finds: Ice Rink (691, 120, 116), Local Village (1408, 144), Trial Chamber (1079, -28, 311)

River Ring

Seed: -6018321323546593994

This stunning River Ring seed has been shared around the Minecraft community a fair amount, and we unfortunately don’t know who originally discovered it, but it’s a truly remarkable location for your next build. It’s close to spawn, and it’s available on both Java and Bedrock editions.

Great finds: River Ring Island (-300, -20)

Badlands Lake

Seed: 7598363429859286340

Sure, there are plenty of stunning icy views and expansive cherry groves you can go after for a beautiful base location, but we’re not sure we’ve seen a cooler place for building in Minecraft than this Badlands Lake.

The flat land around the lake, against a background of steep terracotta cliffs, makes for the perfect building canvas, while the aesthetic of the location itself is entirely different from anything we’ve seen before. Plus, the Badlands’ exposed mineshaft areas bleed into the neighboring jungle, which also makes for a pretty unique sight.

Great finds: Badlands Lake (0, 72), Exposed Mineshaft Chests (20, 69), Ruined Portal (-6, 212), Exposed Lush Cave (-96, 236)

Broken Cove

Seed: 11297487

In perhaps the most beautiful landscape we’ve seen in Minecraft in our ten-plus years of playing, this majestic broken cove features floating pieces of land, multiple waterfalls, and even a ruined portal floating in the center of the water below.

This location gives us so many ideas for stunning builds we don’t know where to start, but the first step is loading our next new world here. What makes this even better is that you don’t have to go far to find it, as this cove is situated right at spawn.

Great finds: Cove (83, 23), Ruined Portal (68, 138), Village (224, 576)

Skull Island

Seed: 1040934860

This incredibly cool find features a large island that looks like a skull, complete with a cute little opening for a nose. What makes this even better is that the skull island houses a gorgeous Minecraft lush cave, which looks beautiful and is home to some rare loot.

Still not enough to sell it to you? Well, how about the fact that you spawn directly on top of this cool seed into a massive desert village? Oh, and there’s a mineshaft below ground. You can get just about everything you need for an easy start to your survival adventure right here on Skull Island.

Great finds: Skull Island (spawn), Nearest Village (-160, -144)

Perfect Building Seed

Seed: -3899835130120818196

For a seed that offers building locations and survivability right at spawn, we’ve got you covered. This perfect seed spawns you right near a plains village, where you can pick up plenty of materials to get you started. However, the real draw of this seed is the large surrounding plains, which offer perfect plateaus for building on.

This plains biome is surrounded by tiny cherry grove, forest, and even jungle biomes as well, so you can gather most of the wood types without straying too far from your home base.

Great finds: Village (-144, -144)

Snowy Mountains

Seed: 7050622155736149866

There’s no prettier color combo than pink and white, right? So grab a few saplings and pink petals from the Cherry Grove, head back to the gorgeous building plot above, and turn that circular meadow into a snowy pink wonderland.

Great finds: Vantage Point (93, 2,655), Cherry Grove (-694, 2,846)

Beautiful Frozen Lake

Seed: 5488656216511509290

This winter wonderland seed is beautiful for any time of year, whether you can look out your window onto a white blanket or are after some respite from the summer heat.

Load into a 1.19 world or newer, head up the mountain right next to you on spawn, and you can descend into a dripstone cave or build a festive town or icy-cool castle on the gorgeous frozen lake above. Plenty of rare structures near spawn, including a Pillager Outpost at -192, 117, also help you get essential loot in the early days.

Great finds: Frozen Lake (-170, -20), Pillager Outpost (-192, 117)

Elsewhere on PCGamesN, there’s plenty to keep you busy exploring, but with something new to find around every corner, equip one of our favorite Minecraft skins and perhaps even load up one of the best Minecraft shaders to see one of the best PC games ever made in a whole new light, or browse our favorite Minecraft maps for something altogether different.

Path of Exile 2 just added yet another skill tree, because why the heck not

A new Path of Exile 2 update just dropped, and Grinding Gear Games has outdone itself again, throwing an entire extra skill tree into the mix just for the sake of it. PoE’s passive ‘skill forests’ have been synonymous with the action RPG since time immemorial – glimpsing its vast web of upgrade nodes was what first inspired me to install the original way back during its 2013 open beta. Since then, the introduction of ever-more paths to fill out has become a running joke of the developer, and now there’s yet another, this time giving you more control over how its seasonal mechanic plays.

The new Atlas Passive tree is just one of many additions in the Path of Exile 2 0.5.4 patch notes. It’s largely focused around the Expedition mechanic, as that’s most closely tied to the Runes of Aldur seasonal league, and you’ll earn points to unlock the various nodes by defeating the bosses along the Grand Expedition questline. As with the rest of the Atlas trees since PoE 2’s latest update, you’ll be able to earn the full thing, although many of them offer a choice between several possible modifiers that you can flip between at will.

To start with, the ‘Feeling Lucky?’ node causes seasonal NPC Farrow to start selling a new item called Liquid Verisium, which can be used to start Remnant encounters with a random roll of runes instead of the ones on offer. If you don’t like the look of any of the rewards, simply roll the dice with this. You can also grab an upgrade to the rate of Logbook drops, or introduce a bonus mechanic in the form of buried Sentinels, which infuse enemies around them with additional runic power when uncovered, escalating both the potential danger and rewards.

Most of the rest of the options allow you to change the way Expedition encounters play. Would you prefer an extra explosive to plant when setting up each encounter, or an additional Remnant to be present? Would you like the explosions to chain more quickly for a faster encounter rate, or cause each one to remove 25% of every enemy’s health when they go off? Should Remnant chains have a one-in-four chance to activate twice, ramping the risk/reward up higher, or are you having a tough enough time already that you’d prefer they never activate at all? The choice is yours.

Elsewhere, Path of Exile 2 update 0.5.4 also makes a very interesting change to unique items. Any of these that grant you additional skills when equipped will now scale them down to match lower-level characters. “There are so many uniques with interesting skills that only drop from high levels, and it was a real shame you couldn’t use them until the late endgame,” Game Director Jonathan Rogers explains. “This should open up a whole bunch of builds available to play much earlier.”

Do you like to gamble? Then get ready for some bonus corruption antics. After defeating Atziri in the Temple, you can now get your hands on four special Orbs of Sacrifice, each of which will significantly upgrade corrupted enchantments on an item at the cost of stripping away a randomly selected modifier. If you’ve double-corrupted the item, you can upgrade both of its enchantments by using two of the new orbs.

Last week, GGG promised it would be adding some new unique drops to Abyss pinnacle boss The Vessel of Kulemak; the first of these has now arrived. The Master’s Reach are gloves that reveal weaknesses on your enemies. This works much the same way as the Huntress’s ‘Predatory Instinct’ Ascendancy passive, displaying marked segments on targets’ health bars. When in these regions, any hits you land will recoup all damage as life, and eat their soul to grant you bonus skill speed. Delicious.

The Master’s Reach also grants a skill of its own, Untether. This lets you “plant a seed of Abyssal Energy on the enemy’s heart.” Hurt them enough after applying this, or kill them outright, and their heart will detonate, dealing heavy physical damage to anything nearby. Rogers notes that this is just the first of several Vessel of Kulemak uniques to come. It also brings us to the end of the new additions, although you’ll find plenty more bug fixes and minor tweaks scattered through the remaining patch notes, such as the ability to hide the ‘You Have Died’ message; this will not save you from your fate.

Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.4 is live now. I shouldn’t be surprised by how quickly Grinding Gear Games rolls out new features after so many years, yet I continue to be caught off guard. PoE 2’s Return of the Ancients update is already a real winner, and sets us up for a very exciting 1.0 launch at the end of 2026. Who knows what next week will bring?

PC RAM prices could stay this high for years, hints memory maker Micron’s latest earnings

Micron has just revealed its latest earnings, reporting record revenue and profits, along with some very long-lasting deals that lock in prices for memory for years to come. While Micron shuttered its Crucial consumer RAM brand already, its allocation of memory production to data centers for years to come, and the guarantee of high prices for those chips, suggest PC RAM could remain expensive and hard to come by for a long time.

In its Q3 earnings report, Micron revealed it had signed 16 “strategic customer agreements” (SCAs), which are long-term agreements with customers that lock in floor and ceiling prices for its memory, in this case for five years at a time. The overall production capacity of this could mean the best PC RAM remains at least as expensive as it currently is for years to come.

Micron isn’t the only maker of memory, with Samsung and SK Hynix making up the other two names of the big three. Samsung and SK Hynix are both based in Korea, with Samsung being the largest manufacturer of memory products overall, which include PC RAM, SSDs, and VRAM. Micron, meanwhile, is an American company that used to include the Crucial consumer memory/SSD brand, but which has now switched completely to business-to-business production.

Speaking about the benefits of these SCAs in its earning call, Micron CEO, president, and chairman Sanjay Mehrotra explained, “Our customers are recognizing that supply shortages in memory and storage will take considerable time to improve” and that “as we expect industry supply to improve gradually in 2028, we currently do not have line of sight as to when memory supply will be able to catch up with increasing demand.”

Regarding the latter point about supply, companies like Micron aren’t sitting idle just producing at their current rate. They are building new chip fabs and looking at ways to improve production capacity. However, Mehrotra explains that “supply is structurally constrained in its growth and ability to meet industry demand, despite our comprehensive efforts to increase supply”.

Exactly how this will play out over the coming years depends on a large number of factors, including whether production can be improved, whether the AI bubble bursts to some extent, and whether AI infrastructure shifts to different models (both in terms of how data centers work, and if we all just end up running AI locally instead). However, it’s looking likely that any tech product that requires a reasonable amount of RAM is going to remain at an inflated price for longer than we hoped.

Titanfall spiritual successor Empulse is out now, but it’s got a lot to prove

I’m quietly resigned to the likelihood that we’ll never see Titanfall 3. The good news is that other studios are taking up the mantle, and one of them – movement shooter Empulse – has just launched on Steam. It’s built by 1047 Games, the team behind Splitgate, which has immediately put it on my radar. The new multiplayer FPS is now in early access, with the studio keeping microtransactions and battle passes out of the equation to focus on “building with you, the community” in these starting stages.

The simple fact of the matter is that Empulse has to prove itself through its actions. I loved the original Splitgate, and I’ve had a lot of fun with Splitgate 2 and its stripped-back reboot, Arena Royale; I’d absolutely rank them among the best multiplayer games around. The developer’s attempt to go bigger with its second outing backfired, however. A combination of its infamously overzealous debut stage presentation, overpriced launch microtransactions (that were quickly and dramatically reduced), and a questionable class system failed to enamour its target audience.

Empulse is the team’s attempt to capture a slightly different segment of the multiplayer crowd: 1047 CEO Ian Proulx specifically called out both Titanfall and Black Ops 3 as key design inspirations during his initial teaser. It’s got wall-running, grapples, and plenty of verticality, and does a good job of adapting Splitgate’s excellent high-speed movement to the format. It even has mechs – rather than individual rewards, two of these spawn at the center of the map at the same time, and they’re “built to take over a round.”

Empulse looks to have captured enough attention to stand a chance, with a strong Steam Next Fest showing helping it to land on 250,000 wishlists. 1047 remarks that the feedback survey “averaged an 8.1 out of ten on fun,” though also notes that this left “room for improvement.” If you tried the demo, you’ll also find a new map (Drainage) has been added to the early access launch version, along with the VIP-style ‘Mech Bounty’ mode, the Requiem sniper rifle, and a ranked 4v4 playlist.

Moving forward, 1047 is planning “new modes, maps, weapons, mechs, and meta playstyles,” but says the roadmap will follow player sentiment rather than being “locked in months ago.” It’s aiming to be as open as possible with development and balance decisions to ensure people aren’t caught by surprise, and adds that there will be “no store, no battle pass, and no microtransactions at the early access launch.”

1047 has responded to some of the initial feedback, which includes a desire for a stronger and more defined visual style that stands apart from Splitgate. It’s also working on “two new maps, both of which are bigger than anything in the game today,” which should land in an experimental form in the coming weeks for testing. The team is planning to test the implementation of aim-down-sight functionality as well, but promises this won’t come “at the cost of the accurate hipfire that makes the movement feel good.”

Empulse is out now in early access on Steam, with a 25% launch discount available for the first week. Expect to pay $14.99 / £12.74 if you buy it by Wednesday, July 1. You can find it right here.

Whether 1047 Games ends up sticking the landing or not, I will certainly be diving in to find out. I still get the cravings for Titanfall multiplayer in a way that nothing else quite satisfies, and I’ve never had less than a good time playing Splitgate, for all its ups and downs. Here’s hoping the team manages to pull this one off, for its sake and ours.

After mysteriously vanishing from the game, Dota 2’s Axe has been ‘replaced’ by a fake

Dota 2 has a new hero – or should that be an old one? It’s tough to be sure. If you logged into the Valve MOBA this week, you might have been surprised to find that Axe, one of its longest-standing and most iconic faces, was completely absent from the roster. You couldn’t play him, and his spot in the lineup was replaced by the sort of poster you might find asking for help finding a missing person. All of a sudden, however, Axe has returned, just as quickly as he left… but something’s not quite right.

This latest update comes in the wake of last week’s rumors about the onset of the ‘Dark Carnival’ – thought to be the theming for the next big Dota 2 event. With Axe seemingly susceptible to his “sense of foreboding,” especially when dropped into matches across from unsettling puppeteer Ringmaster, his disappearance was yet another clue that Valve is setting up some big story moment. Fortunately for fans of the dunk master, he wasn’t gone for too long – but he seems to have changed rather significantly in the meantime.

The Dota 2 roster now lists the hero as ‘Axe?’ (with the question mark), and he doesn’t appear to be the flesh-and-blood favorite we’re all familiar with. In his place is a mechanical construct, complete with a giant clockwork key in his back and a rather jarring, jolting movement style. If you had any question as to who was responsible for his disappearance, I’m pointing my finger squarely at Ringmaster. Perhaps most upsetting of all is the fact that he no longer has an axe, which has been replaced with a hammer.

I do rather like the new style, if I’m honest – he can even spin his, um, hammer in a full 360 simply by rotating his hand completely around at the wrist. The replicant design, which also comes with a whole new set of ability icons, is presumably Valve’s attempt at finally returning to the rather horrifying launch trailer for Ringmaster from two years ago. In that, a circus-style ‘test your strength’ contraption lures the unsuspecting Axe in, before dragging him bodily inside its clanking void of gears and smog.

Enhancing the effect even more was the fact that almost any attempt to test out ‘Axe?’ or use him in an actual game led to a crash. That part probably wasn’t intentional, however, and appears to have been related to effects targeting the hero (I’d imagine this boils down to some backend shenanigans related to the name change). It’s now been fixed, so you should be able to give the ‘newcomer’ a run for yourself – he might have a new look, but I suspect he still earns his place on our list of the best Dota 2 heroes in the current meta.

All of this begs the question: when will the (now seemingly inevitable) event begin? Whether it’s actually the Dark Carnival we’ve all been speculating about, or something entirely new, it must be pretty close to launch at this point. Will other heroes be affected before we get there? Hold your favorites close to your chest, lest the robots and puppetmasters come for us all.

Iron Sky: Invasion Free Download

Iron Sky: Invasion Direct Download

Do not be afraid. Or maybe do. How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden In 1945, a group of Nazis escaped to the dark side of the Moon. There they waited, built a secret moon base, and spent more than 70 years planning a comeback absolutely nobody asked for. Bad ideas rarely disappear on their own.

In 2018, they finally made their move: the Fourth Reich attacked Earth. From lunar orbit came an invasion fleet proving that, with enough Helium-3, megalomania can apparently become spaceworthy. Humanity faced an overwhelming threat — and, as usual, the rescue plan was alarmingly improvised.

That is where you come in.
Take control, pilot, and fight the Moon Nazis in Earth’s orbit in Iron Sky: Invasion. Explore an open space map, survive enemy attack waves, complete missions, upgrade your ships, and prove that one elite pilot can sometimes be the difference between “Earth saved” and “historically catastrophic relapse, now with spaceships.” Become the next legend of space combat — or at least the person who survives long enough to face the Götterdämmerung in the final battle.

Key Features:

• Dozens of missions centered on the invasion of the Fourth Reich
• Seamless open-world space battlefield between Earth and the Moon — unfortunately, exactly where the Moon Nazis are currently invading
• Five different playable spacecraft: Dundee, Spitfire, Banzai, Canadarm³, and Xerg, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and combat roles
• Lasers, missiles, plasma weapons, and tactical nuclear arguments against historically questionable targets
• Defend satellites, space stations, and the last remaining scraps of orbital order
• Dogfights, capital-ship assaults, and everything else the Moon Reich has coming

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
OS *:Windows XP
Processor:Intel/AMD 2 GHz
Memory:2 GB RAM
Graphics:Per-Pixel-Shader 3.0, 512 MB RAM
DirectX®:9.0c
Hard Drive:1500 MB HD space
Other Requirements:Broadband Internet connection
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Build the theme park of your dreams and battle cosmic nightmares in this week’s Epic Games Store free games

It’s Thursday, which means it’s time to check in with what free giveaways the Epic Games Store is serving up for the week. We’ve got a real spectrum-spanning pair of free PC games on the table, with both Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 and Voidwrought up for grabs. Whether you’re looking to live out the fantasy of growing your very own theme park from the ground up, or want to prove yourself against untold horrors and wrest the might of the gods to your side, you’ll be well served here.

Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 is the last mainline entry in the legendary series of theme park management games (I’m choosing to forget the failed attempt at a fourth, mobile-exclusive installment). Built under the guidance of its original creator, Chris Sawyer, RCT3 comes from Frontier Developments, which has continued to cement its reputation as a mainstay of the genre ever since with the likes of Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, and Jurassic World Evolution. It trades out the classic isometric look for full 3D park creation, and even lets you test your custom rides in first person.

It might be 22 years old now, but the Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition we’re getting here arrived in 2020, and has been polished up and enhanced for modern PCs. It also throws in both expansion packs – ‘Soaked’ for all your waterpark needs, and ‘Wild’ to let you build a range of animal habitats. In total, you’re looking at over 300 coasters and rides, 500 scenery items, 60 shops and customer service facilities, and 20 different animal types, so you’re only really limited by your imagination.

If you’re feeling a bit more action-oriented, 2D Metroidvania Voidwrought is an excellent alternative. Awakening in the thawing ruins of the First Civilization, you have just one goal in mind: gather the very blood of the gods from the nightmarish monstrosities that wield it. With a tight blend of platforming and combat brought together by some stunning art design and a momentous soundtrack, Voidwrought is great if you’re looking to crave that action-platforming itch while we wait for word of the first Silksong DLC.

Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition and Voidwrought are both free via the Epic Games Store between Thursday, June 25, and Thursday, July 2 at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BST / 5pm CEST. They’re yours to keep once claimed, so head here to grab them while the offer lasts.

Epic has handed out RCT3 once before – in fact, it did so back at the Complete Edition’s launch in September 2020 – but if you missed that chance and don’t already own this PC classic, it’s definitely worth checking out. Voidwrought, meanwhile, is worth investigating on the strength of Powersnake’s art direction alone, and it’s packed with all manner of powers and artifacts to help you overcome the dark, Lovecraftian horrors lurking within.

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round Free Download

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round Direct Download:

Intense Fighting Entertainment is back!!
Fan-favorite 3D fighting game DEAD OR ALIVE 6 is back with stylish moves, striking animations, and a cast of colorful characters to go head-to-head in the fighting game world’s most extreme battles! Place, pose, and take picture-perfect screenshots of your favorite characters in the new Photo Mode. Play with the classic DOA6 roster and 5 additional DLC characters from the original version, along with new costumes. Whether you’re a new player or a longtime veteran, DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round has the action you’re looking for. Orb of Creation

Includes five additional characters released in the original version!
Play with a lineup of 29 characters, including five characters originally released as bonuses or DLC for the original version: Nyotengu, Phase 4, Momiji, Rachel, and Tamaki.

Stage your own battles in the NEW Photo Mode!
Choose your stage and characters, position them freely, change their poses and expressions, and create your own legendary moments in the brand-new Photo Mode.

From simple skirmishes to serious strategy, DOA6LR is THE definitive 3D fighting game!
Use Holds at the perfect moment to cripple your opponent. Build your Break Gauge and unleash powerful special moves. Mash through a Fatal Rush for an easy yet highly satisfying combo. Toss your opponent into a Danger Zone to deal extra damage. From first-time players to long-time strategists, DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round has something for everyone.

Note:

• This version includes a Character Unlock Keys for 29 characters and Story Unlock Key. Be careful not to accidentally make duplicate purchases.
• A free-to-play version is available as DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round Core Fighters.
  Costumes unlocked or purchased in DEAD OR ALIVE 6 may be transferred to this version. Some costumes may not be transferrable. For more information on transferring data from DEAD OR ALIVE 6, see our official website.

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows® 11
Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or higher, AMD Ryzen3 3100 or higher
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce GTX 1060 (VRAM 6GB) or higher, Radeon RX 590 (VRAM 8GB) or higher
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 80 GB available space
Additional Notes: SSD required
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

You can put Minecraft’s gorgeous new biome and building blocks to the test right now

It’s hard to beat the joy of discovering a new biome in Minecraft, so the news that Mojang has opened the metaphorical doors to its Dappled Forest region is very welcome. We were teased with its gorgeous fall hues during May’s Minecraft live, promising all manner of must-have building materials from Poplar Wood to the addition of Wool Stairs and Slabs. The wait is finally over, as Game Drop Three is now available to test in both the latest Bedrock preview and Java snapshot builds.

We don’t have a name for the next Minecraft Game Drop yet, but it’s looking set to arrive perfectly in fall, bringing orange-tinged leaves and bright red shrubs into the sandbox game. The main addition is the Dappled Forest, a new biome that can be found near to cold regions. There you’ll find Poplar Trees, which introduce a rather fetching new off-gray shade of wood for all your construction needs. I’m already envisioning some rather modern designs making ample use of it.

The leaves of the Poplar Trees come in red, orange, and yellow varieties, offering some excellent decoration potential – the variant you’ll get is chosen at random when planting a fresh sapling. Also new to the region are Shelf Mushrooms, which naturally grow on Poplar Trees – both living and fallen ones. These can be used for standard mushroom meal recipes, and they’re also slightly bouncy, reducing fall damage if you land on them.

The decoration potential doesn’t stop there. Also found in the new biome are Red Shrubs, which you can gather and place anywhere else. They’ll keep their color no matter where you choose to grow them, and you can use Bone Meal on them to generate another shrub in an adjacent space. The other big additions are Wool Stairs and Wool Slabs, which you can craft in any of the sixteen colors the standard material supports.

Those Wool pieces are used in a new structure type that can be encountered in many different regions across Minecraft – the abandoned camp. Mojang asks the obvious question: “If nobody’s been to the Dappled Forest before, who built the abandoned camp? And what loot did they leave?” The camp’s design varies based on the biome it spawns in, and you’ll find various chests and barrels stuffed with goodies in the vicinity.

The Dappled Forest is also home to a standard set of wildlife – sheep, chickens, cows, pigs, rabbits, and foxes – although they will use their cold-weather variants where relevant. While the new update isn’t as gameplay-focused as the recent Chaos Cubed drop, I’m already eager to see how people make use of the new cosmetic options at our disposal.

Minecraft’s third Game Drop of 2026 is live now for testing in both Minecraft Bedrock preview 26.40.27 and Minecraft Java snapshot 26.3. Be sure to switch over to the appropriate test build in the launcher before you start playing.

Riot walks back putting League of Legends’ controversial ‘last hit indicators’ into ranked play, for now

It’s been a whirlwind few hours for League of Legends, with Riot Games announcing that its most controversial player assist tool was about to be implemented in ranked play, only for them to rapidly reverse the decision in response to public outcry. The ‘last hit indicator’ system, which clearly marks when minions are within lethal damage range for your champion, has been available in swiftplay and co-op versus AI for several months, but its implementation into the more competitive side of LoL has sparked heated debate, and with good reason.

I’ll come down on one side of this argument: I’m all for the feature as a way to learn, but I don’t think last hit indicators have a place in ranked League of Legends. Last hitting – the act of scoring the killing blow on enemy minions and jungle creeps to secure the maximum gold bounty from them – is the very heart of the laning phase. Being good at CS (that’s ‘creep score,’ not Counter-Strike), while also attempting to stop your opponents from landing their own last hits on your minions, is therefore fundamental to being a good laner, especially if you play in the carry role.

A big part of learning each champion is understanding when to attack to get the kill, as acting too early can cause you to miss the final blow and lose out on the gold. The last hit indicator is an assist tool designed to help players become more familiar with the system: it shows a clearly darker segment on minion health bars to denote the ‘last hit range,’ and once their life falls below that the meter clearly changes color to show that they’re vulnerable for you to finish off.

Last hitting in League of Legends is already a little more generous than in other MOBAs like Dota 2, and that’s fine. In fact, it only further emphasizes the value of being able to rack up a high CS in the early stages of the game to push your economy ahead of the opponents’. Putting this assist into co-op versus AI matches, and even into swiftplay, is a nice way to help players who are new learn the ropes before stepping into the big leagues, where you’re likely to be going up against veterans for whom it’s second nature.

Improved tutorials are great; pushing those systems into ranked feels like a mistake. With League of Legends patch 26.13, Riot announced that it would be enabling last hit indicators in both normal draft and ranked SR games. In the patch notes, it wrote, “We think it’s better to focus on skill expression in other parts of the game – rather than understanding exactly when you can last-hit a minion – and are pretty confident that these don’t degrade skill expression in lane.”

Clearly the community disagreed with this statement, with a discussion on the topic rising to the top of the game’s Reddit page. Fortunately, the outcry was loud enough that Riot quickly responded. “We’ve seen a lot of conversation around last hit indicators coming to ranked, and we’ve decided to enable them in non-ranked SR queues only for continued testing,” it announces.

“We want to get more data and feedback to decide if we should make them an option for ranked before making that call,” Riot continues. “So we’ll keep them enabled, but off by default, for swiftplay, co-op versus AI, and normal draft, to collect data and iterate. We’ll keep you updated about performance and progress in dev updates before making any future calls.” It has also adjusted its original statement in the 26.13 patch notes.

I’ve already made my stance clear, but I’m in agreement with Reddit thread poster ‘XpMonsterS’ that putting last hit indicators into ranked would be “a bad precedent.” Does it remove all skill expression from laning? No. Does it dramatically reduce it? Yes. In its original post, Riot noted, “You still need to be mindful of positioning, harassing your opponent, considering where both jungles are, understanding power spikes, and more.” That’s all true, but all of those revolve around the core fundamentals of landing your CS.

Being able to be mindful of your last hit range – and the way it changes through the match as you buy items and level up abilities – is a big factor in what makes the ‘dance’ in lane so satisfying. That’s doubly true as the chaos ramps up; players who never miss a CS even as ganks and pushes come in are a special breed. I’m all for training wheels, but I do believe that they should remain exactly that. Eventually, if you want to compete in the big leagues, you have to learn to ride without them.

Rockstar confirms the GTA 6 price, pre-order bonuses, and its ultimate edition

Rockstar Games has just announced what the GTA 6 price and pre-order bonuses will look like, alongside confirmation that we will be getting an ultimate edition of the open-world game. The developer gave us a date for pre-orders to open last week, and has now gone one step further, noting that availability will open at “midnight local time on June 25.” Here’s what you can get if you jump in early – oh, and expect to pay $79.99 for the regular edition, or $99.99 for the ultimate.

I’m as sad as anyone that this latest update is yet another affirmation that Grand Theft Auto 6 isn’t going to be on PC any time soon. However, it does answer quite a few questions around the nature of the premium editions and bonus packages. First up is the GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack, which you’ll get if you pre-order the game. This promises “unique benefits that flash back to when the neon burned brightest,” which will certainly be appreciated by those who are sad we’re not returning to the ’80s setting of Tommy Vercetti’s adventure.

The GTA 6 pre-order bonuses include:

• The ’55 Vapid Stanier: “Cruise Shore Drive in this classic sedan and store it in the Shore Court personal garage that’s just a stone’s throw from the glistening sands of Ocean Beach.” It includes a weapon locker and a secure stash point for stolen goods before they’re fenced.
• Outfits and hairstyles: Jason gets an “effortlessly chic linen suit in vintage pastel, complemented by the cut and coif of the decade of decadence.” Lucia, meanwhile, sports a classy “red sequin mini dress and curls.”
• Gun skins: Want an even more direct Vice City throwback? You’ll have access to a blue palm-tree design inspired by Tommy’s iconic shirt, which can be applied to “most guns.”
• One month of GTA Plus: Digital pre-orders only will get a month’s subscription to the GTA Online premium package.

Then we have the GTA 6 ultimate edition. This looks to be the only other version outside of the basic offering, and Rockstar promises “an exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action.” It notes that the bonuses from this are “threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia’s story, with new items uncovered behind each chapter.” Don’t expect to get access to it all at once, then.

The GTA 6 ultimate edition bonuses include:

• The ’95 Grotti Cheetah: This classic mid-’90s sports car comes with “a minimalist, retro-futuristic livery.” Rockstar says it will be “available to punctuate later-stage action,” suggesting you’ll have to wait a while to get your hands on it.
• Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers: These “his and hers” guns feature “classic Vice City stylings sourced from the Vercetti Estate, including palm tree etched grips, engraved detailing, and a high-performance scope.”
• Personalized pistols: Our pair of protagonists each gets a custom gun design: Jason for the Girardi ES9, Lucis for the Klose K17.
• Vice City style: “Exclusive outfits, tattoos, and more” will give you more ways to customize both characters’ look to fit the decadent vibe.

• Jason’s safehouse vehicles: An army fatigue tinged Dinka Enduro motorcycle and Crest Kayak will be available.
• Custom car mods: Along with an exclusive modkit for the Vapid Ganado, you can look forward to “detailed interiors, exquisite rims, and donk stylings” just for ultimate edition owners, and access to specialist mod shop One-Eyed Willie’s in Lake Leonida.
• The ’67 Vapid Dominator buggy: This “Mud Club monster” can be found at the Paradise Garage in Watson Bay, and is perfect for off-roading in the backwoods of Mount Kalaga.
• Classic Car collection: This special commission with “eccentric car collector” Wyman will see you tracking down abandoned classics and project cars, before bringing them back to their former glory.
• Shitzu Squalo: A pink-and-blue luxury speedboat can be found docked at Washington Beach: Rockstar promises that it’s “open-ocean ready with an explosives-laden weapons crate.”
• Sara’s Unisex Salon: This special business offers “signature salon styles” for both leads, with facial hair options for Jason, and makeup and nails for Lucia.
• Stock 305 clothing store: Yet another exclusive club, this home for “elevated streetwear” promises even more unique looks for our leading pair.
• Electric Fang Tattoo: You guessed it: another exclusive shop, this time offering more than 50 signature tattoos designed by artist collective FAILE.
• Goodttime Gear: For something a little more light-hearted, try out these accessories inspired by the Goodtime State TV show Macca the Gator.
• PTT Youngin$ Illegal Goods Store: “Raid the compound of one of Southside Vice City’s loudest and most socially active gangs and escape safely,” and you can net a range of special items and contraband.

GTA 6 will retail for $79.99 for the standard edition, and $99.99 for the premium edition. Pre-orders will open at midnight in your local region on Thursday June 25. We might be watching with envy from PC land, but I’ll certainly be keeping a close eye.

Diablo 4 finally adds a mode it should have had on day one, but all I can think about is skinny Roadhog

Diablo 4 Season 14 is upon us, and it’s an important moment for Blizzard. Its Lord of Hatred expansion has largely been a triumph, rounding out the ongoing story arc and bringing a bit more needed structure to the endgame. The big question now is whether the studio can carry that momentum forward into its first big reset, keeping players coming back for more. There’s certainly a lot to look forward to in the ‘Season of Death Awakening,’ from the finalized implementation of proper leaderboards and SSF mode to a Warlock free trial and an Overwatch collab, although that latter addition has left me rather unsettled.

At the center of the new Diablo 4 season are “Dark Rituals creating multiple Ruptures throughout Sanctuary.” These Ruptures can appear anywhere, but most commonly spawn during the Helltide, and you want to keep them open for as long as possible by plowing through the creatures they spawn to maximize your rewards. If you’re a Path of Exile player, this feels a lot like Breach, one of PoE’s longest-running and most successful mechanics; it’s certainly a format I’m eager to try Diablo’s own take on.

Ruptures include a new family of monsters, the Risen. The more dangerous variants, ‘Surging’ and ‘Colossal’ Ruptures, have a chance to spawn a Realmwalker when completed (it’s guaranteed for the latter). Defeat this, and you’ll unlock a portal to the ‘Deathtoll Chamber,’ a “one-room mini-dungeon” that promises even more valuable loot. It’s also the main source for Superior Lair Keys, which you’ll need to open the seasonal Lair Boss hoard in Torment difficulties. The treadmill ticks ever onward.

After literally years of requests, Diablo 4 SSF mode is finally here. Solo Self-Found is a character toggle you can set when starting out. It can be used in either normal or hardcore, although must be made in the current season of the RPG. Activating this locks the character out of parties and trade, and restricts their shared stash, currency, and Paragon level to other SSF characters on the same account. There’s no way to turn it off, although it will be reverted at the end of the season when they move to the Eternal realm.

As someone who already plays most of my Diablo 4 this way (and typically makes separate characters for any co-op I engage in), I’m all for this mode. It ensures every loot drop counts, because you have to rely on what you find or craft yourself. Prove you’re the best, and you’ll get access to SSF-exclusive Tower leaderboards, now that the feature is finally out of beta. There will also be leaderboard cosmetics and titles based on both your progression through the Tower, and your finishing rank among other players.

If you prefer to run with others, there’s good news there. War Plans have been overhauled for co-op play and now offer the ability to sync up your current board with your party. To do this, you’ll need to all be in Temis, and the player who selects the ‘New Plan for Party’ prompt will roll a fresh War Plans board, which will then be shared with all other people in the group. Blizzard notes that this sync ignores player-specific factors such as your War Plans level, Torment tier, or campaign completion.

Every unique in the game now has the ability to drop as a mythic unique, at least in name. In practice, this is basically akin to Diablo 3’s ‘primal legendaries.’ They’re a guaranteed ancestral with a complete set of maximum rolls, and their unique powers are 30% stronger. Horadric Cube crafting now gives you the ability to make your own mythic uniques, although you’re only allowed to wear one crafted mythic at a time (again, this is exactly how D3’s primal legendary crafting works).

If you haven’t yet bought Lord of Hatred and are interested in trying out its new Warlock class, you can do so for free between Tuesday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 7. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too limited for my tastes – it only goes up to level 30, meaning you can’t really experience the class to its fullest. The trial is also limited to Battlenet, Xbox, and PlayStation, leaving Steam players out in the cold. If you do jump in and enjoy it, progress at least carries over, should you buy the expansion.

Okay, I’ve tried to put it out of my head, but I simply cannot. Let’s talk about the Diablo 4 Overwatch collab. I’m doing a bit of guesswork-matching here, but I feel confident that our loadout is: Genji as the Rogue, Reaper as the Necromancer, Brigitte as the Paladin, Moira as the Warlock, Reinhardt as the Barbarian, Kiriko as the Spiritborn, Roadhog as the Druid, and Mercy as the Sorcerer.

I can put aside the fact that some of these simply don’t look right due to Diablo 4’s pre-defined class face shapes, and that the likes of Mercy, Brigitte, and Moira look more like cosplayers than their original inspirations. We’re zoomed out pretty far, after all. But Roadhog just looks wrong. The Druid might be Diablo 4’s bulkiest class, but it still pales in comparison to the Australian tank’s iconic silhouette, and I simply do not like looking at it.

Personally, I might have opted for the likes of Hazard or Mauga, and let Roadhog take the place of the Butcher at random intervals – he even has the hook. Anyway, what’s done is done. Other than that, I think the cosmetics team at Blizzard has done a fairly admirable job of incorporating these new Overwatch skins into Diablo 4 in a way that doesn’t detract too much from its core art style. Certainly no more so than the Starcraft or World of Warcraft crossovers did, at least. Call me when we get D4 K-pop skins, or an equivalent to the new Nyan Café designs over in Overwatch land.

Diablo 4 Season 14, Season of Death Awakening, begins on Tuesday, June 30 at 10am PT / 1am ET / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST. There will be new seasonal journey rewards to earn, along with a fresh Battle Pass Reliquary. Blizzard has also announced extra Twitch Drops in the form of the ‘Final Headache’ two-handed mace, which can be claimed after watching two hours of eligible streams between June 30 and July 14.

The new Overwatch Nyan Café skins claw their way to eye-watering prices

What’s the most you’ve paid for an in-game cosmetic? Overwatch is looking to test your resolve with a fresh set of skins that are stretching the price point beyond anything we’ve seen in the multiplayer game before. The new Nyan Café bundle is headlined by a pair of outfits that Blizzard has dubbed ‘ultra skins,’ and it’s certainly put a price tag on to match. The pink cat outfits for Sierra and Kiriko come with some extra touches around the edge like custom sounds and kill effects, but that hasn’t been enough to convince the community of the dramatically increased cost.

The new line of ‘Nyan Café’ Overwatch skins are available in-game right now, but you’ll need to have quite the stack of Overwatch Coins to get your hands on them. The complete bundle includes the two ultra skins on Kiriko and Sierra, new highlight intros for the pair, three legendary outfits for Orisa, Ashe, and Reaper, and a selection of other emotes, sprays, weapon charms, and name cards to fill out the list. It will cost you 9,900 Overwatch Coins. Getting only the items designed for either Kiriko or Sierra sets you back 4,500, while each of the ultra skins by themselves come in at 3,500.

For calculation purposes, 500 Overwatch Coins costs $5 / £4.39, and 1,000 is $10 / £8.39. There is some ‘bonus currency’ thrown in if you buy bigger bundles, but none of these give enough to get you to that 3,500 mark. If you don’t already have any on your account, you’d therefore need to spend $35 / £29.56 for each ultra skin, excluding bundle savings. Spend $40 / £34.99 and you can reach the 4,500 bundle. Due to the way the tiers are structured, the best option for the full package is 11,800 Coins for $100 / £84.99, leaving you with 1,900 to spare (conveniently, this is the price of many modern legendary skins). Currently, you can earn a maximum of 600 Overwatch Coins for free from each of the seasonal battle passes.

Naturally, this has quickly become the main talking point among the community. On Reddit, user ‘Lirodes32’ posts, “And I thought $60 bundles were expensive.” Similar topics fill the rest of the forum, with players pointing out that the new highlight intros for Kiriko and Sierra are just close-up camera shots of their emotes from the same bundle, rather than unique animations. Perhaps most telling, however, is ‘ExtensionSoil3801,’ who writes: “I think we’re doomed. The literal first game of Overwatch I played and everyone has the pink cat skins…”

What makes these particular cosmetics ‘ultra’ (and therefore worth almost twice the price of legendary skins, according to Blizzard)? As far as I can tell, it’s just the addition of unique sound effects and custom ‘kill animations.’ These are basically holograms that flash up when you defeat an enemy, which seem more distracting than entertaining. I can’t say I’m convinced of the value proposition here, but ultimately I’m not the arbiter of aesthetics, and if people are prepared to pay, then we can expect more of these in the future.

I will give some credit where it’s due for the five emotes, all of which have the featured characters playing with pet cats in fun and thematic ways (Sierra teases hers with a drone, for example, while Ashe distracts hers with a laser pointer). I don’t think that justifies them also being incorporated as the highlight intros, however – and if Blizzard is going to do that, why not include the ones for Orisa, Reaper, and Ashe alongside the two co-stars?

Overwatch streamer ‘Flats’ sums up the community consensus best: “It’s just legendary skins with some extra sounds on it and a kill animation. Normally skins are $19, now it’s going to be $35? That is actually diabolical. There is no defending that. That is the price of a very good indie studio game.” I certainly won’t tell you how to spend your money, but I can safely say where I’d rather be putting mine.

PC price rises to slow this year, says Asus, though not in time for the Steam Machine launch

With gaming PC components having risen in price so much over the last six months, Asus has given a tiny glimmer of hope for the months ahead. According to Economic Daily News, Asus Systems Business General Manager Liao Yi-hsiang has declared that, thanks to some component prices already falling, any price increases in the coming months for Asus “PC products” would be small.

Specifically, Yi-hsiang says that they would be single-digit increases, referring to a 1-9% potential increase in price for affected Asus products. That’s still potentially a significant increase, particularly given the price of the best gaming laptops, for instance. However, it pales in comparison to the 300%+ increase we’ve seen for RAM and 40%+ increases we’ve seen for PC systems in recent months, such as the recent massive Steam Deck price increases and, of course, the notoriously higher-than-expected Steam Machine price.

The Economic Daily News reports that “Liao Yi-hsiang analyzed that PC product prices will still be slightly adjusted in the third quarter, but the increase is expected to be only in the single digits. The main reason is that the prices of components such as memory and hard drives have recently fallen back, and considering consumer acceptance, a large increase may exceed the market’s tolerance.”

The last line here is an interesting one, as it suggests Asus would like to increase prices more (whether out of the desire for extra profit or necessity not to lose money), but that it feels people simply wouldn’t buy the products. Given the general downturn in the market – and the reaction to the Steam Machine launching at such a high price – Asus is probably right on this assumption.

The specifics of this report refer to the Taiwanese market, which is both where Asus is based and where Economic Daily News reports from. However, the broader trends are likely to be reflected worldwide.

As to when any actual further price increases might occur, Liao Yi-hsiang refers to them being “slightly adjusted in the third quarter,” suggesting some price increase could happen ahead of peak tech sales in Fall/Winter.

When it comes to what might happen even further out from this, Asus didn’t offer any suggestion. However, there is a growing sense that the market is consolidating around current pricing, simply because demand for components being used in data centers isn’t letting up. We may see RAM prices fall back further from their peak, but don’t expect the Steam Deck to return to its original price this year, if ever.

Path of Exile 2’s incredible new build guide feature just got even easier to use

Path of Exile 2 has become much easier to recommend to my friends and any interested new players since the launch of its 0.5 update, Return of the Ancients. That’s partly thanks to Grinding Gear Games’ endgame rework, which transforms what was once an intimidating and endless grind into a handy list of clear, defined goals that help you learn how to progress. The other big piece of the puzzle, however, is the in-game integration of build guides, making it much easier to follow advice from the pros – and that particular tool is now easier than ever to take advantage of.

You don’t need to follow a build guide to enjoy Path of Exile 2; indeed, I’d generally encourage first-timers to just go in fresh and experiment for themselves. I know that can feel rather intimidating given how large the passive skill tree is, and the number of possible skill gems, supports, and item stats there are to learn, however. If you’d rather start out with some guidance, you can now import a build guide that will highlight your path through the passive tree, recommend specific stat priorities for each gear slot, and so on.

It’s a tremendous boon for learning the action RPG’s ins and outs. Even as someone with years of experience, I’ve been using a Whirling Assault Martial Artist build from ‘havoc616’ to assist my first foray into the PoE 2 Monk this season. Seeing the tree clearly highlighted, with nodes marked in priority order, has made it vastly simpler to adapt on the fly. I can follow the recommendations, making more informed decisions about where it’s worth deviating based on my current loadout, without having to constantly cross-reference back to a browser tab.

Now, using PoE 2 build guides is even easier. Grinding Gear Games has enabled the ability for guide creators to implement a ‘subscribe’ button on their build pages, which connects to your account on the Path of Exile website. You can then sign up to as many of these as you wish (in many cases, creators might include several versions to account for different stages of the progression), and they’ll automatically be updated in-game for you. If you’ve ever used loot filter subscriptions, it works in much the same way.

This is a twofold benefit: firstly, it cuts out the hassle of having to download a build file and then make sure you’re putting it in the right place on your PC. Secondly, these build subscriptions will automatically update, so you won’t need to worry that you might be missing any potentially important changes. You’re also free to upload your own creation, if you’ve planned one out yourself and want to have it incorporated into the game (or share it with others).

The other good news is that this opens up the build guide importing feature to PoE 2 players on consoles, who previously couldn’t use the tool due to the inability to copy files across. Unfortunately, GGG notes that it ran into some issues with the initial deployment of this on console and had to perform a rollback, so it may not be operating as intended at the time of writing. The dev says, “We’re working on getting this resolved as soon as possible.”

Bubsy 4D Free Download – WorldofPCGames

Download File

Bubsy 4D Direct Download:

Join Bubsy on a new, intergalactic, platforming adventure! Yeah, we couldn’t believe it either. The world’s most infamous, wise-cracking bobcat has returned to 3D with new challenges, new moves, and even more purrsonality – in space! Run, jump, glide, and roll across alien planets, battle robotic sheep, and collect tons and tons of yarn. What could possibly go wrong? Imperial Bureaucracy Hero Free Download (v0.3.21)

Bubsy’s longstanding enemies, the fleece-obsessed Woolies, have stolen all of the Earth’s sheep. Oh well, that ain’t Bubsy’s problem. Until the sheep overthrow their captors and return as deadly BaaBots, empowered by Woolie technology, determined to steal Bubsy’s most prized possession, The Golden Fleece.

With the help of his motley crew of acquaintances, Bubsy must journey through space to defeat the BaaBots and take back the Golden Fleece. Luckily, he’s acquired some new skills to navigate the expansive, craft-themed levels. Bubsy can leap, glide, claw his way up walls, and pounce off enemies. He can also puff up into a new hairball form to roll at blistering speeds. The team at Fabraz crafted this expressive new moveset to cater to beginners and speedrun enthusiasts alike. Once you’ve mastered Bubsy’s clawsome new moves, show off your skills by uploading your best level times to the online leaderboards for other players to race against!

Features

• Explore intergalactic, craft-themed worlds, each ending in a BaaBot boss battle
• New hairball form allows you to roll, bounce, and launch your way around
• An expressive platforming moveset supports both beginner and advanced levels of play
• Spend yarn to purrchase stylish new outfits, or collect a hidden blueprint in each level to unlock new moves and upgrades
• Tackle each level’s time trial, upload your best run, and race against other players’ ghost data
• Chat with a cast of furmiliar friends including Terri, Terry, Virgil, and Oblivia
• Pawsitively funky soundtrack by Fat Bard, incorporating elements of jazz, big band, electro-swing and more

Screenshots

System Requirements

Minimum
OS: Windows 10 or later
Processor: 3.0 GHz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce GT 740 or equivalent
Storage: 3 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam

Installation Guide

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂

Download File

Arc Raiders map – best Expedition loot spots

Loading into a new area in Arc Raiders is pretty impressive, with each one offering a different challenge and a different set of loot you can get your grubby little hands on. We’ve visited each of the maps in Arc Raiders and have all the information you could need.

Access to the Arc Raiders maps is staggered, with more becoming available as you complete rounds. This is to ensure you have a firm grip of the basics covered, we assume, because the later locations can eat a Raider alive if they don’t know what they’re doing. Here are all the maps in Arc Raiders and the best loot spots if you’re attempting an expedition.

Best expedition loot spots

Although gearing up for an Arc Raiders expedition can be a gradual process, there will be a time when you have to go out there with a specific goal in mind. We have the best, most convenient loot spots for each stage of each expedition, so you can complete it as quickly as possible. We have narrowed most items down to Dam Battlegrounds, as it is generally the easiest map to get around, and is usually home to the least aggressive players.

Expedition 1

Stage One

Item
Type
Map
Location

Metal Parts
Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Water Treatment Control, Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Rubber Parts
Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Water Treatment Control, Power Generation Complex

Arc Alloy
Arc
Dam Battlegrounds
Old Battleground

Steel Spring
Industrial
Dam Battlegrounds
Water Treatment Control, Hydroponic Dome Complex

Stage Two

Item
Type
Map
Location

Durable Cloth
Medical, Commercial
Dam Battlegrounds
Testing Annex

Wires
Electrical, Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Electrical Components
Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Cooling Fan
Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Research & Administration

Stage Three

Item
Type
Map
Location

Lightbulbs
Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Batteries
Technological, Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Sensors
Security, Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Control Tower

Exodus Modules
Exodus
Spaceport
Rocket Assembly

Stage Four

Item
Type
Map
Location

Humidifiers
Residential
Dam Battlegrounds
Ruby Residence, Pale Apartments

Advanced Electrical Components
Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Magnetic Accelerators
Exodus
Spaceport
Rocket Assembly

Leaper Pulse Units
Arc
Any
Found on destroyed Leapers

Expedition 2

Stage One

Item
Type
Map
Location

Metal Parts
Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Water Treatment Control, Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Plastic Parts
Commercial, Residential, Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Research & Administration

Arc Alloy
Arc
Dam Battlegrounds
Old Battleground

Steel Spring
Industrial
Dam Battlegrounds
Water Treatment Control, Hydroponic Dome Complex

Stage Two

Item
Type
Map
Location

Durable Cloth
Medical, Commercial
Dam Battlegrounds
Testing Annex

Wires
Electrical, Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Electrical Components
Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Cooling Coils
Industrial
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Stage Three

Item
Type
Map
Location

Light Bulbs
Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Battery
Technological, Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Shredder Gyro
Arc
Any
Looted from destroyed Shredders

Exodus Module
Exodus
Spaceport
Rocket Assembly

Stage Four

Item
Type
Map
Location

Frequency Mod Box
Exodus
Spaceport
Rocket Assembly

Advanced Electrical Components
Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Ion Sputters
Exodus
Spaceport
Rocket Assembly

Leaper Pulse Units
Arc
Any
Looted from destroyed Leapers

Expedition 3

Stage One

Item
Type
Map
Location

Metal Parts
Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Water Treatment Control, Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Chemicals
Mechanical, Residential, Medical
Dam Battlegrounds
Testing Annex, Water Treatment Control

Arc Alloy
Arc
Dam Battlegrounds
Old Battleground

Steel Spring
Industrial
Dam Battlegrounds
Water Treatment Control, Hydroponic Dome Complex

Stage Two

Item
Type
Map
Location

Durable Cloth
Medical, Commercial
Dam Battlegrounds
Testing Annex

Wires
Electrical, Technological
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Electrical Components
Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Industrial Chargers
Industrial
Dam Battlegrounds
Water Treatment Control

Stage Three

Item
Type
Map
Location

Coffee Pot
Residential
Dam Battlegrounds
Ruby Residence, Pale Apartments

Battery
Technological, Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex, Research & Administration

Firefly Burners
Arc
Any
Can be looted from destroyed Fireflies

Exodus Modules
Exodus
Spaceport
Rocket Assembly

Stage Four

Item
Type
Map
Location

Broken Guidance System
Industrial
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex, Hydroponic Dome Complex

Advanced Electrical Components
Electrical
Dam Battlegrounds
Power Generation Complex

Breathtaking Snow Globe
Residential, Old World, Commercial
Dam Battlegrounds
Ruby Residence, Pale Apartments

Bombardier Cell
Arc
Any
Can be looted from destroyed Bombardiers

New Arc Raiders map

With Riven Tides only recently washing up on our shores, it’s currently unclear what direction the next Arc Raiders map will take. We know the next update is called Frozen Trails, which suggests a chillier excursion. The new map is due in October.

All Arc Raiders maps

There are six maps in total, and a practice range for you to try out your new gear.

The Arc Raiders maps are:

• Dam Battlegrounds
• Buried City
• Spaceport
• The Blue Gate
• Stella Montis
• Riven Tides

Best Arc Raiders loot spots

Dam Battlegrounds

Here are the most important POIs in Dam Battlegrounds:

POI
Loot Rarity
Loot Type

Hydroponic Dome Complex
High
Nature, Industrial, Security

Control Tower
High
Technological, Security

Research & Administration
High
Commercial, Technological

Generator Hall
Medium
General

Power Generation Complex
Medium
Electrical, Industrial

Water Treatment Control
Medium
Industrial, Mechanical

Testing Annex
Medium
Medical, Commercial

Buried City

Here are the most important POIs in Buried City:

POI
Loot Rarity
Loot Type

Hospital
High
Medical

Space Travel
High
Commercial, Technological

Town Hall
High
Old World

Library
Medium
Commercial, Old World

Research
Medium
Medical, Technological

Grandioso Apartments
Medium
Residential

Plaza Rosa
Medium
Medical, Commercial

Spaceport

Here are the most important POIs in Spaceport:

POI
Loot Rarity
Loot Type

Arrival Building
High
Commercial, Technological

Launch Towers
High
Technological, Security

Departure Building
High
Commercial, Technological

Control Tower
High
Technological, Commercial

Container Storage
High
Industrial, Mechanical

Rocket Assembly
Medium
Security, Industrial

Vehicle Maintenance
Medium
Mechanical, Industrial

The Blue Gate

Here are the most important POIs in The Blue Gate:

POI
Loot Rarity
Loot Type

Pilgrim’s Peak
High
Technological, Electrical

Checkpoint
High
Mechanical

Village
Medium
Commercial, Residential

Raider’s Refuge
Medium
Residential

Warehouse Complex
Medium
Industrial

Ancient Fort
Medium
Old World, Technological

Stella Montis

Here are the most important POIs in Stella Montis:

POI
Loot Rarity
Loot Type

Cultural Archives
High
Old World

Medical Research
High
Medical, Technological

Seed Vault
High
Nature

Sandbox
Medium
Mechanical, Technological

Assembly Workshops
Medium
Technological

Lobby
Medium
Security, Technological

Riven Tides

Here are the most important POIs in Riven Tides:

POI
Loot Rarity
Loot Type

Hotel Panorama Azzurro
High
Commercial, Residential

Port Authority Building
High
Technological, Exodus

Stacking yard
Medium
Industrial, Exodus

Customs House
Medium
Industrial, Electrical

Now you know where to go on the Arc Raiders maps, it’s time to figure out how you’ll survive. Check out our best Arc Raiders builds guide for the optimal skill point allocation for your playstyle, make sure you bring backup with our Arc Raiders crossplay guide, and ensure you always have an escape plan with our Arc Raiders Hatch Key guide.