There is a weird juxtaposition in knowing that Halo is still one of the most influential video game properties in history and is still known as the Xbox franchise, but also knowing that the landscape in gaming is shifting and evolving, potentially putting Halo in a place where it doesn’t have the same reach that it had in the past. Realistically, the reach of Halo still places the series as a juggernaut in terms of sales, especially when we consider that Halo isn’t just a video game. Halo is multiple video games, a book series, a television series, and so much more.

Halo, in general, has had a few different chapters in its lifetime. In the beginning, the Bungie phase saw the original trilogy that built the groundwork Halo and made it a mega hit. In the second phase, 343 Industries took Halo into its next chapter and experienced growing competition. Now, Halo will be entering its third phase as 343 Industries rebrands to Halo Studios and boasts that the next Halo will shift to Unreal Engine 5 to reclaim the throne as a visual masterpiece in gaming.

While the next Halo hasn’t been formally announced yet, it does leave a good opportunity to look at all the mainline Halo games that came during the first two phases, with a ranked list.

8) Halo 5: Guardians

Halo 4 set the stage for building out a rich narrative with Master Chief and the relationship with Cortana. Halo 5, with the stage set, just needed to knock those pins down. Instead, Halo 5 was a miss on many different fronts. Players came to miss out on split-screen co-op, the campaign felt shorter while taking a backseat to the multiplayer, and Master Chief’s presence was significantly reduced. Halo 5: Guardians could have been such an easy success if it had just adequately followed up on the narrative setup from Halo 4.

7) Halo 3: ODST

Before the epic conclusion in Halo 3 comes the side story of Halo 3: ODST during the invasion of Earth by the Covenant. A group of elite ODSTs are separated following a botched jump down to the city. You take control of The Rookie to search and locate the rest of the missing squad.

The storytelling in ODST offered more depth, lore, and in a quasi-open world setting. A shortcoming, though, is that Halo 3: ODST felt like the scope of an expansion, but was originally priced at the same level as a full game. The campaign was quite short, and the multiplayer was Halo 3’s multiplayer repackaged to justify the price point. In modern landscapes, it’s a great additional piece of content associated with Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

6) Halo: Combat Evolved

The foundation of the entire Halo series was built quite strongly and with the original Halo: Combat Evolved. Halo, in a sense, is a game that defined the next generation of gaming for Millennials, shifting away from the Nintendo 64, and looking to play more serious co-op games with friends.

Whether in single-player or couch co-op, there was an art to fighting the Covenant, driving the Warthog, and taking down the Banshees. The issue is that while it’s a nostalgic experience with Halo: Combat Evolved, the game has not aged as well for newer audiences (or even older audiences) to revisit. Even with consideration of the remaster, sprinting isn’t an option, and a lot of the level design is redundant, which makes it more difficult for modern gamers to consider jumping into the OG Halo.

5) Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite was the first foray into an open-world setting for the Halo franchise, which graphically and mechanically was a success as a beautiful open-world title. The addition of new enemies associated with The Banished and the inclusion of the Grappleshot feels very organic as a new mechanic to Master Chief’s arsenal.

However, Halo Infinite does leave the feeling of a series that is still trying to find itself within the changing landscape of gaming, both as an FPS title and as an RPG. Halo Infinite largely leaves out the Covenant, but does see the setting shifting to a Halo (Halo Zeta), which leaves a feeling of loss towards the original alien race that has been pertinent to the series since its origins. That being said, the combat, enemies, and boss battles associated with Halo Infinite make the experience exceptionally enjoyable for a reboot in a post-Halo 5 world.

4) Halo: Reach

Halo: Reach is a prequel in the series, starting before Halo: Combat Evolved, but it feels more modern and still holds its own to this day. This was the last Halo title produced by Bungie, and it delved deeper into mankind’s war with the Covenant, and offered up armor abilities as a refresh for multiplayer.

You play as Noble Six, a member of the elite Noble Team, defending the world of Reach from a Covenant invasion. Narratively, the game offered up an ultra-satisfying end to the Bungie-led Halo games, with the only major issue being that the events of Reach don’t perfectly follow the events and timeline established in the Halo: The Fall of Reach novel.

3) Halo 4

There was a lot of pressure with Halo 4, as this was the first Halo title developed by 343 Industries. With the pressure on, the delivery came through exceptionally well. Halo 3‘s story wrapped up completely, but left on a small cliffhanger that proceeded into Halo 4. This new storytelling opportunity was well thought out, with Master Chief awakening from Cryo sleep and drifting towards the Forerunner planet of Requiem.

While the Covenant remains in play as antagonists as a splinter faction, more depth was offered, for there is also the introduction of mech warriors from the Forerunner Empire, Prometheans, for players to contend with. Separately, the length and growth of the relationship with Master Chief and Cortana was something of special note, given that these character developments and growth were always in mind as Cortana became more and more important in Halo.

2) Halo 2

Halo 2 took a brave step against the original Halo: Combat Evolved by including the ability to play as The Arbiter. In the first title, audiences got to see the most terrifying moment of being rushed by enemies who have the Plasma Sword. In Halo 2, the role switches to gain control of utilizing the Plasma Sword as The Arbiter, and perhaps more importantly, getting a deeper understanding of the Covenant up close and personal. An important element of that understanding was also about creating more depth to the Covenant as not just an enemy alien race, but as a potential ally to humanity against the Flood, which came to its cusp as a monumental moment when The Arbiter and Master Chief meet.

1) Halo 3

Where boys became men. So much more can be said, or nothing more at all, and everyone who played through Halo 3 will immediately agree to the same story: this is where boys became men. The final mission of Halo 3, driving the Warthog and making the jump into Forward Unto Dawn, is one of the most standout moments in gaming history and defines the end of an era.

Halo 3 centers on Master Chief fighting a combined invasion of Earth by the Flood and Covenant, centering around the activation of the Halo rings via the Forerunner Ark on Earth. While allies like the Arbiter are still involved in Halo 3, this character is ultimately reduced to a side character against his co-protagonist role in Halo 2, which feels like a loss. Still, even these shortcomings don’t keep Halo 3 from being the best game that the series has ever seen.

The post Every Mainline Halo Game Ranked From Worst to Best appeared first on ComicBook.com.

You are neither a good person nor a bad person; we are all just a weird mix of our actions and what they shape us to be. You’re flawed, but that’s what makes you, you. These flaws are what is often missing in video games, but this is where The Last of Us proves it has some of the best writing and characters in video game history.

Looking back, The Last of Us Part I had more depth to its cast than The Last of Us Part II, even though the time we spent with each character was considerably longer. Part II did a fantastic job at bringing the WLFs alive and I felt the weight of each loss through Abby’s eyes. However, much like my issue with flawless Jesse, there wasn’t enough development for each WLF member. To summarize: Owen got on my nerves, Nora was a boss, Manny was alright, Mel was a pregnant icon, and Jordan had a “bitch scar”. Their flaws seemed restricted to the ugliness that seeped out of them when enacting their revenge on Joel for killing their families and destroying the Fireflies.

Related: 7 Saddest The Last of Us Moments That I’ll Never Forget

Characters like Bill, Tess, and Lev are great side characters that make the protagonist question their role in the world, acting as their conscience throughout the story. They’re just not as fleshed-out as Ellie or Joel. Tommy and Maria are pillars in Joel’s life and quickly become Ellie’s family. They get much-needed development and screen time in Part II and we see selfishness get in the way of their usual rational and diplomatic approach as leaders. Finally, Riley and Sarah are pivotal characters in Ellie and Joel’s backstories, both being the reason for the duo to push forward—survive and endure.

We’ve chosen the five best characters in The Last of Us game series—not based on biases—but by which characters have the most depth.

5) Marlene

What The Last of Us does so well is that neither side is good or bad, but depending on the perspective we’re looking at, our views are always bent towards the playable character. We will always see Joel and Ellie as the protagonists, where anyone who opposes them are the villains. But are we truly playing as the good guys? At least we can all agree that David was a certified wrong’un.

If the roles were swapped around, Joel would appear like an absolute monster through Marlene’s eyes. Knowing the Fireflies would continue to pursue Ellie, Joel decided to take Marlene out, alongside the scientists who could have brought this punishing world of survival to an end. Both characters were right in their views and made a difficult decision that would have massive repercussions for the future, but Marlene’s choice might have saved everyone. We’re meant to side with Joel, but for obvious reasons, Marlene shouldn’t be disliked, as she was willing to sacrifice someone she cared about if it meant that a cure could be made. She (like Joel) removed that choice from Ellie, as she likely didn’t want a child to deal with such an impossible decision.

4) Dina

The thing I love most about Dina is how she’s able to stay so positive in a hopeless world. You could get bitten any day, your rations and ammunition stolen by bandits, or succumb to the elements. Yet Dina remains forever the optimist. Much like how Ellie was in Part I, Dina is curious about a lot of things, and often reminiscences about the past. But she’s equally looking to her future, specifically with Ellie. Dina has moments where she acts on impulse, as if she’s forgotten how dire the situation truly is. This woman was ready to risk breathing in spores so that Ellie wouldn’t. That’s love right there.

The world to Dina is normal, and she’s adjusted to deal with it and be able to find happiness where she can. Dina clearly tries to live life to the fullest and adapt to whatever situation is in front of her. She won’t let the world bring her down. She knows what she wants and won’t let anyone stop her from being happy. In such an unforgiving and cruel place, Dina is kind and a positive influence to Ellie, being the light when darkness engulfs her. While she loves Ellie, she didn’t want to stay cooped up in their home with that gnawing thought that Ellie may never return. The pain of possibly losing her was worse, so she chose to leave and prioritize her son, JJ.

3) Abby

I don’t care what anyone says, I like Abby. She’s an interesting mix of Joel and Ellie’s flaws, being determined, vengeful, and hellbent on avenging her father. But, just like Ellie, Abby learns you don’t find peace from your pain by hurting others. While she goes to the extreme, Abby is hurting throughout Part II. Her story is one we should all relate to as we would all get hit hard by the loss of a family member, especially those taken from us too soon at the hands of another person.

What is so damn good about switching perspectives to the obvious antagonist in Part II is that Ellie is villainized through Abby’s eyes. The roles are reversed, perfectly capturing how neither character is inherently good or bad, but have sadly lost themselves through their grief.

It is through protecting Lev that she learns to love again and find that conscience to do the right thing, even if it’s the hard choice to make. Abby develops as a human being, starting out cold and heartless, to empathetic and protective of those she loves. We saw how her actions (much like Joel’s) had terrible repercussions (the death of her friends). Abby had a caring nature before her father’s death, and deep down, this is who she is; it’s just the pain that has transformed her into a killing machine. Returning to that place is a difficult task to achieve and Abby will probably never be the same again, but she now has to follow in her father’s footsteps in protecting her new family.

2) Joel

Who doesn’t love Joel? Seriously, who? His characterisation is so flawed, human, and real, making him really easy to understand and align with. Joel doesn’t do good things, he’s no hero, or the standard action man protagonist we’re used to seeing shoved in our faces all the time. Joel is a monster. But he’s also a father. A man who has suffered horrendous pain by losing a child and blaming himself for not protecting her, even though he did his absolute best.

“You have no idea was loss is.” Joel’s words and his song in Part II about losing oneself to grief would become a reality for Ellie. Joel is incredibly strong because he chooses to keep going. He didn’t regret his decision at the hospital because he’d rather live in a world where Ellie was still alive. In this instance, Joel finally has control, and he won’t stand by and allow his other daughter to die.

The Last of Us continuously shows us there is no good and evil, right or wrong, just the actions that a human chooses to make. Some decisions are difficult, nearly impossible to make, but Joel continues to carry that burden so no one else does. He knows his time is coming, but in his own way, he repents for his actions by loving and protecting Ellie. He finds his reason to continue living once more and a purpose that can bring back his humility. Joel has so much depth that he puts most other TLOU characters to shame, being an easy man to adore, judge, but never hate.

1) Ellie

Ellie is, in my opinion, the best video game character ever written. You see her as a wholesome, naïve kid in the midst of an apocalypse who finds love and shares joy in the presence of her best friend, Riley. Her life is altered forever when she learns she’s immune at the same time her first love is also infected. This transforms Ellie into a more standoffish character who’s petrified of people getting close to her because they always die. Ellie was scared to be alone and felt safe with Joel.

Her character gains greater depth in Part II as she’s forced to watch her father figure get killed in front of her. This would change anyone, of course, but Ellie seeks revenge to get the closure she sadly missed, as spending time with Joel was no longer possible. Ellie’s way of living was hugely impacted by Riley, who viewed survival as a means to be with each other for however long they could. It could be for as little as one minute, but Ellie would choose to survive so that she could be with her loved ones. But the person she had made plans to forgive was suddenly taken from her because of Abby, and that time they had together was up.

You can see her love for history, the curiosity to explore, and the desire to learn new things. She remains curious about the world, even as it’s falling apart around her. While her progress is hindered by her revenge arc, there is no correct way to mourn. Ellie sought revenge at whatever cost, realizing she lost Dina, her ability to play the guitar, and herself along the way. Where she ends up we don’t know, but Ellie was finally able to take the first step in moving on, showing her strength in a moment where giving up would have been okay.

The post 5 Best The Last of Us Characters, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Elden Ring Nightreign will soon hit stores, keeping fans busy for a while, but the franchise is also heading to the big screen, and we might have the first cast reveal for the film. Deadline is reporting that Elden Ring, which is being directed by Alex Garland, is in talks with Kit Connor to star in the film in an unknown role. Connor worked with Garland on their Warfare project, so we might have a reunion on our hands, but sources do stress that several factors need to be worked out before this is 100% done. That said, those same sources also say that both Garland and Connor want this to happen.

Garland is writing and directing the film, with Peter Rice, DNA’s Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich, George R.R. Martin, and Vince Gerard producing. The film is being developed by A24 and Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., and it will be the fifth project Garland has worked on with A24. In fact, Garland has developed all but one of his films with A24, including the most recent release of Warfare.

In addition to his role as Tommy in Warfare, Connor has been a standout in Netflix’s Heartstopper as Nick Nelson, though he’s also worked in the video game space with roles in A Plague Tale: Requiem, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and Dreams. Up next for Connor is an untitled Heartstopper project and Rapture, which are both in pre-production, while One of Us and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow are both either completed or in post-production.

Few video game properties are as hot right now as Elden Ring, which has now shipped over 30 million units. The game launched in 2022 and quickly became a massive hit, and since then the studio has released an expansion (Shadow of the Eritrea) and the latest release, which is titled Elden Ring Nightreign, though Nightreign changes things up a bit from the previous formula.

[RELATED: 10 Best Elden Ring Bosses (Including Shadow of the Erdtree), Ranked]

Nightreign is a standalone adventure in the Elden Ring world, so you don’t have to own the original game to jump right in. When you do jump in, though, there are some major differences, including the fact that Nightreign is a multiplayer-focused title where you and some friends take down the game’s powerful bosses together. You have eight unique characters to choose from as you make your way across an evolving map, and over the course of three nights, you will end up facing a powerful Nightlord to gain powerful new items and experience to help with your continuing adventures the next day.

ComicBook’s Tanner Dedmon reviewed the game and called it the boss rush he’s always wanted. You can find an excerpt from his full review below, and you can find his full review right here.

“Most series and studios find themselves typically relegated to either single-player or multiplayer with only the occasional crossover between the two, but famed Dark Souls creator FromSoftware finds itself in an odd spot with Elden Ring Nightreign. I don’t think anyone would honestly consider Elden Ring a multiplayer game, but it does the job surprisingly well from years of Souls experience culminating in a pretty coherent, engaging online experience. Elden Ring Nightreign then is both the summation and flipside of that experience – it’s friend-focused first and foremost with a dash of solo play, and it’s the best version of a multiplayer Souls experience that I’ve seen so far,” Dedmon wrote.

Are you excited for an Elden Ring movie? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things gaming and movies with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Elden Ring Movie Star Revealed as Warfare Star Boards Video Game Adaptation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new report from Windows Central suggests that plans for a Microsoft-developed Xbox handheld have been sidelined so that Microsoft’s full focus can be on improving Windows 11’s performance on third-party handheld PCs. This news comes as a disappointment, as rumors regarding an official Xbox handheld have circulated for a while and have even been addressed by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer.

The report goes on to explain that Microsoft wants to “prioritize” the gaming performance of Windows 11. In turn, this will allow the OS to function and run games more smoothly on third-party handheld PCs that use Windows as the primary operating system. This will be seen next in a previously reported upon Asus handheld codenamed Project Kennan, which will reportedly be positioned as a partner device for Xbox. Windows Central claims that the software side of Kennan still requires a “significant effort” from its developers, even though the hardware side is “essentially finished” and the device is reportedly set to release this year.

In the long term, it appears that this may only be a temporary setback in the effort to create new official Xbox hardware, such as a handheld. Windows Central goes as far as to say that “Microsoft is still deeply investing in developing its own Xbox gaming handheld technology in the future,” even though third-party handhelds are now what’s being primarily prioritized. A next-gen Xbox console is also reportedly slated for 2027, and Microsoft is in the process of upgrading its Xbox Cloud Gaming technology. There have also reportedly been no layoffs as a result of this shift, which is a positive sign and suggests that this move is truly a matter of resource allocation.

Keep in mind that Microsoft and Asus have yet to officially announce an Xbox-related handheld, despite both having been heavily teased and rumored. If Windows Central’s reporting is accurate, we can expect Asus’ device to arrive sometime later this year, in the midst of a fall lineup featuring titles like Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2.

The post Xbox Handheld Plans Have Reportedly Been Paused (For Now) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Elden Ring Nightreign departs from FromSoftware’s beloved formula to offer a gaming experience designed primarily for three-player cooperation. That doesn’t mean brave Nightfarers can’t explore Limveld alone, as it’s perfectly possible to beat the game solo, albeit a lot more challenging. With six starter classes and two unlockable ones, Elden Ring Nightreign even offers a wide variety of character builds to appease any playstyle, allowing you to choose how you want to tackle demanding boss battles and unstoppable hordes of enemies. However, even if it’s possible to play the game with any Nightfarer, some classes are better than others in solo mode, due to the specificities of Elden Ring Nightreign‘s game loop.

Warning: Spoilers below for Elden Ring Nightreign

The two Nightfarers you have to unlock in Elden Ring Nightreign are great for support. The Duchess’ ability to evade faster and chain dodges might seem enticing for solo players, but her tiny health bar means every mistake can be fatal, especially against bosses. Plus, the Duchess’ Ultimate Art can turn the entire team temporarily invisible, an ability that’s better when there are multiple players to benefit from it. Similarly, the Revenant’s ability to summon spirits is not as good as it sounds, as the spirits are not strong enough to compensate for a high-damage Nightfarer. Furthermore, the Revenant’s Ultimate Art turns everyone temporarily invincible, something that, again, works better for a team.

[RELATED: 3 Ways an Elden Ring TV Show Could Work]

There are some great battle–focused Nightfarers that, when playing solo, get challenged by the ticking clock. The Ironeye, focused on archery, can keep a safe distance, but his average damage output is the lowest of all Nightfarers, meaning it takes too long to kill bosses and get rewards. Something similar happens with the Executor, whose deflect ability is also best used against single enemies, which means killing one target at a time. Finally, the Guardian’s core advantages revolve around shield counters, another technique that’s perfect for group play but that slows down the gameplay in solo mode.

Things start to improve when we reach the Wylder and the Recluse, both capable of dealing heavy damage fast enough for them to be viable options. The Wylder, as a jack-of-all-trades, can also use an extensive array of weapons, even if he’s never the best with any of them. The Recluse, in turn, has an ability to constantly refill her FP bar, which means she can fire spells nonstop. However, while they are viable options, the Raider is still king of solo play.

The Raider Is the Best Solo Class in Elden Ring Nightreign

When it comes down to Elden Ring Nightreign, success can be pinpointed to dealing high damage fast and surviving many attacks. The Raider is the best starting class on both fronts. Since he specializes in colossal weapons, you start each run with a two-handed hammer that can easily break enemies’ guard and allow you to riposte. Plus, the Raider’s Character Skill is a powerful blow that improves if he has taken damage during the fight. 

While avoiding all damage is always preferable, most players do not have the skill to evade each attack. So, a class that turns failures into an advantage is the best for playing alone. Plus, while using his Character Skill, any attack that would kill the Raider leaves him with 1 HP instead. Yes, that’s right. If you know you can’t escape a deadly attack, you can use this skill to survive longer, buying a few seconds to chug down some estus and keep fighting.

The Raider’s Ultimate Art is also the most effective for solo play. With it, you summon a massive gravestone that does a lot of damage to everything around it after it appears. The gravestone remains in the field for a while, as a temporary cover from attacks or a platform from which you can jump and plunge-attack your enemies. The gravestone can also help you reach higher places, making traversal easier and faster, and it can even break statues filled with upgrade material that strengthens your weapons. That means the Raider can always use all its abilities to the fullest, regardless of playing solo. In addition, its simplified control scheme makes it ideal for newcomers, as you don’t need to learn complex maneuvers to bonk your way into victory.

Elden Ring Nightreign is currently available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and PS5.

Which class do you like the most in Elden Ring Nightreign? Let us know in the comments!

The post This Is By Far the Best Class to Play Elden Ring Nightreign Solo appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The way Elden Ring Nightreign is structured means players are constantly on the run, trying to level up and haul as much loot as possible before the night falls. Since Limveld’s map is huge, and points of interest change each run, players must also make split-second decisions to decide where to go first and what to prioritize in the limited time they are given. Fortunately, points of interest in Elden Ring Nightreign always offer the same kind of reward based on which you visit, meaning that if you know what to grab first and what to avoid, you increase your chances of successfully beating a Nightlord.

To be clear, every location in Limveld’s map is relevant somehow, as killing bosses and opening chests increases your chances of getting the rewards you need for your build. However, some points of interest are universally useful, regardless of your class or playstyle. Meanwhile, others are too bothersome for the reward they give, unless specific conditions are met. With that in mind, here are the best (and worst) points of interest to keep an eye out for in Elden Ring Nightreign.

1) Rush to: Church of Marika

While avoiding getting hit is the primary survivability tool in Elden Ring Nightreign, sometimes you just can’t dodge an enemy in time. The Flask of Crimson Tears, just like in the original Elden Ring, allow you to partially recover your health points and keep you in the fray for longer. At the start of each new run in Elden Ring Nightreign, you have only three Flask charges. However, there are always three Churches of Marika that spawn in Limveld, each containing a new charge to be added to your Flask. While it’s not prudent to ignore everything else and only chase Churches of Marika, it’s essential to plan your run in a way that you move through the Churches, as more Flask of Crimson Tears charges can mean the difference between life and death when the night falls.

2) Avoid: Tunnels

Tunnels are a sure way to obtain materials that you can use to upgrade your weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign, which might sound enticing for newcomers. However, the upgrade system of Elden Ring Nightreign has been streamlined to the point where weapons can only be improved once or twice, depending on their rarity. That means you won’t need a lot of upgrade material in a single run. Furthermore, you can also find upgrade material with merchants and inside statues that appear in the field. Finally, since you can always find new weapons that might be better, upgrading an armament too early in a run often results in wasted resources.

[RELATED: 3 Ways an Elden Ring TV Show Could Work]

Entering a tunnel can be a hazardous endeavor, especially after sunset. Since Tunnels have narrow corridors, it can be difficult to escape the dangerous effects of the evening, meaning you can be blocked in the underground while the Nightlord’s rain quickly consumes your health. So, it’s best to avoid Tunnels unless you are specifically looking to upgrade a weapon and it’s still early in the day.

3) Rush to: Evergaols

As soon as you find a Stonesword Key in your Elden Ring Nightreign run, you should rush to the closest Evergoal on the map. Opening an Evergoal means summoning either a boss or a horde of enemies that you can quickly dispatch for a bounty of runes. While the passive abilities of weapons help you get stronger, leveling up is still the quickest way to increase your damage output and survivability. That means Evergaols are always a good stop to farm runes. Just remember to spend them at the closest Site of Grace.

4) Avoid: Legendary Bosses

After you survive a full day in Elden Ring Nightreign, several Legendary Bosses spawn on the map. These mighty challenges will reward players with loot of increased rarity, which could be something you are looking for. However, fighting these bosses is incredibly time-consuming and dangerous. 

The Legendary creatures have a significant health pool that you must chip away at, and they are well-equipped to kill greedy Nightfarers who dare to oppose them. Because of that, it’s only advisable to go after Legendary bosses once you feel confident in your build and the team’s synergy, as taking down one of these beasts demands everyone to be on top of their game. Plus, you should avoid facing Legendary challenges late in the day, as chances are you will waste your resources and fail to slay them before the rain starts to fall.

5) Rush to: Castles

Every time you kill a boss in Elden Ring Nightreign, or a group of enemies with a shared health bar, you are granted a reward. Each player, when interacting with this reward, is offered three choices between new weapons or permanent increments to stats. As a result, your goal each day is to kill as many bosses as possible, as stacking these rewards will prepare you to face the Nightlords.

Castles are great places to go hunting because these vast structures usually house three or four bosses you can kill. There’s always a boss in the castle dungeons, two on the rooftops, and frequently one in the main gates. So, without having to run from one place to another, you can take down bosses in sequence, acquiring runes and rewards. That’s a time-saver, as you can complete a castle fairly quickly once you get the hang of the game and avoid wasting precious minutes going from one point of interest to another.

The post 3 Elden Ring Nightreign POIs to Visit First (And 2 to Avoid) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

If you played Elden Ring Nightreign during the technical test that was live months ago, you may have spent some time with the Duchess, the dexterity-based class. She’s quick on her feet and can deal massive damage through bleed and other effects with the caveat being that if she gets hit, she gets hard. She was playable alongside the Recluse, Wylder, and Guardian during the technical test, and it’s quite possible Elden Ring Nightreign players are planning on maining her now that the game is officially rolling out worldwide.

However, you may be surprised to see that the Duchess is not actually available from the start. Once you get to Limveld’s version of the Roundtable Hold, characters like the Wylder and Raider and more are present, but the Duchess isn’t. That’s because you actually have to unlock her first, but thankfully, it’s a task that’ll be completed pretty quickly once you get your bearings in Limveld.

Unlocking the Duchess in Elden Ring Nightreign

Before you unlock the Duchess, you’re going to have to get used to playing as someone else first, so hopefully you have a backup character in mind. That’s because you have to first clear the initial boss run against the Tricephalos which is the three-headed dog boss that was also present in the network test.

Once you clear the Tricephalos for the first time, in your post-run loot screen, you’ll see that you’ve obtained an Old Pocket Watch item. In true FromSoftware fashion, however, you aren’t really told what to do with it.

To use it, head back to the central area of the Roundtable Hold and talk to the hooded Priestess who’s been your guide so far. She’ll notice the pocket watch and will request it saying that it’s hers. A short cutscene will play to reveal that — surprise! — the Priestess was the Duchess all along. Once that scene ends, you’ll be able to take the Duchess on future runs.

As mentioned previously, the Duchess is all about dealing quick damage with smaller Dexterity-focused weapons like daggers and short swords, but she’s proficient in spells as well if you prefer to use a bit of magic. Her base ability excels at capitalizing on coordinated damage while her ultimate gets her and allies out of tricky situations, but be sure you have someone like a Guardian or Raider on your team to be the frontline if you’re picking Duchess.

The post How to Unlock Elden Ring Nightreign’s Duchess appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Like the Duchess in Elden Ring Nightreign, you have to first unlock the Revenant before you can play as her. The cryptic character is far different from the other playable Nightfarers in Nightreign and has one of the biggest learning curves of all since you’ll have to manage more than just yourself, but her ability to provide breathing room for her team and save others at critical moments is unmatched. Before you worry about any of that, however, you’ll have to unlock her.

Unlike the Duchess, however, the Revenant takes a bit more legwork to unlock, but not much. Unlocking the Revenant in Elden Ring Nightreign requires a bit of in-game currency as well as a boss fight, so you’ll again have to familiarize yourself with another character first.

Unlocking the Revenant in Elden Ring Nightreign

To play as the Revenant, you’ll have to pay a visit to the Small Jar Bazaar that’s located in the Roundtable Hold. The small jar man is the same one you buy cheap relics and emotes from, but you can always fast-travel to him via the Roundtable Hold map if you lose your bearings.

At the Small Jar Bazaar, you’ll find a Besmirched Frame in the store (mine was buyable after unlocking the Duchess, so it seems you have to do that first). After buying that, you’ll now be able to spot a ghostly phantom in the corner of an eastern room in the Roundtable Hold. She’s looking at a painting, but when you interact with her, you’ll be transported to a memory-like experience.

The Revenant exists in this realm, but she’s guarded by the three summons that she uses as part of her ability kit. Defeat them first to be able to fight her uninterrupted, and once you best her, she’ll be added to your roster.

Similar to the Duchess, the Revenant is far from a healthy frontliner and needs a coherent team to make her supportive abilities worthwhile. Her whole focus is summoning spectral allies to help her in battles which can deal damage or draw the attention of enemies. While they fight, the Duchess excels at using Faith or Arcane-based abilities from the backline.

Once you’ve unlocked the Revenant, that’s all you have to worry about in regards to character unlocks. Other characters are to be added later via DLC, but the Duchess and Revenant will round out the current roster for you.

The post How to Unlock Elden Ring Nightreign’s Revenant appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In numerous forms of media, the apocalypse provides people with an excuse to surrender to their primal instincts. In the Mad Max franchise, everyone fights over resources using tricked-out vehicles, while Snowpiercer depicts the lower class on a train having to eat bugs to survive. HBO’s The Last of Us isn’t as fantastical as those properties, but it’s still got plenty to say about humanity and what becomes of it after society collapses. David’s group, for example, resorts to eating humans to survive the cold winters in Colorado. Season 2 takes things a step further by introducing a cult full of religious fanatics who have no qualms about gutting their enemies.

At first, the Seraphites don’t seem so bad, with the Washington Liberation Front, aka the WLF, ambushing them while they peacefully make their way to their new home. However, as The Last of Us Season 2 progresses, it becomes clear that the Seraphites are every bit as dangerous as the WLF and answer to a strange figure who appears in art all over Seattle.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Last of Us Part II video game!

The Seraphites Have Their Own Way of Doing Things in The Last of Us

When Ellie and Dina arrive in Seattle, they stumble across the bodies of a group of Seraphites. Since they don’t have any guns and there are children among them, Ellie takes the scene as more evidence that Abby and her group have to go. Visiting the WLF outpost changes things, though, because the two girls stumble upon WLF soldiers with their guts spilling out and the words “Feel Her Love” written in blood on the wall, making it clear the Seraphites aren’t just retaliating but fighting in someone’s name.

The actions of the WLF’s leader, Isaac, only pour fuel on the fire because, while he’s a disturbed individual, he knows what it’s like to subjugate people and still doesn’t have any problem torturing Seraphites, whom he refers to as “Scars.” The conflict between the two groups clearly dates back several years, and while the details surrounding it are murky at best, there is mention of a treaty in The Last of Us Season 2 that’s no longer in place. So, at some point, the groups met up and came to some kind of understanding, but all that went out the window, and it’s hard to believe the “her” the Seraphites talk about didn’t have something to do with that.

[RELATED – The Last of Us Shows Why Video Game Adaptations Can’t Please Fans]

The Seraphites Feel More Than One Person’s Love in The Last of Us Season 2

Exploring more of Seattle allows Dina and Ellie to come across more Seraphite propaganda. They notice symbols and portraits of a white woman who is seemingly the group’s prophet. However, Season 2’s finale throws that theory for a loop by showing a different art piece that portrays a Black woman as the prophet, with Ellie even going as far as to ask, “Is there more than one?” The show doesn’t explore the topic any further because Ellie has bigger fish to fry, but Season 3 is sure to dive into the Seraphite lore, especially during the attack on the group’s island.

While next season is sure to adapt some of the major Seraphite moments from The Last of Us Part II, things are going to be different because there’s only one prophet in the game. She dies before Ellie arrives in Seattle, sparking an all-out war between the Seraphites and the WLF. The show may have events play out the same, but rather than have the elders assume control of the group, it will opt to have another person fill the role of prophet or even build different factions. How that alters the course of Abby’s story remains to be seen, but, given her appearance in the theater in the finale, it’s entirely possible that the new prophet has a mean streak and won’t think twice about wiping out the WLF when they come knocking on her door.

The Last of Us Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.

Did you catch Ellie’s line about there being more than one Seraphite prophet in The Last of Us Season 2? How do you think the change will affect Season 3’s story?

The post The Last of Us Made a Surprising Change to One Major Character With Just One Line appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Rockstar Games is one of the most well-respected video game studios in the industry, but they didn’t get here without a fair bit of controversy. In case you’re too young or simply don’t remember, Rockstar Games would frequently catch a lot of mainstream flak around the release of its new games. This was mainly a problem for the Grand Theft Auto series, but it extended to other games like Bully and Manhunt 2 as well. News outlets would talk about how outrageous their games were with the extreme violence, hypersexual content, and the fact that you could commit all kinds of crimes.

There was a lot of hysteria about Rockstar Games back in the day, and there was pressure from public officials and politicians to go as far as banning some of their titles. It seems like that intensity has died down in recent years, but Rockstar has also only released two brand new games in the last 12 years. However, almost a full decade ago, an unauthorized movie was made about Rockstar Games that depicted the company’s public battles while also creating one of the biggest entertainment franchises on the planet.

In 2015, just two years after the release of Grand Theft Auto V, the BBC released a docudrama called The Gamechangers. The film starred Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe as Rockstar Games co-founder Sam Houser and Twister star Bill Paxton as lawyer and noted Rockstar Games hater Jack Thompson. The film was not authorized by Rockstar Games and explicitly opens with a line of text that notes this, which probably won’t surprise you given that Rockstar won’t even make movies on its own games. All of the events of the film are constructed based on interviews with ex-developers or court documents.

This movie is virtually impossible to find, and you probably will never get to see it unless you scrub the depths of the internet. It’s not streaming anywhere, there is no physical release, and I was lucky enough to recently discover a link for it on the Internet Archives, but it has since been taken down. I have spent years looking for it because I am a huge Rockstar Games fan, and it’s one of the only pieces of Rockstar-adjacent media I’ve never experienced. I was fortunate enough to watch it before it was taken down and it’s a very interesting movie, albeit one that’s a bit absurd.

The Gamechangers is like Rockstar’s equivalent of The Social Network, except it lacks the finesse of a control freak director like David Fincher and the sharp writing of someone like Aaron Sorkin. We get to go inside Rockstar Games following the release of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and see how the team builds Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which Sam Houser hopes will be an innovative magnum opus that reframes the way people look at video games. Houser is heavily influenced by Top Gun producer Don Simpson, even going as far as uttering the cringe-inducing phrase: “What would Don Simpson do?”

There are even some glimpses at the notorious frat boy culture that Rockstar was once accustomed to. However, this isn’t really the focus of the movie. It’s a big piece of it, but a lot of the making of San Andreas is hand-waved with boring tech jargon and vague statements about how great it will be, which feels redundant.

Instead, The Gamechangers hones in on the beef between Rockstar and Jack Thompson, a lawyer who was so gung-ho in trying to take down Rockstar that he ended up getting himself disbarred in the process. His main concern was that he feared the effect that Rockstar’s games could have on children and was known for making defamatory statements, professional misconduct, and more. At one point, he called Grand Theft Auto IV “the gravest assault upon children in this country since polio” in an effort to highlight how dangerous he believed the game was. Pretty extreme, yeah?

In the film, Thompson is put on to Grand Theft Auto when he learns of a real teen named Devin Moore who committed three murders after playing Vice City. Before committing any acts of actual violence, Moore is taken into custody on suspicion of stealing a vehicle. In jail, he steals an officer’s weapon and kills three cops before stealing a police car. All of this is shown through the classic GTA third-person camera perspective, all it’s missing is the HUD. It’s a clever piece of filmmaking, though it’s pretty bold given this really happened, and it was never proven that GTA was the cause of violence. The judge prevented the defense from showing the jury evidence that Grand Theft Auto caused him to kill three people.

Thompson obsessively pursues this case, believing Rockstar’s games cause violence, particularly in children, and even presents evidence that the military uses violent video games to train soldiers to become killers. Thompson’s actions make him a target of gamers, but he continues to pursue the case. Unfortunately for him, he is taken off the case due to his conduct, and the case is thrown out. Thompson’s grudge with Rockstar doesn’t end here, however, as Houser successfully sees GTA: San Andreas through to release.

The game’s a huge hit, but there’s a big problem: there’s sexual content on the disc that’s not supposed to be accessible to players. It’s not long before a modder discovers it and releases the infamous “Hot Coffee” mod, allowing players to participate and engage in interactive sexual intercourse, something that would give the game an AO rating. Very few games have an AO rating, as they’re virtually unmarketable and Xbox and PlayStation prohibit the release of AO games on their consoles. The content was intended to be edited to retain an M rating, but the files for it still existed on the disc. Thompson and Senator Hillary Clinton looked to hit Rockstar Games hard for failing to disclose this content, resulting in FTC hearings and fines.

Amidst the FTC happenings with Rockstar, Thompson is simultaneously undergoing a disciplinary hearing for his conduct earlier in the film, which ends with him being disbarred. Rockstar Games is ultimately able to keep operating as it does, and Sam Houser walks through the city while imagining it like it’s Grand Theft Auto.

The biggest problem with The Gamechangers is that it just tries to do too much in such a little time, making it mostly underwhelming. What’s really interesting about this movie, though, is that Rockstar Games was very vocally against it. Not only did Rockstar file a lawsuit against the BBC for trademark infringement, but the incredibly secretive developer broke character on Twitter when it aired and called the film “random, made up bollocks.” The Rockstar Twitter is otherwise very formal and doesn’t post anything besides updates and news for its games, so this really struck fans at the time. Some have even speculated that Sam Houser was the one posting from the account during this time. Ex-Rockstar employees also spoke out against the film, making fun of its inaccuracies.

I’m not quite sure what came of the lawsuit between Rockstar and the BBC, but it may explain why the film has been scrubbed from the internet. It’s possible Rockstar won the suit, or there was at least a settlement where the BBC agreed to never show the movie again, but there’s nothing out there that tells us what really happened. According to the BBC’s own website, the movie aired literally once in September 2015. It was never shown again after its initial premiere. Either way, it’s a fascinating piece of Rockstar Games history!

The post The Rockstar Games Movie Starring Daniel Radcliffe You’ve Never Seen appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Although graphics greatly improved on PlayStation 3 compared to the previous generation, the PS3 quickly showcased its limitations with its level design and gameplay. Most PS3 games feel flat and far smaller now than when I first played them. What remains impressive are the choices by the developers at the time to do something different. Be it implementing a morality system, realistic gunfights and scenery, or focus on delivering a great story with good pacing and replayability. I played a good mix of games on PS3 willing to try anything in my teenage years to fill in the time before school came back around.

There are many PS3 games that are still impressive to play years after their release. From BioShock to Uncharted, Red Dead Redemption and Far Cry, to Borderlands and Assassin’s Creed, Wolfenstein to Dark Souls—and we all know The Last of Us certainly doesn’t need yet another remake. Many were ahead of their time, but there are a handful of games I grew up playing and adored that now sadly miss the mark because of their outdated graphics, level design, and gameplay. These are the PS3 games I’d love to see remade.

1) Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Now, I’m only mentioning CoD: BO2 for one reason only: League Play. This remains the most fun I’ve ever had in Call of Duty history because of its multiplayer. While I spent months perfecting no-scopes and quickscopes on MW2 and practicing trickshots on MW3, it was League Play that provided the most entertainment when playing with friends.

This is perhaps a wasted entry as I don’t need the entire game remade, but would love to see the return of League Play for its challenging and fun setting that used simple yet beloved CoD modes and ranked you based on whether you won or lost. As someone who still plays a ton of Apex Legends, League Play remains the most fun I’ve ever had ranking up in a video game.

2) Dark Souls

I know Dark Souls already has a remaster, but if it were to be remade, it needs to keep its immersive atmosphere from the original. FromSoftware sure knows how to wow with its worldbuilding and environments, creating a believable land that you want to run around and fully explore. We’ve seen it time and time again with Armored Core and Elden Ring, both having the best level design video games can offer. While fans may say Dark Souls‘ jankiness is part of what makes this game memorable, we’ve seen with the third game and Elden Ring that smoother gameplay works.

Related: 5 PS1 Games That Deserve a Remake

Dark Souls bosses still look incredible, and the level design is top-notch, but I’d love to see more depth added to the environment and upgraded combat systems. The first game in the franchise is rather outdated, not for its appearance, but for the enemy AI and boss movesets. Things feel much slower upon revisiting it, yet most arenas are quite big. Bosses execute sluggish attacks, then stop, rotate, and do the same again. There doesn’t seem to be the same strategy in place to learn their moves and combos to counter effectively. To be honest, Dark Souls doesn’t need to be remade, but it’s one I’m very curious about for its untapped potential on how it could look and play.

3) Infamous 2

Infamous 2 was my favorite game for many years. I had so many good memories playing this, being one of the main action-adventure games I’d sink hours into for its story, combat, open-world, and freedom. I used to revisit the sequel yearly until the PS5’s release, because by that point, Infamous had inevitably grown outdated. But my favorite thing about this game was two-fold: satisfying gameplay with choices that actually determined what you’d end up doing. You could be good or evil, altering your mission based on what the two side characters wanted to do.

I feel Infamous 2 needs a remake because it’s aged quite badly when it comes to its combat and level design. Enemy variety is decent, but it quickly gets repetitive. Cole glued onto enemies when you hit them, removing all challenge until you can deal damage from afar. But the climbing and traversal gameplay was flawless and remains so fun. From parkouring around the map, climbing onto whatever you want, to gliding across the environment on the power lines, everything in this vein was thrilling. Infamous 2 deserves a remake mostly for its level design, which was an incredibly restrictive open-world, trapping you on an island. It’s easy to get tied up in performing good or evil choices, but when you truly analyze the world, it’s a tad underwhelming.

4) Killzone 2

Killzone 2 looked absolutely incredible when it first came out, with gorgeous visuals, great sound design, and realistic environments. Similar to Gears of War and Crysis, Killzone demonstrated the power of graphics, being miles ahead of its competition at the time of its release. But this is where Killzone 2‘s praise ends, as this shooter is very outdated now, mostly because of its gameplay. This entry could use a massive overhaul, specifically in its gunfight and movement departments. Playing through it now is somewhat painful, and it doesn’t help that there has been a massive shift in recent years with fast, fluid movement for shooters (e.g., CoD’s omni movement and Apex Legends‘ tap strafe).

Related: 5 PS2 Games That Need a Remake

Playing through Killzone 2 nowadays is painfully slow, but it’s still an impressive-looking sequel. The environments were huge and immersive, with the destruction of war being prevalent throughout. For something that looks so incredible, Killzone 2 sure had limited gameplay as it stuck to perfecting the basics. The weapon variety was awesome, but the campaign quickly became repetitive. Similar to Resistance, these series deserve to make a comeback with improved gameplay, as either could easily compete against CoD and take top spot in today’s climate.

5) Prototype

Prototype is such an effortlessly cool game. Like living on GTA’s 5-star wanted list, Prototype saw rocket launchers and helicopters continuously come your way, where you could control and destroy whatever you pleased. I remember just going into this game to let off some steam after a long school day, but quickly noted the base level design and massively limited open-world of Prototype, which is the main reason for it being on this list.

The combat is still decent and I love how you can quickly and easily climb whatever you want to evade incoming fire, but Prototype‘s design felt as limited as a PlayStation 2 game. The destruction of the environment was amazing at the time, but an update on its gameplay and graphics could go a long way in creating the ultimate anti-hero game where you’re classified as the main villain by wreaking havoc across the city. But the setting was lifeless, and it’s only upon bringing chaos that the landscape lit up.

The post 5 PS3 Games That Badly Need a Remake appeared first on ComicBook.com.

7 Days To Die’s next major update is coming soon, and developer The Fun Pimps has previewed the release schedule leading up to its June 30th launch. While the full update will not go into effect until the end of June, there are plenty of ways to interact with the community and learn more about the upcoming Storm’s Brewing update that will bring 7 Days To Die to version 2.0.

The first event leading up to 7 Days To Die’s Storm’s Brewing update is the developer stream on June 10th. Here, Lathan Meadows and Richard Huenink, the senior developer and founder, will hold an in-depth discussion of the 2.0 features in Storm’s Brewing. Following this, a streamer weekend begins on June 13th and runs through June 15th with various creators streaming the game.

RELATED: 7 Days to Die Launch Plans Confirmed Ahead of 1.0 Release and Price Increase

Finally, players can opt into the public Storm’s Brewing experimental build on June 16th. This will give players an early look at what they can expect once the update drops for 7 Days To Die. Players who opt into this beta build show expect various bugs and issues as this is to test out the new features.

The full release of 7 Days To Die’s Storm’s Brewing update won’t be released until June 30th. When this update launches, players will experience new progression-based elemental survival thanks to new biome chunks. Each offers unique ways to interact with the world and will test players’ ability to survive.

Dynamic storms are one of the other big additions in this update and will drastically change how the game plays. The severe storms force players to seek or build shelter, and each biome will have unique weather types. The Fun Pimps will also update and rebalance perks to directly adjust gameplay.

The post 7 Days to Die Sets Release Date for Big Storms Brewing Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There are several games known to be coming to and launching with the Nintendo Switch 2, but it appears another has been leaked by GameStop. This isn’t the first time GameStop has leaked a game for the upcoming console, and it may not be the last. According to a new listing on GameStop’s website, Nintendo fans can expect Crimson Desert to release on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Crimson Desert is an upcoming ambitious and beautiful action RPG by developer Pearl Abyss, the team behind Black Desert Online. The game was previously confirmed for nearly every console but the Nintendo Switch 2, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It also shifted from an MMORPG to a single-player title.

RELATED: GameStop Investigating Stores for Shady Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order Tactics

No release date has been shared for Crimson Desert, and this leak from GameStop sadly does not include this information, only the words ‘Coming Soon.’ The game is expected to be released in late 2025, but it seems highly unlikely it will be ready for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5th. Still, the fact that Pearl Abyss supposedly the game running on the hybrid console has fans excited.

Some fans have their doubts about Crimson Desert on the Nintendo Switch 2 due to the sheer scale of the game. It features an open world with robust combat and stunning graphics. Its first trailer captured gamers’ attention, with many calling it Korean The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, especially after the shot where the protagonist dives off a mountain toward the ground below.

The expectation now is that the game will be seen at the next Nintendo Direct or Summer Game Fest where Pearl Abyss will finally reveal a release date. Until that time, fans are left speculating and anticipating what may be one of the biggest games of 2025.

The post GameStop Leak Reveals Another New Nintendo Switch 2 Game appeared first on ComicBook.com.

During their livestream on May 29th, Hasbro finally took the wraps off the first wave of Marvel Legends figures inspired by Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Figures of Marvel’s Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, Human Torch and Silver Surfer will debut on May 30th. That’s certainly interesting, but the big reveal for many will be the huge lineup of Gamerverse figures that are expected to launch in June and July. They aren’t explicitly based on Marvel vs Capcom video games, but the inspiration is clearly there. There’s Wolverine Vs Marvel’s Silver Samurai, Psylocke Vs. Thanos Gargantos, Juggernaut, and more! Here’s everything you need to know.

Below you’ll find a breakdown of the Fantastic Four: First Steps and Gamerverse figures in the order of their pre-order release. Look for these figures to be available here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon after the launch times unless otherwise indicated (there are a few retailer exclusives). Direct links will be added after the figures go live.

Marvel Legends Fantastic Four: First Steps Figures

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES MISTER FANTASTIC / $TBA / May 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / Reed Richards is the Fantastic Four’s patriarch and a scientific genius with the superhuman ability to bend, stretch, and extend his body parts across far distances. This collectible 6-inch scale figure is detailed to look like the character’s appearance in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, features premium design and poseable head, arms, and legs, and comes with 4 accessories, including alternate regular hands and extra-long “stretched” arms and hands.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES JOHNNY STORM / $TBA / May 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / Johnny Storm is the most popular member of the Fantastic Four, known for his fiery attitude and charming personality. This collectible 6-inch scale figure is detailed to look like the character’s appearance in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, features premium design and poseable head, arms, and legs, and comes with 4 accessories, including alternate hands and attachable flame FX.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES MARVEL’S INVISIBLE WOMAN / $TBA / May 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / Sue Storm is a fierce protector of her family and friends, possessing the superhuman ability to turn invisible. This collectible 6-inch scale figure is detailed to look like the character’s appearance in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, features premium design and poseable head, arms, and legs, and comes with 3 accessories, including alternate hands and an attachable shield FX piece.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES MARVEL’S THE THING / $TBA / May 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / With a body made of nearly indestructible rock, Ben Grimm is a formidable member of the Fantastic Four, possessing impressive super-strength. This collectible 6-inch scale figure is detailed to look like the character’s appearance in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, features premium design and poseable head, arms, and legs, and comes with 2 alternate hand accessories.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES HUMAN TORCH / $TBA / May 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / The Human Torch can burst into flames, fly, and absorb explosions. This collectible 6-inch scale figure is detailed to look like the character’s appearance in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, features premium design and poseable head, arms, and legs, and comes with 2 alternate hand accessories.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES SILVER SURFER / $TBA / May 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / The Silver Surfer travels across the universe on her surfboard, imbued with super-speed and strength. This collectible 6-inch scale figure is detailed to look like the character’s appearance in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, features premium design and poseable head, arms, and legs, and comes with 5 accessories, including alternate hands, and a surfboard with stand.

Marvel Legends Gamerverse Releases (June / July 2025)

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GAMERVERSE WOLVERINE VS MARVEL’S SILVER SAMURAI / $TBA / June 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / The mutant Wolverine unleashes his adamantium claws against martial arts master and foe to the X-Men, Silver Samurai. These collectible 6-inch scale figures are inspired by the characters’ appearance in classic Marvel video games, are fully articulated with premium design and poseable heads, arms, and legs, and come with 11 accessories, including character-inspired power FX pieces and display stands.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GAMERVERSE PSYLOCKE VS. THANOS / $TBA / June 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / Target.com (exclusive) / Armed with her psychic blades, the telepathic mutant Psylocke battles the mad titan Thanos. Comes with 9 accessories, including attachable power FX pieces for Psylocke and alternate hands for both figures.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GAMERVERSE CAPTAIN AMERICA VS VENOM / $TBA / June 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / The patriotic Super Soldier Captain America faces off against Venom and his alien symbiote powers. Comes with 8 accessories, including an alternate head, alternate hands, and a shield power FX piece.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GAMERVERSE GARGANTOS / $TBA / June 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / A giant cephalopod monster with tentacles, Gargantos brings his enormous size and strength into battle. Comes with 1 figure (7 unassembled pieces) and 1 eyeball accessory.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GAMERVERSE MARVEL’S JUGGERNAUT / $TBA / June 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / See at Entertainment Earth and Amazon / Cain Marko is the unstoppable Juggernaut, possessing superhuman strength and extreme durability. Comes with 3 accessories, including a set of alternate hands and a power FX piece.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GAMERVERSE MARVEL’S WAR MACHINE VS MARVEL’S OMEGA RED / $TBA / July 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET / Walmart.com (exclusive) / James “Rhodey” Rhodes suits up as War Machine, going head-to-head against Omega Red and his weaponized cybernetic tentacles. Comes with 11 accessories, including attachable tentacle weapons for Omega Red and alternate hands for both figures.

The post Marvel Legends Capcom-Style Gamerverse and Fantastic Four Figure Pre-Order Details appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has maintained its fan base in part because the game just keeps getting better. Though it had some technical issues at lunach, Stalker 2 has seen several updates to help iron out bugs and add new features. Earlier this month, Stalker 2 got a massive overhaul that adjusted its combat NPC and balance in a big way. Now, developer GSC Game World continues to refine and adjust Stalker 2 with the latest update, Version 1.4.2. This smaller update nevertheless packs in some important bug fixes and more.

Following the overhaul in update 1.4, Stalker 2 has already seen one adjustment patch aimed at smoothing things out. That 1.4.1 Hotfix, which deployed just a few days after 1.4, mainly focused on resolving critical errors causing crashes. Now, update 1.4.2 is refining the gameplay overhaul even more with additional balance tweaks and bug fixes.

The biggest highlight for today’s Stalker 2 update is another balance change, lowering the armor-piercing multiplier for 9×18 ammo. However, gamers won’t be mad at the list of bug fixes, either. Camera movement sensitivity issues have been resolved and mutants should stop randomly twitching erratically during investigations. Minor though it will be, update 1.4.2 will improve the Stalker 2 gameplay experience.

Patch Notes for Stalker 2 Update 1.4.2

RELATED: Stalker 2 Players in Love With Incredibly Small Detail in the Game

For the full list of changes arriving in today’s Stalker 2 update, check out the patch notes below as shared via Steam:

• Balance changes: lowered armor piercing multiplier for 9×18 ammo.
• Fixed an issue where camera movement sensitivity was too low on low framerate when using gamepads as input devices.
• Fixed an issue where mutants were shaking and twitching erratically when investigating a threat.
• Fixed an issue where consumable items were duplicated in quick slots, and appeared as available, despite not being present in Player’s inventory.
• Fixed an issue where radio call with Strelok was not triggered and next objective didn’t trigger if Player hadn’t killed all Wardens at TCS location during Dangerous Liaisons mission.
• Fixed an issue where Scar could get stuck playing confused animation after killing him during bossfight in The Last Step mission.
• Fixed an issue where Sanya Ocheret could start a combat with stalkers in his squad during The Boundary mission.
• Fixed an issue where doors to Duga’s underground tunnel and Location D could be locked on user saves during Once More Unto The Breach mission.

Stalker 2: Heart of Choronyl Patch 1.4.2 is available now, May 29th, for Stalker 2 on Windows and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Stalker 2 Gets Update 1.4.2 and a New Set of Patch Notes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

PlayStation Plus subscribers are finding themselves incredibly frustrated by a new promotion that Sony has pushed live this week. On an annual basis, PlayStation kicks off its “Days of Play” promo to begin each summer. This offer not only brings big discounts to a variety of PlayStation games, but it also is one of the few times each year that PS Plus is available to purchase at a lower cost. Unfortunately, due to the stipulations that Sony has put in place with this PS Plus sale, many active subscribers are saying that they might now end their subscriptions altogether.

Over on Reddit, a number of PS Plus users began airing their annoyance with how Days of Play is structured. While PS Plus is cheaper than normal from now until June 11th, this offer is one that is only extended to those who aren’t currently subbed to the PlayStation membership. This means that active PS Plus subscribers don’t get any discounts at all unless they upgrade to the more costly PlayStation Plus Extra or PlayStation Plus Premium.

This move is one that many feel is odd, as Sony should want to reward its most hardcore PlayStation users who actively stay subscribed to PS Plus. Instead, by only making this discount available to new members, it has discouraged those who have been loyal to PlayStation and PS Plus over the years.

“I really despise their strategy of not allowing current subscribers [to buy] one year’s subscription during the discount,” said clydethepotatortoise. “I know it’s not new, but it still makes me bitter that they blatantly just say f**k you to their playerbase like this.”

Others mentioned that because Sony previously extended PS Plus subscriptions for all members as a result of the PSN outage earlier in 2025, it has now resulted in some seeing their membership extend past this Days of Play window. As such, they now can’t re-up their PS Plus subscription for the next year due to an issue that was completely out of their control.

“Gotta love that because they added five days extra to my subscription because of the outages, I can’t get the discount for the next sub,” noted u/Banksyyy_. “Looks like I’m waiting until the next one then.

Related: PlayStation Plus Free Games for June 2025 Revealed

“So, because of an 11-day difference I can’t get a sub with discount?” questioned u/OfficialShaki123. “Well Sony, that makes the decision even more easy: no more subscription.”

Again, these rules for Days of Play in 2025 aren’t necessarily new, as Sony has had these same restrictions in place for multiple years when it comes to buying PS Plus at a lower price. Still, if Sony wants Days of Play to feel like an event that truly celebrates PlayStation and its fanbase, perhaps it should reconsider how this sale works when it comes around again in 2026.

The post PS Plus Members Angered by New Sony Promo: “No More Subscription” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Many gamers have already fallen in love with the upcoming cozy shopkeeping sim Tiny Bookshop. Thanks to its wonderfully wholesome demo, which has popped up during Steam Next Fest for the last few years, this book has landed a place on many a wishlist. In development since 2022, Tiny Bookshop has received early critical praise from gamers and critics alike. Now, after what feels like eternity, developer Neoludic Games has finally revealed the full release date for Tiny Bookshop. The adorable bookkeeping sim of our dreams launches on August 7th.

Tiny Bookshop has been on many cozy gamers’ “most anticipated” lists from the first demo. Now, we finally know when the wait will end. Neoludic Games shared the news about the game’s update via the @neoludic social media accounts on X and Instagram. The new post acknowledges how long fans have been waiting to hear a release date for Tiny Bookshop, then drops it on us. Tiny Bookshop will launch via Steam on August 7th of this year. At last, that 2025 window has been narrowed in, and we can all mark the date of our virtual bookstore opening on our calendars.

Tiny Bookshop has been up on Steam for a while, and there’s still time to Wishlist the game to get notified of the exact moment it launches. Initially, the game will be available on Steam for PC, Mac, and Linux platforms. As for other platforms, including the ever-popular console for cozy gamers, Nintendo Switch, that’s still to be determined. We also don’t yet know the Steam Deck compatibility for Tiny Bookshop, so while your book caravan is certainly mobile, the game may or may not be.

Tiny Bookshop Reveals New Launch Trailer & Fans Are Hyped

For many gamers, this is a release date announcement right up there with Witchbrook, and it looks like 2025 is going to be our year. Tiny Bookshop lets gamers collect and stock books that they’ll then sell to various customers, living the life of a tiny bookseller. The bookshop on wheels will let you explore different locations, adjusting to the tastes of customers along the way. If you’ve yet to have the pleasure of diving into Tiny Bookshop or just want a refresher, the release date announcement was accompanied by a shiny new release trailer. You can check that out below:

RELATED: 10 Best Cozy Games That Aren’t About Farming

The public demo is still available on Steam, so if you haven’t tried it yet, I’m here to suggest you give it a go, pronto. You’ll get to see why so many gamers and book lovers are eager to add this one to their library. As the response to the release date news proves, gamers are ready for this management sim. I’ll join in with the sentiments of Redditor @AlwaysonTheCape for this one – “FINALLY”!

Tiny Bookshop is developed by Neoludic Games and published by Skystone Games. It finally releases in full form on August 7th via Steam. You can Wishlist or check out the free demo on Steam now. The price for the game has not yet been revealed.

Are you as excited for Tiny Bookshop as I am? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Highly Anticipated Cozy Sim Tiny Bookshop Reveals Release Date appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Last of Us Season 2 changed the fate of a character that famously died in the games. The Last of Us is a world that is painfully unforgiving. Anyone can die at any time, as fans are coming to understand now. Joel, Jesse, children, pregnant women, it really seems like no one is off limits and that’s what makes the franchise so compelling. There isn’t really plot armor like there is a lot of other big franchises. One could argue that Ellie has a bit of plot armor since she’s immune, but the writers use that to hurt her as well. She feels awful that she can’t use her immunity to save others.

However, some fans of The Last of Us were surprised to see the show made some big changes from the game. Some key sequences from the game were revealed and while a lot of this comes down to pacing or not needing to show every single action scene from the game, there were some other more notable things that weren’t featured in the show. For starters, Ellie never kills Alice the dog when breaking into the aquarium. This was a pretty notable moment in the game for a variety of reasons, but it was mostly cut because Ellie kills a pregnant woman right after and it was deemed to much to throw at the audience at once.

The Last of Us Season 2 Spares Shimmer

However, it seems like The Last of Us Season 2 generally spared the audience from violence against animals in general. Early on in The Last of Us Part 2 the video game, Ellie and Dina are riding on their horse, Shimmer, when they are suddenly ambushed. Shimmer accidentally trips some sort of explosive mine and causes Shimmer to buck everyone off. A WLF soldier then shoots Shimmer in the head, killing the animal once and for all. However, Season 2 doesn’t have this moment at all. Shimmer lives well past his point of death and actually survives the season..

While we can’t be certain of Shimmer’s fate for the rest of this story, it seems like there’s a good chance that Shimmer will be one of the few living creatures that comes out unscathed. Even those that live in this story are burdened with all kinds of trauma or physical wounds, but Shimmer has been spared from the chaos much to the surprise of fans. It’s unclear if Shimmer will return in future episodes, but there may be room for him in Season 4.

It’s likely Shimmer and Ellie won’t be very present in The Last of Us Season 3 as the season will revolve around Abby. Although details on the next season are pretty scarce, it will continue to adapt the second game which heavily features Abby as the main character. Ellie will eventually return, despite the Season 2 cliffhanger leaving viewers to wonder if she got shot, but Abby will be front and center in Season 3.

What did you think Shimmer surviving in Season 2? Let me know in the comments.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is going free-to-play this weekend for a limited time. You’d really struggle to find someone who isn’t aware of what Call of Duty is or hasn’t played it in some capacity. It’s a franchise that’s utterly massive and has taken over the gaming industry in a massive way over the last 20 years. It has had to transform itself quite a lot to remain relevant, such as merging with other genres, taking on otherwise odd co-op modes that involve Zombies, and more. Still, it has retained its core identity of a very specific kind of first-person shooter the entire time, though.

Last year saw the long-awaited release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, a game that has had the longest development of any game in the series. Treyarch and Raven Software spent four years working on the game, making it one of the most robust packages you can get for $70. Xbox and PC fans really benefited too as it was a day one Xbox Game Pass game, allowing fans to quickly check out the story mode, grind some multiplayer, or jump into Zombies with friends without the expensive commitment. It brought back some lapsed fans as a result and made it one of the most successful games in the series.

With that said, it seems like Activision is aware there’s always room for growth even with a series like this. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is getting a free trial this weekend that will allow fans to jump in and play all of the multiplayer maps across 10+ of the game’s modes, including classics like Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Gun Game. If you’re not really in the mood for classic Call of Duty multiplayer, the trial will also let players dabble in the new Zombies mode, Grief.

This is a return to a Black Ops 2 mode which pits two teams of four players against each other in Zombies. The last team standing is ultimately crowned the winner, but the catch is that they can’t kill or directly harm each other. They can cause other issues for them, such as blocking doors or paths or stealing items from them, so it requires being a bit mischievous to win.

The only mode not accessible in this trial is the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign, which is par for the course for these kinds of things. The trial will begin on all platforms on May 30 at 10am PT and ends June 3 at 10am PT. This is a great way to test out some of the new content in Call of Duty Season 4, which includes some new maps.

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Critical Role recently launched its highly anticipated Daggerheart TTRPG system. Now, a new mini-series from the team at Critical Role will take fans deeper into the game’s mechanics compared to earlier one-shots using the system. Age of Umbra premieres on May 29th at 10 PM EDT via Beacon, bringing gamers into a dark, survival fantasy adventure where death lurks around every corner. To celebrate the upcoming debut and give fans a sense of what they’re in for, Critical Role has revealed a teaser of the game’s opening title sequence.

Age of Umbra once again sees Matt Mercer at the helm as Game Master. It will be an 8-part mini-series, with the first episode arriving on May 29th. Age of Umbra is part of the core set from Daggerheart, and this campaign will introduce players to just how flexible and robust the ready-made story frame can become. Joining Mercer as players are Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Marisa Ray, Sam Riegel, Taliesin Jaffe, and Travis Willingham. Now, we’ve got an enticing new teaser featuring each of the new characters we’re about to meet in a thematic opening sequence that will air alongside Age of Umbra.

As we can see from this opening sequence, Age of Umbra will be a campaign that takes itself seriously as the epic saga unfolds. The opening sequence, in black and white, sets the tone for what’s sure to be an engaging adventure using the Daggerheart system.

Age of Umbra Release Schedule & How to Watch

If that teaser has you ready to dive right in, you can catch up with the character creation process in the Session Zero video. Originally aired on May 22nd, this Session Zero recording is now available to view on YouTube. While it’s not the true start of the adventure, it’ll give you a sense of the characters who will make their true debut when the series arrives.

The release schedule for Critical Role series can be a little confusing if you’re newer to how things work. So, let’s break down when to expect new Age of Umbra episodes going forward.

New episodes will debut on Thursdays at 7pm, starting on May 29th and ending on July 24th. Note there will be a break to account for the July 4th holiday. Each episode will air live on Beacon, Twitch, and YouTube. However, if you miss the live stream, you’re in for a bit of a wait. To catch Critical Role’s Age of Umbra recordings, you’ll have to wait for the VOD to drop on YouTube the Monday following the original premiere.

RELATED: Daggerheart’s Domain System Forges a New Path for TTRPGs (Exclusive)

Here’s when you can expect each episode of Age of Umbra to arrive on YouTube in VOD form:

• Episode 1: Airs Live May 29th, on YouTube June 2nd
• Episode 2: Airs Live June 5th, on YouTube June 9th
• Episode 3: Airs Live June 12th, on YouTube June 16th
• Episode 4: Airs Live June 19th, on YouTube June 23rd
• Episode 5: Airs Live June 26th, on YouTube June 30th
• Episode 6: Airs Live July 10th, on YouTube July 14th
• Episode 7: Airs Live July 17th, on YouTube July 21st
• Finale: Airs Live on July 24th, on YouTube July 28th

As for podcast versions, subscribers will get those instantly via Beacon. If you’re waiting on the podcast elsewhere, it will drop as an audio recording in two parts starting on week after the original premiere.

Are you looking forward to this new mini-series from Critical Role? Let us know in the comments below!

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GTA Online‘s next big update may be imminent. Although fans were hoping to play Grand Theft Auto VI this fall, they will have to keep playing its predecessor for a little while longer. Rockstar Games delayed GTA 6 to next May, which means we are just under a year away from it releasing. It feels like a big set back, but it was confirmed by Take-Two that this delay was less than six months from the game’s original expected release date. Still, this is a lot of time for gamers who have waited many, many years for this game. However, Rockstar won’t leave people hanging.

Rockstar Games tends to release big new updates for GTA Online every six months or so. We get one big update in the summer, one big update in the winter, and that’s generally how the entire cycle goes. There used to be more regular updates during GTA Online‘s prime, but things have slowed down to a more predictable rate since Red Dead Redemption 2 came out and Rockstar shifted its focus to multiple games, including the development of GTA 6. As of right now, we have no idea what to expect from future GTA Online updates. The game is already loaded with content and it’s hard to imagine what else can be done with this game at this point. Some hope to see Michael return in a GTA Online update, but nothing has been confirmed.

With all of that said, we may find out what’s next very soon. According to Rockstar insider Tez2, he expects that the next GTA Online update will release around June 17th, as that’s when the next GTA+ event ends. Rockstar Games tends to release big updates for GTA Online on Tuesdays and June 17th aligns with that pattern. Rockstar also tends to release its summer updates around June or July, so all of the stars seem to be aligning. If that’s the case, we will probably hear more about the next GTA Online update either next week or the week after.

Given Summer Game Fest is next week, it’s probably more likely Rockstar will release a trailer and blog post with some light details around June 12th, as the developer tends to post blog posts for GTA Online on Thursdays. We have no idea what this new update might entail, but it will likely be one of the last updates for the game as Rockstar will surely transition over to GTA 6 Online next year.

What do you want to see in the next GTA Online update? Let me know in the comments.

The post GTA Online’s Next Big Update May Be Very Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Since Disney acquired Star Wars, there have been some concerns over the saturation of the Star Wars brand with the frequent cadence of new films and television shows that have arrived. However, Andor Season 2 was exceptionally well-written television that restored faith in how the franchise is being handled. The same thoughts could soon arise with video games, as more and more studios look to develop Star Wars projects.

To date, there have been over a hundred Star Wars games that have been produced to varying levels of success. Since the debut of home consoles, Star Wars has been a part of the journey of every single major platform as fans have been able to become a Jedi, fight against the Empire, or perhaps become a Sith leader themselves. From all the Star Wars games, here are the six best that you should look to play in 2025.

6) LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox, PlayStation)

Relive and play through the cinematic journey of the Skywalkers in the best way possible: as a LEGO character. LEGO has the rare ability to take a great film and change it into a LEGO universe version that pays homage to the original film, but also offers the family-friendly humor that resides in the DNA of the toy brand. That humor and style that exists within LEGO’s brand also makes for a great introduction of the Star Wars series to families with little kids, where the cinematic action perhaps could be too intense for children.

However, don’t think LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is only silliness. A lot of love went into an abridged version of the nine stories that exist within the mainline Star Wars films. Those stories are brought to the forefront and offer a piece of nostalgia to those who have already seen them, with a digestible version for kids that still honors the source material.

5) Star Wars: Squadrons (Xbox, PlayStation, PC)

There is an art to Star Wars. It’s the music, the narrative, the lore, but one part that should not be forgotten: it’s also about the space battles. And that’s the beauty of Star Wars: Squadrons, where you can enter the cockpit of some of the most iconic starfighters from both the Republic and Imperial fleets, like the X-wing and the TIE fighter.

The game truly shines in its 5v5 PvP multiplayer that is perfect for those who enjoy team-based games, but with all the iconic sound effects of Star Wars fighters. There is also still the single-player experience, which offers the ability to play from the perspective of both the Republic forces and the Imperial forces.

4) Star Wars Episode I Racer (Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox, PlayStation)

Feel however you want to about Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom of Menace, but when it comes to podracing, the formula in Star Wars: Episode I Racer nailed it for taking one of the few good experiences from Episode I and bringing it to the gaming environment. The high-octane risk and reward nature of podracing was exemplified in the video game with races across the major scenes on Tatooine and other worlds.

Notable characters like Anakin Skywalker or the ruthless Sebulba become playable racers for the game, which provided some real nostalgia for what was a pivotal point in The Phantom Menace. Mixed into the gameplay is the ability to upgrade your podracer, making you feel like you’re stepping into the shoes of Anakin and his robust mechanical expertise.

3) Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (PC, PlayStation, Xbox)

If you are looking into getting into, or back into, Star Wars: Battlefront 2, this is the best time to do so, as the servers are exploding again with players. This means that old maps or modes that have been previously unavailable due to the limited capacity to fill servers are no longer an issue, as people have flocked back into Star Wars: Battlefront 2. The greatest surprise is that Battlefront 2, within this last week, beat its all-time high of concurrent players on Steam and passed 10,000 in total. Considering the game was released in 2017, the hype train is not one worth missing when this many folks are back in the fold of Star Wars: Battlefront 2.

2) Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Xbox, PlayStation, PC)

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was the beginning recipe and foundations for this new series in the Star Wars universe, but Star Wars Jedi: Survivor perfected the formula. Those foundations in Fallen Order created a well-rounded platforming and combating system that was boosted and seamlessly updated for a more robust combat and movement system, with the splash of more powerful abilities at a more frequent cadence.

In the sequel, you pick up directly where you left off with the protagonist, Cal Kestis. The benefit is that the skills and abilities aren’t forgotten from the first title, but are further built upon in the story of Survivor. It’s relieving to see that a successful single-player action-RPG experience can still exist in the Star Wars universe of gaming.

1) Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic I & II (Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox)

The day may come when a new Star Wars game comes and dethrones Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, but it is not today. These two Star Wars games are the gold standard of Star Wars games, despite their age, for a fundamental reason: they are exceptionally fantastic.

The Knights of the Old Republic series offered the full advantage of turn-based RPG mechanics, similar to Baldur’s Gate 3, and allows for full immersion into a Star Wars narrative. Whether you play as a Jedi, Dark Jedi, Wookie, Droid, Republic War Hero, a Mandalorian, or a Twi’lek, they’re all here, and each can be customized with their gear, weapons, attributes, and Jedi powers (specifically for the Jedi characters).

Much like most turn-based RPGs, your actions have repercussions, which makes the game highly replayable, as different quests will have different outcomes depending on your decisions and whether you are a Dark Jedi or a noble Jedi. The only miss in the game by modern standards is that you can’t play it in co-op like other modern turn-based RPG titles.

The post 6 Best Star Wars Games to Play in 2025 (And Where to Play Them) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Steam appears to have made one of the biggest games of the last decade free for 24 hours, but the whole process has become extremely complicated and confusing, leaving users frustrated. Steam is one of the best platforms for gaming because there are constantly absolutely absurd deals that simultaneously save and hurt your wallet. Your dollar goes a lot further on Steam than most places, which is great for those who are gaming on a budget or just looking to pad out their library with games they might’ve missed. Of course, there’s also Steam Deck owners who may also be looking to play some great games portably.

With all of that said, Steam users noticed that Hitman: World of Assassination was made free on Steam for 24 hours. This is a great deal on the surface because IO Interactive rebranded all three of its recent Hitman games into one bundle under Hitman: World of Assassination. In theory, you’d assume that means you are getting all three rebooted Hitman games and all of their subsequent levels at no cost. However, things got really complicated. There are four versions of the game to purchase on the same Steam page including the VR version of Hitman in addition to a free, totally separate starter pack.

It turns out, this was just a single level from Hitman (2016), specifically the Sapienza level which sees Agent 47 traveling to Italy to destroy a bioweapon and its maker. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great level and a fun taste of Hitman, but it’s not all three games, nor is it even the full first game. It feels more like a demo to release this for free. For those that don’t remember, Hitman (2016) released all of its levels episodically over the course of about a year, so players bought the game piece by piece. The two sequels just delivered everything in one go, so that’s why Sapienza is essentially available as its own slice unlike the rest of the games.

Fans continued to be confused because they were prompted to download 70GBs for the game, which is the size of all three Hitman titles. However, it seems like Steam downloads all of the content just for this one level and you won’t be able to access the other levels unless you upgrade your copy. Obviously, fans are a bit baffled by this and continue to be confused by how IO Interactive has rolled out the Hitman series. Hopefully, they don’t do anything like this for Project 007, which is expected to be the developer’s next game.

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Xbox Game Pass has already included many great games from 2025, whether it’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or Blue Prince. However, the newest addition to the service made the rounds last year with its award-winning story and gameplay, even being considered as one of the best of 2024. The service did add Balatro and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, two titles that received tons of praise when it released. Now, fans, especially of RPGs, will be able to play one of the most acclaimed games of the genre that Persona and Shin Megami Tensei fans would be remiss not to play.

If there was one game that gave Astro Bot a run for its money with Game of the Year awards last year, it was Atlus’ Metaphor: ReFantazio. The title, made by Studio Zero, which is comprised of the team behind Persona 3, 4, and 5, was a smash hit with critics and fans. On Metacritic, Metaphor: ReFantazio received a 94, making it the fourth best-rated game of 2024 behind Balatro and Astro Bot. Despite huge competition with other RPGs like Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the high-fantasy turn-based game took home a handful of accolades like Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2024.

“Enter a unique fantasy world where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince,” reads an official description of Metaphor: ReFantazio. “Control your destiny, face your fears and awaken magical ‘Archetype’ powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an ‘Archetype’, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.”

As expected from Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio delivers on its turn-based combat, taking a more tactical approach with formation movements. Instead of Demons or Personas, you’ll equip Archetypes, which have various qualities and affinities that can help you in battle, like magic or boosts. In terms of the game itself, you’ll explore the United Kingdom of Euchronia as you join the race to become King against the militant Louis to break the curse of the once-thought-dead prince.

RELATED: Metaphor: ReFantazio Vinyl Announced by iam8bit

For those who played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Metaphor: ReFantazio is the perfect segway into more RPGs. Overall, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a great game to jump into on Xbox Game Pass if you haven’t played it already, whether you’re looking for your next RPG fix or wanting to play a game with a fantastic story, engaging gameplay, killer soundtrack, and beautiful visuals.

Are you planning to play Metaphor: ReFantazio now that it’s on Xbox Game Pass? Did you play the title when it launched last year? Let us know in the comments below!

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Developer Unknown Worlds has teased not one but two upcoming videos showing off Subnautica 2. Perhaps to take advantage of the game’s hype, scams have been spotted online promising players early access to the game on May 31st. The scams are looking for people to enter their personal information, likely for nefarious reasons. Anyone who sees these scams should ignore them and report them to the developer while they wait for the video uploads.

Subnautica 2 has no official release date but is set to launch in early access sometime in 2025. However, the May 31st date seen on Instagram and social platforms is incorrect, and nothing more than a scam. Unknown Worlds has yet to reveal a date when the early access period begins. Fans should wait for this before signing up for anything promising early access.

RELATED: New Look at Subnautica 2 Shared in First 2025 Teaser

Unknown Worlds has several developer diaries planned for Subnautica 2, with the first one giving a tease of the game. In this, fans got a behind-the-scenes look at the co-op feature and the amount of detail put into the world’s creation. The team’s insight into Subnautica 2 and the experiences they learned from developing the first provide players with an in-depth look.

With two more videos promised soon, fans will likely see more behind-the-scenes views of the game and its features. It is possible that Unknown Worlds will reveal when the early access will begin for Subnautica 2 and one of the new videos will be a release date trailer.

Many fans have been looking forward to Subnautica 2 for quite some time. The original Subnautica is launching on iOS and Android devices on July 8th, bringing the survival game to mobile for the first time. This is a good way to play the game in a new way while waiting for the sequel.

The post Subnautica 2 News Promised Soon While Players Warn of Scams appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Elden Ring Nightreign and Evanescence have come together to showcase the Revenant character and its summoning abilities in the latest trailer. The song Bring Me To Life goes surprisingly well with the character and its power to summon spectral enemies during combat alongside its harp and healing spell. The Revenant is the last character to be officially revealed and must be unlocked in Elden Ring Nightreign, which is scheduled to launch on May 30th.

The Revenant’s main combat abilities revolve around summoning, but it can also use a harp to support allies and attack foes. It still remains to be seen exactly how this works, but the trailer reveals some of her summons. One such ability shows the Revenant summoning magical golden swords, most likely a Holy attack, and slamming them down on an enemy.

RELATED: Elden Ring Nightreign Metacritic Score Revealed as Reviews Go Live

She also appears to be able to summon monstrous appendages from her own body to attack. Combining this with her other summons, such as a giant spectral skeleton, the Revenant can control the battlefield with sheer numbers of firepower. When facing off against the game’s numerous bosses, this will be handy.

But the most interesting ability for Elden Ring Nightreign’s Revenant sees her reviving her fallen comrades, the Wylder and Ironeye. This is her ultimate ability and makes her one of the most valuable classes in the game. With Elden Ring Nightreign’s randomized aspects and deadly boss rush, being able to stand back up after defeat is an incredible skill. The Revenant may not have as much combat potential when it comes to damage when compared to other classes, but its support abilities make it an excellent team player.

Elden Ring Nightreign launches tomorrow, May 30th, and will come to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

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Ghost hunting game Phasmophobia remains a popular choice for co-op horror gaming fans. Originally released in Early Access in 2020, the game still gets fairly regular updates to add new content on the road to full launch. And now, developer Kinetic Games has unveiled a preview of the next major update to Phasmophobia. Dubbed the Chronicle update, this massive influx of new content has been in the works since late 2024. Now, we’ve got a deeper look at what’s coming when the next Phasmophobia update arrives on June 24th, 2025.

Part of what makes Phasmophobia unique is that it not only offers crossplay between platforms but also lets gamers choose to play in VR mode or standard. So, Ghost Hunters can buddy up with friends across platforms and even between VR and standard, offering a lot of options to play with friends. To keep things consistent, the Chronicle update for Phasmophobia will be available across all platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, when it arrives on June 24th. This latest development preview shows some of the biggest highlights for this truly massive patch.

First up, the Grafton Farmhouse area will be entirely reworked to “bring the maps in line with [Kinetic’s] vision for Phasmophobia.” This will be similar to the rework of Bleasdale, tweaking layout changes, adding different themes for rooms, and even adding an eerie new attic to the space. But this is basically an appetizer compared to everything else gamers will find in the Chronicle update.

Phasmophobia Next Update Preview Patch Notes

The next Phasmophobia update is one of the largest yet, and what’s previewed today is just a small sampling of what Ghost Hunters can look forward to. This early look reflects ideas still in progress, and Kinetic wants gamers to know they’re still welcoming feedback. That said, what they’ve shared is indeed exciting.

The update will bring in a Media section, with new gameplay elements that players can interact with. To complete a perfect infestivation, you’ll now need to complete specific media-capturing objectives to fill your journal. This system overhaul brings in 13 slots in the journal for gamers to fill as they investigate. You’ll take EMF readings, interact with objects, and more to grab these captures.

RELATED: R.E.P.O. Reveals New Feature That Amps Up the Difficulty

To help gather all that new data, a brand-new piece of equipment is arriving in the Chronicle update, as well. A Sound Recorder will be added, letting investigators record audio from the Spirit Box, Ghost Events, and more. And although they haven’t shared exactly what it is, it does appear there could be even more new equipment on the way. A cryptic picture with the caption “But wait, there’s more?” rounds out the update, suggesting we might be getting even more new equipment to help gather all that media evidence in Phasmophobia.

What do you think of this early update preview? What new features do you most want to see in future Phasmophobia updates? Let us know in the comments below!

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After the official reveal yesterday, fans finally get their first look at EA Sports College Football 26, set to release on July 10th. The reveal trailer showed off many of the teams players will be able to pick from as they compete from Pasadena to Chapel Hill to claim victory. With each iteration, EA builds upon the series and EA Sports College Football 26 looks to be the best yet thanks to some new features spotted in the trailer.

From the EA Sports College Football 26 reveal trailer, new features like dynamic lighting and weather, home crowd advantage, and defensive line running stunts were spotted. These are likely only a handful of the upgrades EA has implemented with this year’s College Football game. New coaches, new players, and more await players on the field with EA Sports College Football 26.

RELATED: EA Sports College Football 26 Gets First Look Ahead of Full Reveal

\n EA Sports College Football 26, players can begin their journey as a high school recruit and work toward a Heisman or even become a coach and lead their team to victory. Bigger plays will make each game feel more impactful along this journey. All of this high-octane action will be commentated by the likes of Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler, Jesse Palmer, and more, providing insight and expertise as your team progresses.

Various game modes are included in EA Sports College Football 26. This includes Dynasty, Road To Glory, College Football Ultimate Team, Road To The College Football Playoff, and Team Builder. Players will be able to enjoy cross-play as well, meaning there will be no shortage of players to beat.

EA Sports College Football 26 launches on July 10th, and players have multiple options on how to pre-order and purchase. Those who pre-order the MVP Bundle will not only gain three-day early access but will also get Madden Football 26 as well. The Deluxe Edition does not have the additional game but does include the three-day early access.

The post EA Sports College Football 26 Trailer Reveals New Features appeared first on ComicBook.com.

PowerWash Simulator reaches its final stop today with the game’s last update out now. The popular simulation game has been sweeping the competition quite literally with its unique gameplay experience, which has players cleaning dirty objects using a variety of power washers. The PowerWash Simulator Muckingham Files 6 update will let players clean the train on its way to Sculpture Park for your final stop. Over the course of three years, the game has gone through several collaborations with Spongebob Sqaurepants, Shrek, and Alice in Wonderland. The train for PowerWash Simulator series isn’t over just yet, as FuturLab is gearing up for PowerWash Simulator 2 which is set to release this year.

RELATED: PowerWash Simulator 2 Announced

The PowerWash Simulator patch notes aren’t too long as they are focused on cleaning a few bugs and gameplay issues. A few of them are geared towards the Wallace & Gromit Special Pack which will see fixes brought to a couple of rooms in the collab. There is also some scrubbing done for the PS5 save file sizes as well as an issue tackling an SFX issue for Sony systems.

For those looking for today’s final PowerWash Simulator patch notes, you can find the update here.

PowerWash Simulator Muckingham Files 6 Update Patch Notes

• Improvements made to scenarios where a placeholder string would be present instead of the function key.
• Fixed a LOD issue in the Kennel in Wallace & Gromit’s House.
• Fixed a crash involving pushing the football in to the kennel in the Wallace and Gromit’s House job.
• Fixed the toy train sounds being affected by music settings in the Dining Room & Kitchen job.
• Fixed a scenario in Wallace & Gromit’s Dining Room & Kitchen where players could get stuck behind a step stool’s default position.
• Fixed an issue involving save file sizes on PS5.
• Fixed an issue where the lower part of Wallace & Gromit’s House was invisible when standing in a specific location.
• Fixed an issue on Switch involving water stream changing color in Aim Mode in certain circumstances.
• Fixed an issue in Shrek jobs where surface targeted was not aligned in 3rd person view.
• Improvements made to players being able to get stuck inside the information board in the Duloc job.
• Fixed a scenario on Xbox where the title could crash when pressing the Back button during the credits.
• Fixed an issue involving equipment placement spots being visible during timelapses.
• Fixed an issue on Sony platforms where certain SFX were still audible after reducing Master Volume to zero.
• Fixed lighting inconsistencies in the kennel in the Wallace & Gromit DLC.
• Fixed flicking assets inside the kennel in the Wallace & Gromit DLC.
• Various other localization improvements and minor bug fixes.

PowerWash Simulator is available on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. While it may get additional smaller updates in the future to fix more bugs or other issues, PowerWash Simulator players shouldn’t expect any more new content and should instead look ahead to PowerWash Simulator 2.

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Artwork from EA’s Black Panther video game has leaked online following the game’s cancellation, revealing that an iconic group of Marvel villains would’ve been featured in the game. Although superhero games have always existed, it feels like there was a real change back in 2009 with Batman: Arkham Asylum. The bulk of these superhero games were movie tie-in games or games with pretty rushed developments in order to make the most of a license agreement. However, Batman: Arkham Asylum showed the level of quality that could come from a lot of these kinds of games. It gave birth to a new era of superhero gaming and allowed games like Marvel’s Spider-Man the chance to exist.

In recent years, it seems like just about all of the big superheroes are getting new AAA video games from Iron Man to Wolverine and many others. One such character that was meant to get his first ever video game was Black Panther. EA had been developing a Black Panther game for the last few years, but unfortunately, Black Panther was cancelled earlier this week. EA is aiming to focus its efforts on things with more growth potential, seemingly like live service games like Battlefield, Skate, or something ripe for expansions like The Sims.

Black Panther Video Game Would’ve Featured Skrulls

Following the game’s cancellation, a Twitter user known as @notfunEman leaked some concept art from Black Panther that was shared with those who filled out a survey about the game. He confirmed the leak that Black Panther would have multiple playable characters, one of who was the son of T’Challa, Azari. He would’ve fought T’Challa in a ritual fight, similar to the ones seen in the MCU film, but it would’ve been interrupted by a Skrull ship that would’ve abducted T’Challa. Not much is known about gameplay details, but the story would’ve reportedly taken across different eras of Wakanda, allowing for the multiple characters. It was expected that Black Panther was going to be an open-world game, so it’s unclear exactly how that would’ve worked with different perspectives in different time periods.

Either way, it sounds like Black Panther could’ve been pretty cool. We have no idea how close the game was to release, but it seems like it still would’ve taken a couple of years given it started development around 2022/2023. Whether or not it would’ve been any good is also up in the air. There’s still a Black Panther game in the works from Skydance which will see Captain America and Black Panther teaming up to take down Hydra in World War II.

Unfortunately, Black Panther is yet another cancelled superhero video game like Wonder Woman and The Flash. Some fear about what’s happening with other Marvel games like Marvel’s Wolverine and Iron Man, but we’ll just have to wait and see what comes of those. EA claims Iron Man is still in the cards despite this cancellation, so hopefully that means it’s further along and making better progress.

Would you have wanted to play the Black Panther game? Let me know in the comments.

The post Black Panther Game Concept Art Leaks After Cancellation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Another week, another drop of free games from the Epic Games Store. As we’ve known from last week’s reveal, two games are being offered for free, allowing EGS users to add them to their library with no strings attached. Anyone interested must visit the store pages of each game and claim their free goodies by June 5th at 11 A.M. ET. Once the offer is gone, another slate of free mystery games will be revealed.

This week’s free EGS games are ones that users won’t want to miss. The first is the critically acclaimed indie platformer from developer Playdead, Limbo. Typically priced at $9.99, this award-winning adventure put Playdead on the map, and helped push indie games into the mainstream when it originally launched in 2010. According to the review aggregate site Metacritic, it garnered an average score of 90 across 89 critic reviews.

The second game is Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. This Borderlands spin-off puts a whimsical, fantasy spin on the beloved first-person shooter series. Usually priced at $59.99, it is a must-play for fans of the franchise. Although not as critically acclaimed as Limbo, it is still a fun time seeing the Dungeons & Dragons-inspired take on Borderlands. When it launched back in 2022, it was met with decent reception. On Metacritic, it averaged a score of 78 across 86 critic reviews. In our review, we gave the game a 4.5 out of 5.

“Cascading loot and relentless humor check the Borderlands boxes, but instead of coming up with totally revolutionary elements, all it had to do was shift things around and finally let us create a character,” reads our review. “Future Borderlands experiences may not be set in fantasy settings of this kind, but they should at least look to adopt in some ways the fanciful and varied nature of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.”

EGS users are saving quite a bit of cash by claiming these two games. In total, buying Limbo and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands would cost $69.98. Of course, that assumes players were planning on purchasing both games. Regardless, this is probably the best week of free games from the digital storefront, and both should be redeemed before the offer is gone next week.

Limbo

“Limbo is an award-winning indie adventure, critically acclaimed for its captivating puzzle design and immersive sound and visuals. Its dark, misty spaces and haunting narrative will stay with you forever.”

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

RELATED: Epic Games Store Is Still Missing One Huge Collection of Games Years Later

“Embark on an epic adventure full of whimsy, wonder, and high-powered weaponry! Bullets, magic, and broadswords collide across this chaotic fantasy world brought to life by the unpredictable Tiny Tina.

“Roll your own multiclass hero and loot, shoot, slash, and cast your way through outlandish monsters and loot-filled dungeons on a quest to stop the tyrannical Dragon Lord. Everyone’s welcome, so join the party, throw on your adventuring boots, and be Chaotic Great!”

Makes sure to check back here for more coverage of the Epic Games Store, including rumors, leaks, and even more deals.

The post Epic Games Store Gives Away 2 of the Best Free Games Yet In 2025 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is just a week away from launch, and excitement for the new console has gamers around the world anxious and excited. While most of the general specs for the new Nintendo device have been revealed, players haven’t had a chance to try it out in person. However, Best Buy is about to solve this problem.

Despite its age, the Nintendo Switch and its offshoots, the OLED and the Lite, have remained a staple for gamers for nearly a decade. Because of this, many are ready to give up the $450 required to get their hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 when it drops on June 5, 2025.

However, the price tag and fears that the console won’t deliver a product worth such a cost have left many anxious to jump in with both feet. This has been especially challenging thanks to a lack of hands-on testing prior to release. Luckily, Best Buy is looking to change that by hosting GameTruck demos around the US.

Switch 2 Comes to Best Guy GameTruck

Newly listed on Best Buy’s website, the retailer plans to set up demo testing stations in the parking lots of stores via the GameTruck program. Kicking off on June 7, 2025, Best Buy states, “Here is your chance to experience the Nintendo Switch 2 system. Best Buy parking lots will be hosting GameTruck theaters on Saturdays throughout the summer. During these events, participating Best Buy stores may have limited Nintendo Switch 2 inventory for purchase. Check back throughout the summer to find a Best Buy store near you.”

This is the perfect opportunity for Nintendo gamers to try the Nintendo Switch 2 before purchasing it, to make sure the second-gen console is the right fit for their playstyle and personal needs. Below are the dates and locations for the GameTruck demos.

Saturday, June 7, 2025

• #107 Torrance, California
• #1411 Kissimmee, Florida
• #501 Kennesaw, Georgia
• #454 Westbury, New York
• #180 Frisco, Texas

Saturday, June 14, 2025

• #872 Downey, California
• #106 Palmdale, California
• #129 Roseville, California
• #1790 Saint Johns, Florida
• #305 Schaumburg, Illinois
• #325 South Bend, Indiana
• #1886 Gateway Brooklyn, New York
• #589 NE Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• #169 Knoxville, Tennessee
• #57 Arlington, Texas
• #178 Cedar Park, Texas

Saturday, June 21, 2025

• #253 Camelback, Arizona
• #179 Culver City, California
• #184 El Cajon, California
• #141 Modesto, California
• #424 Gainesville, Florida
• #311 Burbank, Illinois
• #230 Greenwood, Indiana
• #472 Union, New Jersey
• #453 Salem, Oregon
• #269 Springfield, Virginia

Unfortunately, there is a lack of GameTruck demos in the Pacific Northwest, so those living in the area may want to plan for a trip to California if they want a chance to look at the device in person before buying.

Related: Nintendo Switch Missing Feature Reportedly Coming With Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 offers a slew of updates, including a better cooling system, larger screen, higher resolution, and updated graphical performance, among other changes. These updates are the key to getting games like Elden Ring and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on the portable system.

With so many titles already announced for the Nintendo Switch 2, there will be plenty to jump in and play on launch day. From free ports of existing games to titles announced with specific Switch 2 optimization, the library is already growing. With the hands-on demos, hopefully, players will learn everything they need to know before grabbing one from the shelves.

[H/T Nintendo Everything]

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The Nintendo Switch App has received an update ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, finally adding features that should have been available from the start. With this new update, players can finally upload photos and videos from the Nintendo Switch 2 directly to the app. In addition to this, the Nintendo Switch App has many other new features added for the Nintendo Switch 2.

The new update allows players to upload photos and videos directly from the Nintendo Switch 2 to the mobile app. This is leagues better than the previous system which either required players to use email or a social media app. The new system should make it easier to get photos and videos off players’ consoles and onto other devices.

RELATED: New Nintendo Switch Console Update Released, Here’s What Changed

The Nintendo Switch App update also adds new notification features. Players will now be notified of the Game Chat feature when receiving an invite to the Nintendo Switch 2. Notifications also alert players to new friend requests and when friends are online. Players can also add friends by inputting their respective Friend Code.

New features will likely be added for upcoming and previous games. The Zelda Notes function allows players to take notes for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Zelda Notes adds new navigational features, uploading and receiving designs, and even depositing items.

It is hard to imagine more features like Zelda Notes won’t be available on the Nintendo Switch App in the future. Mario Kart World’s open world and its various missions seem like an easy way to integrate the app into the game. That said, those who do not use the Nintendo Switch App will not miss out on anything if they only play Nintendo’s games on the Nintendo Switch 2.

The post Nintendo Switch App Adds Long Overdue Feature Ahead of Nintendo Switch 2 Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In Genshin Impact, gamers try to compile their dream team of characters collected via gameplay and the game’s gacha mechanic. When new character banners arrive, new character trials come along with them. In theory, these trials let Travelers test out what each potential recruit can do to decide where to focus their pulls. But as the new Kinich trial reminds fans, the default builds for trial characters in Genshin Impact aren’t always created equal. They’re bad more often than not, but some gamers think that might be the point.

Character trials let players test out a character’s abilities by completing a series of challenges. Usually, that involves taking on a string of enemies, but it might feature some other tasks depending on the character. The trial versions of characters come with a default, uneditable build. And as gamers have pointed out, those builds often don’t have the best stats, meaning they don’t necessarily show the characters in the best possible light. As one Redditor notes, Kinich’s character trial build is especially bad.

The base attack stats for this trial version of the 4-star Dentro Claymore are pretty abysmal. Trying to bring him into the challenge of facing off against 5 big bosses in a row doesn’t necessarily go well. Trust me, I tried, and he got totally flattened. For many Genshin Impact players, seeing poor builds for trial characters is a major frustration. After all, you’re trying to see if the character will make a solid addition to your lineup, but it’s hard to tell when you can’t beef up their stats as you normally would. However, that might be part of the master plan when it comes to a gacha game like Genshin.

“It’s All Coming Together” Bad Trial Builds Entice Gamers to Pull for Genshin Impact Characters

As the top comment on this post about Kinich’s trial notes, the trial versions of certain characters can be “so bad it makes me tempted to wish for them and build them even better myself.” And as one response notes, that might very well secretly be the point. Using the iconic “Oh yeah, it’s all coming together” gif of Kronk from Emperor’s New Groove, another comment shares the theory that bad builds might actually be a winning strategy.

If a character build in a trial doesn’t show them off to the best of their ability, but players like the basics of what they see, it might entice them to wish for that character. And a wish means you’ll need in-game currency, which could well convert into real-life sales for Genshin Impact. Many gamers think that might be why HoYoverse doesn’t make those trial builds too good – they want you to see the potential and yearn to realize it by nabbing the character for yourself.

RELATED: 7 Best Gacha Games to Play in 2025

However, the strategy can backfire. Not all players are going to see this as a challenge worth approaching. As one comment says, “if trial characters are bad, I won’t be pulling,” as that bad trial builds give the impression that “this character is weak in gameplay.” I’ll confess, I fall into the latter camp myself. One trial round with Kinich, and I’m much less interested in pulling for him… even if a male character banner is always a welcome surprise in Genshin Impact. Even though she’s also a trial, the other banner character, Raiden Shogun, doesn’t seem quite as nerfed in her sample build.

At any rate, it seems players have some mixed feelings about the purpose behind these character trials. But, if nothing else, they do let you get a feel for the characters’ attacks and abilities, even if they’re not at their full power.

What do you think of character trials like the newest Kinich one in Genshin Impact? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Genshin Impact’s Newest Character Trials Highlight a Major Player Frustration appeared first on ComicBook.com.

HeroQuest has been around since the ’90s, but was relaunched by Hasbro back in 2021. As part of the relaunch, backers got access to an exclusive, special Quest Pack designed by none other than actor and gamer Joe Manganiello. Today, Avalon Hill has officially announced that the once crowdfunding backer-exclusive Quest Pack has been reborn. Joe Manganiello’s The Crypt of Perpetual Darkness Quest Pack for HeroQuest will be available for all gamers to enjoy, re-released in a new Premium edition as an official expansion for HeroQuest. The Quest Pack arrives on July 15th, with pre-orders starting here on Amazon today, May 29th.

The beloved dungeon-crawling RPG board game HeroQuest has had quite a journey since its 1991 release. The game was discontinued a few years after launch, making it pretty hard to find for a while. But eventually, HeroQuest returned with Hasbro’s Avalon Hill, well known for Betrayal at House on the Hill and other iconic board games. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, HeroQuest returned to gamers’ collections. And many gamers who backed that original 2020 campaign got an exciting bonus – a special Quest Pack designed by none other than Joe Manganiello himself.

Now, Avalon Hill is getting ready to launch a premium version of Joe Manganiello’s The Crypt of Perpetual Darkness Quest Pack for HeroQuest. This exciting re-release has previously been teased by Manganiello himself, but now, Avalon Hill has revealed the full details for what players can expect from the new Premium Quest Pack, including when you’ll be able to get your hands on it.

Joe Manganiello’s Creative Process MakesThe Crypt of Perpetual Darkness Quest Pack Tough and Immersive

During a recent Press Conference with Avalon Hill, I had the opportunity to hear Manganiello share the inspiration and creative process that brought The Crypt of Perpetual Darkness into existence. Manganiello loved HeroQuest as a kid, so bringing this tough adventure to fans was an opportunity he was happy to take advantage of. And gamers will no doubt be glad he did.

Fans of his work from playing Flash Thompson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man on through recent roles such as Chrocodile in One Piece will be happy to know he infused some “Easter Eggs” from his life and work into the game, as well. One of the goblins in the game is based on his chihuahua, Bubbles. And for my fellow Pittsburgh locals, there’s even a Pittsburgh Easter Egg in a character based on an employee from the popular sandwich chain Primanti’s.

RELATED: Betrayal at House on the Hill Reveals New Evil of Pennywise IT Expansion

Along with these fun Easter Eggs, the new Quest Pack for HeroQuest features 10 different epic quests designed by Joe Manganiello. And according to what he shared during the Avalon Hill Press Conference, those adventures aren’t for the faint of heart. When asked about striking the balance between fun and tension in his adventure, Manganiello shared that he thinks “drama is best, in terms of gaming, when your players are scared… It means they’re invested. It means they’re paying attention. It means that every dice roll, they’re sweating.” He wanted to bring an advanced difficulty to the Quest Pack to conjure that feeling in players and to encourage players to work together as a team.

What’s Included in the Premium Joe Manganiello’s The Crypt of Perpetual Darkness Quest Pack for HeroQuest

The Crypt of Perpetual Darkness will be a truly immersive Quest Pack expansion for HeroQuest, challenging and engaging players. It features 10 different quests for players to explore, each of them bringing a “borderline heavy meta aesthetic” to the TTRPG, as Manganiello puts it.

Along with this exciting adventure content, the quest pack will include the following items:

• 1 Metallic Black Dragon Miniature
• 8 Black Dice
• 1 Character Sheet Pad
• 20 Foil-Embellished Game Cards
• 2 Cardboard Tile Sheets

The HeroQuest Quest Pack The Crypt of Perpetual Darkness will release on July 15th. However, gamers who absolutely have to secure their copy can grab it on Amazon starting at 10 AM EDT on May 29th. After launch, the game will be available at your local card store and via Amazon. It costs $34.99 and is suitable for ages 14 & up. You’ll need the HeroQuest Game System to play the Quest Pack, and it works best for 2-5 players.

The post HeroQuest Reveals Details for Premium Joe Manganiello’s The Crypt of Perpetual Darkness Quest Pack appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Street Fighter 6 players will be receiving free items to celebrate the game’s 2nd anniversary. Additionally, Capcom will be hosting in-game events to celebrate its two-year milestone further. Players can look forward to these events and the in-game items starting on June 2nd. Not much longer after this, Elena will be added to the game, completing the Season 2 character additions and preparing players for Season 3.

The 2nd anniversary of Street Fighter 6 rewards players with free items, though these have not been shown. Typically, these items consist of commemorative items like titles, avatar gear, and other accessories. It remains to be seen what the items will be and how many players will get. The hype for Street Fighter 6 is at an all time high with the Overwatch 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds collabs which aligns with this milestone.

RELATED: Overwatch 2 Devs Break Down New Street Fighter 6 Collab (And Why It Makes More Sense Than You Think)

In addition to the free items, Street Fighter 6 will begin holding events in-game. So far, these include a 2nd Anniversary Extreme Battle Tournament, 2nd Anniversary Drive Ticket Rush, 2nd Anniversary Challenge Master, 2nd Anniversary Shop Sale, and a mystery event. Players will learn more about these events when they go live.

Finally, Capcom is holding the 2nd Street Fighter Art Contest New Challenger Edition. One piece of art, created and submitted by the community, will be selected for each character, including Elena. The winning pieces will be added as Challenger screens in the game and gifted to all players. Winning entries will then be featured in the Battle Hub where players can vote on their favorites. Those who win the Art Contest will also receive a special player title.

Street Fighter 6 has proven to be very popular, especially following the rocky launch of Street Fighter 5. Season 3 will be starting soon, and players can look forward to new characters and more.

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The time has officially come for Nightfarers to jump into Limveld as Elden Ring Nightreign releases later today or early tomorrow, depending on your time zone. Naturally, that means we’ve already got a juicy new day one patch for Elden Ring Nightreign to ensure everything runs as intended. Today, gamers who pre-load the game can go ahead and download the first Elden Ring Nightreign patch. This update is primarily focused on improving gameplay and stability for the new multiplayer Elden Ring experience. Bandai Namco and FromSoftware ask gamers to be sure they’ve downloaded the new patch before launching the game for the first time.

Gamers on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC can download Elden Ring Nightreign Version 1.01 to bring their game up to date before launch. This first round of patch notes is pretty short and sweet, but should clean up some lingering issues so Nightfarers can truly enjoy their first journey into Limveld.

Day One Patch Notes for Elden Ring Nightreign

For the full details of what’s coming in this first update for Nightreign, check out the full patch notes as shared on the official Elden Ring Nightreign website below:

Patch Contents

• Improved handling of playable characters
• Soundtrack addition and adjustments
• Text adjustments
• Balance adjustments
• Added character scenarios
• Bug fixes

As you can see, this day one update is pretty straightforward with just a few minor fixes and adjustments to get things ready to go. To make sure you’re running the right version at release, you should look for the following details at the bottom right of the game’s title screen:

App Ver. 1.01
RegulationVer. 1.01.1

RELATED: Elden Ring Nightreign Review: The Boss Rush I’ve Always Wanted

If you see this info, you should be all set to explore what Elden Ring Nightreign has to offer. That said, Bandai and FromSoftware do have a few notes for players on PC.

PC Frame Rate Issues for Elden Ring Nightreign Still Being Investigated

In addition to today’s patch notes, the developers also note that there is an ongoing issue with some PC configurations and graphic cards experiencing frame rate drops. The issue is still being investigated, and the devs recommend the following temporary potential for fix frame rate issues with Elden Ring Nightreign:

“If you experience significant frame rate drops, you may be able to resolve it by setting the graphics settings from the default “High” to “Medium” or “Low” and lowering the screen resolution, as well as installing the latest drivers for your graphics card.”

Another thing to try if you’re struggling to run Nightreign on your PC is to verify the integrity of the game files. To do this, go to your Steam library, right click on Elden Ring Nightreign, go to properties, then Installed Files. From there, hit “Verify Integrity of Game Files.” This can sometimes resolve installation issues that impact a game’s ability to launch.

Frame rate issues will hopefully be addressed in a future patch, once the cause of the problem has been identified.

The post Elden Ring Nightreign Patch Notes Revealed for Day One Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered dropped seemingly out of nowhere, and for a brief moment, the gaming world felt like it had stepped through a nostalgic portal. Released with barely any fanfare, this Unreal Engine 5 overhaul of the 2006 classic came bundled with every major expansion, including the beloved Shivering Isles. Enhanced visuals, overhauled AI, and an impressive 125 GB install size seemed to promise a true rebirth for one of the most iconic open-world RPGs ever made. But as the initial shine begins to fade and players already turn to mods to improve the experience, a deeper question remains: is Oblivion Remastered a genuine tribute to one of Bethesda’s finest titles, or is it just the latest corporate play to cash in on our collective memories?

Despite being a Bethesda game through and through, the remaster was handled by a third-party studio—one that specializes in modernizing older titles using pre-existing frameworks like Unreal Engine. While Bethesda supervised, the core development was outsourced. That decision, while not inherently bad, speaks volumes. Offloading the work to another studio (and engine) suggests more of a logistical maneuver than a heartfelt project. In plain terms, it looks a lot like a cost-cutting decision dressed up as fan service.

Developing in Unreal Engine 5 means that a lot of the heavy lifting, including lighting, terrain rendering, and physics systems, was handled by the engine itself. It’s not that the team didn’t work hard (credit where credit’s due—the remaster looks undeniably beautiful), but the game itself feels hardly touched beyond the graphical level. One could argue that the whole game was imported into UE5, stripped of its assets, and replaced, hoping that the Unreal Engine’s superb graphics rendering would carry a lot of the game (at the cost of performance).

It also raises the question: if Bethesda wasn’t hands-on with this remaster, is it really an Oblivion product? Or just a fan mod with an official price tag and corporate backing?

When I first saw the game’s file size, my skepticism for Oblivion Remastered began to brew. 125 GB might sound like a sign of scale and depth, but in practice, a lot of that size goes to assets. The game is still Oblivion under the hood—there’s no expansion of content, no deep questline additions, and certainly no modern gameplay systems to speak of. It’s big because it looks big, not because it is big.

To Oblivion Remastered’s credit, the visuals are leagues beyond what we saw in 2006. The forests feel alive, the architecture pops, and the night sky—still one of the franchise’s unsung heroes—is breathtaking, even when everything is displayed under a shade of yellow. But that glow starts to fade once you actually start playing.

Despite all the visual polish, Oblivion Remastered has left many of the game’s outdated mechanics untouched. The clunky combat system that was starting to feel dated in 2006, the AI that swings from genius to brain-dead in a single conversation—all of it is still here. There’s something oddly jarring about watching a photorealistic NPC walk like a mannequin and deliver dialogue like they’ve just been rebooted.

While to nostalgic gamers these may seem like purposeful choices made in tribute to the original, I remain skeptical. This, more than anything, suggests the remaster was more interested in looking good than playing well. And that’s a shame, because Oblivion’s systems (some of which definitely do hold up, especially when compared to Skyrim) desperately needed refinement. Instead, they’ve been preserved, quirks and all, likely as another cost-saving measure. Why spend the time modernizing the mechanics when you can just layer them with pretty textures and call it a day?

It’s a missed opportunity. There was a real chance to bring Oblivion’s timeless world into a modern gameplay framework—to make it feel fresh for a new generation while keeping the heart of what made it special. Instead, what we got was a museum piece: beautiful to look at, but ultimately behind glass. A remaster, when I think many of us wanted a full-on remake.

It’s also worth noting that Oblivion Remastered players are facing problems on the Steam Deck, a clear indication that the port’s optimization might not be living up to its technical promises and potentially a sign of cost-cutting measures in the game’s development.

It’s impossible to talk about Oblivion Remastered without addressing the context of Bethesda’s recent history—namely, the failure of Starfield to capture hearts and headlines the way the studio hoped. Starfield was supposed to be Bethesda’s triumphant return, its magnum opus, a sprawling space epic to rival Skyrim. Instead, it stumbled out of the (Oblivion?) gate and has struggled to stay relevant ever since.

Enter Oblivion Remastered.

It’s almost poetic. When the new thing doesn’t work, bring back the old thing everyone loves. And sure enough, it worked. Social media exploded with clips, screenshots, and memes, even before the game was “officially” announced (though many can call the ‘leaked’ information a marketing strategy). Nostalgia hit hard, and Bethesda got the positive press boost it desperately needed. The timing just feels a little too convenient. Not too long after Bethesda started losing the goodwill of its core audience, even fading into somewhat obscurity, it dropped a remastered fan favorite, made by someone else, in a prettier engine, free as part of a subscription service they’re heavily promoting.

Was this about celebrating legacy? Or salvaging public image?

Another layer to the story is the game’s availability on Xbox Game Pass. On paper, that’s a win for players—access to a major remaster without shelling out what I personally consider to be about $30 more than the game deserves to cost. But the deeper you look, the more it feels like part of a broader push. Microsoft has been throwing major weight behind Game Pass, and what better way to drive engagement than by offering up a beloved Elder Scrolls title, prettied up and packaged with minimal effort?

The existence of the Xbox Game Pass feels like yet another shift away from buyer ownership, putting a title that was released before the normalization of digital downloads on a platform you can only exclusively access online. Thankfully, though, signs seem to be pointing towards Oblivion Remastered having a physical release, so you can still (hopefully) own some physical media in an age where that prospect is getting harder and harder.

Oblivion has always had a certain charm as an awkward, endearing middle child between the grit of Morrowind and the relative polish of Skyrim. What makes it special isn’t just the nostalgia, but the uniqueness of its setting, tone, and pacing. This remaster had a chance to not just preserve that, but to build on it—to refine systems, fix known issues, even add light modern features that could have elevated the experience.

Instead, it feels like we got the bare minimum needed to get people talking. To me, it feels less like a love letter to a classic and more like a cashgrab.

RELATED: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Players Discover Character They Never Found in the Original

If you’ve never played Oblivion before, the remaster might be your best entry point. It’s the same classic story and world, dressed in modern clothes (though some of those older designs do not translate well to modern models). But for longtime fans hoping for a thoughtful update, it might feel more like Bethesda asking for our attention (or subscription) than offering something meaningful in return.

Oblivion Remastered sits in an awkward space between reverence and revenue. It’s beautiful, it’s nostalgic, and it works—but only just. For some, that’s enough. For others, it might feel like a targeted attack on your wallet meant to capitalize on gamer nostalgia.

At the end of the day, Oblivion Remastered isn’t bad—it’s just safe. And maybe that’s the real disappointment. When you’re dealing with a legacy this iconic, playing it safe is the most uninspired choice you can make.

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A Nintendo DS game — which was also available on the Game Boy Advance — is returning with a new release on modern consoles and PC 19 years later. More specifically, with a new release on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Right now, there is no word of it coming to Nintendo Switch 2 though. And right now, there is also no word of a release date, but the Steam page notes it will be out in 2025.

The game in question is Scurge: Hive from developer Orbital Media and publisher SouthPeak Interactive. That said, the new release — which is just a port of the original game — is being handled by neither of these companies, but Ratalaika Games.

For those unfamiliar with the original 2006 game, it is an action-adventure game that garnered Metacritic scores in the 70s when it released. And after its release, nothing ever happened with it. It never got a follow up nor did it receive any ports. To this end, this will be the first time the game is available on anything but Nintendo consoles.

“Take on the role of acclaimed bounty hunter Jenosa Armaon a shocking and dangerous mission,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. Our heroine has been contracted by the Military to recover a top-secret science laboratory on an obscure distant planet. To her surprise, the cause of the disaster is a notorious virus known as ‘Scurge,’ which has the ability to enslave all things to its destructive will. Powered by bio-protective armor, Jenosa is able to resist but not destroy ‘Scurge.’ She must use her agility, her weapons, and her wits to contain and ultimately defeat the cruel virus before it spreads.”

RELATED: Nintendo Switch AAA Game on Sale for Just $5.99

It is unclear why this game of all games from this generation is being brought forward as it wasn’t very popular when it released, and it is hard to imagine a straight port of the game 19 years having much demand. That said, it is certainly a treat for those who played this nearly two decades ago, whether on DS or Game Boy Advance.

For more coverage on all things Nintendo — including all of the latest Nintendo news, all of the latest Nintendo rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo deals — click here.

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A PS1 game, an exclusive of the Sony console, is getting a remake next month, but the remake is not releasing on PS5 and PS5 Pro, or even PS4. Rather, it is releasing via the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch only. Odder than this, it is releasing on June 26, a few weeks after the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, yet there is no Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game, however, it will be playable on the console via backward compatability, which is better than PS4 and PS5, where it won’t be available in any capacity.

The PS1 game in question is Front Mission 3, a 2000 release from Square, before Square merged with Enix in 2003 and became Square Enix. Technically, the game debuted in 1999, but this was only in Japan. It didn’t come to North America and Europe until 2000. As the name suggests, it is the third main installment in Front Mission series — which began in 1995 — but the fifth overall. Unlike its predecessors though, it was the first Front Mission game to be released in the aforementioned North America and Europe. Upon release, meanwhile, it garnered an 84 on GameRankings.

If a Front Mission 3 remake sounds familiar with it is because remakes have already released for the first two games. Front Mission 2 Remake and Front Mission Remake previously released in 2023 and 2022, respectively. And the good news for non-Nintendo Switch owners is both started as Nintendo Switch exclusives, but then came to PC and both generations of PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Surely the third remake will as well.

“The tactical RPG classic returns! Front Mission 3: Remake is the third chapter in the iconic series beloved by fans worldwide,” reads an official elevator pitch of the game from publisher Forever Entertainment and developer MegaPixel Studio. “Step into the role of Kazuki and Ryogo as tensions rise across volatile military zones. With the fate of the region hanging in the balance, command towering Wanzers and lead your squad through intense, turn-based battles.”

RELATED: PS5 Pro Leaked Update Reveals Upgrade for PS3, PS2, and PS1 Games

For more coverage on all things PlayStation — including all of the latest PlayStation news, all of the latest PlayStation rumors and leaks, and all of the latest PlayStation deals — click here.

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Disney Lorcana’s next set remakes the world in an iconic villain’s image, as Jafar has taken over Archazia’s Island and looks to cement his rule in Reign of Jafar. As is tradition, Reign of Jafar launches with two new starter decks, featuring the combos of Amber and Amethyst and Ruby and Steel. These decks have a host of powerful cards at their command, including Tiana, Bruno Madrigal, Mulan, and everyone’s favorite blue alien troublemaker Stitch. ComicBook had the chance to put the new starter sets through their paces, and while there is one set that I tend to favor over the other, this is easily the best Lorcana starter deck combo in recent memory.

Before we get into the specifics of each starter set, let’s take a look at the franchises that are most heavily featured. Obviously, with Jafar being the marquee villain, there are some other Aladdin characters in the mix, but the set is more heavily made up of Encanto, Bambi, Mulan, and Lilo & Stitch. There’s also a healthy amount of other characters in the mix though, including Minnie Mouse, Clawhauser, Tiana, Friend Owl, Pinocchio, and Captain Hook. Now let’s get into the nitty gritty.

Reign of Jafar Amber / Amethyst Starter Deck

The Amber Amethyst deck didn’t take long to make an impression on me, as not only does it feature a host of Encanto characters, but it’s also a wonderful showcase for the singing mechanic and how useful and powerful it can be with the right combinations of cards.

This deck really hits its stride in the 3-cost range, as cards like Pepa Madrigal and Clawhauser will continue to pay off with useful abilities as the match goes on and you add more singing characters and actions to the mix. Clawhauser has the Bodyguard ability to protect other low-health characters, but he also counts as 4 towards singing songs and has 2 Quest to boot. Meanwhile, Pepa allows you to gain 1 lore whenever one or more of your characters sings a song. Having one of these characters on the board also allows you to use key actions like Trials and Tribulations and This Is My Family, which both cost 2 and allow you to hit an enemy character with -4 strength or gain 1 lore and draw a card, respectively.

[RELATED: Darkwing Duck is Finally Coming to Disney Lorcana, but When?]

The deck’s 4-range provides several tactical options, including bringing a 3-cost character into your hand when you sing a song (Antonio Madrigal), removing up to 3 damage and readying a character (Try Everything), getting +4 strength while challenging (Druun), or stopping an enemy character from readying next turn (Bruno Madrigal). You’ve also got Tiana, who not only counts as a cost 6 in singing songs, but then whenever you play a song, each opposing character gets -1 strength until the start of your next turn.

Singing and actions are also powerful moving into the late game, with Alma Madrigal and Bruno Madrigal’s Dual Ink cards providing welcome boosts to the characters on the field. Once per turn, Alma can ready characters whenever one or more of them sing a song, and as for Bruno (Singing Seer), whenever he sings a song, you may draw a card for each character you have in play. That leads us to the 9-cost Fantastical and Magical action and song, and if you can gather 9 total song cost to activate it, you can draw a card and gain 1 lore for each character that contributed to singing it. In the late game, that can be huge, so while it is a heavy cost, it could well be worth the price.

This set was simply a joy to play, and rewarded experimentation and changing up strategies on the fly. While it’s rare you’ll have many of these cards on the field of play at the same time, the changing combinations still felt powerful if you could adapt and apply resources in an efficient way. I also found myself using more of the higher-cost cards than I typically do in a starter set, simply because of how the cheaper cards directly boost or funnel into the higher-cost cards in the set, making patience and timing even more important.

Reign of Jafar Ruby / Steel Starter Deck

The Ruby Steel deck switches things up and takes a much stronger focus on challenges and manipulating the field of battle, and the contrast works extremely well compared to the song and action-focused Amber and Amethyst starter deck. While the 3-cost range is strong, it’s actually the 1, 2, and 4-cost ranges that stand out the most in this deck, allowing players to get more characters into the action early and then boost their forces in the mid-range game.

Depending on how things shake out in terms of your opening hand, you will have two fantastic characters to choose from in the early turns, including Captain Hook and Mulan (Disguised Soldier). Both only cost 1 ink, and while Captain Hook gets a +2 Strength when challenging, Mulan allows you to draw a card and then discard a card when played. Later turns will be a perfect time to use 1-cost options like Light The Fuse and The Sword of Shan-Yu. Light The Fuse lets you deal 1 damage to a chosen character for each exerted character you have in play, while The Sword of Shan-Yu has you exert a character to then ready another chosen character. With their low cost, these become evergreen options for the whole game.

The 2-cost range is great as well, featuring cards like Grandmother Fa, which not only has 2 Quest attached, but questing with that card also allows you to give a chosen character of yours +2 strength. The Quick Shot action is also useful, dealing 1 damage to a character and allowing you to draw a card, and Thumber then gives a chosen character +3 strength on your turn.

The 3 and 4-cost range offers some of the most exciting cards in the deck, though, starting with Prince John’s rather incredible 5 strength and 5 willpower. He does take 1 damage when an opponent plays a character, but it’s still immensely worth playing him, even if he only lasts 2 turns. The Matchmaker is useful as well, removing a lore from an opponent whenever she challenges another character, and then Stitch (Alien Troublmaker) allows you to draw a card and gain 1 lore whenever he banishes another character in a challenge. As for Mulan (Charging Ahead), not only does she have evasive, but she can also challenge ready characters.

As for the high-cost tier, there’s the 6-cost Mushu (Your Worst Nightmare) is a brilliant addition, as whenever you play another character, he gives them Rush, Reckless, and Evasive during that turn, and that’s on top of his 2 Quest on his own. There’s also Atitaya, who comes in with 7 and 7 and boasts 3 Quest, balancing out the 7 cost. There’s also the possibly battlefield-shaking Beyond the Horizon, which costs 7 and, in the right instance, can really shift the game to your advantage. If you can pay for it or sing it, you can choose any number of players and they have to discard their hands and draw 3 cards each, throwing anyone’s strategy out of the window in an instant.

While a Challenge-heavy deck isn’t my preferred style, I found myself really enjoying the mix of options in this deck and how that affects your approach to battles. Do you remove some strength from an opponent so your bodyguard takes less damage and can hit back hard next turn, or give your forces a welcome boost across the board and hit your enemy’s frontlines with volume instead? The rest of the deck also has ways to get a Lore bonus once banished or add some defense to your heroes, and the amount of tactical options at your disposal keeps the challenge-focused gameplay from getting repetitive.

The Final Verdict

Overall, both starter sets are incredibly strong, and both feel fun to play and more rewarding as you learn the rhythm of that particular playstyle and learn the ins and outs of the cards themselves. While I definitely favor the Amber and Amethyst deck, I still enjoyed Ruby Steel immensely, and whether you’re a longtime fan or just jumping in, I think the Reign of Jafar starter sets are some of the strongest in the game to date, and it will not be leaving my Lorcana rotation anytime soon.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Disney Lorcana’s Reign of Jafar will pre-release on May 30th and will roll out in full release on June 6th. You can check out everything you need for Disney Lorcana’s new set right here.

Are you excited for Reign of Jafar, and which starter set is your favorite in Lorcana so far? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things Disney Lorcana and gaming with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Reign of Jafar’s Starter Decks Are Two of Disney Lorcana’s All-Time Best appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the most ill-fated PlayStation 4 games, The Order 1886, was intended to kick off a trilogy. When the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were first announced, just about every developer was out there trying to show off cutting edge graphics, which is fair given they were trying to demonstrate the power of the hardware. Of course, in the case of games like Watch Dogs this backfired. Other games like The Order 1886, however, managed to stick the landing in terms of astonishing visuals, but critics felt like it lacked all of the other important pieces of a good video game.

Just a little less than two years after its initial reveal, the highly anticipated The Order 1886 made its debut on the PS4 in February 2015. It was meant to be a big moment for the console and for developer Ready at Dawn, which was mostly known for making PSP spin-offs of God of War. This was a big moment for the company, but unfortunately, it was revealed just prior to its launch that the game was about five hours long. This put a lot of people off from buying it, as they felt $60 for 5 hours wasn’t a good value and then reviews weren’t exactly kind toward the rest of the game. As you might imagine, this resulted in any plans for future Order sequels being canned.

The Order 1886 followed the Knights of the Roundtable in an alternate history version of London as they battled supernatural creatures like werewolves. It was a really interesting game and gorgeous to look at. It probably had a lot of good potential for sequels too. As reported by VGC, Ready at Dawn founder Ru Weerasuriya and creative director on The Order 1886 told Julien Chieze that he had planned a trilogy for the PlayStation IP. Of course, the sequel was cancelled and a third game never actually entered development, but he had a story mapped out. The two games would’ve been The Order 1891 and The Order 1899, respectively.

The sequel would’ve included multiplayer and much bigger fights, though he didn’t go into much more detail. Multiplayer was planned for 1886, but it was ultimately shelved with plans to include it in the second game. It’s unclear if this would’ve been a traditional 6v6 PVP type of multiplayer or something more cooperative. Either way, it’s interesting to imagine what could’ve been. I was personally a fan of The Order 1886, as someone who picked it up years later for $5. I thought it was good fun and would’ve liked to see where Ready at Dawn could’ve taken it.

Ready at Dawn ended up being acquired by Meta years later and was unfortunately shut down in 2024. As a result, it’s highly unlikely The Order franchise will ever make any kind of return, but at least the first game still exists. If you’ve never played it and own a PS5, I highly recommend trying to snag it on sale and giving it a go. It’s a fun game to play over a weekend.

Would you have wanted to see sequels to The Order 1886? Let me know in the comments.

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After five years, it seems like Final Fantasy 7 Remake may finally be about to come to Xbox. The Final Fantasy series isn’t exactly synonymous with Xbox. Although Final Fantasy has been on Xbox, it is a series that is very closely linked with the PlayStation brand. PlayStation and Final Fantasy obviously predate Xbox, so those who played Final Fantasy 7 for the first time when it came out played it on the PlayStation 1. Sony has always been pretty tight with Square Enix and that’s why it was pretty devastating for JRPG fans on Xbox when they locked down some of the biggest Final Fantasy games as PlayStation console exclusives.

Rumors of Final Fantasy 7 Remake coming to Xbox have swirled for years, but as more time passes, more fans lose hope. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth came out on PS5 in 2024, and still, no sign of an Xbox port of its predecessor. On top of that, Final Fantasy 16 has also been locked to PS5 and PC. It’s been a struggle for Xbox fans who want to experience some of the most highly acclaimed games of all-time, but it sounds like there’s a good chance this may change very soon.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake May Be Announced for Xbox Next Week

According to Windows Central‘s Jez Corden, he believes that Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth, and Final Fantasy 16 will all get announced for Xbox at its summer gaming event. If that’s true, that would make for a huge mic drop moment for Xbox, doubly so if they can get them on Xbox Game Pass to make up for the extended wait, but that’s pure speculation. It has been rumored for a while that Final Fantasy 7 Remake would come to Xbox this year, while Rebirth will come next year, but Corden didn’t elaborate on release timing.

“Long-suffering Xbox Final Fantasy fans should finally get their vindication at the Xbox Showcase, with titles like the Final Fantasy 7 remakes and Final Fantasy 16 being announced for Xbox,” said Corden. “Perhaps there’s room for Square-Enix to go a bit further and reveal upcoming projects like Dragon Quest 12 as well. We can only hope, right?”

It would be great if Xbox and Square Enix were able to stealth drop at least one of these games during the event. It would give gamers something great to play right away and likely lead to great sales. It’s expected that Final Fantasy Remake Part 3 will not be exclusive to PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 6 and will release on a wide range of consoles, suggesting that it will come to Xbox. If that’s the case, Square Enix will need to make the first two chapters available on Xbox ahead of time in order to get Xbox fans caught up to speed in time.

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The Last of Us Season 2 set up a pretty significant moment, but never paid it off and fans are very upset. The Last of Us Season 2 came to an end this past weekend and the reception to the show has been more mixed than Season 1. It seems like Season 2 has left audiences underwhelmed, including those who hadn’t played the game. Those who have played the game know that The Last of Us Part 2 the video game, which Season 2 partially adapts, is a very violent game. The whole point of the story is about how violence creates violence through revenge, war, and so on. However, Season 2’s violence felt pretty minor relative to the game.

Of course, a video game is never going to be a one to one translation for TV. There’s going to be more violence in a game because that’s the gameplay, it’s what fills the hours, it’s what keeps the player engaged. It’s interactive and therefore, it’s almost disproportionate. It’s unreasonable to expect a real person to slay that many people in real life, but we suspend our disbelief. Still, Ellie kills about four or five people in Season 2, two of which are sort of a freak accident. Some fans feel like this doesn’t accurately portray Ellie’s rage from the games and sort of just makes her actions feel aimless.

Ellie Never Uses Seth’s Rifle in The Last of Us Season 2

Now, fans are even more upset because they realized that Ellie never used Seth’s rifle that she was given when leaving Jackson. We see Ellie training with a rifle with Tommy early on in the show, so it felt like they were definitely setting up for her to feel like a decent marksman, especially after she also used a rifle in Season 1. But it never happens. In fact, fans have also started to get upset as they noticed that artwork of Ellie holding the rifle has since been changed to remove it from her hands. It’s all a bit puzzling and has enraged some fans.

Others have pointed out that The Last of Us Season 2 also removed shots of Ellie shooting an assault rifle, further highlighting changes to scale back her violence. It’s unclear exactly why these changes were made. Some have felt that The Last of Us Season 2 was scared of making fans dislike Ellie for her actions, though that’s sort of the point of the story in the game. You aren’t supposed to love and support her unconditionally, you are meant to be conflicted about her actions and question when she has crossed the line.

Of course, only time will tell what happens in future seasons. The Last of Us Season 3 has a chance to lean into the violence given Abby has already demonstrated how brutal she can be and there’s quite a bit of action in her side of the story. As for Ellie, it’s probably too late to make that change. If they try to make her more violent in future seasons, it will feel a bit jarring given the guilt she felt over killing Owen and Mel in Season 2.

The post The Last of Us Season 2 Never Paid Off a Major Moment (And Fans Are Furious) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

BioWare’s Mass Effect franchise is filled with compelling characters who join you on a three-game epic to save the universe. With several characters’ arcs happening over multiple games, the developers were able to build some of the most engrossing companions in video games to that point.

Not counting Andromeda (and you shouldn’t), 20 characters can join Shepard’s squad. These seven Mass Effect companions are the best of the bunch.

7) Legion

Legion is an important character for the greater Mass Effect story because he finally presents the other side to the horrors you’ve learned about the Geth. It’s an effective twist on everything you’ve been presented so far, and lets Legion serve as a hopeful conduit for the Geth. Plus, he has some very unintentionally funny moments.

6) Garrus Vakarian

Most players probably have Garrus higher on their list, and I get it. Of everyone you meet in Mass Effect, his character probably has the most growth. The Garrus we end up with in Mass Effect 3 is one of the more fully realized characters in the series and Shepard’s best friend. That said, I’ve always found him boring through the first two games. There’s just not a lot going on with his story until the third game, dropping him down my rankings. The payoff is great, but the journey nearly made me fall asleep.

5) Tali’Zorah nar Rayya

RELATED: New Mass Effect Update Is Good News for Fans

Like Garrus, you have three full games with Tali. She is there nearly every step of the way, giving her plenty of time to grow. She’s also deeply conflicted by everything she was taught growing up, and if you don’t play your cards right, her final showdown with Legion in Mass Effect 3 is one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the series. Hopefully, you can walk that tightrope and see the more rewarding conclusion that sees Geth and Quarians living together in Rannoch.

4) Thane Krios

Thane is a cold-blooded assassin who could easily have been a relatively forgettable character. Fortunately, BioWare gave him more than one dimension, making him deeply religious and introducing his desire to reconnect with his son Kolyat. It pays off in a moving scene between the two and Shep, seemingly giving Thane one last moment of comfort. Then, BioWare turns even that on its head in a revelation that will hit you to your core.

3) Liara T’Soni

I know I said you should forget about Mass Effect: Andromeda, but it’s worth noting that Liara is the only character on this list to technically appear in that unfortunate mess. That’s fitting. After enduring several hardships in Mass Effect 1, her personality hardens, though Shepard breaks through her walls in the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC. Then, she becomes Shep’s rock in Mass Effect 3, always there no matter what adversity the team faces. That’ll seemingly continue in the next Mass Effect game, as many players think BioWare hinted at her coming back in the ME5 teaser trailers.

2) Mordin Solus

In some ways, Mordin is the most brutal of Shepard’s companions. That’s weird to say about a fast-talking, seemingly nice scientist who loves to sing, but those traits hide a calculating, scientific mind that isn’t above murdering millions in the name of the greater good. However, the more you bond with him, you realize how deeply unsettled he is by the horrific choices he was forced to make. In Mass Effect 3, he’s given the opportunity to change his decision about the Krogan genophage. You can take that from him, but regardless of your decision, the end result is a fitting end to Mordin’s character arc.

1) Urdnot Wrex

BioWare’s decision to let players miss out on Wrex’s story by making it possible to die in the first Mass Effect is nearly unforgivable, but also speaks to the developer’s commitment to letting players create their own version of the epic story. Wrex starts as a man who has seemingly lost all hope for his race, but when he learns of a potential cure, you have to talk him down from the cliff or you’ll lose him forever.

I’ve never seen that version of the story, and I hope you haven’t either. With Wrex in the mix for the rest of the trilogy, you see him become the leader of a new Krogan era. Had his people lost him due to your decisions, things could have turned out much differently. You’d also miss out on his over-the-top proclamation on Tuchanka, where Wrex lets everyone know, “I am Urdnot Wrex, and this is my planet!”

More than anything, Wrex is one of the galaxy’s biggest badasses and Shepard’s best squadmate.

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The Kingdom Hearts series has seen its fair share of Disney and Square Enix worlds incorporated into the ever-growing franchise. From the godly splendor of Hercules’ Olympus Coliseum to the colorful pages of Winnie the Pooh’s 100 Acre Wood, there have been over 45 worlds throughout the series, which will grow once Kingdom Hearts 4 comes around in the next few years. Many of the well-established Disney/Pixar and Square Enix franchises have graced the action-RPG series, and a few stand out as shining examples of the Kingdom Hearts franchise’s ode to the beloved IPs. Of course, with so many worlds, a few popular choices didn’t quite capture the series’ best interests (for better or worse).

RELATED: Kingdom Hearts 4 Should Feature These 10 Disney Worlds

While we won’t tackle every world, we have compiled a list of the five best and worst worlds in the history of Kingdom Hearts. This list is a mix of Disney and Square Enix worlds, coming from all of the Kingdom Hearts games. With that being said, let’s look at the best (and worst) worlds in the Kingdom Hearts series.

5) Deep Jungle (Worst)

We get it – tracking down gorillas in the jungle is hard, but why does that have to apply to the endless maze of Tarzan’s Deep Jungle world? Traversing through the vines and trees like Tarzan sounds like a fantastic gameplay experience, but the problem lies with its backtracking, which had players swinging on vines to swinging at the TV in frustration. Not to mention the lack of direction when figuring out where to go for your objective. While I enjoyed the creativity, the level design detracted from the experience, leaving me as confused as Jane was listening to Tarzan speak for the first time.

4) Monstro (Worst)

Getting stuck inside a whale is a nightmarish scenario, but that fear stems from the dreadful Monstro world in Kingdom Hearts. While the nonstop fight against Heartless continued, the real challenge was with the confusing maze of doors and pathways. One second you’re going the right way, the next you’re back to where you started. Some levels don’t overstay their welcome, but Pinocchio’s Monstro tried its hardest to keep players in a world filled with arcade-styled carpet decorum. I’m probably not the only one who contemplated not saving Pinocchio solely because I couldn’t figure out which doors to go through. If Pinocchio says it’s bad, then it’s obvious that he’s telling the truth.

3) Disney Town (Worst)

Unlike Disney’s colorful entertainment resume, this world missed the mark on bringing the splendor of the company. With only a few NPCs scattered across the level, it’s eerie to traverse a town that is supposed to celebrate the quirkiness of Disney and not see anyone around. The mini-games weren’t enjoyable to play, especially Ventus’ Ice Cream Blast, reliving the terrors of rhythm-based gameplay that we hoped to leave under the sea. Not to mention the insanity of Pete’s Rec Room’s pinball machine puzzle, which had terrible controls and camera angles. For a game like Birth of Sleep, this world felt like a backdrop filler rather than an actual place for story development

2) Arendelle (Worst)

Hoping not to walk on thin ice, but Arendelle was an unsuccessful attempt to bring one of Disney’s best films to Kingdom Hearts. Sure, it was nice hearing the cast back as their respective characters, but for the love of all that is holy, there’s no need for the “Let it Go” sequence to be in this game. It just feels off-putting seeing Sora, Donald, and Goofy being sprinkled into it, as the world feels like they’re only there for Frozen and not Kingdom Hearts. The level design was barren, as it was mostly forestry areas and snow-capped mountains, which didn’t add anything cool to this never-ending winter. It doesn’t help that there’s no exploration aspect, making this already lackluster world even more so.

1) Atlantica (Worst)

No hate towards Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, but anyone who’s played Kingdom Hearts 2 knows the sheer pain of the rhythm-based gameplay sequences from The Little Mermaid’s Atlantica. Again, no disrespect to the developers for bringing this world back, but there’s a huge disconnect by featuring no Heartless and having the world be solely a chance to take advantage of the musical aspect of the original movie. With Swim This Way still playing during my nightmares, trying to hit every note perfectly was a nuisance and didn’t make much sense with the narrative. There’s a reason why this world is optional in Kingdom Hearts 2.

5) Toy Box (Best)

Longtime Kingdom Hearts fans had been asking for several Disney franchises to join the series by the time Kingdom Hearts 3 rolled around, with one of the most prominent being Pixar’s Toy Story. With Andy nowhere in sight, Woody, Buzz, and several others from the movie series have made their debuts in KH3 in Toy Box. As the Kingdom Hearts franchise has been known to have a charming presence, the nostalgic feeling of the critically acclaimed Pixar franchise is present, capturing the hearts of many Disney fans. The narrative for this story is out of the box, as it feels central to the world itself, besides the addition of Young Xehanort and Yozora near the end. The gameplay experience during this world was interesting as the perspective has shifted, as you are toy-sized. 

4) The Caribbean (Best)

Where some of the previous entries sank into the ocean of poor level design, Pirates of the Caribbean’s The Caribbean level sailed the seas with flying colors. The adventure franchise has been in KH2 and KH3, with Kingdom Hearts 3 taking things up a level with its engaging ship-based combat and open-world concept. Having set up Sora’s story within the franchise, this particular world felt tied together better, as there was an established rapport with Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner. A turning point in learning the mindset of Sora, it’s a vital level that nails the emotional aspects of our Keyblade wielder’s morals. With the narrative front and center, the world is visually stunning, as if it were taken straight from the movies.

3) Halloween Town (Best)

Out of all the Disney movies, Tim Burton’s 1993 A Nightmare Before Christmas hits the nail on the head (or coffin) when bringing the best gameplay experience in Kingdom Hearts. Halloween Town brought the right amount of gothic flair that made the film a classic while still shifting the story to match Kingdom Hearts’ narrative, which tackled the nature of the Heartless. There was progress within this world that didn’t show up just to be in the game, but was a part of it to serve a purpose. The gameplay design was fantastic, as Jack was a great temporary member on the team. Not to mention the fun boss battle against Oogie Boogie, which is a definite highlight of the world. All in all, this world is visually and tonally faithful to the film, but crafts a great story to build depth within the Kingdom Hearts lore.

2) Twilight Town (Best)

Kingdom Hearts 2’s Twilight Town is one of the most underrated worlds in the series, which many take advantage of being so early in the game. Twilight Town is an original to the Kingdom Hearts franchise and primarily focuses on Roxas during the gameplay experience. The level design is visually stunning and unique, with multiple places to explore during your time there. There’s a lot to do in the town, whether hitting a garbage bin up the hill for munny or rolling down the street doing tricks on a skateboard. There’s a lot of mystery around this town, which is why this world is high on this list. While we were able to revisit Twilight Town in Kingdom Hearts 3, there’s nothing like living your summer vacation with Hayner, Pence, and Olette in Kingdom Hearts 2.

1) Hollow Bastion (Best)

As the final world for Kingdom Hearts, Hollow Bastion is filled with franchise lore and Disney characters. Once you enter, there is a shift in tone that can be felt through the score and narrative. This world is crucial to the Kingdom Hearts franchise, which lives up to its expectations in delivery. Climbing up the castle and defeating different bosses has a different feel, especially since the difficulty level is higher than usual. What makes this world special is its story, which tackles the dynamic between Kairi, Riku (Ansem), and Sora. A beautiful yet tragic world matched with a similar narrative makes Hollow Bastion the best.

Which of these world rankings do you agree with? Are there any you would’ve liked to see in this list? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Microsoft is officially rolling out Copilot for Gaming, its AI gaming sidekick, today in beta for both iOS and Android devices via the Xbox app. The app feature is designed to help gamers with the games they are playing and answer questions about the game. It can also provide information about Xbox activity and even provide recommendations for games to play next. Microsoft will be testing Copilot throughout the beta phase and making adjustments as needed.

Copilot is now available in beta for those in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and other regions listed here. It is available to download on iOS devices through the Apple Store and through the Google Play Store for Android users. Those who opt into the beta are encouraged to provide feedback as they use the app and its features.

Microsoft also revealed plans to bring Copilot for gaming to the Game Bar on Windows PC and make it more widely available in the Xbox app in the future. As Microsoft tests Copilot, more countries will likely see it released there going forward.

RELATED: 7 Xbox Game Pass Retro Classics Subscribers Should Check Out First

Players can use Copilot’s gaming functions to get help on a game. This includes when stuck on a puzzle or a reminder of how to do something, such as crafting recipes in Minecraft. It can also provide recommendations on what to play by informing it what types of games you like or are looking to try. Finally, Copilot can provide information on Xbox achievements, Game Pass, and play history. These features will likely be expanded on with future updates.

The reception to Copilot has been mixed, with many disliking AI being used in the gaming industry at all. Others have found it to be helpful and provide enough benefits to outweigh the risks.

What are your thoughts on Copilot for gaming and AI in the gaming industry? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Xbox’s AI Helper Goes Live to Help You With Your Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For many Pokemon Go fans, tracking down Shiny versions is part of the fun. But some Pokemon are harder to find than others, meaning some additions to that Shiny dex go unfulfilled. One of the rarer Pokemon in Pokemon Go is pseudo-legendary Jangmo-o, which primarily hatches from 10 KM eggs. While Jangmo-o does spawn in the wild on rare occasions, it’s pretty elusive. It has also only been available in Shiny form since Pokemon Go Fest 2024, meaning many trainers are still hunting for a Shiny Jangmo-o. And now, Pokemon Go is delivering a great opportunity to finally find one.

Pseudo-legendary dragon Jangmo-o has been in Pokemon Go since 2022, but has only been available as a Shiny for a little under a year. This Pokemon is still considered one of the rarest, and getting a Shiny Jangmo-o requires a good bit of luck. However, thanks to a newly announced Community Day event, trainers are about to have much better odds for catching that coveted Shiny Jangmo-o. It’s about time, too, since Pokemon Go Fest 2025 is right around the corner, marking a year since the Shiny emerged.

Pokemon Go has revealed that the June 2025 Community Day on June 21st will feature Jangmo-o as the star of the show. That means this elusive critter will appear more frequently in the wild, giving players far more opportunities to happen upon Shiny Jangmo-o. In addition, the Community Day Field Research tasks will offer up even more Jangmo-o encounters. Although the Shiny odds won’t be boosted during the event, the sheer number of chances to catch Jangmo-o make it more likely you’ll happen upon a Shiny one eventually.

If my past Community Day experiences are any indication, it’s pretty difficult to participate in these events and not walk away with at least one Shiny of the featured Pokemon. So if you need Shiny Jangmo-o or want to try for a Shundo, mark Saturday, June 21st on your calendar. The event runs from 2 PM to 5 PM local time.

Jangmo-o Community Day Event Bonuses & Research

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Pokemon Go Community Day without a few more event bonuses. In addition to the increased wild spawns for Jangmo-o, players can expect the following bonuses in effect during the Community Day event on June 21st:

• 3× XP for catching Pokemon.
• 2× Candy for catching Pokémon.
• 2× chance for Trainers level 31 and up to receive Candy XL from catching Pokémon.
• Lure Modules activated during the event will last for three hours.
• Incense (excluding Daily Adventure Incense) activated during the event will last for three hours.
• Take a few snapshots during Community Day for a surprise!
• One additional Special Trade can be made for a maximum of three for the day.*
• Trades will require 50% less Stardust.*

The two Trade bonuses will be in effect slightly longer than the rest, lasting from 2 PM – 10 PM local time, as opposed to ending at 5 PM.

RELATED: Pokemon Go Reveals Full Details for New Delightful Days Season

Trainers can also enjoy a special Community Day Special Background Timed Research offering an encounter with Jangmo-o with a Delightful Days background. In addition, Field Research tasks at Poke Stops will offer more Jangmo-o encounters as well as other rewards. For those who want even more research, there will be a Community Day Special Research on offer for $1.99 USD or local equivalent. This add-on includes the following bonuses, along with “even more goodies” according to the Pokemon Go website:

• 3 encounters with Jangmo-o that have Delightful Days–themed Special Backgrounds
• Additional encounters with Jangmo-o
• 1 Premium Battle Pass
• 1 Rare Candy XL

These bonuses, and those boosted wild spawns, take place during Jangmo-o Community Day on June 21st. Hopefully, this event will help you check off another Shiny Pokemon on your list!

The post Pokemon Go Is Giving Players a Shot at a Rare Shiny in June appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Last of Us is so heartbreaking and terrifying for its narrative, showcasing the fragility of life. So many characters come and go, with few scenes of euphoria offered on this awful apocalyptic version of Earth. But some scenes have stayed with me long after my standing ovation as the credits roll and my tears flow. These are the saddest The Last of Us moments. There are way too many to count, but I’ve picked a handful that have impacted me most.

Spoiler warning for The Last of Us Part I, Part II, and the Left Behind DLC. This list isn’t referring to the TV show.

7) We Fight

Even though I adored Tess, I found Riley’s death more impactful for the words she left behind. This DLC showed two kids navigating a dangerous world and still finding joy by being in each other’s company. When both characters were bitten, Ellie looked to Riley for comfort, and her words permanently affected Ellie’s perspective of life. Fighting for every second they get to spend with loved ones, regardless of how long it may be, is shown in Ellie’s actions throughout the first and second games. Riley was given the luxury of not dying on screen, a fate that many TLOU characters can’t relate to, but that doesn’t lessen her impact.

Although it isn’t shown, we can assume Ellie had to kill Riley once she turned. This just makes the final scene in Left Behind all the more upsetting and explains Ellie’s personality in the first game.

6) The Lie

This isn’t just one particular moment, for it has multiple scenes that show the repercussions of such a heavy lie. This was no white lie, for it would come to punish Joel and damage his relationship with Ellie for years. Joel chose to carry the burden of choosing one life over the many, and it makes sense why he wouldn’t put that choice on a teenage girl. But when she found out the truth, it would take years to repair the damage. The trust was gone, but Ellie also had to live with the knowledge that she could have put a stop to the apocalypse.

RELATED: How Many Seasons of The Last of Us Will There Be?

People would continue to suffer because of Joel’s choice, but at least Ellie was alive, right? It’s similar to Life is Strange‘s ending, but we all know the more selfless choice is to save the many, but it’s never the easiest to make. Perhaps a vaccine wouldn’t have been successful, but Joel couldn’t predict what would happen if Ellie was sacrificed, and he wanted anyone else to take her place. Of course, this lie resulted in the revenge arc for both Abby and Ellie, showcasing the damage Joel did across many families, not just his own.

5) The Theatre

This is a double whammy. You get so much whiplash in this scene that it’s hard to let what you just witnessed truly sink in. The scene results in Jesse’s sudden death and Tommy getting shot in the head by Abby. Although we knew it was coming because Ellie accidentally left the map that showed where she was staying, she put her loved ones in danger because Abby (just like Ellie) took immediate revenge.

I genuinely didn’t have time to mourn Jesse because his death was completely out of nowhere and was moved on from it far too quickly. This is not a flaw, however, but feels purposely done to show how Ellie isn’t able to mourn these losses, for her determination for “justice” is too strong, overpowering all other emotions. Not only was this Ellie’s friend, but he was the father to Dina’s child, and an absolutely lovely man at that. Naughty Dog knew what they were doing when they made a flawless human with Jesse, being a beacon of light in an awful world, that was snuffed way too soon by Abby (they just had to add another reason to hate her, huh?).

4) Brothers

I remember being deeply affected by the story of Sam and Henry. While their story was cut short, we get to see in a small timeframe the love Henry had for his brother and how he’d do anything to protect him. There are great moments between Ellie and Sam, Joel and Henry, acting as two separate family dynamics where the older wants to protect the young, and the young want to figure out their place in this messed-up world. The reveal of Sam’s bite took my breath away, knowing the inevitable was right around the corner.

Ellie and Sam’s connection was sweet, but it’s Henry’s reaction that saddened me the most. Feeling like he failed at protecting his brother, Henry first blames Joel, then turns the gun on himself, and pulls the trigger. It is a shocking and gut-wrenching scene as these characters were just trying to survive, but weren’t acting maliciously to do so. They were likely the same people as they were before the apocalypse. But Henry quickly decided that he couldn’t continue living without his younger brother by his side.

3) Revenge

You probably expected this infamous scene to be placed number one, but we were all anticipating it when Joel and Tommy naively revealed their names to Abby. This scene was incredibly difficult to watch, both for its realism and that Ellie had the worst scripted timing to be there and watch the most important person in her life die. This scene is awful from both perspectives: Joel having to reassure Ellie, knowing she’s watching him die, and Ellie having to see her adoptive father be beaten to death.

Of course, this immediately made everyone hate Abby, and rightly so. But let’s not act like Joel’s a saint. This is no excuse, however, for no one deserves such a horrendous fate, but it showed the excellent storytelling of TLOU2 because how Abby looked in that moment is how Joel would have looked to an outsider when he killed Marlene and Abby’s father (and many, many more people). Both were doing these murders for selfish reasons, but a character as detailed, beloved, and well-written as Joel will always be mourned for having one of the most brutal deaths in video game history.

2) The Watch

Few scenes have been as impactful as the death of Sarah. Perfectly paced with excellent storytelling to immediately let us adore the kindness of Joel’s daughter, just to have her immediately taken from Joel is just evil writing from Naughty Dog. Much like Ellie’s guitar, the watch Sarah bought for Joel is symbolic of their tie to one another, a sentimental memory that is cherished long after Sarah is gone. Her death is sudden and shocking, being realistic for the setting where authorities are panicked over who is and isn’t infected.

Her life is cut short in an instant and the cries of Sarah are way too real. We can all understand Joel’s pain even if we don’t have kids of our own. It showed how brutal this setting is, as it was only the beginning of a widespread outbreak. Who knows how many suffered a similar fate? But this death would transform Joel into a flawed human who wouldn’t find his place in the world until Ellie came bursting through with her potty mouth and “sunny” personality.

1) Moving On

When I think back to The Last of Us as a whole, my mind immediately goes to the painful journey Ellie went through in Part II. Two sides of the same coin, Ellie travels down the same path Abby did, both to avenge their fathers. But an eye for an eye doesn’t bring closure, nor bring back the person that was cruelly taken from you. Being a stronger person than Abby was, she chose to let her go, but she’d already lost so much.

RELATED: The Last of Us: 8 Moments from the Game Not in the Show

Not only was her father figure gone, but she lost her ability to play guitar—yet another thing Abby took away from her. Of course, from both of their perspectives, they were acting on revenge and survival. But the thought that Ellie won’t be able to play guitar (being one of the things Joel taught her) is soul-crushing, as we saw her rely on it throughout the game to remind herself of her tainted mantra of what she kept fighting for.

We see the last conversation Ellie had with Joel and the sight of him had me already tearing up, not long after she told him off for defending her at the party. This scene is so compelling and beautifully written, showing the father-daughter dynamic in having awkward conversations that are wholesome and sweet. They are both trying to connect and fix their relationship with Ellie finally letting out what she’d kept against Joel all this time. This was an ordinary conversation for them both, but looking back, it is now so heartbreaking for Ellie.

Joel got to hear that Ellie wants to forgive him for taking away her choice at the hospital. Ellie was able to make amends, but they’d lost so much time and would never be able to make up for it. This scene alters Ellie’s motives for revenge as she likely blames herself for not repairing their relationship sooner, and hating Abby for stealing time away from them.

The guitar acts as a symbol of Joel or perhaps the person that Ellie had become after his death. When she leaves it in her countryside home, the place Dina had to leave behind, she’s saying goodbye to Joel in her own way. She’s lost everything at this point. But she’s moving on in a new direction, no longer looking back at the past or hanging onto the pain, but developing from it, like Joel had to time and time again.

The post 7 Saddest The Last of Us Moments That I’ll Never Forget appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Though Fortnite itself is free-to-play, it’s no secret that the game offers plenty of opportunities for players to spend their V-Bucks. So, it’s always an exciting day when fans can claim rewards in Fortnite for free, and just such an opportunity is headed our way soon. Starting on June 3rd, gamers will be able to claim a free Star Wars-themed pickaxe and loading screen in Fortnite just by logging in during the event window. Alas, it’s probably not the pickaxe you’re looking for.

This information was shared to the social media platform X by reliable Fortnite source, @HYPEX, who shared an image of the new loading screen and free pickaxe. According to the post, the items will be available as free Fortnite login rewards between June 3rd and June 10th. This information is also supported by an official news post from Epic Games on the Fortnite website as part of the Galactic Battle V: Death Star Sabotage event description.

The Assault on the Death Star loading screen is on-theme for the current Star Wars season of Fortnite, but the pickaxe is a bit more of a mystery at first glance. Many players are dubbing it a metal toothpick, and I’ve got to admit, that sure is the vibe. However, as the official Fortnite description notes, the pickaxe is modeled after Captain Phasma’s personal melee weapon, the Quicksilver Baton Spear.

Whether you’re trying to complete a Captain Phasma look or not, there are certainly a few Fortnite skins where the metal stick would indeed fit the vibe. Players will be able to claim the metal toothpick along with the Star Wars loading screen by logging in to Fortnite between June 3rd and June 10th.

Fortnite Players Wish the New Pickaxe Was a Lightsaber

Although many gamers are excited by the new free loading screen, reactions to the pickaxe design choice are more mixed. Given the Star Wars theme of the current Fortnite season, many gamers want to see a lightsaber pickaxe. Despite some leakers promising that lightsabers absolutely have to be on the way, this latest update on freebies for the Star Wars season makes it look unlikely. Unlikely, but much desired by fans.

RELATED: Fortnite to Introduce New Shove Feature

Since the start of the Star Wars content in Fortnite, many fans have been hoping for and predicting the arrival of lightsabers in the game. Alas, the new free pickaxe does not appear to be a lightsaber, unless that preview art is hiding some serious secrets. Many reactions to the leak feature players expressing their frustration about getting a metal stick instead of a lightsaber. As one comment puts it, “We want the LIGHTSABERS bro.”

With the Star Wars set to end on June 7th, it doesn’t look likely that lightsabers will be added to Fortnite. Many fans viewed the final Death Star Sabotage live event as the last chance for the dream feature to become reality. But, with those details on the table and nary a lightsaber to be seen, it looks like, for whatever reason, that just isn’t going to happen this time around. Still, a free pickaxe is a free pickaxe, so don’t forget to log in to Fortnite during the week of June 3rd to grab the item.

What do you think of the new free Star Wars pickaxe for Fortnite? Let us know if you’ll be claiming it in the comments below!

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