Welcome to GameNotebook
GameNotebook.com is a site dedicated to news and notes related to games and game design.
Take a look around and browse our syndicated gaming news or original notebook pages.
Thanks for visiting, come back soon!
Games Preservation Is Harder Than You Think, And Sometimes Involves Private Detectives
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
The post Games Preservation Is Harder Than You Think, And Sometimes Involves Private Detectives appeared first on Kotaku.
Baseus 10-in-1 Charging Station Drops Even Lower Than Prime Day Pricing, Practically Free Power for USB-C and USB-A Devices
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
When Does Pokemon Legends: Z-A Launch? Release Times Revealed For Switch 2
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is set for release on Thursday, October 16, but when exactly can you start playing? The global launch times for the upcoming Switch exclusive have now been posted.
The game launches on October 16 at midnight Eastern, which works out to 9 PM PT and 11 PM CST on Wednesday, October 15. You can see the full release times below, as posted by IGN.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A release times:
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
- 9 PM PT
- 11 PM CST
Thursday, October 16, 2025
- 12 AM for everywhere else in the world
Preloading and preorder info
Preloading for Pokemon Legends: Z-A is now available for people who acquired a copy from the Nintendo eShop. According to Polygon, it requires 4GB of space on Switch 1 and 7.7GB of space on Switch 2. People who preorder also get some digital extras. Be sure to consult GameSpot's Pokemon Legends: Z-A preorder guide to see all the preorder perks and find out which version is right for you.
Anker SOLIX C1000 Power Station Hits Record Low After Three Price Cuts In a Week, 50% Off and Charges 10 Devices
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
Mozilla Launches Free VPN in Firefox to Win Back Users
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
The post Mozilla Launches Free VPN in Firefox to Win Back Users appeared first on Kotaku.
HP 17.3″ Laptop Bundle (64GB RAM, 2TB SSD) Takes Over $3,000 Price Dive as Amazon Clears Out 5-Star Stock
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
The post HP 17.3″ Laptop Bundle (64GB RAM, 2TB SSD) Takes Over $3,000 Price Dive as Amazon Clears Out 5-Star Stock appeared first on Kotaku.
Overwatch 2 Season 19: Haunted Masquerade Gives Players Powerful Masks
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
This week, Activision is launching Overwatch 2 Season 19: Haunted Masquerade, the latest Halloween-themed event for the franchise. This year, Haunted Masquerade is introducing magical masks of their allied heroes that give the characters special buffs and powers. For example, Tracer can wear a Winston mask, and he can wear her mask. The launch trailer below shows off some of those new mask abilities in action.
In addition to the Haunted Masquerade arcade mode, the new season is bringing back Halloween Terror 2025, which will allow four players to team up in co-op to defend Adlersbrunn from Dr. Junkenstein and his monster minions. Your chosen heroes will have to face hordes of foes and "powerful bosses" to maintain control of the castle.
Additionally, Junkenstein's Revenge lets players control Sojourn, Junker Queen, Kiriko, and Ashe as they crush barricades and battle "exploding zombie omnics," as well as Banshee Moira and Gargoyle Winston, before uncovering Adlersbrunn's castle. The new season is also bringing back Wrath of the Bride as a co-op fight and adding new Mythic cosmetics and other in-game collectibles.
Stadium is adding three new heroes: Hazard, Sojourn, and Torbjörn. It's also getting a new map, Busan (Control), and other item upgrades. Additionally, the trailer briefly teases a new Overwatch 2 x One-Punch Man collaboration that's coming to the game in the near future.
Sales of PS5 Exclusive Ghost of Yotei In-Line With Ghost of Tsushima in Europe, New Data Reveals
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
Ghost of Yotei sales are in-line with Ghost of Tsushima’s in Europe, new data shows.
As reported by The Game Business, Ghost of Yotei debuted at No.2 in the GSD European charts behind EA’s FC 26.
Sony has yet to announce a sales figure for Ghost of Yotei, which launched exclusively on PlayStation 5 on October 2, 2025. But we now know that in Europe it’s doing about as well as its predecessor, which launched in 2020 exclusively on PlayStation 4. That is, for its first few days on sale, as the GSD European chart runs to October 5.
There are a number of things worth noting here. Not only did Ghost of Tsushima launch on a console with a bigger install base at that point than PS5 has now, it launched during the pandemic, which saw record video game sales and player numbers as people were forced to stay at home during lockdowns.
The Game Business noted that Ghost of Yotei is the biggest first-party PlayStation launch since Spider-Man 2 in October 2023. Helldivers 2, which launched February 2024, remains the fastest selling PlayStation Studios game of all time, with an incredible 12 million sold in 12 weeks. The question is whether Ghost of Yotei will end up meeting Sony's sales expectations over time; Ghost of Tsushima ended up a hugely successful release, with over 13 million sold as of September 2024.
Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption 2 Fans Pay Tribute to D'Angelo, Who Has Died Aged 51
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
Fans across the world are paying tribute to "titan of soul" D'Angelo, who died yesterday aged 51 after an undisclosed battle with cancer.
D'Angelo was behind the hugely popular Red Dead Redemption 2 track, Unshaken, and fans of the game as well as developer Rockstar paid tribute following the news.
In a statement posted to social media, Rockstar Games called D'Angelo a "true titan of soul," writing: "We are eternally grateful for his track Unshaken which will forever be an enduring part of the legacy of Red Dead Redemption 2."
The Grammy-award winning musician released three albums over his career. 2014's Black Messiah was his last album, which makes the iconic track included on 2018 Red Dead Redemption 2's soundtrack one of his final pieces. The entire track can be heard in the mission Dear Uncle Tacitus, in an impactful segment when you're riding a horse back to camp. It boasts over 55 million streams on Spotify alone.
D'Angelo was a huge fan of video games and would visit Rockstar during Red Dead Redemption 2's development after reportedly reaching out to Ivan Pavlovich, director of music and audio at the studio, through an intermediary, to "just play the game."
Borderlands 4 Shift Codes: All Active Keys And How To Redeem Them
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
Borderlands games are all about chasing down rare loot, and for Borderlands 4, players can once again expect to plug in some Shift codes to grab an instant high-caliber upgrade. Borderlands 4 supports Shift codes, and the ones that can be redeemed for Golden Keys will let you open the unique Golden Chests found in Belton's Bore, The Launchpad, Carcadia, or The Lockaway.
Each code you redeem will give you Golden Keys that can be used to unlock a treasure chest of rare goodies in the game or new cosmetics that you can apply to your Vault Hunter. We'll be keeping track of Shift codes and the games you can redeem them in, so you can check back often for updates.
Battlefield 6 'Ladder Launching' Will Get Patched, but That Hasn't Stopped Players From Having Fun While It Lasts
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
Battlefield 6 players haven’t decided what their favorite weapons are yet, but they’ve already fallen in love with a new movement tech called “ladder launching.”
To catch you up to speed, the ladder is a gadget available to use with the Assault class in Battlefield Studios and EA’s latest Battlefield game. It’s a traversal tool that can be used to reach high-up places, opening up opportunities to gain new vantage points or even sneak up on unsuspecting enemies. The thing is that now, just days after Battlefield 6 launched for PC and consoles, the ladder is also being used for much, much more.
*/ /*-->*/If you’ve even accidentally whipped out the ladder while playing Battlefield 6 multiplayer, you might have noticed that actually mounting it can be a hassle. The bottom of the gadget bumps players around if placed at a certain angle, triggering moments that balance frustration with slapstick humor.
Rockstar Fans Pay Tribute To The Late D'Angelo, The Artist Behind RDR2's Best Song
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
D'Angelo, the voice behind one of Red Dead Redemption 2's most memorable moments, has passed away. While tributes pour in from the music industry, D'Angelo is also being remembered by Rockstar Games and the legions of gamers who will never forget his contribution to the RDR2 soundtrack.
D'Angelo was a pioneer in the neo-soul movement, releasing three studio albums throughout his career--his 1995 debut Brown Sugar, Voodoo in 2000, and Black Messiah, which was released in 2014 after a long break. Gamers might be more familiar with his later single Unshaken, which was recorded for the Red Dead Redemption 2 soundtrack.
Rest In Peace D'Angelo, a true titan of soul. We are eternally grateful for his track "Unshaken" which will forever be an enduring part of the legacy of Red Dead Redemption 2. pic.twitter.com/HvmcJ6FPWA
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) October 14, 2025
A big fan of the original Red Dead Redemption, D'Angelo ended up playtesting the sequel while it was still in development, after he reached out to a contact at Rockstar. Seeing his enthusiasm for the game, Rockstar invited D'Angelo to contribute to a song for RDR2's soundtrack--a collaboration that eventuated in the single Unshaken.
Unshaken plays during the gameplay of RDR2, creating a cinematic moment as Arthur Morgan rides his horse back to camp following a pivotal story mission. The soulful song created an unforgettable moment within the game's narrative, and Unshaken has since become the most-streamed song on the RDR2 soundtrack.
Lego Transformers Bumblebee Gets First Solid Price Cut At Amazon
3 weeks 4 days ago
Link
Transformers fans can finally get a nice discount on the Bumblebee 2-in-1 Lego set. Since its release last summer, the 950-piece model of the beloved Autobot has almost always sold for its full $90 MSRP. A deal on Lego Bumblebee has typically meant three or four bucks, but now you can get a discount that actually sounds like one. The Bumblebee Lego display model is available for $76 at Amazon and Walmart for a limited time.
Just like the two larger models in the Lego Icons Transformers series, the buildable Bumblebee figure is a 2-in-1 model that can convert into his signature car on the fly. Lego Bumblebee regularly sells out at Amazon at full price, so you shouldn't count on this deal being available for very long.
F2P Shooter Rules Of Engagement: The Grey State Takes Players Into The Horrorverse
3 weeks 5 days ago
Link
Tencent Games and developer Grey State Studio aren't sending players to Hell in their upcoming game, Rules of Engagement: The Grey State. But this free-to-play tactical-horror action-RPG shooter might be Hell-adjacent, thanks to a nightmarish realm filled with monsters and other unspeakable creatures.
The Grey State is the name of an unstable dimension that's too dangerous for humanity, but it also contains alien artifacts that are invaluable. To survive in this hellscape, players assume the role of Striders who remotely pilot their bio-engineered shells from the comfort of their own dimension. Grey State Studios describes The Grey State as a "graveyard of nightmares" and a "Horrorverse" that includes Lovecraftian creatures, as well as monsters inspired by films, books, and even creepypasta online tales.
The gameplay is a PvEvP loop that gives players only a limited time to drop into The Grey State. Striders will have to scavenge for gear inside the nightmarish dimension and ultimately choose between accepting an early extraction for limited rewards or taking a shot at even bigger profits if they can beat their fellow players to an alien artifact.
GTA And Red Dead Writer Dan Houser Wrote A Novel, And It's Available Now
3 weeks 5 days ago
Link
Fans of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption can now read a novel by the former lead writer of both series. A Better Paradise: Volume One - An Aftermath by Rockstar Studios co-founder Dan Houser is available in stores as of October 14. You can pick up the hardcover edition for $29 at Amazon, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble. A Better Paradise is also available on Kindle for $15 and in audiobook format exclusively from Audible.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Gets First Discount On PS5, Xbox
3 weeks 5 days ago
Link
After racking up impressive reviews following its release in July, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is finally getting its first big discount. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - Day One Edition on PS5 and Xbox Series X is on sale for just $40 (was $50), making this the lowest price we've seen for the action game yet. Along with the game, this version comes with a DLC voucher for additional content.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - Day One EditionWuchang: Fallen Feathers is a souls-like action RPG that takes place during China's Ming Dynasty. It offers a deep look at its mythology and history--both of which make for an impressive backdrop during its intense boss battles. Our Wuchang: Fallen Feathers review gave it an 8/10 for its incredible level design and slick combat.
Skating Games Are Mounting A Comeback But Are They Here To Stay?
3 weeks 5 days ago
Link
Maybe you've noticed, but everywhere you look now, skating is back.
Though skateboarding games once dominated the gaming scene in the 2000s, the well appeared to all but dry up as the ambitions of the games industry evolved through the decades. Recently, however, there's been a resurgence of skating games, and an audience made up of both oldheads and fresh-faced players alike has been showing up for them. It feels safe to say there's still an appetite for these kinds of titles. With the early-access release of EA's Skate--a revival of a series that once took up a lot of space in this industry--as well as the acclaimed releases of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater remakes, the once-dying genre seems primed for a comeback.
Two Xenoblade Chronicles Games Get Rare Discounts At Amazon
3 weeks 5 days ago
Link
If you've ever wanted to try the Xenoblade Chronicles series, you now have the perfect opportunity to dive in. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition for Switch is on sale for only $39.89 (was $60) at Amazon and Walmart. This deal is specifically for the digital edition; once you buy a code from either retailer, you can redeem it on the Nintendo eShop. Both retailers are also offering steep discounts on the digital edition of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and the Expansion Pass, which comes with the lengthy standalone sequel Torna - The Golden Country. With these two deals, you're effectively saving about $30 compared to buying Xenoblade 2 and Torna directly from the eShop.
It's unclear when these random Xenoblade Chronicles deals end, but neither game receives discounts very often, so you should snag these discounted digital editions while you can.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Looks Hardly Any Different Running On Switch 1 Vs. Switch 2
3 weeks 5 days ago
Link
The post <i>Pokémon Legends: Z-A</i> Looks Hardly Any Different Running On Switch 1 Vs. Switch 2 appeared first on Kotaku.