Game Informer

We’ve had our eye on Sable for some time now, as the striking aesthetic of the game has been captivating since its first reveal. At long last, the game has a release date. At today’s Summer Game Fest, we learned that the project will become available on September 23, 2021.

In the game, players take on the titular role as Sable pursues a rite of passage out in the desert, called her Gliding. There, she navigates stark landscapes of sand and rock, often onboard a fast-moving hoverbike.

In an interesting twist, the full game soundtrack is being crafted by Japanese Breakfast, and band head Michelle Zauner was on-hand to perform a song from the game, accompanied by footage of the game. She sung one of the songs composed for the game, called “Gliding,” and the unique set for the Summer Game Fest event allowed her to seem to be immersed in the sandy desert environs of the game as she sang.

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Sable is also scheduled to be included as part of the Tribeca Games Showcase, and will appear there tomorrow, June 11, where it is an official selection of the long-running festival.

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Ryan Reynolds has been a staple of nerd and gamer culture over the last several years, with starring roles in movies like Deadpool and Detective Pikachu. However, in his latest movie, Free Guy, he's taking up a different role altogether as a non-playable character ... at least at first. Once he catches wind that his entire existence is a lie and that he's actually an NPC in an immersive open-world video game, he decides to break free from his endless walking cycles and stop a game creator bent on destroying the world he and all his friends inhabit.

Reynolds plays Guy, an ordinary bank teller in a "paradise" full of robberies, gunfights, and, you guessed it, grand theft auto. The only problem is he has no idea that he and all of his friends are actually NPCs in this world, existing only to increase the immersion for the player-characters. Once his eyes are opened to this fact, he rewrites himself and becomes the hero of the story.

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Today during Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest, Activision showed off a look at Call of Duty's upcoming newest season. You can see the full trailer above.

While full details are expected to arrive next Monday, June 14, thanks to its reveal trailer, we do know that Call of Duty Season 4 will be coming to Warzone and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War in exactly one week, on June 17. Players can expect to play 6v6 and 12v12 matches on the desert map Collateral, 2v2 in the tight spaces of Amsterdam, and 6v6 on the boat-based Hijacked map. Additionally, as part of the game's ongoing online story, a satellite has fallen onto Verdansk, the main setting for Warzone, affecting the level's geometry. Lastly, a brief glimpse at zombies shows a gargantuan new monster and even a dragon. 

During Summer Game Fest, Turtle Rock shared a new look at the Left 4 Dead spiritual successor (from the team that made the iconic Valve franchise), Back 4 Blood. After a successful beta period shortly after the reveal of the co-op zombie adventure, the team is bringing back another early play period after sharing a brand new Back 4 Blood trailer during this year's Summer Game Fest.

First, let's talk about the upcoming beta. There will be an open beta following an Early Access period. That beings on August 5 and will run until August 9. The open beta is coming just a few days later, on August 12 through August 16. For those hoping to get in on the Early Access period, you can register here, but Turtle Rock was clear that registering doesn't necessarily promise access. That being said, there is that open beta the next week, which will be available for all. 

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Tales of Arise, is the long-awaited next game in the storied Tales franchise, acting as a reinvention of the beloved JRPG series. After seeing a delay out of 2020, we haven't heard much from Bandai Namco about the new game until recently - when a release date of September 10 was unveiled. 

Today, at Summer Game Fest, we were treated to a new trailer that presented the villain, party members, and the breathtaking world. The common Tales themes of harmony and coexistence between people and nature are alive and well here, and it's clear that's at stake in Tales of Arise. The trailer focused on six heroes coming together to fight, showing some cooperative attacks in action and a confrontation with a hooded adversary who dons a cape with feathers on his armor. You can see all this in the trailer above, which gives us a look at a male party member who uses a rod to attack enemies, while a female character has a massive shield to throw at them and use for protection. 

September 10 can't come soon enough when Tales of Arise officially hits PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. 

It's been 84 years (cue Titanic music). In all seriousness, the "when will we get Elden Ring news" question has almost become a game within itself, and now? We've finally got another look at the latest FromSoftware adventure thanks to Summer Game Fest ahead of E3 2021. 

Elden Ring is the latest game to come out of FromSoftware and it's nothing if not shrouded in total mystery. This title has been at the epicenter of some of the spiciest rumors there, which makes actual news all the more exciting! Following the hype of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, fans have been wondering exactly what this new game would have to offer. Would it play more like Dark Souls, or adapt some of the newer mechanics seen in Sekiro? From jumping to just absolutely obliterating enemies, take a look at the brand new Elden Ring trailer below: 

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This is the first time we've had an extensive look beyond just cinematics. A good look at the combat, the bosses players will encounter, and the epic weaponry that we will be able to harness. And jumping horses up mountainsides, because Skyrim who? 

Today, during Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest livestream, Evil Dead The Game, first announced during the 2020 Game Awards, made an appearance, with looks at gameplay, enemies, and combat. Earlier in the week, it was announced that the game would appear on the stream. 

In terms of gameplay, Evil Dead The Game looks remarkably similar to other asynchronous multiplayer horror games such as Dead by Daylight and Friday the 13th – though from the looks of the trailer, the enemy count seems to be higher. The trailer also showed off drivable vehicles and the ability to play as the demon hunting down the other player characters.

Narrated by actor Bruce Campbell, the trailer revealed a few tidbits about player objectives, which include collecting pages of the Necronomicon, lost tapes, and other "lost artifacts." 

You can get a look at the game in the video below:

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Monster Hunter Rise has been taking the world by storm, but a narrative-focused title is still slated for a summer release. And despite flying under the radar, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin chronicles the journey of a hero, his crew of loyal companions, and their relationship with the legendary Rathalos (a flying wyvern that has solidified itself as the mascot of the Monster Hunter series). 

In the new trailer, a plethora of mysterious characters fill the screen, various monsters skulk the wastelands, and the nefarious Nergigante makes his appearance once again. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is only the second game in the franchise to come to PC. The Deluxe Edition comes with a ton of cosmetic and collectible content, which you can see by clicking on the link. 

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Netflix is getting in on the E3 2021 and Summer Game Fest action with its own Geeked Week. Today is anime, tomorrow is gaming, but ever the two shall meet because we've got another look at the Resident Evil TV series called Infinite Darkness. 

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is one of several adaptations in the works, but this one is CGI in anime style. It's an all-new story that  takes place in the year 2006, two years post-Resident Evil 4. The series starts off with the U.S. President, Ashley's father, having to evacuate the White House after yet another hostile takeover takes place. In the universe that can't seem to catch a break, fans of the iconic horror series from Capcom have a new adventure to partake in, and it's set to go live on July 8.

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If you’re a fan of horde mode FPS games in eerie sci-fi settings, then The Anacrusis is likely for you. Set aboard an abandoned space cruiser, four friends can team up to mow down sprinting armies of tentacled aliens while utilizing various perks and weapons to stay alive. Based on the brief gameplay footage shown, the lighthearted color palette and humorous banter between the four protagonists serve as a healthy juxtaposition to the moment-to-moment tension and firefights. 

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Summer Game Fest is going on right now, and while there were a few amazing triple-A reveals, a very charming indie adventure made its way center stage. Planet of Lana features a stunningly artistic world for players to explore, but let's be real for a second: whatever that black little floofball is, we need it. 

From Wishfully Studios, Planet of Lana is a cinematic puzzle adventure game that challenges a young girl with her adorable little friend to embark on a new mission of heroics. The world that she and her floofy companion must venture through is a colorful whirlwind of beauty and inspirational exploration, a planet that used to be untainted by the corruption of mankind. Through disharmony that has been slowly unraveling the balance between mankind and nature, a new danger awaits on the horizon in the form of a faceless army that is anything but friendly. Luckily, that doesn't spell out the disaster that one might think.  

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During today's Summer Games Fest, Koch Media showed off a number of upcoming games, many of them new IP, nurtured under its new publishing label, Prime Matter. If you didn’t catch the event, here’s a quick round-up of what was announced, when it’s coming, and what platforms you can play it on. 

The Chant (working title)

Release Date: 2022
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Horror fans may want to keep an eye on The Chant. The game stars a young woman who takes a spiritual retreat on a remote island where everything that could go wrong does. Players will combat an evil cult and other cosmic horrors using weapons imbued with spiritual powers. Players can also increase their perception of the world by accessing the spiritual sight of their third eye. Outside of combat you’ll explore the grim island and solve puzzles in a similar fashion to Silent Hill. 

Crossfire: Legion

Release Date: 2022
Platforms: PC

Medieval RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance is making its way to Switch. The news game during today’s Koch Media Showcase (which you can read more about here), and the port is being handled by developer Warhorse Studios with help from Saber Interactive.

Unfortunately, there’s no release window or any details on what the port entails. One would imagine it’ll take a graphical hit, but it's unknown if the Switch port will have full feature parity with the console and PC versions. 

We weren’t the biggest fans of Kingdom Come: Deliverance when it launched back in 2018 (read our review), and it’s definitely not an experience for everyone. The game is a medieval RPG that’s more hardcore in nature compared to many of its contemporaries. For example, the combat is much more deliberate in a realistic sense, and the player has to eat and sleep to stay healthy. Kingdom Come’s most controversial aspect, at least around launch, was the game’s unique save system. In order to save, players had to either sleep in beds they owned (which could require a lot of backtracking if you’re out exploring) or consume an expensive potion just to preserve your progress. 

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Last month, a listing on the Microsoft Store leaked the first details of Two Point Campus, a university management sim by the makers of Two Point Hospital. Now, Two Point Studios has officially unveiled Two Point Campus with an upbeat cinematic trailer. 

According to the leak last month, Two Point Campus puts you in charge of building the university of your dreams. The leak indicates the ability to build the campus as you see fit, manage your staff, and oversee student activities in hopes of providing a fulfilling formative stage for the attendees of your school. In addition, players can expect zany courses that veer off the beaten path from what we typically attend college for in the real world. We witnessed various unique situations in the trailer, hinting at a ton of different over-the-top courses students can enroll in. From the leak, we know about Knight School, where students can learn how to joust, and Gastronomy, where students learn how to bake massive pizzas.

Two Point Studios' last game was Two Point Hospital, which received a decent review from us when it launched in 2018. You can read our full review here. Two Point Campus launches in 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

Stranger Things is a Netflix series that is no 'stranger' to crossing over with video games, but the latest gaming adventure it is invading is the popular MOBA, Smite. With the base game being free-to-play, hopping in to see if it suits your fancy is an easy decision to make. If you like it, you don't have to put a ring on it - you can just get the Battle Pass instead to get your Eleven on. 

Smite is teaming up with Netflix for this new crossover for the game's next Battle Pass. The mashup will feature iconic faces from the hit TV show, including the Mind Flayer, the Demogorgon, Hopper, and Eleven herself. 

We are definitely not in Hawkins anymore...

We're teaming up with @Stranger_Things for our next Battle Pass featuring Eleven, Hopper, The Demogorgon, and The Mind Flayer! pic.twitter.com/W6rWumIRxz

— SMITE (@SMITEGame) June 10, 2021

The new Battle Pass arrives on July 13, 2021 and will also feature a new arena map emulating the famous Upside Down featured in the show itself. 

Summer Game Fest gave us another look at Solar Ash, the upcoming game by Heart Machine, developer of Hyper Light Drifter. The game arrives later this year and a short gameplay teaser only raised our excitement for the trippy adventure.

Solar Ash stars Rei, a voidrunner which is kind of like a cosmic spelunker. Rei’s homeworld is on the verge of being consumed by a massive black hole called the Ultravoid, so she dives headfirst into the void to look for a way to save her planet. Solar Ash is all about high-speed platforming, and the gameplay largely consists of Rei skating and jumping her way around a variety of obstacles across beautiful alien landscapes with some hack 'n' slash combat along the way.

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During her journey she’ll take down Remnants, giant beasts that occupy the Ultravoid. Today’s video gave us a glimpse of a hawk-like Remnant and how Rei will tackle it. Similar to Shadow of the Colossus, players will need to get aboard these massive beasts and stay attached as long as possible to take them down. We still don’t know a ton about the overall plot and lore of the game, but we’re enamored with the game’s smooth traversal, world design, and soundtrack. 

The makers of the excellent Salt and Sanctuary over at Ska Studios seem to be returning for a new project in the same vein, entitled Salt and Sacrifice, and revealed today at the Summer Game Fest. 

Like its predecessor, Salt and Sacrifice draws on some of the dark and gothic tones of the Dark Souls universe, as well as some of the same challenging gameplay, but in a 2D sidescrolling setting. However, it’s unclear if Salt and Sacrifice is a true sequel, as it tasks players with a very specific mission – hunting down mages.

In the reveal trailer, we see the customized and created player character fighting a variety of mammoth enemies and using various weapons to confront their foes. By drinking a concoction called magebane they become a marked inquisitor, who is is now tasked with the sole job of taking out mages.

The trailer offers more than just a glimpse of the action, as plenty of combat and monsters are on display, waiting to be discovered in Salt and Sacrifice. An opening shot shows an intriguing sequence where the characters are reading a massive elk-like animal, but after that it’s straight into a series of detailed battle sequences.

The legendary Jurassic Park actor, Jeff Goldblum, took to the virtual stage of the Summer Games Fest to present the next chapter in the Jurassic World Evolution simulator franchise. The footage shown was particularly short, but the classic Jurassic Park fanfare made a rapturous appearance alongside dinosaurs grazing in open prairies, ancient amphibious creatures swimming in deep waters, and a monstrous foot (likely a hulking tyrannosaurus). Titled Jurassic World Evolution 2, we’ll likely have to wait for gameplay trailers to drop throughout the rest of the year.

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Today’s Summer Games Fest presentation brought the announcement of a new turn-based strategy game set in the Metal Slug universe. Metal Slug Tactics brings the explosive, sprite-based action to a grid-based battlefield for a surprising spin on a '90s classic. 

Instead of side-scrolling action, characters like Marco, Eri, Fio, and Tarma are blasting apart tanks, jeeps, and other soldiers in turn-based combat. Players will wield an arsenal of classic Metal Slug weapons and improve their squad by unlocking new abilities across various skill trees as well as earning different perks. There’s also an adrenaline system that, while we don’t know the specifics of how it works here, will fuel the characters’ super attacks.

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Developer Leikir Studio describes the flow of battles as unpredictable. Players must rely on skill to win the day rather than memorization of when and where enemy units will arrive. The studio also says the game sports roguelite sensibilities in that missions are highly replayable, not to mention challenging. The music sounds as good as the action looks thanks to a soundtrack composed by Tee Lopes of Sonic Mania fame. 

Lost Ark is coming to the West this fall courtesy of Amazon Games and developer Smilegate RPG. The MMORPG originally released in Korea in 2018 and looks akin to an action/RPG like Diablo. 

You can check out our first look at Lost Ark in the Summer Game Fest video below: 

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This news was revealed through a trailer during today's Summer Game Fest. A gravelly narrator provides backstory at the outset of the trailer: “A Lost Ark is not but a myth. A relic from the half-remembered Chain War, but now our world has been torn once again. The demons have returned." Clips of the isometric action follows, showing off fast-paced combat delivered by a couple of distinct classes. An agile assassin and a warrior wielding a huge blade are shown fighting mechanical beasts and large golems.

Taking place in Arkesia, Lost Ark is packed with magic, dragons, and other mythical creatures. The environments we see in the trailer vary from ruins filled with ancient technology to a seaside area complete with monsters submerged in the waters. There's also a massive battlefield with hordes of demons pouring from devious purple portals. 

Today during Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest, Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima presented a brief look at Death Stranding Director's Cut for the PlayStation 5 – including ample inspiration from Metal Gear Solid, the series Kojima spearheaded for three decades at Konami. 

The trailer shows protagonist Sam Porter Bridges, played by The Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus, walking into an underground bunker patrolled by a number of armed guards. Sensing the path forward might be tricky, Bridges spies a cardboard box resting on a shelf beside him, which he then gets inside of. This is, obviously, an homage to Metal Gear Solid, where protagonist Snake would often disguise himself using a cardboard box to stealthily get past enemies. 

Check out the trailer below:

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In terms of what's new in Death Stranding Director's Cut, the presentation was light on details. However, according to Keighley, the full reveal is "just weeks away." The footage only showed the PlayStation 5 logo.

The Borderlands universe is no stranger to absurdity, but one of the most beloved characters is ready to take things to the next level. Following the success of Borderlands 3 in 2019, Tiny Tina is taking the world of Borderlands into the fantasy realm in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, an all-new, full standalone game from Gearbox gives players a new story-driven co-op campaign for up to four players.

In Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, players explore a fantasy-based world brought to life by the unpredictable Tiny Tina. The 13-year-old not only makes the rules, but also changes the world on the fly as she guides players through the wild adventure. Players can create and customize their own multiclass heroes as they fight their way through dungeons, battling monsters with a combination of Borderlands-style weaponry and traditional fantasy weapons like swords. On top of the story itself, players can expect repeatable endgame content that hopes to bring players back for more time and time again.

E3 2021 is just around the corner, but Summer Game Fest kicks off today. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the second-ever Summer Game Fest event is going down here soon, so for those looking to watch the Kickoff Live event, here is what you need to know. 

The band Weezer is kicking off the gaming festivities, including a brand new song, as well as guests like the cinnamon roll-that's-actually-an-actor, Jeff Goldblum. With gaming news from some of the biggest companies in the business, including PlayStation, Square Enix, Xbox, Ubisoft, Activision, and more, there are so many surprises in store that we can hardly wait to celebrate them with our community.

When does Summer Game Fest start?

The Kickoff Live showcase begins today, June 10, at 11 a.m. Pacific / 2 p.m. Eastern. It's estimated to run a little over two hours long, which means plenty of time for all of the world premieres planned and gaming shenanigans on the way. You can watch with the video stream below, or tune in over on our Twitch to watch alongside our very own Alex duo with Alex Van Aken and Alex Stadnik.  

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The Pokémon Trading Card Game has seen renewed enthusiasm over the last year to the point where some stores have stopped carrying them due to safety concerns. However, the collectible card game continues to grow at a rapid rate. Later this month, the game releases the Sword & Shield – Chilling Reign expansion (you can see our best pulls from that release here), and now we know when the next expansion arrives.

Pokémon Trading Card Game: Sword & Shield – Evolving Skies brings dragons and Eevee's many evolutions into the spotlight when it launches on August 27. Each Eeveelution appears as a Pokémon V and Pokémon VMAX card, with some even having unique Battle Styles cards, like Single Strike Flareon VMAX, Rapid Strike Vaporeon VMAX, Rapid Strike Sylveon VMAX, and Single Strike Umbreon VMAX. On top of the Eevee family, dragon-type enthusiasts such as myself can look forward to monsters like Rayquaza and Duraludon getting new VMAX cards, marking their first appearances in the Sword & Shield TCG series. 

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Welcome to one of the biggest GI Shows of the entire year! Nefarious ne'er do well Alex Stadnik has captured Ben Reeves and taken over as host for the week and is bringing the hype! First up, we introduce you to new hire John Carson to discuss his love of games and how he made his way to Game Informer. From there Liana Ruppert and Jay Guisao lose their collective minds over the explosive Battlefield 2042 reveal and discuss their hands-on time with DICE's bombastic shooter.

But the hype doesn't die there. Ben Reeves escapes Stadnik's grasp long enough to chat about all things Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart with the EIC himself Andrew Reiner. And stop me if you've heard this before, but we end this week's show with another amazing round of community emails and GI's Ultimate Character Rankings!

Remedy didn't give us a new Alan Wake, but they might as well have with how incredible Control was and how intricately it tied into the studio's previous science fiction horror tale. With massive upgrades to the game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X players, PC users that have yet to jump into this universe can do so now - for free - thanks to the Epic Games Store. 

The Epic Games Store offers a constantly rotating library of free games for players to enjoy. While next week will have its own offerings with Overcooked! 2 and Hell Is Other Demons, this week is all about Control. Can you handle the bureau's dark secrets shrouded in mysterious supernatural horrors? Can you hone the powers that Jesse Faden unlocks throughout her journey? Only one way to find out! You can download Control for free, right here. 

The pre-E3 Battlefield 2042 festivities are already off to a strong start. The exciting cinematic footage from yesterday revealed the massive scale of each playable map, the sheer chaos of moment-to-moment action, and the awe-inspiring tactical decisions that dynamic weather effects can bring to each match. However, technical and visual changes aren’t the only new content coming to the latest installment in Dice’s beloved FPS franchise. Gone are the days of combat classes. Instead, Battlefield 2042 replaces these age-old roles with specialists; potentially bridging the gap between lore-based narrative and multiplayer-focused game modes.

Earth has become a desolate, inhabitable rock. Nearly all of humanity has been wiped out save for the wealthy elite, who have fled to Mars to form a new colony. Earth’s barren landscape is still good for one thing, though: playing a few rounds of golf. That’s the premise of Golf Club Wasteland, an upcoming game by Demagog Studio where players will uncover the cause of Earth’s collapse while teeing off. 

Golf Club Wasteland is a narrative-driven golf game told from three sources. You’ll learn about the backstory of the lone golfer protagonist, who has returned to Earth to play one last game for reasons unknown. A mysterious narrator keeping tabs on your excursion provides further context and background. Lastly, The Radio Nostalgia From Mars, a popular broadcast, provides further backstory into the lives of the lucky few who managed to survive this mysterious apocalypse while also laying down some catchy tunes circa the 2020s. 

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Gameplay consists of 2D golf mechanics that are designed to be easy for anyone to pick up and grasp, while a minimal UI keeps your view clean and clear. You’ll send your golf balls across a variety of strange, post-apocalyptic obstacles, such as crumbling shopping malls or the giant, suspended hand off a massive statue. You’ll also use your balls to overcome less traditional objectives, such as activating switches to open doors. 

Battlefield 2042 is officially revealed, with DICE unveiling a new shooter experience set not too far in the future. For those eager to call themselves what the game refers to as "Non-Patrioted," the Battlefield 2042 open beta has been confirmed. Here is what you need to know.

There is an open beta planned for Battlefield 2042 "in the months leading up to launch." While we don't have a release window for when those dates will drop, we do know that the beta will not be platform-specific. That means PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC players can all get in on the action early. 

Additionally, DICE has confirmed that it will have a separate tech test apart from the initial beta. This is all pre-launch to ensure that day one runs as smoothly as possible. For those that pre-order Battlefield 2042, there will be an "early access" period to the planned beta. More about these testing dates will be revealed closer to launch, so I wouldn't expect hard dates set during the gameplay revealed planned for June 13. 

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Due to COVID-19, E3 never happened last year, and this year? It's all digital. While the community has differing opinions about where the ESA should take this showcase next, or even whether or not to continue it, it looks like there may be a middle ground reached regarding the future of E3. According to a recent statement made by the president of ESA, the next E3 looks like it could be a hybrid showcase, blending online with in-person celebrations. 

E3 2021 kicks off this weekend, and while it is completely digital, that means it's also free. The showcase has only become open to the public in recent years. In the past, E3 has always been a dedicated, in-person event for games media and other industry figures. At the same time, the community at large has celebrated gaming from afar by watching the showcases online. Before COVID, ESA made the change to make the event open to the public, allowing gamers to come onto the showroom floor and experience the future of gaming alongside those working in the industry. 

Destiny 2 today is very different than Destiny 2 at launch. It is better both in terms of balancing and story content, a positive change that began its true journey once the studio parted ways with Activision as its publisher. That being said, this evolving live-service game is constantly changing to make the meta make sense whenever new story content drops. Sometimes those changes are phenomenal, other times they miss the mark entirely. The work is never over, but the good thing is that Bungie is pretty transparent with players no matter what, and a recent request for Exotic reworks is no exception. 

One Reddit user took to the Destiny forums to talk a little bit about how Exotics often go unused due to new seasonal weapons and armor drops. In a post, u/Theraptorking54 mentioned that they wished Bungie would work on improving older Exotics alongside the new drops, making older weapons and gear interact with newer Destiny 2 mechanics in a meaningful way. They reference Champions and how there is currently only one (permanent) means of stunning an overload. Destiny 2 senior community manager DMG responded to the post, asking for feedback and opening up dialogue between the community and the studio about this particular request. 

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This is a huge week for PlayStation 5. Starting today, you can return to Midgar to be reunited with Yuffie Kisaragi in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, an enhanced version that delivers a new episode and other meaningful additions. A day later, the new release spotlight then moves to Insomniac Games' Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which is a fantastic return for the series, and an absolute must-play if you want to see what PlayStation 5 is capable of.

For those of you who are making a return visit to Midgar, it should catch your eye in a different way, with improved texturing, lighting, and more detail in the backdrops. You can experience these sights in Graphics Mode, which delivers a 4K resolution and 30 frames per second, or Performance Mode, which gives you smoother play at 60 frames per second in 1080p. No matter what mode you play in, a new photo mode allows you to focus in on the details.

Microsoft leadership, including Phil Spencer, made a strong pivot towards the last half of the Xbox One generation, bringing the Xbox name back into the realm of gaming and Team Green's original vision. Real change takes time, but Spencer and the crew have been upfront and detailed every step of the way. With E3 2021 on the horizon, Xbox leadership is back to give a preview of the year ahead. That includes a clear declaration of its commitment to the gaming community, how Xbox Game Pass will continue to evolve, and even things like full-scale TV integration. Let's dive in.

Xbox and Bethesda are joining forces for the two company's E3 presence this year on Sunday and promises to unveil its "best and biggest games line up." With so many studio acquisitions already having happened, and more on the way, Spencer wanted to take a moment to talk about how the growing umbrella of Xbox is evolving and what that means for gamers - even beyond the Xbox console itself. 

“We believe that games, that interactive entertainment, aren’t really about hardware and software. It’s not about pixels. It’s about people. Games bring people together,” said Spencer. “Games build bridges and forge bonds, generating mutual empathy among people all over the world. Joy and community – that’s why we’re here.”

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I have good news for you, PlayStation fans. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is almost here and it's fantastic. The bad news is that it's not quite out yet for everyone, which may make things worse. The remedy for all this unpleasant waiting and gnawing anticipation? Watching the first few hours of Insomniac's gorgeous new platforming adventure with your friends at Game Informer, of course!

That's right, we're going to be kicking off your morning with a healthy dose of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart! We'll be starting with a fresh save to keep you from any late-game spoilers so feel free to pop in and out at your leisure.

Sega finally brought Phantasy Star Online 2 westward in 2020 thanks to a partnership with Microsoft. That was the first step in a transformational journey for the action MMO. Today, Sega launched Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, a massive addition to PSO2. It’s not just a traditional expansion to the 2012 game, it’s an entirely new experience. Here's a quick primer on what to expect upon logging in. 

New Genesis may be started from the same launcher as its predecessor, but everything from the world, quests, combat, and enemies are brand new. Sega even gave the game a graphical overhaul, and in the process making PSO2 look like it belongs in 2021. Taking place 1,000 years after the original PSO2, New Genesis lets players' customized ARKS loose in an open world on the planet Halpha. With this new approach to environmental design comes some changes to movement. ARKS run faster and jump higher than ever before. They can glide through the air to travel long distances, and characters tend to float while slashing away during combat. 

Beach vacations are a long-standing tradition in anime, and Genshin Impact’s Version 1.6 update is focusing on sandy beaches, blue skies, and pristine waters. Dubbed The Midsummer Island Adventure, developer MiHoYo has added a spread of event quests, items, costumes, and even a new character. There is plenty here for Genshin players to sink their teeth into like a juicy, salted watermelon. Let’s take a look at some of the new content that’s available today and the coming weeks:

The bulk of playable content revolves around an archipelago of islands to explore with events that are only available for a limited time. This new story follows Klee, a member of the Knights of Favonious, who receives a message from someone called “Dodo-King,” who aims to capture her prized companion, a keepsake from her mother she calls Dodoco. 

Eligibility for the new area requires the player be Adventure Rank 21 or above, and have completed Klee’s Story Quest “Trifolium Chapter: Act I – True Treasure,” as well as the Archon Quest “Prologue: Act III – Song of the Dragon and Freedom.”  Along this new four-part adventure, The Traveler will sail on a cannon-armed boat known as a Waverider and travel between a series of islands where danger and fun lurk. 

Battle Passes are becoming more and more of the norm in the realm of online games, and that term can mean a plethora of different things. Sometimes, this means locked content like Call of Duty and Destiny 2, other times; it can just mean an additional option for those that really like to just have a closet full of cosmetics for their in-game toons. With this option being confirmed for Battlefield 2042, there is already some misinformation floating around, so we wanted to take a second to clarify between the two after talking to DICE. 

Battlefield 2042 Battle Pass Free vs. Premium

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There are the two above options available for players to choose from. First things first, let's assuage those worries a bit: there is no content locked from the free Battle Pass option. What we mean by that is that there is no meaningful content that is tucked away behind a paywall. That means all players get the same maps, the same Specialists, the same weapons, the same everything. So then, what's the point, you may be asking? Glad you're still with us, dear reader.

Baldur's Gate is coming back to this gen with a new Dungeons & Dragons title to enjoy. We've had a few up close and personal looks at the upcoming RPG, but the team over at Tuque Games and Wizards of the Coast have more to share. This time, we've got new Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance gameplay to enjoy, as well as an inside look at DLC plans that are on the way. 

Sony shared our latest look at Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance in the video below, showing off a few more cinematic shots right before diving into the meat of what matters: gameplay. It's about what one would expect out of a Dark Alliance game with the combat mechanics and overall setup, which makes it exciting to see for those really looking forward to revisiting this universe. Especially when looking at the co-op.

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But it's not just the game at launch that we have to look forward to. The team also shared a first look at Dark Alliance's roadmap to reveal some expansion plans in the works. The first two DLC revealed will be completely free, both slated for this year with a Summer and Fall window. The first DLC will introduce new levels, which have yet to be detailed, while the second set of DLC also offers new levels and more difficulty options. 

Cross platform play has been a long-requested feature for Overwatch, and Blizzard is finally answering those prayers five years after launch. Cross-play is coming to the hit multiplayer game, and to make sure it works as intended, Blizzard is holding a cross-play beta before it rolls out in full.

The cross-play beta will be available on all versions of Overwatch. That’s PlayStation and Xbox consoles as well as Switch and PC for those keeping count. The beta is powered by the latest Battle.net update and will allow players from all over the globe to team up with friends and teammates on different platforms to defend payloads, spray tags, and all manner of Overwatch goodness. However, cross-progression will not be available at launch.  

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Furthermore, some game modes will have special conditions for cross-play matchmaking. Parties of console players will match with other console players by default. PC players will match with opponents on PC as well as with groups consisting of PC and console players. 

Confused? Here's a list of examples from the video: