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Bethesda has delayed Starfield once again, as the game will now launch in September for PC and Xbox Series X and S. There will also be a Starfield Direct on June 11, right after the Xbox Games Showcase.

In a new official launch date announcement trailer (below), Bethesda’s Todd Howard confirmed that the highly anticipated game will release this year

“We have poured ourselves into this game and even I’m surprised how much we can pour. It is large. We’re playing the game all the time,” he explained.

The Starfield Direct in June will provide a deep dive into the game, as Howard continued: “There’s so much that we still have to show you. The game has many of the hallmarks that you'd expect from us, but it’s also a very unique experience.”

Earlier this year, Phil Spencer hinted that Microsoft and Xbox would have a presence around the E3, with his Starfield Direct lining up perfectly.

The game was originally set to launch on November 11, 2022, but was delayed into the first half of 2023, and now, finally, has been confirmed for September 6.

Wayfinder does not intend to be a brainless loot-grind or a dispiriting digital roulette wheel. Digital Extremes, the studio behind Warframe publishing this new fantasy RPG, is aware of all the pitfalls that tend to sink modern multiplayer games; how, more often than not, it feels like the designers are actively trying to take advantage of its players. But after a few hours with the game, and a gaggle of rollicking dungeon crawls and hubzone idle time, it's clear that Wayfinder is trying to harken back to a more wholesome age of cooperative monster slaying. If you too grew up on World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, and Final Fantasy XI, Digital Extremes intends to bring you home.

In its most simple definition, Wayfinder is an MMO. Players take control of a slew of heroes — known as, you guessed it, Wayfinders — which are subdivided into classic tank, healer, and DPS roles. These characters come pre-equipped with names, backstories, and a League of Legends-style tray of three abilities and an ultimate, which means you aren't going to be nurturing a mute, enigmatic player-character towards the level cap. The combat itself is steeped in that quasi-RPG magic that defines Destiny, Borderlands, and yes, Warframe. (Expect a lot of white damage numbers to come flying out of your opponents, but you'll also be asked to aim your weapons, time your parries, and dodge-roll out of attacks.) You'll be outfitting your roster of characters with a huge, interlocking talent tree, which will juice the integers of whatever build you're currently targeting. In that sense, Wayfinder is well within the thrall of some of the most popular video games on the planet, but in the couple hours I've spent on the live servers, I haven't grown bored by that familiarity.

Rejoice gamers, the PS5 deals are here. We've got you covered with some incredible discounts that are sure to excite you including games like Returnal, now available for just £29.99 from Argos with free collection. But we've also got some new games on offer, with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty currently down to £46.52 (was £59.99) at Amazon. That's a great discount for the new game, especially if you haven't got Game Pass!

And that's not all, we've also got a range of high-quality PS5 SSDs on sale for less than £150, so you can expand your console's storage capacity without breaking the bank. Plus, other top deals to check out today include a whole slew of Switch games that are already on sale before the Mario Day celebrations kick off. This includes Yoshi's Crafted World which is down to £34.99, or even Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope which has dropped to £27.99. There are plenty more games in the sale as well, so I've included them all below with some convenient links. Stay tuned for more deal updates here on IGN, or via @IGNUKDeals on Twitter.

TL;DR - Best UK Deals Right Now

Update 03/08/2023: Discord voice chat is finally available to PlayStation 5 users, allowing them to share voice channel parties with users on PC, Xbox, and mobile.

Revealed in a blog post, the "cross-voice" feature is available once users have linked their Discord and PlayStation accounts. This can be done by visiting the Settings menu on Discord itself (on PC or mobile), then selecting Connections followed by PlayStation.

Discord voice chat was originally released in PS5 beta, meaning it was available to select users who tested new features, but is now available to all.

Original Story 02/02/2022: A new PS5 system software beta has added Discord voice chat and Variable Refresh Rate support for 1440p displays, among a number of other upgrades.

Announced on the PlayStation Blog, the new system software is available for beta participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, UK, Germany, and France. Its main feature is the addition of Discord voice chat, which allows cross-platform calls through the popular Discord system. Users will need to link their Discord and PlayStation Network accounts to use the service, and then begin a call on the Discord mobile app before transferring it to their console. It seems a little more fiddly than a standard PSN party, but will no doubt be very welcome to those who frequently play with friends who are on Xbox and PC.

The latest Capcom Spotlight is fast approaching and we're expecting to see new details about upcoming games like the Resident Evil 4 Remake and Exoprimal. According to the official Capcom website, this entirely digital event will be available to stream online starting on March 9.

If you're wondering when and where you can stream the latest Capcom showcase online in 2023, we've got you covered with all of the event details below. You can also scroll down to see our predictions of what to expect from the show.

Capcom Spotlight March 2023 Start Time

The Capcom Spotlight will be availalbe to stream on Thursday March 9, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. PT / 5:30 p.m ET. The livestream is expected to run for 26 minutes and feature updates about upcoming Capcom games.

Where to Watch the Capcom Spotlight Livestream Online

If you’re interested in watching the 2023 Capcom Spotlight showcase, we’ll be hosting all the livestream here and across our many channels on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Here’s the full list of places you can watch the event with us:

Lince Works, the studio behind Aragami and Aragami 2, is closing its doors next month and pausing development on all future projects indefinitely.

Today, Lince Works announced its impending closure via a post on Twitter.

Thank you for this journey. A message from Lince Works. pic.twitter.com/hr72RIur2o

— Lince Works (@LinceWorks) March 7, 2023

"We have some important news to share with you," the post reads. "It is with deep regret that we have to announce that Lince Works will effectively stop the development of new projects indefinitely, starting this April."

The post explains that the studio's development of new IPs and its new path as a company were difficult, and "the economic context was not favorable."

"It breaks our hearts to know that all the work we have done for the past year will ultimately not come to a completion."

"Although we may be closing our doors, the memories and experiences shared with the team and you, our fans, will remain forever," the post continues. "Thank you for being part of our journey and for making it an unforgettable one."

Lince Works assured fans that its two games, including their online co-op modes, will remain accessible on all platforms.

Just over two years after Riot Games announced its League of Legends MMORPG, the game's executive producer is stepping down.

Today, executive producer Greg Street announced his departure from Riot Games in a Twitter thread.

Hey internet. Thanks for all the support over the past few months while I was afk

I am back now with some big news to share: I have decided to step down from my role at Riot Games

— Greg Street (@Ghostcrawler) March 7, 2023

"A combo of personal and professional considerations led me to down this path," Street wrote. "We experienced some devastating personal losses last year and I want to be closer to my surviving family."

However, Street assured Riot fans that the MMO spinoff is still in production.

"The MMO is in good hands and it's the right time to hand over the reigns for the next phase," he wrote. "I plan to stay in game development and I have had a number of exciting opportunities presented to me already. And I will be with you all playing the Riot MMO when it comes out."

Minecraft Steve is known for breaking things. He breaks blocks in Minecraft, he broke the internet when he was announced for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and now, the character is breaking the balance of Smash Ultimate's competitive scene.

Steve (along with alternate costumes of Alex, Enderman, and Zombie) joined Smash Ultimate's roster in October 2020 and was instantly recognized as one of the game's most mechanically complex fighters. The Minecraft crew rapidly soared to the top of Ultimate's tier list, with the competitive community generally considering the fighters to be among the best in the game.

Steve's unique playstyle forced opponents to play Smash in basically an entirely new way, having to take his block-building mechanics into account while balancing the dozens of other mind games and considerations already on the table during a competitive Smash Bros. fight. Talks of banning the character have been bubbling up for a while due to his huge damage and dominating stage control, but the conversation has taken a turn due to a brand new discovery that makes Steve an even more fearsome foe.

Recently, Smash players discovered a new, potentially game-breaking technique within Steve's kit that's already caused dozens of competitive Smash events to ban the character. While the scene hasn't agreed on a final, community-wide ruling either way regarding Steve's future in competitive play, Steve mains that have invested countless hours in the character are worried about what comes next.

Halo Infinite's third season starts today, and 343 is touting the launch as the starting point for a consistent stream of content moving forward.

In a post on Xbox Wire, 343's head of live performance, Sean Baron, addressed the long seasons players have endured in the past, saying the studio is looking to avoid those problems with Season 3.

“In our preview of Season 3, I said that this is the beginning of what seasonality is for Halo Infinite," Baron said. "But ‘seasonality’ is restrictive. To me, seasonality is really about consistency – we need to be consistent in everything. I feel very confident with where we’ve gone with Season 3, and I have very strong confidence that we’re going to be able to keep improving that consistency, and avoid, completely, the long seasons of the past.

"We’re going to be more consistent. We’re going to continue to evolve the game in close partnership with our players. We’re focused on shipping Season 3 and then, as Chief said, we’re ‘[r]eady to get back to work.’”

Halo Infinite Season 3 moves ahead

Baron also detailed all of the content additions coming to Halo Infinite today. Season 3: Echoes Within includes two new arena maps, one Big Team Battle map, Halo's take on a gun game mode called Escalation Slayer, a new weapon, and more.

Electronic Arts announced that it is partnering up with the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) to bring all 12 teams in the league to FIFA 23. It is coming to all platforms on March 15.

“The NWSL’s integration into EA SPORTS FIFA 23 is a monumental milestone for the league, the players and millions of football fans around the world as we continue pushing boundaries for the women’s game,” said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a statement.

The NWSL is joining #FIFA23 starting March 15!pic.twitter.com/ccYUdbaiMC

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 6, 2023

EA Sports added vice president Andrea Hopelain added, "We’re passionate about EA SPORTS continuing to be a changemaker for women’s football, and our partnership with both the NWSL and the NWSLPA is another step we’re taking as an organization to advance the sport."

She continued, "We’re committed to being champions for the future of football and bringing unrivaled authenticity to millions of football fans across the globe."

The 12 teams will be available within FIFA 23's Kick Off, Tournament, Head to Head, and Online Friendlies game modes. There will also be four NWSL stadiums, as well as authentic kits, starheads, and trophies.

Somehow, Asher Mir has returned.

With the launch of Destiny 2: Lightfall, players are diving into the game's story and unearthing some hidden clues about where the story could go next. In a surprise detail hidden in one of Lightfall's activities, one of Destiny 2's more memorable supporting characters, the Awoken Warlock Asher Mir, makes a quick cameo — and most players have likely missed it.

Thanks to some Destiny 2 fans on social media and content creators on YouTube, the community has uncovered evidence of Asher Mir's return in the game's plot. Hidden in the Partition activity on Neomuna, which sees guardians explore a repurposed Vex network, Asher Mir's digital self is located on a hidden platform, and he signals to the player to approach him. Though he does not speak, he gives the familiar glare he would give when players visited him on Io.

However, he has left a more direct message for players in a lore description on the Inside Line sparrow, which is available for players from the season pass rewards. When inspecting the lore for the Inside Line, there is a morse code message that says, "STILL ALIVE INSIDE NETWORK IDIOT KIDS."

For those who played OG Destiny 2, Asher Mir was a prickly character who commonly made snide comments. In short, it's classic Asher Mir.

WWE 2K23 is set to release for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on March 17. If you spring for the Deluxe or Icon edition, though, you'll get it March 14. The cover athlete this year is John Cena, and the game features the debut of a new 3v3 and 4v4 WarGames mode. All editions are now available for preorder (see it on Amazon). Read on for details about what comes in each edition, how much it costs, and where to find it.

WWE 2K23 Standard Edition

PS5

• Get it at Amazon - $69.99
• Get it at Best Buy - $69.99
• Get it at GameStop - $69.99
• Get it at PS Store (digital) - $69.99

PS4

• Get it at Amazon - $59.99
• Get it at Best Buy - $59.99
• Get it at GameStop - $59.99
• Get it at PS Store (digital) - $59.99

Xbox Series X

• Get it at Amazon - $69.99
• Get it at Best Buy - $69.99
• Get it at GameStop - $69.99
• Get it at Xbox Store (digital) - $69.99

Xbox One

It has been a week since Destiny 2: Lightfall dropped, and players are still getting accustomed to the complex Strand subclass and the inner workings of the Neomuna's activities. While some early launch bugs were to be expected, one issue, in particular, is causing some problems for players, and it is currently casting doubt on the success of the upcoming launch for the new raid.

Since launch, players have been taking their time to explore Destiny 2's new expansion and updated features — and some parts of the community have been vocal about their disappointment with Lightfall. However, some players have encountered a particular bug that causes all teammates to appear nearly invisible. This quirk gives affected players a semi-transparent look, similar to how guardians look when loading into instances. While it's an amusing bug on the surface, the glitch has unfortunately led to complications when taking part in grouped activities to focus on the new content.
In Tweet on the Bungie Help account, the developers stated they are aware of the issue with players appearing nearly invisible and are actively working to resolve it. One temporary solution to fix it is to restart the game and rejoin. While this will fix the issue in the short term, it is still possible for the bug to return.

We are investigating an issue where some player characters and weapons appear invisible after repeated interactions with the post-activity Commendations screen. It is recommended to restart the game app to resolve this issue.

As you fight your way through the unforgiving hordes of Remnant 2’s procedurally generated soulslike levels, you’re going to need bullets – and a whole lot of them. And that’s where the Gunslinger archetype comes in. With a six-shooter at their hip and enough lead to bury an army of baddies, this western-themed outlaw makes ungodly levels of DPS their calling card. After going hands-on with the Gunslinger myself, I pulled out the spitoon and took a seat at the campfire with principal designer Ben Cureton to talk about the Gunslinger’s marauding ways.

“So the Gunslinger in Remnant 2 is all about weapons,” Ben told me. “They're the master of weapon handling, fire rate, and ammo generation. And the fantasy for the gunslinger is they're constantly switching between weapons. They're rarely running out of ammo. It still can happen, but it's much more rare than another class. And they shoot just much faster on average than every other class in the game. They're just a rain of bullets everywhere.”

Niantic has announced that Peridot – its blend of Pokémon GO, Tamagotchi, and Nintendogs – will launch on May 9.

Pre-registration for the game is also available now, and users who sign up on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and play by May 23 will receive an exclusive party hat cosmetic. Peridot has been in development for around three and a half years and is Niantic’s latest attempt to recapture the magic of Pokémon GO’s launch period in the summer of 2016.

“Our team has been hard at work making Peridots real,” said Niantic. “They are immersive, amazing magical creatures that eat, sleep, play with toys, explore their environment, get bored, develop unique personalities, and are always in need of a loving adopter like you.”

Each Peridot also holds a combination of unique traits that change its colours and features, with Niantic promising an “infinite number” of different looks. While the aim of the game is to raise and have fun with a Peridot, players can also take on the role of Keepers to breed and discover as many types of Peridots as possible.

“When it comes to the day-to-day however, remember that it’s every Keeper’s job first and foremost to ensure their Dots are happy, healthy, and loved,” added Niantic.

“Feed your baby Dot, play with it and take it on adventures. With enough care and effort it will grow into a teenager and then an adult that can Hatch a new generation of Dots. It’s a circle of life in a way, except you can keep track of all your Dots and never have to say goodbye.”

Former Riot Games executives have launched a new studio called Believer to create a next-generation open world game based on an original IP.

The Believer Company’s leadership team includes former Riot Games vice president Michael Chow as CEO and former executive producer of League of Legends and Riot co-founder Steven Snow as chief product officer.

Believer has secured $55 million in funding to build its development team and first project, which it promised to be a “next-generation open-world game, anchored by an original IP, [with] stories where player choices matter, and gameplay systems that bring players together rather than pushing them apart.”

You'll be able to play Redfall with your friends no matter what platform you're playing on, as developer Arkane has confirmed crossplay for all platforms.

On Twitter, the official Redfall account confirmed crossplay between Xbox Series X|S, PC Game Pass, Steam, and Epic Game Store. The developers also confirmed that crossplay will work on Xbox whether you buy the full game or access it through Xbox Game Pass.

🤝 Crossplay confirmed between Xbox + PC Game Pass + Steam + Epic Game Store.
🗣️ Question credit: QuietGamer90
📰 Read full #AskArkane Q&A here: https://t.co/oFxyDbBg2j pic.twitter.com/9wl8uWhNni

— Redfall (@playRedfall) March 6, 2023

Crossplay has become a regular occurence for first-party Xbox games, as we've seen the feature implemented in big releases like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5.

The news of Redfall's crossplay support originally came in a Q&A with the developers, where Arkane also addressed difficulty scaling.

Puma announced that it will be releasing a new shoe collection inspired by Final Fantasy XIV, set to launch on March 15.

The Japanese website Sneakerwars shows four different models of Puma shoes in the collection. Two of them are Puma Slipstream models and two of them are RS-X models. Each model has both Light and Dark versions. The Light version includes bright colors like white green and blue while the Dark versions have black and blue.

The shoe's tongue, heels, and insoles have a painted "Fat Cat" design, which is Final Fantasy XIV's mascot minion. The shoelaces also have a crystal charm attached to them as well. All models will cost 17,050 yen, which is approximately $125 USD. So far, the collection is only available in Japan with no mention of an international release.

Gaming and fashion have crossed worlds frequently, with other clothing companies like Uniqlo having its own collaboration with the Final Fantasy series. Other shoe collaborations include Nintendo partnering up with Converse for a Pokemon collaboration, and Puma as well with the Animal Crossing franchise.

Currently, Square Enix is working on Final Fantasy XVI, which is set to release on June 22 for PlayStation 5. However, the PC version is not expected to arrive this year.

Bandai Namco has announced the return of the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series, over 15 years after the franchise's last mainline entry.

Revealed over the weekend at the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2023 (via Wario64), a brief teaser trailer confirmed that the new game is in development. It doesn't have a title, confirmed platforms, or release window yet, as the trailer simply said, "A New Sparking Begins." Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! is the name of the Budokai franchise in Japan.

There's also an English version of the trailer from a livestream that hasn't been officially uploaded yet, and it says, "A New Budokai Tenkaichi Begins." You can check out the Japanese version of the teaser trailer for yourself below.

／
「ドラゴンボール Sparking！」シリーズ
最新作情報が解禁！
＼

映像はコチラから↓#ドラゴンボール #バトルアワー pic.twitter.com/VMMPWWeSUr

Double Fine Productions CEO Tim Schafer has touched the development of a lot of video games, so it’s natural that he’s hard-pressed to pick a favorite. But his answer is ultimately driven by one of Schafer’s most closely-held values: the importance of being present with other people.

I’m asking Schafer about his favorite projects at an opportunity ripe for reflecting on his industry impact: DICE Summit 2023 in Las Vegas. We spoke just hours before he was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, in recognition of his over 30-year impact on the games industry. This honor puts him on a roster of past winners including Ed Boon, Connie Booth, Bonnie Ross, Todd Howard, Hideo Kojima, and many others.

Beginning with The Secret of Monkey Island at LucasArts up to his most recent work, Psychonauts 2, Schafer’s directly been involved in the development of over 25 games. Via Double Fine, he’s helped publish almost ten more, and within Double Fine itself has helped support the development of still more than that. And then there are all the games Double Fine has supported via Day of the Devs over the years, an annual festival of game demos that has helped spread the word about countless indies.

At first, to answer my question about his greatest career highlight, Schafer proceeds to name Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle, Grim Fandango, and Psychonauts before admitting he's just going to name every game he's ever worked on.

While Hogwarts Legacy has been out for some time on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, it has been delayed once more on PS4 and Xbox One to May 5, 2023.

The news was shared on Hogwarts Legacy's Twitter account and it was confirmed that the original April 4 date for PS4 and Xbox One was just not enough time for the team to deliver the "best possible experience."

"We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for the response to Hogwarts Legacy from fans around the globe," Hogwarts Legacy's Twitter wrote. "The team is working hard to deliver the best possible experience on all platforms and we need more time to do this. Hogwarts Legacy will launch for PS4 and Xbox One May 5, 2023."

There was no mention of the Nintendo Switch version in this post, so it appears it is still on track to be released on July 25, 2023.

In our Hogwarts Legacy review, we said, in "nearly every way," it is "the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play." However, we did note it was "certainly weighed down by technical issues, a lackluster main story, and some poor enemy variety, but even those couldn’t come close to breaking its enchanting spell over me." It's possible these technical issues were a bigger issue on last-gen hardware.

Cities: Skylines and Crusader Kings publisher Paradox Interactive held a showcase today, showing off updates on previously-announced games and some entirely brand new titles. From the newly-revealed Cities: Skylines II to a new expansion revealed for Crusader Kings III, read on to learn everything announced at today's event.

Colossal Order Reveals Cities: Skylines II

Cities: Skylines II is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC later this year. The reveal promised the most realistic city simulation ever created, with transportation and economy systems, construction and customization options, and more modding capabilities. This sequel to the 2015 original will let players build any type of city they want, from a tiny village to a huge metropolis.

Crusader Kings III: Tours & Tournaments Expansion Revealed

Crusader Kings III is getting a new PC expansion titled Tours & Tournaments. This expansion to Paradox's strategy RPG will let players tour their monarch's realm to check in on vassals, host or fight in grand tournaments, and plan royal weddings.

Developer Colossal Order and publisher Paradox Interactive have announced Cities: Skylines II, the sequel to 2015's Cities: Skylines.

Revealed as part of today's Paradox Announcement Show 2023, Cities: Skylines II is leaving last-gen consoles behind and heading exclusively to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The city builder sequel is set to launch sometime in 2023.

Paradox said Cities: Skylines II will improve and expand upon the robust city building mechanics fans know from the original, including fully-realized transportation and economy systems, tons of construction and customization options, and advanced modding capabilities.

Players will be able to build any type of city they want, from a small village to a bustling metroplis. Paradox is touting that Cities: Skylines II will be the most realistic city simulation ever created.

Cities: Skylines was originally released on PC and Mac in 2015, and the game eventually came to PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and even Stadia. The city builder also saw a number of DLC expansions, like major updates Cities: Skylines After Dark, Cities: Skylines Snowfall, a natural disasters DLC, and more. The original game recently got a remastered version for PS5 and Xbox Series consoles.

When it comes to accessibility in games, the first aspect people always look for is an options menu. From customizing controls, adjusting subtitle size, or even activating varying colorblind filters, these settings help to dismantle any inaccessible barriers that could appear. And this constant search for features has become the primary topic when examining a title’s overall accessibility. Disabled players praise or criticize developers on social media platforms, and even content creators and publications will release videos or articles exploring menus to help disabled players make informed purchases. Yet, options alone do not make for an accessible game.

Before I explain further, I am not advocating for the removal of accessibility settings. I regularly scour menus to find features that suit my needs. I rebind keys, increase my mouse sensitivity, or even toggle actions like aiming or sprinting. I understand the importance and necessity of innovating, especially with groundbreaking settings like Audio Descriptive Cutscenes. But this notion that a game’s accessibility is solely based on what it does or doesn’t include in a menu ultimately holds back the greater accessibility movement.

Exploring Inclusive Design

The disabled experience is incredibly multifaceted. Even people with the same disability as me – Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II – have varying levels of strength, stamina, and general mobility. While certain accessibility features are crucial for me to play games, some options may serve no purpose or may not be enough for other players. This is where inclusive design practices thrive.

Here’s some good news for anyone looking to pick up a VR headset: two Meta headsets have gotten price cuts. You can pick up a 256GB Meta Quest 2 for $429, which is $80 less than it cost last week. It even comes with two games. Or, if you want a more premium product, you can grab the Meta Quest Pro for $999, which is $500 less than its previous price. Not bad at all.

Meta Quest 2 (256GB) and 2 Games for $429

The 256GB model of the Meta Quest 2 used to cost $499, but is now available for $429. For comparison, the 128GB model costs $399, so it’s only an extra $30 to double the storage. That’s a pretty great deal, I’d say, considering there’s no way to increase the storage on these headsets. You can’t, for instance, pop in a microSD card like you can in a Switch or Steam Deck. The storage in the Meta Quest 2 you buy is all the storage it will ever have.

So what do you get for your money? You get a standalone headset that doesn’t need to be plugged into anything to play games (take that, PSVR 2). You get two Touch controllers, a charging cable, power adapter, and a glasses spacer. You also get two free games: GOLF+ and Space Pirate Trainer DX. Not a bad deal.

Meta Quest Pro for $999

For those who want a more premium piece of hardware, you can pick up the Meta Quest Pro for $999, which is a whopping $500 less than it cost last week. That’s a wild discount. This headset is quite a bit slimmer and sleeker than the Meta Quest 2. It has better controller tracking and fancy features like face tracking built in.

Battlefield 2042 players have found an Easter Egg from EA's Mirror's Edge hidden in the game's new map.

As reported by Eurogamer, Battlefield 2042's Season 4 update added the Flashpoint map and with it a throwback to one of developer DICE's previous projects. Most known for its fast-paced parkour around vertigo-inducing environments, the Mirror's Edge reference can naturally be found at the top of a very tall object.

By flying to the top of a crane, players can find the sneakers worn by protagonist Faith in the Mirror's Edge games. As mentioned previously, however, this is likely just a fun reference to DICE's older games rather than an indication that more Mirror's Edge content is coming.

Looks like someone lost their running shoes on Flashpoint...👀#Battlefield2042 #Battlefield #Mirrorsedge @Battlefield @T0TALfps pic.twitter.com/9Uo3HKQaxp

Cyberpunk Edgerunners has been named the best anime of last year at Crunchyroll's 2023 Anime Awards, overcoming the fierce competition of Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and more.

Announced at the awards show in Tokyo over the weekend, the Netflix series from Studio Trigger and CD Projekt Red overcame Attack on Titan's Final Season Part 2, Demon Slayer's Entertainment District Arc, Lycoris Recoil, Ranking of Kings, and Spy x Family.

The show's official Twitter account posted a celebratory message (below), saying: "We'd like to thank everyone for their support, votes, and for watching our anime".

Today at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards ceremony, Cyberpunk: #Edgerunners was awarded Anime of the Year and Best VA Performance (EN)!🏆 It's a great honor! We'd like to thank everyone for their support, votes, and for watching our anime 💛💚 pic.twitter.com/kwq1W8WCp6

Resident Evil 4 has a new ARG that is full of puzzles and riddles for users to solve in an effort to recover the US president's daughter (codenamed Baby Eagle) before it's too late.

Those interested in participating can head to the secure agent portal at babyeagleismissing.com. There, they will find an urgent alert from Agent Greene of the Secret Service Northeastern Division requesting assistance with the kidnapping of "Baby Eagle" Ashley Graham.

On entering the site, users will be presented with a series of messages from various agents and will have access to top-secret evidence to help with the case. They must analyze and decode the fragmented data to advise agents on the ground on their next moves.

One piece of evidence is a shredded document that users must piece back together to solve the first mystery. The answer that is uncovered must then be typed into the comment box to proceed to the next task, which involves cracking another code and unlocking a phone.

The ARG builds backstory for Resident Evil 4 since the kidnapping of the US president's daughter directly leads into the events of the video game, in which special agent Leon S. Kennedy sets out on a mission to rescue "Baby Eagle" from a monstrous cult in rural Europe.

Warning: Full spoilers ahead for episode 8 of HBO's The Last of Us.

HBO's The Last of Us episode 8 has arrived and this time we see Ellie tangling with David and Joel stepping up his torturing game. But how close does the show compare to the game?

To help answer this question, we've gathered images from episode 8 of HBO's The Last of Us and put them next to stills from Naughty Dog's The Last of Us game to see how faithful the adaptation is. Check out the slideshow, or watch the video above to see the scenes from both the show and the game in action.

In our The Last of Us episode 8 review, we said "As Ellie reaches her most desperate moment, darkness comes knocking in an outstanding episode of HBO’s The Last of Us. A chapter that explores the depraved depths humanity will plummet to in order to survive, it’s endlessly engaging and hard to turn your eyes away from, even when you want to. Packed full of crucial character moments and flashes of ferocious action, it’s as horrific as this world can get, even when the infected remain firmly below it."

For more, be sure to check out our similar comparison for last week's episode.

The PSVR 2 is here and I’ve never been more excited to jump back into a virtual world of reality. Sure, we have our fair share of PC VR headsets and two generations of Meta’s standalone Quest, but it’s been almost seven years since we’ve gotten a console VR headset. PlayStation sure did take its time to bring us this new virtual tech, and as someone who’s been using the Quest since way back when it still said ‘Oculus’ on the box, I noticed quite a few differences that, in my opinion, make the PSVR 2 far superior to its main competition.

Comfort

Let’s start with comfort. The PSVR 2 is by far the best fitting VR headset I’ve ever used. The halo design makes it easy to adjust and the actual visor portion feels extremely lightweight. One of the Quest’s biggest advantages is also a downside: it’s all-in-one, but it’s also all on your head – and the elastic straps do little to help it stay there.

I even avoided wearing glasses with the Quest 2 because I already had a problem with light leakage because there’s nothing to really help block out environmental light. With the PSVR 2, however, it has a built-in rubberized housing fixed to the visor, which blocks out almost all environmental lighting. What’s more, the visor can be adjusted separately to make room for glasses, should the wearer, like me, do so. This is the first time I’ve been able to play VR with complete clarity and that’s huge.

While its important to take all this with a grain of salt and wait for official confirmation, there have been some rumors circulating that Counter-Strike 2 may be on the way very soon.

Richard Lewis, a notable journalist and caster within the Counter-Strike community, claims to have received evidence from sources that Valve is getting ready to release a new version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in the near future and that a beta may arrive as early as this month or in April.

This project is said to have a working title of Counter-Strike 2 and to have been in development "for some time." Lewis mentions that Counter-Strike 2 has been a priority for Valve and is one of the reasons why the current version of CS:GO has been "largely unattended to for some time."

According to these sources, Counter-Strike 2 will run on the Source 2 engine and that move "should improve the optimisation and graphical fidelity of the game." It is also said to have, much like Valorant, 128-tick servers, which is a number that describes how fast a game's server can process information.

Matchmaking will also be improved in this new version and Valve appears to be hoping that third-party services won't be necessary to put players together in a more efficient way.

VALORANT Episode 6 Act III features a new Agent entering the fray. Hailing from Los Angeles, Gekko and his adorable creature friends will be joining the roster. Here’s what you need to know about the latest VALORANT Agent.

Gekko’s Abilities

Gekko’s kit is fairly unique with the way his abilities are named after each of his creature buddies. He’s able to retrieve most of his abilities as well after deploying them and collecting their orbs where his abilities expired.

Formula 1 is back for another year but, while pundits fruitlessly flail with trying to parse meaning from pre-season testing times ahead of the Bahrain GP, let’s consider what Codemasters has been doing with this year’s inevitable F1 23.

Back in 2021, amid the continuing gloom of a global pandemic, Codemasters introduced a fully-fledged story mode – dubbed Braking Point – into its long-running Formula 1 series for the first time. Threading an original story through the real sport, Braking Point told the story of a fictional rookie’s rise through the ranks via a series of curated racing challenges.

This fresh-faced driver was Aiden Jackson, a talented Brit who lacked experience on the big stage. Jackson was initially placed at odds with his veteran Dutch teammate Casper Akkerman, but (spoiler alert) the two eventually repaired their prickly relationship and joined forces to subvert their Machiavellian rival Devon Butler – Braking Point’s token slimeball.

One particularly interesting element of Braking Point was that it didn’t introduce a custom team for Jackson and Akkerman; the drivers actually raced for one of five real teams based on the player’s choice – Williams, Haas, Alfa Romeo, Alpha Tauri, and Racing Point (which became Aston Martin during the story, as it spanned the years that branding change occurred in the real championship). Another driver from one of the four remaining selectable teams was replaced with Butler. The storytelling didn’t really push the boat out but overall it was an earnest effort well executed, and it was neat that real teams had been convinced to sideline either one (or both) of their actual drivers for the purposes of the story (which, at one stage, even involved their team cars being depicted getting embarrassingly tangled up on track).

I'll never forget my first confusing, terrifying encounter with a cannibal in 2018's The Forest, when an intelligent creature out of a nightmare decided simply to watch me rather than try to kill me. And while its sequel, Sons of the Forest, can't truly replicate the creepy novelty of that first time, it does build upon the gameplay, story, and atmosphere of one of the best ever survival crafting games in some very satisfying ways. It occasionally reminded me of its Early Access status with seemingly unfinished cutscenes and inconsistent performance, but not nearly as often as a lot of other recent games that use that label.

Set several years after The Forest, Sons of the Forest challenges you to survive and uncover new mysteries on a lush, temperate island that reminded me of hiking in the American Pacific Northwest. It's about four times the size of the original's map, and it is downright gorgeous. The amount and variety of vegetation, some of which can be used as a food source or to make medicines, adds a fullness and richness to the landscape that we rarely see in this type of game. The lighting is also incredible. Clouds that partially block out the sun on a warm day completely change the mood of my exploration. It's one of those small details that most games ignore, but when one of them gets it right, I really notice.

Amazon is currently a Micro Center 1TB Micro SDXC card for only $84.98. That's one of the least expensive 1TB Micro SDXC cards we've seen, and it's fully compatible with the Nintendo Switch console.

If you've started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch's base storage capacity. With only 32GB of starting space (and some of it reserved for the OS), you'll barely fit The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pokemon Sword or Shield, which tap out at 13.5GB each! There's only one expansion slot in the Switch console so you want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford.

1TB Micro SDXC Card (Switch Compatible) for $84.98

Micro Center is a legitimate company; they have about two dozen retail stores and they've been around for over 40 years. This particular brand of Micro SDXC card has over 14,000 reviews on Amazon with an average user score of 4.6/5. The Micro Center "Premium" card has a faster Class U3 rating, which means it boasts a minimum read speed of 30MB/s. Of course if you plan to use this in a Nintendo Switch, it doesn't even matter. The Nintendo Switch can only support U1 (10MB/s) speeds, so a higher rated U3 speed will just be throttled back down to U1 speeds anyways. So make sure your money goes into maximum storage capacity, not maximum speed.

I've spent thousands of hours of my life exploring, exploiting, expanding, and exterminating my way through 4X games like Age of Wonders 4. But typically, even at the end of the most epic campaigns stretching across the ages, it all disappears when I'm done. Win or lose. Like tears in rain. In Triumph Studios' latest fantasy civilization builder, though, the end is only the beginning. My beloved ruler can ascend to godhood and join a pantheon that persists from one world to the next, continuing to have an impact on the bigger picture and unlocking new empire options. And while I haven't seen it play out over dozens of campaigns yet, it's a very exciting prospect.

This was actually my first foray into Age of Wonders proper, as I was introduced to the series through the sci-fi spinoff, Planetfall. And it feels very similar, with a Civilization-like overworld where you build cities, exploit resources, train armies, and deal with rival powers. When two armies meet on the map, though, Age of Wonders 4 zooms way in to an XCOM-like, turn-based battle system where each of your units can move and act independently. Fortunately, these fights don't tend to drag on so long that it bogs down the pacing of the overworld stuff, but they still give you enough time to pull off some clever tactics.

Rocksteady Studios is an insanely talented game developer. If they didn’t single-handedly prove that you could make an amazing AAA superhero video game, they sure as hell get the lion’s share of the credit thanks to the deservedly beloved Batman: Arkham trilogy. But they left Batman behind after 2015’s Arkham Knight, and…we haven’t heard from them since (hat tip to the fun little 90-minute Batman: Arkham VR experience that launched alongside the PSVR1 in 2016). Eventually, we got the official word as to what the studio was doing next: Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, a four-player co-op live-service third-person shooter.

Individually, none of those descriptors make my skin crawl, but together? Yikes. And unfortunately, after last week’s extended Suicide Squad gameplay showcase at the Sony State of Play (yeah, I know, this is an Xbox column, but it’s an Xbox game too so just roll with me here), those adjectives all describe Kill the Justice League, a game in which the primary objective of the game appears to be <checks notes> “shoot and/or punch anything purple.” Oh, and it’s also got a Battle Pass and it requires an online connection at all times, even if you’re playing solo.

Multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight is getting a film adaptation from Atomic Monster and Blumhouse.

As reported by Variety, the two horror movie powerhouses are teaming up with developer Behaviour Interactive to create the film, though haven't shared any details outside of it being an expansion of the Dead by Daylight universe.

The film is also likely still a few years away, as Atomic Monster's James Wan and Blumhouse's Jason Blum have only just started searching for a director and screenwriter. Wan, Blum and Behaviour's executive vice president Stephen Mulrooney will act as producers.

"We couldn’t be more thrilled to work with Jason Blum and James Wan, two giants of the horror film industry, to further expand the Dead by Daylight universe,” said Mulrooney "At Behaviour, our motto is to create unique moments, together, forever. Atomic Monster and Blumhouse are the ideal partners to craft Dead by Daylight’s killer entrance onto the big screen."

Wan said he and his team at Atomic Monster are big fans of Dead by Daylight, which is "perfect for a scary cinematic adaptation" thanks to its "building of an incredible environment teeming with atmosphere and terrifying villains".

For those worried the film might lose the essence of what Dead by Daylight is all about, Blum added that the team is hoping to find a director and screenwriter who is already a fan. "[We] think it’s imperative we find someone who appreciates and loves the world as much as we do, to help us bring the game to the big screen," he said.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run lead game designer Joe McGinn has thrown support behind the idea of remaking the beloved "GTA for kids."

"I would love to see it," McGinn told GamesRadar about a potential remake of the open-world sandbox game. He certainly isn't alone in his thinking as he told the outlet that Hit & Run is "still the highest-rated Simpsons game ever made, according to Metacritic."

The 2003 video game was a critical and commercial success, with players praising the game for its "brilliant use" of the license and its parodical take on Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto franchise. (According to McGinn, the game was pitched to the publisher as "GTA for kids.")

Hit & Run was unique as it featured a fully-realized digital Springfield for the first time ever, with many of the show's iconic locations and characters dotted across its different "districts" (levels) for players to explore while also participating in various story-based missions.

You can still play Hit & Run thanks to some handy emulators that allow for modern controllers, but that hasn't stopped fans from calling for a remake with a modern interpretation of Springfield, especially since the animated series now has over 740 episodes to draw from.

Fresh off of winning “Best Mobile Game of the Year” at the 2022 Game Awards, publisher Nuverse is ready to share their next project, Dragonheir: Silent Gods. Not looking to slow down, Nuverse continues to work with leading developer teams dedicated to making fun and immersive games for us all to get lost in. This time, instead of superheroes and villains battling it out in a strategic card game, we’ll head to a rich fantasy world in need of adventurers like you. The latest title is developed by SGRA Studio, a newly-formed team of industry veterans inviting us into the world of Adenthia, an enchanting land filled with dwarves, orcs, death knights, dark elves, sorcerers, and more.

Dragonheir: Silent Gods is an online fantasy multiplayer RPG that launches players into the center of an ancient conflict spearheaded by the Three-Headed Dragon Queen. Players assume the role of the chosen one and assemble a team of heroes with complimentary power sets and abilities for an open-world RPG adventure across multiple planes and dimensions. There are four classes to choose from in creating your character type, soldier, thief, sage and entertainer. Each will have its strengths within six attributes such as strength, charisma, wisdom, and dexterity.