The Blood of Dawnwalker's protagonist, Coen, is rather salty. He's just been turned into a vampire against his will, his family has been kidnapped, and I'm making him eat a lot of rats. If there's a silver lining, he can't touch it.

Going into my playthrough of The Blood of Dawnwalker on the hardest difficulty, Duelist, I intend to take Coen's vampirism as far as it will go – partly to keep up with the challenge, but mostly because I just think vampires are neat. The gnarlier the better, and if being an unstoppable creature of the night helps me complete September's RPG Club challenge, Coen will have to suck it up with the rat blood.

With just 30 days and nights to rescue Coen's family – and on Duelist to boot – there's a long month ahead. I'll be chronicling my journey with weekly write-ups, starting with my eventful first days in Vale Sangora below.

Quest Log

Exit, pursued by a bear

I like to leave the beaten path as soon as possible in RPGs, so I leave Coen's smoldering village and wander toward the mountains. Time in The Blood of Dawnwalker is a resource itself – think Persona, where choosing to do an activity uses a portion of your time – and while I'm not worried about my 30-day deadline (yet), I do have one pressing concern: I am getting my ass beat.

A sloping path winds into the mountains proper, where I follow the sound of wind chimes to standing stones in a cliffside clearing. That's as much as I take in before one of the standing stones gets up – oh, it's actually a massive bear – and charges forward. I roll out of the way, but a swiping paw catches me off-guard and kills Coen in a single hit.

Duelist mode amps up enemy aggression and makes their attacks much harder, while Coen's stamina is greatly reduced. The only saving grace is that enemies have less health. You don't have the stamina to play sloppily, so combat is surprisingly close to the likes of Sekiro – requiring you lean into the momentum with perfect blocks and last-second dodges. But knowing what to do isn't the same as being able to do it, and after repeatedly dying, I make the executive decision to run away.

Fleeing downhill, it dawns on me that this bear is the least of my worries. It's optional! But the main goal of September's RPG Club, saving Coen's folks and siblings in a month, isn't – and will presumably involve fighting tougher foes than bears. On the bright side, now we have a concrete plan for our first week in Vale Sangora: gitting gud.

Bat-man

With bears now off-limits, puny humans seem like the best targets for combat practice. Vale Sangora is occupied by an army of Brencis' footsoldiers, and as night falls, their torches and campfires make them easy to spot. I spend perks in the vampirism skill branch, upgrading my claws to inflict bleeding and stamina to… not die, then prowl the roads for easier prey.

The Blood of Dawnwalker's stealth isn't great. You can sort of skirt around enemy detection, but it's an imperfect science and rarely worth trying. I shadowstep behind a straggling guard outside a ruined tower and sink my fangs in, but his pals immediately throw themselves at me. They're nimble, but I've trained at the school of Big Bear. Coen's claws feel far more fluid than his sword, and having made the connection to Sekiro, I'm finding more success through last-minute parries. Within a minute, there's nothing left of the guards but bloody corpses. I'm not faring much better – after taking one too many blows, I scurry away to drink rat blood and heal.

Over the next few days and nights, I take every opportunity to fight Brencis' men. It's certainly easier as a vampire, with shadowstep and souped-up claws proving invaluable, but the practice turns me into a pretty mean swordfighter by day. While rescuing the local miller from a fortified outpost, I also make inroads with Vale Sangora's rebel faction, who tell me to seek them out in the capital city of Svartrau once I've proven myself an enemy of the vampires. Getting to grips with Duelist mode has already raised my notoriety by a few notches, while also turning up leads on prisoner transports to ambush and blood stockpiles to destroy.

After four days of hit-and-run war, I feel ready to head south and wade into the main story. First, there's unfinished business in the mountains . Who would win in a fight: a bear or a guerilla?

Having honed my skills, I charge into the sunny clearing and meet the bear's charge head-on. Now used to fighting crowds of soldiers at once, one enemy proves much easier to predict. Perfectly blocking every paw-swipe leaves the bear open to heaving greatsword slashes across its chest, and within a minute of furious back-and-forth, Big Bear is dead. Our reward is a glyph on the standing stone, which allows Coen to summon a flock of ravens in battle – but only as a human, so it's not especially helpful as my plan is to go all-in on vampirism. The real reward is knowing that we're ready for The Blood of Dawnwalker in Duelist mode, as well as a valuable lesson that Coen puts best: "Bears are fucking scary."

Having fun isn't hard...

With just three days left in the week, I head south to meet with Anca. She believes an abandoned convent may hold the secrets we need to beating the vlakhir, with forbidden books hidden inside. There is, predictably, just one problem. The convent is shrouded in scarlet fog, and its nuns have all died of plague. The problem, though, is that they're still walking. The courtyard is thick with shambling undead, their faces peeling and eyes clouded. Worse yet, there seems to be no way to kill them – after besting one, I'm halfway through investigating the corpse when it shoots back up, arm outstretched.

A cohort of soldiers have barricaded themselves in the infirmary, and offer to let us through – a safe passage to the library – in return for a relic they've been sent to retrieve. Instead, I make a mental note to come back and drain them dry, spend the night looking for clues, then ring the convent's church bell to draw the horde away. At dawn, searching the library leads us into the catacombs, where a rotting nun hacks long cuts of meat from her arm. She turned to the devil to protect the convent from the Black Plague, and is too far gone to be talked down from yet another ritual.

As the inevitable boss fight begins, I'm– dead. Wow. And again. Days of practice were enough to fight a bear, it seems, but not a supernatural nun. She can use the spell I learned earlier that day, pointing flocks of ravens in my direction, as well as blink across the catacombs and raise more undead. I'm hard-pressed to keep up, constantly dying to surprise blink attacks and her dagger, which seems to swing from every angle at once.

After too many failed attempts to count, I draw on the teachings of Big Bear – constant aggression, no breathers – and triumph, killing the nun and lifting the convent's curse. Our reward is a trove of banned books, which we haul to Anca's hideout to sift through. This turns up two promising leads – a saint's magical sword, and a mysterious Font of Life – but reading eats through the day. Old maps suggest the Font of Life lies in nearby mountains, but Anca (sensibly) won't go hiking at night. I raid nearby blood stockpiles until dawn, but ding-ding-ding. Our first week is up.

So far, The Blood of The Dawnwalker isn't what I expected. It sits close to The Witcher 3 in style and tone, but there haven't many meaningful side quests to sink my fangs into. On the other hand, combat in Duelist mode has been an absolute treat – as challenging and expressive as last year's Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, albeit even less forgiving. But with combat fundamentals locked down, my plan for next week is to search for the Font of Life before visiting Svartrau for the first time. I'm a sucker for big cities in RPGs, and have high hopes for Vale Sangora's Big Apple. See you there?

Australian Steam users are now unable to access any age-restricted content on their account without having a credit card thanks to the introduction of the government's Online Safety Act.

This is in line with the Australian government's Online Safety Act 2021, which noted that any "app distribution services" must have age assurance requirements in place by yesterday. This means the user will not be able to access the storefronts of any games rated MA15+ or R18+ by the Australian Classification Board, which includes games like Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil Requiem, and The Last of Us Part 2 without proper verification.

The Online Safety Act has been a major topic with both the UK and Australian governments, with many places requiring access to users' photo IDs to allow them to browse certain apps and websites unrestricted. This has caused privacy concerns among many as to how their data is being used and potentially sold, as well as prompting worries about security breaches. Valve, seemingly wanting to avoid this, has opted to make the verification based on having a credit card.

However, the real kicker is that it doesn't matter how long you have had your Steam account – users who opened their account in 2004, or any other year that would give you an account over the age of 18 are also not immune. Over on the Australia subreddit, one user notes "I'm 43, and have had my steam account since it first started," while another adds, "So basically, I can't see any remotely mature game on my 20-odd year old account because I'm financially sound enough to not have a credit card?"

Users note that credit card use is not as widespread in the country, with one saying, "This is so USA centric of Steam, they just assume everyone has a credit card." On top of that, users with disabilities are reporting that since they are on Australia's Disability Support Pension they are unable to get a credit card, and thus are locked out of accessing these games on Steam unless another option reveals itself.

Thankfully, users are reporting some workarounds, including that that some debit cards and games purchased on other storefronts still work.

The Highwind floats above the world. Yuffie Kisaragi dives out of the airship, party in tow, and falls through the air with a keen speed before I unleash her parachute, softening our hero's descent into the rich wilderness of Mideel. It's immediately apparent that if we thought Rebirth was big, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is overwhelmingly enormous.

There's something strange about the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy. The numerous differences from the original 1997 title make it almost entirely new, and yet it's easy to feel at home in its many locations, from Sector 7 to Gongaga. The same sensation floods my senses as I tear through feral beasts, before encountering a chubby baby Chocobo.

Not my home but I know my way around

Aware of the limited time available during my hands-on preview session at Gamescom 2026, I fast travel back to the Highwind, and set sail from the skies above Mideel for Wutai. I'm playing as Yuffie after all, and I'm told this section of Chapter 4 is dependent on my visiting her homeland to progress the story. I must admit I didn't really expect to just fly straight over to the place myself – I anticipated a cutscene – but the open world exploration is seamless as I guide the vessel before sending Yuffie back to the deck for another Fortnite-esque descent into the land below, something director Naoki Hamaguchi confirms is an intentional display of "inspiration".

Again, I'm staggered to feel immediately at home in Wutai, but this feeling tracks with the developer's design ethos. "Everything in the game has to feel both nostalgic and new at the same time" Hamaguchi tells me, explaining the need to deliver what fans know but with enough change to maintain player interest. He also clarifies that any big changes have to be made by the original FF7 creators.

One particular change I inquire about is the manner of Aerith's demise in Rebirth, and by inquire I mean demand an apology from Hamaguchi-san. He laughs and tells me "so sorry" but I press him on the matter, producing more laughter from the veteran gamemaker. He then tells me "You need to experience what happens in the very end. You may change your opinion then."

Similarly, piloting the Highwind to named locations and then descending via parachute is an important part of leveling up the experience of Revelation from Rebirth. "The way you explore the world is all tied to that vertical element," Hamaguchi states, and the effect is a sense of scale so grand I have to fight off choice paralysis with every fiber of my being.

Hamaguchi touches on the size of the game, saying "I'm pretty sure that Revelation has at least the same – and probably actually even more – content in it than Rebirth had, and it's all good content." He also adds that he's aware some players were overwhelmed by the amount in Rebirth, but feels "having that huge amount of content is part of what makes the game so appealing."

Another standout component of my preview session is the lack of Cloud and Tifa, with the roster of available characters instead sporting Cid, Vincent, Cait Sith, Barret, Red XIII, and the aforementioned Yuffie. Having been struck by Aerith being a key focal point of Rebirth, I ask Hamaguchi if we can expect the light to shine more on Yuffie or other characters in Revelation.

"Cloud is still the main character," he asserts, before explaining that the team know some players "want to see more of the other characters too, so we very much wanted to have content that goes into each of those characters," which, as a card-carrying member of the Zack Fair Appreciation Society, is music to my ears. This includes such options as completing side quests with different characters depending on your preferences, as well as the more simple but equally satisfying ability to swap out party members on the fly.

It's been one of the great joys of my time with Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth that I've been able to revel in the company of Cloud's companions. Don't get me wrong, I really love the moody merc and his big beautiful blues, but the added depth to Tifa, Aerith, and many others has resulted in a richer narrative experience.

Not all new content is perfect though, as proven by the mere existence of Chadley, and I'm alarmed by multiple interruptions from MAI, the AI entity created by the precocious young scientist. This apparently feminine-presenting version of Chadley eagerly bombards me with available side quests the moment I set foot in a new place, and it's agonizing given my preview slot is an hour. I'm hopeful Mai will feel less invasive when I'm able to play the game at leisure, but something tells me 2027's Most Annoying Sidekick Award is already en route to Square Enix HQ.

Those Who Fight Further

Throughout my session I enjoy multiple battles. In addition to Yuffie and her fast-flowing combos, I try out Vincent Valentine, whose ranged-based fighting style feels more safety-conscious yet no less satisfying. Then I give Cid Highwind a go, and he swings a spear-type edge weapon with a blend of elegance and brutality that feels perfect for hacking through Wutai's wildlife.

With the ability to mix up the party frequently, I'm eager to see what each combination of fighters will bring, especially now Tifa has appeared as a Black Mage in promotional materials, and other jobs in the FITS system are available too.

Upon arrival at Wutai a cutscene plays out – which I won't spoil – where it dawns on me how incredible a performer Suzie Yeung really is. The Persona 3 Reload actor delivers an expressiveness that virtually propels Yuffie through the screen, which seems fitting given Wutai introduces the ability to use a grappling hook for traversal.

Zipping between rooftops, I find my way to the Happy Turtle bar and restaurant after photographing a cat and having a quick swim in the sparkling waters that surround the traditional Japanese-inspired architecture of Yuffie's homeland. As I walk through the grand building, I strike up a conversation I never get to hear as the session ends.

Now I'm left wondering what the NPC was going to say, what the other areas in the preview build had to offer, and what the unaccounted for characters were getting up to during this section of the game. Above all I wonder how Naoki Hamaguchi and Square Enix so masterfully manage to weave nostalgia into something so obviously new in so many ways. Maybe I'll never truly understand but, if I am able to, it won't be until Final Fantasy 7 Revelation releases on April 8, 2027.

If this is far from your final adventure, check out our games like Final Fantasy recommendations, or our best RPGs and best JRPGs ranking for more to play next!

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi has apologized for what happens to Aerith in Rebirth, but if you're still upset about it, he insists you stick around to the end of the remake trilogy, because you might just "change your opinion."

Before we get into it, please take this as your final – very obvious – spoiler warning for the events of Final Fantasy 7 and Rebirth's ending. I'd be shocked if you didn't know what we were about to get into by now, but don't say I didn't warn you if you didn't.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth might have gone about things slightly differently to the OG 1997 JRPG, but one unfortunate fact remains – Aerith dies at the hands of Sephiroth. Ouch. It's arguably made even worse by the fact that, for a brief moment, it looks like things are about to pan out very differently, but alas.

Speaking to Hamaguchi in an interview at Gamescom 2026, GamesRadar+'s James Daly tells the lead how upset he still is about what happened to Aerith, prompting a big laugh. "I hope you have some expectations towards what the final outcome is, though, and I hope you can look forward to seeing what actually happened," Hamaguchi first teases, via interpreter.

He then directly offers an apology himself: "So sorry!" Gotta be honest, though, I'm not sure how sorry he is based on how hard he's laughing.

This comes up again towards the end of the interview, at which point Hamaguchi suggests something rather interesting. After another laugh, he hints: "I mean, really, you need to experience what happens in the very end. You may change your opinion."

Obviously, he's not going to elaborate on what he's referring to at this point, but could there be a glimmer of hope there for Aerith fans? Perhaps, or perhaps not. All will be revealed when Final Fantasy 7 Revelation launches on April 8 next year.

Square Enix's "graphical goal" for Final Fantasy 7 remakes was 2005 spin-off film Advent Children as it's the "ideal version" of the 29-year-old JRPG.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation might have "even more content" than Rebirth, director Naoki Hamaguchi says, who reckons that's "part of what makes the game so appealing." But if you're already feeling overwhelmed, don't stress – the devs really wanted to give you "the choice" this time over what you want to spend your time on.

Depending on how many games you play a year and how much free time you have in your life to spend on them, you might have a very different opinion on the concept of playing an enormous, content-packed JRPG. It's hard to argue that it's a bad thing for a game to be big, but it sure can be overwhelming, and potentially off-putting for those who don't have a spare hundred hours or so lying about.

Speaking to Hamaguchi at Gamescom 2026, we ask about the scale of Revelation compared to Rebirth – a JRPG he acknowledges "had a lot of content in it as well," and Square Enix hasn't slowed down since. "I'm pretty sure that Revelation has at least the same, and probably actually even more content in it than Rebirth had," he tells us. "But it's all good content. It's all going to be really appealing to play."

Hamaguchi knows, however, that for some players, bigger isn't always better. "I am aware that there is a number of players of [Rebirth] who said that the content was just too much and that they felt they were overwhelmed by it. I do understand there are people out there who felt that," he admits.

However, this hasn't put him off from the idea of making Revelation a behemoth, too: "I feel that having that huge amount of content is part of what makes the game so appealing. I don't think it's that kind of game, so I'm very confident in what it is because of that."

With that said, though, Hamaguchi says that "what's important is not how much content there is, it's how you make that interesting and accessible and enjoyable for players to interact with." He tells us that he's learned from fans' feedback following the release of Rebirth, and going into Revelation, not only is its content "all quite different," but he's taken on board the importance of communicating with players "what kind of rewards you can expect, and what kind of experience you're going to get when you take it on."

Hopefully, then, you can expect clearer signposting of what's worth it to you if you're not someone who wants to take on everything the game offers. He notes that we can now expect rewards to be split up across different types of content accordingly, with character upgrades locked behind the battle-focused content, while minigame rewards will be customization options within that specific minigame, for example.

This comes in direct response to Rebirth, where "all of the side content was tied to the Materia development system. So if you wanted that Materia, you had to do all of the content, regardless whether it was something that you would be interested in otherwise or not," he continues. "So I really wanted to address that and maybe improve it for people who felt that, like, feeling of obligation that they had to do it, but they didn't really want to."

Ultimately, the devs wanted to pay attention to the "idea of allowing the player the choice of which content they want to engage with and which they don't," he concludes.

So then, no pressure if you don't want to experience everything Revelation has to offer. Unless you're a hardcore completionist, of course, in which case it sounds like you're going to have your work cut out for you come its release in April.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says "open-world fatigue" is real, and since "the world is even bigger than it was in Rebirth," Square Enix specially focused on guiding players.

We'll be back gallivanting with our favorite dragon early next year when Spyro: A Realm Beyond comes out. To celebrate the character's anniversary this year, we've gotten a little tease of what's coming.

Toys For Bob is handling the game, having previously worked on Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash 4. Since the namesake scaly mascot first arrived in the US on September 9, the studio decided that day would be a solid choice for another snippet of his upcoming return.

Sadly, there's no new trailer yet, but we do get a better look at one of the areas, Arcadian Vale, a lush blend of old crumbling ruins, hills, and rivers. There are two pieces of concept art provided: one showing the landscape more broadly, and the other depicting a point of interest sitting on a cliff.

They tease the kind of place you'll spend a while just hopping around, having fun, picking up gems, and taking out enemies. "Arcadian Vale captures the charm and wonder that defines Spyro’s new adventure," reads the description.

"Made up of a calm, serene atmosphere, Arcadian Vale is a vibrant landscape filled with natural beauty," the studio continues. "Across the scene are cascading waterfalls tumbling down from towering cliffs. Ancient stone structures and weathered monuments rise from the terrain while lush greenery blankets the valley floor, creating a destination that feels magical and alive."

Sounds delightful, and exactly what I'm looking for from a new Spyro sequel. This is his first full new game since The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon in 2008. That's almost 20 years ago! Hopefully this can live up to the wait - going by what we see here, I'd say so.

Physint goes from PlayStation to Xbox as Sony "unexpectedly" drops Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid spiritual successor

Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida has seemingly reacted to the news that Sony has dropped Hideo Kojima's highly anticipated stealth game, Physint, allowing Xbox to swoop in, and he's just as surprised as we are.

Overnight, PlayStation announced that "we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS on its project PHYSINT." However, Kojima's own statement highlights this move as being a lot more one-sided than you might expect: "In mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the PHYSINT project," he reveals, going on to say that "we have spent the last three months searching tirelessly for a new partner," leading Kojima Productions right back to Xbox, which it's also teaming up with on horror title OD.

The concept that any company would want to cancel a Kojima game is shocking, and the situation of PlayStation essentially handing it over to its main competition only makes it weirder, even though it's unclear if Sony could have known that's where the game would end up. Yoshida, former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, has responded to the news on Twitter, expressing how "surprised" he is (translated by GamesRadar+).

Although his original post isn't shared in response to anything in particular, it's obvious that this is what he's referring to – he doubles down on the sentiment in a separate reply to someone asking him about it directly.

While Yoshida might not have said much, the fact that the news has prompted him to respond like this at all speaks volumes. Sony is in desperate need of a win after its announcement that it's stopping production of physical discs for new PlayStation games in 2028 – the backlash it's prompted from folks opposed to an all-digital future has been immense, with the company's comment sections everywhere filled with cries of "no disc no buy" more than two months on.

Needless to say, deciding it doesn't want to bring Kojima's Metal Gear Solid spiritual successor to life isn't it – in fact, it looks like the opposite. Even with the company's reassurance that "we continue to have great admiration for Hideo Kojima's vision for the game," the general response across the internet is disbelief that Sony would give up on what, from the outside, looks like an easy win.

Despite the change in circumstances, Kojima is clear: "Please rest assured that development of PHYSINT, our genre-defining action-espionage title, is ongoing and will continue moving forward."

As Hideo Kojima turns 63, the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator says "I would like to remain focused on creating games" despite the interest in movies.

In a surprising – yet very welcome – move, Ubisoft is opting to trade in its required launcher on PC for more seamless, built-in connectivity that allows players to navigate games through Steam… and Steam only.

It's a tale as old as time: a company outside of Valve requires players to use its own launcher, even if they're accessing a game through Steam. EA immediately springs to mind, as does Ubisoft, but the latter is apparently looking to scrap this pesky system in favor of a smoother experience for fans who don't appreciate a billion log-ins and pop-ups.

It reveals as much in some minor new patch notes for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown over on Steam.

"Introducing Ubisoft Connect Services," Ubisoft's announcement begins, dubbing the new integration "a simpler launch experience on Steam" – which, yeah, it certainly sounds like it is.

"Starting with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, we are testing a new Ubisoft Connect Services Steam tool that keeps Ubisoft game features such as cross-progression, cross-play, player safety, challenges and rewards, among others."

What's new, though? Well, it's all "without requiring the Ubisoft Connect PC launcher to be installed or launched."

As Ubisoft says, "This first version is an initial step toward a smoother and more streamlined launch experience on Steam. We will continue to iterate and improve Ubisoft Connect Services over time, with the goal of delivering the features and services players use and expect while making the Steam experience as seamless as possible."

It won't stop with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, either. "Ubisoft Connect Services will progressively evolve and roll out to more Ubisoft games on Steam in the future." That's quite exciting, to say the least, seeing as pretty much nobody would prefer the current system.

Over on Reddit, folks are discussing the new system, and, yeah, they're thrilled. "Imagine how much they had to lose to admit this was needed," reads the top comment.

"Finally," another exclaims. "Now add this for all previous titles, and I will buy Ubisoft games again!" And, thankfully, it sounds like that's precisely what Ubisoft plans to do… and hopefully carries onto new games down the line as well.

Xbox disc-to-digital missing Elden Ring and Final Fantasy as publishers including Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Sega seemingly skip the feature.

An important piece of gaming history has been preserved today, as a leaker has released the ROM files for Project Dream, a canceled proof-of-concept for a Rare-developed pirate RPG that would eventually become the basis for the beloved Banjo-Kazooie series.

You can check out a video of the alpha footage below, and if you do, you'll probably find it hard to believe that this game was originally intended to release on the 16-bit Super Nintendo. The sole character model and jungle environments look more advanced than anything that released on the SNES, and it was only a prototype for the full game, which was canceled and reworked by Rare in 1997 after 16 months in development, largely due to technical problems.

To be clear, Rare itself hasn't been shy to talk about or even show footage of Project Dream, but this is the first time it's been made widely available online. The leaker, who only says they obtained the prototype "from someone who got it from someone, who got it from somewhere," says in a manifesto-style writeup that they chose now to release everything to help offset all of the evils of the world.

"With the current state of the industry and Microsoft's current heartless gutting and mismanagement of Rare and other companies it controls, plus with how long it's been, I feel it's more important to make sure this is properly preserved, and the ROM dissected by people with far more knowledge on how to do such things," says the leaker.

"I hope by releasing this, that it also inspires other people to release what they have as well. I know the Twelve Tales Conker 64 prototype is out there somewhere, but sadly, this is the only thing that I have."

It's hard to get much more explicit than that, but the uploader, who goes by FvckAsha&Phil online – an apparent reference to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and her predecessor, Phil Spencer – goes even further to explain why Project Dream is surfacing online now of all times.

"There is little joy left in the industry, as it relentlessly marches towards AI, layoffs, l anti-preservation and ownership tactics, and, in Microsoft’s case, the support and approval of literal genocide in Gaza.

"Let's get the last beautiful things hiding on our hard drives out there for everyone. That's all we have left," says the leaker, imploring readers to "Please delete Microsoft and Sony from your lives, install Linux, boycott Switch Game Key Cards and buy Nintendo Switch 2 titles that still come with the full game on the cartridge.

"Your dollar is the only thing that counts in our late stage capitalist hellscape."

Rare was heavily impacted by Microsoft's unprecedented downsizing that began in July with the gutting of 1,600 jobs and which will result in a further 1,600 redundancies by the end of the company's 2027 fiscal year. Rare's would-be next game, Everwild, was canceled in the blitz after six years of development. This is amid a seemingly endless era of downsizing in the games industry that saw an estimated 45,000 cut jobs between 2022 and 2025.

We'll never know if Project Dream would've joined the ranks of the best SNES games of all time.

When Arthur Morgan contracts tuberculosis near the beginning of Red Dead Redemption 2, you're supposed to feel sad. Arthur's a good guy with a troubled past, and he's the hero of the story. Him getting a death sentence right at the start of his journey is all bad news, but from here on out I'll only be able to react to his increasingly labored coughing fits with disgust, because now I know actor Roger Clark was actually hacking up a phlegm-filled lung in real life while recording some of those scenes.

Asked by YouTuber and games journalist Cade Onder if Arthur Morgan's coughing fits were taxing on the actor's throat, Clark says those scenes were "not as bad as you'd think" because they were spread out over five years and "if ever there was a really bad coughing scene, we'd always save it for the end of the day." That's good, but it turns out there was some serious method acting going on beyond the scenes that will forever alter how I react to Arthur Morgan's illness.

"In five years, there's plenty of colds and there was a lot of data that we got that was pretty damn genuine," Clark says, confirming that he would purposefully record dialogue when he was sick with colds, lending an authenticity to those coughs that only a real-life viral infection could bring.

"I'd be like, 'hey, I got a cold, let me get in there," and they're like, 'OK' ... nice, good bit of phlegm."

Grossness aside, I have to say I admire Clark's work ethic. When I'm down and out, all I want to do is lay in bed and watch Seinfeld reruns, but Clark's first instinct is to think about making Arthur Morgan sound as convincingly sick as he possibly can. That commitment paid off in an incredibly absorbing performance, even if I'll be playing Red Dead Redemption 2 while wearing a medical mask from now on.

GTA 5 left Rockstar feeling "slightly nervous" about Red Dead Redemption 2 as devs worried fans "were going to be bored" by only having one protagonist to play as

Elden Ring streamer Bushy has put more time into FromSoftware games than almost anyone on the planet. After roughly 4,000 hours of Elden Ring, he wants to beat Elden Ring another 726 times, and he's spun up a custom mod to do it.

On August 3, Bushy began a journey to beat Elden Ring using every weapon (and shield), totaling 447 runs. On August 26, he officially expanded this to every weapon, Ash of War, staff, seal, and spell in the game, bringing the run total to 726.

The idea, he suggests, is to create a full video library that shows how every possible attack style deals with all of the bosses in Elden Ring. With that in mind, Bushy's enlisted some help to speed things up.

In a video showcasing the Black Flame spell, Bushy explains, "I've commissioned a mod to make this series even bigger and better." This mod essentially condenses the exploration and progression of each Elden Ring playthrough, making it a lot easier to unlock items like flask upgrades, DLC Scadutree fragments, merchant upgrades, collectible talismans, and so on. If it's just lying around on the ground, it can now be found at a special menu or automatically obtained by beating story bosses which lead to new chunks of the world.

"In order to skip the tedium of picking up all of the same stuff over and over for 726 runs, this is the solution that we have," Bushy says. The mod doesn't affect the experience of fighting bosses, which is the stated point of this challenge, but it does make it a lot easier to get to those bosses over 700 times.

Even with this mod's help, each run still takes several hours, so Bushy will probably be pushing 7,000 hours of Elden Ring if he actually finishes every last playthrough. So far, he's done about 20 by my count.

Bushy's behind many of the strangest and most difficult Elden Ring runs you can find online – from randomizers to a billion Malenias to deathless NG+7 – so I don't begrudge him a little time save. This challenge does feel like a pretty obvious infinite stream content generator, but on the other hand, I've never seen a man kill everything in Elden Ring with the heavy crossbow.

"While I will miss the extra running around content, I fully understand how much better this will be for you to streamline this series even just a little bit," reads one YouTube comment.

"Might actually have another fromsoft game by the time this is done," says another. And they might be right.

Deep in FromSoftware's sicko arc, Elden Ring and Dark Souls boss Hidetaka Miyazaki says "you can't make anything that's as fun" just by following the same old rules.

A shift in gaming culture has undermined Steam's early access program and stunted the perception of the games in it, worries Pocketpair and Palworld communications and publishing lead John Buckley.

Amidst Palworld's 1.0 early access graduation, Buckley discusses the work-in-progress approach with GamesRadar+. He maintains that Pocketpair is "quite confident in early access in general" and, when it comes time to make a new big thing, the studio will surely choose early access again. But that's despite what he sees as a big shift on Steam.

"Go back to the Steam Greenlight days, when Steam changed Greenlight to early access, there were a few years where it really was running and operating exactly the way I think Steam dreamed it," he says. "I think everyone knew what they were in for. The kind of people who were buying early access games knew what they were in for. They were the kind of gamers who want to be involved, they want to give feedback, they want to talk to devs. It was this really beautiful golden era."

Today, that outlook is less common, he suggests. "This continuing migration, I'll call it, of hyper-casual mobile culture, and hyper-casual gaming culture, and live service gaming culture is washing through Steam right now," Buckley notes. "Now the culture has changed and early access, essentially, has lost its meaning. People just buy an early access game like they buy a normal game and treat it like that's the game."

In Palworld's case, Buckley says players may buy the game in early access and play heavily for a week or two before arguing, "'These developers are not making new content. This game is dead.' And you're like, 'Well guys, see you in six months. We've got to make the game.'"

Buckley clarifies that he doesn't think "it's a bad thing that some gamers aren't interested" in how the sausage is made, even if quietly raising "the general knowledge level around game development" might help both sides. "You just want to enjoy a nice thing, and that's fair enough. No shade there." (In 2025, we spoke to dozens of game devs about things players get wrong about how games are made.)

Nonetheless, he says, "It's getting harder on Steam, sadly, because this culture has come through. I think consoles are where it struggles the most because console gamers aren't used to the concept of early access gameplay. Again, that's fine. You get less feedback from those players in general versus PC gamers, who love to drown you in bug reports. Look, all we can do is try to softly educate people. I think we do an okay job. I think we try to be quite transparent. 'Hey guys, the next update's a while away. It's not going to be content-heavy, it's going to be QOL-heavy.' We try to balance it."

Recently, Buckley has been shaping expectations for update 1.1, reiterating that Palworld will continue but is not due for another massive overhaul. Earlier in the year, he said he "wouldn't rule out a Palworld 2.0," but fans also shouldn't expect a No Man's Sky-style arrangement with 10 years of heavy support. (As it happens, we spoke to No Man's Sky boss Sean Murray about 10 years of support.)

Though Pocketpair has chosen early access multiple times and remain "big advocates" for it – Craftopia, its previous survival game, is approaching its own 1.0 update – Buckley agrees it's not right for every project.

"There are many real cases of early access just being a disaster for some games," he says. "I think it just depends on how receptive you want to be. Early access has now been abused for a lot of reasons. The biggest way it's abused now is just like, 'We'll release it now because we need money.' It's a way now to sidestep traditional funding means. It's almost become the new Kickstarter in some ways. Put out the build to get the money. But we're big fans of it."

Splashing some of its Palworld cash, Pocketpair's publishing arm has, like many other newly formed devs-turned-publishers, sought to find and fund promising games at a time of dire investment opportunities in the games industry.

Palworld studio calls Valheim "an inspiration to everyone in the genre" as devs of the survival game drop their own 1.0 update.

One of the reasons Leon Kennedy is such a great horror protagonist is that he carries himself with an unshakeable sense of humor despite always being faced with the most unimaginable atrocities. Even after barely escaping the clutches of a giant, mutant alligator with his life, Leon still manages enough levity to quip, "Chew on that, you overgrown son of a" you-know-what.

For me, Leon being an absolute himbo genuinely breaks up the tension I feel while playing a Resident Evil game, and this contrast was put to especially good use in this year's Resident Evil Requiem, which features some of the scariest sequences I've ever experienced in my 30-plus years playing horror games. But as it turns out, some of Leon's funniest lines were actually left on the chopping block, as proven by newly leaked cut voice lines from Requiem and Resident Evil 4 Remake.

Two separate videos, one that lets you hear close to 400 cut voice lines from Resident Evil Requiem, and another with more than 600 cut lines from Resident Evil 4 Remake, were recently posted to YouTube by prominent modder Keff0 (via PC Gamer). As a longtime Resident Evil diehard, it was fascinating hearing all of Leon's bad puns, Grace Ashcroft's panicked breathing, and even lines from less central characters like RE4's Merchant and Requiem's Chef Zombie, that Capcom for whatever reason decided didn't cut the mustard. As for the Leon one-liners, I'm disappointed they were left out, because some of them sound like they could've been genuinely great in the right context.

"Shucks, no time for an encore."

"Someone needs to work on their parallel parking."

"Eight legs, no brains."

"That again? You're a bit of a one-trick spider."

Naturally, longtime Leon actor Nick Apostolides delivers his lines beautifully, but I would love to see the exact scenarios onscreen that would've triggered them. Unfortunately we'll probably never know, and Leon's not the only one with some gems in the vault. I mentioned RE4's Merchant, and he's another that had some lines cut that I would've loved to see in the actual game.

"This'll perk you up," he says in one cut line. "Relax mate – it's not that kind of herb." I think all Resident Evil fans can imagine the exact situation that would've prompted that line, and I can understand why Capcom ultimately decided against including it, but man, what a loss.

"It's important to stay young at 'eart. Especially at times like these," is another line from the Merchant I would've smiled at in the game.

At this point, I feel like I'm spoiling these gems for fans, so I'll leave the rest for you to uncover on your own. There's even a cut line from RE4 Remake that seems to reference Resident Evil Village, which is completely unnecessary but fun nonetheless.

Lies of P director says Resident Evil Requiem is one of the games he enjoyed most this year because Leon is "still as cool and tough as ever."

It's almost become tradition at this point: the announcement of a new release with massive historical significance gets buried within a sizzle reel in a Nintendo Direct. Today, we got a shadowdrop for Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko's Mystery Dungeon Classic HD. This Super Famicom roguelike went untranslated for 33 years, despite building a massive following in Japan and laying the blueprint for the expansive Mystery Dungeon series.

Torneko's Mystery Dungeon is available today for $25 across Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. It is a roguelike in the most traditional sense – as in, it's a lot like the original Rogue. This is a top-down dungeon crawler where every step you take is a turn. You delve into a massive dungeon, grab as much treasure as you can carry, and build up your experience to survive into the deepest levels. If you die, you start back at the very beginning.

That concept will be intimately familiar to modern gamers, but the roguelike boom was decades away when this game was first released. Developer Chunsoft took the bones of a fiddly PC game, stuck a familiar Dragon Quest character into the role of protagonist, and suddenly had a hit on its hands. But with the then-limited success of JRPGs in general and Dragon Quest in particular outside of Japan, an English release never actually happened.

Despite that, the Mystery Dungeon series would ultimately develop a global legacy. Chunsoft would spin it off into an original IP with Shiren the Wanderer, and we'd eventually get other licensed takes like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Chocobo Mystery Dungeon, which themselves would spin off into entire series of their own.

The Classic HD version of Torneko's Mystery Dungeon seems to mostly stay true to the original's old-school sensibilities, with a lightly upgraded look putting it in line with Square Enix's modern HD-2D games. But the devs do have one big modern tweak in mind – at least for the Steam version. This edition offers a free bit of streamer-focused DLC that allows viewers to influence "mysterious events" that occur throughout the dungeon. It's not a feature that the vast majority of players will ever engage with, but I'm at least interested to see what kind of chaos it adds to the adventure.

Here are the upcoming Switch 2 games you need to know about.

RAMageddon be damned, another PC gaming brand is making pro-consumer moves to pass savings back to shoppers. Laptop maker Framework has published a blog post entitled "Navigating the volatile silicon market: updates on memory and storage pricing", and it's a refreshing read that details how the brand has secured a more affordable supply of RAM for gaming to make their systems with, and we're the ones who will benefit.

"We have some positive updates today around LPCAMM2 memory availability and Intel Core Ultra X9 processor options for Framework Laptop 13 Pro", the post reads.

"Following our update in July where supplier cost increases forced us to adjust memory configurations and pricing, our Supply Chain team has been working continuously to source additional inventory at better prices.

"We have good news: we recently secured a limited quantity of Micron 32GB and 64GB LPCAMM2 memory modules at lower cost."

As a result, the brand is passing those savings back, issuing price reductions for new orders, and, amazingly, retroactive price reductions for existing orders.

"We are committed to passing on savings whenever we can and keeping computers as accessible as possible in the current environment, so we are rolling out price reductions across both already shipped and a subset of currently pending pre-orders. While these new costs remain above our original pre-order launch baseline, they are lower than the last cost update that drove our current pricing for new pre-orders," reads the blog post.

As a breakdown of how it works, if your order has already shipped, Framework will automatically issue a refund for the difference in price now that it's been reduced. If your order is still pending, the price will automatically be adjusted, and if you'd now rather modify the amount of RAM in your gaming laptop to get more bang for your buck, the option is open to you.

Surprisingly, this isn't the first brand to make recent, sweeping pro-consumer moves despite the current economy of the PC market. A few weeks ago, desktop PC cooling brand Arctic made similar commitments to customers following its refunds from illegal US tariffs. Meanwhile, Sony and Microsoft are fighting tooth and nail to avoid giving theirs back to consumers through similar means.

These types of business choices are a massive win for consumers, especially during the current RAM shortages we're seeing across the tech sector. With RAM manufacturing set to be under strain for years to come, and with the big three manufacturers all but securing high prices for themselves through nefarious means, pro-consumer practices could go a long way.

We're also rounding up the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops, or for something even more portable check out the best gaming handhelds.

A true stalwart of survival games, Valheim, just went into 1.0. Yes, I know, I was a little surprised too, but despite being out for five years and having been a staple in all that time, the Viking-themed sandbox didn't cross that particular threshold until today, and even Palworld is spreading the good word.

On Twitter, Pocketpair, the studio behind Palworld, took to the game's official account to congratulate the devs at Iron Gate Studio on the momentous occasion. "Congratulations to Iron Gate Studio on their 1.0 release of Valheim," says the tweet.

"You are an inspiration to everyone in the genre!" the post continues. "Spinning up the Pocketpair server today!"

Included is some artwork of a pal wearing a helmet and sword common to jaunting around the wilderness of Valheim. It's always nice when companies and teams recognize each other like this, especially when Palworld could easily be considered a rival.

Valheim is at the forefront of the survival space. It managed to capitalize on ideas from Rust and The Forest, and merge them with Norse mythology to make something that feels grand, epic and fun, without losing touch with all the things people enjoy about these sorts of games.

You have satisfying base-building and resource management, worthwhile exploration, and a well-realized map to feel out. Indeed, the game's only gone from strength to strength since launching in early 2021, and now it should ascend to even greater heights.

Palworld update adds 2 new missions, makes fishing easier, improves combat, and brings plenty more to Pocketpair's survival game

The Blood of Dawnwalker has been out for a good few days now, giving Rebel Wolves – the studio headed by CD Projekt Red veterans with credits on bangers like The Witcher 3 – time to patch its new vampire RPG up a bit with hotfixes.

And that it has, with the latest little patch to drop for The Blood of Dawnwalker being an especially, erm, amusing one. Hotfix 1.0.4, as it's officially dubbed, might not be a huge update, per se – but it brings a good few much-needed fixes… and some hilarious tweaks, too.

I mean, as per the patch notes, one of the noted highlights is literally that "torches can no longer grow uncontrollably," because of course it is.

Another one of my favorite notes also has to be the fact that, uh "dead NPCs can no longer start dialogues" now. Although I never encountered that bug myself, thinking of a deceased guard or zombie nun speaking to Coen is truly wonderful.

That's not all, either – if you remember that placeholder dev asset Rebel Wolves (likely) accidentally used in The Blood of Dawnwalker's prologue, you'll be happy to learn it's gone.

You know, the one that was bright red and labeled "DO NOT USE" over and over again? As the studio writes in its patch notes for the RPG, "We are no longer using that one red pipe asset we weren't supposed to use."

As funny as it is, I'm sure it was a bit of an immersion-breaker in the silver mines, so it's nice to see the devs have removed it. That's not to say there aren't some more "serious" fixes, though.

Rebel Wolves tackles plenty of bugs, crashes, and soft locks in 1.0.4, while also explaining that the devs have "improved the game's stability" overall with the hotfix. So, it's not all laughs, but I'm personally here for the parts that are.

As for what's next, the studio likely has a lot up its sleeve, as so far, we've just seen smaller patches. I'm keeping my own fingers crossed for a combat rework of sorts… but I know that's a hot take.

I suppose we'll just have to wait. One thing's for certain, however – whatever Rebel Wolves drops in the future won't be nearly as silly as this hotfix, with all of its seemingly random adjustments.

Read our The Blood of Dawnwalker review to find out why we think it has "clear Witcher DNA" if you're thinking about playing one of this year's biggest new games yourself.

All Star Tower Defense codes might have been around a long time, but they're still showing no signs of slowing down as the popular game stands the test of time. Whether you're just getting involved for the first time or you're a long-term player, the following promos will be super helpful to your progression.

Anime tower defense games are rife on Roblox, so it's hard to know which ones to play, but thanks to its longevity, you know ASTD is a good choice. As you assemble your best team of anime champions and prepare to take on your next boss, redeem these ASTD codes for a boost.

Plus, if you want more general rewards that apply to all your experiences, take a look at our list of the latest Roblox promo codes up for grabs.

All ASTD codes

These are the All Star Tower Defense codes you can redeem right now:

• ReturnOfTheLobbies - 4,000x Gems, 150x Stardust
• ALateSummerAwaits - 4,000x Gems, 100x Stardust
• AwesomeBeginnerCode - 4,000x Gems, 50x Stardust, 1x Otherworldly Pickle

As you can see, ASTD codes tend to grant players with a combination of Gems and Stardust, which you need to summon new units to your team. On occasion, you may even get a special Unit, which could either be pretty weak but fun, or incredibly powerful, so don't miss out.

How to redeem ASTD codes

To redeem All Star Tower Defense codes, you must first click on the Settings button in the top-left hand corner of the screen. You'll find the codes redemption box at the bottom of the window that opens up. Enter the code into the box as it appears above then hit Enter or your platform equivalent.

There is no on-screen message to let you know that the code has been redeemed unless it awards a Unit, which will pop up, but if it's been successful, you'll see a change in the amount of currency beneath the window.

Expired ASTD codes

• FusionReborn - 4,000x Gems, 150x Stardust
• TheOverlordArrives - 4,000x Gems, 250x Stardust
• WhoInvitedThisGuy - 4,000x Gems, 250x Stardust
• tboicats - 3,000x Gems, 170x Stardust
• sorryfordelayandmonkeyking - 4,000x Gems, 280x Stardust
• yickadee - 2,000x Gems, 230x Stardust
• twete93dont - 2,700x Gems, 170x Stardust
• tungtungnobannersahur - 2,700x Gems, 170x Stardust
• cosmicrebel - 2,700x Gems, 170x Stardust
• omgupdate2026 - 2,700x Gems, 170x Stardust
• fordanielxd - 67x Gems, 67x Stardust

Since ASTD has been around for over six years, there have been plenty of expired codes, including the selection seen above. The valid codes will also expire at some point, so it's worth redeeming them as soon as you see them to avoid disappointment.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Raid codes are still in high demand for this long-running turn-based RPG, as players do the bidding of the Arbiter and work towards defeating the Dark Lord Siroth. If you want to restore peace to the realm of Teleria then you're going to need strong fighters and plenty of resources, so it's handy that there are promos specifically for new players to unlock a Champion, along with separate rewards for regulars. To find out more, here are all of the Raid Shadow Legends promo codes and how to redeem them.

All Raid codes

The following Raid Shadow Legends codes can be claimed by all players:

• RAIDAUTUMN – 50x Multi-battles, 1x Five-star Chicken, 300,000x Silver
• HAPPYBDAYUDK – 300,000x Silver, 15x Brews, 50x Auto-battles
• Dorothy – 1x Full Energy, 1x Four-star Chicken
• INTHEWEB – 250x Energy, 500,000x Silver, 15x Brews
• raidwebstore – 500,000x Silver, 5x Energy Potions, 1x Five-star Chicken
• TOALLFROMMID – 150x Auto-battles, 30x Brews, 300,000x Silver, 100x Energy
• RAIDSHADOWLEGENDSCOM – 15x Brews, 1x Five-star Chicken, 50x Auto-battles, 250x Energy
• raidtogether – 200x Energy, 500,000x Silver, 15x XP Brews.
• HUNTINRAID – 1x Five-star Chicken, 1x Full Energy Refill, 15x XP Brews, 300,000x Silver
• midgamejoke – 50x Multi-battles, 1x Five-star Chicken, 1x XP Brew, 1x Mystery Shard, 100,000x Silver, 1x Energy
• midlove – 15x XP Brews, 100x Multi-battles, 150,000x Silver
• DearSirNicholas – 50x Multi-battles, 1x Epic Tome, 300,000x Silver, 1x Energy Refill
• RAIDBROTHERHOOD – 1x Five-star Chicken, 300,000x Silver, 1x Full Energy, 15x XP Brews
• epyre – 10x Brews, 1x Energy Refill, 100,000x Silver
• AMG25 – 1x Epic Skill Tome, 150x Multi-battles, 100x Energy, 200,000x Silver
• winmidgamewinter – 100x Multi-battles, 30x Brews, 200,000x Silver, 100x Energy
• PP500 – 50x Multi-battles, 400,000x Silver, 200x Energy, 500x Plarium Points (Plarium Play only)
• GAMELEAP – 1x Epic Tome, 100,000x Silver, 1x Energy Refill

There are plenty of Raid codes available, but you are limited to only being able to redeem one promo per day, so think carefully about what you claim first based on your current needs.

For new players, only one of the following Raid codes can be redeemed within a day or two of creating a fresh account:

• MYTURN – Alure, 20x Magic XP Brews, 200,000x Silver
• GODSPEED – Apothecary, 5x Magic XP Brews, 5x Greater Arcane Potions, 100,000x Silver
• WELCOMEGIFT – Bellower, 11x Void Brews, 100,000x Silver, 3x Rare Books
• KITTYCUT – Cheshire Cat
• DASPIEL2024LIEBE – Chonoru, 300,000x Silver, 1x Three-star Chicken
• BECURSED – Cormac the Highpeak, 15x Magic XP Brews, 1x 3 Days XP Boost, 3x Energy Refills
• 2GTLUCKY2026 – Deliana, Multi-battles, Silver, Energy, Force Brews, Potions, Epic Skill Tome, 1x 3 Days XP Boost, Legendary Regeneration Gear Pieces
• XOXO25 – Fenax, Tallia
• BOUNTY – Fenshi, 10x Force Brews, 10x Greater Force Potions, 200,000x Silver
• GETFENSHI25 – Fenshi, 200,000x Silver, 10x XP Brews, 40x Potions
• PESTCONTROL – Hoskarul, 10x Spirit Brews, 200,000x Silver, 10x Greater Spirit Potions
• LILHELPER – Jinglehunter, 10x Spirit Brews, 200,000x Silver, 10x Greater Spirit Potions
• 2GT24Knight – Knight Errant, 100,000x Silver
• RAIDWITHKYTIS – Kytis, 5x Energy Refill, 5x Spirit Brews, 200,000x Silver
• GETLOKI – Loki The Deceiver, 300,000x Silver, 15x Spirit Brews, 15x Greater Spirit Potions
• LURIA – Luria, 5x Spirit Brews, 5x Greater Arcane Potions, 100,000x Silver
• 2QLRAID – Luthiea, 150,000x Silver, 1x Energy Refill, 15x XP Brews, 20x Multi-battles
• MAGEOUT – Mausoleum Mage, 5x Energy Refills, 300,000x Silver, 1x 3 Days XP Boost, 30x Force Brews
• CHUG – Melga Steelgirdle, 10x Spirit Brews, 300,000x Silver
• FIREBURN – Mordecai, 50x Multi-battles, 10x Force XP Brews, 200,000x Silver
• MYCELIUM – Myciliac Priest Orn, 10x Spirit Brews, 200,000x Silver, 10x Greater Spirit Potions
• GETOBORO – Oboro, 10x Void XP Brews, 5x Greater Arcane Potions, 300,000x Silver
• RAID7 – Pelops the Victor
• GOFAST – Razelvarg, 15x XP Brews, 15x Greater Magic Potions, 300,000x Silver
• REVIVER – Rector Drath, 10x Force Brews, 300,000x Silver
• MIDGAMETOP – Sigmund the Highshield, 100x Energy, 5x Magic Brews, 700,000x Silver, 50x Multi-battles, 5x Greater Arcane Potions, 1x 3 Days XP Boost, 1 Silver Chest
• HUNTMASTER – Stag Knight, 15x Spirit Brews, 150,000x Silver, 15x Greater Arcane Potions
• STAGSLAYER – Stag Knight, 1x Epic Skill Tome, 45x XP Brews, 150,000x Silver
• MONKEYKING – Sun Wukong, 300,000x Silver, 15x Spirit XP Brews, 15x Greater Spirit Potions
• SUPREME6 – Supreme Galek, 25x Void Brews, 5x Great Void Potion, 300,000x Silver
• DEMONSLAYER – Tholin Foulbe, 15x Greater Spirit Potions, 300,000x Silver
• STONECOLD – Thylessia, 25x Force Brews, 3x Rank 3 Chickens, 3x Epic Skill Tomes, 300,000x Silver
• FREEFROG – Toragi The Frog, 20x XP Brews, 200,000x Silver
• UDKING – Ultimate Deathknight
• SUBSCRIBEMIDGAMECHANNEL – Urticata, 10x Spirit Brews, 100,000x Silver
• 2GTSpringTricks – 1x Four-star Chicken, 50x Energy, 200,000x Silver
• RAIDCURIOUSER – 50x Multi-battles, 20x XP Brews, 1x Energy Refill, 200,000x Silver
• SpringTricks2GT – 1x Four-star Chicken, 200,000x Silver, 50x Energy
• TRICKORTREAT – 250x Energy, 25x Void Brews, 1x Five-star Chicken, 150x Multi-battles
• TRIVIADUNGEON – 30x Multi-battles, 15x XP Brews, 300,000x Silver

Many of these starter promos unlock a Champion alongside other useful resources, and if you're struggling to decide which one to pick then a lot of players recommend MONKEYKING to get Sun Wukong as a useful fighter.

How to redeem Raid promo codes

To redeem Raid Shadow Legends codes on PC (via Plarium Play only) and Android, all you need to do is tap the three bar icon on the left side of the Bastion screen to open the menu. From there, select the Promo Codes option and then enter a code before hitting Confirm to claim your reward.

However, you can't redeem Raid codes directly through the game on other PC formats or iPhone, so instead you need to visit the official Plarium promo codes website to claim them there. Log in to your linked Plarium account, then use the Enter Promo Code text box to type in a code before hitting Redeem to send your rewards to the game.

Remember, you can only redeem one Raid Shadow Legends promo code per day, regardless of the entry method you use, so make it count!

Expired Raid codes

• 1MGIFT – 300,000x Silver, 1x Energy Refill, 2x Rare Skill Tome, 3x Rank 3 Chickens
• 2GTNEWBIE – Kellan the Shrike, 2x Energy Refill, 200,000x Silver
• Click4Gameplay – Mordecai, 1x Multi-battle, 10x Force XP Brews, 200,000x Silver
• FROSTBRINGER – FrostBringer, 15x Magic XP Brews, 300,000x Silver
• only4midgamesubs – 1x Four-star Chicken, 10x XP Brew, 200,000x Silver
• POWERSTARTER – Tallia, Energy, Multi-battles, Silver
• RAID450K – 15x XP Brews, 1x Epic Skill Tome, Energy Refill, 450,000x Silver
• RAID7YEARS – 1x Void Shard, 300x Energy, 300,000x Silver, 20x XP Brews
• SUPERPOWERS – Deacon Armstrong, 1x Epic Book, 200,000x Silver, 24x Magic XP Brews
• wefinallyplayedit – 10x XP Brews, 1x Energy Refill, 100,000x Silver
• Yearlygift – 150x Multi-battles, 1x Four-star Chicken, 10x XP Brews, 500,000x Silver, 100x Energy

There have been plenty of expired Raid codes over the years, and some of the more recent ones are listed here for reference only. Promos tend to come and go, so make sure you keep on top of the current codes to no miss out on any rewards.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Changes are coming in The Witcher 3 remaster and Songs of the Past, and your trusty steed, Roach, is among the areas where you might notice some alterations. The mighty horse definitely has a distinct personality in the original game, and aspects of that have been upgraded for this update and the Songs of the Past DLC - but you can turn that all off if you prefer.

In an interview with Fall Damage, Karolina Kuzia, the design director at Fool's Theory, the studio that helped make Songs of the Past, addressed whether Roach's bugs had been fixed. "When it comes to Roach and her shenanigans, why take something that is light?" she asks.

She then passes the question to her colleague, Miles Tost, the level design lead at CD Projekt Red, who elaborates. "I don't know of any Roach bugs, I think she's perfect," he says. "Having said that, one cool thing about the remaster update is that we have updates to Roach's movement behavior, so on that count, that may be disappointing to you."

Yes, that is a little disconcerting, because Roach is truly a singular equestrian companion, even if she has a tendency to get in doorways you need to get through and other impossible places. She's a mess, but she's our mess, and we've grown to love and accept her in all her multitudes.

CD Projekt Red anticipated this by adding a toggle for the older and newer behavioral patterns. "You can turn that off," Tost adds. "If you prefer legacy Roach, the way you have grown to know her, be my guest."

Be your guest I shall be, Mr. Tost. I do enjoy keeping some aspects like these in remasters, because they become indelible to my nostalgia. Roach reminds you you're in a big, goofy fantasy game, and in a world like Geralt's you need that sometimes.

After 20 years voicing Geralt, The Witcher 3 star Doug Cockle says revisiting his character for Songs of the Past is "like slipping into a warm bath"

I hate bugs. Big, small, somewhere in between – anything with more than four legs needs to stay as far away from me as possible. Which is why, sitting down at Gamescom 2026 to learn more about developer Behaviour Interactive's then-nameless new co-op shooter, I very nearly asked to leave.

Heartbreakingly, Exterminauts is not Dead by Daylight with guns. It's a PvE shooter that riffs off the likes of Helldivers 2 with obvious aplomb, down to the hammy, tongue-in-cheek pseudo patriotism. Punching in with your fellow blue collar employees at an extraplanetary pest control company, your mission is simple: wipe out hordes of creepy crawlies across the galaxy and make it home in time for supper.

I'll be honest: nothing about Exterminauts' premise excites me from the off. But forty minutes hands-on is all it took to change my mind about a genre I've long avoided, and guess who got the highest score of the session? Me.

Another day at the office

It goes without saying that, as someone who has never played a millisecond of Helldivers 2, I thought I was in for a rough hour playing Exterminauts. From shrill voice comms barked between teammates to center-screen aiming in the vein of the best hero shooters, I think back to my time with Marvel Rivals and shudder.

I take my seat and opt for the healer character, whose special ability is to spawn first aid drones out on the battlefield. I don't pay much attention to my actual loadout, but every character seems to have a basic weapon and a huge heavy weapon with unique elemental affinities. Charging up my heavy attack and releasing it after a few seconds unleashes a huge icy explosion, freezing any space bug or winged denizen unlucky enough to have crash-landed into the blast zone at the wrong moment.

Happily, the bugs in Exterminauts don't resemble actual bugs as I know them (Grounded should learn a lesson here). They more closely resemble ugly monster beasties than giant space ants or scuttling roaches, which is a huge relief as someone who thought she'd be throwing her headset down and screaming for the nearest exit post haste.

I spend most of my time in Exterminauts blasting bugs out of the sky while my teammates set about doing the actual tasks at hand. We need to head over to various abandoned space bases across this wild planet, itself consisting largely of red dirt plains with vivid patches of alien flora and fauna, to complete a series of mini-missions indicated by a directional ping on the HUD.

Again, I can't speak too much to what those look like — push a few buttons on a rusty control panel here, leap up a giant metal structure to turn a valve over there — but they aren't exciting enough to pull me away from peppering all creatures in sight with bullets, grenades, and frosty ice blasts aplenty.

Power attacks are replenished using bug goo drawn from the baddies I slay, and re-stocking ammo is as easy as finding stockpiles dotted across the map. I learn quickly that being teammates doesn't imply chivalric duty – my sneaky fellow employees frequently leave nothing for me after beating me to the chase – so I make sure to snag all the bullets and grenades I can carry when I reach a stash first.

This doesn't stop me coming out on top as the Employee of the Shift, with the most kills and fewest deaths. Not to brag, but I don't think I died at all.

Project management

Exterminauts' goofy premise and relatively low-pressure, low-stakes fun means I finally get the Helldivers 2 hype.

That said, I have my concerns about Behaviour's latest as it stands – the worlds themselves are gorgeously vibrant and playful, and I adore the art design there, but knowing that character barks were made with generative AI sours me on the creative vision. I'm told Behaviour will replace them with human voices at launch, but what's wrong with putting a dev behind a microphone for the time being?

Despite that singular gripe, though, Exterminauts has colored me impressed as well as in shades of bug gore. This is my first time playing a PvE shooter of its ilk, but after leaning into its comedy and embracing the twitchy gunplay in a fantastical sci-fi world, it might not be the last.

I've finally fallen in love with Helldivers 2, thanks to Super Earth's immaculate Halo 3: ODST vibes

Halloween the Game codes do exist, but at the moment they're restricted to a single promo in conjunction with the Regal Theatre chain in the US. There is a promo code redemption box in-game, which is how you can redeem one of these codes if you're lucky enough to have one, but I hope this means there'll be more Halloween the Game codes in the future - for all of us.

Halloween the Game codes

As I've mentioned above, the only Halloween the Game redemption codes at the moment are through a collaboration with Regal Theatres. Anyone who is part of the Regal Crown Club and sees any movie from the Halloween Series in one of their theaters automatically gets sent a redemption code for a 3D Glasses cosmetic item for civilians. You'll receive the code to your inbox at the email address associated with your Regal Crown Club account.

You'll also be in with a chance of winning a code for the actual game, if you don't already own it. If you're lucky enough to win and do, you can always get it on a different platform - but be aware that there's no cross-platform saves if you have access to multiple versions.

How to redeem Halloween the Game codes

To redeem Halloween the Game codes, head to the Graveyard tab at the top of the screen, then scroll down to Extras, indicated by three horizontal dots. Here, you'll find the Redeem Codes button where you can open the redemption box, enter your code, and redeem your reward.

So, it's not great news for everyone yet, but hopefully there will be more Halloween the Game codes added in the future, perhaps in a similar fashion to DBD codes.

With or without 3D Glasses, you'll want to check out my tier list of the best Halloween the Game civilians, as well as my top Halloween the Game tips.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

I've got a theory about why people enjoy playing survival games. From Minecraft (or Unreal World if you're cool) all the way through to Valheim's 1.0 launch today after five years in Early Access, they all have something in common. Starting with nothing and building up to a mighty fortress is great, but what these games really offer is a sense of discovery – a journey into an unfamiliar world.

It's something Welsh poet Dylan Thomas explores in his poem Fern Hill. Here, he writes about being "green and carefree, famous among the barns" in "the sun that was young once only". That pretty much sums up my first few hours of Valheim: it's a game that nurtures and encourages a childlike sense of wonder.

Waxing poetical

Valheim's epic wonder is there from the jump. You arrive into the Tenth World in the clutches of a Valkyrie, with only a raven named Hugin for amenable company. Hugin provides you with some helpful tips as a new arrival in the peaceful Meadows – a world away from the moody, stormy lands you saw during your flight.

With almost nothing to your name, like a child angry about a lost kite, you start punching trees only to realize with sore hands that you're actually meant to gather branches from the ground.

From there, Valheim flows into the usual routine you'd expect from a survival game. I spend most of the time foraging rocks, flint, and becoming a kind of Genghis Khan figure to local wildlife. If the survival game loop was all that there was to Valheim, it'd be a fun, if somewhat disposable slice of Viking life. But one aspect that really makes the game stand apart is the sensory experience.

Valheim's late-PS1/early-PS2 aesthetic has some modern flourish hidden beneath its horned helmet. The lighting is one standout aspect, with night skies seeing countless stars spill across a firmament of pure black. Meanwhile the Meadows biome is underscored by a bucolic clarinet melody, caught somewhere between folk and soft jazz, that never fails to soothe. And it all links back to that poetic sense of expanse and wonder as penned by Thomas.

There's some entertainingly bouncy physics, too. My first death on day 1 isn't attributed to one of the goblin-like Greylings or an aggressive boar, but to gravity, a tree, and my own hubris. Chopping down a tree makes it fall. It's a very tricky concept to grasp, I know, and it turns out that chopping up a huge trunk also splits it in two. I'm standing downhill from one of the large logs as it falls to the ground, and thus begins my first corpse run.

Valheim is also a full-on RPG, which is a point I have used to sell it to my survival-skeptic friends. There are skills ranging from magic to cooking to wood-chopping, as well as a shockingly competent combat system, complete with a parry mechanic. All of these hang together to make exploration extremely fun, my character taking shape alongside the world around them as I learn more about myself and this strange new land.

Man of the land

Tracing the shoreline, venturing out on your first raft, building a simple homestead – it's easy to forget that there is more to this game than simply existing within it, green and carefree. And there is so much more, with each major biome culminating in a boss fight against a suitably fantastical enemy. After each boss, you move on to the next biome, building forward bases and exploring – ever exploring, like a true Erik the Red.

Despite my generally wonderful time with Valheim 1.0, my one sticking point is the building mechanics. Level ground prime for building is hard to come by in the Tenth World, even after setting-to it with a newly-crafted hoe.

This means that making your homestead look like a building rather than a load of panels that have been chucked together is a matter of some genuine skill. I was left with huge gaps that, if nothing else, let smoke trail out beautifully from my campfire. It holds some of the game's creative potential hostage, and I can't truly feel like the author of my own pastoral poem as a consequence.

Still, I have to hand it to developer Iron Gate Studios. The sun may be young once only, but if you ever want to wander, Valheim's near-endless scope for epic journeys is hard to beat. What a fantastic synchronicity there is to the fact that 1992's Unreal World, one of the first survival games ever, doubled as an RPG about surviving the Far North. Valheim 1.0's addition of the Deep North biome echoes it beautifully, calling forth the bravest souls who wish to venture further and marrying the RPG and survival genres in a genuinely fantastic way.

These games like Valheim offer stunning worlds to explore and survive, if you dare...

Light No Fire, the next massive survival game from Hello Games, makes a rare appearance in the overview for No Man's Sky's Cosmos update, which is out today, September 9.

Cosmos introduces sweeping changes and additions to space itself, from custom space stations to resource-rich "space hulks." It also adds player alliances that can fit thousands of allied players and stations across the stars. The bones of some of these features will carry over to Light No Fire, it seems.

Toward the end of the trailer, studio boss Sean Murray says "all of this is tech we get to test now, refine, and hopefully players will also experience on our other game, Light No Fire."

Some old Light No Fire footage played in the background shows a gathering of humanoid rabbit warriors, a brief shot of a dragon mount, and a very bemused ogre.

There's still a lot we don't know about Light No Fire, and that now includes just how much of this Cosmos update, along with the rest of No Man's Sky's systems, will carry over. Will player alliances work in the same way, and on the same scale? With just one Earth-sized planet to explore instead of a functionally infinite universe, how do points of interest have to evolve?

I get the impression that Murray wants to leverage what the team's created here. "So many things that we never thought we'd do," he says of Cosmos. "Having alliances of tens of thousands of players, real communities working together, claiming space stations. It's pretty cool, but it's been a lot of work."

Elsewhere in the Cosmos update video, Murray mentions "our new volumetric lighting tech," which does feel like a safe bet for Light No Fire. For years, Hello Games has described No Man's Sky as a handy test bed for its next game, which, Murray recently told us, has "between 12 and 20" people working on it at any given moment.

No Man's Sky lead planned to show more Light No Fire, but "why do any marketing" when it's already topping Steam wishlists.

No Man's Sky Cosmos is Hello Games' latest update, and it's making enormous changes to space itself after 10 years.

Cosmos is out for free today, September 9, hot on the heels of the big 10th anniversary blowout.

"No Man’s Sky is often referred to as 'a Space Game', it’s a huge part of our game, but we’ve never really updated space since release," Hello Games says of the update.

Space has certainly changed now. Cosmos is headlined by space station ownership, which Hello Games says "must be our most requested feature since launch."

"Finally players can buy the space station for themselves! Build and decorate it both inside and externally, and some wild creativity is possible. You can create your own themed Station as your own clubhouse and have friends come and visit."

To help build your space station, you might want to pay a visit to "space hulks," which are basically big clusters of resources floating in space. With help from a gravity gun and "a new tractor beam fitted to your ship," you can strip these hulks for materials. The kicker is that too much structural damage to a hulk will cause it to melt down and explode, so you'll need to prioritize and work quickly.

These space hulks also show off "our new volumetric lighting tech," says Hello Games boss Sean Murray.

Luckily, you can enlist the help of new player alliances for the job. "As an alliance, you can work together to build a networked empire of different stations and rise the new leaderboards to compete for the largest, richest or most prominent alliance," Hello Games says.

That network will be easier to navigate thanks to a new star map that reveals points of interest, including "whole new strands of missions and exploration," whenever you warp to a system.

New points of interest introduced in Cosmos include outposts where you can trade with aliens, bio-wrecks to be "cleared out and reclaimed," asteroid belts with rare crystals, and orbital bases that "can be built ANYWHERE in space." You can even put a star base on a "rare" large asteroid if you want.

And you know what, screw it, while we're at it, go to the sun. "Finally players can try to undertake a perilous journey to reach the center of their own star system!" says Hello Games.

This is all bookended by a new Expedition that packs 10 years of No Man's Sky updates – a whopping 40 of 'em – into a playable museum. "It’s been a real joy to revisit some of those moments for us," the studio adds.

"This has been a wild undertaking for our team," Murray says in a Cosmos deep dive video. "So many things that we never thought we'd do. Having alliances of tens of thousands of players, real communities working together, claiming space stations. It's pretty cool, but it's been a lot of work."

A typically enthusiastic Murray says Cosmos "creates foundations for the future," making good on his threat to release free No Man's Sky content forever.

10 years of No Man's Sky: How Hello Games and Sean Murray keep getting away with it.

These Anime Dice codes grant a handsome number of rewards, all of which are useful for obtaining better characters and upgrading your best for increased earnings and better fighting abilities.

Anime Dice is a combination of some of the most popular Roblox experiences, rolling Gacha and combat into one. Not only do you need the best anime-inspired characters to rake in as much cash as possible, but you can also pit them against bosses in a combat card game to climb the tower and earn even more rewards. You'll need all the help you can to get as far as possible, so redeem the Anime Dice codes below.

If you're searching for more general rewards that you can apply to all of your experiences, then we've got the latest Roblox promo codes you can claim.

All Anime Dice codes

These are all the Anime Dice codes you can redeem right now:

• 5KCCU - 2x Lucky Spins, 5x Trait Rerolls, 5x Gems
• 1KCCU - 2x Lucky Spins, 5x Trait Rerolls, 5x Gems
• UPDATE3 - 2x Lucky Spins, 7x Trait Rerolls, 7x Gems
• UPDATE2 - 2x Lucky Spins, 5x Trait Rerolls, 5x Gems
• UPDATE1 - 2x Lucky Spins, 3x Trait Rerolls, 3x Gems
• RELEASE - 1x Lucky Spin, 2x Trait Rerolls, 2x Gems

As you can see from the list above, Anime Dice codes tend to reward a combination of Lucky Spins, Trait Rerolls, and Gems. While Lucky Spins can get you some superb rewards if luck is on your side, Trait Rerolls and Gems can be used more specifically to upgrade your best characters.

Anime Dice codes aren't case-sensitive, so you only have to worry about spelling, but you should still just copy and paste them from above if possible to avoid mistakes.

How to redeem Anime Dice codes

To redeem Anime Dice codes, you must first click on the Shop button in-game. The confusing thing is that there are two Shop buttons, so you must choose the one on the left-hand side of the screen, marked by a shopping basket icon. You can also get here by heading to the Market stall in the center of the arena.

Either way, you should then scroll to the bottom of the shop screen where you'll see the codes redemption box. Enter a code into the box as it appears above, and then hit Redeem.

Expired Anime Dice codes

• There are no expired Anime Dice codes.

Anime Dice is still a relatively new Roblox experience, so no codes have expired since release. However, I don't doubt that those codes above will expire at some point, when I'll move them down here, so redeem them while you can.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Various new games – and I mean various – have reportedly suffered countless spoilers thanks to a Steam leak that's seen their achievements go entirely public.

From Kingdom Hearts 4 to Persona 6 to Silent Hill: Townfall to… well, you name it, there's a downright plethora of titles seemingly affected by the massive leak on Valve's platform.

You can find lists of every game (and their achievements, be warned) on online forums and websites like Twitter – and it's all so big it's nearly mind-blowing. They're all live on achievement tracker site Exophase, too, but I'd once again caution checking anything out in too much detail.

Not only does the leak apparently expose a load of upcoming games' achievements, but it also lifts the veil on many "unannounced" titles, as users point out in a social media thread on the whole debacle.

There's an "unannounced Dune game" in there, an "unannounced Twin Peaks game," and even a dang "unannounced Shrek 2 Remaster" mentioned, y'all… and, erm… Penis Bird? Put simply, it's one heck of a leak – and not just of games we knew about.

So, how did this all happen in the first place? Well, it seems to boil down to an API error that isn't exactly new to Steam. For anyone who might not know what that means (because I certainly didn't), API stands for application programming interface, and it's essentially a set of rules that allows software programs to communicate.

Exophase owner "x3sphere" has described it a bit over on ResetEra, confirming what happened.

"I am the owner of the site and this is what appears to have happened," he writes. "Seems like a possible screw up on Valve's end, a bunch of games with achievements that should be private are accessible through the API right now and that's why they got scanned into the site. I usually never see games without an actual name pop up with achievements, yet over the past hour or so a bunch have."

Oof.

Valve has yet to respond itself, but I'm not sure it will aside from remedying the apparent private information from each game. As for studios like Sega and Square Enix which have seemingly seen their unreleased games go a bit more public, I doubt we'll hear anything, either.

So, there you have it – you can go explore the findings yourself if you're interested it, but after taking a peek at the alleged Persona 6 achievements myself, I can say I sort of wish I hadn't.

Spoilers, spoilers everywhere… and I shan't be sharing them here.

Kingdom Hearts 4 script "almost twice as big" as KH3's, Tetsuya Nomura says: "There were more parts that I wanted to include, but I was already pushing it."

Persona 4 Revival might not be making any major changes to its characters, but the remake has still given Atlus the opportunity to "go more in-depth" with some of them, the game's producer reveals.

I spoke to producer Kazuhisa Wada at Gamescom last month, where I asked him about the previously announced changes to Yosuke – a party member with some homophobic dialogue in the original JRPG and its Golden re-release, which was obviously never going to make it into the remake without some serious alterations. Wada told me that "the characters are all the same people. We haven't changed any parts of their personalities," but that "we've adjusted dialogue to make it more modern and to be more effective telling the story."

Even if Atlus isn't changing anyone's personality, though, Wada now tells Eurogamer in a new interview that we can expect some characters to be further explored in the remake. "In a lot of ways, there has been something more we could explore with every character," he begins.

"Since Persona 4 came out, there have been a number of spin-off games that have been released, where we developed the characters and their personalities. So when we were making Revival, we took aspects of that and helped it to inform our characters and add detail and depth. For the team, it was Yosuke and Kanji that they really wanted to explore and go more in-depth with."

Art director Akane Kabayashi adds to this, noting that returning to the RPG made her realize that "Chie is forced to wear a lot of different hats and do a lot of different things. You can see that Chie and Yukiko are like 'double heroines,' but Chie is given a lot more stuff to do than Yukiko is, and it made me really respect that aspect of her."

I'm particularly interested by Wada highlighting Yosuke and Kanji here, especially the former. Going back to Yosuke's homophobia in the original – aimed at Kanji, as it happens – many had theorized that this could be recontextualized in Revival as internalized homophobia via a newly added romance route between him and the protagonist. After all, datamined voice lines from the OG JRPG suggest this was once meant to be an option.

However, Wada also told me at Gamescom that despite being aware of the fan demand for Yosuke romance, "we were thinking, if we did Yosuke, we kind of would have to do all the other male characters as well. And if we did that, that is a lot of work. So we were thinking about our time and schedule. I don't know if we could actually handle this, so we decided to let Yosuke float on by."

So, that theory has been debunked. Even if there's no actual romance route though, Wada's latest comments do have me wondering how Atlus has expanded on Yosuke's character, and if that aforementioned idea could have been explored without changing his social link. For now, we'll just have to wait until February to find out.

Persona 4 Revival is the best looking Persona to date, and after 1 hour playing, I'm already desperate to return to Inaba.

Mark Cerny, PlayStation's lead systems architect, says he's "nearing the end" of his career and wants to "pay it forward" by investing into future generations of game developers. His method of doing that is teaming up with The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley and forming The Nova Games Foundation, which will award grants to aspiring developers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, potentially for decades to come.

Cerny and Keighley tell Game File the plan is to give $100,000 to each of 20 young game designers every year, with eligibility for up to $500,000 more for the most promising projects. Meanwhile, Nova will do its part connecting developers with publishers and marketing their games, but it won't profit financially from any of its investments. Meanwhile, recipients will be free to work with publishers of its choosing and determine which platforms their games are available on.

Applications begin in December for the 2026 to 2027 class of 13 college programs across eight countries, including New York University, the University of Southern California, Scotland's Abertay University, France's Cnam-Enjmin, Germany's TH Köln, and Australia's Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

"I've always wanted to give back, but given my role in the industry, I've never felt it appropriate to commercially invest in games," says Keighley. "I've never owned stock in a game company or taken a financial stake in a game. Nova is philanthropy: we aren't taking equity or looking to recoup the grants. The return we're hoping for is creative—helping new voices make games and find their footing.

"Mark and I have each made multi-million-dollar donations to establish the foundation, and we intend to keep contributing. We hope others will join us."

One key developer already recruited by Nova is Josef Fares, lead designer at Hazelight Studios, the company behind hit co-op games It Takes Two and Split Fiction. "I'm proud to support Nova because it gives the next generation of creators the freedom to explore their creativity and hopefully bring their unique visions to life," Fares says.

Cerny and Keighley are looking for other high-profile games industry figures to join the cause, and Keighley says "dozens of leading game directors" have already shown interest.

Cerny hopes Nova can grow "over the next 10 or 20 years."

"The industry has changed immeasurably since I started in games in 1982," he says. "These graduates have talent, training and tools that outclass what we had back in the day by an astonishing amount. But they face a tough road ahead getting traction in the industry, and many could benefit from our support. We want to be there to give it to them."

Here's hoping one day this list of upcoming games includes some Nova recipients.

Sony is set to give physical PlayStation games the axe in 2028, and it's a safe guess that other console manufacturers will follow suit. But PC has already been effectively digital-only for decades, despite the platform arguably having an even greater legacy when it comes to physical media. Now DRM-free storefront GOG is stepping up its efforts to preserve the good ol' PC gaming experience with a new way to enjoy the classic big box experience.

As part of GOG's Preservation program, Myst, Descent, Hitman: Codename 47, Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, and Armikrog each now include "an interactive 3D scan of its real, physical box art," according to the announcement. "We had the actual boxes scanned – front, back, spine, the works – and turned into rotatable 3D models you can download after purchase and open right in the 3D viewer that’s already built into Windows and Mac. No extra software, no plugins. Just spin the box around on your screen like you’re holding it."

If that kind of thing sounds familiar, you might have seen Big Box Collection. This is a fanmade website dedicated to letting you look at extremely sharp 3D models of big box PC games right from your browser. Frankly, I'm constantly astounded by just how much fun it is to spin these digital boxes around. Those scans look real good.

And GOG isn't just lifting Big Box Collection's concept wholesale. It's also working with Benjamin Wimmer, the creator of the project, to offer "flat, printable versions of the same box art, so you can cut, fold, and glue your own physical big box at home. A proper papercraft project for anyone who misses shelves full of PC game boxes."

Game preservation isn't just – or even primarily – about making sure the games themselves remain available on modern stores. Preserving the full context around those games, including their packaging and the items included in the original box. That's especially important for the old-school PC games that GOG specializes in, since those titles often included all kinds of essential books, maps, and supplements that were part of the full experience.

"What we definitely need are heroes to step forward and take good care of our games," Wimmer says in an interview for GOG. "Christopher Nolan stepped up to have Kubrick’s 2001 unrestored and thus preserved for us to experience it as envisioned and I’m sure there are gonna be heroes doing the same for games."

The Witcher 4 probably isn't coming to PS5 with a physical disc, CD Projekt Red boss says, but fans will still get something to "open up and enjoy."

Elden Ring players were happy to discover there was a glitch that made the game's new $5 Tarnished Pack DLC appear in their multiplayer kingdom, even if they hadn't paid for it. But developer FromSoftware has speedily issued a patch stopping players in their path.

"Patch 1.17.1 has been released for #ELDENRING," says the official Elden Ring account on Twitter. "This update fixes an issue in multiplayer where, under specific conditions, DLC-specific items could be obtained when not normally eligible. No additional content is included. Thank you for your support, Tarnished."

After Patch 1.17 introduced new, paid content that comes included with Elden Ring's fresh Switch 2 edition – the $5 pack contains the Idus Knight and Heavy Knight starting classes, plus more weapons and glamorous horse armor – a helpful bug made it so players with DLC items would automatically spawn copies of those items as pick-ups when entering a multiplayer game with someone who didn't have the DLC. It was the Lands Between's equivalent of dollar bills raining from the sky.

But Patch 1.17.1 smacks players' wrists and tells them to get their own $5. While Elden Ring fans can still trade DLC items with each other, including with people who don't own the Tarnished Pack, they can no longer enjoy a bounty of doubles. And they are not happy.

One exasperated Twitter reply says to the official Patch 1.17.1, "In other words someone found out how to get the $5 Tarnished DLC stuff for free. It should have been free anyway, guys. Charging $5 for a few pieces of gear is the biggest L From Soft has taken in a long time."

"I'll get downvoted for this, but it's crazy they released a whole patch for something as harmless as this," another player reacts in a Reddit thread on the topic, "but they can't bother to give us more balance or QoL changes. You know stuff that would actually improve the game's experience?"

"People love to claim that From soft is somehow beyond criticism," says another Reddit comment in the same thread, "but this was clearly a financial decision. They want more money from people. Simple as that."

As much as it pains me to agree as a hardcore FromSoftware fan (I've played all the games more than once, I've watched a total of at least 100 hours of lore videos), I do. The Tarnished Pack DLC is the developer's first experiment with something close to "microtransactions," and I have to try hard not to see it as the first ember in a house fire. Usually, I fail. But it's clear from Patch 1.17.1 that FromSoftware has the opposite reaction – if $5 DLC is an ember, it wants to keep it glowing.

Deep in FromSoftware's sicko arc, Elden Ring and Dark Souls boss Hidetaka Miyazaki says "you can't make anything that's as fun" just by following the same old rules.

The Blood of Dawnwalker developer Rebel Wolves has been clear from the start: it wants to turn the vampire RPG into a multi-game "saga" where your choices carry forward between each entry in the series. With 1 million copies sold in just a handful of days, it seems the devs have no reason to pump the brakes on those plans, either, so they're already hiring to continue the story forward.

"The Blood of Dawnwalker released to critical acclaim and sold over one million copies in the opening weekend," narrative director Jakub Szamalek says in a LinkedIn post (via ResetEra). "But! We're not resting on our laurels – no, siree! We're already thinking about [what] comes next. And so! Drum roll please! I'm looking for a Lead Writer to help me and the narrative team craft the next chapter in the Dawnwalker saga."

The actual job listing doesn't offer any additional meaningful information on what to expect from the sequel – in fact, it's written as if The Blood of Dawnwalker hadn't yet been released. "We're looking for someone who, to put it bluntly, writes EXCEPTIONALLY well," Szamalek explains, and someone who "has a track record of excellence and experience in team management."

I'm only a handful of hours into The Blood of Dawnwalker, so this part isn't a spoiler: the story will take us into a modern-day setting as Coen's story carries on. The devs themselves confirmed as much in a Summer Game Fest trailer teasing the future of the budding franchise.

"When you have the last save, your choices will go with you," CEO and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz told us at the time. "From the beginning, we were telling people that we're planning a saga, and right now, this is the proof that we are doing it."

But it's not always assured that new studios, even those with veteran developers at the wheel, will get to continue working after launching their first game. After all, it was just last week that we learned that many of the developers behind the excellent Star Wars: Zero Company were quietly furloughed just before launch.

Rebel Wolves seems to have escaped an unfortunate fate, however. The Blood of Dawnwalker launched on September 3, and by September 5, the developers announced that it had already hit 1 million copies sold. Not a bad start for a new team – even if that Witcher 3 pedigree is certainly playing a part.

Our The Blood of Dawnwalker review praised the game's worldbuilding and hands-off approach, but we were also hungry for a little more, so a sequel sounds just fine.

With how long it takes to beat The Blood of Dawnwalker, we've at least got a meaty adventure to replay a few times before the sequel drops.

The Blood of Dawnwalker released last week to sky-high expectations, and largely delivered. The open-world dark fantasy RPG, directed by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz of The Witcher 3 fame, launched to "mostly positive" Steam reviews and, despite a few outliers including our own 3/5 star review, largely glowing impressions from critics as well. Crucially, it seems CD Projekt Red fans are turning out in droves for Rebel Wolves' debut title, with one analyst reporting that a majority of The Blood of Dawnwalker's Steam player base previously played The Witcher 3, an unexpectedly huge crossover.

As reported by Alinea Analytics' Rhys Elliott, the "premium" game whose player base most crosses over with The Blood of Dawnwalker's is the Witcher 3. That's not a surprise considering Tomaszkiewicz's involvement, but what is surprising to me is just how many Witcher 3 players are turning out for Rebel Wolves so quickly after launch. According to Elliott, 58% of Blood of Dawnwalker players on Steam are The Witcher 3 players, proving CDPR fans stay loyal to individual developers even when those developers have moved on from CDPR itself.

Personally, I'm among the class of RPG enjoyers who've tried countless times in earnest to get into The Witcher 3 but couldn't for some unknown reason. Meanwhile, I'm only a few hours into The Blood of Dawnwalker and so far it's everything I was hoping for and more. Its world, lore, and characters are as richly developed as I was expecting from a team of CDPR vets, but the thing I'm surprised by the most is the time-as-a-resource mechanic and how essential it feels to the whole experience. I always liked the idea on paper but felt hesitant about being bound by it in the main mission, but it never feels cumbersome and adds a sense of urgency that makes the world feel more alive and reactive.

Even in the short time I've played both games, it's easy to see The Witcher 3's influence everywhere in The Blood of Dawnwalker, from its grimdark setting and branching narrative to its fast, fluid swordplay and deep RPG systems. Dawnwalker isn't seeing the universal acclaim of The Witcher 3, but there's a chance its standing among RPG fandom improves as players have more time to dig into its world, not to mention the "saga" of sequels Rebel Wolves is planning.

If you're just starting out, here are the best Prologue quests to do before Mass in The Blood of Dawnwalker.

More than a year after Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 helped make French game studio Sandfall Interactive an international superstar, France's president Emmanuel Macron has announced a new international gaming festival.

The festival does not yet have an official date, scope, or location, but Macron nonetheless revealed his plan for France during September 7's Lumiere Summit, which intends to unite purveyors of "the moving-image," per its website.

"Because video games are part of our culture, we are creating an international video game festival," Macron writes in a Twitter post accompanying a clip of his Lumiere Summit speech, translated by GamesRadar+. He also shares his desire to bring video games into the larger world of exceptional French art.

So, Macron's goal for his video game festival would be to publicize and popularize French video game development. He references "huge, global successes in French video games" that France needs to spend a lot more time paying attention to.

It almost sounds like Macron wants to create another version of Gamescom, the Germany-based conference that brings international industry leaders together in Europe. France already has a smaller-scale version of this in its Paris Games Week, but Macron is yet to say how the two differ.

Anyway, Sandfall Interactive has managed to place the limelight on the French development scene, and now its home country is keeping the momentum. At this point, Clair Obscur is a landmark game after sweeping awards ceremonies and becoming a genuine industry darling. But France's future of gaming could be even more exciting.

In December 2025, Macron congratulated the makers of Expedition 33 for the second time, calling the RPG a historic French title.

This proposed international festival could be an opportunity for French developers to proceed with more Clair Obscur-type ambition. For all we know, the next Clair Obscur could already be out there – it only needs a place to reach you.

Pokemon with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's combat sounds like a bonkers idea, but one fan's now given us a taste test.

The decision to delay The Elder Scrolls 6 to make room for Starfield and, somewhat distantly, Fallout 76 came as a surprise to many at Bethesda, according to former Skyrim co-lead Kurt Kuhlmann.

Chatting with FRVR, Kuhlmann recalls the comfortable rhythm that Bethesda had established in its production: Fallout, then Elder Scrolls, then back to Fallout. Switching series and genres like this gave the team a welcome change of pace, Kulhmann says, so after the release of Fallout 4, "we all expected" The Elder Scrolls 6 would be next.

Instead, Fallout 76, which was not "supposed to involve our whole studio," became a much bigger project that extended the latest Fallout phase of the cycle. But more impactfully, Starfield happened.

"What we were supposed to be working on next – it wasn't ever that we were about to suddenly work on TES 6, even though that's what I think most people wanted," Kulhmanns says. "And then Todd [Howard] was like: 'No, we're doing Starfield. I got that approved. It's going to be a new IP. It's going to be this ambitious [game]. It's going to be the greatest space RPG ever made.'"

Kuhlmann reckons Fallout 4's success gave Howard the leeway to successfully pitch an offbeat game like Starfield to the higher ups at Bethesda and Zenimax (just don't ask how Fallout 76, another experiment, launched). "I would've much rather have been making TES 6 instead of 76 and Starfield, personally," he reiterates, "and I think that would probably be true for the majority of the studio."

But Starfield did indeed happen, and it took many years to come together. In 2023, Howard said "I thought we would find the answers faster" after it took seven years just for Starfield to reach a state that it could be called fun to play.

"It wasn't like Starfield was this big internal like, 'Hey, we all want to make this space game, Todd,'" Kuhlmann says. "It was very much, 'Guess what, team? We're making this space game.'"

Today, eight years since its announcement, The Elder Scrolls 6 still doesn't have a release date or window. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly pushing Bethesda for faster releases, and said just last month that a "live playthrough" of The Elder Scrolls 6 showed "incredible" scale.

As part of its big Fallout 5 and The Elder Scrolls 6 information drop, Bethesda said Starfield has reached 17 million players. Those players can also look forward to Year 3 of post-launch support, with Bethesda eying more Starborn content, gameplay improvements, and additional story quests.

The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel could be the title of Bethesda's next RPG according to a solid fan theory that dates back to a Starfield teaser.

My fellow magical practitioners are hounded by Witch Hunters in 1666 Amsterdam, the target of brutal, puritanical raids. But forget about that, I'm Noa – a witch, hunter. With a calendar year to track down my own demonic targets – the Originals – using magic powers only active during a full moon, it's up to me to cleanse the supernatural forces they introduce to the world like I'm pruning a rose bush. Pruning it by unleashing broomstick combos, that is.

But, before I can go Henry Hoover on the corrupted humans who have signed immortal pacts with these evil spirits, I have to track them down. Given only a name and a rough area in which they inhabit – conveniently the same few blocks of Amsterdam streets and canals that make up the first two main missions available in Early Access – I have no idea where the, say, Inquisitive Crane actually is. With almost every building – home, shop, university, or prison – accessible to explore, though, those few blocks can be deliciously daunting to master. This might come from Assassin's Creed's creator, but 1666 Amsterdam's density is closer to classic Hitman, shrugging off handholding and letting me loose to find clues or be jailed trying.

Witching hour

While I can tap a button to cloak myself in red robes, the witchy look will only arouse suspicion and draw guards, meaning I spend much of my time in a less conspicuous black dress and white bonnet. The most daring I get is holding down a button to have her do a slightly faster walk. Only when chased by guards do I whip out the broom to coast down the canals and lose my pursuers.

If I'm caught where I'm not supposed to be or act unusual in front of crowds, a suspicion meter will quickly rise. In search of leads towards my quarry, a note I've found suggesting they take up residence in a block of houses next to the university, I saunter into a back alley, quickly opening a window to peek inside and backing off as that meter begins to climb.

What doesn't arouse suspicion at an open window? A cat enjoying a sunny day. Noa's familiar, Aaron – a cat named Aaron who is inhabited by the spirit of a befuddled historian from 1999 for reasons I won't explain – can be directly controlled with the press of another button, able to observe surroundings, nab a single item at a time and, crucially, leap great heights and slip through small gaps. Stray and Murdered: Soul Suspect have both put me in control of cats before, but here the freedom to go feline mode to be as sneaky and nosy as I desire across a neighborhood is a snooping dream come true.

Aaron can manoeuvre around to unlock latched doors from the inside, allowing Noa deeper access to a building so long as she's not spotted long enough for it to become besieged by guards. Instead of risking it, I prowl around inside until I come across a servant unnerved by Aaron's presence. These targets, afraid of cats rather than willing to pursue my mewling (which can be a solid distraction on its own), can be attacked and scratched by Aaron, the rending of their flesh allowing his spirit to seep inside them as he curls up on their shoulder, fully possessing them to succumb to Noa's will.

In the case of this servant, that means I can wander around as a platform for Aaron to continue to unlock interior doors, before eventually I use their own key to open up the front door, approach Noa, and – arm in arm – escort her inside, protecting her from falling under suspicion from any guards patrolling the house.

Tactically, I body-hop my way into sequestered rooms to rifle through the house's bookshelves and tables for anything I can use. It instantly reminds me of the spirit-jumping in Omikron: The Nomad Soul, but with the freedom to do so at almost any time. It turns out I have the wrong house, but this diversion allows me to stock up on materials used to craft potions and even complete a recipe for one that will allow me to move undisturbed through restricted areas for vital seconds – handy when I can't find a body to possess and escort me through some zones.

Deeper in, I even uncover a hidden coffer planted by my witch coven to assist me with an upgrade, rewarding me with a much appreciated health increase. Using a roguelike-style pick-three system, there's both flexibility and randomness to how Noa's build progresses (and, if you don't lock them in, can be re-rolled on death).

One allows me to hide in bushes, another to suck guards into confined space and trap them. Another, I think, will allow me to take to the sky to enter houses from on high, at least given the tantalizingly human-sized windows on some buildings, but I'm yet to see it. Before I learn more magic words as Clio – the present day scholar interpreting text left by her ancestors Noa and Aaron (yes this narrative is delightfully odd and layered) – the exact skills these coffers offer (say that a few times fast) aren't always clear until you try them out.

Nomad soul

But, I don't need a lot of witchy upgrades to be happy. It's possession that has me hooked, and all the possibilities it brings. From using a cat to break in and pilot bodies out, to finding, say, a scholar on the streets who can then bring me into the university's laboratories, or even a scoundrel character with lockpicks who I can command to break into buildings on my behalf. Even some guards can be ordered to use their big truncheon to knock out their co-workers.

Reading notices on billboards or listening to gossip at inns will only get you so far – the details you need to acquire to reveal your target and the demon within them will always require you to access restricted areas, and Noa is fragile enough where going in spells blazing isn't an option. I love it when a game gives me the tools to be sneaky in unusual ways. Until Agent 47 learns magic so he can go Omikron mode himself, 1666 Amsterdam is the best I'll get.

Having put about ten hours into 1666 Amsterdam, exploring its first map across two main missions which encompass three targets (with some more linear 1999-set missions between), I've only explored a fraction of the streets surrounding Noa's safe haven. A chunk of that revolved around possessing a baker from the shop on the corner just to get Noa unchecked access to their horde of ingredients in their storeroom.

Sure, 1666 Amsterdam is rough around the edges for its early access launch, and light on tutorializing a bunch of the skills Noa can use to infiltrate forbidden areas. And I definitely chafe against the use of AI in the game's production, which has been walked back to a degree (as much as you can walk something like that back).

But, it's all a testament to how delightfully weird and creative 1666 Amsterdam feels as I possess my way through this dense world in the hopes of finding my own leads. It's like one of those random PC games someone would recommend to you on a forum years ago and you'd become engrossed for hours despite never hearing anyone else talk about it or really understanding how it works. That's a special kind of magic.

We might not have 1666 recommendations for what to play next, but we do have a best stealth games ranking as well as games like Assassin's Creed guide that should help out!

Gorr the God Butcher is officially coming to Marvel Rivals, and although we have the announcement, the wind was taken out of its sails thanks to a flub by the PlayStation Store. Key art for Season 10 managed to slip onto Sony's platform a little earlier than expected, giving us a tease of what was coming before today's unveiling

Players browsing the store noticed some changed imagery yesterday, September 7. Among various new releases, you could see the Marvel-based hero shooter being advertised with the incoming tenth season, and a particularly gruesome looking character standing tall to boot.

No proper details were meant to be available, making this a clear mistake. Marvel has since released the trailer for the multiplayer skirmish's next season, featuring voice-over from Gorr, who fits the subtitle of 'Butcher's Blasphemy' extremely well – the season set to begin on September 11.

If his gnarly sword and the fact he's holding another incapacitated enemy in his other hand didn't give it away, he's a generally bad dude. One of the worst, in fact, and he's a contemporary enemy of Thor, since Gorr tends to like his gods butchered rather than alive.

You might not think you know him, but you do if you follow the MCU at all – Christian Bale portrays the character in Thor: Love and Thunder. If you've watched that movie, you may remember his goal is complete deicide – the death of all gods. I mean, it's in the name, but he gets pretty close thanks to his symbiotic relationship with his blade, the Necrosword, a weapon capable of actually hurting deities.

He's bad news, and his presence tends to be stressful for pretty anyone who stands in his way. Expect this season to be bloody.

Marvel Rivals hasn't managed to beat Overwatch's stats yet, but Disney boasts it's still "attracted 40 million players worldwide."

A gang of thugs surround me on a dirty street in 1940s Osaka Japan early into my time playing Stranger Than Heaven. I throw a jab into one and block their reply. I follow up with a pair of hooks, sending them to the ground before grappling with another.

The biggest one swings a blunt weapon my way, which I block with both arms, and I assess my options. For the first time RGG Studio has me feeling outmatched rather than an overpowered man of danger, and I'm in awe of Stranger Than Heaven's ability to make me feel that way through game design alone.

Eyes wide open

Hiroyuki Sakamoto, producer on Stranger Than Heaven, explains how the game's combat is very different from the Like a Dragon series. "Frankly speaking, with Yakuza titles, you could even play it with closed eyes sometimes if you just continue pressing buttons," he opines. "You could blindly defeat an enemy," he adds, and I tell him with a smile that I have indeed done just that, much to his amusement.

"But this time we wanted to make it more intuitive and more rough," he continues. It takes mere minutes with Stranger Than Heaven in a Gamescom 2026 preview session to understand what he means. The game's combat utilizes a left and right structure, with LB and LT (on an Xbox gamepad) controlling the left arm, while RB and RT handle the opposite side. Pressing B and LB or RB will perform a one-armed block, while pressing all three inputs uses both arms.

The result is a greater sense of rhythm during combat, which Sakamoto describes as "the feeling of being more involved in a fight," before assuring me I'll get used to it. He's right on the money, as I start leading with my left and relying more on my right side, displaying a sense of intuition I usually reserve for Time Crisis 2.

The preview session is split into three sections: 1915 Kokura (easy mode), 1929 Kure (normal) and 1943 Osaka (hard). Each section is a short stroll through a street before clashing with waiting enemies. Kokura serves up a small group who serve as welcome tutorial fodder, while Kure has a bit more of an edge. The gang here are smarter and attempt to form a circle around me but die trying, including a tall mini-boss.

Osaka is not quite so chill, presenting one knife-wielding foe who is eager to slice through my character. Rude as he is, he's also annoyingly strong, able to kill me faster than you can say "hey don't kill me!" – a command I can't help but blurt out during my first attempt. However, while I may not be the fastest, smartest, or strongest person who will play Stranger Than Heaven when it launches on January 15, 2027, I am resilient. I've overcome Lies of P, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and numerous FromSoftware games, and I'll be damned if some punk from an RGG title is going to keep me down.

Attempt two goes better, with well-timed blocks proving a veritable kryptonite to the blade-boasting bastard. That is until he switches up his stance, leaps at me with an almost comical speed and bodies me again. I realize now I've no choice but to sit up straight and lock in.

This time I use the blocks to close the gap between us, doling out hooks when gaps appear, before using both hands to grab my enemy and strike them with a vicious force, laying them down to the ground. They rise up, and fly at me like shit from a shovel, but I block with both arms and grab them again. Another blow sees them go down, and I have the scent of blood in my nostrils, which is fitting given the impressive display of gore Stranger Than Heaven delivers during the fight.

My opponent stands up one more time, bloodied and desperate. I can sense something brewing, some kind of last-gasp attempt to change the momentum, but I nip it in the bud with a left hook to the face. They're done, and so is my preview session, but my excitement to play more has only just begun. Stranger Than Heaven is not what I ever expected from RGG Studio, but the developer has once again impressed me with its innovation. Now I have to wait until January to see what the game has in store.

There's nothing strange about wanting to play more while you wait for Stranger Than Heaven, so take a look at our best Yakuza games or best ARPGs rankings!

SteelSeries is stepping into the Xbox controller market today by launching the new Aeon Pro, a very competitive and feature-rich multi-platform gamepad. It sports an onboard OLED display and menu system, very tactile microswitch back paddles and buttons, a charging dock, and a hot-swappable battery system, but its price is going to reserve it for the wealthiest of gamers.

At $259.99 / $229.99, it's by far the most expensive controller I've come across in my four years of reviewing them professionally. I have to admit, from a quick hands-on, it feels like an excellent gaming peripheral, but it's going to take some miracles during testing for me to recommend something like this at full price.

Fans of clicky microswitch buttons will be very happy with the Aeon Pro, since it has them all over, including its four back paddles. These aren't the exact same as the magnetic ones found on the DualSense Edge and Elite Series 2, but they're longer, metallic levers that actuate with a tactile click, so they feel very similar.

Uniquely to the recent controller market, the Aeon Pro has a removable battery in order to follow the same design philosophies as SteelSeries headsets and mice. By allowing for hot-swapping and supplying you with two batteries in the box, you can ensure that one always stays charged so that, in theory, you never run out of power.

There's a rather chunky charging stand for the Aeon Pro which might just be one of the stars of this very pricey show. Obviously, you can charge the controller on the stand, but there's also room to store and charge up the additional battery, and magnetically attach the swappable thumbstick tops - a favourite feature of mine.

Around the back, you can connect a PC and Xbox via separate USB-C ports, meaning you don't need to swap a USB dongle from the back of your console to the back of your PC if you're swapping platforms. The charging stand acts as your receiver, a bit like the Steam Controller and its puck.

Going back to them briefly, I am a real fan of the thumbstick tops being magnetically attached. Most of the time, these are plastic slots that need to be clicked into place at a specific angle, and there's always a slight fear of breakage when you attach or remove one from a controller. Magnetic ones make them easier to use, and a convenient charging stand will ensure you don't lose the spare ones.

Rather disappointingly for such a premium controller, the Aeon Pro uses Hall Effect thumbsticks - hardly a dealbreaker, but for something so expensive, I'd want top-of-the-line TMR sticks instead.

As well as the onboard menu system, which comes with a few prebuilt button profiles for different gaming genres, you can also access the SteelSeries GG software to fine-tune thumbstick deadzones and other elements of the pad.

Like I say, the Aeon Pro is a feature-rich controller with a lot of really impressive elements, but at $259, it's got a lot to prove. I look forward to testing it out properly and seeing if it's worth its weight in gold. What do you think?

If this seems a little pricey, I'd also recommend looking at the best TMR controllers, the best PC controllers, and the best PS5 controllers.

August's GamesRadar Replay winners feature a perfectly timed disaster in Call of Duty multiplayer, and an alligator in Red Dead Redemption 2 that took a look at physics and said 'nah'. Both win a $/£250 Amazon Voucher for capturing the moment, and it could be you next time!

Replay is all about you sending us your most impressive clips every month for the chance to win one of two $/£250 Amazon voucher prizes. It can be funny, amazing, weird - the only real rule is it's got to make people stop and say 'what?!'

The two prizes are split between one for the best clip overall from any game, and one for the best Theme of the Month clip, and that theme for September is "Speed". We share all the best clips on the site and across our socials channels - so if you want the world to see your achievements, accidents or discoveries, let us know! (You can have a credit to wherever you want, or stay anonymous.)

If you want a chance of winning the September prize then submit your clips via the big orange button below. You can send in anything from gameplay or a stream - a funny moment, an amazing clip, a weird bug, or just some good chat.

Remember, there are two $/£250 Amazon Vouchers to be won - one for the best video overall, and another for our speed Theme of the Month.

By submitting your clip, you agree to the Terms and Conditions.

If you need a helping hand, here's how to record gameplay on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch/Switch 2 to save your highlights

The August Winners!

This month's overall Replay winner is this beautifully timed Call of Duty killstreak accident during a pep talk.

We've rarely seen more perfect comedic timing and context is everything here as... well, you can see.

And for our August Theme, which was animals, this physics-defying alligator takes the prize. There so much to unpack here: the graceful flight, the escape, the fact it was all an elaborate distraction John never saw coming.

If you want to see what the Replay community has contributed already, then take a look below:

If there's one thing to know about me, it's that I can't resist a creature-collecting RPG. Despite that, the Dragon Quest Monsters spin-off series has somehow always managed to pass me by. But, with less than an hour played of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, I already know that I'm not going to let myself miss out for any longer come its December launch.

Dragon Quest games are never lacking in charm, and The Withered World is immediately full of it. Guided by a cute companion creature known as Fluffy, I'm quickly acquainted with the concept of befriending and battling with monsters and given a personality quiz to determine my first ally. Fluffy decides I'd be a perfect match for a Woebergine – the name speaks for itself. Not sure how I feel about that, to be honest, but it sure is cute, so I'll take it.

Befriend 'em all

After this, I make quick work of recruiting all the nearby monsters I can – I've completed too many Pokedexes in my career to waste time here. You can attempt to 'scout' a monster at any time during battle by using a 'show of force,' but as genre veterans will expect, it's more likely to work if you've weakened them first. I also find out the hard way that failing to scout a monster can leave you unable to try again in the same battle – you can't approach it like Pokemon where you can just toss as many Pokeballs as you like until one works – something I'm glad I discovered in the game's opening section rather than later on when a rarer, more desirable monster was on the line.

I say 'more desirable,' but right from the start, there are plenty of loveable creatures to encounter. I can't overstate how delighted I am to encounter a Fat Rat, who – you're not gonna believe this – is a rather rotund rodent. Very early on, I also run headfirst into a battle with a 'super strong enemy' – a Drakularge (shocker, a big dragon) – which immediately one-shots my entire team. Clearly, some things are meant to be returned to later.

With over 500 monsters to tame, you're not just limited to scouting new allies in battles to expand your collection, either. In a different section of my hands-on, I'm given free rein of The Withered World's synthesis system. A returning feature, synthesis allows you to merge two of your monsters together to form a new one, allowing you to pass on things like abilities in the process – think breeding for perfect IVs and Egg Moves in Pokemon.

Before synthesizing, you're shown what monster you're going to get, including whether or not they'll be a special monster. Some of the pairs and their outcomes make more sense than others – blending a Slime and Platypunk gives me a special Mottle Slime, for example, which half tracks, unlike my Skeleton and Platypup producing a Guaardvark – but I know the countless combinations here are going to have me constantly coming back for more to see what possibilities my monsters hold.

While it'd be difficult to form a real bond with anything in under an hour – especially with the knowledge that I'll be leaving it behind me in a room at Gamescom, never to be seen again – my main takeaway from my time with Dragon Quest: The Withered World is that I'm going to adore whatever my team of monsters ends up being. The punny names, the cute designs, the fact that your ragtag team follows you around as you explore the world – everything is designed to be as endearing as possible, and by god, it's working. I will do whatever it takes to raise my Cruelcumber to be a strong, reliable ally, and fight proudly by their side – whatever The Withered World's story has in store for me, well, that's just a bonus.

On your own quest to play more like this? Check out out best JRPGs ranking, or our games like Pokemon recommendations!

Jujutsu Zero codes award you with a variety of items to help you level up your fighting style - and you'll need to fight hard as you embark on any of the dangerous quests this fighting RPG has to offer.

This Roblox experience is also a gacha game, in a way, and you'll need to roll for attacks in special, limited-time banners. For this, you'll need Crystals, while Lumens unlock rewards in the standard banner. Both are commonly available by redeeming Jujutsu Zero codes, so take a look at the list below.

For more general rewards you can use across all experiences, check out our up-to-date list of all the Roblox promo codes you can redeem now.

All Jujutsu Zero codes

These are the Jujutsu Zero codes you can redeem right now:

• 210KLIKES - 3,500x Lumens, 300x Crystals, 35x Clan Rolls
• INFINITEVOID - 1,000x Crystals, 5,000x Lumens, 50x Clan Rolls
• 200KLIKES - 500x Cursed Crystals, 3,500x Lumens, 50x Clan Rolls

As you can see, there are loads of Lumens and Crystals up for grabs with these Jujutsu Zero codes, letting you save up to roll multiple times in both the standard and Disaster banners.

How to redeem Jujutsu Zero codes

You must redeem Jujutsu Zero codes from the main menu, which is available when you launch the game. If you want to return to the main menu from the experience, hit the Menu button in the top left-hand corner, then select Return Menu, the bottom left option. This takes you back to the main menu, where you can select the Codes button, enter your code into the box, and hit Redeem to claim your rewards.

Jujutsu Zero codes aren't case-sensitive, so you don't have to worry about that, but you still need to make sure you spell the codes correctly, so I'd still recommend copying and pasting from the list above.

Expired Jujutsu Zero codes

• CODE_LIMITED_EVENT!! - 500x Cursed Crystals, 6x Shadow Essence
• TradingUP - 3,000x Lumens, 500x Cursed Crystals
• AURA - 4,000x Lumens, 35x Clan Rolls

There are already a few expired Jujutsu Zero codes, and I have no doubt that those that are currently valid will expire soon, so be sure to redeem them before I have to move them down here.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Playground Games has seemingly shut down rumors that Forza Horizon 6's PS5 release has been delayed by reiterating that it's a 2026 release.

Last month rumors emerged that Forza Horizon 6's PS5 release had been quietly pushed to 2027, with The Verge reporter Tom Warren saying he's not expecting to see it release in 2026, and there was a bit of fire alongside the smoke as it was corroborated by IGN. Given we're rapidly approaching the end of the year and the AAA games industry is practically abandoning November thanks to GTA 6, the lack of announcement is questionable, but Playground Games has seemingly addressed these rumors.

The Forza website was updated with a blog post about the latest update, focusing on British Automotive, which introduces the likes of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed and 2006 Vauxhall Astra VXR to the game. Plus, there's a new Drift Attack challenge added to the game with this update.

However, right at the bottom of the lengthy blog post, Playground acknowledged the PS5 version, saying, "If you’re planning your trip to Discover Japan on PlayStation 5, stay tuned! Forza Horizon 6 will be releasing on PS5 later this year," while sending players to the Wishlist page on PlayStation.

While not a concrete release date or much of a clue as to what the release plans actually are, this seems to be Playground acknowledging the rumor mill. Granted, I don't think this means a delay to 2027 isn't possible, as we've seen plenty of times that games can be delayed close to the finish line. However, with how crowded September and October are, and the monolith of GTA 6, it's probably best not to expect to see Forza Horizon 6 on PS5 until December.

Forza Horizon 6 has its own community villain in the form of a driver who's griefing everyone across Japan

After backlash over the controversial Stellar Blade: Blood Rain AI music video, Shift Up's chief technology officer says the studio has been taking concerns "seriously," and now wants to "make a clear separation" between what it considers "experimental content" and its main "game-related content."

Following the Stellar Blade sequel's reveal during Summer Game Fest, an official AI-generated music video starring new protagonist Evie was released and met with immediate vitriol. Shift Up wasn't attempting to hide anything – fine print at the end of the video stated: "This video was created using the Game resource from Stellar Blade: Blood Rain and regenerated with AI support."

But honesty wasn't the concern here. People have many reasons to dislike AI, from its general laziness to the environmental concerns that persist regardless of whether someone is feeding their own work into the machine (it's a whole other issue if it's reproducing the work of others). In a new interview with The Gamer, Stellar Blade technical director and Shift Up CTO DongKi Lee has explained why the video was made in the first place and the studio's thoughts on using the technology moving forward.

"The reason we revealed that music video was to show more of the beauty of Stellar Blade: Blood Rain," the dev says. "We wanted to show the world view and the character Evie. We just wanted to show a little more of each, and we did that as part of the content.

"But then we do take seriously and importantly what the fans have been saying, and the concerns they have been expressing about the music video, and from now on we definitely want to make a clear separation between the two, like game-related content and what we would call experimental content, like what we are experimenting with," he continues.

Shift Up CEO Kim Hyung Tae previously responded to the backlash over the music video himself, although perhaps not in the way Stellar Blade fans were hoping for. At the time, he stated that "Evie, the character at the heart of this video, was created from head to toe by our talented artists and modelers through more than a year of dedicated work," and that "the AI is not creating her from scratch," but rather "rendering and presenting the character based on the data, designs, and craftsmanship our team created."

The thing is, as folks pointed out at the time, this was never really the worry. In fact, one of the main sentiments of the initial kickback from the video was the idea that using AI to regurgitate Evie's design was an insult to the studio's human artists, and that the company had the talent available to create something like this without turning to the slop machine.

The CTO's latest comments do, at least, seem a little more open to the negative feedback, but anyone hoping for the studio to drop the technology like it's a burning turd might still be disappointed.

"AI has a lot of influence and impact on game development," he continues, adding: "But when we are using certain technologies or tools, what's important is the direction and purpose they serve. It needs to be used in a way that supports the developers' creativity, know-how, and skills.

"It should be used as a tool. That's the direction, and its purpose would be to make a great, high-quality game."

This sentiment shouldn't be too surprising, however. The Shift Up CEO previously expressed his belief that AI is a necessary tool for South Korean studios to compete with larger studios in the US and China, so the Stellar Blade creators are clearly in favor of using the tech when it can.

Fueled by the sequel, Stellar Blade diehard begins multi-year quest to kill the final boss every day until Blood Rain and Evie finally arrive.

The Veil codes can help you to expand your character options as you attempt to endure the mysterious and foreboding labyrinth that stretches ahead of you. Hordes of monsters stand in your way, along with any other players that choose chaos and take a PvP approach to their adventures instead of working together.

The promos you can claim provide free Race Rerolls, which are used to roll the RNG dice in the character creator to give you different base stats to build on, as well as cosmetic items to wear in this roleplaying Roblox experience. If you're ready to brave the labyrinth, then these are the codes for The Veil and how to redeem them.

If you'd prefer some more general promos that can be applied to all of your experiences, we've got the most recent Roblox promo codes covered.

All The Veil codes

The following The Veil codes can now be claimed:

• SORRY4SHUTDOWN – 3x Race Rerolls new!
• VERITYBOMB – 3x Race Rerolls
• RELEASE – 6x Race Rerolls, Party Hat

As you can see from the first couple of codes for The Veil, Race Rerolls are the main reward you'll receive, though this offering may expand as the experience develops. The launch promo also gets you a Party Hat to wear to celebrate the game's release as you explore the labyrinth.

How to redeem The Veil codes

To redeem The Veil codes, you first need to join the BlackstarDW Studios community group, which you should do from the Roblox menu before you jump in as I couldn't see a way to join from within the experience. Complete the initial tutorial to learn the controls, then hit the three vertical dots icon at the top of the screen before scrolling down to select the glowing Shop option.

Within the Shop menu, either scroll to the bottom or hit the Codes option on the left to jump straight to it, then use the Redeem codes here! text box to enter a promo and redeem it. Codes for The Veil are case-sensitive so type them carefully, and there is no obvious visual indication that a promo has been successfully redeemed – though you'll see any physical items awarded appear in your inventory at the bottom of the screen.

Expired The Veil codes

• No expired codes

At the moment there are no expired The Veil codes, as they haven't been part of this experience for long. It's unlikely the launch promos will stick around, so make sure you claim the active promos as soon as possible.

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These Mech Arena codes help with the most important part of the game - your Mechs. Whether it's cosmetic skins or powerful weapon upgrades, you want to make sure your Mechs are looking and acting the part, and for that you need Credits, A-Coins, and Crates.

Luckily, that's exactly what you'll get by redeeming the latest Mech Arena codes, which I've listed below. Just remember that you can't redeem too many codes in one day, so you'll have to keep checking back to claim them all.

All Mech Arena codes

These are the current Mech Arena codes available right now:

• IMBACKBABY - 1x Prodigy Crate, 200x A-Coins, 1x Rank 3 Blockthorn
• SPOOKYSHOT - 5x Epic Skins
• MIDRUSHGAME - 100k Credits, 1x Gold Crate, 1x Amateur Crate, 1x Prodigy Crate

As you can see from the list above, there are a variety of rewards available with these Mech Arena codes, but mostly you'll be looking at a combination of A-Coins and Credits.

How to redeem Mech Arena codes

To redeem Mech Arena codes, you must have first completed the tutorial. Then you can hit the Inbox button at the top of the screen, indicated by an envelope icon, then the Promo Codes button in the bottom right of the inbox page. Here, enter a code as it appears above and hit Confirm.

Expired Mecha Arena codes

• 2GTLOADOUT - 200x A-Coins, 50k Credits, 5x Fortune Keys, 1k Implant Parts, 500x Basic Mod Parts
• ENERGIZED - 1x Bouncecritter 8
• HAPPY17PLARIUM - 170x A-Coins, 17k Credits, 17x Crates
• GRASSHOPPER - 1x Rank 3 Mech Lacewing, 200x A-Coins, 100k Credits, 1x Prodigy Crate

Mech Arena has been going for some time now, so there have been lots of expired codes to date, including those listed above. Since codes can expire quite quickly, I'll be moving them down to this list as soon as they do to save you time redeeming invalid codes.

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The Arbiter Armor in The Blood of Dawnwalker is pretty clearly the best armor in the game, unlocked as part of the quest "A Bulwark Against Darkness". To craft the Arbiter Armor, you'll need to find four rare ingredients scattered around the map, then find a blacksmith to assemble them, finishing up with a ritual in which you have to kill a bear for some unclear reason. It's definitely worth the effort though, as this is undoubtedly the best armor available, so if you want to complete A Bulwark Against Darkness and get the Arbiter Armor, here's where to go and the locations of all the components.

Want an offense to match your defense? Check out how to complete The Blood of Dawnwalker Forge It Anew quest and how to get the legendary Sword of St. Mihai.

A Bulwark Against Darkness quest walkthrough for The Blood of Dawnwalker

You'll get the quest A Bulwark Against Darkness in The Blood of Dawnwalker when you're suddenly given a Smuggler's Letter with the components needed to create the Arbiter Armor. There's a few ways that this can happen, but one is to reach Infamy Level 4 and speak to Anca at the Crossroads Inn. She'll tell you that a letter was sent, but this is only one way for it to happen. You can also simply be given the note by a smuggler while exploring Svartrau!

Either way, once you read it, it'll outline the four components needed to create the Arbiter Armor, as well as explaining that you'll need to find a Blacksmith who can combine them.

Where to find all the Components for Arbiter Armor in The Blood of Dawnwalker

There are four ingredients, or components, needed to make the Arbiter Armor in The Blood of Dawnwalker. Some of them can be found in multiple locations, others appear to be unique. Below we've laid out the best places to get them, and will go into greater details for each one further down.

1. Bundle of Silk Threads. Found inside a cavern with a Murohn boss during the "Come Hither" quest.
2. Relic of a Saint. You can get two Relics - the Saint's Tibia and the Relic of St. Tyna - during Anca's quest "Echoes of the Silenced Bells" at St. Tyna's Monastery.
3. Flask of Quicksilver. At the top of Aurelius' tower is a ritual room, inside of which you can find a Flask resting on a desk.
4. Moult of a Large Lizard. On the border of Briar Sloughs and Maragir Wealds is an unmarked cave full of Tatselwurms, and the moult is at the back.

We've also marked the location of the Uriashi Blacksmith, so you can have an NPC who can piece all this stuff together. Keep in mind that before you go about this quest, it might be worth investing in The Blood of Dawnwalker armor proficiency perks, as otherwise the Arbiter Armor may be a bit underwhelming.

Bundle of Silk Threads

There are two Bundles of Silk Threads in Vale Sangora, both found at different The Blood of Dawnwalker Sanzhana locations. One of the fairies, in the "Pearly and Precious" quest, will sell you the threads for 6,000 Denarius, but if you go to the "Come Hither" quest, you'll be tasked to kill a Murohn boss in a cave. In that same arena, resting on a rock, is a bundle of Silk Threads you can grab for free, with no consequences.

Relic of a Saint

There are multiple viable relics you can use for the Arbiter Armor throughout the game, but if you went through Anca's questline at St. Tyna's and did the choice about if you should throw the notes in the fire in The Blood of Dawnwalker, you might already have two of them. The Saint's Tibia is found on a body beside the building that the soldiers are hiding in (as shown above), and you can also use the Relic of St. Tyna that the soldiers ask you to get, though obviously you probably don't want to consume an amulet with an actual function.

If you missed your chance there, you can also find another relic with Lacra in her quest "The Night of Horrors," and purchase relics from Vicho in Svartrau.

Flask of Quicksilver

There's only one flask we know of right now, found at the top of Aurelius' tower in the south of the map. If you've been pursuing the Rebel's questline, you'll eventually be sent here and have to complete The Blood of Dawnwalker Home Sweet Home quest. After doing this, in the topmost room of the tower, to the left of the hanging golem, you can find a flask of quicksilver on the table.

Moult of a Large Lizard

Like with the Flask, there appears to only be one viable item to serve this function that we know of so far. If you head to the area marked East of the Briar Sloughs bog, you can find an unmarked cave with multiple Tatselwurms inside. Kill them, and you can use Focus mode to find an abandoned moult at the back.

How to craft the Arbiter Armor in The Blood of Dawnwalker

After finding all four components, you need to find the Uriashi Blacksmith at the Northwest location marked above. If you've already done the quest for the best weapon in The Blood of Dawnwalker, you'll have already met her.

Either way, come back with all four pieces and she'll begin a ritual wherein you have to kill some spirit wolves and a bear boss fight (at this point in the game you should comfortably know how to handle both). When it's done, the Blacksmith will give you the Arbiter Armor set, divided into the following:

• Enhanced Armor of the Arbiter (Chest)
• Enhanced Shin Guards of the Arbiter (Legs)
• Enhanced Bracers of the Arbiter (Arms)
• Enhanced Boots of the Arbiter (Feet)

This armor is that from the game's cover and promotional artwork, and it's certainly very good for both day and night builds. It offers a wide array of buffs for both human and vampire selves, and is pretty clearly meant to be the game's best armor, with the flavor text practically admitting as such. Make sure you regularly upgrade it so it keeps pace with your own level!

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As an asymmetrical multiplayer game, there's a lot to think about when diving into Halloween The Game, not least which side to play on. Playing as Michael pits you against a team of four players all on your own, while playing as a civilian leaves you vulnerable to a deadly killer - and the relative skill of your teammates.

With that in mind, I've collated the main tips I wish I'd known when I first started playing Halloween The Game to help you get a head start no matter which team you play for.

Tips for playing Halloween the Game as a civilian

As survivor, your basic goal is to escape with your life, and if you can take some other Haddonfield residents with you, all the better. However, you can also try to take Michael down, and it's even possible to detain him, so ending you're after, here are my top tips for playing as a civilian.

1. Utilize Residents to do things for you

Alongside the four-man civilian team, there are a few NPC residents dotted around Haddonfield - and even more when the police start to arrive. Don't underestimate these NPCs as they are incredibly useful to you. By triggering and completing a conversation with them, you can ask them to call the police, follow you, or head to an exit if there's one available.

The latter will only increase your points at the end of the game. However, getting NPCs to call the police gets them to arrive much faster, and also helps if you're playing a civilian with a low personality trait, including those who rank highest on my Halloween the Game civilian tier list. You can also hand them weapons, and they'll fight back against Michael if it comes to it.

The best option, though, is to get them to follow you, as they will do all of this off their own back. They're rummage through storage, pick up weapons, and call the police. Just beware that the more people you have with you, the more detectable you'll be to Michael.

2. Call for backup from police and Loomis

As I've mentioned above, calling the police is useful, and you, your teammates, and NPCs call all do so from the many phones found around Haddonfield. You need to pass skill checks while you're own the phone, and the better you do, the more convincing your call will be, but the more calls placed means more police presence - and, eventually, a new exit option.

However, help also comes in the form of Sam Loomis, a character as iconic as Michael and Laurie. Like Tommy from Friday the 13th, if you ever played it, Loomis is a player character, enabling one killed player to return to the game. To call Loomis, keep an eye on the top of the screen for the 'Reinforcements in...' countdown to appear. Once it reaches zero, it will say 'Reinforcements Available', and the message 'CB Radio Activated' also briefly appears on-screen. Now you must find a CB radio somewhere on the map - it'll be highlighted once you're near - from which you can call Loomis. The first player to have died will return immediately unless no one has died at this point. In this case, the first player to die from then will respawn as Loomis. Players who escaped successfully do not respawn.

One more thing, be sure to pay attention to your map as a civilian. If you do respawn as Loomis, your map markers will reset, but you do spawn in with a gun and 12 bullets, so that's something.

Explore the whole map to reveal locations

Rather than staying where you spawned and meticulously searching every nook and cranny for items, it's best to try and quickly explore as much of the map as possible, as finding important locations, including all of the Halloween the Game escape methods like the car and hatches, will then cause them to show on your map. This way, when you do find the items you need to open the various exits, you'll know where to go. This is much better than getting your hopes up when you find a gas can, only to never find the car. Of course you should still have a bit of a look around as you go, but don't waste too much time opening every drawer.

But do look for a weapon early

While I've said don't take too much time to look around at first, you should keep your eye out for a weapon as soon as possible. If (and when) Michael does find you, you can try and wiggle free once you know how to complete the skill check, but you're guaranteed an extra chance at life if you're carrying a small weapon like a pocket or butterfly knife. You can use it when grabbed by Michael to briefly stun him. They also only take up on small inventory slot.

Meanwhile, larger weapons like guns and axes take up their own slot, and can be used to fight back before Michael even grabs you. You can even down him with enough hits - but he won't stay down for long. Down him enough times with enough manpower to support you, and you can detain him for good. Well, until the next time he breaks out.

Tips for playing Halloween the Game as Michael

As Michael, your main goal of course is to kill everyone, which includes three 'special targets', five NPC residents, and the four player civilians. There are the policemen that are called to the scene, as well as Sam Loomis, if he's called in, but you don't have to kill them. Interestingly, though, and fairly faithful to Halloween lore, once you've killed the 12 main victims, Michael can escape. So, if you're picking up the mantle of the infamous fictional killer, here are my top tips.

1. Play single-player

One of the greatest advantages you have as a Michael player is the single-player mode where you can home your skills against NPCs while completing various chapters based on the franchise's iconic movies.

Here, you'll learn how to kill, how to use your skills, how Michael moves, and most other factors about the character that you can take into the multiplayer mode.

2. Use your skills well

Naturally, Michael's powerful skills each have a cooldown, so you should get used to using them at the right time. For example, you might want to save his something ability for when you find a resident or are near police, as knocking out nearby lights will prevent you from being seen. Similarly, the something ability, which allows you to briefly reveal the location of civilians, wears off fast, so pair this with the something skill to get sneak up on players and NPCs quickly and efficiently. Remember, they'll be warned when they've been detected, so they'll move out of the area hastily.

3. Don't waste time on one civilian

Speaking of civilians moving hastily, don't ever waste your time chasing one who's running away from you well. You can dedicate a bit of time to chasing them, but if it's clear they're giving you the run around, it's worth moving on. All the time you're chasing them, someone else is likely already opening another exit, so trigger that something skill and move out of the area, keeping the pressure up on the entire map instead of one localized zone.

4. Concentrate on kill skill checks and don't look for special kills

When you have a victim in your grasp, you can find special environmental kills around you that trigger a unique kill animation. However, to do so, you'll have to be able to carry the writhing character to the marked destination.

Trust me, I know it's tempting to try and find as many cool kills as you can, and you're more free to do so when killing an NPC, but if you've a player character at your mercy, concentrate on killing them as soon as possible with regular skill checks or a held weapon. Carried civilians are given skill checks when you have a hold of them, and they can wiggle free quickly if you give them the chance - so don't.

With all of this in mind, you should have a slightly easier time getting to grips with Halloween the Game, allowing you to just enjoy the carnage and the recognizable locations a bit more.

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As a civilian, knowing all the ways to escape in Halloween the Game is the only way you're going to stand a chance to get away from Haddonfield before Michael Myers gets his hands on you.

There are a few different Halloween the Game exits, and you need to find different elements to open them, so knowing which exits require which items and tools and how to find them is necessary to getting out alive.

All Halloween the Game escapes

There are four main ways to escape Haddonfield on any of the Halloween the Game maps. They are:

• Cellar hatches
• The Sedan
• Gate exit
• Police escort

The easiest of these is the cellar hatch, as even the most difficult can be opened with the fewest items, followed by the powered gate. Getting away in the car, meanwhile, requires a few more things to come together in your favor, but is certainly possible, especially if you're working as a team. Finally, there's the police exit, which is simple in itself, but doesn't activate until later in the game. Here's each of them explained in more detail:

Cellar hatch escape

This is the easiest way to escape and, if you're lucky, you can even make it happen quite quickly. There are usually a couple of different hatches on each map, and they each have various requirements. While they're all locked, one might be covered with leaves while another can be blocked with wood you need to cut through. If you're really lucky, you may find a hatch that's only locked with no other requirements, and this is obviously the quickest and easiest escape of all.

What's even better is that you can open the padlock with either a key or boltcutters, so the odds are really in your favor, as long as you can find the hatch itself.

Sedan car escape

To get out alive in the sedan car, you need to find a total of four things: the sedan key, a gas can, a repair kit, and the car itself, which is a big ask. As I've mentioned in my Halloween The Game tips guide, it's best to check out as much of the map as possible as quickly as possible, and the main reason for this is the car. At least once you've found it, if you are lucky enough to find all three of the other items, you'll know where to head with them.

Gate escape

On the outskirts of the town, you're able to find a powered gate, which lets you out once you have two things: a bolt cutter or exit key and a fuse. This was one of the hardest escapes due to the rarity of fuses, but they seem to be more common now. There is also a chance you'll need a hatchet to destroy boards blocking the gate, making this exit slightly more troublesome.

Police escape

There are a couple of ways to escape via the police, but the main one is to make enough successful calls to the cops that a police wagon turns up. Once on the map, you can simply head into the back of the van for a safe exit. This requires an additional phone call to the police once the full three-star alert level has been reached.

The other method can be done much sooner but isn't as easy. You can escape in any of the police cars that appear throughout the match, but you'll need a police person's car key to do so, which can be found on a dead cop's corpse. Eek.

Something that plays heavily into getting out alive is which character you choose to play, so take a look at my Halloween civilian tier list if you want to pick the best.

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Data mining is a tricky thing for game developers. They can't really avoid it, and its occurrence is very much a compliment to their game, but what's uncovered is often devoid of context and can give players the wrong ideas about creative decisions. Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson learned the hard way that trying to mislead dataminers wasn't the answer, even if it is fun.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Wilson went long on his experience dealing with such activities while making the original action-RPG at Grinding Gear Games. He opens by pointing to his grey stubble, because his current hair color is a by-product of handling datamining for a number of years.

In a section of the video, he discusses ways devs can prevent or minimize what miners can uncover. You can implement automated processes to scrub anything that isn't strictly necessary to the player experience, and always aim for what's included to be relevant only to the immediate game, rather than teasing cut assets or future updates.

"Some developers, including me in a past life, have added in decoy assets, so players don't know what to believe." he says. "But that's a pretty wasteful process. Very good for trolling, though."

I imagine so. You're taking time out of making the game to do up fake versions of your actual to-do list. That's a hard case when it comes to efficiency or time well-spent. But, I can also imagine seeing a wry joke travel through the community is satisfying too, especially if there are a couple of personalities who've caused problems for you in the past due to them spreading information they uncovered in the game's code.

He points to encryption as a possible hurdle for data mining too, but notes it only works to protect games pre-release. Once they're out, everything in them needs to be decrypted for players to run whatever project they're buying. I'm reminded of the saying: make something idiot proof, someone will invent a better idiot.

You can mitigate this kind of fanfare, but full prevention seems truly difficult, and that goes triple for super popular series like Diablo. Ultimately, your best asset is hoping the community takes anything discovered with a grain of salt - and if you manage to slip in the occasional punchline, all the better.

Path of Exile co-creator "would have scoffed at something like Baldur's Gate 3" 10 years ago, but now he knows why live service isn't necessarily "the future"