The best Oris 8.6 build in MW4 is usually based around versatile mid-combat use, allowing you to quick-scope and drop opponents either in multiplayer or in DMZ. If you bought the deluxe edition of Modern Warfare 4 you'll have access to the Volt Edge blueprint for this powerful marksman rifle, and if you build it up further it can raise to the level of one of the best MW4 guns. Below I'll take you through all the best Oris builds so you can create a strong loadout, both for general sniping and for quick-scoping power.

Oris 8.6 quickscope build

• Muzzle: ZLR Cold Echo
• Barrel: EXP Crosstac 22
• Laser: Schlager Visiv-5
• Bolt: Lightfire-5 Quick Bolt
• Stock: No stock

If you're a slightly insufferable player who wants to treat a sniper rifle like it's a sidearm, this is the build for you. Based around ADS draw speed, fire rate, and control, this is a quick-scope build that allows you to run around the battlefield and rapidly pull the Oris out in a flash to land a quick headshot. Mouse and keyboard players in particular will really be able to point and click their way to strong killstreaks.

Everything here is all about matching that quickscope power. The balance is increasing ADS and damage as much as possible - you want to hit the target quickly, and guarantee the best chance of a one hit KO, which you should be able to do with any shot to the upper body.

Oris 8.6 mid-range build

• Muzzle: EXP Undertow Gen.2
• Barrel: EXP Crosstac 22
• Laser: XRK Clutch-LS
• Optic: Cronen R808
• Rear Grip: Bruen R7-TC Grip

This Oris 8.6 mid-range build requires you to have maxed the gun's level out (the Undertow Muzzle is the last thing you'll unlock), but it's worth it. This is a build made for as many situations and playstyles as possible, with the Cronen scope offering a 4x Magnification. You'll generally be using it for mid-range sniping as a result, but it can work very well as a quick-scoper in a pinch, with attachments like the XRK laser boosting ADS speed for such events (and they will happen before long).

Of the two builds, this is definitely the one better suited to the DMZ, setting up on rooftops or at a safe distance and picking off NPCs where you can, or taking down enemy operators before they're able to get closer.

Looking for more weapon builds? Check out the best options for the MW4 Vel 46 build, the MW4 M4 build, and the MW4 Han 86 build.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

PATCH NOTES 2.11.2026 – GTA 6 is launching this month, and Edge Magazine's exclusive special unearthed loads of fresh dirt on it. Jason and Lucia's player-defined relationship is the most earth-shattering revelation of all to me, and it's making me look at GTA 6 a whole other way. Namely, as an RPG.

What's happening with GTA 6 this week?

• Edge Magazine's GTA 6 exclusive has given us plenty of fresh insights about the game's characters and open world.
• GTA 6's Jason and Lucia can be allies instead of lovers, and players can break them up if desired.
• Rockstar says that the game was also inspired by a Skyrim-like sense of discovery and that "You can go anywhere, [to] any random location".

Why is this happening now?

• Grand Theft Auto has always been considered an action sandbox with fixed narrative elements.
• As GTA 6 doubles down on player agency, it's pushing the franchise further into RPG territory.

Meta Shift

• Jason and Lucia's relationship is the biggest clue as to how RPG-like GTA 6 will be.

The biggest thing I learned from Edge's GTA 6 special is that Jason and Lucia don't need to be a couple. Despite all the GTA 6 trailers and promotional imagery leaning so heavily into their Bonnie and Clyde dynamic, Rockstar lead Rob Nelson spilled to Edge that the two actually kick the game off as exes, "wanting to be together, and wanting to give this relationship of theirs another shot. But, as the game progresses, it's yours to keep or yours to lose."

This changes everything I knew about GTA 6, both in terms of what I was expecting of its protagonists and what their established relationship (or lack thereof) tells us about the game's genre. Giving players so much control over Jason and Lucia's relationship feels like it has the power to change the foundational context of the game. With the duo as a romantic couple, the stakes are higher – we all do stupid things for love, like robbing banks or something. As pals, this may as well be GTA 5 all over again.

It's a relinquishing of narrative control that I didn't expect to see from Rockstar, even with GTA 6 being the studio's biggest deviation from the franchise's core structure yet. Choice and consequence are two of the defining aspects of the best RPGs, even without character leveling or skill trees. We'd already seen a departure from more rigid, preordained narratives in GTA 5, which had three endings to choose from. But if Rockstar is giving us control over how much its heroes love, loathe, miss, or care about each other, it's sounded even more open-ended and changeable than ever. Not unlike, say, an RPG.

But what's in a name? Genre isn't everything, true enough. However, when it comes to GTA, it's important in charting the growth of the series. The move toward a player-divined world, from characters to how they approach the world and one another, feels like a paradigmatic shift for Rockstar, actively growing and reshaping our concept of what a GTA game feels and looks like. It's an evolution of GTA 4 and 5's choice-based endings, the studio's earliest flirtations with putting a greater emphasis on player choice.

With more lifestyle simulation elements being introduced atop a more nuanced relationship system in general (including video-gamified social media) Grand Theft Auto 6's more flexible parameters and RPG-lite mechanics finally make it sound like something more than a violent crime sim. Though, I guess it is kinda in the name…

Patch Notes summary

With GTA 6 almost here, Rockstar is shucking off the shackles of genre puritanism to make it the most sophisticated, RPG-like entry in the whole series. Jason and Lucia's relationship will be player-determined, making their dynamic just as much yours to establish as the open world will be yours to explore. The countdown to GTA 6 for the month of November is now truly underway, yet somehow, all this just proves there's always more to learn about one of the biggest games of the decade.

GTA 6 is just one of many upcoming PS5 games, but it's probably the biggest on the list....

F-Stop – the canceled Valve project that was the original Portal follow-up – has leaked online and is fully playable after being found in the massive Steam leak earlier this year.

Back in August 12TB of Steam data from 2003 and 2013 dropped online which featured a ton of builds of Valve titles like Portal 2, Left 4 Dead, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive. This data was apparently "hidden in plain sight, but with no protection whatsoever," and was easily accessible without hacking the whole time, proving to be a treasure trove for Valve fanatics, with early Portal 2 builds featuring bullet time being uncovered. And unless Half Life 2: Episode 3 is found anytime soon, the true holy grail of this leak may have been found.

As reported by Kotaku, users in the Valve Cut Content project’s Discord have managed to find the game's source code and map data, meaning that F-Stop is fully playable. YouTube user ToothpasteVixen uploaded the intro to the game – featuring earlier narration from a JK Simmons-less Cave Johnson – which will give you a good idea of the concept for those unaware, but to put it simply, it almost feels like an earlier take on the 2019 puzzle game Superliminal where taking photos allows you to manipulate the environment.

F-Stop was one of five projects coming from what Gabe Newell described as "Directed Design Experiments," where Valve's production was shut down for a few months which would have the company's teams participate in what is effectively a massive game jam. F-Stop was one of the standout projects from it, with Newell asking the team behind it to develop it into a prequel to Portal.

Ultimately, as per Portal 2 - the Final Hours, the project was canceled after playtesters didn't react entirely positively – namely, questioning why a Portal follow-up did not include the Portal Gun – but now, 15 years after the actual Portal 2 was released and with no sequel in sight, you can play a sort of new Portal experience.

Backrooms director posts from Valve's office again, and Portal movie speculation is intensifying.

There was already considerable RPG pedigree at CD Projekt Red, but now it's gotten even stronger. Three lead devs from the company behind the Kingdom Come: Deliverance games were recently hired, making the available roster for Cyberpunk 2 and The Witcher 4 truly spectacular.

The first of the triumvirate of devs from Warhorse Studios actually made the jump over to Geralt of Rivia's domain back in November 2025, per LinkedIn. Karel Kolmann, a lead gameplay designer who worked on both Kingdom Come installments, is now at CD Projekt Red as a senior quest designer and has been for exactly one year.

Next to follow him was Zdeněk Glatz, a former lead level designer on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 who also contributed to the first game and helped sculpt the DLC. In May 2026, he stepped into the role of senior open-world designer within CD Projekt Red's machinations.

Lastly (for now), it's Zbyněk Zelinka, a lead technical designer at Warhorse who's now a senior gameplay designer for the home of Geralt and Cyberpunk 2077. He only joined properly in October, and he's got the least time at Warhorse of the three here, at seven years and ten months.

The other two are over eight years in their tenures for Henry of Skalitz. With so many years spent at one studio - a genuine rarity in the industry - I can very much imagine they were ready to try something different and expand their skillsets.

There's no telling right now what they've actually worked on, but since the remaster of The Witcher 3 has now shipped, and the Songs of the Past DLC is coming quite soon, it seems pretty likely at least one of them is working on The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2. Their expertise and talents will be an asset to whatever those teams are putting together; it's just a bummer we might be waiting a while still to see what they've all been up to.

Big RPGs like The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 have CD Projekt Red in a "dangerous place," warns BioWare veteran, with costs and sales expectations exploding

If you were hoping to do some invading and such in Dark Souls 2 or 3 over the weekend, you would've seen that those features are currently disabled. Servers have been shut down for both games, but fear not; it's a temporary measure to fix some issues on FromSoftware's end, though a return date hasn't been set.

Online features for both installments of the Dark Souls series suddenly went down on Friday, October 30, after a brief warning per FromSoftware. At the time, the only explanation was that an issue had been discovered, and no timeline was given for when they'd be back up.

Fast forward now to Monday, November 2, and there's been a small update. Servers on Dark Souls 2 and 3 "have been temporarily suspended for all platforms due to identified security vulnerabilities," reads the post. "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

It's clarified that this includes every platform, and it means the games can't be played in online mode whatsoever. Offline is still completely fine.

This might be frustrating for some Dark Souls 2 players in particular, because that game went offline during the week for what appeared to be routine maintenance. It only came back on October 28 before going down again.

That's an annoying coincidence if that's been your entry of choice for trolling others or helping weaker players out. Without an explanation it's hard to say what's actually going on, but hopefully there hasn't been any kind of actual cyber-attack and the devs are simply fixing up the existing patchwork to be more robust.

These games have been out for over a decade, they need to be kept up to date. Thankfully, Form is doing that, you might just need to head back to Firelink Shrine for a minute before getting to play them again.

New Sony patent proposes using AI to alter boss fights in real time, and now I'm having nightmares about a totally unpredictable Souls game

Final Fantasy 14 producer and director Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida knows one of Dawntrail's biggest issues at launch was the story's pacing, so the team is putting in the work to ensure that Evercold doesn't suffer the same fate.

Speaking to the media at Final Fantasy 14's Japanese leg of Fan Fest, Yoshida takes a question about what the team behind the MMO has learned from Dawntrail and how important it has been for Evercold's development.

"This time we are putting in serious consideration on the sense of tempo," Yoshida says, per a mod from the Final Fantasy 14 subreddit who was in attendance. "Back at Dawntrail we were being really careful in depicting new lands, new cultures, new encounters and this greatly slowed down the pacing on story progression. The fact that this did not align with players’ motivation of 'keep moving forward' shows shortcomings on my part as the director."

To remedy the pacing issues for Evercold, Yoshida says the team is moving some of the aforementioned focus to side quests, meaning you can enjoy that kind of thing if and when you want.

"This is actually connected to Final Fantasy 14's overall evolution, so we have to consider how precious players' time they have here," Yoshida adds. "After all, we will face the fact on how it's difficult for this to be relatable to players if the story doesn't progress at a brisk, fast-paced tempo, therefore we are placing a strong emphasis on this aspect this time."

I have been cautiously optimistic about Evercold since it was unveiled early this year, and this is another step in the right direction. While Dawntrail's story does eventually get good – doubly so in the post-expansion patches – it puts you in the position of having to defend it by telling your raid-brained pals to "stick with it, honestly," which is not an amazing place to be in games or other media like TV or film.

Dawntrail had other issues, sure, though Square Enix has shown enough consideration about that elsewhere. Of course, how this all works will remain to be seen. I've played Final Fantasy 14 for a long ol' time, and I've seen expansions launch with pacing issues – looking at you, Stormblood – that were remedied in later expansions. Hopefully Evercold sticks the landing in a way that hangs around for many expansions after.

Final Fantasy 14 theorists were right all along: Evercold's second job is the ranged Zephyr DPS that uses crossbows and a deadly pet bird.

GTA 5 lead Ned Luke has revealed that his version of the GTA 5 script for playing Michael De Santa was 3,500 pages alone.

In an episode of Luke's podcast, The Final Mission, with GTA 5 co-stars Rob Bogue (Steve) and Julian Gamble (Davey), the trio of actors discussed some of the secrecy surrounding the game. Bogue and Gamble recall shooting their scenes in the game out of order, with long breaks between filming. Bogue recalls having "no real sense [of] where we are in the story" during the process, with Gamble adding, "You're not seeing a whole script."

This then prompted Luke to retrieve his version of the script, which he had compiled over time, from the initial stages through the final recordings. Luke notes, "It's like 3,500 pages," while holding a massive stack of paper. Bogue asked why he kept them, quizzing if he knew it'd be a big deal, to which Luke responded, "Of course, because I was like a gamer guy, so I knew it was going to be big."

Luke also notes that the project was called "Paradise" in the scripts – with the game called "Rush" when he auditioned for it. He also says, "We didn't have a script, you know, it just came to us in pieces."

Meanwhile, Bogue adds that everyone's individual pages were watermarked to prevent leaks, while recounting a story in which the wind sent his script flying through the streets of New York, and he was only able to find three of the 25 pages. He recalls thinking, "Oh my god, that's it. I'm done."

And with 13 years between entries, and a ton of extra content packed into GTA 6, one can only imagine how long the scripts for the yet-unnamed actors playing Jason and Lucia will be.

Rockstar had to up its game for GTA 6 – because GTA 5's realism was already "showing its age" when it launched 13 years ago

As we enter GTA 6 territory, Fortnite's apparent answer to keeping players engaged is simple – break out the free stuff, stat. However, the shock is just how generous its latest offer is – but earning it is probably going to have a lot of players grinding for an entire month.

Fortnite's latest season, Treasure Hunters, kicked off yesterday, November 1, and as a shorter, month-long mini-season, it was always going to have its work out for it to compete for the spotlight when GTA 6 launches on November 19. Prior to its launch, I thought the plan here was its long-awaited One Piece collab, but as was highlighted shortly after the season went live, Epic Games had another trick up its sleeve.

Enter the Fortnite Pirate Shop Access tokens. Every time you open a chest this season to grab your regular loot – guns, healing items and the like – there's an extremely slim chance that you'll be greeted with a big, golden pop-up declaring, "You found Pirate Shop Access." This grants two special tokens – one for use during a window of time this year, and one in 2027 – which, when activated, allow you to claim almost everything in Fortnite's item shop for free for 14 consecutive days.

To be clear, that means you can log on for two weeks, and every single day, claim almost everything – that means skins, bundles, emotes… you name it – in the shop without spending a single V-Buck. And then, if that wasn't enough, you can return for a second two-week free period next year.

The way Fortnite's item shop works means that you won't be able to claim everything that's ever been added to the game with this, as cosmetics rotate in and out of the store each day. But, depending on how many items you already own and what's in the shop when you activate your tokens, players could genuinely net themselves hundreds, if not thousands of dollars' worth of cosmetics using this.

The only things users aren't allowed to claim for free are "real money offers" (items you can only buy with actual cash rather than V-Bucks) and Battle Pass levels; they can only grab "one free sidekick you do not already own." Owners also can't gift things to others for free, which, to be fair, makes sense since it could lead to a massive chunk of the player base clearing out the item shop for weeks on end if it was permitted.

And that part ties into the only major catch – the rarity. As you'd imagine, the Pirate Shop Access tokens are extremely hard to come by – Epic Games hasn't confirmed the actual odds, but a quick look on social media will show you players opening hundreds and thousands of chests without seeing that fateful pop-up. Given that we're only on day two of the season, we'll probably get a better idea of the stats as we go along, but it's safe to say that many are already fully committed to the grind – which, let's face it, is definitely what the devs were going for.

For anyone keen to try their luck, it seems like it might be easier to find Pirate Shop Access if you're playing with your friends. It's already been confirmed that if you're playing with others and someone else on your team opens one of the lucky chests, the reward will be granted to everyone in the squad (or duo or trio).

There are some other rare rewards this season which can be found in the same way – right now, you can also unlock a golden A$AP Rocky skin and pickaxe, a loading screen, vehicle, Jam Track, and more – but I think it's safe to say that the Pirate Shop Access is going to be the One Piece for most players this season.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney says new multiplayer games flop because everyone's "already formed solid human networks in Fortnite, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and Apex Legends."

Non-Milsim Content in MW4 is a new kind of warning label that players can find attached to multiplayer game modes like Possession, but what does it actually mean for something in COD to be Milsim Content or not? If your familiarity with Call of Duty games and military shooters is more casual, you might not be familiar with this term, but here's what you can expect when it comes up in MW4 multiplayer.

What does Non-Milsim Content in MW4 mean?

Non-Milsim Content in MW4 is a warning label on certain game modes in multiplayer, and what it basically means is that this particular game mode isn't going to be very realistic to military combat. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to you.

Milsim is a gaming term that's shorthand for "Military Simulation", a reference to Call of Duty's declared genre, as well as similar games in the industry like Battlefield. Obviously you can argue about how realistic they actually are, but in this case the label "Non Milsim Content" is tied to multiplayer modes that specifically aren't interested in anything like actual realism. For example, the limited time Halloween "Possession" mode allows you to leap into the bodies of enemies you kill and control them, which clearly isn't grounded in any sort of realism.

You can still bring your own guns into Possession, even if there's a risk of them being commandeered by the enemy. To make sure you're as deadly as possible in any mode, check out the best MW4 Vel 46 build, the best MW4 M4 build, and the ultimate MW4 Han 86 build, to pick some of the game's most popular weapons!

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

The Fortnite pirate shop token is currently the talk of the town, as it represents an incredible piece of plundered loot to tie in with the piracy-themed mini-season. If you're lucky enough to find this extremely rare token during Fortnite Treasure Hunters, then you'll be able to plunder the item shop by claiming almost everything available there for free during a two week period, making this one of the most valuable rewards ever! To bring you up to speed, I'll explain how to get a pirate shop token in Fortnite and how rare it actually is.

How to get a Fortnite pirate shop token

Currently, the only way to get a Fortnite pirate shop token is to keep opening chests in the game, as it is a random loot drop. It comes from standard chests, so you don't need to track down rare ones, and you'll know if you've found an item shop token as the chest will glow and shake for several seconds before exploding with a "YOU FOUND PIRATE SHOP ACCESS" message appearing across the screen.

If you're lucky enough to discover this you'll actually receive two items – PIRATE SHOP ACCESS (2026) and PIRATE SHOP ACCESS (2027). The first needs to be activated by December 15, 2026, while the second will become available next year, and once redeemed they allow you to claim anything sold for V-Bucks in the Fortnite Item Shop for free for 14 days. This excludes passes levels, gifting, and real money bundles, and you can only claim one free sidekick you don't own already, but otherwise you can absolutely stuff your locker with a huge amount of free cosmetics!

How rare is the pirate shop token in Fortnite?

Naturally for such a valuable reward, the Fortnite pirate shop token is incredibly rare and at the time of writing only one player has reportedly found it. You can increase your odds of discovering a token by playing with friends, as if one member of a duo, trio, or squad finds this elusive item then everyone else in the group will also receive it. Otherwise, all you can do is continue searching as many chests as possible and keeping everything crossed – good luck and happy hunting!

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Nagoshi Studio – the developer founded by Yakuza and Super Monkey Ball creator Toshihiro Nagoshi – has been shut down.

Following the release of series semi-reboot Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Lost Judgement, Nagoshi departed Sega after an over 30-year career at the company, founding Nagoshi Studio alongside Yakuza series director Daisuke Sato. The NetEase studio remained pretty quiet until The Game Awards in 2025 where its debut title Gang of Dragon was unveiled with a trailer starring Train to Busan and soon-to-be Physint star Ma Dong-seok.

Earlier this year, reports emerged that NetEase was pulling funding on the game after reportedly discovering it would need an extra 7 billion yen in funding, following the developer's YouTube channel and website being taken down, as well as Sato changing his Twitter bio to say ex-Nagoshi Studio, leaving the game and studio's future in doubt. Now, just over five years since Nagoshi left Sega, a notice posted in Japanese government gazette Kanpo (via Gematsu) confirms that Nagoshi Studio was dissolved on October 31.

NetEase has been pulling back on investments over the last year or two, with Worlds Untold – founded by Mass Effect writer Mac Walters – and Jar of Sparks – founded by former Halo lead Jerry Hooks – having their funding pulled. Meanwhile, Suda 51-founded Grasshopper Manufacture self-published its most recent title – Romeo Is a Dead Man – despite being owned by NetEase, with the studio splitting from the publisher to go independent just over a month ago.

Neither Nagoshi or the studio has been active on social media since the start of the year, so no official word has been made by the developer.

The closure of BioWare and cancellation of Mass Effect 5 that followed the EA buyout have understandably left countless longtime fans of the studio and RPG series distraught – so much so, in fact, some are expressing their disappointment physically.

You might already know about the Save Mass Effect petition, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures worldwide and a plethora of strong supporters – including from fellow developers. It's safe to say that many folks are quite passionate about it, seeing as the wait between the fourth Mass Effect and Universe, as the fifth was confirmed to be called, has been nearly a decade in the making so far.

So passionate, it seems, that they're taking to EA's offices with spray paint in hand. As one person over on Reddit spotted in Madrid, Spain, "#SaveMassEffect" graffiti is visible on the stone walls and ground surrounding EA.

Commenters see fans questioning whether this is the way to go about reviving the RPG, but it's actually not the only instance of people voicing (so to speak) their thoughts directly at the publisher's offices.

As a separate post on Twitter highlights, some fans are placing physical tombstones outside of EA in memory of BioWare – and other studios – reading "RIP." Underneath, you'll spot a Mass Effect quote: "It had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong."

It, admittedly, hits quite hard… and this example appears far more popular than the graffiti in Spain. As one comment reads, "Now this is good. We need more of this."

Will it catch the attention of EA, though? I suppose only time will tell. And, as it stands now, it doesn't seem too likely that another publisher or company could swoop in and buy BioWare in hopes of saving the Mass Effect team.

One former dev stated that "EA never actually sells anything" and we shouldn't expect a rekindling of Universe as "they just shut things down and sit on their licenses." I'm instantly reminded of American McGee's Alice, personally.

For the time being, I just hope that all affected devs are able to land on their feet. The fate of Mass Effect is certainly a sad one, but real people are struggling here as well amid all of the chaos – and that shouldn't be forgotten, either.

Mass Effect 5 studio reportedly toned down inclusivity with EA in mind "so as to not cause offense"

While Rockstar has teased the size of GTA 6's playable map a few times, the heads behind the next Grand Theft Auto outing also want you to know that it's not all hollow space. Anywhere you go, there's intentionality.

Speaking to Edge, Rockstar says GTA 6's map is nearly as large as the combined efforts of Grand Theft Auto 4, 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2. But it doesn't stop there. While you often see procedural generation to achieve sheer size, Rockstar leans on a human touch to ensure the map is dense with interest. Rockstar North co-studio lead Aaron Garbut says GTA 6 features "an order of magnitude more interiors" than what's come before.

"Every back alley is as densely detailed and interesting as the others," he says. "You can go anywhere, any random location, and so many people have thought about that location."

Such is the case; Garbut says he's still finding new things despite having explored the game for many years during its development.

Rockstar's ambition is the sort we've seen in the games industry for many years, as developers drum up excitement by teasing scale and interactivity we've never seen before. When marketing Skyrim, Bethesda boss Todd Howard famously said "that mountain is not just a backdrop; you can walk all the way to the top of that mountain."

He isn't the only one, of course – Randy Pitchford did something similar with Borderlands 4 just last year. Still, the sense that there's something more to what's in front of you than what's come before is something I still enjoy. It speaks to an ambition to reach a new level in a way I find almost nostalgic.

And there's plenty of that with GTA 6. Edge mentions that the homes of strangers you come across aren't merely blank. There's history on the walls, in the form of photographs, alongside the sort of clutter in living rooms and kitchens that gives off the vibe that someone lives here, making an entry into a house feel like trespassing.

On that, Garbut shares a story about walking into a home and finding pictures of the family pet, only to walk into the next room and find that very dog, and the consequences its owner is going to face for leaving them alone.

"The whole place was trashed," he says. "There was shit in the corner, smeared around a bit."

If that isn't art, what is?

"You can have your life in the game": GTA 6 promises to be an RPG like nothing the series has ever seen, but Rockstar says there's still a balance to strike.

The Overwatch universe is practically bursting with potential for interesting stories and cool action set pieces, perhaps ones featuring a giant talking gorilla of some kind. Game director Aaron Keller isn't ruling out the possibility of more PvE content in the future, but trying to make another full campaign is a bigger ask.

Once upon a time, Overwatch 2 was supposed to launch with an in-depth, story-driven, co-op campaign set in the Overwatch universe. Blizzard Entertainment planned to have players upgrade and modify their favorite heroes over the course of the story mode, which was promising to dramatically move the game's world forward in ways that animated shorts couldn't.

Overwatch 2's campaign was eventually canceled and replaced with shorter, simpler, infrequent PvE missions that were also discontinued before the hero shooter's resurgence earlier this year.

Asked about the possible return of story missions while speaking to the press, Aaron Keller said previously released PvE events drove a lot of interest that quickly died down. "When you look at the campaign that we ran, I think that while there was a lot of excitement there, and it did drive the story forward, it didn't really get played the way that we wanted it to." (Thanks, TheGamer.)

PvE missions typically require hefty development resources too, the director explained, which were maybe better spent on cinematics and other narrative formats that can move the story forward without soaking up considerable dev time.

Still, it's not completely over for fans. "I would never discount it," Keller said while speaking about the potential return of playable narrative missions. Smaller experiences that don't impact the main competitive game too much seem like they'll have a better chance, at least.

As for another full campaign - like the one Blizzard tried to make and then scrapped - Keller explained it would be too big an undertaking that would probably require a totally separate team to make "a whole new game."

The Overwatch universe has so many fun characters and cool lore tidbits, I'd happily settle for an animated series instead. Blizzard's president previously teased Warcraft and Overwatch adaptations, too.

Overwatch devs know removing Sombra's Hack ability will "upset" players, but insist the reworked support hero will "be better for the game"

GTA 6 doesn't have to be romantic if you don't choose to engage with it that way, and we can thank the best man in video games, Red Dead Redemption 2's Arthur Morgan, for that.

While Grand Theft Auto 6 follows the two central characters of Jason and Lucia, the game never really forces their relationship in directions that aren't steered by the player. Jason and Lucia can become romantically tangled if you choose or they can remain partners in crime. Or they can become a romantic couple and then break up entirely.

"We start them wanting to be together, and wanting to give this relationship of theirs another shot. But, as the game progresses, it's yours to keep or yours to lose," co-studio head and lead developer Rob Nelson explained while speaking to the latest issue of Edge Magazine.

A huge part of GTA 6 is also having these characters feel like they have interiority separate from the player themselves. "These games, maybe some people think 'oh, they're power fantasies'. Sure," Nelson said. "But what if these characters want something else?"

According to the developer, that question first popped up during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar Games' huge open worlds almost always throw excessive amounts of in-game money at the player, but the studio's Western sequel made players think a little harder about where they want to spend that cash.

"Do I go and spend it on myself, on cool outfits and horses and saddles? Or do I go and give it to my adopted family in the gang?" Nelson explained that the devs wanted people to feel Arthur Morgan's internal "selfishness versus selflessness" struggle wherever they were, even outside of cutscenes - Arthur Morgan can't escape himself, he's Arthur Morgan "all the time."

And that's eventually how Rockstar landed on the push and pull between GTA 6's central couple. You can nudge these characters closer together by holding hands and such, but ignore one too many late-night phone calls from your partner and things may go awry.

GTA 6 map size is so big it rivals GTA 4, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2's combined – and Rockstar devs are still discovering places they've never seen

With BioWare gone after more than three decades of genre-defining hits, all eyes are now on the loveable worlds and universes the developer created. But is there any hope for an outside company to buy or invest in either Dragon Age or Mass Effect?

BioWare veteran and long-time producer Mark Darrah was asked that question shortly before his former employer's tragic shutdown, in an interview with Eldorado.gg, and he essentially explained that Dragon Age probably isn't as valuable as Mass Effect because it shares too much in common with other popular fantasy franchises.

"I would say Mass Effect as an IP, without the people attached to it, is more valuable than Dragon Age," Darrah says. "With Mass Effect, you're getting the worldbuilding. It's not that there's not a ton of worldbuilding in Dragon Age, but the worldbuilding in Dragon Age versus the worldbuilding in any Lord of the Rings game, or a Baldur’s Gate game, or a Witcher game - they are similar enough that it would be tempting to just do it again, just make another one, just make another new fantasy."

Darrah explains that a potential buyer would have to consider how much the Dragon Age IP costs to acquire, and then how many additional sales the Dragon Age name would even attract. "So let's say Larian [developer of Baldur's Gate 3, Divinity] decided they were going to buy Dragon Age and make another game. The question they have to ask is, 'If we were to do that, is it going to sell enough more copies than us just making Wyvern Era, a Dragon Age game with the serial number filed off, call it a spiritual successor to Dragon Age?'"

For most companies, the numbers don't quite add up, Darrah says. The majority of companies would likely be better off making their Dragon Age-inspired games, instead. "Because I think that the IP certainly carries a fan base, carries a legacy, and it carries an existing audience," he adds. "But unless you're like [former lead writer] David Gaider or someone with a track record with the franchise, you're not going to get those people coming along to a new Dragon Age game for free."

Dragon Age could have had its Baldur's Gate 3 moment, former lead says, but BioWare chose "simpler" RPGs that were "more accessible"

Nearly 25 years on from its release, Mass Effect can feel like a forgotten relic. The game’s achievements as a character-driven space opera have been appropriated by its immediate successor, Mass Effect 2, leaving behind a reputation for clunky combat and awkward driving segments (see ‘Mako or break’). 2021's Legendary Edition remaster attempted to conceal its many blemishes while collecting the trilogy in one package – and in doing so, highlighted the gulf in quality between games one and two.

But the dented legacy of the 2007 original, first released as an Xbox 360 exclusive, doesn’t do it justice. Mass Effect remains a special game, with flaws that aren’t as obvious as you remember and a setting to match any that BioWare has created. Yes, the second game’s ensemble cast will always be the series standout, but Mass Effect built a believable galaxy for those characters to live in, home to trillions of inhabitants and dozens of races. Without that history, you wouldn’t understand the motivations of your Mass Effect 2 companions, or care about their collective fate. And in some ways Mass Effect betters the games that came after it – certainly, at least, with its hub world, the Citadel.

My favorite store on the Citadel!

Commander Shepard, your customised avatar, first arrives here to report the betrayal of Saren, a member of the elite force known as the Spectres, which operates above the law at the will of the intergalactic Council. The Citadel is a megaship positioned right at the heart of the galaxy, a five-armed monolith that is home to the Council and to 12 million people besides: the kind of location that would’ve been difficult to depict in any detail on screen in the mid2000s. BioWare didn’t try to build a giant city that looks believable, as Rockstar would with GTA 4’s open world a year later. Rather, it built a world that feels believable.

The twinkling urban sprawl you see when you look out of the curved windows lining the Citadel’s corridors is mere set dressing, not intended to truly fool you. None of the sections it is carved up into is especially large or bustling – but they are all distinct, in ways that leave room for you to imagine what might happen when you’re not around. The cavernous Presidium is a marvel of sterile grandeur, its simulated blue sky, trimmed trees and white fountains forming the kind of characterless utopia in which smiling ambassadors of each species would want to operate. In contrast, Flux, the nightclub down in the Wards, the “cultural heart of the galaxy”, flashes with neon lights and pulses with music while patrons mingle at tables or at the bar, and others try their luck on arcade machines upstairs.

BioWare deploys multiple tricks to make these spaces feel bigger than they actually are. Corridors have multiple nooks with no apparent purpose, or which are only used for a specific sidequest, while aliens tap away at banks of computers in side rooms, their purpose unknown. Walkways crisscross and overlap, and elevator rides – infamously – take an eternity, during which you listen to news reports about humanity’s efforts to colonise distant planets.

But the characters are what really sell the idea that both the Citadel and the galaxy beyond are bigger than what actually exists on your hard drive. The line of embassies and administrative offices you find in the Presidium are an excuse to meet a variety of alien races: the polite Elcor, who preface their words with a summary of what they’re about to say, and the diminutive Volus, who specialise in commerce and are bitter that they lack a seat at the Council. The way you learn about their cultures feels contrived (Shepard will say, straightfaced, “Tell me about Volus culture”), but the answers speak to a universe of varied environments, economies and political systems.

Your crewmate companions are in on it too. Enter Flux with Wrex, your Krogan companion, and he’ll comment how “places like this” always want to hire Krogan bouncers, “like we’re a status symbol for them”, which reveals something about both Citadel and Krogan life. When Garrus, a humanoid Turian, meets a gambler who has been kicked out of the club, his statement that if Doran, its Volus owner, “says you’re cheating, you’re cheating” suggests that he has visited countless times before. Walk past a Krogan statue, gleaming white in the Presidium, and Wrex will begin arguing with Garrus about the violent reputation of his species, and about the genophage, a biological weapon deployed by the Turians to wipe out the Krogan after a decades-long war – a topic that’s repeated in multiple quests and creates an underlying tension within your squad.

It’s a technique not dissimilar to the ‘iceberg theory’ of storytelling associated with the writer Ernest Hemingway, which holds that the sparse, surface elements of a story should hint at vast, deeper meaning below. Here, the technique is used for worldbuilding: the Citadel is the tip of the iceberg, a snapshot of the numerous alien races in the galaxy that speaks to a vast world beyond.

We have no beginning. We have no end. We are infinite.

It’s a philosophy that continues when you leave the Citadel and head for your next destination, using a vast map. The overarching plot – chasing Saren across the galaxy, with the fate of civilisation in your hands – feels like standard science-fiction fare, but it’s split into missions that provide self-contained stories about people and places, each one sketching in more detail about the universe you’re moving through. When trying to track down Saren on Feros, a colony world run by the ExoGeni Corporation, you learn about the exploitative relationship between people and business while helping settlers with shortages of food, water, and power. On Noveria, you discover – and decide the entire fate of – the Rachni, an insectoid species believed extinct.

This achievement dwarfs the actual roleplaying, which doesn’t stand up too well to modern examination. Mass Effect’s dialogue wheel promised to steer away from binary good and bad, but instead created a morality-by-menu that lets you swing wildly between space racist and compassionate empath. Some of the ‘renegade’ dialogue options are ridiculous, such as being able to punch a reporter on camera, out of nowhere, after she asks perfectly reasonable questions. The writing that underpins it is occasionally stiff, too. We don’t need to be told that “shooting people isn’t always the answer” after defusing a tense situation in the gentleman’s club Chora’s Den, for example, and some jokes, including an early one about how “size isn’t everything”, fall flat.

Perhaps the part of Mass Effect that has been most maligned over the years, though, is its combat. In truth, it’s perfectly passable, even 15 years on. Put side-by-side with Mass Effect 2, it’s admittedly clunky: weapons overheat quickly and sometimes don’t shoot straight; Shepard rarely sticks to cover; your abilities and ‘first aid’ heal recharge slowly, slowing the pace of fights. But once you accept these limitations, firefights turn into challenging puzzles where solutions can be invented in the moment, pausing combat to conduct your squad’s arsenal of explosive powers.

The best of these are biotics – explained away as a result of the titular energy fields, but in essence Mass Effect’s equivalent of the magic systems found in BioWare’s fantasy games, or the Force abilities offered by Knights Of The Old Republic. The two classes that can use biotics – Adept, a purist, or Vanguard, which sacrifices some biotic power for shotgun skills – are effectively space wizards, able to suck enemies into a swirling blue vortex or tug them out of cover and into the air, where they hang suspended as target practice for the rest of the squad.

The makeup of that squad is essential to making the most of Mass Effect’s combat. It’s telling that only one of the characters on offer, Ashley Williams, is a pure soldier, as if the game is trying to push you away from relying on guns, knowing how quickly it will get repetitive. Better to choose the pairing of Garrus and Wrex, who can combine biotics with tech explosions triggered by Garrus’s omni-tool, and dive into another of Mass Effect’s strengths: character customisation. This stretches beyond picking guns and powers, into weapon attachments and ammo types that can completely change the way you play. Level up Wrex’s biotic barrier skill, and he can be directed to rush in solo, tanking damage while tearing through shields with phasic ammo, before pausing to line up Garrus’ sniper Assassination skill.

This customisation is lost somewhat in Mass Effect 2’s streamlining of the design. It’s missed, but not as much as the Citadel, to which we can’t help but return after every main mission, just to see what’s different. The sequel’s version is a shrunken, more static hub, but here, on every visit, enough has changed to give the illusion that this is a dynamic, evolving place in which NPCs come and go. Side missions zigzag between the financial district and Chora’s Den, each unlocking new dialogue options with existing characters, or revealing a new secret about Citadel life.

Returning to the med clinic, where an early story mission takes place, you’ll find a doctor who’s being blackmailed by a Krogan in the Citadel’s markets. Scaring the Krogan off reveals a mystery about a “classified project” in a far-off system – a plotline which doesn’t resolve until Mass Effect 3. This should be how Mass Effect is remembered: not as a rough draft, but as a remarkable act of scene-setting, making promises for future games to fulfil and building a believable stage on which one of gaming’s greatest science-fiction series could play out.

This Mass Effect article was first published in issue 373 of Edge Magazine. To get more like this delivered straight to your doorstep (or digital device) consider subscribing to Edge.

Two minutes of footage from an unannounced turn-based RPG recently spilled online, and yep, it very much looks like a remake of the very first Persona game.

A YouTube account aptly called 'P1REMAKE' only yesterday posted a little under two minutes of footage from what appears to be a Persona 1 remake. As expected, eagle-eyed fans quickly spotted the clip and soon spread it across several other social media platforms, with the footage since appearing on Reddit and X.

Of course, you should take all leaks with an unhealthily huge handful of salt no matter how convincing they look - especially in the age of generative-AI videos and such. At the same time, there are quite a few good reasons to let yourself be a little hopeful for this remake.

For one, the two-minute clip is longer and more elaborate than gen-AI videos typically are. Several series fans have also pointed out the video shows Eriko summoning her Persona in combat, while using the exact same animation as Persona 4 Revival's version of bestie Yukiko. Revival doesn't actually launch until next year, which makes the pose quite suspicious.

Then there's the fact that this type of leak isn't exactly new territory for Atlus' popular role-playing franchise. In 2023, footage from what ended up being called Persona 3 Reload leaked online and showed very similarly rough, clearly in-development scenes from the game's dungeons.

One other curiosity is the inclusion of Tatsuya, the protagonist from Persona 2 Innocent Sin, who doesn't actually show up in the series' first game. Some folks are speculating that the video might have been created as an internal proof-of-concept pitch for Sega and Atlus management, so Tatsuya would serve as a placeholder model in that case.

A Persona 1 remake isn't entirely unlikely with or without this potential leak, either. Persona series producer Kazuhisa Wada recently said remakes of the first two games are "probably eventually" happening at some point in the future.

Persona 4 Revival's new character isn't a Social Link after all, Atlus clarifies, but something else entirely: "We apologize for the confusion"

Rockstar North boss Rob Nelson says the performance leap technology made between GTA 5 and GTA 6 meant there were some things devs just couldn't "get away with" as they used to.

Speaking to Edge, several senior figures at Rockstar delve into how the latest Grand Theft Auto game was finally made and why what worked in GTA 5 no longer held up. Much of it comes down to what you'll see in front of you, or more specifically, the graphical quality of it. Nelson tells Edge that running GTA 6 on GTA 5's timings made everything feel "too fast" for a world rendered at the level of fidelity the game pulls off, and that NPCs were equally tricky for a similar reason.

"As the resolution of the worlds goes up, I think there are things you can't get away with in the same way," he explains. "If you want a pedestrian population to behave believably, and you can stand in front of them and produce an automatic shotgun out of nowhere and they don't react, then that doesn't work.

"That barely held in GTA 5, where you could literally produce one of those weapons in front of somebody and they would not react unless you aimed it at them. Only then would they run. To me, that was already showing its age in GTA 5 at that level of resolution."

Of course, GTA 6 isn't just about evolving to make what's in front of you make sense from an appearance perspective. Rockstar's latest features plenty of new additions that build on what's come before, making for a fresh experience. All of that is down to Red Dead Redemption 2, like an NPC interaction system that allowed you to greet or antagonize NPCs, a system that GTA 6 itself builds upon. You can expect to see that and plenty more when GTA 6 launches on November 19.

South Park breaks the news that GTA 6 lets you throw dog poop, even gets a Grand Theft Auto icon to announce it.

GTA 6 is shaping up to be a monumental release, from the sheer scale of its world to how it's expected to be the biggest game launch of all time. But those sky-high expectations were something Rockstar Games developers were very aware of during production.

Speaking exclusively to Edge Magazine about the upcoming blockbuster, long-time art director and one of GTA 6's lead developers Aaron Garbut explained that the studio couldn't simply put out a game that met fan expectations. After over a decade of waiting and a reportedly hefty budget, Rockstar needed to go above and beyond.

"We can't just trot out something that's what people might expect, or that was the easy thing to do," Garbut says of the project. "We've not compromised on the scale, the detail, the interactivity, the story, the open-world."

To really drive the point home, Garbut used an equally excessive metaphor: "I feel like we've built a pyramid on Everest."

That's apparent from everything we've learned about GTA 6 thus far. The open-world game is almost the same size as many of Rockstar's previous games combined, but the true ambition lies in the crime epic's smaller details. Case in point: GTA 6 has a full on sweat system that makes Jason and Lucia perspire based on how hard they dance, there's about 600,000 unique animations, and Rockstar built an entire writing team dedicated solely to background NPCs. Essentially, it's a game so big that no one single person at Rockstar knows everything about GTA 6.

GTA 6 launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

18 years later, GTA 6 redeems Grand Theft Auto's most annoying meme by turning it into something useful

Skyblivion (the fan-made Oblivion remake that's being rebuilt inside of Skyrim) has been a long time coming, but we might need to wait a while longer for the conversion mod to see the light of day due to a new legal issue.

One of the ambitious project's lead modders, Rebelzize, today uploaded a video about the ongoing situation. "Recently, a former volunteer who contributed to Skyblivion's development departed the project. We want to be completely transparent with the community about what has happened since their departure," he explains in the description.

"After they left the project, we had several discussions regarding the continued use and maintenance of his work. The main disagreement centered on their objection to our decompilation of parts of their work — a necessary step our team took to maintain functionality and fix issues in systems already built into the project after access to the original source code repository was revoked," Rebelzize adds.

Rebelzize doesn't name the former modder in an effort to avoid creating an online "witch hunt," but they eventually sent the Skyblivion folks a series of legal threats demanding the real names and home addresses of several other volunteer team members - "something that we are simply not willing to share with somebody that we don't even know," Rebelzize says, calling the demands "disproportionate." The former modder is apparently looking to sue for damages worth upwards of €30,000.

"A 'take your ball and go home' approach like this fundamentally contradicts the collaborative, open spirit of the modding community that makes massive passion projects like this possible," Rebelzize continues. "To protect our volunteers from undue stress and ensure a clean break, in good faith we removed their code, rebuilding and improving the system from the ground up."

Despite removing their work from Skyblivion, the anonymous former volunteer has apparently "continued to intensify their threats." The Skyblivion team is now looking for help from anyone experienced in IP and GDPR law, pointing interested folks toward their official website.

Last year, it looked like a Skyblivion release date could be right around the corner. There's still no word on when we can expect the gorgeous fan-led revival, though.

The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel reveal reportedly coming soon, confirming a new Hammerfell setting as Bethesda shows off gameplay internally

After literal months of speculation and theories based on brief clues left in older trailers, Final Fantasy 14 purists have been proven right. The Evercold expansion's second new job is indeed a ranged physical DPS who uses quick-firing crossbows and a deadly pet bird in combat - and it's called Zephyr.

Announced at FF14 Fan Fest Japan, Zephyr is described as a take on a "pet job." But you're not carrying around any old bird. The Zephyr's avian familiar is called the Nephele, a winged predator who can coordinate attacks with you and provide support from above for the entire party. Good positioning is crucial for this one, it seems. You can see the Zephyr in action in the new trailer below.

Just like the incoming Bastion job, you'll only be able to play Zephyr using the new Evolved combat system that's aiming to streamline things a bit. The Zephyr's first job quest should pop up in Gridania with a starting level of 90 when patch 8.0 arrives.

Final Fantasy 14 Evercold also received a slight delay elsewhere during the FF14 Fan Fest. The MMO expansion is now planning to come out on February 23, 2027, though players who pre-order can enter the early access period starting on February 19, 2027. (Pre-orders open on November 4 with some extra goodies attached.)

We also got a peek at a ton of new areas coming with Evercold. There's the idyllic Sessrymnir, there's Skioblaonir which looks like a floating island of sorts, and then a montage teasing "More Locales From The Fourth." Needless to say, they're all gorgeous.

Final Fantasy 14's new typing minigame is already causing chaos as players struggle against bots and impossible words: "It just came out"

Final Fantasy 14: Evercold has received a short and swift four-week delay. Square Enix's MMORPG expansion was originally set to release in January of next year, but an update from Final Fantasy Fan Fest Japan has revealed that it's now due to come out during the packed month of February, 2027.

Final Fantasy 14 boss Naoki Yoshida - affectionately dubbed Yoshi-P by fans - revealed the news during FF14 Fan Fest Japan. Evercold's new release date is officially February 23, 2027 with an early access period beginning on February 19, 2027.

Of course, February is already packed with mammoth games - everything from Fable, God of War: Laufey, Persona 4 Revival, and Metro 2039 are seemingly taking shelter from GTA 6. Here's hoping you have a spare few dozen hours a week for all the incoming goodies.

Evercold pre-orders begin on November 4, which is funnily enough the official release date of Final Fantasy 14's biggest rival: World of Warcraft Forever. (I'm sure it's just coincidental.)

Pre-order bonuses include a Kottr minion that's part of the expansion's new, fluffy, feline race, as well as a pair of earrings and early access. You can check out all the different editions over on the official website - be warned, the Final Fantasy 13 mount might tempt you to put a dent in your wallet.

Evercold makes a ton of changes to the beloved, widely played online game. For one, a new Evolved system is promising to streamline ability hotbars and rejig the way jobs work. The game's also crossing over with the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series in a new Evercold raid.

Final Fantasy 14's new typing minigame is already causing chaos as players struggle against bots and impossible words: "It just came out"

I've already accepted that I'll never own Crimson Desert's fancy new pirate ship, added as part of the Charting the Unknown DLC. I accepted it the moment I found out it costs 6 million in camp funds, but other players are desperate to take the wheel of the game's biggest, most imposing ship, and that means turning to other players who are throwing down 6 million like it's nothing.

To be clear, Crimson Desert players can get the DLC's ships for a much more reasonable sum than 6 million. The small one is just 40,000, while the medium-sized option is 1.2 million. Me? I'm a much more casual Crimson Desert player and am happy to settle for the humble rowboat for just 2,000. Over on Reddit, though, players are reacting with equal parts shock and intense desire over Crimson Desert's most showboaty, uh, boat.

"I'm sorry 6 MILLION?!?!?!", reads the title of a Reddit thread from a Kliff aghast at the price. "Brooooooo, I'm not sailing any time soon," says the Redditor. Naturally, this being Reddit we're talking about, there are plenty of commenters pretending 6 million isn't a ridiculous amount of money, but there are plenty of other players asking for and receiving advice on how to make some dang bread in this game. I am not the Crimson Desert player to come to for advice on money, so I'll share some tips I found in the thread:

"Each church has a donation box you can donate camp funds to. You get a bonus to camp resources gathered depending on how much you donate, up to +200%. But know that each region has their own bonus," advises one Redditor. "So getting Hernand to max does not affect your income in Pailune or deminiss. Then there’s a string of side quests (I forget which so you’ll have to look that up) but at the end you get the golden beer and that doubles all camp resources collected in all regions. Plus other regions have better dispatch missions. Eventually you’ll be making 20k-30k+ camp funds for a single dispatch."

"I’m not sure this is the best way since I’m new…. But I’ve been stealing gold bars from these wealthy furries in Demeniss Wildlife Park," says another tip giver. "I spent about 25 minutes in that kinky zoo, and managed to gank 6 from them. I’m gonna try putting one of them bricks in the bank and see what that’s all about."

"Do the quest to lease the sawmill... I had like a grand total of 30k camp funds around the time I got it, set it up with some workers, set prices as high as I could without losing 'Favorable' status, then went and did some other stuff," says another money making fiend. "A couple hours later I had nearly 10 million in camp funds, I assume mostly from the sawmill, cause I don't think I did much else to directly increase it.

It seems the consensus is that the best way to earn passive income in Crimson Desert is with the new Facilities system, which was added in the new DLC, and doing Dispatch missions. One industrious player says they're earning a cool 1 million in camp funds every day from a single shop, which indeed would make the game's biggest ship a whole lot more affordable. Maybe I don't have to settle for the rowboat after all.

Crimson Desert reviewed worse with critics than players because critics didn't have enough time to play the game, suggests CEO at the company that gave critics less time.

The Blood of Dawnwalker, the debut title from Rebel Wolves, is one of the year's best releases, and my personal pick for GOTY 2026. While it's likely to be passed up by more critically acclaimed horror games like Resident Evil Requiem and, for the top award this year, GTA 6, I found it to be a delightfully old-school horror RPG with gothic vibes galore and a story worthy of multiple playthroughs. The secret sauce, according to the studio itself, is not to chase any current trends, but to make the game that you yourself want to play.

Korean publication Inven (via Otakukart) recently visited the Rebel Wolves headquarters in Warsaw, where studio leaders shared insights into their game development philosophy. Not unreasonably, the developers just want to make games they want to make without influence from the stock market or industry trends. Speaking on the studio's founding, a Rebel Wolves spokesperson described by Inven as "a marketing representative" said: "We wanted to create an environment where we could focus entirely on the project itself without being driven by stock market pressure or tight deadlines."

While Rebel Wolves does receive support from outside backers like minority stakeholder NetEase and The Blood of Dawnwalker publisher Bandai Namco, it's still an independent studio with full creative control over its games. With The Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz as co-founder and CEO and other ex-CDPR devs working at the studio, there are obvious Witcher influences in The Blood of Dawnwalker, but the game very much has its own identity that I'm looking forward to seeing expanded in the sequel. That's because, in the studio's words, "We are rebels. We don’t want to follow trends. We want to make games that we ourselves want to play and enjoy."

What exactly that looks like probably won't come into view for quite some time, but it's very possible it'll include The Blood of Dawnwalker's somewhat controversial time limit mechanic. I thought the timed quests were a genius way to add stakes and consequence to the game's missions, but understand the potential for FOMO some other players have experienced.

6 things I need from The Blood of Dawnwalker's sequel

Responding to fears that Marathon's future will dictate Destiny support, Bungie product head Josh Deane encourages players to support only the games they enjoy.

In a lengthy blog post sharing hopes for a "new forever Destiny" and "Destiny 'Legacy'" project, Deane noted that, "we will all tell you that nothing can help bridge us into [the] future more than for Marathon to rapidly evolve and become sustainable."

On the heels of some heady talk of business plans, milestones, and project progress bars, some readers interpreted this as a sign that the health of Destiny 2 hinges on the state of Marathon. While it's surely true that greater success for Marathon would put Bungie in a healthier spot as a business, Deane stresses, in a series of tweets, that "in no way is the Destiny plan contingent upon Marathon."

"I understand my intent is being mistranslated here and that’s on me," he says of his Marathon comments. "Play what inspires you, whatever it is. Mainly hoping we can accomplish our goals in both lanes with a stronger relationship with our entire community!"

"Just looking to serve players that love both/either worlds while we build the future," a separate reply adds. "But definitely not asking players to support x to get y, and not building the plan that way. Just personally believe that there is an empowering force for that future if there is shared encouragement, and respect, as a Bungie community!"

Two additional replies narrow the focus. "Don’t buy Marathon as a donation or offer anything else," Deane says. "It’s our job to show up for you."

"Only buy or play a thing that inspires you from us / you think is cool!" he reiterates. "We will find our way back home with Destiny."

Now-former Marathon game director Joe Ziegler, another in a string of high-profile departures, previously told us that Marathon was never meant to replace Destiny 2, nor did the two games necessarily have a lot of overlap in player appeal. In urgent efforts to bolt on a compelling PvE mode, Bungie's actively injecting a little bit more Destiny into Marathon today.

In September, Bungie acknowledged that Marathon "did not reach as many players as we had hoped." The game's active user base has collapsed since launch – down from a peak of 88,000 on Steam to a daily average in the range of 2,000 or 3,000. Some decline is expected for any live game post-launch, but Marathon is definitely struggling, and it has been for months with seasonal updates failing to rekindle the game.

The player response echoes a feedback loop also seen in Destiny 2 PvP: as lower-skill or casual players leave Marathon, lobbies become more grueling, queue times get longer, and getting into the game or making meaningful progress becomes more difficult with hardcore veterans pouncing on any fresh meat. Marathon's unflinchingly harsh design philosophy already turned some people away at the door, and this spiral only made things worse. But the game's problems, like offering compelling reasons to redo seasonal progression after mandatory wipes, run deeper.

Some people learned to love the pain, of course, as Andy does in our Marathon review. I also put 130 hours into the game in what now feels like a cough syrup fever dream. But after many costly years in development, Bungie's going to need more than a small group of sickos to keep Marathon alive. So even if the two games are decoupled, the future of Destiny and Marathon remains uncertain.

New Bungie leaders insist they are fixing the studio despite Destiny 2 layoffs, tell players to "keep us accountable"

Patrick Stewart was best known for his numerous roles across film and television, including franchise-defining parts of X-Men and Star Trek, but he also appeared in several video games over the years. His most notable video game role is certainly in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, where he played Emperor Uriel Septim VII, and he was apparently blown away by the detailed lore Bethesda had for his character.

In the wake of Stewart's death at the age of 86, fans have shared numerous memorable stories and anecdotes about the actor's life and career. One such story, which was spotlighted by Bluesky user shadowtodd, dates back to a documentary about the making of Oblivion, which was originally included on a bonus DVD in the game's original 2006 Collector's Edition.

In that documentary, a distressingly young-looking Todd Howard stands in front of a group of Bethesda developers and shows a photo of himself and his wife meeting Stewart. "Ken [Rolston, lead designer] had written a bunch of notes for Patrick Stewart on the character," Howard explained. "Very, very long. I thought it was embarrassingly long, actually."

It's important to remember here that, despite Stewart's stature, Uriel Septim's role in Oblivion is actually pretty small. (Spoilers, but he dies before the end of the tutorial area.) Nonetheless, extensive lore had already been built up around the character over the course of the previous three games, and despite Howard's misgivings it seems the team was keen for Stewart to see every detail.

"I had forwarded it all to Patrick," Howard said. "Patrick came in and said, 'I got the notes on the character.' I was sort of like [gestures nervously]. He's like, 'Never in my life doing any role have I gotten such detailed notes, and I loved it. I am really intrigued. This sounds really cool. You guys have given this a lot of thought. I can't wait to do it.'"

In another part of the documentary, which has been available in full on YouTube for years, we see the moment many of Bethesda's developers heard Stewart's lines for the first time. "He was selling the product like a reverend standing in front of his flock," Rolston noted, "which is exactly the tone I wanted."

Remember, ahead of Oblivion, Bethesda was only just beginning to emerge from years of making niche, fiddly PC games to develop something more mainstream. And even then, 'mainstream' was relative in those days – the documentary opens with Howard doing a bit of old-school handwringing about the perception that video games were still little more than kids' toys.

So you can understand why a room full of game developers raised on a steady diet of science fiction were so astounded hearing an actor as beloved as Patrick Stewart performing lines that they'd written. My favorite bit is when designer Mark Nelson reacts to the reading of "generals and kings have knelt at my command" from Stewart. "That's such a cheesy line that sounds good when he says it," Nelson remarked.

"There isn't another actor we could have picked who I'd be happier to write dialog for," Nelson explained. "Like, seriously, I geeked out over Star Trek for years. It was on while I was in college. Literally, all my friends [and] I would sit around and we'd watch Star Trek and drink beer and act like idiots. I don't have a picture of my wife in my wallet right now but I've got Patrick Stewart in my wallet."

To prove the point, Nelson pulled out his wallet and showed the weathered photo of Stewart he kept inside. "My wife will not be happy," he admitted.

Star Trek Online players gather to remember Patrick Stewart, with some hoping for a "permanent" tribute to Captain Picard from the MMO's devs: "You will be missed"

id Software co-founder John Romero says that his studio's axed Xbox title has a new publisher, with a smaller staff reworking the game's scope.

Romero Games announced that it was working on an "all-new FPS with an original, new IP" back in 2022. But in the summer of 2025, in the wake of what has become yearly layoffs at Xbox, the project was seemingly cancelled. It became clear after the announcement that the game's unannounced publisher had been Xbox, and Romero Games was put at risk of shutdown in the wake of more Microsoft cuts.

Now, over a year later, Romero has updated VGC on the studio's current standing. He says that the studio kept on staff "as long as we could, trying to find funding to finish the game." But eventually, the studio was forced to "do redundancy and then figure out what we're going to do with a super-small team."

The team of 110 people went down to five at one point, but Romero says that the FPS title has a new publisher, and that the studio has "brought 10 people back." The returning devs were "the leads of the different sub-teams that we had." The game is being redesigned in accordance with the smaller team.

"We don't need to be bigger than that, the game is scoped for a team that's that size and we're just super happy," Romero explains. As far as the original plans, he says, "We're not getting that game to the end. That game we can't get to the end, because it's a 110-person game. So this is a complete redesign of a totally different game, but it uses a lot of the work that we had in the previous games."

However, Romero notes "we've moved a bunch of stuff over to the new game, which got us a big head-start, starting with really great art, cool weapons, all that kind of stuff." As for the new publisher, Romero notes that he's unable to reveal what it is, but notes it's pretty hands off.

"The publisher we're with right now has zero creative goals for this game. They're like 'you make what you want, we're publishing it, we're not going to tell you what to make'. That's the perfect deal, you know?"

Doom creator John Romero praises the devs who carried on id Software's legacy as Microsoft reportedly lays off half of the studio: "The last few games showed real care, skill, and respect"

With these Deep Fishing codes, you can grab some extra bait to help you lure in more mythical and secret fish - as long as you've also got the right fishing rod and upgrades. You'll need to work your way up to those, but these promos can help with that, too.

In this Roblox fishing simulation, you must fish from the shallows with a basic rod to earn a few modest bucks before gradually moving through the ranks (or, rather, rods) to fish further and deeper. Cash is the only way to do this, but you'll earn more with rarer fish, which you can get with a little bit of bait (and luck), so get started with these Deep Fishing promos.

If you're after some more general avatar rewards to use in all of your experiences, then we've got the current Roblox promo codes covered too.

All Deep Fishing codes

These are the Deep Fishing codes you can redeem right now:

• HALLOWEEN - 5x Meadow Bait
• UPDATE11 - 3x Tide Bait, 1x Luck Potion
• SUNKENCROWN - 5x Meadow Bait
• BOATS - 5x Meadow Bait
• VOLCANO - 5x Meadow Bait
• UPDATE9 - 3x Tide Bait, 1x Luck Potion
• KEYS - 5x Meadow Bait
• KRAKEN - 5x Meadow Bait
• FROSTMERE - 5x Meadow Bait
• BIGFISH - 3x Meadow Bait
• MUTATIONS - 5x Meadow Bait
• SKINS - 3x Meadow Bait
• POND - 5x Meadow Bait
• GIFTING - 5x Meadow Bait
• THANKSFORPLAYING - $150, 1x Luck Potion
• FISHING - 5x Meadow Bait
• RELEASE - $50

Deep Fishing codes usually award you with bait, increasing your luck by a generous amount, but you can sometimes get such rewards as a boost in cash or even the odd luck potion. Make sure you check back here regularly for the latest promos.

How to redeem Deep Fishing codes

To redeem Deep Fishing codes, open the Shop from the button at the top of the screen, then scroll right to the bottom to find the codes redemption box. Enter a code from the list above, then click Redeem to claim your rewards.

Deep Fishing codes are not case-sensitive, so you only need to concentrate of getting the spelling right, but you can always copy and paste from above to be safe.

Expired Deep Fishing codes

• There are no expired Deep Fishing codes.

Since Deep Fishing has only recently launched, no promos have expired yet. However, I doubt it will be long before the codes above become invalid, so be sure redeem them while you still can.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

The Crimson Desert DLC allows you to get a pirate ship for yourself, a giant ship that you can use to explore and set up trade around the world. There are multiple types of ship that you can unlock along the way, and while most of these cost you money, Crimson Desert will set you up with a small ship as an (almost) free default – but that isn't your only option, and even then it's not easy to find that option. If you want to get the ship in the Charting the Unknown DLC, here's what you need to do.

For more about where to begin in this grand expansion, check out our guide on how to start the Crimson Desert DLC!

How do you get a ship in the Crimson Desert Charting the Unknown DLC?

To get a small ship in the Crimson Desert "Charting the Unknown" DLC expansion, as well as unlocking seafaring as a larger system, you need to take the following steps:

1. Make sure you've completed the Scattered Embers and Grounds of Sunrise quests (Hope From Ashes) associated with the Greymanes. These are part of the core game, but they appear to be mandatory to unlock the ship.
2. This should unlock a quest chain new for the DLC in Pailune city called Uncharting the Unknown (A Wider World) shown in the journal above, with the first mission being called "A Call from Beyond the Horizon".
3. Starting this quest will trigger conversation with your allies, followed by a task to go to Vellua port, marked on the Southern Coast.
4. Once you've arrived, inspect the port in the map to find a Dispatch Mission called "Small Shipbuilding."
5. This will cost your camp the following resources: 600 Stone, 600 Wood, 1,200 Food and 10,000 Silver. You'll also need to assign 5 Greymanes to it for 5 hours, and one must have the Engineering Skill.
6. Once complete, you will be given a ship, as well as a follow-up mission that teaches you how to use it called "Where the Wind Blows".

This is by no means the beginning and end of shipbuilding in Crimson Desert. From this point players will either be able to buy or construct larger ships, which will cost you increasingly large amounts of money and resources. You can either buy them from Fleet Offices, or through Dispatch Missions like the one where you bought your first ship.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

A Towerful of Mice is set during Keira Metz's storyline in Velen, and with a recommended level of six, is one of The Witcher 3's earliest ghost stories. Cobble together a haunted tower, frightened locals, and love persevering, and you're left with a traditional Gothic horror set in brackish Velen.

Our destination, Fyke Isle, is wreathed in fog. Sailing towards it, dark woods on either bank of a thin river, there are just two bright spots in the night – Geralt's bobbing white bun, and flashes of a pale drowner as it flits between the trees. I've completed A Towerful of Mice once before, but rather unhelpfully, the only part I remember is getting there via boat. Everything else is a mystery, but the basic premise is this: superstitious locals have asked sorceress-in-hiding Keira Metz to lift a curse from Fyke Isle. In turn, Keira asks Geralt for help – if only to keep the locals on-side while mage hunters scour the land.

Quest Log

Trick or treat

In the basement, ghostly peasants wonder why the room is packed with caged rats. Two flights of creaky stairs above, the nobleman's daughter pleads with her father to assist the locals. An unseen voice alerts them to the angry mob downstairs and their wispy shades disappear, but in the modern-day, a skeleton lies beneath a chair the nobleman was sitting in. By now, Fyke Isle's dread sits heavily: I'm jumping at every creaky floorboard and darting rat, and climbing up the tower feels as if I'm being drawn towards an unseen horror.

In that regard, A Towerful of Mice has more in common with classic ghost stories The Turn of the Screw and The Haunting of Hill House than The Witcher. It's a testament to how rapidly CD Projekt Red can knit and swaddle us into a story. The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077's quests thrust agonizing decisions upon players, but their consequences are only so monumental because we've been made to care so quickly.

Spoilers ahead

Like many of The Witcher 3's quests, A Towerful of Mice's violence hides heartbreak. In a hidden laboratory at the top of the tower, the ghost of the nobleman's daughter, Anabelle, reveals herself. Speaking to Geralt, she recalls taking a paralyzing potion – made to look like poison – to avoid dying at the mob's hands. The mob leaves, but when Anabelle awakens much later, she's still paralyzed – and being eaten alive by rats. She died thinking her lover, Graham, abandoned her (he was part of the mob, albeit trying to stop it), and suggests the curse will be lifted if Geralt brings her remains for Graham to bury.

The story adds up, but something smells rotten. And while I don't remember how A Towerful of Mice goes, 160 hours spent in The Witcher 3 is enough for me to trust my gut. I turn down Anabelle, who then asks if Geralt will instead bring Graham to seek her forgiveness. That seems fair – assuming Graham is willing – so I row back across the river and find him in a small fishing village. Still traumatized by that night, Graham is eager to help put Anabelle to rest and returns to Fyke Isle with Geralt.

Back in the tower's laboratory, Anabelle is revealed in her true form: a jawless Plague Maiden with sunken skin and a tendrilled tongue. To lift the curse, Graham has to prove he still loves Anabelle by kissing her. And while Geralt's professionalism has been a comfort throughout the quest, it doesn't help me when the cutscene's camera moves to follow Graham – moonlight shining on his neck makes it seem exposed in the darkness, and watching him draw closer to Anabelle feels like watching fingers inch towards a bear trap.

In a final Gothic flourish, true love wins out. Sort of. For a moment, Anabelle is a young woman again – then she's gone, and Graham is dead on the floor. The curse is lifted, quest complete, yet there's no celebration. Fyke Isle is still unbearably sad. But for an hour, it was real.

FromSoftware isn't having a great week. Right on the heels of delaying The Duskbloods out of 2026, it's now announced that the servers for Dark Souls 2 and 3 are temporarily going down on all platforms due to an "issue," and it's not going to tell you when they'll be back.

"Due to a server issue, the game servers for the following titles will be temporarily unavailable on all platforms," FromSoftware writes in a post on Twitter, listing Dark Souls 2 and 3.

"We will provide updates once we have information regarding the server restoration time," it adds. "We apologize for the inconvenience."

This was around eight hours ago – no update has been given since, and the lack of indication of how long it'd take in the place is concerning, to say the least. After all, Dark Souls fans have lived through months-long server outages before. Back in 2022, the PC servers for Dark Souls Remastered, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls 3 all went, well, dark for most part of the year following security concerns. They all came back online eventually, but it was pretty rough for anyone wanting to play them thanks to the co-op and invasion features being totally dead.

Hopefully this latest outage doesn't last as long, as there's also the added concern of it being across all platforms this time rather than just PC.

While FromSoftware offers no explanation as to what the server issue is, it notably comes around a week after numerous sites and online services were temporarily taken down in the wake of new PHP vulnerabilities being discovered. Whether that's played a role here isn't known – separate server maintenance for Dark Souls 2 only just came and went a couple of days ago.

Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki was always "fascinated" by the "weird" executives of other companies: "I use some of them as enemy characters in our games."

GTA 6 animals are going to represent the broadest zoological spread ever seen in a Rockstar game, with a diverse selection of over 170 different species represented. This includes more than 60 types of bird, over 30 land mammals, plus a variety of reptiles, fish, and much more. Whether you find them in the wildernesses of GTA 6 or an enclosure in Leonida's own zoo there will be plenty to discover, so here's what we know so far about the animals in GTA 6.

Visiting the zoo is one of many GTA 6 side activities available, but if you want a quiet trip then you'll need to lose your GTA 6 Wanted Level first.

GTA 6 animals list

Through a combination of trailers, screenshots, and previews there are already plenty of GTA 6 animals that we know about. These include:

• Alligator
• Bald Eagle
• Bear
• Cane toad
• Cat (domestic and feral)
• Cougar
• Cow
• Deer
• Dog (various breeds)
• Dolphin
• Duck
• Flamingo
• Frog
• Green iguana
• Jellyfish
• Manatee
• Manta ray
• Nine-banded armadillo
• Pelican
• Pigeon
• Raccoon
• Rat
• Rhesus macaque monkey
• Sea turtle
• Seagull
• Shark (various species)
• Snake
• Whale
• Whooping Crane

The variety of creatures includes both expected wildlife for each area and invasive species, reflecting the diversity seen in real-life Florida. Each will have accurate movement animations following significant research, and are going to look more realistic than ever before thanks to additions such as iridescence, bioluminescence, translucency, and even different types of feathers. Coats and pelts have also been upgraded, with new hair and fur systems offering color variations, appearance changes when wet, and dirt matting picked up from the environment.

As seen during the Extended Look, you'll be presented with a choice of interactions when you approach GTA 6 animals and they'll respond accordingly. When Jason encounters a dog in the apartment complex, he has the option to Praise it from a distance then either Scold or Pet the dog when up close. Importantly, there is also an option to Study the animal, which will then add it to your compendium in a similar way to Red Dead Redemption 2, and there are likely to be rewards for filling in your logbook with the creatures you investigate.

Rare, Discoverable, and Legendary animals

In addition to the general GTA 6 animal species that you'll encounter around Leonida, Rockstar have confirmed that there will also be plenty of unusual creatures that you can track, in a similar way to the Red Dead Redemption series. These will be divided into Rare, Discoverable, and Legendary categories, but beyond that they are staying tight-lipped on details for now as they want players to make surprising discoveries for themselves while they explore.

Get ready to turn up the volume on all of the confirmed songs from the GTA 6 soundtrack, and imagine cruising around these GTA 6 locations.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Looking at SMGs, the best VEL 46 loadout is tricky to figure out, as it’ll depend on your tastes and intended use. Players favour assault rifles and SMGs overall as the best guns in MW4, and they’re not wrong to do so. In close-quarter and mid-range engagements in particular there's a clear advantage to using fast firing Vel 46, so I've cooked three builds that adapt to different styles - a run and gun option as well as something for mid range and long range, as much as you can push an SMG at least.

VEL 46 run-and-gun build

• Muzzle: FSS Crackdown Heavy Silencer
• Laser: QFL-S4.5 Bright Hip Laser
• Underbarrel: V46 Vert-Tac Vertical Grip
• Magazine: 60-Round Drum
• Stock: Exp U-Turn Stock

You mainly want two things from a killer close-range SMG build, and that’s mobility, silence, and plenty of bullets per mag to burn through. This VEL 46 run-and-gun build takes care of all that.

First, put the FSS Crackdown Heavy Silencer on it for extra damage at range, accuracy, and help with staying silent while infiltrating enemy territory. Then, go with the QFL-S4.5 Bright Hip Laser for good accuracy while running around and without an optic attachment. Finally, the build comes together when you mix of the V46 Vert-Tac Vertical Grip, 60-Round Drum magazine, and Exp U-Turn Stock for mobility and extra hipfire recoil handling.

VEL 46 mid-range build

• Barrel: RV-B V2 Light Barrel
• Laser: XRK Clutch-LS Dim ADS Laser
• Stock: VEL 46 Extended Tactical Stock
• Optic: VLK Trimmer Reflex
• Rear Grip: LM Combat Grip

The best VEL 46 mid range loadout doesn’t magically turn the SMG into an assault rifle, but it’s a fantastic all-around performer that doesn’t sacrifice the high mobility the weapon class is known for. With the RV-B V2 Light Barrel and XRK Clutch-LS Dim ADS Laser, quick and snappy ADS aiming is preserved, as we’re not going with hipfire as our main target again.

When it comes to the optic slot, any x1 or x2 option works, but the VLK Trimmer Reflex is a good fit for SMGs that doesn’t take up much space. Finally, to keep this build nimble and ADS-oriented, put the VEL 46 Extended Tactical Stock and LM Combat Grip on it.

Best VEL 46 long-range build

• Barrel: VB-46 Series 11 Long Barrel
• Muzzle: FSS Crackdown Heavy Silencer
• Underbarrel: FSS Tac90 Angled Short Grip
• Optic: Cronen R808
• Stock: EXP Lockdown Heavy Short Stock

Turning this SMG into a long-range weapon might sound like a bad idea on paper, but don’t underestimate what the best VEL 46 long-range build can do. Even if I favour damage at long range and accuracy while ADSing, it remains extremely reliable in close encounters.

For the optic slot, we recommend the Cronen R808, as you don’t want to engage with faraway opponents and x4 is more than enough for this weapon. Then, we’ve gone with the VB-46 Series 11 Long Barrel, FSS Crackdown Heavy Silencer (too good to pass up), FSS Tac90 Angled Short Grip, and EXP Lockdown Heavy Short Stock for mix of strong long-range performance, ADS accuracy, and even decent hipfire. This bad boy will make you forget about ARs if you know how to use it.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Rockstar is keeping a good thing going with GTA 6. That being, the Scooter Brothers – a Grand Theft Auto meme that's slowly being a mainstay in the series.

Back when GTA 4 was released many a moon ago, one of the most viral videos from it featured a player who – while on a scooter – came across an NPC – on a scooter. Feeling a strong sense of kinship, the player shouts "scooter brothers!" and several other things. The video now has 7.5 million views on YouTube. The beauty of Scooter Brothers is in its simplicity and enthusiastic delivery.

Of course, Rockstar didn't leave things there. When swapping to Trevor in GTA 5, there's a chance you'll find him – on a scooter – coming across an NPC – on a scooter. You see where we're going with this, yes?

So what's Rockstar got in store for GTA 6? Eagle-eyed fans thought something might be coming thanks to promotional material, but thankfully, Edge now has the definitive answer. An answer that pleasingly involves the Scooter Bros. moving up in the world.

If Jason or Lucia require their vehicle at any point in their Vice City romp, you can open your phone and the Scooter Bros. app will be waiting for you. Use it, and someone will be along shortly with your wheels before wheeling off themself into the sunset – on a scooter, naturally. It'll cost you a pretty penny, but we think the Scooter Brothers have earned your support at this point.

GTA 6 map size is so big it rivals GTA 4, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2's combined – and Rockstar devs are still discovering places they've never seen.

Activision has confirmed that it will be removing real-life news footage of the 2022 crush in Itaewon from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 following backlash.

On October 29, 2022, a crowd crush happened in the Itaewon neighborhood of Seoul, South Korea during Halloween festivities which drew over 100,000 people to the area. This crush resulted in the deaths of 160 people, and a further 196 people were injured during the event marking one of the deadliest disasters in the country's history.

Almost exactly four years on from the incident, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has caused controversy by including a video of rescue efforts following the event as part of an in-universe news report at the end of the game's first mission. The footage contains people performing CPR, bodybags lining the streets and people being wheeled on a stretcher.

The bereaved families issued a statement earlier this week (via BBC News), saying, "We cannot help but be appalled that the chaotic and desperate scene, in which many citizens at the site performed CPR to save one another and victims lay on the freezing street, was used as it was to create a scene in a game." It adds, "Using such an event as material for a game made for entertainment is in itself highly inappropriate and senseless," and continues, "If the game developer has even a minimum of courtesy and empathy towards the victims, it should take corrective action without delay."

In a statement to BBC News, Activision confirms the use of the real-life footage, saying it was used "to establish the game's fictional narrative" but insists that the inclusion was "not intended to reference or trivialise the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way, shape or form." Activision offers condolences to the families and victims of the incident and confirms the footage will be removed from Modern Warfare 4.

Activision and Infinity Ward have previously caused controversy by referencing real-life events in their games. 2019's Modern Warfare reboot was accused of attempting to rewrite history after having the US-led attacks on a highway between Kuwait and Iraq in 1991, dubbed the Highway of Death – which is the name it is referenced by in-game – mentioned as a Russian attack.

The 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association told the BBC that the group welcomed Activision's decision, but that the publisher has not reached out with a direct apology.

I'm always looking out for cozy Halloween games that channel the spooky vibes or autumnal aesthetic of the season. Crucially, though, I'm after those that don't fill me with any fear or sense of dread.

Yes, even though I'm a self-professed scaredy cat who can't handle the best horror games out there on account of the fright factor, I still love Halloween for its witchy, vampy feel, and its pumpkin-laden, bat-winged decorations (the candy helps, too). So, if you're anything like me and you're after some recommendations, I've decided to bring together these cozy Halloween games to help you get in the spirit of the spooky season without being at risk of raising your heart rate — or having to shy away from your PC or console because some gnarly monster is attacking you.

From some of my favorite indies that nail the creepy-but-cute style, to some games like Stardew Valley that are perfect for the season, and sims that capture the atmosphere and look without the scares, I've also included some story-driven adventures that are great for this time of year. So, read on as I help you get into the spooky mood with my pick of the best cozy Halloween games.

6. Night in the Woods

Every time Halloween comes a-knocking, I always want to return to Night in the Woods. Not only does the adventure game have the perfect autumnal aesthetic for this time of year, but it also has a slightly darker, spooky edge to it as you progress through the story (but don't worry, it never veers into scary territory). Playing as protagonist Mae, who returns to her hometown of Possum Springs after dropping out of College, you follow her coming-of-age journey as she tries to reconnect with family and friends, fit back into a home that's changed, and ultimately figure out her place in the world.

Driven by exploration in the rundown mining town, there's some mysteries for you to unravel, but at its heart is an experience centered around relatable characters who are all dealing with troubles of their own. I always appreciate how Night In the Woods explores Mae's struggles as a young adult, as well as mental health problems. It normalizes what is often stigmatized, and brings to life a memorable, atmospheric experience that will forever mean so much to me. If you've yet to try out Night in the Woods, Halloween is the perfect time to do just that.

5. Wylde Flowers

If there was ever a great way to get into the spirit of the spooky season, then assuming the role of witch running a farm is a sure fire way to do it. Wylde Flowers takes the delights of the best farming games and infuses them with magic, supernatural residents, intrigue, and cozy cottagecore vibes. As Tara, who moves to the delightful Fairhaven Island to be with her ailing grandmother, Hazel, you eventually take over the family farm.

But as you'll soon come to learn, there's more to Tara's family lineage and the Island than first meets the eye. You'll find your way to discovering a local coven who teach you the witchy ways of Grandma Hazel. From brewing potions in a cauldron that can help crops grow faster, to drawing up spells to do things like change the weather, or help out the locals who get caught up in a spot of bother, there's even a magical location to explore that's host to the likes of a book-loving werewolf and a tinkering goblin. With lots of charming characters and a great story, updates have brought more unlockable features to this cozy gem.

4. Cult of the Lamb

If you're looking for something for Halloween that channels the creepy-but-cute look and feel, I'll always recommend Cult of the Lamb. Playing as an adorable young sheep, you decide to break away from the stereotypical norms so often associated with the fluffy animals and become a leader with followers of your own. Yes, as the lead lamb, you grow and front your very own cult of cutesy critters.

As you set out to earn more powers by venturing through dungeons, you'll develop your cult with some base-building goodness, and maybe sacrifice a follower or two in the name of the lamb. Its darker edge is undercut by its humor, and it still manages to somehow be adorable and charming. Plus, if you're after a recommendation you can play with a pal or loved one, then you'll be happy to know it also supports local co-op, with one player taking on the role of the lamb, while the other controls a goat. Quite the dynamic duo.

3. Beacon Pines

Another adventure that taps into the creepy-cute vibe, Beacon Pines is a cozy game with a horror-leaning story that's very fitting for the Halloween season. With an autumnal feel overall, the adventure takes place within the pages of a mysterious storybook, and follows the journey of a little deer called Luka and his friends. Playing as both the reader of the story and Luka, you set out into the night to investigate some strange goings on in Beacon Pines, namely at an old abandoned warehouse in the woods.

Stumbling upon a weird cover-up at the warehouse that Luka and his friends get caught up in, you help to shape the narrative by filling the gaps of the pages as the reader. With charms that have engraved words, you can find new story paths to unlock more charms and events. With a creepy atmosphere and an emotional story, it spins a mystery you'll want to unravel.

2. Strange Antiquities

If you love detective games and have yet to give Strange Antiquities a go, then Halloween is a great time for this one. With a dark, cozy feel to it, you find yourself working in a shop full of oddities in the setting of Undermere – the candle-lit interior of the store really makes for the perfect the kind of atmosphere for this time of year. As you settle in to examine and identify strange artifacts, you'll try to meet the curious needs of your customers.

After receiving requests for a specific effect or particular occult object, it's then left up to you to puzzle out what would be right for the townsfolk who stop by. It really does feel like you're a detective, not only because you have to figure out what artifacts are and who they're best suited for, but because you'll also piece together clues to uncover more objects in the store – which holds plenty of secrets of its own. Building on the developer's previous game, Strange Horticulture (which you may also enjoy if you like this one), Strange Antiquities' has plenty of mystery and intrigue for the spooky season.

1. Wytchwood

Wytchwood is always at the top of mind when it comes to cozy games that have the perfect look, atmosphere, and setting for the Halloween season – complete with a great sense of humor. The crafting adventure takes place in a fairytale world filled with gothic fables. Brought to life in a wonderful storybook art style, you take on the role of the old witch of the woods who has her own cottage in a swamp... and wears a pot on her head like a helmet.

Tasked with venturing out into the strange land to claim souls on behalf of a goat (as you do), you collect and grow witchy ingredients like eye of the newt, meaty morsels, and even things like bottled despair. You'll work to craft spells in your grimoire and brew up enchantments to cast judgement on those you encounter. With a setting that's filled with fantastical characters, you can expect to solve puzzles, meet some monsters, and soak up its witchy, gothic vibes.

If you're after more spooky recommendations and do want some scares, consider checking out our pick of the best Halloween games.

The best M4 loadout can take many shapes, and I'm of the opinion there’s no definitive answer. It all depends on how you play, and what kind of game mode you're playing in. Despite heated debates about which MW4 assault rifle is the best, I have a soft spot for the M4, one of the most iconic modern weapons, a Modern Warfare series mainstay and one best MW 4 guns if you tune it right.

I've got a few options here from a run and gun build to mid and long range builds. Scroll down to see my suggestions.

M4 run-and-gun build

• Muzzle: FSS IS300 Heavy Silencer
• Laser: Bruen 22-LPW Bright Hip Laser
• Vertical Grip: GW Domi-9 Short Grip
• Magazine: 60-Round Drum
• Stock: No Stock

There’s something uniquely cool about turning an assault rifle into an oversized “tommy gun”, and the best M4 close-quarters loadout I’ve cooked does exactly that while also keeping it silent with the FSS IS300 Heavy Silencer (you can go loud if you want, though).

The three key attachments here are the Bruen 22-LPW Bright Hip Laser, the GW Domi-9 Vertical Short Grip, and the 60-Round Drum mag. This combo essentially turns it into a highly mobile weapon with good range, better hipfire accuracy, and even decent mobility. Finally, lose the optic slot and select No Stock for a nimbler build that can clear an entire room in a few seconds.

M4 mid-range build

• Barrel: 11.5” Shortline Light Short Barrel
• Laser: SZ Gen.6 PEQ Bright ADS Laser
• Vertical Grip: FSS Fireline Angled Grip
• Optic: SZ Helios Holo
• Rear Grip: ZLR Phase Skeleton Grip

This balanced M4 mid range loadout keeps the class mobile, accurate, and lethal in all sorts of gunfights, though it might fall a bit short in long-range shootouts. My main goal was to improve mobility and ADS speed, and the SZ Gen.6 PEQ laser, 11.5” Shortline light short barrel, FSS Fireline angled grip, and ZLR Phase Skeleton Grip all take care of that.

You can do what you want with the optic slot, but make sure it doesn’t lower the ADS speed. At most, you’ll need a zoom level of around x2, so we went with the SZ Helios Holo, which just works really well with most guns in the game.

M4 long-range build

• Barrel: 18” LE Crosswind Long Barrel
• Muzzle: FSS IS300 Heavy Silencer
• Ammunition: 5.56 NATO High Velocity
• Optic: Cronen R808
• Rear Grip: Schlager STB Sniper Grip

This M4 long-range loadout is all about building a silent weapon that can beam enemies from afar. I’ve gone with the FSS IS300 Heavy Silencer again; it’s just too good to ignore. What makes the build come together is the mix of the 18” LE Crosswind Long Barrel (much better range), the Schlager STB Sniper Grip for better accuracy when standing still or moving slow, and the 5.56 NATO High Velocity ammo to make those bullets fly faster.

Different players might prefer different sniper scopes or long-range sights, but we’re faithful to the Cronen R808, which is just visually clean and provides a x4 zoom that feels like more than enough for a tuned-up AR.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Former Dragon Age lead Mark Darrah says the beloved fantasy RPG series could have ended up with a game like Baldur's Gate 3, but BioWare instead chose to be simpler in the hopes of reaching a wider audience.

So it goes, following EA's decision to shut down BioWare before it could ship Mass Effect 5, Dragon Age: The Veilguard stands as the studio's last game. While some reviewers found plenty to like about it, the RPG didn't deliver the commercial performance needed to keep BioWare going after EA was acquired by a group that includes the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

As such, we're left with a kind of what-if situation with the series. The likes of Baldur's Gate 3 have made enough money and won enough awards to show that a fantasy RPG can certainly achieve the level of success that Dragon Age craved. As such, why couldn't the developer behind the first two Baldur's Gate games hit the same heights with something like Dragon Age, another fantasy-themed series with a solid fanbase?

For longtime Dragon Age lead Mark Darrah, BioWare fell flat because it tried to create an RPG that meant something to everyone and, as a result, ended up creating something for no one.

Speaking to Eldorado, Darrah is asked why BioWare couldn't follow Larian's path in creating a deep fantasy RPG that achieved the sort of success that Baldur's Gate 3 managed.

"You can absolutely see that with Dragon Age," he says. "You can imagine a world where BioWare follows a line that leads from Dragon Age: Origins to something that looks a lot like Baldur’s Gate 3.

"But instead, it is pushed onto this road that is about trying to be simpler, to be more accessible, to be more appealing to a wider audience, and you end up, instead of going from Dragon Age: Origins towards Baldur's Gate 3, you end up on a track to Dragon Age 2 and to Inquisition. You see that path, with Dragon Age specifically, not BioWare, of trying to live in a world that a publisher doesn't really get."

The rest, as they say, is history. BioWare's closure means IPs like Dragon Age and Mass Effect have been tossed into EA's great vault for the time being. We might see them again with a different studio, though, as Darrah himself says, they could just as easily be left to rot. As we say, what could have been?

Why did EA close BioWare? Report says it put Mass Effect 5 and Star Wars Battlefront 3 on a scale, and guess which one looks safer when you're $18 billion in debt.

A new report directly links the previously rumored Star Wars Battlefront 3 to EA's closure of BioWare, with the publisher evidently prioritizing the sci-fi game with the bigger license and projected audience when assessing its finances.

Bloomberg corroborates much of what we've already heard and inferred. After a Saudi Arabia-led buyout plunged EA $18 billion in debt, it had new owners and even more incentive to cut costs. BioWare, already on the ropes after consecutive lukewarm-at-best releases including open disappointment around 2024's Dragon Age: The Veilguard, would've been among the first studios to catch the eye of a layoff-hungry EA.

The hammer really dropped, the report says, when EA paused to size up the two main sci-fi action games it could choose to invest in for the coming years. Bloomberg reports that both were expected to cost several hundred million dollars to develop.

In one corner, you have Star Wars Battlefront 3, the follow-up to a game that ultimately sold extremely well despite some fierce criticism – and, crucially, a Star Wars game, the likes of which EA loves to sell.

In the other corner, there's Mass Effect 5, the next chapter in an RPG series that hasn't been great for at least a decade, and it would be in the works at a studio that has failed to match its historic heights for – again – at least a decade.

What do you think an especially fiscally conscientious EA would choose?

We know the answer, of course. After repeatedly failing to get the triangular BioWare to fit through the circular hole it imposes on its properties, EA scooped up the studio and fed it into the furnace of Star Wars, reportedly deeming Battlefront 3 the safer bet (and, surely, most likely to support long-tail monetization). And so, a catastrophically mismanaged RPG powerhouse shut down to the dismay of countless game developers and fans.

Pressed on this choice, an EA spokesperson says it "collectively reached this decision following months of planning, review, and analysis, including careful consideration of evolving business conditions, industry dynamics, and our long-term priorities." Which all certainly lines up with the claim here: EA thought this would make it more money.

Bloomberg also reports that EA's Laura Miele, previously chief studio officer and COO and now president of EA's entertainment and central development, has had few opportunities to once again stick up for the publisher's stable of studios under a new leadership push helmed by COO David Tinson and CSO Cam Weber.

A joint statement from Tinson and Weber, in which BioWare's shutdown received one short paragraph, argued EA "should be proud" to stand as "the number one publisher in Western HD gaming."

BioWare co-founder says EA's Saudi Arabia buyout was "the final nail in the coffin" for the RPG studio: "It's easier just to pump out sports games"

With Assault rifles continuing to dominate alongside SMGs in Warfare 4, a good Han 86 loadout will go a long way. Despite being the starting AR it's a reliable MW4 weapon worth investing in. The best Han 86 loadout will depend on what your playstyle, so I've got you covered with three Han 86 builds for very different situations, including a run-and-gun build, a mid-range and a long range build.

Han 86 run-and-gun build

• Barrel: Han 86 Silenced 413mm
• Laser: QFL-S4.5 Bright Hip Laser
• Vertical Grip: Mire-50 Tac Grip
• Magazine: 60-Round Drum
• Stock: FR4 Retractable Stock

This Han 86 close range loadout involves turning it into a beefy SMG of sorts. First of all, you’ll want the Han 86 Silenced 413mm barrel to preserve damage while staying to stay as quiet as possible as you push into enemy territory. The 60-round drum magazine ensures you don’t run out of gas when several opponents are in front of you.

Finally, we looked for laser, vertical grip, and tactical stock picks that ensure a high level of mobility and hipfire accuracy, though it could theoretically be turned into a more balanced close-range build too. Just don’t waste an attachment slot on an optic here.

Han 86 mid-range build

• Barrel: SA K556 16” Light Barrel
• Laser: XRK Clutch-LS Dim ADS Laser
• Vertical Grip: Mire-50 Tac Grip
• Optic: SZ Helios Holo
• Rear Grip: XRK Justice II Grip

This Han 86 balanced loadout is all about quick and snappy aim with decent range and good handling for reliable performance in all sorts of firefights. The SA K556 16” Light Barrel, XRK Clutch-LS Dim ADS Laser, and XRK Justice II Grip help make the ADS time as fast as possible.

Meanwhile, the Mire-50 Tac Grip ensures recoil isn’t too much, and while you can go with another holo sight, I'm quite fond of the SZ Helios because of its zoom level and clean visuals.

Han 86 long-range build

• Barrel: Hanbit Lightning-7 Heavy Long Barrel
• Muzzle: ZLR Reverb90
• Ammunition: 5.56 NATO High Velocity
• Optic: Cronen R808
• Rear Grip: Hanbit H86 Grip

The goal behind this Han 86 long-range loadout is turning it into a highly accurate AR, perfect for holding down positions without sacrificing its mid-range strengths. The ZLR Reverb90 and Hanbit Lightning-7 Heavy Long Barrel ensure it has high long-range damage without being too hard to control. We also put the Cronen R808 on it for long-range engagements, as anything above a 4x scope feels silly on an AR; it produces a small sniper glint, but you’re not playing sneaky with this build anyway.

Lastly, 5.56 NATO High Velocity ammo ensures the bullets are as fast as they can be. The Hanbit H86 Grip may not feel like a must here, but we’ve found it also helps with accuracy.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Some potential new Physint concept designs have been spotted at a Kojima Productions exhibition, including something that looks strikingly similar to Metal Gear Rex.

Physint is one of the titles being worked on by Hideo Kojima, and it's poised to be a special one for fans of the creator's work, as it is poised as a spiritual successor to the Metal Gear Solid series. Xbox Game Studios picked up the publishing duties of the game after Sony canceled the project, and soon after, it was revealed that John Wick 4 star Bill Skarsgård is set to play Physint's lead character.

At the Kojima Productions 10th anniversary exhibition "beyond the strand: The Odyssey of Creation and Endeavor," which is being held at Azabudai Hills Gallery in the Minato ward of Tokyo, Japan, the developer is showcasing artwork, models, and all manner of things from the studio's ten-year history, as well as the upcoming Hideo Kojima games, horror title OD and Physint.

Among these is a statue showing multiple bust variants of Skarsgård lined up together, which could either imply we're in for a Metal Gear-like cloning situation, or – presumably more likely – these were concepts for his character's design in the upcoming stealth action game. However, the real Metal Gear influence can be seen right next to it.

There's a statue that looks almost exactly like Metal Gear Rex – the iconic Metal Gear design introduced in the original Metal Gear Solid – albeit it looks like it's covered in some goop or has some frame latched onto it. Next to that is another design which looks very much like the Gecko found in Metal Gear Solid 4, only with giant tripod legs and a tail. Regardless, it looks like Physint will probably have Metal Gears as part of its Metal Gear spiritual successor ambitions.

That or the curators for the exhibition are throwing unrelated mech designs next to the wall of Skarsgård as a swerve, as it could in theory be an unused concept for the DHV Magellan found in Death Stranding 2 – which was also clearly inspired by Rex.

Hideo Kojima says Physint is "quite different" from Metal Gear: "I want plenty of new ideas and a different kind of spy action."

Wondering how to start the Crimson Desert DLC? Charting the Unknown is the first major expansion for the game, but rather than adding a single story or questline for players to pursue, it actually adds a variety of new quests and challenges for different characters and areas that all start in different places. With that in mind, I'll explain how to find the start of all of these DLC threads in Crimson Desert, so you know where to look for all the ways to start Charting the Unknown.

All Crimson Desert DLC questlines

There are multiple quests and side quests as part of the Crimson Desert DLC, all of which have their own individual starting points. Here's where to find all of them.

• Kliff's Quest: Complete the main story of Crimson Desert, then go to North Pailune City.
• Damiane's Quest: Complete the main story of Crimson Desert, then go to East Demeniss City.
• Oongka's Quest: Complete the main story of Crimson Desert, then go to Northwest Pailune City.
• Shipbuilding / Ocean questline: Complete the Scattered Embers and Grounds of Sunrise quests in the main game, then go to Pailune City for the "A Wider World" quest.
• Housing questline: Complete the "Howling Hill" quest and "Luke's Request" in the main game before heading to the Furniture shop at the camp.
• Garden of Trials: Complete the main story of the Crimson Desert main game, then go to the Axiom Archive Abyss (where you first meet Alustin) in Path of Providence. A cinematic will show you to the Garden, south of the main building (seen above).

There is other content included in the DLC, including new facilities that you can unlock around the map, as well as the new option to romance and even marry NPCs throughout the game (and divorce them once the honeymoon period is over).

However, what you have above is the full range of full questlines and major story content, as well as the requirements needed. As you can see, the major quests for each character require that you complete the main story, though some parts of Charting the Unknown can be played without doing that.

Where to start Kliff's DLC quest

Kliff's story quest "Beyond the Margins" and its first stage "A Moment's Respite" is found here, in North Central Pailune Capital, though you will have to have beaten the main story to unlock this.

Where to start Damiane's DLC quest

Damiane's story quest "From the Ashes" and first task "Reclaimed and Reamining" understandably starts in Demeniss, her home nation, specifically at the location shown above, in the West of the Demeniss Capital. Like with Kliff, you'll need to have beaten the main story of the core game.

Where to start Oongka's DLC quest

Oongka's story quest for Charting the Unknown also appears in Pailune, like Kliff, and like Kliff you'll also have to have put the time in and completed the main story. You can find his story quest "Forged Resolve" and the first task "A New Path" in North East Pailune City.

Where to start the Shipbuilding and Ocean DLC quests

If you want to live a pirate's life, you need to start a quest chain that starts with "A Wider World", the first mission of which is called "A Call From Beyond the Horizon." You can find this in Pailune City after completing the Scattered Embers and Grounds of Sunrise (Hope From Ashes) quests. For more info, check out our guide on how to get the ship in the Crimson Desert DLC.

Where to start the Housing DLC quests

To find the Housing content, complete Luke's Request in the "Grounds of the Sunrise" Greymane's faction quest, then head to the Howling Hill camp and specifically the furniture shop, where this will begin the content accordingly.

Garden of Trials location

The Garden of Trials is found in the Axiom Archive in the Abyss layer, in the West Path of Providence where you first meet Alustin. When you approach the main building, there'll be a cinematic of a White Raven that shows you to the new location, South of the Building.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

8BitDo has joined forces with Microsoft to produce a gaming keyboard and mouse in full Gears of War: E-Day garb. The red and black designs of its R8 gaming mouse and Retro Mechanical Keyboard (though not so retro in this iteration) are both officially licensed, sloshing that blood-red aesthetic all over your desk. That's perfect for PC Xbox players, especially considering analysts have recently suggested an Xbox launch hasn't helped the franchise.

The R8 mouse is a little more refined in its aesthetic, whereas the TKL gaming keyboard goes all out with translucent keycaps, a Gears logo banner up top, and various juicy blood spatters. You're also getting two extra giant macro buttons in the box as well, kitted out with Crimson Omen and Locust Horde emblems.

Both the keyboard and mouse are now available for $119.99 / $59.99 respectively at Amazon after a lengthy pre-order period, with shipping currently set for November 4. It's unclear why these gadgets are launching nearly a month after Gears of War: E-Day officially hit the shelves.

It's those macro buttons I'm most interested in.

I've had the original NES-styled 8BitDo retro mechanical keyboard on and off my desk for a few years now, and it's always these giant clackers that keep me coming back. Think of these as huge slappable inputs that can be a little tricky to hit during faster moments but still remain incredibly satisfying.

Personally, I like the keep them as map and quest log shortcuts in most of my games. It's a luxury, but saving time hopping between different menu options while also being able to whack a giant button just hits different.

Elsewhere, though, both the 8BitDo retro keyboard and mouse still offer solid value for money from a technical standpoint. Wireless gaming tech usually carries a hefty premium and, while you're spending more here than you would a lesser known Amazon brand, 8BitDo steers its tech well clear of the kinds of rates we often see from Razer, Corsair, and Logitech.

It's no surprise 8BitDo got the official go-ahead from Microsoft for this one either. The brand has recently collaborated with Xbox on its 25th Anniversary kit, producing a separate translucent green colorway of its retro keyboard and R8 gaming mouse as well as a number of gamepads and controller accessories to boot.

• Xbox X25 Edition keyboard: $119.99 at Amazon
• Xbox X25 R8 mouse: $59.99 at Amazon

We're also rounding up all the best Xbox gifts for this holiday season, as well as the best Xbox Series X accessories and the best Xbox Series X controllers for more kit.

The Mimic codes might go some way to keep you alive in this twisted game of hide and seek, but you're also going to need a certain level of skill and stealth if you want to get out alive. You see, you can't just hide, you need to complete challenges while evading enemies, which sometimes just isn't possible.

This horror Roblox experience is at least a little generous, though, allowing you to keep your progress each time you die provided you have some Revives to your name, which is exactly where these The Mimic codes come in handy. So, before you tackle your next challenge, make sure you've checked for valid promos below.

If you're after some more general avatar rewards to use in all of your experiences, then we've got the current Roblox promo codes covered too.

All The Mimic codes

These are all the The Mimic codes you can redeem right now:

• HAPPYHALLOWEEN - Rewards new!

These The Mimic codes usually award players with a bunch of revives, allowing you to keep going even if you are caught out while completing carnival games, collecting artifacts, or any of the other tough challenges that keep you out in the open. You might also get a handful of Spirits, too, which aren't as useful, but are cool, since you can spend them on the game's various emotes.

How to redeem The Mimic codes

To redeem The Mimic codes, locate the bright-green Codes area in the lobby and walk towards it, where you'll get a prompt to interact with it. This brings up the empty CODE box, where you can enter a code as it appears in the list above before clicking ENTER to claim your rewards.

Expired The Mimic codes

• HOFDELAY - 500x Spirits, 2x Revive Credits
• RAGERELEASE - 800x Spirits, 2x Revive Credits
• ThankYouForBeingPatient - 500x Spirits, 1x Revive Credit
• ChenooReturns - 800x Spirits, 2x Revive Credits
• NetamoPossessedMe - 800x Spirits, 2x Revive Credits
• SpookyMonth - 800x Spirits, 2x Revive Credits
• 4freelives - 4x Revive Credits
• Sorryforwait- 1,000x Spirits

The Mimic codes expire usually after a few weeks, so when there are any valid codes, you should be sure to redeem them as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

GTA 6 isn't just gearing up to be one of the biggest game launches in history – it might just be one of the biggest games, period, with a map that's twice as big as its predecessor's.

Rockstar tells Edge as much as part of its exclusive cover story, revealing that the total land mass – including both Vice City and its surrounding areas – is almost as big as the playable maps that GTA 4, 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2 boast… combined.

That's downright massive, to say the least, but it's made all the more impressive by the sheer amount of detail to it. The world is set to feel alive and immersive at every turn.,

Aaron Garbut, head of development and co-studio lead, confirms as much, stating that GTA 6 has "an order of magnitude more interiors" than older Grand Theft Auto entries, including the fifth.

"Every back alley is as densely detailed and interesting as the others. You can go anywhere, any random location, and so many people have thought about that location."

Heck, after years of exploring himself, Garbut states he's still discovering places he's never seen.

Unsurprisingly, news of the game's mind-boggling size has reached online forums.

Over on Reddit, folks are reacting to the prospect of such a large map in GTA 6, with some drawing comparisons to Red Dead Redemption 2 and how it "has a lot of locked doors for as sparsely populated with dwellings the game is" – an issue the new GTA apparently won't suffer from itself with all those "interiors" Garbut makes mention of.

One commenter shares their disbelief at the size, writing, "I still can't scarcely believe this is running on PS5 and Xbox Series X. It's insane how big it is."

It is quite a thought, admittedly, considering the behemoth is running on consoles that are now a solid six years old, but the GTA 6 extended look on Netflix showed it in action back in August. Plus, as somebody points out, "GTA 5 for the PS3 and Xbox 360 was a similar feat at the time."

There's no telling how the community will find the huge map until GTA 6 finally releases next month – but regardless, it's undeniably one of the biggest new games underway.

Nearly 1 in 3 gamers plan to buy GTA 6 in the US, analyst confirms: "A rare cultural and commercial moment."

Crimson Desert's new Charting the Unknown expansion is off to a good start as far as Steam reviews are concerned, but it hasn't given the game a massive boost in players just yet.

Over on Steam, Charting the Unknown sits at a "Mostly Positive" rating after 250 reviews, with players praising developer Pearl Abyss for expanding the already-massive open-world game across the year with free updates and this DLC. While some players seem to pre-emptively be giving it props before playing all of the DLC, first impressions are mostly positive. However, some players are reporting a "game breaking bug" in the first quest of the DLC expansion.

As of the time of writing – roughly 12 hours since the expansion launched – Crimson Desert has had a 24 hour peak of 16,955 concurrent players on Steam (per SteamDB's charts) which marks the third-lowest week the game has seen since launch. However, this peak has once again risen after a slight dip during the early hours, and not to mention it's Friday, when people will likely be working – the true test will be the game's weekend peak, as most games hit their highest the Sunday after launch (although in Crimson Desert's case it was actually the following Sunday it hit its all-time high of 276,261).

However, there may be another culprit. Action game fans are likely dropping into the new release Phantom Blade Zero this weekend, which has had an absolutely massive launch on Steam – currently sitting in 15th place in the highest concurrent Steam players of all-time list with its peak of 723,876. Both games are Golden Joystick Awards 2026 Ultimate Game of the Year nominees, and it's likely that more people will be dropping into both games this weekend, even if choosing between them may be a hard decision for many.

Crimson Desert reviewed worse with critics than players because critics didn't have enough time to play the game, suggests CEO at the company that gave critics less time.

The latest Call of Duty instalment has kicked off to a good start with players enjoying the updated DMZ mode, embarking on a new campaign, and arguing over TTK and SBMM, of course. We always want more, though, so if you - like me - are counting down to the release of MW4 Season 1, here's everything you need to know.

For the first half of Season 1, there are confirmed additions for DMZ and multiplayer, including new modes and events, new multiplayer maps, and a new location to visit in DMZ. So, for more details, here's the MW4 Season 1 roadmap so far.

MW4 Season 1 release date

The MW4 Season 1 release date is Friday, November 6, 2026, at 12AM ET / 5AM GMT, which is 9PM PT on Thursday, November 5.

This will be the first time that the game's Battle Pass becomes available, and, as such, there will be plenty of new weapons, blueprints, attachments, and operator skins to unlock. Of course there will also be new maps, modes, and events added as the season progresses, too. Here's the lowdown so far.

Don't forget that this is all only half the season as we barrel towards Season 1 Reloaded, and anything here that is labelled as 'in-season' is set to arrive after the Season 1 release date but before mid-season.

Season 1 content

This is all coming to MW4 in Season 1, for players of both multiplayer and DMZ:

• New weapons and attachments
  • CSG-35 SMG (Battle Pass reward)
  • Cronen Osprey AR (Battle Pass reward)
  • Jak 12 shotgun (in-season, event reward)
  • ZLR Talonhawk melee weapon (in-season, event reward)
  • Hyeon Auto Apex attachment (in-season, event reward)
  • Kastov 545 Apex attachment (in-season, event reward)
  • M16 Burst attachment (in-season, event reward)
• New Operators
  • Blix (Battle Pass reward)
  • Zero (Blackcell reward)

Across both multiplayer and DMZ, we'll see the addition of a few new weapons, APEX attachments, blueprints, operators, and more thanks to the game's first Battle Pass and this season's events, including Wager Watch. The one I'm looking forward to most is perhaps the new ZLR Talonhawk melee weapon, which appears as though it should give a bit more range than my trusty knife.

Some of these new guns may even find their way into our list of the best MW4 weapons, so keep an eye on it once the season launches.

New multiplayer content

Here's everything we know is coming to MW4 multiplayer in Season 1 so far:

• New multiplayer maps
  • Backstab (new)
  • Canyon (new)
  • Shoot House (returning)
  • Overflow (new, in-season)
  • Ministry (new, in-season)
  • and more...
• New multiplayer modes
  • Gauntlet 1v1
  • Dropzone
  • Grind
• New static Kill Block combo
• Wager Watch event

As ever, there's a lot of new content coming to multiplayer in Season 1, including some brand-new maps and a returning favorite from Modern Warfare 2 and 3: Shoot House. Perhaps the most interesting addition, though, is the Gauntlet 1v1 mode, which sees the Gauntlet 6v6 mode return from BO7, only this time in a thrilling 1v1 setup, presumably with much smaller maps.

New DMZ content

Here's what we know is coming to MW4 DMZ in Season 1 so far:

• New location
  • X01
• New boss threats
  • Tae-Hyun AKA 'Knuckle'
  • Chol-Min AKA 'The Wrench'
  • and more...
• Deep vault
• 3D Printer
• Vendor (Blackcell only)

It may not seem like it, but there's a lot to get to grips with here, as a bunch of new navigation comes to the DMZ Forward Operating Base in the form of a vendor for Blackcell owners; Boss Boards, for keeping an eye on new bosses and any intel on them; a 3D printer, the use for which is still redacted at this point; and other ways to sort and perfect your loadout.

There are also new bosses and the new X01 location, which is teeming with incredibly tough opponents.

Season 1 brings even more chances to try and get that impressive MW4 Nuke killstreak, as well as the coolest MW4 mastery camos.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Following the news of Star Trek and X-Men actor Patrick Stewart's death yesterday, fans of Star Trek Online have been gathering to pay tribute to the beloved actor – and request that he be permanently remembered in the MMO with an addition from the developers.

Patrick Stewart died age 86 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, leaving behind a legacy of legendary characters, from Professor X to Star Trek's ever-charismatic, Earl Grey-loving Captain Picard.

It's no surprise that this legacy is evident outside of television media, too, having made its way into Star Trek Online – Cryptic Studios' 16-year-old MMO based on Gene Roddenberry's sci-fi franchise.

As countless posts online show now, folks are using the game to pay tribute to Stewart. "The memorial for Patrick Stewart in Star Trek Online is growing," as one thread over on Twitter reads, an image of players holding torches in-game attached. Another on Reddit sees starships gather amid the stars to remember the actor: "For Sir Pat."

A different discussion sees more fans wielding torches: "Rest easy Sir Patrick, you will be missed." Perhaps the most notable of all, however, sees a fan hoping to draw Cryptic Studios' own attention.

"With the heartbreaking passing of Sir Patrick Stewart, I would like to propose something meaningful that could become a permanent part of Star Trek Online," the post reads. "Please consider recreating Château Picard, Jean-Luc Picard's family vineyard in La Barre, France, as a peaceful, explorable location on Earth."

Comments highlight how popular the fan's idea is, with the top response saying, "That would be great." Others dub it "a brilliant idea," while more ponder what else the devs could add in honor of Stewart: "Can we get a statue of him as SFA too? That feels fitting for Captain Picard."

It's bittersweet, honestly – there's no denying how sad the actor's death is, but it's more than evident that he's left one behemoth of an impact in our hearts.

Here's hoping Cryptic Studios hears players' requests and considers adding a little something as a nod toward the real-world Captain Picard himself – it's clear the community would stand behind such a heartfelt addition, anyway.

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's son says Star Trek will "get better" under new Paramount leadership: "Not that they were bad, but I think there's a fresh perspective."

Bungie is preparing a new franchise roadmap for Destiny following the end of Destiny 2 updates, including a "Destiny 'Legacy'" project and what appears to be a new installment for the IP. Importantly, "new updates" tied to a "celebration in Destiny 2" have also been teased. The only problem is that there's no guarantee any of it will actually happen.

In a lengthy and long-awaited blog post, longtime Destiny community manager Dylan Gafner (dmg04) speaks to new product head Josh Deane, who previously promised that Bungie is "not done with Destiny" and announced the ongoing unvaulting process.

Deane describes players' responses to Destiny 2's abrupt end. "You all didn’t just rage; you showed up," he says. "You shared your stories about your memories in Destiny, what the world meant to you and made sure to petition how disastrous it would be to walk away from this amazing universe. It inspired everyone."

But what is Bungie actually working on? The unvaulting process is in pre-production, Bungie says, sharing a new "progress bar" that stretches into early 2028. That's the earliest we can currently expect material changes to Destiny 2's content vault.

Unvaulting pre-production is expected to last until January or February 2027, and "from that point," it's expected to take another year "to fully complete the porting process" for old content. It's unclear at what rate any content may be unvaulted between that early 2027 and early 2028 window.

The unvaulting content list is shared in groups in order of priority. The "first pass" covers:

• Red War, Forsaken, Curse of Osiris, and Warmind campaigns
• Strikes from the above releases
• Raids, and Raid Lairs from the above releases
• Menagerie Activity with reprised rewards

Additionally, Bungie is looking at "stretch goals at unvaulting launch or after" the initial rollout. This includes:

• Free Roam Destinations (Public Events, Lost Sectors, Escalation Protocol, etc.)
• Seasonal Activities from Sundial (Season 9) to The Coil (Season 23)
• Raid and Raid Lair Weapon updates
• PvP Maps

Finally, Bungie spells out the content that it "currently does not have a path to update either for technical and/or strategic reasons." These are, in essence, the pipe dream unvaulting targets which we'll likely never see. Those are:

• Updated New Light Experience
• Seasonal Story Missions
• Gambit Map (Kell's Grave)
• Seasonal Hubs (e.g., Eliksni Quarter)

This time, Bungie is also looking beyond Destiny 2's past, but only in an incubation or pre-pre-production capacity for now. "I don’t see that wholeness intent just as unvaulting content; it means restoring Destiny’s past, present, and future, but let’s start with unvaulting," Deane says.

To that end, Bungie shares yet another roadmap, this time looking at the Destiny IP as a whole. "These are our anchors to look for and what will become future progress bars when we’re successful," Deane explains.

"Similar to June, when we aligned our initial greenlight with Destiny 2 unvaulting and fully greenlit the project in September, we’ve also aligned a new vision and plans for Destiny all up that we are actively working on making a reality," he adds.

However, the pillars of this vision are still in an "incubation, validation process." Only after Bungie clears that will it "have earned the right to make the announcements you all deserve," says Deane. "And if not, exile. I'll be a good high school football coach somewhere."

A "Destiny 2 'Celebration'" is expected to come with a February progress bar. "We believe we need to have a celebration in Destiny 2, beyond Monument of Triumph, for the community that provides new updates for you all to enjoy. More details to come!" Deane says. The magic words here are "new updates," as that's what Destiny 2 really lost with the end of active development (that and, more importantly, tons of Bungie devs).

Arguably more exciting is the promise of an unspecified "Destiny 'Legacy'" project. Get your Destiny 1 content rumor mill warmed up, because Deane says, "Our epic journey started over a decade ago, and the whole experience needs to be served to you all where you play today. Expect more information when we come back to you all early next year."

Most importantly, perhaps, Bungie pencils in "Redacted [TBD]," seemingly some sort of project launch. "Launch Ventrilo Message: ‘We’re back,'" the post teases.

"I think before we close it’s important to know that this is a true reset moment for Bungie, Marathon, and Destiny," Deane reiterates. "We also know time isn’t our friend; we’re playing from behind with the cards we have and I’m sure we’ll have to take more punches and make some hard decisions along the way."

This is the clearest Bungie's plan has looked in months, but do not light the fireworks just yet. Early 2028 is all we can look toward right now, and that's just for the restoration of old content.

These celebration, legacy, and mystery Destiny projects may never go beyond blog posts and whiteboards, and the next major strategic update from Bungie won't come until February 2027 either. Bungie also has Marathon to worry about, which will receive more focused communications soon.

The focus is nailing down "how we get to our end game, a new, forever Destiny, while rebuilding a relationship with a vibrant community along the way."

"We are aligned and are building a new future for Destiny," Deane says. He adds, "We're not going to forget the mistakes of the past, but it's time to learn from them and unify as one Bungie community. For us, the majority of our Bungie team is legacy Destiny, and we will all tell you that nothing can help bridge us into [the] future more than for Marathon to rapidly evolve and become sustainable."

Bungie admits Marathon "did not reach as many players as we had hoped," shares plans to evolve the game for "a sustainable future" while committing to Destiny