Title: Legend Of Zelda Producer Eiji Aonuma Knighted By French Ministry Of Culture Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:45:31 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/legend-of-zelda-producer-eiji-aonuma-knighted-by-french-ministry-of-culture-2000749331 The longtime caretaker of the Zelda series traveled to Paris to receive his title, honored for inspiring the world’s 'imagination'

Title: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Director Says There’s Probably No Such Thing As ‘Perfected’ Matchmaking Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 18:25:14 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-director-says-theres-probably-no-such-thing-as-perfected-matchmaking-2000749327 With the latest Call of Duty landing, seemingly without matchmaking features, multiplayer director Joe Cecot says he doesn't believe a system to satisfy all is possible

Title: Xbox’s Chief Operating Officer Out Three Months After Role’s Creation Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 17:27:51 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/xboxs-chief-operating-officer-out-three-months-after-roles-creation-2000749324 As turmoil continues to pile up, Microsoft veteran Helen Chiang departs the company just a few months after taking a newly created post to assure long-term stability

Title: Claude’s Reverse Engineering Capabilities Used To Recompile Games May Have Been Quietly Nerfed Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 16:48:26 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/claudes-reverse-engineering-capabilities-used-to-recompile-games-may-have-been-quietly-nerfed-2000749320 Claude Opus 5.5 users are reporting that Anthropic’s AI suddenly seems to be a lot worse at stealing people's intellectual property

Title: Belmont’s Curse Taught Me An Important Lesson About Parrying, Namely I Should Do It More Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 21:26:36 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/belmonts-curse-taught-me-an-important-lesson-about-parrying-namely-i-should-do-it-more-2000749181 ABP, always be parrying

Title: Monopoly Go x The Simpsons crossover is almost here Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:41:21 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/monopoly-go-the-simpsons-crossover-details Monopoly Go players have been looking forward to a major crossover event for what felt like months, and though most of the details ended up leaking, nothing actually beats official information. Read more

Title: Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.3 will take us deeper into the World in Canvas and make Mortenax Blade playable Date: Fri, 22 May 2026 13:43:44 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/honkai-star-rail-version-4-3-all-details HoYoverse has today delivered full details on the next major update for Honkai: Star Rail. Version 4.3, dubbed The Lethe Below the Living, will be available for all players on June 1. The upcoming update adds a new chapter to the Planarcadia arc, and introduce a new playable character. Read more

Title: Forza Horizon 6 explodes on Steam even before it's officially out Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 11:00:02 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/forza-horizon-6-steam-numbers-big-launch Steam is abuzz this week with a couple of long-anticipated launches, but in Forza Horizon 6’s case, at least, the game isn’t even out for what will be most of its players. The anticipated sequel in the open-world driving game series doesn’t officially launch until May 19, but owners of its most expensive version - the Premium Edition - can play it right now. Read more

Title: Mystic Messenger's most loyal players are getting banned in droves for seemingly playing the game too much Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 10:02:10 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/mystic-messenger-ban-wave-thousands-of-hourglasses-anniversary Mystic Messenger, arguably one of the best dating sims around, has been dormant for about seven years. Despite not receiving new content or any meaningful updates in all that time, the game remains popular with its core fans, many of whom just woke up to some shocking news about their accounts. Read more

Title: Forza Horizon 6 review - The driving game for everyone still can’t seem to escape its car-collecting legacy Date: Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:03 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/forza-horizon-6-review There is this idea that, for a long-running series to remain as consistently popular as Forza Horizon has been, it needs to diminish itself somewhat with each new entry, gradually losing more and more of its edge in a bid to appeal to the widest possible audience. Read more

Title: Sims Competitor InZoi Deletes “Uncomfortable” Post After Fan Pushback Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 21:17:52 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sims-competitor-inzoi-deletes-uncomfortable-post-after-fan-pushback/ The ambitious life-simulation game InZoi was once heralded as a potential "Sims-killer"--a promising new title that fans of the genre could turn to following EA's relentless pursuit to monetize every aspect of The Sims 4. However, a lackluster early-access period and concerns over the game's liberal use of AI made for a rocky start. Over the past year and a half, developer Krafton has addressed some of the complaints leveled at the game, but now, it finds itself in hot water for a different reason. Earlier today, the official InZoi X account shared a post depicting a balding man in a leather coat watching children play on a playground alongside the caption, "Just a peaceful day at the playground. Nothing unusual here... just ignore the bald guy" alongside an eyes emoji. Though the post is still up on the game's official Discord server, it was removed on X a few hours after it was initially posted due to users calling the post disturbing and pointing out that it seemed to allude to pedophilia. After removing the post, the account issued the following statement: https://twitter.com/PlayinZOI/status/2113658775584608309?s=20 The account initially shared the post to showcase improvements being made to InZoi's playgrounds as well as promote the game's upcoming Celebrity DLC, which is slated to arrive this December. However, its easy to understand why fans had a negative reaction to the post--especially in light of recent events. InZoi isn't the only life simulation game in the news for less-than-ideal reasons. After a brutal round of layoffs and announcing the closure of Mass Effect and Dragon Age studio BioWare, EA revealed that one of Maxis' ongoing Sims projects is being paused.

Title: Phantom Blade Zero – Everything To Know Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 21:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/videos/phantom-blade-zero-everything-to-know/ From its wuxia roots to its unique difficulty options, here is everything to know about Phantom Blade Zero.

Title: Fangs For The Memories: The Best Vampires In Video Games Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 20:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fangs-for-the-memories-the-best-vampires-in-video-games/ For many of us, the weather is finally becoming that cool autumn crisp, the days are getting shorter, and the season for gorging on candy and horror movies is in full-swing. While I may be in the camp that believes there aren’t nearly enough vampire video games, these creatures of the night are well represented in games. So what better time to pay tribute to our favorite bloodsuckers? Show off those pearly white fangs; these are the best vampires in gaming: Astarion - Baldur’s Gate III One of the best companions of the generational RPG by Larian Studios, Astarion’s charm will win over even the coldest of hearts. Players who choose to engage with his storyline are treated to some of the best storytelling Baldur’s Gate III has to offer. Did I mention he’s a rogue class by default, too? It was incredibly fun speccing his build to stealthily one-shot enemies and retain plenty of action points for his vampiric abilities. Rayne - BloodRayne A protagonist of a bygone era, Rayne was the definition of both sexy and deadly. Featuring an outfit that would fit right in an Underworld film, Rayne uses nimble acrobatics to slay and feast on unsuspecting foes such as Nazis and pesky cult members. While she hasn’t had a title since 2011’s BloodRayne: Betrayal, I pray to the vampiric gods that one day Rayne will return. Blade - Marvel's Midnight Suns This one feels like cheating. We all know how badass Blade is from the 1998 film, but his portrayal in Midnight Suns particularly stands out among vampires in games, adding a whole new side of humanity to the notorious vampire slayer. As the player, you have access to all of Blade’s vampiric abilities, which make short work of foes, but you also have the ability to get to know him personally (including his secret crush on Captain Marvel).  Vincent Valentine - Final Fantasy VII Have you ever just seen a character that is the embodiment of cool? That sums up Vincent Valentine in a nutshell. Hell, when Cloud and company first encounter him, he’s in a literal coffin. Aside from the cool aesthetics, Vincent has one of the best backstories in all of Final Fantasy VII and I can't wait to see how it’s portrayed in the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Revelation. Though not technically a vampire, the fact that he’s a genetically modified immortal human with sick taste in goth clothing qualifies him for this list. Coen - The Blood of Dawnwalker One of the more recent characters to appear on this list, Coen is one of the most fascinating vampire characters I’ve come across in all media. Cursed to be a “Dawnwalker,” Coen lives daytime as a human and nighttime as a bloodthirsty monster who’s willing to kill anyone to feed his bloodlust (if he gets hungry enough). With a story centered on trying to save his family, Coen’s decisions influence his humanity and how others perceive him.  The Blood of Dawnwalker may be one of the newest games on this list, but I can’t wait for a sequel to see more of the human/vampire balancing act that developer Rebel Wolves has created. Alucard - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Perhaps one of the greatest characters on this list, Alucard is the son of Count Dracula himself. Born to a human mother, Alucard retains his humanity in addition to his vampiric powers and rises to the occasion when his father gets out of line. Symphony of the Night is his most famous adventure and sees him out to stop his father in the wake of Richter Belmont’s disappearance (it's also one of the greatest games of all time). Carmilla - Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Did you know that, as a literary figure, Carmilla is actually older than Dracula? It's cool that Konami keeps using her in Castlevania games to keep her in public knowledge, and its newest take on the character in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse might be the best yet. One of the minions who guards Dracula’s castle, her design features her wearing a dress made entirely of human blood and holding a mask based on her original NES appearance. It’s a throwback and modern update that makes her one of the most memorable vampires in recent memory, and her gore-filled boss battle, one of the best in the game. Lady Dimitrescu - Resident Evil Village A vampire created by unconventional means, Lady Dimitrescu is one of the lords of the titular village that Ethan Winters faces off against in the eighth mainline Resident Evil game. Created by the black mold, Lady D grows to gigantic proportions and guards a gothic castle in true vampire fashion. Her design and portrayal broke away from conventional Resident Evil villains and she became a huge hit with internet fandoms. It’s just a shame that Capcom killed her off so soon. Orianna - The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine Orianna is truly one of the most evil vampires on this list. A Bruxa, or vampire lord, that Geralt encountered on his adventures in Toussaint, Orianna had unconventional tastes for a vampire and preferred the taste of children’s blood. To sate her need, she established an orphanage, granting her an endless supply. Her story felt like a Polish fairy-tale take on the tale of Elizabeth Bathory, a real life figure who bathed in the blood of young women in an attempt for endless youth. The Crimson Court - Darkest Dungeon: The Crimson Court I love depictions of vampires that see them as members of the aristocracy, but I also love depictions of them as feral beasts. Thankfully, Darkest Dungeon delivered both in a unique spin. In Darkest Dungeon's The Crimson Court DLC, the bloodsuckers are depicted as noblemen and women who willingly succumbed to vampirism but in their effort for eternal life were transformed into insect-like abominations that the adventuring party must face. It was such a unique take on vampire mythos that it hasn’t left my mind since I’ve played it nearly a decade ago.

Title: Leave It To Double Fine To Make The First Single-Player Friendslop Game Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:55:29 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/leave-it-to-double-fine-to-make-the-first-single-player-friendslop-game/ Friendslop is everywhere these days. Take one glance at the most recent Steam Next Fest and you’ll be inundated with not only mountains of obnoxious AI slop, but countless games where you and a group of friends can get up to wacky hijinks with cartoonish avatars, over the top physics, and hilarious use of proximity chat. If you’re a developer and your take on this genre goes viral, it has a chance of attracting tens of thousands of players and being a massive financial success--it’s no surprise that friendslop has become so commonplace. But if you fancy gaming on your lonesome for once or sadly don’t have any friends but still want to embrace the chaos of friendslop, then the latest game by Double Fine could be right up your street. Just make sure a bus filled with rowdy passengers doesn’t run you down as you start walking down it.  Thank You Bus Driver is available on Steam for only $5 and it’s a delightfully wacky adventure that does exactly what it says on the tin. You are a bus driver working in a small monochrome city and must drive passengers to their destination. Do so by completing certain objectives like stopping people from eating smelly food or dozing off and you’ll earn a "Thank You" for your troubles. I don’t think falling asleep on the bus is that much of a bad thing (though I suppose it might get you mugged in London).  Your task isn’t just about driving from place to place though, you also need to keep your passengers in line by turning around and smacking them with your freakishly long arms. And if someone refuses to stop, you can easily throw them out the backdoor into oncoming traffic. Lovely stuff. Well, it would be if you didn’t also need to keep driving at the exact same time and reach your next destination before the shift timer runs out. Double Fine has crafted a gameplay formula that is easy to understand yet deceptively hard to master while giving off the very same lunacy I’ve experienced in games like Peak or REPO.  And that's just scratching the surface. Every few stops a creepy dude in a trench coat will come aboard and offer you a selection of gadgets. You can hang an air freshener to eliminate smelly passengers, hang fairy lights or fuzzy dice around the window simply to block your view and cause extra trouble for the added thrill, or down a drink to make your vehicle go even faster--less control, but doing so may allow you to make your destination after suffering a setback. Oh, and be sure to look at your map if you get lost. No, not that long! Keep your eyes on the road as well!  Everything is designed to make your job not only more difficult, but also more fun as you desperately try to adapt to the chaos. I knew Thank You Bus Driver possessed the same infectious charm as my favorite friendslop games when one of my housemates noticed what I was playing and sat right down next to me, laughing in absurd glee as I ran down a cow and let its udders slip down my increasingly overstuffed windscreen. He wasn’t even playing, but not once hesitated to suggest potential shortcuts across meadows or down mountains that could save me a few precious seconds even if my clientele would forever curse the lack of seatbelts on public transportation. Take it up with your local authority, pal.  Friendslop has become such a popular staple for the types of games that friends play together, it can often be easy to forget how, before the genre existed, experiences like Thank You Bus Driver could draw in spectators and make them feel just as involved in the action. Just by being there, those onlookers have an impact and improve the overall experience of playing the game.  I’m eager to keep playing Thank You Bus Driver to earn new town variants, weird unlocks, and passengers who will test my potential for vehicular manslaughter. And I'm sure a few of the people I live with will be just as eager to watch me do it. I doubt I’ll wind up playing this game for a long time, but I’m damn sure having a good one. 

Title: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s First DLC Is Out Now, Honors A Real Soldier Who Sustained Gruesome Injuries Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:37:03 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4s-first-dlc-is-out-now-honors-a-real-soldier-who-sustained-gruesome-injuries/ Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 released today, October 23, and the game's first DLC pack is available now. In keeping with Call of Duty tradition, the day-one DLC is a Call of Duty Endowment (CODE) pack, with proceeds going to Activision's charity that supports military veterans find new jobs after they leave the service. The CODE Valor Pack adds the real-life Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter to the game as a playable character. Carpenter was in Marjah, Afghanistan, when, on November 21, 2010, he put himself in front of a grenade to help save the life of his fellow Marine, Nick Eufrazio. Carpenter sustained serious injuries from the grenade blast. He was unconscious for five weeks, had his teeth stripped from his mouth, and lost an eye. He sustained numerous other life-threatening injuries in the blast. Carpenter received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama in 2014. At the ceremony, Obama said, "They found Kyle lying face down, directly over the blast area. His helmet was riddled with holes. His gear was melted. Part of his Kevlar vest was blown away. One of the doctors who treated him later said Kyle was, 'Literally wounded from the top of his head to his feet.'" Carpenter underwent brain surgery to remove shrapnel from his head. He had about 40 other surgeries to addresses his injuries, which included a collapsed lung, fractured fingers, and one arm that broke in more than 30 places. He had multiple skin grafts and now has a prosthetic eye, a new jaw, and new teeth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtHK15qClkU The Valor Pack includes the Relentless and Valor skins, along with new weapon blueprints, a combat knife, and a weapon charm, among other things. All proceeds from the $20 DLC bundles will go to the CODE charity. Everything in the new MW4 CODE DLC. MW4 CODE Valor DLC pack: “Valor” Operator “Relentless” Operator Skin “Forged Resolve” M4 Assault Rifle Blueprint “Still Standing” Rezi 12 Shotgun Blueprint “Worth Fighting For” Combat Knife Melee Blueprint “Nice Try” Weapon Charm “Steel Talon” Weapon Sticker “Forged in Valor” Calling Card “Earned, Not Given” Emblem “Blood, Sweat, & Sand” Loading Screen 1 Hour Double Level XP Token   1 Hour Double Weapon XP Token  Modern Warfare boasts a very impressive 84 on GameSpot sister site Metacritic currently. For more, check out GameSpot’s MW4 review, which covers the campaign, DMZ, and multiplayer. If you're just getting started, you may also wanted to check out our rundown of the best MW4 multiplayer loadouts

Title: Lord of the Rings Officially Returns in November with 3 Releases Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 20:33:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/lotr-rings-of-power-s1-s2-physical-release-4k-blu-ray/ The Lord of the Rings is coming back to physical media in a big way this fall, giving fans another chance to bring a piece of Middle-earth home just as the franchise prepares for its next major chapter.

Title: The 5 least-scary scary games for people who are scared of scary games Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 20:00:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/best-not-scary-horror-games/ October is, unambiguously, the best time of year to love horror. Whether you lean toward horror movies, games, or both, there’s no shortage of ways to get scared this season.

Title: 10 Near-Perfect Netflix Sci-Fi Shows That Hook You in the First Scene Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 20:00:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/perfect-netflix-sci-fi-shows-that-hook-you-in-the-first-scene/ Not every great sci-fi show needs to start with a bang, but the best ones know how to grab your attention from the very first frame. Whether it’s a gruesome public execution in the middle of a cultural revolution, a child stepping into a smoke-filled battleground littered with corpses, or an alien organism mutating a host in seconds, the most compelling series understand the power of a great first impression. Such shows offer something tangible enough to keep you glued to your seat before the opening credits even roll.

Title: One Piece Is Officially Coming to Fortnite Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:05:06 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-one-piece-confirmed-mini-season-teaser/ Fortnite's next mini-season is a week away. The minor teasers that have surfaced thus far have made it clear that the upcoming season's theme will be an anime-pirate mash-up, and its main focus will be treasure hunting. That's about it. Epic Games has finally decided to pull the curtain back on the mini-season, and it's everything fans have been waiting for.

Title: Clint Eastwood's Most Intense Western Is Officially Streaming for Free on YouTube Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:00:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/high-plains-drifter-clint-eastwood-free-to-stream/ Throughout the 1960s, Clint Eastwood made the difficult leap from being a supporting player in a TV show to starring in movies as a headliner. That TV show was the Western series Rawhide and those movies were also primarily Westerns, most notably the three films which comprise “The Man with No Name Trilogy” — A Fistful of Dollars; For a Few Dollars More; and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Title: Cloud Deployment Incoming: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’ Arrives on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:00:20 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4/ Lock in and load out this GFN Thursday. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 arrives on GeForce NOW at launch, bringing a new campaign, multiplayer action and DMZ, high-stakes extraction mode to supported devices. The campaign also gets an enhanced look: GeForce RTX 5080-class performance arrives for Ultimate members, bringing support for ray-tracing features in the cloud. There’s a new way to join the cloud, too: Existing supported Fire TV Stick users can now purchase one-month Performance or Ultimate memberships directly through Amazon, making it easier to sign up and start streaming on the big screen. Plus, Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE brings cinematic pixel art and strategic battles to the cloud, and The Elder Scrolls Online’s Echoes of Skyrim Season adds the entire Greymoor Chapter free for all ESO Standard Edition owners. It’s all part of six games joining the GeForce NOW library this week. Deployment Without the Downloads Squad up and answer the call on the cloud. Activision and Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches today on GeForce NOW. Members can drop into the trenches in Korea, close-quarter combat in New York, high-octane chases through Paris, night raids in Mumbai and city-wide engagements to reclaim occupied territory. Fight as Private Park, a young South Korean soldier facing live combat for the first time alongside his squad as a routine patrol turns into a desperate fight for survival. Beyond the front lines, operator-turned-outlaw Captain Price is operating outside the system he once served, pursuing revenge through covert missions as the conflict spreads. Multiplayer pairs precise combat with fluid movement, a dozen core 6v6 maps from around the world and battlegrounds that are shaped by the campaign’s global conflict. The DMZ extraction mode sends players into contested territory to recover valuable technology, weigh objectives and decide when to get out. Loot, fight, negotiate, betray and extract — it’s all fair in the cloud and battleground. Ultimate members can now experience the campaign with ray tracing, powered by newly added GeForce RTX 5080-class performance across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices, browsers, supported TVs and more. With game downloads and installs handled by GeForce NOW, members can spend less time preparing a local rig and more time preparing the next loadout. A New Way to Play A new way to join GeForce NOW on Fire TV. GeForce NOW in-app purchase is rolling out to existing supported Fire TV Stick users, making it possible to purchase a membership directly through Amazon using an existing account. Transactions are processed through Amazon’s billing system, creating a more seamless path from setup to gameplay. GeForce NOW transforms Fire TV into a powerful PC gaming rig in the cloud. Members can stream supported PC games they already own or purchase new titles from digital stores including Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, Xbox PC Game Pass, GOG and EA. The library includes thousands of ready-to-play games, including many of the world’s most-played titles and more than 100 free-to-play games. No downloads, installs, patches or updates stand between a new game and playtime. An Amazon Fire TV Stick, the GeForce NOW app and an Ultimate membership are all it takes to level up the living room with GeForce RTX 5080-powered gaming. A Pixel-Perfect Fantasy Classic roots. A new adventure. Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE launches today on GeForce NOW, bringing the series’ classic roots into a cinematic pixel-art world. Travel with companions bound by fate and uncover the truth behind a force threatening to bring everything to ruin. Strengthen the party with Visions of beloved FINAL FANTASY characters, each bringing unique skills and abilities to battle. Dynamic camera angles and pixelized 3D models give familiar fantasy a fresh perspective. Exploit enemy weaknesses to stagger foes, break their defenses and seize extra turns before finishing the bonus phase with powerful Resonance attacks. Airships, crystals, espers and moogles bring familiar series favorites to a world filled with secrets to discover. GeForce NOW handles the game’s downloads and storage in the cloud, leaving more space on supported devices for everyday essentials. Save the inventory management for potions and Phoenix Downs. Step Into a New Season in Tamriel Familiar lands. Fresh reasons to return. The Elder Scrolls Online’s second season, Echoes of Skyrim, launched Wednesday, Oct. 21, free for all ESO players and ready to stream through GeForce NOW. Season Two gives everyone who owns ESO Standard Edition access to its Skyrim content and the Antiquities treasure-hunting system. The Markarth downloadable content follows Monday, Nov. 9, rounding out the additions with two classic zones to explore.  The Season also introduces Solo Dungeons, reimagining challenges previously designed for groups. Moon Hunter Keep and March of Sacrifices have been redesigned and rebalanced for players ready to tackle their dangers alone. Earn new rewards and take on new challenges at your own pace without needing to find a group. A new Tamriel Tome also launched Oct. 21, offering both free and premium battle pass reward tracks.  In addition, members can look for the following titles joining the GeForce NOW library this week: We Were Here Tomorrow (New release on Steam, Oct. 20) FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE (New release on Steam, Oct. 22) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (New release on Oct 23, available in the Call of Duty app) CONTROL Resonant (Epic Game Store) Crimson Desert (Epic Games Store) Planet Zoo 2 (Xbox app, supports XBOX Play Anywhere) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after release and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. Gamers who want to test out high-performance GeForce NOW cloud gaming can start with a day pass to try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Better yet, the cost of the day pass can be applied toward a first monthly membership — making it easy to try GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming with the latest releases, then level up for more. What’s on the mission board this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Dial Up the Cloud: NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 Controls Arrive on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:00:59 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-enshrouded-update/ Dial in the next gaming session this GFN Thursday. New NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 controls give GeForce NOW members more choice over how supported games look and perform in the cloud, even without the latest hardware. Then, step into the Shroud as Keen Games’ Enshrouded leaves early access with its 1.0 release, or let the bolts fly in Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2. Both are streaming on GeForce NOW at launch. With 10 new games joining the cloud this week, members can put the new controls to work in supported titles and keep playing across supported devices without downloads, installs or expensive hardware upgrades. Fine-Tune the Cloud With DLSS 4.5 Controls More control, more cloud power. NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 controls are now available on GeForce NOW, giving members more choice over how supported games look and perform in the cloud, even without the latest hardware. DLSS Super Resolution sharpens image quality, while Dynamic Multi Frame Generation delivers lower latency and reduces stutter for smoother streaming, and Ray Reconstruction enhances ray-traced visuals. In addition, Ultimate members streaming on GeForce RTX 5080-powered cloud rigs benefit from the maximum available options, including Dynamic Multi Frame Generation up to 4X.   From James Bond’s globe-trotting missions in 007 First Light — now with path tracing support — to CONTROL Resonant’s reality-bending Manhattan and the shadowy scares of Resident Evil Requiem, the controls help fine-tune supported games for image quality, responsiveness or a preferred balance between the two. These new settings are available in the GeForce NOW app under settings, for Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and Steam OS platforms. Members can read here for more details on using the feature with their membership tier, and more information on how to get the smoothest cloud game streaming for some games on GeForce NOW. Rise, Flameborn Enshrouded 1.0 brings the co-op survival action role-playing game out of early access and into its full release. Rise as a Flameborn, the last ember of hope of a dying race, and venture into a vast world of survival, action and role-playing, where a corrupting fog has consumed a once-beautiful kingdom. The title brings improvements to existing systems, alongside expansions in combat with nine new spells, new mage and archer skills, reworked wands and upgradeable Eternal spells and arrows. New enemy variants keep encounters fresh, while a new biome raises the player level cap to 50 and equipment cap to 55.  GeForce NOW offers Enshrouded 1.0 ready to play in the cloud at launch across supported devices. Skip the 60GB local install to save precious storage space, then step into the Shroud without waiting for downloads or needing to make room for the update. Let the Bolts Fly Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is now streaming on GeForce NOW. The brutal, fast-paced sequel to the retro first-person shooter brings more enemies, more weapons and new ways to purge. Picking up directly after the original game, a branching single-player campaign sends the fight to grimdark new worlds. Choose between the formidable Sternguard Veteran Malum Caedo and the swift Sister of Battle Nyra Veyrath, each with distinct abilities, weapons and play styles. From towering hive cities to jungle mangrove swamps, new enemy types await in every biome. GeForce NOW keeps the campaign ready in the cloud. No local rig upgrades or game installs stand between members and the fight — the Emperor’s work waits for no loading bar. In addition, members can look for the following joining the GeForce NOW library: Deep Dish Dungeon (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Planet Zoo 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Valor Mortis (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Among the Trolls (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) over the hill (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) Beyond These Stars (New release on Steam and Xbox, Oct. 15), available on Game Pass Tenebris Somnia (New release on Steam, Oct. 16) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered (Xbox), available on Microsoft Store Also this week, the performance of DLSS 5’s 3D-Guided Neural Rendering model is improving by 2X, enabling even more gamers to enjoy DLSS 5’s transformative uplift in lighting and materials at high frame rates and settings. The new, more performant DLSS 5 model will debut in NBA 2K27 on Oct. 16 on GeForce NOW, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and RTX Spark laptops. Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after they’re released and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates to announced titles. Gamers who want to test out the new 4.5 controls and high-performance GeForce NOW cloud gaming can start with a day pass to try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Better yet, the cost of the day pass can be applied toward a first monthly membership — making it easy to try GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming with the latest releases, then level up for more. What’s on the playlist this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Rally Up: ‘Gears of War: E-Day’ Launches on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:00:46 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-gears-of-war-e-day/ Gears of War: E-Day leads the charge on GeForce NOW this week, bringing Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago’s first fight against the Locust Horde to the cloud with GeForce RTX-powered performance. A new way to join the action is also coming: Fire TV users will soon be able to purchase GeForce NOW memberships directly through Amazon, creating a more seamless path from device setup to gameplay. Keep an eye out for availability in the coming weeks. There’s more in store this GFN Thursday, with the cloud serving up 10 games, including seven new releases. Emergence Day Is Here Gears of War: E-Day is now streaming on GeForce NOW following its global release on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Set 14 years before the original Gears of War, the prequel follows Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago as they confront the terrifying arrival of the Locust Horde on Emergence Day. The series’ brutal combat, desperate survival and larger-than-life action return with a new origin story for the legendary partnership. Ultimate members can take on the Horde with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud, plus technologies including NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Reflex. From campaign missions to cooperative and competitive modes, GeForce NOW keeps the fight ready across low-power laptops, Macs, mobile devices, handhelds, Firefox and other browsers, and more — no massive downloads or expensive gaming rig required. New on the Cloud Menu Members can look forward to the following games joining the GeForce NOW library this week: Gears of War: E-Day (New release on Steam and Xbox, Oct. 6), available on Game Pass STAR WARS: Galactic Racer (New release on Steam, Oct. 6) Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Forever Ago (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Order of the Sinking Star (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Silver Pines (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Permafrost (New release on Steam, Oct. 9) Graveyard Keeper 2 (Steam) Solasta II (Steam) Tyr (Steam) The Xbox version of Dune: Awakening didn’t join GeForce NOW in September as previously shared. Stay tuned to GFN Thursday for updates on game availability. Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after they are released and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. Gamers who want to test out high-performance GeForce NOW cloud gaming can start with a day pass to try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Better yet, the cost of the day pass can be applied toward a first monthly membership — making it easy to try GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming with the latest releases, then level up for more. What’s on the play list this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Fall Into 25 New Games on GeForce NOW This October Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:00:54 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-october-2026-games-list/ Spooky season is streaming in. Alongside falling leaves, pumpkin spice and everything nice, 25 new games are joining GeForce NOW throughout October, including six ready to play this week. From a new CONTROL Resonant reward for Performance and Ultimate members to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered joining the cloud, this GFN Thursday is packed with fresh reasons to play. Claim Rewards A new reward from a world gone sideways. CONTROL Resonant is streaming from the cloud for GeForce NOW Performance and Ultimate members. Explore a warped Manhattan on the brink of paranatural annihilation as Dylan Faden harnesses extraordinary powers to battle the Hiss, the Mold and other reality-bending threats while searching for his sister, Federal Bureau of CONTROL Director Jesse Faden. Performance and Ultimate members can claim the Third Ice Baseball Cap reward for CONTROL Resonant. After claiming the reward code, launch the Steam or Epic Games Store version of CONTROL Resonant, select “Options” from the main menu, navigate to “Gameplay” and choose “Enter Redeem Code.” The reward can be equipped after completing Act 1. Cap it off: Claim the reward from Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at 11:59 p.m. PT, before it slips into another dimension. The White Wolf Rides Again The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered launched Tuesday, Sept. 29, and is now streaming for Performance and Ultimate members. Follow the iconic tale of Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer for hire, as he tracks down the Child of Prophecy in a war-torn, monster-infested open world. The remastered adventure brings Geralt’s beloved world back at refreshed specs across nearly any device. GeForce NOW handles the rendering, downloads and storage in the cloud, so there’s no expensive hardware upgrade or lengthy install standing between the trail and the next contract. Ultimate members can take the Continent further with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud — high-end horsepower worthy of the White Wolf, with no local hardware upgrade required. In addition, members can look for the following titles streaming this week: Minecraft Dungeons II (New release on Xbox, Sept. 29), available on Game Pass Nivalis Nights (New release on Steam, Sept. 29) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered (New release on Battle.net and Xbox Play Anywhere, Sept. 29), available on Microsoft Store Bookshop Simulator (Steam) Megastore: Tidy Up Together (Steam) Planet Coaster 2 (Xbox), available on Game Pass And look forward to the games coming throughout October: Gears of War: E-Day (New release on Steam, Oct. 6) STAR WARS: Galactic Racer (New release on Steam, Oct. 6) Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Order of the Sinking Star (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Silver Pines (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Permafrost (New release on Steam, Oct. 9) Deep Dish Dungeon (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Planet Zoo 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Valor Mortis (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Among the Trolls (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) over the hill (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) Beyond These Stars (New release on Steam, Oct. 16) Tenebris Somnia (New release on Steam, Oct. 16) Dimraeth (Steam) Graveyard Keeper 2 (Steam) Solasta II (Steam) Tyr (Steam) More from September In addition to the games announced last month, 11 more joined the GeForce NOW library. The Blood of Dawnwalker (GOG.com) Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Epic Games Store) DragonSword: Awakening (Steam) Dune: Awakening (Xbox) Everything Is Crab (Steam) LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Steam) Over the Top: WWI (Steam) Roadside Research (Steam) RuneScape: Dragonwilds (Xbox) Stick It to the Stickman (Steam) Wild West Pioneers (Steam) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after they are released and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. Gamers who want to test out high-performance GeForce NOW cloud gaming can start with a day pass to try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Better yet, the cost of the day pass can be applied toward a first monthly membership — making it easy to try GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming with the latest releases, then level up for more. What’s on the playlist this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Contain the Chaos: ‘CONTROL Resonant’ Launches on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:36 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-control-resonant/ A warped Manhattan is waiting in the cloud this week. Remedy Entertainment’s CONTROL Resonant brings Dylan Faden’s extraordinary abilities and a paranatural crisis to GeForce NOW at launch. With the release comes the final days of the CONTROL Resonant Ultimate Membership Bundle. Purchase a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership through Sunday, Sept. 27, and receive CONTROL Resonant at no additional cost. GeForce NOW support is coming soon to Googlebooks, a new category of laptops bringing together the best of ChromeOS and Android. To top it off, DragonSword: Awakening leads nine new games this week, bringing an anime-style open world to supported devices. Take Control on the Cloud Explore a warped Manhattan on the brink of paranatural annihilation in Remedy Entertainment’s CONTROL Resonant. Harness Dylan Faden’s extraordinary abilities to battle the Hiss, the Mold and other reality-bending threats while searching for his sister, Federal Bureau of CONTROL Director Jesse Faden. Dylan must master his new powers and the ever-changing forms of the Aberrant, his paranatural melee weapon, to face a cosmic threat that has escaped the Oldest House and swept through the city. Ultimate members can stream the next chapter of the CONTROL franchise with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud, including NVIDIA DLSS 4, ray tracing, NVIDIA Reflex and Cinematic Quality Streaming technologies, with up to 5K high dynamic range on supported devices. Skip the 100GB local install and expensive PC upgrades, and step into the chaos the moment the mission begins. The clock is ticking: the CONTROL Resonant Ultimate Membership Bundle ends Sunday, Sept. 27. Cloud Gaming Meets Googlebooks GeForce NOW support is coming soon to Googlebooks — Google’s new category of laptops, and the first designed for Gemini Intelligence. Googlebook is crafted with premium materials for powerful performance. Secure by design, its Titan C chip and multigrade protection keep viruses out and hackers away. It also lets users jump from phone to laptop without skipping a beat, and access files and apps from phones directly on the laptop. As Googlebooks begin rolling out this fall, GeForce NOW support will bring the cloud gaming library to the new laptop category, making it possible to stream the latest PC games with GeForce RTX-powered performance — and without local installs. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW social channels for more availability details later this year. Awaken the Dragon Sword A dragon has awakened after 60 years, and the legacy of six heroes waits to be uncovered. Hound13’s DragonSword: Awakening transports players to the radiant, anime-style continent of Orbis, where Lute’s journey to become the hero known as the Dragon Sword begins. Explore meadows, secret cellars, deep seas, caves and dungeons alongside trusted allies and collectible Familiars. Build a team from 19 heroes, stack Status Ailments with Active Skills and chain Signal Skills into spectacular tag-team combos. Each character carries a story of their own to uncover along the way. The journey travels across supported devices, including Steam Decks, Firefox browsers and Amazon Fire TV devices, making players ready for the next adventure in Orbis. The Dragon Sword awaits. In addition, members can look for the following games joining the cloud this week: Dune: Awakening (New release on Xbox, Sept. 22, available on Game Pass) Stick It to the Stickman (New release on Steam, Sept. 23) CONTROL Resonant (New release on Steam, Sept. 24) Wild West Pioneers (New release on Steam, Sept. 25) DragonSword: Awakening (Steam) Everything Is Crab (Steam) LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Steam) Over the Top: WWI (Steam) Roadside Research (Steam) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after they’re released and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates to announced titles. Those new to GeForce NOW can start with a day pass to try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Better yet, the cost of a day pass can be applied toward a first monthly membership — making it easy to level up with GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming. Which cloud-bound adventure is calling this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Share of the Week: 007 First Light Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:00:57 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/23/share-of-the-week-007-first-light/ Last week, we asked you explore the new Photo Mode in 007 First Light using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. Here are this week’s highlights: call_me_xavii shared Bond blasting at enemies with his Aston Martin WildJogurt shared a turtleneck-wearing Bond receiving mission orders lucaslu_ckli shared a stylist look at James’ Aston Martin m1rko_vp shared a black and white portrait of James looking dashing in the field Milz_VP shares James checking out his outfit in the mirror wern_r shares James posing next to Jack the bulldog  Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: CostumeSUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 28, 2026 Next week, share your favorite in-game costumes or outfits from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Title: Saros: creating the epic Overlords of Carcosa Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:59:40 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/23/saros-creating-the-epic-overlords-of-carcosa/ Housemarque and Nixxes developed Saros in close collaboration; one area was developing the set-piece bosses. Housemarque brought the creative vision, world, combat language, visual concepts, and signature bullet-hell DNA. Nixxes brought the bosses to life through encounter design, animation, environments, lighting, and technical implementation. The result was a set of encounters designed to challenge players, surprise them, and deliver the kind of spectacle PlayStation players expect from a Housemarque action experience. Spoilers for the bosses of Saros ahead, so read at your own risk. Play Video Collaboration with Housemarque Boss fights in Saros are fully staged encounters, not just enemies with larger health bars, so that required close collaboration from the start. Housemarque handled boss concepts, visual direction, and VFX identity. Nixxes focused on animation, environments, technical design, boss behaviour, and attack implementation, with Housemarque’s final review and collaboration. The road to developing a boss started with a briefing that outlined the vision, gameplay goals, and visual direction for the encounter. From there, Nixxes pitched its take, built early prototypes and first-playable versions, refining each encounter through iteration, playtesting, and polish until shipping. Play Video What makes a Saros boss? When designing bosses for Saros, we followed a few guiding principles, starting with three distinct phases for every boss encounter, each with its own identity, changing how the encounter looks, feels, and plays. A typical boss battle in Saros lasts about three to eight minutes (Saros: Zenith has a tighter arcade experience), with the challenge coming mainly from boss behaviour, arena transformation, environmental hazards, bullets, beams, and physical attacks. These were also designed to encourage players to use their shield, jumping, parrying, and dashing abilities, knowing that a good boss attack should make players move with intent, not in panic. Most importantly, when players were defeated by a boss, we asked: do they understand why they lost, do they know what to do differently next time, did it feel like their own mistake rather than something unfair, and do they want to try again? Play Video The Bosses Prophet — the wall boss The Prophet was our introductory boss and a first major test for players. Because the Prophet appears early in the game, we wanted it to teach players what a Saros boss could be without becoming a major progression blocker. With the Prophet, we wanted a fight that felt dramatic and threatening while still welcoming players to the structure and expectations of boss combat. Architect — the flying boss The Architect is one of the game’s most dramatic encounters, fought atop a massive tower after earlier foreshadowing. The boss comes at you with everything it has, destroying the environment as the fight unfolds, and it doesn’t quit until the very end. The entire encounter centres on the collapsing arena, making the grapple hook a fundamental part of the battle. You are not just fighting the boss; you are fighting to survive the arena. Shepherd — the massive boss The Shepherd is the game’s largest boss and biggest visual spectacle, set on a ship on a stormy sea. It has an intimidating scale and culminates in a terrifying transformation by the end of the encounter. This boss is all about tentacles, which you must dodge and jump over throughout the fight. The tentacles also shrink the arena and spawn attacks from unexpected directions. In a dramatic conclusion, you face the boss on a sloped arena. Priestess — the magic boss The Priestess uses illusion and transformation, making for a less grounded, more surreal encounter with a strong phase identity. We wanted players to feel the Priestess could be the final boss, even if the journey was not over yet. The encounter evolves from illusion-based clone combat into a large-scale, floating arena, encouraging players to combine combat, puzzle-solving, and platforming to survive. King — the final boss As the final boss, we wanted the King encounter to feel direct, intense, and skill-focused. It is also a major narrative moment, and the encounter needed to reflect its importance. The boss battle escalates in personality as much as in challenge. It starts controlled and relentless, then becomes more brutal, and finally something feral and unpredictable. As a result, the King doesn’t rely on a complicated gimmick. Instead, the fight tests everything the player has learned, where mastery matters most. Looking back and looking ahead to Saros: Zenith Working on bosses for Saros was an amazing opportunity for the Nixxes content team. We aimed to make each one feel fair, thrilling, and worth trying again. And each encounter challenged us to think about how we could create the most memorable moments for the player. More importantly, it let us collaborate closely with Housemarque on the fast, responsive, high-intensity action that defines the game. With Saros: Zenith, players can return to these battles in Housemarque’s new Overlord Rush mode and experience them in a fresh, faster, and more replayable way. We are excited to see how players take on the challenge and fight to reach the top of the Leaderboard. Play Video

Title: Marvel’s Wolverine: Photo Mode guide Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:00:31 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/22/marvels-wolverine-photo-mode-guide/ Photo Modes are a rewarding way to get to grips with some essential elements of photography, while letting you more closely examine and appreciate a game’s art design and increasingly photorealistic visuals. Feature-rich Photo Modes put an entire suite of virtual lighting rigs at your fingertips, subtracting concerns about space requirements, or the patience of your models as you get your composition just right.   Insomniac in particular continues to bring a superheroic heft to its photographic options, first established through its Marvel’s Spider-Man games, with Marvel’s Wolverine. The game’s out for just over a month, and we continue to be dazzled by the Photo Mode skills players have displayed since launch. We’ve equally had questions from budding shutterbugs asking for guidance on how to better their shots. Here, we unpack some of the options the studio offers up in Photo Mode and some examples to get you thinking.  Warning: some of the photos here are spoilers for the game’s outfits and mid-game content Set up tips  Chapter select: Once you’ve rolled credits, loading your save file will pop you back in Logan’s cabin. Head to the bed to access a chapter select menu, letting you leap into any location or moment from the story. From Canada’s snowy wilderness, neon-soaked Shinjuku arcades, to the compact districts of Madripoor and more, you got plenty of backdrops, blockbuster moments and quieter character moments to work with.  Photo Mode UI repositioning: Insomniac has packed in a multitude of options in its Photo Mode to cater to every need you’d have. That includes up to 5 independent lighting rigs (plus customisable natural light options!), character poses, miniature mode, filters and more. Extensive options means a chunky, multi-tab Photo Mode UI. Remember: if you find the UI is blocking your shot, you can tap a button to alternate it between the left and right of your screen.  D-Pad Shortcuts: As default you access Photo Mode from the Pause menu, but jump into Settings, and you can map a shortcut to Photo Mode to the DualSense’s D-Pad. And while you’re there, assign another D-Pad button to adjust the game speed, letting you reduce game speed by 30, 50 or 70%. Useful when you want to capture the perfect action moment.   Landscape, portrait or between: You can use the Tilt option to angle the camera from a straight landscape shot, to a dramatic dutch angle, or a 9×16 portrait image. You’ll need to tilt your own head to better compose the shot with that last option (or, if you’re playing on a PlayStation Portal, just turn the handheld device on its side).  I see five lights  A headline feature of Marvel’s Wolverine Photo mode is five independent lights, each offering separate colour spectrums, intensity options, adjustable distances and such. You can choose each light to be Sphere (casting a wider glow from their centre) or Spotlights (a stronger directional beam).  One to two lights: That can seem daunting, but you don’t have to use them all! In fact, for individual portrait shots, just one or two will do. In photography terms, two lights cover your key light, and your rim light. The former is the main light, illuminating your subject from the front. Play about with having this light to the side, above or below your subject to change the mood of the shot. The latter usually is positioned behind your subject at a lower intensity and at a slight angle, casting a soft fall of light onto your model’s side, shoulders or hair, which separates them from the background.  But those guidelines aren’t rigid: play with lighting, shifting from traditional portraiture to something more startling, as I’ve done with the above. (Which positions Logan’s character model within the radius of a gun’s muzzle flash during a fight scene.)  And once you’ve comfortable with one subject, extend it to two models, then group shots. So, 5 lights. There’s a few examples of location-based uses that could help wrap your head around how to operate them.  Try this: Take the arcade early on in the “In the Shadows” chapter. It’s a barrage of colour, glowing cabinet screens and neon ceiling lights battling for dominance. Switch to Photo Mode and use each light to mimic the glow of a different arcade cabinet screen, or infer ones that aren’t even in shot. Tinker with the intensity and light type of each. You’re just trying to best replicate the mood and look of an arcade bar. I applied the same trick to the casino scene below, but with two lights only. One was positioned just in front of the fruit machine to give off that notable glow, which bathed Jean Grey’s left side in purple light. Logan on the other hand was the focus of an off-white light off-camera, mimicking the glow from the wider casino floor. Three lights: The below photo ups the set to three lights, this time coloured to replicate the flow from the two lanterns to the rear of the shot, and the candles on the floor in the foreground. I upped the intensity of the front light to cast a strong shadow on the floor. A similar trick I applied to an alternate version on the arcade scene: notice the shadow of the grabber claw cast on the back wall? Move him as you need him  In all the shots thus far, my focus was ever on the position and body language of NPCs, rather than Logan himself. That’s because with the Character Pose option, you’re able to cycle through a set of different locked poses, and then,  with movement options, you’re free to move Wolverine to anywhere within a generous radius (up, down, left, right, back and forward). You can rotate him, cycle through a variety of facial expressions and switch between any suits or claws you’ve currently unlocked. You can also hide him entirely, or any enemy NPC thanks to a toggle option in the menus.  A good rule of thumb with any photo: once snapped, cycle through the different suits before exiting. Some might fit the mood of a shot better, and the various materials on each react differently to light sources.  Note: Logan’s original position when entering Photo Mode will be taken as the centre point to which the 5 independent lights will circle around, not where he is moved to. So you’ll need to adjust lights accordingly if you want him lit a certain way.  Ready, set, action (figure)  A fun feature making a welcome leap from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Action Figure mode. Found in the Character Pose sub-menu, one click turns Logan miniature. Ripe for some creative executions. For myself, I envisioned Wolverine sitting in Jean’s outstretched palm. In trying to capture that moment during a combat moment, I stumbled onto something unexpected: the world’s smallest Fastball Special.  Worth noting: despite his (more than usual) diminutive size, mini-Logan’s model has the same movement radius (up, down, left right, forward or back) as his normal-sized version.   The above had a comic book cover-like look I liked, which led me to the rabbit hole of using miniature work, and the ability to switch backgrounds to a specific colour palette to mimic something you’d see on the front of a graphic novel. The above was possible due to another feature worth flagging: Logan has an entirely separate set of poses when he’s airborne, as exampled below. Merging Figures The Wolverine character model isn’t blocked by other character models or environmental objects when moving him,  giving you the flexibility to get characters side by side for some dramatic shots. Don’t worry about any clipping or overlaps between models! The right camera angle will hide that imperfection (such as the shots below: in the first Jean’s right arm is actually clipping through Logan’s jacket, the second, Logan’s knee is clipping through Jean’s back). That said, don’t be afraid to get creative with the clipping. Example below: having Jean and Logan’s heads blend together, a nod to sci-fi movie-style posters and referencing how the game’s story delves into his mind and memories.  Composed and captured your shot? Now pan around  Captured a great shot? Great. But before you back out of Photo Mode, train yourself to do one last pan around. There may be an alternative angle to your setup, a hidden detail just out of view. Heck, there could be a completely different photo worth capturing in the frozen moment. For me, an early example was the below. Originally this was a neon-lit picture of Wolverine in a completely different pose. But I widened the lens and spotted Jean’s hand in the foreground, which made for a fun framing device and also gave a different vibe to the photo.  Now go grab some great photos  The above isn’t intended to be an exhaustive run down of the game’s many Photo Mode options, but a few primers to get you thinking and start on capturing great shots of your own. If you need more inspiration, find a few more galleries below!  Street Photography Gallery Remember to look beyond your immediate view. Every location in the game is rich with cool environments or background characters going about their lives.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Action Gallery  You can increase the amount of blood or damage on Logan’s character model via a specific menu option in Photo Mode.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Verify your age to view this content. 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Title: PlayStation Store: September 2026’s top downloads Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:00:25 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/22/playstation-store-september-2026s-top-downloads/ It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, and free-to-play games topped last month’s download charts. In September, Marvel’s Wolverine led the PS5 charts in the US, followed by EA Sports FC 27, while in the EU, EA Sports FC 27 led the PS5 charts, followed by Marvel’s Wolverine. Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month? PS5 Games US/CanadaEUMarvel’s WolverineEA Sports FC 27EA Sports FC 27Marvel’s WolverineNBA 2K27The Blood of DawnwalkerHalloweenHalloweenThe Blood of DawnwalkerGrand Theft Auto VMadden NFL 27MinecraftOnimusha: Way of the SwordOnimusha: Way of the SwordControl ResonantNBA 2K27NHL 27Forza Horizon 5College Football 27Control ResonantCall of Duty: Black Ops IICall of Duty: Black Ops IIMinecraftValheimValheimThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntGrand Theft Auto VSilent Hill: TownfallSilent Hill: TownfallResident Evil 4Minecraft Dungeons IIMinecraft Dungeons IIForza Horizon 5NHL 27Call of Duty: Black OpsDune: AwakeningDune: Awakening007 First LightResident Evil 4It Takes Two *Naming of products may differ between regions *Upgrades not included PS4 Games US/CanadaEURed Dead Redemption 2EA Sports FC 27Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIRed Dead Redemption 2Batman: Arkham KnightBatman: Arkham KnightGang BeastsA Way OutCall of Duty: WWIICall of Duty: WWIIResident Evil 5Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIResident Evil 6Gang BeastsMinecraftNeed for Speed HeatNeed for Speed HeatLEGO Marvel Super HeroesLEGO Marvel Super HeroesCall of Duty: Modern WarfaretheHunter: Call of the WildCrash Bandicoot N. Sane TrilogyCall of Duty: Modern WarfareMinecraftA Way OutUnravel TwoGod of WarThe ForestStar Wars Battlefront IIMafia TrilogyMortal Kombat XResident Evil 6Crash Bandicoot N. Sane TrilogyResident Evil 5EA Sports FC 27God of WarThe ForesttheHunter: Call of the WildInjustice 2LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 *Naming of products may differ between regions  PS VR2 Games* US/CanadaEUI Am Cat I Am Cat Horizon Call of the MountainBeat SaberBeat SaberPavlovPavlovHorizon Call of the MountainJob SimulatorJob SimulatorCities: VR – Enhanced EditionMetro AwakeningArizona Sunshine VR 2Arizona Sunshine VR 2Bootstrap IslandCities: VR – Enhanced EditionMetro AwakeningVampire: The Masquerade – JusticeHard BulletSwordsman VR *PlayStation Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included Free to Play (PS5 + PS4) US/CanadaEUCall of Duty: WarzoneAniimoOnce HumanFortniteFortniteCall of Duty: WarzoneAniimoRobloxRobloxOnce HumanMarvel RivalsRocket LeagueRocket LeagueeFootballApex LegendsAsphalt LegendsAsphalt LegendsMarvel RivalsFall GuysFall Guys

Title: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis – the evolution of Lara Croft’s design Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:59:38 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/22/tomb-raider-legacy-of-atlantis-the-evolution-of-lara-crofts-design/ When Lara Croft first leapt onto screens in 1996, she was a few hundred polygons and a fistful of pixels. Thirty years later, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis reimagines that same adventurer with technology the original team could only dream of. Through it all, one goal held steady: she had to look like Lara. For a generation of players, their first adventure with Lara unfolded on PlayStation. Tomb Raider and PlayStation came of age together in the mid-nineties, each helping shape what that new era of gaming could be. Thirty years later, that connection still resonates, and Lara’s latest journey continues on PlayStation 5. Play Video Building on the original “Now we have that technology and the computing power, we ask, how do we make this the most realistic-looking Lara while sticking with that original design?” For the character team, the 1996 design is the anchor every choice answers to. “When the original Lara was made, we could only have a certain number of polygons, a certain number of textures,” says Brendon Bengston at Crystal Dynamics. “There were a lot of things we wanted to do to make things look realistic that we just didn’t have the technology for. Now we have that technology and the computing power, so we ask, how do we make this the most realistic-looking Lara while sticking with that original design?” Every console generation since has moved that design a step forward. The PlayStation 2 era of Legend, Anniversary, and Underworld gave Lara smoother geometry and more expressive animation, and the Survivor trilogy pushed her detail and realism further still. Each leap added polygons, texture, and nuance, and each one answered back to that same 1996 silhouette. For the concept team, the harder challenge was balance: pushing the fidelity forward while keeping her instantly recognizable. “You want them to feel believable, but you also want them to look recognizable,” says Aleksandra Skiba, Senior Character Concept Artist at Flying Wild Hog. “You have to figure out what you can do now to make them better.” Rendering a living character The leap from 1996 is most visible in the details that used to be impossible. Take her hair. “Back in the first couple of Tomb Raider games, it was all polygons, all big shapes,” Bengston says. “Now we are able to create hair cards and craft exact strands.” Hair cards are thin, overlapping strips of semi-transparent texture, layered to mimic real clumps of hair rather than the solid, helmet-like shapes of the past. The difference is in the motion. “How does the bang move? What does the ponytail feel like? What does the braid feel like? We can get in and craft every nook and cranny.” Her skin carries the same fidelity. “We can do a lot of things with our materials for the skin. We have subsurface scattering, we have flow maps,” Bengston says. Subsurface scattering is the effect that makes skin look alive rather than plastic, light sinking slightly into the surface and glowing back out, the way your ear looks lit from within when the sun is behind it. The face goes further still. “We can craft custom blend shapes so that when Lara squinches, we see bespoke lines on her face, on the forehead, when she smiles or when she frowns.” Blend shapes are sculpted facial poses the game moves between, letting a single face form thousands of natural expressions. “We weren’t able to do that not long ago. Using this technology from Epic in Unreal has let us take the characters to the next level, not just in their static model but in how they move and emote.” Real fabric, real folds “We actually hired a tailor to create an actual outfit for her. They made it, we put it on a mannequin and scanned it, and now we have a real-world asset of the digital version.” To dress Lara believably, the team leaned on the real world. “Early on we decided to leverage a scanning pipeline,” Bengston says. “We sculpted the base body, got it 3D printed at real scale, sent it to a vendor, put real-world clothes on the mannequin, and scanned that. It gives us real-world cloth. Denim folds differently than silk. It folds differently from chiffon or cotton or wool.” For one of Lara’s outfits, they went all the way. “We actually hired a tailor to create an actual outfit for her,” Bengston says. “They made it, we put it on a mannequin and scanned it, and now we have a real-world asset of the digital version.” What we kept, what we reimagined Technology renders the surface. Identity is what the team fought to protect. John Stafford, Narrative Director at Crystal Dynamics, frames the reimagining in three parts. “What we kept: Lara’s intelligence, fearlessness, and thrill-seeking spirit remain completely intact,” he says. “What we evolved: we deepened her emotional depth and relationships without losing her confidence. What we reimagined: we unified the mythic, grounded, and larger-than-life tones of multiple Tomb Raider eras into one Lara.” It is a challenge the studio has faced before. “Anniversary was about retelling a classic through a modern lens. Legacy of Atlantis is about synthesizing thirty years of Lara into something new,” Stafford says. “Anniversary taught us that, outside of plot points, fans remember how Lara makes them feel. We want to evoke similar emotions from across all previous eras.” That includes the younger, rawer Lara of the Survivor trilogy. “The Survivor era showed us Lara works well when danger has consequences,” Stafford says. “We carried forward her physicality, emotional credibility, and sense of earned resilience. Even at her most confident and badass, this Lara still feels human.” One Lara, every era “No matter the era, Lara must always feel like someone who needs to know what’s behind the next door.”  The result is a Lara built to resonate with anyone who has ever picked up a controller in her name. For players meeting her for the first time, the target is simple. “That she’s the smartest person in the room, and the boldest,” Stafford says. “That adventure isn’t something she survives, it’s something she actively pursues.” One quality, Stafford says, was non-negotiable no matter which era a fan loves most. “Lara’s curiosity and spirit of discovery. No matter the era, Lara must always feel like someone who needs to know what’s behind the next door.” Everything about how she is made has changed. What makes her Lara has not. Pre-order Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Lara Croft’s greatest adventure begins February 12, 2027. Pre-orders are live now on PlayStation Store, so secure your edition before launch.

Title: "System Shock and Deus Ex, they were RPGs. People called them RPGs": Gloomwood's publisher isn't too keen on using the term immersive sim despite it being one Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 20:29:27 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/system-shock-and-deus-ex-they-were-rpgs-people-called-them-rpgs-gloomwoods-publisher-isnt-too-keen-on-using-the-term-immersive-sim-despite-it-being-one You know, I think at this point in my life there is a non-zero chance I will die before anyone is able to settle comfortably on what defines an immersive sim. I'm not going to even try to! The idea is too annoying and I'm sure someone will disagree with some aspect of it. And if you ask New Blood boss Dave Oshry, when it comes to trying to flog an immersive sim, it's probably best to not even refer to it as one. Read more

Title: HELENA : Cloud District is a megastructure photography game laser targeted at my interests, and it's out next week Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 18:58:26 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helena-cloud-district-is-a-megastructure-photography-game-laser-targeted-at-my-interests-and-its-out-next-week Yes, I'm doing it, I'm writing about a megastructure game for the second time this week because come on, HELENA : Cloud District just looks stunning, don't it? Admittedly there's a chance you've not heard of it, that be the way of things in this algorithmically dominated world, but allow me to tell you about its big, scary world and the strange camera you're equipped with to capture all the sights it holds. Read more

Title: Paralives' first major update slips to next year, but when it comes you can expect some pretty meaty improvements for all of its main features Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 17:03:55 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/paralives-first-major-update-slips-to-next-year-but-when-it-comes-you-can-expect-some-pretty-meaty-improvements-for-all-of-its-main-features Since launch back in May of this year, life sim Paralives appears to have been trucking along nicely, with the dev team offering up fairly regular updates with all sorts of tweaks big and small. Certainly confidence-inspiring for an early access game, especially one as systems-driven as it is. And now, the Paralives team have outlined their plans for the game's first major update, which seem very catered to improving the core experience. Read more

Title: I've got egg on my face because Steam's Personal Calendar feature has apparently been a test this whole time and is only now actually a fully fledged component Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 15:57:33 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ive-got-egg-on-my-face-because-steams-personal-calendar-feature-has-apparently-been-a-test-this-whole-time-and-is-only-now-actually-a-fully-fledged-component I'll be honest folks: I didn't know that Steam's Personal Calendar feature was still technically in testing. I've been using it here and there to keep track of what's come out recently or what's coming out imminently, and have generally found it to be fairly reflective of the kinds of games I was interested in. It just worked! Yet lo and behold, a post from Valve went out yesterday announcing that the feature has launched out of Steam Labs "and is considered a full feature of the Steam Store." Read more

Title: Mass Effect 3 ending discourse ignored the RPG's scale, ambition, and exuberance, including that of its oddly great co-op Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/mass-effect-3-ending-discourse-ignored-the-rpgs-scale-ambition-and-exuberance-including-that-of-its-oddly-great-co-op Ah, come on, it was fine. Better than fine. We can argue for another fourteen years about whether BioWare should have redone the ending or not, but Mass Effect 3 was really a compendium of endings, a ludicrously ambitious wrapping-up of dozens of plot threads, character arcs, and running gags. Even if you can point to other RPGs that, on an individual basis, are more branching and reactive, Mass Effect 3's largely successful closing of a galaxy's worth of choose-your-own adventure books - filled in and followed across three evolving instalments - showed an audacity and grandiosity that no other three-part series had matched before. Or, at least on that scale, has pulled off since. Read more