This story contains spoilers for HBO's The Last of Us.

This past Sunday's episode of The Last of Us was the first to air since Joel (Pedro Pascal) was killed off in Episode 2. For the Episode 3 intro, HBO made a heartbreaking update that some might have missed.

The intro sequence used to show both Joel and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) standing side by side, but after Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) brutally murdered Joel, he's been erased from the slide. Ellie now stands alone.

It's a somber change that might have gone unnoticed by many viewers, considering lots of people tend to hit the "skip" button when the opening credits come up.

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With the surprise launch of Oblivion Remastered last week, there has been speculation about whether Bethesda Game Studios might use the older RPG as the foundation for The Elder Scrolls VI instead of the more streamlined Skyrim. Bruce Nesmith, a developer on the original Elder Scrolls IV, doesn't believe that will be the case.

Speaking with VideoGamer, Nesmith suggested player choices should trump stat management in The Elder Scrolls VI. "We don’t want the game to get in the way," said the former Bethesda developer. "And that's a very modern take on RPGs. And that is actually at the heart of the 'you do it to get better at it' [leveling mechanic] philosophy of The Elder Scrolls. Because that means I'm not having to pick my skills, I just play. Don't worry about all that crap if you don’t want to."

Oblivion Remastered has already proven super popular, with Bethesda revealing the RPG has seen over 4 million players so far. Nesmith noted that he's aware of "a movement to look back nostalgically at games that are more traditional RPGs." But he still believes the large majority of people "just want to play fun games" instead of being "drowned in stats and all this other stuff."

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Ubisoft has quietly updated another one of its games, as Far Cry 4 can now run at 60fps on PS5. Curiously, the Xbox 360 version of Far Cry 4 did run at 60fps on Xbox Series X|S using the FPS Boost function, but it was later disabled. Far Cry 4 will also be added to Game Pass this month, so it might also be getting a fresh update.

Far Cry 4 was previously locked to 30fps on PS5, and this graphical improvement (via Reddit) follows a recent trend of Ubisoft revisiting some of its older games. Earlier this week, Splinter Cell: Blacklist was updated to support Steam achievements and not too long ago, Assassin's Creed Syndicate got a 60fps patch on Xbox Series X|S and PS5.

Beyond that bit of news, there will now be a new focus on the Far Cry series now that Ubisoft has made a major change to its organization. The company recently announced the formation of a new subsidiary focused specifically on its Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six franchises, and Tencent owns a minority stake in it after investing $1.25 billion.

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Players who experienced The Last of Us Part II since its release in 2020 have anticipated the developments that recently occurred in HBO's The Last of Us Season 2. Those fans are still a few steps ahead of viewers who only know the story through the show. That's why one of Season 2's new cast members, Isabela Merced, recently shared some advice for fans watching the show.

This story contains spoilers through The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 3. Stop reading now if you're not current with the show.

"I think watching this, you have to lean into your feelings that you're feeling in each moment," said Merced via Variety. "I don't think the writers and the designers of the game wanted you to be wiser [than the characters]. I don't think they wanted you to be like, 'Oh, everyone's bad because they're all after their own thing.' I think they really want everyone to lean into their frustration and their pain."

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Enigmatic game developer Yoko Taro has weighed in on the question of AI in game development, saying that AI is set to make human game devs obsolete within 50 years. He predicted that AI would be used to create narratives that are specially crafted towards each player individually.

Yoko Taro, best known for his work on the Nier series, spoke on AI as part of a Famitsu roundtable for upcoming game The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy alongside Jiro Ishii and two of The Hundred Line's developers.

The developers all agreed that AI will quickly become mainstream in game development, and discussed where that would leave the industry. "I think that AI will make all game creators unemployed. In 50 years, game creators may be treated like bards," Yoko Taro said, predicting a time where human-made game development will be seen as an obsolete craft.

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When Switch 2 preorders launched in the US last week, physical GameStop stores saw lines around the block for preordering in person. Reports suggest some stores may have been looking to cash in on the coveted preorders by forcing customers to add extra games and accessories to form an expensive bundle, and GameStop corporate is now investigating.

X user and Twitch streamer Elea Tsentzelis posted about his experience preordering a Switch 2 at GameStop's Astoria store, saying the store was "forcing you to buy," accessories by "claiming they can’t process the SKU just for the console."

Tsentzelis later posted a full video of his transaction at the store, where a GameStop employee can be heard asking him to create a bundle with a minimum item quantity. Even after bundling a MicroSD card, Donkey Kong Bananza, the Mario Kart World bundle, and a Pro Controller, Tsentzelis is told he needs to add two more items.

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Fortunately for all us girlie pops out there, video games are collaborating with beauty brands more often these days. However, few are as stunning--or luxurious--as this one.

Genshin Impact and high-end beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury have come together to create two special-edition beauty boxes celebrating some of the makeup brand's best-selling products and beloved Genshin Impact hero, Mona Megisus. Inspired by the dazzling astrologist, the boxes and their various contents feature a lovely celestial aesthetic, complete with midnight blue packaging, gold ornamentation, and an abundance of stars and velvet. Both boxes will be available to purchase starting on April 30 for a limited time only and while supplies last.

An overview of the Charlotte Tilbury x Genshin Impact cosmetic boxes.

The Charlotte Tilbury x Genshin Impact collaboration will consist of two limited-edition beauty boxes: the Starfell Treasure Box, and the Starry Miracle Box. The Starfell Treasure Box will retail for £55 (approximately $75), and features the following items:

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At the start of Oblivion Remastered, you might find yourself wanting a place to lay your head or store your precious belongings. Whether you need to level up your character or take some of the load off your inventory, having a dedicated location to call your own is one of the best things you can do in the early part of your journey in Cyrodiil.

While you'll eventually have the chance to buy a house in Oblivion Remastered, why not forgo the cost of that and simply acquire a free castle instead? Below, you can see how to do just that.

How to acquire Battlehorn Castle in Oblivion Remastered

Battlehorn Castle is at the very end of the Black Road on the western side of Cyrodiil. You can find it just beyond the city of Chorrol, which isn't a bad place to visit during the early hours of the game.

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Star Wars Day is almost here, and to celebrate the May 4 event, GOG has revealed a new batch of games from a galaxy far (far!) away that have been added to its preservation program. Like other entries in this library, each of these Star Wars games have been fine-tuned to run as smoothly as possible on modern PC systems, and they've received a significant 75% discount as well. Here's a closer look at the games have joined GOG's preservation efforts:

• Star Wars: Dark Forces (Classic) -- $1.49 ($6)
• Star Wars: X-Wing Special Edition -- $2.49 ($10)
• Star Wars: TIE Fighter Special Edition -- $2.49 ($10)
• Star Wars: Battlefront (Classic) -- $2.49 ($10)
• Star Wars: Rebel Assault 1 + 2 -- $2.49 ($10)

This is a fairly solid selection of Star Wars classics covering the original trilogy of films mostly. The X-Wing and TIE Fighter games were big hits when they were first released, as they allowed fans to experience both sides of the galactic conflict from inside several iconic starfighters, and the Rebel Assault games were must-have games for anyone looking to flex their newly acquired CD-ROM drive in the early '90s.

The only real oddity here is Dark Forces, as this FPS adventure was recently remastered by Nightdive Studios. That version features upgraded gameplay, high-resolution textures, and support for gamepads, but it is more expensive in comparison even with a 45% discount applied to it. It is the better way to experience Dark Forces thanks to all of the modern flourishes, but if you're a purist, you can get the original game for the price of a cup of coffee.

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In the wake of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launching day on on Game Pass recently, some wondered if the game's 1 million sales figure could have been even higher had it not launched into the subscription service. This is not a new debate, as people have been discussing the economical merits of Game Pass for years, but Expedition 33 (and Oblivion Remastered) coming to Game Pass recently reignited the chatter.

Palworld communications and publishing boss John "Bucky" Buckley weighed in on social media, writing that Expedition 33 is just the latest game to be "unwittingly dragged" through online discussions about Game Pass. Buckley said he has more knowledge than most on this topic given Palworld launched day one into Game Pass back in 2024 to great success.

"I'll just say yes, yes it is very worth having your game on Game Pass," he said.

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Grave of the Fireflies: Limited Edition Steelbook (Blu-ray)

$23 (was $27) | Releases July 8

Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Amazon (Standard) Preorder at Walmart (Standard)

A classic Studio Ghibli movie will be back in print this summer. Shout Factory is releasing a Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray of Grave of the Fireflies on July 8. Unlike many Ghibli movies, the 1989 film directed by Isao Takahata isn't exactly suitable for the whole family. Rated PG-13 due to blood and gore, this dark journey is set during the final days of World War II in Japan. Grave of the Fireflies Limited Edition Steelbook is up for preorder for only $23 at Walmart.

Grave of the Fireflies: Limited Edition Steelbook (Blu-ray) $23 (was $27) | Releases July 8

For the extras, this 1080p Blu-ray version of the film comes with a deep dive into its storyboards, a look at several deleted scenes that were only produced as storyboards, image galleries, a collection of trailers, an interview with director Isao Takahata, and an interview with the late film critic Roger Ebert.

Preorders at Walmart are available for $23, four bucks less than retail price for Ghibli Blu-ray Steelbooks. Amazon has a listing for Grave of the Fireflies but hasn't opened preorders yet for the Steelbook Edition.

Grave of the Fireflies is also receiving a new standard edition Blu-ray with a plastic case and cardboard sleeve. At the moment, however, standard edition preorders are $25 at Amazon and Walmart, so you're better off grabbing the Steelbook Edition.

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While films produced by Studio Ghibli regularly focus on fantasy and contain environmentalism themes, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the rare exceptions here as it is based on the personal accounts of World War II survivor Akiyuka Nosaka. Grave of the Fireflies centers around 14-year-old Seita and and his four-year-old sister Setsuko, war orphans struggling to survive in the Japanese countryside food shortages, abusive relatives, and bombing raids by the Allied forces.

The film pulls no punches with its subject matter, but it's still an all-time animated classic with a strong message at its core and fleeting moments of happiness during this bleak story. Just be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster with this movie.

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Overwatch 2 is back with another anime crossover, and this time it's one that is sure to be nostalgic for anime fans who grew up in the early 2000s: Gundam Wing.

For those who watched anime on Cartoon Network's Toonami block back in the day, Gundam Wing was likely their first exposure to the sprawling mecha franchise. Despite middling ratings and reception when it originally aired in Japan, the anime found new life in North America several years later thanks to its after-school time slot. The show, with its dramatic mech-on-mech action and even more dramatic sci-fi melodrama, almost single-handedly established a foothold for the entire Gundam universe in the West. In the process, it created an entirely new generation of Gundam fans eager for more, helping to bring more Gundam shows overseas and creating a new market for the franchise's popular Gunpla plastic model kits.

Flash forward to 2025, and Gundam Wing is celebrating its 30th anniversary in a number of ways, among them crossing over with Blizzard's free-to-play shooter with four premium skins that pay homage to some of the show's most popular Mobile Suit designs. Mercy takes on the starring role as Gundam Wing Zero, while Soldier: 76 transforms into the iconic Tallgeese piloted in the show by the masked Zechs Merquise. Ramattra, meanwhile, transforms into the fearsome Gundam Epyon. And, of course, Overwatch's designated edgelord himself, Reaper, adopts the mantle of none other than Gundam Deathscythe.

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Diablo 4 will no longer include Conduit Shrines until "further notice," according to Blizzard.

The news comes via a brief blurb in the Diablo 4 Season 8 patch notes, which states Conduit Shrines will no longer appear come the release of the game's latest season and that Blizzard has heard player feedback on the unpopular shrine.

"We are disabling them until further notice while reworking them," Blizzard said.

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Soul Gems are some of the most valuable pieces of loot you can add to your inventory in Oblivion Remastered. Not only are they needed to enchant weapons, but they're also needed to maintain the enchantment on your existing high-tier weapons. Of course, as you likely already know, Soul Gems are incredibly difficult to come across, and the game doesn't explain whatsoever how they work.

So, to help you with all of your enchanting needs in Cyrodiil, let's go over how to find and refill Soul Gems as well as how to use them to enchant weapons. For more general questions in Oblivion Remastered, make sure to check out our entire walkthrough of the game.

Table of Contents [hide]

• How to get Soul Gems in Oblivion Remastered

How to get Soul Gems in Oblivion Remastered

First and foremost, how do you go about acquiring Soul Gems? Well, there are several different types of Soul Gems, and the higher tier of gems they are, the harder they are to come by. Here's every type of Soul Gem you can find in Oblivion Remastered:

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Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't launch until June 5. The same goes for the paid Switch 2 Edition upgrade for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But neither of those obstacles has stopped a Japanese content creator from beating the game at a preview event in Tokyo.

Spotted by VGC, Ikaboze posted a video on YouTube showing how they completed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Switch 2 in roughly seven minutes. The demo reportedly had a 10-minute timer with multiple save files available. Ikaboze apparently has a speedrunning background and put those skills to good use to hit the game's credits. The content creator claimed that the event's staff revealed this was the first time anyone has beaten the demo.

Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2 Editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom earlier this month. Both games will feature improved frame rates and resolutions, HDR support, and new Zelda Notes functionality through the Switch app. Current owners of the Switch versions can upgrade for the upcoming system by paying $10; otherwise, the Switch 2 Edition costs $70 and doesn't include DLC for Breath of the Wild. Other titles receiving similar enhancements include Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as well as Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

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Meta is laying off over 100 employees from its Reality Labs division, which focuses on VR, AR, and wearable hardware, an unnamed source recently revealed.

The layoff has primarily impacted Reality Labs employees who were working on VR software for the company's line of Meta Quest headsets, along with employees who were focused on hardware, (including VR headsets), the source shared with Bloomberg.

According to the source--who asked not to be named due to the fact that they were sharing details that had not yet been made available to the public--Meta's goal is to combine and streamline tasks being worked on by the two teams within Reality Labs. In June 2024, it was reported that Reality Labs had lost nearly $50 billion over the course of the previous four years.

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A Minecraft Movie has dominated the box office since arriving on April 4, surpassing $800 million globally. It’s also spawned a bunch of official toys and merchandise, including two new Lego sets, The Ghast Balloon Village Attack and Woodland Mansion Fighting Ring. Both look like fun playsets for younger fans, though the latter lets you piece together the cultural phenomenon that is Chicken Jockey.

In addition to these new Minecraft Movie sets, Lego also launched two other Minecraft sets earlier this year, adding even more kits to the long list of Minecraft Lego releases. Here’s a closer look the all four new Minecraft Lego sets if you’re hoping to bring a bit of the blocky action to your home.

Be sure to also peruse the many A Minecraft Movie Blu-rays up for preorder, which include a premium steelbook version and one bundled with unique crafting table packaging.

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Black Myth: Wukong 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Controller

Wireless - $29.72 (was $35) | Wired - $21 (was $25)

Get deal at Amazon

Black Myth: Wukong fans can score a rare deal on 8BitDo's officially licensed controller themed around the game at Amazon. 8BitDo's budget-friendly Black Myth: Wukong Edition Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller is on sale for $29.72 (was $35). The wired version of the same controller is up for grabs for $21 (was $25). A roughly $5 discount may not sound like much, but due to the low MSRP on this budget-friendly controller, this is about as substantial as it gets. The Ultimate 2C is compatible with PC and Android.

Black Myth: Wukong Deals

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Over the weekend, Sony's Until Dawn movie opened with $18 million worldwide. And while the film's credits include everyone involved with the movie itself, Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick--the writers behind the Until Dawn video game--were completely excluded. Fessenden and Reznick aren't necessarily surprised by that snub, but they do sound disappointed by it.

"I didn’t assume anything, but I thought somebody would have bothered to throw in our names, even during the end credits," Fessenden told The Hollywood Reporter. "But there's no courtesy in show biz."

Fessenden and Reznick acknowledge that they didn't create Until Dawn, but they did produce 10,000 script pages during development that covered the game's branching narratives. Although the movie does feature Peter Stormare reprising his role as Dr. Hill, it has a brand-new story with new characters.

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When player housing arrives in World of Warcraft, players will be retroactively rewarded for past achievements in the form of housing decor, with Blizzard stating "all the time spent in Azeroth is worth something."

In a new blog post, Blizzard continues to pull back the veil on WoW's long-awaited player housing system, confirming that players will be able to earn housing decor in a number of different ways. Common items like chairs, shelfs, beds, etc. will be widely available from vendors, quests, or other players via the auction house.

Some decor, however, will take more time or effort to unlock. Blizzard described these as "investment" items that may require more time or a significant cost to earn. Housing decor can also come in the form of "Trophies," rewards from long-term achievements or completing specific feats that require skillful play, with Blizzard comparing them to current Mythic+ or raid rewards.

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