One of the most infamous and controversial items in Call of Duty is the Riot Shield. Some love it. Some hate it. Well, it's back in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but with a few key changes.

With MW4's beta now live, we're seeing the game in action and learning more about it. This includes new details on the Riot Shield, including how it's now destructible. Not only that, but the new Riot Shield can be placed on the ground to allow players to create their own cover, wherever they are. What's more, the Riot Shield is now unlocked as a field upgrade as opposed to occupying a weapon slot.

https://twitter.com/InfinityWard/status/2090852829409763502

"In use, the shield provides frontal protection while advancing or holding a position. It can also be used offensively, with a new heavy melee attack that knocks enemies down and creates space in close quarters," Activision said.

When planted in the ground, players can mount their weapons to it for improved stability. The Riot Shield can also be used strategically in MW4's objective-based modes where players hunker down in one particular spot.

To balance things out, Activision made the Riot Shield destructible in MW4. In the past, it could soak up bullets like a sponge, and people loved and hated that. In MW4, it's "durable enough to support a push or cover a retreat." However, it will eventually break, and Activision said that should encourage players to use it strategically as opposed to opting for "sustained use."

The MW4 beta is going on now for people who preordered the game. An open beta, meanwhile, runs August 28-September 1, and that doesn't require any preorder. The beta includes not just multiplayer, but also a campaign mission, Entrenched, and a glimpse at the future of Call of Duty: Warzone.

MW4 launches in full on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2. It's the first game since 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts to be released on a Nintendo platform.

One of the biggest stories in gaming this week has been the ongoing GTA 6 gameplay leaks, which are all about hyping up a memecoin for profit. A new report provides insight into how Rockstar is handling the situation internally.

Bloomberg reported that Rockstar has yet to identify the party responsible, or how such a breach happened. One top executive at Rockstar sent a memo to staff this week "denouncing the leaker and promising the incident wouldn't detract from the excellent work they've done," the report said.

Additionally, it was reported that Rockstar is not planning to change its marketing plans for GTA 6 due to the leak. Some had theorized that the leak might have some effect on the planned reveal on Netflix on August 27, but that's apparently not going to be the case.

After GTA 6's first trailer leaked in December 2023, Rockstar responded in real time and released the trailer ahead of schedule, so there is precedent to Rockstar altering plans based on leaks.

GTA 6 suffered a massive leak in 2022. At the time, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick said it was “really frustrating and upsetting,” but the leaks had no financial impact on the company. Take-Two lost more than $2 billion in its total value this week since the latest leaks began, but there could be any number of different reasons for that apart from the leaks.

It has also come to light that Take-Two, which owns Rockstar and the GTA franchise, subpoenaed Microsoft and Discord as part of its effort to hunt down the party or parties responsible for the leak.

GTA 6 is set for release on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Activision has announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will have day-one DLC, and like in years past, it will focus on a real-life military hero, with proceeds going to charity.

The Call of Duty Endowment Valor Pack, launching on October 23 alongside the game, 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. "No matter how wrecked your world gets, the world keeps spinning," Carpenter said in the video below.

https://twitter.com/CODE4Vets/status/2090856990872650127

The Call of Duty Endowment is Activision's charity that supports military veterans and specifically helping soldiers find jobs after leaving the service. Proceeds from this new Valor Pack will benefit the endowment.

There have been numerous other DLC packs for Call of Duty games supporting the endowment. A previous DLC pack for Black Ops 7 brought the real-life soldier Chris Cassidy to the game; he was among those hunting down Osama bin Laden immediately after 9/11, and then he became a NASA astronaut.

Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, but the game's beta is going on right now for those who preordered the game. An open beta for everyone will be held August 28-September 1.

Developer Cold Symmetry has released its latest souls-like action-RPG, Mortal Shell 2, on August 20 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. And not even a day after launch, the studio already dropped a patch that makes some welcome tweaks, including addressing one of the game's most annoying issues: gold farming.

On August 20, Cold Symmetry shared a breakdown on the game's subreddit and Steam page of what Balance Patch 1 does.

A welcome adjustment is a refund of the Glimpses--a rare currency used to bond with and unlock memories of your shell--you might've spent to discover a shell's location. You get whatever you spent back, and now, instead of costing that rare currency, buying a shell map costs Gloom, this game's version of Runes or Souls.

A big change is a nerf to a handful of bosses and enemies. As Cold Symmetry put it, "all enemies featured in the beta were restored to their beta HP values." This means that the starting area of Mortal Shell 2 has been tuned down to match what was in the beta, which I found quite easy when compared to the full release.

Maybe the most major tweak, however, is an increase to the amount of gold you find now. As a result of this patch, gold drops from enemies have been "significantly increased," especially in the second zone. This lets you upgrade your weapons more often, as gold discovery should be in line with the materials you find everywhere.

There are a handful of other changes that came with Balance Patch 1. This includes Tarstones--items that grant passive bonuses or modify melee attacks--and weapons getting buffed, addressing crashes and fixing bugs, and reducing the cost to unlevel your weapons via smelting.

Balance Patch 1 is available now for PC. There's no release date for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions yet, but Cold Symmetry said it'll arrive on those platforms "shortly." For now, check out the update notes for Balance Patch 1 below.

Mortal Shell 2 Balance Patch 1

Economy

• Shell map locations now cost Gloom, and we’re refunding any Glimpses spent on shell maps. Refunded Glimpses are found in the Shell Keeper’s alcove in Blackmarrow. “Finding your favorite shell shouldn’t cost you the ability to bond with them.”
• Gold drops from enemies have been significantly increased. Notably, enemies in Mammon now drop double the gold. “This brings the gold economy more in line with the weapon crafting item discovery.”
• Smelting a weapon at the Tarforge costs 75% less gloom. “Our goal with the smelt capability was to enable switching weapons without the need to spend hours grinding through NG+ runs, but the Gloom costs were set exorbitantly high.”  

Enemies & Bosses

All enemies featured in the beta were restored to their beta HP values, except the Caerinid (Spider) in Magdalena’s area, which we wanted to retain its role as a threatening enemy which doesn’t respawn once defeated. 

• Bosses
  • The Lost Child
    • Base Damage: (-10%)
    • Max Health: (-15%)
  • Monolith
    • Base Damage: (-19%)
    • Max Health: (-10%)
    • Some Monolith Attacks were retimed to be more fair, as well.
• Enemies
  • Cultist (mace)
    • Max Health: (-21.1%)
  • Caerinid Spider
    • Max Health: (-33.3%)
  • Infested Stalker 
    • Max Health: (-52.4%)
  • Rusted Knave (Halberd)
    • Max Health: (-20.8%)
    • Fixed hit detection for overhead strike.

Weapons

• Great Martyr’s Blade Attack Damage +20%
• Troubadour's Lute Attack Damage +100% 
• Caged Hystrix and Triarch Repeater no longer have minimum resolve requirements to fire. 
• Improved tracking for Axatana, Black Needle, and Clockwork Scythe light attacks. 

Seals

• Guard can now be used while walking. 

Tarstones

• Parasitic Stone Buffed
• Grudge Stone Buffed
• Bulwark Stone Damage Reduction Increased Significantly
• Clerik's Stone Buffed
• Squall Stone Buffed

Miscellaneous

• Misc. Crash Fixes, Bug Fixes & Performance Updates

Another actor has joined the cast for Naughty Dog's upcoming new IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Robin Atkin Downes, who played Robert in Naughty Dog's The Last of Us and multiple characters in the studio's Uncharted games, said on social media that he's set to appear in Intergalactic. He didn't say who he is playing, but as you can tell from the video below, he's obviously very excited about it.

https://twitter.com/Robin_A_Downes/status/2090646298718597618

Downes is a prolific video game actor, having lent his voice to dozens of games over the years. He also voiced the Medic in Team Fortress 2, Travis Touchdown in No More Heroes, and Spider in Destiny 2: Forsaken. Additionally, Downes voiced Ballistic in Apex Legends.

Intergalactic is in the works now for PS5, but we still don't know much about it, or when it may release. The game, which takes place thousands of years in the future, stars Tati Gabrielle as Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter who becomes stranded on a faraway planet called Sempira.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLGy63pt9vA

The game has been in development since 2020, and also features Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross scoring the soundtrack. Some of the other actors confirmed for Intergalactic include Kumail Nanjiani, Tony Dalton, Troy Baker, and Merle Dandridge.

Cold Symmetry's Mortal Shell 2 is finally out on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Maybe you've been bodying bosses while collecting shells and leveling up your character. Or maybe you've been getting bodied as bosses pummel you into the dirt and your weapons betray you. I can't help you with the former, but I do have some tips and tricks to alleviate the latter.

When you start your Mortal Shell 2 journey, a handful of settings are on by default. A couple of these settings make your weapons an enemy magnet, which is good since you want your bullets and your swings to hit your targets. However, when you go in shooting and swinging wantonly, you may find yourself blown to smitherens--just like Redditor xkukazu50, who posted a video on August 21 of their character getting burnt to a crisp.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MortalShell/comments/1vuddap/love_this_game_but_something_has_to_be_done_about/

The problem here, as xkukazu50 noted, is the weapon tracking. Whenever you pull out your sidearm or swing with your primary weapon, the game's technology pulls your attacks toward the nearest enemy like a vortex. But if you tweak some settings, your life will be made a lot easier.

Make your Mortal Shell 2 weapons fight for you.

Press pause, toggle over to "Game" in the Settings menu, and check out the "Target Steering" and "Enable Free Aim" options.

"Target Steering," which is set to "Default," makes your melee attacks prioritize the nearest enemy you're aiming at. Changing this setting to "Light" or "Off" makes your melee attacks much less sticky so that you can swing at whatever you want without getting sucked to the closest enemy--or environmental hazard--you're looking at.

"Enable Free Aim" is exactly what it sounds like. Set to "No" by default, it automatically locks your reticle onto the nearest enemy you point your gun at. If you change this to "Yes," then you can freely aim your gun without that snappy auto-lock on, but if you press the right trigger in with "Enable Free Aim" on, you can still lock onto a target and change your target's lock. That way, you won't accidentally shoot an explosive barrel or something like that.

Outside of this, there are two more settings I recommend you change in Mortal Shell 2.

The first is setting the "Auto Pick Up Gold" option to "Yes" to save your thumb from breaking the interact button--A on Xbox or X on PlayStation--on your controller, since you'll be picking up gold all the time. The second is changing the "Camera Style" from Immersive to Action, which pulls the camera farther back so you can see more on the screen. This gives you a greater field of view; that way, you know what's coming.

There are many more settings to test as you whoop ass or get your ass whooped in Mortal Shell 2. However, these are the handful of settings I suggest you change to make your combat feel more responsive as you tackle the game's very gross bosses.

Compulsion Games, the Canadian game developer behind South of Midnight and We Happy Few, has officially parted ways with Microsoft. After Microsoft confirmed that Compulsion was one of five Xbox studios it was divesting of, Compulsion boss Guillaume Provost has now confirmed it's a done deal.

This was hinted at recently when the Steam page for South of Midnight listed Compulsion as the developer and publisher. Now, it's official, with Provost confirming to Games Beat that its management team acquired the studio and staff, while Microsoft transferred the developer's IP back to the studio.

What this means in practice is that if you buy a Steam copy of South of Midnight--one of 2025's best games--the money goes to Compulsion, not Xbox. Provost said it will take some time before the change gets implemented on other storefronts.

Provost did not disclose the specific terms of the deal, but he said staffers at Compulsion really wanted to stick together.

“I did this deal for the team first and foremost. I asked the team, ‘Do you want to stay together?’ The team told me we would rather eat rocks and drink gasoline rather than be split up,” Provost said.

Some Compulsion developers opted to leave the studio after Provost warned staff that the company was at risk of closure. However, Provost said the majority of senior staff stayed on.

Provost went on to say that part of Compulsion's team is now working on an unannounced game that was already in the works before it split off from Xbox. Microsoft was the financial backer of Compulsion and its projects, so Provost is now taking meetings with various, unnamed parties to secure its financial future.

“I just want to make sure that we’re setting the team up for success,” Provost said. “We’re going to take things slow. We’re going to meet with everyone. Everything is relative. Compared to all of us losing our jobs on July 6, this is a pretty good deal. I would say the exit was gracious on Microsoft’s part."

The other four studios that Microsoft divested from included Double Fine, Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and Arkane. Double Fine, led by Tim Schafer, regained its independence like Compulsion did, and Schafer will discuss the company's future outlook during a livestream today, April 21. Ninja Theory and Undead Labs, meanwhile, were sold to unnamed buyers. Arkane is entering a period of consultation with respect to its home country of France's local laws.

This all happened as part of a "reset" of the Xbox business under new CEO Asha Sharma. She also laid off 1,600 people in July, with another 1,600 set to lose their jobs this fiscal year.

Nintendo is doing what Nintendo does: issuing DMCA takedown notices to anyone who illegally offers access to any of the company's games. That's exactly what happened earlier this week, as Nintendo wiped out over 400 Switch emulators from GitHub.

According to an August 21 TorrentFreak report, the Mario maker sent the proprietary developer platform seven DMCA takedown notices targeting Nintendo Switch emulator repositories. This includes Suyu (the Yuzu successor that became popular after Yuzu shut down in March 2024), the Android emulator Skyline, and a few lingering Yuzu forks.

In total, some 401 repositories were nuked off GitHub, with 311 of them being Suyu. Now that they're removed, if you attempt to visit the repository on GitHub, you'll receive either a 404 error or a pop-up notification that it's been taken down.

In the DMCA pop-up notification, Nintendo states that the targeted repositories "offer, link to, or otherwise provide access to Nintendo Switch emulators." The company said these emulators violate Technological Protection Measures (TPMs), which act as digital locks controlled by copyright owners to prevent copying data illegally.

"Specifically, these Nintendo Switch emulators illegally circumvent Nintendo's TPMs in order to run illegal copies of Nintendo Switch games," the notice reads. "Nintendo Switch games are encrypted using proprietary cryptographic keys (prod.keys) which protect against unauthorized access to and copying of the copyrighted games. During operation, the emulators at the reported repositories necessarily use unauthorized copies of these cryptographic keys to decrypt unauthorized copies of Nintendo Switch games, or ROMs, at or immediately before runtime without Nintendo's authorization."

With Nintendo summoning the Eye of Mario on 401 repositories earlier this week, and over 8,500 repositories in May 2024, this brings the company's repository death count to almost 9,000 on GitHub alone. And with Nintendo filing a lawsuit against Yuzu creator Tropic Haze in February 2024, which resulted in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom being pirated over one million times before it launched, the company's war on emulators continues.

As Grand Theft Auto 6 continues to leak via small snippets of gameplay, you might be wondering why each video is plastered with watermarks for a meme coin? It turns out while you're enjoying the early look at Rockstar's latest project, others are literally profiting off of the virality.

Each of the leaked gameplay videos have advertised a meme coin called CYBERLEEK, named after the supposed leaker and hosted on the Solana blockchain. This coin seemingly appeared on August 16, just two days before the first gameplay leak occurred. It didn't take long for the price of the coin to skyrocket afterwards, as viewers curious enough to go looking started accumulating vast amounts of it.

In the space of a day, the price of the coin increased by more than 5,000%, allowing some early holders to quickly cash out before most were able to react. It's a textbook pump-and-dump scheme that is ongoing, with the price still swinging wildly with new drops of gameplay and new buyers being lured in. It's not uncommon for memecoins to be promoted by exploiting trending topics on X.

https://youtu.be/mwgi4ECJwic

The extent of this scheme is, however, probably smaller than you might imagine. According to tracking on CoinMarketCap, several buyers have made some modest profit, with the largest coming in at over $22,000 (a 2,000% profit over what was invested). There are similarly large losses as well, with several instances of duped buyers who have lost nearly $10,000 each.

This pales in comparison to far wider-reaching meme coins. Take MELANIA, a coin marketed by Melania Trump, which has profits and losses in the several millions as just one example of how quickly thousands of people are willing to bet on short-term investments,

Still, it shows an entirely different intent behind these leaks that contradicts the front-facing consumer-friendly goals of the group behind them. There are still a handful of accounts, holding the large majority of CYBERLEEK, that haven't made any sales. Perhaps they're just waiting for things to get really out of hand before walking away with their profits.

Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 12, with its first gameplay showcase debuting on Netflix on August 27.

Those reaching the end of Diablo 4 Season 14's seasonal storyline are being treated to some major teases about what's next for Blizzard's ARPG, though those eagerly anticipating the return of the Lord of Terror himself might be disappointed.

Spoilers for Diablo 4 Season 14 below.

Season 14, titled Death's Awakening, sees players combating a death cult looking to end Sanctuary's suffering in the wake of Mephisto's defeat. That eventually leads players to none other than the Pandemonium Fortress, previously seen in Diablo 2 and Diablo 3's Reaper of Souls expansion, where they encounter the corrupted angel Seraziel. Upon their defeat, Seraziel leaves players with an ominous warning: "He is coming."

That "he" in question is likely Malthael, whom Seraziel serves and players previously defeated in Reaper of Souls. That's not exactly a surprise given the "death" theme of the season, but the return of the Pandemonium Fortress (where Malthael was last seen and slain) and Seraziel does make it all the more explicit what Blizzard is setting up. 

But that's not all players have to go on. As broken down by Diablo content creator LoatheBurger, after Seraziel's defeat, players encounter a mysterious stranger who says there is nothing that can be done against Death itself. When asked who they are, the stranger simply replies "I am no one, brave child. And for all your might, neither are you." 

Talking to the questgiver Dannica about the odd encounter afterwards, players can select a dialogue option that states "There was something familiar about that old man," with the player character specifically saying their voice sounded familiar.

That seems to imply it's someone Diablo 4 players have previously encountered, but who this stranger is remains to be seen. Some long lost Horadrim? Lorath (somehow?) back from the dead? The triumphant return of Deckard Cain? Only time will tell.

All of this happening in a seasonal storyline is new territory for Diablo 4. Previous seasons were largely self-contained stories that had little to do with the overarching game's plot, and certainly weren't used to tee up possible future expansions.

In an interview with GameSpot ahead of Season 14, Dan Tanguay, Diablo 4's design director for live services, said it was an intentional choice to have the season relate more directly to the events of the game's main story. He also said the season was a chance to get more story-focused players involved.

"We know there's a group of players who are really invested in the lore, probably more so than resetting power chases," Tanguay said. "They don't tend to play seasons as much. Here, we said 'Well, they've gotten a really good conclusion to the Mephisto arc, and now it's an opportunity to see if we can take them along on this ride with us.'" 

Following the end of the Lord of Hatred expansion, many players assumed Blizzard would be building towards the return of villains like Baal, the Lord of Destruction, or Diablo himself. Now, it looks like Malthael is instead taking center stage, though Blizzard does at least have options when it comes to what major villain to bring back next.

Thankfully, players won't have to wait long to learn more about Diablo 4's future, as BlizzCon is right around the corner on September 12-13. A Switch 2 version of Diablo 4 could be announced at the show, and while Blizzard has already shared some information about what's in store for Diablo 4 Season 15 (like the ability to use the same character each season and the return of iconic items from past Diablo games), more details will be shared at BlizzCon.

Genki is no stranger to video game accessories, but the company is venturing into the tightly contested space of controllers with a device aimed at gamers who enjoy fine-tuning their hardware--and having an LCD screen to help with customization. Genki's new Manta controller has an unusual design, but it clearly has a ton of fans, as its Kickstarter campaign is doing some big numbers. While the company aimed to secure $100,000 in pledges, the crowdfunding push has already reached $371,000 at the time of writing this post.

https://youtu.be/j3pcbS4_0eg See on Kickstarter

The big draw to the Manta is the 2.9-inch LCD screen--which is positioned at the bottom of the controller--but it's also packed with an absurd amount of tech that you won't find in other controllers. Genki says the display will allow you to change profiles, inspect input mapping, test inputs, and confirm connections, just to start. While you're playing a game, you can also check the connection, polling rate, and battery details, or make adjustments on the fly. The early-bird special for the controller on Kickstarter is $189, and after it launches, it'll retail for $279. It'll be compatible with PC, Switch, and Switch 2.

The controller also includes "Tristage triggers" (a fancy term for adjusting trigger travel distance), adjustable analog sticks with drift-resistant tunneling magnetoresistance, maglev haptics that use two independently driven linear magnetic ram motors designed to drive feedback directly into your palms, and "Pulse Buttons" that can sense travel without needing to register electrical contact. The wireless controller comes equipped with a 2,600mAh battery, and there's even a dedicated button to switch it into a keyboard-and-mouse mode.

All of this hardware makes for a chunky design, but Genki says it has shaped the Manta's ergonomics to make it comfortable to use. MantaOS is powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller, and players can store profiles, tuning, connections, macros, and custom apps inside the controller, giving it the potential to be an all-in-one device for multiple genres of games. If you're interested in checking it out, Genki will be demoing the controller at its booths at Gamescom, PAX West, and the Tokyo Game Show this year.

Genki isn't the only company looking to shake up the controller space that's dominated by the likes of Xbox, PlayStation, and 8BitDo. Valve recently launched the new Steam Controller, and for $100, it's a rock-solid option.

Many alleged clips of Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay have leaked online this week, showing everything from combat to basketball, and Rockstar's parent company Take-Two is scrambling to figure out just how it happened. Now, the publisher has subpoenaed both Microsoft and Discord in order to investigate potential users involved with the leaks.

One subpoena, filed in the South District Court of New York (via Kotaku), aims to "obtain the identity of an alleged infringer or infringers" who was involved in sharing Grand Theft Auto 6 content. The subpoena calls the content "copyrighted material," which would seemingly confirm that it was a legitimate leak and not an elaborate hoax. Alongside the gameplay, the leaker was also advertising crypto.

The leaker, known online as CyberLeek, has been thought to have a playable build of GTA 6, as one of the leaked clips shows "LEEK" spelled out in bullet holes on a wall. The subpoena's timeline is clearly urgent for Take-Two, as it is only giving Microsoft until September 4 to turn over information it has related to the leaker. This includes information on Discord users who were communicating on specific servers. Account ID, email, IP addresses, phone numbers, and linked accounts like Xbox and Google profiles are all included in the subpoena.

The Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks came with only a short time remaining before Take-Two was set to fully unveil the game. On August 27, exclusively through Netflix, Rockstar will air the GTA 6 "Extended Look," and we're expecting to learn a lot more concrete details after years of waiting and speculation. We've reached out to Rockstar and will update this story if and when it provides comment.

Grand Theft Auto 6 launches for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is a collection headlined by Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. After languishing in PS3 purgatory for many years, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is finally breaking free onto new platforms thanks to the upcoming release of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. Accompanied by two more games in the series, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel, is the new Master Collection worth your time and money just to relive Solid Snake's weirdest, non-canon, and final adventures?

That's the question that GameSpot editor-at-large Tamoor Hussain and content manager Ben Janca aim to answer in the video below. So far, Metal Gear Solid 4 runs well on PC--and even Steam Deck for the most part. The game appears to have transitioned smoothly to that platform, although your mileage may vary when it comes to the structure of this title. It's still a cutscene-heavy experience with dated control schemes when compared to what came after--Metal Gear Solid 5 and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater--but if you can overlook its quirky gameplay, you're in for a weird and fun time.

https://youtu.be/avnxAHQylZ8

The other big name in this collection, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, is still a fun title full of digestible missions. That's not too surprising given how this was originally a PlayStation Portable release, as many exclusives for the Sony handheld prioritized fast-paced gameplay experiences at the time. Peace Walker keeps things simple with its fine-tuned gameplay, perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a quick burst of Metal Gear Solid during a lunch break or as a diversion during their morning commute.

Rounding out this compilation is Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel. Originally released for the Game Boy Color, it looks quaint in comparison to the other games here, but it's still a charming showcase of how developers at the time overcame hardware limitations to create a surprisingly authentic Metal Gear Solid experience.

"I would say that if you love Metal Gear, you're already preordering and buying it," Janca said about Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. "If you're interested in Metal Gear, you've got to do it, you've got to play these games--especially [Metal Gear Solid] 4. It's an easy recommend; it's a good collection."

If you're interested in checking it out for yourself, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 launches on August 27 for PC and consoles. If you're planning to grab it for PC, you can score a 23% discount on your preorder through Fanatical, as the site has the game listed for $38.49 (normally $50).

Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.

Those eager to be the first to play The Duskbloods in its first closed network test were met with widespread login errors, and it appears that server issues were bad enough that From Software pulled the plug on this first session.

"We regret to inform you that today's session is now closed," From Software wrote in an X post. The session was scheduled for 3 AM to 7 AM PT / 6 AM to 10 AM ET, which is at the end of the day in Japan. "We will continue to work on improving the servers and will announce future schedules at a later date."

The post's vague wording leaves it unclear if From Software will try to keep to its original schedule. The announced times included a second test session for Friday, followed by more sessions over the weekend, but it's unknown if that will still occur.

https://twitter.com/fromsoftware_pr/status/2090766523422101948?s=20

On the bright side, this is why we have network tests in the first place. Functioning servers for an online game like The Duskbloods are obviously essential, and From Software can work on the appropriate fixes after this first online test turned out to be a dud.

Sure, it's disappointing that players couldn't immediately get their hands on characters like Zork, but this is all in favor of a smooth launch for the Switch 2 exclusive.

Should sessions resume as planned, players will be able to experience the same technical test that GameSpot played for its preview of The Duskbloods. Our preview called the game "exciting" and said that it "represents From Software’s penchant to upend expectations and chart new territory."

Prime Video's God of War series has a new actor playing the stoic god-killer Kratos, and as previously reported, it is indeed Dave Bautista. After the original actor cast for the role, Ryan Hurst, suffered a bicep tear during filming that forced him to leave the role, Amazon and Sony moved quickly to find a replacement. Variety reported that Bautista will now play the iconic video game character across two planned seasons.

We can see it.

While it's bad news for Hurst--who recently revealed how shredded he got the role--Bautista is well-suited to the part. A former WWE performer, Bautista made a name for himself in the sports entertainment promotion, first appearing as an intimidating enforcer for Reverend D-Von. Working under the ring name of Batista, his career took off after he joined Triple H's Evolution stable. Winning multiple championships throughout his run, Batista's whole gimmick was that of a hulking monster who towered over most of his opponents and dominated them with brute force--no small feat considering that WWE had no shortage of physically imposing performers on the roster.

Beyond his physicality, Bautista has also proven his acting chops across multiple film and TV projects. In 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, he portrayed Drax the Destroyer, a fan-favorite role in which he played a bruiser with a tender heart (and remarkably good comedic timing), and Bautista used that momentum to build a successful acting career in Hollywood. While he has gotten slimmer over the years, the actor is expected to bulk up quickly for the role of Kratos, given how he has kept himself in shape and has been praised for his commitment to preparing for roles. It may not be the "GoW" dream role that Bautista has famously lobbied for, but Kratos could be a good match for the seasoned actor.

It'll still be a while before God of War arrives on TV screens, but until then, there's still a lot to look forward to in that universe. The next big game in the series, God of War Laufey, launches on February 18, 2027, for PS5, and it'll be followed by a remake of the original God of War trilogy and another Kratos-led adventure.

It's the 25th anniversary of Xbox this year, and to celebrate, Microsoft is releasing a limited-edition version of the Xbox Series X that is reportedly very expensive. Announced earlier this year, the new model could cost as much as $900, and a new leak claims that it'll be released on November 27. At the time of writing, that means you'd need to save up a little over $9 a day to afford this console.

Would you pay extra for a limited-edition Xbox Series X?

According to the usually reliable Dealabs, this version of the Xbox Series X will cost $100 more than the current Xbox Series X, which features a "carbon black" design. That's also the same price as a PlayStation 5 Pro, following its price increase earlier this year. While it's not as powerful as Sony's beefier machine, it does include a disc drive. It's also worth noting that this could be a sign of things to come, as Microsoft has already warned that it expects to raise Xbox console prices again in 2027 as the AI-driven components crisis continues to push prices for console storage and memory up.

Chances are, if you're buying this, it's purely for looks. The console and its controller are dressed in a translucent green finish that allows you to peek at their inner workings, and Xbox says that owners will also discover a few hidden Easter eggs throughout the chassis.

https://youtu.be/1-INYU6FLgI

The console has 1TB of storage capacity--Microsoft has since discontinued its 2TB Xbox Series X thanks to rising memory costs--and the anniversary edition controller will also be available as a standalone purchase. This version of the peripheral is full of nods to Xbox's history, from the original face button colors to the rear bumpers referencing the black-and-white buttons on the original "Duke" controller.

Meanwhile, Sony has also rolled out a new special edition of its PS5 console, with this new variant sporting a design that's inspired by Marvel's Wolverine. While it's not quite as snazzy as the Xbox Series X with its Mountain Dew green finish, the mustard-yellow, claw slashes, and a Wolverine illustration by superstar comic book artist Jock do make for an eye-catching design. If you're interested, you can preorder it now--or console covers if you already have a PS5--and the limited-edition DualSense controller through PlayStation Direct.

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Anime has become a key pillar of entertainment for several streaming services, and this is one genre where Netflix has made a concerted effort to lock in a few exclusive shows. The anime jewel in its crown is easily Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the wildly popular prequel and spin-off to CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077. While the game had its fans following its big turnaround after a disastrous launch, Edgerunners is considered to be a key driving force behind the resurgence of Cyberpunk 2077 several years ago.

A second season was a given, and during a stacked block of reveals at the Anime NYC convention, Netflix showed off a new teaser for the show and an official October release date. Alongside that news, we also got a new look at the upcoming second season of the anime-inspired Blue Eye Samurai, a preview of the adorable Lego One Piece show, a teaser for Bass X Machina, and more. In case you missed it, we've rounded up all the reveals for you to check out below.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyeHKMfswHk

Out on October 20, the new Cyberpunk: Edgerunners trailer showed off more of Night City's seedy underbelly and the new cast of characters that viewers will follow. Full of blood, neon, and cyber-psychosis, the new season follows washed-up legend Weak, the revenge-seeking nomad D, chrome-obsessed Talia, and young cinephile Roman across a 10-episode story focused on family, obsession, and legacy.

Bass X Machina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWbZBIrEfqI

A wild and weird Western spin on the story of Bass Reeves--a real-life person who escaped slavery and later became the first Black deputy US Marshal--the new series imagines the legend as a cyborg looking for revenge. Set in a steampunk world, the series is being produced by the anime studios Mappa and Madhouse, and it features Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, Transformers One) as Bass. It'll be hitting Netflix on November 3.

Sakamoto Days: Season 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld4PMbghy78

What if the soft-spoken clerk behind the counter of your local convenience store was secretly the world's greatest assassin? You'd get Sakamoto Days, a hit anime series that earned rave reviews following its first season. The new teaser was light on animation, but it did feature new characters for the second season--Amane, Etsuko Satoda, and Yotsumura--who'll feature prominently in it. The second season of Sakamoto Days launches in January 2027.

Fool Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we-eaYBtUDE

Unveiled earlier this year, Fool Night is an adaptation of Kasumi Yasuda's manga of the same name. The animation is by Sunrise (Mobile Suit Gundam) and Shaft (Puella Magi Madoka Magica), and the show is set in a dystopian future where Earth has been plunged into eternal night. As oxygen ran out and plants began to die, scientists started transforming humans into hybrid plant creatures using a technique called transfloration. The series follows a boy named Toshiro Kamiya, who undergoes a procedure to cover his mother's medical expenses, but the operation causes his life to fall apart. It'll debut on Netflix on November 26.

Blue Eye Samurai: Season 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oCx6HcYz9k

The first season of Blue Eye Samurai was a sleeper hit for Netflix, blending slick animation with hard-hitting storytelling and even harder-hitting action scenes. Season Two shifts locations from 17th-century Japan to London, as Mizu continues her vengeance-fueled journey. It'll arrive January 2027 on Netflix. 

Lego One Piece https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z8oBbmkgXo

Based on Netflix's live-action One Piece TV series--which is in turn adapted from the One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda--Lego One Piece features the voices of the cast as they sail the Grand Line in Lego form. It looks adorable, and with Usopp spinning the tallest of tales, Lego feels like the perfect medium to bring his outlandish stories to life. This one is out soon on September 29.

The One Piece The One Piece

There's no trailer yet for The One Piece, but we did get some new key art for this show. A reimagining of Monkey D. Luffy's early adventures in East Blue from Attack on Titan's Studio Wit, it'll premiere in 2027.

To celebrate its 60th anniversary, retailer Best Buy is offering $100 gift cards for only $60, and the timing is great if you want the $100 Ultimate Edition of GTA 6.

The offer is good for one day only, August 22, and you'll need to visit a store in person to get the gift card. Additionally, Best Buy said quantities are limited, so people are encouraged to show up early. The fine print states that each Best Buy location has a minimum of 50 gift cards.

GTA 6's Ultimate Edition costs $100, so if you're interested in that game, you can effectively get it for $60. Alternatively, you could use the $100 gift card to buy the game's $80 standard edition and still have money left over. Or you can use the $100 to buy anything else your heart desires from Best Buy. It's your life.

GTA 6 will be available in a physical copy at Best Buy and other retailers, but the game does not come on a disc. Instead, you'll get a code in the box.

Some of Best Buy's other 60th-anniversary deals include Beats Studio Pro headphones for $160 (was $350), Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $190 (was $250), and up to 60% off a ton of video games.

As for GTA 6, the game launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar Games will show the game off via Netflix on August 27, but people have already gotten a new glimpse at the game through the many leaks.

There has never been a Five Nights at Freddy's collaboration in Fortnite, but an under-construction building on the game's map has given people hope. Well-known leaker HYPEX shared on X that another user named AlignedEclipse has spotted a structure that looks similar to the pizzeria housing Freddy Fazbear and Chicka the Chicken.

To further fuel the Five Nights at Freddy's crossover fire, inside this building is a stage, according to AlignedEclipse. The newest season of Fortnite is focused on video games, and it's called Override. Sonic the Hedgehog is part of the game's battle pass, while Mega Man and Crash Bandicoot--among other characters--are planned to come to the game soon. In that regard, Five Nights at Freddy's would fit in with those franchises.

https://twitter.com/HYPEX/status/2090407434896474250

The speculation also posits that maybe the collaboration will time up with Fortnitemares, a yearly event in the battle-royale game based on Halloween. Previously, Five Nights at Freddy's has collaborated with Dead by Daylight, bringing Springtrap and Freddy Fazbear's Pizza to the latter title. However, nothing is official, and it's possible Fortnite is just making something reminiscent of the point-and-click survival-horror game. 

Five Nights at Freddy's has recently turned into a successful film franchise, even though the sequel received bear-y bad reviews. Meanwhile, the last game in the series was Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic, which came out last year.

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Ongoing GTA 6 leaks might be the biggest gaming news story happening right now, but there's something much more important to discuss: Zork. We finally know what From Software's new Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, actually is, and among the many details we've gotten is a reveal of some of the game's playable characters, known as Bloodsworn. One, in particular, stands out. I'll let you take a guess who:

The Duskbloods' Bloodsworn lineup for the network test

That's Zork on the right, a man in an exceedingly pear-like diving suit who wields a hunk of undersea cable as a weapon. He can also howl, fire a cannon carried on his back, and launch his entire body at enemies, which can actually knock enemy players off the map in the ultimate form of humiliation.

Despite loving lil' weirdos, in using character creators, I often fall short of making something interesting; my Commander Shepard's not so different from the one on the front of the box. And, so often, premade characters in games are basically white bread--acceptable in their generic, mass-appeal kind of way. So to see Zork, who looks decidedly uncool in a traditional sense, available as one of the six characters in The Duskblood's network test is thrilling to me. (I'm also tickled that the names of others range from something as simple as Albert to Senator Samir Patres, a name I will never abbreviate or shorten under any circumstances.)

In speaking with From Software's Hidetaka Miyazaki recently, our own Jake Dekker had to ask about Zork. "There’s always going to be your traditional characters, especially in a vampire-like game," Miyazaki said. "You have your traditional Victorian Gothic characters, and then you have other characters that are a little bit more off to the side with Asian influences [like Trang Lanh]. I think Zork is basically as far off to the side as you can get, where he’s a bit of a wild card. It’s always fun to have characters like that, and there’s always people who like characters like that."

"I really want the multiplayer landscape of this game [to] almost feel like a festival," he continued. "You have all these different kinds of characters, they feel and look very different from each other, and [they all come] together and it [feels chaotic]. Zork is definitely a piece of that–just a weird guy who’s in the midst of it, right?"

Zork!

We also got to the bottom of that beak thing on the front of Zork's mask, and is appropriate for a game about vampires, it is indeed for drinking blood.

"[I]f you ever win with Zork, you’ll get a cutscene that will probably reveal that a little bit more," Miyazaki explained. "[His] beak thing extends like a straw, and sucks [blood] up like a mosquito. That’s probably another Ultraman reference of some sort, some sort of monster."

Miyazaki also noted that Zork is one of his favorite characters to play as in the network test version of the game. Based on the internet's reaction to him so far, I expect he won't be alone in that.