Whatever your reason for needing renewable lava generation in Minecraft, it's pretty simple to get set up, as long as you remember certain block materials will be flammable if they come into contact with lava. When I made my first lava generator, I accidentally set alight the entire top floor of the tower base my friend and I spent around a week building. Avoid my early mistakes by following this guide on how to create a lava farm safely.

The basic concept of a lava farm is using Minecraft dripstone, cauldrons, and non-flammable materials to allow lava to drip down the pointed dripstone and collect in the cauldron. The entire process takes around 19 minutes to fill one cauldron with lava, so it's easier to have multiple cauldrons and dripstones set up.

A simple lava farm

You need to have a lava source block, that is one which is not flowing, above the cauldrons. You can use most stone blocks to craft this, or even glass if you want the lava to be more visible. Do not use wood. I'll explain how to create a lava farm with powered rails beneath it to efficiently collect as much lava as possible in as little time as possible.

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Nacon Revolution X Unlimited Xbox & PC Wireless Controller

$200

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It wasn't that long ago that Xbox Series X|S owners could only use official Microsoft controllers for wireless play. Outside of modded options from brands like Scuf, the Xbox Wireless Controller and Elite Series 2 Controllers were the only choices. And while Microsoft's official controllers are quite good, it's always nice to have different models to choose from. So it was a great development when Microsoft opened its wireless protocol to licensed manufacturers. Over the past two years, the market for wireless third-party Xbox controllers has actually become a bit crowded. The latest notable Elite Series 2 challenger to enter the pro-style controller ring is the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited.

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited Xbox & PC Wireless Controller $200

Key Features:

The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited has a bevy of premium features, including numerous physical modifications and input customization options. Here's a breakdown of what you'll find on this wireless Xbox, PC, and Android controller.

• 2.4GHz Wireless (USB-A) for Xbox & PC / Wired via USB-C
• PC Mode: 2ms wireless / 1ms wired latency, Gyroscope controls
• Built-in LCD customization screen
• Bluetooth for Android
• Hall Effect analog sticks
• 6 extra buttons (4 rear triggers, 2 shoulder buttons)
• 6 swappable stick caps
• 3 sets of handle weights
• 2 pairs of analog stick rings for resistance
• 2 D-pads (8-way & 4-way)
• Adjustable microswitch trigger locks (2 stopping points)
• Microswitch face buttons & D-pads
• 4 rumble motors in handles/triggers
• Classic / Advanced mode toggle
• LED lighting rings
• Textured, rubberized grips
• Charging dock
• Hardshell carrying case with clamshell accessory container
• ~10 hours battery life / 6-hour charging time
• Built-in LCD customization screen (Classic Mode):
  • 12 custom profiles
  • Remap inputs
  • Audio mixing (wired headset required)
  • Analog stick sensitivity, deadzones
  • Switch modes: Shooter Pro (FPS), Sensitivity+
  • Displays current settings
• Nacon Revolution X Unlimited Software for Xbox and PC
  • 4 custom profiles per platform (Xbox & PC)
  • Adjustable trigger & stick sensitivity
  • Create deadzones
  • Switch modes: Shooter Pro (FPS), Sensitivity+
  • Create keyboard shortcuts (PC only)
  • Adjust/activate gyro controls

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Nacon previously released a PS5 pro-style controller in 2023 called the Revolution 5 Pro. Though the latest member of the Revolution lineup has some familiar features--the interchangeable weights, for instance--the Revolution X Unlimited does have components not found on Revolution 5 Pro. Most notably, the Xbox edition adds a built-in LCD display and has two swappable D-pads--the Revolution 5 Pro has a custom fighting game-centric D-pad.

The built-in customization screen is a handy feature that we've seen in a few other controllers, including Turtle Beach's Stealth Ultra. It works well, allowing you to remap inputs and create custom profiles. If you plug a wired headset into the 3.5mm audio jack, you can tinker with the EQ settings and game/chat balance directly on the controller. I found the onboard controls helpful since the Revolution X Unlimited software app for Xbox and PC is a bit buggy at the moment, especially on Xbox, where the app crashed while trying to adjust settings. On the flip side, I didn't run into any problems while using the built-in screen.

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Coral was added to Minecraft back in July 2018 as a way to add more color and function to the survival game's oceans. While coral has limited uses, if you don't know how to correctly harvest and use it, it could quickly turn dull, lifeless, and boring.

There are five types of coral--tube, fire, horn, bubble, and brain, as well as fanned variants of all of those. They naturally generate in warm ocean biomes in coral reefs, but they need water to survive. Otherwise, they'll turn into dead coral. Where once they were bright blues, oranges, pinks, and yellows, dead coral turns gray and lifeless.

Coral is found in warm oceansHow to collect Coral in Minecraft

To collect coral, you'll need a tool with the Silk Touch Minecraft enchantment. It does mine instantly, so unlike Obsidian you won't need to spend ages harvesting it. That's especially helpful since it's underwater. You don't want to drown, after all.

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HBO's The Last of Us is about to wrap up its second season, and a third is on the way. Showrunner Craig Mazin has now said it would be impossible to tell the story he and his team have in mind in anything fewer than four seasons, adding that he expects Season 3 will be longer than Season 2.

Mazin told Collider, "There's no way to complete this narrative in a third season. Hopefully, we'll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth." Before this, HBO management said The Last of Us would likely end after its fourth season.

The showrunner and writer also assured viewers that the team is always thinking ahead to help map out the future of the show, and so far, Mazin has things mapped out through Season 4.

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Lego: The Lion King - Young Simba (1,445 pieces)

$92 (was $130)

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Lego: The Lion King - Simba Cub (222 pieces)

$16 (was $20)

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The Lion King fans can save big on Lego's large-scale model kit of Young Simba for a limited time. The 1,445-piece Lego display set geared toward adult Disney fans is on sale for only $92 (was $130) at Amazon and Walmart. This $38 discount practically matches the all-time low price ($91.19).

Younger builders and those who don't want to drop close to $100 should check out the small-scale Simba Cub Lego set, which is up for grabs for only $16 (was $20). If you want some background noise while building, Amazon has The Lion King on 4K Blu-ray for only $15, and the live-action remake is even cheaper at just $11.76.

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The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has discussed the most heartbreaking scene from the newest episode of the HBO series, which debuted on May 18. This story contains big spoilers.

Episode 6, which takes place in the past, features a memorable scene where Ellie (Bella Ramsey) meets Joel (Pedro Pascal) on the porch and they have an intense conversation where Ellie asks Joel to confirm if her suspicions are true about what happened in Salt Lake City.

Ellie asks Joel to confirm that he killed many people at the hospital, including Marlene, and that the doctors could have made a cure for the fungal infection. Joel confirms all of this, with tears streaming down his face, and Ellie is hugely upset with him in part because she says dying to help create a cure would have given her life meaning.

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Star Citizen, the spaceship-combat game with a never-ending crowdfunding campaign, is currently undergoing a wave of backlash from players. Developer Cloud Imperium Games recently rolled out components that improve ship movement that were originally exclusive to the real-money store--a change that has caused fans to revolt.

As reported by PC Gamer, CIG's addition of flight blades in a recent update, which improve ship maneuverability or speed, has caused significant anger among the community. The particular issue at hand here is that CIG rolled these out only to the Star Citizen Pledge Store, where the studio sells in-game items like ships, cosmetics, and upgrades.

Selling an item like flight blades isn't on its own unusual--the pledge store is a core method that CIG crowdfunds its game. However, Star Citizen has long had a norm of allowing players to purchase upgrades either with real money or with in-game currency (called aUEC). While the studio promised that they would be made purchasable by in-game currency later in the summer, they were launched early to players willing to shell out cash. Gating the flight blades exclusively behind a real-money paywall struck many fans as a bridge too far. The Star Citizen forum thread announcing the flight blades has accumulated over 2,000 replies, way more than the average thread, and most of these are quite negative.

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The first season of Disney+'s Andor was also the first time that British actress Elizabeth Dulau landed a major part in a Hollywood production. But after Dulau's increased presence as Kleya Marki in Andor Season 2, she's already got a dream role in mind as one of the most famous video game heroines.

"Honestly, a dream role would actually be some sort of action hero--someone like Lara Croft!," exclaimed Dulau during an interview with Country and Townhouse. "The people who know me best would not be at all surprised to hear me say that. I idolized characters like her and Indiana Jones as a kid, running around the house fighting imaginary bad guys. I even had a toy bow and arrow! Seeing a female character be that undeniably cool, clever and physically capable was so inspiring to me as a child, and my life would really come full circle if I ever got the chance to be that to other kids."

Dulau may have to get in line for that part. Game Of Thrones star Sophie Turner was reportedly in talks to play Lara Croft in Amazon Prime Video's live-action Tomb Raider series. Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge developed the show for Amazon, but some recent unconfirmed reports suggest that the project may be dead. There's currently no official word from Amazon whether the show is still going forward following the departure of Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke in April.

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Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has discussed the hot-button issue of pricing in the video game industry, saying prices have consistently gone down over the years, adjusted for inflation, while also claiming the company is not attempting to nickel and dime players to maximize profits.

Speaking to GI.biz, Zelnick said his ambition is for people who buy Take-Two's games to feel like they're coming out ahead in terms of the value proposition.

"Our job is not to turn a consumer upside down, shake them, and see how much change comes out of their pockets. Our job is to create the very best entertainment. If we do that, the revenue will take care of itself," he said.

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Heroes of Might and Magic: 30th Anniversary Retrospective

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The Heroes of Might and Magic video game series turns 30 this year, and ahead of the release of a new game in the series, Dark Horse Books has revealed a new 30th Anniversary Retrospective book. Now available to preorder for $55, the deluxe hardcover 192-page book will be released on October 28.

Heroes of Might and Magic: 30th Anniversary Retrospective

Created in conjunction with Ubisoft, this detailed retrospective is written by Neal Hallford, the legendary game designer behind titles like Betrayal at Krondor and Dungeon Siege. The book goes behind the scenes of the making of each Heroes of Might and Magic game, charting its humble origins and how it evolved over the years to become a staple in the turn-based-fantasy genre. Alongside a breakdown of the Heroes of Might and Magic games, you can also explore never-before-seen art, documentation, and interviews with key members of the creative teams.

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Heroes of Might and Magic has had multiple games over the years, starting in 1995 when it spun off from the main Might and Magic series. The rights to the IP were originally held by New World Computing, which was later acquired by 3DO.

After 3DO closed down, these rights were then sold to Ubisoft, with the first game under new ownership being Heroes of Might and Magic 5. Following a lengthy hiatus after the release of Heroes of Might and Magic 7 in 2015, Ubisoft recently announced Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, which is being produced by Iratus: Lord of the Dead developer Unfrozen. The new game will be released later this year through Steam Early Access on PC.

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According to Yoji Fujito, the producer and director of Final Fantasy XI, ongoing support for the game could have ended in 2024. Player interest was high enough that Square Enix ultimately decided not to stop supporting the MMO, though, and a series of new updates is expected throughout this spring and summer.

Final Fantasy XI was the first MMO in the long-running RPG series, and it first launched for PS2 in Japan on May 16, 2002. Live-service support for the MMO, which is now played on PC, has continued ever since. Final Fantasy XI, which GameSpot reviewed all the way back in 2003, has survived Square's merger with Enix, the disastrous launch and lauded rebirth of Final Fantasy XIV, and all of the other changes in the MMO space that have happened in the 23 years since its launch. It's not the most popular MMO, but it has a dedicated and passionate fanbase.

That dedicated fanbase ultimately saved the game. In an interview with Dengeki Online, translated by Automaton Media, Fujito explained that Square Enix had previously considered ending support for Final Fantasy XI by 2024 following the end of The Voracious Resurgence storyline.

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If you're the type of player who likes to share video footage of your mad skills, you may be disappointed to hear that clips recorded on the Nintendo Switch 2 will apparently be limited to only 30 seconds.

According to the Nintendo Today app, the Switch 2 will have the same 30-second video capture limitation as the original Switch. And while the average player just looking to grab a quick clip of a cool in-game moment isn't likely to be particularly bothered by this constraint, it's likely to be much more frustrating for enthusiasts who were hoping the Switch 2 would provide upgraded abilities.

The Switch 2's 30-second cap on video capture falls behind the abilities of the PS5, which can capture up to 30 minutes internally or 60 minutes on external storage. For Switch 2 users to obtain similar capabilities, they'd need to invest in an external capture card, which can be a costly venture.

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The next major collaboration coming to Overwatch was teased last week, as Capcom's Street Fighter franchise will become the first-ever video game franchise to join Blizzard's hero shooter. Eight of Overwatch's heroes will be given the Street Fighter treatment, as they'll be able to dress up as eight of SF's world warriors, with some new themed emotes to boot.

GameSpot sat down with Overwatch art director Dion Rogers and former character art director Arnold Tsang to talk about bringing Street Fighter to Overwatch, from the character-selection process to how Street Fighter inspired some of Overwatch's design choices from the very beginning.

The eight Overwatch 2 X Street Fighter skins"Match made in heaven"

From the beginning of discussions–"about a year ago," according to Rogers--the Overwatch x Street Fighter collaboration has been what Tsang describes as "a match made in heaven." A big part of that, as Rogers describes, is Capcom's shared background in developing games.

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Microsoft has rolled out a new Xbox update allows players to further customize the home screen, and the changes sound pretty nice. For now, the new features are available only to Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha users, before everyone else gets to try it later. You can sign up for the free Xbox Insider program to get early access to Xbox updates.

Microsoft said it's received feedback from fans that they want the Home screen on Xbox to feel more personalized. Specifically, fans have asked for Microsoft to hide tiles they don't regularly use, and in general, make the Home screen feel "less crowded." This new update is an attempt to give fans some updates with those concerns in mind, Microsoft said.

"This update is part of our ongoing effort to make Home more personal, flexible, and responsive to your feedback," the company explained.

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Summer is typically a great time to head outside, enjoy the warmer weather, and work on your tan, but if you're into video games, it's also a season of announcements. Similar to previous years, various developers and publishers are gearing up to reveal what they're working on, as they'll be taking to the internet for a series of livestreams. From indie games to upcoming AAA releases, the next couple of months are going to be a busy--but entertaining--time in the industry.

If you're looking to stay up to date on when these livestreams are being held, we'll be keeping track of everything and updating this post whenever a new livestream is announced. For now, there's a lot to look forward to already as Geoff Keighley's annual Summer Game Fest, the feel-good Wholesome Direct, and the Xbox Games Showcase are all confirmed for this year. A few other events are also coming even sooner--a clever move that will allow these respective initiatives more time to shine.

Here's a closer look at everything on the way.

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Two beloved PlayStation Vita games were originally getting sequels before Sony decided to put its focus on PS4 in the mid-2010s, according to Shuhei Yoshida. The former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president recently opened up about plans for Soul Sacrifice 2 and Freedom Wars 2.

VGC reports that Yoshida appeared on Sacred Symbols+ and discussed how sequels were in the works for both Vita exclusives at one point. "We were actually working on Soul Sacrifice 2 and Freedom Wars 2, but because of budget limitation we had to stop and move on to PS4," Yoshida said on the podcast.

Soul Sacrifice launched in 2013 for PS Vita and came from a concept created by former Mega Man designer Keiji Inafune. Meanwhile, Freedom Wars arrived the following year in 2014 for the handheld. Both Vita exclusives featured Monster Hunter-like similarities, which is notable because Capcom's popular franchise skipped the Sony handheld after being a juggernaut on PlayStation Portable. Nintendo was able to secure Monster Hunter 4 as an exclusive for 3DS.

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Naughty Dog's new IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, remains largely a mystery, and now one of the actors who will appear in the game has shared some insight into what it's been like working on it.

Speaking to Dexerto, Stephen A. Chang--who played Jesse in The Last of Us--said Naughty Dog is being quite secretive about the project. Change said he knows "probably as much as you" about it.

In fact, Chang said he wasn't even sure the game was Intergalactic and not a new Last of Us game when he signed on.

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Ubisoft has confirmed that players will be able to test out Rainbow Six Siege X starting tomorrow, May 20, and outlined all of the updates players can expect throughout the rest of the year.

On June 10, Rainbow Six Siege X, an overhaul of the first-person shooter, will arrive. It adds a new 6v6 mode called Dual Front, updates several maps, improves player onboarding, and more. On Sunday, Ubisoft also revealed that Siege X will include a dedicated in-game esports tab and that PC players will be able to test out all of these upgrades early through a test server session that will be live between 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET on May 20 and 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET on June 9. Ubisoft is increasing the minimum, high, and ultra PC- spec requirements alongside the launch of Siege X, which it detailed in the image below.

Rainbow Six Siege X PC SpecsMinimum

• CPU: AMD Ryzen3 3100, Intel i3 8100
• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650 4GB, AMD RX 5500XT 4GB, INTEL ARC A380 6GB
• Ram: 8GB
• OS: Windows 10/11, DirectX 12
• Storage: 65 GB SSD

High

• CPU: AMD Ryzen5 3600, Intel i5 10400, AMD Ryzen7 3700X, Intel i5 11600K
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB, NVIDIA RTX 3070 8GB, NVIDIA RTX 3080 10 GB, AMD RX 6600 8GB, AMD RX 6700 XT 8GB, AMD RX 6800 XT 16 GB
• Ram: 16 GB
• OS: Windows 11, DirectX 12
• Storage: 65 GB SSD

Ultra

• CPU: AMD Ryzen5 5600X, Intel i5-11600K
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti Super 16GB, AMD RTX 7900 XT 20GB
• Ram: 16 GB
• OS: Windows 11, DirectX 12
• Storage: 110 GB SS

Additionally, Ubisoft teased what's to come throughout the rest of Year 10. Siege X launches alongside a new season called Operation Daybreak. It redesigns the Defender Operator named Clash, who can now deploy her shield and activate its taser remotely. Operation Daybreak also brings other balancing updates to the game, such as electricity slowing Operators rather than damaging them now, reducing limb damage, and adjusting the abilities of Blackbeard, Jackal, Jäger, Thunderbird, and Sledge. The developers also plan to be more efficient in making anti-cheat updates throughout the season.

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Stitch Interactive Plush

$40

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The live-action version of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch hits theaters on Friday, May 23, and early reviews are calling it an emotional reimagining of the iconic 2002 film. Like most Disney films, this one is accompanied by heaps of merchandise and collectibles--but the Interactive Stitch Plush is one of the most adorable. Featuring a bunch of interactive elements and a charming design, it’s a fun way to bring the little blue extraterrestrial into your home.

Stitch Interactive Plush $40

The Stitch Interactive Plush stands 14 inches tall and is packed with over 50 sounds and phrases inspired by the film. These will trigger when you perform actions like rubbing his head or wiggling him around--and his LED eyes will change expressions based on his reaction. It’s also made from ultra-soft materials, making the Interactive Plush a unique and adorable companion for any young fan of Lilo & Stitch.

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To get a glimpse of all its interactive elements, check out this short video highlighting its coolest features.

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Lego Disney: Stitch (730 pieces)

$48 at Walmart | $52 at Amazon (was $65)

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Lego Disney: Angel (784 Pieces)

$65 | Releases June 1

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Lego Disney: Lilo and Stitch Beach House (834 Pieces)

$90

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Disney's live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch arrives in theaters this Friday, May 23. Unsurprisingly, that means there's a wave of new merch hitting store shelves. But even with brand-new products such as this adorable talking Stitch plush, one of the most popular pieces of merch will likely continue to be Lego's buildable Stitch figure. The 730-piece Lego set has remained one of the best-selling Disney Lego sets at major retailers since its release last March. And it will probably be even more in demand in the coming weeks. Right now, Lego's Stitch figure is available for $48 (was $65) at Walmart. If this deal sells out, Amazon has it in stock for $52, which matches the deal we saw during the holidays last year.

And there's another upcoming release that could contribute to Lego Stitch's popularity. On June 1, Lego will release a very similar model of Angel from the Lilo & Stitch animated series. Check out both figures as well as the recently released Lilo & Stitch Beach House Lego playset below.

If you want to watch the original 2002 animated film before heading to the theater this weekend, Disney recently remastered the film in 4K. Fans can pick up Lilo & Stitch on 4K Blu-ray for $32 (was $45) at Amazon.

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