Baldur's Gate 3 was a tour de force when it launched in 2023, garnering multiple accolades--including GameSpot's Game Of The Year--and launching developer Larian Studios into a household name. Because of that success, many assumed a DLC expansion would be coming for the megahit RPG, but that doesn't seem to be the case--and in Larian CEO Swen Vincke's opinion, that's because the studio finds making DLC "boring."

In an interview with GameSpot, Vincke mentioned that Larian is "not in the DLC business," pointing to Baldur's Gate 3's massive patches and updates as the way Larian prefers to update its games. When asked to expand further, Vincke called making DLC "boring" and said there's "no passion" in doing that at the studio.

"You want a happy player and happy business, but you also need to have a happy developer," Vincke said. "What we're doing now makes developers way more happy. We had a huge hit, and people said 'DLC this' and 'DLC that,' and we said we'd make DLC, but then when we had a moment to think, we asked ourselves, 'what are we doing?'"

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Machine-learning and artificial intelligence systems are some of the most-talked-about technologies in gaming--and across a variety of other industries. Some fear advancements to such systems might lead to negative consequences, while others predict a rosier future. Still others, like Larian Studios boss Swen Vincke, are trying to thoughtfully implement new technologies to help empower developers, not replace them. We caught up with Vincke recently, who discussed a range of subjects, including machine learning and AI. Watch the full interview below.

Tasks "Nobody Wants To Do"

Vincke said Larian currently uses machine learning systems to help automate game-development tasks that "nobody wants to do."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Doom games have primarily been set on Earth, Hell, and the heavenly world of the Maykrs, but for Doom: The Dark Ages, developer Id Software is adding a new dimension of Lovecraftian terror. Dubbed the Cosmic Realm, this new location will see the Doom Slayer face off against brand-new foes that'll put his skills to the test, but he'll also pick up a new weapon that can help him even the odds.

In a new video, game director Hugo Martin described the Cosmic Realm as a world that has formed an unholy alliance with Hell. Thanks to that union, new enemies like the Cosmic Baron have emerged. This brute has bladed arms, and he'll pressure you with relentless melee and psionic attacks, but there will be windows of opportunity to strike back. There's also a new form of the Cacodemon to watch out for, which Martin described as a floating mass of telepathic terror that can immobilize players if they get too close to it.

Fortunately, the new Reaver Chainshot weapon can do some serious damage to these foes. A "brutal ballistic iron mace of death" according to Martin, it can unleash long-range melee strikes by charging up the Chaos Sphere inside of it. Overall, Doom fans can look forward to 22 levels across various realms, and on PS5, Martin said that the all-new idTech 8 engine will be capable of rendering impressive scenes on that platform.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Thanks to the preservation efforts of GOG, beloved Capcom JRPG Breath of Fire 4 has gotten a new PC port. This new edition of the classic game is DRM-free and has been updated for modern PCs, as it's now compatible with Windows 10 and 11 operating systems, includes both the English and Japanese localizations, and full support for modern controllers like the Sony DualSense. If you're interested, you can pick it up for $10 on GOG.

See on GOG

Other improvements include the restoration of missing sound effects, new rendering options, and various issues that would cause hard crashes to the desktop have been addressed. Breath of Fire 4 was first released for PlayStation in Japan and the US in 2000, and the original PC port for it arrived in 2003.

The game is set in a fantasy world, where two major continental powers in the sky had been cut off from each other for centuries by an expanse that ships could not sail across. First contact was eventually made, and with it, war erupted between these continental powers. Taking place a year later, the game introduces a colorful cast of characters, including the hero Ryu, who possesses the ability to transform into a powerful dragon. Teaming up with several warriors, Ryu sets off on a quest to stop an immortal emperor from attaining godhood and unleashing destruction upon the world.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Split Fiction film adaptation has just added some big-name talent, specifically Anyone But You star Sydney Sweeney. The actress is attached to play a leading role in the movie, as either Zoe or Mio.

Variety reports that Wicked filmmaker Jon M. Chu is set to direct Split Fiction, joining Sweeney (who will also executive produce) on the project. Chu's production company Electric Somewhere will back the game adaptation. Split Fiction also has writers lined up with Deadpool and Wolverine scribes Rhett Reeese and Paul Wernick. This wouldn't be the duo's first foray into a video game project as they helped develop Peacock's Twisted Metal TV series.

The Split Fiction movie adaptation has picked up steam quickly. It was only last month that word came out developer Hazelight was working with Story Kitchen on a film for the game, which also just launched in March. Split Fiction creator Josef Fares also seemed unsure whether a film adaptation of the game would actually get made. However, odds have definitely increased with Sweeney and Chu attached to the project.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

2023's Resident Evil 4 Remake had a lot of hype to deliver, but quickly became one of that year's best games and a huge seller. It sold so much that, in fact, that Capcom officially announced that it reached 10 million copies sold. Making it the fastest to reach that milestone than any other entry in the entire Resident Evil Franchise within just two years.

Capcom also compared the number of sales with the last few games of the series, starting with 2017's Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Both Biohazard and the Resident Evil 2 Remake, released in 2019, have achieved over 15 million cumulative units sold. 2021's Resident Evil: Village has reached over 11 million cumulative units, while 2020's Resident Evil 3 Remake sold 10 million cumulative units.

Since the series launched in 1996, the company has sold 167 million units across almost 30 years of the franchise.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The TSA is well-known for its sometimes-questionable decision-making when it comes to what can and cannot fly. This week, one Call Of Duty fan found out the hard way that replica bombs are one of the many items that cannot be brought onto an aircraft… even if said replica looks more like a monkey than a bomb.

In a recent post on the official Transport Security Administration Facebook page, the TSA revealed it had confiscated a replica Monkey Bomb from a passenger at Boston Logan International Airport. The item in question is, of course, not a real bomb, but a replica of the amusing monkey-based grenade featured in a number of Call Of Duty titles, including Black Ops 6.

"On today's episode of #ProhibitedItemsWeek, we present Call of Duty: Baggage Ops," the TSA shared on Facebook. "Our officers at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) had a 'What the frag?!?' moment when they discovered this replica explosive device in a passenger's checked bag. This monkey may rack up points in a game, but in real life, leave the gear for your loadout screen, not your baggage. Replica weapons and explosives, no matter how cool or collectible, aren't allowed in either carry-on or checked baggage."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Hideo Kojima has revealed a new piece of trivia about his PlayStation game Death Stranding. He said on a social media post that he offered Margaret Qualley a role in the video game after seeing her in a Kenzo perfume ad back in 2016.

The ad was directed by Oscar-winning director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Her), and in it, Qualley dances in a variety of contorting positions. "The only note I got from my agent was that they wanted me to dance like a tree," Qualley said of the ad, which you can see below.

I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding. https://t.co/UDJa2NjbO6

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) April 25, 2025

In Death Stranding, Qualley plays Mama and Lockne. It's unclear if Qualley is coming back for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

EA's upcoming free-to-play Skate game will not feature an offline mode, developer Full Circle has confirmed. In an FAQ, the developer said Skate will require a constant internet connection because of how the game was designed.

"The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving," the studio said. "You'll see bigger things evolve, like changes to the city over time, as well as smaller things, like live events and other in-game activities."

Full Circle added: "In order to deliver on our vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

It has been a wild week for video games, and between the headline-grabbing news of shadow-dropped games and turbulent console preorders, it's only natural that some stuff has flown under the radar. Starless Abyss is one such example here, as this blend of roguelike deckbuilding and Eldritch horror has just released today with very little fanfare.

See on Steam

That's a shame, because so far, the game is earning high praise for its Lovecraftian themes and retro-inspired art design. Starless Abyss sees you command a fleet of spaceships powered by science and the occult against alien invaders from a nightmarish reality. As one of five Proximae tasked with saving humanity, you'll be able to upgrade your ships along the way, and battles take place on a hex-based grid.

The catch here is that the closer you bring your fleet to the Outer Gods, the faster your sanity will deplete. You can keep your mind in check, but embracing a little bit of mental chaos will also allow you to use powerful occult abilities in battle. The art direction also looks quite enticing with its old-school spaceship designs and space-terror monsters. It's Steam Deck Verified as well, so you can download it and start playing right away without the need to fiddle about with the game settings.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Vagabond Definitive Edition Vol. 1 (Hardcover)

$29.79 (was $55)

See at Amazon

One of the most notable premium manga releases of the past year is on sale for nearly 50% off at Amazon. Vagabond Definitive Edition Vol. 1, a gorgeous 728-page hardcover published by Viz Media in January, is up for grabs for just $29.79 (was $55). This massive display-worthy book collects the first three volumes in Takehiko Inoue's legendary series that's widely regarded as one of the best manga within its genre.

Vagabond Definitive Edition Vol. 1 (Hardcover) $29.79 (was $55)

This new edition of Vagabond is presented in oversized hardcover format, which should make Inoue's beautiful and brutal visuals really shine. So far, 37 individual volumes of Vagabond--collected in 12 books--were published before Inoue took a break from the series to focus on his health and other projects. The pursuit of perfection and weekly publishing schedule took its toll on Inoue, and a year after the hiatus, he returned to his basketball roots with the series Real, an inspiring sports story focused on wheelchair basketball.

If you're new to Vagabond and don't want to drop $43 to check it out, most of the previously released paperbacks, which contain three volumes each, can be purchased from Amazon for around $20 each.

There's no indication that Inoue will return to Vagabond in the future, but the current volumes are worth reading for their intricate plotting and mesmerizing visuals.

See at Amazon

If you've never read it, Vagabond follows the tale of Shinmen Takezou through 16th-century Japan. Also known as the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, the manga is a fictionalized account of his life and is based on Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi. A decades-spanning story, Vagabond focuses not only on the battles that made Musashi a legend but also on the more intimate moments of his life as he strives for enlightenment, through stunning art.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

EA Sports College Football 26 releases for Xbox Series X and PS5 on July 10, though it'll be noticeably absent on Switch 2 and PC (once again). Preorders are starting to open for this year’s installment of the revived franchise--and you’ll unlock plenty of bonuses if you reserve a copy in advance. We’re still waiting on full details of what’s changing for College Football 26, but here’s a look at all preorder bonuses and all versions of the game up for grabs.

EA Sports College Football 26 will once again release about a month before Madden. Preorders for Madden NFL 26 opened at the same time as College Football 26, with the pro football sim slated to launch on August 14.

All College Football 26 + Madden 26 Preorders

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Madden NFL 26

$70 | Releases August 14

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart

Madden NFL 26 Deluxe Edition

$100 | Releases August 11

Preorder at PS Store Preorder at Xbox Store Preorder at Steam

EA Sports MVP Bundle

$150 | Releases August 11 (Madden) / July 11 (College Football)

Preorder at PS Store Preorder at Xbox Store

Madden is returning to a Nintendo console for the first time in over a decade when it lands on Switch 2 this August. The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Madden NFL 26 is now available to preorder at Amazon and Walmart for $70, the same price that you'll find preorders for on PS5 and Xbox Series X. In addition to the standard edition, Madden 26 will get a Digital Deluxe Edition and MVP Bundle, with the latter offering access to EA Sports College Football 26 on PS5 or Xbox Series, too.

The return of simulation football to a Nintendo console isn't the only major change to the release model of EA Sports' popular annual sim; Madden 26 won't be playable on PS4 or Xbox One for the first time since Madden NFL 13. Ironically, Madden 13 was the last game in the series to appear on a Nintendo console (Wii U).

Here's a look at all Madden NFL 26 preorders--as more retailers open inventory, we'll update this list accordingly.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

One of the cool things about Amiibo figures is that they don't just look good; they also offer some neat extras inside of a game, and for Street Fighter 6 fans, those collectibles offer quite a bit of useful functionality. While Amiibo figures have received exponential price increases ahead of the launch of the Switch 2 console in June, there is a "budget-friendly" alternative in the form of Amiibo Cards, and for Street Fighter 6, you can get 22 of these in a handy pack. The Street Fighter 6: Year One Collection Amiibo Cards will be available exclusively through GameStop, and it's currently priced at $40--the same price as a single Street Fighter 6 Amiibo.

Street Fighter 6 Amiibo Cards $40

The pack includes 22 brawlers from the first year of Street Fighter 6, including DLC characters like AKI and Akuma. These Amiibo Cards can be used to save player settings like the character outfits, colors, and button settings, so that makes them useful for quickly loading up your gameplay preferences when you hop onto a Switch 2 console for some digital fisticuffs.

Preorder at GameStop

In case you need a reminder, here's the full roster of characters from Street Fighter 6's first year, who'll all have their cards in the pack:

Street Fighter 6 Amiibo Cards

• Luke
• Jamie
• Manon
• Kimberly
• Marisa
• Lily
• JP
• Juri
• Dee Jay
• Cammy
• Ryu
• E.Honda
• Blanka
• Guile
• Ken
• Chunk-Li
• Zangief
• Dhalsim
• Rashid
• AKI
• Ed
• Akuma

If you do want to grab some Street Fighter 6 Amiibos, there are three to choose from currently. Luke, Kimberly, and Jamie have all gotten the plastic collectible treatment, and the nice thing about these figures is that they echo the visual design language of Street Fighter 6. Each one is priced at $40, and like the cards, you can use them to access character-specific settings.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Yakuza 0: Director's Cut

$50 | Releases June 5

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart

Ahead of the Switch 2's launch in June, you can preorder one of the best games in the Yakuza series for the new Nintendo hybrid console. You can grab Yakuza 0: Director's Cut for just $50 to experience a terrific story and bone-breaking action, as well as some new content for this release of the game. It'll be a timed exclusive for Switch 2, so PC and console players will have to wait a while before they can access it.

Yakuza 0: Director's Cut $50 | Releases June 5

Yakuza 0: Director's Cut contains all of the action and drama from the original game, as well as new scenes created exclusively for this edition and a brand-new English voiceover. On top of that, you'll also be able to take part in online co-op battles through the Red Light Raid mode, teaming you up with players around the world to shake down the seedy underworld of the game's infamous districts.

One thing to note about this release is that it's a Game-Key Card version. Essentially, this means that you'll still need to download Yakuza 0 onto your Switch 2 and the cartridge will act as an authentication device. Game-Key cards are not tied to your Nintendo account, so if you want to sell the game when you're done with it, it will work fine on a different Switch 2 console. An internet connection is only required when booting up a Game-Key Card for the first time, after which the game can be accessed in offline mode on the Switch 2.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart

If you've never played Yakuza 0, then you've missed out on one of the best games that Sega has ever published. Set in 1988 Japan during its financial boom, the game is an origin story for longtime Yakuza characters Kiryu Kazuma and Goro Majima, revealing how they became the legends known as the Dragon of Dojima and the Mad Dog of Shimano, respectively. At its core, Yakuza 0 is a 3D beat-'em-up with a heavy emphasis on storytelling, with major beats in the game playing out like episodes of a gangland drama series.

The game is also packed with diversions, as there are side stories to explore between missions and numerous mini-games to take part in. Kiryu even gets to take part in a side-hustle invests in real estate in Kamurocho, while Goro runs a cabaret club in Sotenbori. Both modes are surprisingly deep, and either one could work well as a standalone game.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Ubisoft Ivory Tower revealed more details about the upcoming offline mode for The Crew 2, confirming that a "hybrid" mode will allow them to further refine the offline mode and release it later this year.

Last year, Ubisoft angered fans of the 2014 racing game The Crew when it took the game's servers offline, rendering it unplayable. Although players are suing Ubisoft over this, The Crew remains offline. That said, Ubisoft is working on offline mode updates for the other games in the series, The Crew 2 and The Crew: Motorfest, and provided more details on them in a new video released today, April 24.

It mostly focuses on The Crew 2, as that game will be receiving an offline mode first. Before then, a "Hybrid" mode for The Crew 2 will be released, allowing players to switch between online and offline play. Producer Gregory Corgie explains in the video that this hybrid approach, combined with the Insider Program's player testing, will allow Ubisoft Ivory Tower to "refine and balance the content" in preparation for a wide release at the end of 2025.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Switch 2 preorders are live in some parts of the world--or were live, briefly, before selling out--but Nintendo is warning some consumers to be wary of scammers trying to con eager consumers out of their personal data. In Japan, Nintendo is holding Switch 2 lotteries, where people submit their names for a chance to preorder the upcoming console. The idea is to cut down on scalpers hoarding systems and selling them at exorbitant prices, and to avoid the chaotic mess of online free-for-alls, but it seems unscrupulous actors are taking advantage of the situation in other ways.

Some consumers received emails telling them it was their turn to purchase a Switch 2 and directing them to click on a link that would take them somewhere that was definitely not the Nintendo Store.

"We have confirmed phishing emails disguised as the results of the My Nintendo Store 'Nintendo Switch 2' lottery sale," Nintendo said in a statement on X (translated via Google). "The lottery results sent today will not include a URL for the purchase procedure due to a change in the processing period. If there is a URL for reservations or purchases, it was not sent by our company. Please be careful."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The 2018 city-building survival simulator Frostpunk is being remade in Unreal Engine 5 as Frostpunk 1886, developer 11 bit Studios has announced, and it will include new content as well as official mod support.

In a press release, 11 bit Studios explained that while its 2024 sequel Frostpunk 2 will continue to receive new content updates, it wanted to lay a new foundation for the original now that the studio's proprietary Liquid Engine, which was used to build the first Frostpunk, is no longer in development.

That led the team to using the Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 for its upcoming remake, but 11 bit makes clear that Frostpunk 1886, which is slated for release in 2027, won't be just a visual update. It will add new content, mechanics, laws, and a new purpose path for players to pursue as they attempt to manage a settlement amid a frozen, post-apocalyptic alternate history. As for the name, "1886" refers to an important moment in the game's universe, when the Great Storm first descended upon New London.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Remedy Entertainment confirmed during a livestream that multiplayer Control spin-off FBC: Firebreak will be released on June 17 and will receive ample free post-launch support afterward.

The livestream provided a deeper look at the three-player co-op shooter's gameplay, including a mission, or "Job," that players can complete called Hot Fix. We also got a look at the Requisitions system, which serves as FBC: Firebreak's main form of progression and is similar to Helldivers 2's Warbonds. By playing the game, players will be able to unlock new weapons, armor, equipment, and more using free in-game currency, although real money can be spent to access "Classified Requisitions" that obtain premium cosmetic items.

Though this is a battle pass-like system, Remedy says the game is designed to be anti-FOMO. In a recent preview, GameSpot's Mark Delaney said it's "more [like] Left 4 Dead than [a] live-service game," with no daily challenges and expiring passes that make players feel like they have to play it or fall behind.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Fortnite's next big update for Chapter 6 arrives on May 2, which will be a Star Wars-focused season called Galactic Battle. Epic hasn't clarified if this will be just a mini season or if this the full Season 3 update players might expect. Regardless, Epic Games has revealed images of the new map changes players can expect for the Galactic Battle update. These new points-of-interest are inspired by the Star Wars franchise, and it includes a First Order Base and a location themed around Darth Vader.

As seen in the images below, three of Season 2's main locations are being replaced and the areas are getting a Star Wars makeover.

Fortnite's Galactic Battle map changesGallery

At the northeast portion of the map, the Demon's Dojo location is replaced with a snowy First Order Base. In the southwest corner, Shogun's Solitude is transformed into Vader Samurai's Solitude, and Hopeful Heights in the southeast corner is replaced with a dusty Outpost Enclave setting.

Continue Reading at GameSpot