Game News
Magicians: The Devil’s Deal Looks Like BioShock With Stage Magic, Coming To Game Pass
A new game premiere at the Xbox Games Showcase gave us serious BioShock vibes, set against a world of Houdini-era magic. The first-person shooter swaps out chemicals for trick cards, and naturally, the devil is involved. Magicians: The Devil's Deal is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox in 2027.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8b2Jd-2y54The trailer also included a mention that it will come to Xbox Game Pass.
Magicians: The Devil's Deal is coming from Uppercut Games, a studio composed of BioShock vets, so the similarities are no coincidence. And like the BioShock games, this is very grounded in a particular historical era, but turn-of-the-century magic definitely gives it its own flavor.
Doom: The Dark Ages Swaps The Shield For An Awesome-Looking Spear In New Revelations DLC
During the Xbox Games Showcase at Summer Game Fest, id Software revealed an expansion for Doom: The Dark Ages titled Revelations. Taking the Doom Slayer to hell and swapping out Dark Ages' distinctive shield for a spear, the DLC launches soon, on July 7 for all platforms.
The spear is the star of the show here, acting as a big change to the shield that was a permanent part of your loadout in the main game. You'll be able to launch the spear at foes from a distance but also use it as a grappling hook. The footage shows the Doom Slayer using the spear for platforming and, more importantly, yanking himself towards demons before unloading several shotgun shells into them.
https://youtu.be/UKkd02ZEBOU?si=4bdYvTUrCG5AU9UBNarratively, it seems the Doom Slayer is being stripped of his armor and plunged down into hell, which might be the first time he finds himself there given The Dark Ages' placement in the Doom timeline. There's some suggestions too that we'll get glimpses of the first Doom in Revelations too, but it's unclear if these are just neat callbacks, like those in the 2016 release of Doom, or more substantial story beats.
Doom Eternal received numerous DLC expansions, but id Software hasn't indicated yet if Revelations will be the only one for The Dark Ages.
New Co-Op Game, Join Us, Is Like GTA With Cults And The Apocalypse
Getting a new gameplay trailer and release date during the Xbox Games Showcase today, Join Us is an upcoming co-op game for up to four players, and sees you take the role of a cult leader hellbent on securing the safety of your followers.
Whether you're making difficult decisions on who to sacrifice, focusing on building your base, turning tractors into killing machines, commandeering a pig mount, or growing a vast collection of military-grade weapons, there's a role for everyone in the cult.
https://youtu.be/52sHCWHzYLcJoin Us was originally announced back in September 2025, and has had a small handful of trailers since. It was originally slated for a release this fall, but that window has now shifted to March 2027.
You can choose to play solo or with up to four friends, and as the leader, your aim to get your cult members safely through the apocalypse. Every character in the game is a potential future cult recruit, and you'll need to win them over by spreading propaganda and making your cult seem appealing to join.
Followers have strengths and weaknesses, but can also be used as farmers, doctors, and other important roles. Be warned though: If they're unhappy, they'll leave, and there's no cult without any followers.
Similarly, the police, other locals, and the government don't really like cults, and will try to put a stop to your hard work. You can use weapons and even a gun that shoots live snakes to bring their sabotage to a stop.
Wolf Haus Games has announced that Join Us will be released in March 2027.
New Hellblade Game Already Coming, But Is Just Called “Senua”
During Summer Game Fest, Xbox unveiled what's coming to Microsoft's console in 2026 and the immediate future during its Xbox Game Showcase. Among the announcements was a surprise reveal trailer for the next Hellblade game, which is just called "Senua," instead of Hellblade III.
"The title of just Senua really reflects that this is something fresh and new and different," Ninja Theory studio head Dom Matthews said in an interview for Xbox Wire. "It is a different style of game. I think [Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice] and [Senua's Saga: Hellblade II] had an intention that we delivered on--but this is a different intention. I think of it as being additive--we're taking all of that goodness and adding the types of things that people expect from a premium action-adventure game."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91LAY9B6lUcSenua seems to be leaning a little bit harder into the "action" part of action-adventure. While Matthews says that the game will still feature a character-driven story and environment-driven puzzles, the team is taking the feedback for Hellblade II into account.
"I did spend a lot of time looking at what players said--you know, user reviews and reading forums--and understanding what people loved and what they’d like more of," Matthews said. "And the resounding feedback there, frankly, was that people loved the presentation, the story, the tone and the atmosphere that we achieved, but they’d just love to be able to engage with Senua at a deeper level, with more gameplay, with more agency, right?"
He continued: "[Senua is] not a combat-action game--people shouldn't expect that this is like two-thirds combat. We're really thinking about it as being a fairly even split between combat, traversal, and puzzle solving. The way I think about it is really about studio potential, looking at our expertise and allowing the team to go and do their best work in this game--and so much of that experience comes from the likes of DmC, Enslaved, and Heavenly Sword as well as the Hellblades."
As seen in the new trailer, protagonist Senua has a bit more tools at her disposal in Senua. Normally only relying on a shortsword, Senua is seen in the trailer wielding a short axe, even dual-wielding it alongside her usual weapon. She also seems to possess more abilities that her mind translates into magic.
"Throughout the journey, Senua develops beliefs and understandings, and that gives her the ability to change her reality," Matthew said. "That manifests in Focus Abilities that the player can use as and when they wish, across traversal, puzzle solving and combat. One of the things that you see in the trailer is her ability to shatter reality. She can do that to unlock spaces in the world, but you can also use it within combat--particularly when there's multiple enemies in the same space--to really do some of that crowd control, buy some time, push some enemies back."
Matthews goes on to talk about how Senua (the game, not the person) will have an interconnected world that's composed of a series of large, explorable spaces, and Senua (the person, not the game) will possess new traversal abilities to better navigate those larger spaces. The game is still a linear story though, so it's not an open world adventure game or a metroidvania. The whole experience sounds most akin to something like God of War or God of War Ragnarök, but smaller in scope.
"This game takes place after the events of both Hellblade I and Hellblade II--and it's set in Purgatory," Matthews said. "It's Senua's vision of purgatory, which is a vision of her childhood homeland. So in one sense she's returning home. She's trapped between life and death on a quest to reach the afterlife and be reunited with the ones that she's loved and lost. Her belief is that by healing the wounds of her life, she can find the peace that is the key that unlocks the gate to the afterlife."
Senua is set to launch in 2027. The game will launch for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, and be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one.
Persona 4 Revival Coming February 2027, Included In Game Pass
Persona 4 Revival, a remake of the highly regarded entry in the Persona series, is coming on February 28, 2027. The release date was revealed as part of the Xbox showcase during Summer Game Fest, and the reveal included the announcement that it will be available on Xbox Game Pass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg3Enwd7Ba4Persona 4 is widely considered one of the best RPGs of all time, and its expanded 2012 release currently has an aggregate 93 Metascore on Metacritic.
The game is set in rural Japan, featuring a band of teenagers establishing social connections in between deep dives into dungeons. It was followed up by the equally acclaimed Persona 5.
Metro 2039 Arrives Next February, And Nazis Have Overtaken Moscow
Metro 2039 was revealed earlier this year with an eerie cinematic trailer, but it only teased a few moments of gameplay at the very end. For fans eagerly waiting for more action, they got their first chance during the Xbox Games Showcase, where 4A Games debuted a gameplay trailer focused on new antagonist Hunter and his iron-fist rule on the titular Metro.
The Spartan Order--an organization that seemed to have altruistic motives in previous Metro games--has been twisted and morphed into an authoritarian regime under Hunter, who proclaims himself "Fuhrer." As you might expect, that doesn't sit right with everyone in Moscow, and 2039's new protagonist, The Stranger, is on a mission to take down Hunter for what he's done to the surviving population.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAUfp7tP2bg"There is a liar in these tunnels," The Stranger says in the gameplay trailer. "They call him 'Fuhrer,' but that is not your name. Your name is Hunter. As a Spartan, you were a legend. You stood for something. But where are the Spartans now, to protect the Metro from you?"
Over this narration, we see the carnage Hunter has brought to the city. Bodies litter the street, with victims hanging from makeshift gallows. Armed soldiers with armbands that look extremely Nazi-coded march through Moscow.
As the trailer shifts to action, we see The Stranger slit a Spartan Order soldier's throat, but he'll also be going up against the mutated monsters that have populated Moscow since the nuclear apocalypse. It does look, however, like the battle against the worst of humanity will be the driving force in Metro 2039.
"That legendary Spartan is gone--turned to ash. I won't stop until the Fuhrer burns with him."
Metro 2039 arrives to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in February 2027.
New Prologue Missions For Halo: Campaign Evolved Revealed, Releasing In July
The Xbox Games Showcase would not be complete without an appearance from Halo: Campaign Evolved, and that's exactly what fans got during this year's show.
The new trailer gave a first glimpse of Operation: Meteorite, a brand-new prologue featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. It also confirmed that the Unreal 5 remake will release this summer on July 28, while Premium and Collector's Edition owners will get early access beginning from July 23.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WwqeSUMEIYSet a year before the events of the main campaign, Operation: Meteorite will see players embark on a clandestine UNSC operation infiltrating a Covenant research ship consisting of three missions.
It doesn't just promise more content but new locations, new enemy variants such as the Brute Berserker glimpsed in the trailer, as well as more weapons from across the series.
The story is also being penned by award-winning sci-fi author Troy Denning, who has authored the two Halo novel series,: Ferrets, and A Master Chief Story.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved's campaign mode, this time releasing on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5--the first time a Halo game has ever appeared on a PlayStation system.
State Of Decay 3 Finally Resurfaces With New Trailer, And It’s Coming To PS5
State of Decay 3 has resurfaced at the Xbox Games Showcase with a new trailer, a release window, and confirmation of a PlayStation 5 edition.
State of Decay 3 will release in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
"In State of Decay 3 you’ll construct settlements, maintain a community of survivors, and battle back against an encroaching zombie threat--with support for solo play or shared world co-op for up to four players--all within a massive open world survival sandbox," reads a line from the game's description.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoLOzgHvKxQState of Decay 3 is already playable via an alpha version, and the developer said people are "having a blast" with it thus far. The alpha test will be expanded to more people, and then there will be a beta for even more people to try.
You can sign up for the State of Decay 3 tests on the game's website.
Undead Labs also confirmed that everything in the new trailer was captured in game. "We did not use CGI," the developer said.
"We’re just scratching the surface of what this game is offering for players. It’s a very heavy moment-to-moment combat-oriented trailer but we also give you a sneak peek into one of the settlements. In the trailer, you can see one of the many settlements you can claim, including some of the facility and community elements. We plan to show more of that as we go on," the developer said.
Undead Labs also discussed a new feature for State of Decay 3--Plague Nests. These are the "next evolution" of Plague Hearts from State of Decay 2.
"Think of it as an enemy with its own plans. We spent a lot of time thinking through what it does, how it works, and how it reacts to what actions the players take. These are dynamic sources or hubs of enemy encounters that players can go in and destroy, even if only for a little while," the studio explained.
Additionally, Undead Labs confirmed that State of Decay 3's map is "much larger" than the playable space in State of Decay 2. Specifically, the State of Decay 3 map is "about four times the size of a single State of Decay 2 map," and the map is "fully open."
State of Decay 3 has a "shared world," which Undead Labs said was "another huge investment" for the game.
"In a shared world, any one of us can make changes to the world. You can come in, asynchronously of me, playing the same save at different times. You can move the story forward, you could build facilities, you can get a second or even third settlement--players can now have up to three bases that they can then grow and expand into over time," the developer said.
Head to the Xbox Wire to read even more about what to expect in State of Decay 3.
Fable Release Date Announced, With A Look At New And Old Villains
At long last, Microsoft has shown more of its new Fable game and announced a release date for it. The new Fable, which is developed by Forza Horizon studio Playground, launches on February 23, 2027 for Xbox, PC, and PS5.
The trailer opened with our first look at Isabel, the game's main antagonist played by Hayley Atwell. Isabel is described as a hero attempting to right a tragic wrong, which is clear by her portrayal in the game's latest trailer. She doesn't seems like the same mustache-twirling villain that the series has leaned on in the past, but she might be joined by the first Fable's main antagonist, Jack of Blades, who appears at the end.
https://youtu.be/3iW1i78zFvk?si=Gz4-c4beWJuCzKPVAtwell is leading a stacked cast of actors that fill out Fable's roster of eclectic heroes and villains. These include Lily Nichol and Ukweli Roach, who will play the hero based on who you select, as well as Matt King, Susan Wokoma, and Richard Ayoade, who featured in Fable's first gameplay trailer years ago.
The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass day one. Eidos Montreal is co-developing the new Fable alongside Playground. This is just the latest co-development project at Xbox, as the new Perfect Dark game was jointly developed by Microsoft and Crystal Dynamics prior to its cancellation.
Gears Of War E-Day Looks Mobility-Focused, And Don’t Worry, There’s A Chainsaw
During the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft announced that Gears of War: E-Day will launch on October 3. The game is co-developed by The Coalition and People Can Fly, and is in the works for Xbox Series X|S and PC. It's not coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed during the showcase.
During the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft showed off new gameplay footage for the game, and it looked pretty impressive. We saw Marcus Fenix in an intense set-piece fighting off numerous types of Locust enemies, now with seemingly more mobility abilities, including sliding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y85lNvF3kVQThe footage confirms that a lot of the Gears of War mainstays are staying intact, including the active reload and cover systems, and the general Gears of War vibe. And of course, the chainsaw is back. In short, this definitely looks like a Gears of War game.
E-Day is a prequel that focuses on Emergence Day, which is when the Locust emerged from underground in the Gears of War lore. The original Marcus and Dom voice actors are returning.
See at AmazonThe game was reportedly planned for PS5 until Microsoft decided to cancel that version as part of its plan to return to exclusivity. A Gears E-Day open beta is coming later this year.
Gears Of War: E-Day PS5 Version Canceled, Report Says
The next Gears of War game, Gears of War: E-Day, was reportedly planned for release on PlayStation 5, but is no longer coming to the system.
According to Jeff Grubb, who has accurately reported on numerous unannounced games industry news over the years, "Gears of War: E-Day was going to be on PS5--it's not anymore. That just happened. That's a decision that just got made." Grubb said this on the eve of the Xbox Games Showcase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12m0bw1W_tkGears of War: E-Day was never announced for PlayStation 5, but many thought it could hit Sony's flagship console considering Gears of War: Reloaded came to PS5 in 2025. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, however, has suggested Microsoft could change its stance regarding exclusives to help save the Xbox business.
Just this week, Sharma said she plans to "reset" the Xbox business and help turn things around in part by creating "exclusive" content.
The Xbox Games Showcase takes place today, June 7, starting at 1 PM ET. It will be followed by a Gears of War: E-Day broadcast where many more details about the game will be announced.
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel to the original Gears of War game that tells the story of Emergence Day AKA E-Day, which is when the Locust Horde came out of their underground dwellings to wreak havoc on the world of Sera.
The game is set for release this year on Xbox Series X|S and PC. It's developed by The Coalition in partnership with People Can Fly.
The Studio Behind Silent Hill 2 Remake Is Taking Star Trek Somewhere Unexpected
Silent Hill 2 remake developer Bloober Team is boldly going where it has never gone before, as the studio has revealed Star Trek: Shadow Frontier, its next project. Set on a mysterious, uncharted planet, the game is described as a sci-fi psychological thriller set in the final frontier.
The game also features a protagonist who'll be instantly recognizable to Star Trek: The Next Generation fans, as Bajoran officer and Maquis rebel Ro Laren returns for an away mission on a hostile world that has been overtaken by a strange alien force. With the planet weaponizing her own memories, Ro risks losing her grip on reality as she pursues duty and purpose. Ro also appeared in the third season of Star Trek: Picard, and her longtime actress, Michelle Forbes, returns to voice her in Bloober's new game.
To help navigate the horror, Ro can use her tricorder to analyze the environment, and when things get hairy, her phaser can be used to blast enemies and solve environmental puzzles. There's no concrete release date yet for Star Trek: Shadow Frontier, but Bloober Team is aiming to beam it down to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 in 2027.
https://youtu.be/K2hcks9X50EThe new Star Trek game ties into this week's big announcement by Paramount Skydance, the owner of the sci-fi franchise and several other powerhouse IP like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and SpongeBob SquarePants. The company announced the formation of a new in-house game development studio, Paramount Games Studio, and explained how this new venture is designed to be a core pillar of Paramount Skydance's business.
At the same time, the company's video game portfolio could expand with even bigger franchises like Mortal Kombat and Batman, if its deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery goes through. Led by Paramount's head of corporate strategy and development, Tony Driscoll, Paramount Games Studio will focus on releasing a wide variety of games.
As for Star Trek, the franchise has undergone a Renaissance over the last couple of years. Star Trek Discovery spearheaded a new era for the IP, and recently, Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown was released for PC and console.
Madden 27 Kicks Years Of Muscle Memory To The Curb
On the field, it's getting harder to complain about Madden as a series. A lot of the old, reliable criticisms don't really stand up to reality anymore, as the game has been solid or better for several years now. Introducing big changes for the better has been the recent MO for the Tiburon team. That was true for a short period even before the College Football team was resurrected, and it's only seemed truer since then, as that team has earned some influence over the direction of EA's football games as a duo.
One of the most notable ways is the greater control Madden puts in players' hands. For years, it felt like the series was focused on streamlining features in order to appease more casual players, but now the team better understands that depth is everything for the game's most avid players. In Madden 27, that renewed commitment to depth is best expressed on the field, before the snap. But it's those same changes that will have them fumbling around on their controllers at first.
That's because the team has completely overhauled and remapped the controls for pre-snap adjustments on defense. For years, I've had a number of pre-snap adjustments built into my head like true muscle memory. Without a controller in my hands, I couldn't easily tell you how to shade a WR inside, how to assign a blitzing linebacker to instead cover a flat zone, or how to get my CB to give that speedy wideout some extra cushion. Madden let me do all these things, and I frequently do so, but the button presses that made those changes were so complex that I learned to do them on autopilot and couldn't recall them button by button.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqQtZ9xm_uIThis year, the Madden team (and College Football team) has not only added more adjustments but also cleverly remapped all of these inputs. In doing so, it's reduced pretty much any adjustment to just two buttons, down from four or more for most things before.
This helps in several ways. For one, it's just a plainer, simpler language for the game to use, and should raise the skill floor by inviting more players to take advantage of these tools. Then there's the fact that some of the adjustments are new to the game, like telling your defense to play conservatively, aggressively, or either of the two "ultra" versions of those.
You'll pull up the coverage adjustments menu with the left trigger and then select one of 12 inputs to quickly enact the change you want to see. On the left bumper, several more two-button commands are easily performed to alter the front seven. No more Konami Codes. It's a beautiful thing. It will take some getting used to, but learning all of these new tricks will eventually prove extremely valuable.
Also new this year are custom adjustments that you can set in the game menus, then carry 20 (10 on each side of the ball) into games with you as "macros," sweeping adjustments you package together so you can call them in one go, like telling your defense to show a Cover 6 shell against bunch formations, while you're actually playing Cover 2 Man, letting the QB think he might have the open look on an RPO. Like the other changes, these adjustments can be done quickly and easily at the line, or you can even enact them in the huddle, if you see what the offense is coming out in and think you know what they're going to do with it.
Last year's game was the best in a good while to my eyes, but as time went on and patches tweaked the game, defense utterly collapsed, leaving players with too few tools to stop the game's high-powered offenses. This year, the team has responded with a defense-first approach that adds several more pre-snap adjustments meant to give players the tools to get more creative.
This should help cut down on the cheeseheads who like to abuse the game's broken plays before they're patched out. In leagues like mine, where we try to promote smart football and set boundaries meant to keep out those players, these new tools will deepen the chess matches we like to have, giving us something closer to the game we watch on Sundays.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Shares His Favorite Thing To Remake
Square Enix's Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy will reach its climax next year with Final Fantasy 7 Revelation. As with its two predecessors, the third game pays tribute to the original Final Fantasy 7. However, the game's director Naoki Hamaguchi, has a surprising choice for his favorite part to remake for a new generation of players.
"There's just so many scenes, elements that are an homage to the original that it's so hard to choose," Hamaguchi told GameSpot. "But if I were to speak on one, I'd like to talk about the Weapons ... When you think about the Weapons, you have to think about, 'Are we going to show them at actual scale? How are we going to achieve presenting them in Revelation?' In the original, when we see them in the world map, it's just not that strange to see them at that size. But when we think about the remake series, we did have to address how best to represent them and present them in that way. I think the way that we chose to do so will be a great one and fun one to experience for the players."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Uh0mAim8YIn both the original Final Fantasy 7 and Revelation, the Weapons are five giant mecha-kaiju that are summoned by Midgar itself to defend the world against Sephiroth and Jenova. Diamond Weapon, Ultimate Weapon, Emerald Weapon, Ruby Weapon, and Sapphire Weapon are technically alive, but they don't seem to possess any ability to reason. The old "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" adage doesn't apply here because the Weapons unleash destruction on everyone in their path. Ultimately, that will force Cloud and his friends to face them as well.
During his interview with GameSpot, Hamaguchi also spoke about Revelation's new FITS system and whether there may be any additional stories set in the Final Fantasy 7 reboot universe after the new game comes to a conclusion.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will be released simultaneously on Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC in 2027.
The Best Stardew Valley-Like Is Finally Hitting 1.0 With A Big Update
Since Stardew Valley came along to reinvigorate the cozy farm sim, many games have tried to emulate the formula and add their own twists with varying degrees of success. In all that time none have come as close to matching or exceeding Stardew as Fields of Mistria, and it's coming out of early access with a big update on August 5.
The announcement details all the changes coming in the Mistria 1.0 update. Most notably it closes the loop on some quests and stories that have been dangling for early access players. You will be able to complete the Town Repair storyline that marks the major progression quest in the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlKzf6oKQ4gLess mission critical, but still pretty important for a Stardew-like, it will allow you to complete romances by reaching 10 Hearts with romanceable NPCs. At that level you'll be able to propose, get married, and have kids. The 1.0 update will also add more dungeon quests and rewards, furniture, cosmetics, mount skins, and other miscellany.
Fields of Mistria is similar in many ways to Stardew Valley, including its pixel art and tile-based farming structures. But it also mixes in elements of magical upgrades to streamline some of the busywork, and its dungeon-crawling elements implement the magic into combat. It currently sits at an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam with more than 20,000 reviews.
Fields of Mistria 1.0 UpdateVillagers & Romance:
- NPC Heart caps raised to 10 Hearts
- 10 Hearts Proposal & Wedding Events for romanceable NPCs
- Marriage & Children
- Stillwell & Zorel join the Saturday Market
Mines & Dungeons:
- Additional Dungeon Quests
- Additional Dungeon rewards
Town & Renown:
- Renown Level cap raised to 100
- Additional Town Repair Questline events
- Town Repair Storyline is completable
- Additional Requests added to the Request Board.
- Additional Museum sets and rewards.
Skills & Perks:
- Additional Skill Perks
Customization & Cosmetics:
- Additional furniture and decor
- Additional cosmetics
- Additional mount skins
Misc.
- Achievements
- First wave Localization Languages (Beta versions): Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish
- Balancing & Optimization
- …and more!
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation: 22 New Screenshots Showcasing Its World, Combat, And More
It's hard to believe, but after almost a decade, the Unknown Journey will conclude in Final Fantasy Revelation next year. Officially shown off at Summer Game Fest Live this week, Revelation is shaping up to be an exciting conclusion to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake saga, as well as a good-looking game on top of that.
That's hardly surprising, considering just how well-crafted Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth were on a graphical level, and if you don't believe us, then check out 22 new screenshots below of Revelation.
While the trailer and recent gameplay preview did a fine job at showing what the game looks like in action, these in-game screens allow you to really soak up the small details of the threequel, ranging from delicate particle effects in the air to stylish combat effects when Cloud and his companions jump into battle.
Additionally, they provide a closer look at the series big bad Sephiroth--now voiced by Critical Role's Tyler Willingham--the two FITS revealed so far for Cloud and Tifa, and the new playable characters Cid Highwind and Vincent Valentine. Kaiju fans can even take a closer look at how the iconic weapons of classic Final Fantasy 7 have been reimagined for Revelation, including the Godzilla-sized Diamond weapon that merges from the ocean as the planet activates its last line of defense against an incoming meteor attack from Sephiroth.
Finally, you can gaze upon the key art for Final Fantasy 7 Revelation:
The gang is all here.You'll have to wait until 2027 to start taking your own snapshots in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, but you'll have more options for which console you play it on. After the previous two games were timed exclusives for PS4 and PS5, Square Enix has gone for a multiplatform release that includes PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 on launch day. In more Final Fantasy 7 Revelation news, minigames will be more optional, and the new FITS system will allow for some wild character loadouts.
Halloween: The Game’s Scary New Story Trailer Shows Michael Myers Finding His Mask And Knife
A new trailer for Halloween: The Game premiered today at the Future Games Show, and it's terrifying.
The new trailer focuses on the game's single-player mode, in which players take on the role of Michael Myers as they set out to terrorize the people of Haddonfield.
The game's campaign invites players to live out the story of how Michael Myers escaped from the Smith's Grove Sanitarium and the brutality that followed.
"Unlike the film’s protagonists, who desperately attempt to survive an encounter with The Shape, Halloween: The Game encourages players to embody pure evil and commit the horrors that occurred on Halloween Night in 1978 firsthand," reads a line from the game's description.
Check out the trailer below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=563lX1eh_HsThe game's story plays out through six chapters, one of which tells the story of how Myers came to acquire his now-iconic outfit and his kitchen knife. You can get a glimpse of this in the new trailer.
Halloween: The Game also has a multiplayer mode in which one player takes on the role of Myers and the other four are trying to survive.
Additionally, developer Illfonic announced that digital preorders for Halloween: The Game are available starting today, June 6. The standard edition is $40 and the deluxe edition is $60. The deluxe edition includes the Phantom Michael Myers skin and four-day early access to the game, starting on September 4.
The game unlocks for everyone else on September 8. Halloween: The Game is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Vampire Survivors Studio Is Expanding In A Big Way, Starting With An “Evil Twin” DLC
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle Games had some big news to share at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase, starting with the announcement of a new chapter for its hit game. Called Legacy of the Bloodmoon, this new expansion will be released later in the Summer season, and Poncle has described it as an "evil twin" to the previously released Legacy of the Moonspell add-on.
The new DLC adds 10 new characters, 16 new weapons and evolutions, a new extra-large stage, and more music tracks. Legacy of the Moonspell will also be expanded with new content and will be available at a reduced price, and an upcoming patch adds a new stage, characters, weapons, and Darkanas. Rolling out to PC via Steam first, it'll go live for other platforms at a later date, Poncle says.
The other big news was the formation of Survivaton, a new label at Poncle dedicated to its Survivors-like projects, and a Japan branch of the studio. Short for "survive a ton," the label focuses on internal projects built on the foundation of Vampire Survivors, including collaborations like Warhammer 40,000: Survivors. "Each project will aim to introduce major gameplay changes, content expansions, or genre twists exploring ideas substantial enough to stand as their own games," Poncle said.
Lastly, Poncle Japan will oversee local development initiatives and strategic partnerships across the region, serving as a bridge between Poncle's global operations and Japanese players, creators, and industry partners under the guidance of studio head Sawaki Takeyasu.
Since its launch a few years ago, Vampire Survivors has become a massive success story in games. The early-access PC release became a huge hit thanks to its easy-to-learn gameplay and deep systems, growing with new expansions, and even crossing over with popular Konami IP like Contra and Castlevania. Earlier this year, Poncle released Vampire Crawlers, a survivor-like spin on roguelike deckbuilders that was also well received by players and critics.
Hitman Classic Trilogy Remasters Are Coming, See The Improved Graphics
While fans await the next mainline Hitman game, IO Interactive and Saber Interactive have announced that the original three games in the series are being remastered in a bundle called the Hitman Classic Trilogy Remastered.
Specifically, Hitman: Codename 47, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, and Hitman: Contracts are included in the bundle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DnU7QV0Oi8The game's have been "painstakingly rebuilt," according to the official announcement. The new versions of the original games include "upgraded character models, enhanced environments, and high-resolution textures."
The remaster bundle also includes the ability to toggle between classic and updated graphics and a photo mode.
An example of the improved graphics.The Hitman Classic Trilogy Remastered bundle releases in 2027. It's coming to PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
It's just the latest project from Saber, as the company is also working on Jurassic Park: Survival, Stuntman: Hollywood, and a new John Wick game.
IO Interactive's latest release, meanwhile, was the popular James Bond game 007: First Light. The studio is eyeing multiple sequels, and has also pledged to return to Hitman someday.
In other Hitman news, IO Interactive announced at Summer Game Fest that the latest Elusive Target for Hitman: World of Assassination is the rapper Wiz Khalifa. The mission is available now through July 5.
Additionally, World of Assassination got a new update this week that added the "World Champions" DLC, which is themed around the World Cup.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s New FITS System Lets You Turn Cloud Into A Black Mage
When the Unknown Journey continues in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Cloud and his companions are going to embark on it while debuting some fashionable new combat gear. Revelation introduces a new gameplay mechanic called FITS (Function Integrated Tactical Suitware), which is inspired by the jobs system of classic Final Fantasy games. Using new suits, Cloud and the rest of the cast can wield new skills in battle that you might not normally associate with them.
Each character in Revelations has four FITS, and when they don one of these suits, they'll gain new skills while retaining their core stats. So far, Square Enix has shown off the Warrior (enhanced offensive abilities) and Black Mage (spell-focused combat) FITS suits, and series director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed a few more details on how this new gameplay mechanic was developed for Revelation.
"This was in discussions with Teruki Endo (Revelation's battle director)," Hamaguchi said to GameSpot (via a translator). "And when we were discussing what kind of combat system we wanted for the third title, we do think that completely omitting something and putting in something entirely new may not sit well, or it may not be fun for players who have really enjoyed the prior combat systems leading up to this title."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ3KTw0ow1M"From really early on, we didn't want to decide on building upon the existing foundation, but evolving on what we have currently created. We looked at characters like Cloud, characters that have a certain characteristic that the players are aware of. And then usually, we'll look to customize those abilities by adding Materia and such, but for Revelation, we really wanted the ability to customize and be able to play a character--as a player wishes--to be a large part of the game. And that would make the experience much more fun as well."
"So in that way, the job system is included for players who want to be able to take a character like Cloud--for example, you may think of him as a warrior type--but he might not be able to be a black mage on top of that. With his action abilities in battle, that unleashes other possibilities."
In other Final Fantasy 7 Revelation news coming out of Summer Game Fest, Sephiroth has a new voice actor, and minigames won't be tied to crucial character development or items in the threequel. Final Fantasy Revelation launches in 2027 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.