I was several missions into my hands-on session with FBC: Firebreak when I consciously tried to pinpoint why I was enjoying it so much. The hordes of Hiss overwhelmed me and my group like an exciting round of Left 4 Dead, one of my favorite games ever made; that certainly helped. The objectives were varied, and the outcomes chaotic--the primary healing method is scrambling into a shower big enough to hold your whole team of three, but getting there is often like swimming upstream in a river of monsters. There's, of course, the tried-and-true adage that says most games are better in co-op anyway, so that worked to its advantage, too. But it wasn't until I spoke with Remedy after the session that it became clear how its punk-rock ethos is the glue that holds the project together.

Punk engineering

"One of the terms that we used to describe the aesthetics at some point was 'punk engineering,'" lead level designer Teemu Huhtiniemi told GameSpot. As the game's setup goes, the Oldest House's agents have been locked away inside the liminal maze for six years following the events of Control, which has led to equipment steadily decreasing both in quality and quantity. As a result, agents have resorted to do-it-yourself (DIY) methods to stay armed in the face of the Hiss threat.

Continued Huhtiniemi, "They started building their own tools and modifying their body armor and everything." Thus, despite being a multiplayer spin-off of Control, the game takes on a markedly different style of its own, with bright colors decorating their non-standard-issue welding masks, and spray paints plastering the once-sacred space with irreverent displays of cartoon ducks.

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Sony is bracing itself for a $680 million impact from US tariffs, and to compensate for those potential losses, the PlayStation manufacturer might pass the increasing costs to its customers. During the company's earnings call, Sony CFO Lin Tao told investors that price increases on its hardware are being considered, although the PS5 console was not mentioned specifically.

CEO Hiroki Totoki did mention that some PS5 console manufacturing could be moved to the US--most of its consoles are produced in China and are subject to a 30% tariff for now--as this would be "an efficient strategy" to avoid being caught in the crossfire of US President Donald Trump's tariffs.

"This hardware can be produced locally," Totoki said during the earnings call via a translator. "I think that would be an efficient strategy. PS5s are being manufactured in many areas. Whether it's going to be manufactured in the US or not, it needs to be considered going forward."

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A new leak from the ongoing Battlefield Labs playtest has revealed that the landing roll first introduced in Battlefield 5 will most likely be returning for the next game. As of now, however, the animation being used for the playtest looks rougher and clunkier than BF5's roll, and players were quick to criticize it.

A video showing the landing roll from the Battlefield Labs playtest was posted to the BattlehubYT X account, via Insider Gaming, and while that version of the video was taken down by a copyright claim, the video has since been re-uploaded by other accounts.

The video shows a roll similar to Battlefield 5's landing roll, which could be used to reduce fall damage when dropping from a height--however the playtest version is slower, clunkier, and overall more disorienting. With the first-person perspective shown in the video, the current animation feels likely to cause motion sickness in players if used too often.

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The SAG-AFTRA voice actors strike is now in its 10th month, and prominent voice actors are asking fans to speak up for the people behind their beloved game characters. In a recent interview, Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes spoke on the issue of AI voice acting that has fueled the ongoing strike, appealing to fans to support the actors' fight.

Speaking to Rebs Gaming in a clip posted to X, Downes explained that the "single issue" of the strike is now the use of AI, and ensuring that voice actors have a say over how--or if--their voices are used for AI replicas.

"We haven't been able to make any progress with that at all so far," Downes says of the strike that started last July. "So we're really asking the people who consume this game, who made Halo what it is, to voice their opinion about this and show support."

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While you can craft Minecraft string in one limited case, the easiest way to get it is to harvest it from enemies. If you want to hunt down this valuable resource in bulk, you're going to need to come face-to-face with some Minecraft mobs. In this guide, we'll detail where to find string, what it can be used for, and some of the most useful crafting recipes that require string.

Table of Contents [hide]

• How to find string in Minecraft

Spiders drop string when killedHow to find string in Minecraft

Killing spiders is the easiest way to get your hands on a lot of string quickly. They're noisy, so you'll know their location easily, although we've found that they spawn most often in dark caves and under trees in dense forests. They're also pretty big, so hitting them is easy, and taking them down isn't strenuous at all.

While killing spiders is the easiest way to get your hands on plenty of string, there are other methods. You can also break cobwebs, fish, and loot it from jungle temples, desert pyramids, and dungeons. If you have some tamed cats around your base, it might also bring you some string as a gift from time to time. Although we've heard that cats only bring "gifts" when they think you're incapable of looking after yourself--so take from that what you will.

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Minecraft candles can be used for a variety of decorative purposes. Whether you want a lower light level than placing torches everywhere, or whether you're looking for a spooky haunted house aesthetic to turn the survival game into a horror game, candles can fit anywhere. They come in a range of colors, and you can dye plain candles to get the look you want. You can even use them to light up a cake, turning it into a birthday cake. Here's how to craft candles, how to dye them, and how to light them.

Table of Contents [hide]

• Minecraft candle crafting recipe
• Minecraft candle dying

Minecraft candle crafting recipe

To craft a candle in Minecraft, you'll need one honeycomb and one string. Place the honeycomb in the center crafting square, with the string directly above it. You'll want to browse our Minecraft bees guide if you're wondering how to get more honeycomb, as it isn't the easiest material to obtain. String is most easily found by killing spiders and taking down cobwebs.

Candles can be dyed a variety of colorsMinecraft candle dying

To dye a candle in Minecraft, first use the above recipe to craft as many candles as you'd like to create. Then, use our helpful Minecraft dyes guide to get the color you'd like your candles to be. Place the candle in the upper-right corner of the crafting table with the dye directly beneath it, and you'll get a dyed candle. You can dye a candle any of the following colors:

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Minecraft now has so many animals, enemies, and entities that it can be hard to keep track of. If you're looking to build a wildlife sanctuary or just seeking some of the rarer mobs, you may want to know all of the animals, monsters, and other mobs in the game. Some of these can be tamed, bred, or even ridden, while others drop valuable loot when killed. Most mobs are also affected by the game's mechanics in the same way that you are--meaning they can be killed, drowned, or even catch fire. Here's the full list of the survival game's mobs.

Table of Contents [show]

• All Minecraft passive mobs
  • Allay
  All Minecraft passive mobsMinecraft AllayAllay

  The Minecraft Allay was added during The Wild Update and resembles a small, blue, fairy-like creature. You can find the Allay in Pillager Outpost cages or Woodland Mansion cages. Break the cage to set the Allay free, and it will become loyal as a thank-you for saving it from imprisonment. Give it an item to carry, and it will follow you, meaning leading it back to your base is simple. It'll also go and seek more of the same item, bringing it back to you.

  After an Ally becomes loyal to you, you cannot harm them even accidentally, but they can lose health if it's attacked by another mob. If that happens, it can regenerate its own health. Breeding an Allay is different from most other mobs in the game, too, as they can self-duplicate without the need for a partner. To do this, use an amethyst shard on an Allay while it's dancing to jukebox music.

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Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game physical edition

$40 | Releases July 29

Preorder on Switch Preorder on PS5

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is launching on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on July 29. While the charming life-sim game will be available digitally on all platforms, those who want a physical release will be able to pick up a boxed copy on PS5 or Nintendo Switch on launch day. The Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game physical edition will cost $40, and preorders are available now ahead of launch. No preorder bonuses have been announced, but it does come with a fold-out map of Bywater village and a download code for a digital soundtrack, so it's probably worth securing your copy ahead of time.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game physical edition $40 | Releases July 29

As mentioned above, the Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game physical edition includes the base game on Switch or PS5, a 20-inch by 16-inch fold-out map, and a digital soundtrack, all for just $40.

Preorder on Switch Preorder on PS5

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is a life sim set in The Shire--y'know, the idyllic corner of Middle-earth where Hobbits like Frodo, Bilbo, and Sam call home. The game will cast you as a Hobbit and give you your own plot of land in The Shire to cultivate and tend. There will also be plenty of side quests and activities to engage in, like fishing, foraging, and trading with or cooking meals for other Hobbits in Bywater village.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is one of several games getting "small batch" physical runs this year from companies like iam8bit, Limited Run Games, and more. We've put together a list of some other notable upcoming titles like Tetris Forever, Shin Chan: Shiro and the CoalTown, and Metal Slug Tactics that are launching over the summer and are available to preorder now. Check the list below for more.

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Snow White may have earned mixed reviews from viewers and wasn’t quite as successful at the box office as anticipated, but it still managed to become one of the year’s biggest films. The live-action adaptation of Disney’s iconic animated movie makes a few significant tweaks to the story, offering a unique retelling that’s not afraid to buck tradition. If you’re interested in adding the controversial film to your home theater, multiple Blu-ray versions are planned to launch on June 24, including a $45 Snow White 4K Steelbook Limited Edition that's available to preorder at Amazon and Walmart. Preorders are also available for the standard Blu-ray and DVD editions.

Snow White Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $45 | Releases June 24

Along with a 4K version of the film with support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, this version comes with a gorgeous steelbook. Depicting Snow White on one side and the seven dwarfs on the other, it should look great in most collections. You’ll also get a standard Blu-ray and digital copy of the movie. The steelbook is packed with bonus features, too, which we've listed below.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Snow White Blu-ray Edition $40 | Releases June 24

If you don't want the steelbook edition, standard Blu-ray and DVD editions of Snow White are also available to preorder. The Blu-ray version is listed for $40 while the DVD edition is $35. The special features for the Blu-ray version appear to be the same as those in the 4K Steelbook Edition.

Preorder Blu-ray at Amazon Preorder DVD at Amazon Snow White 4K Steelbook EditionSnow White Blu-ray Bonus Features

The Snow White Limited Edition Steelbook and Snow White (Blu-ray) are packed with bonus features. Disney notes that some of these features may vary between the two, but here’s a look at what you can expect to find on your Blu-ray:

• Fearless, Fair, Brave, and True: Making Snow White documentary
• Merry Tunes: A look at the creation of the movie’s songs
• Fairy Tale Fashion: An in-depth look at the fashion of Snow White
• Sing alongs
• Deleted scenes
• Bloopers

Snow White joins a growing list of Disney steelbook releases. This includes the Moana 2 Limited Edition Steelbook for $43 (was $66), the Mufasa: The Lion King Limited Edition Steelbook for $45, and the Lilo and Stitch Limited Edition Steelbook for $32 (was $41).

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Sometimes being a millennial has its payoffs. Sure, a lot of us will probably never own a home and are riddled with student-loan debt, but anyone born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s was blessed to witness and experience the incredible evolution of both video games and skateboarding.

I remember the first time I played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games. It was Christmas 2001 when I got Pro Skater 3 for GameCube, along with my first skateboard ever, a World Industries Flame Boy deck. I got obsessed with playing Pro Skater 2 on N64 with my fellow gaming buddies and had to finally snag a copy of my own. Not only did Pro Skater inspire me to explore the world of skateboarding more, leading to binge-watching X Games and convincing my parents to take me to Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam, but it also got me to explore more of the Southern California punk scene, which basically became my main playlist for the next 20 something years of my life. Those years were crucial to developing my personality, and although I stopped playing the series after Pro Skater 4 and Underground, I often bring up how much those early THPS games shaped the 35-year-old dorky punk I am today.

Fast-forward many years, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 remakes were released and became a huge success that essentially turned the series around after the failed Pro Skater 5. When I heard that a combined Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake was finally happening with a new studio, Iron Galaxy, who previously worked with Activision and Vicarious Visions on the 1 + 2 remakes, I was ecstatic to see how it would turn out. Will my muscle memory come back, or will it feel like learning a brand-new game? Will it keep the same silliness and passion as the originals, or fall off the rails--no pun intended? After having the opportunity to explore a few hours of the remake, I've just got to say: The sassy, skating 12-year-old me could not be happier.

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Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate was announced way back in 2021 at the series' 35th anniversary event, where publisher Square Enix showed nothing more than a logo. Since then, the game has been under wraps, and so little has been said about it that many fans speculated that it may have been shelved. However, series creator Yuji Horii recently confirmed that he and his studio continue to be hard at work on the game.

In an interview with Gamereactor, Horii stated that work on Dragon Quest XII was still underway. Despite not being able to share any details about gameplay, Horii said, "I am making it, putting lots of work into it... I can only say that the next work will be great too, [I'm] working really hard." He also called for fans to remain excited for the future of the franchise: "Please look forward to it, is the only thing I can say."

With the game now very likely to launch after the release of the Switch 2, Horii was asked if there are any plans for the new console, especially considering the franchise's past commercial successes on the original Switch. Although Horii is vague in the interview about what Dragon Quest properties might come to the new system, he mentioned, "I believe it could be compatible with Switch 2 as well."

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Following the announcement of the Switch 2 last month, many players remarked on how similar it looks to the original Switch. Especially compared to the jump between the Wii U and the Switch--or even the Wii and Wii U--the Switch to Switch 2 transition is more iterative than revolutionary, at least in terms of the form factor. From recent comments in an investor call, Nintendo itself is aware of this, and it stresses that the Switch 2's hardware has been built "from the ground up."

Responding to a question about the Switch 2's apparent lack of generational change, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged that "it may appear that there is not a major change between Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch." However, Furukawa told investors that the Switch 2 was designed as a full new console, not beholden to the hardware of the original Switch. "We have created new hardware and accessories from the ground up," Furukawa said, "and these are products very characteristic of Nintendo, packed full of our development team's dedication to quality through various creative efforts and integrated hardware-software development."

Furukawa also explained that the Switch 2 is meant to allow Nintendo to continue innovating in gameplay and software. He noted that the original Switch's processing power has become an obstacle for game developers working with the platform. "Over the course of these eight years and counting," he stated, "it has become necessary to increase hardware processing performance in order for software developers to realize one of Nintendo's most valued tenets: offering new gameplay experiences. Thus, this time we decided to design the hardware with enhanced processing capability."

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Ubisoft has announced that it has entered into a three-year partnership with credit card giant Visa in Europe. For the companies' first act as corporate partners, Ubisoft is launching exclusive in-game DLC that is only accessible to Visa cardholders in the UK and Europe.

In a press release, the companies revealed that Visa cardholders will get access to a dance in Just Dance 2025. This dance is inspired by Kika Nazareth, a Visa-sponsored soccer player for Barcelona F and the Portuguese National Team.

This effort is just the first of what the companies describe as a series of "co-branded marketing promotions" throughout Ubisoft's catalogue of games. They also stated that "select" Visa cardholders in Europe and the UK can expect Ubisoft+ promotions, game codes, and other exclusives.

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In Final Fantasy VII, Cloud has the ability to take one of his companions on a "date" to the Gold Saucer Skywheel, and Square Enix has yet to confirm which of the companions is the canon choice. Its reappearance in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is said to be non-canonical, but a card from the upcoming Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy expansion might have inadvertently provided an answer to the canon question, thanks to a few versions with alternate art.

The card in question is Secret Rendezvous, which appears in the Final Fantasy VII-themed preconstructed Commander deck Limit Break. Secret Rendezvous depicts Cloud on the Skywheel date, and there are four versions of the card, each showing Cloud sitting across from either Tifa, Yuffie, Aerith, or Barret.

The four versions of Secret Rendezvous

However, on the official Magic: The Gathering website, it's confirmed that the default version of Secret Rendezvous--the version of the card included in the deck itself--is Tifa's version. The other three versions can only be found in Collector Booster packs. Considering the Sephiroth card shown at PAX East may be hiding a secret for the upcoming third game in the FF7 Remake trilogy, perhaps this is one way to officially set the record straight--or it's the MTG team choosing their favorite partner.

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Battlefield 6, or whatever the new game is called, is getting its full reveal later this summer, but for now, some of the developers working on the game's campaign have teased what to expect in terms of the story.

Creative director Roman Campos-Oriola of EA Motive told Inverse that the game's campaign was inspired in part by the Taylor Sheridan TV show Lioness. The show stars Marvel's Zoe Saldana as a CIA officer who heads up the "Lioness" program of female operators.

Senior producer Philippe Ducharme, meanwhile, said he was a big fan of Oscar-nominated director Alex Garland's 2023 war movie, Civil War, which followed a team of journalists covering a new American civil war. "Some of the things that we're pushing [in this game], the film is actually a good reference," Ducharme said.

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In the latest offer to end a strike by actors' union SAG-AFTRA, a consortium of video game companies has made key concessions to strikers. Specifically, the consortium has removed some provisions from the proposed agreement that would have given game companies more ability to create and profit off of "digital replicas"--AI-generated likenesses--of unionized actors.

As originally reported in Variety, this proposal is referred to as the "Last, Best, and Final" offer on AI issues, following a "Last and Best" offer sent in late April that quickly sparked a SAG-AFTRA counteroffer. The latest proposal delivered to SAG-AFTRA focuses on the generative AI sticking points that have been central to the union's demands since the beginning of the strike.

Among the changes included in this offer, it eliminates a one-time payment for unlimited digital replica buyout clause, which would have given companies the ability to pay a one-time fee to an actor to own the rights for unlimited use of digital likenesses for a certain period of time. SAG-AFTRA asserts that this type of provision would give game companies undue leverage over the vast majority of actors and that buyouts would serve essentially as "a purposeful discount for employers," according to the previous counteroffer. In the new offer, companies will have to pay more in line with actual usage of digital replicas, bringing the pay structure into closer alignment with how actors are normally paid.

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The Switch 2 is launching in early June amid ongoing drama and uncertainty about tariffs, and now Nintendo has put a dollar amount to how much of a negative impact it's forecasting as a result.

Speaking to analysts and investors as part of the company's latest earnings briefing, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said Nintendo has factored in a negative impact of "several tens of billions of yen at the profit level." Ten billion yen equals about $67 million, so it's not a small amount.

Furukawa said Nintendo is basing this off the US tariff rates effective April 10. It's now mid-May, and things have developed since then. Just recently, the US and China reached an agreement that sees the US drop its previous 145% tariff rate on China down to 30%, with China lowering its rate on the US from 125% to 10%. This deal is set to last for 90 days, which would take it beyond the Switch 2 release date.

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There are a few people more synonymous with Final Fantasy than Yoshitaka Amano. Amano's art has been part of the franchise since its inception, and now the iconic artist is bringing his designs and talent to Magic The Gathering's Final Fantasy collaboration. Amano will supply brand-new art on some of the franchise's most legendary characters in his trademark style.

Amano explained some of the new art he's creating on Wizards of the Coast's and Magic's social media accounts. We also get to witness his surprise when seeing the art in card form for the first time.

"I've been drawing Final Fantasy art for a long time," he began before jumping into explaining his compositions for the new art for Kefka, both in his original and final boss forms. "In this picture, I tried to make it as crazy as possible. So I drew it without following any rules. For this one, the situation is what is crazy. He puts himself in the fire. The best word to describe Kefka is 'chaotic.' I imagined the colors would be swirled and all mixed together, turning a vague idea into something tangible. I like this process of exploring the details."

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Marvel Rivals developer NetEase has announced some good--and bad--news for cosmetic completionists, as the studio is considering bringing back older battle passes to the game, albeit at a higher price. The Season 0 battle pass that will be available to purchase once again starting May 15 when the Galacta's Gift event begins, but instead of paying 490 Lattice for it, the price has now increased to 590 Lattice.

The battle pass will also be available until May 29, but once purchased, the rewards contained in it can be unlocked at your leisure. In terms of price, this works out to roughly $7 for the battle pass if you don't have any of the premium in-game currency saved up. NetEase added that it is considering bringing older battle passes back in the future, but these will cost at least 20% more. There'll be no free rewards in these limited-time battle passes either, as NetEase noted that access to all rewards will require the purchase of the Luxury Battle Pass.

"Future Battle Pass returns might occur, but any such plans will span at least two seasons and be priced at a minimum of 20% higher than the original seasonal rate," the studio said in a blog post.

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Bruce Lee, the legendary martial artist who passed away in 1973, is now in Minecraft. His family's Bruce Lee Enterprises has announced a partnership with LogDotZip to bring Lee to the game as part of the Bruce Lee: Dragon Fury DLC in the Minecraft Marketplace.

Lee's daughter Shannon Lee said, "This was a true collaboration and we're excited for gamers to dive in and play."

Lee is not a playable character, but instead players can toss a spawn egg that summons Lee to battle. He'll join players as their companion and will follow players and defend them. Every time Lee defeats an enemy, he gets experience points that increase his overall level that in term unlocks more skills.

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