Game News
Microsoft Once Believed HoloLens Could Be Gaming's Future, Now It's A Military Product
In 2015, Microsoft revealed HoloLens, what it called a "mixed-reality" headset that could have broad application in the consumer market, including in the world of video games. Some early demos were extremely impressive, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella even said HoloLens had "mind-blowing" potential for gaming. Xbox's Phil Spencer said he saw a bright future for HoloLens in the world of gaming.
But HoloLens never panned out like Microsoft wanted it to, and it was discontinued as a consumer product in 2024. Now, HoloLens lives on in a new way--as a military product being run by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey's defense contractor Anduril Industries.
In a blog post, Microsoft said Anduril will take over production and future development of hardware and software for HoloLens as part of the US Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program. This program is not new, of course, and the Army previously pledged $20 billion for IVAS systems.
Continue Reading at GameSpotAtari and Polybius Creator Are Reimagining The Rare Arcade Game I, Robot
Atari and Jeff Minter have announced that they are working together to create a reimagining of I, Robot -- no, not the movie.
I, Robot is an Atari title from 1984 notable both for being one of the first arcade games with 3D polygonal graphics rendered in real-time and for being quite rare, as it was a financial and critical disappointment at the time of its release. Jeff Minter and Atari are giving I, Robot a psychedelic overhaul, although it retains the same core gameplay loop of players needing to flip the color of tiles in a 3D space while avoiding being destroyed by a giant eye watching them.
Jeff Minter is known for being an innovative game designer behind titles like Tempest 2000 and Attack of the Mutant Camels. He also developed a real version of Polybius, the legendary urban-myth arcade game. Atari studio Digital Eclipse profiled him for their interactive documentary Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, while Atari at large let him revive, reimagine, and release Akka Arrh, a game which Atari had canceled in the 1980s.
Continue Reading at GameSpotElden Ring Nightreign Launches In May, Has No Microtransactions
Bandai Namco has announced that Elden Ring Nightreign will launch on May 30 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
In a statement to GameSpot, Bandai Namco also confirmed that Elden Ring Nightreign will not feature any microtransactions. However, it will have DLC in the form of a one-time purchase that adds more characters, bosses, and biome elements. The DLC is included in Elden Ring Nightreign's Deluxe and Collector's Editions.
Ahead of the games release, closed beta network tests will begin this weekend from February 14 to February 16. There are five sessions in total and network test codes have already been emailed out for players who signed up for the beta last month. Some people were trying to scalp their network test codes last month for cash, although it didn't seem like many people took up those offers.
Continue Reading at GameSpotFrom Software Talks About Attacking Friends For Their Own Good And Other New Elden Ring Nightreign Ideas
Elden Ring Nightreign is the first multiplayer-focused game From Software has created and the first game directed by Junya Ishizaki, who was previously battle designer on Elden Ring. At a glance, it looks like Elden Ring repurposed for a quick-turnaround spinoff, but under the hood there's a lot more going on than you might think. We recently got a few hours of hands-on time with Elden Ring Nightreign, which releases in May, and came away keen to play more.
Following the hands-on session, we got to talk to Ishizaki about the game and some of the interesting design decisions implemented to make sure that it still looks, feels, and plays like a From Software title.
GameSpot: The first thing that stuck out to me was the style of play is very different from what I expected. I always approach From Software titles with a methodical and slow style. When I started playing this game, everything felt like it was in fast-forward so it felt very unnatural for a little while. Is that [impact on longtime fans] something that you thought about when designing the game?
Continue Reading at GameSpotElden Ring Nightreign Explores Exciting And Unexpected New Ground For From Software
Elden Ring Nightreign requires you to play a From Software game the wrong way. It asks players to prioritize aggression over stoicism; encourages almost reckless speed over careful strategy; and casts aside meticulous exploration for smash-and-grab expeditions.
In most From Software games, haste means failure and frustration, where lessons aren't learned and progress is stymied. Nightreign, however, isn't most From Software games. Perhaps, then, it's more accurate to say Elden Ring Nightreign wants you to play a From Software game in an unconventional way.
While director Junya Ishizaki has expressed a fondness for multiplayer games, on paper, Nightreign seems more like a product of multiplayer trends. It's a game in which a squad of three drops into a landmass and fights for survival as a circular wall of energy closes in. Although they're not usually as PvE focused, games with a very similar premise are a dime a dozen, and in the shadow of the genre's titans, very few of them have been able to survive, let alone thrive.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNinja Gaiden 2 Black Adds Two Very Modern Features In Latest Update
Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo have released the biggest update for Ninja Gaiden 2 Black yet. Specifically, the update adds modern features like New Game+ and photo mode, which weren't nearly as prevalent when Ninja Gaiden 2 was originally released.
Ninja Gaiden 2 launched for Xbox 360 in 2008. In January, an Unreal Engine 5 remake called Ninja Gaiden 2 Black shadow-dropped during Xbox's Developer Direct showcase following the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is faithful to the game it's a remake of, but did add some more modern features, like easier difficulty modes. Now, the developers are expanding that new feature set further in the latest patch.
This update, which is Ver 1.003.000 on PS5 and Ver 1.0.7.0 on PC and Xbox Series X|S, adds three new features: New Game+, Photo Mode, and the ability to hide Ryu's projectile weapon. New Game+ allows people to replay Ninja Gaiden 2 Black with all the weapons and Ninpo they obtained during the adventure. They will all be reverted to Level 1, though, so players won't be completely overpowered heading into New Game+.
Continue Reading at GameSpotCrytek Announces Significant Layoffs As Crysis 4 Is Put On Hold
Crytek has announced that it'll be laying off 15% of its staff, a move that the company has called "inevitable" but necessary to help it move forward. This will affect 60 of the people from the 400-person staff at Crytek, which the company had previously attempted to avoid by putting the development of Crysis 4 on hold near the end of 2024 so that it could focus more on its live-service game Hunt Showdown: 1896.
"Like so many of our peers, we aren't immune to the complex, unfavorable market dynamics that have hit our industry these past several years," Crytek founder Avni Yerli wrote in a press statement. "It pains us greatly to share today that we must lay off an estimated 15% of our around 400 employees. The layoffs affect development teams and shared services. This has not been an easy decision to make, as we deeply appreciate the hard work of our talented teams. After putting the development of the next Crysis game on hold in Q3 2024, we have been trying to shift developers over to Hunt: Showdown 1896."
— Crytek (@Crytek) February 12, 2025Yerli added that efforts to reduce costs and cut operating expenses weren't enough to avoid layoffs. The studio will offer affected employees severance packages and help in finding new work, and while Crysis 4 is being put on hiatus, Crytek will continue to work on Hunt: Showdown 1896. The game has seen a surge in popularity lately--possibly due to Post Malone being a big advocate for it--and legendary horror movie villain Ghostface was added to the roster of villains in late 2024.
Continue Reading at GameSpotControl 2 Enters Full Production As Alan Wake 2 Has Finally Recouped Development Costs
Finnish game developer Remedy has released its latest earnings report, and included in the filing are some key updates for the developer's upcoming games. Perhaps the two biggest takeaways are the confirmation that Control 2 has now entered full production, while Alan Wake 2 has finally recouped its development costs after selling 2 million copies.
In its filing, Remedy said Control 2 "entered full production" in February 2025. "The project has verified the velocity of asset creation, established production pipelines, and is ready for scaling up for production," the developer said.
Entering the "full production" phase is a significant milestone for any project. Another high-profile game, CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 4, entered the full production phase of development at the end of 2024.
Continue Reading at GameSpotKilling Floor 3 Looks Like 2025's Killer Co-Op Game
Killing Floor is a series I've always thoroughly enjoyed but never truly loved. Based on the few hours I've spent playing Killing Floor 3, this latest entry could be the one to push the co-op shooter from something I eventually tire of to one I end up returning to for years.
That is, of course, a scenario that will require a lot of things to come together. Will the metagame be sufficiently interesting over a long period of time? Will no competitor emerge to capture the community's attention? Will the post-launch support be consistent and long-term enough to keep players coming back? On that last point, at least, I'm confident, given the extensive array of updates for Killing Floor 2 that have rolled out for the better part of a decade.
The answers to the other questions are unknowable for this or any game in advance of its release and will require dozens of hours of playtime to determine. But what I've seen so far of Killing Floor 3 is an encouraging and exciting base that I'm eager to spend more time with.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNew Astro Bot PS5 Bundle Reportedly Releasing In March
A new PlayStation 5 bundle might be on the way, as Dealabs writer billbil-kun--who has a solid track record revealing new gaming hardware and software--claims that Sony will offer the console with a download code for Astro Bot in March. If true, this would give new PS5 owners two Astro Bot games to enjoy, as all PS5s come with Astro Bot's Playroom already installed.
According to billbil-kun, this bundle will include a standard PS5 console with a disc drive and will be available throughout North America and Europe. If the rumors are true, then we could see it officially revealed during today's State of Play livestream.
Astro Bot earned rave reviews after it was released last year, as the Team Asobi-developed platforming game was praised for its fun level design, polished gameplay, and DualSense controller functions. It was one of GameSpot's 10 best games of 2024, and at last year's Game Awards, it won the Game of the Year award at the Geoff Keighley-hosted event.
Continue Reading at GameSpotDestiny 2 Barrow Dyad Exotic Quest Guide: How To Start And Complete Derealize
Ah, Bungie. Every so often the Destiny 2 developer will surprise Guardians globally by subtly launching a mission or quietly adding secrets to the game. This time around, the Barrow Dyad Exotic mission has been added to the game with the weekly reset, and no prior warning at all.
Luckily, we've figured out how to locate the new Derealize Exotic mission, how to start it, and we have a step-by-step guide on how you can get your hands on the bizarre-looking SMG.
Table of Contents [hide]Nether BlightsIf you've been playing Destiny 2 Episode Heresy already, you'll be familiar with the Nether activity. Formerly, we thought that you'd need to reload it until you spawn at the Trenchway or Hall of Souls, but it seems that you can start the Exotic quest from any landing zone in the Nether; you just might have a bit more of a search on your hands before you can trigger the quest steps.
Continue Reading at GameSpotAsus Charger Dock For ROG Ally, Steam Deck, And More Handhelds Is Only $30 This Week
Best Buy has brought back one of the most popular gaming accessory deals we saw last summer. The Asus ROG 65W Charger Dock is on sale for only $30. Normally $65, the official Asus Charger Dock was designed with the ROG Ally family of PC handhelds in mind. That said, you can use this portable docking station with other handhelds, including Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch--just make sure you update the accessory to its latest firmware.
Asus ROG 65W Charger Dock $30 (was $65)It doubles as both a power brick and a docking station thanks to its built-in HDMI 2.0 port and USB 2.0 port. It connects to your handheld via USB-C to deliver power. As long as the device you want to use supports external displays and doesn't draw more than 65W of power, you should be able to use it with the ROG Charger Dock.
It supports fast-charging via USB-C and is capable of displaying in 1080p with a 120Hz refresh rate or 4K at 60Hz. You can also use the USB-A port to charge a separate device, which could save you a spot in your power brick. Or you can use the USB-A port for accessories, such as dongles for keyboards, mice, or controllers.
The compact design makes it ideal for travel, so if you bring your ROG Ally or Steam Deck with you on trips, this can substitute for a traditional dock--though you may want to pair it with a budget-friendly portable stand, like this great one from JSAUX.
See at Best Buy
Keep in mind that the ROG 65W Charger Dock deal has sold out quickly in the past, and it's very possible the same will happen with this deal before the end of the week.
Continue Reading at GameSpotEA Previously Had The "Worst CEO" In Gaming, Ex-Activision Boss Says
In 2013, John Riccitiello stepped down as EA's CEO following a tumultuous six-year run on top of the company. During Riccitiello's reign, Activision's Call of Duty franchise overtook Battlefield in terms of popularity, and it didn't help when Riccitiello joked that Battlefield players should be charged to reload. Now, ex-Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has shared his belief that Riccitiello was the worst CEO in the video game industry.
During a joint appearance on Grit with former EA Chief Creative Officer Bing Gordon, Kotick revealed that Activision was afraid that Gordon would assume control of EA and prove to be a good leader for the company.
"I'm not saying this because [Gordon is] sitting here," said Kotick. "Our fear was always that Bing was going to run [EA]. And we would have paid for Riccitiello to stay a CEO forever... like we thought he was the worst CEO in video games." Gordon also noted that Riccitiello may have hastened his departure from EA as well.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNintendo Could Have Been Bought By This Unexpected Company, Activision Founder Says
According to Activision founder Bobby Kotick, Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger was at one point in time interested in buying Nintendo, or at least interested in exploring the idea of buying Nintendo.
Kotick said on the Grit podcast that Munger was not a fan of video games, but saw an opportunity to potentially make a bid for Nintendo. Munger is said to have floated the idea of spending some of Berkshire's immense holdings on making moves in the video game space. One of Munger's ideas, apparently, was to buy Nintendo.
"He goes, 'You know, I was looking at a couple other companies in your sector. I think if we bought yours, we should buy that company Nintendo, too,'" Kotick recalled. "He said, 'Have you guys looked at it? I was like, 'Yeah.' It was trading [at the time] at like 13 billion, with 7 billion in cash. He goes, 'You know, I don't think anything is gonna go really bad before I'm dead, and then if it goes bad after I'm dead, they'll just chalk it up to the folly of an 82-year-old, so you don't have to be so concerned about disappointing me."
Continue Reading at GameSpotAlmost 30 Years Later, One Of The Longest-Running MMORPGs Is Getting A New Class
One of the first and longest-running MMORPGs ever made, Tibia, will receive a new class for the first time ever in its almost 30-year history, developer CipSoft has announced. The Monk class will join Tibia's four original classes--Sorcerer, Paladin, Druid, and Knight--which launched alongside the top-down 2D MMO in 1997.
As revealed in a blog post and teaser video, the Monk will be a melee fighter that can also provide a support role by healing allies. CipSoft said the Monk can be "played in a very special way" but wanted to make sure it fit seamlessly into the world of Tibia and existed in harmony with the game's existing four classes. The team also knew it wanted to introduce a new melee class that could also heal, but didn't want it to encroach on secondary roles like debuffing filled by Paladin and Sorcerers.
"In fact, one of our main goals was to ensure that the new vocation holds a unique position without undermining the value of others or rendering them obsolete," CipSoft said. "We are very happy about the arrival of the Monk and hope you are just as eager to experience what it is like when they spring into action."
Continue Reading at GameSpotCoD: Black Ops 6 And Warzone Season 2 Reloaded Start Date And Details
The Season 2 Reloaded update for Call of Duty arrives in Black Ops 6 and Warzone later this month, and here you'll find everything rumored and announced so far. This includes new melee weapons, more maps, and limited-time events. There's even a rumor of a potential TMNT crossover this season.
Table of Contents [hide]Call of Duty Season 2 Reloaded start times
Based on the days left for the Season 2 battle pass, the midseason "Reloaded" update should arrive around Thursday, February 20. These seasonal updates usually go live around 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST across all platforms.
Continue Reading at GameSpotMortal Kombat 2 Movie Finally Reveals Karl Urban's Johnny Cage
Filming on Mortal Kombat 2 began in June 2023, and at long last, a first look at Karl Urban's character of Johnny Cage has been revealed. This glimpse of the Hollywood A-lister comes from the Mortal Kombat X/Twitter account, and as you'd expect, it's the perfect way to tease the arrival of one of the franchise's biggest stars.
It’s Johnny ******* Cage. Mortal Kombat II – coming soon only in theaters. #MortalKombatMovie pic.twitter.com/VqRZjJpJks
— Mortal Kombat Movie (@MKMovie) February 11, 2025While Cage has been a mainstay of Mortal Kombat video games ever since the franchise began in the early '90s, he was absent from the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie. He was teased at the end of that flick, and WWE superstar The Miz lobbied hard to get the role before it ultimately went to The Boys and Dredd actor Karl Urban.
Other actors appearing in Mortal Kombat 2 include Adeline Rudolph (Kitana), Tati Grabrielle (Jade), Martyn Ford (Shao Kahn), Desmond Chiam (King Jerrod), Ana Thu Nguyen (Queen Sindel), and Damon Herriman (Quan Chi). They'll be joined by Joe Taslim (Sub-Zero), Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion), Lewis Tan (Cole Young), Jessica McNamee (Sonya Blade), Ludi Lin (Liu Kang), and several other actors who appeared in the first movie as iconic Mortal Kombat characters.
Continue Reading at GameSpotEA Passed On Chances To Buy Guitar Hero, Call Of Duty, And Blizzard
Although Activision Blizzard is now owned by Microsoft's gaming division, its rise to become one of the top video game publishers was inadvertently helped by EA's decision to turn down opportunities that could have been transformative. During a recent podcast appearance, former EA Chief Creative Officer Bing Gordon noted that EA had a chance to buy Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, and even Blizzard itself before Activision closed deals for all three.
"Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and Blizzard, EA saw all those first and passed on all of them," said Gordon while appearing on Grit alongside Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard. Gordon went on to praise Kotick for keeping many of the original Blizzard team members in place after the company came under Activision's control.
Gordon told Kotick that he has "double high respect" for him for realizing that those properties were valuable to own "and then you kept the people around. I'm pretty sure that... the creative leaders would not have stuck around in another company. So you did some kind of a miracle of keeping them productive for long periods of time and probably biting your tongue from time to time."
Continue Reading at GameSpotGame Pass Subscribers Can Grab South Of Midnight’s Premium Upgrade, And Early Access, At A Steep Discount
Xbox is offering South of Midnight’s premium edition upgrade, which includes early access and a range of other extras, at a discount for Game Pass subscribers, though there’s a small catch. The discount is only available for two of the subscription service’s tiers--Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, which cost $20 per month and $12 per month, respectively.
Core and Standard Game Pass members will have to pay full price for the premium edition or upgrade their subscription. This deal only applies to the Xbox and Windows versions of South of Midnight. If you want to play on Steam instead, you’ll have to pay full price there as well.
With the discount, you can get South of Midnight’s premium edition upgrade for $10. The premium version normally costs $49.99, and it comes with:
Continue Reading at GameSpotJames Bond Producer Didn't Want Guns In GoldenEye 007 Wii Remake, Bobby Kotick Says
It's hard to imagine GoldenEye 007 without the silenced PP7 or Klobb, but when Activison was working on the Wii remake, a James Bond film rights holder "didn't really want guns in the game." This is according to former Activision head honcho Bobby Kotick, who opened up about the challenges of creating a new GoldenEye game in 2010.
Appearing on the Grit podcast, Kotick found himself in the middle of a Nintendo 64 discussion. The former Activision Blizzard CEO said that the original "GoldenEye is what actually sold the N64" and then transitioned to talking about the 2010 GoldenEye 007 reimagining for Wii. "We made a sequel, and it was a challenging thing to make because Barbara Broccoli [co-owner of the James Bond film franchise rights] did not really want anything that was violence," Kotick said. "And she didn't really want guns in the game."
Kotick does believe that Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson "are great custodians for the IP." In fact, Kotick mentioned that he understood her point about violence because kids love James Bond, but you couldn't go that route with the expectations behind a new GoldenEye game.
Continue Reading at GameSpot