In Ghost of Yotei, when you're not actively battling Lord Saito's forces or frolicking through the fields of Ezo, there's a pretty good chance you're climbing some sort of mountain. As with many video games, Ghost of Yotei makes use of specially marked white stones in order to help guide you on your journey, but it wasn't until I was many hours into the story that it occurred to me: I've been touching bird poop this whole time.

There is no getting around this, and no mental gymnastics you can do to pretend it's anything else. As Atsu climbs up a mountain, the white rocks eventually lead to a white smeared area at the top. Sure, at this point, perhaps you could say that is chalk or some sort of paint. However, there is always a bird that just so happens to fly away just as you get there. Was that bird simply hanging out and singing a tune? Perhaps, but only if it likes to multitask while delivering an absolutely gargantuan dump.

That's poop

It's gross, and I'm luckily not the only person to notice this. George Foster over at TheGamer made mention of it, and a clever Reddit user even posited this is the reason why people complain about protagonist Atsu's cooking. For once, "This tastes like crap" would absolutely not be hyperbole. Let's just be thankful none of those birds have IBS, because it would both be more disgusting and impossibly difficult to figure out where to climb.

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi seems to have an affinity for guiding players with yellow paint, as he expressed in a recent interview that this style of environmental markings is necessary.

Speaking to GamesRadar, Hamaguchi explained that there is "definitely a need" for environmental guidance in video games. Whether that be yellow paint or not isn't really the point for him; sometimes, you just need a little assistance to figure out where to go or what to do next.

"I get there is a debate about that, whether that fits with that world or not, whether some people want it, some people don't," Hamaguchi said via a translator. "I think as a game, there is definitely a need for that kind of thing in a lot of ways. I think obviously different developers experiment, try different things about what works best, what fits best, the right way of doing that in their game."

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Releasing a video game in the middle of new Battlefield and Call of Duty titles probably brings back memories of Titanfall 2. But Arc Raiders is threading that needle this week when it arrives tomorrow, October 30. Battlefield 6 came out earlier this month--including the free-to-play Battlefield RedSec dropping this week, too--while Black Ops 7 is just weeks away on November 14. But leadership behind Arc Raiders seems undeterred.

Speaking with The Game Business, Embark Studios co-founder Patrick Soderlund was questioned about launching Arc Raiders between two of the biggest shooters of the year. "I know. The insanity," Soderlund said in jest. "People may look at that and say, 'What the hell are they doing?' We have spent a lot of time looking at this from multiple angles, and you know, for right or wrong, we believe that the game can launch there. This is the start of a long journey. It needs to start somewhere."

Arc Raiders has already seen some success in the wake of Battlefield 6. Earlier this month, the extraction shooter saw huge player numbers on Steam for the game's "server slam" play test. Embark Studios has also looked at the early reception to Arc Raiders versus Marathon, an extraction shooter in development at Bungie.

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Hideo Kojima has responded to reports that The Matrix’s creators, Lilly and Lana Wachowski, once pitched a game idea to Konami while he worked there. On his X account, Kojima posted that he was unaware that the conversation had taken place, and he was surprised to read stories suggesting that they wanted him to work on a Matrix video game adaptation.

"I was surprised to see on social media that the Wachowski sisters had 'offered me a Matrix game project' back in 1999," Kojima wrote. "In all these 26 years, no one ever told me such a conversation had taken place. At the time, we were mutual fans and exchanged emails. The Matrix hadn’t been released in Japan yet, but I had already seen it in theaters in the US and at a preview screening. When the Wachowskis came to Japan for promotion, I believe I met them three times."

I was surprised to see on social media that the Wachowski sisters had “offered me a Matrix game project!” back in 1999. In all these 26 years, no one ever told me such a conversation had taken place. At the time, we were mutual fans and exchanged emails. The Matrix hadn’t been… pic.twitter.com/4P10P9eEfT

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) October 29, 2025

Kojima explained that there was no mention of an offer to develop a Matrix video game, and back then, he was busy working on Metal Gear Solid 2. "If someone had told me, maybe there could've been a way to make it work," Kojima added. In the original interview on Time Extension, Bergstresser recalled a meeting with the Wachowskis and former CEO of Konami Digital Entertainment, Kazumi Kitaue, but Kojima says he wasn't present for it, and he arrived back at Konami headquarters after the discussion had wrapped up.

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The definitive ninja action-adventure franchise is back. Ninja Gaiden 4, launched October 21, has ushered in a new era of dynamic combat, stylish gameplay, and unforgettable Ninja storytelling.

Available on Xbox Series X|S consoles, PC, and Xbox Cloud via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, this latest installment is shaping up to be the must-play action title of the year.

Team Ninja’s classic combat merges seamlessly with stylish, high-intensity gameplay.

At the heart of Ninja Gaiden 4 is a thrilling fusion of Team Ninja’s classic combat philosophy with PlatinumGames’ signature, high-intensity gameplay. The result? A game that feels both familiar to longtime fans and refreshingly bold for newcomers.

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The legendary ninja action-adventure series is back with Ninja Gaiden 4, and it’s available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Cloud with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Combining dynamic combat, fluid movement and intense encounters, the game is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling and action-packed releases of the year. Every moment challenges players to master their skills -- like lightning-fast combos or wall-running through neon-lit Tokyo streets — and adapt to ever-changing combat scenarios.

Fluid combat and precision combos put player skill at the forefront.

At the heart of Ninja Gaiden 4 is a combat system that rewards precision, timing and creativity. Players can chain together fast, satisfying combos, executing parries and counterattacks that feel deadly and rewarding. Each encounter is an opportunity to test reflexes, whether slicing through hordes of enemies or taking on towering bosses that demand perfect execution.

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After years of waiting, Ninja Gaiden has finally returned. Ninja Gaiden 4 brings one of gaming’s most iconic action franchises back into the spotlight, combining the precision and challenge of the originals with some clever modern twists. And you’ll be able to jump in right now with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, whether you’re on Xbox Series X|S, PC, or cloud.

Tokyo is on the edge of collapse. A deadly miasma blankets the city after the resurrection of an ancient enemy, and its fate now rests in the hands of Yakumo, a young ninja prodigy stepping out of the shadows. Alongside the legendary Ryu Hayabusa, players get to explore two intertwined stories that honour the franchise’s past while offering a fresh perspective on its dark, dangerous world.

This isn’t just another sequel. It’s a full-on revival.

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The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask celebrated its 25-year anniversary on October 26, 2025. Below, we examine how it leveraged its unconventional time-travel element to tell some memorable stories.

Even a series as storied as The Legend of Zelda has produced a black sheep or two in its long history, but perhaps no installment is as divisive as Majora's Mask. The second Zelda title released for the Nintendo 64 and the follow-up to the universally acclaimed Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask retained much of its predecessor's mechanics and assets, but it reframed them with a recurring three-day structure that proved to be controversial among fans at the time. But while this unconventional time loop contributed to the game's divisive reputation, it also gives it a unique identity among the series, and is the reason the game remains so moving more than two decades later.

Although Majora's Mask revolves heavily around time travel, it was not the first Zelda game to explore the concept. Time also plays a central role in Ocarina of Time, embodied in the eponymous instrument that allows Link to access the inner chamber of the Temple of Time and retrieve the Master Sword. Once he pulls the sword from its pedestal, he can freely trek back and forth between two distinct ages: his idyllic childhood, and the dark future that awaits Hyrule.

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Battlefield Redsec is available now, having launched alongside Season 1 of Battlefield 6. The new battle royale game is free-to-play and also available as part of the Battlefield 6 experience, which can make it a little confusing if you're just getting started. Here's how to install and play Battlefield Redsec if you own Battlefield 6 already, and if you don't.

How to play if you own Battlefield 6

If you already own Battlefield 6, you'll have an exceptionally easy time starting up Battlefield Redsec. All you have to do is make sure the game is updated to its current patch, start it up, and choose the Redsec option from the main menu. You'll see it listed on the side among other options like Campaign and Multiplayer. The patch is substantial, so give yourself a little time to install it (on Xbox Series X|S, it clocked in at a little over 21GB) but there's nothing else you have to do past that point. Enjoy!

How to play if you don't own Battlefield 6

If you don't own Battlefield 6, the good news is you are still free to play Redsec--you'll just be accessing it a different way. There are standalone clients available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S that you will need to download in order to play:

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Season 1 of Battlefield 6 adds three more multiplayer maps to the game. Two are brand-new, large-scale maps, and there is also a seasonal variant of an existing map. The new maps also introduce more vehicles to help you traverse the battlefield, which surprisingly includes a golf cart. In this guide, we'll highlight all the new maps and vehicles you'll find in Season 1 of Battlefield 6.

It's also important to know that these DLC maps and vehicles aren't all available at the launch of Season 1. The developer is rolling out Season 1 content in three separate phases. Season 1 starts with the Rogue Ops update, which is live now across all platforms. The California Resistance phase launches November 18, and the Winter Offensive arrives on December 9.

A first look at all three maps can be found below. We also covered all of the new BF6 Season 1 weapons and attachments can be found here.

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The Witcher Season 4 is a turning point of the series, and not just for replacing Henry Cavill with Liam Hemsworth in the lead as the new Geralt of Rivia. This season is also a pivotal point for Freya Allan's Ciri, as it adapts the events of Andrzej Sapkowski's third Witcher novel, Baptism of Fire. And Allan really came prepared before the cameras rolled.

During an interview with GamesRadar, Allan said she reread the books to get ready for some of Ciri's upcoming stories.

"Going into Seasons 4 and 5, I felt like I was carrying out some of my favorite Ciri storylines," said Allan. "So it meant a lot to me. I also think some of these storylines are things that fans have been waiting for for a while, and they're kind of iconic moments in the book for Ciri ... More than ever, I relied on the source material a lot. I pulled a lot from that. It was really important for me to honor that, and I really had fans in my mind a lot of the time … I really wanted to make sure I knew every nook and cranny of Ciri's story in the books."

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In a sudden move, Amazon will eliminate more than 14,000 corporate jobs as part of a massive layoff, with many of these job losses affecting the tech giant's gaming division, according to a new Bloomberg report.

According to a memo that Bloomberg saw, the job cuts largely fall on Amazon's offices in Irvine and San Diego. It's unclear exactly how many of the 14,000 jobs are part of the company's gaming division, but the central publishing unit has been hit, with the intention of reducing work on big-budget games and MMOs.

Steve Boom, Amazon's vice president of Audio, Twitch, and Games, said in an email that it was a "difficult decision" to make despite the successes of the company's first-party AAA game development and publishing teams.

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Battlefield 6's first season features plenty of new weapons to unlock, but not all of them are available at launch. Season 1 is scheduled to roll out in three phases, so you'll have new weapons to unlock with each update. In this guide, we'll list all the Season 1 weapons and attachments, as well as explain how you can unlock each.

Battlefield 6 Season 1 starts with the Rogue Ops update, which is live now across all platforms. The California Resistance phase launches November 18, and the Winter Offensive arrives on December 9.

All of the Season 1 weapon details can be found below. The Rogue Ops weapons are available to unlock for free in the BF6 Season 1 battle pass, while the ones arriving in later updates will likely be unlocked through in-game events or challenges.

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8BitDo All-Button Arcade Controller (Xbox/PC)

$80 (was $100) | Exclusive Prime Price

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8BitDo All-Button Arcade Controller (Switch/Switch 2/PC)

$81 (was $90)

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8BitDo's All-Button Arcade Controller for Xbox and PC is on sale for its lowest price yet at Amazon. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can get the leverless fight pad for only $80 (was $100). The Xbox All-Button Arcade Controller launched in July alongside a retro-themed Nintendo edition for Switch and Switch 2. You can save 10% on the Nintendo version if you click the coupon box on Amazon's store page.

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Early in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the towering and gaunt AZ makes a grim proclamation: The game's setting of Lumiose City "bustles today with Pokemon and people, but beneath the surface lurks a terrible grief."

Walking around Paris-inspired Lumiose, it's evident that as the city undergoes earth-shattering changes, uncertainty and anxiety permeate the air. Amidst catching 'em all and being the very best, the thematic core of Pokemon Legends: Z-A is a question: How does a city solve its problems?

In the five years following the events of Pokemon X and Y, during which Team Flare wreaked havoc in the region, Lumiose City experienced an exodus, and property values plummeted. In response, the city initiated an urban redevelopment plan and charged the tech corporation Quasartico Inc. with its creation and implementation. This company wields extraordinary power over the city's infrastructure and governance, essentially putting Lumiose under a tech oligarchy.

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Famous--or infamous, depending on your point of view--English game designer Peter Molyneux has opened up about his forthcoming and reportedly last game ever, Masters of Albion, calling it a "redemption title" for all the years that he overpromised and underdelivered.

In an Edge interview (via VGC), Molyneux said that promising his games will do A, B, and C has always led him into trouble when those promises never came to fruition, citing his previous projects like the God game Black & White and the RTS Dungeon Keeper.

"I think that line in Fable--'For every choice, a consequence'--wasn't delivered on well enough," Molyneux explained. "I think the possession mechanic that we had in Dungeon Keeper wasn't delivered on enough. The open-world freedom that we had in Black & White, I think it was good at the start, but it didn't deliver enough at the end. And Masters of Albion is an opportunity to mix all those together. Even though one is an RTS, one is a god game, and one is a role-playing game, why the f**k can't we mix them all together?"

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As Nintendo celebrates 40 years of the Super Mario Bros. series, a couple of iconic developers want to see the popular plumber make it to his 100th anniversary. Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Super Mario World director Takashi Tezuka discussed how the Nintendo mascot can live on for decades and decades to come in a recent book.

VGC reported on and transcribed a new Nintendo Museum book focusing on Mario's 40th anniversary. In it, Miyamoto and Tezuka--alongside other developers--are asked about the plumber remaining a cultural icon in 2085. "One might think it would be a miracle if Mario was still here after 100 years, since we make things while not knowing when our players may get bored with them," Tezuka said.

Tezuka, who also directed Super Mario Bros. 3 and produced Super Mario Bros. Wonder, noted how "different times bring different kinds of fun." The developer pointed out that what Mario is capable of doing in games today has changed a lot since the NES era.

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An update on the Halo Insider website indicates that PlayStation players can join test sessions for future Halo games. It's hardly a surprise, coming after the bombshell news that the Halo: Campaign Evolved remake--and subsequent entries in the series--will be on PlayStation.

On the Halo Waypoint website, the page for opting in to console playtests now includes checkboxes for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 5 Pro.

The Halo Insider program has given fans of the storied Xbox franchise opportunities to participate in playtests, or "flights," for Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo Infinite. According to Halo Studios, major improvements to The Master Chief Collection were "the direct result of flighting and feedback" from players.

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Between the original Matrix and its first sequel, The Matrix Reloaded, Lana and Lilly Wachowski had the ambitious idea to tie in the story to a video game as well. The project that eventually came out of that was Enter the Matrix, which was published by Atari. But if the Wachowskis had their way, that game would have reportedly been made by Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima.

Konami's former VP of licensing, Christopher Bergstresser, recently shared an account of Kojima's meeting with the Wachowskis while speaking with Time Extension. According to Bergstresser, the biggest reason it didn't happen was because of Konami executive Kasumi Kitaue, who shot down the idea immediately.

"The Wachowskis were big fans of Kojima," related Bergstresser. "So Kazumi Kitaue, Kojima, Aki Saito (who still works with Kojima), and I were at the Konami HQ, and we got a call from the Wachowskis, who wanted to come in and meet with Kojima. So they did! The two of them came in with their concept artist, and effectively they said to Kojima, 'We really want you to do the Matrix game. Can you do that?' Aki translated this into Japanese for Mr. Kitaue, and Kitaue just looked at them and told them plainly, 'No.' We did still get to enjoy the Matrix Japanese premiere and afterparty, though."

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It's been nearly 20 years since Rockstar Games' Bully came out, and while there's no word of a sequel, the next best thing may have dropped: a mod that introduces online multiplayer to the high school action sim.

As reported by IGN, a group of modders has finally revealed Bully Online. Led by YouTuber, developer, and "massive Bully fan," SWEGTA, the project has been a long time coming, but is inching ever closer to an early-access launch in December 2025 for those who support the team on Ko-Fi. At the time of this writing, it appears the developers have received at least 76 Ko-Fis.

What is Bully Online, though? According to the YouTube video's description, the mod "allows you and your friends to play minigames, role-play, compete in racing, fend off against NPCs, and much more." SWEGTA described it in greater detail in the nearly nine-minute video below, stating that it's a "mix between minigames, free-roaming, and role-playing." There's a "fully fleshed-out inventory system," letting you earn money in-game to spend on Bully goodies from items to housing to vehicles. It sounds like the online modes of other Rockstar games, such as GTA Online and RDR Online.

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