PlayStation has revealed the batch of free games for PlayStation Plus subscribers in May. All PS Plus members will be able to claim a trio of freebies starting May 6--Ark: Survival Evolved, Balatro, and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun. If you haven't claimed April's PlayStation Plus free games yet, make sure to do so before next Tuesday.

Released last year, Balatro was a big hit thanks to its captivating combination of poker and roguelike deckbuilding gameplay. The game is deceptively simple at first, but as you dig deeper into it, you'll find several twists and turns that require you to create various synergies and builds with the cards you have on hand. All of this adds up to an immensely satisfying experience as you run through various strategies, and it was one of our picks for the 10 best games of 2024.

One of the big names in the survival genre, Ark: Survival Evolved gives you all the tools you need to thrive in a world of prehistoric creatures and alien mysteries. This version of the game has been rebuilt from the ground up with Unreal Engine 5, and it features numerous quality-of-life upgrades as well. You'll also have access to all of Ark’s worlds here, and there's public online multiplayer for up to 70 players.

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Chainsaw Man: Season 1 Limited Edition Steelbook (Walmart Exclusive)

$56 | Releases July 29

Preorder at Walmart

Chainsaw Man: Season 1 Limited Edition

$85 | Releases July 29

Preorder at Crunchyroll

Even though it has been a while since it first arrived, Chainsaw Man continues to be one of the hottest anime series of the 2020s, and at long last, it's finally getting a proper Blu-ray release. Strangely, the anime is only being released in a Limited Edition format, but you can choose from two versions for your collection. Walmart has an exclusive Chainsaw Man Blu-ray with a steelbook cover to grab, while the CrunchyRoll Store is offering a different limited edition with a collectible booklet.

Chainsaw Man: Season 1 Limited Edition Steelbook (Walmart Exclusive) $56 | Releases July 29

The $56 Walmart-exclusive Steelbook Edition contains the original 12-episode run that covers the first 38 chapters of the manga source material, but the striking cover does feature a close-up of Denji transformed into the titular Chainsaw Man.

On the inside, you'll find an image of Denji in his human form enjoying a movie with his boss and Special Devision 4 co-workers from the Public Safety Devil Hunters association. For bonus materials, you'll find several art galleries featuring character, publicity, and episodic storyboard artwork.

Preorder at Walmart Chainsaw Man: Season 1 Limited Edition $85 | Releases July 29

CrunchyRoll's Blu-ray is priced at $85, and it offers the same on-disc extras alongside a 72-page booklet featuring various character design illustrations from the anime. It has a regular cover featuring promotional art of Denji about to transform into the Chainsaw Devil, and a protective slipcase of Denji transformed.

The Limited Edition isn't exclusive to Crunchyroll, so we expect preorders to be available at Amazon and Walmart soon, too.

Preorder at Crunchyroll

In case you missed it, Chainsaw Man tells the story of freelance devil hunter Denji, who forms a contract with his trusty devil dog Pochita after he is betrayed and horribly murdered by the Zombie Devil. Fused with one of the most powerful devils in existence, Denji soon becomes a person of interest on a national scale as sinister forces look to exploit his power. Dumb as rocks but possessing a good heart, Denji soon makes new friends along the way as he integrates into society.

The show was a huge hit after it launched, thanks to its surprisingly touching storytelling, fascinating mythology, and beautifully animated action sequences. The next storyline from the Chainsaw Man manga, the Reze Arc, is being adapted into a feature film that is scheduled to be theatrically released in Japan on September 19.

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Some of Marvel Rivals' most popular Strategist heroes are receiving damage-dealing buffs, as developer NetEase looks to make them a more formidable force on the battlefield in face of popular backline-destroying heroes like Spider-Man.

The balance update, which goes live today, will make Cloak & Dagger, Mantis, and Luna Snow all deal more damage. In the case of Cloak & Dagger and Mantis, it's in the form of a straight damage increase to their attacks, while in Luna Snow's case it's less damage falloff at a distance. While he isn't receiving a damage buff, Adam Warlock, another Strategist hero, is receiving a new effect. When he lands critical hits, the cooldown of his Avatar Life Stream healing ability will be reduced.

All of the buffs to the game's support heroes should make them more of a force to be reckoned with and make things more challenging for heroes like Black Panther, Spider-Man, Magik, and others who love to swoop in, terrorize the healers, and zip out.

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One of the first goals you might have in Oblivion Remastered is finding somewhere to call your own. Whether you simply need a bed to level up or a chest to store all your heavy loot, having a house in Cyrodiil can do wonders for your character's progression. While you are able to earn yourself a free castle fairly easily in Oblivion Remastered, the same can't be said for a house.

Houses are both costly and difficult to come by if you don't speak to the right people. Fortunately, we have a full guide on how to buy a house and where to do it in Oblivion Remastered. For more general tips and story quest advice in Oblivion Remastered, make sure to check out our full walkthrough of the game.

All houses you can buy in Oblivion Remastered

In total, there are an even dozen houses available to purchase or acquire in Cyrodiil, minus the free Battlehorn Castle you can earn. Some of these houses cost a fair amount of gold, while others require you to complete a specific quest in Oblivion Remastered.

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It's often joked that MercurySteam is the "real" metroidvania studio, being the only developer to officially work on both the Castlevania and Metroid series--a point further illustrated with large displays of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 and Metroid: Samus Returns at the front of its office in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid. Its new game, Blades of Fire, however, harkens back to an even earlier time, acting as a spiritual successor to Severance: Blade of Darkness.

Released on PC in 2001, Blade of Darkness was a Conan-inspired dark fantasy third-person action game that was the sole release from Rebel Act Studios, whose members--including studio co-founder and Blades of Fire director Enric Alvarez--would go on to start MercurySteam. While a commercial flop at the time, its combination of dark fantasy visuals with hardcore combat mechanics is now considered a precursor to the souls-like genre.

"In reality, Blades of Fire is kind of a return to our origin," Alvarez explains. "Nowadays, the mould of dark fantasy with difficult and precise combat has become popular, mostly thanks to From Software, so we saw our opportunity to go back to our roots, which has made me feel young again."

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Two years after digital release back in May 2023, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is finally getting a physical version later this year on August 26. The new physical release, dubbed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate Deluxe Edition, comes with some nice extras, including DLC and a set of physical foil trading cards for just $40. Preorders are available now, and it's worth securing a copy now since the trading cards are only available while supplies last.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate Deluxe Edition $40 | Releases August 26

Available for PS5, PS4, Switch, and Xbox, the Deluxe Edition includes the base game plus a bunch of extras. For one, you’ll get a physical pack of 10 foil trading cards featuring familiar faces like Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. It also comes bundled with the Casey Jones DLC that adds the hockey-stick-wielding vigilante as a playable character, along with new enemies, bosses, and other additional content. The Deluxe Edition will get you access to a future, currently-unannounced DLC pack. Considering this version of the game is only $40 (compared to $30 for the base game), that’s a pretty impressive list of additional goodies.

Preorder at Amazon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate Deluxe Edition

Our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate review gave the sidescrolling a brawler a solid 7/10, praising it for fast roguelite action and fun cooperative gameplay modes. Since then, the game has been patched and updated, and the new physical release will enjoy all those improvements right out of the box.

TMNT has seen a bunch of cool merch released over the years, so if you’re looking to add some more Ninja Turtles flair to your home. If you're into classic board games and card games, you can grab TMNT-themed versions of Hungry Hungry Hippos and UNO, while anyone looking to enjoy the mutant quartet's adventures can grab the IDW Comics Collection Volume 1 for $24.55 (was $40) or the entire 1987 animated series on DVD for $26.59 (was $34). We've compiled a list of more TMNT comics, figures, and other collectibles below.

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Once again, Sega has delayed the launch of the next Sonic the Hedgehog game. Sonic Rumble, a free-to-play mobile title, is no longer having its global debut on May 8. It's now delayed indefinitely.

"We know this news may be disappointing, and it wasn't a decision we made lightly. We at Sega share that disappointment, especially because we're making this call so close to the launch timing we had originally hoped for. However, we believe taking this extra time is the right choice for the future of Sonic Rumble," the publisher said in a blog post.

Sega also warned that while some mobile store pages might show a specific launch date for Sonic Rumble, this is only a placeholder date.

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Every single day seems to bring new speculation about Grand Theft Auto VI--whether it's rumors about a release date, $100 price tag, or an impending second trailer. But former Rockstar developer Obbe Vermeij believes GTA VI doesn't need another teaser video.

On X, Vermeij explained that nothing else is required from Rockstar to promote GTA VI. "If it was my call, I wouldn't release any additional trailers," said the developer, who worked on GTA IV, San Andreas, and Vice City. "There is more than enough hype around VI, and the element of surprise is going to make the release only bigger as an event."

Also:
If it was my call I wouldn’t release any additional trailers.
There is more than enough hype around VI and the element of surprise is going to make the release only bigger as an event.

— Obbe Vermeij (@ObbeVermeij) April 29, 2025

A person on the social media app responded that all Rockstar needs to do now is announce a release date. Vermeij agreed, noting "it would be a boss move." Take-Two seems to be keeping GTA VI's release date a mystery on purpose and so far hasn't delivered any additional promo materials outside the first trailer. There hasn't even been a new screenshot for the open-world game.

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Marvel Rivals has officially revealed a new Winter Soldier costume, which is inspired by Bucky's appearance in Marvel's Thunderbolts movie. The Hellfire Gala: Moments in-game event also goes live this week with an earnable costume reward.

The latest Marvel Rivals trailer showcases a new Thunderbolts-themed Winter Soldier costume, which captures the monochromatic style of Bucky's uniform in the upcoming Marvel movie. This costume goes live in the game starting May 1 at 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET, which is just ahead of the Thunderbolts release on May 2.

Players also have an opportunity to earn a free costume during Marvel Rival's Hellfire Gala: Moments in-game event. This new event will go live on May 2 at 2 AM PT / 5 AM ET. The event trailer can be viewed above.

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The next State of Play broadcast is coming up today, April 30, and this one is focused entirely on Borderlands 4. It promises to provide the best look at the game yet, with Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford saying the studio will show and discuss more of the game than fans have ever seen before.

How to watch the Borderlands 4 State of Play

The State of Play dedicated to Borderlands 4 takes place today, April 30, and it will be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube.

Borderlands 4 is coming.Borderlands 4 State of Play start time

The State of Play dedicated to Borderlands 4 takes in the afternoon hours in America, or later at night in the UK. If you live in Japan or Australia, it'll be an early call if you want to watch live.

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The first match I played of Stadium in Overwatch 2 was a miserable experience. I was stuck in a third-person view that felt terrible and had to scramble to understand the different items you can get and how they impact your abilities. The enemy Soldier 76, however, was able to make his Helix Rocket one-shot me as Juno by the third round; he then proceeded to spend the rest of the match doing just that, while my allies spammed me in chat for not healing more.

By the end of the match, I was ready to dismiss Stadium as another unremarkable side mode for the hero shooter--one I planned to never touch again. Yet I continued to queue, as I wanted to better understand the mode. As I played more matches, I found that the new item builds and faster rounds are quite enjoyable, even if this mode needs far more polish.

What doesn't work in StadiumStadium defaults to a third-person perspective, but you can--and should--swap it back to first-person.

Stadium has a few issues out of the gate that make the onboarding experience feel bad. The first is that the mode is currently only available in competitive mode. On top of that, it doesn't offer placement matches, instead having everyone start at the same rank and work upwards. As such, initial matchmaking is wildly inconsistent, which is especially concerning in a mode that can snowball. Since you earn currency by playing well, which lets you buy better items, the team that's winning can quickly start to dominate.

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For the fourth anniversary of its sci-fi action game Returnal, developer Housemarque has updated it for the PS5 Pro console. Full patch notes haven't been released yet, but Housemarque did confirm that the game features "up to 2.5x the pixels on PS5 Pro," which will result in a higher-resolution picture.

Returnal PS5 Pro Enhanced Patch is Out Now!
Featuring up to 2.5X the pixels on PS5 Pro for a higher resolution experience of Returnal. #Returnal #HMQ30 pic.twitter.com/hbbm8Ew7gV

— Housemarque (@Housemarque) April 30, 2025

First released on PS5 in 2021, Returnal is a roguelite sci-fi take on Groundhog Day mixed with themes of loss and regret. Critically acclaimed, Returnal revolves around the astronaut Selene and her attempts to escape a hostile alien planet while also dealing with the ghosts of her past, and following the release of the game, Housemarque was acquired by Sony.

Returnal's spooky universe was the foundation for a graphic-novel adaptation based on its premise, created by Housemarque's narrative and design teams. There's also a hardcover deluxe art book available, in case you'd like to see how its nightmarish worlds and monsters were created.

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2025 marks the 40th anniversary of famed video game developer Naughty Dog, and to celebrate, Dark Horse Direct is launching two jigsaw puzzles this year that pay tribute to several of the iconic games created by the studio. Based on the developer's Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and The Last of Us Part 2 games, these are 500- and 1,000-piece puzzles, respectively, priced at $30 each, and they're now available to preorder from the Dark Horse Direct store.

• The Last of Us Part 2 deluxe two-sided puzzle -- $30
• Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception circular cipher disk puzzle -- $30

The Uncharted 3 puzzle is a recreation of the Cipher Disk used to decode Enochian script when combined with Sir Francis Drake's ring. This circular puzzle measures 22 inches across, and it features neat artistic details like clockwork mechanisms, elegant lettering from a bygone era, and several smaller details.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception puzzle

Moving to The Last of Us Part 2, this is a deluxe two-sided puzzle set that features some of the striking key art from the game. The first side features Ellie enjoying a rare moment of peace as she plays her guitar in a forest, and the other side features her armed with a machete while hunted by several members of the Seraphites religious cult. Once completed, the puzzle measures 20 x 27 inches.

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Gearbox Software boss Randy Pitchford has insisted that the recent release date change for Borderlands 4 has nothing to do with "any other product's actual or theoretical launch date."

Pitchford issued this statement on social media after many people said they thought Gearbox shifted Borderlands 4 date forward 11 days to September 12 to give Borderlands 4 more room to breathe before GTA 6 comes out. GTA 6, of course, has no release date, but some are speculating it could launch in October.

So why was Borderlands 4's release date brought forward? Pitchford said it was "100% the result of confidence in the game and development trajectory backed by actual tasks and bug find/fix rates."

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The XCOM series has been considered one of the greatest tactical strategy franchises ever since it kicked off in the early 90s. If you've been looking to check them out, you'll want to check out Humble's new XCOM: Complete Bundle, which includes the entire series on PC for just $10. Like with other Humble deals, a portion of every purchase is donated to charity--in this case, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research--and customers can increase their pledge and adjust the revenue split between the charity, Humble, and the game's publisher before checkout.

See the XCOM: Complete Bundle at Humble

While the full $10 bundle is the best value, there are also smaller pricing tiers that include fewer games. The most affordable tier starts at $3 and gets you five of the classic games that kicked off the series back when it was known a X-COM (before it was rebooted as XCOM), including the original X-COM: UFO Defense from 1994 and its sequels and spin-offs X-COM: Terror from the Deep, X-COM: Apocalypse, X-COM: Interceptor, and X-COM: Encforcer. While these older releases certainly show their ages in some respects, the core tactical sci-fi strategy is here--and in some cases, even more challenging than what the reboot series offers--making them worth revisiting.

The second tier starts at $7 and includes all five games from the previous tier, plus the superb reboot of the series, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, plus the Enemy Unknown: Slingshot DLC and Enemy Within expansion. This tier also includes The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, which launched a year after Enemy Unknown attempted to reinvent the series as a third-person shooter set during the groovy '60s. It's a polarizing entry in the series due to the major shift in gameplay and tone, and marred by a rocky development. That said, it's not a terrible game and features some interesting spins on XCOM lore.

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Fans of the MonsterVerse cinematic universe can snag the Collector's Edition 5-Film Box Set for $70 (was $100) at Walmart while supplies last. Once it sells out--it's no longer available at Amazon--this Godzilla x Kong 4K collection is unlikely to be available through retailers unless you buy from a reseller. This is because a standard edition quietly launched in March as a replacement. The standard edition retails for $70, so you can get the Collector's version with unique packaging for the same price.

See at Walmart (Collector)

See at Amazon (Standard)

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Nintendo has rolled out a new system update for the Nintendo Switch. This particular update is a hefty one, introducing the Virtual Game Cards feature announced during the company's March 2025 Nintendo Direct, along with GameShare support and other compatibility with the upcoming Switch 2 system.

After installing the update, digital titles and DLC you've purchased will now be converted to Virtual Game Cards. These function similarly to physical game cards. You can load and share your digital games between two Switch systems, making it easier to manage your digital library. You can also loan out digital games temporarily to other users within your family group.

As mentioned, the new system update also adds support for GameShare. This feature will allow Switch 2 owners to virtually share compatible games with Switch 1 players, similar to the Download Play function the DS offered, giving you the ability to set up or join a multiplayer session even if only one player owns the game.

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Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Volume 2

$120 | Releases August 7

Preorder at the CrunchyRoll Store

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Volume One

$120

See at the CrunchyRoll Store

Nier: Automata continues to resonate with its fans several years after it first hit consoles and PC. Since then, the tale of the humanoid androids 2B, 9S, and A2, has been adapted to multiple other versions, including the acclaimed anime, Nier: Automata Ver1.1a. While the anime concluded back in 2024, fans can soon add the second half of the animated adaptation to their Blu-ray collection with NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Volume 2, which includes the final 12 episodes of the series plus a selection of collectible prints, an artbook, and more. The exclusive Blu-ray collector's set is available to preorder for $120 at Crunchyroll's online store ahead of its August 7 release. If you're looking to grab the full series, NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Volume 1 launched last year and is also available for $120 at Cruncyroll.

NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Volume Two$120 | Releases August 7Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Volume Two

The second volume comes with some nice extras, like illustration cards, booklets that contain exclusive interviews with the crew behind the show, reference material on the game's world, and a replica disc designed to match the one included in the first volume. You'll also find clean opening and closing credit sequences, a collection of trailers, and both of the English and Japanese audio tracks. The main cover of the three-disc slipcase also features a new illustration of 9S on the cover.

In case you missed it, the anime adaptation of Nier:Automata largely sticks to the same story as the games/ Set in the year 11,945, the show charts follows android soldiers 2B and 9S on their journey across Earth, millennia after the planet was devastated in an alien invasion. Encountering mysterious phenomena along the way, 2B and 9S uncover new truths and are pushed to their mechanical limits as they fight strange threats along the way.

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There’s no shortage of cool Lego sets, but if you’re looking for something truly unique, you’ll want to check out the Lego Botanicals Tiny Builds releasing on June 3. These include not just an exclusive mini Lego set, but also a hardcover book with additional facts about the plants you’ll be snapping together. Preorders are slightly discounted ahead of release, and they look like a fun way to beat the summer heat with a quick (and educational) build.

Lego Botanicals: Tiny Wildflower Bouquet (95 pieces) $18 (was $20) | Releases June 3

This small Lego set features plants like lavender, larkspur, Gerber daisy, Welsh poppies, and other colorful wildflowers. All the flowers are held inside a sleek black vase, and its tiny frame makes it a good choice for your desk, nightstand, or bookcase. A 32-page hardcover book can be displayed next to it, as it’s filled with fun facts about the set’s many flowers.

Preorder at Amazon Lego Botanicals: Tiny Desert Garden (54 pieces) $18.59 (was $20) | Releases June 3

Bring some Southwest flair into your home with the Tiny Desert Garden. With tiny cacti and succulents housed inside a white planter, it’s a fun little set that shouldn’t take long to complete. There’s even a mini ladybug that can be placed among the plants. Like the other Tiny Build, this one is bundled with a 32-page hardcover book highlighting interesting facts about the drought-resistant vegetation.

Preorder at Amazon

The company responsible for these collections has launched several other bundles over the years, including ones featuring Batman, Jurassic World, and Ninjago. All of these are quite affordable, and some even include multiple books or a chance to use their blocks to make multiple different creations. For example, the Robots: Build and Stick Set gives you the option to build one of three different models. It also includes over 200 stickers and is currently on sale for $11.76 (was $17).

Looking for a Mother’s Day gift? The colorful Lego Botanicals Petite Sunny Bouquet Flower Set arrives on May 1--just in time for Mother’s Day on May 11. It’s much larger than these Tiny Builds at 373 pieces, though it’s still quite affordable at $30.

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Mother’s Day is right around the corner on May 11, but there’s still plenty of time to find the perfect gift. In fact, one of the most unique gift options hasn't even been released yet, as the Lego Botanicals Petite Sunny Bouquet is scheduled to hit shelves on May 1. If you’re seeking a creative Mother’s Day gift, preorders are live at Amazon.

Lego Botanicals: Petite Sunny Bouquet (373 pieces) $30 | Releases May 1

This 573-piece set features an assortment of Lego flowers and foliage to build, including Billy buttons, bluebells, Cleopatra ferns, yellow yarrow, gerbera, peony, and tulips. The colorful bouquet is a cool alternative to traditional flowers, and if you want to place them in a vase, the final product measures 8.5 inches tall.

Preorder at Amazon

This is just the latest addition to the Lego Botanicals lineup, which features plenty of other buildable flowers and plants that could make great Mother's Day gifts. The Succulents Set is on sale for $40 (was $50). It features nine different plants housed in a minimalist black frame. It's a larger set at 771 pieces, but the building process is broken up into digestible stages, making it easier than expected. It’s also a great way for two or more people to work together, as each can tackle their own plant.

Other great Lego Botanticals sets include the Orchid for $40 (was $50), Plum Blossom for $24 (was $30), and Chrysanthemum for $24 (was $30). Looking for another bouquet? Check out the Wildflower Bouquet for $48 (was $60). This is another larger kit at 939 pieces, and its colorful arrangement makes for a stylish centerpiece. There’s also a Kingfisher bird set that lets you piece together a blocky scene of the bird perched among cattails. Several more Lego Botanicals sets are discounted right now, and we've rounded up all the deals into the list below.

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