Feed aggregator
Path Of Exile 2 Is Throwing A Wrench Into Updates For PoE 1--"We Were Fooling Ourselves"
Work on Path of Exile's next seasonal update is largely on hold until after a major update for Path of Exile 2 has been delivered, developer Grinding Gear Games has announced.
In a video message, Path of Exile 2 game director and Grinding Gear Games co-founder Jonathan Rogers explained the situation. Last summer, much of the PoE 1 development team was shifted to PoE 2 in order to help the developer hit its planned early access release date. Grinding Gear Games had promised to keep updating the original PoE after the release of PoE 2, and internally slated a new "league" (PoE's version of seasons) for February. Rogers said he believed the team had time to both get PoE 2's endgame ready for early access while preparing the new PoE league for February.
Unfortunately, that's not what happened. Rogers said they "were fooling themselves" thinking that plan would work. After PoE 2's early access release was delayed several weeks, the PoE 1 team continued to work on the sequel. Even after PoE 2 launched, it continued to run into problems, and Rogers said he couldn't justify taking the PoE team off the project until the fires were put out.
Continue Reading at GameSpotMagic And Gunplay Collide In First Look At The Directorate: Novitiate
Fans of Control may want to take note that there's a new third-person action-RPG that blends magic and gunplay. Nesting Games has announced The Directorate: Novitiate, a game that puts players in control of Kana Luna. By day, Kana is just a normal young woman living in Los Angeles in 2006. But by night, Kana goes by the codename Mercury while working as a magical assassin for the criminal underworld. In the first-look trailer below, Mercury uses her innate fighting and magic skills to take on human foes and otherworldly threats.
As Mercury, Kana can upgrade her magical abilities to further refine her combat options. Mercury isn't limited to only using guns in battle, and she can incorporate spells into her offense as well. Additionally, the game will be divided between Mercury's activities after dark--including her hunt for a supernatural serial killer--and her normal life as Kana during the day.
Outside of her working hours, Kana can pursue friendships or romance with the people she meets. However, those choices may endanger Kana's loved ones when the two sides of her life collide. According to Nesting Games, players will ultimately have the option of deciding whether Mercury will stay loyal to "the Edicts of the Directorate" or if she will decide to retain her humanity as Kana. Those choices will define Mercury's portrayal in the game.
Continue Reading at GameSpotVideo Game History Foundation's Massive Digital Library Is Now Open To The Public
After a brief tease last week, the Video Game History Foundation has officially thrown the virtual doors open to its massive digital library. Designed to be a free-to-access resource for researchers, historians, and video game fans, the VGHF Digital Library currently offers more than 30,000 curated files spanning 50 years of video game history. Demand is already pretty high, so at the time of writing, you might struggle to access the library.
The non-profit group says that visitors will find out-of-print video game magazines, never-before-seen game development assets, artwork, promotional materials, and more gaming relics here, with more than 1,500 of them being full-text searchable.
"We've been working on this project since we founded the Video Game History Foundation in 2017, so we're extremely proud to start providing access to our digital library and continue our mission to make video game history accessible to anyone," VGHF founder Frank Cifaldi said in a statement. "We believe that with the right tools, anyone can be a video game historian, and we can't wait to see what new stories our archive inspires. We also hope this inspires those in the video game industry to consider the importance of preserving their work and contributing to initiatives like ours."
Continue Reading at GameSpotSummer Game Fest Returns On June 6 With A Showcase At The YouTube Theater
Geoff Keighley has confirmed that the next Summer Game Fest showcase will take place on June 6.
Summer Game Fest is an annual event Keighley started in 2020 in lieu of E3. Since 2021, there has been a kickoff showcase each June, and it serves as a console-agnostic showcase where developers can announce or debut new trailers for their upcoming games. We knew that Summer Game Fest would return sometime in 2025, but we didn't have a specific date until today. Keighley confirmed all of this on X and debuted Summer Game Fest 2025's brightly colored key art.
Mark your calendar for Friday, June 6 — @SummerGameFest returns to @youtubetheater in LA to showcase what’s next from the entire video game industry. Streaming live everywhere.
Followed by SGF Play Days from @iam8bit for media + Influencers in downtown LA. pic.twitter.com/mfViX89hDu
Summer Game Fest will return on June 6, although a specific time for the showcase isn't confirmed yet. Summer Game Fest 2024 took place 2 p.m. PT on June 7, 2024. It will be livestreamed for viewers at home, but people can also attend the event in person at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. No specific games or studios have confirmed their involvement in Summer Game Fest 2025 at this time, with Keighley simply saying that it will "showcase what’s next from the entire video game industry."
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Division 2's Next DLC Will Bring The Series To Brooklyn Later This Year
Ubisoft has confirmed the title, setting, and release window of the next piece of DLC for Tom Clancy's The Division 2. It's titled Battle for Brooklyn and will be released before the end of 2025.
The Division 2 was released in 2019 and has seen a healthy amount of post-launch support from Ubisoft since then. 2020's Warlords of New York DLC brought the series back to Manhattan, the setting of the first game in the series. Ubisoft had previously teased that a DLC set in Brooklyn was in the works for Year 6 of support, but it faced a series of delays as Ubisoft focused on other aspects of the game.
As recently as January 28, Ubisoft told players that the DLC would not ship during the Year 6 series of seasonal updates "to ensure we deliver the best possible experience." While that caused worry that the DLC could slip out of 2025 as well, Ubisoft took to X today, January 30, to share the first piece of key art and the title of the DLC.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNew Trailer Gives Apex Legends Players A Glimpse Of The Game's Sixth Anniversary
Apex Legends' six-year anniversary is just a few days away, and Respawn is celebrating with the release of a new cinematic trailer, giving players a glimpse of what's to come.
Though it's not an episode of Stories From The Outlands, the trailer--titled "Takeover Anthem"--is fully animated, and provides an interesting look at the other side of the Apex Games: the folks watching at home.
The trailer mainly focuses on Octane as he battles his way through a match, but we also see what Legends like Alter and Loba get up to between matches: Loba steals stuff, and Alter terrorizes her interdimensional enemies. But a crowd of spectators and fans are also featured in the trailer, with many of them cosplaying as their favorite Legend.
Continue Reading at GameSpotLet Your Mom Help You Survive The Zombie Apocalypse With This Week's Epic Games Store Freebie
The Epic Games Store continues to give away a free game each week, and this week is another nice find with a price that can't be beaten. Every Thursday at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET, Epic offers at least one free PC game (and sometimes even as many as two or three). All you need to do to claim the free games is create a free Epic account and enable two-factor authentication. You have a week to add the freebies to your library before the new one(s) take their place. At this point, Epic has given away hundreds of free games, and there's no sign that the program will stop any time soon. We keep this article up to date weekly to highlight both the current free games and next week's offerings.
Current free game at EpicUndying
This week you can pick up Undying, a zombie apocalypse game with a focus on storytelling and hard decisions. Starring the characters Anling and Cody, it's up to you to navigate through a harsh world and deal with unique challenges that'll have tangible repercussions on the people around you.
See all free games at Epic Next free game at EpicBeyond Blue
Next week you can pick up Beyond Blue, a single-player adventure where you'll get to explore the vast oceans of our world. As a member of a newly formed research team, you'll get to use advanced technology in your ocean journey, and there are even several mini-documentaries to watch so that you can gain a greater understanding of the deep blue sea.
Continue Reading at GameSpotPS5's Classic Anniversary Themes Are Leaving But Won't Be Gone Forever
PlayStation celebrated its 30th anniversary last December and released several PS5 themes commemorating the occasion. Now, the themes are leaving tomorrow, January 31, but won't be gone for good.
"Thank you for the fantastic response to the classic PlayStation, PS2, PS3, and PS4 limited-time console themes, which will be leaving tomorrow," PlayStation said on Twitter. "Due to the positive response on these 4 themes, we’re doing some work behind the scenes to bring these special designs back in the months ahead."
Thank you for the fantastic response to the classic PlayStation, PS2, PS3, and PS4 limited-time console themes, which will be leaving tomorrow.
Due to the positive response on these 4 themes, we’re doing some work behind the scenes to bring these special designs back in the… pic.twitter.com/KYk5DHQ3wO
However, PlayStation also clarified that there aren't any plans to create additional themes in the future. While these anniversary themes were initially only available for a limited time, many players have been calling for PlayStation to make them permanent.
Continue Reading at GameSpotTomb Raider Spin-Off Game Is Coming To Mobile 15 Years After Console Debut
Tomb Raider fans have been eagerly awaiting a new game in the series since 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider. But since it's anyone's guess when Lara Croft's next adventure will arrive, players may have to be satisfied by the return of one of her spin-off games. Feral Interactive has announced that Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is coming to iOS and Android platforms on February 27.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light was originally released on Xbox Live and PSN in 2010, and it dropped the Tomb Raider branding and the series' traditional gameplay model. Instead, it adapted a fixed-camera viewpoint and embraced co-op gameplay as Lara teamed up with an ancient Mayan warrior called Totec to defeat the evil spirit known as Xolotl. Feral Interactive previously ported The Guardian of Light and its 2014 sequel, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, to Nintendo Switch as part of The Lara Croft Collection in 2023.
Outside of the gaming realm, there is a live-action Tomb Raider series in development at Prime Video that may star Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner as Lara Croft. Amazon is also set to publish the next Tomb Raider game, which will not be connected to the live-action series. Additionally, Netflix renewed the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft for a second season.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe 1994 Cult-Favorite Action Flick Timecop Is Getting A 4K Blu-Ray Release
Timecop didn’t earn the best reviews when it hit theaters in 1994, but over the years it’s turned into something of a cult classic. Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and centered around a plot involving time travel, it’s a sci-fi thriller that’s earned plenty of fans thanks to its over-the-top action. Now, more than 30 years after its debut, Timecop is getting a 4K Blu-ray release. The Timecop 4K Blu-ray is now up for preorder ahead of its April 29 launch.
Timecop 4K Blu-ray $40 | Releases April 29This version of Timecop gets you both 4K UHD and standard Blu-ray copies of the film. The first disc includes a 4K transfer from the 35mm original camera negative, which should result in a faithful 4K remaster. It supports Dolby Vision and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The second disc offers the film in Blu-ray. No bonus features have been revealed, so it's possible this will only include the movie--you will, however, get a limited edition slipcover for storage.
Preorder at Amazon Preorder at WalmartPreorders can be found at Walmart and Amazon--and both retailers offer a preorder price guarantee that makes you eligible for any discounts between the time you preorder and launch. So if the Blu-ray goes on sale before April 29, you’ll be on the hook for the lowest price. Your credit card also won’t be charged until the item ships.
Looking to round out your collection with other Jean-Claude Van Damme movies? Plenty DVDs and Blu-rays are available right now that’ll make the wait for Timecop a bit easier. In fact, you can pick up the old Timecop DVD for just $14.54 (was $16.80). There’s also a great Kickboxer 4K Steelbook for $35, which comes bundled with 4K, Blu-ray, and digital versions of the film alongside a vibrant red steelbook case.
Continue Reading at GameSpotIndiana Jones And The Great Circle Whips Up 4 Million Players Before PS5 Debut
For the first time, Microsoft has dug up and dished out numbers for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle--one of Xbox Game Studios' biggest releases last year. Company CEO Satya Nadella revealed that the action-adventure title has seen over 4 million players so far on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
VGC reports that Nadella revealed the engagement data for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle during a Microsoft earnings call earlier this week. "We saw rave reviews of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which has already been played by more than 4 million people," said the CEO. The game is definitely critically acclaimed, noted as one of GameSpot's best Xbox games of 2024 and nominated for Game of the Year at the upcoming 28th annual DICE Awards.
That player number should grow when Indiana Jones and the Great Circle comes to PS5 this spring. Microsoft announced the MachineGames-developed title would hit Sony's console at Gamescom last year. Currently, the game is available on Game Pass for PC and Xbox Series X|S, so it's hard to decipher what the actual sales numbers are for it.
Continue Reading at GameSpotWWE And Netflix Games Tag Team To Bring WWE 2K To Mobile
Earlier this month, WWE Raw--the weekly flagship show for the largest professional wrestling company in the world--made the switch from traditional TV to weekly streaming on Netflix. Today, the two companies announced the next chapter in their partnership, which will see the WWE 2K video game franchise come to mobile devices via the Netflix Games service later this year.
The announcement came via a brief teaser video featuring WWE Superstar CM Punk. No footage or additional details on the mobile version were provided--only that “WWE 2K games” would be coming to the service in “Fall 2025.”
CM Punk in WWE 2K25
This has been a busy week for the WWE 2K franchise, which also revealed Roman Reigns as the cover athlete for WWE 2K25 on consoles and PC. This latest iteration of the annual wrestling simulation will offer over 300 wrestlers and add new features like intergender matches, a new hub world called The Island, and more.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThis Ultra-Rare GameCube Prototype Could Be Yours For Just $100,000
Several GameCube variants were released throughout the lifespan of the console, but for anyone looking to add a piece of sought-after Nintendo hardware to their collection, you now have a chance to do so. One of the ultra-rare "Space World" GameCubes has been listed on eBay, and all it'll cost you is a mere $100,000.
Put up for sale by ConsoleVariations founder Donny Fillerup (via IGN), this is the indigo model that was shown off all the way back in 2000 at Nintendo Space World, alongside several other color variants. It's worth noting that this GameCube prototype isn't a functional model, as it's merely a shell with some LEDs stuck inside of it so that it could wow audiences at the event back then, and it doesn't come with a controller.
What is interesting here is to see how many tweaks Nintendo made to the GameCube between this Space World reveal and its official launch in 2001. These are mostly cosmetic in nature, but this is still an interesting piece of gaming history. According to Fillerup--who previously sold off the Queen's Golden Wii--selling the GameCube prototype will generate funds to build a gaming hangout for people to visit.
Continue Reading at GameSpotAction RPG Project F4E Is Now Vaultbreakers, Beta Test Starts Very Soon
Developer BetaDwarf has announced its newest game, Vaultbreakers. Previously known under the codename "Project F4E," Vaultbreakers is described by its developer as a "hardcore top-down PvPvE ARPG," and select players will be able to access a closed playtest at the end of the week.
"The game is set in an evolving world that challenges players to think tactically, adapt dynamically, and battle fiercely," game director and BetaDwarf CEO Steffen Kabbelgaard said in a press release announcing the game. "With unpredictable events triggered by Changelings or other players, and with a focus on player skill and knowledge, I believe we are offering a fresh new multiplayer ARPG experience."
BetaDwarf also shared a reveal trailer, which shows Vaultbreakers' gameplay along with a cinematic animation. In it, two players are shown battling a pair of enemies. One player falls, while the other escapes through a portal, which serves as the game's extraction point.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Nicholas Cage-Starring Dracula Flick Renfield Is Getting A 4K Steelbook Edition Soon
You've probably seen a hundred Dracula movies by now, but back in 2023, there was a neat twist on that iconic character with the release of Renfield. Dracula's hapless minion got to shine for once, and with Nicolas Cage playing the infamous pain in the neck, the movie was a sleeper hit with critics and fans. A new 4K steelbook edition of it is set to be released on April, and you can preorder it through Walmart for $33.
Renfield (4K) $33Starring Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road and X-Men: First Class) as Dracula's long-suffering servant Renfield, the film follows the lackey as he attempts to break free from the shadow of his master and start living for himself. The only problem? Dracula is having none of that and he's out for blood--quite literally.
Special features for this version haven't been confirmed yet, but if it does inherit the extras from the previous Blu-ray releases, you can expect deleted and extended scenes, a short documentary on how Cage brought his version of Dracula to life, and the usual assortment of trailers.
Preorder at WalmartWhile fans only have to wait until April for the new Renfield 4K steelbook edition to launch, but those who want to pick up the film now--and don't mind foregoing the new steelbook case--can pick up the standard Blu-ray edition fro just $10, or the 4K Collector's Edition for $40 at Amazon.
More Renfield Blu-rays- Renfield -- $10
- Renfield (4K Collector's Edition) -- $40
If you're looking for a more traditional take on Dracula, there's also the recent Nosferatu remake that stars Nicholas Hoult alongside Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok, aka the nefarious vampire Nosferatu. Directed by Robert Eggers, critics have praised the film as a faithful reimagining of the 1922 movie of the same name--which, in fact, was created as a legally-distinct rip-off of the classic Dracula tale. Preorders for the 4K Blu-ray release are available now, including a Limited Edition Steelbook version. A standard 4K Blu-ray edition is also available to preorder.
Continue Reading at GameSpot