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Minecraft's Vibrant Visuals Update Is A Massive Step Forward For The 15-Year-Old Game
It's been nearly five years since Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft, added RTX support. The move allowed creators, modders, and the like to turn the block worlds they build into visually stunning landscapes. However, in that time, there has seemingly been little forward momentum in terms of officially created visual improvements. Now, though, Mojang has taken things one step further with the newly announced Vibrant Visuals update.
GameSpot recently visited Mojang's Sweden-based studio to test the new update, and it's not hyperbole to say Vibrant Visuals is a game-changer for the 14-year-old title. And it's not just for those with PCs that support ray tracing. When Vibrant Visuals launches for Minecraft Bedrock, it'll also be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and some iOS and Android devices. And for those that play Java Edition, Vibrant Visuals is also in the works for that platform.
It's a change that's been in the pipeline for years. As Minecraft executive producer Ingela Garneji explained to a small group of press, "It's been a bumpy road. We've been iterating and learning, failing and then learning fast, and improving things together with the community, actually."
Continue Reading at GameSpotMinecraft's First Game Drop Of 2025 Brings Animal Variants And New Plants
Since September 2023, Minecraft has shifted its major update strategy to twice-annual "game drops" that add new mobs, blocks, and items to the game. With the latest Minecraft Live event, we now know what 2025's first game drop, Spring Into Life, contains. Get ready for a bunch of animal variants and some really cool new plants being added.
Starting with plants, players are getting something they've wanted for quite a while. After first being teased a number of years ago, firefly bushes are being added to the game. The bushes will grow in swampy biomes and near water, offering the twinkling lights of fireflies to add a little brightness to the night. Additionally, per Mojang, you'll be able to place the bushes, which are plant blocks, underneath other blocks to make your builds shine.
Other plant-based additions:
Continue Reading at GameSpotMinecraft Adding Live Event And DLC Tied To Movie, Complete With Jack Black
With A Minecraft Movie headed to theaters on April 4, it should come as no surprise that the game it's based on is adding a bunch of content linked to the release. Minecraft is adding downloadable content from the film, as well as a live event and even a free skins pack so you can look like the movie's characters.
The live event transports you to a custom Minecraft realm that is the home of Midport Village, where you interact with the movie's characters, going on missions and earning exclusive loot for use in the game. The event features voiceover from Jack Black, who plays Steve in the film, and sees the user teaming with the characters played by Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Hansen to play through a series of minigames. The mode also features multiplayer action, so you won't have to face the dangers that await alone. If you manage to complete all five games within the mode, you'll earn an exclusive item, the Yearn cape.
The event, which was announced during Minecraft Live, launches on March 25 at 3 PM PT/6 PM ET and runs until April 7 at the same time.
Continue Reading at GameSpotGod Of War And The Power Of Being Better
God of War is celebrating its 20-year anniversary today, March 22, 2025. Below, we examine how Kratos' character arc has shifted over time to become a timely reflection on masculinity and change.
As much as people remember the brutality and the grandiosity of God of War, as a singular game and as a series, it's easy to forget that the first God of War in 2005 doesn't actually begin with Kratos fighting a hydra and ripping soldiers apart with his bare hands.
It begins with a suicide attempt. Starting a new game, the very first thing we hear from Kratos is him gravely intoning that "the gods have abandoned me" before walking straight off a cliff into the Aegean Sea. This is a warlord who accidentally murdered his own wife and child, and is then cursed by an oracle to have his family's ashes permanently grafted to his skin, ensuring there is nowhere in Greece he can go where his crimes are unrecognized. The only help he receives is being conscripted by the gods to murder Ares, who set him up to begin with, which isn't really helpful at all. The reward is the gods' forgiveness, which does nothing to alleviate his consistent nightmares about the deed. When blood doesn't grant him peace, the gods give him power, letting him take Ares' place as the Greek God of War, beginning a reign so destructive that almighty Zeus himself has to intervene to take him down. That's before finding out Zeus himself is Kratos' father, and Kratos having his revenge means laying waste to his entire domain. Which Kratos does.
Continue Reading at GameSpotSIGMA WAR NOTES
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Fortnite OG Season 3 Release Date, Battle Pass, And Everything Else To Know
Fortnite OG mode is taking another step toward the present very soon--Season 3 starts on March 25, taking us back to the season that kicked off way back in February of 2018. While Fortnite OG has waned in popularity a bit recently, one of the big reasons for that is that Fortnite changed very little during those original two seasons, so this nostalgic mode didn't get to do much differently either. Season 3, however, is where things began ramping up. The game's overall storyline made its very first appearance when a large meteor appeared over the island midway through the season.
With just days remaining before the next round of Fortnite's throwback party begins, let's take a look at everything we know about Fortnite OG Season 3.
Table of Contents [hide]Fortnite OG Season 3 teaserEpic has dropped a single teaser for OG Season 3, which shows an astronaut helmet with the Fortnite island visible in the reflection--along with the meteor above it. The TikTok and Instagram versions of the teaser are the most illuminating versions, as they reveal that the astronaut is wearing a studded leather jacket. There aren't any skins that wore anything like that from Season 3, battle pass or otherwise, but our Metallica-themed remix of Rust from Chapter 5 Season 3 did. Regardless, I doubt that thing is spaceworthy, but Fortnite isn't concerned with such things.
Continue Reading at GameSpotInZoi's Build Mode Is Like The Sims... Until It's Not
InZoi, the first real attempt ever to compete with The Sims in the life sim space, is here, releasing via Steam Early Access, and it's only natural that players will spend their first several hours in the game creating their characters and messing around in build mode to see what kinds of dollhouses they can assemble. There's no point in jumping into the simulation until you've got everything else in order.
For those Sims players who are eager to see what InZoi's got that The Sims doesn't, be warned that InZoi's build mode has a few big quirks that you'll need to learn about before you get started, or else you might accidentally rip the walls out of your house while you're trying to make it bigger. Fortunately, we've got you covered with our InZoi build mode guide.
How InZoi's home-building gameplay differs from the SimsIf you're coming to InZoi from The Sims 4, you'll probably be used to a build mode in which everything is one context-sensitive click away. Clicking on an object picks it up; clicking on a wall lets you move it to expand or contract the room it's containing. You just click on what you want to manipulate, and then you manipulate it. InZoi's build mode is slightly more complicated than that, thanks largely to the fact that it has more customization options--but there are some fundamental differences from The Sims that will probably trip you up at first.
Continue Reading at GameSpotGame Of Thrones Illustrated Edition Series Returns After 5-Year Wait
Following a lengthy wait, A Song of Ice and Fire's Illustrated Edition series is set to return this fall with A Feast for Crows. The Illustrated Edition of the fourth novel in George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series will be published on November 4, almost exactly five years after the release of the previous entry, A Storm of Swords: The Illustrated Edition. Game of Thrones fans can preorder A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition for $50 at Amazon.
Note that reserving a copy at Amazon means you won't pay until it's shipped, and you'll be eligible for any price cuts between now and November 4.
The Illustrated Edition series debuted in 2016 with A Game of Thrones. Following a three-year wait, Random House published A Clash of King's Illustrated Edition in 2019. A Storm of Swords was published one year later, but then the waiting game started. For Game of Thrones fans, the wait for this special hardcover edition of A Feast for Crows undoubtedly pales in comparison to The Winds of Winter. Nearly 14 years have passed since the release of A Dance with Dragons, so five years is nothing.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNetflix Boss Explains Why Company Killed The AAA Multiplayer Game From Halo Veteran
Netflix was working on a AAA multiplayer shooter with a team that included Halo and Destiny veteran Joe Staten, but the game and the studio were scuttled in 2024. Why? One of Netflix's top gaming bosses, Alain Tascan, said in an interview that this project did not align with the company's goals.
"I don't want this move to be seen as, 'We're not going to do big ambitious games,'" Tascan told Bloomberg. "It was just the genre of the game... I don't think was matching the platform. This team was really good at what they were doing, but we wouldn't have been the best partner for them to express their skills and their expertise."
The shift away from this game came amid a wider shakeup at at Netflix's film and TV divisions that calls for fewer, less-expensive releases that aim for higher quality.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Dramatic Half-Life Deal That Altered The Fate Of Valve Forever
One of Valve's most popular games, 1998's Half-Life, could have been the one and only game the company ever released, until a deal was struck that changed the company's fate forever. Monica Harrington, Valve's first chief marketing officer, said at the Game Developers Conference that publisher Sierra had the option for two more games, and after the first Half-Life became a gigantic success, Valve attempted to renegotiate with Sierra.
The terms of the deal, Harrington said, was that Valve would fund all but $1 million of the development costs of Half-Life's sequels, with Sierra retaining IP rights and giving Valve back 15% of revenue. "It felt insane," Harrington said, as reported by GamesRadar.
Harrington said that if she and her husband Mike Harrington were to make real money out of being co-owners of Valve at the time, she knew Valve's prospects had to be "much, much brighter," and that included renegotiating with Sierra.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNew Dr. Squatch Collab Could Have You Smelling Like Call Of Duty
Coming off its TMNT and Minecraft collab, Dr. Squatch has a new batch of soap and deodorant this time with a Call of Duty-themed twist. There will be two new fragrances joining the lineup: Ghost Grit and Sarge Soap. They're both available as bar soap or deodorant.
If you buy them in bar form, customers can unlock an exclusive Dr. Squatch calling card in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is only available through this collab. Ghost Grit contains ghost plant extract and has earthy scents of leather and smokey charcoal, but is still slightly peppery. The Sarge Soap contains field balm (think minty) with fresh scents of Scottish juniper, pine, and moss.
The New Dr. Squatch x Call of Duty collection.
Dr. Squatch sent GameSpot a sneak peek at the bars, and the mint and pine from the Sarge Soap really comes through loud. Ghost Grit isn't as strong and similar to Squatch's Minecraft Diamond Scrub, which had a more pumice stone scent to it, but still very rugged.
Continue Reading at GameSpotFree-To-Play Game Of Thrones RPG Launches On Steam Soon, But You'll Have To Pay
Upcoming action-RPG Game of Thrones: Kingsroad may be free-to-play when it launches on mobile devices, but those who want to play on Steam as soon as possible will have to pay.
Developer Netmarble announced the game, which tells an original story within the universe of the popular HBO show, will release in early access on Steam on March 26. Whereas most games that release in early access could potentially be there for months or years, Netmarble says in the game's FAQ it expects Game of Thrones: Kingsroad to be in early access for a "minimum of four weeks," after which it will be free-to-play.
During the early access period not all of the game will be available, though players will be able to explore the Northern regions of Westeros, encounter characters like Jon Snow, visit several major cities, complete various side quests, participate in co-op dungeons, and complete 50 chapters of the main storyline. Game of Thrones: Kingsroad's full free-to-play launch will include more regions to explore, additional co-op dungeons, and more. Netmarble states more regions and challenges will be added post-launch.
Continue Reading at GameSpotAssassin's Creed Shadows - Grab The Official Guidebook Before It Sells Out
Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition Guide (Hardcover)
$40.49 (was $45) | Releases April 8
Preorder at AmazonAssassin's Creed Shadows Strategy Guide (Paperback)
See at Walmart See at AmazonThe Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows (Hardcover)
$30.49 (was $50) | Releases March 25
Preorder at AmazonThe Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows Deluxe Edition (Hardcover)
Preorder at AmazonThe paperback edition of the official Assassin's Creed Shadows Strategy Guide launched alongside the game this week for $30. The 400-plus page guidebook received a 10% launch discount at multiple retailers, but it sold out quickly at Amazon. Though you can still place an order at Amazon, the retailer won't offer an estimated delivery date.
To get the Assassin's Creed Shadows Strategy Guide sooner: Head over to Walmart, click "More seller options" on the listing, and choose the option for $26.98 that is shipped and sold by Walmart.
- AC Shadows Strategy Guide at Walmart -- $27 ($30) | Choose shipped/sold by Walmart
- AC Shadows Strategy Guide at Amazon -- $27 ($30) | Out of stock but available to order
A hardcover Collector's Edition was originally slated to release on March 20, but it received a slight delay that pushed it back to April 8. If you'd rather wait for the hardcover edition, you can preorder Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition Guide for $40.49 (was $45) at Amazon. Alternatively, you can get tips and tricks for Ubisoft's new game for free by checking out GameSpot's Assassin's Creed Shadows Guides Hub.
Continue Reading at GameSpotBest Buy Tech Fest - Save On Video Games, TVs, Laptops, PC Accessories, And More
Best Buy Tech Fest is in full swing, offering steep discounts on video games, computers, TVs, and more until March 23. We've scoured the catalog to find the best deals, such as a wild price cut on College Football 25 that brings it down to just $10, a 65-Inch LG TV for just $350, and an HP Victus Gaming Laptop equipped with an RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for under $1,000. That's jus a small selection of the deals on offer, so be sure to scroll down to see our favorite deals of the Best Buy Tech Fest in the lists below.
Note that My Best Buy Total and Plus members can save even more on many of these items, so see if signing up makes sense before finalizing your purchase.
A bunch of games are on sale right now, though the best price cut is for College Football 25. Typically sold for $70, you can get it for just $10 right now. So if you're having trouble dealing with the offseason, it's an easy recommendation. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is also $38 (was $50), while Rise of the Ronin is $40 (was $70). Two premium controllers are seeing nice discounts as well, with markdowns on both the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra and PDP Victrix Pro BFG--the latter of which uses a modular design for added customization options. We've included a few more video game deals below, and you'll find even more at Best Buy.
See all video game deals at Best BuyGames
Continue Reading at GameSpotCheck Out An Exclusive Look Of Disco Elysium Running On Mobile
Disco Elysium is coming to mobile devices for the first time later this year, and we got exclusive hands (and thumbs) on with the new version of the RPG. This isn't a simple port whatsoever. In fact, GameSpot's Lucy James admits that "it is very different to what I thought it was going to be."
On Instagram, James shows off Disco Elysium running on Android and how the RPG is making the transition to smartphones. The game originally launched on PC in 2019 before coming to other consoles in the years that followed, such as Nintendo Switch in 2021. But with this new port, how you engage with Disco Elysium is different. "It's meant to be played in these shorter bursts, rather than sitting down and really committing to a very dense RPG," said James.
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As for the controls, Disco Elysium is embracing how people use their smartphones. "The way you interact with it is how you interact with your phone," James said. Basically, you're swiping and tapping with your thumb while your smartphone stays in portrait mode. So it looks possible to play through the experience with one hand.
Continue Reading at GameSpotDark Horse's Stunning H.P. Lovecraft Deluxe Edition Manga Is 50% Off
H.P. Lovecraft's At The Mountains of Madness Deluxe Manga
See at AmazonH.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu Manga
See at Amazon
The hauntingly beautiful manga adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness is on sale for 50% off at Amazon. Dark Horse originally published the lengthy tale in two paperback volumes before reissuing it last July as a premium 600-plus page hardcover not unlike the publisher's Berserk Deluxe Editions. The stunning At the Mountains of Madness Deluxe Edition retails for $50, but manga readers and Lovecraft fans can snag a copy for only $25 for a limited time.
Lovecraft manga adaptations were written and illustrated by Gou Tanabe and translated to English by Zack Davisson. At the Mountains of Madness Deluxe Edition was one of two translations Dark Horse published in 2024. In October, Dark Horse released a paperback edition of Lovecraft's best-known work, The Call of Cthulhu, and you can grab that one for only $15.
Continue Reading at GameSpot