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Best Buy’s Memorial Day Sale – Save Up to 75% On Handhelds, Controllers, Games, And More

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 09:00
Best Buy's 2026 Memorial Day Sale

Now through May 25

See all deals at Best Buy

Memorial Day is a week away, but the retail gods know the great majority of folks are ready for a delicious retail therapy session much sooner, so sales are already on. Should you be looking out for good deals on both hardware and games, Best Buy's Memorial Day sale has plenty of both with more than 1,300 products on sale in the gaming category alone. We've broken out some of the best deals in each category for you, so check that out below. The sale runs through May 25, but don't wait to snag what you want, as things do sell out.

Nintendo Switch Deals

Best Buy has some notable Memorial Day deals on both Switch and Switch 2 games, from indie darlings like Balatro to series mainstays like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

PlayStation and Xbox Deals

More than 300 games are on sale across the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/Xbox One categories, so if you want to beef up your collection or pick up games you missed, this is a great opportunity to do so.

Hardware Deals

Best Buy has some terrific deals on controllers, headsets, and even handhelds in this Memorial Day Sale. The Rog Ally is a standout deal at $100 off, taking the price down to $500, but you can also get controllers from Xbox, Sony, GameSir, PowerA, and Turtle Beach at a solid discount. There's also a ton of gaming headsets marked down from JBL, Sony, Razer, and more. If you're a streamer or content creator, you can also get nice discounts on Elgato's products, including the Game Capture Neo and the Key Light Neo.

Check Out More Deals And Preorders

Best Buy's Memorial Day Sale - Save Up to 75% On Handhelds, Controllers, Games, And More

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 09:00

Best Buy's 2026 Memorial Day Sale

Now through May 25

See all deals at Best Buy

Memorial Day is a week away, but the retail gods know the great majority of folks are ready for a delicious retail therapy session much sooner, so sales are already on. Should you be looking out for good deals on both hardware and games, Best Buy's Memorial Day sale has plenty of both with more than 1,300 products on sale in the gaming category alone. We've broken out some of the best deals in each category for you, so check that out below. The sale runs through May 25, but don't wait to snag what you want, as things do sell out.

Nintendo Switch Deals

Best Buy has some notable Memorial Day deals on both Switch and Switch 2 games, from indie darlings like Balatro to series mainstays like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

PlayStation and Xbox Deals

More than 300 games are on sale across the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/Xbox One categories, so if you want to beef up your collection or pick up games you missed, this is a great opportunity to do so.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Crunchyroll’s Month-Long Sale Includes Big Deals Anime Blu-Rays

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 08:30
Crunchyroll Ani-May Discounted Memberships

$2-$3 monthly | Available until May 22

See at Crunchyroll

Nothing beats a well-stocked shelf full of anime Blu-rays, and if you're looking to refresh your collection, then you'll want to check out Crunchyroll's Two-for-One Ani-May Sale. While the brand is known for its massive library of streamable anime, physical media is still a popular option among fans of Japanese animation, and the site is offering hundreds of Blu-rays at a discount as part of the event. Pick three eligible items from the site's shop, and you'll get the lowest-priced item for free in your basket. We've rounded up several great deals below, dividing them between standard Blu-ray releases and collector's edition bundles.

See all deals at CrunchyRoll

If you're looking for specific suggestions, you can't go wrong with old favorites like the 1997 adaptation of Berserk or Dragon Ball Super. If you're looking for some fantasy junk food, I Parry Everything and Wistoria: Wand and Sword are great for zoning out with slick animation. We'd also recommend shows like Kaiju No. 8, which is what happens when a midlife crisis involves transforming into a nearly unstoppable mutant bent on stopping rampaging kaiju.

You can also pick up the superb Arcane: League of Legends for a great combo of beautiful animation and emotional storytelling. Lupin the 3rd: Castle of Cagliostro remains an evergreen treasure decades after its release. Feel like spoiling yourself? Grab a limited edition release for popular series like Solo Leveling or Chainsaw Man. These feature-packed editions include extras like exclusive cards, art books, and more, making them ideal as quick and easy gifts for anime fans.

Crunchyroll Two-for-One Blu-rays Crunchyroll Two-for-One Special Edition Blu-rays

Don't forget, you can save big with Crunchyroll's limited-time subscription deal this month. If you sign up before May 26, you get the first three months of the Fan Tier subscription for just $2 per month (normally $10). The Mega Fan tier is also discounted.

Normally $14 per month, it is available for $3 per month for three months when you sign up. You get access to Crunchyroll's anime library plus perks like ad-free viewing, streaming on multiple devices, discounts in the Crunchyroll Store, and more.

Check Out More Deals And Preorders

Crunchyroll's Month-Long Sale Includes Big Deals Anime Blu-Rays

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 08:30

Crunchyroll Two-for-One Anime Sale

Score anime for free in this sale

See at Crunchyroll Store

Nothing beats a well-stocked shelf full of anime Blu-rays, and if you're looking to refresh your collection, then you'll want to check out Crunchyroll's Two-for-One Ani-May Sale. While the brand is known for its massive library of streamable anime, physical media is still a popular option among fans of Japanese animation, and the site is offering hundreds of Blu-rays at a discount as part of the event. Pick three eligible items from the site's shop, and you'll get the lowest-priced item for free in your basket. We've rounded up several great deals below, dividing them between standard Blu-ray releases and collector's edition bundles.

See all deals at Crunchyroll

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Mortal Kombat 2 Blu-Ray Release Is Already Up For Preorder

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 08:09
Mortal Kombat 2 Steelbook Edition (4K Blu-ray)

$38 | Release date TBA

Preorder at Walmart Mortal Kombat 2 Standard Edition

$28 | Release date TBA

Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Gruv

While Mortal Kombat 2 only recently premiered in theaters, preorders for the bigger--and bloodier--sequel's Blu-ray release are already live at online retailers. While no release date has been confirmed, multiple home video versions of the movie have been announced, including a Walmart-exclusive steelbook 4K edition that's available for $38, and a standard edition that's available in 4K UHD, regular Blu-ray, and DVD formats. Here's a breakdown of each edition available so far.

Mortal Kombat 2 is currently tearing up the box office with bigger--and bloodier--spectacle, and naturally, preorders for its upcoming Blu-ray release are live. As usual, you'll have the option to choose from several versions of the movie, including a Walmart-exclusive steelbook edition. A release date hasn't been confirmed yet, but here's a breakdown of each edition available to preorder currently.

Mortal Kombat 2 Steelbook Edition (4K Blu-ray)

$38 | Release date TBA

Walmart's exclusive steelbook edition features a striking selection of images, starting with the film's primary antagonist Shao Kahn on the front and his adopted daughter Princess Kitana on the rear. Open the steelbook edition up, and you'll find a screenshot from the film, featuring Liu Kang facing off against the resurrected Kung Lao. At the time of writing, exact tech specs haven't officially been revealed yet for any of the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 editions, but this version does include a standard Blu-ray copy and a digital streaming key.

Like previous releases, this will likely be a native 4K release with support for the usual features, like Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Dolby Atmos. As for the special features, a handful of them will accompany Mortal Kombat 2. These include documentaries on how the storyline was shaped, the expansion of the realms, and a closer look at each warrior featured in the movie.

Mortal Kombat 2 special features

  • A "Boon" to Gamers Everywhere
  • Mortal Kombat 2; Evolving the Saga
  • Building the Realms of Mortal Kombat
  • Mortal Kombat 2: Choose your Fighter
  • Klose Quarters Kombat
Mortal Kombat 2 Steelbook Edition (4K Blu-ray)

$38 | Release date TBA

Preorder at Walmart Mortal Kombat 2 Standard Edition

$28 | Release date TBA

Mortal Kombat 2 will also launch in a standard edition available in 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD formats. Like the steelbook edition above, the 4K and regular Blu-ray versions of Mortal Kombat 2 include a digital streaming key and the same selection of special features. Here's where to preorder each version:

Mortal Kombat 2 Standard Edition preorders:

Mortal Kombat 2 Standard Edition

$28 | Release date TBA

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Gruv

Continuing shortly after the events of Mortal Kombat, the sequel sees the battle for Earthrealm finally begin. Outworld emperor Shao Kahn will stop at nothing to win the Mortal Kombat tournament so that he can finally invade Earth, and it's up to a handful of chosen champions to step up and thwart the tyrant's schemes. Mortal Kombat 2 features an expanded cast with new and familiar faces in the roster.

One of the big additions to the roster is Karl Urban--who portrays former Hollywood action star Johnny Cage--and several other fan-favorite characters like Kitana, Baraka, and Noob Saibot also appear in the movie.

If you're looking to complete your Blu-ray collection, you can pick up several more Mortal Kombat movies on 4K Blu-ray. A steelbook edition of the 2021 movie is still available through Amazon for $30, and the classic '90s movie adaptations were recently remastered in 4K and are scheduled to be released on June 30. For all of these and more, you can check out our feature on every Mortal Kombat Blu-ray you can buy right now.

And if you'd prefer some cool collectibles instead? These action figures of Sub-Zero and Reptile in their "Klassic" Mortal Kombat costumes will complement your Blu-ray shelf nicely.

Mortal Kombat Klassic: Sub-Zero

$32 | Releases August 23

Preorder at Amazon Mortal Kombat Klassic: Reptile

$30 | Releases August 23

Preorder at Amazon

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Star Wars Jedi Veteran’s Dungeons & Dragons Game Has Been Canceled

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 07:31

In June 2025, Wizards of the Coast announced a partnership with Giant Skull--the studio founded by Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and God of War III director Stig Asmussen--for a "single-player action-adventure title set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons." Unfortunately, that project has now been canceled just shy of the one-year anniversary of that announcement.

According to Bloomberg, Wizards of the Coast's parent company, Hasbro, and Giant Skull both confirmed that the untitled Dungeons & Dragons game is no longer happening.

"We assess concepts at every stage of development," said Wizards of the Coast in a statement. "While we decided not to pursue an early concept from Giant Skull, we have great respect for Stig Asmussen and his team and value our ongoing relationship." The company reportedly added t,” a spokesperson for Wizards of the Coast said, adding that it is still talking pitches from Giant Skull about new potential projects.

Asmussen told the outlet that "things are good at Giant Skull," and added that the developer is taking with other companies about future publishing deals.

Following the blockbuster success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3, Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast revealed plans to invest $1 billion in AAA game development in 2024. Since then, Hasbro has closed down Atomic Arcade, the developer of a single-player G.I. Joe game starring Snake Eyes. Last year, Starbreeze also canceled its Dungeons & Dragons game in favor of focusing on its own signature franchise, Payday.

Wizards of the Coast currently has a partnership with developer Archetype Studios for a space-opera RPG called Exodus, as well as a D&D game, Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, coming from Invoke Studios. Warlock was unveiled at The Game Awards, and it will be a third-person action-adventure game starring a character who can utilize "immersive, expressive magic."

How To Unlock The Bioreactor In Subnautica 2

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 07:20

Do you want to unlock the Bioreactor in Subnautica 2? This massive fixture creates energy for your base, and all you need to do is put a few fibers and fuels to keep it running. That said, you still need to scan a bunch of blueprints for it.

Table of Contents [hide]
  • Subnautica 2 base guide - The BioreactorSubnautica 2 base guide - The Bioreactor

    The Subnautica 2 Bioreactor can only be unlocked upon scanning three fragments. Several are scattered in the Shallows region, and we've listed a few that we've found in our playthrough. As usual, we encourage you to read our mini-walkthrough, since it gives you an idea as to where you ought to go next for the campaign.

    Bioreactor fragment #1

    You're going to stumble upon this Bioreactor fragment sooner or later. That's because it's in the area that gets a marker for the Chap blackbox signal (assuming you're doing the tasks given by the NOA Terminal).

    Continue Reading at GameSpot

How To Unlock The Thermal Plant In Subnautica 2

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 07:20

Are you searching for the Thermal Plant in Subnautica 2? This is a viable source of power for your base, but you need to head to a more hazardous area just to obtain it. Our guide has all the details that you need.

Table of Contents [hide]

Subnautica 2 base guide - The Thermal Plant

The Subnautica 2 Thermal Plant is unlocked once you're able to scan two of its fragments. The good news is that a couple of fragments are right next to each other. The bad news is that they're located in a location that's not for the faint of heart.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

How To Grow Plants In Subnautica 2 - Growbed Blueprint Location Guide

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 07:20

Are you curious about how to grow plants in Subnautica 2? Various types of alien flora can be collected and harvested for all sorts of use. However, you must first find an object known as a Growbed.

Table of Contents [hide]Subnautica 2 base guide - Growing plants via the Growbed

To unlock the Growbed, you need to travel quite far from your Lifepod. If you're playing on Survival Mode, then we encourage you to check our mini-walkthrough, since it should help you find the blackbox signals that you should track.

Assuming you've already done some early-game tasks, you'll learn of another location called the Tadpole Pens. Upon completing the objectives there, you'll be told about another biome with an area called the Alien Ruins.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Star Wars Jedi Veteran's Dungeons & Dragons Game Has Been Canceled

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 06:53

In June 2025, Wizards of the Coast announced a partnership with Giant Skull--the studio founded by Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and God of War III director Stig Asmussen--for a "single-player action-adventure title set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons." Unfortunately, that project has now been canceled just shy of the one-year anniversary of that announcement.

According to Bloomberg, Wizards of the Coast's parent company, Hasbro, and Giant Skull both confirmed that the untitled Dungeons & Dragons game is no longer happening.

"We assess concepts at every stage of development," said Wizards of the Coast in a statement. "While we decided not to pursue an early concept from Giant Skull, we have great respect for Stig Asmussen and his team and value our ongoing relationship." The company reportedly added t,” a spokesperson for Wizards of the Coast said, adding that it is still talking pitches from Giant Skull about new potential projects.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Another Steam Game Gets Removed Over Malware

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 06:02

Another title on Steam has been exposed for unleashing malware on unsuspecting buyers and removed by Valve. But the twist this time is that a popular YouTube account helped expose the game in question.

YouTuber Eric Parker shared a video (via Insider Gaming) that illustrated how the free-to-play survival-horror game Beyond the Dark was set up to steal data from players. As laid out by Parker, the malware was hidden in a file called UnityPlayer.dll. Steam subsequently removed Beyond the Dark and the game is no longer on the platform.

In a further twist, PCGamesN notes that Beyond the Dark was originally uploaded to Steam in December 2024 under the name Rodent Race, which appears to have been an entirely different game. Earlier this month, Rodent Race was apparently replaced by Beyond the Dark, which PCGamesN theorizes was done in order to bypass any security checks from Valve.

Earlier this year, the FBI announced a criminal probe into games on Steam that were infected by malware. The bureau invited members of the public to come forward with any information they had about the crimes, and the announcement appeared to suggest that the infected games came from the same suspect or suspects.

Although Valve previously announced security measures on Steam that were designed to prevent malware from being spread, there were some notable instances of it happening in the last year. A streamer alleged that one of those infected titles stole money from the funds he was using for his cancer treatment.

The FBI's investigation is ongoing, and any player who downloaded infected games from Steam between May 2024 and January 2026 has been asked to fill out a form on the FBI's site.

Another Steam Game Gets Removed Over Malware

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 05:33

Another title on Steam has been exposed for unleashing malware on unsuspecting buyers and removed by Valve. But the twist this time is that a popular YouTube account helped expose the game in question.

YouTuber Eric Parker shared a video (via Insider Gaming) that illustrated how the free-to-play survival-horror game Beyond the Dark was set up to steal data from players. As laid out by Parker, the malware was hidden in a file called UnityPlayer.dll. Steam subsequently removed Beyond the Dark and the game is no longer on the platform.

In a further twist, PCGamesN notes that Beyond the Dark was originally uploaded to Steam in December 2024 under the name Rodent Race, which appears to have been an entirely different game. Earlier this month, Rodent Race was apparently replaced by Beyond the Dark, which PCGamesN theorizes was done in order to bypass any security checks from Valve.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Upcoming Open-World RPG Has “Potato” Graphics Setting Below Even Minimum Specs

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 05:27

Indie-RPG Outward 2 is releasing on Steam early access on July 7, and developer Nine Dots Studio wants to make sure you know that even if your PC is an ancient-potato rig, the game will run just fine.

In a new video announcing the co-op survival RPG's release date and system requirements, Nine Dots revealed the game looks great on max settings with at least a GeForce RTX 40780 and 32GB of RAM. But what Nine Dots really wants people to know is how it runs on some of the worst settings imaginable, and it has delivered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEDeIEOZs9c

If you are somehow still rocking a GeForce GTX 750 TI with only 8 GB, you're in luck, as Outward 2 comes equipped with a "potato" settings preset that is even below the "very low" settings found in the game's minimum system requirements.

Potato Specs For Outward 2
  • Avg Performance - 1280 x 720 @ 30FPS
  • GPU - GeForce GTX 750 TI
  • CPU - FX 6300 x 6
  • RAM - 8GB

What does that look like in motion, exactly? Surprisingly decent. As detailed by Nine Dot's "new tech guy," Mister Potato, Outward 2 looks to run fairly well on even the lowest of low settings. The video even shares a look at the game running in "couch potato" co-op mode. You can check out the full spec breakdown below. The open-world RPG will be holding a closed beta from May 26 to June 8, one where players will get to check a new region not featured in previous playtests.

Unlike many other power-fantasy-focused RPGs, Outward 2 makes clear players are not superhumans or magically gifted chosen ones. Instead, players will pick an origin and starting location. From there they'll embark on an adventure to seek out trainers and learn new skills, having to carefully manage their inventory and supplies along the way.

Combat isn't about being more powerful, but about careful preparation, as players will need to use potions, traps, spells, and other gear to gain an upper hand. Defeat will mean having to live with the consequences, as the game's auto-saving will discourage save scumming, with Nine Dot promising players will need to "live with their failures" and the "scars of defeat." It all sounds like a punishing, but rewarding journey, albeit one that will perhaps be made a little more manageable by the fact that the entire game can be played in online or split-screen co-op.

Nine Dot hasn't yet detailed how the early-access version of Outward 2 will differ from the finished product, with many players on the game's subreddit seeming blindsided by the early-access announcement. If nothing else, players can at least take solace in the fact that even the lowliest of PCs will be able to handle the adventure.

The Best RPGs To Play In 2026 View Images

The Sims 4 Producer Addresses Recent Update And Marketplace Complaints

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 05:10

EA has released another massive base game update for The Sims 4, featuring hundreds of bug-fixes, a new clothing category, and major overhauls to the way Sim-parents interact with Infants and Toddlers. GameSpot spoke to Sims 4 producer Morgan Henry via email to get a better idea of how these new features work, which bugs the team is working on fixing in the near future, and what's next for The Sims franchise.

Henry has been a part of The Sims 4 team since 2018, overseeing the production of many of the game's 100+ DLC packs. But she says the new base game update--which is available to all players, free of charge--is one of its biggest patches yet, and she's especially fond of the improvements to interactions between Sim-parents and their Infants.

GameSpot: This new update is huge. What aspects of the update are The Sims 4 team most excited for players to get their hands on?

Morgan Henry: It's a difficult toss-up between Base Layers and the updates to Infants. Base Layers add new ways to style existing Tops and Full Body outfits and provide more avenues for expression. We've had fun seeing the combos we can make with them. But… the Infants updates are so nice. I’m a big family player myself, and Infants are such a big part of that gameplay loop. Improving Infants was a real challenge, and the team put so much love and work into it.

One of the biggest issues players have been complaining about lately is a bug that makes all photos and selfies taken by Sims turn completely black. The new update addresses this bug, but the patch notes don't clarify if it works retroactively. Does the new update restore photos in save files where they've all gone black, or does this fix only prevent future photos from disappearing?

Henry: "Black Photo" bugs are very complex, and we know they are very disruptive to our players, so addressing them has been one of our top priorities. There isn't one individual "Black Photo" issue, as each one is unique both in [terms of] what's causing it and how it presents itself, with [each type of photo bug requiring] its own steps to reproduce and requirements for a fix, which has caused a lot of confusion in the community, and even for us unraveling them at times.

One challenge is that some "Black Photos" can be restored and some can't. After our last update, many of the reports involved photos not being able to be restored, even though the bug that caused the issue had been fixed. Recovery depends on if the image data still exists in the save and it failed to load, or if the photo was deleted. Because it varies from bug-to-bug, our patch notes now include detailed entries explaining each "Black Photo" fix and if it's retroactively recoverable.

Each release, we've been fixing all of the "Black Photo" bugs in our database and closely monitoring reports, digging deep on each one to understand when, how, and why it was introduced. Our QV team also does extensive extra testing on the side to produce new ways to create [Black Photo bugs] to proactively address them for players. At this time, we’ve addressed all known "Black Photo" bugs in our database, but, we'll be watching player reports on this topic closely and verifying new reports to see if there are examples of lingering non-retroactive fixes for old reports, or actual new unaddressed cases.

Of the many bug fixes featured in this update, which one was the most challenging for the Sims 4 team to tackle?

Henry: Frequent Infant pick-ups and put-downs was the most challenging issue we addressed as a whole. This was actually a series of different fixes and updates, tracked across multiple tasks. Summed up, Infants can't walk, so they're dependent on other Sims to move them around. Anytime Sims are physically holding or touching other Sims, things get complicated. Horses were complicated. Infants are no different. After all, what's a caregiver if not a big horsey for the Infant? (Joking!)

We held break-down meetings where we watched a lot of gameplay in slow motion, checked logs, interaction queues, and determined the different reasons an Infant would be picked up. Sometimes, this behavior was on purpose. Other times, there were some valid conflicts that we needed to resolve with a bug. And that's just figuring out when to pick them up! We also had to address improvements for when, how, and where to put them down.

There are times they'll still be picked up and put down for positioning, which is just how the game works, but all-in-all, the experience feels greatly improved (despite how challenging it was) and our team is very proud of how it turned out. We hope players are as excited as we are!

It's nice to hear we'll have so many swatches for the new Base Layer items. Are there any plans to expand swatch options for other clothing items?

Henry: Because Base Layers are meant to mix and match with all Tops and Full Body assets across all packs, we really wanted there to be a wide variety of color and pairing options to start. We're always listening to feedback, but we don’t currently have plans to add new swatches for previously released clothing items.

A look at The Sims 4's new Base Layers selection.

Will we ever see a color wheel option for Sim hair, like the one used to customize the fur of cats, dogs, and horses? Are there any plans to expand Sim hair color swatches to more than the standard 24 shades?

Henry: This isn't something the team is actively developing right now, but we always appreciate hearing feedback from players about the customization options they'd like to see in the game.

How does The Sims Team feel about the player response to The Sims 4's new paid mod marketplace?

Henry: We really appreciate players sharing their thoughts with us. The Sims community is passionate and creative, and feedback from our players and Makers is already helping us really understand what's working, what needs to be a bit more clear, and how we can continue to improve the Marketplace over time.

Players can still enjoy The Sims 4 the way they always have with the custom content and mods that the existing custom content community continues to share. Our hope is that the Marketplace adds to that experience, not replaces it. It's meant to give players more ways to discover content, expand creative options for console players, and create more opportunities to support our creator community.

Creative expression has always been a huge part of The Sims, and that’s something we want to continue supporting. As the Marketplace grows, we'll keep listening to both players and Makers to make sure it feels like a thoughtful, complementary part of the larger Sims experience and creative community.

As far as bug fixes go, a large part of this update is dedicated to Infants/Toddlers and autonomous Sim behavior. Can you give us a hint about what part of the game you're focusing your attention on next when it comes to major overhauls?

Henry: We know autonomy is a very important topic to players, it's part of what makes The Sims so special! For our next few updates, we want to focus on general autonomy alongside top community-reported issues.

We already have a number of autonomy improvements in the works, from bigger changes like Sims properly facing each other during social interactions, to smaller tweaks like Sims who dislike gardening no longer gardening autonomously. We're also planning to put a lot of effort towards cutting down on spam Sims get from their phones and in The Sims' notification UI, which will hopefully make the game flow better and feel more relaxing.

We have more food, drinking, and dining autonomy improvements in the works based on other feedback we've received, too, and we're always tracking top-reported and voted-on issues from EA Forums as well as feedback from our Discord and Reddit threads pertaining to these topics. We're quite busy, but [are] having a lot of fun working so closely with the community to direct our focus!

Upcoming Open-World RPG Has "Potato" Graphics Setting Below Even Minimum Specs

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 05:10

Indie-RPG Outward 2 is releasing on Steam Early Access on July 7, and developer Nine Dots Studio wants to make sure you know that even if your PC is an ancient-potato rig, the game will run just fine.

In a new video announcing the co-op survival RPG's release date and system requirements, Nine Dots revealed the game looks great on max settings with at least a GeForce RTX 40780 and 32GB of RAM. But what Nine Dots really wants people to know is how it runs on some of the worst settings imaginable, and it has delivered.

If you are somehow still rocking a GeForce GTX 750 TI with only 8GB, you're in luck, as Outward 2 comes equipped with a "potato" settings preset that is even below the "very low" settings found in the game's minimum system requirements.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Sims 4 Producer Addresses Recent Update And Marketplace Complaints

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 05:10

EA has released another massive base game update for The Sims 4, featuring hundreds of bug-fixes, a new clothing category, and major overhauls to the way Sim-parents interact with Infants and Toddlers. GameSpot spoke to Sims 4 producer Morgan Henry via email to get a better idea of how these new features work, which bugs the team is working on fixing in the near future, and what's next for The Sims franchise.

Henry has been a part of The Sims 4 team since 2018, overseeing the production of many of the game's 100+ DLC packs. But she says the new base game update--which is available to all players, free of charge--is one of its biggest patches yet, and she's especially fond of the improvements to interactions between Sim-parents and their Infants.

GameSpot: This new update is huge. What aspects of the update are The Sims 4 team most excited for players to get their hands on?

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Civilization 7 Is A Completely Different Game Following The Test Of Time Update

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 04:52

Firaxis Games and 2K released the highly anticipated Test of Time update for Sid Meier's Civilization VII today, May 19. It's the most substantial update the 4X strategy game has received since its February launch, reworking how Civilization functions and how victories are achieved in ways that radically change the game.

When Civilization 7 came out, one way it radically differed from previous games in the series was that it had players pick a new Civilization each time they entered a new age. This change was a contentious one within the franchise's community, and the Test of Times update backtracks by introducing "Time-Tested Civs" that withstand age transitions.

Instead of changing civilizations, players will be able to add specific units or infrastructure from other civilizations to their repertoire. Each civilization will also have an "apex age" where it's the most powerful. You can still switch if you want, but I suspect that Time-Tested Civs will quickly become the preferred way to play for many.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSnk8JTY_mw

In addition to Time-Tested Civs, this update scraps the Legacy Path system and, in turn, how victories work. Previously, Legacy Paths focused players down one of four paths -- cultural, military, scientific, or economic -- to progress through ages. Now, players have to complete Triumphs across six attributes -- cultural, diplomatic, economic, expansionist, militaristic, and scientific -- to progress, giving a bit more freedom in what to pursue.

Victories are also mostly decoupled from the Triumphs system. It's now possible to pursue military, cultural, economic, and scientific victories as early as the Exploration era, depending on how far ahead you are of your opponents in achieving said victory. Together, Time-Tested Civs, Trimpuhs, and the reworked victory conditions fundamentally change how Civilization VII works and should go a long way toward winning back fans of the older games who didn't like its changes.

There's even more to this update, including the addition of Alexander the Great as a leader, the Fractal Continent map, new dedicated Commerce and Advisor Council screens, and updates to game balance, map generation, and narrative events. This certainly feels like the best time since launch to try the game out. 

If you want to do that, the updated version of Civilization VII is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. A mobile version of the game is also available on Apple Arcade.

People Are Turning Real Life Into Fake Video Games And It Actually Looks Cool

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 04:16

Video game menus have a tough job, as they're designed to grab your attention for a brief moment in time. They're an art form to successfully pull off, and on social media, people are taking notice of them. One of the new trends emerging currently is IRL video game menus, as people are turning themselves, friends, and cats into stars for custom-made interfaces for games that sadly don't exist.

That doesn't mean that you can't enjoy these quick breaks from reality, and some of these menus are very slick. They embody some of the coolest designs seen over the years, with games like Batman: Arkham City, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and God of War's 2018 reboot serving as inspiration. Those games--and many others--all have a similar main-menu vibe, as they constantly switch between 3D models that are barely frozen in time, highlighting several action-packed scenes and poses.

We've gathered up a few examples below, as well as a few tips on how you can make your own video for your own social media profile.

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Civilization 7 Is A Completely Different Game Following The Test Of Time Update

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 03:38

Firaxis Games and 2K released the highly anticipated Test of Time update for Sid Meier's Civilization VII today, May 19. It's the most substantial update the 4X strategy game has received since its February launch, reworking how Civilization functions and how victories are achieved in ways that radically change the game.

When Civilization 7 came out, one way it radically differed from previous games in the series was that it had players pick a new Civilization each time they entered a new age. This change was a contentious one within the franchise's community, and the Test of Times update backtracks by introducing "Time-Tested Civs" that withstand age transitions.

Instead of changing civilizations, players will be able to add specific units or infrastructure from other civilizations to their repertoire. Each civilization will also have an "apex age" where it's the most powerful. You can still switch if you want, but I suspect that Time-Tested Civs will quickly become the preferred way to play for many.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Forza Horizon 6 Finally Fixes One Of The Series' Most Annoying Aspects

Game News - Wed, 05/20/2026 - 03:34

Forza Horizon 6 offers another massive open world to fulfill your every racing and car culture desire, but among all the headlining features it offers, it also addresses a small but annoying milestone of the franchise that has irritatingly been seen in every previous entry in the series: a goal that insists you drive down literally every last stretch of road.

There are always hundreds of roads in these games, and you don't get credit for driving on a road until you've driven the whole length of it. The game tracks which roads you've been on by changing them from gray to white (or orange for dirt roads) on the map screen.

For those who wanted to complete this feat and unlock the related Achievement or Trophy, this often meant painstakingly scanning over the map after many hours to find small patches of grayed-out roads that you'd not yet cruised over. Thus, maddeningly, the closer you were to finishing this task, the harder it was to spot the little bits you'd missed.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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