Ten years before The Last of Us became a hit HBO series, the original game ended on a bleak note as Joel made a decision about Ellie's future that left a lot of blood on his hands. Joel's actions have been the subject of a lot of fan debates, and a major catalyst for the story of The Last of Us Part II and The Last of Us Season 2. Now, The Last of Us director Neil Druckmann is weighing in on one of the ending's unanswered questions: Could the Fireflies really have created a cure by sacrificing Ellie?

"Could the Fireflies make a cure? Our intent was, 'yes, they could,'" said Druckmann during his appearance on the Sacred Symbols podcast (via IGN). "Now, is our science a little shaky that now people are now questioning it? Sure. Our science is a little shaky and people are now questioning it. I can't say anything. I can say our intent was that they would have made a cure. That makes the most interesting philosophical question for what Joel does."

The reason why Joel didn't allow the Fireflies to create the cure is that they would have had to euthanize Ellie, whom he loved like a daughter. Rather than let that happen, Joel slaughtered all of the Fireflies in the hospital--an action that came back to haunt him in more ways than one.

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Pokemon TCG Pocket's next expansion will introduce Pokemon Sun and Moon's extradimensional Ultra Beasts to the free-to-play mobile game, and players won't have to wait long.

The Extradimensional Crisis expansion will arrive May 29 and introduce over 100 new cards to Pokemon TCG Pocket, including new Trainer, Pokemon EX, and, for the first time, Ultra Beast cards. While there don't seem to be any specific new rules around what are basically Pokemon's version of aliens, each Ultra Beast card is clearly labeled as such.

That will allow them to interact with other cards in certain ways, like the Trainer Lusamine, who can take energy from the discard pile and attach it to an Ultra Beast.

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Microsoft's newest update for PC has freshened up the settings widget within the Game Bar, offering players better access to adjustments for audio levels and screen brightness. In addition, not only are these improvements available in compact mode, but these quick settings provide a toggle for going into compact mode or back into desktop mode.

The Xbox app update on PC also features streamlined ways to see an on-screen keyboard, tinker with Bluetooth-connected devices, and turn on airplane mode through the Game Bar's settings widget. This comes shortly after Wi-Fi and battery status icons were added to compact mode, as Microsoft continues to make the Xbox app more handheld friendly. Then there are the photo leaks of an Xbox-branded ROG Ally 2 that corroborate earlier reports of Microsoft partnering with Asus on a handheld device.

The overhauled settings widget within the Game Bar offers quicker access to changing screen brightness and audio levels on the Xbox app for PC.

These new features are part of a larger Xbox update that also saw Retro Classics arriving for all Game Pass membership tiers. The catalog includes well-known titles like Pitfall and Commando--as well as original PlayStation game MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat.

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There are few more iconic video game characters than Pac-Man. One of the earliest and most recognizable video game mascots, Pac-Man was a massive and ongoing success, as cabinets remained mainstays in arcades and restaurants for decades after its original release. Bandai Namco is celebrating the anniversary of the game on May 22, 2025--a full 45 years after its first release in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Since then, the simple character has gone through several redesigns and revisions, from 3D platformers to pinball and even a kart racer. Bandai Namco has made the character broad and flexible, with oddball experiments like 2005's Pac Pix living alongside respectful homages like the breakout hit Pac-Man Championship Edition, which played very much like the original with new mechanics and mazes to test the skills of even the most dedicated Pac enthusiasts. But the original Pac-Man, along with Ms. Pac-Man that followed, is still the purest distillation of the idea, a game that has been ported countless times and been played throughout the years.

To mark the occasion, GameSpot spoke with Cyrus Rosenberg, SVP of licensing and business development at Arcade1Up, which has made a point of producing nostalgic, arcade-accurate scale cabinets of some of the most beloved classic arcade games around, including Pac-Man. The company has produced multiple cabinets based on Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, so we spoke with Rosenberg about working with the Bandai Namco license to create cabinets that replicate the feeling of plunking a quarter into an arcade machine in the corner of a pizza parlor.

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Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford has reacted to the backlash to his comments about how "real fans" would find a way to put together $80 to buy Borderlands 4.

In a post on social media, Pitchford said, "Nobody likes being taken for granted and it was not my intent." He added that he feels "humbled by the love and support" that people have shown to the developers as the team works to get the game finished and in players' hands.

"Regardless of where the price lands, it's going to be worth it and then some," he said.

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Embracer Group, the Swedish gaming behemoth that employs thousands of people around the world, has announced that it plans to launch 76 more games in the semi-near future. The company also confirmed that it's getting a new name--going forward, Embracer Group will be called Fellowship Entertainment.

As part of the company's latest earnings briefing, it said these 76 games will be a mix of new IP, sequels, and remasters. Some of them include Metal Eden, the Gothic remake, Reanimal, Wreckreation, the next SpongeBob game, Norse: Oath of Blood, Killing Floor 3, and the recently delayed Marvel 1943: Ryse of Hydra.

For Ryse of Hydra specifically, Embracer said this game is likely to bring in a lot of revenue but won't be as profitable due to "shared economics with several other partners" as a high-profile licensed game.

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Bungie has been the center of several controversies lately, and last week, it was accused of using stolen art assets in its upcoming extraction shooter Marathon. While Bungie has responded to the accusations--saying that a former artist was responsible and that it was investigating further--there have also been recent allegations that the studio's work culture has become tainted by toxic leadership.

Speaker to former IGN editor Destin Legarie--who now runs the independent games coverage channel Save State Plus--former Bungie employees spoke out about the state of the studio, claiming that leaders were quick to shut down ideas and would publicly berate staff. It's also claimed that Bungie's leadership brought up the idea of adding a subscription service to Destiny, but this idea was strongly rejected by the developers.

Another example of the corporate culture at Bungie was that the studio's management allegedly expressed concerns over armor sets that could be earned in Destiny 2's PvP mode Trials of Osiris, because its design looked too good and could "impact" sales of cosmetic DLC.

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Fortnite is currently being dominated by the Star Wars: Galactic Battle event, including an interactive Darth Vader with an AI voice and even Darth Jar Jar. But outside of Star Wars, Fortnite is introducing a new character, Iridia Vayne, and the game is giving players a chance to win her skin for free. But you'll have to move quickly to catch this giveaway.

Starting on May 23, Fortnite players are invited to put a team together for Celestial Strike Quest, a new Party Up that will be releasing new quests daily until May 31. To unlock Iridia Vayne, teams will have to complete nine quests that alternate between earning XP in creator-made experiences and experiences that were created by Epic Games.

Once the complete lineup of Celestial Strike Quest has been released, players will only have until June 7 at 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET to complete the event and get the Iridia Vayne skin. There are also other items that can be earned along the way, as detailed below.

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Splitgate 2's open beta is now live, and it's close to the full version of the game. The beta will continue until the full game's Summer 2025 launch, and unlocked rewards and cosmetics won't be reset.

The beta for the free-to-play portal-focused FPS includes 25 weapons, including a new railgun power weapon, 15 maps, and 10 modes. Those maps include new 24-player Onslaught mode maps not seen in previous tests and new Arena maps, like the popular Stadium map making its return from the original Splitgate. A fan-favorite mode from the first Splitgate, Takedown, is also debuting as part of the Splitgate 2 beta, alongside four Simulation maps built for the mode.

Also new as part of the Splitgate 2 beta is The Lab, essentially Splitgate's version of Halo's Forge map-creation tools, where players can create custom modes and maps. Developer 1047 specifically cited Halo: Reach's Forge mode as an inspiration for The Lab.

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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are in the midst of, pardon the pun, a video game renaissance. In the last few years alone we've received the excellent retro compilation Cowabunga Collection, the retro-style brawler Shredder's Revenge, and the Hades-inspired roguelike Splintered Fate. Not since their breakout success on Saturday morning cartoons have the turtles been so ubiquitous in games, but this time around, developers are more emboldened to experiment with different game styles. Enter TMNT: Tactical Takedown, a grid-based tactics game that feels both authentically nostalgic and like creative new ground for the heroes. While it suffers slightly from a limited scope, the short adventure is a great time while it lasts.

Tactical Takedown is presented with a clean, bright visual style reminiscent of the old Saturday morning cartoon. The turtles' beaks are rounded just like you drew on your Trapper Keeper during geometry class. But this story takes place well after the original series--Splinter and Shredder are both dead, and the boys' relationship has grown contentious as they've all gone in different directions and coped with the loss. The combination of Saturday morning aesthetics with this new story premise make this feel like a progression of that continuity and an opportunity to show us something new.

It's also the conceit for the game's core mechanic, which limits you to one turtle at a time as you fight your way through legions of Foot Clan goons. Objectives are usually to survive a certain number of turns or to defeat certain starred enemies. The stages are isometric grids like you've seen in lots of tactics games, but limiting you to one character at a time means a lot of focus on prioritization and crowd control. You're always outnumbered, but they're always outmatched. The stages are designed with a particular turtle in mind, which is explained by the story: Donatello is investigating happenings underground, so each of his stages take place in the sewer, while Raphael's take place across the rooftops, and so on. These differences are mostly cosmetic, but some are more substantial. Hopping along rooftops of a Raphael stage requires you to reach the edge of one roof to clear another, for example, and Donatello's sewer stages are rife with toxic waste which is, thankfully, purple.

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DICE has published a blog post detailing some of its thoughts about the class system for the upcoming Battlefield game, and it includes bringing back a controversial feature from Battlefield 2042.

Older titles, like the much-loved Battlefield 4, had class-locked weapons, but Battlefield 2042 introduced the ability for players in any class to choose whatever weapon they wanted. Some portion of the audience didn't enjoy this, while others embraced this expanded freedom, and DICE is sticking with it for the next Battlefield game.

In Battlefield 6, or whatever the new game is called, DICE said it will allow for "fully customizable weapon loadouts" that give players the "freedom to play the way [they] want."

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After teasing an upcoming collaboration recently, Capcom has now revealed a special collaboration between Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6. Akuma will be added to the game on May 28, alongside a Blanka-Chan outfit for your Palico.

While Akuma and Blanka-Chan will be free for all players, you'll also have the option of adding Chun-Li and Cammy outfits to your MH Wilds experience as paid DLC on the same date. There are also brief teasers of weapon charms and emotes featuring various Street Fighter characters.

The Akuma full armor set will turn your character into the combat demon. In a trailer revealing the collaboration, Street Fighter-style graphics and narration can be heard, and although we're not certain that this will appear if you fell a monster as Akuma, it would be a great touch for fans of the franchise.

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Elgato Stream Deck Module

$150

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Elgato is introducing Stream Deck modules, the MK.2 Stream Deck, and new Virtual Stream Deck software. The Elgato Stream Deck, as the name suggests, was initially aimed at streamers as a way to quickly do things like manipulate on-screen stream elements without having to interrupt your stream by going to a separate app. Instead, a number of programmable buttons on the interface can be bound to certain apps, keybinds, and commands to achieve quick results, such as changing stream scenes or sending your audience to another creator's stream in a raid. It turns out, though, that there are lots of uses for such an idea.

Elgato's developer-friendly platform has long supported letting anyone do just about anything with a Stream Deck, but now it is looking to blow out that experience in a big way with its newest showings at Computex, the annual computing convention held in Taipei, Taiwan.

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Developer Neowiz has announced plans to add difficulty options to Lies of P in its upcoming Overture expansion. The studio says that this will allow the souls-like game to appeal to a wider audience, and the decision was also partly influenced by player feedback.

"We wanted to make sure a wider audience of players could play the game," game director Jiwon Choi said to VGC. "So by making development adjustments and introducing these difficulty options, we can offer the experience to different types of players. This broadens the base."

Once the update goes live alongside the Overture expansion, you will get to choose from two new gameplay difficulty options, Butterfly's Guidance and Awakened Puppet. The default difficulty level will be renamed to "Legendary Stalker" in the upcoming patch. For those of you looking for a greater challenge, will be able to take part in a boss rush mode that has several tiers of escalating difficulty. Additionally, the new Death March mode is a gauntlet of boss fights where your health and inventory will be more limited.

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Last year at the Roblox Developers Conference, The Roblox Corporation laid out its grand plans for the platform and unveiled its revamped revenue-sharing plans for developers who make premium experiences using its game creation tools. One of those games, Grow a Garden, has broken from the pack and become such a monster hit that it's drawing bigger numbers than most of the top games on Steam.

Grow a Garden was released on March 25, and since that time it has had 1.9 billion visits, and over 1 million favorites. According to Kotaku, Grow a Garden's concurrent player record is 5 million active users. At the time of writing, Grow a Garden is massively outperforming some of the biggest Roblox games of all time, including Dress to Impress, Blox Fruits, and Adopt Me, according to a Reddit post showing top concurrent players. The identity of Grow a Garden's teenage creator has not been disclosed, but management of the game has been taken over by a studio called Splitting Point.

Creating monstrous crops in Grow a Garden

The gameplay is relatively simple, as players are able to purchase seeds for their farm and let them grow to ridiculous sizes before harvesting and selling them for profit. Even the game's animals, or pets, can take on gigantic proportions, and come with unique abilities to buff the productivity of your garden. It's easy to see why so many are hooked on the gameplay loop.

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Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time has a section we've found in the Weird Tablet that allows for redeeming gift codes and passwords to earn free rewards. Whether you're running short on HP Potions, or just want a few more Pumpkin Flan in your inventory, we've got you covered with our full list of all the new Fantasy Life i codes.

All active Fantasy Life i codes

There are currently no working Fantasy Life i codes.

While a datamined list of codes became available shortly before the public release, it seems these codes have now been deactivated. However, the appearance of the option in the menu shows that there will certainly be codes added for free rewards in the future, so we'll be sure to update this guide as soon as that happens.

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A bad Necromancer has placed you in his mysterious Magic Realm. Because of that few Magic Hands started to follow you. They are able to cast powerful spells. Find items to make them stronger and free yourself! An Amazing Wizard is a 2D fast-paced, metroidvania inspired roguelite. Explore procedurally generated levels with over 250 Artifacts, more than 100 Spells and dozens of Magic Weapons to unlock and use. After every death you will respawn in one of the four nature-inspired magical worlds.