Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! The whole reason The Witcher 2 goes off in a decidedly more political direction is because someone high up at developer CD Projekt Red wanted the first Witcher to have one more final ending cutscene and chose to have one made without much involvement from the studio's narrative team, according to original lead story designer Artur Ganszyniec. We usually wouldn't do spoiler warnings for nearly 20-year-old games, but because there's a remake of the first game happening, it's worth confirming that we are about to discuss pretty big story details from the end of The Witcher 1 through the beginning of The Witcher 2. If you want to dive into the series completely fresh, maybe turn back. The Witcher 1 lead story designer's first playthrough in "almost 20 years" has must-watch commentary ahead of the remake "Absolute idiocy" killed The Witcher game that never was, but OG dev is happy CD Projekt Red landed the series instead The Witcher 4 story director says Cyberpunk 2077 showcases his love of "inevitable mistakes" and "character flaws" "That's where we wanted the game to end, like with an open question and open future. But while we were finishing the game, someone decided, like the board decided or [Michał Kiciński, CD Projekt Red co-founder], that we needed an animated outro of the game," said Ganszyniec. Based on the fantasy novel series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowsk, The Witcher series has always had political intrigue bubbling beneath the surface from the first game, but it wasn't a driving force for the plot until the second game, when Geralt is framed for regicide. Apparently, the final scene of The Witcher 1 where Geralt fights off Foltest's would-be assassin wasn't the intended original ending, and set the story off on a completely different course that's much less intimate than the first game. "The script for what we are seeing now, for this animation, it was created not really involving the story team. So we weren't really paying attention and that was a mistake, I think. Because this animation tells a different story than the outro pictures, because Geralt is still in Vizima, and he's deep, deep into a political intrigue because someone is trying to kill Foltest," said Ganszyniec. "There's someone, as you will see, is a Witcher, and soon after that it became evident that the next game will have to follow up on this and tell a story about Witchers who are killing kings for some reason. And that's why the second Witcher is very political, and there's not really room for exploring who Geralt is, his family, his history, and stuff like this." The Witcher remake was announced back in 2022 as a full-blown, ground-up redoing of the first game in the series, being made in Unreal Engine 5 by external studio Fool's Theory, which has previously provided development support for RPG greats like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2. There's no release date just yet. Meanwhile, here's everything we know about The Witcher 4.

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! The first Legend of Zelda is about to turn 40, and as someone who owns many of the best retro consoles, new and old, I've got plenty of ways to revisit Hyrule. Gatekeepers will tell you that the only real way to play is on an NES, and purists will suggest even getting hold of a Nintendo Famicom Disc System to play the original. Yet, while I do have that add-on sitting pretty under Ninty's Japanese console, I keep finding myself using the Game and Watch from five years ago. This isn't my first rodeo speaking about the Zelda Game and Watch remake from 2021 on the internet. It probably also won't be my last since it's almost everything I'd want from a Game Boy Classic Edition. However, bringing back up what could be the best retro handheld for playing Link's first outing ahead of the 40th anniversary feels right, especially since it might eventually vanish online. You see, while the Zelda Game and Watch is still available for $69.95 at Amazon, it's technically discontinued. Whenever I see the handheld homage still sitting pretty at retailers, it always catches me off guard since it feels like an ideal collectible for a cross-generation of fans. That said, it has crept up in price since I last highlighted its surprisingly availability, and we're also currently down to just one listing. The Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is neat and all, but I'd still recommend playing the PS1 original on original hardware Roses are red, this retro handheld is blue, and I'll be using it this Valentine's Day to play Street Fighter 2 Forget another Ocarina of Time remake – Nintendo needs to get weird with Zelda's 40th anniversary The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch | $69.95 at AmazonThis collectable Zelda-themed Game and Watch handheld is now more expensive, but that's thanks to the fact that it's discontinued. While paying under $50 is preferable, picking it up now before it potentially sells out during the series' 40th Anniversary and becomes an expensive collector's item might be wise. It's still available direct from Nintendo in the UK, though, so you know what to do if you're in the right region.UK: £44.99 at NintendoView Deal The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch | $69.95 at AmazonThis collectable Zelda-themed Game and Watch handheld is now more expensive, but that's thanks to the fact that it's discontinued. While paying under $50 is preferable, picking it up now before it potentially sells out during the series' 40th Anniversary and becomes an expensive collector's item might be wise. It's still available direct from Nintendo in the UK, though, so you know what to do if you're in the right region.UK: £44.99 at NintendoView Deal The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch | $69.95 at AmazonThis collectable Zelda-themed Game and Watch handheld is now more expensive, but that's thanks to the fact that it's discontinued. While paying under $50 is preferable, picking it up now before it potentially sells out during the series' 40th Anniversary and becomes an expensive collector's item might be wise. It's still available direct from Nintendo in the UK, though, so you know what to do if you're in the right region.UK: £44.99 at NintendoView Deal The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch | $69.95 at AmazonThis collectable Zelda-themed Game and Watch handheld is now more expensive, but that's thanks to the fact that it's discontinued. While paying under $50 is preferable, picking it up now before it potentially sells out during the series' 40th Anniversary and becomes an expensive collector's item might be wise. It's still available direct from Nintendo in the UK, though, so you know what to do if you're in the right region.UK: £44.99 at NintendoView Deal The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch | $69.95 at AmazonThis collectable Zelda-themed Game and Watch handheld is now more expensive, but that's thanks to the fact that it's discontinued. While paying under $50 is preferable, picking it up now before it potentially sells out during the series' 40th Anniversary and becomes an expensive collector's item might be wise. It's still available direct from Nintendo in the UK, though, so you know what to do if you're in the right region.UK: £44.99 at Nintendo The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch | $69.95 at AmazonThis collectable Zelda-themed Game and Watch handheld is now more expensive, but that's thanks to the fact that it's discontinued. While paying under $50 is preferable, picking it up now before it potentially sells out during the series' 40th Anniversary and becomes an expensive collector's item might be wise. It's still available direct from Nintendo in the UK, though, so you know what to do if you're in the right region.UK: £44.99 at Nintendo The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch | $69.95 at AmazonThis collectable Zelda-themed Game and Watch handheld is now more expensive, but that's thanks to the fact that it's discontinued. While paying under $50 is preferable, picking it up now before it potentially sells out during the series' 40th Anniversary and becomes an expensive collector's item might be wise. It's still available direct from Nintendo in the UK, though, so you know what to do if you're in the right region.UK: £44.99 at Nintendo The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch | $69.95 at AmazonThis collectable Zelda-themed Game and Watch handheld is now more expensive, but that's thanks to the fact that it's discontinued. While paying under $50 is preferable, picking it up now before it potentially sells out during the series' 40th Anniversary and becomes an expensive collector's item might be wise. It's still available direct from Nintendo in the UK, though, so you know what to do if you're in the right region. UK: £44.99 at Nintendo View Deal View Deal View Deal I'll admit, I'm not too happy that the Zelda Game and Watch now costs just under $70. Yes, it's still cheaper than some Switch 2 games, but it's a harder pitch since you can play the first Legend of Zelda, Adventure of Link, and Link's Awakening as part of the Online Expansion Pack. If you've just subscribed to gain access to the new Virtual Boy collection, forking out for a handheld just for those games may feel dumb as a box of Octoroks, but it is still my way to play out of the two. For starters, the Game and Watch is probably one of the most travel-friendly handhelds out there. The original was designed before the Game Boy and its massive, clunky rivals were a thing, and it was arguably a better portable in terms of pocketability. This thing is going to slide into even the smallest pockets, making it a fantastic way to play some of Ninty's adventures, no matter where you are. The Zelda Game and Watch, specifically, is a pretty accurate tribute to the '80s handhelds, but it borrows the best elements from various versions. For instance, rather than featuring the same dual-screen design as the OG Zelda portable that later inspired the Nintendo DS, it sticks with the slimmer rectangle design of the very first "Ball" version. It then adds back in the iconic d-pad and two rubber buttons alongside some utility toggles like game, time, pause, start, and reset without adding any bulk, culminating in a really tidy 2.36-inch package. Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Phil Hayton) Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Phil Hayton) Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) It very much looks like an '80s relic at a glance, but upon pushing that right side power button, you're in for a surprising visual treat. The 320 x 240 LCD screen on the Zelda Game and Watch is superb, given that it originally retailed for $49.99 / £44.99, providing vibrant, bright pixels while still looking sharp despite its resolution. Sticking with 2.36 inches really gives the portable a helping hand in this regard, but it's still a solid screen that dodges the tropes of light bleed and ghosting tied to many cheaper handhelds. Aesthetically, the Zelda Game and Watch is pretty spectacular, too. It somehow manages to hit all the right notes in honoring Nintendo's first handheld, but little touches like the glowing Triforce logo around back really make me feel fuzzy inside. I also highly appreciate that it manages to squeeze USB-C charging and a 525 mAh battery into a 0.5 inch shell, especially since it can last over a year on a single charge while in standby. Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Phil Hayton) Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Phil Hayton) Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Phil Hayton) Before I get too mushy about this Zelda handheld, I do have gripes with its approach. For starters, I feel like it could have included a few more games, as three adventures feels a little stingy. You are at least getting two NES classics and what many consider to be the greatest Game Boy game of all in Link's Awakening, but I'd have personally paid slightly more than the original MSRP for extras like A Link to the Past or even Oracle of Seasons/Ages. Of course, the reason for the limited game selection is the fact that it's rocking just 4MB flash storage, which feels bizarre in an age where the best gaming handhelds have more than 250,000 times more space. But choosing specific components is likely why we got the portable at a cheap price point in the first place, and if Nintendo really wanted to aim higher in terms of specs, it would have probably just released a Game Boy Mini. The rest of my bugbears with the Game and Watch are pretty minor. I'm still not sure how I feel about the authentic rubber A and B buttons, but I would have probably preferred them to match the NES/Famicom controller. Given its name and included cardboard stand, it's also pretty silly that it's missing alarm clock functionality, but that aside, this handheld is one of my favorite ways to play the first Legend of Zelda, even if I do have a million other versions at my disposal. More retro handhelds at Amazon More retro consoles at Amazon Using Valve's handheld for the classics? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck docks to expand your setup and add-ons.

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Super Mario 64 speedrunning was declared "dead" on November 17, 2024, when a runner who goes by Suigi managed to claim the world record in all of the game's five major categories. It was a legendary achievement, and despite the usual warnings that no world record scene ever truly dies, nobody has managed to topple any of Suigi's records. That's why the runner himself is now spearheading a multi-thousand-dollar bounty to try to bring the scene back to life. Super Mario 64 speedruns are spread out across a variety of categories, mostly based on the number of stars you collect before beating the final boss. Suigi has held the record in all five major categories – 120 Star, 70 Star, 16 Star, 1 Star, and 0 Star – since 2024, and while there have been some new times set in that span, they've all come from Suigi himself. Other runners have come close, but no name has replaced Suigi's at the top of any of these leaderboards. Super Mario 64 speedrunner sets wild new world record following groundbreaking hack: beating the game with one star on a drum kit New speedrun discovery "will change Super Mario 64 forever" by making "one of the hardest tricks in the entire game" completely trivial to pull off Modder puts Super Mario 64 on PS2, hacks in co-op, and adds online multiplayer with the N64 version To that end, Suigi put $1,000 on the line as a bounty to entice the runner who might finally beat one of his five world records. He's also soliciting donations from other runners and community members to sweeten the pot up to a maximum of $10,000 – and with the bounty already totalling $7,944, it seems likely that it'll hit that five-digit mark before all is said and done. However high the bounty total goes, it'll be awarded to the first player to beat any of the five records on real N64 hardware – aside from Suigi himself, of course. He's actually already gotten a new world record in the 70 Star category, but has kindly barred himself from competing for the cash prize. "THE $7000 DOLLAR 70 STAR WORLD RECORD…" he laments in an all-caps Bluesky post. "IF ONLY I WAS ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM MY OWN BOUNTY." You get two guesses as to what's on the top of our list of the best N64 games.

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Beloved 2003 wrestling game WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain doesn't have a single guide, and one fan is determined to change that. When the question "What's the best wrestling game ever made?" comes up, you'll typically be given two answers: the N64's WWF No Mercy or the PS2's WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain. And while I'm personally in the WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006 camp, it's undeniable that Here Comes The Pain is an all-timer – it's not like there are any other wrestling games that let you jump off a helicopter onto your opponent. CM Punk fan in disbelief as WWE 2K26 immortalizes the bracelet she gave the superstar 2 years ago: "WHAT IS MY LIFE" The best WWE 2K25 CAWs you have to download right now WWE 2K25 MyFaction tips for unlocking Oddities, Persona cards and MFP I've noticed that even though WWE Smackdown Here Comes The Pain will be 23 years old this year that there is no storyline guide for season mode anywhere.I'm going to write one up on here, in detail and then one will finally exist!23 years too long! But better late than never.February 16, 2026 I've noticed that even though WWE Smackdown Here Comes The Pain will be 23 years old this year that there is no storyline guide for season mode anywhere.I'm going to write one up on here, in detail and then one will finally exist!23 years too long! But better late than never.February 16, 2026 I've noticed that even though WWE Smackdown Here Comes The Pain will be 23 years old this year that there is no storyline guide for season mode anywhere.I'm going to write one up on here, in detail and then one will finally exist!23 years too long! But better late than never.February 16, 2026 Over the course of one day, ThisGenGaming published four in-depth guides on Twitter covering Smackdown's season modes from April until November, going over recommended choices, storylines, and secrets you can find in the game, which can even depend on how popular your chosen wrestler is. ThisGenGaming also confirmed that they will write detailed guides for Smackdown's December to March seasons later today, and they plan to post all the information in a text-only format. So in the span of one day and some change, we've gone from no guides for one of the best wrestling games ever to having an expansive multi-part epic. You won't see this kind of dedication for some of the more mid entries like 2K18, that's for sure. CM Punk fan in disbelief as WWE 2K26 immortalizes the bracelet she gave the superstar 2 years ago: "WHAT IS MY LIFE."

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! You can now count "using the game engine Godot" among the many things generative AI doesn't know how to do, along with fry an egg and mean the words "I love you." It's really stressing out the engine's project maintainer and co-founder of W4 Games, which helps support and finance Godot, Rémi Verschelde. In a Bluesky thread (spotted by Game Developer), Verschelde expresses his frustration with nonsensical pull requests – a GitHub feature that lets you formally ask for changes to a project folder, or repository – he says are clearly "AI slop." "Honestly, AI slop PRs are becoming increasingly draining and demoralizing for #Godot maintainers," the manager says in response to developers using AI to code, a trend Hidden Folks game director Adriaan de Jongh calls "a total shitshow." Peak devs rebut claim their award-nominated multiplayer game uses AI: "We might be slop, but we're human-made locally-sourced artisanal slop" As other devs commit to AI as a development tool, Ubisoft is doubling down on "player-facing generative AI" "If we're publishing the game, 'no f***ing AI assets'": Strategy and city builder powerhouse Hooded Horse bans AI art "Godot's GitHub has increasingly many pull requests generated by LLMs and it's a MASSIVE time waster for reviewers – especially if people don't disclose it," de Jongh says. "Changes often make no sense, descriptions are extremely verbose, users don't understand their own changes…" Verschelde agrees with firsthand experience, saying maintainers "find ourselves having to second guess every PR from new contributors, multiple times per day: The description is verbose LLM output, is the code written at least partially by a human? Does the 'author' understand the code they're sending? Did they test it? Are the test results made up?" But, hey, good luck to all the major developers like Ubisoft committing to "player-facing generative AI." It seems like a good idea if you want to ruin a game engine maintainer's day. Ubisoft CEO says AI will make open-world games "your world" with fewer "pre-scripted things," and screw it, maybe for Assassin's Creed an AI Socrates that will definitely give you a historically accurate philosophy lesson maybe.

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! As World of Warcraft moves further into a new era with the launch of Midnight, the second act of the Worldsoul Saga, this year, there's a growing desire for more options to make your characters feel unique. On the back of housing, Blizzard's keen to up the level of customization across all the races, though it's not a going concern at present. Chatting to Windows Central, Maria Hamilton, the design director of World of Warcraft, reveals it's something the team discusses, but no concrete plan has been decided. "We don't have a roadmap just yet," she says. "We've taken runs at it from time to time, and we know players love it. But now we're looking at it as a sort of larger project, rather than drops here and there like we did with Heritage Armor." She doubles down by adding, "it's not soon," and Jay Hwang, principal artist on the MMORPG, points to the transmog system – whereby equipment can be visually altered – as an example of the studio inching in this direction. "That's why we've been investing in things like housing, which aren't player power related, and focused more on avenues of expression," he states. "So, in the future, maybe goblins will get more ears and noses for you. These are things we're definitely interested in for ourselves, too." World of Warcraft lead sometimes wishes Blizzard "hadn't called it Warcraft" because "it sounds intimidating" World of Warcraft lead says Blizzard has "a bigger vision" than simply just being an MMORPG Blizzard isn't "walking back" axing of World of Warcraft add-ons: "Our goal was never to stamp out the addon ecosystem" But it's always important to remember, World of Warcraft is now 20 years old, and that means the inner-workings of Azeroth are a deeply knotted structure. Implementing more of, well, anything, involves a lot of testing and massaging to make sure it all sits right. "We have abilities and toys in the game that can change the way something looks; we can attach audio and visual effects," Hamilton comments. "There's, over the years, been an astonishing bunch of different things overlapping, and none of it is part of a consolidated system." Staring down the release of one major expansion, with the big third act, The Lost Titan, due after, forces prioritization, and customizable bits and bobs don't enter the equation just now. "Adding and improving animations have come up more than you might imagine," she says. "People want animations that are appropriate to the role they're playing. How could we integrate that? It's all part of a larger project for the future." World of Warcraft lead sometimes wishes Blizzard "hadn't called it Warcraft" because "it sounds intimidating," admits the MMO's executive producer and VP

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Nearly a year has passed since Bethesda Game Studios released its long-awaited remake, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, but the RPG's players are still engaging in their usual shenanigans – like, uh, trying to steal a certain set of armor. A fan known online as "Scylax_Vitarrn" first made rounds online after taking to Reddit with a series of hilarious threads in which they follow a guard dubbed "Pally" and hope to snag the Imperial Watch Armor for themselves. It's been quite some time since their first post, which went up a whopping 10 months ago now, but Scylax_Vitarrn is still at it. They've managed to hit day 300 now, and it might be the most exciting yet. As the dedicated player details in their most recent thread, "Pally's armor had finally broken, but his spirit stays strong." What does this mean? Why, we can finally see the palace guard that Scylax_Vittarn has been after – or, at least, his face. The attached images are pretty hilarious, with the so-called "Pally" standing in the middle of a graveyard, helmet off and silly Oblivion-esque expression exposed. I think I'm in love, really. Oblivion Remastered's wildest bug made me choose between losing achievements or living as a fugitive This Oblivion Remastered mod adds actual jobs to Bethesda's revamped RPG, in case you're not already sick of working IRL I turned every Oblivion NPC into a sheep and broke the game, but I can only blame myself Day 300 of The Adventures of Pally and Me until I can loot his armor. Pally’s armor had finally broken, but his spirit stays strong. from r/oblivion How did Scylax_Vitarrn manage to expose the guard, though? "He lost his helmet in this latest gate," apparently. No need to fret, however. "Pally can still smile after losing his armor," as the Redditor puts it. "I reassured him that when it's all over, we'll try to fix it. Armor is meant to protect the one wearing it. As long as we have Pally, there won't be anything to stop us. Dagon lost another gate, and soon he'll lose the war." They continue: "We shall remain strong no matter the cost! Remember the Emperor! Hail citizens. 300 days and nearly as many trials for our journey. There may be yet another 300 to go! I hope all of you have enjoyed this journey so far, and please, if you think something is missing or lacking, let me know. If there's anything positive you like, let's hear that too! I want this to be for all of us. Then we can all destroy Dagon in style!" You love to see it, and you love to hear it. The entire Elder Scrolls community is in on this adventure together with Scylx_Vitarrn – although they could just go to Nexus Mods and get the armor they want instantly… but what's the fun in that? Here's everything you need to know about The Elder Scrolls 6 after replaying Oblivion.

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! I ACCIDENTALLY FOUND A SHINY MOLTRES IN POKEMON BLUE TRANSFERING TO CRYSTALTHIS IS THE MOST INSANE SHINY EVER.. pic.twitter.com/cSqFR4wRN5February 17, 2026 I ACCIDENTALLY FOUND A SHINY MOLTRES IN POKEMON BLUE TRANSFERING TO CRYSTALTHIS IS THE MOST INSANE SHINY EVER.. pic.twitter.com/cSqFR4wRN5February 17, 2026 I ACCIDENTALLY FOUND A SHINY MOLTRES IN POKEMON BLUE TRANSFERING TO CRYSTALTHIS IS THE MOST INSANE SHINY EVER.. pic.twitter.com/cSqFR4wRN5February 17, 2026 He then says he transferred the Moltres to Pokemon Crystal where he is collecting a living dex. This is when you try to catch one of every Pokemon in a certain game, as you can't catch all 251 Pokemon in Crystal alone, you have to play other games in the series if you want to catch 'em all Pokemon player spends 5+ years completing one of the weirdest Shiny hunts in history Pokemon archeologist travels 12 hours to reunite a 17-year-old Diamond save file with the player who was forced to sell the barely functional, chewed cartridge after his partner's car wreck All Legendaries in Pokemon Legends ZA and Mega Dimensions DLC Checking the Moltres for the first time in Pokemon Crystal, RaidAway could see that it was, in fact, shiny. In these games, there is a 1/8192 chance that a Pokemon is a different color. How Crystal determines if a monochromatic Pokemon from Red or Blue should be shiny is a bit complicated, so strap in. When a Pokemon spawns in generations 1 and 2, the game randomly generates a number between 0 and 15 for each of its stats. This value is hidden within that 'mons data, and cannot be seen by the player. If it rolls a 10 for its Speed, Defense, and Special stat, and a 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, or 15 for its Attack stat, then it will show up in a generation 2 game as a shiny. So while you can't tell that a Pokemon caught in Red, Blue, or Yellow is shiny by looking at it, you will be able to tell that it's special as soon as you trade it forward to Gold, Silver, or Crystal. As not everyone moves their Pokemon around, it's likely that there are thousands of shiny Pokemon locked away in green-scale cartridges all over the world. By trading it forward, RaidAway has not only become part of a small elite club who has caught a shiny Pokemon in generation 1, but also part of an even smaller, more elite club who has a generation 1 shiny legendary. There is only one of each legendary Pokemon in the first generation of games, and you have to save before trading, meaning you only have one shot per save file. If you want to give another try at catching Moltres, you have to delete your save, start all over, and make it to the last area of the game, Victory Road, in order to earn yourself just one more shot. RaidAway sums it up best in a comment that simply says, "actually in disbelief." Pokemon Pokopia follows Minecraft's lead in featuring persistent private servers with unlimited member caps, but you'll have to "swap in and out" as it only accommodates four at once

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! The long-awaited Chapter 3 update for Dune: Awakening recently arrived, leaving players to explore its fresh content – including the five new daunting testing stations, which they're already managing to clear *checks notes* completely naked…? Yes, that's right. The testing stations, which, for anyone unaware, basically function as the survival MMO's dungeons, are challenging indeed – but not challenging enough to deter fans from taking them on gearless. "LordPizzaSteve," as he so eloquently calls himself on Reddit, is one such person, first tackling Imperial Testing Station No. 152… nude, with only his trusty little shotgun in hand. And, yes, he succeeds. Dune Awakening - Testing Station 152 Naked + Shotty Only from r/duneawakening Steve showcases as much in a post, writing, "For anyone struggling with this dungeon, it is 100% doable without the right gear/abilities (or even clothes). Just spend some time learning the lightning pattern!" Attached is a video that shows him tearing through the testing station's boss, Planetologist Takulki, while swerving every lightning bolt without missing a beat. It's nothing short of impressive – all while in his boxers, too. Dune: Awakening Chapter 3 is the survival MMO's biggest, with a rebuilt Landsraad, new specialization system, and more Dune: Awakening Chapter 3 isn't "going to please everyone," but it's only the start of many changes for the survival MMO Dune: Awakening Chapter 3 promises "better endgame" that makes it easier for lapsed players to return by abolishing tax That's not the end of Steve's nude adventuring, though. He's going on a proper dungeon crawl without any gear, with his most recent thread highlighting how he similarly took on Imperial Testing Station No. 136. "Continuing the 'Naked Only' dungeon series," as the de-clothed mastermind writes. "For anyone struggling with this dungeon, it is 100% doable… Just practice dodging… and you'll be Gucci!" Dune Awakening - Testing Station 136 Naked + Tripleshot Only from r/duneawakening Yep, there's a video, much like there is for 152 – and it's just as commendable. Steve uses a triple-shot rifle this time, flying over every fiery projectile that comes his way and taking no damage. Honestly, he's able to do a better job at this than I am while fully geared up, so, yeah. Here's hoping that Steve hits the other three new testing stations while nude, perhaps with yet another weapon as well. I'm rooting for him, anyway. Dune Awakening devs don't expect to "keep launch player numbers" after Steam player count hit 189,000 then ran off a cliff, but they're trying: "We do hope to get players returning"

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Despite The Witcher being one of the biggest gaming series on the planet now, a majority of the attention is placed on the The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and what's left over gets left to The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, but rarely do I see anyone talk about the original game. And granted, the original is somewhat rough to go back to, with some dated mechanics and overall jank, which is probably why it's getting a remake in the future. But the game's lead story designer may have given people a great reason to return to it now instead of waiting. "Absolute idiocy" killed The Witcher game that never was, but OG dev is happy CD Projekt Red landed the series instead Geralt "dies a lot" in the new Witcher game out next month, a "Witcher fan-fiction simulator" from Dandelion the Bard "Oh my god, I can have a car in the game now": CD Projekt Red was excited to use modern tech in Cyberpunk 2077 Late last week, Ganszyniec finally reached the end of The Witcher and thus the end of his series, calling it "a very satisfying half of the year." The series has shockingly low views considering how popular The Witcher is right now, but those who have watched the entire thing have praised the playthrough, with one commenter saying, "It's been amazing to follow your playthrough and to listen to your insightful commentary." So if you fancied revisiting The Witcher before its remake but don't feel like playing it, this may be the move for you. CDPR welcomes new AI director, who joins The Witcher 4 studio "after 8 years of building memorable RPGs at BioWare."

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! A recurring complaint of Battlefield 6 has been the size of the maps, with the FPS lacking the bigger playgrounds the series is known for. The devs are aware of this, and on the back of Season 2's launch, they're keeping player requests in mind, but it's not a simple creative choice. Phil Girette, a producer on Battlefield 6, explained to TheGamer why it can't be an immediate shift. "We see that feedback, and hear it very loudly," he says. "More maps is, of course, something that we will look more into. But also maps are one of the most time-intensive things that we build. We'll need some more time." He points out, rightly, that Season 2 has two maps, one of which is on the bigger end of the scale. These things are part of what EA and the Battlefield studios want to bring to the shooter, but getting them to standard is, as he suggests, a process. After Battlefield 6 Season 2 delay, lead says devs have "taken a lot of different steps" to prevent more holdups Battlefield 6 Season 2 adding 2 new maps and a pair of limited modes, while the Battle Pass is becoming "more rewarding" Battlefield 6 dev teases new season 2 map and confirms classic Battlefield 4 map Golmud Railway is returning "We need to make sure that the maps hit the quality and match the expectations of what the players want," Girette states. "We're already testing Golmud Railway early on Labs now, so that's a step in the right direction." Indeed, Golmud Railway, a fan-favorite map from Battlefield 4, is getting remade for the current installment. Although it's in playtesting, it might be a while before we actually see it, and understand what changes were made. Nonetheless, it'll bring some of the scale and explosive energy people are clearly yearning for. While it mightn't be everything you'd like from Battlefield 6, Season 2 still has plenty to offer, even if it did arrive slightly late. Two modes, on top of a pair of new maps, should provide ample chaos, while we wait and see what the next major updates have to offer. As Battlefield 6 loses more ground to Arc Raiders after Season 2 delay, lead says devs have "taken a lot of different steps" to prevent more holdups: "We need to make sure those hit as expected."

Xbox has revealed the second batch of Game Pass additions for February. There are quite a few heavyweights in the mix this time, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Let’s start with what’s available today, though. Xbox previously said Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, handheld and PC) would arrive today, while Avowed joins the Game Pass Premium library on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC on the same day it hits PS5. There’s another Game Pass addition today in the form of Aerial_Knight’s DropShot (Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, handheld and PC). I’ve been looking forward to this after digging solo developer Aerial_Knight’s previous games as well as the demo. This is a single-player skydiving FPS in which you’ll have to fend off enemies to grab the only parachute. You’ll use finger guns to take out the competition. Oh, and there are dragons to deal with. Another trio of games joins the lineup on Friday, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition (Game Pass Ultimate and Premium on Cloud and consoles). This version of the classic action RPG includes all the DLC, so it could keep you busy for quite some time. EA Sports College Football 26 (Game Pass Ultimate on Cloud and Xbox Series X/S) arrives on the same day along with the eye-catching Soulslike deckbuilder Death Howl (Game Pass Ultimate and Premium on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, handheld and PC). That was already on PC Game Pass. On February 24 TCG Card Shop Simulator hits Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, handheld and PC in Game Preview on Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass. As the title suggests, here you'll be managing a trading card game store. Dice A Million — a day-one addition to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on PC on February 25 — is an intriguing numbers-go-up game. It's a roguelike deckbuilder in which you'll combine dice with different abilities as well as rings with passive effects as you attempt to roll a million points. February 26 sees the full release of Towerborne, which had been in game preview (and in early access on Steam). Xbox Game Studios is publishing this co-op action RPG from Stoic. Offline play and online co-op will be added along with more story, areas, enemies, progression features and difficulty settings. The full version of Towerborne will be available on Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass across consoles, handheld and PC. Looking a bit further ahead, two high-profile titles are coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC on March 3: Final Fantasy III and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. The latter received several nominations at The Game Awards, including Game of the Year, and it was one of our favorite games of 2025. It follows Kingdom Come Deliverance hitting Game Pass just last week.