Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is, in Dominic’s own words, “merely okay.” I haven’t played it myself, so I can’t comment there, the general consensus seems to be in agreement on that point however. The Chinese Room are working on turning that around at least! Today they released a new patch for the RPG, containing a bunch of fixes, and offered up a small roadmap of improvements and DLC to come.
Majima magic.
It only feels like yesterday that Yakuza Kiwami finally made its way onto the Switch, and yet here we are with a beefed-up Switch 2 version. This new release is effectively the same game, but Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have taken advantage of the newer console’s specs for a much smoother, crisper experience.
Crucially, the frame rate has been greatly improved here, sticking to 60fps that (to my eyes, at least) never falters. It makes exploring Kamurocho all the more enjoyable, and even the busiest scraps with Yakuza thugs run smoothly. The resolution has been bumped up considerably in docked and handheld, bringing it more in line with launch title Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut. It looks wonderful.
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We’ve never seen Zombies like this before. Ashes of the Damned is not only the largest Round-Based Zombies map the series has ever seen, but it’s also the culmination of ideas and fan-favorite modes from over the years that have been built for this moment. Like a shambling undead ripping through a boarded-up window looking for their next meal, Black Ops 7 Zombies feels like it’s ready to feast.
From the rural Vandorn Farm to the frontier town of Ashwood, there are an awesome number of thrilling POIs for us to explore. In addition to the several unique modes at launch — Standard, Survival, Cursed, and Dead Ops Arcade 4 — Black Ops 7 Zombies will also be one of the most accessible entries ever; there’s something for everyone, especially once Directed mode arrives in Season 01 to help guide new players through the Main Quest.
In talking again with Treyarch Design Director Kevin Drew (you can read our previous piece about Ol’ Tessie here on Xbox Wire), this starts with the massive Ashes of the Damned map, whose size was directly influenced by the team’s desire to have a new drivable Wonder Vehicle in the game. “That kind of dictates that you need a bigger space,” says Drew. “We also really wanted to sell this idea of the Dark Aether being like a Bermuda Triangle, have things come into this place from various dimensions.”
This direction has led the team to pay homage to the past, with each destination representing a different period and location. “There’s a familiarity with those locations, like Green Run from TranZit, but it has an entirely different place and backstory that’s going to be important for that level and beyond,” adds Drew.
We can also look forward to experiencing a new incarnation of the iconic crew from the early days of Zombies. However, once we meet them, it sounds like they will not exactly be as we once remembered them. “Where they came from is unknown, but from somewhere else, some other dimension. Not from our Earth. And being inside of the Dark Aether, you’re going to see other familiar elements sprinkled in.”
Narratively, it sounds like there will be a lot to unpack for those who have been following the Zombies storylines over the years. “They have a reputation for being incredibly complex,” Drew adds. “I love that, but I like to think that we’ve taken an iceberg approach now since Cold War, where at the peak, at just a glance, it’s a simple story. Like in Black Ops 6 Zombies, you’re getting revenge for the person who imprisoned you. In Black Ops 7 Zombies you’re now trapped in this other dimension trying to escape. For a new player, that’s really all you need to know. But obviously, you can go look below the water and see there’s more to discover.”
Working alongside the Creative Director, who makes a lot of calls with what path the game’s story will take, Drew is also there to point out opportunities and suggestions as they arise, like resurrecting lost ideas or characters and giving them new life. But it’s not just him. Drew makes it a point to call out the community — it’s the fans who have helped guide a lot of this unique story over the years.
“Zombies is such a unique mode, and the gaming landscape is historically shaped by the fans. We’ll put things out there and see what resonates and what people are looking for, combining that with some stories that we want to tell. For example, we have a brand-new antagonist (in Black Ops 7 Zombies) and just being inside the Dark Aether there will be all sorts of new lore to explore.”
Part of that landscape evolution is the Cursed mode, which has been designed to be a more challenging experience for advanced players. In this mode, players can discover and activate Relics to face even harder challenges in exchange for new levels of power and rewards. These Relics work as significant debuffs to increase the challenge in a Cursed match, with nine to uncover across Ashes of the Damned. The more potent the Relic, the greater the challenge you’ll face. Which in turn means the more potent the Relic, the greater your Tier power becomes.
“Looking back at our most dedicated audience, it’s like, what are they looking for? They’re looking for a challenge. They’re looking for Easter eggs. So, we built an entire mode with them in mind,” says Drew. “I’m really excited about Cursed. It’s something that we’ve been thinking about for several years. It’s all about being extremely difficult, and that’s okay now because you’re opting in for that. Players can choose how they want to make the mode more difficult, which I think is really cool. And we’ll be continuing to release additional Relics throughout the seasons so that toy box will just grow for those players.”
Dead Ops Arcade is also getting some added love in Black Ops 7 Zombies. It’s no longer a mode that you must unearth on your adventure, as it will be available for you right from the game’s menu. “It is a huge mode and it is part of the family. We want to make sure people see this. It’s a massive experience that could be its own game,” adds Drew.
With 80 levels and more than 20 arenas, coupled with outrageous firepower, Dead Ops Arcade 4 will have you unleash the hurt against the Silverback clan’s armies and their vengeful new patriarch, Papaback. And for the first time, DOA embraces Round-Based Zombies mechanics with Ammo Mods, Field Upgrades, and GobbleGums, all tailored to enhance your Dead Ops Arcade experience. Also, both top-down and first-person camera options are supported, letting you switch perspectives without losing pace. Best of all, every DOA run contributes to shared progression, earning XP that advances your player level across Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone. “Leveraging a lot of our enemy types, seeing those and even fighting them in a different way has been really cool,” says Drew. “It feels like a cohesive and massive offering, which is great.”
And with launch approaching soon on November 14, I was curious to know if Drew could shed some light on what we can look forward to down the road. “You’re not going to know what to expect. Looking at our lineup this year, each map is going to bring something different to the table. And that is going to be a lot of fun for fans to experience with extra layers of things to uncover.”
With an awesome Wonder Vehicle to drive around, many compelling locations to explore, and what sounds like a tremendous number of surprises hiding within the Dark Aether, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies is shaping up to slay starting November 14.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches November 14, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Cloud, Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. It is an Xbox Play Anywhere title and available day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Activision Publishing Inc.
– Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty®: Warzone
*:
— Reznov Challenge Pack – unlock the SOG Reznov Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins
— Guild Override Weapon Camo – unlock the Guild Override dynamic Weapon Camo
The Vault Edition includes:
– Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7
— Includes Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox PC versions of the game
– BlackCell (1 Season)**
— Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more
– Operator Collection
— 4 Operator Skins: Harper, Karma, T.E.D.D. and Reaper EWR-3
– Mastercraft Collection
— 5 Mastercraft Weapons
– Ultra GobbleGum Pack for Zombies
— 8 GobbleGums of Ultra rarity for Black Ops 7
– Permanent Unlock Token for Black Ops 7 (available at launch)
In Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever.
The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite team on a covert mission to the sprawling city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts.
Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience.
Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.
In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape.
Game requires a Game Pass Core subscription (sold separately).
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm.
*Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by November 14th, 2026.
**BlackCell, Battle Pass, Call of Duty® Points and Tier Skips will be accessible in Black Ops 7 upon availability of the Season 1 Battle Pass in-game. Redemption applies to one Season of the Black Ops 7 Battle Pass only.
Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate.
Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Black Ops 7.
Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.
Activision Publishing Inc.
– BlackCell (1 Season)**
— Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more
– Operator Collection
— 4 Operator Skins: Harper, Karma, T.E.D.D. and Reaper EWR-3
– Mastercraft Collection
— 5 Mastercraft Weapons
– Ultra GobbleGum Pack for Zombies
— 8 GobbleGums of Ultra rarity for Black Ops 7
– Permanent Unlock Token for Black Ops 7 (available at launch)
*Requires existing ownership of the digital version of the Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Cross-Gen Bundle on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC (sold separately), or active subscription to select Game Pass plans (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console).
**BlackCell, Battle Pass, Call of Duty® Points and Tier Skips will be accessible in Black Ops 7 upon availability of the Season 1 Battle Pass in-game. Redemption applies to one Season of the Black Ops 7 Battle Pass only.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.
Activision Publishing Inc.
– Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty®: Warzone**:
— Reznov Challenge Pack – unlock the SOG Reznov Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins
— Guild Override Weapon Camo – unlock the Guild Override dynamic Weapon Camo
Includes:
– Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7
— Includes Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox PC versions of the game
In Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever.
The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite JSOC team on a covert mission to the sprawling Mediterranean city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts.
Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Take on high-stakes challenges across a wide spectrum of environments, from the neon-lit rooftops of Japan to the Mediterranean coast, and even into the deepest corners of the human psyche.
Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. From futuristic Tokyo vistas to the frozen, unforgiving wilds of Alaska, every environment is brimming with danger and opportunity. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.
In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape. This isn’t just survival. It’s a descent into madness.
Game requires a Game Pass Core subscription (sold separately).
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm.
*Requires active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console. Subscribers must login to Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC by November 14, 2025 to redeem the Reznov Challenge Pack and Guild Override Weapon Camo.
**Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by November 14th, 2026.
Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate.
Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Black Ops 7.
Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.
The post Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies Is Tapping Into Its Past to Guide Its Future appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Five years ago, in November 2020, PlayStation 5 marked a new era of speed, immersion, and creativity. As we celebrate its fifth anniversary, we’re looking back at how PS5 has evolved – year by year – through system software updates, new accessories, and community milestones that continue to redefine play.
The PS5’s launch in November 2020 redefined what a console could do. Powered by an ultra-high-speed SSD, immersive 3D Audio, and the innovative DualSense wireless controller, PS5 introduced a new generation of immersion never felt before in gaming.
As the PS5 player base grew, so did the platform’s capabilities. 2021 focused on updates that expanded social connectivity and storage options:
In 2022, PS5 evolved further to deliver a richer and more personalized play experience.
2023 was a year of more breakthrough hardware and innovation.
In 2024, PS5 deepened community connection and personalization.
Happy 5th Anniversary, PS5! As we celebrate five years of the amazing journey, the numbers tell the story:
Five years on, the PS5 platform continues to evolve and connect more players than ever. From the day it launched to today, PS5 has redefined what play can mean for creators and the community alike.
Here’s to five incredible years of play – and to the millions of players who made them unforgettable!
*All figures are based on internal data collected as of September 2025.
November’s list of PlayStation Plus Game Catalog titles has been confirmed by Sony and, as expected, it includes a welcome return for Grand Theft Auto 5.
Just in case you’re one of the few people that doesn’t already own Rockstar’s open-world epic already, the game is once again part of PlayStation Plus for the month of November. It’s a timely addition, too, and almost like publisher Take-Two knew it was about to once again delay Grand Theft Auto 6, which will now launch on November 19, 2026.
A bumper month of other additions also includes enjoyably creepy Scottish oil rig horror game Still Wakes the Deep, made by Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture studio The Chinese Room, and the critically-acclaimed first-person automobile-based survival game Pacific Drive.
Also included are brain-teasing first-person puzzler The Talos Principle 2, and delightfully British comedy platformer Thank Goodness You’re Here! Both of those are well worth a look. Other titles this month include multiplayer shooter Insurgency: Sandstorm, arcade truck demolisher Monster Jam Showdown, and yet more cars in MotoGP 25.
If you’re a PlayStation Plus Premium subscriber, you’ll also gain access to the Tomb Raider: Anniversary collection, which emulates the PS2 version of the original Tomb Raider title. Here’s the full list of everything available:
PlayStation Plus Extra:
PlayStation Plus Premium:
So, anything take your fancy?
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
With as young a medium as games is (and it is young, as old as we all might feel), it’s no surprise that it would burgeon new genres, and that said genres would be called into question. Metroidvanias! That’s a potentially silly one, with a common argument being that it tells you nothing about the genre itself. I prefer Japan’s search action as a name myself, though I am but one humble games journalist. A genre I hadn’t called into question until today, however, is extraction shooter, a name that a former Bungie lead apparently disliked so much he tried to get the studio’s marketing team to make something else up for Marathon.
Battlefield Studios is telling Battlefield 6 players to “keep your ear to the ground” when it comes to a battle royale solo queue option for REDSEC.
We spoke with the Battlefield team to learn more about REDSEC and its battle royale, Gauntlet, and Portal modes earlier this week. During our chat, we asked if solo battle royale fans will ever be able to drop into Fort Lyndon without grouping up with others. Design director Justin Wiebe stopped short of confirming whether additional queue options are on the way, but he does want fans to know the BF Studios team is listening.
“I would say keep your ear to the ground on the future of solos,” Wiebe told us.
Battlefield REDSEC was met with a review-bombing campaign upon its launch late last month as disgruntled Battlefield 6 players gathered to ask for various changes, including a solo battle royale queue. It’s true the Battlefield battle royale offshoot launched without an option for single-player-minded fans, but Wiebe says adding solos into a squad-based shooter isn’t as easy as it seems.
“In my mind, that’s not something you just turn on and just say, ‘OK, solos,’” he said. “There needs to be enough thought put into it because we built a squad-based experience. At its foundation, the game was designed for squads to play together, with each of them having tactical abilities and options, and training paths that unlock new perks. A lot of those perks are very oriented towards helping the squad, not helping the individual.”
Wiebe continued: “If we were just to throw that out and say, ‘Well, now you can just play solos, and you’re unlocking these abilities that don’t even matter to you,’ that feels like a fail.”
Battlefield 6 and REDSEC are designed around four primary classes: Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon. Aside from a few tweaks between some modes, each can bring everything from quick revives to vehicle repairs to a gunfight. Even vehicles themselves are typically in better care with more than one player behind the wheel.
These are the kinds of mechanics BF Studios is considering when holding off on solos for battle royale in REDSEC. Still, it sounds like the option is far from off the table. Should players be allowed to queue up without teammates in battle royale, Wiebe tells fans they would need to launch “with the right abilities and training paths.”
“If we were going to launch something like solos,” he added, “we want to do it in a way that makes sense for players, that actually takes the mechanics and makes them work for making solos play better.”
Battlefield 6 launched October 10 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S. REDSEC followed closely behind with its launch for the same platforms arriving October 28, just weeks later. Despite initial review-bombing efforts bringing the free-to-play branch down to “Mostly Negative” Steam ratings, it has since bounced back slightly, now sitting at “Mixed” across the board.
We gave REDSEC a 7/10. In our review, we said, “Battlefield REDSEC offers an uninspired battle royale mode that dilutes what makes Battlefield 6’s regular multiplayer so much fun, but its Gauntlet option instead concentrates that formula into one of the coolest game modes I’ve seen from a military shooter.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Back in my university days, a few friends and I played Yulgang Online, also known as Scions of Fate. An early 2000s Korean MMORPG with a Chinese martial arts theme, Yulgang was one of dozens of free MMOs we dabbled in. While we never got beyond the “kill X number of things to level up” grind, it was novel to run around in a wuxia-themed world, which was a rarity in localised-into-English PC gaming back then.
If playing through Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater this year had you itching to revisit the original, now’s your chance to do so (if you don’t already own it) at a discounted price.
Early Black Friday sales have arrived, and among Best Buy‘s is an excellent deal on the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 for PS5 and Nintendo Switch that’s dropped it down to just $19.99.
This discount saves you $20 on its usual price of $39.99, so if you’ve had this collection in your sights, now is the time to make your move on it.
Unfortunately, the Xbox Series X version appears to be sold out at Best Buy right now, but we’re keeping an eye on it to see if it comes back in stock as we get closer to Black Friday’s official kick-off. For PS5 and Switch owners, though, you’re in for a real treat with this collection.
Not only will you get Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, but you’ll get its predecessors – Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty – as well.
That’s not all, though. It also comes with Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2, Metal Gear (NES/FC version), and Snake’s Revenge, alongside some bonuses like a screenplay book and master book of the stories and characters to dig into.
Black Friday is only a couple of weeks away now, so we’re keeping an eye out for even more video game deals like this one that pop up in the lead-up to it.
If you’re curious when the sale event officially starts, and which retailers will be joining in on the fun this year, check out our full breakdown of Black Friday 2025 to learn more about this year’s sale.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
Doings are afoot in the retrofuture scrapmetal world of Arc Raiders. Developers Embark have announced that a major new update called North Line will roll out tomorrow, 13th November at 1.30am PT, 4.30am ET, 9.30am GMT and 10.30am CET. It’ll add Stella Montis, a region beyond the Rust Belt that is described as “cold, pristine, and filled with the remnants of humanity’s lost ambitions.” I am picturing a landscape awash with Betamax cassettes, Bored Apes and Soviet space shuttles, where Raiders pick through old branches of Toys R Us.
