Better late than never.
Developer Innersloth has shared a new roadmap for Among Us covering the remainder of 2024, even if a good chunk of the year has already passed.
As you can see, we already got The Fungle, and coming soon the game are “new roles”. Beyond this point, there are plans… “in no particular order” for a better lobby filter, prettier lobby settings, cosmetics, collabs, and a bunch of quality-of-life changes.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
The PlayStation 5 is one of the best gaming systems you can purchase in 2024, but the console is nowhere near cheap. Starting at $399, the PS5 is a purchase you will need to plan for. If you want to play titles like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Stellar Blade, you need to own the system. Beyond games, PS5 is also great for streaming 4K content to your TV. Luckily, you can find some discounts or bundles on PlayStation 5 consoles throughout the year if you know when to look.
Below, we’ve compiled the best times you can buy a PlayStation 5 throughout 2024 and beyond. From holidays to sales events, there are quite a few opportunities to pick up the console. Each retailer offers different deals and discounts, but we’ve outlined the events you need to pay attention to. The best time to buy a PlayStation 5 is when it is discounted or bundled with a free game, so keep these dates in mind to get the best deal possible.
Overall, your best bet to purchase a discounted PlayStation 5 is Black Friday or Cyber Monday. The annual holidays occur just after Thanksgiving in November, with Black Friday 2024 currently set for November 29. This event mainly refers to in-store deals, with major retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target participating. Some of the best PlayStation 5 offers will only be available in stores on Black Friday.
The other major sales event alongside Black Friday is Cyber Monday. This event is set annually on the Monday following Black Friday, which is Monday, December 2 this year. Cyber Monday focuses on electronics and is exclusively available online. Following last year, we expect to see major PlayStation 5 deals on this day.
Nowadays, the sales event extends from a few weeks before Black Friday to a few weeks after, which ultimately spans the entire holiday season. Major PlayStation 5 bundles are usually up for purchase around this time of year, so you can expect great discounts alongside dozens of discounted games. If you are operating on a budget for the PlayStation 5 consoles and games together, Black Friday is the best time of year by far to pick up a console.
Prime Day is also an excellent time to purchase a PlayStation 5. Since the sales event falls on the second week of July, any PlayStation 5 discount from Independence Day sales will likely still be available for Prime Day. Alongside this, many PS5 games are likely to be priced low as part of the sale, so you can pick up more games as well.
Other retailers besides Amazon will also hold sales around Prime Day, so this only increases the chance that a PlayStation 5 deal will be available. Sometimes, this means an extended 4th of July sale or a surprise weekend sale. If you’re not in a rush to purchase a PS5, Prime Day 2024 is a great time to buy one.
There’s also Prime Day 2, which takes place in October. This event has been the kickstarter for Black Friday deals in recent years, so you can expect to find PlayStation 5 consoles at a great price here.
Sony tends to make console bundles for some of its major releases. This also extends to third-party exclusives like Final Fantasy XVI. Sony tends to discount these PlayStation 5 bundles around the releases of major titles, as it incentivizes customers to pick up a system and check out the new game. Additionally, you can find these PS5 bundles on sale once the included game has been out for a few months, as Sony looks to clear inventory of the bundle. Last year the biggest bundle available came with a copy of Spider-Man 2.
Another great time to buy a PlayStation 5 is summer. Following the major gaming events like Summer Game Fest, Sony and other companies usually hold sales events to celebrate the summer This includes deals on games, accessories, controllers, and consoles, which includes PlayStation 5. The PlayStation Summer Sale usually starts around July and runs through August, making it a great time to buy video games as well.
Late summer is also a great time, as retailers tend to begin preparations for the Fall season. Inventory on older console models is cleared, leading the way for new bundles. PlayStation 5 consoles and other items will likely be available discounted at this time.
If you are thinking about purchasing a PlayStation 5, keep in mind that we are currently almost halfway into the console’s lifetime. Nowadays, consoles tend to last anywhere from six to eight years. PlayStation 5 released in November of 2020, meaning we’re already over three years into the cycle of this generation. It’s also worth noting that a new PlayStation 5 console could be on the horizon.
PlayStation 5 Pro, a new console featuring better hardware capabilities, is rumored to debut sometime during the holiday season of 2024. If a console of this caliber interests you, then it might be best to wait for this device to release. At the same time, waiting for the PS5 Pro will likely bring even further PlayStation 5 discounts. Sony could even cut the price of the standard console. Overall, this still makes the Black Friday time period the best time to purchase a PlayStation 5, as the PS5 Pro will be available to purchase.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium. His favorite series include Xeno and Final Fantasy.
Update: Pre-orders in North America go live.
Update :
Following this collection’s announcement earlier this week, it’s now been confirmed VGP will be handling the physical distribution in North America. Pre-orders are now live (thanks for the heads up, Nintendo Everything).
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Game developer Mob Entertainment is partnering with Legendary Entertainment to create a movie based on its toy factory horror hit, Poppy Playtime.
Legendary is developing the video game-to-movie adaptation with producers Don Murphy and Susan Montford from Angry Films. Details on its plot and cast have yet to be revealed. No release date has been confirmed.
Poppy Playtime centers around Playtime Co., a once-great toy manufacturer that fell from grace after everyone inside its factory disappeared. Players take control of a former employee who finds themselves sucked back to the factory long after the disappearances, and it doesn’t take long for them to discover that the toys seem to be more playful this time around.
Poppy Playtime released its free-to-play first chapter in 2021, with two more chapters adding to the story in 2022 and 2024. Mob says that its horror-puzzle gameplay, lore, and twists have managed to draw in more than 40 million players across PC, mobile, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation devices as well as on Roblox. It’s become so popular that some characters, like Huggy Wuggy and the Smiling Critters, have popped up across retailers in the form of collectible figures, plush toys, and costumes.
“When we first started this journey, we followed our passion and created a series of games and brands with the purpose of inspiring and entertaining. We’ve always dreamed big and are thrilled to have created something that has captured the hearts of tens of millions around the world,” Mob Co-founders Zach Belanger, CEO and Seth Belanger, CCO said in a joint statement. “This movie deal is a great logical next step in the growth of our transmedia entertainment company.”
Poppy Playtime falls in line with other recent adaptations that have brought gaming horror IP to the world of movies. Five Nights at Freddy’s is the obvious example, as Blumhouse’s live-action hit managed to jump scare audiences with tremendous success when it premiered last year and even managed to lock down plans for a sequel. An Until Dawn film is also on the way, as is a Dredge movie. We learned in January that a Martha Is Dead adaptation is on the way, too.
For more, you can read our list of the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video, Shudder, and Netflix as of May 2024. You can also check out what we think is the best horror movie of 2023.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
Little Kitty Big City is an open-world exploration game which lets you play as an adventurous — and willful — little cat. You’ll make your way back home eventually, but not before you find distractions aplenty, a cast of quirky animals to befriend and so much mischief to get into! But we know it can be hard to let go of human ideas like “responding to emails” and “not tripping people up to see what’s in their briefcases,” so here is a little guide to help you think more like a cat and get the most out of your cat shenanigans.
Is there anyone more curious than a cat? We don’t think so! In the world of Little Kitty, Big City, there are always new places, people, and collectibles to discover. You just have to stay curious to find them all, and the best way to stay curious is to keep asking yourself questions! What’s under that wall? What happens if I tread painty paw prints all over this human’s art canvas? Will this thing smash when I push it off a ledge? Finding the answers is a vital part of being a little cat.
If you’ve ever met a cat, you’ll know that they each have their own unique personality and their own way of interacting with humans. Being a cat in Little Kitty, Big City is no different — how you interact with the people around you is up to you. Are you feeling a little mischievous? Time to trip an innocent pedestrian by weaving between their legs in a very unhelpful way and then steal their phone! Feeling in need of affection? You can rub against those human legs instead and give a little purr. Humans eat that stuff up. And if you’re feeling annoying, you can meow meow meow the day away! Who doesn’t love a very noisy cat following them around for no reason?
Cats are graceful (sometimes), small, can climb ivy walls, squeeze into tight spaces and always land on their feet! Since you’re no longer a clumsy human in this game, all those tiny little spots you never thought you’d be able to fit into are now open to you as a little kitty. From the rooftops to ground below, all the vents, awnings, cars, and fences are your domain. Except those big puddles. Let’s just stay far away from those…
As you explore the city, you will meet other cats who will offer new ways to immerse yourself in the mind of a cat. You’ll learn crucial kitty emotes like how to make muffins, have a biiiiig stretch, take naps, sits where you fit, and even gag at gross smells or unpalatable tasks! These gestures are an invaluable part of your toolkit for self-expression and can be combined with Kitty’s extensive wardrobe of collectible hats to create the perfect reaction to a situation.
Try the Sunflower hat with the biiiiiiig stretch for Kitty’s attempt at the traditional Sun Salutation yoga flow. Follow that up by swapping to the Crab hat and making a yuck face in the greengrocer’s – you must protest her lack of seafood. Then round off the day by donning the Sheriff’s hat and lashing out with a paw swipe at a board game. How else will the humans know that you’re not into chess?
Humans don’t understand how hard cats work to find the perfect nap spot. In fact, if cats didn’t spend so much energy looking for new places to sleep, perhaps they wouldn’t be so sleepy in the first place…? But that’s a topic for a different blog! What you need to know for Little Kitty, Big City is that, when you find a good nap spot, you want to get in there immediately, and in whatever pose fills the space. After all, when a nap is at stake, who cares which way the humans say your spine and limbs are “supposed” to be facing!
Little Kitty Big City is available now for Xbox, Windows, and with Game Pass.
Double Dagger Studio
The post Cat’s Eye: How to Navigate the World of Little Kitty, Big City appeared first on Xbox Wire.
After Microsoft unexpectedly announced it closed Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, some wondered whether the previously announced physical version of the game would ever see the light of day. But don’t worry — despite Tango Gameworks’ closure, Limited Run Games is still planning to release a physical edition of the studio’s final project.
Limited Run Games’ official X/Twitter account replied to one comment that suggested that the company would not move forward with a physical release of Hi-Fi Rush due to Tango Gamesworks’ closure. Limited Run responded that this was not the case and that a physical release “is a go,” but no further information, such as a release date, was disclosed.
Did we forget it, though? Unless we say otherwise, Hi-Fi Rush is a go!
— Limited Run Games (@LimitedRunGames) May 9, 2024
Bethesda Softworks confirmed last March that it was teaming up with Limited Run Games to release a physical version of the game. The news was part of a bigger announcement: Xbox announced that four of its once-console exclusives, including Hi-Fi Rush, would be released on other platforms, with Hi-Fi Rush getting ported to PlayStation 5.
Limited Run’s confirmation comes as Microsoft has been under scrutiny for closing four Bethesda Studios, including Tango Gameworks and Redfall developer Arkane Austin. Following the news, reports have emerged with new details, such as Tango Gameworks pitching a sequel to Hi-Fi Rush before its closure, as well as information that in a town hall meeting held this week, Xbox executive Matt Booty reportedly told staff that smaller games like Hi-Fi Rush are important, despite it closing the studio just a day prior.
Aside from Tango’s closure, Hi-Fi Rush’s physical edition is important for another reason: the ongoing discussion of the gaming industry’s push further into digital. Despite Xbox boss Phil Spencer claiming that he is still “supportive” of physical media, leaked documents noted that an updated Xbox Series X console did not show a disc drive visible on the device.
Another factor to consider is that Hi-Fi Rush uses copyrighted music. With Tango Gameworks closed, it’s unclear what could happen to Hi-Fi Rush’s digital version on a service like Xbox Game Pass once the music licenses expire.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Many gamers argue that PC gaming is the way to go, but some games just feel better with a controller. This is where the best PC controllers for gaming come into play, pairing the raw power of a gaming PC with a controller that can often offer a more immersive gaming experience.
Using a controller with your PC can also be a great way to make the transition from console to PC gaming If you’ve just made the switch, choosing one of the best PC controllers can help ease that transition, so you don’t immediately have to master the best gaming keyboards and mice.
If you’re still not quite convinced about making the switch from keyboard and mouse to a gamepad, you can check out the range of options available to you. You never know, you might be surprised how well these PC controller scan complement your existing gaming PC setup – and find them here in the UK.
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If you’re searching for a controller with a quality design and ample flexibility in how you use it to game on your PC, the Xbox Core Controller is a solid place to start. Microsoft has created an ergonomic controller that’s easy to hold onto thanks to added grip on the side, rear, and triggers. Of course, it has a familiar Xbox layout, while the majority of its buttons are remappable, and the D-Pad is even more tactile than the Xbox One iteration.
There’s plenty of versatility in connecting the Xbox Core Controller to your PC with a wired USB-C to eliminate input lag and Bluetooth as a wireless alternative. There’s also a low-latency wireless option available if you have an Xbox Wireless adapter for PC. It even includes a 3.5mm jack for your headset, limiting the number of wires running between you and your PC. However, it’s powered by AA batteries, which seems a bit archaic for 2024; but nonetheless it gives you gameplay usage of up to 40 hours. At the end of the day, it’s worth it.
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The PowerA Enhanced wired controller is a strong option, ditching wireless connectivity in order to hit a low price point under $40—and it’s often on sale for much less. Sure, you won’t get Bluetooth to get in some action on your gaming phone, but the removable Micro USB works great with your PC right out of the box. And since you’re tethered to your computer, you’ll never need to worry about finding batteries in your junk drawer every few months.
The controller itself doesn’t stray too far from the shape and feel of Microsoft’s own Xbox controller, though it’s slightly lighter, lacks those rubberized grips, and is a tad bit flimsier. However, you get two vibration motors to feel the action and all the buttons you need for your games. It even takes a page out of the Xbox Elite Controller’s book: on the underside of the PowerA Enhanced controller, you’ll find two small buttons that can serve as shortcuts to face buttons.
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Are you a devout keyboard and mouse gamer who imagines yourself rarely using a gamepad? The Logitech F310 is the perfect option for you, as it only costs around $20, but it includes everything you need for your occasional cravings to use a controller. This option delivers dual joysticks, bumpers and triggers, four standard face buttons, and an eight-directional D-Pad, while ten buttons are programmable to customize the gamepad to your needs.
Now, is the Logitech F310 something you’ll want to be using all the time? Probably not, as its short, nubby grips don’t make for excellent ergonomics, and the joysticks aren’t 100 percent accurate. But that shouldn’t matter for short bursts, and the controller will make your life significantly easier when driving vehicles in games like Grand Theft Auto V or Battlefield 2042. It’s also strictly wired, connecting via USB, though it’s plug-and-play and delivers low input lag for the fastest possible actions.
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The plug-and-play nature of the Turtle Beach Recon Controller is perfect for anyone looking to add a wired controller to their PC. It connects via a detachable USB-A cord, and there’s even a headset port on the controller, helping to limit the wires cluttering your PC setup. Turtle Beach takes it further by including their Super Human Hearing to enhance subtle audio cues and audio controls for volume, game and chat mix, and mic monitoring, all on the gamepad itself.
You’ll get quickly up to speed in games with the familiar X-box style layout of the Turtle Beach Recon Controller, so you’re all set for Xbox Game Pass games and the wide assortment of titles available on Steam. Two back paddles are on the gamepad for quick actions, while on-the-fly button remapping is also available with four different profiles preloaded on the Recon, which you can reconfigure to your liking. Finally, the textured finishes on most controls and rubberized grips make for a secure handhold.
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The Sony DualSense Controller makes it simple to connect to your PC using Bluetooth, which means it’ll also be a solid option as a phone controller for mobile gaming. However, if you’re looking for a more stable connection with less latency, you can always plug it in via a USB-C for a wired option. And unlike the Xbox Core, when you use it wirelessly, you get a rechargeable battery, though the battery life leaves much to be desired.
The Sony DualSense changes the aesthetics of the DualShock, making for a sleeker, easier-to-grip gamepad that still offers a similar control scheme and symmetrical analog sticks. Steam support is on the controller, while advanced haptics and adaptive triggers work on PC using a wired connection. With more PlayStation-exclusive games ending up not so exclusive thanks to PC ports, full DualSense functionality on PC makes for the best way to play those games.
See more of the best PS5 controllers.
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If you’re after a controller that offers the familiar Xbox design but amps up its capability, you can’t go wrong with the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. This model features four rear paddles that can have their own actions or change the function of the face buttons, while all of the buttons on the gamepad are remappable. The D-pad, back paddles, and analog sticks are also all magnetically swappable, and you still get the tunable triggers we loved on the original Elite.
The Elite Series 2 controller adds the rechargeable battery that the Xbox Core controller lacks and lasts an impressive 40 hours on each charge. In addition to Xbox Wireless, if you’ve got an adapter, there’s Bluetooth, making it easy to pair with your PC or smartphone. You’re good to go when you’d rather have a low-latency wired connection, too, with a USB-C available.
See more of the best Xbox Series Controllers.
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With retro looks and modern functionality, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is an awesome option for playing classic games on PC — and new games, too. The face of this 8BitDo model gives you the sense of using a classic SNES controller, but the experience should be exponentially better thanks to a modern ergonomic design, quality buttons, and vibration. It also supports a range of platforms and can connect to your PC over a wired USB-C or Bluetooth for 20 hours.
On the 8BitDo Pro 2, you’ll find standard Nintendo-style controls, though you can remap the buttons to match in-game controls. Meanwhile, you get PlayStation-style symmetrical analog sticks and two back paddles that let you keep your thumbs on the sticks. Customization also allows you to do any necessary button remapping, swap sticks behavior and axes, or adjust the trigger actuation depth, and there are even motion controls.
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The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is a unique controller thanks to its “Connected Command Display.” It’s a compact, full-color screen directly on the controller that displays phone notifications and lets you make on-the-fly setting adjustments like swapping between ten different profiles, fine-tuning the vibration intensity, and modifying RGB lighting. You can even program the RGB lighting to change colors to indicate phone notification alerts or low battery.
Display and RGB lighting aside, the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is one beast of a gamepad, featuring an Xbox layout with tactile micro switches and hall-effect, anti-drift thumbsticks–drifting has plagued some Turtle Beach controllers. You’ll also find trigger locks and four mappable buttons on the underside for flexibility in how you play. Turtle Beach’s offering is wireless, so there’s a 2.4GHz dongle for a lag-free connection to your PC or Xbox, and Bluetooth support is handy for your gaming phone.
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If you play a good deal of arcade or fighting games, do yourself a favor and pick up a fight stick, and for PC, the Razer Kitsune is a standout option. Rather than including a typical stick on the controller, it has a leverless design offering buttons that move in a full range of directions. Though that may take getting used to, there are advantages, including a quicker input speed–milliseconds matter in fighting games—along with better accuracy and easier execution of certain moves. Beyond the directional controls, you get all the other buttons you need to KO opponents on this PlayStation-licensed device.
The Razer Kitsune is an ideal size, letting both hands rest comfortably on it while being light and compact enough to carry around at tournaments. That said, the controller still feels sturdy and durable, and the buttons have responsive and surprisingly quiet optical switches. If you’d like a different feel, those buttons are hot-swappable. Razer also includes a flashy light strip around the edge of the controller and a tournament lock to prevent you from accidentally getting disqualified.
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PCs are the place to experience simulation racing games, letting play some very serious—and sometimes seriously obscure—racing games, and you can also connect multiple displays and ultrawide screens. For an even more immersive experience, you need a solid racing wheel, and Fanatec’s Gran Turismo DD Pro is what professional racers and enthusiast sim racers use. As the name might suggest, the direct drive wheels connect a large motor directly to the steering wheel for much better control and force feedback.
If you’re looking for performance, the Gran Turismo DD Pro delivers, giving you a whopping 5Nm of torque, but it can go up to 8Nm with the separate 180 Boost Kit. You’re bound to feel the pull of every turn and the shock of every bump! The wheel features an easy-to-use interface with familiar controls, unique 5-way directional sticks, and RevLED, while a steel two-pedal set completes this epic PC racing wheel.
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If you’re big into driving games, then the Thrustmaster eSwap XR Pro is one of the best PC controllers you can get your hands on. That’s if you don’t plan to invest all of your hard-earned cash on a racing wheel. Fun, comfortable, and modular, this controller is far more portable than a racing wheel, and offers almost just as much satisfaction.
Heck, even if you don’t play driving games, the Thrustmaster eSwap XR Pro is still a versatile option. Compared to the Elite Series 2 controller, the back buttons aren’t much to shout about. However, the longer body compliments the bumpers and triggers to ensure accessing all the buttons you need is less effort, and you don’t have the strain of holding them down uncomfortably when playing for extended periods of time.
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Looking for a customizable controller for your PC but don’t want something from Microsoft or Sony? Enter the Scuf Instinct Pro. No, it’s not on-par with the Elite 2 controller, but it certainly gives it a run for its money. And, if you’re into customizing your controller, you can do this almost endlessly, with cosmetic and physical customizations galore!
But, aside from customization, the Scuf Instinct Pro offers a sturdy yet comfortable controller for you to enjoy. The buttons are responsively clicky, and can be used across various consoles, including Xbox Series X and PC.
The most notable PC controller due to release in 2024 is the Elite Series 3 controller. While no release date has been confirmed, it’s likely we’ll get more information towards the end of the year.
Choosing the best PC controller for gaming can seem like a daunting task given the options available on the market. However, it’s easier to nail down the right choice by assessing what kind of gamer you are, what types of games you play, and whether you want to use your controller across other devices.
One of the biggest factors to consider is the ergonomics and comfort of the controller. Since you’ll likely be using it for extended gaming sessions, it’s crucial to pick a controller that feels comfortable in your hands. Look for controllers with well-placed buttons, responsive triggers, and a shape that fits naturally in your hands.
Next, think about the types of games you’ll be playing. Different genres may benefit from specific controller designs. For instance, if you’re into racing or flying simulators, a controller with analog sticks and precise triggers might be ideal. On the other hand, if you’re primarily playing fighting or platformer games, a controller with a good D-pad and responsive face buttons could be more suitable.
Another important factor to consider is compatibility. While many PC controllers are designed to work seamlessly with Windows PCs, it’s always a good idea to double-check compatibility with your specific gaming setup.
Wireless vs. wired is another decision you’ll need to make. Wireless controllers offer the convenience of untethered gaming but may require batteries or frequent charging. Wired controllers, on the other hand, provide a reliable connection but can clutter your gaming space with cables.
While you’re thinking about the best PC controller, don’t forget to consider additional features and extras. Many controllers come with programmable buttons, vibration feedback, or even customizable lighting effects. While these features may not be essential, they can enhance your gaming experience and provide added value for your money.
Is PC Gaming Better With a Controller?
Compared to a keyboard and mouse, some gamers prefer using a controller and find it easier to play games with one. However, it’s really down to personal preference. A controller, however, is definitely more versatile and easier to transport should you wish to use it on other devices.
Do All Xbox Controllers Work on PC?
Using a USB cable, you can connect an Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S controller to your PC. However, an Xbox controller with Bluetooth, providing your PC has Bluetooth, will work just as well, too.
Can I Use a PS5 Controller on PC?
Yes! The PS5 DualSense controller works wirelessly and wired on your PC (if it supports Bluetooth).
Can you play any PC game with a controller?
Not all PC games are designed to work well with a controller. If you’re playing games on Steam, you can visit the store page to see if the game is compatible with a controller before buying the game. However, other platforms, such as Epic Games, do not list if the game is compatible with a controller, but you can often find out which games support a controller with a quick Google search.
It is unsurprising that the Xbox controller tops the list here, but you’ve actually got a couple of options depending on whether your laptop or PC is Bluetooth enabled. If you’ve got Bluetooth to use, you won’t need the PC adapter USB, and can simply pick up an Xbox One controller, or even a PlayStation DualShock 4 to avoid the extra cost. But, if you want to consider all your options, here are the best PC controllers available in the UK. Don’t see the controllers below? Click here.
IGN’s tech freelancer Danielle Abraham contributed to this buying guide.
Tech expert Kevin Lee contributed to this guide. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Who wants to be a gillionaire?
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve been chewing over. Today, Alana fears for Square Enix’s smaller-budget titles and is worried about the rest of the industry as a result.
What on earth is going on with Square Enix?
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Editor’s Note: This review takes a fresh look at Fallout 76, replacing our previous review from 2018. You can read more about our review policies and philosophy here.
As someone who hadn’t returned to Fallout 76’s post-apocalyptic West Virginia since its troubled debut back in 2018, six years really has made quite the difference. Appalachia looks pretty dang gorgeous on modern systems, its reworked leveling and perks make for an extremely engaging grind, and in stark contrast to the lonely and depressing slog I endured last time, the world is actually filled with interesting NPCs to chat up – you know, like a Fallout game. Throw in all the new quests and activities that have been added, and you’ve got yourself a pretty robust multiplayer adventure filled with gore and silliness. That said, there’s still plenty Fallout 76 misses the mark on in 2024, whether it’s an endgame that’s fairly light on content, underwhelming jaunts into other areas of the Fallout setting, or an encumbrance and storage system that’s so irritating it’s practically a requirement to pay for a monthly subscription that eases the pain. I’ve still overwhelmingly enjoyed my time blasting ghouls into pink, irradiated meat chunks, though, and can easily recommend it to anyone who similarly felt a deep yearning for more Fallout after watching the recent TV show.
Like the other 3D Fallout games, Fallout 76 is a goofy first-person shooter RPG where you explore a radioactive wasteland stuffed with disgusting monsters, complete harebrained quests that usually involve shooting and/or dismembering said monsters, and claim loot to fuel your badass survivor’s legend. Fallout 76 mixes up that playful and gory formula by letting your friends join your quest online, which comes with most of the advantages and drawbacks you might expect. A compelling story and the ability to make major decisions that impact it certainly take a backseat, but on the other hand, you get to fight giant, flying gargoyles with your buds while you all sing along to classic bops straight out of 1934.
As a vault dweller, you emerge from the titular Vault 76 only 25 years after atomic warfare has left the world in tatters, at which point you are vaguely told to go and rebuild it or something. Instead, you’ll spend most of your time blowing it up even further with grenades, missiles, and even the odd atomic bomb while you run around completing errands foisted upon you by survivors, computer terminals, and constant pop-ups that recommend you do things like “kill the protestors” – typical heroic Fallout stuff. There are definitely some funny gags, wacky characters, and even the occasionally interesting bit of lore along the way, but Fallout 76 largely ditches the focus on story found in its single-player siblings in favor of letting you, your friends, and strangers tell your own stories in a big sandbox filled with ridiculous nonsense. That can be a lot of fun, though, and at least now there are non-robotic NPCs to talk to out in the world to make it feel more alive. (It’s still pretty wild to me that this wasn’t always the case!)
Running around shooting things and making use of the still excellent V.A.T.S. auto-targeting mechanic as you loot everything in sight is as entertaining as ever, especially when you’ve got your favorite radio station providing the perfect backdrop for horribly mangling all manner of hideous beast and smack-talking marauder. You can go around slinging a revolver like one of them western outlaw types, or put on a massive suit of power armor and spin up a laser gatling gun to hilariously mow down everything in sight. Combine that with perks that can do wild things like make you brawnier as you’re exposed to more radiation, as well as mutations that could give you scaly skin that serves as a natural layer of armor, and you’re in for some pretty great buildcrafting that adds to the insanity. There’s really nothing quite like it, and Fallout 76 manages to retain most of the beloved moment-to-moment combat and exploration the series is known for despite pivoting to online multiplayer.
Although you can absolutely play alone, teaming up with others is unquestionably the better experience. You’re given additional XP for bringing along a friend, not to mention you are able to take on tougher activities with less difficulty since you’ll be firing twice the bullets. It’s also especially nice to have company since many of the quests are so light on dialogue, and interactions with NPCs are more focused on action while passive story developments come in over your Pip-Boy radio.
It’s especially cool that other players can join your crew and help out on missions and activities regardless of their level thanks to a scaling system that makes almost every activity playable for everyone. Way too many online games create barriers between players, where you’ll have to wait for a friend to catch up to a certain part of the story or force them to rush through a bunch of old content before they can join you – but Fallout 76 opts to let everyone join in on the action almost immediately. Not only are you given an option to skip some of the initial busywork by auto-leveling to 20 right after you leave the vault, there are only a few endgame activities that really require some playtime under your belt before they can be accessed. I even made one of my friends go and fight an uber-powerful enemy in a high-level area minutes after he finished making his character, which was both really convenient and hilarious to watch.
One major miss, however, is that many of the main story missions won’t progress for all players when they are completed in a group. You’ll either have to break your team apart and tackle them solo, or replay them multiple times together as you cycle each player in as the party leader until everyone gets credit for it. It’s just a bizarre limitation, and resulted in a few instances where I was playing the same mission as my friends, but in separate instances so we could all move past it at the same time.
One of the main things that’s been added in recent years are Expeditions, which pull you out of Appalachia and send you on brief tours of new and returning regions of Fallout’s post-apocalyptic America. In Atlantic City, you run around swamps and casinos shooting living plants who annoyingly regenerate their health, while in Pittsburg, you fight against psychotic raiders and disgusting mutants to help out the former steelworkers there. Unfortunately, each of these regions amount to just three short side quests that can be completed in a couple hours total and don’t have their own open-world maps to explore. Instead you just pop in, shoot new enemies in some admittedly cool regions, and are then quickly sent back to West Virginia with zero fanfare. I get that these areas were added as free DLC over a number of years, but they were disappointingly thin nonetheless, and I would have much rather just paid for a full expansion if it meant it had more meat on the bones.
The main world map, though, is still impressively large and filled with a lot more things to discover than when I last explored it. There’s a creepy and highly radioactive swamp in the northeast, a barren and deadly stretch of land filled with the toughest enemies to the southeast, and even a water park to shoot up if you’re in need of a vacation to the far north. Not only are these massive expanses beautiful in a disturbing kind of way and enjoyable to trek through with friends, they’re perfect for setting up camp and building a base on, which is a major part of Fallout 76. Every time you join a server filled with others, you’ll see their customized settlements out in the world and on your map – you can drop by to check out their creative abodes, buy some overpriced gear from them, or even steal or break their stuff if you want to get blasted apart by good samaritans hoping to claim the resulting server-wide bounty placed on your head.
More importantly, you can set up your own camps and fill them with useful workbenches, vending machines, resources, and storage containers that will make your life easier while out exploring the world. Unlocking building schematics, crafting furniture and defensive units, and making your bases bigger, better, and more impressive can be a really compelling part of the endgame, though you’ll need to collect and scrap a whole lot of junk to fuel those habits. This is a process that’s made way easier for those willing to pay real money for new schematics, some of which are are only available in an online store, but you can also just haphazardly toss a few pieces of equipment around a bonfire like a wild animal and call it a day – you do you. Either way, there’s a lot of interesting things to build and experiment with, and I spent quite a few hours just goofing around.
However, a lot of Fallout 76 (especially base-building) is limited by some very irritating storage capacities, both in what your character is able to carry and the maximum amount of loot you’re able to store in the global inventory of your unique stash chest. It didn’t take very long at all for me to realize my hoarding instincts were not sustainable, as I filled up all the storage available to me in just ten hours without even trying. As it turns out, the best way to combat this issue is by paying real money to subscribe to “Fallout 1st,” which gives you access to separate storage chests for your ammo and raw materials (among other things), greatly reducing the annoying capacity limits. It’s pretty silly that stocking up on valuables you need to keep your guns filled with bullets and your camps supplied isn’t feasible unless you pay what is essentially a monthly “loot toll” in addition to Fallout 76’s upfront price – especially in a game that incorporates survival mechanics where you regularly need a whole lot of junk to keep the action moving along.
Like plenty of ongoing multiplayer games, you’ll likely spend most of your time working through the endgame once you’ve completed all the main story content and reached the soft-capped max level of 50, which took me about 40 hours total. While Fallout 76 tempts you with infinitely repeatable public activities, limited time events, seasonal unlocks, and more, there isn’t a ton of content to actually chew on. Daily missions and public events, like one where the whole server is called to push back an alien invasion, provide some hilariously chaotic action, and the ability to launch nuclear bombs onto the map and then march into the mushroom cloud to take on powerful enemies and claim amazing loot is dope as heck. It’s just that there aren’t really any activities that require that loot to be beaten, and so you’d only be doing so to flex on your friends or prepare for theoretical future content that is more demanding of you.
A lot of the endgame seems to mostly be about repeating the same handful of activities indefinitely with no real purpose. I do really enjoy the ability to level up and unlock new perks endlessly, though, especially the legendary perks that only unlock once you’ve overleveled past the soft cap. Even if you’re not provided any scenarios where you’d need these perks to prevail against your foes, some legendary options have some truly awesome effects – like one that makes you generate combat-enhancing consumables out of thin air for every 40 minutes you spend playing. That makes trying to unlock them all entertaining, just not particularly compelling.
