I think this Doom and Wolfenstein Mayhem Bundle from Humble is an easy win if you’re even remotely interested in first-person shooters. For $28 / £21.16, you get fifteen titles spanning decades of FPS history. From the original DOOM to the more recent Wolfenstein reboots, this is a complete collection of mayhem. It’s also the lowest price I’ve seen for a bundle with this much legacy and content in one place.
What do people that play Frostpunk call themselves, frostpunks? Feels too obvious, but I’m going to do it anyway. Breaking news frostpunks! There’s a new big Frostpunk 2 update that’s just arrived in the game, adding some pretty big additions and changes,so let’s jump into them. First up, The Pit! No, it’s not just some hole to chuck things in, it’s a large new map with a “distinctive ‘proto-crater’ pit counted as mountain terrain,” to be found within.
Standard and Deluxe Editions available.
Lost in Cult has announced an absolutely beautiful new book in the form of Animal Well: Design Works, available for pre-order now in both standard and deluxe variants.
Due for release in Summer 2026, the book delves into the creation of Animal Well in collaboration with solo developer Billy Basso, executive producer Dan Adelman, and publisher Bigmode. It’ll contain unseen prototypes, behind-the-scenes development insights, and conversations with the creative team, alongiside a bevy of gorgeous artwork, of course.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Hey Heroes! Ready your Revdraw Crossbows because Freja, the 43rd Hero to join Overwatch 2, is here to make her mark (literally). She’s a bounty hunter with deadly precision and is said to have one of the most exciting—and challenging—kits we’ve developed yet. But does she live up to that rather specific hype? Let’s take a closer look.
Freja isn’t just your average DPS; she’s a projectile powerhouse with mobility, control, and a knack for lighting up the battlefield. From concept to combat-ready, Freja was built to resonate with both the high-skill players craving a challenge and the community of lower-ranked players missing the thrill of projectile DPS. We leaned into the fantasy of a high-mobility projectile Hero, combining movement finesse and precision to create a gameplay style that feels rewarding for those who dare to master it.
Her backstory is just as awesome. Freja was once a search-and-rescue operative known for her unwavering determination to save others. But her hardened heart and relentless drive turned her into a feared bounty hunter, delivering justice on her own terms and always hitting her mark.
But Freja isn’t just a rogue with a cool leather jacket. Her kit reflects who she is—equal parts seeker, hunter, and explosive force of nature.
Freja’s kit is where the magic happens. Her abilities reward precision and punish hesitation, making her a unique and formidable DPS Hero. Here’s what you need to know to dominate the battlefield with her arsenal.
Revdraw Crossbow
You can unload rapid-fire bolts to keep the pressure on, or play the patience game to land deadly accurate shots. Mastering this weapon means balancing speed and precision for optimal damage output.
Take Aim (Explosive Bolt)
Think of this as Freja’s bread and butter. Line up the perfect shot and watch your enemies scatter like confetti. The explosive bolt isn’t just flashy; it’s a key damage-dealing tool, especially when you use it in tandem with her Quick Dash.
Quick Dash
This ability is a game-changer. Quick Dash lets you move in any direction while reloading your explosive bolt, giving you unparalleled mobility and positioning options. Use it cleverly to outmaneuver opponents or reset your ability cooldowns.
Updraft
Time to take to the skies! Updraft launches you high, making rooftop campers and high-ground enemies quake. It’s mobility with a purpose, offering new angles of attack or a quick getaway when things heat up.
Bola Shot
A nod to Freja’s bounty hunter roots, the Bola Shot snags your enemy, briefly restraining their movement and dragging nearby teammates into chaos. Use it to disrupt key enemy plays or set up a devastating combo.
Every ability in Freja’s kit serves to reward clever positioning, calculated aim, and quick-thinking agility. The combination of mechanics makes her a difficult—but highly satisfying—to master Hero for players ready to level up their projectile DPS skills.
But is Freja really challenging? Absolutely. And that’s by design. When we set out to create her, the team wanted to craft a Hero who rewarded synergy between movement and aim. Freja requires thinking strategically at all times, balancing rapid mobility with carefully placed shots.
More importantly, we wanted her to be fun. The Updraft ability? That’s us saying, “Go ahead, explore new ways to ambush your enemies or escape danger.” Bola Shot? That’s pure chaos and crowd control, giving rise to moments you’ll be clipping to show off to your friends.
Freja is the type of Hero built for those who enjoy pressing a lot of buttons (but pressing them smartly) while juggling movement and precision at the same time. She’s not necessarily forgiving—but for players willing to invest the time, she’s incredibly rewarding.
Here are a few tricks from our dev team to help you get started with Freja:
Combo Your Abilities. Use Quick Dash to reset your Explosive Bolt cooldown, allowing you to fire it more frequently. Bonus points if you use Updraft to gain a better angle for your shot!
Predict Your Targets. Since Freja’s primary fire uses projectiles, you’ll want to aim slightly ahead of where your target is moving. If you’re struggling with leading your shots, spend some time using AI bots to practice in the Practice Range.
Maximize Your Perks. If cooldowns are getting you down, try equipping the Ready to Hunt perk. It grants you an extra Quick Dash charge, so you’ll have more chances to reset your abilities during frantic fights.
Stay Agile. Freja thrives off movement, so standing still is a no-go. Use her Quick Dash and Updraft to reposition constantly, keeping enemies guessing and giving you better angles to deliver those clutch shots.
We think so! Freja is much more than Overwatch’s newest Hero; she’s a testament to the game’s continued evolution in rewarding precision, creativity, and skill. Her kit showcases the best of what a DPS Hero can be, built to test and excite even the most seasoned players.
Whether you’re a Grandmaster looking for a Hero to conquer or a Gold player rediscovering the joys of projectile DPS, Freja is here to deliver a versatile, high-skill experience. Now it’s time to grab your Revdraw Crossbow, hop into the battlefield, and see what she’s capable of.
Dig deeper into her lore, learn pro-level tips, or peek behind the scenes with developer insights on the Overwatch 2 Blog. Or skip the reading and head straight to Quick Play—Freja isn’t waiting around to be figured out. Got a killer Bola Shot moment? Share it with us! We love watching the chaos you create.
Stay sharp, Heroes. Freja isn’t missing her mark, and neither should you.
Freja is live in the game now and joins Overwatch 2’s Stadium mode beginning May 20. For more information about Overwatch 2, visit PlayOverwatch.com.
Blizzard Entertainment
Overwatch 2 – Season 16: Stadium
Enter the ultimate battleground with Stadium mode, an all-new experience where customization takes the reigns in a fun, best of seven, round based fight. Then, celebrate the launch with the Stadium: Initiation seasonal event to unlock exclusive rewards. Plus, the relentless bounty hunter Freja arrives as the latest DPS hero, bringing precision and mobility to every match. Meanwhile, the battlefield transforms with stunning skins, from the Dokiwatch team—led by Mythic Heart of Hope Juno—to Legendary Ashe, Genji, Brigitte, Lifeweaver, and Mauga in the Premium Battle Pass. Whether you’re outwitting opponents in Stadium, hunting your prey with Freja, or wielding magic with Dokiwatch, this season is packed with action, strategy, and a whole lot more.
The Overwatch League
Token will no longer be purchasable after December 9, 2024. The OWL shop will remain open until at least December 2025, with limited inventory purchasable with players’ remaining OWL token balances.
The post Overwatch 2: Introducing Freja – The Most Challenging and Rewarding Hero Yet appeared first on Xbox Wire.
If you’ve ever wanted to raid ancient tombs or explore Croft Manor – but with pinballs flying everywhere – you’re in for something special. Tomb Raider Pinball arrives in Pinball FX on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on June 19, including two awesome new tables: Adventures of Lara Croft and Secrets of Croft Manor.
But why is this an amazing crossover, you may ask? At their core, both Tomb Raider and pinball are about quick reflexes, careful planning, and that rush you get when you finally pull off the impossible. Whether you’re dodging traps in a crumbling tomb or trying to save a ball rolling toward the drain, it’s that same exciting mix of precision and chaos. But there’s more to pinball than just keeping that silver ball alive. Each table tells a story that makes it unique. Let’s see what lies behind the ramps and rails of these two beauties!
Adventures of Lara Croft is all about Lara’s classic expeditions – from Peru’s jungles to Egypt’s pyramids, from the Great Wall to the frozen caves of Tibet. Along the way, you’ll face off against familiar foes like Mark Willard, Werner Von Croy, or Natla and the Atlanteans. While exploring these remarkable locations and fighting your way through your enemies, you can even play a special third-person shooting mode with Lara’s iconic dual pistols.
There’s a lot to discover while you explore this world, choosing your missions from the globe pictured above: massive Tomb Multiballs, tricky trap ramps, dangerous pits, and finally, the Survivor Wizard Mode that pulls moments from the Survivor Trilogy for one final showdown. It’s pure, distilled Tomb Raider adventure mixed with the excitement of pinball.
In Secrets of Croft Manor, you’ll flip your way through the grand halls, uncover hidden rooms, and unlock the secrets that lie deep within the Croft family estate. There’s a ton going on here: agility courses, combat training, puzzle-solving sessions, and a maze to get lost (and found) in.
Even the Croft family butler, Winston, makes an appearance. Be careful not to lock him in the freezer!
The magic is in the details in this table – the grand staircase ramps, the spiral library staircase, the hidden study… It’s a love letter to anyone who ever spent hours just exploring Croft Manor between adventures. This table also features a rotating “fireplace” target in the middle, which will transform into interactive table elements according to which main mission you’ve activated.
By translating Lara Croft’s world into fast-paced pinball gameplay, Tomb Raider Pinball captures the spirit of discovery, challenge, and triumph that has made the series legendary, with a whole new perspective that’s perfect for fans and newcomers alike.
Do you have what it takes to become the ultimate tomb raider? Find it out on June 19, when Tomb Raider Pinball launches in Pinball FX!
On the latest episode of Hideo Kojima’s KOJI10 radio podcast (Episode 16), the veteran game director revealed why Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is going to be releasing in June. His answer gives insight into the various factors that impact game launch dates.
This recent episode of the TBS radio show, which started last October, had the theme of drinking at an izakaya (Japanese pub). Although Kojima revealed early in the episode that he doesn’t tend to drink alcohol nor get drunk, the prospect of a drunk Kojima seemed to have emboldened some listeners, with one asking: “Here’s a question that a drunk director might just answer… (Kojima: “I’m not drunk!”) Did you have any preferences for Death Stranding 2’s launch date? Is there a reason you are releasing it in June and not September?”
In his reply, Kojima first of all clarified that he can’t just release the game whenever he wants. When game development starts, the timeframe for the release has already been worked out, along with the budget. The projected launch windows of other games also play a big role in this decision.
“For example, Sony has various other games lined up,” Kojima explained. “So, we can’t overlap with these other titles. It’s the same with movies. This decision (about Death Stranding 2’s release date) was made quite a while back.”
Developed by Kojima Productions, Death Stranding 2 is being published by Sony. Although Kojima doesn’t name specific titles in the podcast, just looking at PS5 game release dates revealed so far indicates that there are already many titles that DS2 could clash with if it were slated for a September launch.
For example, Ghost of Yotei (the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima) is coming on October 2, and is one of Sony’s big first-party releases. As for other publishers, Konami is due to launch Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater on August 28. This MGS3 remake could also have ended up competing for players’ time with Sam Porter Bridges if Death Stranding 2 had a September release. Then there’s Gearbox’s Borderlands 4, which was originally due out on September 23 before being brought forward to September 12.
“Generally, games sell well in the West in October and November, I wanted to release (Death Stranding 2) around this time.” Kojima revealed, mentioning that in the past, a lot of his games hit shelves in November (such as the North American releases of MGS2 and MGS3). However, the need to not clash with the “many big games coming out this year,” meant that June was chosen instead.
“June was decided upon quite a while ago, whilst looking at the schedule. If we end up releasing Death Stranding 2 even slightly late, it will be a problem,” said Kojima, in reference to avoiding clashes with other new games.
Kojima went on to give an example of how a hypothetical sudden launch date reveal for a major title could impact other games’ releases: “For example, if GTA 6 were announced for November, the second that happened everyone else would move their game’s release date out of that month.” He added that “a game might take the player two months or so to finish,” which also must be taken into account when spacing out game releases.
Of course, game producers do sometimes abruptly move launch dates to avoid such clashes. For example, just this year, Sega decided to launch Like A Dragon: Pirates in Hawaii a week earlier to avoid clashing with Monster Hunter Wilds.
Kojima identified May/June, and September/October/November as good times to release games — however, another factor that needs to be considered is the promotion of the game, which must line-up with the release date as marketing costs aren’t something that can be easily recuperated if the game is delayed.
But what if you have a brand new IP? Kojima suggested February as a possible strategy (assuming there’s no MHW to contend with), as it is usually a quieter season where you won’t have to compete with as many established titles for advertising space.
We’ve got plenty more on Death Stranding 2, including an interview with Hideo Kojima himself, and our impressions after 30 hours of hands-on time.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
Paradox have announced grand strategy game Europa Universalis 5, following some teasers last week. It’s the next big entry in the series of complex globe-spanning historical simulations, and having played a little as the hapless ruler of Korea in the 14th century, I can confirm that it is so far as chunky, complicated, and deep as usual. The changes in this sequel won’t look wild or revolutionary to a dabbler, but seasoned tyrants might find a lot to pique their interest. Come see a trailer below.
Mafia: The Old Country has a release date: August 8, 2025 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.
The Hangar 13-developed gangster game also has a new trailer showcasing the combat and new stealth mechanics.
We also have a handful of new screenshots showing off Mafia: The Old Country, below.
The announcement comes alongside some interesting quotes from the developer and publisher, 2K. Hangar 13 President Nick Baynes described Mafia: The Old Country as a “focused, linear experience that combines quality storytelling, authentic era immersion and a refined take on the familiar Mafia gameplay.”
He continued: “That focus allows us to deliver a story that’s gritty, grounded, brutal and emotional. Embracing early 1900s era Sicily, this is a mafia origin story that follows our protagonist, Enzo Favara, as he takes the oath and works his way up Don Torrisi’s crime family.”
Tellingly, 2K President David Ismailer added: “We think there’s a large audience for compelling stories that don’t require massive time commitments.
“We’re excited to offer a game like Mafia: The Old Country in our portfolio, and to provide a linear highly-polished narrative experience that can easily complement the other more persistent games our players also love and engage with on a more consistent basis.”
Based on these comments, Mafia: The Old Country will be a relatively short affair. There is no multiplayer mode, so the story is the entire package.
Perhaps that’s why the standard edition costs $49.99 across all platforms, and the deluxe edition costs $59.99. Here’s the breakdown, per 2K:
Mafia: The Old Country will offer two editions: Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition. Both editions are available for pre-order today and will release worldwide on August 8, 2025.
In December, IGN interviewed Baynes and game director Alex Cox about all things Mafia: The Old Country, and the prospect of running up against GTA 6. With GTA 6’s delay from fall 2025 to May 26, 2026, that is of course no longer a concern.
In the interview, the pair dismissed comparisons to GTA 6, insisting Mafia: The Old Country shouldn’t be considered an open-world game at all.
Rather, the pair insisted, Mafia: The Old Country is more like Mafia 1 and 2 than it is the open-world Mafia 3. It is a “linear, narrative-driven” game, a “focused package” that offers a “cinematic experience.” You might find yourself driving around an authentic representation of 1900s Sicily in Mafia: The Old Country, or even riding around on horseback a bit like that other Rockstar game, but the similarities to Rockstar games stop there.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Overnight, Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 Trailer 2 was captured “entirely” in-game from a PlayStation 5, putting to bed speculation that the footage looked so good it must have come from a PS5 Pro or a PC. Crucially, Rockstar also confirmed that Trailer 2 is “comprised of equal parts gameplay and cutscenes.”
Taken at face value, Trailer 2 does not appear to feature gameplay, with most of what we see looking like cutscene material. There is now Heads-Up Display (HUD) shown, no controller icons, or any other element that would suggest gameplay is in there.
However, given Rockstar’s statement, we can assume that there is gameplay, just with the HUD turned off and the camera perhaps in a non-gameplay position. So, what bits of Trailer 2 fit the bill? That’s exactly what the GTA community is trying to work out right now.
The most obvious candidate was already flagged as a potential cutscene to gameplay transition moment: when Jason enters his apartment. It seems a safe bet that this is gameplay, and potentially even how players will begin GTA 6.
Elsewhere, redditor OriginalTomato8235 compiled a compilation of what they believe to be gameplay shown in Trailer 2. It includes:
That’s a long list (remember, Rockstar said “equal parts”), but what it boils down to is that the gameplay is probably all the bits that aren’t obviously cutscenes. That is, all the bits where a character does not talk.
Trailer 2 is already breaking viewership records but it’s also wowing fans, and the idea that we’re seeing in-engine PS5 gameplay footage here is pretty spectacular. Yes, the HUD is turned off, and yes, Rockstar is positioning the camera in ways players won’t be able to when they finally get to grips with the game in May 2026, but we are getting a realistic look at what to expect next year – and that’s encouraging.
While we wait to find out, we’ve got plenty more on GTA 6, including all the details we’ve discovered so far, a roundup of 70 brand new screenshots, and the expert opinion on how GTA 6 will look on PS5 Pro.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
What could it be..?
Despite Donkey Kong Bananza being a little over two months away from its 17th July release, much mystery surrounds the upcoming platformer.
Case in point, a new discovery from user ‘Triistan’ on Famiboards seems to point towards the game containing some sort of local multiplayer component. Make sure to slot this into the filing cabinet labelled ‘nebulous’, because it’s all a little vague at this point, but there’s definitely some weight behind it.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
