It’s Tuesday, so Helldivers 2 has gotten a fresh patch. This one makes the Illuminate’s flying death slugs easier to battle and looks like it might have laid the groundwork for the game’s long-awaited review bomb cape.
Those Leviathan balancing tweaks have come after players continued to struggle to beat the airborne enemy, despite Arrowhead having previously added a spotlight effect to the attack it can use to one-shot your bottom into oblivion.
“Lock and load little lizard”.
Those of you wanting to play the Gex Trilogy on your shiny new Switch 2s, the wait is over.
Limited Run Games has dropped a patch today that fixes previous compatibility issues which prevented the game from working properly on the new console.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Today, in collaboration with Meta, we are excited to announce the launch of the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition limited edition release- the first limited edition ever for Quest – is part of our ongoing partnership and celebrates the expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on Meta Quest headsets.
Over the past several years, Xbox has expanded the Xbox cloud gaming experience to more places and more players. Since the announcement of the Xbox app on Quest, our goal has been to empower more people to play their favorite games whenever and wherever they want. Today, with the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, we are bringing this vision to life with a new design that celebrates Xbox’s iconic aesthetic.
For the first time, we’re thrilled to deliver a Quest headset that not only delivers incredible mixed reality experiences but is also crafted for Xbox fans. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition is available today for $399.99 USD, and it comes loaded with everything you need to start gaming on a massive virtual display the moment you open the box.
This bundle includes:
With its sleek design and vibrant accents, the headset embodies the spirit of Xbox while delivering the great gaming experience players love on Quest.
While you can pair any Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, or Xbox Adaptive Controller to Quest using Bluetooth, the included limited-edition Xbox Wireless Controller will share the same look as the other accessories, with a carbon black chassis and green highlights on the face buttons and analog sticks, and it comes pre-paired with the headset.
Using the Xbox app on Quest, players can instantly access hundreds of games directly with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), including South of Midnight, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Avowed, and moreas part of their Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. Game Pass Ultimate members can also stream select cloud-playable games they own, even if they are not included with Game Pass Ultimate. You can find the full list with over 100 supported titles in the Stream Your Own Game collection here.
And don’t forget, with your Game Pass Ultimate membership, players also have access to stream and play supported Game Pass titles across different devices. With features like cross-play and cross-progression support, your progress seamlessly follows you, no matter which device you choose to play on. Start a game on your Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, pick up where you left off on your console, and continue the adventure with Xbox on PC without ever losing your achievements or saved data. No matter where you play, your games, progress, and achievements travel with you, ensuring a truly connected and flexible gaming experience.
With cloud gaming and the launch of the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition bundle, there have never been more ways to play with Xbox. Whether you prefer to jump into action on a console, stream to your TV or phone, or immerse yourself in the world of VR, Xbox has you covered across more devices than ever before. Check out all the different devices where you can play Xbox: This is an Xbox
The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition is available now at meta.com, Best Buy (USA), Argos (UK), and EE (UK), but quantities are extremely limited. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
We’re proud of what we’ve built together with Meta, and we can’t wait for you to dive into everything the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition has to offer. Whether you’re streaming the latest Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles, exploring the ever-expanding world of VR, or kicking back with immersive entertainment, this is just the beginning of what’s possible when great teams and great technology come together.
The post Unveiling the Limited Edition Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Nintendo has once again used its Today! app to announce news, this time a release date for Switch 2 exclusive Drag x Drive.
Drag x Drive launches exclusively on the eShop for Switch 2 on August 14, 2025. That confirms no physical release for the game is planned.
Nintendo has so far failed to confirm a price for Drag x Drive, which was announced in April as part of Nintendo’s Switch 2 reveal Direct.
The Nintendo-developed exclusive uses the Joy-Con 2 for 3v3 basketball-style matches where you control wheelchair-using characters. You can use the controllers in mouse mode at the same time to simulate the act of pushing the wheels, speed up, and perform tricks.
With the announcement of Drag x Drive’s release date, we’re starting to get a clearer idea of what’s coming exclusively to Switch 2 during the second half of 2025. On July 17, Donkey Kong Bananza comes out (it just got an eye-catching Nintendo Direct all to itself), then there’s Drag x Drive a month later. Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV launches on July 24, with Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World due out August 28. Switch 2 exclusives down for 2025 but without a release date include Kirby Air Riders, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Splatoon Raiders. FromSoftware’s definitely not Bloodborne 2, The Duskbloods, is due out at some point in 2026.
Of course, Nintendo has a number of other big games set for both Switch and Switch 2 later this year, but they’re worth mentioning here as there will be plenty of Switch 2 owners interested in playing them on their new console. These include the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Firaxis and 2K are committed to reversing the fortunes of Civilization 7 with an all-new update, much of which has been “influenced by the community.”
This month’s “hefty” Update 1.2.2 brings a raft of long-awaited features like Large and Huge Maps, expanded Advanced Game Options, and a community favorite: Steam Workshop support. There’s also new Town Specializations, City-State Bonuses, Beliefs, balance changes, UI improvements, and — best of all, of course — “a very pettable Scout dog.”
Players can also finish their current save under a previous version by using the legacy Steam beta branch. Backwards compatibility for existing saves is also available, although you should note that “some new abilities or effects may not appear until you start a new game or advance to the next Age in your current campaign.”
“For the best experience, we recommend starting a new game, or continuing your current game into the next Age,” Firaxis said.
Large and Huge map sizes — which I’m afraid aren’t available on Switch, along with Standard — default to 10 players, but multiplayer campaigns max out at eight people, inclusive of AI companions. The team hopes to expand Huge to accommodate 12 players eventually, but right now it “needs a bit more time to make sure increased player counts won’t compromise game stability or performance.” That said, because of the size, these maps have been spruced up with Pantheons (and two new ones have been added to Antiquity), Religious Beliefs, Discoveries, and City-State bonuses to “ensure there’s enough content for all the players in a game.”
“One of the best things about Civilization is how many ways there are to play,” the update added. “Some players are happy to peacefully build the biggest, best Cities while others want to ignore all that and go conquer the world (‘Yes, your amazing City does look great in my empire’). With 1.2.2, we’ve added several new advanced game setup options to give you even more control over how you play.”
This means you can now decide whether to enable, disable (or turn off entirely) Legacy Paths per Page, specific Crises, as well as disable Score Victory. AI difficulty can be amended, too, and you can bypass Civ Unlocks On Age Transitions now.
“We’ve had a lot of fun playing with different Legacy Paths on or off in each Age. While Legacy Paths that don’t lead to a Victory are always optional, sometimes it’s nice to just tune them out entirely and focus on playing into the unique strengths of your leader and civ,” Firaxis added. “For a fun sandbox game we’ve been playing in the office, try turning off Legacy Paths for Antiquity and Exploration, and setting the game to Abbreviated Ages. If you want to lean into the sandbox feel even more, try turning off Legacy Paths in Modern and the Score Victory, too.”
Feedback from fans about Religion has necessitated changes, too, with the team now adding new Beliefs and updating existing ones to give bonus incentives for converting your own Settlements. There are “bigger and bolder changes” also on the horizon for Religion, but we’ll find out more about those at a later date. You can also expect Town focus bonuses to help them feel more “impactful.”
“Urban Centers in particular have received a glow-up, and now gain access to many of the Buildings that were otherwise only available in Cities (like Libraries and Monuments in Antiquity),” the update explained. “Fort Towns gain the ability to purchase multiple walls so they can really lock down strategic chokepoints. We also introduced a new type of Town Focus: the Resort Town. These relaxing scenic retreats gain extra Gold and Happiness on Rural tiles with Happiness and increased Yields on Natural Wonders.
“Lastly, we felt massed Hub Towns were overshadowing some of the other options and gave them a slight nerf from +2 Influence per connected Settlement to +1 Influence. We’re going to keep our eye on them to see how they compare against the other newly buffed Towns.”
Players will also now be able to find and install mods from Steam Workshop. Oh, and there’s even a new loading screen, with rewritten and re-recorded narration from Gwendoline Christie.
There’s also an absolute smorgasbord of tweaks and fixes, but if I wrote all those out here, we’d be here until Christmas. You can head on over to the official website to see it.
Civilization 7 has had a rough launch on Steam — that much is clear. The strategy sequel has struggled for players on Valve’s platform ever since its launch in February. Despite a number of patches issued by developer Firaxis to reverse things, Civilization 7 finds itself in the unenviable situation of having fewer players on Steam than Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5. According to Steam user reviews the game is ‘mixed,’ although the last 1,500 or so reviews has it falling to a ‘mostly negative’ rating.
Update 1.2.2 is out now, although Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 players will have to wait a little longer as the team works “diligently to get these updates through the additional Switch submission requirements.” Players still experiencing issues or bugs are encouraged to disable mods and make the team aware.
We thought Civilization 7 was ‘good,’ awarding it a fitting 7/10, writing: “Civilization 7’s improved warfare and added bits of narrative flair give me reasons to keep clicking one more turn late into the night, but the desire to streamline and simplify this legendary 4X series feels like it has also gone a bit too far, particularly when it comes to the interface.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Yep, that sound you can hear is the pounding footsteps of a certain Fallout 4 minutefellow. He’s coming to tell you that another Oblivion Remastered settlement may soon need your help, as a modder‘s figured out how to let folks build stuff using the likes of rocks and beams as they play.
It’s not quite got all the bells and whistles of a full settlement building system yet, but its creator is hoping to find someone to collab with on putting together exactly that.
Back in March this year, game industry veteran Masahiro Sakurai received a lifetime achievement award at the 30th AMD awards. In an interview by ITMedia Business Online conducted at the time (recently republished on Yahoo Japan), Sakurai revealed why he doesn’t hire people, reflected on how the games industry has changed, and touched on the potential use of generative AI in development.
Sakurai is best known as the creator behind two of Nintendo’s big franchises, Kirby and Smash Bros. After working at game dev studio Hal Laboratories from 1989 to 2003, Sakurai became a freelance game creator, founding his own company Sora Ltd. in 2005. In 2022, he created the award-winning YouTube channel “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games,” in which he shared insight and advice on all aspects of making a game.
Sakurai’s approach differs from that of many game creators who have gone on to form their own companies. “When a game creator becomes the president of a company, it is difficult for them to fully engage in creative activities,” explained Sakurai. “There was a conflict between making interesting games and making management decisions — the problem was that being overwhelmed by the duties of being a president made it hard to focus on the vital part, game creation.”
This led Sakurai to his current approach, which involves creating games without directly hiring or managing any employees. “Basically I work together with other game companies to avoid having to manage a company,” Sakurai explained. “This method has worked well so far. I am able to continue being creative and concentrate on making things without becoming extremely busy running a company.”
However, Sakurai noted that his method is not without its challenges. Working with different game devs means that Sakurai has to “build up trusting relationships and working styles from scratch every time. So, I think it is necessary to have a certain degree of flexibility.”
According to Sakurai, one of the most important elements when working with a team on a new project for the first time is to make sure everyone is on the same page and has a clear, shared vision of the game. “I make sure that many members of staff can share the same information at the same time, regardless of their job or whether they are designer or programmer.” Although this takes more time and planning, Sakurai said that in his experience, this approach “reduces the risk of information gaps” and misunderstandings. “Conversely, if I just conveyed my ideas to the producer, and then they assign work to various other people, then some kind of misunderstanding would occur, or even a 180 degree difference (in what was intended).”
However, when asked whether his approach would be the best for the game industry as a whole, Sakurai was hesitant. “It depends on the person. As for me, I had built up a track record and trust through working on Kirby and Smash Bros. titles in the past. If you don’t have this, if you don’t have any track record at all, then the work won’t come to you. This is a way of working that becomes possible through gaining more allies by continuing to make good games, and it is not a style of working that works well for everyone.”
Sakurai went on to highlight another issue in the current game industry that could make it difficult for individuals to break through as auteurs in the same way as they did in the past. “I feel like the position of game director itself is becoming rarer these days. As in, it is rather rare to find someone who, as a director, can take charge of a studio with hundreds of people,” Sakurai stated. “There are plenty of people who want to make games or who are making games, but there is a shortage of game directors who can manage projects with a large number of staff.”
In Sakurai’s opinion, the increased segmentation of game development into specialized roles is the reason for this lack of game directors with the “all-rounder” background necessary to oversee large-scale projects. “In the past, there was a trend by which people would go from being a graphics artist to a planner, and then become a director.” Sakurai explained. “However today, graphics alone, for example, are divided into models, effects, textures and so on. I feel it is very difficult to develop into an all-rounder in such an environment. I feel like this increasing specialization and segmentation has resulted in a lack of directors who can see things from a broad perspective.”
Sakurai advised that it is important for people to understand their own individuality, and develop that accordingly. “I don’t think anyone will follow the same path that I did, but I’m sure that there will be people who break through in other directions,” said Sakurai. In other words, rather than trying to match or compete with the work and achievements of creators who have come before you, it is important to hone your own strengths and focus on what you can bring to the table. “I believe each creator should carve out their own path.” Sakurai insisted.
Sakurai concluded that both AAA projects and indie games are facing difficult situations. “I think it is becoming unsustainable to continue producing large games on the scale that companies currently do, as it requires too much work.” he said, before suggesting generative AI as a potential tool for helping to solve this problem.
“(…) the only effective breakthrough I can think of at the moment is generative AI. I think we are getting to the point where (AAA studios) have to change their way of working by using gen AI to improve work efficiency. I think we are in an era where only the companies that successfully respond to these changes will be able to survive.”
Sakurai noted that indie titles have their own challenges, one being the sheer amount of competition. “Indie games are appealing for their freedom and creativity, but they also need a lot of luck, effort, polish and stand-out elements to succeed in the market.”
Sakurai is currently working on Kirby Air Riders for Nintendo Switch 2.
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.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII has received another big update, as the rather divisive 4X strategy game wrangles with a mostly negative user review consensus on Steam.
The latest Civ 7 update adds large and huge maps, each with a default of 10 players in single player and eight (including AI) in multiplayer. Developers Firaxis are working on supporting 12 players for Huge maps, but need more time to ensure that this doesn’t scuttle game stability and performance. As it is, they caution that “bigger maps have bigger hardware demands” and that you might see “slower turn times or performance drops, especially on lower end hardware.”
Plus a new ‘PURE’ performance mode.
Shin’en Multimedia has been hard at work on the first major update for Fast Fusion on the Switch 2, and we can now exclusively reveal that it will launch this week on 26th June 2025.
But what do you get with it? Well, Shin’en has confirmed to us that the ‘Pure Update’ – which is completely free, by the way – will contain three new tracks based on classics from Fast RMX. These will be largely faithful recreations of fan favourites from the original 2017 Switch launch title, but with small tweaks to make use of the new ‘Hyperjump’ feature along with all new visuals and effects.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Hytale, the Minecraft competitor announced in 2018, is canceled and its developer is shutting down.
Hypixel Studios announced that the ambitious, Riot Games-backed Minecraft-style game had ended development, and the studio itself was in the process of winding down.
Hytale was announced in December 2018 with a trailer that has an incredible 61 million views on YouTube. Here’s the official blurb, as it was back then:
Hytale combines the scope of a sandbox with the depth of a roleplaying game, immersing players in a procedurally generated world where teetering towers and deep dungeons promise rich rewards throughout their adventures. Hytale supports everything from block-by-block construction to scripting and minigame creation, delivered using easy to use and powerful tools.
Excitement around Hytale was fueled by the experience of the developers themselves, who co-founded Hypixel, one of the most influential Minecraft servers in the world. Riot Games, maker of League of Legends, invested in the project and eventually bought the studio.
However, the Hytale dream is now over. “This is not the outcome any of us — at Hypixel or at Riot — wanted,” a statement attributed to co-founder Noxy published to the Hytale website reads. “But after years of pushing forward, adapting, and exploring every possible path, it became clear we couldn’t bring Hytale to life in a way that truly delivered on its promise.”
So, what went wrong? According to Noxy, Hytale’s technical ambitions grew more complex, and even after a reboot of the game engine, the team “found that Hytale still wasn’t as far along as it needed to be.”
“It became clear we’d need a lot more time to get it to a place where it could support the ambitious vision for the game,” Noxy continued.
Options such as reducing scope and pushing the game back were rejected as they “would have meant compromising on what made Hytale special in the first place.” “It wouldn’t have been the game we set out to make,” Noxy explained. “And it wouldn’t have been the game you deserve.”
As for Riot, it tried to find investors to save the project, but it sounds like those efforts failed to go anywhere. The affected staff are getting “generous severance and resources to help them find what’s next.”
Confirmation of the cancelation comes just a few months after Hypixel issued a spring 2025 development update, where the studio revealed some of the progress it had made in the first few months of the year. It even finally revealed a new character that it had teased at the end of 2023. New engine progress was called out, with improvements highlighted.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
