Monster mash.
Nintendo has announced that the next seasonal Splatfest is right around the corner, with Splatoon 3‘s Splatoween event returning next month.
Running from 25th-26th October (depending on your region), this event will see the return of the monster-based teams, with us all once again having to decide between Team Zombie, Skeleton, and Ghost in the battle of “Which would be the best friend?”
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
We here at Naughty Dog are honored to celebrate The Last of Us Day 2025, our annual recognition of the franchise that has meant so much to you, our incredible fans, and the teams at Naughty Dog who have contributed to the series over the years.
It’s been a busy year for The Last of Us, and we’re grateful for your incredible support of Joel, Ellie, and Abby’s journeys. So we’re excited to commemorate TLOU Day with you all in some fun, new ways:
The Last of Us Part II Remastered is now available on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium!* PlayStation 5 players can experience the stories of Ellie and Abby, alongside extra modes like No Return, Guitar Free Play, and more. We’ve been overjoyed by the reception to additions like the roguelike mode No Return from fans who have already played, and can’t wait for more of you to jump in.
And for PC players who have yet to play either entry on the series, good news: The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II Remastered will both be on sale starting next Monday, September 29 through October 6 as part of the Steam Autumn Sale!
Dozens of Dogs competed in our first-ever internal No Retournament, putting their skills to the test in the fan-favorite No Return mode introduced in The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
We wanted to offer a peek into our studio coming together for this thrilling event, so watch our recap below:
We have a first look at Dark Horse’s incredible The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts collection:
Check out this new statue from our partners at Dark Horse offering an up-close look at the imposing Bloater.
Our friends from YouTooz have also released new The Last of Us Monitor Buddies, so Ellie and Joel can keep watch while you work or play. YouTooz also released three new plush figures: Joel, Ellie, and Shimmer the horse.
Finally, Fangamer brought back the fan-favorite Brock the Brick plushie, and introduced Lev’s iconic shark plushie from The Last of Us Part II.
You may have seen our graphic designer Jason Ferry’s amazing work across our website, merchandise, and partnership collaborations. He’s even grown mold at home to use in his designs – don’t worry, he hasn’t turned into a Runner just yet. Here’s Jason to explain what he’s been up to:
“I’ve grown so much slime mold over the past year people have started calling me Mold Man. To celebrate TLOU Day, we’ve used the mold imagery to create six wallpapers for mobile and desktop. You can download them here, and carry my mold on the go, like a pro.”
We’re also introducing new Animated Avatars and Avatar Frames for the Steam Points Shop. They’re designed in pairs, creating complex scenes when used together.
And with Halloween right around the corner, celebrate the holiday and TLOU with a set of nine The Last of Us Jack-O-Lantern stencils.
Submit your favorite Jack-O-Lanterns here by October 24 for a chance to be featured on the Naughty Dog social channels this Halloween!
Thank you for celebrating another The Last of Us Day with us! It’s a privilege to see your love for the series through beautiful art, inspired cosplay, and amazing Photo Mode shots, all of which inspires us to keep making memorable games for you.
*The Last of Us Part II (PS4) and The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5). Game Catalog varies over time, region/country, and plan. PS Plus is an ongoing subscription subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically (at the then-current PS Store price) at the frequency you choose until cancellation. Terms apply, see play.st/psplus-usageterms.
The city-building genre is grossly overpopulated. Competing Simvilles predicated on wholly opposed theories about plumbing and traffic wardens stretch as far as the eye can see. As such, the genre must imitate real-life urban centres of the 20th century, and begin expanding vertically. Enter Stario: Haven Tower, the new strategy management sim from Chinese developers Stargate Games, in which you build upward through the realms of Sand, Mist, Rain, Frost, and Clear Skies until finally, your city stands among the Stars.
I’ve yet to fully consume Consume Me, so please take that headline with a pinch of salt (not too much, because apparently salt can cause short-term weight gain). Still, I thought I’d rush out a quick “on sale now” piece before the weekend because this game is extremely good, and I worry based on the Steam stats that it’s being overlooked.
It’s a fast-talking, mildly anguished pocket RPG about a high schoolgirl, Jenny, who is trying to lose weight while balancing schoolwork, domestic duties, an emerging social life, and her domineering mom. It broadly consists of household tasks and Coming Of Age Milestones couched as a bunch of Wario Ware-style timed minigame puzzles. Among other antics, you’ll fold laundry by clicking on cue, manage a (dis)interest bar during a terrible date, apply your make-up as though doodling yourself in Kid Pix, and surgically arrange food on your plate while passing carbier morsels to your absurdly squishy dog.
Dying Light: The Beast has rolled out a hotfix to ensure all players who pre-ordered the game can get their Kyle Crane Legacy Skin. This means that if you’ve updated to version 1.2.2, you only have to check your in-game stash to find it.
It follows a number of other brief updates deployed since the standalone zombie game released on September 18, most recently Hotfix 1.2.1 which addresse the “indoor rain and disturbed day/night cycle” issue and similarly popped the APEX Car Skin into the in-game stash for all who pre-ordered the game or own it through the Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition.
Techland had spotted the weather abnormalities shortly after launch, promising players it was “aware that you’re experiencing issues with Indoor Rain and the Disturbed Day/Night Cycle, and fixing them is our top priority.” But because the bug only appeared in “rare situations, it takes a lot of extra testing.”
Commenters on the post expressed relief that the hotfix had been sent out, although some are still asking for more information about ray tracing, stuttering, frame drops, and memory leaks.
In Dying Light: The Beast you play Kyle Crane, a legendary hero who breaks free after years of brutal experiments. It’s currently sitting on a ‘Very Positive’ Steam review rating, and secured a 7/10 in our recent review, in which we called it “a goofy, bloody sequel with a monstrous twist, but doesn’t do much else to mix things up.”
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.
I sea you.
If you’re excited to dive deep into Dragon Quest I & II HD Remake on 30th October, well, you’ll be able to do that quite literally, as Square Enix has shown off a brand new region, added to Dragon Quest II specifically, in this remake (thanks, Gematsu!).
The Seabed is (as you’d expect) an underwater region that you’ll be able to access as soon as you get the boat. And it’s here where you’ll meet the merfolk, who live in the aptly-named Mersea. But there’s no time to relax, as they’re being threatened by monsters.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
SQUARE ENIX
SQUARE ENIX
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles – September 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
The Kingdom of Ivalice has fallen into civil war. Lead your party in exhilarating encounters where strategic positioning and forward planning determine the outcome. With improved graphics, fully voiced dialogue, and refined gameplay, the enhanced version provides the perfect way to immerse yourself in the world of Ivalice. The classic version unites the graphics and gameplay of the original 1997 version with the renowned War of the Lions translation for a unique way to experience this beloved title.
Survios Inc.
Survios Inc.
Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition – September 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Play as rogue Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks in the terrifying first chapter of a two-part saga set between the “Alien” and “Aliens” films. Sent to investigate a distress call on the remote planet Purdan, Zula uncovers a secret Weyland-Yutani blacksite overrun by deadly Xenomorphs. Pre-order now and get a cosmetic “Alien: Romulus” themed armor skin and weapon skin.
Fictions
LEGO Party! – September 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Compete against your friends in wacky Challenge Zones and 60 hilarious minigames from across your favorite LEGO sets like LEGO Pirates, LEGO Space, LEGO Ninjago and more. Join your friends online no matter their platform, or get together for a LEGO Party game night. Pre-order LEGO Party! now and score 5 awesome minifigures. Let the party begin!
Dovetail Games
Dovetail Games
Dovetail Games
Train Sim World 6 – September 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Expect the Unexpected in Train Sim World 6! Be ready for anything as you master formidable trains across 3 routes. Handle the unexpected with random events, signals may take longer to clear, or speed restrictions may be in place. With Conductor Mode, Free Roam, Creators Club, Photo Mode and more, embark on your own journey in your own way. Pick up the Deluxe and Special editions to start playing early on September 25.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
Digimon Story Time Stranger – October 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Digimon Story Time Stranger is an RPG with monster-taming elements that explores the deep bond between humans and Digimon in an epic story that unravels the mystery of the world’s collapse. Embark on an adventure that spans across the human world and Digital World, collecting and raising a diverse array of Digimon to fight in turn-based battles.
GameMill Entertainment
GameMill Entertainment
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny – September 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is a vibrant, universe-spanning mashup that brings iconic Nickelodeon heroes into a world of fantasy-style tropes and real-time RPG action. With the Deluxe Edition, unlock a whole new costume for every hero with the Wardrobe of Wonder Pack. Gear up, cast spells, and charge into chaos—your destiny has never looked this good!
Outright Games Ltd.
The Grinch: Christmas Adventures – Merry & Mischievous Edition – October 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Explore more of Who-ville in the Merry & Mischievous Edition of The Grinch: Christmas Adventures. Snowboard down from the Grinch’s Caves in Mount Crumpit, sleigh through the Forest, and even parachute through the Village, spreading Christmas cheer. If you’re feeling Grinchy, join the Grinch and Max on a sneaky mission to steal presents. Do you think you can help his heart grow three sizes?
Sometimes You
Keep an eye on the time to ensure you make the most of your week in the psychospherical house of Mouthole. Solve puzzles and unravel mysteries to forge convoluted paths of discovery and exploration. Navigate quotidian existence. Crawl into your mouth. Brush your teeth?
Sometimes You
Buildest – September 30
Xbox One X Enhanced
Being architect is easy: explore the level, craft the necessary building materials, and order workers to build. You can play alone or with friends up to 4 players. Discover all the architectural secrets!
Afil Games
Cloud to Gold – September 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Follow the rainbow, find the gold! In Cloud to Gold, every puzzle is a magical mix of logic and charm. You play as a mischievous leprechaun on a quest to push clouds, fill holes, and create rainbow paths that lead straight to the legendary pot of gold.
indie.io
Echoes of the Plum Grove – September 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
A new life awaits you in Honeywood! After washing onto the island’s shores, you’ll find yourself the newly minted owner to a humble plot of land. Pull up your sleeves, grab your tools, and get to work building a farm that will last not only a lifetime, but span generations! Echoes of Plum Grove is a casual, cozy farm simulator where your decisions have consequences! What to plant, what to stock for the winter, and who to befriend will shape not only the town of Honeywood, but the island itself.
Page To Pixel Publishing LLC
Interwoven Emotions – September 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Do you ever feel alone? Like no matter what you do, it is not good enough? Follow the characters along their journey of fighting negative emotions and finding purpose. The game includes 8 unique mini game styled boss fights that take you through a story loop across 3 gradually increasing difficulty versions, for a total of 24 levels, all with a special twist. Navigate the surprises of frustration, the doubts of confusion, and the challenges of arrogance to make it to the other side of this compact narrative adventure.
Eastasiasoft Limited
Notice Me Leena-senpai! – October 1
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
The Demon Lord is attacking and it’s up to you to help Leena-senpai defend against devilish minions! Notice Me Leena-senpai! is a lighthearted tactical tower defense game with visual novel storytelling. As war breaks out between demons and humans, defend the All-Girls School of Magic with 28 unique towers across 10 worlds. Strategically place and upgrade units in grid lanes, earn gold for power-ups, and survive endless waves!
Head Bear Games
Tiny Archer – October 1
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Embark on an epic adventure in Tiny Archer, a breathtaking 2D platformer set in a dangerous, slime-infested dungeon! As a nimble archer, fight through 20 treacherous levels filled with cunning slimes, each requiring clever tactics to defeat. Master wall-jumping to navigate deadly traps, collect crystals, and grab powerful quivers that unleash triple-shot barrages of devastating power. With precise controls and diverse enemies, Tiny Archer offers thrilling combat and exploration.
Flynn’s Arcade
Galacticon – October 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Play Anywhere
Galacticon is a video game with the look and feel of early 1980s arcade machines, in the style of Williams classics such as Defender and Joust, with the gameplay of the legendary Jetpac, and with puzzle elements.
Amazon Games
King of Meat – October 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Compete in a co-op party platformer, pitting up to 4 players against official and community-built devious dungeons filled with puzzles to solve, challenges to traverse, and ridiculous monsters to fight. Progression is more fun with friends, but there can only be one name at the top of the leaderboards.
Feardemic
Leaving his home colony while tracking a mysterious glitch, an android finds himself in the midst of a vast and dangerous structure, completely hidden from his people’s knowledge. Unable to go back, you must keep going to find out where he is being led… and why he left in the first place.
Afil Games
Slide Viking – October 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Sharpen your axes and get ready to slide into adventure! You play as a bold viking whose mission is clear: gather every chest of gold the land has to offer. Whether you’re after a casual puzzle to relax with or a series of smart challenges to conquer, Slide Viking delivers a journey full of brains, treasure, and plenty of sliding fun.
Bad Minions, Little Giant
XIII A Final Fame of Tarot with Death – October 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
How long can you play with Death? Death comes for everyone, and now it’s your turn — but you didn’t expect it to want to read your future. Play your cards the right way and keep your Karma balanced — the closer to zero, the better. Try to achieve the highest score possible in this roguelike!
7Levels
Castle of Heart: Retold – October
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
As a Slavic warrior named Svaran, you must overcome not only magical creatures and lethal contraptions, but also a terrible curse that has turned your body to stone. You need to keep your kill streak going—otherwise your body will begin to disintegrate, eventually costing you limbs and the ability to wield weapons! Castle of Heart: Retold is a massively upgraded and expanded version of the original game, featuring significant enhancements across gameplay, story, visuals, and more.
BoomBit
Car Driving School Simulator – October 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery
Car Driving School Simulator offers the ultimate experience for mastering car driving, from basic skills to extreme maneuvers, transforming you into a highly skilled driver. Whether you’re passionate about car drive simulator games, enjoy the challenge of car parking games, or seek a realistic bus simulator experience—even aspiring to be a school bus driver—this game caters to every car enthusiast. Immerse yourself in a car simulator world, tackling exciting challenges.
Kinda Brave Entertainment
Go Fight Fantastic! – October 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Go Fight Fantastic is a 1-3 player hack-and-slash starring a crew of interstellar smugglers, led by their space-dog captain Bowie. When they stumble into an invasion during a mission to Bird Planet, they become the only hope of this once peaceful world. Team up in co-op (local and online) or switch between the different characters on-the-fly in solo play.
Drageus Games S.A.
Castle Crumble – October 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Unleash chaos and creativity in Castle Crumble! Journey through colorful worlds, from lush jungles to mysterious islands, and destroy mighty fortresses with explosive power. Every castle is a unique puzzle, built to challenge your tactics and imagination. Use cannons, bombs, magical rays and devastating boosters like meteors or shockwaves to bring down walls in glorious chain reactions. With over 300 levels across six worlds, Castle Crumble offers endless fun for players who love strategy, destruction, and spectacular physics.
Talha & Jack Co
Judero – October 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Judero is an action/adventure game inspired by the rich folk history of the Scottish Borders. You play as Judero, a Celt who can establish a rapport with the nature around him. Travel with Judero through a handcrafted landscape as he discovers there is an evil at work manipulating the unguarded.
Ratalaika Games S.L.
Piggly Paggly Boom – October 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Wild fireballs have gone haywire, and you must shoot them down using your special hookshot. Gain access to various powerups, such as freezing movement, replenishing countdown time, faster shots, upgraded defenses, and more. Can you clear each level before time runs out without getting burned?
Jolly Lobster Interactive
Runasaurus Rex: Origins – October 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dinosaurs went extinct once, don’t let it happen again! Runasaurus Rex: Origins is a thrilling endless runner where you take control of Rex, a fearless T-Rex on a desperate race for survival. Dash, jump, and dodge your way through dangerous terrain as you try to outrun extinction itself!
Dolores Entertainment
Stay Still – October 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere
Rent a house for one night and find out why no one ever stays. In Stay Still, you play as Nam, trapped in a home scarred by a 2008 crime. Explore oppressive rooms, solve environmental puzzles, and avoid at all costs the spirits that stalk you. There’s no combat here—if you want to live to tell the tale, you’ll need to run, hide, and sharpen your ears.
The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 30 to October 3 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
In Possessor(s), you’ll play as Luca, a girl trapped in the ruins of her city in the aftermath of an attack by extra-dimensional demons.
Luca doesn’t exactly have a lot of experience fighting anyone… she used to be a pretty regular kid! But Sanzu City is full of demons who need killing, and Luca doesn’t exactly have any weapons lying around to kill them with.
To defend herself and Rhem, her allied demon, Luca will have to scrounge for makeshift weapons all over Sanzu. Rhem will give her the power to turn some of the simple household items she finds into much-more-deadly ones.
Luca has two kinds of attacks: Weapons, which she can use at any time to batter her enemies, and Special Weapons, which spend Charges. Luca can earn additional Charges of her Specials by making successful hits with her regular Weapon.
When Luca wakes up in the ruins of Sanzu, the only Weapon she can find is a pair of kitchen knives. But soon, she’ll start collecting some even stranger items.
In the Campus, Luca can get her hands on an Electric Guitar. She can charge it up and perform a massive ground smash, sending a shockwave at her enemies. The Guitar is a slow but powerful weapon. When you’re wielding it, you’ll have to choose your timing well!
In the Sunken City housing development, Luca might find the Hockey Stick. This weapon is great for performing quick, deadly sweeps, and hitting enemies who are standing further away. Its attacks can also be chained into aerial combos against flying or juggled enemies.
Luca can pair either of these Weapons with up to three Special Weapons by assigning them to different directional inputs. This allows you to build your own combos.
For example, Luca’s Computer Mouse Special is great for knocking enemies into the air, where they can be juggled by the Hockey Stick’s aerial combo. The Cell Phone special shocks enemies around the player, which may stun them long enough for her to smash them with her Guitar.
One of Luca’s strange Specials is a pair of cool Sunglasses. Activating them right before an enemy strikes you allows you to do a massive counterattack! My favorite Special, however, is her Katana. It’s the only one of her Weapons which is genuinely a weapon – Luca finds it in the Mall! It works as a gap-closer, helping Luca zoom close to her enemies and damage them with a powerful swipe.
To find these weapons, Luca will have to search every inch of Sanzu City. The city is overgrown and destroyed, and a lot of the places that used to be familiar to her now feel strange and dangerous.
The SanZooQuarium, a local aquarium she used to visit on field trips, is now full of possessed sea creatures… and demonic penguins with something suspicious to sell you. She’ll have to fight her way past shattered fishtanks to find the last human hiding there. What kind of deal did he strike with these demons to keep himself alive? Luca will have to find him and get some answers!
Luca can also explore her old high school Campus. The classrooms and libraries are now filled with possessed books, filing cabinets, vases, and lamps. There’s a human hiding here, too – Luca’s old teacher, Professor Foss. He wants to help her… but he seems unwell, and he might be hiding a secret in the basement of the school. Luca will have to get some answers from him, too!
Luca and Rhem are all on their own in Sanzu. But with Rhem’s powers, and Luca’s tenacity, they’ll be able to hold back an army of demons with a pile of scrounged items. To see how she does it, you’ll have to check out Possessor(s) at release for PlayStation 5 on November 11!
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 director Naoki Hamaguchi has assured fans that despite Square Enix admitting last year that Rebirth “did not meet expectations,” the second part of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy has been “doing very well” on both PC and PS5, and the team has been able to channel that success into a “high-quality third instalment.”
“The second entry, FFVII Rebirth, has been doing very well on both PS5 and PC,” Hamaguchi told Automaton. “I know some fans have expressed concerns, but please rest assured, we’ll be able to deliver a proper, high-quality third instalment.”
The concern revolved around the suggestion that the scope of Part 3 might have been scaled back as a result of Rebirth’s disappointing profits. But Rebirth has enjoyed a comeback of sorts after debuting strongly on PC via Steam.
Hamaguchi also took the opportunity to assure the community that development on Final Fantasy 7 Part 3 is going “extremely well,” adding: “The game is shaping up nicely. A lot of the content is already playable, and the game’s direction and form are firmly set in place. Right now, the team is united around refining everything.”
RPG fans have been on the hunt for news about the next entry in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy since its last installment, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, launched in early 2024. We know development started as early as June 2022, with Square Enix saying last year that its goal was to see it launch by 2027. Excitement for the third and final chapter in the trilogy grew even more when the team revealed that it had completed its story earlier this year.
And though he was still being a little coy with the details, in a separate interview with German outlet JPGames, Hamaguchi revealed that the “key words […] that underpin the design philosophy and then the theme for each game” were “reunion” for Remake, and “bonds” for Rebirth. The third instalment also has a key term, but Hamaguchi’s keeping that to himself for now.
“In terms of development [of Part 3], we’re working on that right now,” he added. “We’ve got builds running where you can actually experience what that theme is through the gameplay. And we know where we’re going with it. It’s looking like it’s going in the right direction, and we’ll keep working on it and make it even better. So hopefully in the near future we’ll be able to reveal some of that.
“And yeah, this is going to be the climax, the finale of the series. And we’re going to make it a suitable finale, a really great send-off for the game. It will be something ideally we hope will please fans, will delight the fans of this much-loved series, and really reward everyone for sticking with us to the end. So look forward to that. More information in the not too distant future. It’s all in safe hands!”
Co-director Tetsuya Nomura similarly acknowledge he’d heard the cries for updates on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 and Kingdom Hearts 4 earlier this month, and happily reported that development was “progressing really smoothly.” While we wait, you can read up why the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 team “will not cheat” when it comes to Final Fantasy 7’s iconic airship.
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.
In May this year, despite being deep in development on The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, CD Projekt revealed that they’d be whipping out one more patch for The Witcher 3 in honour of its tenth birthday. Said update was originally set to drop in 2025, but has now been pushed back into 2026.
It’s a little bit of an extra wait for cross-platform mod support, and given what the studio have been like witch Cyberpunk 2077’s seemingly never-ending string of last updates, I’m not ruling out them having secretly decided to add more new stuff to the RPG masterpiece while they’re at it.
