And Agent Dark is still going.
Rare had a heck of a run on the Nintendo 64, and today we’re celebrating the anniversary of yet another of the studio’s classics — Perfect Dark.
Joanna Dark made her debut on Nintendo’s 64-bit console on 22nd May 2000 in North America, with a European release following in June. Today, it ranks as the studio’s highest-rated game on Metacritic still.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
The year is 30XX, and the world has seen better days. Cities have crumbled, humanity has faded, and rogue AI forces have overrun what’s left. But even in the wreckage, a spark remains—and with it, a chance to rebuild. Lynked: Banner of the Spark isn’t just a hack-and-slash game. It’s an action-RPG where fast-paced action and heartfelt community-building go hand-in-hand.
Every mission helps you grow stronger, but more importantly, it helps you restore a broken world. Whether you’re battling Combots with your Wyre and customized weapon loadout or growing crops and cooking for your Unibot companions, your progress fuels something greater than survival. It fuels connection.
After an early access period on PC, Lynked comes to Xbox consoles today as part of its 1.0 release. Let me fill you in on the genre-blending game we’ve made.
At the heart of Lynked is the Wyre, a grappling hook that lets you push, pull, swing, and stun enemies in combat. Combine it with one of ten distinct weapon types—each modifiable per mission—to adapt your playstyle on the fly. It makes for quick, satisfying combat encounters that reward precision and creativity. But while missions are essential to unlocking Sparkpowers and Soulsparks—vital upgrades that enhance your abilities—the action is just the beginning.
After each mission, you return to your town, a space you’ll shape over time into a vibrant hub full of quirky Unibots and meaningful memories. It’s here that Lynked sets itself apart. You’re not just resting between fights—you’re rebuilding, customizing, and forming bonds with characters who have rich histories and distinct personalities.
Spend time exploring early on: visit Sparkold to unlock powers and purchase revives, check out the Beautification Station to personalize your style, and stop by The Master Forge to enhance your weapons. Even something as simple as walking through town can unlock new features and stories.
Unibots play a central role in shaping your journey. As you explore the world, you’ll take on rescue missions that bring new Unibot companions into your town—each one adding meaningful upgrades to your settlement. Whether they’re helping you craft and upgrade new weapons, expanding your character’s customization options, or simply bringing more personality to your world, these companions are far more than background characters—they’re vital to your progress.
Battle Companions are a type of Unibot that will support you in combat missions. Each Battle Companion has their own combat style—ranging from rapid DPS strikes to supportive healing—and unique Sparkpowers that bring tactical variety to every encounter.
With the Resident Favors system, you can deepen these relationships by learning your Unibots’ preferences and fulfilling their requests. Cooking plays a key role here: you can grow crops, gather rotating ingredients, and discover recipes to cook personalized dishes for your companions. These meals don’t just nourish—they increase your Unibots’ level, strength, and rank.
As you progress through missions and develop your town, Unibots ensure you’re never facing challenges alone—bringing personality, power, and heart to every corner of your world.
One of the more underrated systems early on is the Dime Saloon, which offers combat contracts tied to specific weapons or styles. Completing them earns extra Sparks and rewards experimentation. It’s a great way to explore the variety of combat options available without feeling locked into one approach.
As your town grows, you’ll also start collecting Bittibots and Gilibots—mischievous little helper bots who assist in crafting, building, and decorating. Filling out your Bot-O-Pedia isn’t just satisfying—it’s essential to unlocking more creative options and resources.
Whether you’re customizing your town, upgrading your companions, or decorating the perfect garden plaza, Lynked offers a steady rhythm of progress and play. It’s a world that invites exploration and rewards care. Even the UI—the Buddy OS—helps keep things approachable, letting you manage your town, residents, and gear from a central hub. It’s cozy, but never slow. Strategic, but never stressful.
At its core, Lynked is a game about togetherness. It balances roguelite intensity with warmth and optimism. You’re not just pushing back against a mechanical apocalypse—you’re building something beautiful in its wake. It’s that perfect blend of frenetic action and slow, satisfying rebuilding that makes every session feel meaningful.
Whether you’re playing solo, co-op with friends, or alongside your battle companions, you’ll never have to take on the fight alone. There will always be a few friendly robot faces waiting for you in town between your battles.
Lynked: Banner of the Spark launches on Xbox today, and we can’t wait for you to discover its world—one filled with combat, crafting, companionship, and hope. Join us on Discord, follow us on X or Instagram, and start planning your dream town.
Dreamhaven
A ROGUE-LIFE RPG
Lynked: Banner of the Spark fuses the action packed fun of a roguelite with the rich progression and charm of a life sim. In this vibrant rogue-life RPG, combat and customization go hand in hand. Put your skills to the test against swarms of robot foes and tough-as-nails bosses, then use their parts and other resources to expand and upgrade your home base. Whether you’re a homebody or a hardened warrior, there are endless ways to pitch in – it’ll take a village to save the world!
LYNK UP IN CO-OP OR SOLO
Take on a variety of hack-and-slash missions either solo or with up to 3 players. But wait… your Unibot pals want a piece of the action, too! Players can power up and recruit allied bots into the fight as companions, where they have their own powers, fighting styles, and combo attacks to send your foes to the scrap pile!
WEAPONS AND THE WYRE
Kick bolts with your trusty grapple, known as the Wyre, along with an arsenal of weapons at your disposal! Gain an edge on enemies with 10 weapon classes, 80+ variations, robust permanent progression systems, and randomized mid-mission upgrades ensuring no two runs are ever the same.
BUILD A THRIVING TOWN
Enlist the help of robots and up to 5 friends to work together and build a bright local community. Catch fish, collect critters, harvest crops, and craft items to make your home uniquely yours! In addition to enriching your town, use the resources you collect to upgrade your character with special powers and techniques to take to your next fight.
FINE-TUNE YOUR LOOK
Rebuild society in style with deep character customization, featuring more options and accessories than you can shake a wrench at!
The post Lynked: Banner of the Spark – Blending Hack-and-Slash with Town-Building to Make a ‘Rogue-Life’ Game appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Relic has announced Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition, a modernized version of its 20-year-old RTS classic.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition, due out on PC via Steam and GOG later this year, presents the original gameplay as fans will remember it, but optimized for modern hardware. IGN has an exclusive interview with design director Philippe Boulle where we run through all the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition details — it’s well worth a read if you’re into Dawn of War in any way.
Fans have long-called for a revival of the Dawn of War franchise, and the first game in the series, which is considered one of the best if not the best Warhammer 40,000 games ever made, is a potential first start. The hope is of course that Relic uses this release as a platform for the creation of a brand new Dawn of War game; Dawn of War 4 perhaps.
The Definitive Edition includes all the Dawn of War and standalone expansion content (four classic Dawn of War campaigns, nine armies, and over 200 maps all in one game). There’s 4K support, upscaled textures (4x the originals), and image-based lighting for a higher level of fidelity while retaining the classic experience. World lighting, unit reflections, and shadows have all been improved, and new unit gloss and emissive lighting “will faithfully enhance the moment-to-moment action.”
The camera now lets you pull back further to see more on-screen, and the HUD and screen layout have been optimized for widescreen viewing. Dawn of War has also been upgraded to a 64-bit platform to support the ongoing efforts of the modding community and will be compatible with over 20 years of community mods upon release.
“The Definitive Edition celebrates the original Dawn of War and preserves the legacy of this landmark Warhammer 40,000 title for years to come,” said Justin Dowdeswell, CEO at Relic Entertainment.
“Warhammer 40,000 is more popular than ever, and we want new players to experience where the classic Dawn of War franchise began, while providing a platform for our long-time fans to relive it in its entirety.”
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition was announced during the Warhammer Skulls 2025 broadcast. In case you missed it, check out all the announcements and trailers from the show.
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.
Lugging a gaming PC around isn’t exactly practical, and handhelds like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are fun, but not exactly built for heavy lifting. If you want something that’s actually powerful and still portable, a gaming laptop’s where you’ll probably end up.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is getting a surprise Master Crafted Edition, launching June 10 on PC and Xbox Series X and S, and straight into Game Pass.
No PlayStation 5 version was mentioned by publisher Sega, which retains the rights to the Relic Entertainment-developed original third-person shooter.
This is described as the “definitive edition” of Captain Titus and the Ultramarines’ fight against the Ork hordes. Space Marine was first published by THQ back in 2011 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The Master Crafted Edition was developed by SneakyBox, and has a 4K resolution, modernized controls, an interface overhaul, improved character models, and remastered audio, which includes over 100 new voice lines for the Orks.
“Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition isn’t just a technical upgrade — it’s a thoughtful restoration,” said producer Vaidas Mikelskas from SneakyBox. “We aimed to preserve the spirit of the original while modernizing the experience for today’s players.
“This is more than just Master Crafted Edition, it’s a respectful dialogue between past and present, preserving what made the original special while making it shine for a new generation of players.”
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine eventually got its sequel, the smash hit that was 2024’s Space Marine 2. That game got an announcement of its own, a new Siege mode coming to test players’ resolve. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition was announced during the Warhammer Skulls 2025 broadcast. In case you missed it, check out all the announcements and trailers from the show.
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.
The Warhammer Skulls Showcase was full to the brim with, unsurprisingly, lots of Warhammer 40,000 game news, including a sequel to Boltgun and a definitive edition of Dawn of War. CRPG heads were also treated to a reveal of Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, a new party-based title from Owlcat Games, the devs behind another Warhammer game Rogue Trader. The reveal came in the form of a nicely partially 2D-animated trailer alongside some brief looks at gameplay, all of which is looking quite good.
Relic Entertainment have announced Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition – an upgraded, 64-bit version of your 29th favourite strategy game of all time, which includes all of the original DLC and will be compatible with “over 20 years of lovingly crafted community mods”.
“I’m an absolutist when it comes to preservation”.
As far as the ‘Average Joe’ on the high street is concerned, the physical games market is practically dead and buried right now. Store shelves are emptier than ever, the usually reliable supermarket chains often no longer stock them, and we’re rapidly heading into a future in which the majority of Switch 2 carts won’t have any significant data on them.
Yet for the hardcore crowd — those whose passion for the physical article has yet to waver — there are thankfully still a few avenues to investigate. Limited Run Games, Super Rare Games, iam8bit… All of them have stumbled at some time or another, yet they remain some of the last bastions of physical games media.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
The ultimate Festival of Warhammer video games returned today for its 9th year – Warhammer Skulls just aired, bringing news for Xbox Warhammer games, and huge discounts.
Hosted once again by huge Warhammer fan, Rahul Kohli, returning for the third year in a row, the Skulls Showcase kicks off an exciting week of world premieres, as well as new announcements and content reveals for Xbox fans. Alongside this celebration, players can expect huge deals and discounts on the Xbox and Microsoft Store, with up to 85% off savings during the event.
Let’s take a closer look at the announcements, reveals, and updates included in the Warhammer Skulls Festival:
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition was announced and will be coming to Xbox and PC on June 10. This is an uprezzed 4k version of the game with improved character Models, modernized control schemes and upgraded audio. Relive the original adventure on Xbox Series X|S. Also available Day 1 on Game Pass!
That wasn’t all though, Focus Entertainment and Saber gave us our first look at Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s new Siege mode and revealed it will be coming on June 26.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide has announced a new playable Class DLC will be coming to Xbox and PC on June 23. That’s right, the Adepus Arbites becomes a playable character…. ably assisted by a playable Cyber Mastiff which you can send to disable priority targets and provide vital support to your strike team. Don’t forget the Darktide base game is available on Game Pass, and it is also available as part of Xbox Free Play Days this week!
Xbox fans will remember Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2 was announced at last year’s Skulls Event. This year, we got a new trailer featuring the Leagues of Votann and a first look at gameplay. Whether this faction will be allies or foes to the player is yet to be seen, but this will be the first time the faction has appeared in a Warhammer 40,000 video game. Wishlist the game now! In celebration, you can play the first Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus as part of this week’s Free Play Days.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader announced its second DLC is coming on June 24. Lex Imperialis sees the Arbitrators join the game and a new companion, locations and archetypes. Owlcat also announced there will be a Season Pass 2 starting during Skulls and have teased there will be another 2 DLCs to follow as part of that. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is available to buy on Xbox and PC and is also available on Xbox Game Pass. It also features as part of the Free Play Days during Skulls.
The bombastic boomer shooter Boltgun returns to Xbox in Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2, including Warhammer Skulls host, Rahul Kohli, resuming his role as veteran Sternguard Malum Caedo, which was announced today. Wishlist now!
The showcase also revealed trailers for Season 9 of Blood Bowl 3, which showed off the new Khorne Team (coming June 10), new content for Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector available now,and a tease that the Black Legion will be joining the fight later this year. Vermintide 2 saw the release of the 3rd new level of Verminous Dreams, a free Update. Vermintide 2 is also available on Xbox Game Pass now as part of Skulls.
Over on the Microsoft store, Total War: Warhammer 3 gave us a glimpse at the free next legendary lord in their new Tides of Torment DLC content coming to PC soon.
The fun doesn’t stop there though – remember-Darktide, Rogue Trader and Vermintide are all on Xbox Game Pass. Game Pass subscribers can also use Xbox Free Play Days to try out multiple Warhammer games between May 22-26, including Blood Bowl 3, Rogue Trader, Chaos Gate Daemon Hunters, Mechanicus, Shootas Blood and Teef, Darktide, Chaosbane Slayer Edition and Inquisitor Martyr. You can also check out Dynamic Backgrounds for Boltgun, Space Marine 2 and Rogue Trader!
Now, that’s a lot of Warhammer to get your teeth stuck into! And that’s just some highlights of the awesome Warhammer content coming soon. Don’t forget, you can check it all out, and grab some great deals, on the dedicated Warhammer Skulls Festival landing page over on the Microsoft Store. Thanks for reading!
The post Warhammer Skulls Showcase 2025: Every Xbox Announcement and Reveal appeared first on Xbox Wire.
The Warhammer Skulls 2025 video game showcase has ended, and oh boy was it a big one. Reveal highlights included the revival of Relic’s much-loved Dawn of War real-time strategy series, a surprise Master Crafted Edition of the first Space Marine, a teaser for Space Marine 2’s upcoming horde mode, now called Siege, and the announcement of Boltgun 2.
There was plenty more confirmed during the show. So, in case you missed it, here’s a rundown of everything announced at Warhammer Skulls 2025, with enough trailers to satisfy even the grumpiest of Inquisitors.
Warhammer Skulls revealed the world premiere of the sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Boltgun 2. The retro first-person shooter is set for launch across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026.
Meanwhile, free-to-play typing game Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Words of Vengeance is out now on PC via Steam. Here, you plug in your keyboard and “unleash the might of your WPM (word-per-minute)” in a twist on Boltgun.
Owlcat announced its next cRPG, Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy alongside an expansion to Rogue Trader and Season Pass 2. Dark Heresy is the studio’s second narrative-driven tactical RPG set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and lets you assume the role of an Inquisitor. Set against the backdrop of the Noctis Aeterna and the mystery of the Tyrant Star, players lead a warband of diverse companions in a desperate battle against heresy and corruption — from loyal Imperial subjects, such as a veteran Guardsman from the death world of Catachan, to nefarious xenos, including a bird-like Kroot mercenary. It’s due out on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.
Rogue Trader’s second major story expansion is called Lex Imperialis, and Season Pass 2 includes two additional “story-rich” DLCs and an appearance customization pack. Lex Imperialis thrusts players into the iron grip of Imperial Law. A new 15-hour storyline introduces the Adeptus Arbites, a faction of incorruptible enforcers, and a new companion — the grim and relentless Solomorne Anthar. It’s due out June 24.
Season Pass 2, meanwhile, bundles two new expansions and an appearance customization pack. The third major addition to the game lets players enter a Necron vault curated by Trazyn the Infinite, challenge ancient guardians, and uncover relics tied to the Von Valancius legacy. The fourth explores the Processional of the Damned — a surreal voidship graveyard. Each of these DLCs will feature a new companion character, new quests deeply integrated into the main storyline, new mechanics, and deliver around 15 hours of gameplay.
One of the big surprises of the show was a Master Crafted Edition of the original Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, coming to PC and Xbox Game Pass on June 10. This is described as the “definitive edition” of Captain Titus and the Ultramarines’ fight against the Ork hordes. Space Marine was first published by THQ back in 2011 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The Master Crafted Edition was developed by SneakyBox, and has a 4K resolution, modernized controls, an interface overhaul, improved character models, and remastered audio, which includes over 100 new voice lines for the Orks.
Space Marine 2, meanwhile, teased Siege, the game’s hotly anticipated horde mode. It’s due out June 26. IGN has confirmed, via an exclusive interview with Tim Willits, Chief Creative Officer at developer Saber Interactive, that the Dreadnought shown in the trailer is a part of Siege gameplay. It is Brother Valtus, the mighty Redemptor Dreadnought from the Ultramarines 2nd Company. Players won’t be able to pilot it, but they’ll be able to call him as reinforcement throughout their Siege games. Check out our Space Marine 2 interview with Tim in full for much more.
Fatshark’s Warhammer 40,000: Darktide gets a new paid Arbites Class DLC on June 23.
The biggest announcement of Warhammer Skulls had to be the return of the Dawn of War franchise. Relic Entertainment announced Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Definitive Edition, due out on PC later in 2025. IGN has an exclusive interview with developer Relic Entertainment in which we discuss the long-awaited return of the real-time strategy classic.
After an announcement at last year’s Warhammer Skulls broadcast, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II got another big reveal this year featuring the Leagues of Votann.
Creative Assembly revealed the next DLC for Total War: Warhammer III, Tides of Torment. We also got to see the next Legendary Lord, coming this summer.
Talisman Digital 5th Edition – Talisman Alliances: Fate Beckons, a new cooperative DLC based on the boardgame expansion, was announced. Trailer below.
Well-received strategy game Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector revealed a new major free update, which includes a Crusade game mode, Dominions and Orks Boyz with Choppa, alongside a new paid Deeds of the Fallen DLC.
Fatshark’s Warhammer: Vermintide 2 will be available on Game Pass as part of Skulls, while the third Level of the Verminous Dreams campaign has been released as a free update.
Blood Bowl 3’s new season with a new faction launches June 10. The Khorne Team was announced as part of the event, alongside a sale and a free item for players: the coach for the Khorne Team.
Mobile turn-based strategy game Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus is getting a new faction, the Adeptus Custodes.
The Emperor’s Children are a new faction coming to Warhammer 40,000: Warpforge (good timing given the recent release of the traitor legion’s new codex).
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius has a new units DLC via the Onslaught pack. The base game is available ‘Free 2 Keep’ on Steam during the week of Skulls. Meanwhile, pre-registration is open for Supremacy: Warhammer 40,000, a brand new grand strategy mobile game launching late 2025.
Daemon Primarch Angron is released as the next Supreme Commander card in Warhammer Combat Cards.
New Warhammer 40,000 in-game stickers based on tabletop decals will be available for Counter-Strike 2 on Steam.
And finally, eight Warhammer video games will be part of the Free Play Days promo over on Xbox from May 22-26, including previous Warhammer Skulls world premiere Rogue Trader, as well as Darktide, Mechanicus, Chaos Gate: Daemon Hunters, and Shootas, Blood & Teef.
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.
