The Dying Light: Retouched update will add enhanced visuals and remastered audio to Techland’s original zombie parkour experience on PC and consoles tomorrow – but Nintendo Switch players won’t be able to join in on the fun.
The studio laid out all of its plans for the free update yesterday, revealing a content drop that will make the 10-year-old post-apocalyptic hit feel fresher than ever. Improved textures and lighting, as well as an audio experience that’s been completely remastered from the ground up, are just the start of what was outlined for players on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S. Nintendo Switch, however, was left out of the lineup entirely.
IGN reached out to Techland to ask about a potential Dying Light: Retouched update for Nintendo Switch and if it’s something players can look forward to in the future. A representative for the studio tells us it’s not in the cards.
“The Dying Light: Retouched Update is not coming to Nintendo Switch,” Techland explained in an email exchange.
Dying Light first arrived for Nintendo’s original hybrid gaming platform in 2021 as an all-encompassing Platinum Edition bundle. It’s unclear how this version fared in terms of sales, but we do know its performance was affected by a ban in Germany that has rendered it unavailable to purchase digitally through the Switch eShop across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Those hoping that Retouched or a similar update could instead arrive for Nintendo Switch 2 are also out of luck. For now, Dying Light is only playable on Nintendo’s new hardware via backward compatibility.
“When it comes to a Switch 2 port of the original Dying Light: We have no plans at this moment,” Techland tells us. “We’re currently fully focused on delivering Dying Light: The Beast on August 22, 2025 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. We have no news to share about Nintendo Switch 2 at this time.”
It means Techland’s Dying Light support for Nintendo fans remains limited to Dying Light: Platinum Edition on the original Switch. Dying Light 2: Stay Human – Cloud Version was announced for Switch in 2021 but never released despite the sequel arriving for other platforms in 2022. There’s no word on when or if it will ever be released.
Meanwhile, Dying Light: The Beast, a spinoff that puts players back in the shoes of original protagonist Kyle Crane, is set to leave out Nintendo platforms when it launches for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S August 22. Dying Light Franchise Director Tymon Smektała told Wccftech last week that Techland would “love” to bring The Beast to Switch 2 but had “nothing to announce” at the time.
Dying Light: Retouched is still set to introduce a healthy number of changes to the decade-old zombie game when it launches tomorrow. You can read more about everything included in the developer’s blog post here. You can also check out our original 8.5/10 Dying Light review here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Lightning-fast FPS with superhuman tree climbing and head explosions.
Find out what the creators think of their game.
“Dear Diary… Did I tell you I saw a bird? It had brown feathers and a red chest – it gleamed against the sky…Then I heard the gun shot…Seeing the way they treated this innocent, beautiful thing. I snapped…I’m what the COI made me. And I’m not going back.”
This is an abridged version of the first words you’ll hear playing I Am Your Beast, spoken by the main character, Alphonse Harding. Harding is a retired Covert Operations Initiative (COI) agent, burnt out after years of “one more job” too many. So, when the COI surrounds his home in the forest and offers him another “one last job”, Harding decides to hand in his notice. That notice comes in the form of kicking a COI agent in the face, grabbing their gun in mid-air and moving forwards.
Fast-Paced, Revenge Thriller FPS
Turn the tables on the military-industrial complex who are hunting you down with lightning fast, tree climbing, kick delivering, knife throwing, gun catching FPS action. From guns, to bear traps, to beehives, there are plenty of ways to use your environment to get to the end of the level. At that end, you’ll find a score and rank, so if you’re into speedrunning, or just getting the best times you can, you’ll probably end up going back to these levels a few times!
I Am Your Beast comes complete with all the free extra content we released. This includes the story expansion Support Group, where a group of COI Agents sit and retell the fantastical sounding tale of what happened to them in the main game at the hands of a seemingly superhuman Harding. The second, Cold Sweat is a no story, all challenge, all weird set of challenges. It’s our love letter to the speedrunners who have latched on to I Am Your Beast.
Tyrants Better Run
If you’re looking to speedrun, enjoy the fully voice acted, funny, intense, touching and slick story or enjoy an FPS that can be played in short bursts over more than 20 levels, I Am Your Beast is for you. Oh and I nearly forgot the soundtrack! Let me tell you, the soundtrack is, to borrow a term from the internet, “a banger”. If it was in the Eurovision Song Contest, I’d give it 12 points. (That’s the most points you can give one song, it’s not important to know that for the game, but it’s good to learn new things.)
“I want players to come away feeling cool” says Dan Pearce, Lead Developer on I Am Your Beast. “The experience we really wanted to create, and having a structure of short levels with timers running helps create this, is that we really wanted to push the player to a place where high skill play always results in you having this action sequence. You’re throwing a gun, you’re catching a gun, you’re stomping…” and all of this leads to a sense that you’ve just been through one of the best action scenes you’ve seen, and you didn’t just watch it, you created it!
“The feeling of discovery…is a large part of what makes games like this so interesting. You’re not just playing it once and forgetting, we added a lot of elements for replay ability” says Jim Brown, Level Designer on the game. “Players finding the secret things we have in the world, creating their own challenges and discovering their own ways to play” are something they take a lot of pride in. “The fun part is playing around and figuring it out.” I Am Your Beast features a score system, and you get a rank at the end of each mini-sandbox level. Getting an S Rank will mean finding all the paths and different ways you can take out enemies.
I asked both to describe I Am Your Beast in one word. Jim went with “Dynamic. The ways you move around this environment is not static, it’s not set in stone. You should feel dynamic as you move and play it the way you want to play it.”
Dan, who pointed out that this is a nightmare question as they worked on this game for eight months settled on “Visceral. When you’re getting a good run down, it makes you feel like a dog tearing apart someone’s homework. Visceral is the closest word I can find to that experience. The homework is the military industrial complex, and you are the dog!”
This game is a labor of love from all of us here at Strange Scaffold, and a game we’re very proud to present to you. We’re a small, remote first, collective of games people and we hope you enjoy this one as much as we do.
Hunt the military-industrial complex across stylish comic book micro-sandboxes in this fast-paced covert revenge thriller FPS from the developers of El Paso, Elsewhere.
Humble Bundle has a ton of bundles that you won’t want to miss in June, including a Mafia x BioShock collection, a Capcom publisher sale, and much more. Now through the end of the month, be sure to pick up bundles of games, ebooks, software, and other digital content at a deep discount to help support a wide array of charities,
You can check out our favorite Humble Bundles below, and be sure to keep checking back as we’ll be adding more as they go live!
Get June’s Humble Choice Benefits at a Discount, Including Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered
June is a great month to purchase a membership for Humble Choice, as it will get you access to a monthly mix of PC games, indie favorites in the Vault, up to 20% in Humble’s store, and the good feeling of knowing 5% of your subscription payment will support charitable causes like The Trevor Project. The best part? The $11.99/month fee can be reduced to just $6.99 for one month with the code JUNE25 until June 30 for new subscribers!
In June, subscribers will be able to unlock Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered, Nobody Wants to Die, Dungeons of Hinterberg, Tchia, Sker Ritual, Biped, Havendock, 1 month of IGN Plus, a 1-month subscription to Boot.Dev, and more.
3 Item Bundle collection, Mafia Definitive Edition, Mafia II Definitive Edition, and Mafia III Definitive Edition
Capcom Publisher Sale: Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, Marvel vs. Capcom, and More
If there have been some Capcom games you’ve wanted to add to your collection, Humble is hosting a Capcom Publisher Sale through June 30 that can get you up to 85% off certain titles.
Some highlights include 50% of the Ace Attorney Anthology, 75% off Devil May Cry + Vergil, 58% off Dragon’s Dogma 2, 75% off Monster Hunter Rise, 60% off the Mega Man Legacy Collection, first-time discounts on Humbles’ Marvel vs. Capcom games, and 75% off Resident Evil Village alongside discounts on most major RE games.
Focus Entertainment Publisher Sale: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, A Plague Tale: Innocence and Requiem, and More
Focus Entertainment is offering big discounts on games in its catalog through June 30, and some of the highlights include 40% off Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, discounts on both A Plague Tale: Innocence and A Plague Tale: Requiem, 67% off Atomic Heart, 60% off Aliens: Dark Descent, 82% off The Surge 1 & 2- Dual Pack, and much more.
Machine Learning, AI, and Bots by O’Reilly
If you are looking to level up your coding skills and even build your own bots, this Machine Learning, AI, and Bots by O’Reilly bundle is worth a look. For $25, you can unlock $1,182 in value by gaining access to 17 courses like Learning LangChain, The Developer’s Playbook for Large Language Model Security, and more. Furthermore, this bundle supports Code for America.
There are three tiers of unlocks for this bundle, and they are as follows;
1 Item Bundle (Pay at least $1)
Natural Language Processing with Transformers, Revised Edition
3 Item Bundle (Pay at least $18)
1 Item Bundle Course, Generative Deep Learning, and Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras, and TensorFlow
Entire 17 Item Bundle (Pay at least $25)
3 Item Bundle Courses, Learning LangChain, AI Engineering, Prompt Engineering for LLMs, Hands-On Generative AI with Transformers and Diffusion Models, The Developer’s Playbook for Large Language Model Security, Hands-On Language Models, Developing Apps with GPT-4 and ChatGPT, Prompt Engineering for Generative AI, Machine Learning Interviews, Training Data for Machine Learning, Generative AI on AWD, Architecting Data and Machine Learning Platforms, Low-Code AI, and Machine Learning with Python Cookbook
RPG Game Master Book Series
Become the best Game Master around with this RPG Game Master Book Series bundle, which includes up to 11 ebooks filled with knowledge to improve your skills and give you the tools to create unforgettable gaming experiences. Furthermore, this bundle helps support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
There are three tiers of unlocks for this bundle, and they are as follows;
2 Item Bundle (Pay at least $1)
The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions, and Their Tactics and The Game Master’s Book of Legendary Locations Sampler
4 Item Bundle (Pay at least $8)
2 Item Bundle ebooks, The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying, and The Game Master’s Book of Legendary Dragons
Entire 11 Item Bundle (Pay at least $15)
4 Item Bundle ebooks, The Game Master’s Book of Random Encounters, The Game Master’s Book of Non-Player Characters, The Game Master’s Book of Traps, Puzzles, and Dungeons, The Game Master’s Book of Astonishing Random Tables, The Game Master’s Book of Random Encounters Digital Map Pack, The Game Master’s Book of More Random Encounters, and The Game Master’s Book of Instant Towns and Cities
The Witcher x Cyberpunk 2077 by Dark Horse
If you can’t get enough Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher in your life, this bundle will provide you with up to 25 books and comics from the CD Projekt Red franchises, offering $438 in value by spending at least $24. Not only will you get new stories in comic form, but some of the bundles include art books and more to round out your collection. Furthermore, this bundle supports SpecialEffect.
There are three tiers of unlocks for this bundle, and they are as follows;
1 Item Bundle (Pay at least $1)
The Witcher: Classic Collection
6 Item Collection (Pay at least $12)
1 Item Bundle comic, The Witcher Volume 8: Wild Animals, Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher: The Edge of the World, The Witcher Volume 9: Corvo Bianco, Cyberpunk 2077: XOXO, and Cyberpunk 2077: Kickdown.
Entire 25 Item Bundle (Pay at least $24)
6 Items Bundle collection, Gwent: Art of the Witcher Card Game, The Witcher Volume 7: Ballad of Two Wolves, The World of Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher Volume 6: Witch’s Lament, Cyberpunk 2077: Big City Dreams, The Witcher Volume 5: Fading Memories, The Witcher Volume 4: Of Flesh and Flame, Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher: A Grain of Truth, The World of the Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team, Cyberpunk 2077: Where’s Johnny, Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher: The Lesser Evil, The Witcher: Ronin (Manga), The Witcher Volume 3: Curse of Crows, The Witcher: Volume 2 – Fox Children, Cyberpunk 2077: You Have My Word, Cyberpunk 2077: Blackout, The Witcher Volume 1: House of Glass, and Cyberpunk 2077: Your Voice.
Puzzle Pizzazz
Puzzle fans, rejoice! Humble’s Puzzle Pizzazz bundle is offering brainteasers and the incredibly named ‘Metroidbrainias’ like Homebody, Entropy Centre, and The Abandoned Planet for deep discounts through June 27. Furthermore, this bundle supports The Trevor Project.
There are two tiers of unlocks for this bundle, and they are as follows;
4 Item Bundle (Pay at least $8)
Paper Trail, A Guidebook of Babel, Kingsgrave, and Homebody
Entire 8 Item Bundle (Pay at least $12)
4 Item Bundle collection, The Entropy Centre, The Abandoned Planet, The Star Named EOS, and Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery
Big Bang Unreal & Unity Asset Packs Bundle
If you are more into developing games than playing them at the moment, this Big Bang Unreal & Unity Asset Packs Bundle may be for you as it offers up to a $7,440 value for those who spend at least $20.
Yes, this bundle includes up to 5,000 assets, including realistic and stylized environments, SFX packs, and more powerful tools to bring your games to life. Those who purchase will also gain access to resources, tutorials, and beta-testing-ready content to get you building ASAP. Furthermore, this bundle supports One Tree Planted.
Humble Bundle is part of IGN Entertainment, the division of Ziff Davis that includes GamesIndustry.biz, IGN, and MapGenie.
Today’s lineup is stacked. Two big hits from the Lies of P series are on deep discount over at Fanatical, and there’s a shiny preorder deal for Borderlands 4 with multiple editions up for grabs. If you’re itching for fresh horror-laced action or chaotic looter-shooting, you’re in luck. Use the FANATICAL15 code and you can scoop both Lies titles for under $26 each, which is downright criminal given how much content they pack in.
It’s a tasty one today. Coke Zero is down to just $6.64 for a 12-pack over on Amazon, and you don’t even need to commit to Subscribe & Save to cash in. If your snack drawer’s looking thin, there’s also a Doritos variety pack ready to restock the goods—with all the classics and some spicy curveballs too.
TL;DR: Today’s Deals
Then there’s gaming. New Borderlands 4 preorders are live, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is up for both Switch generations, and Fanatical’s still running that stellar $25.49 price for Lies of P and Overture with the FANATICAL15 code. Don’t forget the new Donkey Kong and Pauline Amiibo either — it unlocks gold tiles and looks awesome on a shelf.
Coke Zero Sugar 12 Pack
Even if you change your mind and don’t want to subscribe and save, you can still get this great deal on Coke Zero when you purchase. It’s Coke with zero sugar, and there’s 12 cans that you can drink out of and recycle (thumbs up).
Doritos Variety Pack
Get that snack drawer stuffed up with this Doritos variety pack. There’s heatwave and original as standard with some of their more novel bags of chips, and it’s also on a subscribe and save deal too.
Nintendo Switch 2 in Stock at AliExpress
If you’re still on the hunt for a Switch 2 console, here’s an opportunity you might want to consider. The Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Tour Console Bundle is currently available for $547.90 with free delivery from a local US-based warehouse. This is a genuine gaming console that has been imported from Hong Kong. Region locking is determined by your account, not by console, so all of these systems will play in the US without any problems. You’ll also be able to select English as your default language just like any console you buy here. AliExpress offers a return window but the length varies depending on the item. These consoles all ship locally from the United States and usually arrive within one week.
Note that although the console is region unlocked and works fine anywhere, the Mario Kart World Tour digital game voucher is region locked to Hong Kong. One of the reviews, however, mentions a workaround:
Donkey Kong and Pauline Amiibo Preorder
This Amiibo will unlock a new dress for Pauline and give players access to explosive gold tiles in Donkey Kong Bananza. Plus it looks awesome and you need to collect all Amiibos ever, unless you don’t. That’s fine too.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2)
This is going to be the definitive edition of POkémon Legends: Z-A thanks to it’s 4K 60 FPS gameplay performancce. I’m sure they’ll be more cheeky features revealed closer to launch, but if you have a Switch 2 grab this version.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 1)
Tunise Rechargeable Portable Neck Fan
It’s a fan that you don’t have to hold because it sits comfortably around your neck. This is such a cool and handy product for under $15, especially if you’re like me and get warm at the thought of some sunshine.
Symphonic Journeys Pokémon Red & Blue – IGN Exclusive Vinyl
Symphonic Journeys: Pokémon Red & Blue is now up for preorder in a stunning IGN-exclusive Fire Red vinyl variant. This 1xLP release features orchestrated arrangements of classic tracks like Pallet Town, Gym Leader Battle, and the Pokémon Center theme, performed by the renowned Budapest Scoring orchestra.
Lies of P (Steam)
We gave Lies of P a solid 8/10, so there’s no reason to not pick up this absolute banger for $25.49. Just make sure to use the discount code FANATICAL 15 to get the full deal.
Lies of P: Overture
Overture also got an 8/10 from us because it does exactly what it says on the tin, gives us more Lies of P. It’s an excellent expansion that adds a whole lot more to a game that was already great.
Borderlands 4 PC Preorders
September 12th is closer than you think, so get Borderlands 4 preordered from Green Man Gaming and secure your preload on Steam. Randy Pitchford reckons that it’s co-op mode will be “The best ever”, too.
Pokémon TCG Classic
The Sam’s Club Pokémon TCG Classic deal is back, and it’s massively undercutting other big box retailers and the secondary market. Just for comparrison, the top four cards from this set, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur and Mewtwo, are worth the same price as this discounted offer. This deal is well worth it and should be snapped up as soon as possible.
Pokémon TCG Stock Updates
As usual we’re looking at over-inflated pricing at big box stores, but it’s a dependable source of sealed product for trainers looking to add to their collections or rip open boosters. Although we’d recommend checking out secondary market prices first, as big retailers are now regularly selling over market value now too. I’ve already done the hard work for you:
TCG Player and eBay Pokémon Sealed Product
The Most Expensive Japanese Black Bolt White Flare Cards
The most expensive cards from Pokémon TCG’s Black Bolt and White Flare sets are already commanding serious prices in Japan. Top of the list are the Special Illustration Rares of Zekrom ex and Reshiram ex, both featuring intricate, hand-drawn artwork and fetching well over ¥20,000 (around $130–$150 USD) on the secondary market.
Also climbing fast are the new BWR (Black White Rare) cards and the full-art Victini promos from the themed file sets. With stunning clay and knitted art styles also making their debut, collectors are pushing prices up across the board, especially for low-population, high-style secret rares.
This Weeks Pokémon TCG Crashers and Climbers
With Black Bolt and White Flare wrapping up the Scarlet & Violet era, all eyes are now on what’s next—and Mega Evolution is officially back. The Japanese Championships 2025 confirmed MEGA Symphonia and MEGA Brave as the first entries in the new Mega Expansion Packs, launching August 1 in Japan. These sets reintroduce Mega Evolution ex cards in a powerful new form, now Stage 2 Pokémon worth 3 Prize Cards when knocked out. Cards like Mega Gardevoir ex, Mega Venusaur ex, and Mega Lucario ex are leading the charge, and collectors are already snapping up classic Mega cards in anticipation of their return to the spotlight.
MTG Live Preorders
Preorders are now live for Magic: The Gathering’s next major set, Edge of Eternities, ahead of its August 1 release. You can lock in Play Booster Boxes, Bundles, Commander Decks, and Collector Boosters, with prices already dipping below MSRP in some spots. With some chunky lore, borderless cards, and premium packaging teased, now’s a good time to grab your picks before stock tightens closer to launch.
I was going to say how insane MTG Final Fantasy’s popularity is, but it’s completely understandable. Whilst sealed stock is going up in value and becoming harder to get, there’s plenty of option for the most in-demand cards for your deck or collection.
MTG Aetherdrift Chase Cards
Aetherdrift is one of Magic: The Gathering’s more experimental sets, blending high-speed vehicle mechanics with a bold visual style. Released as part of the Universes Beyond series, it introduced new archetypes and card types designed to shake up both casual and competitive formats.
3 Months for $0.99 Audible Deal
Audible’s doing that 99c a month deal again for Premium Plus, and it’s a steal. Amazon Prime Members get three months free, so make sure to check for an active subscription before looking for this deal. You get three audiobooks to keep, full access to the big library, and it works even if you’ve had a sub before as long as it’s not active now. I just logged in, saw the banner, and grabbed it. Sunrise on the Reaping is already in my library, and I’m eyeing that massive new Sanderson one next. Less than three bucks for all that? Easy win.
3 Months Free Kindle Unlimited
I’ve never really stuck with audiobooks before, but this Kindle Unlimited deal finally got me into them properly. Right now you can get three months free if you’ve got Prime, and it works on your phone or tablet, not just a Kindle. I gave it a go, downloaded a couple of books, and now I’ve actually started finishing them while I’m out walking or doing stuff around the house. It’s made getting through my backlog way easier and I didn’t have to pay a thing to try it. If you’ve been on the fence, this is a solid excuse to dive in.
Sound Explosion Software Bundle
If you’ve ever needed music or sound effects for a game, video, podcast, or anything creative, this Humble Bundle is ridiculous value. For $20, you get over 100 royalty-free audio packs covering everything from cinematic hits and ambient drones to meme sounds and upbeat pop tracks. I grabbed it just to have a library ready for whatever project pops up, and it’s already saved me time and cash. You can pay as little as a buck if you just want to check it out, and part of what you pay goes to charity too. Easy win if you ever mess with editing or content creation.
Alienware AW3423DWF Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor
Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED is down to $649.99, and it’s an absolute beast. You’re getting a 165Hz refresh rate, deep blacks, punchy colours, and a super sharp 21:9 curved display that makes everything from games to edits look incredible. It’s fast, smooth, and built like a tank with FreeSync support and a proper creator mode if you need colour accuracy. It even comes with a 3-year burn-in warranty. For this price, it’s hard to beat.
The Legend of Zelda Master Sword by Proplica
The $200 Master Sword from Tamashii Nations is a full-size 41-inch replica with sound, rumble, and music from eight Zelda games built in. Press the buttons on the hilt to cycle through tracks from Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and more. It comes with a sheath, a stand, and needs two AA batteries. Stock is limited, so if you’re in move fast.
Monster Hunter Wilds PS5 and Xbox Series X
Monster Hunter Wilds has hit its lowest price yet for the standard physical edition on PS5 and Xbox Series X at just $55.99, down from $69.99. This latest entry takes the series into a fully voiced narrative, dynamic biomes, and crossplay multiplayer. If you’ve been waiting for a price drop to jump into the Forbidden Lands, this is a solid time to grab a copy.
Symphonic Journeys Pokémon Red & Blue – IGN Exclusive Vinyl
Symphonic Journeys: Pokémon Red & Blue is now up for preorder in a stunning IGN-exclusive Fire Red vinyl variant. This 1xLP release features orchestrated arrangements of classic tracks like Pallet Town, Gym Leader Battle, and the Pokémon Center theme, performed by the renowned Budapest Scoring orchestra.
Elden Ring Nightreign Official Strategy Guide
The official strategy guide for Elden Ring: Nightreign is now up for preorder, with a hardcover release set for September 30, 2025. Created by Future Press, this companion book dives deep into the game’s new roguelike multiplayer systems, class mechanics, and shifting world of Limveld. You’ll get detailed Nightfarer builds, bestiary entries, system breakdowns, and beautifully illustrated maps plus bonus art prints and lore. Sounds like a bargain to me.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza is available now for preorder on Nintendo Switch 2 at $69.99, with a release date set for July 17. This all-new 3D platformer brings DK back into the spotlight with a full physical edition and gameplay reminiscent of Super Mario Odyssey. If you’ve been waiting for the return of classic Donkey Kong exploration with modern polish, this looks like the one to watch.
amFilm Switch 2 Tempered Glass Screen
amFilm’s 3-pack tempered glass screen protector for the Nintendo Switch 2 (7.9″) is down to $7.99 and includes everything you need for a smooth installation. The 0.3mm ultra-clear glass offers 9H scratch resistance, touchscreen sensitivity, and an oleophobic coating to reduce smudges. It also comes with a alignment frame, making it easier to apply without bubbles.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
No matter how much I learn about the workings of computers, it will always be Tron in there. Little programs, running around on the Grid, trying to keep the whole system from falling apart. So, Tron: Catalyst felt right up my street. It does a great job of visually replicating that digital world and there is a great idea at its core. Unfortunately, the gameplay didn’t quite live up to the premise. By the end, I was left feeling like the program needed more time to compile.
Tron: Catalyst starts strong – we are introduced to a courier program named Exo who, due to a package exploding in her hands, begins glitching. Her glitches cause her to relive loops of time over and over, a power she uses to escape from prison and uncover a conspiracy surrounding the approaching reset of the Grid. There are competing factions trying to preserve or destroy the Grid; Core seeks to control the Grid with brute force while Automata seek to impart free will to all programs.
The Indie Game Summer Cookout is Here: Indie Selects for June 2025
Raymond Estrada, Steven Allen, Oscar Polanco, Deron MannID@Xbox Grillmasters
Break out the beach blankets, dust off the ice chest, and unfold those camping chairs because summer is here. The barbecue grill is out and the ID@Xbox team is serving up our hottest indie game picks. It wasn’t easy putting together these Monthly Selects as everyone on the team wanted something different for this cookout.
Being the considerate cook, I made sure to ask everyone the important questions, “How do you like your stakes: cozy or world-ending? Who wants puzzles in their game? I can add RPGs, but let me know if you want skill tree leveling or just upgrades? How many would like some terraforming? How many birds should I throw on? Who brought the duck?” When it was all said and done, our handpicked indie games for June turned out to be quite the spread.
Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is what happens when a life sim and an RPG collide with a dash of time travel for good measure. Developed by Level-5, this sequel to the beloved Fantasy Life lets players take on one (or all) of 14 different Lives, from combat-oriented classes like Mercenary or Paladin to creative paths like Woodcutter, Cook, or Alchemist. The twist? You’re not just leveling up, you’re also building and rebuilding an island across two timelines.
What keeps me coming back is its sheer sense of freedom. Want to fish all day? You can. Want to dive into dungeons? Absolutely. Feel like forging armor in the morning and baking cakes at night? Go for it. Each “Life” (class) feels rewarding and distinct, and the ability to switch between them whenever you like means no playstyle ever feels locked in.
As someone who loves optimizing systems and exploring interconnected mechanics, I was drawn in and captivated. Every Life has its own skill tree, equipment, and crafting systems, and they all feed into each other in clever ways. For example, leveling up as a Miner means you can gather rare ore to use as a Blacksmith, which you can then sell as a Merchant. It’s a gameplay loop that rewards multitasking without being overwhelming.
I’ve found great satisfaction building out my village, experimenting with classes, and diving into both timelines, and it’s the kind of game that scratches multiple itches. Want a bit of combat? Explore a dungeon. Want to relax? Go fishing or furnish your home. The pacing is gentle but steady, with just enough story to keep you curious.
If you’re a fan of games like Dragon Quest Builders, My Time at Portia, or even Stardew Valley, this offers a similarly satisfying sense of progression and control. While the tone is lighthearted and accessible, the depth is there for anyone willing to explore it. Fantasy Life i is more than just charming, it’s cleverly designed and genuinely rewarding. – Steven Allen
Step into this Slow-Life RPG where you can freely switch between 14 unique jobs, so called “Lives,” and enjoy a carefree life in a fantasy world.
Fish, cook, shape the island to your liking, or team up with friends to battle monsters across the vast world.
It’s up to you to choose what kind of Life you’ll live!
■A Dragon Guides You to a Mysterious Island
You are an adventurer who sets sail with the archaeologist Edward and his team.
Following the light emanating from a dragon’s fossil, you discover an uncharted, deserted island.
A vast abyss, a dragon made of bone, and a girl’s message that begs you to save the world…
Travel between the island that thrived 1,000 years ago and the present-day island to unravel the mystery of its downfall!
■14 Unique Lives to Make Yours Brighter
In this world, a “Life” is the equivalent of a job.
Each has its own characteristics and provides various ways to enjoy yourself.
Collect ingredients or materials with Gathering Lives, create weapons or cook dishes with Crafting Lives, or fight monsters with Combat Lives. You can switch between any Life at any time, creating a life that’s uniquely yours.
■Shape the Island! Create Your Town!
Use Lives to gather materials and restore the island to its former glory!
Not only can you place houses and objects, but you can also alter the landscape and draw rivers and roads to create a truly unique island.
Expand your house, place some furniture, and decorate the interior however you like!
■Embark on an Open-World Adventure!
Freely explore the largest continent in the series!
Climb ledges, swim across rivers and lakes, or ride on mounts – With these new actions you can explore the world without limits!
■Endless Fun with Multiplayer!
Enjoy multiplayer with up to 4 players!
Invite friends to your island, explore dungeons, or find your own ways to have fun together!
If you have two controllers, you can also use the 2 Player Family Co-op feature where one player can join the adventure as your travel companion without needing to connect online!
Part 2D-ish narrative puzzle adventure, part creative mythmaking, 30 Birds is a journey through a super fantastical world built based on Persian art and music, asking you to find all the birds to help a world restore their goddess to her rightful throne. If you need something a little more chill, look no further than this quasi-psychedelic, diorama-style adventure that puts you smack dab in the middle of a teeming, incredibly beautiful world as Zig, an intrepid explorer and kind-of-detective.
You’ll navigate a rotating set of panels meant to artfully represent a visually dense metropolis populated by all manner of trippy citizens while attempting to rescue the goddess, Simurgh, from the clutches of a mysterious captor called The Scientist. Is this some parable about Science vs. Art? Possibly, but with its five hour-ish run time, I was more captivated by all the sights and sounds of the ongoing festival that the wildly inventive 30 Birds is stuffed with.
There are puzzles to solve (failure isn’t punitive in this game, you can try as much as you want to solve any given puzzle) and curious creatures/people to meet. You’ll fiddle with musical instruments, collect dropped feathers and paintings, and complete quests in order to restore Simurgh to her rightfully dreamy place in the game’s equally dreamy world. The pace is sedate – all the better to lull you into this game’s imaginative clutches. If you’re looking for a short narrative experience, with some extremely creative design and surprisingly funny, well-written dialogue, then 30 Birds needs to be on your itinerary.
In 30 Birds, you play as Zig, a young detective sent to bustling Lantern City to track down The Scientist. Alongside Hoop, a talented hoopoe stand-up comedian, you’ll encounter a whole madhouse of feathered friends and quirky characters as you explore dazzling Lantern City from top to bottom. Solve a variety of puzzles to foil the plans of the obnoxious Scientist behind the kidnapping to save the bird Goddess Simurgh.
A dazzling burst of art
Experience a seamless blend of 2D and 3D in this mesmerizing narrative adventure, with hand-drawn visuals inspired by Persian miniatures. Wander through the gorgeous neighborhoods of Lantern City while enjoying a ska – dub – reggae inspired soundtrack and help Zig gather thirty charismatic and chatty birds to save Simurgh! But beware, you might come across puzzling challenges on your way…
A mind-spinning adventure
Discover a gorgeous universe laid out on the surface of rotating lanterns. Wander through a beautiful city inspired by Middle Eastern ****legends, meeting the local goofs, quirky djinns, and regular weirdos along the way. Solve puzzles and interesting challenges to help Zig rescue Simurgh!
Key features
– Meet riotous and (not-so) charming birds, collect your new feathered friends’ contacts on your phone. Thwart diabolical and (not-so) powerful foes and find the fabulous Goddess, Simurgh.
– Explore a mythical, colorful, and beautifully hand-drawn world inspired by Persian art! Uncover Lantern City’s stunning sights and fantastic characters.
– Take on all kinds of thrilling challenges to advance the story! Solve intriguing and fun puzzles, wander around bars and cafes, create funky music using synthesizers, and play cards to gather clues and bring light to Simurgh’s kidnapping.
– Vibe out to the energetic ska – dub – reggae soundtrack, sprinkled with unexpected twists, as you stroll down the bright streets of Lantern City.
History
30 Birds is developed by Ram Ram Games, a Belgium-based studio whose founders, Coline and Laurent, went through many ideas before this video game came to fruition:
“The project started 10 years ago after a trip to Istanbul. Originally, we were making an interactive travel diary using a Persian miniatures-inspired art style to tell people about our journey. But our concept evolved towards a whole new interactive experience of this art through gaming.”
“Persian miniatures are vertical pictures used as book illustrations, and we came up with the idea of connecting them through a cube layout. By doing so, we connected and expanded the miniatures, introducing a third dimension of depth to the setting at the same time. Halfway between a kamishibai—a Japanese paper theater—and a projection lantern, we created a magic 3D city ready to be explored.”
“From the lively city of Istanbul to the mystery novel ‘My name is Red’ by Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, our inspirations are many. The character of Simurgh, a giant god-like bird, comes directly from Persian and various Middle Eastern mythologies. Even, the title of the game—30 Birds—is a play on words with the name “Simurgh”, which means “thirty birds” in Farsi. This title is also echoed in the mystical poem, “The Conference of the Birds”, by Attar of Nishapur. The poem tells the story of a group of birds led by a hoopoe who go on a journey to meet their god, Simurgh. Thirty of them make it to the ultimate valley only to find a big lake in which they can see their own reflections…”
“30 Birds takes inspiration from mythological and philosophical aspects of Middle Eastern and ancient Persian cultures to create Lantern City, and invites players from all over the world to experience the city’s mesmerizing atmosphere.”
Eugene McQuacklin is back in this sequel to the acclaimed Duck Detective: The Secret Salami. In this narrative detective adventure, you’ll need to interview a cast of animal suspects, thoroughly inspect every piece of evidence, and quack this case. And yes, there are more duck puns in this game. If you haven’t played the first game – which was a previous Monthly Select – just go do it. You don’t need to play the first in order to enjoy or understand this standalone sequel, but it’s just a great series.
These games are bite-sized, super fun, wholesome, and silly. It has all the great film noir detective tropes you could ever ask for, funny writing, great animation, and solid voiceover work. I got through the game over the course of a weekend in around 3 hours, and it’s an experience I absolutely loved.
In this sequel, you’ll explore a glamping site (glamorous camping for the uninitiated), talking to various characters and interacting with the environment in order to solve a set of cases. Using your magnifying glass, you can hover over objects and characters to unlock words that can be used when you’re ready to solve a case. There’s a hint system and the game also lets you know how many words you have wrong, so the game leans more into being entertaining than frustrating. You’ll also find other puzzles you’ll have to figure out like passwords and lock combinations. The gameplay is identical to the first game though a bit more refined, with the big difference being that you now have a sidekick who adds some new puzzles to work through.
Duck Detective is a series I would love to see more of every year. The games are so charming, self-aware, and light-hearted, that you just want to tell everyone to play these games for a long afternoon. If you need something cozy, short, and fun, this fits… the bill (pause for applause). – Raymond Estrada
BREAD RED REDEMPTION
This campsite might have ghosts, but the real thing haunting Eugene McQuacklin is his failed marriage and bread addiction. Can he escape the shadows of his past?
EVERY DETECTIVE NEEDS A SIDEKICK
To the annoyance of the Duck Detective, he is joined by a new partner in (solving) crime. Work together to unravel the truth and nibble on the crumbs of justice!
THE DETECTIVE RETURNS
The Duck Detective is back! Get ready to interview suspects, inspect evidence, and deduce the truth in another stand-alone mystery!
Preserve is an eco-terraforming puzzle game that invites you to slow down and build beautiful biomes. It’s a peaceful, meditative experience that rewards curiosity and care. The core gameplay revolves around creating biomes on a map, but it’s far from rigid. You have cards representing terrain, flora, fauna, and even structures and objects, how you place them determines how your biomes evolve. Grouping three of the same kind forms a habitat, which lets you introduce species and earn harmony points. As your harmony points increase new cards are added to your deck and the map expands.
There are two main ways to play: Puzzle Mode and Classic Mode, the latter of which lets you gradually expand your map and unlock new cards by reaching harmony point milestones. I started with the tutorial and was surprised to realize I’d quickly spent hours building, adjusting, and just enjoying the moment before I even started the main game. There’s also a Creative Mode letting you build your perfect ecosystem.
Preserve offers four major environments: Continental, Marine, Savanna and, my personal favorite, Jurassic. The visuals are beautiful without being overwhelming, and the music soft, ambient, and spa-like. Camera controls can feel tricky at first, but it quickly becomes natural. The game trusts you to learn naturally – for example bees are placed in open and flowery fields, not forest or rocky terrains.
Preserve is more than a strategy game, it’s an open invitation to slow down, listen to nature, and create something beautiful. If you’re looking for a thoughtful escape with stunning visuals and a deeply calming atmosphere, Preserve brings harmony, one biome and habitat at a time. – Oscar Polanco
Preserve is a puzzle nature-building game that takes players on a journey into a harmonious ecosystem. The objective is to foster and sustain a thriving and diverse biomes, where each component coexists in a symbiotic harmony. By utilizing strategic thinking and a keen eye for balance, players are granted the power to position a wide array of plants and animals, curating an environment that caters to their preferences and aspirations.
Vertical map expansion – In Preserve, you can expand the map not only horizontally, but you also posses an ability to stack layers of nature, forming a vertical network of interconnected habitats.
Diverse biome habitats – From alpine forests and savannas to carribean reefs, each biome will have its own unique set of plants, animals, and environmental challenges to discover and overcome.
Multiple Game Modes – Besides regular harmony and puzzle game modes, creative mode lets you build the land without limitations and photo mode allows you to capture and share your creations at the end of each session.
Natural Wonders – Nothing can beautify your map more than natural wonders like the snowy Alps, lavender fields or redwood forests, which you can acquire thanks to a unique card upcycle system.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 is the finale of a series of tactical, dramatic RPGs that began on Xbox back in 2021. The series has received critical and audience praise, so if you have some room on your backlog, we’d recommend picking up the Fuga: Melodies of Steel 1 & 2 Double Pack. However, if you’re like me and struggle with way too many games to play and too little time, it’s not necessary to play the first two games, as the game does a great job of trying to catch you up with a summary of both games.
The main plot revolves around a group of anthropomorphic children that discover Taranis, a giant super-tank, after their village and families had been attacked by an evil empire. They use the tank to take down the empire along with some dark gods and other formidable foes. This game immediately picks up after the 2nd game’s true ending, where our main character is kidnapped and the remaining children must rescue him and prevent a new war.
The game is split into 12 chapters, with each chapter seeing our group of a dozen or so kids hitting major plot twists, mysteries, and character moments along the way. You take control of the Taranis in turn-based combat – the tank has three gun slots, each controlled by two characters. Depending on who you have slotted will determine the type of gun (machine gun, cannon, grenade launcher) and the gun’s passive boost. The enemies have different weaknesses based on one of those three gun types. You can swap characters at any time, but there is a cool down period, so you have to be careful not to do so at inopportune time.
There’s also a combo system that rewards you with bonus damage each time you attack enemy weak points. Between missions you will hit intermission periods for a chance to regroup and interact with all the characters to build affinities between characters. You can also take the opportunity to unlock new skills and upgrade your tank.
The most unique and dark aspect of the gameplay I found was the Soul Cannon ability, which will allow you to win any fight of the game, but you have to sacrifice the life of one of the characters (yeah, dark). Even worse, if you’re under half health, the longer a fight goes on, the more likely the game will force you to pull the trigger in order to escape the loss. Here’s the real kicker: the game instantly saves once you use the Soul Cannon in order to prevent you from redoing the fight. When this finally happened for me, it felt truly tough, but the game really pushes you to press on even with the loss. This gameplay aspect created a very distinctive set of stakes that I don’t think I’ve experienced before.
Visually and musically the game is very appealing, with fantastic character designs and a score that always seems to match the tone. Turn-based RPG fans with a love for dramatic narratives need to jump into this series, but if you’re already a fan of the series, this is the conclusion you’ve been waiting for – it’s a no-brainer to pick up. – Raymond Estrada
Pre-Order Bonus:
Receive this bonus content by pre-ordering Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – Standard Edition
・Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – 10000 In-Game Currency
・Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – Early Game Upgrade Materials
Unveil the Source of the World’s Despair!
Malt has vanished without a trace! The children are led by a mysterious voice into the forbidden cave, where they discover the Taranis—the powerful tank thought lost in the sea of clouds. Determined to save Malt, the children reboard the Taranis and set off on a daring mission to infiltrate the heart of the Berman Empire. However, the Crimson Knights stand in their way, strongest of the Berman!
Brand-New Battle System
The battle system has undergone substantial changes. Weakness combos allow you to exploit enemy weaknesses and deal escalating damage with every hit, and assist attacks allow erstwhile enemies and a legendary warrior from past games to join forces and turn the tide of battle!
Upgraded Intermission
Intermission now features an upgraded system to evolve the Taranis to its ultimate form! Unlock its hidden powers with the Omega Terminal and master new Taranis Skills to aid your journey!
Strategic Route Progression and Event Battles
Explore new strategic features like Power Spots to unlock the Taranis’s hidden abilities and Assist Transmissions that allow you to interact with supporting characters. Discover secret events through the Akasha Panel, which lets you navigate a timeline to change your fate!
Step beyond despair, anger, and tragedy in Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3, where heart-wrenching decisions lead to the series’ most emotional and shocking story yet!
*It’s not necessary to play Fuga: Melodies of Steel or Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 to enjoy Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3.
The Sinking City Remastered is a 3rd person, eerie, investigative horror game that blends survival elements with a heavy dose of Lovecraftian weirdness. You play as Charles Reed, a private investigator whose string of disturbing visions lead him to the partially submerged city of Oakmont, Massachusetts. As soon as you arrive, you can tell something is off with Oakmont. Beyond the obvious, “our city was destroyed, and our economy has been whittled down to bullets, cigs and booze” energy displayed by all the characters, the atmosphere always gives off the impression that there’s something else going on behind the scenes.
At its core, The Sinking City is an open-world detective game. Investigations are central to the experience, and the game leans into that with mechanics like the Mind’s Eye and Mind Palace – Mind’s Eye lets you uncover hidden clues in the environment, while the Mind Palace allows you to connect evidence and draw conclusions. These systems work well together and make clue-gathering feel like a real part of the gameplay loop—not just a checklist.
Combat is available, but limited by design. Ammo is scarce and resources need to be crafted, meaning you’ll spend just as much time avoiding conflict as you will confronting it. This engaged me with the core work of investigation, allowing me to dive deeper into the exploration aspects rather than running through guns blazing. You’re eventually introduced to the Infested Zones which are high-risk areas full of enemies and rewards, forcing you to weigh every decision before stepping inside. The first time I entered one, I saw a chest, looted it, and dipped. I’m the type that will survive the horror movie – but, of course, I eventually became curious as to what really lurked in them.
What I love most about the game is the atmosphere. The city is layered with tension – political, supernatural, and social. The flood didn’t just reshape the geography; it reshaped how people live, interact, and treat outsiders. It’s a small and often overlooked detail in most games, but it adds weight to the worldbuilding and left me wanting more as the story developed.
If you’re into slow-burn mysteries, survival horror, and games that prioritize investigation over action, The Sinking City is one worth exploring. Just be prepared, Oakmont doesn’t hand out answers easily. – Deron Mann
Experience the Lovecraftian horror of The Sinking City in a whole new light. This Unreal Engine 5 remaster brings the game’s eerie atmosphere to life with stunning visuals and enhanced features. Dive into Oakmont’s mysteries and unravel the city’s descent into madness.
Remaster Highlights:
– Lumen Global Illumination and ray tracing
– 4K textures and extra environmental details
– Performance (prioritizes frame rate) and Quality (prioritizes visual fidelity) modes
– Photo mode
– Improvements to controls, combat, game balance, crowds, and tutorials
Game Description:
The Sinking City is an adventure and investigation game set in an open world inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft, the master of Horror. The half-submerged city of Oakmont is gripped by supernatural forces. You’re a private investigator, and you have to uncover the truth of what has possessed the city… and the minds of its inhabitants.
Game Pillars:
– An oppressive atmosphere and story inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft.
– A vast open world that can be explored on foot, by boat, in a diving suit…
– High replay value thanks to an open investigation system: each case can be solved in a number of ways, with different possible endings depending on your actions.
– An arsenal of weapons from the 1920s with which to take on nightmarish creatures.
– Manage your mental health to untangle the truth behind the madness.
Players can soon join Sam on the next chapter of his journey when Death Stranding 2: On the Beach arrives on PlayStation 5 consoles on June 26. We recently had a chance to speak with key members of the game’s development team: Yoji Shinkawa (Art Director, Character & Mech Design), Hiroaki Yoshiike (Lead Level Designer), Takayuki Uchida (Technical Art Director, Lead Environment Artist), and Akio Sakamoto (Chief Technology Officer, Technical Director). They gave us insights into their inspiration behind Sam’s next journey and how they brought their ideas to life.
More intuitive, satisfying, and grittier combat
PlayStation Blog: Were there any key takeaways from using the Decima Engine (a game engine developed by Guerrilla Games) in the first Death Stranding, and did any of those learnings impact the development of the sequel?
Sakamoto: When developing the first game, our hands were full trying to master the various features of the engine, partly because it was our first time using Decima, and partly because our highest priority was to release a game as quickly as possible. However, with Death Stranding 2, we kicked off development with a better grasp on the engine, so we were able to leverage its features and make improvements that served our purpose better.
Death Stranding 2 was tailored for PS5. How have the graphics evolved, and are there any visual enhancements that were only possible thanks to the power of PlayStation 5 Pro?
Uchida: We implemented a new day/night cycle in the open world. This achieves more realistic transitions between the time of day and introduces new dynamics that weren’t present in the previous title. The scenery and atmosphere now change depending on the time of day, so exploration is also more compelling and exciting.
For the base PS5’s Performance Mode, we stabilized the framerate by switching the LOD (Level of Detail) earlier to reduce geometry and adjust the resolution dynamically. On PS5 Pro, players can enjoy a higher resolution that is closer in quality to Resolution Mode, while maintaining 60fps gameplay.
Combat has been enhanced significantly. What principles guided you when implementing some of the changes?
Yoshiike: We focused on making the combat more intuitive, satisfying, and grittier than the predecessor. The previous game required players to switch bullets based on enemy type, which was important to us as part of world-building, but we removed that complexity in Death Stranding 2. We also fine-tuned certain elements, like improving the gunplay to feel snappier and adding slo-mo effects during combat so it’s easier and more satisfying to chain attacks. Sam is a porter, so rather than focusing on stylish moves, we emphasized action that felt more grounded and relied on Sam’s physical capabilities.
Are there any conversations you had with Kojima-san that stand out?
Uchida: One day early in development, a casual hallway conversation turned into a full-blown brainstorming session. Kojima-san joined the conversation mid-way, and the atmosphere instantly shifted. He came up with so many incredible ideas at lightning speed, and I was completely awestruck. Kojima-san’s ability to think outside the box and his dedication to the creative process inspired me to stay focused and committed as well.
More authentic emotions realized by 4D scanning technology
Characters in Death Stranding 2 feel much more expressive and nuanced compared to the previous game. Were there any points of focus or technological advancements that made this possible?
Uchida: Story is at the core of Death Stranding 2, so we leveraged 4D scanning for key characters to preserve subtle muscle movements and facial expressions of the actors. As a result, the characters’ actions and emotions feel more authentic, which I think will resonate with players at a deeper level.
What was your vision when designing new enemies, including massive bosses and the Ghost Mech?
Shinkawa: As always, Kojima-san challenged us to come up with something entirely new and different. Developing new character designs are always difficult, and with the Ghost Mech, we not only came up with a new design, but we also expanded on its origin and backstory.
Death Stranding 2 introduces many new weapons and items. What was the thought process behind these new additions?
Shinkawa: At its core, the game is about delivering supplies, so we needed to treat weapons as cargo that players carried around. Deciding what to transport is part of the gameplay, so we wanted the weapons to fold and transform into boxes or containers that function as cargo. The change in physical volume can appear uncanny in CGI, but we made sure that the transformation was believable without being visually contradictory.
Are there any in-game locations you’d like players to look out for in particular?
Uchida: We poured a lot of time and effort into developing the snowy mountains again in this title, and they will offer an even more compelling experience than the first game. The difficulty will vary significantly depending on the climbing route you choose, but players can look forward to breathtaking views at the end of each hard-earned ascent.
Any final words for players looking forward to the game’s launch?
Yoshiike: We’re thrilled that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is finally launching. The game is packed with features and mechanics that many players will enjoy. Players from around the globe can connect and come together via the game’s SSS (Social Strand System). Every player will make connections in their own ways, and naturally, every experience that emerges from those connections will be unique. I hope players will have fun discovering those special moments as well.
Crisol: Theater of Idols aims to blend Bioshock with Resident Evil-style gameplay in a horror FPS influenced by classical Spanish folklore. I crawled through abandoned streets, popping zombie-like enemies with guns that used my blood for bullets, ducking in and out of derelict storefronts looking for the ever-reliable genre staple bolt cutters, and dodging powerful enemies along the way. While Crisol showed more to set itself apart from stalwarts in the genre during my hands-on demo, its weapon designs and distinct aesthetic in particular left me interested to see more.
Exploring a horrific, reimagined version of Spain called Hispania, Crisol’s world and character designs blew me away – especially the guns. Here, your blood is your health and your ammo, so reloading each gun triggers a spine-tingling reaction like when your handgun’s handle bristles with little needles, drawing blood from your hand, or when needles stick out of the base of your double-barrelled shotgun’s barrel, waiting to trade health for survival.
This push-and-pull forces you to keep tabs on both to keep yourself from wasting either and landing yourself in a sticky situation. You can pick up healing syringes to help restore ammo, but Crisol also encourages you to drain the blood from dead bystanders, killed by your mysterious foes, to heal and reload.
Crisol also encourages you to drain the blood from dead bystanders, killed by your mysterious foes, to heal and reload.
The gun designs themselves are cool too; gilded with red accents, they add a gothic pop of color that stands out, but doesn’t clash with the environments I saw in my short demo. The environments, on the other hand, didn’t have nearly as much character to them. While the trailer promises some pretty cool-looking set pieces, the dark streets of Hispania I wandered didn’t offer much deviation from the norm. That’s surprising considering just how well-designed the enemies and guns are.
Crisol doesn’t waste any time throwing you into the action. Within seconds of picking up the controller, lurching, puppet-like enemies stumbled towards me. Low light revealed unsettling details in their mask-like faces as they approached, eventually collapsing under my gunfire. Each enemy I encountered (or at least each one I was able to kill) reacted based on which part of their body I shot; crawling headless after I kneecapped them, and popped their heads. Both of the blood-soaked firearms I tried have an older feel to them, more like the oomph of the original BioShock than the punchy crack of the guns found in most contemporary shooters, though Crisol’s trailer (and weapon wheel) promise a seemingly diverse arsenal of sanguine shooters.
After making my way through a few city blocks, absorbing blood from dead bodies and popping zombie-like critters blocking my path, I came across a locked gate with a winch. Locked by a padlock with a chain – classic! Like clockwork, I set out looking for the bolt cutters I’d found in half a dozen survival horror games before. But before I could start looking, some kind of gigantic, arcane cyborg – a towering mass of blood-soaked bones and clanking machinery with a mask of a woman’s face crying blood – picked me up and tossed me around.
The beast chased me down the street to the window (conveniently) of the hardware store, but couldn’t touch me once I dove in. Safe for now, I grabbed the bolt cutters from the back storeroom and every coin in the cash register and set out to snip the chains that kept me from safety. But the beast was back at my heels practically the moment my feet hit the dirt road, hurling threats my way as it hunted me down.
I hope Crisol doubles down on these two different kinds of survival horror to produce layers of tension between the blood-for-bullets combat and high-stakes stealth in the full release.
Crouching to minimize the noise I made, I found a shortcut through a fish store, making a bunch of noise at one end before cutting through the store, snipping the chains, and cranking away at the winch to open the gate in front of me. I heard the creature thudding towards me, and just pushed away in the quick-time event faster, hoping I could squeeze through instead of running back to cover. The gate opened with just enough time to spare; I rushed out of the courtyard to safety, the gate snapping shut before my assailant could catch me.
This puzzle-like stealth section, though very simple, added a lot to my demo. I can see the ways this could evolve into a tense blend of stealth and shooting if I eventually need to dodge bigger enemies at the same time as popping the smaller, stoppable ones with my sanguine arsenal. I hope Crisol doubles down on these two different kinds of survival horror to produce layers of tension between the blood-for-bullets combat and high-stakes stealth in the full release.
While I enjoyed my demo well enough, I felt like I hadn’t seen anything new beyond the Bloodborne-like, health-for-ammo trade-off and some really cool weapon and enemy designs. I’m sure puzzles and progression will begin to differentiate themselves from Resident Evil as the game gets more complex. But I didn’t get to see much of that in this demo, which was clearly very early in the campaign. Still, I have a feeling Crisol: Theater of Idols will be worth checking out for its distinct take on survival horror with a Spanish flair.
A work-in-progress version of Dune: Awakening‘s first big post-release patch is now testable on Steam, so you can hop in and check out the changes Funcom’s making early doors before it rolls out for everyone in a few weeks.
A bunch of the changes the game’s devs teased or confirmed during their recent AMA and letter to players haven’t found their way into the patch, or at least this early version. Though, you’ll at least be able to try out PvE in the Deep Desert, something folks have demanded en-masse.
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