I’m liking Doom: The Dark Ages more than local reviewist Nic does, possibly because spending most of 2024 remoulding my brain to learn Elden Ring has unduly engorged the part that appreciates a good parry-and-riposte. C’est la vie demons, and colleague. There is one issue that bothers me, though: why, of all the games on Bethesda’s production lines, was this chosen to be the next game that follows Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in making ray tracing effects compulsory?
“we feel that it is a very Nintendo-like product”.
Nintendo has released its latest Q&A transcript off the back of its financial results for FY2025. In it, president Shuntaro Furukawa defended the Switch 2’s perceived lack of innovation, with one investor questioning whether the Switch 2 is a “bridge” to a more innovative next-gen console yet to be announced.
Furukawa stated that software developers have come to require more powerful hardware over the last eight years, so Nintendo made this a fundamental goal in creating the Switch 2. He also says that while the Switch 2 may not seem particularly innovative at first glance, he is keen to stress that the hardware and peripherals have been completely redesigned (not to mention the awesome new mouse controls, of course!).
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 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!
Megame LLC
CyberCorp – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere
Brutal, fast-paced isometric co-op looter shooter in a cyberpunk world. Master equipment-based combos and discover exotic weapons and armor. Easy to start, hard to master. Play solo or team up with friends in multiplayer. Everyone can create their own build – whether it’s close combat, skill-based gameplay, or long-range sniping. If you enjoy action games with diverse loot, then CyberCorp is exactly what you’re looking for.
Ultimate Games S.A.
Gore Doctor – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
An immersive horror game packed with spine-chilling thrills. You wake up inside the twisted institute of a desperate doctor who’s broken all the rules to save his wife, Scarlett, from a deadly illness. You must navigate the nightmarish corridors of the doctor’s institute, confronting grotesque horrors, uncovering dark secrets, and striving to escape with their lives intact.
Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Labyrinth of the Demon King – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
A challenging first-person dungeon crawler with survival horror elements, set against the backdrop of a mythical feudal Japan besieged by demons. As a lone foot soldier, embark on a quest to track down and slay the Demon King who killed your Lord. But will you have the skill, resources and stamina needed to survive through all the horrors this brutal world will throw at you?
Singularity 6
Palia – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Discover a welcoming world in Palia, a free-to-play fantasy life sim adventure where you can craft, explore, and create the life and home of your dreams. With nearly endless ways to make Palia your home, you’ll find relaxation and joy in every corner of this vibrant, heartwarming world.
Kwalee
The Precinct – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
You are Officer Nick Cordell Jr. As a rookie beat cop fresh out of the Academy, you’re on the front line of defense for Averno’s citizens. Dive into a world of thrilling car chases, sandbox crimes, and a healthy dose of 1980s noir as you protect the populace and solve the mystery of your father’s murder in the line of duty.
JollyCo
Anima Flux is a co-op metroidvania with two genetically enhanced soldiers, special agents of a theocratic dictatorial regime. Fight your way through swarms of mutants through a desolate, dystopian space city and save humanity’s last stronghold, if, of course, anyone is still alive…
Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.
Hidden Kittens: Kingdom of Cats – May 14
Purrr! Prepare for a delightful mission in a fantasy landscape – many cats can be found across this magical realm… Every corner hides a fluffy surprise just waiting to be discovered – over 350 of them, to be somewhat precise… Pick your favorite colors for your game’s look and feel, and keep your eyes peeled for any balls of joy that wait to be pet!
Penguin Pop Games LLC
Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy – May 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy is a 16-bit styled RPG featuring turn-based combat, a large cast of characters, and tons of hilarious dialogue! This is an officially licensed game based on the live-action monster wrestling group Kaiju Big Battel, who have been performing their Godzilla-meets-WWE act for over 20 years.
overgamestudio
Recycle Bin Battle – May 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Recycle Bin Battle is a unique and entertaining arcade puzzle game featuring three distinct gameplay styles. Players catch falling rubbish from a machine, sorting them by type and color to make them disappear and form balls for the next phase. These balls are then used in a breakout-style game to break through invaders’ defenses and gather energy. Finally, the collected energy is used to shoot at Kaiju, saving humanity from destruction.
Eastasiasoft Limited
Super Engine GT Turbo Spec – May 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere
Get ready for adrenaline-fueled racing fun as you climb your way through the motorsports ranks in pure arcade style! Super Engine GT Turbo SPEC is all about speed and pushing your driving skills to the limit. Choose from Novice, Junior, Senior and Pro event series, select from 8 unique venues and a variety of touring cars, then burn up the asphalt as you race from the back of the pack all the way to podium position!
Feardemic
Garten of Banban 0 – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
What is this place? Who are you? These mysteries await discovery as you journey through the facility. Piece together clues to unveil the truth behind what’s really happening. Travel back in time to uncover the dark past of Banban’s Kindergarten and explore its origins. Only you can connect the dots to reveal its true nature.
Grindstone
Preserve – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
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.
Yacht Club Games
Shovel Knight Dig – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
When Drill Knight and his dastardly digging crew blast apart Shovel Knight’s peaceful campsite and steal his loot, he grabs his trusty Shovel Blade and starts tunneling after them! Meet new friends and foes, visit strange lands, and outfit yourself in your quest to keep the entire land from collapsing underfoot! Jump, slash, and dig your way down an ever-changing chasm of mystery in Shovel Knight Dig, an all-new Shovel Knight adventure!
Raw Fury
American Arcadia – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Welcome to Arcadia! A ‘70s retro-futuristic metropolis where all its citizens enjoy a life of luxury and comfort… unaware that they’re being broadcast live 24/7! Arcadia is not an ordinary city, but the most watched reality show on the planet – where a drop in popularity ratings comes at the highest cost: death.
Aerosoft GmbH
City Bus Manager – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Build your own depot from scratch and create your personal bus routes in City Bus Manager. Play in your own hometown or any famous city in the world. Recreate the official bus network or change it completely to your preference.
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks
DOOM: The Dark Ages – May 15
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
Available on day one with Game Pass! DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell. Get a head start on slaying demons with the Premium Upgrade, including up to 2-Day Early Access, the campaign DLC at launch, and more.
Nejcraft
Sid is a writer struggling with writer’s block, attempting to recapture the feelings of inspiration he felt when he was younger. In order to pay the bills, he needs to think up a story and apply for a grant – the deadline is today – a lazy Sunday in the middle of summer.
Two Cakes Studio
Hunt and Fight – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
After your ship was caught in a terrifyingly powerful storm and wrecked, you found yourself on the shore of an unknown island full of monsters, undead, and bandits. Explore the island, upgrade your weapons and armor, improve your fighting skills, and defeat the most dangerous monsters on this island. Don’t forget that your main goal is to find a way to get home.
Wales Interactive
Into the Restless Ruins – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
A roguelike deckbuilder where you use your deck of cards, representing rooms and corridors, to grow the labyrinth of the ruins. Then auto-battle your way through them, harvesting as much Glimour as you can from the cursed residents before darkness overcomes your torch.
Ultimate Games S.A.
Stunt Flyer – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
A vibrant flying adventure led by sibling duo Jimmy and Sophie. Take to the skies in a world filled with wild inventions and fantastic flying machines. From UFOs and gyrocopters to nimble jets, each aircraft is unique—and fully customizable with a variety of gadgets and gear.
JanduSoft
Wings of Endless – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
An epic 2D ARPG adventure awaits in the world of Wings of Endless! Discover the secret of a forgotten war in Wings of Endless, a platforming Action-RPG with a captivating Pixelart style that will draw you in from start to finish. Step into the role of Hariku, a brash bounty hunter who boasts of being the best at his craft.
CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 – May 16
Capcom’s new fighting collection hits the stage! Choose from fan-favorite games like Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001 and Project Justice to 3D action games like Power Stone and Power Stone 2 in this collection of eight classic fighting games! Each game in the collection can be played online or co-op! Get back in the ring and duke it out in battles that everyone rumored, but no one believed! Whether it’s with a rival new or old, give it your all and strive for victory!
EpiXR Games
Death Park: 4k Remaster – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Are you ready to face the true evil – the scary killer clown? Will you be able to solve all the puzzles that are waiting for you on the path to escape in these horror stories? You will have to play hide and seek with that monster and go through all the hard quests in order to survive throughout the night!
OverGamez
Hannah’s Day – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Hannah loves three things more than anything – singing, friends and her skateboard. But her parents are not supportive of Hannah’s decision to tie her life to music. None of this matters. Music and imagination will get Hannah through the challenges! Overcome the obstacles, reunite with Hannah’s friends, and set the stage on fire! And beware, fears and doubts can poison even the brightest dreams…
Fellow Traveller
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
Available on day one with Game Pass! Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is a papercraft adventure game where you’ll meet the many good and not-so-good folks of Limbo, a place where souls with deep regrets are cursed into repeating the same day on a loop. Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.
Gray Boss Game Studio
Meowsterpiece Museum – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Great painters love cats and hid them in their masterpieces. Your mission is to find them and make the paintings even more beautiful.
Gametry LLC
Plumber Hero is an exciting way to test your creativity. There are 3 main stages, 40 levels each, so there’s no shortage of content for you to enjoy. Each one gets increasingly difficult, so you must use all your skills and work hard to pass them all.
Ratalaika Games S.L.
Synesthesia – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
The year is 2029. The Huntley Scientific Research Institute has opened its doors to a select few young individuals gifted with extraordinary mental powers and mysterious abilities. Among them is Ziek, a university student with a rare form of “synesthesia” — a perception that allows him to see the hidden significance of objects through vibrant splashes of color. But what begins as an exciting opportunity quickly spirals into something far more dangerous.
Numskull Games
Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Welcome to the Neon Apex, open only to the most elite racers, both human and other, prove that you can handle breakneck speeds and perilous racecourses to win it all. Humanities finest have gathered to prove that a human mind behind the wheel will always be best. They’ll be up against cybernetically enhanced humans as well as AI driven androids.
The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 12 to 16 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 developer Sandfall Interactive has released Patch 1.2.3 for its well-received role-playing game across all platforms.
The update makes a long list of fixes and, crucially, balance changes, including nerfing Clair Obscur’s most game-breaking build (patch notes below).
Sandfall had signalled this change was coming, saying it hadn’t planned to make any balance tweaks this early — just bug fixes, “unless something clearly stood out.”
“Well, Stendhal did,” the developer continued.
The build in question is (was!) for young fencer Maelle and a sword called Medalum, which unlocks a Virtuose stance that deals 200% bonus damage. Players were combining this with ability-stacking and the Stendahl skill, which deals extreme single target Void damage, to dish out billions of damage, enough to kill the final boss in just one hit.
“It was underwhelming for most of development, so in our final pre-release balance pass, we gave it a big damage boost — and clearly overdid it. It ended up overshadowing most other options,” Sandfall said.
“We still want you to be able to break the game — and you absolutely still can — but Stendhal was making it a bit too easy.”
The nerf is included in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s first full hotfix set. While Stendhal is still a strong single-hit skill with great synergy potential, it’s now more in-line with everything else.
Here’s the relevant points from today’s patch notes:
Clair Obscur is a breakout hit for Sandfall, and has already sold over 2 million copies. It’s worth remembering that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was, alongside Bethesda’s Oblivion Remastered, a day-one Game Pass title. That makes this sales milestone all the more impressive.
When Bethesda shadow-dropped The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered amid the launch of fellow role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, most thought there could be only one winner. However, it turned out that there was plenty of room for both games to succeed.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has done so well that French President Macron has praised the development team. Be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before heading into the game.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
I am rewriting the history of Korea, and there are blotty ink stains everywhere. Europa Universalis 5 was announced yesterday, the official unveiling of a grand strategy game that has been an open secret since April last year, thanks to a long-running dev diary. As reveals go, it was less a cloak and dagger ambush and more an elephant charge that everyone in Europe could see coming from fifteen countries away. Still, elephants are always nice. I got some hands-on time with an early build of the map-happy historical simulation, and I’m delighted to report that the kingdom of Korea is struggling. After instituting many new laws, the leader of the nation has passed away. He was steely, noble, robust, and will be remembered as much for his kindness as his strength. He died of the common cold.
It’s okay, the computer will clean all this up.
According to Cineverse, which has acquired the rights for the third Silent Hill film in the U.S. when it releases later this year, Return to Silent Hill will be a “faithful adaptation” of the original Silent Hill 2’s story.
“Silent Hill is one of the best video game franchises, period, and Christophe Gans did a phenomenal job capturing the atmosphere of the games once again with Return to Silent Hill,” Cineverse executive director of acquisitions, Brandon Hill, told Variety.
Director Christophe Gans added: “I am delighted to partner with Cineverse, which has shown a genuine understanding of fanship. Return to Silent Hill is an adaptation created out of deep respect for a true masterpiece of a game, Konami’s iconic Silent Hill 2. I hope fans will enjoy and be fulfilled with the experience this new film has to offer.”
The film’s plot will feel familiar to anyone who played the original Silent Hill 2 or the 2024 Bloober remake. It follows “James (Jeremy Irvine), a man broken after being separated from his one true love (Hannah Emily Anderson). When a mysterious letter calls him back to Silent Hill in search of her, he finds a once-recognizable town transformed by an unknown evil” and “terrifying figures both familiar and new.” It was unveiled in October 2022, but it took until May 2024 for us to get our first glimpse at Return to Silent Hill’s version of Red Pyramid Thing — AKA Pyramid Head.
Gans’ first Silent Hill movie, based loosely upon the first game, follows mother Rose as she searches for her missing daughter, Sharon, in a town where it snows during summer. Although the screenplay was written by Oscar-winning writer Roger Avary, who wrote Pulp Fiction, we thought Gans’ first adaptation was a mediocre 5/10, writing: “So there we have it. Our worst fears realized yet again. The video game-to-film genre has endured more than a decade of mediocrity. Silent Hill is probably the smartest and best-looking video game adaptation yet, it just doesn’t have much else going for it. After all, video games are about entertainment, and Silent Hill is a chore to sit through.”
The second movie, Silent Hill: Revelation — which was not directed by Gans but instead by Michael J. Bassett — was based loosely on sequel Silent Hill 3. That secured a less favorable 4.5 in our review: “Silent Hill Revelation 3D is an inferior sequel in every way, shape and form, a horror sequel that fails to either intrigue or scare, and one that just might have killed the franchise cold-dead.”
Return to Silent Hill is slated to release sometime later this year, with Cineverse promising a “wide theatrical release in America.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
I’ve been meaning to research the Crusades for a while. A series of vicious medieval religious wars for control of the Holy Land, initiated by the Latin Christian Church following the conquest of Jerusalem by the Rashidun Caliphate, they’ve become a collection of memes bandied around by today’s armchair fascists. See also, “deus vult”. I’ve explored them indirectly in articles about the cultural inheritance of Warhammer 40,000, but never really dipped into any history books or crusader fiction save for ailing 2004 action game Knights Of The Temple: Infernal Crusade, in which Sir Spamalot Go Bonk against a majestic sunset.
One place to start the R&D rollout might be Knights Of The Crusades, a grand strategy 4X game in which players re-enact the period from the perspective of Christian and Muslim factions.
“this one will be well worth it”.
Professional skater Bam Margera has been officially confirmed for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 on the Switch and Switch 2.
Margera’s involvement had been in question following a string of legal difficulties in recent years, but a recent report suggested that Tony Hawk himself was responsible for bringing Margera on board. Now, a behind-the-scenes look has provided all the confirmation we need.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
If you’ve ever wondered what a prospective Pope does to pass the time, wonder no more; according to a close family member, the recently elected Pope Leo XIV is just like us, playing games and watching movies in his downtime.
As we reported earlier this week, Edward Berger’s sensational papal thriller Conclave took moviegoers by storm last year, prompting some real-life religious leaders — including those who had participated in this week’s actual conclave to select a new Pope — to look to the film for guidance given its “remarkably accurate” portrayal of the process. That included Robert Francis Prevost, who’s just been elected as Pope Leo XIV.
Talking to NBC, the Pope’s older brother, John Prevost, shared details of his last conversation with his brother before he was appointed. In amongst talking about Wordle and Words with Friends — it’s true, Pope Leo XIV is a gamer; the brothers play the word games together every single day — the elder brother asked if his sibling had watched the movie Conclave for tips.
“He had just finished watching the movie Conclave,” Provost revealed. “So he knew how to behave. So, it’s that kind of stuff [that we talk about] — I just wanted to take his mind off of [the upcoming conclave]. Laugh about something.”
From director Edward Berger, the BAFTA and Oscar-winning Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.
Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Alien: Rogue Incursion will get a non-VR release on PC later this year, allowing would-be Colonial Marines access to its Weyland-Yutani black site without first requiring you to force your head inside a pair of microscopic televisions. Subtitled “Evolved Edition” – which feels like a real elbow in the kidneys for VR evangelists – it will sport “even deadlier Xenomorphs and enhanced visuals”. Hopefully, that’ll be enough to juice the VR version’s current Mixed user review consensus on Steam.
