Last week, we asked you traverse the world of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, and share different ways that Sam gets around using using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:
ChristianNOTJayshares Sam ziplining in front of a massive moon cresting over mountains
call_me_xaviishares Sam pausing his tri cruiser in the desert to let a kangaroo pass by
Chesconeshares Sam riding a coffin board across the water
Milz_VPshares Sam hitching a ride with a launchable cargo catapult
F1Str4ndshares Sam getting some air after driving the truck off a ramp
MohdNazifshares Sam riding along with the monorail
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Ghost of Tsushima – 5th Anniversary SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 16, 2025
Next week, Ghost of Tsushima is turning 5! To celebrate Jin’s journey for honor and justice, share your best captures using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.
Overwatch 2 Game Director Aaron Keller has addressed criticisms that Blizzard Entertainment “dropped the ball” when it comes to things like story content, PvE, and animated shorts.
The face of Blizzard’s popular hero shooter opened up about the team’s struggles during an interview with content creatorJay3 and Overwatch 2 voice actor Conor McLeod. Although the multiplayer title is largely known for its team-based gameplay, Keller recognizes that some story content will need to “come back” for Overwatch 2 to be “firing on all cylinders.”
“One of the things that we hear our players talk about a lot, you see online… it feels like Overwatch has dropped the ball when it comes to story and lore,” Keller said in response to a question from McLeod. “You kinda see that. We used to put a few more of the big animated shorts out than we do nowadays.”
— Laurence @ Drawing💙 (@volskayadottxt) July 11, 2025
Overwatch animated shorts are a sore spot for fans. Blizzard originally built excitement with a series of high-quality cinematics from 2016 to 2023, with each highlighting abilities for characters like Reinhardt, Hanzo, Genji, Mei, Bastion, and more while also showing how many of its 43 playable characters fit into the larger story. What began as somewhat frequent lore drops eventually started to fizzle out around the release of Overwatch 2 in 2022. It’s been nearly two years since fans received a 3D-animated cinematic.
Frustrations with the lack of animated shorts reached a boiling point when Blizzard announced it would be scrapping its PvE Hero ambitions in summer 2023. With a long-promised story-driven mode canceled and animated short releases crawling to a halt, Blizzard had to start from scratch. Although it’s been years without a significant update, Keller says the Overwatch 2 team hasn’t completely left story behind.
“To speak frankly about it, we did have a big plan to go after story in the game. That was the PvE side of it with the campaign and everything like that,” he added. “That didn’t work out. So, it was kind of a bit of a reset moment for us when that happened, and we would like to get back to it. I think one of the best parts of Overwatch is the universe and the characters that are there. That’s definitely a goal of ours to get back to it. There’s been a bit of a step backwards that we had to take in order for us to be able to start moving forward on it again.”
I think for us to say that Overwatch 2 is firing on all cylinders, we need to have some of that come back.
Blizzard announced a gameplay facelift for Overwatch 2 in February of this year. During its breakdown, the studio announced a major new PvP game mode called Stadium as well as the return of free loot box cosmetic rewards, two new Heroes, and a gameplan for the next year of content. Many of these additions, including a fundamental gameplay change called Perks, have launched since, signaling that Blizzard has found its footing as it makes good on significant promises.
Many of these changes have been accepted with open arms by the Overwatch 2 community, but as new players flock to see why fans are suddenly talking about the 2016 hero shooter again, the desire for story content still echoes across Reddit threads and X/Twitter posts.
One idea many fans – including McLeod – would love to see is an Overwatch TV series. Keller says he’s not opposed to the idea, going as far as to say “we’d love to do that.” It’s unclear how, when, or if Keller and the Overwatch 2 team will be able to enter another golden age. One thing is clear: Keller knows Overwatch fans want more story content.
“I think for us to say that Overwatch 2 is firing on all cylinders, we need to have some of that come back,” Keller said.
Overwatch 2 is currently in the midst of Season 17: Powered Up, which features a selection of retro-gaming-inspired skins, Mythic cosmetics for Reaper and D.Va, new Stadium Heroes, and crossover content with G.I. Joe. Time will tell if Blizzard is able to regain lost ground, but in the meantime, you can read about how many players are finally enjoying Overwatch again after years of downtime. You can also check out the 2025 Stadium roadmap for a closer look at some of the content set to arrive in the near future.
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).
Bestest best roguelite city builderAgainst The Storm is getting invaded by bats. Not the kind that swoop and screech and dive around your car in New Games Journalism articles that lean a bit too obviously on Hunter S. Thompson – bless our hearts, we’ve all done it – but the kind who labour at the forge and rejoice when their colleagues crumble and may even drive other workers out in order to make themselves feel better.
On the whole, I think I prefer the Fear and Loathing variety. Anyway, here’s the trailer for Against the Storm’s second DLC expansion, Nightwatchers, which will release on PC via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store on July 31st.
While server wipes have long been a staple of MMO shooter Escape from Tarkov ever since it released in 2017, some players are particularly unhappy about this week’s cull.
The latest wipe, this one nicknamed the “Hardcore Wipe,” introduced big changes to the game, buffing the challenge and removing quests and maps. This wipe is particularly brutal as Tarkov also now boasts slower progression and harder difficulty, too, making it harder for players to recover their pre-wipe status and inventory.
Although developer BattleState Games has been “monitoring player feedback closely” and is committed to tweaking balancing changes where necessary after the wipe on July 9, fans are taking to social media to complain, and evoking a… strong reaction from head of studio, Nikita Buyanov.
When one player popped up in Buyanov’s mentions, saying, “you destroyed your game, bro,” the head of studio’s response was: “Oh, shut the f**k up.” And though he later added in a different tweet that he was “joking” — “don’t shut the f**k up. Every opinion matters” — fans seem split on both his response and the impact the wipe has had on the game.
“Unless they tweak some stuff fast, as in 1-3 days fast I think most of the playerbase will quit this wipe,” said one. “They have gone too far hardcore and removed most of what makes Tarkov… Tarkov.” Buyanov disagreed, writing: “I totally disagree with you. Seems like you never played early Tarkov.”
On Reddit, where one OP started a conversation with a screenshot of them uninstalling the game, hundreds of players have upvoted the thread.
“Finally the true 1.0 update, escaping from Tarkov IRL,” said one, while another added: “Turned on the PC. Saw that they actually implemented transit only, no tasks, and everything is dummy expensive. I actually turned off the PC and went and built outdoor furniture for the wife in the 92° heat. That’s more fun than playing the wipe rn.”
“Load into customs, wait 30 seconds, transit to interchange, have to wait and load interchange, see zero loot and then die to silent killa because 100% spawn rates. no quests either btw. Awesome wipe, Nikita,” commented someone else, whereas a X/Twitter commented said: “Your game lost identity cause you tried to please everyone. Listening to streamers ruined this game for you.”
To BattleState’s credit, Buyanov has clearly communicated that there won’t be able quests “for some period of time” — although they were back as of yesterday, July 10 — and assured players that they’re “working on” issues with broken Transits.
And other players are a tad more chilled about the wipe, too. “Some people do nothing but constantly complain,” posited one, whereas another responded: “Ignore the haters.”
Escape from Tarkov offers a hardcore MMO mixture of first- and third-person shooter and role-playing gameplay. Players need to find a way out of the isolated Russian city of Tarkov, survive deadly hazards and unearth all mysteries of the city. Die in the game, though, and you lose everything, including any loot, weapons, or equipment you brought in with you.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Capcom are fine-tuning the live service of livestock-murdering game Monster Hunter Wilds by making the Arch-tempered monster hunts a permanent fixture, rather than time-limited seasonal content quests. It’s a bid to address the FOMO element that has dragged the game down to an Overwhelmingly Negative Steam user review consensus, though there are other things to blame for that, such as dodgy performance.
The popular Cult of the Lamb franchise recently made the leap to comics in the graphic novel Cult of the Lab: The First Verse. Ahead of San Diego Comic-Con 2025, IGN can exclusively reveal the next chapter in the Cult of the Lamb Saga, Cult of the Lamb: Schism Special #1.
Cult of the Lamb: Schism Special #1 is a one-shot, 48-page comic that reunites the creative team from The First Verse, including writer Alex Paknadel (Red Goblin) and artist Troy Little (Rick and Morty vs. Cthulu). This new issue is again a collaboration between comic book publisher Oni Press, game publisher Devolver Digital, and development studio Massive Monster.
Here’s Oni’s official description of the book:
In the aftermath of their first and closest follower’s sacrifice, Lamb continues the bloody quest to defeat the Bishops of the Old Faith, but they lack the conviction to tend their growing flock back at the cult. More potential followers are rescued by the day, but with no one to indoctrinate them, Lamb’s power stagnates and The One Who Waits becomes weary of his earthly vessel’s resistance to the full power and responsibility of the Red Crown. When famine strikes the cult, a challenger to Lamb’s mantle emerges, and a new struggle begins…
“Let me just clear the air here: I’m not a gamer. At least, I thought I wasn’t until this extraordinary story landed in my lap,” Paknadel told IGN about The First Verse. “A perfect innocent – a sacrificial lamb – is given the means to avenge themselves against the tyrannical system that threw them under the bus for a paltry superstition. It’s a classic revenge fantasy, but it also contains the seeds of truly epic tragedy.Get ready to experience the events of the game from the Lamb’s perspective – their fall and rise and fall – and see why the tragedy of The One Who Waits’ anointed avenger only began with their death.”
IGN’s Tom Marks gave Cult of the Lamb an 8 out of 10, writing, “Cult of the Lamb is as adorable as it is unsettling, an eclectic mix of genres and themes that come together extremely well. Its combat is immensely satisfying even if its short runs and the relative lack of variety between them doesn’t give it the lasting appeal of other action roguelikes, and building my very own cult base and tending to a flock of followers was just as fun as any swing of the axe. I may not revisit it now that the credits have rolled, but Cult of the Lamb is something altogether different that I had an absolute blast playing.”
As a faction, the strength of Total War: Warhammer 3‘s Bretonnia lies in their knightly calvary. The peasant infantry is basically just there to squishily hold the enemy in place for charges. However, I’m feeling revolutionary today, so we’re staging a serf uprising. Let’s see how long we last. Pretty simple rules here, then. No knights. No horses. Conquer the entirety of Bretonnia. Defeat every horse I see in one-on-one combat.
We were in a bad way. Rats to the south. Goblins to the east. A dwindling stockpile of gold reserves. Worst of all, the lady of the lake herself had shunned us, stripping us of her blessing for no other reason than the cheeky bit of cowardly retreating we’d done from Masif Orcal. No appreciation for self-preservation tactics, that one.
Repair firm iFixit has performed a full teardown of the Switch 2’s Pro Controller, delivering a scathing review of the repairability and potential durability of the accessory. Ultimately, it calls the Pro Controller a “p**s-poor excuse for a controller”.
But why? Well, watching the video reveals just how tricky it is to actually get into the Pro Controller, with Nintendo applying adhesives to the front faceplate, lots of hidden screws, and thumb-grips that need “an uncomfortable amount of force to remove”. Essentially, iFixit believes that the work required to simply reach the controller’s battery for potential replacement is far too difficult for the average consumer.
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!
The fate of The Forgotten Realms is in your hands! Return to the city of Neverwinter in Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition. A dark force sweeps over Faerûn, ravaging everything in its path as though searching for something — something that you now find in your possession. As the Shard-Bearer, only you can stop the King of Shadows and his army from desecrating the land you call home. Will you save Faerûn, or fall victim to the temptation of absolute power?
Following RoboCop’s decisive victory over Detroit’s gangs, a new chapter unfolds in this standalone extension set after the events of RoboCop: Rogue City. The New Guy in Town has been defeated, but the streets are still riddled with crime. A spark of hope comes from OCP’s latest project: OmniTower – a massive housing complex designed specifically to provide for the needs of the residents of Old Detroit. But when a group of highly trained mercenaries armed with cutting-edge weapons takes control of the building and turns it into their deadly fortress, RoboCop must take action to put a stop to their plans and uphold the law.
A 2D action platformer and a genre-twisting alternate take on the iconic Pac-Man. As Swordsman No. 8, awoken by a floating yellow orb, Puck, on a mysterious planet where relics from past wars remain, you are chosen to become the instrument of its will. To survive you will discover many secrets, start preying on your enemies, and become the apex predator as embrace your true purpose.
A 3D action role-playing game based on the space fantasy comic/anime “Edens Zero” by Hiro Mashima, the creator of “Fairy Tail” and “Rave Master.” It is centered on Shiki Granbell and his friends’ cosmos-spanning adventure.
Tee up the old-school fun! Golden Tee Arcade Classics brings eight legendary arcade classics home — no quarters required. Enjoy Golden Tee 3D Golf, Golden Tee 97, Golden Tee 98, Golden Tee 99, Golden Tee 2K, and Golden Tee Classic exactly as you remember them from your days at the arcade (or, more likely, your local watering hole).
Experience an isometric, narrative-driven stealth game set in the stunning city of Eriksholm. When Hanna’s brother, Herman, disappears and the police begin to pursue him, her search sets off a chain of catastrophic events that will not only alter their lives but also the destiny of the entire city. Join your allies, outsmart relentless enemies, and use your cunning to uncover the truth behind Herman’s disappearance.
Step into a mesmerizing fantasy world where magic thrives, mythical creatures roam, and secrets await behind every corner. Enchanted Crossroads is more than a hidden object game — it’s your gateway to a living, breathing town filled with wonder, mystery, and adventure!
Lead a team of highly-trained SWAT officers through harrowing, high-risk missions against violent, cruel and calculated criminals to stop the city from spiralling into disorder. Equip real-world weapons and gear to tackle missions inspired by current events against Los Sueňos’ ruthless criminal element. Every decision, from squad selection to tactical breach and engagement is the difference between life and death.
In a dark and dystopian cyberpunk future, food is the ultimate symbol of wealth and status. Using a revolutionary invention called Neon Noodles, the Aristocracy indulges in their every culinary whim. Everyone else begs for scraps. With no memory and no name, you are just a cog in this machine. But when a mysterious message unlocks your forgotten past, it thrusts you into a daring, clandestine heist to seize control of Neon Noodles and reclaim your legacy.
This innovative party game, supporting 1-4 players, will take you into an exciting naval battle. Here, you can use various bottle cap modules to create your own unique warship, engage in intense battles with friends, or team up to challenge powerful sea monsters. The unique flexible physics engine makes every ship collision dynamic and fun, offering a refreshing combat experience!
As the weather becomes increasingly extreme, a walrus serving as a lighthouse keeper welcomes travelers looking for a place to rest. The lighthouse helps travelers and wandering caravans to get their bearings in the world. The keeper needs to keep the fire going, for if it were to go out, the place would be cut off from the outside world.
Step into the wonderfully weird world of Clash of Weirdos – Card Carnage, a strategic card and board game packed with chaotic fun and quirky charm! Build your dream deck from a wild cast of adorable, big-eyed weirdos — each with their own hilarious and powerful abilities. Engage in exciting tactical battles using an innovative and fun combat system that keeps every match fresh and thrilling.
Loot and roguelike thrills await. Begin your epic action RPG adventure in this classic loot-based RPG. Mix and match freely to create your ultimate build! Epic Adventure Awaits: Explore 6 distinct worlds and conquer 6 completely different loops. Enjoy over 50 hours of thrilling, loot-filled gameplay!
The Cursed Frog is a single-player puzzle-platformer with an enchanted twist: switch between a brave princess during the day and a cursed frog at night to overcome magical challenges in the heart of Witchwood forest.
Get ready to enjoy new Diamond 99 All-Star player items, Programs, Moments, Missions, and more highlighting some of the most impactful players and plays from the 2025 MLB All-Star Week. Today, Friday, July 11, marks the start of the 2025 MLB All-Star Week at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. For those that can’t make it to the big game, don’t worry, as MLB The Show has you covered with all-new All-Star content covering the 2025 MLB Draft, Home Run Derby, and the 95th annual MLB All-Star Game.
MLB The Show 25: A guide to all things All-Star
Get ready to experience the excitement of 2025 All-Star Week events in MLB The Show 25!
Start your All-Star adventure with a FREE 2025 All-Star Team Affinity Voucher Pack, available in The Show Shop, allowing you to select 1 of 31 items including any of the 30 All-Star Vouchers to turn in for a 2025 All-Star player card to anchor your Diamond Dynasty squad. If you have earned all of them, then you can choose the 2025 All-Star Game Deluxe Pack featuring additional players from the Midsummer Classic.
You’re on the clock! Take control in the 2025 Draft Program on Sunday, July 13, featuring players added to the 2025 Draft Series as their names are called on Draft Day. Experience the new content THAT NIGHT and play as all-new stars.
Then the following night, take a swing with fan-favorite 2025 Home Run Derby Series players in the Home Run Derby Program. Look for new cards dropping after the champion is crowned!
On Tuesday, stay up late after the game with us to relive the excitement of the Midsummer Classic in a Program featuring more 2025 All-Star Series rewards.
With dozens of MLB Draft picks, all eight Home Run Derby participants, and 40+ ASG player items headed your way, this is shaping up to be one of the most exciting content drops of MLB The Show 25!
For those fans who have been finishing their Team Affinity My Journey programs, this is when you can redeem each respective team’s 2025 All-Star Game series player.
Look for All-Star rewards in these themed Diamond Dynasty* modes:
All-Star Game Diamond Quest – A rouge-like, single player mode consisting of a risk-and-reward boardgame style experience where both luck and skill play a part in your success.
All-Star Game Showdown – A single player experience where you’ll build your own Showdown Squad to compete in a series of challenges where you’ll test your skills against prolific pitchers from the past and present.
Moonshot: Home Run Derby Event – A time-limited experience where you’ll bring your best hitters to face off against common-rated pitchers in Truist Park, the site of this year’s MLB All-Star Game. Earn win streak rewards and Multiplayer Program progress.
Midsummer Classic Mini Seasons Challenge – a single player styled foray through the fictitious World Baseball League consisting of 28, 3-Inning regular season games culminating in a chance to make the playoffs and, potentially, the championship.
…and much more in MLB The Show 25.
MLB The Show at the 2025 All-Star Village
If you’re attending in-person the 2025 All-Star Week festivities at Truist Park in Atlanta, then be sure to stop by the MLB The Show booth to get hands on with MLB The Show 25. Snap a photo and take home a printed keepsake, and pick up a limited-edition postcard featuring a special code to redeem in-game items — exclusively for fans at All-Star Village! Test your luck with Coach’s Locker Loot, a one-of-a-kind interactive touchscreen game available only inside the booth. Tap your way for a chance to win awesome rewards like Stubs, Packs, a special-edition MLB The Show x HOMAGE T-Shirt, and even signed, authenticated MLB memorabilia. You can choose to reserve a time through the official MLB All-Star Experience Pass app to play Coach’s Loot Locker and receive your MLB The Show photo op, or feel free to walk in and enjoy the booth.
While you’re at the booth, don’t miss the chance to check out our Legends Wall, celebrating some of the all-time greats from the Atlanta Braves. Then take a walk down memory lane at our 20th Anniversary Showcase, featuring a full franchise timeline and an interactive wall where you can mark the year you started your journey with The Show. And last but not least, don’t forget to pick up and play MLB The Show on one of 20+ playable consoles right at the booth!
