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Today’s lineup has something for every kind of setup. Alienware prebuild discounts headline the list, offering some hefty savings across a range of configurations. That does for solid 1440p performance with a RTX 5070 Ti build or securing a 4K futureproof rig with a 5090. There’s also a strong showing from Flexispot with big cuts on their premium standing desks and ergonomic chair for 4th July, so if you’ve been meaning to upgrade your workspace, this is your sign.
Capcom has said that Leon S. Kennedy is a “bad match for horror” amid ongoing speculation he is a yet-to-be-revealed second protagonist for Resident Evil Requiem.
In a fresh look at Requiem shown during the publisher’s Capcom Spotlight 2025 broadcast, the floppy-haired fan-favorite was nowhere to be seen.
Still, his absence was made notable by the fact that Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi offered an umprompted explanation for why Leon, of all past Resident Evil protagonists, had not been picked as this particular game’s star.
“The protagonist this time is an intelligence analyst for the FBI, Grace Ashcroft,” said Nakanishi, explaining that the new character was a good fit for Requiem’s renewed horror focus. “She’s introverted and easily scared, which is a new type of character for the Resident Evil series.”
“We wanted someone that experiences horror from the same perspective as the player,” he continued. “She learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story, but she’s also an analyst for the FBI who’s trained with guns, and is able to act with calm deductive reasoning.”
Capcom’s first trailer for Requiem, aired earlier this month, introduced Ashcroft and the game’s returning Raccoon City setting in a manner that only fuelled the flames of fan speculation that Leon would also feature in some capacity. Indeed, fans were quick to spot a number of clues they said pointed to Leon’s presence — including his old truck, still parked outside the ruins of the Raccoon City Police Department.
Is the recent fan speculation around Leon’s presence why Capcom has addressed his apparent absence now? Here’s what Nakanishi said next, on the character’s status in the game:
“We always thought about making Leon the protagonist,” Nakanishi explained, “but making a horror game based around him is difficult. He wouldn’t jump at a bucket falling. No one wants to see Leon scared by every little thing. So he’s actually quite a bad match for horror.”
Is this Capcom ruling Leon out of Requiem? Nakanishi seems clear that the combat-tested Leon would no longer work as the hero of a game focused around horror. But the publisher also stopped short of ruling the character out altogether.
Leon’s status is clearly an important enough talking point that Capcom decided to include discussion of it in tonight’s showing — which still showed only a fragment of the full game. With more than six months still to go, Capcom will of course have more up its sleeve to reveal. Could this all be some kind of ruse, and Leon still be a part of it?
Recent entries in the Resident Evil series have taken different approaches to balancing horror and action — some to better results than others — but it’s worth remembering how popular the Leon-focused, action-heavy Resident Evil 4 remains among fans. Could Capcom still be holding back a look at Requiem’s more action-heavy moments, where Leon would be a better fit? There’s still plenty of time left for the publisher to tell.
Resident Evil Requiem will launch on February 27, 2026 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Right, how about a look at Resident Evil: Requiem then ‘ey? Capcom revealed their latest entry in the horror series earlier this month at Summer Game Fest (after a little bit of a prank), but didn’t really show off any gameplay. It was more just a “hey, it’s real, and also here’s our protagonist Grace Ashcroft!” kind of reveal. Our own Edwin got to take a look at it in action around the same time, but a new trailer during today’s Capcom Spotlight has offered up a bit of a look for the rest of us now too.
New monsters, features, and more arrive in the Forbidden Lands with Free Title Update 2, dropping in Monster Hunter Wilds on June 30! Watch the latest trailer for a look at what awaits you.
In addition to what’s featured in the trailer, Free Title Update 2 will also feature improvements and adjustments to various aspects of the game. Make sure to check the official Monster Hunter Wilds website for a new Director’s Letter from Game Director Yuya Tokuda coming soon, for a deeper dive into what’s coming in addition to the core new monsters and features.
● The Leviathan, Lagiacrus, emerges at last
The long-awaited Leviathan, Lagiacrus, has finally appeared in Monster Hunter Wilds! Floating at the top of the aquatic food chain, Lagiacrus is a master of the sea, boiling the surrounding water by emitting powerful currents of electricity. New missions to hunt Lagiacrus will become available for hunters at Hunter Rank 31 or above, and after clearing the “A World Turned Upside Down” main mission, and the “Forest Doshaguma” side mission.
While you’ll fight Lagiacrus primarily on land, your hunt against this formidable foe can also take you deep underwater for a special encounter, where it feels most at home. During the underwater portion of the hunt, hunters won’t be able to use their weapons freely, but there are still ways to fight back and turn the tide of battle. Stay alert for your opportunities!
Hunt Lagiacrus to obtain materials for new hunter and Palico armor! As usual, these sets can be used as layered armor as well.
● The Flying Wyvern, Seregios, strikes
Shining golden bright, the flying wyvern, Seregios, swoops into the Forbidden Lands with Free Title Update 2! Seregios is a highly mobile aerial monster that fires sharp bladescales, inflicting bleeding status on hunters. Keep an eye on your health and bring along rations and well-done steak when hunting this monster. Missions to hunt Seregios are available for hunters at HR 31 or above that have cleared the “A World Turned Upside Down” main mission.
New hunter and Palico armor forged from Seregios materials awaits you!
For hunters looking for a greater challenge, 8★ Tempered Lagiacrus and Seregios will begin appearing for hunters at HR 41 or higher, after completing their initial missions. Best of luck against these powerful monsters!
With Free Title Update 2, hunters will be able to use Layered Weapons, which lets you use the look of any weapon, while keeping the stats and abilities of another.
To unlock a weapon design as a Layered Weapon option, you’ll need to craft the final weapon in that weapon’s upgrade tree. Artian Weapons can be used as layered weapons by fully reinforcing a Rarity 8 Artian weapon.
For weapons that change in appearance when upgraded, you’ll also have the option to use their pre-upgrade designs as well! You can also craft layered Palico weapons by forging their high-rank weapons. We hope this feature encourages you to delve deeper into crafting the powerful Artian Weapon you’ve been looking for, all while keeping the appearance of your favorite weapon.
Change your choice of handler accompanying you in the field to Eric after completing the Lagiacrus mission in Free Title Update 2! You can always switch back to Alma too, but it doesn’t hurt to give our trusty handler a break from time to time.
Mina, a support hunter who wields a Sword & Shield, joins the hunt. With Free Title Update 2, you’ll be able to choose which support hunters can join you on quests.
Snap even more creative photos of your hunts with some new options, including an Effects tab to adjust brightness and filter effects, and a Character Display tab to toggle off your Handler, Palico, Seikret, and more.
The next seasonal event in Monster Hunter Wilds, the Festival of Accord: Flamefete, will take place in the Grand Hub from July 23 to August 6! Cool off with this summer themed celebration, where you can obtain new armor, gestures, and pop-up camp decorations for a limited time. You’ll also be able to eat special seasonal event meals and enjoy the fun of summer as the Grand Hub and all it’s members will be dressed to mark the occasion.
Take on an even more powerful version of Uth Duna when Arch-Tempered Uth Duna arrives as an Event Quest and Free Challenge Quest from July 30 to August 20! Take on and defeat the challenging apex of the Scarlet Forest to obtain materials for crafting the new Uth Duna γ hunter armor set and the Felyne Uth Duna γ Palico armor set. Be sure you’re at least HR 50 or above to take on this quest.
We’ve also got plenty of new Event Quests on the way in the weeks ahead, including some where you can earn new special equipment, quests to obtain more armor spheres, and challenge quests against Mizutsune. Be sure to keep checking back each week to see what’s new!
Monster Hunter Wilds is collaborating with world-renowned guitar brand Fender®! From August 27 to September 24, a special Event Quest will be available to earn a collaboration gesture that lets you rock out with the Monster Hunter Rathalos Telecaster®.
In celebration of Monster Hunter’s 20th anniversary, the globally released Monster Hunter Rathalos Telecaster® collaboration guitar is making its way into the game! Be sure to experience it both in-game and in real life!
Express your style with additional DLC, including four free dance gestures. Paid cosmetic DLC, such as gestures, stickers, pendants, and more will also be available. If you’ve purchased the Premium Deluxe Edition of Monster Hunter Wilds or the Cosmetic DLC Pass, Cosmetic DLC Pack 2 and other additional items will be available to download when Free Title Update 2 releases.
We hope you’re excited to dive into all the content coming with Free Title Update 2! We’ll continue to release updates, with Free Title Update 3 coming at the end of September. Stay tuned for more details to come.
Happy Hunting!
Capcom has revealed our first look at Resident Evil Requiem gameplay in brief snippets shown during a livestream.
During the Capcom Spotlight event, Capcom showed a small portion of first-person gameplay, heavy on the horror and featuring new protagonist FBI Agent Grace Ashcroft. We see the character slowly move around creepy corridors with just a lighter for company. At one point, we see Ashcroft turn around to see a hulking humanoid creature close in on her from the shadows.
In another clip of first-person gameplay we see Ashcroft explore a grand hallway, this time holding a handgun (as an FBI agent Ashcroft is handy with guns). She’s also able to “act with calm, deductive reasoning,” and we see her inspect a toolbox in the classic Resident Evil up close style to demonstrate.
And finally, we get a very brief look at third-person Resident Evil Requiem gameplay where Ashcroft is, once again, exploring creepy corridors and poorly lit rooms. We see that horrible creature again, casually stomping in the shadows.
During the video, Capcom developers explain how the first-person perspective makes for “tense, realistic gameplay,” whereas playing in third-person via the over-the-shoulder camera lets you see “more of the action.” The third-person persepctive is “great for people who enjoy action-heavy gameplay,” Capcom added.
Resident Evil Requiem lets players switch between first- and third-person through the Options menu at any point during the campaign. Check out IGN’s Resident Evil Requiem hands-on preview for more information.
Elsewhere, Capcom confirmed Resident Evil Requiem takes place 30 years after the missile strike on Raccoon City that occurs at the end of Resident Evil 3, which explains the enormous crater we saw in the announcement trailer. Indeed, the name “Requiem” was chosen because, as Capcom explains it: “This game is a requiem, a eulogy to those who came before.”
There was no big Leon Kennedy reveal, as some fans had hoped for — and even expected. If the Resident Evil veteran is playable in the game, perhaps that reveal will come later.
Resident Evil Requiem launches February 27, 2026, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. For more, check out all the reveals from Capcom Spotlight 2025.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Remember back in April when I told you about Abiotic Factor’s next update, Cold Fusion? No? What do you mean you can’t remember every single news post I’ve ever written? Fine, whatever, point is, it turns out that said update turned into the full on 1.0 release of the game. And now, as shown off in a swanky new trailer for developer Deep Field, the release date for the release of 1.0 has been revealed!
The June 2025 Capcom Spotlight is here to deliver all of the latest news on games like Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Street Fighter 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, and more.
As promised, Capcom kicked off its latest digital presentation just moments ago, leaving fans eager to see everything it has in store for the near future. With some titles recently showing off updates elsewhere, many are expecting today’s Capcom Spotlight to offer a deeper dive into some of the Mega-Man and Devil May Cry publisher’s most exciting upcoming titles.
We know today’s showcase is around 40 minutes long, so expect a closer look at some of the company’s biggest games. We’ll be collecting all of the announcements you need to know about right here, so be sure to stick around to see all of the biggest Capcom Spotlight news.
Developing…
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).
Do you… do you hear that? Can you feel it? That disgusting, gnawing feeling, a shiver down your spine because you know it’s coming for you… the Steam summer sale… Friends, Romans, country(insert pronoun here), it is unfortunately that time of year again, that time where you look at all of those games in your wishlist as you try to figure out which deal is the best, and which to leave for the next inevitable sale.
From the un-egg-ceptable to the egg-ceptional, as ranked by you.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the European release of Yoshi’s Woolly World on Wii U, we’ve given this list a big ol’ make-over. Hopefully we’ll see more of the green dinosaur on Switch 2!
Yoshi! The little green dinosaur has been on our screens for a long time now, and while many first got to know him as an expendable resource in Super Mario World that helps Mario get extra height on his jump, he’s much more than that.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Picture this: you’re standing in the heart of a storm, lightning crackling in the sky, the ground trembling as if the earth itself feels your rage. Around you, wolves snarl and bears roar, ready to strike at your command. This is the primal power of the Druid, first introduced in Diablo II, making a triumphant return in Diablo IV, and soon to have their debut in Diablo Immortal on July 3.
Druidsrepresent a fascinating blend of feral instincts, nature-based magic, and stoic survivalism. Let’s dive into the evolution of this iconic playable class.
In Diablo lore, the Druids are a reserved and reflective people, deeply connected to nature and its primal forces. Though they share a historical link with the Barbarians, Druids follow their own path. Where Barbarians celebrate raw, unshackled might, Druids harness nature’s power with precision and balance. Picture them as the calm before the storm—until they morph into a bear and decimate their foes, that is.
The Druid design pulls heavily from European (Celtic and German) myths and folklore, particularly the idea of shamans and natural spellcasters who draw power from the earth. However, the Diablo universe evolves these archetypes into something uniquely suited to its grim world, drawing a look and feel from the raw, primal essence of Sanctuary’s harsh wilderness, blending ferocity and mysticism in equal measure.
The Druid class skill kit offers a mix of nature-based elemental magic, shapeshifting abilities, and summoning loyal animal companions to aid in battle. Here’s what makes them a force to be reckoned with:
Elemental Magic
Druids wield the raw power of nature through earth-shattering spells, crackling lightning attacks, and poison damage. These abilities represent the destructive beauty of natural forces.
Summoning Companions
Choose from loyal wolves, towering bears, or ravenous vines, depending on the playstyle you favor. Your summons not only fight at your side but can be pivotal for drawing aggro or dealing critical damage.
Shapeshifting
Need even more power? Transform into a hulking Werebear for devastating melee attacks or a nimble Werewolf for swift strikes. This dynamic shapeshifting adds a visceral touch and lets you unleash your unique adventuring style.
The Druid class has come a long way since its Diablo II debut. Each iteration refines the fantasy, addressing gameplay mechanics while holding onto the Druid’s core identity.
The Druid made an unforgettable debut, combining shapeshifting abilities with elemental magic to create a class deeply attuned to the forces of nature. Players could transform into a ferocious werewolf or a sturdy werebear, each offering unique tactical advantages that catered to different playstyles.
Elemental abilities provided additional versatility, allowing Druids to unleash the devastating power of storms and flames. Armed with primal weapons like axes, clubs, and special polearms, the Druid’s combat style resonated with its connection to the natural world.
Narratively, the Druid stood apart from other classes, with their isolation adding an air of mystique to enhance their lore.
The Druid emerges as a class rich with dynamic possibilities. Earth and storm spells now deliver visually striking abilities, including summoning earthquakes to disrupt foes or unleashing lightning storms for devastating long-range attacks. Players can seamlessly transition between human, werewolf, and werebear forms during combat, and for further customization, specific items enable them to adopt their preferred form as a default, opening hybrid strategies like a resilient, earth-powered werebear or an agile, storm-infused werewolf.
Adding to the versatility, Totems return as specialized off-hand items, enriching the Druid’s arsenal with tailored bonuses that complement their iconic staves, axes, and clubs. These tools allow for builds that ensure a personalized experience. The Druid’s lore gains depth in their role as guardians of the wild and their command over nature’s elements.
The Druid’s entry as the 9th playable class channels an untamed, primal energy, embracing a neolithic essence that stands apart even from the Scosglen Druids of Diablo IV. This version is wild and reckless, wielding the raw forces of nature with ferocity rather than control. Characterized as a hermit with a quirky and enigmatic personality, the Sharval Druid thrives in isolation, adding an unpredictable melee/summoner hybrid charm to the battlefield.
With Wild Magic at their command, their focused skillset and adaptability make them a versatile and fearsome force, while their eccentric, hermitic persona brings an air of mystique to the fast-paced mobile world of Diablo Immortal. Whether shaping the battlefield with elemental fury or summoning swarms of loyal creatures, this Druid iteration offers a uniquely feral experience.
Balancing nostalgia with innovation, the Druid has maintained its identity while adapting its skills to fit the evolving mechanics of the Diablo universe.
The Druid’s fantasy is timeless. Whether you’re commanding the forces of nature, shapeshifting into feral beasts, or summoning animal allies, the class provides an immersive and customizable experience. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of smashing your enemies as a Werebear, followed by unleashing a storm of ravens to clear the battlefield. It’s gameplay that walks the line between serenity and ferocity.
What’s your favorite Druid moment in Diablo? Share your stories on our forums or on social media via X and Instagram and join the Diablo community to stay updated on the latest news.
The post From Fur to Fury: The Legacy of Diablo’s Druid Class appeared first on Xbox Wire.
