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EA FC 25 is the next logical entry in the soccer simulation franchise. EA not only delivers a compelling sports title, but the iconic company regularly brings EA FC to a host of platforms. From PlayStation to Xbox, EA FC (FIFA to long-time veterans) has graced the biggest and best home consoles and computer systems technology has to offer. EA FC 25 is the next big milestone promising huge advancements from the new Rush mode to FC IQ. View the full article

It has only taken several months, but Intel says it's finally found the root cause of the stability issues that have been plaguing its 13th and 14th-gen Core CPUs. What's more, an Intel CPU fix is incoming, with patches to prevent the problem set to be issued in August 2024. These stability issues have resulted in system crashes on some of the best gaming CPUs available right now, and have mainly been a problem for games based on Unreal Engine 5. However, it's taken Intel many months to weed out exactly where the problem *****. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: This Intel gaming motherboard ***** reveals two new product names Intel's new CPUs would be great for gaming, if we were allowed them Intel is reportedly winding down clock speeds on its new gaming CPUs View the full article

A fantasy RTS game with deck-building elements, a brutal 30-player battle royale mode, and the ability to have tens of thousands of units fighting at once? Yes please. Warcana is looking like one of the most manic but unique RTS experiences of the year, and it's just locked in a release date that's only a few weeks away. The game's free Steam demo just got a big new update too, but if you want to give it a try, you haven't got too long to do so. Read the rest of the story... View the full article

In the heyday of Sierra's adventure game years, there was a series called Space Quest that featured an intergalactic janitor named Roger Wilco. The series was more satirical than King's Quest, less preachy than Police Quest, and not quite as ****** as Leisure Suit Larry. Spearheaded by Scott Murphy and Mark Crowe - a pair of devs who called themselves "Two Guys from Andromeda" - Space Quest was renowned for its humour, and there was a nice sense of progression throughout most of the series, with Roger Wilco leveling up from working class spaceman to the head of his own Star Trek ship. Tachyon Dreams Anthology, a collection of three short games previously released on *****.io, is clearly channeling Space Quest. Made by indie dev Cosmic Void, AKA Aviv Salinas, each episode of Tachyon Dreams puts you in the shoes of an intergalactic dishwasher named Dodger, who's almost like an alternate Roger Wilco if you squint. Dodger's just chilling on a spaceship clearing plates when all of the staff around him disappear, which is basically what happened to Roger at the start of Space Quest I. Guided by a sentient computer, Dodge has to travel through time and space, and his quest eventually leads him on the trail of the Margdonians, a mysterious race that once cultivated the galaxy. The plot, which starts with time travel and ends with Dodger literally contemplating his past while sitting on the porcelain throne, doesn't quite hit the mark set by any of the Space Quests. But the game's visuals are 100% reminiscent of a lost Sierra adventure from 1987 made with the company's then-famous AGI (Adventure Game Interpreter) engine. Even Dodger's walk cycle channels Roger Wilco's, though Dodger is several pixels larger than Roger ever was. I'm not sure if Tachyon Dreams Anthology was made in AGI Studio, gamemaking software that's been widely used amongst Sierra fans, but it certainly looks it. Cosmic Void's expert use of AGI's 16 colours is especially impressive, and I really appreciate the pixelated depictions of the galactic sky, swathed in lovely shades of blue and magenta. (Anyone who wants to see similar visuals in something that resembles a '90s game rather than an '80s one should check out Twilight Oracle, one of Cosmic Void's other projects. Alice B (RPS forever in peace) liked the demo!) Read more View the full article For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Originally a mobile game that won an Apple design award, Afterplace is an open world adventurous retro game for those who like to get lost. Today it released on PC with full Native Linux support. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article

Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe has given fans an update on the progress of the console and mobile versions of the 1.6 update. Stardew Valley is easily one of the most popular indie games ever made, even eight years after its initial release. A big reason why Stardew Valley has enjoyed such incredible longevity is thanks to the huge content updates that have helped keep the farm sim feeling fresh. View the full article

Get ready to put together a spaceship again, as the deep space colony sim Stardeus has a really massive update out now and it's looking great. Basically, it's RimWorld on a spaceship and it's cool. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article

My fellow soldiers, the Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom is homebound, meaning we need you back on the field as the Galactic War is getting an exciting expansion. It’s time to get debriefed on the incoming Helldivers 2 update, and we guarantee you’re going to be interested in this one. Here’s everything you need to know about the Escalation of Freedom Helldivers 2 update. View the full article

It’s finally happening. Call of Duty is coming to Game Pass, and subscribers on PC and Xbox can download it very, very soon. But the addition to Game Pass is not an older title like Call of Duty 4 or ****** Ops 2 like many expected. The first CoD game to make it to the Microsoft subscription service is the series’ newest one, Modern Warfare 3. View the full article

You don't need monsters, ghosts, or demons to make a horror game. While Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and ***** Space lean into the supernatural and the otherworldly, Conscript, a terrifying new shooter directly inspired by the village battle in RE4, relies strictly on the brutality of war. I'm reminded of the opening level of Battlefield 1 - the absolute chaos, the Boschian frenzy of it all. Boasting a distinctive pixel aesthetic, a heartbreaking narrative, and a distinctive authorial voice, after years of waiting, Conscript is finally here. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Win a 1TB Steam Deck OLED and HyperX gaming gear bundle Terrifying WWI horror game finally has a launch date and new demo Resident Evil and Dark Souls inspire brutal new WWI horror game View the full article

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom is just what was once a colossal Sony hit needs right now. After months of declining player numbers on Steam, and the PSN fiasco still firmly in our rearview mirror, 2024's biggest co-op hit has been struggling. Developer Arrowhead is still delivering constant Warbonds and patches, but Escalation of Freedom promises a swath of new additions, and it's coming incredibly soon. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: RTS game, available free, is the perfect follow up to Helldivers 2 Helldivers 2 stratagems codes and tier list As Helldivers 2 Steam struggles continue dev hints big ******* change View the full article

Fortnite's newest update poses a problem for Xbox players, requiring much more storage space to download than other platforms. The issue comes as Epic Games releases the game's latest V30.30 patch, which comes toward the end of Chapter 5 Season 3: Wrecked, a season that has introduced a variety of new items and gameplay changes to Fortnite. View the full article

Once Human codes are one of the ways you can claim in-game items for free, as well as the Energy Link currency you use to do just about everything in the new open world survival game. Unfortunately, these codes don't seem to include any of the game's premium currency of Crystgin for cosmetics... Read more.View the full article

It’s a recipe for tears when Han Solo and Chewie are torn apart. C-3PO is lost without R2-D2 beeping and booping close behind him. And The Mandalorian is half the man he can be without Grogu floating by his side. Star Wars has a long lineage of companions, and in Outlaws it’s no different. Say hello to Nix, the centre of Kay’s world, and her partner in ****** (literally). “He’s Kay's family,” states game director Mathias Karlson. “He's not a person, but the only creature, the only thing in the galaxy that she truly trusts and cares for.” Nix grew up with Kay on the streets of Canto Bight from a very young age. Little is known about how they met just yet, but ever since their younger years, they’ve been a dynamic duo willing to make their way in the world through whatever legal or ******** means present themselves. Belonging to a brand-new Star Wars species, Massive Entertainment knew that Nix would be a crucial ingredient to telling Outlaws’ story. Not only that, he would be a key cog in its stealth-action gameplay systems. “I think the opportunity to create a new creature and add them to the Star Wars galaxy, and also have them be a companion to Kay, it came really from both a narrative and a gameplay lens,” says narrative director Navid Khavari. “We never really talked about Kay without talking about Nix. They're sort of one unit. And in the gameplay sense, Nix was almost like an extension of Kay.” If your right hand is your blaster, Nix is almost like your long rubbery left hand. “We want him to be your long finger,” adds Karlson. “If your right hand is your blaster, Nix is almost like your long rubbery left hand that can fetch things, distract, *******, disable alarms, et cetera.” While you don’t directly control Nix, he is a key tool in your arsenal. Think of him as Outlaws’s alternative to Watch Dogs’ suite of hacking tools and you won’t be far off the mark. With a quick tap of a button you can send him down a corridor to distract a guard, who you can then sneak up on to perform a melee takedown. Prefer a more explosive style? Have Nix quietly activate an ******’s grenade in their pocket and watch it detonate from a safe distance. From the limited amount I’ve played and seen, Nix has a fun and useful variety of actions available up his furry sleeves, and that range will only grow as you uncover more abilities. Crucially, they all feel appropriate for an ‘innocent’ small creature to carry out – you won’t see Nix manning a heavy laser turret, but you can ask him to surreptitiously sneak a look at an opponent’s card hand in sabacc (just don’t get caught cheating). “Tying [Nix] in with gameplay was extremely important. It had to feel right,” says animation director Matt Karpinski. “We treated Nix very similar to the player because we feel they're part of the same thing.” “But then on the narrative side, it was also an opportunity to have this creature that was a ****** in Kay's armor, that was fiercely loyal to her and will do anything for Kay,” Khavari explains. “And so in a lot of ways they were always this complete package, and seeing what the team was able to come up with, seeing the sort of iterations of Nix was amazing.” Those iterations were many. At one point during development he resembled a monkey, with Abu from Aladdin being a particular touchstone. Later he transformed into something more akin to a lizard as the team sought to find a balance between a creature that was very physically capable, but one you could also see as a friendly companion. How, exactly, do you find such a look? Luckily for Massive, the team had the help of Lucasfilm and its wealth of Star Wars knowledge to help ****** the code. “It really started from a story necessity perspective,” explains Steve Blank, director of franchise content and strategy at Lucasfilm. “As we were defining Kay and who she was, we knew she was growing up as a bit of a loner, a bit of an outcast and a burgeoning thief on her own. And we started thinking through, okay, in the Star Wars vernacular, what types of companions have we seen before? We've seen Wookies, we've seen droids, we've seen a mix of eclectic other types of characters and species. And we really then were like, okay, what's a real world parallel for that? And the **** came up.” The ****-and-owner dynamic was just the start, though. The door was still open for a variety of different looks. And while Star Wars certainly has a selection of established dog-like species that Massive could have chosen from, the team decided to try for something original. “Nix is a Merqaal, a new species that we created here at Massive,” explains Marthe Jonkers, Outlaws’ associate art director. “So he needed to have a very soft side that you could really think like, ‘okay, this is her buddy.’ And for that, we looked at a lot of more softer creatures, but also our pets for sure. But on the other hand, he's from a jungle planet. He needs to survive. He's still a wild animal in a sense. And so he has very sharp teeth, for example. He has the scales, [which for inspiration] we looked at a pangolin.” He's from a jungle planet. He needs to survive. He's still a wild animal in a sense. The team took many different animals from our natural world and borrowed bits and pieces to Frankenstein together for their new species. This ranged from the very basics, such as the body shape and cheeky characteristics of racoons, to the more exotic, tentacle-like ear shape of an axolotl. These body parts were combined to form a recognisable silhouette for Nix. But just as important as his practicality was his ability to convey emotion and communicate with Kay without the power of speech. “When you look at some reference from dogs, let's say, or even cats, you can tell when they're sad. [You] can tell when they're happy,” says Karpinski. “There's a lot in their ears, in their eyes and expressions in their movement where you just know they can't talk, but they're happy. So we really leaned into that kind of body language and expression to really highlight what Nix was feeling and what kind of mode he was in. “So posture-wise, his silhouette goes smaller as he's sneaking slowly towards an NPC to take them down. And happy, he's a lot more animated. He's running around, you can hear him chirping. So I think people are really going to recognize and feel what Nix is feeling in the moment.” “We also wanted Nix to be able to show his emotions in a way that's easy to understand, but you really believe that this is a creature and he would do it this way,” adds Jonkers. “So when he's very scared, he will put his tentacles all down, or when he's scanning the environment, he will put them up.” Nix was ultimately brought to life through a mixture of cutting-edge animation and motion capture technology, but also blended with classic creature creation techniques such as hand puppetry. And then there’s the sounds he makes, provided by the unique vocal talents of the legendary Dee Bradley Baker, who’s appeared as everything from Daffy Duck in Space Jam to Appa in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Creating a brand new Star Wars species is no small task. But for Jonkers and the team, it already feels worth it thanks to having seen just how much fans are already connecting with Nix. “People are actually drawing the character we created and he resonates with people,” says Jonkers, talking about fan art that has already been posted before Outlaws has even released. “I mean, so much love went into this character, and I think people feel that.” One question ********, then. Being a stealthy outlaw companion willing to get into a scrap, that territory naturally comes with danger attached. So, can Nix get hurt? Or worse, even… “No,” Jonkers assures us. “But he's very capable. He gets out of the way. He knows how to sneak away when there's danger, so he can definitely take care of himself.” Good. We just can’t be having that kind of emotional turmoil between our smuggling escapades, can we? Simon Cardy once got kicked out of a school assembly for calling somebody Salacious Crumb. Follow him on Twitter at @CardySimon. View the full article

Image: Activision Microsoft is bringing last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III to Xbox Game Pass tomorrow. It’s the first time a Call of Duty game will be available on Game Pass, and it’s the last in Activision’s franchise to have PlayStation-exclusive content now that Microsoft owns Activision Blizzard. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III will be available for Xbox Game Pass for Console, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on July 24th. The announcement comes just weeks after Microsoft revealed price hikes for its subscription service. Microsoft announced price hikes for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass earlier this month The launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III on Game Pass could soften the ***** of the price increases, which, in... Continue reading… View the full article

Bridgerton season 4 is on the way, and Netflix has revealed today just which of the many overly attractive cast members will be heading to the marriage mart. We've known that Bridgerton would be getting a fourth season since 2021, when the show was renewed for seasons 3 and 4, but it hasn't been clear who will be the bachelor or bachelorette for it. Season 3 was all about Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton, and Penelope Featherington, portrayed by Nicola Coughlan, but like every season before it, each subsequent season focuses on a new member of the Bridgerton family, leaving fans of the series guessing and hoping for their favourite one. And earlier today, through a brief teaser and announcement on Tudum, the streaming service confirmed that Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson, will be the focus in season 4. "That’s right, the man who once mooed from the corner of the ballroom is about to be the focal point of the marriage mart as he searches for a mysterious woman called the Lady in Silver," explains Tudum. "Season 4, as the logline reads, 'turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down.' That is until an enchanting woman dubbed the Lady in Silver captures Benedict’s attention at Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball. Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Colin (Luke Newton) must be proud." Read more View the full article

Freedom never sleeps, and Helldivers 2 has announced its biggest update yet, the Escalation of Freedom. This update adds many new challenges for Helldivers to face, so here’s everything coming in the Escalation of Freedom update. Everything included in Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom updateTake on a greater challenge There’s always a ******* outpost. Image via Arrowhead Game Studios The Escalation of Freedom update introduces a new level of difficulty to Helldivers 2—Super Helldive. Combat Rating 10 features more enemies than you’ve ever seen and is meant to feel like a progression from the Helldive difficulty. View the full article

August 2, 2024: We added a new Warframe code. What are the current Warframe codes? If you're looking for free glyphs and cosmetics, you're in luck. There's a long list of available codes released by content creators for the sci-fi shooter. If you don't want to spend money on unlocking cosmetics in one of the best free PC games, then using codes for in-game character cosmetics, emotes, and glyphs is the best way to get around it. You can usually obtain new codes from content creators and codes are easy to redeem, too, here's a list of all the new Warframe codes and how to redeem them. It's also worth noting, sometimes temporary promo codes for boosters, cosmetics, and items pop up around big updates or special events. We'll be sure to update this guide as and when promo codes are available. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: One of Warframe 1999's romance options is "kind of disgusting" Warframe 1999 has helped me find my new favorite game Warframe 1999 is locked behind hours of grind, but DE might have a fix View the full article

Minecraft enthusiasts often discuss their idea of the perfect update to the game, and one member of the community recently shared their own update concept complete with title artwork. A game as expansive as Minecraft boasts a limitless potential for growth, and though the game's past updates have demonstrated that it's hard to please everyone in such a large community, fans of the game are never short on ideas of their own. View the full article

Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Warhammer 40k-esque indie game may out-grimdark Space Marine 2 View the full article

As you navigate through the story quests in Fortnite Chapter Five, season three, you’ll face many unique trials to help progress the storyline. One of these tasks asks you to ******** objects at Wasteland locations, which can be a tough one to get done. Wasteland locations aren’t marked on the map and also aren’t an official POI you’re familiar with. This means finding them can be tricky, so here’s how to ******** objects at Wasteland locations in Fortnite. View the full article

A Gigabyte motherboard ***** has just revealed the name of the flagship motherboard chipset for Intel Arrow Lake, as well as adding more evidence that this new gaming CPU lineup will feature the Intel Core Ultra branding. The new CPUs will use a new socket called LGA1851, which will require a new motherboard, with top-end products apparently based on a new Intel Z890 motherboard chipset. This follows the naming convention of Intel's last few chipsets for its best motherboard offerings, with the Z790 and Z690 chipsets coming before it, so it isn't a huge surprise, but this is the first time we've seen it in writing on a physical product. If you want to get the most out of Intel's best gaming CPU options when they come out, then you'll want an Intel Z890 motherboard, as this is reportedly the only chipset that will enable you to overclock your CPU. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Nvidia's RTX 4070 GPU just dropped to its lowest ever price Gigabyte's new Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super card has a hidden power socket Gigabyte is pushing SSD speed to the limit with its new Aorus drives View the full article For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Image: Arrowhead Studios The team at Arrowhead Game Studios is working on the biggest Helldivers 2 update yet. On August 6th, the Escalation of Freedom update will offer players new game modes, enemies, mission objectives, and a much more punishing difficulty. In the announcement trailer, chief creative officer Johan Pilestedt and design director Niklas Malmborg went over the details, sharing that they’re planning on bringing back an old ****** from the original Helldivers to terrorize freedom lovers across the galaxy. Do you have what it takes, Helldiver? The Escalation of Freedom Major Update begins on August 6, featuring: • Difficulty Level 10 • New mission objectives • ******* ****** outposts • New Bugs and Bots • New environmental hazards Full briefing: h... Continue reading… View the full article

Reading the ***** Men’s Tales Book is a new quest in Fortnite‘s Pirates of the Caribbean Cursed Sails event—and we know where to find the reading material. Fortnite has a neverending conveyor belt of content. A bunch of Summer Road Trip quests will keep you occupied for the next few weeks, as should driving around in the Tesla Cybertruck thanks to the v30.30 patch notes. View the full article

Everyone’s favorite Water-typed Alolan Starter Pokémon is finally getting its Community Day, and it couldn’t arrive at a more perfect time in Pokémon Go. While not officially confirmed, a teaser for August’s Pokémon Go Community Day shadow-dropped on social media, showing a beach landscape with bubbles, followed by Popplio’s distinct cry at the very end. August’s Community Day is pretty late from 2pm until 5pm local time on Aug. 31. View the full article