Steam

Arc Raiders has ended its 'Server Slam' playtest with a big peak concurrent player number on Steam, suggesting a strong launch is ahead. The open Server Slam ran over the weekend on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. It offered the final chance to play Embark Studios' extraction shooter ahead of its October 30 release date. On Steam, Arc Raiders hit a peak concurrent player count of 189,668, making it one of the most-played games on Valve’s platform over the weekend. That's enough to make Arc Raiders the biggest extraction shooter ever on Steam. Escape from Tarkov might have something to say about that when it finally launches on Steam in November, however. Arc Raiders' true peak concurrent player number across all platforms will be higher than the Steam figure, but neither Epic, Sony, nor Microsoft make their numbers public. Still, 190,000 on Steam for an open beta is very strong. Not Battlefield 6 strong — its open beta peaked with more than half a million players in August — but certainly strong enough to suggest Arc Raiders has a decent chance of making an impression on the gaming landscape at the end of the month. The Server Slam let players test the Dam Battlegrounds map for a hands-on experience with elements of the game’s progression, crafting, and quest systems. It was designed to help Embark "challenge and fortify the game’s servers before launch," which hopefully means everything will work as it should on release day. All participants earned an exclusive 'Server Slammer' backpack cosmetic reward, unlocked when the full game launches. Progress from the Server Slam does not carry over, however. Embark Studios' previous game, free-to-download competitive shooter The Finals, is still going, although its concurrent player numbers on Steam are a far cry from those during its explosive launch back in December 2023. Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at *****@*****.tld. View the full article

An Amazon Web Services outage appears to have knocked out a number of key websites, social media networks, work platforms, and video games. Amazon told users there are “significant error rates” for requests made to its data storage service DynamoDB in the "US-EAST-1 Region.” This region relates to services hosted in northern Virginia. But the problem is also affecting its other services in that region as well. According to Downdetector, video games including Roblox and Fortnite are affected, Snapchat appears to be struggling, Slack is slow for many users, and even online banking is having issues. Wordle fans are also reporting struggling to log-in. A statement from Epic confirmed the issues on Fortnite: “An outage affecting several services on the internet is also impacting Fortnite log-ins,” Epic said. “We're investigating this now, and will update you when we have more details.” Amazon Web Services' latest update reveals a potential root cause for the error rates has been identified. "Based on our investigation, the issue appears to be related to DNS resolution of the DynamoDB API endpoint in US-EAST-1," aws SAID. "We are working on multiple parallel paths to accelerate recovery. This issue also affects other AWS Services in the US-EAST-1 Region. Global services or features that rely on US-EAST-1 endpoints such as IAM updates and DynamoDB Global tables may also be experiencing issues. During this time, customers may be unable to create or update Support Cases. We recommend customers continue to retry any failed requests. We will continue to provide updates as we have more information to share, or by 2:45 AM." Developing… Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at *****@*****.tld. View the full article

Multiple games and websites are experiencing major issuesView the full article

From KOEI TECMO, the Atelier Ryza series is coming to Steam on November 13th and as of today all three of them have been rated Steam Deck Verified. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article

Despite ongoing rumors, the next Halo game will not utilize generative AI in its development, according to a known Xbox and gaming industry insider on social media. The insider clarified that Xbox Game Studios currently has no mandate to use generative AI in Halo or other games. However, the controversial technology may still be used for emails and other tasks. View the full article

There's a lot of mystery and hype surrounding the upcoming Magic: the Gathering set Reality Fracture. While the release of Reality Fracture is still a long way away (it's not scheduled to come out until October 2026) Wizards of the Coast is making big claims about the Magic: the Gathering multiverse changing forever. There have also been a few misconceptions that head designer Mark Rosewater has taken to his blog to address. Let's examine what we know about Reality Fracture so far, and what it will and won't change. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: MTG Edge of Eternities card price spikes 474% thanks to plague slinging Legacy deck Wizards swears it "won't punish" MTG creators for hating Spiderman 25-year old MTG card from the worst set in Magic history jumps in price by 450% View the full article

The prerelease for the next Pokémon TCG set, Phantasmal Flames, is fast approaching. Starting on November 1st, Pokémon Trainers looking to get early access to all of the Charizardy goodness of this fiery new expansion will be able to crack open Phantasmal Flames Build & Battle Boxes and take part in a prerelease tournament. Thanks to a unique quirk of the way that these events operate, the promo card Zacian 015 will be available to many players and will be much more powerful than normal. Let's explore why... Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Full art Mythical Pokémon from Mega Evolution steadily dropping in price The Eeveelution Pokémon cards fans called trash sell for $2,400 I got 'bargain' Pokémon cards from SHEIN at 86% under market price, and they're worse than I ever imagined View the full article

On Thursday, October 23, you can join us in the Wargamer Discord for a live AMA with indie-RPG creator Jonathan Wojcik (aka Bogleech). Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Battle cosmic horrors through 100 of these Lovecraftian DnD 5e one-shots DnD 5e just got a lot harder with these hardcore homebrew dungeons DnD's new way to cast spells is absolutely ridiculous, and I love it View the full article

Dementium: The Ward is a cult-classic survival horror game first released on the Nintendo DS in 2007. There weren't a lot of horror games on Nintendo's handheld, which is most of the reason for Dementium's cult reputation. It cast you as an amnesiac trapped in a hospital full of zombies and giant worms you had to defeat with various guns and a nightstick. Nintendogs this ain't... Read more.View the full article

Obsidian Entertainment will be participating in a special Fallout: New Vegas panel taking place as part of Fallout Fan Celebration 2025, the company has announced. While the annual event has not consistently received major support from the Fallout: New Vegas developer in the past, this year appears to be an exception. View the full article

Going into Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, I was expecting to dive deep into the Gothic underbelly of vampire society. This would be my first direct exposure to this particular flavor of vampire lore, having not played the original and thus not been tortured by the sequel's beleaguered development or impacted by the PS5 refund controversy. View the full article

Who wants to learn a bit of Latin? Well, 'Deus' means god, which is appropriate because the board game Deus is a game all about Romans worshipping their gods. I mean, it's mostly about conquering a map and slaying 'barbarians', but there's some temple building, and making offerings to Jupiter, mixed in as well. Godlier still: you can currently get it on Amazon for $30 - 50% off the off the typical $60 asking price! Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Run it solo in this cyberpunk TTRPG against SPACE capitalism Adorable new detective board game casts Winnie the Pooh as a gritty gumshoe navigating "moral dilemmas". This Left 4 Dead inspired action horror TTRPG is getting remastered in 2025 View the full article

Steam users have just a few days to check out a demo of an upcoming Metroidvania, This Is Fine: Maximum Cope, based on the iconic 'This Is Fine' meme by cartoonist KC Green. This Is Fine: Maximum Cope is part of the ongoing Steam Next Fest game demo event, and will launch on PC and consoles in March 2026. View the full article

Official Xbox console emulation for Windows may be in the works, according to a new rumor from a longtime Microsoft insider. Though such a solution could bring a variety of classic Xbox games to PC, it may not arrive in the form of a typical emulator—assuming it arrives at all. View the full article

Fortnite's upcoming collaboration with The Simpsons reportedly includes a detailed map of Springfield, designed in the animated show's iconic art style. Springfield is easily one of the most recognizable towns in animated television history, and Fortnitemay be looking to capitalize on that familiar setting. View the full article

There are few developers like Rockstar Games, whose catalog of titles includes some of the best series in gaming. Known for creating worlds with extraordinary amounts of detail, Rockstar has created multiple classics, from high-stakes action journeys to depictions of history with fantastic stories. However, some of Rockstar's most acclaimed games are must-plays, even years after their release. View the full article

Pokémon Legends Z-A has a host of different Poké ****** you can find on your journey, and you can buy them or get them as in-game rewards. While everyone begins with the normal Poke ******, you'll be able to get your hands on the advanced ones pretty soon. This guide will list every type of Poké Ball that can be obtained in the game. How to get all types of Poké ****** in Pokémon Legends Z-A The table consists of the names of every Poké Ball type, along with how you can find them. Some of them are obtainable in shops. Others can only be obtained as part of certain quest rewards. Poke Ball NameShop location (if applicable)Wild ZonesOther methodsPoke BallCentrico Plaza Jaune District Magenta District Rouge District Vert District South Boulevard Vernal Avenue Hibernal AvenueAll Wild ZonesSide Mission 2: A Use for an Evolution Stone Side Mission 19: Poisonous, Paralyzing Strategies Pre-Order bonusGreat BallCentrico Plaza Jaune District Magenta District Rouge District Vert District South Boulevard Vernal Avenue Hibernal AvenueWild Zones 2-6 Wild Zone 8 Wild Zone 13N/APremier BallAutumnal AvenueN/AN/AQuick BallAutumnal AvenueWild Zone 19Side Mission 80: A Shocking Territorial Dispute Side Mission 97: Sop the Runaway WhirlipedeRepeat BallAutumnal AvenueWild Zone 19Side Mission 46: Pidgeot Soaring High Side Mission 97: Stop the Runaway WhirlipedeTimer BallAutumnal AvenueWild Zone 11 Wild Zone 15N/ADive BallAutumnal AvenueWild Zone 11 Wild Zone 13Side Mission 55: Carvanha, Menace of the DeepDusk BallAutumnal AvenueWild Zone 4 Wild Zone 15 Wild Zone 17Side Mission 25: Trubblesome Patrons Side Mission 105: Trevenant, the Haunted Elder TreeFast BallN/AN/AQuasartico Inc - Infinite Royale RewardFriend BallN/AN/AQuasartico Inc - Infinite Royale RewardHeal BallAutumnal AvenueWild Zone 2 Wild Zone 4 Wild Zone 8N/AHeavy BallN/AN/AQuasartico Inc - Infinite Royale RewardLevel BallN/AN/AQuasartico Inc - Infinite Royale RewardLove BallN/AN/AQuasartico Inc - Infinite Royale RewardLure BallN/AN/AQuasartico Inc - Infinite Royale RewardLuxury BallAutumnal AvenueWild Zone 6 Wild Zone 13 Wild Zone 19Side Mission 119: Le Superr-Tournoi de Jacinthe OMaster BallN/AN/AQuasartico Inc - Pokedex Completion Reward Quasartico Inc - Infinite Royale RewardMoon BallN/AN/AQuasartico Inc - Infinite Royale RewardNest BallAUtumnal AvenueWild Zone 3SideMission 14: Stumped at the FountainNet BallAutumnal AvenueWild Zone 4 Wild Zone 11Side Mission 11: The Kakuna Master Side Mission 48: All Tied UpUltra BallCentrico Plaza Jaune District Magenta District Rouge District Vert District South Boulevard Vernal Avenue Hibernal AvenueWild Zone 11 Wild Zone 13 Wild Zone 15SideMission 40: A Holovator Without Power Side Mission 54: Get Energized Side Mission 77: Catch Mawile If You Can Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post All Poké Ball types in Pokémon Legends Z-A and how to find them appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Cyberpunk has proven to be a timeless genre for the simple reason that we, as humans, have to live with megacorporations out for our money. After all, every single game is set in the future, highlighting class inequality through the trope of high tech, low life. Still, I always found a therapeutic appeal in living through these systems and exploring themes of humanity's value. Space Slave is a fascinating solo take on that mindset. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Mythological Strategy board game Deus 50% off on Amazon Adorable new detective board game casts Winnie the Pooh as a gritty gumshoe navigating "moral dilemmas". This Left 4 Dead inspired action horror TTRPG is getting remastered in 2025 View the full article

Dungeons and Dragons has plenty of whimsical adventures, even before player shenanigans. But a tabletop game this old has dabbled in every genre imaginable, and one setting that players love to explore is the extraterrestrial. Unlike many fantasy games, DnD offers plenty of threats of an alien origin. The recently launched Starblight campaign for DnD 5e takes that to some fun extremes. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: DnD 5e just got a lot harder with these hardcore homebrew dungeons DnD's new way to cast spells is absolutely ridiculous, and I love it DnD rival Chaosium resurrects its "masterpiece" tabletop RPG with a new 'classic' edition View the full article

ARC Raiders' open beta is slowly drawing to a close. The game's less than two weeks away from release, and fans are eager to hop into the full experience. However, eagle-eyed players have noticed something different about the game: the graphics are worse than they used to be, by a lot According to a keen-eyed player who shared their findings on ARC Raiders' official subreddit, the game seems to have significantly downgraded its graphics since the last technical test. While before it had luscious and realistic foliage and strong, atmospheric volumetrics to boot, this current iteration of the title seems to be lacking in both. Comparison images show that, during the second technical test, ARC Raiders' foliage had a lot more texture, depth, and realism to it, whereas now it appears more jagged and game-y. Likewise, the prior instance has heavy volumetric fog, which significantly improves the atmosphere of a swampy marshland, but the current version has next to none of it. [Hidden Content] Graphical downgrades are nothing new in video games and are done all the time, but it appeared that Embark Studios had no particular reason for doing so, given how well the game performs and how much the devs have spent on optimization overall. And it might just be that this wasn't intended. OssenJ, Embark's community lead, commented on another report that ARC Raiders appears to have been downgraded, chiefly regarding its shading and lighting. "The team will look into this, thanks for letting us know," she wrote. Visibility might have also been a reason for the devs to reduce foliage density and fog, ARC Raiders being a PVP shooter and all. However, the poorly-rendered, jagged, and shimmering foliage does tell me things weren't done for the sake of improved PVP, as it's an overall eyesore and takes a lot away from the experience. Having less realistic and rarer foliage, as well as removing volumetrics almost entirely, can and will improve fps on less capable machines like consoles. ARC Raiders is already a well-polished, highly optimized game, so it doesn't make much sense to see devs sacrifice graphical fidelity and compromise the style they've worked so hard to establish just so they could squeeze out a few frames per seconds more on average. Whether intended or not, the fact remains that ARC Raiders' current version isn't its prettiest, and I certainly hope the devs officially address player concerns, as the game is, in more ways than one, one of the most promising titles of this year. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post ‘I swore something was off’: ARC Raiders players beg devs to revert graphics downgrade appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Whenever Portal was announced as the sole "server browser" option in BF6, I was skeptical. Now, however, witnessing what players are making, I'm quite impressed. And, on that topic, a player has now made literal CoD zombies in BF6, and it even has pack-a-punch machines. YouTuber Phiality has shared what they've managed to create using Portal's dev kit in Battlefield 6: a full-blown Zombies mode, complete with ray guns (or, rather, an AOE-damage revolver) and pack-a-punch machines. Taking obvious inspiration from the Call of Duty phenomenon of the same name, Phiality has taken Portal to the extreme, making a new custom mode while also expanding maps and adding new weapons to spice things up. [Hidden Content] Now, the mode doesn't have actual zombies, at least not yet. Instead, they're bots who walk slowly or run unarmed towards the player, stopping only at chokepoints that would usually be windows or barricades in Call of Duty. You can mow them down using whatever gun you like, and Phiality has made sure you've got more than a few options to choose from, adding extra weapons on top of the game's base arsenal. The aesthetics are far removed from horror, too, likely due to limitations to Portal, but it's the gameplay that matters. The mode, much like its inspiration, unfolds in a sequence of waves or rounds, with the Zombies becoming more relentless and dangerous as time goes by. Killing them grants points, which can be used to upgrade weapons or access new parts of maps. And, because Portal is a fully streamlined experience, you can easily access this mode by going over to your Experience Browser and using the code "2z1e" to immediately hop on. No long and arduous downloads should be necessary to get into the mode, because Portal is just good like that. Portal is, as the name implies, is a door to a world of community-made servers and experiences in BF6, which range from customized official modes with slight tweaks to wholly new modes like the one above. It's a great way to provide players with something that isn't just the regular ******, but not a replacement for a true, dedicated server browser that is still missing from the game. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Zombies in Battlefield 6? Yes—thanks to the Portal, complete with pack-a-punch and ray guns appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Painkiller could be the ultimate destination for hardcore FPS lovers in the season of Halloween, as the shooter will be released worldwide on PC and consoles. Painkiller's 2025 version will be a reimagination of the cult classic that became popular among players due to its gore and endless action. With new features and better graphics, it should be a must-pick for those who love FPS. This guide will help you stay on track with the upcoming launch. Table of contentsPainkiller release countdownWhat to expect from PainkillerPainkiller release countdown Pinkiller will be going live on Oct. 21 on both PC and consoles. The release date has been known for quite some time now. The following countdown will help you keep track of the exact time when the game goes live on the date mentioned above. [hurrytimer id="1130950"] The countdown is based on the following timings. 6am PST8am CST9am EST1pm UTC2pm BST3pm CEST There's no regional midnight launch for Painkiller. Whether you're on PC or console, you start playing at the same time. Having a regional launch would have allowed Xbox players to get a few hours of extra gameplay, but that's not possible in the case of Painkiller. Additionally, there's no early access or advanced access, which means you can start playing on Oct. 21 at the earliest. You can choose to spend extra and get the Deluxe Edition, which gets you the Season Pass. What to expect from Painkiller In Painkiller, you're stuck in Purgatory with its many enemies and three children of Azazel, and your task is to stop them from unleashing hell on Earth. Expect to enjoy the same brand for endless action, but with new tools in your bag. Painkiller will also feature enhanced graphics and the option to play in co-op with your buddies. There's an essence of character-building as well, as you can pick between Ink, Void, Sol, and Roch. All four characters have unique perks with key advantages that will be essential to surviving and outlasting the enemies. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Painkiller release countdown: Exact date and time appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

The Keeper of the Goal evolution is live in FC 26, with the first real chance for you to upgrade a goalkeeper of your choice. You'll have to spend 10,000 coins to unlock the evolution, but the upgrades are pretty cool. Moreover, you can chain the card in future evolutions to improve the card further. Let's look at the best options based on the offered upgrades and requirements. Table of contentsFC 26 Keeper of the Goal evolution requirementsFC 26 Keeper of the Goal evolution upgradesBest players to use in Keeper of the Goal evolutionFC 26 Keeper of the Goal evolution requirements Here are the requirements of the Keeper of the Goal evolution in FC 26. Overall: Max 80PlayStyle: Max 5Not Rarity: World Tour Silver StarsPosition: GKFC 26 Keeper of the Goal evolution upgrades The evolution has two levels of upgrades, and there are certain conditions to fulfill. Level 1 upgrades Overall: +4|84Diving: +15|84Handling: +12|83Kicking: +8|82PlayStyles: Far Reach|5 Level 2 upgrades Overall: +4|84Reflexes: +10|85Positioning: +12|84PlayStyles: Footwork|5Roles: Sweeper Keeper+ Level 1 upgrade requirements Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Level 2 upgrade requirements Win 3 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.Best players to use in Keeper of the Goal evolution Here are some of my best recommendations for this evolution in terms of the current meta in the game. Thomas StrakoshaKasper SchmeichelVanja Milinkovic-SavicBernd LenoSergio HerreraRobert SanchezTrubinWulker BenitezAndre Onana Ultimately, there are plenty of great choices, so pay attention to the card fitting well into your squad in terms of chemistry. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Best players for FC 26 Keeper of the Goal evolution appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Back in August, Hidden Door, a tech studio at the intersection of machine learning and immersive entertainment, launched its social role-playing platform where roleplay meets fan fiction. And now it is celebrating Halloween with new content that lets you bring horror — or a little mischief — into your favorite worlds. Whether you’re roleplaying gothic romance, a campy monster mash-up, or a full-on zombie apocalypse, find it on Hidden Door. New and upcoming content includes: Dracula – Step into Bram Stoker’s world of gothic horror, set in modern-day Amsterdam. Play as a vampire, a hunter, or an unsuspecting guest, and see what unfolds. You can even earn the ability to bring vampires into your other worlds!Haunted Mansion – See how your characters survive the night in a haunted house with this new plot card. Try it in any world, from Call of Cthulhu to Pride and Prejudice!Zombies – Give any world a post-apocalyptic makeover. Who says your Regency ball can’t turn into a zombie siege?Big Fang (coming October 22) – A pop star romance with bite. Based on Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff from 831 Stories, experience what happens when your favorite boy band might also be vampires. You can play now on Hidden Door, currently in early access. Created by the technology studio of the same name, players can now be the main character within the lore and setting of iconic fictional universes, starting with Pride and Prejudice, The Wizard of Oz and The Crow from Pressman Film, with more universes launching soon. Hidden Door is where roleplay meets fan fiction, with help from AI. Source: Hidden Door Inspired by the improvisational storytelling of tabletop role-playing games, Hidden Door helps players to create new stories that expand on the original creator’s vision. Guided by an omniscient Narrator, players make characters that they then take on a variety of adventures, responding to prompts to guide the action in any direction. Completing stories unlock cards that players can copy between stories and share with other players, adding a new spin to well-known fictional worlds. On Hidden Door, anyone can become a main character within the lore, story and setting of iconic fictional universes, starting with Pride and Prejudice, The Wizard of Oz and The Crow from Pressman Film. This is possible because of Hidden Door’s unique way of enabling players/fans to interact with their favorite intellectual properties. I think of the fan’s interaction with canon and the AI to be like a “choose your own adventure” story that pushes back at you in the name of creating a better story. More worlds are coming soon, including a collection of romantic fiction from 831 Stories, science fiction from authors Alan Dean Foster and Ramez Naam and additional stories from Pressman Film. Powered by groundbreaking narrative systems technology, Hidden Door is building the future of immersive storytelling, with unlimited ways for fans to explore, expand, and remix their favorite worlds together. Hidden Door is available now on any desktop or mobile web browser at [Hidden Content]. Hidden Door. Source: Hidden Door “Hidden Door is the place for our fans to play within the realms of their favorite fictional worlds,” said Hilary Mason, CEO of Hidden Door, in our interview this summer. “Just as fans bond over new book releases and gather together for movie opening weekend and TV season premieres, we are building a home for fans of books, films and shows to socialize, obsess over and remix their favorite storylines.” “ Mason added, “Hidden Door isn’t just about watching and reading stories – it’s about living them. Our platform gives fans the power to let their imagination and creativity design the story, adventure through the world and even grow the storyverse together – a true home for fans to immerse themselves in their favorite stories.” Inspired by the improvisational storytelling of tabletop role-playing games, Hidden Door helps players to create new stories that expand on the original creator’s vision. Guided by an omniscient narrator, players make characters that they then take on a variety of adventures, responding to prompts to guide the action in any direction. [Hidden Content] In a demo, Hidden Door’s leaders showed me how it works, by working on the character description together. Her most frequent mood was “excited for the future.” And what kept Tyler, the gossip columinist up at night? I answered, “Boring news.” Mason said you can start a scene in a townhouse, with characters sipping tea and reviewing the latest social gossip. If you get writer’s block as a fan-writer, you can get help from the platform, which can give you examples of things you might do in the form of cards. Each character, item, location in the world is a card and you collect them. You build up a deck, and then you can play with that deck, choosing which chracter to play as. “You can see all the information about them, their current energy, their attributes, their location, anything about the location,” Mason said. It’s a game of world building, and that world building happens by accumulating, collecting, earning and manipulating these cards, which can be the things of your world, the characters, items, locations, but also stories, said Matt Brandwein, chief product officer and cofounder of Hidden Door, in an interview with GamesBeat. “Every time you play, you might get a completely different deck and all the things will change through play,” Mason said. You can succeed or fail, based on the quality of the narrative that emerges. But Mason believes that you will feel like a participant in the story, as well as its author. In the case of Pride and Prejudice, the story revolves around a scandal for the gossip writer. Completing stories unlock cards that players can copy between stories, adding a new spin to well-known fictional worlds. As players build up their collection of stories, characters and locations, they collectively shape a larger extended universe unique to them. Players can even pull cards or storylines from others’ shared worlds, building lore together within the broader fan community. Hidden Door’s creator partnership model represents a new approach to fan engagement and IP monetization. Rather than training AI models on authors’ work, the company collaborates directly with content creators through revenue-sharing agreements that require minimal time investment—typically just a few hours. Authors and publishers maintain creative control while gaining insights into how fans interact with their worlds, creating an additional revenue stream from existing IP. The platform serves multiple creator types, from established authors like Alan Dean Foster to romance publishers like 831 Publishing to film studios like Pressman Films, each bringing their unique worlds to life through carefully crafted adaptations that respect the original work’s integrity. Starting today, select worlds are available to play for free at [Hidden Content], with more to come at a later date. Follow along for the latest updates on Discord, BlueSky and Instagram. Here’s the FAQ. The post Hidden Door has Halloween games for adults who love fan fiction appeared first on GamesBeat. View the full article

Xbox Game Pass is losing Return to Monkey Island—one of its highest-rated games—on October 31. Two more titles have already been marked as leaving on the same day, with the full list of upcoming Xbox Game Pass departures being expected to be officially announced on the week of October 20. View the full article