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Despite not making its way into the series until 7 years later, Grand Theft Auto 3 was originally planned to be the first implementation of multiplayer in the series. While it would have been a far cry from GTA Online's current state, former technical director Obbe Vermeij outlined the original plans for the multiplayer mode. View the full article

Stellar Blade developer Shift Up has released the 1.1.2 patch for the popular action-adventure game. The new patch will not be as significant for PlayStation 5 players, but it contains a few changes that could add some necessary polish to the more recent PC version of Stellar Blade. View the full article

Throw a rock in the Steam store these days and it’ll likely bounce off a few horror games before landing in a bloody puddle. As someone who’s been a fan of horror films all my life – well, since I was allowed to watch them – navigating the genre can often be a frustrating affair. Since the ‘80s the horror film has been the choice of the low-budget filmmaker, and as a result being a horror fan often involves trudging through a river of similar scarefests, panning for the few flecks of gold that stand out. For every It Follows or Paranormal Activity there are hundreds of forgettable ‘found footage’ or zombie movies doing the rounds. Read More... View the full article

John Marston’s voice actor, Rob Wiethoff, has clarified his tease regarding Red Dead Redemption, saying that while there is indeed exciting news coming, he may have misled some people. Since Wiethoff’s comments, Red Dead Redemption fans have been wondering what this “exciting news” could possibly be, and several theories have arisen—but now the actor has stepped back a bit. View the full article

In our latest First Play video, we take a look at Maximum Football. Having previously been released on Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview, the full version 1.0 of Maximum Football was released today. The free-to-play American football game is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, offering numerous new modes and performance updates compared to its early access version. Read More... View the full article

World of Warcraft has officially revealed Ghosts of K’aresh, its 11.2 content update centered around the broken world of the Ethereals and Brokers, and the looming specter of Dimensius, the All-Devouring. Featuring new instanced content, gameplay systems, and campaign chapters, this World of Warcraft update will be the final major patch before Midnight. View the full article

Overwatch 2 is powering up once again with a new season for summer 2025. Season 17 of OW2 is called "Powered Up!" and although there isn't a new hero this time around (the next hero will be playable in a test later this summer, though), there's plenty of other quality of life changes and updates coming to the game when the new season begins on June 24. Here's everything new and different coming to OW2 season 17. Table of contentsOverwatch 2 patch notes - Season 17Map votingNew mapsNew Stadium heroesHero buffs and nerfsTwo Mythics at launchLimited-time eventsNew battle passG.I. Joe collabNew shop skinsNew hero trialOverwatch 2 patch notes - Season 17 Image via Blizzard Entertainment Season 17, Powered Up!, is all about the maps. There are new ones coming along, map voting, and some being added to the Stadium pool. Alongside new maps, skins, and hero balance changes, we're also getting limited-time events, changes to Stadium, and more. Let's look at what's new and different in OW2's latest season. Map voting A long-requested addition, Map Voting, arrives in season 17 in both Quick Play and Competitive Play. "After role ****** locks, you’ll get three randomized map options to choose from," Blizzard said. "Every vote adds a 1-in-10 chance to that map's odds, and the winner is selected using a roulette style roll. To keep things chill, team chat, battle tags, and individual votes are hidden, so there’s no pressure—just a better chance at playing on maps you love. And leaver penalties kick in as soon as voting starts, so stick around and make it count." The more votes a map has, the higher its odds of being chosen. After voting for each map, OW2 will "roll" to see which one is selected. If everyone votes for the same map, the game will automatically select it. New maps Image via Blizzard Entertainment A new Flashpoint map joins the Core experience in Season 17. Aatlis is based in Morocco and features lush gardens to luxury resort spaces. It's a map that's "built for tighter fights, cleaner rotations, and fast-paced momentum," according to the developer. In Stadium, Esperança and Samoa join the map pool. New Stadium heroes Image via Blizzard Entertainment Sigma, Junkrat, and Zenyatta are the new playable heroes in Stadium for season 17, all with their own unique Powers to build ridiculous and powerful variants in the competitive game type. Hero buffs and nerfs Multiple heroes are getting updates this time around. Here's a breakdown of each change: GeneralDamage role passive healing reduction increased from 25% to 30%Base health regeneration timer increased from 5 to 6 secondsTank Junker Queen Commanding Shout Junker Queen overhealth increased from 175 to 200.Allied overhealth increased from 50 to 75.Duration for self-reduced from 5 to 4 seconds.Allied duration increased from 3 to 4 seconds.Developer Comments: Commanding Shout has been updated to provide stronger team utility and improve its overall impact. The adjustments reward well-timed use by increasing survivability for both Junker Queen and her allies. The reduced duration for Junker Queen is a double-edged sword—she doesn’t have the speed boost for as long, but the cooldown rotation is quicker since the cooldown begins once the effect ends. Mauga Berserker PassiveOverhealth conversion rate increased from 40% to 50%Developer Comments: Berserker’s overhealth conversion has been reverted to restore some of Mauga’s durability to a more balanced state following previous changes. Ramattra Nanite Repair perkHealing per second increased from 50 to 75.Developer Comments: Nanite Repair’s healing per second has been increased to enhance its consistency and overall effectiveness during the short duration of Ravenous Vortex. Zarya Spotter perkMovement speed increased from 15% to 25%.Graviton Crush perkDamage dealt over time increased from 30% to 40% of maximum health.Developer Comments: Spotter and Graviton Crush receive targeted buffs to improve their effectiveness and ensure they remain viable choices alongside their counterpart perks.Damage Bastion Model and hit volume size reduced by 10%.Developer Comments: Bastion’s survivability is impacted by the large size of his model despite his high health and armor pool. Reducing his model and hit volume size by 10% improves his ability to avoid damage and overall balance. Echo Tri-ShotSpread decreased from 1.4 to 1.1 degreesDeveloper Comments: Reducing the spread of Echo’s Tri-Shot improves its effectiveness at range, making it a more consistent option for a highly mobile hero. Pharah Helix Shields perkShield health regeneration triggers when landing direct hits with rocketsDeveloper Comments: Helix Shields now offer a survivability boost by triggering health regeneration upon landing direct hits with rockets, rewarding player accuracy. Reaper Hellfire ShotgunsDamage per pellet increased from 5.4 to 5.75 (108 to 115 per volley)Developer Comments: Part of the reason heroes like Reaper and Tracer had their damage reduced in the past was due to the shift to the 5v5 format—solo tanking and less frequent peeling made flanking heroes more effective, along with their strong performance on certain maps and game modes like Push and Flashpoint. This is now less of a concern with the introduction of map voting and hero bans, which help limit overperformance, so we're restoring some of their damage potency. Soldier: 76 Pulse PistolDamage increased from 5.5 to 6Developer Comments: Similar to Reaper, Tracer is getting back some of the damage she lost due to past format and map concerns. Looks like she's recalled back to stronger bullets—again. Venture Smart ExcavatorRecovery time reduced from 0.7 to 0.6 secondsDeveloper Comments: This change improves Venture’s damage output by increasing fire rate, enhancing weapon consistency without increasing the lethality of their combo.Support Lifeweaver Cleansing Grasp perkLife Grip cooldown reduced by 4 seconds if a debuff is cleansedDeveloper Comments: Successfully cleansing a debuff now reduces Life Grip’s cooldown, improving the usefulness of Cleansing Grasp when timed well. Lúcio CrossfadeBase healing increased from 16 to 20 health per secondDeveloper Comments: Lúcio plays a unique role within the support lineup, offering strong mobility and team utility. However, his healing output has been lagging behind other supports, especially with the increase in hero health pools. This change makes his passive healing more impactful and better aligned with other support heroes. Moira Biotic GraspHealing per second increased from 70 to 80.Developer Comments: We wanted to boost Moira’s overall healing output, as she doesn’t offer as much direct utility compared to other Support heroes, and we’re reducing some healing impact in this patch through the Damage role passive. We’re happy with the cadence of managing her healing resource and swapping to damage to restore it, so we opted to adjust the direct healing rather than the resource availability or a similar mechanic. Zenyatta Duality perkIncreased converted damage from 30% to 40%.Developer Comments: Duality has struggled due to the number of conditions required for activation. Increasing the converted damage improves its effectiveness when those conditions are met.Two Mythics at launch For the first time in OW2, two Mythics are available at the launch of a season, for D.Va and Reaper. D.Va Mythic: Horang Image via Blizzard Entertainment Level 1: Tiger armor and a hat with sleek, fierce white styling.Level 2: Bun hairstyle with upgraded visuals in a cinnabar red colorway.Level 3: Flex braids and a wild tiger mask in a pink-tinted colorway.Level 4: Hit full tiger mode with ambient spirit energy, glowing effects, and flourishes that radiate power.Reaper Mythic weapon: Steel Death Image via Blizzard Entertainment Level 1 Base: Brutal, sharp, soulfire-infused shotguns built for lethal precision.Level 2 Reactivity: Weapons flare with dark energy as you deal damage.Level 3 Flourish: Intricate glowing details surround your shotguns.Level 4 Kill FX: Finish foes with haunting swirled shadows and sound effects that embody Reaper’s fury.Limited-time events Season 17 has two limited-time events announced over its first month, including Powered Up (June 24 to 30) and Hacks & Hijinx (July 15 to 28), both of which include challenges and free items to earn. Hacks & Hijinx features rotating match modifiers, from low-gravity jumps to Ultimate charge-granting health packs. Here's a complete list of every modifier you'll find: Mini Maxing: All heroes are 50 percent smaller and have a 30 percent health reduction.Lie Low: Heroes can become invisible while crouching. Fired Up: On Fire heroes have decreased cooldowns and deal more damage or healing at the cost of being visible to everyone.Charge Pack: Health packs also give Ultimate charge.Power Punch: Quick melee attacks knock back enemies.Vampiric Healing: Heroes don't passively regenerate HP. Instead, you get the Vampiric passive.Aerial Combat: Heroes deal and receive 50 percent more damage while airborne. There's also less gravity.Back in action: Respawn timers decrease.Berserkers: Heroes don't passively regenerate HP. Instead, for each 10 percent of total HP lost, your attack speed will increase by six percent, and cooldowns are reduced by six percent.Super Jump: Everyone jumps 200 percent higher.Motion Detection: Moving enemies within 25 meters are visible through walls. Crouching enemies stay invisible.Explosive: Everyone explodes on death.Hyper Speed: Movement speed increases by 20 percent for everyone.Buff Hunt: Every minute, a random hero has increased HP, deals more damage, and generates Ultimate charge faster. Defeating this hero grants you the buff.Damage Pack: Health packs increase damage dealt by 20 percent for 10 to 20 seconds or until death.Fallen Comrade: Heroes drop a globe on death that increases damage, armor, and movement speed when picked up by a teammate.New battle pass Image via Blizzard Entertainment There are five new skins in the battle pass, along with two more in the Ultimate bundle: 8-Bit Sombra8-Bit Genji8-Bit ReinhardtProfessor Fawkes JunkratProfessor de Kuiper Sigma (Ultimate Battle Pass Bundle)Principal Lacroix Widowmaker (Ultimate Battle Pass Bundle)Delinquent Cole CassidyG.I. Joe collab In the road map for season 17, OW2 confirmed that G.I. Joe would be the next collab for the game. In the reveal trailer for the season, players spotted Genji in a Snake Eyes skin, and that's just the beginning. More will be revealed in the coming weeks. New shop skins Image via Blizzard Entertainment Season 17's new shop skins include (from left to right) Lifeweaver, Mercy, Kiriko, Soldier: 76, Juno, Venture, and Reaper. More info about these skins, like pricing and release date, will arrive soon. New hero trial Image via Blizzard Entertainment Season 17 will close out with a new trial for the latest hero, the support hero Wuyang, towards the end of the season later this summer. To view the full patch notes, visit Overwatch 2's official website. The post Overwatch 2 season 17 patch notes – Map voting, new Stadium changes, and more appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

It's time to play some musical tunes in Disney Dreamlight Valley's Skull Rock cave. During the "The Music's on the Walls" quest, you'll search for glowing musical notes before using them to assemble a complete score. The difficult part is arranging them in the correct sequence. How to play the complete score using music notes in Disney Dreamlight Valley There are two parts to completing this puzzle. First, you'll need to look at the sheet music you and the Forgotten created after you found all five glowing musical notes. Using this information, you'll use the nearby barrels to raise and lower each note so that it matches what's on the sheet. This portion of the quest is divided into two parts: the left and right sides of the music wall. Let's check out each part in more detail. Left side of the music wall Screenshot by Destructoid The left side of the wall is, for some, the easiest of the two to solve. Using the sheet music as reference, start by tapping each of the three barrel's buttons once. This'll align two of the three, letting you focus on the third until its bottom is sitting atop the third line. Arranging them this way will complete this wall, knocking out half of this puzzle. Right side of the music wall The second part of this puzzle is taking the right side wall and repeating the process from before. However, this one can be a little tricky to complete if you're basing it on how the notes are oriented on the sheet music page. Instead, focus on the number of lines. Screenshot by Destructoid When you first look at the sheet music, it can appear as if the bottom of the notes touches the edges of the wall's borders. Instead, you want to make sure the circles rest on and atop the fourth line. The lines won't touch the bottom of the wall, but they will be in the correct spots. You'll need to press each button a few times to position them correctly. If you accidentally press one too many times, a few extra activations will bring it back down to the bottom of the board, letting you repeat it until you get the right sequence. Completing the Skull Rock's music note puzzle will help you advance through the "The Music's on the Walls" quest, revealing a second half to this sequence that closely mimics the first. The only difference is that you'll need to craft and use a Pixie Dust lantern to trap Peter Pan again before continuing. The post How to solve the Skull Rock music note puzzle in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Just about everything you encounter inside Skull Rock is some kind of puzzle waiting to be solved. One of the trickier ones you'll come across is the ***** Skull riddles, a series of questions you need to get right to move forward. Riddle puzzles are usually pretty easy to guess away at until you get them right, but this one is a lot more complex and takes a long time to get done if you keep trying to guess the correct answers. It's much more efficient to go in with the correct solutions to get it done, so here are all ***** Skull riddle answers in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Table of contentsHow to solve the ***** Skull riddles in Disney Dreamlight ValleySkull Rock riddle answers in Disney Dreamlight ValleyHow to solve the ***** Skull riddles in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid To solve the ***** Skull riddles in Skull Rock during the Shadows on the Wall quest, you need to answer three questions presented by them correctly. If you miss even one, they will not allow you to venture any further, so accuracy is crucial for completing this task. They don't tell you whether you passed the test until after it's done, which means there's no way to know which questions you got right and which you got wrong. It's s surprisingly tricky set of riddles to get done, especially in comparison to older puzzles of a similar style like the Pencil Bird's questions and answers. Skull Rock riddle answers in Disney Dreamlight Valley The correct answers for the three riddles given to you by the ***** Skulls are a pirate ship, a pixie, and a pan flute. If you're not sure which answer goes with each question, here are all three questions and the correct answer for them. Question one: I'm used to exploring the waters and shores, a swaying home atop the sea-foam. What am I?Answer: A pirate ship.Question two: I'm a winged creature, small and bright, with magic dust to grant you flight. Don’t be fooled; I've courage twice my size. Date to doubt; that's just unwise. What am I?Answer: A pixie.Question three: I'm an instrument of wind, and for him I'll always play as he laughs and grins to lead the way. What am I?Answer: A pan flute. Screenshot by Destructoid With this task out of the way, you can move on to other key quests around Skull Rock. There are still plenty of secrets to uncover in the Mysteries of Skull Rock update. Next, you can get to work on A Ship of Gold, using Pixie Dust to make something fly, and unlocking Peter Pan. The post All ***** Skull riddle answers in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

June 18 marks the start of the Madden NFL 26 Closed Beta, and players across PCs and consoles can test out the upcoming features early. While this beta isn't like the final product, it offers plenty of new features and more for the players to explore. Let's look at how you can participate in this beta, followed by what's on offer. Table of contentsHow to play the NFL 26 Closed Beta?Madden NFL 26 Closed Beta datesAll Madden NFL 26 Closed Beta featuresHow to play the NFL 26 Closed Beta? To participate in the program, you'll need a Closed Beta key. This is awarded randomly, but you can increase your chances by completing the following steps. Log in to your EA account.Click on your profile avatar (on the top part of the screen).Go to Subscriptions and Memberships.Activate EA Playtesting. Select NFL Madden 26 if that's available. Note that this doesn't automatically guarantee you will get a beta access code. There are additional rules that you need to follow. Accept the User and Madden NFL 26 Beta AgreementHave an cctive PS Plus or Xbox Live subscriptionHave an internet connectionBe at least 18 years oldSign up for Community Playtesting on the EA websiteYou must have played Madden NFL 25 actively. If you're selected for the beta, you'll receive a code in your registered email. This code is non-transferable and can only be used with your account. [Hidden Content] NFL 26 Closed Beta dates The beta went live on June 18 at 12:00PM ET/10:00AM CT/9:00AM PST. It will continue until 11:59PM EST/9:59PM CT/8:59 PST on June 26. All Madden NFL 26 Closed Beta features Here are all the available modes in the Closed Beta. Play NowOnline H2H Practice ModeMadden Ultimate TeamMini GamesSkill TrainerSuperstar Madden Ultimate Team will have plenty of features available, but not all of them. EventsChallenges:Training CampUltimate PreseasonForgeEpic ChallengesSolo Modes:Solo Champions: EasySolo Champions: NormalSolo Champions: HardThe League (Solo Seasons)The Run (Solo Seasons)Events:College OT: Study Hall (Requires 1 82, 83, or 84 OVR Starter)College OT: BetaHead 2 Head:MUT RankedGauntletRegular SeasonSick SixSquads Regular SeasonPlay A Friend:H2H PAFAll-Madden H2H PAFSquads PAFPractice Mode Any playbook, ratings, and further details in the beta are subject to change in the final version on August 14. The post How to participate in Madden NFL 26 Closed Beta? Dates, Features, and more appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

FromSoftware's latest title, Elden Ring Nightreign, won't let players begin an expedition if they own too many relics. A three-player co-op spinoff of 2022's mega-hit Elden Ring, FromSoftware's Elden Ring Nightreign launched just a few weeks ago. The spinoff drops three players in an alternate version of Elden Ring's starting area, Limveld, where they need to quickly level up over the course of two in-game days before squaring off against one of the game's challenging Night Lord bosses. View the full article

If you want to lose countless hours to a survival game, you're spoilt for choice these days. Rust continues to dominate on Steam. Subnautica remains a genre classic. Minecraft has just overhauled its visuals after more than a decade. For my money, though, V Rising remains the quintessential choice. With the Invaders of Oakveil update finally launching earlier this year, the vampire-focused game has become the experience I'd always dreamed of. With version 1.1 now out in the wild, however, developer Stunlock Studios is finally looking at what's next - and I have high hopes. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: The best vampire games to play in 2025 V Rising update Invaders of Oakveil is here, and it reinvents the entire game Grab fantastic survival game V Rising at its lowest price since launch View the full article

Looking for new MCOC codes? If you're excited to jump into this action game and play as your favorite superhero now that Marvel Contest of Champions is on Steam, you'll need some free rewards to give you the edge in battle. Here are the latest codes for free items including characters, revives, crystals, and more. It's worth noting that as well as these free codes for this fighting game, you can also claim daily and weekly rewards like crystals and gold through the online shop. Don't forget to check in for free goodies on top of all the latest codes we've listed for Marvel Contest of Champions below. Read the rest of the story... View the full article

The Epic Games Store will reportedly remove Dark and Darker from gamers' libraries on November 1. It’s rare for platforms to remove games that their users already own, but the decision is likely linked to the legal troubles Dark and Darkerhas been dealing with. View the full article For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Honkai: Star Rail has revealed Cerydra as the second five-star character debuting in Version 3.5. Since the release of Amphoreus, Honkai: Star Rail has steadily added new units to the playable roster every patch, all of them members of the powerful Chrysos Heirs. View the full article

Romantic games are one of the most overlooked successes in all of gaming. There are million-selling series spanning decades amongst them, and the loosely defined genre thrives on Steam in all its beautiful forms, encompassing everything from breezy pop star fantasies and summer adventures to hot gothic stories. Date Everything, a comedic "sandbox dating simulator" where I romance tables and lamps thanks to a pair of hi-tech glasses, has a lot of competition—and a lot of work to do if it wants to convince me that the jokes here aren't aimed at the genre, or at me for playing it... Read more.View the full article

Pokémon Pocket has dropped a trailer and release date for its next set and it stars the beloved Generation I Pokémon Eevee, plus all eight of its Eeveelutions. Eevee Grove will release on June 26, 2025. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: The 5 best builds for Pokémon Pocket's unhinged Silvally deck This aggro Pokémon Pocket deck with no ex cards is destroying the meta Pokémon Pocket tournament proves the haters wrong about new Ultra Beast set View the full article

FromSoftware's roguelite spin-off Elden Ring Nightreign has predictably been divisive since its release, but a recent petition is highlighting a missing feature that seems to be universally asked for. Nightreign is designed to be played in teams of three, but the studio doesn't have the most stellar track record when it comes to network functionality, though FromSoftware is already making strides with the announcement of a duos mode and upcoming DLC. View the full article

Summer is in full flow, at least for us in the Northern Hemisphere, and that brings the Valheim Midsummer Crown and Maypole back to the Viking survival game. Savor this taste of warmer weather while you can, however, as there will be no such climate to be found in Valheim's Deep North. The final biome left to be fleshed out, the frosty region is set to expand with the beloved Steam game's 1.0 update, and Iron Gate has just given us our first look at a terrifying Deep North dungeon. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Valheim dev reveals new Deep North enemy and teases incoming combat overhaul Grab legendary survival game Valheim at its lowest price right now The best Valheim mods View the full article

Want to know the best requisitions in FBC Firebreak? You're rewarded with Research Samples and Lost Assets when you complete missions, giving you the opportunity to unlock items in the requisitions menu. With so many items to choose from, it can be difficult to know how you should spend your hard-earned money. Similar to a traditional battle pass, the requisitions menu is filled with items and cosmetics to improve your FBC Firebreak kit and loadouts. It takes quite a while to obtain the currency needed to unlock every item co-op game, so it's important you know what the best requisitions are in FBC Firebreak to get the most from your rewards. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Does FBC Firebreak have crossplay and cross-platform support? Remedy's co-op shooter FBC Firebreak isn't going down well on Steam Can you play FBC Firebreak solo? View the full article

EA has narrowed down the launch window for its upcoming Skate reboot. In April the publisher reiterated that Skate would be released in early access form at some point in 2025. However, it has now narrowed this down to Summer 2025, adding: “Yes, just months away now.” Read More... View the full article

The Steam page is locked behind an age gate and completely inaccessible in 6 countries. View the full article

Apex Legends, the popular FPS battle royale game from Respawn Entertainment and EA, is currently down. Apex Legends was shadow dropped in 2019 and became a massive overnight success. The battle royale is not quite as big as it once was, but it is still fairly popular and remains in rotation for many battle royale fans. View the full article

Cast n Chill is a relaxing fishing sim with some absolutely gorgeous pixel artwork, and you're going to need to take it away from me. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article

Yesterday, Microsoft confirmed that it's not abandoning the home console market just yet. In a short video teaser, Xbox President Sarah Bond highlighted a "strategic multi-year partnership with AMD" that will include "our next-generation Xbox consoles in your living room and in your hands." But while we know that the "in your hands" part will include devices like the Windows-powered ROG Xbox Ally, there are still few specifics about what exactly Microsoft has planned for its future living room consoles (aside from what Bond calls "the next generation of graphics innovation"). Reading between the lines a bit, though, we wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft was getting ready to finally tear down the thinning wall separating gaming PCs and gaming consoles. A Windows-based, living room-focused Xbox capable of running generic Windows games could accentuate Microsoft's strengths in PC gaming while papering over many of the company's recent struggles in the home console market. WindowsBox The once-bright line separating PC gaming and TV-based console gaming has been deteriorating for years. On the hardware side, bespoke console chips and development environments long ago gave way to PC-like architectures that are simpler and easier for developers to work with. And on the PC interface side, efforts like Steam's Big Picture mode and SteamOS as a whole have strived to make playing on a PC with a handheld controller into a more console-like experience. Read full article Comments View the full article