For Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate 3 was absolutely worth the six turbulent years it spent crafting one of the best RPGs ever. Despite one of its studios shuttering in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a rocky, bug-plagued start to early access, BG3's success has set it up to do even ******* things in the future. First on the list, as we all now know, is Divinity, the third entry (even if it isn't Original Sin proper) in Larian's series that was revealed last week with the bold promise of it being even ******* than Baldur's Gate 3. However, Larian doesn't want to take another six years to get its next RPG in your hands, with the studio's CEO, Sven Vincke, saying that "three to four years" is its goal for its development cycle. It also sounds like early access is on the cards once again, so you might be playing Divinity even sooner than that. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Larian dev says the mysterious Divinity statue was a statement for "skill and craftsmanship" amid the age of AI View the full article
The Groundbreaking quest is a new activity to finish in ARC Raiders, which forms part of the Cold Snap update. Thankfully, it's fairly easy to finish off. All the tasks can be completed on the Blue Gate map, and there are four of them. This guide will help you finish all the tasks. ARC Raiders Groundbreaking quest walkthrough The Groundbreaking quest can be broken down into the following parts. Enter the locked room at Pilgrim's PeakSearch the room for any construction researchFind the building pictured on the whiteboardPhotograph the abandoned housing project Once you accept the quest from Apollo, he will provide you with the Blue Gate Communication Tower key. Make sure to keep the item safe since you'll need it to proceed with the quest. Next, head to Pilgrim's Peak on the Blue Gate map. Enter the building from the entrance marked on the screenshot below. Go straight, and then turn left. Travel straight until you come across a locked door to your right. This is where you use the key. Head inside and you'll find a whiteboard. Investigate the whiteboard, and you'll automatically complete the second and third tasks of the quest. Screenshot and Remix by Destructoid The final part of the quest is slightly tricky since you'll have to stand at a specific location at the Abandoned Housing project. Head to the marked location, and you'll find the spot where you have to take the photo. You will first have to reach Abandoned Housing before proceeding to this spot. Screenshot and Remix by Destructoid Being at the correct spot will allow you to take a photo of the building in front of you and complete the quest. Image via Embark There are more quests to complete in Cold Snap, and we have detailed guides for all of them. A Toxic TrailStench of CorruptionThe Clean Dream The post How to complete Groundbreaking in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
Phasmophobia has all kinds of unique ghost types you can identify, and over the years, this list of ghosts has grown a few times. On Dec. 12, 2025, the Obambo joined the roster, making it one of the later game additions and thus a tougher one to identify. Since this ghost wasn't around from the start like most others, there's a good chance you might need some help learning how to distinguish it from the rest. Luckily, this ghost has plenty of unique features you can watch out for. Here's how to identify an Obambo in Phasmophobia. Table of contentsObambo evidence in PhasmophobiaObambo behavior, patterns, and clues in PhasmophobiaObambo evidence in Phasmophobia Screenshot by Destructoid The Obambo has three official pieces of evidence you need to watch out for, which are Ghost Writing, Ultraviolet, and the DOTS Projector. No other ghost has these three types of evidence, so anytime you catch them all, you know for sure you're dealing with an Obambo. Here's how to capture all three. EvidenceHow to getGhost WritingPlace a Ghost Writing Book down in the ghost room. If the ghost writes anything in the book, you can mark down Ghost Writing as evidence. In lower-level difficulties, you can definitively rule out this evidence if the ghost throws the book. In higher-level difficulties, you cannot rule it out, as it might be hiding this piece of evidence. UltravioletUse an Ultraviolet light to look for marks around the map, especially in or around the ghost room. You're looking for fingerprints, handprints, and footprints. The best way to check for this evidence is to place Salt around the host room and wait for the ghost to step in it. When they do, they'll leave behind Ultraviolet footprints if this is one of their evidence types. If you're on a higher difficulty level, the ghost may hide this evidence. DOTS ProjectorPlace a DOTS Projector down in the ghost room and witness the ghost manifest in DOTS form in it. The DOTS form is essentially a ghostly silhouette that moves through the DOTS. You can also place a Video Camera down pointing at it to watch for DOTS from the safety of the truck. Obambo behavior, patterns, and clues in Phasmophobia Screenshot by Destructoid In addition to official evidence, all ghosts have their own unique behaviors, patterns, and other such clues you can watch out for. Here's everything we know about the Obambo so far, which will be updated as we continue to encounter this ghost. The Obambo has two different states, alternating between them frequently during investigations. Depending on the Obambo's mood, their behavior looks very different. While the Obambo is feeling aggressive, they're much quicker to start hunting.When the Obambo is feeling calm, they're much slower, easier to track, and less likely to hunt. Because it alternates between two vastly different states, it can be easy to mistake the Obambo for another ghost type. You might mistake it for The Twins due to its dual nature, a ****** based on its overly aggressive form, or a Shade because of its calm, relaxed state. Careful investigation is crucial for getting this one right. The Obambo is very noticeably different from all of these ghosts, making it easy to distinguish once you know what to look for. You can also use official evidence to confirm. The Obambo is very fickle, frequently switching up, and oftentimes defensive. May be an early hunter, or at the very least seems to hunt early under certain conditions. It seems like it may only be when the aggressive state is active, but we're still testing to figure out exactly how this works. The post How to identify an Obambo in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
The worst game of 2025 has been revealed by Metacritic following the conclusion of major releases this year, and given the title’s turbulent history, it’s no surprise at all. This year was full of memorable releases across a variety of genres, including titles like DOOM: The Dark Ages, Split Fiction, Elden Ring Nightreign, Blue Prince, the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, and the 2025 GOTY Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. View the full article
The Game Awards’ mysterious statue was such a well-kept secret that not even PlayStation or Xbox knew which game it was far. That’s according to Larian Studios founder and CEO Swen Vincke, who told VGC that the reason for the statue – which was to promote a new game in the Divinity series – was so well-guarded that platform holders didn’t know about it. In our extensive interview with Vincke, we asked if Larian intends to release the next Divinity game on PS5 and Xbox consoles, given the role they played in the part of Baldur’s Gate 3. Read More... View the full article
Xbox Game Pass has reshaped gaming by offering players an expansive library of titles at an enormous value. With hundreds of games spanning from epic RPGs like Skyrim to indie gems like Hollow Knight, subscribers gain instant access to new and classic experiences, as well as incredible Day One releases like this year's GOTY winner, Clair Obscur: Expedtion 33. View the full article
I am seriously stoked by Vampire Crawlers that adds to the world of Vampire Survivors with a fast-paced deck-builder from developer poncle. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article
Resident Evil fans are worriedly discussing new screenshots of fan-favorite character Leon S. Kennedy, which look to feature an ominous-looking mark on his neck. The past week has been a rollercoaster for Leon fans, with leaked artwork confirming the character's long-rumored presence in Requiem, followed by his official unveiling in a trailer at The Game Awards last Thursday. But now there's concern for Leon's future — as fans analyse screenshots from Capcom's latest trailer that seemingly show a dark, bloodied wound on the hero's neck, and following a comment from Resident Evil: Requiem producer Akifumi Nakanishi who stated that Leon is hiding "a big secret." IGN has revisited last week's official Resident Evil Requiem trailer that aired during The Game Awards, and enhanced the screenshots you can see below. Could this be a zombie bite, or potentially another infection? The question has prompted furious debate among fans on reddit and social media, while others have suggested this would be an unlikely plot point for Capcom to explore again, after Leon was injected with Las Plagas during Resident Evil 4. Other fans, however, have said this mark could be a sign of Leon's older Las Plagas infection slowly recurring — as a neat way to tie Leon's story in Requiem back to the franchise's most popular entry. Jokingly, some fans have suggested the mark is a nod to Capcom's non-canon Game Boy Color title Resident Evil: Gaiden, in which Leon is revealed to secretly be a monster when green blood oozes from a wound on his neck. Alternatively, one other fan claimed, it's a love bite from Ada. The topic of whether Leon will die has long been debated by fans anticipating his appearance in Requiem, which Capcom has suggested will conclude story threads from the franchise so far. Will the passing of Leon — for many, the series' most popular character — be used to mark the end of Resident Evil's current era of storytelling, as it marks its 30th anniversary? Speculation has only intensified after remarks from Requiem producer Akifumi Nakanishi, who was asked by Denfaminicogamer about the word "Elpis," which appears in the game's latest trailer. "Although I can't reveal any details yet, Leon has a big secret, and Elpis is involved in that as well," Nakinishi said, "and it has an important meaning. I hope that as you play, you will be able to unravel Elpis' secret. "In ancient Greek mythology, Elpis is a symbol left behind in Pandora's Box, from which various disasters are said to have flowed," he continued. "It is generally interpreted as 'hope,' but in fact, some people also see it as 'disaster.' This is an important element in the story of Requiem." Will Leon's fate ultimately be one of hope or disaster? Resident Evil: Requiem launches on February 27, 2026. Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social View the full article
After the mammoth success of Baldur's Gate 3, many fans and the industry at large were eager to learn what developer Larian Studios would announce next, and we finally got that answer at The Game Awards 2025 with the reveal of a brand new game in the Divinity series. Divinity is the next big RPG from Larian, and it looks to be just as sprawling in scope and gruesome in its brutality as the developer's previous release. Shortly after the reveal, IGN interviewed Swen Vincke, founder of Larian Studios and game director of Baldur's Gate 3. Along with sharing his thoughts on that viral tease for Divinity ahead of The Game Awards 2025, he also spoke about the lessons learned from the success of Baldur's Gate 3, and why it was important for Larian to return to the series that built the developer. Be sure to check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 for more, as well as the winners list in full. And if you’re wondering what all this Divinity business is about, check out our handy explainer here. Editor's Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and readability. IGN: Firstly, were you surprised by how quickly fans kind of figured out what that mysterious statue was and that it tied in to you all? Swen Vincke: With the speed with which they discovered the statue? Well, Geoff Keighley tweeted it, so we're not surprised by how it turned out after that. I mean, I actually thought we were gonna make it, that it wasn't gonna leak until the show. But yeah, bureaucracy was against us because it was too fast [and too close to the show]. Normally, it takes more time for something like that to be filed, and here they filed really, really fast. IGN: After the success of Baldur's Gate 3, it seemed like you and the developers had a lot of options for what was next – especially continuing with that franchise. Firstly, was the plan to always return to the Divinity series right after BG3 was finished? Swen Vincke: No, we were working on something else for Baldur's Gate originally, and I think we've talked about that publicly. Eventually, we were going to go back to the Divinity series, but before we did, we were going to take more time away from it, and then we changed our minds, honestly. Our hearts weren't into the thing that we were making before this, so it was an instant decision to say, 'Okay, we have to make Divinity now. So let's start doing it.' But when we did, it took us a little while to set everything up because we didn't have anything ready. So it was quite a flip, for sure. IGN: How far along in development is Divinity right now? Swen Vincke: We've been working on it for over two years in development. We're now in full production. IGN: It can't be stated enough how massively successful Baldur's Gate 3 was for not just Larain Studios, but for how it renewed interest in the CRPG genre, the larger Dungeons and Dragons franchise, and also brought in new players for both of those. What were some key lessons you took away from that, and what do you plan to bring into the next Divinity? Swen Vincke: One of the biggest lessons was the success of cinematics – and how we present the story and choices. Obviously, we did a lot of things differently in BG3 than we did with Divinity: Original Sin 2, and that game was much better, I think. But the fact that, when people started seeing choices cinematically, what an impact that has on players, how they bond with the characters, and the attractions and choices in the game. So I think that was probably my biggest takeaway from everything, yeah, for sure. IGN: Does returning to the Divinity series feel different now following the success of BG3? Do you view this series differently now compared to how you felt about Divinity: Original Sin 2? Swen Vincke: Yeah, in a way. We learned the value of having a solid universe behind you, for sure. One of the first things we started doing was saying, 'Okay, we're gonna put a lot of effort into making this universe feel tidy.' That's also why we are just calling it Divinity, right? There's never been a game that's just Divinity first, because there were all kinds of versions with different names. So this is actually going to be Divinity, which is going to have a proper universe backing it. We're building everything as you would expect, with lots of surprises, so that we can build on top of it. We learned that from BG, because we spent a lot of time delving through all kinds of DnD books, so that's probably one of the biggest takeaways from that development process. IGN: Divinity is also entirely owned by Larian Studios. You all have intimate knowledge of the lore, and without working with other agencies. Swen Vincke: Yeah, we also have the benefit of being able to do what we want with it, right? Other things do not bind us. I mean, D&D, for all its glory, is a ruleset that is made for tabletop role-playing games. Here, we have the benefit of making something that's actually a video game first. So it's very different, but I think people who enjoyed Baldur's Gate 3 are gonna love what we're doing with this. IGN: There must be a great freedom in being able to bend and even break the rules of your systems however you please. Swen Vincke: Yes, and we want you to break the systems in our games. That's our gameplay formula; we want you to break things. IGN: That was a part of the fun of Baldur's Gate 3 for many people; you could come up with some wacky solutions to combat and quests. Would you say you're looking to elevate that even with Divinity? Swen Vincke: Yes [Laughs]. But I can't talk about the game's mechanics yet. I think you want to discover this aspect by seeing it. It's one thing to talk about it, but when you're gonna see it in action, you're gonna say, 'Ah!,' you're gonna be nodding. I think if you like BG3, this is gonna be great. IGN: Is the scope of this game ******* than Original Sin 2 and even Baldur's Gate 3? Swen Vincke: Ah, smart question. I will say that it's ******* than BG3. I've actually never compared BG3 to Original Sin 2, so I don't know what the numbers are. I reckon BG3 is ******* for sure, yeah, but Original Sin 2 is pretty big as well. I can't compare Divinity to Original Sin 2 accurately, but I can say that it'll be ******* than BG3. IGN: As you develop the Divinity universe further, do you feel more comfortable operating within this setting, and does it feel easier compared to BG3? Swen Vincke: I mean, it actually feels a bit harder because we have to create the entire universe. We really wanted to tidy up because the first Divinity games were made with little thought for universe-building, and it's only in Original Sin 2 that we started thinking more about it – but even then, not really 100% to what we did with Baldur's Gate 3. So now we're really thinking about it, and so that's a lot of work to make sure we get it right. Because it's the little things, right? I mean, what do people do when they go out to eat? What do they do when they go to sleep? What all of that has to be called out. So there's a lot of stuff to consider. IGN: Shifting to a development question, Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 used the early access release model. Will Divinity be planned with a similar release model, including early access? Swen Vincke: Most likely, but I don't want to commit to it right now, because we don't know how the games industry will change. We're not ready to do anything in early access yet, but I think it's worked well for us in the past. We had the player community and their feedback, and that has made all of our games that were in early access much better. So yeah, I think we would very much like to do that again. But that said, we don't want too many people playing in early access, because we do need to 'cook' and it's still a ******* of development. So that might be a little bit problematic, but we'll see. IGN: Given that Baldur's Gate 3 and Original Sin 2 were still very much structured in traditional CRPG gameplay, do you feel the need to switch things up with mechanics to go for something different? Swen Vincke: Well, we certainly want to innovate, yeah. But there are some core pillars that we don't need to change. It's going to be a single-player game, and it's also going to be a cooperative multiplayer game. Obviously, all within our formula, and there's still plenty of room for innovation. So you will see. There will be more agency for sure, more freedom for sure, more shenanigans that you can do for sure. So, in the combination of all these things, that's the thing that will surprise people the most. IGN: It feels like we're in this renaissance ******* for role-playing games in the wake of Baldur's Gate 3, especially the CRPG-style of video games. As a developer and an admirer of the genre, do you feel optimistic about where this genre of games is going, especially in how they tell stories? Swen Vincke: Yeah, certainly for the genres of RPGs, I can't speak for other developers, but you see that there's way more interest and investment money available to put into RPGs. I mean, an RPG won the Game of the Year tonight at The Game Awards. We also have Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, which was also nominated tonight, along with Hades 2, which has a lot of RPG elements, even though it's a roguelite. So, I think it's… normal, yeah? Because I think it's one of the best genres out there. IGN: On that note, did you play Expedition 33? Swen Vincke: I haven't finished it yet, but it's really good. I took an interest in it very early on because the art style instantly appealed to me. So yeah, I think it's a remarkable achievement. IGN: When it comes to working on the next Divinity game after BG3, is there a sense of pressure on yourselves to deliver? Swen Vincke: Yeah, the pressure is high. Pressure is high. Yes, for sure. We feel the pressure on our shoulders, yeah, especially because we set high ambitions for ourselves. But I mean the opposite of that would be that we say, "Oh, you know what, we'll just make a lesser game." That wouldn't be very motivating at all. IGN: Well, it seems like you're feeling great about the current vision for Divinity and feeling good about what's to come. Swen Vincke: Oh, no, we're in the middle of development – there's always anxiety, for sure [Laughs]. These are complicated things to make, so it's not like, "Oh, let's make the game." No, it's a mess [to make games], but we'll be fine eventually. The team is good, we have trust, and we know that they know what they're doing, that eventually we're going to get what comes out of it. But if you were to go and look now, it's as messy as a building that is under construction, right? Eventually, we will figure it out. We will learn the language of the game and how to write in it to start making poetry. Eventually, it gets really good, but it takes time. It takes iteration, and every single time you take an extra step, you learn more things about your game, and then you improve it. And that's just a process that takes time. 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
Rarely has a studio been so thrust into the spotlight following a single release as Larian Studios was after the release of the endlessly Game of the Year-winning Baldur’s Gate 3. While Larian was a name among the hardcore set of RPG fans, Baldur’s Gate 3 crossed over into a genuine mainstream hit, making stars of its cast and shining a huge spotlight on the Belgian studio. Larian’s next game, Divinity, was announced last week at The Game Awards in Los Angeles, California, following a blood-and-guts trailer that captured the attention of the in-person audience and the millions watching around the world. Read More... View the full article
Drama Studios, developer of the viral bodycam shooter, Unrecord, has announced it’s received investment from Tencent to “accelerate development” and expand its team. The French indie studio published a two-minute trailer for Unrecord in 2023, and it quickly became an internet sensation, amassing around 40 million views in less than 20 hours. The game’s ‘photorealistic’ visuals, which depict a police officer engaging in a shootout with criminals, also sparked debate on whether the footage was real gameplay and, if so, what considerations should be given for its subject matter. Read More... View the full article
Tingus Goose has released recently and after being mystified by the demo, I took a look at the full game and I honestly still have no idea what is going on. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article
The Clean Dream is one of the several new quests in ARC Raiders as part of the Cold Snap update, and this one can be slightly tricky if you don't know where to look. The Clean Dream quest can be activated by unlocking it from Apollo. This guide will list all the steps to complete the quest and unlock all the available rewards. Table of contentsARC Raiders The Clean Dream quest walkthroughFind and monitor any Filtration system in the tunnelsOn the Blue Gate, visit the Maintenance BunkerARC Raiders The Clean Dream quest walkthrough The Clean Dream quest can be broken down into the following parts. On Spaceport, search 4 containers in the underground tunnelsFind and monitor any Filtration system in the tunnelsOn the Blue Gate, visit the Maintenance BunkerMonitor the Purification System in the bunkerFind and photograph the blueprints in the bunker We begin our adventure on the Spaceport map, where we will have to search for four containers. These containers are in the Tunnels region, and I have marked the location on the screenshot below. You'll find plenty of containers, and examine any four to complete the task. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid Find and monitor any Filtration system in the tunnels The Filtration System can be found inside the tunnels, and all you have to do is just scan for it. Once you find them, get close and interact. This will complete the second part of the quest. Image via Embark On the Blue Gate, visit the Maintenance Bunker Our next set of tasks will require us to travel to The Blue Gate location. The bunker is located between the Ancient Fort and Warehouse Complex, and I have marked its location below. Descend the main stairs, and you'll come across a ******* Purification System. Monitor the system to finish the third task of the quest. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid The Purification room also has a blue metal staircase. Climb up and then turn left to head to the first room that will be on your right. You'll find the blueprints at this location. Photograph the blueprints to complete the final piece of the puzzle and the Clean Dream quest. If you're looking to complete more quests in the Cold Snap update, check out our guides on A Toxic Trail and the Stench of Corruption. The post How to complete The Clean Dream in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
The newest Title Update for Monster Hunter Wilds is now live bringing in an expanded weapon endgame, weapon balance adjustments, and much more. View the full article
The decade-long wait for Dead Island 2 was an arduous one, but it seems we won't have to endure similar pain when it comes to Dead Island 3. The previously teased sequel has just been mentioned in financial documents by Dambuster Studios, which says that all of the company's developers are now focused on the new game and that progress is "moving at pace." It also contains an expected Dead Island 3 release date window, which will land in 2028. Read the rest of the story... View the full article
Shiravune has launched the PC port of Utawarerumono Zan via Steam featuring a launch discount and discounted bundle with all DLC. View the full article
The announcement of both Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst has sparked retcon speculation among the franchise's fandom. At last week's The Game Awards, Catalyst’s first trailer was immediately followed by the reveal of Legacy of Atlantis, a “reimagining” of the original 1996 classic. Built with Unreal Engine 5, Legacy of Atlantis is due out next year as the franchise marks its 30th anniversary, with Catalyst set to follow in 2027. While some, quite naturally, suggest starting at the beginning makes sense given the anniversary, others are wondering if the announcement of the new game means the team has to go back and retcon some aspects of Lara Croft's story to make sure everything makes sense in the character's 30-year-old canon timeline. "There are many theories about why the reimagining of TR1 is happening. Some say it’s only because of the 30th anniversary but I personally think it’s happening because it HAS to happen. We’re entering a new unified timeline where some things need to be retconned and some need to be reimagined," suggested X/Twitter user Merychxrry. "This kind of reimagining will likely need to happen for every mainline game, but especially for these four story-heavy titles: Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, Tomb Raider: Legend, and Tomb Raider: Underworld. "You might ask, 'Why not TR2-3 first?' Well, they’re not story-heavy. As much as I’d love to see them remade, we first need to unify these four story-focused games. Otherwise, it would take too long to reach them, and their stories would need to be retconned." As Mery added, the order itself likely doesn't matter — "it could be 4 and 6 first, then Legends and Underworld, or vice-versa" — but since the assets for Legacy of Atlantis will be available first, "it shouldn't take too long to produce these games." "That is actually genius!" replied one commenter, while another said: "Yes! This exactly!" "I feel like LOA is a test, like the [Resident Evil 2] remake was, suggested someone else. "TR1 was the safest choice they had for a reimagining because of its simple story." As game director Will Kerslake recently told GamesRadar+, Catalyst fits into the timeline after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld. The most recent games, known as the Survivor reboot trilogy — 2013's Tomb Raider, 2015's Rise of the Tomb Raider, and 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider — are still considered as part of Croft's origin story. While the news of the recasting was a surprise for some, actor Camilla Luddington — who portrayed Lara Croft in the Survivor Trilogy — shared a bittersweet Instagram post about her time as the lead this week, saying she loved the fans and Croft will "forever be a part of [her]." Alix Wilton Regan will now play Lara Croft in both Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst. Meanwhile, there's the upcoming Amazon TV show to consider. The live-action Tomb Raider Prime Video series, which will star Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner, will “reinvent the franchise on a massive scale” and will interconnect “live-action television series and video games into a unified storytelling universe.” Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky. View the full article
Valve has outlined what's new in Dota 2 patch 7.40 and provided a rundown of its latest hero, Largo. "Dota is an ensemble cast, but keen observers looking through the collection of rogues, wizards, druids, and knights (not to mention two characters named 'ranger') may have noticed the absence of that most maligned of hero classes: the bard. At least, up until now," Valve teased, before introducing Largo himself. Largo is the shamanic head of the bardmonk order, and unlike bards that "sing about current events and chord changes," he "tailors every song to his exact circumstances, raising his allies' spirits or, if necessary, their foot speed as they run toward battle (or away). As a frog, his prehensile tongue has, shall we say, all kinds of tricks." One such trick is his Catchy Lick, in which he targets someone, licks them, pulls them back a short distance, and applies a basic dispel. If they're an ally, he pulls them out of harm's way, and if they're an enemy, his tongue deals damage. By dispelling an effect from a target, Largo gets a brief health regen, too. He can also fire froglings that stomp the ground every second, dealing damage and ministuns, and minimize ally mana costs with his Croak of Genius skill. His ultimate skill is Amphibian Rhapsody. To be honest, with a name as incredible as that, I don't even care what it does, but for those wondering, it's essentially a mini-rhythm game. "Largo gets ready to groove," Valve explains. "He is disarmed and his ability bar switches to three song abilities, each with different effects. Songs are only effective if strummed on the beat. "Every time he strums successfully, he gains a stack of Groovin'. Each stack gives him bonus armor and reduces the mana cost of every song, but he loses a stack if he misses a beat. Stacks linger for a short duration when Largo's song ends." As is tradition, the full patch notes are so huuuge they're too big to publish on Steam itself, but you can find them on the Dota 2 website right here. Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky. View the full article
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Turn-based purists are now free to put their pitchforks awayView the full article