Silent Hill 2 finally came to Xbox last month after a year-long wait, and its release was quickly followed up with some brief Xbox Series X|S comparisons. Now though, the tech experts over at Digital Foundry have delivered their verdict - and despite the Series S version being "noticeably cut back", both Xbox ports are present and well here.

In short, Xbox Series X is basically a match to the base PS5 version from 2024, which isn't entirely surprising given how closely matched the two systems are. As usual, Series S presents its own challenges - and developer Bloober Team has opted to cut the 60FPS mode and par back the 30FPS quality mode to bring a decent version of the game to Microsoft's digital-only system.

"Series X, meanwhile, appears to mostly match base PS5 in resolution and performance aspects. Its 30fps quality mode employs DRS to operate between 1224-1512p - the same range as base PS5 - and enjoys a mostly steady 30fps refresh, with the exception of certain traversal stutters and alpha-effect resolution dips while the DRS system kicks in to return the refresh to a 30fps cadence [...] Its 60fps performance mode renders at a range of 864-1152p - again, identical to base PS5,

Bloober Team has opted to limit Series S to only one visual mode, which not only locks the frame-rate at 30fps but also renders natively at 1280x720 - with no noted adjustments via dynamic resolution scaling (DRS) [...] More noticeable are Series S's lower-resolution Lumen-based effects. In motion, reduced reflection resolution and poor signed distanced fields (SDF) accuracy combine to add a noticeable, constant flicker to reflections on surfaces like puddles and wooden floorboards. And while a form of global illumination (RTGI) remains enabled on Series S, its light-bounce setting is drastically reduced compared to other consoles' 60fps performance modes. The Series S cuts continue in other settings, including significant drops to texture fidelity and geometry tessellation."

DF ultimately sums things up by saying that going down the 30FPS-only route on Series S may have been done to preserve "Silent Hill 2's fog-lined, Lumen-dependent aesthetic", and that this move means the game "retains enough of its character" on Series S. Series X is as expected of course; a similar match to PS5 with two gameplay modes on offer.

At least some of the work, ideas, and inspiration that went into the now-cancelled PS5 game from shuttered PlayStation developer London Studio have found their way into Cast Outs, a newly announced game from a team containing eight former London Studio developers.

Cast Outs is an online co-op game set in an urban fantasy-inspired London that's "intertwined with fantastical wonder, delivering a sense of newness and nostalgia, discovery and familiar favourites. It’s fantasy in a modern jacket." You use magic and spells to get around and defeat enemies, which is a similar concept to what London Studio was working on before it was closed down.

Twisted Works, the developer making Cast Outs, plans to put the game out for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a view to releasing an early access beta in the first few months of 2027. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also being considered.

You can play the game in two, three, and four-player co-op across modes such as combat runs, escort missions, horde survival, speed runs, and challenge modes.

Cast Outs brings you the pure spectacle of magic where spellcasting hits with the physical impact of a brawler and the immediate kick of a shooter. Dive into the ultimate magical urban battleground where you and your friends can truly cooperate, regardless of skill level. It’s the perfect balance of quick-fix fun and high-octane action, built to be played together.

On the left is the single piece of art we got for the cancelled London Studio game, and the newly announced Cast Outs is on the right:

London Studio was a victim of the PlayStation layoffs in February 2024, when the developer was closed after creating SingStar, various games for the EyeToy and PSVR, and its biggest title, Blood & Truth.

Do you like the look of Cast Outs? Share your first thoughts in the comments below.

DMM Games, Tookyo Games and Spike Chunsoft are releasing a physical version of SHUTEN ORDER on both Switch 1 and Switch 2 in Spring 2026, the companies have announced.

Both the Switch 1 and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be getting a physical in the US courtesy of PM Studios, with Reef Entertainment's European release sticking with just the Switch 2 version.

And for those physical collectors out there, yes, the Switch 2 physical will have the full game on the cartridge. That's a nice little announcement, given that the Switch 2 upgrade just came out last week.

So, if you're on the fence about grabbing the game on the newer console and are reluctant to dive into a digital release, then you only have to wait until Spring to get your hands on a fully boxed version.

That cover art is nice, too!

Images: Spike Chunsoft

Just in case you've never heard of the game before, Shuten Order is from Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka (who is one of the key writers). The game is a blend of multiple genres but it's ultimately a mystery game where you play as a character who has been murdered, and you must find your killer.

While we praised the ambition of the game on Switch, we ultimately felt that it felt a little long in the tooth and not quite up to par with Kodaka's previous works. It looks nice, though, and the Switch 2 version allows you to reach between 60-120fps docked and handheld and use Mouse Mode.

Are you a Shuten Order fan? Will you be grabbing the physical release next spring? Let us know in the comments.

It's been announced today that Xbox has joined forces with ESPN to become the title sponsor of December 18th's college football bowl game between Missouri State and Arkansas State.

The entire event is getting some major Xbox branding as a result, with the logo being a big Xbox controller as seen above, and it's all going to be broadcast on ESPN2 from 9pm ET on Thursday the 18th.

Here's what Chris Lee, vice president of Xbox marketing had to say about the partnership today:

“The Xbox Bowl is where the thrill of game day meets the joy of play. Teaming up with ESPN Events lets us bring fans even closer to the fun, whether they are in the stands in Frisco, watching the bowl game at home, or playing with friends around the world. Together we are celebrating the passion for play, on the field and in the ways people love to game, and reimagining what game day can be for lifelong players and for those experiencing the thrill for the first time.”

If you're interested in actually attending the event at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, tickets will soon be available via www.XboxBowl.com — although that website isn't leading anywhere at the time of writing.

We assume attendees will get to at least play some College Football 26 and maybe get their hands on some Xbox-branded merch, but who knows! This is a pretty cool partnership either way.

Quantum Dream, the French studio behind the likes of Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human — games that have all been very closely tied to PlayStation — has just launched its first beta for Spellcasters Chronicles on PC.

If you haven't been keeping up, Spellcasters Chronicles marks a dramatic pivot away from the developer's typical story-driven output. It's a free-to-play, competitive multiplayer game with a live service model.

Announced back in October, it's fair to say that the project didn't make a great first impression — especially amongst fans of the company's past work. As we all know, breaking into the world of live service is incredibly difficult, and so onlookers were immediately questioning the game's potential.

The reveal trailer was decent enough, but does Quantic Dream really have the experience to make it in the multiplayer space? It's a fair question, and we may catch the glimpse of an answer over the next few days.

The aforementioned beta is now live — again, only on PC — and it runs until the 8th December. In other words, first impressions will be dropping in the very near future, and it'll be interesting to see whether Spellcasters establishes any kind of early foothold.

You can catch some gameplay in the following video:

What's your take on Quantic Dream's latest pursuit? Is Spellcasters Chronicles doomed to fail like so many over live service wannabes, or does it actually look pretty cool? Don't flub any QTEs in the comments section below.

Bad Robot Games has today announced a new "four-player co-operative shooter" being led by Left 4 Dead's original creator Mike Booth - but there's a chance this attempt to rekindle that L4D flame may not see the light of day on Xbox.

Although this development studio has been working away for a number of years now, it's today announced this new project in partnership with Sony. Yep, the PlayStation owner will "produce and publish" this Bad Robot Games title at some point in the future.

Here's Sony's introduction to its new partnership with Bad Robot Games:

"Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) today announced a partnership with video game studio Bad Robot Games, a division of Bad Robot, the film, television and theater production company founded by JJ Abrams, for SIE to produce and publish the studio’s upcoming project, an unannounced four-player, cooperative shooter directed by Mike Booth (Left 4 Dead). The game is currently in development for PlayStation 5 and PC. More details on the game will be shared at a later date."

As you can see there, the game is just announced for PS5 and PC at this point, so Xbox Series X|S players may miss out - at least at launch. The likes of Helldivers 2 launched in a similar way and eventually came to Xbox as well, so you never know, this Bad Robot Games production may follow in similar footsteps.

We'd certainly like that to be the case, anyway. Ever since Left 4 Dead stormed the co-op shooter scene back in the Xbox 360 days, we've been clamouring for something similar to grace more modern machines. Back 4 Blood and World War Z got close to the Valve classic, but nothing has ever quite matched the magic of the L4D series.

Lil Gator Game, one of the cutest action adventure titles available on PS5 and PS4, is about to get a whole lot bigger.

Publisher Playtonic Friends has announced a release date for its major expansion DLC, In the Dark, by way of a new trailer:

It's due out on 12th February 2026, meaning it's just a couple of months away.

One of the most notable things about the DLC is its size; apparently it doubles the size of the world you can explore, with lots of new underground areas to navigate.

As well as the extra space to explore, In the Dark adds new characters to meet, secret treasure to find, and quests to complete.

It even adds new equipment and movement abilities, such as gymnastic ribbons that give you a double jump, and a gadget that allows you to slam into the ground. Pretty classic platformer stuff.

In addition to the expansion, Lil Gator Game: Gator of the Year Edition has been dated. This is a version of the game that includes the base adventure as well as In the Dark in one package.

It'll be available digitally on the same day as In the Dark, while a physical version will hit store shelves on 27th February.

Are you looking forward to Lil Gator Game: In the Dark? Tell us in the comments section below.

With Season 01's launch arriving today for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, developer Treyarch has dropped the new season's patch notes - and they contain some controversial updates on the game's skill-based matchmaking system.

As we covered a few times in the run up to launch, the team decided to remove SBMM in Black Ops 7 before clarifying that one playlist would remain more skill-based. Well now, that playlist is becoming more prominent, as Treyarch sees "increased engagement" with the SBMM-heavy mode.

Basically, the game's 'Standard Moshpit' mode — which features this heavier implementation of SBMM — is now moving over to the 'Featured Playlists' area, where it'll be more visible to players. Here's Treyarch's reasoning behind this move:

"We’ve continued to see increased engagement with Standard Moshpit, so we’ll be featuring it in the Featured tab for players who prefer an experience with more similarly skilled opponents. With the main tab changing to Featured, the other tab will now become Party Games, which will include Prop Hunt, Sharpshooter, One in the Chamber, and Gunfight at the launch of Season 01, as well as the debut of Sticks & Stones and Gun Game in Week 2."

The team does go on to clarify that all of the other playlists still feature the 'Open' matchmaking system that fans have been asking for, but yep, this skill-based option is becoming more prominent starting in Season 01. If you're more interested in all of the new content coming in the game's first season, the update goes live at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm GMT today, December 4th.

It has been eight years since Nintendo first announced Metroid Prime 4. It has been 18 years since the release of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. And now, after all that time, Beyond's launch trailer is finally here.

Those who have kept up with every trailer drop until now won't find too much new footage in this one, but we challenge anyone who's been waiting for the best part of a decade to watch without feeling a little tingle down their spine.

The whole thing is a bit more story-based than we've seen in previous trailers, with a gritty narration teeing up Samus' might and narrative predicament, before a boatload of sequences show her in action. And stick around until the end for a particularly mysterious stinger!

The game has launched today on Switch and Switch 2.

What do you make of the MP4 launch trailer? Are you getting your copy today? Let us know in the comments.

Fortnite is in a transitional phase right now, with Chapter 6 drawing to a close and Chapter 7 beginning in earnest in the coming days.

However, in the interim, something unusual happened: the Battle Bus that normally drops players into the vast Battle Royale map was destroyed. The good news is that, thanks to players working together to repair it, the vehicle is on its way back to the game.

In addition, Epic Games has teased some incoming new items to the game's shop, and among them are the first Nickelodeon crossover skins, and it's not who you'd expect.

Danny Phantom, alongside friend Sam Manson, are joining the game, available in the item shop from 5th December.

As mentioned, this is the first of what is rumoured to be many Nickelodeon/Paramount properties coming to the game.

Leaked a little while ago was SpongeBob SquarePants, so it seems that Nicktoons like these could be the focus of this collaboration.

Chapter 7 begins on 11th December, when we expect there will be more surprises.

Despite all of the negativity that's surrounded the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — the middling reviews, the bafflingly bad campaign, the AI art accusations — Activision's latest shooter has still managed to top the PS5 download charts for November 2025.

It's not an unexpected result given the sheer reach of the property, but it does once again highlight just how wide the market is.

A game like Black Ops 7 can be torn apart online and within hardcore circles — and it can even be the worst selling Call of Duty in years — but none of that truly matters, at least in the short term, if it's got a direct line to a huge casual audience.

Outside of Black Ops 7, November was uncharacteristically light on blockbuster releases, and that's reflected in the rest of the PS Store rankings.

Just three new titles made an appearance, and even then, they only got to chart in Europe.

Anime football RPG Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road landed a respectable tenth place finish, the heavily criticised Football Manager 26 came in 18th, and intense sandbox STALKER 2 stumbled into 20th.

Really, the big winners of November were the games that stuck around from the previous month — and in some cases, actually climbed a few places.

ARC Raiders was one of them, as positive word of mouth continues to bolster the extraction shooter's appeal. It ended up in the top three across both North America and Europe.

Dispatch enjoyed a similar boost, jumping to third in North America and sixth in Europe. The interactive superhero story wrapped up last month with its final two episodes, so it's safe to assume that a lot of people were waiting on its conclusion before diving in.

Meanwhile, Battlefield 6 continues to be a juggernaut. It held strong in fourth place across both regions, and it'll probably be a long, long time until it's dislodged from the top 20.

And finally, on the Sony side of things, Ghost of Yotei has stuck around, although the PS5 exclusive did take a bit of a tumble down the rankings.

Here are the official PS5 charts in full:

Which PS5 games did you purchase in November? Are you at all surprised to see Black Ops 7 come out on top? Chart yourself in the comments section below.

Sony and Bad Robot Games have today announced an agreement for PlayStation to publish the team's next title on PS5 and PC. With Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth at the helm, the project will be a four-player co-op shooter.

With more details from PlayStation and the developer to come, CEO at Bad Robot Games, Anna Sweet, said the team is creating a new universe and partnering with PlayStation allows it to bring it to life.

"With the support of PlayStation, we hope to deliver a bold, innovative experience that is truly special for players. I could not be more excited that Mike Booth is at the creative helm, crafting a cooperative adventure that will lead to unforgettable moments with friends."

Sony executive Christian Svensson then added that PlayStation has been impressed with the talent Bad Robot Games has assembled for its new game. "Their unique creative voice and passion for innovating across all forms of interactive entertainment perfectly aligns with SIE’s mission to craft experiences that resonate deeply with players. We can’t wait for gamers to step into the world they’ve been building."

Mike Booth is the big name attached to the project, who is credited as the creator and lead designer of the co-op classic Left 4 Dead. He's also responsible for the game's AI director, which changed how the zombies behaved between every run.

Are you interested in a co-op game from PlayStation and the creator of Left 4 Dead? Tell us in the comments below.

A few hours ago, we were treated to the reveal of a new open world RPG from Pathea Games (My Time At Sandrock, Let's School) called The God Slayer, and it's got a particularly interesting connection to the folks at PlayStation.

This game is part of the PlayStation China Hero Project, which is described as "providing development, publishing and marketing support" for its titles. Our sister site Push Square was contacted by Pathea Games following the announcement to confirm that The God Slayer remains part of the project despite the multi-platform reveal:

Push Square: We asked how Sony is supporting the project, and a spokesperson told us: “Sony is assisting the project with some game development support, marketing, and publishing. More information is explained on their official website.”

Push Square then went on to ask whether The God Slayer would be a timed exclusive and what Sony was getting in return for its investment and support, but the developer advised that they couldn't comment further.

For what it's worth, we have seen PlayStation China Hero Project games on Xbox before, but they've typically been timed exclusives. F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch took two years to reach Xbox after its PS5 release, for example.

Whatever the case may be, we're still looking forward to playing The God Slayer on Xbox, and this first glimpse looks pretty promising. You can watch the Xbox trailer up above, the gameplay trailer down below, and below that is a bit more on the premise of the game and what you can expect from it.

Enter an Eastern-inspired steampunk metropolis where gods known as Celestials reign with a divine fist. In this open-world RPG, you are an Elemancer who refuses to bow. Infused with elemental powers and a heart of vengeance, you will dethrone them all. You will rise to be the God Slayer.

You play as Cheng, whose family was brutally slain by the Celestials during the God Fall. Now, you must embark on a quest to save your people and avenge your loved ones.To achieve this, you will learn to harness and enhance your elemental powers, acquire new skills from ancient scrolls and elemental masters, and refine the flow of qi within you. With dedication, you will gain the power to challenge even the mightiest Celestials. In this world, elemental powers interact dynamically: fire consumes wood, water extinguishes fire, steam rises from boiling water, and earth can obstruct. Your approach to utilizing these elemental interactions in battle is entirely up to you!

Obsidian is back again with another update on one of its 2025 titles, as the team prepares even more content for 2026. This time, Grounded 2's December patch has now arrived for Xbox, PC and Game Pass players, with a larger 'Winter Update' also planned for next month.

This month's Grounded 2 patch is the first of Obsidian's new 'Feature Updates'; smaller patches that focus on fixes and mechanics rather than brand-new content. We'll share the full December patch notes down below - be warned, it's an extensive list from Obsidian here:

Returning Features

• Holiday Wreath

• Redesigned Holiday Tree

• Holiday Sign Set

• Colorful lights spread in the Park

• Firework Launcher - New Years Only!

New Features & Content

• Holiday Lights decoration for base building

• Ambient sounds of Christmas in the background

• Main menu key art

• Main menu theme with sleigh bells

Coziness

Coziness is back in Grounded 2! If you’re not familiar with the Coziness System, decorate your base and unlock perks!

• Up to tier 3 coziness is available to you in 0.2.2

  • Tier 4 is coming in the Winter Update!

• Hauling hero mutation is making a comeback.

Level 1:

• Fireplace Hearth and Core Chimney Pieces

• Coziness Hunger Rate Buff

• Clover Awning Pieces

Level 2:

• Thatch Chimney Roof Pieces

• Thatch Awnings

• Acorn Shelf

• Coziness Thirst Rate Buff

• Bunk Bed

Level 3:

• Crow Chimney Roof Chimney pieces

• Crow Awnings Pieces

• Trash Can

• Picture Frame

• Scorpion Lamp

• Scorpion Chair

• Scorpion Bed

PEEP.R 2K

Welcome to the new and improved version of the PEEP.R 2K

• Now Available in First and Third person views!

• The PEEP.R now includes the Chopping list, it's scrollable and collapsible

• The PEEP.R now includes a dynamic compass icon, to help players navigate and orient themselves

• Resource tracker helps you locate the resources that are marked in the Resource finder view of the map, tracked resources are highlighted when they are in the player vicinity. This option can be activated and de-activated.

• Backpack display rules have changed a bit. You will now see the HUD of the first backpack you dropped when dying. Opening the PEEP.R will now let you see all of them.

• You can now also force the display of more backpacks in the PEEP.R, additionally you can decide to hide trail markers icons from your HUD in the PEEP.R view.

• You can now use your PEEP.R to zoom in and out!

More features to the PEEP.R will be added in the Winter Update!

Performance and Engine Upgrades

• We’ve updated to Unreal 5.6.1

  • Players should notice a noticeable FPS bump by default without upscaling enabled

  • Less Hitching/Stuttering when navigating The Park

  • Smoother Overall and Consistent Framerates across the board for all platforms

• PC Specific: DLSS & FSR

  • This update adds support for DLSS and FSR Upscaling on PC

  • You can choose between different quality upscaling quality levels:

    • Native AA/Auto

    • Quality

    • Balanced

    • Performance

    • Ultra Performance

Bug Fixes:

Major Bug Fixes:

• Improved Performance on Extremely Large Saves

• Droplets of Water should now no longer appear floating invisible mid-air

• Fixed a issue where clients could be attacked while loading into their game

• Buggies no longer stay in your face, so when trying to build or harvest, players should be less disrupted by a buggy coming over and stealing the interaction priority

• Various Omni-Tool improvements based on community feedback have been addressed

  • Looking at any item that the omni-tool can interact with will remain the priority over a building that’s in the vicinity of player’s cursor, guaranteeing that the actions prompted in the HUD remains in line with the other priority rules:

    • Interaction actions are based on how close you are to something

    • Interaction actions are based on if you look at that interactable

• Various Handheld bugs were fixed

Gameplay

• Teen’s left hand now closes properly when crouching with dual-wielded weapons equipped

• Photo Mode can no longer be exploited to kill jumping creatures

• Fixed a bug where a character could get stuck in a spiderweb in the Fire Pit area

• Players should no longer get stuck in the corridor leading to the Axl arena

• Fixed a spot in the Ice Cart area where player could get stuck

• Players should no longer get stuck in a specific place in the trashcan

• Recover Backpacks should now work properly be recovered when they were falling Out of the World

• Fixed a bug where AXL Wall Mount did not guarantee a temporary effect for Players activating it on the edge of its range

• Fixed an issue where player could not repair Ice Sickles after a failed defense attempt

• Unequipping Axl Talon will no longer cause the character model to stretch in photomode

• Resolved an issue where killing one enemy would complete objective to defeat O.R.C. guards at Stone Stash

• Addressed an issue where Player could swap arrows while ranged weapon is charging

• Fixed a bug where some parts of the Universal Galvanic radio had collision issues

• Resolved an issue where Players were able to complete “Ready, Aim…” ranger challenge by shooting the Berries

• Fixed an issue where Pinch Whacker had same speed stat as Red Ant Club but attacked way faster

• Scorpion set bonus effect now properly triggers

• Fixed a bug where it was not possible to move items with the LMB

• Addressed an issue where it was possible to enter inaccessible places through the hedge

• Players can now walk onto the Juice Box from the Web Bridge

• Fixed a bug where looting creatures was problematic near nearby resources

• Items left in Statue Lab now longer fall Out of the World

• Fixed an issue with visible Out of the World from the window

• Players should no longer get temporarily stuck between Picnic Table’s wooden planks

• Fixed the issue where fighting a Mosquito would prompt nearby Blue Butterflies to aggro

• Milkweed related resources should properly appear in the resource scanner map

• Fixed a bug where multiple Husky Weeds were growing in one place

• Saps should no longer blocking movement

• Spicy Candy located on top of the Trashcan is now reachable

• Fixed an issue where Scorpions spawned after Ice Sickles quest could not do damage to Player after jumping to a certain spot

• Buggies will now properly drop a backpack on Woah! difficulty

• Fixed an issue where a gap inside hedge led to an unfinished area

• Resolved an issue where the Player could get stuck between two specific bushes

• The Fluffy Dandelion Tuft will no longer drain stamina

• Fixed a bug where Player’s backpack could become inaccessible underneath flashcard

• Resolved a bug where Resource Finder did not update locations of resources taken from chests

• Gnats have returned to the pond in front of the starting area

• Fixed a bug where Omni-Tool UI would disappear when hovering over more than one OmniToolable object

• Addressed an issue where stacking palisades on top of each other was not possible

• Blocking animation for Staves was too slow, it is now faster

• Fixed an issue where recycling Hatchery with ready-to-hatch buggy would result in obtaining unusable egg

• Fixed a bug where Praying Mantis wouldn't leave its leaf if the Player engages first

• Resolved a bug where Praying Mantis doesn't engage when the Player walks under its leaf

• Fixed a bug where Praying Mantis in Entrance area quickly loses aggro when Player hides behind a nearby coin

• Addressed a bug where multiple Husky Weeds were growing in one place

• Fixed a bug where particular raw science was placed behind invisible wall

• Resolved a bug where looting creatures was problematic near nearby resources

• Fixed a bug where creatures would not attack walls blocking MIX.R

• Aphids will no longer climb onto cut grass

• Fixed a bug where multiple Husky Weeds were growing in one place

• Resolved a bug where dropped resources would despawn after moving away from them

• Fixed an issue where Blue Butterflies had too wide hitboxes on their wings

• Players should now properly interrupt Mantis’s light attacks

• Baits should now get consumed by a creature when used

• Fixed an issue where water droplets were visibly floating in air after chopping grass

• Resolved a bug where the third person camera would become unstable while moving between the player and a big asset

• Players can no longer jump while sitting in any chair

Environment Art:

• Fixed an issue where certain water textures were clipping through the ground

• Fixed a bug where particular raw science was placed behind invisible wall

• A window in the starting location no longer clips through the wall

• Fixed an issue where Image Plane on Sign Frames would not render correctly

• Addressed an issue where black spots appeared on some stones

• Fixed one-sided textures in the Fire Pit area

• Planks on the park now have the correct textures and are no longer pink

• Fixed collision of a rock near the Fire Pit

• Summoned Buggies should no longer spawn in textures

• Fixed various texture artifacts

• Fixed the issue where acorn was missing a chunk of its top part texture

• Resolved a lighting issue with the nasty water puddle in front of the Toxic Anthill South Entrance

• Fixed a bug where Ranger Outpost entrance light signs had different color than the light they emit

• Lighting has been improved in the Lab dome

• Resolved a bug where Husky Weed was clipping into the statue

• Fixed floating grass blades near the KLB11 News Camera

• Fixed an issue with Buried Treasure clipping with a Waffle Cone

• Addressed an issue where Billy Hog on the top of the Fire Pit was clipping through a plate

Performance & Stability

• Performance has been improved for large world saves.

• The Saved Games list now loads promptly, removing the prolonged “Processing” prompt

• Fixed a bug where game was running in low FPS after loading autosave created upon starting an ORC Wave

UI/UX

• Resolved an issue where the bindings for assigning an item to the HotPouch were different

• Fixed a bug where the survival guide specified that the 'H' key should be pressed instead of held to open the emotes radial

• The health bar will now properly display for some buildings in the Building Grid

• The switch view button in the pause menu responds to mouse clicks as intended.

• Storage UI backgrounds in containers are free of graphical artifacts

• Fixed a bug where Chopping List could exceed Player’s screen and could not be scrolled

• Resolved an issue with placeholder option change notification

• Changes in Game Settings will automatically save upon exiting menu

• Fixed a bug where the game language did not change immediately after being set

• Object placement by clients is now possible, even at a distance from the character.

• Fixed an issue where a ghost item appeared in inventory when assigning it to HotPouch with keyboard

• Fixed a bug where Player was unable to scroll “Wait, there’s more!” quest

Audio

• Fixed an issue where mushroom destroy sound was delayed

• Addressed a bug where staff projectile sound was audible with sound settings set to 0

• Fixed an issue where there were no sounds when hitting Ranger Station while playing as a Client

• Resolved an issue where web bridges didn't have impact SFX assigned

• Fixed concurrency set on all teens voice over

Save/Load & Persistence

• Fixed a bug where Player could stack chill resistance with torch equipped while performing save/load cycle

• Fixed an issue where fog of war was reappearing for Clients after Save/Load cycle

• Addressed a bug where the Client could damage a snail through the shell if far from the Host

• Fixed a bug where Client sometimes was unable to pick up weapons thrown by the Host

• Fixed an issue where chill reduction would permanently increase for each save/load with torch equipped

• Fixed a bug where game was running in low FPS after loading autosave created upon starting an ORC Wave

• Resolved a bug where Player was able to Pause Menu for a brief moment after loading the game

• Teens’ bodies now disappear upon leaving the session

• Fixed a bug where entering the Acorn Turret right after loading the game would cause the player character to fall through the textures

Localization:

• Various localization bugs have been addressed.

Given that Naked Snake has to crawl through some pretty fetid conditions during the events of Metal Gear Solid Delta, I'm not entirely sure I'd want to stand near him in a confined space – or have his scent rubbed all over my pale, chubby dad-bod in the shower, for that matter.

However, Numskull has defied common sense and released a series of Metal Gear Solid Delta-themed bathroom products, including soap, shower gel, and body lotion.

The shower gel and shampoo gift set costs £24.99, while the body lotion combo is £17.99. The soap is £7.99.

Mercifully, despite my initial fears, the scents used here aren't 'sweaty mercenary who has just eaten a frog', but a combination of infinitely more pleasant smells, like sandalwood, rose, juniper, lime, spearmint and ginger.

This isn't the first time that Konami's famous sneak 'em up has been immortalised in a scent – we had a themed cologne not so long ago.

If you'd like to pick up some of these for Christmas, head over to the Numskull site.

Fresh from releasing its remaster of LucasArts' Western-themed shooter Outlaws, Nightdive Studios is back today with another remaster of a classic '90s PC game in Blood Refreshed Supply — a newly updated version of Monolith Productions's 1997 first-person shooter Blood about an undead gunslinger on a quest for revenge.

Blood Refreshed Supply was announced earlier this year, in September 2025, and is now out today across PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG), PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (a Nintendo Switch 2 version scheduled to launch in early 2026).

It notably marks the second time in the last six years that Nightdive Studios has remastered the title for modern platforms, with the company previously having released another updated version of the game, called Blood: Fresh Supply, exclusively for Windows in 2019.

Images: Nightdive Studios

But whereas, on that game, Nightdive Studio had been forced in the past to reverse-engineer Blood's source code to make up for missing or incomplete content, now the developers have finally managed to get their hands on the source code, essentially the blueprints to how the game was originally put together.

As a result, the company has been able to incorporate a lot more this time around, cramming this brand new version of the game with a ton of new features that weren't present in the earlier version. This includes bug fixes for existing missions, support for high resolutions (including 4K on certain platforms), uncapped framerates, remade cutscenes, and two brand new official expansions, Marrow and Death Wish — the first since 1997's Plasma Pak and Cryptic Passage.

Image: Nightdive Studios

Here's the full list of features, taken from the original announcement:

- The legendary blood-soaked shooter comes to consoles for the very first time!
- Up to 4K 120FPS visuals on PlayStation 4|5, PC, and Xbox One and Series X|S
- Fully customizable keyboard and controller gamepad support
- Extended modding support, including support for existing mods
- Local split-screen and cross-platform online multiplayer support for up to eight players — co-op, PvP Bloodbath”, and classic 4v4 team-based “Capture The Flag” modes
- CD and MIDI music support
- Includes existing add-ons Plasma Pak and Cryptic Passage
- New mission scenarios, Marrow and Death Wish, pump new blood into… Blood! Marrow will be available at launch, while Death Wish will release as a free post-launch update.

The game will cost $29.99/£24.99 to buy, but those who already own the Fresh Supply on Steam will get a 66.6% discount on both Steam & GOG.

PS5 sales in Japan are now on their way back down, as excitement surrounding the model exclusive to the country has started to wane.

From the period of 24th November to 30th November, which accounts for the system's first full week of sales, Sony sold 17,491 units of the new PS5 Japanese model. This is a drop of almost 6,000 sales when compared to the data from the previous week, which accounted for roughly two to three days of the new console being on the market.

Therefore, the Japanese PS5 has sold worse during its first full week on the market compared to its opening handful of days during the launch. The Switch 2 led the way in console sales, with over 97,500 systems bought.

Here's how the sales data looks for 24th November to 30th November in Japan (via Gematsu):

1. Switch 2 – 97,677

2. PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 17,491

3. Switch OLED Model – 16,004

4. PlayStation 5 Pro – 15,736

5. Switch Lite – 12,896

6. Switch – 6,427

7. PlayStation 5 – 2,559

8. Xbox Series X Digital Edition – 64

9. Xbox Series X – 52

10. Xbox Series S – 56

11. PlayStation 4 – 13

Emulating the Nintendo approach, this new PS5 model specific to Japan launched at a cheaper price (from ¥72,980 (~$473) down to ¥55,000 (~$350)) compared to the standard version. To account for this reduction, the model only works in Japanese and requires the use of a Japanese PSN account, effectively rendering it useless outside of the country.

Justin Lin, the director behind multiple Fast & Furious movies, is now leading the Helldivers film adaptation, but he has not played either of the games. That's not a problem for Arrowhead Studios, though some fans have kicked up a small fuss on the series' Discord.

In the Hollywood Reporter article confirming Lin will direct the Helldivers movie, it was said that he's "not a gamer and leaned into that as a strength when pitching his take on the material". Some fans, worried the director won't understand the tone of the IP, took their concerns to Discord, with one going so far as to ask if they could direct the flick instead.

CEO Shams Jorjani responded: "Let Justin Lin work his magic."

Jorjani was then asked by another fan if it could be ensured Lin at least plays the games or looks at some gameplay, to which he said: "I trust Justin. He did a great job on the Star Trek movie."

In addition to Lin's directing contributions, the script has been written by horror scribe Gary Dauberman, who previously did the same on It and Annabelle. PlayStation Productions is overseeing work on the movie, with Sony Pictures Entertainment releasing it.

Do you ever have these kinds of concerns, over a film director working on a game IP they haven't played? Put your thoughts in the comments below.

Update [Thu 4th Dec 2025, 6am]: We assumed when new footage of The God Slayer debuted earlier today that it was no longer part of Sony’s China Hero Project programme.

That’s primarily because the game was also announced for the Xbox Series X|S, which is unusual, as China Hero Project titles typically deploy as timed console exclusives.

Recent examples include Lost Soul Aside, for instance, which launched on PS5 and PC only, of course.

But dev Pathea Games reached out to us to confirm The God Slayer is, in fact, still part of the China Hero Project.

We asked how Sony is supporting the project, and a spokesperson told us: “Sony is assisting the project with some game development support, marketing, and publishing. More information is explained on their official website.”

We asked whether there will be a period of timed console exclusivity and what benefits Sony is getting in return for its investment and support, but the studio couldn’t comment at this time.

So, there you have it – The God Slayer is still part of the China Hero Project, despite it seemingly being a full-blown multiformat release at this stage.

Original Story: When the stunning PS5 action RPG The God Slayer was first announced, it was part of Sony’s China Hero Project.

But its re-reveal for various formats, including PC and Xbox Series X|S, suggests its no longer part of the PlayStation incubation programme.

The good news is it’s still planned for the PS5 and looks great, blending traditional East Asian aesthetics with steampunk themes to create something truly unique.

This is being built by Pathea Games, the maker of My Time at Portia, but it’s clearly a massive step forward in ambition from the studio. Back when it was first revealed, the team said it was targeting a 2027 release window, so it’s still a few years away.

Here’s how the blurb introduces the game:

“Enter an Eastern-inspired steampunk metropolis where gods known as Celestials reign with a divine fist. In this open world RPG, you are an Elemancer who refuses to bow. Infused with elemental powers and a heart of vengeance, you will dethrone them all. You will rise to be the God Slayer.”

The first gameplay footage is truly mind-boggling, showing protagonist Cheng navigating a busy urban environment and battling enemies known as Celestials.

Combat focuses on martial arts-style attacks, but everything you do is infused with the elements. So, you can use water to wet and then freeze your foes, before melting them with fire. There are a staggering number of options teased in the trailer.

Here’s what the summary says:

“In this world, elemental powers interact dynamically: fire consumes wood, water extinguishes fire, steam rises from boiling water, and earth can obstruct. Your approach to utilizing these elemental interactions in battle is entirely up to you.”

So, the way the elements all interact is a bit like Genshin Impact, but clearly what the developer’s cooking here is a bit deeper than the combat system in HoYoverse’s acclaimed gacha. This is also a full-price single player game, as opposed to a free-to-play live service.

The other thing that makes it unique is its steampunk influences, which are glimpsed in the trailer. There’s a giant mechanical enemy, for example, as well as blimps and various bits-and-pieces of clockwork tech.

It all makes for a unique backdrop which feels familiar yet fantastical. We’re really impressed with this.

But what do you think? Is this a game that’s suddenly made its way onto your wishlist? Let us know below.

We've not checked in on Dreams for a while, but it seems the community is still plugging away at the PS4 create-'em-up.

As it so happens, this week saw the release of Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania, an unofficial but very good 3D platformer from one of Dreams' best creators, Eupholace.

The game is a short but very well-made 3D platformer featuring Rare's beloved duo. It features many familiar moves from the original games.

The main gimmick here is Mumbo's ability to transform Banjo into various different forms, such as a small rock that can reach new areas, or a cannon that can fire you to hard-to-reach platforms.

There's also a cursor controlled with your controller's gyro, which you can use to have Mumbo pick up collectibles for you or even stun enemies.

It features all that you'd expect of a Banjo game — lots of collectibles like Jiggies and musical notes, gibberish character voices, and googly eyes everywhere.

It's surprisingly fully-featured and controls very nicely. It may only last you an hour or two, but if you're a Banjo fan looking for a fix, it's well worth hopping in.

Obviously we have no idea if Xbox will ever entertain the idea of a new, proper Banjo-Kazooie, but this is a fun reminder of its appeal at the very least.

Eupholace, the creator, previously made Trip's Voyage, which remains one of the best games available in Dreams. It's also a 3D platformer, itself heavily inspired by classics like Mario and Banjo.

Will you be checking out Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania in Dreams on PS5 and PS4? Tell us in the comments section below.

For ages now, we've been waiting on Xbox to add a version of the Xbox / Microsoft Store to the Android and iOS apps, as until now it's been impossible to actually buy anything on there - you've only been able to remote install games.

However, the Xbox Store has officially begin rolling out on the Xbox mobile beta app as of today, and it seems to be pretty much the same thing we get on console, containing the same kinds of categories and sorting features.

I've been playing around with it this morning, and you can see some images below. Note that it's not just paid games that appear in the store, but also free-to-play titles and demos - another very useful feature for when you're away from home and want to "redeem" those games and start the download process.

For ages now, we've been waiting on Xbox to add a version of the Xbox / Microsoft Store to the Android and iOS apps, as until now it's been impossible to actually buy anything on there - you've only been able to remote install games.

However, the Xbox Store has officially begin rolling out on the Xbox mobile beta app as of today, and it seems to be pretty much the same thing we get on console, containing the same kinds of categories and sorting features.

I've been playing around with it this morning, and you can see some images below. Note that it's not just paid games that appear in the store, but also free-to-play titles and demos - another very useful feature for when you're away from home and want to "redeem" those games and start the download process.

If you're interested in trying this for yourself, you can download the Xbox Beta app on the Google Play Store (I haven't tried it on iOS yet, but believe it's working on there too), and if you're in an applicable region, it should show up.

Alternatively, you can just wait until this feature rolls out to the main Xbox mobile app in the near future, presumably in the coming days/weeks. It won't be long until we're finally all able to buy games on the Xbox mobile app!

Anyone fancy a free Xbox gift card for the holidays?! Well, we've spotted Xbox giving these away to some lucky users for the month of December, and they're being received across console, PC and even Xbox Cloud Gaming.

At first glance this does seem to be quite rare, although there are multiple examples online of people who have received theirs already. Here's some of the proof we've come across so far:

And as mentioned, these are appearing not only on console, but on PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming as well.

If you're on Series X, S or Xbox One, you'll want to press the big Xbox guide button on your controller, go over to the "Parties & Chats" section, and see if there's anything from Xbox in "Chats" (make sure it's official!). On the Xbox PC app, you can click the "Friends" button in the bottom right and find the "Chats" tab. Alternatively, go on Xbox.com/play for Cloud Gaming, hit your profile icon in the top right and then go to "Offers & Credits" to see if there's anything in there.

I've personally not found one, so don't go expecting a gift card by any means - it seems you'll need to be one the lucky few to have been selected. If you do get the message though, you'll need to make sure you redeem it by December 31st.

Come and tell us down in the comments if you've been given an Xbox gift card for free or not!

As the Xbox Series X|S generation continues and another one is on the horizon, it's being reported this week that a subsidiary of manufacturing company Foxconn is planning to expand its Xbox production over in Vietnam.

This report comes from Reuters, which mentions that Fushan Technology, which is part of Foxconn, is trying to obtain a permit to produce up to 4.8 million "Xbox gaming devices, parts of the consoles and other unspecified electromagnetic devices" per-year, according to a company document."

• "Foxconn subsidiary seeks approval to produce annually 4.8 million Xbox consoles, parts and other devices"

"Fushan Technology, another Foxconn subsidiary, is seeking a permit to expand production in Vietnam to make annually up to 4.8 million Microsoft (MSFT.O) Xbox gaming devices, parts of the consoles and other unspecified electromagnetic devices, according to a company document sent to the environment department of the northern Bac Ninh province, where the company has a production hub."

Nothing specific has been shared about what Foxconn / Fushan Technology might be working on, and Foxconn has apparently declined to comment, but we'd speculate that it's probably Xbox Series X|S consoles, Xbox Cloud Gaming servers, various accessories like controllers, and other bits and pieces along those lines - at least until the next console generation arrives.

Interestingly, the report also mentions that China's Luxshare-ICT is planning to produce up to 4.5 million gaming consoles at a Vietnam-based factory from next year.

We're assuming the rapid expansion in Vietnam is related to mitigating tariff impacts amid ongoing trade disputes, although who knows how that'll all pan out in the long run. What we do know is that Xbox is clearly still committed to making all kinds of devices and parts going forward - regardless of what they might be used for!

"Vietnam's growing electronics footprint underscores its strategic role as manufacturers diversify beyond China amid global supply chain shifts."

Last month, Ubisoft confirmed that its Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake was set to launch before April 2026, which led to rumours of the game potentially showing up at The Game Awards next week ahead of a reported January release. Well, the team has now confirmed that sadly, the title won't be showing up at TGA 2025.

In a social media response this week, the Prince of Persia team says it's "sorry to disappoint", but "The Sands of Time won't be at TGA this year". We'll share this online exchange down below:

Now, as far as we're aware, this Sands of Time remake is officially set to launch in Ubisoft's current fiscal year, despite this TGA no-show. The company recently revealed that two more of its titles are to launch by April '26, including this Prince of Persia title.

Anyway, we suppose we'll have to wait and see exactly when and where Ubisoft deems it the perfect time to re-re-reveal this PoP project, but we can confirm that The Game Awards on December 11th won't be that time and place.

December has gotten off to quite the start, hasn't it? With so many new games launching on Switch 2, we're sure that you're keen to find out how each and every one of them runs on the fresh hardware and, as ever, the tech experts over at Digital Foundry are here to do just that.

This time, it's Assassin's Creed Shadows' Switch 2 port that's being put under the microscope. The above video sets a baseline of the Xbox Series S version and compares the technical flair of the new Nintendo hybrid from there. So, what does DF make of it?

Visually, the Switch 2 has some obvious cutbacks from the Series S edition. Without SSR, the handheld version is lacking most water reflection and movement, and you'll notice some decrease in foliage at a middle distance. Textures also come in at a decreased resolution, and, ironically, the titular shadows don't hold up as well as they do elsewhere — though, at half the storage size of the Series S release, this is hardly surprising.

All that said, DF describes the Switch 2 edition as "a pretty handsome rendition of the game", one that comes in very close to the Series S.

In terms of image quality, the game utilises DLSS technology to help along the docked mode's typical 648p resolution, and produces a much better image than that number would suggest in the process. This is, of course, reduced in handheld play, where DF counted resolutions as low as 400p, but it all remains "pretty respectable" in action and is even considered "more reliable in portable play than when docked".

The game mostly sticks to its 30fps target in typical play, though its frame pacing is rather poor, and there are occasional dips in particularly taxing locations or cutscenes.