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Welcome to the next part of the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond walkthrough. Here, we'll be making our way through the game's first major area: Fury Green. This is kind of the equivalent of the Tallon IV Overworld from the original Prime; a lush forest filled with creatures big and small, so there will be plenty of things to scan and really kickstart your journey to 100% completion. Chrono Tower WalkthroughBefore we touch down in Fury Green, we’ll need to get through a bit of plot in Chrono Tower. You’ll be getting much more acquainted with this place later on. When you gain control of Samus, follow the 343-Guilty-Spark-inspired floating robot (don’t worry, there are no items or logbook scans in this area). Let it open doors for you, then follow the stairs around in the Central Chamber and descend into the lower chamber. Wait for Mr. Floaty, then head up to the door directly above. Head over the next bridge. Samus will then be transported to a seemingly empty, dream-like realm. Walk forwards until you reach the purple gem. A cutscene will commence to show Samus gaining her Psychic Powers. Regaining control, scan the circular device on the opposite wall to activate the bridge. Now head into the middle of the Central Chamber and scan the hologram to activate the elevator. When you’re at the top, scan the statue to trigger another cutscene - here, you're told you need to locate and obtain five Master Teleporter Keys from major regions on Viewros. When it’s over, touch the ball of light to transport to Fury Green. Fury Green WalkthroughYou’ll find yourself in the Quiet Overlook, so take your time to look around and admire your surroundings. Nothing in this initial area can hurt you, at least not deliberately. Scan Entry: Lamorn Lore 'The First Steps'There are a few things to scan here, too. First up, to your immediate right is the Lamorn Lore ‘The First Steps’, so scan it. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Empress AleuNext, you’ll see a couple of flying creatures ahead. The first is the buttlerfly-like Empress Aleu, so scan this before it flies off. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: SickleflyNext to this is the Sicklefly, which fly around in clusters. If you miss this, it’ll simply circle the area, so don’t worry too much. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: MirewormIn the water, you’ll see large worm-like creatures poking their heads out. These are the Mireworms, so scan them. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Aurengh CraneHead around to the right and you should see the Aurengh Crane flying past. Don’t worry if you miss it here; you'll easily spot on in Ravine Outlook shortly. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Red Relic AntsAnd finally, trotting along the top of a log is a bunch of Red Relic Ants, so scan one of these. Image: Nintendo When you’re done, head on through the door to the Hollow Log area. Scan Entry: Glister BeetleMore scans! In here, you’ll see a bunch of Glister Beetles on the wall to the left. Scan one of these. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: ShummerstrapsNext, Shimmerstraps will poke their heads out of the walls on either side. These look like smaller Mireworms, and can be easy to miss. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Homing SporeUp ahead, you’ll spot a Homing Spore floating about. Scan it, then shoot it before it gets too close. Image: Nintendo Okay, you’re good to go now. Follow the path around, shoot a couple more Homing Spores, then head through to Ravine Outlook. Scan Entry: Lamorn Lore - 'The Sacred Tree'Scan the Aurengh Crane if you missed it earlier. Just before this, you'll also see Lamorn Lore 'The Sacred Tree', so make sure you scan this one. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: GlottagropperYou'll now come across your first 'enemies' (i.e. the first creatures that will actively try to kill you). Scan the Glottagropper (what a name!) and get rid of them. Dash to the sides to avoid any projectile attacks. Image: Nintendo Take note of the webbing to the right. Is that an item in there..? Yes, you'll need to come back here later. For now, that's about it for this area, so move on through to Forgotten Lagoon. Scan Entry: RootspurIn this watery area, a large root-like being will shoot out of the ground and flail about. Appropriately called Rootspur, you'll need to scan this before shooting it into oblivion. Image: Nintendo There's another Rootspur to get rid of here, but once that's done, go straight on through to Gliffside Gate. Scan Entry: GhasporeTo the left, you'll see some more Homing Spores, but you can now also see where they're coming from. Up on the wall is a Ghaspore, so scan it and then shoot it while it's opening up to release spores. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Lamorn Lore - 'The Ablution'On the ground to the left of the Ghaspore, leaning against a wall, is Lamorn Lore 'The Ablution'. Scan it! Image: Nintendo Move over to the right. You'll see a large door with a Psychic Lock and two Mote Sockets. Ignore this for now. Scan Entry: Psychic PlatformsDirectly behind, you'll see some shimmer purple lights floating in the air. Scan these to reveal the Psychic Platforms. Now scan one again to add it to your logbook. You can't stand on them yet, so you'll need to come back later. Image: Nintendo Head through the door to the right and into Ancient Path. Scan Entry: Scout BotDirectly ahead on the ground is a Scout Bot. You'll need to scan this. Also take note of its location. The scan description implies that the Scout Bot will have a much greater use later in the game. Image: Nintendo Now move on through to Arboreal Chapel. Scan Entry: BristlewortAhead of you is a Bristlewort. Scan it, and then shoot when it opens up to spray needles everywhere. Image: Nintendo Now head to the left and morph ball through the small gap. Follow the path around (another Bristewort will try to cause trouble) and then scan the Psychic Sensor to open the door. Scan Entry: Lamorn Lore - 'Sacred Relic'Before you grab the item ahead of you (don't worry, you don't need to scan it), make sure to scan the Lamorn Lore 'Sacred Relic' over to the right. Image: Nintendo Power Suit Upgrade: Psychic GloveOkay, now go ahead and grab the Psychic Glove. Image: Nintendo Now you can test out your Psychic Glove properly. Hold 'L' and lock on to the mote in front of you. Samus will 'grab' it, by which point you can aim at the Mote Socket on the door ahead. Let go of 'L' and the mote will fly into its socket, opening the door. Head back to the Cliffside Gate. The big door from earlier? You can now open it by inserting the two motes from the statues on either side by using your Psychic Glove. Scan Entry: Psychic ContainerWhen it opens, move on through to the small room ahead and scan the Psychic Container. Image: Nintendo Now hold 'L' to lock on to the purple light on the container. Move the analogue stick to follow the glowing path to unlock it. Image: Nintendo Energy Tank #2When the container opens (or disappears completely, to be exact), you'll find your second Energy Tank. Image: Nintendo Move on through to Guiding Roots. Scan Entry: ShrenThe sole creature you'll need to scan in here is the flying Shren, an inset-like being that spits at you. Rude. Image: Nintendo Now walk ahead and into the Grove of the Sacred Tree. You'll receive a Galactic Federation distress signal. Who could this be..? Your destination is the Sinkhole. First, head through the door on the right and into Resin Creek. To your right, you'll see a semi-circular device. Use your Psychic Glove to move the mote from left to right to open it up. Scan Entry: Save StationHurrah! You've found your first Save Station. Scan it, then save your game if you wish. Your health (and later your ammo) will be replenished here. On Hard difficulty – unlocked after completion of the game – only your health will be replenished. Image: Nintendo Go back to the Grove of the Sacred Tree and explore until you find a small opening big enough for your morph ball. Head on through. As you work your way through the path, you'll see an Isopod slithering across the ground. Scan it if you want, but this thing won't count toward your logbook. A short cutscene will trigger to show the Isopod snatched up by a mysterious creature. Move on through to the next area, then use charged shots to destroy any beetle nests blocking your path. Keep moving through until you reach the Sinkhole. A cutscene will play to introduce Myles Mackenzie, after which you'll need to shoot the vine growths to free him from his elevated prison. While you're doing this, some nasty creatures will disturb you... Scan Entry: Jungle GrieverYes, the Jungle Grievers arrive to ruin your day, so scan one of them before dispatching them all. You'll see a lot of variations of these creatures throughout the rest of the game, so get used to their presence. Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Myles MackenzieAfter the next cutscene, Myles will try to open the door to the large transport unit. While he's hanging there like a lemon, use this opportunity to scan him. Image: Nintendo Now help him out by shooting the piston inside the door to release it (and cause Myles to crash down onto the floor – chortle!). Power Suit Upgrade: Missile LauncherOkay, now head into the transport unit and grab your next upgrade: the Missile Launcher. Nice. Image: Nintendo The way you came is inaccessible, so head in the other direction by jumping on top of the transport unit and onto the ledge. To your left is some fossilised tree resin, so use your missile launcher to destroy it. Proceed back into Resin Creek and destroy the next tree resin. More Rootspurs will pop up, but your missile can take them out in one hit. Use the Save Station again if you wish. Otherwise, head through the door and back into Grove of the Sacred Tree. Get rid of the Bristeworts in your way. Ahead, you'll see two tree resin barriers. Missile Expansion #1Destroy the barrier on the left to reveal your first Missile Expansion. Grab it! Image: Nintendo Now launch a missile toward the barrier on the right. Head through the door and into Bridge Landing. Kill the Glottagroppers. Scan Entry: Lamorn Lore - 'The Crossing'Over to the left is your next Lamorn Lore scan, so make sure you don't miss it. Image: Nintendo Use your Psychic Glove to open the next door. Get ready for a spectacular view! Start making your way across the bridge, but get ready. More Jungle Grievers will attack at various intervals. Myles will have his own health bar now, so watch it doesn't run out. Don't worry, keeping him safe is pretty easy. Head on through to Ascension Stairway, then the Temple Entrance. Here, scan the objects on the left and right to reveal psychic motes (use a missile to get rid of some debris on the right first). Then pop them into the structure in the middle. Power Suit Upgrade: Control BeamOnce the structure is open, you can grab your next upgrade: the Control Beam. Image: Nintendo This thing is really cool, and to demonstrate, you'll need to use it to activate a sensor hidden up high. Hold 'L' to enter psychic mode, then hold 'ZR' to power up your beam. Let go, and then use the analogue stick (or gyro controls) to aim the beam and direct it toward the sensor. When the door is open, head on through to Base Camp. You'll see a Bomb Slot on the left, which will eventually be added to your logbook, but for now, it's completely offline and useless. The door on the right, meanwhile, will lead to another Save Station. To proceed, activate the machine next to Myles by pressing 'A' next to it. A cutscene will trigger during which Myles will power up the room. It's only partially powered up, however, so you'll need to guide your Control Beam through the small circle on the far wall and hit the door on the other side. Now blast the amber barrier with a missile and move on through. Morph ball through the tunnel and head through the next door. Scan the statue on the left to trigger a short cutscene. Keep note of this room: the Altar of Legacy. You'll be coming back here to deposit Green Energy Crystals gathered on your journey. Head on through to the Ceremonial Chamber and stand on the podium ahead. Three targets will appear, so use your Control Beam to hit all three. Quick tip: once each is in your general field of view, you'll be able to lock on, ensuring you don't miss any of them. Head through the next door and into Path of Reflection. There are four statues here, each of which adds another entry to your logbook, so let's go through them all... Scan Entry: Lekhash Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Vahkuun Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Shei Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Thesarh Image: Nintendo Now use the Psychic Glove to enter the next door. In what will no doubt bring back memories of Flaahgra from the original Prime, you'll come across a giant vine-like creature, and this is your next boss battle. There are three things to scan here, so be careful and make sure you grab them all. Scan Entry: Carvex Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Carvex Vine Image: Nintendo Scan Entry: Carvex's Pollen Sac Image: Nintendo If you're struggling with this boss, consult our guide on How to Beat Carvex. Related Articles Guide Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: How To Beat CarvexReady, aim... Power Suit Upgrade: Psychic BombDefeating Carvex will nab you your next upgrade: the Psychic Power Bomb. Just go down into morph ball mode and press 'A' to drop a bomb. Image: Nintendo A mysterious platform will appear. Scan it. Scan Entry: Sacred Shrine Image: Nintendo Move into the centre and drop a bomb into the slot to activate it. Now walk onto the platform and look up to the light. You'll be transported to another dream-like realm. Move forward to automatically grab the Master Teleporter Key. Image: Nintendo When you're back in the real world, Myles will summon you back to the Base Camp. Head to the left and bomb the Ononalt Palm blocking the tunnel. Head through, bombing more blockages along the way. You'll exit in Jungle Path, where you'll find some material that will become quite important on your journey. Scan Entry: Green Energy CrystalsYes, your first lot of Green Energy Crystals are right here. When you've scanned it, destroy the lot with a few missiles or charge shots. The crystals will absorb into Samus as you move toward them. Image: Nintendo Use your scan visor to check you've got them all. Anything remaining will be highlighted. Head through to the Root Tunnel. Here, go into morph ball mode and move through the tunnel to the left, bombing obstructions along the way. You can either use the bomb to launch yourself up into the air to reach ledges, or press 'X' to simply jump up while in morph ball mode. You'll emerge in the Ceremonial Chamber, so go left into Altar of Legacy. While you're here, you can deposit those few Crystals you found in Jungle Path. Press 'A' next to the pedestal and watch the cutscene in which Samus releases the Crystals into the device. You won't get anything for it now, but you can come back later when you have a lot more. Now head straight back into the Broken Hall. Missile Expansion #2As you roll back through the Broken Hall, you'll notice a Missile Expansion on your left. Use the bomb to destroy the blockage and grab the expansion. Image: Nintendo Go back into Base Camp and watch the cutscene. Scan Entry: Bomb SlotOkay, now that you have the bomb ability, you can scan the Bomb Slot from earlier and add it to your logbook – neat! Image: Nintendo Now activate the Bomb Slot by dropping a, uh... bomb. Myles will explain "eehhhh!" and you'll be able to proceed through to the Cargo Staging Area. You can also save here again, if you wish. Head straight through this room to reach the Cleared Path. You can't open the door on the right yet, so head left and through to the Cargo Launcher. There are no collectibles here yet, but take note of the Psychic Platforms on your right. Once you can step onto these, you can come back and grab another Missile Expansion. For now, you'll need to send a mote into the socket high up. But there's none in sight. Scan Entry: Cargo Launcher Image: Nintendo First, scan the Cargo Launcher itself. Now, here's where the magic happens. Press 'A' in morph ball form, but hold it to make the bomb float in mid-air. Come out of morph ball mode and press 'L' to go into Psychic Mode. You can now grab the bomb remotely and throw it into the socket. Cool, huh? This will power up the Launcher. Press 'A' to activate it, then watch the cutscene as it sends you soaring through the sky. You'll emerge in Sol Valley, with a bizarre structure in front of you. You can destroy the Green Energy Crystals directly ahead if you like, but it's not essential. You can get them later. To the left is a Lamorn statue. Scan it to trigger a cutscene in which a hologram introduces you to what will become a dear companion: Vi-O-La. Take note of the Energy Tank locked away in the cylindrical structure next to you. We'll come back to that later. For now, head down toward the large door. A cutscene will trigger showing remnants of a memory from Samus' past. Intriguing. Scan Entry: Psy-Bot SoldierAt this point, three Psy-Bot Soldiers will descend from above. Scan them, then fight. Image: Nintendo Shoot with your beam and missiles, and dash to avoid the soldiers' laser attacks. They don't need a great deal of damage, so this shouldn't trouble you too much. A few more will enter the fight as you defeat them, however, so stay on your toes. Scan Entry: Vi-O-La SpinnerAhead of you is a large circular object embedded in the ground. This is the Vi-O-La Spinner. Obviously you can use it properly now, but you can still scan it. Image: Nintendo To the right of the main entrance is a Maintenance Tank Tunnel Hatch, perfect for your morph ball. Drop into it and bomb to shoot up and into Volt Forge. Here ends the section of our walkthrough covering Fury Green. We're just getting started. View full article

Hello, and welcome to the full walkthrough for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. We'll be taking you through the entire game, highlighting when and where to find all available items and scans. This prologue section will be fairly short, taking place on the planet Tanamaar. Samus finds herself in the midst of an attack from a bunch of Space Pirates, and while the only item here is unmissable, you'll want to make sure you catch all available scans – miss these, and you won't get another shot. Galactic Federation UTC Research Center WalkthroughUpon touching down on the Landing Pad (and saying goodbye to your beloved ship), head forward and dispatch any injured Space Pirates along the way. Scan Entry - Space Pirate Image: Nintendo Amongst the injured enemies is a full-fledged, healthy Space Pirate. You’ll be tempted to shoot it too, but hold fire for a moment, as this is your first logbook entry of the game. Scan it. Warning: if you miss scanning any of the Space Pirates during this section of the game, you won't get another chance! Scan Entry - Galactic Federation Trooper Image: Nintendo Once you’ve cleared the area of enemies, you’ll spot a couple of Galactic Federation Troopers at the end of the path by a door. Scan one of them to add it to your logbook. Similar to the Space Pirates, if you miss scanning the Troopers in this section, you won't see them again. You will only see specific characters like Myles Mackenzie in later sections, so don't miss it! Head through to the next couple of rooms until you reach the Observation Deck. Here, a bunch of Space Pirates will attack, so get rid of them. In the Hangar Access, drop into Morph Ball mode to avoid the fire and move through the small gap. Head through to the Courtyard and get rid of the Space Pirates causing trouble. Double-jump up the ledge and go through the door. A couple more injured Space Pirates will need shooting. Head up the right and launch a missile at the vent door, then morph ball through the vent, dropping bombs to clear obstructions along the way. Energy Tank #1 Image: Nintendo After bombing the third obstruction in the vent, you’ll come across your first Energy Tank, granting an extra 100 health points. You physically can't miss it, so roll into it, then drop out of the vent and deal with the Space Pirates. Scan the large hangar door. You’ll then need to lock on, manually aim at the four nodes and shoot them to open it. Do the same with the next door along the corridor. Scan Entry - Aberax Image: Nintendo A cutscene will trigger, and you’ll come face-to-face with your first boss fight with Aberax. Before you do anything else, make sure you scan it - if you miss this one, you won't see it again. Now get ready for the fight. If this first boss is causing you trouble, you can check out our full guide on How To Beat Aberax. Boom, you did it! Pretty easy start, huh? Now onto the planet Viewros and Fury Green. View full article

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): Switch 2 – 97,677 PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 17,491 Switch OLED Model – 16,004 PlayStation 5 Pro – 15,736 Switch Lite – 12,896 Switch – 6,427 PlayStation 5 – 2,559 Xbox Series X Digital Edition – 64 Xbox Series X – 52 Xbox Series S – 56 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. View full article

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. View full article

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: 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: 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. View full article

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. View full article

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! View full article

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! View full article

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" 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! View full article

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. View full article

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. View full article

IO Interactive is in our good books big time off the back of all the premium-grade assassinating they've let us do across the globe as Agent 47. Now the team has taken up the mantle (the obvious next step for those paying attention) of James Bond himself, with 007: First Light. And ahead of the game's 27th March 2026 release date, IO has dropped the very first in a series of dev diary deep dives aimed at exploring this latest Bond adventure alongside interested players. What an absolute high this dev team has been on with the majestic Hitman: World of Assassination, and it looks like it'll continue here. We've already seen bits and pieces of the game, and we know it's a reimagining of the Bond origin story, featuring a young 007. But this first episode, which you can watch in full above, concentrates on gameplay, as the series as a whole looks to cover the design philosophy and creative processes. Images: IO Interactive It's interesting stuff, so make sure to check it out for all the new gameplay footage, and discussions about the game's blend of mechanics, which it seems will - in part at least - run with some Hitman aspects, developing on stuff such as questioning and observing, and blending into your surroundings. Oh boy, we can't wait. One example mentioned in the video is "enforcers", meaning NPCs who see through you because they "know" everyone who works in a particular building or area. So this then introduces a new puzzle style to work with. We also get some tantalising chat about how the devs want to balance thing to give players freedom to approach any situation the way they want as Bond, whilst also making it so the execution of any given plan you hatch can go wildly wrong and need re-tuning on the fly. All the good stuff we hoped we'd hear them speak about when approaching James Bond in their signature style, basically. Andreas Krogh, the gameplay director on 007: First Light also mentions new techniques they've come up with by "marrying" Bond's style with their take on stealth. So you have some new deescalation options, such as bluffing. Here we see that Bond can smooth talk his way out of a scenario where the only option for 47 would be to pan somebody in the head or run away. Images: IO Interactive Thomas Pulluelo, the game's level designer, also pops up to show how the rather nice looking environs on display are designed so that players can see opportunities more easily and naturally. So hopefully fewer shiny pipes and yellow footholds, and more feeling like you did it all yourself. Nice. There's are some fantastic sequences (so do make sure to check out the full vid) that show off the amazingly brutal action and combat we can expect in March of next year. This young Bond does some vicious CQC, he charges down foes and gets stuck in like a proper trained killer. Expect plenty of quick switching between fist fights, shooting with fancy guns, stealth action and lots of crashing of expensive cars and then reloading the game. Now, speaking of cars, where did we put the keys to our motor? It's been leaking oil slicks and randomly firing machine gun bullets out of its hood again. Honestly, Q's been right off their game recently. If you're looking forward to 007: First Light, make sure you check out Push Square's preview from back in September; they might be more excited than us! Images: IO Interactive Looking forward to 007: First Light? Think IO's style suits 007 down to the ground like we do? Let us know! View full article

Metroid has rarely been able to play with the Nintendo big boys as far as sales are concerned, so it's no surprise that Samus merch drops have been a fair bit rarer than those seen for Zelda and Mario. But, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally here, Nintendo is changing that... in Japan, at least. Yes, a new wave of Metroid merch is now available exclusively at the Nintendo Stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and the Okinawa pop-up. Just to really rub salt in the wound, it's also available on the My Nintendo Store, exclusively in Japan. sigh Back to looking longingly at plane tickets, it is. Update: Well, it looks like Nintendo has answered our wishes! Although it appeared that the merch outlined below was exclusive to Japan, many of the items have just cropped up on the UK My Nintendo Store, too. Time to beef up those Christmas stockings! Simply put, the new range is awesome. There's a super cute Baby Metroid keychain, a Morph Ball zip-up pouch, a 'gadget case' for all your wires and charging banks, and even glasses so you can 'cheers' Prime 4 in style. Images: Nintendo The real winners, mind you, are the Metroid ice cube tray (not available on the EU store) — because why have cube-shaped ice, when it could look like a tiny alien? — and the Arm Cannon pillow, which, yes, you can actually wear. Images: Nintendo The full collection ranges in price from 2,420 yen / £12.99 for the keychain, up to 6,600 yen / £37.99 for the Arm Cannon pillow. And if the above has got you in the mood for even more merch, the squishy Metroid amiibo is now back in stock on the UK My Nintendo Store for £12.99. Those unable to get their hands on any of the above can still take joy in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which arrives on Switch and Switch 2 today, instead. We called Samus' latest adventure "one of the very best Metroid games of all time" in our review, and today, the wait is finally over! View full article