Activision has delivered a report on the work it’s done to combat toxicity in Call of Duty, insisting it’s already made a huge impact ahead of the launch of Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty was for years associated with toxic player behavior, both in voice chat and over text message. But Activision has worked to reverse the franchise’s thorny reputation, launching 2023’s Modern Warfare 3 with in-game voice chat moderation powered by AI.
Activision is using ToxMod from Modulate, which uses AI to identify in real-time and enforce against toxic speech including hate speech, discriminatory language, and harassment.
Addressing privacy concerns from the Call of Duty community, Activision has insisted voice chat is only monitored and recorded “for the express purpose of moderation,” and “is focused on detecting harm within voice chat versus specific keywords.”
Image credit: Activision Publishing.
“The Disruptive Behavior team knows that hype and passion is part of Call of Duty’s DNA,” Activision said in a fresh progress update. “Voice and text-based moderation tools in Call of Duty don’t target our competitive spirit – it enforces against behavior identified in the Call of Duty franchise Code of Conduct, targeting harassment and derogatory language.
“Similar to Modern Warfare 3, the Call of Duty Code of Conduct will be visible during the initial in-game flow when players first launch core multiplayer modes in Black Ops 6, asking players to acknowledge the Code of Conduct pillars.”
Since rolling out an improved voice chat enforcement in June, Call of Duty has seen a combined 67% reduction in repeat offenders of voice-chat based offenses in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone, Activision added. In July 2024, 80% of players that were issued a voice chat enforcement since launch did not re-offend. Overall exposure to disruptive voice chat continues to fall, Activision said, dropping by 43% since January. At launch, Black Ops 6 will expand its voice moderation to French and German, in addition to English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Voice and text-based moderation tools in Call of Duty don’t target our competitive spirit.
This is well-timed, given one new feature for Black Ops 6 that’s sure to test Call of Duty’s AI voice chat moderation to its limit. Black Ops 6 has a new Body Shield feature in multiplayer that lets you grab an enemy and hold them in front of you to soak up bullets while firing off a few rounds of your own. But that’s not all: it also enables voice chat between the attacker and the victim, which players certainly had fun with during the game’s beta weekends.
Call of Duty’s text moderation tech, meanwhile, which analyzes text chat traffic in “near” real-time, has blocked over 45 million text-based messages in violation of the Call of Duty Code of Conduct since November 2023. Activision said Call of Duty has also implemented a new analysis system for username reports “to enhance efficiency and accuracy, surfacing critical reports to our moderation team for investigation and action.”
Activision has used research from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to improve its approach here, and worked with researchers from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business to work out ways to better identify and combat disruptive behavior. Activision said it’s “actively engaged” in research surrounding disruptive behavior and prosocial activities in gaming.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Overwatch 2 Season 13, Spellbinder, is arriving just in time for Halloween, and Blizzard is delivering a new Junkenstein-themed PvP game mode to celebrate.
Called Junkenstein’s Laboratory, the mode will mutate the abilities of heroes like Reinhardt, Moira, and Mercy in “fast-paced” team deathmatch rounds, with Blizzard stating in a blog post that the spooky ability mutations will “challenge even the most seasoned players.” The mode will be available alongside the season launch on October 15 and run through November 4, but additional details, like what kind of alterations will be made to each hero’s abilities, have yet to be revealed.
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Now Playing: Overwatch 2 – Season 13: Spellbinder Event Trailer
For those who prefer PvE over PvP, previous Halloween events like Junkenstein’s Revenge and Wrath of the Bride will also be available for the duration of the season, with new challenges, enemies, and bosses, according to Blizzard.
As for what else is new in Season 13, a new Mythic skin for Widowmaker, Spellbinder, will be available. As the skin is leveled up, it changes from turning Windowmaker into “a potions apprentice” to “a full-blown master of the dark arts, blending whimsical witchcraft with gothic elegance.” Like other Mythic skins, it will sport custom animations and visual effects that change as the skin is leveled up.
Overwatch 2’s previously announced My Hero Academia collaboration will also launch during Season 13 on October 17, with the new Legendary skins inspired by the anime available for purchase until October 30. The skins transform Overwatch heroes like Reinhardt into All Might, Tracer into series protagonist Deku, and more.
That great disturbance in the Force you just felt wasn’t a million voices crying out in terror. It was, in fact, me crying out in terror a million times. You see, Aspyr have just announced that they’re porting Star Wars: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles to PC and Steam. I have a complicated relationship with Jedi Power Battles, in the sense that I think I still have scars on my thumbs from when I played it all night on a busted PS1 controller. I have bled for this game. I’d close my eyes after each six-hours session and see fields of lightsabers flickering and dancing like luminous leeches, chasing me through the Dagobahnian jungles of my dreams.
Gear up for another epic gaming weekend with Free Play Days, featuring the gritty revenge tale of Mafia III: Definitive Edition, the chaotic fun of Moving Out 2, the cosmic adventures of Destiny 2‘s Witch Queen and Lightfall expansions, and the brutal survival challenges of Conan Exiles.
Mafia III: Definitive Edition, Moving Out 2 and Conan Exiles are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members to play from Thursday October 10, 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, October 13, 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Additionally, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen and Destiny 2: Lightfall are free to play for all from October 8, 10 AM PDT until October 15, 10 AM PDT.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
Mafia III: Definitive Edition
2K
☆☆☆☆☆ 913
★★★★★
$29.99
$7.49
Mafia III: Definitive Edition Part three of the Mafia crime saga – 1968, New Bordeaux, LA. After years of combat in Vietnam, Lincoln Clay knows this truth: family isn’t who you’re born with, it’s who you die for. When his surrogate family, the black mob, is betrayed and wiped out by the Italian Mafia, Lincoln builds a new family on the ashes of the old and blazes a path of military-grade revenge through the Mafioso responsible.
Moving Out 2
Team17
☆☆☆☆☆ 128
★★★★★
$29.99
$15
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Moving Out 2 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery Moving Out is back and wackier than ever, and now with online play! Return to Packmore and use your moving skills across brand new dimensions and some old favorites. Help rebuild Smooth Moves and become an all-star F.A.R.T. (Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technician)!
Conan Exiles
Funcom
☆☆☆☆☆ 640
★★★★★
$49.99
$12.49
Xbox One X Enhanced
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Conan Exiles Optimized for Xbox Series X|S An online multiplayer survival game, now with sorcery, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian. Survive in a vast open world sandbox, build your home into a kingdom, and dominate your enemies in single or multiplayer.
Free Play Days For All
Destiny 2: Lightfall
Bungie
☆☆☆☆☆ 241
★★★★★
$29.99
$7.49
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Destiny 2: Lightfall Experience the Definitive Destiny Campaigns. Delve into Savathûn’s Throne World to uncover the mystery of how she and her Lucent Hive stole the Light. In Lightfall, uncover new rewards, explore Neptune, and master a new subclass.
Almost no one is denying anymore that Marvel Studios has hit a bit of a slump in recent times, yet it’s also managed to put out some bangers and utterly demolished the box office this summer with Deadpool & Wolverine. This explains why Sebastian Stan is defending the hell out of the House of M still.
The veteran Marvel actor, widely known as Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier, has recently been promoting his work in The Apprentice – the movie where he plays Donald Trump – and he’s taken every opportunity to push back against MCU haters and mean critics because he believes these movies and shows are “a big part of what contributes to this business and allows us to have smaller movies as well.”
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Regardless of your feelings towards Marvel Studios at the moment, he is not wrong about that. Big franchise flicks and shows are partially responsible for funding smaller projects that not nearly as many people are interested in watching. Leaving the average quality of each type of production aside, that’s just the reality. Stuff like Marvel or Star Wars brings in the big bucks so studios can try to put out more original and/or smaller projects across their release calendars.
As part of an extensive interview with GQ, published on October 7, the actor once again expressed his honest thoughts about the whole Marvel discussion and dilemma.
“I’ve never been part of a company that puts so much heart and thought into anything… I think if Marvel was gone, it’d be such a big hole to try and fill up. Don’t just go out there and s**t on something without offering something better,” he said. This time around, it sounds like he’s deflecting fair criticism as well, but he also points in the direction of Marvel being a big chunk of the Hollywood business at a time when the theatrical experience misses as often as it hits. For movie and TV crews, the regular work offered by such massive productions is a godsend, so it’s easy to see where he’s coming from.
His next Marvel credit will be Thunderbolts* (not a typo), an event movie full of individuals who aren’t quite heroes. He teased we might see a bit of Trump in Bucky Barnes, as he was trying to ‘exorcise’ him out when shooting the blockbuster. “I went off to Marvel after [The Apprentice]… And we were doing scenes, and I would do something, a thing or two, and be like, ‘F**k! This is still living somewhere.’” Given Barnes’ signature emotional instability, this might be a great wrinkle if it’s noticeable enough.
Even though Stan co-starred in the Disney+ series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier alongside Anthony Mackie, he reportedly won’t show up in Captain America: Brave New World, which marks the start of a, hopefully, reinvigorating 2025 in cinemas for Marvel Studios alongside Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four. Was Deadpool & Wolverine a fluke? Place your bets now.
Sex & Blood: Vampires explore the city imbued with the gloomy atmosphere of night and neon, work your way through it to solve the mystery that’s been eating you for years, fight hot vampire hotties, improve your skills and buy powerful implants – the game has an RPG-styled fight system and a roguelike mode to take a fun break from the story! This actually has a lot of content, though. There are dozens of scenes with several camera angles each. Phoenix Springs
The gameplay is even fairly interesting even if it is a little bit on the easy side (works for me; I prefer a lack of frustration in my H-games). Its a very simple and short Roguelite with visually pleasing characters, Futa and some very enjoyable “scenes”. Sadly no cumshots. But it is a really nice addition to the pile of futa games out there, wish there was more like it but a bit better even. Still 5/5, i enjoyed it much.
Features and System Requirements:
Explore a dark and mysterious universe filled with ancient castles, shadowy forests, and eerie towns teeming with secrets.
The environment reflects the gothic horror atmosphere with blood-red moons, desolate crypts, and haunting music.
Engage in fast-paced, brutal combat featuring supernatural abilities like shapeshifting, enhanced speed, and mind control.
Screenshots
System Requirements
Recommended
OS: Windows 10 or Newer
Processor: Intel Core I3
RAM: 4 GB
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
Storage: 5 GB
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam
Installation Guide
Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game 2 :: Extract Game 3 :: Launch The Game 4 :: Have Fun 🙂
Since it was launched in August, the Kamala Harris Twitch channel has broadcast rallies and speeches from Flint, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and other locations across the USA. It’s about to go slightly further afield, with a Tim Walz rally being broadcast from Azeroth, as Wired reports.
A live audio feed of Walz speaking in Arizona will be accompanied by Twitch streamer Preheat playing World of Warcraft and adding commentary. A guides writer for Wowhead, Preheat has more than 50,000 subscribers on Twitch. No, Walz won’t be playing WoW with Preheat, so we won’t find out if he’s a druid main.
So, uh, why is this happening? It’s part of the Harris campaign’s plan to increase its visibility to young men, which has also included advertisements played during sporting events and on IGN. As the Washington Post put it, they’re making a push for “the gamer vote” which included a “Geeks & Nerds for Harris” fundraiser.
Hurricane Milton, one of the biggest storms in recorded history, is set to make landfall in Florida on October 9. It will likely cause tens of billions of dollars of damage and could kill or injure many people who are unable to evacuate Tampa Bay and the surrounding region in time.
Iconic Director And Proud Nerd Kevin Smith On Sneaking Into Movies, Mallrats, And More
And yet, some influencers, TikTok content creators, and streamers are claiming that they will stick around and livestream through the historic storm. It’s a horrible idea and yet another example of how some creators are willing to do anything just to get more views, clicks, and subscribers.
On Tuesday, Forbes reported on numerous influencers who suggested in videos posted online that they would be sticking around even as Hurricane Milton makes its way closer and closer to Florida.
Influencer and writer Caroline Calloway posted on Twitter that even though her house is located in the evacuation zone and is on the beach, she won’t be leaving. Instead, she tweeted about how she’s not leaving and included an ad for her upcoming advice book. “I have champagne and four generations of Floridians in my veins. It’ll be fine,” tweeted Calloway.
Another TikTok creator, kricketfelt, has been posting videos about how her home is made out of concrete and she and her husband are going to stay and not evacuate. She’s continued to upload videos, making light of the situation, as the storm gets closer.
Meanwhile, a clip of controversial Kick Streamer Adin Ross supposedly offering people $30,000 to stick around and livestream through the hurricane went viral after being shared on Twitter and TikTok. However, during the full seven-hour livestream, it’s clear Ross isn’t offering this money to anyone and in fact, was just joking around with a friend. During that same stream, he also told viewers to evacuate Tampa Bay and suggested the hurricane was being used to “distract” people from the upcoming election. So a mixed bag.
Kotaku has reached out to Adin Ross for comment about his stream and statements.
Even though the offer wasn’t real, that didn’t stop some streamers from claiming that they were streaming live from Florida in the path of the hurricane. One Kick streamer, MikeSmallsJr, claimed to be streaming from Florida with nothing but an air mattress and some snacks. During one moment of his stream, he admitted that Ross’ offer wasn’t real and was taken out of context, but suggested the streamer still should pay him something for what he was doing.
“At the end of the day, I was the first Kick streamer to do this shit during Hurricane Helene. I’m out here busting my ass to entertain the people,” said MikeSmallsJr. Later he reportedly heard he wasn’t getting anything and wasn’t happy.
Another streamer, JamesWorley, claimed to be streaming during the storm and, when asked what he would do when or if he lost cell service, said: “I guess the stream will end.” A few moments later, his stream cut off. It returned a minute later.
Kotaku wasn’t able to verify their locations, but some did at least seem to be in Florida and were streaming during large amounts of rain. The storm isn’t set to make landfall until 8 p.m. EST, though thunderstorms and tornadoes are already covering much of the Sunshine State.
The reality is that even though Adin Ross didn’t actually offer large sums of money to encourage people to stream through the storm, the comments sadly might have inspired some people to stick around even as a deadly, incredibly powerful hurricane is about to hit where they live.
For some content creators, a massive hurricane is just an opportunity to risk their lives, troll their viewers, or create “edgy” content while possibly earning more views and subscribers. All of this in an effort to conquer the algorithm and rise above the thousands and thousands of other creators out there, all trying to desperately make money on social media and streaming platforms that, more and more, feel like sinking ships and not the future of entertainment.
We’ve all used a Steam Deck, so we all know how poor the battery lifecan be when playing a more graphically extensive game like God of War: Ragnarok, or Cyberpunk 2077. Here’s the trick, you need a good power bank to accompany your portable PC adventures.
Why is this portable battery an essential Steam Deck accessory? Our friends at IGN chose Anker 737 as one of their top picks for portable chargers, and for good reason. It’s perfect for the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, ensuring your gaming session doesn’t come to an abrupt halt when you’re on the move.
With a hefty 20,000mAh capacity and a powerful 140W output, it’s not only capable of keeping your gaming handheld juiced up but is also TSA-approved, so you won’t need to worry about airport security. Whether you’re using it for your Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, it’s a reliable companion. Personally, I rely on this power bank for both my Steam Deck and my Switch, and after multiple flights, it’s still going strong.
The Anker PowerCore 737 offers two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. One of the USB-C ports is bi-directional, meaning it can charge your devices and recharge the power bank itself. I took it with me on a recent trip to Vienna and then Amsterdam, and it sailed through security after a wattage test with no issues.
Not convinced by this offer? Then consider this UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W Portable Charger which is 30% off in the final hours of Prime Big Deal Days. It’s down to $69.99 in the sale and is another excellent option for Steam Deck.
For something even more affordable, or for devices with smaller wattage requirements, perhaps for your phone or Nintendo Switch, then you can also consider this ultra Anker Zolo Power Bank, 10,000mAh 30W power bank, currently down to $17.49 at Amazon for Prime members.
Battle zombies across Hell-A, attempt to outwit a serial killer and their trap-filled hotel, build the ultimate university campus and learn the devastating, hilarious art of riposte and more with October’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup*! Dead Island 2, The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, Two Point Campus, Return to Monkey Island and more games are available to play from October 15. On the same day, an awesome foursome of titles join PlayStation Plus Premium in the form of PS VR2 game The Last Clockwinder and three Classics – Capcom adventure Dino Crisis, terrifying horror Siren and iconic sci-fi shooter R-Type Dimensions EX.
Let’s take a look at each game in turn.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog
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Dead Island 2 | PS4, PS5
Dead Island 2 is a thrilling First-Person Action RPG, stylish, vibrant and flooded with zombie infection. Explore an iconic, gore-drenched Los Angeles. Meet larger-than-life characters. Slay countless foes in exquisitely bloody detail. And evolve to become the ultimate Zombie Slayer! There are six characters to choose from, each with their own unique personality and dialogues. You can fully customize the abilities of each Slayer, with a brand-new skill system allowing you to re-spec instantly and try out the craziest builds. The game includes an over-the-top co-op mode for up to three players.
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Two Point Campus | PS4, PS5
Take your simulation management experience to a class above with Two Point Campus, the sequel to the multi-million selling Two Point Hospital. Two Point Campus is jam-packed with new creative tools to help you build the university of your dreams. The academic year begins with a summer break, giving you enough time to get everything looking great before your students move in. Build libraries, hire the best staff, kit your campus out with the best courses and watch the academic potential of your students get unlocked.
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The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me | PS4, PS5
The Dark Pictures is a series of stand-alone branching cinematic horror games from the studio behind Until Dawn. Easy to pick-up and play in short sessions, alone or with friends. The Devil in Me is the fourth game in the series and the Season One finale. A group of documentary film makers receive a mysterious call inviting them to a modern-day replica of serial killer H.H. Holmes’ ‘Murder Castle’. It’s an opportunity that’s too good to pass up and could be just the thing they’re looking for to win some much-needed public interest. The hotel is the perfect set for their new episode, but things aren’t quite as they seem. The crew discover they’re being watched and even manipulated, and suddenly there’s much more at stake than just their ratings! Can you outsmart the killer and checkout all your cast? All playable characters can live or die in your version of the story.
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Gris | PS4, PS5
Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality. As the story unfolds, Gris will grow emotionally and see her world in a different way, revealing new paths to explore using her new abilities.
Grus is a serene and evocative experience, free of danger, frustration, or death. Players will explore a meticulously designed world brought to life with delicate art, detailed animation, and an elegant original score. Through the game light puzzles, platforming sequences, and optional skill-based challenges will reveal themselves as more of Gris’s world becomes accessible.
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Return to Monkey Island | PS5
Return to Monkey Island is an unexpected, thrilling return of series creator Ron Gilbert that continues the story of the legendary adventure games The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. Banter with old friends and new faces on familiar islands now under dangerous new leadership. Then, take to the high seas and explore the new and unknown as you work your way out of tough predicaments. Clever puzzles, bizarre situations, and devastating ripostes are all that stand between Guybrush and glory.
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Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed | PS4, PS5
This fun multiplayer game is perfect for all skill levels. Four proton pack wielding Ghostbusters attempt to catch a Ghost haunting unique locations in asymmetrical multiplayer battles (online or offline). As players progress, they will unlock cosmetics and upgrades for both Ghostbusters and Ghosts to evolve their gameplay experiences. The look and feel will deliver to fans an immersive experience in the universe, allowing them to play out their Ghostbusting fantasies. This game will allow players to enjoy the game solo or with up to four friends and includes an online and offline single-player mode in the form of bot-assisted play.
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Firefighting Simulator The Squad | PS4, PS5
Become part of a major US city’s firefighting team and experience how it feels to fight fires. Discover over 40 diverse deployment locations spread across the city inspired by the North American West Coast. Equip yourself with authentic firefighting gear such as helmets, firefighter boots, and a breathing apparatus model by well-known North American firefighting equipment manufacturers. In single player mode, become the leader of an experienced firefighting team. In multiplayer co-op mode, play with up to three friends and take on whichever role suits you most. Assign tasks to your team or jump into the action yourself.
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Overpass 2 | PS5
Identify the best routes and balance of power, speed and precision to overcome obstacles at the controls of a UTV, ATV or Rock Bouncer in both solo and multiplayer modes, your talent and choices of technique will make the difference. Put your skills to the test in 5 game modes in which you have to come to grips with demanding challenges: off-road sprint, off-road circuit, hill climb, obstacle course, closed circuit. At the controls of powerful buggies and quads from major manufacturers such as Yamaha, Arctic Cat and Suzuki, you will travel across 30 routes in 5 regions: Baja Desert, East Central US, Johnson Valley, Utah Desert and Western Europe.
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Tour de France 2023 | PS4, PS5
Play the mountain or flat stages and experience the intensity of the Grande Boucle. Pedal alongside the best cyclists, test your endurance and show your panache to triumph on the Champs-Elysées in the official game of the Tour de France 2023.
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Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands* | PS4
Create a team with up to 3 friends in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands and enjoy the ultimate military shooter experience set in a massive, dangerous, and responsive open world. In a near future, Bolivia has fallen into the hands of Santa Blanca, a merciless drug cartel who spread injustice and violence. Their objective: to create the biggest Narco-State in history. Create and fully customize your Ghost, weapons, and gear. Enjoy a total freedom of playstyle. Lead your team and take down the cartel, either solo or with up to three friends.
*PlayStation Plus re-release.
PlayStation Premium | PS VR2 & Classics
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The Last Clockwinder | PS VR2
Clone your actions into endlessly repeating loops to build assembly lines and contraptions. Harvest resources, grow plants, and restore life to an ancient tree in this award-winning VR game. Your mission is to repair the Clocktower, an ancient haven for the galaxy’s plants. Use the Clockwinder’s gloves to turn the actions you take into looping clockwork clones. They can do everything you can, from planting to cutting to throwing items through the air. Use their help to save the Clocktower!
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Dino Crisis | PS4, PS5
Three years ago, a scientist researching a new source of clean energy known as Third Energy died during an experiment. Now, alarming reports arrive from an agent dispatched to a small country in the South Seas. Regina, a member of a government spy team tasked with extracting the scientist, heads for the isolated island where the military facility is located. Experience Dino Crisis, originally released on the original PlayStation, now enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.
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Siren | PS4, PS5
Experience Siren, originally released on PS2, now enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters. Midnight. A siren calls and a sea of red water mysteriously surrounds the mountain village Hanuda. Slowly, a terrible force transforms the inhabitants into shibito, undead husks of their old selves, fueled by evil and hate.Play as one of ten characters caught in a living nightmare. You have three days to learn how their paths intersect as they try to stay alive. Survival depends on your ability to “sightjack” or the power to see through the eyes of friends and foes. There is no one hero. There is little hope.
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R-Type Dimensions EX | PS4
The coin-op classics, R-Type & R-Type II, are together on PS4! Fight through all 14 Bydo-infested stages in retro 2D graphics or shiny 3D graphics – and swap back and forth with the touch of a button ‘on-the-fly’. The new 3D graphics are accompanied by fully reimagined arrangements of the timeless R-Type music tracks. The classic game-play remains untouched while the new Infinite game mode allows continuous progression from game start to final boss. Both game modes can be played as single player or local multiplayer.
Discounts on the PlayStation Portal, Sony’s remote player for the PS5 with an 8-inch screen, are nearly impossible to come by. We’re surprised that Amazon has one for October Prime Day, but there’s a catch. The company has a large stock of “like new” units that were returned, and it’s clearing out its stock at the more reasonable price of $141 (these are normally $199.99 new) for Prime members. All you need to do to get this discount is add it to your cart, then watch the list price of $176.52 fall to $141.
We normally don’t feel comfortable recommending used products that are purchased sight unseen, but Amazon’s Renewed lists some important assurances, such as that its “screen is like new with no visible scratches,” and that it will come in its original packaging. That still might not be enough for you to take a chance, but at nearly $60 off the new price, some may feel comfortable taking a chance since $60 is money that could go toward a new game. Also, Amazon offers free returns, so there’s little in the way of risk with the exception of possibly wasting your time running to the mail center if things don’t work out.
Looking for more deals? Check out all of Polygon’s favorite October Prime Day 2024 deals right here, and subscribe to our newsletter below to get great deals delivered to your inbox every week.
Ted Lasso released on Blu-ray on July 30, but if you’ve been waiting for a solid discount to add the feel-good series to your collection, the time has come. The complete series is on sale for $60 at Amazon as part of the retailer’s Prime Big Deal Days sale.
The recent release of the series in physical format marked the first time viewers could enjoy Ted Lasso without an Apple TV+ subscription. Side note: Considering how strong of a lineup Apple TV+ has assembled over the past few years, you should definitely give the streaming service a try if you haven’t already. You can sign up for a free seven-day Apple TV+ trial before committing to $10/month.
This seven-disc Blu-ray set includes all 34 episodes of Ted Lasso that aired throughout its remarkable three-season run.
The Blu-ray edition of the box set isn’t eligible for Amazon’s buy two, get one free promotion, but the DVD collection is on the list. Unfortunately, the DVD box set actually costs a few bucks more at the moment due to the limited-time deal on the Blu-ray version. That said, you should definitely check out our roundup of Blu-ray box sets that are eligible for Amazon’s B2G1 sale.
Ted Lasso follows the eponymous character after he’s recruited to manage an English Premier League soccer team. His only previous coaching experience is as an American college football coach and, as you’d imagine, he’s rather ill-equipped for the job. Along with Sudeikis’ brilliant performance as Ted, Hannah Waddingham is wonderful as AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Welton, and Brett Goldstein is great at capturing the gruff and perpetually unamused soccer star Roy Kent.
Ted Lasso the character became an internet sensation thanks to the character’s radical positivity. Each week during the show’s run, the wholesome coach offered a perspective that is rarely shown on popular modern TV shows. If you are in need of some positivity, regardless of whether you like soccer or sports in general, Ted Lasso is definitely worth checking out.
Not all video game remakes are recreated equally. For every genuinely game-changing Final Fantasy VII Remake or Metroid: Zero Mission, you have comparatively more surface-level restorations like 2018’s Shadows of the Colossus or 2020’s Destroy All Humans! that transplant most of the original material into a new game engine that looks nicer but doesn’t really change how it works. Until Dawn fits firmly into that latter camp. Its colourful cast of horny teenagers and spooky snowy mountain setting have never looked better, but its gripping, life-or-death decision-based gameplay is more or less identical to how I remember it from the 2015 original. The general lack of gameplay improvements and noticeable performance problems are a poor trade-off for what it offers, and that makes it tough to recommend, particularly since its premium price makes Until Dawn seem less like a must-have bit of moonlit murder and something closer to a case of daylight robbery.
Here’s what our reviewer said in her review of the 2015 original:
That sentiment still largely rings true – it’s basically the same game, after all. While Supermassive’s subsequent choose-your-own-misadventure horror stories, like 2021’s The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes and 2022’s The Quarry, have come close to matching it, Until Dawn still remains the most well-rounded execution of the choice-and-consequence-heavy formula that the developer has made its own. Its schlock horror story is crammed with entertainingly gory scenarios inspired by the likes of Saw, The Descent, and Poltergeist, and its cast is headlined by strong performances from Hayden Panettiere, Peter Stormare, and Rami Malek, whose characters remain just as engaging today as they were nine years ago – even in spite of the occasionally cringe-inducing dialogue.
Back in Blackwood
While the cast and remote Blackwood Pines setting remain the same, everything has been rebuilt on an entirely new engine (Unreal 5) for this remake, and it shows in ways both good and bad. There’s no question that the higher-quality textures and dramatically improved lighting combine to give this interactive slasher film a considerably more realistic edge, and there are a number of welcome environmental touches, like snow that visibly crumples underfoot and the rays of a setting sun reflected in the window glass of a gondola.
Until Dawn 2024 Review Screens
However, these enhancements come at the cost of a frame rate that’s often every bit as shaky as the freaked-out teens onscreen, and at its worst this rebuilt Until Dawn is also prone to coming apart completely like a serial killer’s victim on the sharp end of a saw blade. I managed to make it through my full playthrough without ever being unceremoniously bumped out to the PlayStation 5’s home screen, but another member of IGN’s staff reported no fewer than six crashes within the eight-hour story’s opening half. Until Dawn is supposed to be about preventing its cast of characters from meeting a sudden end at the hands of an unspeakably evil presence, not an indecipherable Sony error code.
These enhancements come at the cost of a frame rate that’s often every bit as shaky as the freaked-out teens onscreen.
Whereas the original Until Dawn is experienced mostly from fixed camera perspectives, the 2024 version – for the most part – favours an over-the-shoulder, third-person view not unlike the recently released Silent Hill 2 remake. There are definite benefits to this manual camera control system, both in the sense that it allows you to better observe the heightened detail in the creepy environments around you, and also swivel your viewpoint around to identify the small number of new areas to explore off the beaten path. For instance, you’ll find a car park outside the ski lift station in the story’s opening hours that wasn’t there before. However, there’s not much of interest to find in this handful of new locations, and I can’t help but feel that the new camera system works against the overall cinematic presentation. Until Dawn’s consistent close-up chase cam meant it felt less like I was puppeteering the characters in an interactive slasher movie and more like I was sauntering my way through a survival-horror shooter, minus the actual combat.
It’s also a strange choice that developer Ballistic Moon has scrapped the ability to walk faster in this remake. Characters will automatically break into a sprint during quick-time event-heavy chase sequences, but otherwise there’s no longer the option of speeding the exploration of environments up a bit with the press of a button like you could previously. Combine that with a distinctly drunken sluggishness to character movement that sees them stumble a few steps too many in one direction after you’ve changed to another, and Until Dawn is now slower and clumsier to control than it used to be, which is not exactly ideal when you’re trying to herd a group of hapless teenagers towards surviving the many horrors of the night.
Teenage Future Injure Totems
The sloppier movement also makes it more of a chore to scour your surroundings for totems. Collecting these scattered Native American artifacts once again gives you brief glimpses at potential character fates, which provide some foresight into your decision-making, only this time their placements have been reshuffled – presumably to make finding them more of a challenge for returning players. That’s all well and good, but I wish that actually triggering the premonitions hadn’t been turned into such a fiddly process.
In the original Until Dawn you found a totem, flipped it over to see a character’s potential death, then moved on. Now you have to pick the totem up, then slowly shift it up and down and swivel it left and right before a tiny glimmer of light appears somewhere on its surface and the vision is finally revealed. It just feels annoyingly unwieldy, like trying to retrieve a pick from an acoustic guitar after you’ve accidentally dropped it into the soundhole, and really only serves to needlessly drag out what was previously a fairly immediate and straightforward process.
This token totem twist is pretty much the only new gameplay mechanic of note. Aside from a slightly lengthened prologue and a new post-credits scene that hints at the possibility of a sequel, Until Dawn otherwise features all the same choices, quick-time events, and potential character fates that it did previously, and the crowd-friendly, pass-the-controller co-op gameplay introduced in later Supermassive Games adventures sadly hasn’t been retrofitted in here. It is slightly more tailorable to personal preferences, though, so if you find that your hands are too shaky for the ‘Don’t Move’ sequences that instruct you to keep the controller as still as possible, you can just go ahead and disable them from the pause menu, for example.
Overall, however, this Until Dawn remake remains a pretty hard sell given that right next to its listing on the PlayStation Store is the PlayStation 4 version, which still looks sharp and runs at a smooth 60fps on the PlayStation 5 at only a fraction of the cost. The new Until Dawn costs over four times as much as the original (at least, here in Australia), and there’s no upgrade path for existing owners of the PS4 version like there has been previously with other first-party Sony games like the PS5 ports of Horizon Zero Dawn and The Last of Us Part II. To be fair, those were technically remasters rather than remakes (The Last of Us Part I is a remake that also had no upgrade path from the PS3 or PS4 remastered versions), but I’d argue that the improvements to Until Dawn are so superficial that it feels much closer to a remaster than a remake anyway.
Tristan’s Ranking of the 10 Best Supermassive Games
I think Junji Ito might be cursed. Or at least, maybe his work is, because when it comes to animated adaptations of any of his manga, they just never seem to come out right. 2018 saw the release of the Junji Ito Collection, which was made up of a range of his stories, more anthological in nature, and it just didn’t have the sauce, that feeling of being unable to sleep because of one page that haunts your mind’s eye. So of course, when Uzumaki was announced to be in the works as an anime, hopes for a good adaptation were high considering it’s easily one of his most famous pieces.
Those hopes were well met with the first episode, a little over a week ago now, with its unsettling 3D look that you can’t really tell is actually 2D and rotoscoped or CG. It was a bit fast paced, sure, but I’ll take that if it means the following three episodes looked and felt as good as this one. And then, over the weekend… the second episode aired. I won’t beat around the bush: it was bad.
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Where the first episode’s rapid pace was somewhat forgivable, here it felt even more crammed, except that wasn’t even the worst of it. No, the biggest issue comes from the fact that it really didn’t look very good. Characters that barely move and when they do it’s stiffer than a 100-year-old tree, cuts that feel nonsensical, and that 3D quality just simply disappeared. It’s a mess that can probably be attributed to the continued lack of care from higher ups towards the industry’s animators, though the specifics of the situation likely won’t be revealed (and I imagine that five year development time since it was announced for literally four episodes isn’t a good sign either).
The second episode was so bad that I’m honestly considering not bothering with the last two, why spend my time on something like that when the original manga is there to be enjoyed. That’s just it though, isn’t it? Why even go through the process of adapting something at all? This isn’t to say Ito’s works are unadaptable, I reckon if you let the first episode breath a bit more, split it into maybe two episodes, you could have something really special. I’m just not sure if we really need to adapt everything under the sun.
Uzumaki E2 still has some great looking scenes, but the consistency had really declined for some reason
They’re also cramming way more chapters now. E1 covered mainly 2 chapters with some extra, E2 has 5 different chapters happening simultaneously. Makes it feel very messy pic.twitter.com/6EQmV08UTs
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For a lot of people, the anime is the Final Thing, the Complete Edition of a given work because how could a lowly manga be something that can be picked up, read, enjoyed, and put down without the presence of moving pictures, voice acting, and music? I don’t really vibe with this stance – yes, I do love to see the ways a particular director might choose to adapt a manga, I just also think sometimes a comic can be a comic and that’s OK.
Ito’s work is obviously highly revered by many across the world, but it can feel like anime is this validating thing that makes a work legitimate, something he really doesn’t need, especially when the end result is Uzumaki’s second episode. Manga is just sometimes good as it is, particularly Ito whose work is all about the page turn, an effect that’s just really hard to capture in motion (no, a cut just isn’t the same, it’s the physical act you force yourself to do turning that page when you know something awful is coming that really sells his work).
Maybe one day there will be a take on Ito’s work that knocks it out of the park, but, there’s also just so much of his manga to read that I think I just don’t care if it does or not.
The PlayStation 4 and Xbox are nearly 11 years old, but they are still surprisingly popular and used daily by a lot of people. That probably explains why Goat Simulator 3, released back in 2022 as a current-gen-only game, is now getting ported to the older consoles later this month. And this isn’t the first time that’s happened this year.
The Top 10 Most-Played Games On Steam Deck: November 2023 Edition
Released on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in November 2022, Goat Simulator 3is the sequel to the original Goat Simulator. (No, there isn’t a Goat Simulator 2.) The sequel expanded on the original 2014 game’s open-world antics and was well-received by fans of the first game. But perhaps you have yet to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S and still want to play this wacky goat-filled sequel? Well, good news: Goat Simulator 3 will be available on PS4 and Xbox One on October 24.
On October 8, Coffee Stain announced that Goat Simulator 3 was making the leap backward to PS4 and Xbox One. (In August of this year Goat Sim 3 was ported to Switch.) This upcoming version of the game will include all the free content updates that Goat Sim 3 has received since 2022. Goat Sim 3‘s Multiverse of Nonsense DLC will also be available to buy separately on last gen.
If you already own the game on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, you’ll be able to play it on the old consoles without having to buy it again thanks to cross-buy support. And the Xbox ports will support cross-saves across generations, too. It’s a nice gesture, though I’m not sure how many people who own Goat Sim 3 on PS5 will be loading it up on PS4 anytime soon.
This situation reminds me of what we saw with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. That game launched on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC and skipped last-gen machines. But then in August 2023, EA confirmed it was porting the blockbuster game from Respawn to PS4 and Xbox One. Those ports arrived in September of this year and look pretty good. But it does feel like the last generation of consoles are lingering around more than usual.
Taboo University is a thrilling and provocative adult visual novel that serves as a loose prequel to the legendary Fetish Locator trilogy. In this game, every choice you make shapes the story, and it’s up to you to decide how to play it—whether you rely on your wit, charm, or other skills. You kick off your adventure at the prestigious ViNovella University, where you’re undercover as a freshman, diving headfirst into the mysterious disappearance of three girls. Your mission? Find them and figure out what really went down. As you explore the buzzing campus of ViNovella, you’ll meet a whole cast of intriguing characters. From mysterious professors and alluring MILFs to seductive students—each with their own backstory and motives that you’ll need to uncover. Worm Nest Plague
The Cult – Mysticism: If you’re drawn to the world of mysticism and the supernatural, The Cult faction will immerse you in the atmosphere of occult rituals and ancient secrets. Joining this mysterious brotherhood, you won’t just be a spectator—you’ll be an active participant in rituals filled with the unknown and forbidden. Picture this: ancient rituals around a fire, surrounded by entranced women, where the outcome of your investigation is tied not just to your actions but to the far-reaching influence of the faction that extends beyond the college walls.
Features and System Requirements:
Shape Your Destiny: Every decision impacts your journey and relationships.
Immersive Storyline: Unravel the disappearance of three girls at ViNovella University.
Diverse Cast: Interact with intriguing professors, alluring MILFs, and seductive students.
Multiple Factions: Join The Cult, The Syndicate, or Winners Club for unique experiences.
High Replayability: Explore different paths and unlock multiple endings.
Screenshots
System Requirements
1 :: Operating System :: Windows XP/7/8/8./10.
OS *: Windows 7 or higher
Processor: 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Graphics: OpenGL 2.0 or DirectX 9.0c compatible
Storage: 8 GB available space
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam
Installation Guide
Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game 2 :: Extract Game 3 :: Launch The Game 4 :: Have Fun 🙂
Maple Forest is the newest addition to the trend of games that let you play as a heroic fox, and while it’s not released yet it’s had a very positive reception already. After being shared to Kickstarter on September 30, Maple Forest reached its funding goal of $36,000 in seven hours and has continued to raise an additional $26,000 in the meantime. I can see why: The game looks utterly adorable and everyone loves a fox protagonist after the success of Tunic. Plus, with a plushie of the cutesy protagonist up for grabs, no one in their right mind would miss out on that opportunity.
The action RPG drops you on an island, Maple Island to be specific, that has begun to sink for unknown reasons. As you can probably tell, it’s your responsibility to uncover why. Why as a fox we don’t know, but I imagine it’s one of several quirks Maple Forest is planning on offering us. The elder of the island shares that the spirit atop the mountain is the only one who can help, but you’ll need to navigate the treacherous trek through a shrine that has been sealed for years. It’s the perfect formula for an action RPG, albeit a bit basic in terms of storyline.
But what makes Maple Forest impressive, especially in an already-oversaturated market of action RPGs, is the fact it has been entirely created by a single person. As shared on the Kickstarter page, the team consists of a single developer, James Bergeron, who has created every aspect, including the music, from nothing. In the Kickstarter description, Bergeron states that this means “every single pixel, note, and bit of Maple Forest is 100% me” which is a prime display of the amount of passion and effort that has gone into creating the game.
Even though the project was entirely funded in seven hours, numerous stretch goals are still available to reach. These directly impact the content of the game, such as upgrades to the Fox’s house and unlocking the old hero’s bestiary. One of the most significant stretch goals is the ability to set sail from the mainland of Maple Forest and travel to the surrounding islands where the adventure continues, but there’s a hefty $75,000 paywall before we get there. Given how much work this stretch goal is bound to result in, I can’t blame the price tag. However, if Maple Forest keeps gaining more backers at the speed it’s currently going at, the sky will be the limit in no time.
The only downside is that Maple Forest doesn’t have a release date yet, and we’ve only been given a window of Summer 2025. I want to jump into the paws of ‘The Fox’ and check the game out as much as the next person, but it seems that there will be quite a wait before we can do so. With that being said, Bergeron also confirmed on Kickstarter that the main engine of the game is complete, alongside a huge portion of the artwork, so hopefully, its release is toward the start of summer rather than the end.
Backers of the project can expect quarterly updates on development, alongside beta demos in the future. So if you’re particularly curious about the world of Maple Forest this is probably your best bet in getting to exploring little fragments as they come together before they unravel a single adventure. The Kickstarter will close on October 29, so there’s plenty of time left to invest in what looks like a very sweet little adventure.
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Kurast Undercity is a time-attack-style dungeon that’s exclusive to Diablo 4’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred. Here, you’ll dive under Kurast, the capital city of Nahantu, to blast through the dungeon as fast as possible, earning back time for killing monsters and increasing your reward threshold by earning attunement.
In this Diablo 4 guide, we’ll teach you how to unlock the Kurast Undercity activity, how to upgrade your loot rewards, and how to stop yourself from running out of time.
How to unlock Kurast Undercity in Diablo 4
Kurast Undercity takes place… under the city of Kurast, as you might imagine. To unlock this activity, you first need to progress the Vessel of Hatred campaign until you reach Kurast and do some work for the council there. This should be around the time you face the first major boss.
A member of the council will then teach you how to do the basic version of the Kurast Undercity. (In the endgame, you’re able to apply modifiers, which we won’t get into here.) As you progress the questline, you’ll unlock new districts to adventure through.
How to get more time in Kurast Undercity
Image: Blizzard Entertainment via Polygon
Kurast Undercity is a time-attack dungeon, and you only start with 100 seconds by default. But in order to complete the dungeon and earn your rewards, you’ll need to battle through multiple dungeon floors to find the boss. Unless you are overleveled for the difficulty you’re on, this process will almost certainly take you over 100 seconds, meaning the dungeon will kick you out and end your run before you can finish.
Scattered throughout each floor of the dungeon are Afflicted Monsters and Afflicted Structures (which usually look like big hamster wheels). These objects and enemies have an orange hourglass next to their icon on the map. Defeating Afflicted Monsters or destroying Afflicted Structures refunds you time and can even push you above that 100 second starting timer. However, these are elite monsters and high-health structures, so you’ll need to decide if the time you’ll need to spend killing them is worth the time you’ll get back.
Ideally, you can stack up multiple Afflicted Monsters at once and deal area damage to kill them all at the same time, netting you a lot of time back for not much time spent.
How to upgrade your Kurast Undercity loot chest
Image: Blizzard Entertainment via Polygon
The whole point of Kurast Undercity — like most activities in Diablo 4 — is to get powerful new loot and further improve your build. You’ll get a chest filled with loot by reaching the final floor of the dungeon in time and then killing the boss. But you can upgrade this loot by filling up your Attunement meter. You need to have at least Attunement level 1 to get any reward upgrades.
To increase your Attunement, which you can stack up to four times, you need to activate Beacons and Grand Beacons while racing through the floors. These Beacons will spawn a horde of monsters that are all linked to the Beacon itself. If you can kill every enemy attached to the Beacon, it’ll spew out a bunch of Attunement, which will steadily increase your meter. In our experience, there are more Attunement Beacons and Grand Beacons than you’ll need to cap out your Attunement meter, so you can skip some as you go and still get decent rewards.
The only thing to be aware of with Attunement is that it’s designed to be a trap, meaning the push and pull of the Kurast Undercity activity is trying to test your greed. If you’re running low on time, stopping for more Attunement could cost you the entire run, meaning you get no loot rather than getting slightly less loot. Try not to be greedy, and you can get some great rewards while grinding the Kurast Undercity.
Here’s your chance to get one of the best Micro SD cards for your Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. As part of the October Prime Day Event, Amazon is offering a 1TB TeamGroup Pro Plus Micro SDXC card for only $59.99. Besides being compatible with gaming handhelds, the Pro Plus has a faster speed rating than most Micro SDXC cards in this price range and would make an excellent card for 4K action cameras and DSLRs.
1TB TeamGroup Pro Plus Micro SDXC Card for $59.99
Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally compatible
Teamgroup Pro Plus 1TB U3 A2 V30 Micro SDXC Card
1
The Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED have 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, respectively, some of it reserved for the OS. To give you an idea of how paltry those capacities are, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom uses up 16GB and Breath of the Wild about 13.5GB. If bought digitally, those two games alone would take up all of your internal storage on the OG Switch console. If there’s any one Switch accessory that we think is absolutely required, it’s a high-capacity memory card.
The Steam Deck is equally space constrained. Although it starts out with more base storage (64GB to 512GB), Steam games can easily take up far more space than that base storage. For example, the best games to play on Steam Deck take up over 60GB each. Even if you opted for the 512GB model, you’re going to run out of space sooner than you think. For more information, check out our Steam Deck review or, for that matter, our ASUS ROG Ally review.
The TeamGroup Pro Plus card offers an extra 1TB of storage on top of your base capacity. It’s compatible with virtually any device that accepts the Micro SDXC card standard including the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and the ASUS ROG Ally for that matter. The Pro Plus is a U3 A2 V30 rated card with read speeds of up to 160MB/s and write speeds of up to 110MB/s, which means it is faster than most Micro SDXC cards at its price point. That makes it a good option for devices with hefty transfer requirements, like 4K action cameras and DSLR cameras.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
