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Category: Video Gaming

Video Gaming | ReportWire publishes the latest breaking U.S. and world news, trending topics and developing stories from around globe.

  • The next Dead by Daylight chapter will feature character designs selected by the community, and voting is already open

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    It’s been a big week for democracy in PvP games starting with the word “dead.” Thursday, Deadlock reprised its in-game voting table where players can vote on which of the next six heroes will release first. Then on Friday, Dead by Daylight opened up a voting booth of its own where players can select the appearance for the next killer and survivor.

    You can cast your vote on the game’s website, where a spooky book seemingly bound in flesh contains various art concepts. There are four possible choices for the survivor, each of which has either heterochromia or a single blind eye. The figures are all scarred and grizzled to varying degrees, and they come with flavorful taglines if you expand the image: “Oft underestimated, your particular insights gave you an advantage in the wasteland,” one reads.

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  • New Super Mario Galaxy Movie Trailer Reveals Yoshi

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    For some reason, Nintendo decided to hold a “Direct” presentation on a Sunday about the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie. In it, we get a new trailer showcasing a few new Mario characters joining the cast in the sequel, though we didn’t get any confirmation on whether big celebrity actors are voicing them like they are rest of the crew. Yoshi and Birdo will both make their cinematic debut in the movie when it premieres on April 1.

    The trailer opens with Mario and Luigi investigating a pipe that apparently has some kind of monster trapped inside. The two activate their Fire Flowers and get ready for a fight, only to find that there’s no monster in there, just a scared little dino guy. Aww. Thus begins the beautiful onscreen friendship between the Brooklyn plumbers and a prehistoric sidekick that eats baddies and poops them out into eggs.  Though this is the first official reveal of the character, we saw what he would look like back in November after a cookie dough box revealed his movie look early.

    We also see Birdo and Peach fighting in a brief action montage, but it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss it shot, so there’s not much to glean from it just yet. Nevertheless, the cast of characters for the second Mario movie is growing pretty substantially, with Bowser Jr. and Rosalina also joining, as revealed back in the first trailer last year. We even see a glimpse of Baby Mario and Baby Luigi in this latest tease, but it’s unclear if those will be distinct characters or just some kind of transformation state that the brothers go through during their next adventure.

    At the end of the direct, Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri said that all animation on the film is complete, and it has officially entered post production, focusing on sound design and finishing up the score. Does that mean it’s too late for them to fix whatever the hell is going on with those gross, bulging eyes on Bowser Jr.? Probably. Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn’t out for another couple of months though, so who knows what other surprises Nintendo still has waiting in the wings.

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    Kenneth Shepard

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  • The Sunday Papers

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    Sundays are for waking up in a cold sweat at 6AM. It never ends. The monkey of life will never be off your back. You’re trapped. You try to get up, and your legs don’t work. You fall down, but don’t feel anything. What hell is this, you wonder in horror.

    Somwhere above you, something moves. You lie frozen in place as it creeps closer, and closer, and closer. Then BOOM, it’s right on top of you. It’s your mum, but her face is obscured by Dagoth Ur’s mask from Morrowind. She takes one look at you and gasps. “Oh no,” she screams. “You’ve caught the disease!” Tears in her eyes, she brings you a mirror. Adrian Edmondson stares out of it, winking cheekily. “It’s twenty-twenty-smegging-six,” your mum howls. “Why hasn’t he gone away yet!”

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  • Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary Event: Everything Announced – IGN

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    2025 marks 40 years since Akira Toriyama’s ground-breaking Dragon Ball manga first hit shelves in Japan. The Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri was held in Japan over the weekend to celebrate the global manga, anime and video game phenomenon. Taking up the huge Makuhari Messe event space near Tokyo, the event featured everything from exclusive merch, live game contests, and specially-curated exhibits of original artwork. The main stage was packed with exciting announcements about where the series is headed after the death of series creator Akira Toriyama, including two new anime TV series, a new game and a “massive” new DLC for Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero.

    Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol Anime

    The event kicked off with a brief talk between Son Goku’s Japanese VA Masako Nozawa and Dragon Ball series executive producer Akio Iyoku, followed by the premiere of a special video marking the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball. Featuring music specially composed by Hans Zimmer, the film celebrates the evolution of Dragon Ball over the years, from Toriyama’s original manga drawings through to its various anime adaptations. The end of the video revealed a brand new anime series, Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, prompting excited clapping from the audience.

    Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol will adapt the Moro or Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc (Chapters 42 to 67) of the Dragon Ball Super manga. It follows on from the Universe Survival Arc of the Dragon Ball Super anime, which aired between 2015 to 2018. Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is currently in production, and fans will have to wait until 2027 to see Son Goku and Vegeta battle it out against Moro.

    A key visual for the new Dragon Ball Super anime was revealed.

    Age 1000 Game Project

    Next, Iyoku was joined on stage by Dragon Ball Games producer Masayuki Hirano, who revealed a flashy trailer for a brand new game project, Age 1000. However, the game’s official title will be announced later.

    The Age 1000 project is good news for fans who thought they would never see any new creations from Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama after his death in 2024. Apparently, Bandai Namco started developing Age 1000 around seven years ago, and Toriyama himself put a lot of work into the game’s worldbuilding and brand new characters. The trailer shows a mysterious grey-haired young man decked out in Capsule Corp gear, with Hirano revealing that “I asked Toriyama sensei to create this character especially for the game.” Although the new character seems like a new Super Saiyan, Hirano was tight-lipped about who he is. However, fans will have to wait for Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 (to be held on April 18-19 in LA) for further details.

    The project’s name calls to mind Dragon Ball Online, which took place in the age 1000- so it seems the new game will also be exploring this time period. “We have spent a long time carefully crafting this project.” Iyoku explained. “I think this game will allow us to experience a brand new part of the Dragon Ball world.” Age 1000 is slated for a 2027 release.

    Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO to get “massive” new DLC

    Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero producer Jun Furutani revealed that the fighting game will be getting a “massive” new DLC this summer. The trailer for the DLC teased even more playable characters (including Super Android 17 and Demon King Piccolo), new costumes, new super attacks for Vegeta and Goku, as well as new stages and modes.

    The upcoming DLC will also have its own theme song, Zero, sung by series veteran Hironobu Kageyama- who is known for his many Dragon Ball Z theme songs. Kageyama performed the new song, saying he was honored to contribute to Dragon Ball again after 18 years. With Zero, he aimed to create a cheerful and powerful song that will energize anyone who hears it.

    For those who can’t wait, producer Furutani also reminded PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Steam players that Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is getting a free DLC on January 26, the Mission 100 single player mode (which longtime fans will remember from Dragon Ball Budokai Tenakichi 3). He announced that Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions of the game will be getting the DLC at a later date: “please bear with us a little longer.”

    Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Anime

    After lunch, Dragon Ball series executive producer Akio Iyoku and Son Goku VA Masako Nozawa returned to the stage alongside VA Koichi Yamadera for another new anime series announcement. Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, a remake of Dragon Ball Super’s first arc, is coming in Fall 2026.

    Iyoku describes Dragon Ball Super: Beerus as an “enhanced version of the story.” The upcoming anime series is designed to be “more faithful to the original manga” created by Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball Super: Beerus will feature enhanced visuals, redrawn and newly added cuts, narrative reworks, and promises to deliver “even more immersive battle scenes” than the original Dragon Ball Super anime.

    Dragon Ball Super: Beerus also aims to show Beerus in a more serious light than the mischievous villain people are used to. “Beerus is a powerful enemy and a powerful character, so I wanted to make sure to bring that out this time.” Iyoku explained. Beerus’s voice actor Yamadera added, “You think he (Beerus) is just a weird uncle talking about food (…) but he’s actually the God of Destruction!”

    Dragon Ball Super: Beerus will be airing on Japan’s Fuji TV in Fall 2026, with details about international distribution expected to be announced soon. For now, check out the trailer, below.

    Despite Akira Toriyama’s passing, Dragon Ball fans have plenty to look forward to over the next two years. Which announcement are you most hyped about?

    Image credit: Toei Animation.

    Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.

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    Wesley Yin-Poole

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  • Finally, a comprehensive overhaul for third-person movement animations in Fallout: New Vegas

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    Enhanced Animations – 3rd Person Movement – YouTube


    Watch On

    When people call the modern Fallout games “first-person RPGs” a part of me dies. A significant chunk of the appeal of them, just like The Elder Scrolls, is the option to flick back and forth between first-person and third-person at the press of a button. When I’m in a cramped tunnel full of ghouls with an air-cooled automatic rifle and a depleting supply of .308 rounds, I want to be in claustrophobic first-person. When I’m jogging across the countryside in a duster, or swinging a golf club at Fiends coming from every direction, I want to be in open third-person.

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  • Mörk Borg Heresy Supreme is as unkind as it is darkly enchanting

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    Sometimes, the world you live in sucks. It is a place filled with despair, and misery, and blood, guts, and death. This is much the case with the world of Mörk Borg, an apocalyptic fantasy TTRPG where you have no sense of hope, only dread, that is now also a video game. This video game, Mörk Borg Heresy Supreme, is more of an action RPG, though its tabletop routes are still to be found, and it is as mean as it is darkly enchanting.

    Stylistically it very much takes after its original book form, using only black, white, yellow and red for its colour scheme (you can guess what the red is used for). In the demo version of the game there is only one class to choose from, whose stats and starting weapon are randomly generated. Though, you can just re-roll infinitely until you get something you’ve happy with, an ability I hope is limited in the full release.

    Watch on YouTube

    To start, you are tasked with finding a troll finger. You set out into the world, this miserable little world, on a 2D plane, your only directional options being left or right. When you finally meet enemies, you can slash at them with your weapon, be it a femur, a knife, or a scimitar you pick up after slicing a skeleton in half. There’s a dodging mechanic, you both consume items for health or lob them at your opponents for damage, this starting class can also kick or block with a shield. It is laborious in a way that teeters on the edge of being insufferable, though I expect it’ll fall right off for some.

    Everything is slow, some of it perhaps a bit too much so, yet there’s a method to the madness. You don’t have much health, so timing a block or a dodge and a slash at just the right time is important. Dark Souls comparisons are all but guaranteed to be made in future reviews. I died quite quickly, of course, this game is tough and cares not for your happiness. Dying almost seems like it’s the point, especially with its lightly procedurally generated world.

    The RPGness of it all comes in the occasional dice roll, a digital D20 randomly deciding your fate, your character’s attributes assisting or impeding said rolls. Levelling up comes at set points apparently, with some skills improving, others worsening. It is a player hostile game, one that begs for you to challenge it, and that’ll be a boon for many, and a curse for many more.

    It’s too early for me to say whether I like the thing or not, but I can say I’ll be curious to give it another look whenever it does come out. In the meantime, you can check out the demo, or just wishlist it, on Steam right here.

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    Oisin Kuhnke

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  • This Week: Xbox Developer Direct + MASSIVE Ubisoft Shake Up | Kurt & Lucy Gotcha Covered

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    This week Kurt and Lucy gotcha covered on the big reveals from the Xbox Developer Direct, Ubisoft’s many cancelations and delays, rumors of a Switch 2 price increase, and more. Email your letters to gotchacovered@gamespot.com Check out the audio version: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4S5mfmLES0ubhj5xcDZJni RSS Feed: https://www.spreaker.com/show/6752166/episodes/feed Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 00:46 – Xbox Developer Direct 12:43 – Ubisoft’s Major Company Reset 21:27 – Marathon Get’s A Release Da

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  • The Weird, Wonderful Creatures of Magic: The Gathering’s New Lorwyn Eclipsed Set – IGN

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    Magic: The Gathering’s Lorwyn Eclipsed set is here, with plenty of pricey cards for you to keep an eye out for. Still, if you’re looking to build a typal deck, or just want to find out a little more about the creature types in Lorwyn Eclipse, then this is the page for you.

    Below are some of our favorite cards from the set, from Goblins to Elementals, to Giants, Treefolk, and much more. Planning to build a deck around any of these? Let us know in the comments!

    Lorwyn Eclipsed Bestiary: All Creature Types Explained

    Kithkin

    Champion of the Clachan

    In a lengthy blog post, Wizards said it wanted to stay true to the original Lorwyn creature types, and pushed to ensure the Limited environment brings creatures together with a playstyle in mind.

    Kithkin lean into the green-white colors and a ‘go wide’ strategy, and while they might seem relatively adorable, Champion of the Clachan shows they’re able to tame bigger beasts, too. It’s a 4/5 with Flash, and buffs your other Kithkin with +1/+1.

    Merfolk

    Sygg, Wanderbrine Shield/Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom

    Sygg, Wanderbrine Shield/Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom

    Merfolk excel in white-blue and lean into blue’s general mischief and white for buffing your other creatures into a tangled web of counters.

    Our favorite is Sygg, Wanderbrine Shield. He’s a 2/2 that can’t be blocked, but transforms into Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom. Doing so protects one of your cards, and when he transforms, he can turn damage into card advantage.

    Elves

    Selfless Safewright

    Selfless Safewright

    As is often the case, Elves exist in Green primarily, but don’t discount black, either, with handy mill and graveyard payoffs like Dawnhand Eulogist and Gloom Ripper.

    We’re a big fan of Selfless Safewright. It’s a 4/2, five-cost Elf Warrior creature with Flash and Convoke, and turns creatures of a chosen type hexproof and indestructible until the end of the turn.

    Goblins

    Hexing Squelcher

    Hexing Squelcher

    Goblins and Red go together like a dream, and Hexing Squelcher takes our pick. It’s an uncounterable 2/2 creature for two mana that has Ward (2 life) and stops your other spells from being countered while also giving them Ward (2 life).

    Elsewhere, Auntie Ool is already becoming pretty popular since they appeared in the Blight Curse precon deck.

    Elementals

    Moonshadow

    Moonshadow

    Elementals take up all five colors, just like their precon, and there are big-hitters like Avenger of Zendikar and Muldrotha the Gravetide to be found in there.

    As for our pick, I’ve gone for Moonshadow. It’s a 7/7 card that only costs one mana, but you don’t unlock its full potential until cards hit the graveyard and you get rid of its -1/-1 counters.

    Faeries

    Bitterbloom Bearer

    Bitterbloom Bearer

    Just as mischievous as they were in Wilds of Eldraine, Faeries exist across primarily blue and black.

    For our favorite, I’ve picked Bitterbloom Bearer. It’s a low-cost flying card with flash, but it turns your life into small Faerie creature tokens.

    Giants

    Burdened Stoneback

    Burdened Stoneback

    There aren’t a ton of cards in the Giant category, but cards like Grave Titan are reprinted.

    Burdened Stoneback, not unlike Moonshadow, enters with counters present. These ones can be removed, however, with a mana ability that can turn other creatures indestructible.

    Treefolk

    Ferrafor, Young Yew

    Ferrafor, Young Yew

    Again, not a huge number of treefolk here, but still some great options like Blighted Blackthorn and Sinister Gnarlbark.

    Still, it’s Ferrafor, Young Yew who takes our top spot for Treefolk. It’s a 4/7 Treefolk Druid that doubles counters with its tapped ability, and creates a bunch of Saproling creature tokens when it enters, too.

    Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife’s dismay.

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    Lloyd Coombes

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  • Samsung Crashes the Galaxy Watch 7 to a Record Low to Clear Out Old Smartwatch Stock – Kotaku

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    Still looking for a new smartwatch for new year 2026? There are tons to choose from, of course, but we’ve found one that you’ll love using without having to spend an arm and a leg. From fitness tracking to the ability to view your messages while keeping your phone in your pocket, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 brings both form and function together to fit your needs throughout the day.

    It’s up for grabs for a great price right now, in fact. Get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 now at Amazon.com for $169.99 (down from $249.99), a savings of $80 and approximately 32% off the retail price.

    See at Amazon

    A capable smartwatch perfect for Android users

    This is a great all-round smartwatch, but where it truly excels is at fitness tracking. The watch tracks your daily activity (steps taken), your heart rate and accurately monitors your workouts to give you insight into your level of physical activity. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 7 includes sleep tracking which shows your sleep patterns and allows you to see how well you’re resting each night. If you prefer to follow guided workouts or would like reminders to stand/move throughout the day, there are tools built-in to the Galaxy Watch 7 that motivate you to remain active without being overly aggressive or annoying.

    Battery life on the Galaxy Watch 7 is substantial for a smartwatch, so you have enough juice to last through the majority of your day and into the evening before needing to recharge. With the added benefit of wireless charging, when you need to top-up your battery life, you can simply place your watch on a compatible surface and the watch will automatically begin charging with no cables to connect or complicated adapters to worry about.

    In addition to the health and fitness features of the Galaxy Watch 7, you’ll also be able to use the watch’s app to help you with managing your daily tasks. You can use the watch to view your calendar, respond to quick messages, and even use voice commands when your hands are occupied.

    Another feature you may enjoy about the Galaxy Watch 7 is the ability to customize your watch face and bands to suit your individual preferences or moods. Whether you’re headed to the gym, going out for the evening, etc., you can adjust the appearance of your watch to match your style and make it more enjoyable to wear.

    Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a strong contender for anyone looking to get more from their wearable device. Considering its user-friendly interface, its dependable health tracking and its array of everyday smart features, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a solid option to consider. And if you have an Android phone, it’s an even better choice for the money.

    See at Amazon

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    Brittany Vincent

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  • Out of Action Free Download – WorldofPCGames

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    Out of Action Direct Download:

    Out of Action is a PVP FPS that blends fluid, skill-based movement with intense, cinematic combat, deep progression, a replayable offline mode and a strong focus on player mastery. The game takes place in a brutal cyberpunk setting inspired by dark, dystopian anime of the 90s. I first became aware of Out of Action at the start of 2024 via a video from the YouTuber TactiGamer covering the Offline PvE demo of the game. It was this video which led me to play one of the greatest games I have ever experienced. The common drug addict partakes in their poison of choice because they are ignorant to the existence of Out of Action. Be it Cocaine, Meth, Heroin, PCP, Fentanyl, League of Legends, or whatever else they might do, they all are nothing compared to the high octane battleground that is Out of Action. Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot

    While the common CoDtard will whine and scream about the lack of a sprint mechanic, the majority of people will see how much cooler it is to roll/slide into a room, dodging bullets, and kill your enemies in bullet time. The movement in this game reminds me of Max Payne except so much more finely tuned and optimized. While it may seem odd at first, I can assure you the movement in this game is unique and fun. Long story short, shooting feels good. Short story long, the shooting activates some primal part of my brain that floods my neurons with dopamine upon the deletion of my enemy’s cranium with fast moving lead. This is effect is even more pronounced when using melee as it causes me to cackle like a rabid hyena when I shove a sword through my enemy’s ass, turning him into a fine red mist.

    Features and System Requirements:

    • Every move matters. Plan carefully, adapt fast, and survive intense combat encounters where mistakes are costly.
    • Experience weighty, grounded action with responsive controls and impactful animations that keep fights tense and unpredictable.
    • Upgrade abilities, gear, or loadouts to suit your playstyle and prepare for increasingly dangerous scenarios.

    Screenshots

    System Requirements

    Recommended
    OS: 64-bit Windows 10
    Processor: Intel i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
    Memory: 16 GB RAM
    Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1660 or AMD RX 5600 XT
    DirectX: Version 11
    Network: Broadband Internet connection
    Storage: 5 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 🙂

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    Skring

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  • Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot Free Download (v2.0.0) –

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    Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot Direct Download:

    Build and command your fully customizable army of Dwarves in this mix of RPGs, roguelikes and auto battlers! Prepare formations, assign roles, and lead your group through dangerous encounters like a raid leader planning the next pull. Decide the fate of up to 10 individual Beardlings as they chase Glory, risk Death, and fight for humongous amounts of Loot! Your run starts small, with only two poorly equipped Dwarves and limited options. Battle by battle, you expand your group, upgrade gear, and refine your setup – slowly turning a fragile party into a full-fledged legion ready to take on increasingly dangerous encounters! Every Dwarf can be shaped into a distinct party-member through gear and equipment. Build sturdy frontline tanks to hold the line, deadly damage dealers to tear through enemies, or fragile but powerful mages that need protection.

    Only a well-balanced group will survive once the fight begins. Battles play out automatically, so the real challenge happens before the fight begins. Choose the right formation and position for your Dwarves as you are preparing for specific enemy threats, often deciding the outcome long before the first blow is struck. After each battle, you choose how to proceed. Gain experience, invest gold into better equipment, or recruit new Dwarves to strengthen your group. Every choice pushes your run in a different direction, and not every path leads to survival. Unlock permanent upgrades with Gems and strengthen your company for future runs with completely different playstyles and builds.

    Features and System Requirements:

    • Experiment with powerful synergies using weapons, relics, traits, and upgrades to create wildly different dwarf builds every run.
    • Unlock new dwarves, items, and bonuses over time, allowing you to grow stronger even after a crushing defeat.
    • Designed for short but intense sessions that make it easy to jump in—and hard to stop playing.

    Screenshots

    System Requirements

    Minimum
    OS: Windows 10
    Processor: Intel i3-2100 / AMD A8-5600k
    Memory: 4 GB RAM
    Storage: 500 MB 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 🙂

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    Skring

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  • Blightstone Free Download (v0.8.00.1510) – WorldofPCGames

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    Blightstone Direct Download:

    Here in the world of the Blightstone you’ll find deep strategy, blended seamlessly with roguelike progression. Your mission? To protect the Earthglass Crystal, and deliver it to the Infernal Rift. Only by doing this will you be able to destroy the demon overlord Korghul, and shatter the Blightstone itself. Die, die, and die again. Cunning and keen wit (though looking at our options even a solitary spark of wit will have to suffice) are key to saving this realm. Use the environment to your advantage with objects, enemies and even the weather itself providing strategic opportunities and challenges. Each failure provides invaluable opportunity to learn and collect new skills to help your next adventure. Strategos

    Enjoy free movement, without grid-based systems, allowing you to move into strategic cover. Just remember, enemies aren’t restricted by grids either, and there’s always an angle. The Environment Is Yours to Command: Hide in long grass or burn it to stop enemies using it for cover. Gather enemies in water to amplify electric attacks. Use every advantage you can get to shatter the Blightstone. Harness the Weather to Your Advantage: Dynamic weather will have an impact on Adventurer’s strategies. Dense fog obscures the battlefield, rain will amplify electric attacks and strong winds will affect accuracy. It can bring as many benefits as it does drawbacks, as long as you pay attention.

    Features and System Requirements:

    • Explore a grim land twisted by the Blight, filled with decaying ruins, cursed creatures, and haunting environments.
    • Face relentless enemies that demand precise timing, smart positioning, and mastery of your abilities.
    • Customize your playstyle through skills, upgrades, and equipment that meaningfully impact combat and survival.

    Screenshots

    System Requirements

    Recommended
    OS: Windows 10
    Processor: i7 6700k
    Storage: 6 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 🙂

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    Skring

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  • It’s hard to fault Highguard for giving the internet the silent treatment—wouldn’t you?

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    Few actually expected last year’s Game Awards to close with anything as earth-shattering as Half-Life 3, but if that kind of huge announcement were going to happen during the show, that’s when it would. Instead, Geoff Keighley cued up a trailer for an unknown hero shooter called Highguard. It didn’t go great.

    The social media reaction was instantly hostile. Highguard was received as a ‘one more thing’ trespasser that had claimed an unearned seat of honor, although its developer did not pay for the slot as many assumed. The reveal has become a case study in how not to announce a game, but what really got people worked up is what Highguard’s developer did next: nothing.

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    tyler@pcgamer.com (Tyler Wilde)

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  • Check Out These Slick Chess Sets Based On Popular Video Games, Comics, And Movies

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    Chess, one of the best tabletop games, has experienced a surge in popularity over the last couple of years. Fans of the game don’t have to settle for a classically inspired chessboard either, as you can pick up several themed sets. The Noble Collection has made a name for itself in this space by producing several officially licensed chess sets, including its latest release, The Batman Chess Set: The Dark Knight vs The Joker.

    This chessboard and pieces are designed to capture the spirit of the Caped Crusader and his greatest nemesis, but if you aren’t a comic book fan, you can choose other chess sets instead. From The Lord of the Rings to Minecraft, Jurassic Park to Star Trek, each chess set comes with high-quality pieces and eye-catching boards. We’ve rounded them up below, so you can keep scrolling to see if anything captures your eye.

    The Batman Chess Set: The Dark Knight vs The Joker

    $40 (was $49)

    This chessboard features a black and purple checker pattern made up of alternating Batman and Joker Symbols, and for the pieces, you can pit the Dark Knight and Batgirl against the Joker and Harley Quinn. On the side of justice, you’ll find the Batmobile and the Bat-Signal taking the part of bishops and knights, while the Joker has a suitably chaotic collection of props backing him up.

    The Lord of The Rings Chess Set: Battle for Middle-Earth Chess Set

    $45 (was $49)

    Gondor calls for aid, and this chessboard shall answer! You can choose to command the armies of Middle-earth with pieces led by Galadriel, Aragorn, Frodo, and Gandalf the Grey, or you can unleash the evil forces of Sauron. The lord of Mordor is flanked by Gollum, the Nazgul, and Saruman on the chessboard. This set also includes two branded storage bags to keep everything.

    Minecraft Chess Set

    $69

    Just in case you haven’t had your fill of Minecraft, you can venture into the equally blocky world of chess with this themed set. It features a wood-like frame around a playing surface resembling grass, and it comes with 32 game pieces. Each one has a different texture, made to look and feel like marbled stone, obsidian, redstone or emerald.

    Jurassic Park Chess Set

    $45 (was $49)

    Could dinosaurs play chess? We’ll never truly know, but at least you can see just how far you’d get if you had an army of them at your disposal. The Jurassic Park chessboard looks like it came straight out of the movies, and the plastic pieces are modeld after dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Dilophosaurus, the Velociraptor, and more.

    Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set

    $44 (was $49)

    Designed to emulate the Wizarding World of Harry Potter–as seen on the big screen–this chess set includes 32 game pieces with textures and finishes that resemble the lifesize pieces featured in the first film, The Philosopher’s Stone. It also comes with two Harry Potter-themed dust bags for safe storage of the pieces.

    Minions Chess Set

    $40 (was $59)

    After conquering the big screen, the Minions from the Despicable Me movies are now looking to take over the game of kings. This cheeky chess set offers 32 oversized game pieces modeled after the minions and their iconic items, including King Bob, Agnes’ Fluffy Unicorn, and Dr. Nefario’s Fart Gun. Like several of the other chess kits on this list, you’ll also get two dust bags to safely store game pieces.

    Wicked Chess Set: Shiz vs. Emerald City

    $63 (was $65)

    Something Wicked comes this way, as the hit book series and Broadway musical is getting a chess adaptation. The Wicked chess set features a striking design, as the pieces are feature shimmering gold and gleaming emerald colors. As for the board, it’s decked out in alternating white and green marble textured squares, a gold foiled yellow brick border, and the emblem of the Wizard’s pin in each corner.

    Star Trek Tridimensional Chess Set

    $129 (was $159)

    For a really challenging game of chess, look no further than this Star Trek Tridimensional Chess Set. Based on the version of the game that was seen in the classic Star Trek TV series, the set has diecast metal pieces and seven translucent acrylic game boards on five levels.

    Even more chess sets await

    While they aren’t produced by The Noble Collection, you can find several other themed chess sets for sale. One of the more popular ones is The Legend of Zelda Collector’s Chess Set for $45, which pits Link, Zelda, and their allies against Ganondorf and his forces. The heroes of Hyrule are accompanied by supporting characters who have appeared in numerous games, including Navi, Impa, Darunia, and Link’s trusty steed Epona, and all of the pieces have a weathered, rusty finish.

    From Hyrule to the Mushroom Kingdom, the Super Mario Chess Set is another fan-favorite thanks to its adorable pieces and chessboard. This one comes with 32 custom-sculpted and hand-painted figures of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Bowser Jr., and more.

    You can round out the collection with an interactive Harry Potter chessboard designed to coach you with its high-tech features, and for the wizard on the movie, the Lexibook Harry Potter chess set offers a foldable board and magnetic chess pieces.

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  • Ubisoft Is Adrift And Some Developers Are Fed Up

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    An Ubisoft developer I chatted with back in 2022 was feeling pretty jealous. Elden Ring had just come out and was blowing people away. Despite FromSoftware’s reputation for challenging gameplay and esoteric design, the open-world RPG was breaking out into the mainstream. It was a hardcore game but it wasn’t only being enjoyed by hardcore gamers. Ubisoft had thousands of people working on open-world RPGs for years. Why couldn’t it make one that felt just as creatively bold, vibrant, and potent?

    A version of this question has been haunting the French publisher since Ghost Recon Breakpoint bombed back in 2019. It wasn’t a terrible game, just kind of a bland and boring one. It became the poster child for the bloated Ubisoft blockbuster that felt designed by committee for no one in particular. Co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot promised sweeping reforms to get to the bottom of what was going wrong with the publisher’s production processes. Over five years and several organizational “resets” later, it’s not clear the company has gotten any closer to an answer.

    The untenable situation blew up again this week with Ubisoft announcing major delays, cancelations, cost-cutting, and restructuring that will result in some big short-term operating losses and more long-term uncertainty. Ubisoft’s market cap before Breakpoint was close to €10 billion. It’s since fallen by 95 percent to just €500 million. The news was jarring, particularly to the more than 15,000 employees across the company’s global network of studios who found out the news alongside everyone else in an end-of-day message from the CEO.

    “A boss run wild”

    “The strategic and organizational changes we will make in the coming weeks and months will propel Ubisoft into its future. They will allow us to reconnect with our DNA – that of one of the largest and most storied video game companies in the world – and to regain our creative leadership as well as our competitiveness,” part of it read. It went on to explain a new, less bureaucratic structure for decision making and organizing franchises like The Division and Beyond Good & Evil while also noting that there would be more pain to come as management continues to “make difficult decisions, including stopping certain projects” and “potentially closing select studios.”

    Slipped in between the grand vision and subtle threats was the reversal of a popular hybrid work-from-home policy that would have a direct impact on everyone working at Ubisoft. Staff would be back in the office five days a week, but with the promise of a generous number of work from home days. “The intention is not to question individual performance, but to regenerate our collective performance, which is one of the key elements in creating the best games with the required speed,” Guillemot wrote.

    There was immediate confusion and frustration. One French union representing Paris Ubisoft developers called for a half-day strike. “It is out of the question to let a boss run wild and destroy our working conditions,” Solidaires Informatique wrote in a press release. “Perhaps we need to remind him that it is his employees who make the games.” Even more colorful quotes were given to French news broadcaster BFM TV. “[Guillemot] is senile like Donald Trump,” one anonymous employee told the network. “He is losing his mind, we need to get him out of the company management [board]. He is screwing up everything and f****** the company.”

    Return to office talent drain

    Employees have been venting directly on Ubisoft’s internal messaging board as well, based on screenshots shared with me. “A full return to the office will only cause a significant amount of essential talent to leave the company, and nothing is being done to prevent this,” wrote one developer. “Why is top management not taking responsibility or accountability for the many errors and mistakes in the past? Instead, only workers are suffering the consequences.” Another wrote, “Since I joined Ubisoft, I’ve seen more change in the RTO policy than the company’s improvement and success.” A third did not mince words. “This is probably the most embarrassed I have felt working somewhere,” they wrote.

    Particularly galling about the new return-to-office policy for some Paris staff was that they had only recently finished negotiating to ensure two days of work-from-home per week. “It’s only been six months since the situation was more or less ‘back to normal’ and now it’s shattered to the ground by Yves’ sole decision with zero justification, zero documents, zero internal studies proving RTO increases productivity or morale, nothing,” one developer told me.

    The specific details for the rollout of the return-to-office policy have yet to be communicated to everyone, could vary team by team, and might not go into effect for much of the year. One thing that is clear is that Ubisoft is beginning to consolidate its Paris operations under one roof: the Floresco headquarters that was completed back in 2021. “Over the coming years, Ubisoft is planning to progressively bring together our Paris-area-based teams in the same building in Saint Mandé. This initiative is designed to optimize our workspace, foster greater collaboration between teams, and make better use of existing facilities, while being implemented gradually and in close dialogue with our employees,” a spokesperson for Ubisoft confirmed in an email.

    Definition of insanity

    There’s concern that these shifts could make it harder for Ubisoft to recruit the talent it needs to improve, or even worse, actively drive away more of the company’s existing veterans. But some employees have also shared broader disappointment with Ubisoft’s recent creative drift. “We need to stop with the trend-chasing, the trying to muscle our way into saturated markets, the sanitizing the edge off of our projects, and most of all the deciding which games get made behind closed doors,” one employee wrote this week on the company’s internal message board. They pointed to the launch of money pits like Skull & Bones and Ubisoft’s many failed attempts at live-service battle royales and extraction shooters.

    In many ways, this week felt like a repeat of two years ago. The company had just canceled several games and delayed a bunch of others. It promised organizational shifts and a doubling-down on the company’s biggest franchises. The stakes were similarly high and the solutions far from clear. “The ball is in your court,” Guillemot wrote to employees at the time. Developers were furious then, too. The CEO later apologized for how the remark was phrased, but two years later some people at Ubisoft feel like nothing’s changed.

    One current employee posted the following comment internally this week. “To quote one of the greatest villains in a video game: ‘Did I ever tell you what the definition of insanity is? Insanity is doing the exact same f****** thing over and over again, expecting shit to change. That is crazy.’ – Vaas Montenegro.”

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  • Score A Limited-Time Deal On This Sonic the Hedgehog Arcade Machine

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    A traditional arcade cabinet can be quite expensive, but for something cute and compact, you’ll want to check out this Sonic the Hedgehog Mighty Player from My Arcade. The little cabinet is on sale at Amazon for a limited time, and you can pick one up for just $85.89 (was $120).

    My Arcade also sells several more mini-arcade devices, like the Pac-Man Mighty Player for $120. This has a very similar construction to the Sonic Mighty player, but with Pac-Man branding and a preloaded collection of games starring the iconic pellet-chomper: Pac-Man Classic, Pac-Man Speed-Up, Pac-Man Plus, Super Pac-Man, and Pac & Pal. For something even smaller, there are the Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga Joystick Players for $50-$60, and Micro Players based on Capcom IP like Street Fighter and Mega Man.

    You can also grab one of My Arcade’s popular retro handhelds at a great price. These are themed around classic video game franchises, and they pack a ton of games into a pocket-friendly device that are equipped with 2.75-inch color displays. The Pocket Player Pro can be recharged via USB-C or powered by four AA batteries, and one of the best value-for-money models here is the Atari Pocket Player Pro that comes preloaded with 100 classic games.

    Continue Reading at GameSpot

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  • Lawsuit Claims Hasbro Misled Investors Regarding Sales of Controversial Magic: the Gathering Anniversary Set – IGN

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    A new lawsuit filed by shareholders of Hasbro against the company and its directors alleges that company leadership has mismanaged Magic: The Gathering by overprinting sets of cards, thereby devaluing existing ones. It also, quite notably, claims that Hasbro leadership “concealed the true reason” that its widely-criticized, incredibly expensive Magic: The Gathering 30th Anniversary Set was pulled from sale within an hour of its initial release.

    The lawsuit, filed in Rhode Island earlier this week, is filed by shareholders Joseph Crocono and Ultan McGlone against Hasbro CEO Christian Cocks, a number of fellow company directors, and Hasbro itself. The lawsuit alleges breaches of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, waste of corporate assets, gross mismanagement, abuse of control, and violations of the Exchange Act.

    Specifically, the shareholder plaintiffs claim that, under Cocks’ leadership, Hasbro has been printing far too many Magic: The Gathering sets, thereby reducing the value of existing sets. This complaint probably sounds familiar to avid Magic players, as Wizards of the Coast has been printing significantly more sets per year than it used to. This handy chart made in 2022 by jacobwillson2727 at Only on Tuesdays helps illustrate the problem, and it’s only gotten worse in the years since:

    Image Credit: jacobwillson2727, Only on Tuesdays

    As noted in the lawsuit, Wizards of the Coast released more sets than ever before in 2020, which served to double the revenue of the Wizards segment of Hasbro between 2018 and 2021, and in 2022, Hasbro released over five times as many Magic sets as it had in 2016. It’s worth noting that both the chart above and the lawsuit itself are somewhat generous in what they consider to be a Magic “set.” For example, the lawsuit also claims Wizards released 39 separate Magic sets in 2022 – that strikes me as a little high, and most likely includes Secret Lair collaborations in addition to every other possible kind of set.

    Regardless of how you count them, it is true that the card release volume has gone up lately, as anyone who’s grouchy about the number of Universes Beyond collaborations in 2026 will tell you. But the issue the shareholders have is that the volume, they claim, is exceeding consumer demand, and that Hasbro leadership is only releasing this many to get quick cash to cover up shortfalls elsewhere in the Hasbro business.

    The lawsuit itself is 76 pages long, but there are two major accusations that stand out. One is an allegation that Hasbro management used something called the “Parachute Strategy.” Allegedly, leadership plotted to “parachute in” new Magic sets whenever there was a shortfall somewhere else in Hasbro. These parachute sets initially consisted of “Masters” sets – largely reprints with low production costs. However, as it grew, more sets got involved, including the aforementioned Secret Lair collaborations and the Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate set. Per the lawsuit, “As such, the explosive growth in the Magic business noted just prior to and during the Relevant Period [September 2021 – October 2023] was in fact the result of the Parachute Strategy. Notably, in 2022 such ‘parachute’ Magic sets accounted for 46% of all Magic releases.”

    The second, and perhaps even spicier, accusation is the allegation that Hasbro management essentially faked being out of stock of the controversial, extremely expensive Magic 30th Anniversary Set in order to encourage demand. If you’re not familiar, this was an unhinged $999 box that contained four booster packs of non-tournament legal reprints of original Magic cards, some of which Wizards had sworn it would never reprint. This box garnered massive criticism due to its price, the fact that the cards weren’t even usable, and the seemingly broken promise on the part of Wizards not to reprint classics such as, say, Black Lotus.

    According to testimony from several members of leadership shared in the complaint, following the negative reaction from players at this announcement, management made a plan to “pause” sales of the set if it became apparent that they were weaker than anticipated. The company said the “sale has concluded, and the product is currently unavailable for purchase,” in a post on X (then Twitter), implying they had sold out, effectively making it look like the product was far more popular than it actually had been. In the lawsuit, plaintiffs accuse the company of claiming the product was “out of stock.”

    What happened to the unsold cards after sales were paused, then? The lawsuit goes on:

    “[Former Employee 6] likewise stated that the Company paused its sales of the Magic Anniversary Set less than an hour after its release, only selling a portion of its available inventory. FE 6 further noted that shortly after the set’s release, he and other Wizards employees viewed photographs of Magic Anniversary Sets dropped off at a Texas landfill alongside older Magic products.”

    The plantiffs are asking the judge to rule that they, as shareholders, are adequate representatives of Hasbro and therefore can sue on behalf of the company itself, and that each of the individual defendants failed in their fiduciary duties. They are also asking that Hasbro be awarded damages from each individual defendant, and that the shareholders be given significantly more power on the board of the company.

    IGN has reached out to Hasbro for comment.

    This is far from the first time shareholders have expressed displeasure with Hasbro’s handling of Magic. Mentioned multiple times in the suit is a deep dive done by Bank of America back in 2022 on this exact issue of overprinting, which prompted analysts to claim Hasbro was hurting its long-term value with so many frequent set releases.

    This year’s first set, Lorwyn Eclipsed, is doing all right at least, having seemingly sold out in most places amid excitement at a return to a beloved plane from Magic’s history. It’s even got a host of super expensive rare cards, topped off with a Showcase Fracture Foil version of Bloom Tender that’s going for over $600 at the time this piece was written.

    Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

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  • The Last Train: Baquedano Turns a Ride Home into a Nightmare – Xbox Wire

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    Summary

    • First-person psychological horror where the familiar becomes terrifying.
    • How the designers twist common themes into nightmare.
    • Use calmness and wits to escape an abandoned subway station while being hunted by a familiar presence.

    What if falling asleep on your daily commute was the worst mistake you could make?

    The Last Train: Baquedano is a first-person psychological horror experience that turns an everyday situation into a disturbing nightmare. Developed as an intense, narrative-driven indie title, the game invites players to explore the dark corridors of an abandoned subway station where time feels frozen and something is watching from the shadows.

    A Familiar Face Turned Into Fear

    One of the most striking elements of The Last Train: Baquedano is the presence of Tung Tung Sahur, a character widely recognized as a viral internet figure. In this game, that familiar face takes on a far more unsettling role. What was once humorous and recognizable becomes distorted and threatening, transforming internet culture into a source of psychological tension.

    The game builds fear through a unique blend of anticipation, sound design, and the unsettling contrast between recognition and danger. Seeing something you know and realizing it shouldn’t be there becomes one of the core emotional drivers of the experience.

    Explore, Survive, and Uncover the Truth

    Exploration, environmental storytelling, and light puzzle-solving are the core mechanics as you search for clues that hint at a deeper story hidden beneath the surface.

    Stay Calm and Observant to Survive

    The game features four different endings, encouraging replayability and interpretation. Each ending reveals new layers of meaning, allowing you to piece together what really happened and what the station represents.

    A Short, Intense Psychological Experience

    The Last Train: Baquedano is designed as a concise yet impactful horror experience, ideal for fans of atmospheric storytelling and emotional immersion. Its urban setting, inspired by real-world subway spaces, grounds the horror in reality, making the experience feel uncomfortably close to home.

    Blending psychological tension, subtle humor, and modern cultural references, the game offers a unique take on contemporary horror, one where the scariest things aren’t monsters, but the familiar routines we trust every day.

    Are you ready to reach the last stop? Just make sure you don’t fall asleep on the way.

    The Last Train: Baquedano is available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

    THE LAST TRAIN: Baquedano

    Pdpartid@games


    5

    $7.99

    Last stop of the line. All passengers must exit

    In The Last Train, a first-person psychological horror game, routine turns into nightmare when you fall asleep on the subway. Upon waking, you discover you’ve reached the end of the line, an abandoned station shrouded in darkness. But you’re not alone; something else waits in the shadows, watching you and following your every move.

    Explore the gloomy corridors and hidden corners of the last station as you try to find a way back to safety. Every sound, every movement, could be a sign that what’s hunting you is closer than you think. You’ll need to keep your calm, solve puzzles, and find clues that reveal the dark secrets hidden within this abandoned station. Will you escape before the entity catches you?

    Features

    – First-person horror with touches of humor
    – 4 endings to unlock
    – Interact with and run from popular characters
    – Discover secrets that reveal a larger story
    – Intense experience in a mysterious station

    Prepare for a one-way journey into fear. The last station awaits you… and not everyone makes it back.

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  • Why Pro MTB Athlete Matt Jones Set Out to Create an Authentic Open-World MTB Game – Xbox Wire

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    Summary

    • Out now in Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S.
    • Designed from the ground-up by Red Bull rider Matt Jones from the UK.
    • A realistic, open world MTB game that captures the essence of the sport.

    Matt Jones is a professional MTB rider from the UK, well known for world’s first tricks, huge Red Bull projects and big world-tour results. In February 2024, together with his Cascade Interactive co-founders, Matt started work to design and create Mavrix, a realistic open-world mountain bike game that he believes captures the essence of the sport, striking the balance between authenticity and fun.

    Matt: “I grew up playing extreme sports games like SSX Tricky, Tony Hawks Pro Skater and Downhill Domination. In recent years however, I’ve struggled to find a bike game that truly reflects the sport I know and love. So, two years ago, I set out to build a realistic and authentic mountain bike game that represents everything I’ve learned through my career. The game is called Mavrix and I’m so proud to now be launching Mavrix on Xbox!”

    Mavrix offers a huge multiplayer open world, based on Wales in the UK. Explore mountains using chairlifts, discover trails, race on global leaderboards and compete in slopestyle trick events. Just like real life, you can grind to get sponsored and earn ‘Moolah’ to purchase new bikes, clothing and kit.

    Authenticity has been at the core of the design process. Dual stick controls balance steering with rider movement, and Matt went one step further by choosing to split up the front and rear brakes onto individual triggers for unique handling.

    Some of Matt’s most notable accomplishments are featured in Mavrix too, offering fans the opportunity to jump the infamous River Gap from Red Bull Hardline, and jump through two moving lorries.

    Mavrix is out now in Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S, with a huge update that brings new physics and features such as the new Slopestyle mode – designed by Matt to reflect the real Slopestyle events experienced through his career. This mode even has authentic in-game judging and commentary from legendary Red Bull commentor Rob Warner. Pick up Mavrix today and crack on!

    MAVRIX by Matt Jones (Game Preview)

    Cascade Interactive


    11

    $39.99

    This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game.

    Designed by Pro Red Bull Athlete Matt Jones, MAVRIX is THE ultimate multiplayer open world for riders, with authenticity at the core.

    Pure creativity. Spanning 100 square kilometres of Downhill race tracks, huge Slopestyle lines and multiple bike parks! Get ready to race or bring your style and creativity to define your own lines.

    Ride Together with your buddies, discover hidden challenges and join the Pros to hit huge jumps.

    Global Rankings: Want to be the best? The rankings don’t lie. Race hard to unlock rare items and compete for genuine prizes.

    Authentic Physics & Control: Using dual stick controls, independent brake levers and physics based handling/suspension. The MAVRIX physics engine connects you with the bike to balance grip, stomp tricks and ride in your own unique way.

    Sponsorship puts the life of a professional rider in your hands. Sign and collect contracts to manage your own MTB career.

    Customisation is key. Unlock bikes, clothes and components from real MTB brands to create your dream set-up.

    See you on the mountain!

    Full details on the latest status of the game, how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at https://discord.gg/ZmambDFz].

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    johns

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  • Exploring the Wilderness of Over the Hill on Xbox Series X|S – Xbox Wire

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    We’re excited to share a closer look at Over the Hill, the next off-road adventure from Funselektor and Strelka Games, coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC (Windows) in 2026. Known for Art of Rally and Absolute Drift, Funselektor returns with a new experience that blends exploration, simulation, and the simple joy of driving classic off-road cars through the wilderness.

    Where those past games captured the elegance of drifting and the thrill of rally racing, Over the Hill shifts gears entirely, inviting you to take things slow, take a breather, and discover the beauty just… Over the Hill.

    A World Built for Exploration

    Over the Hill is divided into different regions, each offering its own atmosphere, terrain, and challenges. One of the playable regions at release is Canada, which is separated into three distinct areas. These areas are designed to gradually build your skill and confidence as you learn the particulars of off-road driving and navigation.

    The Valley (Working Title) – A Gentle Start

    Your journey kicks off in a valley, a smoother and more guided environment perfect for easing into the game’s driving mechanics. Natural landmarks like flowing rivers, winding paths, and soft slopes will subtly lead you forward toward the lake and the boat that marks your transition into the next area.

    Terrain here is forgiving, letting you get to know your vehicle without the pressure of harsh climbs.

    The Wetlands (Working Title) – Discovery at Your Own Pace

    From there, you’ll take the ferry into a new area, a more open and exploratory environment inspired by Canadian wetlands. Starting near the center of the map, you are encouraged to wander, discovering routes, landmarks, and hidden pockets of wilderness.

    This area features some of the game’s most diverse challenges, from broad swamps and muddy bogs to tricky rock-crawling paths and even pockets of early snow at higher elevation levels. It’s a place where the landscape becomes a playground for experimentation, inviting you to improvise and find your own way forward.

    The Mountains (Working Title) – The Final Test

    Your adventure culminates in a mountainous area: a rugged, high-altitude landscape defined by steep ascents and slippery, icy cliffs.

    In this part of the game, you’re challenged to make your way to the peak, which looms over you from the moment your journey in this area begins. The mountains require you to use everything you’ve learned, turning navigation into a rewarding puzzle while offering some of the most striking views in the game.

    Across all three areas, you will encounter signature landmarks that tell subtle stories: fire-watch towers perched above forests, abandoned logging or mining equipment, cabins tucked between trees, and fishing shacks along frozen lakes.

    A Wilderness with a Story to Tell

    The world of Over the Hill draws inspiration from places like the Kootenay Mountains in British Columbia. These regions blend rugged wilderness with remnants of human history, from hand-built cabins to forgotten sawmills and mining tunnels. Every structure you can find in the game ties into this theme.

    Seasonality also plays a crucial role in the game’s atmosphere. Over the Hill is set in autumn, giving the world a golden, slightly nostalgic tone. The yellowing grass, larch and birch trees turning bright amber, and the soft warmth of late-season light all create a peaceful contrast to the harsher, snowy climbs awaiting you in the mountains.

    Dynamic Weather and Real Terrain

    The weather in Over the Hill is more than a mood; it actively shapes the journey. Dynamic weather and day-night cycles both influence visibility and driving conditions, creating moments of calm and beauty,  but also moments of challenge and surprise.

    With over ten terrain types inspired by real Canadian landscapes, every surface affects vehicle handling in a unique way. Rain reduces grip on most surfaces, while snow can both obscure the path ahead and change the feel of the ground beneath your tires. As snow accumulates, trails may become harder to follow, making navigation more demanding and more fun.

    Adventure at Your Speed

    While Over the Hill features challenges and moments of technical driving, its heart lies in the connection between you, your car, and the landscape. Whether you’re exploring alone or teaming up with friends in multiplayer, the game invites you to slow down, enjoy the scenery, and appreciate the journey for its own sake.

    To give you control over the pace of your adventure, camping allows you to rest, recover, and even skip undesirable weather. Set up camp and wait out a storm before heading back onto the trails.

    There’s no rush. No ticking clock. Just the open wilderness and the road (or lack of one) ahead.

    Xbox Play Anywhere

    over the hill

    Funselektor

    Explore, navigate, and uncover the vast wilderness in over the hill, the newest installation from the creator of art of rally. Ramble your way through varied biomes inspired by real-world locations, from valleys to mountains and everything in between.

    Discover portals to travel to new areas, and complete objectives to unlock new vehicles, upgrades, customizations, and cosmetics, with many combinations to try. Who knows, maybe you’ll find some hidden gems along the way.

    Take a friend or go on a solo tour. Challenge yourself, collaborate with up to three friends, or just enjoy the sights – the world is your oyster.

    After a long day of exploring, pull up to the merchant and give your vehicle a personal touch. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint, some extra lights to cut through the dusk, or a roof rack for that trusty old kayak, there are plenty of ways to kit it out. Add a continental spare or a bull bar: whatever makes your journey smoother, and helps your crew spot you from across the valley.

    Take on the elements with dynamic weather, day/night cycles, and realistic terrain deformation. Find solace in nature, even when you’re stuck in the mud.

    The best stories never start at the end. With so much to explore and uncover, it’s all about the cruise. Complete all the objectives, unlock the many customizations and upgrades, and discover everything the wilderness has to offer. Just take your time and find peace in the minimalistic serenity.

    Grab stills of your favourite landscapes with the built-in photo mode. We can’t wait to follow your journey. You never know what you may discover just over the hill.

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