Category: Video Gaming

A new PlayStation State of Play will air this week, and Final Fantasy XVI headlines the event.

The presentation airs Thursday, April 13 at 2 p.m. Pacific/5 p.m. Eastern and will showcase new Final Fantasy XVI gameplay. The blog post suggests that this will be the only game featured, but we’ll see if anything else pops up.

Square Enix recently provided hands-on demos to the press, giving us first-hand impressions of the game’s combat, dungeon crawling, accessibility features, and other mechanics. We’re curious to see what else they have to show that hasn’t yet been revealed. 

Final Fantasy XVI is a PlayStation 5 exclusive and will launch on June 22.

Sony will broadcast a new State of Play presentation on Thursday, April 13, the PlayStation maker announced Tuesday. The showcase will focus on one game (and one game only): Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 16.

April’s State of Play will stream live at 5 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. PDT on PlayStation’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

Final Fantasy fans can expect “more than 20 minutes of new Final Fantasy 16 gameplay,” Sony said in a tweet announcing the new State of Play broadcast. Final Fantasy 16 is slated to arrive (exclusively) on PlayStation 5 on June 22, a date that the game’s producer promises isn’t moving. In a teaser video, Square Enix and Sony highlighted some of the game’s Eikons — Final Fantasy 16’s version of summons — with footage of powerful giants like Ramuh, Ifrit, Shiva, and Titan.

Final Fantasy 16 will tell the story of Clive Rosfield, a warrior known as the First Shield of Rosaria, and his younger brother Joshua, a Dominant who wields the power of the Phoenix. The events of FF16 set Clive on a dark and dangerous road to revenge, where the various warring factions of the kingdom of Valisthea vie for control over the Mothercrystals. Final Fantasy 16 will focus heavily on character-action-style gameplay, which you can read more about in Polygon’s hands-on preview with the game.

Cheap laptops are great. They can run Minecraft servers, download stuff while you’re away, let you practice programming, let your younger sibling play with or against you in retro or indie games. You might already have one lying around, in which case have a think about the possibilities – but if you’d like one and don’t have one in a cupboard somewhere, you can grab a cheap Dell Latitude 7390 off Ebay for £219.99 in ‘good’ and ‘refurbished’ condition. For the money, you get an 8th-gen Core i5 processor with integrated graphics, a compact 13-inch design, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. All in all, it’s a pretty sweet spec for the asking price!

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With just 10 days remaining until the open-world zombie brawler Dead Island 2 (opens in new tab) goes live, Deep Silver has unveiled the detailed system requirements and a technical FAQ (opens in new tab) that digs a little deeper into what players can expect.

First things first, the numbers:

Minimum (1080p, 30 fps):

• CPU: AMD FX-9590 or Intel Core i7 7700HQ
• RAM: 10GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 480 or GeForce GTX 1060
• Storage: 70GB

Recommended (1080p, 60 fps):

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i9 9900K
• RAM: 16GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT or GeForce RTX 2080 Super
• Storage: 70GB

High (1440p, 60 fps):

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X or Intel Core i5 12600KF
• RAM: 16GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT or GeForce RTX 3070
• Storage: 70GB

Ultra (4K, 60 fps):

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X or Intel Core i7 13700K
• RAM: 16GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT or GeForce RTX 3090
• Storage: 70GB

Dead Island 2 will support AMD’s FSR2 and FidelityFX Contrast Adaptive Sharpening, but its FAQ includes the odd claim that it “does not support performance-boosting software.” Deep Silver didn’t specify what exactly that means, but the best guess is that it refers to Nvidia’s DLSS, which is not mentioned in the specs or FAQ. It doesn’t make much sense to only call Nvidia’s upscaling technology “performance-boosting software” when AMD’s FSR is much the same. Regardless, it seems like the takeaway here is no DLSS support. Bummer.

Bind is finally returning to Valorant, but it doesn’t look the same as it did before it was taken out. Several changes were made to the map that were highlighted in the Patch Notes for 6.07. Here’s how these changes open up several areas around the map that will make for better, more competitive gameplay.

B Site to A Site Teleporter

One of the biggest changes made was to the teleporter by A Site. Instead of having an exit at the top of the stairs in A Lobby, it was moved towards A Bath. This puts the teleporter exit up against the A Bath and A Lobby wall.

This will make exiting the teleporter much safer. Before, taking the teleporter from B Long to A Lobby was generally never a good choice unless you knew the enemies were all on B. There were too many angles that enemies could take you down from, making it a gamble except for very specific situations.

By putting the exit right against the wall of A Bath, this cuts out one entire side that you need to watch while leaving the teleporter. Of course, any enemies by the exit can still use blinds or other things to stop you. However, with good timing and utility from you, this specific teleporter is now a more viable option.

Wider Doorways

Part of the struggle from Bind’s previous days was getting through the narrow doorways. This made taking a site, either as an Attacker or a Defender looking to retake a site, difficult to do without massive amounts of utility and quick, precise aiming.

However, nearly every doorway has been widened. Every doorway on A Site, with the exception of those around Truck, and the entry doorway to B Site from the Defenders side has been widened. This will ultimately make getting onto sites easier across the board, in turn encouraging gunfights and competition. 

A Site Crates

The layout of the Radianite crates on A Site has been adjusted. Instead of three columns of two, there will be two columns of two and a row of two beside it. This serves multiple purposes.

First, it gives the Attackers a bit more protection when planting the Spike. While the Radianite crates are still able to be shot through, there’s a bit more flexibility in where you can plant behind them. Enemies will need to spray a bit more compared to holding the only spot that was available to plant in. The same concept applies to those defusing the Spike.

Secondly, it creates an easier way to enter and exit the site with a bit more protection. This helps both teams out, which encourages fairer competition.

Minor Changes

A Site will also be getting a barrel in the back of the site. While this isn’t going to provide anyone coverage, it could help with catching enemies off guard. It also makes it a bit harder for those hiding on that wall to quickly run to safety or strafe too much.

B Site is also getting a few windows along B Hall, which will open up for the possibility of flashes or other utility coming through that wall. This will require teamwork, but it’s a new, rewarding way to make sure that area doesn’t feel too secluded.

Overall, these changes don’t really benefit a specific side of the map. It will make things a bit more open and encourage fights compared to holding an angle. Considering how Valorant’s meta has changed since it was released, it makes since that some of the older maps needed a refresh to better align with the state of the game today. 

Are you excited to see Bind back in Valorant? Let us know below!

For April’s issue of Game Informer magazine, we took a look behind the scenes at Hyper Light Breaker, the latest game from developer Heart Machine. In addition to an interview with Creative Director Alx Preston, we were able to view exclusive footage of one of the game’s mini-bosses, The Last Master. Check out the reveal below.

The Last Master is a deadly opponent that spawns randomly when players (known in this world as Breakers) activate beacons, objects that allow them to access the main boss gate. If you think she looks similar to the player characters, you’ve got the right idea; in the video, Preston says “She ended up here in this land as a Breaker and succumbed to the dangers of the Overgrowth.” As a result, The Last Master’s arsenal mirrors yours, wielding a sword, a spear, and an automatic pistol. Her behavior mirrors the Breakers’ as well, and she can dash, jump, and climb after anyone that attempts to escape.

While the first game in the Hyper Light franchise was a 2D single-player experience, this new title is a 4-player co-op rogue-lite, with a new procedurally generated open world on every run. Players will create a Breaker, explore a cursed land called the Overgrowth, and attempt to the bosses plaguing this realm known as Crowns.

 

For more of the game, check out our feature in the latest issue of Game Informer. You also can see the initial reveal trailer here and the IGN’s gameplay reveal right here. Hyper Light Breaker enters early access this fall.

Lots of things are better with friends. Pizza. Movies. Games. On that latter point, a new Recruit A Friend program that will be kicking off in Season 03 of Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, where players can enjoy some awesome in-game rewards, including some Double XP tokens, just for signing up!

The Recruit A Friend program will be running throughout the entirety of Season 03 in Warzone 2.0 and we’ve got a bunch of the details outlined below. And make sure you check out the official Call of Duty Blog for all things related to the upcoming Season 03.

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Who Can Play?

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The Recruit A Friend program will be available to all players who are at least 18 years old and have an Activision account in good standing (players in Austria, Argentina, New Zealand, Belgium, Peru, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, Philippines, and Poland cannot participate in this program).

Players will be grouped into two categories: Recruiters and Recruits. Recruiters must have at least three hours of total gameplay completed in Warzone 2.0 and an Activision account that’s at least 60 days old; Recruits must have an Activision account that’s less than 7 days old and must not have played Warzone 2.0 for more than 60 days.

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Recruiters and Recruits

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Recruiters will have the opportunity to recruit up to three eligible players to join them during this program. Also, after accepting the invite, Recruits will automatically be connected as Activision friends with their Recruiter making it easier in the future to team-up on future deployments together.

If you signed up for the program after receiving and accepting an invite from another player, you will officially be marked down as a Recruit; Recruits can only participate in the program alongside their Recruiter. Also, you may only participate in the Recruit A Friend program once, either as a Recruit or Recruiter. Finally, once you’re recruited, you cannot be recruited by another player.

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How do I Invite Friends to the Recruit A Friend Program?

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First, visit the Recruit A Friend official website (link coming soon) once it goes live starting on April 14 and select “Get Started.” Log in with your Activision account and you’ll then be taken to the program’s dashboard. From there, copy your link on the dashboard and share it with up to three friends you want to recruit. Once accepted, you’ll see their usernames on the Recruit A Friend dashboard. Now comes the best part…

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How to Complete Challenges and Earn Rewards

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Now that you’ve recruited a friend (or have been recruited), it’s time to party up and jump into Warzone 2.0 and complete the specific “Recruit A Friend In-game Challenges” listed in the game. You can also find these within the in-gameRecruit A Friend dashboard to check and track your challenge status – Recruits can earn up to three free rewards while Recruiters can earn up to nine. Both will be eligible for the 2XP sign-up bonus.

All this news is following details around the next big free content drop with the start of Season 03 for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0. Jump in and experience the return of Gunfight, launching with four small maps that are perfect for 2v2. Also get ready to experience five new Multiplayer maps, gear up for Raid Episode 03, deploy as rival Operators Alejandro and Valeria, and more! You can get full details on Season 03 for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 here on the official Call of Duty Blog.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the best-selling games of all time. The little plumber and his ragtag bunch of unlikely friends have convinced over 50 million people to empty their wallets and purses for his tarmac-based exploits since the game launched in 2017.

However, none of that would have been possible without Mario Kart Wii, which first hit Nintendo’s motion-tracking mini-console 15 years ago today. The oft-overlooked entry in the esteemed karting series introduced new ways to race, welcomed some magnificent new tracks, and even layered in new mechanics that are enjoyed to this day in the more modern Mario Kart titles. So why does Mario Kart Wii get pushed to the side of the road when we discuss the success of the series as a whole?

Many gamers look down on the Wii due to its casual game lineup, but Mario Kart Wii is an important stepping stone in the series – even if it does, often, get drifted past. Mario Kart Wii brought in bikes for the first time in the series’ history, allowing players to wheelie and race around at top speed. On two-wheelers, it was tough to steer around corners – but if you mastered the bike, you’d certainly gain an advantage because of how light the vehicle is, and how that affected its ability to speed up.

There were also various sizes of karts to choose from, adding strategy to how players approached the weight, acceleration, drift, speed, and other traits in each race. Seemingly a novelty at first, it quickly became apparent that you needed to master your custom builds in order to beat the tough AI at 150cc on the Wii – who knew Mario Kart needed an endgame like that?

I’ve played Mario Kart for a long time, and going back to the Wii version is surprisingly difficult; after breezing through on the Switch, I can only make 8th place in multiple courses. Without the variety of karts and bikes in Mario Kart Wii, we wouldn’t have the deep customization of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It gives the modern game much more definition than the 64 version of the series.

Something else that ramped up the karting action in Mario Kart Wii was the trick system. For the first time in the series, you could have Mario flipping in the air to get a speed boost. Sure, it was probably just a fun way for Nintendo to fold in the waggle controls of the nunchuck Wii remote, but those tricks have become a staple in the Mario Kart series ever since. Skidding up ramps and pulling off tricks at the apex of your jump count for some of the most white-knuckle experiences in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – and we have the Wii version’s experimental foundations to thank for that.

But what good are tricks if you’ve got nowhere to pull them off? Mario Kart Wii arguably has some of the best tracks in the entire series, with the standout – of course – being Coconut Mall. The catchy, cheerful music pumped out of those speakers in the familiar-but-fantasy mall scenery made for an outstanding track; one that showcases the creativity and ingenuity the series is celebrated for. One of the coolest gimmicks is how the escalators sped you up or slowed you down.

There’s also the fan-favorite Moo Moo Meadows. It has a bucolic, charming farm aesthetic as you mamoover around the cows and perform tricks on the dirt piles strategically placed throughout the course. One of the best trick spots in the game – frontlined and spotlighted so you can really get a handle on the system – takes pride of place in the middle of the track, and provides a mighty leap into the air.

Luigi Circuit, with a grand statue of Mario’s brother and a ramped area with boost panels all over it, also feels like a message from Nintendo, with the developer saying “look, we know what you want, and we know how to make a fun track”. The creativity and fun factor exhibited in these stages feels like the start of a new formula, somethihng where it all clicked into place up in Nintendo towers, which forward into future titles. Especially Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Similarly to Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii was the first console entry to have online multiplayer. Arguably, it worked better than it had any right to when compared to (especially when compared to Brawl’s messy connectivity). The Wii’s touch-and-go matchmaking allowed us to play the game with our friends, and also match up with strangers so we could duke it out with someone on the other side of the world for dominance over… a field of cattle. Though shaky, without the foundations of Mario Kart Wii, we wouldn’t have the stellar online experience of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

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Mario Kart Wii famously gave us the option of motion controls. It came bundled with a wheel that made the process of controlling a kart more natural with the Wii remote, living up to Nintendo’s love of a cheeky gimmick. But, if that wasn’t your style, you could opt for the GameCube controller, the Wii remote itself, or a Wii remote and nunchuck. This made the game was more accessible for those who can’t operate a button-focused controller, and also appealed to those who like a more traditional method of playing games.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe followed suit and, inspired by the Wii entry, made as many control options as possible with the Joycon in its various configurations, as well as the Pro controller.

Mario Kart Wii is an important chapter in the series, and despite its casual focus, it’s a vital keystone for Mario – it revised the Mario Kart formula, introduced some essential new elements to the games, and acted as something of a mission statement for what was to come. Online functionality, kart customization, bikes, 3D courses packed with ingenuity, and the thoughtful implementation of motion controls all added so much to the franchise.

Without Mario Kart’s lesser-loved Wii version, the Switch behemoth we have now would never exist. Think of that next time you clock your Wii, gathering dust, back at your parent’s house.

There are few success stories more inspiring than that of Tarn and Zach Adams. After twenty years of development Dwarf Fortress finally made the jump to Steam in December 2021, complete with exciting new features such as “graphics” and “mouse support”. Although the game was already critically lauded, its availability on Steam made it a financial success, with thousands of long-term fans thrilled to provide the brothers with a long-overdue payday.

Following their panel on the highs and lows of procedural generation, the pair had a chat with Rachel about the game’s recent Steam release, upcoming features, their favourite player stories and – most importantly – Zach’s dog.

Who doesn’t love more? Introducing the newest expansion to Xbox Elite Series 2 with Xbox Design Lab!

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There is an innate joy that comes with making something truly yours. Since fulfilling the top fan request last October by adding Xbox Elite Series 2 to Xbox Design Lab, we’ve been working hard to take things up a notch. We’re thrilled to announce that a new range of colors are now available, giving you even more ways to make Xbox Elite Series 2 controllers your own.

You will now have the choice of 16 main colors for your top and back case, 12 colors for the ABXY buttons, 17 different accent colors for the paddles and D-pad, and 25 accent colors for the rest of the controller. With vibrant hues like Garnet Red, Glacier Blue, and Deep Pink, to a stealthier option like the new black-out ABXY buttons, there are literally billions of possibilities for personalizing our most advanced controller. Xbox Elite Series 2 with Xbox Design Lab includes customization options that are unique to the controller; options like adjusting the color of the thumbstick rings and base for a subtle pop of color, or metallic triggers and D-Pads that give the controller a premium feel.

If you haven’t experienced Xbox Elite Series 2 controllers, this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Each Xbox Elite Series 2 comes packed with everything necessary to play like a pro. Adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grips, and shorter hair trigger locks can all take your game to the next level. Using the Xbox Accessories App, you can tune your controller through button mapping, adjust the thumbsticks and triggers, and even customize the color the Xbox button lights up as on your controller.

Have a playstyle that varies wildly from game to game? Use the profile button to easily switch between controller profiles, saving the time usually spent adjusting your settings and devoting it to where it needs to be – playing more games. Stay in the game with up to 40 hours of rechargeable battery life and refined components that are built to last.

If you want to customize even further, Xbox Design Lab has you covered. In addition to the controller, you can purchase pieces like the Thumbsticks + D-pad Pack, which features additional interchangeable thumbsticks with unique designs, and an additional D-pad that can be the standard cross shape or faceted. The Paddles Pack features a set of four paddles that attach to the back of your Elite Series 2 controller for additional input options, while the Carrying Case + Charging Pack provides a sleek carrying case, charging dock, and USB-C cable. If you want the complete package, that is where the Everything Pack comes in, which combines all the components into one.

Do you want to customize an Xbox Design Lab controller but don’t know where to start? Take a look at the Inspired By collection. We’ve teamed up with some exciting game studios to give you an excellent starting point for your design – you can even create a controller inspired by one of your favorite characters or franchises! With billions of color combinations, we are excited to see all the wonderful designs the Xbox community creates with this new expansion.

The newest expansion to Xbox Elite Series 2 controllers with Xbox Design Lab is available now starting at $149.99, and we are excited to see what you will create! Click here to make it yours: Xbox Design Lab | Xbox.

God of War Ragnarök’s New Game Plus (NG+) update is now available and with it comes a ton of new options for Kratos builds!

Without our amazing QA team, both God of War Ragnarök and NG+ would not have been possible. Not only do they have incredible game knowledge, but our QA folks are also some of the most creative when it comes to coming up with unique playstyles.  

We went to a selection of our top combat specialists in QA to get their favorite builds that are now possible with NG+, scratching just the surface of the many powerful combinations that can be made with this update!

Can’t Touch This

Build by: Wilson Santiago, QA Analyst

Try this if you like:

• Glass cannon playstyle
• High mobility and damage output
• Last-second evades/counters
• Realm Shifts

This set-up will let you dance around your enemies until you get the perfect opening to strike with massive damage. Built around proficiency with last-second evades and counter-striking, this build uses Realm Shifts and increased damage against status-afflicted enemies to bob and weave between opponents while punishing every miss. If you’re confident in timing your dodges, this set-up can shred even the likes of Valkyrie Queen Gná and King Hrolf… just don’t get hit!

Armor

• [NEW IN NG+] Cloak of the Black Bear – Increases immunity duration while evading, last-second evades fire a volley of Bifröst shards.
• [NEW IN NG+] Gauntlets of Zeus – Increases Melee and Runic damage by 20%, but also increases damage received by 40%.
• Belt of Radiance

Enchantments

• [NEW IN NG+] Meign – Strength/Cooldown stat boost. 
• Vanaheim Set Bonus    
• Sigil of Doom
• Emblem of the Nine Realms  
• Memento of the Ailing
• Emblem of Elusion
• Boon of Valor or Boon of Wrath

Weapon Attachments

• Leviathan Axe: Grip of the Nine Realms
• Blades, Spear, Shield Rönd: Anything prioritizing Strength stat.

Relic

Spartan Rage

Companion – Weapons

• Atreus: Jötnar Bow
• Freya: Mardoll

Companion – Accessories

• Runic Potency III
• Nocked Proficiency III
• Sigil Amplification III

Companion – Runic Summon

• Atreus: Falcon’s Dive
• Freya: Player Preference

How does it play?

While squishy compared other builds, the new Cloak of the Black Bear pairs perfectly with the Belt of Radiance to reward you for timing those last-second evades with both Bifröst damage and a Realm Shift. By equipping the Grip of the Nine Realms and the Hilt of Hofuð, you’ll also have two activated Realm Shifts at your disposal, which means you can cut through the toughest of enemies while they’re stuck in place long enough to make Heimdall jealous. 

This build is also amazing at keeping the Hex status applied on enemies, as Atreus and Freya can do so using only two arrows. Between Kratos and your companion, you should be able to keep your enemies consistently status-afflicted to make the most of your buffs.

This build allows Permafrost, Immolation, and Maelstrom gauges to fill incredibly fast, so you’ll be able to take full advantage of each Realm Shift to melt enemy healthbars.    

Status Striker

Build by: TJ Gilbert, Senior QA Analyst

Try this if you like:

• Bare-handed/Shield combat
• Frequent Runic and Rage usage
• Status Effects
• Stunning enemies

This set-up is built around rapidly applying the poison status and building up stun with bare-handed attacks, while also reducing the cooldown time on your powerful Runic Attacks and Relic for frequent use. Pummel your enemies into submission while building up Rage to release a massive wave of damage once you’re ready to unleash your Wrath.

Armor

• Giptumaðr’s Breastplate
• Lúnda’s Lost Bracers
• Fate Breaker Belt

Enchantments

• [NEW IN NG+] Lúnda’s Engraving – Bare-handed attacks, Parrying, and Blocking have a chance to deal bonus damage and poison enemies, lowering their Power Level.
• Boon of Wrath
• Stunning Fang
• Vanaheim Set Bonus
• Svartalfheim Set Bonus    

Weapon Attachments

• Leviathan Axe: Grip of Weighted Recovery 
• Blades of Chaos: Cursed Empress Handles
• Draupnir Spear: Hind of Weightless Recovery 
• Shield Rönd: Player Preference

Relic

Spartan Rage

Companion – Weapons, Accessories, Runic Summons:

• Atreus and Freya: Player Preference

How does it play?

This build uses the new Enchantment Lúnda’s Engraving to give you access to the powerful Vanir Poison Perk from Lúnda’s Lost Cuirass while having Giptumaðr’s Breastplate equipped to grant you Fortune’s Refresh. As both Perks scale off Luck, this build invests heavily in that stat to ensure you’ll have a high chance to proc their effects with your attacks.

Start the encounter by applying poison to your enemies with bare-handed attacks to make the most of your set buffs that increase damage against status-afflicted enemies. This set also increases stun and damage to stunned enemies, so using your fists and shield creates a lot of opportunities for extra punishment on top of status application. Use your Runic Attacks and Hilt of Garm to proc the Fortune’s Refresh Perk to restore Cooldown on your powerful abilities for frequent usage while consistently building up Rage.  

Once you have enough in your Spartan Rage Meter, make sure your enemies are status-afflicted and activate Wrath. With the Boon of Wrath and Vanaheim Enchantment Set Bonus, the shockwave from your activation will consume the status and deal massive damage!

The Minefield

Build by: Wilson Santiago, QA Analyst

Try this if you like:

• Frequent Rage usage
• AoE burst damage
• That noise Health and Rage Stones make when they get crunched
• Lots of Explosions

This build is all about the RAGE! Using pieces of the new Ares Armor, this set-up boasts high burst damage capabilities by maximizing the chance that Health and Rage Stones drop, turning each one into a deadly blast. Make even the most unassuming arenas a minefield of pain for your enemies with this explosively good combo!

Armor:

• [NEW IN NG+] Cuirass of Ares – Rage hits have a chance to drop a Health Stone. Health Stones will also grant Rage and all stones trigger bigger explosions.
• Giptumaðr’s Gauntlets 
• [NEW IN NG+] War Belt of Ares – Activating Rage when Rage Meter is fill increases all damage done for a short duration.

Enchantments:

• [NEW IN NG+] Mannvit – Runic/Cooldown stat boost.
• [NEW IN NG+] Fjölkyngi – Runic/Vitality stat boost.
• Niflheim Set Bonus
• Stone Idol of Souls  
• Seal of Runic Storm
• Eir’s Armament
• Boon of Valor

Weapon Attachments:

• All: Anything prioritizing high Runic and/or Luck

Relic:

Spartan Rage:  

Companion – Weapons:

• Atreus and Freya: Player Preference

Companion – Accessories:

Companion – Runic Summon:

• Atreus: Bitter Squirrel 
• Freya: Player Preference

How does it play?

This build is very unique and a TON of fun! The primary goal is making use of exploding Health and Rage Stones as much as possible during the fight to turn the ground just as hostile to your enemies as Kratos.

With this set-up, you’ll get incredible value when you activate your Spartan Rage. The Boon of Valor and War Belt of Ares will both provide you a powerful damage buff, while the Cuirass of Ares increases the chance that a Health Stone will drop, as well as the damage caused when you explode them. Additionally, the Cuirass will synergize well with the Stone Idol of Souls Enchantment to give you more consistent Rage replenishment for frequent use.

With this build’s extremely high Luck stat, you’ll have a big chance for a stone to drop from any Runic Attack or Rage hit. Combine that with the Bitter Squirrel Runic Summon and you’ll be stomping stones left and right throughout every encounter. 

Once you’ve got the ground covered, get in close and activate the Hilt of Hofuð Relic to keep your enemies locked in place with a Realm Shift while you crush the stones to chain high damage explosions!

Zeus’ Wrath

Build by: Evan Gilbert, QA Analyst

Try this if you like:

• Huge AoE damage
• Crowd control
• Frequent use of Runic Attacks and Relic
• Swapping weapons

This build encourages repeated Runic Attacks and Relic usage through Cooldown buffs to keep the ground covered in high-damage AoEs while cycling weapons. Not only does this set-up mete out punishment to multiple enemies at once, but it also emphasizes crowd control and positioning capabilities so you can take full control over the battlefield like a true Spartan general.

Armor:

• Giptumaðr’s Breastplate
• Berserker Gauntlets
• [NEW IN NG+] War Belt of Zeus – Increases Melee and Runic damage by 20%, while increasing damage received by 40%.

Enchantments:

• [NEW IN NG+] Vald – Cooldown/Strength stat boost.
• [NEW IN NG+] Mannvit – Runic/Cooldown stat boost. 
• [NEW IN NG+] Hjartablóð – Vitality/Luck stat boost.
• [NEW IN NG+] Guiding Light Engraving – Chance to increase Strength, Runic, and Luck of Kratos’ weapons. 
• [NEW IN NG+] Fallen Stars Engraving – Greatly reduces damage taken when using a Runic Attack or Relic.
• Attuned Runic Gem
• Seal of the Runic Storm
• Boon of Wrath 
• Use for Multiple Enemy Encounters: Eir’s Armaments 
• [NEW IN NG+] Use for Boss Encounters: Radiance Engraving – Chance to grant a Blessing of Runic on any last-second evade.

Leviathan Axe:

• Attachment: Grip of the Nine Realms – Chosen for stat boost, do not use Momentous Shift unless necessary as it will consume your Permafrost gauge.
• Light Runic: Winter’s Bite
• Heavy Runic: Mists of Helheim

Blades of Chaos:

• Attachment: Pommels of the True Flame
• Light Runic: Flame of Anguish
• Heavy Runic: Meteoric Slam

Draupnir Spear:

• Attachment: Hind of Weightless Recovery 
• Light Runic: Whisper of the World
• Heavy Runic: Vindsvalr’s Windstorm 

Shield:

• Dauntless Shield
• Rönd of Expedition

Relic:

Spartan Rage:  

Companion – Weapons, Accessories, Runic Summons:

• Atreus and Freya: Player Preference

How does it play?

This build is especially great when dealing with groups of enemies. It has an emphasis on large AoE Runic Attacks and Cooldown reduction, so reaching multiple foes across any arena won’t be a problem. Frequent use of your Runic Attacks and Relic may leave Kratos vulnerable while he casts them, so be careful with your timing and positioning when using this build.

Begin an encounter by using the Hilt of Hrotti. This Relic will apply a mark to enemies that heavily reduces Cooldown when dealing damage to them. Then quickly use a Runic Attack from each weapon to activate the effect of the Seal of Runic Storm for additional Bifröst damage. If you need to group enemies up, use the Draupnir Spear’s Light Runic Attack Whisper of the World before you start applying your heavy-hitting AoEs.

Continue cycling through your weapons while using your Runic Attacks to build momentum which will result in even more buffs and reductions in cooldown times. Since you will be applying status effects with your Runic Attacks, once your Spartan Rage Meter has filled you can activate Wrath to deal heavy damage.

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We hope these builds have inspired you to jump back into God of War Ragnarök’s New Game + mode! There are countless combinations waiting to be discovered, we can’t wait to see what our community creates. 

Got a creative build? Share it with us on the official Santa Monica Studio Discord!For the latest updates around God of War Ragnarök, make sure you follow Santa Monica Studio on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

It’s already been a pretty good year for horror movies, but nothing that’s come out so far is quite as good (or disturbing) as Talk to Me. The first trailer for the film was released on Tuesday ahead of its July 28 release date and showed off just a bit of the gruesomeness that this possession movie has up its sleeve.

The movie follows a group of teens who have a mysterious statue of a hand (supposedly a real one that’s been mummified) that can connect them with the spirits of the dead. Just like any good teen would, the group immediately start using it like a party drug, letting spirits possess them for a short of amount of time to snatch a hard-to-find high. Of course, one of them lets a spirit stay for a little too long and everything goes south quickly.

It’s an excellent premise that gives the movie room for plenty of room for scares and fun, and a few incredibly gory twists. All of that helps to already make it one of Polygon’s favorite movies of the year so far.

Talk to Me premiered at Sundance 2023 to rave reviews and was quickly purchased for release by A24. The movie is directed by first-time feature filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, and stars Sophie Wilde (You Don’t Know Me), Alexandra Jensen (Joe vs. Carole), and Miranda Otto (The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King).

Media Molecule has announced that it is ending live support of Dreams. From this September, no more updates will be provided for the game, and many community events will be concluded.

In a post to the Dreams website, Media Molecule explained that live support will end on September 1, 2023. Along with the end of any updates, the studio is also bringing events such as DreamsCom, All Hallows’ Dreams, and the Impy Awards to a close.

“We’re very proud of Dreams and grateful for the way you, the community, have embraced all it has to offer,” said Media Molecule in the post. “Whilst we’ve always had the desire to build on the foundation of Dreams and expand the experience, when reviewing our plans we were not able to define a sustainable path. We made the decision to change the studio product strategy. This is obviously disappointing to many people inside and outside of Mm, however we are incredibly excited for what will come next.”

The studio made it clear that Dreams will still be available after September 1, and players will continue to be able to play, create, and share with others. The game will also remain available to purchase.

“Although this is challenging news we do have a few more updates on the way, including the much anticipated Tren, and a significant improvement to animation and our last Create mode update,” the developer promised.

While active development on Dreams will finish, it does seem as if Media Molecule intends to support Dreams in other ways in the future. The post promises that “We will continue to share and celebrate creations in Dreams with the wider world on our social channels, our streams, Impsider roundups and more.” In-game curation will continue, ensuring that the most interesting creations are promoted to the community.

This change comes as Media Molecule works to “shift our focus to an exciting new project.” What that new project is has yet to be detailed; “we’re not ready to talk about at this stage, but stay tuned for more information in the future.” The studio has confirmed that the project is not Dreams 2, nor part of the Dreams IP.

14 Community Creations Made In Dreams