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Tag: PlayStation

  • Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree guides and walkthroughs

    Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree guides and walkthroughs

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    Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC poses one big question, the type of earthshaking query that can rattle the philosophical foundation of any gamer’s mindset: “What if Elden Ring, but more?”

    In truth, you’re the only person who can answer that question for yourself. But if you’ve played a bunch of the base game — and hit all the pre-requisites for accessing the DLC — one look at Shadow of the Erdtree is likely enough impetus to sigh, sit down, and recognize it’s time to do it all again.

    As with all things Elden Ring, there’s no need to brave this expansion alone. Start with our guide on the recommended level for Shadow of the Erdtree, then see what to do first in the Elden Ring DLC, or get lost in our interactive map. From there, if you find yourself stuck on any of the byzantine legacy dungeons, check out our walkthroughs for Belurat, Castle Ensis, and Shadow Keep.

    We have guides on where to find DLC map fragments and DLC talismans, plus guides on two collectibles specific to Shadow of the Erdtree: Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes. Those are in addition to lists on spells, weapons, and armor introduced in the DLC.

    And, go figure, there’s no shortage of horrible bosses here. A particular enemy giving you grief? Our guides can help you beat the Blackgaol Knight; Divine Beast Dancing Lion; Rellanna, Twin Moon Knight; and the Golden Hippopotamus.

    Yes, “more Elden Ring” might sound like a daunting proposition. But Shadow of the Erdtree retains one quality that made the base game such a standout: It’s way easier (and way more fun) when you phone a friend.

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    Polygon Staff

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  • 9 games that need to be at Summer Game Fest or it’s so over

    9 games that need to be at Summer Game Fest or it’s so over

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    We are so back. And by “we,” I mean video games. At a half-dozen slickly produced promotional events over the next week, games will be teased in the form of captivating cinematic trailers with promises to push the medium forward.

    The annual Summer Game Fest extravaganza, host Geoff Keighley’s replacement for E3, kicks off the promotional activities on Friday, June 7. The rest of the weekend is also filled with similar hours-long events from Xbox, Activision, Ubisoft, Devolver Digital, and other organizers who have rallied smaller, indie-created games for a combined show of force.

    There’s an expectation that the annual parade of trailers for exciting new games will include plenty of games that won’t be out for many months, if not years, after their unveilings. To be clear, that happens every year. And I’m here to remind you that there are countless unreleased games that were announced with gusto at similar events in years past — some of which have slipped from the public consciousness, and we’re convinced that if they don’t show up in a meaningful way over the next couple weeks, it’s so over.*

    *It’s not really over, especially given the volatile state of the video game industry. But we’re getting pretty worried/impatient about the following games and honestly hope they show up, look great, and will be critical and commercial successes — all of them.

    Monolith’s Wonder Woman game

    Announced in 2021, developer Monolith Productions promised to bring its patented Nemesis System from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor to a game based on Wonder Woman. We were excited about it, even with the taste of Wonder Woman 1984 relatively fresh in our mouths, but haven’t heard a peep about the game since then. DC’s approach to video games based on its characters has changed since the announcement of Wonder Woman, and we remain hopeful that Monolith can capture the magical feeling of battling wisecracking Orcs in a game that gives us control of Diana Prince and her golden lasso.

    Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell remake

    Another announcement that dates back to 2021? Ubisoft Toronto’s plan to remake the original Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell. The new Splinter Cell promises to take advantage of 20 years of technical innovations and to rework parts of the game’s story “that may not have aged particularly well,” creative director Chris Auty said in 2022. Showing off the Splinter Cell remake at Sunday’s Xbox Games Showcase would go a long way to appeasing longtime Xbox fans, with a deeper dive ideally poised for Monday’s Ubisoft Forward event. Just sayin’.

    Skate. (Skate 4)

    Credit to Electronic Arts: The publisher and development team, Full Circle, has been very transparent about the development of the next Skate game — which is called skate., not Skate 4, officially — and opened up playtesting to in-progress versions of the game. But please give us the new Skate already! How about a release date? Barring that, can I get a beta key? I want to flump, too.

    Capcom’s Pragmata

    It’s been four years since Capcom revealed Pragmata at Sony’s big unveiling of the PlayStation 5. Pragmata’s been delayed several times since then, and the last we heard about it was when Capcom pushed it back indefinitely. Is Pragmata joining the increasingly long list of games coming in 2025? It’s starting to feel like it.

    Rare’s Everwild

    We’re nearing the five-year anniversary of Everwild’s unveiling. Eighteen months later, we learned that developer Rare had reportedly rebooted the game with “a complete overhaul of the game’s design and direction.” Frankly, we just want to find out what Everwild even is — especially since Rare has proven that given the right development resources, it can turn good games into great games.

    Transformers: Reactivate

    Call me an idealist, but I’m always willing to give a Transformers game the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes you get an unexpected surprise — a Transformers: Devastation, if you will. So when Splash Damage teased Transformers: Reactivate in 2022 with a moody cover of Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive,” I was immediately on board. But we haven’t heard much about the cooperative online action game since, and that’s a shame. I’ve been in transform-and-roll-out mode for the past 18 months and I’m concerned.

    Perfect Dark

    Announced at 2020’s The Game Awards, developer The Initiative’s Perfect Dark reboot promised to revive a long-dormant franchise and serve as a cornerstone of the Xbox Series X’s lineup of game exclusives. But the studio and owner Microsoft have said very little about their new Perfect Dark and what we can expect from Joanna Dark’s return. We continue to wait for it, alongside Xbox Game Studios’ Avowed, Contraband, Fable, The Outer Worlds 2, and State of Decay 3.

    Kingdom Hearts 4

    We’re now two years out from the announcement of Kingdom Hearts 4, a reveal timed to the Square Enix-Disney role-playing game franchise’s 20th anniversary. It increasingly looks like we’ll have to wait for Kingdom Hearts’ 25th birthday to actually get our hands on Sora’s next adventure. Given how long it’s taken Square Enix to realize its Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy — to say nothing of its next mainline Dragon Quest game — we don’t actually expect to see Kingdom Hearts 4 showing up any time soon. There’s a painful dose of reality.

    Hollow Knight Silksong

    It’s not happening, is it? Any time soon, I mean. That’s fine. Everything’s fine.

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    Michael McWhertor

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  • A Stunning Zelda Lego Set, A Rocky Return For MultiVersus, And More Of The Week’s Top News

    A Stunning Zelda Lego Set, A Rocky Return For MultiVersus, And More Of The Week’s Top News

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    Image: Warner Bros.

    Multiversus, the Warner Bros. crossover platform fighter starring Batman, Shaggy, Arya Stark and more, is out for real this time after going into a year-long hibernation. Now that it’s back and out of beta, the fighting game community is assessing if it could have the longevity of fighting games like Super Smash Bros. And some have already realized that smaller local tournaments, which often keep the game’s scene alive, could have trouble running Multiversus. That’s because, one significant change to the free-to-play model may make it prohibitively expensive to host Multiversus tournaments. – Kenneth Shepard Read More

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    Kotaku Staff

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  • 14 Great Deals From the Sony Days of Play Sale

    14 Great Deals From the Sony Days of Play Sale

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    What better way to kick off summer than to spend your time indoors, grinding through levels and battling epic bosses? The Sony Days of Play Sale has arrived, bringing with it discounts on games, consoles, PlayStation Plus subscriptions, and more. These deals last through June 12, though individual discounts may expire as stock is depleted. We’ve rounded up our favorite price drops below.

    Be sure to check out our lists of the Best PS5 Games, the Best PSVR 2 Games, and the Best PS5 Accessories for additional recommendations and helpful tips.

    Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

    If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.

    Console and Accessory Deals

    Photograph: Amazon

    This is one of the best outright discounts we’ve seen for the Sony PlayStation 5 (8/10, WIRED Recommends). We reviewed the original version; this discount is for the Slim version, which has more storage and a slightly different design than the original. The console is fantastic overall, with incredible graphics and a DualSense controller that helps make gaming experiences more immersive. For $50 less, you can get the PS5 Digital Edition (on sale for $400). This may be a better pick if your gaming library is largely digital. You can always add on an external disc drive for around $80, though we think it’s worth shelling out the extra $50 for the included disc drive version—it’ll save you money in the long run, as opposed to buying the drive separately. Finally, it’s worth mentioning that if you purchase through Sony directly, you’ll get 12 months of Netflix Premium for free.

    The Sony PSVR 2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes with some sticker shock, considering the fact that it costs as much as a new console. But this is one of the best deals we’ve seen for the headset, and if you’re into virtual reality gaming, this is an excellent option. It’s easy to use and comfortable to wear, and the games library is always expanding. Check out our Best PlayStation VR Games guide for a list of our favorites. Note that for $50 more, you can get the Sony PSVR 2 bundled with Horizon Call of the Mountain—it’s a fun flagship with many immersive elements. Note that if you purchase through Sony directly, you’ll get a year of Netflix Premium for free.

    Add some razzle-dazzle to your console with these discounted covers. The deal isn’t all that incredible, but the color selection sure is. Installation is easy—just pop off the white panel that came with your console and slot in the new one. Our list of the Best PS5 Accessories has more picks.

    Game and Subscription Deals

    Screenshot from the game Marvel's SpiderMan 2 featuring SpiderMan fighting a villain

    Courtesy of Sony

    This is one of the Best PlayStation 5 Games you can play. You’ll get to fight baddies as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales (though not simultaneously). Combat is fluid, and the graphics are downright cinematic. Read more about the game in our glowing review, and be sure to check out our list of tips before you start slinging and swinging.

    By now, you’ve probably played The Last of Us: Part II (WIRED Review). If you haven’t, first of all, what are you doing with your life, and second of all, now’s the time—it’s on sale for $40, a $20 discount. If you haven’t yet played the sequel, you can also pick it up for cheaper than usual. It follows in the original’s footsteps—sometimes well, sometimes poorly—and takes place four years after the first game ends. It’s gruesome and gratuitously violent. We still think it’s worth playing.

    This excellent title dives deeper into narrative details than previous games in the series, resulting in what we think is a better and more well-rounded experience. God of War: Ragnarök also has more than 60 accessibility options. It’s a game well worth your time, especially if you’ve played others in the series, and especially at this price.

    Screenshot of Horizon Forbidden West featuring character walking on mountain ridge in front of small town

    Horizon Forbidden West keeps players involved in the narrative for a few hours before setting them loose in its open world. Courtesy of Sony

    More Game Deals:

    Note that you may need to sign in to see these deals. Sony is offering tiered discounts on 12-month PlayStation Plus memberships. You can save 20 percent on PlayStation Plus Essential ($64), 25 percent on PlayStation Plus Extra ($101), and 30 percent on PlayStation Plus Premium ($112). All of these memberships will be set to automatically renew, so set a reminder to cancel if you don’t want to pay full price next year. Learn more about the tiers and their differences in our PlayStation Plus guide.

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    Louryn Strampe

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  • Everything We Saw At PlayStation’s May 2024 State Of Play

    Everything We Saw At PlayStation’s May 2024 State Of Play

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    On May 30, 2024, Sony treated PlayStation fans to a brief-yet-packed showing of some games it has around the corner. Some of these titles are expected to arrive this year on PS5 (as well as PC), while a few others are likely to arrive next year.

    So let’s dive into everything Sony showed off today.


    Concord

    PlayStation

    Concord, the upcoming online first-person hero shooter, got its debut showing today with a highlight on its unique characters as well as in-engine gameplay. It’s definitely giving some witty banter, sci-fi, Marvel-esque vibes to my ears and eyes. Concord comes out on August 23, 2024.


    God of War Ragnarok comes to PC on September 19, 2024

    PlayStation

    God of War Ragnarok is coming to PC! I’m sure you already suspected that, but we got a look at daddy Kratos smashing up baddies with some previews of its PC features, such as ultrawide support and all the major super sampling tech, and it comes with the game’s great Valhalla DLC too! Kratos’ latest adventure arrives on PC on September 19, 2024.


    Dynasty Warriors Origins

    DYNASTY WARRIORS: Origins – Announcement Trailer | PS5 Games

    With epic melee weapon skirmishes against massive amounts of foes, Dynasty Warriors Origins looks like it’s going all in on totally unrealistic yet fully badass combat.


    Infinity Nikki

    Infinity Nikki – Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games

    Are you ready to walk the path of a stylist? That’s what Infinity Nikki promises, with cute outfits, fantasy vistas, platforming, and the ability to shoot little cats out of cannons!


    Ballad of Antara

    Ballad of Antara – Announcement Trailer | PS5 Games

    With moody color themes, epic dark fantasy vibes, and some very satisfying melee weapon sound effects, Ballad of Antara is definitely worth keeping an eye on if you’re into brawls against mythic creatures in a magical realm. Ballad of Antara is expected to arrive in 2025.


    Skydance’s Behemoth

    Skydance’s BEHEMOTH – First Gameplay | PS VR 2 Games

    Hey, remember the PS VR2? Sorry, but hey, it’s nice to see some new games coming out for Sony’s somewhat struggling headset. With both first-person sword battles and some neat mechanics with a rope weapon you can use to pull enemies and weapons around, this could prove to be a very satisfying VR experience.


    Alien Rogue Incursion

    Alien Rogue Incursion – First Gameplay | PS VR 2 Games

    Alien Rogue Incursion aims to bring its HR Giger-inspired horror vibes to a PlayStation VR headset near you…you know, if you feel you won’t die of absolute fraking terror.


    Marvel Rivals

    Marvel Rivals – PlayStation Closed Beta Announce Trailer | PS5 Games

    It’s like third-person Overwatch but you know, with a Marvel license or something! Joking aside, Rivals may set itself apart with its third-person action and good use of its source material.


    Where Winds Meet

    Where Winds Meet – Announce Trailer | PS5 Games

    With a trailer focusing on some tense and speedy-lookin’ one-on-one showdowns, Where Winds Meet is currently in development for PS5.


    Until Dawn

    Until Dawn – Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games

    Supermassive’s 2015 interactive teen horror movie is being rebuilt and upgraded for current hardware. Until Dawn’s PS5 and PC trailer at this month’s State of Play wasn’t short on gruesome contraptions and hellish ways to see its characters murdered.


    Path of Exile 2

    Path of Exile 2 – Console Announcement Trailer | PS5 Games

    Grinding Gear Games’ Path of Exile 2 is set to arrive on PS5 in 2024. Cast into a dark fantasy world tortured by monsters and disease, players will have to take on the role of fearless warriors seeking victory and, of course, better and better loot. Keep this one on your radar if Diablo 4 hasn’t been doing it for you. Path of Exile 2 arrives on PS5 via Early Access in late 2024.


    Silent Hill 2

    Silent Hill 2 – Release Date Trailer | PS5 Games

    Today we got a closer look at the upcoming remake of horror classic Silent Hill 2. Complete with a very Resident Evil 4-inspired camera set up and gruesome beasts, time will tell if this remake lives up to the hype when it launches on October 8, 2024.


    Monster Hunter Wilds

    Monster Hunter Wilds – 1st Trailer | PS5 Games

    We finally got a real look at the next entry in the beloved Monster Hunter franchise. Yes, there are cute Palicos as well as menacing beasts. Tonight’s trailer showed off some of the game’s world too, which sports sandstorms and plenty of open space to engage in battle with creatures while riding aboard your bird mount. The game is expected to arrive in 2025.


    Astro Bot

    ASTRO BOT – Announcement Trailer | PS5 Games

    Hope you weren’t tired of our pal Astro! Looking far more ambitious and elaborate than the delightful PS5 pack-in game Astro’s Playroom and absolutely packed with cameos from throughout PlayStation history to trigger your brand nostalgia, this definitely looks like it’ll rise above the status of novelty to be something rather interesting. Astro Bot arrives on September 6.


    And that wraps everything we saw at tonight’s State of Play. It was a short but sweet showing of some neat-looking games coming to the PS5.

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    Claire Jackson

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  • Where in Neomuna is Archie in Destiny 2?

    Where in Neomuna is Archie in Destiny 2?

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    Archie returns to Destiny 2 with a trip to the Neomuna following the May 28, 2024, weekly reset.

    This is the final step in a series of “Where in the System is Archie” quests in the wake of the Into the Light update — which have been staggered out week-by-week in the lead up to The Final Shape.

    Note this quest expires on the June 3 weekly reset — a full day before The Final Shape launches on June 4. This is because Bungie will take Destiny 2 down for 24 hours ahead of the expansion.

    Remember, provided you complete any Archie quest before the arrival of The Final Shape, you’ll get your hands on the Blue Steel shader, while the lore for all Archie quests will be available from June 4 on.


    How to start ‘Where in Neomuna is Archie?’ in Destiny 2

    To start the final “Where is Archie” quest, head to the Tower’s Annex and find the paw prints.

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    You can reach this location by using the southwest-most fast travel point, then traveling straight ahead down the corridor. The paw prints will appear on the ledge to your right.

    Investigate the prints and go talk to Ada-1 (found in the Annex proper opposite) to start the latest quest.

    Starting the “Where in Neomuna is Archie” quest in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Now, head to Neomuna, and speak to Nimbus at Strider’s Gate. Once done, the search begins.

    Speaking to Nimbus about the Archie quest in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon


    All Archie Neomuna locations

    Here is where to find Archie in Neomuna, clue-by-clue.

    ‘Archie stopped by Nimbus’ post hoping to snap an action figure’ location

    A Guardian finds Archie’s footprints in Nimbus’ gym

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    This clue refers to Nimbus’s gym room, which is also where you place all the action figure collectibles on Neomuna.

    From Nimbus, jump directly down and to the right, off the platform. The building will be right in front of you. Go inside and you’ll find Archie’s footprints between the coffee tables.

    Now you’re in for quite a journey to visit the Veil.


    ‘Archie wanted to get caught up on everything we know about the Veil’ location

    This clue refers to the Veil Containment and Irkalla Complex areas, which are the two southeastern-most points on the Neomuna map.

    A map of Neomuna in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    To reach this place, you can’t just launch Veil Containment, as you’ll need to be outside. Instead, you need to go through the Zephyr Concourse and then the ESI Terminal. Keep left the entire way there and you’ll eventually find a portal, which will take you to the Veil Containment area.

    A Guardian prepares to enter a portal in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Continue up to the door, where you’ll be attacked by a bunch of Cabal and a Tormentor. Kill everything, including the Tormentor, and return to the door. You’ll find Archie’s footprints just outside of the door to the Veil.

    A Guardian finds Archie’s footprints in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Now you’ll need to go on another long walk near Liming Harbor.


    ‘Archie wanted to check out the views from where Guardians mastered Strand’ location

    This clue refers to Maya’s Rest, which is the sandy area to the east of Liming Harbor.

    A map of Neomuna in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Land at Liming Harbor and take the path east through the rocks. This is basically a straight shot to Maya’s Retreat, but it takes a bit to get there. Continue on until you reach the sandy area.

    A Guardian looks for Archie in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    You’ll have to kill a lot of Cabal here, including a Colossus boss. Once you kill the boss, all of the other enemies will disappear and you’ll be able to collect the footprints, which are overlooking the city.

    A Guardian finds Archie’s footprints in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Mercifully, Archie’s final stop is a much shorter run.


    ‘Archie’s last stop. Archie wanted to try and win a prize for you’ location

    This final clue refers to the Thrilladrome Lost Sector in Liming Harbor.

    A map showing the Thrilladrome lost sector in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Land in Liming and make your way north to the Lost Sector entrance. Walk inside and just do the normal version — as-in don’t launch the Legend or Master version if they’re available — and eventually you’ll find Archie waiting by a claw machine. Do not go through the Vex portal at the end. If you do, you’ll miss Archie, who is to the right of the portal.

    A Guardian finds Archie in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Go give him some pets and you’ll finish the exploration portion of the quest. Now it’s time to head back to Ada-1 in the Tower. She’ll give you an Archie Plush Toy and 10 Trophy of Bravery tokens — useful for getting more Brave weapons. Whether you keep the plush is up to you. Archie will be sad if you don’t!

    A Guardian receives an Archie plush in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon


    The Archie quests will disappear entirely with the weekly reset of June 3, so this is your final chance to find Archie.

    If you’re looking for more to do in the Into the Light update, you can take on Pantheon bosses, complete “Zero Hour,” and for “The Whisper,” find Oracle locations, and upgrade Whisper of the Worm with Taken Blights.

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    Ryan Gilliam

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  • The 18 Best PlayStation Plus Games

    The 18 Best PlayStation Plus Games

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    Sony released the PlayStation 5 well over three years ago, and gamers who initially duked it out to snag an early console may now have their sights set on the PS5 Pro upgrade model, rumored to launch later this year. Whether you have a PS5 or you’re still holding on to that dusty PS4, PlayStation Plus is a worthwhile video game subscription service. Even though longtime PlayStation devotees may have to really dig through the catalog to uncover a delightful surprise, new adoptees will revel in the available choices.

    The three tiers of PS Plus are Essential, Extra, and Premium. Essential is the cheapest option; for $10 a month you gain access to online multiplayer and can download a couple of curated titles each month. The Extra tier is similar to Xbox Game Pass, and it’s the main focus of this roundup. You receive access to over 100 games for $15 a month with this option. Another $3 elevates you to the Premium tier, which mainly adds streaming access to classic PlayStation games.

    For a deeper dive into this subscription service, check out our PS Plus explainer. Searching for even more PlayStation picks? We got you covered with this list of top-tier PS5 games.

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    Reece Rogers

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  • How to finish ‘Zero Hour’ and get Outbreak Perfected in Destiny 2

    How to finish ‘Zero Hour’ and get Outbreak Perfected in Destiny 2

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    “Zero Hour” is the second secret mission to ever come to Destiny 2, and it’s finally back in the game as part of the Into the Light update and the May 14 reset. Much like the reprised “The Whisper” mission and its Whisper of the Worm reward, the updated version of “Zero Hour” rewards a fully craftable version of the Exotic pulse rifle Outbreak Perfected.

    In this Destiny 2 guide, I’ll walk you through how to complete “Zero Hour” and get the pattern for Outbreak Perfected. Whether this is your first time experiencing “Zero Hour” or it’s just been too many years for you to remember the path, I’ve got you covered.


    How to start ‘Zero Hour’ in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    To start “Zero Hour,” all you need to do now is talk to Ada-1.

    Head to the Tower Annex — the landing point over by the Drifter — and head up to Ada-1, the vendor who normally just handles transmog. She’ll give you the “Asset Protection” quest. With the quest in hand, all you need to do is open up the “Into the Light” submenu in the Director and select “Zero Hour.”

    Completing the Exotic mission and finishing the quest at Ada-1 will reward you with the pattern for Outbreak Perfected.


    ‘Zero Hour’ walkthrough in Destiny 2

    You have 40 minutes to beat this mission on the Normal difficulty.

    Navigating the Destiny 1 Tower in ‘Zero Hour’

    “Zero Hour” starts out with a lot of combat as you first adventure through the Destiny 1 Tower. You’ll be dealing with some powerful Fallen here, so make sure to put on your best gear and an assortment of ad-clearing weapons. As with all dense Fallen encounters, the Riskrunner Exotic submachine gun will serve you well if you’re having trouble.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Make your way through the bazaar and into the small vent. On the other side, you’ll be where the Speaker’s chambers once were. Clear the enemies, and move through the sweeper bot hallway.

    You’ll find yourself in the courtyard, which is filled with enemies of varying type and power. There’s even a Brig here now, an enemy type that didn’t exist when the original mission came out. Take them all down to unlock the rest of the path.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Continue through the old tower until you reach the flaming scaffolding where the original opening mission of Destiny 2 takes place. Slide under the big door next to the M and drop down the elevator shaft. Climb in the vent and follow it.

    Bungie via Polygon

    You’ll emerge in a giant shipyard. Turn immediately left, and you’ll see a ship sitting below you. Run up to it and crouch under its nose. Follow the path and take a right into the vent. Follow the hallway you drop into and take the other vent above you. Take a left and enter another vent behind the toolbox.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Follow the vent and take your first right. There are a few doorways below, but you only need to take the one directly under you. If you’re the first player to arrive, you’ll have a handy metal lip to stand on. If you’re following a teammate, it’ll have broken off by now. Step off the ledge, turn around, and push forward against the wall as you fall. Climb into the ledge and follow the vent.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Jump onto the first piece of yellow scaffolding and then onto the next. Look toward the tower. There are two drain openings and a platform to your left. Depending on your class, you can either jump straight to the landing or hop your way to the landing through the drain openings.

    Bungie via Polygon

    On the landing, look off and down toward the tower. You’ll see a small protrusion. This is your target. Jump off the landing and move toward the wall. Land on the antenna.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Look out toward where the city and turn left. Jump on the pipes until you reach the next landing. You can pull a switch here to help your friends catch up.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Jump onto the scaffolding above you and run up to the open vent. Jump in and follow the path. You’ll be in a big elevator shaft. Start climbing up a few flights until you’re at the second from the top. Shoot open the vent on the right and climb through.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Now you’ll be surrounded by spinning fans, each of which have an Explosive Shank in the middle. Look for the red lights and jump into them. If you hold against the wall, you’ll save yourself from the fans. When you land, be careful — don’t hit the ground too hard and skid off into another fan. Repeat this process, carefully taking out or maneuvering around the Shanks, until you’re at the bottom of the shaft. Climb in another vent.

    Bungie via Polygon

    You’ll now find yourself in a long hallway that looks completely blank. Jump off the ledge and onto the silver vents hanging off the wall. These are tricky to stand on, so limit your movement. Jump to the next one and finally into the open door on the far side. Once again, there is a switch here to help your friends through the puzzle if they’re lagging behind.

    How to navigate the ‘Zero Hour’ maze

    Bungie via Polygon

    Follow the vents until you get to Ventilation. Walk forward and take a look at the map, which you can see clearly in the image above.

    This is the maze section of “Zero Hour,” and it looks much scarier than it actually is. The white lines represent hallways you can walk through, with the red arrows denoting switches you need to hit. You start the map in the center of the bottom-most rectangle’s southern white line. When you’ve had a good look at the map, turn around and drop down two floors of vents.

    You’re in the maze now, just like in the picture. We recommend sending one player right and another left, just to speed the process up. The instructions below are for the right-side player, so left-side players should just mirror my instructions.

    Bungie via Polygon

    1. Run forward and take a left. Keep running until you find a split in the hall.
    2. Turn right and into another rectangle.
    3. Follow the path and hit the first switch.
    4. Keep running until you reach the original hallway.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Here, you’ll likely have to wait for a wall of electricity to pass. If the electricity is just starting to arc, you can run through. Otherwise, you’ll have to sit and brood — Darth Maul style.

    Bungie via Polygon

    When the electricity drops, take a right turn. You should start hearing an unsettling sound about now. An electric shredder is also running the maze with you, named TR3-VR by Bungie and the Destiny community. There are some alcoves to hide in so it can pass, but just to your left you should see a giant cavern with pipes in it.

    Jump on the pipes and wait for the machine to pass. You can tell if the shredder is chasing you by its sound or giant red light.

    Bungie via Polygon

    With the machine gone, jump back over to your hallway and take a left. Follow the path until a hallway opens on the right. Go hit the switch like last time and return to your normal hallway.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Take a right and follow the path until you can take another right. This is the exit. If you’ve hit all four switches, the doors will be open.

    Run into the new room and hop on one of the elevators to your right or left. Hit the button and wait for them to slowly lift you into the rafters.

    Bungie via Polygon

    Jump onto the platform and shoot out the vent. Head down the chute and stay in the center of the slide. Jump to slow your momentum, or risk death by splattering against a wall. When you come out of the chute, turn left and then immediately right. Crawl through the vent on the floor.

    How to navigate the vault maze in ‘Zero Hour’

    Bungie via Polygon

    You’ll be in the old Cryptarch Vault now, and the mission is nearly done.

    On the opposite side of the Vault’s door, you’ll see some pipes on the wall. Next to the pipe, you’ll see the Cryptarch symbol. Go stand by it and the secret door will open. Run forward until you reach the section with white floor panels. You’ll need to step on these in the correct order or you’ll get incinerated.

    There are six rows of panels, each are five panels across. We’ve numbered the panels below in order, so R1 – 1 is the farthest left panel on the first row, R1 – 2 is the farthest left panel in the second row, R3 – 5 is the farthest right of the third row, and so on.

    You’ll start on the second tile from the right on the first row. From there, here’s the order you should follow, with the direction you need to head in in parentheses:

    • R1 – 4 (Start)
    • R2 – 4 (Forward)
    • R2 – 3 (Left)
    • R2 – 2 (Left)
    • R2 – 1 (Left)
    • R3 – 1 (Forward)
    • R4 – 1 (Forward)
    • R5 – 1 (Forward)
    • R5 – 2 (Right)
    • R5 – 3 (Right)
    • R4 – 3 (Back)
    • R4 – 4 (Right)
    • R4 – 5 (Right)
    • R5 – 5 (Forward)
    • R6 – 5 (Forward)

    Once you’re through the panels, head to the end of the vault.

    Bungie via Polygon

    At the broken case, take a right and you’ll see a burned hole in the ground. Drop through it. Run forward and hop into another vent. It’s time to fight.

    How to defeat Siriks in ‘Zero Hour’

    Bungie via Polygon

    When you drop down, you’ll find a Fallen Captain wielding a Scorch Cannon: Siriks. They’re surrounded by an army of Fallen.

    Take out Siriks’ Fallen allies. They’ll summon turrets, big Servitors that grant immune shields to everything (these are very annoying, so kill them first) and a ton of Shanks. Just keep killing everything until Siriks’ health is about one-third full. You’ll get a message on your screen that says “Siriks retreats… for now” and the boss will disappear.

    Two Fallen Walker tanks will appear on the raised platforms on your left and right, along with some additional Fallen. Take everything out and you’ll get another ominous message: “Siriks returns… heavily armed.”

    Siriks will drop back into the area in a massive Brig mech. This thing has full health, so it’s going to take some time and work to take it out. Once you manage to blast off theshield on the Brig, the boss will start lobbing massive tank and constant airstrikes. Just keep moving to dodge these attacks and you’ll eventually take it down.

    With Siriks dead, head up to the chest that spawns, say hi to Mithrax, and grab the Outbreak Perfected schematic. Head back to the Tower and talk to Ada-1. She’ll give you the Outbreak Perfected, complete with the pattern attached. Ada-1 will also give you the “Outbreak Refined 1” quest, which you can complete for some additional crafted perk options on your new Outbreak Perfected.

    If you already have the Catalyst for Outbreak Perfected from the original version of “Zero Hour,” you’ll instantly be able to place it on your newly crafted gun. However, if this is your first time running the mission, you’ll need to hop back in on Heroic mode in order to pick up the Catalyst and improve your Outbreak Perfected.

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    Ryan Gilliam

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  • Sony Names PlayStation’s New Bosses

    Sony Names PlayStation’s New Bosses

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    Image: Sony

    Sony has named existing company veterans Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino as the new heads of PlayStation. Hulst will take over and run a new Studio Business Group while Nishino is in charge of the Platform Business Group. The division of roles replaces former CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Jim Ryan, who retired earlier this year, and comes as Sony searches for its next PlayStation 5 blockbusters amid cost-cutting and cancellations.

    “Sony Interactive Entertainment is a dynamic and growing business that delivers incredible entertainment experiences through the connection of content and technology,” interim SIE CEO Hiroki Totoki said in a press release. “These two leaders will have clear responsibilities and will manage strategic direction to ensure the focus remains on deepening engagement with existing PlayStation users and expanding experiences to new audiences.” Both will continue reporting to Totoki who is also Sony’s President, COO and CFO.

    Originally the head of Guerrilla Games, maker of Killzone and Horizon Zero Dawn, Hulst was promoted to head of PlayStation Studios in 2019 following the departure of Shawn Layden. He’s responsible for overseeing Sony’s first-party game development, including hits like Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök. Nishino was previously in charge of PlayStation platform technology and experiences, which he will continue to lead, in addition to now being in charge of third-party relations and commercial operations. Both men take over their new roles on June 1.

    Read More: What Hacked Files Tell Us About The Studio Behind Spider-Man 2

    Ryan announced he was stepping down from PlayStation after decades with the company last fall. Earlier this year, Sony announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including hundreds of layoffs and project cancellations at its studios, and the closure of London Studio. The changes come as big-budget game makers try to negotiate spiraling development costs and a stagnating console gaming market. Sony’s big annual spring PlayStation Showcase is rumored to be happening later this month, though the company previously confirmed that no major new sequels were planned to release in the current fiscal year.

    “I am thrilled to lead the Studio business group and continue to build on our success with PlayStation 5, while preparing for the future,” Hulst said in a press release. “The video game industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in the world and has been built on the marriage of content and technology, and I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of play and entertainment.”

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    Ethan Gach

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  • Helldivers 2 PC players suddenly have to link to a PSN account and they’re not being chill about it

    Helldivers 2 PC players suddenly have to link to a PSN account and they’re not being chill about it

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    Linking to a random third-party account when you just want to play a video game you paid for is truly annoying and, honestly, keeps me from even launching certain games by certain publishers who shall remain nameless. Helldivers 2 players are experiencing this frustration right now, as the PC version of the massively popular third-person shooter .

    New players will be required to link both accounts on May 6, but pre-existing players have until June 4 before the requirement kicks in. Sony says that forcing people to link to a PSN account helps “protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behavior.” Ah, the popular “few bad apples” excuse.

    This was always the plan, according to publisher Sony, but “technical issues” upon launch forced a delay in the linking mandate. In other words, when the PC version came out on February 8, you could just play it like any other game as nature intended, but now you gotta do the whole “insert credentials” rigamarole. This can be time-consuming, particularly if you don’t already have a PSN account or if you’re playing on something like a Steam Deck. Also, some regions where Helldivers 2 is available on PC .

    This has royally pissed off PC players, though it’s worth noting that it’s free to make a PSN account. This has led to and many promises to abandon the game when the linking becomes a requirement, . The frustration over adding yet another barrier to entry after downloading an 80GB game to fears that the PSN account would likely be hacked. While it is true that Sony was the target of a huge hack that impacted 77 million PSN accounts, that was back in 2011. Obama was still in his first term. Also worth noting? , impacting 35 million accounts.

    So maybe gamers are taking things a bit too far here and many are likely to not follow through with promises to stop playing Helldivers 2. That doesn’t change the fact that account linking is annoying. On the plus side, Sony recently promised to as soon as possible, and Helldivers 2 was a day-one release on both Steam and PlayStation consoles. That’s a neat little promise to keep, now where’s Spider-Man 2?

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    Lawrence Bonk

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  • Destiny Might Have Lost Its Chance to Become a TV Show

    Destiny Might Have Lost Its Chance to Become a TV Show

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    There’s a lot of video games set to get TV or film adaptations in the next few years, and even more that seem like they’d be ripe for the picking. Bungie’s Destiny franchise seemed like a viable candidate, especially after the studio was acquired by PlayStation in 2022, but it sounds like any plans to bring the games to a new medium are have currently been dashed.

    According to Forbes’ Paul Tassi earlier in the week, Bungie was reportedly “tossing around” ideas for an animated Destiny series on Netflix before things fell apart.. Allegedly, this was in development prior to the aforementioned PlayStation acquisition, during which Sony said it would help Bungie “nurture the IP they have in a multi-dimensional manner.” (For extra context, this statement was made a few weeks before the Uncharted movie released and became a decent box-office success.) In regards to why it didn’t go forward, Tassi wasn’t sure, though he did say it just may not have gone farther than the scripting phase.

    Destiny 2: Is There Any Way A Destiny Show Is Still Happening At This Point?

    Before Sony bought Bungie, the developer brought on Derrick Tsai as its transmedia head. Tsai was a producer and director at Riot who helped pave the way for Arcane to get made and become a hit over at Netflix. He departed around this time last year, after which the studio hired Warner Bros. alum Gabriel VanHuss to serve as the Destiny’s head of linear media. VanHuss holds that position to this day, and his duties involve expanding the franchise in TV, comics (which it’s previously done), movies, and so on. It’s hard to know where this hypothetical show currently stands: Bungie’s currently focused on the Final Shape expansion dropping in June, its new Marathon game, and still reeling from its highly publicized layoffs (to say nothing of possibly working on Destiny 3). According to Tassi, if the hypothetical show isn’t fully dead, it’s not coming “anytime remotely soon.”

    The idea of Destiny getting a TV show seemed like a cool idea two years ago, but it’s a little more dicey now. Bungie’s hoping to turn things around for both Destiny 2 and the company at large with Final Shape, and revealing a TV show weeks after the expansion drops could easily take things from “we’re so back” to “oh, it’s over” in a heartbeat. The series certainly has the potential to thrive in other mediums, but it’ll unfortunately have to be a waiting game until the smoke clears around The Final Shape.

    [via Eurogamer]


    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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    Justin Carter

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong has become a meme about waiting for games

    Hollow Knight: Silksong has become a meme about waiting for games

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    In the hours leading up to several gaming news events — like an indie event or a Nintendo Direct — you can see the rumblings of people online discussing a game called Hollow Knight: Silksong. Some share digital summoning circles constructed with emojis and dedicate them to the game in the hopes it will make an appearance at a showcase; others simply express their excitement by sharing memes prior to the event. During a digital event itself, you’ll see viewers spam the live chat with messages like “SKONG [with four airhorn emojis],” or “WHERE SILKSONG????!!??” Sometimes, the phrase “Silksong” will even trend online before one of these events because so many people are sharing their excitement.

    All of this ruckus, just because fans just really want to hear a sliver of news about Hollow Knight: Silksong. The game — which fans shorten to Silksong — is the planned sequel to a game called Hollow Knight. Developer Team Cherry first announced the follow-up to its beloved Metroidvania in 2019; since then, it got a splashy trailer in 2022, but no concrete release date. And by now, its dedicated fan base has turned waiting for the game into one giant viral meme.

    What is Hollow Knight: Silksong?

    To understand the lasting popularity of Silksong, we need to look back at the game that preceded it: Hollow Knight. Developer Team Cherry first released the popular Metroidvania in 2017. At the time, the game stunned fans with its fantastical insectoid world and precise combat. Those elements, paired with its rich method of environmental storytelling, resulted in a gem of a game. Polygon hailed it as “unquestionably the finest Metroidvania ever made.”

    Image: Team Cherry

    Hollow Knight has racked up more than its fair share of devoted fans, so when Team Cherry surprised players with the announcement of a full-on sequel called Silksong, it drummed up plenty of buzz. The developers promised an original story, new bugs to meet, and new worlds to explore. What’s more is that fans would get to play as Hornet, a mysterious but beloved side character from the main game.

    Fans excitedly awaited more news about the upcoming game, but none came. Years passed, and Team Cherry didn’t release any more trailers or news. With each passing gaming news event, it seemed all the more inevitable that players would get a release date, or a new trailer, or at least another peek at the project.

    Finally, in 2022, the developer shared a new look at the game at an Xbox Showcase, but even then, the game had no stated release date. According to Xbox, however, the games in that showcase were going to be released in the next 12 months — meaning Silksong should have come out in 2023. But it didn’t. On May 9, 2023, Matthew Griffin from Team Cherry broke the news on X (formerly Twitter) that the game was not yet ready to be released and that fans should “expect more details from [Team Cherry] once we get closer to release.”

    That was the last major update from the team, and since then, fans have been left in limbo — while still repeatedly expressing their hearts’ desires for the game online.

    Why do fans shout about Silksong online?

    In the years since its initial announcement, expressing a desire to see Silksong has become a viral bit online. At this point, you can’t watch a gaming news stream without people mentioning Silksong. People on social media will share fan art, memes, and reaction posts all in anticipation of the game, or making fun of the fact that there might not be more news about it. The avid fandom can spark the ire of other viewers in chats, and Silksong fans have inadvertently psyched up others excited for the game because they so regularly cause the game’s title to trend on X. All because people just want to express a desire to see this game.

    Polygon reached out to Team Cherry to ask about what it’s been like to see fans talk about the game. We will update this article if we hear back.

    Hollow Knight did sell in the millions, but that isn’t necessarily what seems to be causing this reaction to Silksong. It’s just that this game — which is genuinely a fantastic game to play — has inspired a super-dedicated cult following. The people who love the game just really adore it, and they want to see the next game released.

    In this sense, Silksong does just come across as the next generation’s version of the entire “localize Mother 3” movement. Nintendo has never released an official English localization of Mother 3 in North America, but people have been asking for it for years. To this day, fans still beg Nintendo on social media to release the game, and several fans have regularly pulled IRL stunts to bring attention to the game. Being a Mother 3 fan is almost as much about wanting Mother 3 to come out officially in the U.S. as it is actually playing or enjoying the content of the game.

    That all being said, Silksong has a much better chance of being released than the official English version of Mother 3. Team Cherry has assured fans that while the team might not have revealed too much, development is progressing. So I guess fans will have to rely on their summoning circles until then.

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    Ana Diaz

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  • Star Wars Outlaws pre-order guide

    Star Wars Outlaws pre-order guide

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    Star Wars Outlaws, the open-world adventure from Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment, launches Aug. 30 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Players will take on the role of smuggler Kay Vess as they attempt to seek their fortune across a variety of new and classic locations in the Star Wars universe.

    While Respawn Entertainment’s open-world Star Wars Jedi: Survivor puts forth an unforgiving melee combat system akin to Dark Souls, Outlaws seems to channel gameplay elements from the Uncharted franchise. This includes sneaking around, quickly resorting to shooting first if things go sideways, and of course, an ample supply of left hooks.

    Image: Ubisoft / Massive Entertainment

    There are a three versions of Star Wars Outlaws that are available for pre-order. In this post, we’ll dig into:

    • Every pre-order option available, how much they cost, and where you can buy them
    • What bonuses each edition of Star Wars Outlaws includes

    Star Wars Outlaws pre-order editions

    Star Wars Outlaws standard edition

    Image: Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Ltd.

    Pre-ordering the $69.99 standard edition of the game will get you access to the Kessel Runner Bonus Pack which grants exclusive cosmetics for your ship and speeder. The standard version of Star Wars Outlaws is available to pre-order through Ubisoft, PlayStation, Xbox, the Epic Games Store, and Best Buy. Like most recent Ubisoft launches, there’s no Steam version in sight.

    If you intend to play the game on PC via the Ubisoft Connect store, digital retailer Gamesplanet is offering a small discount on pre-orders. Normally $69.99, you can get Star Wars Outlaws for $62.99.


    Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition

    Image: Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Ltd.

    If you want three days of early access to Star Wars Outlaws, you’ll need to pre-order the $109.99 Gold Edition. This version of the game also gets you access to the season pass, which is currently slated to include at least two pieces of post-launch DLC, in addition to the “Jabba’s Gambit” mission at launch. You can currently reserve this version of Star Wars Outlaws from Ubisoft, PlayStation, Xbox, the Epic Games Store, and Best Buy.


    Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition

    An image showing what’s included with the Star Wars Outlaws ultimate edition that costs $129.99. Primarily, it gives gamers 3 days of early access, plus extra story content and an abundance of cosmetic DLC.

    Image: Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Ltd.

    The digital-exclusive Ultimate Edition costs $129.99 and comes packaged with everything included in the cheaper versions. Additionally, this premium version includes additional cosmetics in the form of the Rogue Infiltrator and Sabacc Shark bundles, as well as a digital art book with concepts and storyboards from the game. Currently, you can reserve this version of the game from Ubisoft, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Epic Games Store.

    Alternatively, if you want everything included with the Ultimate Edition but don’t want to pay the full price, you can subscribe to Ubisoft Plus for $17.99 a month. This plan grants you all the same benefits, including three-day early access, and is available on PC and consoles.

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    Alice Jovanée

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  • ‘Readvent of Calamity’ quest walkthrough in Dragon’s Dogma 2

    ‘Readvent of Calamity’ quest walkthrough in Dragon’s Dogma 2

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    “Readvent of Calamity” is a quest you’ll pick up in Dragon’s Dogma 2 the first time you return to Melve. It involves driving off a diseased drake (which is a dragon as opposed to the Dragon), helping out Ulrika, the leader of Melve, and then finding her when she has to leave town.

    Our Dragon’s Dogma 2 will show you how to start “Readvent of Calamity,” the steps you’ll have to follow to complete it, and where to find Ulrika.


    How to start ‘Readvent of Calamity’ in Dragon’s Dogma 2

    Image: Capcom via Polygon

    Once you complete at least one of Captain Brant’s quests (but before you complete “Feast of Deception”) and then head back to Melve (like for the “Oxcart Courier” quest), you’ll find the town under attack by a diseased dragon (or drake — the game is inconsistent on the name). After you deal a bit of damage by attacking the blisters on Puss the Magic Dragon, you’ll drive it off.


    When to visit Melve ‘from time to time’ in Dragon’s Dogma 2

    After the fight, you’ll get a quick cutscene where you talk to Ulrika, Lennart, and Sigurd. And then you’ll get an unhelpfully vague objective to “visit Melve from time to time.”

    You need to wait a day or three before you can continue the quest. Head out of town and take care of other quests for a bit. You can always fast travel to Melve quickly from Vernworth by using the oxcart.

    Dragon’s Dogma 2 map of Melve showing where to find Ulrika

    Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin/Polygon | Sources: Capcom via Polygon

    On your subsequent visit, check in with Ulrika at the large house in Melve. Inside, you’ll witness Ulrika and a government goon named Martin having an argument. The next day, you’ll learn that Ulrika has chosen to flee the village instead of cause problems for everyone.


    Where to find Ulrika in ‘Readvent of Calamity’

    Your next objective will be to figure out where Ulrika fled to. And you won’t have any clues. The short answer here is that Ulrika has fled to Havre Village.

    Dragon’s Dogma 2 map showing the location of Havre Village

    Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin/Polygon | Sources: Capcom via Polygon

    The longer answer is that she won’t (might not?) actually appear there until you complete a couple other quests.

    First, you’ll have to have completed “Monster Culling” for Captain Brant (which you probably already have). After that, you should poke around Harve Village to take on and complete “Scaly Invaders” which ultimately just has you driving out some saurians a few days in a row.

    Dragon’s Dogma 2 Lennart at the end of Readvent of Calamity

    Image: Capcom via Polygon

    After that, Ulrika will appear right at the town’s main crossroad. Talk to her, and she’ll send you back to Lennart in Melve. Report back to him in Melve’s big house, and you’ll get a reward of 4,500 gold and a Ring of Grit.


    For more Dragon’s Dogma 2 walkthroughs, here’s the best order for Captain Brant’s quests, plus how to rescue the caged magistrate, how to reach the Nameless Village, where to find Rodge, how to confront the Arisen’s shadow, and when to attend the coronation.

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    Jeffrey Parkin

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  • The Best Accessories for Your PlayStation 5

    The Best Accessories for Your PlayStation 5

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    It’s not as hard to buy a new PlayStation 5 as it used to be, but its capabilities are still impressive. The cybernetic clamshell tower of a console is packed to the gills with killer hardware. It can run games in native 4K, hit frame rates in excess of 120 frames per second, and output video at 120 hertz for that ultra-silky-smooth look and feel.

    Still, not everything you need comes in the box. A few more add-ons will make your game session that much easier and enjoyable. Sony’s DualShock controller is one of the best game controllers available, and the PS5 is the first console that can really take advantage of a great home theater setup. To that end, we’ve compiled our favorite PS5 accessories, including a few luxury picks for those of you looking to turn your living room into a cathedral for your new PS5.

    Be sure to check out our full review of the PlayStation 5, along with our roundup of our favorite PlayStation games. For more home-theater buying advice, see our Best TVs and Best Soundbars guides.

    Updated March 2024: We added the PlayStation Portal, PlayStation 5 Covers, SteelSeries Arctis 7P+, LG C3, WD Black SN770 SSD, WD P4 Gaming Drive, Yamaha ATS-2090 soundbar, and updated links and prices throughout.

    Jaina Grey contributed to this guide.

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    Eric Ravenscraft

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  • Dragon’s Dogma 2 will soon let you start a new game without deleting your save first

    Dragon’s Dogma 2 will soon let you start a new game without deleting your save first

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    Capcom has released a list of fixes and updates it will make to Dragon’s Dogma 2 “in the near future” — including the much-requested option to start a new game when save data already exists.

    Dragon’s Dogma 2 only offers a single save slot, and presently, players who want to start the game again — perhaps to try a different specialization — can only do so by manually deleting their save file at the system level first. This can be a fiddly process involving disabling cloud saving and, for Steam players, actually locating their game save on the hard drive.

    Capcom said it would add “the option to start a new game when save data already exists” as part of the first wave of updates to Dragon’s Dogma 2. This doesn’t mean it will actually add a second save slot for a new character; the update will simply make it easy to overwrite your save from within the game itself.

    Capcom also said it would add a frame rate cap of 30 frames per second to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions of the game. As it is, the game runs with an uncapped frame rate, meaning it can sometimes run faster than 30 fps, but this can result in inconsistent and juddery performance (especially for players without variable refresh rate displays). A 30 fps cap should ensure a more consistent and stable feel to the game.

    Capcom also said it would add options to switch off the motion blur and ray tracing graphical effects to console versions of Dragon’s Dogma 2, but it warned that doing so “will not affect the frame rate significantly.” Frame rate improvements will come in “future updates,” it said. PC players will now get better-quality results from the DLSS.

    Another target for an early fix is the Art of Metamorphosis item that allows you to change the appearance of your character. Previously in very limited supply, the stock of this item is being increased to 99 at Pawn Guilds. This change appears to be targeted at criticism of the game’s microtransactions, which include the sale of Art of Metamorphosis at $1.99. With this change, it will only be inability to afford the in-game price that would push players toward paying real money to change the looks of their character or Main Pawn. (No changes were announced for other rare items available to buy as microtransactions, such as Wakestones or Portcrystals.)

    Other changes coming soon will make it possible to acquire your own dwelling earlier in the game, as well as various text display and bug fixes.

    Capcom said it would release the updates “as soon as they are ready for distribution on each platform.”

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    Oli Welsh

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  • ‘The Caged Magistrate’ quest walkthrough in Dragon’s Dogma 2

    ‘The Caged Magistrate’ quest walkthrough in Dragon’s Dogma 2

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    “The Caged Magistrate” is one of several quests you receive from Captain Brant in the early stages of Dragon’s Dogma 2. Brant tells you about one Magistrate Waldahr, someone who has stood his ground against Disa and refused to change the Code of Vermund to her benefit when asked, leading to him now sitting in a cell in Vernworth jail — ahem, gaol.

    So Captain Brant has one very simple request of you: set Magistrate Waldahr free. He’ll give you a gaol key so you can let yourself into his cell, but you’ll find that Waldahr needs some convincing first.

    In this Dragon’s Dogma 2 guide, we’ll walk through the entire “Caged Magistrate” quest, including where to find Magistrate Waldahr and how to set him free.


    Where to find the Magistrate in Dragon’s Dogma 2

    Image: Capcom via Polygon

    Enter the palace grounds and head to the objective marked on your map. This is the entrance to Vernworth Castle Gaol Tower. Otto will greet you and allow you through, so make your way downstairs and aside from a couple of rooms to explore and loot, the main area here is the long corridor with pillars in the middle and cells on each side, for a grand total of eight.

    Magistrate Waldahr is in the first cell on the right-hand side, as soon as you enter. Wait until the two guards are facing away from you then use the Gaol Key given to you by Captain Brant to unlock the cell.

    Head in and talk to Waldahr, then when the option arises, urge him to escape. He explains that he’s perfectly happy in the cell because he can spend his days “perusing the Code and deciphering old texts.” However, if you can find “a place with a mountain of tomes,” Waldahr will reconsider escaping. Leave the gaol and return to Captain Brant.


    Where to find ‘a place with a mountain of tomes’ in ‘The Caged Magistrate’

    A Dragon’s Dogma 2 hero talks to the magistrate in jail in “The Caged Magistrate” quest.

    Image: Capcom via Polygon

    Brant suggests talking to a chap named Kendrick, found by The Gracious Hand in the slums. He’s a balding chap wearing a blue robe, wandering around the tents and dilapidated houses on the outskirts of Vernworth. He’ll ask you for a charitable donation of gold, so pay up and he’ll explain a local boy named Malcolm has gone missing.

    This starts an entirely separate quest named “The Heel of History,” where you must find Malcolm by speaking to the children of the slums. Look for a girl called Aimee who will be somewhere nearby and she’ll tell you Malcolm went into the vaults underneath the slums. Return to Kendrick and the pair of you will enter the vaults to find the runaway kid.

    A Dragon’s Dogma 2 hero walks into a library underground in “The Caged Magistrate.”

    Image: Capcom via Polygon

    Explore the vaults in their entirety and you’ll find Malcolm, followed by a huge underground library. Kendrick makes Malcolm promise to keep his mouth shut about the discovery, but you can return to Waldahr in the gaol and tell him about this wonderful place where he can study in peace. Escort Waldahr out of his cell and to the slums, then return to Captain Brant for your reward: 7,000 gold and a ferrystone.

    Make sure you also return to Waldahr in the vaults a few days later, as he’ll have another quest for you: “A Magisterial Amenity,” which involves finding his confiscated spectacles.


    For more Dragon’s Dogma 2 walkthroughs, here’s who to give the Jadeite Orb to, if you should buy the Ornate Box, how to buy a house in Vernworth, where to find Rodge, and the best order for Captain Brant’s quests.

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    Ford James

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  • Sony Temporarily Pulls the Plug on PSVR2 Production

    Sony Temporarily Pulls the Plug on PSVR2 Production

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    Photo: ESOlex (Shutterstock)

    Sony’s PlayStation VR 2 is barely a year old, and it appears it’s not catching on like the PS5 when it launched in 2020. There are so many PSVR2 headsets unsold that Sony put the production of new units on hold, according to a Bloomberg report Monday.

    Since its launch in Feb. 2023, Sony produced approximately 2 million PSVR2 units, each with a price tag of $550. However, the virtual reality headset has yet to take off with only 300,000 sold in the weeks after launch, as reported by Bloomberg last year.

    It doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The PSVR 2 is limited to just the PS5, which means it’s up to the console’s library to entice people into buying the expensive hardware. While the PS5 has some great games, there aren’t many VR games to get excited about. So far, the most recommended games for news PSVR2 owners are VR versions of games already released on the console such as Resident Evil Village, No Man’s Sky, and Gran Tourismo 7.

    There’s also the issue of the competition. The Meta Quest 3 comes at a slightly lower price point, but it works with PCs, opening it up to more games and applications. Then there’s the Apple Vision Pro, which at $3,500 is priced way higher than the PSVR2 but has taken up the spotlight in the mixed-reality space.

    Even with lackluster sales of its PSVR2, Sony did reveal a new “xtended” reality headset at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show back in January. The new hardware featuring a flip-up visor is a joint venture with Siemens. This headset, however, isn’t intended for gaming and instead targets businesses and professionals looking to model 3D environments.

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    Oscar Gonzalez

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  • Persona 3 Reload’s ending, explained

    Persona 3 Reload’s ending, explained

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    Persona 3 Reload is a long game with an emotional ending — made more emotional by the sheer amount of time you’ve spent in this world and with these characters. If you got the game’s true ending, you may still find yourself watching the credits and asking: Wait, is there anything I could’ve done differently?

    In this Persona 3 Reload guide, we’ll walk you through the ending of the game, the fate of the game’s protagonist (Makoto Yuki), what influence you have over its outcome (if any), and how it all connects to Episode Aigis — the upcoming epilogue expansion.

    [Spoiler Warning: This post contains major spoilers for the true ending of Persona 3 Reload and some minor spoilers for “The Answer” epilogue from Persona 3 FES, which is being remade into the upcoming Episode Aigis DLC for Persona 3 Reload. If you want to stay as spoiler-free as possible, bookmark this guide and return to it once you see the credits roll. In the meantime, check out our guides for classroom answers and social link requirements.]

    Graphic: Polygon | Source images: Atlus/Sega


    Is the protagonist dead at the end of Persona 3 Reload?

    The protagonist uses the Great Seal ability in Persona 3 Reload

    Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon

    Yes. When the protagonist falls asleep in Aigis’ lap, as all his friends are rushing up to the rooftop of the school, he passes away. This happens regardless of whether you choose the “……” option or the “Close them” option when the game tells you your eyes feel heavy. The blue butterfly fluttering away is meant to symbolize the character’s death in that moment.

    OK, but how do we know for sure? Well, that answer — funnily enough — comes from the game’s epilogue expansion called “The Answer,” which is a part of Persona 3 FES. That expansion is not part of Persona 3 Reload, but it’s coming in September of 2024 as the Episode Aigis DLC.

    In “The Answer” — and presumably Episode Aigis, based on how faithful Reload is to Persona 3 FES — you play as Aigis a few weeks after graduation and the death of the Leader character (which the game explicitly calls out). If you look back at the final battle against Nyx, the protagonist uses the Universe Persona to perform the Great Seal ability. The cost for casting Great Seal is equal to the Leader’s max health, suggesting that he gave everything to stop Nyx.

    The death is a little bit more complex than that, but we’ll leave you to discover those answers in Episode Aigis. Just trust for now that — unless Atlus makes an absolutely massive change to the story — the Leader is dead.


    Can you save the Leader in Persona 3 Reload?

    The protagonist rests and dies on Aigis’ lap in Persona 3 Reload

    Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon

    No, technically. While you can choose to get the bad ending for Persona 3 Reload and kill Ryoji back in December, it’s understood that everyone on Earth will eventually die in that reality — even if you never see it. In order for everyone else to survive in Persona 3 Reload, the Leader must give up their own life to stop Nyx.

    Sacrifice is part of the main story thrust of Persona 3 Reload, with many players losing loved ones to heroic moments of sacrifice. Yukari and Mitsuru’s fathers are both great examples of this theming at work. By dying for his friends and the world, the protagonist’s death completes the sacrificial theme.

    Enjoy the game’s beautiful final moments knowing that you did nothing wrong here. You got the game’s good — albeit bittersweet — ending.

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    Ryan Gilliam

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  • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has no right being this funny

    Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has no right being this funny

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    As many people have said on dating profiles (or mothers on their wall art), I love a video game that makes me laugh, and I am delighted Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been so goddamn good at it.

    In my time with the game, it has asked me to do absurd things like play a card game against a regular-ass dog. It has featured Cloud Strife, the badass protagonist with a giant sword, carrying a little cushion around for him to use on benches. It’s got dudes who play acoustic guitar at you like the Kens in Barbie, the franchise’s second homoerotic biker duel, and a lot of other things I want to talk about but would probably be spoilers. I mean, Chadley???

    But if you’ll allow me the indulgence, I need to talk about one in particular.

    Consider this a spoiler warning. I’m serious. I’m going to embed a photo of Cloud Strife playing the piano (also funny) to try and spare casual scrollers, but right underneath it, there will be a YouTube video of one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in video games, one that I recommend seeing for yourself if you’re interested in playing through Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. (You can’t miss it, it’s part of the story.)

    Okay, ready?

    Image: Square Enix

    Here it is:

    There are a lot of incredible things about this scene, which takes place in Chapter 5 aboard the Shinra-8 cruise to Costa del Sol. First, like a lot of things in Rebirth, it’s a gag lifted directly from the original Final Fantasy 7, but it’s been given such a lavish reinterpretation that it becomes an entirely different kind of funny, a throwaway gag made into a comedic centerpiece for no reason at all.

    As previously established in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the characters are more than happy to break out into dance, but that still doesn’t prepare you for seeing Red XIII do a Michael Jackson impression, or the (smaller but funnier) sight gag of the canine warrior trying to cross his legs across the table from Cloud. (Also the kid crying at the sight of him kills me every time.)

    I don’t think you get any of this in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth without Square Enix’s crucial development decision to never shy away from or soften the oddity of the original game’s polygonal abstraction. Under the older game’s art constraints, the unrealities of, say, riding a dolphin or meeting a talking cat are much easier to roll with, and not particularly unusual.

    Recreating these moments with such a high degree of realism is in itself funny, an endearing commitment to a bit I can’t believe a massive studio signed up for. It’s also both a necessary counterbalance to an otherwise dire and melodramatic story — yes, the heroes of Rebirth must also fight for a world that has room for fun and levity — and a bit of a eulogy for this kind of goofballery in modern big-budget games.

    Sure, every once in a while we get something like Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the latest in a long line of games that always show players a tremendously goofy time — but Final Fantasy 7’s comedy is something different. It’s a relic from a time when games were a little more mysterious, a little more challenging to interpret, with a little more room to surprise. Maybe publishers will see people eagerly sharing photos of Red XIII riding a chocobo and think, hey, this stuff would be good to have in video games again.

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    Joshua Rivera

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