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Tag: PlayStation

  • Why is Cyberpunk 2077’s metro so slow? An investigation

    Why is Cyberpunk 2077’s metro so slow? An investigation

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    CD Projekt Red fulfilled a five-year promise last week when it added a fully functional metro system to Cyberpunk 2077. While the feature does wonders to make Night City feel more alive, I was surprised to learn just how little California’s public transportation infrastructure has improved in the game’s alternate-reality future.

    Cyberpunk 2077 now includes five Night City Area Rapid Transit (NCART) rail lines servicing 19 stations. Every stop still functions as a fast travel point, but players can also use them to hop onto the subway and relocate, in real time, to other parts of the city. As movement is restricted while on the train, this is a mostly visual experience, providing folks with a new perspective on the sprawling mega-city as well as limited opportunities to chat with their fellow riders.

    During one trip, I noticed a screen indicating the train’s speed was consistently hovering around 43 mph, which felt awfully slow for futuristic transportation. The average speeds of modern-day heavy-rail systems in the United States range from the high teens to the mid-30s, but they’re capable of reaching much higher maximums. And that’s not even accounting for more developed public transportation in Japan and China, whose magnetic levitation (maglev) bullet trains zoom through major cities at hundreds of miles per hour.

    What the heck.
    Image: CD Projekt Red

    This fits with what the first Cyberpunk rulebook had to say about then-future transportation in 1988:

    Surprise, surprise. Contrary to expectations, the year 2000 has not yielded any staggering new developments in transportation. Years of economic strife and civil unrest have discouraged research into new ways to travel—in fact, the very act of travel has become very restricted. Expect the world of 2013 to be much like the 20th century—a network of crowded freeways, packed trains, and swarming airports.

    A subsequent expansion, Welcome to Night City, indicates light-rail maglev trains with ground speeds of 200 mph existed in the eponymous metropolis as far back as 2013, the year the first Cyberpunk adventures were set. Every book since makes some mention maglev trains as a staple of Night City travel, and 2005’s Cyberpunk V3.0 even noted an improvement in their top speed to 300 mph despite the apparent destruction of the intercontinental maglev line during the Fourth Corporate War (which took place from 2021 to 2025 in-universe) between the world’s ruling megacorps.

    (And just to cover my ass, 1990’s updated Cyberpunk 2020 rulebook makes it clear that NCART and the light-rail maglev trains are one and the same.)

    It’s here that Cyberpunk 2077 does something clever by expanding the consequences of this conflict. Rather than only putting rail travel between continents in flux, the game describes the Fourth Corporate War as debilitating the entire maglev system, as explained by the following database entry:

    Maglev trains cruised at high speeds via tunnels and on the surface thanks to the advent of electrodynamic suspension technology, allowing fast and comfortable travel from Night City to other cities, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Unfortunately, this new era of transportation didn’t last long. The social unrest and armed conflict of the 4th Corporate War brought with it an economic crisis that soon crippled the entire system. Currently inoperational, the abandoned Maglev tunnels are used by the homeless and various gangs.

    The destruction of the maglev system and the slow NCART speeds exhibited in-game lead me to assume the local government was forced to revert to pre-2013 tech to ensure NCART remained operational, a massive downgrade from the bullet trains that once transported residents through Night City and beyond.

    Various futuristic passengers wait patiently in a subway train.

    Hurry up and wait.
    Image: CD Projekt Red

    While researching this situation, I couldn’t help but see darkly hilarious parallels between the difficulties facing the fictional California depicted in Cyberpunk 2077 and the actual state in which I live.

    Despite being one of the largest (both in terms of land and population) and richest states in the union, California has long struggled with plans to build public transportation on par with the bullet trains of eastern Asia. A lot of that is due to politics, as even ostensibly supportive legislators are wary of spending the billions of dollars necessary to complete the project. And let’s face it: Americans are just way too devoted to their cars.

    All that said, there’s one very simple explanation for Night City metro’s relatively low speed: The developers didn’t want NCART rides to happen in the blink of an eye. What good would the long-awaited subway experience be if players didn’t actually, you know, experience it?

    A trip taken at 300 mph wouldn’t provide any time to people watch Night City’s eccentric residents or take in the view of skyscrapers surrounding the bay outside the train’s windows. The entire point of the subway system — and a big part of why folks clamored for its inclusion all these years — is to give players new opportunities to role-play and experience the visual splendor of Cyberpunk 2077’s setting and its over-the-top aesthetics.

    I find it hard to fault CD Projekt Red for playing a little loose with established Cyberpunk history if it makes for a better game in the end.

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    Ian Walker

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  • The best seeds in Lego Fortnite

    The best seeds in Lego Fortnite

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    The best seeds in Lego Fortnite offer everything from rich resource deposits and exploration areas to easy access for early biomes. But if the possibilities are endless — and they essentially are — where do you start?

    In our Lego Fortnite guide, we’ll show you the best seeds in Lego Fortnite, plus explain how to start a game on one of those seeds.

    What are Lego Fortnite seeds?

    A “seed” is the method of identifying a particular Lego Fortnite map. There are tons of player-generated and -created maps out there, each one different from the rest, and that figure is only going to get bigger as Lego Fortnite’s popularity grows. Seeds are paramount for identifying maps.

    Whenever you’re in a Lego Fortnite map or realm, you can see the seed by looking directly at the bottom of the screen, where you’ll see the seed details in low-opacity text. In the screenshot just below for example, the seed is the string of numbers to the left, while your individual location on the particular map is the string of numbers to the right.

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    Additionally, you can manually set a seed combination when you’re first establishing your own map. When creating a map from the Lego Fortnite home screen, click on the option to “override” the world seed, and you can enter any combination of numbers you want, as long as that number hasn’t previously been taken by another user.

    How to enter a Lego Fortnite seed

    If you want to visit an existing Lego Fortnite seed, there are a few steps you need to take. Below, we’ve listed them out:

    1. Access Lego Fortnite’s main menu
    2. Press up on the D-pad to select a World
    3. Click on “Create New World”
    4. Click on either “New World Slot,” or save over an existing world in the list
    5. Click on “Override World Seed” under the “Advanced Options” menu
    6. Enter the seed code

    A menu shows a player inputting the best seeds in Lego Fortnite.

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    The best seeds in Lego Fortnite

    Before, we’ve listed our picks for the best Lego Fortnite seeds.

    It’s important to mention here that we’re judging them by the resources they offer up, and the access they provide to other biomes like the desert and ice areas early on. It’s these factors that really dictate which map seeds stand out from the crowd.

    If you’re specifically looking to find caves, every single Lego Fortnite world will always offer up at least some. Some, however, will hide their caves out of sight, or potentially even further away from the spawn point, meaning you’ve got a bigger trek to reach the caves for some quick resources. Our guide on where to find caves can show you some of the best seeds that have caves near the start.

    Here are the best seeds in Lego Fortnite:

    Best seed for beginners: 14191128

    A Lego Fortnite character jumps in a field in one of the best seeds in Lego Fortnite.

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    This is a really solid seed to head straight to if you’re after a starting area with all the resources you need early on in Lego Fortnite, including wood, granite, berries, pumpkins, and much more.

    Best seed for easy resources: 0942418202

    A Lego Fortnite character jumps in a grassy field on a sunny day while finding the best seeds.

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    This seed, as discovered by content creator AciDic Blitzz, is a veritable treasure trove of very quick resources. Not only is there a cave immediately north of the spawn point, which can offer up knotroot and other rare resources, but there’s a house even further north, and a whole town to the northeast, both of which feature chests for more resources.

    Best seed for chests: 542354756

    A Lego Fortnite character finds some chests near a watchtower in one of the best seeds in Lego Fortnite.

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    Here’s a neat seed if you’re after some chests. From the spawn point, follow the map northwest, and you’ll see a watchtower. This tower contains two chests, and from the top floor, you’ll easily be able to see a house just a short distance away, which also happens to contain two chests.

    Best seed for new biomes: 1264970744

    A Lego Fortnite character stands on a hill and looks at a valley in one of the best seeds in Lego Fortnite.

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    As proclaimed by Ouranked on YouTube, this seed is great because it features the desert and ice biomes on opposite sides of the spawn point. Keep this map seed in mind if you need to go and rapidly grab any gear or crafting items that can only spawn in either of the biomes.

    Best seed for exploration: 1820364159

    A Lego Fortnite character jumps on a sunny day while in one of the best seeds in Lego Fortnite.

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    As captured by 1brecci on TikTok, when you spawn into this map, head to the west immediately. Once you’re across the lake, you’ll find several ruined buildings ripe for exploration, and if you keep heading west along the border of the desert biome, you’ll find a watchtower complete with a chest for looting.

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    Hirun Cryer

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  • Overwatch 2’s Mauga is part of an evolving way of adding new heroes to the game

    Overwatch 2’s Mauga is part of an evolving way of adding new heroes to the game

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    Overwatch 2’s new hero, the dual-minigun-wielding Samoan tank Mauga, officially launched earlier this week with the game’s eighth season. Before that, Blizzard Entertainment added Mauga to the roster for an early preview weekend, which coincided with this year’s BlizzCon.

    Mauga’s early access weekend was more than just a fun surprise for Overwatch fans; it was also a test for Blizzard. The tank hero was buffed, debugged, and tweaked in response to that hero preview, resulting in a more powerful (and hopefully balanced) addition to the game’s hero lineup.

    Lead hero designer Alec Dawson said in an interview with Polygon ahead of Mauga’s release that the Overwatch development team hopes to do similar player tests with future heroes. Dawson also talked about some of the lessons learned during Mauga’s preview weekend, and how the Overwatch team is evolving its approach to adding new heroes to the game.

    This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

    Polygon: For Mauga, you did a kind of unprecedented test of a new hero nearly a month in advance of their launch. Can you tell me about what led to the decision to do that?

    Alec Dawson: If you look at the team overall, and how we’ve been trying to treat development over the course of the last [couple] years, it’s really been to open up a lot more of it, engage more with the community, and try to make sure that relationship is as transparent as possible. With Mauga in particular, we had an opportunity: BlizzCon was coming back. We wanted to do something big, especially for all the folks at home, and we thought it’d be a great time to show them Mauga early, and also collect feedback on Mauga before he actually gets launched as well.

    We think it’s something that worked out really well, and we’re looking forward to do it in the future again with future heroes.

    How did it go?

    I think overall we were really happy with the weekend, and there were some things we wanted to tune up, especially around Mauga’s survivability. We saw when he gets in there, gets in close and is in the right situation, he can be incredibly lethal. We saw players utilizing his ult very well early on, too. But there were some things on the survivability front, in terms of his frontline presence — being a tank. So we upped that [survivability] before launch. There were even small bugs that we were able to catch, especially with how quickly he was setting enemies on fire. So we’re able to fix that and get that sorted. We also got to see that first-time user experience across millions of players [and] how they’re playing with Mauga, what were some of the shortcomings there.

    Image: Blizzard Entertainment

    One of the biggest things was Overrun, and players not feeling as capable with this ability where he runs at you and then he jumps up and does the big, big stomp.

    When we look at it all, Mauga’s performance over the weekend, obviously it was in a very different structure than we’re used to. But we want to make sure that those [new hero] releases launch on the side of strong and making sure those launches can be as exciting as possible. Make sure they’re making up for some of the time that you may have on heroes that you’ve been playing for hundreds or thousands of hours, that your first-time experience isn’t gonna be something that’s detrimental to the rest of your team, something that you can pick up pretty quick.

    Thinking about the addition of Lifeweaver in season 4 and how a lot of changes were rolled out, in terms of his healing and and damage output over the following weeks, it seems you’ve also really buffed Mauga quickly. When you put in a new hero like this, what’s your comfort level with where they are? You really don’t know millions of people are thrown at it, right?

    I think in the past we’ve been conservative about certain things. And there are still things we’ll be conservative about, specifically gameplay mechanics. With the preview we were a little conservative on how much sustain we were giving Mauga, because too much sustain can just feel like, Hey, this character is never going to die. I think we’ll also be conservative in the future, if you know we’re making a second Widowmaker, for example — some sort of sniper, or one-shot mechanic. Things like that we’ll be a little softer on.

    Lifeweaver and BOB stand atop a petal platform in a screenshot from Overwatch 2

    Image: Blizzard Entertainment

    With Lifeweaver in particular, we knew there was a lot of healing in the kit, and we knew there were also things you’re taking away some player agency from your teammates [with Life Grip and Petal Platform]. Those are some of the things we’re a bit more conservative on at launch because we knew those are going to be some of the pain points. But overall we saw we could have gone a little bit more aggressive for Lifeweaver’s launch. Since then, we’ve learned a number of things about how we want to launch heroes and how we want to release them. Doing these previews is just another step in that learning.

    Previously, the hero balance cadence was seasonal and midseason adjustments, and obviously you would patch things if there was something outstandingly broken. How how have you and the team adjusted your reaction window to balancing heroes?

    I think with a hero launch, or even a hero rework, we want to be very active into that first week to two weeks. With Roadhog, it was by the end of the week we had buffs ready for Roadhog to go [out]. So we wanna be very responsive, and if there’s anything else that’s, like, outstanding, we’re gonna come in and make any adjustments that need to be made.

    Speaking of BlizzCon, I know it’s early to talk about the next Overwatch hero, Venture, but I wanted to see what kind of feedback you got to that hero’s reveal and how you’ve been ingesting that in terms of continuing work.

    A lot of work has happened since that video clip was recorded, so it’s really interesting to look back; that was a while ago when we did that playtest. But it’s just been exciting for the team. We saw fan art go up everywhere, and a lot of excitement around Venture, and just people talking about them as the next damage hero for 2024. That was really invigorating for the whole team.

    Artwork of Venture, a new damage hero coming in Overwatch 2 season 10, and their drill weapon

    Venture, a new damage hero coming in Overwatch 2 season 10
    Image: Blizzard Entertainment

    What we showed of gameplay was so short, so there’s not necessarily a ton to take away from what people saw. At the same time we saw excitement, and that for us was really great to see, and makes us feel a lot better about how early we can show some of these things. Because I think it’s gonna be something that we continue to do as well.

    Mauga obviously came with BlizzCon, but say you do a hero test for Venture. Do you have a sense of when you would roll that out?

    We’re still figuring out the exact timeline for it. I think you can expect somewhere in that month beforehand, where it gives us enough time to make adjustments before the launch and is close enough where [it aligns with] other teams working on a hero. Those are still some conversations we’re having on the team [in] exactly how we want to execute on that. But we know we want to do it.

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    Michael McWhertor

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  • Where to get marble in Lego Fortnite

    Where to get marble in Lego Fortnite

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    In Lego Fortnite, you’ll need marble to both upgrade your village and build better structures and tools.

    Below we detail where to find marble in Lego Fortnite and what tools you’ll need to harvest it.

    Where to find marble in Lego Fortnite

    You can grab marble in caves, which are scattered about everywhere. Notably, they’re the same caves that have knotroot. As you walk around, you’ll see huge rocky cavern entrances popping out of the ground, which you can enter. Inside, you can see the marble jutting out of the walls, like in the image at the top of this post.

    Note that you do need an uncommon pickaxe in order to harvest marble. To make an uncommon pickaxe, you’ll need to upgrade your workbench and grab bone and knotroot, the latter which you can harvest with a normal axe. Once you have knotroot, you’ll need to use a lumber mill to turn it into rods to make an uncommon pickaxe.

    Some of the marble may be on the ceilings, so you’ll want to bring some regular wood into the cave with you. This way, you can build some easy stairs to reach all that marble.

    Image: Epic Games via Polygon

    Remember to be ready for potential battles when you enter the cave, too. Caves are teeming with skeletons and spiders and you don’t want to die while you’re in there.

    Once you have marble, you can use it to build bigger chests and upgrade your Village Square.

    Looking for more on Lego Fortnite? We have guides on how to play multiplayer with your buddies, where to find planks, and how to build a successful village.

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    Julia Lee

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  • The Finals gets surprise release during the 2023 Game Awards

    The Finals gets surprise release during the 2023 Game Awards

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    The Finals, one of the buzziest new shooters of 2023 despite only existing in beta, finally has a release date. It’s out… right now! Developer Embark Studios announced the news at the 2023 Game Awards.

    Created by ex-Battlefield devs, The Finals is a free-to-play first-person shooter in which various teams of three shoot each other a bunch to see which team is the best at shooting the other teams. Embark Studios ran a closed beta in the spring and an open beta spanning from late October through early November that racked up 7.5 million players.

    One of the huge draws of The Finals is that it’s not a battle royale. There’s no circle or storm or slowly encroaching safe zone. You also don’t really get punished when you get eliminated, save for a brief 20-second respawn timer. Matches last no longer than 15 minutes. It feels like a throwback to the deathmatch modes that dominated the mid-2000s, except it’s as gorgeous and technically impressive as any other modern shooter. Nostalgia for an earlier, arguably simpler era of gaming is no doubt a factor in The Finals’ popularity.

    The other huge draw is that every single building can explode.

    Last week, I got a chance to play The Finals during a closed media session meant to illustrate The Finals’ final state before its launch. I cannot express how frequently the thing I was standing on exploded.

    Image: Embark Studios

    For the most part, that tracks with Polygon’s more extensive preview of The Finals from earlier this year. The general concept is that you’re a contestant in some sort of shiny, violent, futuristic game show. Matches take place on maps like Monaco and Las Vegas. (Get it? Because gambling!) When you’re eliminated, you turn into a pile of coins. (Also because gambling.) Buildings, however, don’t suffer such a cartoonish fate. Shooting a wall or floor with an RPG causes it to collapse into a pile of rubble. When a building takes enough structural damage, the whole thing comes crashing down — even if you’re meticulously perched on the eaves, trying to get the drop on an opposing team.

    You can choose from three classes, simply named “light,” “medium,” and “heavy,” each replete with all the gear and movement speed (or lack thereof) you’d expect from those barebones classifications. For the session, Embark paired attendees off into squads of three. We played two different quick-play modes: Quick Cash and Bank It. Both modes tally your score not by how many eliminations you have but by how much cash you can steal from opponents and deliver to various drop points. But I’ll be honest: The shooting in The Finals is so distractingly solid — so emblematic of the golden age of Battlefield — I couldn’t help but spend my time prioritizing spraying and praying over learning “rules” and “objectives.” You’re welcome, teammates!

    A player of The Finals runs up stairs behind a teammate wearing bunny ears.

    Image: Embark Studios

    The Finals also features a tournament component with higher stakes than the quick-play modes. If your squad doesn’t finish in the top two for your existing round, you’re eliminated from the bracket. (I’m not sure what happens after the first round, because our squad finished last. Twice.)

    I’d be remiss not to mention our experience playing The Finals was marred by technical difficulties. Such things are generally excusable for a beta; that is, after all, the whole point of betas. Still, for roughly half the games we played, one or two players of our three-person squad would inexplicably fail to load in. When we’d successfully get into a match, for about half of those matches, one player would get dropped. Since The Finals does not have an option to rejoin an existing match, one party member getting kicked out meant we all had to quit. (Let the record reflect that we totally would’ve won all of those matches otherwise.)

    Aside from those hiccups, which may very well not be present at all in today’s full release, The Finals is an energetic and competent multiplayer shooter I could see myself dipping into for a few rounds when Halo Infinite gets too frustrating. Players have by and large moved on from the sort of arena-style gameplay on display here, so sure, like the contest that defines this game’s minimalist lore, The Finals is ultimately a gamble. But it’s one I hope pays off.

    The Finals is out now on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

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    Ari Notis

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  • Fortnite’s new map is too bougie for me

    Fortnite’s new map is too bougie for me

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    Gone are the days of scrounging up loot at dilapidated taco joints and rusty playgrounds in Fortnite. Epic Games released a massive new update to the battle royale game this week as part of Chapter 5 Season 1. The patch literally blew up the OG map with a meteor, replacing it with an entirely new, much fancier map. Instead of rough locales like Greasy Groves or Tomato Temple, players now explore palatial manors like Lavish Lair or the manicured vineyards of Pleasant Piazza. Fortnite is basically a fancy European vacation now, and it feels a bit outside my personal budget.

    Developers stuffed the new map with luxurious points of interest. Another example: Grand Glacier, a hotel nestled on a snow-capped mountain that looks like it’s straight out of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. If the mountains aren’t your thing, you can head over to the Ritzy Riviera, a picturesque shore-side town with villas nestled into a sloped hillside. At places like Classy Courts, decrypted playgrounds with broken concrete have been replaced with manicured hedges.

    Image: Epic Games

    Call me a traditionalist, but I like to do dumb shit in Fortnite. I personally play as Kakashi from Naruto, and style him with an Among Us backpack as I regale other players with emotes like the Gangnam Style dance. Part of what made me fall in love with Fortnite was the garishness of it all. It’s a bright, cartoony game where you can go fishing with Ariana Grande, then turn around and scuffle with Goku. In the new season, a lot of that whimsy is still there: Peter Griffin is now a skin, and appears as an NPC you can fight. But that tone doesn’t seem to be reflected in the map, which forms a central part of the game.

    It isn’t that previous maps were lacking in high-end locations. Prior to the return of the OG map, Chapter 4 Season 4 added the cyberpunk-inspired Mega City and the sweeping Japanese estates of Kenjutsu Crossing. While Kenjutsu resembles the more elaborate locales in the current iteration of the game, some of those additions still evoked a sort of surrealism: Mega City’s sci-fi elements felt true to the less realistic elements of Fortnite.

    All that said, locations are subject to change with each update. So it’s possible that further meteors or other ill fates might befall some of these fancy locales and bring back some of the good old Fortnite charm — rough hedges and all.

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    Ana Diaz

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  • Grand Theft Auto 6’s hype has been defined by leaks

    Grand Theft Auto 6’s hype has been defined by leaks

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    With just over 24 hours left before Rockstar Games was set to debut its first Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, a grainy video started circulating online: The GTA 6 trailer, but marked with a massive bitcoin watermark. About 30 minutes later Rockstar did the corporate equivalent of saying “Fuck it,” uploading the trailer and pointing to it in a terse post on X: “Our trailer has leaked so please watch the real thing on YouTube.”

    It’s unusual for a company like Rockstar to disregard its original, announced schedule and just post the thing, but it’s not the first time it’s happened. When The Last of Us Part 2’s PlayStation 5 remaster was leaked early on the PlayStation Store by data miners looking for new information, hours later, an official trailer popped up on YouTube, with several prominent Naughty Dog developers declaring that “leaks really suck.” (In Naughty Dog’s case, however, timing for The Last of Us Part 2’s remaster wasn’t announced, and it’s possible the YouTube release was its planned time.)

    Typically, in the event of a leak, a company starts issuing takedown requests as quickly as possible — which Rockstar did, of course — and waits it out until the planned debut. (We’ve seen this plenty of times when Pokémon games leak early; Nintendo and The Pokémon Company try to take things down, but don’t acknowledge leaks head-on.) In the case of GTA 6, the early launch of the trailer hasn’t diluted the hype, with the GTA 6 trailer reaching more than 85 million views by Tuesday morning. It’s quickly gaining on Rockstar’s debut Grand Theft Auto 5 trailer, which was published on Nov. 2, 2011, and has more than 99 million views.

    Image: Rockstar Studios/Rockstar Games

    Several Rockstar employees have expressed their upset feelings about the leak: “This fucking sucks,” one developer posted to X. (The post, and the developer’s X account, have since been deleted.) The GTA 6 trailer wasn’t the first video game trailer to be leaked, and it definitely won’t be the last in an internet landscape where everyone from fans to brands is always fighting for eyeballs.

    For better or worse, leaks have already become a part of GTA 6’s journey to its release — something that’s relatively on theme, as Rockstar’s upcoming game seemingly takes on the struggle for internet fame.

    Grand Theft Auto is one of the video game industry’s most successful properties, which makes it a hot target for hackers and potential leaks. GTA 5 was released 10 years ago, and people have been salivating ever since at the prospect of the sixth entry in the series. Rockstar has been quiet about GTA 6 for most of the past 10 years; the studio didn’t acknowledge the game was in development until February 2022. Later that year, GTA 6 made history as Rockstar’s developers were subject to one of the largest leaks in modern video game history.

    On Sept. 18, 2022, a hacker published more than 90 videos — roughly an hour’s worth of footage — from the in-development game. The leak was, and still is, unprecedented because of its sheer scope, the level of anticipation for the game in question, and because of how rare it is for fans to see huge parts of a AAA video game in a visibly unfinished state. The leaked footage depicted a GTA 6 that was clearly in development, with debug tools, blocked-out environments, and all.

    The sun sets behind a sign reading “Vice” in a screenshot from Grand Theft Auto 6

    Image: Rockstar Studios/Rockstar Games

    The hacker claimed to have accessed Rockstar’s internal Slack, which is an application workplaces use to communicate and share files. A United Kingdom court found that a U.K.-based 18-year-old, Arion Kurtaj, was largely responsible for the hack. Kurtaj had been previously arrested for other hacking incidents performed in association with notorious group Lapsus$, and he was out on bail when he went after Rockstar, Uber, and Revolut. Kurtaj’s hack of Rockstar was the last one he managed before he was caught again in a Travelodge hotel that he had been put up in following concerns for his safety (he was previously doxxed by “rival hackers,” according to the BBC). Kurtaj and a second 17-year-old hacker were found guilty in August. The BBC reported that the prosecution’s lead barrister on the case, Kevin Barry, said the hackers were motivated by “notoriety,” “financial gain,” and “amusement.”

    The damage had been done; many fans couldn’t resist the peek behind the curtain before the real show began. The hourlong clips in the leak gave eager GTA 6 fans a lot of material to work through, and by September of this year, the community had put together a 60-page document outlining every single detail from the leak.

    Rockstar announced in November that it would post a trailer in December, news that was first reported by Bloomberg and quickly confirmed by Rockstar. Last week, Rockstar finally announced a date for the trailer: Dec. 5. In the lead-up to the trailer drop date, several quick videos were uploaded to TikTok purporting to show parts of the GTA 6 Vice City map; the video clips, which quickly spread, appeared to be recordings of a computer screen. The source and credibility of these uploads remains unconfirmed, but they do seem to match the cityscapes we’ve now seen in the legitimate trailer. Somewhere along the way, rumors started circulating that the leak came from a Rockstar employee’s son, but Polygon is unable to verify those claims. It’s impossible to tell, of course, whether the TikTok leaks came from the same source as Dec. 4’s trailer leak.

    GTA 6’s legacy of leaks not only has an impact on how the community sees the game, but it’s something that affects developers, too. Rockstar is famously secretive — or perhaps notoriously so — and leaks are sometimes considered a rare look behind the curtain for fans, or even a triumph for transparency. Unfortunately, though, leaks can often have the opposite effect. Speaking to Wired in 2022, a AAA developer said leaking can tighten things up even more, making the industry more opaque — even within studios themselves. Sometimes, a “trust vacuum” forms between departments as studios investigate leaks internally, Wired reported. The player experience will rarely, if ever, be significantly altered by a leaked trailer or gameplay video, but the same can’t be said for the people making a leaked game.

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    Nicole Carpenter

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  • All Ahamkara Bones locations in Destiny 2’s Warlord’s Ruin dungeon

    All Ahamkara Bones locations in Destiny 2’s Warlord’s Ruin dungeon

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    Ahamkara Bones are the collectible for the Warlord’s Ruin dungeon in Destiny 2, and are an essential part of the “In the Shadow of the Mountain” quest.

    In this Destiny 2 guide, we’ll go over how to find all of the sets of bones so you can complete the “In the Shadow of the Mountain” quest and the “Heed the Whispers, O Vengeance Mine” triumph, and boost the drop rate for your Buried Bloodlines Exotic sidearm.

    If you’re having any trouble getting to the locations described herein, check out our guide on how to complete the Warlord’s Ruin dungeon in Destiny 2.

    ‘In the Shadow of the Mountain’ quest steps

    Unlike previous dungeons, where you can get all of the collectibles in one run, the collectibles in Warlord’s Ruin must be collected across three different runs. Once you beat the dungeon for the first time, you’ll receive the “In the Shadow of the Mountain” quest, which will require you to get 30 Dark Ether Tinctures, 3 Blighted Wishing Glass, and four Ahamkara Bones.

    How to get Dark Ether Tinctures in Destiny 2

    You get Dark Ether Tinctures by killing special Screeb-like enemies called Thieving Wretches, which will spawn in three locations:

    • The first is on the bridge before the first encounter.
    • The second is found in the maze after defeating the first boss.
    • The third is found on the mountain side after defeating the second boss.

    These enemies can respawn, so you can farm them to get enough Dark Ether Tinctures.

    How to get Blighted Wishing Glass in Destiny 2

    You get one Blighted Wishing Glass per encounter completion from the loot chest. Once you complete that quest step, you’ll have to collect the next 3 bones and more Dark Ether Tinctures and Blighted Wishing Glass. Once you complete that step, you’ll have to do it again until you collect all ten bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 1 location

    Across the bridge inside the first fort, before an arresting Knight assails you.

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    The first set of Ahamkara Bones is found directly before the first boss. Once you enter the fort, continue forward. You’ll see a door where you must remove a corruption level one. Directly behind this door is the first set of bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 2 location

    Image of the second Ahamkara Bones in Warlord’s Ruin

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Across from imprisonment, after ascending through the ceiling.

    After you escape the prison, continue forward until you jump through the ceiling into an orangely lit area. Walk forward, and the door blocked by corruption level one will be on your right. Remove the corruption and collect the second set of Ahamkara Bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 3 location

    Image of the third door in Destiny 2

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    At the top of the summit, face back from the cliff and find shelter.

    After the second encounter, make your way until you reach the outside again and see this view. Continue to the left, and instead of jumping down to the left to make your way to the room with the large Taken orb, continue straight.

    A guardain walks through a snowy landscape in Destiny 2 Warlord’s Ruin dungeon.

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Climb up until you see a small hallway in the left wall of the mountain. The third corruption level one door will be in the small hallway, and behind that door will be the third set of Ahamkara Bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 4 location

    Image of opening

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    In the snowfallen maze, through the broken wall, seek the banner of Kings.

    After you break out of the prison, make your way through until you reach a hole in the wall that you must walk through to progress.

    Image of the left turn

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Make a right (where you’ll have to jump over a stacked spike trap), then a left. The corruption level two door will be directly in front of you.

    Image of the door to Ahamkara Bones in Destiny 2 Warlord’s Ruin dungeon.

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Remove the corruption and collect the fourth set of Ahamkara Bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 5 location

    Image of the path needed for 5th bone

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Cross into the Tempest, through the portcullis, at the sewer’s mouth.

    Before the second encounter, get to the doorway where you find the first secret chest.

    A guardian approaches a sewer in Destiny 2.

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Turn to the right and follow the snowy path until you reach a sewer entrance. Right through the sewer grate is the next corruption level two door. Remove the corruption and collect the fifth set of Ahamkara Bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 6 location

    Image of 6th bone area

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    At summits base, find shelter off the beaten path. Too far, and the Taken will descend upon you.

    After defeating the second boss, progress forward until you reach a group of enemies as you start to head outside. It’ll look like the area pictured above.

    Image of 6th bone area in Destiny 2 Warlord’s Ruin dungeon.

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    After you defeat the enemies, head into the cubby pictured above. There is where you’ll find the corruption level 2 door and the sixth set of Ahamkara Bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 7 location

    A guardian walks down a tunnel in Destiny 2 Warlord’s Ruin dungeon.

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Within the maze, stride panning a pitfall, light calls through the window.

    After the prison section, get to the point where you see a pile of barrels below the hole that you must jump up through.

    Image of hallway

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Jump up through the hole, exit the circle room, and take the left.

    Image of door as guardian walks toward in Destiny 2.

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Head down to the end of the hall and dispel the corruption level three door to collect the seventh set of Ahamkara Bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 8 location

    Image of 8th bone jump

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    The Taken roil at cave’s bottom sends you to scurry over boulders into a ruined alcove.

    Once you get to the room with the large Taken Blight, make your way through until you can look up and see the end. Below will be a platform that you’ll have to jump down to.

    Image of 8th bone door

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Once you jump down, dispel the corruption level three door and collect the eighth set of Ahamkara Bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 9 location

    Image of 9th bone area

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    Within a tunnel on the broken cliffs, brace the Taken storm.

    After the Taken Blight room, there will be a section where you’ll have to jump around a smaller Taken Blight. Make your way to the room highlighted in the image above. The final level three corruption door is in that hallway; dispel it and collect the ninth set of Ahamkara Bones.

    Ahamkara Bones 10 location

    Image of final set of bones

    Image: Bungie via Polygon

    After defeating the final boss, this set of Ahamkara Bones is found directly beside the loot chest.

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    Jacob VanderVat

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  • Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has a Metroidvania sequel in big year for Christmas games

    Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has a Metroidvania sequel in big year for Christmas games

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    Whether 2023 is one of the best years for video games is up for debate. But it is certainly one of the best years for Christmas video games, thanks to a surprising number of festive, holiday-themed releases. That includes a video game sequel to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring Ebenezer Scrooge and made in the Metroidvania style.

    While many live service games will drench themselves in Christmas and Hanukkah-themed cosmetics and map makeovers this month, not since Sega’s Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams… has there been such an eclectic mix of festive fare. Some are naughty, and some are nice. And at least one, a gory slasher that will appeal to fans of Rockstar Games’ murderous Manhunt, is definitely not for kids.

    Here’s a look at 2023’s Christmas games.

    Ebenezer and the Invisible World

    Set after the events of Ebenezer Scrooge’s encounter with Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, Ebenezer and the Invisible World sees the once-miserly grump setting off on a new adventure. Invigorated by Christmas cheer, Ebenezer is enlisted by another ghost to help alter the destiny of evil industrialist and population-principle-believer Caspar Malthus. Aiding Ebenezer in his mission are many more ghosts — which are basically summonable familiars and power-ups that are heavily inspired by Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. (Ebenezer even has Alucard’s back dash.)

    Ebenezer and the Invisible World is an enjoyable action-adventure game with greater depth than you might think. The game’s hand-drawn graphics and wide array of characters and quests keep the whole thing moving along pleasantly; plus it’s just fun to see old Ebenezer wielding a giant ax or spinning a flaming spear. He’s very spry for his age!

    Ebenezer and the Invisible World is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

    Lake: Seasons Greetings

    The video game Lake is a cozy, narrative adventure set in the sleepy village of Providence Oaks, Oregon. Set in the year 1986, players stepped into the shoes of Meredith Weiss, a metropolitan, career-driven woman who returns home to temporarily take over her father’s postal route. Lake: Season’s Greetings delivers similar smalltown vibes, but this time, players tour the town as Thomas Weiss, Meredith’s father, as Christmastime approaches.

    Lake: Season’s Greetings is a prequel to the original Lake, available as DLC for that game. These cozy, wintry vibes are available on PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

    Christmas Massacre

    Make it a silent night, make it a deadly night with the stealth-slasher Christmas Massacre, which made its debut on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in November. (It’s been on PC since 2021.) Inspired by snuff game Manhunt, top-down shoot-’em-up Hotline Miami, and PlayStation 1-era aesthetics, Christmas Massacre lets you slay as Larry, a man who is clearly not well, because his Christmas tree is commanding him to kill.

    Obviously, Christmas Massacre is probably not something you should play with the whole family, but if over-the-top violence and gore done super lo-fi is your thing, it’s a fun romp, as murder rampages go. You will be flamethrowing roomfuls of children and nuns, just as a heads up.

    Christmas Massacre is available on PS4, PS5, and Windows PC via Steam.

    The Grinch: Christmas Adventures

    Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch stars in a 2D side-scrolling platform adventure game that may or may not be any good — I haven’t played it! But The Grinch: Christmas Adventures gives players control of The Grinch himself (and his dog Max, in two-player local co-op) on another Christmas-ruining mission. Like Ebenezer and the Invisible World, this is a one-year-later sequel to the original source material. And like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Grinch’s Christmas Adventures promise to teach him a “valuable lesson about the true spirit of the holiday.” Hopefully he learns for good this time!!

    The Grinch: Christmas Adventures is out now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

    Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis: The Holy Flame’s Gift

    Image: Square Enix

    Square Enix’s mobile remake of the expanded Final Fantasy 7 franchise has a new holiday event, which isn’t a stand-alone game, but a new story that features two important elements.

    One is a Christmasy new Tifa costume that is currently riling up Tifa fans worldwide. You can see that above.

    The other is that the chief antagonist of Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis’ new holiday-themed story is a gingerbread Cactuar. Amazing!

    Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis is currently available on Android and iOS devices, and is coming to PC via Steam on Dec. 7, Square Enix just announced. The game’s The Holy Flame’s Gift story is available now.

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    Michael McWhertor

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  • What time does Fortnite’s live event ‘The Big Bang’ start?

    What time does Fortnite’s live event ‘The Big Bang’ start?

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    “The Big Bang” is Fortnite’s first live event that’s teased to bring about a “new beginning” for the game, according to developer Epic Games.

    The event is the end to Fortnite OG’s schedule of rotating maps from Chapter 1, which itself ended with a “black hole” event that introduced a new Chapter and series of major additions.

    “The Big Bang” appears to be a nod to this finale, and is rumored to introduce some similarly game-changing features — all ushered in by a musical appearance by Eminem. Here’s everything we know, and what time the live event begins in your time zone.

    Fortnite live event start time: When does the ‘The Big Bang’ event begin?

    Update (Dec. 2, 2:10 p.m. ET): “The Big Bang” event is technically happening now (from 2 p.m. ET), but for those still queuing to enter the game, don’t fret; developer Epic Games is running two more shows today to meet demand. The timings of these are unknown, but we’d recommend waiting until you’ve gained access to the lobby, then holding tight for the performance to begin.

    Original story: Fortnite’s “The Big Bang” live event starts on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the following times:

    • 11 a.m. PST for the West Coast of North America
    • 2 p.m. EST for the East Coast of North America
    • 7 p.m. GMT for the U.K.
    • 8 p.m. CEST for west mainland Europe
    • 4 a.m. JST in Japan (Dec. 3)

    Matchmaking for modes made by Epic — including Battle Royale and Zero Build — will go offline two hours before the prior times, paving the way for the live event to take center stage.

    You can join the “The Big Bang” event itself 30 minutes before it begins — at 1:30 p.m. EST, or your local equivalent — which we’d recommend doing in case capacity is limited, as has been the case with Fortnite events in the past. In other words, it’s best to arrive early to avoid disappointment!

    The live event can be accessed from all versions of the game, including streamed versions via services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, if you don’t happen to be at your console or PC at the time.

    What can we expect from Fortnite’s ‘The Big Bang’ event?

    Teasers and leaks for “The Big Bang” suggests hybrid of a Fortnite seasonal finale — which feature an interactive experience which concludes the season and tees up a new storyline — and Fortnite’s concerts, which Eminem is confirmed to feature. As such, those attending the event will receive an exclusive Loading Screen for taking part to commemorate the performance:

    Image: Epic Games

    Beyond that, details are thin on the ground. Fortnite leakers such as ShiinaBR on Twitter / X are being respectful of spoilers and are keeping specifics to themselves, with the tease that it’s “NOT just a concert.” So what else can we expect?

    For one, the teaser image for the event features a llama, a creature that’s been a Fortnite staple since the Battle Royale mode’s debut. However, this is thought to be linked to a crafting mode in collaboration with LEGO, which has been teased on social media in the weeks leading to the event.

    The microphone and guitar in the teaser image, meanwhile, is believed to be tied to a new “Festival” mode. These new modes, plus a Rocket League-inspired “Rocket Racing” mode, are suggested to be rolled out within the first week of Chapter 5, which will go live in the day or two of the live event. This also lines up with the cryptic mention of “new rules” in an official teaser:

    How exactly these modes will appear as part of the event is unknown, but with a huge number of eyeballs watching this season finale, it’s the perfect place to promote them.

    Either way, when the “The Big Bang” concludes, expect a period of downtime. With these rumored new modes and possible other features on the way, we won’t be playing again until sometime on Sunday, or even Monday.

    In the meantime, if you’re looking to unlock this season’s Battle Pass skins before they disappear for good, we recommend finding gnome locations for some easy bonus XP.

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    Matthew Reynolds

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  • Grand Theft Auto 6: All the news we’ve heard about Rockstar’s next game

    Grand Theft Auto 6: All the news we’ve heard about Rockstar’s next game

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    After more than a decade, Rockstar Games will finally deliver a sequel to Grand Theft Auto 5, the multi-generational open-world crime spree that has sold more than 190 million copies. In December, GTA fans will get their first official look at the next Grand Theft Auto in trailer form, Rockstar has confirmed.

    While Rockstar hasn’t given the next GTA game a proper name yet, it’s almost assuredly going to be titled Grand Theft Auto 6 (or Grand Theft Auto VI). And we know some details about GTA 6, after an unprecedented leak of the game in 2022. But thanks to Rockstar’s secrecy and the enormous task of following up one of the biggest games of all time, much about GTA 6 is still shrouded in mystery.

    Here’s everything we do know about Grand Theft Auto 6 so far.

    When does GTA 6 come out?

    Rockstar hasn’t announced a release date yet for GTA 6, but parent company Take-Two Interactive might have revealed a release window for the next Grand Theft Auto game. In August, Take-Two told investors the company plans to see a “significant inflection point” during its 2025 fiscal year, which has been interpreted by analysts to mean that GTA 6 will be released sometime between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025. Obviously, that’s a pretty big window, but it could point to a 2024 release for GTA 6.

    While GTA 6 may be targeting a 2024 launch, Rockstar is famous for delaying its biggest games in the name of polish. Its last major release, Red Dead Redemption 2, was publicly delayed three times. And back in 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 saw a significant delay, slipping from its original spring release date to its ultimate September 2013 launch.

    In other words, even if Rockstar gives us a release date or window by the end of 2023, history tells us that nothing is set in stone.

    When does the GTA 6 trailer come out?

    Rockstar co-founder and president Sam Houser has only confirmed an “early December” release for the first GTA 6 trailer. It may or may not coincide with The Game Awards 2023, which streams live on Dec. 7. It’s more likely that Rockstar will release the trailer on its own schedule, without competing with a bunch of other game announcements.

    Where does GTA 6 take place?

    According to a massive leak of early gameplay videos and early reporting on the game, Grand Theft Auto 6 will be set in Vice City, the GTA version of Miami. That location was previously explored in 2002’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and that game’s 2006 prequel Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. Those entries were set during the mid-1980s, but GTA 6 will reportedly tell a modern-day, Bonnie and Clyde-inspired story featuring two leads named Jason and Lucia, based on early gameplay videos. Lucia would be the GTA series’ first female lead playable protagonist in a mainline game.

    Wait, what GTA 6 leak?

    In 2022, more than 90 videos of the in-development version of Grand Theft Auto 6 were published online at the message board GTAForums. The hacker responsible claimed to have accessed the videos — some 50 minutes in total footage — directly from Rockstar Games’ internal Slack.

    The videos show robberies, gunplay, open-world driving, a police chase, a crowded nightclub scene, and conversations with full voice acting. The game footage was clearly not intended to be shown publicly, with debug programming elements visible on-screen at the time.

    One of the longer videos showed the female player character robbing a diner, as well as threatening staff and customers, who react in fear to having a gun pulled on them. Then she and her male accomplice get in a shootout with police before jumping in the police patrol car and driving off. The game’s graphical treatment is quite realistic, but still consistent with GTA games’ style.

    How long has GTA 6 been in development?

    Reportedly since 2014, though Rockstar did not officially acknowledge the game’s existence until February 2022.

    What platforms will GTA 6 be released on?

    TBD, but PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X are a safe bet. Unlike previous Grand Theft Auto games, which saw staggered releases on consoles versus PC, it seems more likely than ever that Rockstar would release all versions of the game on the same day. But given Rockstar’s track record, the PC version could lag behind PlayStation and Xbox releases.

    There’s also another platform coming that could be home to Grand Theft Auto 6: Nintendo’s Switch successor. Rockstar has embraced the Switch with releases like L.A. Noire, Red Dead Redemption, and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition, so don’t rule out an eventual release of GTA 6 on Switch 2.

    How much will GTA 6 cost?

    Rockstar and publisher Take-Two haven’t announced a price point, but it seems likely that Grand Theft Auto 6 will carry a $69.99 price point, increasingly the standard for AAA video games with big budgets.

    Don’t worry about those unfounded rumors that GTA 6 will cost $150, or will be priced per hour, based on misinterpreted comments from Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick. There may be higher-priced premium or collector’s edition versions of GTA 6 that cost more than the industry-standard $69.99, but hold your horses (and your pre-orders) until Rockstar makes it official.

    What happens to Grand Theft Auto Online when GTA 6 comes out?

    Rockstar hasn’t said, but given the massive popularity of GTA Online, which is also sold as a stand-alone experience, it will likely continue. Rockstar may have more grand ambitions for an online mode for GTA 6, and it may run two versions of the online experience for each game. The future of GTA Online is one of the biggest open questions — not to mention Rockstar’s trickiest needle to thread — when it comes to discussing GTA 6. Rockstar may very well keep those plans under wraps for the foreseeable future.

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    Michael McWhertor

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  • Dragon’s Dogma 2 arrives March 2024, looks fantastic

    Dragon’s Dogma 2 arrives March 2024, looks fantastic

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    Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be released on March 22, 2024, reviving Capcom’s sword and sorcery action-RPG franchise after a decade-long break. Capcom revealed the release date and new gameplay details during a digital showcase on Tuesday.

    Hideaki Itsuno, director of Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, the game’s producer, showed off new features coming in the sequel. That includes a huge new addition to the bestiary, the Talos, a massive brass warrior who emerges from the sea. Developers showed varying approaches to taking the Talos down: by leaping onto it from a cliff’s edge, and fighting it while holding on for dear life, à la Shadow of the Colossus; riding birds toward the Talos to close the distance to it; and attacking it from afar using ranged weapons and spells.

    Capcom also showed off a new vocation, the Trickster. That Arisen-only character class can use a censer in battle to conjure illusions, causing enemies to fight each other, and to support a player’s pawns to make them more effective in battle. The Trickster, a “devious vocation,” can manipulate the battle from the sidelines rather than fight directly.

    The Trickster joins Dragon’s Dogma 2’s previously confirmed vocations: Fighter, Archer, Thief, Mage, Magick Archer, and Mystic Spearhand.





    • Image: Capcom






    • Image: Capcom






    • Image: Capcom


    Capcom also showed off its update character creator, which players can use to customize their Arisen and main Pawn. The developer is using new photogrammetry technology to increase the photorealism of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s player-created avatars, developers said.

    Finally, developers also teased a bit of the game’s story, which they said was set in a world parallel to that of the original Dragon’s Dogma. As an Arisen, players will find themselves caught between the beliefs and plots of two rival nations. Vermund, the human kingdom, is at the center of a power struggle for the throne, with a false Arisen installed by the queen regent Disa. In Battahl, the humanoid beasts there treat Pawns as a source of misfortune. But both nations view dragons as a threat to their survival.

    Dragon’s Dogma 2 is coming to PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. The original Dragon’s Dogma was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012, followed by the expansion Dark Arisen the next year.

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    Michael McWhertor

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  • Top 10 Best PS Store Black Friday 2023 Sale Deals

    Top 10 Best PS Store Black Friday 2023 Sale Deals

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    The holiday season is upon us and video game deals are ripe for the taking. Steam is famous for its seasonal sales, but PlayStation has surprised us this year with many of its best exclusives at the lowest price ever. The Black Friday PlayStation Store sale ends on November 27 at 11:59 PST, so strike the iron while it’s hot! Here are our carefully selected picks for the best PS Store Black Friday deals.

    God of War Ragnarok ($39.89, -43%)

    Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment

    God of War Ragnarok marked the apocalyptic finale of Kratos’ Norse arc and was one of the best games in 2022. The storytelling reaches its zenith in the series with this entry. The visuals and spectacle are made all the more grandiose utilizing the PS5’s graphical prowess. God of War Ragnarok has been notoriously hard to find on sale over the past year. $39.89 is the cheapest we’ve ever seen it in its lifecycle, making this one of the best deals on the PlayStation Store’s Black Friday sale.

    Resident Evil 4 Remake ($39.59, -34%)

    Resident Evil 4 cover image.

    Resident Evil 4 Remake is a 2023 Game Awards GOTY nominee, and for good reason. It’s a perfect remake of one of the most beloved games of all time. Capcom nailed it with this one, unlike their underwhelming attempt with Resident Evil 3. This technically marks the lowest sale price for Resident Evil 4 Remake since its launch. The last console sale for this was $40.99 back in September. We don’t foresee another sale until Winter and Spring, so now’s a great chance to relive Leon and Ashley’s adventurous romp in full PS5 splendor.

    Mortal Kombat 1 ($48.99, -30%)

    Mortal Kombat 1 Review – A Smashing Good Time

    Released just a couple months ago, Mortal Kombat 1 is a 2023 GOTY contender for best fighting game. The brand new Kameo system is tremendous fun and the story is a twist on the original’s lore.

    This Black Friday sale marks the first real big discount that Mortal Kombat 1 has had at a healthy 30% off. Mortal Kombat 1 would make for a perfect holiday gift, or even just a great party game for get-togethers with those who can stomach the most gruesome fatalities in the series.

    EA FC 24 ($34.99, -50%)

    Cheapest 83, 84, 85, 86 OVR SBCs EA FC 24
    Image via EA Sports

    A whopping 50% off for the new totally-not-FIFA game is a good deal, objectively speaking. Many sports game enthusiasts regard this entry quite highly, despite some expected repetition. It’s certainly one of the more positively received soccer games in recent memory. If you’ve been a FIFA fan but fell off the series, now might be a good time to come back and give it another kick. EA FC 24 may never get a deal as good as this before the next one comes out.

    Street Fighter 6 ($39.59, -34%)

    Image Source: Capcom

    Street Fighter 6 set the fighting game community ablaze when it launched in June of this year. It marked one of those very rare occasions when pretty much everyone who played it agreed on its high quality. It wouldn’t be presumptive to say that Street Fighter 6 is the most well-received game in the series to date.

    This is yet another game at its lowest price since release with this Black Friday Sale. Street Fighter 6’s base price of $59.99 is cheaper than Mortal Kombat 1’s base price of $69.99, further reducing the price with this discount. It’s well worth it since there’s so much game here to sink your teeth into. The new created character campaign mode, inclusion of mini-games, and the all-around quality make this one of the most impressive fighting games in the last decade. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or a newbie, there’s a ton of interesting content here to welcome you in.

    Hogwarts Legacy ($41.99, -40%)

    Image Source: Portkey Games

    Hogwarts Legacy had a wild ride since its launch back in February. But controversy and crazy expectations aside, it’s a satisfying game set in the Wizarding world. Hogwarts Legacy is another one of those high $69.99 price point games, so we’re glad to see its price go down 40% for Black Friday. The dialogue choices and wizarding school role-playing can be fun for both Harry Potter fans and gamers wanting something a bit different.

    Assassin’s Creed Mirage ($39.99, -20%)

    Assassin's Creed Mirage Key Art
    Image Source: Ubisoft Entertainment

    20% off may not seem like a big deal, but it’s nothing to sneeze at for a major release that just came out in October. Considering that and the fact that its base price is just $49.99, the discount to $39.99 is really attractive. This low cost of entry may be the deciding factor for Assassin’s Creed fans on the fence about this more compact adventure.

    Assassin’s Creed Mirage eschews the gargantuan open worlds of Valhalla and Odyssey and instead returns to basics with assassinations in tight alleyways. Reviewers generally say it’s a solid game through and through, even if it’s a bit dull compared to the likes of the Ezio trilogy. This is the first time the game’s been discounted, so we don’t blame you for wanting to get back in the animus to try the newest AC out.

    Dead Space ($34.99, -50%)

    Dead Space remake
    Image Source: Electronic Arts

    Last December saw the release of a faithfully done Remake of the original Dead Space. The game was overshadowed by others at the time, but it’s generally regarded as a masterpiece in the way it polishes up the original and enhances its already tense horror.

    This is another one of those games with the base $69.99 price. But with this sale at 50% off, you just can’t go wrong. Experience one of the best horror games around with modern PS5 technology under the hood. We won’t blame you for leaving the lights on while playing.

    Need for Speed Unbound ($13.99, -80%)

    Image Source: Electronic Arts

    I’m a Need for Speed Unbound defender and proud of it. The game really changes a lot from the disappointing Ghost Games entries and marks a strong return for Criterion. The cell-shaded graphics add a lot of visual flair to the characters and environments. Oh, and the campaign is the most properly difficult Need for Speed since Most Wanted. This is one of the most rewarding Need for Speed games and a racing game that deserves a bit more love than it gets. If you’ve been on the fence regarding Need for Speed for a while now, give this a shot while it’s 80% off.

    Lies of P ($47.99, -20%)

    Lies of P key art
    Image Source: Neowiz Games

    Finally, we have another very recent game release on sale now with the Bloodborne-inspired Pinocchio action game, Lies of P. Yeah, it’s basically Pinocchio Bloodborne, but it’s also got real meat on its bones to stand out from the ever-increasing Soulslike crowd. The boss fights in this are something you have to experience for yourself, even if the exploration isn’t nearly as strong as FromSoftware’s titles. Black Friday is the first time Lies of P has been on sale, so it’s the perfect opportunity to prove just how much you don’t suck at games again with this oddly charming Soulsborne game.

    Honorable Mentions

    • Final Fantasy XVI ($41.99, -40%)
    • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor ($41.99, -40%)
    • Diablo IV ($41.99, -40%)
    • The Crew Motorfest ($41.99, -40%)
    • Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition ($44.99, -25%)
    • Star Wars: Squadrons ($1.99, -95%)
    • Star Ocean: The Divine Force Digital Deluxe Edition (37.49, -50%)
    • Resident Evil Triple Pack ($11.89, -80%)
    • Wasteland 3 Colorado Edition ($12.49, -75%)
    • Bioshock: The Collection ($9.99, -80%)
    • Persona 5 Strikers ($17.99, -70%)
    • The Quarry ($17.99, -70%)
    • Sifu ($15.99, -60%)
    • Mass Effect Legendary Edition ($11.99, -80%)

    The next PS Store sale likely won’t be until the end of the year, so now’s the perfect time to pick up some games you missed when they first launched.

    About the author

    Avatar photo

    Matthew Carmosino

    Matthew Carmosino is a freelance writer for Twinfinite. He started gaming in the mid-90s where his love for SquareSoft RPGs like Chrono Trigger changed him forever. Matthew has been working in the game industry for two years covering everything from story-rich RPGs to puzzle-platformers.
    Listening to piano music on a rainy day is his idea of a really good time, which probably explains his unnatural tolerance for level-grinding.

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    Matthew Carmosino

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  • The Last Of Us Part II Remastered Is Real, Out Next Year [Update: Full Details]

    The Last Of Us Part II Remastered Is Real, Out Next Year [Update: Full Details]

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    Update 11/17/2023 7:55 p.m. ET: Naughty Dog’s officially confirmed the existence of The Last of Us Part II Remastered, releasing a barrage of information about the upcoming re-release of its 2020 PlayStation 4 game in a post on its website, complete with an announcement trailer.

    Here’s the trailer:

    PlayStation / Naughty Dog

    Perhaps the most intriguing part of the remaster will be the new roguelike “No Return” mode, which sounds very involved. You choose a character and then try to survive in “randomized encounters”—it’s not clear if actual maps are randomized—and surviving lets you win meta-progression to enhance your character’s abilities, unlock cosmetics, and compete on global daily challenge leaderboards.

    How Alan Wake 2 Builds Upon The ‘Remedy-Verse’

    “Remastered” implies improved A/V aspects. The new release will indeed take advantage of the PlayStation 5’s enhanced capabilities, giving you the usual choice of a 4K “Fidelity” mode or a 1440p-upscaled-to-4K “Performance” mode that runs at 60fps. Whichever mode you choose, the game will look better in general thanks to variable refresh rate support, improved LoD settings, sharper textures, smoother animation rates, and so on. DualSense controller features like adaptive triggers will be leveraged, too.

    As is its tendency, Naughty Dog is also going big on behind-the-scenes features, with a wild-sounding amount of commentary from various creatives, including voice actors, and several new “lost levels” that will let you play through areas that were cut from the original Part II release.

    You can also expect an array of smaller additions, including a speedrun challenge mode, improved photo-taking functionality, bonus skins for various characters, and expanded guitar playing that will expand the sound possibilities and let you stage impromptu little concerts in different venues.

    Image: Naughty Dog

    Pre-orders open December 5. If you’d like to spend more money, a pricier The Last of Us Part II Remastered W.L.F. Edition will come in a SteelBook case and include four enamel pins, a clothing patch, and physical versions of 47 trading cards from inside the game. And in nice news for existing PS4 Part II owners, you can upgrade to the digital version of Remastered for $10.

    Original story continues below.

    The existence of The Last of Us Part II Remastered has leaked via a PlayStation Store listing that was spotted by fans online. A trailer has also leaked, which includes a release date of January 19, 2024.

    On November 17, a reputed listing for the yet-to-be-confirmed remaster was leaked online. The new remastered The Last of Us sequel will seemingly feature “native PS5 enhancements,” including a “a host of graphical improvements” and faster loading times.

    The store listing also mentions “No Return” which is described as a “roguelike survival mode experience.” Here’s the full description of that apparent new mode:

    Survive as long as you can in each run, as you choose your path through a series of randomized encounters. Play as a host of different unlockable characters, some never-before playable in The Last of Us franchise, each with unique gameplay traits. The variety of challenges feature different foes and memorable locations from throughout Part II, all culminating in tense boss battles.

    This remastered edition of The Last of Us Part II will also feature “Lost Levels” that will let players explore “early-development versions” of levels not seen in the main game. Some other interesting tidbits from the store listing include:

    • Hours of new developer commentary.
    • A new mode that lets you play the famous guitar minigame freely.
    • A speedrun-focused mode
    • New unlockable weapon and character skins for Abby and Ellie.

    This new remaster will seemingly be exclusive to PS5 and launches on January 19, 2024. The leaked trailer and store listing didn’t make mention of a PC port.

    This leak seemingly confirms rumors and reports from earlier this year about a The Last of Us Part II remaster or PS5 upgrade. Back in July 2023, Last of Us composer Gustavo Santaolalla suggested during an interview that an upgraded port of some kind was in the works.

    .

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    Zack Zwiezen

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  • The Last of Us Part 2 PS5 remaster leaks on PSN with trailer, release date

    The Last of Us Part 2 PS5 remaster leaks on PSN with trailer, release date

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    It should come as no surprise to fans that The Last of Us Part 2 might have a remastered version in development for PlayStation 5, ever since The Last of Us Part 1 — the PS5 port of the original game — came out in September 2022. The remastered version of the sequel just got a lot more solid, thanks to a leak courtesy of the PlayStation Store.

    Although The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered isn’t on the PlayStation storefront at this time, it appears to have been in the database at some point recently, because websites that track updates to the PlayStation Store have scraped the relevant data about the game. PSdeals.net has a listing for the game that links to a now-broken PlayStation Store page. The PSdeals listing includes screenshots that appear to be from the remaster, with the phrase “captured on PS5” (as is standard practice for Sony) visible in the corner.

    Insider Gaming has a report that goes even further, including the game’s release date — Jan. 19, 2024, which would be quite soon — and even a short teaser trailer that starts off with footage of the Part 1 remaster and then progresses to Part 2 footage. Wario64, the deals aficionado made famous on X (formerly Twitter), corroborated that reporting with a link to the same trailer that appears to be hosted on Sony’s own servers.

    It’s worth noting that the trailer makes no mention of a Windows PC version of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. While Sony has been bringing many of its first-party games to PC in recent years, there’s typically been a lag time of more than a year before those PC ports arrive.

    Polygon has reached out to Sony for confirmation and will update this story when we hear back.

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    Maddy Myers

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  • Do you need to play Persona 5 before Persona 5 Tactica?

    Do you need to play Persona 5 before Persona 5 Tactica?

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    Persona 5 Tactica is the latest non-JRPG spinoff in Atlus’ celebrated JRPG series. Tactica is a tactics game that takes place in the same world as Persona 5 and includes the original game’s core group of heroes: the Phantom Thieves. As a spinoff, it’s natural to wonder: Do you need to play Persona 5 before Persona 5 Tactica?

    With the Persona series being so story-focused, it’s a good question. In this Persona 5 Tactica guide, we hope to answer just that question, and will break down whether or not you need to play Person 5 — plus Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 Strikers — before playing Persona 5 Tactica.

    When does Persona 5 Tactica take place in the Persona timeline?

    Persona 5 Tactica takes place after the establishment of the Phantom Thieves, the crew that Joker (the main character) puts together to change the hearts of baddies all over Japan in the main game.

    Based on the dialogue at the start of the game, Tactica takes place before the third year students (Makoto and Haru) graduate, which is before the main storyline of Persona 5 wraps up. So, think of Tactica as a big side quest that takes place before the end of Persona 5.

    Do you need to play Persona 5 before Persona 5 Tactica?

    Images: Atlus

    Yes, you should play (or have played) at least a few hours of Persona 5 before you play Tactica.

    Because of where Tactica is set in the timeline, you’re going to be very confused If you didn’t play any Persona 5. The game’s opening assumes you already know who these characters are, what the “Metaverse” is, and why the cat (who isn’t actually a cat) is talking.

    That said, you’ll really just be missing the context of the world and characters by skipping Persona 5 and diving right into Tactica. While the plot of Persona 5 Tactica involves the same characters, in the same world, it tells its own, contained story and you don’t need to understand the plot of Persona 5 to follow along.

    If you love tactics games and are dying to check out Persona 5 Tactica, you’ll be totally fine to do so as long as you accept that you’ll probably be a little confused at the outset. Although, maybe this is just a great chance for you to go back and spend 100 hours in Persona 5, which is one of the best games of the last decade — even if you’re not usually a turn-based JRPG fan.

    Do you need to play Persona 5 Royal before Persona 5 Tactica?

    A look at the new character, Kasumi Yoshizawa, in Persona 5 Royal

    Image: Atlus

    No, you don’t need to have played any of the Royal content in Persona 5 to understand Tactica.

    Kasumi Yoshizawa, the new addition to the Phantom Thieves from Royal, is not part of your crew in Persona 5 Tactica.

    So, even if you skipped the expansion for the original game, you’ll still have all the context you need to enjoy the story of Tactica.

    Do you need to play Persona 5 Strikers before Persona 5 Tactica?

    Joker and his cohorts from Persona 5 make their return in Persona 5 Strikers

    Image: Atlus/Omega Force/P Studio

    No, you don’t need to have played any Strikers to understand Tactica.

    Persona 5 Strikers is another Persona 5 spin off, and it replaces the classic turn-based combat with fast-paced, Musou game combat similar to the Dynasty Warriors franchise.

    While Strikers relays a great Persona story — seriously, it’s essentially just a mini Persona game, but with slick action combat — the new characters and plot don’t carry over at all to Tactica. If you love Persona and love tactics but hate action games, you’re totally fine to jump into Tactica without touching Strikers.

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    Ryan Gilliam

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  • The Remedy Connected Universe is my MCU

    The Remedy Connected Universe is my MCU

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    It’s been two weeks since Alan Wake 2, the sequel to Remedy Entertainment’s 2010 cult action-horror game, was released, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Between the introduction of protagonist and FBI profiler Saga Anderson and the mystery-board storytelling mechanics of the game’s Mind Place system (not to mention a forthcoming new game plus feature and DLC slated for next year), I’m obsessed with Remedy Entertainment’s latest game — much in the same way I was with its last new release, 2019’s Control.

    That obsession has only grown after puzzling over how the events of Alan Wake 2 might relate to the upcoming Control 2. I’ve even started a new playthrough of the original Control in my search for clues I might have overlooked. The Remedy Connected Universe has me excited for the possibility of intertextual storytelling in video games at a time where I otherwise feel fatigue over multi-franchise crossovers. Whether it’s the MCU, DCU, or Star Wars, I’m just over how labyrinthine most of these fictional interconnected universes have become. I don’t feel that way about the Remedy Connected Universe, though.

    Image: Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing

    I think I know why: An interconnected universe on this scale has never really been attempted before in video games. What’s more, Remedy’s games have so far been self-contained enough to be enjoyable as their own experiences. Finally, by virtue of being video games, which are extremely time-intensive and tricky to make, there’s not a new one to play every few months.

    Shared-world storytelling, while compelling when done right, is approaching something of a nadir in popular culture. A recent report by Variety about the internal turmoil of Marvel Studios in 2023 paints a picture of a studio that, through a combination of several box-office disappointments and an oversaturation of streaming TV releases, has come to a crossroads in its otherwise unimpeded path of commercial success. There are, as of this writing, 33 films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and nine streaming series recognized as canon.

    Jesse Faden floats down a purple hallway that’s shaped like a pentagon in Control

    Image: Remedy Entertainment/505 Games via Polygon

    That’s a lot of “homework” for anyone who wants to stay up to date with the latest Marvel developments. Remedy Entertainment’s shared universe doesn’t suffer from this same level of fatigue-inducing scale — as of this moment, there are only three games (Alan Wake, Control, and Alan Wake 2) to play in order to be caught up with what’s going on (leaving aside the many subtle connections to and Easter eggs from Max Payne, Max Payne 2, and Quantum Break). And for those that really couldn’t give a toss about the interconnected plot threads between Control’s corner of the Remedy Connected Universe and Alan Wake’s, the two series are still distinct enough that you could easily enjoy one or the other on its own merit.

    For instance: Did you know that Freya Anderson, the mother of Alan Wake 2 protagonist Saga Anderson and daughter of Old Gods of Asgard member Tor Anderson, was first name-dropped in a collectible FBC document in the AWE DLC for Control, three years before the release of Alan Wake 2? Or that Sheriff Tim Breaker and Jesse Faden, who are played by Shawn Ashmore and Courtney Hope, are implied to be alternate-reality versions of Jack Joyce and Beth Wilder, the protagonists of 2016’s Quantum Break, who are also played by Ashmore and Hope? Probably not. Could this be important to the future of the story of either Control or Alan Wake? Sure, maybe — but only for those who care. The point is to reward those players who like to dive a little deeper in order to draw out those lesser-known connections. Best of all, these kinds of Easter eggs don’t come at the expense of what’s unique or enjoyable about either Control or Alan Wake.

    Alan Wake points a flashlight and pistol at a group of shadowy figures on a rooftop in Alan Wake 2.

    Image: Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing

    Earlier this year, Remedy Entertainment announced its transition to a multi-project studio, with over five games currently in production, including a sequel to Control, a four-player player-versus-environment co-op game set in the world of Control, and a combined remake of Max Payne and Max Payne 2, each roughly scheduled to come out with a year between one another. Even if each of these releases were to be a touchstone in the Remedy Connected Universe going forward, audiences would only need to play one game a year, at most, in order to keep up with the evolving narrative of either Control or Alan Wake.

    I totally get the trepidation at the prospect of following yet another shared-universe narrative, especially when there’s no real stated end goal at this early point in the Remedy Connected Universe. Will Saga Anderson cross paths with Jesse Faden at some point in the future? Maybe! Will Quantum Break at some point be retroactively acknowledged as a canon part of this shared fictional universe? Who knows? For now, I’m just along for the ride — and as long as Remedy continues to iterate on its past success, and continues to develop idiosyncratic games with interesting characters and compelling storylines, I’m more than happy to follow the developer down whichever narrative rabbit hole it goes down next.

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    Toussaint Egan

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  • The Best PlayStation Gifts Include Special Deals on Game of The Year Nominees

    The Best PlayStation Gifts Include Special Deals on Game of The Year Nominees

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    Best PlayStation Gifts 2023: Console, Game Holiday Present Ideas – StyleCaster


























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    Sophie Hanson

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  • How to get a broom in Hogwarts Legacy

    How to get a broom in Hogwarts Legacy

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    The world outside of Hogwarts is huge, so you’ll definitely to get a broom in Hogwarts Legacy.

    Although quidditch was banned by Headmaster Black, you can still fly wherever you want. Unfortunately, you don’t start out with a broom when you arrive, but you’ll unlock one fairly early on.

    Read on to learn when you get a broom in Hogwarts Legacy, whether there is such a thing as the best broom (spoilers: there is not) and a list of all brooms and where to buy them.

    How to get a broom in Hogwarts Legacy

    To get a broom in Hogwarts Legacy, you need to complete the main story quest “Flying Class.” If you were to only complete main story line quests, you would find these quests fairly early on — meaning it’s possible to get your first broom in your first few hours of playing.

    Hogwarts Legacy brooms list, and is there a ‘best’ broom?

    There are a total of 13 brooms in Hogwarts Legacy, and all of them have the same speed. None are faster than the others; the only difference you’ll find between brooms is a matter of appearance. Other than that, there are no differences between brooms in Hogwarts Legacy – meaning there is no one ‘best’ broom.

    To see what all of the brooms look like, check out the gallery below. If you’re searching for where you can unlock the brooms and how much those brooms cost, read on to the next section.


    Where to buy brooms in Hogwarts Legacy

    You can unlock brooms by purchasing them from a vendor or by popping balloons while riding your broom. Some vendors have prerequisite quests that you must complete before purchasing their brooms:

    • Arn: Complete the side quest “Carted Away” and the main quest “Flight Test”
    • Leopold Babcocke, Priya Treadwell, Rohan Prakash: Complete the main quest “Flight Test”

    Check out the gallery and table below to see how to unlock all of the brooms and how much they cost.


    All of the brooms in Hogwarts Legacy

    Broom Name How to unlock Cost
    Broom Name How to unlock Cost
    Aeromancer Purchased from Rohan Prakash 3,000 gold galleons
    Bright Spark Pop balloons challenge Pop 32 sets of balloons
    Ember Dash Purchased at Spintwitches Sporting Needs 600 gold galleons
    Family Antique Purchased from Pryia Treadwell 2,500 gold galleons
    Hogwarts House Purchased at Spintwitches Sporting Needs 600 gold galleons
    Lickety Swift Pop balloons challenge Pop 7 sets of balloons
    Moon Trimmer Purchased at Spintwitches Sporting Needs 600 gold galleons
    Night Dancer Pop balloons challenge Pop 2 sets of balloons
    Silver Arrow Purchased from Arn 5,000 gold galleons
    Sky Scythe Purchased from Leopold Babcocke 5,000 gold galleons
    Wild Fire Pop balloons challenge Pop 17 sets of balloons
    Wind Wisp Purchased at Spintwitches Sporting Needs 600 gold galleons
    Yew Weaver Purchased at Spintwitches Sporting Needs 600 gold galleons

    How do I upgrade my broom in Hogwarts Legacy?

    After you purchase a broom for the first time, you’ll start a series of side quests given by Albie Weekes at Spintwitches Sporting Needs, which can be found in Hogsmeade. In these side quests, you’ll test your broom upgrades against Imelda Reyes, a Slytherin student, in a series of time trials. To easily beat Imelda’s times, make sure to fly through the golden bubbles as you progress through the race. These bubbles will refill your boost meter and increase your speed for a short period of time.

    After you complete the time trials, return to Albie Weekes, and he’ll begin working on the next broom upgrade. You’ll need to complete three time trials to unlock the ability to purchase the three broom upgrades. These upgrades will increase the speed for every broom you own, not just the one that you have equipped. Check out the table below to see when you can upgrade your broom, and how much it costs to upgrade it.

    Broom Upgrades at Spintwitches Sporting Needs

    Upgrade Quest name Cost
    Upgrade Quest name Cost
    First upgrade Sweeping the Competition 1,000 gold galleons
    Second upgrade The Sky is the Limit 4,000 gold galleons
    Third upgrade After The Sky is the Limit 7,500 gold galleons

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    Johnny Yu

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  • 6 Reasons Why GTA 6 Should be a Sequel, Not A Prequel

    6 Reasons Why GTA 6 Should be a Sequel, Not A Prequel

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    There may not be any game more anticipated than Grand Theft Auto VI right now. With 2013’s Grand Theft Auto V being one of the highest-selling games of all time (and seeing a multitude of re-releases), fans are clearly more than ready for the next entry in the series. The long wait has felt even harsher with the recent leak of about 90 videos worth of early gameplay for this new title.

    Major questions have obviously been posed about where GTA VI will take the franchise. While some want the franchise to continue pushing in a modern direction to feel more like a “sequel”, others have been more interested in the prospect of returning to past locations and time periods to be more of a “prequel.” Here are six reasons why we feel that Grand Theft Auto VI should push forward and become a sequel, rather than a prequel.

    Prequels Are Playing Themselves Out

    Image Source: Rockstar Games

    Video game prequels have become so commonplace in today’s gaming industry. In just the past six years, franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Battlefield, Fallout, Pokémon and Red Dead Redemption have jumped backward and released new mainline entries as prequels. While they can turn out good, video game prequels can often feel like unnecessary additions to franchises that should be moving forward.

    In the case of Grand Theft Auto, while the games do have an overarching canon, the stories are largely standalone. You don’t need to play one game to play the others in the series, since they always focus on a new cast in a new location. While the franchise constantly features compelling characters, there’s not much of a need to waste the resources you’d allot to a mainline game on a prequel in the current video game climate.

    Save the Prequels For the Side Games

    gta liberty city stories
    Image Source: Rockstar Games

    With that said, prequels could absolutely work in the form of side games, as they have before. 2005’s Liberty City Stories and 2006’s Vice City Stories served as prequels to Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, respectively. They were compelling titles on the PSP that took minor characters from their respective games and managed to make fleshed-out titles featuring them.

    While the games were well-made, they worked on a much smaller scale than their respective home console counterparts. If Rockstar were to adopt the prequel approach, it would be best to do that in the form of a smaller side project. Plus, in this current world of DLC and expansions, a Grand Theft Auto prequel could be released as an expansion to a pre-existing game when the time is right.

    What Would a Prequel Do Differently From the Other Games?

    gta 5 main characters key art
    Image Source: Rockstar Games

    Grand Theft Auto VI is under an enormous amount of pressure, maybe more than almost any upcoming game right now. With how beloved Grand Theft Auto V was, this follow-up will have to find some way to not only live up to its predecessor but continue to innovate on it. It’s hard for any franchise to make it to a sixth mainline entry, but it’s even harder to stay fresh once you reach that vaunted sixth title.

    Stepping back in the past would potentially limit the gameplay, as characters would have fewer resources to work with in regard to things like weapons and vehicles. Grand Theft Auto has always thrived off of the sheer amount of content it allows players to utilize to shape their own adventure, but a prequel might limit the power and quantity of resources to mess around with. As a result, with less for players and characters to engage with in the game, the sixth entry may just end up feeling like a big retread of its predecessor if they decide to take the prequel approach.

    Rockstar Can Do a More Modern Satire

    gta 5 key art
    Image Source: Rockstar Games

    Another important thing that Grand Theft Auto is well known for is its societal satirization. While the games often tell very serious stories with fleshed-out characters, they also poke at the sociopolitical climates of their respective time period. That said, as Grand Theft Auto has already taken place over several decades, returning to a previous time period might feel like a desperate attempt to recapture what may feel a bit played out.

    A modern Grand Theft Auto game would be something players could relate to, as its satirical take on current-day culture will feel immediately familiar to younger adults getting into the series for the first time. And while GTA V took place in a then-modern setting of 2013, enough time has passed that Rockstar has plenty to satirize now. Thus, a return to an earlier decade may not hit as hard as it did in the past.

    A New Setting Would Make Things Feel Fresh

    gta key art
    Image Source: Rockstar Games

    Early reports – and the aforementioned gameplay leaks – have indicated that Grand Theft Auto VI will be taking a modern-day return to a classic locale, Vice City. Other reports, however, have indicated the game could have multiple locations and may partly take place in South America. This would be a refreshing location that could provide a nice change of pace for the series.

    While Grand Theft Auto has succeeded plenty of times with one large open world, it would be a clever switch-up to allow players to travel to multiple different places. It could keep the game feeling fresh across a long playtime by diversifying the level design while also making changes to the gameplay depending on which particular area the player is in. This could be a huge addition to the game that brings it over the top and gives the franchise another generation-defining title.

    Clear Up Some Loose Ends

    Main characters of GTA V
    Image Source: Rockstar Games

    Since GTA V has had a long reign of success, many players have grown fond of the cast, including the main characters Franklin, Michael, and Travis. So, if GTA 6 follows the sequel route, we could be seeing this chaotic bunch once again to hopefully give us an idea of what happened to them. It wouldn’t be the first time for this to occur, as past Grand Theft Auto characters have been brought back or discussed in various conversations.

    The voice actors of the playable characters have also added more fuel to the fire by teasing their returns. During an interview with Ned Luke and Shawn Fonteno, the actors didn’t confirm or deny Franklin and Michael’s comeback, so there’s no telling if and possibly when it could happen.

    But what do you think? Should GTA VI try to be a true sequel? Or should Rockstar step back in the time machine and make this game a prequel? Tell us what you think in the comments!

    About the author

    Matt Anderson

    Matt has been a freelance writer at Twinfinite for a year, and he’s been in the games media industry for three years. He typically covers topics related to console news and industry trends for the site, and he has a major interest in first-party console games. Matt also has a Bachelor’s in Screenwriting from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, is an avid content creator on YouTube and TikTok, and legend has it he once asked Super Smash Bros. Melee to be his Prom date.

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    Matt Anderson

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