The price for a PS4 copy of the relatively obscure Star Wars racing game, Star Wars Racer Revenge, has dramatically increased in the last few days because of the game’s use in the latest PlayStation 5 jailbreak, Eurogamer reports. The PS2 game was originally released in 2002, and was ported to PS4 by Limited Run Games in 2019. Its role as a key ingredient in the jailbreaking process was announced on December 31.
Interested jailbreakers need Racer Revenge to jailbreak PS5 12.00 firmware because of a bug in the game’s Hall of Fame feature, according to Eurogamer. The bug makes it possible to inject new code into Sony’s console, and because the PS5 is able to load and play PS4 discs, Star Wars Racer Revenge is an easier method to pull the jailbreak off. Retail releases of games are a common way to execute exploits and hacks because, unlike digital copies, they can’t be directly patched.
While the PS4 version of Star Wars Racer Revenge was available for anywhere between $14.99 to $37.50 when it went on sale originally, used copies are currently listed for as high as $411 on eBay. Sellers are naturally trying to capitalize on the game’s new position in the jailbreaking meta and raising the price accordingly. Of course, it helps that there’s only a small number of copies to go around.
As the company’s name suggests, Limited Run Games releases old games in limited quantities as collector items. The company only ever made 8,500 copies of Racer Revenge per its own data, so the game is already rare in some sense, and now expensive to boot while there’s interest in the PS5 jailbreak.
Sony just announced the and there are some standouts. All of these titles will be available to download on November 4 until December 1.
First up, there’s the cat sim Stray. We praised the third-person cyberpunk adventure , in which we lauded the game’s unique mechanics and puzzles. After all, you play as a cat in a dystopian and futuristic city. That’s a one-of-a-kind premise, which is one reason it . It’ll be available for both PS4 and PS5. It’s also worth noting that this was a day-one release for PS Plus Extra and Premium back in 2022.
EA Sports WRC 24 is a popular racing sim developed by Codemasters, who made the Dirt series, the Grid franchise and plenty of official F1 games. This new one lets players participate in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC.) Racers get access to a bunch of WRC, WRC2 and Junior WRC cars from the 2024 season, complete with current drivers and teams. This one is only for PS5.
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator is certainly a battle similar, but not an accurate one. The game lets you design all kinds of bizarre battle scenarios with “the wobbliest physics system ever created.” This is the best game ever made that lets you battle a wooly mammoth with balloon arrows, thus forcing that beast into the sky. It’ll be available for both PS4 and PS5.
As always, a crop of new games means that some pre-existing titles are heading to that farm upstate. You have until November 3 to download Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3 and Cocoon to their game library. Dang. Last month was stacked.
Oliver Brandt is a Contributing Pop Culture Writer based in Tasmania, Australia. Their focus is reporting on video games, film, and TV. They have extensive knowledge of video game history and communities both in Australia and abroad, animated films and television shows, and international cinema. Oliver joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously worked at Men’s Journal, Parade, and more. They are a graduate of Curtin University. You can get in touch with Oliver by emailing o.brandt@newsweek.com. You can find them on X and Bluesky @chocobalt. Languages: English.
While fans have been loving the sequel to the beloved metroidvania Hollow Knight, many have noted its intense difficulty, especially in the early game. In response to the early-game difficulty, developer Team Cherry has revealed that the game’s first patch is on the way, and it’s set to make the game easier for new players.
Protagonist Hornet faces off against multiple enemies in a promotional screenshot for Hollow Knight: Silksong. Protagonist Hornet faces off against multiple enemies in a promotional screenshot for Hollow Knight: Silksong. Team Cherry
The first post-release patch for Hollow Knight: Silksong is currently available on Steam in the public beta branch of the game, and is expected to roll out to other platforms mid next week. The update brings a host of bug fixes, including some soft locks in the early and late game, and Team Cherry says all fixes will apply retroactively, so if you’re stuck or something is broken, you can just wait for the update to fix it.
The more exciting part for some fans is the tweaks to difficulty in the early game. Among the fixes includes a reduction in difficulty for two early game bosses, Moorwing and Sister Splinter, as well as a reduction in damage from Sandcarvers. There’s also a reduction in the cost of a few mid-game benches, and an increase in rosary rewards from a couple of in-game activities.
Below are the full patch notes for Silksong’s first patch, courtesy of the Silksong Steam blog.
Hollow Knight: Silksong First Update Patch Notes
Fixed situation where players could remain cloakless after Slab escape sequence.
Fixed wish Infestation Operation often not being completable during the late game.
Fixed wish Beast in the Bells not being completable when Bell Beast is summoned at the Bilewater Bellway during the late game.
Fixed getting stuck floating after down-bouncing on certain projectiles.
Fixed courier deliveries sometimes being inaccessible in the late game.
Fixed craft bind behaving incorrectly when in memories.
Fixed Lace tool deflect soft-lock at start of battle in Deep Docks.
Fixed Silk Snippers in Chapel of the Reaper sometimes getting stuck out of bounds.
Fixed Claw Mirrors leaving Hornet inverted if taking damage during a specific moment while binding.
Fixed Snitch Pick not giving rosaries and shell shards as intended.
Removed float override input (down + jump, after player has Faydown Cloak).
Slight difficulty reduction in early game bosses Moorwing and Sister Splinter.
Reduction in damage from Sandcarvers.
Slight increase in pea pod collider scale.
Slight reduction in mid-game Bellway and Bell Bench prices.
Slight increase in rosary rewards from relics and psalm cylinders.
Increase in rosary rewards for courier deliveries.
Various additional fixes and tweaks.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Final Fantasy 14 came out over a decade ago and has been running on PlayStation 4 since soon after it launched. Sony’s last-gen hardware won’t be able to support Square Enix’s MMORPG forever, though, and director Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida recently explained why.
“My basic stance is that I do want to continue supporting hardware which has grown old,” he said in an interview with Feed4Gamers (via TweakTown). “But I do have one concern, and that’s regarding the OS of the PlayStation 4, and this is regarding the hardware regulations which were made by Sony. These regulations are related to the limit of the data, and because there’s that limit of the data, well, we are continually incorporating updates for Final Fantasy 14 and we are now approaching that limit.”
He continued:
And so for this limit that’s in place, we have been asking Sony Interactive Entertainment from our side to increase that just for Final Fantasy 14, and they have kindly been doing that so far. But they’ve told us now that they are also reaching their limits. So I will repeat myself: I do want to provide support for platforms as long as possible. However, there will eventually come a time when the hardware is at its limits in terms of its technology, and at that point in time we would have to provide an end to the service on that hardware. But I will be sure to provide clear reasoning for that decision when I communicate it to the players.
According to Yoshida, Sony’s already been making exceptions to its standard developer rules in order to accommodate new content for FF14. The game has received several major updates since last year’s Dawntrail expansion, including this month’s patch 7.3, The Promise of Tomorrow. It’s unclear just how much wiggle room is still left for further upgrades and content drops.
When is Final Fantasy 14‘s next expansion coming?
Square Enix has been cagey on the timing of its next expansion, with speculation from some fans that it could arrive as late as spring 2027. Yoshida teased that there will at least be an update on the date for FF14 Fan Fest 2026 on the 10-year anniversary of A Realm Reborn this week.
Other big multiplayer games like PUBGand Genshin Impact are both dropping support for last-gen consoles in the coming months. While Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is still coming to PS4 and Xbox One this fall, other big annual franchises like MLB: The Show and Madden NFL have all ditched the aging hardware. Considering we’re nearly five years into the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S lifecycles, the only surprising thing is that these moves didn’t come sooner.
Originally released on the PS3 in 2013, FF14 left that console behind at the time of the Stormblood expansion in 2017, a departure for which Square Enix provided eight months of notice. My guess is that update 8.0, whenever it arrives, might similarly mark the end of the MMORPG’s journey on PS4. And by that point, PS6 will probably be just around the corner.
Square Enix’s multiplayer shooter Foamstars is moving to a free-to-play model. The four-player team multiplayer melee officially turned into a free game today on Sony’s PlayStation 4 and 5 meaning you also won’t need a PlayStation Plus subscription to play it, according to a posting on .
If you purchased the game before Square Enix’s price change, the studio will send you a free “Legacy Gift” that includes 12 exclusive color-variant Bubble Beastie skins, an exclusive Slide Board design and a “Legacy” title. You’ll need to keep an eye on and to find out how to obtain your free “Legacy Gift.”
released earlier this year on Sony’s past and current gen consoles as a third-person multiplayer battle game. It’s basically a mix of the homebase building mechanic of Fortnite and Nintendo’s family friendly multiplayer shooter melee Splatoon. Teams use mounds of foam to build terrain for their shooters to traverse at high speeds or build higher vantage points to attack their enemies. You shouldn’t learn anymore about the game’s backstory and or at least not while you’re eating. Trust us on this one.
Annualized sports games are always facing an uphill battle when convincing players to put down the cash for what many see as a roster update with minimal improvements. And often, that is the case, but with NBA 2K25, Visual Concepts and 2K Games have surpassed the subpar efforts of NBA 2K24, and once again becomes championship contenders in the world of video game basketball.
Image Source: 2K Games
This year’s most significant improvements come on the court, powered by ProPLAY, the technology that translates authentic movements from captured footage into actual, immersive gameplay. This means even more dribbling animations, signature shots, and off-ball movement that will make any coach happy. Needless to say, NBA 2K25 delivers the most true-to-life basketball experience you can have without lacing up your shoes.
It isn’t just the drives and the signature shots that catch the eye, the developers have also heeded feedback from the community regarding shooting the ball. The result is the ability to change up the shot timing profile to your liking, ranging from difficulty-based impact on user-timed shots to high-risk, high-reward mechanics, emphasizing the need for perfect timing to truly reflect the challenge in the sport. Similarly, you can adjust the timing for layups and free throws, too, as well as implement custom visual cues to suit your play style.
And if the already extensive shooting control methods weren’t enough, the new Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting option should be added to your consideration. Mimicking the movement of shooting, players using this method can pull down the shot stick to start a shot, and follow through to match the timing and speed of the push motion, making it almost feel like you are the one attempting to sink the basket. It certainly takes some getting used to, but mastering this new way is something the studio says will always beat the traditional method, so there’s food for thought for all the court generals out there.
Image Source: 2K Games
While offense is always something players will look forward to, there is also more meat for defensive players to sink their teeth into as well. A brand-new defensive cutoff system empowers those with good anticipation to be able to control their opponent, making dynamic shifts in directions to prevent an attack from gaining too much momentum. It is always a thrill to shut down the opposition this way, leading to easier steals and stupendous blocks that amp up the atmosphere.
Even contesting shots will feel different in NBA 2K25, with a new dynamic weighting system that tries to reflect the true impact of defense on a shot attempt. Strong defensive performances will now feel more rewarding than ever before, preventing shooters from raining hell on you if you manage to get your coverage right.
As the most obvious calling card, the graphical prowess and visual fidelity on show in NBA 2K25 is second to none, bringing its presentation to yet another level, approaching the authentic product fans can watch with every game. Player models are more detailed than ever before, and the fluid animations made possible by ProPLAY allow the game to ebb and flow naturally. Add to that arenas and courts put together with plenty of attention to detail, and to even the keenest of eyes, a game in action can look like the real deal.
Image Source: 2K Games
All of these can be experienced in a great selection of game modes that may be already familiar, but are nonetheless enjoyable to jump into. MyPLAYER and MyCAREER remain excellent ways of making your journey to the top of the NBA a fun-filled journey, with new bells and whistles to give players the ability to tweak their course and build a dynasty for the ages with or without their created player at the heart of things.
There’s also love for the WNBA in the form of The W, with the game’s rising stars of the likes of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and more being a part of the competition to become the GOAT. The Pursuit of Greatness story mode is undoubtedly one to invest your time in, reflecting the growing status of the women’s game.
If you would rather head things up in the front office, then there are MyGM and MyNBA to look forward to. The former leans much more firmly into the roleplaying aspects, making it possible for a GM to grow in more distinct ways and impact their team accordingly. Become an offensive powerhouse with great offensive coaching, or use your charisma to negotiate better deals and maintain team morale, the choice is yours as you look to grow your organization and unlock even more perks as you level up. It is also nice to have more dynamic and impactful conversations with people who matter, and being able to do so in an actual free-roaming space is a nice touch but not entirely necessary, in my opinion.
Image Source: 2K Games
As for the latter, The Steph Era of the 2017 Golden State Warriors have been added into the mix, giving you the opportunity to either stop them or join them in a period of true NBA superstars leading their teams. Furthermore, flexible league expansion and contraction, the addition of the NBA Cup, and more streamlined MySTAFF management make it easier to play how you want as you shape the league.
Then there are the MyTEAM and The City, modes where you can play solo, but are best enjoyed online with other players. The idea of building a super team is still a sound one, and Visual Concepts continues to iterate on the formula with the return of the Auction House and four new game modes for MyTEAM. Whether that will shift the needle for those not particularly keen on the card-collecting mode remains to be seen, but fans will have more to enjoy regardless.
As for The City, it has been revamped to bring players closer to the game and the community, with more interactive spaces and more ways to show off your skills. The best part of it is the impending return of all four MyPARKS as events in the mode, adding that layer of nostalgia that is hard to match. The sun-drenched Sunset Beach park, the industrial Rivet City, the urban setting of the Old Town, and the upgraded Old Town MyPARK on the aircraft carrier are all being remastered, and it will be a delight to ball on them again.
While the plethora of modes can be overwhelming, NBA 2K25 is also constantly giving players the avenue to improve their understanding of the game and its mechanics. The robust Learn 2K mode covers everything from the basics to the most advanced of moves, and it is a godsend for those who are new to the franchise or just trying to get their hands warmed up again. There are also similar tutorial modes available in MyTEAM and The City too, so make sure you are all caught up first before taking on others.
Image Source: 2K Games
With so much basketball goodness awaiting players, there are still the dreaded microtransactions in NBA 2K25 to be discussed. Naturally, if you are playing offline, there is really little incentive to invest in any of the microtransactions. However, there is a stark difference when competing against other players online; those willing to stump up the cash will have a distinct advantage, not just for their cosmetic looks but also when it comes to players and their ratings. Similar to the likes of EA Sports FC, there appears to be no stopping the profitable momentum of microtransactions for the franchise, so be wary whenever online play is concerned; sometimes, even the best skills don’t guarantee you’ll win.
As an entire basketball package, there is no denying that NBA 2K25 is something to be savored by fans of the sport. With its great selection of game modes and the various improvements made in all areas, this makes it more of an obvious choice compared to last year’s offering, and when Visual Concepts and 2K Games finally cut the cord with the previous generation, there will surely be even more amazing things to look forward to for a championship-calibre franchise.
NBA 2K25
As an entire basketball package, there is no denying that NBA 2K25 is something to be savored by fans of the sport. With its great selection of game modes and the various improvements made in all areas, this makes it more of an obvious choice compared to last year’s offering, and when Visual Concepts and 2K Games finally cut the cord with the previous generation, there will surely be even more amazing things to look forward to for a championship-caliber franchise.
Pros
Visuals and audio presentation is top-notch.
Great customization options.
Plenty of game modes for every fan.
New ProPLAY technology a true revolution.
Cons
Microtransactions are here to stay.
Online play balance remain a question.
A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review. Reviewed on PlayStation 5.
Twinfinite is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is one of the biggest games to come out in 2024, but it’s not the only open world RPG of its kind. Today, we’re looking at the best games like Dragon’s Dogma 2.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Image Source: CD Projekt Red
Following the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher 3 is a large and living world in some of the same ways that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is. You play as a Witcher, an enhanced human that hunts monsters and creatures with swords and magic at your disposal. The combat is fast, fluid, and responsive as you dodge enemy attacks, follow up with some of your own, and then blast them with a wave of fire.
Additionally, The Witcher 3’s world is truly massive, maybe even more so than Dragon’s Dogma 2’s, and it’s full of interesting side quests with spectacular storytelling.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Image Source: Warhorse Studios, Prime Matter
Unlike the other games on this list, Kingdom Come takes place in the realistic middle ages without any sort of magic. Instead, the game tries to nail that feeling of realism. The complex directional attack system meshes well with stamina management in a way that makes combat challenging and rewarding. In Kingdom Come, winning battles is more about placement and knowing what to do at the right time as opposed to how high your stats are.
The world is big too, clocking in at roughly 16 kilometers squared. While that’s not the biggest, that fact won’t matter as you travel around on foot and horseback.
GreedFall
Image Source: Focus Entertainment
You’ve got magic, swordplay, and guns while fighting humans and monsters alike in GreedFall. While you do get to fight alongside a couple NPC allies like in Dragon’s Dogma 2, GreedFall is far from a normal open-world action RPG. Case in point, instead of a giant open world to enjoy, the world is broken up into smaller zones.
What GreedFall lacks in an enormous world, it excels in telling stories with characters that are far from black and white. Moral ambiguity amidst fantasy politics is the name of each quest with characters that will challenge your sense of justice in ways you may not be ready for. And while GreedFall has some bugs, the RPG systems, skill checks, and passive skill trees are a treat to play around with.
Elden Ring
Image Source: FromSoftware Inc, Bandai Namco
Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s take on an open-world action RPG with a Dark-Souls twist. If Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn’t hold your hand, then it is accurate to say that Elden Ring doesn’t either. So you beat Elden Ring? Then it is likely there are quests you missed or ended before you reached their true end through your actions or inaction. Even if you’re a veteran of the developer’s previous titles, Elden Ring will truly test your abilities as one of the hardest games in their catalog.
In the same vein as Dragon’s Dogma, Elden Ring’s vast world is smartly designed in a way to constantly reward your curiosity as you comb through every nook and cranny. The classes, weapons, spells, enemy design and variety, and bosses all deserve to be experienced. This is especially true of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion coming soon.
Outward Definitive Edition
Image Source: Prime Matter
Outward is one of the more eccentric open-world games on this list. The game’s story isn’t the focus, nor are the quests. However, the open-ended nature of the role-playing mechanics and systems are the reason you’ll be exploring the game’s four large zones. There is a survival hook to Outward that makes eating and drinking vital to survival and combat success.
Still, combat is tactical and measured since you have to deal with stamina management. Thankfully, if you’re the kind that likes to prepare, then you will find preparing traps with magic and technology very effective. Through the jank, Outward exists as a compelling action RPG alternative that doesn’t hold your hand or appeal to the more casual gamer. Finally, what this RPG has that others on this list doesn’t is split-screen co-op. Issues aside, this one is worth trying.
NPC companions are one of The Elder Scrolls Online’s best additions over the years. These helpful AI-controlled pals all feature unique dialogue, voiceovers, and quests. However, not every companion is made equal. Here are The Elder Scrolls Online companions, ranked.
6. Mirri Elendis
Image Source: Zenimax Online Studios
Mirri was actually my first companion when I chose to start playing ESO again. Unfortunately, I had no idea she was one of the least capable companions. As a Dark Elf Nightblade, Mirri excels at dealing magical damage and even has a powerful execute that can be used on enemies under 25%. She also has a pretty interesting ultimate that makes an enemy take 20% more damage for 3 seconds before she deals massive damage to them. Sadly, there isn’t much else in her kit that lets her do more, or be more than a damage dealer.
For example, her ‘Soul Thief’ skill line has three different skills that grants heals, but they either only heal her or you, don’t heal enough, or have too long of a cooldown without any kind of built-in activation if you or her go below 75% HP like many other companion healing skills have. This usually results in her healing you and then dying herself. Which isn’t made any better when her ‘Living Shade’ skills fail to effectively keep her alive compared to other companions that can summon shields with better damage mitigation.
Being my first though, she’ll always have a special place in my heart. Especially since her companion ability gave chests a 30% chance to have additional loot found in hidden compartments. This always made exploring with her a bit more fun at the very least, even if she’d end up on the floor far too often.
5. Bastian Hallix
Image Source: Zenimax Online Studios
Bastian is one of the original companions from the Blackwood chapter and is an Imperial Dragonknight. As such, his kit is a good mix of offensive abilities, damage reduction with shields, and a smattering of healing. You would think that such a balanced mix would make him the ideal companion. Unfortunately, because he doesn’t excel at damage, healing, or tanking, he isn’t really good at any one of those playstyles even when focused build-wise.
Bastian’s ‘Ardent Warrior’ skill line does decent damage and can set enemies off balance, but that’s about it. Meanwhile, his ‘Radiating Heart’ skill line can grant you and him some shields while increasing healing done, but when the other healing ability only lets him heal you or himself, that kind of buff feels a little flat. At least he can increase the damage of your light and heavy attacks by 15% for 8 seconds, but that’s all that skill does. He can just feel rudderless sometimes.
His ‘Draconic Armor’ skill line doesn’t fare much better either when one move allows him to immobilize enemies but the other lets him pull enemies to them but only when they can move. There just isn’t any synergy there. At least his ‘Drake’s Blood’ ability is a pretty decent self-heal as long as you build him for max HP.
4. Ember
Image Source: Zenimax Online Studios
At the #4 spot comes Ember, a Khajiit Sorcerer from the High Isle Chapter. As a companion, Ember excels at dealing damage in large chunks using executes. She can protect herself and heal herself some, but she is not the best for any kind of support. The reason for this is because of her ‘Playful Schemer’ skill line having heals that heal either her or you. While her damage shield spell protects you and her on top of healing some, it is simply not enough.
Then there is her ‘Mischievous Caster’ skill line. The skills in this line allow Ember to stun an enemy for 3 seconds, immobilize enemies in an area while healing herself over 8 seconds, and the last skill does slight damage over time while reducing her damage taken by 20%. Beyond her powerful damaging skills in the ‘Lightning Caller’ skill lines, her defensive and healing skills don’t elevate her beyond the #4 spot. Still, her consistent damage allows her to live up to the title of battlemage.
At least her companion perk gives you a chance to find hidden wallets that contain extra gold when you go pick-pocketing.
3. Sharp-as-Night
Image Source: Zenimax Online Studios
Hailing from the same chapter as Azandar, the Argonian companion, Sharp-as-Night is the other Necrom companion. Like Azandar, Sharp operates as one of ESO’s latest classes, a Warden, and is quite capable of healing and damage because of that. When it comes to combat and damage, Sharp is viable with a variety of AoE attacks and a long-range spell that sets enemies off balance. Additionally, his Ultimate is a powerful execute that stuns enemies for 3 seconds while dealing 150% of its already impressive damage to enemies under 25% HP.
As far as heals goes, Sharp-as-Night is very proficient at casting area of effect heals whenever someone is below 75% HP. He even has a healing spell that restores health whenever group members use light attacks, which is perfect for builds that weaves in light attacks between abilities. Beyond Sharp’s heals, his defensive spells aren’t as useful since they don’t grant barriers of any kind and instead focus on increasing resistances, immobilizing enemies with ice, and healing only himself.
If Sharp had better group or even self-protective abilities, or a bear companion (since he’s a Warden) he would surely be higher on the list. But even with what he has, he can still be quite fun to explore with, especially if you like to fish.
2. Azandar Al-Cybaides
Image Source: Zenimax Online Studios
Azandar is one of ESO’s newest companions from the Necrom Chapter. He’s a Redguard Arcanist that uses some of that class’ best abilities to deal damage, buff enemies damage taken, and heal. His ‘Quill Knight’ skill line is effective at taunting enemies, fearing them, and dealing damage from a summoned damage shield. While his ‘Revitalizing Researcher’ skill line is highly effective at, again, creating a damage shield for themselves and you while the other skills allow for healing multiple targets and granting recovery.
Finally, his ‘Scholar of Apocrypha’ skill line is what you’ll be interested in if you want some damage. But more importantly, this skill line features two skills that act as amazing buffs and debuffs. ‘Fate Omen’s Inspiration’ charges your and his weapons, applying ‘Minor Berserk’ that increases damage done by 5% for 8 seconds. While the other skill ‘Tendrils of the Colorless Sea’ deals AoE damage and applies ‘Minor Vulnerability’ that makes enemies take 5% more damage.
Azandar’s Ultimate does considerable area of effect damage and stuns enemies for 3 seconds. That on top of causing them to take 10% more damage for 4 seconds, it is easy to see how Azandar can be fantastic all-around support.
1. Isobel Veloise
Image Source: Zenimax Online Studios
Isobel is a Breton and Templar from the High Isle Chapter that will tank and support you like no other. However, where Isobel shines (and the reason she’s in the #1 spot) is her damage mitigation and healing abilities. One of her most effective defensive ‘Brilliant Shield’ abilities is ‘Solar Ward’, where she reduces her damage taken by 20% and gets a shield worth 12.5% of her max health for 6 seconds on a 7.8 second cooldown.
Meanwhile, all three of her healing abilities either heal on low cooldowns, deal damage while healing, or both. All while being area of effect heals for herself, you, or other teammates nearby. Isobel also does some amazing damage over time while boosting the damage of your next light or heavy attack. Her execute ability, used on low health enemies, does massive amounts of damage too. Additionally, her damaging abilities go beyond just being limited to a single target.
Finally, Isobel’s companion perk ability grants a chance to find packs containing extra loot after beating a world boss. This companion’s heavy armor also helps make her the perfect support tank. It’s these facts that make Isobel a companion that can do it all.
At the end of the day, any one of these companions could be worth using depending on how they synergize with your chosen class and build. Besides, if you’re like me, you’ll eventually level all of them anyway just to discover their story and interesting dialogue bits.
About the author
Ali Taha
Whether its new releases, or a new Destiny 2 season, Ali will flex his gaming and freelancer skills to cover them extensively. He started off writing features for Game Rant but found a better home here on Twinfinite. While Ali waits for the next Monster Hunter title, he enjoys publishing his progression fantasy novels as an indie author.
The trend of cranking out tons of remakes and remasters of old games continues in 2024; this year might take the crown as one of the most prolific. In fact, some of the most anticipated games in general for 2024 are remakes, such as the TGA award-winner Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Whether you’re annoyed at incessant re-releases like The Last of Us, or hyped for long-dormant games to finally get a fresh coat of paint, 2024 has you covered. Here are the 10 most anticipated remasters & remakes of 2024.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Image Source: Square Enix
As the award winner for TGA “Most Anticipated Game” it’s impossible not to put Final Fantasy VII Rebirth high on this list. But awards aren’t the sole reason it’s here. The recent gameplay demonstrations at the 2023 Tokyo Game Show have shown tremendous potential for the game-of-the year-candidate.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is the sequel to the Remake from 2020. The game takes place outside of the steampunk city of Midgar, finally exploring the wider world of Gaia. Rebirth features an open-world map and has a ton of exploration and mini-games to try out. The fields outside the city of Kalm are home to Chocobo Farms and more nooks and crannies than you can shake a chunk of Materia at. And let’s not forget that Rebirth is the chapter featuring the fan-favorite theme park chock full of minigames, the Golden Saucer.
We can’t wait to play the action RPG remake of Final Fantasy VII’s second chapter when it finally launches on February 29th.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Image Source: Nintendo
Word is still out whether or not the best Paper Mario game will end up being a remaster or a remake built from the ground up, but we’re beyond thrilled no matter the result. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is easily my favorite game on the Nintendo GameCube, and it’s been console-locked ever since its release. Add to that the frustration of rarity and high resell prices for physical copies of the game and you have a cult classic that few modern gamers have the opportunity to experience.
The console-locked status of The Thousand-Year Door ends in 2024. Word is still out when the concrete release date will be, but the recent ESRB rating for the game points to it coming very soon. Seriously, you’re gonna want to play this, if for any reason just to see Rock Hawk in the arena sequence or where the Vivian sensation originated from.
Persona 3 Reload
Image Source: Atlus
Persona 3 Reload is a full remake of the PS2 turn-based RPG that kicked off the Persona craze. This remake includes several new features such as gardening and new Junpei social links. There’s also a lot of new voice acting that will cover the large amounts of unspoken text the original had.
But what really has us excited is the graphical overhaul. Persona 3 Reload uses a modified engine that Atlus used for Persona 5, and we all know how mind-bendingly stylish Persona 5 is. The menus for Persona 3 now have transition animations and full HD swank, and the characters themselves even move their mouths when speaking. Battles are going to be fully redesigned with the modern engine to be fast-paced and masterfully animated as well. What we’ve seen of Persona 3 Reload from trailers and presentations has us confident the remake of Persona 3 will burn our bread more than it ever has before (come on, you get that reference, right?)
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered
Image Source: Aspyr
The original Tomb Raider games are classics, yes, but they’re also rough to go back to. Tank controls and janky PS1 graphics render these games difficult to recommend to new players. But that all changes with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered. With improved controls and HD clarity, these remasters of the three first Tomb Raider games may just become classics all over again in 2024.
One of the big reasons this is so high on this list is because it’s been a LONG time since we’ve had a classic Tomb Raider experience. Lara Croft’s adventures in the rebooted series from 2013 don’t feature the same platforming emphasis and general action gameplay the originals did. Fans of classic action games and platformer-puzzlers shouldn’t sleep on Tomb Raider I-III Remastered. I know I’ll want to revisit the glory days of Lara Croft in HD splendor come February 14th.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake
Image Source: Hazelight Studios
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was one of the breakaway indie hits of the early 2010s. It helped propel the trend of indie co-op story games such as A Way Out and TGA winner It Takes Two. There are several new features this remake is bringing to the table that make it one of 2024’s most anticipated. First, there’s the addition of full co-op, which the original didn’t have. Even though Brothers is focused on two siblings overcoming puzzles on an emotional journey, the game was originally strictly single-player.
We’re really excited to grab a partner this time around, especially since we’ll be journeying in full 4K glory. The Brothers remake is made in Unreal Engine 4 and has a much higher budget than the original. This is a ground-up remake that we’re looking forward to playing when it releases on February 28th.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Image via Capcom
The original trilogy of Ace Attorney games got a lovingly made remaster a while back, so the next trilogy in the series was a sure bet. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy contains the fourth, fifth, and sixth main games of the series in one remastered bundle. Several noteworthy additions earn this package a worthy spot on this list.
First, the translation from 3DS to console and PC. The original games featured a dual-screen interface and was locked on handheld systems, so this remaster is very welcome in that respect. There’s a new animation studio feature that puts custom scenes at the players’ fingertips with movable props and backgrounds. The orchestra hall and art library features provide full soundtracks and images to peruse in detailed menus. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is the definitive way to play these games and it releases on January 25th.
Gothic Remake
Image Source: THQ Nordic
Okay, I’ll be real with you, the Gothic Remake isn’t set in stone for a 2024 release, but it’s still projected for 2024, so we’ll let it fly. Gothic was a fascinating alternative to games like Morrowind and The Witcher when it was released in 2001. The complex mechanics and interconnected storytelling were ahead of their time and paved the way for all-time greats like The Witcher 3.
Gothic Remake is going to be built from the ground up with triple-A graphics and polished gameplay. The screenshots we’ve seen look mouth-watering, especially if you’re a fan of Western RPGs. While the exact release date is unknown at this time, the developers’ transparency through the development process has been refreshing and positive. Check out the latest Gothic Remake developer podcast from THQ Nordic to see how passionate they are about bringing the classic German RPG to a modern audience.
Braid: Anniversary Edition
Image Source: Thekla
I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t initially over the moon when I first heard about a Braid remaster, but then I read what it’ll include and now I’m sold. Braid Anniversary Edition is an updated remaster of the 2008 indie puzzle platformer Braid. Braid kinda started the indie game boom back in the day, and now it’s getting a fancy remaster on modern systems.
But it’s not just a straight port. Updated visuals, redone music, developer commentary, and all-new puzzles are featured in this remaster. Braid was known for its brilliant time reversal level design, so having new ones to play has me stoked. Braid Anniversary Edition releases on April 30th on all modern systems.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered
Image Credit: Naughty Dog
Hear me out, I don’t actually hate The Last of Us Part II; the only reason it’s this low on the list is because a remaster of a three-year-old game is just plain silly. I know Sony wants that The Last of Us cash, but come on.
This remastered version includes various enhancements catered specifically for the PS5 such as full DualSense functionality and visual upgrades. The biggest addition to this remaster is a new roguelike survival mode called No Return. Little is known about the new mode, but we don’t have to wait long since The Last of Us Part II Remastered comes out on January 19th.
Clock Tower
Image Source: WayForward
Horror game fans rejoice, the classic Clock Tower is finally releasing outside of Japan! What’s that? The first Clock Tower already came out on Playstation back in 1997? Well, no, that was actually Clock Tower 2. 1995’s Clock Tower 1 is getting a spruced-up remaster for the first time in the West. Clock Tower has you running away from the deadly Scissorman while navigating a dark mansion. It’s a point-and-click horror game that has you hiding, solving puzzles, and screaming in equal measure. Look forward to this updated Super Famicom horror game when it releases sometime in 2024.
That’s our list of 10 most anticipated remakes & remasters of 2024. There are obviously some games we didn’t add to this list, so let us know which ones you felt got snubbed. For all your reviews and guides for games in 2024 and beyond, check back here on Twinfinite!
About the author
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.
Between Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter: Rise you would think that World, the much older title, wouldn’t have such a resurgence. And yet, here may be why Monster Hunter: World is currently 4x more popular than Rise.
Monster Hunter: Rise is the currently latest released game in the Monster Hunter series. As a Monster Hunter game that was designed for the Switch, it doesn’t have the graphical quality of Worlds or Iceborn but what it lacked in fidelity it had in style. However, Rise elevated the classic Monster Hunter gameplay through several quality-of-life updates. New ways to play like the Palamute ridable dog, wire-bugs, wyvern riding, and the Rampage mode were mostly appreciated new features.
Image Source: Capcom
Meanwhile, Rise’s single expansion, Sunbreak, overhauled the wire-bug system, giving even more ability choices and gameplay flexibility to players. On top of a revamped companion system that allowed you to bring some of the game’s NPC characters with you during hunts. So why is it then that after the announcement of Monster Hunter: Wilds that Rise peaks at 25k players while World has grown to peak at 110k?
There are a few reasons that come to mind, but the biggest I feel is that Wilds is more likely to represent World than it is Rise. This is because of World’s intentionally slower pace and bigger size is something the MH community enjoys more on a whole over Rise’s quicker, more arcade-esque Monster encounters.
This is punctuated by the fact that in Monster Hunter: World you are actually hunting the monster through a process of finding its tracks and pinning down its location on the map. Which many find more involved and immersive to Monster Hunter: Rise’s streamlined “hunting” process of seeing the monster on the map and quickly traversing to it. Thankfully, it seems some aspects of Rise are making their way to Wilds, like how the Wilds trailer showcased a ridable mount very much like Rise’s Palamute.
Then, there are the visuals of World that are leaps and bounds ahead of the newer, released Rise. Even with expanded visuals for the PC port, the way the game was made for the Nintendo Switch’s aging hardware made Rise already visually dated on release. Wilds looks to be a return to graphical form for the Monster Hunter series with wide open expanses of traversable land that looks more open world than ever before.
Many players also found the wire bug mechanic of Rise to be too forgiving in the ways that the mechanic could help you immediately get out of harm’s way. This had the likely unintended consequence of making Rise one of the easiest Monster Hunter titles. And what is Monster Hunter without difficulty after all? The players have spoken, and they want the less forgiving, more punishing gameplay of World.
Image Source: Capcom
However, even I am surprised at how most prefer World when its co-op multiplayer was significantly less accessible. This is because World had cutscenes and missions that could only be experienced by yourself. So, if you had a friend who wasn’t as experienced with the game, and you wanted to help them, they had to get fairly deep into the overall story where these solo missions largely vanished. Luckily, I would bet that a lot of World’s returning players have already gotten far past those points of co-op limitation.
Ultimately, Monster Hunter: World exhibits more of what players want from a mainline Monster Hunter title. Capcom would be wise to notice this trend and develop Monster Hunter: Wilds to better cater to the majority of players who have shown what’s important to them with their collective time spent.
About the author
Ali Taha
Whether its new releases, or a new Destiny 2 season, Ali will flex his gaming and freelancer skills to cover them extensively. He started off writing features for Game Rant but found a better home here on Twinfinite. While Ali waits for the next Monster Hunter title, he enjoys publishing his progression fantasy novels as an indie author.
The many EPs of the Sims universe continue to keep the franchise alive, incorporating more content with each passing year. But with so many add-ons out there, it can be challenging to keep up with them all, especially when deciding on a new EP. So, to get the complete package, we’re here to rank all The Sims 4 expansion packs from worst to best.
15. Snowy Escape
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Although Snowy Escape is at the bottom of the list, it is by no means a bad Sims 4 expansion pack. One of its best qualities is the many decorative objects you can utilize in almost any world, showcasing a Japanese-inspired furniture collection. The pack is also just plain fun to explore, where you can take a trip down the snowy mountains and relax in the cozy rock garden.
But what makes Snowy Escape fall short is the fact that it feels more like a vacation spot rather than an actual expansion in gameplay. Yes, it can be perfect for those family outings, yet it doesn’t quite have any necessary attributes that others do.
14. Eco Lifestyle
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Eco Lifestyle promotes a positive message of keeping the world clean, using craftable projects and communal living. That means Simmers can establish their own electricity and water systems while planning out missions during the Neighborhood Action Plan events.
It can certainly be exciting to watch how the town evolves from a desolate land to an immaculate, energy-saving neighborhood. However, Eco Lifestyle feels more like a one-stop shop; it can be fun to play the pack the first time around, but there’s nothing much else to do outside of that. I personally haven’t used much of the Build Mode items in other worlds either, so it’s more or less catered to its designated world alone.
13. Island Living
Image Source: Maxis Studios
In hindsight, Island Living can feel like another vacation spot world, yet it’s so much more than that with its conservationist career and mermaid lifestyle. As a conservationist, you’ll be able to keep the beaches clean and study the wonders of the water. Or, if you are interested in another pathway, you can sink into fishing, diving, or even a lifeguard career.
Not to mention the enriching culture surrounding Sulani, where you can learn about the local folklore with the island ancestors. The expansion pack, unfortunately, doesn’t have much replay value beyond these factors due to its lack of content. Nevertheless, it can still provide you with some fun activities when you want to change up the pace.
12. Discover University
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Discover University was our first introduction to the college lifestyle in The Sims 4. Thus, instead of jumping into a career right away in the Young Adult stage, you’ll have the option to further your knowledge in a specific field of interest. On top of that, the world of Britechester just feels like any real-life college town, bringing in party-filled events and clubs for extracurricular activities.
But as much as I wanted to like the entirety of the Discover University pack, you can’t actually go into class (a concept that wasn’t introduced until High School Years.) It can also be extremely tough to handle a full-time schedule, forcing you to settle for a select few activities to avoid being overwhelmed. I understand that it’s meant to reflect the real world, but having that high amount of homework and studying deters you from everything else in the EP.
11. Cats & Dogs
Image Source: Maxis Studios
You may be surprised to see Cats and Dogs so low on this Sims 4 expansion pack ranking (especially since I’m a huge pet lover myself.) However, the gameplay side of the add-on can be pretty exhausting with the consistent needs of the animals. On some occasions, it made me feel like a terrible pet owner, where they’d get taken away just because I didn’t tend to them 24/7.
Don’t get me wrong; the Cats and Dogs expansion pack is still a necessary pack that I believe every animal lover should get. The EP brings out some of the most meaningful and heartfelt moments, whether it be through training sessions or simple family downtimes. Though, I suggest not going overboard with cats and dogs within the household so you can refrain from pulling your hair out with their constant need for attention.
10. Horse Ranch
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Compared to Cats and Dogs, I had a much easier time taking care of horses since they can, for the most part, tend to their needs in dire situations. It doesn’t require as much of that 24/7 attention with cats and dogs, so it feels a lot less hectic. Even more so, I truly enjoyed living on the land as a rancher, in which you craft Nectar recipes and look after small animals.
I would say that Horse Ranch feels more like a game pack than an expansion pack. It only does a little in terms of gameplay, with horses being the only main selling point. The world is also relatively smaller than other Sims 4 expansion packs despite having a new traveling system with horses.
9. Get to Work
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Although Get to Work can sometimes have a bad rap in the Sims community with its bugs and performance issues, it still is the first introduction to immersive jobs in the franchise. In previous games, careers only offered rabbithole activities, requiring you to wait around for your Sims to come home. That is until Get to Work finally allowed players to dive into their character’s work life as a Detective, Doctor, or Scientist.
Then, you can dabble in the pack’s retail side, featuring bookstores, boutiques, and bakeries. Get to Work has a lot to offer, and even if you don’t always go for those new career paths, it’s there for you to try out whenever you’re tired of those less-interactive jobs.
8. City Living
Image Source: Maxis Studios
City Living is another excellent Sims 4 expansion pack that ushers in apartments for this particular entry. Most worlds lean on a residential approach, but this EP can change up this dynamic with its upscale buildings and ongoing events. There’s always something to do in San Myshuno, from karaoke nights to cultural festivals.
When it’s time to go home, you’ll have to deal with everyday problems like leaky pipes or bug outbreaks, adding to The Sims 4’s realistic value. The only thing I will say is that the newest For Rent offers more of an apartment-style of living due to its multi-units, which was neglected in City Living.
7. High School Years
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Like Get to Work, High School Years finally brought an interactive experience specifically for the younger generation. Now, Simmers can get some insight into what the educational system is actually like while also having more control over their studies. Build Mode takes on a new form at the same time, creating expansive schools with a classroom-themed collection.
Teenagers in past Sim installments have been relatively neglected in content, so it’s nice to see them get more opportunities with prom and graduation. Plus, High School Years showcases a new social media system as a Simfluencer, where you can rise in popularity through the Trendi app.
6. Get Together
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Many Sims 4 expansion packs have come and gone over the years, and one that you may have forgotten is the communitive Get Together add-on. Although it has been quite some time since it was released, it proves its value as one of the largest worlds in the game. In comparison, the pack’s Windenburg features upwards of over 20 lots, while the latest For Rent only has 9.
Group activities make the pack feel much more meaningful, setting up hangouts and establishing clubs to meet new Sims. The franchise has always been about togetherness, and that’s exactly where this EP shines. Almost every part of this world has something going on, including battling it out on the dance floor and having a splash in the pool.
5. Get Famous
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Even though I love the realistic side of the Sims universe, it’s exciting to take a dip into a lavish lifestyle. Fortunately, the Get Famous expansion pack indulges in this way of living, making you feel like a true celebrity. You’ll see Sims fawning over your character and unlock a sparkling effect around them to enhance your affluence more. The acting career can also be fun to play through, and it will gradually get better the more you rise to fame. By the end of it, you’ll find yourself being the king or queen of the town where everyone wants to know your name.
4. For Rent
Image Source: Maxis Studios
The newest Sims 4 expansion pack, For Rent, introduced a much-awaited feature almost every Sim has asked for with multi-unit living. In all these years, homes have been restricted with a family-size limit, and now, you’ll be able to make a whole town using a single lot alone (maybe it’ll be squished together, but at least it’s possible.)
Tenants and Property Owners have joined alongside this new gameplay system, giving you more tasks to do around the house. We also can’t forget about the Southeast Asian-inspired content that For Rent brought to the table as the franchise expands to more cultures in an incredibly unique way.
3. Growing Together
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Everything from the Get Together pack was taken a step further in the Growing Together expansion, creating social dynamics within the family. Rather than having a strictly positive or negative relationship with someone, you’ll be able to trigger different companionships, such as Jokester, Close, and Strict.
In particular, if your Sims share a Jokester dyanimic, they’ll goof around whenever they are near each other, creating much more impactful moments between the household. Compatibilities and more social interactions were also added to the game for even more realism, which could either lead to a sentimental conversation or chaotic fight.
2. Seasons
Image Source: Maxis Studios
Seasons has basically become a must-have expansion pack that every Simmer needs. If you’ve solely played the base game, you’ll notice that many things stays the same, with the exception of Sim aging. On the other hand, Seasons changes the world around you regarding to weather, holiday content, and seasonal activities.
It’s much more satisfying when time moves along in this depiction, as opposed to the somewhat stand-still version in the base game. The pack will give you something to look forward to throughout the Sim years, and it also provides you with a Gardening career if you’ve got a green thumb.
1. Cottage Living
Image Source: Maxis Studios
If there’s one expansion pack that every Simmer agrees on, it would definitely be Cottage Living. It’s the true embodiment of living off the land using all the natural resources around Henford-on-Bagley. Coupled with that, the aesthetic of the world and the Build Mode items complement the environment very well, upping the coziness factor that the Sims franchise is known for.
Not only will you get lost in customization, but there’s also so much to do with the wide variety of content. Simmers will undoubtedly have more than enough to explore, from stitching to jam-making to gardening, especially when your hard work pays off.
But just when you think that’s all, Cottage Living has another bonus of animal care, adding in llamas, cows, and chickens. With all this in mind, you can see why it’s a stand-out pack through its abundance of content.
About the author
Haley MacLean
Video games are a true unification of art and technology, and Haley was amped to be able to write about them during her tenure at Twinfinite. A lover of all things Nintendo, obsessed with narrative driven games, and hopes the couch co-op genre makes a return soon. BA/BJ/MJ from University of King’s College, NS, Canada.
Haley was a Staff Writer for Twinfinite from 2016 to 2021 with a focus on covering all things The Sims and Nintendo.
Quantities are limited. So take a look and purchase right away if you see any titles that you like. I’m not a big gamer, so please mention any good deals in the comments.
This is for all the Hunters out there who appreciate the sneaker side of Destiny 2’s combat sandbox. From overshields, to invisibility, to Volatile Rounds, the Exotic armors found in this ranked list should give plenty of insight into many varied build choices for your Void Hunter.
With that said, here is Destiny 2: the top 10 Exotic armor for Void Hunters in Destiny 2.
10. Gwisin Vest
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
At the last spot on the list comes the Gwisin Vest. While this Exotic armor is indeed made for the Void Hunter, its ability that augments the Spectral Blades Super pales in comparison to others on this list. This armor’s perk ‘Roving Assassin’ refunds super energy based on the number of kills you get with the Spectral Blades Super once you use the Super’s heavy attack.
In terms of raw numbers, it doesn’t return a huge amount. If you’re in PvE it’s 11.1% after 1 kill and 17.1% after 5. While in PvP it’s 8.3% after 1 and 16.7% after 5 kills. If this chest armor did something more outside of prolong the Spectral Blade Super, it might have been higher up on this list.
9. Motherkeeper’s Wraps
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
This is one of the newer items that Hunters have access to, and it does work with all subclasses. That’s because these Exotic arms replace your grenade ability with ‘Cage of Loyal Moths’. The result is that when you use your grenade two moths explode out of where your new grenade lands. Depending on if you or an ally is close by, two Arc moths will spawn to explode on enemies, or two Void moths will quickly fly to you or any ally to give a 22.5hp Void shield each. Alternatively, an Arc and Void moth can spawn, doing a bit of both.
When you take into account the damage and Void shield amounts given in PvE and PvP, this Exotic simply doesn’t hold up to others on this list. Especially when it completely replaces your powerful Void grenade.
8. Assassin’s Cowl
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Assassin’s Cowl is one of those Exotics that work incredibly well in PvE but much less so in PvP. Its perk ‘Vanishing Execution’ restores health and grants invisibility based on the kind of enemy you kill with powered melee attack or finisher—with finisher kills generally giving longer invisibility and more HP back in general. Now, this is a lot of people’s favorite helmet for quite a few builds across the many other subclasses.
However, I don’t find it as valuable for Void unless you’re in dire need of a constant source of healing. You can already go invisible pretty easily, so Exotics that can buff invisibility, and not just how you turn invisible, is something I find more interesting.
7. Fr0st-EE5
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
These boots fair a bit better than previous armor on this list. In all of the Exotics that help you go invisible, or use abilities, this is certainly one of the better ones due to its perk. The perk, ‘Rapid Cooldown,’ doubles your grenade and melee ability regen rate in PvE, and increases the base regen rate by 100% in PvP. While your class ability base regen is increased by 200% in PvP.
All of that happens while sprinting, which should be pretty often! Then, when you dodge and go invisible, your movement speed will also be increased by roughly 6%. This makes ambushing other players while invisible even easier. However, other Exotics on this list simply augment other Void abilities better than just “reduced cooldown.”
6. The Bombardiers
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Now we’re starting to get into the Exotic armor options that mesh quite well with the Void Hunter loadout. I say this because these boots’ Exotic perk, ‘Parting Gift’, drops a bomb whenever you dodge. This bomb explodes after 1.5 seconds and deals a substantial amount of damage over a 7.5-meter radius.
What’s cool about this bomb is that it applies a different effect depending on your subclass. So, as a Void Hunter, the dropped bomb will have the effect of suppression, much like the suppression grenade at your disposal already. However, the key difference is that this bomb uses “Lite” suppression, so it won’t be taking other Guardian’s out of their Supers. If it did, or if the bomb did more damage, it would have been higher on the list.
5. Khepri’s Sting
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
This Exotic’s perk is pretty valuable to have, but with some caveats. The perk, ‘Touch of Venom,’ instantly casts Smoke Bomb on the enemy if your melee ability is fully charged. Additionally, your Smoke Bomb with do 50% more damage than usual, on top of granting you Truesight for 3 seconds. This allows you to see enemies through walls up to 64 meters away.
Even better is if you want to use your Smoke Bomb normally and leave it lying around for say, another player to stumble upon. Doing so gives you 500% additional base melee recharge rate while your Smoke Bomb lies in wait to be triggered. Because this armor is more useful in PvP over PvE, Khepri’s Sting sits at the number five spot.
4. Omnioculus
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
These Exotic heavy gauntlets are an excellent choice if your goal is to make yourself and your team invisible. That’s because its perk, ‘Beyond The Veil,’ gives you a second Smoke Bomb charge. Furthermore, when you use the smoke bomb to make yourself invisible, you can use it on your teammates too. Additionally, when you or your team is invisible by your Smoke Bomb, you’ll have 50% damage reduction in PvE, and 10% in PvP.
What really makes this Exotic pop is that for each teammate you make invisible you get a refund of 50% of the melee ability energy needed to cast it! With that said, the damage reduction buff does not apply when you’re in your Super. Because of how useful invisibility is, this Exotic can do quite well in pretty much any mode, ranking it higher on the list.
3. Wormhusk Crown
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Even after so many nerfs, the Wormhusk Crown is still easily a top 3 Exotic for the Hunter. Its perk, ‘Burning Souls,’ grants 67 HP split across health and shields whenever you use your dodge. This is especially strong if you are rocking a Void build that has a focus on low cooldowns for your dodge class ability. Even more so if your playstyle as a Void Hunter is to be aggressive and reactive with your dodging to invisible yourself out and into combat.
2. Graviton Forfeit
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Easily one of the best Void Hunter Exotics in the game, Graviton Forfeit is an incredible example of enhancing the Void Hunter’s moment to moment sneaky gameplay. It does this through its Exotic perk, ‘Vanishing Shadow,’ where invisibility lasts 2 seconds longer. Additionally, and more importantly, while you are invisible your Recover and Reload Speed are increased by 100.
Better yet is that your base melee regen rate is increased by 400% without enemies nearby and up to 800% when more than 2 enemies are near. This number is reduced to 100% and 300% respectively while in PvP, but even then, all of the bonuses of this Exotic around invisibility are always useful and valued.
1. Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk: this list’s best Exotic and the hardest to pronounce correctly. This bad boy has many powerful synergies that really enhance the more bombastic side of the Void subclass and reminds me more of how a Titan benefits from Void powers. It is because its perk, ‘See Me, Feel Me,’ grants your Void weapons Volatile Rounds for 10 seconds (or 3 seconds in PvP) after you drop out of invisibility.
Now, Volatile Rounds not only allow your weapon to pierce Barrier Champion Shields but cover your enemies in Void particles that cause them to explode after taking enough damage. But this Exotic doesn’t stop there, if you are invisible and use a Finisher on an enemy, you get a 35% Weapon Damage buff for 6 seconds. You, and anyone within 24 meters, is also granted a Reserve Overshield buff.
This Overshield buff can be used when you dodge to go invisible again and grants you a 40HP Void Overshield for 10 seconds. During that time, you also have 500% additional base class ability regeneration rate. As you can see, this is easily one of the craziest Exotic perks in the game and gives you and your team quite a lot of defensive utility while giving yourself more damage and AoE. The only place this Exotic falls short is in PvP where the Reserve Overshield can’t be procced, but its other effects in PvE simply overshadow everything else.
About the author
Ali Taha
Whether its new releases, or a new Destiny 2 season, Ali will flex his gaming and freelancer skills to cover them extensively. He started off writing features for Game Rant but found a better home here on Twinfinite. While Ali waits for the next Monster Hunter title, he enjoys publishing his progression fantasy novels as an indie author.
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 Fridaydeals.
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 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%)
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%)
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%)
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%)
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%)
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
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.
It seems the Crucible Strike Team have been hard at work and continue to do so even amidst troubles at Bungie. Thankfully, Season 23’s massive list of crucible tweaks and changes are a step in the right direction for the PvP community.
Bungie’s Crucible Strike Team has continued to work diligently to satisfy the needs of their community. Part of all that they’ve been working on is coming in Destiny 2’s season 23, Season of the Wish. That said, Bungie is still iterating on the changes they made in Season 22 and so we should expect back-and-forth adjustments. It’s good to see that after Bungie’s layoffs that the Crucible Strike Team seems to still be in a healthy enough position to still deliver on their vision of a better, healthier Crucible.
Image Source: Bungie
The biggest changes coming in season 23 involve the addition of new playlists and alterations to current ones. Part of those new playlists includes a new 3v3 unranked — I like the idea of having a new smaller unranked mode with gameplay that’s like Competitive and Trials, but with matchmaking that suits the more casual crowd. I know myself and a good amount of Crucible enjoyers will appreciate the extra options here.
Beyond the unranked trials-like 3v3 option, the 6v6 mode’s matchmaking will be tuned to be less skill-based and more equal between, skill, latency, and connection. Matchmaking in Destiny 2 is pretty divisive with a lot of people liking purely connection based matchmaking so that unranked is less sweaty. While others like skill-based matchmaking so that they aren’t always stomped on by players who are that much better.
Here, Bungie seems to have found a middle ground where they blend the various kinds of matchmaking to keep skill balanced involved but not so much so that every match is a sweatfest. This I approve of since the best matchmaking is also the most nuanced, while at the same time ensuring the most amount of people get to enjoy every mode at every skill level.
Image Source: Bungie
For a long time now, many have been wanting a larger variety of Crucible nodes to be available more often. With Season 23 having seven PvP nodes to choose from with varying gameplay and matchmaking, each node destination represents a very unique style of Crucible gameplay. Did I forget to mention the 6v6 Unranked node will also feature Sparrow Control? What used to be a bug, is now a feature! Good on Bungie for listening and embracing what players enjoy. Here’s hoping we can get Sparrow Racing from Destiny 1 next!
It’s a shame that Rift is being benched, but I can understand why Bungie may be worried about splitting the PvP community too thin between too many different matchmaking nodes. That said, it will be refreshing to see Checkmate Control graduate from Crucible Labs to become the primary Control gametype for a few weeks after Season 23’s launch.
The playerbase seems to have really enjoyed the longer time-to-kill, wider skill gaps, and earnable Special ammo that you don’t lose on death. It is really cool to see Checkmate being applied to more Crucible modes and I applaud Bungie for creating a new style of Control that feels so fresh with meaningful gameplay.
Bungie also seems to be working on the matchmaking backend too, with changes to the way matchmaking determines your skill versus other players. The changes will allow for more variance between how matchmaking judges your current skill from match to match because not everyone is going to be using a meta build all the time or wants to play at their best constantly. After all, some of us have weird builds that don’t get us lots of kills but are still really fun to play.
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Now, Trials of Osiris is getting some expanded weekly rewards that should entice some more players to give it a shot. Trials is certainly for the sweatiest of players but that doesn’t mean people who struggle going Flawless shouldn’t be rewarded for getting as far as they can for each week. Where the real rewards now lie in Season 23 is Competitive with Bungie’s big brain move to let players focus and earn very competitive weapons like Rose and Mercurial Overreach.
The ability to reacquire some of the strongest weapons from Competitive Crucible’s past is a nice quality of life feature for the many players who likely missed out. Bungie seems to be going all out for Season 23 in many ways. Here’s hoping it will be enough to weather the extra few months Bungie needs to polish The Final Shape.
Part of the Crucible’s biggest issue over the years has been stagnation in one form or another. Whether it’s maps, modes, or the sandbox itself, players can feel when one has been present and unchanged for far too long. After reviewing a lot of the changes coming in Season 23, it looks like Bungie’s Crucible Strike team is successfully tackling every part of PvP that was beginning to stagnate.
I know a lot of what I’ve talked about here will bring me back into the competitive fold. So, I imagine this update will do the same for many more players and that’s always a good thing. Beyond Season of the Wish’s sweeping Crucible changes, the true worth of Bungie’s Crucible Strike team will be in how they are able to continue their delivery of fresh modes and maps to the PvP ecosystem. If they can pull that off up to and through The Final Shape, then Destiny 2’s Crucible may live up to and exceed when it peaked in Destiny 1.
About the author
Ali Taha
Whether its new releases, or a new Destiny 2 season, Ali will flex his gaming and freelancer skills to cover them extensively. He started off writing features for Game Rant but found a better home here on Twinfinite. While Ali waits for the next Monster Hunter title, he enjoys publishing his progression fantasy novels as an indie author.
Destiny 2 recently had an update that implemented quitter protection for Trials matches that start with missing players. While we will cover that more in a bit, Bungie still needs to address its PvP quitter issue.
So, in the game’s recent 7.2.5.3 update, quitter protection was implemented for Trials at the start of the match. What this means exactly is that if you have a missing member or two at the start of the match, you will be allowed to quit and matchmake again without incurring the normal penalty for quitting a Trials match. This is fantastic news for all those players who suffered and still do suffer from a connection error named after a particular animal.
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
However, this update is only for Trials of Osiris and does not stop quitters from leaving matches early. Just in my experience alone with lots of Control and Competitive playtime, this is still a rampant issue. One that would be fixed, if players were properly incentivized to stay in the match until the end or punished more severely for leaving a match early.
Nothing is more demoralizing to be PvP-ing in the Crucible and are winning, until about halfway through. When suddenly, you or your team starts doing poorly, losing some one-on-one engagements and slowly watching the enemy team’s score pull away from ours. So, of course, your teammates start to leave, and now you’re losing almost every gunfight. The act of leaving a match before it’s over ruins it for everyone else. So, let’s fix that and show Bungie some things they could try to accomplish that.
Now, it’s important that Bungie do their best to try and differentiate innocent connection loss and rage quitting. I’m not entirely sure how they would go upon doing that, but it would certainly help if Bungie were to implement harsher penalties for quitting matches early. I used to play a lot of League of Legends, and I found their leaver penalties quite effective.
So with that in mind, harsher penalties like quickly escalating tiers of punishment. For example, first offense would be a single five-minute Crucible queue delay. The next offense in the same 24 hours could be a 10-minute queue delay for the next five Crucible queues. As the player continues to rage quit, the longer the queue delay, the more matches it lasts for, and the longer the effective window for gaining such punishments would last.
While increasing the punishments for making unsportsmanlike choices in the Crucible is sound, it could be as equally effective to also implement a system that rewards players based on X number of games they finish in a row. With the right incentives, this could help put and keep Destiny 2’s PvP playerbase in the right state of mind while playing. You catch more flies with honey after all.
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
One of the best ways to do just that would be to make sure said incentives are above all worthwhile to a majority of players. As a Crucible player myself, I rarely rage quit outside of the most brutal stomps after most of my time has quit. However, I would certainly be persuaded to stay if say after playing five matches in a row, there was a rare but slowly escalating chance to earn Adept Legendary weapons or Artifice Legendary Armor. In fact, I can’t think of anyone who would turn down such rewards just to rage quit from a tough match and feel their actions justified for that one moment.
Visual cosmetics like rare shaders or interesting ornaments that have appealing colors or other visual traits may be the way to go as well. Although, I don’t believe those rewards would be as inciting enough to keep people from becoming upset and choosing the easy way out. Either way, with the right rewards for staying and playing and the appropriate punishments, it’s harder to imagine people ever leaving mid match again.
About the author
Ali Taha
Whether its new releases, or a new Destiny 2 season, Ali will flex his gaming and freelancer skills to cover them extensively. He started off writing features for Game Rant but found a better home here on Twinfinite. While Ali waits for the next Monster Hunter title, he enjoys publishing his progression fantasy novels as an indie author.
Bungie’s recent surprise layoffs really shook the company to its core. As a result, The Final Shape expansion and likely future episodes have been delayed by four months. The latest roadmap Bungie released is no longer relevant, so we’ll need to explore what they could do when they are ready.
In one of the most turbulent times for Destiny 2, next year’s new content needs to bring some confidence and joy back to the playerbase. Let’s explore 10 things Destiny 2’s next roadmap needs above all else.
Less Structure and More Surprises
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Previous Destiny 2 roadmaps would have every little thing detailed about each season and each patch within each season. Even so, that still created expectations, as players could read the roadmap and be disappointed because there’s nothing else they could reasonably hope for.
In 2024, Destiny 2’s next roadmap shouldn’t explicitly detail every bit of new content. Bungie should keep it vague and broad on purpose and surprise the players with new content, systems, and modes that they’ve normally wouldn’t expect!
This may be especially helpful for the devs comprising post-layoff Bungie, as they likely don’t want to immediately dive headfirst into heavy and strictly outlined content production.
FREE Dungeons
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Not one, but two Dungeons in close succession or at once would be something the community could really rally behind. Especially if each would be free for all players to enjoy. I don’t know about you, but I would take two to three new Destiny 2 Dungeons each Season or Episode over a milk-toast series of unchallenging, repetitive, checklist story quests.
To me, the stories contained within each Season could and should be made into sprawling Dungeons. I like this because players re-run Dungeons all the time, but you don’t see players showing that same enthusiasm for seasonal questlines or non-exotic missions. Look me straight in the eye and tell me 9 to 12 new Dungeons a year doesn’t sound amazing.
Granted, this suggestion is a long-shot for current Bungie, but that’s okay. I’d even take four new Dungeons a year at this point, and most other players likely feel the same.
New Fragments or Aspects for Every Subclass
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Part of what makes Destiny 2 so replayable are the amount of builds a player can discover between subclasses, gear, and Exotics. By this logic, a solid stream of new build opportunities via new Fragments or a new Aspect for every class and subclass could help with player retention.
I’m not saying Bungie needs to deliver new Fragments AND Aspects for every subclass every Season, because that would be a tall order on top of everything else. So, instead of a new Season giving a ton of love to this or that subclass, why not give a little love to all of them? People like inclusiveness, and the Stasis Titan that only plays one or two Seasons a year may want to play more often if he has more to work with.
Given what’s happened to Bungie this year, It would be okay for them to slowly work up to this suggestion.
New Class Abilities and Jumps
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
While it’s fun to tinker with the intricate details of a build with subclass Fragments and armor mods, adding more to each base class could be exciting too. Think about it: Aside from the addition of blink and some subclass reworks, new class abilities and jumps haven’t really been a thing. Seeing new base abilities and movement options on a roadmap might help the community feel like Destiny 2 can keep going after such a tough year for the developers.
With these new class options being free for all players, it could be easy to build some hype and good will amongst new and returning players on the fence. This would be especially true if the new jumps and class abilities synergized with player builds in ways the other options haven’t. For example: A new Titan jump that is essentially a medium-sized explosion that propels the Titan in a semi-random direction while anyone caught in the blast suffers from a few ticks of Scorch would be a huge draw.
A Complete Gambit Rework
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
I could definitely foresee the Destiny community warming at the sight of a complete Gambit rework with renewed support.
All it would take is some fresh eyes and talent and a bit of risk, with the result being something players would be likely quite eager for. Like, what if they turned Gambit into a mode that was slower and larger, with a more direct focus on the PvP within the PvEvP designs? It wouldn’t have to be an extraction shooter, but rather something that could be reminiscent of it. That would certainly be interesting and enticing to see on a future roadmap.
That said, this is a tall order, and would likely take a lot of time to accomplish. Even a single new Gambit map with a few new guns with original Origin Traits would be excellent.
More Strikes and More Crucible Maps
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Bungie desperately needs to move away from the current trend of releasing one to two new Strikes and Crucible maps per year.
For being labeled as Core Modes, these are woefully underdeveloped and are severely lacking in constant iteration, especially given that they serve as Destiny 2’s backbone. considering Bungie’s turbulent development process lately, this could be forgivable if they can eventually work up to delivering a renewed focus on Core modes in 2025.
Additionally, the new Strikes and new maps need to visually be a slow but constant drip on future roadmaps to make people feel like it’s all being consistently supported. It can feel pretty bad to spend so much money on expansions and seasons only for there to be one or two new Strikes and Crucible maps throughout the year.
Finally, updating older Strikes or un-vaulting the oldest Strikes with new encounters, bosses, and voice work that reflects the changes in Destiny 2’s overarching story could go a long way to satisfying player content fatigue.
Refresh and Streamline Monetization for New Players
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
This right here is the instant-mashed-potatoes-way to garner some good faith. Because right now, the number one issue the Destiny 2 community has is the way the game’s monetized—especially on Steam. It’s just too much.
This is especially true for someone trying to break into the game. As a new player, you’ll go onto Steam and see hundreds of dollar’s worth of DLC expansions you’ll think you’ll need to buy to have the complete experience.
When they are ready, what Bungie could do is make some of the older expansions free for newer players. Furthermore, a refresh of Destiny 2’s various bundles to be easier to understand and navigate could help players better understand when to buy a given expansion, increasing the game’s revenue in these troubling times as a result.
More Meaningful Mid-Season Events with Greater Variety
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
The mid-season holiday events go a long way toward making Guardians feel connected to the game’s world and community. However, the events themselves tend to fall a little flat with an over emphasis on Event passes that usually fail to raise Guardian’s holiday spirits.
More events like last year’s Dawning event, which saw throwable snowballs in almost every mode, is a more viable direction Bungie can take with upcoming events. Maybe next year’s Festival of the Lost could give everyone temporary bat companion throwables that do damage and disorient.
An additional good move Bungie could make with these events is to use them to raise money for righteous causes or charities; much like how Warframe has special customization items that raise awareness for cancer-fighting initiatives.
More New Features and Systems
Image Source: Bungie
One thing I would argue is that for Destiny 2 to grow, or at least feel like its growing, it needs new, interactable features and systems.
This isn’t even something that would be new to the game. Not that long ago, we got Fishing with Season of the Deep, and it provided a new feature with new systems and ways for players to interact with the worlds of Destiny 2. It helped build and maintain player immersion, all while breaking away from the usual content players had come to expect.
Additionally, offering new mechanics that help Destiny 2 feel fresh would be a surefire way to help retain players; which, considering recent developments, is something I’m sure Bungie would very much like to do.
A Way for Players to be Creative in Destiny 2
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
Some of the best games out there aren’t just made with lots of great developer-made content. They include ways for players to add to the game world they like spending time in.
This can usually be seen in the form of map makers, and to a lesser degree, player-made character customization, and is especially true when that player-created content has systems in place that allow other players to enjoy it as well.
I’d bet my gaming laptop that there would have been much less backlash around the lack of new Gambit or Crucible maps if players had the tools to make and integrate their own. I know a Forge-like mode for Destiny 2 isn’t something Bungie can easily or quickly make. However, an out-of-game gun or armor maker where Bungie would choose the best 10 or 20 player creations to be added to loot pools in every season would drive player engagement (and be really freaking cool besides).
Something like that would make less work for them too, which would help reduce overhead development costs and the overall development burden on the team behind the game — a win/win if ever there was one.
About the author
Ali Taha
Whether its new releases, or a new Destiny 2 season, Ali will flex his gaming and freelancer skills to cover them extensively. He started off writing features for Game Rant but found a better home here on Twinfinite. While Ali waits for the next Monster Hunter title, he enjoys publishing his progression fantasy novels as an indie author.
There are a lot of pieces that make up the whole of Destiny 2, and over time a lot of said pieces have been overhauled to the joy of the community. However, I would argue one such element of Destiny 2 that has had everything around it improved but not improved itself is Legendary armor, and honestly, it’s high time Bungie overhauled Legendary armor drops.
One of the best changes Bungie recently made about armor was the removal the various subclass elements being tied to it. Likewise, the mod system overhaul was a breath of fresh air for how Legendary armor’s mod sockets are utilized. But beyond those changes, the act of using Legendary armor as a reward is still as stale as it has ever been. The difference in excitement I feel between a purple gun and purple armor dropping is night and day.
I asked myself why that is the case, and discovered that it’s because of rolls and the complete lack of impactful high value rolls.
Image Credit: Bungie via Twinfinite
Allow me to elaborate: when purple armor drops, it always has the same four mod slots, and the only thing a Guardian could get excited about is the armor’s gear stat rolls. The problem is that good rolls are incredibly unlikely unless you’re doing endgame difficult PvP or PvE content. This makes the majority of Legendary armor rolls nearly useless because you’re always going to know when to expect good and bad rolls.
It’s that knowing and expectation that kills the excitement of almost every armor drop. What’s worse is that during the endgame content, the armor may have a high roll, but the gear stat distribution may be in the opposite stats you’re looking for. This ends up feeling awful, especially considering the effort that goes into completing Destiny 2’s difficult endgame content.
Bungie should look into improving Legendary armor to be more compelling at all times and across all difficulties. This could also end up benefiting the new players experience as well, but that may be a topic for another time.
As a huge fan of action RPGs and anything that loots after I shoots, when purple armor drops there should be more rolls to consider. I know the argument for more RNG isn’t always a popular one, but if every single drop has the potential to drop as a god roll — with slightly higher chances in difficult content — then that should make each drop all the more compelling.
I think it would be a net positive for the Destiny 2 experience for players to not only fawn over every new gun, but every armor drop too; just like they would in every other ARPG in existence.
Image Credit: Bungie via Twinfinite
It wouldn’t be that hard to implement either, or at least to design a framework to build such a system around. One solution would be to give pieces of armor their own traits and origin traits like what guns currently have. These new armor traits would be what gives the armor its gear stat bonuses. Now, imagine three columns of traits that represent metal, fabric, and stitching. Each column’s trait could give two gear stat bonuses. A trait called Tight Weave could give, say, 12 Mobility and 8 Strength, while another in that same column could give 7 Mobility and 14 Resilience instead.
With such a system in place, players would look at each piece of armor dropped and compare the various armor traits to see if a high roll in two or three gear stats would be possible. I know I would certainly experiment with every drop if that were the case.
Additionally, a slight tweak to mod sockets could further improve excitement around Legendary armor drops. The change could be as simple as each drop rolling between three and six mod sockets, with four being the average roll. This would make it so current builds and loadouts wouldn’t be changed all that much, while allowing for future drops to give players more mod customization if they get lucky.
It’s easy to get carried away with RNG on top of RNG, but I’m confident that changes like these would be a net positive. They’d make half of the loot pool all the more interesting and worth playing and grinding for, while also giving players a reason to care about Legendary Armor drops for the first time in forever.
About the author
Ali Taha
Whether its new releases, or a new Destiny 2 season, Ali will flex his gaming and freelancer skills to cover them extensively. He started off writing features for Game Rant but found a better home here on Twinfinite. While Ali waits for the next Monster Hunter title, he enjoys publishing his progression fantasy novels as an indie author.
