On Jan. 18, Microsoft will broadcast an Xbox Developer Direct, the company announced last week. MachineGames’ upcoming Indiana Jones game is expected to be highlighted, alongside Obsidian’s Avowed, Oxide Games’ Ara: History Untold, and Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. No Activision Blizzard titles are expected on the broadcast.
When is the Xbox Developer Direct?
The Xbox Developer Direct will be broadcast at 12 p.m. PST / 3 p.m. EST / 9 p.m. CET on Xbox’s YouTube and Twitch channels. You can watch the livestream, via YouTube, in the embedded video above. After the direct airs, ZeniMax Online Studios will broadcast The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1 p.m. PST / 4 p.m. EST / 10 pm CET.
What games are in the Xbox Developer Direct?
Here’s the slate, straight from Microsoft:
Indiana Jones game: MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, will reveal their upcoming Indiana Jones game, an action-adventure that puts players in the leather jacket of the legendary archaeologist. Developer_Direct will showcase more than 10 minutes of game and developer insights, including details about the game’s setting and story, how fans will actually play as Indy, additional details from his next globe-trotting adventure, and the premiere of the first gameplay trailer.
Avowed: The team at Obsidian will share the first deep dive into the gameplay experience fans can expect in Avowed, their upcoming fantasy action RPG, set in the fantastical, vibrant Living Lands. Learn more about how Obsidian’s expertise in building worlds with deep themes, dynamic gameplay, and thoughtful reactivity come to life in Avowed where players will have agency to make choices to shape every step of their adventure.
Ara: History Untold: Hear from the leads at Oxide Games – a studio founded by veterans of the strategy genre and the creators behind classic strategy titles including Civilization V – as they unveil exclusive new gameplay and share more details about the inspiration, key features, and road ahead for their upcoming historical grand strategy game.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II:Ninja Theory take us behind the scenes at their studio in Cambridge to give us some insight on how they are crafting Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The team will speak to the ambition and meticulous care involved in creating Senua’s journey of survival.
It’s unclear whether Microsoft will show off other games during the Developer Direct, beyond the planned The Elder Scrolls Online broadcast that will follow the main event.
Several Microsoft rumors have been swirling of late, like Sea of Thieves — an Xbox console exclusive — potentially coming to PlayStation 5, according to Game Files’ Stephen Totilo. Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb also said he’s heard of Sea of Thieves coming to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, alongside other Xbox exclusives. However, it seems unlikely that those reported releases would be announced during the Jan. 18 Developer Direct.
It seems like the new year has only just begun, but 2024 has already seen its fair share of video game delays. From highly-anticipated titles to indie gems, the gaming community is currently navigating an uncertain landscape as far as release dates go.
Explore the gaming industry’s many unexpected twists and turns as we dive into all the video game delays of 2024, including many 2023 titles that were pushed back into the new year!
Destiny 2: The Final Shape
Image Source: Bungie via IGDB
Destiny 2 aficionados are gearing up for the impending release of The Final Shape, the eighth major expansion for the extremely popular first-person shooter. This expansion marks the seventh year of ongoing content for Destiny 2, promising a wealth of new experiences for players.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape was supposed to be released in February 2024, but its release date was unfortunately pushed back by its developers until June of the same year. Four months really isn’t a massive delay, but it still comes as a major disappointment to many eagerly-awaiting fans.
Homeworld 3
Image Source: Blackbird Interactive via IGDB
Homeworld 3 emerges as a standalone masterpiece within the Homeworld series, picking up generations after the events of Homeworld 2. The campaign of Homeworld 3 takes place in a peaceful galaxy that has enjoyed many years of uninterrupted abundance, all thanks to the Hyperspace Gate Network. But when this galaxy’s new “age of peace” becomes threatened by forces beyond its residents’ control, it’s up to you to find the key to its future!
Similar to Destiny 2: The Final Shape, Homeworld 3 was supposed to be released in February 2024 (in fact, it had already been delayed from 2023), but its release date was pushed back until March 2024 instead. This delay is honestly pretty minuscule in the grand scheme of things, but since it’s already been delayed twice now, who’s to say that it won’t be delayed yet again?
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Image Source: Rocksteady Studios via IGDB
From the masterminds behind the iconic Batman: Arkham series comes the highly anticipated action-adventure shooter, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The most notorious and deadly villains in the DC Universe have been forced to unite for a mission that defies all odds: eliminating the Justice League. Immerse yourself in the chaos of Metropolis, where you become the driving force as an official member of the Suicide Squad!
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is easily one of Rocksteady Studios’ most highly anticipated games, so it’s a shame that it’s been delayed for so long. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was originally going to come out in 2023, but it was delayed until January 2024, and then it was delayed again until February 2024. At this point, no one really knows for sure when this game is going to come out, but hopefully, it’ll be worth the wait.
Avowed
Image Source: Obsidian Entertainment via IGDB
Avowed is an upcoming action RPG that will take place in the same universe as Obsidian Entertainment’s previous title, Pillars of Eternity. Avowed thrusts players into the mysterious world of Eora, a mysterious land “filled with adventure and danger”; to not watch your back in these lands means instant death, so make sure you’re always keeping on your toes in the lands of Avowed!
Avowed wasn’t technically delayed in 2024 (yet), but its developers did somewhat mislead fans into believing that it would be released sooner rather than later. The trailer for Avowed was released by Obsidian Entertainment back in the Summer of 2023, followed by an announcement that it would be released soon in 2024. Many fans took this to mean that it would be released very early on in the new year, but unfortunately, it now looks as though that’s not the case; we likely won’t be seeing Avowed in our e-shops anytime soon, as it’s now expected to release in either late Fall or Winter of 2024.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Image Source: DON’T NOD via IGDB
Embark on a supernatural journey in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, an immersive RPG where players are thrust into a captivating narrative as two unforgettable characters. Players must navigate a world where their decisions wield dramatic consequences on the storyline, all while hunting ghosts and solving haunting cases.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden promises to be one of the best RPGs of 2024, which is why it’s such a bummer that it’s been delayed from November 2023 to February 2024. Thankfully, however, it seems like this will be the only delay that the game suffers from prior to its release.
Last Time I Saw You
Image Source: Maboroshi Artworks via IGDB
Last Time I Saw You is a heartwarming coming-of-age tale that explores themes of love, self-acceptance, and otherworldly supernatural forces. This unique indie title promises to be one for the emotional ages; as players traverse this game’s intricately designed world, they’ll uncover the emotional depth and nuances of a narrative that captures the essence of personal growth and human connection.
According to the game’s developer, Maboroshi Artworks, Last Time I Saw You was originally supposed to be released in the Summer of 2024, though it has since been delayed to the Fall of the same year. Fans of the game are hoping that it won’t be delayed any further, but even so, there hasn’t been an official release date announced for Last Time I Saw You yet.
Alone in the Dark
Image Source: Pieces Interactive via IGDB
Embark on a chilling journey back to Derceto Manor in the 2024 remake of Alone in the Dark, a haunting reimagination of the cult classic horror game of 1992. Prepare for an immersive experience that breathes new life into the eerie corridors and mysterious atmosphere of the original, capturing the essence of fear and suspense for a whole new generation of horror enthusiasts!
As far as horror games go, it doesn’t get much scarier than Alone in the Dark. Thankfully, its delay wasn’t really all that terrible; instead of being released in January 2024, Alone in the Dark is being released a couple of months later in March.
Skull and Bones
Image Source: Ubisoft Singapore via IGDB
Dive into the golden age of piracy with Skull and Bones! Players can take command as an unyielding pirate captain, navigating rich merchant trade routes and engaging in fierce battles for supremacy in the Indian Ocean. Whether sailing solo or with a crew of up to 5 players, forge your legacy as the most feared pirate in this thrilling maritime saga!
With the release of Netflix’s One Piece still fresh on everyone’s minds and the high seas becoming more popular than ever, there’s never been a better time to release a pirate game! Despite Skull and Bones being delayed multiple times in 2023 and being pushed back all the way to February 2024, it’s clear that this game will be more than worth the wait.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Image Source: A44 via IGDB
Prepare for a collision of gods, guns, and glory in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, a brand-new open-world RPG! This game allows you to take command and lead humanity’s last stand against the relentless tide of the undead. With a blend of intense combat, mystical forces, and a lot of gunpowder, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn thrusts players into an immersive experience that defines the pinnacle of mankind’s struggle in this apocalyptic siege.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is so much more than just another zombie game, anyone who gets their hands on this potential masterpiece definitely won’t be satisfied with just one playthrough. Unfortunately, fans will just have to wait a little bit longer for its release, since it was delayed from early 2023 to late 2024.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Image Source: Team Cherry via IGDB
Jump headfirst into a mesmerizing, miniature journey in Hollow Knight: Silksong, the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning action-adventure game Hollow Knight. As the formidable hunter Hornet, players must navigate a vast and haunting kingdom, discovering ancient secrets and engaging in lethal acrobatic combat against hordes of beastly bugs.
Hollow Knight: Silksong has been a priority in the gaming community for a while, and many fans are starting to lose hope regarding its release. Its impending release was first teased several years ago, and although it was initially set to release in 2023, it has been delayed numerous times and is now expected to hit the market at some point in 2024. Hopefully, this will be the year that we finally get our Silksong!
Pragmata
Image Source: Capcom via IGDB
Dive into an extraordinary sci-fi journey with Pragmata, an action-adventure title unveiling a dystopian lunar world through a profoundly captivating story. Capcom, the developer behind the game, intends to establish Pragmata as one of its core franchises by utilizing next-generation features and platforms; this means that Pragmata has the potential to easily become one of the greatest releases of 2024!
Likely because of the game’s massive size and incredibly modern gameplay design, Pragmata’s release date was pushed back from 2022 to 2023, and now to 2024.Thousands of dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting this game’s arrival, so hopefully, it won’t be delayed too much longer!
Ark 2
Image Source: Studio Wildcard via IGDB
Awaken on a mysterious primal world teeming with dinosaurs and humans vying for supremacy in ARK 2. In order to survive, you must unravel the mystery of your arrival, forge alliances with legendary heroes, and face formidable dark forces bent on controlling the destiny of all life. Saddle up for the ultimate next-generation survival adventure as you navigate the thrilling landscapes that define the merciless world of ARK 2!
Similar to Pragmata, Ark 2 was originally supposed to be released in 2022 but got delayed to 2023, when it was delayed again to 2024. There’s still no word from Studio Wildcard on exactly when we can expect to see this sequel hit the shelves, but with any luck, it’ll be at some point soon this year!
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Image Source: GSC Game World via IGDB
Step into the chilling abyss of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, a unique fusion of FPS, immersive simulation, and heart-stopping horror, all enveloped in an intensely terrifying experience that’ll have you wishing you never played it to begin with. Brace for a spine-tingling adventure that not only challenges your survival instincts, but also delves deep into the unsettling realms of horror within the heart of the Chornobyl disaster.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is widely considered to be one of the most highly anticipated video games of 2024, which, of course, also makes it one of the most disappointing video game delays of 2024. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl was originally going to be released in December 2023, but it was pushed back to early 2024 instead; thankfully, we shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to see this FPS game hit the shelves!
And that’s it for our list of all of the current video game delays of 2024, including many 2023 titles that were pushed back into the new year. If you need more game recommendations to get your mind off of these impending releases, then feel free to check out Twinfinite’s lists of the “Best Nintendo Switch Games of All Time” and “Anime Games To Have on Your Radar in 2024“!
About the author
Allysen Pierce
Allysen Pierce is a freelance writer with a passion for anime and gaming who has been a part of the Twinfinite team since December 2023. Most of her favorite games fall under the horror genre, but she’s also been known to play literally any RPG or dating sim that she can get her hands on. When she’s not playing games or watching anime, she can be found reading (usually manga or anything written by Stephen King), baking, or playing with her cat.
Hi Rez Studios and Titan Forge Games will release a sequel to Smite, the third-person MOBA that was first released in 2014 and has drawn 40 million players since, the companies announced Friday. Smite 2 will bring with it an Unreal Engine 5-powered upgrade, and promises full cross-play and cross-progression.
Smite 2’s developers say that the move from Smite’s Unreal Engine 3 to Epic Games’ newest game engine will give the sequel more “godlike impact” — meaning graphical upgrades and more dazzling effects. But Titan Forge and Hi Rez are also promising gameplay improvements, including an updated user interface and better matchmaking. Developers also say that Smite 2 will be built with multiple control schemes in mind from the start: keyboard and mouse, controller, and even SteamDeck.
The original Smite isn’t going away. Titan Forge and Hi Rez say they plan to keep the original running as a stand-alone title, and the game “will continue to receive regular updates and servers will remain available for the foreseeable future.” But not all cosmetics from Smite will carry over to Smite 2, given the undertaking of bringing 10 years of content to the sequel.
“There are currently over 1,600 skins in Smite, excluding Mastery skins,” Titan Forge and Hi Rez said in an FAQ on the Smite 2 website. “To just port every skin to Smite 2 would take about 246 person-years of work. And we couldn’t both do that, and make Smite 2 as amazing as we knew it could be if we focused on starting anew.”
An alpha playtest of Smite 2 is planned for the spring. Smite fans interested in giving the sequel a go can register to take part at the game’s official website.
Smite 2 will be playable on PlayStation 5, SteamDeck, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. Like the original Smite, it will be free to play.
I spent the better part of my holiday break leaping from one real-time strategy game to another: a They Are Billions failed run here, a Command & Conquer: Red Alert skirmish there. I even dug up my physical copies of The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth and its sequel from my parents’ basement. The liminal space between 2023’s late releases and 2024’s January rush provided the perfect opportunity to zoom out (literally and figuratively) and enjoy the act of telling tiny little people where to go and what to do.
At a certain point, my nostalgia morphed into curiosity. Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition’s Steam news feed has been more active than those of many newer releases, and I finally decided to take a closer look. It turns out, developer Forgotten Empires and Xbox Game Studios have been releasing new DLC, updates, patches, challenges, and seasonal aesthetics on an almost weekly basis since the remaster’s 2019 release. This cadence, coupled with the fact that 26,000 people were playing the nearly 25-year-old RTS on Steam, convinced me to take a detour. (I played on Steam, but it’s also available via Game Pass.) And not only is Age of Empires 2 still pretty damn good — like many, I consider it one of the best RTS games of all time — it feels more vital than ever in 2024.
To start, there are now 37 total campaigns. This count ignores the dozen discrete historical battles, the tutorial missions revolving around William Wallace, and the eight remastered campaigns from the previous game. (Did I mention Forgotten Empires also remastered much of the first Age of Empires and released it as an expansion for the sequel?) If, like me, you prefer narrative campaigns and skirmishes against the AI in RTS games, then Age of Empires 2 is tantamount to a single-player gold mine.
Image: Forgotten Empires/Xbox Game Studios
While I always hesitate to consider a breadth of content a quality in and of itself, it’s both surreal and encouraging to see this manynew missions, cutscenes, and unique units in Age of Empires 2 this long after its initial release. Forgotten Empires’ remaster plays like a dream, with a bevy of quality-of-life improvements (I’m looking at you, farm queues) and enemy AI that actually knows how to exploit your weaknesses and bait you into vulnerable situations. Sure, pathfinding is still an albatross around Age of Empires 2’s neck — chasing one scout halfway across the map with an entire battalion of cavalry will never be fun — but it’s a much smalleralbatross these days. I can actually maneuver an entire army across a river ford without half of it doubling back to find another crossing.
When it comes to a game that feels this good to play, I’ll take all of the missions I can get. I kicked off this particular stint with one Vlad Dracula (aka Vlad the Impaler) and his campaign to lead the Turks, Magyars, and Slavs against the Ottoman Empire. Each of the five missions in his storyline involve vastly different scenarios. The third, titled “The Breath of the Dragon,” is as challenging as it is thrilling, tasking me with capturing the central Wallachian city of Giurgiu before defending it from attack in every direction. Its placement on the banks of the Danube necessitates building up a naval presence and sailing to numerous small settlements working to supply the main Ottoman citadel of Darstor. When my Slavic forces finally entered Darstor, destroyed its fortifications, and demolished its castle, I almost had to step away to catch my breath.
Image: Forgotten Empires/Xbox Game Studios
My return to the 1999 classic begs the question: What about Age of Empires 4, the most recent entry in the series? I’ve been a fan of Relic Entertainment’s sequel since its 2021 release. That appreciation has only grown as the team refines and builds upon an already impressive foundation; I especially appreciate 4’s asymmetrical faction design, which makes playing the nomadic Mongols, for instance, feel vastly different than managing the complex dynasty system of China. Age of Empires 2’s civilizations, by comparison, feel much more uniform outside of their unique units.
But in its slick mechanics, its stunning art style, its wealth of creative missions, and its strong content cadence, Age of Empires 2 remains atop the pedestal it climbed almost 25 years ago. I haven’t even touched “The Mountain Royals” or “Return of Rome,” its newest expansions, as of this writing — but I absolutely plan to soon. The game’s ongoing health is proof that, given proper time and funding, a team can revitalize a classic in a medium known for its ephemeral works. I booted up Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition on the doorstep of 2024 in order to replay an enduring classic; I also found a vibrant modern game.
It’s been more than a decade since Crystal Dynamics, the developer best known for the Tomb Raider series, first introduced players to its reimagined take on Lara Croft. 2013’s Tomb Raider painted Lara as someone capable of adapting and overcoming nearly any situation while maintaining a level of emotional depth and self-awareness, a quality the game’s sequels would go on to further explore.
The original was an excellent game that I’ve completed on no fewer than three occasions, and while her most recent outing, 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider, has its merits, I still stand by 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider as the most engaging and interesting version of Lara Croft for how it emphasizes her vulnerability. The result is a story that combines all the hallmarks of what you’d expect from a great Tomb Raider game: suspenseful supernatural elements and a thrilling and romantic notion of archaeology, all tied together with an intriguing and surprisingly emotional story.
Image: Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix
Following the events of the first game, Lara is still traumatized by her trial by fire on the island of Yamatai and her father’s recent disappearance. Her quest to find her father and restore her family’s legacy leads her to the frigid peaks of Siberia and into the path of Trinity, a “Knights Templar meets military contractor” organization with a pseudo-religious goal of world domination. Unfortunately, this places Lara alone in the unique position to foil their plot, by saddling her with a truth that no one else will believe.
Lara fully understands the gravity of the situation, but never lets this inflate her ego. Instead, she’s more preoccupied with the specter of death that inevitably follows her attempts to do the right thing. Lara can never fully atone for how her choices led to the deaths of so many close to her in the past, regardless how well equipped or tough she is. This theme is so pervasive, it even echoes in Rise’s gameplay by presenting us with a Lara who needs to be more resourceful and cunning to overcome her environment.
Image: Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix
Rise of the Tomb Raider doesn’t quite elevate Lara to the level of apex predator we get in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, but she’s clearly far more capable than she was in her first adventure. The result is a character in the midst of becoming the Lara Croft known to players around the world, a more confident and prepared protagonist who can still be humbled. This version of Lara shines when she’s on the back foot, and Rise of the Tomb Raider does everything it can to keep her off balance with a more capable foe and a relentlessly adversarial environment.
I’ll admit that on its standard difficulty, Rise of the Tomb Raider doesn’t present much of a challenge. Because of that, I consider Survivor Mode, the hardest difficulty, to be the definitive Tomb Raider experience. While you won’t succumb to starvation or dehydration, at this difficulty, the player’s health doesn’t regenerate, checkpoints are disabled, and foes are far more deadly. As if that wasn’t enough, by default, the game also will not highlight interactable items in the environment. While you can turn on the “Survival Instincts” at any time during your playthrough, dialing down the difficulty isn’t an option, which further reinforces that there’s no going back once the journey starts.
Image: Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix
This dialed-up difficulty has the benefit of making the game more immersive and forcing you to carefully consider and prepare for every encounter. A handful of bad guys normally wouldn’t be an issue, but when just a couple of bullets can put Lara in the ground, things get a little more tense. For an added challenge, I like to rely almost exclusively on stealth kills and Lara’s trusty bow during combat, resorting to firearms only when absolutely necessary.
Rise of the Tomb Raider still keeps some of the Metroidvania elements of its predecessor to guide you along its critical path, while the world feels more open and encourages exploration of its various regions. This is further reinforced by a more robust crafting system, which forces you to scrounge and hunt for many of the materials you need to upgrade your gear. The tomb puzzles hidden throughout the world aren’t quite as challenging as those found in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, but still do a great job at shaking things up between scavenging and combat encounters.
2013’s Tomb Raider did a fantastic job of establishing Lara as a character, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider makes for a fitting capstone to the latest trilogy. But for me, Rise of the Tomb Raider was the peak of Crystal Dynamic’s trilogy. Beyond its challenging gameplay, Rise offers a robust and complex narrative that shows us that the personality archetype of badass archeologist doesn’t have to constantly revolve around snappy one-liners.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is available on Xbox Game Pass.
Image: Ubisoft, Atlus, Rockstar Games, Mundfish / Shedworks / Nintendo / Claire Jackson / Kotaku, Screenshot: Remedy Games / Kotaku
If you’re stuck on a tricky boss fight or a challenging puzzle, or just want to make the most of your time with a new release, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the tips we found most helpful this week.
The Best Resident Evil Goes VR And More New Releases | The Week In Games
Massive Entertainment’s upcoming open-world Star Wars game, Outlaws,is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S sometime in 2024. The game doesn’t follow Jedi and deal with The Force, but instead will give us a look into the seedier side of life in the Star Wars universe as it follows the exploits of a smuggler and scoundrel in an open-world format encompassing multiple planets. Let’s take a look at everything we know about the next trek to a galaxy far, far away. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
Persona 3 Reload, the from-the-ground-up remake of Atlus’ beloved PlayStation 2 role-playing game, is coming out on February 2. But while the 2006 classic is getting a modern retouching very soon, it won’t include everything added to the original in the updated Persona 3 Portable and Persona 3 FES editions, the former of which is on Game Pass right now for Xbox and PC. So if you want to play one of the best additions to the base game, you still have a chance before Persona 3 Portable leaves Game Pass on January 14. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
If you’ve been playing Grand Theft Auto V or GTA Online via Game Pass lately, you might need to pony up and buy a copy to sustain your criminal enterprise. Rockstar’s crime saga is expected to leave Xbox Game Pass in about two weeks. – Claire Jackson Read More
Image: Mundfish / Shedworks / Nintendo / Claire Jackson / Kotaku
Happy new year! This week the Kotaku weekend guide returns with a brisk list of games for your consideration. Maybe some of these you hadn’t considered playing before, or perhaps others have been sitting on your backlog. In that case, consider this your reminder to get working on that stubborn list of yours. – Claire Jackson Read More
If you’ve been eyeing (or playing) Alan Wake II lately but haven’t yet played any of the other titles in Remedy Games’ growing “Remedyverse” of connected stories, then you might want to take a look at the Epic Games Store right now. During its “Developer Spotlight” sale, Alan Wake Remastered, Alan Wake American Nightmare, Control, and both the standard and deluxe versions of Alan Wake II are all available for some pretty generous discounts. – Claire Jackson Read More
Destiny 2 has been around since 2017 and it has seen many changes and additions since then. So, if you find yourself as someone who was a fan of D2 for one reason or another, here are 10 reasons why Destiny 2 is worth playing in 2024.
Better Crucible Matchmaking
Image Source: Bungie via Twinfinite
If you’re the kind of Destiny 2 player that found themselves playing Crucible the most, then Bungie’s matchmaking changes over 2023 may interest you. Over the past year in the Crucible, Bungie has better separated skill-based matchmaking and connection-based matchmaking. This is a simplification, but essentially, if you’re a fan of Ranked or Trials of Osiris then that’s where you will experience SBMM. However, if you want a more casual experience, then the Control/Quickplay playlist will focus more on connection-based matchmaking first before trying to find those of similar skill.
Additionally, Bungie have combined and refined the way solo players and groups queue into a playlist. They’ve done this by having an algorithm smartly find solos to play against if you’re alone, or groups if you’re in a group—most of the time.
Checkmate Control Crucible Mode
Image Source: Bungie
But what’s better matchmaking without something new and fresh to really invest your time and strategy into? Enter Checkmate Control. Previously a Crucible Labs mode being tested, Checkmate Control has graduated to sit amongst the usual options like Quickplay, Ranked 3’s, and so on. What makes Checkmate control something worth at least trying is the way the mode changes the PvP sandbox.
On top of a general increase to the time-to-kill, passive grenade, melee, and class ability regeneration is reduced across the board by 50%. Meanwhile, passive Super generation is reduced by a similar 40%, making the mode itself much more about gunplay than before. Likewise, you don’t start with Special ammo either, that has to be earned through killing opponents.
New Crucible Maps
Image Source by Twinfinite
If you haven’t played a lot of Crucible over the last year or two, you may now find a couple of new maps in the various mode’s rotations. That said, one new map a year hasn’t been something most have been happy with.
Thankfully, 2024 will see Bungie infusing the Crucible with a brand-new map pack of three to four new maps of varying sizes! Which, if they can do every year would be a great start to reinvigorating the PvP scene in Destiny 2.
In-Game Fireteam Finder
One of the latest additions to Destiny 2 as of late was the inclusion of an in-game LFG system. What’s great about a system like this is how it helps solo players find like-minded people to explore the game’s various modes with. No longer do you need to find fellow Guardians through Discord or another online LFG finder.
What’s great is the Fireteam Finder’s flexibility in the kind of people you’re looking for. Don’t want to be judged for not knowing a raid? You can set options for that. Only want to play with people who have mics? Not an issue!
Season of the Wish Coil Activity
Image Source: Bungie.net
Season of the Wish is the final season before the launch of The Final Shape expansion. Unfortunately, said expansion is delayed until June. Thankfully, Season of the Wish brought with it quite the fun new seasonal mode. The Coil is that new mode and while it’s not a horde mode, or endless in nature, it does have roguelite elements which are quite refreshing.
You and a team of two other Guardians run through a few different mission types that are separated by pathways. Each path has a different boss, and as your team progresses you can buy semi-randomized Dragon’s Gift buffs. While at the same time enemies will scale up in power by +5 up to a maximum of +20. The mode ultimately takes around 45 minutes to complete and the four chests at the end for hitting a certain score are worth the difficulty.
New Craftable Exotic Weapons
With Season of the Wish comes a new Exotic weapon that can be altered with multiple Exotic catalysts. Much like the Revision Zero, The Wish-Keeper bow is a powerful Exotic weapon that is craftable, while gaining strength through using and leveling the weapon itself. What makes the Wish Keeper exciting as a bow is the fact that it’s a Strand weapon.
Additionally, Wish-Keeper’s Exotic perks let you create a Snareweaver arrow that suspends enemies. All followed by the weapon dealing bonus damage to suspended targets and faster draw time for a short duration afterwards. New weapons like this go a long way toward keeping Destiny 2 fresh as the months pass.
New Warlord’s Ruin Dungeon
Image Source: Bungie
Dungeons are some of Destiny 2’s best content since they are more accessible with slightly easier mechanics and difficulties compared to raids. This is even more true when you consider dungeons only have three Guardians compared to raids’ six. Enter Destiny 2’s latest dungeon, Warlord’s Ruin, a dungeon located in the snowy mountains within the EDZ. The dungeon will take you and your friends through a dark age castle full of bosses, puzzles, with the odd jumping and navigational challenges.
If you haven’t played Bungie’s latest dungeon then you owe it to yourself to try it sometime as you wait for The Final Shape expansion.
The Gunplay is Still Excellent
Image Source: Bungie
Destiny 2’s gunplay in 2024 is still one of its best aspects. You can say what you want about the story, characters, lore, systems, locations, and modes not getting the love they deserve. However, you have to admit how great it still feels to fire every single shot from your weapons that have those really good rolls. Even Destiny 2’s non-gun type weapons like the swords and glaives do a great job feeling unique and useful in certain situations.
Season of the Wish’s weapons in 2024 may be worth grinding out too since you’ll have the extra time to do it. Beyond that, The Final Shape’s new weapons and Exotics will undoubtedly be just as compelling to use for the 1st as they will be the 1,000th time.
The Final Shape Expansion
Image Credit: Bungie
Bungie’s next big yearly expansion that was delayed several months because it simply didn’t live up to what they wanted to deliver. The extra months The Final Shape will have in the oven should surely improve upon the expansion’s total offerings. It isn’t be too far out of the realms of possibility to assume that instead of just one new Super for each class, that, instead, each class gets its third new darkness subclass.
Okay, maybe that is a bit much to hope for, but those extra few months Bungie is giving themselves to build on The Final Shape could mean that many more Exotic armors and weapons for players to enjoy. It could mean a complete Gambit refresh, or maybe a whole new core mode. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for. Ultimately, traveling inside of the Traveler will be an exciting experience from both a story and gameplay perspective and Bungie now has all the time in the world to make it perfect.
The Start of Episodes in 2024
2024 is the start of Bungie’s new content delivery system dubbed Episodes. It’s been many years now that Bungie has gotten into the grove of delivering Seasons. But after hearing backlash from the fans and seeing revenue drop over time, the developers saw the writing on the wall and knew they had to deliver bigger, more impactful chunks of content that aren’t so formulaic. Players have simply grown tired of the weekly stories, with the quests that have you engaging with years-old content at this point.
Episodes are Bungie’s way of finally changing that status quo in 2024. Personally, I hope to see a huge influx of new Exotic weapons and armors with every Episode, instead of the 1-2 armors and 1-2 weapons we’ve been getting. Regardless, Bungie has a lot planned for 2024 with Episodes. So, it seems safe to raise your expectations just a bit here and hopping on the Destiny 2 train now in preparation for The Final Shape is far from a bad idea.
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.
Even small games can reveal delightful surprises years later. Now, roughly two years after its release, Unpacking fans are suddenly discovering a previously revealed secret mode after a TikTok video brought it back into the public eye. The mode is called Dark Star, and it basically forces players to beat the game by tossing objects on the floor instead of neatly putting them away like in the main mode.
In Unpacking’s standard mode, players complete levels by pulling objects out of a box and finding an appropriate spot to store them. If, for instance, you put toilet paper in the kitchen sink, the game will highlight the item with a red line and won’t let you complete the level. However, once you beat the game the regular way, you can enter Dark Star mode, where you beat each level by making sure every single item is placed incorrectly and highlighted in red. Once a player misplaces every single item, the game will award them with a darkened star and let them progress to the next level.
Developer Witch Beam teased Dark Star as a secret mode prior to the official reveal, then shared a video documenting it as part of an April Fools’ Day post in 2022. “So many people thought it was a fake feature for April Fools’ until they tried it for themselves,” Tim Dawson, a co-founder of Witch Beam and technical director of Unpacking,told Polygon via email.
Since that official reveal, some content creators have even streamed their Dark Star runs. Still, it’s clear that many fans didn’t know about the mode. After Dec. 22 Witch Beam TikTok went viral, fans shared reactions like, “THERE’S A DARK STAR MODE?!?!” and “I have 100% this game and I DIDNT KNOW THIS!? WHAAAAAT!?” Another wrote, “dude I beat this game like 10 times and i am just hearing abt this?!”
Dawson told Polygon that the secret mode lets players find new ways to experience the game’s puzzles. In the comments, several fans commented on how difficult Dark Star mode can actually be.
“I think what makes Dark Star so interesting is initially it feels like a gag,” Dawson said. “But after a few levels, it sets in how much work it is, and continuing can feel absurd, transgressive, or cathartic. But in the end, it’s just another way to think about items and how they relate to our lives and the spaces we live in, which is what the game is all about.”
Dawson also says that while the mode “started as a joke,” the developers now appreciate it as an extension of the game. “Because we decided not to extend Unpacking with DLC or a sequel, we often mention Dark Star mode when fans contact us asking if we’ll make more levels,” he said. “In many cases, it gives them another way to experience the game.”
Personally, I think Dark Star mode speaks to the ways our own media diets and specific bubbles of the internet can sometimes preserve a sense of surprise in a game. For Dawson, this kind of surprise can lend a sense of character to a game.
“I think secrets help give games their personality,” he said. “They’re the twinkle in the eye that suggests that these virtual worlds we spend time in might just be a bit bigger than you think. I love that we were able to come up with a good one for Unpacking.”
Throughout the years, Jackbox Games has continued to reinvent the typical house-party games with a variety of fun challenges. Each pack has featured unique rounds of gameplay, including titles like Fibbage, Drawful, and Quiplash. So, now that a new installment has made its debut, we’ve ranked the ten best Jackbox Party Pack games.
10. The Jackbox Party Pack 5
Source: Jackbox Games
The Jackbox Party Pack 5 has a couple of games worth trying out, but its replayability rate is relatively low compared to the rest of the entries. First, we have Zeeple Dome, which is Jackbox Games’ attempt to branch out into the classic beat-em-up video games we know and love. Nevertheless, since these types of titles have already been done before, it isn’t worthwhile to play this version on Jackbox Party Pack 5.
The same can be said for other games, as Split the Room is basically another rendition of “Would You Rather?” and You Don’t Know Jack: Full Stream. On the other hand, this pack does have a few interesting selections, like Patently Stupid and Mad Verse City, that are entertaining enough to play with a big party. In particular, Patently Stupid tests your creative abilities by developing invention ideas that can help with bizarre problems.
9. The Jackbox Party Pack 1
Source: Jackbox Games
The first Jackbox Party Pack is the reason why this franchise took off, especially with Fibbage XL and Drawful. Although these two games may be similar (they both require you to trick other players), they are still enjoyable to play with your friends and family. Unfortunately, the rest of the pack isn’t quite up to par, including Word Spud and Lie Swatter, which haven’t been discussed much within the community.
The original installment is still an excellent beginner pack, but you can also play the Jackbox Party Starter to explore the most popular games. It’s a great alternative as a cheaper version, and it occasionally goes on sale for an even more reduced price.
8. The Jackbox Party Pack 9
Source: Jackbox Games
The more recent Jackbox Party Pack 9 introduces some new games to the collection, from Quixort to Junktopia. Roomerang remains the stand-out in the bunch, permitting you to roleplay as a reality TV star. Junktopia can also be incredibly fun to play, where you can auction off weird objects, similar to Bidiots.
Fibbage 4 joins this list as a longtime fan-favorite Jackbox entry, yet it does fall flat compared to its predecessor. Most of the others on the pack can be skippable and offer little to no replay value. Some players consider it to be one of the weaker entries, given that there isn’t anything too memorable in regard to gameplay.
7. The Jackbox Party Pack 2
Source: Jackbox Games
In the Jackbox Party Pack 2, you’ll get to play an expansion of beloved games, such as Quiplash XL and Fibbage 2. Quiplash has become one of the most beloved entries in the franchise because of its fun dynamics and quick-paced rounds. It unleashes some of the wildest answers for prompts like “The worst thing to hear during a massage.” Moreover, Bidiots is a unique spin on auctions that displays your artwork and allows players to bid on each one.
Next, we have Bomb Corp., a work scenario that requires the group to defuse a bomb by communicating with each other. Even though it may take a while (and you may end up yelling at everyone), completing the mission as a team is definitely satisfying. As for Earwax, this game has mixed reviews and isn’t as entertaining as the rest of this pack.
6. The Jackbox Party Pack 8
Source: Jackbox Games
The Jackbox Party Pack 8 takes the gameplay up a notch with various exciting games, including Poll Mine and Drawful Animate. In the Poll Mine, players will participate in a Dungeons and Dragon style match, beginning with a survey that determines the rest of the round. The goal of this challenge is to choose the same answers as the group to escape the enchanted cavern, resulting in an amusing experience for everyone in the party.
Like Earwax, Weapons Drawn and the Wheel of Enormous Proportions has received mixed reviews, yet many fans believe these installments are one of the best.
5. The Jackbox Party Pack 10
Source: Jackbox Games
When it comes to the Jackbox Party Pack 10, reviews have varied based on the specific type of player. An excellent example of this would be Fixy Text, a text-based game that brings the entire team’s vocabulary together. While some found its wordiness rather boring, others enjoyed the chaos that ensues with the more hysterical terms.
Dodo Re Mi is another entry that can be a hit or miss, taking you on a musical journey where the right notes can save your life. If you are a fan of Tee K.O., you’ll be happy to see its comeback with a sequel featuring new tools and clothing styles. Overall, Jackbox Party Pack 10 paves a new wave of creative installments, and it may help set the path for the next game.
4. The Jackbox Party Pack 6
Source: Jackbox Games
With the Jackbox Party Pack 6, you can see how much these games have changed over the years as the franchise expands into different territories. First, there’s Trivia Murder Party 2, a deadly challenge that tests your overall knowledge, where your character can be murdered if you get a question wrong. However, this game can last a considerable amount of time, despite the killing of other players, and everyone will fight to the death in the final round of complex questions.
Push The Button is a highly entertaining game since it’s Jackbox Games’ version of Among Us, in which the party will have to go through a series of tests to see who is an alien. The rest of the pack, including Joke Boat, Role Models, and Dictionarium, are classic games you can play a few times; it just depends on the group.
3. The Jackbox Party Pack 4
Source: Jackbox Games
The Jackbox Party Pack 4 has a ton of crowd-pleasers that are sure to keep the party going with games such as Fibbage: Enough About You, Survive the Internet, and Monster Seeking Monster. For example, in Fibbage: Enough About You, players will answer prompts about each other that make the experience more personal. Furthermore, if you have friends and family who spend a lot of time online, then Survive the Internet is a great choice, as it challenges their knowledge about the subject.
Those with a large party can check out Bracketeering, which has a maximum of 16 players and acts as another version of Quiplash. Lastly, players can try out their artistic skills with Civic Doodle, an imaginative game that allows everyone to create murals.
2. The Jackbox Party Pack 3
Source: Jackbox Games
The Jackbox Party Pack 3 is one of the most beloved games of the franchise because it has a variety of fantastic challenges that everyone can play. This pack was the initial introduction of the Trivia Murder Party, which has been highly regarded throughout the community. But, of course, Quiplash 2 takes the cake with all of its outrageous prompts and scenarios.
Besides these games, the pack includes Tee K.O., a hilarious competition requiring players to design shirts and come up with witty slogans. Or, the group can dive into Guesspionage and Fakin’ It to battle against each other. Considering all these elements, the Jackbox Party Pack 3 is a game you don’t want to miss.
1. The Jackbox Party Pack 7
Source: Jackbox Games
Finally, we have the Jackbox Party Pack 7, an installment with various games and a high replayability rate. This pack includes many fan-favorite matches, such as Champ’d Up, The Devils and the Details, and Quiplash 3. For instance, in Champ’d Up, players can design Champions and Challengers to become the victors of this drawing tournament. As a result, you’ll be able to gain a whimsical title, like the Champion of Cowards or the Champion of Clogging Toilets.
The Devils and the Details is another excellent choice for larger groups, where players must work together to perform everyday tasks as devils in a suburban neighborhood. Even more so, the Jackbox Party Pack 7 is perfect for sociable individuals, especially with Blather ‘Round and Talking Points.
With so many options to play in the Jackbox Party Pack 7, your group will undoubtedly have some fun for numerous amount of hours.
About the author
Kristina Ebanez
Kristina is a Staff Writer and has been with Twinfinite for more than a year. She typically covers Minecraft, The Sims 4, Disney Dreamlight Valley, anime, Call of Duty, and newly released games. She loves the Metal Gear Solid series (Snake Eater especially), Rockstar’s Bully, the Horizon franchise, What Remains of Edith Finch, and many more. Her dog is also an avid video game watcher, primarily when there’s a horse or a cat. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and grew up gaming on the islands.
Fortnite Crew is a monthly subscription service for Fortnite.
Members who subscribe to Fortnite Crew receive access to the current Battle Pass, a top up of V-Bucks to their account, and perhaps most importantly, exclusive cosmetics through the Fortnite Crew Pack.
As an additional incentive to keep subscribing, you also receive bonus Legacy Styles for certain skins for each additional month you remain a subscriber.
What is the Fortnite Crew Pack and skin for January 2024?
The Fortnite Crew Pack for January 2024 is the Silas Hesk set, and features Silas Hesk (skin), The Serpentine (back bling), and the Fangs of Hesk (pickaxe).
Image: Epic Games
The skin has a number of Legacy Styles to unlock the longer you keep your Fortnite Crew subscription — with a total of six styles (across five additional months) to unlock.
You have until the last day of the month to claim the skin — you can see the following section for the exact time for when each Fortnite Crew Pack changes — from which point it’s then unavailable to new subscribers.
At least, for now; Epic has said “previous Crew Packs’ items may be made available again to Crew members at a later date,” but practically, if you have your heart on a certain pack, be sure to subscribe and claim while you can.
Fortnite Crew release date and time: When does each new Fortnite Crew Pack release?
Each new Fortnite Crew Pack is available on the last day of each month for the proceeding month at the following times:
4 p.m. PST for the west coast of North America
7 p.m. EST for the east coast of North America
12 a.m. GMT for the U.K. (the following day)
1 a.m. CEST for western Europe/Paris (the following day)
8 a.m. JST in Japan/Tokyo (the following day)
For example, Nov. 2023’s pack (featuring the Drakon Steel Hybrid skin) was released on Oct. 31 at the above times in the Americas, and on Nov. 1 elsewhere.
This means if you’re thinking of subscribing for the first time, it’s worth starting just before the above date and time to ensure you get the current Fortnite Crew Pack before it changes over.
What is Fortnite Crew?
Fortnite Crew is a subscription where, for $11.99 each month, you’ll receive the following:
Access to the current season’s Battle Pass
1,000 V-Bucks
The latest Fortnite Crew Pack (with an exclusive skin and “at least one” matching cosmetic accessory)
The next Legacy Style for any unlocked Fortnite Crew skins
Rocket Pass Premium for Rocket League
As with all V-Bucks purchases, your currency could be locked to the platform you chose to start subscribing, so choose carefully. (At the time of writing, Nintendo Switch is the only platform where your wallet won’t be shared across other platforms.)
What happens if I cancel Fortnite Crew?
If you cancel Fortnite Crew, you’ll keep all unlocked Fortnite Crew Pack cosmetics — including Legacy Styles — as well as any awarded V-Bucks and Battle Passes earned during that period.
The design of the video game controller as we’ve known it has largely remained the same for the last 20 years: a d-pad, two analog sticks, four face buttons, and four shoulder buttons. It persists from the first PlayStation’s DualShock, all the way through to the modern PS5’s DualSense, as well as various Xbox and Nintendo controllers. – Claire Jackson Read More
Owlcat Games continues its work on Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, this time with a patch aimed at rectifying some nagging problems. Patch 1.0.88 contains a multitude of changes, including making skill checks easier across the board. The next major patch will release sometime in January 2024.
Patch 1.0.88 also fixes “a vast majority of broken quests and cutscenes that blocked progression or worked only for specific choices,” made sweeping changes to items and abilities, improved optimization, and tweaked companion quests and responses. This includes fixes to system stability, co-op desync, broken narrative quests, weapon damage, and a particularly tricky ladder that served as a one way trip for the Space Wolf companion Ulfar.
Skill checks are also easier across the board, which is useful for players who lean on lore, persuasion, or medicae checks in their playthroughs. The massive RPG campaign still has some bugs and technical issues that make it difficult to progress: I found myself dismayed when I romanced Heinrix van Calox and found that our dalliance locked him in a “sex mode,” where I couldn’t equip any of his gear or use him in combat. I had to break up with the Inquisition agent to restore his combat potency.
That lingering problem notwithstanding, it’s good to see Owlcat Games continue to polish things up.
‘Tis the season to promote indie games with AI-generated junk, apparently. A Microsoft Twitter account recently posted low-effort, energy-intensive art promoting indie games on Xbox before later deleting it after getting roundly mocked by fans and developers alike.
Thank You, PS Plus, For Making My Backlog Even Bigger
“Walking in a indie wonderlaaand,” the ID@Xbox account tweeted on December 27. “What were your favorite indie games of the year?” The post was accompanied by an AI-generated image of children sledding down a hill with a giant green Xbox logo on it.
Screenshot: Microsoft / Kotaku
It looked harmless at first, but a second or third glance immediately revealed telltale AI anomalies like children maneuvering their sleds with cranks attached to nothing and fishing in the snow for presents with weird black tendrils. A man playing a gaming handheld in the center top of the image has had his top lip replaced by teeth. A child jumping through the snow appears to have a mustache. It was a really bad look considering ID@Xbox is supposed to be the human-facing team within the megacorporation championing individual creators and small independent teams.
“Bro not Xbox using ayy-eye to promote indie devs,” wrote pixel artist TAHK0. “Nothing says ‘we don’t care about indie developers’ like using AI,” wrote artist NecroKuma3. “ If you can’t hire an artist to do advertising, I highly doubt you’ll do it with independent developers.” The company quietly deleted the post overnight without acknowledging the backlash. Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
While not posting half-assed AI art to promote artists seems like a no-brainer, we’re seeing more and more companies do it lately. There was the AI-generated promotional image for Amazon’s Fallout TV show, AI-generated art promoting a new Pokémon GO event, and even Ubisoft accounts representing offices where staff had recently been laid off putting out AI-generated Assassin’s Creed art.
When this stuff first started happening it felt shitty but low stakes. Increasingly it feels clear, however, that companies are taking the same approach to AI art that they have with every other internet age advancement, operating under the assumption that people will complain at first but eventually they’ll get tired of it and move on to being angry about something else. Boil the frog slowly enough and eventually it won’t realize it has 11 fingers, 13 toes, and weird spindly wires coming out of its back.
As a cheerleader for AI technology, however, Microsoft’s role in this is especially egregious. The company is already promoting tools for AI-generated content in games, and encouraging all 20 Bing users to play around with its AI art tools. Never mind that no one is actually quite sure how the technology will make money, or if it’s even legal. If it can replace human creativity with predictable slop and reduce headcount, it must be a win-win.
According to the MIT Technology Review, every AI-generated image requires as much energy as an entire smartphone charge. And Microsoft’s own internal environmental report blamed the technology for a 34 percent spike in its water usage to cool all the racks of computing power required for, among other things, enabling users to shitpost about Kirby doing 9/11. As Immortality game director Sam Barlow put it following the AI-generated ID@Xbox post, “Really impressive that just as we were finally starting to address the climate emergency, we invented stupid ways to undo all our progress.”
The people behind Fortnite, the popular build-and-battle-royale game, have released a new, kid-friendly take on the game: Lego Fortnite. The game uses Lego bricks and characters to give players a different kind of experience that focuses on long-term survival, crafting, building, and online cooperation with friends. It’s a lot like another survival/crafting game, Minecraft, but powered by Lego bricks and familiar characters.
Lego Fortnite was a hit from day one; Millions of players are building and battling monsters together in online worlds full of characters to meet, creatures to slay, and mysteries to discover. It’s also free (unlike Minecraft), and co-developers Epic Games and The Lego Group have gone to great lengths to make it safe for kids to enjoy.
Here’s a quick rundown of what Lego Fortnite is, where to download it, and everything else you should need to know about Fortnite’s popular new spinoff.
What is Lego Fortnite?
While the popular version of Fortnite is a battle royale game where players fight each other to be the last player standing, Lego Fortnite isn’t a shooter or a battle royale at all. It’s a game of exploration, building with Lego bricks, and crafting items (like pickaxes and torches).
In Survival mode, players take on the role of a little Lego hero character. They’ll gather resources, build structures, tools, and weapons, and explore a huge open world. They’ll also interact with other Lego characters who will join their group and help them out with missions. There’s some combat too, but it’s mainly against Lego versions of skeletons, wolves, spiders, and other beasts. This mode is called Survival because players have to gather and craft what they need: food to stave off hunger, wood to build structures and craft tools, and other elements to create more complex items.
There’s also a non-violent Sandbox mode, where players can simply build whatever they want with Lego bricks to get creative and explore the world freely.
How to download Lego Fortnite
Playing and downloading Lego Fortnite is free. You’ll need an Epic Games account to play, which is also free. All you have to do is download the main Fortnite game client, and you’ll find Lego Fortnite on the main screen of a menu that looks like a Netflix library screen.
On game consoles like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, you can download Fortnite by searching each platform’s store, or by using the links below from a web browser:
Note that if you find and download Lego Fortnite from one of the above online stores, you’re actually downloading the full Fortnite game client, through which you can play Lego Fortnite. Confusing, yes, but at least everything’s centralized.
How to get and activate an Epic Games account
To play Lego Fortnite (or any Fortnite game), you’ll need an Epic Games account. You can sign up for one using an email address at the Epic Games website, use an existing login from Apple, Facebook, Lego.com, or Google, or log in with an existing account from Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, or Steam.
You can also create a version of that account called a Cabined Account, which is intended for children 13 years old or younger. Players with Cabined Accounts can play Lego Fortnite, but they won’t be able to access features like voice chat or make in-game purchases with money until their parent or guardian provides consent. You can read more about parental controls in Fortnite games at Epic’s website.
How V-Bucks work with Lego Fortnite (and how to redeem them)
Epic Games’ virtual currency for Fortnite, known as V-Bucks, works in the core version of Fortnite and new experiences like Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival. V-Bucks can be spent on in-game items, like outfits and other virtual items.
If you (or your child) have spent V-Bucks in Fortnite battle royale, most of the cosmetics in that game carry over to Lego Fortnite. There are some exceptions, like characters in Fortnite who have guns as part of their design, but many cosmetics tied to a core Fortnite account can be used across games.
Lego Fortnite multiplayer and playing with friends
You can play Lego Fortnite with friends online. Up to eight players can play together cooperatively in the same game world.
But you can’t play Lego Fortnite (yet) in split-screen mode on the same platform. If you have multiple kids playing Lego Fortnite, they’ll all need their own console, tablet, or PC to play. Lego Fortnite supports cross-play across all platforms, so players on Switch, for example, can play with their friends on PlayStation 5, Android, PC, and anywhere else Fortnite is available.
Do you need a separate online subscription to play Lego Fortnite?
Lego Fortnite, like other Fortnite games, does not require an online subscription like Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus, or Xbox Live Gold/Xbox Game Pass to play.
Guides for Lego Fortnite
Lego Fortnite is new, but already pretty big. Here’s how to get started, with some answers to a few tricky questions:
It’s safe to say that 2023 was a mixed year for gamers. After all, for every Baldurs Gate 3, there was a Walking Dead: Destinies. As we enter a new year, however, it is time to look forward to the games to come. As such here are 10 of the most anticipated games of 2024.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth – January 26th
Image Credit: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega via Twinfinite
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the latest title in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios’ long-running Like A Dragon (formerly Yakuza) series. Infinite Wealth is the first game set outside of Japan, taking place in both the city of Yokohama and the island of Hawaii.
The game continues the franchise’s transition into a turn-based combat system first seen in 2020’s Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Infinite Wealth marks the return of that title’s protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, alongside franchise mainstay Kazuma Kiryu. However, with the popular anti-hero suffering from cancer, this could be the end of the road for the Dragon of Dojima.
Expect Like A Dragon’s usual blend of bizarre side missions, twist-filled conspiracies, and wild minigames as Ichiban and Kiryu search for Ichiban’s mother. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is published by SEGA and releases on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on January 26th.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League – February 2nd
Image Credit: Rocksteady Studios
Isn’t it crazy that we are getting a Triple-A Suicide Squad game before a big-budget Justice League title? Furthermore Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League sees the team of villains tasked with taking down the Justice League!
This game is a third-person shooter set in the same universe as the Batman: Arkham series, developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Games. Kill The Justice League is a multiplayer looter shooter with live service elements, not unlike Square Enix’s Marvel’s Avengers.
Starring DC Comics villains Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and King Shark; Kill The Justice League has the quartet facing off against a corrupted Justice League. Brainiac has taken control of Superman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Batman (voiced by the late Kevin Conroy in his final role), and only Wonder Woman and the Suicide Squad can stop Brainiac’s invasion.
After some delays and a lukewarm reception to marketing, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is still a hotly anticipated title that releases for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on February 2nd, and then 5th March on the Epic Games Store.
Skull & Bones – February 16th
Image Credit: Ubisoft
At this point Ubisoft’s Skull & Bones is surely in the Development Hell Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Duke Nukem Forever and Dead Island 2. Starting life as an Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag expansion back in 2013, Skull & Bones is a swashbuckling adventure across the Indian Ocean.
Centered on bombastic ship combat, Skull & Bones will see players rise to infamy as they build an empire and become the pirate kingpin. As the scourge of the sea, players will sail and explore from the Coast of Africa to the East Indies with a range of unique ships; battling pirate hunters and the deadly weather to make it to the top.
If Skull & Bones can recapture the fun and sense of adventure in Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag then the wait should be worth it. Skull & Bones releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Epic Games Store on February 16th.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth – February 29th
Image Credit: Square Enix
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is the second entry in Square Enix’s bold retelling of the seminal RPG Final Fantasy VII. Rebirth continues the story of 2020’s Final Fantasy VII: Remake as mercenary Cloud Strife and the surviving members of eco-terrorist group Avalanche leave the mega-city of Midgard and journey across the planet Gaia.
Navigating new terrain both literally and narratively, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth will explore the game’s altered timeline while delving into Cloud and series antagonist Sephiroth’s shared past. New party members include Red XIII, Yuffie Kisaragi, and Cait Sith; but also Zack Flair.
Zack’s presence in Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is one of the remake trilogy’s biggest narrative departures; as he originally died in the prequel game Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII (released in 2007). With his return, long-time fans will be eager to discover how he fits into the new story. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth releases on PlayStation 5 on February 29th.
Alone in the Dark – March 20th
Image Credit: THQ Nordic
The grandfather of survival horror, the Alone in the Dark franchise was a pioneer of the genre alongside Resident Evil and Silent Hill. However, while those two franchises have flourished in recent years, Alone in the Dark has struggled to maintain the same mainstream recognition. That’s why it is good to witness the series return with a reimagining of the 1992 original.
Developed by Pieces Interactive and published by THQ Nordic, Alone in the Dark stars David Harbour (Stranger Things) as private investigator Edward Carnby, and Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) as his employer Emily Hartwood. In this game, the pair journey to Louisiana psychiatric hospital Derceto Manor to find Emily’s missing uncle.
The survival horror genre has been on a good run recently, and here’s hoping Alone in the Dark lives up to its contemporaries. Alone in the Dark releases on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 on March 29th.
Princess Peach: Showtime! – March 22nd
Image Source: Nintendo
Princess Peach: Showtime! gives the titular ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom a chance to take center stage. Attending a theatre production in crisis, Peach assumes several roles to help defeat the wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch.
Princess Peach: Showtime! features a range of gameplay mechanics that see the princess participating in the Sparkle Theatre’s sold-out shows. Peach is equipped with a magic ribbon and the ability to transform into a range of future Super Smash Bros. skins.
Transformations such as Swordfighter Peach and Kung Fu Peach implement combat into the game, while Detective Peach will help her uncover clues to Grape’s plan, and Patisserie Peach which will help the princess… bake her way to victory. Princess Peach: Showtime! releases on Nintendo Switch on March 22nd.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl – Q1 2024
Image Credit: GSC Game World
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl has had a rough development as the war in Ukraine forced developer/publisher GSC Game World to pause development and delay the game multiple times.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. stands for Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers, and Robbers; and is the term used to describe the men and women exploring the radioactive remains of Chernobyl. This first-person immersive sim shooter is a big cult favorite on PC and the sequel will be the franchise’s console debut when it debuts on Xbox.
Built on Unreal Engine 5, The Heart of Chernobyl tells a non-linear story playable solo or in co-op and has official mod support. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl is set for a Quarter 1 release on PC and Xbox Series X|S.
ARK 2 – Late 2024
Image Credit: Studio Wildcard
ARK 2 follows Fast & Furious actor Vin Diesel as Santiago, a primitive hunter on an alien world searching for his daughter Meeka (voiced by Moana‘s Auli’l Cravalho).
Like the first game, ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK 2 is a survival action adventure in which players craft weapons and shelters to survive in a harsh and deadly environment. From killer plants to ferocious dinosaurs, and the local tribe the Aralal, there are many threats for Santiago and the player to overcome.
To help, Studio Wildcard and Grove Street Games have created advanced traversal mechanics, a new upgrade tree, and an emphasis on Souls-like combat. The alien world in ARK 2 is full of new threats and hyper-intelligent dinosaurs to fight and tame. ARK 2 is being built on Unreal Engine 5 targeting a late 2024 release date, on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Little Nightmares III – TBC
Images Credit: Bandai Namco
Little Nightmares III is the next instalment in Bandai Namco’s atmospheric horror puzzle platformer series. Supermassive Games have taken over development from Tarsier Studios (after working on Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition), for a standalone sequel.
There is a heightened focus on co-op gameplay in Little Nightmares III as players team up with a friend or an AI companion. Playing as Low (the boy in a raven mask) and Alone (the girl with pigtails), players must work together to escape the Spiral, a disturbing, trippy world of ominous shadows and disgusting villains.
While this is a standalone game, it will be interesting to see if Little Nightmares III has any links to previous installments; including the fate of Six and her iconic yellow raincoat. Little Nightmares III has no release date yet beyond 2024 but is set to release on all platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Star Wars: Outlaws – TBC
Image Credit: Massive Entertainment
Star Wars video games are always hotly anticipated releases and, with Star Wars: Outlaws, Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment are building the franchise’s first open-world game. The game is set between Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
Outlaws allows the player to step foot into the seedy underbelly of a galaxy far, far away as they control Kay Vess, an up-and-coming thief who has gotten on the wrong side of both the Empire and the galaxy’s deadliest crime syndicates. Joining Vess is her salamander-esque pet merqaal Nix, a sneaky animal that can distract guards and steal objects. There is also the droid ND-5 that becomes a bodyguard of sorts for Kay.
Among the planets players will be visiting are Tatooine and its hive of scum and villainy Mos Eisley, criminal haven Kijimi, and a new moon called Toshara. Star Wars: Outlaws should be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC sometime in 2024.
Narrowing down the list of games coming out in 2024 to only ten is a very tricky task. Feel free to let us know what games you’re looking forward to in the comments, and stay with Twinfinite for more on the latest releases.
About the author
Alex Johnson
Alex has been writing about games for over four years and if there is one thing he fears in life it is writing a bio. He studied film at the University of Lincoln, has a small obsession with Fortnite and hopes to actually finish a FromSoftware game one day.
At least once per year we’re treated to incremental upgrades in headset designs from manufacturers like Razer, Steelseries, and HyperX. These improvements typically touch on some of the more objective points of their peripherals, like audio quality and battery life. However, the latest headset model from Logitech, the Astro A50X, is offering something a bit more drastic.
In addition to the same outstanding audio quality we’ve come to expect from Logitech headsets, the docking station for the A50X effectively serves as an HDMI switch, which not only makes the headset universally compatible, but allows you to quickly swap between HDMI inputs with a dedicated button on the headset. But, at an eye-watering $379.99, it’s difficult to recommend this headset to all but the most frequent of users.
The dock is an integral part of the A50X, but can take a while to get set up properlyImage: Logitech
The docking station is fitted with a pair of HDMI and USB-C inputs that can be used with PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles. You’ll also find another USB-C port that provides power and can also connect the dock to your PC. The single HDMI 2.1 output is capable of full 4K 120Hz passthrough to your preferred screen.
Setting up the entire system and getting its myriad cables organized required significant time investment, but I ultimately felt that was a small price to pay for a single unified headset that also allowed me to swap between the inputs on my TV. This is a pretty neat trick — however, the console will need to be powered on via its respective controller before you make the switch, in order for this to work properly.
Of course, if you’d prefer to skip the docking station entirely, you can also pair the A50X with your phone, Switch, or PlayStation via Bluetooth instead. You won’t be able to swap inputs, though.
A single button on the rear of the A50X lets you swap between inputsImage: Logitech
The sound quality of the Astro A50X is amazing regardless of which platform you’re playing on, with no noticeable latency when operating on 2.4 Ghz wireless. I tested the A50X with a pair of rhythm games that have excellent soundtracks, Hi-Fi Rush and Metal: Hellsinger, on both PC and Xbox. The A50X had no issues matching the gameplay beat for beat, which is something my reliable noise-canceling earbuds just couldn’t match. The default sound profile is a little bass-heavy, but you can fine-tune everything from the Logitech G app on your phone or PC.
The Logitech G App is available on PC and Mobile platforms to fine-tune your audio profileImage: Logitech
The fit and finish of the Astro A50X will be familiar to anyone who’s used a headset from the Astro A50 or A40 series. The ear cushions and headband feature plush fabric, and the headset can lay flat around your neck when not in use. The surface of the right earcup allows you to adjust the balance between game and chat volume. Around the back of the right earcup, you’ll find a volume wheel, power and input switches, and a Bluetooth pairing button.
The aesthetics of the A50X aren’t quite as offensive as some more gamer-centric designs, but it still isn’t what I’d call a good-looking headset. A bit less plastic in the overall build, and the ability to remove the boom mic would’ve been welcome. Normally, these are annoyances that I’m willing to overlook, but for $380, I do expect more.
While Logitech’s designers have clearly gone to great lengths to expand the functionality of this headset, they haven’t done much to improve the fit and finish, which is disappointing given the massive price tag. At $380, small issues like the plastic-heavy design, and how the headset doesn’t always want to seat itself in the dock correctly, feel more glaring.
I applaud Logitech for producing a headset with features that genuinely improve user experience, but its high price and limited appeal make it extremely difficult to recommend. For a select subset of people who play games and chat regularly across multiple platforms that share the same screen, the A50X represents a sound investment, but for everyone else, a headset that costs a third of the price will do just fine.
Even with the holiday season in full swing, Polygon is here to assist all of your last-minute shopping with some excellent gaming deals and other associated nerdery. This weekend might be your best opportunity to pick up an Xbox Series X, which is available for as low as $349.99, or bundled with a free game for $399.99. The Epic Games Store is offering a sitewide 33% discount on games, while you can find some top-tier literature on sale at Amazon.
As we do every weekend here at Polygon, we’ve rounded up a collection of our favorite deals from the worlds of gaming and entertainment, along with some of the best-selling products that have made a recent appearance on our site.
The best gaming deals this week
This week, Microsoft announced that it would be officially discounting the Xbox Series X to just $399.99 during the holidays. However, you can currently find the standalone console on sale for just $349.99 at Walmart. We aren’t sure how long this discount will last, but it’s worth checking out if you’ve been shopping around for Microsoft’s console.
Here is your weekly reminder that the Epic Games Store Holiday sale is live, and through Jan. 10, 2024, you can save 33% on thousands of games in the Epic Games catalog. While Epic typically offers a single-use coupon during its holiday sales, this year, it’s offering unlimited 33% coupons that can be applied to purchases of $14.99 or more.
We’ve highlighted a handful of new releases and personal favorites for you to check out. But, if you’re going to pick up just one game, we’d recommend Alan Wake 2, which comes bundled witha voucher for a free copy of Alan Wake Remastered if you purchase a copy during the Epic Holiday Sale.
Epic is also giving away 17 free games through Dec. 31, starting with the Destiny 2: Legacy Collection. The Legacy Collection will remain available through Dec. 20, after which it will return to its regular $59.99 price.
The top-selling stuff on Polygon this week
The best entertainment deals this week
The latest version of the Lego Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series X-Wing is also its largest, sporting a whopping 1,949 pieces. This iteration of the legendary starfighter is currently available from Walmart for $199.99 (was $239.99). In addition to its folding S-Foils, the model features a display stand, nameplate, and minifigs of both R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker.
Blanche: The Rise of Grimdark, the authorized biography of fantasy / sci-fi illustrator John Blanche, is on sale at Amazon for $43.46 ($50.39). Blanche is responsible for a myriad of wicked works, but is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Games Workshop and helping to establish the setting and flavor of Warhammer and Warhammer 40K.
If you’re planning to walk into Mordor, a map might help. The illustrated version of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are currently discounted to their lowest price ever on Amazon. Normally $74.99 each, The Lord of the Rings is on sale for around $27, while The Hobbit is available for around $39.
Each single-volume hardcover includes thirty color illustrations, maps, and sketches (all produced by the author) sprinkled throughout along with removable, fold-out maps of Frodo and Bilbo’s journeys through Middle-earth produced by Tolkien’s son, Christopher.
Video Game of the Year by author Jordan Minor doesn’t just highlight the best games of the past 40 years, it’s a crash course on the cultural impact of gaming and its history. The 296-page chronicle is currently available to from Amazon for $16.79 (was $27.99).
Choosing the best ship in Starfield is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It’s not just your means of fast travel through the Milky Way. It’s everything from your storage locker to your crew’s quarters to the thing that protects you from space pirates. Your ship, in other words, is your home.
It’s nigh impossible to get the single best ship in Starfield early on, thanks to prohibitively expensive sticker prices. Bear in mind, too, that to pilot ships higher than class A, you’ll need to invest points in the Piloting skill (which requires destroying enemy ships, which itself requires a better ship).
Still, in short order, you’ll get plenty of money and skill points in Starfield, which should soon open up your options. Without further ado, these are the best ships in Starfield, including the best class C ship, the best free ship, and the best ship to buy.
Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon
How to get it: Complete the “Mantis” side quest Cost: Free
Fairly early into your playthrough, you will likely pick up a note titled “Secret Outpost!” from a dead Spacer. I found it during the mission “The Old Neighborhood,” while searching for the whereabouts of Vanguard Moara. Head to the Secret Outpost on Denebola I-b, and you’ll begin a quest titled “Mantis.”
Spoilers aside, as it is one of the best side quests in Starfield, you’re rewarded with some immensely powerful armor, along with the Razorleaf — one of the best class A ships in the game for anyone who is a fairly low level. It has a cargo hold with room for 420kg of stuff, so a slight downgrade on the 495 offered by the Frontier, but with almost triple the fuel and 100 higher hull protection, along with more powerful weapons, it’s a no-brainer. Especially since it has a shielded cargo hold with a capacity of 160, essential for smuggling contraband.
Best free ship: Kepler R
How to get it: Complete the “Overdesigned” side quest Cost: Free
After the “Starborn” main mission, linger around Constellation headquarters and talk to Walter. You’ll get the “Overdesigned” side quest, which sends you to the Stroud-Eklund offices to consult the company’s staffers on designing its new spaceship. Instinct would suggest you pick and choose ideas based on what you think would be best in a ship. Don’t do that. Instead, affirm literally everyone’s ideas. That will reward you with the best free ship in the game. (Consult our video walkthrough above for the detailed quest steps to “Overdesigned.”)
If you do it right, you’ll get the Kepler R — a class C ship with truly bonkers stats: six crew, 28 LY jump range, 805 shield power, 3,500 cargo capacity, and some pretty solid weapons to boot. Yes, the Kepler R is ridiculous-looking and, no, it would never in a million years sell on a legitimate spaceship market. But with stats like these and a price point of 0 credits, who cares about aesthetics?
Best class A ship: Wanderwell
Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon
How to get it: Select the Kid Stuff trait Cost: Free
If you chose the Kid Stuff trait, your parents will be alive in the game and you can visit them, in exchange for 2% of your credits every week to support them (though that is capped at 500 each time). Give it enough time and, eventually, your dad will gift you the class A Wanderwell ship that he won while… gambling. Guess that’s what the cash you send home to help the family is going toward!
On the plus side, while it doesn’t have any Shielded Cargo like the Razorleaf, the Wanderwell does have a cargo capacity of 880, making it perfect for carrying all the resources you need to complete side missions. It only comes with two weapons by default rather than the standard three, so you’ll need to fork out a little to get it fully equipped, but with a jump range of 27 LY, it’s the next best upgrade after the Razorleaf.
Best class B ship: Shieldbreaker
Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon
How to get it: Buy from New Atlantis Ship Services Technician Cost: 265,443 credits
This class B bad boy costs a fair whack, but if you’ve prioritized both main story and faction affiliation missions (both of which pay more than most side quests) and sold literally everything you’ve seen, you probably have enough credits in the bank for the Shieldbreaker. Once you turn your attention to side activities, such as destroying the Crimson Fleet and hauling thousands of resources across the galaxy, this ship can do it all.
With a crew size of five and a cargo capacity of 2,280 (none of it shielded though, unfortunately), there’s a lot of room here. Living up to its name, it also has relatively powerful weapons, and comes with laser that automatically target enemy ships.
Best class C ship: Silent Runner
Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon
How to get it: Buy from HopeTech HQ Cost: 390,150 credits
Want to become a full time hauler? Look no further than the Silent Runner, a class C ship that’s essentially the Shieldbreaker’s older brother. While the Shieldbreaker is pretty good in combat, the Silent Runner is all about the cargo, with a whopping 6,060 cargo space. You can upgrade it further with weaponry of course, but this is the one to go for if you want to become a space trucker.
On top of the cargo space, it can grav jump up to 29 LY and has 1,164 hull, which is more than enough to hold off any Crimson Fleet or House Va’ruun members that come a-knocking. It’s also got 300 fuel capacity, which will get you almost anywhere in the charted galaxy.
Best ship for carrying cargo: Vanquisher
Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon
How to get it: Buy from Stroud-Eklund Showroom in Neon Cost: 335,655 credits
The Vanquisher is a solid class C all-rounder, with 4,120 cargo capacity, 1,100 fuel, and 908 hull. Where it especially shines is its missiles, which do 149 damage, along with its 730 shield. It leaves room to be desired (read: upgraded) in the other weapon categories, but when your missiles are dealing that much damage, it doesn’t matter too much. It also may not be the most aesthetically pleasing ship, but at the end of the day, you’ll mainly be looking at the interior anyway.
Best ship for combat: Abyss Trekker
Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon
How to get it: Buy from Ship Services Technician in Paradiso Cost: 347,230 credits
The Abyss Trekker is another class C ship that is by far your best bet if you plan on getting into plenty of dogfights in space. You won’t be carrying much loot with this as it only has 340 cargo capacity, but you will be able to take down any opponents you encounter thanks to the 100 missiles and 170 ballistics stats.
With a shield of 850 and hull of 1,031, it’ll take a lot to get this cyan-white ship out of the skies, but if you do need to get away, it has 950 fuel and can grav jump up to 25 LY.
Best ship to buy: Narwhal
Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon
How to get it: Buy from Taiyo Astroneering in Neon Cost: 432,620 credits
The Narwhal is arguably the best — and certainly one of the most expensive — ship in the entire game. Setting you back more than 400,000 credits, this class C blue beast is incredibly well-rounded and can jump up to 30 LY, so you can go wherever you like. It can have up to seven crew members aboard, has 560 fuel, 2,118 hull, and 1,760 cargo capacity.
As a result, it does the job for hauling lots of materials (though isn’t the best for that), but if you want one ship to do as much as possible rather than switching between ships depending on what the current task is, the Narwhal is for you. Special shout out to its 114 ballistics and 82 missiles too, as they pack a serious punch.
[Ed. note: Spoilers follow for the ending of Starfield.]
Best New Game Plus ship: Starborn Guardian
Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon
How to get it: Start New Game Plus Cost: Free
Minor spoiler warning for New Game Plus here, so if you want to go in without any knowledge at all, you’re safe to stop reading and go for one of the other ships in this guide. However, once you do finish the game, New Game Plus will reward you with the Starborn Guardian, a class A ship that cannot be bought or stolen during your first playthrough.
The Starborn Guardian is one of the fastest pre-made ships in the game, can grav jump up to 30 LY away, and has two unique weapons in the Solar Flare Beam and Gravity Torpedo. With a cargo capacity of 950 and a hull of 649, it’s one of the best ships in the entire game, especially since you earn an upgraded one each time you start new game plus again. Plus it looks incredible — you can’t create anything like this in the ship builder.
Alright, fellow gamers, the moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here! Just like Spotify Wrapped spilled the beans on our music obsessions, it’s time to unveil our gaming triumphs of 2023. Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo have all dropped their annual recaps, giving us the lowdown on how we conquered the virtual realms throughout the year.
Whether you’re a devoted Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo enthusiast, here’s how you can access and revel in your gaming achievements of 2023.
For Xbox aficionados, the process is straightforward. Head over to the Xbox Year in Review 2023 web page, sign in with your account, and voila! You’ll be greeted with a treasure trove of gaming insights. The Xbox wrap-up provides a detailed breakdown of your total game time, the number of games conquered, top genres that captured your attention, and the Gamerscore you’ve amassed.
Moreover, it showcases where you stand among your gaming peers based on hours played, achievements unlocked, and Gamerscore accrued. Delving deeper, the wrap-up unveils your most-played titles, offering a nostalgic stroll through your gaming journey this year.
And can we talk about the Xbox community flexing hard in 2023? A jaw-dropping 36,000 games played, 4.5 billion achievements unlocked, and a staggering 91 billion gamerscore.
How to Access Your PlayStation Wrap-Up
PlayStation
PlayStation loyalists, fear not — your gaming recap awaits. Visit Sony’s web portal, log in with your account, and uncover the secrets of your PS5 or PS4 gaming habits from the past year. The PlayStation 2023 Wrap-Up encapsulates your most-played games, total hours invested, and even assigns an algorithmically generated “gaming style”. From thrill-seekers to strategists, the recap categorises your gaming persona.
Quick heads up, though — this virtual treasure chest is only accessible if you’ve put in at least 10 hours of gaming on your PS5 or PS4 from January 1 to December 31. Oh, and if you didn’t give the green light to “Full Data” collection, sorry, no recap party for you in certain regions.
How to Access Your Nintendo Wrap-Up
2023 has been filled with heroics in Hyrule, Pikmin plucking, Mario magic and more…but what did YOU get up to on your Nintendo Switch this year?
Nintendo fam, it’s time to reminisce about your Switch escapades! Hit up the Nintendo Switch Year in Review site, log in with your Nintendo account, and get ready for a cosy gaming throwback. They’ve got the deets on your top-played titles, hours lost in the gaming abyss, and some fun stats to make you smile.
Ever wondered how much of your life was dedicated to “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” or “Pikmin 4”? Now’s the time to find out. And guess what? You can even download your gaming stats in a cute infographic to flex on your gaming crew.
The Shard of Dawn Aspect is a brand new Legendary Power added in Diablo 4’s Midwinter Blight holiday event. It features a complex buff: Night’s Grasp.
This new power increases your movement speed and attack speed under certain conditions, but can be very difficult to understand when reading the tooltip. Thankfully, we’re here to help.
In this Diablo 4 guide, we’ll show you how to get the Shard of Dawn Aspect and explain how the Night’s Grasp buff works.
How to get the Shard of Dawn Aspect in Diablo 4
Image: Blizzard Entertainment
You can buy The Shard of Dawn Aspect from Gileon’s shop in Kyovashad in the Fractured Peaks for 10 Midwinter Proofs.
In order to get Midwinter Proofs, you’ll need to exchange one of three currencies at the Collection Table in town: Blighted Fragments, Lost Heirlooms, and Red-Cloaked Trophies.
You’ll find each of these currencies out in the world of the Fractured Peaks during the Midwinter Blight event. Hop onto your horse and ride around killing enemies (which typically drop Blighted Fragments) and destroying theFrigid Husk ice statues (which drop Lost Heirlooms).
The most efficient way to farm these items is in a new event called Blighted Revelry. As you ride around, look for an event where a bunch of little freaks are jumping around in a circle around a broken cart. Kill the little freaks and interact with the cart to start the event. Protect the cart until the fire gets large enough to unfreeze the Frigid Husks nearby. Use this method to destroy all five Frigid Husks to spawn the Red-Cloaked Horror. Defeat this big goat boss to finish the event, get some loot, and pick up the Red-Cloaked Trophy.
Back in town, you can convert 300 Blight Fragments, 30 Lost Heirlooms, or one Red-Cloaked Trophy into 1 Midwinter Proof. Once you have 10 Midwinter Proofs, you can buy the Shard of Dawn Aspect from Gileon.
If you need more Midwinter Proofs for cosmetics or if you don’t yet have enough for the Aspect, just head back out into the Fractured Peaks to explore (and maybe do the“Secret of the Spring” quest while you’re out there), kill monsters, and collect the currencies that you can exchange for more Proofs.
How Night’s Grasp works in Diablo 4
Image: Blizzard Entertainment
The Shard of Dawn Aspect reads like stereo instructions if you haven’t progressed far enough into the Midwinter Blight event. And even then, it’s hard to understand. Let’s break it down.
After 30 seconds of Night’s Grasp, gain Dawn’s Haste, increasing your Attack Speed by 25-35% and Movement Speed by 20% for 12 seconds. While empowered by the Midwinter Ward, killing an enemy reduces Night’s Grasp’s duration by 1 second.
There are three buffs mentioned in that description, but it only tells you what one of them does.
First, let’s talk about Night’s Grasp. This is a buff that appears on your character when you’re in combat and wielding the Shard of Dawn. However, it doesn’t do anything. All it’s there for is to denote that you don’t have the Dawn’s Haste buff currently active on you. But once you’ve had Night’s Grasp on you for 30 seconds, you’ll gain the benefits of Dawn’s Haste, which increases your attack speed and movement speed for 12 seconds. Once Dawn’s Haste ends, Night’s Grasp returns and the cycle starts over again.
Dawn’s Haste is a pretty slick buff, as attack speed is desirable for most generator/spender builds and movement speed is valuable for all builds. To wit, you want to lower that 30 second window if at all possible. That’s where the Midwinter’s Ward buff factors into the Shard of Dawn, as it reduces the 30-second cooldown between Night’s Grasp and Dawn’s Haste by 1 second each time you kill an enemy.
Midwinter’s Ward is a buff that you can acquire from a special totem inside Kyovashad, next to Gileon’s shop. However, you’ll need to upgrade your Midwinter Tribute level to Tier 3 before it even appears in town. To gain Tribute experience and level up, all you need to do is exchange the Midwinter Blight currencies for Midwinter Proofs at the Collection’s Table. Once you’ve leveled up all the way to Tier 3, you’ll be able to acquire the Midwinter Tribute buff, which lasts for about six minutes and also gives you some bonus damage against Blightfiends and the Red-Cloaked Horror.
Finally, it’s worth noting here that the Shard of Dawn Aspect does not appear in the Codex of Power. Instead, you’ll need to repurchase it for 10 Midwinter Proofs every time you want to apply it to a new piece of gear. So make sure you choose your gear piece carefully when applying the Aspect at the Occultist.
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