Arguably the biggest addition, though, is Diablo 4 on March 28, the first new Activision Blizzard title to hit Game Pass since Microsoft’s acquisition of the company was completed last year. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said that players shouldn’t expect all Activision Blizzard games to drop onto Game Pass the moment the deal was finalized, but this signals the start of more additions to come. New Diablo 4 players will also have plenty of time to play this RPG for dozens of hours before the paid DLC Vessel of Hatred releases later this year.
There’s also Supermassive Games’ The Quarry, a previous PS5 console exclusive and spiritual successor to Until Dawn. This time, a group of teenage counselors have to survive a night at an abandoned camp while being stalked by violent creatures and mysterious locals. As the player, you have to make a series of choices on behalf of all the characters to try and ensure everybody makes it out alive. (Spoiler alert: It’s very unlikely you will succeed.)
If none of those games are for you, this is still a very packed list of new titles for the rest of March into April. Here’s the full list:
Lightyear Frontier (Game Preview) (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) — March 19
MLB The Show 24 (Cloud and Console) — March 19
The Quarry (Cloud and Console) — March 20
Evil West (Cloud, Console, and PC) – March 21
Terra Invicta (Game Preview) (PC) – March 26
Diablo IV (Console and PC) – March 28
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged (Cloud, Console, and PC) – March 28
Open Roads (Cloud, Console, and PC) – March 28
Ark: Survival Ascended (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) – April 1
F1 23 (Cloud) EA Play – April 2
Superhot: Mind Control Delete (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 2
As you can imagine, with the release of MLB The Show 24, last year’s MLB The Show 23 will be leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of the month, along with two other games:
Hot Wheels Unleashed (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Infinite Guitars (Cloud, Console, and PC)
MLB The Show 23 (Cloud and Console)
Xbox Game Pass costs $10.99 a month, while PC Game Pass costs $9.99 a month. PC Game Pass includes EA Play access, which offers another 70 games on PC. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, at $16.99 per month, gives subscribers access to everything — the PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass libraries, EA Play on both console and PC — as well as access to online multiplayer. Xbox Game Pass Core (formerly called Xbox Live Gold) costs $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
In the ever-evolving world of gaming and entertainment, Hisense, a global leader in consumer electronics, has joined forces with Xbox to revolutionize home gaming experiences. This groundbreaking partnership introduces cutting-edge Laser display technology, promising gamers an unparalleled level of immersion and excitement right in the comfort of their own homes.
Unveiling the Future of Display Technology
Imagine stepping into a world where your gaming adventures come to life on a screen that spans over 100 inches, boasting eye-friendly, true-to-life colors. Hisense, renowned for its innovation in Laser display technology, is making this vision a reality. This partnership with Xbox marks a significant leap forward in bringing the future of display technology into the homes of gamers worldwide.
Designed for Gamers, by Gamers
At the heart of this collaboration lies a shared commitment to delivering an exceptional gaming experience. Jerry Liu, Vice President of Hisense International, highlights the partnership’s goal of not just offering superior products but crafting an entire gaming ecosystem designed specifically for gamers. Through the Designed for Xbox Program, Hisense and Microsoft aim to level up the gaming experience, setting a new standard for home entertainment.
Seamless Integration for Seamless Gaming
Connecting your Xbox console to a Hisense Laser display is as seamless as it gets. Say goodbye to lag and hello to buttery-smooth gaming experiences, thanks to Hisense’s game mode technology. With features like high refresh rates and Auto Low Latency Mode, every moment of gameplay is brought to life with exceptional clarity and precision. Whether you’re exploring vast open worlds or engaging in intense multiplayer battles, the immersive experience awaits.
Transforming Home Entertainment, One Display at a Time
Beyond gaming, Hisense is committed to enhancing the overall home entertainment experience. By delivering excellent viewing experiences and sustainable displays, they’re not just transforming how we play, but how we engage with content altogether. With the promise of memorable experiences and unforgettable moments, Hisense and Xbox’s partnership is poised to redefine the way we enjoy entertainment in the comfort of our own homes.
In conclusion, the partnership between Hisense and Xbox represents a significant milestone in the world of gaming and entertainment. With cutting-edge Laser display technology, seamless connectivity, and a shared dedication to delivering exceptional experiences, gamers can look forward to an exciting new era of home entertainment. So, gear up, grab your controller, and get ready to embark on gaming adventures like never before, all thanks to Hisense and Xbox’s innovative collaboration.
Persona 3 Reload is a long game with an emotional ending — made more emotional by the sheer amount of time you’ve spent in this world and with these characters. If you got the game’s true ending, you may still find yourself watching the credits and asking: Wait, is there anything I could’ve done differently?
In this Persona 3 Reload guide, we’ll walk you through the ending of the game, the fate of the game’s protagonist (Makoto Yuki), what influence you have over its outcome (if any), and how it all connects to Episode Aigis — the upcoming epilogue expansion.
[Spoiler Warning: This post contains major spoilers for the true ending of Persona 3 Reload and some minor spoilers for “The Answer”epilogue from Persona 3 FES, which is being remade into the upcoming Episode Aigis DLC for Persona 3 Reload. If you want to stay as spoiler-free as possible, bookmark this guide and return to it once you see the credits roll. In the meantime, check out our guides for classroom answers and social link requirements.]
Graphic: Polygon | Source images: Atlus/Sega
Is the protagonist dead at the end of Persona 3 Reload?
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
Yes. When the protagonist falls asleep in Aigis’ lap, as all his friends are rushing up to the rooftop of the school, he passes away. This happens regardless of whether you choose the “……” option or the “Close them” option when the game tells you your eyes feel heavy. The blue butterfly fluttering away is meant to symbolize the character’s death in that moment.
OK, but how do we know for sure? Well, that answer — funnily enough — comes from the game’s epilogue expansion called “The Answer,” which is a part of Persona 3 FES. That expansion is not part of Persona 3 Reload, but it’s coming in September of 2024 as the Episode Aigis DLC.
In “The Answer” — and presumably Episode Aigis, based on how faithful Reload is to Persona 3 FES — you play as Aigis a few weeks after graduation and the death of the Leader character (which the game explicitly calls out). If you look back at the final battle against Nyx, the protagonist uses the Universe Persona to perform the Great Seal ability. The cost for casting Great Seal is equal to the Leader’s max health, suggesting that he gave everything to stop Nyx.
The death is a little bit more complex than that, but we’ll leave you to discover those answers in Episode Aigis. Just trust for now that — unless Atlus makes an absolutely massive change to the story — the Leader is dead.
Can you save the Leader in Persona 3 Reload?
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
No, technically. While you can choose to get the bad ending for Persona 3 Reload and kill Ryoji back in December, it’s understood that everyone on Earth will eventually die in that reality — even if you never see it. In order for everyone else to survive in Persona 3 Reload, the Leader must give up their own life to stop Nyx.
Sacrifice is part of the main story thrust of Persona 3 Reload, with many players losing loved ones to heroic moments of sacrifice. Yukari and Mitsuru’s fathers are both great examples of this theming at work. By dying for his friends and the world, the protagonist’s death completes the sacrificial theme.
Enjoy the game’s beautiful final moments knowing that you did nothing wrong here. You got the game’s good — albeit bittersweet — ending.
Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is coming out this year, Capcom and Xbox dropped a new trailer today, which shows off more gameplay and more of the title’s The game looks cool as heck.
Though there’s no concrete release date, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will be a day one Game Pass title for Xbox Series X|S and Windows. It’s also coming to PS5 and the Steam store.
This is a single-player action RPG with some time and resource management flourishes. During the day, you rescue and recruit villagers to your cause. Once the sun sets, you must juggle real-time action with strategic elements, as you decide how each villager will help you fight against a villainous horde called The Seethe.
Lead director Shuichi Kawata Shinsekai: Into the Depths. Kawata says his team has been working on Kunitsu-Gami for four years and that they are excited “and maybe a little nervous” to have everyone finally get their hands on the game.
Capcom has compared Kunitsu-Gami’s aesthetic to previous titles with traditional Japanese themes, like the universally beloved Okami. The game was developed using its RE Engine, which was originally designed for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess wasn’t the only news to come out of today’s Xbox Partner Showcase event. Final Fantasy XIV finally hits Xbox consoles on March 21 and an expansion pass for Persona 3: Reload will bring new missions to the JRPG later this year.
The Skimmer is a new kind of vehicle type in Destiny 2 that you can use in place of your trusty Sparrow. It’s essentially a hoverboard that you can ride all over the galaxy. There is a catch, however: the first Skimmer, the Allstar Vector, is exclusive to the Guardian Games 2024 event, which runs March 5-26. Luckily, there’s a way to unlock the Allstar Vector permanently, so you can continue to hoverboard around once The Final Shape expansion drops in June.
In this Destiny 2 guide, we’ll teach you how to unlock the Exotic version of the Allstar Vector, which you’ll be able to use forever.
How to pick up the Allstar Vector Skimmer in Destiny 2
Image: Bungie via Polygon
Before you can receive the permanent, Exotic version of the Allstar Vector, you’ll first need to unlock the Common one. To do that, complete the “Best in Class” tutorial quest for Guardian Games. You can pick it up from Eva in the Tower and it’ll ask you to don your special class item, do a quick Guardian Games activity, and talk to some people.
Once you finish “Best in Class,” pick up Eva’s new quest, “Drop In.” As soon as you get “Drop In,” you’ll get the Common version of the Allstar Vector Skimmer. The big difference between the Common Allstar Vector and the Exotic is that the Common one warns it expires at the end of Guardian Games.
Now that you have the non-Exotic Skimmer, the clock is ticking for you to complete “Drop In” and unlock the permanent version.
How to permanently unlock the Allstar Vector in Destiny 2
Image: Bungie via Polygon
Once you get the “Drop In” quest from Eva, it’s time to get to work. This quest rewards the Exotic Skimmer and it only has one step. Just know that your time spent on this quest is going vary heavily depending on your skill level and your ability to play the game during certain times.
There are three objectives to complete for “Drop In,” but you only need to complete one of them to finish the quest. Here are your options:
Earn 1,200 Medallion Score
Earn a top 10% score in Nightfall challenges
Open 3 Focus Activity winners packages
However you end up finishing “Drop In,” the Skimmer will automatically appear in your inventory once it’s done. And that’s it. Once you get the Exotic, you have the Allstar Vector for life.
Medallion Score
Let’s start with the simplest and longest one: Medallion Score. Getting 1,200 Medallion Score is time consuming in Guardian Games, as you’ll need to spend a lot of time earning and dumping medals into the podium. Bronze medals are worth one point, Silver medals are wroth two points, Gold medals are worth five points, and Platinum medals are worth 15 points.
If you’re earning a lot of Platinum medals, you’ll get done with this pretty quickly, but if you’re a more casual player who mostly dumps in bronze and silver medals, it’s going to be a bit of a grind. But this is a guaranteed way for everyone to get the Skimmer — as long as you’re willing to put in the time.
Top 10% Nightfall score
The fastest way to get the Skimmer by far is earning a top 10% score in Nightfall challenges. (I was able to unlock the Skimmer on my first Nightfall run of the week using this method.) But in order to do this, you’ll need two things: endgame PvE skills and endgame PvE friends to fill out your Fireteam. If you have both of those, this is a very fast way to get the Skimmer.
If you keep banging your head against the Nightfall and can’t get the score you need, then it might be best to try one of the other two methods. One quick tip for this one is that if you can complete the Nightfall as close to the weekly reset (Tuesdays at noon ET) as possible, you’ll stand a much better chance of getting a high score.
Open Focus Activity chests
Finally, there are the new Focus Activity packages. Basically, every few hours a new Guardian Games playlist will become the “Focus Activity” for two hours during the week and three hours over the weekend. As you compete in the Focus Activity, you’ll earn bonus chests based on how you do, from bronze to gold. You can get these chests by just spending time in the Focused Activity, so this is a great way to get the Skimmer. However, you do have to be online at the right time to make it happen, so depending on your schedule, this might be a tough sell.
Are there any other Skimmers in Destiny 2?
Image: Bungie via Polygon
Yes! Bungie launched two Skimmers on March 5, alongside Guardian Games 2024. However, only one of them (the Allstar Vector) is free. The other Skimmer is exclusive to the Eververse store, and it’s called the Winged Wolf.
The Winged Wolf is part of a gear set called the Gjallarheart Gear based on the iconic Gjallarhorn rocket launcher. There’s a new armor set for each of the three classes, which runs 1,500 Silver each. Then there’s a Gjallarhorn-like Ornament for the Thunderlord Exotic that runs 700 Silver. And finally there’s the Gjallarheart Gear Bundle, which is 2,500 Silver and appears to be the only way to get the Winged Wolf. In addition to the Eververse-exclusive Skimmer, it also comes with a Ghost, ship, and Shader, all based around Gjallarhorn.
Extra unfortunately, you cannot just buy 2,500 Silver, so you’ll need to purchase 3,000 Silver instead. This will run you $29.99 and it comes with 300 bonus Silver for a total of 3,300.
It’s unclear how long this Gjallarhorn bundle will be in the shop or if the Winged Wolf will be available for purchase after Guardian Games 2024 ends.
No one is suggesting that Microsoft should stop making video game hardware. What we’ve been considering, here in the dark and twisted Engadget Slack channels, is whether Microsoft should keep making generationally distinct consoles in the traditional hardware cycle. Basically, does Xbox need a box? Microsoft has been busy building the foundation of a platform-agnostic, cloud-first future for video games, and it consistently falls behind both Sony and Nintendo in the console race. So why are executives trying to get us excited about a superpowered 10th-gen Xbox?
Maybe Microsoft is hesitant to reveal a drastic ecosystem change after the chaos around the Xbox One and its always-on DRM features in 2013. After an outpouring of negative feedback at the idea of a persistently online console, Xbox had to rapidly reverse its launch plans, while Sony took the PlayStation 4 on an early victory lap. This fumble set the stage for the next decade of console sales, and it’s a lesson that would stick with any studio — especially one that’s trying to make streaming and cloud gaming the norm.
That’s understandable, but it doesn’t change the fact that accessible, affordable (and probably handheld) hardware makes a lot of sense for Microsoft’s current vision and investments. More than an expensive console, at least.
This week’s stories
A delicious Elden Ring entrée
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion will come to PlayStation, Xbox and PC on June 21. This one has been a long time coming: FromSoftware announced the DLC in February 2023, leaving plenty of time for players to get super psyched for more masochism. A new, three-minute trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree shows off sprawling locations and epic bosses inspired by chaotic combinations of animals, insects and elements. The expansion costs $40 and pre-orders are live now.
Borderlands by Cate Blanchett
I’m just gonna come out and say it: I think Cate Blanchett makes a great Lilith. The first trailer for this summer’s Borderlands movie is out and it looks like Mad Max meets Guardians of the Galaxy — which is Borderlands in a nutshell anyway. The film stars Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Ariana Greenblatt, it’s directed by Eli Roth, and it’s due to hit theaters on August 9.
Xbox should exit the console business
Last Thursday, Xbox executives made it clear that they weren’t about to abandon the traditional hardware market, and they teased a next-generation console that will represent “the largest technical leap you will have ever seen.” That’s cool, but considering Microsoft’s position in the industry, it doesn’t feel like Xbox needs to be making consoles any more.
After acquiring half of the industry, Microsoft is now a mega-publisher of games, with over 30 in-house studios. Many of these development teams are world-renowned, with rich, multi-platform histories. It’s also the operator of one of the largest game subscription services in the world, Game Pass.
Game Pass grew wildly during the pandemic, but subscriptions have stagnated. In court documents from April 2022, Microsoft revealed it had 21.9 million Game Pass subscribers and 11.7 million Xbox Live Gold members across its consoles, for a total user base of 33.6 million. Last week, Microsoft revealed Game Pass has 34 million subscribers, which includes PC Game Pass and Game Pass Core, the new name for Xbox Live Gold. Even assuming PC Game Pass had zero subscribers in 2022, this means Game Pass subscriptions grew just 1 percent over the past 22 months. The more likely scenario is that the total number of subscriptions actually shrank over this period — though it’s at least possible that more people are paying for the full-price service than before.
Microsoft’s plan for this console generation was clear for all to see: Sell hardware and upsell a subscription service populated by its own games. Turns out, it’s tough to sell Game Pass to someone without an Xbox, and not enough people are buying Xboxes. Microsoft stopped reporting hardware numbers during the Xbox One era, but analysts peg the combined sales of the Xbox Series consoles at around 25 million. Meanwhile, Sony has sold more than 50 million PS5s, and Nintendo has sold around 140 million Switches. This gap appears to be growing every day, and it’s far more pronounced in Japan and Europe than in the United States. If Microsoft wants to grow Game Pass, it seems like it’ll have to be on platforms outside of Xbox.
This week, Xbox confirmed plans to bring four formerly exclusive games to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, and for years executives have been pitching an ecosystem where Xbox — and Game Pass — is playable on anything with a screen. Microsoft has a powerful cloud network that even Sony uses for game streaming, plus it owns more than 30 studios. Long-term, Microsoft is positioning Xbox to be a platform-agnostic, software-publishing powerhouse with the industry’s most stable streaming network at its back.
In this landscape, it’s surprising to hear Xbox talk about building a hyper-powered console for the next generation. I’m not advocating for Microsoft to ditch the hardware market — it makes sense for the company to focus on handheld devices and affordable streaming boxes that support Game Pass and cloud play. Xbox is working toward a future where its games and Game Pass are available everywhere, which raises a clear question about its current plans: Why bring an expensive next-gen console to a war that is actually about software, subscriptions and streaming?
Bonus Content
Sony president Hiroki Totoki told investors last week that the company would be more aggressive in bringing its PlayStation titles to PC.
Xbox has confirmed which of its games are coming to other consoles: Grounded and Pentiment will come to PlayStation and Switch, while Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush will only arrive on PS5. Both Sea of Thieves and Grounded will support crossplay across all platforms.
Now for a totally different port: The Pokémon Company has scheduled an anniversary stream for next Tuesday at 9AM ET. It might be a bit early for a gen-10 reveal, but a Switch remake of Black & White seems like a safe bet.
Now Playing
If you’re a Switch or PlayStation player curious about all of these Xbox games coming to your consoles, I have one easy and clear recommendation: play Pentiment. Obsidian’s narrative-driven, tapestry-looking game is a surprise and a delight, and I’ve had a lot of fun playing it on Game Pass recently. It’s out now on PS4, PS5 and Switch, and I’m sure it’s just as great on those platforms.
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Last week, thanks to the Final Fantasy VIIRebirth demo, some old video game discourse returned and overtook social media: The use of yellow paint to mark certain in-game objects or ledges. All it took was a now-viral tweet of Cloud climbing some yellow rocks in the new demo and a comment about how yellow paint was a “virus” and, bam, the debate is raging all over again. Like a comet returning for another scheduled pass by Earth, the yellow paint topic has once again predictably appeared, leading to endless takes, jokes, threads, opinions, and arguments. Why is this topic so incredibly capable of sucking in everyone around it for days or weeks on end? Well, it’s not really because of the paint, but everything the yellow splotches represent. – Zack Zwiezen Read More
We had some enormous gaming releases in 2023. I’m talking the likes of “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” and “Baldur’s Gate 3” — absolute cultural gems that set the gaming world on fire, and we can’t forget “Baldur’s Gate” snatching that coveted game of the year title. It was a well-deserved win, no doubt about it, but now we’re ready to look ahead and find the best new games of 2024.
After a stellar year of new releases, 2024 has big shoes to fill. However, it is already shaping up to be a year packed with potential. And you know what? It’s looking pretty darn exciting already! We’ve got titles like “Skull and Bones” and “Princess Peach: Showtime!” teasing us with promises of epic adventures and thrilling escapades. I don’t know about you, but I’m already clearing my schedule for some serious gaming sessions.
We’re here to guide you through the excitement with our top picks for the most anticipated games of 2024.
Most Anticipated Games of 2024
“Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden”
The masterminds behind “Life Is Strange”, are diving headfirst into uncharted waters once more with their latest creation, “Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden”. Set in the mystical backdrop of the 17th century, this ghostly romance adventure places you in the shoes of a Banisher — a human sage stick of sorts — tasked with dispelling an ominous curse and reuniting with your beloved’s spirit.
Get ready to embark on a hauntingly beautiful journey filled with action, role-playing, and the quest for true love’s eternal connection.
Release date: Feb 13 Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X
“Skull and Bones”
The long-awaited release of “Skull and Bones” is finally here! After five years of delays, the long-awaited “Skull and Bones” action-adventure game has finally hit the seas. Get ready to command unique ships, forge alliances, and engage in thrilling naval battles. With new challenges every season, the seas await your mayhem. Are you ready to rule the waves?
Release date: Feb 16 Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X
“Final Fantasy VII Rebirth”
Prepare for the next chapter in Square Enix’s remake trilogy with “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth”! This highly anticipated instalment aims to reimagine the beloved 1997 role-playing classic, both in gameplay and story, following in the footsteps of its predecessor.
Platforms: PlayStation 5 Release Date: Feb 29
“Mario vs Donkey Kong”
Similar to the beloved 2004 puzzle-platformer, this remake of “Mario vs. Donkey Kong” will challenge players to overcome obstacles while retrieving Mini-Mario action figures. What’s new? Prepare for an exciting addition: brand-new co-op play!
Release date: Feb 16 Platforms: Nintendo Switch
“Alone In the Dark”
We love a good reboot and THQ Nordic is set to resurrect the campy 1992 survival horror classic “Alone in the Dark” after decades of dormancy. Originally slated for release in October 2023, the game faced delays but is now gearing up for its long-awaited return.
Set to feature performances from the likes of Jodie Comer from “Killing Eve” and David Harbour from “Stranger Things”, this Southern Gothic drama promises to deliver spine-tingling thrills and chills. Get ready for a spooky adventure like no other.
Release date: March 20 Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X
“Princess Peach: Showtime!”
Step aside, Mario! It’s time for Princess Peach to take the spotlight in her brand-new solo game. In “Princess Peach Showtime!”, Mother Peach faces off against hecklers at the Sparkle Theatre. With magical transformations that unlock new looks and abilities, Princess Peach proves once again why she’s an iconic gaming icon.
Now this is one we’re super excited for. From the creators of “Dead by Daylight”, “The Casting of Frank Stone” is a single-player narrative adventure that promises to unravel the deep lore of “Dead by Daylight” with an unpredictable origin story.
Release date: TBD Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X
“Avowed”
Obsidian Entertainment, known for hits like “Fallout: New Vegas” and “The Outer Worlds”, is cooking up another RPG masterpiece. Enter Avowed, a high-fantasy, first-person action-adventure game reminiscent of Skyrim. In Avowed, you’ll wield guns, swords, and wands as you battle hordes of creatures on your epic journey. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a badass battle mage, this game is your calling.
Release date: TBD Platforms: Windows PC and Xbox Series X
Game Pass, Microsoft’s subscription service for games, has 34 million subscribers as of February 2024. Microsoft revealed the number in a blog post where it shared its plan about the future of the Xbox business.
The latest number reveals that Game Pass growth has slowed down drastically. It took Microsoft three years since Game Pass launched in 2017 to get to 10 million subscribers in April 2020. In the next five months, the company added five million subscribers, and hit 18 million subscribers by January 2021, a growth rate of nearly 90 percent per year. A year later, the company announced that Game Pass had 25 million subscribers. Over the last two years, Game Pass has added nine million subscribers, which would be an average annual increase of just 18 percent.
Game Pass lets players pay a monthly fee to Microsoft for unlimited access to an evolving library of games that they can play on their consoles or PCs. In an announcement on Thursday, the brand’s leaders revealed plans to bring Xbox games to more platforms including the PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch, both of which have far more users than Xbox. There are currently no plans to offer Game Pass on either Sony or Nintendo’s platforms.
The meta for the best guns in Modern Warfare 3has developed considerably since launch, and has evolved significantly since the Feb. 7 rollout of Season 2.
From the get-go, there were a plethora of guns to choose from in the latest Call of Duty because every gun from Modern Warfare 2 was also made available, alongside a host of new weapons. We’re not including those as there are far too many to choose from, and for the most part, the new MW3 guns are stronger anyway.
So if you’re looking to dominate MW3 multiplayer in Season 2, look no further than these 10 guns.
Modern Warfare 3 best guns to use in Season 2
The best weapons in Modern Warfare 3 are as follows:
MCW (assault rifle)
Rival-9 (SMG)
WSP Swarm (SMG)
RAM-7 (assault rifle)
BAS-B (battle rifle)
RAM-9 (SMG)
HRM-9 (SMG)
Holger 556 (assault rifle)
XRK Stalker (sniper rifle)
SVA 545 (assault rifle)
Believe it or not, the MCW is still the best gun in Modern Warfare 3 and has been since launch. It’s the most jack-of-all-trades gun you’ll find, as you can kit it out for long-range engagements — which our suggested attachments below are apt for — or to deal with enemies in close quarters if needed.
However, the list has been shaken up a little with the introduction of some new guns and balance changes through Season 1 and Season 2, skyrocketing the Rival-9 (the best SMG in Modern Warfare 3) into second place. The WSP Swarm isn’t far behind it, though, and the RAM-7 is still a solid assault rifle despite its significant recoil.
The BAS-B is by far the best battle rifle and the optimal choice if you want to engage in much longer distance firefights, while the RAM-9 and HRM-9 were seasonal additions that have quickly found their place in the meta. The Holger 556 is still very strong, the XRK Stalker sniper rifle is the best choice for any marksmen or quick-scopers, and the SVA 545 excels thanks to its ability to shoot the first two bullets almost simultaneously.
(As an aside, for anyone returning to this list from Season 1, the AMR9 and Riveter have both been dropped in favor of the Rival-9 and RAM-9, and the HRM-9 has been added to round the list out to a solid 10 entries.)
Let’s go through our updated selections for the best guns in Modern Warfare 3 one-by-one.
1. MCW (assault rifle)
Image: Activision via Polygon
Kicking things off is the MCW, which is unlocked at rank 44. Modern Warfare 3 doesn’t have real weapon names, so the MCW is best known as the ACR from previous installments. Which is all to day, the MCW is a very reliable assault rifle that is fully automatic, with consistent range, recoil, and damage.
Essentially, with the right attachments, the MCW becomes a laser beam. Any of the heavy barrels do the job — we’d recommend the 16.5” MCW Cyclone Long Barrel — along with any vertical grip, though we found the Bruen Pivot to be the best (which requires leveling the SVA 545 to level 12 first). As for the rest of the attachments, an optic is always a good shout for enhanced visibility, alongside any combination of muzzle/stock/rear grip that assist with recoil control and bullet velocity.
For more on how to kit out this weapon, see our dedicated MCW loadout page.
2. Rival-9 (SMG)
Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision via Polygon
The Rival-9 wasn’t considered to be one of the best guns in MW3 on launch, but it has quickly risen to the top thanks to its fast fire rate. It packs a huge punch when you get up close and personal. As the meta has developed, running and gunning has solidified itself as a very strong style of play, particularly in Season 2.
Bearing that in mind — that you won’t often be engaging with enemies beyond a few meters away — you want to manage the recoil to an extent while also maintaining the weapon handling and mobility. We recommend the Rival Vice Assault Grip in the rear grip attachment slot, along with the Rival IGS-800 Barrel to deal with most of the recoil issues. Make sure you also stick the 9mm High Velocity ammunition on to deal the most damage.
3. WSP Swarm (SMG)
Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision via Polygon
Next up we have the WSP Swarm, the second SMG on our list of the best guns in Modern Warfare 3. This gun is seriously powerful, but as you’d expect given its machine pistol form, it has a boatload of recoil. This means it suits a very aggressive style of play, and while the Akimbo attachment may be tempting to dual-wield hip-fire these bad boys, we’re going for something a little more reliable.
Your entire aim should be to reduce the recoil while also not hindering the mobility too much, so look for muzzle and/or barrel attachments that strive toward that goal. Much like the RAM-7 below, the WSP Swarm has a very fast rate of fire, so you can’t go wrong with an extended magazine either. You definitely don’t need an optic though, as the iron sights are absolutely fine and, to be honest, you’ll often find yourself hip-firing — if you can reduce the hip fire spread with any attachments, even better.
4. RAM-7 (assault rifle)
Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision via Polygon
The RAM-7 was introduced in Season 1 and quickly found itself as a mainstay in the meta. It kicks like a mule but deals some serious damage. As such, you don’t want to kit it out for extremely long range, but it is one of the best choices at short to mid range for an assault rifle. A barrel or muzzle attachment that ideally silences the gun and helps with damage at range is key.
Alongside this, we recommend putting on an extended magazine thanks to how quickly the gun fires, then aiming to strike a balance between mobility, handling, and damage for the rest.
Tweak the attachments until you find the exact fit that works for you, or check out our guide to the best RAM-7 loadout in MW3.
5. BAS-B (battle rifle)
Image: Activision via Polygon
All the weapons in this list are fairly similar: fully automatic guns that are best at varying ranges. The BAS-B is no different. The first and only battle rifle on the list, this is the gun you want to switch to if our MCW build above still doesn’t have enough range for you. It doesn’t fire quite as quickly as the MCW, but each bullet packs way more of a punch, and once you have some recoil-managing attachments on there, you can put a longer-range optic on it, such as one of the 2.5x options.
When you’re in the opening levels of using the BAS-B though, we have just a few recommended attachments. The Bruen Venom Long Barrel is a no-brainer thanks to the range it adds, and the 30-round mag — or the 45-round once you unlock it — ensures you can mow down multiple enemies without needing to reload. We’d also recommend the Ravage-20 Heavy Stock, which you unlock once the BAS-B has reached level seven.
For more on how to kit out this weapon, see our dedicated BAS-B loadout page.
6. RAM-9 (SMG)
Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision via Polygon
The RAM-9 was introduced at the start of Season 2, and is the newest weapon on this list of the best guns in Modern Warfare 3. It’s another SMG with a rapid fire rate, but the recoil can be managed a little better than the Rival-9 above, so this is better suited for slightly longer engagements. The must-use attachments are the ZEHMN35 Compensated Flash Hider muzzle attachment and the HVS 3.4 Pad stock thanks to how they assist with recoil.
Make sure you equip an underbarrel grip of some description too — our recommendation is the SL Skeletal Vertical Grip — and we found a rear grip also does the job, ideally the Retort 90 Grip Tape. The iron sights are usable here, but if you’d rather equip an optical sight for better visibility, any red dot sight will work.
For more explanation on these attachment choices and details on the best class to use with this SMG, check out our dedicated RAM-9 loadout guide.
7. HRM-9 (SMG)
Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision via Polygon
The final SMG on the list, the HRM-9 with our build is actually very strong at a slightly further distance than you’d expect most SMGs to be effective. With that in mind, the Sonic Suppressor S muzzle attachment is a godsend as it buffs the bullet velocity, damage range, and it makes you undetectable by radar when firing.
It does mean the recoil control takes a minor hit though, so you want to use other attachments that help bring that back up. Any underbarrel grip geared towards that will do the job — our choice is the VX Pineapple — along with a rear grip and stock attachment. We’d recommend an optical sight here too, though a basic one like the Slimline Pro or Slate Reflector is good enough.
Our full HRM-9 loadout guide has more details on how to best utilize this SMG and the attachments to kit it out with.
8. Holger 556 (assault rifle)
Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision via Polygon
Next up, we have the Holger 556, which is unlocked at level 37. Now, to be frank, there’s not a whole lot special about the Holger; it’s a reliable, fully automatic assault rifle that isn’t quite as good as the MCW or RAM-7. However, if you remember (and loved) the G36C from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, this is very reminiscent of that.
As always, you’ll want to focus on recoil management and damage output when kitting out the Holger. Find barrel, muzzle, and underbarrel attachments that assist with that, then stick your optic of choice on and you’ll be good to go. It has a higher base damage but slower fire rate than both the MCW and SVA, so bear that in mind when finding the best attachments.
9. XRK Stalker (sniper rifle)
Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision via Polygon
With its introduction in Season 1, the XRK Stalker took the crown from the Katt-AMR to be the best sniper rifle in Modern Warfare 3, and that’s thanks to its impressive damage and mobility, making it the prime choice for those quick-scopers among you. This is a position it’s held through the launch of Season 2.
Your goal needs to be to improve the ADS speed, re-chambering speed, and sprint to fire speed so you can pull up your gun and one-shot enemies with ease. To this end, we’d recommend having the No Stock stock attachment, alongside the Light Bolt and FT Match Grip. You should also equip an optic that isn’t quite so zoomed in as the default, as you’re unlikely to be sniping at range.
The SVA 545 is the first assault rifle you’ll unlock in the game, so while you’re grinding for the MCW and AMR9, it’s the one you want to be using. As soon as you unlock create-a-class you can equip it, and it comes with one very interesting perk: the first shot fires two bullets, almost simultaneously. This isn’t just the first shot of the magazine though; if you tap fire, you can ensure every shot is a twofer. It’s not overpowered or anything, but it is a nifty trick if you can get the hang of it.
As is always the case with assault rifles, you’ll want to manage the recoil on this, so we recommend an underbarrel grip such as the VX Pineapple, a barrel attachment that can improve the range and damage, and other attachments that support recoil management. It’s one of the only guns in the game with decent iron sights though, so you don’t need to stick an optic on it.
Image: Kotaku / Xbox / Thomas Mucha / Lukasz Pawel Szczepanski (Shutterstock)
Over the February 3 weekend, reports from different outlets and insiders claimed that a number of big, Xbox exclusives—like Starfield and Gears of War—could possibly end up on PlayStation 5 in the near future. Once the news spread around the internet, the most Xbox-pilled users and creators began theorizing, denying, mourning, and ranting to those within their Church Of Xbox circle and beyond. Then, Xbox boss Phil Spencer posted a vague statement, seemingly confirming something was happening but the faithful would have to wait until next week to hear what. Perhaps he thought this would calm the masses. It didn’t. Instead, for some devoted Xbox fans, it was confirmation that the brand they worshiped was leaving them behind. And they aren’t taking it well (though some remain pretty chill about the prospect of Starfield coming to PS5). – Zack Zwiezen Read More
In a twist no one saw coming, it is heavily rumored that Xbox might put some of their games onto PlayStation platforms. It’s a move that could see a huge shift in the entire hierarchy of the video game industry. While the stand-out titles we hope will appear on PlayStation are Halo and Gears of War, all the speculation got us thinking about the other Xbox exclusives we would love to see on PlayStation.
Sunset Overdrive
Imager Source: Xbox Game Studios
Insomniac Games is best known for making PlayStation franchises like Ratchet and Clank and Marvel’s Spider-Man now, however back in 2014 they released the Xbox One exclusive Sunset Overdrive. Colorful and kinetic, of all the games on this list Sunset Overdrive is the game I’d most like to see on PlayStation.
The open world of Sunset City is a parkour playground where players zip across the city on grind rails and bounce from building to building. Jet Set Radio meets Ratchet and Clank as the player character tries to save the world from an evil energy drink that is turning people into hordes of orange mutants.
Ryse: Son of Rome
Image Source: Xbox Game Studios
Ryse: Son of Rome was an Xbox One launch title back in 2013. A third-person hack and slash, it was developed by German studio Crytek and recounts the life of fictional Roman general Marius Titus. Marius is deployed to Britain and plays an important role in the historic Roman invasion of the island, even capturing the legendary tribal leader Boudica, before fending off a barbarian horde alongside Emporer Nero.
The game received mixed reviews at launch but with graphics that still hold up today, an interesting premise, and a unique setting, it would be cool to see Ryse: Son of Rome move over to PlayStation.
Quantum Break
Image Source: Remedy Entertainment
Remedy Entertainment’s Quantum Break was the studio’s biggest experiment in multi-media storytelling yet when it was released in 2016. The time travel narrative was told both in-game and via live-action television episodes interspersed between levels. Quantum Break starred Shawn Ashmore (The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan), as a man caught in the middle of a time travel experiment gone wrong.
The game is a third-person shooter with the player combining firearms and time-bending superpowers to manipulate the environment and enemies around them. The cast list also included Aiden Gillen (Game of Thrones), Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings), and the late Lance Reddick (John Wick).
Hi-Fi Rush
Image Source: Tango Gameworks
Shadow-dropped onto Xbox Series X|S in January 2023, Hi-Fi Rush is a vivid, cell-shaded rhythm-action game from experienced horror developers Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda. In the game, players control Chai, an aspiring rockstar who accidentally gets a music player fused to his heart.
The world moves in rhythm and matching the beats during combat increases Chai’s combo score. The game was a sleeper hit on release with critics complimenting Hi-Fi Rush’s style and soundtrack as it reached 2 million players in just four months.
Sea of Thieves
Image Source: Rare
Developed by Rare, Sea of Thieves got off to a rough start when it was first released in 2018, but in the years since has turned itself around and is now one of the most popular multiplayer games around. In this sea-faring adventure, ghost ships, reanimated skeletons, and Krakens stand in the way of you and your crew’s quest for fame and treasure.
Centered on ship combat, Sea of Thieves has a chaotic open world, a healthy player base, and still receives regular updates. With a new adventure almost every month, including a free cross-over with The Legend of Monkey Island series, there is a lot for players to dive into.
Grounded
Image Source: Obsidian Entertainment
What if Honey I Shrunk The Kids was a survival game? That’s the basic premise of Grounded, a co-op title developed by Obsidian Entertainment. After they are accidentally shrunken to a minuscule size, a group of teenagers have to survive the terrors found in the grass and soil of their backyard.
The game features the usual genre tropes of scavenging resources, gathering supplies, and building bases, but places them in a unique environment full of giant (in comparison to your player character at least) insects and some of the scariest spiders to ever appear in video games. Luckily for players with arachnophobia, Obsidian implemented a feature that allows them to make the frankly terrifying Wolf Spiders a little more palatable.
Ori Duology
Image Source: Xbox Game Studios
2015’s Ori and The Blind Forest and its 2020 sequel Ori and The Will of the Wisps are a pair of beautiful Metroidvanias from Austrian developer Moon Studios. In the platformers, players control two spirits, Ori and Sein as they traverse the mysterious Forest of Nibel and set out to bring light back to the forest.
The sequel meanwhile gave the characters 3D models, new abilities, and a larger world to explore. Both games received widespread praise for their art design and presentation.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Image Source: Xbox Game Studios
A fascinating examination of psychosis and grief, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice follows titular Pict warrior Senua as she travels to Helheim to rescue her partner’s soul from the goddess Hela. Exploring both Norse mythology and Celtic culture, Hellblade features a mix of puzzles and combat encounters.
Hellblade has some really interesting sound design as the voices in Senua’s head (called Furies) help guide her on her journey, so playing with headphones is a must. Developed by Ninja Theory, a sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, is scheduled to release in 2024.
Killer Instinct (2013)
Image Source: Xbox Game Studios
Allow me to rattle off just a few of the characters on the roster of 2013’s Killer Instinct: an alien with ice powers, a The Ring-style spirit trained in the ways of the samurai, a Battletoad, the Arbiter from Halo, and a fire-breathing velociraptor. If that doesn’t pique your interest in Iron Galaxy’s fighting game I don’t know what will!
Fighting games are as popular as ever and Iron Galaxy has worked hard to keep Killer Instinct online for nearly a decade. The core game went free-to-play in November 2023 (with a paid Anniversary edition available) and cross-platform tests with PC players began in February 2024. The game is still alive and kicking (pun intended) and it would be cool to play as a fire-breathing raptor on Sony’s platforms.
Dead Rising 3
Image Source: Capcom
Dead Rising 3 is the third installment in Capcom’s zombie-slaying franchise. It features a new protagonist, mechanic Nick Ramos, and transfers the action into an even bigger playground. Rather than a mall, Dead Rising 3 is set across a whole city. The story, which begins three days into the latest zombie outbreak, has Nick looking for a way to escape the city of Los Peridos.
As is tradition, Dead Rising 3’s campaign puts players on a timed deadline and equips them with a bunch of crazy improvised weapons. This time around the franchise’s trademark Psychopaths are based on the Seven Deadly Sins and, while it probably doesn’t reach the heights of Dead Rising 1 and Dead Rising 2, it’s the only game in the series not on PlayStation and that’s a shame.
What do you think of the current state of Xbox and their potential plans? Let us know in the comments below.
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.
GTA Online runs on money. That’s why there are no cheats for it in the game. (There are, however, cheats in GTA V proper.)
Everything you want to do in GTA Online costs money — basically, everything from a high-end car to the real estate you need to start a new type of event is going to cost you just shy of GTA$2,000,000.
Our guide on how to make money in GTA Online will tell you everything you need to know to get rich quick in Los Santos. Well, quick-ish.
Be patient
The answer to the question “how do you make money in GTA Online?” is slowly. What you do to earn cash is really a question of how much time and effort you want to put in. More time and effort means more money.
Image: Rockstar Games
Very few things you can do are going to earn you millions of GTA$ per hour (or even day) — especially if you’re playing solo. Saving up enough for that new car, submarine, or business is going to be a big time investment.
How to make a little money fast in GTA Online
These activities aren’t going to change your life, but they’ll be enough to refill your ammo or buy some health-replenishing snacks.
Steal a car and sell it at a Los Santos Customs. You’ll only make a few thousand GTA$ and you can only do it a few times a day, but it’s a quick and easy way to make a little cash.
Participate in events around Los Santos. Things like races will earn you up to about GTA$5,000 each for 10 minutes of effort.
Rob a store. Head into any store and point a gun at the cashier, and you’ll walk away with a couple thousand GTA$ (and a wanted level or two).
Watch for weekly 2x and 3x events
Each week, certain events and activities pay out double or even triple GTA$. You can check our weekly guide to see what this week’s are. Depending on the week, you might even get free money just for logging in — like this week’s GTA$188,888 for Lunar New Year.
How to make money in GTA Online every day
Image: Rockstar Games
Beyond the big things (below), you can also get yourself a steady income just by doing certain things every day. Things like:
Spin the wheel at the Diamond Casino. You’ve got about a 20% chance of winning between GTA$20,000 and 50,000. You’ve also got a chance to win a car that changes weekly.
Empty the safes of your legitimate businesses. Your businesses like the bar in your motorcycle club clubhouse or salvage yard will earn some cash every day and store it in the safe. You’ll have to visit each one to pick it up, though.
Find G’s cache. Gerald will drop a package that will earn you roughly GTA$20,000 in cache cash each day. The location changes, though, so you’ll have to do some driving to find it.
Clear stash houses. Each day, you’ll also find one stash house somewhere in Los Santos that you can clear of enemies for Gerard. Once you find the combination and open the safe, you just have to flee the scene. You’ll be rewarded with a little GTA$ and, just as importantly, you’ll get supplies for one of your businesses.
Buy businesses and facilities to unlock new ways to make money
Most activities that make you money in GTA Online require you to own a specific kind of business or facility and the cost of entry to just about all of them is between GTA$1,000,000 and 2,000,000.
Image: Rockstar Games
But, just remember, each time you buy a new piece of real estate or new business, you unlock another way to make money. And keep an eye on the weekly updates — each week a property (or type of property) goes on sale for 30% off.
Agencies unlock Security Contracts and Payphone Hits
Your apartment gets you access to heists (which is where you’ll make the most money)
Auto shops unlock Auto Shop Services, Contracts, and Exotic Exports
Bunkers (or facilities) unlock the Gunrunning business
Clubhouses unlock MC Contracts and MC Work (and a bar)
Hangars unlock the Air Freight Cargo business
Nightclubs allow you to store additional good from other businesses and make money on their own
Offices unlock Special Cargo, Vehicle Cargo, Special Vehicle missions
Salvage yards unlock Salvage Yard Robberies and the Tow Truck Service
The best activities for a lot of money in GTA Online
With the right properties and a good crew (or a lucky roll of the rando pool), you can make a lot of money pretty quickly in GTA Online by focusing on the best paying events.
Heists are multi-step events that will take you about an hour to complete, give or take. They’re also the best payout you’ll get in the game, with rewards ranging from GTA$100,000 to 4,000,000.
Salvage Yard Roberies work a lot like heists, but they’re doable with only one person. They’ll earn you GTA$200,000 to 300,000 for about an hour of work.
Xbox & Playstation Source: Future Publishing / Getty
After decades of console wars, Xbox will allegedly concede and bring its exclusives to Sony’s Playstation 5 platform.
For decades we’ve been entertained by the console wars mainly between Sony and Microsoft. In the early days of Xbox 360, it seemed Microsoft couldn’t be touched. However, after the successful launches of the PlayStation 3, 4, and 5 Sony reigned supreme while Xbox tried to keep up. When the PlayStation 5 launched it was clear to everyone paying attention it was the superior console. According to Forbes, Microsoft will allegedly begin letting their once coveted exclusive release on Sony’s PlayStation platform.
While this has yet to be officially announced an announcement could come as early as next week reports The Verge.
This would mark the waving of the white flag by Microsoft unless Playstation gives over their exclusives which isn’t likely. When Microsoft purchased gaming company Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion they promised they would play nice with Sony as it pertained to Call of Duty. This update would certainly make good on that promise. Furthermore, speculation has pointed to Hi-Fi Rush, Starfield, and others coming to Playstation and Switch soon. As gaming and streaming continue to grow this will undoubtedly provide a significant boost to all the titles released on other platforms for the first time.
All eyes will be on Microsoft’s announcements next week as gamers pray Halo is included in the titles coming to PS5.
Classroom questions and answers are a staple of Persona games, and that remains true with Persona 3 Reload.
While Reload is a remake of the beloved Persona 3 from the early 2000s, it features a completely new slate of classroom questions from the original game. Answering questions correctly in Persona 3 Reload will increase your Charm Social Stat as you impress your fellow classmates with your knowledge.
In this in-progress Persona 3 Reload guide, we’ll walk you through classroom questions and answers for each month.
Note: This guide features all classroom and exam answers through June 1 in Persona 3 Reload — about 15 hours into the game, depending on how you spend your time. We’ll add additional months of questions and exams soon.
April classroom answers in Persona 3Reload
There are three classroom questions for you to answer in April. There are no exams in April.
4/8
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
Q: Among these phrases, “a rain of flowers,” “mystical mirage,” and “vivid carp streamers,” which one symbolizes summer?
A: Vivid Carp Streamers
4/18
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
Q: The places where people dumped their waste in the Jomon period — what are they called nowadays?
A: Middens
4/27
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
Q: Leader [protagonist], do you know which one’s not an algebraic spiral or whatever?
A: A
May classroom answers in Persona 3 Reload
There are three classroom questions for you to answer in May. May also holds the first big exams — Midterms — which run May 18 to 23. Make sure to increase your Academics score to two before the 18th.
5/6
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
Q: What do you call the device that helps generate electric power for the train?
A: A pantograph
5/13
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
Q: Do you know Leon Foucault? He’s a French physicist who performed experiments regarding the rotation of the Earth. Which tool did he use in his experiments?
A: The pendulum
5/15
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
Q: What’s the other name for “May sickness” — the more casual one?
A: May Blues
May Midterms
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
Midterms start on Monday, May 18, and run for six full days of school, ending on Saturday the 24th. Once your exams start, you’ll have no free time after school or in the evenings. You’ll answer questions and the game will automatically skip to the next day.
You don’t have to actively answer questions on May 18 or May 23; how your character performs on those days seems to be based entirely on your Academics stat. If you have an Academics stat of at least two and answer all the below questions correctly, you’ll finish your midterm in the top 10 of your class and get some bonus Charm points, plus stat boost cards for your Personas as a reward.
All of the below questions are reframed versions of questions you’ve already answered in April and May. Nonetheless, we’ve listed them all out here for your convenience — and because the rewordings can be a little tricky.
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
5/19 Q: What is the other common expression used to describe “May sickness?”
5/19 A: May Blues
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
5/20 Q: Which of the following did Leon Foucault use in his experiment on the rotation of the Earth?
5/20 A: A pendulum
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
5/21 Q: Which of the following is generated by a pantograph?
5/21 A: Electricity
Image: Atlus/Sega via Polygon
5/22 Q: During which historical period were middens most commonly used?
5/22 A: Jomon
More classroom answers for Persona 3 Reload are on their way!
Baldur’s Gate 3 is an incredible role-playing game experience, a gift for RPG fans and a wonderful introduction to the genre for newcomers. It’s got everything a good RPG needs: memorable characters, exciting, strategic battles, and a textured world to get lost in as your party goes questing across the map. It’s a showcase for just how good RPGs are when they really connect, and fortunately for us, there’s plenty more where that came from.
So, in the event that Baldur’s Gate 3 has inspired you to explore the genre further, here’s a list of games that similarly nail the RPG experience in ways that will leave you itching to get back to the character you’ve created — provided, of course, you didn’t immediately roll a new one to take into Baldur’s Gate 3 all over again.
If your favorite parts of Baldur’s Gate 3 were the turn-based combat, the character interactions, and the branching narratives, then Fire Emblem: Three Houses might scratch that itch. The actual gameplay itself doesn’t have a lot of story-defining choices, since you pick a set path in the first moments of the game. But that choice does grant three completely different ways the game can play out (and a fourth secret one), as well as variations in which characters come along with you and survive till the end. There’s also a lot of options for character interaction built into the game mechanics. Not only do you, the player, build a rapport with the characters, it’s literally part of the game to pair characters off in different interactions so they can build their bonds outside the battlefield and support each other while in combat. And yes, that means romances. So. Many. Romances. —Petrana Radulovic
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Image: Larian Studios
Where to play: Windows PC, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Larian Studios’ previous game is a natural next step for Baldur’s Gate 3 fans, as it’s about as close as you can possibly get to “more of the same” without waiting for a sequel. There’ll be some adjustment — as it’s not a D&D adaptation, the rules are different and combat here has a different set of quirks you’ll have to learn to navigate — but the transition is surprisingly seamless. Most importantly, Original Sin 2 has what Baldur’s Gate 3 nails in spades: a rock-solid focus on character and permissive design that encourages you to come up with oddball solutions and surrounds you with a cast of characters you’ll think of fondly. Shoutout to the homie, The Red Prince. —Joshua Rivera
Pillars of Eternity
Image: Obsidian Entertainment/Paradox Interactive
Where to play: Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
One of the first big attempts at a throwback to the Baldur’s Gate franchise is still one of the best. Pillars of Eternity tells a sprawling tale with a great hook — children are suddenly being born without souls — as a mystery meant to draw you into its strange fantasy world and characters. A little more old-school in its design, but with the option to crank down the difficulty if story is why you’re here, Pillars of Eternity’s biggest strength is in its elegant narrative, in which the answer posed by every quest intersects with at least two other equally interesting quests. It’s easy to lose an evening navigating the game’s tangled web of short stories, but what a tremendously satisfying way to get lost. —JR
If there’s one thing I enjoy more than Pillars of Eternity, it’s Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. Whereas the first game took place in an atmospheric if derivative take on a classic fantasy continent, Deadfire puts you in control of a customizable ship on the high seas. Along with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Spiritfarer, and the recent Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, Deadfire is proof that archipelagos make for perfect video game worlds: As you build your party of travelers, you’ll encounter vastly different factions, cultures, and ways of life, both linked and separated by the waves between them. Exploring the world of Deadfire feels at once like a singular journey and a collection of potent short stories, all connected by vivid writing and myriad chances to role-play. —Mike Mahardy
Wasteland 3
Image: inXile Entertainment
Where to play: Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
If you can stomach the hyper-goofiness of its post-apocalyptic storytelling, Wasteland 3 stands among the best that the CRPG genre has to offer. Its script and character writing leave a lot to be desired, but in terms of structure, Wasteland 3 is as open as they come: You pursue three major quest lines across a ruined Colorado, all the while building up your headquarters and recruiting a massive party of survivors. If inventory management and improving your team composition are your favorite aspects of CRPGs, Wasteland 3 is a dream. And while there are compelling story beats strewn throughout, it’s the mechanics and systems that make inXile’s 2020 release sing. —Mike Mahardy
After a dozen or so hours investing in your party in Baldur’s Gate 3, they start to feel like superheroes. Battles hinge on incredible (and very fun) stunts that can excite the storyteller in you narrating the whole fight. Marvel’s Midnight Suns is entirely built around that feeling, a strategy game where winning a battle largely depends on you figuring out the most dramatic move possible every turn. It’s also got a character creator for your original protagonist and lots of fun RPG-style conversations between said fights too, so the social butterflies among us won’t feel left out. Just don’t come looking for romance, which unfortunately is not part of the experience. —JR
Planescape: Torment
Image: Black Isle Studios/Interplay Productions
Where to play: Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Android
Going back to the original Baldur’s Gate games is a very different experience from Baldur’s Gate 3, as they come from an entirely different era in game design that may or may not speak to you in the same way. In spite of its similarity to those older games, Planescape: Torment, a sister title to the OG Baldur’s Gate games, is worth giving a shot. In it you play The Nameless One, a man with no memories in search of his identity and the reason he can’t seem to die. Taking place in Dungeons & Dragons’ Planescape setting — a sort of interdimensional halfway point in the multiverse, where anything could be a door to Someplace Else — Planescape: Torment is among the most bizarre, existential, and contemplative RPGs ever made. It’s a game where combat barely matters (seriously, just play on easy and put all your stats in Wisdom and Charisma), but deciding who The Nameless One becomes as he learns more about himself is everything. —JR
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Image: InXile Entertainment
Where to play: Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Maybe you tried Planescape: Torment and found it too clunky. Or maybe you loved it and want more. In the way that Pillars of Eternity was a spiritual successor to the original Baldur’s Gate games, Torment: Tides of Numenera is a new attempt to recapture the magic of Planescape: Torment with more modern sensibilities. In this game, you play as the Last Castoff, a sort of rejected avatar for a being known as the Changing God, who has achieved immortality by hopscotching across bodies like yours. What’s up with that? What else has this Changing God done, and who else have they left in their wake? Tides of Numenera retains the focus of its inspiration, emphasizing role-play over combat, using the mystery of an immortal being and an indelible science fantasy setting to probe at troubled characters and ask big, sweeping questions about fate and existence. —JR
Dragon Age (all of ’em)
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts
Where to play: Windows, Mac (for earlier entries), PlayStation 4 (Dragon Age: Inquisition), PlayStation 3, Xbox One(Dragon Age: Inquisition), Xbox 360
For over a decade, the RPG void left between Baldur’s Gate 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 was filled by Dragon Age. Beginning with 2009’s Dragon Age: Origins, the Dragon Age games mixed dark fantasy with bright, snappy characters to create one of the most beloved fantasy RPGs in recent memory. Each game has a slightly different flavor — Origins is the closest to the “classic” RPG feel, where combat strategy is just as important as role-playing through an epic plot, while Dragon Age 2 focuses more on straightforward action and smaller character drama, and Dragon Age: Inquisition splits the difference with the most modern design of the three. Play all or one, in any order you choose. Each has its strengths, and all of them have at least one character destined to become your favorite. —JR
If you appreciate how a game will throw your best-laid plans out the window with one failed dice roll, then Disco Elysium is the obvious follow-up to Baldur’s Gate 3. Not only do your choices have the same level of impact, but both games embrace creative problem solving in the way only a good role-playing game can. Disco Elysium lets you talk your way out of (but usually into) trouble in some mind-bending ways. Although it’s a more modern setting than Baldur’s Gate 3, both games relish their moments of bleakness. Paladin-type role-players may struggle with the inner demons of Disco Elysium’s amnesiac main character, but he’s the hero for those who revel in messy choices. —Chelsea Stark
Shadowrun: Dragonfall
Image: Harebrained Schemes
Where to play: Windows, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Yeah, fantasy is cool and all, but what if you want a Baldur’s Gate 3-style adventure in a sick Blade Runner-ass setting? Shadowrun: Dragonfall is your answer. A relatively short and self-contained RPG set in Shadowrun’s totally rad, magic-but-also-cyberpunk universe, you play as a shadowrunner (a mercenary, but cooler) hired to join a crew for one big score. It goes sideways of course, and once you escape the chaos, there’s only one question on your mind: Who set you up and why? Perfect for anyone who wants to trade swords and spells for guns and cyberdecks (and also spells). What’s more, if you love it, there are two more games widely available (and optimized for consoles): Shadowrun Returns and Shadowrun: Hong Kong. —JR
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Image: BioWare/LucasArts
Where to play: Windows, Mac, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Another big appeal of RPGs is getting the chance to traipse around a very familiar setting and seeing what trouble you can get into. In Baldur’s Gate 3, that’s the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons. But let’s say you wanted to do that in Star Wars — lucky for you, there’s Knights of the Old Republic. Made by BioWare, the folks behind Dragon Age, KOTOR (that’s what the cool kids call it) is set thousands of years before the prequel trilogy, at a time when both the Jedi and Sith were numerous and at war. This setting gives KOTOR a flavor that’s impossible to find in modern Star Wars, as one of the premier RPG developers was given free reign to define its own corner of the universe and infuse it with all the charm of its acclaimed role-playing games — and a killer mystery to boot. —JR
Catching Pokémoncan be exhausting these days. At time of publication, there are more than 1,000 different species of the fictional monsters. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet don’t contain the full National Pokédex, but the base game has 400 Pokémon and hundreds more when you count additional monsters added in the DLC. Even when trying to complete the reduced Pokédex, the process of collecting creatures can be a slog. Now, playing Palworld, I can breathe a sigh of relief. For the first time in a long time, it feels I can finally “catch ’em all,” with under 150 Pals in the game.
Palworldis a hit game from Japanese indie studio Pocketpair. Before it came out, many described it as “Pokémon with guns.” Now that the developer has released it in early access, it’s clear that the game goes well beyond just Pokémon influences. It has climbing and exploration reminiscent ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and mechanics common to survival games. However, one way that it is like Pokémon is its incorporation of creatures called Pals. As you explore its world, you can catch the cartoony monsters and register them to a digital encyclopedia called a Paldeck, similar to the Pokédex.
My Paldeck contains 111 Pals (although there are alternate forms and might be more). Just from a numerical standpoint, that’s way fewer than Pokémon. There’s no need to robotically cycle through hundreds of battles to fill up the Pokédex like in a modern Pokémon game. On top of that, there are no “version exclusives” in Palworld. Every copy of the game contains every Pal, so it’s actually possible to find and catch every single monster without needing another player or setting up trades outside the game.
If you do have friends who are playing, well, that’s helpful to the collecting process, too. While Pokémon does have multiplayer functionality, the online co-op in Palworld better supports playing the entirely of the game with friends from start to finish. Features like guilds allow you to group up with friends and share Pals easily on your settlement. These Pals won’t be registered as “caught” in your Paldeck, but it allows you to see more Pals and get an idea of which Pals you need to catch.
Image: Pocketpair
Catching all the Pokémonobviously isn’t impossible — loads of people do it — and I get why it appeals to certain players. The repetitive nature of catching Pokémonafter Pokémoncan almost be relaxing, but it’s a massive time commitment. You have to fight and catch each and every one of them,and some require unique rituals to evolve them. For others, you might need to trade to get version exclusives and train Pokémonto prepare for challenging fights to catch stronger monsters. In the recent Scarlet and Violet DLC, you even have to grind in-game points to unlock the appearances of certain Pokémon in the wild.
Don’t get me wrong — Palworld still contains its fair share of monster-catching grind. Depending on how common each creature is, you might catch up to 10 copies of each just to grind out the needed experience points to unlock items. You likely won’t just speed through collecting the Paldeck in a sitting or two. Barriers to exploration like your level or what kinds of Pal spheres you use will guide your overall journey. But so far, I have enjoyed the slow, meandering process of gradually exploring and discovering the Pals one by one to fill up my Paldeck in its entirety. At this rate, I might just catch ’em all.
Diablo 4 season 3 is going from medieval horror to medieval… machinery? The latest season for Diablo 4 adds robots called constructs, vaults to plunder, and a little buddy that follows you around as a companion.
Here’s when Diablo 4 season 3 starts in your time zone, and details on what to expect from Diablo 4 season 3.
What time does Diablo 4 season 3 start?
Diablo 4 season 3 starts at 10 a.m. PT on Tuesday, Jan. 23, according to a Blizzard blog post. Here’s when that is in your time zone:
10 a.m. PT for the West Coast of North America
1 p.m. ET for the East Coast of North America
6 p.m. GMT for the U.K.
7 p.m. CET for Western Europe/Paris
3 a.m. JST on Jan. 24 for Tokyo
Note, however, that Diablo 4 season 2 was delayed by a few hours due to a problem with the update. Blizzard quickly fixed the issue and launched Season of Blood that same afternoon. If Diablo 4 season 3 is similarly delayed, we’ll update this post with the season’s new release window.
What’s new in Diablo 4 season 3?
Much like the seasons before it, Season of the Construct is all about adding new items, activities, and temporary features to Diablo 4. And while this isn’t a full expansion (that’s not coming until later this year, so don’t expect a new region or class just yet), it looks like there’s still plenty of stuff to tuck into with Diablo 4’s first robo-season:
Zoltun Kulle — that jerk from Diablo 3 and one of the first Horadrim — and his infernal machines will be the focus of a new questline
Season of the Construct adds Diablo 4’s first ever companion: a customizable little robot pal called the Seneschal
Vaults are a new activity where you can dive in and attempt to avoid traps for a chance at some bonus loot
Take on new construct enemies in a new outdoor activity: Arcane Tremors
Helltides are now always available, with only a short, five minute break between runs — one of many quality of life changes this season
Leaderboards and the new, weekly Gauntlet dungeon come to Diablo 4 in February.
The Seasonal Realm will once again feature both a free and paid version of the battle pass, each granting various cosmetics.
Palworld, the game that looks like, “Pokémon, but with guns,” was released Friday and is already one of the biggest releases of the year.
According to its developer, Pocketpair, the game has sold over one million copies within “about” eight hours of its release. Pocketpair shared the impressive sales number via X, but did not add any further clarification as to what that sales number included. Palworld launched to both Steam and Xbox Games Pass, so it’s unclear if that number includes copies of the game that Xbox Game Pass subscribers download as part of the service.
Polygon reached out to a representative of Pocketpair and asked the team to clarify what the sales number included. We will update the article as we hear back.
Regardless if the sales number counts the Xbox Game Pass downloads or not, Palworld has had an absolutely massive release day. According to Steam Charts, the game has over 340,000 concurrent players on Steam on Friday afternoon, beating out other popular titles like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Palworld has been drumming up buzz for a long time now. Basically it stuck out for the contrast between its cute creatures and brutal conditions — previous trailers have shown its adorable monsters fighting with military-grade machinery and creatures toiling away in factories. It basically looks like a militarized Pokémon game, but with additional survival elements as well.
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