XINKER - Business and Income Tips - : Latest Games

Forest Escape: Last Train - v0.46 - Hotfix Patch

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 07:19:03 +0800

v0.46 - Hotfix Patch

Fixes:

Fixed connection issues when users tried to join a full lobby.
Fixed an issue with the Mask of Anarchy not appearing in the suitcase for players who had previously played the demo.
Other fixes and improvements.

Known issues:

The train may occasionally derail.
Unable to connect to a lobby if your internet connection is unstable or the connection is interrupted while joining.
Teammates or enemies may occasionally become invisible.
Selecting a dance style may cause you to become stuck on the selection screen, even after pressing ESC.
Voice chat may not work properly.

Warframe: Tau Gameplay Demo

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 07:09:04 +0800

This year's TennoLive mainstage presentation took us beyond the limits of the Origin System to Tau, a place that until now has only existed in our collective dreams (and of course, memories via The Old Peace). Community Director Megan Everett guided Tenno through their first foray into Warframe's first ENTIRELY NEW star system, which will include fresh worlds to explore as ongoing cinematic narrative flourishes in a massive new region beyond anything you've ever known.

Coming to all platforms later this year, our next major update will begin to answer the question: "What has become of Tau?" While the future will ultimately offer a wider look at this vast binary star system, the path to get there begins in Fornax — a sprawling Sentient metropolis consisting of Slums, Docks, and seedy gambling dens. The extent of Fornax's corruption is apparent in both the addicts and criminals who populate it, as well as the unending black rain that pours down on them during frequent storms… with horrifying results.

Albrecht Entrati is already here, having enlisted the help of a new, noir-inspired Warframe named Brysko to help him infiltrate the Sentient underworld and reach the Hunra. This fearsome kingpin maintains control of Fornax's many rackets through violence, intimidation and fear, and it will be up to you to reach him in time to avert the breakout of a cataclysmic new conflict.

With the return of old friends, old foes and old wounds gone-but-not-forgotten, Tau will confront you with horrifying consequences from your past, and an incredibly bright new canvas for the evolving future of Warframe.

Learn more by visiting our official webpage for Warframe: Tau here and be sure to watch our upcoming Devstreams at https://www.twitch.tv/warframe for more details on the journey that lies ahead.

Mistborn Officially Returns November 18 With New Adventure

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 07:06:03 +0800

When Brandon Sanderson first published Mistborn: The Final Empire in 2006, it quickly established him as one of fantasy's most exciting new voices. The original trilogy, which includes The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages, earned widespread acclaim for its inventive Allomancy magic system, immersive and elaborate world-building, and carefully planned long-form storytelling.

Warframe Reveals New Tau System, Detective Warframes, And More At Tennocon 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 06:29:03 +0800

The Tennocon 2026 celebration continues. Soulframe had its time to shine earlier today, and now it is Warframe’s turn to

Angels Fall First 1.0 !

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 06:18:04 +0800

Hey there AFF Community!

The wait is over, after 10 years of Two Weeks ™

Angels Fall First 1.0 is here!

Ten years ago, we launched Angels Fall First into Early Access with a ridiculously ambitious goal: build the large-scale combined-arms sci-fi shooter we always wanted to play ourselves. Today, that journey reaches its destination!

It all started with the fantastic sci-fi universe and stories created by James Morris-King, to whom we owe our special thanks.

We'd also like to express our gratitude to the entire AFF Community, we wouldn't be here without you!

Is it perfectly polished and bug-free? Nope! Are we going to have to make a good few hotfixes to put the fires out in the coming days? Probably! Is it incredibly full of content and old-school fun and giant exploding spaceships? Absolutely yes!

We haven't increased the base price - we gave it a lot of thought and concluded AFF is exactly at the price point we feel comfortable with for now!

It's also 10% off for 10 days for 10 years for 1.0!

So come check it out! There's also two new maps included, Incursion and Territories version of:

Darsalaam

The partly-built mega resort station Darsalaam is under siege by USN forces, who aim to secure the space surrounding it and the station itself, as there are high priority personnel targets of great interest to the League inside its arms.

There's also many more stability fixes and map improvements in the 1.0 build, which You, the AFF Community, also helped with immensely. It's been a crazy couple weeks of final diagnostics and repairs.

We'll get back to You all with a proper changelog and more to say about the nearest future of AFF in the coming days! But for now:

Enjoy the game, help us spread the word, come talk to us on Discord!

Onwards and upwards!

TennoCon 2026: Everything Announced at the Warframe and Soulframe Fan Event

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 06:07:04 +0800

TennoCon 2026 has finally wrapped, and developer Digital Extremes has revealed new content for both Warframe and Soulframe – it's two massive online action RPGs. Throughout the TennoCon live show, we got to see the developers showcase long-anticipated updates that will not only take players to new locations but also introduce new antagonists for the larger stories ahead in both live-service games.

In addition to the long-form reveal of Warframe's Tau expansion, which introduces a new galaxy to explore that's filled with new threats, we saw Soulframe showcase a new fable questline focusing on the reveal of a new weapon and darkside powers to adopt, along with the anticipated arrival of new player mounts and a new fishing mini-game.

Continue below for everything revealed at TennoCon 2026!

Warframe - Tau revealed, Iceblade of Narin, and a new type of Warframe to control

The long-anticipated Tau expansion for Warframe was finally revealed at TennoCon 2026, and according to the developers, it's the biggest shift forward for the long-running action-RPG that the devs have ever made. Continuing the conflict among the Tenno, Albrecht Entradi, and the enigmatic Man in the Wall, players will finally venture to the long-teased Tau system, which houses the mysterious Sentinels and the Orokin-terraformed colonies. The signature location of Tau is the gloomy, alien, cyberpunk-style city known as the Forax, a new Hub zone that blends open exploration with procedurally generated zones. While not an open-world zone in the vein of the Planes of Eidolon or Fortuna, it does feel like a mix between large-scape areas of Warframe and the bite-sized action zones throughout the game.

"Tau is certainly the biggest shift for Warframe ever, we're adding a full second solar system to explore and have new stories coming," said Warframe creative director Rebecca Ford in an early interview with IGN. "When it came to building up Tau, what we basically asked ourselves was, 'How do we keep Warframe going forever?" And the answer to that was to add a second solar system to the game. 13 years later, you can build up all over again, give the players more, and start planet by planet, moon by moon. and object by object. And there's so much more to come."

Another of the signature reveals in the live demo for Warframe was a new type of Warframe known as Brysko (voiced by Matt Mercer of Critical Role fame), a special Chimera Warframe that is a sentient being created within the Tau system. Along with a playable Lotus section, we also got to see Brysko in action, who plays as a gunslinger Warframe in combat sequences that play out similarly to a fast-paced character action game. Warframe has focused heavily on character-first storytelling in recent years, and one of the key focuses of the Tau update is Brysko's story and how the Chimera Warframe will play into the game's future.

Along with a new reveal for Tau, Warframe will also launch several updates in the lead-up to Tau's launch later this year, including a customizable Orokin Vessel that players will acquire. Firstly, the next major update to Warframe is the Iceblade of Narin, a story quest featuring a new location and a new playable Warframe to acquire. Moreover, new deluxe versions of Qorvex and Banshee, a gameplay rework, and new Nightwave missions with the Amir's Shockwave update are also on the way.

Also revealed at TennoCon was Warframe ‘s first-ever card mini-game, Portau, which is based on the mechanics of poker. The Sentient card game iterates on the rules of poker with its own suite of Blooms, Cores, Moons, and Suns.

Soulframe - New fables, a new dark pact, and mounts are on the way

Digital Extremes' Soulframe and its growing high-fantasy universe are still in its alpha stage, and the developers have been gradually defining a more engaging and soulful companion to Warframe. At TennoCon, we got to see the latest updates coming to Soulframe, which focuses on the Envoys encountering their darkest challenges yet with the arrival of a new threat, and a new opportunity to engage with the growing corruption to adopt the first dark powers known as vespers.

Firstly, one of the early reveals is that more players will be able to get access to Soulframe Preludes – the current early access for the action-RPG. Players who sign up for access to Soulframe Preludes on the official site before July 12 11:59 ET will earn access to the game. While invites have steadily gone out, this marks the most significant opportunity to get access to Soulframe.

One of the significant reveals was the new narrative and fable mission called Warsongs – which is set for release this Fall. The questline we saw added more details to the player character's origin story and how their mother came into conflict with Tempest Bayor, who is given more background and drive behind his motivations, setting the events of the game into motion. Furthermore, actors Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI, Expedition 33) and Jennifer English (Baldur's Gate 3, Expedition 33) have joined the Soulframe cast as recurring antagonist Tempest Bayor – the red-armed anti-Envory – and supporting player ally Empress of Eldveil, respectively, to further expand on Soulframe's growing narrative.

"We probably announced the game much sooner than we should have, but really, what has come out of it is that we're building this game alongside the community," said senior community manager for Soulframe in a chat with IGN. "When we finally got players in to test the game and play early, it was a great opportunity to really see them take in the world and get into the knitty-gritty of the world we're building. In the last year, especially, we have taken a lot of big swings with the game, and we're just constantly building up towards our next steps. Some really big **** is coming soon."

One of the most exciting moments of the TennoCon demo was the battle between Tempest Bayor and the Envoy's mother, who are both briefly playable during the Warsongs demo. The demo culminates in an encounter where the Envoy gets a brief experience with the Vadagar pact – which introduces the ability to embrace the powers of the dark side.

In the new questline, we get to see the player Envoy come into contact with a corruption that grants them a new Vadagar pact and weapon, which showcase Soulframe's first attempts at offering a dark side of sorts to follow. According to the devs, this questline is Soulframe's darkest storyline so far, and it will offer players – if they are so inclined – the chance to build up their corruption powers. The new weapon shown off during the demo focused on the snake sword known as the Coiled Dawn, which uses large sweeping strikes to cut down multiple enemies.

In addition to the expanded fable, Soulframe will also get a round of new quality-of-life updates to the game this year. In the lead-up to the major new updates coming this year, Soulframe players will also be able to take part in a new combat encounter against the Mendicant Reinbreaker, a shadowy dark knight that can potentially be a new ally upon defeat. One of the most requested features from the community was player mounts, and we got to see players riding atop large wolves during the TennoCon demo. Another new feature coming to Soulframe is fishing – referred to as 'Vegan Fishing' – which lets players relax and capture fish across the Alca to gain intel about the wildlife.

"The community support we have is so critical, and it's also – in my view – a gift," said Asselin."There are so many games and so many things players can do with their time in this attention economy. So why would someone play Soulframe after work versus another game or the latest thing on Netflix? So it's up to us to honor that gift and do it right. That's why we have dev-streams and even have Envoy hours where the team jumps into the game to see how the game feels with the community. We're still very early in development compared to Warframe, so I think it's allowed us to have some time with everyone and to help build this game up."

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The Best Deals Today: LEGO Technic McLaren P1, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, 4K Blu-rays, and More

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 06:07:03 +0800

A new weekend has arrived, and today, you can save on select LEGO sets, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, the Criterion Collection Blu-ray Sale, and more. Check out our top picks for Saturday, July 11, below.

LEGO Technic McLaren P1 for $379.99

The LEGO Technic McLaren P1 is a perfect choice for any car fan, and today, you can save $60 off this impressive set at Woot. As a LEGO Technic set, this 1:8 scale model recreates both the interior and exterior flawlessly. This 3,893-piece set includes the V8 piston engine, the opening doors, 7-speed gearbox, and more.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter for $44.99

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the very first entry in the beloved Trails series, and this remake from last year brought new life into the original game. Considering 2nd Chapter is set to release later this year, this is a great time to pick up 1st Chapter if you've never had a chance to check it out.

50% Off Criterion Collection Sale

Barnes & Noble is having its 50% Criterion Collection sale right now, so this weekend is one of the best times of the year to pick up some new 4K Blu-rays. Oftentimes, these 4K transfers are overseen by the original Director, and there's always plenty of great extras included. I continue to buy Blu-rays from this collection, as time is running out to save big.

Ys X: Nordics - Deluxe Edition for $39.99

While Falcom is best known today for the Trails series, the Ys series is another great series made by the company. The Ys series has been running for almost four decades at this point, with 17 entries to date. The latest entry, Ys X: Nordics, is on sale this weekend for $39.99 at GameStop. If you're looking for a new action RPG to discover, look no further than this great game.

Battlefield 6 for $29.99

Battlefield 6 was one of the biggest multiplayer games of 2025, and today, you can pick up a physical copy for $29.99 at Target. In our 8/10 review of the multiplayer, we wrote, "Battlefield 6’s multiplayer action is expertly crafted, wrapped in a wonderful layer of destructibility that both looks great and materially affects the flow of combat. The gunplay is excellent, with weapons that are accurate enough to reward skilled shooting, but have just enough sway to promote a bit of careful thought while you take aim."

Nioh 3 for $47.49

Nioh 3 released in early February, and you can save $20 off a PS5 copy today at Amazon. In our 9/10 review, we wrote, "Nioh 3 delivers best-in-class combat that revitalizes the established formula with a fantastic split between Samurai and Ninja styles, as well as a triumphant move to an open-world structure."

LEGO Ideas Vincent Van Gogh The Starry Night for $136

Right now, Amazon has the Lego Ideas Vincent Van Gogh The Starry Night set on sale for $136. You can recreate the iconic painting in Lego form, and there's even a Van Gogh minifigure! This 2316 piece set is an excellent way to add some art to any setup or room.

Chainsaw Man Season 1 Blu-ray for $49.84

Chainsaw Man's first season only officially released on Blu-ray as of late last year, so while this release is pretty recent, you can save $35 off today at Amazon. The Limited Edition packs in all twelve episodes of Season 1, featuring both Japanese and English audio. Plus, you'll also get a lenticular slipcase, a 72-page booklet of production material, and on-disc art galleries.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

TennoCon 2026's demo is the "darkest Soulframe has ever been," but perhaps the most intriguing, too

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 05:49:03 +0800

Soulframe finally gets its most-requested feature and a brand new gameplay demo, as Digital Extremes opens the doors to Preludes once more.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: https://www.pcgamesn.com/soulframe/tennocon-2026-demo

New Co-Op Game on Steam is Peak Meets Jurassic Park

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 05:06:04 +0800

The friendslop genre has become increasingly busy since the Overcooked era. Nowadays, there are no shortage of humorous co-op games to enjoy with one's friend group. Steam has a near-endless array of funny horror extraction shooters, party games, and viral hits. And while the talk of the town right now may be Meccha Chameleon, for a long time, gamers couldn’t go anywhere without seeing or hearing about Peak. This game stands out not just due to its potential for tragic falls and betrayals, but also a charming art style that adds humor to the chaos. That latter trait is one that Steam’s Very Safe Dino Park is poised to borrow, as its cute art will pair nicely with players screaming as a T. Rex chases them across their friend’s screen.

July 14 is Officially the End of an Era for GTA Online

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 04:37:04 +0800

After 13 years, Grand Theft Auto Online might finally be wrapping up its major updates. Grand Theft Auto Online launched in 2013, shortly after the release of Grand Theft Auto 5, serving as that game's online multiplayer component. Many assumed Grand Theft Auto Online would be a big success, but it blew away all expectations and has helped GTA 5 become one of the most profitable entertainment products of all time.

TennoCon 2026 Relay Experience

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 04:08:04 +0800

This year's TennoCon Relay Experience is now available to join! Jump in-game and head to the TennoLive 2026 Relay orbiting Saturn. Once you arrive, head straight to the Dry Dock and get ready for the show to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Please note: in order to access the Relay you must have completed at least one Mission on the Star Chart. See you there, Tenno!

First Details of New Obsidian Fallout Game Leaked Online

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:48:05 +0800

The first details of Obsidian's new Fallout game have leaked online, coming from a reputable Xbox insider. A recent report by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier claims that Obsidian was shifting its development focus onto a new Fallout game helmed by Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer. While it's unclear if this game will be Fallout: New Vegas 2, Fallout 5, or a completely standalone Fallout experience, a new leak has revealed some key information on its core gameplay features.

Open-World Horror Game Is Free to Keep on PC for a Very Limited Time

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:48:05 +0800

An open-world psychological horror game with PS1-style graphics called Envelope is currently free to keep for PC users, but they will need to act fast because the offer ends soon. PC gamers are used to claiming free-to-keep games from platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store. However, this promotion comes from neither. Instead, Envelope's developer is giving away the game through an independent promotion.

New Official Game of Thrones Release is Bringing Back Jon Snow

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:35:03 +0800

A brand-new Game of Thrones release coming later in 2026 is set to feature fan-favorite character Jon Snow. Jon Snow was a big part of the original Game of Thrones TV series, but he hasn't been featured in the spin-off shows. That's no surprise, as both House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms take place many years before Snow was even born.

7 The Boys Characters That Desparately Need Their Own Game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:09:03 +0800

While The Boys has officially ended after a highly successfull 7 year run, the franchise is still far from over, with several new shows and even a video game adaptation with an entirely new story for fans to enjoy. Although the creators of The Boys haven't announced an additional gaming project after the release of The Boys: Trigger Warning, the first outing has already shown just how much potential the series has in video game form.

College Football 27 Announces Plans to Remove Microtransactions, But There's a Catch

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:04:05 +0800

EA Sports has officially removed some of the controversial new microtransactions added to College Football 27, though the changes will specifically affect offline game modes. The changes follow significant backlash to microtransactions in College Football 27's Road to Glory and Offline Dynasty modes.

Weekly Mobile & Gacha Roundup: Everyone’s Out On A Pokémon Catching Spree

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:28:04 +0800

In the biggest mobile rankings shake-up so far, players’ spending on Pokémon GO this week completely obliterates the ever-popular mobile MOBA

I've found my perfect summer game: A stomach-churning horror story about Czech train conductors built over a bafflingly deep simulation of a fictional subway

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:28:04 +0800

I've developed a bit of a reputation among my coworkers for loving niche, lo-fi indie games that make you feel bad and gross and weird on the inside. I'm flattered to stand out in such a way, but I also don't ever want to be typecast. Anyway, Brno Transit is a game about being trapped underground with your nasty, weirdly sexual boss and neurotic coworkers as reality disintegrates around you... Read more.

Soulframe Announces Mounts, New Characters, And More At Tennocon 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:11:03 +0800

Tennocon celebration kicked off yesterday with a concert showcasing the music of Digital Extremes’ current live games, Warframe and Soulframe.

Famously buggy Assassin's Creed Unity "is one of the most underestimated games in the series," says lead who admits its "launch was a huge challenge"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:07:03 +0800

Looking back on the infamously buggy Assassin's Creed Unity after 12 years, Ubisoft veteran Jean Guesdon admits "this opus maybe pushed too many things at once."

As part of a new feature about Assassin's Creed in a new issue of Retro Gamer – on sale now, by the way – Guesdon offers a sense that ambition is largely behind the game's tricky release.

"Sadly, Unity's launch was a huge challenge because of several reasons," he says. "Like AC3 with AnvilNext, Unity's development was impacted by the incredible new tech allowing for 1:1 scale, interiors, massive crowds, a brand-new parkour system and an integrated multiplayer component. Pushing content and tech at the same time is always very demanding, and this opus maybe pushed too many things at once."

"[AC Unity] is one of the most underestimated games in the series," he says.

If you care for a history lesson, one of the big pitches behind Assassin's Creed Unity was the ability to play co-op with three of your friends online. Sounds neat, doesn't it? Four players sneaking around to assassinate targets and work together to achieve a common objective attracted the interest of many.

As you might have figured by now, though, Assassin's Creed Unity wasn't really able to handle it, among other things. Not long after launch, the interest was awash with clips of various graphical issues and bugs, leading to an apology from Ubisoft and a free expansion to make up for the bother.

Despite the bumps, Assassin's Creed Unity ultimately sold well, but Ubisoft certainly had to learn a lesson or two about matching ambition to what's deliverable.

"This is not how I imagined it would end": Ubisoft to lay off Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced devs at its Barcelona studio, with one calling the remake's release "bittersweet."

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All Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced players can now claim free rewards

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:44:05 +0800

You can get free Jackdaw Crimson Storm sails and 1,500 Animus keys for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, as both thanks and an apology.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: All Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced players can now claim free rewards

Santa Monica Confirms God Of War Laufey Physical Edition, Pointing To An Earlier Release Window

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:09:03 +0800

Sony recently shocked the gaming community by announcing that it will completely stop making physical discs for all new PlayStation

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs were told that "no one" would like one of the RPG's best systems before it launched, lead says: "We didn't care"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:06:05 +0800

Over a year on from its monumental launch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creative director Guillaume Broche has been looking back on what he and his fellow devs at Sandfall Interactive were told before their RPG's release – namely, that "no one's going to like" it.

The mere concept of that seems completely impossible now that the game is out – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 became the second ever game after Baldur's Gate 3 to collect all five major Game of the Year awards last year, after all. But speaking to Konbini in a new episode of Video Game Club on YouTube (below), Broche says the devs were warned about their plans for the RPG's combat.

"With Clair Obscur, there are plenty of design decisions that are fundamentally flawed," Broche begins. "What we heard a lot before we released the game was: 'You're making a game that mixes the challenging aspects of an action game – with dodging and parrying – with turn-based gameplay. No one's going to like it. Turn-based players like turn-based games, and action players like action games.'"

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/i5x2hm7Epdc?start=1200 Of course, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wasn't the first game to experiment with mechanics like this. Look at 1996's Super Mario RPG, which blended real-time action with its turn-based system – perfectly timed button presses make your attacks hit harder or blocks absorb more damage. A lot of players love this blend, and the Clair Obscur devs were no different when they were making their own game.

"We didn't care," Broche says of the warning Sandfall had received. "We think it's cool, we play it, and it's fun. We combined the two, and it worked. But fundamentally, there are a lot of design decisions that, from an outside or business perspective, make no sense at all."

In the same video, Broche explains that he thinks "imperfections" in games add to their charm, while "games that try to be perfect, that try to fix all their flaws – they're usually just really boring." By his own admission, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't perfect, either – just look at its "unbearable" minigames.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director thinks devs will eventually "be able to churn out a game in 5 seconds with a prompt," but he hopes they're not any good.

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Reminder from Pops

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:06:05 +0800

Reminder from Pops

Pops reminds you that you can receive only 10 Pops' coins for completing Triumphs.

The coins are distributed as follows:

· 1 coin for completing the mandatory Triumph;
· 4 coins for completing 4 advanced Triumphs;
· 5 coins for completing 5 simple Triumphs.

You can receive 1 additional coin for participating in the Faction Race. To do so, you need to complete 3 Triumphs and be a member of the Northern faction.

The promo code STALZONE2026 grants you as many Pops' coins as the number of years your account has existed.

Tate Multimedia 2026 Publisher Summer Sale

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:01:03 +0800

Hey there!

The Tate Multimedia Annual Publisher Sale has officially begun! For a limited time, you can explore our entire catalog and enjoy discounts of up to 90% off across all available titles.

Whether you're looking for platforming adventures, high-speed challenges, action RPG combat, or unique rhythm experiences, there's never been a better time to discover what Tate Multimedia has to offer.

Featured Games

Kao the Kangaroo Franchise

Join Kao on his colorful adventures through vibrant worlds filled with action, exploration, and family-friendly fun. Whether you're new to the series or a longtime fan, now is the perfect opportunity to experience the beloved kangaroo's journey.

Urban Trial Series

Perform incredible stunts, conquer challenging tracks, and push your skills to the limit in the fast-paced Urban Trial games.

Deathbound

Experience a unique party-based soulslike RPG where fallen warriors become part of your collective. Master brutal combat and uncover the secrets of a dark and unforgiving world.

Oxytone

Immerse yourself in a mesmerizing fusion of rhythm-based gameplay, atmospheric visuals, and electronic music.

Coming Soon

While you're browsing the sale, don't forget to wishlist our upcoming releases:

Monolith: Rogue TD

A fresh blend of roguelite progression and tower defense strategy, challenging players to adapt, survive, and build powerful defenses against relentless enemies.

Vegelypse

A quirky and chaotic action experience where vegetables fight for survival in a world unlike any other.

Don't Miss Out!

The Tate Multimedia Annual Publisher Sale is available for a limited time only. Take advantage of discounts of up to 90%, discover new favorites, complete your collection, and add our upcoming games to your wishlist today.

Thank you for being part of our community!

Dune: Conspiracy Gets Official Fall 2026 Release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:07:04 +0800

After the most recent trailer for Dune: Part Three, fans of the franchise are as hyped as they've ever been for the epic finale to launch later this year. Part Three will officially see Paul Atreides take on the role of a "villain" of sorts, as Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune: Messiah brings Frank Herbert's iconic novel to the big screen.

The Elder Scrolls Online's developer deserved better than to get sucker-punched by Microsoft twice in two years

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:07:03 +0800

I'm somewhat prone to pessimism in this column, though that's not without cause. MMOs aren't exactly a dying breed, per se—we've got Guild Wars 3 to look forward to, and most of the old guard, while a little grey in the beard, have respectable playerbases and are thrumming with things to do... Read more.

Spyro: A Realm Beyond devs didn't want their platformer to be a "flight simulator," so you can't leave your favorite dragon on "autopilot"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:07:03 +0800

Spyro: A Realm Beyond introduces the ability to fly around freely as the titular purple dragon, but the devs at Toys for Bob want you to know that they've not made a "flight simulator," because "we want active decision-making."

Speaking on a new episode of the Kinda Funny Games podcast, associate creative director Louis "Lou" Studdert confirms that flying isn't just some sort of passive ability that you can use with zero thought – you'll have to put the effort in, pushing buttons, to guide Spyro around the sky.

"We wanted to make sure that it is active. It is decision-making. It is pressing buttons. It is almost, you know, that platforming feel of evaluating a play space and figuring out how to continue," Studdert says.

Pointing to some gameplay footage, Studdert explains that Spyro can dive downwards "to pick up speed," as well as "use his flame breath, spit a fireball at distance to ignite a campfire to create a wind updraft to give him quicker lift," before the player presses a button "to flap his wings to push on his momentum and keep his speed up." Spyro can also activate "sky rings" for a boost in the air.

"It's really about evaluating the play space," he continues. "It's looking [at] what you can interact with and connecting all of those to sustain your momentum and to keep going."

Toys for Bob studio head Paul Yan chimes in: "It's super important for us that the player is able to say, 'Look at that thing off in the distance. How do I get there? And then how do I leverage the environments around me and my abilities in order to do that?' Because what we don't want is for it to be a flight simulator where we say, 'OK, here's the destination, hit in the GPS, we're going to coast and get there.' There's no fun in that."

Yan reiterates that there's "no autopilot" option for Spyro's flight because "we want active decision-making." He explains: "Platforming as a term in this flight space is a little bit different than platforming like jumping on the ground, but similarly, we want that kind of decision-making to happen in that space."

Spyro: A Realm Beyond is set to release early next year, and Yan previously told us that the devs "want not just one new game, but many new games. We hope that this is the first of many." With that in mind, hopefully we won't be waiting another 18 years for the next all-new one.

"Going independent meant taking a massive, massive risk": How Toys for Bob split off from Activision and Xbox to help guide Spyro to A Realm Beyond.

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New Diablo 4 patch notes make Mythics easier to get, so hold your turn-ins for now

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:45:03 +0800

Diablo 4 patch 3.1.1 will increase seasonal payouts and make Mythic Uniques easier to attain, but is otherwise a slightly shallow update.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: New Diablo 4 patch notes make Mythics easier to get, so hold your turn-ins for now

Dungeons & Dragons opens pre-orders for expansion Arcana Unleashed

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:28:04 +0800

Dungeons & Dragons has opened pre-orders for Arcana Unleashed, a new high-magic expansion for players and Dungeon Masters. The expansion releases on September 15.

Arcana Unleashed is built around spellcasting, offering new options for powerful magic-users along with evolving magic items, arcane factions and world-altering magical threats for campaigns. The core book serves as a guide for players and DMs looking to build campaigns around high-level spellcasters.

For a fuller high-magic package, D&D is also offering an Arcana Unleashed Ultimate Bundle, which combines the core book with two additional products in both digital and physical formats: Arcana Unleashed: Deadfall, a wizard-war adventure that sends high-level heroes into the fractured magocracy of Thay to stop the lich Szass Tam, and the Arcana Unleashed Magical Map Pack, a set of 10 illustrated tactical maps designed for spellcasting duels and faction conflict, complete with monster tokens, magical constructs, traps and arcane terrain pieces.

The pre-order launch coincides with the start of Campaign 2 of Dungeon Masters, Wizards of the Coast’s official actual-play series on YouTube. The new campaign is set in the Forgotten Realms and inspired by the magic within Arcana Unleashed, with player characters cast as magical agents of the Order of the Ninth Quill navigating the Anauroch Desert, a wasteland still radiating catastrophic magic from Netheril’s fall. The season pits players against the Bringers of the Cosmic Dawn, who want to tear down a failing magical barrier, and the Red Wizards of Thay, who are maneuvering to seize the arcane power trapped behind it, tying the show directly into the Thay setting featured in the new Deadfall adventure.https://investor.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/wizards-coast-announces-dungeon-masters-official-dungeons

The cast returning for Campaign 2 includes Jasmine Bhullar (DesiQuest, Dimension 20) as Dungeon Master, alongside Devora Wilde (Baldur’s Gate 3), Neil Newbon (Baldur’s Gate 3), Christian Navarro (13 Reasons Why, Forgotten Realms: Tears of Selune), and Mayanna Berrin (Dispatch, The Dungeon Run).

Dungeon Masters debuted in April with a first campaign, “Ashes of the Black Rose,” set in Ravenloft and tied to the Ravenloft: The Horrors Within sourcebook. Wizards of the Coast built the series around the same appeal that made fan-run shows like Critical Role and Dimension 20 popular, but with an added hook: episodes feature official, unreleased D&D content, letting viewers see new subclasses, monsters and lore before the corresponding books hit shelves. Each week, D&D Beyond also releases a Play-Along Pack tied to that episode, giving fans at home ready-to-run encounters and quickplay maps based on what just aired. YouTube

In a statement from April 16th, Dan Ayoub, senior vice president and head of Dungeons & Dragons at Wizards of the Coast, described the show as an attempt to crystallize what’s great about actual play while showcasing new official material. The series airs new episodes weekly on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. PT on D&D’s YouTube channel, free to watch.

Arcana Unleashed is available to pre-order now on D&D Beyond, with visual assets available through the publisher.

The post Dungeons & Dragons opens pre-orders for expansion Arcana Unleashed appeared first on GamesBeat.

Mesa Heirloom Collection Available Now

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:21:03 +0800

The latest to join the hallowed halls of Heirlooms has launched! The legendary gunslinger receives a bounty of new Customizations through the new Mesa Heirloom Collection, featuring her signature brimmed Signa and travel-worn Duster attachments to further adjust the loadout to your liking.

Heirloom Skins signify the passage of time and the dedication of the Tenno, honoring the community and legacy of Warframes.

You can choose to either purchase the Collection via the in-game Market for Platinum, or choose to pay in your local currency (and receive an additional 425 Platinum).

The Mesa Heirloom Collection includes:

Mesa Heirloom Skina
Mesa Heirloom Signa
Mesa Heirloom Color Palette
Mesa Heirloom Glyph
Mesa Heirloom Sigil
Mesa Heirloom Prex Card

Don't delay, partner. Get your Mesa Heirloom Collection today!

Invincible Officially Returns With Brand-New Release This September

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:06:04 +0800

Invincible fans are gearing up for the exciting launch of Season 5 next year, and despite no official release date being available just yet, there's no shortage of speculation about what's in store. Perhaps one of the biggest burning questions surrounding Invincible Season 5 center on whether Mark Grayson will continue drifting toward a darker, more ruthless version of himself, how Thragg and the remaining Viltrumites will launch their next assault, and what role Dinosaurus will play in reshaping the story.

You Can Now Play Doom on YouTube

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:06:04 +0800

A dedicated group of content creators has found a way to make the original Doom playable directly through a YouTube video, adding another entry to the long-running "Can it run Doom?" tradition. The original Doom by id Software has become famous for being ported to every sort of unconventional device fans could think of over the past three decades.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Code Gets You Two New Freebies

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:15:03 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced players can redeem a brand-new code right now for two bonus freebies. The giveaway takes just seconds to redeem and gives Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resyncedplayers some cool free stuff in the wake of its recent release.

猛獸爪爪盃：直播中

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:10:05 +0800

以下為比賽時間：

7 月 11 日 18:50－7 月 12 日 00:30

7 月 12 日 18:50－7 月 13 日 00:30

Forest Escape: Last Train Is Out Now in Early Access!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:10:05 +0800

The train has departed.

Forest Escape: Last Train is now available in Steam Early Access, and to celebrate we're launching with a 20% discount!

After months of playtests, demos, and invaluable community feedback, we're excited to finally open the gates to the Warden's twisted world. Early Access is just the beginning—we'll continue expanding and improving the game together with your feedback.

Welcome to the Warden's World

Explore a surreal horror adventure where every stop brings a new nightmare.

Venture through 13 unique locations and mini-games, including:

???? A misty forest crawling with wandering teeth and cursed dolls
???? A carousel haunted by a giant clown
????️ A lake watched over by an eye the size of a building
⚽ A football pitch guarded by a mechanical goalkeeper
???? A maze you'll want to escape almost as badly as the forest itself

No two journeys begin the same way thanks to 3 different starting points, and with Easy, Normal, and Hard difficulty settings, every crew can find the right challenge.

What You'll Find in Early Access

???? Explore one interconnected world filled with bizarre locations

???? Play solo or with up to 3 friends

???? Unlock collectible skins hidden throughout the world

???? Listen to original music on your locomotive's in-game radio

???? Play in 13 supported languages

????️ Face monsters that are equal parts terrifying and ridiculous

Support the Journey

If you'd like to support the continued development of Forest Escape: Last Train, two optional DLCs are available today:

???? Original Soundtrack Pack – featuring every song from the locomotive radio.

❤️ Supporter Pack – exclusive cosmetic content for players who want to support the project.

This Is Only the Beginning

Early Access gives us the opportunity to build the best version of Forest Escape: Last Train together with you. Every bug report, suggestion, and piece of feedback helps shape future updates, new content, and improvements.

Thank you to everyone who played the demo, joined our playtests, shared feedback, and supported us along the way.

The Warden has more plans for you.

???? Board the Last Train today and start your escape!https://store.steampowered.com/app/4090360/Forest_Escape_Last_Train/

The Witcher 1’s Lead Story Designer Discusses The Game’s Infamous Cards

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:09:03 +0800

The Witcher (2007) is known for many things. It was the beginning of a saga that would lead to the

Star Wars Genesis Might Be The Most Exciting Star Wars RPG Ever

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:07:04 +0800

While there's been a bit of a resurgence in Star Wars video game adaptations and original stories over the past few years, it's still a far cry from the wave of high-quality offerings we have been accustomed to. Even with the upcoming releases like the third entry in the Star WarsJedi series, there are a scarce few offerings in the series that scratch the full Star Wars-themed RPG itch.

We interviewed the designer of this metatextual murder mystery TTRPG

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:07:03 +0800

Il Fantasma del Giallo: The Phantom of the Yellow is a TTRPG about murder, disgraced actors hoping for one last chance, and trends in Italian cinema in the sixties and seventies. Players control actors who take on a variety of archetypal cinematic roles, as the lines between reality and fiction begin to warp and blur together.

Read the full story on Wargamer: We interviewed the designer of this metatextual murder mystery TTRPG

This Seven Deadly Sins themed dice-deduction board game is a nightmare for parties

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:07:03 +0800

I adore strong themes in board games, especially when it blends with gameplay. I've always found it an underrated aspect of the tabletop. While rules are the backbone of any board game, much of the hook and enjoyment can also come from its themes. Just look at how Ultimate Werewolf plays on the paranoia of an old-timey village faced with the supernatural. So believe me when I say that this upcoming board game is dripping with sinful themes.

Read the full story on Wargamer: This Seven Deadly Sins themed dice-deduction board game is a nightmare for parties

New Official Stardew Valley Release Confirmed for January 2027

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:04:06 +0800

Stardew Valley fans have another official release to look forward to this Winter, but it's probably not what anyone expected. While many players are waiting for the new content and romances in Stardew Valley's 1.7 update, developer ConcernedApe always has multiple projects in the works, and the latest brings Pelican Town into the real world.

Lord Of The Rings: Sieges Of Middle-Earth Officially Releases Winter 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:45:05 +0800

Lord of the Rings' newest era is giving fans of Tolkien's work a lot to think about in the months and years ahead, with several highly anticipated releases that are already proving to be divisive among diehards. For starters, Amazon's Rings of Powerseries has already caused a wave of pushback for failing to capture the essence of Tolkien's work, though there's no doubt most LOTR enthusiasts will be tuning in to Season 3 this November to see if that has changed.

Crimson Desert Releases Brand-New Update You Can Download Right Now

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:45:05 +0800

Crimson Desert received another new update in July, this time a smaller patch compared to previous releases focused on improving and stabilizing the experience for players. Since the launch of Crimson Desert back in March, Pearl Abyss has seemingly been a very busy studio, releasing rapid-fire updates for the game that brought fixes, improvements, and more content to the popular open world Action-RPG.

The Minecraft Movie votes are in and, despite controversy, everyone's a winner

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:45:04 +0800

Mojang confirms the winner of its Minecraft Movie Squared build challenge, choosing to include more entrants despite a rule infringement.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: The Minecraft Movie votes are in and, despite controversy, everyone's a winner

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Sells 2 Million Copies In 24 Hours

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:45:04 +0800

Ubisoft has officially confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sold more than two million copies worldwide within its first

League Classic might sound fun, but as a 15-year League of Legends veteran, I'm here to tell you: You want this less than you think

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:45:04 +0800

Riot has finally unveiled League of Legends Classic, a return to what many seem to think was a kinder, more simple era of its world-spanning MOBA. Its announcement, with more details to come next month, has been met with curious optimism by much of the community, keen to see exactly which of LoL's many eras the Classic experience will attempt to recreate. But as someone who was there for most of those eras, I'm here to tell you this: you do not know what you are asking.

I started playing League of Legends at the end of Season 1, in the summer of 2011. Now, in my early 30s, that 15-year span means the part of my life that includes this game will soon be longer than the part of my life from which it was absent. And in that time, I've seen an awful lot that makes me keen to stay firmly in League of Legends' present rather than its past.

AP Master Yi. Garen with six Sunfire Capes. AP Sion with an on-click stun. The old Runes system. The old Summoner's Rift. Taric with an on-click stun. Old Urgot. Old Skarner. Old Ryze. The other old Ryze. Old Jungle. Old Dragon. AP Tristana. Launch Syndra. Launch Darius. Launch Zyra. Dodge chance (that you could pay to increase). AP Warwick. Gold generation attached to in-game items (but that you could also pay to increase). Lane assignments decided by who could shout the loudest in champ select. Dozens more design choices and misadventures lost to history but that certainly didn't make for a better game experience. Old League was a Wild West that was pulled into shape one frontier at a time.

(Image credit: Riot Games) Clearly, this era of League wasn't a complete disaster. The core experience was still good enough to turn it into one of the biggest games in the world, with an enormous esports scene and millions of monthly players, and it does still hold advantages over some aspects of the modern game. The item and rune systems, which have chased optimization in recent years, used to focus more on unique strategy than the current push for statistical dominance allows. A smaller roster allowed new characters to hold court; at 173 champions, the roster is now so stacked that the only way a new arrival can feel unique is to have ability tooltips that stretch into multiple paragraphs of explainer text.

In this older era, there were more ways to bend League of Legends to your will. A huge part of its early charm was that Wild West feel, which for my friends led to ridiculous strategies that we gave even more ridiculous names; 'Vastly Enhanced' used the lane-pushing power of Banner of Command and ZZ'Rot Portal in tandem to out-macro enemy teams; 'Heimer's Hairy Heroes' focused on pillaging the enemy jungle with a squad of animal characters all attempting to keep a solo Heimerdinger safe in the botlane. Elsewhere, the influencer scene was full of innovators pushing silly ideas because the game let them in a way it no longer does.

Modern League is not without its problems. Power and complexity creep run rampant, monetization has been pushed further and further, individual expression has been squashed. But for those faults, League of Legends is undeniably a better game than it used to be. Champions might be more complex, but they look and play better, with far more opportunity for counterplay than the age of on-click stuns and three-hit passives ever allowed. The entire game looks better, with the modern Summoner's Rift such a dramatic improvement over the original that I can scarcely believe what I used to play on. Arena and ARAM have been established as excellent additions that go a long way towards replacing the creativity stripped from the core experience. Onboarding still has a long way to go, but it's far better than it used to be, with gradual QoL improvements that help newcomers but don't hinder veterans. And that's to say nothing of a wider ecosystem that has been hugely improved by the arrival of adjacent experiences like Arcane and TFT.

(Image credit: Riot) Balance is better, game design more confident, player experience improved at almost every level. Riot's even worked hard to bring League of Legends' notoriously toxic community into line, and the amount of genuinely bad behavior I now see is vanishingly rare. Modern League is better than League Classic is likely to be at almost every turn. But the real issue that this vision of the past faces isn't even in the quality of the game – it's in the attitude of its players and the reality of the experience they're searching for.

An obvious comparison to League Classic is WoW Classic. Blizzard rewound the clock on World of Warcraft, and in doing so returned players to a version of the game's world that was otherwise lost to time. Both Azeroth's narrative and geography, and the promise the launch version offered of a new kind of MMO experience were things that could be recaptured and re-experienced. League of Legends is not that kind of game. Endlessly repeating, and driven in part by player skill but more importantly by an extraordinary amount of player data, it's shaped by overlays and stat websites that have optimized the games and its players in a way that I don't think League Classic can shake.

Nostalgia is a powerful draw. But when you discover that your favorite old champion is just a badly-designed version of their current form, and you're up against an AP Master Yi enhanced by modern players' ability and game knowledge, all while your teammates grief each other over who got dibs on playing midlane, you might find that this isn't quite the same kind of Classic experience that's breathed new life into other games.

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Avalanche Studios Game is Permanently Shutting Down on November 11

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:26:04 +0800

Avalanche Studios has officially confirmed plans to shut down the online servers of one of its classic free-to-play games. In the modern games industry, it's becoming increasingly common to see the servers for older titles shut down completely, and unfortunately, Avalanche Studios is not an exception to the rule.

Ryse: Son of Rome Had Plans To Be Xbox’s Assassin’s Creed

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:08:04 +0800

What are some of the best-looking games of all time? Many examples that come to my mind are not from this generation, but rather the early 2010s: Metal Gear Solid 5, The Witcher 3, and Batman: Arkham Knight all looked stunning upon release, and still do today.

To this list I would also add Ryse: Son of Rome, German developer Crytek’s ill-fated Xbox One launch title in which you play as a Roman centurion seeking to avenge his dead family. It is gloriously, mouth-wateringly cinematic, more so than many actual works of cinema.

Unfortunately, it’s also rather short, taking only around 6 hours to complete. Former employees say as much as two thirds of planned content had to be cut in the race to make launch day. The crunch was brutal, but many of the game’s creators took comfort in the knowledge they were laying the foundations for not just a sequel, but an entire franchise – one that would take us far beyond Rome.

How Empires Fall

While work on the original game was wrapping up, four concept artists, a historical researcher, and the key leadership team of Ryse: Son of Rome got together to figure out where they could take things moving forward.

Leading this group was Patrick Hanenberger, a production designer who had previously worked at DreamWorks. He’d initially been brought on board as a visual consultant to help make Ryse feel – as Crytek’s then-CEO Cevat Yerli used to say – like a “playable movie.” Later, he tells IGN, “they offered me a job as the franchise’s art director.”

Also set to be involved in some capacity was Todd Papy of Sony’s Santa Monica Studio. Papy joined Crytek in late 2013 after having directed God of War: Ascension to work on what was then reported to be an “unannounced project.” A former Crytek employee who spoke to IGN under condition of anonymity affirmed what was back then just speculation: that he would apply his experience with games set in ancient Greece to a game set in ancient Rome.

A lot of people were super keen on Japan, unsurprisingly. But that’s not like going from Rome to Greece. It would have been a big departure. Whether any of the sequels would in fact be set in Rome was, however, the subject of debate. “Part of the conversations that were happening were about what it was that people were liking about Ryse,” Yannick Boucher, who served as one of the original game’s project managers, tells IGN. “Was it the Roman thing specifically, or history more generally? Do we stay in Rome, or go to some other empire?”

“I was super stoked to do a Viking game,” recalls Peter Gornstein, Ryse’s art director and director of cinematics. For one, the opportunities were endless: a game about Vikings could have taken players on raids along the English and French coasts, the shores of Newfoundland, and even the city of Constantinople, where they served as bodyguards to Byzantine emperors. It was also uncharted territory – at least back then. The History Channel’s Vikings TV show was still on its first season, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla nearly a decade away.

“It would have been great to explore a part of history that a lot of people didn’t yet know about,” says Gornstein.

Other settings that were reportedly considered included feudal Japan – Hanenberger mentions a number of events that interested him, including the failed Mongol invasions led by Kublai Khan, the arrival of European merchants, and the civil wars of the Sengoku period – as well as the Ottoman Empire, which defeated the Byzantines in 1453.

Not everyone was on board with leaving Rome. As Boucher puts it: “Some felt like we had just set the foundations for this IP, and now we were already diverging a bit. A lot of people were super keen on Japan, unsurprisingly. But that’s not like going from Rome to Greece. It would have been a big departure.”

Hanenberger thought of several ways to connect and justify expanding settings. Thematically, for example, the franchise could come to explore the question of “how empires rise and fall – and why.” He also considered tying each installment together narratively, with characters and events in one game linking back to another. Each story could be set in motion by that of the previous installment, like dominos. Or, you know, history itself.

Rhyming With History

Had those planned sequels happened, they would have featured a more open-ended design than the original Ryse. “When we talked about correcting some of that game’s weaknesses,” says Boucher, “changing the levels was among the first things that came up, as most of them were basically just a straight corridor.” The vision at the time was not far off from God of War 2018: not quite open-world, but not completely linear either.

The team also thought about introducing new game mechanics, many of them cut from or left out of the original Ryse due to time constraints, including vehicle navigation and a PVP multiplayer mode (Son of Rome ended up having both solo and co-op PVE where you fought off waves inside the Colosseum).

Microsoft told us it was the most cohesive and well-thought IP pitch they had ever seen. The anonymous employee tells me they would have liked to have made single-player combat more dynamic. In parts of Ryse, when you venture into Britain to crush the rebellion of Queen Boudica, you advance in testudo formation, raising your shield alongside your fellow soldiers to form an impregnable barrier. In the final game, gameplay is limited to shielding yourself from enemy fire and returning fire of your own – all with the press of a button. “Our original plan was that you’d be able to leave and reenter this formation at will,” they say, “fighting enemies on your own and then returning to position when you feel like doing so.”

The sequels could have played around with other real-world military tactics, like the Parthian shot (where cavalry soldiers feign a full-speed retreat, only to turn around and firing arrows) or Kakuyoku (a Sengoku-era formation where a single defensive line turns into a pincer movement, attacking the enemy from both sides).

One area where the sequels would not diverge from the original Ryse was aesthetics. Son of Rome was not historically accurate, but it did aim for a certain emotional or psychological accuracy. As Gornstein puts it, they did not try to present Rome as it was, but as how it might have appeared to someone “who lived in a village somewhere, five hours away. To someone who visited the city for the first and only time in their life, everything must have seemed completely overwhelming.”

“It’s the same sensation as when, in the game, you go to York and Dover,” Hanenberger adds. “Those cliffs are awe-inspiring. That’s what we were trying to capture, and would have wanted to capture going forward.”

The original game wasn’t just larger-than-life, but also veered into the supernatural, with two seemingly mortal characters – Aquilo and Aestas – revealed to be gods, playing a secret game with people as their pawns. This supernatural element, says Gornstein, would have continued in the sequels, mapped onto different religions and mythologies. As in the original, though, their presence would have remained subtle, pushed into the background.

Ides of March

When Hanenberger and Gornstein pitched their franchise plan to Microsoft, the response was enthusiastic. “They told us it was ‘the most cohesive and well-thought IP pitch they had ever seen,’” Hanenberger recalls. “It all seemed to go very well.”

Until it didn’t.

According to the employees who spoke with IGN, the sequels to Ryse were never formally cancelled. Instead, work on the franchise simply stopped after the original game underperformed both critically and commercially – an outcome that perhaps could have been avoided had the developers not been required to finish the game before the launch of the Xbox One.

Ultimately, the reason the Ryse series ended up in limbo is because Crytek refused to sell the IP to Microsoft. The conglomerate no longer wanted to finance the franchise if they couldn’t buy the rights, while Crytek – to this day a privately owned company – wouldn’t work on something that somebody else owned. As a result of this impasse, the two parted ways, and Crytek switched focus to other projects.

For those who worked on the game, feelings towards Ryse are bittersweet. “The last month, I worked 30 days straight,” Boucher remembers. “Then we breathed a sigh of relief, only to get hit with a 60 on Metacritic.”

At the same time, working on Ryse taught them valuable lessons that they took with them as they went on to work on titles like Hitman, Battlefield 1, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

While Ryse didn’t make the impact that Crytek had hoped for, it still sold more than a million copies upon release. Over time, the game also grew a dedicated cult following that loves it for everything the developers got right. As someone who counts himself among this following, I think I speak for many when I say that wherever this franchise would have led, I would have followed.

Tim Brinkhof is a freelance writer specializing in art and history. After studying journalism at NYU, he has gone on to write for Vox, Vulture, Slate, Polygon, GQ, Esquire and more.

Diablo 4 Season 14 Releases New Update Patch Notes

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 20:39:03 +0800

Blizzard has released the patch notes for the next Diablo 4 Season 14 update, which brings the game up to build 3.1.1. While the patch itself has yet to be released, Diablo 4fans have been quick to express their frustration with the planned changes Blizzard has announced.

PC Gamers Have Until July 13 to Claim Two Horror Games Completely Free of Charge

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 20:18:04 +0800

PC gamers currently have two excellent horror games to add to their gaming libraries completely free of charge. One of the major benefits of playing on PC is that gamers have access to multiple storefronts, many of which often hand out free titles on a regular basis.

Rumor: Avowed 2 Could Still Be Alive at Obsidian Despite Reported Cancellation

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 20:18:04 +0800

A new report claims that Obsidian Entertainment is still working on a sequel to Avowed despite news that Xbox had canceled the project as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts. Avowed launched in 2025 as Obsidian's first attempt at a first-person RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe.

Steam refunds are "not for people to play games for free," says dev of short game who criticized Valve's system: "I'm 100% pro refund"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 20:07:04 +0800

Paddle Paddle Paddle developer Mateo Covic of studio Zoroarts went viral this month for his comments on Steam's refund policy, which, after more than 55,000 people refunded his well-reviewed but short rage game, he called exploitable. Speaking with GamesRadar+, Covic defends much of his argument but stresses that he supports the refund system overall and doesn't want to see consumer rights eroded.

"I'm 100% pro refund but the current 'no questions asked if you request a refund within two weeks and with less than two hours of playtime' policy just makes it super easy for players to abuse this rule," Covic says.

Referring to Valve's refund rules, which expressly prohibit gaming the system "as a way to get free games" under threat of refund denials, Covic adds, "Steam says that refunds are not for people to play games for free, and refunds in general should be requested (in my opinion) when the Steam page misled you with wrong information, the game had problems that prevent you [playing or enjoying] the game, and other similar reasons that can be found in the Steam policy."

He says he isn't dissatisfied with his game's sales or refund count, which he acknowledges is not out of band for a game like this. "My tweet was targeted towards the people who enjoyed the game, wrote a positive review, and refunded the game just because they can," he explains. "Many people think that I'm a complete asshole now and want to remove the refund policy in general but that was never my intention."

This whole saga led to more "hateful DMs and insulting comments" than he'd ever seen, Covic says, and Paddle Paddle Paddle was "review bombed already and went from very positive recent Steam Reviews to mixed ones." He reasons, "I guess it's a big learning opportunity and I will think twice before posting a statement / request like that in the future."

(Image credit: Assemble Entertainment) Covic singles out an argument made, among others, by Twitter user and game curator Indie Game Joe: the existence of Steam's refund policy gives users a level of protection that makes it easier to try out some games, which can lead to more sales overall even if it can also result in more refunds. Covic says this stance did give him pause.

"Sure my refund rate is high with 55,000+ refunds, but when I did some research I found out that a refund rate of 20% is pretty normal for a rage game," he says. "Overall, a refund rate of 10% is normal for games on Steam. I'm super grateful for the game's success after all, and I just learned that it's a normal thing to have that many refunds when you have an amount of 270,000 sold units... Regarding your question: I don't know if people think, 'Yeah let's try it out, I can refund it anyway.' What helped my game way more was the cheap price. When I showed people the game's trailer they often were like, 'Oh looks fun,' but when they found out about the price of $2.99 on sale they were willing to try it out right away."

One thing he does firmly dismiss is the idea of intentionally making games longer just to dodge the two-hour Steam refund window. He worries Steam's policy could discourage shorter games in this way. Despite this hiccup, Covic says Paddle Paddle Paddle "changed my whole life," enabling him to work on games full-time, and now specifically making short games has become a joy and a focus for him after spending years on hybrid action game Makis Adventure.

Covic concludes, "I don't know how many people really refunded my game with a true reason since you could just lie and choose one of the possible refund reasons. Steam's 'no question asked' policy makes it super easy and quick to do that. I can see how many players refunded the game because it was too difficult, for example, but it would help if they left a helpful comment too since that would help me to work on that problem."

Here are the biggest upcoming indie games for 2026 and beyond.

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The latest Warhammer Q&A gives Age of Sigmar fans a Warcry update

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 20:07:03 +0800

The Big Summer Preview 2026 for Warhammer gave fans tons of new info to chew on in the coming months. But with an IP as massive as Warhammer, it was inevitable for some poor games to go ignored. Such seemed to be the case for Age of Sigmar Warcry. The squad-based skirmish game of loveably violent Chaos warbands was often absent of major updates, but things may be looking up soon.

Read the full story on Wargamer: The latest Warhammer Q&A gives Age of Sigmar fans a Warcry update

This nameless trainee is one of the best cards in MTG Marvel Limited

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 20:07:03 +0800

If you're looking to get better at drafting Marvel Super Heroes, or any MTG limited format for that matter, it's always important to know what the best common cards are. While there are plenty of explosive mythic rare bombs in most sets, they won't show up in every draft. You'll see commons far more frequently, and they'll make up the bulk of your deck. One Marvel common stands head and shoulders above the rest, though, Hero in Training, which is subtly one of the most impactful superheroes in this comic book crossover.

Read the full story on Wargamer: This nameless trainee is one of the best cards in MTG Marvel Limited

Is the new GTA Online heist a last hurrah, or a sign of things to come?

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 19:42:05 +0800

Rockstar confirms new GTA Online heist The Kortz Center arrives this coming week, but what does it mean for the multiplayer game's future?

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Is the new GTA Online heist a last hurrah, or a sign of things to come?

Doom dev Id is now "about the same size we were when making Doom 2016" after layoffs

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 19:42:04 +0800

A message from Id Software thanks fans for their support, but says it is still big enough "to build the games and tech we're known for."

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Doom dev Id is now "about the same size we were when making Doom 2016" after layoffs

Arknights: Endfield 'Homecoming' expansion launches on July 16

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 19:34:06 +0800

Homecoming also acts as the game's half-year celebration update.

Owlcat reveals psyker companion Saro for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 19:05:03 +0800

"Despite the deadly flames he commands, he remains one of the oldest surviving psykers of Bastion Serpentis."

Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms New Units Showcase

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:56:04 +0800

The Three Kingdoms—Wei, Shu, and Wu—were the era's three defining powers.

In this preview, we will introduce six signature units from these Kingdoms. Which of them will you recruit into your warband, Warlords?

The Three Kingdoms-themed Unit Attires featured here can also be carried over to the Conqueror's Blade live servers for your continued conquests.

Shu Kingdom

Repeating Crossbowmen

4-Star · Crossbows

Within the Shu ranks lies a ranged force dedicated to steadily suppressing enemy advances. Wielding repeating crossbows modified by the legendary strategist Zhuge Liang, they can fire ten bolts in rapid succession. These are the Repeating Crossbowmen.

Compared to standard archers, they lay down a denser, more direct barrage. Enemies attempting a frontal assault must first survive a relentless hail of bolts.

In Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms, Warlords can deploy them behind Shield lines, at gate entrances, or on the flanks of capture points to provide continuous fire support for the frontline.

While not designed to hold the line alone, as long as vanguards buy them time to unleash their volley, the Repeating Crossbowmen will make every step forward agonizing for the enemy.

Fearless Rangers

4-Star · Ranged Cavalry

Unlike the Cavalry that charges head-on across the open plains, the Fearless Rangers of Shu are an elite force born for complex terrain.

Excelling in mountainous and forested environments, they specialize in flanking and long-range skirmishing. They rely on their high mobility to find the perfect firing angles, continuously whittling down enemies with crossbow fire before swiftly repositioning along the edges of the battlefield.

In Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms, the Fearless Rangers serve as Ranged Cavalry. Warlords can utilize their incredible speed for hit-and-run tactics, pinning, and flank suppression. With precise bolts, they disrupt enemy formations before their targets can even adjust.

Their optimal combat style is never a direct clash, but relentlessly exploiting gaps in the battlefield to bleed the enemy dry.

Wei Kingdom

Wei Stalwarts

4-Star · Shield & Capture

The Wei army is renowned for its discipline, heavy armor, and ironclad formations, and the Wei Stalwarts stand as its most unbreakable bulwark. Their mission is clear: hold the ground and secure the frontline.

Whether contesting capture points, defending gates, or blocking chokepoints, they are perfectly suited to lead the vanguard, buying precious time and tactical space for allies.

When facing a relentless push from Infantry or Cavalry, a reliable Shield unit can completely shift the tempo of a specific sector. When you need an immovable wall to stall the enemy advance, the Wei Stalwarts are the definitive answer.

Bloodragers

4-Star · Melee Damage

This fearless elite unit embodies the brutal ferocity of Wei's most battle-hardened veterans.

They excel at pushing forward when frontlines clash and enemy formations begin to waver. Using devastating Melee strikes, they tear through defenses, capitalizing on the chaos of the fray to quickly carve deep into the enemy ranks.

In Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms, Warlords can deploy the Bloodragers as a follow-up strike force: secure the frontline with Shields, wear down enemy units with ranged fire, and unleash the Bloodragers to reap a bloody harvest.

Wu Kingdom

Halberd Elite

5-Star · Melee Damage

Serving as the elite Infantry of Wu, this force approaches the battlefield with a highly specific tactical purpose. Far from a defensive unit, they are the ultimate deadlock breakers.

They thrive on seizing openings once the frontlines clash. The moment enemy formations falter, they strike, driving swiftly into the vanguard and ripping open massive tactical gaps with overwhelming Melee power.

In Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms, Warlords can wield this elite force as a blade to shatter stalemates. Once friendly Shield fronts pin the enemy and ranged fire thins their ranks, the Halberd Elite push forward with relentless momentum. Whether suppressing foes or shattering the line, they remain the decisive edge to turn the tide.

Wu Prefecture Archers

3-Star · Archery

The territories of Wu are deeply defined by rivers and lakes. Thus, unlike the northern Cavalry charging across open plains, Wu legions are masters of riverbanks, naval formations, city battlements, and narrow straits. The Wu Prefecture Archers are a distinct archer unit that perfectly encapsulates this identity.

Positioned on walls, riverbanks, alleyways, or at the approaches to capture points, they unleash crossfire to establish dominance, continuously crippling the momentum of enemy pushes.

In Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms, Warlords can command the Wu Prefecture Archers for long-range attrition, chokepoint lockdown, and flanking support, delivering reliable firepower among lower-tier units.

When enemies attempt a forced advance, the arrows of the Wu Prefecture Archers may not immediately decide the battle, but they ensure that every step forward is paid for in blood.

From the resilience and ingenuity of Shu, to the unbreakable iron and ferocity of Wei, and the versatility and sharp edge of Wu—the stage is set for the wars of the Three Kingdoms.

The Three Kingdoms-themed Unit Attires featured above can be acquired in Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms, and can also be carried over to the Conqueror's Blade live servers for your continued conquests!

Of course, the military might of Wei, Shu, and Wu extends far beyond these six units. We will unveil much more about Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms soon. Stay tuned!

Three kingdoms rise, and the age of war begins. Warlords, we will see you on the battlefields!

Wochenend-Highlights | 15.5 #4

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:52:04 +0800

Update 15.6: Teaser

Nächste Woche erwartet euch eine angenehme Sommerbrise, wenn Update 15.6 live geht und den strategischen neuen Gefechtspass, eine neue (aber vertraute) Karte für Zufallsgefechte, Änderungen an einzigartigen Kapitänen, heiße Sommerangebote und mehr mitbringt! Schaut euch unten den Trailer an und holt euch einen Vorgeschmack:

Auf in die Keilerei!

Die Keilerei an diesem Wochenende bringt euch Gefechte im Format „4 gegen 4“ an Bord von Schlachtschiffen, Kreuzern und U-Booten der Stufe X. Probiert sie aus, habt Spaß und sichert euch ein paar zusätzliche Belohnungen!

Probiert asymmetrische Gefechte aus!

Fünf Spieler an Bord von Schiffen der Stufe VI–X und Superschiffen treten gegen 12 Bots an, deren Schiffe jeweils zwei Stufen unter denen liegen, die im Team der menschlichen Spieler vertreten sind. Willkommen bei den asymmetrischen Gefechten.

Falls ihr diesen beliebten Gefechtstyp noch nicht ausprobiert habt, empfehlen wir euch, das nachzuholen und selbst herauszufinden, warum alle davon reden!

Id software plays down impact of layoffs, insists it still has enough staff to make ‘games and tech’

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:48:04 +0800

Id Software has played down the impact of this week’s layoffs at the studio, claiming that it still has “the crew we need to build the games and tech we’re known for”.

In its first public response since news broke that around 100 workers have lost their jobs, the Doom and Quake developer claimed that its remaining team is “about the same size” as when it shipped Doom 2016.

“Thank you all for the support this week,” it wrote. “While our studio was impacted, those changes were spread across teams. We still have the crew we need to build the games and tech we’re known for.

Read More...

Annihilated delayed to Q4 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:34:05 +0800

Additional time for final adjustments to refine the overall game feel and battle balance is cited for the delay.

Blizzard fix up Diablo IV crashing on SteamOS / Linux

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:07:03 +0800

With the most reason season update to Diablo IV, it caused a number of issues on SteamOS / Linux - which should now actually be officially solved.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/blizzard-fix-up-diablo-iv-crashing-on-steamos-linux/

Black Flag Resynced's tough combat reminds me of a very unexpected other Assassin's Creed game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:07:03 +0800

I'm surrounded by enemies in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, and I'm getting my ass kicked. Two swordsmen flank me either side, one heavy axe-wielding brute boxes me in dead ahead. I don't have enough room to swing my sword – but I do have one last smoke bomb.

Executing targets big or small with the hidden blade is immensely satisfying in any of the best Assassin's Creed games. But it feels especially welcome in Edward Kenway's slick new remake given how challenging regular melee combat can be. It's precise art, "modernized" compared to the original as Resynced's technical director told me in an interview, but with just enough of that hitbox-based hack and slash flair to remain faithful to its old school roots. But there's one game in particular it reminds me of most. I'm impressed to say that Assassin's Creed Unity has been unseated as the unofficial king of finicky combat in the series as a whole.

Down but never out

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Rough and ready

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Edward Kenway is the biggest bastard in Assassin's Creed history (no, not including literal Templars)

As it turns out, a pirate's life is not always for me. It takes me a bit of practice to get comfortable with Edward's fighting style in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: it's built around parrying, dodging, and timely hits in between, with the opportunity to counter after performing a perfect guard or dodge.

Now this is all well and good when I have just one foe to focus on. There's a skill and finesse to combat here, something best approached with nimble thumbs on the joysticks and a sharp eye watching for blue warning flashes, alerting me to an imminent attack. Edward's sneaky dodge-rolls over foes' backs, powerful heavy attacks with his double cutlasses, and general pirate panache reminds me of Arno Dorian's different yet equally stylish fighting style in Paris-set Unity.

But unless he's using enemies as human shields when confronted with a mob, a swarmed Edward certainly suffers for his art. Given that's exactly how boarding ships after naval combat plays out – that's an awful lot of cutlass moshpits. Which is where the privateering gets shoved to the wayside for a touch of sneaky assassin charm.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) He plays dirty and mean because that's how a pirate rolls...

Deploying my last smoke bomb in the midst of a heavy close-quarters firefight, I'm able to walk around the obscured bubble and quickly dispatch any baddie while they're distracted. Meanwhile, throwing out the rope dart with the right button on my D-pad lets me interrupt even red-flashing power attacks and rain down some pain with my own blades instead.

Bar Yasuke from Assassin's Creed Shadows, who was no assassin and didn't have access to hidden blades, I can't recall the last time a non-RPG Creed protagonist's personal fighting style felt so distinct from their assassin moves. There's a graceful, almost feline way about Arno's that lends itself well to assassin-like stealth. Evie Frye of Assassin's Creed Syndicate wields her cane sword just as elegantly, and even her tankier brother Jacob knows when and where to reign in the brawn and take to the shadows. When Edward Kenway is boarding your ship after peppering it with non-so-subtle cannonballs, you know he's coming.

Edward, with all his rough edges and swashbuckling privateer moves, is by far the least graceful hero of the bunch, and it shows in how he fights. He plays dirty and mean because that's how a pirate rolls, not to mention he's not really an official assassin at all to start out with. He doesn't operate by the Creed; he writes his own to suit his own needs.

Where does the original Black Flag rank among the best Assassin's Creed maps in terms of aesthetics and utility? Go find out...

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Weekend Highlights | 15.5 #4

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:04:04 +0800

Update 15.6 Teaser

A slice of summer awaits next week when Update 15.6 goes live, bringing the strategic new Battle Pass, a new (but familiar) map for Random Battles, changes to unique Commanders, sizzling summer offers, and more! Watch the trailer below to get a taste:

Brawl Away!

This weekend's Brawl session brings you 4v4 battles aboard Tier X battleships, cruisers, and submarines. Give it a shot, have fun, and earn some extra rewards!

Try Asymmetric Battles!

Five players aboard Tier VI–X ships and superships will go up against 12 bots controlling ships two tiers lower than each tier represented in the team of human players. Welcome to Asymmetric Battles.

If you've not already tried out this popular battle type, we advise you do so and see what all the buzz is about!

DLSS Updater 4.3.0 for Linux has "grown into a full Proton Upscalers panel"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:47:04 +0800

Open source is awesome, and tools like the DLSS Updater can be incredibly useful and the Linux support just keeps on getting better.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/dlss-updater-4-3-0-for-linux-has-grown-into-a-full-proton-upscalers-panel/

Game Of Thrones Fans Lose It Over Jon Snow's Official Return

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:47:04 +0800

It's hard to think of a more divisive series finale than that of Game of Thrones Season 8. Fans of the epic HBO series were left scratching their heads after over a decade of build-up that many consider one the biggest botched endings in television history. That said, despite the controversial ending, Game of Thrones' iconic cast of characters and the actors who portrayed them remain beloved among viewers.

Steam Beta adds Steam Machine Verified information to the interface

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:07:03 +0800

Valve released another Steam Beta - this time with a few bug fixes but also now actually showing Steam Machine Verified information in the interface.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/steam-beta-adds-steam-machine-verified-information-to-the-interface/

⋆˚✿˖° Heartopia ✖ SANRIO CHARACTERS PV is Now Live! ????

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:03:03 +0800

An invitation from SANRIO CHARACTERS has arrived, inviting you into a wonderful time together.

On July 17, the collaboration Speciality Exhibition, Furniture Fair, and SANRIO CHARACTERS Gacha Machine event will begin. Join the SANRIO CHARACTERS and make wonderful memories together!

https://youtu.be/w-sg_Npy3zw

Valve fix up Marvel Rivals on SteamOS / Linux with Proton Hotfix

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 16:48:04 +0800

Another constantly updated game that broke with newer Proton recently is Marvel Rivals, but now thanks to Valve it should work again with Proton Hotfix.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/valve-fix-up-marvel-rivals-on-steamos-linux-with-proton-hotfix/

Wine 11.13 arrives with better support for input pointers and more

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 16:37:04 +0800

Wine 11.13 is the latest biweekly development release for the Windows compatibility layer - bringing new features and various fixes.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/wine-11-13-arrives-with-better-support-for-input-pointers-and-more/

["Secret Bar" Themed Outfits | Limited-Time Rerun]

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:02:04 +0800

\["Secret Bar" Themed Outfits | Limited-Time Rerun]

Attention, Presidents! The " Secret Bar" themed outfits for Mochizuki Himiya, Suzukaze Kaoru, and Hoshimiya Kana are making a limited-time comeback in the Outfit Shop!

Don’t miss out, Presidents!

⏰ Rerun Period:

2026/07/13 (Mon.) 11:00 ～ 2026/07/28 (Tue.) 23:59 (UTC+9)

▼ Outfits Included:

♦ Mochizuki Himiya・Moonlight Fizz (SR)

♦ Suzukaze Kaoru・Saketini

♦ Hoshimiya Kana ・Strawberry Daiquiri

* Outfit Price: 390 Fashion Credits

* SR Outfit Price: 590 Fashion Credits

* SR outfit includes special interaction animations in the Lobby.

Screenshot Competition – Painted to Perform!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:53:03 +0800

Welcome to the 232nd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

We enjoyed seeing all of your screenshot submissions last week! This is the week to get creative with decals, decorators, or fully customized skins. Whether you are into historical decals or have ahistoric skins, we’re interested in seeing what you come up with! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 232nd edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen232. You have time until the 17th of July to submit your screenshot.

After that date, 6 winners will be selected (3 of which will be the highest rated by the community and 3 selected by our judges), each of which receive a reward of 300GE.

How to Participate!

Terms:

Your screenshot must include decals, decorators, or a custom vehicle skin.
You must add the #WTscreen232 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.

[/b]

Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules.

You need to be the author of the screenshot.

Screenshot needs to be new. You cannot use those which have previously been published or used in other competitions.

We will only accept raw screenshots from the game. You cannot use any editing software nor any other visual enhancements (like Nvidia Ansel filters).

You can use filters and settings built into War Thunder.

You can use the replay functionality built into War Thunder.

Rewards will be delivered to the author's account within 14 working days.

[/list]

And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 231st edition – Industrial Front!

Winners selected via community votes:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3759223999
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3759054612
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3757346511

Winners selected by our judges:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3758625222
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3759727140
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3758531835

Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!

Thank You To Our Community

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:47:03 +0800

Yesterday we welcomed the newest Backyard Baseball into the world, and we couldn't be more grateful for the response! Thank you for playing, streaming, and sharing your thoughts with us.

Over the last 24 hours, we've been reading your reviews, watching streams, and discussing your feedback as a team. Thank you for taking the time to tell us what's working, what isn't, and what you'd like to see next. Here's where our team is focused right now.

Gameplay Feel

Our highest priority is making the game feel even better to play. We're focused on improving defensive responsiveness, tightening controls across mouse and controller, and continuing to refine the overall flow of gameplay while preserving and further highlighting what makes each Backyard kid unique.

Online Multiplayer

Online multiplayer is one of the community's most anticipated features and a major priority for our team. We're committed to delivering an experience that lives up to what you expect from Backyard Baseball.

League & Stats

We've heard the requests for deeper league statistics, player tracking, and additional ways to follow your team's season. We love seeing how invested everyone already is in League Mode, and we're exploring the best ways to expand those systems.

General Quality-of-Life Fixes

Alongside gameplay improvements, we're working through a growing list of bug fixes, UI improvements, accessibility updates, and quality-of-life enhancements based directly on your feedback. Some of these changes may be subtle, but together they'll make the overall experience smoother and more enjoyable.

This is just the beginning. Backyard Baseball was built to grow over time, and your feedback is already helping shape what's next. As updates move from testing to release, we'll share more details on what's coming and when you can expect it.

Thank you for being part of this community and for helping us make Backyard Baseball better every day.

Cygames' Project Awakening is still under development, now known using Unreal Engine 5

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:36:04 +0800

The team also mentions Maya and Houdini as some of the software they are using in this game project, with the Game of the Year award as their goal.

July 13 Is Going To Be A Huge Day For Xbox Game Pass

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:08:04 +0800

Xbox Game Pass members are going to receive a huge benefit on July 13, and they may want to mark their calendars so that they don’t miss the opportunity. It’s been a strange period for Microsoft’s gaming division as of late. Recently, it was announced that there will be thousands of Xbox layoffs happening throughout the ongoing fiscal year, and four first-party studios are leaving the portfolio. Even so, it seems like the subscription service remains partially untouched, as new additions and even a few departures are happening as normal.

Football Ultimate Team™でフェノムが主役となります。

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:01:03 +0800

この夏、サッカー界の次世代が主役となります。トーナメント初出場選手から、誰もが認めるスーパースターまで、Football Ultimate Team™で世界のゲームの未来を発見しましょう。

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3405690/EA_SPORTS_FC_26/

TennoCon 2026 グッズ登場

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:01:03 +0800

今年のTennoConコレクションが登場。心地よいぬいぐるみやプレミアムアパレル、コレクターズピンや最新コラボアイテムまで、公式グッズストアにはテンノ必須のアイテムが揃っています。

新しいアイテム

AmirとLettieのぬいぐるみ
ヘックスのメンバー2人を、思わず抱きしめたくなるほど愛らしいフワフワの姿でお家に連れて帰ろう。オービターを守っている時も、デスクを明るくしている時も、AmirとLettieは次の任務に備えています。

Lotus Spirit ジャージー
Spirit Jerseyとのコラボにより誕生したこのプレミアムジャージーで、どこからでもLotusの導きにアクセスしよう。

Champion Stalker ジャージー
Championとのコラボにより製作された、Origin太陽系で最も執拗なハンターを称える大胆なStalkerジャージー。

THE LINE x WARFRAME：1999 Tシャツ
THE LINEとのコラボレーションにより製作された、Warframe：1999の世界観を表現したホルバニアスタイルを日常に取り入れよう。

コレクターズアイテムとコラボアイテム

スリングバッグ 2.0
人気のスリングバッグがさらに進化。Warframeスタイルで日常の必需品をおしゃれに持ち運ぼう。

ライセットプールフロート
頼れるランディングクラフト、ライセットプールフロートと一緒に、夏の冒険に繰り出そう。

※注：この商品は一部の国でのみ販売されます。詳細は http://store.warframe.com/ をご覧ください。

ピンマゲドン
人気のWARFRAME、キャラクター、生き物などをフィーチャーした、全く新しいコレクタブルピン16種類であなたのコレクションを充実させよう。

さらに
その他にも、Lotusのロゴ入りレッドパーカー、TennoConcert 2026 Tシャツ、ビニール製スリップマット、マグネットなどもご用意しています。

--

今すぐ購入

数量限定ですので、この機会をお見逃しなく。限定アイテムをコレクションに追加しよう。

TennoCon 2026「Darvoセール」

商売上手なDarvoがTennoConへ登場し、お得なセールを実施します。 8月1日まで、Tシャツ、ぬいぐるみ、ポスターなど、厳選されたWarframeグッズを最大30％オフで入手しよう。

特選 Darvoセール

Volt コレクターフィギュア
Nezha & Wukong Tシャツ
Koumeiと五つの定め Tシャツ
サンパーのぬいぐるみ
Vasca キャバットのぬいぐるみ
TennoCon 2023 グッズパック
Caliban プレックスポスター
Styanax プレックスポスター
オペレーター長袖シャツ
新たな大戦 Lotus Tシャツ
Conquera バーミンクのぬいぐるみ
サニーポバーのぬいぐるみ
ボラロラのぬいぐるみ
昇天の日タペストリー

Darvo グッズセールで気になるアイテムを迷わずゲットしよう。8月1日まで数量限定で開催中。

今すぐ購入

Cyberpunk 2077 Will Officially Become Unplayable For Millions October 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 10:05:03 +0800

Cyberpunk 2077 has become an iconic sci-fi RPG in its relatively short lifespan, and it's hard to believe the game suffered such a troublesome launch given how pristine gameplay has become. This evolution is all thanks to the dedicated team at CD Projekt Red who have worked tirelessly over the years to deliver to fans the best experience possible.

Novos Talentos ganham destaque no Football Ultimate Team™

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:41:03 +0800

A próxima geração do futebol ganha destaque nesta temporada. De estreantes em torneios a superastros consagrados, descubra o futuro de The World's Game no Football Ultimate Team™.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3405690/EA_SPORTS_FC_26/

An Update from the EA SPORTS College Football Team

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:37:03 +0800

Thank you for your continued passion and for the incredible response to College Football 27.

We love this game and this sport. College Football is and always will be about the sights, sounds, pageantry, traditions and atmospheres of Saturday. In College Football 27 we aspired to deliver the deepest experience to date with all-new Dynasty Blueprint, new positions in Road to Glory, and the best College Football gameplay yet. However, your feedback on Road To Glory and Dynasty is that we’ve missed the mark with the introduction of paid progression options. This was added independent of deeper mode progression with the aim to give players more choice, but what you’ve said is that it’s not adding the value we intended.

Tomorrow morning, we will remove all paid progression options from Road to Glory and Online Dynasty. An unfortunate side effect of removing paid progression is that players that have College Point balances in their wallets will not be able to apply the balances in Road to Glory or Dynasty - so jump in between now and then and apply your points!

Our goal for live service plans in CFB28 and beyond will be to deliver valuable features and content with greater transparency and communication.

We’re moving fast to respond to your feedback in-game so stay tuned for follow-up communications next week where we’ll take you through more design details and share our goals in College Football 27.

We love this game. We love this community. We love college football. CFB is our third and best CFB ever and we can’t wait to see you on the field.

- Your Dev Team
#CFBGoPlay

Dragon Ball's Goku Replacement Is Officially The New Face Of The Series

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:34:04 +0800

For nearly four decades, Goku has stood at the heart of theDragon Ball franchise, serving as its unmistakable hero through every major saga. From his humble beginnings as a carefree child with a monkey tail to his evolution into one of anime's most powerful warriors, Goku has remained the constant driving force behind Dragon Ball's popularity.

Ubisoft sells 2M copies of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced on 1st day

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:25:03 +0800

Vantage Studios, a Ubisoft company, announced that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, sold 2 million copies worldwide on its first day following its July 9 release.

The game also ranked No. 1 on Twitch on launch day and reached a peak of 99,451 concurrent players on Steam within its first 24 hours, the highest concurrent player count ever recorded for an Assassin’s Creed title on the platform.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is also received positively by critics, with an 85% Top Critic Average on Open Critic and 84% review score on Metacritic, making it the highest rated Assassin’s Creed game since the launch of the original Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag.

This includes reviewers like IGN scoring Resynced 9/10 and declaring it “bigger and better in all the ways that matter.” The technical achievement has also been praised by specialists such as Digital Foundry, referring to it as “One of the most effective remakes we’ve ever seen.”

“Black Flag has always held a special place in the heart of the community, and ours.” said Martin Schelling, Head of Assassin’s Creed Brand, in a statement. “Bringing it back with Resynced was a promise to that passion for Edward’s adventures, and to the unique sense of freedom players experienced back then. Seeing 2 million players set sail on day one, along with the great reviews from critics, is the greatest reward we could have hoped for.”

A testament to Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, originally released in 2013, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, led by Ubisoft Singapore, is a faithful remake rebuilt from the ground up and powered by the latest Anvil engine. The game features stunning updated visuals and enriched gameplay, including parry‑driven combat, improved stealth and parkour, deeper naval mechanics, and new narrative content.

Set during the Golden Age of Piracy, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced invites players to sail the Caribbean as Edward Kenway, a rebellious pirate captain drawn into the centuries-old conflict between Assassins and Templars. As Edward pursues glory and fortune, he crosses paths with legendary figures such as Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Calico Jack, while the fate of everything the pirates have built hangs in the balance.

The game is available on Ubisoft+**, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as Windows PC through the Ubisoft Store, Steam (Steam Deck verified) and the Epic Games Store. 

The post Ubisoft sells 2M copies of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced on 1st day appeared first on GamesBeat.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is now available on Nintendo Switch 1 & 2

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:45:04 +0800

Bandai Namco also published a new launch trailer showcasing the Switch's portability.

Wuthering Waves Version 3.5 is now available alongside the game's debut on Xbox Series

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:45:03 +0800

Version 3.5 also includes Intel XeSS 3 Frame Generation support, PC package size reductions, and mobile resource cleanup improvements.

"Sony waited for Rockstar to make the first move": Founding Xbox member warns against PlayStation's all-digital future, says "I trust" Steam games won't just disappear

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:25:03 +0800

Laura Fryer, a veteran of the video game industry and one of the founding members of the original Xbox project, is sounding the alarm amidst the industry's shift toward all-digital games.

Fryer recently uploaded a new video to her YouTube channel in which she warns specifically against PlayStation's recent announcement that it's ending production of physical game discs starting in 2028. She uses a story about her family's Rock Band tradition to make a point about the impermanence of digital-only games, explaining that she once spent "hundreds of dollars on Rock Band songs" only to lose them over a licensing issue. After her original Xbox died and was replaced by a newer model, she was unable to download the songs on her working console because they had been delisted. "Eventually, we just gave up," Fryer says, tragically. "We gave up on our favorite family game."

If you're reading this, there's a good chance you've shared a similar experience with digital games over the years. Publishers have offered fully digital versions of games for decades now, and most purchases made on PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox storefronts don't come with any sort of physical token guaranteeing permanent ownership, but with PlayStation moving away from physical discs altogether, it's likely situations like Fryer's will become much more commonplace in the next console generation.

Fryer says her Rock Band story isn't just a "one-off technical glitch," but "the blueprint for what Sony is planning next. "So when people ask me what I think about Sony's recent announcement that they're going all digital, that's all I can think about."

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/KXIIEv6AiSg Fryer also wades into the debate about physical's market share compared to digital, which some analysts say is as low as 10% physical vs 90% digital, but Fryer argues that the inclusion of digital-only games in those comparisons makes "digital look way more dominant than it actually is."

She also points to an old promotional video in which then-president of SIE Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida hypes up the PS4's ability to read offline discs when Xbox One's pre-launch plan was to make all games require an internet connection. These days, of course, things are different, with GTA 6, arguably the biggest game of the century, essentially going all digital. This, in Fryer's view, opened the floodgates.

"Sony waited for Rockstar to make the first move, take the heat, and now they're going all-in to make this the new normal," she says.

Fryer also makes the convincing argument that PlayStation going discless isn't just about reducing production costs for new games and hardware, claiming that it's also about erasing the second-hand market and re-gaining complete control over its ecosystem. "All the major players; Sony, Microsoft, even Hollywood; they're all aligned here. Digital kills the used market and it stops the old library from competing with new games on the next console," she says.

Ultimately, Fryer says a digital future is likely "inevitable" due to convenience, but says even a company as trusted by gamers as Valve is prone to leadership changes that could potentially result in digital libraries like the ones on Steam becoming just as vulnerable as song collections on Rock Band.

"I admit, most of my Steam library is digital too, because I trust they won't pull the games," Fryer says. "But I worry about that, because platforms depend on good leadership. Gabe Newell will not run Steam forever, and we've seen from Xbox how fast priorities can shift when you get new leadership," she adds, seemingly referring to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's big "reset."

Wrapping up her argument against a digital-only marketplace, Fryer goes full circle with what she calls her "Rock Band warning:

"Digital is convenient until someone else decides you've had enough, and there are some games and movies where I will never have enough," she says. "Physical gives you real ownership, right? And in my case, physical would've protected those irreplaceable memories."

GamesRadar's Dustin agrees: PlayStation killing discs is bad for everyone, whether you care about physical games or not

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Avatar Officially Returns This Month For An All-New Adventure

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:05:03 +0800

Avatar: The Last Airbender fans are having a great year so far, with the second season of the live-action Netflix series recently releasing and the upcoming launch of the Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender film finally getting its debut on Paramount+. Further, fans are looking forward to the official The Legend of Korra sequel, Avatar: Seven Havens, slated for a 2027 release.

The Witcher 1’s Lead Story Designer Describes Possible Remake Woes

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:39:03 +0800

In an interview with Mateusz Łysoń for CHIP, Artur Ganszyniec—the lead story designer of 2007’s The Witcher—answered a couple of

'Surprised there was anyone left to post this': Fans react as The Elder Scrolls Online debuts seasonal content days after hundreds laid off from studio

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:20:04 +0800

For the first time ever, seasonal content is here for The Elder Scrolls Online. Return of the Thieves Guild, its inaugural season, has launched for the long-running MMO, something you'd expect fans would be all abuzz for—if not for the fact that ZeniMax Online Studios has been gutted as part of the mass layoffs at Xbox this week... Read more.

Fallout 5, The Elder Scrolls 6, Blade, and More: As Xbox Layoffs Hit Hard, What's Going on at Bethesda?

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:05:04 +0800

Bethesda was hit hard by this week’s Xbox layoffs, with cuts to The Elder Scrolls and Fallout developer Bethesda Game Studios, Doom developer id Software, and The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios, among other parts of the business.

A Maryland WARN Act notice shows 213 employees were laid off from ZOS's office in Cockeysville, MD, and 166 from ZeniMax Media Inc. in Rockville, MD, for a total of 379. 96 staff who worked at id Software's office in Richardson, Texas, were cut, alongside a further 40 remote roles. While it’s difficult to pin down exactly what the affected staff were working on at these studios because there are blended teams across Bethesda locations, the WARN numbers undoubtedly make for difficult reading.

The restructure at Xbox — 1,600 staff lost their jobs on Monday, with another 1,600 to go over the course of the next 12 months — has called into question the future of not just the studios Microsoft has on its books, but the quality of the games it’s working on. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s strategy is clear: studios will collaborate more closely from now on, with a focus on bigger franchises such as Halo, Minecraft, Candy Crush, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls. As revealed by IGN this week, in an email to Bethesda staff sent following Sharma's memo on Monday, Bethesda boss Jill Braff said the layoffs and change in strategy “reflect the realities of our industry and business – and our responsibility to ensure Bethesda is operating from a more stable foundation.”

"To be successful in the future, we need to change course,” Braff continued. “We must strengthen our business, return to sustainable growth, and ensure we can continue investing in our franchises and our players. I know that doesn't make a day like today any easier.”

But what does that actually mean for Bethesda going forward? Without naming games, Braff said “to best position Bethesda for future growth, we are shifting from a planning model primarily centered on what's next for each independent studio to one that focuses on our strongest franchises and determining the content roadmap that best serves our players and Bethesda as a whole.”

“From there, we’ll align the right talent, technology, and resources across the organization to deliver on those priorities,” Braff added.

While Xbox sorts its new strategy out, remaining staff are left to wonder if they will be next as part of future rounds of layoffs. After all, Microsoft still has over 1,000 Xbox staff to cut before the end of its financial year. It is an anxious time across Xbox, as it is across the wider video game industry.

The Elder Scrolls 6 — what’s happening with it?

This week, IGN reported on concern expressed by staff at BGS that the Xbox layoffs would have a "substantial and cascading effect" on the development of The Elder Scrolls 6. Morale took a hit, we heard, and there were fears of future development crunch. The Elder Scrolls 6 is reportedly at least two more years away from release, despite being announced in 2018, and there are fears it could even be delayed.

"There is a fear that we are going to be replaced by cheaper, contracted labor, or we will hire folks to replace them that will need to be onboarded (our tools are proprietary, other devs aren't going to know how they work) resulting in more delays, and we'll need to crunch to make up the time," one Bethesda developer told IGN.

"We've all been very excited and hyped for TES 6 and this has had a crushing effect on morale," said another staff member. "We were already running a tight ship and are worried about this delaying the game (though a final release date was not yet chosen as far as we know)."

Meanwhile, the BGS union, OneBGS, plans to march outside the studio’s four offices (Rockville, Austin, Dallas, and Montreal) on July 15. In a note sent to IGN, the union said 35 positions at BGS were cut in the U.S. and at least 12 more in Montreal, Canada.

“Microsoft and BGS are trying to frame these 35 cuts as an ‘entrepreneurial change in the scope of business,’ claiming they are transitioning from a ‘studio-based business model to a franchise-based model’ to dodge their legal obligation to bargain the decision with us,” the union alleged. “We completely reject this corporate wordplay. Changing a title on a PowerPoint slide does not erase our legal right to a say in our working conditions.”

As OneBGS sets out to apply pressure on Microsoft to negotiate how these layoffs will impact staff, work on games continues, even under such difficult circumstances. A source familiar with Bethesda’s restructure expressed confidence in BGS’ continued ability to develop The Elder Scrolls 6, and insisted the studio's plans and ambitions for the hotly anticipated RPG remained the same, despite the layoffs.

Anything can — and usually does — change during video game development, so it’s impossible to say now if The Elder Scrolls 6 will suffer a delay, either internally or publically. But as it stands, the game is said to be on track, even if being on track means it’s two years away from release.

Fallout 5, Fallout 76, Fallout Shelter, and a Fallout game from Obsidian, with more Fallout to come

Bloomberg has reported that Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment is now working on a new Fallout game having suffered from the Xbox layoffs itself. Bethesda is said to be working to support Obsidian on development of this Fallout game. It is a clear signal of intent: Sharma wants Bethesda to do more Fallout more quickly.

A source familiar with the plans told IGN that there are several Fallout projects in development across Bethesda and its partners, including Fallout 5. It feels ridiculous to consider Fallout 5 right now, but Bethesda development chief Todd Howard has spoken openly about it coming after The Elder Scrolls 6, and has confirmed that it will take into account the canon events of the Fallout TV series. The intention is very much for Fallout 5 to be released, eventually.

The “live” Fallout project is Fallout 76, which IGN understands remains a significant operation, and there are no changes to that development team’s plans as of yet. A source said Fallout 76 still has hundreds of developers working on it, and the multiplayer game retains millions of players.

Meanwhile, Fallout Shelter is alive and kicking. And of course, Amazon’s Fallout TV show continues, with Season 3 filming now. The existence of a Fallout 3 remaster is an open secret at this point.

Sharma’s new drive for collaboration across Xbox studios on its biggest franchises applies to Fallout, as you'd expect, and the Obsidian Fallout game is a part of that. And there is a lot more Fallout coming from BGS, too. The question is, how fast can new Fallout projects be turned around?

Concern over The Elder Scrolls Online

One game that has undoubtedly been impacted by the Xbox layoffs is The Elder Scrolls Online, whose development roadmap was forced to change as a result. It’s unclear exactly how many staff directly working on ESO were cut, but there is justifiable concern about the fate of those who remain, as well as the game itself.

A source familiar with the situation at the studio told IGN that ZOS is supporting the new season model for ESO while also looking for ways to collaborate more closely with BGS to support the Elder Scrolls franchise as a whole, which sounds to me like helping get The Elder Scrolls 6 out the door.

What next for Starfield?

Following the announcement of the Xbox layoffs, fans were quick to point out that Starfield was absent from Bethesda's priority list. Starfield largely failed to meet fan expectations upon its 2023 launch, and subsequent updates and expansions haven't really moved the needle. Still, some of the game's more hardcore fans had hoped that Starfield would go on to at least get more expansions, and maybe even a sequel, establishing itself as Bethesda's third franchise. Sources told IGN that there are no changes to the current Starfield roadmap, and the team is still working on updates and content. What that means exactly, remains unclear. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is reportedly in the works.

Hope for Arkane and Marvel’s Blade to survive

Microsoft has said Arkane Lyon studio management had begun a consultation with the Works Council in France to "review potential strategic options.” Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV), the French non-representative independent video game workers union, told IGN it was waiting for an internal meeting between studio leadership and worker representatives to learn more.

The situation with Arkane Lyon, developer of Deathloop, could drag on for some time, leaving staff facing an anxious wait to discover their fate. But the hope is the studio will eventually find a buyer, as Hellblade developer Ninja Theory and State of Decay developer Undead Labs have done, and that Blade will see the light of day.

IGN understands that prior to this week's layoffs, Blade was on track for a reveal early next year and a release Q4 2027. IGN has asked Marvel Games for comment but it has yet to respond.

id Software hopes to make great games again

Today, Doom developer id Software issued a statement responding to the layoffs, saying it was now at the staffing level it had back when it made the much-loved 2016 Doom reboot. It also insisted it was still capable of making “great games,” and pushed back on the suggestion that there’s essentially no-one left at the company working on id Tech, the game engine it and fellow Bethesda-owned studio MachineGames uses to build their games. Xbox confirmed to IGN that "there are dozens of people working on id Tech across multiple locations," and that previous reports that there was only one person left in Texas are "inaccurate."

Here’s the statement in full, posted to id Software's X / Twitter page:

Thank you all for the support this week. While our studio was impacted, those changes were spread across teams. We still have the crew we need to build the games and tech we're known for. The team today is about the same size we were when making Doom 2016. We have always had a flat studio where everyone is a maker, and we will remain true to that philosophy moving forward. We are focused on supporting each other and the team members impacted. We're going to keep building the great games and tech that have defined us for the past 35 years, and we're looking forward to seeing you at QuakeCon this August. While id Software currently has no announced project following the release of Doom: The Dark Ages and its DLC, IGN understands that the studio is prototyping a number of potential projects, with the belief it is still capable of building its own games. According to GamesBeat, id was formulating new game ideas, such as a John Wick-style original IP, a new Perfect Dark game, and a multiplayer / co-op Doom game, before the layoffs hit.

MachineGames safe for now

MachineGames was unaffected by this week’s layoffs, with Wolfenstein 3 in the works. But as a European studio (it’s based in Sweden), it may face cuts further down the line, cuts that would have to abide by local labor law, leaving staff looking over their shoulder even as they build a new shooter. A sequel to the well-received Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, however, remains up in the air, despite it setting up another entry.

Big questions remain for Bethesda, and for Xbox

Xbox staff have been on the receiving end of a bloodbath this week. By Asha Sharma’s admission, it is “the most significant restructure in Xbox history.” Microsoft’s gaming business faces profound questions it must answer over the next few years, not just on its ability to grow profit, as Sharma has said Xbox must, but on its ability to make hit games and grow Game Pass. Some are speculating that Microsoft could sell Xbox off, spin it off as a wholly-owned subsidiary, partner with another company to run it as a join venture, or sell parts of the business to the highest bidders. Then there’s the hardware “crisis,” which could see the next-gen Xbox, codenamed Project Helix, cost north of $1,000.

Could The Elder Scrolls 6 launch alongside it?

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Steam's New Free Story-Driven Game Has 100% Positive Reviews

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:05:04 +0800

At this point, collecting free games on Steam may very well become a hobby in and of itself. There are so many on the platform and more being added every day, that the mere act of finding them and clicking add to library is tantamount to playing a video game. Of course, once one is done collecting them all, they may want to spend a little time trying them out, especially those with positive reviews, novel ideas, or a clever hook that's bound to draw you in and never let go.

Tennocon 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:59:03 +0800

Everything begins on July 10 with the return of our Cosplay Contest and special TennoConcert experience at Canada Life Place, complete with a live orchestra conducted by Warframe composer Matthew Chalmers.

Then on July 11, we will be broadcasting live from Canada Life Place again for an entire day of panels, community activities and so much more before everything culminates in TennoLive, where secrets that many thought were lost to time will be laid bare — shaking the Origin System to its very core. Prepare yourself accordingly, Tenno.

Star Ocean 30th anniversary will be celebrated with a livestream on July 19

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:59:03 +0800

Fine print has indicated that there will be no reveals of a brand-new game in this stream.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sells 2 million copies in 1 day and achieves the 'highest concurrent player count ever recorded for an Assassin's Creed title' on Steam

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:18:04 +0800

I gotta hand this one to the suits: I thought gamers might find a $60 price tag on a rehash of a 13-year-old Assassin's Creed game to be a bit much, and apparently I was wrong. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sold more than two million copies in just one day, and has handily surpassed Steam player counts of newer games in the series, including Assassin's Creed Shadows... Read more.

How to get hardwood in Palworld

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:08:04 +0800

The Palworld 1.0 update sure is a big one, and with all of the new pals, weapons, and zones to track it's easy to miss the little things—like new resources for crafting. As I climbed the revamped tech tree again, I breezed through most recipes until I ran into hardwood. It's a new tier of the basic building block you'll see pop up in later level recipes (around 40 to 50), after planks... Read more.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Sales Reach 2 Million on Day 1

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:06:04 +0800

Ubisoft has announced that Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has passed 2 million copies sold in its first day since launch.

It's a milestone that saw it rank among the best in the franchise and arrived alongside strong player numbers across various platforms. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced's July 9 launch saw it land in the number one spot on Twitch, while its concurrent player count on Steam reached a peak of 99,451, a series high.

"Black Flag has always held a special place in the heart of the community, and ours." Head of Assassin's Creed brand Martin Schelling said in a statement. "Bringing it back with Resynced was a promise to that passion for Edward’s adventures, and to the unique sense of freedom players experienced back then. Seeing 2 million players set sail on day one, along with the great reviews from critics, is the greatest reward we could have hoped for."

Dash my Buttons... Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has already passed 2 million copies sold! ????‍☠️

Whether you're sailing with us again, or stepping aboard the Jackdaw for the first time: THANK YOU from the bottom of ARR hearts. https://t.co/3badNwSqVp

— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) July 10, 2026 Ubisoft has typically strayed from delivering exact sales figures for its Assassin's Creed games, especially this soon after launch. Early information for the massive Assassin's Creed Valhalla, for example, saw the publisher simply confirming its launch week was the biggest in series history back in 2020. Ubisoft only said in 2023 that Assassin's Creed Mirage's release fell in line with the likes of Origins and Odyssey. Assassin's Creed Shadows, the series' latest entry, launched as the best-selling game of March 2025 and hit 3 million players in its first week, but with many likely hopping aboard via Ubisoft+, the company has been shy when it comes to sharing actual sales.

Although Ubisoft said last year that the franchise was exceeding its expectations, it's hard to compare just how Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sold to other recent entries. That said, Ubisoft's willingness to share a firm figure, rather than sticking to player numbers, suggests it's happy with how the series' first real remake fared in its first 24 hours.

"Strike fear in your foes as you board and sink enemy vessels as Edward Kenway, captain of the Jackdaw," an official description for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced says. "Whether blending into crowds or leading daring assaults, switch between silent takedowns and fierce brawls as you effortlessly wield swords, pistols, and the Hidden Blade. With a cast of historical pirate legends at your side, defy empires amidst the age-old conflict opposing Assassins and Templars."

The Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake launched for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S July 9, 2026. Although the 2 million sales milestone suggests a strong start, the day since its launch hasn't been entirely smooth sailing. Some fans have already taken to social media and the Steam reviews page to express their disappointment with the game's microtransactions, for example.

IGN gave Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced a 9/10 review. We called it "more than just a shinier version of the same game you remember," adding that it "brings what was already one of the best games in the series up to today’s standards."

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

EA Sports College Football 27 Faces Backlash After Fans Discover XP Microtransactions for Offline Game Modes

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:06:04 +0800

EA Sports College Football 27 has launched to "Mostly Negative" Steam reviews as fans revolt against pricey microtransactions in offline game modes.

The latest in EA's line of College Football video games immediately came under fire when it launched for early access on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S July 6. It all stems from the removal of features for the Road to Glory and Dynasty modes in favor of microtransactions that range from $9.99 to $149.99.

In College Football 25 and 26, offline versions of these modes allowed players to customize their experience by using settings to boost XP gain. In College Football 27, EA has gutted those settings, replacing them with the option to spend real-world money to increase things like a player's coach level.

As outlined by content creator Bordeaux, who has helped push the #CFBPlayDontPay movement, this year's College Football entry asks players to spend as much as $100 to reach the max coach level of 100. The fact that these options were added without much of a heads-up, with some content creators alleging that microtransactions were not mentioned in pre-launch builds, has only made matters worse.

"It makes me sick that you spent years building up community trust, saying that this was our game, this is all for us," Bordeaux said. "Nobody, not a single person out there was like, 'What would make our game better? What would make me want to play College Football more? Oh, I know. Being able to buy coach levels. Being able to buy upgrades for my player that is now way too slow to upgrade.'"

As controversy strikes, players have gone to the one place that allows them to make their voices heard: the Steam reviews section. Online conversation surrounding College Football 27 since launch has been consumed by this community campaign as it seeks to push EA to walk back microtransactions and bring back those in-game XP modifiers. Now, just 22% of the reviews for College Football 27 are positive, earning it that auburn Mostly Negative marker.

Not only is almost every creator speaking out, but so is your entire community

I’m extremely proud with how everybody has come together #CFBPlayDontPay https://t.co/pJvhHsuRuB

— Bordeaux (@bordeauxyoutube) July 9, 2026 Dusted off an old friend today. How far we’ve come yet how far we have fallen #CFBPlayDontPay https://t.co/WBEqBofk1u

— ???? (@LegacyOcho) July 9, 2026 "#CFBPlayDontPay," one review said. "Adding microtransactions to offline Road to Glory & offline Dynasty modes is insane. I will never spend another dime on any future CFB games if this is not reverted. Happy this one came to PC but this will be the last. Thanks EA for ruining what another game franchise! Greedy mfs."

Steam user ShaqOatmeal agreed with Bordeaux – in terms of raw gameplay, the 2027 College Football entry is exceptionally well-made. That didn't stop them from leaving a negative review.

"However, due to EA having biblical levels of greed and their response to all the backlash introducing microtransactions to offline game modes I will not be recommending this to anyone," they explained. "EA needs to be stripped of their exclusive rights to produce these games and let it fall into the hands of another publisher that won’t **** its casual player base over. They’ve been doing this microtransaction BS for YEARS on Madden and now they’re starting with CFB. It’s unacceptable. If you haven’t already bought the game don’t buy it now."

EA did eventually respond to the backlash, saying an upcoming patch would include new XP settings in Road to Glory and Dynasty. For the latter, players can expect new options that allow for up to 1.5x XP, while experience earned in the latter will be tied to the difficulty levels. What might seem to a walking back has done little to quell concerns.

imagine being 8 years old and loading up College Football 27 to play out a career in Road to Glory

you put in on Freshman difficulty, because you are EIGHT, and you are punished with less XP gains than people who play on Heisman

Now you hate College Football games for the rest… https://t.co/jNTsYpYyWO https://t.co/U6iD9M2qKB

— Bordeaux (@bordeauxyoutube) July 9, 2026 Can’t wait to spent $80 to buy a non-physical copy of a game I don’t actually own so I can boot it up and be heavily incentivized to pay more money if I want to experience key features like leveling up my player.

The future of gaming looks bright! #cfbplaydontpay https://t.co/6qndFp9c15

— Clokus (@ItsClokus) July 9, 2026 Those new XP options seem to be slower than what was previously available, and some choice wording makes it clear that players will be discouraged from trying out easier difficulties. Bordeaux and the countless fans supporting #CFBPlayDontPay said they aren't backing down, with many hoping EA opts to remove microtransactions entirely.

"This is the phrasing that just sets me off," the content creator said regarding EA's confirmation that disabling player Wear & Tear would affect XP gain. "This is an offline – an offline Road to Glory mode – why the f**k are we worried about offsetting the gameplay advantage? Read between the lines. We all know what the actual reason is. We know where this is headed in the future if things don't change, if things are not reverted."

As negative reviews pour in and accusations of pay-to-win microtransactions in single-player modes mount, it's unclear if EA has any plan to walk back its strategy in a way that will make players happy. For now, many are asking disgruntled fans to be thoughtful about where they direct their calls for change.

"Devs did good but removing a feature and making people pay to replicate it in an OFFLINE mode is the most awful, EA thing to do to this game," another Steam review said. "#CFBPlayNotPay"

The thing that @EASPORTSCollege doesn't understand about Dynasty and Road to Glory #CFBPlayDontPay https://t.co/qIjEPVr4E7

— Bengal (@BengalYouTube) July 9, 2026 I am a CUT player but i stand with my dynasty and road to glory brothers! I am not buying another pack until microtransactions are removed or the XP sliders are added back into Dynasty/RTG #CFBPLAYDONTPAY

— Dyl (@Dyl_TV) July 7, 2026 "Before I continue to rip into EA, I'm ripping into the higher-ups, here," Bordeaux said in his initial video. "I'm not ripping into the devs. It is not the devs' fault. It's not their decisions that are leading to these microtransactions. It's someone higher up that is saying, 'We need to make more money. Let's get more revenue out of this. Maybe Ultimate Team in CUT (College Ultimate Team) isn't cutting it because no one cares about College Ultimate Team.'

"But I'm not blaming the devs. The devs did an amazing job, and that is the part that sucks to me the most. This is the best game they have put out. It's not even close. There is the least amount of bugs – there's still a couple huge ones, and I am sure they'll get to it – but the devs cooked. The devs did a good job, and it is all going to be overshadowed because of this microtransaction slop that they've put in."

IGN gave EA Sports College Football 27 a 7/10 review. We said, "This season ain’t gonna knock anybody’s socks off, and both Dynasty and Road to Glory have leaned hard into spreadsheet management this year, but smart on-field additions to an already good game make College Football 27 worth suiting up for once again."

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

"We've long had the desire to play Disgaea as an action RPG" - Disgaea Mayhem's developers discuss the upcoming release, Disgaea's charm, learning from past entries, combat, coffee, and more

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:05:03 +0800

Ahead of its launch next week, we chat with the Disgaea Mayhem Development Team about the action RPG, influences, learnings from Disgaea 6 and 7, platform choices, Game-Key Cards, coffee, and more.

Persona 4 Revival showcases Yosuke in a new character trailer

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 05:34:04 +0800

Atlus shares a new Persona 4 Revival character trailer.

1.0.4 업데이트 안내

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 05:17:03 +0800

Hello,

Update 1.0.4 for Three Kingdoms Classic is now available.

This update focuses on helping players assess their faction more easily and manage officers and supplies more efficiently through the addition of Strategic Advice and expanded domestic-management assistance.

We have also revised Yuan Shao’s forces and the portraits of the Yuan family in the Guandu 200 scenario, while improving battle flow, save and load functionality, UI usability, and overall progression stability.

The major changes are as follows.

Added Strategic Advice.

Added Strategic Advice, which provides an overview of invasion risks, offensive opportunities, diplomacy, recruitment, and scheme-related situations.
This makes it easier to identify the major risks and opportunities facing your faction.

Improved domestic administration and officer management.

Food required for research is now shared across all cities in the faction instead of being taken entirely from the city where the assigned officer is stationed.
When automatically recruiting prisoners, an officer from the city holding the prisoner will now be prioritized as the recruiter.
Officers who have already been targeted by Sow Discord are now excluded from the candidate list, reducing duplicate selections.
Cities with known rumors are now prioritized in the talent search target list.
Advisors can now propose officer redeployment plans for the player to review before applying them.
Automatic redeployment has been adjusted to avoid moving key officers unnecessarily or leaving cities with too few personnel.
Automatic food redistribution now prioritizes frontline cities and cities with larger armies.
The placement of several major historical officers, including Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Sima Yi, has been adjusted so they can be discovered in more historically appropriate regions.
The application and display of official posts and ranks have been reorganized.
Fixed an issue where conflicting official post information could be displayed simultaneously or outdated posts could reappear.
Fixed an issue where officers already recruited in existing save files could revert to an undiscovered state after loading.

Improved battle flow and battle information.

Fixed an issue where the game might not proceed to the next battle after multiple consecutive player-controlled battles.
Fixed an issue where prisoner handling and follow-up battles could wait on each other after a battle, preventing the player from controlling the map.
Expanded battle command descriptions and result information to make the causes of major troop, morale, and gate damage easier to understand.
Improved the process of reviewing participating troops and officers on the attack preparation screen.
Fixed an issue where the battle command card destruction effect was displayed on the wrong side when a critical hit occurred.
Adjusted the display direction of opposing officer portraits so they face each other more naturally.
Battle Training now remembers the selected guidance option, reducing repeated instructions.

Revised the Guandu scenario and historical data.

Expanded the roster and deployment of Yuan Shao’s forces in the Guandu 200 scenario.
Adjusted the initial administration and frontline balance of Yuan Shao’s forces.
Added Yuan Shao’s unique governance trait, Four Generations, Three Excellencies.
Updated the portraits of Yuan Shao, Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang, and other members of the Yuan family with a more consistent style and orientation.
Standardized the Xiaopei region as Pengcheng and corrected Wan’s province assignment to Jing Province.
The City Information screen now displays the province to which the current city belongs.

Improved the UI and general usability.

Improved readability across battles, diplomacy confirmations, officer redeployment, the Settings window, and the City Information screen.
Most pop-up windows can now be closed with the right mouse button.
Reduced excessive repetition of the same notification sound during consecutive officer conversations.
Adjusted sound transitions during seasonal changes to make them feel more natural.
Auto-save slots can now be viewed alongside other save files on the Load screen.
Fixed an issue where unselected bonuses could remain applied when editing a custom officer.

Improved save data and progression stability.

Fixed an issue where the game could close if the results of background turn processing no longer matched the current game state.
Improved the stability of auto-saving and returning to the game immediately after the end of a turn.
Strengthened the loading process to prevent certain state information from being lost when loading save data containing an ongoing battle.
Fixed an issue where the assigned military officer could take an additional turn to update after a city was occupied or an officer was moved.
Added a safe mode and customer-support diagnostic tools for cases where startup problems occur repeatedly.

Since the game launched on July 3, I have released five hotfixes and four minor updates in approximately one week. Every encouraging comment and detailed report made me want to bring improvements to the game as quickly as possible, and I continued working at a much faster pace than usual.

However, update 1.0.3 introduced a serious issue that could cause the UI to stop responding during multiple consecutive battles. By focusing too heavily on rapid implementation, the update did not receive sufficient verification before release, and this resulted in a problem that disrupted gameplay. I apologize to everyone who was affected.

This has prompted me to reconsider how future updates should be handled. Rather than implementing changes as quickly as possible, I will prioritize thorough verification and stable releases. I will continue to carefully review your feedback and reports, but even if this means longer intervals between updates, changes will be released only after the necessary testing has been completed.

I will also take a moment to catch my breath and adjust the development pace. I hope you will understand this as a necessary step toward improving the game steadily and reliably over the long term, rather than adding as much as possible within a short period.

Thank you sincerely for all the interest, support, and valuable feedback you have shared during the first week since launch.

Ubisoft Announces Temporary Fix For A Glaring Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Bug

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 05:06:04 +0800

The long-awaited release of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is finally here, and despite achieving critical acclaim for its gameplay and story enhancements, it's been met with a wave of backlash over its current launch state. While most of the complaints can be boiled down to players furious over Black Flag Resynced including day one DLC purchases that add cosmetics, weapons, or extra resources, the biggest issue left players more baffled than anything else.

Marvel Rivals: How To Use Every New Season 9 Team-Up

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 05:06:04 +0800

Season 9 of Marvel Rivals is introducing a complete overhaul of the hero shooter's Team-Up system, fundamentally altering systems that have been in place since the game's launch. This update brings back a multitude of fan-favorite Team-Ups from all the game's past Seasons, even improving them from what they were before. Now, players have greater opportunities to form unique team comps to defeat their rivals during matches.

Microsoft comms lead says Xbox layoffs "were not made to replace employees with foreign workers" in response to "bad information"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 04:07:03 +0800

Microsoft communications lead Frank Shaw says the 1,600 Xbox employees recently cut at the start of a layoff wave which will hit 3,200 jobs by the end of the fiscal year were not laid off to be replaced with H-1B visa foreign workers.

Seemingly heading off reports that falsely conflated plans for Microsoft to hire H-1B visa employees with the Xbox layoffs, Shaw says in a striking Twitter post, "Lots of bad information out there --let's clear it up."

Echoing Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, Shaw reiterates, "Recent workforce changes were made to restructure the XBOX business because it is not healthy." He is quick to stress that, "They were not made to replace employees with foreign workers."

Shaw says "the H-1B figures being referenced are Microsoft-wide visa renewals and new hire applications. They are not specific to XBOX and represent a small percentage of Microsoft's overall workforce. And the majority of roles impacted were not American roles."

These initial Xbox layoffs hit multiple teams and studios around the world, with four studios already shed and Dishonored maker Arkane Lyon in talks over divestment options, and the likes of id Software and Bethesda feeling heavy losses of their own.

The H-1B visa program has faced additional scrutiny under the Trump administration, with AP reporting 2025 plans to overhaul the program. Matthew Tragesser, US Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman, said in December that the program had been "exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers."

Shaw insists, "XBOX is the largest employer of American workers in the gaming industry and the largest American gaming company."

Dismissing apparent criticism of Sharma, who was appointed to a new Federal Reserve job task force the very week she oversaw the dissolution of 3,200 jobs, Shaw adds, "And Asha is an American born, raised, and educated CEO, from Wisconsin."

The Elder Scrolls 6 will be hurt and potentially delayed by Xbox layoffs, Bethesda devs expect: "This has had a crushing effect on morale."

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Backyard Baseball Review So Far

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 04:07:03 +0800

I think a lot about going back and doing things over – making a few choices differently to see how things end up. But then I think about the butterfly effect that would have, and how it could potentially make things worse. After the 10 hours I’ve spent with the new Backyard Baseball so far, I’m now sure it would be a bad idea. This series reboot from developer Mega Cat Studios retains the nostalgic charm of those classic kids sports games, but the rest of it falls victim to its own progress. The simplicity of pitching, hitting, and fielding has been needlessly refreshed; in its place is an optimized version, like a grown-up going back in time to perfect his younger self. The result might be one that passes the eye test, but it’s ultimately hollow, falling short of home plate on the things that really matter.

It’s pretty ironic that many of this new Backyard Baseball’s tweaks don’t feel like they are able to round the bases, because most of the actual hits I’ve gotten while batting have either been home runs or line-drive singles. I’m not tooting my own horn here or anything – it’s just because of how offense and defense are set up now. Hitting in particular is easier than ever, at least compared to how it was in the Backyard Baseball ‘97 re-release from 2024, which isn’t exactly a good thing.

The swing spot assist was less specific in the original games; it would show you a large circle within the strike zone where the ball might land, but it was up to you to estimate where exactly to swing the bat. Here, however, you always know the exact spot the ball is flying toward. The old method led to bigger whiffs, of course, but at least the hits you earned were more satisfying and less routine. Now, it’s like these kids are in the MLB steroid era: way too many players going yard every at bat. If Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds were still in this version of Backyard Baseball, Rob Manfred might’ve already launched an investigation.

Unless you’re Greg Maddux or Roger Clemens, which none of these kids are, this is also obviously bad news for pitchers. If everyone’s hitting bombs on your heaters, what’s the point of even getting up on the mound? Why not just throw Mr. Clanky in there and call it a day? A new timing mechanic at least adds a welcome, skill-based aspect to the previously one-dimensional act of pitching, but throwing the ball well in Backyard Baseball just feels like it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter how much you mix it up or how precise you paint the corners, the CPU will basically always get a hit off. Usually a single, sometimes a home run – but a hit is a hit, and it’s always frustrating because it often seems out of my control.

Pitching well in Backyard Baseball just feels like it doesn’t matter. Now, if the fielding was anything like it was in ‘97, ‘01, or even the GameCube version from 2003, I wouldn’t be as frustrated. But it isn’t. It’s worse. Your players, no matter if it’s Pablo “Secret Weapon” Sanchez or Jocinda “MVP” Smith, won’t run or react fast enough to catch a routine flyball or line drive unless it’s already directly in their path. So what should typically end up as a quick one-two-three out inning often turns into a blooper reel of errors, overthrows, and collisions. Meanwhile, your pitcher is lying on the mound in the fetal position, thumb in their mouth, nursing an ERA of 18.00 and having a mental breakdown through no fault of their own. Remember the saying “defense wins championships?” Well, that doesn’t apply in this reimagined realm of Backyard Baseball, where offense is king and defense is the silly court jester everyone tries to ignore but can’t because it’s making faces in the outfield.

Phew! That was a doozy, huh? I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready for the 7th inning stretch, which should give me enough time to dive even deeper into some of Backyard Baseball’s newer features and modes, like the Card Shop (no prizes for guessing what they sell there) and Wiggle Ball. There’s also the challenge of unlocking the Backyard Legend difficulty, which I’d like to try out over the course of a few League matches before I give my verdict. In the immortal words of Vinny the Gooch, I am still in there like swimwear, as there’s plenty left for me to do, and I’ll be back with my final score after the weekend.

Palworld revises some of its most egregious creature designs for its 1.0 release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:57:03 +0800

Today, Palworld left early access with a massive 1.0 patch that brought an avalanche of changes and has drawn hundreds of thousands of new and returning players with the seductive allure of making creatures work in conditions that OSHA would object to if they were people... Read more.

Demonschool for Switch & Switch 2 has been rated by the ESRB, published by Fangamer hinting at retail release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:46:04 +0800

The rating is only for Switch and Switch 2 with no PS5 version rated yet.

New Survival Game on Steam Game is a Hodgepodge of Terminator, Metroid, and The Last of Us

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:46:04 +0800

While the Terminator franchise has had some incredible highs to match its recent lows when it comes to films, the video games tend to always end up somewhere in the middle. The best game the series has had is Terminator: Resistance, and even that was mostly met with 7/10 scores from critics and gamers alike. Naturally, the desire for a standout game that captures the feel of Terminator is going to be high, as fans of the iconic series have yet to truly be wowed when it comes to game adaptations. Fortunately, while it doesn’t carry the Terminator branding, the upcoming Steam game Ghostless has Terminator written all over it.

TBH Development Roadmap

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:34:04 +0800

Hello,

This is the development team.

Thank you to everyone who plays and continues to share your feedback with us.

Recently, as many of you have been clearing the Torment difficulty, we've received a great deal of interest in our next update and future development plans.

Before we share the update roadmap for Q3 2026, we would first like to update you on how we are currently addressing the issues you've asked about most, along with our plans going forward.

We sincerely apologize for not being able to resolve these inconveniences more quickly.

Our team is continuously working on improvements to provide a more stable game environment.

1. Items and save data not being saved

Due to the way TBH: Task Bar Hero is structured, gameplay data must be saved to the cloud.

However, if the game is force-closed before data is saved to the cloud (for example, by logging in from another PC), or if the game shuts down abnormally or the connection ends unexpectedly, some play data may not have been properly reflected.

To keep your play data safe, we kindly ask that you close the game normally in a stable environment.

Our team is currently developing a server backup system, a save-file recovery system, and enhanced save stability to improve data-saving reliability.

We are preparing to roll these out in stages over the course of a month to resolve the issue.

2. Being unable to receive server outage compensation

Over the past several days, server outage compensation has been sent to your Mailbox daily between 16:00 and 20:00 (KST).

However, we have received reports that some players were unable to properly receive this compensation. Our team is working to identify the cause and resolve the issue. If you have been affected, please submit the details along with your Steam ID through the Google Form below.

We will review your submission against our internal logs and provide compensation to eligible players in order.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfe7gMm02vQuw3peLUlqda_hIypEv823I3qjZKlfnuhtA7sCg/viewform

3. Timing for full Steam Market normalization

To provide a clean trading marketplace, our team continuously sanctions abusers who use illegal programs.

When the Market reopened, we temporarily restricted the listing of the top three item grades in order to stabilize the market and monitor the trading environment.

Based on our observations so far, we believe the market is being maintained in a stable state.

After completing an additional stability review, we plan to lift the Market restrictions within July.

4. Suggestions and improvements for the game

Our team continuously reviews the wide range of opinions and improvement requests you send through Discord, the community, email, and other channels.

We are giving serious thought to areas that need improvement — such as feedback that certain character metas have become too dominant and reduced the fun of play, ways to improve progression/farming, and improvements to some stats that are currently underused.

For now, this roadmap will guide you through the detailed update plans for Q3 2026 and the direction beyond that. We will continue to communicate more detailed plans and direction going forward.

\[2026-2027 Roadmap]

\[Q3 Update Details]

We will always strive to be a TBH: Task Bar Hero development team that provides a stable play environment.

Thank you.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter version 1.06.3 update on PC adds DLSS 4 and FSR 2.2 upscaling support

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:26:04 +0800

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter gets a surprise PC update a few months before Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter launches.

Ben Starr Accuses Microsoft of Multiple Lies After Xbox Layoffs

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:05:04 +0800

Ben Starr has accused Microsoft of communicating multiple "lies" in the lead-up to the mass layoffs at Xbox. The award-winning actor made the remarks as part of a broader criticism of the strategy that led Xbox to its current predicament, with the company's own leadership acknowledging that the business is "not healthy."

Ghost Recon’s Official Return Is Sooner Than Expected

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:57:03 +0800

It's been a long time since the last new Ghost Recon. Breakpoint came out in 2019, and the next installment hasn't even been announced. Ubisoft was reportedly struggling with revitalizing Ghost Recon, hoping to take it back to its military simulation roots with the next entry, but there has been no official word on the game's development. A new release for the series may unexpectedly be right around the corner, though.

Save 25% on MENACE

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:45:03 +0800

MENACE is now 25% off during the Hooded Horse July Publisher Sale.

Lead a strike force against an alien threat in this turn-based tactical RPG from the developers of Battle Brothers. Answer distress calls across different worlds, train and equip infantry, deploy tanks and mechs, and plan and execute missions in detailed turn-based battles.

Hooded Horse July Publisher Sale

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2432860/MENACE/

id Software Issues Statement Following Xbox Layoffs, Says It's Back to the Size It Was When It Made 2016's Doom

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:04:04 +0800

id Software has issued a statement following layoffs at Xbox that saw roughly half the staff at the legendary first-person shooter studio lose their jobs.

On Wednesday, a WARN notice filed in Texas reported by Game Developer confirmed that 96 workers had been laid off in Richardson, Texas, home of id Software, with a further 40 remote roles cut. The cuts were part of new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s “reset” of Microsoft’s gaming business, which began with 1,600 staff losing their jobs on Monday. Another 1,600 will be let go during the rest of the current financial year. Four Xbox studios are already out the door, with another hot on their heels.

Some have expressed concern that id Software would be unable to lead development on any new games in its current state, and that it might be relegated to support studio status. But in a new statement issued to IGN, id Software said it was now at the staffing level it was back when it made the much-loved 2016 Doom reboot — and insisted it was still capable of making “great games.”

Here’s the statement in full, posted to id Software's X / Twitter page:

Thank you all for the support this week. While our studio was impacted, those changes were spread across teams. We still have the crew we need to build the games and tech we're known for. The team today is about the same size we were when making Doom 2016. We have always had a flat studio where everyone is a maker, and we will remain true to that philosophy moving forward. We are focused on supporting each other and the team members impacted. We're going to keep building the great games and tech that have defined us for the past 35 years, and we're looking forward to seeing you at QuakeCon this August. id also pushed back on the suggestion that there’s essentially no-one left at the company working on id Tech, the game engine it and fellow Bethesda-owned studio MachineGames uses to build their games. A source familiar with the setup at id Software told IGN that there are still dozens of people across multiple locations working on id Tech.

While id Software currently has no announced project, IGN understands that the studio is prototyping a number of potential projects, with the belief it is still capable of building its own games. According to GamesBeat, id was formulating new game ideas, such as a John Wick-style original IP, a new Perfect Dark game, and a multiplayer / co-op Doom game before the layoffs hit.

Bethesda studios will collaborate more closely from now on, however, and, generally at Xbox, there is a focus on bigger franchises such as Halo, Minecraft, Candy Crush, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls. As revealed by IGN, in an email to Bethesda staff sent following Sharma's memo on Monday, Bethesda boss Jill Braff said the layoffs and change in strategy “reflect the realities of our industry and business – and our responsibility to ensure Bethesda is operating from a more stable foundation.”

"To be successful in the future, we need to change course,” Braff continued. “We must strengthen our business, return to sustainable growth, and ensure we can continue investing in our franchises and our players. I know that doesn't make a day like today any easier.”

But what does that actually mean beyond layoffs at the likes of id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, and elsewhere at Bethesda? Without naming games, Braff said “to best position Bethesda for future growth, we are shifting from a planning model primarily centered on what's next for each independent studio to one that focuses on our strongest franchises and determining the content roadmap that best serves our players and Bethesda as a whole.”

“From there, we’ll align the right talent, technology, and resources across the organization to deliver on those priorities,” Braff added.

id Software co-founders John Romero and John Carmack have both issued statements on the layoffs at the studio. John Romero took to social media to offer affected id Software staff his support, and to call on the studio’s recent legacy to be preserved. “Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein are not easy names to carry on, especially in today’s industry,” he said. “The last few games showed real care, skill and respect for what those worlds mean to people.”

Carmack, however, expressed sadness but not “anger or outrage," questioning whether id Software's games had sold well enough to prevent the layoffs.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

'I'd Take It in a Second' — Cyberpunk 2077 Player Resurgence Has Fans Calling on CD Projekt to Change Its Mind and Release More DLC

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:04:04 +0800

Cyberpunk 2077 is having a moment, with impressive player numbers on Steam fueled by a recent sale, hype for upcoming Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 and its collaboration with Wuthering Waves. And while Cyberpunk 2077 is a known quantity at this point, and CD Projekt has told fans not to expect any more DLC, fans are calling on the developer to change its mind and release more DLC — just like The Witcher 3 is getting.

Earlier this month, CD Projekt confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 had sold an incredible 40 million copies since its December 2020 launch, up 5 million from November 2025. It's received one expansion so far, 2023's Phantom Liberty starring Idris Elba.

In May, CD Projekt insisted it had “no plans” for further Cyberpunk 2077 DLCs or expansions, disappointing fans who were still clamouring for more content despite the age of the game. It suggests fans will have to wait for Cyberpunk 2 to return to CD Projekt’s much-loved dystopian universe. And the wait looks like it's going to be significant; Cyberpunk 2 is further behind The Witcher 4, and CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski has suggested Cyberpunk 2 won’t be out until at least 2030.

On July 5, Cyberpunk 2077’s Steam peak concurrent player count surpassed 100,000, the highest it’s been since 2023. “Have fun my dears, hope it’s going to keep you hooked, entertained, and inspired,” Paweł Sasko, associate game director on Cyberpunk 2, tweeted in response.

With this new player surge, fans are calling on CD Projekt to release new content. “Yeah, we are gonna need that second DLC CDPR!” reads the title of a reddit thread with 12,000 upvotes. “Honestly, they need some money so give us a dlc so we could give you more money!” one fan joked.

“I would die if this game got another DLC (after I play it of course),” another added. “This is one of my favorite games of all time, it’s also one of the saddest cases of cut content from a game which is exactly why I want them to add more stuff. I’ve never spent as much time in any game looking around outside the map, and searching up cut content to see what this game was supposed to be. I don’t even know what the DLC would be about but damn it do I want another more than any other game right now.”

“It’s a slap in the face The Witcher 3 is getting another DLC,” another, more serious fan, said. “To any Witcher fans reading I don’t hate the game for it but bro why is an 11-year old game with heaps of DLC still getting new shit and the newer title isn’t? I really wish they’d revisit some of the cut content and add it via DLC…”

“I’m just wrapping up my first playthrough. 100%ing it at around 220 hours. It’s incredible. A new DLC would wreck my plans to move onto my backlog, but I’d f***ing take it in a second lol,” another fan said.

Some suspect CD Projekt will indeed release new Cyberpunk 2077 DLC eventually, as it has done with The Witcher 3, but closer to the release of a new Cyberpunk game. For now, CD Projekt’s official line is no new Cyberpunk 2077 DLC is in the works. But there was no new The Witcher 3 DLC in the works for years before it was confirmed, so you never know.

If you’re just starting your adventure in Night City or returning to Cyberpunk 2077 after a long absence, use IGN’s complete walkthrough (https://www.ign.com/wikis/cyberpunk-2077/Walkthrough_-_Main_Jobs) to see all major choices possible for completing main jobs. Before you go too far, don’t forget to review the romance options in Cyberpunk and what you need to do to successfully woo them with our guide. (https://www.ign.com/wikis/cyberpunk-2077/All_Romance_Options_and_Sexual_Encounters_Guide) We also have a complete guide to Phantom Liberty (https://www.ign.com/wikis/cyberpunk-2077/Cyberpunk_2077_Phantom_Liberty), a console commands guide (https://www.ign.com/wikis/cyberpunk-2077/Cyberpunk_2077_Console_Commands_and_Cheats_List), and plenty more.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Ubisoft Comments on Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Microtransactions

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:04:04 +0800

While Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has been a hit with critics, the number of microtransactions the game launched with has prompted fans to leave numerous negative reviews online, leading Ubisoft to address the situation directly. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resyncedis the first ground-up remake in the AC franchise, bringing one of the most celebrated games in the series to modern audiences.

No Rest for the Wicked | Founder's Pack Rewards

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:48:04 +0800

LAST DAY TODAY to earn Founder's Pack Rewards!

If you've bought the game at any point during early access up until today, you automatically qualify for the Founder's Pack for free at 1.0 Launch.

Check out the video here -

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6wsPIUKH0MQ

How to unlock Samael's romance and begin dating the brooding bartender in Moonlight Peaks

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:47:03 +0800

I don't blame you for loading up Moonlight Peaks and saying: "Wait, how are you supposed to date Samael?" The broody bartender is easily the most conventionally attractive guy in town. If you peeked at the datable candidates list for Moonlight Peaks, you'll have seen Samael featured alongside all the other eligible townies. When you start playing, though, you notice pretty quickly that Samael only has four friendship hearts in his relationship panel unlike the other bachelors, so what gives?.. Read more.

Palworld Update 1.0 Patch Notes Revealed

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:45:03 +0800

Pocketpair unveiled an extensive list of changes made for Palworld 1.0, which is now available on all supported platforms. The arrival of Palworld 1.0 came after the open-world crafting game spent two years in early access and took the world by storm.

New Official My Hero Academia Release Confirmed for Fall 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:45:03 +0800

My Hero Academia fans finally know when the franchise's next major release is arriving. Of course, fans know that the English dub of the final season of the anime released in October 2025, while a brand-new episode of My Hero Academia titled "More" premiered on May 2 earlier this year.

A Manor Lords update has just fixed its "degraded" systems - "Next stop: more content"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:38:06 +0800

Manor Lords update seven is live now, bringing the past four months of beta test patches and hotfixes to the medieval city builder proper.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: A Manor Lords update has just fixed its "degraded" systems - "Next stop: more content"

Space Engineers 2: Hotfix 2.3.0.2790

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:36:04 +0800

Hotfix 2.3.0.2790 has been released!

➡️ Changelog: https://kswh.link/vs2-3
????️ Support Portal: https://support.keenswh.com/spaceengineers2/pc
????️ Discord: https://discord.gg/keenswh

Stability Fixes

Fixed a crash at BlockPlacementAlignment.UpdateAlignment
Fixed a crash at ElasticAnalyticsReporterComponent.SendGroupedEvents
Fixed a crash at EventControllerServerComponent.TryCreateParameterForEntity
Fixed a crash at HavokTriggersSessionComponent.UpdateTriggers
Fixed a crash at HttpConnectionPool.ConnectToTcpHostAsync
Fixed a crash at IO.Enumeration.FileSystemEnumerator
Fixed a crash at MainView-ExecuteIndirect
Fixed a crash at MechanicalBlockCounterpartDetectionComponent.OnContinuousDetectionUpdate
Fixed a crash at ReadOnlyPlanetEnvironmentData.OverlapsAnyEntities
Fixed a crash at ResourceStreamingComponent.SetImplicitStandardMaterials
Fixed a crash at SpaceProbeSessionComponent.PreloadAggregator.OnPreloadableUnregistered
Fixed a network story crash in StreamedInventorySessionComponent
Fixed a freeze during game startup caused by a deadlock in planet voxel meshing and texture streaming
Fixed multiple freezes occurring in different game scenarios

Image Credits: SPACE 4T TRUCK by NAKA研

Thank you for helping us make the game better!

????️ Feedback & Support - https://support.keenswh.com/
????️ Roadmap: https://2.spaceengineersgame.com/roadmap-2/#current
????️ Discord: https://discord.gg/keenswh
???? Newsletter: https://www.keenswh.com/newsletter
➡️ Connect and find us on your platform of choice: https://www.keenswh.com/connect/

Atelier Yumia Switch 2 Edition and Switch update now live with performance improvements and more

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:25:03 +0800

The new update promises performance improvements in Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land on both Switch systems.

Indie dev defends criticism of Steam refund abuse amid review bombing of his game: 'It's wrong to refund a game after having fun with it and completing it'

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:15:04 +0800

XDeveloper Mateo Covic, who went viral for complaining that thousands of people had refunded his game after finishing it in less than two hours, says he's not actually unhappy about the number of refunds or money he lost, or even Steam's policy in general—he was merely expressing frustration with players who "bragged about having a fun time with the game and refunding it after completion.".. Read more.

Valve's new Steam Machine verification system is silent on these Steam Deck-busters

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:14:04 +0800

About a month ago, Valve announced that it would expand its long-standing Steam Deck Verified program to the now-shipping Steam Machine, offering a separate rating of Steam games' compatibility and playability for the fresh living room-focused hardware. Now that those ratings started appearing on Steam store pages last night (under a "Learn More" link next to Steam Deck Compatibility), we've found that Valve is frustratingly "still learning about" Steam Machine compatibility for dozens of games that the Steam Deck is too weak to run capably.

The Steam Machine compatibility for many Steam games is pretty simple to figure out, of course. If a game is already verified on Steam Deck, it is seemingly guaranteed to be verified on the Steam Machine, as far as we can tell. On the other side, games that have already been confirmed not to work with SteamOS (which can happen for various reasons) obviously won't work on the SteamOS-powered Steam Machine.

The messy middle is where a Steam Machine Verified badge could come in most handy. These are games that Valve has confirmed will load on SteamOS, but which the aging, portable Steam Deck can't handle at the 1200x800, 30 fps standard that Valve requires at default settings (for the Steam Machine, this requirement grows to 1080p and 30 fps). On the Steam Store, these games show up as "Unsupported" on Steam Deck because "the game's graphics settings cannot be configured to run well on Steam Deck" or "this game requires manual configuration of graphics settings to perform well on Steam Deck."

Read full article

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Phenoms take centre stage in Football Ultimate Team™

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:09:03 +0800

Football’s next generation takes centre stage this summer. From tournament debutants to certified superstars, discover the future of The World’s Game in Football Ultimate Team™.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3405690/EA_SPORTS_FC_26/

Where to find the fallen tree and unblock the waterfall in Moonlight Peaks

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:06:05 +0800

During the quest The Mysterious Bay you're going to need to lift a fallen tree in Moonlight Peaks to help your newly-discovered mermaid neighbors rejoin the town proper. After you get the rundown, you might wind up scratching your head over where that tree you're supposed to clear was. It certainly isn't nearby in the Howling Marshes where you'd assume... Read more.

Steam Users Have a Chance to Get Oblivion Remastered for Just $1

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:06:05 +0800

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has been incredibly popular since it released in 2025, despite apparent player retention and sales issues, and now a handful of lucky Steam users have a chance to get it for just $1. However, it's worth noting that this is a chance, essentially a raffle, and there is no guarantee that any individual will be among those to get Oblivion Remastered so cheaply.

Steam has reportedly made Valve more money in the first half of 2026 than it did in all of 2020 – $11.1 billion and counting

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:06:05 +0800

Steam has reportedly already brought Valve $11.1 billion in revenue in 2026 so far, and I bet that makes you feel even better about that Steam Machine price point.

Alinea Analytics has released its mid-year analysis of Valve's platform, saying, "In the first half of 2026, we estimate that games on Steam generated $11.1B in gross revenue, the platform’s highest-ever half-year."

The firm adds, "That’s up 14.5% on H1 2025, and up 8% even on the holiday-heavy H2 2025, which is the more remarkable comparison given the back half of the year usually wins on seasonal sales and holiday buys."

As for why Steam did especially well this year, Alinea notes a "surge in Asian players (China especially), higher prices on releases, viral co-op hits, smarter back-catalogue strategies from the big publishers" and "third-party publishers quietly returning to Steam after their own-launcher experiments, tails between legs."

The report notes that the first half of 2026 was roughly four times as big as the first half of 2017. However, a more shocking metric is that Steam has reportedly generated more in the first half of 2026 than in the entirety of 2020 – a year when everyone was inside playing games and dodging COVID.

(Image credit: Valve) While massive AAA games like Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and 007 First Light – as well as indie hits like Mewgenics and Mina the Hollower – have blown up this year, the percentage of Steam revenue coming from new games actually appears smaller than in the past as backlog sales grow.

Alinea notes that 29% of game sales in the first half of 2024 came from games released that year, while 27% of H1 2025 sales were from new releases. Of course, 2025's first half had Monster Hunter Wilds, which sold 11 million copies in 2025, with 8 million of those selling in the first three days. The first few months of 2024 were also stacked with anticipated games that undoubtedly bumped those numbers up. So far, Alinea is tracking 2026 Steam sales at just 21% from new releases.

This success is maybe a bit harder to swallow given that the 1TB Steam Deck OLED just got a price hike to be almost a grand, while Steam Machine pricing starts at $1,049. RAM shortages and US tariffs are obviously major weights, but when a company is printing money like this, you might expect it to eat some costs. However, Valve made it perfectly clear that subsidizing hardware "doesn't align with our beliefs."

I can't afford $1,049 for a Steam Machine, but Valve has already graced your PC with the ability to be a high-spec living room rig from afar.

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Valve's "Steam Machine Verified" ratings offer more questions than answers

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:06:05 +0800

Ubisoft tells Black Flag microtransaction critics that they control the DLC they buy

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:56:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is here and violently colon-less, despite my deep-rooted ancestral urge to fill every gap between those words with dots and dashes, as our forefathers did in the days of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines... Read more.

New Zelda-like from Square Enix does what Nintendo didn't in Ocarina of Time, silencing 27 years of Navi trauma

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:44:04 +0800

If any game typifies annoying side characters, it's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and that pesky Navi. "Hey, listen!" is embedded in the brains of anyone who's ever taken that particular quest to stop Ganondorf, and another adventure's suffered the same plight, leading to a patch.

In this instance, it's recently released action-RPG The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, a game published by Square Enix. There are clear Zelda influences in the use of a single, sword-wielding protagonist on a mythic date with destiny, who's accompanied by a glimmering butterfly named Faei.

Though meant to be helpful, it turns out Faei's contributions were a little more irritating than intended. "Think Navi from Ocarina of Time except it's [around ten] seconds of hammed up anime girl interjections," reads a negative Steam review. "Add that to Elliot's 'Hyah' which only has [three-to-four] variations. and jumping noise, it's like one of those brain rot simulators."

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/XVIPixTXZP8 The devs are aware of these complaints, and have decided to remedy the situation by adding an off switch. The latest patch lets you simply remove Faei's insights entirely, and you can feel a certain sigh of relief emanating from the community.

There were settings for minimizing how often you heard her in-game, but according to the same reviewer above, even the lowest option still has a voice line across several more activities than you might like. Generally speaking, choice is good, and while some may enjoy Faei, it's clear plenty don't, and letting them switch it off seems like a wise move.

Nintendo has never offered any such thing for Ocarina of Time. I can't imagine, even if patches existed in the late-'90s, the company would've bothered. It's just not how the house Mario built ever operated. I lament this each and every time I head back to Hyrule, to be honest.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead says Zelda: Breath of the Wild was "the first open-world game that actually delivered on the promise of an open world"

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The Blood of Dawnwalker director compares the RPG's excellent fantasy combat to Max Payne and Guitar Hero: "Oh god, it was a lot of iteration"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:34:05 +0800

The Blood of Dawnwalker is taking remarkably big swings for developer Rebel Wolves' debut game. I played the upcoming RPG for four hours earlier this month, and came away fascinated by how physically it involves the player in its world. Time is an action point-style resource that keeps the game's world moving forward, while protagonist Coen's playstyle varies greatly as a vampire by night and human by day.

While its third-person action and open-world setting betray its developer's experience on RPG hits The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, The Blood of Dawnwalker shows a clear drive to go deeper on role-playing elements. Catching up with game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, I suggest that a lot of the game's depth is typically reserved for isometric-style RPGs – think Baldur's Gate and Fallout, wherein rules and systems are used to reinforce their respective fantasies.

In another life, The Blood of Dawnwalker could have mirrored those examples even closer. "At the beginning of the game, we knew we wanted it to be third-person," shares Tomaszkiewicz, "[but] when we started thinking about combat, we thought maybe we would make it isometric."

"In the end, we thought that telling the story and being immersed with your characters is best when you see it all the time on screen," the director continues. "A big part of RPGs is itemization – changing your character, putting new clothes and weapons on, and so on. You want to see them on your character all the time, and in isometric games it works but the characters are smaller and the details are harder to see. We knew we had the technology and know-how to do really detailed characters, knew those materials would be really good, and decided to create a third-person [perspective] where you can change the distance from the character."

Fighting talk

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) Starstruck

(Image credit: Bandai Namco) The Blood of Dawnwalker star was "slightly too excited" in his audition to veteran Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 devs: "I probably shouldn't have looked that up"

Rebel Wolves opted for real-time combat for the same immersive gains. "The goal we had was to not create combat where you see pretty stuff on the screen, like you're pressing a button and watching a movie. We wanted you to feel that you are in the center of combat, that you need to observe your opponent, and react, and learn to fight. I compare it to Guitar Hero, because there is a similar feeling that in the beginning – you cannot hit these buttons! – and after a week, you're doing it really fast [...] Here, you'll also have this learning curve."

I expected The Blood of Dawnwalker's combat to mirror The Witcher 3, which Tomaszkiewicz directed, but in play it's quicker and more dynamic. Your mouse or analog stick input determines the direction Coen's attack swings from – mixing it up makes enemies less likely to block your blows – and similarly, blocking or parrying a blow requires matching the direction it's aimed from.

How Coen fights depends on the time of day. When the sun is up, he's a fairly normal swordfighter, able to use combat techniques via an ability wheel – but not his vampiric powers. Those are limited to nocturnal use, letting Coen fight with his claws and other supernatural powers. A Dishonored-style blink allows you to reposition instantly and often, and while you can't heal by eating food in vampire form, you can snatch an enemy in combat to gain health with quick gulps of their blood.

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) Playing Coen at the start of his journey means I don't have access to some of his more dramatic powers, but it already feels exceptional – comparable to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Dragon's Dogma 2, but easier to get to grips with. It's right on the sweet spot, involved enough for the sickos and straightforward enough for more casual fans – how did Rebel Wolves get there without over-cooking?

"Oh god, it was a lot of iteration," laughs Tomaszkiewicz. Combat started with a simpler concept and "quite easy" opponents, but it "started to get boring" over multiple playthroughs, leading to further additions. "From iteration to iteration we'd add something, change something, and in the end we are where we are now. There is no other way [to get it right] than iterating and playing all the time. If you're playing this game hundreds of times and still have fun when you fight, that was the goal – to create a combat system you can enjoy and you can repeat."

"The example I like to give here is Max Payne," he adds. "I replayed it five times, because I like the things I can do there, how it looks, and so on. I wanted to create it here, with similar feeling [and] different tools."

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) Through the lens of combat, I get the impression that Rebel Wolves has spent the last four years untangling itself from the RPG genre's norms and expectations – instead following the fun and seeing where it leads. Its much-lauded time system is "like Persona," says Tomaszkiewicz, but argues The Blood of Dawnwalker's shifting day and night dynamic is unlike anything we've seen before. "There are no games we could have compared this to. We created two different loops, and [essentially] needed to create two games in one."

"You can play the same quest at day or night, and it's a little bit different," the director adds. "Different choices, different consequences – it's a lot."

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Resident Evil Requiem cut one of the Leon Kennedy actor's "favorite" lines, and fans agree Capcom has "robbed" us with its removal

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:34:05 +0800

Resident Evil Requiem has all sorts of brilliant lines, especially from iconic protagonist Leon Kennedy – but there could've been even more, had Capcom not cut them.

Leon Kennedy actor Nick Apostolides reveals a few in a new discussion from Play, Watch, Listen+ on YouTube (below), including one that would've come up during the Titan Spinner fight – an arguably hair-raising battle against a huge arachnid.

"The one that they didn't use would have been my favorite," Apostolides explains, admitting that the cut line would've been his most beloved… had Capcom not removed it from the game.

"When you fight the spider, I wanted to say – and we recorded it, 'You know, you've been a real itsy-bitsy pain in my ass,'" the actor recalls, using his legendary Leon Kennedy voice while recalling the line. "It would have been a banger." Indeed, it would've been.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/DeTwaTfEnec I'm not alone in agreeing with the star, either, as folks over on Twitter lament the cut dialogue. "OMG," exclaims one fan. "This would have been freaking incredible."

Quoted responses (if you click to view post activity) are just as amusing, with somebody shouting, "WE WAS ROBBED!" Another jokes, "Requiem Leon is definitely a father."

WE WAS ROBBED https://t.co/3AIA3Fd8tl July 10, 2026

The actual video on YouTube has garnered some pretty great attention, too – considering that Apostolides used his Leon Kennedy voice while describing the cut line, folks comment on how it could be modded into the game itself now.

"Well, he just gave us the line right there to mod it into the game," as one person says – and, I mean, they're not wrong.

There are all sorts of Resident Evil Requiem mods out there, from those affecting gameplay to others targeting visuals. What's to say a boss fight line couldn't be the next to go live? I certainly wouldn't be opposed to it, and it seems like the community is already considering the possibility.

Here's hoping we get to hear the "itsy-bitsy" line in-game someday, then – Leon Kennedy can never have enough one-liners, if you ask me.

Yet to play Capcom's latest horror game? Be sure to read our Resident Evil Requiem review. You can also check out our guide to Resident Evil Requiem's safe codes to help you through the game.

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Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle Original Soundtrack launches on August 9 from Basiscape

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:34:05 +0800

Basiscape has announced the release date for the Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle Original Soundtrack on digital and streaming services.

8 Years Later, The Greatest Modern Spider-Man Quote Isn't From The Comics Or Movies

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:34:04 +0800

If any superhero property is a font of great quotes, it's Spider-Man. Not only is Peter Parker one of the best in the game at quips, but Uncle Ben and Aunt May have the wisdom to match his wit. "With great power comes great responsibility" is iconic for a reason, and that's only the tip of the iceberg.

Marvel Rivals needs to pick a lane and either fully embrace balancing for 'fun' long term or stick to some serious changes

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:17:03 +0800

fter NetEase's best attempt at competitive balance in Marvel Rivals season 8.5, this latest season has done a complete 180, with flamethrowing sharks, lethal dive comps, and ridiculous CC counters. I'm certainly not a fan of chaos comp, but my wishes for NetEase to pick a lane are starting to supersede any desire for actual balance... Read more.

GTA 6 shown mercy by indie dev who previously planned to "humiliate Rockstar" by releasing their open-world game on the same day

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:14:06 +0800

An overlooked but incredibly promising open-world game that needs all the attention it can get, called GTA 6, has been spared humiliation.

Molleindustria – the developer of some really interesting, politically charged indie games fronted by Paolo Pedercini – had planned to embarrass GTA 6 come launch. For an entire year, the indie outfit said it was going to release its own narrative-driven, open-world game (Future? No Thanks!) alongside GTA 6.

But as we count down the weeks to GTA 6's November release date, Molleindustria has shown mercy. Future? No Thanks! is now coming out on July 22. I can practically hear the sighs of relief coming from Take-Two and Rockstar's offices.

"Last year, we promised to release our upcoming game, Future? No Thanks! on the same day as Grand Theft Auto 6 in order to humiliate Rockstar in the open-world genre and deliver the killing blow to the Western game industry," the developer writes on social media.

"However, after repeatedly aligning our timeline with Rockstar's and delaying our release date alongside theirs, we realized we were at serious risk of making the game too polished, too bloated, and ultimately inauthentic," it continues. "Moreover, our superintelligent Marxist models forecast an unprecedented recession in the fourth quarter of 2026, with negative implications for gamers' disposable income and short-term demand for ecosocialist narratives. We had no choice but to move the release date up to July 22."

In all seriousness, Future? No Thanks! isn't gunning for the same crowds as GTA 6, but it still looks like one of the more interesting new games on the horizon. Set in 2045, the world is seemingly thriving. Climate change is being tackled, democracy is being upheld, and technology isn't being used to slowly erode our way of life – our grumpy old man protag still isn't happy, however.

The game's Steam page describes the bad-mouthed gramps as someone who "no longer fits in" and wants to check everything off his bucket list before his "self-scheduled euthanasia." Hence, the name and the goal of the game. "Indulge in outdated pleasures, explore a post-post-industrial Midwest, clash with a society that's moved on without you, and maybe, just maybe, leave with fewer regrets." It's on my wishlist, that's for sure.

GTA 6 shipping without discs "feels unfair to studios still backing physical," Lords of the Fallen 2 boss says, and Sony's certainly not helping.

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Feature Focus: The Upgrade Tree

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:09:03 +0800

Hello hoteliers!

Today, we are returning to an old blog series that we like to refer to as 'Feature Focus'. Today, we'll be taking a closer look at the Upgrade Tree!

What is the Upgrade tree?

The upgrade tree allows players to upgrade certain amenities, zones and items in order to improve their hotel.

Differences between Early Access and 1.0

As some of you may recall, in Early Access the upgrade tree looked a little different to what we now have in place today. There were a few key differences such as how the player can earn upgrade points, and the tier system which was later introduced. These changes were ultimately made to be more supportive of the players' journey in order to achieve a 5-star hotel!

Here's a comparison between now and what it looked like before, if you're curious!

[carousel][/carousel]

How do upgrades work?

In Hotel Architect, the upgrades are divided into tiers and can be individually researching using upgrade points. Each check-out completed grants one upgrade point for the corresponding tier.

To progress through the tiers, all upgrades in the orange column (to the left hand side) must be researched before it becomes possible to proceed to the next tier.

Points earned in advanced tiers, can be used to research upgrades from earlier tiers - but not the other way around.

How to earn upgrade points per tier

Tier 1 Upgrade Points: These can be earned when Backpackers check-out
Tier 2 Upgrade Points: These can be earned when Sporty guests check-out
Tier 3 Upgrade Points: This can be earned when Sunbather or Business guests check-out
Tier 4 Upgrade Points: This can be earned when Brats check-out
Tier 5 Upgrade Points: This can be earned when Upper Crusts check-out

One check-out is equal to one upgrade point.

What upgrades are required for progression?

In each tier, outside of tier 5, there are certain upgrades required for progression to the next tier. These include:

Tier 1: The gym upgrade
Tier 2: The restaurant, and Special bedroom amenities upgrades
Tier 3: The bar, premium bedding and premium bathing upgrades

Tier 4: The Spa, Luxurious bedding and Luxurious bathing upgrades

If you've reached the end of this blog, then you should now have everything you need to know about Upgrades (that is, if you didn't already know!)

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WELLLLLLLLLL: The Big Show Has More Hours in Baldur's Gate 3 Than You

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:07:03 +0800

AEW wrestler Paul Wight, perhaps better known as his stage name The Big Show from his time in WWE, recently revealed how many hours he has in Baldur's Gate 3, and it's a lot. It's probably not more than everyone (please tell me how many hours you have in Baldur's Gate 3 in the comments, if so), but it's going to be a lot more than a lot of people.

Palworld 1.0 Players Spot a Number of Pal Redesigns — and Some Say They Now Look Less Like the Pokémon They Resembled

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:07:03 +0800

Palworld players have spotted that developer Pocketpair has altered several Pal designs for the 1.0 launch, leaving some saying they now look less like the Pokémon they had resembled.

Pocketpair published detailed patch notes for Palworld's 1.0 version earlier this week listing hundreds of additions, changes and improvements. However, these patch notes do not discuss the changes to several Pal designs, leaving players to instead discover the updated looks for themselves.

With Palworld 1.0 now out in the wild, players are doing just that — and have remarked on the alterations to Verdash, Robinquill, Fengallop, and Grintale, which previously displayed more distinct similarities to more familiar Pokémon species Cinderace, Decidueye, Cobalion, and Galarian Meowth.

I think this is all redesigns
byu/Silverr98 inPalworld .reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; } Verdash has become more squirrel-like, less similar to the soccer-playing rabbit he previously resembled. Robinquill has lost its red cape, an object which made its silhouette familiar to Pokémon fans. Fengallop now looks more deer-like, with altered colors to make it more distinct. And the feline Grintale has had its mouth redesigned, so its facial figures are now more original.

On the Palworld reddit, a lengthy thread is discussing the changes in a largely positive light, with many saying the updated models are improved. But even then, the understanding that these are similar to specific Pokémon species appears to be well understood.

"Can't believe that they actually went back and improved them to make them feel less kitbashy or repurposed, in terms of them feeling like bunch of bits taken or swapped around from various Pokemon," wrote Palworld fan DefaultProducts.

"I'm kinda glad they redid the whole deer design, it looks a bit too much like a femme fluffy Coballion before to me," wrote Mr_w00fy.

"I'm glad they redesigned green Cinderace," Omnifob wrote. "It was too close to its inspiration, now it looks really cute. I like the redesign of Robinquill too, something about the original bothered me."

"Verdash and Robinquil were both Pals I refused to use because they looked too close to their inspo," wrote Vvattvery. "Now I see myself using them."

Discussion of the changes is more critical on video game forum ResetEra, where many have suggested the creatures should never have looked so similar to Pokémon in the first place. "Better late than never, I guess!" said forum user Greywaren. "It's hilarious how blatant some of the model rips were, and people still jumped to defend them."

"Tell me it's an admission of guilt without telling me it's an admission of guilt energy," wrote KezayJS1. "But hey, it's good that they're doing this because much of their initial designs were blatant mashups of actual Pokemon design elements."

Comparisons have been made between Palworld’s Pals and Pokémon since before Palworld's launch, when many accused developer Pocketpair of "ripping off" Pokémon designs. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company also took notice, opting to file a patent dispute over gameplay similarities. In the initial lawsuit, the two companies called for Pocketpair to pay 5 million yen (approx $30,000) each plus late payment damages, as well as an injunction against Palworld that would block its release. A judgement is expected later this year, though Pocketpair has already made changes to the game's mechanics, believed to be in response to that legal action. IGN has contacted Pocketpair for comment.

Check out IGN's Palworld review so far to find out what we think of the 1.0 update.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

The GTA 3 Mission That Reinvented It All

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:07:03 +0800

Few missions in GTA’s history would make such a big and noticeable change to the geography of the host city as Bomb Da Base Act II, which goes some way to explaining why all 45 seconds of this short, sharp, Tin Can Alley sniper mission remains so memorable.

By today’s standards it’s extraordinarily simple: in a world where there are entire games built around the sophisticated premise of telescopic sharpshooting, GTA 3’s 45-second dalliance with the idea hardly seems like anything to write home about. But make no mistake: with GTA 3, Rockstar invented the modern video game, and with Bomb da Base Act II, GTA reinvented itself.

Bomb Da Base proved to be a tantalising early glimpse at the ever more complex, Bruckheimer-worthy setpieces that would come to define Rockstar’s later games, their narratives, and the subversive mission design that this most Triple-A of Triple-A studios is capable of.

Few games are as seminal as GTA 3 and even fewer of them are sequels: of the big franchise entries that successfully straddled the fault line between 2D and 3D at the turn of the century, only Nintendo’s Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time remain as revered. Prestigious company that speaks to how industry-defining this humble little crime sim series came to be, originally hailing from the relative backwater of Dundee in Scotland, a place more readily associated with tracksuit gangs, Desperate Dan, and onion pies.

GTA 3 was not a sure thing.

And sure enough, those of us old enough to have been fans of Grand Theft Auto before it even had sequels felt right at home in GTA 3. Despite the quantum leap in world simulation and graphical fidelity it heralded, the core gameplay loop and tonal flourishes that defined the MS-DOS original were all present and correct: the open world city, the job system, the in-game radio stations. More or less everything except the casual slaughter of Hare Krishnas survived intact. Though Liberty City now felt more tangible than ever in its polygonal reimagining, GTA 3 felt like it did little to advance the series in terms of its mission design.

Until Bomb da Base.

The Italian mob are losing the streets to the Colombian Cartel. Funded by their ruthless control of the drug SPANK, the Cartel have become the dominant faction in Liberty City’s criminal underbelly and Salvatore Leone is desperate to put them out of business. By chance, a Mafia snitch by the name of Curly Bob leads you right to their secret SPANK factory: the freight ship Les Cargo, a rusting hulk of maritime contraventions moored permanently in Portland Harbour. Despite being the lynchpin of the Cartel’s entire drug operation, it’s relatively lightly guarded and structurally vulnerable to a lunch-box sized bomb going off in its bowels.

But you’re not the bomber, you’re an accessory to the bomber. And it’s here that GTA 3 gets properly interesting. Not that it isn’t brilliant up until this point, it is, but Bombing Da Base is a watershed moment in GTA 3 that comes just at the point where you think you’ve got it down.

I get it, it’s GTA with camera angles. Let me on the next island already.

No. There’s a test.

Firstly, you can’t even start the mission unless you can hand over $100,000. At this point in the game you likely do have at least this much, but it’s a high bar for entry that no previous missions have required. And if you’re the sort of player who spends most of their time playing death-by-cop in the open world instead of actually engaging with the missions and side-activities, it’s easy to keep blowing your cash on hospital fees.

So this first part of the mission filters out anyone playing like your wee brother.

Show up with the dosh, and 8-Ball introduces you to the scoped sniper rifle, along with an opportunity to practice your aim with it. Bear in mind, this is a PS2 title from before the twin-stick control paradigm and the aim-assistance that tends to come with it was fully established. The aiming is inverted as standard, which certainly didn’t help matters for the weak hearted, and the fire button is Circle, which you would naturally press with the same thumb you were aiming with. So, frankly, a lot of people needed the practice.

The first grunt you pop is 8 Ball’s cue to make a mad dash for the cargo hold. Desperate, yes, but not suicidal: his NPC AI is rudimentary but blessed with a faintly human sense of self-preservation. He will take cover. He will give you a chance to ice every goon before they ice him, but with an ever fleeting window of opportunity to take your shot as the mission progresses, there is a high chance of failure.

The simplicity of the mission brief was, for those of us playing the original GTA 3 in 2001, given ballast by the game’s obtuse control scheme. And arguably, this is by design: it is realistic, after all, for a high-powered sniper rifle to be unwieldy in untrained hands. Or, maybe it isn’t. Maybe the controls are just crap. Whatever the reason, this particular mission was a major choke point. Many players would never even see the next island. A lot of them were casuals, satisfied to simply wage an endless, unwinnable war against the LCPD on the island of Portland. Fine.

For the determined, it was a test of skill, perseverance, and possibly lateral thinking. It was possible to block or slow 8 Ball’s path with some strategic parking before starting his run, giving yourself ample time to take out the guards before letting him loose on the top deck. This method was fiddly and unpredictable but it did demonstrate GTA 3’s flexibility in how the player could use the open world simulation to change the odds in otherwise scripted encounters, something that would become a key part of the fun in later GTA games.

More than that, Bomb Da Base was a bold, early statement about how the player’s actions could, albeit in a contained, stage-managed way, have a permanent effect on the city itself. Most of your actions didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, almost everything you interact with in the open world is a temporary construct that spawns and then gets flushed out of memory as the game sees fit. But in these setpiece moments, your mark would be felt on the narrative, the factional politics, and the very landscape itself.

Inflicting permanent scars on the landscape is a trick that Rockstar uses with uncharacteristic restraint until GTA 5, which is chock full of subtle and unsubtle map changes, permanent and semi-permanent, as the player progresses through the single-player story. It works sensationally there, because it just makes enormous thematic sense in a game set in and around GTA’s equivalent of Hollywood to have a high instance of destructive, high-stakes, action-movie setpieces.

But in the grimy, 2 real 4 U hard-knock life of Liberty City, a rearrangement of geometry on this kind of scale was shocking and hugely impressive. It was a moment in time where the future was being invented, and showcases like this were enormously difficult to engineer on a technical level. But it impresses in a conceptual sense too: casting the protagonist in a support role while an NPC character does the actual mission is a wonderful subversion of a medium where almost nothing happens if not directly instigated by the player themselves.

Bomb Da Base would echo throughout the series as it became ever more bold and expensive. Playing an entire mission from a secondary perspective naturally gives way to the idea of playing through the same events from multiple perspectives, as happens so memorably in GTA 4 and its DLC stories, where the lives of three largely separate player characters become entangled around the nexus of a certain ill-fated diamond deal, which goes on to inform the basic idea of GTA 5’s hugely sophisticated triple-protagonist mechanic.

Like all the best things in life, as in game design, the central idea of Bomb Da Base is extraordinarily simple. But its implications were massive: it taught us that anything can happen in a Rockstar game, and sometimes it even leaves a scar.

Though its impact has been diminished by the ever ballooning spectacle of its successors and decades of quality of life improvements that have flattened out its steep difficulty, it remains one of the most important and iconic missions in what is arguably the 21st century’s most era-defining game.

GTA 3 was not a sure thing. It’s difficult to imagine now, at a time when it seems inconceivable that the next GTA won’t make a billion dollars in its opening week, but back then it was a gamble. There was no guarantee that the simplistic, top-down antics of Grand Theft Auto could be successfully reimagined as a full-blown 3D action game and Rockstar, formerly DMA Design, had seen its fair share of flops in the intervening years. But the quality of the experience, exemplified by the unassailable shock and awe of missions like Bomb Da Base, would ensure its status as a modern classic and the blueprint, the bible, the foundational work that informed everything after it.

For more deep-dives on the greatest stages, locations, and bosses in gaming history check out our previous Art of the Levels, and stay tuned for more GTA themed editions coming soon. Next month we take a deep dive into the hot Caribbean waters of Vice City’s Cop Land, so stick around!

Jim Trinca is a Video Producer at IGN, and when he isn't fawning over Assassin's Creed, he can be found watching Star Trek and eating stuff. Follow him on @jimtrinca.bsky.social, and check out The Trinca Perspective playlist over on IGN's YouTube channel!

All Animal Pelt, Skin and Hide locations in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:56:04 +0800

Animal pelts, skins and hides in Black Flag Resynced are all an important part of how you improve both your maximum health and your ability to carry around ammo and equipment generally. However, finding animal pelts isn't easy, as you'll have to explore the world to find and hunt various creatures and critters, from deer to jaguars to monkeys. Fortunately, I'll show you where to find all the pelts and animal locations in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced below, as well as how to get them all quickly without even having to leave Inagua.

All animal hunting locations in Black Flag Resynced

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Below we've laid out where to find every animal you can hunt in Black Flag Resynced, with coordinates and islands attached. When you reach the marked area, use your eagle vision to find and mark the animal nearby, and use common sense a little. Crocodiles are usually in water, while monkeys are usually up trees, and so on.

Animal

Location(s)

Black Jaguar

Isla Providencia (475, 18) (477, 32)

Pinos Isle (302, 450) (308, 449)

Bull Shark (Harpoon Hunt)

Dry Tortuga Ocean (123, 769) (190, 669) (317, 713) (382, 741)

Gibara Ocean (520, 604) (726, 487)

Punta Guarico Ocean (747, 310)

Capuchin Monkey

Misteriosia (269, 173)

New Bone (402, 89)

Crocodile

Isla Providencia (487, 32) (474, 22)

Long Bay (500, 225) (500, 229)

Matanzas (300, 618)

Nassau (583, 758)

Tulum (32, 379)

Deer

Kingston (625, 180)

Principe (98, 16)

Salt Lagoon (723, 602)

Santanillas (186, 222)

Great White Shark (Harpoon Hunt)

Cruz Ocean (490, 303)

Serranilla Ocean (314, 47)

Hammerhead Shark (Harpoon Hunt)

Eleuthera Ocean (706, 865) (776, 735)

Gibara Ocean (652, 584)

Howler Monkey

Cape Bonavista (159, 587)

Cat Island (710, 663)

Kingston (629, 164)

Long Bay (496, 227) (498, 223)

Principe (110, 17)

Tortuga (845, 347)

Tulum (40, 389)

Humpback Whale (Harpoon Hunt)

Castillo de Jagua Ocean (220, 379) (311, 395)

Navassa Ocean (552, 45) (688, 61)

Hutia

Cayman Sound (301, 306)

Jiguey (535, 508)

Long Bay (505, 231) (502, 225) (496, 231)

Petite Caverne (863, 236) (865, 239) (872, 238)

Iguana

Abaco Island (579, 810)

Andreas Island (541, 699)

Great Inagua (809, 433 and 829, 447)

Jaguar

Cape Bonavista (161, 592)

Long Bay (498, 227) (497, 224)

Principe (101, 15)

Sacrifice Island (15, 552)

Tulum (38, 374)

Killer Whale (Harpoon Hunt)

Cruz Ocean (423, 423)

Conttoyor Ocean (37, 577)

Ocelot

Abaco Island (586. 805)

Cumberland Bay (643, 346)

Rabbit

Corozal (10, 241)

Kingston (605, 183)

Nassau (590, 762)

Sacrifice Island (18, 551)

Red Howler Monkey

Isla Providencia (480, 17)

White Jaguar

Great Inagua (825, 439)

Wild Pig

Cape Bonavista (152, 588)

Mariguana Island (846, 513 and 852, 515)

Nassau (586, 764)

It's also worth remembering that certain animals behave differently in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced . For example, deer will flee, while jaguars will fight back and potentially kill you if you're not careful. Keep in mind when hunting them!

Once killed, just approach the animal and choose to "Skin" with the button shown to harvest the skin and bones. It doesn't matter how you kill an animal, they yield the same amount of rewards whether down by assassination, bullet, sword or blowgun.

How to get animal skins and pelts easily in Black Flag Resynced

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Though you can hunt animals for free, there's another option: upgrade both the general store and treasure dealer in Great Inagua. Once upgraded, the merchant's store will allow you to buy any animal pelt and skin in exchange for bones (the cost changing depending on their rarity.

Bones can be obtained by killing any animal in the game, but you can also buy them for 5000 Reales each from the Treasure Dealer, once unlocked. This leads to a straightforward cash-for-bones-for-skins arrangement that isn't cheap, but is at least highly efficient, especially if you're flush with cash in the late game. You can also spend some of your pelts at the Treasure Dealer to earn special Black Flag Resynced Outfits!

For animals you can treat slightly better, here's how to get all the Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced pets. Or while you're hunting for animals, hunt for the different Black Flag Resynced Treasure Maps too!

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Bethesda's last Skyrim concept artist has been laid off after "almost 18 years of dedication to The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield" amid Xbox cuts: "It has been my honor"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:56:04 +0800

A sad bit of history has occurred at Bethesda due to Xbox's latest round of cuts. An artist who'd worked at the studio for almost two decades, and was the last on his team who contributed to Skyrim and was still at the studio, has been laid off "after almost 18 years of dedication to The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield."

As per a personal LinkedIn post, Ray Lederer started at Bethesda during the development of Skyrim, where he contributed "concept art, visual design, and gameplay ideas" according to a alongside the late Adam Adamowicz, who passed away in 2012. After that, he transitioned over to Fallout 4, after which he got to work on Fallout 76 and eventually Starfield, before transitioning back to Tamriel for The Elder Scrolls 6.

"I've lived many lives here, made many lifelong friends, been through incredible highs of success and some devastating lows of tragedy and loss," he writes. "I will never forget the strength and dedication of our teams to bring these worlds to life in so many ways for so many people. I will truly miss working with the incredible talent and what was the unique charm of BGS."

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/JSRtYpNRoN0 Besides being in the trenches for Skyrim – an historic game whose legacy still burns brightly 13 years on – he was part of the initial visual concepts for Starfield. Lederer holds a remarkable amount of institutional knowledge, for a legendary studio with whom he seemed dedicated to.

Careers like his aren't all that common in video games, as many move between studios for a variety of reasons. 18 years is a serious run, and it's a damn shame that he isn't able to part ways with a company he knows so well on his terms.

"It has been my honor and the highlight of my career to be part of something that means so much to our fans, pop culture, and to us, as creators," he adds, mentioning that he's now open to pastures new.

Sadly, Bethesda's among several studios which have suffered losses like this as Microsoft swings the axe of restructuring around its games wing. Doom studio id Software's reportedly now the size of a support studio, according to a now-former artist, and Obsidian's now apparently working on the next Fallout after having several projects cancelled.

Times are harsh over at Xbox. With any luck, Lederer and his peers will find their next opportunities in short order.

Fallout and Elder Scrolls union says Bethesda layoffs didn't hurt Microsoft's "14 layers of management" – "We lost dozens of programmers, artists, designers and testers."

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The Infinite Museion and Update 1.6 Community Survey

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:53:04 +0800

Lord Captain!

You've delved into Trazyn's vault, explored The Infinite Museion, and met the big Update 1.6 head-on — we'd love to hear your impressions!

We've launched a new community survey covering the DLC and Update 1.6.

It takes about 20 minutes, and there are no wrong answers here — only your honest perspective, which we read closely and value greatly as we shape what comes next for Rogue Trader.

Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P5RM77D

Season One: Return of the Thieves Guild Is Now Live

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:42:04 +0800

Pilfer Glenumbra with the Thieves Guild, explore Tamriel’s high seas, unravel new puzzles and mysteries, and discover even more challenges and adventure—there's something for everyone in The Elder Scrolls Online’s Season One.

Season One: Return of the Thieves Guild is now live for all platforms (including PC/Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation) from July 8 until October 21. Introducing new adventures, challenges, and rewards free for all ESO players, Season One features the return of the Thieves Guild, sees Sheogorath enjoy a Tamrielic vacation, adds a new swashbuckling in-game event, and more.

As with all Seasons, the new gameplay features, improvements, and additions are completely free for all ESO players with no additional purchases required. Season One also introduces a new Tamriel Tome, with both free and paid (premium) options, and it updates the Gold Coast Bazaar reward store.

Note that not all of Season One’s features will be active at its launch, as many highlights will arrive at different times during the Season. Here’s a full timeline for what is coming as part of Season One:

Now live (as of July 8, 2026)

Thieves Guild Storyline
Favors system
Dynamic Encounters system
Season One Tamriel Tome
Gold Coast Bazaar update

Arriving later as part of Season One

Sheogorath Storyline

Arrives July 29

Nowhere Vault

Arrives September 21 with Update 51

Crimson Veldt 12-player trial

Arrives September 21 with Update 51

Rumors system

Arrives September 21 with Update 51

Player experience improvements

Arrives September 21 with Update 51

High Seas of Tamriel in-game event

Arrives September 30 and runs until October 14

In addition to the above, this Season will also feature the return of the Whitestrake’s Mayhem PvP event and host several Golden Pursuits campaigns. Look out for more details about them as the Season progresses.

Season One

As stated above, Season One gameplay features, systems, and improvements are free for all current ESO players (with the only exception being the Tamriel Tome premium options). Learn a little more about them below!

Thieves Guild Story Questline

Now live as of July 8 and available for all ESO players, the Thieves Guild needs your help establishing a foothold within Glenumbra. In this new questline, you must assist Quen as she shepherds the new guild chapter into existence while contending with the dangerous Koldane Cartel. Expect new story and daily quests in addition to unique rewards, including a special costume and mythic item!

Gang Up in Glenumbra

To get started with the Thieves Guild questline, pick up the first quest, titled "Codex Caper” from the in-game Crown Store.

Favors System

Also arriving on July 8 with the launch of Season One, the Favors system is a new way to find adventure in Tamriel. Interact with new posting boards set up by the Freerunners within each Alliance to acquire a daily quest. Each daily quest is part of a larger story specific to the Alliance character who posted it, with 20 unique dailies available for each.

Acquire new Favor daily quests

Dynamic Encounters

A new kind of in-game world event for overland zones, Dynamic Encounters are multi-stage experiences for all nearby participating players. With three unique Dynamic Encounters arriving when Season One launches on July 8, be on the lookout for trouble when exploring Glenumbra, Auridon, and Stonefalls—with more kinds of encounters coming in later Seasons, too.

Sheogorath Story Questline

Kicking off July 29 as part of Season One, Noth the Unhinged needs your help as her master Sheogorath, the Lord of Madness, embarks on a new trip (some might say vacation) throughout Tamriel. However, even the Daedric Prince of Madness is not without rivals, and it’s up to you to ensure a safe journey. Keep both eyes out for more details on this storyline in July!

Sheogorath returns late July!

Crimson Veldt Trial

Ready your party and prepare to return to Hircine’s Hunting Grounds for the Crimson Veldt, a new 12-player PvE trial. Together with your allies, you must battle your way through the Crimson Veldt’s challenging encounters and boss battles and ultimately confront the lycanthropic hunters known as the First-Turned. This new group challenge includes mounted combat—the first of its kind for ESO! The Crimson Veldt trial will also go live as part of Update 51 and Season One on September 21.

Nowhere Vault

Located within a realm between realms, the Nowhere Vault is adrift, and Sage Voernet requires adventurers brave (or foolish) enough to delve into this mysterious place, solve its myriad puzzles, and navigate its ever-changing rooms. Great rewards await those willing to enter this perplexing solo experience. The Nowhere Vault will go live as part of Update 51 and Season One on September 21.

Puzzle out the Nowhere Vault

Rumors System

Coming with Update 51 and Season One on September 21, the Rumors system is a new way to explore and discover the mysterious world of Tamriel. With Rumors, you will uncover non-linear hints throughout the world that, when collected, complete a story. If you enjoy scavenger hunts and solving mysteries, Tamriel has no shortage of Rumors to investigate!

Player Experience Improvements

Also arriving with Update 51 and Season One on September 21 are a host of new player experience improvements. This includes the concluding efforts of the team’s hybridization work, the first iteration on the HUD customization tool (PC only), and the ability to pin achievements as you adventure and explore.

High Seas of Tamriel

Setting sail as part of Season One and running from September 30 until October 14, the High Seas of Tamriel in-game event sets you on a voyage across the Abecean Sea where you’ll battle pirates ship-to-ship, explore the depths of the ocean floor, and dig up sunken treasure troves.

Prepare for adventure on the high seas!

In addition to the above highlights, keep an eye out for additional in-game events and special Golden Pursuits campaigns throughout Season One—ensuring there’s no shortage of fun and rewards. Keep an eye on https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/ for more information on what’s to come throughout the Season.

Tamriel Tome and Gold Coast Bazaar

Season One also introduces a new Tamriel Tome and continues to update the Gold Coast Bazaar, bringing new and returning rewards for you to claim as you play.

Season One Tamriel Tome

With Season One’s Tamriel Tome, you can continue to unlock and acquire a roguish collection of items, currencies, and consumables. Like the previous Tome, this latest offering introduces a host of unlockable pages and items that include both free and paid (premium) options.

The free rewards found within this Season’s Tome include a huge number of Seals, Trade Bars, and Crown Crates in addition to collectibles such as the Golden Dwarven Spider pet and the Charming Rogue weapon style set.

Should you choose to acquire the Premium Tome or Premium Tome + Bonuses version, you gain access to even more rewards, including the Hew’s Bane Hyena mount, the Charming Rogue armor style set, Cambrio Zamme, Rooster in Exile assistant, and a lot more. Even better, the Premium Tome + Bonuses version also grants you two Caches of Tome Points and the Dawngold Corgi pet!

Season One Premium Tome rewards and the bonus Dawngold Corgi pet

If you’re unfamiliar with how Tamriel Tomes work, as you adventure and quest, complete challenges to unlock Tome Points and pages. Use those points to then choose and acquire rewards from each page—what you select is up to you! For a complete guide on Tamriel Tomes, check out this page.

Season One’s challenges are designed to lean into this Season’s sneaky, PvE-friendly theme, but you will also more generally see a broader variety in seasonal challenges this time around too—enjoy!

For a deeper dive into the Season One Tamriel Tome, check out this preview.

Gold Coast Bazaar

This Season also sees a broad selection of items making their way to the Gold Coast Bazaar (in addition to the evergreen items already there). These goodies include returning mounts, furnishings, pets, costumes, and more.

For example, the Treasure Hunter’s Horse mount, and the Ascendant Lord Statue furnishing will each be available this Season, last seen in 2024 and 2022 respectively!

Treasure Hunter Horse mount and Ascendant Lord Statue

There are over 30 individual items being added to the Gold Coast Bazaar with Season One, but they will be available only during this Season’s window—don’t miss out.

Don’t forget, to acquire any of these items, you need to spend Trade Bars, which are earned predominantly via your Tamriel Tome. Enjoy!

Season One is Live

Whether you’re a canny rogue looking for a new score, a fastidious scholar keen to investigate Tamriel’s myriad mysteries, or simply wish to find your next big adventure, Season One introduces a host of new quests, challenges, stories, and rewards, free for all ESO players.

Be on the lookout for more information on what’s to come as part of this new Season as it progresses and be sure to keep an eye out for returning events, special Golden Pursuits campaigns, and more. Are you excited to delve into The Elder Scrolls Online’s Season One? Let us know via Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.

Season One is now live.

After 19 months of waiting, Project Zomboid's next update will finally deliver a stable build, "and it's a big one"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:37:03 +0800

19 months after the launch of Project Zomboid build 42, The Indie Stone says its next update will come to stable as the new Steam default.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: After 19 months of waiting, Project Zomboid's next update will finally deliver a stable build, "and it's a big one"

Unkillable: inside Dead by Daylight's incredible decade of scares

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:37:03 +0800

Dead by Daylight has been terrifying players for ten years now, so I caught up with Behaviour to chat about DBD's legacy, and its future.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Unkillable: inside Dead by Daylight's incredible decade of scares

Kazuya Mishima - Least Favorite Things

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:36:05 +0800

Off the cliff they go????

New Official Dark Souls Release Confirmed for September 22

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:36:04 +0800

Dark Souls fans have been starved for content for a long time now, but they have a brand-new release to look forward to on September 22. Confirmation has finally arrived that a new release in the wider Dark Soulsseries is coming, and fans only have two months to wait to get their hands on it.

Palworld 1.0 redesigns multiple Pals and makes them look less like Pokemon

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:36:04 +0800

The Palworld 1.0 patch notes are gigantic, but an understated element of the update was only spotted after players dove into the new content themselves. Several old Pals have been redesigned, seemingly to bring them up to par with modern creature designs, but many fans also noted that the new versions put some distance between similar Pokemon designs that sparked comparisons in the past.

On the Palworld subreddit, user Silverr98 assembled side-by-side comparisons of the new designs for four updated Pals. Verdash, a green bipedal Pal, is now a bit shorter but has much longer ears, a less pronounced collar, and poofier shorts.

I think this is all redesigns from r/Palworld "Verdash actually has its own identity now instead of giving off 'legally distinct Cinderace' vibes," Reddit user Pends101 says in a reply, and they're not the only one that feels this way.

"Verdash is now a smol boi instead of grass Cinderace," says Twitter user Rasen.

The Pal Robinquill, whose colors and overall shape drew comparisons to the Pokemon Decidueye, now sports an olive green cloak and a leaner silhouette which sheds the feather headpiece altogether.

Similarly, Fenglope, which previously used colors close to the horse-like Pokemon Cobalion, now uses a purple palette and has more flame-like horns.

Players also spotted a small change to the Pal Grintale, whose bright yellow eyes and jagged smile were often compared to the Galarian version of the Pokemon Meowth. After update 1.0, Grintale has subtle eye markings and straight teeth, with more of a Cheshire Cat vibe overall. Congratulations on getting the braces off.

Obviously, Pocketpair hasn't drawn a straight line from these changes to the Nintendo lawsuit it's still dealing with, but assuming it was a motivating factor, this wouldn't be the first time the developer has updated Palworld to avoid overlap with Pokemon.

Reactions to the new Pal designs seem pretty positive overall, and they do feel closer to the more recent (and, in my opinion, generally better) Pal designs. We still haven't topped the best Pal design of all time, though: Chillet.

Palworld 1.0 sees the survival game's biggest Steam player spike since its record-breaking early access launch and 96% positive reviews: "Better than even Pokemon."

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The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Version 1.1.0 adds an option to turn off support character voice

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:25:04 +0800

The update is out now and also adjusts tutorial behavior, fixes FPS drops, and more.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire launches physical editions for cartoon shooter

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:25:03 +0800

Fumi Games and PlaySide Studios said they have launched physical editions for Mouse: P.I. For Hire.

The timing couldn’t be better, since physical editions have been a hot topic ever since Sony said that it would stop selling physical discs for its game consoles starting January 2028, since demand had slipped for physical games. (Check out our story on the related Forever Project).

But there was a big backlash from fans. And today, Fumi Games and PlaySide Studios said they are celebrating the physical launch of Mouse: P.I. For Hire, with the black-and-white first-person shooter available to purchase now from retailers across the world.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire sees a physical release across two editions, a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Mouse: P.I. For Hire – Mouseburg Edition, both available starting today.

The physical Standard Edition is available globally for PlayStation 5 (physical disc) at USD $29.99, and Nintendo Switch 2 (physical game-on cartridge) at USD $39.99.

The physical Deluxe “Mouseburg Edition” is available for PC (Steam code in a box), PlayStation 5 (physical disc) and Xbox Series X (physical disc) at USD $49.99, and Nintendo Switch 2 (physical game-on cartridge) at USD $59.99, though stock is extremely limited and region restrictions apply.

Pre-orders should also begin shipping soon, so players are encouraged to check with their local retailer for updates.

The physical editions of Mouse: P.I. For Hire. Source: Fumi Games and PlaySide Studios With Metacritic and OpenCritic scores of 80 and 81 respectively, Mouse: P.I. For Hire is one of the highest-rated titles this year. The game has also been a hit with players, with player ratings of 94% “Very Positive” on Steam, 8.2 out of 10 on Metacritic, 4.8 out of 5 stars on PlayStation, and 4.8 out of 5 stars on Xbox.

Fumi Games, based in Warsaw, Poland, is an independent game development studio creating visually unique gameplay experiences with a modern twist.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire has gotten solid reviews. Source: Fumi Games and PlaySide Studios PlaySide Studios is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Melbourne, Australia, behind games such as Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, Age of Darkness: Final Stand, Kill Knight, and the Dumb Ways to Die franchise, as well as the publishers for Mouse: P.I. For Hire and Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown.

The post Mouse: P.I. For Hire launches physical editions for cartoon shooter appeared first on GamesBeat.

Game that looks a lot like Monster Hunter addresses claims that it looks a lot like Monster Hunter

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:15:03 +0800

The developers of Monster Fantasy have addressed comments that its upcoming title is perhaps a bit too similar to Capcom's Monster Hunter series.

Last month, the reveal trailer for Monster Fantasy was revealed from Jotoyo. The game is described as an action RPG with life sim elements, however, the trailer caught the eyes of many for another reason, that being some striking resemblances to another game with Monster in the title.

Now, the gaming community does have a bit of a tendency to be quick to label things a "ripoff" at the slightest similarity. Most new indie farming sims will be dubbed a Stardew ripoff (even if Story of Seasons heavily inspired Stardew), and we can even look as far back as the likes of Uncharted being dubbed a Tomb Raider ripoff and Digimon being called a Pokemon ripoff. However, I absolutely see the similarities when it comes to Monster Fantasy.

The game's trailer opens up with some landscape shots of biomes that look strikingly similar to the biomes from Monster Hunter Rise, and the music feels a few notes away from being the Capcom series theme song Proof of a Hero – with a similar build up to its main melody – as a Rathalos lookalike emerges. Fans have even noticed similarities with some of the weapon animations, specifically the bow and sword. The comments on the trailer aren't exactly shy about it either, with the refrain of "we got monster hunter at home" being a common comment.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/eLnyGWq7_tw In a Steam FAQ (via Automaton) posted by the developers, the team is facing the comparison head on, with a question titled: "The game looks very similar to Monster Hunter. Does it have its own unique features?" The developers respond: "Monster Hunter is indeed one of our sources of inspiration, and our core creators are big fans of the series. However, Monster Fantasy places greater emphasis on the new experiences created by the interaction between different gameplay systems."

It continues, "We understand that some of the combat demonstrations in the trailer may remind players of Monster Hunter. However, once players actually try the game, we believe they will find that the overall experience is quite different."

The post claims that the hunting "is only one part of our gameplay" and the developers really want to present "a fantasy world where, beyond hunting and combat, players can truly immerse themselves: building villages, enjoying a relaxed life, and forming friendly relationships with villagers."

The devs add, "Of course, the content we have shown so far is still from an early stage, and we understand that some footage may have given players the impression of a high degree of similarity. We have taken this feedback seriously and are already adjusting and improving the design."

Obviously, there's nothing wrong with games taking inspiration from others, we wouldn't have most of the games we love if not for that, but sometimes the similarities are a touch too blatant to ignore. Especially when we've seen instances like the Pokemon Palworld alleged patent infringement lawsuit, even when the survival game is a different experience than Pokemon, it maybe wore some of its inspirations a little too much on its sleeve for The Pokemon Company to ignore – and the massive success probably didn't help.

Monster Hunter Wilds fans collectively sigh as Ascendance expansion brings back hated elder dragon Kushala Daora: "I'm just really tired of seeing him."

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Crimson Desert on PS5 and Xbox Series X Has Hit a New Low Price at Amazon

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:05:04 +0800

If the recent sad news of Sony ending physical disc production for new games releasing on PlayStation in 2028 has you looking to stock up on physical games now, Amazon has plenty of deals worth checking out. At the moment, the retailer even has a little discount on Crimson Desert for both PS5 and Xbox Series X, with the former down to $56.04 (20% off its list price) and the latter down to $59.84 (15% off).

These may not be huge discounts, but according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price point so far for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X copies at the retailer. There's no telling how long they'll stay at these prices, either, so now is a great time to grab them before the price kicks back up.

While initial response to the game was mixed, Crimson Desert is quite beloved by its fans. It actually hit a big sale milestone recently, selling over 6 million copies worldwide, and developer Pearl Abyss isn't showing signs of slowing down with it just yet. If you're curious what's still to come, it's worth reading IGN's interview with Pearl Abyss's director of marketing and PR, Will Powers, from Summer Games Fest this year for more details.

Outside of game deals, if you're looking for even more physical games to buy, there are tons of preorders available right now as well. From Gears of War: E-Day to Onimusha: Way of the Sword to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2, there's something for every platform at the moment. We even have a full roundup of everything that's available to preorder after this year's summer gaming presentations, so you can stock up on the ones that catch your eye.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

Pokémon Unveils Official New Charizard Design That's Like Nothing We've Seen Before

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:05:03 +0800

Charizard has easily become one of Pokémon's most recognizable mons since the franchise first debuted. Across nearly three decades, Game Freak and The Pokémon Company have repeatedly found new ways to reinvent the fan-favorite Fire/Flying-type without changing what made it iconic in the first place.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance - The Board Game, Gameplay Preview

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:03:04 +0800

Kingdom Come: Deliverance - The Board Game

Did you hear? We're releasing a board game alongside Czech Games Edition.

Join the designers behind the Game, Vlaada Chvátil and Tomáš Holek, as they play through a day in Medieval Bohemia!

The game is available for Pre-Order now.

Pre-Order

Pre-Order before the end of July for an additional quest, Day/Night and Round trackers!

Both games are on sale right now!

Time to gift a copy to a friend? Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771300/Kingdom_Come_Deliverance_II/Return to where it all began - play the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance. https://store.steampowered.com/app/379430/Kingdom_Come_Deliverance/

Follow Kingdom Come: Deliverance II on social media:

???? X/Twitter
???? TikTok
???? Instagram
???? Facebook
???? YouTube

South Dakota: New Industries

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:03:04 +0800

In today's blog, we'd like to introduce you to some of the custom depots and industries you'll be able to visit in our upcoming South Dakota DLC for American Truck Simulator!

South Dakota's economy is built on a strong foundation of manufacturing, agriculture, and construction. While the state is well known for its farming and ranching, it is also home to a growing manufacturing sector that produces everything from trailers and heavy equipment to food products distributed across the country. As always, we've taken inspiration from these real-world industries to create authentic locations that bring the state's economy to life.

One of the new highlights you'll encounter are the trailer manufacturing plants located in Watertown and Mitchell. These large industrial facilities specialize in producing a variety of trailers, with completed units ready to be delivered to dealerships and customers across the map. You'll also be bringing in the materials and components needed to keep the production lines moving, making these factories a busy part of South Dakota's freight network.

If construction is more your style, you'll have the opportunity to deliver to new residential housing developments located in Watertown and Spearfish. These construction sites require regular deliveries of building materials, heavy machinery, and other essential cargo to support ongoing work.

The food industry also plays an important role in South Dakota's economy, and that's reflected in the new custom food factory you'll find in Sioux Falls. This modern production facility receives a wide variety of raw ingredients before processing and packaging food products that are then shipped to businesses across the country. Whether you're delivering supplies or hauling finished goods, there's always plenty of work to be done.

These new industries are just a small taste of what awaits you in the South Dakota DLC, and we can't wait for you to explore them for yourself. If you're looking forward to hauling cargo across the Mount Rushmore State, be sure to add the South Dakota DLC to your Steam wishlist!

Also, remember to follow us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube for all the latest news from this map expansion and other American Truck Simulator information, or sign up for our newsletter to stay informed. Keep on truckin'!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3749870/American_Truck_Simulator__South_Dakota/

Final Fantasy 6 is halfway to a remake in this Final Fantasy Tactics mod that took 3 years of work, and it's beautiful

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:33:03 +0800

Modders have been reanimating classic games inside of other classic games for almost as long as reanimation has been a thing (200 years or so; thanks, Mary Shelley) - from a Morrowind remake built within Elden Ring to, now, a Final Fantasy Tactics mod that plops the strategy game's combat onto Final Fantasy 6's scenarios.

Over the last three years, a modder known as Conman on the FFHacktics forum has been hard at work on a mod called FF6: Tactics, alongside a group of other contributors.

Rather than remaking the entirety of Final Fantasy 6 in Tactics' style, which would probably take much longer than three years, the goal was to "avoid any world map/randoms/stores and just jump from one battle to another."

Conman called this a "battle rush style" with the mod assuming "the player already knows the story." Final Fantasy 6's biggest battles, but in a strategy format, then.

That includes having most of Final Fantasy 6's main cast playable with their own quirks along for the ride: Terra's a scarily powerful magic user, Locke can steal, Cyan can pull off fancy sword moves... You get the idea.

New stages, reworked sprites, and that banger soundtrack filtered through FFT's sound font. After all that hard work, the mod is finally done and out now - you can find it here.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/4SMF8j-bn3Y https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/FbgFCFLnz3w As you might be able to tell from the adorably chunky assets on show and the project's development timeline, the mod is built off the back of the original PS1 version of Final Fantasy Tactics, not the more recently modernized The Ivalice Chronicles remaster, so don't expect its quality-of-life improvements or cleaner graphics to show up in the mod.

And elsewhere in the realm of remakes, Square Enix recently said more traditional and official Final Fantasy remakes could be in the pipeline depending on what "resonates" with fans the most.

Perhaps that sparks hope for that long-rumored Final Fantasy 6 remake, but even if that's a far-flung dream at this point, at least we have the above gorgeous mod that's halfway there.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation lead thinks a potential Final Fantasy 6 remake would "be in better hands if it went to another creator in Square Enix"

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Atlus, you've done it again – new look at Persona 4 Revival's stylish menu UI confirms a complete transformation for the OG JRPG

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:25:04 +0800

Persona 4 Revival might just be one of the most exciting new JRPGs underway – aside from Atlus' Persona 6, that is – and yes, its menus look just as stunning as the studio's past games.

In case you missed the likes of Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio in the past couple of years, Atlus' JRPGs have featured some of the most stunning menus I've seen in any game.

With vibrant visuals, eye-catching fonts, and fluid movement between selections, they're simply to die for – heck, it's one of the most notable features Metaphor: ReFantazio fans pointed out before the fantasy gem even launched in 2024.

Persona 4 Revival - Menu pic.twitter.com/AIVVsxbnrs July 10, 2026

It appears that Persona 4 Revival will join the studio's lineup of beautiful in-game menus, with new screenshots of its own UI drawing attention from series stans online.

In one post over on Twitter, we see bright turquoise shades and yellows showcased with various fonts, reflections, and shadowy backgrounds. It's a graphic designer's dream come true, and fans can't help but praise Atlus for the jaw-dropping menus.

"I think this might be the cleanest and best graphical presentation from an Atlus game ever, my God," writes one fan. Another adds, "These look sooo good." Elsewhere, someone jokes, "I hope they spent some of the budget fleshing out the characters" – because, you know, it feels like a lot of money went into the menu designs.

There's also a clip of the menus in action floating about, and yep… they're brilliant.

HOLY SHIT, THIS MENU IS SO RAD pic.twitter.com/wvYaespHEV July 10, 2026

As one poster exclaims, "HOLY SHIT, THIS MENU IS SO RAD!" And, I have to include my favorite comment: "I FUCKING LOVE ATLUS MENU SCREENS!" Me, too, anon. Me, too.

That's not to say that Persona 4 Golden had bad menus or anything – but Revival is an upgrade, after all, and the menu redesigns certainly prove it. Personally, I can't wait to experience them in real-time.

Thankfully, I won't have to wait too long – Persona 4 Revival is releasing on February 18, 2027, which is mere months away at this point.

Searching for more to look forward to? Browse through our roundup of the best new games coming this year and beyond to add to your wishlist.

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Dragon Ball is Making a Huge Change to Super Saiyans, and Fans Aren't Happy

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:23:03 +0800

Transformations are a key part of Dragon Ball, so much so that anytime there is a new one, the fandom goes wild, but any changes to Dragon Ball transformations can be a different story. Still, whether it was Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue, Ultra Instinct, or so forth, it underlines how important the concept is to the franchise.

TennoCon 2026 Merch Available Now!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:15:05 +0800

This year’s TennoCon collection has arrived! From cozy Floofs and premium apparel to collectible pins and brand-new collaborations, there’s something for every Tenno in the official Merch Store.

New Favorites

Amir and Lettie Floofs
Bring two members of the Hex home in irresistibly huggable Floof form. Whether they’re guarding your Orbiter or brightening your desk, Amir and Lettie are ready for their next mission.

Lotus Spirit Jersey
Created in collaboration with Spirit Jersey, this premium heavyweight jersey lets you carry the Lotus’s guidance wherever you go.

Champion Stalker Jersey
Made in collaboration with Champion, honor the Origin System’s most relentless hunter with this bold Stalker Jersey.

THE LINE x WARFRAME: 1999 T-Shirt
Inspired by the world of Warframe: 1999, this collaboration with THE LINE brings Höllvania’s unmistakable style to your everyday Arsenal.

Collectibles and Collaborations

Sling Bag 2.0
Carry your everyday essentials in Warframe style with the latest evolutions of our popular sling bag.

Liset Pool Float
Take your trusty Landing Craft on your next summer adventure with the Liset Pool Float.

*Note: This item will only be available in select countries. See http://store.warframe.com/ for more details.

Pin-Maggedon
Expand your collection with 16 brand-new collectible pins, featuring fan-favorite Warframes, characters, creatures and more.

Plus More!
Also available are the Red Lotus Logo Hoodie, TennoConcert 2026 T-Shirt, Vinyl Slipmat, magnets and more.

--

Buy Now

Quantities are limited, so don’t miss your chance to add these exclusive items to your Arsenal!

Darvo Deals at TennoCon 2026

Where there’s an opportunity to turn a profit, Darvo shall appear — and he’s slashing prices just in time for TennoCon 2026! From now until July 31, save up to 30% off on select Warframe Merch, including T-shirts, plushies, posters and plenty more!

Featured Darvo Deals:

Volt Collectors Statue
Nezha & Wukong T-Shirt
Koumei & the Five Fates T-Shirt
Thumper Floof Plush
Vasca Kavat Floof Plush
TennoCon 2023 Merch Pack
Caliban Prex Poster
Styanax Prex Poster
Operator Long Sleeve Shirt
New War Lotus T-Shirt
Conquera Virmink
Sunny Pobber Floof
Bolarola Floof Plush
Ascension Day Wall Scroll

If anything above catches your attention, don’t wait! Darvo’s Merch deals are available in limited quantities until July 31.

Buy Now

New Multiplayer Steam Game is Like a 3D Pokemon Adventure

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:15:04 +0800

Developer Pawprint Studio has just released a brand-new trailer for Aniimo, an upcoming free-to-play creature collecting game that's heading to Steam, the Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in the near future. This new trailer has been released to celebrate Aniimo's Closed Beta, which has just gone live on Steam for select fans around the globe.

'This Is a Deeply Odd State of Affairs' — Tech Experts Slam Activision's 'Low Effort' Call of Duty: Black Ops PS5 Port

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:11:03 +0800

Activision’s ports of the much-loved Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 immediately raised eyebrows for their price, but they’ve come under fire for their disappointing graphics performance, too.

The tech experts at Digital Foundry have taken a look at the port of the original 2010 Black Ops to PlayStation, and had a few choice words to say about the work Activision put into it. Chief among their complaints is the fact the Black Ops port runs at 1080p, not 4K, despite being a 16-year-old game that began life on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Not only that, there’s no anti-aliasing.

DF also criticized the frame-rate, which is limited to 60Hz even on PS5. “A 1080p60 presentation would be potentially acceptable for the PS4 version - and there is one! - but for a brand new PS5 conversion, it's disappointingly poor and well below what the hardware is capable of,” DF said.

“For a native PS5 title and a somewhat high-profile port, this is a deeply odd state of affairs,” DF continued. “Even the game's obvious visual blemishes are preserved: shadow quality was necessarily poor back in the day, but why preserve that problem in the present day when so much more graphics horsepower is available?”

If there’s a silver lining, the PS5 and PS4 versions are better than the one currently accessible on Xbox Series X and S and Xbox One via backwards compatibility, which sticks to the original Xbox 360 resolution of 608p. There are no Xbox enhancements at all.

We’ve already reported on the pricing of the PlayStation Black Ops ports, which cost $40 each. Both games also offer a separate season pass priced $29.99. So, if you want the complete experience (Black Ops 1 and 2 and all the DLC), you have to pay $140 for games. All this for games that came out over a decade ago.

It’s worth noting that if you are a PlayStation Plus subscriber you get a massive discount. In that case, both games cost $20 each and their season passes are $9 each, which makes for a $58 total if you want everything. This discount runs until August 6.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Vampire Survivors Creator Shares His Troubles Adapting Jujutsu Kaisen RUMBLE & His Favorite Anime Moments

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:06:06 +0800

Vampire Survivors‘ 27 million player count proved that reverse bullet-hell is a surprisingly addictive and successful formula. But according to

'Additional Packs Are Entirely Optional': Ubisoft Responds to Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Microtransactions Backlash, as $60 Game Arrives With $85 of DLC

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:06:06 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has faced a stormy start on Steam, where the $60 game's collection of optional extras totals $85.

Despite positive reviews from critics, fans left scathing feedback on the game's Steam store page regarding the array of $10 cosmetic packs available on day one, in addition to a $5 map pack add-on.

None of these types of content are unusual for an Assassin's Creed game, though the sheer number available at launch, as well as their pricing, has drawn ire. So much so, that Ubisoft has now seen fit to respond — to remind players that such add-ons are not vital.

"Come on Ubisoft you just couldn't hold yourself huh?!" wrote one player. "Releasing a 70 euro game and on the DAY of the release you slap us with 85 euros worth of DLC packs that are just not cosmetic but give you a gameplay advantage this is why piracy exist and I will be refunding!"

"What's the point of getting the deluxe version when, immediately in game, there's $84.91 worth 'DLC' that you don't own," added another fan.

"Bought the Deluxe Edition, foolishly thinking I'd be buying the FULL game," added a third. "Here I was thinking Ubisoft had turned a new leaf, then WHAM, they hit you with over £75 worth of additional day 1 DLC."

DLC packs available at launch include the Master Assassin Character Pack, Master Assassin Naval Pack, Hellfire Character Pack, Hellfire Naval Pack, Sea Serpent Character Pack, Sea Serpent Naval Pack, Dragon Storm Character Pack, Dragon Storm Naval Pack and the Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced - Map Pack.

Priced at $10 each, these contain either an additional costume for hero Edward Kenway or a new cosmetic look for your ship, the Jackdaw — except for the time-saving $5 map pack, which highlights all collectibles without you needing to discover their locations manually.

"We've seen your feedback since launch, and we're reading all of it," a Ubisoft community spokesperson said in a response on Steam. "Thank you for caring this much about Black Flag Resynced. We want to be clear on one point: the standard edition is the full, complete experience. Every mission, every island, the full story and the complete world are all there, with nothing held back. The additional packs are entirely optional extras for players who want them, never a requirement to enjoy or complete the game. We'll keep listening as you play!"

Microtransactions aside, Ubisoft's expanded and polished-up take on its pirate adventure classic has been praised for bringing the game up to modern standards. While its multiplayer and modern day portions have been cut, these have been replaced by additional missions and story scenes set in the Caribbean, while the ground-up remake has also brought notable visual upgrades.

Sales-wise, the game is also performing well. Yesterday, Resynced smashed the franchise's Steam concurrent player record with a peak of around 100,000 — over a third more than the peak for feudal Japan blockbuster Assassin's Creed Shadows.

"More than just a shinier version of the same game you remember, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced brings what was already one of the best games in the series up to today’s standards," IGN wrote in our Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review, rating the game 9/10.

Before you dive into the Golden Age of Piracy, check out our guides on things to do first and tips and tricks to help Edward Kenway's journey be a smooth one. As you explore the Caribbean, make sure you don't miss a single collectible, especially the shanties to keep you and your crew entertained on the high seas. Blow other ships to smithereens with our naval combat guide and save Reales for your next Jackdaw upgrade to be the mightiest pirate you can be.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Edward Kenway is the biggest bastard in Assassin's Creed history

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:06:06 +0800

Line up Arno Dorian, Jacob Frye, and Ezio Auditore, and they'd all have something Edward Kenway does not: being likeable blokes. The Welsh pirate was never meant to be a decent guy from the off. As an aimless drunk trying to find himself in the West Indies after royally fumbling the bag when it comes to his estranged wife back in Bristol, that offputting loser vibe was already there in the 2013 original. But it has to be said that while Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is an absolutely gorgeous and incredibly fun new game, it magnifies its protagonist's asshattery by dragging out his redemption arc for an unbearably long time.

I get it. We all love a rehabilitated bad boy, as anyone who plays dishonorable Arthur up to a certain point in Red Dead Redemption 2 will tell you. But, unlike a gruff outlaw atoning for his none-too-egregious sins at the dawn of a new world order, Black Flag Resynced gives me very little to root for in Edward. His personality traits are money, dubloons, and reales, and I am so very bored of it. How is it possible that over five hours and four sequences into the remake, I'm still rolling my eyes at a very two-dimensional anti-hero, waiting for the moment he starts feeling worth the emotional investment?

Ye olde frat bro

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Sail on

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review: "Far from smooth sailing, even though I love the original"

I've been trying to work out why I am so repulsed by Edward Kenway's character in Black Flag Resynced. Maybe I just hadn't noticed it before, and seeing such a faithful remake has exposed how simplistic the character has always been: from the faded leathers to the alcoholism, near-constant money-grubbing, and self-aggrandized dreams of rising above the derision he'd faced in the "old world", Edward is a stereotypical wannabe pirate. So much so, it starts to feel forced.

Others in the game recognize that. His friend Vane sneers at Edward’s twisted view of piracy, how he views it as a means to an end rather than an earnest movement for complete freedom from the shackles of Crown, Country, and Colony. James Kidd notes his equally shallow motives for dealing with Templars initially, Edward's interest piqued by the promise of a snazzy new get-up. There's also the matter of his most un-pirate-like commitment to his estranged wife back home. He intends to win her back with a fortune amassed as a temporary pirate, rendering him little more than a well-connected tourist in the West Indies.

Resynced does a great job of highlighting how hard Edward's intentions have been clocked from the start. Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons is still righteous, Kidd remarks mildly, but it's clear that Edward's self-interest immediately grates on his companions very early on.

(Image credit: Ubisoft ) Only for me, it's not that early on. Six hours into Black Flag Resynced, Edward is still a goofy, greedy caricature of a peg-legged pirate, lacking only a Pretty Polly parrot on his shoulder squawking for a cracker. I'm starting to wonder if it's not the game that's making his simplistic bad boy era drag on for so long, but the way I'm approaching its new spatial parameters.

Thanks to being rebuilt in the powerful Anvil game engine, one of the most exciting tech advancements seen in Resynced is the seamless open world. As soon as I gain access to a ship of my own, I'm free to cut about Havana as I please – which means that I'm taking too long to get stuff done.

Too cool for charm school

(Image credit: Ubisoft) I don't know whether I love or hate Resynced's open world for being so good at its job that it makes an already unlikeable character even more of a tool

The original's tight, linear narrative pacing has been well and truly let off its leash in Resynced. There are plenty of islands to explore (though the maps therein are quite limited), a vast ocean I can freely dive into at any time for some treasure hunting, and I can even indulge in a spot of harpoon fishing when a compass marker pops up. Then there's sea shanties to collect after chasing down sheet music over rooftops, Helix glitches to explore alternate timelines, pirate contracts, brief in-world events, and a host of side quests after unlocking Edward's island hideout.

All this is excellent, because I adore exploring the best open world games and letting myself get sidetracked, yet I can already feel how it's damaging my journey through the story as a player. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not an RPG. I could storm all the main early-game quests (is six hours still early game?!) to keep myself on the straight and narrow, but am too much of a magpie not to get pulled off-course.

Why would I jump straight into the next mission when I could go climb every vantage point in sight, something I do in many of the best Assassin's Creed games to open the world up before I get stuck in? Resynced's biggest problem is that it trusts me, the player, far too much to let its story play out as intended. As a result, I'm dragging out the worst of its hero.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Looking back at the stealth-action Assassin's Creed games, I don't recall ever feeling this much like a kid in a Havanaen candy shop. City-based Creeds have plenty of side quests, challenges, and collectibles, but the close-quarters element means I am never more than a few seconds away from fast-traveling to the nearest quest marker if I want to get back into the main story.

But as I set sail again for a distant island and pray to God I don't get swept up in another spot of naval warfare which was totally not my own fault, I realize that I have been intending to visit this map marker for the past thirty minutes to no avail. Resynced is almost too big and enticing to keep up the narrative momentum at times, meaning I am accidentally spending far longer in Edward Kenway's bastard era than I'd have liked. Help! My pirate game is too beautiful and distracting, and my lobster is too buttery!

I know that Edward Kenway's days in a pancake-flat pirate fantasy are numbered. His ego death is rapidly approaching, and embarking upon my first proper Templar Hunt, I am so very ready to see it. I don't know whether I love or hate Resynced's open world for being so good at its job that it makes an already unlikeable character even more of a tool, but I'm having such a good time getting lost in it that I can't even stay mad. Especially when, if I ever feel he is in need of karma points, I can send him out to feed chickens or pet cats to right the cosmic wrongs he inflicts upon myself and others (and his poor, poor wife).

Check out all the other upcoming Ubisoft games to anticipate next!

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Pros Under Siege

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:01:03 +0800

Pros Under Siege
We’re bringing together Rainbow Six Siege streamers and pro players to celebrate the Rainbow Six Siege × Delta Force collaboration!

In this high-stakes custom-lobby showdown, two elite Pro Teams—made up primarily of Rainbow Six Siege pros—will compete against five ambitious Challenger Teams. Can the pros use their experience, precision, and teamwork to overcome a larger field of challengers?

Tune in live on July 10 at 2:00 PM PDT (UTC−7) on the DeltaForceGameOfficial Twitch channel for the full broadcast.

Want to experience the action from a player’s perspective? Watch any of the participating creators below for their live first-person POV. Twitch Drops will be available on the official channel and listed creator channels throughout the event.

Note: Make sure your accounts are linked before the event kicks off so you don't miss a single drop!

Pro Team 1

Stompn · Shaiiko · Doki

Pro Team 2

Beaulo · itsSpoit · alicia

Challenger Team 1

gingy · willerz · BikiniBodhi

Challenger Team 2

summit1g · sacriel · LIRIK

Challenger Team 3

NICKMERCS · cloakzy · hutchMF

Challenger Team 4

Ricci · hivise · KingGeorge

Challenger Team 5

tsoonami · iiTzTimmy · Macie Jay

Sony Will Not Reverse Physical Games Decision And Will “Wait For This Storm To Pass,” Says Analyst

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:55:03 +0800

Sony has been receiving a lot of criticism since it announced that it will stop making physical PlayStation game discs

Check that your Supporter Pack DLC is enabled

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:44:05 +0800

Hello Fellow Cats and Cat Lovers,

Just a little news to tell you that everything is fixed regarding the supporter pack for those of you who bought the right package.

You can read how to activate it here: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3761753811&requirelogin=true

For those of you who bought the wrong package and can't activate the pack, please send me an email at hello@maracas-studio.com. We'll send you a Steam code to download the supporter pack. Note that we already received a bunch of emails, and it will take some time to answer all of you with only two paws.

Thank you for your understanding.

Enjoy the supporter pack!

Cheers,
VirginRedemption

A New Progression Path in Three Kingdoms: Military Rank

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:43:03 +0800

The Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms DLC arrives on July 24. Before you step onto the vast battlefields of this new world, we want to show you how a lowly Commoner can earn military merit, build a mighty faction, and carve their name into the history of the realm.

Military Rank: Forged in Battle

During the Three Kingdoms era, not all legendary generals were born into nobility. Sun Jian stands out as a prime example.

With no prestigious lineage or support from the aristocracy, he relied solely on his actions: suppressing rebels, charging enemy lines, and breaking defenses. Through sheer military merit, he rose from obscurity to become one of the era's most iconic generals.

This is exactly the first experience Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms delivers—the Military Rank system.

Here, following in Sun Jian's footsteps, you will enter the world as a Commoner and forge your own military merit in blood and iron.

Rise from Militia to Centurion, Tribune to Deputy Commander, Commandant to Cavalry Commandant, Deputy General to Imperial General, all the way to the absolute pinnacle: Grand General.

You will survive battle after battle, rising from an unknown Commoner to a commander followed by thousands, ultimately securing your legacy as a renowned general who dominates the region.

Faction: A Foundation Beyond Ranks

The true history of the Three Kingdoms is never the tale of a lone hero, but an epic forged by many.

You will need brothers-in-arms, a Cohort, a Clan (House), and territory—a domain that the world recognizes as your exclusive sphere of influence.

Whether it is a county, a commandery, or a province, these are tangible borders.

Jizhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Yuzhou, Youzhou, Bingzhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Sili... these names are far more than mere splashes of color on a map.

Every single region holds unique strategic significance, historical weight, and immense value for conquest.

Once your Volunteer Army occupies a Commandery Capital, someone must step up as Prefect. Capture a Provincial Capital, and someone must take the mantle of Governor. If you manage to control the critical hubs and commandery foundations, contending for a Royal title is no longer the stuff of legend.

More importantly, these official titles are not meant for a single ruler. Once the Clan (House) leader claims the primary office, they can grant deputy positions to their loyal Clan (House) members.

Military Rank is the glory of your personal journey from a Commoner to Grand General.

Official titles are the ultimate proof of you and your allies rising from a single city to dominate entire provinces.

July 24: The Flames of War Ignite

This time, forge your legacy in the Three Kingdoms. Earn your own military merit and plant your Volunteer Army's battle flag into the earth yourself.

Will you remain a fierce vanguard charging ahead of the troops, or will you stand beside your brothers to claim the seats of Prefect, Governor, and beyond? The choice is yours.

The Clan (House) Pre-creation event is now live. Warlords who want to gather their comrades, lock in their Clan (House) name, and conquer the world the moment servers open—go pre-create your Clan (House) now.

Xbox confirms there isn't just "1 person left in Texas" working on id Software's engine following mass layoffs, but "dozens" across "multiple locations"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:26:05 +0800

Xbox claims that reports of there being only one person in Texas left working on id Software's id Tech engine are inaccurate.

Reports emerged that as part of the devastating layoffs at id Software – which saw 136 of the studio's 185 staff members laid off – the team working on the id Tech engine was affected massively. Yesterday, it was claimed that this was so widespread that only one person was left working on the engine at id Software's main Richardson, Texas studio. However, in a statement given to Kotaku, an Xbox spokesperson says this is inaccurate

"There are dozens of people working on id Tech across multiple locations," the spokesperson says , adding: "Reports that there's only one person left in Texas are inaccurate." That being said, it is unconfirmed just how many people are left working on the tech.

Kotaku's source said they weren't sure how the engine could be patched due to the breadth of the layoffs, saying: "The institutional knowledge is just not there." The same source said: "id Tech as a technology is probably dead forever."

Derek Best, former principal VFX artist at id Software who worked on the latest Doom trilogy as part of his 12 year tenure at the studio, claimed the studio has been relegated "to support studio size," while saying Microsoft was responsible for "nuking a team into the dirt" and "throwing out massive technological achievements."

Alongside these comments, Best noted that "the VFX team was eliminated down to one single artist with no lead or producer." As for the engine, he also mentioned that "the engine programmer responsible for the massive gains in VFX pipeline improvements (like all the particle editor work) was let go as well," adding that "all devs that had Houdini knowledge for procedural modeling or cached animations were wiped out." Best said: "All the work for Doom: The Dark Ages in that program has gone to waste with no one to carry it on."

Pitches for a co-op Doom, a new Perfect Dark, and a John Wick-inspired cyberpunk game were cooking at id Software before Microsoft layoffs reportedly led to 136 job cuts.

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Deltarune Chapter 5 Just Got a Brand-New Update for July 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:17:03 +0800

Another Deltarune update rolled out on July 9, bumping the game's version number up to 0.0.247. The new release introduces two dozen changes, most of which arrive in the form of Deltarune bug fixes.

Garfield Kart slams Nintendo over Mario Kart Tour shutdown, jokingly takes its place as the "better" racing game: "We will not randomly kill your game license"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:17:03 +0800

The true king of the kart racer, Garfield the unendingly hungry cat, is ripping into Nintendo's decision to effectively kill Mario Kart Tour.

This week, Nintendo announced that its seemingly successful mobile spin-off, Mario Kart Tour, would be shutting down after an almost seven-year run. The entire game and all purchases people have made will be scrubbed come late September, and Nintendo doesn't plan to release a version that's playable offline, as they did for Animal Crossing's mobile experiment.

Along with Mondays and going to the vets, Garfield seemingly hates the idea of digital games and purchases simply evaporating into a virtual void at the behest of corporations. And he made that loudly clear on social media.

"This is why Garfield Kart is better," the Garfield Kart Twitter account writes in response to Mario Kart Tour's impending doom, "we will not randomly kill your game license." The orange feline also boldly proclaimed that Garfield Kart is "better" than the red plumber's racing series, too - an opinion I'm sure won't be divisive at all.

Garfield Kart had heat for everyone in the replies, as well. He is a grumpy cat, after all. Responding to one account that took issue with Garfield's trans advocacy, Garfield Kart pointed out that Nintendo has also been pretty queer-friendly as far as big video game publishers go.

The only diss Garfield Kart didn't directly dispute is that Garfield Kart is "ass." All the account could tweet is that people should "please play [Garfield Kart: Furious Racing] and not the original." Amusingly, Furious Racing is well loved and one of the best-rated kart racers on Steam, but it's not even the most recent Garfield Kart game. That honor goes to Garfield Kart 2 - All You Can Drift, a game with mixed user reviews that Garfield himself left out of the debate. Still, his point stands.

Why not check out our ranking of the best Mario Kart games?

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◆潮流季·尋鯨季◆

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:15:03 +0800

◆潮流季·尋鯨季◆

7月11日，全新潮流季「尋鯨季」開啟。

伴隨半週年的奇妙旅程，請發展家們，一起前往全新的海底地區——【鯨落峽谷】！

開啟時間： 7月11日6:00 - 8月22日5:59（UTC+8）

開啟條件：發展家等級達到7級，並完成新手引導「答案在此中」主線任務。

【新地區：鯨落峽谷】

全新海底地區【鯨落峽谷】正式來到小鎮。發展家們可以從鯨魚山腳附近的傳送門進入，美麗的海洋、神祕的奇觀，等著各位發展家們的探索。

在新地區中，各位發展家可以蒐集到新食材：海葡萄、海蘆筍、裙帶菜，用於製作各類美味料理；還可以透過提升鯨落峽谷探索度，在\[鯨落峽谷考察手冊]中獲得「海谷假日」主題套裝、「充氣鯨魚屋」家具套裝和其他豐富獎勵。

特別提醒：根據大家的探索進度，還會開放不同的海底奇觀哦。

【海底平頂山】

隨著鯨落峽谷的問世，附近海域一些海底平頂山也被海洋考古小隊發現並標記，這些平頂山同樣也由島嶼發展協會負責。協會準備把它合併入「無主地利用申請」計畫中，但由於地勢地貌特殊，需要考察志工提前協助前往勘探一番。

發展家可以透過完成鯨落峽谷考察任務，獲得海底平頂山管理台並進入這裡，建設管理自己的海底家園。海底平頂山支援藍圖、多人建造、拜訪等功能，發展家可以配合海底潛水的體驗，從不同角度游動、建造、觀察和拍照，期待各位發展家們的搭建創意。海底平頂山還支援打造觀賞魚群。發展家可將背包/倉庫中的魚放入，構建獨特的觀賞魚群陣列。除此之外，還能透過提交材料滋養海域，提升生態魚群等級，解鎖更壯觀的魚群表現。

特別提醒：聽說【海底平頂山】可能還會吸引到一些特殊的動物前來拜訪...

【海洋清潔】愛好

當發展家們在【鯨落峽谷】發現污染物後，可以裝備並使用【基礎海洋清潔儀】進行處理。

操作方式：長按清潔按鈕，直到污染物被完全吸入海洋清潔儀。

特別提醒：除了普通污染物外，峽谷中還存在著其他類型的污染物，如「裂紋污染物」、「硬殼污染物」、「漩渦污染物」等，需要發展家們進行多次清理或看準時機進行清理。在清潔過程中，自己也有可能會被污染物沾染，當「濁流纏身」時，體力消耗會增加。這時候就需要找到峽谷中的清潔海葵，或讓其他發展家幫忙清理。

在成功清理污染後，將會收穫一些海貝。蒐集不同的海貝並累積圖鑑積分，還可以獲得海貝展示珠簾、珊瑚海貝展示罩等家具。

8月1日6:00（UTC+8）後，將開啟「海洋清潔」事件，事件籌備和進行期間前往事件區域，即可加入相關事件，和各位發展家一起清理巨型污染物並獲得事件專屬獎勵吧。

【潮流季手冊】

發展家解鎖潮流季後，即可在潮流手冊中免費領取感謝禮，包含「潮汐小站」家具套裝、部分建材等豐富獎勵。探索潮流季限定收集物並提升圖鑑積分，可在潮流手冊中免費獲得限時展演通票。

※ 本期潮流季的限時展演通票到期時間為：\[2026.8.31 5:59]（UTC+8）

同時，手冊中也開啟了本次潮流季的專屬圖鑑收集，收集獎勵包括本次潮流季限定家具變色海兔擺件、海洋之珠獎盃等。

【潮流禮盒】

選購任意潮流禮盒並提升禮盒等級，可獲得心鑽、展演通票、工具外觀、「尋海記·漫遊」、「尋海記·浮潛」主題套裝、「海間澄光」建材套裝和其他豐富獎勵。

購買豪華潮流禮盒，還可以額外獲得藍花楹建造許可、浪花鯨魚氣泡，同時獲得10%的潮流代幣販售加成。

【潮流商店】

尋鯨季期間，可透過潮流手冊介面或潮流大使皚皚進入潮流商店，使用潮流季專屬的潮流代幣購買夏日海洋主題服裝、家具、載具、動作等限定潮流商品；同時也可以在皚皚處出售特定的物品，獲取潮流代幣。

每位發展家每日都會隨機刷新出不同的潮流商品，每週會刷新出高價收購品。發展家可透過與好友面對面互動，請求購買對方已購買過的潮流商品，或委託好友代售對方當日的高價收購品。

特別提醒：潮流代幣還可透過手冊獎勵、潮流季期間任務獎勵等途徑獲取；未使用的潮流代幣將會在潮流季結束後，按1:1的比例轉化為金幣發放至信箱。

【潮流回憶手帳】

7月11日6:00（UTC+8）後，將開啟潮流回憶系列任務，用相機記錄一下這段時間和朋友一起在鯨落峽谷的快樂時光吧！

完成潮流回憶任務還可以獲得尋鯨潮流回憶手帳，各位發展家在編輯模式下可選擇素材進行新增，記錄自己的獨特體驗，也可以分享給其他發展家查看哦~ 尋鯨季潮流手帳的可編輯時間截止 8月29日5:59（UTC+8），請各位發展家注意時間。

【限定園藝作物】

尋鯨季期間，可使用布蘭克園藝商店中販售的特殊種子，種植限定園藝作物。

7月11日6:00（UTC+8）後，可購買並種植限定農作物楊桃；7月18日6:00（UTC+8）後，可購買並種植限定花卉水仙花。

【限定烹飪】

馬西莫也準時準備了一些適合當季潮流的新食譜，等待發展家們的探索發現。

特別提醒：找到馬西莫，完成任務可獲取潮汐爐台製作書，製作出爐台後就可以進行限定食譜的烹飪啦。

【限定魚種、昆蟲、鳥類】

聽說最近小鎮出現了奇怪的魚和蟲，會和鯨魚島附近的海域出現了異常有關嗎？還有一些沒見過的小鳥前來光顧，感興趣的發展家記得及時關注~

限定魚種、鳥類將在 7月11日6:00（UTC+8）後開放收集，限定昆蟲將在 7月18日6:00（UTC+8）後開放收集。較為特殊的魚蟲鳥，需要參加後續開放的對應事件才可獲取哦~

【手指砰砰】

尋鯨季期間，與好友每日進行面對面雙人互動，累計7天即可免費獲得與該好友的限定專屬雙人動作【手指砰砰】。活動期間玩家可以同時與多位好友打卡，每個好友單獨計算打卡進度。

【尋寶遊戲】

尋鯨季期間，可參與尋寶遊戲，拍攝並收集形狀特別、顏色各異的16個噴水小鯨魚；每日會依次解鎖一個新的尋寶拍照目標，找到目標完成拍照後，地圖上將會刷新對應的獎勵泡泡。集齊所有顏色的噴水小鯨魚，可獲得潮流代幣。

【尋鯨季音樂會】

7月11日至7月18日期間每晚19:00 - 20:00（UTC+8），7月18日至8月16日期間的每週六、日晚19:00 - 20:00（UTC+8），8月17日至8月21日期間每晚19:00 - 20:00（UTC+8），將會舉辦尋鯨季音樂會，歡迎發展家們屆時前往參加。

【海洋百寶箱】

據說在家園裡擺出海洋百寶箱，在特定時間內能為來拜訪的客人送上驚喜。

7月18日6:00（UTC+8）後，發展家可將籌備期獲得的海洋百寶箱擺放在家園中接受其他發展家的互動，也可前往他人家園中擺放的海洋百寶箱進行互動，獲取神祕獎勵~

特別提醒：沒來得及獲取籌備期海洋百寶箱的發展家們也不用擔心， 7月18日6:00（UTC+8）後可在郵件中領取海洋百寶箱；此外，可互動期間若家園中有擺放海洋百寶箱，信箱處也會有相應提示哦~

【樣本收集】

8月1日6:00 - 8月15日5:59 （UTC+8），可以在自己或其他發展家的家園門口的收集箱內提交對應物品，參與樣本收集，完成任務可獲得海星波浪頭巾和沙灘花朵單肩包～

Choirs in Hell: The making of Diablo 4's iconic soundtrack

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:08:04 +0800

As Diablo 4's Lord of Hatred expansion reaches a climactic finale, composers Ted Reedy and Leo Kaliski tell us how its music changed to fit.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Choirs in Hell: The making of Diablo 4's iconic soundtrack

Marvel Rivals: Season 9 Buffs & Nerfs Explained

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:06:04 +0800

Marvel Rivals has had some monumental balance changes in the past, but Season 9 is set up to be the largest shift in hero strength the game has seen since launch. From initial notes, around 80% of the roster are receiving various buffs and nerfs to their abilities or core traits. As a result, players can expect big shifts to how characters work, no matter what role they occupy.

STALZONE - 12 Years in the Zone!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:51:03 +0800

Today, our shared, cozy, and still slightly crooked Chernobyl Zone turns 12.

12 years, damn.

Over this time, the game has changed its name twice and survived seven distinct development stages. Each stage felt completely different and raised its own generation of players, each with their own memes, legends, grudges, stories, and curses aimed at the balance and economy.

Honestly, every year here is different from the previous. One minute we’re getting an earthquake over the latest season update, then shotguns suddenly become OP, then out of nowhere we get an unexpectedly good patch - and right after that, there’s a brand-new reason for everyone to start shaking again. And there's something beautiful about that. This soup never stops boiling or cools down, just like that legendary perpetual soup in Bangkok.

We actually have a lot in common with that soup. For years, we’ve been adding new ingredients on top without cleaning the pot or throwing out the old contents. On one hand, this undeniably gave the game a unique, one-of-a-kind flavor. On the other hand, for most of its existence, development has been a creative chaos without a single direction, vision, or plan.

Many veteran players often say the game itself doesn't know what it wants to be. And the main catch is that what STALZONE might want to become simply doesn't exist in game dev. Any attempt to limit it into the familiar categories of an extraction shooter, MMO shooter, or MMORPG risks losing that very identity that was born from countless trial and error, fixing mistakes, solving old problems, and creating new ones.

Maybe it’s not even a bad thing that we still can’t give a definitive answer to what this game wants to be. It’s like asking a person: "Who are you?" Every year, the answer will be different.

The game is shaped by both external and internal factors: frustrations and wishes of the players, the growing experience of veteran devs, fresh ideas from the new ones, tech upgrades, and opportunities for mechanics we never even considered before.

But as fun as it is to work in creative chaos, the painful realization that we can't keep living like this has been building up for a long time. We needed a clear development plan and vision for at least a year or two ahead.

After a long preparation and a transition period, this summer EXBO has finally transformed from an organizational structure resembling a market bazaar to a more meaningful division into dedicated workstreams. Now, separate teams are responsible for different areas of the game, staffed with specialists from all the key development disciplines, so they can properly guide their part of the game from idea to execution.

No more running around the office with your hand out, begging for time and resources and crowding in line, but rather calmly doing your job and taking responsibility for it.

There will still be lines, of course, we’re far from full team autonomy, and some dev departments still function as internal services supporting multiple workstreams, remaining a bottleneck in places. But now it’s at least not a chaotic crowd around a single campfire, but a more organized system where it’s clear who is responsible for what, where the bottlenecks are, and what needs to be scaled up next.

We’ve already buzzed your ears with this on the streams: onboarding, core, live-service, endgame, and monetization are now developed by partially autonomous teams. They can move the game forward more evenly, without elbowing each other fighting over resources. Sure, there are still bottlenecks and not all dev departments are organized into streams yet, but that will be sorted out over time.

Our main goal now is to eliminate bottlenecks, increase autonomy, and improve long-term planning for at least a year ahead so it doesn't crumble under spontaneous decisions and ambitions.

So yeah, after 12 years in game dev, we’ve finally arrived at these groundbreaking solutions. Took us long enough - but hey, the important thing is we got there. Now wish us a happy birthday!

By the end of this year, you will definitely feel the changes. Updates will become more meaningful, and we’re going to focus on the game's pain points that everyone is already sick and tired of.

We want the Zone to keep changing, keep evolving, and leaving no one indifferent.

Thank you to everyone who stays with us. Everyone writing posts. Everyone just playing. Everyone watching streams and our office videos. To everyone who genuinely wants to see the game get better and patiently keeps sharing their feedback with us developers, again and again, even when we don’t get it the first time.

Happy birthday to all of us!

With love,
ZIV

Stellaris 4.5 'Cygnus' Open Beta Update 3 (aa56)

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:35:03 +0800

by Eladrin

Happy Friday!

We've updated the [c]stellaris_test_4.5[/c] branch again today, and added a rollback branch ([c]stellaris_test_4.5_rollback[/c]) just in case, since this one modified a few hundred events.

Stellaris 4.5 'Cygnus' Open Beta Update 3 Release Notes

Balance

The Stellar Cannon is now a Tier 3 tech, and requires Wormhole Stabilization and UV Lasers.

Bugfix

Fixed a wide-ranging regression that caused many anomalies, events, and origin features to silently stop working - most visibly the classic Precursor dig sites no longer appearing when surveying, and the Fear of the Dark origin's hostile empire failing to spawn.
Empires are no longer allowed to join ongoing wars against their subjects/overlords.
Arkship weapon and reactor specializations now clearly indicate in their tooltip that they add Strategic Resource upkeep, with a link to the Strategic Resources concept explaining what that means.
The game will no longer tell the player to kill their own Behemoth to get rid of the Elder Voidspawn.
4.4.6 Fix: Fixed science ships being lost permanently when set to automatically explore Astral Rifts. Previously an automated science ship would vanish upon reaching a rift and never return, leaving its scientist stranded and cluttering the Outliner with ships stuck Missing In Action.
4.4.6 Fix: Automated ships no longer switch off automation and abandon their current task (constructing a station or megastructure, researching an anomaly or special project, exploring an Astral Rift, or carrying out a special order) when avoiding hostile fleets.
Fixed several minor artifact and anomaly research projects (including the Precursor "Delve into the Secrets" actions, Master's Writings, and numerous other special projects) granting no reward when completed as a Nomad empire.
Fixed an issue where a Nomad waystation disabled by hostile space fauna during a raid could remain disabled after the fauna left the system.
Fixed the "Gather Information" operation sometimes failing to deliver its intelligence report when the target empire no longer existed.
Fixed a script error in the genetic mutation event that could occur for Spiritualist empires.
The "Assault Armies" and "Shipyard" buttons on the Arkship Ship Controls tab are now properly localized in all languages
Fixed the Drums of War event "The Claimant" displaying an incorrect species insult when referring to the rival claimant
Synaptic Lathes with many pop groups on them no longer sometimes stop purging.
Fixed Synaptic Lathes not purging pops. Existing saves with broken lathes will repair at some point over the course of a year.
Nomads can now reactivate and own gateway megastructures
Nomad AI empires now build contract-required Waystations even when over their Starbase Capacity, instead of leaving those contracts unfulfilled.
Scan Debris Contracts now automatically cancel when the target debris decays before it can be scanned, instead of remaining active indefinitely.
The Prosperous Unification origin now displays correct, Arkship-specific effects and flavor text for Nomadic empires, instead of planet-based districts and "Homeworld" terminology
Wars declared with the Nomadic Raid, Plunder, or Wipe Them Out war goals now include the war type in their name, consistent with other war goals
The Anomalous Cube archaeology site now refers to the correct empire (or if communications haven't been established yet, then to "this empire")

AI empires will no longer fire the Stellar Cannon into the territory of empires they are at peace with (unless recently insulted), and will now prioritize static targets like upgraded starbases and defense platforms when at war.

UI/UX

Notification Icons fix, general centralization

Stability

Fixed a crash when quitting the game on macOS.

Modding

Resource Regions can now be created and weighted using scripting.
You can now visualize precursors using the debug

Here's the compiled list from the previous Open Beta releases:

Previous 4.5 Open Beta Release Notes

Feature

Pop groups are no longer divided by Ethics or Factions, instead each pop group will have a given percentage that belongs to each faction or ethic as appropriate. This means that:
- THIS IS A BREAKING CHANGE AND WILL NOT PRESERVE SAVE GAME COMPATIBILITY.
- Ethics and factions are now shown on the pop group entries in the planetary management UI, with tooltips showing the attraction to ethics and factions. Verbose tooltips are enabled by holding Alt, to show a breakdown of all modifiers for these attractions.
- Pops shift ethics and factions more frequently
- Pop group faction conversion happens more frequently
- Ethic attraction now impacts faction growth
- Simplify factions randomization logic
- Updated Cyberization policies to account for the changes to pop groups and ethics. The Limited Cybernetic species trait has been removed, instead if the Limited Cyberization policy is in effect, Cybernetic Spiritualist pops do not benefit from Cybernetic Job Efficiency. The Limited Cyborg leader trait still functions as previously. This will also decrease the Approval penalty from regular spiritualist factions from the demand The Flesh is Strong.
Unlocked Knights of the Toxic God for nomads
Added policies to provide better control over the auto-designer for both players and AI:
- Added a Fleet Doctrine policy with six doctrines that determine the tactical roles each ship class is designed to fill, affecting automated ship designs and ship-designer auto-complete.
- Added Weapon Preference and Defense Preference policies that steer automated ship designs and technology research.
- Added Starbase Weapon Preference and Starbase Defense Preference policies so station loadouts can diverge from the fleet.
Federations can now enact laws to grant members free, automatic Commercial Pacts (and, with the Nomads DLC, Wayline Pacts) or Research Agreements. Each law is unavailable to the federation type that already grants the benefit through its perk (Trade League / Research Cooperative).
- Trade League federations now provide free, automatic Commercial Pacts between all member empires.
- Trade League federations now also provide free, automatic Wayline Pacts between all members. (Requires Nomads)
Cosmogenesis is now available for Nomads
Added a nomad compatible version of Storm Chasers
- Storm Attraction is now fully functional for mobile arkships
Empires now have more control over their colors:
- Added a toggle and selectors in empire creation so you can select your map border and fill colours independently of your flag color.
- Ship Color can now be selected independently from flag colors in Empire Creation.
- Color swatches in the species creator's flag editor and ship-set selector now show the name of the selected color on hover.

Improvement

Regular Empires can now cancel accepted contracts after 20 years, with a notification sent to the operator.
The Dyson Swarm "best systems" list will now always show a variety of systems with different resources, so if you have a dozen physics deposits, they won't hide all of your energy systems. All "best systems" finders now show up to 12 systems.
Added new event options to the Forever Cruise situation stage events, allowing players to accept temporary economic penalties to affect the situation's direction.

Balance

Strike craft and missile defensive modifiers now also affect strike craft and missiles launched from starbases and defense platforms.
The Cybernetic species trait now provides an additional +5% Job Efficiency.
Hive minds which encounter genetic defects during cyberization can now choose a cyberisation policy.
Scientific Arkships now have +5% Deep Scanning Success Chance per Tier
Your Trade Policy now converts the trade value gained from Commercial Pacts and Branch Offices, just like the rest of your trade value (previously this trade was not run through your policy).
The "The Collective Self" technology now grants +1 Envoy.
The "Federation Code" technology now reduces Diplomacy influence upkeep by 25%.
Increased base knights upkeep by .15 alloys and .15 consumer goods
Increased soldier alloy upkeep for arkship military zones by 0.1
Rogue Servitor Forever Cruise Passengers now provide an additional +1% Complex Drone Job Efficiency on top of the base Gestalt bonus.
Consecrate World changes:
- Consecrate World can now be declared on a curated set of worlds tied to your empire's origin and traits (such as Gaia and relic worlds, and origin-specific worlds like toxic, shrouded, rift, or arc-furnace worlds).
- Reworked the Consecrated Worlds reward — consecrating worlds now grants a deterministic, empire-wide bonus to Unity, Amenities, and Spiritualist Ethics Attraction that scales with the number of Consecrated Worlds (+10% / +20% / +40% at 1 / 2 / 3), replacing the previous randomized per-world outcome.
The Paladin Ship now has a dedicated combat computer with Line tactics, giving it proper combat positioning while staying directable in combat, instead of ignoring attackers and holding position.
Scientific Arkships now have +5% Deep Scanning Success Chance per Tier
Your Trade Policy now converts the trade value gained from Commercial Pacts and Branch Offices, just like the rest of your trade value (previously this trade was not run through your policy).
The "The Collective Self" technology now grants +1 Envoy.
The "Federation Code" technology now reduces Diplomacy influence upkeep by 25%.

Bugfix

AI and auto-complete ship designs no longer leave weapon or strike craft slots empty after upgrades or power rebalancing.
Fixed auto-generated ships occasionally receiving two sections in a single section slot.
Role-based section selection always resolves a valid section, so screen and point-defense ships receive the correct section.
Harbinger Crystalline Growth Regulators can no longer grow crystals on strike craft that have been launched, and modifiers that increase the armor and/or shields of strike craft no longer render strike craft functionally immune to damage.
Missile and torpedo armor and shields are now correctly applied in combat, so point-defense no longer ignores them.
Fixed Gospel of the Masses additional trade value not applying to your branch offices.
The Branching Out modifier from the Cyberization situation now gives +10% Trader Job Efficiency.
Automated starbase, waystation, and orbital ring designs now fit armor instead of shields in systems or on stations where shields are negated (pulsars, X-ray binaries, turbulent nebulae, and cloaking modules).
Fixed Deep Scan uncovering anomalies and archaeology sites far less often than the intended 7% and 3% chances.
Sero the Younger's Habitable Deep Scan can now uncover resource deposits, anomalies, and archaeology sites instead of only pre-sapients.
The success chance of Sero the Younger's Habitable Deep Scan now correctly diminishes with repeated scans of the same world.
Deep Scan resource caches now correctly scale with the Advanced Xenostudies resolution instead of A Voice for All.
Federation members can now form Commercial Pacts with one another, matching Research Agreements.
Free and automatic Research Agreements between Federation members now correctly benefit from Research Sharing from Agreements modifiers and satisfy faction demands for having Research Agreements.
Fixed federation members losing their existing Commercial Pacts with one another when forming or joining a federation. Members of non-trade federations now keep their pacts, while Trade Leagues replace them with the free federation pact (This only applies to Commercial Pacts between federation members).
Fixed pop and country ethics being permanently and progressively wiped across the galaxy during play.
- What makes a man turn neutral? A lust for gold? Power? Or an error in the pop ethics randomizer?
Fixed Protostars not counting towards having energy deposits.
Extended swapping logic for soldiers into knights. All sources of soldier jobs should now be covered
- Knight swaps should now work properly for nomads
The Joyous Warrior trait now specifies that its effect can only trigger with the relevant leader leading planetary invasions
If a system's starbase is unoccupied while all its planets are occupied, the system is no longer considered fully occupied.
Fixed the crime events (among others) not firing on arkships
Cryo-Sleepers no longer produce Crime/Deviancy
Clarified the Creativity Exhibition Vault's tooltip for Forever Cruise Rogue Servitors: its production and upkeep effects reach all passengers, not just first-class Bio-Trophies.
Fixed the Machine Uprising resolution notification showing "Unidentified Empire" instead of the names of the empires involved when an uprising was quelled or won.
Synthetic Fertility Nomads are no longer able to build arkships until they have researched droids
Fixed edge cases where Cetana would not properly turn hostile upon war declaration
Added a missing nomad Archaeology notification string
Fixed the Ness treasure system not spawning for non nomad empires
Fixed the Gaia world from Starlit Citadel being impossible to colonize
Fixed a missing icon in the Order's Keep concept tooltip
The Crystalline Bane modifier should now get properly removed
Adjusted the number of ships produced when using the Prethoryn Queen relic
Wilderness and Synthetic Fertility now start with homeworlds of the proper size
Fixed a case of double notification after a machine uprising ends
The Dyson Swarm "best systems" finder will now be based exclusively on raw star resources, and will be unaffected by modifiers like techs or cosmic storms.
The Arc Furnace "best systems" finder will now only show systems that have a Molten World.
Fixed numerous issues with Total Wars:
- Nomadic Empires will now gain ownership of defeated Arkships and Waystations after Total War status quo victory.
- Nomadic Empires will now steal a percentage of the population from planets they destroy during Total Wars.
- Arkships defeated by Settled Empires are now destroyed after Total War status quo victory.
- Nomadic Empires can now be defeated in Total Wars.
- Taking planets in a Total War will now occupy them until the system is fully occupied, then annex them all at once. This prevents a bug where a system without a starbase didn't rebuild it if only some planets were taken.
The leader tooltip is now shown in all places where it should be shown
'Delicious Titans' planet modifier tooltip now correctly says 'Farmers are Converted in Titan Hunters' and doesn't show a broken icon.
savefiles with pending first contact event no longer fail to pick an event sound
Graphical crashfix related to Storm Forecast
Entertainer jobs on Forever Cruise Arkships now correctly come from the Entertainment Hub specialization instead of the Operations Center.
Fix for Nomadic Grand Archives being destroyed when a Settled Empire's system is destroyed.
Fix for Nomadic Grand Archive not being destroyed when a Waystation is lost or downgraded below Tier 2.
Added the bottom border line to the research dropdown in the top Resource Bar
Mandatory Pampering now reduces First Class Passenger Consumer Goods upkeep to 1 (from 1.5) for Rogue Servitors, matching the living standard's description.
Permanent Employment in Forever Cruise now only zombifies the crew, not the passengers
AI nomads no longer accept and ignore Build Waystation contracts when at capacity
The Build Waystation contract is now longer automatically abandoned for players when at double station capacity, only for AI nomads
Fixed several Cosmic Storms anomalies appearing more than once per game when they should be unique.
Removed the habitability requirement for the various Shore Leave internal Forever Cruise contracts.
Fixed ships that are waiting to be killed being counted for ship size-specific caps and special project requirements.
Bio-trophies now give 10 Political Power when playing as Rogue Servitor with the Forever Cruise Origin
AI empires with stealth fleet doctrines now correctly install cloaking devices on auto-designed ships.
Psionic shields are no longer equipped on stealth ships that lack psionic cloaking.
Machine Intelligence and Individualist Machine Forever Cruises with machine passengers now alternate assembly every month.
Cruise crew and passengers no longer incorrectly assigned Grid Amalgamation or Livestock living standards and slavery types.
Species being assimilated no longer incorrectly assigned Grid Amalgamation living standard.
Individualistic Machine Forever Cruise no longer gets an error from placing Robot Assembly Plants at game start.
Species being integrated are no longer eligible for assembly.
The Package Deal living standard in Forever Cruise now grants political power to employed Economy Class Passengers.
Fixed megastructure overclock buttons being unresponsive.
Added missing event sounds to the Forever Cruise situation
Fixed issues when dismantling Beastports on Arkships.
Carrier-computer ships now position themselves using the longer of their weapon or strike craft range, so a carrier with no strike craft no longer charges into close range.
Arkships without equipped weapons no longer charge into melee.
Fixed fleets set to flee when overpowered evaluating their flee condition correctly on an Evasive stance, rather than always evading regardless of the threat.
Fixed Deep Scan uncovering anomalies and archaeology sites far less often than the intended 7% and 3% chances.
Sero the Younger's Habitable Deep Scan can now uncover resource deposits, anomalies, and archaeology sites instead of only pre-sapients.
The success chance of Sero the Younger's Habitable Deep Scan now correctly diminishes with repeated scans of the same world.
Deep Scan resource caches now correctly scale with the Advanced Xenostudies resolution instead of A Voice for All.
Federation members can now form Commercial Pacts with one another, matching Research Agreements.
Free and automatic Research Agreements between Federation members now correctly benefit from Research Sharing from Agreements modifiers and satisfy faction demands for having Research Agreements.
Fixed federation members losing their existing Commercial Pacts with one another when forming or joining a federation. Members of non-trade federations now keep their pacts, while Trade Leagues replace them with the free federation pact (This only applies to Commercial Pacts between federation members).
Fixed issue with district indicators in the planet view
Fixed Stellar Cannon opinion modifier overflow
Fixed the Prospectorium's description incorrectly referring to the Scholarium.
Joining an ongoing war is now considered offensive from the perspective of subject agreement terms, regardless of which side is joined
Federation voting laws now apply when joining and leaving ongoing wars
Fixed manually issued system-wide Harvest orders queueing when there were no valid targets.
Fixed Arkships sometimes giving up on surveying.
Fixed the Declare War button tooltip being incorrect after leaving a federation.
Fixed waylines persisting on the galaxy map after a waystation was removed.
Fixed the Logistic Growth Scaling galaxy setting being truncated to one digit.
Nomadic Purge Vassals are now a special subject type that provide resources to their Overlord through subject taxes. Any remaining pops and resources are handed up to the overlord when the subject finishes its work, instead of being lost when the subject's colony was abandoned. A Purging Complete notification lists the pops and resources handed over to the Overlord when a Purge Vassal finishes its work, including any incidental resources that the planet may have produced during their stay.
Fixed Nomad Overlords not receiving the Unity (Fanatic Purifiers, Determined Exterminators, and Necrophages) or Society Research (Devouring Swarms) generated when their temporary purge subjects purged pops - the reward now goes to the Overlord instead of being lost with the subject.
Nomad purge subjects of assimilating empires (such as Driven Assimilators) now assimilate the pops they can rather than purging them, only exterminating pops that cannot be assimilated. The assimilated pops are handed up to the Overlord when the subject disbands, instead of the subject exterminating everyone or lingering forever as a separate empire.
Nomadic Purge Vassals no longer establish Embassies, and other empires can no longer propose Embassies to them.
Empires now correctly lower their opinion of a Nomad Overlord when its Purge Vassal Necrophages pops of their species
Fixed Necropurge not always creating pops.
The Judicial Execution leader trait now correctly grants bonuses when purging Thermophiles
Fixed the Necrophage Elevation Ceremony failing on Arkships. Elevated pops now adapt to Arkship Habitability, and the Pops Necrophaged notification is now shown, highlighting the Arkship fleet
Nomadic empires attempting to invade the first pre-FTL encounter are now correctly told that they need to survey the planet, not that their pre-ftl interference policy is preventing them from invading the planet.

AI empires adopt a fleet doctrine and weapon/defense preferences matching their personality.
Auto-generated ship designs are now fully regenerated when new technology is researched, allowing them to adopt newly unlocked weapons and switch weapon families.
AI empires research weapon technologies matching their preferred weapon type more eagerly.
AI empires research armor or shield technologies in line with their defensive preference.
Sneak-attacker empires are more likely to research cloaking technology.
The AI no longer selects battleship, ember, or Stinger XL sections before it has a usable XL weapon.
The Stinger artillery section is no longer unconditionally preferred over its line section.
AI empires now fit psionic shields when they can afford the zro, instead of always avoiding them.
A shortage of one rare or strategic resource no longer blocks the AI from using weapons and components that rely on other rare resources.
AI empires with stealth fleet doctrines now correctly install cloaking devices on auto-designed ships.
Psionic shields are no longer equipped on stealth ships that lack psionic cloaking.
Fixed AI not handling events if they don't have an idle science ship with a leader.
Fixed AI not declaring war if their naval capacity is too high.

UI/UX

Waystations now show the amount of resources collected every month.
Improved Waystation stockpile tooltips.
Overlapping list boxes are now properly centered
Policies are now grouped into collapsible categories (Military, Diplomacy, Economy, Research, Society), with a traffic-light header on each category indicating whether all, some, or none of its policies can currently be changed.
- Added a button to collapse or expand all policy categories at once.
- Military policies can now be reviewed and changed from the Fleet Manager, and research policies from the Technology view.
Hints nomad players that they can excavate owned dig sites if they have the Frontier Archaeology tradition
Building slots are highlighted when they are selected
Fixed too large hitboxes for overclocking buttons.
In species trait tooltips in empire creation, the portrait requirements are now listed in the correct order.
Fixed the Open Orbital Ring button being hardcoded in planet_view.gui

Performance

macOS builds can now run natively on Apple Silicon as a universal (arm64 + x86_64) binary, no longer requiring Rosetta 2 translation.
Improved mid- and late-game performance by optimizing how pop faction attraction is calculated.
Reduced the CPU and memory overhead of per-fleet order checks, improving performance in large late-game galaxies with many fleets.

Stability

Fixed a crash that could occur when hovering over certain leader traits.
Fixed a potential crash when generating empire name labels on the galaxy map.
Fixed some more multiplayer out-of-sync issues.

Modding

Remove obsolete faction parameters
Added missile armor, shield, and hull point modifiers (flat and percentage variants).
Added triggers pop_ethic_amount, pop_ethic_percentage.
Added effects pop_force_add_ethic, pop_force_remove_ethic, pop_force_transfer_ethic
Fix `pop_force_add_ethic` and `pop_change_ethic` triggers
Remove deprecated triggers `pop_has_ethic` and `pop_group_has_ethic`
Added the can_spawn_random_anomaly, can_spawn_random_archaeological_site, and can_add_random_non_blocker_deposit triggers, and a surveyor parameter to the spawn_random_anomaly effect.
Exposed defines for allowing the AI to ignore the penalties for being over naval cap or over naval cap. The current state of these defines is no change from previous behaviour.
Added pretriggers to ships
Added home_colony and background_colony scopes (similar to home_planet and background_planet, but scope to a colony on any carrier type).
Removed min_navy_for_wars from country types.
Scripted actions support a new automation = {} block with an options sub-block, plus a new fleet-scoped has_automation_flag trigger to gate automation weights.
Scripted action automation = {} blocks now support a parent field that nests an action's row beneath another action in the settings menu.
Added the weapon_and_strike_craft range_components option for ship behaviors.
Expanded the ship_behavior template documentation (move patterns, combat_movement, flee_when_overpowered, allow_emergency_ftl, allow_disengage).
Added the can_spawn_random_anomaly, can_spawn_random_archaeological_site, and can_add_random_non_blocker_deposit triggers, and a surveyor parameter to the spawn_random_anomaly effect.
Exposed defines for allowing the AI to ignore the penalties for being over naval cap or over naval cap. The current state of these defines is no change from previous behaviour.
Updated the documentation for the `create_country` effect.
Added the transfer_resources_to_empire effect, which transfers a country's stockpile of each listed resource
Added the transfer_resources_to_empire effect, which transfers a country's stockpile of each listed resource (optionally a percentage of it) to another country in a single call
create_message now supports a "resources" variable type that prints a country's current stockpile of the listed resources as one string of icon + amount pairs

Update #3 is out now!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:34:04 +0800

Servus Allies,

Update #3 is now live! As always, we've been closely monitoring your feedback and have today released an update addressing a number of suggestions and reports we've seen over recent weeks (along with adding a brand new Island POI - Halbmond).

Check out what's new ????

Changelog

Hitreg fix - Fixed issues and made improvements to melee and shooting at close distances
Character movement changes:
- Movement speed is lower when characters have items in their hands (weapons, grenades, artifacts, tools
- Strafing and moving backward are now slower
- Added movement penalty for consecutive jumps/bunnyhop
Graphical improvements and VFX fixes
- Improved performance of the small scatter
- Terrain Detail graphics settings — Low / Med / High. Controls the range and density of grass and bushes
- Small pebbles and grass appear gradually with distance — without suddenly “popping in”
- Added wind effect to props with fabric material
- Fixed that Light from the flashlight would be displayed with artifacts when casting in motion at a surface at nighttime
- Fixed incorrect VFX for the Crystal with Handles
- Fixed incorrectly baked shadows in some of the compartments
- Fixed that Revolver muzzle flash was positioned incorrectly
- Fixed that the bottom of the Wok Bomb emitted light too brightly while moving it above certain light source objects
- Fixed repair Kit VFX being displayed in the wrong position from 3rd POV
New Island: Halbmond
New compartment: Crow’s Nest
Improvements to the failure points
- Failure and trampler module points will now emit particles once, after being fully repaired
- Fixed visual artifacts on the smoke from smoking metal patches, turret slot, and door circuit boxes
Improvements for the orbital strike and binoculars
- Shows the distance now
- You’re no longer able to shoot at great distances with orbital strike
  - Previously, you would waste the Orbital Strike
Fixed the issue where disconnection from the lobby would cause certain characters to lose their customizations
Fixed an issue where, on some regional settings in Windows, players would get stuck in the air/sky at the start of the expedition
- Thanks to @D0n15 for helping us with finding the cause of this issue
Fixed the issue that DLSS was unavailable for players with NVIDIA GPUs (forgot to mention it in the last patch)
Fixed an issue that unlockable items in the Tech Tree couldn’t be scrolled
Fixed an issue where lootboxes could be looted more than once
Fixed an issue where the character could get stuck on top of the ladder
Fixed an issue with parts of terrain on Schwalbenberg that caused issues with tesselation
Fixed softlock on the Connecting screen when trying to connect to the unavailable server
- You’ll be redirected to the server selection screen with a disconnect message

Known Issues

Character may become transparent in Spectator mode in some cases
Character cannot crouch while carrying the Repair Kit
The Character cannot enter the Expedition if the Invite has been accepted at the Tutorial pop-up background
Items may be displayed inside the character’s body in some cases
Large items may float around the character
Character may become invulnerable to melee damage while interacting with turrets or the steering wheel
Bullets can pass through the character on speed-boosted trampler
- This will be fixed in the upcoming updates
Upiors positioned may be different between client and server
- On the client, it looks like Upior doesn’t receive damage, but you might see their “shimmering/blink” body near them.
Other player models might look in idle pose

Please don't hesitate to report any issues you encounter or share any feedback you might have following this update on our Steam Forums and Discord!

Catch you on the dunes, Scavengers!

- Hologryph / tinyBuild Games

Every outfit in Black Flag Resynced and how to get them

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:16:05 +0800

Outfits in Black Flag Resynced are purely cosmetic, but they're a way for Edward Kenway to show off his style and lean either into Assassin aesthetic, the classic pirate look, or everything between and beyond. There's plenty of clothing and outfits you'll get while doing the main story, but others require you to go off the beaten path and find various treasure chests or complete certain side quests. Below I'll show you how to get every outfit in the Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake, as well as our pick for the best ones.

How to unlock all outfits in Black Flag Resynced

(Image credit: Ubisoft) There 33 outfits in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, though some can only be unlocked in paid DLC. Below we'll lay out how to get all of them for yourself.

Outfit

How to get it

Brown Cloak

Found in a chest in Havana (Coordinates 204, 572)

Captain Drake's Outfit

Found in a chest on Sacrifice Island (Coordinates 23, 552)

Captain Morgan's Redingote

Found in a chest on Black Island (Coordinates 914, 618)

Connor's Outfit

3000 Keys in the Animus Store

Crimson Cloak

Find one of the Treasure Maps in the Havana Warehouse. It leads to a Buried Treasure in Anotto Bay (Coordinates 590, 255)

Dark Animus Corsair Robes

Reward for reaching level 18 in the Dark Animus Project.

Dragonscale Armor

Purchase Dragon Storm Character Pack DLC.

Duncan Walpole's Robes

Unlocked in game's introductory mission

Edward Kenway's Robes

Unlocked after completing the Havana section in the game's introduction

Edward the Legend Outfit

Complete the "Former Glories" Side Mission in Great Inagua after fully restoring Great Inagua.

Feline Pelt Outfit

Craft at the Treasure Dealer in Great Inagua. Requires 2 Ocelot Pelts, 6 Jaguar Pelts, 1 White Jaguar Pelt and 2 Black Jaguar Pelt.

Foreign Diplomat Disguise

Complete the story mission "A Governor No Longer".

Governor's Outfit

Find one of the Treasure Maps in the Nassau Warehouse. It leads to a Buried Treasure in Isla Providencia (Coordinates 487, 11)

Haytham Kenway's Overcoat

Collect all portraits for the Great Inagua Manor and follow the treasure map reward to the dig spot on Great Inagua (Coordinates 820, 430)

Hellion Armor

Purchase Hellfire Character Pack DLC.

Master Assassin Outfit

Complete the "Art Lover" side quest on Great Inagua by collecting 25 pieces of art in total.

Master Assassin's Robes

Purchase Deluxe Edition upgrade or Master Assassin Character Pack DLC.

Mayan Outfit

Collect all Black Flag Resynced Mayan Stones and open the door in Tulum

Merchant Outfit

Purchase from merchants for 3000 Reales

Nomad's Bronze Ensemble

Claim for free in the Store tab

Officer's Outfit

Found in a chest on Principe (Coordinates 116, 11)

Pirate Captain Outfit

Find one of the Treasure Maps in Corozal (31, 230). It leads to a Buried Treasure in Ambergris Key (Coordinates 30, 157)

Pirate Cloak

Purchase from merchants for 600 Reales

Politician's Outfit

Purchase from merchants for 3000 Reales

Privateer Outfit

Purchase from merchants for 3000 Reales

Shark-Hunter Outfit

Craft at the Treasure Dealer in Great Inagua. Requires 1 Great White Shark Bone, 2 Bull Shark Skins and 2 Hammerhead Shark Bones.

Shade and Shadow Robes

Obtain four Preserved Map Pieces from Warehouse raids and piece them together at the Treasure Dealer in Great Inagua. Follow it to the dig site on Sacrifice Island (Coordinates 14, 554)

Stealth Outfit

Complete half of all Assassin contracts throughout Black Flag Resynced.

Stede Bonnet's Attire

Found in a chest on Mystery Island (Coordinates 913, 124)

Stormfury Shroud

Purchase Sea Serpent Character Pack DLC.

Templar Armor

Acquire all Black Flag Resynced Templar Keys and open the door in Great Inagua

Whaler Outfit

Craft at the Treasure Dealer in Great Inagua. Requires 2 Humpback Whale Skins and 2 Killer Whale Skins

Yasuke's Yoroi

Reward for reaching level 12 in the Undertow Animus Project.

Best Outfit in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

(Image credit: Ubisoft) As mentioned, outfits in Black Flag Resynced have no mechanical function and it doesn't matter what outfit you wear, unlike in the previous game where they did have certain effects. That means you choice of outfit is fully dictated by fashion and personal preference as you explore Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, and the general vibe you want to give off. Speaking personally, I am enormously fond of Captain Morgan's Redingote, which is probably the most "piratey" outfit in the whole game.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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"This is not how I imagined it would end": Ubisoft to lay off Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced devs at its Barcelona studio, with one calling the remake's release "bittersweet"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:16:04 +0800

Ubisoft Barcelona – one of the development teams behind Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced – will be laying off 51 staff by the end of the month, one dev says.

In a post on LinkedIn (via Kotaku), Isabel Codina García, quality assurance/quality control lead at Ubisoft Barcelona, said yesterday, "Today is a bittersweet day."

She continues, "Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced releases today, the project I have been working on for the past 2.5 years. However, two weeks before launch, the whole AC team at Ubisoft Barcelona was informed of a collective redundancy plan."

The dev explains that Vantage Studios – the Ubisoft-Tencent conglomerate established last year – told the studio that there "will not be further mandates for the Barcelona studio, despite the team proposing new AC projects." As for the scale of the layoffs, she says "51 people, myself included, will be affected by the end of July."

The studio's LinkedIn lists it as being made up of "51-200 employees" with 119 of those employees being members of the site, so it seems a large chunk of the studio is set to be affected.

At the end of June, staff at Spanish union La Confederación General del Trabajo released a bulletin stating that Ubisoft Barcelona staff were going on strike (thanks, GamesIndustry.biz) over the proposed layoffs, with attempts to ensure that the 51 staff were retained, requests for job protection to prevent more mass layoffs for "a minimum of five years," a demand that already-agreed promotions be given, as well as the option to work from home.

Codina García adds, "After 7 years at Ubisoft Barcelona, this is not how I imagined it would end. But I am genuinely grateful for the people I have met and everything I have learned along the way."

Frustratingly, it's becoming increasingly common occurrence in the games industry that even if your projects are successful, that isn't enough for execs. Resynced is the fourth highest rated game in the series, saw the biggest Steam launch in the series, and will undoubtedly sell millions as a remake of the series' most beloved game.

And those making these decisions aren't the people affected even if the game somehow was a flop. But now, years of experience is leaving the studio, which will in turn leave future projects in a worse place, and more importantly, 51 people looking for work in an industry that feels like it is laying off far more often than hiring.

We have reached out to Ubisoft for comment on this situation, and will update should we receive a response.

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'I Just Can't Believe My Luck' — Dark Souls Superfan Peter Serafinowicz Reveals How He Landed a Role in the Upcoming Elden Ring Movie

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:05:05 +0800

Actor Peter Serafinowicz has revealed how a chance encounter with fellow Dark Souls superfan Alex Garland led to him landing a role in the upcoming Elden Ring movie.

Serafinowicz, who is best known as the voice of Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, for playing Pete in Shaun of the Dead, Garthan Saal in Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Sommelier in John Wick: Chapter 2, picked Dark Souls as one of his Five Brilliant Things in an interview with British comedian Russell Howard.

Serafinowicz spoke passionately of his love for Dark Souls in the interview, explaining in great detail how its infamous difficulty makes it one of the most rewarding video games ever created. “Once that clicks, it's like, oh my god, this is the game I've been waiting for my whole life,” he said. “It teaches you that no obstacle is insurmountable. And it's just the most satisfying game that I've ever played. And there's a thing about all these games, once you play them and if they click for you, you don't want to play any other game. And I just haven't.”

Serafinowicz went on to explain how he landed one of the most iconic roles in the Dark Souls series and, later, Elden Ring: the male character's dying sounds and pain grunts. He said that he basically bullied his way into a voice acting role in Dark Souls 2, having loved the first so much. FromSoftware cast him as the voice behind Mild-Mannered Pate, but he also ended up doing something far more important…

“I eventually got in touch with the software company and said, ‘Look, I hear you're making Dark Souls 2.’ And I couldn't have been more excited that they were making another one. And I said, ‘Look, I'm an actor. I'm good at voices. I'd love to be a voice in the game.’ And I kind of bullied my way into being… I played a character in the game and they don't have big, huge cutscenes and loads of dialogue blah blah blah and dialogue trees…. kind of boring, right? Just like just these little kind of bits, you know? And so I played this character in Dark Souls 2.

“But far more thrillingly for me, they asked me to provide the exertion noises for if you played as a male character, right? So all the, 'when you die,' which is often in these games. I play Elden Ring now and they've kept my sounds in all the subsequent games.

“I always forget if when I pick it up and have a little go and I die it's like me right? It's a weird way to be immortalized in this. It's one of my proudest achievements.”

At this point Serafinowicz revealed how he went from doing voices on Dark Souls and Elden Ring to starring in the Elden Ring movie. It turns out it all came from a chance encounter with writer and director Alex Garland — also a Dark Souls and Elden Ring superfan — and a friendship that followed.

“Quite a few years ago we were in the same reception area, I was going for an audition. He had some kind of meeting there. Didn't know him, but he came over and introduced himself to me and was like, ‘You're Peter Serafinowicz aren't you?’ I said, ‘Yeah, you're Alex Garland.’ ‘Yeah, I'm a big fan.’ He was like, ‘You like video games, don't you?’ And I said, ‘Well, I like one video game.’ ‘It's Dark Souls, right?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah,’ because I'd talked about it a bit. And he said, ‘I'm just the biggest Dark Souls fan.’ And we were just enthusing about all these different aspects of this wonderful game, and we became friends based on this little interaction, right?

“He had to go into a meeting and I left my phone number at reception. I said, ‘Could you give this to Alex Garland when he comes out? It was like a sort of date, you know. And so we became friends. Anyway, fast forward to now, Alex is currently directing Elden Ring the movie, and I'm in it! I'm in it! I just can't believe my luck. I just can't believe that, that it's like, wow, dude. Wow, man!”

It’s a fun full circle moment for Serafinowicz, who said Dark Souls and Elden Ring fans love that he’s behind the FromSoftware death noises. “One of the other cast in it, I met him the other day when I went for a costume fitting. He also is a big fan of these games. And I told him this story and then I was doing my death noise and he was like, ‘Oh, dude. Oh my god.’”

Then, after delivering a quite wonderful FromSoftware death noise to close out the interview, Serafinowicz added: “And it says, ‘You died.’ It’s so funny, right? You died. Ha ha ha ha!”

Alex Garland’s live-action adaptation of FromSoftware’s masterful, 30-million selling video game hits theaters on March 3, 2028. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Elden Ring is A24's most ambitious project ever, with a budget "well over $100 million." That makes it a more expensive production than the likes of Marty Supreme and Alex Garland's own Civil War.

The cast is headlined by Cailee Spaeny (Alien: Romulus, Civil War, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery), Ben Whishaw (Q in James Bond films Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die, and the voice of Paddington Bear), and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation, The Last of Us).

Elden Ring full cast:

Kit Connor (Warfare, Heartstopper)
Ben Whishaw (Peter Hujar’s Day, This is going to Hurt)
Cailee Spaeny (Alien: Romulus, Civil War)
Tom Burke (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Black Bag)
Havana Rose Liu (Tuner, Bottoms)
Sonoya Mizuno (Ex Machina)
Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes, The Crown)
Ruby Cruz (Bottoms, The Threesome)
Nick Offerman (The Last of Us, Margo’s Got Money Troubles)
John Hodgkinson (Dear England, Napoleon)
Jefferson Hall (House of the Dragon, Oppenheimer)
Emma Laird (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, A Haunting in Venice)
and Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)

The Elden Ring movie is created “under the guidance” of FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki, and “based on a mythological story” written by Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. Last year, the New Yorker said that Garland had completed an “epic” 160-page draft, with 40 additional pages of imagery, as a script on-spec, then flew to Japan to pitch the movie himself.

That came as little surprise, given we know that Garland is an Elden Ring pro. In June last year, he told IGN he was on his seventh playthrough of Elden Ring, and revealed the boss he found the toughest to take down.

Speaking to IGN ahead of the release 28 Years Later — the zombie apocalypse film he wrote 23 years on from penning the first movie in the franchise — Garland revealed which of all of the famed foes in Elden Ring that he has settled on being the most difficult: Malenia, Blade of Miquella.

“It's Malenia who's the tough one”, Garland explained. “I'm now on my seventh playthrough of that game. I've leveled up, I've got lots of juice, and a cool sword, and stuff like that, and I just throw myself at them again, and again, and again, and again.”

“That was the technique I learned with Dark Souls," he continued. “It's not that you get better, it's more like monkeys and typewriters. You just keep doing it, and eventually, one day they're dead.”

Certainly, Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin, who worked on the Elden Ring video game with FromSoftware, seems excited. Martin has described Garland as a "first rate director" and production company A24 as "kickass." Martin said his mood upon hearing the project announcement was "hopeful," as he shared a YouTube video titled "Why the Elden Ring Movie WON'T SUCK."

Photo by Sam Simpson/Dave Benett/Getty Images for British Vogue.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced's standard edition is "is the full, complete experience", Ubisoft insist in response to Steam DLC furore

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:05:05 +0800

Yarr, ye not be needin' to shell out for the more expensive editions of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced or its day one DLCs if you want to have "the full, complete experience". So developers Ubisoft have said in response to Steam reviews giving the Black Flag remake a thumbs down because it has a bunch of purchasable extras on sale right out of port.

Read more

Marvel Rivals: How To Play Jubilee (Abilities, Ultimate, Tips & Tricks)

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:05:04 +0800

Now the Horseman of Famine for Apocalypse, the former X-Men member Jubilee is the newest Marvel Rivals Season 9 character, adding a unique Strategist to the hero shooter roster. Wielding pyrotechnic plasma for explosive fireworks, Jubilee also has vampiric powers as Famine that she uses to ignite the battlefield in various ways. Energetic abilities can create a powerful ally for any team, especially if players master Jubilee's mutant skills.

This underrated board game does roguelike better than anyone, and it's about to double in size with a stack of new expansions

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:05:04 +0800

Released back in 2021, Mini Rogue is a real sleeper hit - a teeny tiny solo or cooperative board game that delivers all the fun of a dungeon crawler in a handful of cards, tokens, and dice, wrapped up in moreish roguelike randomisation. A whole new system of tunnels has opened up in this dungeon, as an expandalone sequel called Mini Rogue: The Council is releasing this summer along with three more expansions.

Read the full story on Wargamer: This underrated board game does roguelike better than anyone, and it's about to double in size with a stack of new expansions

Podcast: The Fallout from Xbox’s terrible week, with Jeff Gerstmann

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:05:03 +0800

The latest episode of VGC: The Video Game Podcast is now live, featuring insight on the week’s biggest gaming stories from our team of journalists.

This week, VGC’s Jordan Middler and Jeff Gerstmann break down the headlines, including the news that thousands of jobs have been lost across Microsoft, including at historic studios.

Elsewhere, Jeff chats about the Steam Machine, and Jordan talks about Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. You can find more from Jeff on Patreon.

Read More...

Notice:Partial Revisions to Passive Texts for Dawn Office Fixer Faust&Rep Gregor

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:47:03 +0800

Hello, this is Project Moon.

We have identified that the phrasing in some of the textual descriptions of Dawn Office Fixer Faust's Passive, "Seonbae", and Dawn Office Rep Gregor's Passive, "Dawn Office", may be interpreted ambiguously.

The Passive effects above are designed to be applied and converted not only when Dawn Office Fixer Faust and Dawn Office Rep Gregor are defeated in the current Encounter, but also when they are already defeated in the previous Encounter.

Currently, there are no errors in the in-game performance or behavior of these Passive effects. However, the current Korean phrasing, "사망했으면", may be interpreted as meaning that the effect applies only if the relevant Identity is defeated in the current Encounter.

Consequently, we plan to revise the ambiguous phrasing in the text to better clarify the trigger condition of the aforementioned Passive effects.

※ The phrasing will be standardized to match that of Blade of the House of Spiders Ryōshū's Passive, "Saikai [再会]".
※ As the English text has been determined to include the context of the intended effect, it will remain unchanged. Only the Korean and Japanese texts will be revised.

→ Partial revision to Dawn Office Fixer Faust's Passive, "Seonbae"
(KR)
- Before: 새벽 사무소 해결사 파우스트가 사망했으면,
- After: 새벽 사무소 해결사 파우스트가 "사망한 상태면",
(JP)
- Before: 夜明事務所フィクサーファウストが死亡した場合、
- After: 夜明事務所フィクサーファウストが「死亡状態なら」、

→ Partial revision to Dawn Office Rep Gregor's Passive, "Dawn Office"
(KR)
- Before: 새벽 사무소 대표 그레고르가 사망했으면,
- After: 새벽 사무소 대표 그레고르가 "사망한 상태면",
(JP)
- Before: 夜明事務所代表グレゴールが死亡した場合、
- After: 夜明事務所代表グレゴールが「死亡状態なら」、

※ Only the phrasing of these two Passives will be partially revised. No other text or effects will be changed.
※ The text revisions will be applied with the Jul. 16th Scheduled Update.

We sincerely apologize for any confusion caused by the Passive descriptions.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 star begs Rockstar Games to "make me a cowboy" as fans urge the studio to cast him in Red Dead Redemption 3

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:45:04 +0800

After Red Dead Redemption 2, fans can't help but now look forward to Rockstar Games' next cowboy adventure – and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 star Luke Dale is no exception.

Dale, who plays Hans Capon in Kingdom Come and its sequel, confirms as much in a new online post, pinging the official Rockstar account on Twitter. "Once again pleading with Rockstar Games to make me a cowboy," he writes – and honestly, I feel like he's probably serious here, too.

I mean, he does say "once again," which sort of implies he's given thought to joining the Red Dead cast at some point in the past… or perhaps even requested a role.

Once again pleading with @RockstarGames to make me a cowboy. https://t.co/mc8UC2SyM0 July 10, 2026

Red Dead Redemption 3 remains a bit of a mystery, though, as Rockstar hasn't even confirmed it's happening. The studio is admittedly likely busy with GTA 6 and what have you, but a third Red Dead feels inevitable.

After all, Red Dead Redemption 2 and its online counterpart still boast an active player base – myself included (hey, there's a serious shortage of good horse games out there, OK?). It's also, you know, the third best-selling game ever.

Commenters on Dale's post seem to think a third game is in the works, too, and are keen for the Kingdom Come star to join the cast, with one asking Rockstar, "Have you cast for RDR3 already?" Another amusingly questions Dale himself, wondering, "How good is your American accent?" The Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 actor replies with a GIF: "Oh, you have NO idea."

Now I sort of want to see him as a cowboy someday, too.

Here's hoping Rockstar hears his cries and gives him a chance – and, um, that Red Dead Redemption 3 is actually happening at all (or planned to, at least).

Need something to tide you over until then? Have a quick browse through our roundup of the most exciting new games coming this year and beyond.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean Finally Returns With Some Controversial Changes

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:45:03 +0800

Pirates of the Caribbean remains one of Disney's most beloved franchises, though it's been nearly a decade since fans last saw Johnny Depp's iconic Captain Jack Sparrow in an official new release. With a long-awaited sixth installment still in development, speculation continues over whether the actor will ever reprise his signature role, and fans have become a bit impatient without much in the way of updates as of late.

Black Ops 1 And 2 Launch On PS5 And PS4 With A 50% PS Plus Discount

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:26:04 +0800

You can now jump back into two of the most popular Call of Duty games, as Call of Duty: Black

Palworld 1.0 sees the survival game's biggest Steam player spike since its record-breaking early access launch and 96% positive reviews: "Better than even Pokemon"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:23:03 +0800

Well, it's here. Palworld 1.0 is now officially out, with a short story's worth of patch notes for fans to pore over before they dive in. Naturally, plenty of people have been flocking to the monster-collecting survival game, either for the first time or as returning veterans, causing the biggest spike in concurrent players on Steam since the period around its massive early access launch.

According to SteamDB at time of writing, Palworld currently has 302,384 people playing at once on Steam. Although that pales from the two-million-plus we saw when the game first became available back in 2024, that's a sizable amount of concurrent players nonetheless, and this is during unsocial hours in the United States.

Once North America wakes up, we can expect plenty more to join the party. The closest peak to this post-launch was in December 2024, where over 212,000 people were playing at once. Palworld's kept a consistent audience while it's been in early access, always staying in the tens of thousands even when not much was going on update wise.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/1fpGg9wNM9A On top of this, Steam reviews are in an extremely healthy position as well. Right now, Palworld 1.0 is at 96% positive reviews looking at the hundreds of ratings posted today, as dedicated fans have decided to give credit where it's due.

"Thank you for creating the game so many of us always wished Pokemon would become," says one review left today, July 10, from a fan with 140 hours on record. "Rather than waiting for that vision to happen, you brought it to life through your own original IP, and the result feels both familiar and refreshingly unique."

There's a lot of anti-Nintendo sentiment after the company pulled Pocketpair into a legal battle over alleged patent infringement. "Much better than any Pokemon game I have ever played," a fan writes. "Better than even Pokemon," another echoes.

Whether by protest against the home of Mario and Zelda or genuine curiosity, plenty are enjoying Palworld. Now that Pocketpair's put out 1.0, the sky seems to be the limit. Just don't expect any underwater swimming.

Playing Palworld 1.0 with mods can "cause issues," Pocketpair warns, so it's recommended you uninstall each one before updating the survival game.

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Version 3.0.1 Bug Fixes (July 10)

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:15:04 +0800

Dear Metas,

If you encounter any issues while playing, please contact us using the following methods:

PC: ESC - Support & Feedback - Submit Suggestion

Mobile: Map left-side menu - Headphones icon at bottom right - Suggestions - Submit Suggestion

We've been gathering community feedback and actively addressing your concerns.

The following issues have been fixed:

July 10
The following issues have been fixed:
1. Fixed an issue where the total recharge rewards progress displayed incorrectly for some players.
The following issues are expected to be fixed by 05:00 PT. Actual completion time may vary:
1. Fixed an issue where the camera was incorrectly blocked by the model when entering a vehicle in first person mode.
2. Fixed an issue where character performance was abnormal during first person mode switching, including character body shape being incorrectly modified, playing male character actions for female characters, and inconsistent action directions between the upper and lower body of the character.
3. Fixed an issue where, in certain situations, the missiles of QBJ97 - Fiery Trees and Silver Flowers could hit the Deviation Voodoo Doll.
4. Fixed an issue on iOS where the mod collection progress rewards interface could not be closed properly after opening.
5. Fixed an issue where the daily check in task in Dreamy Wave could not be completed normally in certain situations.

Once Human Development Team

Id Software founder John Carmack mourns layoffs: "Games need to succeed, not just be beloved"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:08:04 +0800

John Carmack expresses sadness for the job cuts at Doom and Quake developer Id Software, but believes that legacy isn't enough to survive.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Id Software founder John Carmack mourns layoffs: "Games need to succeed, not just be beloved"

There's one Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced item everyone should grab, and it's available super early in the Ubisoft open-world game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:05:04 +0800

Before you walk the plank and dive into the deep end of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, there's one early-game item that's a total time-saver for both prospective sailors (those who haven't started the game yet) and veteran pirate legends (those who are planning 100% completionist runs).

This being an Assassin's Creed game from the open-world fanatics at Ubisoft, Black Flag Resynced is expectedly massive. A full completionist run can easily take up to and over 60 hours to beat once you fold in all the enemy forts, sunken treasure, side quests, collectibles, and unlockable upgrades.

Worry not, freebooter, as there's a trinket called Exotic Sea Shells that can help shave that time down quite nicely. When equipped, Exotic Sea Shells "increases the wildlife products gained from skinning animals" – resources used for both unlocking upgrades and outfits.

Best part, you can find the trinket super early on. In southeast Havana, to be exact. To be even more exact, you can head to the coordinates 213, 568 and find a treasure chest containing the Exotic Sea Shells there. (Thanks, Game8!) As one fan puts it on Twitter, "this is one of the best trinkets you can get early" in the remake.

Grinding and hunting for pigs, let's say, should be over much quicker with a seashell necklace on hand (I love video game logic), as should getting all of the game's outfits and upgrades, which are tied to how many animals you can skin and how many sea beasts you can harpoon.

Just make sure you don't fall victim to a bug that can wipe hours off your Black Flag Resynced save file, OK?

You can read our Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review to see our thoughts on Ubisoft's new remake and see if it's up there with the series' best Assassin's Creed games.

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How to find the Salt Lagoon treasure in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:05:03 +0800

The Black Flag Resynced Salt Lagoon treasure is quite well-hidden, overshadowed by a massive rock formation on the small island. This is one of the first treasure maps you can complete in Black Flag Resynced, and it's surprisingly easy to miss dig prompt. If you're still very early in Edward's journey, you'll definitely want to dig this treasure up for a nice pouch of Reales too, I've explained precisely where to go to dig up the Salt Lagoon treasure below.

Black Flag Resynced Salt Lagoon treasure location

(Image credit: Ubisoft) The Salt Lagoon treasure from the map found on Abaco Island is located at 719,607, just south of the tall rock formation on the northwestern beach.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) This dig spot can be quite easy to miss compared to some of the buried treasure spots – make sure you get right up to the green ferns growing by the tall rock – but unearth the buried chest and you'll get the Serpent Figurehead Design Plan for the Jackdaw and 3,000 Reales.

Treasure is normally a bit easier to find than this, but our Black Flag Resynced Treasure Maps guide details where to find every bit of treasure, so that you can easily find and plunder every dig spot.

Otherwise, there are a few other things you can do and find on Salt Lagoon to complete the checklist: one Viewpoint, one chest, and one secret, and you need to hunt a deer. The Viewpoint is on the end of the bowsprit of a wrecked ship on the southwest beach; the chest is in the sea off the south beach and contains 1,000 Reales; and the secret is another treasure map on the northeast side of the beach. Finally, deer are found towards the middle of the island.

[/url] Black Flag Resynced has lots of other treasures to find:
Black Flag Resynced ultimate ship plans: Best upgrades for the JackdawBlack Flag Resynced Templar Keys: Kill these targetsBlack Flag Resynced Mayan Stones: Stelae locations
Black Flag Resynced Blackbeard's Treasure: Find the hidden cove

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Star Wars: Ashes Of The Empire Announced, Set After The Battle Of Endor

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:54:04 +0800

While Star Wars is packed with iconic battle sequences, there's arguably no more recognizable event in the franchise than the epic conclusion of the original trilogy that unfolds during the Battle of Endor in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Fans hail this final confrontation as one of the best in sci-fi writ large, not just in the Star Wars universe, and for good reason.

The Kortz Center Heist, Coming to GTA Online July 14

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:52:04 +0800

Scope out Los Santos’ premier cultural space and pocket prized artworks in The Kortz Center Heist, coming to GTA Online on July 14.

Link up with the mysterious Mr. Faber and his chief fixer Raf De Angelis to take on a blockbuster new Heist — where you'll meticulously stake out the museum and carefully plot your approach, then snatch the Kortz Center’s most valuable exhibits.

FAKE IT UNTIL YOU TAKE IT

Taking down a culturally and commercially high-value target like the Kortz Center requires a proportionate level of preparation. Investing in an Art Studio space expansion inside your Mansion will get you started. Similar to other owned properties, Mansion owners can also extend an invite to their friends and host them inside their Art Studio.

Once renovated, a gifted counterfeiter will occupy the Studio crafting forgeries to replace the valuable target pieces inside the museum. Consider them your personal artist-in-residence. Gear and tech will accumulate inside your Art Studio as you prepare, and you and your associates will be able to select from this stockpile when building a custom loadout for the Finale.

Approach solo, or with a crew of up to three other players — having extra hands may help you escape with more. Raf will be your point man for the Heist, sharing reconnaissance and vital intel as you execute your well-prepared plans. You can also expect your Mansion’s trusty AI Assistant to come in handy.

For those making their initial foray into Mansion ownership, there’s still time to take advantage of a special limited-time bonus GTA$ offer, and Prix Luxury Real Estate’s Richman Villa property in the Vinewood Hills is just a short drive to the Kortz Center.

See full event details at the Rockstar Newswire.

The great RTS game Tempest Rising has a big The Veti's Wrath DLC announced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:35:03 +0800

A full single-player expansion is command to the great RTS game Tempest Rising. Titled The Veti's Wrath, you'll get some explosive new missions to play.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/the-great-rts-game-tempest-rising-has-a-big-the-vetis-wrath-dlc-announced/

id Software co-founder says "my 'Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the brand' statement isn't aging well" after the Doom maker lost 136 of its 185 staff to layoffs

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:35:03 +0800

id Software co-founder John Carmack has reacted to the massive layoffs under Microsoft, which have reportedly led to the majority of the studio losing their jobs.

"I have been trying to find something meaningful to say about the Id Software layoffs." Carmack says in a thread on Twitter. "My 'Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the brand' statement isn't aging well," he says, adding "this is certainly going to dampen the mood of the founder reunion at QuakeCon next month."

Carmack explains: "I'm saddened, but I can't muster anger or outrage over it. I don't have access to the books, but I suspect that Id Software was a marginal business from Microsoft's perspective." He says, "I believe the reports that Minecraft revenues have been carrying several other studios," in reference to a Bloomberg report (via PC Gamer) that claims that profits from Minecraft had been used to prop up less successful studios under the Xbox banner.

However, Carmack is taking a bit more pragmatic approach when it comes to the layoffs, even if they are coming from a company that made $281.7 billion in 2025. "To continue being produced long term, games need to succeed, not just be beloved," Carmack adds, saying, "You can't rule out the possibility that executives are idiots, but that shouldn't be your default belief. I don't think there is any obvious path that would have doubled the revenue from id games."

Carmack then speculates on different approaches that could've been taken like different pricing or marketing – and one could argue giving away Doom: The Dark Ages, a $70 game, for the price of a subscription fee probably didn't help it sell.

Former principal VFX artist at id Software, Derek Best said earlier this week that Microsoft has nuked "a team into the dirt" and relegated them "to support studio size." But despite this, Carmack believes, "The game isn't over yet, and I hope the studio rallies through." Fellow id co-founder John Romero also commented on the layoffs, calling them "devastating" while praising the developers who carried on id's legacy after the founders left, saying: "The last few games showed real care, skill and respect for what those worlds mean to people."

Pitches for a co-op Doom, a new Perfect Dark, and a John Wick-inspired cyberpunk game were cooking at id Software before Microsoft layoffs reportedly led to 136 job cuts.

[/url]

Transport Fever 3 devs showcase new Features and Vehicles

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:26:05 +0800

Transport Fever 3 developers Urban Games along with their new publisher Paradox Interactive released a new First Look showcase of new Features and Vehicles.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/transport-fever-3-devs-showcase-new-features-and-vehicles/

Stardew Valley Officially Returns January 2027

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:26:04 +0800

Stardew Valley fans have never been more excited with what's in store, with ConcernedApe hard at work on the major 1.7 update that's sure to release relatively soon, but also with the developer's new project, The Haunted Chocolatier in development as well. Both upcoming releases have fans champing at the bit, though the fanbase has proven quite understanding given the solo dev only has limited resources available and still manages to deliver incredible content.

Hogwarts Legacy 2 Castle Size Already Getting Harry Potter Fans Pumped

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:04:05 +0800

Hogwarts Legacy left many fans eager to see where the Wizarding World could go next after becoming one of the best-selling and most successful games in recent years. While Avalanche Software has yet to reveal any major details about the sequel, anticipation continues to build as players speculate about the features and improvements they hope to see in the next installment.

The Palworld 1.0 patch notes are monstrous: 72 new Pals, level cap of 85, rebalanced combat, a reworked story, world overhaul, and so much more

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:04:05 +0800

The Palworld 1.0 patch notes are here and, as promised, the changelog is monstrously huge. Developer Pocketpair has pushed its hit survival game out of early access with 72 new Pals, a level cap increase, and massive overhauls to practically every corner of the monster-tamer.

In the lead up to Palworld's full launch, the studio teased that its 1.0 update would be absolutely huge – in reality, the patch notes are big enough to take on a kaiju, and the developer writes that it includes "large-scale overhauls across many aspects of the game." That it does. "The journey that began in Early Access reaches its climax, and from here, a new Palworld begins."

Top of the list, new Pals! 47 of them are entirely fresh and 25 are variants of existing Pals, upping the game's total to a hefty 287. You can find the newbies across the world, with many of them chilling in the game's new areas.

Speaking of, Palworld's world is expanding with a floating archipelago of islands called Sunreach. "Kept aloft by the power of Paldium, this land holds an environment unlike the surface, with a unique civilization that has taken root over long years," the game's patch notes read. "Sunreach introduces a wide range of new content, including new Pals, tower bosses, and ores that can only be mined using specialized equipment."

Then there's the World Tree, which everything seemingly leads up to: "Why do the factions of the Palpagos Islands keep fighting over ownership of the towers? The mystery hidden on this island is finally revealed. The key to the story of Palworld is the World Tree, towering over Palpagos, and it is here that players will face their greatest challenge yet."

To connect all the dots, old and new, Pocketpair has also reworked the entire game's narrative. Exploring the world and conquering tower bosses now supposedly connects to the World Tree on a deeper level, while new NPCs and "story-driven, continuous sub-missions" provide more context for the world in general.

There's so much more to delve into elsewhere in Palworld 1.0. An 'Awakening' mechanic that sounds vaguely like Pokemon's Mega Evolutions, improvements to combat and balance, a new level cap of 85, new passive and active skills, overhauls to tower bosses, fresh base-building and multiplayer features, over 100 new Pal animations to give them all a little more personality... you get the gist.

If you're planning on jumping in for the first time or the 100th, I'd recommend at least taking a quick glance over the list of changes. Just make sure you remove all your mods before loading up.

Palworld price won't increase as update 1.0 takes it out of early access, Pocketpair says it's "a small way of saying thank you" after unbelievable success.

[/url]

Is Black Flag Resynced on Game Pass?

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:04:05 +0800

Is Black Flag Resynced coming to Xbox Game Pass, and if so, when will it be? The Assassin's Creed series as a whole has a pretty reliable history of coming to the Game Pass subscription system, but with business challenges for both Ubisoft and Xbox recent months, it's worth looking to see if that's likely to be reappraised any time soon.

Is Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced coming to Xbox Game Pass?

(Image credit: Ubisoft) No, the Black Flag remake is not currently on Xbox Game Pass, and there's not yet been any sign of when or if it will be added.

However, it's worth acknowledging that most previous Assassin's Creed games have been added to Game Pass some time after release, though this doesn't include 2025's Assassin's Creed Shadows at time of writing, so we can't say that it's a definitive guarantee, or at the very least may take a while for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced to be added.

That being said, you can play the original from 2013 on Game Pass, if all you need is some form of Edward Kenway's adventures. Our own Black Flag Resynced review felt uncertain about whether it truly outshone the acclaimed original, so it's possible you might get the better experience from going back to the first incarnation.

If you're a PC gamer, it's also true that you can get Black Flag Resynced as part of the Ubisoft+ Subscription service, as long as you get the Premium subscription.

If you're getting into Edward's adventures, check out where to find all the Black Flag Resynced Treasure Maps, or the best way to bring down the deadly Black Flag Resynced Naval Convoys!

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced launches to "Mixed" Steam reviews amid complaints about microtransactions and $80 DLC, Ubisoft fires back that they're "never a requirement"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:54:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is finally here, and it's not doing so bad so far – but it's safe to say there's one thing folks aren't too thrilled about in Ubisoft's revamped adventure.

Unsurprisingly, it's the price of the game… and its optional microtransactions. If you have a quick look at Steam, you'll find that the game has "Mostly Positive" reviews so far in English – and "Mixed" overall.

That's not bad, per se, with various fans praising the remake for how faithful it remains to the original and the fact that it's "super fun" to play. Over on the more negative end of things, players also aren't really criticizing performance. Sure, there are a couple of comments on the game's frame rate and the like here and there, but it's mostly all about money. After all, if you add up every optional purchase, you'll get some $84 or so.

As one reads, "Releasing a 70-euro game and on the DAY of the release you slap us with 85 euros worth of DLC packs that are just not cosmetic but give you a gameplay advantage," adding: "I will be refunding!" Interestingly, Ubisoft actually responds to such negative reviews directly.

It's always the same cut-and-paste response, too – at least to reviews regarding Resynced's price and microtransactions.

"We've seen your feedback since launch, and we're reading all of it," writes Ubisoft. "Thank you for caring this much about Black Flag Resynced. We want to be clear on one point: the standard edition is the full, complete experience. Every mission, every island, the full story, and the complete world are all there, with nothing held back."

Ubisoft concludes: "The additional packs are entirely optional extras for players who want them, never a requirement to enjoy or complete the game. We'll keep listening as you play!"

It's certainly an interesting reply – but I'm not sure it's enough to change fans' minds about optional purchases and the like. It does, however, line up with what the developer and publisher has said in the past about microtransactions.

Last year, Ubisoft declared that microtransactions help players "experience more fun" – a controversial statement, to say the least.

It's important to note, though, that in the case of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, the studio is replying to positive feedback as well. It's not a case of simply sweeping issues under the rug, I'd say. In one such comment, Ubisoft says, "We wanted to thank you for your positive review."

The devs state they've "poured our hearts and souls into that remake, & we are fans of the original game too. So reading some positive reviews matters more to us than you would think."

I'm personally interested in seeing how the game continues to perform, honestly – it's likely we'll witness some patch drops here and there, and perhaps a higher rating on Steam as more fans get into Ubisoft's new remake.

Be sure to check out our Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review to read our thoughts on the remake, or our list of the best Assassin's Creed games to see how we rank the rest of the series.

[/url]

7/14(Tue) Maintenance Notice

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:37:03 +0800

7/14(Tue) Maintenance Notice

◆Fashionwave: Call of Whales◆

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:37:03 +0800

◆Fashionwave: Call of Whales◆

New fashionwave starts on July 11.

As we mark this half-anniversary with a wondrous journey, it invites all D.G. Members to venture into the new deep-sea area—Whalefall Canyon!

Fashionwave Period: July 11, 6:00 - August 22, 5:59 (Server Time)

How to Join: D.G. Member Level reaches 7. Complete the Main Story "The Answer Lies Within".

\[New Area: Whalefall Canyon]

A new deep-sea area, Whalefall Canyon, is officially available for exploration! D.G. Members can enter through the portal near the base of Whale Mountain, where pristine waters and mysterious wonders are waiting to be found.

As you dive into this new area, you can gather fresh ingredients like Sea Grapes, Glasswort, and Wakame to use in all sorts of delicious recipes. You'll also get the "Seaside Holiday" themed outfit set, the "Inflatable Whale House" furniture set, and plenty of other great rewards by raising your exploration progress in the Whalefall Canyon Expedition Catalog.

Keep in mind, new deep-sea wonders will open up as exploration moves forward!

\[Seamount]

With the emergence of Whalefall Canyon, the Marine Archaeology Team discovered and marked several seamounts in the surrounding waters. These seamounts also fall under the jurisdiction of the Island Guild. The Guild plans to incorporate them into the Unclaimed Land Application program. However, due to their unique topography, expedition volunteers are needed to check first.

D.G. Members who complete the Whalefall Canyon expedition quests can obtain the Seamount Management Terminal and gain access to this area, where they can build and manage their very own undersea homestead. The Seamounts support blueprints, co-builds, visits, and more. D.G. Members can swim, build, observe, and take photos from every angle, making full use of the underwater diving experience. We can't wait to see what creative builds you'll come up with! The seamounts also let you curate your own fish schools. D.G. Members can release fish from their backpack/warehouse into the waters, creating unique ornamental fish schools. In addition, you can submit materials to nurture the surrounding sea, raising the ecological fish tier and unlocking even more fish schools.

A special note: We've heard that the Seamount might just attract some rather unusual animal visitors…

\[New Hobby: Ocean Cleanup]

D.G. Members who spot pollution in Whalefall Canyon can equip and use the Basic Ocean Cleaner to remove it.

How to use: Press and hold the clean button until the Ocean Cleaner fully removes the pollutant.

Special note: In addition to regular pollutants, the canyon holds other types, such as Hard‑Shell Cracked Pollutants, Hard‑Shell Pollutants, and Swirling Pollutants. These may require multiple cleanings or careful timing to clear. While cleaning, you may get polluted yourself—when you're corrupted, your stamina consumption increases. If this happens, seek out Cleaning Anemones in the canyon, or ask another D.G. Member to help you clean it off.

Successfully clearing pollution rewards you with a variety of seashells. Collect different seashells to rack up Collection Points and earn furniture like the Seashell Beaded Curtain and the Coral & Seashell Display Case.

Starting August 1, 6:00 AM (Server Time), the Ocean Cleanup event begins. During the period, head to the event area to join in, team up with fellow Members to clear massive pollutants, and earn event‑exclusive rewards!

\[Fashionwave Catalog]

Upon unlocking the Fashionwave, D.G. Members can claim a free Thank-You Gift from the Fashionwave Catalog, including the Tidal Station Furniture Set, various building materials, and other rewards. Explore limited collectibles and raise the Collection Points to earn Time-Limited Exhibition Passes from the Fashionwave Catalog.

※ The Time-Limited Exhibition Pass from this season is valid until August 31, 2026, 5:59 AM (Server Time).

Furthermore, the Catalog now features an exclusive collection system. Collect special items to earn rewards, including limited-time furniture like the Variable Sea Hare Ornament and the Ocean Pearl Trophy, and more.

\[Fashionwave Gift Box]

Purchase any Fashionwave Gift Box and raise the level to receive rewards, including Heart Diamonds, Exhibition Pass, tool skins, Deep Voyage outfit sets, and the Shimmering Ocean building material set.

Purchase the Premium Gilded Acorn Pack to get extra bonuses such as Jacaranda Building Permit, the Whale Wave Bubble, and a permanent 10% increase in Fashionwave Coin selling price.

\[Fashionwave Store]

During the Call of Whales, D.G. Members can access the Fashionwave Store through the Fashionwave Catalog or by visiting Fashion Ambassador Azure. Use Fashionwave tokens to purchase summer limited clothing, furniture, vehicles, puzzles, actions, and other event items. Also sell specific items to Azure for Fashionwave tokens.

Each D.G. Member will also get random seasonal items and high-priced procurement daily. Through face-to-face interaction, you can request to purchase an event item a friend has already bought, or commission a friend to sell an item on your behalf if it's their daily high-demand item.

Please note that Fashionwave tokens can also be earned through Catalog rewards and Fashionwave quests. Any unused tokens will be converted to gold at a 1:1 ratio and sent to your mailbox after the season ends.

\[Fashionwave Memory Journal]

Starting July 11 at 6:00 AM (Server Time), the Fashionwave Memory quests will be available. Grab your camera and capture the joyful moments shared with friends in the Whalefall Canyon!

Completing these quests rewards you with the Call of Whales Fashionwave Memory Journal. In Edit Mode, you can select and add various materials to document your unique experiences and share your completed journal for other Members to see! Please note: the editing period for the Call of Whales Fashionwave Memory Journal ends on August 29, 5:59 AM (Server Time).

\[Limited Gardening Crops]

During the Call of Whales, you can use special seeds sold at Blanc's Gardening Store to plant limited crops.

After July 11, 6:00 AM (Server Time), you can purchase and plant the limited crop Starfruit. After July 18, 6:00 AM (Server Time), you can purchase and plant the limited flower Daffodil.

\[Limited Recipes]

Massimo has also prepared a selection of new recipes perfect for the season's theme, ready for D.G. Members to discover.

Special Note: Find Massimo and complete the quest to obtain the Recipe (Tidal Stove). Once crafted, this stove unlocks the ability to cook these limited foods!

\[Limited Fish, Insects, and Birds]

Rumor has it that strange fish and bugs have been spotted around town lately—could it be related to the waters near Whale Island? Some unfamiliar little birds have also been paying visits. Be sure to keep an eye out!

Limited fish and birds will be available to collect starting July 11, 6:00 AM (Server Time). Limited insects will become available starting July 18, 6:00 AM (Server Time). Please note: more unique species will require participation in corresponding events that open later.

\[Shoot Hearts]

During the event, perform a Face-to-Face 2-Person Interaction with your friend. Accumulate 7 days to receive the limited exclusive 2-Person Action (Shoot Hearts) with that friend. You can check in with multiple friends at the same time during the event, with separate progress tracking for each friend.

\[Treasure Hunt]

During this fashionwave, snap and collect 16 Splash Whales, each with a unique shape and color. A new photo target unlocks daily—find it, snap a picture, and reward bubbles will appear on your map. Collect all the Splash Whales to earn Fashionwave Tokens.

\[Call of Whales Concert]

Schedule:

- Nightly from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Server Time), July 11 – July 18.

- Every Saturday & Sunday night, from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Server Time), July 18 – August 16.

- Nightly from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Server Time), August 17 – August 21.

All D.G. Members are warmly invited to attend!

\[Ocean Treasure Chest]

It's said that placing an Ocean Treasure Chest in your Home can bring surprises to visiting guests during specific times!

Starting July 18 at 6:00 AM (Server Time), D.G. Members can place the Ocean Treasure Chest (obtained during the preparation period) in their Homes for other Members to interact with. You can also interact with the chests placed in other Members' Homes to receive mysterious rewards!

Special Note: D.G. Members who missed obtaining the Ocean Treasure Chest during the preparation period, don't worry—it can be claimed from your mailbox after July 18, 6:00 AM (Server Time). Additionally, if a chest is placed in your Home during the interactive period, you will receive a notice at your mailbox.

\[Sample Collection]

From August 1, 6:00 AM to August 15, 5:59 AM (Server Time), you can submit required items into the Collection Box at your own or another Member's Home entrance to participate in the Sample Collection. Complete the challenge to earn Sea Star Wavy Bandana and Beach Flower Shoulder Bag!

Developer Talk: Lost in Summer! Fated Paradise Update Special Broadcast Notice

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:36:04 +0800

Guide your Star-kissed Saviors, StarSavior!

Greetings, Captain! This is your Liaison Officer, GM Lisa.

An exciting update that will make your heart race this summer is on the way.

A special Developer Talk broadcast for \[Lost in Summer! Fated Paradise] is coming soon.

During this broadcast, Director Lee Sungwon and a special MC will introduce the upcoming new content and share exciting details about what is being prepared for future updates.

To thank all Captains who have been waiting for the broadcast, we have also prepared a special coupon.

We hope you will look forward to the broadcast, and you can find the detailed schedule and information below.

■ Broadcast Schedule
- July 16, 2026, 11:00 UTC

■ Where to Watch - The Official YouTube Channel (Link)

■ Coupon Code

- READY26SUMMERSPECIAL26

※ Available until August 9 ※ How to Redeem: From the Main Lobby, go to Menu in the upper-right corner > Game Settings > Account Management > Enter Coupon.

We hope you will join us as we take the first step toward this Fated Paradise, created together with our Captains.

Thank you.

Bethesda union confirms Xbox layoff protests: ‘We won’t quietly disappear’

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:36:04 +0800

Bethesda Game Studios union workers are planning to protest outside its four studio locations next week in response to the layoff of nearly 450 of its members across ZeniMax.

OneBGS, the CWA-affiliated Bethesda Game Studios union, is planning protests outside Bethesda offices located in Montreal, Rockville, Maryland, and Austin on July 15, it said.

The protests follow 440 union member job cuts across Bethesda and ZeniMax this week, including around 100 layoffs at Doom maker Id Software, and more than 200 at The Elder Scrolls Online studio ZeniMax Online.

Read More...

Build and manage a floating ship city on a sentient alien planet in Rogue Carrier

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:16:06 +0800

Rogue Carrier looks and sounds awesome - publisher Hooded Horse sure know how to pick 'em. I couldn't wishlist this one fast enough.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/build-and-manage-a-floating-ship-city-on-a-sentient-alien-planet-in-rogue-carrier/

John Carmack responds to Id Software layoffs, admits Microsoft stewardship claim aging badly

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:16:05 +0800

Id Software co-founder John Carmack has responded to the news that the Doom and Quake studio has been struck with significant layoffs as part of Xbox’s big business ‘reset’.

Earlier this week, a WARN notice filed in Texas indicated that 96 workers have been laid off in Richardson, Texas, where Id is based, and a further 40 remote roles have been cut.

Carmack, who was the lead programmer of Id’s classic games, wrote on X that he was saddened by the news, but conceded that he was struggling to feel anger without knowing the full details.

Read More...

Palworld 1.0 is here with lots of new content

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:55:04 +0800

While developer Pocketpair are still fighting off Nintendo, they've pushed out a huge upgrade for Palworld to bring it out of Early Access for the 1.0.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/palworld-1-0-is-here-with-lots-of-new-content/

Daggerheart Age of Umbra: Sallowlands episode 1 review: compact, visceral Critical Role

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:04:04 +0800

Age of Umbra: Sallowlands feels very different from Critical Role's other current campaign. If you're looking for more of the same while campaign four is on a break, this might not scratch your itch. If you want more top-tier performances with a totally different vibe, though, you're in very good hands.

Read the full story on Wargamer: Daggerheart Age of Umbra: Sallowlands episode 1 review: compact, visceral Critical Role

Steam Machine and SteamOS compatibility ratings appear on Steam

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:13:03 +0800

After a bit of a wait, Valve have now rolled out Steam Machine and SteamOS compatibility ratings to the Steam store and mobile app.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/steam-machine-and-steamos-compatibility-ratings-appear-on-steam/

Eternal Return Dev Stream Survey

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:12:05 +0800

Hello Lumia Island survivors!

We'll link a survey below so you can ask freely what you want and the devs will answer as many questions as they can during the stream!

5 people who participate in the survey will be randomly chosen to receive 1,200 Event NP (7 Days) as a reward, so make sure you send in any questions or comments you have.

\[Survey Details]

1. Survey Period:
- Friday, July 10th to Sunday, July 12th 14:59 (UTC)

▶▶ Survey \[[url="https://forms.gle/8kEE8ttrtgd1ozM26"]Link[/url]]

2. Dev Stream Date:
- More information on the English broadcast will be announced at a later date.

3. Notes
- The event reward selection is conducted fairly in private.
- Personal information (such as nicknames) will be used to send out the NP compensation only and all information will be deleted after the draw is completed.
- Survey winners will be rewarded during maintenance on Tuesday, July 21st (UTC) and will have 7 days to claim their rewards.

Patch #12: Bug Fixes & Improvements

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:09:03 +0800

Greetings, Heroes!

Following Patch #11, we've put together a smaller follow-up patch addressing bugs and rough edges that surfaced after its release. No sweeping changes this time — just a focused round of fixes to make sure everything introduced in Patch #11 is working as intended.

Full patch notes are below. Good luck on the battlefield!

Steam reviews — thank you!

Your reports and feedback after Patch #11 helped us identify and prioritize the issues addressed in this update. Keep them coming — they go straight into our bug tracker. Thank you for your support!

Changelog

v. 0.80.34

Bug Fixes

Jebus Tournament: The absence of a player’s starting hero at the beginning of a tournament battle no longer crashes the game.
Fixed the hotkey for "Heroic Strike".
Fixed a bug where the match timer incorrectly continued running for both players while simultaneous turns were stopped.
An enemy hero executing a strike while under the effect of "Mirage" no longer crashes the game.
An opponent leaving Arena Mode while selecting a target for an ability no longer crashes the game.

Balance

Balance adjustments from the previous patch over-nerfed Magic heroes in Arena Mode; as a result, we are decreasing the starting unit counts offered during the draft phase.
"Sorcery": Magic Damage bonus increased: 10/20/30% → 20/30/40%.
Magic Damage specialists (Sorcery specialists) have been adjusted: they now gain a 15% + 5% bonus per 3 hero levels (previously 10% + 1% per 1 hero level).
"Stables" have been completely blocked from generating on Sprint template (for good this time, good riddance).
The size of the player starting areas on Jebus Tournament template has been slightly reduced. Guard strength for both standard guards and central area gatekeepers has been slightly decreased.
"Point of Balance" objects can no longer generate in players' side areas on Helltide.

Localization

Fixed a translation memory error where the Chinese localization for Angels (and Archangels) was accidentally reverted to 光明者. The correct official term (天使) has been fully restored.

Official Wiki

New to the series or a returning veteran? We have an Official Community Wiki for you to master the art of war! Thanks to active community members, it has detailed breakdowns of unit stats, spell tiers, and other detailed data for those who wish to dig deeper. You, our community, are the gift that keeps on giving!

Join the Community

Stay informed and share your victories with the community! Follow us on Discord, Steam and Facebook for the latest patch notes, community discussions and chit chat with our team! We would also like to take this opportunity to give a shoutout to the unofficial community subreddit, where you’re also welcome to share your thoughts!

With love,

???? Unfrozen Team

New Genshin Impact 7.0 Odette Leaks Prove The Character Is A Must-Have

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:03:03 +0800

A new leak about Odette in Genshin Impact 7.0 has been shared, and it seems like the upcoming character will be one that players may need for their team comps. Odette has been confirmed as one of the very first playable Snezhnaya characters in Genshin Impact, and she will be introduced alongside Alyosha. Different from Alyosha, who is rumored to be a 4-star Electro character, however, Odette is expected to be a 5-star Cryo character, and her participation in team comps will be that of the main unit carrying the team’s damage output on her shoulders.

Glasgow Indie Games Festival 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:02:04 +0800

Welcome to the Glasgow Indie Games Festival 2026!

The Glasgow Independent Games Festival is a celebration of indie games. We pride ourselves in showing the most interesting, the most moving and the most unconventional games from Scotland and around the world.

Expect lots of games to play – unreleased and upcoming titles from the most talented developers. And there’s lots more too, we’ll have interviews, talks, music and maybe even some poetry!

GIGF has been loved by all since 2024. Each year brings a bigger and better event. 2026 is no exception!

The Glasgow Independent Games Festival is an all-weekend event. We’ll have a bumper set of indie games for you to play, from some of the most talented developers around.

During the day we have a series of developer talks, workshops and discussions, allowing you to peek inside the sausage machine and even argue with the gristle. In the evening there will be live entertainment, music, poetry and an award ceremony for our audience-voted Best in Show.

Full details of all the games featured can be found at glasgowindiegamesfest.org

Season 11 The Daily Life of Our Test Subjects: [Chapter 2]

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:52:04 +0800

Hello Lumia Island survivors,

\[Chapter 2] of Season 11 The Daily Life of Our Test Subjects is out!

[Announcement] New Character: Ereb ― Oathkeeper

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:52:04 +0800

◼︎ Coupon Code: EREB0812
◼︎ Use Period: Until July 15, 2026 06:00 (UTC+0)
◼︎ Coupon Item: [Event] Seal Breaker Scroll x10

《活俠傳》全新PV釋出，重大更新將於2026年9月15日正式上線！

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:39:03 +0800

諸君好，自《活俠傳》上線以來，製作團隊收到了無數來自社群的反饋與鼓勵，這對我們來說是無比珍貴的動力，衷心感謝每一位玩家的陪伴與支持。

為了帶給大家更豐富、更流暢的遊戲體驗，我們這段時間一直專注於開發全新的內容。

今天很高興能向大家宣布——《活俠傳》的重大更新內容《崆峒神威》，預計將於2026年9月15日正式發布！

在《崆峒神威》重大更新中，我們準備了以下內容：

主線分支《崆峒神威》

虞小梅結緣
郁竹結緣

支線劇情擴充

劇情分支擴充

遊戲機制擴充改良

全新難度「勇者」模式：敵人的殺意上升，遇強則強，根據玩家實力平衡難度，可以隨時開關。
新增戰役模式新機制
四師兄訛詐你的新伎倆
對話介面放大機能：文本字體可隨UI放大

此外，本次PV委由「虎皮卷事務所」操刀製作，精彩內容即日公開，敬請欣賞！

再次感謝大家，願天下俠士平安康健，我們2026年9月15日線上見！
Paras Games 與原始鳥熊團隊　敬上

更新日誌 1.16.0.0

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:39:03 +0800

版本 1.16.0.0（2026.7.9）

模式更新「猛獸卡丁車」

引擎轟鳴，輪胎發燙，維修站終於忙起來了。

本次更新後，猛獸卡丁車新增「卡丁車改裝」和「車輛研發」系統。研究新車輛、安裝新零件，打造屬於你的猛獸座駕吧！

三張全新賽道也已加入猛獸卡丁車：

荒島環線

猛獸搖滾樂

天空遺跡

同時，全地形車、搖滾摩托和飛碟三款新車正式登場。是貼地狂飆，還是原地起飛，就看你怎麼開了。

本次更新還新增了卡丁車等級線獎勵，包括 9 款免費造型、5 款付費造型，以及新頭像、頭像框、名牌、表情和飛碟塗裝「未來主義」。

地圖更新「夏季小屋」

天氣越來越熱，春季小屋也換上了夏天的樣子。

夜晚的螢火蟲在草地間閃爍，蜻蜓飛過池塘，蘑菇也悄悄長了出來。聽說水裡還出現了新的夏季魚種，快拿上新釣竿去試試吧！

池塘邊新增了一艘小船，最多支援 4 名玩家一起划船。要是船跑遠了，也可以搖鈴把它叫回來。

販賣機中還新增了手電筒和遮陽傘。至於地下室為什麼多了一塊地毯……可能只是有人覺得那裡太空曠了。

玩法更新「功夫足球」

把絕活帶進足球場，會發生什麼有趣的事情？全新玩法「功夫足球」現已上線，快來試試吧！

新角色「米盧」上架猛獸商店

獵狐梗米盧加入了猛獸派對！

牠將於 7 月 10 日 12:00 起進入猛獸商店，首頁展示 1 週後加入常規商店輪替。

世界盃系列造型

世界盃系列造型將於 7 月 10 日 12:00 至 8 月 7 日 12:00 期間限時上架猛獸商店。

本次共上架 12 款世界盃主題造型，每款售價 6000 餅乾。

卡丁車造型限時返場

2024 年卡丁車系列造型將於 7 月 10 日 12:00 至 7 月 24 日 12:00 期間限時返場。

其中，「賽車手尼莫」售價 12000 餅乾，其餘返場造型售價 6000 餅乾。

平台合作造型

小紅薯瑞文、抖音羅根將於 7 月 10 日至 8 月 10 日期間開放 CDKey 兌換。

更多内容更新

在夏季小屋中：
1. 新增 6 種夏季魚
2. 新增 2 根夏季釣竿
3. 場景更新為夏季主題
4. 新增夜晚螢火蟲特效
5. 新增蜻蜓動畫
6. 新增蘑菇等場景內容
7. 新增可互動小船，支援最多 4 名玩家一起划船
8. 新增搖鈴重置小船功能
9. 販賣機新增商品「手電筒」和「遮陽傘」
10. 地下室新增裝飾地毯
11. 新增支援角色坐下時炫耀魚

功能更新

在猛獸卡丁車中，新增「卡丁車改裝」和「車輛研發」系統
在猛獸卡丁車中，新增全地形車、搖滾摩托、飛碟
在猛獸卡丁車中，新增賽道「荒島環線」「猛獸搖滾樂」「天空遺跡」
在猛獸卡丁車中，調整了車輛控制器相關機制
在猛獸卡丁車中，調整了手把震動效果
在展廳中，預設站位調整為面向最新展廳內容
好友通行證玩家不再支援接收造型贈送

問題修正

修正了得分賽中，觀戰玩家位移到場上位置後，仍然處於觀戰視角的問題
修正了動作系統中，播放待機動作時使用主動動作，主動動作無法正常觸發的問題
修正了自訂房間中，透過特定步驟可異常更改實驗室玩法房間隊伍數量並新增本機玩家的問題

[July 10] Server Patch

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:04:05 +0800

Guide your Star-kissed Saviors, StarSavior!

Greetings, Captain! This is your Liaison Officer, GM Lisa.

A server patch is scheduled for July 10, 04:00 UTC.

Temporary disconnections may occur during the patch.
Please refer to the details below to avoid any inconvenience while using the game.

????️ Server Patch Notice
■ Schedule: July 10, 04:00 UTC
■ Impact: Disconnections may occur during the patch. For a stable connection, please close and restart the client.
■ Patch Details
▶ Fixed an issue where the Observation screen BGM played when achieving a Great Success during Rest in Ceres’s Journey.
▶ Fixed an issue where the animation that played when Olberos’s minions were defeated appeared unnatural.
▶ Fixed an issue where the warning animation for 5 or fewer turns remaining was displayed only once during Cube Palace battles.
▶ Fixed an issue where the turn count of Journey buffs was not applied correctly.
▶ Fixed a typo in one of Ceres’s dialogue lines in the Japanese language setting.
Before: それにしたって、最近はセリスに少し厳しくしすぎていたかもしれない。
After: それにしたって、最近はセレスに少し厳しくしすぎていたかもしれない。
▶ Fixed an issue where a character name was displayed in Ceres’s dialogue.
▶ Fixed an issue where the “Purchase” button was displayed in Korean in the Pass Level Purchase popup under non-Korean language settings.
▶ Fixed an issue where the button was displayed as “Emergency Support” when there were insufficient Stellagems to purchase levels for a Pass product.

\[Notes]

The schedule may change depending on maintenance conditions. Any changes will be announced through this notice.
Additional data may be required when downloading patches upon re-login. We recommend using Wi-Fi.

Star Trek Is Officially Paying Tribute To The Original Spock In New 2027 Release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:04:04 +0800

Leonard Nimoy's portrayal of Spock stands among the most iconic performances in television history, and was one that brought Star Trek out of obscurity and made The Original Series into a global phenomenon. Debuting in 1966, the half-Vulcan, half-human science officer quickly became a fan favorite largely thanks to Nimoy's nuanced performance that made Spock feel like more than some sort of stereotypical "emotionless alien" found in many science fiction stories of the era.

It's Official, The Lord Of The Rings Returns This Month

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:34:04 +0800

Despite the original books establishing genre-defining trends, and the films becoming one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved trilogies of all time, The Lord of the Rings continues to feel like an oddly untapped IP that is teeming with potential. The lack of video games, new films, and TV shows, or at least well-received ones, is astounding for a world and cast of characters so beloved by fans worldwide. Fortunately, that appears to be changing, at least somewhat, in the near future.

3/7 (Fri) – 9/7 (Thu) Results of the Crackdown on Abusive Users

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:03:04 +0800

Greetings, Descendants.

Here are the results of the crackdown on abusive users carried out between 3/7 (Fri) – 9/7 (Thu).

We're inspecting abusive gaming behavior to ensure that all Descendants can enjoy the game in a pleasant environment.

If you notice any abnormal or abusive behavior while playing, please report it through the in-game report feature.

Please see below for the detailed outcome of the crackdown.

■ Crackdown status

- Crackdown period: 2026.7.3(Fri) – 2026.7.9(Thu) PDT

■ Creation, distribution, or use of unauthorized programs - Permanent game ban (17 users)

- Actions have been taken for creating, distributing, or using unauthorized programs.

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■ Exploitation of all processes related to the Open Store – Permanent game ban (9 users)

- Actions were taken because of unfair gains by exploitation on store payment process.

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■ Abnormal Transaction - 7-Day Trading Restriction (1 users)

- Actions have been taken as abnormal transaction records have been detected.

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■ Detection of Unusual Gameplay Activity

- Unusual gameplay activity was detected, and actions have been taken in accordance with our operational policy.

**3-day separate matchmaking penalty (426 users)

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■ Notes

- The outcome of the crackdown on abusive users includes enforcement actions taken based on Descendant’s reports and monitoring.

- If you would like to vindicate yourself in relation to a claim on the exploitation of the Open Store's payment process, please visit our official website > Customer Service > 1:1 Support and make your inquiry.

- If you would like to vindicate yourself in relation to a claim on the exploitation of the payment process through chargebacks, please contact the platform store where you made the payment.

We will continue to strive to ensure that all Descendants can enjoy the game in a pleasant environment.

Thank you.

Elden Ring, Minecraft Collide In New Dark Fantasy RPG

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:34:04 +0800

There's no question that Elden Ring is one of the most iconic Soulsborne games by developers at FromSoftware, setting a new precedent for what's possible in the genre with its massive open world and quintessentially challenging yet addictive combat. While there have been hundreds, if not thousands of attempts over the years to capture the same vibe as Elden Ring and other Soulsborne essentials, it isn't every day we see a game that combines soulslike gameplay with elements of Minecraft.

[Announcement] (Completed) Server Maintenance

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:16:04 +0800

Hello, Heroes of Bermesiah!
A maintenance will be conducted to address the following issues.

- Stabilized the server

We will strive to create the best experience possible.
Thank you.

Space Marine 2 sold million of copies, and now Saber Interactive has to turn down projects

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:15:04 +0800

Since Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 sold millions of copies, Saber Interactive has become one of the most in-demand studios for building new games around established IPs – so in demand, according to Willits, that the company has had to turn down several high-profile productions. It's a good problem to...

Read Entire Article

Dead by Daylight, Control, and McDonald's Are Helping Advertise Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:07:04 +0800

For whatever reason, a bunch of video game companies are helping advertise Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.

The social accounts for Control, Dead by Daylight, and various gaming hardware companies such as SteelSeries have had their accounts taken over by marketing for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. The long-awaited remaster/remake of the beloved Assassin's Creed game dropped today and, to apparently help spread the word, all of these accounts posted about the game. Epic Game Store also rebranded its socials by changing its profile picture and banner to feature Black Flag-themed imagery. McDonald's even chimed in as well.

who’s ready to sail the Hi-C’s this weekend
#assassinscreed #boardthefeed https://t.co/HIoLqpb2Cy

— McDonald's (@McDonalds) July 9, 2026 The various accounts made posts claiming to have been "boarded" while throwing up the game's signature black pirate flag. Social accounts for Ubisoft titles like Watch Dogs, Rabbids, and For Honor also took part in this marketing stunt but, given they're under the same corporate umbrella, those make a bit more sense.

The official Assassin's Creed socials also dropped a code that allows players to get a free pet monkey, which will roam around on their ship while they sail the seas. It's a fun way to celebrate the game's release. It's unclear how Ubisoft managed to get other game companies to get onboard with this, but it's certainly a unique way to market the game and has gotten players talking.

You fought well.

We didn’t leave empty-handed… and neither should your crew.

????Your reward code: ASC-BFR-PMK-000 ????
Redeem it here: https://t.co/SZ8JWOluGh #AssassinsCreed #BoardTheFeed https://t.co/T5mY3rLYL8

— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) July 9, 2026 IGN gave Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced a whopping 9 out of 10, noting that it is "more than just a shinier version of the same game you remember, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced brings what was already one of the best games in the series up to today’s standards."

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.

PlayStation 3 Classics Return As Sony Backs Away From Physical Media

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:07:04 +0800

Sony has been making a lot of questionable decisions as of late, the majority of which has seemingly alienated a large swathe of its fanbase and pushed users to reflect fondly on the bygone eras of the PlayStation 3 and before. Of course, as great as those earlier consoles were, obtaining a lot of the thousands of games released for them can be tricky, especially as the digital storefront of the PlayStation 3 was recently shuttered, and several physical copies are rare oddities already bound to a handful of collectors.

[Announcement] Server Maintenance

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:11:03 +0800

Hello, Heroes of Bermesiah!
A maintenance will be conducted to address the following issues.

- Stabilized the server

We will strive to create the best experience possible.
Thank you.

Steam Dev Makes 2025 Hidden Gem Completely Free Forever, No Catch

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:03:03 +0800

Steam is a treasure trove of free-to-play video games, which is perfect for those looking to expand their libraries without breaking the bank. Of course, the quality of free games on Steam can vary wildly, from predatory gacha titles that are more pay-to-play without and entry fee, to amazing games that just so happen to be completely free to keep with no catch. Fortunately, while there are certainly plenty of the former on Steam, the platform absolutely specializes in the latter.

Stronghold Crusader DE's Fourth Major Update and DLC Is Coming!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:57:03 +0800

Great word comes on the wind, Sire! Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition's Fourth Major Update and DLC arrives on August 4th!

To all ye challengers, conquerors and would-be kings, and face the greatest strategic gauntlet yet – to overcome the merciless Sultan Baibars as well as the deadly Surgeon of the desert.

In addition to the 10-mission Co-op Trail and Map Pack coming at no cost, a new DLC, The Surgeon and Baibars, is coming in the the form of two unique CPU opponents and a fresh daunting Sands of Time trail - the Trail of the Vulture!

The wily Surgeon is a truly master of defence, building colossal castles with a great deal of huge towers to try and keep the enemy out. Do not be deceived by his perceived passiveness – as like all great predators, he aims to let prey tire themselves before swooping in for the final move.

A former slave who raised himself to the station of Sultan, Baibars is much more aggressive and direct. He forges strong basic fortresses and seeks to overwhelm his foes with waves upon waves of attacks. Crashing his forces against the walls of your stronghold, you must fight the right balance between survival and attack if you wish to succeed against him.

Wishlist The Surgeon and Baibars DLC to be the first in when it launches on August 4th!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4483530/Stronghold_Crusader_Definitive_Edition__The_Surgeon_and_Baibars/

July 9th, 2026 MSFS Weekly Briefing

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:18:04 +0800

Weekly Recap

Following last week’s release of Sim Update 5.1 and World Update 22: United States National Parks, we are now pleased to begin the Sim Update 6 Pre-Release Public Beta Test. You can find the release notes for the first test build (1.8.5.0) on our forums here. If you would like to participate in this optional public beta test, you can find instructions on how to enroll (available on PC-Windows Store, PC-Steam, XBOX Series X|S, and PlayStation 5) in this forum thread.

For those in the beta, your timely feedback and bug reports are absolutely essential and valued greatly by the dev team. Please be sure to vote in our surveys for each test build and report any issues you encounter in the appropriate subsection of the SU6 Beta forums. Thank you to everyone for their participation and assistance in helping make SU6 the best it can be!

We are also excited to announce a special livestream on our official Twitch channel next week starting at 12:00pm PDT (1900 UTC) on Wednesday, July 15. In this broadcast, we’ll be joined by developers from iniBuilds and Synaptic Simulations to demo their upcoming A220! Simmers who enjoy flying modern narrow-body airliners will definitely want to tune in for this livestream for a deep dive into the features of this highly-anticipated new aircraft add-on. For a sneak peek, you can watch the A220 trailer on YouTube at the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eU2yiqG690

Click here to continue reading the rest of the Weekly Briefing!

'To Continue Being Produced Long Term, Games Need to Succeed, Not Just Be Beloved' — John Carmack Responds to id Software Layoffs

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:06:08 +0800

John Carmack has responded to the significant layoffs at Doom developer id Software, expressing sadness but not “anger or outrage.”

On Wednesday, a WARN notice filed in Texas reported by Game Developer confirmed that 96 workers had been laid off in Richardson, Texas, home of id Software, with a further 40 remote roles cut. Reports indicate 50% of staff have lost their jobs.

The cuts come as part of new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s “reset” of Microsoft’s gaming business, which began with 1,600 staff losing their jobs on Monday. Another 1,600 will be let go during the rest of the current financial year. Four Xbox studios are already out the door, with another hot on their heels.

Carmack, who co-founded id Software in 1991 alongside John Romero, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack, took to social media to express his belief that the company was a “marginal business” for Microsoft, and that he couldn’t see an obvious way for it to make more money from its games.

Here’s the statement in full:

I have been trying to find something meaningful to say about the Id Software layoffs. My “Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the brand” statement isn’t aging well, and this is certainly going to dampen the mood of the founder reunion at QuakeCon next month. I’m saddened, but I can’t muster anger or outrage over it. I don’t have access to the books, but I suspect that id Software was a marginal business from Microsoft’s perspective. I believe the reports that Minecraft revenues have been carrying several other studios. To continue being produced long term, games need to succeed, not just be beloved. Games are competing with every other option for spending your leisure time and money, and the competition is brutal. You can’t rule out the possibility that executives are idiots, but that shouldn’t be your default belief. I don’t think there is any obvious path that would have doubled the revenue from Id games. Could they have gotten more with a different pricing strategy? Could they have created more things for fans to buy? Could they have cost effectively marketed in a way that reached more players that would have loved and bought the games? Could they have changed the game designs and broadened the appeal to more players without alienating existing ones? Could they have produced the games at a lower cost, faster or cheaper? I really don’t know. The game isn’t over yet, and I hope the studio rallies through. There’s a fair bit to unpack here. Let’s start with Carmack’s suggestion that id Software was a “marginal business” for Microsoft. Given Microsoft brought in $281.72 billion in revenue during its last financial year, then yes, id Software is little more than a rounding error, if you want to look at the studio from such a high level perspective. I imagine most Xbox studios are the same.

Compared to some other Xbox studios, though, id Software was prolific. 2016’s Doom reboot was a blast. Yes, 2019’s Rage 2 struggled, but 2020’s Doom Eternal, released just a year later, brought fans back onside. 2022’s Quake Champions has always been a bit of an odd release, but again, last year’s Doom: The Dark Ages was great fun. These Doom games didn’t sell at Call of Duty levels, but they made their mark.

Then there’s Carmack’s “I believe the reports that Minecraft revenues have been carrying several other studios,” line. This comes from a recent Bloomberg article on the goings on at Xbox amid its “reset” plan. Here’s the relevant section:

Going forward, Xbox plans to take a more streamlined approach to games and studios, rather than the bigger-is-better approach. The company will focus more on franchises like Minecraft, from studio Mojang, which had previously operated more or less independently. Profits from Minecraft, considered one of the most successful video games in the world, were used to fund the rest of the gaming portfolio, according to the person familiar with Xbox operations. Did Minecraft essentially prop up Xbox studios like id Software? If it did, that’s not as surprising as it sounds. Many big entertainment companies work in much the same way, with one or two megahits helping to keep the bigger picture lights on. These massive money makers fuel risk taking, experimentation, and reboots of legacy first-person shooters. At least, they did.

Then there's perhaps the most cutting line in Carmack's statement: "To continue being produced long term, games need to succeed, not just be beloved." Here he's simply saying that id's recent output — let's say from 2016's Doom reboot up to this month's Dark Ages DLC — hasn't been successful. I assume Carmack equates success to revenue here. That is, he's saying that while people loved the Doom games, not enough people bought them. Ergo, layoffs in 2026.

Microsoft doesn’t make sales numbers for its games public, nor does it reveal studio revenue figures, so we don’t know what financial state id was in going into this year. According to GamesBeat, id was formulating new game ideas, such as a John Wick-style original IP, a new Perfect Dark game, and a multiplayer / co-op Doom game. Perhaps its biggest mistake was not having a new game ready to roll even before The Dark Ages came out. Whatever the truth, id's future is now unclear. Some even worry the legendary shooter studio could be relegated to support status.

Earlier this week, John Romero took to social media to offer affected id Software staff his support, and to call on the studio’s recent legacy to be preserved.

“Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein are not easy names to carry on, especially in today’s industry,” he said. “The last few games showed real care, skill and respect for what those worlds mean to people.”

Photographer: Michael Short/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

How do you put a price tag on a legacy like id Software's?

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:06:05 +0800

In 1984, an upstart retail company called Costco had just opened its first handful of voluminous warehouse stores on the west coast of the United States when it decided to try an experiment. It installed a hot dog cart in front of its San Diego store and started selling Hebrew Nationals with a drink for $1.50. People, it turned out, liked the hot dogs. The cart became Cafe 150, named for the combo price... Read more.

Disgaea Mayhem demo is now available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC Steam

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:44:04 +0800

The demo includes three stages with the seven weapons featured in the full game.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 gameplay trailer showcases combat systems and more

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:33:03 +0800

The trailer highlights how Soul Assist works in the game alongside Soul Switch and more.

GTA Online is getting its first big heist update in 6 years next week with The Kortz Center Heist

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:06:04 +0800

Rockstar has fully lifted the lid on GTA Online's first big new heist update in six years, The Kortz Center Heist, releasing next week on Tuesday, July 14 for all platforms.

The next big evolution of GTA Online had previously been teased for a July release, but now we know the full details thanks to a new announcement posted to the game's official website. As questions swirl about how long it'll take for the next iteration of GTA Online to join GTA 6, The Kortz Center Heist is likely to be the final big update to GTA 5 Online and is the first official heist update since 2020's Cayo Perico. The Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid update from a couple of years back definitely felt pretty heisty, but it's technically classified as a Raid and Contact mission, making The Kortz Center the first new actual heist in six long years.

The Kortz Center Heist will be playable solo or with a four-player team, which is obviously the preferred choice here. The heist sees you and your friends link up with the mysterious Mr. Faber and his main fixer, Raf De Angelis, to stake out a prestigious art museum and steal its most valuable assets. Of course, even experienced criminals will want to do some preparation before robbing a high-end museum, and that's where the big homebase addition comes in: the art studio. To kick off the new heist, you'll get to open up an art studio property inside your mansion where you can invite and host your friends to show off all of your stolen works of art.

Once you've scoped out the museum, it'll be time to gear up and plan your big break-in, and once you're actually inside the building, Rockstar says you'll want to snap candid pictures of the exhibits to get a better idea of how to get in and out without alerting security and getting yourself capped. That'll involve "covering your tracks," "ensuring no witnesses," and "wiping CCTV footage" to ensure a maximum take.

Sound fun? Rockstar says there's plenty of room for "variability" to re-do the heist solo or with friends in the form of three new paintings to steal every week. And as always, the Kortz Center Heist will keep collectors busy with new vehicles and upgrades. Meanwhile, GTA+ subscribers will be able to get their hands on the new Grotti Veleno GT for free starting July 14, a full week before regular shmoes will get to buy it.

GTA 6 faces a potential $35 million fine if Rockstar doesn't comply with online safety laws that mean Australians would need ID to play

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Just Broke a Steam Record

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:39:03 +0800

Just hours after the game was released worldwide, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced became the Assassin's Creed franchise's most-played entry on Steam. In short, the peak Steam player count of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced was several times more than Black Flag's original release 13 years prior.

Dragon Ball's Latest Finale Just Set Up A Bold New Era For The Series

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:12:04 +0800

Dragon Ball has just reached the end of an era, and the latest finale has set up a new era for the decades-old series, creating theories about what it can explore next. Even though there isn’t any new anime being released right now, with two projects slated for arrival soon, the series is evolving outside of the anime. As of July 8, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 reached its conclusion with the final story arc added to the game. The update brought forth new takes on classic characters, but with the new ending, there’s more you can expect from the franchise.

Path of Exile 2 Build Showcase: Slowmaxing Chronomancer by TuskDeluxe

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:09:03 +0800

This Chronomancer build by TuskDeluxe is built around the Auspex and its Grueling Madness aura, which slowmaxes enemies up to 100% at maximum stacks.

Embrace the slow side of..things below:

Big thank you to TuskDeluxe for putting this build together. For more information, refer to their video here.

Thanks for watching!

Echoes of Aincrad Launch Trailer marks the game's gradual release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:59:03 +0800

The Sword Art Online-themed RPG is out first for consoles in Japan and Asia.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 Shadow Dropped for PS4 and PS5

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:52:04 +0800

Old-school Call of Duty fans are rejoicing as the two most beloved entries in the Black Ops subseries, BO1 and BO2, are now available on PS4 and PS5. If players can act fast, they can even get these classic Call of Duty: Black Ops games for half-off, with their DLC marked down as well.

Palworld 1.0 Won’t Get A Price Increase, Pocketpair Confirms

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:38:04 +0800

If you’re looking forward to Palworld 1.0 and are worried the game will raise its price after the full release,

Steam Makes 3 Games 100% Free Until July 13

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:34:04 +0800

While Steam’s free-to-keep promotion may be many gamers’ preferred program since it grants permanent access to games as opposed to temporary, users shouldn’t sleep on its free-to-play weekends. Sure, players will only have free access to the following three Steam games until July 13, but that could be just enough time to get attached to the titles.

EA College Football 27 Launches To Scathing Reviews For Single-Player Microtransactions

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:29:03 +0800

EA Sports College Football 27 has arrived, but early user reviews are tearing into this year's installment for implementing single-player microtransactions. After a lengthy hiatus, the return of EA Sports' NCAA football series has so far been a huge success. Incremental gameplay changes have seen the revived series steadily improving, but a major step in the wrong direction has led to the newest game to a scathing reception.

New Content in Version 3.5: Blade of Past Resounds, Lingering Dream Hymns

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:02:05 +0800

\[New Resonators]

5-Star Resonator: Yangyang: Xuanling (Havoc/Sword)

※Obtainable through the \[Voices on Azure Feathers] Featured Resonator Convene.

5-Star Resonator: Suisui (Glacio/Rectifier)

※Obtainable through the \[Blessings From Dewy Winds] Featured Resonator Convene.

New Resonance Conversion Attribute: Rover: Electro

※Complete Main Quest Chapter IV Act II ""Xuanling Sings, Storm Quelled"" to unlock.

\[New Weapons]

5-Star Weapon: Azure Oath (Sword)

※Obtainable through the \[Azure Oath] Featured Weapon Convene.

5-Star Weapon: Firstlight's Herald (Rectifier)

※Obtainable through the \[Firstlight's Herald] Featured Weapon Convene.

\[New Area]

Mengzhou: Land of Xuanfang

Area includes: Xuanfang Hold, Eastern Xuan Peaks, Western Fang Peaks, Southern Yuan Hills

※Reach the location during Main Quest Chapter IV Act I ""The Wind Before the Storm.""

\[New Echoes]

Myriad Snare: Rustfire Chassis, Thousand-Puppet Pavilion, Fog Lionarch, Forbidden Bastion, Kernel Puppet: Joy, Kernel Puppet: Anger, Kernel Puppet: Worry, Kernel Puppet: Reflection, Kernel Puppet: Grief, Kernel Puppet: Fright, Fog Lionarch: Body, Fog Lionarch: Head, Smiter, Smolder, Porcelain Picket, Stone Picket, Aureate Picket

New Sonata Effects: Lamp of Nether Road (5pcs), Heart of Evil's Purge (5pcs), Song of Feathered Trace (5pcs)

New Tacet Fields: Western Fang Peaks Tacet Field, Eastern Xuan Peaks Tacet Field

New Tacet Discord Nest: Southern Yuan Hills Tacet Discord Nest

\[New Stories]

\[Main Quest] Chapter IV Act I: The Wind Before the Storm

\[Main Quest] Chapter IV Act II: Xuanling Sings, Storm Quelled

\[Main Quest] Chapter IV Segue: The Chant of Unseen Ties

\[Exploration Quest] Code Red: Corehazard

\[Exploration Quest] Faithful Heart Tested at Skyfall

\[Exploration Quest] Automatons in Fog Veiled Chambers

\[Gameplay Optimizations]

Added the Pioneer Experience function, which will include the new ""Next Stop: Mengzhou"" event, along with all the previous Main Quest Fast Track Events.

Added support for Resonator Voice Pack customization.

Added the Bioprinting function.

Optimized the display of the Echo Gallery and the Enemies section (idle animation will be added).

Optimized the functionality of Story Autoplay

Optimized the functionality of Guidebook

\[Other Optimizations]

Optimized the performance of Rover's character model.

Introduced a resource compression technology on PC to reduce the package size.

Added support for XeSS 3 frame generation on PC.

Optimized the functionality of Resource Cleanup.

\[New Challenges]

New ""Tactical Hologram: Simulation"" Challenge: Denia

Second Endstate Matrix Cycle: Version 3.5 - Version 3.8

\[Other New Content]

Expedition Motorbike Chassis: Cloud Ride

Weapon Projection: Projection - Blade of a Thousand Arts

Titles: Virtual Beacon, Until We Meet Again

Sigils: Space and Blake Bloom Medal, Past the Endstate: Adversity Vanguard, Xuanfang Wonder

Avatar: Space and Blake Bloom

\[New Mech]

Outfits: Deluxe Outfit: Lynae - Peppermint, Deluxe Outfit: Chisa - Peach Parfait

Accessories: Yangyang: Xuanling - Cloud Lark, Suisui - Upon Rosy Clouds

Expedition Motorbike Model: Nightveil Piercer - Premium Model

\[Special Events]

\[A Glimpse of Xuanfang] Area Exploration Event

\[Shape of Yesterday] Photo Collection Event

\[Lament Recon: Tacet Crisis] Combat Event

\[Recaptured: Action Highlights] Combat Photography Event

\[Lollo Campaign: New Journey] Featured Commission Event

\[Virtual Crisis: Quadrant Trials\[ Crisis Trial Challenge Event[/p]

\[Gifts of Aftertune] 7-Day Login Event

\[Web Event]

\[In Search of Lost Jade] Web Event

Stay tuned to official announcements for updates on in-game events and more.

Destiny 2 players get a final farewell gift from Bungie

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:57:03 +0800

Destiny 2 is done: The final patch is out, Bungie is decimated, and the game will remain playable but the story of one of the biggest, best and most influential online shooters ever is over. To memorialize the moment, Bungie has rolled out one last gift for players: A new emblem, free for everyone, called Gloriabundus... Read more.

Obsidian Reportedly Stops Avowed 2 Development To Work On New Fallout Game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:57:03 +0800

Obsidian Entertainment may be returning to Fallout, and that is big news for fans of the series. According to a

Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle is now available on PC Steam

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:49:03 +0800

Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle is available for $16.99 with a 10% launch discount for the first two weeks beginning today.

Dragon Age is "unlikely" to continue at EA, says former lead David Gaider, but if you gave him the keys to the RPG he'd take it somewhere "dark" and "do things that will make people upset"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:25:04 +0800

It's no secret that BioWare's Dragon Age series has seen better days under its corporate overlord, Electronic Arts, with the most recent entry, 2024's The Veilguard, failing to meet sales expectations after a decade of development hell, despite generally positive reviews. But according to David Gaider, longtime Dragon Age writer from Origins to Inquisition, EA's discontent with the series runs a lot deeper than that, telling PC Gamer it was pretty much always on the chopping block during his long tenure at BioWare. In fact, he's seen enough that he's convinced there's no future for Dragon Age at EA, saying it's "unlikely" to get another game unless it gets bought by another owner.

"Throughout the entire time I was there, we were always one breath away from the project being shelved," Gaider says. "The thing that happened is that we kept releasing games, and it would sell much better than they thought it should, and it kept surprising them."

Gaider left the Dragon Age team after Inquisition to work on Anthem, and we all know how that went. He ultimately left BioWare entirely in 2016, but he clearly still harbors some mixed emotions about his time with the studio, describing a leadership environment that gave "excuses" for other series' failures, like Mass Effect, but called successful Dragon Age releases "a fluke."

"The way EA looked at it was that Mass Effect was the slick, modern RPG that had action, and they could sell really easily. Whereas Dragon Age was old-fashioned and focused on story," Gaider says. "Our action, ranging from Dragon Age: Origins, was a little bit on the slow, cumbersome side, and then was too fast. They never knew what to do with it."

(Image credit: EA/BioWare) It probably won't surprise you, then, that Gaider has no interest in taking the reigns on Dragon Age again... at least, not so long as EA owns the franchise. On the other hand, he says he's warmed up to the idea of making a new Dragon Age game after completely ruling that out in the past. "If you'd asked me that in the past, I would have said absolutely not. That I’d done my time ... I don't know if that was the right decision, but it felt right at the time."

These days, "if, out of some weird alignment of the stars, somebody handed the Dragon Age franchise back to me and said, 'Breathe the life back into this baby,'" Gaider might just reconsider.

"That'd be a tough one, but I think that'd be an interesting thing to do. To go back to the basics of what made Dragon Age appeal to so many people in the first place. And go somewhere dark and dangerous, and do things that will make people upset. I think that’s what I would want to do with it."

Gaider's definitely right to doubt the future of Dragon Age under an intensely profit-driven conglomerate as EA, which moved to effectively gut the Dragon Age team at BioWare quickly after The Veilguard's lackluster commercial reception, and which has been snapped up in a $55 billion buyout expected to result in internal cuts. It's always possible for such a beloved IP to be scooped up by another publisher in the future, but for now, a dedicated team of moders are determined not only to preserve the series, but expand it as well.

Generative AI is a "plague," says Dragon Age vet David Gaider: "It's not ready for prime time. There's just a lot of executives who really, really want it to be"

[/url]

First Subnautica 2 Early Access Update Surfaces

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:06:04 +0800

Publisher Unknown Worlds has released it’s first major patch for Subnautica 2, aiming to improve on it’s player feedback, improve game-flow, and adding to the games well-known exploration mechanics. Following the games launch in mid-May, Subnautica 2 has surpassed five million sales across all platforms that it is available on. This is a hugely impressive […]

Save $2,500 Off the Alienware 16X Aurora RTX 5070 Gaming Laptop Loaded With 64GB of RAM and 4TB SSD

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:59:03 +0800

Dell is offering an especially rare deal on an Alienware 16X Aurora gaming laptop that's loaded with a generous amount of memory and storage, especially considering today's outrageous RAM and SSD prices. This particular model features a GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 64GB of RAM, and a 4TB SSD for just $2,479.99 with free shipping. That's $2,500 (50%) off MSRP and beats the lowest price I last saw for this exact same config by over $500. The 16X Aurora is Alienware's best selling premium laptop featuring an aluminum body, high quality display, and current generation processor and graphics.

$2,500 Off This Loaded Alienware 16X Aurora Gaming Laptop

Includes 64GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD

The 16X Aurora is the best Alienware laptop for most gamers

For 2025, Alienware replaced its venerable m16 laptop with two new models - the 16X and 16 Aurora. Of the two, the 16X Aurora is the model I would recommend for most gamers. It has a higher price tag but the upgrades more than make up for the relatively small price premium. Here's a list of all of the improvements:

Better display (2560x1600 240Hz G-Sync vs 2560x1600 120Hz)
More powerful CPU (Intel Core Ultra HX series vs Intel Core H-series)
Higher GPU TGP rating and thus better performance
More premium materials (metal alloy lid and chassis vs lid only)
RGB keyboard vs white-only backlighting
Thunderbolt 4.0 port

Compared to other Alienware laptops, the 16X Aurora is designed to look less like a gamer's laptop. It boasts a sleek, understated design with the absence of extraneous visual-only embellishments or unnecessary RGB lighting outside of the keyboard illumination. This is a solidly built machine with a metal (magnesium alloy) chassis and anodized aluminum lid and bottom shell. The keyboard deck is made out of a sturdy composite plastic so that your hands don't get too hot or sweaty. Under the hood, the 16X Aurora packs a punch with powerful components and Cryo Chamber cooling.

The 64GB of RAM and 2TB SSD are easily $1,350+ upgrades

A quick check on Amazon and Newegg reveals that 64GB of DDR5-5600MHz laptop memory sells for at least $900. Likewise, a brand name 4TB PCIe Gen 4x4 NVMe SSD starts at about $450. If you were to add them yourself, you'd be paying at least $1,350 for these two upgrades alone.

It's equipped with a Geforce RTX 5070 mobile GPU

The GeForce RTX 5070 will run most games at 60fps on the 2560x1600 resolution display, although some settings may have to be adjusted on more demanding games. The RTX 5070 will absolutely excel in any games that support DLSS 4.5 with multi-frame generation. including Pragmata, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, and 007 First Light. Compared to the previous generation of GPUs, it's about 10% more powerful than the RTX 4070 mobile.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

[/url] Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Destiny 2 Code Gives Free Item to All Players

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:42:05 +0800

Destiny 2 is currently in the midst of its last hoorah, as though lapsed players and hardcore fans have been keeping the game’s servers very full, with no new content coming, the eventual falloff is inevitable. And though most of Bungie’s Destiny 2 developers have been laid off, and no more playable content will be added going forward, the studio has still dropped one more free emblem for players to unlock.

Dragon Age Writer Comments on Dragon Age 5

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:42:04 +0800

While the future of Dragon Age is currently unknown as EA and BioWare pursue other projects, David Gaider, the writer who helped bring the franchise to great heights, says he has an idea about what he would do with the series if it were handed back to him.Dragon Age has been in a strange spot since the release of 2024's The Veilguard, with EA laying off a significant portion of BioWare following the game's financial underperformance.

Meet Respec, RPG Site’s new sibling website

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:30:05 +0800

If you like the way we do things on RPG Site and have gaming interests outside our beloved genre, this is for you.

Palworld studio says delete your old mods before the 1.0 release: 'Disabling them is not enough'

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:28:04 +0800

PalworldAfter two-and-a-half years of early access, Palworld is launching into full release tomorrow, July 10. It's a moment that brings both good news and some potential bad news: The price isn't going up, which is very nice, but if you have any old mods left installed, you may run into trouble... Read more.

Worldwide Launch Community Update & What’s Next

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:23:03 +0800

Hey College Football 27 fans!

Worldwide Launch is finally here!

Since Advanced Access began, we’ve been reading your feedback, watching your streams and videos, and following conversations across the community. Over the past few days, you’ve highlighted several key topics, and today we want to share an update around the top issues we’re actively investigating.

While this isn’t a complete list of everything we’re tracking, we wanted to provide additional context on some of the topics we’ve seen discussed most frequently.

Gameplay

On the gameplay front, we’re still collecting your feedback to help inform future tuning, but two topics have our immediate attention: pancake blocks and Switch Stick.

We definitely see conversations around pancake blocks happening more than you would like, and we agree! We’re actively investigating the issue, and we’ll share more details once we’ve completed testing and have an update.

For Switch Stick, we’ve seen reports of a slight delay when switching defenders. We’ve identified the issue and are targeting a fix in a future Title Update.

We've been loving all of the gameplay clips you've been sharing, keep them coming!

Dynasty

We've seen a lot of discussion around Dynasty recruiting, particularly around higher-rated recruits going without offers during the recruiting cycle.

After investigating, we've identified several contributing factors and are actively working on improvements, including:

Adjusting recruiting tuning to improve how CPU teams compete for highly rated recruits.
Improving how CPU teams prioritize and retain recruits after extending offers.
Addressing late-cycle recruiting scenarios that can leave recruits without viable offers.
Adjusting recruit generation and recruiting balance to better reflect expected recruiting distributions.

These improvements are a top priority for us, and we’re working to get them into your hands as quickly as possible. We’re targeting next week for these improvements to be available. Keep sharing what you’re seeing as more players jump into Dynasty.

Most importantly, our goal is always to keep you playing your current Dynasty whenever possible. For this upcoming Title Update, you will not need to start a new Dynasty. Once the update is installed, these recruiting improvements will take effect as you advance into your next season.

Dynasty Progression

We've also seen a lot of conversations and feedback around our coach progression and Dynasty difficulty.

Coach progression in College Football 27 is built as a long-term career arc. Coach XP requirements remain the same as College Football 26, and growth still comes from your Coach archetype, perks, and coaching staff over the course of your Dynasty. Dynasty Blueprint deepens that progression by putting more weight on the decisions that build and sustain a program across multiple seasons. To give players more control over progression pace, we are adding new Coach XP speed settings in the upcoming Title Update.

That said, we’ve heard your feedback. We know many players want more control over the pace of coach progression, and we’re adding that flexibility back in our upcoming Title Update.

The three new Coach XP Speed Settings are:

Casual: Fastest coach progression (1.5x XP), equivalent to the Faster setting from College Football 26. Best for players who want to unlock abilities quickly and accelerate coach growth.
Simulation: Balanced coach progression (1.25x XP). Best for players looking for a realistic pace while still progressing faster than the default experience.
Career: Authentic long-term coach progression. (1.0x XP), equivalent to the College Football 27 default setting. Best for players who want the full Dynasty Blueprint experience, where every Coach Point and coaching decision carries more weight over the course of a Dynasty.

If you’re looking for a challenging rebuild with a smaller program, we recommend playing on Career to experience Dynasty Blueprint as it was designed. If you’d rather progress through your coach’s abilities more quickly, Casual and Simulation provide faster progression while preserving the overall Dynasty experience.

No matter which setting you choose, your coach archetype, abilities, and coaching staff remains the most effective way to maximize your coach’s development.

Note: Coach XP Speed Settings are available in both Online and Offline Dynasty. In Online Dynasty, League commissioners control the Coach XP Speed setting for the entire league.
Coach XP Accelerators are an optional feature available only in Online Dynasty. Commissioners can enable or disable the Coach Level purchases setting for their league, and they are not available in Offline Dynasty.

After this update hits, let us know how the new settings feel! We’ll be looking closely at your feedback on this one. Expect to see this update in our Campus Huddle next week!

Road to Glory

Position Battles

We've seen reports from players who selected EDGE in Road to Glory not triggering position battles to move you up on the depth chart. The team has identified the issue, and are planning a fix for our next Title Update. Thanks for continuing to send us your reports and feedback, they've helped us track this one down!

Progression

We've also seen questions around Road to Glory progression.

Progression has been redesigned around earning weekly XP through gameplay and upgrading individual ratings and abilities throughout your career. As part of this redesign with progression being tied to gameplay performance, players are rewarded more XP by playing on higher difficulty settings.

Depending on your starting recruit level and performance on the field, you can generally expect to reach the mid-to-high 90s by your junior year. You can still reach 99 OVR through gameplay alone. Your chosen recruit path affects how quickly you get there, a 5-star Elite recruit will progress faster than a 2-star Underdog, but your performance on the field is ultimately the biggest factor in your overall progression.

Your Weekly Agenda also plays an important role in player development! Focusing your energy in areas like Leadership and Fitness can help boost your progression over the course of your career. Wear & Tear also plays an important role in Road to Glory, because it’s a core part of the weekly player management, progression is balanced around Wear & Tear being enabled. Wear & Tear can be disabled, but doing so reduces XP gained to offset the gameplay advantage of no longer needing to manage your player’s health.

We want to reiterate that these are just some of the topics our teams have been tracking and actively working on. Be on the lookout next week for our Campus Huddle, where we'll share the full details on the next Title Update for EA SPORTS College Football 27!

Thank you for your passion, your feedback, and for being part of the College Football community. We'll see you on the field!

-EASPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM

[July 9th] Terrmian Beach, Heidel Festival & Desert Light!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:20:04 +0800

Check out this week's new events!

Terrmian Beach Grand Opening

July 9, 2026 (Thu) after maintenance - July 30, 2026 (Thu) before maintenance

Terrmian Beach is now open for a refreshing festival.
Dive into the pristine ocean today!

Terrmian Summer Festival at a Glance

Terrmian Ancient Black Spirit's Adventure

[color=#ffaa00]Ultimate Premium Enhancement Box & Cron Stones[/color]
Roll the dice for rewards!

Terrmian Beach Fishing Spot

[color=#90d9b1]Special fish at Terrmian[/color]
Experience the thrill of catching Lobster, Marlin, and Bigeye Tuna!

Weekly Silver Shop

[color=#c662eb]Merchants join the festival at the beach[/color]
Purchase items for your adventure with Silver every week!

‎

Learn More!

Heidel Festival Prelude with New Seal

July 9, 2026 (Thu) after maintenance - July 30, 2026 (Thu) before maintenance

"Hey, Adventurer! I hear an amazing festival is coming to Heidel soon!

While we wait with excitement... I want to make our days shine with "Record of Adventure". Will you join me to make this wait special?"

Main Rewards

Choose Your Rare Hammer Box

Advice of Valks (+200)

[Pet] Wizard Gosphy

[Event] Rare Deboreka Support Box

‎

Learn More!

[Desert Light] Hot Time Blessing

July 9, 2026 (Thu) after maintenance - July 23, 2026 (Thu) before maintenance

The Ancient Device in Velia now shines with
[color=#5df0ec]perfected light[/color] granting a noble blessing across all continents.

A special Hot Time event for 2 weeks!

Item Drop Rate
[color=#ebd759]+100%[/color]

Combat EXP
[color=#5df0ec]+1000%[/color]

Skill EXP
[color=#5df0ec]+400%[/color]

Life EXP (excl. Mount/Trading)
[color=#5df0ec]+100%[/color]

‎

Learn More!

[Desert Light] More Agris Fever

July 9, 2026 (Thu) after maintenance - July 23, 2026 (Thu) before maintenance

Daily Agris Fever Point Recovery UP!

Every day at 6:00 AM: [color=#ebd759]Recover up to 40,000 points[/color]

Default max daily recovery:
20,000 Points

Bonus recovery during the event:
[color=#ebd759]+ 20,000 Points[/color]

‎

Learn More!

[Desert Light] Morning Blessing Boost

July 9, 2026 (Thu) after maintenance - July 23, 2026 (Thu) before maintenance

Defeat Donghae (Solo) Calamity 7/8/9/10 bosses
[color=#ebd759]to double the Blessing of the Morning effects![/color]

????The Blessing of the Morning effects last for 3 hours.

[color=#f0b0b0]Sun Aura[/color]

Bosses

Before

Now

Golden Pig King
Oduksini
Apex Changui

AP +1

[color=#f0b0b0]AP +2[/color]

[color=#b0c6f0]Moon Aura[/color]

Bosses

Before

Now

Songakshi
Bamboo Legion Lieutenant

DP +1

[color=#b0c6f0]DP +2[/color]

[color=#b0f0c8]Earth Aura[/color]

Bosses

Before

Now

Sangoon
Gumiho
Duoksini

Item Drop Rate +20%

[color=#b0f0c8]Item Drop Rate +40%[/color]

‎

Learn More!

All Ongoing Events

Microsoft filing shows total ZeniMax layoffs at 379, with over half coming from Elder Scrolls Online studio that's lost at least 60% of its staff in the past year

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:18:12 +0800

s reported by MMORPG, we now know the full scope of the layoffs at ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online) and ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Game Studios. A Maryland WARN Act notice shows 213 employees laid off from ZeniMax Online, and 166 from ZeniMax Media, for a total of 379... Read more.

Titania Prime and Gara Prime Enter Prime Resurgence

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:14:04 +0800

Dominate your enemies through diminutive fae mischief or shatter their corporeal form with Prime Resurgence! Add Titania Prime and Gara Prime, along with their signature Prime Weapons and Prime Accessories, to your Arsenal today with Regal Aya.

Titania Prime

From a flowery bed to the clouds above, a fae queen blissfully invites her foes to tumble down again. Titania Prime deploys legions of butterflies to disorient and dominate any adversary, making her an excellent pick for those looking for a Warframe with strong crowd control capabilities. Razorwing, Titania Prime’s 4th Ability, even allows her to shrink down and take flight, becoming part of the mystifying swarm she commands.

Gara Prime

Even the faintest touch from Gara Prime is enough to shatter both mind and body of any that stand in her way. This formidable glassblower is able to reshape the battlefield through molten crystal that can splinter enemies while also bolstering defenses of allies. Gara Prime’s high survivability and aptitude for significant damage output should be appealing to anyone who has no interest in being a glass cannon.

WHAT ARE PRIMES?

When you require the finest and most powerful armaments, only Primes will do. Exquisitely gilded, every Prime Warframe, Weapon and item exists in its purest form — just as the Orokin intended.

If you're new to Warframe, you can learn more about the Prime Access Program by visiting our official FAQs page and watching our community video guide below:

An Update from the Anti Cheat Team - Auto Aim Manipulation

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:05:04 +0800

Effective immediately, the use of “jitter aim” and/or RC filters to exploit aim assist systems and negate recoil on controllers is unequivocally considered cheating. We are taking a firm stance against players using these cheats and are taking action to stop them.

Apex Legends is now equipped with the necessary in-game detections to identify and disable these exploits. Players who are caught attempting to use hardware or software to alter aim assist or recoil patterns will be flagged as cheaters and have their accounts banned in accordance with our TOS.

We are implementing this crackdown at a crucial time, to support fair play at EWC Paris, in addition to maintaining competitive integrity across Apex Legends. While we are implementing this solution to combat the issue, we have alternate anti-cheat approaches we can pivot to should we need them. We will continue to monitor the situation and make additional changes as necessary.

In Tempest Rising The War For Resources Rages On

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:05:04 +0800

Tempest Rising has you step into the boots of one of two factions locked in a never ending war that’s revolving around one resource; Tempest. Deploy troops, fight your enemies, gather resources and build bases all to try and come out on top. Tempest Rising has you either take on the mantle of the Global […]

Junkrat's Lootbox Hunt

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:02:05 +0800

Junkrat's Loot Hunt

Junkrat’s Loot Hunt turns the July 10 - 13 weekend into a reward-fueled blast. Every match you play pushes you closer to Loot Boxes, with flexible challenges that let you go all-in or pace yourself. No daily pressure, no nonsense… just explosions, progress, and piles of loot!

Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 Ports Out Now on PS5, But They Come at a High Cost

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:59:03 +0800

Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 are now available on PS4 and PS5, but they won't come cheap.

Both of the original Black Ops games have been released digitally on PS4 and PS5 for $40 each. That means if you want both games, they'll cost $80... and if you want all of the DLC, that's also going to cost you. Both games offer a separate season pass, priced at $29.99 a piece. So, if you want the complete experience, you will have to pay a whopping $140 for games that came out a decade and a half ago, something fans had been fearing for the last few weeks.

There is one saving grace, though. If you are a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you get a massive discount. Both games are $20 each and their season passes are $9 each, coming out to a total of about $60 total, which is a bit easier to stomach. This discount runs until August 6, so there's plenty of time to jump on this deal.

There is also a free pack for Black Ops 2 that offers access to the customization packs that were available for purchase in the original game. There are no new features with these ports and there's no crossplay, which may actually be a good thing. The servers for the original versions of these games are a mess thanks to hackers, so having a fresh start is probably the best for everyone.

Additionally, some content is missing from these games. CharlieIntel reports that wager matches and theater mode have been removed, something that players suspected when the trophy lists leaked earlier this week. Beyond that, the games' content remain unchanged and players will have full access to the campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies. And yes, the infamous emblem editor also manged to remain in the game.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger Just Released a Brand-New Update for July 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:31:03 +0800

Ahead of the launch of Digimon Story: Time Stranger on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 consoles, Bandai Namco launched a free update that includes a few new features for players to try out. Thankfully, the new Digimon Story: Time Stranger patch does not require much storage space.

Devs don't buy Steam disclosure claiming gen AI was a necessity: "I'm literally unemployed and I still make all of my assets by hand"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:16:04 +0800

A new action RPG released on Steam sparked heated discussion among other game developers after its creator argued that using generative AI to expedite development was essential, but insisted reliance on the tech could be reduced with more money coming in.

Bluesky user Aura/Moom, or game dev and animator Aura Triolo, flagged the Steam AI disclosure of Bahast, a new "dark fantasy idle ARPG." (Triolo only shared the blurb, but other people quickly dug up the game.)

The disclosure reads: "This game uses AI in various places. A a [sic] solo developer it was nearly impossible to put out this game in a meaningful time frame or act on feedback without leveraging AI as a tool. I'm happy to reduce AI usage if the game is financially stable enough through your support! Thank you in advanced [sic] if we ever get that opportunity."

This stance has been a sticking point in discussions of gen AI in games and game development. GamesRadar+ spoke to over 30 developers about the topic, and heard myriad arguments against gen AI as a tool despite claims of greater efficiency. (An incoming follow-up report will focus more on the perspectives of indie developers, who were likewise negative on the tech.)

Industry figures like Epic Games head Tim Sweeney insist that AI-aided development will be essential going forward.

Bahast's claim prompted fierce rejection from many developers online. "'If you pay me maybe I'll use LESS AI' is a new desperate plea I haven't seen before," writes Triolo.

"The 'I'm just a little solo dev' thing also really doesn't work for us solo/tiny devs who have made things without using the art-stealing-cheat-machine," replies David Lindsey Pittman of Eldritch maker Minor Key Games.

"Just learn to scope and stop being a whiny baby," says Alexandre Stroukoff, half of Squeakross studio Alblune.

"I'm literally unemployed and I still make all of my assets by hand," adds solo developer Mtgames. "Why? Because it's FUN."

"If you exclude Steam's publishing fee, and the $5 I spent to get TIC-80 Pro back in 2019, I have not spent a single penny developing either Prism Indigo or Prism Warriors," chimes in Ryan Nurse, solo dev at Altrix Studios, maker of the retro Prism games like the upcoming Prism Warriors DX. "Not to preach to the choir or anything but 'I have no money' is a bullshit excuse to use genAI in your game."

A recent survey found that relatively few Steam users have a major issue with AI in games, though its conductor warned that using AI will still cost you sales, and the relevant question and surveyed demographic don't seem to perfectly match the broader audience.

Sony says AI is "exciting," great for "synthetic assets," and an "important foundational technology supporting our strategy."

[/url]

Ever since Black Flag Resynced's reveal 3 months ago, I've daydreamed about setting sail and these 6 games are letting me live out my best pirate life

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:06:04 +0800

Avast me hearties! If like me you've ever found yourself thinking a pirate's life is for you, then you've come to the right place, because I'm here bring you the best pirate games you can play right now.

Whether you're looking to live out all your pirate-shaped dreams in some great swashbuckling adventures, or the prospect of A ssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has put the wind in your sails as it has done for me and you want to see what other adventures await you on the high seas, I've charted a course and found some fantastic pirate games that will help you fulfill all your nautical fantasies.

Of course, Ubisoft's remake is included here, but if you're looking for alternatives, I've brought together a great assortment of options. From some of the best open world RPGs, to one of the best co-op games, and even some old school classics that are still playable today, there's picks across most platforms so you can find something for you. So, if you're ready to find your sea legs and hoist your sails, join me as I take you through the best pirate games to play in 2026.

The best pirate games, starting with...

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

(Image credit: LucasArts / LucasFilm / Disney) Release date: July 15, 2009
Developer: LucasArts
Platform(s): PC

Bringing back the classic point-and-click adventure that first released back in 1990, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is here for any would-be pirate with a penchant for puzzle-solving. Packed with humor, you follow the story of protagonist Guybrush Threepwood as you try to uncover the secret of Monkey Island (hence the name). As you puzzle your way through a swashbuckling plot, you can expect to encounter many pirates, including an evil ghost buccaneer called LeChuck.

Of course, there's always the hope that you'll uncover some riches, too (because where there's pirates, there's usually treasure). It may be a little more dated as pirate adventures go, but with the special edition re-release bringing in a hint system, updated art style, and full voice over, it's still very enjoyable. If you're after a throwback, this is a great one to tuck into. Plus, if you enjoy it, the series made a more recent comeback in 2022 with Return to Monkey Island; that's a real delight.

Sea of Thieves: 2026 Edition

(Image credit: Rare) Release date: April 9, 2026
Developer: Rare
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

Sea of Thieves: 2026 Edition is the revised version of Rare's open world multiplayer pirate adventure, which brings in all of the permanent updates that have come to the game since it initially launched. When it comes to living your best pirate life, Sea of Thieves has plenty to offer. Whether you want to captain your own ship solo or you want to team up with pals to form your own pirate crew, the many islands and oceans are yours to explore – you can even plumb the depths for treasure with sunken sites below the surface of the sea.

With the freedom to create your own custom pirate and set off on voyages to become a legend of your own making, you can spend your time fishing, taking down a mighty kraken, or burying your most prized spoils (don't worry, you can create a map that will lead you right back to your loot). With lots of optional objects and side quests to keep you busy, I've never had a dull time with this one. Plus, you can also shape your own modes with the Custom Seas feature, which introduces a host of tools so you can be the kind of pirate you want to be.

Windrose

(Image credit: Kraken Express) Release date: April 14, 2026 [Early Access]
Developer: Kraken Express
Platform(s): PC

Currently out in Early Access, Windrose draws you into an alternate take on the age of piracy in a survival adventure that blends swashbuckling action and naval combat with crafting and settlement building. Taking on the role of a captain who challenges Blackbeard, an infamous figure of legend, you soon get caught up in the conflicts of the high seas, complete with rival clans and empires.

But how you spend your time in Windrose is up to you. With procedurally generated biomes to explore, you can sail across the seas in search of new locations, weigh anchor and venture onto the shores to delve into dungeons, or try your hand at plundering some treasure (which is, of course, a classic pirate pastime). With resource gathering and crafting at play, you can also work to create your own bases in a place of your choosing, and while it's playable solo, you can also venture across the seas with pals in online co-op. You can get sea-ready with our pick of the best ships in Windrose.

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

(Image credit: SEGA) The Yakuza series has brought us some of the best ARPGs over the years, but it's also home to a character that has all of the traits of a pirate in the making. I'm of course talking about Goro Majima, the eye-patch-wearing, butt-kicking member of the Yakuza who has an on-going rivalry with the leading man, Kiryu. He's always gone his own way with a commanding presence, and that translates perfectly into his distinctly unique and endlessly entertaining spin-off, Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

After finding himself stranded on an island with no memory to speak of, you play as Majima as he takes over his own ship and reinvents himself as a modern-day pirate. Navigating through the Pacific Ocean, you form your own ragtag crew, work to upgrade your ship, and of course, get your hands on some riches. Naturally, there's always criminals and rival pirates trying to take the wind out of your sails, but that's where Majima's fighting skills in the best Yakuza games come in handy here. If you're after an action-packed pirate adventure with plenty of humor, then look no further. For more, check out our Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii review.

Sid Meier's Pirates!

(Image credit: 2K) Release date: July 11, 2005
Developer: Firaxis Games
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X (backward compatibility)

If you're a strategy fan who's also looking to become a pirate legend, then Sid Meier's Pirates! is a classic spin-off that might just be right up your alley. Yes, it's a bit of a throwback, but it's aged very well and is still fun to play to this day. After a marquis your father is indebted to takes your family away during your childhood years, you set out to exact revenge when you're older and get your hands on your very own ship in the process.

From there, you're essentially free to decide what you do and how you want to do it as you set sail across the Caribbean. Whether you decide to raid villages for riches or be a true privateer who hunts down enemy ships and wanted criminals for your chosen allied nation, you can become as famous (or infamous) as you like. With naval combat, treasure hunting, and various activities to get stuck into, you'll also have to be mindful of your crew, as any good pirate captain should be.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Release date: July 9, 2026
Developer: Ubisoft
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

Assassin's Creed Black Flag first made waves back in 2013 thanks to its Caribbean open world setting and its pirate, assassin fantasy. Fast forward to 2026, and one of the best Assassin's Creed protagonists has made a comeback in that very same adventure, only this time, it's been rebuilt on the latest Anvil Engine with a suite of improvements and additions. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sees you play as Edward Kenway, a true buccaneer in the 18th century who captains the Jackdaw.

With appearances from pirates from history and legend, Black Flag is a great way to immerse yourself in the Golden Age of piracy. With improved, action-orientation fighting, naval combat, and plenty of treasures to uncover, it continues to be one of the best pirate games around – even if it isn't always smooth sailing, as we explore in our Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review. But if you've yet to tuck into this stealthy, pirate adventure, or you're looking to experience it all over again, Resynced is worth getting on board with.

Set off on more journeys (on both sea and land) with our pick of the best adventure games.

[/url]

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Has Already Earned the Series' Biggest Player Peak on Steam

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:59:03 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is off to a strong start on Steam, with around 100,000 concurrent players — more than any other title in the franchise to date.

Ubisoft's ground-up remake of its beloved pirate adventure game currently has launch peak of 99,451 players at the time of writing, making it comfortably the series' best ever launch on Steam.

By comparison, 2025's feudal Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows recorded a launch peak of 64,825 players, while the Ancient Greek-set Assassin's Creed Odyssey earned 62,069. Not all Assassin's Creed games have appeared on Steam at launch (the hugely-popular Viking entry Valhalla turned up later), so comparisons aren't entirely straightforward.

Still, no other Assassin's Creed game comes close to matching Black Flag's early haul, which will likely prove a relief for publisher Ubisoft after a turbulent few years of layoffs, delays, and underwhelming sales.

Black Flag Resynced had been expected to perform well on Steam, after a report this week suggested pre-orders on the PC platform were 5.39 times higher than those for Shadows. Impressively, this also means that Resynced has already beaten the lifetime sales of Skull & Bones, Ubisoft's costly, long-in-development pirate spinoff from Black Flag that eventually emerged in 2024.

"More than just a shinier version of the same game you remember, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced brings what was already one of the best games in the series up to today’s standards," IGN wrote in our Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced review, dredging up a fine 9/10 score.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

A Metal Gear Solid mod finally lets us play as Grey Fox in the PS1 classic, and it's not just his disappointing VR Missions iteration

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:47:03 +0800

A modder has made Grey Fox playable in the original Metal Gear Solid, and it's way more impressive than it sounds.

Despite Snake (and Snake, and Snake, and Snake, and…) being a contender for the greatest video game character of all time, Metal Gear has a variety of side characters that all absolutely rule, and many hope for the chance to play as them. And while there's been the odd opportunity to play as whoever isn't the main protagonist of a given game (Tanker and Snake Tales in MGS2, Ocelot in Metal Gear Online), Metal Gear is pretty strict about having you play as the main character.

One such legendary side character is Grey Fox, who – after appearances in the MSX2 originals – appeared in Metal Gear Solid 1 as the series' first Cyborg Ninja. The character was so popular that he was the selling point and cover star of Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, where he was briefly playable for a couple of missions. And while Hideo Kojima wanted the character to get his own game as a sequel to Metal Gear Rising, it never materialized.

However, Grey Fox is finally getting his day in the cold alaska moon, as YouTube user Perfect Pizza has released a first look at the final version of their "Playable Grey Fox mod" for Metal Gear Solid. On first read this may not sound that impressive, perhaps the thought of "oh they just moved the VR Missions character into the main game," crossed your mind? Well this mod is not nearly that simple.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/PzZddYyro_0 Watching the trailer, right away you'll notice you have access to Grey Fox's arm cannon, which saw use throughout Metal Gear Solid, but never actually got used in his previous playable appearance. The High Frequency Blade has gotten a buff too with a new trailing effect and the ability to ricochet bullets back at enemies, and there's new movement options with crouch walking introduced. The mod promises a ton of changes, like "automatic open and close face visor upon alert,""custom animations," and "custom codec calls".

On the mods Discord, Perfect Pizza explains "This mod uses the PSX decompilation project’s ability to modify the game’s C code and build a new executable using the developer version of Metal Gear Solid." Adding "At the time of creation, neither the AI Grey Fox boss nor the playable VR Ninja have been fully decompiled. As a result, everything shown so far has been recreated through reverse engineering, existing game code, experimentation, and educated guesses."

They explain, "The goal is to let players experience an expanded version of Grey Fox vs what was given to us in VR missions with as many of his signature abilities and some new ones as the game’s limitations allow, while preserving core gameplay features such as crawling, elevators, weapons, and environmental interaction." and that "This project also lays the groundwork for a future version that could allow players to experience the entire game as Grey Fox."

Perfect Pizza also says "This is not a complete story-mode conversion" but that "A separate project, which I am not affiliated with, is working toward making the full campaign playable by rebuilding all the stage overlays and making the compiled exe shiftable. The future of a complete Grey Fox playthrough depends heavily on that effort."

Regardless it's an impressive mod that actually allows playable Grey Fox found in VR Missions to live up to the version we hoped he would be all along, and even if a full version doesn't show up, it'll be fun to play about with.

After almost 25 years, Metal Gear Solid 2 players are still finding secrets: "This is the kind of stuff somebody posts on an online forum in 2005 and no one believes it"

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Celebrate the 2010s with Two Hypercars!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:42:04 +0800

The final week of Horizon Decades gives us the very best of modern automotive. For 20 PTS on the Festival Playlist, you can unlock the 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT R – a car redesigned for the track and an ideal fit for Forza Horizon 6’s Time Attack Circuits. The GT R scored a 7:10.92 lap on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, which made it the fastest RWD, road-legal car on this renowned track at the time.

Equipped with a handmade 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and technological improvements such as AMG Ride Control suspension, a larger adjustable rear wing, and rear-wheel steering, the GT R has both the brains and brawn to help you clear any course in the fastest time possible.

You have until July 16 to unlock this modern wonder, so don’t miss out!

Don’t forget you can share your ideas for new gameplay, cars and features that could be added, changed or improved in Forza Horizon 6 on the Forza Feedback Portal. Should you encounter any issues while playing, be sure to create a bug report and include as much detail as you can to help our teams investigate.

SERIES REWARDS

80PTS: 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau
160 PTS: 2018 Lotus Exige Cup 430

SPRING REWARDS

20 PTS: 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT R
40 PTS: 2017 Saleen S7 LM

A modern daily racer jumps into the fray! The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla is now available with Car Pass.

Take the mighty GR Corolla on your adventures through Japan’s bendy roads and find out how much grip the Japanese maker could put into this hatchback. Toyota squeezed out even more power from the same 1.6-liter engine fitted into the GR Yaris to have the Corolla produce 300 bhp. All that power is distributed to all four wheels to ensure grip and quick starts. Customize this pocket rocket with a front bumper, rear wing, rear bumper, and hood all by Toyota Sport!

There’s a lot more to explore and unlock during this Spring season! Take a look at all the challenges available starting today:

New Fallout Meets Helldivers 2 Co-Op Game on Steam Uses Procedural Generation Like a Secret Weapon

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:40:04 +0800

Part of the popularity of a game like Helldivers 2 comes from its near-infinite replayability in a co-op multiplayer setting. Many co-op games on Steam try to hook players in with emergent gameplay elements to make it so every run or match feels different from the last. Helldivers 2 uses some degree of procedural generation to achieve this feat, but another upcoming Steam co-op shooter may do it even better.

The Blood of Dawnwalker star was "slightly too excited" in his audition to veteran Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 devs: "I probably shouldn't have looked that up"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:36:04 +0800

Before landing The Blood of Dawnwalker's lead role as vampire protagonist Coen, actor Will de Renzy-Martin summarizes his prior work in games succinctly: "I walk into a room, I scream 'grenade!', and then I walk out again."

It's a far cry, then, from the demands of playing Coen. In The Blood of Dawnwalker's prologue, we see his quiet village life torn apart. His loved ones are slaughtered and kidnapped following blood tithes to their vampiric overlord, while Coen himself is forcibly turned into a vampire and left to die in the sunlight, surviving only because he's left part-human. Believably portraying that traumatic descent is a tall order, as is the sheer amount of work required for the main character of a 40+ hour game.

The actor is no stranger to games, with recent credits including 007 First Light and Crimson Desert. But the story of The Blood of Dawnwalker, which can play out in many different ways depending on the players' decisions as Coen, offered an unusual treat. "It's been a massive pleasure to spend so much time working on something so specific," Renzy-Martin tells me, suitably, in the booth of a converted crypt. "It's very rare you get to do that."

Reflections

(Image credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment) The old ways

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) "We miss when genre wasn't a thing," say The Blood of Dawnwalker devs making their dream RPG: "We want to have our own identity"

When Renzy-Martin auditioned to play Coen, he had "fairly limited information" on the character and The Blood of Dawnwalker's wider world. He landed a callback, where he learned the game was being made by Rebel Wolves – a studio co-founded by veterans from The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red. "I probably shouldn't have looked that up before the recall," he admits. "I was slightly too excited! But here we are, so I'm glad it all went my way."

From the four hours I've played, Renzy-Martin convincingly captures Coen with rawness and pain. Equally impressive is how quickly we're made to care for the hero. Playing the prologue, much of my time is spent fetching medicine for Coen's mother and helping his siblings fish – making me all the more empathetic for him when, later, I lose control in dialogue and fatally drink from one of his terrified friends.

Renzy-Martin says the senselessness of Coen's devastation draws him to the character. "The really interesting thing about him is that there's no reason why this has happened to him, his life was hard enough as it was," he says. "He's weak at the start of the game, he's not drawing from these massive reserves of power that are available to a superhero. He's just someone thrust into the spotlight [...] That's a fascinating character to portray, and it's been amazing to see through that journey and find the different [places] where that can end up."

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) For a long time, the actor admits he had "absolutely no idea" that Coen's story marked the beginning of a saga spanning from 14th-century Europe to the modern day. The silver penny dropped with The Blood of Dawnwalker's announcement trailer, which includes a timeline-style shot dating the RPG's medieval setting. "I was watching it and was like 'Oh, it's from this time, that's exciting,'" he recalls. "I then spent the next few months worrying – is it a saga about Coen?!"

"By the end of recording the game, I could see how it's going to shape up," he continues. "Not what the plan is, but how it will shape into a bigger universe. But it didn't affect [my performance] at all, because it's such a self-contained thing that plays out. The overarching context adds a bit more zhuzh, but that's something that's going to be experienced within the game."

When I parted with Coen he was freshly-turned, setting out to dismantle Vale Sangora's royal vampire court and find his family. It remains to be seen how we'll reach the modern era, but I look forward to seeing how Renzy-Martin carries Coen through the centuries – especially as the scope of Rebel Wolves' ambitious RPG becomes clearer.

From its first hands-on preview to revealing developer interviews, dive into this month's Big Preview for Blood of Dawnwalker

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Tamashika from solo dev Quicktequila debuts on Xbox Game Pass

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:28:05 +0800

Edlgrd and developer Quicktequila announced that the hypnotic first-person shooter, Tamashika, is now available via Xbox Game Pass.

Additionally, Tamashika’s first major content update debuted for all platforms, which adds the all-new Accelerate Mode as well as over 50 new segments in Transcend Mode, featuring speed-boosting mechanics and open-air “Village” environments.

A full list of new content featured in the recent update can be found below:

New Accelerate Mode: Players can now dive into an endless loop in Accelerate Mode and push the limits of their attention as the flow pulls them into a faster, more hypnotic trance with Tamashika.

New Levels & Powerups: Transcend mode now welcomes 50+ new segments with fresh mechanics – fly across gaps using Jumpads, take Pills that boost speed and offer more grippy teleports.

Step out of the tight corridors for a breath of fresh air in new Village sections. Players can expect tight shootouts, as well as hidden enemies and mechanics.

Shuriken Saturdays: Players can experience the thrill of shuriken sections on special Saturdays.

Collectables and Time Travel: The new Time Travel mechanic allows players to revisit previous levels to perfect their scores. Players must find and collect items that enable them to review performances and revisit older levels in the new Calendar Menu. Players can now collect and store up to 200 items.

Improved Accessibility & Graphic Settings: Select a lower dosage for reduced effects and more muted colors with dynamic contrast. New 15µg dosage option for those looking for a stronger hit of visual fidelity.

Graphics have also received a touchup, offering more physically accurate screenshake textures with new and improved menus.

Quality of Life Improvements: Sample tracks in the Vibes Menu, featuring a new song titled “Soul Bird.” New language support is available for Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Ukrainian, Polish and Russian. 120Hz support now available on PlayStation.

Additional minor bugfixes, balancing and optimization have also been introduced. Tamashika is available now on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.

Tamashika launched on April 10, 2026 for PC and consoles. Developed by Vidhvat Madan (Quicktequila) and published by Harmony Korine’s creative studio, Edglrd, Tamashika invites players into a psychedelic trance of shifting corridors, challenging them to master a “one gun, one blade” scenario where focus is the only path to survival.

Madan’s work with the Lovely Planet series has already cemented him as a cult favorite, but Tamashika marks a culmination of a multi-year, multi-country journey for the developer that pushes his signature “flow state” design to its next level.

Madan is an independent game developer and the founder and principal developer at quicktequila. He is best known as the creator of the psychedelic speedrunning first-person shooter Lovely Planet (published by tinyBuild), as well as the arcade-style title Tamashika. Check out more information on their official site here.

Edglrd is a Miami-based creative studio founded by Harmony Korine. The studio develops original projects across film, games, technology, music, fashion, and experimental media, with a focus on bold, artist-led ideas that shape contemporary culture.

The post Tamashika from solo dev Quicktequila debuts on Xbox Game Pass appeared first on GamesBeat.

Microsoft lays off Bethesda vet behind Todd Howard's "crazy" Fallout 4 idea, "too many Skyrim weapons to count," the Dwemer, and Mudcrabs – and he may leave games altogether

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:16:04 +0800

Xbox studios are hemorrhaging generational talent amid Microsoft's layoff wave, with one Bethesda veteran highlighting the loss of an artist responsible for so much of the studio's history that, "If you've played a BGS game you've had his art on screen 99% of the time."

Ben Carnow, a Bethesda veteran of nearly 20 years himself, puts a spotlight on former lead weapon artist Dane Olds in a Bluesky post.

A LinkedIn post from Olds confirms, "I have been laid off alongside so many passionate and talented colleagues."

Like countless game developers now facing a horrible job market after layoffs, Olds indicates he may leave the games industry altogether, even after 20 years at Bethesda. "I'm now looking for work inside and outside of the game industry. If you can use my expertise in weapon art, character art, team building and management please reach out to me," he says.

Carnow says "Olds is my truest friend" and "an artist of legendary skill." He outlines just some of the key contributions Olds has made over the years, including: "Too many Skyrim weapons to count. All the Dwemer creatures. MUD CRABS. Like half the guns in Fallout 4. Loads of weapons in Starfield."

"Laid off by Microsoft," Carnow concludes.

In 2023, Bethesda ran a developer spotlight featuring Olds and discussing his work. "Fallout 3 was my first big AAA game so that's very special to me," Olds said at the time. "Skyrim was an amazing experience because I got to help define the look and feel of the Dwemer art in the game as well as getting to make all of the steel weapons and many artifacts like the Mace of Molag Bal. Oh! It also features one of the few creatures I've gotten to make – the mudcrab."

Olds was also pivotal in the development of Fallout 4's expanded weapon system. "On that title Todd [Howard] came to me one day and told me he had this crazy idea to make all our weapons moddable and that he wanted it to change the way they looked and played. So, I started in on the pipe weapon set and the rest is history. It was a lot of fun figuring out how to make that system work and I learned a ton working on that game."

Much like Olds, Bethesda also laid off 27-year veteran Christiane Meister, a core artist who made major contributions to Skyrim, especially the Khajiit and Argonian designs, as well as Oblivion, Morrowind, Fallout 4, and Fallout 4.

Cases like these are precisely why remaining Bethesda developers expect work on The Elder Scrolls 6 to be impacted by Microsoft's layoffs, fearing crunch, quality dips, or delays for the already long-awaited game.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is reportedly so desperate for another Fallout game that it's reassigned Fallout: New Vegas maker Obsidian to the series at the expense of a planned Avowed sequel and other projects.

Fallout and Elder Scrolls union says Bethesda layoffs didn't hurt Microsoft's "14 layers of management" – "We lost dozens of programmers, artists, designers and testers."

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced beats Shadows and Odyssey: biggest Steam launch in the series instantly sails past 99,000 players

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:16:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has only just set sail, but the pirate romp has already left its predecessors in the wind and is now enjoying the biggest Steam debut in series' history.

Despite having released only a few short hours ago, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has already courted over 99,000 concurrent players on Steam, according to SteamDB stats – that number shoots up by a couple thousand every few minutes, so don't expect it to fully settle anytime soon, either.

Last year's Assassin's Creed Shadows previously held that honor with a peak that sits just over 64,000. For context, the lush and hilariously horny Assassin's Creed Odyssey attracted a peak of 62,000, while the sandy epic Assassin's Creed Origins held a peak of 41,000.

The original Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag's record was also absolutely demolished in no time at all – its peak of 16,000 or so players was passed within the blink of an eye, though that game's PC port came a month after its initial PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U release in an era when Steam's audience wasn't as monstrously large.

Many of Ubisoft's other Assassin's Creed games also had inconsistent releases on Steam, too. One of the biggest games in the entire series, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which only peaked at about 19,000 players, didn't actually come to the platform until years after it first hit consoles and the Epic Games Store, for example, so they're not all competing on a level playing field. That is the pirate way, I suppose.

Despite the various asterisks you could place on the new series record, Black Flag Resynced is hitting huge Steam numbers no matter how you look at it. Perhaps not a surprising turnout considering the acclaim and nostalgia that's followed the original piratventure.

If you happen to be part of the mass flooding Ubisoft's revamped high seas, look out for an Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced bug that could potentially wipe a couple hours off your save file.

The Black Flag remake might have the other games in the series beat here, but check out how it fared on our list of the best Assassin's Creed games ever. You can also read our Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review to find out if it's worth playing.

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PSA: Destiny 2 Has a Major Glitch Affecting Champions

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:11:03 +0800

Destiny 2 might have a major bug that is making some Champions nearly impossible to deal with in endgame content. Ever since their addition to Destiny 2, Champions have been controversial and even game-breaking at times. Between the loadout restriction with Artifact mods only affecting some specific weapon types for each Champion and Champions being problematic in some content, they were never really easy to deal with, either for players or developers. For example, Unstoppable Champions sometimes play the stun noise but are not actually stunned if the stun happens as they are jumping up or down.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Code Gets You a Free Monkey

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:11:03 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced players can redeem a free code right now to get access to a monkey shipmate. This free giveaway takes moments to redeem, making it a must-have for those jumping into Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resyncedfor the first time.

Project Awakening Open-World RPG Is ‘Taking Shape,’ as Cygames Breaks 10 Years Silence

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:05:03 +0800

Remember Project Awakening? If you don’t, nobody could really blame you. This massive, ambitious open-world fantasy action RPG was first

How to access the local language packs

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:05:03 +0800

Hello everyone,

We have addressed an issue where some players could not find find their local language pack.
In case you are still encountering the issue, here are some instructions to access the language packs:

Close the game
Close Steam + Reopen Steam
Set the language as seen on the following screenshot

"Probably dead forever": Team behind the incredible Doom and Wolfenstein engine reportedly reduced to 1 person following Xbox cuts

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:05:03 +0800

The axe is swinging around Xbox at the moment, as hundreds of jobs have already been cut across Microsoft's game studios. Of the teams impacted, id Software's reportedly been substantially hit, to the point that there's apparently only one single person left working on the id Tech engine.

This comes from a report by Kotaku which goes into the changes at the legendary studio. Sources tell the outlet that id Tech is now a department of one following the latest redundancies. The engine is bespoke technology to the company and has been the backbone of the Quake, Wolfenstein and Doom games since the mid-'90s.

"The institutional knowledge is just not there. id Tech as a technology is probably dead forever," a person familiar with the situation says.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/4tk8lkmYGWQ Although the engine was mostly for in-house games, it had been used elsewhere, such as in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from MachineGames, and in both The Evil Within installments from Tango Gameworks. Really, though, it's the implementation in the modern Doom games that garnered the most praise.

The bouncy, punchy power fantasy of Doom 2016, Eternal, and The Dark Ages comes from the engine and how confidently id Software was able to use it. These are all among the finest first-person shooters of the last 20 years, and to see people integral to them be treated this way is just sad.

It's noted that id Software has a European office based in Frankfurt, and there's a chance some people there may be drafted in to help maintain id Tech. But that's speculation for now, as direct communication on these issues remains limited for now as companies reel from the sudden changes.

As of now, Obsidian, id Software, Bethesda and more have reportedly been significantly affected by job losses and other changes. Apparently, no projects are currently greenlit at id Software, leaving the outfit in a state of flux for the time-being.

After 37 years at Microsoft, veteran who led Xbox Backward Compatibility program has been laid off: "I look forward to watching how Xbox evolves going forward."

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Palworld won't raise its price for 1.0 as 'a small way of saying thank you'

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:58:04 +0800

We're just a day away from Palworld's much anticipated 1.0 release, and to celebrate Pocketpair both released all 27 pages of patch notes and confirmed that there'll be no price hike when the survival and crafting game exits from early access. Oh yeah, it's all coming together... Read more.

Board games go full Funko Pop, with teeny tiny micro-replicas of classics to collect, but NEVER play

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:58:04 +0800

Board game hobbyists don't really need any help buying copies of games that they never actually play - but Brotherwise Games has found a way to make it even easier. 'Shelfy' is its upcoming range of scaled-down model board game boxes, created in partnership with 20 different games publishers, which it plans to sell as collectibles in blind bags. The line will launch at Gen Con with a starter set containing a six-inch tall game shelf for you to display the wee boxes on, inbetween all your Funko Pops, Gundams, executive toys, Labubus, pictures of your loved ones, and Warhammer.

Read the full story on Wargamer: Board games go full Funko Pop, with teeny tiny micro-replicas of classics to collect, but NEVER play

GTA Online's Next Big Update, the Kortz Center Heist, Releases Next Week, and Fans Have Already Spotted a Few Rockstar-Related Easter Eggs

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:58:04 +0800

GTA Online's next big update, The Kortz Center Heist, will officially release next week, and fans have already spotted a few Rockstar-related Easter eggs.

Rockstar Games has confirmed that the new GTA Online update will be available starting July 14, and allow players to rob the prestigious Kort Center art museum. Mansion owners will utilize a new art studio as a heist preperation room and undergo a series of setup missions before the big finale. As with any heist, you'll have the option of going loud or quiet, but those who manage to complete the heist without raising suspicions will earn a significant amount of more money.

Players will also be able to keep paintings and put them on display in their mansion. New paintings will be added to the game every week, encouraging replayability as well. These aren't just ordinary paintings either, they are references to other Rockstar titles. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that one of the paintings appears to be a reference to Roman's death scene in GTA 4. There's also a Red Dead-esque painting and one that features a bunch of different Rockstar characters in a crowd, including CJ from San Andreas and Dutch from Red Dead.

A selection of paintings that players can steal in the Kort Center Heist in the next #GTAOnline update, all containing references to Rockstar Games titles:

1. An American Frontier/Western-style painting of the Ludendorff Church in North Yankton, featuring the Ludendorff Beaver… https://t.co/ZFSyF7ZS6f

— GTA Series Videos (@GTASeries) July 9, 2026 Of course, the new update will also add fancy and flashy new cars for players to buy with all of their ill-gotten gains as well. We'll get more details about what those look like next week. But for now, start putting together your crew, get a mansion, and start preparing to invest some money into setup missions.

This could also very well be the last big GTA Online update before the release of GTA 6. GTA Online updates tend to release in the summer and in December, but GTA 6 will release in November. It's possible Rockstar will support the game for a bit longer, since GTA 6 hasn't begun advertising any online component yet. While an online mode is almost certainly in the works, it may not be available until early next year. Only time will tell, but there are a lot of question marks over the future of GTA Online right now.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.

The Elder Scrolls 6 will be hurt and potentially delayed by Xbox layoffs, Bethesda devs expect: "This has had a crushing effect on morale"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:46:05 +0800

It's no secret that Bethesda Game Studios has felt the impact following Microsoft announcing its plans to cut around 3,200 employees at Xbox over the next fiscal year, with the company's union representatives saying "we lost dozens of programmers, artists, designers and testers" following the 1,600 Xbox job cuts earlier this week.

What isn't as clear, however, is the impact these layoffs have had and will continue to have on the production of The Elder Scrolls 6 – an RPG that arguably stands as one of the most hotly anticipated games to date.

In new statements to IGN, however, current Bethesda staff say the impact is evident and worrying. The loss "will have a substantial and cascading effect on the game and morale of this studio," as one developer puts it.

"It's been a mix of every discipline: programmers, artists, and designers," another chimes in. "One person who's been at the company since Morrowind was cut."

They might be referencing 27-year veteran Christiane Meister there, who worked on every Elder Scrolls entry since Morrowind, including Skyrim, and both Fallout 3 and Fallout 4.

What of new Elder Scrolls games, though – namely the sixth entry?

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OkFdqqyI8y4 "There is a fear that we are going to be replaced by cheaper, contracted labor, or we will hire folks to replace them that will need to be onboarded (our tools are proprietary, other devs aren't going to know how they work) resulting in more delays, and we'll need to crunch to make up the time," one dev admits.

Another explains that, concerning The Elder Scrolls 6 in particular, this has all been "crushing" to it the team.

"We've all been very excited and hyped for TES 6, and this has had a crushing effect on morale," they state. "We were already running a tight ship and are worried about this delaying the game (though a final release date was not yet chosen as far as we know)."

That's… concerning, to say the least. Both for the developers and the future of The Elder Scrolls 6 – a game that fans have eagerly been waiting nearly 15 years for now.

It doesn't help that, in terms of updates, the community has received few from Bethesda. The last actual trailer we got was a whopping eight years ago at E3 in 2018, after all. Even Todd Howard himself said to "just pretend we didn't didn't announce it" – so, um, yeah. He also admitted The Elder Scrolls 6 is still "a while" off, which adds another layer of uncertainty to this entire debacle.

Between the layoffs and all this… who knows?

Only time will tell, I suppose. I do just hope the affected developers are able to land on their feet, and Bethesda resurfaces despite the Microsoft upheaval – this is sadly not a rare reality in the industry anymore.

"There's really no one left": Former Elder Scrolls Online dev says the MMO "basically funded other failing projects" as Microsoft guts the studio.

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Cat Mail Co. is officially OUT NOW!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:42:05 +0800

Hi Fellow Cats and Cat's Lovers

Cat Mail Co. is officially OUT NOW!

The game is available starting today with a 15% launch discount.

To celebrate the release and thank you for your support and patience, every purchase during the first week comes with a free Supporter Pack DLC, including:

The original soundtrack
A digital artbook
An in-game supporter plaque

After the first week, the Supporter Pack will still be available as a paid DLC.

We truly would not be here without you.
Your support, feedback, wishlists, and patience throughout development have meant everything to us.

Seeing so many of you follow the project, play the demo, and share the game has been incredible. Thank you for being part of this journey.

As we enter launch week, our focus is to make sure everyone gets the best possible experience.

If you encounter any bugs or issues, please report them:

We will be actively monitoring feedback and working on fixes and improvements throughout the week.

The game is currently available in:
English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Ukrainian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian, and Korean.

We hope you enjoy your time sorting, solo or with friends.

Thank you again, and have fun!

— The Maracas Studio team

After 16 years of exploring the final frontier, Star Trek Online devs are 'trying new things' and 'trying to push the boundaries' of what they can achieve

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:38:04 +0800

It's the 16th anniversary of Star Trek Online this year, and the 60th anniversary of Star Trek itself. That's an absurdly long time for both MMOs and TV shows. For fans of the shows, though, it's bittersweet, as the two remaining ones are now rushing towards their post-cancellation conclusions. Star Trek Online, on the other hand, feels like it's entering a new era... Read more.

Epic Games Store Officially Reveals July 16 Free Games, Including a Nostalgic RPG

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:10:06 +0800

The Epic Games Store has officially revealed its free games for July 16: Luto and Echo Generation: Midnight Edition. Worth approximately $45 combined, the newly announced freebies will be available to claim on the Epic Games Store until July 23.

Steam Pulls Final Fantasy Game Ahead Of Full Shutdown

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:09:03 +0800

Final Fantasyis looking to the future with the 2027 release of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, but one game in the franchise will officially be left behind this year. Alongside the long succession of mainline games, the franchise has experimented with plenty of spin-offs that don't always stick around forever.

"Great job Microsoft": Former id Software artist says the legendary dev has been "relegated to support studio size" after Xbox's strategy of "nuking a team into the dirt"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:05:04 +0800

id Software's massive layoffs have turned the iconic FPS developers into effectively a support studio, according to a developer affected by the job cuts.

Despite the word that Xbox is apparently pushing Bethesda to work on tentpole franchises like Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein – as well as to get the likes of The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 out sooner, which has apparently resulted in Obsidian canceling an Avowed sequel to work on a Fallout game – Microsoft has decided to absolutely decimate Doom and Quake developer id Software. Word is that the studio has seen 136 of its 185 developers laid off by Microsoft, with word that the id Tech engine team is now a single employee.

Derek Best, former principal VFX artist at id Software – who worked at the company from 2014 until he was laid off this week – posted on LinkedIn (via VGC) about the layoffs.

"A little over 12 years ended unceremoniously the day before the DLC launch we all crunched to get out the door." He continues, "I'm still in shock at how brutal the layoff cuts were," saying that "Collectively decades of knowledge was wiped out of the studio."

Best notes that among the 136 employees affected. "The VFX team was eliminated down to one single artist with no lead or producer."

Best adds, "Great job Microsoft. Nothing says business success like nuking a team into the dirt and relegating them to support studio size while also throwing out massive technological achievements."

It's hard to stress how much the id Tech engine was integral to almost every Quake game as well as the modern Doom games.

Not to mention the IW Engine and Treyarch NGL engines used for Call of Duty titles are based on idTech 3 after it was used for the first Call of Duty game. And most recently, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle proved how good it is for other genres, with the adventure game looking gorgeous and running smoothly. And I can't expect whatever Xbox has planned for Doom or Quake in Unreal Engine to feel quite as right.

Still, it's not about Doom or Quake feeling right at the end of the day. It's about 136 jobs being lost and one of the most important studios in the history of gaming being hollowed out by its owner, and the decades of technical knowledge leaving the studio with those employees.

Pitches for a co-op Doom, a new Perfect Dark, and a John Wick-inspired cyberpunk game were cooking at id Software before Microsoft layoffs reportedly led to 136 job cuts

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How long does it take to beat Black Flag Resynced?

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:05:03 +0800

How long it takes to beat Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced will entirely depend on how you like to play, whether you like to stick to the main quest or want to leave no stone unturned in the Caribbean. Clocking in at bit over 30 hours on average, Black Flag Resynced isn't all that different to the original in case you were expecting a big expansion. With that, I've laid out some estimates for how long it takes to beat Black Flag Resynced below for different playstyles.

How long is Black Flag Resynced?

(Image credit: Ubisoft) From my experience playing Black Flag Resynced and that of some other members of the GamesRadar+ team, you should expect to sink roughly 35 hours for an average playthrough, one that takes in a bit of everything before rolling the credits on Edward's story. But, as ever, your completion time depends on how you play:

Focused on critical path: 25-30 hours
Main quest and side activities: 30-40 hours
100% completion: 50-60 hours

If you're only interested in Edward Kenway's story as he tries to make the pirate life work in the Caribbean, you'll likely spend 25 hours or so playing through it – with no essential modern-day sections to play, the story is a bit more streamlined, and you can read about the other changes in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced here. You may be able to get through the main quest in under 25 hours if you're particularly dedicated and you're playing on the easiest difficulty settings, but with important upgrades systems to manage for the Jackdaw, it's difficult to play through the whole thing quickly without dipping into at least some side activities.

Alternatively, if you want to see everything Black Flag has to offer, you're looking at spending around 50 hours – perhaps a bit less if you're efficient. With plenty of Forts to destroy, upgrades to unlock, Black Flag Resynced Treasure Maps to dig up, and side quests and contracts to complete, there is a lot to do beyond seeing Edward's story through to the end. And the endgame-level Black Flag Resynced Legendary Ships will require you to have all the Black Flag Resynced Ultimate ship upgrades applied to the Jackdaw.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Community Stories: From ETS2 Gamer to Real Trucker

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:02:05 +0800

It's been a while since we last shared a story from our community, and today we're excited to bring you another one. This time, we follow Arda from Türkiye, a fan of Euro Truck Simulator 2, who turned his passion for virtual trucking into reality and has now earned his real truck driver's license!

What started as a love for life on the road in-game has grown into a real profession behind the wheel. Arda started playing Euro Truck Simulator 2 regularly in 2025, and the enjoyment he found in ETS2 inspired him to pursue truck driving in real life.

"ETS2 is extremely popular in Türkiye and has a very large and passionate community. I have always loved simulation games, so I bought the game immediately after discovering it. What I enjoyed most about ETS2 was its realism. The traffic rules, weather conditions, real truck brands, vehicles, countries, and maps all felt incredibly immersive. It genuinely felt like I was traveling across different countries. The truck sounds are very close to reality, and playing the game helps me relax and leave behind the stress of everyday life," says Arda.

When he started playing ETS2, he had no prior experience with driving trucks. At first, Arda played the single-player mode until he discovered Driving Academy and became hooked.

"I immediately thought that maybe this is what I've been looking for. It turned out to be exactly that. On that day, I decided to obtain a truck driver's license. I spent a lot of time practicing in Driving Academy. I challenged myself to complete the scenarios using only the first-person camera view. The final scenarios were extremely difficult. There were many nights when I stayed awake until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning trying to complete a single challenge. At one point, I thought I would never finish them, but after enough repetition and practice, I gradually improved. The final challenges were very difficult, but I was incredibly happy when I completed them all."

Arda realized how much he enjoyed being on the road and traveling toward a destination. The more time he spent playing the game, the more excited he became whenever he saw a real truck on the road. Before the end of the year, he signed up for a truck driving course and decided to pursue it seriously, and eventually succeeded as well.

"The experience I gained in ETS2, and especially in Driving Academy, helped me tremendously during my lessons. Reverse maneuvers, reversing with a trailer, and navigating tight or sharp turns felt much easier because I had already practiced them extensively in the game. I have been driving regular vehicles for many years, but maneuvering a trailer, especially in reverse, is completely different from driving a car. Without ETS2, I would have struggled much more," he told us.

We have also received stories over the years from other members of our community who had a similar story, and we are so proud that ETS2 contributed to Arda's career in real life.

"I told my instructors about the game and how much it had helped me improve so quickly. When I noticed that I was progressing faster than many other trainee drivers, I realized just how beneficial the game had been for me. I saw that around 30–40% of candidates failed. I told many of them about ETS2 because it genuinely helped me. Reversing and parking a truck with a trailer is largely a matter of practice, and Driving Academy provides an excellent environment for that. After enough repetition, your brain becomes surprisingly comfortable performing similar maneuvers in real life."

It goes to show that Euro Truck Simulator 2 and the Driving Academy can help players to grasp the feeling of driving a truck and make it more comfortable when you sit in the real vehicle, as Arda elaborates on here:

"In the game, I often leaned my view out of the driver's side window while reversing into parking spaces. When I later tried similar maneuvers in real life, I was amazed by how natural they felt. Parking in an L-shape to the right (a 90-degree reverse parking maneuver) is difficult both in the game and in reality. However, through countless hours of practice in Driving Academy, I learned how to approach those situations calmly, how much steering input was appropriate, when a maneuver became risky, and how to reverse into areas with limited visibility. The experience felt remarkably close to real life. Without ETS2, I might not have passed the exam," Arda shared with us.

Even though he completed the truck driving license, there are still more things Arda needs to sort out before he can begin his real-life journey on the route.

"In Türkiye - and perhaps in other countries as well - obtaining a truck driver's license is only the first step. To work professionally as a truck driver, additional certificates, transportation qualifications, and international freight transport documents are required. I have already obtained all of them except one, and I am currently waiting for the final certification process to be completed. After that, I will officially be able to work in freight transportation," he says.

At the end of the blog, Arda has a message to the #BestCommunityEver, which might even motivate some of you who have been thinking about taking up a career as a truck driver to make the next step!

"After experiencing real trucks firsthand, I realized how comfortable they actually are. I wish I could drive a truck every day. The cabin is incredibly comfortable, and the driving position provides a great sense of confidence and safety. Being able to see the road from above other vehicles is a unique and enjoyable feeling. The large windshield offers a wonderful view of both the road and the scenery. Even in ETS2, I would often stop to admire beautiful landscapes and lighting conditions. Experiencing that feeling in real life, however, is something truly special and difficult to put into words."

We would like to thank Arda for sharing this story with our community and us, and wish him safe travels in his future truck driving adventures!

Don't forget to follow us on our X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube, so you won't miss out on upcoming news! We'd also really appreciate it if you could sign up for our newsletter to stay informed, even when you're not able to check out the blog or our socials.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2/

Ubisoft has added a cash shop and weekly challenges to its 'faithful' remake of the 13-year-old Black Flag, because of course it has

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:58:04 +0800

For the most part, the long-awaited and worst-kept secret, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, is very faithful to one of my favourite games from 13 years ago. And anything that's brand-new, like some islands, the ship officers, and an extended story, fits in pretty seamlessly, almost like they were there in the original... Read more.

Total War Warhammer 3's new attempt at fixing its campaign AI woes promises a "more dynamic and interesting" late game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:57:04 +0800

Total War Warhammer 3 update 8.1 is here, with Creative Assembly tackling "armies clustering and idling" among its AI-controlled factions.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Total War Warhammer 3's new attempt at fixing its campaign AI woes promises a "more dynamic and interesting" late game

I'm starting to lose track of Arc Raiders dupes at this point, but Embark says it just fixed another one

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:54:06 +0800

Arc Raiders continues to struggle with dupes dumping items into the economy, with developer Embark now patching what must be a double-digit duplication exploit.

In a fresh post on the official Arc Raiders Discord server, community lead Ossen confirms, "We have just pushed a hotfix on all platforms to mitigate a duplication issue as well as the UI bug in the Expedition screen that showed Skill Points instead of Mystery Rewards for players on their fourth Expedition."

"As we stated before regarding the use of exploits, we will continue issuing bans on accounts that have been gaining significant advantage," Ossen adds.

Dupes have hit Arc Raiders like a rash, with new methods and targets appearing like clockwork. Recently, players have noticed a curious influx of pink-rarity weapons with the exact same attachments, alongside classic money mules like rare, stackable ducks. The latest dupe has been called "even easier" by some players, as it's evidently tied to dropping items with careful timing, making it easy to multiply anything in your loadout.

Arc Raiders doesn't have a global economy or auction house – Embark actually decided against adding something like this after building one in early development – so in practice, duping is often just a minor form of cheating, and it's a lot less frustrating than wall-hacking, lag-switching, RPM-breaking cheaters.

That said, when you run into somebody with endless utility items, consumables, or throwables, dupes can have a very real impact on engagements. And if a dupe spreads quickly enough, the economy for a season can get flooded, with players getting instant access to high-level upgrades and weapons with zero risk pr effort. Even if it doesn't get you unfairly killed, duping can still cheapen the game.

The irony, as players have pointed out, is that drawing attention to a dupe by spreading it will make it a higher priority for Embark and likely hasten a fix, but not without consequences. Especially with the game's population much smaller than it was at launch, it may feel like dupers are more common.

Arc Raiders update brings one of the "most requested matchmaking features" that lets you switch between "friendly questing" in solo "to adrenaline-fueled PvP Trio games" with ease.

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Umamusume Developer Says Metacritic Changed How It Makes Games for the West

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:54:05 +0800

Umamusume: Pretty Derby and Granblue Fantasy might’ve turned into global hits, but according to Cygames President and CEO Koichi Watanabe,

Helldivers 2 targets Super Credit cheaters with "radically improved" tools, but not everyone's on board with Arrowhead's announcement

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:54:05 +0800

Arrowhead Game Studios is cracking down on Helldivers 2 players who use cheats to get rich quick and farm Super Credits illegitimately, but the developer's announcement doesn't have everyone on their side of the galactic war table.

"You've told us that cheaters and exploiters ruin the experience that it feels unfair when someone games the Super Credit system while you're out there earning yours the hard way," the developer writes in a recent transmission posted to the game's Discord channel.

"We heard you, and we're starting to implement changes that will tackle issues like this... Today we're improving our monitoring methods for suspicious Super Credit activity." Now, should a grunt extract with a "substantially higher" number of Super Credits than the highest-earning players ever recorded, Arrowhead has better tools to detect and stop them in their tracks.

"This will not affect legitimate players, only the bad apples cheating the system," the dev assures. "If you're playing the game grinding maps, clearing POIs, looting bunkers you will never experience any change... The steps exist to catch bad actors, not to slow you down."

"Cheaters. Botters. People using automation and duplication exploits to hoover up Super Credits at rates no human Helldiver could ever reach legitimately," are being targeted by the studio's improved detection tools, however. Arrowhead says its new system will "stop them at the source, before they can do damage to the economy you play in."

"This is a win for the community. A healthier economy means the Super Credits you earn through honest service to Super Earth stay worth earning," the message ends off. "You told us the fight wasn't fair. Today marks a big step towards eradicating pesky cheaters."

While Arrowhead isn't wrong for implementing measures against cheaters, some players in the community have taken issue with the company framing its announcement as a "win" for anyone other than Arrowhead, Sony, and both companies' wallets. You see, Helldivers 2 doesn't have a player-affected economy. It's not an MMO. It's not even a competitive shooter, and Super Credits are only used to buy in-game packs that don't expire.

"Nothing but corpo words lmao, it's the economy that they created," one players writes online. "They prefer focusing on banning cheaters instead of giving actual decent ways to get SC."

Another puts it eloquently: "Preventing SC cheating was inevitable, but this really could have and should have been done better. By buffing SC gains on higher difficulties, for example- or literally anything instead of pretending like this is some huge community-driven update when it’s literally the definition of a money driven decision."

Again, it's Arrowhead's right to protect its business interests, of course, but penalizing cheaters without addressing why people use Super Credit exploits in the first place (grinding for Super Credits is torture) has rubbed some folks the wrong way.

Helldivers 2 overhauls Major Orders with Galactic Campaigns, adds a new biome, buffs Exo Suits, and much more in a massive patch

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced peaks at 81k players

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:49:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has peaked at 81,858 concurrent players on 9 July 2026 on release day.
View charts and more statistics on our website.

The New Backyard Baseball is out NOW!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:46:06 +0800

Today we are ready to play like kids -- Backyard Kids! The New Backyard Baseball officially launches today for Steam, and we are so excited for you to play. With enhanced game mechanics, an expansive reward system, new game modes, multiple difficulty levels and remastered stadiums, it's a whole new era for the Backyard. Assemble your squad from the original 30 Backyard kids (+ unlockables, some of which we haven't revealed yet!), set your line up, and get ready to play ball! Join us today and play the first new major release in over 15 years.

We'll be celebrating this afternoon with the community on our livestream @ 4p CT. Please join us! Links below.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced peaks at 72k players

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:41:03 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has peaked at 72,386 concurrent players on 9 July 2026 on release day.
View charts and more statistics on our website.

As Black Flag Resynced's audio evolves, one dev admits some things stay the same: "Edward drowning is me!"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:35:04 +0800

Rousing seafaring anthems are as vital to Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced as they are in the original, but sea shanties do not exist in isolation. Waves crash rhythmically against the hull as birds join the chorus of voices on-deck. Wind snaps the large black sails to and fro, a meditative drum beat as The Jackdaw journeys across Dry Tortuga. It's everything I remember from Black Flag, only better.

"I think that's one of the good things about a remake: that there was a blueprint that we could follow." Sitting down with Ubisoft's Erik-Jon Evangelista, audio director for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, it's clear this is a blueprint he knows intimately. He's been with Ubisoft since 2012, having served as an audio designer for the original Black Flag and 10 others among the best Assassin's Creed games, but Resynced is a very different beast.

"It's an iconic game, so we had to be faithful and familiar, but not necessarily the same. So I tasked my team with three different things – three different pillars: to recreate, elevate, then innovate."

One more, with keeling

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Drink up, me hearties

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review: "Far from smooth sailing, even though I love the original"

The first of those three pillars – recreation – is where it all starts. Presented in the brand new Anvil engine, much of the original sound assets had to be remade for Resynced.

"It really wasn't a cut and paste job, something that we could just port over," Evangelista says. "It was showing its limitations based on the current hardware of that time, so we wanted to make sure that we leveraged and took advantage of [Anvil]" – for example, in creating realistic spatial soundscapes using physics-driven Doppler effects – "while at the same time being faithful to the original. So, one example was with music.

"I'm not going to change Brian Tyler's music – it's iconic, it's familiar," Evangelista says, meaning elevation was off the table here. Rather, Evangelista sought to work around the limitation of some tracks being "short and possibly repetitive, depending on the difficulty level you play at." I'm reminded of the combat stings of Assassin's Creed Unity, how frequently (and sometimes comically) the combat music would stop and start after the most minor scuffle.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) "I wanted to make sure that we modernized it and innovated in a way that was still familiar, and that was to implement a system that had the music react to gameplay animations or stabs, in this case." This responsiveness is clear in game; at the end of my first boss battle, I hear the music growing louder, more urgent, desperate to reach its crescendo as I hurl smoke grenades at Templar Du Casse's feet. When my Hidden Blade hits home, the backing track mirrors that instant relief.

It makes for incredibly cinematic encounters, more immersive than anything I remember hearing and feeling in the original Black Flag. "It was a time before John Wick," Evangelista reflects. "Now, you can't not think of action being tagged to music, so I wanted to be able to try to do something like that because of how dynamic it is. This makes very familiar music have a very different experience per player."

Many unique actions are tagged to specific character actions and movements, including stealthy Hidden Blade takedowns. "If you played without ever doing takedowns, you'll just hear the music as it was, but if you do a lot of takedowns, you may never really hear the music in the same way."

The sound of pirates

(Image credit: Ubisoft) We're usually like quiet ninjas in the background.

Erik-Jon Evangelista

Returning to Black Flag, Evangelista brought more experience to its all-important sea shanties. "My team here was in charge of making the shanties on the long ship for Valhalla," Evangelista says as an example. "I'm definitely leaning on the experiences that I've had previously, and I think part of what we do is being able to make a sonic signature for the game, regardless of whether it's a remake or it's a new game."

Everything from the Spanish songs of the Havanaean NPCs to the more Euro-centric language and subject matter of the sea shanties – and Evangelista's favorite track "at the end of Stede Bonnet's questline" – point to a specific historical context in the 1700s West Indies. But it's the subtle layers of environmental texture that root players in a specific time and place.

"Sound that is tied to gameplay, whether it's by player input or from something that happens in the world that the player can hear, tends to have the highest value," Evangelista says, with the goal being to "create the illusion of you being in a very specific geographical position." Think again of the wind whistling past the Jackdaw as the crew breaks into song, one sound complementing the other to achieve a far more powerful scene-setting effect than either in isolation.

Method and the madness

(Image credit: Ubisoft) But with all the recreation, elevation, and innovation on the table in Resynced, some things stay the same. Like, the sound of Edward drowning.

"Edward's drowning voice is me!" Evangelista exclaims, to mine and our Ubisoft PR's surprise. "We were in charge of the underwater [environments] back then, so all the swimming sounds and everything was done by myself and another audio designer.

"When it came to drowning sounds, I clearly didn't drown, right, but it's more of the fact that we had to make sure that it sounded like I was struggling." For this, Evangelista stuck his head in a barrel of water and choked. "I could only do like three max [gulps] before I had to come up for air and go down again. We used hydrophones to be able to record those, but they needed to be at like a depth of at least like two meters-ish, so that at least you don't hear the bubbles pass by and pop [on the surface]" – which would shatter the illusion of Edward drowning in more than a few inches of water.

"Back then I recorded it as an audio designer, and as audio director now, I'm keeping it!"

(Image credit: Ubisoft) It's subtle sound design choices like these that make a game feel grounded in reality, and if drowning for your art was commitment personified back in 2013, it's almost expected of game developers in 2026.

"I think there's a lot more appreciation for not just music, but how sound also makes people feel in games these days," Evangelista notes. It does feel like every month another touring video game concert is announced, from Death Stranding: Strands of Harmony to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Painted Symphony. How does it feel to see game audio design finally having its moment just as Resynced drops anchor?

"What a time to be in," Evangelista laughs. "I'm used to people not noticing audio. Like, 'no news is good news,' and if they mention it, it means that you've been found out, or you've been noticed. We're usually like quiet ninjas in the background. We teach the player a language that helps them to comprehend gameplay feedback – setting, size, scale. I'm glad we have an audience that appreciates that nowadays."

What's next for the publisher? Here's all the upcoming Ubisoft games we know of right now.

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How to find Blackbeard's Treasure in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:35:03 +0800

Blackbeard's treasure map in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is given to you partway through the game after a story mission called "Do Not Go Gently", but finding where it leads and where you need to dig isn't necessarily the easiest thing. Unlike the other Black Flag Resynced Treasure Maps, this one doesn't have marked coordinates to tell you where to start looking. Instead you need to interpret the scratches and scribbles on the map until you work out where you're supposed to go, and once you're there you need to solve a series of puzzles and challenges until you can find Blackbeard's treasure. I'll lay it out below with a comprehensive walkthrough that shows you how to find Blackbeard's treasure and complete the side quest.

How to solve Blackbeard's Treasure Map in Black Flag Resynced

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Blackbeard's Treasure Map, obtained after the Do Not Go Gently mission in the main story, is directing you to go to Anotto Bay, the Smuggler's Den found at coordinates 590, 245.

We'll go into more detail about what to do once you're below, but keep in mind that you can't find Blackbeard's Treasure until you first obtain the map. If you're earlier in the game and have yet to uncover it, you can enter Anotto Bay, but you can't complete the steps for Blackbeard's Treasure until you actually get the map from him.

How to find Blackbeard's Treasure in Anotto Bay in Black Flag Resynced

Once you reach the Bay, there's still a way to go before you can reach Blackbeard's Treasure. Here's the full series of steps.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Swim to coordinates 591, 249 and dive downwards. You should see an underwater tunnel you can swim into. A jellyfish floats nearby, which serves as a visual marker.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Swim into the tunnel and dodge the shark that lunges at you. Follow it around and up until you finally reach a section you can climb up through into a small cave with a complaining pirate.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Dive back into the water ahead and keep following it around, using the wood beam boosts until you climb up into a cave lair with a smuggler's chest (if you've been to Anotto Bay before, this is where it normally ends).

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

This area is full of enemies. Clear them out, then pick up one of the small red powderkeg barrels in the middle and place it near the collapsed cave on the East wall. Shoot it from a distance to clear the cave-in and allow you to progress.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

This tunnel will lead you to a huge cave full of more enemies, including another complaining pirate. Take them out so you can do the next step.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Get another small powderkeg from the entrance to this larger cave, and place it at the top of the raised path on the right of the waterfall. Shoot it to blow open a new cave.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Enter the new cave to find a chest inside and complete this quest!

What is Blackbeard's Treasure?

(Image credit: Ubisoft) If you want to know if this whole sidequest is worth doing and if Blackbeard's Treasure lives up to the legend... Well, that depends on whether you're in this for the gameplay or the story. Finding the chest leads to a cutscene wherein it's revealed that the "Treasure" is the farming and infrastructure supplies needed to make the Great Inagua hideout self-sustaining, effectively giving them the chance to try again at the free paradise that Nassau failed to be. If you go back to Great Inagua, there's final step to complete the side quest and alter the landscape of the town, though this has no gameplay effect as far as I can see.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Blackbeard does mention that he had other treasure, but no map leads to it. At time of writing it appears as though there's basically no way to get the rest of his loot, and it will remain forever hidden.

Make yourself the best possible pirate with our guide on how to destroy all the Black Flag Resynced Legendary Ships here! Or to make a little more money, find out how to conquer the Black Flag Resynced Naval Convoys as easily as possible!

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced peaks at 58k players

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:31:03 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has peaked at 58,226 concurrent players on 9 July 2026 on release day.
View charts and more statistics on our website.

The Age of Bhaarat aims to be the Black Myth: Wukong moment for triple-A fans in India | exclusive interviews

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:27:03 +0800

India has big national ambitions when it comes to gaming, and the tip of the spear is Tara Gaming, which aims to create the “Black Myth: Wukong of India” by developing a triple-A game called The Age of Bhaarat.

That’s unusual for India, where mobile gaming rules, since Tara Gaming is focused on the PC and consoles. To pull it off, Tara Gaming has assembled a “dream team of gaming” in India, with a staff of more than 160 people. Tara’s founders include filmmaker and actor Amitabh Bachchan, who created over 200 films across five decades; Indian novelist Amish Tripathi, who has sold more than eight million books; and Nouredine Abboud, a former Ubisoft game executive who headed the Ghost Recon franchise.

Their ambition is to build a triple-A game, and in May, the cofounders unveiled the first trailer for The Age of Bhaarat, the brand’s flagship action-adventure game franchise on PC (on Steam and the Epic Games Store) and consoles. Just like Black Myth: Wukong’s setting in mythological ancient China, The Age of Bhaarat is set in an epic reimagining of ancient India. India has its eyes on China’s success in games, and it wants its own Black Myth: Wukong, which celebrated Chinese culture and sold more than 30 million copies.

The game fits well with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious plan, codified in law last year, to make India into a global gaming hub. The aim is also to promote India’s culture on the global stage through gaming.

Market researcher Niko Partners estimates that India surpassed 500 million gamers (out of a total population of nearly 1.5 billion) in 2025. And Indian player spending was forecast to exceed $1 billion in 2025. Also, Mixi Investment Global released a report today that estimates India’s gaming market will reach $2.4 billion in revenue by 2029.

But 95% of gamers in India play on mobile devices. To be successful, The Age of Bhaarat will need to capture the PC and console gamers in India, but it also has to be a hit on the global stage.

Tara Gaming noted that reports suggest that tier two and tier three cities in India will represent the core growth engine of games as they are growing 1.5 times faster than metro markets. Game venture capital firm Bitkraft estimated that India’s gaming and interactive media market will triple to $7.5 billion by 2030.

Coming soon

The Age of Bharat hits alpha in the summer. Source: Tara Gaming Tara Gaming’s executive chairman, Nicolas Granatino, said in an interview with GamesBeat that the alpha test for the Age of Bhaarat will be released at the end of the summer. I also interviewed Abboud and Tripathi.

“It’s based in the epic world of the Ramayana, but you don’t get to play the gods. You’re in their world,” Tripathi said.

Tripathi drew a parallel to the American movie Independence Day and Tom Cruise’s War of the Worlds film. Independence Day is an epic film that depicts an alien invasion of Earth on a huge scale. But the War of the Worlds film focuses on the micro level, where a guy at the border fights for his community, village and family. The Ramayana is an epic Sanskrit series of tales, featuring the hero Rama in the world of Ramayan.

“A traditional epic Ramayana is at that macro level. The gods are fighting. Ours is at that micro level, where you’re a forest warden set up in the world Rama and fighting Rakshasas, the demons who were a part of the main demon’s army,” Tripathi said.

The micro narrative is more emotional and it can be simple enough to appeal to non-Indians, Tripathi said.

“But since world is based on the Ramayana, it is completely Indian as well, so we solve the issue of finding a balance between India and the West,” he said. “Every Indian recognizes the Ramayana‘s shadow.”

A big financial bet

Tara Gaming is making a big financial bet.

Granatino said that a $150 million game in the West might cost only 40% of that in India. And so far, the company hasn’t used a lot of the money that is available to it.

I noted there have been a lot of layoffs in the West at game companies. Tripathi said, “It is the best of times and the worst of times.”

He noted that Grand Theft Auto VI could do wonders for the Western market, boosting the overall reception for games, including The Age of Bhaarat.

“We’re going to raise money, but we are also going to get some non-dilutive money,” said Granatino. “I know the industry is going through this difficult patch. But I also believe people are looking for new content for the market.”

“We are also working with Indian people, so we have a few Indian investors working with us,” Abboud said.

Since the team has had backing for four years, the risks have been reduced. The company will likely seek more funding, but it has made a lot of progress it can show off as it works toward its alpha test. The company hasn’t signed yet with a major publisher or platform holder.

The game details

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YZww_EQiHfg?feature=oembed The game itself is based on Indian mythology.

At its core, the brand’s vision is to empower Indian storytellers and bridge the gap between culturally rooted stories and cutting-edge game development. The newly unveiled trailer teases sweeping landscapes, mythical beasts, powerful warriors, and layered storytelling – all brought together with “cinematic finesse and technical brilliance.”

The game is an action role-playing game (ARPG), with a mix of exploration, combat and progression. You move around a map, fight enemies and unlock content. It’s a single-player story-driven game, with a two-player co-op component.

“It’s like Empire Strikes Back. It’s the moment where the bad guys are controlling the land, and you’re part of what is called the forest warden. Your people who are living in ancient Indian forests, and in the game you are going to rediscover the wisdom of the old of the sage, and you’re going to unlock new powers, new spells, new weapons, thanks to the wisdom of the old sage of your organization, and you will be fighting the demons,” Abboud said. “You will be going up the ledger and fighting against the more and more important bad guys. The game is based on Indian philosophy and karma.”

The Age of Bhaarat. Source: Tara Gaming You can bring Indian martial arts into combat and use Indian weapons.

“You play it alone, but you can invite a friend of yours and play and replay some of the areas of the game,” Abboud said. “With this game, we believe that our goal is to come with a very mainstream action adventure game that is basically making the most of Indian mythology, Indian philosophy, Indian progression, but that is also coming with a co-op element, which gives you the possibility to have also some social element inside the game.”

He said the young people fight back, much like in Star Wars, and there’s a Master Yoda who comes with the wisdom of the Force. For most players in the world, this will be fresh content, and it will be epic, he said. The Indian content could be viewed as exotic.

“It’s a mainstream story. It’s really at the core a human-based story,” he said.

India’s economic moment

The Age of Bhaarat has been in the works for four years already. Source: Tara Gaming Granatino believes the Indian market is untapped so far when it comes to the value of IP in the world. He said the subcontinent also has tremendous talent, where all the big studios from Rockstar to EA have teams working on India for games like Grand Theft Auto, Prince of Persia and more.

It also has 20% of the world’s population, and the population and the economy are still growing, unlike other parts of the world.

In the post-Black-Myth era, Granatino said, “No one wants to miss the next massive opportunity, which is in India.”

The founders believe The Age of Bhaarat is a landmark project that will propel India onto the global gaming map. While India is home to a treasure trove of legendary lore, its expression in global gaming has remained largely untapped. Tara Gaming seeks to change that by merging the country’s creative capital with triple-A game production capabilities, said Abboud.

Abboud noted to be successful in games, you have to plan for multiple generations of games and increase both the quality and the sales over time. Over the next 10 years, Abboud hopes to have strong growth in the market to buoy high-quality games.

Many have compared to the Indian market’s potential to China’s, which has seen stellar rise in the game industry. China’s GDP grew fast to support a middle class that could afford both consoles and PCs. It also had a tradition of PC gaming cafes for those who could not afford home machines.

China has a much larger GDP than India, and it has proven that its games and IP can spread across borders. Abboud points to similar success for Korean movies on Netflix. And now you see popular Korean games in the West like Crimson Desert, Abboud said.

Movement in The Age of Bhaarat. Source: Tara Gaming “You get the best of both worlds because you get the people in the West who didn’t hear the story before and it’s new for them, and you get the people in those countries who are happy because somebody is telling their story,” Abboud said.

Abboud said that a culturally rooted triple-A game has potential for a massive domestic audience hungry for Indian stories, especially as vernacular content and mythological themes dominate Bhaarat’s entertainment preferences. The market is large enough to support a premium title for the first time.

And the leaders noted that mythology‑driven, culturally specific games — if they are built at top-tier production quality. Granatino said The Age of Bhaarat is designed from day one for a global audience.

The company has pointed out that, in addition to Black Myth: Wukong, global hits like The Witcher, Ghost of Tsushima, and Stellar Blade prove that culturally specific narratives can achieve mass‑market global appeal when executed at triple-A quality.

In addition, India has cost advantages in engineering-heavy disciplines. It also has a huge domestic market and a strong base for training the next generation of creators. That makes it a great candidate to be a hub for gaming.

Tripathi said, “Look at our economy. We just crossed our former colonial master, the UK. We are now the fifth largest economy on earth. At the rate we are growing, we’ll cross Germany and Japan within a few years. We are the fastest growing large economy on earth within a few years. Our per capita income is where China’s was around 15 to 20 years ago today.”

Tripathi said that India’s economic reforms began about 15 years after China’s did, and now it has started growing at the same pace, though China had a 15-year head start.

He talked to a Netflix executive, who said that if “the quality is good, it travels, because people like authenticity, that’s why Shogun did so well.”

The background of a dungeon master

Nouredine Abboud is cofounder of Tara Gaming. Source: Tara Gaming Abboud has been making games for more than 20 years, and he has been playing role-playing games since he was 10.

Abboud said his father is Algerian and his mother is Hungarian, and he lives in France with an Australian wife. Yet he was born in the Czech Republic, back when it was part of Czechoslovakia. It’s only natural, then, that he sees an opportunity in a distant country with an increasingly international presence. He looks forward to the day when India’s Steam market share will be bigger than China’s.

Abboud is now a respected video game executive producer. Having honed his skills in digital media in the 1990s, and founded the independent gaming studio Interactive Revolution, he spent 15 years at Ubisoft, working on gaming IPs such as Driver, Brothers In Arms and Ghost Recon Wildlands. He is the CEO of Novaquark, a development studio with offices in Paris and Montreal, and he has worked with game developers around the world.

“I’m still the a dungeon master. I spend a lot of time creating stories, and when you do that, you are very often looking for inspiration, so you can play things inspired by Star Wars, you can do things inspired by Tolkien, and I remember when I was younger, we were playing quite a lot of basically heroic fantasy inspired by India,” Abboud said. “It’s quite rare to have people who make heroic fantasy inspired by Indian mythology, and at the same time it’s reasonably easy to understand.”

“I worked for 15 years at Ubisoft and I even made games in India with people in Pune.”

Abboud left Ubisoft five years ago to become the CEO of Novaquark, which was working on a metaverse dubbed Dual Universe. The metaverse hasn’t done well, and so Dual Universe didn’t really succeed when it came out in 2022. Then the firm contemplated the Indian project. They found a backer who has bankrolled the development for the past four years.

The “Tolkien of India” — Amish Tripathi

Amish Tripathi is India’s fastest-selling novelist. Source: Tara Gaming Abboud said he is excited about the founding team, which includes Amish Tripathi, whom many people consider the Tolkien of India.

“He’s very famous, very popular in India. He has seen on shows, etc. So he wrote a story for us where it’s a story that we fully own. So the story is inspired by the famous books, the famous stories of India,” he said.

He noted India has two classic stories, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. And this story is inspired by those two big stories, but he wrote our own story, so basically the story is happening at the moment in the Indian mythology, where the bad guys, the Rakshasas, name of the demons, have taken control of the land.

“Amish is the most celebrated author in India at the moment, and the reason is he’s celebrated is taking the sacred Indian text to new heights in terms of book success,” Granatino said. “If you look at God of War, it’s actually based on Norse and Greek mythology, but nobody still worships Thor. Nobody worships Zeus.”

He added, “But people worship still some of the characters that our game is inspired from. I told Amish the only way I’m going to do this game is with you and Amitabh. And we’re speaking to all the all the big publishers in gaming. They are at the table with us. What’s really interesting is we’re already having conversation because the world has been built by Amish and the team. People actually already are talking about licensing the IP, which is very rare that you know even before you release the game.”

Tripathi is the fastest-selling author in Indian publishing history, having written 11 books since 2010 that have sold over eight million copies and been translated into 20 languages. Forbes India frequently ranks him among the top 100 most influential celebrities in the country.

In his diplomatic role, he served as Minister (Culture & Education) at the Indian High Commission to the UK and as Director of The Nehru Centre in London.

Tripathi said, “I’m an Indian writer. I’m deep in the Indian traditions, but let me quote Shakespeare. ‘There’s a tide in the affairs of men, which, when taken at its flood, leads on to fame and fortune. And what if at the time that the tide rides, you have a rocking fantastic ship ready just at that right time? That is a happy situation, I think.'”

The right actor

Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan has worked on more than 200 films. Source: Tara Gaming Bachchan is a legendary actor, host, producer, and businessman, he is a cultural icon and has been a prominent voice across generations, representing India on the global stage, said Granatino.

Known for his contributions to the film industry, with a distinguished career spanning more than five decades and over 200 films, he now is moving into gaming with The Age of Bhaarat, bringing his own cultural insights.

Sharing his enthusiasm about joining Tara Gaming as cofounder, Bachchan said in a statement, “Joining Tara Gaming is an extension of my lifelong commitment to storytelling. When I heard Amish’s and Nouredine’s vision, I was instantly drawn to the potential of creating something truly monumental. India has always been a land of powerful stories, and through this game, we have an opportunity to share our epics, creativity, and imagination with the world. Gaming is where stories come alive for the next generation, and I’m excited to help shape that experience at Tara Gaming with a uniquely Indian lens.”

India has a vast talent pool, a lot of deep narratives built around Indian mythology, set in the world of the Ramayana, Abboud said.

An ambitious plan

The Age of Bhaarat does not have a ship date yet. Source: Tara Gaming Abboud is still CEO of Novaquark and he has a creative and production role at Tara Gaming. He has been a longtime heroic fantasy fan for the past 40 years.

“When we were working on concepts, this concept we had about India generated traction on the creative side,” Abboud said. “It was also appealing on the business side. We have created a company registered in London, Tara Gaming, that owns the assets. Novaquark is assisting as a partner with production.”

The team has 160 people. They started work two years ago, with teams in Paris, Montreal and Pune, India. There are also team members in Mumbai and Bengaluru. By the end of the year, the team could hit 200 people. Now it’s not so hard to find game makers with 10 or 20 years of experience.

“Nobody has done yet what we are trying to do, which is to make an international heroic fantasy game about India, and I think that’s an opportunity to create a new franchise,” Abboud said.

The team is using the Unreal Engine 5 and it is expected to ship the game on the PC, Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5. The challenge is that India is mostly a mobile gaming market, as many in the country are still poor and it’s a mobile-first culture. But the hardware makers have high hopes for accelerating the shipment of PCs and consoles in India.

“Our goal is to release a game that is going to be successful in India, and we think we can sell a few million copies in India, and succeed on the global level as well,” he said. “We hope we will soon have high penetration of those platforms in India.”

“We are not only targeting India because nobody has done what we are doing, which is Indian heroic fantasy. We believe that our game can be also very successful in the West, where there is a very strong Indian diaspora,” Abboud said. “And we are not closing the door to partnerships. We might have partnerships on mobile in India.”

India’s gaming moment

The Age of Bhaarat is an action RPG. Source: Tara Gaming I asked Granatino what made him confident that India’s gaming market is ready for this moment.

“We saw an early hint when we came to India with Nouredine,” he said.

It was a lot like when Tencent’s executives sat down with the leaders at Game Science, which made Black Myth: Wukong. They predicted the market would move to PC and console games, after starting in mobile, Granatino said.

“The gaming community was massive in China, and the purchasing power of the Chinese was there a decade ago,” he said. “That’s when those people made that bet.”

Granatino said the game will be more affordable affordable than the Chinese game, and yet it will be a triple-A title. India also has cost-effect talent and it is making use of AI, positioning the country as a significant player in the future of global gaming.

The Indian team could make use of AI, and that is something that goes over better in places like India than it does in the West, where both game players and game developers are resisting AI because of a concern that it will kill jobs. But Indian devs are clear that AI can provide tools that improve efficiency for game makers, Granatino said.

Fun versus addiction

The Age of Bhaarat has an original story from Amish Tripathi. Source: Tara Gaming India banned Chinese games as part of a political fight between the governments. At a recent conference that Tripathi attended, Modi said that the government is extremely enthusiastic about the potential of gaming and its influence on youth. He said that India needed a triple-A game of its own because gaming is the new El Dorado.

“Right now, we’re the only ones with a proper triple-A game,” he said. “What we are doing is the first triple year game that India has ever seen. Our ship couldn’t be better, and we are the only ones who are ready at this stage. Most others are just talking.”

Tripathi noted that writing a story that appeals to both Indians and non-Indians is critical, and he noted his books sell to both audiences.

“This is our culture, but it is easy enough for most Westerners to get it, right down to the levels of the names we pick,” Tripathi said.

It’s a lot like Western games like Tomb Raider, where Lara Croft often goes on adventures and treasure hunts in places like India.

The founders believe that it’s India’s turn for games, and it could be India’s turn to finance games, just as the Saudis, the Chinese and other countries that came before it.

Now that the Indian government has banned gambling and the adjacent $5 billion industry, the capital has to go somewhere, and Tripathi wants it to go into a “clean industry” like gaming, which is good for the society in the long term. The Mixi Investment Global report noted that the 2025’s gambling ban has set the non-gambling gaming sector for “spectacular growth.”

“We’re not doing any gaming. The government is shutting down the addictions which are bad long-term for the society, but it ends up being good for clean companies like us,” Granatino said.

The post The Age of Bhaarat aims to be the Black Myth: Wukong moment for triple-A fans in India | exclusive interviews appeared first on GamesBeat.

Blizzard is already patching Diablo 4 Season 14 after players proved Mythics got screwed up, update coming next week will address complaints

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:27:03 +0800

It's supposed to be difficult to get a mythic drop in Diablo 4, but the latest season, Death Awakening, accidentally made it practically impossible. The Iconic Mythics are a unique treasure for experienced players, but after anecdotal research showed the drop rates are ludicrously low, Blizzard's doing some fine-tuning.

A patch is on the way that's going to respond to criticisms over season 14, according to information from the Diablo Partner Program. Specific details aren't given, but we can guess the update will fix a few known problems, such as all Mythic Uniques coming with the Crafted tag when gotten through the Horadic Cube, and the aforementioned chance of getting certain items in battle.

The latter's been tested specifically by Diablo YouTuber Wudijo, who spent hours grinding for an Iconic Mythic only to come away empty-handed after 20 hours. Seriously, he played for that long and didn't get a single one, suggesting the RNG here is off-kilter.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Nuu7aOAw0is Annoying as is, because you want proper prizes for taking on the wretched hellspawn of Diablo 4's depths, this creates limitations for particular builds because certain staple pieces of equipment are now nigh unobtainable. It seems like a classic case of tuning the drop rate just a little too strongly for its own good, but we'll see what emerges in the patch notes.

This update is expected to roll out within the next week or so, making it around the middle of July. However, it's worth noting that Blizzard's parent company, Microsoft, has been making substantial changes across all its studios of late, including laying off hundreds of staff.

Expect release schedules to be at least a little up in the air for the time being. An internal memo suggested how this all impacts Blizzard would be revealed later, but don't be surprised if things take longer than usual at present.

Blizzard says fine, it'll "split the difference" with Diablo 4 players outraged over Mythics, keeps core changes intact to ensure the ARPG's "long-term health"

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Black Flag's combat may have been a total cakewalk, but at least it had its novelty

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:07:04 +0800

Black Flag Resynced has finally launched, and with it, a reprisal of the eternal debate surrounding the different stripes of Assassin's Creed combat. As Morgan notes in our review, Resynced ultimately "loses more than it gains" thanks to its wide-ranging changes masquerading as quality of life, and I'm inclined to agree... Read more.

Opening War Thunder’s Official Discord Server!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:05:04 +0800

Today we are pleased to announce that we have opened the Official War Thunder Discord server! The War Thunder Discord server is the ideal place for you to get the most up to date game news, talk to other community members and make new friends playing War Thunder.

JOIN HERE!

A Community For All

The Official War Thunder Discord server is run by the community team, who will regularly chat with everyone, and share insights or other information that may be interesting. War Thunder developers will occasionally pop in and make themselves be known as well. You can chat with everyone in the General chat channel, allowing you to talk to other community members and staff members directly.

A Relaxed Environment

We want the Official War Thunder Discord Server to be a relaxed environment. Share your experiences, whether that be positive feedback or constructive criticism.

Talk To Others, Make Friends

We’ve designed the server in way so that you can meet new people and get a squad going. Head over to the Find Players and Find A Squadron chat channels, let yourself be known and meet others!

More To Come

The server is new and may not be perfect yet, but over time we’ll be adding new channels and improving it where needed. Let us know what you’d like to see, and we’ll try and make it happen!

AC Black Flag Resynced out now!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:04:04 +0800

Ahoy pirates!
Land is finally in sight as Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced looms on the horizon. With launch today on Steam and Steam Deck, we wanted to make sure you have every detail you could possibly need to get prepped to start the game. We’ll be covering release information, content, specs, tech, and more so read for everything you need to know!

Launch is here, with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced releasing today on Steam and Steam Deck. In case you’ve been stranded on a desert island the last few months, Black Flag Resynced is a ground-up remake of the iconic adventure of Edward Kenway, Assassin-Pirate extraordinaire. Enhanced, improved, and reworked as a modern experience while staying true to the beloved original, you’ll return to the Caribbean to experience Edward’s rise from peasant to privateer to pirate to Assassin and every twist and turn along the way.

Editions

There are multiple editions available to suit your budget and provide you with extra content, check them out:

Standard Edition (59.99 €/$)
- Digital copy of the game.
Deluxe Edition (69.99 €/$)
- Digital copy of the game.
- Digital download: Master Assassin Character pack – sword, pistol, and trinket each with a unique perk, and costume for Edward.
- Digital download: Master Assassin Naval pack – sail set, ship's pet, crew attire, wheel, figurehead, and hull trim.

PC Features

Fully playable offline after installation
Built on an optimized and scalable engine
Supports:
- Upscaling technologies
- Frame generation
- Software ray tracing for non-RT hardware
Includes graphics presets for handheld devices

PC Specs

Steam Features

Steam Deck Verified from day one for a smooth handheld experience
Steam achievements to unlock
Steam collectibles to earn and trade

For even more detailed descriptions, footage, and a deeper look at everything that’s waiting for you in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, check out our deep dives into parkour, stealth, combat, one on naval gameplay, and a third on some of the new and updated features coming to Resynced. Buy the game now on Steam and enjoy the Caribbean like never before!. See you aboard the Jackdaw, pirates!

The Final 4 Are Here!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:03:03 +0800

Who's making it to the Grand Final?

Community Survey - Matchmaking, Ranked & Games Modes

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:03:03 +0800

Hey everyone!

We've made a Google Form to learn more about your preferences and opinions regarding Rematch's matchmaking, ranked play, and game modes.

We'd really appreciate it if you could fill it out and let us know your thoughts to improve the game in these aspects.

https://forms.gle/2TSGCPnFBpfWdyJh9

You have until July 13th to share your feedback with us through this form.

Thanks!

AC Black Flag Resynced já disponível!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:03:03 +0800

Olá, piratas!
Terra à vista! Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced já está no horizonte. Com o lançamento de hoje para Steam e Steam Deck, queremos que você tenha todos os detalhes necessários para se preparar para o jogo. Falaremos das informações de lançamento, conteúdos, especificações, tecnologia e mais. Leia tudo o que você precisa saber!

O lançamento chegou. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced está sendo lançado hoje para Steam e Steam Deck. Caso você tenha passado os últimos meses numa ilha deserta, Black Flag Resynced é um remake totalmente do zero da aventura emblemática de Edward Kenway, exímio Assassino e pirata. Aprimorado, melhorado e reformulado como uma experiência moderna, mas permanecendo fiel ao amado original, você retornará ao Caribe para vivenciar a ascensão de Edward de camponês para corsário, Assassino e pirata, e todas as reviravoltas no caminho.

Edições

Há várias edições disponíveis para caber no seu bolso e oferecer conteúdo extra. Confira:

Edição Standard (R$ 299,99)
- Cópia digital do jogo.
Edição Deluxe (R$ 349,99)
- Cópia digital do jogo.
- Download digital: pacote de Personagem Mestre Assassino, com espada, pistola e berloque, cada um com uma vantagem exclusiva e vestimenta de Edward.
- Download digital: Pacote Naval Mestre Assassino – Conjunto de velas, mascote do navio, traje da tripulação, timão, acrostólio e acabamento de casco.

Recursos de PC

Totalmente jogável offline após a instalação
Desenvolvido em uma engine otimizada e escalável
Compatível com:
- Tecnologias de upscaling
- Geração de quadros
- Traçado de raios por software para hardware sem traçado de raios nativo
Inclui predefinições gráficas para dispositivos portáteis

Especificações para PC

Recursos do Steam

Verificado para Steam Deck desde o primeiro dia para uma experiência fluida em dispositivos portáteis
Conquistas do Steam para desbloquear
Colecionáveis do Steam para ganhar e negociar

Para descrições ainda mais detalhadas, vídeos e um olhar mais detalhado sobre tudo o que espera por você em Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, confira nossas análises detalhadas sobre parkour, furtividade, combate, uma focada na jogabilidade naval e uma terceira sobre alguns dos recursos novos e atualizados que chegam a Resynced. Compre o jogo agora mesmo no Steam e curta o Caribe como nunca se viu! Nos vemos a bordo do Gralha, piratas!

Zeverland Is a Zombie-Survival Game That Looks Like Funko Pops but Has a Serious Dark Side | IGN Preview

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:57:03 +0800

We spent some hands-on time with upcoming survival adventure shooter Zeverland, which seems to be equal parts hardcore crafting/collecting and silly zombie-themed romp. In fact, the developers just told us that they will be pivoting away from a free-to-play MMO model and Zeverland will instead be a buy-to-play PvE survival crafting game. The team told us, “It will offer both a solo experience and co-op on private servers, so players can build and survive on their own or together with friends.”

During Zeverland’s second playtest, we got a glimpse at the early game quests, the path to starting our own settlement, and dipped our toes into the deadly city raids, attempting to find valuable plunder while risking transformative zombie infection. I think I would need more time to know how this stacks up to modern contemporaries in the genre, but I had a good time chopping and shooting my way to relative stability.

The most dramatic difference Zeverland has from peers in this sub genre is how it looks. Humans (and creatures who are no longer human) have exaggerated extremities and a big old noggin. Not quite chibi-style, more like a Funko Pop figure with a more proportional body.

It had to grow on me. Out the gate I was turned off by stalking through forests and fog zones looking like a dirty Bratz doll. I’ll be honest, it had to grow on me. Out the gate I was turned off by stalking through forests and fog zones looking like a dirty Bratz doll. But there is something evocative about the big expressive faces. This style is one of a few things that clash with the tone of the main story - it looks silly and almost playful but nothing about the narrative is at all - but it’s not the distraction it was several hours ago when I first logged on. I feel like every NPC I met was living in The Walking Dead, while every zombie I met, many of which were dressed in funny ways or just generally silly, was straight out of Zombieland. So much of what you can do in this game is just slapstick funny too, like shoving a partner in a shopping cart and ramming them into enemies, attaching a zombie head to a stick to make an impromptu weapon, or just throwing poop at people.

Anyone who has played a zombie survival game should be pretty familiar with what Zeverland is expecting from you, which doesn't really break with that well-established structure much out of the gate. Just about everything that isn’t the ground is searchable, breakable, and collectable and can be used on its own for an effect, or as part of a recipe to create something greater. Crafting in Zeverland is largely standard fare, but there are a few quirks that I found pretty interesting, like being able to make smaller adornments that can add bonuses to anything you can equip. You can also remove them, so if you like the patch you added to a shirt to raise defense but found a better shirt, you can move the adornment to the new gear. All items deteriorate, but you can repair them all without having to use a workbench so long as you have the materials.

When it comes to searching crates, trash cans, cabinets, etc, Zeverland resembles 7 Days to Die to me. The thing you’re searching in is a good indicator of what you can expect in it (a refrigerator having food in it, for instance) but there’s always a chance of something random or out of place being in there as well, like ammo. That usually means just searching everything because you never know what might be in a box – even if the box clearly labels what might be in it. But search when you're in a safe place, because rummaging takes time and you don’t want to be exposed while sorting through knicknacks.

Scavenging for stuff, and just about every other action you take in this dilapidated wilderness, accumulates experience points. Like Elder Scrolls games, that means the more you do something, the better you get at it. These experience points increase your level in a particular skill, and grant some skill points to spend on them to improve specific aspects of it. There's two different groups of skills your XP funnel into: life skills and combat skills. Life skills are your crafting and survival features and combat focuses on your weapons. The skill trees for all of these individual skills are relatively deep for a game like this, and I felt like skill points were coming to me at a regular clip, so if I was more focused on simply leveling up, I could have probably gotten pretty far down said trees fairly easily. But I appreciated that I didn’t have to grind to feel like I was getting reasonably better.

Investing in these skills are the backbone of your progress, even if it doesn't seem all that important out the gate. The life skills you can buy with points seemed pretty straightforward. The first aid branch gives you options like recipes to craft better healing items or bonuses to the healing effects of those you have already, and you’ll really appreciate the difference when you're stuck in a building full of zombies with only a few seconds to patch yourself up before moving to the next deadly room. This goes doubly for weapon skills, which felt pretty overpowered once I started stacking some of their abilities. Increasing the duration and damage of the bleed condition that comes from bladed weapons was a particularly strong move that helped me really decimate enemies efficiently.

Weapons were in abundance, not only because it seemed like most zeds had one on them, but also because with some glue or duct tape, just about anything can be combined with some wood or a stick to create some sort of improvised implement of death. I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to do with a GPU I found in a box until I realized I could attach it to a broom and make an impromptu axe. This kind of creativity was fun and played back into the kind of overall layer of light-hearted silliness that envelopes Zeverland.

My frankenweapon was rendered pretty obsolete quickly, though, as I found some guns pretty early on - something that usually takes hours to find and craft in other survival games - just on a zombie randomly waving it around like, well, a zombie with a gun. And these weapons were strong, but it never felt like I was so strong that I was never in danger. Zombies of all sizes hit respectably strong, and getting into melee tussles with any of them always felt like a risk. Add two or three at a time, and things could get very dicey very quickly. Only on a handful of occasions was I ever in real danger, but I appreciated Zeverland forcing me to respect the lethality of these creatures, even if they had silly cardboard boxes on their heads.

I admit a big part of why I didn’t see the respawn screen as often as I should have was because of the recruitable NPC companions you can encounter. I found one early, a nurse named Sandra, who guided me through the early quests in order to get to the town where my shelter was built. She never left my side, and played two key roles for me when it was time to rumble with the undead. Firstly, as soon as a zombie swung at me, she would spring into action to attack it, sometimes even diverting its attention altogether so that I was free to shoot from a distance. Secondly, if I went down, she could revive me before the timer ran out so long as she wasn’t also down. The downside to companions is that you need to keep them kitted up with supplies, because they suffer from the same things you will without them, though you can also direct them to stay in your shelter to craft stuff and maintain things while you're away.

Instead of dying outright, I was presented with an interesting option: respawn as normal, or become a Zed myself. Thirst and especially hunger were constant adversaries for me early on. It was very difficult to find enough food for two people in the town that became the host of my starter settlement, and after exhausting all of the berry bushes in the nearby woodlands, I wouldn't find any real sustenance until we ventured out into harm's way, eventually raiding old grocery stores for raw veggies and cans of whatever we can find. Planting farms is a long-term possibility for a sustainable food source, but I didn't have the time to invest in the limited playtest to see a burgeoning carrot patch grow to a size of any real value. Going hungry can be dangerous, as you won't passively heal anymore, and when you're truly starving, you’ll actually start to lose health. It took me an unfortunately long time to get a reasonable amount of food - and to invest in enough recipes to turn that food into a reliable hunger-killer - before I could move on to the big goal in front of me: driving into the danger zone.

Zeverland’s map is spotted with the remains of smaller towns, along with a couple of bigger urban areas boasting a higher density of abandoned stuff to find and zombies to “guard” it. But uniquely, a deadly reddish fog covers big swaths of the map, including a tower I needed to get to to call for survivors. In this fog are stronger versions of the more normal zeds, and gnarlier mutants who barely qualify as being called a zombie at all. You need a special mask with limited filtering capacity to navigate these sections without being poisoned to death, so every excursion is on the clock.

The hardest part of getting to the foggy city in my playtest run was finding enough gas to get there by vehicle. It took a very long time for me to even find enough fuel to get started, let alone enough to get all the way to the destination. And for me, a vehicle seems necessary, as I couldn't imagine travelling through the fog zones on foot with the increased amount of violent zeds lurking behind every bush and building.

Fighting my way through the fog and into the tower was easier than attempting to escape the zone, as my respirator ran out and it was now a race to see if I could speed a hijacked fire truck to safety before I succumbed to the fog. I didn’t, but instead of dying outright, I was presented with an interesting option: respawn as normal, or become a Zed myself. I resisted the urge to mutate into a monster, as I was determined to see this quest through before the playtest ended, but the dangling carrot of becoming the enemy really stuck with me long after the playtest ended. From what I’ve gathered about the experience, you actually can grow and mutate based on other creatures you consume, be they animals, other zeds, or even other players. It’s unclear how long you can go on this way - could I hypothetically just abandon all the stuff I’ve built and be a zed forever?

That joins a lot of other lingering questions I still have for Zeverland as a whole, like what kind of unique challenges will higher level encounters bring, what kind of gameplay does co-op add outside of doing the same things but with friends, and what exactly am I supposed to do with all this poop I keep accumulating? Outside of these mysteries, Zeverland is tedious in the same ways lots of zombie survival games can be, but it's fun and creative in ways a lot its peers aren’t. Will this be enough to pull you away from your current favorite survival obsession?

Jarrett Green is a longtime contributor to IGN. Say hello on X @Jarrettjawn.

Former Dragon Age Lead Writer Says BioWare's Fantasy Series is Unlikely to Ever Return Under EA — Though He Knows What He'd Do With Dragon Age 5 if He Made It

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:57:03 +0800

Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider doesn't think BioWare's fantasy series will return while owned by publisher EA — though knows what he'd do if a fifth game was ever made.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard launched to mixed reviews in late 2024 following a long and rocky development. The resulting fallout saw BioWare downsized and its remaining staff tasked with pre-production on the next Mass Effect, while much of the leadership behind The Veilguard were moved elsewhere within EA, or shown the door.

With BioWare's sole remit now Mass Effect, the chances of another Dragon Age seem slim — with no chance at all before Mass Effect 5 arrives. (BioWare has made no mention of when that will happen, though IGN understands it is likely still a couple years away.) Still, what would Gaider do if the franchise somehow did return, and he got another crack at it?

"I do like a challenge," Gaider told PC Gamer. "So if, out of some weird alignment of the stars, somebody handed the Dragon Age franchise back to me and said, 'Breathe the life back into this baby', that'd be a tough one, but I think that'd be an interesting thing to do.

A 20-year BioWare veteran, Gaider was lead writer on the first three Dragon Age games, departing before the final version of what would become Dragon Age: The Veilguard went into full production. His career has also seen him write for Neverwinter Nights, several Baldur's Gate 2 expansions, and the ill-fated Anthem.

"[I'd] go back to the basics of what made Dragon Age appeal to so many people in the first place," Gaider continued. "And go somewhere dark and dangerous, and do things that will make people upset. I think that's what I would want to do with it."

That would certainly differentiate the project from The Veilguard, which faced criticism for its writing, and several characters in particular who drew ire for their overly youthful portrayals and on-the-nose storylines. But the game had its better moments — the few appearances of Solas were always interesting, while its Mass Effect-inspired final sequence acted as a worthwhile capstone on the franchise's story to date.

Whatever happens with Dragon Age next, the series has effectively concluded the major plotpoints left hanging from the franchise so far, and there's a sense it won't return until after a long rest. Indeed, The Veilguard senior writer Sheryl Chee, who was moved from BioWare to work on Iron Man at Motive, said last year that "DA isn't dead because it's yours now" — living on simply via fan fiction and artwork.

Could Dragon Age return? "From Electronic Arts? Unlikely," Gaider concluded. "Throughout the entire time I was there, we were always one breath away from the project being shelved. The thing that happened is that we kept releasing games, and it would sell much better than they thought it should, and it kept surprising them."

Alas, with The Veilguard, that was not the case. EA has only stated that the game reached 1.5 million players during its first three months on sale, half of the publisher's expectations. By comparison, Dragon Age: Inquisition was BioWare's best-selling game ever, shifting 12 million units.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Cloudbreaker has a demo that will hook you with an inventory management bullet heaven mixture

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:52:04 +0800

Cloudbreaker is a recent fixation of mine for blending together the popularised bullet heaven elements from Vampire Survivors with inventory management.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/cloudbreaker-has-a-demo-that-will-hook-you-with-an-inventory-management-bullet-heaven-mixture/

Pokémon Winds & Waves Jynx Evolution Unites Gamers

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:30:06 +0800

There's no question that Jynx has occupied a strange place in the Pokémon franchise for decades. Despite being part of the original 151 and remaining a fan-favorite after all this time, the Ice and Psychic-type has never received the kind of attention many of its Gen 1 counterparts have, even after countless calls among the fanbase.

Bluey: Let’s Play hits 75M downloads and launches big update

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:28:06 +0800

Budge Studios, in partnership with BBC Studios and Ludo Studio, announced Bluey: Let’s Play has hit 75 million downloads to date.

And now Budge Studios is launching its biggest update ever for the massively popular mobile game.

Going live today, this update arrives as the title officially surpasses an incredible milestone worldwide, further solidifying its place as a flagship success within the Budge portfolio.

Since its launch, Bluey: Let’s Play has captured the hearts of millions of families by bringing the world of the beloved TV series to life. These exciting new features offer kiddos and grownups fresh ways to play and tell stories together.

A new dress up mode

The anticipated Dress Up Mode is a brand-new feature that introduces a new element to the play and storytelling within the game.

Your style, any room: Players can now fully customize and decorate their favorite characters with hats, outfits, and accessories from the series using a simple swipe-to-style mechanic.
Seamless storytelling: Once a unique look is saved, characters can wear their custom outfits throughout the game.

In addition to Dress Up mode, two more interactive activities packed with the show’s signature humor will also be available:

Play hairdresser with Dad: Give dad a complete makeover! Players can shampoo, curl, braid, or blow-dry his hair, apply hair chalk, and use unique tools like eggbeaters and water balloons.
Become the grill master at the BBQ: Fire up the backyard grill to chop, combine, and cook delicious skewers, burgers, and veggies. Mix ingredients to unlock secret recipes and feed the characters to see their hilarious reactions.

“Hitting 75 million downloads is a spectacular milestone for us, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible collaboration of our partners at BBC Studios and Ludo Studio,” said Michael Elman, co-CEO of Budge Studios, in a statement. “To thank our amazing community, we wanted to deliver our biggest update yet. The new Dress Up mode truly unlocks boundless imagination, allowing kids to bring their own personal touch to Bluey’s world and change the way they tell stories in the game.”

The “biggest update ever” for Bluey: Let’s Play will be available as a free download with in-app subscription options on the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore.

The post Bluey: Let’s Play hits 75M downloads and launches big update appeared first on GamesBeat.

Raw Fury Announces Hillthorn, a Dark Investigation Game for PC

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:28:05 +0800

Swedish indie publisher Raw Fury and developer Fool Moon have announced Hillthorn, a “hauntingly dark card-based investigation game that invites you to uncover a mystery without a single word spoken, using your skills of logic and intuition.”

Hillthorn joins Raw Fury’s growing line up of eerie mystery games, including Blue Prince and The Seance of Blake Manor.

According to a press release, the story goes that “Only the foolish and the desperate attempt to wander the maze-like trails of Hillthorn. But a child has gone missing, time is in short supply, and you’re tasked with unravelling the mountain’s secrets. Welcome to Hillthorn, an investigation game unlike any other, where the mystery unfolds without a word spoken.”

The press release lists the key features of Hillthorn as:

A World in Cards – Every eerie and unsettling detail of Hillthorn’s story is revealed entirely through Clue cards, which can be Investigated, Explored or in some instances communicated with, in your search to get closer to the truth behind the disappearance.
You Are an Outsider – You’ve been tasked to find a missing person, though it’ll take some finesse to draw information from the locals, who seem reluctant to share details with someone outside their Flock.
Time is in Short Supply – The clock is ticking. There are too many threads to follow and too little time. Something seems keen on letting you revisit untrodden paths, but at what cost?

Players can wishlist the game on Steam today. More details about Hillthorn will be revealed soon.

The post Raw Fury Announces Hillthorn, a Dark Investigation Game for PC appeared first on GamesBeat.

Where to find and scan Subnautica 2 Sandspears

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:26:04 +0800

You'll need a keen eye looking for Subnautica 2 Sandspears. These powerful creatures might be large and deadly, dealing significant damage with just one bite, but they also hide themselves underground until you get too close to avoid them.

Unfortunately, you need to get close enough to Bioscan one of these killer fish if you want to unlock all the Subnautica 2 biomods, so here's where you can find them, and how to scan a Sandspear without dying.

Where to find Subnautica 2 Sandspears

(Image credit: Unknown Worlds) You can find Subnautica 2 Sandspears in the area around your lifepod and around the Observatory. However, they bury themselves almost completely under sand, so look for a blue antenna sticking out of the ground, surrounded by sharp teeth, as seen in the image above.

Get too close to this ominous indicator, and a Sandspear will instantly pop out of the ground and sink its teeth into you, dealing serious damage - so you might want to make sure you have some medkits on you when seeking them out.

Here are some good locations to look for Sandspears in Subnautica 2:

Swim 65m from the lifepod at 250° SW, then to a depth of 25m
Swim 110m from the lifepod at 60° NE, then to a depth of 30m
Swim 140m from the lifepod at 90° E, then to a depth of 20m

Generally speaking, you can find these fish by swimming along the surface of the ocean, both in the area around your lifepod and near the Observatory - there are no Sandspears in the Alien Ruins area of the map.

You'll then need to scan the monster in order to unlock two new Biomods, so read on to find out how to get close enough to do so.

How to Bioscan Subnautica 2 Sandspears

(Image credit: Unknown Worlds) To scan Subnautica 2 Sandspears, get close enough to hit one with your Feedback or Sonic Resonator, which should force it out from underground. The Sandspear will then become passive for a while before reburying itself, during which time you can use your scanner.

If you get too close and the creature attacks, it will also become passive before it hides again, so you can also use this time to scan the Sandspear. Clearly, since it only attacks when you get too close, it's just a bit defensive.

The most important thing to note if you're trying to unlock the associated Biomod is that you need to scan the Sandspear with a Subnautica 2 Bioscanner - not just a regular scanner.

If you're looking for some other fish to scan, check out our list of all the Subnautica 2 leviathans, but be careful getting close to them.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Stellaris 4.4.6 hotfix released (fdde)

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:09:03 +0800

by Eladrin

We've just deployed a hotfix that resolves an issue introduced in 4.4.5 where Science Ships using automation would get lost forever when exploring Astral Rifts. It should now be available on Steam, GOG, and MS Store.

4.4.6 ‘Pegasus’ Hotfix Release Notes

Bugfix

Fixed science ships being lost permanently when set to automatically explore Astral Rifts. Previously an automated science ship would vanish upon reaching a rift and never return, leaving its scientist stranded and cluttering the Outliner with ships stuck Missing In Action.
Automated ships no longer switch off automation and abandon their current task (constructing a station or megastructure, researching an anomaly or special project, exploring an Astral Rift, or carrying out a special order) when avoiding hostile fleets.

Here are the 4.4.5 release notes from Tuesday:

4.4.5 ‘Pegasus’ Patch Release Notes

Feature

Added a Resource Abundance slider in galaxy settings.
This slider ranges from “Scarce” to x5 in 0.25 increments, where x1 is approximately the resource abundance of v4.3 and x5 is essentially 4.4’s “resources everywhere”.
- The default is x2. We do recognize that this is a little confusing, but it gives you more control of getting it where you want.
Added Waystation Voidlure modules
Added Arkship Voidlure Array module that allows you to right-click on a system to lure space fauna.
Fleet automation menus now offer per-action options.
Nomad Arkships and Logistic Ships can fine-tune Harvest, Strip Mine, and Deep Scan automation, including whether to Harvest unsurveyed, depositless, waystation, friendly, or hostile-owned worlds, and whether to rescan when Deep Scanning.
- Fleet automation settings can be saved as the default for a ship type and applied to all ships of that type at once, and each fleet remembers the settings it was last given.
- Construction Automation now has options for Mining Stations, Research Stations, Observation Posts and Special Projects.
- Added the Explore automation order to Arkships. Note: Arkships with the Explore order will attempt to navigate to Points of Interest if possible.

Improvement

Space Fauna now disable waystations instead of destroying them. They will be re-enabled once the fauna leaves or is destroyed.
Added a fallback event for the CFL if the tournament goes on for more than 3 years, this will ensure that you don't end up with fleets that can never repair
Details map mode now toggles between 3 states: Normal -> Detailed -> Hidden -> Normal.
Clarified the map mode tooltips.
Logistic Ship automation now defaults to on for Harvest Resources and off for Waystation collection.
The game will now recalculate species rights on loading a save game.
Upgrading fleet will reissue upgrade order if one got interrupted because of the mobile starbase jumping away to another system.
Hive Mind Forever Cruise empires with machine passengers can research machine assembly technologies to upgrade their passengers
Regular Forever Cruise empires with machine passengers start with the Robot Assembly Plants building
Completed Archaeological Sites and Astral Rifts will now be hidden in a non detailed galaxy map mode.
Added new event options to the Forever Cruise situation stage events, allowing players to accept temporary economic penalties to affect the situation's direction.

Balance

Operational Reserves Changes:
Operational Reserves now track Energy and Minerals 1:1 (previously 3:1).
- Maximum Operational Reserves now scale with the number and tier of owned Arkships (base 15,000, plus 5,000 / 7,500 / 10,000 per Tier I / II / III Arkship) instead of a fixed cap.
- Civilian Arkships grant an additional 2,500 Operational Reserve capacity per Tier.
- Resource Silos, Fallen Empire Resource Silos, Arkship Resource Silos, and Waystation Logistics Silos now raise a Nomadic empire's maximum Operational Reserves.
- Added a Critical stage to the Operational Reserves track with severe research, Unity, and Alloy penalties; the Festival, Conserve, and Burn approaches now gate on reserve stage rather than fixed thresholds.
- The Critical Operational Reserves stage now also penalizes the populations the reserves sustain: Lithoid pops lose Happiness, pop growth, and Job Efficiency, and Mechanical and Machine pops lose Job Efficiency.
Wanderlust now gives some of its bonuses immediately, and the second half after completing 4 categories, not all of them. Category bonuses and progression remain unchanged.
Rewards from the Arkship Readiness Checklist now last 20 years.
Rebalanced the Ranger Paladin trait.
Reduced the opinion penalties empires hold against Nomadic Empires for strip-mining, reprocessing planets, and Exodus Jumps, and made these penalties decay more quickly.
Nomadic Primal Calling now starts with a Voidlure Array equipped on the Arkship
Removed the nomadic tradition swap for Domestication tradition finisher
Rebalanced the Passenger Satisfaction situation for Forever Cruise to allow staying in the middle stage longer
The Champion's forge now waits 20 years before firing instead of 10, this should give the galaxy a bit longer to find each other before all getting introduced at the tournament.
Star Seeker Celebrations now provide +100% all Job Efficiency, +100% Resources from Jobs, +100% Pop Growth Speed, and -75% Diplomatic Weight from Economy.
Arkship District Specializations that increase weapon damage (Laser Capacitors, Flight Decks, Ammunition Lines, or Missile Silos) now also add +0.15 strategic resource upkeep to Soldiers.
Species with Mutagenic Habitability living on Arkships will now gain 50% habitability (like Regular Arkship Habitability and Habitat Auto-modded habitability) instead of 30%
Rogue Servitor Forever Cruise Passengers now provide an additional +1% Complex Drone Job Efficiency on top of the base Gestalt bonus.

Bugfix

Arkships now have a 10 year cooldown after benefiting from a Max Aura effect, meaning you can't chain them to get a level 10 ascension Arkship super early.
Nomads can now build Megastructures in a system containing one of their Waystations even if the system has not been surveyed.
Fixed that Tombworld Earth was spawning way too often, so often that it would spawn instead of the UNE when playing the GRS or CoM.
Fixed an issue where pre-FTL earths couldn't have defensive armies (sorry this does not fix the issue of not having the cool unique armies :frowning2: )
Assault Armies will no longer split into separate Transport Fleets after leaving the planet surface.
Harvest Resources Contracts will now be cancelled if a different empire harvests the resources first.
Fixed a very rare case where if you settled and left the event open for too long another empire could claim the system. The fix is delaying them from claiming the system for 300 days. Please make a decision before then.
The CFL should no longer accept Orbital Rings as contestants (even though that’s why they call it a Championship Ring, right?)
Added a fallback if your arkship was in a hyperjump when progressing through the adAkkaria event chains
Due to legacy script your capital arkship was never able to find precursors
Stopped Scan Debris Contract from auto-cancelling on accept
Blocked the Sectors Map Mode for Nomads.
Fixed habitats not using the correct entity from your chosen shipset.
Fixed some scripted issues with refugee modifiers.
Fixed issues with Payback and Broken Shackles district specializations.
Fixed farming colony designation not applying to agri-drones.
Bio-Repurposing tradition now provides the nomadic effects for nomadic necromancers instead of the necromancer effects.
Brought the cost and upkeep of the Nanite Hub waystation module in line with the equivalent starbase building.
Fixed the Realign Shields decision not recognising some pulsar systems.
Living and Grid Amalgamated species now have bespoke living standards so they don't use consumer goods.
Fixed Astro Harvester job modifiers not applying in some cases.
Harvesting a celestial body that has no deposit no longer incurs a diplomatic opinion penalty.
The Creativity Exhibition Vault now boosts Cruise Passengers for Forever Cruise empires, instead of applying its bonus to Bio-Trophies they do not have.
Buildings that can be built on a planet or its orbital ring (Psi Corps, Planetary Shield Generator, Galactic Stock Exchange, Embassy, Noble Estates, Slave Processing Facility) can no longer be built as both a colony building and an Arkship starbase building at the same time.
The Galactic Stock Exchange can no longer be built on both a planet and its orbital ring at the same time.
Fixed pops sometimes being stuck in the Assimilation citizenship or stratum.
Pops that already have the cybernetic or psionic trait are no longer flagged for assimilation they do not need.
Negative arkship modifiers from Grand Refurbishment and Operational Checklist are removed when another empire conquers the arkship, so you aren't stuck with a bunch of negative modifiers and no way to remove them.
Arkship can now issue a survey command by clicking the survey button and clicking on the system in galaxy map
Fixed the tooltip information where the survey single planet vs surveying the whole system information was mixed up
Fixed Waystations, Arkships and modded starbases that have forced components from starbase modules and buildings regressing their designs and losing components.
If you are too slow and don't stop the Khan Aspirant from becoming the Khan they now properly despawn, avoiding a scenario where there are two Khans.
If you play with 0 marauders enabled and as a Heirs of the Khan empire, then the backup Marauder empire will avoid Fallen Empire systems so that they don't get killed in the first few weeks, making you the Khan while others are still figuring out Blue Lasers.
Fixed a crash when updating waystation networks
Ranger Lodge now correctly informs that Biologists are converted into Rangers, instead of saying Rangers are converted into Rangers
Arkship construction notification now mentions an arkship, not a starbase
Missions counters can now be infinite
Fixed missing localization for message descriptions
Fixed the End-Bringers' shrouded world failing to spawn in games featuring Nomadic empires.
Fixed Arkships unintentionally syncing to the same auto-generated design. Building or upgrading one Arkship will no longer sometimes overwrite armaments or utilities on others of the same type.
Fleets that are repairing or upgrading now correctly sync their FTL, Jump Drive, and Catapult actions.
Fixed an issue with generated empire adjectives.
Inetian trader special project bound to planet, meaning that if your science ship were to blow up you can still progress
"Secrets of the Past" event from "Biomorphosis" Ascension Situation blocked for Nomads
Harvest Resources Contracts will now be cancelled if a different empire harvests the resources first.
Nomads will no longer get double the benefit from their own resource producing megastructures. Megastructures will no longer be giving resources directly and a waystation will always be needed to collect those resources.
Planets can now be bombarded during first contact war
Contact view now properly closes if diplomacy window is opened
Fixed some megastructure effects showing incorrect modifier icons and “+100%”.
Rogue Servitors can no longer take a machine species as their secondary species when playing as a Forever Cruise. The machine can not be pampered.
(Beta only) Increased the Shrinkspace Depot and Extra-Dimensional Depot effects on Operation Reserves from 500 to 2500 and 1000 to 5000.
Pops can now migrate from Arkships
Hive Mind Forever Cruise empires with machine passengers start with the Machine Assembly Plants building
Hive Mind Forever Cruise empires start with the passenger Population Controls set to No, which allows the species to grow or be assembled
When starting a new game as a Forever Cruise Origin, crew species will correctly get assigned "cruise_founding_crew" flag. Various effects depends on it being set properly.
Fixed custom empires set to Force Spawn not spawning when using certain portraits.
Fixed custom Spawn Allowed empires with DLC portraits being excluded from the random empire pool.
Added tooltip saying that Nomadic Empires require a waystation in the system to open the L-Gate
Added tooltip saying that Nomadic Empires require a waystation in, or adjacent to, a system to exchange minor artifacts for precursor insight
Added tooltip that highlights that resources need to be harvested with the Arkship in the "Arkship Readiness" situation
Fixed Faculty of Archaeostudies Relic World bonus modifier
Decreased font size in the Empire Creation setup so it would not overlap with the numbers
Spelling error in the "Eager" trait description
Fixed the food upkeep in Phototrophic trait not being disabled when the Radiotrophic trait is active
Nomadic Hive Minds will no longer have access to the Evolutionary Predators decision make planets into hive worlds
Fixed an issue where the Heirs of the Khan claimant could be wiped out by the raider fleets spawned from the same marauder. No infighting!
You will no longer be told that your Khan died from old age when they are in fact immortal
Fixes contracts that had no issuer correctly set
Abort contracts if the issuer ceases to exist
Pre-Sapient species are now allowed to leave Pre-Sapient strata after they have been uplifted.
Fixed Nomadic empires being blocked from excavating their story-locked dig sites that sat in foreign owned systems.
Fixed Arkships sometimes giving up on Surveying.
Empire preview will correctly display forced spawned empires with certain restricted portraits.
Fixed some buildings (e.g. Psi-Corps) being unbuildable on planets.
Arkship habitability preference can now be applied by species modification if your empire is nomadic.
Prospectorium description does not refers to scholarium description
Bio-trophies now give 10 Political Power when playing as Rogue Servitor with the Forever Cruise Origin
The anomaly “The Imitator” will no longer sometimes appear multiple times. The Imitator cannot be imitated.
Removed the habitability requirement for the various Shore Leave internal Forever Cruise contracts.
Machine Intelligence and Individualist Machine Forever Cruises with machine passengers now alternate assembly every month.
Cruise crew and passengers no longer incorrectly assigned Grid Amalgamation or Livestock living standards and slavery types.
Species being assimilated no longer incorrectly assigned Grid Amalgamation living standard.
Individualistic Machine Forever Cruise no longer gets an error from placing Robot Assembly Plants at game start.
Species being integrated are no longer eligible for assembly.
The Package Deal living standard in Forever Cruise now grants political power to employed Economy Class Passengers.
Added missing event sounds to the Forever Cruise situation
Fixed megastructure overclock buttons being unresponsive.
Fixed several Cosmic Storms anomalies appearing more than once per game when they should be unique.
Fixed Stellar Cannon opinion modifier overflow
The Build Waystation contract is now longer automatically abandoned for players when at double station capacity, only for AI nomads
Joining an ongoing war is now considered offensive from the perspective of subject agreement terms, regardless of which side is joined
Fixed ships that are waiting to be killed being counted for ship size-specific caps and special project requirements.
Permanent Employment in Forever Cruise now only zombifies the crew, not the passengers
Fixed issues when dismantling Beastports on Arkships.
Added the bottom border line to the research dropdown in the top Resource Bar
Reduced the Consumer Good upkeep of First Class Passenger Mandatory Pampering to 1 (from 1.5) for Rogue Servitors, matching the living standard's description.
Fix waylines persisting on galaxy map after waystation removal

Fixed AI being disabled after a resync in MP.
The AI will now once again assign leaders to sector capitals as well as newly built arkships.
Fixed AI not handling events if they don't have an idle science ship with a leader.

UI/UX

The Operational Reserves situation now shows its capacity breakdown and stored/total readout in the Situation Log instead of an empty Finisher Effects panel.
The Operational Reserves topbar tooltip now shows a predicted monthly change with per-resource Energy and Minerals contributions, each with a resource icon and coloured +/- value, and a Hold-ALT hint to expand the produced/consumed breakdown.
When enabling nomads in empire creation, the civilian arkship is now selected by default.
Arkships no longer show false clearable-blocker icons in the outliner.
Fixed incorrect Arkship button texts in the planet view.
Anomaly window now also shows the name of the anomaly
Fixed a target visibility bug when switching between situation log entries.
Fix Remove Contract button hover hitbox in Situation Log
Science Ships, Construction Ships, and Nomad fleets now share one automation settings window, with options nested under each action in a scrollable list.
The automation settings window now groups actions into collapsible categories, with Survey nested under Exploration so you can automate exploring with or without surveying, and adds a Reset button that restores a fleet's default automation settings.
In species trait tooltips in empire creation, the portrait requirements are now listed in the correct order.
Fixed too large hitboxes for overclocking buttons.

Performance

Fixed science ship Excavate and Astral Rift automation causing a recurring daily stutter when no reachable target was available.
Reduced the CPU and memory overhead of per-fleet order checks, improving performance in large late-game galaxies with many fleets.

Stability

Added some safeguards to avoid crashing related to pop groups.

Modding

Situations can define total_progress with per-stage section_weight for progress bars whose length and stage bands scale at runtime, with auto-generated _max_progress_add/_mult country modifiers and a situation_progress_percent trigger.
Situations, stages, and approaches support custom_tooltip and custom_tooltip_with_modifiers (replacing the approach-only active_tooltip), and situations can override their Situation Log Active Effects and Finisher Effects panel titles and bodies.
Added the orbital_ring_and_arkship_equivalent_absent scripted trigger.
Starbase modules now also support `scripted_effect_cooldown`, `scripted_effect_cooldown_flag`, and `scripted_effect_cooldown_flag_desc`
and are now optional for is_point_of_interest.
Scripted actions support a new automation = {} block with an options sub-block, plus a new fleet-scoped has_automation_flag trigger to gate automation weights.
Scripted action automation = {} blocks now support a parent field that nests an action's row beneath another action in the settings menu.
Added home_colony and background_colony scopes (similar to home_planet and background_planet, but scope to a colony on any carrier type).

Thank you for playing Stellaris!

Palworld 1.0 Official Launch Trailer is OUT!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:05:03 +0800

It's almost here! Palworld will officially enter 1.0 on July 10, 2026. Our new launch trailer is packed with exciting highlights, offering a glimpse of brand-new Pals, uncharted regions, and advanced technologies.

Check it out now for a sneak peek at the epic new adventures waiting in Palworld 1.0!

Sumerian Six is a stealth-action title that leans into the Wolfenstein vibe

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:05:03 +0800

Sumerian Six runs the risk of being just another entry in the all-too-familiar real‑time tactical stealth genre, except that it differentiates itself by being set in an alternate‑history World War II, built around some pretty interesting ideas. The player commands the Enigma Squad — a team of scientists‑turned‑commandos each with unique abilities, who must infiltrate […]

GearUP x Conqueror’s Blade: Upgraded Tech to Kill the Lag, Seize the Victory

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:02:04 +0800

Warlords,

During high-stakes Territory Wars and cross-server matchmaking, a stable connection is key—which is why we are thrilled to launch our second partnership campaign with GearUP, offering all Conqueror's Blade players their premium network optimization for FREE!

You can claim your free access and download GearUP https://here:https://www.gearupbooster.com/games/conqueror-s-blade/

To ensure you always have the upper hand on your journey, GearUP has further evolved its technology, introducing powerful new upgrades to its network:

Next-Gen AI & Route Allocation: Building on Adaptive Intelligent Routing (AIR) and AI diagnostics, GearUP's upgraded algorithms now allocate higher-quality premium routes with pinpoint precision and millisecond-level dynamic switching to eliminate lag.

Massive Global Expansion: To power seamless cross-server matchmaking, GearUP has aggressively expanded its server infrastructure. High-performance nodes now cover 5 continents across 120+ countries, ensuring a rock-solid connection worldwide.

Why Do I Need It?
As a global game, Conqueror's Blade hosts servers around the world. While this allows warlords from every region to compete, complex internet environments and unexpected variations can lead to unpredictable lag or disconnections.
The GearUP team has performed specific route optimizations for Conqueror's Blade server nodes.

Key features include:
Global network node coverage
AI-based intelligent network diagnostics
Millisecond-level dynamic path switching

Can I use it for free? Are there any extra costs?
Using GearUP to boost Conqueror's Blade is completely free and will not incur any additional costs.

How long can I use GearUP for free?
We are currently in a long-term partnership with GearUP. If there are any changes, we will inform everyone in a timely manner.

Throughout this collaboration, we will work hand in hand with GearUP to continuously optimize the network environment and battlefield experience of Conqueror's Blade.

If you encounter any problems during use, you are welcome to reach out to us or GearUP officials on Discord at any time.

Conqueror's Blade Discord: https://discord.gg/Q9SveYwvEM

GearUP Discord: https://discord.gg/A6YsM2kc9p

Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms — House Pre-Creation Is Now Open!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:42:04 +0800

As war engulfs the Eastern Han and the age of the Three Kingdoms reignites, do you long to march into battle alongside like-minded warlords and forge a House to call your own?

The Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms House Pre-Creation event is now live! No need to wait for launch — build your House, recruit heroes from every corner, secure exclusive launch benefits, and seize the upper hand in the Three Kingdoms!

Two Core Benefits:

Form a Team of 5 to Unlock Exclusive Pre-Registration Rewards

Before the game officially launches, create or join a House — and once it reaches 5 or more members, every member unlocks the \[Exclusive Pre-Registration Reward]! Get a head start and ride into battle with greater confidence.

Note: Rewards will be distributed all at once after the event ends, and can be claimed within one week of the game's launch. Unclaimed rewards past the deadline are considered forfeited. This reward will be granted to the highest-level character on your pre-registered account during the first week after launch. Warlords, please make sure your account details are correct to avoid any issues with claiming your reward.

Gather 30 Members to Lock In an Exclusive Launch House Name

With 30 or more registered House members, you can lock in the \[Exclusive Launch Usage Rights] for that House name! From the end of the event through the early days of official operation, the name will be reserved for your House alone, sparing you the trouble of name clashes at launch.

Rule Details: This is a launch-period reservation, not a permanent lock. After launch, you can rename your House in-game as needed — safeguarding your early exclusive rights while keeping room for future adjustments.

This Pre-Creation event covers the following servers:

Website Features

The Pre-Creation website supports two core actions:

Create a House: Enter a House name and contact details, and you become the founding chief! The site shows your House's member count in real time, keeping recruitment progress clear at a glance.
Join a House: Browse all created Houses, check their size and the chief's contact details, and apply to join with a single click to quickly find your battlefield home.
Member Cap: Each House can register up to 50 members. Once the cap is reached, the House will no longer accept new members, so Warlords should choose a House and complete registration early.
All information is open and transparent. Chiefs can update their contact details anytime, and members are free to choose the House they favor — no information barriers, just efficient team-building!

Act Now and Build Your Three Kingdoms Legacy!

If you're a House chief: Share the website with friends right away, rally your old comrades, push for 30 members to lock in your name, and make your exclusive House name a sure thing.

If you're a solo player: Log in to the website now, join the House you favor, and stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow warlords.

Click the \[House Pre-Creation Website Link] below to begin your Three Kingdoms House journey!

Website: https://tkclantool.conquerorsblade.com

Event time: From today until July 23, 23:59:59

Game Of Thrones: Kingsroad Quietly Replaces Kit Harington As Jon Snow

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:41:03 +0800

Despite there having been several attempts to reconcile the divisive ending of HBO's hit fantasy series Game of Thrones, many fans have come to accept that it may not be possible. For example, House of the Dragonhas attempted to recontextualize Game of Thrones' finale by expanding Aegon the Conqueror's prophecy and emphasizing the Targaryens' role in preparing for the Long Night.

Lumina Awakens!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:05:03 +0800

Today's Major Version update is scheduled to deploy at approximately [color=#66ccff]2:00 PM Pacific[/color], bringing a new wave of post-Genesis launch fixes alongside the arrival of Dragontopia's newest tameable dragon.

The shadow meets its light. [color=#66ccff]Lumina awakens in Dragontopia[/color]! Taking flight as Umbra's radiant counterpart and bringing a brilliant new force to the skies! With celestial power at her command and a bond that burns brightest beside her shadowed kin, Lumina adds a new layer of speed, strategy, and spectacle to the battle above the clouds!

The full patch notes are available below, covering gameplay fixes, stability improvements, bug fixes, and post-launch adjustments following the release of Genesis Ascended Part 1 and ARK: Tides of Fortune.

Download in full resolution

Available now on Steam!

Major version of Servers and Clients

DLC: Dragontopia Day One Content Update

[color=#ecf0f1]New Tameable Dragon[/color]
- Lumina
  - The shadow meets its light. Lumina awakens in Dragontopia.
Umbra / Dragontopia Fixes
- Fixed several issues on Umbra's Dragonhorn
- Fixed cases where Umbra's AI struggled to hit its target
- Fixed an issue that caused Umbra to use abilities when using the Spyglass/Tek Binoculars while mounted
- Fixed several Gamepad issues with Umbra
- Fixed Umbra's Gamepad Sprint control on the HUD
- Fixed Umbra appearing too low when displayed in a Display Case
- Fixed Deep Diver milestone not progressing with Umbra
- Fixed mindwipe not refunding Dragon Skill Points invested
- Fixed Tracked Dragontopia Milestones all disappearing after completing one of them

General Fixes

Fixed inability to craft Cryopods/Cryofridges in Genesis Mission Terminals
Fixed creatures getting stuck in Cryopods after starting the Gauntlet missions
Fixed rain on the Genesis Ocean biome not refilling water stat or containers
Fixed an issue that could sometimes cause foliage interaction not to work correctly on Genesis
Fixed inaccuracies of player location on the Genesis Map
Fixed an issue on Xbox where audio could be lost
Fixed an entitlement issue with paid Cosmetics
Fixed some missing Mission icons in the Mission UI
Adjusted various Genesis Outpost mission text
Fixed issues with HLNA's Ocean Teleports: NE, N, E, W teleporting to the same island
Fixed some localization issues with HLNA's reactions
Added some missing HLNA sound cues
Adjusted some of Tides of Fortune's Skill descriptions to be clearer
Adjusted scatter limits on dreadlocks hairstyle to make dye colors truer on dark hair
Increased Hand Cannon's damage by 300%
Fixed Hand Cannon having no water interaction when hitting a water surface
Adjusted Grapeshot ammo crafting requirements to be more reasonable
Fixed Corrosive Ship Cannonball not having an icon/name/description
Improved Bounty Board's map-specific creature whitelisting/blacklisting
Fixed Treasure Map Bottles being lumped with generic loot crates when using the Treasure Hunter skill
Prevented Bio-Grinder from working on mission creatures
Prevented Wisp of Industry skill being activated while seated
Fixed not being able to equip the Shovel when owning Tides of Fortune
Added the Tek Bunker to the Tek Replicator's inventory
Megachelon Shell can now be grinded for Chitin
Fixed Astrocetus not force-landing when flying above the Lost King's city in Lost Colony
Palaeoctopus
- Improved Palaeoctopus attacks on low-performing servers
- Increased melee swing radius on Palaeoctopus swipe attacks
- Fixed an issue where Palaeoctopus would have weird targeting after being unclaimed
Bloodstalker
- Fixed Bloodstalker not being cloneable
- Fixed issue where Bloodstalker would correct its climbing location due to the climbing location being stuck inside terrain
- Adjusted Gamepad controls for Bloodstalker's Submerge ability from LB + L3 → LB + RT
  - More comfortable control to press, and no longer toggles voice as it did in ASE.
Tidepup
- Fixed Tidepup not retaining XP once evolving
- Fixed missing "Ready To Evolve" VFX on Tidepup if it was activated on your shoulder in first-person view
- Fixed shoulder-mounted dino HUD elements overlapping with shoulder-mounted Tidepup
Genesis untameable ocean dino spawners will now not spawn close to shores or in playable underwater areas
Untameable wild creatures are now named "Feral" instead of "Wild" on their floating name
Fixed enemies sometimes spawning clipping the mesh during The Final Test Boss
Hover Skiff
- Fixed Hover Skiff's ramp having no damage overlay
- Fixed Hover Skiff damage overlay not displaying correctly
- Fixed being unable to build on Hover Skiff sometimes
- Fixed Hoverskiff not having a destructible mesh when destroyed
Fixed Ammo Box looking filled visually in some languages
Fixed Hammock Skin being automatically awarded on Tides of Fortune ownership
Fixed an issue with orbit cam rotation when tapping on the Aquarium structure
Revised settings for Aquarium SFX
Skill Tree Menu hotbar highlight will now appear in the appropriate color for that Skill Tree when dragging an active skill
Fixed issues where Lost Colony Activatable skills would cause ghost items to fill the player inventory
Fixed several exploits
Fixed several crashes

Ship Fixes

Optimized & improved ship physics
Improved ship buoyancy
Reduced Sloop's max speed and steering forced by approximately 10%
Fixed Shipyard not correctly checking for obstruction when placing
Fixed an issue that could cause a docked ship to be destroyed too easily from the Shipyard
Fixed an issue with the Shipyard where ships could teleport to previous dock teleport location when launching
Fixed custom keybindings preventing Ship functionality
Fixed Steam gamepad controls not working with custom KBM keybindings
Fixed Ship Skill: Smokescreen not working against Outpost NPC Pirate Ships
Fixed NPC Pirate Ship's inventory being accessible
Fixed an issue that caused newly crafted ships to not auto-collect floating cargo
Fixed ships crafted at Shipyard anchored visually and don't unanchor after moving on Singleplayer
Fixed desync that could occur while piloting a ship
Fixed a rare issue that caused structures to appear invisible on ships
Fixed an issue that could prevent snapping structures on top of each other on a ship
Fixed damage overlay not displaying on the ship's decks correctly
Fixed an issue that could cause the ship's steering wheel to take damage
Fixed inability to use Soap on ships
Fixed a location near the ladder of ships that could cause you to control the cannons instead of using the ladder
Fixed various Vacuum Compartment incorrect snapping logic
Fixed water post-process not being removed when entering a Vacuum compartment placed in the Genesis Ocean biome
Fixed a jitter that would happen when a player observed a character with armor on an anchored or docked ship
Fixed Ships Ladder Cover not being destroyed when ships go out of replication range
Fixed other tribes being able to steal Outpost mission loot with ships on PVE
Players can now fire the cannons while in first-person view on the ship wheel, for a more immersive experience
Repair resources required are now displayed on the Shipyard's repair MUW option
The cannon selection pulse has been disabled; the glow indicating selected cannons on ships is now static.
Fixed combat music during ship combat not advancing sometimes
Removed Vehicle HUD tooltip from ships
Raised Brigantine structure limit to 200
Raised Sloop structure limit to 75

Alongside today's Major Version update and Lumina's arrival, we also want to share an update on character restoration following the recent Official Network rollback.

Since the rollback, the team has been manually restoring impacted characters, and approximately 20% of reported characters have already been restored through that process.

Alongside that work, we've also been improving the restoration pipeline itself so the remaining impacted characters can be handled more quickly and at a much larger scale and fortunately had a breakthrough. We are now successfully able to systematically identify lost characters reported through our form and programmatically restore them in game. This significantly eliminates the amount of time a single restoration would take, and also lays the groundwork for this process to become automated in the future.

With these improvements, we now expect to have 95% of impacted characters restored by the end of the day, with the remaining complex cases which require manual investigation to be restored by the end of the weekend. We know this has been a frustrating situation for players who have been waiting to get back to their characters, and we appreciate everyone's patience.

If you believe you are still missing a character and have not yet submitted a report, please use the character restoration form here.

Before submitting the form, please check your other servers and the cloud to make sure the character is not already available elsewhere. Once you open the form, follow the steps provided and make sure the information is accurate before submitting.

Please include the following details:

EOS ID
To find this, enter Single Player, open the console, and type [color=#2ecc71]whoami[/color]. This should display a long string of numbers and letters beginning with [color=#2ecc71]000[/color] (three zeros).
Account name
Implant number, if available
This is helpful, but restoration can still be completed without it.
Official Network cluster
For example: PvE, PvP, Small Tribes, Console Small Tribes, or another Official cluster.

If you are on console, you may need to use a keyboard to enter the [color=#2ecc71]whoami[/color] command. If you do not have access to a keyboard, this helper mod can be used instead.

After your form has been submitted, there is nothing else you need to do while restoration is processed. Once restored, your character will appear in the cloud, so you can check there periodically.

While waiting for restoration, you may continue playing on other characters, but please avoid the following actions:

Do not transfer other characters through the cloud.
Do not transfer items through the cloud.
Do not upload or download items through the cloud.
Do not upload or download tames through the cloud.
Do not play Club ARK.

We keep a limited number of character backups, and repeated cloud-related actions can overwrite the save data needed for restoration.

Today's update also includes a range of fixes across gameplay systems, bugs and stability, with more post-launch improvements already in progress. We'll continue monitoring the live environment closely, working through your valuable player reports, and releasing follow-up patches as we move through the launch period.

Playing Palworld 1.0 with mods can "cause issues," Pocketpair warns, so it's recommended you uninstall each one before updating the survival game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:05:03 +0800

Playing Palworld 1.0 on a modded save file might accidentally break a few things, so developer Pocketpair is telling everyone to uninstall all mods ahead of the survival game's update. You've been warned.

After more than two whole years and over 40 million players, Palworld is officially leaving early access tomorrow - that's July 10, if you're deprived of a calendar - and the full game's changes sound absolutely sweeping. Communications lead John 'Bucky' Buckley recently shared that Palworld's 1.0 patch notes were sitting at 10,626 words and 66,550 characters, well above Steam's 32,000 character limit for blog posts.

That means Pocketpair are likely dusting off and making changes to almost every corner of the already-huge game, which will have unintended side effects for many a mod.

"Thank you to the amazing Palworld modding community, for their continued creativity and dedication to making fun mods for all to play," the developer writes in a recent social media PSA. "Palworld 1.0 introduces major changes to the game's underlying systems, and we've confirmed that mods installed before the update can cause issues during gameplay if left installed."

To avoid anything breaking or crashing or otherwise going weird, the studio recommends "temporarily removing all installed mods before updating the game." And to ensure everything keeps working normally, the dev asks everyone to re-install each mod one at a time and check their compatibility status with 1.0.

"It may take some time for mods to be updated for 1.0, so we kindly ask for your patience and understanding," it writes. "Palworld has always welcomed mods, and this will remain unchanged even after 1.0. It's been about 2.5 years since we started Early Access, and we're truly grateful to everyone in the community! We look forward to continuing to make Palworld even better with your help."

In other news, Pocketpair recently walked back plans to raise the price of Palworld once it left early access. As a thank you for the game's outsized support, the dev instead decided to keep selling it with a $29.99 price tag.

For now, here are the best Palworld mods to download now (just cross your fingers they work in a few days time.) If you're just getting into the game, also check out the best Palworld starters to catch first.

[/url]

Hotfix 1.36.1

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:04:04 +0800

Raiders!

We have just pushed a hotfix on all platforms to mitigate a duplication issue as well as the UI bug in the Expedition screen that showed Skill Points instead of Mystery Rewards for players on their fourth Expedition.

As we stated before regarding the use of exploits, we will continue issuing bans on accounts that have been gaining significant advantage.

Restart your game to download.

Thank you everyone for your reports and for playing by the rules.

See you Topside,

//Ossen

Super Credits & A Fairer Galactic War

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:03:03 +0800

Cheaters have been a top topic in player feedback since launch, and today we are united in dealing a hefty blow to their undemocratic ways!

Greetings, Helldivers.

You've told us that cheaters and exploiters ruin the experience that it feels unfair when someone games the Super Credit system while you're out there earning yours the hard way. We heard you, and we're starting to implement changes that will tackle issues like this...

Today we’re improving our monitoring methods for suspicious Super Credit activity. Here's exactly what that means for you.

TL;DR

If you earn credits at an unreasonably high rate (substantially higher than the highest players earning ever recorded) there are now steps in place to counter this. This will not affect legitimate players, only the bad apples cheating the system.

Good news first: this changes nothing for real Helldivers.

If you're playing the game grinding maps, clearing POIs, looting bunkers you will never experience any change. So keep on liberating with your squad on a marathon grind, or even a full weekend of play. The cap exists to catch bad actors, not to slow you down.

So who does this affect?

Cheaters. Botters. People using automation and duplication exploits to hoover up Super Credits at rates no human Helldiver could ever reach legitimately. Those are the targets and now we have radically improved the tools to stop them at the source, before they can do damage to the economy you play in.

By drawing a firm line, we can:

Catch and stop cheating at the point of exploit not after the harm is done.
Keep earned rewards meaningful, so your Super Credits actually feel worth having.
Level the playing field across every planet and every player population.
And of course allow you legitimate players to keep as many super credits as you earn, forever!
These changes will be rolling out for all reward currencies including Medals, Samples, and Requisition

This is a win for the community. A healthier economy means the Super Credits you earn through honest service to Super Earth stay worth earning.

What if something seems off with your account?

We know changes like this can raise questions. The player support team is ready to review your case.

Reach out to support here:

Arrowhead Player Support

You told us the fight wasn't fair. Today marks a big step towards eradicating pesky cheaters. We'll keep listening and keep communicating openly as we continue to improve the game.

For Super Earth. For Democracy. For a cheat-free galaxy.

Laid-Off MindsEye Developers Plan Protest Outside Company Office Over 'All-Expenses-Paid Playtest Day'

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:57:04 +0800

MindsEye developers who have lost their jobs will protest outside the studio’s office over what they have described as an “all-expenses-paid playtest day.”

The IWGB Game Workers Union (the same union representing the fired GTA 6 developers), said the protest will take place outside Build a Rocket Boy’s Edinburgh, Scotland office this Saturday, July 11, at 11am local time. The union alleged BARB will fly fans into the studio to try out new features for MindsEye this weekend. IGN has asked BARB for comment.

The union said it will protest the studio’s decision to fund the event after mass layoffs over the last year, and amid wider disputes between workers and the company over alleged invasive employee surveillance, union blacklisting, and the handling of redundancies.

The IWGB told IGN it expects around 20 people on the day, including laid-off BARB workers and their supporters. The protest is not expected to include current BARB staff.

It’s the latest dramatic development at BARB following the disastrous release of MindsEye. In July last year, IGN reported that BARB had issued at-risk of redundancy emails to its then around 300-strong UK workforce after MindsEye flopped at release. Soon after MindsEye came out, BARB said it was “heartbroken” over the issues players had faced with the game, and promised to release a series of patches to fix the significant performance problems, glitches, and AI behavior bugs.

Story-driven action adventure game MindsEye was initially designed to be a part of Everywhere, the ‘Roblox for adults’ creation platform led by former Grand Theft Auto design chief Leslie Benzies. BARB eventually switched to focus on MindsEye, but it has so-far failed to do the business for the company.

Following the release of the game, Benzies told staff that the studio would bounce back and relaunch MindsEye, blaming its struggles on internal and external saboteurs, among other things. CEO Mark Gerhard said the studio had been investigating what he called “criminal activity” that took place around the launch of the game.

Eventually, BARB attempted to relaunch MindsEye with what was called the “Blacklisted” update, but it failed to move the needle. While console player numbers are unavailable, MindsEye had a 24-hour peak Steam concurrent player count of just 48.

In May, Strauss Zelnick, boss of Rockstar parent company Take-Two, issued what sounded like a nod to BARB’s struggles. "Making hits seems to get harder and harder and harder as entertainment industries mature," Zelnick said, speaking at the TD Cowen 54th Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference.

"The folks at Rockstar seem to be able to make these massive hits, and lots of other people have tried. Lots and lots, including former Rockstar employees. And so far, they haven't been able to do it.

"Doesn't mean they can't in the future, by the way," Zelnick continued. "We're always running scared. But it won't be technology that changes the game. What'll change is that some extraordinarily creative individual or individuals will show up and do something astonishing. Our goal is to get those people to work within the Take-Two system. If we fail to do that, we fail."

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Doom studio Id Software pitched a Perfect Dark game before Xbox cuts

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:57:04 +0800

Id Software pitched a new Perfect Dark game and a Jon Wick-style original IP before it was hit with significant staff cuts this week, according to a new report.

A state notice revealed on Wednesday that the Doom and Quake studio has been hit hard by Xbox’s sweeping layoffs, with as many as 136 workers affected, and one former employee claiming it has been ‘relegated to support studio size’.

A new report by GamesBeat explores the events behind the scenes, with comments from multiple former employees.

Read More...

The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Suffer Because of Xbox Layoffs, Bethesda Staff Say, Fearing Delays, Crunch, and Generational Talent Being Replaced by Contractors

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:57:03 +0800

This week's devastating Xbox layoffs will have a "substantial and cascading effect" on Bethesda's development of The Elder Scrolls 6, multiple staff at the studio have told IGN.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to protect their careers, current and former staff have told me that job losses across Bethesda Game Studios locations have removed more than 50 employees, including "key, high-performing people in the trenches" building the company's long-awaited Skyrim successor. This in turn, they say, has shattered morale, raised the risk of future development crunch, and increased the likelihood that the game's already far-off completion date will be delayed.

Such is the strength of feeling among the tight-knit Bethesda team that, on social media, photos have been shared of multiple makeshift "Celebrations of Service" memorials displayed within the company's offices in Dallas, Texas, and Rockville, Maryland. These feature framed photographs of laid off workers arranged in the studio's common areas, alongside bouquets of flowers. At least one of these displays has now been dismantled under orders of the company's HR department.

"Their loss will have a substantial and cascading effect on the game and morale of this studio," one Bethesda staff member told IGN. "It's been a mix of every discipline: programmers, artists, and designers," said another. "One person who's been at the company since Morrowind was cut."

On social media, the Bethesda Games Studio Union has highlighted a post on the Xbox Player Voice feedback platform, which seeks to raise wider awareness of the job losses and demonstrate to Microsoft that fans are unhappy with the scale of layoffs now associated with their hobby. With 2,588 upvotes it is now in the top 20 Xbox user suggestions on the site, which Microsoft draws from to enact fan feedback on its console platform.

The layoffs are part of the 1,600 staff who lost their jobs this week as part of a brutal downsizing of its business under recently-installed CEO Asha Sharma. In an email sent to staff, Sharma called it the most "significant" restructure in Xbox history, insisting Microsoft’s gaming business "is not healthy." Overall, Xbox is losing about one-fifth of its staff as part of Sharma's push for growth.

A further 1,600 staff will depart the company over the course of this year as Xbox looks to become a leaner operation focused more fully on its biggest brands, such as Halo, Forza, Fallout and — yes — The Elder Scrolls. But these changes will still impact development of TES 6 negatively, staff believe.

"We were already running a tight ship and are worried about this delaying the game..." In an email to Bethesda staff sent following Sharma's memo, Bethesda boss Jill Braff said the layoffs and change in strategy "reflect the realities of our industry and business — and our responsibility to ensure Bethesda is operating from a more stable foundation."

"To be successful in the future, we need to change course," Braff continued. "We must strengthen our business, return to sustainable growth, and ensure we can continue investing in our franchises and our players. I know that doesn't make a day like today any easier." In order to do this, Braff said, Bethesda teams would now work more closely together and focus on the company's "strongest franchises" in order to better serve "our players and Bethesda as a whole."

IGN has already explored how the changes at Bethesda mean focusing on big hitters such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, leaving Starfield potentially out in the cold. With Microsoft planning to sell or close Arkane Lyon, Marvel’s Blade may fall by the wayside or be published elsewhere. The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios has already signalled content roadmap changes with fewer staff following the layoffs. Meanwhile id Software, developer of the Doom games, has suffered significant cuts. MachineGames has survived the cull, with a new Wolfenstein game pretty much an open secret at this point. But it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will get the sequel it teased at the end of the game.

And as for The Elder Scrolls 6? While it remains one of the most-anticipated games on Xbox's upcoming lineup — perhaps the most anticipated — its development is also the source of concern, too.

"There is a fear that we are going to be replaced by cheaper, contracted labor, or we will hire folks to replace them that will need to be onboarded (our tools are proprietary, other devs aren't going to know how they work) resulting in more delays, and we'll need to crunch to make up the time," one Bethesda developer told IGN.

"We've all been very excited and hyped for TES 6 and this has had a crushing effect on morale," said another staff member. "We were already running a tight ship and are worried about this delaying the game (though a final release date was not yet chosen as far as we know)."

This week, it was reported that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still at least two years away from launch, despite the fact it was originally announced some eight years ago. Bethesda released Starfield in the meantime, of course, but the long wait for a Skyrim follow-up has been a frustrating one for fans, with the franchise already skipping one full console generation in terms of mainline releases.

"It seems like the company wants to make up the loss in talent with outsourcers," one staff member said, pointing to a similar situation in the studio's "decimated" QA department, where work formerly undertaken by in-house employees has now been taken up by overseas staff at development outsourcing firm Keywords. "I've heard from my colleagues that they're already being asked to train new contractors. I have no idea how they'll continue updating Fallout 76 without hiring an external studio."

"You don't get to retire off your work at Xbox. Your time ends when you quit or are laid off." One staff member said they'd been told that colleagues from The Elder Scrolls Online studio ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS) will now fill in gaps on The Elder Scrolls 6's development team, though it's unclear how this will be managed when publicly-available layoff notices show that ZOS itself has been massively downsized, with 212 staff laid off. Other teams in the ZeniMax family have also been gutted. Game Developer has reported that 136 of 185 full-time employees were laid off from id Software. Outside Bethesda, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier has said that Obsidian Entertainment has laid off a quarter of its staff. It has now been put to work on a new Fallout game, which Bethesda is said to be helping out with.

"I think the specter of layoffs is something we will face in perpetuity until we unionize," one Bethesda staff member said. Another revealed that "survivors" were told they were now safe from Sharma's further 1,600 cuts this year — though there's still a feeling of deep concern that these won't be the end of Xbox's plans to downsize in future.

"The 'survivors' were told they're safe from those next 1,600 but it's not entirely reassuring," a laid-off staff member concluded. "Even if that's true, who's to say there's not another 1,600 next year after that? It's had the chilling effect of realizing you don't get to retire off your work at Xbox. Your time ends when you quit or are laid off, that's it."

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Persona 4 Revival seemingly features more scenes with Marie, fuelling hopes she'll be integrated better than in Golden: "If they do that, the remake will have fulfilled its purpose"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:55:04 +0800

New Persona 4 Revival footage has shown a new scene with Marie, leading to hopes that she'll be integrated better into the story than she was in Persona 4 Golden.

It's a trend in Persona games that when the updated version of it comes out, there's a new character integrated into the story who becomes a vital part of the new content – and by a trend, I mean it's happened twice. Persona 4 Golden introduced Marie to the story, a Velvet Room attendant who is a bit abrasive before opening up to the investigation team and protagonist. But she's a bit awkward in her integration, with many in the fandom dubbing her Poochie (in reference to a top five Simpsons episode).

However, Kasumi, introduced in Persona 5 Royal, has conversely become one of the most beloved characters in that game, and was overall integrated far better than Marie was for Persona 4 Golden, as if Atlus took the feedback about Poochie to heart. And from the looks of things, there may be some more Marie in Persona 4 Revival.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Lj-VUoS2SSw In the Persona 4 Revival character overview trailer, fans noticed that the scene shown alongside Marie is on the night of April 17, which would be after beating one of the game's first major bosses. The thing is, this scene doesn't exist in the original Persona 4 Golden, with Twitter user MeovvCAT speculating that this scene will play after the protagonist gets a tracksuit from Morooka.

And despite the mixed reception to Marie, response to the idea of more of the character is generally hopeful. Replies to the post include one user saying, "Hopefully learning from Kasumi and how to better integrate Marie into the overall story." Another adds: "What the remake needs to do, and I hope it succeeds, is to better integrate Marie into the story. If they do that, the remake will have fulfilled its purpose."

Persona 4 Revival changes some of Yosuke's controversial scenes: "We wanted to lighten that up and make it a little bit more fitting for the world we live in now."

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Subnautica 2 celebrates 5 million copies sold ahead of Adaptive Measures, its first early access update

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:48:05 +0800

It comes as a surprise to absolutely no one that Subnautica 2 has finally surpassed 5 million copies sold. It did sell two million copies in just 12 hours after all. Then, not that long ago, it broke 4 million copies sold, which was excellent for everyone involved except for Krafton. And now its 5 million copies sold coincides with its first major update in early access, 1.1... Read more.

CBL Featured Logo Showcase & Leadership and Armour Set Rules

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:42:04 +0800

CBL 2026 registration is in full swing, with powerhouse teams from across the server rallying to join the ultimate showdown.

For the first time, teams can upload and display their own custom Logos, putting each team's identity and style front and center. Below are the Logos and introductions of a few registered teams—take a look, Warlords.

Want your team to make its mark on the battlefields of Conqueror's Blade? Register for the CBL now and go head-to-head with Warlords from across the server!

Registration:

APAC: https://cbl.conquerorsblade.com/en/

EU/AMS: https://cbl-global.conquerorsblade.com/en/

Featured Team Logo Showcase

CN：

Team 1: SSH

Team Introduction: The Liu Bu team came to the Territory War later than most established Houses, missing the ideal window for early expansion. As a result, they spent several seasons fighting while badly outnumbered.

But that hardship is exactly what forged their trademark discipline and tight-knit unity. When the moment was right, sponsor Shi Shou He made a bold bet — pitting a single House against an entire Alliance. And so the House "Liu Bu" officially entered the fray.

In their very first season, they punched above their weight and won against the odds. In the seasons since, they've repeatedly shattered enemy alliances through the sheer aggression of a single House—and come away with the win.

Team 2: BJSG

Team Introduction: Draw the blade, break the ranks, eyes set on the horizon; Fighting as one, we live up to our House's name.

Team 3: PLC

Team Introduction: A veteran CN team, now in semi-retirement.

APAC:

Team 1: BPJS

Team Introduction: A brand-new force making its CBL debut, with every member coming from the veteran assault squad, the QingZhi team. This is their first appearance on the CBL global stage since forming.

The team has years of coordination in Siege and Ranked Battles under its belt, backed by a mature tactical system. They're skilled at all kinds of infantry-cavalry maneuvers, with a signature style built around storming and blocking gates and flanking harassment. Their Territory Wars were known for ironclad discipline and minimal losses—they rely on pure teamwork and take on top-tier competition as a fully homegrown squad.

Stepping onto the CBL stage for the first time, they bring both drive and grit. They aren't intimidated by seasoned powerhouses; instead, they're here to grow through experience and show off what makes them different. Expect the QingZhi team to prove their strength on the league stage and push for higher rankings as a rising force to watch.

Team 2: VNH

Team Introduction: funny and chill

Team 3: GTI

Team Introduction: Leave No Man Behind & Serve All Nations

EU/AMS:

Team 1: DS

Team Introduction: One Team, One Vision, Conq

Team 2: ZOD

Team Introduction: TO PROTECT AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC

Team 3: ADT

Team Introduction:

Присоединяйтесь к Adamant — вырвем победу вместе! (Join Adamant — let's seize victory together!)

Leadership and Armour Set Rules

We have received a lot of feedback from Warlords about the Leadership and Sets allowed on the CBL event server. Since each weapon has different Set requirements, and to give players more options while keeping competition fair, the event team has tallied the voting results. Starting with this CBL group stage, the following rules will apply:

Each participating player will receive three different Armour selection boxes and may freely pick any one:

Epic schematic Armour — Legendary quality, Reforged, Leadership 700, no additional attributes.
Superior schematic Armour — Legendary quality, Reforged, Leadership 730, no additional attributes.
Rare schematic Armour — Legendary quality, Reforged, Leadership 780, no additional attributes.

Take the Field Now | You Still Have a Shot at the Championship

Not everyone wins—but everyone who's ever stood on the champion's stage started by making the same choice: to step onto the battlefield.

There are no born winners here, only those who fight and refuse to quit, time and time again.

Whether this is your debut or you're a battle-hardened veteran, this is where every move you make will be remembered.

The 2026 CBL awaits. Take the field—and become a legend.

APAC: https://cbl.conquerorsblade.com/en/

EU/AMS: https://cbl-global.conquerorsblade.com/en/

Dragon Ball: Festival Of Universes Officially Announced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:39:03 +0800

Dragon Ball fans have plenty to look forward to over the coming months as the franchise prepares to roll out new stories across both anime and gaming. The biggest attraction by far isDragon Ball Super: Beerus, which will finally bring the God of Destruction back to the forefront in a brand-new anime. Further, Beerus will make an appearance even sooner with the upcoming new season of Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra, where he will be joining the roster as a playable character.

How to repair your ship in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:35:04 +0800

To repair your ship in Black Flag Resynced, you need to either pay up with Reales while you're in a port, or plunder enemy ships. Both have their drawbacks, but it's important to know how they work and how the crew can help you keep the Jackdaw in working order between battles on the high seas in Black Flag Resynced. To help you out, I've explained the two main ways to repair your ship below.

How to repair the Jackdaw

(Image credit: Ubisoft) There are two ways you can repair the Jackdaw in Black Flag Resynced, which are as follows:

Visit a Harbourmaster and pay for repairs: The Jackdaw will be instantly repaired to full health after you pay 250 Reales per section in need of repairs. Due to the passive health regeneration mentioned further down, you will only ever have to pay for a maximum of two section to be repaired, so a full repair should never cost more than 500 Reales.
Successfully board an enemy ship and select the Repair option: Doing so restores the Jackdaw's health by a significant amount but seems to be capped at two full sections, so it might not fully repair the ship.

The Jackdaw also has limited passive health regeneration which kicks in whenever you're not in combat. Your crew will repair the ship's health up to the next section, so if you've taken heavy damage, you'll need to use one of the above methods to get the Jackdaw back up to full health.

If you find that the Jackdaw keeps getting destroyed or severely damaged to the point of needing lots of repairs, make sure you focus your upgrading efforts on the hull, bolstering the ship's maximum health (it's also probably a good idea to get some pointers on how things like Black Flag Resynced Naval Convoys work). That makes each of the health bar's three sections sturdier, and means you'll be saving Reales on repairs.

[/url] Bolster the Jackdaw and keep it in shipshape:
Black Flag Resynced Ultimate ship plans: Make your cannons, hull, as strong as possible
Black Flag Resynced Officers: Unlock new naval combat abilities
Black Flag Resynced pets: Companions at the helm

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced reportedly has a bug that can wipe hours of playtime, but Ubisoft is working on a fix

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:15:04 +0800

Be warned, fellow landlubbers and prospective high seas plunderers, legend says a curse comes buried with the treasure known as Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resycned - in the form of a bug that might wipe a few hours from your save file, that is.

Ubisoft's remade and revamped open-world adventure is rolling out on PC and consoles today, meaning plenty of game reviewers have been poking around its oceans for a while now, but one noted journalist caught a pesky bug that apparently snuck onboard the full launch.

The Game File's Stephen Totilo put out a public service announcement last night on social media, warning that "if you're playing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, do not leave any Templar Hunt sidequest chains unfinished" because "it produced a glitch that cost me five hours of playing time." Aside from losing five hours at sea, "the game's really fun and some of the new bits are interesting in unexpected ways," he writes.

For the specifics on how to encounter the bug - and, thus, how to avoid it - Totila says he was "several quests into the Templar Hunt in Kingston, had left the region to play other parts." He then eventually "triggered a main story mission in Kingston," only to find that the Templar Hunt quests and the main quests apparently "blocked each other."

A Ubisoft representative reportedly told Totilo that the team has identified the bug and is working on a fix that should arrive in an upcoming update. There's no time frame as to when the bug might finally be squished, so be extra careful if you're planning to jump in later today.

As for GamesRadar+'s Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review, we called it "a decent remake of a great game" that can unfortunately "feel a bit rudderless."

Does Resynched have what it takes to top our list of the best Assassin's Creed games ever?

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Palworld 1.0 patch notes are so large at over 10,000 words they almost didn't fit on Steam, but Pocketpair managed to fix them "without making any compromise"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:15:03 +0800

It's a big day tomorrow, July 10, because Palworld 1.0 finally arrives, kicking off a new era for the monster-collecting survival game. All sorts of preparations are going on at developer Pocketpair, including getting the patch notes ready, which has proven more troublesome than normal due to how long they are.

So long, in fact, that they reached – and surpassed – Steam's character limit on update posts. John 'Bucky' Buckley, the head of publishing and communications at Pocketpair, put up a screenshot of his predicament on Twitter.

"How to fit… patch notes… on Steam," he captions an image, showing that the latest post had exceeded the 32,000 character limit of Valve's marketplace. Pocketpair's document was sitting at 10,626 words, and 66,550 characters. Bit of an overshot. A tricky problem, but where there's a will, there's a way, and just over two hours later, he posted an optimistic follow-up.

"Fixed it without making any compromise," he says. "See you tomorrow gamers." This has sent ripples through the community, as players who're ready to dig in start contemplating the notion of reading the novella's worth of changes for everything that's been added and tweaked.

Fixed it without making any compromises :) See you tomorrow, gamers. https://t.co/J45pTBaPDk July 9, 2026

There are 27 pages of patch notes in total, and when goaded to share them pre-emptively, Buckley made a classic move and posted a low resolution image of the whole thing. Impossible to read, but hilarious. One fan on Reddit made the same joke I did, by responding with that quote from Zoolander: "What is this? A center for ants?"

And seriously, John, what is this? Patch notes for ants? But players are bracing themselves. "Time to make time to read the book," says one Redditor. "What a way to generate hype for an update," adds another. "'We changed so many things that Steam can't even list all of them.'"

Palworld's always been good at getting people talking, and this is no exception. We'll see what emerges when it's time for 1.0.

Palworld price won't increase as update 1.0 takes it out of early access, Pocketpair says it's "a small way of saying thank you" after unbelievable success.

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Xbox Game Pass Adds Weird 2026 Game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:09:03 +0800

Xbox Game Pass users can now start playing Tamashika as part of their subscriptions. The highly unusual title arrives alongside one other Premium-tier addition, making it the second new Xbox Game Pass release of July 2026 and the 110th since the start of the year.

FiiO just launched the FG3, the brand's first-ever gaming headset that only costs $70

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:05:04 +0800

FiiO is a name I typically associate with MP3 and cassette players that my retro-tech-loving heart can't get enough of, but the brand is known far and wide amongst audiophiles and tech nerds for its headphone amplifiers, DACs, and more. Now the brand is taking its audio know-how to the world of headsets, with the launch of the FiiO FG3.

Unlike the best gaming headset brands that have plenty of cups in their arsenal, the FG3 is a first for FiiO, and the brand chose to power it using a coaxial driver arrangement consisting of 50mm and 16mm dynamic drivers. Basically, this means that the drivers radiate sound from the same point, which helps ensure a consistent sound and a wider soundstage for your favorite games. What's more, this fancy driver arrangement is packaged in a $69.99 / £69.99 wired headset form factor, so it's not going to cost you a fortune either.

The FG3 gaming headset is also equipped with custom-tuned 7.1 surround sound and a detachable noise-canceling microphone with real-time audio monitoring (side tone), making it an ideal pickup for online games like Fortnite, or my personal favorite, Marvel Rivals.

UK: £75.39 at AliExpressView Deal

I'm so used to having to talk about the exorbitant costs of new tech these days that the sight of the FG3's $69.99 / £69.99 MSRP instantly grabbed me. Budget-friendly headsets aren't unique by any means, but I typically find that unique and larger driver arrangements on cups are usually reserved for the more premium pairs, not one that costs far below the $100 price mark.

Of course, the pair has a lot more going for it besides its coaxial drivers. The FG3 also features a 10 Hz to 40 kHz frequency response and is powered by a dual-core DSP chip, which the brand states can support 192kHz/24bit sampling rates, and is, according to the official FiiO website, designed to handle "more complex and intricate audio tasks" which in turn should help lower any latency issues and support a faster response for gaming sound effects. Basically, it sounds like the brand is bringing audiophile know-how to players, and I'm definitely intrigued.

(Image credit: FiiO) If you're wondering if it'll work with your setup, the FG3 is a wired headset that supports a plug-and-play design alongside PCs running Windows 7/8/10 and 11, smartphones, laptops, the PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch 2. Yeah, sadly FiiO's first foray into the world of headsets isn't with a wireless pair, but who knows what could be on the cards in the future.

Regardless, I'm pretty eager to put these cups to the test myself, especially as they don't come with their own proprietary software. Instead of adding more software bloat to your PC, FiiO has utilized a web-based FiiO Control WEB platform for personalisation instead. It can allow you to save up to 10 custom band EQ settings directly on the headset, and switch through them as you see fit.

As a heads up, while FiiO states the headset is available now, I've been struggling to find it in stock at both US and UK retailers. The "buy now" button on the official FiiO store leads to a dead end, and I can only find the pair listed for £75.39 at AliExpress, but I'll be sure to update this news with the latest and best shopping links as soon as they become available.

I've also rounded up the best PC headsets for gaming, the best PS5 headsets, and the best Xbox Series X headsets if you want to check out more budget-friendly pairs for your setup.

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Stellaris Dev Diary #428 - 4.5 ‘Cygnus’

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:04:04 +0800

by Eladrin

Hello everyone!

Earlier this week we released the Stellaris 4.4.5 ‘Pegasus’ Update with the following changes:

4.4.5 ‘Pegasus’ Patch Release Notes

Feature

Added a Resource Abundance slider in galaxy settings.
- This slider ranges from “Scarce” to x5 in 0.25 increments, where x1 is approximately the resource abundance of v4.3 and x5 is essentially 4.4’s “resources everywhere”.
- The default is x2. We do recognize that this is a little confusing, but it gives you more control of getting it where you want.
Added Waystation Voidlure modules
Added Arkship Voidlure Array module that allows you to right-click on a system to lure space fauna.
Fleet automation menus now offer per-action options.
- Nomad Arkships and Logistic Ships can fine-tune Harvest, Strip Mine, and Deep Scan automation, including whether to Harvest unsurveyed, depositless, waystation, friendly, or hostile-owned worlds, and whether to rescan when Deep Scanning.
- Fleet automation settings can be saved as the default for a ship type and applied to all ships of that type at once, and each fleet remembers the settings it was last given.
- Construction Automation now has options for Mining Stations, Research Stations, Observation Posts and Special Projects.
- Added the Explore automation order to Arkships. Note: Arkships with the Explore order will attempt to navigate to Points of Interest if possible.

Improvement

Space Fauna now disable waystations instead of destroying them. They will be re-enabled once the fauna leaves or is destroyed.
Added a fallback event for the CFL if the tournament goes on for more than 3 years, this will ensure that you don't end up with fleets that can never repair
Details map mode now toggles between 3 states: Normal -> Detailed -> Hidden -> Normal.
Clarified the map mode tooltips.
Logistic Ship automation now defaults to on for Harvest Resources and off for Waystation collection.
The game will now recalculate species rights on loading a save game.
Upgrading fleet will reissue upgrade order if one got interrupted because of the mobile starbase jumping away to another system.
Hive Mind Forever Cruise empires with machine passengers can research machine assembly technologies to upgrade their passengers
Regular Forever Cruise empires with machine passengers start with the Robot Assembly Plants building
Completed Archaeological Sites and Astral Rifts will now be hidden in a non detailed galaxy map mode.
Added new event options to the Forever Cruise situation stage events, allowing players to accept temporary economic penalties to affect the situation's direction.

Balance

Operational Reserves Changes:
- Operational Reserves now track Energy and Minerals 1:1 (previously 3:1).
- Maximum Operational Reserves now scale with the number and tier of owned Arkships (base 15,000, plus 5,000 / 7,500 / 10,000 per Tier I / II / III Arkship) instead of a fixed cap.
- Civilian Arkships grant an additional 2,500 Operational Reserve capacity per Tier.
- Resource Silos, Fallen Empire Resource Silos, Arkship Resource Silos, and Waystation Logistics Silos now raise a Nomadic empire's maximum Operational Reserves.
- Added a Critical stage to the Operational Reserves track with severe research, Unity, and Alloy penalties; the Festival, Conserve, and Burn approaches now gate on reserve stage rather than fixed thresholds.
- The Critical Operational Reserves stage now also penalizes the populations the reserves sustain: Lithoid pops lose Happiness, pop growth, and Job Efficiency, and Mechanical and Machine pops lose Job Efficiency.
Wanderlust now gives some of its bonuses immediately, and the second half after completing 4 categories, not all of them. Category bonuses and progression remain unchanged.
Rewards from the Arkship Readiness Checklist now last 20 years.
Rebalanced the Ranger Paladin trait.
Reduced the opinion penalties empires hold against Nomadic Empires for strip-mining, reprocessing planets, and Exodus Jumps, and made these penalties decay more quickly.
Nomadic Primal Calling now starts with a Voidlure Array equipped on the Arkship
Removed the nomadic tradition swap for Domestication tradition finisher
Rebalanced the Passenger Satisfaction situation for Forever Cruise to allow staying in the middle stage longer
The Champion's forge now waits 20 years before firing instead of 10, this should give the galaxy a bit longer to find each other before all getting introduced at the tournament.
Star Seeker Celebrations now provide +100% all Job Efficiency, +100% Resources from Jobs, +100% Pop Growth Speed, and -75% Diplomatic Weight from Economy.
Arkship District Specializations that increase weapon damage (Laser Capacitors, Flight Decks, Ammunition Lines, or Missile Silos) now also add +0.15 strategic resource upkeep to Soldiers.
Species with Mutagenic Habitability living on Arkships will now gain 50% habitability (like Regular Arkship Habitability and Habitat Auto-modded habitability) instead of 30%
Rogue Servitor Forever Cruise Passengers now provide an additional +1% Complex Drone Job Efficiency on top of the base Gestalt bonus.

Bugfix

Arkships now have a 10 year cooldown after benefiting from a Max Aura effect, meaning you can't chain them to get a level 10 ascension Arkship super early.
Nomads can now build Megastructures in a system containing one of their Waystations even if the system has not been surveyed.
Fixed that Tombworld Earth was spawning way too often, so often that it would spawn instead of the UNE when playing the GRS or CoM.
Fixed an issue where pre-FTL earths couldn't have defensive armies (sorry this does not fix the issue of not having the cool unique armies :frowning2: )
Assault Armies will no longer split into separate Transport Fleets after leaving the planet surface.
Harvest Resources Contracts will now be cancelled if a different empire harvests the resources first.
Fixed a very rare case where if you settled and left the event open for too long another empire could claim the system. The fix is delaying them from claiming the system for 300 days. Please make a decision before then.
The CFL should no longer accept Orbital Rings as contestants (even though that’s why they call it a Championship Ring, right?)
Added a fallback if your arkship was in a hyperjump when progressing through the adAkkaria event chains
Due to legacy script your capital arkship was never able to find precursors
Stopped Scan Debris Contract from auto-cancelling on accept
Blocked the Sectors Map Mode for Nomads.
Fixed habitats not using the correct entity from your chosen shipset.
Fixed some scripted issues with refugee modifiers.
Fixed issues with Payback and Broken Shackles district specializations.
Fixed farming colony designation not applying to agri-drones.
Bio-Repurposing tradition now provides the nomadic effects for nomadic necromancers instead of the necromancer effects.
Brought the cost and upkeep of the Nanite Hub waystation module in line with the equivalent starbase building.
Fixed the Realign Shields decision not recognising some pulsar systems.
Living and Grid Amalgamated species now have bespoke living standards so they don't use consumer goods.
Fixed Astro Harvester job modifiers not applying in some cases.
Harvesting a celestial body that has no deposit no longer incurs a diplomatic opinion penalty.
The Creativity Exhibition Vault now boosts Cruise Passengers for Forever Cruise empires, instead of applying its bonus to Bio-Trophies they do not have.
Buildings that can be built on a planet or its orbital ring (Psi Corps, Planetary Shield Generator, Galactic Stock Exchange, Embassy, Noble Estates, Slave Processing Facility) can no longer be built as both a colony building and an Arkship starbase building at the same time.
The Galactic Stock Exchange can no longer be built on both a planet and its orbital ring at the same time.
Fixed pops sometimes being stuck in the Assimilation citizenship or stratum.
Pops that already have the cybernetic or psionic trait are no longer flagged for assimilation they do not need.
Negative arkship modifiers from Grand Refurbishment and Operational Checklist are removed when another empire conquers the arkship, so you aren't stuck with a bunch of negative modifiers and no way to remove them.
Arkship can now issue a survey command by clicking the survey button and clicking on the system in galaxy map
Fixed the tooltip information where the survey single planet vs surveying the whole system information was mixed up
Fixed Waystations, Arkships and modded starbases that have forced components from starbase modules and buildings regressing their designs and losing components.
If you are too slow and don't stop the Khan Aspirant from becoming the Khan they now properly despawn, avoiding a scenario where there are two Khans.
If you play with 0 marauders enabled and as a Heirs of the Khan empire, then the backup Marauder empire will avoid Fallen Empire systems so that they don't get killed in the first few weeks, making you the Khan while others are still figuring out Blue Lasers.
Fixed a crash when updating waystation networks
Ranger Lodge now correctly informs that Biologists are converted into Rangers, instead of saying Rangers are converted into Rangers
Arkship construction notification now mentions an arkship, not a starbase
Missions counters can now be infinite
Fixed missing localization for message descriptions
Fixed the End-Bringers' shrouded world failing to spawn in games featuring Nomadic empires.
Fixed Arkships unintentionally syncing to the same auto-generated design. Building or upgrading one Arkship will no longer sometimes overwrite armaments or utilities on others of the same type.
Fleets that are repairing or upgrading now correctly sync their FTL, Jump Drive, and Catapult actions.
Fixed an issue with generated empire adjectives.
Inetian trader special project bound to planet, meaning that if your science ship were to blow up you can still progress
"Secrets of the Past" event from "Biomorphosis" Ascension Situation blocked for Nomads
Nomads will no longer get double the benefit from their own resource producing megastructures. Megastructures will no longer be giving resources directly and a waystation will always be needed to collect those resources.
Planets can now be bombarded during first contact war
Contact view now properly closes if diplomacy window is opened
Fixed some megastructure effects showing incorrect modifier icons and “+100%”.
Rogue Servitors can no longer take a machine species as their secondary species when playing as a Forever Cruise. The machine can not be pampered.
(Beta only) Increased the Shrinkspace Depot and Extra-Dimensional Depot effects on Operation Reserves from 500 to 2500 and 1000 to 5000.
Pops can now migrate from Arkships
Hive Mind Forever Cruise empires with machine passengers start with the Machine Assembly Plants building
Hive Mind Forever Cruise empires start with the passenger Population Controls set to No, which allows the species to grow or be assembled
When starting a new game as a Forever Cruise Origin, crew species will correctly get assigned "cruise_founding_crew" flag. Various effects depends on it being set properly.
Fixed custom empires set to Force Spawn not spawning when using certain portraits.
Fixed custom Spawn Allowed empires with DLC portraits being excluded from the random empire pool.
Added tooltip saying that Nomadic Empires require a waystation in the system to open the L-Gate
Added tooltip saying that Nomadic Empires require a waystation in, or adjacent to, a system to exchange minor artifacts for precursor insight
Added tooltip that highlights that resources need to be harvested with the Arkship in the "Arkship Readiness" situation
Fixed Faculty of Archaeostudies Relic World bonus modifier
Decreased font size in the Empire Creation setup so it would not overlap with the numbers
Spelling error in the "Eager" trait description
Fixed the food upkeep in Phototrophic trait not being disabled when the Radiotrophic trait is active
Nomadic Hive Minds will no longer have access to the Evolutionary Predators decision make planets into hive worlds
Fixed an issue where the Heirs of the Khan claimant could be wiped out by the raider fleets spawned from the same marauder. No infighting!
You will no longer be told that your Khan died from old age when they are in fact immortal
Fixes contracts that had no issuer correctly set
Abort contracts if the issuer ceases to exist
Pre-Sapient species are now allowed to leave Pre-Sapient strata after they have been uplifted.
Fixed Nomadic empires being blocked from excavating their story-locked dig sites that sat in foreign owned systems.
Fixed Arkships sometimes giving up on Surveying.
Empire preview will correctly display forced spawned empires with certain restricted portraits.
Fixed some buildings (e.g. Psi-Corps) being unbuildable on planets.
Arkship habitability preference can now be applied by species modification if your empire is nomadic.
Prospectorium description does not refers to scholarium description
Bio-trophies now give 10 Political Power when playing as Rogue Servitor with the Forever Cruise Origin
The anomaly “The Imitator” will no longer sometimes appear multiple times. The Imitator cannot be imitated.
Removed the habitability requirement for the various Shore Leave internal Forever Cruise contracts.
Machine Intelligence and Individualist Machine Forever Cruises with machine passengers now alternate assembly every month.
Cruise crew and passengers no longer incorrectly assigned Grid Amalgamation or Livestock living standards and slavery types.
Species being assimilated no longer incorrectly assigned Grid Amalgamation living standard.
Individualistic Machine Forever Cruise no longer gets an error from placing Robot Assembly Plants at game start.
Species being integrated are no longer eligible for assembly.
The Package Deal living standard in Forever Cruise now grants political power to employed Economy Class Passengers.
Added missing event sounds to the Forever Cruise situation
Fixed megastructure overclock buttons being unresponsive.
Fixed several Cosmic Storms anomalies appearing more than once per game when they should be unique.
Fixed Stellar Cannon opinion modifier overflow
The Build Waystation contract is now longer automatically abandoned for players when at double station capacity, only for AI nomads
Joining an ongoing war is now considered offensive from the perspective of subject agreement terms, regardless of which side is joined
Fixed ships that are waiting to be killed being counted for ship size-specific caps and special project requirements.
Permanent Employment in Forever Cruise now only zombifies the crew, not the passengers
Fixed issues when dismantling Beastports on Arkships.
Added the bottom border line to the research dropdown in the top Resource Bar
Reduced the Consumer Good upkeep of First Class Passenger Mandatory Pampering to 1 (from 1.5) for Rogue Servitors, matching the living standard's description.
Fix waylines persisting on galaxy map after waystation removal

Fixed AI being disabled after a resync in MP.
The AI will now once again assign leaders to sector capitals as well as newly built arkships.
Fixed AI not handling events if they don't have an idle science ship with a leader.

UI/UX

The Operational Reserves situation now shows its capacity breakdown and stored/total readout in the Situation Log instead of an empty Finisher Effects panel.
The Operational Reserves topbar tooltip now shows a predicted monthly change with per-resource Energy and Minerals contributions, each with a resource icon and coloured +/- value, and a Hold-ALT hint to expand the produced/consumed breakdown.
When enabling nomads in empire creation, the civilian arkship is now selected by default.
Arkships no longer show false clearable-blocker icons in the outliner.
Fixed incorrect Arkship button texts in the planet view.
Anomaly window now also shows the name of the anomaly
Fixed a target visibility bug when switching between situation log entries.
Fix Remove Contract button hover hitbox in Situation Log
Science Ships, Construction Ships, and Nomad fleets now share one automation settings window, with options nested under each action in a scrollable list.
The automation settings window now groups actions into collapsible categories, with Survey nested under Exploration so you can automate exploring with or without surveying, and adds a Reset button that restores a fleet's default automation settings.
In species trait tooltips in empire creation, the portrait requirements are now listed in the correct order.
Fixed too large hitboxes for overclocking buttons.

Performance

Fixed science ship Excavate and Astral Rift automation causing a recurring daily stutter when no reachable target was available.
Reduced the CPU and memory overhead of per-fleet order checks, improving performance in large late-game galaxies with many fleets.

Stability

Added some safeguards to avoid crashing related to pop groups.

Modding

Situations can define total_progress with per-stage section_weight for progress bars whose length and stage bands scale at runtime, with auto-generated _max_progress_add/_mult country modifiers and a situation_progress_percent trigger.
Situations, stages, and approaches support custom_tooltip and custom_tooltip_with_modifiers (replacing the approach-only active_tooltip), and situations can override their Situation Log Active Effects and Finisher Effects panel titles and bodies.
Added the orbital_ring_and_arkship_equivalent_absent scripted trigger.
Starbase modules now also support `scripted_effect_cooldown`, `scripted_effect_cooldown_flag`, and `scripted_effect_cooldown_flag_desc`
and are now optional for is_point_of_interest.
Scripted actions support a new automation = {} block with an options sub-block, plus a new fleet-scoped has_automation_flag trigger to gate automation weights.
Scripted action automation = {} blocks now support a parent field that nests an action's row beneath another action in the settings menu.
Added home_colony and background_colony scopes (similar to home_planet and background_planet, but scope to a colony on any carrier type).

Most further changes are being made on the 4.5 ‘Cygnus’ branch, which is currently up as an open beta on the [c]stellaris_test_4.5[/c] branch. We’re looking at doing a 4.4.6 hotfix today or tomorrow to fix an issue where automated science ships get stuck forever in Astral Rifts (manually assigned science ships don’t get sent MIA for all eternity), but other than that we expect this to be the last release of the 4.4 ‘Pegasus’ cycle.

We also updated the ‘Cygnus’ Open Beta this week. This week’s updates include early versions of Cosmogenesis and Storm Chasers for Nomadic empires, and made a few updates to the Knights of the Toxic God.

4.5 ‘Cygnus’ Open Beta Release Notes

New additions since last week are in italics.

The 4.5 Open Beta now also includes all changes from 4.4.5.

Feature

Pop groups are no longer divided by Ethics or Factions, instead each pop group will have a given percentage that belongs to each faction or ethic as appropriate. This means that:
- THIS IS A BREAKING CHANGE AND WILL NOT PRESERVE SAVE GAME COMPATIBILITY.
- Ethics and factions are now shown on the pop group entries in the planetary management UI, with tooltips showing the attraction to ethics and factions. Verbose tooltips are enabled by holding Alt, to show a breakdown of all modifiers for these attractions.
- Pops shift ethics and factions more frequently
- Pop group faction conversion happens more frequently
- Ethic attraction now impacts faction growth
- Simplify factions randomization logic
- Updated Cyberization policies to account for the changes to pop groups and ethics. The Limited Cybernetic species trait has been removed, instead if the Limited Cyberization policy is in effect, Cybernetic Spiritualist pops do not benefit from Cybernetic Job Efficiency. The Limited Cyborg leader trait still functions as previously. This will also decrease the Approval penalty from regular spiritualist factions from the demand The Flesh is Strong.
Unlocked Knights of the Toxic God for nomads
Added policies to provide better control over the auto-designer for both players and AI:
- Added a Fleet Doctrine policy with six doctrines that determine the tactical roles each ship class is designed to fill, affecting automated ship designs and ship-designer auto-complete.
- Added Weapon Preference and Defense Preference policies that steer automated ship designs and technology research.
- Added Starbase Weapon Preference and Starbase Defense Preference policies so station loadouts can diverge from the fleet.
Federations can now enact laws to grant members free, automatic Commercial Pacts (and, with the Nomads DLC, Wayline Pacts) or Research Agreements. Each law is unavailable to the federation type that already grants the benefit through its perk (Trade League / Research Cooperative).
- Trade League federations now provide free, automatic Commercial Pacts between all member empires.
- Trade League federations now also provide free, automatic Wayline Pacts between all members. (Requires Nomads)
Cosmogenesis is now available for Nomads
Added a nomad compatible version of Storm Chasers
- Storm Attraction is now fully functional for mobile arkships
Empires now have more control over their colors:
- Added a toggle and selectors in empire creation so you can select your map border and fill colours independently of your flag color.
- Ship Color can now be selected independently from flag colors in Empire Creation.
- Color swatches in the species creator's flag editor and ship-set selector now show the name of the selected color on hover.

Improvement

Regular Empires can now cancel accepted contracts after 20 years, with a notification sent to the operator.
The Dyson Swarm "best systems" list will now always show a variety of systems with different resources, so if you have a dozen physics deposits, they won't hide all of your energy systems. All "best systems" finders now show up to 12 systems.
Added new event options to the Forever Cruise situation stage events, allowing players to accept temporary economic penalties to affect the situation's direction.

Balance

Strike craft and missile defensive modifiers now also affect strike craft and missiles launched from starbases and defense platforms.
The Cybernetic species trait now provides an additional +5% Job Efficiency.
Hive minds which encounter genetic defects during cyberization can now choose a cyberisation policy.
Scientific Arkships now have +5% Deep Scanning Success Chance per Tier
Your Trade Policy now converts the trade value gained from Commercial Pacts and Branch Offices, just like the rest of your trade value (previously this trade was not run through your policy).
The "The Collective Self" technology now grants +1 Envoy.
The "Federation Code" technology now reduces Diplomacy influence upkeep by 25%.
Increased base knights upkeep by .15 alloys and .15 consumer goods
Increased soldier alloy upkeep for arkship military zones by 0.1
Rogue Servitor Forever Cruise Passengers now provide an additional +1% Complex Drone Job Efficiency on top of the base Gestalt bonus.
Consecrate World changes:
- Consecrate World can now be declared on a curated set of worlds tied to your empire's origin and traits (such as Gaia and relic worlds, and origin-specific worlds like toxic, shrouded, rift, or arc-furnace worlds).
- Reworked the Consecrated Worlds reward — consecrating worlds now grants a deterministic, empire-wide bonus to Unity, Amenities, and Spiritualist Ethics Attraction that scales with the number of Consecrated Worlds (+10% / +20% / +40% at 1 / 2 / 3), replacing the previous randomized per-world outcome.
The Paladin Ship now has a dedicated combat computer with Line tactics, giving it proper combat positioning while staying directable in combat, instead of ignoring attackers and holding position.
Scientific Arkships now have +5% Deep Scanning Success Chance per Tier
Your Trade Policy now converts the trade value gained from Commercial Pacts and Branch Offices, just like the rest of your trade value (previously this trade was not run through your policy).
The "The Collective Self" technology now grants +1 Envoy.
The "Federation Code" technology now reduces Diplomacy influence upkeep by 25%.

Bugfix

AI and auto-complete ship designs no longer leave weapon or strike craft slots empty after upgrades or power rebalancing.
Fixed auto-generated ships occasionally receiving two sections in a single section slot.
Role-based section selection always resolves a valid section, so screen and point-defense ships receive the correct section.
Harbinger Crystalline Growth Regulators can no longer grow crystals on strike craft that have been launched, and modifiers that increase the armor and/or shields of strike craft no longer render strike craft functionally immune to damage.
Missile and torpedo armor and shields are now correctly applied in combat, so point-defense no longer ignores them.
Fixed Gospel of the Masses additional trade value not applying to your branch offices.
The Branching Out modifier from the Cyberization situation now gives +10% Trader Job Efficiency.
Automated starbase, waystation, and orbital ring designs now fit armor instead of shields in systems or on stations where shields are negated (pulsars, X-ray binaries, turbulent nebulae, and cloaking modules).
Fixed Deep Scan uncovering anomalies and archaeology sites far less often than the intended 7% and 3% chances.
Sero the Younger's Habitable Deep Scan can now uncover resource deposits, anomalies, and archaeology sites instead of only pre-sapients.
The success chance of Sero the Younger's Habitable Deep Scan now correctly diminishes with repeated scans of the same world.
Deep Scan resource caches now correctly scale with the Advanced Xenostudies resolution instead of A Voice for All.
Federation members can now form Commercial Pacts with one another, matching Research Agreements.
Free and automatic Research Agreements between Federation members now correctly benefit from Research Sharing from Agreements modifiers and satisfy faction demands for having Research Agreements.
Fixed federation members losing their existing Commercial Pacts with one another when forming or joining a federation. Members of non-trade federations now keep their pacts, while Trade Leagues replace them with the free federation pact (This only applies to Commercial Pacts between federation members).
Fixed pop and country ethics being permanently and progressively wiped across the galaxy during play.
- What makes a man turn neutral? A lust for gold? Power? Or an error in the pop ethics randomizer?
Fixed Protostars not counting towards having energy deposits.
Extended swapping logic for soldiers into knights. All sources of soldier jobs should now be covered
- Knight swaps should now work properly for nomads
The Joyous Warrior trait now specifies that its effect can only trigger with the relevant leader leading planetary invasions
If a system's starbase is unoccupied while all its planets are occupied, the system is no longer considered fully occupied.
Fixed the crime events (among others) not firing on arkships
Cryo-Sleepers no longer produce Crime/Deviancy
Clarified the Creativity Exhibition Vault's tooltip for Forever Cruise Rogue Servitors: its production and upkeep effects reach all passengers, not just first-class Bio-Trophies.
Fixed the Machine Uprising resolution notification showing "Unidentified Empire" instead of the names of the empires involved when an uprising was quelled or won.
Synthetic Fertility Nomads are no longer able to build arkships until they have researched droids
Fixed edge cases where Cetana would not properly turn hostile upon war declaration
Added a missing nomad Archaeology notification string
Fixed the Ness treasure system not spawning for non nomad empires
Fixed the Gaia world from Starlit Citadel being impossible to colonize
Fixed a missing icon in the Order's Keep concept tooltip
The Crystalline Bane modifier should now get properly removed
Adjusted the number of ships produced when using the Prethoryn Queen relic
Wilderness and Synthetic Fertility now start with homeworlds of the proper size
Fixed a case of double notification after a machine uprising ends
The Dyson Swarm "best systems" finder will now be based exclusively on raw star resources, and will be unaffected by modifiers like techs or cosmic storms.
The Arc Furnace "best systems" finder will now only show systems that have a Molten World.
Fixed numerous issues with Total Wars:
- Nomadic Empires will now gain ownership of defeated Arkships and Waystations after Total War status quo victory.
- Nomadic Empires will now steal a percentage of the population from planets they destroy during Total Wars.
- Arkships defeated by Settled Empires are now destroyed after Total War status quo victory.
- Nomadic Empires can now be defeated in Total Wars.
- Taking planets in a Total War will now occupy them until the system is fully occupied, then annex them all at once. This prevents a bug where a system without a starbase didn't rebuild it if only some planets were taken.
The leader tooltip is now shown in all places where it should be shown
'Delicious Titans' planet modifier tooltip now correctly says 'Farmers are Converted in Titan Hunters' and doesn't show a broken icon.
savefiles with pending first contact event no longer fail to pick an event sound
Graphical crashfix related to Storm Forecast
Entertainer jobs on Forever Cruise Arkships now correctly come from the Entertainment Hub specialization instead of the Operations Center.
Fix for Nomadic Grand Archives being destroyed when a Settled Empire's system is destroyed.
Fix for Nomadic Grand Archive not being destroyed when a Waystation is lost or downgraded below Tier 2.
Added the bottom border line to the research dropdown in the top Resource Bar
Mandatory Pampering now reduces First Class Passenger Consumer Goods upkeep to 1 (from 1.5) for Rogue Servitors, matching the living standard's description.
Permanent Employment in Forever Cruise now only zombifies the crew, not the passengers
AI nomads no longer accept and ignore Build Waystation contracts when at capacity
The Build Waystation contract is now longer automatically abandoned for players when at double station capacity, only for AI nomads
Fixed several Cosmic Storms anomalies appearing more than once per game when they should be unique.
Removed the habitability requirement for the various Shore Leave internal Forever Cruise contracts.
Fixed ships that are waiting to be killed being counted for ship size-specific caps and special project requirements.
Bio-trophies now give 10 Political Power when playing as Rogue Servitor with the Forever Cruise Origin
AI empires with stealth fleet doctrines now correctly install cloaking devices on auto-designed ships.
Psionic shields are no longer equipped on stealth ships that lack psionic cloaking.
Machine Intelligence and Individualist Machine Forever Cruises with machine passengers now alternate assembly every month.
Cruise crew and passengers no longer incorrectly assigned Grid Amalgamation or Livestock living standards and slavery types.
Species being assimilated no longer incorrectly assigned Grid Amalgamation living standard.
Individualistic Machine Forever Cruise no longer gets an error from placing Robot Assembly Plants at game start.
Species being integrated are no longer eligible for assembly.
The Package Deal living standard in Forever Cruise now grants political power to employed Economy Class Passengers.
Fixed megastructure overclock buttons being unresponsive.
Added missing event sounds to the Forever Cruise situation
Fixed issues when dismantling Beastports on Arkships.
Carrier-computer ships now position themselves using the longer of their weapon or strike craft range, so a carrier with no strike craft no longer charges into close range.
Arkships without equipped weapons no longer charge into melee.
Fixed fleets set to flee when overpowered evaluating their flee condition correctly on an Evasive stance, rather than always evading regardless of the threat.
Fixed Deep Scan uncovering anomalies and archaeology sites far less often than the intended 7% and 3% chances.
Sero the Younger's Habitable Deep Scan can now uncover resource deposits, anomalies, and archaeology sites instead of only pre-sapients.
The success chance of Sero the Younger's Habitable Deep Scan now correctly diminishes with repeated scans of the same world.
Deep Scan resource caches now correctly scale with the Advanced Xenostudies resolution instead of A Voice for All.
Federation members can now form Commercial Pacts with one another, matching Research Agreements.
Free and automatic Research Agreements between Federation members now correctly benefit from Research Sharing from Agreements modifiers and satisfy faction demands for having Research Agreements.
Fixed federation members losing their existing Commercial Pacts with one another when forming or joining a federation. Members of non-trade federations now keep their pacts, while Trade Leagues replace them with the free federation pact (This only applies to Commercial Pacts between federation members).
Fixed issue with district indicators in the planet view
Fixed Stellar Cannon opinion modifier overflow
Fixed the Prospectorium's description incorrectly referring to the Scholarium.
Joining an ongoing war is now considered offensive from the perspective of subject agreement terms, regardless of which side is joined
Federation voting laws now apply when joining and leaving ongoing wars
Fixed manually issued system-wide Harvest orders queueing when there were no valid targets.
Fixed Arkships sometimes giving up on surveying.
Fixed the Declare War button tooltip being incorrect after leaving a federation.
Fixed waylines persisting on the galaxy map after a waystation was removed.
Fixed the Logistic Growth Scaling galaxy setting being truncated to one digit.
Nomadic Purge Vassals are now a special subject type that provide resources to their Overlord through subject taxes. Any remaining pops and resources are handed up to the overlord when the subject finishes its work, instead of being lost when the subject's colony was abandoned. A Purging Complete notification lists the pops and resources handed over to the Overlord when a Purge Vassal finishes its work, including any incidental resources that the planet may have produced during their stay.
Fixed Nomad Overlords not receiving the Unity (Fanatic Purifiers, Determined Exterminators, and Necrophages) or Society Research (Devouring Swarms) generated when their temporary purge subjects purged pops - the reward now goes to the Overlord instead of being lost with the subject.
Nomad purge subjects of assimilating empires (such as Driven Assimilators) now assimilate the pops they can rather than purging them, only exterminating pops that cannot be assimilated. The assimilated pops are handed up to the Overlord when the subject disbands, instead of the subject exterminating everyone or lingering forever as a separate empire.
Nomadic Purge Vassals no longer establish Embassies, and other empires can no longer propose Embassies to them.
Empires now correctly lower their opinion of a Nomad Overlord when its Purge Vassal Necrophages pops of their species
Fixed Necropurge not always creating pops.
The Judicial Execution leader trait now correctly grants bonuses when purging Thermophiles
Fixed the Necrophage Elevation Ceremony failing on Arkships. Elevated pops now adapt to Arkship Habitability, and the Pops Necrophaged notification is now shown, highlighting the Arkship fleet
Nomadic empires attempting to invade the first pre-FTL encounter are now correctly told that they need to survey the planet, not that their pre-ftl interference policy is preventing them from invading the planet.

AI empires adopt a fleet doctrine and weapon/defense preferences matching their personality.
Auto-generated ship designs are now fully regenerated when new technology is researched, allowing them to adopt newly unlocked weapons and switch weapon families.
AI empires research weapon technologies matching their preferred weapon type more eagerly.
AI empires research armor or shield technologies in line with their defensive preference.
Sneak-attacker empires are more likely to research cloaking technology.
The AI no longer selects battleship, ember, or Stinger XL sections before it has a usable XL weapon.
The Stinger artillery section is no longer unconditionally preferred over its line section.
AI empires now fit psionic shields when they can afford the zro, instead of always avoiding them.
A shortage of one rare or strategic resource no longer blocks the AI from using weapons and components that rely on other rare resources.
AI empires with stealth fleet doctrines now correctly install cloaking devices on auto-designed ships.
Psionic shields are no longer equipped on stealth ships that lack psionic cloaking.
Fixed AI not handling events if they don't have an idle science ship with a leader.
Fixed AI not declaring war if their naval capacity is too high.

UI/UX

Waystations now show the amount of resources collected every month.
Improved Waystation stockpile tooltips.
Overlapping list boxes are now properly centered
Policies are now grouped into collapsible categories (Military, Diplomacy, Economy, Research, Society), with a traffic-light header on each category indicating whether all, some, or none of its policies can currently be changed.
- Added a button to collapse or expand all policy categories at once.
- Military policies can now be reviewed and changed from the Fleet Manager, and research policies from the Technology view.
Hints nomad players that they can excavate owned dig sites if they have the Frontier Archaeology tradition
Building slots are highlighted when they are selected
Fixed too large hitboxes for overclocking buttons.
In species trait tooltips in empire creation, the portrait requirements are now listed in the correct order.
Fixed the Open Orbital Ring button being hardcoded in planet_view.gui

Performance

macOS builds can now run natively on Apple Silicon as a universal (arm64 + x86_64) binary, no longer requiring Rosetta 2 translation.
Improved mid- and late-game performance by optimizing how pop faction attraction is calculated.
Reduced the CPU and memory overhead of per-fleet order checks, improving performance in large late-game galaxies with many fleets.

Stability

Fixed a crash that could occur when hovering over certain leader traits.
Fixed a potential crash when generating empire name labels on the galaxy map.
Fixed some more multiplayer out-of-sync issues.

Modding

Remove obsolete faction parameters
Added missile armor, shield, and hull point modifiers (flat and percentage variants).
Added triggers pop_ethic_amount, pop_ethic_percentage.
Added effects pop_force_add_ethic, pop_force_remove_ethic, pop_force_transfer_ethic
Fix `pop_force_add_ethic` and `pop_change_ethic` triggers
Remove deprecated triggers `pop_has_ethic` and `pop_group_has_ethic`
Added the can_spawn_random_anomaly, can_spawn_random_archaeological_site, and can_add_random_non_blocker_deposit triggers, and a surveyor parameter to the spawn_random_anomaly effect.
Exposed defines for allowing the AI to ignore the penalties for being over naval cap or over naval cap. The current state of these defines is no change from previous behaviour.
Added pretriggers to ships
Added home_colony and background_colony scopes (similar to home_planet and background_planet, but scope to a colony on any carrier type).
Removed min_navy_for_wars from country types.
Scripted actions support a new automation = {} block with an options sub-block, plus a new fleet-scoped has_automation_flag trigger to gate automation weights.
Scripted action automation = {} blocks now support a parent field that nests an action's row beneath another action in the settings menu.
Added the weapon_and_strike_craft range_components option for ship behaviors.
Expanded the ship_behavior template documentation (move patterns, combat_movement, flee_when_overpowered, allow_emergency_ftl, allow_disengage).
Added the can_spawn_random_anomaly, can_spawn_random_archaeological_site, and can_add_random_non_blocker_deposit triggers, and a surveyor parameter to the spawn_random_anomaly effect.
Exposed defines for allowing the AI to ignore the penalties for being over naval cap or over naval cap. The current state of these defines is no change from previous behaviour.
Updated the documentation for the `create_country` effect.

Added the transfer_resources_to_empire effect, which transfers a country's stockpile of each listed resource
Added the transfer_resources_to_empire effect, which transfers a country's stockpile of each listed resource (optionally a percentage of it) to another country in a single call
create_message now supports a "resources" variable type that prints a country's current stockpile of the listed resources as one string of icon + amount pairs

We’ve also added more color customization to empires:

The Flag and Ship tabs in Empire Creation will now allow you to pick colors for your map borders and fill and ship colors independently from your Empire Flag. These selections also include tooltips that show the RGB value of the selected color.

Beautiful. (?)

Stellaris Wallpapers Updated

One more update!

The Stellaris Wallpaper Album has been updated with more than 40 images from Nomads, BioGenesis, Shadows of the Shroud, and the Infernals Species Pack.

What’s Next?

While work will continue on the 4.5 branch throughout the summer, this will be the last scheduled dev diary until August 20th, when we’ll likely continue discussing the changes in the Cygnus update.

Have a great summer!

Total Eclipse of the Heart Singer Bonnie Tyler Has Died Aged of 75

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:57:03 +0800

Bonnie Tyler, the singer behind power ballad Total Eclipse of the Heart and rock epic Holding Out for a Hero, has died aged 75.

A statement posted to Tyler’s official Facebook page says she died “unexpectedly” last night in hospital in Portugal.

“Bonnie's family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for,” the statement reads. “We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.”

Tyler was rushed to a hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she lived, in May for emergency intestinal surgery, and was placed in an induced coma. Last month, Tyler emerged from the coma but remained unwell in intensive care. It was reported at the time that her condition was improving. There was even talk of tour dates later this year.

The south Wales-born singer was behind one of the biggest songs of the 1980s: 1983’s rock opera Total Eclipse of the Heart, although she recently said she barely saw a penny from it. The song, which was streamed for the one billionth time on Spotify earlier this year, was solely written by Jim Steinman, so, according to the BBC, publishing royalties go to his estate. The remaining money goes to the owner of the master recording — currently Sony Music — which shares a percentage with Tyler based on the recording contract she’d signed in the 80s, long before the emergence of downloads and streaming. Spotify said it paid out $1.4 million in royalties for Tyler’s back catalogue last year.

In an interview with the BBC, Taylor said she never tires of singing Total Eclipse of the Heart. "It's quite an evergreen song," she said, "how many times have you heard it popping up in adverts and movies People just love it."

Holding Out for a Hero was recorded for the soundtrack to 1984 film Footloose, starring Kevin Bacon, and later appeared in Volition's 2011 game, Saints Row: The Third during the final mission, and in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Total Eclipse of the Heart, meanwhile, played during the intro to Battlefield 4. In fact, Tyler's songs have appeared in a long list of video games, including Just Dance, Singstar, and We Sing.

Photo by Aldara Zarraoa/Redferns.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Palworld dev delivers "important" 1.0 mod warning - just turning them off "is not enough"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:55:03 +0800

As the Palworld 1.0 launch arrives, developer Pocketpair says you need to manually clear out your install file to avoid potential crashes.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Palworld dev delivers "important" 1.0 mod warning - just turning them off "is not enough"

Valve just changed how CS2's bomb works, and it's terrifying

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:55:03 +0800

The Counter-Strike 2 Season 5 update is here, with a bomb damage rework, new map rotations and armory skins, and a curious grenade command.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Valve just changed how CS2's bomb works, and it's terrifying

Pitches for a co-op Doom, a new Perfect Dark, and a John Wick-inspired cyberpunk game were cooking at id Software before Microsoft layoffs reportedly led to 136 job cuts

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:47:06 +0800

Doom developer id Software was reportedly pitching various projects before a majority of the studio was laid off, including a new Perfect Dark, a John Wick-inspired game, and a multiplayer Doom game.

As reported by GamesBeat – which has interviewed now-former employees about the massive layoffs at id Software that have reportedly seen 136 of its 185 developers laid off by Xbox – after finishing Doom: The Dark Ages' Revelations DLC, the studio wasn't working on a major project, and was in the midst of pitching various ideas, which unfortunately left it in a vulnerable position. These projects apparently included an original game called Fury, a new Perfect Dark, and a multiplayer-focused Doom title.

Fury is reportedly a project that studio co-director Hugo Martin proposed, and blended sci-fi, noir and cyberpunk elements with Gun Fu combat in the vein of the John Wick film series. Another apparent candidate was a western robot survival game with the codename Ironwood. Meanwhile, Doom reportedly had pitches for multiplayer, co-op, and DLC projects for the series that never materialized.

There was also a Perfect Dark pitch reportedly being worked on with a presentation given and concept art in the works. The series hasn't had a release since the Xbox 360 launch title, with the rebooted project from The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics canceled last year as part of what seems like now-yearly mass layoffs at Xbox.

However, none of these projects are likely to ever come to light. Reports out of Bethesda claim that Xbox is apparently pushing the company to get the likes of The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 out sooner, and that alongside those two, the company is to focus on tentpole franchises like Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake.

Of course, I don't really understand why you would absolutely gut the company responsible for Doom and Quake (as well as the studio that made Wolfenstein's most influential title: Wolfenstein 3D) if you wanted to focus on those series, but Xbox and Microsoft decisions don't always make the most sense. Previously, Matt Booty (then head of Xbox Game Studios, now executive vice president and chief content officer of Xbox) said "we need smaller games that give us prestige and awards," a day after closing Tango Gameworks, which had released Hi-Fi Rush – a smaller game that gave Xbox prestige and awards.

John Romero praises the devs who carried on id Software's legacy as Microsoft reportedly lays off half of the studio.

[/url]

Digimon Story: Time Stranger update with performance mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X and more is now available

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:47:05 +0800

Performance mode is not available on Xbox Series S according to the patch notes.

Former VG247 editors launch new publication, Respec

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:39:03 +0800

The former editorial leadership of British publication VG247 have founded a new games brand, Respec, which they say will offer a new independent voice in an increasingly shrinking games media.

Respec is a news, reviews, and features site managed by former VG247 editor-in-chief and Eurogamer editorial director, Tom Orry, and former VG247 editor-at-large and RPG Site owner Alex Donaldson.

After a brief stint at Eurogamer, the pair left operator Gamer Network (which is owned by IGN Entertainment) earlier this year as part of a wave of editorial layoffs at parent company Ziff Davis.

Read More...

Sea of Thieves Release Notes – Hotfix 3.8.0.2

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:33:03 +0800

Updates

Chest of Fortune Balancing

The issues preventing some emergent World Events from awarding the Chest of Fortune upon completion have been addressed, and the Chest of Fortune is now being awarded where intended.
When tackling any of these emergent World Events, the chances of players finding one or even multiple Chests of Fortune have now been significantly increased!

Fixed Issues

Gameplay

The following World Events now provide a chance of discovering a Chest of Fortune as intended: Skeleton Forts, Reaper Fortresses, the Fort of Fortune, Ashen Winds, Skeleton Fleets, Ghost Fleets, the Burning Blade and the Fort of the Damned.
Crews should no longer find that during a Fort siege, skeleton waves can stop appearing, halting progress through the encounter. This addresses issues experienced in Skeleton Forts, Reaper Fortresses, the Fort of Fortune and the Fort of the Damned.

Faction Battles

Players who attempt to scuttle prior to sinking during a Faction Battle can no longer prevent their opponent from receiving the win and their rewards.

Bilge Rats Weekender

Further improvements have been made to prevent Challenge checklists from appearing blank when opened during the Bilge Rats Weekender.

Known Issues

To learn more about known issues in Sea of Thieves currently being tracked and their status, head over to our Known Issues support site article.

Full Release Notes

These release notes cover a hotfix. For full details on recently added game features, see the release notes on our latest content update.

Stone Age 4x game Folk Emerging arrives August 26

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:12:04 +0800

If you want a new 4x strategy game perhaps you'll want to keep an eye on Folk Emerging - like a smaller version of Civilization in the Stone Age.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/stone-age-4x-game-folk-emerging-arrives-august-26/

Monthly Decals for July!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:10:05 +0800

Hey everyone! We’re back with a new set of decals for you for July, we hope you’re staying cool! We have quite an eclectic mix this time around with a little bit of everything, personal markings, squadron markings, graffiti, the lot. We have also discovered that our decal artist dislikes clowns very much, sorry Fenris!

We’ve also got a small survey for you if you have the time, just some short questions about the monthly decal event, what decals you like, whether the event enhances your enjoyment of the game, things like that. It should only take a minute or so, please consider clicking below if you’d like to give some feedback.

SURVEY

The following decals are available from July 9th (11:00 GMT) until August 10th (09:00 GMT).
All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.

“Downs’ Clowns” Emblem, USA

I./ZG 26 Emblem “Ringelpitz”, Germany

Deal 10 tons of base damage while using US Bombers

Defeat 50 players using German Aircraft

“Downs’ Clowns” Emblem

“Downs’ Clowns” nose art, 92nd Bombardment Group (Medium), 325th Bomb Squadron, U.S. Air Force. During the Korean War, it was typical for nose art to be themed around the pilot of the aircraft. Self-deprecating and lighthearted humor was also especially common, so pilot Downs and his crew of clowns fit right in. Not too much is known about the aircraft and crew themselves; what is noted is that during 1951, their aircraft was heavily damaged by an attacking MiG-15 while on a raid and was written off as a loss after landing. The marking was painted on the nose under the cockpit on B-29 44-86284 while the aircraft was based at Yokota, Japan.

I./ZG 26 Emblem “Ringelpitz”

“Ringelpitz” (Ring o’ Roses) Emblem, 1st Group, Zerstörergeschwader (Destroyer Wing) 26, Luftwaffe. ZG 26 was formed on May 1st 1939, and was one of the first destroyer units to be equipped with the new Bf 110 heavy fighters. This emblem was designed around 1940 and was inspired by routine combat with the RAF. It depicts a black fish-like plane with British roundels being outmaneuvered by a red crocodile-like plane with German roundels, fittingly with the bullets coming out of the nose, much like the gun placement on the Bf 110. The design was perhaps overly optimistic, however. Despite the relative success of the plane as a whole, it would seldom come out on top in a maneuvering dogfight. The emblem was widely used during the Battle of Britain era and was inherited by II./ZG 2 after its reorganization in the spring of 1942. The emblem was painted on the nose of the group’s Bf 110 fighters.

FFI Emblem, France

Grupo de Aviación N.º 1 (Ataque) Emblem, Uruguay

5. Opklaringseskadron Emblem, Denmark

Earn 15000 score while using French Ground Vehicles

Destroy 70 Ground or Water targets using Aircraft

Earn 20 “Intelligence” awards while using Swedish Light Tanks

FFI Emblem

An emblem of the FFI (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur), French Resistance. The French Forces of the Interior was a more formal composition of the French Resistance, structured formally on February 1st 1944. It was vital to the Allied war effort after the Normandy Landings and was responsible for gathering intelligence, harassing German supply lines, and helping to liberate towns and villages ahead of the main Allied force. While primarily a light infantry formation, it captured and commandeered a wide variety of armored vehicles from the Germans, many of which were originally French. These tanks were generally hastily painted with the Cross of Lorraine and “FFI” inscriptions, with no standardized placement. This specific FFI inscription was painted on the side of the hull of a reclaimed B1 Bis, which proudly drove through the streets of Paris after the city was liberated in August 1944.

Grupo de Aviación N º1 (Ataque) Emblem

The emblem of Grupo de Aviación N º1 (Ataque) (Air Squadron No. 1 (Attack)), Uruguayan Air Force. Originally formed on August 5th 1955 as a reconnaissance unit, the group fielded a variety of trainers and light attack aircraft, including the T-6 Texan and P-51 Mustang. It later evolved into Uruguay's primary ground-attack squadron in 1981, after receiving a set of IA-58A Pucará strike aircraft from Argentina. It was stationed at the Santa Bernardina air base in Durazno and primarily took part in reconnaissance and ground attack operations in conjunction with the army. In total it operated 11 Pucarás until March 17th 2017, when the unit was disbanded after accruing 23,000 flight hours. The emblem was sporadically painted high on the tails of some of their Pucarás, just under the elevator.

5. Opklaringseskadron Emblem

An unofficial emblem of 5. Opklaringseskadron (5th Reconnaissance Squadron), Royal Danish Army. The 5th Squadron was formed in the 1990s and fielded distinctive “Black Recce Leopards”, painted in almost all black. Regulations were light regarding personal crew art, which resulted in an unusually wide variety of markings painted on its tanks. It’s unclear as to whether this marking is a direct reference to anything in particular; it may just be a funny doodle by one of the crew members. It was painted on the rear storage door of Leopard 1A5DK 62481 sometime during the 1990s.

29th Sentai 2nd Chutai Emblem “Dokuro”, Japan

168th IAP Emblem, USSR

Finish in position 1-3 three times using Japanese Aircraft

Defeat 20 players using air-to-air missiles while using Soviet Aircraft

29th Sentai 2nd Chutai Emblem “Dokuro”

A tail marking of the 29th Sentai, 2nd Chutai, IJAAF. The squadron was initially formed as a reconnaissance group on July 15th 1939, filling both short and long-range recon roles. In February 1944, however, the 29th Sentai reformed as a pure fighter regiment, equipped with the Ki-44. The marking it adopted during this period is exceptionally rare among Japanese identification symbols. Geometric shapes made up the vast majority of tail emblems, making this one especially remarkable. It was likely chosen as the shift in operational role was very distinct, so it needed an equally distinct emblem. The lower red and white band represents the 29th Sentai, while the yellow stripes represent the 2nd Chutai. During late 1944, the unit suffered heavy losses, and the marking was retired after the unit transitioned to the Ki-84. During its operations in 1944, the distinctive skull marking was painted on both sides of the tail on their Ki-44 fighters.

168th IAP Emblem

An emblem of the 168th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Soviet Air Force. The 168th was formed in 1940 in the Odessa Military District at Kirovograd airfield, equipped with I-16s. It served throughout the Second World War and was granted the Order of Suvorov for its collective successes. This emblem was created in the late 1980s, when the regiment was deployed to Afghanistan under the 40th Combined Arms Army. It depicts an eagle gripping a lightning bolt against a teal circle, very typical motifs for Soviet aviation markings. The swept-back wings of the bird also fittingly mirror the aircraft on which it was painted, the MiG-23MLD. The emblem was painted on the regiment’s MiG-23s during its deployment in Afghanistan, on the engine intakes behind the cockpit. Usage of the emblem halted shortly after deployment, when the regiment was absorbed into the 85th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in 1991.

151st Combined Arms Brigade Emblem “Thunder Flying Tiger”, China

132ª Brigata corazzata “Ariete” Emblem, Italy

1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron Emblem, Britain

Win 10 battles using Chinese Tanks

Play 20 battles while using Italian Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle Activity

Score 20000 Damage using British Coastal Vessels

151st Combined Arms Brigade Emblem “Thunder Flying Tiger”

The emblem of the 151st Combined Arms Brigade, 82nd Group Army, PLA. The 151st Brigade has an especially rich lineage and history; it was formally founded in November 1937 and took part in many major conflicts, even earning the honorific “Heroic Unit” (英雄部队) title in 1951. During this time, it was known as the 113th Division and would carry this name until 2017, after which it was restructured into the 82nd Group Army and the division was split into two brigades. One half retained the 113th identity, while the other became the 151st Brigade. Both brigades kept the iconic “Flying Tiger” design from their shared legacy. In the 151st Brigade’s version of the emblem, the number 151 is worked into the design next to the tiger (一五一). The emblem is not permanently applied to the brigade’s tanks and is only seldom seen during training exercises. It was placed on the turret sides of the brigade’s ZTZ99A tanks, in the center of the front four ERA blocks.

132ª Brigata corazzata “Ariete” Emblem

The primary emblem of the 132nd Armored Brigade “Ariete”, Italian Army. The Ariete division was formally founded on February 1st 1939, making up Italy’s primary armored force during the Second World War. It was officially declared lost after its defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein, but was reactivated post-war in 1948, returning to divisional size in 1952. On October 1st 1986, the entire divisional level of the army structure was abolished, and the three brigades that formed the division (Mameli, Garibaldi, and Manin) were split and continued as separate brigades under the 5th Army Corps. At this point, the Manin brigade was renamed, inheriting the original Ariete name, which it uses today. In 1986, the brigade was equipped with the M60A1 and Leopard 1A2, before transitioning to the C1 Ariete in 1995. The ram shield in the pre-1995 era was typically positioned on the left fenders at both the front and rear of the tanks, along with the brigade number, 5941. For a time it was also placed on the upper left corner of the lower plate on their C1 Ariete tanks.

1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron Emblem

The heraldic badge of the 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron, Royal Navy. The squadron was initially equipped with several Ton-class minesweepers in the post-war years, tasked with neutralizing mines in the UK home waters. After the Cold War, it transitioned to the significantly more advanced Sandown-class, and currently also operates autonomous MCM vessels. The red rampart lion in their badge is an ancient Scottish symbol that reflects the current home base of the squadron at HMNB Clyde on the west coast of Scotland. The key aptly represents the squadron serving as the “key” to safe passage through the waters they protect.

Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.

You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.

[carousel autoadvance="true"][/carousel]

All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading down to the bottom! We hope you like the selection for July and thank you generally for participating in these events, they’re fun to make. Give the survey a look if you can, and we’ll see you in August!

"Making games for work and making games for fun. In a sense, it was heaven" - Yoshio Nishimura on Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle, Vanillaware, Capcom, and more

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:09:03 +0800

We chat with Yoshio Nishimura about Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle, working at Vanillaware, George Kamitani, Capcom, the pandemic, and much more.

Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle Review

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:09:03 +0800

Digitalis Publishing's debut project offers something truly special and unique, even as it wears its inspirations proudly on its sleeve

Hundreds of layoffs confirmed at Elder Scrolls Online studio as devastating Xbox cuts continue

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:09:03 +0800

Xbox has laid off more than 200 workers at The Elder Scrolls Online studio ZeniMax Online, it’s been confirmed.

The state of Maryland, where ZeniMax is based, has published a WARN notice confirming that Microsoft has cut 213 employees at ZeniMax Online and a further 166 employees at ZeniMax Media.

It’s not clear how many ZeniMax Online have survived Xbox’s sweeping layoffs, but one employee claimed on social media this week that about half of its “active developers working on content” had been laid off.

Read More...

Ver 1.33.0 Update

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:57:03 +0800

Thank you for playing Wizardry Variants Daphne.

The game has been updated to Ver 1.33.0.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆Anonymous Achievement Special Supplies◆
--------------------------------------------------------
By logging in during the event period, you can claim a total of 2 Unique Remains: Blade of Eternal Darkness, 8 Mid Grade Iron Ores, 5 Clock Tomes of the Finesser, and more.

\[Event Period]
7/9/2026 (18:00) - 7/29/2026 (23:59) JST

\[How to Claim]
Rewards can be claimed from Adventurer's Guild > Supplies > Special Supplies.

*You can claim up to 7 days' worth of unclaimed rewards at once during the event period.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆Massacre Night Passage Missions◆
--------------------------------------------------------
These are limited-time missions in which you can obtain up to 2 Unique Remains: Blade of Eternal Darkness, 400 Gems of Org, and more, by completing designated missions and earning a set number of points during the event period.

\[Event Period]
7/9/2026 (18:00) - 7/23/2026 (23:59) JST

\[Massacre Night Passage Mission Pass Introduction]
In conjunction with Massacre Night Passage Missions, a Massacre Night Passage Mission Pass will be available for purchase.

\[Mission Pass Availability Period]
7/9/2026 (18:00) - 7/22/2026 (23:59) JST

By purchasing the pass, you can obtain additional rewards on top of standard mission rewards, such as up to 3 Unique Remains: Blade of Eternal Darkness (with bonus) and up to 150 Gems of Org.

*For reward details, please see the treasure chest on the Massacre Night Passage Mission screen.
*The Massacre Night Passage Mission Pass can be purchased from the Jeweler under Adventurer's Passport.
*Even if you purchase the Massacre Night Passage Mission Pass, you must complete the missions during the event period and claim the rewards from the mission screen.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆Adjustments to Certain Bondmate Level Enhancements◆
--------------------------------------------------------
Adjustments have been made so that after forming a Fate Bond with Ghreen Jelly, they can be encountered again by using the Cursed Wheel to revert to a specific point in time.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆Adventurer Voices Added◆
--------------------------------------------------------
Additional voice lines have been added for Lanavaille, Gerard, Abenius, Red Beard, Savia, Arboris, and certain other adventurers.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆New Harken's Blessing Option Added◆
--------------------------------------------------------
A "Do nothing" option has been added to Harken's Blessing. If selected, Harken's Blessing will not be granted.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆Item List Sorting Adjustments◆
--------------------------------------------------------
The Item List has been improved so that, when opened, items (excluding weapons, armor, and accessories) are sorted by type.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆Compendium Sort Order Adjustments◆
--------------------------------------------------------
The sort order of entries displayed in the Compendium has been adjusted.
*Due to this adjustment, the numbers of certain Compendium entries will change.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆Certain Entries Added to the Compendium◆
--------------------------------------------------------
Some previously unregistered items have been added to Compendium > Items.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆In-Game Inquiry Form Adjusted◆
--------------------------------------------------------
The support form location when selecting Options > Inquiry has been adjusted.

--------------------------------------------------------
◆Fixed Issues◆
--------------------------------------------------------
- When Foxfire Assault activates while using Scatter Shot, the damage decrease effect from Scatter Shot is also applied to Foxfire Assault.

- When using the Chronostasis skill while equipped with a long-range weapon, an unintended animation plays.

- Using the item Scroll of Spectral Canopy immediately after activating certain skills may cause the skill level selection to be displayed.

- Closing the skill list or other windows via right-click or the Backspace key during combat prevents the Favorites display from being toggled.

- In Guarda Fortress, dying from being taken by the corrosion after the Corrosion Eye battle may cause progression to become blocked upon reawakening.

- In Route 6 -South Lakeshore- of the Deepsnow Hinterlands of Isberg, enemies may not appear correctly in certain areas.

- When The Masked Adventurer is in a near-death state, restoring HP at the Well of Life causes the near-death sound effect to keep playing.

- When fishing, keyboard controls to Raise Rod (E), Lower Rod (Q), and Hold the Rod Still (Shift) may not function correctly. \[PC version-only bug]

- When viewing fish in the Compendium, the purchase and sell prices are displayed.

- When Anemone and Aldric toast at the Black Barrel Tavern, they are shown holding unintended items.

- The explanation of equipment Unification in the Help section and in-game dialogue remains based on the old specifications.

Various other issues have been addressed.

\[Caution]
*The Update button may not appear in each app store. In this case, please restart your device or the store application and try updating again after some time has passed.

We hope you continue to enjoy playing Wizardry Variants Daphne.

Former Marathon and Destiny 2 lead "pleased to share" outcome of his $200 million lawsuit against Bungie and Sony is "one I am very satisfied with"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:55:03 +0800

Former Marathon and Destiny 2 director Christopher Barrett has reached an agreement with both Bungie and Sony following his $200 million lawsuit against the companies.

As per his LinkedIn, Barrett spent over two decades at Bungie, starting his career there as an art director back in 1999. Most recently (for well over 10 years, mind you), the developer was a game director leading projects like Marathon and the now-dying Destiny 2. He left Bungie unexpectedly in the spring of 2024 – and that's where things get a bit messy.

Reports following his departure alleged inappropriate behavior toward female colleagues.

Barrett said he was actually fired so his employers could avoid paying him about $45 million under his employment contract, stating that they were trying to "deflect attention from their massive business failures."

Then, he sued both Bungie and Sony for $200 million, citing a "premeditated scheme to terminate" him and "avoid paying him the tens of millions of dollars he was owed." It's all… a lot.

Sony did respond, sharing supposed examples of Barrett's allegedly inappropriate behavior and a rundown of his financial earnings.

There hasn't been much to say about the case since then, but Barrett's most recent post on LinkedIn confirms that moves have been made – and that a settlement has been reached.

https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:share:7480712170251620353?collapsed=1 "I am pleased to share that Sony, Bungie, and I have reached an agreement to resolve the lawsuit," it reads.

"The outcome is one I am very satisfied with, and I am grateful to everyone who stood by me. Closing this chapter allows me to focus my attention on what's next in my gaming journey, and I look forward to what lies ahead."

At the end, Barrett includes "the parties' joint statement," which reasserts that they've settled the case and the dev's name has been added to the credits of Marathon "to reflect" his work on the shooter as game director.

Like I said earlier, it's all certainly a lot. Here's hoping that this truly is in the past now, and that every party involved can move forward.

In the ashes of Destiny 2, furious developer creates playable Pete Parsons-themed parody raid where the former Bungie CEO attacks "the entire playerbase" with cars

[/url]

Another Fallout RPG was in development at Obsidian Entertainment before Bethesda pulled the plug "a while ago," ex-studio lead says

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:55:03 +0800

Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly early in development on another Fallout game, but it's apparently not the first time the studio has tried to jump back into the radioactive wasteland since making Fallout: New Vegas. According to Obsidian co-founder and former developer Chris Avellone, the studio had been working on the idea some time ago until Bethesda got involved.

Amidst all the turmoil in Xbox's suite of developers, Obsidian has seemingly also been affected by layoffs and project restructurings. And as Xbox eyes up its biggest franchises, Bloomberg reports that the studio behind arguably the best Fallout game is hoping to repeat its magic trick.

Part of that report claimed Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer had been directing another game that was similar to Fallout in many ways, but wasn't actually named after or related to the franchise. Asked about that project online, Avellone says he heard from sources at the studio that Sawyer's old project was actually "intended to be a Fallout game" before series steward Bethesda "put the kibosh on that a while ago, so it had to change its direction/tone from Fallout to something 'similar' to Fallout." No reason was given for Bethesda's alleged disapproval of the project.

The RPG veteran also alleges that an Avowed sequel, which was reportedly scrapped to make way for a Fallout game, is "still being worked on (for now) in the hopes of being 're-pitched'" later down the line in some form. Grounded 2 and The Outer Worlds 2 DLC are seemingly still on track.

Needless to say, I wouldn't take this as bulletproof confirmation of anything since Avellone hasn't worked at the studio for over a decade and his sources may be a little rusty.

Bethesda boss says the company must focus on its "strongest franchises" as Xbox layoffs reportedly hit The Elder Scrolls and Fallout makers hard.

[/url]

Linux Mint Cinnamon is finally Wayland ready

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:11:03 +0800

The next release of the Cinnamon desktop and Linux Mint is finally ready for Wayland - with it no longer considered to be experimental.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/linux-mint-cinnamon-is-finally-wayland-ready/

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Players Should Complete This Side Activity ASAP

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:09:03 +0800

One classic Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced side activity is as important in the remake as it is in the original 2013 game, and fans who are diving into the latest outing from Ubisoft should complete these activities ASAP. In fact, what's a little funny is that it's possible (and highly advised) to do so before Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resyncedtells players how to do it.

RAM costs a fortune and PlayStation is going digital, but Acer is making a remote control for gaming monitors, so technology isn't totally doomed

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:06:05 +0800

Gamers, it's hard times out there. AI is causing massive inflation of all sorts of gaming technology, PlayStation has confirmed it's moving to digital-only distribution on its platforms from 2028 onwards, and even controllers are costing $200 or more for... some reason. I can't offer you a reprieve from the ridiculous economy of being a gamer right now, but I can offer you a glimmer of hope when it comes to the future of gaming monitors.

For years, myself and my hardware editor partner in crime, Phil Hayton, have been shouting from the rooftops about the annoyances of gaming monitor control systems. TVs, since almost the dawn of time, have let you control things remotely with a clicker you hold in your hand. But for some reason, the norm for gaming monitors is still a pesky wee nubbin on the back corner of your display that tries to be a button, D-pad, power switch, settings menu, and output picker all in one.

(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) Finally, finally that might be changing, because when I was at Computex a few weeks ago, Acer showed off a new "Smart Dial" at its booth. It glared at me, unmanned by anyone trying to sell it to me or explain it. It's as though Acer knew they wouldn't need to sell something so simple, yet so daring and understated all at once.

The Acer Smart Dial will be compatible with the brand's upcoming Predator X32X5 and Predator XB273KV5 monitors, but I hope to god it becomes a standard thing on all of the company's desk displays just so other manufacturers suffer its supreme quality-of-life wroth. We're all staring down a future where games cost $100, they're only digital, and no one can afford to own hardware, so clearly we've stumbled on the bad timeline. At least let us control our monitors without fumbling around their backs?

(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) Acer's product bio reads: "Whether during gaming sessions or everyday use, the Acer Smart Dial provides a more comfortable and efficient way to manage the monitor, significantly improving the overall user experience."

In terms of its physical make-up, the remote has a small joystick above a set of four face buttons and a smaller shiny button between them. For something that's got such a simple, specific purpose, it's surprisingly well-fitted to the human hand. It feels like a perfectly ergonomic one-handed gaming controller, and does actually look a lot like the Xbox Adaptive Controller's one-handed add-on.

Onward compatibility is a bit of a question mark at the moment. From what Acer has told me, it'll only be available with those upcoming monitors mentioned above. I'm not sure how Acer would go about trying to make it available for other monitors, made by them or otherwise, so don't expect compatibility with your display just yet. Perhaps in the future, a device like this could find ways of working across brands and, retrospectively, if we all make enough of a fuss about it?

Future / Duncan Robertson Future / Duncan Robertson Playing around with it at the booth, I was able to adjust a monitor's setting, resolution, source output, and generally do all the things you'd expect of a monitor remote. It's really that simple, so I hope other monitor makers at the show caught wind of it and decided it was time to match Acer's challenge.

Even putting my laziness and reluctance to physically reach around the back of a monitor for a second, I do think there's value for money with a remote in a monitor box. Call me lazy or call this stupid, but if a product is harder to use, people won't want to use it.

(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) Make it easier to use, or allow them easy, controllable access to settings, and they'll be more inclined to make the most of all the settings menus within. I don't know about you, but I despise using monitor nubbin joysticks so much that I actively do everything in my power to avoid using them. Am I leaving visual settings on the table? Maybe, but to be honest, until AOC gives me an easier way to find out, I won't be heading into those settings menus again after setting it up for the first time.

It may be a trivial thing to be excited for, but Acer's Smart Dial legitimately could be a quality-of-life update for so many gaming setups, and we could use those in dire times like these.

Also check out the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, best OLED TV, and best 120Hz 4K TV.

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Sony Settles With Fired Marathon Game Director Who Sued PlayStation and Bungie for More Than $200 Million, Adds Name to Credits

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:58:03 +0800

Sony has reached a settlement with former developer Christopher Barrett, who it had accused of sexual misconduct. As a result of the settlement, Barrett will be added to the credits of recently released extraction shooter Marathon.

Barrett, who was the original game director of Marathon, was fired after an internal misconduct investigation. Bloomberg reported that Barrett was fired in the spring of 2024 after he was accused by several female employees of inappropriate behavior.

Barrett released a statement at the time saying, "I feel that I have always conducted myself with integrity and been respectful and supportive of my colleagues, many of whom I consider my closest friends. I never understood my communications to be unwanted and I would have never thought they could possibly have made anyone feel uncomfortable. If anyone ever felt that way about their interaction with me, I am truly sorry.”

Barrett then sued Sony and Bungie for more than $200 million, denying the allegations and claiming his firing was intended to avoid paying out nearly $50 million owed under his employment agreement. Barrett's lawsuit alleged that he was scapegoated for Bungie's overall struggles in the wake of the PlayStation acquisition, and that the investigation was used as cause to fire him after requesting FMLA leave.

Now, Barrett has issued a statement on social media indicating that all parties have reached a settlement. A joint statement confirms Barrett’s name has been added to the Marathon credits to reflect his role as original Marathon game director.

“The outcome is one I am very satisfied with,” Barrett said, “and I am grateful to everyone who stood by me. Closing this chapter allows me to focus my attention on what’s next on my gaming journey, and I look forward to what lies ahead.”

Barrett now lists his game credits as co-creator of Destiny and original game director of Marathon. He was also environment art director on Halo as part of a near 25-year career at Bungie.

After a long chapter, I’m happy to share this update. Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way. https://t.co/atItWZVEUS

— Christopher Barrett (@oryxeleven) July 8, 2026 While Bungie’s legal issue with Barrett is now over, the studio’s problems persist. Last month, nearly 300 staff who worked at the company’s Bellevue, Washington office lost their jobs, according to official records. It is unknown how many staff remain at Bungie following the cuts, although the studio was reported to have employed 850 staff as of 2024.

It was Bungie's third round of layoffs in three years. According to The Seattle Times, Bungie once had 1,000 employees in Bellevue, according to a 2023 annual financial report from the city. Between October 2023 and July 2024, Bungie laid off around 320 staff.

Hermen Hulst, CEO, Studio Business Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment, spoke about the layoffs in general terms, only saying a “significant” number of employees had been affected, hitting "most of the Destiny team and some Marathon team members.”

Hulst described the decision as "difficult" and "painful," but "necessary to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals." The news followed the end of new content for Destiny 2, and the release of hardcore extraction shooter Marathon, which has struggled for players. Sony has insisted it remains committed to Marathon, whose team is also said to be working on “incubation efforts for future projects.”

Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier said Bungie studio head Justin Truman, who succeeded Pete Parsons last year, had stepped down. According to Forbes reporter Paul Tassi, former Bungie VP of Operations, Poria Torkan, has reportedly taken charge of the studio.

Bungie has struggled financially for some time, and reportedly was on the brink of closure before Sony bought the studio back in 2022 for $3.6 billion. Sony recently reported a $765 million impairment loss due to underperformance of Bungie specifically.

Bungie's issues with Destiny 2 reportedly began around the time of last summer's Edge of Fate expansion, which was said to have underperformed. The decision to pull the plug was allegedly made "earlier this year" after it was decided not to relaunch the franchise as "Destiny Infinity."

Forbes reported that Bungie began discussing different scenarios about "what the future of Destiny 2 would look like" after December's Renegades, its Star Wars-themed crossover expansion, "did even worse [than Edge of Fate] and didn't change sales or retention trajectory."

Destiny Infinity would have been a relaunch alongside a return to the one big expansion model Destiny used to have, but the idea fell by the wayside after it was allegedly decided that the costs and risks were too high, especially in the context of support for Marathon.

Destiny 3 "was considered, as ever, but things didn't swing that way," and there has been no behind-the-scenes hints that a third Destiny game is coming, with the cost of the game's production cited as the key issue.

Destiny 2 launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 6, 2017, with a PC version following a month later. Behind the scenes, however, tension between Bungie and Activision emerged, and the two companies officially parted ways in January 2019, ending their 10-year publishing deal five years early.

With Destiny in its own hands, Bungie self-published the game, but it couldn't escape financial troubles and layoffs as Destiny 2 expansions failed to hit the mark and the player base dwindled. Extraction shooter Marathon launched early March, with a reported budget of more than $250 million. It too, according to analysts, has failed to meet sales expectations.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Mortal Shell II launches on August 20 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:38:04 +0800

A special physical version called the Revered Edition will be available for PlayStation 5 on the same day, priced at $69.99.

Tuxedo Computers are putting Ubuntu Linux in the bin to use Debian for Tuxedo OS

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:31:03 +0800

Tuxedo Computers have announced plans to officially drop Ubuntu Linux for their own Tuxedo OS, as they will be moving directly to Debian.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/tuxedo-computers-are-putting-ubuntu-linux-in-the-bin-to-use-debian-for-tuxedo-os/

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart also got a nice AMD FSR upgrade

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:21:04 +0800

PlayStation Publishing upgraded the PC release of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart to bring with it new AMD FSR upgrades to hopefully give a smoother experience.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/ratchet-clank-rift-apart-also-got-a-nice-amd-fsr-upgrade/

Spider-Man Remastered, Spider-Man 2 and Miles Morales all get AMD FSR upgrades

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:12:04 +0800

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales were all given a little update recently to improve AMD FSR.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/spider-man-remastered-spider-man-2-and-miles-morales-all-get-amd-fsr-upgrades/

New Selection Packs available: Starved for Destruction!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:43:03 +0800

The gluttonous dragon, now bearing mighty wings, devours all who stand in its way! The arrival of an evolved ace card infused with new power greatly strengthens the "Predaplant" archetype! Graceful spirits from the world of fables, "Fairy Tail" cards are also powered up by a host of new additions! Alongside the extraordinary Xyz Monster "Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Rocket" and the powerful ally for Synchro Monster Decks, "Fydraulis Harmonia", also come new support cards for "tellarknight", "Constellar", and "X-Saber" archetypes! With fangs honed through countless Duels, strike at the throat of the champion!

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 may be another hit in the making, even if it's way different than the first series

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:29:03 +0800

We got to check out the first episode of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 at this year's Anime Expo.

New Steam Beta brings improvements for Steam Input, Remote Play, Steam Controller

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:22:04 +0800

Having issues? The new Steam Beta might fix them with improvements to Steam Input, Remote Play and Steam Controller as well.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/new-steam-beta-brings-improvements-for-steam-input-remote-play-steam-controller/

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Playing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:09:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is still at its core the game we all know and love, but the remake has received a plethora of major changes that make it feel like an entirely fresh experience with plenty of new content to enjoy. Even putting aside the new mechanics, storylines, and abilities introduced in the remake, Black Flag Resynced is still an experience that gets better the more you play and learn about how it functions.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Update v1.2.1 (Steam)

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:40:05 +0800

Detectives,

We just released our biggest update yet for MOUSE: P.I. For Hire on Steam. Update v1.2.1 introduces the highly requested Level Revisit feature, which provides the ability to replay previously completed levels, allowing you to grab any missing collectibles and finish incomplete side quests! Additionally, we have implemented several quality of life improvements, including Uncapped Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), performance optimizations throughout the game, full support for ultrawide (21:9) and super ultrawide (32:9) monitors on PC, enhancements to the Weapon Wheel, horizontal axis inversion, and improvements to both settings menu navigation and controller rebinding. Bug fixes are also plentiful, addressing a range of stability concerns with gameplay, saves, graphics, audio, and progression. The team has also continued to resolve issues regarding weapons, combat, UI, menus, questing, and performance. Check out the full Update Notes below!

Thank you to everybody who has supported MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, from our day 1 players to those jumping into the game with our upcoming physical launch! We are absolutely not done yet, so please follow our channels for more updates in the future.

Say cheese!

Update v1.2.1

Steam:

Build ID: 24068822

ALL PLATFORMS

Features and Quality of Life Improvements

Level Revisit - Replay previous levels to collect missing collectibles and finish incomplete side quests.
- This feature is accessible via the overworld map by simply driving to a completed level and selecting “Revisit”.
- Completing the game will now automatically transport you to the HUB zone after the credits roll, providing access to the overworld map to replay levels.
- For players who have already completed the game, select “Continue” or reload your latest save file in the Main Menu, which will transport you to the HUB zone and provide access to the overworld map to replay levels.
Uncapped VRR - Variable Refresh Rate support for smoother gameplay on compatible displays.
Performance Optimization - General performance and optimization pass across the game.
Weapon Wheel Upgrade Display - Weapon upgrade levels now displayed on the Weapon Wheel.
Weapon Wheel Visual Uplift - Improved visual states and readability on the Weapon Wheel.
Horizontal Axis Inversion - Added horizontal axis inversion option to camera controls.
Settings Menu Improvements - "Apply" prompt now only appears when changes are actually made.
Audio Feedback for Settings - Added audio confirmation when applying settings changes.
Control Rebinding Overhaul - Improved reliability and usability of the control rebinding system.
Kick Tutorial Failsafe - Players who missed the kick tutorial in 'Vaudeville' will no longer get stuck in later levels.

Bug Fixes

Stability and Crashes

Fixed instances of the game freezing when system memory reached its limit.
Resolved various internal errors that could cause unexpected behaviour during gameplay.
Fixed an issue where camera shake effects could stack excessively.

Gameplay and Progression

Fixed an issue where players with mid-level saves could be blocked by an invisible collider during the flood dive sequence in 'The Depths'.
Fixed a progression blocker where weapons remained holstered when entering the Circus Ticket events in 'MANGIA & MANGIA Secret Show'.
Fixed an issue where player armor does not reduce explosive damage correctly.
Fixed a blocker where players could get trapped by backing out of vent trap doors at the last moment.
Fixed an issue where players could fall through the map after activating the lever in 'The Depths'.
Fixed an issue where players could become trapped in the sewer room during the ‘Shrewd Shrews’ mission.
Fixed a sequence break and missing trigger near the Bandel door in 'The Unknown'.
Fixed an issue where players could get stuck at the bottom of a hole after defeating the 'Movie Sets' boss.
Fixed a progression blocker where players could access an area too early in 'Vaudeville'
Fixed a blocker where players were unable to equip weapons or fists during the 'Office Ruins' mission.
Fixed an issue where players could be blocked from progression due to doors closing too early in 'Office Ruins'.
Fixed an issue where players were unable to load the last checkpoint after being killed by a missile in 'Office Ruins'.
Fixed an issue where throwing D-namite during an autosave could break D-namite functionality.
Fixed a blocker where players got stuck exiting a door after the fight club arena in ‘The Depths’.
Fixed an issue where damage scaling for some weapons could persist incorrectly across game sessions.
Fixed an issue where players could skip obtaining the Portable Freezer and finish the 'Bandel’s Mansion' level without entering the front door.
Fixed a progression blocker where players could get stuck between the ceiling and staircase railing on ‘“River Fever” Line’.
Fixed invisible wall collision on a pipe in 'The Depths'.
Fixed an issue where a fan launched the player upwards even when turned off in 'Old Subway'.
Fixed a teleport loop in the 'Clergyrow' level near the Spike-D tutorial.
Fixed a blocker where players could get trapped by a door after interacting with a lever in 'Curdsville Nuthouse'.
Fixed an issue where enemies revived during their death animation would not animate properly.
Fixed an issue where the last fuel tank in the Ze Professor fight did not deal damage.
Fixed hit registration on fuel tanks during the Ze Professor boss fight.
Fixed an issue where fuel tanks could be shot during the Ze Professor boss fight intro.
Fixed an issue where the Hellrazor did not receive infinite ammo during the finale.
Fixed a progression blocker where a teleporting collider was placed too close to an arena in 'Bandel’s Mansion'.
Fixed an issue where the Flashlight failed to re-equip after combat in the ‘'Old Subway'’ corridor.
Fixed an issue where using primary and alternate fire simultaneously broke flashlight functionality.
Fixed an issue where the weapon used during a save was not equipped after loading if the player loaded while using the flashlight.
Fixed a sequence skip in 'The Depths' that allowed early access to a Baseball Card.
Fixed a bridge that blocked ladder access in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed a collision issue where players could get stuck near a platform in the 'MANGIA & MANGIA Secret Show' boss fight.
Fixed an issue where NPC Cameron Bozo used the wrong sprite when captured in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed a progression blocker where the elevator back to the previous zone was inaccessible in 'Curdsville Nuthouse'.
Fixed a progression blocker where the elevator back to the previous zone was inaccessible in ‘'The Depths'’.
Fixed an issue where barrels thrown at enemies could bounce and get shot upwards.
Fixed an infinite fall loop caused by zoning issues in the 'The Unknown' platforming section.
Fixed a progression blocker where players could get stuck behind a container in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed a progression blocker where players could get stuck between barrels and a fence in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed an issue where an exit door could push the player out of the world in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an issue where players could not interact with the car lift switch during the 'Once Upon a Time by Tinsel Bros' job in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an issue where a locked door prevented progression when using a shortcut in 'Fart Harbor'.
Fixed a quest trigger bypass via a staircase jump in 'The Depths'.
Fixed timeline issues in the post-pit fight sequence in ‘The Depths'.
Fixed teleport volume and fade duration in 'The Depths'.
Fixed an issue where players were unable to pick up a Toxic Barrel in ‘Old Subway’.
Fixed missing fade transitions on teleports in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed an issue where an interactable suitcase and secret area were not functioning in '“River Fever” Line'.
Fixed a collision issue where players could get stuck in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an issue where cupboard colliders blocked entry into the Music Room secret area in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed an issue where the Shanty Town bridge exit could be easily missed in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed a small dollar pile that could not be picked up on a raised platform in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed a section skip in the Tinsel Bros building in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an issue where D-pad controls no longer worked during lockpicking.
Fixed an issue where enemies could not spawn properly due to collision issues in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed a progression blocker where cannon and ladder assets pushed the player under the floor in 'Mouseburg Grand Opera'.
Fixed an issue where the dance floor encounter could fail to activate in 'Der Harzerburg'.
Fixed an issue where Spike-D Tokens could fail to spawn.
Fixed a collision issue that locked players out of the boss arena after interacting with the cannon in 'Mouseburg Grand Opera'.
Fixed ammo icons displaying incorrectly when loading into the world map from an older save.

Weapons and Combat

Fixed an issue where weapons shot in bursts unexpectedly.
Fixed an issue where certain enemies did not use their zap ability.
Fixed an issue where players could not interact with health items while holding the Golden Monkey in 'Bandel’s Mansion'.
Fixed an issue where the Grappling Tail stopped working after a save/load in 'Tinsel Avenue'.

UI and Menus

Fixed an issue where the "Exit Level" popup displayed incorrect text.
Fixed an issue where rapidly purchasing newspapers could cause a softlock.
Fixed a visual glitch on the Accessibility Screen's Privacy Notice.
Fixed an issue where the Directional Helper ‘Detective Brush’ led to incorrect objectives in the HUB zone after completing 'Vaudeville'.
Fixed an issue where purchasing Baseball Cards too quickly caused a blank darkened screen.
Fixed an issue where the Screen Bounds option did not properly dismiss with controller or keyboard.
Fixed an issue where the UI counters for Coins, Spike-D Prize Tokens, and Weapon Schematics appeared in front of Screen Bounds when opened from the Notebook.
Fixed an issue where interaction prompts displayed behind player hands and weapons.
Fixed an issue where scrolling and card selection were broken in the Baseball Card minigame interface.
Fixed an issue where bosses and mini-bosses used static sprites instead of animations for their portraits.
Fixed an issue where the player's weapon was visible during a cutscene on '“River Fever” Line'.
Fixed overlapping dialogue and descriptive text when picking up Ze Professor's note.
Fixed camera clipping through glass during the Ze Professor interaction.
Fixed an issue where the player’s weapon and UI were not hidden during the crane sequence in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed Toggle Weapon not functioning when rebound on keyboard and mouse.
Addressed various control rebinding issues across all input methods.

Visuals and Graphics

Fixed a rendering issue that could cause mismatched display dimensions.
Fixed various zone culling and visual pop-in issues across multiple areas in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an occlusion issue on the crane at the top of the arena in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed missing textures on the shooting range platform floor in 'MANGIA & MANGIA Secret Show'.
Fixed a Z-fighting/sprite mismatch on shield enemies in 'Der Harzerburg'.
Fixed the Film Grain effect not working correctly.
Fixed an issue where disabling Lens Distortion also disabled Film Grain.
Fixed an occlusion issue where players could see out of the world through fence planks in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed an occlusion issue when crouching on the side of a wall asset after defeating the crooked cop in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed a reward behind a secret door that had incorrect graphics in ‘'The Depths'’.
Fixed an issue where the Giant Fish model had no collision in 'Wallop Bay.'
Fixed an issue where the 'Mouseburg Grand Opera' location on the overworld map remained visually unlocked after completing the level.
Fixed an issue where the 'Fart Harbor' location on the overworld map remained visually unlocked after completing the level.
Fixed an issue where the cutscene transition to credits visually loaded the HUB level in between.
Fixed an indestructible window in the room with a note pickup in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an issue where an enemy NPC got stuck and flickered sprites in ‘'Old Subway'’.
Fixed infinite retriggering of audio and screen shake on a shootable target in 'The Unknown'.
Fixed VFX of a boss jumping off the boat after loading a checkpoint in '“River Fever” Line'.
Fixed a notebook entry spelling mistake.

Audio and Music

Fixed an issue where a vehicle horn sound looped indefinitely in levels and the overworld map.
Fixed an issue where music did not play after a dialogue scene in 'Mouseburg Grand Opera'.
Fixed an issue where the alt-fire SFX for Mitts looped when disrupting the animation.
Fixed an issue where audio disappeared after loading a save in the Swamp area.
Fixed missing audio for the Music Box during playback animation.
Fixed boss fight music incorrectly triggering when finishing the 'Bandel’s Secret Lab' level.
Added audio hooks for lockpicking interactions.

Localisation

Fixed a missing level name translation for the 'Der Harzerburg' Intro in all languages except English.
Fixed the Pieruskie Rogi recipes displaying incorrectly in Polish.
Fixed voice-over/subtitle mismatch when the Stage Designer is freed in 'Mouseburg Grand Opera'.
Fixed voice-over/subtitle mismatch from Tammy Tumbler when discussing the “Show Some Culture, Jack” side quest in the HUB.
Fixed voice-over/subtitle mismatch from Tammy Tumbler when discussing the “Blueprints, Please” side quest in the HUB.
Fixed incorrect subtitle spacing for 'Mangia & Mangia' in Jack's dialogue.
Fixed the "Moves Left" lockpicking text showing incorrectly in Turkish.

Save System

Fixed a progression blocker where a quest could not be completed due to save system issues with pinning clues onto the Detective Wall.
Fixed a white placeholder square in the clues tab when loading saves prior to acquiring any clues.

Quests and Objectives

Fixed a skippable objective causing the Direction Helper ‘Detective Brush’ to lead to the wrong location in 'Der Harzerburg'.
Fixed an issue where the Side Quest in 'Tinsel Avenue' conflicted with Main Quest voice-over dialogue.
Fixed deprecated quest items remaining in the code room in 'The Depths'.
Fixed an issue where no missions appeared after completing 'Far Wetlands'.
Fixed incorrect number display on the display board in 'Clergyrow'.

Controls and Input

Fixed an issue where closing and re-entering the Key Rebinding menu allowed all actions to be bound to one input.

Performance

Fixed camera stuttering when using Bluetooth controllers.
Fixed FPS drop in the Cheeselegger boss arena when looking back at the factory in 'Far Wetlands'.

PC ONLY

Features and Quality of Life Improvements

Ultrawide Display Support - Full support for ultrawide (21:9) and super ultrawide (32:9) monitors.

Bug Fixes

Stability and Crashes

Fixed a crash that could occur due to certain NPC dialogue.
Fixed a crash that could occur when entering/exiting the overworld map.
Fixed a crash that could occur after picking up money.
Fixed a crash that could occur after resuming from sleep mode while in 'Vaudeville'.

Gameplay and Progression

Fixed a progression blocker where players could fall out of the map in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed a collision that trapped players in the air in 'Vaudeville'.
Fixed a missing floor collision in Tammy's Workshop.
Fixed a progression blocker where walking into a specific area locked out progression in 'Vaudeville'.
Fixed a blocker where players were unable to equip weapons after loading a save with the flashlight or while holding a barrel.
Fixed a progression blocker when leaving the docks area by jumping out of the window in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed unintended access to a crane leading to various technical and gameplay issues in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed a destructible structure being destroyed by an explosive barrel without a direct hit in ‘'Old Subway'’.
Fixed an instance where the player could fall out of the world in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed an instance where the player could teleport from a boat back to the wooden dock in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed repetitive teleportation issues in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed a teleport loop where players were sent into an endless looping state in 'The Unknown'.
Fixed an issue where players could jump out of the rollercoaster cart in 'The Unknown'.
Fixed a teleport that could transport the player to the wrong zone in 'Fart Harbor'.
Fixed a collider incorrectly placed where a bridge should be before the bridge is pulled down in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed invisible NPCs on the deck in '“River Fever” Line'.
Fixed players receiving toxic damage too early after jumping off the boat into water in '“River Fever” Line'.
Fixed a toxic lake damage area being too large in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed player receiving damage before a loading volume triggered in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed a progression blocker where players could leave the decontamination room before the door fully closed in 'Curdsville Nuthouse'.
Fixed an instance where the player could teleport out of the world when jumping off a cliff immediately after the level loaded in 'Bandel’s Mansion'.
Fixed a progression blocker where ammo doesn’t correctly spawn in ‘World’s Fair’.
Fixed players being able to move freely during a photo interaction in ‘Clergyrow’.
Fixed enemy pathfinding allowing enemies to follow the player through walls in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an invisible ladder with an interaction prompt in ‘'Old Subway'’.
Fixed the ability to use the flashlight outside of the dark area in ‘'Old Subway'’.
Fixed NPC Brain interaction prompt disappearing when standing too close in 'Curdsville Nuthouse'.
Fixed a floating typewriter in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an issue where the Portable Freezer could glitch when killing enemies on high-spec machines.

Weapons and Combat

Fixed an issue where equipping the wine glass and loading a save broke player view and weapon functionality.
Fixed an issue where players could not use a Health Bottle while holding the Golden Monkey in 'Tinsel Avenue' and 'Bandel’s Mansion'.
Fixed Robo-Betty becoming permanently stuck if walking mines land on her charging point in ‘Bandel’s Secret Lab’.

Fixed enemies disappearing and respawning immediately after the final cutscene in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed enemy pathfinding allowing enemies to hide behind assets in ‘'Old Subway'’.

UI and Menus

Fixed an issue where the "Load Last Save" button could not be clicked after death with 32:9 ultrawide resolution active.
Fixed an issue where text elements left the boundaries of the Notebook when scrolling.
Fixed an issue where the collectible summary for 'Der Harzerburg' outro in the HUB zone showed incorrect amounts.
Fixed an issue where the current objective flickered when repeatedly shooting a target in ‘'The Depths'’.
Fixed NPC dialogue incorrectly deplaying in the death menu when dying during an interaction in 'Mouseburg Grand Opera'.

Visual and Graphics

Fixed multiple broken textures and animations.
Fixed an occlusion issue between buildings at the water tower area in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed an occlusion issue when jumping too high or moving too far in the Hall zone in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an occlusion issue during the Captain Simms boss fight in '“River Fever” Line'.
Fixed an occlusion issue present behind a pole in ‘'Old Subway'’.
Fixed an incorrectly displayed light from a lamp in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed texture issue on a manhole cover in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed a colour filter being incorrectly removed when loading a checkpoint in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an issue where players could see out of the world in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed an issue where players could see out of the world in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed an issue where indestructible crates were present in 'Curdsville Nuthouse'.
Fixed corrupted ammo icons appearing in the shop.
Fixed an occlusion issue when crouching under stairs in 'Bandel’s Mansion'.
Fixed a floating typewriter in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed occlusion issues between fence planks in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed NPCs disappearing and reappearing when the player moved too far away in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed texture issues in 'Tinsel Avenue’.
Fixed rocks and cranes visibly popping in at certain distances in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed a building interior visibly popping in when backtracking through a bar door in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed the player view breaking when standing near environmental objects in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed an issue where the player teleported incorrectly in 'Tinsel Avenue'.
Fixed out-of-world visibility when crawling on swamp tree assets.
Fixed an occlusion issue when looking between outdoor wooden planks in 'Quagmire'.
Fixed LOD issues when moving backward and forward in 'Bandel’s Mansion'.
Fixed objects disappearing at certain distances near a boss arena in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed players being able to climb cranes and access out-of-world areas in 'Wallop Bay'.
Fixed an occlusion issue when looking back through a building entrance in 'Wallop Bay'.

Audio and Music

Fixed music audio not playing in certain builds.

Save System

Fixed an issue where achievement progression failed to transfer correctly between save branches.
Fixed an issue where changes in the settings menu could corrupt the game's resolution when discarded.
Fixed an issue where changes in the settings menu could incorrectly reset audio and resolution when discarded.
Fixed an issue where reloading a save while holding a barrel prevented the player from shooting until changing weapons.
Fixed boss VFX incorrectly appearing after loading a checkpoint on '“River Fever” Line'.

Quests and Objectives

Fixed a quest objective getting doubled if the player progressed without picking up the Dark Room Key in 'Quagmire'.

Controls and Input

Fixed the Weapon Wheel not working correctly after using the Steam overlay.
Fixed an issue where the mouse was inverted despite the option being set to off.

Performance

Fixed FPS limit not applying correctly.
Fixed an issue where playing in borderless mode could significantly reduce performance.
Fixed an issue where framerate values did not match screen refresh rate when VSync was enabled.

Achievements

Implemented server-side validation for Steam achievement unlocks.

STEAM DECK

Bug Fixes

Gameplay and Progression

Fixed a progression blocker where jumping during an autosave in the Robo-Betty encounter caused the player to fall out of world after loading the last checkpoint in 'Bandel’s Secret Lab'.

Eternal Return 3rd Anniversary! Thank you for sticking with us!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:11:03 +0800

Hello Lumia Island Survivors!

It's been 3 YEARS since the official release of Eternal Return!
We want to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you who has joined us and stuck with us through this journey.
To celebrate this new milestone, we've prepared a special coupon, login events, a special Collection and even a special event Pass!

Don't miss out on this special 3rd anniversary festival!

Event 1: 3rd Anniversary Coupon

- Coupon Code: THX3RDANNIVERSARY
- Valid Thru: Thurs, Aug 6th (UTC) before maint.
- Rewards: 3rd Anniv. Lobby Screen + 100 Event NP (7 Days) + 1 Research Center Data Box + 1 Skin Data Set + 5 Event Fragments + Event Exchange Fragments + A-Coin Boost (3 Days) + ER Point Boost (3 Days)

* Coupon Notes
- How to Redeem: Go to \[Settings] → \[Support] → \[Use Coupon]
- Coupons are only valid for the timeframe shown on the schedule above.
- Only one usage per account is allowed.

Event 2: 3rd Anniversary Login Event

- Event Period: Thurs, July 9th after maint. to Thurs, Aug 6th (UTC) before maint.
- Details: Receive special rewards during the event just by checking in daily for 7 days!

*Check the event window by going to \[Lobby] > \[Calendar Attendance Icon on the Top-Right Corner] > Click on the icon > Check the first tab.
*Login resets daily at 20:00 (UTC).

Event 3: 3rd Anniversary Playtime Event

- Event Period: Thurs, July 9th after maint. to Thurs, Aug 6th (UTC) before maint.

* Head to the Lobby and click the arrow next to Daily Mission to get to \[Event Mission].
* Missions:

Mission

Reward

Play Eternal Return for 15 minutes
(Normals, Ranked, Cobalt Protocol)

3 Event Fragments + 1,000 A-Coin

Play Eternal Return for 30 minutes
(Normals, Ranked, Cobalt Protocol)

5 Event Fragments + 2 Season Fragments Pack (Common)

*Login resets daily at 20:00 (UTC).
*After finishing a mission, click \[Mission] > \[Event Mission] in the lobby to claim your reward instantly.
*Claimed rewards can be found in your Collectibles.

Event 4: 3rd Anniversary Special Login Event

- Event Period: Thurs, July 9th after maint. to Thurs, Aug 6th (UTC) before maint.
- Details: Log in during the event period to get daily rewards and EP & XP boosts!

Claiming Period

Item

Thurs, July 9th after maint. to Thurs, Aug 6th before main. (UTC)

1 Event Fragment + A-Coin Boost (1 Day) + XP Boost (1 Day) + ER Point Boost (1 Day)

*Event Notes
- Rewards will be delivered to your mailbox immediately upon access, and you'll have 1 day to claim them.
- Login resets daily at 20:00 (UTC). Rewards can be collected once from 20:00 to 19:59 (UTC) of the following day.
- Season Fragments are immediately opened and applied to the Season Collection upon retrieving them.
- Rewards that expire will not be reissued.
- Please restart the game if you have not received your reward.

Event 5: 3rd Anniversary Special Collection

Celebrate our 3rd Anniversary with a new Collection!
- Event Period: Thurs, July 9th after maint. to Thurs, Aug 6th (UTC) before maint.
- Details: Complete the collection to get a special 3rd Anniversary icon, emote and team slot background.

Head over to the in-game \[Collection] → \[Event] tab to check out the Event Collection!
Participate in our events and in-game missions to collect event fragments and get rewards!

Event 6: 3rd Anniversary Pass

We’ve also put together a 3rd Anniversary Pass loaded with themed emotes, icons, and a special skin.

It’s a small token of our appreciation for everyone who has stuck with us over the last three years. You can check it out in-game right after maintenance on Thursday, July 23rd.

Additionally, players who already own or purchase the Season Pack will receive a bonus '900 3rd Anniversary Pass Points'!
These points will be sent to your mailbox and will immediately boost your 3rd Anniversary Pass to Level 10 upon claim.

We will share more details about the Pass in a separate announcement soon, so please stay tuned.

Thank you all for sticking with us and Happy 3rd Anniversary! It has been an amazing three years together. We’ll keep working hard to make sure Eternal Return stays fun in the years to come!

3rd Anniversary Items & Bundles!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:41:03 +0800

Hello Lumia Island survivors,

We've prepared new items for you to celebrate summer and our 3rd anniversary!

2026 Summer Box Bundles

This Skin Box has around 40% total increased probability for the following skins/designs: 16 Summer Skins.

2026 Summer Box Contents

Open a 2026 Summer Box to get up to 3 items!

- Tier 1: 2026 Summer Special Card (100%)
- Tier 2: 1 Common/Uncommon Season Fragments Pack or A-Coin (Random)
- Tier 3: 1 Complete/Design Summer Skin (from a 16 skin pool), camera, drone or tombstone (Random)

2026 Summer Box Main Skin Pool

This is your chance to get the skin you've always wanted!

■ Bundles & Contents

Bundle

Price

Item

Purchase Limit

2026 Summer Box Bundle (Single)

300 NP

1 3rd Anniversary Summer Box

Unlimited

1 Box Key

1 Petit Mignon Token

A-Coin Boost (1 Hour)

2026 Summer Box Bundle (Multiple)

2,775 NP

10 2026 Summer Boxes

Unlimited

10 Box Keys

15 Petit Mignon Tokens

1 2026 Summer Special Card

A-Coin Boost (1 Day)

3rd Anniversary Summer Collection

Collection

Requirement

Reward

Collection 1

10 2026 Summer Cards

5 Common Season Fragments Pack (Applied upon opening)

Collection 2

20 2026 Summer Cards

2026 Summer Rare Skin Voucher

2026 Summer Special Collection

Purchase the Box Bundle (Multiple) to complete the collection and get juicy rewards!

Collection

Requirement

Reward

Collection 1

20 2026 Summer Card

10 Petit Mignon Tokens

Collection 2

30 2026 Summer Card

2026 Summer Epic Skin Voucher

*The 2026 Summer Skin Voucher allows you to choose one of the following skins: 16 Skins (8 Rare, 8 Epic Skins).
*The Collections are available from Thurs, July 9th after maint. to Thurs, Aug 6th (UTC) before maint.
*After the Collection ends, Cards will disappear, and you will no longer be able to claim the Collection rewards.
*There is a total of 2 rewards from completing each Collection. Check both tabs within the menu to see rewards from Collection 1 and 2.
*Collection rewards can only be claimed once each.

3rd Anniversary Wild Cards Bundle (1 purchase per account)

Get Skint & Item Vouchers, NP and A-Coin all at once!
Don't let this chance slip away!

Bundle

Price

Item

3rd Anniversary Wild Card Bundle

USD 14.10
(Cash)

Uncommon Skin Wild Card

Rare Skin Wild Card

Uncommon Item Wild Card

Rare Item Wild Card

1,205 NP

10,000 A-Coin

A-Coin Boost (3 Days)

3rd Anniversary Present (1 purchase per account)

Purchase this new bundle with A-Coin!

Contents: 1 Epic Skin Design Box + 1 Box Key + A-Coin Boost (12 Hours)
Price: 10,000 A-Coin

Notes

- Sale Period: Thursday, July 9th after maintenance to Thursday, July 23rd (UTC) before maint.
- 2026 Summer Boxes will expire on Thursday, August 6th before maintenance and will not be available for opening. Make sure to open them before they're gone.
- The NP included in this bundle is Free NP.
- You can check more details about the Bundles and Collection in-game.
- Skins you already own will appear as duplicates when opening the box.
- You can view item probabilities in \[[url="https://playeternalreturn.com/stats/2"]Probability[/url]].
- Items sold in this bundle may be used for other purposes in the future- Items that are immediately applied upon purchase are non-refundable.

PATCH NOTES 11.6 - JULY 9th, 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:41:03 +0800

Servers will be temporarily offline for an estimated time of 4 hours on Thursday, July 9th from 2 AM to 6 AM (UTC) to update Patch 11.6.

Check out the details on our Website: Read Patch Notes

v0.4.6 Open Beta

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:38:04 +0800

Additions

Added controller/gamepad support.
Added Xbox controller input prompts.
Added PlayStation DualSense input prompts.
Added gamepad-related settings.
Added new internal 'state system', integrated with all menus, interactions, etc.
Added platform-integrated fullscreen fade. (prevents unintentional input when the Steam overlay is opened).
Added virtual cursor for gamepad.
Added virtual cursor 'friction' system to make it easier to grab stuff.
Added virtual cursor 'lure' system to make click-heavy tasks less tedious on gamepad.
Added new client-side code to interface with the new in-game feedback system backend.
Added fancy new tree 'billboard' shader that closely matches the tree mesh.
Added 'quit' command.
Implemented new light source culling solution.
Added new shadow optimization tool that reduces/culls shadows at a certain distance.
Your organisation name is now displayed in the pause menu.
Combined and optimized several buildings.
Property contents culling is now staggered over several frames to minimize stuttering when approaching/leaving a property.
Tweaked the LOD distances of several buildings, props, etc, to reduce pop-in.
Created new, higher quality LODs for several buildings and props.
Property light sources now culled when distant.
Added new player 'visibility points' at the neck and hips to prevent cheesing NPC vision.
Added 'stop arrow' button to the pickpocket interaction.
Added some more grime to the police station.

Tweaks/Improvements

The game can now be paused in any state (in vehicle, phone open, active dialogue, etc) instead of requiring everything to be 'closed' before pausing.
Rewrote the tree shader to be way more efficient.
Police patrols, sentries, checkpoints now assign 1-2 officers instead of 2 all the time.
NPC data (name, appearance, voice, etc) is now all centralized to a single data container instead of spread across lots of separate components.
Tweaked shop UI.
Cleaned up, modularised the UI for all stations.
Rebuilt the input prompt system to support gamepad buttons.
Improved the audio blending algorithm for going inside/outside when its raining.
'Inventory empty' displayed when trying to pickpocket an NPC with nothing in their inventory.
Improved movement animations when moving slowly or diagonally.
Display settings now apply automatically instead of needing to press 'apply',
Made some visual tweaks to the phone home screen.
Optimized interaction physics checks.
Tweaked UI alignment in the deal screen.
Tweaked counteroffer UI.
The game will now automatically pause when losing focus (alt-tabbing).
Optimized lots of shadow-casting lights.
Turned off baked occlusion culling (its calculations were actually more expensive than just rendering everything).
Adjusted the compression format of lots of audio files to minimize CPU spikes due to decompression at runtime.
Separated out lobby logic from interface.
Rewrote the platform integration code (achievements, lobbies, invites, etc) to be platform-agnostic.
Increased max UI scaling to 1.5.
Turned off shadow casting for lots of tiny meshes.
Cleaned up weather code, moved several weather components to the core DLL.
Removed legacy sky system.
FOV now has a lower limit of 20.
Converted NPC deal behaviour from schedule event -> behaviour.
Increased how much trees/bushes obscure NPC vision.
Pressing 'I'm stuck' will now teleport your vehicle back to safety if you are driving.
Rebuilt the barbershop and tattoo parlour UI.
Rebuilt the 'new mix discovered' interface.
Stripped lots of shader variants to minimize memory use.
Reduced the resolution of several unnecessarily massive textures.
Optimized some UI layout calculations.
Rebuilt the vehicle repaint interface.
Optimized compass UI rendering.
The management clipboard object selector mode now multi-selects by default - no need to hold 'shift' anymore.
Rewrote a bunch of miscellaneous code to minimize GC allocation.
Police vehicles now pooled instead of spawned/destroyed.
Scripts using repeating checks now stagger their logic instead of running everything in a single frame.
Implemented Linux-compatible region check (for choosing default metric/imperial).
Optimized several distance checks to use square distance.
Tweaked texture streaming settings to minimize excessively low-res textures for certain buildings.

Bug fixes

Fixed suppliers not looking at the player.
Fixed suppliers not returning to their meeting location after being interrupted.
Fixed police sometimes not 'sharing' their player line-of-sight with other officers.
Fixed bushes not obscuring players properly.
Fixed cartel influence popup overlapping with compass warning labels.
Fixed quest UI too close to top of screen on high interface scales.
Fixed jerky vehicle movement when in 'kinematic mode' (optimization used for distant vehicles).
Fixed baggies getting caught on the packaging station hopper lid.
Changed some Windows-specific file path code to work for other OSes.
Fixed z-fighting when building objects.
Fixed weird lighting on environmental graffiti and grime.
Fixed weird shadow pop-in for trees at sunset/sunrise.
Fixed volumetric light beam flickering.
Fixed environmental text causing stuttering when enabled/disabled.
Fixed lens flare excessive CPU usage.
Fixed CPU/memory spike due to audio sources subscribing to an event on enable/disable.

The NTE Starter Pack DLC is now available!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:24:04 +0800

Hey Appraisers,

The Starter Pack DLC is now available! Grab it for a head start in Hethereau!

????Pack Contents:

De-noise Solution x1

Elite Hunter Guide x5

Chaotic Dye x5

Manhole Boss x5

Head to NTE's Steam store page now and find the Starter Pack in the DLC section to buy it directly. Once your purchase is complete, the contents are sent automatically to the NTE game account linked to your Steam account, ready to claim and use in-game.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok is Out Now on Steam!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:15:03 +0800

Fight on, beneath the endless skies

Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok is out today, July 9th!

Granblue Fantasy illustration team

Ver. 2.0.2 Update Information

With the launch, an extensive update "Day 1 Patch" (Ver 2.0.2) is now available. Please check the official website for full details.

https://relink-ragnarok.granbluefantasy.com/ja/updates/381/

Launch Trailer "Not Forgotten Sky"

https://youtu.be/bEFYnDCYmvM

Update 4.2.0

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:32:03 +0800

Throne and Liberty update 4.2.0 downtime will begin at 10:30 p.m. PT (5:30 a.m. UTC) on July 8 and last approximately 3 hours.

Changes

Character Boost

Base rewards have been added to Character Boost Growth.
DaVinci's Favor (28 Days) x1
Precious Skill Growth Book x1,000
Precious Skill Growth Book: Omnipotence x80
Entropy Shard: Calanthia x45
Conversion Stone x100
Trait Unlockstone Fragment x550
Trait Enchantment Stone: Lv. 50 x16
Trait Enchantment Stone: Lv. 90 x1
1,000,000 Sollant x4
Contract Coin Box (10) x60
Steel Fishing Rod x1
Monster Bone Fishing Rod x1
Characters who used a Character Boost Ticket before the July 8 maintenance will receive the additional rewards via in-game mail during the scheduled maintenance.

New Shop Items

The Crystal Court Bundle and 10 Platinum-adorned Frost Weapon Skins are now available for purchase.

Archboss Crafted Weapons — Advance Notice

An issue was identified where Archboss Weapons could be repeatedly crafted using Skill Cores. The affected crafting recipe was temporarily removed in the June 30 update.

Crafting Recipe

The Archboss Weapon crafting recipe will be re-added to the game.
Archboss Weapons obtained through crafting will no longer be granted Potential Skills.
This change will be applied in the July 15 update.

Crafted Items

Potential Skills applied to Archboss Weapons obtained through the affected recipe will be removed, and the Inheritance/Seal restriction will be lifted.
Materials and Sollant used in crafting will be refunded, including tax.
Potential Skill removal and currency refunds will be processed during the July 15 scheduled maintenance.

Quinta Temporada, Arsenal e mais

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:09:03 +0800

Apresentando-se para a Campanha Ativa

Cache finalmente chegou, substituindo Overpass no Grupo da Campanha Ativa. Coloque as suas velhas estratégias a prova e suba a sua CSficação no mais novo campo de batalha do CS2.

Saia daí, vai explodir!

A Quinta Temporada chegou com algumas alterações explosivas no CS2 — o dano da bomba foi inteiramente reformulado.

Agora, quando a bomba explode, uma onda de destruição partirá do alvo de explosão, atravessando o mapa. Como antes, caso esteja muito perto da bomba no momento da explosão, você já era — mas a onda de choque se dissipa em cada esquina e não atravessa paredes, então, a uma certa distância, os seus instintos podem deixar você vivo. Ou, caso não confie muito nos seus instintos, confira a sua barra de vida: agora, ela exibirá uma prévia do quanto você terá de vida após a explosão.

Atendendo ao chamado

Recentemente, fizemos um recrutamento, soando o Arsenal-arme para novas coleções de armas e adesivos, e a comunidade respondeu com entusiasmo! Confira o Arsenal, onde duas novas coleções estão disponíveis: Arabesca e Spytech.

Duas novas coleções de adesivos — Frutas e Verduras e Corrida de Automóveis — também foram adicionadas ao Arsenal.

Mapas da comunidade

Falando na comunidade do CS, também há novos mapas para experimentar. "Boulder", "Fachwerk" e "Shelter" foram adicionados aos modos Competitivo, Casual e Mata-Mata, enquanto "Debris" e "El Dorado" estão disponíveis no modo Braço Direito.

... E mais

Corrigimos alguns erros, ajustamos alguns mapas e o desempenho do placar foi aprimorado, para que você possa conferir as suas estatísticas sempre que quiser.

Confira os detalhes da atualização para saber tudo sobre a atualização de hoje!

Obsidian has reportedly canceled multiple projects including an Avowed sequel as a part of the restructuring

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:08:04 +0800

Obsidian will reportedly begin working a new Fallout which Josh Sawyer will lead.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2's Final DLC ' Future Saga Chapter 4' is now available

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:59:03 +0800

The DLC is available on all consoles and PC.

id Software Was Reportedly 'Toying With' Pitches for a New Perfect Dark, a John Wick-Inspired Game, and More Before Layoffs

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:59:03 +0800

id Software was reportedly toying with a bunch of ideas for future game projects when Microsoft laid off more than half of the studio.

According to a new report from GamesBeat, 92 of 185 full-time employees were laid off from id Software. This has put a number of projects in question. The report notes that the studio was working on a bunch of projects, and sources aren't sure how they can move forward on them with such a small team.

“I’m not convinced there is a viable way forward,” said one laid-off worker when speaking with GamesBeat. “It feels like a bunch of knee-jerk responses.”

id Software just finished its work on the new Doom: The Dark Ages DLC, known as Revelations, and was looking at what its next full-scale project would be. One was a co-op/multiplayer Doom game that would've brought back weaponry from previous Doom games. Another was a new Perfect Dark game, since the property became available last year in the wake of Xbox's shutdown of developer The Initiative and cancellation of its Perfect Dark reboot.

There were also concepts for a new game codenamed Fury. id Software apparently saw this as a way to stretch its legs beyond Doom, and envisioned it as a John Wick-inspired, noir sci-fi game with "Chicago and Louisiana gangsters." Like John Wick, it would've combined martial arts with gunplay. The hope was to make it for Project Helix, the next-gen Xbox.

One other project that was being kicked around was a Westworld-inspired survival game, but not much else is known about it. It's unclear if any of these projects will move forward, or if id Software will just become a support studio, assisting on games like The Elder Scrolls 6, Wolfenstein 3, Marvel's Blade, or other projects within Xbox.

Last year, a similar situation happened to Turn 10 Studios, the team behind the Forza Motorsport franchise. The team was gutted as part of mass layoffs and there are now questions over whether or not the Motorsport series will continue, or if it will be completely replaced by the more successful Forza Horizon games.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.

Diablo 4 streamer spends "20 hours non-stop" farming bosses for the ARPG's rarest items, doesn't get a single one: "Don't try this at home"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:34:05 +0800

Diablo 4's new season, Death Awakening, kicked off on June 30 with some highly anticipated adjustments to the game's rarest loot, now called "Iconic" Mythics. The TLDR is that Mythic Uniques now come with two guaranteed powers that synergize with the item's unique abilities, replacing the completely random rolls that garnered so much controversy in the PTR, but even if Blizzard's compromise with players completely restored the community's goodwill (it didn't), it seems there's a whole new pain point emerging: drop rates.

According to one extremely thorough study from Diablo 4 content creator wudijo, Death Awakening's drop rates for Iconic Mythics are pretty darn stingy. In a new 20-minute video, wudijo says he spent "20 hours non-stop farming bosses" to bag himself some Iconic Mythics – in particular the El'Druin Sword of Justice – to no avail.

Wudijo spent most of two full real-world days farming Helltides, "not doing anything else in-between," and ended up with 850 lair keys, 900 greater lair keys, and 127 superior lair keys. Using those farming those bosses netted him a little over 100 Mythics, five Mythic Seals, and more than five billion gold, but unfortunately, not a single Iconic Mythic.

Even after salvaging "almost all" of the Mythics he looted at the blacksmith and trading them for Resplendent Sparks to make new items, "I just don't have that item, with all of my effort with all of the crafting, with all of the Sparks, and all of these lair bosses... so this is what happened here, and I am very sad," says wudijo.

Acknowledging that farming Helltides is an "extremely good" way to rack up regular Mythics and Mythic Seals, wudijo concludes that if you're looking for a specific Iconic Mythic, or really any Iconic, "this is definitely kind of disappointing."

It doesn't help that, in his experience, farming for a Mythic version of a Unique that otherwise fits your build often ends in disappointment.

"Most of the time you will have found so many good Uniques that, by the time that you have any realistic hope of getting the Mythic version, that the Mythic most often just ends up being worse, or at least not much of an upgrade in the first place," wudijo says.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/zXoYcp4iff8 As an example, wudijo says he found a particularly viable Unique Eaglehorn bow and wanted to see if he could find a better Mythic version for his Rogue build, but by the time a Mythic Eaglehorn actually dropped, it wasn't as good as the normal Unique one because "it rolled two bad stats," and since Diablo 4's reworked loot system only lets you re-roll one of a Mythic item's powers, his Mythic Eaglehorn went to the blacksmith for salvaging.

Wudijo is far from the only Diablo 4 player feeling unhappy with Iconic Mythic drop rates in season 14, with one heavily upvoted Reddit thread calling them "broken." Having fond memories spending entire summers as a kid chasing the rarest items in the games, I think there's value in having items so rare that they genuinely feel mythical when encountered, but at the same time, one of the new Diablo 4 season's biggest focuses is the Mythic rework, so it does seem peculiar that there's an item class eluding players as dedicated as wudijo, especially when Diablo seasons only last about three months. We'll see if and how Blizzard responds to the latest kerfuffle from the Diablo community.

Blizzard devs in the dark for now as president of the World of Warcraft and Diablo studio says they "can expect to hear more" soon about Microsoft's plan for the studio as Xbox faces 3,200 job cuts

[/url]

Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations Review So Far

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:56:04 +0800

After just five or so hours with Revelations so far, I already feel confident saying that the new combat elements it brings to the table make the encounters in this DLC the very best Doom: The Dark Ages has to offer. We didn’t get early code for this expansion, so my full review isn’t ready quite yet – I still need to finish up the last third of the campaign and then check out what seems to be a fairly robust endgame. But the new Chain Spear and refreshed mobility of Revelations have it inching ever closer to the stratospheric heights of Doom Eternal, which is already enough for me to confidently tell any fellow Doom heads that Revelations is a must-play.

This DLC’s story picks up right where the main campaign left off, and while you can technically jump straight into it first, you’ll be missing out on some pretty necessary context if you do. Of course, you don’t need much context to enjoy blasting a hole in Hell Knight with the Super Shotgun or jamming a spear through a Mancubus’ skull. The bigger reason why you’ll want to make sure you play through the campaign first is to familiarize yourself with the Slayer’s arsenal of weapons and techniques so you know what tool is right for which job, because Revelations throws you into the deep end right from the start and demands that you know what you’re doing. Even as someone who did play through Doom: the Dark Ages on Nightmare difficulty more than a year ago, the first couple of enemy encounters kind of kicked my ass.

What I said about Doom: The Dark Ages

Far from just being “More Doom,” Doom: The Dark Ages is a new flavor of the legendary shooter series that’s heavier and more grounded, but no less energetic and exhilarating. The new shield is an outstanding addition that adds a ton of both offensive and defensive options, and when combined with the extensive arsenal of traditional Doom guns, provides a ton of fun and exciting ways to dispatch the hundreds upon thousands of demons that stand in your way. Add on top of that another pumped-up heavy metal soundtrack backing the excellent weapon, level, and enemy design, and Id has once again proven that like a super shotgun blast from point blank range, they don’t miss. - Mitchell Saltzman, May 9, 2025

Score: 9

Read the full Doom: The Dark Ages review.

[/url] And then, just when I started to find my footing again, Revelations did something truly bold and took away the defining element ofThe Dark Ages’ combat: the Shield Saw. In its place, I gained the Chain Spear, which has a lot of the same functions as the Shield, but all handled in very different ways that end up totally changing the flow of combat. For example, the Spear can still parry green enemy attacks, but now you have to time a strike so that you essentially clash with theirs. It’s uniquely satisfying to bat back projectiles and smack away swipes and slashes, but you do lose the safety net of having a shield to negate damage if you mistime the parry.

The biggest difference between the Spear and the Shield is how you get around. With the Shield, you were able to use a shield bash that let you zip towards and slam into any target at high speed, but you didn’t have much mobility outside of that. With the spear, you can no longer instantly close the distance between you and an enemy. Instead, you throw it into a foe and slowly pull yourself towards them, maintaining full directional control as you launch either above, around, or right in front of your target. It works almost exactly like the grappling hook on the Super Shotgun in Doom Eternal, which is appropriate, as the entirety of the Spear’s kit feels designed to inject Eternal’s focus on mobility back into the grounded and heavy feel of The Dark Ages’ combat.

The Spear feels designed to inject Doom Eternal’s focus on mobility back in. Perhaps the best addition, though, is also the simplest one: the Slayer can dash again! I knew I missed the dash throughout my playthrough of the base game, but I didn’t realize just how much until they gave it back to me. It completely changes how The Dark Ages plays. Instead of basically being required to stand my ground and parry a sequence of attacks, now I can slip past foes, use my grapple to leap over them, dash behind cover, and just stay more mobile overall much like I would in Doom Eternal. It’s an added layer of creative combat expression that was missing here, and while it still isn’t quite at the same level as Eternal, it gets pretty dang close.

These combat options only expand the deeper you get into the DLC, as not only do you get your shield back – with the ability to hot swap between the two sub-weapons at any time – but you can also collect hidden bundles of Platinum to purchase new abilities for the spear. These include a damaging stab, an aerial slam, or a damaging javelin toss, and each of those abilities come with their own upgrades that add either additional utility or a direct counter against specific types of enemies. For example, the stab will deal extra damage to heavy melee enemies; the throw will deal extra damage to flying baddies, and can be upgraded to pierce through the fence-like projectiles that Mancubi toss out; and the slam can be upgraded to make health pickups pour out of foes that get hit by the resulting explosion. It again calls back to Doom Eternal’s style of making different weapons counters against specific enemy types, except here you don’t have to worry about constantly swapping between them. Everything is tied to the many abilities of the Spear.

It’s so much that it can honestly be a little hard to keep all of your different combat tools straight, and I often found myself getting tripped up by the fact that the button to throw the shield is different than the button to throw the spear – the buttons to parry are different between the two sub-weapons as well. This leads to lots of moments where my brain says “parry!” while using the spear, only to press the right mouse button (which is parry on the shield) to do a throw instead and launch myself into a terrible spot. Remapping the controls is something I can do, of course, but because so many abilities have overlapping functions, it's hard to find a control scheme that feels universally good. Ultimately, it’s a learning curve that I was able to overcome, but the road to retrain my brain was a rocky one, to say the least.

There’s more for me to dive into still, from the expansive hub world that’s filled to the brim with secrets, the aforementioned endgame, the classic doom levels, etc. But that’s going to have to wait for my full review. For now, it’s time for me to get back to ripping and tearing.

Where to find Blackbeard's Treasure in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:25:03 +0800

Finding Blackbeard's Treasure in Black Flag Resynced is actually a lot tougher than the game's other treasure maps, mainly because it doesn't give you any coordinates, forcing you to rely on your knowledge of the Caribbean. This is a new quest that was added in Resynced, but you won't get it until after you complete the Do Not Go Gently main quest... Read more.

Former Destiny 2 and Marathon director settles $200 million lawsuit against Sony and Bungie: 'The outcome is one I am very satisfied with'

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:18:04 +0800

Former Destiny 2 and Marathon director Christopher Barrett has settled his lawsuit against Sony and Bungie. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Barrett implied a favorable outcome, saying he's "very satisfied" with it... Read more.

How to beat all four legendary ships in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:07:04 +0800

Legendary ships were the pinnacle challenge of the Caribbean in the original, and they return even stronger in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. These boss battles now have more unique gimmicks and phases, and pack a serious punch. But you've got a lot more tools of destruction to deal with them, the rewards have changed, and they now respawn so you can fight them again... Read more.

How to get all 12 Ultimate Ship Plans in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:07:04 +0800

The Elite Ship Upgrades from the original game have been renamed in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. Now called Ultimate Ship Plans, these schematics still serve the same purpose: fully upgrading the Jackdaw. So you'll want to find each and every one of the locations if you're hoping to take on the legendary ships... Read more.

How to get Data Fragments in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:07:03 +0800

I'm not sure who asked for daily quests and what is essentially a battle pass in Black Flag Resynced, but here we are. Similar to Shadows, you can earn Data Fragments to spend on unlocking special cosmetics and keys in your Animus projects... Read more.

How to access Black Flag Resynced's new content in order

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:07:03 +0800

Though it makes a variety of changes to the original, Black Flag Resynced adds quite a lot of new content to the much-beloved Assassin's Creed instalment. There's a boatload of new sidequests, including a whole new chapter you unlock later in the game. There are also tweaks to combat, stealth, the Jackdaw, and legendary ships... Read more.

How to complete the Art Lover quest in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:07:03 +0800

Completing the Art Lover quest in Black Flag Resynced sees you finding art pieces from Great Inagua's scattered collection to return them to the manor. This is one of the new quests that was added in Resynced, alongside a new character, Bernard. This aged butler served the previous owner of the house before Du Casse took it over... Read more.

How to get all 28 outfits in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:07:03 +0800

Just like the original game, getting all the outfits isn't simple in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, but for a slightly different reason. Most outfits are still bought from the merchants or crafted, but a few have moved locations for no apparent reason... Read more.

Season 5, Armory, and More

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:53:03 +0800

Reporting for Active Duty

Cache has officially arrived, and replaces Overpass in the active duty map pool. Put your hard-earned strats to the test and rise through the Premier ranks in CS2's newest battlefield.

Get out of there, it's gonna blow!

Season 5 has arrived with some explosive changes to CS2--bomb damage has been completely reworked.

Now, when the bomb detonates, an explosive wave of destruction will flow from the bombsite through the map. As before, if you're too close to the bomb when it explodes, you're toast--but the shockwave dissipates around corners and doesn't go through walls, so at a certain distance you can use your wits to survive. Or, if you're not confident your wits are up to the task, check your health bar which will flash a preview of how well you'll fare after the blast.

Answering the Call

We sent out a call to arms recently for some new weapon and sticker collections, and the community answered! Head to the Armory, where you'll find two new weapon collections, Arabesque and Spy Tech.

Two new sticker collections, Fruits & Vegetables and Auto Racing, have also been added to the Armory.

Community Maps

Speaking of the CS community, there are some new maps to try. Boulder, Fachwerk, and Shelter have been added to Competitive, Casual, and Deathmatch modes, while Debris and El Dorado are now available in Wingman.

...And More

We've fixed some bugs, tweaked some maps, and scoreboard performance has been improved so you can check your stats as often as you like.

Check out the release notes for all the details in today's update!

Help, I can't decide if Stardew Valley in 3D is amazing or horrifying

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:45:03 +0800

We're always keeping an eye out for new Stardew Valley mods. For instance, not long ago I played a mod where I could open my own grocery store and make Pierre buy my seeds for a change, dammit! It was satisfying... Read more.

MindsEye developers protest against a fan event their own studio is hosting

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:45:03 +0800

"Just when I thought I was out," Al Pacino hissed in The Godfather Part 3, "they pull me back in!" I'm starting to feel that way about MindsEye, the infamously bad action game from Build a Rocket Boy: I played it, I had an accidental good time, the expansion was abysmally bad, and it was over. But now, for suitably bizarre reasons, it's back in my life... Read more.

Hotfix [09.07.2026]

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:38:04 +0800

The following changes have been made to the game without stopping the game servers:

• In order to maintain the competitiveness of the Faction Race event, all 36 Triumph challenges now count in faction progress. Thus, the maximum number of points a single player can earn for their faction has increased. 10 Triumph challenges is still enough to claim the Triumphator motif.
• Adjusted the display of faction progress percentages in the Faction Race event.
• Removed the display of coins in the rewards after completing 5 easy and 4 hard challenges.

Respectfully,
EXBO Team

A bigger arsenal is on its way in the next big Barony update!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:33:03 +0800

Welcome!

I want to take a moment to welcome the new Barony fans! Thanks so much for taking a dive into the dungeons, and for your interest in what more we have in store for you in our next major update. It's been a ton of fun watching the new adventurers pour in during the Steam Summer sale. So, a hearty welcome to you from the Barony community!

If you're new here and want to find people to talk about and play Barony with, join our Discord!

IOD:Part 2 Equipment Dev Diary

Looking forward to using new weapons and armor in the upcoming Instruments of Destruction: Part 2 (FREE) expansion? Check out our Dev Diary about it and amplify your hype:

Note, of course, the Instruments of Destruction: Part 2 Update is a work-in-progress so some stats or behaviors you see in the video may be tuned differently on release!

New Equipment Materials!

We're eager to make your Barony runs feel more and more unique and memorable, and that includes what kinds of equipment you seek and equip as you explore. Whether it's dropped by foes, found in treasure chests, or purchased in shops, we expect Instruments of Destruction: Part 2 to bring a lot more variety to your adventuring kit!

Light Armors

A lot of adventurers already forego heavier Iron, Steel, and Crystal armors to keep their overall carry-weight down and their speed up. New lighter armors are an especially wise choice for low STR classes who are easily weighed down, but are still looking for some specific defensive benefits.

Melee Weapons

New weapon materials may motivate you to keep different material types of weapon around for different reasons! You'll get a bit more value out of your class's preferred weapon type when facing a foe who might otherwise be resilient against its strikes.

Ranged Weapons

Adventurers who survive better away from the front lines also have some great new options. Two new missile weapons and special ammo types add more tactical variety. Bones offer a more abundant, but disposable kind of throwing weapon, while plumbata and darts offer specialized debuffs that could change the outcome of a fight.

Shields

These new shields reward expertly timed blocking. The bone shield knocks foes back, the silver punishes foes with a divine gleam, and the blackiron shield lowers the enemy's defenses. They may not offer the absolute highest AC, but they may help you put an end to fights sooner thanks to their retaliatory benefits.

Heavy Armors

Salamanders have crafted specialized armor for all of their warriors. The silver set is reserved for stalwart defenders, the immovable object. The blackIron set was produced for their conquering army, the irresistible force. Though not quite as protective as crystal armor, the passive benefits will likely be worth it for many stronger fighters.

Even More Items?

We've gotta leave SOME stuff for you to discover for yourself! But we're excited to add a few more item variants to the pool which provide enchantments on top of their standard equipment values. Adventurers have been putting the "Eat My Hat" update's masks and headgear to good use, and we think more specialized equipment is a ton of fun, so we know you'll adapt well to these new goodies that are on the way.

We are excited to see how all the new items we've talked about today will impact your runs!

Of course, there are yet more features we're excited to reveal coming in Instruments of Destruction: Part 2! We'll be hard at work getting ready to show and shop more of that.

New player? ... And you already want more Barony NOW!?

Grab the Perfect Party Bundle. The cost of any items you already own are subtracted from the total, and this bundle provides a 10% discount on our DLC! There's plenty more to master!

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/78847/Barony_Perfect_Party/

You want more Barony items IRL?

We have a merch shop now where we sell a sticker, a shirt, and a hat. I'm wearing the shirt as I type this. It's great! Some dude came up to me at the airport and he was like "Whoa you like Barony?" And I was like "DO I EVER?!" He beat the game as the ninja class once, and we met because I was wearing a Barony shirt. Is that a great story or what?

A shirt with a voxel duck on it? Just what you've always wanted! You can buy it!

https://www.turningwheelgames.com/twgstore

Digimon Story: Time Stranger on Switch 2 is a solid port and very good handheld, but needs some more work

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:09:03 +0800

Digimon Story: Time Stranger delivers a great handheld experience with some small issues, but it should've been better docked.

Fired Marathon director says he’s settled a lawsuit with Sony and been inserted into the credits

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:06:04 +0800

The former Marathon director, Christopher Barrett, says he has ended a lawsuit against Bungie and PlayStation and had his name inserted into the game’s credits as part of a settlement.

Barrett, who was the original director of this year’s Marathon, had his employment terminated by Bungie in 2024, after more than 25 years at the company, for misconduct.

In court documents, Sony alleged that Barrett had sent inappropriate messages to female employees. Barrett denied the claims and called the investigation that led to his firing a “sham”.

Read More...

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Will End Service This Year

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:54:03 +0800

In a social media post and a blog post, Square Enix has announced that the mobile and PC game Final

Mortal Shell 2 is suddenly one of my most-anticipated Soulslikes and it's out next month

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:48:03 +0800

Follow-up Soulslike Mortal Shell 2 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on August 20, and I'm encouraged by the variety of disgusting bosses shown off in its new trailer.

Developer Cold Symmetry released a new trailer locking in the date and showing off the sequel's upgraded, grisly combat. Like the original game, Mortal Shell 2 is a third-person action RPG where you melee, parry, and now shotgun your way through hordes of Gothic enemies that are equal parts gross and majestic. As you explore a world that's said to be much larger this time around, you unlock eponymous Shells to equip on your primordial hero, changing their abilities and fighting style dramatically, a bit like channeling the spirits of past warriors.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ajlq1WhXCbk The original Mortal Shell played and performed fine enough – that is, fine enough to give Cold Symmetry space to make a much more ambitious sequel that, so far, actually feels a lot better. The open beta (really, the demo) for Mortal Shell 2 is still available on Steam, and I was quite taken with it when I gave it a shot. The best demo experience is one that makes you hungry for the full game, and I was certainly disappointed when I remembered I was only playing a vertical slice.

In its early hours, Mortal Shell 2 sheds much of the clunk that saddled the first game and injects ranged weapons that make combat feel more dynamic. I'm the kind of Soulslike glutton who will clear just about anything with a half-decent parry, but I'm properly looking forward to this one after some hands-on time. More polished combat was basically all I was looking for, so if the game also bears out Cold Symmetry's bold promise of a gigantic, dungeon-filled world, this could end up being something special. It helps that it's only $50, too.

The "final game" from Half-Life 2 and Dishonored's late art director has been revealed: "The world's first Soulslike FPS," an apocalyptic Western at "the end of America."

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Subnautica 2 Releases Brand-New Update for July 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:09:03 +0800

Subnautica 2's first major Early Access update has officially arrived, and it's doing more than just adding new content. Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment (UWE) has released the game's first community-driven update while confirming another major milestone: Subnautica 2 has now surpassed 5 million copies sold less than a month after launching in Early Access.

Brigandine Abyss demo launches July 30 for PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:07:03 +0800

Following the launch of the PC demo, Brigandine Abyss' trial will hit consoles later this month.

Brigandine Abyss will not be 60fps on Switch 2 to deliver an overall stable experience: Happinet

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:07:03 +0800

Brigandine Abyss will not be a stable 60fps experience on Switch 2.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok version 2.0.2 update day one patch notes revealed

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:48:04 +0800

Cygames has released the Granblue Fantasy: Relink Endless Ragnarok day one update and here are the patch notes.

Id Software dev claims it’s been ‘relegated to support studio size’ as 136 layoffs confirmed

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:48:04 +0800

An Id Software developer affected by this week’s sweeping Xbox layoffs has claimed that the Doom and Quake studio has been ‘nuked into the dirt’ and ‘relegated to support studio size’.

On Wednesday, a WARN notice filed in Texas indicated that 96 workers have been laid off at Id Software’s Richardson, Texas HQ, and a further 40 remote roles have been cut, for a total of 136 job losses.

According to an announcement published by the Communication Workers of America last December, Id had 185 employees in total, which would mean that, if that figure is accurate, the majority of the studio’s workers have been laid off in this week’s huge Xbox cuts.

Read More...

Marvel Rivals is Officially Beating Overwatch to the Punch

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:39:04 +0800

Marvel Rivals fans were pleased to see that NetEase is going all out to make Season 9 special for the community, as it’s poised to be jam-packed with content. A new map based on Apocalypse’s empire will be released a few weeks after the Season begins, with Strategist Jubilee coming on day one and (assumed) Vanguard The Hood coming midseason. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as new mechanics like health regen are being introduced, the team-up system is being overhauled, and Black Widow’s long overdue rework will make her play more like Ashe from Overwatch. However, that isn’t the only similarity Season 9’s content has to the biggest name in the hero shooter genre, as one battle pass skin looks eerily familiar.

Elder Scrolls 6 Release Date Update Is Better Than We Expected

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:10:05 +0800

The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced back in 2018, and since then Bethesda has been incredibly quiet on the subject. It is fairly well documented at this point just how much Todd Howard regrets announcing the game so early, and how far into development yet far from release the game has been. Yet, there is so little information regarding the actual game or tangible details surrounding its development timeline, that were you to tell someone The Elder Scrolls 6 was still a decade away, they'd likely believe you.

Save Nearly 60% Off the Logitech G923 Racing Wheel and Pedal Set for PlayStation and PC

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:57:03 +0800

Don't miss out on this excellent deal on Logitech's newest mainstream racing wheel for Forza Horizon 6 and other racing type games. For a limited time, Logitech via its official eBay Store is offering a refurbished Logitech G923 Racing Wheel and Pedal Set for PS5 and PC for just $149.99 with free shipping after you apply a 25% off coupon code "LOGI2026SUMR". That's nearly 60% off MSRP and the lowest price I've seen for a warrantied G923 racing wheel. Yes indeed, it does come with a 2 year Allstate warranty.

60% Off Logitech G923 Trueforce Racing Wheel and Pedals Set

The G923 is Logitech's mainstream racing wheel that replaces the venerable G920/G29 models. New to the G923 is TrueForce technology, which offers more precise haptic feedback than the previous Driving Force tech. The force feedback really adds to the immersion, especially compared to a gampad controller; if you want something remarkably better, you'd have to shell out a lot more money for a direct-drive or belt-driven wheel, like Logitech's own $1,000 G Pro.

Other than TrueForce, the G923 is nearly identical to the G29 (PlayStation) racing wheel. It features a hand-stitched leather racing wheel with 900 degrees of rotation, sturdy metal base, durable steel ball bearings in the shaft, gear-driven dual-force motor feedback, stainless shifter and pressure sensitive pedals. The Driving Force Shifter is a compatible add-on that features a solid steel gear shaft and 6-speed short-throw gearbox.

Forza Horizon 6 is out, and it's a Masterpiece

IGN's Luke Reilly awarded the recently released Forza Horizon 6 a well-deserved 10/10 "Masterpiece" review. The latest iteration of the open-world arcade racing franchise allows you to traverse the varied vistas of Japan, from the snowswept mountainous paths of the Japanese Alps to the concrete jungle of the Tokyo Expressway. The game launches with 550 cars for you to customize and tweak, and dozens of single-player and online challenges for you to flex your skill, including the return of the Eliminator battle royale mode.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

Skybound Unveils Surprise G.I. Joe and Tomb Raider Comic Crossover

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:57:03 +0800

2026 really is the year of unexpected comic book crossovers. After recently learning about Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World's Weirdest and Judge Dredd/Biker Mice From Mars, now we know that the G.I. Joe and Tomb Raider franchises are gearing up for a big crossover.

Technically, that crossover is already underway, as Lara Croft just made a surprise appearance in the pages of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #330. That appearance sets the stage for a bigger crossover in the form of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider. This five-issue limited series launches in October 2026.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for an early look at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider #1:

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider is written by Kyle Higgins (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and drawn by Elena Casagrande (Black Widow). The creative team also includes colorist Alex Guimarães (Invaders) and letterer Pat Brosseau (G.I Joe: A Real American Hero).

Spinning out of the events of issue #330, this new series pairs Lara Croft with Shipwreck and a team of Joes as they race to Cobra Island to track down a long-lost treasure. Standing in their way are The Baroness and Destro, who seek the treasure for themselves.

"Tomb Raider meets G.I. JOE. Lost artifact, a Destro plot, and a joint infiltration mission to Cobra Island-- the appeal of a story like this should be obvious," said Higgins in a statement. "Having never had the opportunity to work with either, I was quite excited when Alex Antone called to ask me if I'd like to build an adventure for both. We're taking some really fun swings with both brands--and there are definitely some deep cuts for G.I. JOE fans!"

"I'm extremely happy to have the chance to draw one of the top myths in my life: Lara Croft!” said Casagrande. “It will be epic to see her in this adventure with the G.I. JOE team, fighting to solve one of her iconic mysteries on Cobra Island! I’m looking forward to showing you more pages!"

As if the comic weren't enough, Hasbro is also introducing Lara Croft t its long-running G.I. Joe Classified action figure line. Get a closer look at the new Tomb Raider figure below:

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider #1 will be released on October 7. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.

For more on the future of the Tomb Raider franchise, check out IGN's first preview of Legacy of Atlantis.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Obsidian Reportedly Cancels Avowed 2 to Focus on a New Fallout Game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:57:03 +0800

Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly pulling the plug on a sequel to Avowed in favor of a new Fallout game.

Bloomberg reports that Obsidian has scrapped plans for Avowed 2 and other unannounced projects to focus on a new Fallout game, led by Josh Sawyer. Sawyer was reportedly working on a different RPG that was structurally similar to Fallout prior to this. He also served as lead designer and project director on Fallout: New Vegas, one of the most beloved games in the franchise. Bethesda, the studio that has overseen the Fallout franchise for nearly two decades, will work with Obsidian on the project.

A small group of staff will continue to work on Avowed 2 with the hopes of reviving the project later down the line. The news comes as part of Xbox's big reset, which has resulted in thousands of layoffs, in addition to Microsoft parting ways with a handful of first-party teams such as Undead Labs. Bloomberg reports that a quarter of Obsidian was laid off as well.

The news of a new Fallout from Obsidian is likely very exciting to fans, however. Fallout: New Vegas is a fan-favorite entry in the franchise and the IP hasn't had a new mainline, single-player game in over a decade. Fallout 4 was released in 2015 and a few years later, we got Fallout 76, an MMO-style game set in the post-apocalyptic universe. A live-action Fallout TV series has also been ongoing on Prime Video, garnering critical praise and high viewership.

Still, the TV series has only made people crave a new single-player Fallout game and with Bethesda working on The Elder Scrolls 6 for the foreseeable future, a new Fallout game from that team is likely almost a decade away. It was reported earlier this week that Bethesda would be focusing more on its biggest franchises, and this move appears to be a sign of that.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.

Magic the Gathering community stunned as Path of Exile co-creator shows one of the biggest collections in the world, including 14 Black Lotuses, years after selling his cards to "fund the company"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:15:03 +0800

Former Grinding Gear Games co-founder and Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson previously sold parts of his Magic The Gathering card collection "to fund the company" during PoE's development, but has since amassed one of the biggest and most valuable Magic collections the world has ever seen, as he demonstrates in a new video.

Wilson could – but in this video, does not – claim to have one of the top 10 or even top five biggest Magic collections known to exist.

Showing off "My Oldest Magic: the Gathering Cards," Wilson shows page after page, pile after pile, of high-value and hard-to-find Magic cards dating back decades. From Alpha icons to The Dark, Legends, Antiquities and many other early sets, in this brief look – which seems to represent a fraction of Wilson's library, which includes tens of thousands of Lands alone – the man comes across like a dragon walking you through his treasure hoard.

The headliner is obvious: 14 copies of Black Lotus, the most famous Magic card around, crown Wilson's collection. With 12 sleeved in a binder and two more 9-grade Lotuses safely encased in plastic slabs, Wilson is sitting on a fortune in cardboard flowers.

Wilson never really talks about the value of these cards – beyond turning his nose up at the prospect of paying modern prices for more Black Lotuses – and it can be difficult to price some rarities in a turbulent market. But these are apparently "raw Alpha copies" of Black Lotus with black borders, which can easily sell for five digits apiece, and often much closer to six digits, even ignoring private collectors who've reportedly shelled out millions for a Lotus.

The Lotuses are one thing, but there are also random pages in Wilson's binders that could kill a Magic player. The Magic: The Gathering Reddit community was agasp at collection bombs like 24 copies of The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, a hotly contested Land which can go for thousands according to TCG Player.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/CT7PpBwNkT8 Wilson has one or even two dozen copies of tons of cards that many people have never held in their life. He rifles through piles of the fabled "Power Nine," a set of cards – spiritually related to Yu-Gi-Oh's Power Five – from early sets that offered enormous advantage, often in the form of extra mana, but also via extra turns a la Time Walk.

The Power Nine were printed back when the goblins in the Magic designers' brains flip-flopped unpredictably between pack filler that will never be played because it's unfit to even absorb beer can condensation on the kitchen table, and nuclear weapons that can never be played because they're banned in every galaxy. Thank goodness Magic players don't have to deal with that anymore. The Black Lotus, a bite of free mana, is just one of these nine.

Condition is obviously a factor in resale value, but Wilson has at least 12 near-mint copies of every Mox artifact in Alpha, and he talks over them like nothing. Those are just the ones in a binder; he has loose, more damaged copies of even more Power Nine, including yet more Moxes. The video feels like a fever dream; I wouldn't have the patience to make proxies of all these. Wilson alone commands a non-trivial portion of the entire Alpha market.

"Alpha is special," he says of the formative Magic set. "Because this is the original history of the game. These are cards that dictated the future of what was gonna happen and set it in motion. If Alpha was bad, the rest of the game would never exist. But thankfully Alpha captured a generation of people and that's why we're still playing Magic to this day."

Gobsmacked Magic players also latched onto standouts like the sheets of Mishra's Workshop and Candelabra of Tawnos. Likewise, Wilson has 12 honest-to-god, white-border, Unlimited Ancestral Recalls. Don't worry, he says he "limited" himself to just a dozen because it would be "silly" to try and get 24 today. Signed Alpha cards dating back to the original artist run naturally round out the dizzying video.

"It just makes me feel so happy to go through sets like this and just appreciate the cool old stuff they printed – in my opinion, back when the game was even better than it is today," Wilson says. "Of course, that opinion's gonna vary."

Path of Exile co-creator tells developers "don't survey your players" because "'your audience is good at recognizing problems and bad at solving them'"

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Industria II is a Linear Journey To The Core of Everything

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:12:04 +0800

Industria II, from Bleakmill is a direct continuation from the first title, putting you into the shoes of scientist and explorer, Nora. With some heavy Half Life inspirations and a surprisingly linear path, Industria II lets you discover the truth behind the ATLAS project as you try to free yourself and return to Berlin. One […]

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is stunning on all three consoles

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:10:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced delivers a polished visual experience that shines on PS5 Pro.

Less than 3 years after it launched on Steam, the Final Fantasy 7 gacha game is closing

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:05:03 +0800

Less than three years after it went live on Steam, Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis is calling it quits. Square Enix said in an end-of-service announcement that the sale of Red Crystal in-game currency has already been halted, and the game itself will be taken offline on October 6... Read more.

New Genshin Impact 7.0 Free Character Will Revolutionize Gameplay

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:00:05 +0800

A new and free character arriving in Genshin Impact 7.0 has been leaked, and their arrival will significantly help players build team comps, thinking about the new elemental reaction variation that will be in the spotlight in Snezhnaya. As the action RPG moves closer to Version 7.0 with the recent release of Version 6.7, the final update before the shift into the new year of content, several leaks are emerging. There have been leaks about the TPS mode in Genshin Impact 7.0, which will have the Traveler bearing firearms against enemies.

July’s Humble Choice Bundle Is Now Available – Score Sea of Stars, Tunic, and 6 More PC Games for $15

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:58:04 +0800

We’re already into July, and if your PC library is in need of a summer pick-me-up, the Humble Choice lineup for this month has officially been announced. For $14.99/month, which is the cost of a Humble Choice membership, you can score eight PC games to add to your growing library.

This month has some very fun picks as well, including Sea of Stars, Tunic, and Neon White alongside five more games you can check out below. There’s also a bonus of one month of IGN Plus included alongside the games, which allows you to disable ads, snag some free games, and more. It’s a pretty great way to test it out.

Humble Choice July 2026

Games Included

Sea of Stars: Sunset Edition (Steam)
TUNIC (Steam)
Neon White (Steam)
Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (Steam)
Drop Duchy - Complete Edition (Steam)
Sledders (Steam)
Dicefolk (Steam)
Our Adventurer Guild (Steam)
1 Month IGN Plus

[/url] We’re very big fans of some of these games, too. Tunic earned a glowing 9/10 score from us in its review, with IGN’s Ryan McCaffrey calling it, “an unapologetically challenging action-adventure game that is charming, multi-layered, and immensely rewarding to solve.”

Both Sea of Stars and Neon White earned 8s from us in their respective reviews as well. Writer Gabriel Moss reviewed the former and said it’s “an excellent tribute RPG that channels the best parts of its ‘90s-era forebears.” And as for the latter, IGN’s review from Luke Reilly called it “a quick and compulsive first-person platformer that’s surprisingly simple to understand and play, but packs a very stern speedrunning challenge at its core.”

Of course, alongside the mix of PC games that drop each month, there are some extra bonuses to enjoy as a Humble Choice member. Mainly, members can save up to 20% in the Humble store, but also 5% of your membership supports a charity each month. This month, your donations will be going to Sandy Hook Promise.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

patch 1.1.0!!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:57:03 +0800

New map:
Lobby screen added

Hello, everyone.

We're here to share the new map update many of you have been waiting for!

This new map was created around the concept of a convenience store in a dream. For players who found the 4668-item cleanup a bit overwhelming, or who want a lighter organizing session, this map contains 2628 items to organize. Don't worry. A Super Super Supermarket map for players who want even more organizing is also in development.

Here's a little more about the convenience store map.

Choose from several skies, including sunset, morning sky, and space, then organize the convenience store beneath them. (The Earth map is my personal favorite.)
To match the Japanese convenience store concept, dozens of new objects have been added, including snacks, canned beer, and magazines.
During play, three stickers will appear periodically. Pick the one you need most for the situation and put it to use.

We hope you enjoy playing, and we'd love to hear your feedback. Thank you as always for being with us. See you in the next update!

Palworld Gives Price Update Ahead of 1.0 Release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:40:06 +0800

With its 1.0 release just days away, Palworld has officially confirmed that the game will not be increasing its price when the update drops. Palworld took the world by storm when it launched into Early Access back in January 2024, and developer Pocketpair wants to keep the game's price the same as a way of thanking fans for supporting the game for so long. Palworld launches its 1.0 update on July 10, bringing with it numerous new Pals to catch along with gameplay overhauls.

Inside a studio layoff — Big questions for Microsoft’s intentions for id Software

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:35:03 +0800

The team at id Software seemed safe from the Xbox layoffs, as the studio hadn’t been notified that it was up for closure or sale. But about half of the Microsoft-owned game studio was laid off on Monday as Xbox announced 3,200 current and pending layoffs.

At least 90 of 185 employees or so were cut, according to what I’ve heard. But that came as a surprise to many, considering the pioneering studio had one of the biggest properties in the Xbox hit portfolio in the reinvigorated Doom franchise. Those former employees say the travesty of the Xbox layoffs, done in a rush, are evident in who was chosen when the ax came.

“It’s a bloodbath,” said one former employee. “I was blindsided by it. The scale of it.”

id Software was vulnerable in part because it was between major games. Just yesterday, it had shipped Revelations, a downloadable content (DLC), or expansion pack, for Doom: The Dark Ages. The cuts came as id’s team was toying with different game ideas including a John Wick-style original game called Fury; a new game in the Perfect Dark franchise; and a multiplayer/co-op version of Doom. It’s not clear which game, if any, the remaining team can do.

The pain of the layoffs echoed throughout the Xbox network. In a LinkedIn post, Daniel Gagne, a principal UI artist, said he survived the layoffs. But he said, “Finding the right words right now is incredibly difficult. A massive amount of brilliant, talented individuals just lost their roles.”

Gagne added, “Having navigated the gaming industry for over 25 years, I’ve seen my share of restructuring. However, this one cuts much deeper. Seeing friends and coworkers—some who dedicated over two decades to id Software—lose their jobs is heartbreaking. The AAA gaming ecosystem needs to change; the current model is unsustainable for the people who build these worlds.”

You’re back to hell in Doom: The Dark Ages — Revelations DLC. Source: id Software The Richardson, Texas-based studio (near Dallas) was not pegged for either closure or sale like five other game studios. But had it known the cuts would be so deep, it probably would have opted to be sold to another party. That’s what I’ve heard from employees who were laid off on Monday. Marty Stratton, studio head, got choked up as he told staff about the layoffs over a Teams call that morning.

It’s a sad outcome for a studio started in 1991 by four young men in Dallas: John Carmack, John Romero, Adrian Carmack and Tom Hall. They created games like Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake. They eventually went their separate ways, sold id to ZeniMax in 2009, and are holding a reunion for the 30th anniversary of id’s Quake in Dallas in August at QuakeCon.

The cuts show how ill-considered the overall Xbox strategy betrayed the studio as it made single-player games for its longstanding fans. As noted, Xbox Game Pass was supposed to hit about 77 million subscribers by now, but the number stands at 30 million and it’s falling.

One former studio head said that it was confusing in terms of goals that Microsoft wanted. Was it subscribers for Xbox Game Pass? High engagement time on Game Pass? Revenues and profits from standalone copies sold? Technology demos for the platform? id Software is a part of Bethesda, whose parent firm, ZeniMax, was bought by Microsoft in 2021 for $7.5 billion.

Doom: The Dark Ages got a Metacritic aggregate review score of 83 out of 100 — not bad. The problem with it was that it was played by millions of fans, but many played it for free on Game Pass. Doom was like a counter to other PlayStation games like God of War or The Last of Us. But Doom: The Dark Ages standalone game sales, which would have generated more revenues and profits, were weak. That made it a target. If id Software knew that the goal was revenues and profits, it might have opted for live service or multiplayer modes instead.

The focus on single-player gaming was a choice the studio made to keep its headcount low, and it is remarkable that a studio like id, with triple-A cred going back decades, was so small. That was an advantage when it came to communication. On the downside, id Software often took four years to make a game, longer than other teams. And some said they had to work on crunch time on a regular basis. Hugo Martin, game director, often told devs he wanted them to be believers, with passion and commitment to making great games.

id also made its own game engine, id Tech 8, a legacy from id cofounder John Carmack, who has since left. Carmack created the id Tech game engines so they could give the company’s games an edge in speed and visual quality, and id still continues to use the engine. However, Microsoft’s game studios, like Halo Studios, have been making moves to standardize on Unreal Engine, which could allow it to be more efficient with costs and engineering staff.

The Doom Slayer looks like Conan The Barbarian. Source: id Software For id Software, that could be a risky move, as id Tech 8 has focused on speed at scale in the past, and Doom games required that speed. On top of that, it’s not likely many contractors know how to use id Tech 8.

The toll on employees laid off has been tough.

“It’s been really nerve-wracking, and I am completely burned out because we were just finishing the DLC. We thought we might get impacted, but not to this scale,” said one laid-off employee.

In fact, id Software’s latest downloadable content, Revelations, is shipping for Doom: The Dark Ages now. It’s the last piece of software that half the team will ever finish.

Departments that were heavily hit include AI programming, technical design, other design departments, rendering, level design, gameplay design, combat design, the game engine team, environment art, and more. Numerous union employees were laid off. The team didn’t have many contractors since it finished its big project, Doom: The Dark Ages, last year. Remote workers were laid off. Among the surviving departments: cinematics and gameplay engineering.

As for Fury, it was a project that game director Hugo Martin proposed in the past as an original intellectual property. It had elements of sci-fi, noir, and Louisiana and Chicago gangsters. It had a modern, cyberpunk-like feel. It had a concept called Gun Fu, which combined gunplay with martial arts. It was supposed to feel a lot like a John Wick movie.

It was a chance to go beyond Doom, but moving away from core franchises is not exactly what Microsoft wants to do now.

The team was also considering doing a game based on Perfect Dark, the franchise that hasn’t had a new addition since Perfect Dark Zero in 2005 on the Xbox 360 game console. The studio got wind of the idea one day when someone made a presentation in a glass office.

The Initiative, an Xbox studio in Santa Monica, struggled for as much as seven years to make a Perfect Dark game before The Initiative was shut down in July 2025. Evidently, the Perfect Dark game was available since id Software could tap the IP of other Microsoft properties if they weren’t being worked on by others.

Microsoft bought Doom Eternal’s owner, ZeniMax Media (Bethesda) for $7.5 billion. Still another candidate was a Western-style robot game, with a focus on survival. Dubbed Ironwood, it was akin to the world of Westworld.

And as far as Doom goes, there were proposals to do multiplayer, co-op and more DLC. One of the ideas was to bring back old guns from previous games like Doom Eternal and Doom 2016. Fortunately, there were a lot of veterans to do such work, as id Software largely escaped previous Microsoft layoffs.

I’m so sorry for everyone at id Software affected by these layoffs.

I know what it feels like to leave id while id goes on. It’s a strange and painful thing to step away from a place that holds so much of your work, friendships and history.

The people at id have done a great… https://t.co/jxFFJ2bsFq

— John Romero (@romero) July 7, 2026 Of all those ideas, most were considered to be cross-platform games running on current generation hardware, but something like Fury might also be targeted for Project Helix.

Under the federal WARN Act, the employees get 60 days notice of any layoff. But union employees laid off do not know what their severance packages are yet because it has yet to be negotiated. Some of the id team was being farmed out to work on other titles like Blade at Arkane or Wolfenstein 3 at MachineGames. High-level leaders such as Matt Booty or Asha Sharma weren’t seen at id.

Doom: The Dark Ages Source: id Software As for AI, there wasn’t much evidence it was being used in the studio, if at all, except for tasks that were more mundane and not related to game development. The job market isn’t good right now, and so one interviewee said they expect to see indie startups form.

Sadly, the company recently started handing out crystal trophies to workers who had put in 10, 15 or 20 years of work at id.

The outlook for id Software isn’t good — unless, ironically, it hires a lot of people.

“I’m not convinced there is a viable way forward,” said one laid-off worker. “It feels like a bunch of knee-jerk responses.”

The post Inside a studio layoff — Big questions for Microsoft’s intentions for id Software appeared first on GamesBeat.

New Rain World Plushie and Pin

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:13:03 +0800

Hey Slugcat,

We have partnered with Sanshee to make another set of highly asked for plushies and pins!

No Significant Harassment pins and plushies are available for preorders! I’m sure a lot of hunter plushies will be particularly happy to see this!

Will you bring them together?

https://sanshee.com/collections/rain-world

-riv otter

Expansions Hub and TarCoin

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:13:03 +0800

The Expansions Hub has arrived - an in-game store offering a more flexible selection of items than the “Expansions” page on the official website. Below are answers to some common questions about the Expansions Hub.

What is TarCoin?

TarCoin is an in-game currency used exclusively within the Expansions Hub.

TarCoins can be found in raids. Once you successfully extract with them, they will automatically be converted into your Tarcoin account balance.

TarCoins can also be purchased via the Expansions Hub, the official website or Steam. After purchasing a TarCoin pack, you can spend the coins on any in-game items available in the Expansions Hub.

Does the Expansions Hub offer the same items as the website?

The Expansions Hub includes many familiar items, such as:

PMC apparel
Stash lines
PvE Upgrade
PMC voice packs

However, the Expansions Hub also provides several unique benefits that are not available on the official website.

What advantages does the Expansions Hub offer compared to the website?

In addition to the convenience of in-game access, the Expansions Hub introduces several new features:

Purchasing apparel tops and bottoms separately without having to buy an entire set
Apparel bundles that combine multiple outfits at a discounted price
Value packs for stash lines

What are apparel bundles?

Each bundle contains multiple clothing sets grouped around a shared theme or gameplay usage.

All bundles include a discount, making them a great option for players who want more variety in their wardrobe.

What happens if I purchase a clothing bundle that includes items I already own?

If you already own some of the items included in a bundle, the final price of the bundle will not change for the following bundles: USEC Veteran Apparel Pack, BEAR Veteran Apparel Pack, PMC Veteran Apparel Pack, Executive PMC Pack.

For all other clothing bundles, the bundle price will be automatically reduced based on the items you already own.

Why can't I purchase stash line bundles?

Stash line bundles are only available if purchasing them would not exceed the maximum stash size. For example, if you have already purchased 22 additional stash lines, you will only be able to purchase the 40/80 and 20/80 stash line bundles. If none of the stash line bundles are available, you can still purchase 2 or 4 stash lines separately.

Is there any difference between buying an item on the website and buying it through the Expansions Hub?

No. If an item is available both in the Expansions Hub and on the official website, it’s exactly the same regardless of where it is purchased.

Can I upgrade my game edition through the Expansions Hub?

Yes. The only difference is that game edition upgrades are purchased using real-world currency rather than TarCoins.

What is the special 2,000 TarCoins bundle?

It’s a one-time TarCoin pack that provides 100% bonus value. It can only be purchased once per account.

Please note: When purchasing TarCoin packs through Steam, there may be a slight delay before they are credited to your account.

Invincible Officially Recast Mark, And Nobody Noticed

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:09:03 +0800

Invinciblefans are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the official release of Season 5 next year, and despite there being no specific release date yet, recent reports indicate that it is in the final stages of animation and post-production. With Season 4 ending on several major cliffhangers and Robert Kirkman confirming that Season 5 will continue adapting the comic while also including some original material, fans have plenty of unanswered questions heading into 2027.

Branching Path: Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Isn't Just a Stunning Remake, It Puts the Series Back on Track

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:09:03 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a brilliant, almost textbook remake that doesn't just update the original, but integrally enhances and enriches it in nearly every way.

More Than 8 Years on From Its Announcement, The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Reportedly Still at Least 2 More Years From Release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:56:04 +0800

More than eight years on from its official announcement, The Elder Scrolls 6 is still at least two more years from release.

That's according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, speaking last night during a live Q&A discussing this week's dramatic changes at Xbox which have seen 1,600 staff made redundant and at least four studios cut from the company's roster. A further 1,600 job losses are currently planned over the course of this year.

Doom developer id Software was gutted, as was ZeniMax Online Studios, developer of The Elder Scrolls Online. In an email to Bethesda staff sent following the announcement of the cuts, Bethesda boss Jill Braff said the company will now double down on its "strongest franchises," which suggests the likes of Fallout and — yes — The Elder Scrolls. But IGN also understands that layoffs have taken place within Bethesda Game Studios among staff working on TES 6.

All of which begs the question of when TES 6 will finally launch, and whether Xbox can do anything to make good on its plans to speed up the game's development without compromising on its quality — and hold back from impacting its team further in future rounds of layoffs.

Bethesda chief Todd Howard formally announced The Elder Scrolls 6 during the company's E3 press conference in Los Angeles back in June 2018, via a CGI trailer which revealed very little. In the years since, fans have seen nothing more. While few dared to hope that June's Xbox Game Showcase would finally see the title re-emerge, there has been a growing sense of concern among fans who are starting to worry about how long it's taking for the sequel to the all-conquering Skyrim to actually release.

The last time Todd Howard talked about The Elder Scrolls 6 was in March 2026, when he joked that we should all pretend Bethesda hadn't announced it. This is a recurring theme; in February, Howard admitted — once again — that he would have preferred not to have announced the game so early.

Howard warned eager fans as recently as last November that the game is "still a long way off," and has even teased that he may just shadow-drop it. He reiterated in February that "it's gonna be a while yet," and confirmed that, "We're able to play it, we're about to pass a big milestone internally, the majority of the studio is on the game and some of our partners."

In a recent interview with Variety, Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty suggested that when Bethesda does get around to showing off The Elder Scrolls 6, it will signal that the game itself will be released soon. Booty also offered some reassurance, saying he’s visited Bethesda to watch the game being played, and "it’s coming along well." As for when the reveal will be… "at the right time."

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

I almost missed the fantastic Granblue Fantasy: Relink. It just got even bigger - so don't make the same mistake

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:51:04 +0800

Granblue Fantasy Relink's Endless Ragnarok expansion brings more story, challenge modes, and summons to the underrated action JRPG.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: I almost missed the fantastic Granblue Fantasy: Relink. It just got even bigger - so don't make the same mistake

Emote RNG codes (July 2026)

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:51:03 +0800

Here are all of the new Emote RNG codes that you can redeem for free luck boosts, cash, and blocks.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Emote RNG codes (July 2026)

Marvel Rivals' Season 9 update will affect 80% of its roster as NetEase throws balance out the window for a more 'fun' approach to the game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:44:05 +0800

Marvel Rivals will open the doors to the "most massive overhaul to the combat system since launch" that affects roughly 80% of its hero roster when Season 9 kicks off in a couple of days. There's hero reworks, a massive change to Team-Ups, and a substantial ultimate charge nerf... Read more.

Persona 4 Revival changes some of Yosuke's controversial scenes: "We wanted to lighten that up and make it a little bit more fitting for the world we live in now"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:44:05 +0800

Persona 4 Revival producer Kazuhisa Wada has revealed that Yosuke will be subject to changes to make him a "bit more fitting for the world we live in now."

Speaking to Anime Corner, Wada explains that the team hasn't made many changes "about the story," how characters think, "or how they act or anything" in Persona 4 Revival, but that the changes are "mostly with Yosuke."

He adds that Yosuke is "a little bit insensitive in terms of how he treats outsiders sometimes. So we wanted to lighten that up and make it a little bit more fitting for the world we live in now."

Persona 5 may be the biggest game in the series, but Persona 4 is that guy. Almost 20 years down the line and the game everyone used to complain was being oversaturated during the wait for Persona 5 is coming back, with 18 years of discourse backing it up. Some story elements of Persona 4 are a bit controversial to this day, so many have been curious as to how the remake would handle some of these elements.

One of the elements of Persona 4 that is perhaps aged in the eyes of many is pretty much everything to do with Yosuke. As a character, Yosuke embodies the "bro" archetype and – as someone who was a teen when Persona 4 came out – was a pretty accurate portrayal of your average edgy teenage boy in the era.

Yosuke is a very insecure character deep down, but it manifests with him being a bit of an asshole to his friends, playing on their insecurities, and by-extension being homophobic, misogynist, and just a bit of a creep. Most infamously, he asks Kanji – who was having doubts about his own sexuality – if he and the protagonist are going to be "safe alone" with him.

We've already seen that the game has removed a fan-favorite line that shows how awkward Yosuke could be (as well as a change to the pageant scene). Some are also wondering if the seemingly cut romance option with Yosuke will be restored in the upcoming remake, with some feeling that his homophobia and creepy lines could be symptomatic of a closeted person projecting their own insecurities. However, given the word that the team hasn't made major changes to the story, I have my doubts this will be included.

Persona 4 Golden Chie actor is "deeply grieving" being recast in Revival: "Thank you for sharing the journey with me."

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Blizzard knows World of Warcraft's removal of raid add-ons is "controversial," but the MMO's lead says its new UI "has been successful so far"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:44:05 +0800

Blizzard made waves in the World of Warcraft community after deciding to remove combat mods alongside the release of new expansion Midnight, but director Ion Hazzikostas remains certain that it was the right decision.

Speaking in a new interview with PCGamesN, Hazzikostas first reiterates that raid mechanics were never developed "with the intent that add-ons would be used to solve them." It's an issue that Final Fantasy 14 players will understand well, too – although Blizzard only recently took action against combat plug-ins.

Players were meant to overcome World of Warcraft's greater challenges more organically, hence the removal of such add-ons.

Even though fans themselves have offered a bit of a mixed bag of reactions to the entire debacle, Hazzikostas believes the UI changes accompanying the add-ons' departure have largely been a good thing.

"I know this may be a controversial statement, but I will say that, overall, [the new UI] has been successful so far," he says. "It's not done, it's not perfect; there's more work to go, and we are continuing to undertake that work."

But, Hazzikostas assures us, "By and large, the vast majority of people are completing the same level of content that they were before, and far more are doing it without feeling like they need to seek out external tools."

Blizzard isn't done yet – the devs are "continuing to improve our base interface" while also making things a bit easier for add-on authors. It's about striking a middle ground, not just scrapping everything players used to know.

And, as Blizzard has said time and time again, "All of this has been in service of a more approachable experience and a more level playing field."

Reactions didn't make that easy, as the whole "killing add-ons" rhetoric "led to a very understandable, very negative reaction around that idea because add-ons have been a part of WoW for 20 years." But, they still are – just not in the same way they used to be.

It's nothing like Square Enix's third-party tool policy that those of us invested in Eorzea know very well – and it's evolving.

"While it's certainly been a transition with its challenges, we're excited to have this new baseline and foundation, and things will only continue to get better from here, both as we continue to add functionality to the base UI, and we continue to empower addon authors to add customization options," as Hazzikostas states.

Ultimately, Blizzard wants "to open up new doors and possibilities for players in raids, dungeons, delves, and everything in between" – and that's what Midnight's changes (and future tweaks, too) aim to do.

Blizzard continues taking action against World of Warcraft private servers as it pushes on with a lawsuit citing "large-scale, egregious, and ongoing infringement" of its MMO

[/url]

Terrible GTA Trilogy remasters were actually enjoyed by "a lot of people," says studio boss who "agreed with most of the people's reactions"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:44:05 +0800

It's almost impressive that in 2021, 17 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas came out, new remasters of that, GTA 3, and Vice City proved to be perhaps the worst way to enjoy the landmark releases. Seriously, you'd be better off sourcing original hardware than playing Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. Despite the complaints, most people who booted the collection up had a good time, according to one of the lead developers.

The company behind The Definitive Edition was Grove Street Games (though you wouldn't know that now because the company's logo was removed from the menus in 2024), and the studio's CEO, Thomas Williamson agrees with the criticisms, but notes there were plenty of fans nonetheless. "I agreed with most of the people's reactions. But unfortunately, I feel like we did not agree with how the game was released and the response to it from a development side," he tells wccftech. "And I think that would have changed the narrative significantly."

He then says that data on their side suggested fans weren't discouraged from roving around as Tommy Vercetti or CJ. "However, at the end of the day, looking at the behind-the-scenes metrics on those games, there were a lot of people who were playing them and really enjoying them," Williamson adds.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/D71cBUeAL58 I'm a little cynical here. I can easily believe there were disagreements about releasing the games in such a state. Nobody is more aware of how buggy something is than a developer who's working on it all day, with a launch date looming over them and growing ever closer. Such is the reality for many people in the industry.

Williamson himself has gone on record about contentions with Rockstar over how fixes were handled, and Grove Street being taken off the title screens. "It's a dick move to remove primary developers from credits in an update, especially when an update includes hundreds of fixes that were provided by those developers that stayed out of players' hands for years," he said on Twitter in 2024.

That Grove Street Games was getting feedback that indicated most people simply weren't that pushed is a bit of a stretch. It took years for these releases to become generally playable and more stable, following patch after patch.

I have no doubt that a certain, perhaps more casual audience was just happy with the hit of nostalgia. But "a lot of people"? I'm not convinced.

Whatever the case, Williamson's made his peace with the whole thing, and believes if we want better, it'll need to come from Rockstar. "I don't think there'll ever be a perfect redux of those that's not done by Rockstar proper," he says. "If their Rockstar North team took it on and did some crazy thing, that would be awesome."

Maybe after GTA 6, then. So, in 2030-something. I'll dig out my PS2.

Sony killing physical PlayStation games has folks so angry that its announcement has even more views than Rockstar's GTA 6 trailer posts on Twitter

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Minecraft Reportedly Helped Fund Xbox Game Studios for Years

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:36:04 +0800

It looks like Minecraft has not just been a huge hit for Microsoft. It may have also been one of

How to destroy Naval Convoys in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:36:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Naval Convoys can be quite a serious challenge early on since you've got to fight multiple ships at once. But given how common these convoys are in Black Flag Resynced, and that they're a great opportunity for getting ship-based loot and plenty of Reales thanks to the Captain's Lockbox, knowing how best to tackle them is essential pirate knowledge. With that, I've explained exactly how these Naval Convoys work below, so that you can plunder the seas with ease.

How to complete Naval Convoys in Black Flag Resynced

(Image credit: Ubisoft) To complete a Naval Convoy event in Black Flag, you need to board and successfully commandeer the lead ship in the convoy – that's the largest ship leading the way. The lead ship has at least two smaller escort ships which don't need to be destroyed, but as the tips further below explain, it's probably best to sink them.

To board and seize the lead ship, you need to damage the lead ship until it is immobilized, at which point you can sail the Jackdaw alongside and begin a boarding action by following the button prompt (hold Triangle/Y). Once you've swashbuckled your way on board, start reducing the morale of the enemy ship, by killing the enemy crew; cutting the flag, which can be done by climbing to the top of the main mast and following the button prompt; and destroying gunpowder stores on deck, though not every ship has these – just make sure you don't blow you and your crew up when you shoot these.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Once morale has been reduced entirely, the convoy crew will surrender and you'll be presented with the usual boarding action choices, as well as the Captain's Lockbox:

Get Captain's Lockbox: This provides additional loot on top of your current earnings. From my experience, the additional rewards tend to be extra Reales and sometimes crew members. Unless you absolutely must choose a different option, you should always choose this to get greater rewards.
Repair: Recover a portion of the Jackdaw's health.
Send to Kenway's Fleet: If you have an empty fleet berth, you can add this ship to Kenway's Fleet, letting you send it on missions around the Caribbean to get you extra resources.
Lower Wanted Level: Reduce your Wanted Level, lowering the risk of Pirate Hunters tracking down the Jackdaw.

Black Flag Resynced Naval Convoy tips

(Image credit: Ubisoft) There's a good chance that you've been scuttled by one of these convoys in Black Flag Resynced as they're quite tough, especially early on, so here are some tips for making them as easy as possible:

Upgrade the Jackdaw: The reason Naval Convoys are tough at first is because the Jackdaw is far too weak for fighting multiple ships at once, especially if the enemy ships are rated three stars or higher. Visit Harbourmasters often and buy whatever upgrades you can, especially the ones that improve broadside cannons, the mortar, and the hull to make the Jackdaw stronger in both offensive and defensive capacities. Any Black Flag Resynced Ultimate ship upgrades will help a lot
Target the escort ships first: These smaller ships can be annoying if not dealt with first and will wear down the Jackdaw to the point of sinking while you're distract by the lead ship. Start the engagement with a well-placed mortar shot on one or both escorts and, with enough mortar upgrades, you might even destroy both ships, taking them out of the fight before it's even started.
Board the escort ships: Again, it's not essential that you board these ships, but it's a good idea to do so, giving you opportunities to get more loot and either repair the Jackdaw or reduce your Wanted Level to keep Pirate Hunters from interrupting. I almost always opt for repairs to ensure the Jackdaw has as much health as possible when going to attack the lead ship. Bear in mind that shooting or ramming immobilized ships instead of boarding grants reduce rewards too.
Use the swivel guns when preparing to board: Once Edward releases the ship's wheel as you prepare to board, run immediately to the swivel guns either side and start firing shots at any red barrels or enemy crew members. Assuming you land your shots, you'll reduce their morale a fair bit before you've even properly boarded.
Cut down the flag if you don't want to fight: Cutting the flag at the top of the main mast is a great way to reduce enemy morale significantly without having to be in the thick of the fighting if that's not your thing. Just watch out for any snipers in the other masts as any shots that hit you mid-climb can cause you to fall off the mast.
Remember to brace: Holding Square/X to get your crew to brace reduces the damage enemy cannonballs deal, so don't forget to use this ability rather than going purely on the offensive. If you've got the Black Flag Resynced Officer upgrade, Perfect Brace, timing your brace just before the cannonballs hit the Jackdaw's hull will substantially reduce the damage. Just keep an eye out for the orange glow of cannon fuses on enemy ships, meaning a volley is inbound.

You'll notice that these Naval Convoys become much easier as you get more upgrades and Officers for your crew, helping you get plenty more Reales and useful resources that you can sell. Some of these can traded with the Treasure Hunter in Great Inagua to piece together ruined Black Flag Resynced Treasure Maps.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Anno 117: Pax Romana – Patch 1.6.1

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:30:05 +0800

Release Date: Thursday, July 9th, 2026, at 12 PM CEST

Improvements & Changes

Earthquakes have revealed additional building space on Cinis
- This change is savegame-compatible and expands the buildable area on Cinis
- For technical reasons, to keep it compatible, no new mine/river slots or coastal area are added to the new areas

Bug Fixes

Gameplay

Fixed a crash related to resolving large incidents
Fixed an exploit with gamepad controls where players could obtain free goods at a trader
Fixed an issue where a rival’s vassalized islands could not be reclaimed by players
Fixed an issue with vassalized islands not being released after their owner was defeated
\[DLC 01] Fixed an issue with Vigiles not repairing buildings destroyed by the volcano/volcanic tremors
Fixed a (Trajan) error for players rejoining a multiplayer match after having surrendered
Fixed various savegame compatibility issues

Art/visuals

Improved preview visibility of mosaics from the “Marvellous Mosaics” pack
\[DLC 01] Fixed some issues with certain construction areas on Cinis not being accessible when using a gamepad

UI & Text

Notifications from trade routes now only show actual errors, not warnings
Fixed an issue where the “Ground Patterns” category had the wrong or missing text when using gamepad
Fixed Obsidian notification in mines and rivers not disappearing on consoles
Fixed Governor Villa UI not showing the construction time of garrison units
Fixed missing Infolayer Icon which displays the same buildings above same Military buildings
- Affected buildings: Barracks, Equitum Campus, Siege Workshop, Repair Crane and Shipyard
Fixed size of L2 Radial Menu on Consoles
Fixed “You can now travel to different provinces” bubble reappearing after closing it
Fixed positive “Cherished” reason shown as negative in Trade treaty infotip

Quests & Achievements

Fixed the “Terra Firma” accolade sometimes not unlocking correctly
\[DLC 01] Fixed an issue with Caecilia’s questline sometimes not triggering
\[DLC 01] Fixed the “The Setting of the Sun – Eruption” quest sometimes not starting

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Breaks Ubisoft’s Recent Sales Records Before Launch

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:23:03 +0800

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has not even launched yet, but it is already making a big impact on Steam.

The rarest items in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 include an extremely French weapon that only 6% of players found, data from over 4,000 completionists show

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:23:03 +0800

A game like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is catnip for completionists. There's just so much to see and do, so you can sink into the RPG for hours upon hours. Now that the game's over a year old, the curators of a digital checklist for everything you can find have revealed the five most overlooked items.

The site Game Checklists has a complete rundown of all the equipment, loot, and rewards to be gotten in your quest to save Lumière. In case you're wondering, there are 1,161 items in total, and the site's team has gone through data from the over 4,000 players who use their resources to track what they picked up in the role-playing adventure. As an added measure, only people who've gotten as far as the Root of All Evil Expedition Flag are included.

This information has revealed that only 2.5% of those fans managed to get Gustave's Anniversary Haircut. However, there's a large caveat for that one, since these hair-dos only arrived in April 2026, and many people have since moved on to other games. The actual top bit of kit here is the Baguette Weapon, which 6% of users have.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/6WPmS4eSknc First, you can only get it in New Game Plus, something many probably didn't bother with, and if they do, they're probably ill-equipped due to spending their Festival Tokens. See, you need to keep one for the entire run, then in this mode, you can exchange it for the baked blunt object.

The game doesn't provide this information, instead giving you sellers with whom to exchange your tokens normally. It's a secret driven largely by luck and or incidental ignorance.

The next two are rewards for beating Simon the Divergent Star and Clea Unleashed, in third and fourth, respectively; both sub-bosses that came in the Thank You Update. As such, there's the same asterisk by these as for the haircut, though less so, since the added challenge of these bouts will have attracted plenty of attention from experienced players who want more to do.

Fifth is a haircut for Maelle from the Thank You Update. You need to beat a puzzle for this one, and the cosmetic nature probably means many have glossed over it. As Game Checklists notes, there's really only one entry here that's completely meaningful, and that's the baguette, since it's the only thing everyone could access from the jump on Sandfall Interactive's release.

So, really, that's the rarest pickup you can get. A nice, freshly baked roll of bread. Honestly, that feels like the perfect in-joke for a French team. No wonder they were honored by the government of France.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director thinks devs will eventually "be able to churn out a game in 5 seconds with a prompt," but he hopes they're not any good

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0.12.1 and the Road to Release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:12:05 +0800

"She is here: the pinnacle of dragon creation, the queen, fused with divine blood and now housing the elemental power of my kin." - Rasthin

Hello adventurers!

Our road to the end of Kuldra's Saga is clear. Our 0.12.1 update will be the last stop before we put you face to face with the God-Eater herself. Darkness gathers. Wild magic storms overhead. The only way out is through.

We're going to be sharing a full breakdown of Agility, as well as a Dev Diary condensing 0.12.1's features very soon ahead of it's release at the end of this month. Firstly though, let's talk about Scorned Wilderness.

Until now, we've shipped Major Updates that are expansive continents that add a new region, rich with resources, quests, secrets and lore for you to explore at your own pace. These expansion-like updates have grown the world and set the stage for the adventures you'll be undertaking within it. Scorned Wilderness is not like these updates. Scorned Wilderness represents the culmination of our learnings from everything we've built within RuneScape: Dragonwilds so far - but it is not the end. Our journey is only beginning, and we're excited to share more about what's coming after Scorned Wilderness once we launch it. Rest assured, our intentions are the same as they always have been - to keep delivering more of the game you love, at a pace that delights and excites you.

We've referred to it so far as a "Raid" because we know that for those of you chasing Twisted Bows, ending up at the toothy end of Zebak, or who've earned the scars from the Liberation of Mazcab, RuneScape Raids mean something. We agree.

For those of you unfamiliar with RuneScape raids, we've got you. A Raid is typically a high-end challenge pitched against a player, or groups. You'll be subjected to a gauntlet, delving into a dungeon, raiding a tomb, or... say... charging into an Anima storm to take down a God-Eater. We're the latter. A raid includes unique mechanics or combat challenges testing your mettle and survival skills to hold out against onslaughts of enemies as you fight for a foothold and every inch of ground gained is a victory in itself. Ultimately, you'll rise to the challenge and earn the right to challenge the boss.

Our first Raid pits you (and your cadre of adventurer allies, if you so wish) against a landscape that was ripped apart by wild anima, and the fury of Black Dragons. You will traverse across floating islands, fighting through attacks by the God-Eater herself to reach her. Each of her tyrannical, terrible heads channels the fury of Gielinor's dragons - but she is more than the sum of her parts. Those of you who have slain countless Dragons on the Gielinor mainland will recognise some of her attacks. She shares heritage with other Dragonkin experiments, but she is more.

Beyond Kuldra, you'll be able to harvest resources to craft Ancestral Robes, Black Dragonhide gear and of course, Rune Armour. Claim your rewards for a dragon-slaying job well done, and you'll be able to gear yourself up with some new kit that will let you roam the entirety of Ashenfall in relative safety and security. For now, anyway...

Killing Kuldra will ensure you get the latest version of the Dragon Shield as you've come to expect with the previous Dragons, and then a Cape to wear with pride. There is also going to be a selection of pieces of the iconic Dragon armour - glorious, resplendent and red, including the Dragon Scimitar and the Dragon Crossbow. There's a few extra secret goodies on that RDT (that's a Rare Drop Table to you and me) that we're not spoiling yet - you'll have to slay that Dragon and get spooned to find them out.

We're excited to keep working on finishing up what is undoubtedly our most vertical, most anima-warped update to date. We're really excited to get it into your hands, and for you to be able to enjoy the entire RuneScape: Dragonwilds experience so far with new combat, new movement, and so much more. With that in mind, while we've aimed to share things early, give you sneak peeks and even some deep dives in things like blog posts, we're going to be making a conscious choice NOT to spoil the Raid.

We'll be sharing more about our work towards the release, including our process for finding and fixing bugs, and the changes we're delivering to change combat and movement from minute one, but the Raid is something else entirely.

It's going to be something you can only experience for the first time once, so we want it to be totally new, and completely engrossing. We hope you can understand, and we're excited to see you taking on the God-Eater when it launches on September 15th.

- The RuneScape: Dragonwilds Team

Players prove Destiny 2 can still produce wonders with discovery of poopy pants transmog

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:04:06 +0800

Destiny 2 has entered its long goodnight. Despite earlier assurances that Destiny 2 will "remain playable" for the foreseeable future, the studio now seems to be signaling that its ability to ensure the game's ongoing health is constrained. Even if Bungie and Sony had the will to ensure Destiny 2's sandbox stays fulfilling in its sunset years, they'd struggle to find someone to make it happen—because most of the Destiny team was cut loose last month... Read more.

Garfield: Escape from Monday Is a 3D Platformer That's All About Lasagna…and Nightmares | IGN Preview

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:57:03 +0800

The feline slacker, Garfield, along with his eternal love of lasagna and existential hatred of the start of the work week, is no stranger to video games. Whether that's games focusing on exploring his home for trinkets, taking on trivia and party challenges, or even having a go at kart-racing action, it seems like Garfield and friends have done it all. But where the upcoming Garfield: Escape from Monday tries something different is putting the slacker cat in a new action-platformer where he'll have to navigate a dream world loaded to the brim with his favorite foods, along with some unsavory ones to deal with.

We recently got some extended hands-on time with developer OSome Studio's upcoming Garfield platformer, which takes the titular house cat through some bizarre nightmares and foodscapes. Along with maneuvering through some hair-raising encounters and taking on some strange powers to combat rogue vegetables looking to put him down, we got to see just how Escape from Monday will stick out in the rotund housepet’s weird and vast catalog of video game adventures.

Veggies Cause Nightmares?

On a seemingly ordinary Monday, Garfield decides to drown his weekly malaise in lasagna that his owner, Jon, has prepared. Unfortunately, he realizes too late it’s a healthy vegetable-filled lasagna made from a recipe by TV host Chef Monday. After sinking into a food coma, Garfield awakens in a strange dream world rooted in his infinite love of food and television, but infested by food monsters and visions of an evil Chef Monday taunting the feline grouch - and escaping this nightmare hellscape is Garfield’s main objective in this game.

It's a very wacky premise by Garfield standards, but the concept still plays well to the witty, deadpan humor that the comics and animated TV series did so well. Throughout his journey in dreamland, Garfield will have some backup from his friends, such as Jon and Arlene, but will also contend with nightmare versions of new and other familiar faces. As Garfield has to deal with more escalating encounters, he'll deliver his signature deadpan commentary, which really leans into a self-aware take on a video game platformer. Garfield will even poke fun at familiar game cliches and even his spotty attempts at being a kart racer. One stage even sees Garfield try his hand at recreating the infamous Flappy Bird game, which also turned out to be a bit of a challenge to clear.

While Garfield has dabbled in platformers before, Escape from Monday is easily the most oddball and over-the-top of them all. While Garfield has dabbled in platformers before, Escape from Monday is easily the most oddball and over-the-top of them all. Set across multiple worlds that mash up food styles and television genres, Garfield: Escape from Monday goes for a fairly familiar 3D platformer setup. Though Garfield is a slow and lazy couch potato in the real world, within this dream world, he's much more of a spry video game character that can gracefully leap and dash across platforms and some set-piece encounters. It does lean into the collectathon style of a 3D platformer, which means you'll need to grab as much food and hidden portions of lasagna in each stage to earn extra credit to make progress.

Cat Costumes FTW

Our hands-on time with Escape From Monday focused on stages where Garfield's special dream power-ups are unlocked and ready to use. Much like classic Super Mario Bros, Garfield can grab special costumes that grant him abilities that are specially tuned for each world. In the farm world, garfield donned the Turkey suit, which gave some added airtime to reach further distances. In the mash-up candyland/beach world, Garfield gains a special surfer costume that lets him streak across water, ride up waterfalls, and grind the rails. And in the Wild West world overrun by vegetable monsters, Garfield can turn into a cowboy to use his lasso to tame wild foes and even grapple to higher surfaces.

The exploration of each stage is quick and snappy, which taps into the same energy as early 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. While combat is generally pretty light, focusing on Garfield's kicking and jump attacks to get past foes, the real fun comes with how you can maneuver the prototypical grumpy cat across these stages. Playing as Garfield in this context offers some oddly endearing moments throughout his video game adventure. It's fun to see Garfield and his lazy oafish demeanor trying to persevere through it all – and the game even lets you have Garfield play the slouch by slowly crawling through stages.

The stages where Garfield can cut loose with these powers are where Escape from Monday stands out, and they play into the dreamlike atmosphere as these weird levels gradually become more outlandish. One highlight was a stage set in the beach world, where Garfield had to dash through areas equal parts waterworld and candyland, grinding on rails while drifting through pirate dens and underground caverns. Every 3D platformer worth its salt has some form of water stage, and Escape from Monday is already looking to follow that tradition pretty well.

The Western stages were also a delight, allowing Garfield to tame some angry living eggplants and tear through obstacles on a controlled rampage. These stages also showcase the more cinematic moments in Escape from Monday, and the mine-cart platforming sequences play well with detail and sense of scale while also paying homage to Donkey Kong Country.

Just Another Manic Monday

The type of humor and vibes that come with a traditional Garfield story fit well with an action-platformer, and Escape from Monday really brings that special charm to a three-dimensional space. That said, it’s not exactly groundbreaking. There are familiar tropes and beats you've likely seen in many other games several times over. Moreover, Garfield’s deadpan tone can get a bit grating after long stretches of high-energy platforming sections. Still, developer OSome Studio makes a valiant effort to add variety to these encounters.

One particular side activity that was a nice surprise were trips to the dream version of Garfield's home. As you collect lasagna and other items scattered across stages, you'll earn some extra rewards that unlock lost furniture that you can place back where it belongs. As you score high on each stage, additional items will unlock in the arbuckle residence, and you can turn it into more of a hangout spot in between missions that can be decorated at your leisure.

Effectively capturing the vibes of Garfield can be a real challenge to pull off well, but Garfield: Escape from Monday is shaping up to be a worthy addition to the lovable slacker’s library of interactive adventures. Much like the recent Bubsy 4D, Escape from Monday is pretty familiar when it comes to the structure and formula, but that’s seemingly by design, as recapturing the fun of 3D platformers from a simpler time is very much in style these days. Luckily, his new Garfield adventure backs up solid fundamentals with snappy platforming action and a cool hook that showcases the endearing sourpuss in a fun and exciting way. It might not reinvent the genre, but that’s okay, and as Garfield will tell you any day of the week, there’s nothing wrong with a little comfort food. As long as it’s not healthy vegetable lasagna on a Monday morning.

In the ashes of Destiny 2, furious developer creates playable Pete Parsons-themed parody raid where the former Bungie CEO attacks "the entire playerbase" with cars

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:54:05 +0800

One Destiny 2 player, an apparent game developer, has made their own raid to throw one last tomato at former Bungie CEO Pete Parsons, who departed the struggling company amid controversy over the small fortune he'd seemingly recently spent on exotic cars.

Satire Twitter account Pete Carsons, whose operator is currently unclear, proudly revealed "The Vault of Cars" this week – a fully playable, in-browser Destiny raid which parodies the Vault of Glass and features Parsons, reborn as a Taniks-like machine hybrid with a South Park-style bucket mouth, as the final boss.

Spite absolutely drips off of this joke raid. A simulated orbit popup asks, "Do you have what it takes to face Pete Carsons in the Vault of Cars and stop him from purchasing all of the remaining cars in The Last City?"

A Twitter post adds: "Note: This experience is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bungie. It is satire only." You know, in case you weren't sure.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/7u3zkVqy8U4 Once you log in to "The Final Car," you're thrown into a conversation with "Pete Carsons, Destroyer of Guardians" in a blurry Vault of Glass. Like every freaking Destiny boss, "Pete Carsons" throws up an invincible shield and starts chucking MacGuffins at you – in this case, a procession of cars with labels like "team reduction, crunch enforcer, layoff candidate, micro management, bad taste," and more.

This is a multilayered fight and a fairly impressive lo-fi recreation of the Vault of Glass final boss, Atheon. If you survive the cars – obviously, by throwing tomatoes at them – you'll be whisked to another realm beset by blinking oracles. If you fail the mechanics, you'll see a wipe screen which confirms that the Guardian in this scenario is named "The Entire Playerbase."

Clearing the raid seems to pull up a "We Want Destiny 3" page, which links to the petition calling for a sequel. The parody's creator, "a random developer," writes, "Building video games is hard. It is very hard.

"This industry is neither forgiving nor secure, and yet – we build these worlds because we know millions of people will be invited to experienced the combined efforts of tens of millions of hours it takes to build those worlds."

This sentiment hits hard as the games industry bloodbath continues amidst, most recently, thousands of layoffs and multiple studio divestments at Xbox.

Skewering "very bad and sometimes obvious decisions" made at the expense of game devs, the creator of Pete Carsons continues: "For me, Destiny was special, and although I never got to work on it, a lot of my friends did, friends who can no longer continue to build their world. This is the devastating reality of those bad decisions. The conditions that presented themselves to make Destiny a reality might not be conditions we see for a very, very long time again, if ever."

This parody comes as Bungie reels from massive layoffs, struggles to even hotfix Destiny 2 now that it's in permanent maintenance mode, and watches Marathon lose players. In May, as players prayed for a Destiny 3, a former Destiny 2 writer said, "It turns out the real Destiny killer was Pete Parsons."

Destiny 2 community manager calls out "leaders who made multiple years of poor decisions" as former Bungie VP shares post blaming industry implosion on the market.

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"We miss when genre wasn't a thing," say The Blood of Dawnwalker devs making their dream RPG: "We want to have our own identity"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:54:05 +0800

The Blood of Dawnwalker is the product of lives spent worshipping RPGs. Its developer, Rebel Wolves, was co-founded by a cohort of CD Projekt Red veterans – writers, artists and directors with credits including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. After spending four hours with The Blood of Dawnwalker, sucking blood and coming to grips with being a vampire in an open-world RPG, I caught up with game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz and environment artist Adam Payet to learn more about the personal tastes driving their studio's debut.

Tomaszkiewicz, best known for directing The Witcher 3, found his way to the genre as a means of stepping out from the real world. "My father was a surgeon, but also an alcoholic. It was really hard in our childhood, and video games were my escape," he tells me. "I started from the Spectrum [computer] and I'd rewrite games from the magazines. Then I had an Atari and the NGPC games, and I also played pen and paper RPGs."

Meanwhile, Payet fell in love with the first Baldur's Gate and the rest was history. "In terms of [Tomaszkiewicz's]personal and family-related background, it's a very similar story to me, weirdly," he says. While Tomaszkiewicz channeled his passion for RPGs into CD Projekt Red over the years, moving from The Witcher trilogy's story and game design to lead quest designer and ultimately game director, Payet was inspired by Minecraft to broach game development during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I was taken by the fact there was a world I could shape as well as explore," he recalls. "At one point I got frustrated that it's all cubes, so I started learning software to make my own things."

Salem's Gate

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) Futures past

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) As The Blood of Dawnwalker reveals a modern-day twist, devs confirm our choices in the vampire RPG will carry into a "saga" of sequels

Although I spent four hours playing The Blood of Dawnwalker, it took a fraction of that time to lose myself in its setting. It's something I discuss in my hands-on preview, but the speed at which Rebel Wolves makes you care about its 14th century world is remarkable. So much has happened here before Coen's story begins – war and the Black Plague have left their mark on Vale Sangora, their effects visible in dilapidated villages and looming stone watchtowers. Some of the threads I pull at during exploration, from folktales mentioned in passing to wall paintings in an ancient tomb, hint at lore stretching back hundreds of years.

Main antagonist Brencis has been sucking blood since the Roman Empire's rule, and as freshly-turned progeny Coen fights his sire's rule in Vale Sangora, the ancient vampire and his court can retaliate by issuing edicts and wielding their influence against him across the open-world. In tandem with The Blood of Dawnwalker's time-as-a-currency mechanic, in which quests and side activities nudge the clock hands forward, the world feels truly dynamic – I'm desperate to run amok, but equally feel like I've just started a good book.

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) It makes it so much easier to build a world when you know its history

Adam Payet, environment artist

Having played my fair share of slow-burn RPGs, I don't take The Blood of Dawnwalker's immediate magnetism for granted. Pressed on how it's achieved, Tomaszkiewicz points to the team's "years of experience" working with "the best in the industry" – which, he adds, includes Rebel Wolves in its current iteration. "We put our heart and soul into [our] games," says Tomaszkiewicz. "We fight a lot while we're doing it, and there's a lot of complaining about the stuff we don't like, so we try to make it better and better. This way, with a lot of iteration, we are where we are."

Joining The Blood of Dawnwalker's development at a later date, Payet's introduction to Vale Sangora mirrors my literary impressions more directly. In his first week at Rebel Wolves, he was asked to read the game's hefty "lore bible" and told that the game's world "is huge not necessarily in terms of physicality, but in terms of lore."

"All of that has been painstakingly researched and written so that what you see in the game is just the tip of the iceberg," he adds. "But the iceberg does exist, and that lends credibility. It makes it so much easier to build a world when you know its history."

What's in a name?

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) We want to have our own identity

Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, game director

The RPG genre has worn many hats over the years. Tabletop RPGs hitch their wagons to raw imagination and remain timeless for it, and while video games initially sought to replicate that as authentically as possible – often with mechanically dense isometric titles and some of the best tactical RPGs to date – years of lighter third-person adventures and action RPGs have broadened their horizons further. Even now, we see the likes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Baldur's Gate 3 find mainstream success by building upon the genre's earliest philosophies and mechanics.

With the term 'RPG' now standing for so much, I ask the pair whether they feel a core identity remains or if player taste has fragmented too much for an umbrella term.

Payet brings up a recent conversation within Rebel Wolves. "We miss when genre wasn't a thing, back in the '90s or early 2000s. When you bought a game pre-YouTube, pre-[online] games media, all you had was the title and a blurb of text on the back. Three screenshots, and you didn't know anything until you opened the booklet!"

"It wasn't like 'Oh, that's an RPG', or 'that's a roguelike', or Metroidvania, or whatever," he adds. "It was just: it's a game – go do the thing! Not being constrained by a label of this or that genre made it so people went out with crazy ideas."

(Image credit: Rebel Wolves) "For me, the core will always be the same," says Tomaszkiewicz. "The clue is [in the name] – to get into the role."

The director likens shifting norms and features to "branches" of the genre, and in doing so, speaks to the ambition that marks The Blood of Dawnwalker as one to watch. "I hope that we created our own [RPG] branch," he says. "With this narrative sandbox, this particular combat, and day and night creating other ways to experience the game, this is the branch we want to develop. We want to have our own identity."

One more bite?

The Blood of Dawnwalker preview

The Blood of Dawnwalker's pen-and-paper inspirations

Interview: The Blood of Dawnwalker's lead quest designer

5 ways The Blood of Dawnwalker impresses

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Xbox's Bethesda layoffs include the artist responsible for designing Skyrim's khajiit and argonians, who had been at the company for 27 years

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:54:04 +0800

If you've ever liked the character designs of an Elder Scrolls game, chances are you've met with some of Christiane Meister's work—as a senior character artist, Meister's been with the company for 27 years (which is only four years fewer than I, the person writing this, have been alive). She's worked on every game from Morrowind to Skyrim, and she was caught in the wave of Xbox's first round of layoffs this week... Read more.

Rather than rip and tear id Software apart, Xbox should have put the FPS pioneers on Gears of War

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:35:04 +0800

Xbox is in the midst of an aggressive recalibration. CEO Asha Sharma is pursuing a "reset" of the content portfolio. Compulsion Games and Double Fine have regained their independence, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs have been sold; thousands of jobs have been cut across Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, and Xbox Game Studios. We're still getting a grasp on how severely individual studios are impacted, although some appear significant.

Reportedly, id Software has lost 50% of its staff. It's a shocking development, leaving a pioneering developer – the stewards of the id Tech engine, and creators of Doom and Quake – with drastically lowered capacity. Bethesda Game Studios, id, MachineGames, and ZeniMax Online have apparently been given a mandate to refocus on Bethesda's "strongest franchises", but it's difficult to know where id goes from here.

Doom, Eternal, and The Dark Ages performed admirably, but didn't necessarily rip and tear the market to shreds. Quake Champions launched out of early access in 2022 but failed to gain momentum – arena shooters remain a challenge in an environment dominated by battle royale, extraction, and hero shooters. It's been over seven years since Rage 2.

(Image credit: Bethesda) Common sense would dictate that id shifts to support MachineGames – long rumored to be developing a sequel to 2017's Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus. This would make sense: MachineGames has collaborated with other Bethesda studios around Wolfenstein in the past, having launched Cyberpilot and Youngblood with Arkane Lyon in 2019.

There's also external pressure to consider. A live action Wolfenstein television series is in development at Amazon MGM Studios, and given that Asha Sharma recently outlined a trans-media vision for the future of Xbox, it's unlikely that she will want to repeat the mistake made with Fallout: two hugely successful seasons of the show landing without a new Fallout game to meet raised interest.

Speaking of Fallout, id Software could help Xbox pursue its ambition of getting players back into the wasteland a little faster. Given the palpable appetite within the Xbox community for Obsidian to deliver New Vegas 2, I'd rather see id's expertise placed elsewhere. The studio is world renown for making the best feeling shotguns in video games – that would be wasted on V.A.T.S.

https://content.jwplatform.com/players/GV78wyZ3.html Xbox owns arguably the greatest catalogue of shooter franchises in the video game industry. Brink, Call of Duty, Doom, Gears of War, Halo, Overwatch, Perfect Dark, Prey, Quake, Rage, Singularity, Soldier of Fortune, StarCraft, and Wolfenstein to name but a few. If Xbox is serious about wanting to deliver more of its biggest franchises faster, it could do far worse than transition id to Gears or Halo.

Halo 3: ODST proved that Halo can thrive under tonal shifts; perhaps a faster, more furious id instalment would work wonders as Halo Studios gets its arms around the future of the mainline series. But really, id and Gears are a match made in heaven. The series could do far worse than an FPS experiment.

The gritty setting is perfect territory for a grounded, viscerally violent FPS. Don't just take my word for it, Cliff Bleszinski (designer of the original trilogy) toyed with taking Gears in this direction before Epic sold the IP to Microsoft. "I can tell you I wanted to actually consider going first-person with it," he told XboxEra. "I mean, can you imagine chainsawing a Locust in first person?"

I can imagine it, Cliff, and I want to play it. And there's no studio more equipped to make it a reality than id Software. Whether it will be given the opportunity under this new era of Xbox remains to be seen.

A current Valve designer recreated Half-Life 2's Ravenholm in the Source 2 engine, and says he was "blown away at how powerful these tools are"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:24:04 +0800

Before taking on the role of level designer at Valve, game developer Chuck Wilson toyed with recreating Half-Life 2 levels in Source 2.

In case you're out of the loop, Source 2 is Valve's most recent iteration of its in-house engine, powering games like Counter-Strike 2, Deadlock, and Half-Life: Alyx. Older titles from the studio, like the ever-beloved Half-Life 2, used Source – and before that, the GoldSrc engine.

As for Wilson himself, his portfolio includes stints at Sucker Punch Productions, Respawn Entertainment, and now, of course, Valve.

Prior to joining Valve as a level designer in 2022, however, Wilson experimented with Source 2 – perhaps to try and learn the engine before joining the company, or as a test project for the team.

An eagle-eyed fan on Reddit has spotted as much, linking to the dev's website, where he recalls recreating Half-Life 2's spooky ghost town, Ravenholm, in Source 2. Wilson first describes his goal with the recreation.

Chuck Wilson’s (Valve Level Designer) Ravenholm Source 2 project [2022] from r/HalfLife "Learn how the editor works by looking over the example content Valve provided, and dive into the levels they shipped to better understand their construction," he writes. "Then build something with what I learned."

Attached are screenshots of his Ravenholm recreation – and, yep, it looks pretty dang great. Much smoother textures than we saw as kids, with improved lighting… but the same eerie vibe from 2004.

Wilson explains why he chose Ravenholm, then goes on to describe his process. "The opening to Ravenholm seemed like it would be an appropriately scaled project to tackle. I started by loading up Ravenholm and taking tons of pictures of the opening area and reacquainting myself with the look, feel, and scale of the space. From the ref, I was able to deduce the scale and re-block it out with Hammer 2's modeling tools."

He's likely referencing Hammer, known by some as Hammer 5 or Hammer 2, which serves as Valve's in-house level editor for games in the Source 2 engine.

"After I got the whole space blocked in, I decided to make some compositional changes to the space to better guide players to the zombie and to the eerily lit sawblade shack," continues Wilson.

Once he was done with the composition, he explored "some of the new features Hammer 2 had to offer." It sounds as though he was a big fan of his time in Source 2 recreating Ravenholm, too – even if there was much to learn.

"Throughout the project, I was able to learn and make use of Hammer 2's modeling tools for geometry, physics sims for cloth, cables, and the hanging zombie ragdoll, tilesets (3d meshes placed off of a single face), hotspot materials (insanely fast UVing of faces), volumetric fog, cubemaps, compile processes, and more."

The level designer concludes: "A small space proved to be a fantastic way to learn a wide variety of tools and prepare me for future projects. I walked away being blown away at how powerful these tools are for Level Designers, and even more so if you are a Level Designer with some environment art background. These are easily my favorite tools I have worked with to date." That's quite the compliment.

Unsurprisingly, Wilson's portfolio share here has sparked new hope in fans' hearts for a Half-Life 2 remake in Source 2. As one commenter exclaims, "This genuinely makes me excited for a Half-Life 2 Source 2 remake in vein of Black Mesa."

Others aren't convinced this means anything at all, though. As somebody else says, "There’s nothing to be read into here." Hey, a girl can dream… right?

Sadly, I doubt we'll see a Half-Life 2 remake from Valve anytime soon, however. Heck, we're still playing the waiting game for Half-Life 3.

Steam is more than 50% larger than PlayStation according to expert's estimate, which puts Valve's store around 200 million monthly active users

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Cheyenne suspends datacenter wastewater after rare bacterium traced to Meta's AI site

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:06:04 +0800

Cheyenne's Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) traced Cupriavidus gilardii to wastewater discharged by Goat Systems, a contractor working on Meta's $800 million, 715,000-square-foot data center south of the city. The facility, announced in 2024, is being built for Meta's AI workloads and is expected to come online in 2027.

Read Entire Article

'It Has Become a Success Beyond Our Wildest Dreams' — Palworld Dev Pocketpair Decides Against Raising the Price of the Game for 1.0 Launch

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:57:03 +0800

Palworld developer Pocketpair has decided not to raise the price of the game for this week’s 1.0 launch. Instead, it will remain priced $29.99.

Palworld’s Early Access Steam page still says “The price of the game may increase at or closer to the official release,” as it has done so since early 2024. That led many to think Palworld would get more expensive when 1.0 launches on July 10.

However, Pocketpair has announced it’s sticking with $29.99 “as a small way of saying thank you.”

“After much thought, we have decided not to raise the price of Palworld following the 1.0 release and will keep it at $29.99,” Pocketpair said in a statement on social media. “We are incredibly proud of how far Palworld has come. Thanks to the amazing support of our players, it has become a success beyond our wildest dreams. As a small way of saying thank you, we'll be keeping the price at $29.99. Thank you for your continued support.”

“Success” is perhaps an understatement when it comes to Palworld. It’s seen an incredible 40 million players since Early Access launch — a number that will no doubt increase when the 1.0 update comes out. When Palworld launched it broke sales and concurrent player number records. Pocketpair boss Takuro Mizobe has said Palworld's launch was so big that the developer couldn’t handle the massive profits the game generated. Pocketpair acted swiftly to capitalize on Palworld’s breakout success, signing a deal with Sony to form a new business called Palworld Entertainment that was tasked with expanding the IP. It later launched the game on PS5.

Still, it’s not been plain sailing for Pocketpair. After Palworld’s huge launch, comparisons were made between Palworld’s Pals and Pokémon, with some accusing Pocketpair of "ripping off" Pokémon designs. But rather than file a copyright infringement lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company went down the patent route. In the initial lawsuit, the two companies called for 5 million yen (approx $30,000) each plus late payment damages, as well as an injunction against Palworld that would block its release. A judgement is expected later this year.

For now, Palworld 1.0 is waiting in the wings, and we’ve got the global release times for Palworld’s 1.0 launch if you want to know when you can play. John “Bucky” Buckley, head of publishing and communications at Pocketpair, has teased 27 pages of changes and additions for the patch notes. Bucky has also told existing Palworld players that they do not need to wipe their data for 1.0, “but you should.”

“Players can continue their existing saves if they wish, as we want to respect the time and effort you have put in,” Bucky explained in a Discord post. “However, due to the large number of changes to the game, including overhauls to mechanics and new content, we believe that starting a new character will give you the best experience of Palworld!

“We will leave that choice up to you, Pal Tamers!”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Subnautica 2's olive branch to fend off threats is just enough to preserve the terror

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:51:03 +0800

Creative Director Anthony Gallegos shows an updated Subnautica 2 roadmap, including ways to deter aggressive hostiles and more biomod slots.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Subnautica 2's olive branch to fend off threats is just enough to preserve the terror

Dead by Daylight's Entity lives off emotions, and I can't stop feeding it

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:35:04 +0800

A bloodied Ada Wong screams as a meat hook pierces her shoulder – for the third time this match – and she’s pulled skyward. The Entity, Dead By Daylight's villain above villains, draws her into its claws before she wakes by the bonfire again, ready to start the process over.

In the real world, as the one controlling Ada, I push my chair away from my desk and put my head in my hands, despairing at yet another team letting me down, another killer tunneling me out, my own poor judgement. I stand up to walk out the room – but not before hitting the button to ready up and start the process over.

Little do I know that, not only is Ada’s tragic and repetitive death feeding The Entity, but so am I.

Mixed Emotions

(Image credit: Behaviour Interactive) You're in for a scare

(Image credit: NeoBards Entertainment Ltd. ) We've rounded up the 25 best horror games still playable

We don’t know much about Dead by Daylight’s mysterious Entity, the ultimate evil presiding over the whole affair, drawing killers and their victims into a sick, cyclical game. In a blog post for the game’s tenth anniversary, though, developer Behaviour Interactive gave fans a bit more insight. It turns out that what feeds The Entity in DBD isn’t death itself, or the dead, but rather the emotions felt by each character, both killer and survivor, during a match.

“Consider the various emotions each victim must experience over the course of a Trial,” the blog reads, “The thrill of the hunt. The highs of escape. A fleeting hope like a surge of electricity. The sick satisfaction whenever the light leaves a Survivor’s eyes. It’s speculated that everything [characters] feel over the course of a Trial somehow sustains The Entity.”

Reading this, it occurs to me that this mirror’s the player’s experience, too.

(Image credit: Behaviour Interactive) Whether it’s loading into a killer lobby with a tightness in my chest, anxious about going up against a good team or being abused in the post-game chat, or the buzz of getting a four-man escape from a seemingly impossible situation, the DBD player experience is as much of a rollercoaster of emotions as that of the in-game characters. In fact, playing Dead by Daylight is almost exclusively about highs and lows.

As a solo-queue survivor, these feelings are especially elevated. While it feels good as a killer to outplay a sweaty swf (survive with friends) team, it’s even sweeter when a solo-queue survivor squad beats the odds to get every man out. Especially since there are no comms. When wordless communication, excellent game sense, and solid understanding of the HUD come together to result in a narrow escape from a decent killer, the fleeting high is enough to see me through the devastating lows of the other 90% of the trials. The ones when I’m hooked for the first time and see my three team mates creeping around the edge of the map or hiding in a locker, making no effort to rescue me. The ones where I’m intentionally tunneled out at five gens or slugged until I bleed to death.

(Image credit: Behaviour Interactive) Meanwhile, when I’m playing as a killer and can feel my heart in my stomach for the entire trial, it’s worth it for those few occasions that I win or even draw. Even then, I just get a “ggwp” in the post-game chat instead of a “ggez”. So every time I’m teabagged at the exit gates, I still ready up again, masochistically putting myself through the ringer once more in the hopes of a close, fun, but wholesome and friendly match.

In doing so, I'm feeding The Entity as much as Ada and the others. By coming back time and time again, struggling and succeeding, lamenting and celebrating, I keep this deadly power alive. Perhaps this was The Entity’s plan all along.

If you're logging back into the action, make sure you've redeemed the latest DBD codes for free rewards.

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Palworld price won't increase as update 1.0 takes it out of early access, Pocketpair says it's "a small way of saying thank you" after unbelievable success

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:35:03 +0800

The price of Palworld will stay at $29.99 even after the apparently massive 1.0 update finally brings Pocketpair's survival game out of early access after more than two years.

Pocketpair announced this slight change of plans today, ahead of the 1.0 launch on Friday, July 10. "After much thought, we have decided not to raise the price of Palworld following the 1.0 release and will keep it at $29.99," the studio begins.

"We are incredibly proud of how far Palworld has come. Thanks to the amazing support of our players, it has become a success beyond our wildest dreams. As a small way of saying thank you, we'll be keeping the price at $29.99. Thank you for your continued support."

For years, Palworld's Steam early access blurb has said, "The price of the game may increase at or closer to the official release." It's long been expected that it would jump to, say, $39.99 for update 1.0.

It's normal for early access games to go up in price when they hit version 1.0 and 'officially' launch, or sometimes even after major update milestones mid-early access. Developers have made a fair case for this approach in the past: price reflecting additional content, rewarding early players for supporting development and tolerating some jank, and setting games up for a more sustainable future.

For example, Subnautica 2, one of the biggest early access success stories of 2026, will increase in price after early access, per developer Unknown Worlds.

Palworld, of course, doesn't have to worry about its future. With a staggering 40 million players (not copies sold, but immense nonetheless), the game has made Pocketpair so much money that it can hardly spend it all. The company has opened its own publishing arm and announced multiple Palworld spinoffs, including a card game.

Earlier this year, Thomas Mahler, head of early access action RPG No Rest for the Wicked, made the case for bumping its price to $60 post-early access. "The reason the game launched at $40 was simple: Early Access players should get a discount," he said, adding that he "never loved" the approach of early access games like Baldur's Gate 3, which were full price from the get-go.

Palworld lead says there's no "bad blood" between rival survival games like Valheim and Rust: "We all get along really well because we all have something in common!"

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Crimson Desert on Switch 2 "is not just a simple port," Pearl Abyss CEO says, but devs want the open-world game on "as many platforms as possible"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:23:03 +0800

Given it's easily one of the biggest games of the year, you would imagine Crimson Desert developer Pearl Abyss is keen to get the fantasy adventure on as many platforms as possible. You'd be right, because there are plans for a Switch 2 version, though when we might see it is another question entirely.

The subject came up during a shareholders' meeting (thanks, Inven Global), where Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young made his desires clear by saying the company wants Kliff's quest to be on "as many platforms as possible," but expanded on the intricacies of such.

"We are reviewing the Nintendo Switch 2, and it is currently being developed to a level where basic gameplay is possible," he says.

"However, platform expansion is not just a simple port; the key is whether we can fully maintain the graphics, action, and open-world experience of Crimson Desert on that device," he adds. The same dilemma as the first Nintendo Switch, then.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/YHhwdyWkwTQ Since Nintendo's new hardware is also handheld, the specifications aren't as high as what you'll find in a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S. This often leads to hurdles with performance for developers who're porting blockbuster games, like Crimson Desert.

It doesn't make doing so impossible, just more difficult. Pearl Abyss' CEO is optimistic about getting it out on Switch 2, but won't be tied down to any kind of launch window at present.

"The Switch 2 version still requires optimization and technical verification, and we must also review partner collaboration and whether it meets our quality standards," he says. "Therefore, it is difficult to confirm a release schedule. We will announce it transparently once there is confirmed information."

Keep in mind too, that Pearl Abyss has been consistently updating Pywel since release, and there's still major DLC to come as well. It's all go over there – rest assured, we'll keep you informed on when Switch 2 players can join the party.

If you're yet to dive in yourself, you can check out our Crimson Desert review to find out why it's one of the most popular new games for 2026.

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Vampirium: 1997 is a mysterious looking choice-filled minimalist immersive sim

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:03:03 +0800

Vampirium: 1997 looks like nothing else. A minimalist story-rich immersive sim that's coming from Bithell Games.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/vampirium-1997-is-a-mysterious-looking-choice-filled-minimalist-immersive-sim/

The worst MTG Iron Man card's price just doubled, blasting past $60

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:56:05 +0800

The Magic: The Gathering card Iron Man, Modern Marvel is rising in price, with copies jumping from about $30 last week to $60 in the first week of July. Since the card was only valued at $12 when pre-release for the Marvel Superheroes set rolled around, that's a significant glow-up for Mr Stark.

Read the full story on Wargamer: The worst MTG Iron Man card's price just doubled, blasting past $60

Nintendo Switch 2 Leak Reveals The Crew Motorfest, With Physical Launch Via Game-Key Card

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:56:04 +0800

Ubisoft will soon announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of The Crew Motorfest, including a physical release on a Game-Key Card.

That's according to Dealabs' ever-reliable billbil_kun, who reported that the open-world racer's Switch 2 edition is currently set to launch on October 8, priced at $49.99 / £44.99 / €44.99.

One aspect keeping that cost low may be its launch on a cheaper Game-Key Card cartridge, Nintendo's cheaper physical alternative that gives collector's something inside their game box but still requires you download the full game.

But there's also the fact that, by the time it arrives on Switch 2, the game will also be three years old. Originally released for PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, XBox One and Xbox Series X/S back in September 2023, the Hawaii-set racer received mostly positive reviews upon launch.

There's no sign yet of Forza Horizon 6 landing on Switch 2 (or a release date for PS5, either) so this port seems well-timed for Nintendo fans who've had their fill of Mario Kart World. Ubisoft is expected to make The Crew Motorfest's Nintendo Switch 2 edition official imminently, Dealabs reported, with more information to follow.

"The Crew Motorfest is a robust racer with a confident sense of style, but its smaller map lacks life, its multiplayer isn't really worth the wait, and its omnipresent microtransaction opportunities are still tedious," IGN wrote in our The Crew Motorfest review, which returned a 7/10.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Train Sim World 6 Roadmap - July 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:49:03 +0800

TL;DR (too long; didn't read) Summary

Dovetail Direct: Summer 2026 – Tune in on August 25th!
▹ Get ready for exciting news and more details about TSW's development in our next upcoming Dovetail Direct later next month. Set a notification on our Dovetail Direct: Summer 2026 Youtube Event now!
Content Up Ahead
    ▹ Cargo Line Vol. 6 - Gas – Arriving Next Week!
    ▹ Thames Valley Branches from Incredible Trains
    ▹ Freightliner Class 70 & Wascosa MLA Wagon from All Aboard Studios
    ▹ Tadami Line: Aizu - Wakamatsu from Union Workshop – Arriving before Dovetail Direct!
    ▹ Mildmay line Richmond Extension from Incredible Trains
Patches and Updates
▹ Upcoming July 9th Patch
▹ Previous Train Sim World 6 Updates
Community Corner
▹ July 2026 Mastery Challenges - Live Now!
▹ July 2026 Railshots Competition - Now Open!

Hello and welcome to the TSW6 July 2026 Roadmap! If you're new to our community, these roadmaps are a monthly check-in with updates on upcoming content, details on further improvements to the game and conversations with our development partners.

This month we're excited to announce our next upcoming Dovetail Direct event, which is our chance to reveal and announce a wealth of new developments from our teams!

We also focus on upcoming add-on developments from our third-party teams, with the upcoming release of Cargo Line Vol. 6 - Gas from Skyhook Games coming next week, new insights and information from All Aboard Studios on the Class 70, as well as Incredible Trains with Thames Valley Branches and the Mildmay Line Extension. We also share a recap of the Tadami Line, with the announcement that you can expect the release later this summer!

Be sure to join us for our July Roadmap livestream this week (July 10th 2026 starting at 7pm BST), hosted by Executive Producer Matt along with Senior Community Manager Alex, where they'll be discussing all of the details below, alongside answering top community questions. Let's jump in!

Join us for Dovetail Direct: Summer 2026 on August 25th!

Exciting news - we're getting ready to share with you all the latest developments from our team, and our range of third-party developers, in our next Dovetail Direct on August 25th 2026!

Be sure to check out our event below, and set your notifications for when it starts!

In the meantime, why not share your theories about what's coming in our community spaces, and across our social media!

Content Up Ahead

Cargo Line Vol. 6 - Gas – Arriving Next Week!

Cargo Line is heading to mainland Europe for the very first time!

Cargo Line Vol. 6: Gas is heading to Train Sim World 6, bringing hazardous freight operations to Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn: Mannheim - Kaiserslautern. Developed by Skyhook Games, this latest entry in the Cargo Line series introduces authentic Zags 110m³ gas tankers, expanding the variety of freight traffic across one of Germany's busiest regional railways.

Whether you're hauling fully loaded tankers to keep industry moving or returning empty wagons for their next assignment, it's time to put your freight skills to the test.

Expand Your Freight Fleet

As with previous Cargo Line releases, the new Zags tanker wagons aren't limited to one locomotive.

With Free Roam and Formation Designer, pick your poison of any locomotive in your collection, and challenge yourself by hauling heavy trains across European rails. 

For the full experience, we recommend owning Train Sim World 6: Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn: Mannheim - Kaiserslautern, available separately.

Key Features

Zags 110m³ gas tanker wagon in VTG white and orange stripe livery
Clean and weathered wagon variants
Six new scenarios for Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn: Mannheim - Kaiserslautern
Eighteen additional timetable services using the DB BR 185, with compatible locomotive substitutions
Free Roam, Formation Designer, Scenario Planner and Livery Designer compatible

New scenarios, timetables and more!

Take charge of the DB BR 185 as you haul heavy gas tankers across the varied landscapes of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Featuring six brand-new scenarios throughout Mannheim - Kaiserslautern. From short shunting movements to longer main line hauls in changing weather conditions, every journey presents a new challenge.

The new Zags tanker wagon is available in both clean and weathered variants, complete with authentic VTG branding and realistic handling.

Train Sim World® 6: Cargo Line Vol. 6: Gas is coming July 14th for Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 for £9.99 / €11.99 / $12.99.

The Future of Cargo Line

The freight doesn't stop here.

Cargo Line continues to grow, and we're excited to confirm that two more Cargo Line packs are already in development.

While we aren't quite ready to reveal what's next, Cargo Line 6 is just the latest stop on the journey. Keep an eye on our social channels and Roadmap articles for more news in the coming months.

Thames Valley Branches from Incredible Trains

IT: "A significant amount of time over the past weeks has gone into performance profiling across the entire route. My aim has been to make sure there are no performance concerns and that the route remains as smooth as possible, even in the busiest areas."

"As part of this work I have developed an extensive performance profiling dashboard which gives me much deeper insight into how the route performs under different conditions. While this has taken a considerable amount of development time, it is an investment that will benefit not only Thames Valley Branches but also future projects, allowing me to identify and resolve performance issues much earlier during development."

"Alongside the optimisation work I have continued polishing the route and introducing a number of new features that help bring the world to life."

"Fields will now change their crops depending on the season, creating a landscape that evolves throughout the year. Wildlife has also received some attention, with birds now reacting to approaching trains by scattering as you get closer. Across the route you will also notice authentic British telegraph poles, helping to reinforce the distinctive character of the Thames Valley."

"Road traffic has also become more authentic with the addition of British ambulance and police vehicles, while rivers are no longer static thanks to animated boat traffic moving through the scenery."

"The Class 165 has seen extensive improvements. The cab has been refined with working train faults, functional fuses, improved night lighting, more accurate simulation systems and a revised interior layout based on reference material. These changes make the driving experience feel both more authentic and more immersive. Finally, scenery work has continued across the route with a great deal of additional detail added throughout. Autumn has also received special attention, with a much richer variety of foliage colours to create a more vibrant and realistic seasonal experience."

Freightliner Class 70 & Wascosa MLA Wagon from All Aboard Studios

AABS: "Last month's Roadmap focused on the gameplay opportunities the Freightliner Class 70 will bring, from the new Midland Main Line timetable to additional freight services across the West Coast Main Line. This month, we're taking a look inside the locomotive itself."

"The Class 70 has become one of the most technically ambitious locomotives we've developed. Built by GE Transportation in the United States but designed specifically for the UK network, recreating its blend of American engineering and British railway systems has been a unique challenge for the team."

"Our goal has been simple, if you can interact with it in the real locomotive, you can interact with it in Train Sim World."

"From the moment you enter the cab, virtually every switch, button, rotary selector and lever has been brought to life. Lighting controls, cab fans, fuse panels, circuit breakers, operational display screens, external fuel connections and countless other systems all function exactly as they should, creating a locomotive that rewards players who enjoy learning every aspect of modern traction."

"Even starting the locomotive is an experience in itself. Rather than pressing a single button, you'll carry out the correct start-up sequence, bringing each system online before you're ready to move."

"It's this level of functionality that has made the Class 70 one of our biggest technical projects to date. The team are now closing in on completion, with the focus shifting towards refinement and polishing every last detail."

"Combined with the new Midland Main Line timetable and additional freight layers across the West Coast Main Line, the Class 70 won't just add a new locomotive to your collection, it brings a whole new way to experience modern freight operations."

Take a listen and peek at the Freightliner Class 70 in action:

Tadami Line: Aizu - Wakamatsu from Union Workshop – Arriving before Dovetail Direct!

We know you've been waiting for this, but we can confirm - Tadami Line is finally on the horizon, arriving into Train Sim World ahead of our Dovetail Direct on August 25th

We'll be using this last Roadmap update as a chance to share a snapshot of our updates over the last few months, and get you ready for the journey.

And if you're looking for more, at the end of last year we also shared a work-in-progress gameplay showcase of the route in action!

Get ready for your ticket into Japan in Train Sim World, with more news on the Tadami Line, including new screenshots and the launch trailer headed your way in the coming weeks!

Mildmay line Richmond Extension from Incredible Trains

IT: "Development of the Richmond extension continues to make excellent progress. One feature that I can now confirm is aimed at owners of the Euston to Milton Keynes route. The included Class 350 will receive a licensed South West Trains livery, allowing it to represent the Class 450 on AI services around Richmond. This will add another welcome layer of authenticity to the route."

"The Richmond extension has also benefited from the extensive optimisation work carried out recently. Using the new performance profiling dashboard I have been able to free up enough performance headroom to introduce a feature that many of you have requested for quite some time."

"In cab CCTV screens are now being implemented. This is an expensive feature from a performance perspective and on my own system enabling the screens reduces performance by around 5 to 10 FPS while they are active. For that reason the feature can be enabled or disabled through the Expert Mode settings, allowing players to choose the experience that best suits their hardware."

"Finally, the animated river traffic developed for Thames Valley Branches will also make its way to the Richmond extension, helping to bring the River Thames to life and adding even more movement to the surrounding environment."

Add-ons Still In Development

As a nod to other projects in-development, we haven't got any updates to share this month for the below add-ons, but they are still progressing with their respective teams, and we'll aim to share more information when we have further updates!

Add-Ons In Development

Cargo Line Vol. 6 - Gas
Thames Valley Branches
Freightliner Class 70 & Wascosa MLA Wagon
Schnellfahrstrecke Nürnberg - Ingolstadt
Tadami Line: Aizu - Wakamatsu

Coming At A Later Date

BNSF Snoot Nose SD40-2
Lisbon - Setúbal
Rhein-Niers-Bahn
DB BR 420

Patches and Updates

Recent Train Sim World 6 Patches

TSW6 Core Update - June 17th – A major update primarily focussing on a range of UK add-ons, including the Class 90 improvements from the Alan Thomson Simulation team, as well as a huge patch for the Expert DB BR 145, and additional improvements for Stuttgart Heilbronn.
TSW6 Core Update - June 25th – A major update focussing on a range of add-ons from the USA, including Morristown Line, San Bernardino Line, as well New York – Trenton, NJ Transit ALP-45DP, Cajon Pass, LIRR Extended, Peninsula Corridor, Sherman Hill and minor changes for select UK content.

Upcoming Train Sim World Patch - July 9th 2026

Our next major update is coming tomorrow, July 9th at 10am BST.

Unfortunately, the fixes for Niddertalbahn, Mittenwaldbahn, the Expert BR 101, and the BR 194 & E94 railtour pack originally announced in our June Roadmap will be moved to a future patch. We apologise for any inconvenience.

On a positive note, we were able to include many fixes for Edinburgh – Glasgow, Fife Circle, Liberec - Stará Paka and the Cargo Line Vol. 5 Nuclear pack. The changes for Edinburgh – Glasgow and Fife Circle also include additional timetable services for both routes!

Lastly, we have implemented some quality-of-life updates, addressed crashes that occurred under certain conditions, and made a minor fix to the MP36PH-3C Express Loco Add-On. View the full changelog ahead of the release:

Full Changelog

Core

Fixed issue with insufficient disk space when attempting to upload new photo in Photo Mode
Fixed rare chance of crashes when attempting to save profile information
Locally saved pictures taken in Photo Mode can now be deleted
Xbox: Potential candidate fix for crash issues when launching the game on Xbox platforms

DB BR 294 Diesel Shunter

Fixed localisation errors
Removed service EZK 53383 due to immediate SPAD after loading in

Bahnstrecke Bremen Oldenburg

Fixed player spawning without a train during the Freighting Room chapter in Journey Mode

DB BR 147

Fixed the key bind for Distance Counter being incorrectly assigned. Players can now assign this themselves (starts unbound).
Fixed the distance counter not counting correctly in the rear cab when in reverse

Bahnstrecke Leipzig Dresden

Fixed DB BR 442 service 16539 stop marker being unreachable
Fixed LOD (Level Of Detail) issues with lamps of Hl-Signals
Magnets near Niederau now trigger 2000 Hz penalty brake for speeds above 135 kph

Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn: Mannheim – Kaiserslautern

Fixed lighting in the tunnel near Frankenstein appearing too bright
Fixed issue where level crossing signals would not show flashing or static lights
Gen 9/PC only: Fixed localisation errors

Frankfurt Fulda: Kinzigtalbahn

Changed magnet near Neuhof to check for all cases of 1000 Hz

Maintalbahn: Aschaffenburg – Miltenberg

Fixed AI BR 642 trains getting stuck with open doors

Peninsula Corridor: MP36PH-3C Express Loco

Fixed stopping location for final stop during Early Riser scenario

BR Class 90 Electric Freight Loco

Resolved an issue with the pantograph not dropping in trailing locomotive whilst driving in cab B
Resolved an issue with the AWS ISO lights not functionally correctly when the cab is changed

Scotrail Express: Edinburgh – Glasgow

Added approach control across route
Added GSMR mobile masts
Added illumination to Edinburgh Airport
Added missing AWS magnets across the route
Added new red ballast material to Cadder Depot area
Added spawn point at Cadder Railway Depot
Cadder depot scenery improvements
Fixed black boxes appearing instead of smoke on fireworks
Fixed various collision and clipping issues
Haymarket camera collision updated to prevent carma getting stuck between pillars
NPCs now correctly spawn at Glasgow Queen Street station
Fixed Waverley Station tunnel lighting
Station audio added across the route
Updated radio tower masts with double sided lattice mesh and modern GSMR components
Virtual destinations added for CrossCountry Voyager
Waverley station updated with Fife circle version

Class 385

Door alarm sounds now play from the speakers
New brake release sounds
Reduced attenuation of external idle sounds
Reduced distance that brake squeal can be heard
Reduced volume of door alarms
Reduced volume of idle ambience
Removed doppler effect from idle sounds
Removed unrealistic roomtone sound and double signal sounds from pantograph
Thunder, rain and wind now each have separate mixes rather than sharing the same one
Updated sound mixes across the train
Updated sound occlusion settings

Edinburgh – Glasgow: Timetable changes

Added AI Class 158, 170, 220, 380, 390, and 801 services at Edinburgh Waverley, matching Fife Circle for route-hopping
Added playable Class 158 and 170 services (including mixed 158/170 formations) between Glasgow Queen Street and Greenhill Junction (near Falkirk), and AI at Glasgow Queen Street
Added playable LNER Class 801 services between Polmont and Edinburgh Waverley
Added virtual destinations to Class 385 services toward Alloa and Dunblane
Adjusted static stock at Haymarket Depot
Changed all services to unload all passengers at the end of their service, instead of loading new passengers (and potentially going to a depot)
Changed some Class 385 services to use passing loops for overtakes and rusty rail moves
Corrected Engineering Express ballast service headcodes, made them loaded in one direction, empty in the other, and adjusted their endpoints and timings
Fixed various signal issues across the route
Updated scoring to add platinum medals

Edinburgh - Glasgow: Engineering Express Pack

Class 66 - correct positions of Datacord buttons in rear cab
Class 66 - Datacord input 4 now correctly inputs a 4 rather than a 0

Fife Circle Line & Levenmouth Rail Link

Added approach control across route
Added Car stop markers to Leven station
Added GSMR masts
Added lights to Edinburgh airport
Added virtual destinations for CrossCountry Voyager
Changed automatic junctions at Inverkeithing and Thornton to manual
Fixed crash related to light splines
Fixed some incorrect signal aspects 2->3 aspect
Fixed various collision and clipping issues
NPC spawn volumes updated at Kinghorn Station
Removed invisible buffers at Haymarket depot
Updated junction Box warning text from German to English
Updated Radio masts model
Various scenery updates

Fife Circle: Timetable Changes

Added playable Class 220 services between Edinburgh Waverley and Markinch, and AI at Edinburgh Waverley
Added playable Railhead Treatment Train services covering the entire route
Added AI Class 380, 385, 390, and 801 services at Edinburgh Waverley
Fixed incorrect reversing maneuvers at Glenrothes with Thornton to avoid reversing within a junction and driving backwards for long distances
Adjusted static stock at Haymarket Depot
Fixed various signal issues across the route

Two notes about intentional omissions from this timetable:

LNER services north of Edinburgh require a Class 800 with a full diesel mode, which is not in TSW; the Class 801 cannot work these services as it only has an emergency diesel engine.
The Class 158 is not used because adding it would remove gameplay from players who only own Fife Circle. Substitution with the Class 170 is not an option because the 158 has two carriages, and the 170 has three.

Scotrail Class 170

Added Guard mode
Headlight viewing distance increased
Horn linked to simugraph, air pressure will drop when used
New wheelblur implemented
Update audio to be in line with the Cross City Class 170
Update running sound implementation - separate sound cues for internal and external running
Internal bodywork creak + rattle sounds
Passenger door alarms updated
Announcements updated so you can no longer hear announcements of other trains while inside a train
Increase wiper volume
Adjust EQ on flange squeals
Signaller handset audio implemented
Buzzer sounds updated

Southern BR Class 171 & BR Class 377/3

377/3 Vigilance pedal now pressed with gamepad safety system reset even

Liberec - Stará Paka

Added a loudspeaker in Liberec
Added a missing coniferous tree at km 90.5
Added a missing shunting limit marker in Liberec
Added an end-of-track marker in Turnov
Adjusted timings of some level crossings
Changed multiple instructions with Mn services to shorten some delays
Corrected track superelevation at km 134.6
Fixed baseplates in Stará Paka near the fuel station
Fixed gradient sign at km 77.5
Fixed incorrect rotations of some rail joints
Fixed light signalling in Košťálov at km 95.3
Fixed multiple minor graphic issues
Fixed paper orders not showing after loading saved game
Fixed passenger collisions in Dolánky
Fixed passenger collisions in Sychrov
Fixed PIS in Liberec
Fixed player not being able to climb up platform 2 in Turnov
Fixed signal Lc3 in Jeřmanice
Fixed signal Lo in Pilínkov
Fixed signal Sc1 in Liberec
Fixed signal Sc2 in Liberec
Fixed speed board at km 87.3
Fixed the platform 2 ambient sound in Turnov
Fixed the switch mechanism at turnout 43 (Turnov)
Fixed the warning cross at level crossing P3075
Fixed vegetation clipping into the cab at km 135.8
Fixed vegetation clipping into the cab in strong wind at km 113.8
Fixed wall collisions
Fixed warning signal P3101
Fixed wind on spruce and pine trees billboards
Fixed wrong train number in Swimsuit weather scenario
Moved the switch motor at turnout 11 by one sleeper (Stará Paka)
Reduced foliage density in some performance heavy sections
Removed nettles from bridge in Liberec (towards the heating plant)
Replaced the shunting limit marker in Turnov

Class 750

Added rail driver mapping
Fixed brake cocks not loading properly
Fixed charging indication failure
Fixed HUD accelerometer
Fixed J1 and J2 breakers not causing engine to stop when tripped
Reduced number of particles for exhaust emitter

Class 843

Added RailDriver mapping
Changed audio attenuation of PIS announcements
Fixed brake cocks not loading properly
Fixed CDD power numbers - missing “+” for 50/100%
Fixed LS90 load/save behaviour
Fixed missing stations in PIS for R1260 service
Fixed PIS not announcing Hradec Králové and Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou stations
Removed duplicate HUD gradient indications
Throttle and brake lever will cause doors to close (not lock) in the S notch

Freight Wagons

Added missing audio while releasing the distributor reservoir
Fixed brake cocks not loading properly
Fixed bug causing brakes to be unusable after releasing the distributor reservoir

Cargo Line Vol. 5 – Nuclear

Changed the TPWS isolation switch to function as 'center off' rather than sitting in one state or the other.
Disconnected bolts on an axle cap that was causing them to go out of position with the Class 20 wheels.
Fixed missing top light on the bonnet end of the Class 20 due to reference misinterpretation.
Fixed non-functional Engine Stop button on the bonnet facing driver desk of the Class 20.
Fixed that the Class 20 was difficult to find in the Formation Designer menu.
Fixed the bonnet facing driver control desk DSD pedal not cancelling alarms.
Fixed the bonnet-facing driver control desk headlight switch controlling lights at the wrong end of the locomotive.
Fixed the bonnet-facing driver control desk headlight switch not being controllable from the keyboard.
Fixed the Control Air gauge needle from being able to rotate outside of the gauge.
Fixed the functionality of the Brakes Applied light on the driver control desks.
Fixed the functionality of the Handbrake Applied light located on the driver control desks.
Fixed the glass of a sliding window being outside of the window frame when opened.
Fixed the GSM-R buttons disappearing in bright light.
Fixed the Hazard light functionality not working as expected.
Fixed the headlight proving panel not matching with exterior lights on the Class 20.
Fixed the headlights and wipers not correctly resuming from a save game.
Fixed the missing Contact Signaller interaction on the GSM-R panel and telephone.
Fixed the missing Fire Extinguisher label in the cab of the Class 20.
Implemented illumination on the buttons of the GSM-R radio unit.
Improved GSM-R activation to be based on Reverser position rather than Master Key.
Improved GSM-R button glow from Green to Orange.
Improved the audio experience of the FNA wagon when in motion.
Improved the audio for the handbrake wheel being very quiet in the cab of the Class 20.
Improved the audio occlusion of the Class 20 cab with a much bigger difference between doors/windows being open and closed.
Improved the brightness of the General Fault / Wheel Slip and Engine Stop lights on the driver control desks.
Improved the hitbox of the Angle Cocks located between the Class 20 buffers for easier interaction.
Improved the shadow under the main body of the Class 20 to darken the bogies.
Improved the suspension physics of the FNA wagon.
Improved the visuals of the Class 20 headlight cluster glass.
Increased the speed of the Class 20 headlights so they flick on and off rather than fading.
Increased the volume of all horn tones.
Refreshed translation data for the "Class 20 DRU" name to separate it from the Tees Valley version.
Removed a tag from substitution data to stop the Class 20 appearing on West Somerset Railway services that it's not compatible with.
Removed custom suspension implementation to stop Class 20 locomotive 'dipping' when coupling to rolling stock.
Resolved Battery Ammeter gauge always displaying as discharging.
Resolved looping artefacts heard in the AWS alarm.
Resolved missing AMP and Main Reservoir gauge displays on Legacy HUD.
Resolved the flickering illumination of buttons on the GSM-R radio unit.
Resolved the flickering illumination of the Hazard Light button on the driver control desks.
Resolved the location of the fuel pump connection points on the sides of the locomotive.
Resolved there being too many 'elephant' formations using the Class 20 locomotive.
Stopped Nuclear services cutting onto the fast lines on the WCML London Euston to Milton Keynes timetable.
Updated the Handbrake objective in the Class 20 tutorial to work from the correct data inputs.

Cargo Line Vol. 2: Aggregates

Improved suspension physics of the HOA hoppers to reduce the stiffness and make it more visible.
Fixed buffers acting flipped (compressing on the outside of curves and extending on the inside of curves).

Cargo Line Vol. 1: Petroleum

Improved suspension physics of the TEA tanker to reduce the stiffness and make it more visible.
Fixed buffers acting flipped (compressing on the outside of curves and extending on the inside of curves).

WCML Crewe - Preston

Performance optimisations across the route for users who are CPU bound
Reduced memory usage for included rolling stock and other textures throughout the route
Resolution of a known crash at Warrington by temporarily removing the destination boards
Resolved an issue with passengers becoming stuck at the bottom of stairs at Crewe station
Addition of an optional reduced timetable

Blurred Textures - Prioritisation Poll

Our Executive Producer Matt has requested your thoughts on routes that are experiencing blurred textures, and where you'd like our team to prioritise fixes that need to be undertaken. If you have experienced any issues recently, we'd welcome your time to fill in our poll on the Dovetail Forums. Thank you!

Community Corner

July 2026 Mastery Challenges - Live Now!

The July 2026 Mastery Challenges are now live! For those who are looking to get a little extra out of their drives, check out the latest mastery and pick up new in-game rewards!

Tier 1 for the July 2026 Decal

Complete a scenario with a temperature above 5 Degrees.
Complete 4 Timetables.

Tier 2 for the USA Summer Poster

Drive 250 miles / 400 km
Drive 5 scenarios or timetables after reaching 100 mph / 160 kmph
Play for 2 hours and then complete a scenario or timetable

July 2026 Railshots Competition - Now Open!

Our next Railshots competition is well under way! Our previous two winners, pictured below, truly embraced last month’s theme of ‘Pride on the Railways’, and this month should be another tough one to judge, especially with all the incredible entries we’ve had so far.

Our winners are…

So it’s now time to grab your SPF, a cool beverage and some shades because this month’s Railshots theme is: Summer!

Join the competition on our Discord or forums, and be sure to check the rules before entering any snaps. Please only send one entry per theme, and make sure your screenshots haven't been edited to keep it fair to other competitors.

July 2026 Roadmap Livestream

Be sure to join us for our July Roadmap livestream later this week (July 10th 2026 starting at 7pm BST) on our YouTube and Twitch channels, hosted by Executive Producer Matt along with Senior Community Manager Alex, where they'll be discussing all of the details below, alongside answering top community questions.

Join us in the Community!

Our Dovetail Discord server has now passed over 11,000 members! This is an incredible milestone to reach so soon, and of the time writing this roadmap, we're actually on the approach to 11k and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who supports this space, whether you were there as a Day One Member or new to the Discord, a Competiton Winner or someone who likes admiring the screenshots, or even our fantastic Community Moderator's who help keep the peace. We're grateful to have you with us in this journey!

This has been a brand new endeavour for Dovetail in the last year, and something our Community team have poured countless hours of love into building. It doesn't stop here either, as we're looking at how we can keep elevating this space, and continually growing and making this a community you're proud to be involved in. We've got new Q&As planned that we'll aim to shot throughout the coming months - so stay tuned!

Make sure you’re joining our teams on our Dovetail Live forums and Train Sim Community community-led Discord that we are active in – and let us know what you’re looking forward to most.

Discover more on Train Sim World 6 by following @trainsimworld on Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and Discord

Mortal Shell II set for release on August 20

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:41:03 +0800

If you love challenging combat - Mortal Shell II may be one for you to pick up when it arrives on August 20th.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/mortal-shell-ii-set-for-release-on-august-20/

The Acer Nitro 18 AI wants to pack big-screen gaming into a smaller budget, but it drops a few frames in the process

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:25:04 +0800

The Acer Nitro 18 AI combines big-screen play with small-pocket prices, stepping away from leading Intel gaming processors and halving RAM compared to other RTX 5070 Ti systems, while undercutting most of the market in its launch RRP. That's an interesting proposition, especially when PC gaming prices are rapidly soaring to unobtainable levels.

With the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 16GB RAM at the helm, the Nitro 18 AI isn't going to beat some of the best gaming laptops for those with a larger wad of cash to spend. However, for a sub-£2,000 rig with a sturdy display, relatively slimline form factor, and decent performance scores, it could well be a tasty pickup in 2026.

Acer Nitro 18 AI configurations

Key Specs

Spaces

Tested

Also Available

Price

£1,749.99

£1,659.99 - £2,499.99

Display

18-inch QHD+ at 165Hz

Processor

AMD Ryzen AI 9 365

GPU

RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 5060, RTX 5070

RAM

16GB

32GB

Storage

1TB SSD

Connectivity

WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4

Ports

1x HDMI, 1x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 4 Gen 1, 1x RJ45, 1x 3.5mm

Dimensions

0.98 x 15.78 x 12.22 inch

Weight

3.02kg

There are a limited number of Acer Nitro 18 AI configurations on the market, with the machine topping out at an RTX 5070 Ti. All of them use AMD's Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, paired up with a QHD+ display running at 165Hz, and the vast majority of the models you see will sport an RTX 5070 Ti GPU like my test device. RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 options are available, but they're far less widespread on the shelves. There are, however, more 32GB RAM options available via retailers and Acer's own store.

That AMD processor holds the Nitro back when compared with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX usually applied to an 18-inch upper mid-range machine, and the 16GB RAM is half that I would usually expect to see from a similar spec.

The 16GB RAM / RTX 5070 Ti model I've been looking at comes in at £1,749.99, a solid price for an upper mid-range graphics card in a chunkier 18-inch form factor. This is among the cheaper options for this card, though returns do diminish when you look at £1,659.99 RTX 5060 options. If you're interested in this machine, the spec I'm testing seems to offer the best value for money from a pure cost perspective.

Acer Nitro 18 AI performance

(Image credit: Future) The Acer Nitro 18 AI has a pretty spotty performance record. While some figures seem decent for an RTX 5070 Ti machine with 16GB RAM behind it, others look a little off-mark. After running my initial round of tests, though, the machine was fully reset, updated, and all settings triple checked to match previous rigs. The next round produced the same results.

Overall, we're below what I'd expect to see from an RTX 5070 Ti machine with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor at the helm. Its main competition in this testing pool is its sibling; the RTX 5070 Ti Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI - admittedly one with a boosted Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and 32GB RAM.

These drawbacks, then, don't necessarily come from any thermal issues or even a problem with the 12GB RTX 5070 Ti itself. In Fire Strike's more CPU/RAM-testing benchmark, the weaker AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 snags that final score in the physics test. The graphics portion of the run looks decent, averaging at around 38,571, while the physics score averages at 15,814.

(Image credit: Future) As Steel Nomad demonstrates, there's nothing going awry with the overall power of the RTX 5070 Ti here. Had there been space in the Nitro 18's budget for a CPU with a higher core and thread-count, these synthetic benchmarks could be a lot closer.

https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/29625131/embed In-game, the Acer Nitro 18 AI struggles to keep up with the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI in lighter runs like Shadow of the Tomb Raider at FHD resolution, with more dense strategy action from Total War: Three Kingdoms also proving troublesome compared to other RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 systems. Taken in isolation, though, there's little to complain about. I was still well above 60fps in both High and Highest settings at 1080p, only faltering on that margin in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered.

https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/29624676/embed Interestingly, the Acer Nitro 18 AI seems to pull ahead of some of its competitors with the resolution cranked up to its full native 1600p. Here it overtakes the Asus ROG Strix G16 in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, middles the pack in Total War: Three Kingdoms, and takes a steady lead in Cyberpunk 2077. Strangely, we fall off that podium in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, though, with the system struggling to hold its 60fps in High settings.

https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/29625096/embed

What I loved about the Acer Nitro 18 AI

A rare slimline design

18-inch gaming laptops come with a trade-off. You're sacrificing that portability that has defined the form factor for so long, while typically picking up a more immersive display, a wider array of ports, and a chunkier cooling system. The Acer Nitro 18 AI feels like it's meeting us half way.

(Image credit: Future) Not that this is a magically backpackable gaming laptop - it's still a heavy, wide machine that's going to hurt your shoulders no matter how sturdy your bag is. However, it is noticeably slimmer than most of the market (most because that Razer Blade 18 is always lurking). Heavy-duty rigs like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 and MSI Raider A18 HX sit fat on a desk top, while this skinnier form factor perches neatly.

The simple aesthetic well-worn by this cheaper, no-nonsense Nitro line certainly helps as well. The tapered lips and clean lines are complimented by an all-black chassis, a simple glossy 'N' logo on the rear panel, and a much thinner wedge shape than I typically see from machines of this size. All that allows the vibrant RGB lighting under the keyboard to shine ever brighter. If you're after a desktop rig that won't scream its gaming intentions at you every time you look at it, this is a worthwhile offering.

Not OLED but still a solid display

You'll find far more sophisticated gaming laptop panels much further up the price scale, but for its relatively modest price tag the Acer Nitro 18 AI still sports a bright, bold, crisp display. The IPS pulls off a surprising level of vibrancy in its colors, offering a far better experience than previous Alienware gaming laptops.

(Image credit: Future) You're not getting the high-contrast impact of an OLED or Mini LED here, but there's still plenty of energy in its colors, sharpness, and power.

Comfortable, snappy keyboard

The numpad-toting keyboard is one of the shining stars here, which is rare for a machine that typically de-prioritizes its chassis quality. Full-sized keys (including that number pad) and bold lighting cover a particularly satisfying tactile experience.

(Image credit: Future) Yes, there's a little more flex in the main deck area than you'll typically see in a more expensive machine, but key action is crisp and snappy, with an energetic bounce and plenty of travel on the way down. It makes for a notably pleasing typing and gaming experience, never fatiguing over longer days either.

What to consider about the Acer Nitro 18 AI

There are higher performing RTX 5070 Ti rigs out there

While they will often, admittedly, come in higher than the Acer Nitro 18 AI's cost at RRP, there are RTX 5070 Ti machines out there that will give you better bang-for-buck performance. The Nitro isn't lacking - you'll still be smooth at 60fps in most games with a few graphical tweaks, but others can net you higher framerates in more competitive titles and hold their own across a wider range of more demanding games.

If you're not tied to this lower-end budget, it's worth exploring Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX options, or those with additional RAM budget.

USB-A ports mounted to the right

Like many 18-inch gaming laptops, the Acer Nitro 18 AI mounts a good deal of its ports on its rear. Excellent, big tick in my book - it's so much tidier for a machine that's likely going to be spending most of its life on a desk top. These rear ports are reserved for more permanent setup connections; power and HDMI, with both USB-C options mounted here as well.

(Image credit: Future) Unfortunately, though, the USB-As are located on the sides, specifically two are to be found on the right side of the chassis. It's a small frustration, but one that will likely get in the way of right-handed use of the machine. Knocking a mouse hand against a cable or dongle every time action calls for a wider pan can get old (and cramped) pretty fast.

Trackpad feels much cheaper than the rest

While the keyboard certainly impressed with its quality, the trackpad feels a little less polished. There's a hollow spacey feel that never quite gets to 'mushy' status but certainly doesn't feel as sophisticated as the rest of your inputs.

Should you buy the Acer Nitro 18 AI?

(Image credit: Future) At full price, you're going to struggle to find an 18-inch RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop under £2,000 these days, so the ball is in Acer's corner from a raw price perspective. The machine does enough with that GPU to hold its own in the performance arena, even if it's lagging behind other more expensive options further up the price scale. You're still going to be running your games smoothly and without hiccup.

Its screen, keyboard, and overall physical design also work hard in its favor as well. Despite its lower price, this is a system that still manages to delight in the hands and before the eyes. Build quality holds up with very little flexing and wobble, aesthetics remain measured but still flashy in that configurable lighting, and the overall profile has a nicely slimline appeal to it. Trackpad and port placement aside, the machine itself stands tall.

The problem is discounts. While cheaper gaming laptop deals are definitely getting harder to come by, there will be times when machines far better prepared for more demanding titles will be skirting around this RRP. While I can recommend the Acer Nitro 18 AI to those after a big-screen experience on a budget, I'd also urge you to look closely at sale prices on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI and Asus ROG Strix G16 when you're about to head to checkout. If they're matching (or within £100 of) the Nitro's price tag, they will likely boost you to higher framerate opportunities.

How I tested the Acer Nitro 18 AI

I used the Acer Nitro 18 AI as my main work and play device for a period of two weeks, while also running additional benchmark reps alongside separate devices.

I primarily tested the rig across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, testing at both 1080p and 1600p in each game's High and Highest settings (RT: Med and RT: Ultra for Cyberpunk).

I then used 3D Mark to test against Steel Nomad, Time Spy, and Fire Strike synthetic benchmarks. Each test was run in the system's highest power setting (Turbo) with benchmarks carried out three times each, averaging each for final results. For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for more slimline options. Or, check out the best gaming handhelds for premium portable play.

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Doom: The Dark Ages DLC lands to rave Steam reviews as id Software reportedly faces losing half its staff: "It may very well be the last piece of good Doom content that we ever get"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:25:04 +0800

The new Doom: The Dark Ages DLC is being received well on Steam as it releases on the same week Microsoft reportedly laid off around half of the staff at developer id Software.

Doom: The Dark Ages wasn't the most well received game in the series, as its pivot to a slower, more deliberate style of gameplay put off some players that were accustomed to how fast Doom Eternal was (myself included). id Software clearly took this on board as the first look at Doom: The Dark Ages' first big expansion, Revelations (nothing to do with the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 game), seems to speed things right up, with a far more aggressive style.

Over on Steam, the DLC currently sits at a "Very Positive" rating, with one dubbing it "What base game should've been from the start." Another review says: "It's like Dark Ages and Eternal had a child. This doesn't even feel like a dlc this feels like a full on sequel."

Unfortunately, this DLC's release date has come at the worst time, as id Software has been hit hard by Xbox's seemingly endless spree of layoffs – the fifth since Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard – with roughly half of the legendary studio reportedly laid off.

Naturally, a lot of the reviews for the DLC are acknowledging the layoffs, with the current top review saying: "Sending my love and support for ID software after this release, and having half their studio laid off. Nobody deserved this." Meanwhile, the second highest says: "Cherish this DLC with every second you spend playing it. It may very well be the last piece of good DOOM content that we ever get. I see no purpose in review bombing it. It will not change Microsoft's mind." Review bombing the DLC, they add, would not give any laid off staff "their jobs back."

Doom developer id Software "is essentially dead," Duke Nukem 3D co-creator says after layoffs reportedly cut almost half of the studio.

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You're invited to Destiny's cursed unofficial final raid: Pete Carsons' Vault of Cars

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:25:03 +0800

The reasons behind the decline and ultimate end of Destiny 2 will always be a topic of discussion. It's, in my opinion, one of the biggest fumbles in entertainment history. No one thing is to blame, but former Bungie CEO and avid car collector Pete Parsons, who retired in August 2025 as sentiment was at an all-time low and pressure from Sony grew, is the focus of much of the ire. "I hope all your cars break down," one player wrote in a cheerful farewell to the departing CEO last year, in a rare moment of community unity... Read more.

Pigeon: A Love Story has you wander lonely as a cloud

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:09:03 +0800

Pigeon: A Love Story captures that feeling of looking for a specific book in a bookshop, or being surrounded by friends but feeling alone. In it you take on the role of a faceless pigeon, soaring above a skyline amid tens of thousands of other faceless birds as you search for your mate. In this […]

Discover the Honeyglow Woods Adventure Pack!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:04:04 +0800

Hey Valley Villagers,

A brand-new cozy chapter begins today in Disney Dreamlight Valley as you step through a magical gateway into the Honeyglow Woods, a forgotten land where childhood memories, beloved friends, and the gentle magic of honey lingers just beyond the fog.

A Mysterious Invitation

Your journey begins with a mysterious package left in your mailbox, containing treasured childhood keepsakes and a curious little Tree Sprout. Once planted, the Tree Sprout grows into a magical gateway to the Honeyglow Woods itself.

But something isn't quite right.

A strange fog has settled across the Woods, and its once carefree residents have become separated from one another. To start setting things right, you'll meet Winnie the Pooh and work alongside him to uncover clues, clear the fog, and restore the warmth that once filled the Woods.

New Places & Beloved Friends

As you journey deeper into the Honeyglow Woods, you'll discover enchanting new places inspired by the world of Winnie the Pooh, each filled with its own atmosphere, secrets, and stories to uncover.

Wander through the flower-filled meadows of Drowsybloom Acre, splash through misty marshes in the Gloommeadow or brave the deeper woods hidden beyond the fog to eventually uncover the hidden Nectar Apiary, where the source of the Woods' troubles quietly waits.

Along the way, you'll share heartfelt moments with Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, and Piglet. Play games of hide-and-seek with Pooh, help Eeyore search for his missing tail, and encourage Piglet to find courage in the face of fear, all while restoring the warmth that once filled this magical place.

Cozy Adventures Beneath the Trees

Beyond the mist, the Honeyglow Woods are full of gentle surprises and cozy discoveries. Care for adorable hedgehogs, restore Busy Bees' Houses to unlock beekeeping adventures, and gather Golden Honey to craft recipes, furniture, and decorations inspired by the golden glow of the Woods.

Take part in playful moments like cloud-watching, rainy puddle-jumping, and Pooh Sticks along the riverbanks, where even the simplest activities become part of a shared adventure with your friends.

The Adventure Begins Today

Disney Dreamlight Valley: Honeyglow Woods is available now as a standalone adventure pack or as part of the Honeyglow Woods Edition for new players looking to begin their journey.

Players who play Honeyglow Woods before July 22nd will also receive the exclusive Rainy Day Winnie the Pooh Dream Style delivered directly to their in-game mailbox.

We can't wait for you to step through the magical glowing tree, rediscover beloved friends, and uncover the adventure waiting within the Honeyglow Woods!

Subnautica 2 Early Access 1.1 Update Improves Creature Flinches So You'll Know When You've Hit Them With the Survival Multitool — but No, You Still Can't Kill Fish

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:55:03 +0800

Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds will release the game’s Early Access 1.1 update today, July 8 — and no, it won’t let you kill fish.

In a new video, creative director Anthony Gallegos said the 1.1 update, dubbed Adaptive Measures, focuses on expanding the biomods system, adding new biolabs to the early game so you’ll be able to find and swap out more biomods as you play from the start. Later in the game you’ll be able to scan creatures and unlock more passive biomod slots, so can take multiple passive biomods at the same time.

Perhaps of most interest are improvements to creature flinches. Most of the creatures in the game now have good flinches, so if you hit them with the Survival Multitool you’ll get a reaction out of them before they flee, which in turn means you can see and understand the impact you’re having on them.

Unknown Worlds has also improved the Sonic Resonator, which ties into creatures now having stunned states. This means when you hit them with the Sonic Resonator they will clearly communicate that they’ve been stunned. “This is all in the effort to make you feel like you’re having the mitigation on creatures that we want you to feel, which has also been a major part of your feedback,” Gallegos explained.

That’s a reference to complaints from some Subnautica 2 players about the lack of an ability to kill the predators in the game. Not being able to directly kill fish in Subnautica 2 is perhaps the game’s hottest topic, and while Unknown Worlds has promised to add “mitigation” to the game so you can better deal with predators, it will never allow you to kill them. Gallegos has spoken about this in the past, countering the narrative that Unknown Worlds set out to create a “pacifism game.” That, Gallegos told MinnMax, just isn’t true.

Meanwhile, 1.1 makes improvements to blight encounters so there’s a better transition from passive to aggressive, which will hopefully mean players won’t be quite as surprised by creature attacks. There are gameplay improvements around wrecks so there is a little more puzzle solving and gameplay and better visual cohesion of the wrecks. The PDA is improved to add clarity. And players will have a new personal storage option in your base. This is not connected to the fabricators and processors by default. Expect 1.1 patch notes later today.

Moving on, the 1.2 update, due out “some weeks” after today’s update, will add multiplayer features such as proximity chat and player revive. And even later in the year is the big Early Access 2 update. This adds a new region, new creatures, new vehicle chassis, new progression, and new story. “It takes us a while to work on that and we are working really hard on it, but we are a small team, and so we’re doing that while also integrating all your feedback," Gallegos explained.

Subnautica 2 is a huge hit, and earlier this month it was confirmed that the entire Unknown Worlds staff will get their bonuses after parent company Krafton reached a settlement with studio leadership. Bloomberg reported that as part of the settlement, Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill had stepped down, leaving the company to look for a new boss.

In a statement provided to IGN, Krafton confirmed the settlement, insisting its focus now was on the future of Subnautica 2, which Unknown Worlds will continue to develop.

"Krafton, Inc., Unknown Worlds Entertainment and Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire have reached a mutual settlement and agreed to dismiss all pending legal proceedings," Krafton said. "Unknown Worlds and Krafton are focused on supporting Subnautica 2, its Early Access journey to the full 1.0 release and the global community that has made the franchise so special. Unknown Worlds will continue leading development, with Krafton providing support for the success of the game."

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Infantry in War Thunder: Third Testing Phase!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:53:04 +0800

Hey everyone! We’re preparing for the third phase of the CBT for War Thunder Infantry. Today, we’ll tell you about a new location, new mechanics for large-scale battles, changes based on your feedback, and dozens of gameplay refinements. If you haven’t participated in any testing yet, now’s the perfect time to apply!

Welcome to Kivu

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For the third testing stage, we’ve prepared a new, large-scale location called Kivu, set in Central Africa. This is the largest map that has featured in an Infantry CBT to date, being roughly four times the size of the previous locations. We’ve put significant effort into server optimizations, so we plan to once again launch a 64-vs-64 player format (128 players per session) to ensure everything is running smoothly.

We’ve also created new gear and character appearances for both factions, specifically tailored to this new setting.

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We’ve also included a special arsenal of small arms and hardware for this stage of testing on Kivu (excluding specialized weaponry such as pistols, shotguns, drones, RPGs, and MANPADS).

U.S. Weapons Arsenal

Small Arms:

M4A1
M16A4
TAC-50
SCAR-L
M249 Para
MAC-11 PDW
XM5
M110 SDMR

Vehicles:

M1A2 SEP V2
LAV-AD
AH-64A

Soviet Weapons Arsenal

Small Arms:

AK-12
AK-74M
KSVK
Kord 6P67
RPK-74M
PP-19
AK-15
SVDM

Vehicles:

T-90M
2S6
Mi-28N

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Arcade-Style Battles Returns

Arcade Battles are once again available in this testing phase. We’ve put a lot of work into the marker display logic to eliminate situations where players fire at an enemy based solely on the marker rather than actual visual contact. The marker is a visual aid to help pinpoint the location of an enemy you can already see, not a tool for detecting targets that are otherwise invisible.

Now, markers do not appear through bushes and at long distances. If you aim at a sniper in a window, a marker will appear above them, but if you just run and look around, there will be no marker. In general, there are noticeably fewer markers on the map.

In Arcade Battles, the impact of equipment weight on movement speed also works differently: heavily geared-up soldiers move faster than in Realistic Battles, giving it a faster overall pace.

Rules of Major Warfare

Kivu will feature a dedicated mission mode with five capture points, resembling Domination but with its own unique rules. We’re testing several new mechanics in this mode specifically for large-scale battles:

Respawning at captured points — if a point is already under your team’s control, you can spawn right there instead of just at the starting base. We are testing this feature specifically on the new map, and if it performs well, we will roll it out to other large locations in the future.
Separate UAV control range setting for large-scale battles.
Transport that helps you reach key locations faster.

On Foot and on Wheels

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For battles on Kivu, we’ve added a passenger vehicle capable of carrying up to five soldiers at once. Now, a squad can move across the map together by boarding the vehicle, and even switching from a passenger seat to the driver’s seat on the fly if the driver is taken out of action.

Customization To Suit Your Needs

One of the most frequent requests from participants in previous testing phases was the ability to configure graphics settings specifically for Infantry without altering War Thunder’s general settings. We’ve implemented this: a dedicated tab for infantry modes has been added to the “Graphics” section of the session settings, positioned alongside the general settings, which remain in place and continue to apply to the game’s other modes.

Improvements To Familiar Locations

We’ve also made adjustments to Granitograd and Al-Massa, which have received a number of improvements. We fixed the positioning and destructibility of many environmental objects and fine-tuned how well various materials can be shot through.

New Weapon Skins

New camouflage patterns have been introduced for select firearms: the AK-12, RPK-74M, SVDM, M249, M4A1, and M16A4. The paint scheme is selected automatically based on the combat location.

Even More Improvements

As usual, in addition to major changes, we’ve made many smaller changes as well, but in total they significantly affect the feel of the game:

Class loadouts have been revised: to make classes more unique, additional weaponry such as RPGs, MANPADS, and drones are no longer available to every soldier. Before a match, you should carefully consider which loadout suits the battlefield situation and choose your class strategically.
Total Dominance: capture all points simultaneously, and the enemy’s points will drain even faster, bringing your team closer to victory.
Grenade throwing has been reworked: throws are now more accurate, and bugs causing grenades to fly off-target have been fixed. The throwing animation and timing have been updated, the grenade’s release point is now aligned with the crosshair, and the weight of the weapon you’re holding now more accurately influences the trajectory of the grenade when thrown. Additionally, the grenade no longer visibly pops into the hand; the transition is now seamless from the player’s perspective.
An alternative weapon grip setting has been added: modern weapons feature different grip styles — straight and angled — with the latter improving visibility through the sight. By default, weapons are held straight, but players can now enable the angled grip in the settings.
Added a concussion effect from nearby grenade explosions.
As an experiment, we added the ability to respawn twice with the same soldier.
Weapon-switching animations have been adjusted, and a bug where the weapon clipped into objects when deployed on a bipod has been fixed.

A detailed list of changes will be published on the forum for Closed Beta participants.

That’s all for now! We’re excited to see you in the third CBT for War Thunder Infantry, make sure to apply now for the chance to participate!

\[SUBMIT APPLICATION]

Upcoming Dragon Ball Release Gets Brand-New Teaser

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:39:03 +0800

The beloved Dragon Ball franchise's future is as bright as anything in its past, from the OG and DBZ to Super and Daima, and fans have a lot to look forward to, with one upcoming release getting a brand-new teaser. Needless to say, with everything going on, it's a good time to be a Dragon Ball fan.

Neverness to Everness is now available on Steam, Epic, and the Galaxy Store

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:26:04 +0800

You can earn an exclusive in-game avatar frame to celebrate the new platforms launch.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Every Animal You Can Hunt & Where To Find Them

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:18:04 +0800

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is filled with the same abundance of activities as the original game with a plethora of new improvements to make the experience more seamless, but one that you'll be forced to engage with for reasons other than coin comes from hunting animals. Whether you're doing it to upgrade Edward's gear, unlock new cosmetic upgrades, or simply for more bartering options, hunting is a core part of Black Flag Resynced's gameplay loop.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: Fastest Ways To Defeat & Board Ships

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:10:05 +0800

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resyncedoffers an abundance of mission types and side activities for you to engage in while exploring its massive map, but one that you'll be doing the most frequently, or at least should be doing, is plundering enemy ships. Even putting aside the novelty of Black Flag Resynced's Naval Combat, it's incredibly useful as a way to earn money, repair your ship during combat, or add to your fleet to send on missions.

Triumphant return

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:05:04 +0800

Triumphs are now live in the game! Complete tasks, take part in the Faction Race, earn coins, and claim your rewards.

???? And of course, don’t forget to redeem the promo code to get extra Pops' coins and years of service rewards:

STALZONE2026

The promo code is valid until September 2.

???? Share in the comments how many Triumphs you managed to complete over the past year!

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: All Materials Needed For Every Crafting Recipe

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:00:05 +0800

Following the same traditions as the earliest entries in the series, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resyncedbrings back the crafting and upgrade systems from the original Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, with a few adjustments that returning players will have to get used to. While the systems remain fundamentally unchanged, the specific materials you'll need to upgrade Kenway's gear have been shuffled around quite a bit from the original game.

Cat Mail Co. is a cosy game where you run a post office for cats, and I wish it let me snoop into their private lives

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:55:03 +0800

I love to hold a stranger's post. Letters are good. Though, those padded protective envelopes are better – what's inside that needs that extra level of protection?. But a box, especially one whose contents move a little inside when you tilt it. Oh, that mystery is the most marvelous. It could be anything in there. Stolen jewellery, returned love letters, coffee maker pods. Anything.

Given the chance to run a post office, I'd like to think I would be a responsible guardian for everyone's mail, faithfully transiting it to its destination, but I know that I would be doing everything in my power to work out what was in the parcels, so long as I could do it in a way no one would ever know.

So I am desperately sad to report that Cat Mail Co., a cosy game where you run a post office for cats, gives you very few opportunities to pry into the private lives of felines.

Read more

Here's the Black Flag Resynced release time for your region

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:54:05 +0800

Black Flag Resynced, the much-anticipated remake of the classic pirate-themed Assassin's Creed installment, is set to release shortly, letting us revisit Edward Kenway, kill a million British soldiers, and sink a navy's worth of ships. It's all in the name of plunder, though... Read more.

Steam Dev Makes 2025 Roguelite RPG 100% Free

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:48:04 +0800

A game called Grit the Dark World, which previously sold for around $4.99, has switched to a completely free-to-play model on Steam. At this point, it could be argued that removing the price tag to attract more players is becoming a trend on Steam, as Grit the Dark World is far from the first game to make the switch this month.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: All Animus Hub Changes Explained (Keys, Events, & Rewards)

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:38:05 +0800

One aspect of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced that saw the biggest overhauls has easily been the reworked Animus Hub mechanics, which have replaced the playable modern-day sections of the original Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. It isn't just the story presentation that's changed, either, as Black Flag Resynced has also introduced several life-service features that add more collectibles and goodies for players to unlock while exploring.

Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis is shutting down after 3 years, as Square Enix twists the knife for fans of a lost 2004 spin-off that's only just making a comeback in the RPG

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:34:07 +0800

You may or may not be aware that we got a new Final Fantasy 7 spin-off a few years ago. Yes, in addition to Rebirth and Remake. It's called Ever Crisis, and it's a gacha game retelling the whole franchise from the ground up, and if you haven't looked into it yet, you only have a limited window since it's now being shut down.

Square Enix has announced that Ever Crisis will cease operations on October 6, 2026, implying that maintaining the game has become untenable for one reason or another. "Since the launch of the App Store and Google Play versions on September 7, 2023, and the Steam version on December 6, 2023, we have worked to provide the best possible experience for our players," a statement from the company reads.

"After careful consideration, however, we have determined that it will be difficult to continue doing so and have made the decision to end service," the post finishes. We don't have hard data across all platforms, but on Steam, Ever Crisis peaked at 4,756 concurrent players, and now averages around 500, according to SteamCharts.

Unless the mobile playerbase was remarkably different, that's low by any standards, never mind for something tied to one of the most beloved games of all time. Red Crystals, the in-game currency, are now already off sale, but you're free to use any you already have until October 6. Story events will remain until the whole thing goes dark as well, giving players a few months to experience anything they haven't already.

Besides retelling the compilation of Final Fantasy 7, there is some original material in the narrative. Sephiroth's backstory gets more fleshed out, thanks to a plotline set 15 years before the original JRPG.

This is frustratingly common practice for Square Enix – see the nebulous lore of Kingdom Hearts – and it's irritating no method of preservation has been forthcoming. The publisher commented recently that it will look at ways of keeping releases 'enjoyable' on a case-by-case basis, which may mean the best we get are official uploads of the cutscenes on YouTube.

In an added wrinkle of irony, a redo of Final Fantasy 7: Before Crisis kicked off in the latest update. Before Crisis is another mobile game, from 2004, which never released outside Japan before it was discontinued in 2018. It focused on the Turks, and it looks like it'll become lost media for the second time. Reno, Rude and the boys just can't catch a break!

You have until October to enjoy this slice of Final Fantasy 7. Then, we go back to waiting for Final Fantasy 7 Revelation.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation "payoff" will leave you "sobbing," Cloud actor guarantees, even "if you haven't cried in the first two yet."

[/url]

Goose Byte Games and Balor Games reveal rafting game Sponge Break

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:34:06 +0800

Goose Byte Games and Balor Games have announced Sponge Break, a “chaotic 1-4 player co-op rafting adventure.” According to a press release, Sponge Break transforms players into sponges escaping the tyranny of the kitchen sink on a raft held together by little more than wishful thinking.

The game features drop-in co-op, full solo support, proximity voice chat with sponges that lip-sync to players’ voices and physics-driven raft traversal where one mistake can flip the raft, scattering gear, dealing damage and quickly ending the team’s escape.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/W0xT5nqSI7E?feature=oembed The press release states that in Sponge Break, the rules are simple: you’re a sponge. You’re on a raft. The river is trying to destroy you. Chaos everywhere. You and up to 3 friends are trying to escape, crammed onto a raft and armed with your trusty plunger-hook.

Use proximity voice chat to work together, steering the raft down the rapids to freedom. Solve puzzles to open pathways, navigate environmental dangers, avoid being set on fire and fight off attacking beavers.

The press release also reveals the game’s key features include:

1 to 4 sponges with drop-in co-op gameplay. That friend who’s always “5 minutes away” can show up 40 minutes late and immediately make it worse. Playable solo too, no judgment.
Proximity voice chat. Will you sing a shanty, scream a warning or calmly listen to your crew panic in real time?
Real physics, real consequences. Navigate down the world’s most dangerous rapids. Steer wrong, flip it and lose all your stuff. Take a hit, and the raft will come apart under you.
Actual teamwork tools. A plunger that functions as a grappling hook lets players grab any object that isn’t bolted down, along with a shared raft stash for the loot you’ll definitely lose.
100+ unlockable cosmetic options. Customize your sponge’s eyes, eyebrows, mouths, hats, your inflatable buoys, even your plunger. Plus emotes, for celebrating a clean run or pointing very clearly at whoever blew it… It was Doug. It’s always Doug.
Multiple biomes with a variety of hazards. The full journey will take you through sewers, rivers, abandoned facilities, and more! Hang out at safehouses between levels to patch up, revive, restock and have a quick argument before setting sail again.

To celebrate the announcement of Sponge Break, Goose Byte Games and Balor Games are launching a playtest starting today. Invites will roll out in waves through July 28th. Sign up for a chance to join the playtest here: https://offbase-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2R7bDUjd2Km0y_IHThjhbnHy_Maph2i0rkXfF1LTiJGQJvo49nwH0PXJBng0uuCC0G69LitBBmUkJ3V_kNYOdMVFTJhw6_3AKjhp2c9nVCM2GQKqhbG8nBmxyXa-LHBfkyUcMpsIEWdgP2CfekUj8JInCKffZjvo1IX7rgGp87ol2Any8dnWiJ8GVoH8

The post Goose Byte Games and Balor Games reveal rafting game Sponge Break appeared first on GamesBeat.

July 8 (UTC-5) Maintenance

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:26:05 +0800

Baboo, D.G. Members!

Heartopia will undergo maintenance to improve server performance. If delayed, please refer to subsequent announcements for updated information.

This maintenance will require server downtime, during which you will be unable to log in to the game. Please plan your game time accordingly to avoid any inconvenience.

After this maintenance, the previous PC client will no longer be able to access the game. You will need to update to the full client via Steam or TapTap PC to continue playing. Android and iOS players are not affected.

Maintenance Period:

July 8, 15:00 - 18:00 (UTC-5)

After the maintenance is completed, we will send maintenance compensation \[Gold*8,000, Wishing Star*10] to all D.G. Members. Please claim your rewards via the in-game mailbox before 17:00 on July 11 (UTC-5).

Maintenance Details:

◆Heartopia × SANRIO CHARACTERS' Wonderland◆

\[SANRIO CHARACTERS' Invitation]

An invitation from SANRIO CHARACTERS—join us for a wonderful time!

Event Duration: July 10, 6:00 AM - August 24, 5:59 AM (Server Time)

During this event, tap any piece to light it up every day, and claim your progress rewards. Light up all 7 pieces to complete the puzzle. Then get 8 Time-Limited Exhibition Passes and limited Building Permits.

◆Features◆

\[New items in Stores]

1. New outfits and accessories at Morin's clothing store, including the Barber Denim Jacket, Cargo Harem Pants, and Tiered Lapel Striped Shirt. Some outfits include multiple color variants. Please note that the refreshed inventory varies by D.G. Member. Be sure to keep an eye out for future stock updates! Meanwhile, new hairstyles, eyes, and eyebrows are available in the Salon on the second floor. Selecting existing eyebrows and eye shapes now comes with extra color options.

2. One cat pupil is now available in Pet's Home.

3. Hydroponic Flowers: Daffodil has now been added to Blanc's Gardening Store. You can purchase and plant the seeds once your Gardening Level reaches 3.

4. New instrument: Harp will be added in Annie's Music Store. Available for purchase after July 11, 6:00 AM (Server Time).

\[Limit Increase]

1. Increased the favorites limit for Album, Books, and Music. Increased capacity for Gallery and Blueprints. The limits for these features can now be further expanded using Wishing Stars.

2. Increased capacity for postcard collection to 200.

3. Increased Pet Boarding limit to 10 pets.

4. Increased the available purchase limit for Gilded Acorn Member.

5. Increased the Backpack and Warehouse capacity.

- Ka Ching's General Store now sells 25 Backpack Expansion tickets and 10 Warehouse Expansion tickets.

- The sort limit for Backpack and Warehouse slots has been increased from 200 to 500. Use the Sort feature to re-sort the items and take advantage of the new slot limit.

\[Party feature]

1. Optimized the aiming for Survey Drone.

2. When launching a party, you can now select the Home as the cover image.

\[Interface and Operation]

1. Emote Feature

- After the update, the names of emotes and actions will be displayed.

- After the update, D.G. Members can bookmark favorite emotes and actions.

- Long-pressing the emote button on the main interface now brings up your favorite emotes and actions.

2. Optimized the sorting of the memo. Adjusted the task-tracking priority.

3. Added sort and filter functions to Dress-Up Closet and Salon.

\[New Hobby: Sand Sculpting]

The Sand Sculpting Hobby will be available after July 9, 6:00 AM (Server Time). D.G. Members can unlock this hobby from Azure's Fashionwave Store.

\[New treasures in Treasure Voyage]

New treasure spots found! Discover new riches: Golden Pond, Red Velvet Golden Screen, Golden Bathtub, and other items from the Golden Pond furniture set, or collect Gold Fragments to exchange for gold furniture at the Gold Foundry.

Please note that D.G. Members should reach level 40 and complete the quest: Treasure Voyage first to start this adventure.

\[New Total Purchase Rewards]

New total purchase rewards are here! Come get new furniture: Origin Fantasy and 4-Seat Vehicle: Starry Wheel. Accumulate enough purchase points, head to Acorn Store - Purchase, and tap/click Total Purchase Rewards to claim.

\[Share feature]

1. Added Poster button in the Dress-Up interface. D.G. Members can now generate a stylish outfit poster of their current look with a single tap/click and share it on other platforms.

2. Added Share button to the Fashionwave Memory Journal. Tap/Click it to share single or multiple pages of your journal to other platforms.

\[PC Feature Updates]

1. Now D.G. Members can freely rotate the camera with your mouse and hold Alt to bring up the mouse. You can change the controls in the settings menu.

2. The emote wheel is now bound to the C key. The camera is now bound to the V key. The shortcut for putting items away from your handheld has been adjusted from V to G.

3. Now D.G. Members can long-press to make precision casts, charge up your insect net, water a wider area, or sow seeds in a larger patch.

\[Other Optimizations]

1. Island Usage Application is now officially upgraded to Unclaimed Land Application.

2. Optimized behavior logic for town residents.

3. Optimized the building layouts around some town residents' houses.

4. Moonlight Crystals will be added to the Fashionwave Store and Festival Store for exchange after this update.

\[Bug Fixes]

1. Fixed an issue where book layouts could be different across different devices.

2. Fixed a bug where Small Chessboard Pitfall Trap could not be active under certain circumstances.

3. Fixed an issue where nearby vehicles would be abnormal when a resident moved.

4. Fixed an issue where the interface would display incorrectly after opening and closing the map.

5. Fixed an issue where party types were not fully displayed when tapping/clicking on the Party page.

6. Fixed an issue where Pressure Springboard would be in an incorrect state upon logging back in after placement.

7. Fixed an issue where a blocked player could still join the party of the D.G. Member who blocked them.

8. Fixed an issue where the visual effects for the Oasis Lattice Quartered Pool and Oasis Lattice Square Pool were abnormal.

9. Fixed the text display errors on certain interfaces.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Complete Harpooning Guide (Abilities, Upgrades, Locations)

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:17:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced has received several major facelifts that make it worth playing for both new players and fans of the original, but one gameplay aspect that has remained relatively the same from the original is the Harpooning gameplay. Despite the system being brought back over a decade later, the Harpoon system in Black Flag Resynced is still a bit tricky to get used to, let alone to master.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Metacritic score falls short of the original, despite being the fourth highest rated game in the series

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:15:04 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced's Metacritic score makes it the fourth-highest-rated game in the Ubisoft series, but it hasn't outdone the original.

Over on Metacritic, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced currently sits at a score of 84 on PS5, based on 71 critic reviews. This score puts it in a comfy spot among the top 5 games in the series, ahead of Assassin's Creed 3's 84 and behind the beloved Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and original Black Flag, which have scores of 90, 89, and 88, respectively.

In the GamesRadar+ Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review, games editor Oscar Taylor-Kent gives the game three-and-a-half stars out of five and says, "Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced isn't smooth sailing. Strong pirate adventure foundations and roguish charm keep this remake afloat, but it splashes between wanting to be faithful and wanting to make adjustments, not quite able to find an elegant middle ground between the two. Combined with bugs and other annoyances, this isn't the bold, confident swing its predecessor was, but still a fun outing."

Reviews for the game are mostly around the eight and nine area, with a couple of full marks from Dexerto and Loot Level Chill, while the game's lowest scores are still only categorized as "Mixed" by Metacritic, with a few six or seven out of 10 scores sprinkled among the rest. From the sounds of things, if you already enjoyed Black Flag or Assassin's Creed in general, you probably won't be let down by the remake of the series' best entry.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has "modernized the combat" of the original but is more "action-oriented" than Shadows

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New Season Begins & Beerus Arrives!

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:14:04 +0800

New Season Begins & Beerus Arrives!

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Season 6 Is Finally Here! A God of Destruction Possessing Overwhelming Power Finally Joins the Battle!

We also have info on exclusive customizations and deals on Capsules!

■A New Hero Arrives! Beerus (Role: Damage)

A God of Destruction who switches between short- and long-range Skills to overwhelm all.

Switch up your fighting style and adapt to your enemy's range with this versatile hero.

Use a Finisher or Super Attack to destroy anyone with a Mark of Destruction!

■Limited-Time Only! New Hero Focus Capsule!

Get customizations for Beerus!

Legendary

・Planet-Destroying Power (Emote: Start)

・Farewell, Eternally (Emote: MVP)

・God at Play (Finisher Effect)

And there will also be Epic and Rare emotes!

Buy the exclusive FG-Capsule Set in the shop to get the new hero and 3 FG-Capsules for customization!

And you can also purchase an exclusive individual FG-Capsule once per day!

Use this chance to customize your new hero!

Exclusive FG-Capsule Set Sale Period:

2026-07-08 09:00 (UTC) – 2026-07-15 05:59 (UTC)

Exclusive Individual FG-Capsule Sale Period (Limit 1 per day):

2026-07-08 09:00 (UTC) – 2026-07-20 05:59 (UTC)

Capsule Period:

2026-07-08 09:00 (UTC) – 2026-07-22 05:59 (UTC)

*Important Notes*

・The FG-Capsule Set and FG-Capsule this time will be exclusive to Beerus.

・The sale period for the set will be shorter than the Capsule period.

・Make use of all your FG-Capsules during this period.

・Unused items will disappear after the Capsule period is over.

■A Special G-Capsule with New Emotes and Effects!

Special G-Capsule Season 6 Vol.1 Arrives!

A New Hero Focus Capsule is here!

A featured selection of Beerus emotes and effects is here for a limited time!

Liven up your battles with the latest customizations!

Featured Period:

2026-07-08 09:00 (UTC) – 2026-08-12 05:59 (UTC)

*Important Notes*

・New emotes and effects have also been added to the "Prize Season 6" Prize G-Capsule.

・When the Special Capsule updates after the release of the next new hero, the following emotes and effects will be unavailable through Special G-Capsules and Prize Season 6 Capsules for an extended time.

▼Krillin

・Looking for Dragon Balls (Emote: Start)

・Victory at Hand (Emote: Victory)

・How About That?! (Emote: MVP)

▼Frieza (Fourth Form)

・The Terror Begins (Emote: Start)

・Worlds and Hope Vanishing (Emote: MVP)

・Horrors I Have Yet to Show You (Finisher Effect)

■New Skins Added to the Shop!

Android 18's "Casual Pants Outfit", Bulma (Youth)'s "One-Piece Dress", and Beerus' Infinite Skin are now available in the shop!

Plus, new "Sparking Black" Infinite Skins have been added to the shop!

Collect EX Tokens and get those skins!

▼New "Sparking Black" Heroes

Android 18

Super Uub

Dabura

Full Power Bojack

Super Saiyan Kale (Berserk)

Son Goku (Mini)

Piccolo

Son Goku (Youth)

Beerus

Zamasu

Cooler (Final Form)

Baby (Young Body)

Super Saiyan 2 Caulifla

Bulma (Youth)

Krillin

Majin Buu (Good)

Son Gohan (Kid)

Frieza (First Form)

Android 17

■Battle Pass Begins!

Majin Buu (Pure)'s Rage Skin will be added to the Season 6 Battle Pass, while Bulma (Youth)'s and Beerus' will be added to the Premium Pass!

Battle a ton and get the new skins!

■New Boss & Divine Draws Coming to GEKISHIN Rules!

The current boss, Ribrianne, will be replaced by Yakon!

Yakon has two unique mechanics: he can create Darkness that prevents outside interference, and nullify DMG from energy attacks with Energy Drain.

Darkness renders everything inside it invisible to anyone outside, so be sure to pay extra-close attention to the enemy team's positions!

Additionally, the new Divine Draws "Burst Step", "Spirited Away", and "Super DMG Boost: Skill 2" will be replacing "Cloudy Cloak", " Squeaky Hammer Wall", and "Super DMG Boost: Skill 1"!

With the new "Burst Step" Divine Draw, coming into contact with another character while using Vanishing Step will automatically trigger an additional Vanishing Step for extra mobility.

Try hopping over allies to escape, or catch enemies to get ahead of them in this new, speedier way to battle!

■New "Inspire" Helper Ability Is Here!

The new Inspire ability (Role: Tank) restores a Tank's armor while they are in range and activates the following effects!

・Automatic armor regeneration triggers

・Armor regeneration rate increases

・Extra HP gain amount applied to self increases

・Armor recovery amount via other sources increases

You can recover armor from anywhere on the map by taking this helper into battle, meaning you'll be free to continue pressing the attack on the front lines without having to return to your God of Destruction's area.

The helper joining with this ability will be Dende!

Play through the Season 6 Battle Pass and get this helper with the new ability!

■"Prize Season 5" Prize G-Capsule Ending Soon!

Make sure to use up any P5G-Capsules you have!

■Sub-Rule Update

The Sub-Rules this season are "Veggie Battle" and "Finders Keepers"!

"Veggie Battle" is coming with a stage from Season 1!

Harvesting vegetables will grant a buff that reduces the cooldown of Skills (excluding Super Attacks).

Launch your Skills at even greater speeds in action-packed battles!

If you ever want to take a break from GEKISHIN Rules, give "Veggie Battle" and "Finders Keepers" a try!

■Tons of Events Coming in Season 6!

・SQUADRA BLAST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 Celebration Event

・Summer Festival

...and more are coming this season!

■Season 6 Patch Notes Now Available!

Check here for a roundup of all the adjustments implemented with the start of Season 6.

Ver. 1.6 Patch Notes

https://dbg-squadra.bn-ent.net/en-us/news/g9qucm010d8o

Season 6 Patch Notes
https://dbg-squadra.bn-ent.net/en-us/news/cd9smo8bxz39

Don't miss out on any of the latest SQUADRA news!

To ensure that all of our users are able to enjoy this app in a safe and secure way,

any users found directly or indirectly violating our Terms and Conditions

will have their account banned and/or be barred from transferring their accounts.

■Examples of Unacceptable Behavior

・Selling or trading accounts

・Fraudulent purchases, using proxy services for purchases, engaging in Real Money Trading, fraudulent refunds

・Tampering with or modifying game data

・Using third-party tools and programs

・Exploiting issues in the game to your own advantage

*For further details on unacceptable behavior please see the Terms and Conditions.

We thank you for your understanding and appreciate your cooperation in upholding a safe gaming environment.

10 Best Ways To Make Money In Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, Ranked

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:09:03 +0800

One thing that becomes readily apparent in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is just how much money you'll need to fund Edward's pirate empire, especially with the new content and questlines added in the remake. While you'll gather plenty of spending money just by playing through the story and engaging in Black Flag Resynced's expansive open world, several methods are far better than the rest.

After 8 years and no new releases, Undead Labs' biggest contribution to Xbox is the tech it leaves behind

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:04:04 +0800

From the outside looking in, it would appear that Undead Labs is a victim of mismanagement. The team was acquired by Xbox Game Studios in 2018, just weeks after the release of State of Decay 2. A sequel is set to land in 2027 after navigating a turbulent trajectory – revealed before it was ready for public consumption, development stalling during pre-production, challenges in shifting to Unreal Engine 5. The survival shooter finally opened its doors to public alpha testing earlier this spring.

Undead Labs didn't contribute any new games to the ecosystem in eight years. That's an irrefutable fact, which may speak to why Xbox just sold the studio as part of an internal reset. Although that doesn't mean the team hasn't been busy.

State of Decay 2 was a quiet success – amassing 10+ million lifetime players by its fourth anniversary. Undead supported this community with an expansion, multiple updates, new features, and years of refinements. Given how starved PS5 is for new co-op titles, it's shocking SoD2 wasn't part of the first wave of Xbox games to abandon platform-exclusivity. Another error from the prior Xbox administration.

Xbox Game Studios Xbox Game Studios Xbox Game Studios Xbox Game Studios Xbox has historically done a poor job of drawing attention to collaborations across XGS. The Coalition is an Unreal Engine 5 center of excellence. Other teams have made use of Ninja Theory's high-end motion capture studio. Rare provided the networking know-how for Double Fine's Kiln. Blizzard lent its cinematics expertise to Playground for Fable. Obsidian's proprietary dialogue editor is used by various in-development RPGs at Xbox. There's countless other examples.

Just like State of Decay helping bring Grounded to life. Operating with a small budget, Obsidian sought a novel way to achieve its co-op ambitions. And so it turned to Undead Labs, who had developed a system to store world-data as a shareable save file in the cloud. It's what allows multiple players to independently drop into the same persistent world without requiring a community's host to be online.

https://content.jwplatform.com/players/5D5RiAKV.html "It's almost like a pseudo-dedicated server space," Marcus Morgan, Obsidian's VP of operations, told me last year. "It's effectively just a shared cloud save, but you don't need any of the dedicated server infrastructure – or the cost that goes with it."

"The intention behind that was, because we were a small team (there were only like 20 people working on it, and the cost of making it was relatively small) this was a good way to satisfy player's needs," he says, adding: "That stemmed from a collaboration between us and Undead Labs. I have to give a big shout out to that team. They built this tech initially, and then we built upon it."

This 'Shared Save' technology helped Obsidian scale quickly to build more vibrant and collaborative backyards. Eventually, Undead received an expanded 'Shared World' system in return – allowing State of Decay 3 to support far larger communities, no longer constrained by the co-op tethers that plagued its predecessor. It'll be interesting to see whether the tech evolves again in the future.

Still, it's an interesting example of the sort of value that Undead Labs brought to Xbox, and the way the XGS group has been able to leverage wider expertise to bring concepts to life. Eight years without releasing a new game clearly isn't enough for this next era of Xbox, but the legacy of Undead Labs and State of Decay will live on through Grounded 2's ever-expanding Brookhollow Park forever.

GTA 6 Facing Price Increase Before It's Even Released

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:59:03 +0800

As Grand Theft Auto 6 nears its official release date in November this year, recent news regarding the game's price and disc-less launch have sent shockwaves across the industry. With Sony announcing their controversial decision to end physical disc production in 2028 in the wake of several beloved studio closures, gamers are entering a tumultuous period and are rightfully worried about the future of gaming in general.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review - the best pirate game got even better

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:53:03 +0800

Black Flag Resynced gives the original a facelift and a ton of extra depth, blowing the original - and every other Assassin's Creed game - out of the water.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review - the best pirate game got even better

Minecraft finally adds seats after 17 years, but the potential for builders is even bigger

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:53:03 +0800

The new Minecraft update preview adds the Cushion and Straw Bed items, which will allow players to sit down or rest without setting spawn.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Minecraft finally adds seats after 17 years, but the potential for builders is even bigger

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is shutting down on October 6

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:48:04 +0800

Another Square Enix free to play RPG shuts down.

I finally found an 8,000Hz gaming mouse that caters to my bizarre pinky groove and MMO preferences, and it makes me question why more mouse brands aren't willing to take risks

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:43:03 +0800

I'm not shy about the fact that I have maybe some of the most bizarre gaming mice preferences you'll come across. Where a lot of FPS gamers will opt for a very slimline, lightweight mouse that's obsessed with gliding across their desk like it were ice skating, I'm not a fan. Instead of the claw grip most people are using, I've always preferred a palm grip, so I ever so slightly detest mice that don't have a dedicated groove for my pinky and ring finger.

To make matters more complicated, I've also been obsessed with an MMO mouse for the last year and a half now. With 12 programmable keys on its thumb side, I have ultimate utility for mapping in-game actions to the buttons I feel are appropriate, and I'm not sure I could go without them now.

Future / Duncan Robertson Future / Duncan Robertson All of these things mean that as a gamer and a consumer, I do not feel even close to catered to in the current market. This is because, as my colleague and GR+'s resident mouse expert pointed out recently, the best gaming mice have an Esports problem. As Esports has become more prevalent, the preferences of the extreme 1% of gamers have become almost the entire market.

8,000Hz polling rates, a narrow, lightweight design, and essentially no extra functionality have become the norm for flagship, increasingly expensive mice. As weird and fringe as my own mouse preferences are, I'm not a fan of the fact that brands making them have decided that because it's what suits competitive, twitchy, performance-obsessed sweats on the biggest competition stages, we all need to conform.

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future) Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE: $139.99 $95.51 at Amazon | £119.99 £79.99 at Amazon

Outside of the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite, I don't see any gaming mice launching these days that stray from that convention. As much as I love the Redragon Impact M908 I use currently, I would love some more FPS features since these are the games I play most often. A slightly lighter weight or a better set of skates, or, if I can dream, a faster polling rate than 1,000Hz so I can keep up with the best players I'm up against. This kind of option just doesn't exist on the shelves, which is why a chance encounter at Computex a month ago drove all this home for me.

While I was in Hall 2, where most of the booths and exhibits are geared at B2B visitors and not the consumer-facing gamer stuff I was there to see, I stumbled upon Meetion's booth. My eye was immediately caught because, minus RGB, my Redragon Impact M908's design is very distinct. You seldom see 12 MMO keys and a pinky grove on a mouse, so I was instantly attracted to something sitting on display.

The Meetion Mega V1 isn't available yet through Meetion's website, nor its UK or US Amazon stores, but when it is, I'll be waiting. See, it has the design I love, but it's got the 8K polling rate and the lighter-weight feel of those Esports mice. It's the weirdo FPS mouse I've been longing for - it's even wireless and feels like it's gliding around the display surface much better than the one on my desk would.

(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) But not only that, there's real innovation hiding in the Mega V1. It's got a modular element to it because you can swap around its side panels to have more or less functionality. Don't fancy those 12 extra MMO keys? Want a different shape on the other side? This mouse caters to you. Where is this level of ingenuity in the current mouse market? I'd be a lot more up for using a lightweight Esports mouse if it had the option for me to attach a side panel with a few extra keys on it.

Future / Duncan Robertson Future / Duncan Robertson What impressed me even further was that, in addition to this coming from a relatively unknown brand was that the side keys were tiny microswitches. They clicked in with a premium feel of the best PC controllers; they felt easy to actuate and distinguish from one another. The M908 Impact's side keys are useful, but they're plain plastic buttons that can be tough to actuate quickly - yet another issue that Meetion has found a cure for.

You probably don't have the weirdo, sicko mouse preferences I do, but even so, brands like Meetion are the solution if you don't feel like the biggest names are offering you some versatility these days. Esports rodents just aren't going to be for everyone, and if the bigger brands don't realise that soon, they might be losing some lunch to the smaller brands that are willing to take risks to cater to different desires.

If you want to delve deeper, check out the best wireless gaming mouse, the best Razer mouse, and the best Logitech mouse.

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Subnautica 2 update finally lets players fight the fish, but you won't be able to kill them as Unknown Worlds sticks to a key principle of the survival game

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:43:03 +0800

Subnautica 2's developers have detailed the Early Access 1.1 update, and while you still can't kill the fish, you'll be able to have a scrap with them.

Outside of that big old legal drama, the biggest drama out of Subnautica 2 since its launch has been the fish-killing saga. The game is filled with terrifying underwater beasts, so naturally, some players really want to start blasting.

These requests inspired a response from the devs, with one saying, "We aren't a killing game. Go play Sons of the Forest or something if you want to kill." This comment naturally inspired a bit of ire from the community, but some were a little more proactive, with one of the first mods for the game being a mod that lets you kill the fish.

And while "creature mitigation" was promised, the devs stuck by their no-killing rule, and thanks to the Subnautica 2 Update Vlog for Early Access 1.1 (titled Adaptive Measures), we now know what that entails.

First off, the devs have "done some work around creature flinches," Subnautica 2 Creative Director Anthony Gallegos explains, "so if you smack them with the Survival Multi-Tool, you'll get that reaction out of them before they flee to really let you see and understand the impact you're having on them."

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/MmVoWzSyF9c And while you won't be getting a proper gun, the Sonic Resonator is now a stun gun. As Gallegos explains, "we've done some work on the Sonic Resonator, where a bunch of the creatures now have stun states, so when you hit them with the Sonic Resonator, you'll see them clearly communicate that they've become stunned." He adds, "That's all in an effort to make you feel like you're having the mitigation of creatures that we want you to feel, which has also been a major part of your feedback."

I'm simultaneously happy to see the devs take what is the biggest piece of feedback on board, while also sticking to their own vision. Compromises like this will hopefully get Subnautica 2 to a place where it'll stand alongside the legendary first entry.

Subnautica 2's first major update "brings back one of the most requested player experiences" and will be "the scariest the game has been yet".

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Train Sim World 6 Update Notes - July 9th 2026

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:11:03 +0800

Hello folks,

Our next update is almost ready and will be released tomorrow, July 9th, at 10 am BST. It’s a big one!

Unfortunately, the fixes for Niddertalbahn, Mittenwaldbahn, the Expert BR 101, and the BR 194 & E94 railtour pack originally announced in our June Roadmap will be moved to a future patch. We apologise for any inconvenience.

On a positive note, we were able to include many fixes for Edinburgh – Glasgow, Fife Circle, Liberec - Stará Paka and the Cargo Line Vol. 5 Nuclear pack. The changes for Edinburgh – Glasgow and Fife Circle also include additional timetable services for both routes!

Lastly, we have implemented some quality-of-life updates, addressed crashes that occurred under certain conditions, and made a minor fix to the MP36PH-3C Express Loco Add-On

Patch Highlights

DB BR 147: Fixed the distance counter not counting correctly in rear cab
Maintalbahn: Fixed AI BR 642 trains getting stuck with open doors
New Timetable services for Edinburgh Glasgow and Fife Circle
ScotRail Class 170: Added Guard Mode

Full Changelog

Core

Fixed issue with insufficient disk space when attempting to upload new photo in Photo Mode
Fixed rare chance of crashes when attempting to save profile information
Locally saved pictures taken in Photo Mode can now be deleted
Xbox: Potential candidate fix for crash issues when launching the game on Xbox platforms

DB BR 294 Diesel Shunter

Fixed localisation errors
Removed service EZK 53383 from journey mode due to immediate SPAD after loading in

Bahnstrecke Bremen Oldenburg

Fixed player spawning without a train during the Freighting Room chapter in Journey Mode

DB BR 147

Fixed the key bind for Distance Counter being incorrectly assigned. Players can now assign this themselves (starts unbound).
Fixed the distance counter not counting correctly in the rear cab when in reverse

Bahnstrecke Leipzig Dresden

Fixed DB BR 442 service 16539 stop marker being unreachable
Magnets near Niederau now trigger 2000 Hz penalty brake for speeds above 135 kph

Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn: Mannheim – Kaiserslautern

Fixed lighting in the tunnel near Frankenstein appearing too bright
Fixed issue where level crossing signals would not show flashing or static lights
Gen 9/PC only: Fixed localisation errors

Frankfurt Fulda: Kinzigtalbahn

Changed magnet near Neuhof to check for all cases of 1000 Hz

Maintalbahn: Aschaffenburg – Miltenberg

Fixed AI BR 642 trains getting stuck with open doors

Peninsula Corridor: MP36PH-3C Express Loco

Fixed stopping location for final stop during Early Riser scenario

BR Class 90 Electric Freight Loco

Resolved an issue with the AWS ISO lights not functionally correctly when the cab is changed

Scotrail Express: Edinburgh – Glasgow

Added approach control across route
Added GSMR mobile masts
Added illumination to Edinburgh Airport
Added missing AWS magnets across the route
Added new red ballast material to Cadder Depot area
Added spawn point at Cadder Railway Depot
Cadder depot scenery improvements
Fixed black boxes appearing instead of smoke on fireworks
Fixed various collision and clipping issues
Haymarket camera collision updated to prevent carma getting stuck between pillars
NPCs now correctly spawn at Glasgow Queen Street station
Rebake Waverley Station tunnels
Station audio added across the route
Updated radio tower masts with double sided lattice mesh and modern GSMR components
Virtual destinations added for CrossCountry Voyager
Waverley station updated with Fife Circle version

Class 385

Door alarm sounds now play from the speakers
New brake release sounds
Reduced attenuation of external idle sounds
Reduced distance at which brake squeal can be heard
Reduced volume of door alarms
Reduced volume of idle ambience
Removed doppler effect from idle sounds
Removed unrealistic roomtone sound and double signal sounds from pantograph
Thunder, rain and wind now each have separate mixes rather than sharing the same one
Updated sound mixes across the train
Updated sound occlusion settings

Edinburgh – Glasgow: Timetable changes

Added AI Class 158, 170, 220, 380, 390, and 801 services at Edinburgh Waverley, matching Fife Circle for route-hopping
Added playable Class 158 and 170 services (including mixed 158/170 formations) between Glasgow Queen Street and Greenhill Junction (near Falkirk), and AI at Glasgow Queen Street
Added playable LNER Class 801 services between Polmont and Edinburgh Waverley
Added virtual destinations to Class 385 services toward Alloa and Dunblane
Adjusted static stock at Haymarket Depot
Changed all services to unload all passengers at the end of their service, instead of loading new passengers (and potentially going to a depot)
Changed some Class 385 services to use passing loops for overtakes and rusty rail moves
Corrected Engineering Express ballast service headcodes, made them loaded in one direction, empty in the other, and adjusted their endpoints and timings
Fixed various signal issues across the route
Updated scoring to add platinum medals

Edinburgh - Glasgow: Engineering Express Pack

Class 66 - correct positions of Datacord buttons in rear cab
Class 66 - Datacord input 4 now correctly inputs a 4 rather than a 0

Fife Circle Line & Levenmouth Rail Link

Added approach control across route
Added Car stop markers to Leven station
Added GSMR masts
Added lights to Edinburgh airport
Added virtual destinations for CrossCountry Voyager
Changed automatic junctions at Inverkeithing and Thornton to manual
Fixed crash related to light splines
Fixed some incorrect signal aspects 2->3 aspect
Fixed various collision and clipping issues
NPC spawn volumes updated at Kinghorn Station
Removed invisible buffers at Haymarket depot
Updated junction Box warning text from German to English
Updated Radio masts model
Various scenery updates

Scotrail Class 170

Guard mode added
Headlight viewing distance increased
Horn linked to simugraph, air pressure will drop when used
New wheelblur implemented
Optimisation
Update audio to be in line with the Cross City Class 170
Update running sound implementation - separate sound cues for internal and external running
- Internal bodywork creak + rattle sounds
- Passenger door alarms updated
- Announcements updated so you can no longer hear announcements of other trains while inside a train
- Increase wiper volume
- Adjust EQ on flange squeals
- Signaller handset audio imp

Fife Circle: Timetable Changes

Added playable Class 220 services between Edinburgh Waverley and Markinch, and AI at Edinburgh Waverley
Added playable Railhead Treatment Train services covering the entire route
Added AI Class 380, 385, 390, and 801 services at Edinburgh Waverley
Fixed incorrect reversing manoeuvres at Glenrothes with Thornton to avoid reversing within a junction and driving backwards for long distances
Adjusted static stock at Haymarket Depot
Fixed various signal issues across the route

Two notes about intentional omissions from this timetable:

LNER services north of Edinburgh require a Class 800 with a full diesel mode, which is not in TSW; the Class 801 cannot work these services as it only has an emergency diesel engine.

The Class 158 is not used because adding it would remove gameplay from players who only own Fife Circle. Substitution with the Class 170 is not an option because the 158 has two carriages, and the 170 has three.

Southern BR Class 171 & BR Class 377/3

377/3 Vigilance pedal now pressed with gamepad safety system reset even

Liberec - Stará Paka

Added a loudspeaker in Liberec

Added a missing coniferous tree at km 90.5
Added a missing shunting limit marker in Liberec
Added an end-of-track marker in Turnov
Adjusted timings of some level crossings
Changed multiple instructions with Mn services to shorten some delays
Corrected track superelevation at km 134.6
Fixed baseplates in Stará Paka near the fuel station
Fixed gradient sign at km 77.5
Fixed incorrect rotations of some rail joints
Fixed light signalling in Košťálov at km 95.3
Fixed multiple minor graphic issues
Fixed paper orders not showing after loading saved game
Fixed passenger collisions in Dolánky
Fixed passenger collisions in Sychrov
Fixed PIS in Liberec
Fixed player not being able to climb up platform 2 in Turnov
Fixed signal Lc3 in Jeřmanice
Fixed signal Lo in Pilínkov
Fixed signal Sc1 in Liberec
Fixed signal Sc2 in Liberec
Fixed speed board at km 87.3
Fixed the platform 2 ambient sound in Turnov
Fixed the switch mechanism at turnout 43 (Turnov)
Fixed the warning cross at level crossing P3075
Fixed vegetation clipping into the cab at km 135.8
Fixed vegetation clipping into the cab in strong wind at km 113.8
Fixed wall collisions
Fixed warning signal P3101
Fixed wind on spruce and pine trees billboards
Fixed wrong train number in Swimsuit weather scenario
Moved the switch motor at turnout 11 by one sleeper (Stará Paka)
Reduced foliage density in some performance heavy sections
Removed nettles from bridge in Liberec (towards the heating plant)
Replaced the shunting limit marker in Turnov

Class 750

Added rail driver mapping
Fixed brake cocks not loading properly
Fixed charging indication failure
Fixed HUD accelerometer
Fixed J1 and J2 breakers not causing engine to stop when tripped
Reduced number of particles for exhaust emitter

Class 843

Added RailDriver mapping
Changed audio attenuation of PIS announcements
Fixed brake cocks not loading properly
Fixed CDD power numbers - missing “+” for 50/100%
Fixed LS90 load/save behaviour
Fixed missing stations in PIS for R1260 service
Fixed PIS not announcing Hradec Králové and Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou stations
Removed duplicate HUD gradient indications
Throttle and brake lever will cause doors to close (not lock) in the S notch

Freight Wagons

Added missing audio while releasing the distributor reservoir
Fixed brake cocks not loading properly
Fixed bug causing brakes to be unusable after releasing the distributor reservoir

Cargo Line Vol. 5 – Nuclear

Changed the TPWS isolation switch to function as 'center off' rather than sitting in one state or the other.
Disconnected bolts on an axle cap that was causing them to go out of position with the Class 20 wheels.
Fixed missing top light on the bonnet end of the Class 20 due to reference misinterpretation.
Fixed non-functional Engine Stop button on the bonnet facing driver desk of the Class 20.
Fixed that the Class 20 was difficult to find in the Formation Designer menu.
Fixed the bonnet facing driver control desk DSD pedal not cancelling alarms.
Fixed the bonnet-facing driver control desk headlight switch controlling lights at the wrong end of the locomotive.
Fixed the bonnet-facing driver control desk headlight switch not being controllable from the keyboard.
Fixed the Control Air gauge needle from being able to rotate outside of the gauge.
Fixed the functionality of the Brakes Applied light on the driver control desks.
Fixed the functionality of the Handbrake Applied light located on the driver control desks.
Fixed the glass of a sliding window being outside of the window frame when opened.
Fixed the GSM-R buttons disappearing in bright light.
Fixed the Hazard light functionality not working as expected.
Fixed the headlight proving panel not matching with exterior lights on the Class 20.
Fixed the headlights and wipers not correctly resuming from a save game.
Fixed the missing Contact Signaller interaction on the GSM-R panel and telephone.
Fixed the missing Fire Extinguisher label in the cab of the Class 20.
Implemented illumination on the buttons of the GSM-R radio unit.
Improved GSM-R activation to be based on Reverser position rather than Master Key.
Improved GSM-R button glow from Green to Orange.
Improved the audio experience of the FNA wagon when in motion.
Improved the audio for the handbrake wheel being very quiet in the cab of the Class 20.
Improved the audio occlusion of the Class 20 cab with a much bigger difference between doors/windows being open and closed.
Improved the brightness of the General Fault / Wheel Slip and Engine Stop lights on the driver control desks.
Improved the hitbox of the Angle Cocks located between the Class 20 buffers for easier interaction.
Improved the shadow under the main body of the Class 20 to darken the bogies.
Improved the suspension physics of the FNA wagon.
Improved the visuals of the Class 20 headlight cluster glass.
Increased the speed of the Class 20 headlights so they flick on and off rather than fading.
Increased the volume of all horn tones.
Refreshed translation data for the "Class 20 DRU" name to separate it from the Tees Valley version.
Removed a tag from substitution data to stop the Class 20 appearing on West Somerset Railway services that it's not compatible with.
Removed custom suspension implementation to stop Class 20 locomotive 'dipping' when coupling to rolling stock.
Resolved Battery Ammeter gauge always displaying as discharging.
Resolved looping artefacts heard in the AWS alarm.
Resolved missing AMP and Main Reservoir gauge displays on Legacy HUD.
Resolved the flickering illumination of buttons on the GSM-R radio unit.
Resolved the flickering illumination of the Hazard Light button on the driver control desks.
Resolved the location of the fuel pump connection points on the sides of the locomotive.
Resolved there being too many 'elephant' formations using the Class 20 locomotive.
Stopped Nuclear services cutting onto the fast lines on the WCML London Euston to Milton Keynes timetable.
Updated the Handbrake objective in the Class 20 tutorial to work from the correct data inputs.

Cargo Line Vol. 2: Aggregates

Improved suspension physics of the HOA hoppers to reduce the stiffness and make it more visible.
Fixed buffers acting flipped (compressing on the outside of curves and extending on the inside of curves).

Cargo Line Vol. 1: Petroleum

Improved suspension physics of the TEA tanker to reduce the stiffness and make it more visible.
Fixed buffers acting flipped (compressing on the outside of curves and extending on the inside of curves).

WCML Crewe - Preston

Performance optimisations across the route
Resolved an issue with passengers becoming stuck at the bottom of stairs at Crewe station
Addition of an optional reduced timetable

How to solve the Black Flag Resynced statue puzzles

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:05:04 +0800

The Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced statue puzzles that you come across in the Mayan temple during "The Sage's Buried Secret" quest aren't especially difficult, but there are some sticking points. While each of these Black Flag Resynced puzzles is solved by repositioning some large statues and matching colors, each one layers on more mechanics than the last, making the third and final puzzle a bit of thinker. If you want to breeze through them all, I've laid out the solutions for all the Black Flag statue puzzles in this temple below.

How to solve the Black Flag Resynced statue puzzles

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Climb your way across the chasm using the collapsed wall and gnarled tree roots on the left to reach the first statue puzzle:

Leap onto the red statue (or climb on top of it if you missed the jump for whatever reason). Edward's weight will lower the statue into place and open the first door.
Climb up the wall and onto the blue statue. Again, this will lower the blue statue, causing the second door to open and revealing the way ahead.
Proceed with James Kidd through the doorway to the next area.

Statue puzzle, part 2

(Image credit: Ubisoft) The second Black Flag statue puzzle in this main quest, which uses the same mechanics as before but introduces a new turntable system:

Grab the capstan and rotate the turntable so that the red side is under the red statue on the left.
Climb onto the red statue so that it gets weighed down (you'll notice a counterweight statue moving up as you do this, which is important later). This will open the way to the next area.
Carry on following Kidd, including a short swimming section through some underwater cave tunnels.

Statue puzzle, part 3

(Image credit: Ubisoft) After swimming through the caves and climbing up the temple with Kidd, you'll arrive at the final statue puzzle for this quest which brings in the ability to raise statues by climbing onto the nearby counterweight statues, allowing you to rearrange their positions on the turntable. While this puzzle is simply a case of moving all the statues to their corresponding positions on the turntable as before, here's the easiest way to do it:

Start by climbing onto the counterweight statue next to the blue statue (on the left side of the room) to lift the blue statue up.
Rotate the turntable counterclockwise once so that the blue section is under the blue statue, then climb onto the blue statue to lower it. This will complete the blue section and open the first door.
Rotate the turntable counterclockwise once, placing the red statue in the top-left section of the turntable.
Climb onto the left counterweight statue again to raise the red statue, rotate the turntable counterclockwise once again so that the red section is under the red statue, then climb the red statue to lower it into the matching section, opening the second door.
Rotate the turntable counterclockwise one more time, then climb onto the green statue to weigh it down into the green section.

Now you'll unlock the third door and launch into a cutscene to wrap up "The Sage's Buried Secret" quest! But if you've already started moving parts around for this puzzle, there is unfortunately no way to reset it so that you can follow the solution above unless you reload a previous save. Focus on just getting one statue in the correct colored section, and then the rest of the solution should become much more obvious until you can solve it.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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How to skip time in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:04:06 +0800

To skip time in Black Flag Resynced – a new feature that wasn't in the original game – you just need to find a good, clear spot for Edward to sit down in, then you use the D-Pad to start passing the hours and change time from day to night. But there are a quite a few limitations to this system that Black Flag Resynced doesn't explicitly lay out, so I've explained everything I know about how to skip time in the game below.

How to pass time in Black Flag Resynced

(Image credit: Ubisoft) To skip time in Black Flag, you must briefly hold down D-Pad Right, which will cause Edward to sit down on the spot and time to speed up. Note that skipping time always takes you to the morning or evening – whichever is next – and you have no control over what time Edward gets up from his hours-long contemplative sit-down.

Importantly, you can't initiate a time skip in Black Flag resynced while in combat or during quests. From experience, you also can't skip time while you're on anything other than solid ground, so no time-skipping while aboard the Jackdaw or in or near the sea. You also can't seem to skip time when any sort of potential threat is nearby, such as wildlife, or if you're near vendors and other NPCs that aren't just the standard population. Essentially, you need to find a relatively quiet spot for Edward to sit down and pass the time.

While I've done a bit of time-skipping as I've played Black Flag Resynced, I've not really found a particularly notable use for it other than if you simply don't want it to be day or night. If a quest requires a specific time of day, it'll skip time for you. Really the only reason that you may want to use this system is if you either find night time too dark and want to skip to daytime so that you can see, or you want to skip to night to make stealth marginally easier, as Edward is a little harder to spot in the dark.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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How to find the Sage and the prison key in Black Flag Resynced

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:04:06 +0800

The Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Sage and prison key are in the upper villa area of Torres' estate. Finding them isn’t too difficult, but the real challenge is trying to stay hidden to avoid a deadly battle with all the guards, especially if you're new to Assassin's Creed and Black Flag Resynced is your first stabby outing. Below, I've laid out the precise locations of both the Sage you need to rescue and the necessary prison key.

Black Flag Resynced Sage and prison key location

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdJdMjyDSufPJi4kspSE5m.jpg

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Both the Sage in Black Flag Resynced and the prison key are in the main villa area in the northern part of Torres' estate:

Prison key: On the estate Warden, who can be initially found in the villa courtyard at 207,573.
Sage prison cell: In the large square building in the northwest corner of Torres' estate, with the entrance at 204,575.

So, with this information in mind, the best way to complete rescue the Sage in Black Flag Resynced is to cross the plantation area and head up the stone steps in the southwest part of the estate, then head north towards the villa where you'll find a guarded gate. Climb over the wall to the left of the gate, then head east towards the villa. While not essential, you can also eavesdrop on some guards near the gate who mention the Warden mustering all the guards, so you can tail them towards the villa.

When you reach the villa, get onto the roof of the villa by climbing or using a lift (be aware of snipers up on the roof), then wait for the Warden to finish speaking to the guards. He'll then leave the courtyard and start patrolling the villa on his own, giving you plenty of opportunities to leap from the rooftops and assassinate him when no other guards are around. Loot the key from his body, then head over to the prison and unlock the door to complete the quest.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Just bear in mind that when you're skulking about trying to rescue the Sage in Black Flag Resynced, the estate is full of Spanish guards and alerting one or two of them may escalate into a large fight. Thankfully, there aren't any alarm bells for them to ring to bring the whole estate on you, which means that stealth isn't even essential, but it certainly makes things easier. Make good use of Eagle Vision (R3/RS) and aiming (L2/LT) to spot and mark guards; bushes and low walls to hide; whistling to lure guards over for assassinations; and smoke bombs to hide yourself and you'll get this quest done stealthily and smoothly.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Over 2 years since launch, Palworld hits 40 million players right before its 1.0 release, and now has over 8 million more players than Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:04:05 +0800

Two and a half years since its Early Access launch, Palworld has passed a monumental 40 million players right before its 1.0 release – a number so impressive that it further widens the gap between it and the most popular Pokemon games in history, according to data.

Pocketpair has celebrated its latest milestone on social media, thanking players for their "incredible support" since launch. The hit survival game earned an enormous fanbase immediately after its release, quickly smashing Steam records – it became the second game on the platform to reach two million concurrent players (although Black Myth: Wukong later joined it in this league, and surpassed it).

Palworld hit 32 million players across all platforms in February 2025, meaning it's reached a further eight million in the last year or so – an impressive feat, especially while it's still in early access. Pocketpair communications lead and publishing boss John 'Bucky' Buckley previously told us this number was "unexplainable," saying that "a lot of people don't realize how much of an anomaly that is."

Palworld passes 40 million players!???? Thank you all so much for your incredible support!Over the last 2.5 years, Palworld has grown alongside our community.Today, Bucky is taking a look back on all the updates the game has had so far!Palworld 1.0 launches on July 10! pic.twitter.com/6xMrrfEfzo July 8, 2026

Now, as pointed out by fans on social media, there's also an interesting comparison to be made here. Widely circulated data of Pokemon's historical sales records (via Serebii's Joe Merrick) puts the series' top-selling game (or rather, games) as Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green – the very first releases. Specifically, it's believed they collectively sold around 31,380,000 copies.

Unlike some have suggested, this doesn't strictly mean that Palworld has outsold this trio of OG Gen 1 Pokemon games. Pocketpair specifically states its latest figure accounts for "players," which is an important distinction when the survival game is available to play via an Xbox Game Pass subscription.

Back in January 2024, the company demonstrated this when the game hit 19 million players – it explained that the figure was made up of 12 million copies on Steam, and seven million players on Xbox. Every copy sold is a player, but not every player is a copy sold.

Of course, it's still an enormous achievement to surpass Pokemon's golden trio in players, even if not sales, and with the upcoming 1.0 launch of Palworld on July 10, there's no doubt that Pocketpair is going to see another surge in sales. Maybe with that, the company really will be able to surpass them.

Arc Raiders and Marathon aren't "dead" just because their concurrent player count has dropped, Palworld lead says – but he's "not denying that some games do 'die.'"

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced "is on track to be a much-needed hit for Ubisoft," says analyst, selling 5 times the Steam copies Assassin's Creed Shadows did pre-release

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:04:05 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced finally arrives tomorrow, and according to analysts, it might just be the win that Ubisoft needs after the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake cancellation earlier this year.

There's no doubt that the Black Flag remake has garnered quite some hype from longtime Assassin's Creed fans, boasting everything from revamped visuals to entirely new areas to explore – and according to Rhys Elliott, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics, it may just turn things around for Ubisoft with its potential success.

The analyst explains as much in a new post on his Substack, first looking back at the developer's history with remakes.

"Ubisoft has historically leaned on remasters over full remakes, but it now has a few proper overhauls in the pipeline," writes Elliott. "Alongside the troubled Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake and Rayman Legends Retold, first out of the gate is Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. It's a ground-up remake of 2013's Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, still widely considered the peak of the franchise."

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/BdIudSyUeig I mean, he's not exactly wrong there. I still look back at Black Flag as one of the series greats myself, alongside other personal favorites like Assassin's Creed 2. There hasn't been a "pirate" game quite like it since.

According to Elliott, though, that's not the only reason that Resynced might prove popular – it also has a lot to do with the Assassin's Creed series' rising emergence on PC (via Valve's platform Steam, of course).

"While Assassin's Creed has been a console-first property, it's been gaining some ground on Steam," as Elliott puts it. "For context, Assassin's Creed Shadows has sold 5.7 million copies globally, splitting 53.6% PS5, 23.8% Steam, and 23.6% Xbox. Resynced looks poised for a hearty PC showing, already clearing 300,000 copies sold on Steam ahead of launch, worth almost $14 million in gross revenue."

Those are some big numbers.

That's not all, though – "Resynced has already outsold the entire Steam lifetime run of Ubisoft Singapore's previous pirate venture, Skull & Bones, before it's even out. And our estimates have Black Flag Resynced tracking far above AC Shadows on Steam pre-launch, too."

That's… wild. It's no secret that Skull & Bones didn't exactly deliver, but that's all still mind-boggling. Not to mention those Assassin's Creed Shadows comparisons.

"At the same two-day-out milestone, Resynced has sold 5.39x more Steam copies than Shadows did in its equivalent pre-release window." Nostalgia helps, too. In Elliott's own words, "Black Flag Resynced is on track to be a much-needed hit for Ubisoft" – it's a "timely strategy for a struggling Ubisoft."

The analyst notes it's been "a turbulent few years of costly development, delays, and high-profile misses" for the company.

That's why it's good that Black Flag already has an established community. "Building an unproven new IP from scratch is a six-to-eight-year gamble costing hundreds of millions." Resynced, on the other hand, is no gamble at all.

Between the already-solid forecast for its sales and the nostalgia, as Elliott notes various times throughout his post, it's likely to be anything but a gamble for Ubisoft.

Here's hoping the analyst's words ring true – although something tells me they will. He'll "be back next week with the full launch data for Black Flag Resynced" after it's had a moment to properly land, so keep an eye on his Substack.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has "modernized the combat" of the original but is more "action-oriented" than Shadows

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review: "Far from smooth sailing, even though I love the original"

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:04:05 +0800

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is an extremely faithful remake of Ubisoft's original 2013 open-world piracy adventure – except for the many ways in which it isn't. Returning to one of the best Assassin Creed games, and one of my all-timers, has been a treat – but it's also left me wrangling with where a full remake should start and stop. Like the sometimes sunny, sometimes stormy ocean on which protagonist Edward Kenway sails, what seems like a one-to-one remake has a lot more going on beneath the surface.

With no knowledge of the secret Assassin and Templar conflict running through the ages, Edward will take any opportunity for a leg up throughout Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. A shipwreck after the battle that hurls us right into the action? A way to get into the Templars' good grace for coin. Meeting the shadowy Assassins? Side-mission contracts allow him to earn money even as an outsider. Imprisoned on a treasure ship? A chance to fight back, and steal a captainage for himself, putting him on a level field with Nassau's pirate greats – from Blackbeard to Hornigold.

Live, laugh, Libertalia

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Fast facts Release date: July 9, 2026
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
Developer: Ubisoft Singapore (and others)
Publisher: Ubisoft

Caribbean pirate sanctuary Nassau – able to flourish as the Spanish and English empires battle one another as they seize land from its native population – are about "liberty" to Edward, he explains. Meant to have set to sea from Bristol for "two at the most" years away from his wife Caroline in order to bring home enough success to elevate his station, he keeps extending that time away. Likewise, he struggles to understand the Assassin creed of "nothing is true, everything is permitted" as anything more than a self-centered permission slip. He's a man struggling to tread water, weighed down by his own selfishness, clawing for any sense of purpose or validation – caught in a whirlpool of conspiracy, his capacity for growth will be tested, a rogue element able to scuttle either the Assassin or Templar plans on a whim.

But, where Edward Kenway struggles with his own sense of purpose, the original Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag was confident in its own from the get-go. The fourth numbered game in the series, it took the best ideas of the divisive Assassin's Creed 3, and reimagined it as a large, open-world adventure merging parkour assassinations across numerous islands with tight naval combat and a sense of discovery. Innovative and bold, it's no exaggeration to say that for many – me included – this was a salve that got us reinvested in Assassin's Creed again, and proved that the Ezio trilogy that began in Assassin's Creed 2 was no fluke. But, in changing tides, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced lacks that same clear purpose.

Solid foundations buoy this remake, but it can feel aimless and adrift, at times too beholden to the original to excite, at others using modern series mechanics to not-quite replicate the original; and laden with annoying bugs, glitches, and jank. It's far from the first time an Assassin's Creed launch has been rough, but when it's a remake which, by its nature, implies a definitive quality, it can be extra grating. I've seen Edward lock-up after skinning an animal, float across the ground like a ghost, had quest markers disappear off the edge of the map, and enemies suddenly revive after a thorough stabbing – sometimes requiring loading past saves to fix.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) While Black Flag Resynced is incredibly pretty – whether that's sun and glistening sea, cannon fire lighting up dense fog, or the terror of gigantic waves through a storm – the geometry of most areas is very similar to the original if not one-to-one. It's neat to feel the muscle memory return, but it does create a discordance between the stunning high-fidelity graphics that feel like a wrapper over the strict environments of the original.

It's a nice touch to be able to have an 'advanced parkour' toggle, though, again, like in the source material, all these islands' maps are quite small in terms of both square footage and height, so there's not many opportunities to really get into it. That even goes for the handful of built out cities, like Havana and Kingston, which felt small in the original and still do here. At the time, the tighter, island-centric approach was a smart reaction to AC3's overly large, empty cities and its massive frontier. Now, removed from that context, they just feel basic.

Some of the rethought and additional areas work well. Making Sacrifice Island part of the main map is wonderful, as is allowing you to exit one of Havana's gates where you can rob a new shore-side plantation and sneak through a fort only previously glimpsed from afar. Other islands have segments smartly rearranged to make traversal feel more natural. Nassau, for instance, is now hillier and denser, making it feel like more of a hive of scum and villainy while otherwise keeping the construction the same.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) The ability to properly dive underwater at almost any location to explore is great (previously, you could 'stealth swim', a binary ability that simply plopped Edward out of sight below the waves), especially in how it seamlessly connects some diving sequences and Smuggler's Coves. These were present in the original, but felt delineated – this is a real spot in which Resynced uses new technology to better execute on the original's ideas.

Some island treasures have been shuffled around so you now dive for them just off the coast too, which is welcome variety. There's fewer treasure and collectible icons littering the map, but they're still present – now acting more as optional bonuses for going out of your way to investigate smoke or circling birds ashore. However, these rewards are often drab – insubstantial amounts of money, or the Animus currency used for the online 'exchange' store. Even if Edward comments on some environmental storytelling that's unfolded on an island, you can never interact with anything in a meaningful way – even if NPCs are still present.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Sequences across the swamps of Charles-Towne and the sweltering African island of Principe are, like before, their own small areas off the world map designed for specific missions, which feel like missed opportunities for further expansion.

It's disappointing as even its immediate sequel, the underrated Assassin's Creed Rogue, iterated upon some of Black Flag's ideas in neat ways – such as connecting various in-land maps with denser areas connected through multiple ports, which it felt like Havana was teasing before I realized the new zone is just one small addition. I constantly find myself wishing Resynced would play it less safe.

Sword and rope-cery

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Quarter past

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Standalone expansion Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry, starring Edward's quartermaster Adéwalé, is not included in Resynced. A shame, as Adéwalé remains an underwritten presence in the base game here, when he could be more fleshed out.

There are big changes, though. Black Flag Resynced's combat is very different. But, like Assassin's Creed Mirage, I can't help but feel like it's trying to retrofit some of the series' classic elements into a system not really designed to support it. The original's fights were simple, but snappy and satisfying as you chained together brutal executions, assassinations, and pistol shots. Here, with the addition of stun meters, clashes feel looser, more flaily.

Like in the original, counters open up a window for an instant takedown, but I've had constant moments where the inputs seem to drop, whether that's when chaining takedowns, or being next to a tripped enemy. Alongside shifting the one-button quickfire pistol to an ability wheel, combat feels a bit overcomplicated for as imprecise at it feels, and I ended up getting a bit sick of the constant fights which – when you're boarding enemy ships so frequently – is a big part of the game. Revisiting the original Black Flag while playing Resynced, I simply prefer the source material's combat, which is more dynamic and cinematic across multi-countering groups or the way the camera spins to frame each pistol shot Edward fires off.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Many of Resynced's headlining updates ended up mattering little to me in play. The visuals are pretty, but once I get refamiliarized with the maps I stop gawking at them, instead noticing the higher fidelity and intense shadows can lead to a lack of clarity with interaction points. New story quests across recruitable officers and beyond, don't feel particularly additive – in fact, their constant reiteration around Edward being a bit of a deadbeat for leaving his wife just over-salts it thematically.

New story quests don't feel particularly additive.

Being able to crouch anywhere in stealth feels minor considering Edward would auto-crouch in the original in 'stalking zones' anyway, and though I'm told day/night, and weather affects enemy perception, the enemy AI is still very stupid on normal difficulty no matter what so it hardly matters (kill one in tall grass, and watch them keep coming into your killbox on yellow alert).

The four new 'modern' missions are disappointing as well, essentially being vision quests you wander through within the Animus Ego while fighting waves of enemies while being monologued at. It's a shame as the initial mission makes a good first impression, questioning Edward's inability to return home as you platform through impossible digitized spaces while doing an escort mission with his precious chest of loot. Additional modern day storytelling being relegated to lore notes, some of which are connected to a bizarre battle-pass-like currency track, are as horrible to engage with here as they were in Assassin's Creed Shadows.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) It's disappointing, as Resynced isn't purely about adding things on or updating mechanics. There are cuts as well – and I don't just mean how Edward no longer does the delightful splish-splash 'knees-up' jog as he runs through shallow water. The original game's first-person modern storyline that cast you as a game developer working for evil Templar-front Abstergo has been excised entirely. The modern day storyline might not be for everyone and, admittedly, the plot threads set up in the original never had a satisfactory pay-off – but, then, wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to redress that?

Black Flag's modern day storytelling was some of the series' best. Not only that, but it's one of the only games in the series where the narrative directly connects between past and present, meaning that Black Flag Resynced simply doesn't close the loop on a major character's arc at all within the game's main story. In turn, it makes the narrative feel oddly paced, and its ending feels particularly sudden and unsatisfying.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Gear we go

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Black Flag Resynced isn't an RPG, so its gear mostly revolves around customization, offering special buff abilities (my favorite being one that auto-loots nearby shinies), or a trade-off between, say, pistol fire-rate and distance.

The idea of optional objectives in main missions to accomplish 'full synchronization' has also been dropped. Beyond providing replay value (you can no longer replay missions from a menu), these additional challenges added narrative context for how Edward Kenway canonically approached each mission – one of classic Assassin's Creed's many unique modes of storytelling that the Animus wrapper provides.

This leads to at least one change where, previously, full synchronization with Edward required you to sneak through an Assassin encampment non-lethally. Now, without that encouragement, that portion of the mission simply replaces those Assassins with generic enemy guards. Not only does Resynced remove the joy of replaying a mission to tackle the friction of additional challenge, but it has the side effect of flattening Edward's characterization.

There's conflict within Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced in terms of how faithful it wants to be. Even a change as small as removing the mini-map, which makes sense given how you can now scan and tag foes like in the modern games, nevertheless affects how you interact with many missions compared to the original – especially in the returning Templar Hunt sidequests and in naval combat.

(Image credit: Ubisoft) Other changes fare better. De-emphasizing tailing missions so you can find alternative ways to a target if you mess up removes a lot of the original's frustration. But, there are still a couple of missions in which you're still forced to play them in specific ways or you instantly 'desynchronize', or another that slapped me on the wrist for sneaking through to the mission objective in a different way than intended, and turned me around to have a ship battle instead.

It makes Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced far from smooth sailing, even though I love the original. Resynced both changes too much and not enough. Decent improvements are here that I'd still recommend it to a lot of players interested in a pirate adventure, but I also think moment-to-moment the original game remains enjoyable and has better combat and more interesting challenges (especially if you can play it on PC with a stable higher framerate) – leaving me in that tricky position of having no firm favorite. Black Flag Resynced is a decent remake of a great game, but can feel a bit rudderless – an unenviable position for any remake with so much to live up to.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced was reviewed on PS5, with a code provided by the publisher.

Looking for another big adventure? Our best open world games list will whisk you away to new digital worlds.

[/url]

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Review: The best Assassin’s Creed game since… Black Flag

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:04:04 +0800

As the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series generation wobbles on unsure footing, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced took me right back to the previous one, when things seemed much simpler. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced could have been just that, a simple remake, but it isn’t.

By sanding the rough edges off the original, adding new content that feels right at home alongside the classic quests, and rendering a visually stunning West Indies, Ubisoft reminded me exactly why, for me, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag was a series high point.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced follows Edward Kenway, a pirate who, rather than being inducted into the ancient creed, simply kills an assassin and steals his gear. It’s hard to overstate how much of a departure this game was for Assassin’s Creed fans back in 2013 if you weren’t there at the time.

Read More...

"The younger generation - they're watching a ton of anime" - Suikoden IP Director Rui Naito on Suikoden: The Anime

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:57:03 +0800

As part of the ongoing Konami IP revival initiative, we had the chance to sit down and talk about the importance of Suikoden: The Anime to Konami

Microsoft Reportedly Plans to Make More of Its Best Games Console Exclusive So People Have a Reason to Buy an Xbox — So What Could Skip PlayStation?

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:55:03 +0800

Microsoft reportedly plans to make more of its best games console exclusive so people actually have a reason to buy an Xbox console.

New Xbox boss Asha Sharma has already begun this process, making The Coalition’s Gears of War: E-Day and inXile’s Clockwork Revolution available on Xbox Series X and S and PC only, skipping PlayStation 5 in the process.

But according to Bloomberg, Microsoft plans to return to exclusives in a more meaningful way. Big multiplayer games will continue to release across platforms, including PS5, Bloomberg said, but Microsoft “will make more of its best titles exclusive to Xbox so gamers have a reason to buy its console.”

This begs the question: what is considered among Xbox’s best titles, and thus will potentially skip PS5? A number of games that fit the bill are already confirmed for PS5. For example, Playground’s Forza Horizon 6 is still down to come out on PlayStation, although it doesn’t have a release date for Sony’s console yet. Playground’s fantasy RPG, Fable, is due out on February 23, 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Mojang’s Minecraft Dungeons 2 launches September 29, 2026 across PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S.

Things get interesting when we start to consider the mega games Microsoft has up its sleeve. I expect Call of Duty won’t ever be Xbox console exclusive, given it falls into that big multiplayer game category. But Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls 6 is a strictly single-player affair. As a result, could it skip PS5?

Keeping such an enormous game off PlayStation would be one of the biggest calls in Xbox history. It would mean missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars of potential revenue from Sony’s console, all in the hope it would encourage sales of Xbox Series X and S. At a time of such financial crisis, as Microsoft insists Xbox is suffering, can it afford to leave so much cash on the table?

Microsoft is heavily rumored to be readying a Fallout 3 remaster and maybe even a Fallout: New Vegas remaster, following on from the successful release of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. Could those games skip PS5 also?

And here’s perhaps the biggest question of all: could the next mainline Halo game go back to its exclusive Xbox roots and skip PS5? This summer’s Halo: Campaign Evolved is multiplatform, but that was confirmed before Sharma took over the business and began her “reset.” Would a new Halo be considered a big multiplayer game and stick with a multiplatform release? Or could it launch Xbox console exclusive?

This is all part of a refocus on the Xbox console, as Sharma has indicated before. This comes at a time when Xbox is languishing in third place, behind PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, and amid what Sharma has called “the most severe hardware crisis in its history.”

And through it all, Microsoft is making an eye-watering number of layoffs at Xbox. 1,600 people were cut this week, with another 1,600 going over the course of the next year. Five studios are set to leave the Xbox business. Doom developer id Software was gutted, as was ZeniMax Online Studios, developer of The Elder Scrolls Online. Obsidian, too, suffered significant layoffs.

Announcing the layoffs, Sharma admitted Microsoft’s video game strategy had failed, including Game Pass, spending big on new studios, and, crucially, betting on multiplatform.

“While those businesses have created meaningful value, they did not grow at the pace we expected,” Sharma said. “As that happened, our core business weakened, and we added more teams, more investment, and more time, hoping for a better outcome. And now the industry is facing the most severe hardware crisis in its history. We must reset Xbox.”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

NVIDIA 610.43.03 driver released for Linux with a vague changelog

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:29:03 +0800

NVIDIA just released Linux driver version 610.43.03, once again being rather vague about what has actually changed in it.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/nvidia-610-43-03-driver-released-for-linux-with-a-vague-changelog/

NTE: Neverness to Everness released on Steam - works on SteamOS / Linux with a workaround

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:10:05 +0800

NTE: Neverness to Everness is the latest bigger Anime gacha game to arrive on Steam from Perfect World Games / Hotta Studio and it can work on SteamOS / Linux.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/nte-neverness-to-everness-released-on-steam-works-on-steamos-linux-with-a-workaround/

Tokyo Game Show 2026 unveils exhibitor list, including PlayStation and Square Enix

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:05:03 +0800

Tokyo Game Show 2026 has revealed its list of exhibitors, which includes Square Enix, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sega, and more.

The September 17 event will also include Japan’s other big game publishers, such as Koei Tecmo, Konami, and Capcom, though yet again there is no Nintendo at this year’s event, as is typical for the company.

The number of exhibitors stands at 759 (484 domestic and 275 international), with a total exhibition scale of 3,946 booths. The full TGS 2026 exhibitor list can be found on the TGS website.

Read More...

Outstanding Inspectors Announcement Episode 2

XINKER - Business and Income Tips — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:02:04 +0800

Arena Breakout: Infinite S5 Inspector Summary: 8623 players actively participated in the Inspector work, a total of 583283 cases were reported and investigated, and 1289 players who cheated were banned.

We'd like to take this moment to express the utmost gratitude to our entire Inspector Community. Throughout the season, many outstanding Inspectors stood out through their steadfast belief in justice. With exceptional discernment and unwavering perseverance, they quickly became outstanding Inspectors, accurately identifying cheating players from the daily deluge of suspicious kill cam footage.

Thank you to the following Inspectors:

Outstanding Inspectors Announcement

- Outstanding Inspector: Exceptional Contributor

Character Name

Cases Reviewed

Recent Accuracy

Le********ho

1000

100%

\[N*********yu[/p][/td]

897

98%

[/tr]

So*****aa

1461

97.67%

Fl********ro

1057

97.67%

Б***й

1463

97.59%

Vi****os

907

97.53%

Ry***33

1322

96.73%

A***D

403

96.51%

l***7

814

95.78%

Vo***ey

1327

95.65%

Dw****ax

529

95.06%

he***yy

964

94.79%

JE**US

1017

94.73%

m***e

1047

94.73%

-O*******y-

796

94.62%

Mr*****RS

688

94.04%

Ad*******R_

950

94.04%

Me**yk

1502

94.04%

Yu*********ty

868

93.93%

Ni*****ia

860

93.87%

Ba******ut

523

93.87%

L***C

614

93.68%

Lo*****ff

740

93.54%

Bo**er

945

93.47%

Э**н

1449

93.33%

U***Y

885

93.33%

Me*****st

682

93.18%

De***il

1220

93.1%

Ma*****ul

1243

93.1%

J***d

952

93%

M***a

973

93%

LU****xe

688

93%

Ba***AN

731

92.94%

_H***n_

121

92.92%

Va****gh

681

92.92%

lo*****st

972

92.85%

xX*******Xx

834

92.55%

鲍里***翰逊

596

92.39%

sa**Ve

788

92.3%

Re**or

889

92.2%

mo********15

340

92.13%

Sn*****XD

1425

92.13%

PO***NI

1314

91.75%

Al**********OS

1194

91.57%

ma*****00

1276

91.57%

U*B

1021

91.39%

Th****oy

1127

91.3%

La***ni

1474

91%

To***ek

1109

91%

Sa********ly

1084

91%

ZO**IK

866

91%

鴨*子

1344

91%

FI****LO

1044

90.9%

G4**********L4

691

90.9%

Ha***mZ

1483

90.9%

Li*****oz

781

90.62%

mo**KZ

816

90.42%

T***a

911

90.32%

Li*********er

957

90.21%

Ke***ik

754

90%

Za********na

1318

89.89%

Sa*****00

629

89.89%

R4**er

740

89.79%

DN**TZ

790

89.69%

Sc*******l1

359

89.69%

Ad*****ik

351

89.69%

Gr*******ky

1145

89.47%

Je**GB

1137

89.36%

Do**io

1211

89%

fr******rm

859

88.88%

Pr*******ak

609

88.88%

xB***3x

782

88.88%

Fo***2.

633

88.88%

Me*****IX

846

88.88%

Ca*****um

966

88.88%

Ak***El

576

88.65%

S**l

885

88.65%

_W*****D_

909

88.65%

Ru***iz

1113

88.54%

Re********ly

914

88.42%

Ne*****an

965

88.29%

Sq**ck

1305

88%

ZO*****EW

809

88%

s4****ts

868

88%

Ou********bb

979

87.91%

fo****is

693

87.77%

Dz***ry

726

87.77%

Ky*******36

928

87.77%

Wa*********ge

757

87.77%

DR**da

777

87.75%

Ma*******wl

904

87.64%

ja******lf

671

87.62%

ch********is

908

87.36%

SU*******CH

1460

87.17%

D.********R.

1375

87.01%

Th******or

606

87%

Ki*****od

838

87%

Z**A

826

86.73%

A***6

464

86.73%

B***a

728

86.73%

Т-***-А

632

86.59%

Ba*******78

846

86.41%

XX****OR

925

86%

s***s

1007

86%

Ha*****88

776

85.71%

Lo*****ff

942

85.56%

Th*****al

779

85.56%

Em***sT

625

85.54%

Be***rK

845

85.26%

Pu***ax

1008

85%

Jo**ey

701

84.53%

Su********er

1375

84.09%

OF*******GB

786

84%

Yo****an

1109

84%

Ie**cy

607

83.9%

Ke******us

662

83.83%

Ir******FF

552

83.83%

An*****on

811

83.5%

RO*****SS

594

83.5%

Al****ro

611

83.5%

An***id

660

83%

Bl**********es

690

83%

Om*******el

1144

83%

JA*********AL

1106

83%

Tp**60

1259

82.65%

Fa*****rt

986

82.41%

Bu*********VP

561

82.22%

Mr**********ro

366

81.91%

B***u

582

81.81%

St*******rs

753

81.63%

O**N

882

81.6%

As**41

758

81.52%

和树

926

81%

P-*****-L

1243

81%

De**********91

938

81%

ST*********ES

1130

80.8%

Mi****11

725

80.64%

Be******rs

775

80.64%

ta**oe

820

80.2%

\[V******oN[/p][/td]

859

80%

[/tr]

一次***大师

643

80%

Bu****ni

988

79.77%

me*******13

789

77%

[/table]

- Outstanding Inspector: Dedicated Contributor

Character Name

Cases Reviewed

Total Days Active

mi***e9

476

ba***ge

378

b***w

492

Du***DK

426

Gi**ti

338

重生***鸡哥

572

Te*****er

487

zN***am

601

-=********=-

735

Mi*****PL

350

Ca********au

553

Ne*********ga

734

Sh*****ri

422

Th*****89

492

G***_

318

Ma****el

275

ZG*****OS

280

Wi**31

723

Ki****ot

603

00**********nk

568

Ar****to

487

Gh*******or

370

B***s

463

xD*******LZ

651

Pi****la

580

<:*****)~

685

Th***ub

397

(╯****╯┻

670

Og***at

648

Ch********an

546

GH**Tメ

636

JA**OU

501

In*********er

540

-=*****=-

588

me*****uu

621

BO***XE

580

Ra****Tv

509

Da*******nh

607

o***s

532

Sa*****na

553

ty*****67

621

Bl******ke

572

Am*******65

612

Ва***од

565

魚丸**魚丸

546

I***2

532

Sk**aw

558

Sp*********er

523

Bl****66

526

o**A

559

GO***es

533

К**э

527

Ha*****ke

514

Be**un

511

YN*****ni

540

LO****VR

521

μ**ο

506

Lu******er

512

Ne**ix

503

Du*****ur

503

Outstanding Inspector Selection Rules

Exceptional Contributor—Achieve the Expert Inspector title during the season

Dedicated Contributor—Meet the required activity and number of cases reviewed while achieving Senior Inspector title.

Based on Season 5 Inspector Program data, community participation reached an impressive level. Thank you to every Inspectors for your professionalism, dedication, and hard work.

We encourage all Inspectors to keep up your enthusiasm and stay actively involved. (The Inspector feature is now also available on mobile.) We will continue improving the Inspector progression system so that, together, we can protect a fair and cheat-free battlefield.

This season, we've upgraded the reward system. In addition to the existing Koen rewards, we've introduced new milestone-based Coin rewards. In the following season, we're also planning to add limited-time exclusive items that showcase your Inspector identity as daily rewards. Stay tuned!

Lead the way and uphold the mission! Let's look to our Outstanding Inspectors as role models, always remember our commitment to upholding fairness and justice, and work together to maintain a fair gaming environment in Arena Breakout: Infinite! We sincerely invite all players to sign up now—become an inspector today, join the efforts of "player co-governance," and safeguard the best of Kamona!

B.D.C

July 8, 2026