Ever since Persona transformed the RPG into a wonderfully voyeuristic Japanese tourism simulator, I’ve had an appetite for games that let me experience living on the other side of the planet. Whether it’s roaming the streets of Osaka in Yakuza or trudging across the dung-filled fields of Kingdom Come: Deliverance’s medieval Bohemia, there’s something satisfying about picking up a controller and being given a window into someone else’s life.Yet since Persona offers a disappointingly linear Tokyo to traverse, I’ve been left pining to get lost in a truly sprawling virtual metropolis. Thankfully, it turns out my oddly specific prayers have been answered. Welcome to the slick and exciting new anime open-world RPG from Hotta Studio, NTE. Hot-ta GoDeveloped by the creators of the 2021 hit, Tower of Fantasy, NTE is a fully open-world anime brawler made using Unreal Engine 5. Putting players into the near-future city of Hethereau, anime-styled characters are free to roam the futuristic metropolis as they see fit. Feeling like a blend of Shanghai, Seoul, and Tokyo, Hethereau is fully explorable in its gargantuan glory – and it finally satisfies that free-form slice of life itch.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey $15.18 (was $30) for Hardcover See at Amazon 
The Expanse Paperback Box Set (3 Books) $20.36 (was $55) See at Amazon Amazon is hosting an Early Prime Day Book Sale ahead of its annual sales event for Prime members (July 8-11). The wide-ranging selection of early deals includes print books, Kindle ebooks, and audiobooks. Science fiction fans only have a small number of physical books to choose from in this pre-Prime Day promotion, but there are two very good Prime-exclusive deals on books by the creators of The Expanse.Though best known as a critically acclaimed Prime Video series, The Expanse started its life as a critically acclaimed series of novels by James S.A. Corey--the pseudonym for writing partners Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck--back in 2011. Amazon is selling The Expanse 3-Book Box Set for only $20, giving fans of the space opera and newcomers alike the opportunity to add the first three books to their shelves for cheap. After finishing the nine-book series in 2021, Corey started work on a trilogy called The Captive's War. The first book in the series, The Mercy of Gods, is on sale for only $15 (was $30), which is its lowest price yet in hardcover. The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey $15.18 (was $30) for Hardcover 
James S.A. Corey did a phenomenal job building The Expanse's believable world from the beginning with Leviathan Wakes. That trend continued with The Mercy of Gods, which was a huge critical and commercial success when it hit shelves last August. Amazon featured it on its Best Books of the Year 2024 list, and it has racked up over 9,000 customer reviews with a 4.5/5 star average.The Mercy of Gods sets up The Captive's War Trilogy as a darker, more sinister space opera than The Expanse. It takes place in galaxy where aliens known as the Carryx have destroyed civilizations and enslaved species. But when the Carryx meet a seemingly unbeatable enemy, they turn to humans to assist in their quest. After descending upon the world of Anjiin, the Carryx abduct scientists and bring them back to their home to compete in a war with other prisoners, where the cost of losing is extinction.The 432-page novel centers on Dafyd Alkhor, a scientist's assistant who is compelled to fight in the war. As you may expect, everything is not as it seems.Book 2 in The Captive's War Trilogy is scheduled to release April 14, 2026. You can preorder The Faith of Beasts in hardcover for $32 at Amazon. In the meantime, you can read Livesuit, a 90-page novella in The Captive's War universe that released last October as a $5 ebook and audiobook. See at Amazon The Expanse Paperback Box Set (3 Books) $20.36 (was $55) 
If you haven't read the series that put the duo on the map, now's a great time to change that.The 50% discount on the newest James S.A. Corey novel is pretty awesome, but you can save even more on The Expanse. The paperback box set collecting the first three novels in the series is 63% off for Prime members. Normally $55, you can get this slipcased set for only $20.36.You're getting a lot of reading material for 20 bucks. All nine books in the series eclipse 500 pages, and the first three clock in at 1,792 pages total:The Expanse Paperback Box Set (Books 1-3) -- $20.36 ($55)Leviathan Wakes - 592 pagesCaliban's War - 624 pagesAbaddon's Gate - 576 pagesAs you'll see below, if you were to buy each paperback individually right now, you'd wind up spending roughly $35 instead.It's worth noting that if you prefer hardcover books, the same box set is available in hardcover with dust jackets for $39.87 (was $90). See at Amazon Shop Early Prime Day Book Sale The Expanse Book Series (Paperback)Leviathan Wakes -- $11 ($20)Caliban's War -- $12.34 ($20)Abaddon's Gate -- $11.13 ($20)Cibola Burn -- $14.69 ($20)Nemesis Games -- $14.59 ($20)Babylon's Ashes -- $14.59 ($20)Persepolis Rising -- $16.49 ($20)Tiamat's Wrath -- $12 ($20)Leviathan Falls -- $12.39 ($20) See full series at Amazon The Expanse Graphic Novels
The Expanse Graphic NovelsIf you've watched the Prime Video series and read the novels, check out The Expanse graphic novels. The first two on the list are tie-in stories released during the show's run, while the Dragon Tooth series takes place after the events of the series finale. Dragon Tooth originally released as a 12-issue comic series and has since been collected in three paperback volumes.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
Are you wondering about how to defeat or capture the Gigas in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach? This secret boss presents one of the toughest challenges in the game. It's not because of how powerful it is. Rather, it's because of the convoluted process that you need to undertake just to unlock the encounter itself. Fortunately, our guide has all the details for you.How to defeat or capture the BT Gigas in Death Stranding 2 - Terminal Fort Knot Voidout and Ghost Hunter order guideTo even have the opportunity to battle the BT Gigas, you must first increase your connection with the Ghost Hunter near the maximum level--i.e. as close as you can get to rank 5. You can learn about all the missions/orders in our Ghost Hunter guide.However, you should also be aware that the Ghost Hunter has a rather different mechanic, at least when compared to other NPCs. That's because his deliverable lost cargo doesn't respawn, and you'd have no choice but to tackle assignments from other characters. These, too, seem to only appear after enough time has elapsed. Ghost Hunter connection rank and missions
Before we talk about the Death Stranding 2 Gigas secret boss, let's look at the four NPCs/facilities with delivery orders that are handed over to the Ghost Hunter:Heartman's LabThe PioneerThe MechanicEastern Environmental ObservatoryAs mentioned earlier, you might need to wait in real-time for these missions to appear in their respective terminals. Just keep checking every now and then while tackling objectives from other characters.Now, whenever you increase your rank with the Ghost Hunter, you should receive new sub-orders:Sub-order 109 comes from the Chronobiologist, and it's actually what leads you to meet the Ghost Hunter in the first place.Sub-order 110 is a battle against the Headless Riders. This is what allows you to connect the Ghost Hunter to the Chiral Network.The next few sub-orders also come from the Ghost Hunter. These include capturing an animal and recovering items in an area where a giant BT resides.Then, by repeatedly doing the delivery orders from the four aforementioned facilities, you should be close enough to connection rank 5 with the Ghost Hunter.Simply rest inside a private room and check the Ghost Hunter's SSS message.Return to his camp and pick up Sub-order 114: Save F8/Terminal Fort Knot from a Voidout.Note: If the mission or SSS post still won't appear, then you may need to reconnect all facilities in Australia to the Chiral Network. Look at the map and see if you missed a region--i.e. BPAS, Mr. Impossible, Tar Therapist, or others. Sub-order 114: Save Terminal Fort Knot from a Voidout - Location and preparations
The mission to defeat the BT Gigas in Death Stranding 2 takes you back to Terminal Fort Knot. You can use any mode of transport, including Transponders for instant teleportation. Prior to the bout, we recommend crafting the following:EX Capture Grenades - You're going to need these if you want to capture and summon BTs.Coffin Board - Your very own hoverboard improves mobility in tar-filled areas.High-end weapons like the LW Multirocket Launcher, LW Seven-Rocket Launcher, or LW Machine Gun.Note: Be sure to keep a backup save as you approach the marked location just outside Terminal Fort Knot. Sub-order 114: Save Terminal Fort Knot from a Voidout - BT Gigas abilities and best summons
The Gigas secret boss battle takes place in a large area that's covered in tar. Buildings and structures do appear periodically, though they might also sink down to the bottom. Try to position yourself on a rooftop or ledge, or zoom around on your Coffin Board.The Gigas mostly attempts to hinder Sam's movement by grabbing him with its tendrils. This titanic creature can also spawn bulbous floating BTs that explode on contact.Now, as far as BT summons go, we recommend powerful behemoths like the Cetus or, if you've made it pretty far in the campaign, the Megalocarcinus. These beats should be able to distract the Gigas long enough for you to bring it down with your weaponry. Is it possible to capture the Gigas?
Yes, you can definitely capture the Gigas in Death Stranding 2. Just make sure that you bring down its health low enough--i.e. red level--and that your summoned BT doesn't accidentally kill it.Once the boss' health bar is red, wait for it to do its floating BT ability. Its head will then start to glow, so toss your EX Capture Grenade at it to turn it into a crystal.The BT Gigas costs 1,200 chiral crystals to summon. Surprisingly enough, it stays on the battlefield for a shorter duration--i.e. one and a half minutes compared to three minutes for other summons. Ghost Hunter rewards
After completing the encounter, simply fast travel back to the Ghost Hunter's camp to receive your rewards. These include the following:Music: Low RoarCustom Hologram: Ghost HunterBackpack Patch 47: BT GigasThat does it for our guide on how to defeat or capture the Death Stranding 2 Gigas secret boss. If you want to take out other late-game foes, you can head over to our Lord of the Tar Lake guide.Humanity yearns to be interconnected once more, and it's up to you to deliver the goods. If you need more help, then we've got you covered in our Death Stranding 2 guides hub...
Star Wars fans and Lego collectors can take advantage of some terrific deals on display models and playsets ahead of Prime Day 2025. Amazon's sale officially runs July 8-11, but the retailer is price-matching some new Star Wars Lego deals that have popped up at other retailers. Walmart also has an impressive selection of Lego Star Wars deals, including an exclusive Darth Vader and Kylo Ren Helmet bundle that might be the best Star Wars Lego deal of 2025 so far. Between the enticing helmet bundle and Amazon deals on the Millennium Falcon, C-3PO, R2-D2, and more Lego Star Wars 25th Anniversary sets, there's already an exciting collection of offers up for grabs. You can even save over 50% on some popular Star Wars Lego books, including the highly rated Ultimate Lego Star Wars visual history.We've rounded up the best Lego Star Wars deals ahead of Prime Day below. We'll continue to update this list as more deals go live at Amazon and other retailers, so we'd recommend bookmarking this page and circling back. 
Lego Star Wars Amazon Deals See every notable discount in one place. See at Amazon You can use this guide in a few different ways. If you simply want to scan lists of deals, the first slide below includes all of the best deals in bulleted list format. After the first slide, we've included detailed looks at roughly 15 of our favorite Star Wars Lego deals from the lists. But if you'd rather just look at each set on Amazon instead, the button above will take you to a custom Lego Star Wars Amazon hub we created with everything in one place.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
Walmart+ 1-Year Membership $49 (was $98) Sign up for Walmart+ Walmart's biggest sale of the year (so far) kicks off alongside Amazon Prime Day on July 8. While you don't need a Walmart+ subscription to shop the discounts during Walmart's sale, members get five-hour early access starting July 7 at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET. Ahead of the sale, Walmart is offering a 50% discount on a full year of Walmart+, dropping the price to only $49 (was $98). Walmart+ 1-Year Membership $49 (was $98) 
Considering some of the best gaming, tech, and collectible deals routinely sell out during the early access portion of Walmart sales--or within minutes of the official start time--the membership can make it a lot easier to secure the deals you're eyeing. Outside of being able to shop Walmart Deals 2025 five hours early, a Walmart+ membership has proven useful for restock events on popular products. In recent weeks, this has included the Nintendo Switch 2 and Pokemon Trading Card Game releases.But there are other, year-round benefits that make Walmart+ a great subscription service. Here are the highlights:Free shipping on all online ordersFree delivery from local stores ($35 minimum)1-Year Paramount+ Essential membership ($60 value)Save 10 cents per gallon on fuelEarly access to big sales and product restocks Sign up for Walmart+ The free shipping on online orders is similar to Amazon Prime. Orders are typically delivered within two days, though one- and even same-day delivery are regular occurrences.The free delivery from local stores perk is an even larger benefit, depending on your proximity to a brick-and-mortar store. Many subscribers can get their entire grocery orders delivered. But even if your Walmart doesn't have a full supermarket, it's still nice to be able to get free delivery on random products you'd normally have to drive to the store to buy. Local delivery is often fulfilled the same day you place your order, and you can schedule the time slot when making your purchase.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle with Premium Pen Save up to $220 See at Amazon 
Kindle Scribe with Premium Pen Save $140 | Additional 20% off with eligible trade-in See at Amazon A bunch of Amazon devices are already discounted to official Prime Day 2025 prices, including the priciest electronic reader in the ubiquitous Kindle lineup. The newest Kindle Scribe has received a massive $140 price cut, dropping the hybrid ereader and journaling e-ink tablet to its best price since launching last December. But you can save even more--up to $220 total--by opting for the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle.New Kindle users will almost certainly want to go with the bundle, but if you're upgrading to a new Kindle, you might want to skip the bundle due to a trade-in deal outlined below. The Kindle Scribe deals are exclusive to Prime members.See all Kindle Scribe Prime Day DealsBrowse Prime Day Kindle Book Sale Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle with Premium Pen Save up to $220 
The Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle comes with Amazon's Premium Pen ($80 value), the official Fabric Folio Cover ($60 value), and a 9W power adapter for Amazon devices ($20 value). You can choose between Black, Denim, and Rose colors for the cover, while the tablet itself is Tungsten. The cover protects the screen and includes a built-in stand with multiple viewing angles.All three storage configurations are eligible for the Prime Day deal: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. Each tier is separated by only $15-$25, so if you plan on using your Kindle Scribe to store and listen to audiobooks via Audible, you may want to opt for 32GB or 64GB model.16GB Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle -- $270 ($480)32GB Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle -- $285 ($500)64GB Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle -- $310 ($530)The Kindle Scribe has a 10.2-inch front-lit display with anti-glare coating, so you can read in any lighting setting. With 300ppi (pixels per inch) and 94 nits of brightness, text is crisp and clear.The Scribe doubles as a physical notebook. With the Premium Pen, you can create handwritten notes and email them to other devices. It feels remarkably similar to writing on actual paper. You can also take notes in books and documents you're reading. If you like writing in the margins of novels, the Scribe is the ereader for you. See at Amazon Kindle Scribe with Premium Pen Save $140 | Additional 20% off with eligible trade-in 
16GB Kindle Scribe -- $260 ($400)32GB Kindle Scribe -- $280 ($420)64GB Kindle Scribe -- $310 ($450)At first glance, it doesn't make much sense to purchase the non-bundle version of the Kindle Scribe during Prime Day. The 16GB model is only $10 less than the bundle version; the 32GB model is $5 less; and the 64GB edition is actually the same price. So why would you willingly give up the $60 Fabric Folio and $20 AC adapter?You probably shouldn't unless you have a device that's eligible to trade in toward the new Scribe. The non-bundle version is eligible for an additional 20% discount when you trade in a device. Your old Kindle is the obvious choice, but Amazon also accepts other devices, including Fire tablets, Fire TV Sticks, and even some Apple products.With a trade-in, you'll get the value of that device and an additional 20% discount on your new purchase. That's a substantial savings. Trade-in values vary considerably, but the extra 20% is worth $52 to $62--and that's automatic. Here are the new prices, not including your trade-in.16GB -- $20832GB -- $22464GB -- $248It doesn't matter if you trade in a Fire Stick worth $3 or the original Kindle Scribe 16GB model for $85. But it is worth noting that if you own the original 2022 Scribe and want to upgrade, that $85 figure is what Amazon offered me, effectively lowering the price of the 2024 model to $123. See at Amazon See all Kindle Scribe Prime Day DealsBrowse Prime Day Kindle Book SaleAudible Premium Plus Deal - Get 3 Months FreeKindle Unlimited Deal - Get 3 Months FreeAmazon Echo Buds with ANC -- $45 ($140)If you take advantage of the Kindle Scribe deal and have never tried Kindle Unlimited, you can get your first three months for free, which grants access to a library of over 4 million books, comics, graphic novels, manga, and more.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
Nintendo has rolled out new updates for both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. The latest patches are fairly minor, primarily addressing a few issues related to the Zelda Notes service for the Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of both games.According to Nintendo's patch notes, the new updates resolve a bug that can occur when attempting to use certain Daily Bonus perks. Specifically, Nintendo says it has "fixed an issue in which the player was unable to use the Daily Bonus effects 'Health Recovery' or 'Hearty Meal' if they had increased their hearts to the maximum number."The updates also resolve "several other issues related to Zelda Notes," although no specific details were provided beyond that. Both games have also gotten other minor fixes "to improve the gameplay experience." You can read the full patch notes for each update below.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
A new Resident Evil game is in development, and it'll be putting a strategy twist on the franchise. In production at JoyCity Corporation, the mobile game is being developed in close collaboration with Capcom, and it's titled Resident Evil Survival Unit. Announced at Anime Expo, the full reveal for the iOS and Android game will be held on July 10 at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET.JoyCity Corporation says that it's aiming to appeal to both longtime fans and new players to the franchise, and it has reimagined the survival-horror aspects of Resident Evil into a real-time strategy experience optimized for mobile devices.Beyond this new venture into mobile gaming, the Resident Evil series will also return next year with a new entry in the mainline series on PC and console. Resident Evil Requiem was revealed last month, and the game features a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
Scott Pilgrim 20th Anniversary Box Set (B&W) $74 (was $250) See at Amazon 
Scott Pilgrim 20th Anniversary Box Set (Color) $116 (was $250) See at Amazon 
Scott Pilgrim Print Collection 2004-2024 $23 (was $30) See at Amazon Bryan Lee O'Malley's beloved graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim celebrated its 20th anniversary last August with a pair of eye-catching--and very pricey--hardcover box sets. Prices for both versions have dropped since then, but Amazon's current deal is by far the best yet for the remastered black-and-white collection. Fans can grab the six-volume set for only $74, which is a discount of 70% from its original $250 price. Alternatively, you can get the full-color edition of the 20th Anniversary Box Set for $116 (was $250). Scott Pilgrim 20th Anniversary Box Sets
Scott Pilgrim 20th Anniversary Hardcover Box Set (Black & White)Here's what you'll get with each box set:Continue Reading at GameSpot...
Samsung 990 Evo Plus 4TB NVMe SSD (7,250MB/s) $235 (was $328) See at Amazon A bunch of great tech deals are popping up ahead of next week's Prime Day sales event at Amazon, including a massive price cut on the Samsung 990 Evo Plus 4TB SSD. With this high-capacity NVMe SSD now up for grabs for its lowest price ever of $235 (was $328), this is a great opportunity to upgrade your storage on PC or PlayStation 5. Samsung 990 Evo Plus 4TB NVMe SSD (7,250MB/s) $235 (was $328) 
Samsung's 990 Evo Plus is a high-performing NVMe SSD with sequential read speeds of up to 7,250MB/s and write speeds of 6,300MB/s. It can be installed in desktop computers and laptops. Depending on your PC setup and cooling systems, you may want/need to add a heatsink during the installation process.To use the 990 Evo Plus on PS5, you'll need to attach it to a heatsink first. Thankfully, you can get a reliable heatsink for around $10. This SSD far surpasses PlayStation's 5,500MB/s minimum speed requirement for NVMe SSDs. And since the 990 Evo Plus is especially adept at transferring large files, it's an ideal choice for moving games between storage devices, whether you're buying this with your PC or PS5 in mind.It only takes a few minutes to install an NVMe SSD in the PS5 console's open M.2 2280 slot. Once the SSD is installed, your console will format the drive on its next boot. After that, you can decide if you want the new SSD to be the default location for downloads as well as transfer games between the two drives. Moving large game files from the PS5's internal storage to M.2 SSDs generally only takes a few minutes.Amazon also has deals on the 2TB and 1TB versions of the 990 Evo Plus. The 2TB model is on sale for $140 (was $177), and the 1TB is $80 (was $110). You are getting the most bang for your buck with the 4TB edition, though. See at Amazon While the Samsung 990 Evo Plus 4TB SSD is one of the best early Prime Day storage deals, it’s not the only SSD seeing a discount. For example, the Crucial P310 1TB is just $60 (was $74.80), and it’s fully compatible with PS5 (though it too needs a separate heatsink). But with speeds up to 7,100 MB/s, it’ll get you solid performance and save you a few bucks compared to the 1TB 990 Evo Plus.We’ve pulled together a few of our favorite PS5 SSD deals below, so be sure to give them a look before making a purchase. All of these exceed PlayStation's minimum requirements and also work on PC.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
In 2020, Ubisoft chief creative officer Serge Hascoët and vice president of editorial and creative services Tommy François stepped down from the company following abuse allegations. Francois and Hascoet were arrested three years later following an investigation by French authorities. Now, the trial is over and Francois and Hascoet have both been convicted alongside another former Ubisoft executive, former games director Guillaume Patrux.All three men were sentenced to suspended prison terms for their roles in "enabling a culture of sexual and psychological harassment," as reported by Courthouse News Service. Francois was also convicted of attempted sexual assault and given a three-year suspended sentence. During the trial, it was reported that Francois sexually harassed female and male employees, including attempts to grope their genitals.Hascoet was handed a shorter suspended sentence of 18-months, while Patrux was given a 12-month suspended sentence for personally bullying members of his team. All three men were also ordered to pay fines, including a 45,000 euro fee for Hascoet, 30,000 euros for Francois, and 10,000 euros for Patrux.Continue Reading at GameSpot...
Are you utterly perplexed by the ending of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach? There are several convoluted twists and big reveals, as expected from a game crafted by none other than Hideo Kojima. As such, the campaign's conclusion might leave you with a few questions. Don't worry, since we've got all the details for you right here. Oh, and do expect that there will be major spoilers ahead.Death Stranding 2 ending explained Our ending guide discusses several facets related to the closing portion of the game. First, we talk about the final boss battle against Higgs and his involvement with APAS 4000. We then take a look at the fates of various characters, including Fragile, Lou, and Tomorrow, as well as the affair between Lucy Strand and Neil Vana. Lastly, we delve further into what happens after the end credits roll and what you can expect if you continue playing. The final boss: Higgs Monaghan and APAS 4000
To see the ending in Death Stranding 2, you must first defeat your old rival, Higgs, who's been a thorn on your side all throughout the campaign. The final boss encounter against Higgs is a multi-stage bout, where you're armed with a Battle Guitar that lets you shoot and slash your foe. Yes, there are even riff-offs that make for an over-the-top and entertaining segment.As for why Higgs has been hounding Sam the whole time, it's because he was tasked by none other than the Automated Ported Assistant System (APAS), under the leadership of the mysterious "President." Here's the gist:APAS 4000 is actually comprised of the souls of the departed--4,000 people who died in a voidout--who ended up merging with the Chiral Network. This "convergence" of sorts allowed it to gain sentience.APAS' goal isn't the eradication of humanity, but preservation by eliminating flesh and freedom. Movement will be restricted and humans will eventually become part of the Chiral Network in a "Chiralverse" of sorts.In the first Death Stranding game, Higgs was left exiled in Amelie's Beach, where time flowed unnaturally compared to reality. He basically spent thousands of years all alone, until APAS found and recruited him.Higgs' objective was to become a persistent adversary for Sam--i.e. "an existential threat," as he's been dubbed--to keep Sam on his toes as he tackles his mission to reconnect Mexico and Australia to the Chiral Network. However, Higgs has ulterior motives as well, as he plans to trigger the Last Stranding (more on this later).As for APAS, its sentient will has been severed completely even though Sam has been reconnecting several regions. This is thanks to the intervention of Die-Hardman, who's kept his guise as Charlie the mannequin/puppet the entire time. The Last Stranding: The Sam and Tomorrow connection
Higgs' actual plan is to trigger the Last Stranding, a cataclysmic event that's meant to usher the total extinction of a species. This destructive instance can only be triggered by a powerful being known as an extinction entity.In the first game, we know that this being was Amelie--i.e. Sam's sister. (To be more specific, she's the spirit of Sam's mother that split from her essence. But, yes, things can get very confusing if we go into detail about that plot point.)Sufficed to say, Higgs needed someone with a strong connection to Amelie/Sam, which is why he kidnaps Tomorrow during the lead-up to the game's finale. That's because Tomorrow is Sam's daughter. Wait, what? The baby daddy: Lucy Strand and Neil Vana
Throughout the campaign, Sam sees visions of someone else's memories. All the while, he has to fight a Solid Snake-esque character named Neil Vana. Then, in various cutscenes and during the Death Stranding 2 ending sequence, we clearly see how past events transpired:Lucy and Neil were both children when they found themselves in the mysterious realm, akin to a realm of the dead. Lucy would go on to become a therapist, eventually marrying Sam. Neil would later become a Porter, and also one of Lucy's patients.Lucy and Neil had an affair, which Sam later found out about.Since Lucy was pregnant with Sam's child at the time, she decided to end her dalliance with Neil.Knowing that a repatriate's child would be invaluable, and that Bridges wanted to take her baby away, Lucy sought help from Neil. Neil would then claim that the child was his.The Bridges organization knew of Lucy and Neil's plans, and the two were shot and killed as they attempted to escape the facility.This part of the ending sequence is a flashback where you briefly control Neil's spirit as he swims in the ether. He sees Lucy's body in the morgue, though it's clear that the baby was already taken away by Bridges.Sam then arrives and carries Lucy away, perhaps attempting to dispose of her body. As Neil, you catch up with the two, which triggers a voidout that wipes out the entire base, leaving Sam as the only survivor. A fallen friend: Fragile's fate
Arguably one of the biggest twists in the Death Stranding 2 ending is the fact that Fragile has been dead the entire time:Early in the game when Sam's hideout gets ransacked, we're told that Fragile tried to teleport Lou away to safety. She's shot by Higgs, though we see that she "survived" and that Lou had died.In truth, Fragile actually died at that moment, though her connection with Lou allowed her to teleport Lou to the realm of the dead.One part of Fragile's essence had already died, though the other remained alive throughout due to the different passage of time. It was only during the finale when she truly remembered what had happened to her. Thus, with her mission fulfilled, she had finally decided to rest. All grown up: Lou's identity
As for Lou, well, let's recap what we know so far:Sam and Lucy had a child, but that baby was taken away to become part of Bridges' program.In the first game, Sam found a BB and he formed a strong connection with her. He names the child Lou.During the early portions of the campaign, Fragile dies but she manages to take Lou to Neil's Beach, which the group believes to be the realm of the dead.Neil takes care of Lou and keeps his promise to Lucy when they were still alive.Lou stays and grows up in the strange realm for years. But for us (in reality), only a brief amount of time had passed.A young woman emerges from the mysterious realm halfway through the campaign, and the group names her Tomorrow.Tomorrow is kidnapped by Higgs due to her strong connection to Sam/Amelie and because she's an extinction entity.After Sam defeats Higgs in combat, Tomorrow is pulled into the rift. However, she resists the urge to trigger an extinction event. Instead, she manifests as a giant Lou that gobbles up Higgs.The giant Lou looks and smiles at Sam, as if recognizing him. Then, back at the DHV Magellan, everyone wakes up and Tomorrow/Lou approaches Sam. She then says: "I'm your Louise."In short: Tomorrow is Lou, all grown up from the realm of the dead. And, yes, she is Sam's daughter. She remembers their entire journey together from the first game, her life in the strange realm where time moved at a different pace, her return to the real world, and her interactions with everyone as part of the Drawbridge crew. Death Stranding 2: Electric Booga-Lou
The Death Stranding 2 ending sequence also shows that time had passed since the group left the Beach. We see how APAS has continued its program of sending out bots instead of human Porters. On the bright side, APAS is but a program/algorithm and not sentient created by the amalgamation of souls.We also see Lou/Tomorrow, who's become a Porter just like her dad Sam. She looks at various photos, including one that shows Rainy and her baby (who looks to be a year old). Lou has Fragile's gloves and, as she smokes a cigarette, we see someone else sharing a puff. It's probably Fragile's spirit since Lou echoes her own words about how "death cannot keep [us] apart."Lou then stares at a Plate Gate, though we don't know which continent it leads to. Perhaps this is a tease for the next game in the series, one where we might control Lou/Tomorrow and make use of her acrobatic melee skills and keen marksmanship abilities. After the credits roll: The Drawbridge Q-pid switch and various rewards
After the end credits stop rolling, you'll be able to see the following:Stats: These panels show you how long you've been playing, all the structures you've built, how many likes you've amassed, and more.Rewards: You'll also receive all sorts of rewards, though most are cosmetic or not impactful to gameplay. These include: Red Mask and Golden Mask - Block direct and reflected sunlight.Patch 41: Adult CryptobioteCustom Hologram: Tomorrow Like and FragileMusic tracks: Fragile Things and To the Wilder ft. Elle Fanning (Tomorrow)You're also presented the option to toggle the Drawbridge Q-pid on or off:Drawbridge Q-pid On: Makes the game significantly easier since Ghost Mechs won't be a threat and BTs no longer spawn once banished.Drawbridge Q-pid Off: This is the default experience, with Ghost Mechs and BTs that are ever-present and respawning.Note: You can pause the game and select the Drawbridge Q-pid option to switch between the two settings. Just remember that this might affect your interaction with certain characters, such as the Ghost Hunter.That's it! That's everything you need to know about the Death Stranding 2 ending. After the credits are done, you'll find yourself back at the DHV Magellan for Episode 17: One Day. There are no main objectives anymore, though you can still tackle all sorts of activities. For instance, you might want to take out the Lord of the Tar Lake secret boss if you haven't done so yet.Humanity yearns to be interconnected once more, and it's up to you to deliver the goods. If you need more help, then we've got you covered in our Death Stranding 2 guides hub...