All News

Last month's Nintendo Direct was full of all types of treats for Kingdom Hearts fans, including the announcement that native versions of the entire Kingdom Hearts trilogy will be coming to Switch 2 via the release of The Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III]. Players did not respond well to the trilogy's key art, which Square Enix shared on X shortly after the announcement. Players quickly noticed several strange details in the image, and accused Square Enix of using generative AI to create it. GameSpot reached out for comment at the time, and Square Enix has now decided to clear things up. According to a statement shared with GameSpot, The Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] art is not the result of AI. "We're aware of feedback regarding recent Kingdom Hearts visuals," reads the statement, which was shared via phone call with a Square Enix PR rep. "These assets were created by our development team without the use of generative AI, and the issues resulted from human error." Some of the "issues" being referenced here include Donald Duck having 4 fingers on one hand and 5 on the other, the hands on the clocktower appearing warped, the Keyblade's keychain links appearing uneven, Sora's crown-shaped belt chain links melting into each other, the absence of the crown-shaped pattern usually seen on the bottom of Sora's shoes, and various clothing zippers seeming to fade into nothing, among other issues. "Quality is extremely important to us, and updated assets have been implemented where appropriate," the statement continued. The new art fixes Donald's hand, but other odd flaws remain. The X post that started it all is still up, but elsewhere online, the image has been replaced with a new version. (The official trailer's YouTube thumbnail features a third version of the image, in which Donald's five-fingered hand is simply obscured.) The new image still features some of the strange details players pointed out in the original key art, including the warped crowns on Sora's belt chain, the lack of crowns on his shoe soles, and and the strange links on Mickey's Keyblade keychain. The clocktower's hands look a bit straighter, but for the most part, it appears the main goal was correcting Donald Duck's five-fingered hand, which now features the correct four digits. Square Enix did not provide any commentary as to how the original image came to be...

Diablo 4 Season 15 will receive a new character Rebirth feature--one that will allow players to convert Eternal Realm characters into seasonal ones. Usually, it goes the opposite way. Characters at the end of a season are automatically converted into non-seasonal Eternal Realm ones, where they typically languish in neglect until they need to be deleted to make room for new seasonal characters.  As part of the newly detailed Season 15, developer Blizzard will instead let players continue to play the same character by using the Rebirth function to transfer Eternal Realm characters to the seasonal realm. That character's level will be reset to level one, but their total playtime will remain intact, as will their class, name, appearance, and cosmetic preferences, including their selected pets, transmogs, mounts, portals, and headstones. It's basically everything else that resets. Any equipped gear or gear in a character's inventory will be lost upon using Rebirth, though players will be prompted with a warning screen before completing the process. Players can then decide if they want to throw all their gear into their Eternal Realm stash before proceeding. Diablo 4's upcoming Rebirth feature will reset characters to level one. Overall, it sounds like a nice addition for those who like to play the same class every season, want to cut down on the number of characters taking up space, or just want an easier way to track the hundreds of hours they've spent playing Diablo 4.  The new Rebirth feature, however, isn't the only new addition coming in Diablo 4 Season 15. Blizzard additionally announced iconic items from past Diablo games will be making their way into Diablo 4 starting with the new season, including items like Diablo 2's Stone of Jordan and Diablo 3's Ring of Royal Grandeur. The season will additionally add new Overland activities like challenge dungeons and open-world ambushes, as well as a new type of socketable, Soul Splinters, that come with powerful benefits but also potent downsides. Diablo 4 is currently in the middle of Season 14, a season that brought massive changes to Mythic items but was met with largely negative reception from players. Recent updates have alleviated some of those issues, but Blizzard is planning additional Mythic item changes, including more deterministic ways to craft them, for Season 15.  Blizzard is keeping some details about Season 15 close to its chest, promising there will be more information (and reveals) at BlizzCon September 12-13. Some of Diablo 4 Season 15's new features and changes will be playable on the game's public-test realm August 4-11. Season 15 proper is expected to start in September after BlizzCon...

Diablo 4's next season will see the return of some of the most iconic items from throughout the franchise's history, including powerful rings like Stone of Jordan and Ring of Royal Grandeur. The currently ongoing Season 14 hasn't exactly been Diablo 4's best season, but Blizzard is looking to give players an early preview of what's coming in Season 15 with a playable public-test realm build available August 4-11. As detailed in an official blog post, it's a season that looks to introduce several new systems and changes. First and foremost is the arrival of fan-favorite items from previous Diablo games as Uniques. Blizzard announced a total of 10 items returning from the original Diablo, Diablo 2, and Diablo 3, and they are ones that will be "instantly recognizable to veteran players." Five of these "Legacy Uniques" will be usable by every class, while the other five will be available to a selection of different classes. These will all be permanent additions to the game. The full list of Legacy Uniques being added are:  Leoric's Crown (Helm) Nemesis Bracers (Gloves) Ring of Royal Grandeur (Ring) Stone of Jordan (Ring) Squirt's Blouse* (Chest) *Squirt's Necklace from Diablo 3 incorporated into a Chest piece Multiple Classes: Arioc's Needle (2H Polearm) - Barbarian, Druid, Spiritborn Henri's Perquisition (Offhand Focus) - Sorcerer, Necromancer, Warlock In-Geom (1H Sword) - Barbarian, Druid, Rogue, Necromancer, Paladin, Warlock The Furnace (2H Mace) - Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Paladin, Warlock Messerschmidt's Reaver (2H Axe) - Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Paladin, Warlock Items like Stone of Jordan will no doubt bring back memories for Diablo 2 players. Diablo 3 players, on the other hand, will likely remember Ring of Royal Grandeur, Leoric's Crown, and Squirt's Necklace.  A look at some of the Legacy Uniques coming to Diablo 4. Blizzard has not yet fully revealed each item's Unique affixes for Diablo 4, but did give a preview of a handful. Leoric's Crown, for example, will count as a jewelry item and increase the effect of socketed gems by 75-100%. Other Legacy Uniques like Henri's Perquisition will increase Primary Stat equal to 85-115% of Dexterity. Meanwhile, the Nemesis Bracers will spawn an enemy Elite pack upon interacting with a Shrine. Other new additions coming in Season 15 are more of what Blizzard calls "Overland" activities, such as challenge dungeons that can be discovered in the game's open world as well as demonic ambushes. Players will also be able to use the same character for multiple seasons using a new "Rebirth" feature.  A new power system, Soul Splinters, will give players more options when it comes to choosing what to socket into their gear, though each powerful splinter also comes with a negative downside that must be contended with. An example of some of the splinters players will be able to choose from include one that increases max health but reduces primary resource, one that increases damage at the cost of 100% reduction in Critical Strike chance, and another that grants increased damage reduction at the cost of movement speed. Some of the socketable Soul Splinters being added in Diablo 4 Season 15. Blizzard made clear that what it's choosing to show for Season 15 as part of the PTR isn't everything that will be coming, as it's saving some details and reveals for BlizzCon on September 12-13. Season 15 is expected to launch in September after BlizzCon. Diablo 4's current season brought massive changes to Mythic items that didn't find many fans, though Blizzard has eased some of its major pain points in subsequent patches. For Season 15, Blizzard said it will continue to make improvements to Mythics, with the ability to craft Mythic items becoming more deterministic and less random...

Helldivers 2 players will soon be able to dish out death to Super Earth enemies with Warhammer 40K weapons like the Meltagun, Bolt Pistol, and more. Games Workshop's grimdark Warhammer 40K universe is the next crossover coming to developer Arrowhead Studios' popular shooter on August 12 in the form of a Legendary Warbond, joining the likes of Halo and Killzone. While there are none of the setting's iconic Space Marines in sight, 40K's Astra Militarum faction is instead getting the spotlight. As revealed in a new trailer, two Astra Militarum-inspired armor sets are coming to Helldivers 2. One, the Demo Trooper, is a heavy-armor set, while the other, the Sharpshooter, is a medium-armor set. Both grant the True Grit passive, which grants increased ergonomics and faster reload for Stratagem weapons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-j-SpRxhHo They are joined in the Warbond by a selection of Warhammer 40K weaponry. Those weapons include a Meltagun support weapon (40K's even more powerful and terrifying version of a flamethrower), Meltamines, a Bolt Pistol secondary, and a Lasgun Marksman Rifle primary. The Warbond's reveal trailer shows the Hot Shot Marksman rifle penetrating through multiple enemies with its shots, while the Meltagun and Meltamine looks like they will make short work of vehicles and heavily armored enemies. It's not the most iconic assortment of 40K weapons ever seen in a video game. There are no bolters or chainswords--two weapons most commonly wielded by Space Marines. There are actually no melee weapons at all featured in the Warbond, which is somewhat of a surprise for a universe where "Drive me closer so I can hit them with my sword" is one of its most iconic memes. Warhammer 40K is a vast universe with all kinds of iconic weapons, so it was no doubt hard for Arrowhead to narrow the Warbond down to just a handful of choices that would make the most sense in the Helldivers universe. Maybe, if fans are lucky, there'll be more Warhammer 40K Warbonds in the future. For now, players will have to make do with blasting Automatons apart with the Meltagun and exploding Terminids with the Bolt Pistol, and pray to the Emperor for even more righteous weapons with which to smite the foes of Super Earth down the line...

The gig economy comes for us all in the end, and if you've ever worked a few Uber shifts, you'll be well aware how some customers are a bit… odd. That's the vibe that Rideshare Stimulator--no, that is not a typo, and the game title is stylized as Rideshare "Stimulator" for some reason, but we're not doing that--is attempting to capture. https://youtu.be/lQxBAE1tE8g Like the many, many simulator games on the market, Rideshare Stimulator is aiming to authentically replicate what it's like to be a rideshare driver in the age of late-stage capitalism, making it look like Crazy Taxi without any of the over-the-top action of ferrying people about--and you'll have to boot up Spotify if you want to hear The Offspring during your digital shift. Described as an immersive driving game, players will have to race the clock, keep their car in good condition, and keep passengers happy if they want to earn a rating, review, and tip. Each passenger has their own story, and we really can't wait to hear how one guy dressed like a Temu Mutant Ninja Turtle got kicked out of an aquarium. Along the way, you can keep your car clean, dodge traffic, and upgrade your skills. The game is being published by Saber Interactive, a company that has branched out into immersive titles over the last couple of years, like Bus Bound, Roadcraft, and the completely accurate grimdark-simulator Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. There's no release date for it yet, but Rideshare Stimulator will be coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S eventually--check that your GPS is on so that it can find you. The Best Simulation Games To Play Right Now View Images...

Despite losing a staggering amount of staff in a recent layoff, developer ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS) has reiterated that The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is "here to stay," and the team has dropped a new roadmap to prove that more content is still coming to the popular MMORPG. In a July 30 news post on ESO's official website, game director Nick Giacomini outlined what you can expect from the MMORPG in 2026 and 2027. Many of the most anticipated changes, such as the combat and class refresh and Update 52, have been pushed to next year to focus on "quality experiences over calendar dates." In acknowledging the disappointment this may cause, Giacomini confirmed ESO has a slew of new content still coming for the rest of this year. This includes Update 51 (which launches on September 28 instead of September 21 as part of season one) and its new challenge, quality-of-life improvements, and game system. Then on October 21, season two comes out with the introduction of solo dungeons, Tamriel Tome improvements, and free DLC. In short, it's a great time to either get into ESO or come back to the MMORPG. And I speak from experience as, having fallen off the game about a year after it launched but recently picked it back up because of boredom, it feels better and livelier now. "We've had bumps in the road over our 12-year history that we've always faced together," Giacomini said. "As our studio evolves, we are not looking to just 'maintain' the game. We are looking to grow it. You, our community, are the reason we have grown over the years, and we want to keep growing with you." You can check out ESO's full content roadmap in the bullet list below, alongside pictures illustrating what's to come soon. Coming To ESO In 2026 A deeper breakdown of the next few months of content for ESO. Season One  Update 51 will now launch one week later, on September 28, and it will include:  A new challenge: The Nowhere Vault   A new game system: Rumors   Player experience improvements: Achievement pinning, Customizable HUD (on keyboard platforms), Hybridization, Antiquities improvements, Transmute Stations in Cyrodiil, and multiple quality-of-life updates like Housing Tab Sorter, Quest Starter Language, and Eidetic Memory improvements  Everything else in Season One will run as planned, along with a few additions to thank you for your patience:   Live now: New Sheogorath story quests and Golden Pursuit  August 5-12: Whitestrake’s Mayhem event August 20-September 17: A brand-new Golden Pursuit campaign called “Straight to the Crate,” where you can earn up to 20 free Crown Crates   September 30-October 14: The new High Seas of Tamriel event   And three-sided Battlegrounds will return permanently on September 28, with Update 51 . A look at what's in store for Season One and Season Two Season Two  Launching October 21, 2026, Season Two will feature:   Solo Dungeons: Moon Hunter Keep and March of Sacrifices.  To celebrate the launch of Solo Dungeons, we’ve decided to make the group versions of these dungeons  free for all players on October 12, 2026.  The Greymoor Chapter and Markarth DLC will become free for all players on November 9, 2026.    We’re adding a new Golden Pursuit to highlight Skyrim and the (now available to everyone) Antiquities system from November 9 to December 2.  Improvements to the Tamriel Tome, including expanded Challenges for broader playstyles, higher Tome Point rollover cap, and more.  Frost Atronach crate rewards will be available in the Gold Coast Bazaar.  Witches Festival and the New Life Festival events will return as usual.  Coming To ESO In 2027 The new trial, Crimson Veldt. We’re pushing boundaries with this trial, including mounted combat that we think you’ll love, and we simply need more time to ensure the experience exceeds your expectations.  Update 52 will move to January of 2027. We expect this to include the launch of the Jerall Pass PvP zone and Skyrim’s Dynamic Encounters: Rimegales.   For the Class and Combat refresh, we are targeting 2027 for the next refresh. However, we are discussing some interim options for the classes still awaiting their full refresh to improve your player experience in the meantime.  ...

Dead by Daylight's next chapter, Chorus of Sin, is a "community-driven" event that kicks off at the end of August, but you can start playing it up to a month early by winning yourself an early-access code.  Starting July 30, Dead by Daylight content creators will stream the new Chorus of Sin chapter on Twitch, and tuning in for at least an hour will place you in a drawing that will randomly select winners. Those lucky players will receive Steam codes via email to play the next chapter ahead of its August 25 public date. It'll even get you in before the private test build launches on August 5. The early-access windows will be limited and spread across the next several days. You can find that schedule below. Thursday, July 30: 12-4 PM ET and 5-9 PM ET Friday, July 31: 8-11 AM ET, 12-4 PM ET and 5-9 PM ET Saturday, Aug. 1: 8-11 AM ET and 12-4 PM ET If you're interested in trying your luck at getting a code, follow these steps: Create or already have a BHVR account Have your BHVR account linked to Twitch Watch a minimum of one hour of Chorus of Sin Early Access streams labeled with the “Drops Enabled” tag Not everyone who qualifies will get a code, but given that it's free other than an hour of your time, it's worth a shot if you're looking to check out the next chapter weeks in advance. Chorus of Sin is the first-ever DBD chapter built by the community. It'll feature a new original killer, The Judgment, as well as a new original survivor, Aurora, both of whom are characters that the game's player base helped imagine. 30 Best Horror Games To Play In The Dark In 2026 View Images...

This year marks several big video game anniversaries, from the 25th anniversary of Halo to the Super NES turning 35, and publisher Bethesda Softworks is celebrating 40 years in the industry with a brand-new logo. The company unveiled the new design today, which has a very cyberpunk-inspired look to it with its choice of font, colors, and subtle decorative elements. "40 years of adventures. Here's to the worlds we've built together... and those still to come. We're marking the occasion with a logo inspired by our roots," Bethesda wrote online. The new logo is a massive departure from the previous ones used by the company, which started with handcrafted art and eventually morphed into something that lacked any personality whatsoever. It's not clear yet if this will be the company's long-term logo for the foreseeable future, but for now, it's a nostalgic way to celebrate its history. Bethesda Softworks has largely used the same logo for 25 years, with the first one being a straightforward line of text and a splash of color that would be used until 2010. Those few distinctive elements would be removed entirely in 2010, with the font being completely black and the "Softworks" wording dropped altogether. It's worth noting that Bethesda Softworks shouldn't be confused with Bethesda Game Studios, the internal developer at the company responsible for titles like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield. The studio has also used the same logo for 25 years: a line of text with a stylized cog behind it. The older Bethesda Softworks logos The publisher's new visual identity probably isn't teasing a new cyberpunk game anyway--although fans of the genre are eating well with upcoming Blade Runner and Neuromancer TV series. For now, Bethesda is focused on a massive expansion of the Fallout franchise. Bethesda recently re-confirmed that Fallout 5 is in development alongside remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. Obsidian Entertainment is also working on a new Fallout game, so there's going to be a whole lot of post-apocalyptic adventures to look forward to in the future. As for The Elder Scrolls 6, game director Todd Howard said that the majority of the developers at Bethesda Game Studios are working on it, and they want to stick the landing when it eventually releases...

The biggest topic in the games industry right now is the debate around physical media, with Sony kickstarting the conversation by killing its production of PlayStation discs in January 2028. Everyone has thoughts about the company's decision, including Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi, who said he's trying to make a physical edition of the game happen. In a July 29 interview with GamesRadar+, Hamaguchi acknowledged that "the general trend" he's seeing is a shift towards downloadable games. However, he still believes that physical media is "a wonderful culture" and that "it would be a shame to lose that." As such, his team is working diligently to make sure that a physical version of Revelation comes out. "We're still having internal discussions on what the exact SKU product lineup is going to be for Revelation,” Hamaguchi said at Berlin's Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival. "So I can't say anything particularly definitive at this point in time. But I am working to make the arrangements to allow us to have some kind of physical edition." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH3ox5krci8 He couldn't give a definitive answer on what kind of physical edition Revelation may have, but he explained that, because different platforms have different regulations, those considerations have to be factored into whatever is produced. "Obviously, say, if you're talking to Nintendo, there's considerations about the storage limits on key cards and things like that, and then other platforms about how much you can put onto a disc,” Hamaguchi said. "Each platform and first-party have their own specific rules and regulations that we need to take into account, and think about what format is actually going to be best for the game. These are the discussions that we're having at this point in time. I do hope that we'll be able to come up with something that is as close as possible as to what players and fans are going to want, but you’ll have to look forward to future announcements for that." Revelation is the third and final entry in the remake trilogy. The previous installments, Remake and Rebirth, both had physical editions on PlayStation 5. Considering Revelation releases sometime in 2027, it stands to reason that it'd get a physical edition on PlayStation 5, too, since Sony isn't ending disc production until 2028. Although it may launch with a disc, there's still the possibility that, like Grand Theft Auto 6, it could just be a code in the box. We'll see sometime in 2027. Although Revelation will bring an end to Cloud and friends' story, that may not actually be the end of the game itself. A recent leak suggested that the upcoming action-RPG will receive a plethora of DLC, including some sort of "Story Expansion Pass" that may see Cloud and company explore a brand-new territory...

This week, PlayStation 5 players were able to join their Xbox and PC counterparts for the first time in Halo: Campaign Evolved. Console gamers are able to use a classic Halo feature that the PC port seemingly lacks: split-screen co-op. However, a new PC mod restores access to this missing feature. A Halo: Campaign Evolved split-screen co-op mod was posted on Nexus Mods by user Jpurd. As noted by Jpurd, the mod doesn't do anything except unlock the local split-screen option that was already in the game. There are some drawbacks to this AI-created mod. It can only handle two players via split-screen mode even though the game can support 4-player co-op. Users also note that it only works if both players are using a controller, and the mod may be limited to Steam users. Anyone playing Campaign Evolved on PC Game Pass or who purchased a copy from the Microsoft Store may not be able to use the mod at all. The rollout of Campaign Evolved hit a snag last week when players who paid extra for early access on Xbox weren't able to jump into the game alongside PC and PS5 ahead of the official launch. Players were also upset about reports that they needed a PS Plus account to use split-screen co-op, but that turned out to not be the case. It's too soon to say how well Halo: Campaign Evolved will perform across all platforms, but the game's secret ending appears to tease a remake of Halo 2 as well. In the meantime, players can use these codes to claim free armor sets in Campaign Evolved...