A few weeks back, Dambuster Studios announced an upcoming update for Dead Island 2, with mention of its new Neighborhood Watch mode. On top of that, fans are now being treated to New Game Plus, which promises to be quite the grueling chall??enge for even the most ardent zombie killers.

A recent post on Steam from the developer talks about Patch 6, which should be rolling out soon, and is definitely one to watch out for if you're after a challenge. If you need a reason to dive back into Dead Island 2, then this could be it, especially since Dambus?ter seems keen to lure in anyone who thinks they've got the game down to pat.

The whole point of NG+ is to "mix up enemy encounters and make damn sure that even skilled DI2 vets face a seri?ous challenge." By the studio's own admittance, the update �p??articularly New Game Plus mode �"isn’t taking any prisoners." Ye have been warned.

Almost as though they're goading you on

Some change?s that are coming include zombies in new locations, new revenants, and tougher enemies in unexpected places. In a nutshell: the rule book has been casually thrown to the wolves. The zombie wolves, perhaps.

Here's how it's going to go down:

Once players arrive in Bel Air â€?New Game Plus skips the campaignâ€??™s prologue â€?they’re going to find the action very different. They’ll encounter familiar zombies in new locations, and some tougher zombies where they wouldn’t previously expect them. Even the basic walkers have had their health upgraded along with their damage, while Apex Zombie variants aren’t going to wait for their t??urn in the spotlight.

However, all is not lost:

Luckily, players come in with a few advantages. Not only can they bring in their existing ?skill cards and capabilities, but they’ll have more slots to fill in every category. This allows for builds players couldn’t create before, where they can explore new tactics and killer skill and weapon combos. Meanwhile, every weapon that drops in New Game Plus will be more powerful than those in the ?main game, with more fixed-rarity weapons to collect and wield. The team hopes this will encourage players to make the most of weapons that they might previously have left behind.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I found Dead Island 2's base game quite a tough experience. In fact, I never even completed the main campaign all the way t??hrough. With that knowledge, it's safe to assume Patch 6 might not be aimed at people like me. But who knows how I'll feel once the update actually starts rolling out.

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Sony revealed in a PlayStation Blog post today that the new Marvel's Spider-Man 2 update which adds an all-new New Game Plus mode will be released on March 7. The new update not only adds New Game Plus, but features new spidey suits, accessibility features,?? and updates to Photo Mo??de.

Suit Yourself

The new update brings Marvel's Spider-Man 2 to version 1.002 and adds New Game+ to the game. The new mode allows you to replay Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on a harder difficulty while carrying over all ??your suits and abilities. You can also utilize the mode to replay your favorite missions. There are also new unlocks in NG+ including Ult??imate Levels, Golden Gadget Styles, and more.

Several new suit styles for Peter's symbiote story suits have been added, and are unlocked via the NG+ Ultimate Levels. Marvel's Hellfire Gala suits have also been added for both Pe??ter and Miles. While those su?its are free, two new premium suits have also been added: the color Fly N' Fresh Suit pack that is pictured above. The pack includes both suits, 10 Photo Mode stickers, and 2 Photo Mode frames for $4.99.

Several big improvements have been added on the accessibility front as well. Audio Descriptions and S??creen Reader has been added to the game including Cinematic Captions and High Contrast Outlines.

The New Game Plus update for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 goes live on March 7 on PlayStation 5.

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Teyon has announced that RoboCop: Rogue City is getting a co??ntent update that will include new game plus, a new difficulty, and an Auto9 skin. It’s available now on PC, with the ??console versions getting it tomorrow.

RoboCop: Rogue City was a pleasant surprise last year. The licensed title went on to win a prestigious “On Zoey’s favorite games of 2023 list�award, one of the most unprestigious honors in the industry. One complaint I did have about the game is that I wanted to play it again after I completed it, but I didn’t want to start over from scratch. Now, it’s ??finally safe to reinstall it now that it will be getting new game plus.

On top of that, there’s a new, harder difficulty based on Murphy’s frequent utterance, “Th?ere Will Be Trouble.�Not much more has been revealed about the difficulty, but it’s safe to say it will be more difficult. Personally, I like playing as a walking tank, so I’m not sure being squishier will make the game more fun for me.

Finally, the Auto9 pistol gets a new skin once you complete the game. This one is gold plated, which is nicely garish. If you’re not familiar, RoboCop does allow you to pick up discarded guns off of enemies, but Murphy’s main sidearm never stops being effective.? Rarely would I use anything else, except when it came to boss battles. Howe??ver, not once did I stop and think it would be better if it was more ostentatious.

RoboCop: Rogue City is available for PC, PS5, an??d Xbox Series X|S. The new ga??me plus patch has been released on PC, with the console versions getting it tomorrow.

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In an interview with GQ, Starfield Director and Executive Producer Todd Howard confirmed the open-world RPG does,? in fact, have a New Game Plus mode.

Unfortunately, no actual details on the mode were provided. However, simple confirmation of the NG+ existing in Starfield is pretty exciting as it would be the first Bethesda Game Studios title to feature the mode. The NewGame Plus mod added?? NG+ support for Fallout 4, but otherwise, it has j??ust been a highly requested feature.

According to the interview with GQ, your skill traits and backstory perks when creating a character will add a unique and exciting twist on New?? Game Plus and incentivize continued and repeat play.

[caption id="attachment_398844" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bethesda Game Studios[/caption]

Even more content for Starfield with New Game Plus

Gamescom has given us an idea of how long we can expect to spend in Starfield. Bethesda's Head of Publishing, Pete Hines, even mentioned we could potentially spend hundreds of hours in a Starfield playthrough.

I'm very curious about exactly how New Game Plus will work. In an open-world adventure with over 1,000 planets to explore, a single playthrough will surely have plenty of content. I'm excited to see what sort of new features or content will be available by going on the journey again. Either way, now that I know Starfield has a New Game Plus mode, perha?ps I won't spend hours going back an?d forth on the starting traits I choose.

I suppose we'll know soon enough. Starfield releases on September 6 on PC and Xbox Series X|S. It will also be a day-one title on Xbox Game Pass. Players who pre-ordered the Premium Edition will get early access to Starfield on September 1.

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A whole new world

In a recent interview with IGN, Square Enix Director Hiroshi Takai and Combat Director Ryota Suzuki provided details on the intricate New Game Plus system for Final Fantasy XVI. Appropriately named Final Fantasy Mode, the system will change the game and introduce new features. Once you've beaten the game on either Story Focused or Action Focused mode, selecting New Game + from the title menu screen will all??ow you to select the new Final Fantasy mode:

"Replay the game in Final Fantasy mode with data carried over from a previous playthrough. In this mode, the level cap is raised to 100 but enemies ?are far more powerful. To aid you in your journey, the legendary "Ultima Weapon" is available for crafting. After starting, you will be unable to switch over to Story or Action Focused mode."

[caption id="attachment_387893" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Increased level cap, a new synthesis system, and more

Like most NG+ modes of the genre, lev??????????????????????????el, items, and money will carry over to the new start. Feature wise, players will be able to extend their level higher than before up to a new cap of 100. The levels aren't just for fluff, though. The wo??rld of Valisthea will be completely revamped in NG+, with tougher enemies who are also a higher level.

In the example provided in the interview, they showed an early zone in the game called Greatwood. The first time you experience this area it is inhabited by Hornets around level 11, with a Wyvern mid-boss located in the zone. When you traverse the Greatwood on Final Fantasy mode, it will be a bit different. Instead of Hornets, the zone will be home to level 44 Raptors. Instead of the Wyvern, the mid-boss will now be a Chimera. Our reviewer can confirm that upon completion the new Final Fantasy mode brings?? new enemy placements and difficulties. Even the type of enemies that spawn change in interesting ways through this new mode.

As you progress through the game again, you will be receiving a lot of the same equipment from yo?ur first playthrough. A new system will allow you to synthesize two duplicate pieces of equipment together ??to create one stronger variant. You'll also be able to craft the Ultima Weapon, which will more than likely be the most powerful weapon in the game.

It's great to see Square Enix taking NG+ to the next level. Typically NG+ can almost seem like a chore in most games. You play through the same exact game again with little or no changes. But games like NieR: Automata featured new gameplay and a new story with each subsequent playthrough, and made me genuinely look forward to playing again as opposed to dreading it. If done right, Final Fantasy XVI could have in?sanely high replay value with Final Fantasy mod??e.

Final Fantasy XVI releases exclusively on PlayStation 5 June 22.

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It's time for a new game (plus)

The New Game Plus update for God of War Ragnarok is live today, giving player??s a good reason to hop back in if they? didn't get enough the first time around. It adds a pretty decent amount of content for a new run too, from new armor to enchantments and more.

Today's PlayStation blog runs down the specifics, including the basics: this is NG+, so all your equipment, weapons, and skills will carry over from a previous save. This includes the Draupnir Spear, though it comes with a caveat. Sonic and Hex arrows will still require players to reach the point in the story where they become available. Also, areas requiring either the arrows or the Spear to reach will not unlock?? until you've reached the main questline's point where they become available. Sorry, still some backtracking.

Kratos' new duds

There's plenty of new things to unlock in a New Game Plus run of God of War Ragnarok, though. The cloak from the opening scene has been added as part of the Armor of the Black Bear set, which comes pre-equipped ?in NG+ runs.

Or if you want some challenge, you can strip down Kratos with the Spartan Armor, which confers no Perks, Stats, and is locked at Power Level 1. Or you can just transmog the look onto some good armor, to have the best of both worlds. The Ares and Zeus armor return from God of War (2018)'s New Game Plus as well, with new perks. Ares gives chances for Health Stones to drop on hit, while the Zeus armor turns Kratos into a glass cannon. The Spartan and Ares armor can be bought ??at the Huldra Brothers' Shop for Hacksilver, while Zeus Armor will require defeating Gná the Valkyrie Queen and finishing "certain" Remnants of Asgard in New Game Plus.

Additionally??, 13 existing armors are getting new color combinations and styles. A new shield, the Spartan Aspis shield, will also be at the brothers' shop.

A new cap

In New Game Plus, enemies will become more powerful. But hey, so will everyone's favorite video game father. All Level 9 equipment can be converted into Plus versions for more progression. Additionally, conver??ting equipment will provide a Gilded Coin, with which you can pick up one of the new Enchantments.

The Enchantments will let you mix and match even more, customizing your playstyle and perks for the p?erfect loadout. Additionally, B?urdens offer new challenges, for those who really want to feel the hurt.

Some new Progression Paths also open up,?? for more stat??s and rewards.

The expanding arena

The arena in Niflheim is also growing, allowing you to pick either Kratos or Atreus to play as, and free selection of a bunch of companions. (I've omitted them because of spoilers, but you can check the PS Blog for the details.)

New arena figh??ts are in, and even the endgame optional bosses are getting some new moves. Add on a new Black and White render mode, and there's a lot to find here in a second run of Kratos and Atreus' wacky, world-ending journey.

The New Game Plus update is out now for God of War Ragnarok.

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Ragnarok will return

The latest God of War game has been out for a bit now, and players are likely finishing up and watching credits roll over the holidays. And if they wanted a reason to start it all over again, they'll have it later on in 2023 too. Sony Santa Monica confirms that New Game Plus is coming to God of War Ragnarok next spring.

"We know many of you have been asking, so we're happy to confirm that New Game Plus will be coming to God of War Ragnarok in Spring 2023!" the tweet reads. More details will be? shared closer to the mode's actual r??elease.

//twitter.com/SonySantaMonica/sta??tus/1605971630609539073

No details have been given as to what the mode will officially entail. The 2018 reboot of God of War also got a New Game Plus mode down the line, so we can extrapolate a bit from that. The previous God of War's NG+ included a difficulty option, a handful of new armor sets and abilities, and some new attack patterns for enemies. It'll be interesting to see how much Ragnarok carries into its own New Game Plus, because the 2018 God of War's version is pretty hefty.

A new father-son adventure

On top of the New Game Plus mode, support has been rolling out steadily for God of War Ragnarok. Recently, Sony Santa Monica added a photo mode into the options. And early patches have hit a sizeable number of tweaks and fixes.

It's Sony's big game for the end of the year. But it's nice to see that Ragnarok will carry on into 2023, too. Hopefully fans get a little extra fun out of ?the game when the New Game Plus rolls out.

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