No Man's Sky developer Hello Games is celebrating N7 Day by adding Mass Effect's Normandy SR-1 back into the game for a limited time. Each year, N7 Day ce??lebrates the legendary BioWare franchise, and 2024 is no differe?nt.

This isn't the first time we've seen the Normandy in No Man's Sky. It was first released back in 2021, marking the launch of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. This cr??ossover makes tons of sense, so it's great to see it return.

Mass Effect's Normandy is Returning to No Man's Sky

With a trailer and a set of release notes, Hello Games confirmed that Mass Effect's Normandy SR-1 is finally back in the game to mark N7 Day. The Normandy will only be available in No Man's Sky for the next two weeks, making it yet another limited-time event for Mass Effect's iconic frigate.

Described as "a love-letter from one science fiction game to another," this No Man's Sky update comes with a revamped version of the mission released back in 2021. When completed, you'll add the Normandy to your fleet, which you can then send out on expeditions to? complete. You still can't p?ilot it, though. Disappointing, I know.

For the rest of N7 Day, players shouldn't expect anything too exciting from BioWare. The recent release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard has already seen the studio confirm it doesn't have any huge plans for a Mass Effect announcement, so as not to ??distract from its most recent release.??

The wait goes on for any news about the upcoming Mass Effect title. In years gone by, N7 Day has seen multiple teasers for ?the nex??t game in the series, yet it still feels as though we know very little about the game at the moment.

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Previously slated for the summer, a release date is officially in place for River City Girls 2's collaboration with Double Dragon. Billy and Jimmy Lee will make their way onto the mean streets as playable characters on November 12, 2024. 

The meat of the DLC is, of course, the ability to play as the hard-hitting protagonists of the Double Dragon series. Billy and Jimmy are totally unique fighters, bringing their own special moves to the fray. Players will be able to bust out Hurricane Kicks and Rising Knees as they make their way t??hrough the beat 'em up's story mode.

As previously reported, Billy and Jimmy will also be fully voiced. In River City Girls 2, those voices belong to the Game Grumps themselves, Dan Avidan (Billy) and Arin Hanson (Jimmy). The two are also teaming up for a new vocal song featuring music by River City Girls composer Megan McDuffee. 

Brawlin' boyz

Rounding it all out is the new dojo, Master Boro. As the screens and footage so far indicate, it looks like WayForward put in a lot of work to smoothly integrate the two worlds. Being one of the staples of the genre, it's a no-brainer to throw Double Dragon into the mix wherever possible, but it's nice to see it being done with the right amount of care and respect. Even if it all first emerged to the p??ublic as ?an April Fools' gag! 

When it launches, players can dive into the River City Girls 2 Double Dragon DLC on all availa?ble platforms. Crack your knuckles and get ready to fire ?it up in just six days on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. 

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The Ice Axe is not a new item to DayZ. It was added to the game a very long time ago and has since become a staple of the melee arsenal. However, DayZ Frostline and it??s focus on the icy land of Sakhal has made the Ice Axe more desirable to players.

It's not the most common item to find throughout Sakhal, so we're going to show you how to get and use the Ice Axe in DayZ Frostline.

Where does the Ice Axe spawn in DayZ Frostline: Sakhal?

If you're looking for the Ice Axe in DayZ Frostline: Sakhal, simply finding it on the ground will be your best bet. So, where exactly does it spawn? To find out, we can take a look at the game's loot economy files on the game's official GitHub.

This reveals some interesting information. The Ice Axe spawns in anything marked as a town or village by the game, and there's a minimum of nine on the map at any ??given time. This means you'll need to head into your nearest town and get looting, as you won't just find the Ice Axe out in the wilderness!

With t??his information in mind, it's also worth mentioning that you can always loot the Ice Axe from another dead player, who you may or may not have killed.

Finding the Ice Axe in the Scientific Briefcase

If you're struggling to find the Ice Axe around Sakhal, it's 100% guaranteed to appear in a Scientific Briefcase. These briefcases have a random chance to appear next to dead scientists anywhere on the map but are locked by default. To open them, you'll need to find the Scientific Briefcase Keys, which you can do with our guide here.

Because of the random nature of Scientific Briefcases, we wouldn't be counting on this to appear. Still, it's worth knowing about if you want to get the Ice Axe in DayZ Frostline: Sakhal.

How to use the Ice Axe in DayZ Frostline: Sakhal

So, you've got yourself an Ice Axe. What now? Strangely, DayZ Frostline doesn't add any new functionality to the weapon-tool hybrid, but it's as useful as ever. Equip it by dragging it from your inventory to your hotbar along the bottom ??of your screen, where you can use it for any of the following things:

• Opening cans, although it spills 20-40% of the food.
• Mining rocks to get Large Stones.
• Digging up worms from the ground to get fishing bait.
• Removing constraints from players.
• Attacking zombies and players as a melee weapon.
• Building Fences and Watchtowers.
• Dismantling player-built bases.
• Creating plots for fruits and vegetables.

Anything ?is possible in the future, so hopefully, Bohemia Interactive will give the Ice Axe more uses specific to Sakhal. An Ice Axe for an icy map -- it just makes sense.

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The Silent Hill 2 remake may have dominated much of the October survival horror discourse, but Crow Country remains an indie gem you should check out if you haven't had the chance. Plenty of folks have already, to the tune of 100,??000 copies sold. 

This not-so-macabre milestone comes just a week after Crow County made its debut on Nintendo Switch,?? and roughly six months after it first launched on Steam??. There are still more monetary med kits in store for the folks at SFB Games, too. In fact, the game hit 100k prior to this week's launch on PlayStation 4.

According to the press release, over two-thirds of the copies sold so far were on Steam. The?? rest were divided between the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and ?Switch versions. 

The numbers clearly blew SFB Games' Tom Vian's mind, too. "100k copies in under 6 months is far beyond our highest hopes for Crow Country," he said. Before thanking everyone who has played so far, he added, "It’s been inc?redible to see so many people enjoy the game and recommend it to eac?h other, especially now in the runup to Halloween."

It's true; now is undeniably the very best time to play Crow Country. If you ha??ve fond memories of PS1-era survival horror, it'll scratch that itch in both fresh and familiar ways. For those who have already plumbed its horrifying yet oddly comforting depths, there's also a bunch of merch on the way from Fangamer. The first round of items is set to launch on October 29, with more �including physical releases for PS5 and Switch �following some time in 2025. 

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Blizzard has released the need-to-know details about Diablo 4's upcoming Halloween event, which will run between October 29 and Novembe?r 5.

Diablo 4 recently released the Vessel of Hatred expansion, which has reinvigorated interest in the game. The new Spiritborn class is some of the most fun Diablo content in? years, so it's a great period to hop back into the action?.

Diablo 4 Halloween event details

In a Blizzard blog post, Diablo 4's Halloween event was confirmed as starting at 1??0 AM PT on October 29. The spooky celebrations will run until 10 AM PT on No??vember 5. Throughout this period, you can log in and claim some limited-time cosmetic goodies for free, as detailed below:

• October 29: The Recluse’s Host Mount
• October 30: Ichorflame Torch Mount Trophy
• October 31: Recluse’s Flask Mount Trophy
• November 1: Reclusive Trappings Mount Armor

If you miss the cosmetics on the above dates, don't worry - you can still log in before the event fini?shes on November 5 and claim them from the in-game store.

While the Diablo 4 Halloween event is active, Dungeon runs will be much more interesting, thanks to Meat or Treat. This "harrowing game of chance" allows Shrines to apply a surprise effect on top of its usual effect when activated. As Blizzard puts it, "Will the Shrine bestow unexpected riches upon you, or will your Dun?geon run go up in smoke?"

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Each year, October 23 is deemed Fallout Day, and this time around, Bethesda is celebrating in style. T??o kick off celebrations, the developer has made its multiplayer prequel free-to-play for a limited time.

It's fair to say that Fallout 76's 2018 launch was nothing short of a disaster. Controversy after controversy marred the release of what should have been an exciting period for the franchise. A multiplayer Fallout game - what could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, quite a lot, but Bethesda in the years since has released plenty of updates and expansions to make Fallout 76 a worth entry into the franchise.

Fallout 76 goes free-to-play until October 29

You've got until October 29 to try Fallout 76 for free across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, after which it will become pay-to-play again. This should be plenty of time for you to decide whether Bethesda's multiplayer open?? world is for you.

Throughout Fallout 76's free-to-play period, the game is available at a steep 75% discount on all platforms, bringing it down to just $9.99. If you've sat on the fence about trying Fallout 76 over the last few years, now's a great time to ??take the plunge.

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If you've been setting some spooky time aside this fall for Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion, yo??u'll want to go ahead and make some new plans.? Publisher XSEED Games announced a delay for the new entry that pushes it back to sometime in 2025.

According to the announcement, the delay was put in place "in the interest of improving game quality." When Corpse Party II launches next year, it will be availabl??????????????????????????e for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. 

In the meantime, fans of MAGES. and Team GrisGris's horror series can pre-order the game physically both in a standard and special edition. The latter is the Ayame's Mercy edition, which is priced at $79.99 and comes with a bunch of ghastly little tchotchkes. There's a "Save Yourself" blue LED candle that mirrors the in-game save points, a 64-page art book, a lenticular art card?, and more. 

Corse Party II takes the series previously known for its understated 2D visuals and gives it a full 3D overhaul. The story this time around follows high school friends Haruka Nanami, Nemu Takanashi, and Maria Hitsugi as they test a local urban legend while ?exploring the Amare Est Vivere Hospital. Of course, the legend of Ayame's Mercy turns out to be true. They wouldn't have a terrifying tale to tell otherwise, would they?

Now, they have a vengeful spirit to evade along with the rest of the horrors of the hospital's past, which are bubbling to the surface. If they want to survive, they'll have to dispel Ayame's curse for good. If that sound??s like a tall order, well, you've got more time to dwell upon it while we wait for the new launch ??date to arrive.

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There's no shortage of throwback beat 'em up games, and there's certainly no shortage of new games being made for old consoles. In the case of Vengeance Hunters, though, developer Nalua S?tudio has its sights set on a classic platform that doesn't get as m?uch attention: Neo Geo. 

While the side-scrolling brawler was developed with SNK's arcade/home system �specifically the Neo Geo AES, the home console version you might remember as being prohibitively expensive �it also has a date for current platforms. The colorful throwback side-scroller is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on October 28, 2024.

If this is your first time reading about Vengeance Hunters, here's a quick minute-long? lo??ok at its characters and how their beatdowns look in action:

True to its Neo Geo roots, actually purchasing a physical copy of Vengeance Hunters on its intended platform is going to cost you. The standa?rd version is priced at 349 Euros (about U??S$$382), with the special and limited editions set at 429 Euros (US$469). Folks who were lucky (and wealthy) enough to grow up paying out the nose for Neo Geo cartridges likely won't flinch, but this is a niche market nestled further within an even more niche market.

Price aside, it's still cool to see someone making new Neo Geo games in 2024. Thankfully, it's not the only option for this one, because Vengeance Hunters looks like a lot of fun! There's a badass brawler named Candy, a top-heavy robot named Golem, and a rowdy, robot-armed hoss named Loony. The animation looks decent and the bosses are suitably screen-filling. We'll see how it plays, with or without the pricey cart in ha?nd, later this month.

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A huge update is on the way to Sea of Stars with some oft-requested features in tow. Sabotage Studio has set the free Dawn of Equinox update for a November 12, 2024 launch, introducing local co-op and more ?on all platforms.

Sabotage detailed the hefty update in a press release, which calls this the studio's "fully realized vision" for the acclaimed RPG. The local co-op, for starters, lets up to three players tackle the adventure in its entirety, mastering timed? hits in a co-op environment along the way. 

Combat has been refined si?gnificantly along with this addition. Combo Points are now retained after battles, there have been balance updates, and Mystery Locks introduce new ways to break enemy spells. If this makes things too easy or too hard for you �or anywhere in between �n??ew difficult presets are available at the start of a new game. 

New horizons

Beyond quality-of-life improvements and a Quebecois localization, there are a few other major beats worth mentioning. Dawn of Equinox adds a revamped prologue that nix??es the flashback structure and directly implements combat for the younger heroes. There's also a brand n??ew cinematic during a pivotal moment for some extra impact. 

Need help finding some of those pesky collectibles and hidden challenges? There's an improved Parrot Relic for that. Finally, a new Speedrunner Mode Relic triggers features that make it easier to keep track of your personal quest to set a world record in Sea of Stars, or at least best your own time. 

Beyond all that, the free Throes of the Watchmaker DLC is due out in spring 2025. When it launches, players will be also able to dig into the new storyline and more with Dawn of Equinox's local co-op. 

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A month after launch, Vanillaware's Unicorn Overlord hit the 500k shipment milestone. Now, six month?s after release, ATLUS and Vanillaware are celebrating one million units sold around the wor?ld. 

Following the initial announcement, ??the official ATLUS West account shared the good news along with a special illustration. Vanillaware's Takashi Noma cooked up the following piece of art featuring Berengaria, Melisandre, and Rosalinde just for the occasion.

Unicorn Overlord first launched for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on March 8, 2024. Its 500k triumph arrived shortly after on April 1, doing so at a faster pace than Vanillaware's previous strategy/visual novel outing, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. For further comparison, 13 Sentinels didn'????????????????????????????t hit 1M in sales until almost exactly three years after its global launch.

Hopefully, this simply means that Vanillaware is getting the proper commercial recognition to back up all of its critical praise. 2013 side-scrolling action-RPG Dragon's Crown also moved over one million copies around the w??orld, so it's heartening to see George Kamitani and the rest of the team getting their flowers.

As ATLUS points out, those who want to try Unicorn Overlord for themselves can check out a five-hour demo. The demo is available on all platforms and save data can be carried over to the full game. Like all Vanillaware games, the art ??direction is absolutely stunning, and thankfully there's also a pretty darn gripping strategy game underneath it all. 

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Hifumi Kono's original 1995 Clock Tower game is finally making its way over to the U.S., and it's doing so two days earlier than Japan. WayForward's Clock Tower: Rewind revival?? is now set to launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC in the Americas and Europe on October 29, 2??????????????????????????024.

Outside of folks who have played the ROM or watched Shinya Arino brave its horrors on Game Center CX, most westerners likely first encountered the series on PlayStation. WayForward's update takes the Super Famicom classic and breathes new life into its horrifying hallways. The original gameplay is still in??tact along with the graphics and sound, but now there are some quality-of-life improvements in the mix along with added features. 

That fresh content can be found in Rewind mode. There's a new animated intro, as well as functions like save states, rewind (hey, it's in the title!), a music player, art gallery, and vocal songs by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and Emi Evans. There's also the aforementioned Clock Tower Commercial Sampler demo for a nice piece of video game history. You can get an idea of how it's shaping up in a recent gameplay vide?o:

It's very appropriate that Japan gets this one on October 31, but two days ear?lier ain't bad. Either way, it's the perfect time of the year to spend running like mad from Scis??sorman. 

Beyond the Clock Tower update, WayForward set a release window for River City Girls 2's Double Dragon DLC. Bimmy and Jimmy will join the brawl sometime this fall, which is a slight delay from the original summer plans. 

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It's been five years since free-to-play MMORPG Caravan Stories launched on PlayStation 4 in the west, and now it's time is nearly at an end.?? Tea?m Caravan and publisher Aiming announced plans to shut the PS4 version down on March 13, 2025.

The reasoning behind it is a familiar refrain, citing the inability to "continue offering satisfactory service" to their customers in today's update. The team?? thanked players for their time with the game and asked for their understanding regarding plans to end service early next year.

Prior to the North American launch on September 10, 2019, Caravan Stories made its PS4 debut in Japan and Asia a few months earlier on April 10. A Nintendo Switch version followed in March 2021, but stayed exclusive to Japan and was only li??ve for three? years. The iOS, Android, and PC versions are still kicking in Japan and Asia.

End of the road

Along with the end of service announcement comes the end of in-game currency sales. After the PS4 version shuts down, all those paid Phantasm Gems and Gold will be useless, but they "will not be repaid or returned to customers" per the announcement. Monthly PlaySta?tion Plus Perks will cont?inue to be delivered until the end of the day on March 12.

For those who plan to keep playing Caravan Stories until the sun fully sets, Team Caravan wants to make it as enticing as possible. Thus, following some maintenance today, they'll be updating to make "certain content permanent." You can read more about said update right here.

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Originally released on Steam in January, Home Safety Hotline puts you in the role of a phone operator helping people deal with the horrors? within their own homes. Now it's coming to consoles, and a date ha?s been revealed along with a new trailer.

As tends to be the case with all homeowner concerns, the horrors at hand tend to vary. One caller may be worried about the stability of their home, while another may be dealing with pests of an unkno?wn origin. Or there could be something much more sinister lurking around that dark corner downstairs. It's up to you, as a phone operator trapped in a retro aesthetic and tied to a specific user interface, to make the call and take responsibility for your decisions.

Developed at Night Signal Entertainment, Home Safety Hotline comes from NIGHT SIGNAL and A Wonderful Day for Fishing creator Nick Live?s. It's full of '90s technological approximations, plenty of lurking horror �the subject matter of which can be tweaked thanks to Phobi??a Toggles �and lo-fi hold music from composer David Johnsen.

In addition to the main game, the console release includes the new Seasonal Worker DLC. Set in 1996, this one places you in the questionably comfy call center chair of Rebecca four days before Christmas. Wit??h the holidays around the corner, a fresh slew of household hazards are on order.  

When Home Safety Hotline picks up the phone this time around, it will do so on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox?? Series? X|S, and Nintendo Switch. 

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Following an Early Access launch in March 2024, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist now has a date for its full release. The sequel to acclaimed 2021 Metroidvania Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights will leave Early Access and make its way to PlayStation 4, PlayS?tation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC on January 22, 2025.

Binary Haze Interactive is on publishing duties for the game from developers Live Wire and Adglobe. In Early Access, the sequel has netted Ove??rwhelmingly Positive review status on Steam, and you can get a feel for the journey through the Land of Fumes in the new trailer below. 

The story of Ender Magnolia is set decades after the events of the first ga??me. Artificial life forms now run rampant throughout the land, and it's up to a corruption-cleansing Attuner named Lilac to set things straight. Players will need to guide Lilac through the land to find the source of the discord between humans and Homunculi, taking on 10 possessed bosses and gaining their abilities in the process.

The 10 abilities earned from bosses each come with three alt-fires, so Lilac will essentially pick up 30 new skills over the course of Ender Magnolia. Up to four abilities ??can be equipped at a time, so you'll be able to mix up your attacks? however you see fit. The music pumping behind all the exploratory action once again comes from indie band Mili.  

Physical version?s will go up for pre-order in Japan soon, and there are also plans for other regions. We'll have to wait for more information on boxed releases outside o??f Japan, so stay tuned. 

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The Z Fighters are ready for Battle!

Bandai Namco released the latest update of Dragon Ball FighterZ earlier this week. Version 1.38 sees major changes to b??oth character balance and universal system mechanics.

The new balance patch is DBFZ's ??first in over a year and comes nearly seven months after the game received a long-awaited rollback netcode update on February 28. The patch was handled by Bandai Namco and the developer Arc System Works in a team effort.

Version 1.38 focuses on increasing p??layer options and game speed by buffing character damage and pressure sequences, and decreasing the effectiveness of over-centralizing mechanics. Other changes include buffs to anti-air attacks, invincible super moves, and the speed of normal attacks.

Overview of Changes

Z Assist (C Type)

C Type ??assists received a universal nerf by having their cooldown time increased. The move retains its ability to generate huge advantages and mixup opportunities but will no longer be the highly abusable tactic it has been in previous patches.

Sparking Blast

Players can now Super? Dash or per??form Special Moves out of any Special Move while Sparking Blast's effect is active. This change boosts the overall power level of all characters and allows players to have greatly increased freedom of expression when attacking or juggling their opponent.

Anti Air Attacks

Certain invincible moves that could only be stopped with?? crouching heavy attacks now have increased vulnerability to anti-air attacks, increasing player opt??ions for dealing with approaching opponents.

Super Moves

The invincibility of Super Moves for each character starts faster, g?iving them increased utility.

Special Moves

Light, medium, and heavy variations of Special Moves now count as separate attacks towards the Z combo limit. This ??change gives players enhanced freedom of expression in thei??r combo routes.

Normal Moves

Many normal attacks are now faster and remain active for a longer period of time. Some characters received new at??tack ??extensions or the ability to extend attacks even after missing the opponent.

Dragon Ball FighterZ Version 1.38 Full Patch Notes

Dragon Ball FighterZ Patch Notes 1.38: Battle version ?requires updating, meaning previ?ous version replays will no longer be viewable.

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EA and Respawn have set a September 17, 2024 launch date for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. If you've been holding out for the day Cal Kes??tis once again graces the previous generation of consoles, your wait is almost over.

Digital pre-orders are live for the PS4 and Xbox One versions, which clock in a little cheaper than their current-gen counterparts. This one has been optimized specifically for?? the capabilities of the respective platforms, and it's priced at $49.99. Those who pre-order will get a Combustion Blaster and an Obi-Wan-inspi??red robe. 

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor first launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and EA App on April 28, 2023. It essentially took what 2019's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order offered and gave us way more of the good stuff. 

Speaking of good stuff, Respawn is hoping to inject more of it into the PC port. When it initially launched, it was buggy and messed up enough to warrant an apology. Improvements have been made since, and the latest press release says more enhancements are on the way "in?? the coming weeks."

The upcoming patch promises updates to technical performance, controls, and other features. Players can also look forward to "a variety of quality-of-life improvements" when the fixes go live. Here's hoping everything goes smoo?thly both for the PC version and the previous-gen consoles, which have a pretty beefy game on their hands with this one. 

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Some believe that when you die, that's it. Lights out. Others believe there's an afterlife, and sometimes that afterlife needs a cloaked cat to keep it clean. The latter theory holds water in Crypt Custodian, a top-down Metroidvania that hits PlayStation 4, PlayStation ?5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nint??endo Switch, and PC on August 27. 

You can see a sample o??f its broom-bashing gameplay in a new relea??se date trailer:

When a mischievous cat named Pluto dies, their subseq?uent meeting with the Afterlife Guardian doesn't go so well. Rather than being treated to a relaxing afterlife, Pluto is sentenced to be the janitor of the afterworld for the rest o?f eternity. Thankfully, it seems as if Pluto might be up to the task, thanks to the power of beating up monsters with a broom. 

It also looks like there are some other weapons and upgrades to help Pluto along the way, like the Broomerang Dash ability showcased in the trailer. It's one of those fun traversal powers that lets you toss something and then dash to its position. You can mix and match upgrades throughout, and use new abilities ?to open up more of the world in classic Metroidvania fashion. 

It's all held together with what appears to be a pretty lively style and some big bosses to contend with. Developer Kyle Thompson (Islets, Sheepo)—who makes Metroidvanias with his brother Eric handling the music—is bringing Crypt Custodian to life with publisher Top Hat Studios. Ho??pefully, their adventure is as simple and c??lean as it looks. 

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Following an action-packed demo, a launch date has been locked in for Iron Meat. Heavily inspired by Contra with? an extra helping of body horror, Retroware's run-and-gunner hits consoles and PC on September 26,?? 2024.

When Iron Meat touches down, it'll be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, itch.io, and Epic Games Store. There's also an exclusive limited edition on the way to PS5 and Switch from Strictly Limited. These will be the only physical versions released around th??e world.

??You ??can see more of the pulsating, oozing 2D action in the release date trailer:

Strictly Limited is dubbing its physical release of Iron Meat a "Speed Run," as it will arrive day and date with the digital release. They promise "no pre-order or additional waiting time," with more details to come soon. 

I really enjoyed the couple of stages I got to play of Iron Meat. It sticks incredibly close to the template Konami's Contra series provided, but the action set ??pieces??, enemies, and boss designs left me wanting to see what else it has in store. 

Also like Contra, Iron Meat lets two players get together for some classic couch co-op. There are 30 unlockable skins, as well, each with interchangeable parts. Now you won't have to run and gun through the whole thing looking like a dollar store Probotector. I may come for the gory side-scrolling action, but I'm willing to stay for a little Iron Meat fashion mix-and-matching. 

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Normally, it would be crass and undignified for me to tell you to "get your Big Boner ready" for a video game. Not so with Shadows of the Damned, the remastered version of which is set to launch on Oct??ober 31, 2??024.

Considering the themes and overall aesthetic of Garcia Hotspur's hellish journey �a guy toting a demon bone-shooting Revolver, dubbed the 'Boner' �Halloween is the perfect time for Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered to debu?t. It'll be av??ailable on pretty much everything, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Some of the new features are on display in what might already be one of my favorite remaster trailers. Check out the new costumes and revel in the absurd credits given to executive director Suda51? and creative producer Shinji Mikami throughout. 

The trailer also serves as a nice reminder that Shadows of the Damned has enemy designs by none other than Q Hayashida, the manga author behind Dorohedoro. It's obvious when it all comes together.

In addition to those fabulous new out??fits â€?Demonio Garcia, Ocho Corazones, Placa Garcia, and Kamikaze Garcia â€?the trailer touts New Game+ mode and 4K support. A??s the trailer reminds us repeatedly, WELCOME TO HELL, PRE-ORDER NOW! Digital pre-orders unlock early access to the game, letting you dig your spurs in up to three days ahead of launch. 

Released back in 2011, Shadows of the Damned is another entry in the storied lineage of video games about getting your girlfriend back from some nasty dudes. With the pedigree behind it, though, it's no surprise that it's also one of the most buckwild of the bunch. It sounds like Suda51 doesn't want to mess with a good thing,?? so we'll see if Hell holds up on Halloween.&n??bsp;

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The next action-RPG from developer FuRyu is Reynatis, which is currently set to launch around the world on September 27, 2024. Those looking forward to it will have plenty to dig into beyond the full game itself, because nine free updates are planned for post-launch release.

NIS America shared some vague details along with the announcement. According to the press release, Reynatis players can look forward to a "secret episode," as well as new story episodes for lead characters Marin Kirizumi and Sari Nishijima. Aside from that??, all we know is we can expect "more action, magical clashes, and additional story insights." 

A handful of new screenshots debuted with the news, and NIS Amer??ica promises more information on free updates in the future.

Set against the backdrop of a magic-infused depiction of Tokyo, Reynatis follows a wizard nam??ed Marin as he runs into Sari in Shibuya. Sari is an officer of the M.E.A., an organization tasked with regulating magic and reining in wizards. Magic killed Sari's sister, thrusting her into the magic enforcement role. Meanwhile, Marin seeks liberation and additional power. Sounds like a recipe for clashing personalities and motives, if you ask me. 

These story beats work their way into the ga??me's exploration and combat system. In Suppression Mode, Marin can hide his identity and explore freely. Switching to Liberation Mode on the fly lets Marin unleash his pow??erful magic for some cinematic action. Doing so, however, also attracts the attention of the M.E.A. 

We'll have to wait until closer to launch to find out how that story dynamic expands with the nine updates planned so far. When Reynatis arrives, it'll be a?vailable on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, a??nd PC. 

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Weekly Famitsu magazine recently dropped the reveal for Double Dragon Revive, a 3D take on the classic beat 'em up series. It arrives by way of developer Yuke's, which worked on Rumble Roses, as well as a bunch of WWE games up to 2018's WWE 2K19, among other titles. Now an official website and Steam page are live for the brawler, which is flex?ing with all its might for a 2025 launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. 

Publisher Arc System Works delivered the first look at the new entry in the teaser trailer below.?? 

If your first thoughts when a new Double Dragon game is announced go straight to Abobo, don't worry; he's here, even if his head isn't roughly the same size as his torso anymore. Abobo isn't the only musclebound monstrosity gunning for the Lee brothers. Revive promises that good ol' Bimmy and Jimmy will get to face off against "a variety of powerful foes from their past." From the looks of it, the latest entry has re??tained a sense of humor, so we'll see how many of those classic enemies end up making a revamped appearance. 

Double Dragon Revive is looking to bring new players into the mix with simple controls and a more modern balance, while also being "more than a simple button-masher." Hey, j??ust try and stop me from mashing buttons!

The announcement mentions that the staff involved have experience working on Arc System Works fighting games, so maybe the combat will go a bit deeper than some other entries. All? I need to know is that I can pick up weapons and kick people into refrigerators and dumpsters. More often than?? not, it's the simple things that keep us going.

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NIS America and Nippon Ichi Software recently announced Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, and now the strategy-RPG has its first trailer. Look for this entry to hit PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo ?Switch, and PC via Steam around the world in 2025, and check out a snapshot of the adventure to come below.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero follows a gifted young girl named Marona, who has the ability to speak to Phantoms. While sailing across the oceanic world of Ivoire, a fleet of ghost ships attack and force Marona and her friend Apricot to leap into action. Together, they work to a??ssemble the crew of legend that once famously defeated these nefarious spirits. 

Using Marona's unique skills, you'll be able to recruit Phantoms and combine them with objects, Gadgets, and even Marona herself. Phantom Brave's combat takes place on a gridless battlefield upon which you can put your recruited Phantoms to work. There's also a character creation feature, random dungeon exploration for additional leveling, and other concepts straight out of NIS's Disgaea series. 

Phantoms of future past

If you're keen on exploring previous adventures, NIS America has a limited time discount in place to celebrate the announcement of The Lost Hero. Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle is included in Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1 along with Soul Nomad & the World Eaters, and the bundle is currently $9.99 on the Nintendo eShop through July 7.  There's also an 80 percent discount on Phantom Brave PC on Steam until July 11. 

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KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT is a side-scroller that lives up to its beefy subtitle, starring a character who looks like someone slapped a cat's head on a Cho Aniki screenshot. Following up on its ?March 2024 launch on Steam, developer Kamo??????????????????????????tachi's absurd action game is now on the way to consoles.

There's no date in place at the moment, but KinnikuNeko is currently eyeing a release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Kamotachi promises "many improvements and features," and th??e console release will coincide with a "great update" for the Steam version. 

We'll have to wait and see what all those improvements and features stack up to be. In the meantime, you can try it out for yourself on Steam, which has a demo available to download for free. The full ga?me is priced at $11.99 and has garnered "Very Positive" reviews since its March debut.

The premise of KinnikuNeko is about what you might expect after looking at a screenshot or two. The ?titular KinnikuNeko is very accurately describe?d as "a cat with the body of a bodybuilder," and it's up to him and his friends Lemon and Keita to stop a massive alien invasion of Earth. Naturally, KinnikuNeko will be using his absolutely explosive muscles to put the diabolical plans of General Pitaya and her henchmen to rest.

Honestly, all you really need to know is "cartoon cat have beefy body" and you're most of the way there. The wait for?? the console versions should give us plenty of time to get our own bodies in shape ahead of the alien onslaught. 

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Sony has announced that the coming weekend will offer PlayStation players free access to online multiplaye?r modes in games that they own. The PlayStation Plus free weekend access is set for June 22-23.

While PS Plus�online multiplayer feature will be free for all players this weekend, it is important to understand that the free access is solely for on?line multiplayer gaming, and no other PS Plus benefits will be free this weekend, such as access to Game Catalogue. This also means that you must own the video games you want to ?try out the online multiplayer modes for.

Subscription to a PlayStation Plus tier is generally required across many games on the PlayStation in order to play online multiplayer modes. Owning a video game on the console is not enough for some titles to gain access to multiplayer modes, with titles such as Helldivers 2, EA Sports FC 24, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, GTA Online, and many more requiring a PS Plus subscription.

However, there are also games available on PlayStation that do not require any PS Plus subscription to gain access to the online multiplayer modes. Games such as Fortnite, Call of Duty Warzone, and Rocket League give players access to multiplayer modes without requiring an active?? PS Plus subscription.

PlayStation X/Twitter account’s official announcement carries the promo picture for this upcoming free multiplayer weekend, where for some reason, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is featured alongside NBA 2K24, and EA Sports FC 24. Modern Warfare 2 came out back in 2022, and its successor Modern Warfare 3 came out last year in November 2023. Regardless, the free multiplayer weekend can be utilized to try out multiplayer modes for games you own.?? Wha?t are you planning to play this weekend?

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Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and his team at Mistwalker, including legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu, combined forces once again to unleash Fantasian on Apple Arcade in two parts in 2021. Naturally, that means the audience was inherently limited, but now that it's finally expanding to other platforms, Sakaguchi shared some thoughts. 

In a statement on Fantasian's official English social accounts, Sakaguchi started off by saying that he always wanted Fantasian to be an "especially long-standing title," and he cites that longevity as one of the strengths of digital games. "I developed Fantasian thinking that it could become my final work before retiring, so it?? has a special place in my heart," he continued. 

Sakaguchi added that being able to rebuild Fantasian at Square Enix and offer it to a wider audience is "truly a blessing." Beyond the exploration and turn-based combat, a lot of the appeal of Fantasian comes down to its beautifully bespoke nature. The backgrounds consist of hand-crafted dioramas, over 150 of which were scanned into the game. Sakaguchi closed out his statement with a?? nod? to all this loving, laborious work, saying, "This title is an amalgamation of the souls of the diorama craftsmen, Uematsu compositions, and of course, the game developers." 

The soul of fantasy

Square Enix is helping Sakaguchi and his team revitalize the RPG as Fantasian Neo Dimension. The new version keeps the story and gameplay intact while adding in some additional features, including English and Japanese voiceovers and more difficulty options. It's? currently set for a 2024 rel?ease on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

As great as exclu??sives can be, it's even better when more people have a chance to enjoy a game you've worked so hard on over the years. Here's hoping this is far from Sakaguchi's ?final fantasy.

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The waters have been choppy for Captain Blood, a pirate action game that first reared its head back in 2004. It was hit with a number of delays and other issues after that, including a resurgence in 2010 that had it playing like God of War, and now it's back and set to launch sometime this fall??.

According to the "Re-Reveal" trailer via IGN, developers Seawolf Studio and General Arcade are prepping Captain Blood for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Thus far, the footage appears more or less like it did when it was aiming for over-the-top God of War-style combat, offering a new look at the gameplay in its latest trai??ler.

You can compare that to the official trailer Fulqrum Publishing shared in 2010. While the old trailer is more chock-full of gory violence, its overall aesthetics are in line with the current iteration of Captain Blood. In the latest des?cription, publisher SNEG notes the "several iterations" the game went through in the early 2000s and beyond, saying, "We are excited to bring it back, combining its original glory with a series of modern improvements for today's gamers."

Blast from the past

Game designer Stanislav Costiuc �who has worked on games at Ubisoft, among other companies �provided an overview of the stormy sea that is Captain Blood over at his blog back in 2013. Beyond simply scrapping the original project to move onto a more graphically violent version, previous publisher Playlogic eventually kicked off a legal battle over the Captain Blood IP, among other properties. This derailed plans ?to ship the game as it was, thus forcing it to miss its promised 2011 launch date.

Now, like a time capsule bobbing up to the ocean's surface, Captain Blood is back, and we'll purportedly get to play it relatively soon. A complet??e build of the earlier game has been hanging around online for the past couple of years, so those who have played that will be a??ble to see just how substantially, if at all, this version differs. Whether or not it's actually any good, it's not often we get to see an ostensibly canned game claw its way back from a watery grave like this. 

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It was almost a year ago that we learned of modern console port plans for Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble 3. Now ININ has come through with a date, opening the umbrella?? for a smooth glide to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox consoles on July 11, 2024.

With that lovely news comes an appropriately bubbly release date trailer, showing some footage of the port and promising "many quality-of-life enhancements." Please, enjoy another pre-release peek at Bub and Bob in their stout little human forms and prep for the arrival of the Rainbow Islands sequel below.

As for what those enhancements are, the updated port has added in the usual retro bells and whistles, namely the inclusion of save states and the ability to rewind gameplay. There are also shaders and filters that aim to recreate the experience of playing on a CRT screen. Beyond that, the hook here is very much the abi??lity to play and own a relatively obscure?? entry in Taito's storied series.

There's no mention of including the other versions �which spanned Atari ST, Amiga, Game Boy, and NES �so it looks like we're just getting the PC Engine/Turbografx-16 version of Parasol Stars. That's fine and dandy, especially considering the fact that it's priced at a cool $9.99. Nintendo Switch pre-orders are live now and 10 percent off until July 12, with Xbox pre-orders to follow on June 19. The game can also be wishlisted on PlayStation. 

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After launching a free update with an orchestrated soundtrack and more in March, Slay the Princess is getting ready to introduce even more content. Cue Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut, billed as the definitive edition and due?? out on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch,?? and PC this fall. 

According to publisher Serenity Forge, the new stuff adds up to "over 35 percent more content overall." ?Additions include three new chapters, expansions that introduce changes to familiar routes, new princesses, and a completely new ending. Those route expansions have more than doubled the length of The Den, The Apotheosis, and The Fury.

There's also a gallery for reliving everything from your greatest victories to your darkest deaths, as well as over 2,500 newly voiced lines by Jonathan Sims an?d Nichole Goodnight and over 1,200 more of Abby Howard's hand-drawn frames. 

With?? the new version comes some new physical releases for PlayStation 5 and Switch. The standard edition, pictured below, packs a copy of the game with a sticker sheet and a card to download t?he original soundtrack.

The real whopper is the Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut Collector's Edition, which includes all ??the standard edition content and much more. It includes a knife emblem bookmark, acrylic standee, reflective lenticular and mirror sticker sheet, severed arm enamel pin, illusion keychai??n, and the centerpiece: a seven-inch Princess Statue. 

Even with all t??hese changes, don't forget that you?? still gotta slay that princess. Get to it. 

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Somehow, it's been over 10 years since Volgarr the Viking delivered its brutal brand of hack-and-slash platforming. Now it's back for another round of glorious battle in Volgarr the Viking II, which is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5?, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Ni??ntendo Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG on August 6, 2024.

You can see some of what developer Crazy Viking Studios has learned since releasing its debut game back in 2013 in the an??nouncement trailer below.

It's wild to think about how many similarly challenging indie games have been thrust into players' hands since the original Volgarr launched. The space is more crowded than ever before, and it's also full of ?a ton of quality efforts within the same genre. As such, Crazy Viking Studios has evolved in some ways and is looking to offer players the means to hone their skills before put??ting them to the ultimate test on the battlefield.

Among those modern upgrades are features like practice mode, checkpoints, save profiles, and even the option to run through with unlimited continues. These additions may not wholly sate Volgarr's bloodlust, though, so you'll eventually want to try a run without them to see everything the sequel has to offer. As the description states, foregoing these "modern comforts" will allow you to unlock everything Volgarr the Viking II has to offer. 

Volgarr the Viking II was initially unveiled as part of this week's Guerrilla Collecti?ve showcase. It's nice to see the release date land in that August sweet spot, giving us plenty of time to sharpen our steel again with the first game before diving ??into the second. 

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Gaddy Games first brought the survival crafting action of Dig or Die to Steam Early Access back in March 2015, followed by the full launch in July 2018. Now, nearly a decade after its initial Early Access debut, publisher Blitworks Games revealed that Dig or Die is digging (and dying) on over to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox?? One, and Xbox Series X|S.

You can see more of what awaits in Dig or Die in the new Console Edition trailer below.

Dig or Die is another cautionary tale that warns of the risks inherent to crashing your spaceship on a hostile planet. While you? attempt to rebuild your ship and escape, you'll need to find a way to survive through crafting and, particularly afte?r the sun sets, fending off hordes of vicious creatures.

There's a lot of playing around with physics to be had here. Beyond just building structures, Dig or Die tasks you with maki??ng sure you actually do so thoughtfully. Build without care or consideration and your structures run the risk of collapsing, pushi??ng your escape back even further. There are also water cycles—including threats of rain, underwater rivers, and other aquatic obstacles—that play into the integrity of your base and your basic survival. ;

Down in the underground

Outside of the main areas, Dig or Die is full of procedurally-generated locales, so the layouts of everything from the surface to the depths of ca??ves can change each time you play. There are also custom game modes that let you start out under a massive ocean or in a world made up of f?lying islands. Or simply skip all the exploration and play the stripped-down Base Defense mode for concentrated building and defending. 

You can dig and/or die when Dig or Die hits consoles on June 5, 2024.

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