Secret Level, the animated anthology series set in the world of famous video games by Tim Miller's Blur Studio of Love Death and Robots fame, is finally (all) out.

There are some gems here, but the overall output is rath?er unbalanced. Let's rank all the episodes in a way no one on the Internet will dare disagree with, shall we?

15. PAC-MAN: Circle

Remember Bomberman: Act Zero, the reimagining of the c?lassi??c for the Xbox 360 that seems to have mistaken one of the most immediately recognizable characters in gaming history with a cyberpunk version of the Unabomber? Everyone loathed the new rendition so much they condemned it to serve only as perfect cautionary tale against unnecessary gritty reboots.

I assume the people behind PAC-MAN circle looked at Bomberman: Act Edgy and thought, "It was so close; it just neede?d even more edge." The result is something so mind-bendingly counterintuitive that you'll need to see to believe. If you're looking for an inexplicably dark origin story featuring extremely creepy-looking characters and ridiculous amounts of gore �yes, I am talking about that Pac-Man �then this is the one for you. If you're looking at something that will make you ask important existential questions, such as "Is this real?" And "No, really, is this really real? then this is also the one for you. If you're looking into trolling old folk by telling them Pac-Man has been secretly one of the vilest entities in gaming this entire time, and that they're evil for letting you play it as a kid, then this is defini?tely the one for you.

If you're not looking for the most ill-advised? concept and execution for a short I'?ve ever seen, then this is probably not for you.

14. Crossfire: Good Conflict

Crossfire's Secret Level and PAC-MAN: Circle sit on opposite ends of the bad spectrum. Whereas one is an absolutely bizarre and quite disrespectful adaptation, Crossfire leans too close to the (highly lacklus?ter) source material.

Good Conflict features little more depth than an actual Crossfire match, and none of the excitement. I remember watching the trailer for Crossfire X �the first Crossfire title to put emphasis on a single player campaign �and feeling pretty hyped about it. That game turned out bad, but it sure did show promise for an adaptation that could capture the fun of a soft Metal Gear Solid rip-off. It doesn't. Good Conflict just shows a shootout between two different teams by the numbers, w?hich is neither interesting nor fun.

13. Playtime: Fulfillment

If Arcane taught us that the best way to adapt a video game to the big or small screens is to perhaps ignore all semblance of the actual game, then Playtime: Fulfillment is the student desperately trying to rebel and do the exact opposite. Either that, or it's a straight-up PlayStation ad. The animation is good, but everything gets so bog?ged down by the visual noise of as many cameos as yo?u can find that you can barely even pay attention to the incredibly thin plot.

At best, Playtime: Fulfillment will go down in history as an unnecessarily extended version of the "Long Live Play" PlayStation 3 ad from a while ago �an excuse to show you a bunch of famous PlayStation characters doing things. At worst, we'll remember it as a Ready Player One ?ripoff. Most likely, however??, we'll just forget about it.

12. Mega Man: Start

The PAC-MAN episode had me very scared for Mega Man for a long while as I would only learn his fate upon the release of Secret Level's second half. The good news is they didn't massacre our boy by turning him into a grimdark hero v?ia a grotesque origin story. The bad news is that ?the episode isn't great, either �albeit its biggest problem is incidental.

Mega Man's most obvious problem is that it's a very simple origin story, one featuring zero actual Mega Man action. The most insidious problem �and the one the m??akers are not to blame for �is that its animation, though good, can't help but to look like the millions of infinitely cursed clips of AI trying to do real CGI animation currently plaguing every inch of the Inte??rnet. Again, I'm pretty sure Studio Blur isn't using AI, so this is probably just a case of extreme bad luck.

The actor portraying Dr. Light sounds like a good version of the infamously poorly voice-acted Dr. Light from Mega Man X, and I'm alway??s here for a good tale of redemption.

11. Spelunky: Tally

Tally features animation that many are likely to enjoy since it's highly reminiscent of the one seen on Arcane. The episode is consistent w??ith the tone of the game, and also manages to add a neat little heartwarming plot to it. It's a rather short episode, one that doesn't do anything spectacular, but it checks all the boxes a?nd does not overstay its welcome.

10. Unreal Tournament: Xan

If you've played the original Unreal Tournament, you'll know Xan is the hardest NPC to beat, but he's also a robot, meaning that the only sensible origin story for him to have would be "he's a bot made to mess everyone up". I guess I'd be down to see an episode where he gets improved u?pon further and further as he frags the cast of the original game, but that's not it.

They made Xan's story one about a robot uprising, but one that's, somehow, good. In the end, Xan wins not because he's the strongest?? but because he hacks the system. The episode's action isn't particularly riveting, nor does it feature any of the game's beloved maps, but the conclusion is especially bonkers as you probably don't want an episode about a competitive shooter promoting cheating.

9. Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen's Cradle

D&D's episode features what could've been a very abridged look at a D&D campaign told by a very edgy Dungeon Master. The people behind Secret Level either failed to realize or neglected what's giving people a newfound love for D&D. Shows like Critical Role, the movie Honor Among Thieves, and Baldur's Gate 3 have caught the hearts of so many because of their fun shenanigans. Queen's Cradle has decent action, but it's just so incredibly dark and dour that you should probably ponder a bit before recommending it to a current D&D fan.

8. Exodus: Odyssey

This one tells the story of a father who'd really stop nowhere to rescue his daughter, but there's a twist �a time twist. You see, we're not talking about finding a girl in a different country, but rather in the far reaches of space where she's aging at a faster rate than he is. If that sounds a little too much like Christopher Nolan's Interstellar it's because, well, it's because it is, but there's a silver lining. Though it's not original, or particularly riveting, Odyssey is less than 15 minutes long, meaning it also cuts down a lot of the extra stuff making Interstellar? one of the most bloated Sci-Fi movies of all time.

7. Sifu: It Takes a Life

Secret Level's episodes are short and thus better used to tell a small story set in the world of a game rather than explain the entire concept of the game's universe. Sifu's It Takes a Life chooses to condense the story of the game into a single 10-min??ute or so episode??, and the result is uneven.

The action is cool, it does a good job of explaining the character's particular abilities, but it also ends up feeling too close to the game �a problem in a post-Arcane world. You migh?t enjoy it whether or not you care a?bout the game, but this one certainly won't be world-changing for anyone.

6. Honor of Kings: The Way Of All Things

The plot of this episode is very simple. Possibly taking cues from The Seventh Seal, The Way Of All Things pits a regular person against a seemingly unbeatable opponent in a match of a??n insultingly simple game where everything is at stake.

If you're looking for a visual feast, then you've come to the right place. Honor Of Kings does an excellent job of showing a simple match of GO really is affecting a whole kingdom. Besides the visual spectacle, though, The Way Of All Things tells an unoriginal �if decent �??tale of self-sacrifice.

5. Armored Core: Asset Management

Asset Management's greatest asset is Keanu Reeves, who just doesn't seem like he'll be slowing down anytime after he began his renaissance with the original John Wick, but that's not all. This episode features a rather simple plot, but does a great job of capturing the essence of Armored Core's action, and even ??has some space to feature a nice little twist in the end.

The only downside here is the unnecessary amount of darkness that so many episodes of Secret Level seem to hav??e been injected with, but it works better here than in the other episodes, w??hich are also suffering from this malaise.

4. Concord: Tale Of The Implacable

When the first Secret Level trailer revealed Concord would be a part of the series even though the game had already been pretty much cancelled by Sony, I thought, "I'd be so funny if this turned out to be the best episode". It's not the be?st o??ne, but it's pretty damn good.

Tale Of The Implacable is a visually gorgeous tale about space pirates, betrayal, and comradery that masterfully averted feeling like a Guardians Of The Galaxy clone. There's good action to remind you of Concord's gameplay, but Implacable is mostly its own �good �thing.

This one will probably leave the few who got to enjoy Concord on a bi?ttersweet note, but at least they're getting a decent sendoff this time around.

3. Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear

Remember me complaining about the strange darkness polluting some of these episodes? Well, And They Shall Know No Fear doesn't suffer from that, and not because it's darkness-free. It's because the darkness makes sense here. The Warhammer episode is a simple and brutal tale of what I assume everyday life in that universe is, and it works. The action is great, the ??grit doesn't feel out of place, and it still manages ??to provide a perfect introduction to the main character.

The only possible downside here is that the episode feels a bit too much like Astartes, the famous fan-made Warhammer 40,000k short from a few years back. Still, Astartes was ??good, and this one is better, so I won't be complaining?? much about that.

2. The Outer Worlds: The Company We Keep

If you're going into The Company We Keep expecting the fun times you'd naturally get from The Outer Worlds; I must warn you're about to have a surprise �but not necessarily a bad one. The Company We Keep isn't grim?dark and features no action?, but it packs one hell of a gut punch.

It's a story about unr??equited love in a universe swallowed and nearly-digested by greed and boundles??s ambition. It's a great episode, one whose darkness stems more from its themes than from its visuals, a problem plaguing many of the episodes in this series.

1. New World: The Once and Future King

I don't much care for the New World, so I definitely wasn't expecting to get completely floored by The Once and Future King.

I don't want to spoil anything about it, so I'm just going to say that New World: The Once and Future King is hilarious, features an elegant an??d constructive lesson regarding both gamer entitlement and the dredge that is colonialism, and ties it all up with a surprisingly heartwarming ending.

Secret Level's New World episode is? a masterclass in (short)storytelling that I hope th??e people looking forward to doing similar stuff should take right now.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Game Director Dmitriy Grigorenko has confirmed that mod support wi?ll be disabled in online public matches.?

This change will come into effect from the gam?e's "next big update in December," although no exact date ha??s been given yet.

Space Marine 2 mods blocked in public matches

In a statement released on Steam, Grigorenko confirmed that the decision had been mad??e to block mods in public matches because Saber Interactive's "data shows that a non-negligible amount of recent server stability issues are related to mods, and that instabi?lity impacts even those users who don’t have mods installed."

The problems don't end there, either. According to Grigorenko, some user reports claim that " their save files were corrupted after playing alongside players with mods." While it's sad to see mods blocked in public matches, the reasoning is solid. For the long-term health of Space Marine 2, it's realistically the only decision the stud?io could have made.

Space Marine 2 mods aren't going away, though

The good news is that Space Marine 2 mods aren't going away completely, and their existence clearly matters a lot to developer Saber Interactive. Grigorenko's statement acknowledges that mods "will no doubt contribute to this game's longevity," which is why they'll still be available for use in? private Operations lobbies.

Saber Interactive will "provide all necessary server infrastructure so you can play online with you?r friends with mods," with mods c??onfirmed to work in the upcoming custom Eternal War lobbies.

The statement ends with a commitment to "providing an easy entry point to our backend for games with mods installed," as well as "releasing some of our tools to modders so they can develop mods with greater ease." Sure, you can't use them in public matches, but it sounds like Space Marine 2 mods will only get better going forward.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive has confirm??ed that Public Tes??t Servers are to be added to the game in a future update.

In a message spearheaded ?by Game Director Dmitriy Grigorenko, it?? was confirmed that this will allow players to "try out major balancing updates and make your voices heard before they are pushed onto public branches."

Space Marine 2 rolls back balance changes, Public Test Servers confirmed

Last week, Space Marine 2 released its 4.0 patch, and to say players weren't happy is an understatement. Unpopular weapon nerf?s and a higher difficulty curve all around had gamers?? up in arms, leading some to take to the virtual streets in a form of protest as old as time: Steam review bombing.

Space Marine 2 fans can officially put down their pitchforks; the new 4.1 update to the game rolls back those controversial changes, with Grigorenko claiming he "forgot that once the game com?es out, it's no longer a dev's game. It's yours first and foremost."

To avoid repeating the mistake with future balance updates, Saber Interactive confirmed that the aforementioned Public Test Servers will be coming to Space Marine 2 in "?early 2025." However, no further timeline has been given for this as of yet.

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After a praise-worthy launch, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 shows no signs of slowing down. The game already teased a new PvE Operation for October, and now players can get their first glimpse at what the Space Marines will be facing down on Kadaku: a fearsome Hierophant Bio Titan. But alongside a preview of the Ultramarine's&n??bsp;next outing, Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive reaffirmed?? plans for the year ahead.

Space Marine 2 offers a cooperative PvE mode called Operations. Each Operation is like a campaign mission, but players level custom Space Marines and are encouraged to group up. The game launched with six Operations available, but Space Marine 2 laid out respectable plans for live-service content updat??es?? over time. Now, with the first piece of new content on the horizon, players can get an idea about how they'll be serving the Emperor over the next 12 months.

That Hierophant Bio Titan is one big bug

The Tyranids are already a terrifying adversary who can consume and r??econstitute biomass to overcome any obstacles encountered. That biomass reconstitution can take any form the Xenos requires, including a massive monstrosity. Hierophant Bio Titans are literally enormous hazards on the battlefield, towering over other Tyranid bioforms and enemies alike. Often, a Hierophant Bio Titan will be used to draw an enemy's heavy fire or support while smaller Tyranid bioforms break through enemy lines and wreak havoc.

In the Post Launch Overview shared by Focus Ent??ertainment, the team said, "Gather your three-player squad and deploy back on Kadaku to face the biggest and most terrifying Tyranid yet: the Hierophant Bio T?itan." The clip then showed the massive scale of the enemy, looming over a clash between Tyranid and human forces. It also looks like the players' usual arsenal may not have cut it, as it a??ppeared as though the shown Space Marine was damaging the creature with automated defenses of some kind.

Lethal difficulty, new weapons, and the year ahead

While the sneak peek at the new Operation is enough to get most Space Marines ready to don their power armor, Focus Entertainment had more to share. Space Marine 2 will soon receive a new Lethal difficulty, taking the optional challenge even higher than? is cu?rrently possible. The team also promises a new weapon: the Neo-Volkite pistol. 

Looking beyond the immediate free content, Focus Entertainment reminded Season Pass holders that they would receive a complete set of cosmetic options themed around the Dark Angels Chapter. This includes new we??apon skins for the Auto Bolt Rifle, Plasma Pistol, and Power Sword, on top of a unique look for the Bulwark Class. It sounds like there will ??also be some options for Dark Angels' successor Chapters.

For 2025, the team doesn't have anything tangible to show, but it promises new PvE Operations, PvE Prestige Ranks, PvP modes and maps, Tyranid and Thousand Sons enemy types, weapons, cosmetic Space Marine Chapter options, and even a horde mode. The amount of substantial free content planned for Space Marine 2 is staggering, and Focus Entertainment? promises to stay in touch with the c??????????????????????????ommunity along the way.

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Saber Interactive has teased a first peek at what players can expect from future Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 content. The developer of??fered a look at an upcoming PvE Operation that is set to arrive sometime this October. While there wasn't a ton of information provided, we did get a screenshot o??f the locale and a briefing on where the mission would take players.

Though Space Marine 2 is primarily a single-player game, it offers a cooperative PvE mode called Operations beyond its campaign. It functions almost like a second campaign, following a squad of Space Marines working in tandem with Titus, Gadriel, and Chairon. Saber Interactive previously noted that it had plans to add Operations and additional content to Space Marine 2, and now we're seeing the first fruits o?f that labor.

Back to Kadaku

In a Community Update posted on Steam, Sa?ber Inter??active noted that a new Operation was due to arrive in October and that it would take place on the planet of Kadaku. The team also offered a fluffy mission briefing along with the shared screenshot.

"The Tyranid invasion of Kadaku is ending. The planet's organic material is being transformed into biomass, and Tyranid Capillary Towers stretch high into the skies above, where the Hive Ships wait to tast??e their victory. The Cadian forces have made a valiant attempt to push back against the Tyranids. A team of Space Marines arrives on Kadaku with a simple mission: help the Cadians dest??roy the towers. The Tyranids may win the planet, but the Imperium will make it as painful as possible for them."

The Tyanid Capillary Towers in question are massive organic structures akin to straws. They allow the behemoth creatures that make up the Hive fleet to consume biomass collected during a Tyranid invasion and then reconstitute it into new bioforms or creatures as conflict dictates. Players' quest to destroy these Capillary Towers won't be like toppling a simple emplacement; it'll mean breaking the physical grasp Tyranids have on Kadaku and se??verely impacting the Xenos' abilit??y to recuperate losses.

Through the current Operations on offer, player Space Marines put an end to the Tyranid threat on Avarax. It appears that this upcoming Operation will see the Astartes put the final nail in the coffin for the Xenos on the jungle world, too. Of course, there's always room for future Operations to expand players' reach beyond the three planets featured in the campaign, but Saber Interactive has remained tight-lipped on what that future content might entail.

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If you've already played through Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's campaign, you're likely starting to explore the cooperative PvE Operations mode. But how far can you take a Space? Marine in any given Class? What's the level cap for PvE Operations, and ??what do you get for reaching it?

Space Marine 2 features a cooperative multiplayer PvE mode called Operations. Like the campaign, players still set out on mission-based excursions to complete objectives or hunt down particularly dangerous Xenos or Heretic targets. After you've chosen an Astartes Class and played an Operation or two, you'll find yourself leveling up. The first few levels come quickly, but then each starts to require more and more time investment into the Class.

The Operations mode currently features four difficulty options, and higher tiers suggest Space Marines at higher levels. Operations completed at higher difficulties reward more experience and higher-tier weapon upgrade materials. If players ??want to conquer their foes on these higher difficulties, they'll need to level their Space Marine up and take full advantage of the val??uable experience received.

Space Marine career development

The current level cap in Space Marine 2 is 25. Naturally, each level becomes more challenging to achieve than the last, so players will have to push?? into higher-difficulty Operations as they grow in strength progressively. Thankfully, the payouts are worth the extra effort, rewarding players with sizable XP gains and the opportunity for even more if they can manage to compl?ete the Operation without getting downed while carrying a hidden Gene Seed.

While Space Marine 2's developer, Saber Interactive, has confirmed more Operations and higher diff??iculty options are coming, there hasn't been any definitive word on whether that would also mean the level cap would be increased. For now, the 25 levels already provide enough of a journey to get through, especially if pla??yers want to max out multiple characters to experience the different Space Marine playstyles.

What does leveling do for you?

As players level up a Space Marine Class, they'll earn points to invest in a tiered skill tree. Some nodes contain powerful passive effects, while others strengthen abilities or gear players already possess. Each Class has access to a different skill tree, which complements the Class' abilities, gear, and gameplay. As players progress in level, they'll earn access to other options, mixing and matching active ones to best? suit tastes.

These skills open up another layer of mastery for the Space Marine Class and add the extra oomph needed to tackle Operations at higher difficulties. That might come in the form of damage resistance when Armor is depleted for the Bulwark or just straight-up buffing primary weapon damage at the cost of secondary weapon power for the Tactical Class.

In addition to the progressive power gain, players will also unlock a??cces??s to different cosmetic armor options as they level. While these don't add any gameplay effects, it's hard to argue against decking yourself in some rightly-earned armor before heading back to serve the Emperor in another Operation.

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Humble Bundle's Warhammer Day Deal is an i?ncredible proposition for anyone who's a fan of the series.

For an absolute steal of just $15, you can get seven different games and th?eir codes, which can be redeemed on Steam. But that's not all, as the bundle also includes two discount coupons as well. Even if you don't exercise the discount coupons, the seven games on ??offer are an absolute steal for just $15.

Humble Bundle Warhammer Day Deal, explained

If you have purchased previously from Humble Bundle, you'll know what to expect - a bundle of amazing games at an absolute bargain price. Unlike previous bundles, this one is specifically dedicated to all Warha??mmer fans. All seven games included in the bundle are previous Warhammer releases, and the same theme applies to t??he discount coupon as well.

• Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate Daemonhunters
• Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Reals of Ruin Ultimate Edition
• Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr
• Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef
• Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Prophecy
• Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron - Flyboyz Edition

Additionally, h??ere are the two extra discount coupons you get with your pur??chase.

• 60% off on Warhammer 40,000: Chaosgate Daemonhunters
• 30% off on Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - T'au

There's not much to say, given the games you get, especially if you pay the full $15 to secure all nine content. Daemonhunters alone is worth more if a Steam sale isn't live, so that pretty much sums it up. Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is one of the more recent launches, while Inquisitor Martyr and Inquisitor Prophecy are excellent titles on their own.

For $15, you'll get $284 va?lue worth? of games added to your Steam collection. So, what are you waiting for?

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The Warhammer 40,000 universe is full of heroic factions like the Ultramarines and terrifying alien threats like the Tyranids, but that's only a fraction of the whole picture. As seen featured in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, the Thousand Sons are a gro??up of Chaos-corrupted Space Marines with a penchant for magic and the occult. However, the Thousand Sons are more than just evil wizard marines. Their past is marked by tragedy and the fickle hands of fate, truly showing that the road to hell is p??aved with good intentions.

Undoubtedly, one of the most significant and influential forces in the Warhammer 40K universe is Chaos. It manifests in various forms, from daemons summoned through ritual to heretic Adeptus Mechan??icus members creating diabolical homunculi of steel and flesh. However, the most iconic representation of Chaos is the heretic Astartes. Each warband can trace its lineage back to one of the traitor Legions from the Horus Heresy civil war, and most have willingly surrendered to the ruinous powers, seeking a share of their dark might.

The Thousand Sons were one of the Legions marked as traitors during the Horus Heresy, but it's not as cut and dry as the other heretics. While there is no excusing the vicious actions of the group in the lore's curren?t s??tanding, for quite a while, the Thousand Sons were acting in the best interest of the Imperium.

A tragic past

Like all Adeptus Astartes, the Thousand Sons started out as loyal members of the Imperium. Their Primarch, a demi-god genetically cloned from the Emperor, Magnus, grew up on the Psyker world of Prospero, where he sharpened his already potent psychic abilities. He soon surp?assed all his teachers and set about advancing civilization on Prospero, making Warp study a primary focus.

Magnus was repeatedly warned about the perils of the Warp and the entities that dwelt within, both from his teac??hers and the Emperor after the two were reunited. Despite this, Magnus frequently projected his psyche into the im?materium to scour its depths. Following the Primarch and Emperor's reunion, the Space Marines that would become known as the Thousand Sons were Magnus' to command. Like him, each bore a natural gift for Psyker arts and a fascination with the Warp. However, his genes proved unstable when applied to his sons.

The Space Marines tended to become affl?icted with something known as the "flesh change," which would see them mutate into mindless abominations??. While some called for the Legion's disbandment and destruction, Magnus pleaded for the chance to save his sons. Eventually, after many attempts to plumb the Warp for a cure, Magnus seemingly found what he was looking for. The Primarch saved those he could, leaving only around a thousand of his Legion unaffected, earning the Space Marines the name the Thousand Sons.

The Council of Nikaea

While the Thousand Sons proved as effective as any other As?tartes Legion, t??he other Primarchs and their sons looked on with dread. As the Imperium pushed further into the galaxy, it encountered vile alien species that used Warp magic, much like the Thousand Sons. Psychic abilities became taboo, and Magnus' Legion was perceived as skirting too close to those ruinous powers. The issue culminated in what became known as the Council of Nikaea, where the Emperor called a meeting between all Primarchs and other trusted advisors. The righteousness of Psykers would be put on trial.

Though Magnus did have some voices in his corner, the events at Nikaea did not go in his favor. Except for Navigators and Astropaths, needed for space travel, the Emperor decreed that Psykers were not permitted to practice. Magnus begrudgingly accepted his father's ruling, but it wouldn't be long before he'd break his promise. The Primarch would foresee the Horus Heresy and all the ruin it would bring. Desperate to warn ?his father as quickly as possible, Magnus used astral projection to trave??rse the Warp and reach the Emperor directly.

Just before reaching Terra, Magnus found his path barred by some kind of seal. At this time, a voice reached out to him in the Warp, promising to help the Primarch overcome the barrier. Seeing?? no other option, Magnus accepted the help and crashed through the obstacle right into the Emperor's throne room. The Emperor put the seal in place to keep daemonic forces from reaching Terra, and now they were invading through the hole Magnus had created. The events also destroyed the Emperor's Webway project, which would have allowed humanity to discontinue its use of Warp travel.

Prospero falls, Chaos rises

When Magnus returned to his physical body, the mysterious voice revealed itself as Tzeentch, the Chaos god?? of change and sorcery. The entity told Magnus that he and his sons were destined to serve Chaos, one way or another. Meanwhile, the Emperor ordered the Space Wolves and their Primarch, Leman Russ, to bring Magnus and the Thousand Son?s back to Terra to answer for their crimes. This order was intercepted by the now-corrupt Horus and was changed to see the Space Wolves decimate Prospero and the Thousand Sons.

Magnus fully realized that he had become a pawn to Chaos and opted for inaction. He believed that any further struggle would play r??ight into the hands of Chaos, and he was ready to allow his Legion and himself to fall for his folly. However, after wat??ching the destruction start to unfold and believing that he had been in the right trying to warn his father, he took to the field to deny his Legion's execution. That ultimately led to a confrontation between brothers as Leman Russ and Magnus faced each other in battle.

Russ eventually overpo??wered Magnus and, in one swift blow, broke the?? sorcerer Primarch's back over his knee. Completely without hope, Magnus heard the voice of Tzeentch again. It offered to save him and his remaining sons if he swore allegiance to the dark power. Seeing no alterative to save his sons, Magnus agreed. The Primarch and the Thousand Sons were transported to a world within the Eye of Terror known as the Planet of the Sorcerors.

The Rubric of Ahriman

After the events of the Horus Heresy played out, the Thousand Sons wou?ld be part of another Legion-defining event. Though the Thousand Sons were now sworn to Chaos, the Legion's rampant mutations returned. Azhek Ahriman, Magnus' trusted advisor, was unwavering in trying to find a cure. In secret, h?e formed a cabal of sorcerors hoping to unlock the secret to ridding the Legion of its mutations, but it ultimately backfired.

Ahriman completed a ritual that saw the "flesh change" cured, but it ravaged those in the Legion without a strong psychic connection. Sorcerors were unharmed, but everyone else was reduced to little more than dust sealed?? in power armor. The Space Marines were still alive in some sense, but only their souls remained under the armor to power the new automaton. Needless to say, Magnus was furious when he realized what Ahriman had done to his sons. 

Though the Primarch wanted to kill? Ahriman, Tzeentch intervined and noted that the sorcerer was still valuable for furthering Chaos' will. To that end, Magnus let Ahriman live but sentenced him and any of his collaborators to exile.

Sorcerous tactics

Being Chaos Space Marines with a history steeped in the occult, it should be no surprise that the Thousand Sons favor psychic abilities and magic. The heretics are just as comfortable summoning daemons to do their bidding as they use Warp-infused weaponry. That's not to say that they don't use similar gear and weaponry as other Astartes factions, but some kind of psychic might almost always supports ??them.

Like their patron Chaos god, the Thousand Sons enjoy twisting schemes and meticulous planning. That could come in the form of an attack planned at precisely the right time, as certain celestial bodies align, or a long game of corruption for unsuspecting Imperium citizens. The Legion's goals can often be obscure or seemingly irrelevant until a later? revelation announces true intentions.

While the Thousand Sons' fall from grace was tragic, there is no redeeming the Legion now. It has committed itself to the?? dark forces of the Warp and as an enemy of the Imperium. And while the Thousand Sons carry out countless acts of heresy and damnation, Magnus still contemplates his hatred for the father he believes betrayed him.

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The Adeptus Astartes of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 have an assortment of weapons to play with. However, in Space Marine 2's PvE Operations mode, players will need to upgrade their gear if they ??want to ??keep pace with tuned-up difficulty options.

While higher difficulty settings offer more significant reward??s, they also impose some of the most formidable challenges in the game. That said, the path toward improvin?g weaponry isn't exactly straightforward.

Space Marine 2 offers cooperative PvE in the form of its Operations mode. It currently contains six difficulty-adjustable missions, with plans to add more. As players ramp up the difficulty, XP and the chance for better rewards increases, but it also means b?asic bolters and chainswords won't cut it.

Master your arsenal

The Armory is where the Ultramarines can tinker with their equipment between missions. A quick visit to the Armory allows players to access a menu where all available gear can be equipped, upgraded, and have cosmetics applied. While players can unlock additional weapons as they level?? up, they can start upgrading the ones they already have right from the start.

The first thing players will need to do to upgrade the weapon of their choice is to use it. As players complete Operations and e??arn XP or Gene Seed, they'll al??so earn progress toward mastering the current iteration of their weapon. Once the gun or melee armament has been used enough, players will earn a Mastery Point to upgrade the weapon family further.

Don't forget the Armory Data

However, before th??at Mastery Point can be used, players will first need to upgrade the quality of their chosen weapon. This is done by expending the Armory Data required to unlock the next tier. The Data itself can be earned in each Operation, rewarded for finding hidden Servo Skulls within the PvE missions. 

There are three variations of Armory Data: Master Crafted (green), Artificer (purple), and Relic (yellow). The quality of Armory Data found depends on the difficulty of the Operation, so Relic u??pgrades will naturally only come from the highest tier of difficulty. In that same vein, as players upgrade a weapon family, it will ask for the corresponding quality Armory Data.

How to spend Mastery Points

Once players have earned Mastery Points and have unlocked the next tier of their weapon, they can spend the ?Points to improve how the weapon family performs. You can access the Perk Tree tab by viewing the weapon in the Armory, and that's where upgrades will be available. The number of available Perks coincides with the number of variants in the weapon family, so don't worry; extra work will be rewarded.

Pushing into Artificer and Relic tiers, players will need to master mul??tiple variations of the weapon, with ??each successful variant bringing players closer toward overall mastery for the next weapon tier. These weapon variants can be changed at will by visiting the Armory and switching via the Versions tab on the weapon.

The post How to upgrade weapons in Space Marine 2’s PvE Operations appeared first on Destructoid.

The Space Marine 2 campaign takes players through v??arious iconic Warhammer 40,000 locales, from ?Imperium temples to Adeptus Mechanicus facilities to treacherous jungles. However, one site may offer some hints as to where the game can go next.

Spoilers follow for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

We already know Space Marine 2 will continue to receive content throug?h 2025, so could it be that future Operations and updates introduce the Necrons?

The Necrons are an ancient robotic civilization that quite literally conquered its own gods. The fearsome and advanced mechanical faction used to be organ??ic but gave up their flesh and souls in the name of power. Millions of years ago, the Necrons began a long hibernation on their Tomb Worlds, waiting for the perfect moment to reemerge and take command of the galaxy. Unfortunately, there's a chance our actions in-game may lead to some of these god-slayers waking up.

Why would the Necrons wake up?

During the climax of Space Marine 2, it's exposed that your Adeptus Mechanicus ally, Leuze, was being manipulated b??y a Thousand Sons sorcerer to continue something called the Aurora project. As it turns out, Aurora is an Adeptus Mechanicus archeological site that unearthed a Necron Tomb World beneath the burial world of Demerium.

Leuze believes Aurora has the power to repel?? the forces of Chaos and close The Great Rift, but when activated, it appears as though the Thousand Sons are empowered. The Chaos Space Marines hail a Greater Daemon and start summoning their forces en masse. The thing is, Leuze's interpretation may not be so far from the truth.

While Space Marine 2&??nbsp;doesn't specify how Aurora works, Necrons have a history with a substance called Blackstone and structures called Blackstone Pylons. Blackstone itself has the ability to nullify or amplify the Warp, and the Pylons are Necron Blackstone constructs that typically repel the Warp on a planet or region in space. It seems pretty likely that Leuze was tricked into deactivating or inverting the polarity of a Blackstone Pylon or similar device, allowing the Thousand Sons a chance for victory.

Of course, to correct this, we head back through the Tomb World, activating several sites that shoot a powering beam to a large central... pylon. With each activation, the relic we interact with changes from a Chaos-aligned color, like purple or? orange, to the Necrons' signature hue of green. Maybe the Necron tech was asleep before or malfunctioning somehow; who knows? Now, however, it seems clear that we've reactivated it.

This background storytelling seems like the perfect setup for a Necron Dynasty to wake up and terrorize Demerium. Time will tell how Space Marine 2 is built upon, but at fir?st sight of silver and green, start preparing f?or Necrons.

The post Did Space Marine 2’s campaign give us a sneak peak at future enemies? appeared first on Destructoid.

The Warhammer 40,000 universe is dominated by war and strife, but it's not all calculated Ultramarine battle lines and space dogfights. There is another much more primal force at work, tearing through systems and consuming worl??ds to sate a never-ending hunger: Tyranids.

The Tyranids may be the main enemy featured throughout Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, but the game only scratches the surface of the lore. The Tyranids are not an organized fa??ction; it's a hive mind. That is to say, every individual form and creature that's classified as a T?yranid acts in unison as one organism.

Like the titular creature from the film Alien, Tyranids are the ultimate killing machine. The insectoid-like organisms have evolved into multiple forms and subspecies, and Ty?ranids still use rapid evolution to counter threats in real-time. Alongside these adaptations and variations, a constant synaptic connection allows Tyranids to coordinate and employ tactics. This can mean sending a lone Genestealer to infiltrate and ready a world for invasion, using a Carnifex to dismantle defenses, or even evolving into living spacecraft to ferry the Tyranids across the stars.

Galaxy-spanning origins

Humanity encountered Tyranids relatively recently, but all indications point to the organisms being around for some time. Tyranids are not native to our galaxy and, as such, arrived at the edges of known space as early as the 35th millennium. What prompted the Tyranid's long, brutal ??journey from its home galaxy to ours is not fully understood. Still, some suspect the organism simply consumed everything in its home galaxy and needed to turn its attention elsewhere to ??survive.

The Imperium's first enc??ounter with these creatures was on the planet Tyran, which is where it earned the name "Tyranid." Once a thriving ocean world, Tyran was reduced to a barren rock within a year of its fall to Tyranids. This would become a staple of Tyranid attacks, as the swarm consumes every organic material on the planet until there's nothing but rocks and dust.

??The Tyranid hunger is unending, spreading itself across the galaxy through several Hive fleets, all controlled by a single mind. Each fleet has everything it needs to continue to grow the Tyranid species, including plenty of drones and the ability to transform any raw digested biomass. Tyranids are almost completely indiscriminate in the biomaterial it consumes, meaning even dead Tyranids can be reconstituted. That biomass can be used to create new Tyranid forms, push mutations out to the swarm, or replenish any troops lost in b?attle.

Bioforms and adaptations

Part of what makes the Tyranids so fearsome is how they can adapt to remain the apex predator. The raw organic materials gained through planetary attacks help keep the never-ending flow ??of Tyranids coming, and it also allows the organisms to evolve new ways to overtake other life. Tyranids can repurpose the material they consume, so evolutionary traits, adaptations, and even memories are only a meal away. Of course, individual Tyranids don't have the autonomy to do this on their own. Biomaterials are digested and then returned to the Hive Ships, where they are reconstituted and then redeployed.

With the biomass to create what it needs and the insight gained by battling resistance, Tyranids have taken multiple shapes and sizes, each with its purpose. Take the lowly Rippers, slug or locust-like forms primarily responsible for devouring and returning biomaterial to the swarm. Rippers aren't a threat alone, but they travel in groups of hundreds or thousands, stripping any usab??le biomass in their path. More rank-and-file Tyranids are the Termagant and Hormagaunt, ranged beetle-shooting and melee ground troops, respectively. Even then, more exotic variants exist, such as the chameleon-like Lictor. Its purpose is to commit stealthy assassinations and devour b?rains for intel. 

In genuinely horrifying circumstances, the hive mind has been known to deploy a lone Broodlord, which sits in wait until it can infect an unsuspecting civilian with its genes. When they reproduce, they'll unknowingly start a new line of Tyranid gene-imbued hybrids that will eventually overthrow the civilization generations later with the underground formation of Genestealer Cults. This process produces an? easier arrival of the hive fleet, where the infected populace will greet hungry visitors with open arms, seeing them as angels. Even if the Genestealer Cult takeover is unsuccessful, the Tyranid fleet will reach a substantially weakened world.

The Synapse

Coordinating the sheer ??size of the Tyranid species is no easy task, especially considering the distance between some Hive Fleets. To remedy this, Tyranids employ a synaptic link where lesser Tyranid forms are connected to a commanding creature. This allows the commanding Tyranid to issue orders more directly or intentionally to a group and allows all of the species part of that specific link to act in sync. The synaptic ability of Tyranids has been viewed as a psychic power of sorts, but only the highest-ranking forms have any ability to bend the energies of the Warp.

Commonly, the synaptic link funnels from the hive mind to something known as a Hive Tyrant. These powerful Tyranid variations connect more closely to the hive mind than most. In this way, the hive mind can push distinct orders to its Hive Tyrants all over the galaxy, which can then direct all of the lesser Tyranids within its synaptic link. Hive Tyrants aren't the only Tyranids know?n to command the synaptic link of others, but they are the most common??, and among the most feared foes the Tyranids can muster.

However, the synaptic link is as much a weakness as a boon. If the Hive Tyrant, or whichever form controls the lower T?yranids' synaptic link, is killed, it will send the lower Tyranids into an uncoordinated frenzy. Sometimes, the ??psychic shock is even enough to destroy them outright.

The Tyranids represent a threat that the Imperium may have recognized too late: the devouring of the?? galaxy. With its ability to produce a never-ending conveyor belt of foot soldiers and cunning specialists, innately communicate across the stars, and adapt to any problem by eating it, the Tyranids may be the most fearsome threat humanity has ever faced. It's likely that the species has already consumed at least one galaxy, and now that it's here, it shows no indications of slowing itself down.

The post Warhammer 40K: What are the Tyranids? appeared first on Destructoid.

In Warhammer 40,000, the Ultramarin?es are synonymous with the Space Marines. The blue-clad warriors are practically the poster children for the faction, often appearing as the defacto Legion whenever Space Marines are featured in video games or other visual media. But the Ultramarines are more than just generic Space Marine fodder. The Legion has a rich history with a Greco-Roman flair and even has a still-living Primarch.

Space Marines, or Adeptus Astartes, are the genetically and surgicall?y enhanced super soldiers of the Imperium of M??an. Space Marines were originally categorized and separated by Legion, with each of the original 20 Legions led by a Primarch. Primarchs are "sons" of the Emperor of Mankind, genetically engineered to embody a specific aspect of the Emperor. Eventually, during the 31st millennium, a schism emerged amongst the Primarchs, leading to a civil war between Legions known as the Horus Heresy. In the aftermath of the conflict, a doctrine called the Codex Astartes was created, serving in some ways to police the Space Marine Legions and split them into smaller Chapters.

Ideology of Ultramarines

Ultramarines have a reputation for being strict adherents to rules and honor, with the Codex Astartes serving as their guiding light. The Ultramarine Primarch, Roboute Guilliman, authored the doctrine himself?, and its direction on organization and tactics helped all loyal Space Marine Legions navigate the chaotic period following the Horus Heresy. Though the Ultramarines have many successor Chapters, most still recognize and follow the Legion's ideologies. However, the Legion isn't just a collection of compassionles??s soldier-bureaucrats. Unlike many other still-loyal Space Marine Legions, Ultramarines regularly work and live alongside ordinary humans.

Guilliman was raised to respect and care for all of those around him, and that trait has largely extended throughout the rest of the Legion. Ultramarines regularly seek insight and collaboration with their lesser counterparts, whether supporting a battle-locked group of Imperial Guard, sprinting back into the fray to sav??e civilians, or even advancing out of service to become an Ultramar senator alongside human politicians.

While it's easy to imagine every Ultramarine as the same, that's not quite the case. After 10,000 years since Legions were first forced to splinter into Chapters, there are some notable differences between Ultramarine ?organizations and their interpretation of the Codex Astartes. Some of these Chapters even veer to the extreme. Take, for example, the Novamarines Chapter. Believing Guilliman's text in the Codex Astartes to be sacred, they have been kn??own to become violent if they witness other Space Marines stray too far from its teachings.

On the other hand, there are Chapters like the Iron Snakes, whose interpretation of justice and adherence to rules see prisoners tied to large rocks in the oceans of their planet, Ithaka. There, giant sea serpents called Wyrms deal out sentencing. If the Wyrms don't claim the accused after six hours, they're an unworthy snack for the ??beasts and guilty of their crimes.

Protectors of Ultramar

The homeworld of the Ultramarines is Macragge, but that's just the crown jewel in the swathe of space they oversee, known as the 500 Worlds of Ultramar. Where other Space Marine Legions ar??e content wi??th their space-bound fortresses or isolated homeworlds, the Ultramarines want to build civilizations. Other than the realm of Ultramar, only Sol (Earth) via the Imperium and Mars via the Adeptus Mechanicus are allowed to colonize worlds in the name of humanity, making the 500 Worlds something of an exception.

Not only are the Ultramarines and the 500 Worlds of Ultramar a beacon for humanity, but they're also involved in some of the most notable events in the Warhammer 40,000 timeline. During the Horus Heresy, when the 500 Words were cut off from the rest of the Imperium by massive Warp storms, Guilliman founded Imperium Secundus, an acting form of governmental cohesion for Ultramar centered on Macgragge. Guilliman's idea in establishing Imperium Secundus was that the 500 Worlds and other loyal planets cut off from the Imperium still needed law and order, and he'd provide that until the Warp storms subsided.? More recently, Ultramar was host to iconic conflicts and events like Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade and the Plague Wars.

Outside of just Macragge itself, most of Ultramar's planets are self-sufficient, featuring sprawling cities, industrial zones, farm regions, and bodies of water. Many Ultramar worlds are modeled after Greco-Roman civilizations featuring senate halls and amphitheaters woven into the fabric of society. This is a far cry from what's seen with typical words within the ??Imerpium, often suffering from uncontrolled overpopulation or rampant environmental hazards, sometimes even to the knowledge or design of the ruler. For most other Space Marine Legions specifically, many prefer relative solitude or the stoic company that only their bro?ther Space Marines can provide. 

Tactical generalists

While many Space Marine Legions are known for their specific quirk, like how the Space Wolves are essentially Space Marine werewolves, the Ultramarines don't really have one. These quirks are usually represented in how a Legion conducts itself in battle, with the aforementioned Space Wol?ves mounting giant wolves and fielding their Wulfen (werewolf) warriors. If anything, Ultramarines' quirk is that they're rule-abiding and love politics. As such, aside from doing things by the book, the Legion doesn't really have a flashy combat identity. Ultramarines are often depicted as generalists, not specializing in one particular field but possessing t??he flexibility to adapt to any circumstance.

Though being a generalist isn't as flashy as being a sci-fi werewolf or a master of subterfug?e, it does have its advantages. Ultramarines reevaluate situations as they develop, allowing the Legion to fall back, flank, or? hunker down as needed. Interestingly Ultramarines have the record to back this strategy up, bolstering some of the highest assignment success rates among Legions.

Ultramarines a?re typically equipped with a bolt gun, as with many Space Marine legions, but they usually forgo t??he iconic chainsword for a short sword called a gladius. The gladius is a power weapon, trading the chainsaw teeth of a chainsword for a destructive energy field encasing the blade. Ultramarines can also use almost any other type of standard Space Marine gear, including plasma weaponry, jump packs, Dreadnoughts, and more.

Regardless of the perils involved, humanity can be sure that the Ultramarines will be on the front line of its defense. The Legion may appear just to be blue Space Marines, but they're among th?e most loyal and skilled warriors in the Imperium.

The post Warhammer 40K: Who are the Ultramarines? appeared first on Destructoid.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is on the horizon, finally bringing a sequel to the original 2011 game. Saber Interactive's third-person hack-and-slash title is a big one to look out for on the 2024 video game calendar.

Leading up to the game's launch, Saber Interactive has revealed a few different editions for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, as well as some pre-order bonuses for gamers who put their faith in? the studio early.

All Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 editions

There are three editions of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 in total, with each one adding something new for th??ose who choose to upgra?de their experience.

Standard Edition ($59.99)

• Base game

Gold Edition ($89.99)

• Base game
• Season pass

Ultra Edition ($99.99)

• Base game
• Season pass
• Ultramarines Champion Pack

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 pre-order bonuses

Gamers who preorder any edition of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will receive the Macragge's Chosen ?DLC pack, which includes an Ultramarines-inspired skin set for the Bolt Rifle, the Chainsword, and the Crux Terminatus Pauldron.

Those who upgrade and preorder either the Gold or Ultra editions of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will also receive four days of early access, allowing pl??ayers to hop into the action on September 5 ahead of the current September 9 release date.

Are the Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 Gold and Ultra editions worth buying?

To get either the Gold or Ultra editions, y??ou're either spending $30 or $40 more than the base game. That's a sizable chunk of change, given most of the value comes from a season pass.

Although season passes are pretty standard practice nowadays, there's one issue with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: Saber Interactive hasn't actually told players what it will entail. So you're spending an extra $30, but you don't actually know what you're getting in return. It could be more Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 multiplayer and campaign content, or it simply could be ?more cosmetics.

It's safe to say that upgrading to either the Gold or Ultra editions is a risk at the moment. If you're confident you'll play a lot of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, we say g??o for it. But if you're more of a casual player, maybe hold off until we know what the season pass entails.

The post All Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 e??ditions & pre-order bonus?es appeared first on Destructoid.

Saber Interactive's upcoming third-person hack-and-slash title, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, is just around the corner.

The studio has finally unveiled the minimum and recommended PC system requirements for the game, telling players the specs they need to join in the f?un.

Read on to discover more about the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 minimum and recommended PC system requirements for one of the most exciting releases in the 2024 video game calendar.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 minimum system requirements

According to Saber Interactive, these are the minimum system requirements you'll need to play Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's multiplayer and campaign on PC:

• OS: Windows 10 / 11 64-bit
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X / Intel Core i5-8600K
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• GPU/Graphics Card: 6 GB VRAM, AMD Radeon RX 580 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 75 GB available space, SSD required

The developer has confirmed that playing with the above minimum PC specs in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will give you 30 FPS in a 1920x1080 resolution, while using the game's "Low" graphics preset. Still, this should?? be m?ore than achievable for most modern gaming systems.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 recommended system requirements

Gamers wanting a little extra from their visuals in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will need to meet the recommended ??syste??m requirements. These are as follows:

• OS: Windows 10 / 11 64-bit
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X / Intel Core i7-12700
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• GPU/Graphics Card: 8 GB VRAM, AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 75 GB available space, SSD required

The above specs are what you'll need to handle Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 in 1920x1080 and reach 60 FPS in the "Ultra" graphics pr??eset. This will prov??e to be the best experience the game has to offer.

With beefy GPUs like t??he AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 seen as re??commended by the developer, it could be time to make that PC upgrade you've been stalling on.

The post Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC system requirements – minimum and recommended appeared first on Destructoid.

Warhammer is going from strength to strength, with a TV adaptation starring Henry Cavill in the works and millions diving deep into the creative, tactical hobby on the daily. Well, if you’re in the crossover section of Warhammer fans who also love cute things, you’re in luck.

On June 21, Warhammer revealed the next set of plushes which will be available to purchase later on in the year. These are in addition to the three currently available from Tomy, bringing? t?he total of adorable little monsters to seven. 

And oh boy are these little monsters adorable indeed. There really is something for everyone, no matter which army you choose t??o bring to the tabletop. Let’s take a look at all seven, with a comparison between model and plush for each.

Little Unclean One

Available: Now

The plush version of the Great Unclean One is far cuter than the model version, but the model version is one I have a huge soft spot for, as I poured so many hours of my time painting one?? who I dubbed ‘Bettyâ€? 

Spanna Grot

Available: Now

Modeled after the countless Grots in any Ork army, the Spanna Grot comes equipped with his very own adjustable wrench, ready to charge into battle and bash some heads. I can imagine him hanging off the side of an equally squishy Boomda??kka Snazzwagon, yelling obscenities.

Gnasha Squig

Available: Now

Listen, I have a huge soft spot for Squigs of all shapes and sizes, having painted countless for my Gloomspite Gitz army. While my own were an assortment of rainbow colors, this plush Gnasha Squig comes in the stan??dard red, complete with a single hor??n and floppy tongue. 

Tyranid Ripper

Available: Later in 2024

My first Tyranid army was painted in Hive Fleet Leviathan colors, so I’m incredibly excited that this Ri?pper is of that theme. Rippers might be the cutest of all Tyranids, I mean let's face it, these bugs aren’t about to win? any beauty pageants, but they’re about as deadly as they come. Fortunately, the plush version is more cuddly than killer. 

Watcher in the Dark

Available: Later in 2024

The model for the Watcher in the Dark comes as part of the Dark Angels army and is a very tiny, incredibly annoying to paint, little thing. The plush version is also small, though you can see his power armor boots poking out from his robes. He also comes holding a MkVI helm?et, though I don’t want to know where he got it from. 

Nurgling

Available: Later in 2024

I make no secret of it - this is my favorite Warhammer plush to ever exist, I love it, and it will be joining my collection as soon as it releases later on in the year. Nurglings appear in huge numbers across the entire Nurgle army, but this one is modeled after o??ne Nurgling in particular, which comes as part of the kit to build a Plague Marine Champion. It’s so sassy, I can imagine it putting me in my place.

Sun of Shyish

Available: Later in 2024

I’ve never gotten around to painting my Malign Sorcery set, but it’s been on my to do list for years. Now, even if I never get around to painting my Sun of Shyish, at least I’ll be able to hug one. While you’re free to paint your own any color you choose, and I’ve seen a lot of really really badass looking paint jobs ov??er the years, the plush version comes in the standard purple coloration.

Servo Skull

Available: Later in 2024

Servo Skulls are fashioned from the former skulls of adepts, who obviously no longer have a need of them for one reason or another, so that they can continue to serve the Emperor of Mankind after death. Thankfully, the plush variety Servo Skull is far cuter and much more unlikely t??o try and kill you as you sleep.

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Focus Entertainment and Auroch Digital have announced that there’s a (paid) DLC expansion incoming for 2023’s Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun. Forges of Corruption will featu??re new enemies, weapons, and envir?onments, and it’s coming June 18, 2024 to PC and Consoles.

Warhammer 40K: Boltgun was pretty far off from being my favorite game of 2023. In particular, my biggest issue with it was its confusing and weak level design. However, it s?till left a big impact on me. Its weapon sound effects are incredible and being a big, stompy-legged war machine felt great. Despite all its problems, I still felt the need to recommend it.

In fact, I’m definitely interested in this DLC. Beyond giving the developers a chance at highlighting the gameplay with some (hopefully) better level design, I’m excited to see whatever new weapons get thrown our way. To be specific, they’re adding the Multi-Melta and Missile Launcher. Boltgun didn’t have a missile launcher already? I can’t remember. I suppose the eponymous Boltgun is technically a rocket launcher ??already, as explaine??d to me by a reader.

The Forges of Corruption campaign will take us back to Graia, which is a bit of a shame since I’d rather see something that isn’t ?just one big industrial planet. The new enemies you’ll be facing are the Helbrute and the Termi?nator.

On top of but separate from the upcoming DLC, Auroch Digital is also adding a horde mode. A staple of th??e modern FPS, horde mode has you facing off against endless waves of enemies. The horde mode will be free to all players, whether they purchase the DLC or not.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is available for PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Forges of Corruption releases on June 18, 2024.

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Games Workshop, owner of the Warhammer IP, and Amazon Studios have officially signed an agreement to begin production on bringing Warhammer 40,000 to the world of movies and television. Last year Games Workshop and Amazon Studios announced they were working on an agreement, and a year later it is now a done deal. Warhammer fan and actor Henry Cavill had been linked to the project after it was revealed he would no longer be playing Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher. It now looks like???? he will in fact be part of the process as an Executive Producer.

According to the community post, everything is still in the early stages but is now officially underway. Creative details are the focus now as the first script is being written and pushed into production. The post goes on to claim that an elite band of screenwriters with their own passions for Warhammer have been assembled to bring the various stories of Warhammer 40,000 to TV and movies. All led by Hen??ry Cavill as Ex?ecutive Producer who will be "bringing his pen, sword and/or spear to the project."

While it's clear anything tangible is still a way out, this is awesome news. Warhammer 40,000 is an insanely lore-rich IP and I'm honestly surprised it has taken this long. I assume one of the first things we'll see is the Eisenhorn series as it would make for a perfect television saga. What Warhammer 40,000 series do you want to see made into film?

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I recently had the opportunity to get my hands on Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin and try out the Real Time Strategy title's Conquest Mode. In Conquest Mode, players progress across a map engaging in 1v1 Skirmishes against the four factions in Realms of Ruin. Each battle will involve unique modifiers that can buff or debuff the way the battle is handled in th??at skirmish. For example, in one battle my units had reduced vision, meaning they could no??t see as far when traversing the map. In another battle, all units moved faster, which made for some faster-paced gameplay.

Realms of Ruin participated in the recent Steam Fest that just ended, featuring a playable demo. In the demo, players could jump into a couple of the early campaign missions to get a feel for the gameplay. Demos are always great to get an idea of how a game will play. But to me, these two early missions didn't quite reflect the fun and unique RTS gameplay I experienced when I played Realms of Ruin.

The Age of Sigmar

I'm a huge RTS fan, growing up playing StarCraft, WarCraft 3, and Age of Empires. But Realms of Ruin is different. Instead of buildi??ng structures and sending out workers to harvest resources, you will take over control points—called Arcane Conduits�and convert them to structures of your choosing. You have two resources, Command and Realmstones.

Command is primarily spent to spawn more units at your main base, while Realmstones are mostly used for researching upgrades. The upgrades can be pretty basic such as increased damage or armor for a certain unit, or more intricate like changing the playstyle of a specific unit. Realmstones are also used to activate specific abilities on your units, so you have to keep a balance of teching up and saving re??sources for battle. Both resources can be used to upgrade your Arcane Conduits to give them a specific purpose such as generating more Command or Realmstones, or even acting as a defensive structure or outpost to heal at.

Micro is not a thing in Realms of Ruin. When units engage in combat on the battlefield, the player loses control of the unit as they automatically fight their enemy. You can of course influence the battle by using abilities. Each unit has its own unique abilities, so once you get used to the nuance of all your units, you can really min-max things even without the ability to micro. Also, ev??ery unit has the ability to retreat in exchange for spending some Command. When you push the button to retreat the unit will instantly become 'Unstoppable' meaning they can't be slowed or crowd controlled. They will then beeline it to your main base at a faster speed, where they can heal. It's a nice added element of strategic gameplay, as you never want to lose a unit!

Plenty of tools for Tabletop enthusiasts

For fans of the Warhammer tabletop, or even just customization, Realms of Ruin also revealed a handful of feat??ures and tools that will further enha??nce the Age of Sigmar experience.

First off, there is an Army Livery. Here players can customize and paint each of their units as well as create a palette for their entire faction. I was able to mess aroun??d with the Army Livery for a few minutes before jumping into Conquest Mode, and it felt like observing a handful of painted figures from the Tabletop game.

A map Editor is also launching with Realms of Ruin and will be accessible in both the PC and console versions. Players can develop their own cross-platform maps as well as share them wit?h the community. I didn't get to try out the ??editor, but a brief video overview I saw showed off the ability to manipulate biomes, paint terrain, adjust elevations, and place objects.

Perhaps the coolest feature for Warhammer fans will be the Scene Editor. Using the same tools from the Map?? Editor, players can create immersive scenes in the Warhammer universe, placing and positioning units exactly where they want while also choosing their animation frame. I didn't get to play with this tool either, but I did get to see some of the epic battlescapes created with it and dang were they cool! Super detailed and fitting to the Age of Sigmar name.

Fear the Disciples of Tzeentch

As part of the event, we also got the reveal of the fourth and final faction: the Disciples of Tzeentch. The brutal masters of mystical arts and e??ldritch warrio??rs have some very unique units. According to Frontier, the faction plays a small but meaningful role in the campaign but is fully playable in Conquest Mode and Multiplayer.

The Disciples of Tzeentch join the other three factions: the Stormcast Eternals, Orruk Kruleboyz, and Nighthaunt. All of the factions in Realms of Ruin are inspired by their tabletop counterpart. Each faction has ten or so unique units with their own abilities as well as strengths and weaknesses. There's a lot of depth here. And while I was able to pretty quickly pick up on how to play Realms of Ruin, I can ??definit??ely see it will take some real effort to master.

I had a lot of fun with Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin. I think the unique spin they've ??put on the RTS genre ended up being a fresh experience. The lack of micro actually appeals to me as I've always been more of a macro fan. But I also like that you can still influence the battles based on unit selection and then how you make use of abilities in battl?e.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin launches on November 17 for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation® 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

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For the Empire

Among the many previews, updates, and release dates revealed during yesterday's Summer Game Fest presentation, Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive offered up new gameplay footage, as well as a release window, for its Games Workshop adaptation Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, which? is coming PC and Gen9 consoles this winter.

Set within the legendary Warhammer universe �which has been entertaining fantasy tabletop fans for generations �Space Marine II is another bombastic and action-packed episode, as the seemingly unkillable Lieutenant Titus leads the charge against the overwhelming forces of the T?yranid Horde. The trailer spotlights blistering melee combat, as well as an array of devastating Imperium firepower, as one-three players team up to take on the title's dramatic co-op campaign. For the Empire!

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II launches this winter on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. A Collector's Edition �containing a copy of the game in SteelBook packaging, a 64-page artbook, and a limited edition statue of Lieutenant Titus in action �is now available to pre-order from the Focus Entertainment store, priced at aroun??d $250 USD, not including shipp??ing or additional charges.

//youtu.be/oDXfraIHzHg

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What a week for Warhammer fans

If you thought a Warhammer 40,000-themed DLC for PowerWash Simulator or a brand new Warhammer MMO would be the only new game reveals from the Warhammer Skulls 2023 event, think again. Frontier Developments announced Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin, a brand new real-time strategy game developed in p?artnership with Games W??orkshop.

The game is set in the Age of Sigmar and brings the popular era of Warhammer to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and t??he Epic Games Store. Alongside this reveal the studio also released a pretty e?pic announcement trailer.

//youtu.be/LFs5h-sgpFM

Conquer the Mortal Realms in the Age of Sigmar

According to the press release, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin takes place in the violent and savage Realm of Beasts known as Ghur. The single-player campaign's Age of Sigmar narrative is co-written by legendary Black Library author Gavin Thorpe. I personally find the Age of Sigmar to be the most detailed and fleshed-out era of the fantasy period of Warhammer, so I'm excited to see what direction th?e story takes. The single-player campaign also features a wide range of mission types and modes as well as four distinct playable factions.

Although the histo??ry of RTS games on console has been rather hit-or-miss, Frontie??r Developments claims to have an innovative new RTS-interface called DirectStepâ„?to specifically enhance the experience with a controller. They claim the technology allows you to quickly cycle through squads and issue orders with the analogue sticks and a few simple button presses. PC players can of course play using keyboard and mouse controls.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin also has a "quickfire and exciting" multiplayer mode with matches designed to last 30 minutes or less. The multiplayer sounds very similar to Company of Heroes as you will need to hold more Arcane Conduits than your opponent to drain their poin??ts fas?ter than they can yours.

[caption id="attachment_381980" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Frontier Developments[/caption]

There's no release date yet for Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin but Frontier Developments says it will be coming soon. They have announced two multiplayer betas will be held soon across all platforms. You can register for them on the official website. According to the press release the first gameplay trailer is coming in Ju??ne.

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Serve the Emperor today, tomorrow you may be dead

NetEase-funded Jackalyptic Games (formerly Jackalope Games) has announced the development of a new Warhammer MMO. The studio was founded in May 2022 by former Daybreak Austin and Cryptic Studios CEO Jack Emmert. The company confirmed the early development of the project in partnership with Games Workshop. Emmert, who has experience working on MMOs like DC Universe Online, Star Trek Online, and City of Heroes, assured fans the game will focus on the rich Warhammer universe directly on the studio website.

“As someone who has molded my career developing expansive MMO stories, I’m proud to unveil that our first game in development at Jackalyptic Games will focus on the rich universes of Warhammer. Bringing the deep lore of this IP to our gam??e is a massive undertaking, and we are thrilled to work alongside Games Workshop to br??ing this vision to life."

Emmert also provided further context on the eagerness to work with the IP in an interview with MMORPG, stating:

"We haven’t specified the particular IP yet, but I can tell you as a longtime fan of everything Warhammer, I’m thrilled. Honestly, my career has been spent trying to create games inspired by my personal hobbies �comic books (City of Heroes, Champions Online), Star Trek (Star Trek Online), D&D (Neverwinter), DC Comics (DC Universe Online) �and a couple of stabs at Marvel. Warhammer is another passion of mine."

Not the first Warhammer MMO

Jackalyptic Games is NetEase Games' first studio in the United States and will operate independently and maintain creative autonomy in its game development. Warhammer fans are hoping for a better future for this game than previous attempts at an MMO. The last attempt was Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, developed by Mythic Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts back in 2008. Following the game's release it quickly picked up a cult following praising its innovative PvP content. But despite the hype around it, content for the MMORPG slowed in 2009 due to a low subscription count. In 2013, the game officially shut down after the license with Games Workshop ended.

Paired with the recently announced Lord of the Rings MMO, hopefully, the genre is nearing a golden age of sorts. While I certainly welcome anything Warhammer, I can't help but want to see an attempt at Warhammer 40,000. After experiencing the grittiness of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide I think the futuristic sci-fi atmosphere could be a breath of fresh air in an MMO. However, even another attempt at the traditional fantasy setting co?uld be revolutionary. We'll see!

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The only 40K I'm getting for free anytime soon

Epic Games Store has revealed the next title that it will be offering up to its user base free of charge, and hopefully you have plenty of long afternoons to kill, as we're going 4X with Slitherine Software's deep strategy title Warhammer 40,000: Gladius �Relics of War, w??hich will be available to download from March 16.

Released on PC and Mac in 2018, and developed by Proxy Studios, Warhammer 40,000: Gladius �Relics of War is a Games Workshop take on the deep, turn-based,? 4X ??action that fills the hours of strategy lovers everywhere. Players choose from one of four races �Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Necrons, and Orks �before engaging in long-form combat in order to hold dominion over the titular world of Gladius. Unlike most 4X titles, there are no "Diplomacy" mechanics.

Well, it's not called?? Compromisehammer 40K, is it now?

//youtu.be/aMSsNRkvIMQ

On release critics praised the title's adaptation of 4X to the Warhammer universe, as well as the game's action, but specialist press noted that the title failed to truly capture the intricate nature of 4X titles, resulting in a release that was both engaging and enjoyable, but fails to break the upper echelon of more dedicated brands such as Age of Wonders, Alpha Centauri, or Civilization. For Warhammer fans, however, Gladius �Relics of War will certainly scratch that strategic 40K itch.

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius �Relics of War will be available to download free from Epic Games Store from March 16-23. Until then, you still have time to pick up Raw Fury puzzler Call of the Sea.

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A taste of Italian terror

Digital retailer Epic Games Store has revealed the two new titles that it will be offering up to all users free-of-charge next week �Come October 27, we will be getting a little creep, and a little carnage, with the arrival of horror adventure Saturnalia and tabletop strategy sim Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1qGfWjlv8s

Making its grand debut on October 27, Saturnalia is a mood-piece horror title developed by Italian studio Santa Ragione and encapsulating the country's love of oppressive, colorful, and unnerving tales of the macabre. This roguelike adventure will see the player control an ensemble cast of characters, who find themselves trapped within a labyrinthine village under the power of some ancient, otherworldly evi?l.

With a heavy, Giallo-inspired aesthetic, Saturnalia will blend challenging roguelike gameplay with a body of rich Sardinian folklore to create a non-linear adventure featuring procedurally-generated dungeons, an array of puzzles, and an involving yet somewhat abstract narrative �all awash in a unique style that evokes tribute to Italian horror greats such as Dar?io Argento and Mario Bava.

This Epic Games Store release represents the premiere of Santa Ragione's myster?ious odyssey, with PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch ports also?? arriving the same day.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfqF81VPoM0

One of a gazillion titles released under Games Workshop's Warhammer 40K banner, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus sees another chapter in the endless interplanetary conflicts of The Imperium. Launching in 2018 and developed by Bulwark Studios, Mechanicus is a strategy-action games that places a heavy emphasis on the cybernetic enhancements and body modifications of this partic?ular chapter of space marines, making ?man deadlier than ever before with a wide range of symbiotic upgrades.

Featuring fully customizable units, resource management mechanics, a huge arsenal of devastating weaponry, multiple choice narrative options, and over 50 stages of brutal battles with the encroaching Xenos, Mechanicus, much like its gaming brethre??n, packs in hours upon hours of strategic tabletop action, and is sure to keep Genestealer painters everywhere engaged into the wee small hours of the evening. For The Imperium!

Saturnalia and Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus can be downloaded from the Epic Games Store from October 27. Until then, users can still bag themselves current freebies Fallout 3 and Evoland.

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Role-playing in the 40K universe

A new Warhammer 40,000 game was announced today, with a bit more of a role-playing vibe. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a classical, isometric-style RPG from ??O?wlcat Games.

The trailer, shown as part of today's annual Warhammer Skulls festival, is packed with RPG signposts. It's got an isometric style, and the trailer declares Rogue Trader is the first "classic CRPG" set in the Warhammer 40K universe.

Behind this RPG is Owlcat Games, a studio that's previously worked on several Pathfinder RPGs. Both Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous seemed to do well by those who dig isometric games. And now, the team will tackle the 40K universe.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4VUmndj9rw

The story will follow a Rogue Trader, who controls their own merchant empir??e and is allowed to explore space with the blessing of the Emperor. This means power?s, the ability to go where you want, and a giant voidship.

The RPG side will let you meet potential allies and enemies, and make choices that will affect the lives of others. Companions can include the?? likes of a Space Marine, an Aeldari Ranger, or a Sister of Battle. And once battle kicks off, they'll play out in a tactical, turn-based format.

Playing the classics

It sounds like a pretty interesting universe for Owlcat Games to explore for its next RPG. While plenty of Warhammer games have been announced, especially over the course of today's festivities, many of them are a bit more action-oriented. While shooting, blasting, and Space Marine-ing? throu??gh hordes is all good fun, sometimes you want to kick your feet up and play an RPG.

The potential for RPG storytelling in the Warhammer 40,000 universe seems ripe. Those who want to see what Owlcat does with it earlier can pre-order to get Alpha and/or Beta access to the game, depending on what tier you pre-order. No release date has been set yet for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, but it is targeting both PC and consoles.

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Four scoundrels band together to survive 40K

During today's annual Warhammer festival Skulls, developer Fatshark premiered a new trailer for its upcoming co-op action game Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. It looks grim, dark, and grimy. Pretty much what'd you expect in a Warhammer 40K setting.

As humanity struggles to fight back against the tides of Chaos, criminals are rounded up and sent into the fray. These Inquisition forces are basically the Suicide Squad in 40K. But you and three friends will need to t??ouch down on the planet and tr?y to survive.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JUsHpTWVa0

Fatshark garnered a reputation for solid co-op action with its work on Warhammer: Vermintide. Rather than a dark fantasy setting, Darktide leaps ahead into the future of Warhammer 40,000. The nice part is while there are guns to wield, there are sti?ll plenty? of big weapons to swing too. There is even some magic to wield, depending on what class you pick.

Blood for the God Emperor

Pre-orders went live today for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. The co-op game is expected to go live on Sept. 13 for PC and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Two different versions are available: the basic runs $39.99 and has a few launch cosmetics, while the $59.99 Imperial Edition has premium currency, unique class outfits, and mo?re.

We've already seen some gameplay of Darktide and it looks pretty dark. It is the world of Warhammer 40K, after all. No matter what planet you land on or faction you belong to, it seems like a generally rough universe to get by in. Still, the thieves and scoundrels of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide will try to ?keep on and stay alive in the face of Chaos.

The new trailer was among several big announcements today at the Warhammer Skulls festival. A new video looked behind the scenes of the upcoming Space Marine 2, and a few different Warhammer projects got announced. I'm personally a big fan of Boltgun.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide hits PC and Xbox Series X|S on Sept. 13. It's also due to arrive on Game Pass.

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"World premieres, new trailers, and behind the scenes sneak peeks" on June 1

Although there are many (too many?) chances to get into Warhammer and 40K these days when it comes to video game adaptations, two upcoming titles, in particular, are really speaking to me: the first-person co-op game Darktide from Vermintide developer Fatshark, and Space Marine 2, a long-awaited action sequel. We'll see more of both of them shortly, as Games Workshop is putting together a Warhammer Skulls showcase on June 1.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 are the showpiece games here �especially since they're new and they look cool �but the event will also cover the "latest updates and future plans" for some already released games, too. In its announcement, Games Workshop specifically pointed to Total War: Warhammer III, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, and Warhammer: Vermintide 2. We'll see what we get.

[caption id="attachment_323256" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{That's a lot of logos!}[/caption]

When to show up

The Warhammer Skulls event will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific on Wednesday, June 1, with "week-long offers" and new game content to follow. You can catch it live on Twitch.

Even if you're only interested in seeing a new trailer or two, you may want to swing by for the wider showcase �Clive Standen (of Vikings fame) will be involved. (If you missed it, he's Captain Titus in Space Marine 2.) Considering how quickly our summer calendar is filling up, though, I don't fault anyone for being a bit more ch??oosy with their time.

Darktide isn't too far off with a September 13, 2022 release date, but Space Marine 2 feels much less tangible at this point �Saber Interactive is still listing a TBA launch.

I'm ready to cull the h??ordes in both of these gam?es. Where are you at with them?

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A few big hitters and indie curiosities to check out with your Prime membership in January 2022

Amazon Prime members have nine more free-with-their-subscription PC games to claim this month, as Prime Gaming is giving out titles like Jedi: Fallen Order, Total War: Warhammer, and even the peculiar ecosystem game Paper Beast throughout January.

Here's the list of free-to-keep games, which will be claimable until February 1, 2022.

• Abandon Ship
• Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered
• In Other Waters
• Paper Beast - Folded Edition
• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
• Total War: Warhammer
• Two Point Hospital
• World War Z: Aftermath
• WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship

There was a lot of interest in Prime Gaming's December 2021 freebies, which included highlights like Frostpunk and Journey to the Savage Planet. Overal??l, the January lineup is about the same quality level, or maybe even higher depending on the gaps in your backlog.

I was just thinking about when the potential (but surely inevitable) sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order might reveal itself. Funny enough, we kind of had a fakeout moment recently �at least I did. I can't be the only one who saw the flashy CGI trailer for Star Wars Eclipse only to slowly realize it wasn't another Fallen Order and, in fact, ??it was a (oh boy...) Quantic Dream production. I haven't felt that much whiplash at a live news event in a long time.

_{[In Other Waters]}

But I'm getting away from the point here �Jedi: Fallen Order is worth playing, especially for free, and that's not always a guarantee in the realm of modern Star Wars video games. I'd also encourage everyone to look into In Other Waters (a very artistic game set in an alien ocean), Two Point Hospital (if you have a soft spot for Theme Hospital), and also Paper Beast (VR is optional!) and Total War: Warhammer if either of them speaks to you.

I mean, really, just claim everything. But think about actuall??y playing those games.

(Do note that you'll need to use Origin and the Epic Games Store to access a few of these free PC titles, though the rest ar?e a bit simpler to set up and start playing.)

As far as extras, Prime Gaming is giving out the usual assorted range of in-game content, including the Protector Bundle in Fall Guys, the Rose Gold Bundle in Apex Legends, the Prime Gaming Reward Bundle in Battlefield 2042, the Queenbreaker Exotic Bundle Drop in Destiny 2, and a free Epic Wildcard in Legends of Runeterra, among other trinkets.

It's wild to consider how much stuff is floating around ?for any given game these days.

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The biggest month for games just got bigger

Sure, why not? Pile 'em on. More games for the game god. After slipping out of 2021, Creative Assembly has slapped a new date on Total War: Warhammer III. Th?e army-clashing strategy spectacle is confirmed for a February 17, 2022 launch on PC and Game Pass.

Along with the launch news, the team also put out a trailer for the Ogre Kingdoms, which is a w??onderfully vile sight. This content �including the Legendary Lords Greasus Goldtooth & Skrag the Slaughterer �will be an "early adopter" pre-order incentive called the Ogre King??doms Race Pack. That's how you can play as the big lugs in the campaign.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bbp98oMsjA

Of course, "PC" can mean a few very different things these days. In this case, you'll have a few places to play Total War: Warhammer III �on Steam, the Epic Games Store, the Microsoft Store, and potentially best of all, with Xbox Game Pass for PC.

?Yep, this is a day-one Game Pass get. Flaunt it if you've got it.

As much as I appreciate the value of having lots of significant games roped into Game Pass, you can count me among the folks (our numbers are rising!) who aren't crazy about the PC-specific experience. It's less than ideal compared to Game Pass's console counterpart, but I'm willing to put up with UX issues and nitpicks on PC if the games are worthwhile �and for many people, Total War: Warhammer III will be worth it.

"If you own Warhammer III through Game Pass for PC, you will also be able to purchase future DLC for it through the Microsoft Store, as well as access Free-LC as it becomes available," according to Creative Assembly. Another tidbit before you're in too deep: "Currently it’s not possible to track the different Total War: Warhammer content you own across different storefronts. So, for example, if you buy Total War: Warhammer on t??he Epic Games Store, you will als??o need to buy the DLC on the Epic Games Store in order to use it."

As for February 2022, goodness gracious. I promise not to do this every time a game slips into that month, but... there's Dying Light 2, King of Fighters XV, Horizon Forbidden West, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Sifu, Elden Ring, and Saints Row back-to-back. Among others!

We truly can't play 'em all, which is frustrating for us as folks covering games, but probably ??not a huge bother for many of you. It's a nice problem to be spoiled for choice, and I'm pumped for people who are getting an exciting new game in their favorite series.

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Creative Assembly didn't want to 'rush to the finish line,' so early 2022 is the new target

There's one more title for the packed "early 2022" video game release schedule, as Total War: Warhammer III needs additional development time. If you were expecting to sink a bunch of late nights into the game this year, your calendar just got a lot lighter.

Creative Assembly announced the delay on Twitter this morning ??with ?a note from chief product officer Rob Bartholomew:

"With nearly a decade of development on the Total War: Warhammer trilogy behind us, it feels surreal to see its culminating chapter so close to release. While it's tempting to rush to the finish line as it comes into view, we have made the decision to give it a little more time by moving the launch of Total War: Warhammer III from 2021 to early 2022."

"The wait won't be much longer, and we'll have plenty of new information for you in the meantime. The new date will make for a stronger release and the best first step into a new era for Total War: Warhammer. We don't consider this release the end of our trilogy, but the start of years of content and support as we continue to bring the jaw-dropping scale of Games Workshop's fantasy universe to Total War."

As we've seen wi??th other big games that didn't nail their launches and had to try and juggle fixes with previously planned post-release updates and new content, it's best to just get it right �or as close to right �on day one. Easier said than done, of course.

It seems as if many fans had already read the room, and were expectin?g a potential delay given the current rate at which new info about the game was being rolled out. That might soften the blow a bit. Either way, 2022 is goin?g to be a stacked year for games.

Next on the docket, Creative Assembly is filling in a big blank with the "global reveal" of Grand Cathay on Sept. 14. Expect to see an in-engine cinematic trailer with "lots of units."

[Update: Creative Assembly released its Grand Cathay cinematic today, along with some lore tidbits and details about the army, which is led by "immortal dragons who can take human form." Given all of the new elements in play, the studio described the process ??of building out Grand Cathay with Games Workshop as "exciting and collaborative."]

//youtu.be/033FWxL22A0

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Publisher in negotiations with other studios

Focus Home Interactive has acquired French developer Streum On Studio, best known for its work on Games Workshop releases such as 2016's Space Hulk: Deathwing and the upcoming Necromunda: Hired Gun. The acquisition was revealed as par??t of the publisher's latest financial report.

"Over the past year, and particularly the past six months, we have profoundly transformed Focus Home Interactive, said Focus board chairman Christophe Nobileau. "Our Group now has an adjusted business model and a dedic??ated M&A team, as well as renewed governance, a strengthened Executive Committee and a retention programme for key managers. These changes allow us to invest much more in game development and to significantly improve our profitability, starting next year. On the external growth front, we are delighted with the acquisition of the Streum On Studio."

You can check out a brand new trailer for Necromunda: Hired Gun below.

Focus Home also noted that it is in talks with various other studios with an eye to adding them to the Parisian publisher's portfolio, which saw promising year-on-year growth of around 20% in 2020. Taking a deliberate approach to business, while releasing solid, mid-budget titles Vampyr, A Plague Tale: Innocence, GreedFall, and World War Z, Focus Home ha??s carved out a niche for itself, building upon its gains without p??anicking too much over its losses.

It's a refreshing attitude when one reflects on the industry's typical "All the Money, As Soon as Possible" approach. Hopefully it will lead to the release of bigger and better titles, based on unique brands and IPs and developed by some of the creative mid-tier studios along for the journey. If the publisher maintains its gi??ven pace, without grasping for too much, too quickly, then Focus Home will certainly prosper in the current generation.

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