Known for developing games of high-quality and excellent writing, Obsidian Entertainment's fantasy RPG Avowed is no doubt on a lot of people's radars. The Fallout: New Vegas studio is looking to release its new title?? early? next year, but there is an opportunity to play it sooner.

However, it will necessitate forking over some extra dough. According to a recent blog post on Xbox Wire, you can get a copy of Avowed on February 13 �as opposed to February 18 �if you're prepared to buy the Premium? Editio??n.

How to get Avowed Early Access as easily as possible

You can pre-order the more expensive vers?ion of the game, which will set you back $90 instead of $70 for the Standard Edition. In addi??tion to getting to download and play "up to" five days earlier, the Premium Edition also gives you access to a digital artbook and soundtrack, as well as two premium skin packs.

The post goes on to say pre-orders are available on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox App, Steam, and even Blizzard's Battle.net service. You can also, if you so choose, buy the Standard Edition and upgrade to Premium at a later date, w?hich will give you the bonuses plus the early access. It will, however, cost you an additional $25 for the privilege.

Avowed will also be available on Game Pass from day one. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play v??ia their Battle.net membership.

As for the exclusive skin pack, these have been inspired by "characters and regions from Pillars of Eternity." If you're like me and you're wondering if you need to have played this game before diving into Avowed, it seems as though that won't be necessary.

Although the latter does take place in the same universe as the former, no knowledge of Pillars of Eternity is required. If you're a fan of Obsidian games overall, then Avowed sounds like it's going to be one to look out for, whether you pla??y it five days early or? not.

The post You can get Avowed fiv?e days early, but only if you buy the Premium Edition appeared first on Destructoid.

The Halo franchise has spawned some of the most iconic multiplayer maps ever made. Since it debuted in 2001, the series has seen players face off in Spartan on-Spartan action across legendary battlegrounds that have cemented themselves in?? gaming folklore.

With so many to choose from, how do you find the 10 best Halo maps ever? We're going to try.

10. Valhalla

• Game: Halo 3

Valhalla felt like a natural evolution of Blood Gulch. Two bases facing off, separated?? only by a river. The wealth of vehicle options makes Valhalla a perfect Capture The Flag map, and the hilly terrain only adds to t??he tension as you escape the base with the enemy flag.

It returned in all three of 343 Industries' Halo games as Ragnar?ok, Viking, and Vallaheim, respectively. After all ?these years, it plays better than ever.

9. Narrows

• Game: Halo 3

Narrows is symmetry perfec??ted. The two small bases on each side are accessed quickly by the man cannons that fling you across the map. There's a large bridge through the middle, featuring an upper and lower level. There's even a vertical curve to the bridge, which makes for some interesting combat engagements.

Narrows matches are extremely fast-paced, thanks to the existence of the man cannons. You'll no??t get a moment to rest until the game is finished!

8. Zanzibar

• Game: Halo 2

At times, it feels like Zanzibar is underrated by Halo fans. One?? team spawns in a power station, while the other starts on the beach. The two must fight for control of the giant spinning wheel in the middle of the map, giving Zanzibar an extremely dynamic f??eeling.

Its full commitment to its asymmetric design is admirable. This makes it perfect for 1 Flag Capture The Flag and Single Bomb matches, creating awesome "attack vs. defense" scenarios. Zanzibar's Halo 3 remake, Last Resort, is great too.

7. Battle Creek

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

Battle Creek is a total brawl. This semi-symmetrica??l map takes place in a small canyon, featuring two identical bases. In 4v4 Slayer matches, you're never far from the action, even if you spend most ??of your time on the respawn screen.

Taking your Xbox to a LAN party and playing split-screen Battle Creek is what classic Halo is all about. The map returned in Halo 2 as Beaver Creek, which is also one of the best Halo maps ever. The differences between the two are ?minimal.

6. Midship

• Game: Halo 2

Midship's Covenant setting gives it a unique aesthetic among the best Halo maps. It looks great, but it plays even better. It's a small arena setting with a ton of verticali?ty, making it ideal for Oddball and free-for-a??ll Slayer matches.

Midship produces a unique brand of chaos that other Halo maps struggle to replicate.? You won't find campers here - th??ere's nowhere to hide!

5. The Pit

• Game: Halo 3

Halo 3's The Pit is a symmetrical map set in a UNSC training facility. It was an instant fan favorite on release in 2007, and has remained a staple of Halo's competitive scene ever since. The Pit has verticality, long sight lines, and close-quarters opportunities. There's something for every playstyle here, hence its lo?ngevity.

The biggest compliment to The Pit is that it has been remade in every single one of 343 Industries' Halo titles. Pitfall in Halo 4, Simulation in Halo 5: Guardians, and Empyrean in Halo Infinite. Still, you're never beating the original.

4. Forge World

• Game: Halo: Reach

Halo 3 had Foundry and Sandbox as its primary Forge maps. Halo: Reach went one better with Forge World, an enormous blank canvas for players to bring their wildest ideas to life. The map has several different regions, each of whi??ch can be built upon to create something entirely new. It's magnificent.

Bungie certainly had confidence in Forge World; many of Halo: Reach's base multiplayer maps were built in it. Fo?r better or worse, this s??tarted a series trend of Forge maps becoming matchmaking staples.

3. Guardian

• Game: Halo 3

It's difficult to describe why Guardian works so well. It's asymmetric, feels smaller than it is, and doesn't play well with most objective game modes. Yet, it's undeniably one of the best Halo maps ever made. Why is that?

The map is separated by a few different areas, where combat encounters are well-isolated. It rarely feels like you're being attacked b??y multiple angles with little you can do about it, and you're always fighting for control over a different area of the map. From a design perspective, Guar?dian is near-perfect.

2. Lockout

• Game: Halo 2

If you like verticality in your Halo maps, Lockout has three levels on what is ot??herwise a very small arena. Lockout features one ??central platform, from which the rest of the map spans out from. No matter where you spawn, Lockout does a great job of luring you back to that middle focal point, whether you come from the upper sniper tower, or from the Gravity Lift room.

With so many areas to worry about, you're always taking a new combat engagement from interesting angl??es, and Lockout offers plenty of environmental cover for skilled players to use to their advantage. For this reason, Lockout is the best Slayer map ever made.

1. Blood Gulch

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

Blood Gulch is quintessential Halo. Two bases, one vast, open canyon. Plenty of vehicles on both sides. Snipers galore. Off to the races you go, Spartans. This is Capture The Flag at its very best, and there's a reason Blood Gulch has returned in so many Halo games since.

Part of the beauty of Blood Gulch is its simplicity. Bungie didn't overcomplicate anything, stripping the Halo multiplayer experience back to its core to create something magical. You can still play Big Team Battle matches on Blood Gulch in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and it still feels as epic as ever.

The post 10 best Halo multiplayer maps of all time appeared first on Destructoid.

343 Industrie??s is no more (sort of). Prior to the grand final of the Halo World Championship 2024 eSports tournament, the developer confirmed that it has rebranded to Halo Studios, turning a new page for the legendary franchise.

It also revealed that Halo Studios will move to Unreal Engine 5 for all future projects, of which several are in development. This marks a move away from its propr?ietary game engine, the Slipspace Engine, making it easier for new developers to come in and hit the ground running.

Halo is making the jump to Unreal Engine 5

Halo Studios revealed the news with an impressive UE5 video showcase titled Project Foundry, hitting all the classic Halo notes: Master Chief, Eli?tes, Energy Swords, and even the Flood.

Nothing was officially confirmed, but given what was shown, it looked suspiciously like the Halo: Combat Evolved remaster that was rumored back in June. Are they teasing it right in front of our eyes? Only time will tell. Regardless, it looks stunning, with mind-blowing environments that look closer to Blur Studios' Halo 2: Anniversary cutscenes than any?? real-time gameplay seen before in the seri??es.

As 343 Industries, the studio has developed three mainline Halo games since being founded in 2007: 4, 5: Guardians, and Infinite. Each title had positives and negatives, although it's generally agreed that the series hasn't quite reached the dizzying heights of its Bungie days. Can this rebrand and move to Unreal Engine 5 help secure a brighter future for Halo? I sure hope so.

The post 343 Industries rebrands to Halo Studi??os, confirms series move to Unreal Engine 5 appeared first on Destructoid.

File this under "news no one expected." 343 Industries has confirmed that Halo Infinite is getting a third-person mode, and it's com??ing sooner than you think, with a release date penned in for November.

Halo historians will know that Combat Evolved was a third-person shooter at one point in its development. Now, well over two decades later, that idea is set to become a reality in Halo Infinite.

Halo Infinite third-person mode confirmed

343 Industries confirmed the addition of third-person mode to Halo Infinite in a video on Twitter. It's an announcement that wouldn't feel out of place on April Fools' Day. Halo? Third-person??! I assure you, it's real, and frankly, it l??ooks like a lot of fun.

The clips from the gameplay were?? marked as a work in progress, but a couple of interesting tidbits can be garnered from wh?at has been shown so far.

One moment shows the player transitioning from first to third-person, indica?ting that you're not locked into one view for the entire match. It remains to be seen if the new third?-person view is only available in specific modes. PvE combat was also shown, confirming Firefight will be getting the third-person treatment. Count me in.

Interestingly, t?he footage features one moment involving the player struggling to see while entering a Shroud Screen. This shows the drawback of adding third-person to a game not initially designed for it, so it'll be interesting to see how 343 Industries handles things like this in the full release.

Even if third-person mode doesn't become the de-facto way to play Halo Infinite going forward, I'd b?e lying if I said I wasn't ??intrigued to try it out. It's currently set for a November release, with no specific date nailed down at the moment.

The post Halo Infinite is getting a third-person mo??de next mo??nth appeared first on Destructoid.

Halo Infinite's sandbox lives and dies by its weapons. If the gunplay isn't solid and the weapons don't feel fun, then little else matters. It's something that the series has nailed over the years, and luckily, Infinite is no different.

In Halo Infinite, multiple old favorites return. You can find classic weapons like the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer, helping the game feel familiar to long-time series fans. However, it also introduces several new weapons such as the Mangler and the Cindershot, which keep the sandbox fresh, even for Halo veterans.

Halo Infinite Weapons Tier List

Halo Infinite has 23 weapons in total across its campaign and multiplayer. This is more than enough to give you a ton of variety, because not all of the weapons will appear on every Halo Infinite map. Frankly, this is for the best. We couldn't cope with every player on the server having power weapons all at the same - that might be a little too chaotic.

When ranking Halo Infinite's weapons into a definitive Tier List, there are a few things to consider. First of all - fun. We're asking the question, "Do these weapons feel fun to use?" After all, it's Halo, a series known for its iconic armory of weapons, so the best of Infinite's offerings will?? likely b?e the ones that are the most fun to use.

It's important that we consider weapon efficiency, too. Sure, a weapon can feel fun, but it's hardly any use if you ??can't actually kill anyone with it. Pick up the weapons near the top of our Tier List to ensure you're at the top of the leaderboard in every multiplayer match.

S Tier

• BR75 (Battle Rifle)
• Energy Sword
• Gravity Hammer
• M41 SPNKR (Rocket Launcher)
• S7 Sniper Rifle
• VK78 Commando

A Tier

• M392 Bandit
• M50 Sidekick
• MA40 AR (Assault Rifle)
• Needler
• Sentinel Beam
• Shock Rifle
• Skewer

B Tier

• Cindershot
• CQS48 Bulldog
• Heatwave
• Hydra
• Plasma Pistol
• Ravager
• Stalker Rifle

C Tier

• Disruptor
• Mangler
• Pulse Carbine

The fact that so many of Halo Infinite's weapons are in the S and A tiers here is a compliment to 343 Industries' balancing. Overall, the studio did a s??olid job making sure the game's armory feels fun and powerful, yet rarely overpowered. This isn't to say that weapons in the B and C tiers can't be well-utilized by skilled players. Still, the average gamer will likely have a tougher time ?trying to dominate multiplayer lobbies while using them.

With Halo Infinite still receiving updates years after its launch, even more weapons may be added in the future. The M392 Bandit is the most recent addi??tion to the game, arriving in early ??2023.

The post Halo Infinite weapon??s Tier List: Al?l weapons, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Halo Infinite's campaign is arguably the best in years. Plenty would have it down as 343 Industries' best effort to date. It was the game that took the franchise's single-player in a bold new direction, embracing an open-world campaign for the first time. It was an interesting experiment, one that makes Halo Infinite one of the most unique games in the series.

In this open world set on Installation 07, players can? still complete a series of traditional campaign missions. These are separated by area, so once you??'ve finished one location, you must move to the next to unlock the next set of missions.

Halo Infinite Campaign Missions Tier List

Halo Infinite features a total of 16 campaign missions spread across seven different areas. Despite the big change in approach, this still very much feels like a Halo campaign. You've got Master Chief facing hordes of Covenant (now the Banished) - what more could you want? Halo Infinite's campaign missions feel like a love letter to the franchise. You have levels like The Road, which feels like a vehicle mission pulle??d straight ?from the previous games in the series. Then, there are missions like Pelican Down, which creates a sense of urgency unlike anything else.

Most importantly, Halo Infinite doesn't forget to make its campaign missions fun. You can hit the right notes to recreate that classic Halo feeling all you want, but if it isn't actually fun to play, then it doesn't matter. Our Tier List here considers the fun factor above all else. S Tier missions are the cream of the crop, the levels you can replay 10 times over and have a blast. Moving down, C Tier levels are the ones you finish begrudgingly during repeat playthroughs, sighing deeply as you wait for the good stuff. Luckily, Halo Infinite doesn't have too much of that kind of thing.

S Tier

• House of Reckoning
• Pelican Down
• The Road
• The Tower

A Tier

• Conservatory
• Repository
• Silent Auditorium
• The Command Spire
• Warship Gbraakon

B Tier

• Excavation Site
• Foundation
• Nexus
• Outpost Tremonius
• The Sequence

C Tier

• Recovery
• Spire

Halo Infinite Campaign Side Missions Tier List

With Halo Infinite taking a more open-world? approach, 343 Industries was able to add side missions to the franchise's mainli??ne games for the first time ever. Love or hate these side missions, you can't deny they were a fun change of pace from the main campaign.

All of the seven side missions in Halo Infinite involve liberating some Banished outposts, although the objectives change each time. It's got a hint of the Ubisoft formula about it, but it works well in Infinite's sandbox. The ga??me is at its best when chaos reigns, and these side missions provide that in spades.

S Tier

• Forge of Teash
• Ransom Keep

A Tier

• Annex Ridge
• Armory of Reckoning
• Redoubt of Sundering

B Tier

• Horn of Abolition

C Tier

• Riven Gate

The post Halo Infini??t??e missions Tier List: All Campaign missions, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Blood Gulch. Lockout. Guardian. All standout maps that you might remember from the Halo series in years gone by. The franchise has a deep history of producing iconic multiplayer battlegrounds, and Halo Infinite is no different.

37 multiplayer maps populate Halo Infinite's multiplayer offerings, and our Tier List aims to ra?nk them one by one. Arena maps, Big Team Battle maps, and Forge canvases each have their own Tier List??, as they're too different to compare against one another.

Halo Infinite Arena Maps Tier List

Arena maps are Halo Infinite's bread and butter. 4v4 gameplay across modes like Slayer, King of the Hill, and Capture the Flag. This is Halo's DNA, the reason players return over two decades since the franchise made its debut. Luckily, Infinite has some great arena maps that are a??n absolute blast to play.

Our ranking of Halo Infinite's arena maps is largely based on how fun they are. Ultimately, that's why you play the game, right? We've also slightly considered aesthetics, too. When you think back to legendary Halo maps from previous titles, each one has a strong visual style that'??s easy to remember. It's a small consideration, but an important one.

S Tier

• Bazaar
• Empyrean
• Live Fire
• Recharge

A Tier

• Aquarius
• Behemoth
• Chasm
• Forest
• House of Reckoning
• Prism
• Streets

B Tier

• Catalyst
• Elevation
• Forbidden
• Illusion
• Interference
• Launch Site
• Solitude

C Tier

• Argyle
• Cliffhanger
• Corrosion
• Detachment
• Dredge

Halo Infinite Big Team Battle Maps Tier List

Halo Infinite features six maps made exclusively for the Big Team Battle game mode. These maps are made for 12v12 action, featuring vehicle-heavy gameplay. Jump in a Warthog with some friends and cause mayhem - that's what Halo is all about, ??and that's what Big ??Team Battle provides.

When ranking Halo Infinite's Big Team Battle maps, we're not just considering how fun it is to play. We're also considering how well they fit the game mode. After all, what good? is Big Team Battle if you can't cause a bit of vehicular chaos?

S Tier

• Oasis

A Tier

• Fragmentation
• Scarr

B Tier

• Deadlock
• Highpower

C Tier

• Breaker

Halo Infinite Forge Canvas Maps Tier List

Halo Infinite's Forge mode is the most powerful version of the iconic map creator to date. It's hard to believe how far it has come since the Halo 3 days. From requiring the use of glitches to make items float b??ack in the day, to in-depth scripting in the most recent iteration of the game mode.

Eight Halo Infinite maps exist entirely as Forge mode canvases. While not fun by themselves, they???? serve as a way to create completely new maps, with each having its own unique theme. Since we can't rank by fun factor, we're going purely by aesthetics and versatility here.

S Tier

• Permafrost
• Void

A Tier

• Barrage
• Ecliptic

B Tier

• Institute
• Mires

C Tier

• Arid
• Seafloor

The post Halo Infinite maps Tier List: All maps, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

One year after its announcement, Compulsion Games finally gave fans a first look at South of Midnight's gameplay.

South of Midnight is a third-person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South, and follows a weaver named Hazel who has been tasked with repair tears in the universe by taking down mythical creatures. Compulsion described the project as a wide linear game, meaning there will be limits to how much players will be able to explore the bayou. South of Midnight ?launches worldwide in 2025 on Game Pass,?? Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.

In South of Midnight's first gameplay trailer, we get our first look at ?the mix of magical abilities and weapons Hazel uses to fight the swamp's stran?ge and disturbing creatures.

This is Compulsion Game's first project since We Happy Few in 2018, which was set in a dystopian English city and combined role-playing, survival, and roguelike elements. South of Midnight is a much different project but it still features some of that signature C?ompulsion Games ?flair.

The post South of Midnight gets first gameplay trailer, 2025 release ?w?indow appeared first on Destructoid.

Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga is finally out, following on from the award-winning 2017 hit by Ninja Theory. Despite the bleakness that appears to ??accompany the gaming wor??ld at the moment, many have been looking forward to this release, so ??it's worth going over the basics of what sys??tems you can play it on.

Now, being as it's published by Xbox Game Studios, it stands to reason that Hellblade 2 is exclusive to the Xbox Series X|S. And, indeed, it is. It's also available on Steam, where it's currently looking pretty good, with a current review score of "Very Positive." But it's ?early days yet.

However, there's likely to be a few PlayStation users out there who will be wondering whether the game will come to the PS5. Currently, there don't appear to be any plans to release it on Sony's systems. However, in this humble reporter's opinion, the fact that Xbox is making some of its exclusives available on rival consoles suggests it may not be out of ?the realms of possibility just yet. Don't quote me on that, though.

So, quick summary: Hellblade 2 is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC only. It's al??so available on Game Pass, ?so that's something.

Decks out for Ninja Theory

Of course, we're talking about a new game you can get on Steam, so the next question is to ask whether it??'s also compatible with Valve's Steam Deck.

Now, despite the general hype around Hellblade 2, the store page d??oesn't show whether or not it's verified or even playable on the portable device. However, it's a fairly new release and it's likely that Ninja Theory could tweak it for the system, so be on the lookout for future updates?????????????????????????? that mention that.

Hav?ing said that, it's worth checking out the below video:

According to the channel, Hellblade 2?? is playable on the Steam Deck, but with a few caveats. For starters, you're unlikely to get a consistent framerate?? above 30fps, especially with additional graphics features turned on. Certain cutscenes and visually heavy sections of the game can even drop it to the low 20s.

There also appears to be a bit of ghosting as well as some blurring effects, depend?ing on which settings you've enabled.

So, yes, it is playable on the Deck, but it's not going to be a smooth ride for much of it, it seems. If you have the PC hardware to run it, it's probably best to stick with that. Failing that, Nvidia has added the game to its GeForce NOW cloud service, if that's your bag.

The post What platform is Hellblade 2 on? appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox Direct?

Welcome back! It’s another Tuesday, which means tonight there will be a new episode of the Spot Dodge Podcast exclusively on Destructoid. Topics: Tonight the crew discusses all those crazy announcements from The Game Awards. From Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon to Ken Levine's long-awaited return with "Judas". Let's get into it!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=N?GnrilMK5?9k&ab_channel=SpotDodge

One thing that can't go untalked about is Xbox's absence from The Game Awards. This is really surprising considering the company is coming off of an extremely lackluster year of first-party content. Not only that, but Xbox has three major AAA games launching in the first half of 2023. With Starfield, Redfall, and Forza Motorsport on the horizon.

Sure, Game Pass definitely delivered the goods throughout the year, but the first-party waiting game is getting a bit redundant. I'm truly hoping Xbox has something special up its sleeve after having such a quiet year. Aaron Greenberg hinted the? publisher has 'something' coming soon. But that doesn't change the fact that Xbox's presence at The Game Awards was sorely needed.

My hope is that Microsoft has an "Xbox Direct"-style digital?? presentation planned for early next year. A new showcase following the likes of Nintendo's Directs and PlayStation's State of Play events. A one-stop-shop for all things Xbox, Xbox Game Studios, and Game Pass. If this is the case, then that's a-okay with me. I've been longing for Xbox to follow the leader in this department. If not, well damn.

//twitter.com???/aarongreenberg/status/1601117207173308416

Our lovely cast from around the web: Brett Medlock (me) and Mary Stowe from Destructoid, John Friscia from The Escapist, Greg Bargas from PC Invasion, and Brett Larsen, our extra special guest. Behind the scenes, Gamurs�Eric Weichhart? is?? live-editing this week’s show. Let us know in the comments!

Spot Dodge is a weekly Nintendo-focused Podcast here at Destructoid where we dedicate an hour or two?? to go over the latest Nintendo news and discuss ??the games we’re playing. If you’re a fan of Nintendo Switch, RPGs, or having a good time, Spot Dodge will be a great addition to your podcast rotation. So be sure to subscribe!

Spot Dodge is streaming live every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET on Twitch channel. ICYMI: We now have a dedicated Spot Dodge YouTube channel! All future episodes will be li?ve-streamed a??????????????????????????nd uploaded there.

Afterward, the show will be available on-demand for audio listeners via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. The live video version will remain on both YouTube and Twitch (don’t forget to follow and subscribe). So man?y options!

The post Xbox skip??ping The Game Awards could be?? a good thing appeared first on Destructoid.

Squish or be squished in this shrunken backyard survival game from Obsidian Entertainment

After two years in Early Access, it's time to check back in with Grounded now that it's been fleshed out with more bugs to battle ?and harvest, more impossib??ly large backyard sights to seek out, and a fully realized story �complete with an eventual ending �to uncover.

Having only dabbled in the early build, back when there were hardly any threads to follow, I'm surprised how far Grounded has come ??thanks to ongoing updates and a big final push for the 1.0 launch on PC and Xbox. Originally, the familiar yet creative-up-close shrunken world was its biggest asset �and it still is t?o this day. But now, the whole survival loop feels cohesive, with plenty of thoughtful touches you'd expect from a passion project.

Since the game's work-in-progress debut, some players never really left, and they've got magnificent (and painstaking) home bases to prove it. As for me, I started fresh with a new save fi??le and got to ??exploring. Little did I know I'd be in for a 30-hour adventure.

[caption id="attachment_345543" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{It's worth repeating that Grounded has an intricate Arachnophobia mode with multiple comfort thresholds.}[/caption]

Grounded (PC [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Released: September 27, 2022
MSRP: $39.99

Even with familiarity from my Early Access playthrough, this is still one of the most interesting worlds I've gotten to know in a survival game, right up there with Subnautica.

Chopping down towering blades of grass and hauling planks like a lumberjack, scurrying through ant tunnel labyrinths with a torch in hand, scavenging for half-buried scales in a koi pond with water fleas nipping at your feet �it's an unforgettable lens for such an established genre. And the more I play Grounded, the more I'm weirded out looking down at my own backyard. What tiny creatures are out there, and just what are they up to?

It's an absorbing game, in other words �the kind you can keep coming back to session after session whether you're "mostly here for the story" or you're ready to settle in and get cozy as a miniature architect. I'm far more in the former camp, and admittedly, Grounded has an overly drawn-out pace at times. But in the end, I'm glad I stuck with it, and I'm excited to thoroughly investigate every area, from the toxic trash heap to the children's sandbox to the smoldering spilled grill and creepy craw??lspace under the shed.

So much of the game is getting to know the land, its surprisingly ruthless inhabitants, and the resources that'll keep you alive day-to-day and rarer finds that can help you find a way out of this conundrum. With that knowledge base (and smartly positioned hand-made shortcuts), you can cut down on a lot of the back-and-forth tedium. Wiki refreshers help, too. But either way, Grounded is not a? game to rush through witho?ut proper preparations.

[caption id="attachment_345544" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{There's no wasted space, and Obsidian makes the most of its '90s backyard theme.}[/caption]

Early on, I was shocked by how hard-hitting and dangerous Grounded can be, even when I was trying to mind my own business a??nd keep a low profile. The early gam?e is harsh.

With makeshift armor, no permanent stat increases or perk-like Mutations unlocked yet, and a puny "weapon" that big (and even medium) boys can shrug off, you shouldn't go picking ?fights. You've got to be ready to book it, then bandage up as needed. Spiders are ferocious, of course �more so than any arachnids I've seen in a game before �but the same goes for bombardier beetles, mites, larvae, and mosquitoes, among many other threats. Several foes can even gang up on you, sometimes to a comical degree.

In one-on-one fights, there's a distinct rhythm to bouts, including "perfect blocks" that open up your opponents. Combat is fun once you're strong enough to have more margin of error. Each enemy has a memorable personality and particular "tells" that you can master, which I liked �but skirmishes started to feel less engaging the longer I played. Expect mashy chaos from time to time. There's also ranged combat with bows and a huge assortment of arrow types, as well as bombs. Crafting gear out of your prey is entertaining in that Monster Hunter sort of way, and pieces have different perks and weight ratings. Certain sets are needed for navigating fumes and underw??ater caves.

With more excursions under your belt, a stable place to call home and craft at, and better gear sourced from the bugs you are able to pummel, Grounded gets easier over time. Bless the life-steal weapons. With the exception of a few boss battles (some of which are optional) and a late defend-three-points-and-pray mission that got really dicey, most of my struggles were frontloaded. Things?? might've been smoother in online co-op, which is the id?eal way to play �but I got through it all alone, and with patience, you can too.

[caption id="attachment_345542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{You'll unlock beneficial Mutations just by doing stuff day-to-day. Keep an eye out for a four-leaf clover and a D20.}[/caption]

Thankfully, Grounded has multiple autosaves to fall back on, death isn't the worst (more of an inconvenience), and you can freely save outside of combat. I'd recommend doing so often. It's possible to set a respa??wn point at (easily built) shelters, and if you're taken out, it's a matter of fetching your lost backpack to regain your on-hand items. That said, this is an exploration-heavy game with a lot of running around �avoid any repetition you can.

While hunger and thirst meters are a consistent threat, for the most part, fresh water is plentiful �just smack a blade of grass to release a high-up droplet �and food doesn't strictly have to be cooked, though roasted aphid is far better sustenance than a handful of plucked mushrooms. If you neglect these needs for too long, an ominous countdown will begin. This timer was only a p??roblem for me once, when I was stranded deep in an uncharted area for story reasons. But generally, out in the open, everything's in reach??.

Bi??g picture, the main considerations are scouting out a good central location for your home (or homes), since you'll keep coming back to unload your backpack and craft building-dependent creations, ??and also maintaining a healthy reserve of materials. Armor and weapons degrade and can be repaired with the right ingredients, but it's possible to strategically upgrade them (using rare but not finite stones) when they're almost kaput.

It's worth noting that Grounded has three primary difficulties �I'd honestly recommend the lowest, Mild �as well as a Creative build-cool-shit-stress-free mode, Creative with Bugs, and Custom modes with lots of granular you-do-you options. There were times when I thought about bumping?? my save to a custom game due to obnoxiously aggressive insects and stamina constantly running low, but I resisted; it's a one-way conversion.

If you're struggling, gameplay-based Mutation unlocks are a fun RPG-like touch, and changing your build on the fly can go a long way. You'll also want to smash giant teeth (Milk Molars), which award ?points to permanently benefit your max health, stamina, hunger/thirst burn rate, and max item stack sizes. There's never enough inventory space!

[caption id="attachment_345540" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{Remember to keep a backup torch in case night falls while you're far from home.}[/caption]

I've gone long enough wit?hout getting in??to the story, haven't I? I'll keep it light.

The storytelling gives meaning to your exploration, and it's sufficient motivation to see where things go (there's a "good" and a "bad" animated ending), but the writing is better viewed as a playful, funny, clever bonus than as your sole reason for playing. Expect a lot of audio recordings but minimal interactions with NPCs and some scattered flashback cutscenes �the vast majority of Grounded is everything I've described up until thi??s point.

Without spoiling anything, I'd say that if you're usually survival-wary and are only interested in Grounded because of Obsidian's well-established name, be cauti??ous. There was enough narrative substance here for me as a survival fan, definitely, but you might not feel the same way. I liked the central abduction mystery and the opposing sides.

In the beginning, you'll get clues about several labs?? with chips you need to recover, and if you're brave, you can go "out o??f order" �I love that sort of freedom.

Much later, you'll be funneled toward the upper yard, above the retaining walls. You can do your own thing as long as you want, but it does pay to explore these labs to the fullest for resources and other goodies. Eventually, the limi?ting factor was less "where do I go next?" and more "where do I find these highly specific parts to craft a high-tier hammer to smack something and progress the story?" When I mentioned a pacing slowdown, this was it. Even thou??gh the next section seemed tantalizingly within reach, getting geared up was a seemingly small roadblock that snowballed out of control for hours. So many errands.

I get it �this is classic survival gating �but in these moments, I longed for a more organic approach, as seen in Subnautica. With quicker traversal (or even a one-way "warp home" ability), there would've been much less busywork in my playthrough. If I could do it all again, I would build more "waystations" to supplement my main base and pick better spots for my staircases that stretched up to lofty biomes. Hauling grass planks can be ?tedious as a solo player, especially if you don't have the most effic??ient armor equipped.

[caption id="attachment_345539" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{If you're not much of a builder, a utilitarian base will do just fine �don't worry about raids.}
[/caption]

I should say, I love the way Grounded handles blueprints �it's a step above most of its peers. You can analyze materials to unlock related recipes, sure, but that's not the only way. There are also quests to take on, collectibles to find, and points to?? spend. With all of these methods in play, it's a steady blueprint rollout that never feels overwhelming.

And while I'm not a builder at heart, it's worth stressing that you could conceivably get into Grounded just for the construction side �it's intuitive, and the backyard sprawl makes for a great setting. To that end, even though I wish combat and traversal went a bit deeper given the scope and length of this game, I was so invested in this charming and surprisingly fresh miniature worl??d that I didn't mind too much. There's a certain finesse.

With its 1.0 release, Grounded has so much to discover, and enough of a hook to justify the dozens of hours you might invest. Whether you're an exploration-minded player in search of landmarks and tucked-away treasures, or a castle-building fiend with a vision, you should ideally bring friends along for the ride. Still, playing alone, it was hard for me to walk away from Grounded, even in its slowest moments. I wasn't satisfied with my end-of-game score, so I searched for secrets and kept going, boosting my grade in the process. Even now, there are still more bugs to catalog and, inevitably??, squash. Nothing personal!

While Obsidian isn't known for survival games, it ended up making a grea?t one.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Grounded appeared first on Destructoid.

Collect-a-thoning your way through Psychonauts 2 just got a little easier

Psychonauts 2 has plenty of collectibles to collect, but it can get tricky finding them all and tracking your progress. Today, Double Fine announced the Quality of Life update for Psychonauts 2, which sh??ould hopefully make things a bit easier.

At the outset of the video, Double Fine head Tim Schafer warns that the video for the Quality of Life update does contain some Psychonauts 2 spoilers. So basically, if you don't want to ruin any surprise twists or turns yet, just rest assured knowing that booting up the Psychonauts 2 with the Quality of Life update will make collecting a bit easier. If you're cool with spoilers though, read on past the video.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=keSneYfvOw8

A new filter for Raz's camera will let him spot valuables in the a??rea, both in the real world and inside a brain. This upgrade can be bought after you've beaten the main story of the game, or will be available once you launch if you've already beaten the main story.

The "OttoSpot" camera only helps you spot figments and other collectibles in a general area, though. Another new addition will let you know whether you've collected everything in a space or not. Once all the? collectibles have been found, a little note and ch??eckmark will show up on the area in your menu.

Also, after finishing Gisu's quest, you'll be able to get a bonu??s Psychoseismometer. This way, you can engag??e in combat over and over, and even take on special combat challenges.

The Psychonauts 2 Quality of Life patch should be live now on all platforms, and already some users are reporting how it's made their quest for 100% a little easier. It seems like a pretty good update for what's already a pretty rad game, and it's also an optional tool. So those who want to ??hunt collectibles the ol' fashioned way will still get their wis??h. Good luck on finishing out those achievements!

The post Psychonauts 2 gets some helpful features in Qu?ality of Life patch appeared first on Destructoid.

A portal to innovation

Xbox is expanding its publishing arm today by bringing on a well-known creator, as Kim Swift is joining Xbox Game Studios Publ??ishing.

In a tweet today, Xbox confirms that Swift is joining to accelerate its innovation efforts and "collaborate with independent studios to build games for? the cloud."

//twitter.com/Xbox??Publ??ishing/status/1406989970380840963

Swift was notably the designer and project lead on Portal, and played a leading role in Left 4 Dead and its sequel, Left 4 Dead 2. She went on to launch Quantum Conundrum, and worked at several other studios, includin??g EA Motive.

Xbox recently hosted both its E3 2021 showcase and an extended Xbox Games Showcase last week, where it featured indie projects like the impressive-looking Replaced.

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Two press conferences merge into one

Xbox and Bethesda have both confirmed their plans for their summer games showcase. ??The two will be hosting a joint Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase stream on June 13 at 10 a.m. PT.

The stream will focus on games from both Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda, as well as other partners around the world. Now that Bethesda is under the Xbox umbrella, the two will share the stage for a 90-minute show that will run down upcoming holiday l?aunches and additions to Xbox Game Pass.

Games, Games, Games 🗣ï¸
World Premieres 🎬
New titles on @XboxGamePass â«

Save the date for the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase: //t.co/ezcMtO6JM6 | #XboxBethesda pic.twitter.com/WHVbgZl5Fo

— Xbox (@Xbox) May 26, 2021

The show will be airing on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, and Xbox will also be hosting a digital FanFest this year as well.

At least now, we have a clearer idea of both company's plans for E3 2021 and the big summer showcase rollout. The teaser image makes it fairly obvious that Halo Infinite will be a part of the showcase, but Xbox and its massive lineup ?of studios could have a lot more to show as well. We'll all find out on?? June 13.

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