Astarion is one of the most popular companions in Baldur's Gate 3. You'll likely meet him early in your adventure, a Rogue whose tongue is as fast as his sword. One thing's for sure: yo?u want to keep Astarion around.

As a Rogue, Astarion has one distinct advantage over other Baldur's Gate 3 characters. Whether you're playing as him or bringing him along as a companion, Astarion can choose up to four feats as? he levels up, as opposed to others' three. These come at Levels 4, 8, 10, and 12 for Rogues.

But which ones should you be taking for your playthrough? We're going to take a look at the best feats for Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3, to make sure you get your build just right.

Best feats for Rogue Astarion in BG3

When looking at the best feats for Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3, we'll highlight the four we think you should be taking throughout your playthrough. There are so many BG3 feats that these four aren't the only ones you can take, so we'll also include some honorable mentions that also work p??retty well for an Astarion run.

The priority with these feats is to create a ranged Astarion BG3 buil?d. In the late game, this can result in some pretty crazy damage with the right feats in place.

Ability Improvement feat for Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3

With four feats to choose from, you should always be taking Ability Improvement. Usually, for a Rogue, you'd dump the extra two points here into Dexterity, allowing you to take advantage of Stealth skills and giving you a bonus for abilities such as Sleight of Hand??.

We'd recommend taking Ability Improvement for your Level 4 feat in Baldur's Gate 3. Astarion will reap the benefits if you take this one as earl??y as you possibly can.

Sharpshooter feat for Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3

Any Astarion build in BG3 isn't complete without taking the Sharpshooter feat. It makes him an absolute menace from range, and the removal of penalties from low ground is just overpowered. Make no mistake - if you choose Sharpshooter as one of your feats for Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3, you should switch primarily to ranged attacks.

You should take Sharpshooter as your Level 8 feat for Astarion. The -5 penalty to Attack Roles can be negated by high Dexterity if you ?took Ability Improvement earlier, and the extra 10 damage is an enormous buff in exchange.

Dual Wielder feat for Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3

When you're really starting to hone your Astarion build in Baldur's Gate 3, we'd definitely recommend Dual Wielder. This feat will allow you to dual-wield crossbows, which, when combined with your previous two feats, makes Astarion a damage-dealing machine. The +1 bonus to Armour Cla??ss isn't too shabby, either.

Dual Wielder is a Baldur's Gate 3 feat you should take for Astarion at Level 10. The previous two are so beneficial at an earl?y stage, that you'll see more rewards from taking them first. Dual Wie??lder is great, but it's quite a specialist feat.

Mobile feat for Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3

The Mobile feat is one of the best for players who enjoy the stealthy aspects of a Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion playthrough. It's commonly used alongside Dash to avoid Opportunity Attacks as you maneuver around the battlefield, then Cunning Action: Hide to go?? into Stealth mode.

When using Mobile as part of that combination, Astarion can pop in and out of stealth during combat, dealing massive damage before slipping away i??nto the night. Even for ranged charac??ters, Mobile is great for simply repositioning quickly without taking tons of damage. Grab this feat at Level 12 - it shouldn't be an early priority, but it's worth having.

Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion feats: honorable mentions

The four feats above aren't the only viable ones for an Astarion playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3. Here are some honorable mentions you can use, even if you're not embracing the range-h??eavy build we recommended above.

It's also worth noting that you can always experiment with your Astarion feats in Baldur's Gate 3. If you think you've made the wrong choice for your playthrough, you can respec your class via Withers and choose your feats all over again. This will set you back 100 gold each time, which isn't much at all when you get into the latter stages of Baldur's Gate 3.

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Group passwords are the backbone of Elden Ring's multiplayer scene. Whether you ??and our friends are playing the game's box-standard multiplayer mode or using one of the many incredib?le mods fans have made to trick it out, you'll need passwords to explore the Land Between as a team.

Luckily, group passwords are much more than a way to join a group for cooperative multiplayer or PVP. Many Elden Ring group passwords significantly buff the number of Runes you get when you defeat one of the game's shard-bearing bosses. Some of these passwords give you a boost of up to 5%, so you and your friends could end up squeez??ing a few more level-ups out of the game's most epic bosses.

Specific passwords also come with other effects, including unique summon signs, varying amounts of bloodstains, and the chance to run into hostile phantoms. Here are some of the best co-op codes in Elden Ring.

How to use group passwords in Eldren Ring

After popping open the menu and selecting Multiplayer, you can press Triangle on PS4/PS5 to change your password Settings �from here, you can enter a Multiplayer Password or a Group Password. The latte?r is your ticket to scoring more Runes.

You can input up to five group pa?sswords during a s??ession, but you don't have to fill every slot. Having multiple group passwords active can lead to strange results, so think carefully before you input co-op codes.

Popular Elden Ring group passwords

At the moment, I'm using these five Elden Ring group passwords:

• "SEEKERS" â€?VaatiVidya
• "straydmn" â€?r/EldenRing
• "FEXTRA" â€?Fextralife Elden Ring Wiki
• "fcb" â€?FightinCowboy
• "Koopy" â€?r/TwoBestFriendsPlay

Before I could finish filling out all five entries, my Rune buff was already active. Here's the status icon (it looks just like the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot with an up arrow):

You'll also notice that your character has a golden glow ??while?? the effect is active.

While group passwords only need to? be typed once (and you can change or remove them whenever with no penalty or restriction), they won't automatically carry from one character to the next; if you've got a bunch of alt characters, you'll need to fill out the passwords again for each individual tarnished.

This is probably something I should've looked into before finishing Elden Ring, but I guess that's what subsequent p??laythroughs are for! I've been dominating the living room TV with this game, so I should cool it for now. (The keyword being "should.")

For further Rune farming, check out this late-game guide.

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As with any RPG, customization is at the heart of Starfield. But for many players, the game doesn't quite go far enough in this area. This is pretty ??typica?l of customization in Bethesda titles.

Luckily, the Starfield modding community is on the case. We're going to take a look at the 10 best Starfield customization mods you can download right now to? ?bring your perfect protagonist to life in Bethesda's space RPG.

Extended Facial Sculpting

There's a lot to enjoy about any video game character creator that allows you to go wild and create some absolute monstrosities. Starfield puts the brakes on that a little, but don't worry - that's where Extended Facial Sculpting comes in.

Simply put, it adds even more sliders that you can use to customize your Starfield protagonist. Now, you can pull your character's facial bones almost as far as?????????????????????????? you want in any direction, for some truly terrifying results. Really, isn't that what character creation is all abo??ut?

Starfield Hair and Beards - RTFP

Of all the Starfield customization mods on this list, this might just be the best. Starfield Hair and Beards - RTFP adds tons of standalone hair and beard options to the game, which can be used ??on both male and female characters.

What really makes this mod stand out is how unique each style is. They're all different from what you can expect to find in the base game of Starfield, yet they still look like the??y totally ??belong in this universe.

Cyberpunk Eyes - RTFP

There are no prizes for guessing what you get when you install Cyberpunk Eyes - RTFP. 97 new eye colors in Starfield, covering just about all the bases you'l??l ever need in thi??s regard.

While the vibrant new eye colors are great, the cyberpunk-themed ones are the highlight here. Some eye textures look like they're integrated with various pieces of technology, while others even have a deep black sclera for a unique look you won't find in vanilla Starfield. This one's a must-have.

Starfarer's Makeup - RTFP

In total, Starfarer's Makeup - RTFP adds six blushes, eight eyeliners, eight tattoos, and six lipstick accents to Starfield's?? character creator. All are completely s??tandalone - no replacers here.

Ultimately, Starfarer's Makeup - RTFP won't completely revolutionize your Starfield character creation experience, but it can enhance it, eve?n a little bit, meaning it's worth having.

More Piercings - RTFP

More Piercings - RTFP is perfect for adding that final piece of personality to your Starfield character, with 14 new piercing options for females and 12 for males. Earrings, nose? rings, septum piercings - you name it, this mod has it.

Bethesda games have often missed out these more minor details of character customization, but this mod from Nyvrak is a great option for Starfield players.

Tattoo Recycle - RTFP

Tattoos! How can you complain about more tattoos? Tattoo Recycle - RTFP is straightforward stuff, giving you 22 new tattoos to experiment with during Starfield character creation.

Some of these tattoos are minor variations of others, but there'??s enough variation here that there's something that every player can u?se. One thing is for sure: the tattoos found in Tattoo Recycle - RTFP are loud, so if you're searching for more subtle designs, you won't find them here.

Vivid Hair Colors

You can absolutely make the argument that Starfield's hair options are a little too dark by default, but Vivid Hair Colors is here to address this. All 15 of the game's hair colors have been replaced by t??his mod, providing brighter versions instead.

This includes beard and eyebrow hair, too, extending this Starfield customization mod a little further. Since the hair textures are now just solid colo??rs, creator GothikaGeist has been able to half the texture size, meaning Vivid Hair Colors is also a slight performance optimizer.

Subtle Moles and Freckles - RTFP

If you're a gamer who likes to dive into the nitty-gritty details of your Starfield character customization, then Subtle Moles and Freckles - RTFP could be right up your alley.

Adding six freckle and nine new mole options, this mod is intended to be used alongside others to provide the final touch of detail to your Starfield protagonist. It's standalone, too, so it doesn't replace any of the game's existing options in t??his re?gard.

Better Backgrounds

Better Backgrounds isn't a mod that changes your Starfield character's appearance. Instead, it's all about changing their background, making bi??g changes to the vanilla options as well as adding 20 new ones. Creator senterpat felt the original offerings were "pretty lackluster, with no real impact on gameplay at all."

They've set out to fix that here, with backgrounds now encouraging players to change their playstyles to reap the rewards. I'm counting this one as a Starfield customization mod.

Shattered Space Headparts

Starfield: Shattered Space mods have already made a ton of additions to Bethesda's latest expansion, and Shattered Space Headparts is one of many. This is a pretty small addition, but on??e that's worth? adding to your load order.

But what does it actually do? Shattered Space has six new hairsty??les used exclusively by NP?Cs, and this mod simply makes them usable for players, too.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive has confirmed that Public Test Servers are to b??e added to t?he game in a future update.

In a message spear??headed by Game D??irector 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 nerfs 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 t?ime: 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 comes 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 f??or this as of yet.

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Blizzard has released the need-to-know details about Diablo 4's upco?m??ing Halloween event, which will run between October 29 and November 5.

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

Diablo 4 Halloween event details

In a Blizzard blog post, Diablo 4's Halloween e?vent was confirmed as starting at 10 AM PT on October 29. The spooky celebrations will run until? 10 AM PT on November 5. Throughout this period, you can log in and claim some limited-time cosmetic goodies for free, as detailed below:

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

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

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

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Baldur's Gate 3 is a game that lives ??and dies by its companions. The characters in Larian's RPG are arguably its biggest strength, but they can be even better.

This collection of the 10 best Baldur's Gate 3 c?ompanion mo??ds alters both the look and behaviors of the game's followers. These are the must-haves, the cream of the crop.

More Reactive Companions

More Reactive Companions is a Baldur's Gate 3 mod that makes the game truly feel like a group adventure. It d??oesn't even add any new c?ontent, instead repurposing many of the throwaway dialogue lines used by the characters when playing as them.

These lines will be used as "companion chatter" when using this mod. Each one has been hand-picked for every scenario by mod author Li??ghtningLarryL, giving it a real feeling of authenticity. It makes a massive difference to make your party f??eel more alive than ever.

Full Custom Companions (Hirelings)

Full Custom Companions (Hirelings) expands the hireling system in a huge way. Instead of being constrained to the same old hirelings offered by Withers, this allows you to customize your own. You can even use Baldur's Gate 3 race mods to create extra unique hirelings.

That's not all this mod does, though. It also allows you to duplicate regular NPCs and use them as companions. These custom hirelings can also use tadpoles to gain illithid powers, making them feel much more like a regular BG3 companion.

Summon Guenhwyvar - Drizzt Legendary Panther Companion

If you're a Dungeons & Dragons lore fanatic, Summon Guenhw?yvar - Drizzt Leg??endary Panther Companion should be right up your alley. The panther Guenhwyvar is a popular figure in the Forgotten Realms? lore, and with this mod, you can summon her to fi?ght by your side.

Upon installation, you'll be given a figurine of Guenhwyvar. This can only be used to summon her once per Long Rest, so it's not entirely overpowered. Overall, it's a solid, lore-friendly addition to Baldur's Gate 3.

Adjustable Party Limit

Oh, you want a party? Adjustable Party Limit can give you a party. As the name suggests, it allows you to change the number of companions allowed ??in your party at a time, selecting from anywhere between 1 and 16.

There are a few s??imilar mods that do this, so why's this one the best? According to mod author PixellBytes, it's the only one that has "built-in ways to prevent you from encountering some of the most infamous party limit extender bugs, such as the Act 1 lake boat bug and the long resting bug." So, there.

JWL Scratch is Back

We all love Scratch; he's the best boy. But he isn't the most useful boy in combat scenarios. You can fix this with JWL Scratch is Back, which adds 11 elemental-themed variants of Baldur's Gate 3's cutest pup.

This is done in a lore-friendly way, giving you 11 enchanted collars to collect throughout the game, each of which offers a different buff to BG3's canine companion. Recommende?d if you want to bring Scratch along for the adventure.

Fireproof Karlach

If you think about it, even on a surface level, it doesn't make sense that Karlach takes fire damage in Baldur's Gate 3. She burns so hot that you can't even touch her!

Obviously, resistance doesn't always equal immunity, but I reckon Fireproof Karlach ??makes more sense to have than not. It simply gives her t??he Hellish Resistance trait, nullifying all fire damage.

Really Shadowheart

Really Shadowheart might be one of the most considered Baldur's Gate 3 mods out there. It completely alters her character in Act 3 to be more consiste??nt with Acts 1 and 2. But what does that actuall??y mean?

For starters, romanced Shadowheart no longer tolerates cheating. No more casual fun with Halsin or the Drow Twins for you! It's much more in line with the Shadowheart we meet earlier in the game, but that's only the tip of the iceberg for everything this mod does. She'll try to save her parents no matter what, she'll take a lot more persuasion to kill Viconia, and you can even propose to her if you do choose to save her parents. That's right: you can be married to Shadowheart in the epilogue with this mod.?? 10/10, no notes.

Karlach Overhaul WIP

Nexus Mods user vyrelis has seriously cooked with Karlach Overhaul WIP. It's by far and away the best?? overha??ul of the tiefling companion's face, making it look a little softer than the base game.

It also gives her a cool new hairstyle that, in my opinion, trumps the vanilla one. Overhauling the appearance of a fan-favorite character will always be controversial to some players, but this one's pretty taste??ful.

A Visit with Volo - Astarion Reimagined

Now, for something a little more dramatic. A Visit with Volo - Astarion Reimagined de-ages Neil Newbon's popu??lar vampire a good 20 years?, giving him a look closer aligned to something you might see on a runway or the front of a magazine.

This pretty-boy-Astarion aesthetic won't be for everyone, and understandably so. But for those who do like it, it could prove to be one of the best Baldur's Gate 3 companion mods out there.

Lae'zel - Alternate Faces

Of all the Lae'zel overhauls on Nexus Mods, I reckon Lae'zel - Alternate Faces takes the crown. This one offers numerous face options, each based on a different Baldur's Gate 3 race.

The differences from the base game version of Lae'zel are pretty small, so you won't be?? left feeling like she's a totally new character with this mod.

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Starfield's Shattered Space expansion may be brand-new, but that hasn't stopped talente?d modders from getting busy adding and changing content in Bethesda's latest expansion.

Let's take a look at the 10 of the best mods made just for Starfield: Shattered Space, shall we?

Shattered Space Delayed Start

It's recommended that players be Level 35 before starting Starfield: Shattered Space. Howe?ver, the game itself gives players the option to do it early, albeit underleveled. Unsuspecting gamers could be caught off guard by this, find?ing themselves stuck in areas they simply can't progress through.

Shattered Space Delayed Start solves this p?roblem. Using this mod from? Nexus Mods user Solshura, the quest to begin the DLC won't trigger until you're at the recommended level of 35. A simple quality-of-life fix, but one worth considering in your load order.

Shattered Space No Red Fog

If Starfield: Shattered Space was a little too red for your personal taste, then this mod has you covered. Shattered Space No Red Fog simply removes the red tint from the fog, rather ??than removing the mist altogether.

While this is an extremely small Starfield mod, the abundance of red in this DLC means it should make a huge difference to the visuals in your game. But maybe you love the overwhelming r??ed hue, in which case, you should probably leave this mod.

Royal Leveled Enemies - Shattered Space

The creator of Royal Leveled Enemies - Shattered Space, JaeDL, is the talented modder behind the b?ase game's Royal Arena - Leveled Enemies mod. T??his is simply an expansion of that mod, adjusting the AI and leveling of the game's enemies.

This mod is ideal if you feel that some of the DLC's combat ?encounters become too easy, especially in the latter stages. JaeDL is continually updating the mod too, tweaking each NPC to make sure they're fun to fight.

Shattered Space Headparts

In Starfield: Shattered Space, there are several hairstyles worn by Va'ruun NPCs that players can't access. Luckily, Shattered Space Headparts is here to save the day. Whether you like them or not, having more opti?ons is always a good th??ing.

According to creator Leyr, they were already marked as playable in the files and just needed to be moved to the right place for players to use them for charac?ter creation. That's a classic Bethesda moment if I have ever seen one.

Shattered Space - Better Rewards and Consequence

You'll feel the effects of Shattered Space - Better Rewards and Consequence throughout your entire playthrough of Starfield's first DLC. As the title kind of implies, it ??improves the quest rewards during the DLC, adding seven new unique items as well as a new?? ship.

According to creator pietro0games1, it also "reworks some features of the DLC to increase the reward for completing it and the agony of your decisions." This is done to give Shattered Space even more replayability. You're welcome, Bethesda.

VaruunKai Reimagined - A GRiNDTerra Mod

VaruunKai Reimagined - A GRiNDTerra Mod might be the biggest Starfield: Shattered Space mod released so far. It alters existing and adds new biomes, randomizes the size of biome flora and fauna, and switches things up with?? some different weapon patte??rns in the DLC.

That's a lot of change in the environment, and you're going to notice an immediate difference if you've played a lot of Starfield: Shattered Space. We'd recommend you experience the base game's environments first, but this is perfect for a repe?at playthrou?gh.

Xeno Master - DLC Support Addon

The original Xeno Master mod for Starfield allowed players to tame and capture creatures from around the galaxy. Xeno Master - DLC Support Addon extends this to Shattered Space, although it will also serve as a hub for future Starfield expansions, too.

Frankly, this might be the coolest mod on this entire list. Who doesn't want to tame even more Starfield creatures?!

Dazra - Vacant House Furnished

Can't be bothered to decorate the vacant house in Dazra for yourself? Dazra - Vacant House Furnished d??oes the job for you, matching the ?player home to fit the overall Va'Ruun theme. Sometimes, you just want to kick back without worrying about decorating, and that's okay!

There's no denyin??g that creator Nizon has created something super cozy here, making this a p??erfect home for any Spacefarer.

Rabbit's Real Lights Dazra

Rabbit's Real Lights Dazra might be one of the best Starfield graphics mods available right now. This is a comprehensive li?ghting overhaul for Dazra, adding over 400 hand-placed light sources while removing Bethesda's fake ones. Unlit decals have also been removed.

The overall effect is stunning, making Dazra's lighting feel much more realistic. Your brain picks up on fake lighting sources. Even if you don't know exactly what's wrong, you know something's not quite right. Rabbit's Real Lights Dazra solves this issue for this particular Starfield: Shattered Space location.

Royal Weathers - Va'Ruun'kai

Royal Weathers - Va'Ruun'kai is gorgeous, adding many new weather effects to the Starfield: Shattered Space planet. This should make exploring it far more interesting, especially while playing?? through the DLC multiple times.

It also comes from JaeDL, the modder behind Royal Leveled Enemies - Shattered Space. They've clearly got an eye for detail when it comes to Starfield: Shattered Space mods.

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343 Industries is no more (sort of). Prior to the grand final of the Halo World Championship 2024 eSports tournament, the developer confirmed tha?t it has rebrand??ed 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 proprietary 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 Chie??f, Elit?es, 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 t?he series.

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.

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Throughout Baldur's Gate 3, choosing your character's race is one o?f the most important decisions you'll make. It affects tons of dialogue throughout the game, and?? changes how some characters treat your Tav.

As with every aspect of the game, Baldur's Gate 3 has tons of mods adding new races. Some are based on D&D lore, while others are homebrewed by fans. If you're starting a fresh Baldur's Gate 3 playth??rough, why not consider one of these race mods?

Flutter and Whimsy (Fairy Race)

Flutter and Whimsy (Fairy Race) might be the most polished mod on this list. You can play Baldur's Gate 3 as a Fairy, complete with customizable wings. Fairies have their own custom cantrips and spells, including Tinify, which shrinks you down to s??ize.

If you use other Baldur's Gate 3 customization mods, Flutter and Whi??msy (Fairy Race) has you covered, including compatibility patches for many of the most popular downloads on?? the Nexus.

Half Angel (Aasimar 5E)

Half Angel (Aasimar 5E) takes inspiration from the 2016 Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook, Volo's Guide to Monsters, to bring the Aasimar race to Baldur's Gate 3. This winged race features three unique subraces fit for various playthroughs, each ?with extensive lore.

If you enjoy sitting in Baldur's Gate 3's character creator for hours, deliberating over every detail, you'll get lots out of Half Angel (Aasimar 5E). Creator DarthRen has added? 25 halos and horns, as well as 10 wings and tails. That's not to mention the unique hairstyles and heads!

Ghastly Ghouls - Playable Undead Race

If there's one thing Larian's previous game, Divinity: Original Sin 2, has over Baldur's Gate 3, it's the ability to play as the undead. No longer. Ghastly Ghouls - Playable Undead Race solves this with four subraces: Lich, Ghoul, Wight, and Mummy. Each has custom heads and bo??dies, meaning you can tinker with your Undead's appearance to your heart's content.

This mod makes my immersion-obsessed heart happy. It uses the vanilla "Undead" tag for your Tav,?? affecting how various spells affect you. You'll be immune to some, while others, such as "Turn Undead," make you more vulnerable.

The Dunmer - Playable Dark Elf Race

Adding a race from The Elder Scrolls isn't exactly lore-friendly, but The Dunmer - Playable Dark Elf Race was simply too extensive to leave out of this list. I mean, let's take a look at what this Baldur's Gate 3 race mod includes.

Six subraces, "themed after the Great Houses, House Dagoth, and the Ashlanders." Seven new spells, all of which have custom visual effects. 11 unique heads, 50 skin tones, and 19 hand-drawn tattoos. And there are custom piercings based on The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. A must-have mod, really.

Half-Dragon

Half-Dragon is based on an original homebr?ew TTRPG system by author johauna's husband. Four races are added, and numerous subclasses are meticulously designed to create a fun gameplay experience.

The highlight here is the ability to take the form of a Dragon. It's cool every single time and is reason enough to try this Baldur's Gate 3 mod. It fee?ls li?ke it should've been part of the base game all along.

Spirited Seasons - Playable Fey Eladrin

There's a lot to love about Spirited Seasons - Playable Fey Eladrin, especially to enjoy creating stunning Tavs that look great ??in a screenshot. This adds the Eladrin race, with four subraces b??ased on each season, extensive customization options, and unique spells to match.

The only drawback is that you can't change seasons throughout your playthrough, as the Eladrin can in Dungeons & Dragons. This is due to the technical limitation of changing subraces mid-playthrough. Don't let that put you off - this is one of the most polished Baldur's Gate 3 race mods out there.

Whispers of the Fey - Goblins Race

Goblins exist in Baldur's Gate 3, so why can't we play as them? Whispers of the Fey - Goblins Race solves this issue, adding two new subraces: Greenskin Goblin and Dankwood Goblin. You can customize your Goblin as you would a regular Tav. Th??ere's even a custom Hireling named Ol' Shiny to bring along on your adventures.

If that hasn't convince?d you, playing as a Goblin gives you access to a baby squirrel companion that will accompany you throughout Faerûn. I, for one, am sold.

Playable Myconid Race

Remember the Myconids? Those fungus folk that you meet in Baldur's Gate 3's Underdark? You probably never considered the fact that you couldn't play as one, but with Playable Myconid Race, now you can. Who asked for this? Who cares!

Understandably, customization is limited with this race mod, so you're restricted to picking from the models already available in Baldur's Gate 3. Creator porridge77 admits it's a little janky, but for the novelty factor alone, this is hard to beat and is we?ll worth a slot in your load ord??er.

Hearts of the Forest - Playable Dryad Race

Much like the previous mod, Hearts of the Forest - Playable Dryad Race takes a race already in the game and makes it playable. Considering their humanoid form, it's a little surprising they're not playable in the vanilla game, but regardless, this mod solves?? this.

Creator EmeraldTechno has gone the extra mile, creating new male Dryads. This isn't lore-frien??dly, but the end ?result looks great, so they get a pass here.

Wine and Revelry (Satyr Race)

Using Wine and Revelry (Satyr Race) is a way to guarantee a unique Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough. The main highlight here are t?he digitigrade legs, which obviously aren't possible in the vanilla game.

Creator labotor has ?added many customization options to flesh out Wine and Revelry (Satyr?? Race), including various tails, horns, and ear options to give you total flexibility with your Satyr Tav.

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File this under "news no one expected." 343 Industries has confirmed that Halo Infinite is getting a third-person mode,?? and it's coming 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, a??nd frankly, it looks like a lot of fun.

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

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

Interestingly, the footage features one moment involving the player s??truggling to see whil??e 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 be l??ying if I said I wasn't intrigued to try it out. It's currentl?y set for a November release, with no specific date nailed down at the moment.

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South Korean publisher Krafton has confirmed that it signed a licensing agreement with Palworld developer, Pocketpair. The agreement will see PUBG: Battlegrounds developer, PUBG Studios, bring Palworld to mobile devices for the first time.

Touted as "Pokemon with guns" by fans, Palworld was a surprise gargantuan success upon its Early Access launch earlier this year.? Few, least of all Pocketpair, could have seen its eyewatering sales figures coming, as it stormed to the top of the charts on PC and Xbox consoles at the start of 2024.

Player counts have dropped in the months since, although a recent PlayStation 5 release has helped bring new fans into the fold. Nintendo and The Pokemon Company suing Pocketpair has also played a part in keeping Palworld in the news cycle of late.

Krafton confirmed Palworld's upcoming mobile port in a statement on its website, with its subsidiary PUBG Studios moving forward on the project. The announcement gave no release window for Palworld on Android and iOS, although it did confirm it "plans to faithfully reinterpret and implement the original’s main fun e?lements to fit the mobile environment." Whether this results in any significant gameplay changes remains to be seen.

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If you're playing Starfield, there's a good chance you've experimented with mods. And if you haven't already, you shoul?d, as it can add a lot to the experience.

Since launch, talented modders have added tons of new weapons to Starfield. Some are fro??m existing franchises, while o??thers are totally brand-new. These are the 10 you need to add to your load order!

Plague's Optics Reimagined

Plague's Optics Reimagined is a full remake of almost every reflex and holographic sight in Starfield, makin??g them much more usable in combat. Creator PLAGUEW4LKER felt that "?Vanilla red dots are pretty awful in some areas," and they've taken it upon themselves to fix them with tons of customization options.

The plan is for this mod to get even better, too. PLAGUEW4LKER intends to allow you to pick a specific reticle per weapon in the future, whereas right now, you've got to pick one per weapon category. Despite this current limitation, it remains one of the best Starfield weapon mods on the Nexus.

Immersive Sabers

Starfield Star Wars mods just feel right, and Immersive Sabers is one of the best out there. This mod adds what creator somberX cal?ls "lasersabers" into the game, a lore-friendly atte?mpt at lightsabers.

It's pretty great, to say the least, with a full perk tree and workbench upgrades for each lasersaber. If you're running a Starfield melee build, this could be the right?? weapon mod for your playthrough.

Weapons of Fate (Ballistic Overhaul)

Weapons of Fate (Ballistic Overhaul) gives Starfield a little ??more of a hardcore shooter feel. By adding bullet drop and weapon tracers, it makes ?the game's combat feel like a real warzone, with each shot feeling much hefty thanks to the visual feedback.

Creator Seb263 boasts no performance decrease either, so you're not sacrificing anything by installing this mod. Players looking for a realistic Starfield experience must get this mod in their load order.

Craftable Weapon Skins - CWS

Craftable Weapon Skins - CWS does precisely what it says on the tin, and it's a little surprising it wasn't already part of the base game. It makes all Starfield's weapon skins available for crafting, giving players more optio??ns and customization.

Who doesn't want that? Some of the best Starfield mods are about making small qual??ity-of-life changes, and Craftable Weapon Skins - CWS fits the bill perfectly.

AK-47S (Futuristic AK)

In terms of individual Starfield weapon mods, AK-47S (Futuristic AK) is a remarkable piece of work. Featuring a new weapon modeled from scratch, this mod brings one of the most iconic assault rifles of all time into Starfield ?in a lore-friendly way, complete with various attachments to boot.

It replaces the Old Earth Assault Rifle, so it's not entirely new. You'll have to make the choice between the two if you're planning t??o add this to your load order.

Weapon Balance Revised

Weapon Balance Revised has one ??main aim: "to re-balance all vanilla weapons, so every weapon is viable regardless of what level you are." It does this by making simple tweaks to weapon tiers, quality levels, accuracy, and weapon modifications to ensure you're not always looking for the next shiny new gun to use.

If the looting mechanics are a big part of your Starfield experience, this may not be the mod? for you. You'll still be able to find new weapons at the same r??ate as before; they just might not be as significant an upgrade as they were previously.

Halo AR (Tombstone Replacer)

Put a little Halo into your Starfield. Halo AR (Tombstone Replacer) adds Halo's most iconic weapon as it appears in Halo: Reach, Bungie's final effort in the series. Visually, these two franchises have a lot of similarities, so it doesn't look out of place at all here, even if?? it's not 100% lore-friendly.

Using this mod will replace the Tombstone rifle, but let's be honest: Halo's assault rifle is legendary for a reason.

Project Warfare - Hardened Edition

If you're here for lore-friendly Starfield mods, you can skip Project Warfare - Hardened Edition. If you don't care either way, it's one of the best weapon mods out there right now. It adds eight weapons from Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered, all of which instantly become some of the most detailed and visually interesting models in Starfield.

Creator 510deshawn has done a great job picking the right weapons for this mod. Again, they're not technically lore-frien??dly, but they all look right at home here.

Laser Replacements and Remove Laser

Is the default red laser not good enough for you in Starfield? Maybe you don't want them at all? Laser Replacements and Remove Laser has you covered. You can swap out the game's red laser with various different colors, or remove them completely wi?th thi?s mod.

It's not the most enormous Starfield weapon mod by any stretch of the imagination, but anything that gives you more choices is a great addition ??in my book.

Avontech Munitions

Last but not least, there's Avontech Munitions. This great mod by kaosnyrb adds three entirely new weapons named Tiberius, Janus, and Nitrophaser, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. They've got a striking look, unlike anything else you'll find in vanilla Starfield.

Using another mod titled Real Time Form Patcher, you can even give the Avontech Munitions weapons out to NPCs in the world, making them feel like an integrated part of Starfield's vast galaxy.

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In August 2024, Bethesda addressed one of Starfield's biggest criticisms with the release of the REV-8. This land vehicle made it faster for players to traverse the planets in Starfield. It was a surprisi??ng exclusion from the game's launch, but ?better late than never.

Predictably, Starfield's REV-8 was quickly modded by the community, resulting in tons of great fan creations mod??ifying and converting the vehicle and its mechanics in different ways. Here are 10 of the best so far.

M12B FAV (Warthog) (Standalone)

M12B FAV (Warthog) (Standalone) sees Halo's most iconic vehicle come to Starfield. It's a crossover that makes sense, and frankly, it hardly looks out of place. If you didn't know the vehicle from the Halo games, you wouldn't second-guess its appearance here, which is why it's one of the best REV-8 Starfield mods on the Nexus.

You can find the Warthog at any ship technician in the game, and don't worry - you can still use the original REV-?8 if you find it's not for you.

Galactic Highway Network

The REV-8 is awesome, but its addition to Starfield almost a year after release shows it was very much an afterthought for Bethesda. Galactic Highway Network goes a long way to making the REV-8 feel like a more integrated part of the game, by introducing roads to most major cities in Starfield.

We're buying in early with this mod. It's already a great addition, but the po??tential here for more content in the future is enormous.

X-34 Landspeeder

Starfield and Star Wars are a great combo, and the modding community is making the most of it. It didn't take long after the release of the REV-8 for modder radicalclownfriend to release the X-34 Landspeeder, bringing Luke's vehicle from A New Hope to life in Starfield.

Sadly, Han, Chewie, and Threepio aren't included in this mod, but yo?u can make your own adventures using the X-34 Landspeeder in place of the REV-8.

NASA Lunar Rover

NASA Lunar Rover from Bub200 might just be the most lore-friendly mod on this list. As the mod's title suggests, it adds the NASA Lunar Rover to Starfield, converting a static mesh already in the?? game's files into a usable vehicle.

It's important to note that this mod is a complete?? REV-8 replac??er, so with this installed, you won't be able to use the original vehicle.

Shades Vehicle Tuner

Shades Vehicle Tuner is by far the most extensive mod on this list. It adds a ton of new features to Starfield's vehicle gameplay, expanding it far beyond Be??thesda's initial intentions.

With Shades Vehicle Tuner, you can set up a camp around your REV-8, harvest minerals as you drive, use new vehicle weapons, and more. This is a true quality-of-life vehicle mod, and even if you're only using the vanilla REV-8, it's one you need to add to your Starfield load order.

Old Earth ATV (Standalone)

Old Earth ATV (Standalone) is a small mod that brings, you guessed it, an ATV into Starfield. NotSiouxsie has kept it simp??le with this one, but it's a fun addition that doesn't replace the base-game REV-8.

The Old Earth ATV is purchased from any ship technician, and can then be used to get from point A to point B on any of Starfield's planets.

D-Stroy (Standalone)

D-Stroy (Standalone) is yet another mod from NotSiouxsie. They're the modder to beat when it comes to REV-8 mods, and this might be their best work yet. It adds a UFO to Starfield, allowing you to take to the skies without actually having to hop into y??our ship.

It's a little clunky, but above a??ll else, it's FUN, and that's what truly matters.

1969 Dodge Charger

You know what I think Starfield is really missing? A 1969 Dodge Charger, that's what. With this mod from NotSiouxsie, that's precisely what you get, allowing you to cruise around in the coolest car in the galaxy. Is it lore-friendly? Not in the slightest. Is it awesome? Too right it is.

Like all of NotSiouxsie's mods, this isn't a replacer for the REV-8. You can obtain the 1969 Dodge Charger from any ship technician in Starfield.

UAZ-452

UAZ-452 is the final mod from NotSiouxsie on this list, adding what they describe as a "Classic Soviet Workhorse" into Starfield. It certainly has a?? striking aesthetic, even if it looks slightly out of place among the stars.

Don't let that put you off, though. There's something inher??ently charming about seeing Vasc??o sitting on the back of the UAZ-452 while you traverse a planet's landscape, making this a worthwhile mod to add to your load order.

RevT - Thomas - Standalone

Thomas the Tank Engine mods have been a meme in the gaming community for some time now. I remember the first time I saw the iconic blue train replace Skyrim's dragons, and life was never the same again. History repeats itself now with RevT - Thomas - Standalone from Nexus Mods user BlahBlahDEEBlahBlah.

Yes, you can drive Thomas ??the Tank Engine like the REV-8. And yes, seeing Thomas' blank-faced glare among t??he blackness and silence of space is truly eerie. But it's gaming tradition, so it was always going to happen at some point.

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It has been over a year now since the launch of Baldur's Gate 3, and its modding community is starting to come i??nto its own. No aspect of the game remains untouched as talented modders aim to perfect Larian's legendary CRPG with additions ?of their own.

This includes the weapons. Sure, Baldur's Gate 3 has a lot of weapon variation throughout the game, but there can always be more. Use these 10 BG3 weapon mods to really spice up?? your advent?ure through Faerûn.

Elven Weaponry - Longbows and Quivers

Elven Weaponry - Longbows and Quivers is the first in a long line of mods on this list by creator kharneth, and there's a reason for that. This mod takes the base game's lackluster longbows and transforms them, adding new ones with edited and custom models of their own. According to kharneth, the objective of this mod is to put longbows on par with crossbows in Baldur's Gate 3, and it certainly achieves that.

Drow Weaponry - Rapiers

With Drow Weapon - Rapiers, kharneth has added a ton of new rapiers into Baldur's Gate 3. They've tried to make it as lore-friendly as possible, placing them only in areas where Drows are located. All these? weapons take an offense-first approach, meaning you'll o?ften sacrifice safety for damage. However, the rapiers found in this mod are caster-friendly, which, according to kharneth, "makes them good weapons for mixed martial-caster classes."

Half-Orc Weaponry - Clan Weapons

Half-Orc Weaponry - Clan Weapons is another kharneth banger. This mod is all about adding custom new Half-Orc weapons to the game, from Uncommon rarity all the way to Legendary. Much like the rest of kharneth's mods, these have been carefully placed throughout the game, to make them feel like they're a part of the vanilla Baldur's Gate 3 experience.

Dwarven Weaponry - Hammers

Dwarven Weaponry - Hammers. E?verything you need to know is i??n the name, really. A bunch of new warhammers and handhammers are included in this mod, with options for all rarities. Like all kharneth mods, you'll only find these new hammers in immersive locations, so they're not just carelessly placed around the world.

Dwarven Weaponry - Drakefire Flintlock

Over the next few years, I've no doubt that several games will be marketed as "Baldur's Gate 3 with guns" to win fans over. But what if Baldur's Gate 3 did have guns? Dwarven Weaponry - Drakefire Flintlock answers that question by adding a pint-sized flintlock pistol to the game, complete with a custom model and textures. You can dual-wield them, too, allowing you to go full Lara Croft-akimbo mode across Faerûn. It's the kind of thing that makes you fall in love with modding again.

Underwood's Weapon Pack

Compared to what we've seen so far, Underwood's Weapon Pack is a little more low-key. It adds 24 new weapons and a shield around the world, and it even lets you dual-wield axes and hammers. The weapons themselves fit in perfectly with Baldur's Gate 3's aesthetic, and you may find yourself using items from Underwood's Weapon ?Pack? without even realizing it.

UnholyBerserk

This one's for the BG3 Berserkers out there. UnholyBerserk adds a new greataxe tit??led Nor to the game, which is made to complement a Be?rserker playthrough. Found in Act One's Blighted Village, Nor can be upgraded by players using Soul Coins and Memory Shards, dealing big AOE damage to everyone (yes, even your companions). It's a little overpowered, but it features one of the most awesome custom models I've ever seen, and it couldn't miss out on this list.

Dark Urge Demonic Blood Swords

When a mod is called Dark Urge Demonic Blood Swords, you already know you're in for one of the coolest things you've ever seen. And that it is. This mod doesn't overcomplicate things, adding an awesome set of dual-wieldable swords and a demonic shield to the game. The visuals alone make this one of the best Baldur's Gate 3 mods and worth a spot in your load order.

Elven Weaponry - Blades

Elven Weaponry - Blades is the last kharneth mod on this list, I promise. They're just too good at what they do. The creator claims it was born from scimitars feeling "lackluster as main weapon for combat characters," adding a few new custom models and modifying the game's existing scimitars to make them more viable for a complete playthrough. Here, kharneth has done a great job creating unique-looking weapons that won't feel overpowered as you hack and slash your way through Baldur's Gate 3's story.

Lightsabers - Star Wars Mod

Did you really think I would make a list of the best Baldur's Gate 3 weapon mods and not include Lightsabers - Star Wars Mod? There's no way. In any game that extensively features melee combat, a lightsaber mod usually follows, and Baldur's Gate 3 is no exception. Choose your lightsaber color, and give the world of Faerûn a taste of a galaxy far, far awa?y.

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While most collectibles in The Casting of Frank Stone help deepen your understanding of the story, Trinkets leave you with more questions than answers. These mysterious figurines are scattered throughout time. Here are all the Trinket locations in The Casting of Frank Stone.

All Trinket Locations

There are 12 Trinkets to collect, each one sitting inside of a wooden box. If you pre-ordered The Casting of Frank Stone, you'll have immediate access to the Plunderer's Instinct abil?ity to rev??eal nearby Trinkets. You can also obtain this ability by completing one playthrough.

The post All Tri??nket Locations in The Casting of Frank Stone appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're like me, Baldur's Gate 3 has made you fall in love with modding again. Larian's epic CRPG is a world filled with possib??ilities, expanded even further by a dedicated modding community looking to improve every aspect of the game.

Customization is one of Baldur's Gate 3's biggest strengths, a?nd that only gets even better when envoking a little fanmade magic in the Character Creator. There's no aspect of your Tav you can't change, and by using this pick of 10 awesome customization mods, you'll have more choices than ever.

Tav's Hair Salon

If there's one thing to be said about Baldur's Gate 3, it's that the hair options are slightly limited. Not to worry - Tav's Hair Salon is precisely what you need to fix this. Adding plenty of new hair options for Elf, Half-Elf, Drow, Human, and Tiefling characters, Tav's Hair Salon should be sufficient for roleplaying any type of character in Baldur's Gate 3, with plenty of different styles represented. In my experience, this is the single most impactful customization mod for Baldur's Gate 3 for the average player.

Horns of Faerun

Let's face it: horns are cool. And yes, Baldur's Gate 3 has horns, but why not more? Horns of Faerun does exactly what it says on the tin, allowing you to add various new horns during ch??aracter creation. The only restriction here is that Dragonborn characters ca?n't use these options, which is a shame but is understandable. It doesn't replace any vanilla horn options either, so you can still pick those if you want. But when Horns of Faerun's options look so great, why would you?

Faces of Faerun

If there's one recurring theme throughout this list, it's options. More options are always a good thing, and Faces of Faerun delivers in this regard. Aloija's mod adds lots of new heads for character creation and, crucially, doesn't replace any vanilla options. There are some stunning choices here, almost all of which are a marked improvement over what the base Baldur's Gate 3 has to offer. With this mod, your Tav's face card will never decline.

Astralities' Skintone Expansion - Natural Tones

Astralities' Skintone Expansion - Natural Tones is a simple mod that probably should have been a part of the vanilla game. It adds a wider variety of skin tones to Baldur's Gate 3??, expanding on the color families included in the base game as well as adding a few separate options, too.

Mari's Tattoo

One of the most interesting ways to spice up any Baldur's Gate 3 character is to add tattoos. If the base game offerings were a little bland for your taste, then Mari's Tattoo should have what you're after. This mod replaces the base game's tattoos wit?h a few more exciting choices. What more is there to say? Ink up.

Eyes of the Beholder

If you thought the eye options in Baldur's Gate 3 were lacking, then Eyes of the Beholder is the customization mod for you. This mod allows you to replace your Tav's eyes with something a little more exciting, replacing the base game textures to allow for more extensive options. As said, this is a full replacer, so you don't get to ?switch out these options while using the in-game character creator. You'll have to install an entirely new preset to do that, but we think it's well worth the time.

Flutter and Whimsy (Fairy Race)

Forget customization mods for just a second. Flutter and Whimsy (Fairy Race) is one of the best Baldur's Gate 3 mods, full stop. It gives you the opportunity to play as a fairy, complete with custom-made animated wings of various shapes and sizes. Mod author labotor has considered everything here, with custom traits and spells based on the Monsters of the Multiverse sourcebook for Dungeons & Dragons. Flutter and Whimsy (F?airy Race) feels like a natural evolution of the vanilla game, and you'll wonder how you ever created a new character without it.

Wine and Revelry (Satyr Race)

Just like the previous mod, Wine and Revelry (Satyr Race) comes from modder labotor. With inspiration from the Mythic Odysseys of Theros source?book, it adds the ability to play as a satyr, including custom options for tails and goat ears. Of course, the goat legs are the most unique thing about this mod, although it does cause a few animation issues at the moment. Still, we think that Wine and Revelry (Satyr Race) is great f??or immersion, and if occasional janky animations are the price to pay, then I'd say it's worth it.

P4 Dragonborn Scale Colours

The Dragonborn race in Baldur's Gate 3 is probably the game's most unique race, and as the default choice for a Dark Urge playthrough, it is extremely popular among players. P4 Dragonborn Scale Colours improves the customization options for the race massively??, giving you 190 new colors to play with during character creation. Sure, the nu?mber of choices in the base game is fine, but this is a whole new world, and you won't be able to return. You'll certainly never be lost for choice with this mod in your load order.

Vessnelle's Hair Collection

I'm ending this list where I began it: with another hair set. Vessnelle's Hair Collection is simply too good to miss out, offering tons of stunning new hairstyles for you to use throughout your playthrough. If you're someone who already spends hours in Baldur's Gate 3's character creator, then cycling through the options in Vessnelle's Hair Collection is sure to add a cons??iderable amount of time to your experience.

The post 10 best Baldur’s Gate 3 customization mods appeared first on Destructoid.

Just over a year after its release, the Baldur's Gate 3 modding community has already established itself as one of the most dedicated in the gaming space. Since launch, f?ans of Larian's critically acclaimed CRPG have expanded on th??e game in various exciting ways, which, of course, means you can face the Mind Flayers ahead looking on point.

In a title where player customization is important, many of the best Baldur's Gate 3 mods have added to the game's armor and clothing options. If you could only choose 10 from the plethora of op?tions available, these are the ones you should go for.

Basket Full of Equipment

Basket Full of Equipment is the most extensive armor and clothing mod on this list. It adds over 800 pieces of new equipment to Baldur's Gate 3, some of which is brand-new, while other bits are in the game but inaccessible to the player. Orin?'s outf??it? You got it. Gortash's robe? Sure, go ahead. You should use Basket Full of Equipment as a base mod to complement the rest of your load order.

Cloaks of Faerun

Baldur's Gate 3 has a few cloaks to choose from, but more options never hurt anyone. Cloaks of Faerun adds a total of 33 new cloaks into the game, from Common all the way to Legendary. Mod author Araelynn has placed them carefully throughout the game, to help make them feel like a vanilla part of the vanilla Baldur's Gate 3 experience.

Faerun Colors (Dye and color sets)

Faerun Colors (Dye and color sets) is, no exaggeration, one of the best Baldur's Gate 3 mods ever. Mod author techroot has added over 80 new stunning dye colors to the game, each "based on deities and famous entities from Faerûn." It's lore-accurate, it adds more armor and clothing customization options, and it expands the roleplaying possibilities for players who love to embrace that side of Baldur's Gate 3. What's not to love?

Modular Equipment

Modular Equipment is a mod that only a few players can use, as it's only compatible with "tall slim femme characters," according to mod author wesslen. If that fits the description of your Tav, then it's a must-download, adding various armor and clothing pieces designed to be? interchanged with one another. These pieces are cleverly made to complement many vanilla items, so you can even use individual items to enhance an outfit comprised mostly of base game clothing and armor pieces, too. There's even dye support, which works well (for the most part - some items don't ne?cessarily look like they're supposed to).

Druu's Clothes and Armours

Druu's Clothes and Armours adds a couple of new outfits for your Tav. It's ??not a massive selection like something like Basket Full of Equipment, but I loved these outfit options so much that I had to include them. They've got physics support, and even allow you to use custom dyes from mods like Faerun Colors (Dye and color sets). Not every player will find a use for Druu's Clothes and Armours, but I'm confident these outfits are perfect for plenty of playthroughs.

Dye Support For Shields

It doesn't make much sense that you can't dye shields in Baldur's Gate 3. Well, with Dye Support For Shields, now yo?u can. There's not much to say about this one - all the base-game shields can now be dyed, a cool quality-of-life change that should have been in the vanilla game.

Helms of Faerun

Helms of Faerun is the kind of Baldur's Gate 3 mod that'll make you fall??? in love with modding again. Frankly, it's utterly bizarre, but unapolog??etically so, with 12 new helmets added to the game to choose from. While some options look awesome, others, such as the Thra??ll Helmets, will make your Tav look a little odd, to say the least. Ever wanted to look like you're wearing an intellect devourer? Then this is right up your alley.

Bladesong Garment

I've tried to avoid adding individual armor and clothing sets to this list, but Bladesong Garment is simply too good to miss out. This set of clothing is intended to complement a College of Swords bard roleplay, although a creative player could have other uses for each piece, too. Once installed, you can purchase the Bladesong Garment set from Arron in the Emerald Grove during?? Act One, or you can pick it u??p from the tutorial chest on the Nautiloid if you want it right from the start.

Aether's Black Dye - Item Shipment Framework

Aether's Black Dye - Item Shipment Framework is a mod that is somewhat surprisingly not in the base game. It's not exactly complex - it just adds a black dye to Baldur's Gate 3, so you can embrace darkness no matter your outfit. This bl?ack dye has infinite uses, too, so you can turn your group into a party of goth adventurers if you so desire??.

Faerunian Carnival

Last but not least, there's Faerunian Carnival. This mod adds a collection of carnival masks to the game, allowing you to look anything from mysterious to ridiculous as you adve??nture across Faerûn. There are plenty of interesting designs here, and I have no doubt someone more creative than me could produce some fascinating roleplay ideas for a playthrough using Faerunian Carnival. Some of these masks are exclusive to either male or female characters, so bear this in mind when creating your Tav.

The post 10 best Baldur’s Gate 3 armor and clothing mods appeared first on Destructoid.

If you've played any Bethesda game on PC, chances are you're aware that they all tend to have extensive modding communities. Starfield is the latest to receive this treatment,? and with the release of the Creation Kit, talented modders are jus?t getting started.

Mods can extend a game's lifespan by many years, but it's the graphics mods that can really keep a game feeling modern long past its initial release. If you're choosing 10 graphics mods to download for Starfield, these are the ones you should go for.

Enhanced Lights and FX

Enhanced Lights and FX is back! This mod was a staple in any extensive Skyrim or Fallout 4 load order, and it has finally returned for Starfield. Its goal is simple: to overhaul interior lighting effects, creating a new mood in every world space. Seeing the difference between Enhanced Lights and FX and the vanilla game is staggering, making this a must-have for anyone wanting to upgrade their Starfield graphics.

EXE - Effect Textures Enhanced

If you thought many of the visual effects in Starfield were underwhelming, then EXE - Effect Textures Enhanced has you covered. This takes a stab at remaking and upscaling the game's visual effect textures, including explosions, gore, fires, and weapon FX such as muzzle flashes and impacts. It's not just limited to those, though. According to mod author weijiesen, EXE - Effect Textures Enhanced enhances "every visual effect in Starfield," so you should notice a ??stark contra??st from the base game with this mod.

Starfield HD Overhaul

If you're putting together a Starfield graphics load order, then it's essential you have a broad HD texture pack as a base to work from. That's where Starfield HD Overhaul comes in. Replacing thousands of textures and ranging from 2K to 8K resolution, Starfield H?D Overhaul is an extensive facelift for the entire game. If you place this at the bottom of your load order, you can use it as a base to replace some of these with more specific mods, too.

NaturaLUTs - Color Graded Filter Removal and Black Level Restoration LUTs

Vanilla Starfield's color grading is interesting, to say the least. A big focus of the modding community has been to adjust the game's color filters, and we think TheDragonWithinMe's NaturaLUTs - Color Graded Filter Removal and Bla?ck Level Restoration LUTs is the best of them all. According to the author, it aims to "remove ??the game's washed out hazy green filtered look while maintaining the color grading and artistic direction of the original game." This mod has several different options, each with a unique color grading for you to decide your favorite. B??est of all - it doesn't touch the in-game lighting, so it's fully compatible with Enhanced Lights and FX!

SavrenX Crisp Flora

When modding any Bethesda title, it's all too easy to get lost in the small details you might never notice while playing the game. That's precisely what SavrenX Crisp Flora is all about, replacing most of the game's flora with redesigned textures to increase the level of detail. You've got to look hard to notice how significant the changes are from the base game, but when used with other mods, SavrenX Crisp Flora helps craft the big picture of much-improved visuals in Starfield.

New Atlantis Lights On Redux

Sometimes, the simplest changes are the most effective. New Atlantis Lights On Redux adds lights to New Atlantis that switch on at night, making the city feel alive even as darkness falls. It's perfect for those Starfield night owls!

Rudy HQ - More Epic Milky Way Texture

If there's one mod that will make the most significant difference to your overall Starfield experience, it's Rudy HQ - More Epic Milky Way Texture. "More Epic" kind of undersells how incredible this mod looks. Sure, it's not quite scientifically accurate, but it's a visual feast, transforming how space travel fee?ls in?? the game.

Real Water HD 2

You can't mod Starfield's graphics and not touch the water. Of the mods available so far, Real Water HD 2 is t?he standout, coming from popular creator luxor8071. No prizes for guessing what this mod?????????????????????????? does, but it is undoubtedly stunning.

Luxor's Green Grass

Starfield's grass wasn't green enough for you? Luxor's Green Grass is what you're looking for. There are a few different grass types in the game, and modder luxor8071 has recolored all of them to a lush green to make for some beautiful environments. Most of these grass types can be found in Jemison's forests, where you'll notice the biggest difference from vanilla Starfield.

High-Res Ship Interiors

In Starfield, chances are you'll probably spend a lot of time on your ship. High-Res Ship Interiors makes this as pleasant an experience as possible, by making everything very pretty to look at. According to mod author CnRJay, Starfield uses? 1K textures for most of its ship interiors. This mod upscales ??them to 4K, making a massive difference to ship visuals. Cool, right?

The post 10 best Starfield graphics mods appeared first on Destructoid.

When news broke that Bethesda was working on a space RPG, it didn't take a genius to figure out it would quickly be turned into a de facto Star Wars game by talented modders.

This happened almost immediately, with plenty of Starfield players turn??ing their game into a galaxy far, far away. Hundreds of mods can be found that bring the classic Star Wars appeal to Starfield, but what ?i??f you could only choose 10? These are the ones we'd choose.

The Mandalorian

The Mandalorian is a solid start to this list, bringing Din Djarin's armor and jetpack into Starfield. You can grab both the original and Beskar variants of Pedro Pascal's protagonist's armor from the Lair of the Mantis, with modder radicalclownfriend balancing the stats to ensure you don't get a set of busted items too early in the game. If you want to kick off your Starfield / Star Wars r?oleplay with a bang, this is a great place to start.

Star Wars Aliens

Of all the Starfield mods on this list, radicalclownfriend's Star Wars Aliens will make the most significant difference in making your dream intergalactic crossover a reality. It's a simple concept, introducing many of Star Wars' iconic aliens into the ranks of Starfield's factions, but the effect is sublime. You'll go from meeting a Twi'lek spacer one moment to a Zabrak member of the Crimson Fleet the next, all while playing as a Rodian yourself. New character presets, hairstyles, tattoos, and skin tones make this mod fully customizable, too. 10/10, no notes??.

UC Empire

Did something about Starfield's United Colonies rub you the wrong way? Download UC Empire so you don't have to feel bad working against them. This impressive conversion transforms Starfield's most powerful faction into the Galactic Empire, with tons of new outfits placed on NPCs around the galaxy. This mod also o?pens new roleplay possibilities for evil characters - joining the Galactic Empire feels slightly more sinister than joining the United Colonies, but that's just us.

Star Wars YT-1300 Millennium Falcon 1977

Ever wanted to fly the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy? Starfield's ship-builder not quite cutting it in the vanilla game? Then allow us to introduce electionis007's Star Wars YT-1300 Millennium Falcon 1977 mod. This awesome creation adds all of the individual pieces you need to put together H?an Solo's legendary Corellian freighter, including a build manual so simple even a Gungan could do it. If you fancy putting your own spin on the Falcon, this mod has you covered, with plenty of paint job options available.

AT-ST Enemies

AT-ST Enemies shakes up Starfield's combat in a really interesting way. The base game has a real lack of giant enemies that pose a significant threat, but throw a Star Wars AT-ST into the mix, and things get a lot more interesting. This mod by radicalclownfriend adds seven AT-ST enemies in various locations across Starfield, offering something new challenge for high-level players to take on. The Star Wars skin is just a bonus.

Grand Army of the Republic - Star Wars Clone Trooper Conversion

Grand ?Army of the Republic -?? Star Wars Clone Trooper Conversion transforms the United Colonies into the Galactic Republic, inspired by its appearance in the prequel trilogy. Various divisions of the Clone Army are represented in this awesome conversion mod, from the iconic 501st to the fan-favorite 212th. It feels right at home in Starfield - the only downside is that as a U.C. replacer, you'll need to choose between th?is and UC Empire.

All Trilogy Lightsabers

Come on. Did you really think we were making this list without a lightsaber mod? Our choice is All Trilogy Lightsabers, which adds blades from all nine Star Wars movies, as well as a few TV shows such as The Clone Wars and Rebels. Starfield's melee combat just got a whole lot cooler.

X-34 Landspeeder

After Starfield added land vehicles in the form of the REV-8, it wasn't long before this feature was given the Star Wars treatment. X-34 Landspeeder lets you patrol Starfield's landscapes in Luke's landspeeder as it appears in A New Hope, with a front-mounted gun for good measure.

Freestar Rebels

The Freestar Rebels mod is one of the bigger entries on this list. It transforms the Freestar Collective into the Rebel Alliance, replacing several different outfits to give one of Starfield's factions a fresh coat of paint from a galaxy far, far away. It also includes body morphs, so yes, you can roleplay as Porkins. Use this alongside the UC Empire mod for some true Galactic Civil War action in Starfield.

Aurebesh - Star Wars Conversion

Aurebesh - Star Wars Conversion is a mod you'll spend tons of time not even noticing while it's active. It changes all of Akila City and New Atlantis' text and signs into Star Wars' fictional Aurebesh language, with the end goal being to do this across the entirety of Starfield. It's super immersive, and a must-have in any Star Wars roleplayer's load order.

The post 10 best Starfield Star Wars mods appeared first on Destructoid.

Season 12 of Overwatch 2 is themed heavily around Egyptian gods, but Egyp?tian heroes like Ana and Pharah aren't getting the spotlight. This season's Mythic Skin, based on Anubis, is going to Reaper.

On the Overwatch subreddit, players were shocked by the decision to give Reaper a skin based off of Anubis over Ramattra, given Ramattra's early design concepts. In a 2017 video, Blizzard shared the concept that ultimately led to Ramattra?; an Omnic, wearing Egyptian-styled garb.

Another Developer Update from Blizzard briefly goes over the team's decision to give Reaper the Anubis skin. Lead Concept Artist, Morten Skaalvik, mentions that a meeting was held to discuss who the Mythic Skin should go to. Skaalvik says that the meeting was concluded quickly as everyone ha?d "instantly agreed it needed to be Reaper."

The reasoning behind this decision stems from Reaper being closely associated with death and Anubis being the Egyptian god of death. While the logic behind this decision is fair, players on Twitter/X agree that the skin should have gone to? Ramattra.

For additional salt in the wounds, it's still unclear if Ramattra will receive any new skins in the upcoming season. The trailer for Season 12 reveals a variety? of skins as part of the Battle Pass and skins that will be coming to the shop. Unfortunately, no new skins were shown off for the leader of Null Sector.

However, Ramattra isn't the only hero getting the short end of the stick. Despite this season's theme, Egyptian heroes Ana and Pharah only had one skin each revealed in the Season 1??2 trailer. The Pharah skin won't even be available in the Battle Pass, instead being obtained from the shop. Meanwhile, Mercy has received two additional skins set to appear in the shop.

Some players on the Overwatch subreddit have become fed up with the consistent stream of Mercy skins. Especially since this season is brimming with potential for Ana, Pharah, Ramattra, and Venture. Even though they don't have any ties to Egypti?an mythology, Venture's job as an archaeologist could have led to some skins inco?rporating ancient Egyptian artifacts.

The post Overwatch 2 fans feel frustrated with Season 12’s skin choices 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 be the ones t??hat 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. Pic??k 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 t?he S and A tiers here is a compliment to 343 Industries' balancing. Overall, the studio did a solid 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 up??dates years after its launch, even more weapons may be added in the future. The M392 Bandit is?? the most recent addition to the game, arriving in early 2023.

The post Halo Infini?te weapons 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 o??nce 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 pulled 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 ab?le to add side missions to the franchise's mainline games for the first time ever. Love or hate these side miss?ions, 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 game 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 Infinite?? 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 rank 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 an 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 styl??e 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 tha??t's what Big Team Battle prov?ides.

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 glit?ches to make items float back 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 w??ay to create completely new maps, with each having its own unique theme. Since we can't ran?k 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.

Warner Bros. Games has acquired the MultiVersus developer Player First Games for an undisclosed amount. The platform fighter developer is now readying for MultiVersus' second season of content, set to make its debut this week on July 23, 20??24.

Player First Games is now a part of Warner Bros.

In an official press release, WB Games announced its acquisition of Player First Game. Studio Co-Founders Tony Huynh and Chris White (also Head of Technology) will report to?? Carlos Barbosa, Vice President and Studio Head of Warner Bros. Games San?? Diego.

“We have worked with Player First Games over several years to create and launch MultiVersus, and we are very pleased to welcome this talented team to Warner Bros. Games,�said president of Warner Bros. Games David Haddad. “The bright and creative team at Player First Games adds to our extensive development capabilities.�/p>

One reason behind the Player First Games acquisition by WB Games is cited as a smoother integration process between the studio and the publisher, perhaps with better communication surrounding its IP or faster production time to release upcoming characters quicker. Huynh also explained that "having [their] development team integrated with the publisher is optimum for the players.�/p>

Samurai Jack and Beetlejuice are around the corner

Season 1 included four characters: The Joker, Jason Voorhees, Banana Guard, and Agent Smith. The rollout has been relatively slow, however, as ?Agent Smith is about to launch for everyone nearly two months after the game's release on May 28.

Season 2, so far, will give us the cartoon classic Samurai Jack, along with the grotesque ghosty ??Beetlejuice, who seem to be in the game for promotional reasons as a sequel film heads to theatres this September. The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch and Scooby-Doo have also appeared in the artwork for upcoming MultiVersus comics launching later this year (via Bleeding Cool), so it's likely they'll arr?ive in the platform fighter shortly.

Warner Bros. Games also owns NetherRealm Studios, the Chicago developer that makes the Mortal Kombat series, so Player First Games has great company in the?? fighting game space. Seeing Sub-Zero clashing with Batman and ??Steven Universe sounds riveting.

The post Warner Bros. acquires MultiVersus ??developer?? Player First Games appeared first on Destructoid.

The theme park simulation sequel Planet Coaster 2 has officially been announced, adding water park rides into the experience this fall. You'll be running your own theme park once again when it r??eleases for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC someti??me this fall.

Water parks will cool down your guests

New to the series with this entry are water parks. Planet Coaster 2 lets you make a perfect water park with various rides, including lazy rivers, flumes, wave pools, and water coasters. You'll also have to provide changing rooms, sunbeds, lifeguards, and other essentials to help your business stay afloat.

You'll also need to monitor the guests as you? attempt to keep the pools clean, ensure the rides are working properly, and add new facilities.

Planet Coaster 2 features plenty of improvements

Traditional theme parks aren't being excluded from the sequel either. The game is adding enhanced building and pathing tools to help you create the theme park of your dreams. You can now customize each ride in Planet Coaster 2 as well. Additionally, an improved event sequencer tool adds animatronics, smoke, water jets, sounds, and other?? visual wonders into the ride creation process.

Planet Coaster 2 features a bevvy of modes to hopefully keep you entertained in this simulation game. It will have a Career Mode, a franchise mode which has you make a connecting series of theme parks similar to Disney or Universal, and a Sandbox mode. The Frontier Workshop also provides?? blueprints and full parks across the console and PC versions of the game, in case you need some help with the theme park creation process.

A ??full gameplay reveal is already set for July 31, and Frontier Developments promises to have new reveals on the last Wednesday of each month up to the game's launch during its Frontier Unlocked live streams.

Planet Coaster has been received well

The original Planet Coaster received a lot of fans after Rollercoaster Tycoon failed to meet expectations in recent entries. It currently has a Very Positive 91% Steam user review rating.

Hopefully, the sequel will be more challenging than its predecessor. "The entertainment value in Planet Coaster doesn’t come from management, so if that’s the type of coaster sim you’re after, you’re better off waiting for something else," said our 2016 review for the first game. "After the initial hurdles of starting a park in Challenge Mode, it’s pr??etty smooth sailing."

While you wait for Planet Coaster 2, you may want to check out Planet Zoo on consoles. Those ports launched earlier this year in Mar?ch.

The post Planet Coaster 2 is officially revealed, now i?ncluding water parks appeared first on Destructoid.

Once you find Slurp Cactus in Fortnite, they can help you gain shields and finish a weekly quest. Here's where ??to spot?? them in this big battle royale open world.

Slurp Cactus in Fortnite location

The Slurp Cactus is a new interactive object in Fortnite that lets you gain shields after ramming it with a vehicle or hitting it with a weapon. They can be found all over the new desert area to the south of the Chapter 5 Season 3 map. Find a car near a location like the Nitrodome and while driving, look on both sides of the road. You'll see cac??ti that have blue gooey leaves on them. Ram into? these plants and you'll gain a shield boost.

One of the Weekly Quests asks you to restore 300 health or shields with the Slurp Cactus. Once ?this is completed, you'll net yourself 15,000 XP. It also accounts for the bonus goals, which ask you to complete a certain amount of Weekly Quests. If you finish 12, for example, there is a 25K experience bonu??s.

Other Weekly Quests in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3

The other weekly quests in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3 are a cakewalk. Nitro Fists are a new weapon in the game that let you punch your foes to elimination. Get 400 damage with the Nitro Fists, and you'll get yourself another 15K experience points. The best way to take them out is to uppercut them, then smash your fis??ts down while you're in the air.

Additionally, you can damage opponents with your car by either ramming them or modding a weapon to the top of your vehicle. You can collect them from boxes strewn throughout the map. Another quest is to go through a Flaming Boost Hoop.

The post Where to find Slurp Cactus in Fortnite appeared first on Destructoid.

No one arguing in good faith could reasonably claim Diablo 4's new season, Loot Reborn, hasn't been a massive boon for the game's longevity. The game reached a new all-time peak of over 28,000 players on Steam over six months after its initial launch thanks to this season's major overhauls to loot systems, upgrades, class balance, and more. With al??l this knob-turning and sweeping modification, however, comes a new problem: game balance.

Diablo 4 is now too easy

When I say game balance, I don't mean how one class performs compared to others. Gone are the days of Barbarian and Sorcerer supremacy: now every class has a nearly equally-busted collection of fantastic builds. No, I mean g??ame balance of the player-versus-enemy variety. The game i??s, for the majority of an average player's experience, easy to a degree that borders on braindead.

This isn't an unexpected result of objective increases to player power and agency in the form of Tempering and the new, absolutely bonkers affixes it brings. Even just throwing a few ??build-appropriate affixes on your weapons will give you more felt power than ten or fifteen levels would. But still, in an effort to preserve "fun," it seems the team more than slightly overshot the mark, resulting in a leveling experience that feels about as frictional as a freshly-Zamboni'd hockey rink.

Until endgame, the game is a breeze

I knew there was a slightly more serious problem than the game being a little too easy when I was face-rolling Capstone Dungeons (required to progress to the next World Tier difficulty) upwards of 20 levels earlier than I should have been just to feel something. Even then, when I'd progressed to a zone where enemies' leve?ls displayed an ominous "you're not supposed to do this yet" red hue, I was cutting them down all the ?same.

To be fair, blasting enemies in the dozens, hundreds, and thousands is fun.. for a little while. But after reaching level 80 or so my eyes are starting to glaze over every time I enter the game, run headfirst into the Helltide after popping a Profane Mindcage and utterly decimate every foe with the press of a button. Even World Bosses die in a matter of seconds. There's no longer a measuring stick for player power besides the endgame Pit because from the moment your?? build starts to function until the moment enemies start one-shotting you in the Pit, the amount of pushback you'll be getting from foes will remain around zero.

The Diablo 4 grind is no longer rewarding

Diablo 4 is primed to be the perfect "brain-off" game. Action RPGs in general are my go-to "second screen" games that I use to catch up on YouTube videos which may or may not have recently included a four hour essay on the failed Star Wars hotel. But the "brain-off" properties should probably come after you've spent some time crafting a build, earning great loot, and upgrading your character until your mere presence causes rooms of enemies to explode instantly. By offering this fantasy almost immediately, pl??ayers are being robbed of the draw of action RPGS entirely: to start out annoyingly underpowered and eventually becoming a God.

The post Diablo 4’s loot rework is a huge win, but a new problem needs attention appeared first on Destructoid.

Remember the burst assault rifle Warzone meta from a few years back? People were using the M16 and AUG like it was nobody's business. Fortunately, their incredibly high damage output was nerfed into the ground, leaving us with a few fairly useless weapons for a long time. However, a new conversion kit turns the M16 into a fully automatic assault rifle. Here's how to build the automatic M16 loadout for Warzone, which also received a buff recently.

How to get the JAK Patriot conversion kit for the M16

First and foremost, you'll need to unlock the JAK Patriot conversion kit for the M16 assault rifle. Without it, the gun isn't viable in Warzone. The fastest way to unlock it is by focusing on the weekly challenges in multiplayer. However, if you don't own Modern Warfare 3 or just don't want to play regular multiplayer, there are weekly challenges for Warzone and Zombies game modes too.

Simply complete five of the eight available weekly ch??allenges for the current week (6) of Season 3.?? Once you've done that, the JAK Patriot will be available when you go to create an M16 loadout.

Best fully automatic M16 loadout

Once you've equipped the JAK Patriot, the other attachments are ones you might know by now. Many meta-builds for guns use similar attachments, as they're significantly better than others. However, the best full-auto M16 class uses an alternate ammunition type, ??which is unusual. You can also swap out the under barrel for an optic if you don't like the iron sights, as the?? recoil isn't too bad.

• Casus Brake Muzzle
• 5.56 High Velocity Ammunition
• Bruen Pivot Vertical Grip Under Barrel
• 60 Round Magazine
• JAK Patriot Conversion Kit

Community testing has found this version of the M16 to be one of the fastest time-to-kill assault rifles in Warzone?? right now. The DG-58 LSW is still the absolute meta, but the full-auto M16 is a close competitor for the first time in a long ti?me.

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XDefiant's release date is fast approaching. As it draws closer, we're learning more and more about the Call of Duty competitor. For example, the developers just posted a much-appreciated break?down of exactly how matchmaking works. The good news? Casual game modes don't prioritize skill level, meaning skill-based matchmaking is only in ranked modes.

XDefiant casual play has no skill-based matchmaking

Call of Duty multip?layer warriors know all too well the problem with skill-based matchmaking in casual game modes. There's no way to use ??non-meta weapons, have fun with friends, or do anything but sweat. This is because even when there's no rank on the line, the game throws you into a blender with players of your skill level.

Defying the logic of its biggest competitor, the upcoming free-to-play multiplayer shooter XDefiant offered us all the details on how matchmaking will work. Although at early access launch there won't be a ranked mode just yet, when? it comes it'll be the only way to be matched against players of the same skill level. Unless, of course, you just happen to share a great connection with players of a similar or better skill level. I??t'll be mostly random once an excellent connection is established.

How does XDefiant matchmaking work?

According to a blog post by the XDefiant team, the FPS will use a specific o?rder of priorities for matchmaking in casual vs ranked play. Skill level isn't just not prioritized for casual play, it?? was left off the list completely. Here's a breakdown for casual game modes:

1. Latency - The game will match you with players on similar ping/connection to you for the best experience.
2. Avoided Players - Next, it will eliminate players you've blocked or avoided on your platform or in-game.
3. Party Size - Once a good connection is made, it will sort players by party size to avoid a full-stack team destroying a bunch of solo-queue players.
4. Region - Matchmaking will then prefer players from the same region, who speak the same language as you.
5. Input Device - Since the game is crossplay, XDefiant will do its best to place controller players vs controller players, mouse and keyboard vs mouse and keyboard.
6. Platform - Finally, the casual play modes will prefer players using the same platform. (PC, Xbox, PlayStation)

When ranked mode launch?es in a future season, here's a breakdown of how it will pri??oritize matchmaking:

1. Rank Points - Prefers players within your rank range, this is skill-based matchmaking.
2. Latency
3. Party Size
4. Region
5. Input Device
6. Platform

Keep in mind that the game is crossplay and this doesn't mean you won't face players of the opposite input device or on another platform. They are the lowest prioritized factor in matchmaki??ng. If the most ideal lobby, using latency, party size, and region, is a bunch of players on another platform using another input device, you will be placed in that lobby for faster match??making.

What else can affect matchmaking?

Although these priorities explain most of how you'll be placed in a match for XDefiant, even more factors come into play. For example, team balancing will take place once a lobby is populated. If a full lobby of solo ?players are placed together, they'll be sorted into teams based on skill in an attempt to evenly balance the match for optimal fun.

Next, some play??lists, like ranked modes, will use input locking. So once you're placed into a match, your current input device will be locked so you can't change it in the pregame lobby or mid-match. Be sure to have the proper input device equipped prior to searching for a game.

Finally, lobbi??es will rollover using the same pl??ayers unless most of the players manually leave. So you won't have to matchmake again between casual matches. Typically, your next lobby will fill instantly with most of the same players from the previous match.

This type of matchmaking breakdown isn't usually offered by many developers, so it is certainly appreciated. Additionally, all seems very positive for the XDefiant team's outlook on how matchmaking should work as far as skill-based matc???hmaking, lobby rollovers, and more.

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