Title: The Largest Manga Piracy Site In The World Shuts Down After Allegedly Costing The Industry $5 Billion In Lost Sales Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:34:29 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/the-largest-manga-piracy-site-in-the-world-shuts-down-after-allegedly-costing-the-industry-5-billion-in-lost-sales-2000665118 The post The Largest Manga Piracy Site In The World Shuts Down After Allegedly Costing The Industry $5 Billion In Lost Sales appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: MindsEye CEO Threatens YouTuber With Legal Action Following Epstein Video Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:00:39 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/mindseye-ceo-threatens-youtuber-after-epstein-video-2000665097 The post <i>MindsEye</i> CEO Threatens YouTuber With Legal Action Following Epstein Video appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed Dev Fired Less Than Two Weeks After Criticizing Company’s Plans To End Work From Home Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:22:55 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-montreal-lead-fired-david-michaud-cromp-work-from-home-linkedin-2000665081 The post Ubisoft <i>Assassin’s Creed</i> Dev Fired Less Than Two Weeks After Criticizing Company’s Plans To End Work From Home appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: GOG Says Game Banner Ad Was Made With AI But Claims It Was Shared By Mistake Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:26:47 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/gog-ai-art-banner-ad-confirms-discord-message-small-team-slop-2000665056 The post GOG Says Game Banner Ad Was Made With AI But Claims It Was Shared By Mistake appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: Anker’s 25,000mAh Power Bank Drops to Its First Record Low of the Year, Charge 4 Devices at Once Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:24:14 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/ankers-25000mah-power-bank-drops-to-its-first-record-low-of-the-year-charge-4-devices-at-once-2000655530 The post Anker’s 25,000mAh Power Bank Drops to Its First Record Low of the Year, Charge 4 Devices at Once appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: Starsand Island is a life and farming sim that isn't gacha, and it's out next week Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:59:36 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/starsand-island-early-access-release-date-launch-content Though it may seem like we just had a big life sim release in Heartopia, 2026 actually has more than one highly-anticipated release in that particular subgenre of cozy game. The next big one on the horizon is Starsand Island, the life and farming sim from Seed Sparkle Lab. Read more

Title: Zenelss Zone Zero Version 2.6 has you playing as an event planner and social media manager for an idol group Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:44:02 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/zenless-zone-zero-update-2-6-angels-of-delusion Zenless Zone Zero’s latest Special Program has delivered a tonne of information about the game’s big upcoming update, Version 2.6. This latest addition kicks off celebrations in New Eridu, and it’s dubbed Encore for an Old Dream. Read more

Title: Infinity Nikki ushers in the Year of the Horse with... a deer-themed Version 2.2 Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:34:41 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/infinity-nikki-update-2-2-chinese-new-year-celebrations Infinity Nikki, the free-to-play, open-world dress-up RPG, has delivered yet another big content drop in the form of Chromatic Beings Everbright. The latest update brings the game up to version 2.2, and introduces a new narrative chapter, and gameplay taking place around a festival narrative. Read more

Title: Quantic Dream addresses toxicity, tech bugs and tutorials for Spellcasters Chronicles closed beta 2 - here's how to get a key Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:55:31 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/spellcasters-second-closed-beta-start-end-time Quantic Dream has opened up its upcoming fantasy MOBA for a second closed beta weekend starting from today, January 29, until 9AM UTC on Monday February 2. Read more

Title: Nioh 3’s generous demo is out now, and your progress carries over to the full game Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:53:47 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/nioh-3-free-demo-pc-ps5-save-progress-carry-over Nioh 3 is one of the most anticipated games of 2026, and it’s easily among the biggest releases of February. We’re a few days away from the start of that month, however, but we don’t have to wait until then to actually play Team Ninja’s next major release. Read more

Title: PSA: People Playground Has Been Hit By A Save-Erasing Virus Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:38:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/psa-people-playground-has-been-hit-by-a-save-erasing-virus/1100-6537847/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Nearly seven years ago, People Playground debuted on Steam and invited players to terrorize their ragdoll stick-figure creations. Now, someone has created a malicious mod that's wrecking havoc on People Playground's saves and other files.People Playground's solo developer, mestiez, shared an urgent message on the game's Steam page warning players about what happened and how they should handle it. The steps are reproduced below:Update the game by verifying game filesGo to your game directory and delete the "mods" folder.Go to "Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\1118200" and delete the folder.Unsubscribe from mods that were updated/uploaded after January 30.If you have any uploaded mods, check if they were recently updated without your consent.As explained by mestiez, the offending code was added through People Playground's workshop, which has now been temporarily disabled. According to mestiez's description, the mod removes the Contraptions folder as well as other PPG-related files. It also overwrites any mods and replaces them with itself.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Silent Hill 2 Remake Dev Rules Out Multiple Theories About Mysterious Next Game Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:03:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/silent-hill-2-remake-dev-rules-out-multiple-theories-about-mysterious-next-game/1100-6537846/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Polish developer Bloober Team has launched a teaser website pointing to some kind of reveal this month, and while it remains a mystery, the studio has now ruled out a few possibilities for what it could be.Responding to speculation that the project might be a remake, or more specifically a remake of 2006's horror game Rule of Rose, Bloober CEO Piotr Babieno said, "Nice guess, but no.""It definitely doesn't refer to any remake," the executive added in a post on LinkedIn (via TheGamer). It's also not related in any way to Rule of Rose, and it's not a new Observer game.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: This Resident Evil Requiem Live-Action Trailer Might Be Better Than Any Resident Evil Movie Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:28:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/this-resident-evil-requiem-live-action-trailer-might-be-better-than-any-resident-evil-movie/1100-6537840/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f The Resident Evil franchise has a mixed track record in the cinematic landscape, and a new live-action short film promoting Resident Evil Requiem may put all previous efforts to shame.Titled "Evil Has Always Had A Name," the roughly three-and-a-half-minute-long film features Maika Monroe, who starred in horror films It Follows and Longlegs. Monroe portrays the mother of a young girl, and the two appear to be living a happy life--unfortunately, they were living in Raccoon City amidst the T-virus outbreak depicted in Resident Evil 2 and 3.You can probably see where this short film is going without us telling you, and it ends in a somber yet heartfelt fashion. The video provides glimpses of the city during the chaos and destruction, and some viewers even believe they heard Nemesis yell his famous "STARS" line in the background.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: WoW's Two Main Capital Cities Could Get Major Revamps Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:34:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wows-two-main-capital-cities-could-get-major-revamps/1100-6537839/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f World of Warcraft's two most iconic cities, the Alliance capital Stormwind and the Horde capital Orgrimmar, could be receiving major revamps in the future.In an interview with PC Gamer, associate game director Paul Kubit and manager for visual development Gabriel Gonzalez said reimaginings of the two major cities are something Blizzard would like to tackle. First, however, the team is waiting to see how its revamp of the Blood Elf capital of Silvermoon, coming as part of the new Midnight expansion, is received. The updates to Silvermoon and the surrounding areas are substantial, with massively improved visuals and reworked locations. Many of the old locations players know and love, like Murder Row, the Royal Exchange, and the Bazaar, are all still there, but expanded on with updated architecture and lighting.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Call Of Duty Gets Anti-Cheat Upgrades For Season 2 And Ranked Play Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:04:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-gets-anti-cheat-upgrades-for-season-2-and-ranked-play/1100-6537835/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Season 2 of Call of Duty is packed with new content, including Ranked Play modes for both Black Ops 7 multiplayer and Warzone's battle royale. Activision has revealed the big update will also include improvements to Call of Duty's Ricochet anti-cheat.In a new blog post, the publisher says its top priority is "launching Ranked Play with the strongest protections possible" to ensure matches are decided by player skill and not exploits. Part of this focus is targeting unapproved third-party hardware, such as Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix devices that can be used to alter player inputs and obtain an unfair advantage."We know what an unfair match looks like: losing a close gunfight to aim that never seems to miss, recoil that never kicks, or reactions that don't feel human," Activision says.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Crunchyroll raises subscription prices for Fan, Mega, and Ultimate Tiers Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:54:01 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/crunchyroll-subscription-price-increase-2026/ If you didn’t secure a Crunchyroll subscription when it was on sale during Black Friday, we have some bad news, anime fans: The price has officially gone up. Effective immediately, Crunchyroll is raising the monthly cost of its Fan, Mega, and Ultimate subscriptions by $2. The Fan tier jumps from $7.99 to $9.99, Mega increases from $11.99 to $13.99, and Ultimate rises from $15.99 to $17.99 per month. The new prices will take effect in the next billing cycle after March 4.

Title: Final Fantasy 2's Word Memory system is an underrated gem Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:00:17 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/final-fantasy-2-word-memory-system-rpg-mechanic/ The original Final Fantasy was pretty bare bones in terms of its world-building, and followed four unnamed adventurers who became the Warriors of Light. Its successor, Final Fantasy 2, introduced a named cast of three characters — Firion, Maria, and Guy. These heroes aren't simply swept up in tragic events; they seek justice as citizens of a world suffering under the Emperor of Palamecia. But a group of memorable characters with distinct personalities was not the only innovation the second title in the series brought to the table. All the way back in 1988, Final Fantasy 2's Word Memory system gave players a unique tool to engage more deeply with the game's world. It lands on Xbox Game Pass on Feb. 3, but it's also available for purchase on numerous other platforms, as part of Square Enix's 2021 Final Fantasy Pixel Remastercollection of the first six games in the series.

Title: Super Bowl trailers in 2026 might not include Marvel movies Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:55:43 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/super-bowl-lx-trailers-movies-doomsday/ Super Bowl LX is on the way, which means a bunch of commercials and trailers are about to air to promote upcoming 2026 releases. But it appears that two huge movies — Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day — might be missing from the slate of expected trailers.

Title: Jurassic Park Super Bowl commercial de-ages actors beyond belief Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:50:13 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/jurassic-park-super-bowl-2026-commercial/ I have no skin in the Super Bowl LX face-off between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots — go, sports, go — but I can’t help but await the commercials. The ridiculous, the cringe, the overly earnest beer ads full of horses… lay it all on me. Still, if Xfinity’s Jurassic Park-themed spot is any indication, this year might be a test of how barbaric the excessive spending can get without breaking my brain.

Title: Resident Evil Requiem prequel short film stars Longlegs' Maika Monroe Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:37:22 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/resident-evil-requiem-prequel-movie-short/ Regardless of how Weapons director Zach Cregger's upcoming Resident Evil film turns out, 2026 has already provided us with a pretty damn good live-action take on the franchise, thanks to a prequel short film that sets up Resident Evil Requiem. In addition to being a solid adaptation of the events surrounding Requiem, it also boasts some star power: It Follows and Longlegs star Maika Monroe plays the lead in Capcom's new short.

Title: GeForce NOW Brings GeForce RTX Gaming to Linux PCs Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:00:49 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-linux/ Get ready to game — the native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs is now available in beta, letting Linux desktops tap directly into GeForce RTX performance from the cloud. Alongside the expansion comes ten new games, including The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut and The Bard’s Tale Trilogy for a leveled-up gaming weekend. And operators can squad up in Team Jade’s Delta Force when it deploys in the cloud on February 3, bringing high-stakes tactical action to nearly any device with no downloads required. Linux Just Got RTX Gaming on Linux just got a major RTX upgrade. Starting with support for Ubuntu 24.04 and later, the new app delivers a seamless native experience that fits right into Linux desktop workflows. It transforms compatible Linux systems into high-performance GeForce RTX-powered rigs, streaming supported PC titles directly from the cloud at up to 5K resolution  and 120 frames per second, or 1080p at 360 fps. This new desktop-focused app goes beyond the earlier Linux experience that was tuned specifically for Steam Decks, which targeted handheld-friendly resolutions and up to 1200p at 90 fps. The beta Linux app is built for PCs and notebooks, offering an experience similar to the existing GeForce NOW app on Windows and macOS. With GeForce NOW, rendering happens in the cloud, so demanding titles run on a wider range of devices. Experience how RTX technologies — including ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS 4 and more — bring games to life with RTX 5080 performance from the cloud. Linux PCs and devices join the GeForce NOW native app family that also supports Windows, macOS, Chromebooks, mobile devices, smart TVs and more — unlocking flexible, on-demand gaming anywhere. Download the app today. For more details, check out all knowledge base articles on the GeForce NOW Linux beta app here. A Tale of the Cloud Adventure calls twice with two legendary journeys from inXile entertainment packed with wit, wonder and a few well-placed lute solos. Sing loud, fight hard and out-charm enemies. Get ready to sing, slash and swindle through the wild world of Caith in The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut. This dungeon-crawling role-playing game serves up clever puzzles, tactical turn-based battles and a hearty helping of bardic humor. Whether belting out battle tunes or charming foes into submission, gamers can enjoy an adventure that’s never sounded this good. Relive the songs and chaos that started it all. Plus, step back to where the saga began with The Bard’s Tale Trilogy. This remastered collection revives the classic, old-school dungeon crawling and tongue-in-cheek charm that started it all — now with smoother gameplay and polished visuals. It’s nostalgia wrapped in pure fantasy fun. Hot off the Cloud One mountain, countless close calls. Cairn is a survival-climbing adventure from The Game Bakers that pushes pro climber Aava up the unforgiving face of Mount Kami, a sheer giant that no one has ever managed to summit. Realistic climbing systems, resource management and route-planning turn each wall into a tense, puzzle-like challenge — blending simulation detail with atmospheric storytelling. In addition, members can look for the following: The Midnight Walkers (New release on Steam, Jan. 28, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Cairn (New release on Steam, Jan. 29, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Prototype (New release on Ubisoft Connect, Jan. 29) Prototype 2 (New release on Ubisoft Connect, Jan. 29) Warhammer 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2 (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass, Jan. 29, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Half Sword (New release on Steam, Jan.30, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Vampires: Bloodlord Rising (New release on Steam, Jan. 30, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) The Bard’s Tale Trilogy (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Total War: Three Kingdoms (Epic Games Store) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Name a food item that gives you… +20 health-2 Dexterity — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) January 28, 2026

Title: Flight Controls Are Cleared for Takeoff on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:00:53 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-flight-controls/ The wait is over, pilots. Flight control support — one of the most community-requested features for GeForce NOW — is live starting today, following its announcement at CES earlier this month. Virtual captains can now bring dedicated flight gear into the cloud and feel every roll, yaw and throttle change with even more precision, starting with the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One. Time is running out on our T.Flight Hotas One MSFS Edition + 1 month of @NVIDIAGFN Ultimate giveaway! How to enter 1. Follow both @TMThrustmaster and @NVIDIAGFN accounts on social2. Repost this and share on your feed 5 winners will be chosen – ends 1/24. pic.twitter.com/B89mGwJoNQ — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) January 19, 2026 Remember to enter the giveaway for a chance to score a T.Flight Hotas One MSFS Edition and one month of a GeForce NOW Ultimate membership — follow Thrustmaster and GeForce NOW, and repost the giveaway post to enter before Saturday, Jan. 24. Also on the horizon, Delta Force from Team Jade (TiMi Studio Group) is coming soon to GeForce NOW, adding another big-name title to the cloud lineup. Get ready for all the action by streaming the four new games in this cloud this week. Pilots Wanted Members can now jump into their favorite flight and space simulation games with a full stick-and-throttle setup streamed right from the cloud. It’s all about dialing in that authentic, hands-on flying experience while keeping latency low and gameplay responsive on GeForce NOW. Full throttle in the cloud. To get right to flying, members can look for a dedicated row in the GeForce NOW app highlighting games that support flight controls, making it simple to spot great titles for putting their new setup through its paces. This initial flight control support rollout is just the beginning, with plans to keep tuning the experience and expand compatibility to more peripherals. Fire up the rig, plug in the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One and get ready to take off — the cloud cockpit is open and ready for flight. Your Next Mission: ‘Delta Force’ Team Jade’s Delta Force is coming soon to the cloud, ready to drop players into high-stakes extraction with an all-out warfare mode where coordination and precision matter just as much as raw firepower. When it launches on GeForce NOW, members will be able to jump into the action instantly from almost any device, taking advantage of high‑performance streaming to stay locked at smooth frame rates even in the most chaotic firefights. Get ready to squad up, Delta Force is inbound soon. On GeForce NOW, every long‑range shot, helicopter insertion and tense objective push can feel crisp and responsive, whether playing on low‑powered laptops, Macs or mobile devices. The cloud makes it easy to squad up, drop in and get straight to the mission without worrying about downloads, patches or local hardware. New in the Cloud A graceful little robot having the worst day in the universe. MIO: Memories in Orbit is a neon-tinged metroidvania about a nimble little robot waking up on a massive, overgrown ark called the Vessel with nothing but fractured memories and a whole lot of trouble coming its way. Dart through low-gravity corridors, chain together elegant wall-runs, glides and grapples, and tangle with rogue machines as the Vessel itself quietly steals the spotlight — moody, decaying and just alive enough to keep a few secrets. In addition, members can look for the following: MIO: Memories in Orbit (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Jan. 20) Bladesong (New release on Steam, Jan. 22) Rustler (New release on Epic Games Store, free starting Jan. 22) The Gold River Project (New release on Steam, Jan. 23, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. If you could fly to any video game destination, where would it be? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) January 21, 2026

Title: Survive the Quarantine Zone and More With Devolver Digital Games on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:00:35 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-quarantine-zone/ NVIDIA kicked off the year at CES, where the crowd buzzed about the latest gaming announcements — including the native GeForce NOW app for Linux and Amazon Fire TV sticks, community-requested flight-control support and a stacked AAA lineup for the year. Check out what the creators of the YouTube channels Cloud Gaming Battle and Anytime Anywhere Gaming had to say in their latest videos exploring GeForce NOW at CES: Plus, read what the community said about the upcoming native GeForce NOW app on Linux. The energy continues this GFN Thursday with the launch of Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, Devolver Digital’s most haunting and atmospheric release yet. Check it out along with other top Devolver Digital games on GeForce NOW and nine new games in the cloud this week. Here’s your chance to win a T.Flight Hotas One MSFS Edition + 1 month of @NVIDIAGFN Ultimate. How to enter 1. Follow both @TMThrustmaster and @NVIDIAGFN accounts on social2. Repost this and share on your feed 5 lucky winners will be chosen – good luck! pic.twitter.com/DDxzcGwt8I — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) January 14, 2026 And flight sim fans can soar even higher with a Thrustmaster giveaway, featuring the T.Flight Hotas One MSFS Edition and one month of a GeForce NOW Ultimate membership for free — follow Thrustmaster and GeForce NOW, and repost the giveaway post for a chance to win before Jan. 24. Welcome to the Zone Trust no one, file everything. Quarantine Zone: The Last Check drops into the cloud this week, bringing the eerie isolation and grim decision-making of its Steam debut to any device powered by GeForce NOW. Armed with advanced screening tools and instincts, players are put in charge of a critical checkpoint during a zombie outbreak — where one wrong choice could let the infection slip past the post. Screen survivors, manage scarce resources and hold back the undead. Holding the line is only the beginning — reinforce defenses and keep the camp alive as chaos intensifies with each passing day. Quarantine Zone: The Last Check streams at full GeForce RTX 5080 power for GeForce NOW Ultimate members, bringing razor-sharp visuals and ultrasmooth performance to every tense border crossing. Every document check, difficult decision and late-night shift in the guard booth hits harder with maxed-out settings and buttery frame rates, all without long installs or hardware worries getting in the way of the paranoia. No trip through the Devolver catalog would be complete without revisiting its eclectic, chaotic hits already streaming on GeForce NOW. Check out Cult of the Lamb, Ball x Pit, Hotline Miami, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, Inscryption and Enter the Gungeon — where every dodge roll matters and every chest hides mayhem. Each of these titles showcases Devolver’s knack for daring design and unforgettable worlds — now all one click away through GeForce NOW. Time to Play Sink into the shadows and steal everything that isn’t nailed down. Styx: Shards of Darkness sneaks back in with a signature goblin grin and a dagger never too far from trouble. Published by Focus Home Interactive, this stealth adventure leans into vertical level design, tight shadows and sarcastic commentary from gaming’s most lovable little assassin. Expect big, open environments to pick apart, a toolkit full of invisibility tricks, traps and clones, and plenty of chances to turn a quiet infiltration into chaotic improv when plans go sideways. In addition, members can look for the following: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (New release on Steam, Jan. 12, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Star Wars Outlaws (Ubisoft Connect, now available on Xbox Game Pass) The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (New release on Steam, Jan. 15) Styx: Shards of Darkness (New release on Epic Games Store, free on Jan. 15) Styx: Master of Shadows (New release on Epic Games Store, free on Jan. 15) Guild Wars: Reforged (Steam) Mon Bazou (Steam) Tavern Keeper (Steam) Waterpark Simulator (Steam) For Game Pass titles on Ubisoft Connect, reference this article on how to log in. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: More Ways to Play, More Games to Love — GeForce NOW Wraps CES With Linux Support, Fire TV App, Flight Stick Controls Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-ces-2026-recap/ NVIDIA is wrapping up a big week at the CES trade show with a set of GeForce NOW announcements that are bringing more ways to play and more games to the cloud. From new native apps for Linux and Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks to hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) support for simulation fans and a new single sign-on option, GeForce NOW is expanding across devices and making it easier to jump straight into gameplay. Topping it off, a new wave of AAA titles — including IO Interactive’s 007 First Light, Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem and Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert — is gearing up to join the GeForce NOW library for high-fidelity, low-latency streaming across the globe. Get ready with the six new games available to stream this week. Leveling Up Where Gamers Play The family of GeForce NOW supported devices is growing. A new native GeForce NOW app is launching in beta for Linux, starting with Ubuntu 24.04 and later. This answers a long-standing request from the gaming community, turning compatible systems into RTX-powered gaming rigs that can stream at up to 5K resolution and 120 frames per second (fps) or 1080p 360 fps. With rendering handled in the cloud, Linux gamers can tap into ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS and other RTX features without needing a local, high-end GPU.​ Things are heating up: GeForce NOW on Fire TV streaming sticks. A new native app for Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks transforms the tiny device into a big-screen cloud gaming endpoint, giving members another way to stream their PC libraries straight to the TV with a gamepad in hand. It builds on existing device support, making it easier for gamers to pick up and play from the couch without a console or gaming PC attached.​ Clearer Skies Ahead  Cleared for takeoff in the cloud. Flight control support has landed in the cloud, letting virtual pilots connect their favorite gear — including industry-leading Thrustmaster and Logitech setups — to custom HOTAS configurations. Whether locking in a full desktop throttle-and-stick rig or fine-tuning a split cockpit arrangement, everything’s ready for takeoff. Paired with the incredible RTX 5080-powered performance available to Ultimate members, plus ultralow-latency streaming and NVIDIA Reflex in supported titles, pilots can now enjoy ultra-precise, hyper-immersive flight experiences straight from the cloud. Soaring over detailed landscapes in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, dogfighting in War Thunder or exploring the stars in Elite Dangerous has never felt smoother. Easier Sign-Ins, Faster Game Time GeForce NOW now supports new games — and more ways to get into them faster. Because remembering passwords is so last season. Battle.net single sign-on recently joined the service, letting members jump straight into supported titles without juggling extra credentials each time. And coming soon early this year, Gaijin.net integration will make takeoff even smoother — one simple sign-on connects more game libraries across devices. Fewer passwords and pop-ups mean more time playing — whether on a desktop, laptop, handheld device or TV. Next Up in the Cloud A new wave of AAA titles is headed to GeForce NOW, bringing spies, survivors and freeswords to the cloud for members to stream across their favorite devices. The games each bring a distinct flavor — from stealthy espionage to nerve-shredding horror and gritty fantasy combat — and they’re all gearing up to join an already-stacked GeForce NOW library when they launch on PC. Earn the number. IO Interactive’s 007 First Light brings a modern James Bond origin story to the cloud when the PC title launches May 27, inviting members to step into the shadows as Bond begins his journey. Experience a balanced mix of stealth and action built around a “breathing” gameplay loop with IOI’s cinematic, set-piece-driven storytelling. Approach encounters through stealth, direct action or creative improvisation, with multiple viable paths to each objective that let players define Bond’s style. Welcome to the Wrenwood Hotel — late checkout is not recommended. Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem continues the legendary survival-horror saga with a new chapter that doubles down on tense exploration, eerie environments and resource-tight combat. Expect dimly lit corridors, unsettling encounters and that classic feeling of weighing every bullet and healing item before moving forward when playing as Grace, and exhilarating, death-defying action when playing as Leon. Everything matters in the cloud. Gaijin Entertainment’s Active Matter, coming this year, is a realistic military shooter where players join dangerous raids for loot or intense player vs. player battles set in a fractured multiverse. Active matter can be harvested from active matter-transformed creatures or seized from other players. Join this never-ending hunt to improve the chances to find the way out of the time loop. Open world, closed casket. Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert is a stunning open-world action adventure set in a war-torn fantasy land, pairing large-scale exploration with cinematic storytelling and hard-hitting, combo-focused combat. One moment is a quiet ride across windswept plains, the next is a chaotic clash against towering foes with mystical power effects lighting up the battlefield. Playing these titles on GeForce NOW means jumping into big-budget experiences with RTX 5080-class performance, high frame rates and advanced graphics features on a wide range of devices, without worrying about downloads, patches or local hardware requirements. Members can pick up the same adventure on a desktop, laptop, handheld device or TV, letting each of these worlds shine wherever and however they choose to play. Hello New Games Welcome back to the plague. The eerie world of Pathologic 3, from Ice-Pick Lodge and tinyBuild, invites players to step once again into a haunting town teetering on the edge of disaster. Time is fleeting, trust is scarce and every conversation feels like a test of loyalty — or survival. With its signature blend of tension, philosophy and dark humor, Pathologic 3 doesn’t just tell a story; it dares players to live through it. In addition, members can look for the following: StarRupture (New release on Steam, Jan. 6) Ancient Farm (New release on Steam, Jan, 87) Pathologic 3 (New release on Steam, Jan. 9) Blood West (Epic Games Store) Paradise Killer (Epic Games Store) Supermarket Simulator (Xbox, available on Game Pass) GeForce RTX 5080-ready game: HITMAN – World of Assassination (Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on Game Pass) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. NOW that's what I call gaming! More games More platforms More devices Experience GeForce RTX-powered PC gaming across more screens than ever. https://t.co/AhcjD6DSEK pic.twitter.com/cuu1Xu3Xe5 — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) January 6, 2026

Title: NVIDIA Brings GeForce RTX Gaming to More Devices With New GeForce NOW Apps for Linux PC and Amazon Fire TV Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:30:51 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-ces-2026/ Announced at the CES trade show running this week in Las Vegas, NVIDIA is bringing more devices, more games and more ways to play to its GeForce NOW cloud gaming service. Powered by GeForce RTX 5080-class performance on the NVIDIA Blackwell RTX platform, GeForce NOW Ultimate continues to raise the bar for PC gamers streaming from the cloud. GeForce RTX 5080-powered servers are live globally for Ultimate members, delivering up to 5K resolution 120 frames-per-second (fps) streaming and up to 360 fps at 1080p with NVIDIA Reflex technology support for ultralow-latency, competitive play. Cinematic-Quality Streaming mode enhances image clarity and text sharpness for visually rich single-player adventures on nearly any screen. New this year, GeForce NOW is expanding that performance to more platforms than ever, headlined by a native Linux PC app and a new app for Amazon Fire TV sticks. Flight-simulation fans are also getting flight controls support, and members everywhere gain faster access to more games thanks to new single sign-on integrations and upcoming AAA titles joining the cloud. Here Come the Platforms Linux PCs and Amazon Fire TV sticks are joining the GeForce NOW native app family, unlocking new ways to play in the cloud across desktops and living rooms. These new apps build on GeForce NOW’s existing support for Windows PCs, macOS, Chromebooks, mobile devices, smart TVs, virtual-reality devices and handhelds, all tapping into the same GeForce RTX 5080-class performance wherever members log in. Turn your Linux PC into an RTX gaming rig. A new native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs, supported with Ubuntu 24.04 and later distributions, answers one of the top requests from the PC gaming community. Linux users can transform their compatible systems into GeForce RTX-powered gaming rigs, streaming supported PC titles from the cloud at up to 5K and 120 fps or 1080p 360 fps. With rendering handled in the cloud, high-end PC gaming is possible on Linux operating systems, breathing new life into older devices. Members can enjoy ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS 4 and other RTX technologies without needing a local high-performance GPU. The app is designed to bring a seamless, native experience that fits naturally into Linux desktop workflows while giving access to the expansive GeForce NOW library, turning everyday Linux devices into RTX gaming powerhouses. The app is expected to enter a beta release early this year. Game on in the living room. A new native GeForce NOW app for select Amazon Fire TV sticks — starting with the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) — can bring RTX-powered PC gaming to another big screen in the home. Members can stream their compatible PC game libraries directly to Fire TV-connected displays to turn a compact streaming stick into a powerful cloud gaming rig. With support for gamepads and GeForce NOW’s familiar interface, Fire TV users can jump into their favorite supported games without a console or gaming PC attached to the TV. This builds on existing TV support and helps make GeForce NOW the easiest way to bring high-performance PC gaming into the living room. The app is expected to be available in countries where compatible Amazon Fire TV sticks and GeForce NOW are offered and will be launching early this year. Take Flight No fight, just flight in the cloud. GeForce NOW turns more devices into powerful cloud gaming rigs, and CES this year brings another of the community’s most-requested additions. Simulation fans are getting a major upgrade with flight controls support on GeForce NOW. Popular flight sticks and throttle systems from leading brands such as Thrustmaster and Logitech can be used as affixed hands-on throttle-and-stick desktop units or as separately mounted stick-and-throttle setups for custom cockpits. Combined with RTX 5080 performance, ultralow-latency streaming and NVIDIA Reflex in supported titles, flight controls let virtual pilots experience greater precision and deeper immersion in their favorite flight- and space-simulation games — including Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Elite Dangerous and War Thunder. Members can build out detailed simulation setups at home while streaming the heavy lifting from the cloud when it launches early this year.. Blockbusters in the Cloud The GeForce NOW catalog includes thousands of supported games from top PC stores like Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox and others, with more joining every week. Backed by RTX 5080-class performance, members can stream everything from competitive shooters to expansive role-playing games with high frame rates, advanced graphics features and low latency.​ New AAA titles such as IO Interactive’s 007 First Light, Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem, Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert, and Gaijin Entertainment’s Active Matter are coming to GeForce NOW when they launch on PC, adding to an already robust lineup of new releases and fan favorites. License to stream. 007 First Light drops players into a modern James Bond origin story filled with stealth, espionage and cinematic action. Resident Evil Requiem continues the iconic survival-horror series with a new protagonist facing terrifying threats in a chilling new setting. Crimson Desert blends open-world exploration, cinematic storytelling and intense combat in a richly detailed fantasy world. Active Matter from Gaijin is a realistic military shooter where players join dangerous raids for loot or intense player vs. player battles set in a fractured multiverse. Members can look forward to seeing these and other upcoming hits arrive on the service, with updates shared regularly on GFN Thursdays. One Login, Many Worlds Just sign in once. The rest is game history. GeForce NOW is also making it faster to jump into gaming with new account and platform integrations. Recent updates introduced Battle.net automatic sign-in, letting members connect their accounts and access supported titles more quickly. That seamless experience is expanding to additional game stores, with Gaijin.net set to soon support automatic sign-in on GeForce NOW early this year. Members will be able to authenticate once and jump into War Thunder and other titles with fewer steps. Learn more about the latest NVIDIA-powered innovations at CES, running through Friday, Jan. 9. See notice regarding software product information.

Title: Players’ Choice: Vote for January 2026’s best new game Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/02/02/players-choice-vote-for-january-2026s-best-new-game/ Can you believe the first month of 2026 is already over? Some notable new releases in January included Arknights: Endfield, BrokenLore: Unfollow, and Cairn. Which game was your favorite?  How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. View Poll

Title: Share of the Week: Speed Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:00:21 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/01/30/share-of-the-week-speed/ Last week, we asked you to speed things up and share your quickest moments using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here’s are this week’s highlights: natazz1011 shares a moment zooming towards a planet in No Man’s Sky. ​​ call_me_xavii shares Atsu riding alongside a galloping group of horses in Ghost of Yōtei. KeenEyeVP shares a BMW against a rainbow blur of a street in Gran Turismo 7. FranTGP shares Aloy hooking herself to a flying Sunwing in Horizon Forbidden West. parmindernangla shares a speeding Ford GT in Forza Horizon 5. reins62831 shares a scurrying badger in Red Dead Redemption 2. Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: RusticSUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 4, 2026  Next week, we’re slowing things down to enjoy the simple life. Share rustic moments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Title: Resident Evil Requiem interview: Chainsaws, reinvented zombies, fear balancing, and more Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:00:25 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/01/29/resident-evil-requiem-interview-chainsaws-reinvented-zombies-fear-balancing-and-more/ Resident Evil Requiem, launching on February 27 for PlayStation 5, is the ninth and latest entry in Capcom’s iconic Resident Evil series.  We recently sat down with the game’s director, Koshi Nakanishi, to chat about the latest and most immersive entry in the series yet. Koshi Nakanishi Resident Evil Requiem director, Capcom PlayStation Blog: When did development start, and how was the project greenlit? Development began on a small scale six years ago, but it really took shape in its current form about three years ago. Ethan’s storyline concluded with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and the eighth mainline entry, Resident Evil Village. While both Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village were very well-received, they veered away from the main storyline leading up to Resident Evil 6. So, we decided it was time to steer the story back on track, and that’s how the development of this title started. “Leon’s back in Raccoon City – the place where his bioterror nightmare began and caused his early struggles and losses.” The demo threw us right into the game, so the story felt a little abrupt. Will the final product be accessible for players who haven’t played the earlier entries? The game is designed to be welcoming to complete newcomers who don’t know anything about the Raccoon City Incident or haven’t played any Resident Evil titles before. While series fans will instantly recognize Leon, Grace is a brand-new character who’s never faced a zombie and only knows about the Raccoon City Incident through her mother’s involvement. New players can dive into their first Resident Evil adventure right alongside Grace. This marks Leon’s first mainline return since Resident Evil 6, at which point he was a little over 30 years old. Exploring his character development is one of the central themes of this game. He’s back in Raccoon City – the place where his bioterror nightmare began and caused his early struggles and losses. Throughout the game, players will witness how the battle-hardened Leon feels and what he reflects on after all these years. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Did you explore any new approaches to horror in this game? A big focus for us was reinventing the zombies. Zombies are so ubiquitous in games now that their weaknesses and behaviors have become predictable; for instance they’re typically weak to headshots. However, that familiarity kills the fear and tension. Zombies in this game retain some traces of human intelligence and instincts. Some obsessively repeat bizarre human behaviors, while others pick up weapons dropped by other enemies to attack. We wanted to transform zombies into threats that consistently defy player expectations and keep them on edge. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. “Overall, this game may be scarier than Resident Evil Village, but it alternates between tension and relief, so it isn’t a continuous, suffocating experience.” Many players found Resident Evil 7 intensely frightening, leading you to dial things back in Resident Evil Village. Where would you place Resident Evil Requiem on the terror scale? Yes, some players found it hard to finish Resident Evil 7, so we toned down the horror a bit in Resident Evil Village. In Resident Evil Requiem, however, Leon’s segments lean more into satisfying action, which allowed us to really push the horror in Grace’s sections. Leon’s parts are still spooky, of course, but I’d say they’re more exhilarating than purely horrifying. Overall, this game may be scarier than Resident Evil Village, but it alternates between tension and relief, so it isn’t a continuous, suffocating experience. The demo took place within a dubious sanatorium. Will the full game open up to more areas? As you’ve seen in trailers, the game eventually takes you to present-day Raccoon City. Resident Evil games often switch up locations as you go, and Resident Evil Requiem does the same. Also, in the demo, Grace and Leon’s sections both took place in the same sanatorium, but their stories branch out to different spots later on. “If you switch from Grace to Leon in the same location, any enemies Grace took down stay dead for Leon, and the same goes for items on the ground.” Do one protagonist’s actions impact the other’s? Yes, for example, if you switch from Grace to Leon in the same location, any enemies Grace took down stay dead for Leon, and the same goes for items on the ground. However, it’s tough for Grace – who’s always short on ammo – to wipe out all the enemies. Using Leon to take down enemies that Grace fled from is one of this game’s highlights. With that in mind, it’ll be fun to strategize and maximize efficiency during subsequent playthroughs. Exactly. The more you play, the more you discover how actions in one part affect the other, so it creates a different kind of replay value compared to previous games in the series. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Grace could collect antique coins, whereas Leon found them unnecessary and would not pick any up. Is the upgrade system using antique coins exclusive to Grace? Antique coin upgrades in the sanatorium are exclusive to Grace, so Leon can’t pick any up. There are still traditional upgrades available for Leon, like weapon enhancements and modifications. The demo emphasized Leon’s action-packed gameplay, but as the game progresses, even he will face uphill battles. Properly upgrading Leon will become crucial too. You were able to crouch and evade attacks as Leon in the Resident Evil 4 remake. Can you do that in this game too? Absolutely. Try crouching when an enemy sweeps at you from above. This tactic works for both Leon and Grace, although Grace tends to lean more on survival and items rather than direct combat. “This time, we came up with the ‘chainsaws for everybody’ concept, which was a fresh take that unlocked a lot of creative possibilities.” Were there any specific scenes or moments in the demo that your team put particular effort into? Near the start of Leon’s section, you encounter a chainsaw-revving zombie doctor. Chainsaws are an iconic Resident Evil weapon, and with so many variations across past games, we always challenge ourselves to innovate. This time, we came up with the “chainsaws for everybody” concept, which was a fresh take that unlocked a lot of creative possibilities. For example, if a weaker nurse zombie swings a chainsaw, it’ll slip from her grip and go flying. The team put a lot of care into those kinds of details. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. “We added third-person support with the Village DLC, and some players were finally able to play comfortably. That inspired us to offer the choice from the start, and our experience working on the DLC made it a pretty smooth integration.” Why did you add the option to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives? Were there any challenges or discoveries that your team encountered during the development of the two viewpoints? As you know, mainline Resident Evil titles were in third-person from Resident Evil 4 through 6, then shifted to first-person in Resident Evil 7 and Village. However, some players struggled playing in first-person. We added third-person support with the Village DLC, and some players were finally able to play comfortably. That inspired us to offer the choice from the start, and our experience working on the DLC made it a pretty smooth integration. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. We recognized that some players found first-person mode too frightening but could still enjoy the game in third-person. That said, seeing Grace panic on-screen caught some players off guard and startled them unexpectedly, which was a nice surprise. In first-person view, you can see Leon’s and Grace’s hands when aiming a gun, and their responses are clearly different. Grace’s hands shake because she’s not used to combat, and the recoil hits her harder, too. We encourage players to try a different perspective in subsequent playthroughs. “Adaptive triggers dynamically adjust trigger resistance depending on the weapon, while gun reloads trigger vibrations and audio from the controller’s microphone.” Previous games in the series, such as Resident Evil Village and the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4, were available on both PS5 and PS4. This title, however, is a PS5 exclusive. Did any PS5 features, including the DualSense wireless controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, contribute to the game’s performance and immersion? Resident Evil thrives on evoking genuine terror, so we harnessed PS5 features to amplify the horror elements. For example, during a zombie attack, haptic feedback simulates the zombie’s grip and bite on your arm through the controller. Adaptive triggers dynamically adjust trigger resistance depending on the weapon, while gun reloads trigger vibrations and audio from the controller’s microphone. In puzzles requiring players to rotate a box filled with gems, we simulated the clattering of gems through vibrations and controller audio to deepen the game’s realism and immersion. 3D audio’s immersive soundscape is crucial for pushing the boundaries of horror games. What techniques does this game implement to amplify terror through sound design? This game’s ambient sounds are captured across 12 channels, including vertical positioning. Unlike simple mono or stereo IR waveforms, this approach offers far superior spatial reverb, creating an unprecedented sense of presence. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Are there any PS5 Pro enhancements? On PS5 Pro, ray tracing can be turned on or off. With it enabled, players can enjoy the game in 4K at 60fps with full ray tracing. Disabled, it supports up to 120fps (averaging 90fps) on high-refresh-rate monitors. We spent a lot of time on optimization.  Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27 for PlayStation 5.

Title: Cairn — 8 advanced climbing tips to make it to the summit Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:00:02 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/01/29/cairn-8-advanced-climbing-tips-to-make-it-to-the-summit/ To make it to the top of Kami, the mountain at the heart of Cairn, you’ll need to develop skill and intuition for climbing and use all the tools at your disposal. There’s a lot in the game you’ll need to learn through experience, particularly as you reach the more treacherous challenges at higher altitudes. Here are a few tips that’ll help you reach greater heights and see fewer dangerous falls as you make your way to Cairn’s summit. It’s all about planning, patience, and stamina The climbing gym at the start of Cairn is a great way to get some training that will save you on Kami, and it’s worth trying all of its available walls to see what you’ll face ahead. The gym will teach you three things: to plan your route, climb slowly, and conserve your stamina. You can check the wall ahead of you by angling the camera so that your protagonist, Aava, looks straight up, or by pressing L1 to get a zoomed-out view of the whole area. It’s always worth it to check your path so you don’t hit a point where you’re trapped or snagged and forced to climb back down, wasting energy and items. Patience is a virtue in Cairn; you almost always want to climb slowly and carefully, even if you’re on what appears to be an easy stretch of wall. The trick to climbing successfully is picking good handholds and footholds. Aava’s limbs start to shake when one is getting tired, indicating that it’s in a bad position or her weight is distributed poorly. Stay in a position like that too long, and she’ll slip and fall. If you move too fast up the wall, you’re more likely to commit to bad holds without realizing it, only to find that Aava is tiring out and unable to move to a more solid position before falling. Going slow lets you be sure the holds you’re using are safe before moving on. As you go up a wall, you also need to manage Aava’s stamina. When you’re in a solid position, you can hit Triangle to have Aava shake out a tired limb, regaining stamina for the next push. You can tell how much stamina Aava has by the color that flashes when you press Triangle. Green means you’ve recovered well, while yellow indicates caution, showing you that you need a better rest position soon or you’re going to be in trouble. Stamina recovery is essential to avoid falling, so stop frequently for a quick rest. Through it all, pay close attention to Aava’s reactions and what she says. Slowly, regular breathing means she’s doing well through the climb, but when her breathing starts to quicken, it means she’s tiring out and getting worried. You’ll need to find a more natural, comfortable position so she can rest and recover stamina. Drop pitons frequently Pitons are essential, and you’ll want to get into the habit of putting them down at regular intervals on every wall. Clipping into a piton stops you from falling off the mountain, while also acting as a checkpoint so you can quickly return if you should slip. You can also use pitons to rest by hitting X to “off belay,” which fully restores Aava’s stamina. And when you off belay at a piton, you can access items in your backpack, giving you a chance to eat food or refill chalk. You can place a piton by holding Up on the directional pad, but you’ll then have to hit X at the right moment as a slider moves across a bar to complete the placement. It’s essential to practice your piton timing — getting the right timing doesn’t just save you from breaking pitons, it can allow you to place one fast in an emergency when Aava’s about to fall. But don’t wait to hear Aava panicking before you set a piton. Train yourself to place them regularly when things are going well, so you’re not trying to place one in a panic to avoid a fall. You’ll find lots of pitons on Kami, and Climbot can make one piton from two sets of piton scraps, so don’t worry too much about running out or wasting them. They’re essential to a successful climb. All holds aren’t equal Especially when you’re first starting out, you might wonder why Aava keeps getting tired or falling when you’re climbing a wall that seems like it’s full of holds. The answer is that some holds are smaller and tougher to use than others, and it’s not always immediately obvious looking at them that a grip isn’t great. Vertical cracks, for instance, seem like they should be useful for climbs, but they can tire you out quickly. Look for big ledges to stand on and hold with your hands to provide Aava with more comfortable positions where she can rest, and try not to use smaller holds for very long. Listen for Aava to remark about whether you’ve picked a good position to know that she’s comfortable — and restore stamina often. When you climb slowly, you can test each hold before moving to the next to see how Aava handles it, and you’ll be able to tell if you should move Aava back down to a more stable position. You always want to watch for how Aava places her hand or foot, also; you’ll sometimes place a hand or foot on what you think is a grip, only for Aava to flatten that hand or foot against the rock, which means she’s braced but not holding anything. It’s usually a good idea to stop and reset that limb before moving on, because she’ll tire out quickly without a solid grip. Don’t forget chalk Chalk greatly improves your grip and can be essential to get over tough walls. You’ll almost always have chalk available, and it’s almost always a good idea to use it. You can quickly add chalk to your hands by holding Right on the directional pad, making your next 12 handholds extra grippy. Chalk is great for making bad holds a little easier to grip, and even makes it possible to move over rock that doesn’t have good holds so you can reach a better spot, as long as you’re quick about it. You should use chalk often, especially when holds are small or spread out — Climbot creates more whenever you compost trash, so you’ll always have a healthy supply. Manually choose Aava’s limbs for extra control Cairn’s developers suggest you use its automatic system for choosing which limb Aava moves every time you take a new foot- or handhold, but there will be lots of moments when you’ll want to move a foot and the game will suggest you move a hand or vice versa, and moving the wrong limb can sometimes be disastrous. You can choose which limb to move yourself by holding R1 and highlighting it using the right analog stick. Choosing limbs manually is essential when you’re trying to quickly leave a dangerous position to get to a safer one, but it’s also just good practice to make sure you have complete control of Aava and are making exactly the moves you want to. Change your approach depending on the kind of rock you’re climbing Most rock walls are gray and craggy, but you’ll sometimes see smooth, glossy brown rock mixed in across a wall. This rock is more slippery, with holds that are often smaller, and it’s too dense for you to place pitons into it, making it potentially dangerous. Check your route and watch for patches of brown rock so you can either climb around them or plan a smart route over them. Chalk and food boosts are great for dealing with these climbs as well. Be sure to explore Kami was once home to a people called the troglodytes, and while you’ll find very few of them left during your climb, you can still visit their homes, temples, and villages. Making your way into different caves and structures can help you find save points, vital supplies, and special items to make your climb easier. Troglodyte pitons are the greatest prize — they’re indestructible and can burrow into any kind of rock — but you might also find things like upgrades for your chalk bag, recipes for different kinds of food, and lots more. Exploring caves and troglodyte structures can also help you find alternative, often easier or safer routes up the mountain. Ice can be easier to climb, but slower Late in your ascent up Kami, you’ll start to come across ice walls. Aava is ready with ice axes and spikes for her feet, and these are automatically equipped whenever you aim a limb at ice. These walls can be easier to deal with than rock because you can make a handhold or foothold anywhere, but you’ll need to go more slowly and recover stamina more often as you climb, because overall, climbing ice takes more effort. Try to pick cracks in the ice to place your ice axes and shoes. If an axe or shoe bounces off the ice before settling, that’s a bad hold, and you should move it to a better one, because Aava will soon slip. If you’ve got no crack to dig into, you can create one by holding down Square and then releasing it, kicking your foot or slamming your axe into the ice. The effort drains your stamina faster, though, so be sure to take frequent breaks.Making your way to the top of Kami is a tough journey, but it’s also a rewarding one. Take your time and be careful and you’ll keep the climb from going from challenging to frustrating. You can start your ascent today — grab Cairn today at the PlayStation Store.

Title: Dragon Quest VII Reimagined interview: hand-crafted dolls, overhauled UI, nostalgia, and more Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:00:35 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/01/29/dragon-quest-vii-reimagined-interview-hand-crafted-dolls-overhauled-ui-nostalgia-and-more/ Set for release on February 5, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined for PlayStation 5 reinterprets the classic 2000 PlayStation title, Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past. Featuring distinctive 3D diorama visuals with a warm, handcrafted doll-like aesthetic, the remake also introduces new storylines, including one that reunites the hero with his now-adult friend, Kiefer. Over 25 years after the original release, producer Takeshi Ichikawa shares insights on the creative process and the decisions behind reimagining this beloved RPG for a new generation. ​​ Takeshi Ichikawa, Producer, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined  PlayStation Blog: Before we discuss the upcoming Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, let’s take a moment to revisit the original Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, released for the original PlayStation in 2000. The title drew major attention at the time as the first in the series to feature 3D polygons and for offering an adventure that stretched beyond 100 hours. Do you have any special memories of that game? I was a young kid in elementary school back in 2000, so my memories are a little fuzzy, but I do remember playing the original Dragon Quest VII. Funny enough, my first Dragon Quest game wasn’t one of the mainline entries – it was Dragon Quest Monsters Terry’s Wonderland. So when I finally played one of the mainline installments, I was surprised to learn that you actually fight as human characters. Dragon Quest VII is known for its sheer scale, and it takes a while to reach your first battle. Honestly, as a child, I remember getting impatient, wondering when the fighting was going to start. Ultimately, I didn’t finish the game and gave up partway through. However, when I revisited the game later as an adult, I was really struck by how dark and unsettling the game’s world was, and how strangely relevant it felt in this day and age. *Screenshot of Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past on the original PlayStation It’s one of the more melancholic works in the series, isn’t it?Yes. In conversations with Yuji Horii, the creator of the series, we often used the word “irrational” to describe the game’s world and its themes.What parts of the game felt irrational to you?Even though the protagonists haven’t done anything particularly wrong, the story keeps drifting into darker territory and shows the raw, ugly sides of human nature. I think that lack of salvation and sense of unfairness made the game feel irrational at times.And that Dragon Quest VII is now being remade as Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. Can you tell us how this project first came about?The original game was released in 2000 and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025. We felt that its distinctive world and story would resonate even more strongly with players today, which is what led to the start of this project.Why did you choose to develop a full remake from the ground up, rather than a remaster?After 25 years, we wanted to create a game that was enjoyable for both past players and those new to the series. That’s why we went back and reviewed every single element from square one and rebuilt everything for a wider audience.Figuring out where to begin on an epic exceeding 100 hours sounds quite daunting. What was your guiding principle, and what type of experience were you envisioning?Our core concept was “nostalgic yet innovative.” We aimed to preserve Dragon Quest VII’s signature essence and nostalgic charm while adding new touches that we thought were fitting as the series’ latest installment. Development revolved around three key pillars: story, visuals, and combat. What kind of input did Yuji Horii give after he saw your proposal?We pitched to Horii-san the idea of restructuring everything around those three pillars, overhauling the framework of the narrative, and adding new storylines for certain characters to create a deeper emotional connection with the players. He was on board right away.Did Horii-san provide any feedback during development?He gave us input on the UI. Past Dragon Quest games stuck to pop-up window-based interfaces, but we went with tabs for the main menu this time, which was a bold move. Horii-san liked the overall feel but suggested tweaks for specific elements, like the shopping interface. His insights helped us create a more user-friendly UI.You highlighted story, visuals, and combat as the three main pillars. Could you elaborate on the changes your team made to the story?While preserving the original’s distinctive vibe and atmosphere, we refined sections of the story – which can exceed 100+ hours – that felt redundant. We aimed to streamline the overall structure of the narrative so it was easier to follow and get immersed in. Yes, the overall story felt tighter when I played the preview. You mentioned you didn’t just trim the story; you also added new storylines?That’s right. We trimmed or condensed parts that didn’t deeply impact the core narrative while also adding new scenarios. For example, the reunion with an adult Kiefer gives original fans something new to enjoy.Does the adult Kiefer play a big role in the story?Yes, he properly appears as part of a new storyline. I can’t go into details because it’s integral to the story, but I’m excited for players to experience it firsthand.Let’s talk about the graphics – the doll-like visuals really stand out. Why did you choose this style?Akira Toriyama oversaw character designs for the Dragon Quest series, and Dragon Quest VII stood out with its endearing character designs with shorter proportions. We chose a doll-like aesthetic to match that. Given the global popularity of doll-inspired visuals in films and games, we thought this style would suit Dragon Quest VII perfectly. I understand the character creation process was unique, too. You worked with doll artisans to craft wooden dolls by hand, photographed them, and turned the photos into CG models.Yes. Given the doll motif, scanning actual dolls felt like the best method for nailing the texture and creating a distinctive visual style. We commissioned Studio Nova, a Japanese doll studio, to handcraft the dolls of the main characters, then scanned them to capture their unique texture in the game.The velvety texture of Kiefer’s outfit and similar details are very realistic. Are there any visual elements you want players to pay particular attention to?We’ve put a lot of care into each character’s outfit. Kiefer wears a plush royal attire fit for a prince, while the protagonist, a fisherman’s son, wears something humbler, and Maribel, the mayor’s daughter, wears an, elegant fancy dress. The highlights are in the fine details, like the worn, scuffed texture on the protagonist’s leather shoes. You’ll find many hidden details if you pay close attention.The environments and buildings also blend in seamlessly with the doll-like characters. Can you describe the creation process?Once we settled on the doll motif, we styled the towns like dioramas and the buildings like dollhouses to complement the characters. I think the standout is the protagonist’s hometown, Estard Island. We started working on this area first, so we put extra effort into creating Estard. The original lets you spin the camera around to find hidden chests, pots, and barrels. That has been faithfully recreated as well.That’s right. Spinning the camera around for exploration was a key feature in the original, so we made sure to keep it. We hope players spend time investigating every nook and cranny.Let’s talk about the final pillar of the three: combat. What was the thinking behind its redevelopment?The basic idea was to keep regular battles “quick and snappy” while making fights against tougher enemies more “intense and deliberate.” For regular combat, we focused on pacing, such as adding battle speed options and a “Field Attack” feature where you can one-shot weaker enemies as your party levels up. Meanwhile, powerful enemy encounters are key story moments, so we wanted players to spend their time strategizing and taking it slow. Some fights ended up being quite challenging, but we received a stamp of approval from Horii-san after he tested it out, so I believe we’ve achieved a good balance.Tell us about the Vocation system. Special Vocational Perks activate when a character gets “worked up.” How does this new mechanic make combat more dynamic and engaging?Characters “let loose” at optimal moments during battle. It unleashes powerful effects based on your Vocation, and once you can “Moonlight” two Vocations, you can equip two Vocational Perks at the same time. Experimenting with different Vocation combinations is a lot of fun. How does the Moonlighting feature work?As the story progresses and Vocation changes become available, you can choose one preferred Vocation, like warrior or mage. Further into the game, you unlock the ability to “Moonlight” two Vocations. During battles, you can use skills and perks from either Vocation. Character attributes are also combined, which significantly affects your character’s overall capabilities.So, players can mix and match any Vocations they want?Yes. For example, you can combine warrior and martial artist for a powerful attacker, or pair warrior with priest for a balanced fighter. The choice is yours, depending on your playstyle. Once your Beginner Vocations reach maximum proficiency, you’ll unlock Intermediate Vocations that you can also Moonlight. Mastering both warrior and martial artist unlocks the gladiatrix, which can then be paired with either a Beginner Vocation or another Intermediate Vocation.The Buccanham Palace: Battle Arena has been added as an extra feature. What are its key highlights?The Battle Arena is one of the new side contents. With its unique format, it delivers fights unlike the regular battles for a fresh experience. There’s also content designed to test your strength, so players can jump in and test their limits. How is it different from regular battles?Regular battles are fought with a party of up to four members, but in the Battle Arena, you pick one character to fight solo. Players can beat the challenges to earn rewards, and if they finish within a set number of turns, they can win even better prizes. We hope these extra rewards make your journey a bit easier.Speaking of rewards, you can also score valuable items from the Lucky Panel.That’s right. Both the Battle Arena and Lucky Panel can sometimes reward you with powerful items or weapons that you cannot normally pick up at that point in the story. Horii-san often calls this “cheating” (laughs). Of course, it’s not really cheating, and there’s a lot of fun in gaining an advantage that way, so we encourage players to keep trying their luck. Did you take any new approaches to production?We added voice-overs to Dragon Quest VII for the first time. The battles and adventures feel much more immersive, and the story pulls you right in. The voice actors really brought the characters to life.Upon playing myself, the overall pacing felt noticeably smoother while perfectly capturing the original’s unique charm. Striking that balance between nostalgia and modern RPG standards must have been quite challenging.Yes. The Dragon Quest series is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and it’s been loved by so many people for decades. Mindful of our most dedicated long-term fans, we prioritized equilibrium between nostalgia and innovation. We made sure to preserve the classic feel and core narrative, so I think many of the cutscenes will bring back a lot of emotions and memories from their original playthroughs.Dragon Quest VII Reimagined launches on PS5 on February 5.

Title: If you're in the mood for a shapeshifting open world labyrinth, NaissanceE follow-up SenS has a new update Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:51:56 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/if-youre-in-the-mood-for-a-beautiful-shapeshifting-labyrinth-naissancee-follow-up-sens-has-a-new-update NaissancE developers Limasse Five have released a big update for SenS, their early access open world spelunking game in which you search an enveloping Structure for Unique Places, tools and artefacts. The ExistencE of SenS is news to me, despite it being very much my cup of ImpossiblE ArchitecturE. Launched on Steam in 2022, it’s a work of torqued cuboids, sunken pockets of city, and vaguely fractal fissures. While there are no living or active threats, as far as I can tell, you do have to worry about traps and Unstable Zones - “simple or even abstract architectural structures at the beginning, but getting more complex, vast and labyrinthine the further you go.” Unstable Zones change in the dark. So you’ll need to use Luces - glowballs - and other tools to solidify paths and access points. Read more

Title: Team Fortress 2 Classified is good, clean, hatless fun, despite its cruel Horace ban Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:50:35 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/team-fortress-2-classified-is-good-clean-hatless-fun-despite-its-cruel-horace-ban Team Fortress 2 Classified is out now on Steam, the mod having finally earned Valve’s blessing after a bit of a tizzy with its former name of Team Fortress 2 Classic. That makes it an easy one-click job to install, assuming you have the original TF2 installed, and it’s a fine piece of modding work in general: inspired by the shooter’s past without being beholden to nostalgia, while expanding itself with restored modes and weapons that Valve left on the cutting room floor. Read more

Title: "We can't just continue making the map bigger and bigger": Why Bethesda want to expand Fallout 76 inwards, not just outwards Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:18:13 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/we-cant-just-continue-making-the-map-bigger-and-bigger-why-bethesda-want-to-expand-fallout-76-inwards-not-just-outwards Mark’s on holiday today, which means we can’t do our usual thing of workplace-bullying him into writing about Fallout 76 while we sit around in wingback chairs drinking Glenfiddich. But if he were here, he’d surely be thrilled to note this PCGN interview with Bethesda Game Studios creative director Jon Rush, who says he hopes the multiplayer RPG can become "thicker" in 2026. Oh my. Read more

Title: The Last of Us season three "certainly seems" to be the TV show’s last, reckons HBO chief Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:18:44 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-last-of-us-season-three-certainly-seems-to-be-the-tv-shows-last-reckons-hbo-chief HBO’s The Last of Us TV adaptation is likely ending with its upcoming third season, according to network CEO Casey Bloys. Speaking to Deadline, that boy Bloys used his voice to address the noise that the joys of the Naughty Dog-inspired series would end with season three, saying "It certainly seems that way." Pedro Pascal’s dreams, destroyed. Read more

Title: Ashes Of Creation director quits over decisions he "could not ethically support" as staff report mass layoffs Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ashes-of-creation-director-quits-over-decisions-he-could-not-ethically-support-as-staff-report-mass-layoffs Nine years after securing $3.2 million on Kickstarter and mere weeks after launching into Steam Early Access, MMORPG Ashes Of Creation is in humongous difficulties. The game’s entire leadership team have allegedly quit “in protest” at decisions made by the board of Intrepid Studios, with creative director Steven Sharif accusing board members of “directing actions that I could not ethically agree with or carry out”. Other staff have announced that they've been laid off, with one calling it the end of the studio. Read more