One of the best games of all time, and consequently, one of the best Steam games of all time, is on sale for just $1.99. The game in question hails from 2016, a year where it went head-to-head with the likes of Overwatch, Doom, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and Titanfall 2 for Game of the Year, at The Game Awards at least. It ended up losing in this category to Overwatch, but it did win Best Art Direction and Best Independent Game that night. That game is Inside, and it is so cheap right now it might as well be free.

The new deal, as noted, comes the way of Steam. The catch is the Steam deal is set to expire in roughly 24 hours, around midday of August 17. After this, the 90 percent discount will expire, and the game will return to its normal $20 price point. And as you would expect with a 90 percent discount, Inside has never been made cheaper than this in its 9-year existence. And there is little reason to expect this to ever change at this point.

Other Steam Games on Sale for $2

• Beat Cop – $1.49
• Beholder 3 – $1.79
• City of Brass – $1.99
• Crime Boss: Rockay City – $1.99
• Grow Home – $1.99
• Just Cause – $0.97
• Just Cause 2 – $1.49
• Limbo – $0.99
• Mini Ninjas – $1.49
• Moonlighter – $1.99
• Pinstripe – $1.49
• Resident Evil Revelations 2 – $1.49
• SteamWorld Dig – $0.99
• SteamWorld Dig 2 – $1.99
• The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director’s Cut – $1.49

A Pioneering Indie Game

In 2016, the indie scene had already been established by breakout hits years earlier than Inside. However, Inside and other indie games from this era — including fellow 2016 indie game Stardew Valley — no doubt helped push indie games further into the mainstream. To this end, there aren’t many indie games in the conversation for best games of their generation, let alone of all time.

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At three to four hours long, Inside doesn’t offer up the most content for your buck even at $2. However, it is a very high quality three to four hours. The game is a puzzle platformer, but neither the puzzles nor the platforming are very challenging. Inside is a game about atmosphere and the experience, and in this regard it is second to very few games. As noted in the list above, its predecessor, 2010’s Limbo, is also on sale for just $0.99. Inside is really just Limbo but refined and expanded, however, for those that want to see the progression, and experience one of the great PS3 and Xbox 360 era games, you can do so, and get its sequel, for a combined $3. You can’t beat that.

The post One of the Best Steam Games Only $2 for 24 Hours appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Battlefield 6 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated FPS releases in years, and with the Open Beta currently underway, players are getting a first-hand look at the action. DICE is promising a return to the series’ roots while leveling up gunplay, customization, and class balance with modern enhancements. The beta delivers fast, explosive combat that feels like stepping into a blockbuster war movie, packed with chaotic firefights and edge-of-your-seat moments. But with all this intensity, players are naturally asking how the game’s settings can be fine-tuned to get the best possible experience.

That’s where we come in. We’ve taken a close look at the six biggest questions surrounding Battlefield 6’s beta settings and dug up the answers you need before jumping into the fight. We’re breaking down everything that could make or break your time in the beta. Here’s what you should know before charging headfirst into the battlefield.

How to Change Sensitivity

Changing your sensitivity in Battlefield 6 is simple once you know where to look, but the menus can be a little overwhelming at first. Most of the key sliders are found under Options → Gameplay, where you can tweak things like Infantry Aim Sensitivity and Aircraft Control Sensitivity. This is also where you’ll find Assist Sensitivity, though keep in mind that aim assist settings won’t have any effect if you’re using a mouse and keyboard. These core sliders give you a solid baseline for how your aim and movement feel across different playstyles.

If you want even more fine-tuned control, you’ll need to dive into your specific control scheme settings. Controller players can head to Options → Controller → Edit Settings, then click Modify under whichever category you want to adjust for additional sliders. Mouse and keyboard players can find their advanced options in Options → Mouse & Keyboard—just scroll down to uncover more sensitivity tweaks. Whether you prefer quick, snappy movements or slower, more deliberate aiming, these menus let you dial in a setup that feels natural and keeps you competitive.

How to Turn Off Adaptive Triggers

If you’re not a fan of the resistance you feel when pulling the triggers on your controller, Battlefield 6 gives you a way to disable it through the in-game settings. Head to Settings → Controller → Edit Settings, then scroll down to the “Other” section and look for Controller Tuning. From there, find the Controller Triggers section and set both the LT Max Input Threshold and RT Max Input Threshold to 5. This should effectively eliminate the adaptive trigger resistance, providing a more consistent pull when firing or aiming.

If that method doesn’t do the trick, you can also disable it through Steam’s own controller settings. Right-click Battlefield 6 ‘Open Beta’ in your Steam library, select Properties, then go to Controller and enable Steam Input in the dropdown menu. From there, open the Controller Configurator, click Edit Layout, and select Triggers. Hit the gear icon next to the trigger you want to adjust, go to Settings, and set Haptics Intensity to Off. Between these two methods, you should be able to play without any unwanted trigger resistance getting in the way.

How to Enable Quick-Turn

Quick-Turn, officially called “Flick Look” by Battlefield 6, is a handy feature that lets you snap your view in 90- or 180-degree increments with a single button press. It’s especially useful in close-quarters situations where you need to react instantly to threats from behind or the side. By default, it isn’t bound to any keys or buttons, so you’ll need to set it up yourself. Both controller and mouse and keyboard players can take advantage of it, making it a great tool no matter how you play.

For controller users, go to Options → Edit Settings → Infantry Control Mapping, then scroll down until you see Flick Look Forward, Flick Look Backward, Flick Look Right, and Flick Look Left. You can bind these to any available button on your controller, and pressing them will instantly trigger the quick-turn action.

For mouse and keyboard players, head to Options → Mouse & Keyboard → Infantry Keybinds and scroll to the same Flick Look options. Assign them to the keys of your choice, and you’ll have a powerful movement option at your fingertips whenever you need to snap your aim in a hurry.

How to Turn On Secure Boot

Secure Boot is a security feature built into your system’s BIOS, and Battlefield 6 requires it to be turned on to help prevent cheating and unauthorized software from running. By default, it is often disabled, so you will need to enable it manually before jumping into the game. To access your BIOS, restart your computer and press the key your system uses to enter BIOS mode. The most common keys are DEL or F2, but the exact key can vary depending on your motherboard and manufacturer. If neither works, check your system’s documentation for the correct key.

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Once inside the BIOS, finding the Secure Boot setting will depend on your specific hardware, but in most cases, it is located under a Boot section. Look for an option labeled “Secure Boot” and set it to Enabled. There is usually a simple toggle or dropdown menu to make the change. After enabling it, save your settings, exit the BIOS, and let your system restart. Once it is back up, Secure Boot should be active, and you should be able to jump into the action from there.

Best Graphic Settings

The best graphic settings for Battlefield 6 will always depend on your hardware and preference, but there are a few universal tweaks that can improve the experience no matter what you play on.

Both PC and console players have the option to toggle between Performance Presets (Performance and Balanced), which can make gameplay significantly easier to handle. In a competitive first-person shooter, maintaining at least 60 FPS is crucial, though anything above that is even better. If your current settings do not meet or exceed that target, it is highly recommended to adjust them until you do. When the action heats up in a firefight, those extra frames make a huge difference in overall control.

On PC, options like Resolution Scaling and Texture Quality can have a big impact on performance, but you should also consider enabling an upscaling technique such as AMD FSR or Frame Generation. DLSS Upscaling is also an incredibly useful setting that can dramatically improve performance without sacrificing visual clarity. These features can give you a noticeable boost in frame rate without heavily sacrificing visual quality. Console players can benefit from similar performance-focused modes to keep gameplay smooth and consistent. No matter your platform, turning off visual effects like motion blur, film grain, depth of field, and vignette can help you maintain higher FPS and give you a clearer view of the battlefield, making it easier to spot enemies and react quickly.

Best Controller Settings

When it comes to the best controller settings in Battlefield 6, small tweaks can make a huge difference, especially in crossplay, where you are often facing players with superior aim control. Setting up your controller properly can improve reaction times, accuracy, and overall responsiveness. There are a few key options worth focusing on to get a competitive edge, though experimenting in the Firing Range is the best way to find what works for you.

One of the most powerful features to set up is Flick Turn, which lets you quickly snap your view in 90- or 180-degree increments during infantry combat. Binding this to a comfortable button can give you a major advantage when turning on enemies or reacting to threats from behind.

Infantry Aim Sensitivity controls how fast you can turn with your controller. By default, it is set to 20, but increasing it to somewhere between 40 and 50 gives you faster turning speed and better responsiveness. It may take some practice to get used to, but the added speed can make a big difference in firefights.

Aim Assist is another critical setting for crossplay. Lowering Infantry Aim Assist Zoom Snap to 30-50 helps your aim snap to enemies more effectively, giving you a smoother experience when tracking opponents.

Field of View (FoV) should also be adjusted for better situational awareness. Increasing it to a range of 90-110 allows you to see more of the battlefield at once, helping you spot threats before they get too close.

Controller Vibration is generally unnecessary and can be distracting. Turning it off removes those interruptions, allowing you to focus entirely on aiming and movement.

Finally, changing Infantry Weapon Zoom from Toggle to Hold is recommended. Toggle requires an extra input to unzoom, which can slow you down in combat. Hold makes your zoom actions more fluid and responsive, keeping you competitive in fast-paced engagements.

The best way to really fine-tune your controller setup is to spend time in the Firing Range. Here you can experiment with all the settings mentioned, as well as others not covered, without disrupting an actual match. Take the time to “feelscraft” your controls and find the configuration that feels perfect for your playstyle. These options provide a strong foundation, but personal experimentation is the key to getting the most out of your controller in Battlefield 6.

The post 6 Biggest Battlefield 6 Beta Settings Questions, Answered appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The craft of role-playing games once belonged to a very specific and well-defined genre. Building a character from scratch, assigning stat points, picking up lootable gear, and embarking on epic quests used to be the DNA that RPGs were built off of. They were games where numbers were fabled far more than raw reflexes, and where decision often was the determining factor that shaped the final outcome. For a long time, this style of game occupied a specific corner of the industry, separate from fast-paced shooters or high-octane sports titles.

However, as the industry grew larger, those specific boundaries have blurred to the point of vanishing. Today, the core aspects of the RPG genre are all pretty much embedded into nearly every other genre in some fashion. Chances are, you are engaging with an RPG-style progression loop right now without even realizing it. This has been largely well-received, and so, RPG mechanics have become a fundamental part of modern gaming, shaping experiences across genres.

Leveling and Stats Are Everywhere

Leveling systems, once the defining trait of RPGs, have gone totally mainstream. In the past, “leveling up” meant grinding enemies in various ways to gain enough experience points to unlock new abilities and survive even tougher enemies. Now, nearly every popular game uses some form of leveling as a way to pace progression and keep players invested. Shooter franchises like modern Call of Duty and Overwatch reward players with ranks that unlock weapons and perks, all streaming from a single experience point pool that gets progressively larger as you play. Racing titles give experience points for completing events, unlocking faster cars, and more tuning options to refine your racing style. Even puzzle and mobile games display progress meters that drip-feed rewards, mimicking the same dopamine loop that RPG players have known since the genre’s roots of pen and paper.

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Stats also play a core role in this newly defined RPG genre. In modern Call of Duty, for example, performance in multiplayer depends just as much on your loadout and weapon attachments as it does on your raw aim and skill. A well-curated assault rifle setup with the right barrel or grip can completely change the outcome of a match, sometimes for or against you. That kind of min-maxing joy is pure classic RPG design, disguised as a standard first-person arena shooter. Sports game franchises like NBA 2K and FIFA also apply similar aspects to player attributes, where understanding how to improve stats like speed and stamina can make all the difference between winning and losing.

Open-world action titles like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Ghost of Tsushima also lean heavily on gear-based stat bonuses and skill trees. Equipping the right armor set can give your character stealth advantages or something like higher critical damage. That is exactly the kind of decision-making that defined traditional RPGs. The genre lines have faded, but the mechanics are thriving in plain sight.

Quests, Choices, and the Grind

It’s not just the prospect of stats that has been commandeered by modern gaming trends. The way games present objectives has also changed significantly. What used to be a simple “win this match” or “reach this point” is now today’s long-winding quest, complete with characters, dialogue, and narrative. Fortnite’s seasonal challenges, for example, are tied to a larger, overarching storyline, turning standard routine gameplay into a series of episodic missions. This dress-up of objectives provides additional context to the player, thus creating a more engaging loop, even if that loop really hasn’t changed much from the past. This quest framing comes straight from the RPG playbook, giving players a sense of purpose beyond immediate competition. For many players, this framing is enough to keep them interested, which is why this concept can be found everywhere in the industry.

Choice has also spread far beyond the RPG space. In Call of Duty: Warzone, deciding where to drop, what loot to prioritize, and when to engage can be just as impactful, if not more, due to the ‘luck’ aspect present, as reflex skill. Looter-shooters like Destiny 2 let players choose subclasses, gear sets, and ability loadouts that fundamentally alter how gameplay is approached, further blurring genre boundaries.

Then, there is the traditional aspect of the tried and true RPG grind itself. In classic RPGs, the “grind” often referred to the idea of farming monsters for rare loot or grinding low-level enemies for easy experience. Today, it is just as likely to mean replaying multiplayer matches to earn enough currency for a legendary skin or completing daily objectives for battle pass progress. From Animal Crossing’s resource gathering to Monster Hunter’s targeted hunts, the grind is no longer an RPG-exclusive habit; it is a universal game design strategy that has long since proven that it works.

Personalization Is the New Role-Playing

The very concept of “role-playing” now lives in almost every major game release as a partial result of the above-mentioned aspects of the RPG genre invasion. Competitive titles like Apex Legends allow players to customize characters with unique skins, voice lines, and weapon cosmetics to provide the ability to have a personal touch in the game. This aspect of an RPG is incredibly potent in today’s shared online space, as it allows players individuality in a scene shared by millions of others, who will see their creations. This creates a powerful sense of ownership for the player, which is why you see so many games selling cosmetics through microtransactions and why many games feature a “transmog” system. Sports sims let you design an athlete’s appearance, abilities, and career path in detail. Racing games go beyond speed and handling, letting players choose paint jobs, decals, and body kits that make each car feel personal. Call of Duty allows players to customize their weapons’ appearance with decals and skins. It’s common because the consumer adores creativity, and the developer profits from it. It’s a win-win situation.

Today’s cosmetic systems often link back to progression, encouraging players to unlock skins and various other thematic cosmetics through challenges or standard experience leveling. This gives players an extra incentive to log in and play more often, keeping them around for future content. Live-service titles leverage this very concept to keep players interested in playing the same game with the same general gameplay loop for years. But this idea fuses the enjoyment one gets from obtaining a unique appearance with the mechanical rewards of your standard RPG-style growth, which is why players stay invested. Whether you are chasing a rare armor skin in Destiny 2 or designing your perfect farm in Stardew Valley, you are role-playing, just not in the way older definitions of the genre would expect.

Most modern games reward progression in many ways. They give players the tools to craft their own playstyles and encourage long-term engagement with their characters. This influence of RPG mechanics now stretches well beyond the origins of your typical tabletop. The RPG is assimilating everything from run-of-the-mill shooters to indie life sims, and there is no trajectory of this stopping anytime soon. In 2025, you are role-playing more often than you realize, whether you are wielding a sword, a sniper rifle, or a soccer ball.

The post Every Video Game Has Become an RPG Whether You Realize It or Not appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Recently, Valve revealed that it was experiencing monetization issues on its gaming platform, Steam, due to alleged pressure from its network of payment processors following a campaign by activists demanding the takedown of adult-themed content. Now, Valve has shared a message with customers that clarifies issues regarding the processing of PayPal transactions for some of its Steam players. After the recent crackdown on NSFW video games, only six currencies are still supported for PayPal transactions on Steam.

Players had recently noticed difficulties processing PayPal transactions, with some Steam users posting screenshots of messages stating that PayPal was experiencing unexplained technical issues. It was suspected that the PayPal issue was related to the recent delisting of several adult games, but the connection was not definitive. However, a new message found by users trying to use PayPal to purchase games has shed some light on the payment problems.

“In early July 2024, PayPal notified Valve that their acquiring bank for payment transactions in certain currencies was immediately terminating the processing of any transactions related to Steam,” the message said. “This affects Steam purchases using PayPal in currencies other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD, and USD.”

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The message continued by expressing hope that additional currencies would be available in the future, apologizing to customers, and stating that the timeline for resolving this issue was “uncertain.”

This statement from Valve marks the latest development in the ongoing cultural debate over game censorship, the potential harm of adult games, and the influence exerted by payment processors. Although Steam has asserted that a form of pressure from “payment processors and their related card networks and banks” was the reason for suddenly removing certain adult-themed content from their service, some payment processors have pushed back against that assertion.

“Mastercard has not evaluated any game or required restrictions on game activity on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to media reports and allegations,” said a Mastercard statement responding to the controversy. “Our payment network follows standards based on the rule of law. Put simply, we allow all lawful purchases on our network. At the same time, we require merchants to have appropriate controls to ensure Mastercard cards cannot be used for unlawful purchases, including adult illegal content.”

Despite denials of direct pressure, Valve has continued to assert that its struggle to retain payments, in this case with PayPal, is related to banks and card processors. A Valve spokesman told Rock, Paper, Shotgun that its PayPal issues were “related to what we’ve previously commented on surrounding Mastercard.”

“In this case, one of PayPal’s acquiring banks decided to stop processing any Steam transactions, which cut off PayPal on Steam for a number of currencies,” a Valve spokesperson explained.

It’s hard to say where the story will go from here and if PayPal transactions will eventually be restored to Steam users with now unsupported currencies. Since the situation exploded into the public spotlight a month ago, it doesn’t seem like much progress has been made on a resolution between the various parties involved.

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This past weekend, Battlefield 6 pulled off something few expected to see ahead of its official launch. The open beta not only drew in an enormous number of players on Steam, but it also managed to surpass Call of Duty’s all-time peak player count on the platform, a milestone that has fans buzzing about the franchise’s future.

According to SteamDB, Battlefield 6 reached an all-time peak of 521,079 players during its open beta session this past weekend. That puts Battlefield 6 in 18th place on the list of all-time Steam peaks. By comparison, Call of Duty, which currently exists on Steam as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (the most active and supported version), sits in 20th place with an all-time high of 491,670 players.

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What makes this achievement even more noteworthy and genuinely remarkable is that Call of Duty’s peak number was set almost three years ago, certainly a much different period for both franchises in terms of success. It means that Battlefield 6‘s open beta, which lasted for just a few days, just beat Call of Duty’s peak, despite the title’s live activity for nearly three years.

Is Battlefield 6 The “Call Of Duty Killer”?

For years, first-person shooter fans have tossed around the idea of a Call of Duty killer coming out of the woodwork to dethrone the reigning king of the FPS space. While many have tried, Call of Duty has continued to dominate sales charts and player engagement across multiple platforms for extensive periods of time. Battlefield has historically been the most credible challenger, but in recent years, it has struggled with launches plagued by destructive bugs and extremely controversial design decisions, many of which were not at all received well by players of the franchise.

Now, with Battlefield 6, the conversation has re-emerged. While beating Call of Duty’s all-time Steam peak does not mean Battlefield has overtaken it as the FPS market leader, it does suggest the franchise is regaining strength in a way that fans have not seen in years. Even a beta test breaking such a record speaks volumes about the hype surrounding the game.

When you consider that Call of Duty’s player numbers are spread across multiple platforms and launch windows, overtaking its all-time Steam peak is a significant feat. Steam represents only part of the Call of Duty audience, as the games are also released on the Battle.net client. However, it is still a reliable indicator of raw PC player interest. Still, beating Call of Duty outright across total sales and active players is a different challenge altogether. Call of Duty’s annual releases have a marketing reach and brand familiarity that Battlefield simply cannot match at this point, especially with the past questionable entries of Battlefield still fresh in many players’ minds.

That said, the beta’s record-breaking performance shows that the interest in a true alternative to Call of Duty still has a beating heart. Battlefield 6 has proven that it can compete with Call of Duty on a headline-grabbing level. Whether this momentum translates into a maintainable player base after release will depend on how well DICE and EA can deliver on purging bugs and releasing content updates. While its full performance is yet to be seen, this record is a clear indicator that Battlefield 6 is on track for a strong launch

The post Battlefield 6 Just Beat an Impressive Call of Duty Record & Set Up a Massive Launch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

With the Battlefield 6 Open Beta going full blast, a new gameplay mechanic called Flick Look is quickly becoming a very hot topic among the title’s current players. Using Flick Look allows users to instantly turn 90 to 180 degrees, increasing how much they can see in the midst of a firefight. This is particularly powerful when being attacked from behind, due to how quickly the user can turn on their opponents. The addition of Flick Look is especially significant for PC players, who have traditionally been at an arguable disadvantage compared to console players in first-person shooters in recent years.

Traditionally, PC players in first-person shooters have been seen as having an advantage due to the precision of mouse and keyboard controls. Console players have relied on strong aim assist to help balance the competition. With the addition of Flick Look, PC users gain a powerful tool that allows them to instantly snap their view to critical angles, which can quickly change the course of a battle. While controllers can also use Flick Look, the superior accuracy of mouse and keyboard makes the feature much more effective on PC.

Twitter user Tacticalbrit was among the first to highlight the feature, describing Flick Look as “a must have setting in Battlefield 6.” His comments sparked conversations across social media, with many players eager to test the mechanic themselves. The ability to snap instantly in 90-degree increments, especially the 180-degree backward turn, is especially potent, as such quick reaction capabilities are hard to match on consoles.

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Moreover, some players are concerned about platform fairness. Console players, despite aim assist, may find it difficult to match the quick turns combined with the potentially perfect accuracy of mouse and keyboard users. Supporters argue it modernizes the gameplay and enhances skill expression, allowing players to use quick reflexes to gain an edge. Others worry it pushes Battlefield 6 too far into arcade shooter territory, undermining the franchise’s focus on large but traditionally slower engagements.

Flick Look, as a mechanic, is relatively new to the Battlefield franchise. Although similar features have appeared in other first-person shooters, Battlefield 6 itself plays faster than previous entries, and Flick Look emphasizes this by giving players more control over their own agency. The ability to instantly flick in 90-degree angles adds an element of fluidity that contrasts with Battlefield’s usual open tactical style.

While Flick Look is available on both PC and consoles, the superior accuracy of mouse and keyboard makes it especially powerful for PC players. Console players do have the option to use mouse and keyboard inputs to keep pace, but the mechanic may still signal a shift toward a faster, more arena-like gameplay experience. Console players also have the option to opt in to turn off Crossplay, which will limit gameplay experiences to only other controller players.

As Battlefield 6 continues to evolve, players will be watching closely to see how Flick Look impacts the franchise’s future and whether it will be embraced as a positive innovation or criticized as a controversial change and dialed back.

Battlefield 6 fully releases this fall on October 10th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post Battlefield 6 Mechanic Gives PC Players Major Advantage Over Console Players appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There is a new free PC game available on Steam, and it may be one of the best free Steam games so far this year. There have been a metric ton of free games on Steam this year. While free games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo eShop remain uncommon occurrences, there is at least one free Steam game every week. To be clear, free Steam game, in this case, is referring to a premium game that normally costs money being made free, often for a limited time, rather than a free-to-play game that is always free and usually is pack full of various monetization. That said, while there have been endless free Steam games this year, most have been filler and not very memorable. The latest though is much more noteworthy. It isn’t the latest and greatest game nor a big AAA release, but it is a decent indie game from 2020.

The new free Steam comes the way not directly from the Valve digital PC storefront, but via Fanatical, who has codes of the Steam game available for free for the next 48 hours. Not only does this offer expire on August 13, it is reliant on supply not running dry, which may be triggered before this expiration date. Right now though, supply remains available, letting PC users save $20 as the Steam game in question is normally $20. Is there a catch? Not really. All PC users interested need to do is sign up for the Fanatical newsletter, which is free and can be cancelled at anytime. Do this, and you will trigger the new deal, which is for Summer in Mara, a 2020 “cozy farming adventure” from developer Chibig, who debuted with the release five years ago. And it was a solid debut for the studio as evident by over 1,300 user reviews and a 76% approval rating.

First Time This Game Has Ever Been Free

This is the first this PC game has ever been free on Steam or anywhere else. And there’s a decent chance it will never be free again, especially anytime soon. And while its normal $20 price point may suggest a lack of content, it is actually a 20 to 30 hour game. Again, most of the free Steam games so far this year have not just been of a lesser quality, but far shorter than this.

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Summer of Mara, as the name applies, is also a great game to cozy up with in the summer before fall arrives. And in particular, it is a great palette cleanser between major releases or a great complimentary game to play alongside a story-driven game as it is light on the narrative front. Similarly, it is also a great pair with an intense multiplayer game, offering up the nice contrast of relaxation.

Steam Deck Compatibility

Right now, Summer of Mara Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Unknown.” To this end, it could run perfectly on the Steam or not run at all. Chances are though, it is somewhere between these two extremes and will require some tinkering from Steam Deck owners. The good news is Steam Deck users don’t have to pay anything to find out.

For more coverage on all things Steam, Steam Deck, and PC gaming in general — including all of the latest Steam news, all of the latest Steam deals, and all of the latest Steam free games being offered at any given time — click here.

The post New Free Steam Game Is One of the Best of 2025 So Far appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While it might sound utterly absurd at first, Star Wars: Movie Battles II, a mod for a game released in 2003, is arguably the best Star Wars game ever made. A fan-driven total conversion for Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Movie Battles II has been evolving quietly for over two decades. What it delivers is something most official Star Wars titles have tried and failed to achieve: battles that actually feel like they belong in the Star Wars universe. It reaches deeper than just visuals or music, things that amplify the experience, but don’t define it. Where so many other titles settle for cinematic chaos, Movie Battles II aims for raw moment-to-moment authenticity.

The structure of the game mirrors something closer to a tactical shooter. Matches are round-based and team-oriented, much like Counterstrike, but set across environments inspired by Star Wars films, shows, and extended lore. Light Side and Dark Side teams face off with objective-based missions and a wide roster of characters. The framework is deceptively simple. What elevates it is the depth layered into every decision you make before a match even begins.

Class variety in Movie Battles II is staggering. Trying to list every playable class is a fool’s errand because there are simply too many. Think of any major Star Wars archetype —Mandalorian, ARC trooper, Sith Lord, Wookiee warrior, bounty hunter — and chances are, you’ll find it in this game. Every single class features its own unique set of weapons and abilities, selected during a prep phase before each round. You’ll spend a finite amount of points to customize your loadout, deciding what to bring into each round, which defines how you’ll also play. This level of choice allows players to shape their roles within a match, encouraging experimentation and long-term mastery. That variety keeps the game feeling fresh, even after dozens or hundreds of hours, or even years.

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What’s even more impressive is that all of this is balanced. Jedi and Sith wield lightsabers, complete with a full selection of Force powers from the Light, Neutral, and Dark sides. These classes can kill in a single clean strike. Yet despite that power, they are never overbearing. Every weapon in the game has a counter. Gun-wielding classes can and do handle saber users with the right positioning and awareness. Just like in the Clone Wars, blaster fire can overwhelm a Force user when they are caught out of position or lose control of a fight. A skilled soldier or bounty hunter can absolutely take down a Jedi. All it takes is smart movement, timing, and a clear shot.

Lightsabers kill instantly, but they don’t protect you from everything. That risk vs reward relationship is part of what gives Movie Battles II its edge over other Star Wars titles. The game rewards players who understand mastery of their tools and those who commit to their choices. Players who treat each encounter like a tactical exchange rather than a free-for-all are given the advantage in battle. It is never about who has the most power, but who uses their power most effectively.

The heart of the game beats strongest in its lightsaber versus lightsaber combat. Other Star Wars games often reduce duels to chaotic button-mashing and erratic flips. Movie Battles II chooses a different path. Lightsaber dueling here is built on a foundation of discipline and structure. The system favors players who study their opponents, who read attacks, who understand spacing, and who can remain calm under pressure. Every swing, every block, and every adjustment matters.

This system has grown over the years into something remarkably complex. An entire community thrives on dueling alone, treating it as a standalone art form within the larger game. Duels can last minutes, sometimes longer, with each player probing the other for weakness. There is a manual block system in place, one that allows you to completely disarm your opponent if you block correctly at the right moment. That one detail alone sets Movie Battles II apart from every other Star Wars game in existence. The moment you disarm a fellow duelist and feel the crowd watching the fight react in awe, you know you’ve experienced something special.

Even with all this polish and depth, the mod still bears the marks of its age. Animations can be stiff. Visuals show their age. The engine itself lacks the fluidity of modern releases. But the moment you step into a match, that lack of visual polish simply won’t matter. You’ll quickly realize that you’re playing something that truly taps into the core of what Star Wars battles are meant to be, what it’s about. And the moments stay with you. Clearing a hallway as a Wookiee, launching into combat with a Mandalorian jetpack, landing that perfect saber kill in a duel that could’ve gone either way. Every match offers something new, because the game never stops demanding more from you.

Perhaps the wildest part of all this is that there are no class restrictions. If a server is full at 32 players, every single person in the match could be wielding a lightsaber. That kind of freedom should break the game, but it doesn’t. Not at all. In fact, if your team is all wielding lightsabers, then you’re likely at a disadvantage, surprisingly. The systems are so thoughtfully designed that even with a dozen Jedi and Sith colliding in the same corridor, the balance holds. It is a chaotic cinematic mess, and it’s completely unforgettable.

Movie Battles II is the most Star Wars a Star Wars game has ever felt. Built by fans, refined by competitors, and still evolving over 20 years later, it stands as a testament to what can happen when a community chooses love, skill, and ambition over marketing, budget, and branding. This game understands Star Wars combat on a level that most developers only dream of. And if you’ve never played it, you owe it to yourself to experience what this galaxy has to offer. Movie Battles II is a mod, so you’ll need Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy to play it, but the experience is more than worth the price of entry.

What do you think of Movie Battles II? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Best Star Wars Video Game Is a Mod From 22 Years Ago appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Steam game just released is 100% free forever, no limited time window to worry about and no strings attached. More than this, there are no microtransactions or monetization getting in the way of the free experience. Are there any catches? No, unless you are on Steam Deck. Right now, it is unclear how well the game runs on Steam Deck — if at all — because its Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Unknown.”

The new free Steam game is specifically a local co-op action puzzle that does require two players to play. And unfortunately, at least right now, there is no online option. This could be a barrier to entry for some, but for those who have checked it out so far, it has impressed. To this end, after 276 reviews, the new free Steam game just released back on July 31 has a 93% approval rating. This means it has a “Very Positive” rating, the second highest rating a Steam game can earn, and very close to the highest rating possible, “Overwhelmingly Positive.” Despite this, despite the Steam game being free and boasting excellent user reviews, it has been flying under the radar. To this end, if you have never heard of Wires and Whiskers, you are not the only one. But it is worth your attention.

A good reason you may have never heard of it is it because the free Steam game is actually the result of an ambitious student project. In other words, its marketing is non-existent. Despite this, it has attracted a large number of players so far when you consider the context.

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“Wires and Whiskers is a fast-paced, two-player local co-op game where you control a cybernetic lab gerbil and its armed exosuit through tactical combat and magnetic puzzles,” reads an official description of the game for those just learning about it. “Each player takes on a unique role: one handles agile movement and melee dashes (the gerbil), while the other manages long-range attacks and magnetic interaction systems (the exosuit). You must rely on precise coordination to survive an irradiated world overrun by mutated enemies and unstable tech.”

As you would expect, Wires and Whiskers is not very long. How long exactly, we do not know, but many of the Steam user reviews describe it as a “short game.” To this end, many of the Steam user reviews don’t have longer than an hour logged with the PC game.

For more coverage on all things Steam, Steam Deck, and PC gaming in general — including all of the latest Steam news, all of the latest Steam deals, and all of the latest free Steam games — click here.

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Epic Games Store has been updated with new free games, and this week there are two free PC games that combine for a value of $45. As always with Epic Games Store though, there is only a limited window of opportunity. More specifically, these PC games are only free on Epic Games Store until August 14. After this, they will be replaced with a new free offer. If this sounds familiar, this is because this is how it works every week on Epic Games Store. Every Thursday, there is at least one new free game, sometimes more, and then the following Thursday the cycle repeats.

One of the two new free PC games on Epic Games Store is Road Redemption from developers Redemption Road and Pixel Dash Studios, and publisher Tripwire Presents. For those unfamiliar with this PC game, it is an action meets racing game that was released in 2019. And PC users received it pretty well when it came out, as evident by its 82% approval rating after more than 10,000 user reviews on Steam. Normally, PC users have to fork over $19.99 to download the game.

“Road Redemption is an action racing game where you lead your motorcycle gang on an epic journey across the country in a brutal driving combat adventure, taking heavy inspiration from series such as Road Rash and Motorstorm,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “Earn money by completing races, assassinations, robberies, and other challenges in your path. As you collect loot, you’ll upgrade your character, your bike, and your weapons.”

The other new free Epic Games Store game is 112 Operator from developer Jutsu Games and publisher Games Operators. This simulation meets strategy game was released in 2020, and just like Road Redemption it was received warmly by PC gamers at release. This is evident by its 89 percent approval rating after more than 5,000 user reviews on Steam. Normally, PC users have to spend $24.99 to download the game.

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“112 Operator allows you to manage emergency services in any city in the world,” reads an official description of the game. “Dispatch units, take calls and face situations caused by weather, traffic or changing seasons. Help the city survive escalating events like riots, organized crime, terrorist attacks, cataclysms, natural disasters and many more!”

For more coverage on all things Epic Games Store and PC gaming in general — including all of the latest EGS news, all of the latest EGS rumors and leaks, and all of the latest free PC games on EGS — click here.

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A new Steam game just released today, August 7, is free, but only for the first 24 hours of its existence. Come August 8, the PC game will revert back to its normal price. Those on Steam Deck looking to take advantage of this new free Steam game may find that it doesn’t work on the Valve handheld. We don’t know because its Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Unknown.” That said, it is free for Steam Deck users to find out, so there is not much to lose. And once claimed, Steam and Steam Deck users can keep the PC game for free, forever, as a permanent addition to their Steam libraries.

The new free Steam game in question is called Guntouchables from developer Game Swing and publisher Ghost Ship Publishing. The pair pitch the new free PC game as an action game meets doomsday roguelite with online co-op for one to four players. In other words, it can be played with others, though not locally, only via online. Alternatively, it can also be played as a single-player and solo experience.

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The Best Horror Game of 2025 Just Released And It’s Only $3

Due to the fact the PC game just released on Steam today, there are no user reviews shedding lights on its quality. Likewise, there is no data that reveals how much content the game has. Given it normally only costs $5 on Steam though suggests it is a humble amount of content with a humble amount of production involved.

“The entire world has fallen and the surface has been overrun by a hostile and aggressively-evolving horde of mutants,” reads an official description of the new free Steam game. “Well, not entirely. A motley group of persevering preppers are seizing their moment of glory and holding out against the abominable threat lurking right outside the perimeter of their makeshift establishment.

The free game’s official synopsis continues: “Guntouchables is a 1-4 player co-op roguelike doomsday shooter where every second counts. Impeccable teamwork and wise decision-making will be key to beat the overwhelming odds when facing the ever-changing enemies of the wasteland.”

For those unfamiliar with the developer Game Swing, meanwhile, it previously put out Ubisoft game Oddballers in 2024 and Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure in 2016. In other words, this new free Steam game is its junior release.

For more Steam coverage and general gaming coverage as well — including all of the latest Steam news, all of the latest Steam sales and deals, and all of the latest Steam free games — click here.

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Today, August 6, one of the best Capcom games of all time is available for free. The new free giveaway comes the way of Lenovo, who has teamed up with Capcom to give away free copies of a game from its back catalog, and more specifically, that it released back in 2014. To take advantage of the giveaway, Capcom fans interested will need to create a Legion Gaming Community account, and then head Lenovo’s DROPS page, where keys will be given out.

According Lenovo, there is no time limit on this giveaway, which begins today, however, there are a limited numbers of keys that are “likely run out.” How many keys are up for grabs exactly, has not been disclosed. Meanwhile, those on console will be disappointed to know keys will be limited to Steam. That said, those that win a key will redeem said key here.

As for the Capcom game in question, it is 2014 release Ultra Street Fighter IV, which, for those that do not know, a major update to 2008’s Street Fighter IV. The fourth mainline installment in the fighting gaming series is not just considered one of the best Capcom games of all time, but among the greatest games of all time, and certainly among the best fighting games of all time. To this end, it has a 94 on Metacritic and has sold over 9 million copies. Here’s the trailer:

Ultra Street Fighter IV, specifically, introduced a plethora of content to the fighting game six years later, including six new stages and five new characters, making it the definitive version of the classic fighting game, which turns 17 years old this year.

“Everything that made the legendary Street Fighter II a hit in the arcades, living rooms and dormitories across the globe has been brought back in Street Fighter IV,” reads an official description of the classic fighting game. “Players can play their favorite classic characters, such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Guile, along with new characters, including Crimson Viper, Abel, El Fuerte, and Rufus. Characters and environments are rendered in stylized 3D, while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes. Six-button controls for the game return, with a host of new special moves and features integrated into the gameplay system. Street Fighter IV brings a brand new fighting game to fans the world over.”

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How quickly keys will vanish, we do not know, but similar giveaways from Lenovo in the past have always run dry, and it typically happens quite quickly. And once they are gone, there’s never a second wave.

For more coverage of Game Deals, including discounts, free games, and gifts, click here.

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Helldivers 2 has gotten a pretty big update that comes with a variety of fixes and changes to the game. Helldivers 2 is still one of the most played, most popular video games out there. It has been one of the biggest PlayStation games of the generation and has managed to take developer Arrowhead the next level. The game was so successful that it has allowed Arrowhead to make its next game fully independent with no exclusivity deals whatsoever. Not only that, but Helldivers 2 is even coming to Xbox in the coming weeks, which will take the game to even further levels of success.

With all of that said, if you’re someone who has regularly playing Helldivers 2 or are an Xbox player checking in on the state of the game, a brand new patch has been released. While this new patch fixes things like crashes and such, it also makes some notable changes to the game such as improving the spread of certain guns to improve their accuracy by a notable amount. The new Helldivers 2 update is out now and you can view the patch notes below.

Helldivers 2 Update 01.003.202 patch notes

Overview

• Crash Fixes
• Weapon Fixes
• Missing DLC and Warbond fix
• You may now laugh on the ship with full audio

Fixes

Crash fixes

• Fix a crash caused by tinkering with weapon customization
• Fix a crash that could occur when enemies despawned after being killed
• Fix crash after getting killed by explosions

Weapons Stratagems & Boosters

• PLAS-45 EPOCH: Improved spread
  • Decreased by 75% to improve the weapons accuracy
• The Laser turret now displays correct heat build up
• The LIFT-182 Warp Pack FX no longer shows when in first person mode
• Disabled LIFT-182 Warp Pack fields around shuttles, preventing any Helldiver escapees. You are done, it is time to go home
• Fix desync between clients when using the LIFT-182 Warp Pack to get out of a vehicle
• Fixed issue with the AR-32 PACIFIER being unable to fire for a second after reloading

Enemies

• Fixes for enemy navigation in cities where they could not traverse certain areas

Miscellaneous Fixes

• Fixed an issue where some players were unable to access items tied to their DLC or Warbonds
• Fix for some emotes snapping the Helldiver torso when standing near a hellpod drop
• Fix for Manic Laughter emote not triggering sound on ship

What do you think of this Helldivers update? Let me know in the comments.

The post New Helldivers 2 Update Makes 13 Changes to the Game appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Hack and slash action adventure game Stellar Blade just dropped a surprising double update for its PC and PS5 versions. Players on PlayStation 5 will be upgraded to version 1.013, while PC gamers will update to patch 1.3.0 of their game. Following its full release on Steam in June, the majority of these Stellar Blade patches address issues that persisted after the game’s official launch.

Both the PC and PS5 versions share different fixes in the patch, but some fixes are specific to each version. The shared patch note items include:

• Improved Photo Mode so that when selecting a logo, the logo control indicator is now displayed.
• Fixed an issue where players were unable to exit the shop after purchasing the ‘Polarized Sunglasses’ from Clyde’s shop.
• Fixed an issue where Eve’s hair would not appear during the final Elder Naytiba cutscene when wearing the ‘Fluffy Bear’ or ‘Pink Bear’ outfits.
• Fixed an issue where Eve’s final Korean voice-over line was cut off during the ‘Lost Items from Heaven’ conversation with Clyde in the Great Desert.
• Fixed an issue where Eve’s arm would occasionally appear unnatural in Photo Mode when wearing the ‘Black Pearl’ or ‘Red Pearl’ outfits.

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In addition to these shared changes, the Stellar Blade 1.3.0 update for the Steam version had these exclusive fixes:

• When using FSR upscaler, restarting the game is now required to enable frame generation.
• Fixed an issue where the Fusion Weapon was not visible when beginning the fight against the Airborne Squad after defeating Providence.
• Fixed an issue where using the numpad on the keyboard to trigger skills in the Training Room caused the training system to become unresponsive.
• Fixed an issue where, when fishing for the ‘Betta’ fish with mouse and keyboard, the gray striped pattern of the progress bar would obscure the reel-in progress bar.
• Fixed an issue where, when using the ‘Stinger’, target lock-on would not function correctly under specific input conditions.
• Fixed an issue where the zoom function in the Hair Salon menu would not respond to controller or keyboard input.
• Fixed an issue where dialogue would occasionally not display after interacting with Adam in the Eidos 9 Atelier.
• Fixed an issue where Dororong would occasionally not appear during their introduction scene in Xion.
• Fixed an issue where newly unlocked items would not immediately appear after increasing shop affinity level.
• Improved the save timestamp system so that time since last save is now accurately displayed based on successful saves, rather than attempted saves.
• Enhanced the save failure message by changing it to yellow for better visibility.
• Various other unnamed bug fixes.

PlayStation 5 owners also got an exclusive fix for the ‘Demogorgon’ battle, where previously entering with ‘Ranged Auto Aim’ turned off would present aiming difficulties for the player.

Players on PC experienced some issues starting and running the game after this latest patch. According to a developer post in the Steam forums, the patch may have triggered an incompatibility with some game modifications.

“If you are having issues launching the game after updating, there may be an incompatibility with UE4SS or mod you are using. Please try completely removing these files and seeing if the issue persists,” wrote the developer.

Despite these issues, players were generally positive about the new patches online, with many expressing gratitude that the game is still receiving support after its release. 

“The game was already incredible from day one, it’s amazing that you keep making it even more perfect,” wrote Steam user ElALEX in response to the patch update. “Thank you.”

However, there were still many requests from fans that these patches did not address, and some are still eager for content and feature updates. What are your thoughts on the latest Stellar Blade update? Is there something that they missed? Has the support for the game been adequate since launch?

The post Stellar Blade Fans Surprised With New Update for PS5 and PC appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The best horror game of 2025, at least so far and according to Metacritic, just released on PC, via Steam, and it is only $2.99. Right now, PC is the only place to play the psychological horror game. Whether it will come to consoles in the future, we do not know. It is also unclear if it will ever get Steam Deck verification. Right now, its Steam Deck compatibility is simply listed as “Playable.”

As for the new horror game in question is is called S.p.l.i.t, and it comes the way of Mike Klubnika, who both developed and published the game in a solo effort. This is now the junior release from Klubnika, who previously put out the Unsorted Horror out in 2020, and then Buckshot Roulette in 2024. The former is a free download, while the latter is also $2.99. And both are apparently great as evident by their “Overwhelmingly Positive” ratings on Steam, the highest rating a game can earn on Steam. Unsurprisingly, S.p.l.i.t is providing similar reviews. It currently has a 92 percent approval rating on Steam, and an 84 on Metacritic.

Currently, the new horror game is the 33rd highest-rated game, across any genre, of 2025. Within the horror genre specifically though, it is first. Whether this will be true come the end of the year, remains to be seen, but it an impressive feat for the smaller indie title.

“S.p.l.i.t, a short narrative driven horror game, with a focus on raw terminal hacking using various commands,” reads an official elevator pitch of the game. “Throughout the game, you chat with your fellow technicians in order to plan and execute a malware attack. Regardless of the outcome, your story won’t be told for decades. Will you hold up your end?”

“This game is super cool,” reads one of the aforementioned user reviews. “Without going into detail, it requires a basic level of terminal command line knowledge, but the gameplay is reminiscent of Emily is Away, with a dystopian horror twist that really sells itself well. I love both endings, for the complexity they bring.”

It is unclear how long the horror game is, but its price point suggests it is quite short, as does the official description of it. Meanwhile, most Steam user reviews have somewhere between an hour and two in the horror game.

For more coverage on horror games — including all of the latest news, all of the latest rumors and leaks, and all of the latest deals — click here.

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Since the late 1980s, MMORPGs have been a key part of the online gaming world. They are unique in that they allow people from all over the planet to connect in shared virtual worlds where millions of individual stories take place behind computer screens. They are complex social spaces where players can interact and form memorable communities. But, as technology advances, companies tend to move on to new projects and opportunities, which can leave older titles feeling dated, or worse. Unfortunately for one such title, the worst has come to pass. It is with this bittersweet context that we share the news of Skyforge’s upcoming closure, a title that managed to stand the test of time, running for over a decade before this announcement.

Skyforge’s imminent shutdown was announced by publisher Innova, and has since stated that the title will be shutting down on all currently available platforms in roughly a month. The publisher left behind a brief FAQ, which explains how the shutdown will proceed, including details about montinization and the reasoning behind the shutdown.

According to the forum post that hosts the FAQ, the shutdown of Skyforge will unfold in two distinct stages, affecting both console and PC players across various platforms. For PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox users, all in-game payments will be disabled starting August 4th, 2025, completely preventing the possible purchase of any new items. The servers for these platforms will also officially close on October 29th, 2025. For the PC versions of Skyforge, the game on the 4game and Steam platforms will see payments disabled on August 1st, 2025, with servers shutting down shortly after on September 3rd, 2025. This approach is designed to give players enough time to enjoy their remaining days in the game before its final sunset.

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Throughout the remaining time the title is available for play, the Skyforge team has promised to maintain support for the game to ensure a smooth experience for its player base. The developers are committed to providing assistance and addressing any concerns during this transition period. Players with questions or issues related to the shutdown can reach out on the team’s official support page.

Skyforge, as an MMORPG, has always occupied a somewhat niche corner of the genre. While it never quite reached the popularity of giants like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV, it managed to build up a small but dedicated player base thanks to its unique blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements. It approached many typically standard MMO tropes uniquely, and that was enough for many players to be captured by its gameplay. This stand-out style set it apart from more traditional fantasy MMORPGs, attracting players who craved a somewhat familiar-but-fresh experience. Its ending is unfortunate within the MMO landscape.

The closure of a long-running MMORPG is quite rare in today’s gaming climate, but it is always a sad event for both players and developers who have invested time and effort into the game. While it is difficult to say goodbye, the memories and connections made within the game will continue to endure long after the servers shut down.

The post MMORPG Shutting Down for Good 10 Years After Its Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Not one, not two, but three premium PC games are currently free on Steam, but the deal for all three Steam games is set to expire on August 4. In other words, Steam users have roughly 48 hours to grab the PC games for free. Per usual, the Steam Deck compatibility of these new free Steam games is all over the place. One is Steam Deck Verified, while the other is listed as “Playable,” and then one is listed as “Unknown.”

The most notable of these new free Steam games is perhaps Kitchen Wars simply for the fact it is a new 2025 PC game that was just released back in April of this year. Released by Silent Owl, Perfect Gen, and GrabTheGames, it is a fast-paced party game that supports two to eight players. And normally it costs $4.99. To date, it has 86 percent approval rating on Steam.

The catch with this one is that this is actually a Steam Early Access game, so it is not fully out yet. Unsurprisingly, this is the free Steam game with “Unknown” Steam Deck compatibility.

In addition to this, a 2023 top-down roguelike bullet hell called Dracomaton has also been made free on Steam. Released by Gun Jumpers, Dracomaton boasts a 97 percent approval rating, with very few non-positive reviews. It also normally costs $4.99.

The third and final free Steam game is arcade racer Barro GT, which is actually the most popular of the three PC games. Released in 2022 by SC Jogos, it has nearly 600 user reviews, and an 84 percent approval rating across these reviews. Like the other two new free Steam games, it is normally $4.99. Meanwhile its Steam Deck compatibility is “Playable.”

Dracomaton

About: Dracomaton is a top-down roguelike bullet hell where you swap between multiple playstyles on the fly. Equip yourself with various Forms that have different strengths and weaknesses, OR Mod existing Forms with the characteristics of other ones!

Kitchen Wars

About: Kitchen Wars is an action-packed game where players of 1-8 players aim to sabotage each other’s restaurants while keeping their customers satisfied. Use weapons, steal chairs, throw items, level up to unlock boosters, and have a blast!

Barro GT

About: Barro GT is the new generation of Barro, now with a new style of race tracks but, with the good old toy car/ go kart arcade style!

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For more coverage on everything related to Steam — including the latest news on Steam games, the latest Steam deals, and the latest free Steam games — click here.

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The preservation of games has been a popular topic recently. Between the Stop Killing Games movement and the recent delisting of several titles from itch.io and Steam, gamers are noticing potential downsides of digital game ownership. Now, GOG, a site that exists largely to help preserve older games, is giving away 13 games in response to their recent removal from certain platforms. But gamers only have 48 hours to get them for free.

GOG, formerly known as Good Old Games, is a digital distribution platform that specializes in DRM-free games. This means that gamers have more flexibility for what they do with the game files, removing the need for specific platform authentication. There are also no restrictions on how many devices players can install their game files on.

GOG has become especially well known for its GOG Preservation Program. This initiative focuses on offering older games that may not be available on other platforms, such as Dino Crisis or Star Trek: Judgment Rites. GOG even has a community wishlist where fans can request specific games and features for the site and vote to make the projects happen. Currently, Diablo 1, 2, and 3 are leading the charge, with Pokemon Black & White not far behind.

Now, GOG is stepping into those game preservation shoes again with its limited-time free game offer. This is part of a new initiative called FreedomToBuy.games, which GOG recently launched in response to delistings. The site is celebrating its launch by offering 13 titles entirely for free, which gamers can claim from now until August 4th. The website offers a helpful countdown timer, so you can easily see how much time you’ve got left to snag the deal.

Every Game Included in the GOG Free Game Offer & How to Claim Them

The list of 13 games GOG is offering for free features several NSFW titles that were impacted by recent delistings. They are as follows:

• Leap of Love
• Being a DIK – Season 1
• Leap of Faith
• POSTAL 2
• House Party
• HuniePop
• Lust Theory
• Agony + Agony Unrated
• Treasure of Nadia
• Summer’s Gone – Season 1
• Fetish Locator Week One
• Helping the Hotties
• Sapphire Safari

This isn’t a bundle, so you don’t have to grab all 13 games if you are only interested in a few titles. Simply head to the FreedomToBuy.games offer page to claim all or a few of the free NSFW games on offer. To claim a game, you just need to click on the “Claim Now” button. Then, you will receive a code to claim the game or games you’re interested in.

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You will need a GOG.com account in order to add the games. You can sign up for GOG for free, so if this is your first time using the site, you should still be able to claim your free games.

Once the 48-hour free period is up, these and other NSFW games will remain available for purchase via FreedomToBuy.games. Publishers can gift additional games to the site, so more titles will likely be added to the library going forward. For more of the best game deals coverage, including free games and news on discounts and rewards, click here.

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A zombie game from 2022 is shutting down roughly three years after its release on PC via Steam. The news comes straight from the game’s developer Tybug Studios, which also served as the game’s publisher. Meanwhile, the announcement itself was shared via the game’s Steam page. Obviously, this delisting — set to happen on October 1, 2025 — impacts all Steam users. As for whether it impacts Steam Deck users, specifically, we do not know. The Steam game lists Steam Deck functionality as “Unknown.”

The PC game shutting down on Steam is PEP, an online zombie game that is both single-player, co-op, and multiplayer. On top of this, it is free-to-play. That said, judging by the game’s Steam user reviews, many won’t miss it. The free Steam game has over 100 user reviews, so PC users have checked it out. However, those who checked out haven’t always loved it, according to its “Mixed” rating on Steam, the result of only a 69 percent approval rating.

“As PEP nears the end of its third year on the platform, we regret to announce that the PEP servers will be shutting down on October 1st, 2025,” reads an official statment from Tybug Studios on the shutdown. ” It’s was a wonderful time building the story, adding content, and coming up with all the silly little features that made PEP what it is. we here at Tybug Studios are incredibly proud of what we created and excited for what’s next, both in this genre and beyond.”

After the shutdown on October 1, the zombie game will no longer be available to download on Steam. However, it will remain playable in an offline capacity.

“Until shutdown, existing players who already have a license on Steam can continue playing as usual,” adds the aforementioned statement. “However, PEP will no longer be available to new users. Thank you all so much for playing, sharing, and supporting PEP over the years. We can’t wait to bring you even more fun and exciting games in the future.”

There is no word why servers are being shutdown, but it is presumably because they are costing more than the game is making. This is just speculation though, as Tybug Studios does not say one way or another.

For more coverage on all things Steam — including all of the latest Steam news, all of the latest Steam rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Steam deals — click here.

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FromSoftware, the developer behind notoriously difficult titles such as Dark Souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, has built a reputation on its punishing yet rewarding gameplay. These tiles always challenge players to learn through failure to overcome impossible odds. It is the nature of the beast for boss fights to be designed to push players to their limits, but they are also expected to be fair. Clear warning signs and obvious indicators are important aspects of a fair boss encounter. But when a boss feels overpowered in a way that seems unnatural, even long-time fans are quick to speak up. That was the case with a particularly frustrating bug involving a familiar boss foe in Elden Ring Nightreign.

The Draconic Tree Sentinel, a returning boss from the base Elden Ring game, became the source of widespread frustration due to one of its attacks. This supposed bug caused the Sentinel’s lightning-based bolt attacks to hit players from absurd distances at extreme speeds, sometimes across entirely different points of interest. In many cases, the boss could strike players who weren’t even in combat or visible range, leading to one-shot kills from out of nowhere. Always a fun time.

The situation sparked numerous complaints across the Elden Ring Nightreign community. One player described being wiped by the boss along with their group, only to get killed again by a lightning bolt while climbing stairs far from the boss arena. They emphasized that the Sentinel was not in line of sight, and there was no visual cue that an attack was incoming. Others echoed similar experiences, pointing out that even well-geared characters with health buffs were being instantly killed without a fair chance to respond.

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Some players noted that since the last update, the enemy aggro range across certain areas had increased, making areas like the castle zone near the boss even harder to navigate. Being chased by mobs only to be struck down by a crimson lightning from an unseen boss made for an understandably frustrating experience that didn’t align with FromSoftware’s usual design standards.

Thankfully, Patch 1.02 has now fixed the issue. The Nightreign update addresses the bug that caused the Draconic Tree Sentinel’s lightning attacks to strike players from extreme distances. With this correction, the boss’s bolt ability should now function properly, only activating when players are actually within range and line of sight. FromSoftware didn’t provide deep technical details on the matter, but confirmation in the patch notes reveals that the fix has gone through and is live.

While FromSoftware games are known for their brutal difficulty, they are also respected for their consistency. Careful and extremely precise encounter design is one of the hallmark features of a FromSoftware game, so this standout issue clearly did not align with the studio’s vision. FromSoftware rarely shies away from letting players struggle, but it draws the line when gameplay becomes outright broken. Fixing the Draconic Tree Sentinel restores the kind of challenge that fans of the genre expect. It’s still a difficult boss, as it was in Elden Ring, but now it plays by the established rules, even if the player has to learn what those rules are.

For players continuing their struggles in Elden Ring Nightreign, this fix is a great quality-of-life improvement and shows that FromSoftware is willing to adjust the balance when needed. The road ahead may still be paved with hardships, but at least one of the most unfair ones has been corrected.

The post Elden Ring Nightreign Update Finally Nerfed One of the Most Annoying Bosses appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Tomb Raider games are currently free, but the deal is set to expire on August 1. In other words, those who would be interested or rapidly running out of time. That said, while this deal is technically available to everyone, a subscription is required. In other words, anyone can access it, but if they don’t have the subscription needed — an Amazon Prime subscription — they will need to sign up to take advantage of the offer as it comes via Prime Gaming.

While Prime Gaming sometimes gives out console codes, this new giveaway is limited to PC codes via GOG. That said, those with an Amazon Prime subscription and a GOG account, reading this before August 1, can download not one, not two, but three Tomb Raider games for free because right now Prime Gaming has Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft for free.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, for those that don’t know, is a collection that was released in 2024 by Aspyr featuring remasters of the first three Tomb Raider games: 1996’s Tomb Raider, 1997’s Tomb Raider II, and 1998’s Tomb Raider III, all three of which are classic PS1 games. Not only are the base games included though, but the DLC content for each as well.

Upon release, the collection of remasters garnered Metacritic scores between 71 and 75, with some criticisms for its implementation of modern controls and lack of features commonly found in these type of collections.

“Discover Lara Croft’s original adventures, lovingly restored,” reads an official pitch of the collection from Aspyr. “Play the original three Tomb Raider adventures: for the first time ever, play the complete experience with all expansions and secret levels on modern platforms in this definitive collection.”

Those that decide to check out these Tomb Raider games for free, courtesy of their Amazon Prime subscription, should expect to put bare minimum abut 35 to 40 hours to beat all three games in the collection. Remember though this is just the bare minimum though. To this end, those looking for 100 percent completion will need closer to 100 hours across all three Tomb Raider games. Meanwhile, trophy and achievement hunters will need even more than this with the classic PS1 releases.

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For more Tomb Raider coverage — including all of the latest Tomb Raider news, all of the latest Tomb Raider rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Tomb Raider deals like this one — click here.

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Epic Games Store has two new free PC games this week for the week of July 31 to August 6. And one of these games is one of the highest-rated games EGS has given away for free this entire year, at least so far. As always with Epic Games Store, each PC game is 100 percent free to download and keep as long as it is claimed within this window. Then, come August 6, the two free PC games will be replaced with a new free offer. Meanwhile, an Epic Games Store account itself costs nothing. It is free to make and retain, and even if you have no intention of playing these free PC games now, and even if you don’t have the capacities to play them now, you should still claim them for a future date when all of this may change.

The very highly rated PC game in the new two-game giveaway is Pilgrims from beloved developer Amanita Design. This adventure game was released back in 2019, and the PC version boasts an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam, the highest rating a PC game can earn on Steam. This is thanks to a 96 percent approval rating after 4,571 user reviews. Normally, for this experience, PC users have to fork over $6.99.

The other new and free Epic Games Store game is a bit newer. More specifically, the second free Epic Games Store game is 2024 release Keylocker, a turn-based RPG with rhythm elements. This PC game was released by Moonana and Serenity Forge, and it normally costs $14.99. While it is more expensive it is not as highly rated as Pilgrims. It still has fans though, as evident by its 87 percent approval rating on Steam after 192 user reviews.

Pilgrims

About: “Pilgrims is a playful adventure game, created by the team behind Machinarium and Samorost. Roam the land as you please and make new friends, share a laugh with your fellow travelers and help them complete their little stories, your way. How many different solutions can you find?”

Keylocker

About: “Keylocker is a Cyberpunk turn based rhythm JRPG inspired by the Mario&Luigi RPG series and Chrono Trigger, in which you play as the singer and songwriter, B0B0. Fuel your moves with the electric power of music in this unforgiving planet by using real-time execution of moves in rhythm game style! Battle the authorities, unlock the secrets of Saturn, play on your own bands’ concerts and hack into the network to bring an end to this corrupt system, for better or worse.”

For more Epic Games Store coverage — including all of the latest Epic Games Store news, all of the latest Epic Games Store deals, and all of the latest Epic Games Store free games — click here.

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The survival game genre continues to grow in popularity as players seek open co-op experiences that combine deep exploration with cooperative, crafting gameplay. Among these titles, Obsidian Entertainment’s Grounded managed to carve out a unique niche with its miniature world concept, putting players in a backyard where insects become the greatest threats to mankind. With anticipation building for its sequel, many gamers have been eager to see if Grounded 2 can live up to or surpass the success of the original. It seems the answer to that curiosity has come more quickly than expected.

Just hours after its release, Grounded 2 has already outpaced the original game in concurrent players on Steam. According to its Steam Charts, the new game reached a peak of 49,836 concurrent players, compared to the original Grounded’s lifetime peak of 32,012 players. In addition, Grounded 2’s 24-hour peak is significantly higher than Grounded’s previous record of 8,103 concurrent players within a single day. That’s more than six times higher in day-one activity.

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These impressive numbers showcase a momentous leap in interest for the Grounded franchise, revealing clear player engagement right from the start. While Grounded gained a player following and community after launching into Early Access during the middle of 2020, its growth was rather modest, which was to be expected of a brand-new intellectual property. It relied upon positive word of mouth, which is one of the reasons the sequel has garnered so much attention. Grounded 2’s debut, though, suggests that Obsidian’s efforts to refine the unique formula they created with its predecessor have paid off in spades.

The timing of the release also works in the sequel’s favor, coming at a point when cooperative survival games are garnering more interest than ever before. Popular survival titles like Valheim and Rust have continued to show a strong, still-growing interest in multiplayer survival experiences. Grounded 2 fits well into this category by offering a unique and polished setting, with effective cooperative gameplay as its core. Because more players want these kinds of games now, Grounded 2 has a better chance of attracting a large audience right from the start. The numbers are the proof of this.

This strong start on Steam alone is impressive, especially considering the competitive landscape of the summer gaming season. Obsidian’s status as an Xbox first-party developer has likely provided additional marketing support, helping Grounded 2 gain visibility quickly.

Whether Grounded 2 can maintain this high level of engagement remains to be seen, however. Launch-day spikes are extremely common for a newly released title. While impressive, the game’s future will absolutely depend on how well it manages to retain its playerbase. That means supporting the game long-term with content updates and staying attuned to their community. On the other hand, if outstanding issues arise or content updates begin to creep, interest could drop off, which is never a good sign for a newly released title. For now, the numbers speak for themselves, but the future will be shaped by how the game evolves after release.

If you’re interested in jumping in, Grounded 2 is currently available on PC through Steam and on Xbox platforms for $29.99. As a first-party Xbox game, it’s also available via Xbox Game Pass.

The post Obsidian’s Grounded 2 Has Already Surpassed Grounded on Steam appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Two brand-new PC games are free on Steam, and neither are free-to-play. One of these new Steam games appears to be permanently free, though it is currently in Steam Early Access so perhaps the plan is for it to transition to a paid model when it releases. Meanwhile, the other free Steam game is fully out, but planning to transition to a paid model soon, which means Steam users only have a limited time to grab the PC game for free.

Those on Steam Deck though will want to know one of these free Steam games lists Steam Deck compatibility as “Unsupported.” And unfortunately, it is only a bit better with the second free Steam game, which lists Steam Deck compatibility as “Unknown.” The former is a PC game called Oil Sheik, which released on Steam on July 24. The other new free Steam game with “Unknown” Steam Deck compatibility is Inverta, which hit Steam, via Steam Early Access, on July 18.

Based on Steam User reviews, Oil Sheik is the more notable game, or at least it has more attention. And it is this game that is planning to transition from a free model to a paid model “soon.” Developed and published by Reliq, it is a simulation meets puzzle game with an 88 percent approval rating, which gives it a “Very Positive” rating.

“A turn-based, strategic puzzle game about creating and expanding companies and trading stocks,” reads an official description of the free game on Steam. “It combines strategic depth elements of chess with a fun and challenging stock trading experience. Wisely place tiles on the board to force lucrative mergers. You may want to invest in the involved companies first though!”

The other free Steam game is Inverta from Rahul Vyas, Sushil Joshi, Aditya Chaki, and publisher Jabsz Studios. The quality of this game is unclear because there are only three user reviews, all of which are positive, but this is, of course, not a large enough sample size.

“Inverta is a thrilling 2.5D puzzle-platformer where you defy gravity in a haunting post-apocalyptic world,” reads an official description of this second free Steam game. “Take control of gravity itself—flip between surfaces, solve mind-bending puzzles, and uncover the dark secrets of a war-torn land. With innovative mechanics, atmospheric storytelling, and challenging gameplay, Inverta offers a unique adventure for fans of indie games, physics-based puzzles, and immersive platformers. Can you escape the ruins of a shattered world? Master gravity, conquer obstacles, and unravel the mystery!”

For more coverage on Steam and Steam Deck — including all of the latest Steam news, all of the latest Steam deals, and all of the latest Steam free games — click here.

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Survival MMO Dune: Awakening has made a strong impression since its launch several months ago. Drawing heavily from the long-established and complex lore of the Dune universe, it leverages its weight by delivering an experience that feels both grounded and grand, while keeping its survival roots relatively intact. The game’s growing popularity is a testament to that balance.

But thanks to those same MMO roots, not everything is running smoothly in the harsh lands of Dune: Awakening. One particularly useful Steam feature, Family Sharing, has been temporarily disabled, as confirmed by an official post from the developer of Dune: Awakening, Funcom. This change was confirmed in an official update from the developers, who cited ongoing efforts to combat cheating and exploitation within the game as the reason for its removal.

According to the post made on the official Dune: Awakening website, the Family Sharing feature was being frequently abused to overcome intentional restrictions, making it harder to enforce bans and prevent the spread of exploits. The post states that Funcom has been diligently combating exploits and players who have been constantly abusing them. In response, the team has deployed numerous hotfixes in recent weeks, addressing multiple in-game issues, and has been taking disciplinary action against offending accounts. Hundreds of players have already been banned, and large quantities of exploited Solaris (in-game currency) have been removed as part of a broader cleanup effort to ensure the title remains in good health.

“These efforts are currently ongoing: our investigations continue, and our banhammer has more work to do,” the Dune: Awakening blog post explains when discussing disciplinary action against exploiters and cheaters.

In addition to their ongoing efforts, Funcom has acknowledged that some players were using the Family Sharing feature legitimately and offered a sincere apology for the inconvenience the disabling has caused. They additionally confirmed that the feature is only temporarily turned off, and that work is underway to implement relevant safety measures that will allow it to return without cheaters being able to take advantage of it. While there is no specific timeline given yet, the goal is to “implement those changes within this year.” Further updates will be shared as development on this front progresses.

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Dune: Awakening is a survival MMO that merges genuine sandbox gameplay with the mysticism of the greater Dune universe. The title combines many elements of the survival genre together, while maintaining the authenticity of the Dune universe. As a live-service MMO, it regularly receives updates that expand its world and systems, keeping the experience dynamic.

With its ambitious scale, Dune: Awakening is aiming to become a cornerstone title in the survival genre. While setbacks like the temporary removal of Family Sharing are no doubt frustrating, they reflect the developers’ ongoing effort to maintain a fair and stable experience in a complex, player-driven world.

If you’re looking to take and plunge and jump into the fight, Dune: Awakening is currently only available on PC Steam. However, Funcom has plans to bring the title to other platforms in the future.

The post Dune: Awakening Is Losing One of Its Best Steam Features (For Now) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Wuthering Waves has a whole lot of lore bits that are extraordinarily easy to overlook, thanks to all of the various characters and their factions present within the plot. It isn’t a stretch to say you’ve probably missed a good bit, or even flat-out misunderstood some lore entirely. It does not help that Kuro Games, developer of Wuthering Waves, often likes to put in long descriptions or borderline convoluted lore that can only be found in item descriptions, something most players probably won’t ever read as a result. Even in cutscenes, there are often so many pronouns that it can be difficult to understand what’s going.

Nevertheless, we’ve compiled a list of some common lore misconceptions or overlooked aspects of the story that can help bridge the gap. Not all points on this list are of great importance in the current plot, but they are still bits of information that can be valuable to know for future events. Lastly, before jumping, this is your spoiler warning, as diving into the lore requires sharing info that some may consider sensitive.

1) The Shorekeeper Isn’t Human

During the Black Shores arc of Wuthering Waves, the Shorekeeper is one of the two central figures alongside Camellya. She greets your return to the Black Shores with open arms, clearly delighted by your presence. She expresses her joy at the reappearance of the Astral Modulator, a title once held by Rover before the events of Wuthering Waves, and as the story unfolds, it is revealed that Rover is not only the Astral Modulator but also the original creator of the Black Shores, and by extension, the Shorekeeper herself.

By all visual accounts, Shorekeeper looks like any other Resonator you’ve encountered. She speaks when she desires to. She has semblances of emotion, and during the quest, even learns how to express ‘love’ or ‘affection’ throughout her encounter with Rover. However, the Shorekeeper is not human. She is an AI construct designed to interface with the Tethys System, a supercomputer with no obvious energy source and with the ability to seemingly hold an infinite amount of data, all to counter the Lament disaster. When the Rover is not present in Black Shores, the Shorekeeper assumes control of all operations to ensure everything continues to run smoothly.

2) Resonator Links Can Exist Between Sentinels and Threnodians

While stated in a few various points throughout the plot of Wuthering Waves, both Sentinels and Threnodians can have a dedicated Resonator to channel their power through. Early on, players are introduced to Jinhsi, a cheerful and thoughtful girl who is the Sentinel Resonator for Jué, the Sentinel of Jinzhou. Thanks to Jué’s influence, Jinhsi’s Forte allows her to attack enemies with attacks reminiscent of Jué’s physical form, which is that of a Loong. Up until the Rinacenta arc, Jinhsi is the only Resonator of her kind in the story.

With the introduction of Cartethyia and Ragunna as a whole, throughout the story, it is stated a few times that Threondians can also have Resonators that desire to channel their powers through, usually at a severe cost. Cartethyia is the selected Resonator for the Sentinel, Imperator, and the Threnodian, Leviathan. Imperator, the Sentinel of Ragunna was forcefully assimilated by Leviathan, the Threnodian of Ragunna, meaning the Cartethyia became the Resonator for both entities at the same time. There’s a ton more to this, but basically, Cartethyia has two forms as a result: Cartethyia (her smaller form) and Fleurdelys (her original form).

Additionally, Mya, a failed Resonator for Leviathan, was introduced during the events of Septimont. Her death by suicide signifies the stark difference between being a Resonator of a Sentinel and a Resonator for a Threondian.

3) Carlotta Is Actually an Assassin

Despite her small stature, full of attitude and elegance, Carlotta is actually a hitman for the Montellia Family. Though easily missed in the story of version 2.0 due to other events occurring during the narrative, Carlotta states that she eliminates those standing in the way of her family’s goals. Her character is depicted as ruthless when needed, willing to use violence to achieve her goals.

During the storyline itself, Carlotta is referred to as the ‘Executor’ of the Montelli family, meaning she handles external and internal problems for the family, permanently eliminating any obstacles in the way of her family’s ambitions. This is made even more apparent during the events that occur during the Montelli vault situation, where both she and Rover are hunting a thief said to be inside.

4) Cantarella Was Meant to Be the Sentinel’s Resonator

You read that correctly. Imperator initially appointed Cantarella to be the Sentinel’s Resonator and desired to use her to help fight against the Threnodian Leviathan. A plan was created where Cantarella was to use the sword Tyrvine (Imperator’s power) to achieve her Second Awakening, a state of overclocking that, if she survived, would enable her to fend off the next Dark Tide (think darkness overtaking the world) event.

If Cantarella had become the Sentinel’s Resonator as intended, this would have broken the rule stating that only one appointed Resonator can exist for each Sentinel, resulting in the assumed deaths of Imperator, Leviathan, and Fleurdelys. The reason is that Imperator and Leviathan were merged, and were therefore one being with Fleurdelys as their appointed Resonator. Cantarella accepting her role would have violated this rule, which was Imperator’s plan of self-sacrifice.

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However, Cantrella decided against this and, instead, used her extremely brief tenor as the Sentinel’s Resonator to return the power (from the sword Tyrvine) to Imperator, allowing Imperator to gain control of Leviathan for a short time. In the story, this allowed Rover and an inner Fleurdelys to strike and seal the Threnodian influence within her, ultimately resulting in the Cartheyia that is playable today.

5) Camellya Is a Recruiter for The Black Shores

Despite her ruthless nature and unstable demeanor, Camellya serves as the combat recruiter for the Black Shores, a role that suits her perfectly. She lives for the thrill of battle and the pursuit of freedom, a mindset shaped by the ever-present danger of her Overclocking condition, which she is aware could end her life at any moment.

With little concern for anything outside of Rover, Camellya uses her status as a Bloombearer of the Black Shores to actively seek out powerful opponents. Her obsession with combat and fighting borders on obsession, and at times, she lusts for it with an intensity that often slips into unsettling territory.

6) Threnodians Cannot Be Killed

Despite Threnodians being physically existing entities, they cannot actually be killed. This information is very easy to miss because it is only touched on briefly during the final scene of Imperator’s demise. After merging with Leviathan, Imperator’s sanity was pretty much destroyed in the process, being horrifically corrupted in a mutated reflection of itself. This resulted in the seeping corruption of Fleurdyls as well, which is why players must face off against Fleurdyls during the Inverted Tower story arc.

However, when Cantarella sacrifices her Second Awakening to restore Imperator’s power, it briefly regains control. It is in this moment that a deeper truth is revealed: as long as human emotion and will endure, Threnodian will always exist. Even if ‘killed’, human negativity will always keep them alive. What this means is that if Imperator’s original plan had gone through as intended, it and Fleurdeyls would have died, but Leviathan would have survived, even if in a weakened state.

7) Phrolova Isn’t Actually Dead

At the end of the version 2.5 storyline, Phrolova is thrown into the energy residue of her laboratory, in which she is assumed to have met her death. While this is initially likely, Rover states, upon interacting with her ‘Lost Beyond’ world, that they can sense that Phrolova is still alive. This is an interesting bit because the next part is open to interpretation.

During version 2.5, it’s revealed that Phrolova is practically immortal due to her hybrid nature as half-human and half-Tacet Discord. Her regenerative abilities are so advanced that she can regrow entire organs, making it unlikely that her fall into the energy residue actually killed her. Even so, the cutscene that follows presents a more emotional and uncertain scene. As she descends, Phrolova comes face-to-face with the frequencies of her long-deceased family, who welcome her with warmth and open arms. The moment feels like a symbolic death or a passing into something beyond life. One thing to note is that the flowers that can be found within Phrolova’s Lost Beyond are called ‘Afterlife’, which makes this situation even more ambiguous to understand.

Whether Phrolova will return in the story remains unknown, but her presence continues to echo beneath the surface. Her chapter may be closed for now, but her story is far from finished. Fully expect her to make a return when the time is right.

The post 7 Wuthering Waves Lore Details You Probably Missed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There are a handful of games on every platform that stand out for being the best of the best, but things get a bit hazy when we look at PC. That’s because there’s so much more readily available, with many subgenres of horror and fantastic releases that date back to the 90s. With what feels like infinite options when choosing your next horror game to launch, there are some classics we’ve never forgotten and others that showed innovation that’s irreplicable on console.

This list consists of horror games that originally released or only exist on Windows. We tried to avoid games that you can get on most platforms, such as Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Dead Space, Outlast, Murder House, and Alien: Isolation. So, let’s get into our favorite PC horror games you can still play today.

18) DEAD LETTER DEPT.

The mundanity of life abruptly spirals into madness when the software at your data entry job gets contaminated by something far worse than malware. Paid to sift through junk mail and transcribe near illegible addresses, DEAD LETTER DEPT. is a haunting take on the typing game genre. Feeling trapped, as if something is pulling you along in life by a string, your control and freedom are lacking in this eerie entry that has a foreboding atmosphere. It’s surprisingly effective with its simpler plot as it uses repetition to tell its story, slowly unravelling the mystery and getting creepier with every shift.

17) Mad Father

One of the greatest RPG-maker horrors out there is Mad Father (shout-out to The Crooked Man, Ib, and The Witch’s House, too). Full of intrigue, puzzles, and exploration, curiosity gets the best of you for uncovering your father’s dark secrets felt like a pastime an 11-year-old girl might do. Having some of the most interesting and complex characters dissected in a narrative woven in the past and present, Mad Father has a clear identity with its aesthetic, gameplay, booby-trap level design, puzzles, and endings. It may not be particularly scary, but there are layers to peel back for its creepy and sometimes silly exterior hides a more disturbing truth.

16) The Midnight Scenes: The Nanny

Inspired by The Twilight Zone, The Midnight Scenes is an episodic series with gorgeous art design and compact stories that are easy to digest. The Nanny is a bite-sized horror that has impeccable writing, worldbuilding, and excellent pacing. A side-scroller with exploration, dive into the mystery of the missing nanny and pray nothing sinister has happened to her. The ’80s aesthetic and dialogue make this entertaining pick, but beware, for this episode has a slow build to a terrifying climax.

15) Home Safety Hotline

Who you gonna call for a rat infestation, black mold, or a case of a memory wisp? The Home Safety Hotline, of course! Handle callers’ queries and correctly diagnose their problems. Failure will not only harm the caller, but you could be out of a job, too! The calls start out simple, sure, but there are so many cryptic cases you must get through and navigate across the confidential, strange, and surreal entries of “less common” home infestations. You’re basically the team that comes in before The Foundation takes the SCPs away. So are you the right person for this job? Join the hotline now and enjoy the challenge, get lost in its mystery, and see if you can free each caller from their distress.

14) Yume Nikki

There is nothing like Yume Nikki. There’s no hand-holding and no obvious path on where to go next. Exploring your dreams, you take a peek into a world so far detached from our reality. Surreal and abstract imagery where kaleidoscopes, symmetry, fluorescent lights, and body parts writhe in the eternal abyss. This isn’t necessarily classified as a horror game; in fact, you can interpret the strange world of Yume Nikki in your own way. Not much makes sense, but there’s something strangely hypnotizing about this game that has no plot, no clear meaning, and no real purpose outside of being art.

13) The Cat Lady

A beautifully tragic narrative unravelled in a gory, high-contrast side-scroller tells the unforgettable story of The Cat Lady. The contrast, predominantly black and white lighting, shows the vulnerability of each character and the consistent dark themes it covers, being exposed at all angles without ever glamorizing it. A difficult game to endure, but not one you can easily put down after starting, The Cat Lady will stay with you for its violence and disturbing content.

12) IT STEALS

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A nightmarish labyrinth stands in front of you, yet each game has its own set of rules. You may have a flashlight, a camera, a will to survive—but can you outrun the thing that is chasing you? Every mode is different yet the goal remains the same: collect the orbs and get out. One of the most tense games I’ve ever played, IT STEALS is a panic-inducing horror that’s straight out of PAC-MAN‘s nightmares. It’s do or die, fight or flight, learn to adapt or you’re finished.

11) Fear & Hunger

A true testament to your will to carry on, Fear & Hunger is (without a doubt) the most punishing horror game in existence. It’s terrifying for its imagery, content, and absolutely brutal difficulty; with an otherworldly appearance like a turn-based Berserk. With zero hand-holding and horror beyond human comprehension, this adventure feels hopeless from the jump. You’re actively choosing to suffer through the fear and hunger of the past, present, and future, jumping head-first into the bottomless pit of this evil video game. It’s wickedly brilliant, but you may lose yourself while playing.

10) Lost in Vivo

Jumping into the sewers after your dog sounds like a no-brainer until you descend further into the madness, accessing a completely different realm, far from the normal life you previously knew. With bizarre, hostile creatures that have to be something Lovecraftian brings Lost in Vivo, a claustrophobic survival horror that throws you into the jaws of death. Its minuscule FOV forces you to look at the horror, making it an incredibly uncomfortable experience that’s difficult to enjoy, but its excellent level and sound design make it impossible to put down.

9) Cry of Fear

Transported into a nightmarish setting after getting in a car accident, Cry of Fear packs so much into its grimy and trippy setting that it’s hard not to be fully immersed in a new and horrifying version of Earth. The sound design and erratic behavior of the monstrosities that pursue you make this game truly unsettling. Something inhuman, uncanny, and unnatural won’t quit until it wipes the stain called you clean from this world. With imagery linked to the dark themes explored in our young protagonist, Cry of Fear may have outdated gameplay, but it remains one of the best survival horrors for its atmosphere alone.

8) Sanitarium

Playing as an amnesiac with his face covered in bandages, you must piece together his dark past while navigating the surreal world around him that blurs the line between dream and reality. Is anything you’re experiencing real, or is it just the last few synapses in your brain firing all at once? Fall down the rabbit hole and try to come out the other side a better person. It’s the journey through life, death, and everything in between. The point-and-click horror of Sanitarium has strange (and outdated) visuals that deliver a muddled, chaotic, and confused surrealistic world. But through time, you can start to make sense of your surroundings and eventually, it’ll come to make sense.

7) I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

Feeling a little too close for comfort with each passing day, I Have No Mouth is an existential nightmare that pits five humans against a torturous supercomputer. Released in 1995, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream shows its age with its frustrating puzzles and glaring bugs, but try to look past it for it’s a masterpiece in storytelling as it truly dives into the psychology of the mind, an adaptation of Harlan Ellison’s short novel. Taking the role of five different characters, each is forced to confront their deepest fears for testing and entertainment purposes now that the supercomputer has destroyed the rest of humanity.

6) Look Outside

Trapped inside your apartment building as a cosmic horror unfolds outside, curiosity tugs at you to take a peek, but doing so may be the last human thing you do. Survive 15 days as nightmares flood your home, a place once calm has now been completely stripped of its humanity. This RPG is full of grotesque monsters of people you once called your neighbors. A challenging turn-based game with a strong identity, Look Outside is masterfully crafted from its wordbuilding and narrative to the polished combat.

5) FAITH: The Unholy Trinity

You don’t need hyper-realistic graphics to make a good horror game, as FAITH demonstrates the power of fantastic sound and art design, atmosphere, and mystique crammed in a tiny 8-bit adventure. The despair is palpable, like you’ve stumbled across a cursed game possessed by the worst evils imaginable. A challenging game that is both unholy and alluring, The Unholy Trilogy is full of intricate details, etched in colorful pixels across a dark abyss as your playing ground.

4) Imscared

Acting like malware on your computer, IMSCARED makes effective use of being a PC game. Befriending a sentient computer programme that just wants a heart that cares, you must figure out the puzzles laid out before you, all while trying to avoid Imscared (a smiling pixelated face that just wants a deadly hug). Showing that less is more, what makes IMSCARED feel so alive is its use of the game’s folders and private YouTube videos to deliver most of its lore, mystery, and to push the story forward.

3) SCP: Containment Breach

The alarm sounds inside the Foundation. You’re time as a D-Class employee is up. This place was meant to be secure, to contain those monstrosities, and protect humanity. Gain higher clearance and the freedom to explore wherever you please. Use whatever you can to outsmart and outlive the monsters. With many enemies to face and endings to get, there are layers not only in its grand design, but in your enjoyment of this legendary free horror game. Don’t let its flat appearance fool you, for Containment Breach remains one of the most tense, mysterious, and entertaining games out there.

2) Penumbra: Black Plague

Following in your father’s footsteps, you descend into an abandoned research facility, only to find mindless husks of those who once worked there. What took over the facility is airborne, contaminating all lifeforms—and you’re next. Flawless voice acting and the best storytelling that note-collecting can offer, Penumbra: Black Plague is a dark adventure that’s filled with puzzles, terror, and unforgettable moments that’ll haunt you for life.

1) Amnesia: The Bunker

The ultimate game of cat and mouse, Amnesia: The Bunker is a terrifyingly claustrophobic adventure that pits you against a constant threat, stalking you from inside the same walls you’re desperately trying to escape. Left alone in an abandoned bunker with the only exit blocked by debris, you must manage your resources effectively and make as little noise as possible if you want to survive. With a hand crank flashlight and limited gasoline, the slightest sound could get you killed, so get used to navigating around in the darkness. Block the holes, outsmart the monster, and live.

The post 18 Best Horror Games for PC, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Users of itch.io were shocked to discover this morning that the platform has “deindexed” games that have been deemed NSFW. Basically, certain games are now hidden from people attempting to search or browse for them. Unlike the recent crackdown of games with adult content on Steam, itch.io has directly addressed the controversy in a statement posted to its website. In the statement, itch.io confirms what many had suspected happened with Steam; a group called Collective Shout launched a campaign against both platforms, targeting the payment processors that allow them to do business. If these allegations are accurate, Collective Shout is basically censoring content on these platforms.

“This is a time critical moment for itch.io. The situation developed rapidly, and we had to act urgently to protect the platform’s core payment infrastructure,” the company wrote in a statement. “Unfortunately, this meant it was not realistic to provide creators with advance notice before making this change. We know this is not ideal, and we apologize for the abruptness of this change.”

The statement from itch.io notes that all of this has come about as the result of a game called No Mercy, which was banned from the platform several months ago. No Mercy featured content dealing with rape and incest, and that generated a lot of publicity at the time. While the game has not been available on Steam or itch.io for a while now, the controversy seemed to give Collective Shout an opportunity to launch a campaign against the two platforms. As a result, countless additional games are no longer available for purchase.

A “comprehensive audit” is now underway at itch.io, and the statement makes it clear that some games will end up being “permanently removed” in order to comply with the demands of payment processors. The developers of these games will be sent an email notifying them of the removal. Unfortunately, it sounds like creators were not given advance notice prior to the deindexing. It’s also not clear exactly what content is being deemed NSFW, which is causing a significant amount of confusion. While itch.io has been a lot more transparent compared to Steam last week, there has still been a lot of frustration directed towards the company over its handling of the situation.

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It’s impossible to say how many Steam and itch.io users were actually buying this adult only content, but users see this as a slippery slope that will allow groups to target any type of content that they have an issue with. If sexual content is a problem, that could inevitably lead to games like The Witcher III: Wild Hunt being banned, or Cyberpunk 2077, or even the next Grand Theft Auto. Fans have also raised concerns about games that feature LGBTQ+ content being targeted, which could result in games like Celeste or A Normal Lost Phone being removed from platforms. Right now, Steam and itch.io users have a lot of reasons to be concerned with how things are being handled.

Are you concerned about games being targeted like this? Do you think itch.io is doing enough to combat censorship from outside parties? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Itch.io Abruptly Hides All NSFW Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Epic Games Store has a new free game this week that is available to all PC users between now and the end of the month. Come July 31, it will be replaced with a new free game, but until then all PC users can download, play, and keep the game for free perpetually. And as always with Epic Games Store, all that is needed is an account, which costs nothing to make or keep.

The new free Epic Games Store game in question is Legion TD 2 – Multiplayer Tower Defense from AutoAttack Games. A multiplayer and single-player game, Legion TD 2 – Multiplayer Tower Defense was released in 2021, and boasts solid review scores. While it doesn’t have a Metacritic score, it has a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, thanks to 86 percent of 11,387 user reviews rating the game positively. Obviously, the PC version available on Steam is the same as the PC version available on EGS.

“Endless waves of enemies threaten your king,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “Assemble your army from over 100 unique fighters, each with its own strengths and abilities. Empower your defenses with auras and spells, and change the tides of battle by unleashing powerful mercenary attacks. How many waves can you last before your defenses collapse and your king falls? Outwit and break your opponents before they break you.”

“Great game, bit overwhelming at first, but once you get a grip on it, you can do amazing combinations and use interesting strategies to destroy your opponents,” reads one of the aforementioned user reviews for the game.

Another user review adds: “Really nice game, loved to play the mod back in the day and love playing this one even more. Every game feels unique which gives a lot of replayability, even better with a friend!”

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Normally, Legion TD 2 – Multiplayer Tower Defense costs $24.99 on both Epic Games Store and PC, so this new free game offer is saving PC users a nice chunk of change.

For more Epic Games Store coverage — including all of the latest Epic Games Store news, all of the latest Epic Games Store deals, and all of the latest Epic Games Store free games — click here.

The post Epic Games Store Has a New Free Multiplayer Game for Everyone appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dune: Awakening is the latest game to expand upon the rich world of Arrakis, and it’s now been out long enough for players to have a decent feel for it. Unfortunately, that also means that the players have had enough time to figure out how to exploit mechanics in their favor, even if the developers are trying to handle those situations and patch them out as they appear. As you might expect with any game that includes survival and some kind of PVP, it doesn’t take long for players to be the ones who ruin the experience of the game for other players.

One of the big issues that has spoiled Dune: Awakening for some players is how PVP is somewhat necessary if you want to participate in endgame content. The lack of dedicated PVE servers means that you might end up deciding that you don’t want to commit to the game, and that’s a big part of why the recent reviews for Dune: Awakening on Steam have now dipped down to “Mixed.”

Players Have Become Menaces in Dune: Awakening

From its release, this has been the case to some extent in Dune: Awakening. Some of the early issues came from bugs, which led to Funcom deciding to release daily patches in the beginning in an effort to smooth out gameplay and problems as much as possible between major patches. Luckily, you don’t have to worry as much about bug-related problems ruining the game for you, as it runs decently well with far fewer glitches.

One of the first—and possibly most memorable—ways that players started tormenting each other came from figuring out that you can crush people in PVP areas with an ornithopter. There’s not a lot you can do against an ornithopter that’s determined to flatten you like a pancake, which is understandably frustrating for the players being squished. That can be enough to deter many from continuing the game.

RELATED – Dune Awakening Console Release Is Further Away Than Hoped

Of course, ornithopters aren’t the only overpowered way you can frustrate other players, and this next method isn’t limited to PVP areas. Some players have decided to bait sandworms to players crossing the sands, which is a special kind of diabolical. When you die to a sandworm, you lose everything you’re carrying and can’t get it back. Losing everything you have with you is enough to make anybody quit a game, especially if it sets back your progress.

Now, the latest issues seem to be players finding ways to dupe items. It’s a lot more mild than the other two examples, but depending on how the duping glitches are used, it can become annoying. Given the progression of various exploits, even weeks after the game’s initial release, it feels like there’s always going to be a new issue that comes up, and the option to have fully functional private servers for those who want to enjoy Dune: Awakening without worrying about losing everything to mean-spirited players.

The post Dune: Awakening Players Are Ruining the Game for Each Other appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Unique, science meets chaos, co-op survival game Abiotic Factor just received an utterly massive content update, officially emerging from Early Access with a feature-packed 1.0 update. Players can now dive headfirst into the full release experience of the title, richer and far more unpredictable than ever seen before. Whether you’re barricading hallways with lab equipment or improvising weapons from office supplies, the game’s chaotic charm and high-stakes experimentation have been cranked up to the next level.

Alongside a brand new 1.0 trailer, developer Deep Field Games has also released an incredibly extensive list of patch notes for the Abiotic Factor 1.0 release, which pretty much touch on every aspect of the title. There are so many significant changes listed that it is impossible to provide them all here. Even so, here are several highlights worth immediately noting:

General Gameplay Changes:

• Crossplay is now live! PS5 and Xbox scientists will be joining our scientific community. Please treat them nicely and show them the ropes!
• There is now a rudimentary compass on the Wristwatch. While in portal worlds, accuracy may vary.
• Added a wristwatch icon to the default wristwatch equip slot. No, you can’t equip a new watch at this time.
• Updated the startup movie.
• Updated splash screen text a bit. (Press any key to begin, etc.)
• It’s still not Nebraska.
• Some specific items can now be used in the Shield Slot – now called the Off-Hand Armament slot.
• A handful of new items have been added to fill this role and can be activated by pressing secondary fire, the same method to block with shields.
• Item Dispensers now have the official name of Quantum Exchanger, which is closer to what the Abiotic Factor wiki editors called it anyway. Great job, scientists.
• Area of Effect damage can now affect other things, such as furniture.
• Removed character rotation arrows from the Transmogrifier. The Lead Programmer told us we’re not allowed to rotate the scientist during gameplay or “bad things would happen.” It was not clear if he meant “to the game” or “to us.”

Combat & Balance Changes:

• Bullets now properly go to the laser dot (while also being affected by bullet spread around that dot location.) This fixes a bug introduced in Dark Energy, where the aim was offset from the laser dot and would never go where you thought it would go.
• Bullets now do 90% of their normal damage to Body Shields, down from 100%, due to new ways to deal with these shields more effectively.
• Shield Blocking has been reworked to be more balanced, but also a bit more interesting. Shields now have a value of Light, Medium, and Heavy. Shields will resist damage equal to or LOWER than their value. For example, a Medium Shield will resist Medium and Light damage, but not Heavy. When a shield fails to block a certain type of damage, it will still allow some of that damage to bleed through and injure the wielder.
• Made completely blocking damage with a shield award Fortitude XP.
• Energy Pistol (and its new upgrade) now deal slightly more snappy damage, with less delay on the actual damage itself. Largely remains unchanged otherwise.
• The  Spear has received a substantial buff to bring it more in line with the weapon used to craft it.
• Damage from  Grenades now completely resets the Body Shield cooldown, instead of just setting the Body Shield health to zero. This includes for enemies who have not yet entered combat or otherwise powered on their Body Shields.
•  Shield now has a 30% chance to attackers, up from a measly 10% chance.
• The Pipe Pistol no longer has a fire delay..
• Base Assault logic has been greatly improved, allowing enemies to spawn in more interesting arrangements, often outside the base, or if the base is too difficult to find a good path to, the AI director will simply not assault the base at all. Previously, in this instance, the director would spawn enemies in really strange spots, or inside furniture. That should happen less, or not at all.
• Added a maximum time for assaults, in case enemies get stuck or destroy the majority of the base. They won’t necessarily go away, but they may lose interest in the initial assault location and find new things to do.
• Large improvements to the throwing arc visual, including pulsing it when cooking a throwable object, such as a grenade. Additional sounds have been added as well.

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Portal World Changes:

• Various blast doors or other doors in Portal Worlds will no longer reset when the Portal World resets, leaving your shortcuts open on return trips.
• Replaced some off-brand artwork in Flathill with some proper artwork crafted lovingly by human hands. Humans hands with 5 fingers, even. Human hands by the name of Shaun. Human hands that are now clutching money we gave the human hands, because we like paying human hands to do human artwork.
• There’s a lead vest somewhere in Flathill. We can’t believe we didn’t notice it until now!
• Updated soccer field in Flathill. About time the city council stepped up and did something!

Weather Changes:

• Weather is now more likely to trigger if it was recently unlocked via progression through the Facility, instead of the system picking any random weather. This increases the likelihood of seeing new weathers as you progress. This chance will also just slightly outweigh weather types that are “requested”, e.g. by eating food that may cause weather to occur.

These highlights barely even scratch the surface of the sheer volume of changes Abiotic Factor has received since leaving its Early Access heading into version 1.0. Version 1.0 is ridiculously dense with content, and if you’d like to view all of the changes, you can view the full patch details on the game’s official Steam Page. Ready your reading glasses.

The post Abiotic Factor Gets a Massive 1.0 Update for Launch Day appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Riot Games may be best known for their MOBA, League of Legends, but this morning, it was their upcoming tag-based fighter, 2XKO, that took center stage. Riot shared a brand-new update that caught both fighting game fans and League veterans off guard. While 2XKO has already seen early gameplay reveals, character spotlights, and even previous Alpha tests, this marks the most substantial update in months. The new trailer came with something fans have been waiting for since day one.

2XKO is Riot’s 2D fighting game set within the League of Legends universe, and it has steadily built a solid reputation for fluid animations and a highly stylized presentation. Combined with the fact that it is set within League of Legends, you have a seemingly easy recipe for success. Before, only very few players could get access to the title, but now, players will finally have the chance to try it for themselves. Riot has announced an upcoming Closed Beta, and

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According to the brand new trailer, the Closed Beta is expected to go live later this year on September 9th. Riot has stated that they intend to keep the Closed Beta up and active going forward, with no plans of an end date, instead opting to update the game as development on the title continues.

Players can now sign up for the 2XKO upcoming Closed Beta with this announcement. It was also stated that the Closed Beta would be rolling out to players on PC first, with crossplay and cross-progression enabled. This means you can start playing the game on PC, and swap over to your preferred platform of your choice when they are later supported. Additionally, Riot mentioned that they intend to grant access to many players (those who sign up) at the start of the beta, and will continue rolling out access as the beta moves forward. Players who have already played in Alpha Lab One or Alpha Lab Two will also automatically have access to the upcoming Closed Beta, a nice gesture by Riot Games.

Lastly, Riot capped off the announcement with a major character reveal. Vi, one of the most iconic champions in the League of Legends universe, is officially joining the 2XKO roster. Known for her gritty brawling fighting style and starring role in Arcane, Vi brings a gritty, aggressive energy to an already stacked lineup of champions. She will be fully playable at the start of the Closed Beta, giving players a chance to experience her explosive combat style in a whole new way, quite a bit different from your standard League of Legends match.

With 2XKO, it’s clear Riot Games is aiming to make a serious mark on the competitive fighting game scene. The game is designed to offer a strong mix of accessibility and depth alongside a roster full of familiar champions from the League of Legends universe. As development moves forward and more characters are revealed, 2XKO continues to look less like a side project and more like a major step forward for Riot’s ever-expanding game portfolio.

The post Riot Announces 2XKO Closed Beta With New Trailer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In today’s post-Genshin gaming sphere, the gacha game genre has become incredibly saturated with new titles, many of which are of exceptionally high quality, even when compared to other AAA games outside the genre. No longer are gacha games viewed as simple, low-effort mobile money sinks. Studios across the globe have begun investing in quality storytelling, high-fidelity visuals, and combat systems that rival, or even overshadow, more traditional console experiences.

With this new gold standard firmly in place, the competition has grown fierce. More and more games are throwing their hats into the ring, each trying to innovate on a genre that is no longer niche, but global. And while the flood of new titles can feel overwhelming, there are a few gems on the horizon that stand out. The following are projects with the potential to shake up the landscape just as much as Genshin Impact once did, and have shown gameplay.

1) Arknights: Endfield

Arknights: Endfield is easily one of the most unique upcoming gacha games you can set your eyes on. Developed by Hypergryph, Endfield is an RPG that combines the tactical, party-based combat akin to Xenoblade Chronicles 2 with heavy management systems similar to titles like Satisfactory. It’s an ambitious leap from the tower-defense roots of the original Arknights, aiming to deliver a full 3D world with equally strategic depth.

Players will get to explore Talos-II, a dangerous alien world where building infrastructure and automating resources is of considerable importance. Your base is your life in Endfield, and almost every other important gameplay mechanic revolves around it in some way. There’s an almost RTS-like layer to the gameplay loop that emphasizes long-term progression, rewarding players who plan intelligently and optimize their operations. Think less “daily grind” and more “interconnected systems working in harmony.”

Arknights: Endfield has already had two closed beta sessions but does not have an officially set release date. However, there have been numerous rumors that suggest a possible August 2025 release. Whether that release occurs remains to be seen, but you’ll want to keep a close eye on this one if you’re looking for a truly unique title in the gacha space.

2) Azur Promilia

Azur Promilia is shaping up to be a standout in the gacha gaming landscape, blending action with creature collection as its primary focus. Dubbed a “Creature Companionship Fantasy World RPG”, Azur Promilia promises players a rich fantasy experience with a large open world, comparable in size and scope to something akin to Genshin Impact, to explore along with numerous unique creatures to collect.

As with most gacha games, you’ll also be collecting new characters consistently as you progress through the game’s world. Developer Manjuu Network Technology has additionally stated that all collectible characters in this upcoming title are female, due to the developer’s affinity toward creating said female characters. Considering that Manjuu Network Technology is also responsible for Azur Lane, an already released gacha title with an all-female cast, their direction with Azur Promilia makes complete sense.

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While Azur Promilia does not currently have a release date, you can currently pre-register on the title’s main website. There is also an upcoming closed beta that will shed further light title’s contents.

3) Neverness to Everness

Neverness to Everness might be one of the most daring and genre-defying gacha games on the horizon. From the very first reveal, it has made no attempt to hide its influences, blending elements of both Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves with the chaotic open-world freedom and urban sandbox energy of Grand Theft Auto. It’s a combination that, on paper, shouldn’t work. But based on the available gameplay footage, Neverness to Everness looks surprisingly cohesive and packed with potential.

Developed by Hotta Studio, the minds behind MMO gacha Tower of Fantasy, Neverness to Everness leans heavily into supernatural fantasy with a strong urban setting. The characters ooze personality with slick, nice-to-look-at animations, each with a strong sense of identity. The world itself appears alive, filled with culture, with many hidden layers to explore, much like you’d find in a Grand Theft Auto title. Most notably and promptly featured, verticality, environmental traversal, and urban interactivity all give Neverness to Everness a feeling unlike any other gacha game to date.

While there is no known release date for Neverness to Everness, the title has had two closed betas with solid player reception, meaning this one game you’ll want to keep on your radar.

4) Silver Palace

One of the newer gacha games announced on this list, Silver Palace is one of the most intriguing upcoming gacha titles, blending stylish action RPG combat with deep detective work and a mystery-driven narrative. Combined with the character design’s sharp anime aesthetic, the visual flair of Silver Palace appears incredibly impressive.

Set in a dense, Victorian metropolis, Silver Palace casts players as the Detective, and players can expect to participate in investigative segments that are somewhat reminiscent of the detective mechanics found in the Batman Arkham franchise. According to early gameplay footage, players will need to read environments carefully, making informed decisions while solving puzzles and mysteries, all the while utilizing the title’s flashy action-based combat system to deal with occasional supernatural threats. Silver Palace is certainly an unusual fusion of action-RPG combat balanced by narrative-driven investigative gameplay.

Developed by Silver Studio, Silver Palace currently doesn’t have a confirmed release date, having been recently announced just a few months ago. However, the buzz surrounding its early footage has steadily grown its interest. This is definitely another title to keep your eye on.

5) Duet Night Abyss

Duet Night Abyss is a high-speed action RPG that wears its inspirations proudly, particularly from Warframe. With its fluid movement system and acrobatic combat design, the game makes it clear that mobility is highly important to its gameplay. Players can bullet jump, wall-run, and chain stylish attacks with precision and flair, giving combat a sense of velocity and weight rarely seen in the gacha space.

Developed by HK Hero Entertainment Games, Duet Night Abyss is built around a dual-character system, where players control two protagonists with unique combat styles and narrative perspectives. This duality is central to both gameplay and narrative. From a gameplay standpoint, players will be able to collect several types of weapons and swap seamlessly between melee and ranged loadouts. Like every gacha on this list, you’ll also be collecting new characters with various abilities to further customize your playstyle.

Duet Night Abyoss has already gone through at least two closed beta phases, and impressions from early testers have been largely positive. Even so, the title does not currently have a confirmed release date.

Whether you’re a longtime gacha enthusiast or just getting started, these five upcoming titles prove that the future of gacha is anything but stale. These five titles all showcase bold ambitions and innovations from developers looking to spawn the next best gacha in the space. Each is aiming to refine what a gacha game can be, and they’re all absolutely worth following with great interest.

The post 5 Upcoming Gacha Games You Need to Keep an Eye On appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the best horror games of 2025, according to user reviews, is currently available to horror fans for just $4.49. The horror game in question currently has a 93 percent approval rating after 225 user reviews, which in turn makes it one of the highest-rated horror games of the year, at least on Steam. That said, it was just released and is flying under the radar, so many PC users have probably never heard of it.

The new horror game in question is Who’s at the Door from Skonec Entertainment, who returns for its second release after 2024’s Another Door: Escape Room. The adventure horror game is not the biggest or flashiest horror game of 2025, but so far it is proving to be a fan-favorite among horror fans on Steam.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt uneasy because of a horror game, or been scared by a jumpscare. This game gave me both. 10/10,” reads one of the user reviews in question, and the most popular user review at that.

Those interested in checking out the horror game only have to fork over $4.49 to do so, though this price is only available until July 25. Meanwhile, those on Steam Deck specifically may want to wait for more information, as right now Steam Deck compatability is listed as “Unknown.”

“You are trapped in a small house, suffering from psychosis with no memory,” reads an official pitch of the horror game. “Carefully observe your surroundings to distinguish reality from hallucinations, and overcome your illness by taking medication from visitors at the right time.”

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One of the reasons Who’s at the Door is so cheap is that it is only one to two hours long, though it offers multiple endings, which facilitates more than one playthrough of the horror game.

Right now, Steam is the only place to play Who’s at the Door. The game is not available on any console nor is there any word of it coming to console. Whether this will change over time, remains to be seen.

For more coverage on all things Steam and Steam related — including all of the latest Steam news, all of the latest Steam rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Steam deals — click here.

The post One of the Best Horror Games of 2025 Is Only $4.49 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Epic Games Store users have a bonus free game available right now, courtesy of Prime Gaming. And it’s a viral horror game from 15 years ago. That said, as any offer that comes with Prime Gaming, those on PC interested will need an Amazon Prime subscription. Those on PC with an Amazon Prime subscription can nab a free EGS code for the horror game in question until August 11. In other words, PC users have roughly 23 days to redeem the limited time offer.

The horror game in question is Amnesia: The Dark Descent from 2010. The first game in the series it spawned, Amnesia: The Dark Descent put its developer, Frictional Games, on the map as previously the Swedish studio was an unknown quantity. It also spawned three follow ups: Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs in 2013, Amnesia: Rebirth in 2020, and Amnesia: The Bunker in 2023. To date the first game remains the best-known and best-selling game in the survival-horror series, partially because it went viral back during the peak of the Let’s Play days on YouTube, with the likes of PewDiePie and more making viral videos playing it.

Back in 2010, it garnered positive reviews upon release as evident by its 85 on Metacritic. More than this, it was a pioneer in the indie horror space, and remains relevant and is still played 15 years later. To this end, the PC version has an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam, the highest rating a PC game can earn on Steam. This is thanks to a 95 percent approval rating across nearly 20,000 user reviews.

“The last remaining memories fade away into darkness. Your mind is a mess and only a feeling of being hunted remains. You must escape. Awake,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “Amnesia: The Dark Descent, a first person survival horror. A game about immersion, discovery and living through a nightmare. An experience that will chill you to the core. You stumble through the narrow corridors as the distant cry is heard. It is getting closer.”

Those that decide to take advantage of this offer should expect to sit down with the survival horror game for about 8 to 12 hours depending on playstyle and completion rate.

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For more Epic Games Store coverage — including all of the latest Epic Games Store news, all of the latest Epic Games Store deals, and all of the latest Epic Games Store free games — click here.

The post Epic Games Store Users Can Now Get Viral Horror Game for Free appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Grounded 2, the sequel to the 2020 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-inspired survival crafting game Grounded, is releasing into Early Access and Xbox Game Preview very soon. As the release date is fast approaching, there are a few things for fans of the series to be aware of before they can get their hands on it. Those wishing to pick up the game will want to weigh the different versions available, the returning features, and which platform would be the best to dive into.

The Game Preview and Early Access releases on Xbox and Steam will both be available starting on July 29th. 

For Microsoft enjoyers, the game is compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud, and Xbox PC through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to play the game as soon as it releases, at no additional cost beyond their existing subscription fee. The game also supports save cross-compatibility between consoles and PCs through Microsoft’s “Xbox Play Anywhere” initiative. This means Xbox players can seamlessly start up their survival journey on any device that is most convenient.

Those without a Game Pass subscription or players who want to sign up for the Steam version will need to pay $29.99 to access the Standard edition. There is also a Founder’s Edition available for $39.99, with an $10 upgrade option for those who change their minds later. Officially titled the “Minotaurs, Myrmidons, and Mants: Oh My! Founder’s Edition,” players can expect exclusive content from this bundle, including:

• Premium Skins
• Emotes
• Additional Secret Items
• “Onyx-Pro, Inside the Game” Digital Artbook & Soundtrack

All versions of the game will gift players a free “Tools of Yore” decorative set, which provides effigies resembling the Pebblet Hammer, Pebblet Axe, Repair Tool, and Acorn Shovel. Every version also comes with new and returning accessibility features, including the infamous Arachnophobia Safe Mode that allows players to tweak the appearance of spiders to make them less scary. Other accessibility features include:

• Colorblind Settings
• “Read to Me” narration assistance
• Localized languages that include English, French, Castilian Spanish, German, Italian, Latin American Spanish, and Simplified Chinese.

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In a July 16th release to Xbox Wire, Senior Communications Manager Shyla Schofield promised that the team is committed to adding additional languages and that the available game options were “just the beginning” as the team continues “building on them with community input throughout development.”

The release from Schofield emphasized how the exclusive content from upgraded game versions would “not affect gameplay or progression,” suggesting that the game’s philosophy eschews that kind of monetization. Some fans were skeptical when the official Grounded X account recently posted a commitment to “no microtransactions,” despite the announcement of the exclusive Founders content pack.

The original Grounded followed a similar monetization structure, though the only additional content offered during its development lifecycle was the game’s original soundtrack. Grounded 2 has retained its previous leading developer, Obsidian Entertainment, and its publisher, Xbox Game Studios, so it stands to reason that its monetization style would be similar. Grounded 2 also gained an additional developer, Eidos-Montréal, which, according to reports, helped flesh out the story and characters for this latest release.

While Early Access titles can often be very hit or miss, it’s refreshing to see an upcoming one that has generally positive sentiments around it. Are you planning to pick up Grounded 2 in Early Access/Game Preview? Are these exclusive features for the Founder’s pack worth the extra investment?

The post Grounded 2 Release Date, Xbox Game Pass, & Exclusives Explained appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A free, 2025 RPG is being removed from Steam in five days on July 24. This means PC users have roughly five days to grab the free Steam game. Those on Steam Deck interested in adding the free Steam game to their library can, but should note that its Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Unknown.” According to Valve, this means there is zero official information on the RPG’s Steam Deck compatibility. And now that the PC game is being removed from Steam, this is never going to change.

The free-to-play PC game was only released on Steam back on March 6, so this is a very quick shutdown. And neither developer Seraph Studio nor publisher Cherry Credits provides any information about why the RPG is being removed from sale and shut down. That said, it is presumably because the game — Seraph: In the Darkness — is costing more money than it is making. Meanwhile, its reception has not exactly been positive either.

On Steam, the free RPG has a “Mixed” rating after 739 user reviews, though word of its shutdown has artificially dropped this number as recent reviews have been negative. That said, it isn’t very surprising to see this influx of negative reviews when you consider that the game is shutting down so quickly after release, leaving players who sunk money into the RPG with nothing.

“Thank you for your enthusiastic participation and support throughout this season of Seraph,” reads a statement about the shut down. “As we approach the end of the current season, we would like to inform you of the official season conclusion and the scheduled shutdown of the game servers.

The statement continues: “We sincerely thank all players for being a part of this season. The development team will continue working to deliver richer and higher-quality content in the future.”

As of right now, there is no word of any refunds nor word of an offline mode nor word of what is next for the IP nor the studio behind it. Perhaps a further red flag is the fact that this is the debut release from both the developer and publisher.

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At the moment of publishing, since issuing the shutdown announcement, neither the developer nor the publisher has said a word further. If this changes, we will update the story accordingly.

For more coverage on all things Steam — including all of the latest Steam news, all of the latest Steam deals, and all of the latest Steam free games — click here.

The post Free Steam RPG Is Only Available for 5 Days Before It’s Gone Forever appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A recent Helldivers 2 update intended to improve status effects across the board but has instead left many players in the community scratching their heads. What were labeled as “buffs” in the patch notes have seemingly had the opposite effect in gameplay, with status interactions now behaving inconsistently with the stated notes. Arrowhead Studios, the esteemed developers behind Helldivers 2, have a checkered history when it comes to balance changes, as situations like this have been commonplace in the past.

The Helldivers 2 Patch 01.003.200, released just this week, is the culprit behind this situation. The patch was primarily intended as a balance pass, but several notes specifically highlighted “buffs” to status effects like Burn and Stun. However, the changes appear to have backfired. According to Arrowhead, the root of the issue seems to stem from a standing bug where status effect application was scaling with the number of players in a lobby. In short, the more players present, the more reliably status effects would trigger and deal more damage, meaning solo players were unknowingly at a disadvantage.

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Helldivers 2 Update Just Buffed Many Weapons and Stratagems

This odd behavior isn’t entirely new. Before the patch, players had already noticed similar issues occurring, particularly with the De-escalator grenade launcher, which was, reportedly, dealing significantly less damage during solo play when compared to multiplayer sessions. Rather than resolving the issue, Patch 01.003.200 seems to have brought it further into the spotlight, with the supposed “buffs” only leaving status effects feeling weaker than before.

In a highlight video released when Patch 01.003.200 officially launched, Arrowhead Studios stated that the bug causing the status effects to build too quickly was fixed with the release, and that the “buffs” in the notes themselves were compensation for the fix. However, many in the Helldivers 2 community feel that they were not enough. Weapons that relied heavily on Burn, like the Flamethrower, or Stun, like the Arc Thrower, are reportedly far less effective than before the balance patch, unable to apply their respective effects quickly enough. The result is that many in the community feel that these weapons are now far too weak or risky for effective usage.

More concerning, Arrowhead has not released an official statement or hotfix addressing the issues, leaving the community in a state of limbo. At this time, it remains unclear whether the current weakened state of status effects is intentional on Arrowhead’s part or the result of another unintended bug. With the ongoing Galactic War and recent Warbond additions drawing players back into the fight, the timing couldn’t be worse. Many are now calling for clearer communication from the developers and a faster turnaround on fixes to ensure Helldivers aren’t diving headfirst into buggy or broken mechanics.

Status effects are a powerful tool in Helldivers 2, especially against swarming enemies like the Terminids, where effects like Stun can make or break a mission. However, the issue isn’t with the effects themselves, but with how difficult they’ve become to apply. With build-up values seemingly nerfed or bugged, getting these valuable effects to trigger now feels like an uphill battle better resolved with more traditional weaponry.

Until Arrowhead clarifies the situation or delivers a fix, players are stuck with weapons that no longer deliver when it matters most, turning once-reliable gear into risky picks on the frontlines.

The post Helldivers 2 Update’s “Buffs” Actually Made Things Worse appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In a scheduled broadcast early this morning, the Wuthering Waves developer, Kuro Games, has unveiled numerous details about the upcoming 2.5 update. For starters, the update has been officially dubbed “Unfading Melody of Life.” The poetic name alone suggests at a more emotionally resonant chapter ahead. The presentation gave fans a glimpse into what’s next for Rover and Solaris-3, setting the tone for a significant chapter in the game’s ongoing journey. Full details about what to expect were shared during the stream, and there’s plenty to look forward to.

The 2.5 update for Wuthering Waves is slated to bring a healthy amount of new content into the game when it releases this month on July 24. The livestream hosts highlighted a variety of new content, including a brand new Resonator, a limited-time event, and the next chapter of the main storyline. Numerous quality-of-life improvements were additionally confirmed toward the end of the stream, continuing Kuro game’s streak of providing quality content to the players.

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The narrative in Wuthering Waves version 2.5 kicks off where 2.4 left off, this time, centering on the long-time antagonist, Phrolova. While it is unclear how much of villain Phrolova will be during this update, according to the trailer, it appears the Rover will work together in some limited capacity. This idea is further supported by the reveal of Phrolova being the next playable Resonator, obtainable once version 2.5 goes live. According to the livestream, Phrolova is the only new Resonator coming in the version update, but there are three returning characters getting their rerun at the same time.

Wuthering Waves Version 2.5 Banner Schedule

As with every update in Wuthering Waves, the active Resonator banners will shift between phases after enough time has passed. The banners are split into two phases, Phase 1 and Phase 2, and once Phase 1 ends, Phase 2 will begin. Here is the current schedule for slated for version 2.5:

Phase 1 Banners (July 24)

• 5* Phrolova – Havoc Rectifier
  • Signature Weapon: Lethean Elegy
• 5* Roccia – Havoc Gauntlets
  • Signature Weapon: Tragicomedy

Phase 2 Banners (TBD)

• 5* Brant – Fusion Sword
  • Signature Weapon: Unflickering Valor
• 5* Cantarella – Havoc Rectifer
  • Signature Weapon: Whispers of Sirens

During the duration of both Phases, the following 4* Resonators will be obtainable:

• 4* Lumi – Electro Broadsword
• 4* Yuanwu – Electro Gauntlet
• 4* Taoqi – Havoc Broadsword

Wuthering Waves Version 2.5 Content and Events

Alongside the new main storyline and the new banner pulls, Wuthering Waves version 2.5 will also bring a slew of new content and events to the game. Beginning with the content itself, here’s what players can expect once the update goes live:

New Content

• New Area – Fabricatrium of the Deep
  • New Puzzles
  • Seabed Ocean-themed
  • Isolated from the rest of Solaris-3
• New Enemies
  • Abyssal Gunmaster
  • Fractsidus Inspector
• New Boss – Primus Fenrico, Leader of the Order
• New Echos
  • Nightmare: Hecate
  • Nightmare: Tambourinist
  • Nightmare: Glacio Predator
  • Nightmare: Havoc Warrior
• New Sonata Set – Dream of the Lost
  • 3-Piece Set Bonus
• Dreaming Deep Update – New Theaters

New Events

The following events will be live at some point during the duration of Wuthering Waves version 2.5. Some may not be active directly at release:

• New Overtune Event Quest – “Rust, Sword, and the Sun”
  • Dive into Augusta’s past
• Phantasma Dreamland
  • Phrolova-focused management mini-game
• Overflowing Picturebook
  • Overflowing Palette-focused Event
• Deep Sea Survey
  • Photo Collection Event
  • Focused on Fabricatrium of the Deep
• Exploration Event: The Border Mountains
• Gifts of Grand Symphony
  • 7-Day Login Event

The details for all of these new content updates and events were showcased during the version 2.5 livestream and can be viewed for further context. Players can expect to earn Astrite pull currency, as well as other useful resources, for participating.

Wuthering Waves is available for download on PS5, iOS, Android and PC via Epic Games and Steam.

The post Wuthering Waves 2.5 Event Reveals Brand New Content Ahead of Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In a surprise drop, developer ArenaNet has officially unveiled Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity, the next major expansion in the long-running MMO’s ever-expanding saga. This reveal comes from a brand new announcement trailer ArenaNet posted on their official Guild Wars 2 YouTube channel. Visions of Eternity is the sixth expansion to the Guild Wars 2 MMORPG, and it follows after the title’s Janthir Wilds expansion, released on August 20th, 2022.

Along with the announcement trailer, ArenaNet has revealed significant information relating to the contents of the upcoming Guild Wars 2 expansion in a recent blog post. According to the post, Visions of Eternity is set on the unknown island of Castora, a landmass thought to be previously inaccessible. The Inquest, a major hostile faction in the Guild Wars universe, has begun launching secret voyages in search of Castora, and these actions have led to concern across the title’s major factions. As the Protagonist, your goal will be to discover the secrets of the Inquest plot and put a stop to it, if possible.

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The announcement blog post also dives into specific details about the content players can expect in Visions of Eternity, offering a clearer look at what’s coming in the expansion. According to the post, there will be nine new Elite Specializations introduced, one for each of Guild Wars 2’s core Professions. These new Elite Specializations will come with new Trait lines and a plethora of brand-new skills to play around with. If you’re unaware, Elite Specializations in Guild Wars 2 function like advanced Professions, often dramatically changing the way a core Profession functions, but maintaining that Profession’s thematic scope.

While no specific details were given about the Elite Specializations themselves, ArenaNet has announced that from August 20th to August 27th, they will be holding an in-game preview week where players can beta test all of the new Elite Specializations. All players with a Guild Wars 2 account in good standing can participate in this event.

Beyond Profession-related content, Visions of Eternity will also introduce two brand-new Raid encounters. According to the announcement blog, these raids will include a challenge mode and a legendary mode in a future major update during the run of the expansion. In addition, there will also be brand-new Legendary Treasures for players to chase after. A new Homestead map will be made available for players who own both the Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds and Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity expansions.

ArenaNet has also revealed the pre-purchase bonuses for purchasing the new expansion before its official release on October 28th, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC -7). According to ArenaNet, purchasing Visions of Eternity early will net you three unique rewards:

• A Plumed Commodore’s Hat Helm Skin
• The “Eternal Alchemist” Exclusive Title
• A Chromatic Resin Weapon Skin of your choice

Note that these rewards are all exclusive to players who pre-purchase the expansion. For full details on pre-purchase options, you can visit the expansion’s official store page on the Guild Wars 2 official website.

The post Brand New Guild Wars 2 Expansion Revealed in New Trailer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Warframe developer, Digital Extremes, has just unveiled a cryptic new teaser titled ‘A New and Toxic Paradise’ hinting at what could be Warframe’s next major content update. The brief but visually striking footage offers very little in terms of direct answers or context about what the trailer is showing. The trailer showcases a sort of desolate, corrupted wasteland filled with unidentified wreckage and potentially bodies. The shape and golden appearance of the wreckage suggest that the trailer is teasing brand new content relating to the Orokin, a technologically advanced race in the Warframe universe, and by extension, the Tau System.

Unlike Warframe’s more vibrant locales, the world showcased in ‘A New Toxic Paradise’ feels almost hollow, with a clear emphasis on ruin or decay. The flythrough in the trailer suggests an atmosphere that is thick with a hidden tension, aided solely by a haunting vocal track playing in the background. While nothing in the teaser directly states what this potential content update is related to, the presence of Orokin-style architecture and relics implies that the ancient civilization, which has long since played a major role in shaping Warframe’s lore, is among the focal points for the update.

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This new teaser follows closely on the heels of a previous one titled ‘Our History is Smoke’, which Digital Extremes released just three days ago on their official YouTube channel. That trailer featured the same lifeless wasteland, but with a central focus on a Mag Prime lying face-up in the sand. The Warframe’s appearance, particularly the Prime variant, further points to an Orokin connection, as Prime Warframes are usually tied to Orokin-era technology in the universe.

Players have already begun flocking to forums and social media to speculate on what this could mean. Some believe the trailers are teasing a new cinematic quest or even a new open-world zone, while others suspect it may signal the return of a long-forgotten faction. Whatever the case, the unified aesthetic and short interval between the two teasers point to a much larger narrative update on the horizon. Digital Extremes is well known for these types of unusual updates, and both teasers fit their traditional style well.

Most notable is the equally cryptic date shared toward the end of both teasers. In accordance, Warframe is broadcasting a livestream on their official Twitch channel on July 19th at 4:30 p.m. ET. The content being teased in these trailers will likely be revealed at that date and time, implied by the teaser trailers. Digital Extremes is known for building hype and attention through mystery, and this strategy has worked in the past, particularly during previous reveals like The New War or The Duviri Paradox, both content updates initially showcased through a lens.

For now, fans of Warframe will have to wait and watch closely as Digital Extremes prepares to pull back the curtain on July 19th. If ‘A New and Toxic Paradise’ is any indication, whatever Digital Extremes has planned will likely dig into the countless mysteries still surrounding the Orokin civilization, a thematic force that has been shaping the game’s lore since its earliest days.

The post Warframe Drops Mysterious New “Toxic Paradise” Teaser appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In a surprise update this morning, developer Arrowhead Studios released a patch for Helldivers 2, bringing it a wave of balance tweaks and quality-of-life upgrades that might just change the way you play—again. Helldivers 2 is known to release sweeping changes abruptly, and while there aren’t as many this time as usual, there’s still enough in the update to potentially switch up your playstyle for that new golden goose.

Alongside significant balance changes for weapons and mechanical changes for some items, the update provides numerous fixes to outstanding problems that have long plagued the title, problems that many players in the game’s community have been musing about. Hopefully, this means that Helldivers 2 will run more smoothly for all general players.

Interestingly enough, it isn’t just the Helldivers receiving changes in this update. The Automatron faction has received some new units to engage on the battlefield. War Striders are new Automatron robotic mechs akin to the Patriot Exosuit, and they appear to have several variants, meaning there’s a new threat to pay attention to on the Automatron front. These units have not been included in the update’s patch notes, which is typical of Arrowhead Studios. The shock factor is strong with this one.

Patch Notes for Helldivers 2 July 15 Patch 01.003.200

The following notes are from Helldivers 2 Patch 01.003.200. Arrowhead has published the full patch details on the game’s official Steam page, along with a video breakdown highlighting some of the key changes.

Balance

Helldiver

• Reduced the time it takes for the Helldiver to regain control after ragdolling from 0.8 to 0.5 sec
• Increased chest injury bleed damage from 1 to 10. Chest injuries now cause more noticeable damage, as the previous value of 1 was so low it appeared to have no effect

CQC-1 One True Flag 

• Thanks to some groundbreaking military research into pointier flag tips, the flag can now be proudly planted directly into enemies—dead or alive—ensuring the eternal colors of Super Earth are never tainted, only quenched by the blood of its foes. Absolute Democracy

Primary weapons

AR-32 Pacifier

• Stun duration increased from 1.5 to 3 sec 
• Starting magazines increased from 5 to 6
• Max amount of magazines increased from 7 to 8
• Slight increase in stun value applied to enemies

SMG-72 Pummeler

• Stun duration increased from 1.5 to 3 sec
• Slight increase in stun value applied to enemies

ARC-12 Blitzer

• Slight increase in stun value applied to enemies

R-2124 Constitution

• Bayonet stagger strength increased from 20 to 25

R-2 Amendment 

• Bayonet stagger strength increased from 20 to 25

Sidearms

P-92 Warrant

• Now also locks-on to Large sized enemies

Throwables

G-109 Urchin

• Stagger strength increased from 0 to 50
• It now staggers and affects Large sized enemies

G-10 Incendiary

• The amount of fuel has been increased in the grenade, resulting in longer-lasting fire duration

G-13 Incendiary impact

• The amount of fuel has been increased in the grenade, resulting in a longer-lasting fire duration

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Stratagems

A/FLAM-40 Flame sentry

• Fire damage resistance increased from 0 to 95%
• Cooldown reduced from 150 to 100 sec

GL-52 De-Escalator

• Slight increase in stun value applied to enemies

Boosters

Firebomb Hellpod

• Now affects the Hellpods default explosion as well 
• Stagger strength decreased from 80 to 15 to prevent ragdolling players
• Demolition strength decreased from 40 to 20 because we now correctly also additively apply the normal Hellpod explosion

Stun Pods

• Now affects the Hellpods default explosion as well
• Stagger strength decreased from 80 to 15 to prevent ragdolling players
• Demolition strength decreased from 40 to 20 because we now correctly also additively apply the normal Hellpod explosion

Enemies

General

• It’s now easier to put Large to Massive sized enemies on fire

Terminids

Warrior 

• Damage needed to gib Warriors increased from 500 to 750 damage
• This is how much damage is needed to explode the body without leaving a corpse behind

Automatons

Scout strider

• Legs armor decreased from 3 to 2
• Legs durable resistance has been increased

Illuminates

Overseer variants

• Unarmored Torso healthzone armor decreased from 2 to 1

Fixes

Weapons Stratagems & Boosters

• Fixed an issue with the R-2124 Constitution playing audio during the wrong instances
• Fixed an issue with the draw and holster speed with the Gunslinger Armor Passive
• Fixed an issue with ranged weapon grips after dropping the Entrenchment Tool

Enemies

• Fixed an issue where status effect damage were attempting to apply more times than intended

Missions

• Fixed an issue that prevented stratagems from working correctly on Terminate Illegal Broadcast objectives
• Fixed an issue with bad enemy pathing on military uplink objectives
• Fixed an issue for the terminal and drop off point, where they became inaccessible during the Retrieve Recon Craft Intel objective

Miscellaneous Fixes

• Fixed an issue in first-person view where some armors resulted in visible obstructions around the shoulder while using a high Field Of View
• Fixed an issue during map generation that could result in missing terrain features
• Fixed fall animations occasionally playing before victory poses
• Extended some fonts to handle Bengali characters in player names
• Fixed an error that caused some enemy models to appear in lower quality
• Fixed an issue to prevent accidentally triggering jump packs or climbing on supply pods while using the interact button on controller
• Fixed an issue where exiting the chat was leaving players unarmed
• Fixed an issue with aiming during the draw emote
• Fixed issues when exiting First Person View using emotes

This update arrives just days ahead of Helldivers 2’s next Warbond drop, potentially paving the way for a major shake-up in the game’s meta space. It’s already live and available for download across all supported platforms.

The post Helldivers 2 Update Just Buffed Many Weapons and Stratagems appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There is a new free Steam game available for horror fans. Those on Steam Deck though may find issues with trying to run the free Steam game as Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Unknown,” which simply means Valve has not tested the game for Steam Deck. It is likely playable and functional, but it could very well require some extra configuration. Whatever the case, it costs nothing for Steam Deck users to find out because the game is free.

The free Steam game in question is called Hellkind, which was released on June 30 by one-person developer Motamot. And it’s free, permanently. This is not a limited time offer, nor is this a free-to-play game brimming with monetization. It is a normal game, just free. Why it’s free, we don’t know, but the game is on the shorter side — only about an hour long — which may be a factor. It is also nothing fancy, but it is apparently quite good.

Right now, Hellkind has a “Very Positive” Steam User Review rating, with 96 percent of reviews so far rating the game positively. Of course, it being free may juice these reviews a little bit.

“Trapped in the misty sanctuary of San Andrés de Teixido, you awaken to whispers of an ancient cult and their unholy rite,” reads an official description of the game on Steam. “As the veil between worlds begins to fray, explore, solve puzzles, and escape – before you become part of the ritual.”

In a recent update to the game, the developer did share a note with those who have played the game so far, thanking them for the support. Unfortunately, there is no word of what the developer will do next, and whether it will involve this project in any capacity.

“First of all thank you, truly, for playing Hellkind,” reads the message from the developer. “This project was made quietly, in the late hours, with deep love for folklore, atmosphere, and storytelling. I never expected the kind of warmth and encouragement that’s come since release, and every message, kind word, screenshot, video, stream and any kind of support has meant more than I can say. Seeing people explore this strange little world and connect with it in their own way has been a quiet dream come true. I’m incredibly grateful.

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The post Free Steam Game Now Available for Horror Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As a brutal co-op franchise known for its relentless waves of Zeds, Killing Floor 3 has been on the radar of players since its initial reveal. That anticipation has only grown with the promise of a more intense, next-gen experience built in Unreal Engine 5. With the title’s last playtest taking place earlier this year, much of that excitement has since tapered off, as the test was riddled with negativity and widely criticized by players, which led to the game’s eventual delay. Now, Tripwire Interactive is aiming to win players back. A new multiplayer stress test is set to kick off this weekend on July 13th, offering a fresh look at what has changed since the last test and how the game has progressed.

Players interested in signing up for the upcoming stress test can do so by visiting the Killing Floor 3 Steam Page and requesting access to it. The test is slated to be taking place “between the hours of 1-3 PM EST (-5 GMT) and 5-7 PM EST (-5 GMT)” this Sunday. Tripwire Interactive has also requested that all selected participants not stream or record any of the gameplay footage during the multiplayer stress test.

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“This test is designed to help our team and partners ensure that the multiplayer environment stays as stable as possible at launch,” the Killing Floor 3 blog post details about the purpose of the upcoming stress test.

Unfortunately, console players will not have access to the July 13th stress test, as it will only be available on PC via Steam during the hours mentioned above. However, developer Tripwire Interactive has expressed interest in opening the test up to other platforms in the coming week and will be sharing further details when applicable.

The stress test blog also teases a few features slated to come after Killing Floor 3’s official launch on July 24th. According to the blog, players can look forward to plenty of post-launch updates and content, along with continued improvements based on player feedback. Mentioned post-launch updates include:

• Nightfall Specialist characters that can pick any Perk
• Enhanced and Refined Third Person Animations
• Text Chat for server communication

If you’re not familiar with Killing Floor 3, it is the next installment in Tripwire Interactive’s long-running co-op shooter franchise known for its fast-paced action and extreme, over-the-top gore. Set in a desolate future where chaos has been unleashed upon the world, players can team up in squads to survive increasingly difficult encounters in wave-based gameplay. Players must use a wide variety of weapons, gadgets, and class-based abilities in order to claim. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Killing Floor 3 aims to raise the stakes of the franchise with brand new enemy types and deeper gameplay mechanics to keep players engrossed in the Zed-afflicted conflict.

With updated systems, rebalanced mechanics, and a clearer vision for the final release, this playtest could be a major turning point for Killing Floor 3‘s rocky initial showing earlier this year, and a chance to rebuild confidence ahead of launch.

The post Killing Floor 3’s Next Playtest Takes Place This Weekend appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There once was a time when gacha games were seen as nearly taboo to play. Between their low production values, overt predatory monetization, and perceived lack of gameplay depth, playing a gacha game used to be synonymous with wasting your time and money. In time, though, a certain high-budget AAA gacha showed the world that the gacha game can be more than just a fancy slot machine with anime art. The genre began shedding its stigma, and with that shedding, the proper AAA gacha has become the norm. We’ve identified five strong titles that are worth your time and investment.

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact, developed by Hoyoverse, was the first of the genre to break through the negative gacha game stereotype, boasting console-quality visuals, a fully explorable open world, and a rich narrative experience. The gameplay is simplistic enough for anyone to pick and play, but it contains a considerable amount of depth through its signature Elemental Reaction system for those looking to sink their teeth into it.

Ruled by numerous astral gods and mysterious unknown deities, Genshin Impact takes place in the fantastical world of Teyvat. Governed by seven district nations, Teyvat is under siege from the evil forces of the Abyss, and as the Traveler, your journey’s goal is to find your astray sibling and discover the truth behind the Abyss’ intentions.

Since its release back in 2020, Genshin Impact has had a significant number of updates, including content that has greatly expanded its explorable game world alongside new playable characters and a plethora of general quality-of-life improvements.

Wuthering Waves

After Genshin Impact‘s release, many titles in the Gacha genre sought to capture the same success. Wuthering Waves is one such title, and while it is derivative of the source material, the gacha game puts more extensive focus on its moment-to-moment, mechanical gameplay and is generally seen as more action-intensive.

Developed by Kuro Games, Wuthering Waves casts you as the Rover, a mysterious protagonist with little to no memory of previous events. You’re tasked with exploring the gacha’s large open world and completing variously crafted quests, all the while collecting new characters along the way. Despite only releasing last year, the title has had several gameplay expansions that add more of the abovementioned, with more to come in the near future.

What helps Wuthering Waves stand out even further is its unique setting. Wuthering Waves explores a science fiction world filled with advanced technology, mysterious ruins, and strange energy sources. Set on the planet Solaris-3, the game has you face off against powerful enemies and uncover the remnants of a post-apocalyptic world trying to rebuild after the disaster known as the Lament.

Zenless Zone Zero

Zenless Zone Zero stands out as a stylish, urban-action title that blends high-brow combat with a slightly futuristic aesthetic. It builds its own identity through fast-paced, arcade-like battles and a modern sci-fi presentation that leans into sleek visuals and a pleasing hyper-animated flow.

Developed by HoYoverse, Zenless Zone Zero places you in the role of a Proxy, an individual who guides others through supernatural disasters known as Hollows. Unlike other games on this list, you get to choose between two distinct characters as the protagonist: Belle, a quirky girl with a big heart, or Wise, a calm and collected man who’s a little awkward. Regardless of which Proxy you choose at the start of the game, the other will still play a big role in the storyline. As one of the Proxies, it’s your job to help various factions, agents, and clients navigate Hollows safely, all the while uncovering the truth behind Hollow Zero, the apex Hollow disaster.

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What gives Zenless Zone Zero its most distinct flair is its unique setting and overall tone. Unlike other gacha games that focus on fantasy or post-apocalyptic elements, Zenless Zone Zero unfolds in a clean, modern urban aesthetic city called New Eridu, the last remaining bastion of humanity. Despite the morbidity of the setting, Zenless Zone Zero hardly takes itself seriously and is more like a parody of your standard apocalyptic story. You’ll still be hunting for characters and completing quests, but Zenless Zone Zero offers a unique urban setting to explore, not unlike that of the Persona franchise.

Honkai Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based gacha RPG that blends the allure of cosmo-faring adventure with large-than-life storytelling as the fuel for its lore. It sets itself apart with its own special take on the turn-based, tactical combat genre and cosmic overtheme that feels both high-stakes and a little overly dramatic. Its worldbuilding is vast, and its sense of scale is matched only by the game’s theatrical flair.

Developed by HoYoverse, Honkai: Star Rail casts you as the Trailblazer, a protagonist who boards the Astral Express, a literal space train that somehow feels both majestic and suspiciously efficient, due to a mysterious cosmic object called a Stellaron being placed inside of you. Stellaron are known to bring ruin, and it is up to the crew of the Astral Express to brave the Trailblaze and hunt them down, all the while uncovering the mystery of the one within you. Between dealing with the occasional talking trash can or listening to the dramatic monologue from an omnipotent immortal being, events that can surprisingly occur mere moments between each other, you’ll be collecting and gathering allies to help you along with the adventure.

What stands out most about Honkai Star Rail is its exceptional blend of interstellar fantasy and grounded, character-driven drama. While most gacha titles stay tethered to a single world or tonal theme, Star Rail rockets across the universe, allowing for all variants of misadventure to occur. It balances cosmic stakes with witty dialogue and the kind of quiet, personal moments that stick with you if you’re interested in understanding the depths behind a character’s pretty face.

Punishing: Gray Raven

As the only gacha title released prior to Genshin Impact on this list, Punishing: Gray Raven is uniquely positioned as a game that existed before the genre began its dramatic shift to the norm of being an AAA title. As such, Punishing: Gray Raven, developed by Kuro Games, has lower production values than any other title on this list. Yet, despite this shortcoming, Punishing: Gray Raven is one of the few pre-Genshin-era gacha games that is worth your consideration. It places a significant amount of focus on both its over-the-top action combat and its deep (and dark) narrative.

Combat in Punishing: Gray Raven is fast-paced and relentless, rewarding personal execution. Each character brings a unique playstyle that blends combo-based mechanics with a puzzle-like, color-coded orb system for utilizing character skills. This unique blend intentionally divides your attention in combat, driving up this title’s difficulty beyond every other gacha game present here. While it lacks a full 3D open world to explore, Punishing: Gray Raven more than makes up for this with its refined mechanics and challenging gameplay.

The narrative takes place in a grim future where humanity’s end is near. Driven to the brink by a mysterious ‘Punishing Virus’, Punishing: Gray Raven explores bleak themes of shattered loss and ultimate sacrifice. The story is filled with humanistic undertones and makes harrowing use of its morbid setting on a consistent basis. If you’re looking for a title that focuses heavily on grim-dark themes set in a futuristic dystopian setting, Punishing: Gray Raven is one of the best options on the market.

Despite their controversial history, gacha games have become a staple in the gaming sphere. While there are still games in the genre struggling to offer good value, the five titles highlighted here stand out on their own merits. All of these games are free-to-play and accessible across multiple platforms, making them worth your time exploring.

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A zombie game on Steam is now free for all PC users until July 15, and it is playable on Steam Deck. How well it runs on Steam Deck we do not know. To this end, it is not “Verified” on Steam Deck, but rather is listed as “Playable,” which is better than “Unknown” or “Unsupported, but it means Valve testing indicates the PC game may require extra effort and configuration from Steam Deck owners.

As for the free Steam game, it is called Ultimate Zombie Defense from Terror Dog Studio, which was released in 2020 and was the debut release from the studio. Since then, the developer has released DLC for the game in 2021 called The Carnival Map, Diamond Hands: To the Moon in 2021, Hellstuck: Rage With Your Friends in 2022, and Ultimate Zombie Defense 2, a sequel to its first game, in 2024. Here’s the trailer:

According to Steam user reviews, the Steam game — which normally costs $5 — is pretty good. To this end, after 1,361 user reviews the zombie game has a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, which is the second highest rating a game can earn on Steam. This is thanks its 86% approval rating.

“Ultimate Zombie Defense is a top-down co-op survival horror set in the suburbs of a once quiet city, in the heart of continental Europe,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “The city and the surrounding 250km landmass have been sealed off in an attempt to curtail the outbreak, although sadly all attempts have failed, until now. You and your friends are elite members of the military dropped into this plagued location and have only one mission: Locate and destroy the source of the infection. Well, what are you waiting for? Get to it, Soldier!”

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“Underrated, really good game,” reads the top user review for the free Steam game. “Well put together, smooth transition from killing zombies to building defenses. Becomes a challenge the further you get along, good as solo, great as a team! 8.5/10 highly recommend.”

As noted, this new Steam offer is only available until July 15, however, if the PC game is claimed during this period it is free to keep perpetually. After this, it will revert back to its normal price point.

For more coverage on the biggest and best game deals currently available for all platforms, and all free games information, click here.

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PC users on Steam have been surprised with not one, not two, not three, but four free games. One of these new free Steam games is only normally $2, so it is not that noteworthy. However, the normal asking price for the other three free games is as follows: $80, $40, and $30. And according to Steam user reviews, all four new free Steam games are worth checking out, even the one that that is normally only a couple of bucks. That said, these deals are only available for a limited time. More specifically, each of these Steam games are only free until July 17. After this, each will revert back to their normal asking price.

The most noteworthy of the four free Steam games is tactical game Battlestar Galactica Deadlock, a 2017 release from Black Lab Games and Slitherine. Normally $40, this PC game has been on Steam for a while, but this is the first it has been free. And according to its 2,463 user reviews, the game is pretty good, or at least that is what an 86% approval rating suggests.

Meanwhile, the Steam game that normally costs $80 is Fantasy General II from the same publisher, but developer Owned by Gravity. Released in 2019, Fantasy General II is a turn-based strategy game with an 81% approval rating after nearly 1,000 user reviews on Steam.

Also from Slitherine is Field of Glory II: Medieval, developed by Byzantine Games. This 2021 turn-based tactics game normally costs $30 and has itself an 85% approval rating after nearly 400 user reviews. All three of these games, as a result, have a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, the second highest rating a game can earn on Steam.

The last free Steam game made free today is Caribbean Crashers, another strategy game but from Bloxhill. As it is normal $2 asking price suggests, it is quite the humble experience, but its 96% approval rating suggests it is an enjoyable, humble experience.

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Once downloaded, all four of these Steam games are free to keep in your library perpetually. In other words, these should not be confused with free trials. There is a deadline on the offer, but each deal is for the full game and each is free to keep forever.

For more Steam and Steam Deck coverage — including all of the latest Steam news, all of the latest Steam deals, and all of the latest Steam free games — click here.

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Helldivers 2 has been one of the most acclaimed co-op live-service games since its release back in 2024. Warbonds have been the title’s main source of monetization, providing players with an assortment of tools, weapons, and cosmetics to personalize their gameplay. According to the latest upcoming update, Helldivers 2 is introducing a brand new Warbond featuring three new alien-themed stratagems, along with a plethora of goodies for players to sink their teeth into.

Detailed in a brand new Helldivers 2 announcement, the new stratagems are featured in its upcoming Control Group Warbond, a Warbond seemingly themed around science and alien technology.

The new PLAS-45 Epoch is a charge-up support weapon that fires explosive plasma, concentrating energy into a powerful, focused sphere. The support weapon can be overcharged for additional damage, but can also explode if charged for too long. This is similar to the Railgun stratagem already available in Helldivers 2.

The LIFT-182 Warp Pack is a brand-new support pack that allows the user to teleport a short distance. Teleporting into enemies, with the pack, seems to cause it to deal area of effect damage at the destination. Once active, the user can make several short-range warp jumps without a cooldown. However, the overuse of the pack for extended periods can result in death for the user as shown in the trailer below.

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Lastly, the A/LAS-98 Laser Sentry is a new deployable turret that the Helldivers 2 community has long been asking for. It fires a continuous beam of energy that deals consistent damage to enemies nearby. While it features unlimited ammo, a staple of laser weapons in the game, it can overheat and explode if it fires for extended periods of time.

Alongside these stratagems, the Control Group Warbond also includes the new AD-49 Apollonian heavy armor and the AD-26 Bleeding Edge medium armor. Both armor sets come with a new passive called Adreno-Defibrillator, which revives the user after death, though in a limited fashion. Both armors come with cosmetically coordinated capes and player cards.

“R&D did indicate that the Adreno-Defibrillator only has enough charge for one use to bring the user to maximum health, and the user will begin losing health continually after activating it,” the Helldivers 2 blog post explained when discussing the new armors and their unique passive.

Additionally, the Warbond introduces a new primary weapon and grenade. The VG-70 Variable features three selectable fire modes: Auto, Volley, and Total, each of which significantly changes how the weapon functions. In the Warbond trailer, the Total mode was shown to launch the user backward upon firing. Accompanying it is the G-31 Arc Grenade, which bounces on impact and chains electricity to nearby enemies.

The Control Group Warbond is scheduled to release on July 17th, available synchronously for purchase on the PS5 and PC platforms. Now that Helldivers 2 is finally coming to Xbox platforms, those players will have their own Warbonds to work through soon, though it’s unclear how or if older Warbonds will be accessible to Xbox players.

The post Helldivers 2 Is Adding 3 New Alien Stratagems Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Epic Games Store has two free PC games this week, one that normally costs PC users $25, and another that normally sets them back $15. As always though, the free PC games are only available on Epic Games Store for one week only, or, in other words, until July 17. Once claimed, the Epic Games Store free games are free to keep perpetually, but they must be claimed in this window, because after this deadline they will be replaced with a new free offer. Meanwhile, there are no subscriptions required, unlike many similar offers in the gaming space.

The first of these two free PC games is Figment 2: Creed Valley, which is a fitting giveaway considering its predecessor, Figment, was given out on the Epic Games Store for free last week. Developed and published by Bedtime Digital Games, and released in 2023, Figment 2: Creed Valley normally costs $25 on both EGS and Steam.

For those unfamiliar with the PC game, Figment 2: Creed Valley is an action-adventure game with puzzle elements that boasts a 76 on Metacritic, a decent return, but much lower than its 94% approval rating on Steam.

“Figment 2: Creed Valley is an action-adventure game set in the human mind,” reads an official blurb about the game for those who know nothing about it. “Nightmares are spreading chaos and have overrun once-peaceful lands. Join Dusty, The Mind’s courage, as you make your way through puzzles, musical boss fights and unique environments. Face your fears head-on.

The other new free Epic Games Store game is Sky Racket, which is a few years older as a 2019 release. Developed and published by Double Dash Studios, it is a slightly smaller release, as evident by its $15 price tag. Meanwhile, on Metacritic Sky Racket’s score is also a bit lower, sitting at 72. Like Figment 2: Creed Valley though, its user review scores are higher than this. For example, on Steam, the shoot ’em up meets brick breaker has a 92% approval rating on Steam.

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“Sky Racket is a game that mixes two classic genres from the arcade era, Shoot’em up and Block Breaker,” reads an official description of the game on Steam for those who have never heard about it. “In a world where you are unable to attack, using your racket and positioning to return bullets is your only option! Don’t be fooled by how cute your enemies look! You will have to strike and dodge several projectiles during the game. Your agility and focus will be vital for your journey!”

For more coverage on all things Epic Games Store — including the latest Epic Games Store news, the latest Epic Games Store deals, and the latest Epic Games Store free games — click here.

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There is a new free Star Wars game for fans of the iconic sci-fi series to download. That said, those interested in the free Star Wars game will need an Amazon Prime subscription because this new free offer comes the way of Prime Gaming. More than this, the codes are limited to PC via GOG. So those looking to capitalize on this offer — which is available until August 11 — need an Amazon Prime subscription, a PC to play the game on, and a GOG account. Thankfully, the Star Wars game is from the 1990s so just about any modern PC or laptop will run it with ease. Meanwhile, a GOG account is completely free.

As for the Star Wars game itself, it is 1997’s Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, a first-person shooter from LucasArts. A PC exclusive, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces — as the name implies — is a sequel to 1995’s Star Wars: Dark Forces, and the second release in the Star Wars Jedi Knight sub-series. For those interested in the lore, it is set one year after the events of Return of the Jedi, in the Star Wars expanded universe, which means it is not canon.

As you may know, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces is often considered one of the best games of its era, as evident by its 91 on Metacritic. To this end, it is in the conversation with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: Battlefront II as the very best Star Wars game ever released. Unsurprisingly, it got both an expansion a year later in the form of Mysteries of the Sith, and a sequel in the form of 2002’s Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast.

“Dark Forces set the industry standard for first person action in the Star Wars universe,” reads an official description of the game for those who have never heard about it. “Now Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II picks up where the award-winning game left off…with even more features and firepower in dazzling 3D graphics. As Kyle Katarn, you must acquire the lightsaber and learn the ways of the Force to become a Jedi Knight. Confront old foes… Greedo, Boosk, stormtroopers. And new enemies… seven dark Jedi who plan to harness the power of an ancient burial ground for unsurpassed evil. But take heart, your 10 weapon arsenal and over 12 Force powers make you a force to be reckoned with.”

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As always with Prime Gaming, once redeemed, this free Star Wars game is free to keep perpetually. In other words, while a Prime Gaming subscription is needed to redeem the offer, it is not required to retain the free download.

For more coverage on all things Star Wars — including all of the latest Star Wars news, all of the latest Star Wars deals, and all of the latest free Star Wars games — click here.

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