<![CDATA[ Latest from GamesRadar+ in Gaming ]]> https://www.gamesradar.com Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:46:30 +0000 en <![CDATA[ My Steam wishlist is bigger than ever thanks to the indie devs flooding social media with 15-second clips explaining their games ]]> A new online trend has indie developers posting 15-second clips that briefly (sometimes) explain their game, and my Steam wishlist is looking scarily big.

The trend was seemingly kicked off by developer quicktequila, who showed off their wildly stylish psychedelic shooter Tamashika and quickly garnered over 150k likes. It looks like you're rampaging through a twisty-turvy corridor that unfolds as you walk, murdering cartoony frogs, equipped with only a pistol for shooting and a knife for parrying and/or stabbing. It's gorgeous, trippy, and unlike anything else I've seen. You can wishlist it on Steam.

Next up is Mightreya, a spectacle fighter in the same vein as Hi-Fi Rush or Bayonetta where you're chaining sick combos and juggling foes in the pursuit of the validation of an S-rank. The twist here is that you're playing as an anime schoolgirl superhero who doubles as a content creator, so I'm guessing those S-ranks also lead to likes and follows and subscriptions. More validation, basically! See it's aerial combat below and check it out on Steam if you like.

Changing gears to something a little less frantic, we have Detective Dotson, a pixel art slice-of-life mystery game set in modern day India. I love how vibrant everything is. I love a good detective board. And, as a Yakuza sicko, I love the glimpses we get at all the mini-games in just 15 seconds. (What a cool trend!) This one's coming to Steam on April 3 - there's also a free demo.

This next one is slightly less wholesome. Car Park Capital looks like a chill, old school SimCity-like that has you connecting roads, building infrastructure, and helping your big-nose residents get around easier. It's actually a "satirical simulator" where the car industry has tasked you to "convert walkable cities into parking lots and use propaganda to convince everyone it's what they want." Truly evil! Sick, really. (It's also on my Steam wishlist, shh.)

Finally, we have Truckful, which seems like an initially chill sim about driving a truck through some of the most serene woods you've seen in-game. You'll soon be trying not to drift off a cliffside while unravelling a "small town mystery." It's also, of course, on Steam.

For more, keep an eye on the upcoming indie games of 2025 and beyond.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/pc-gaming/my-steam-wishlist-is-bigger-than-ever-thanks-to-the-indie-devs-flooding-social-media-with-15-second-clips-explaining-their-games/ EaettPtcdrDEbCUa8X2mqf Sun, 09 Feb 2025 12:20:53 +0000
<![CDATA[ The Future Games Show Spring Showcase is back and will have a new live segment from the GDC event floor ]]> The Future Games Show Spring Showcase returns on March 20, 2025, during GDC and will be followed by a new 'FGS Live from GDC' broadcast on the very same day.

During the Spring Showcase you can expect to see exclusive game demos, trailers for both triple-A and indie games, and, just like The Game Awards and Summer Game Fest, world premieres, too. There are lots of games coming, over 200 a month on Steam alone, and we're here to help you find the best of the best.

"The Future Games Show's mission is to help its viewers discover the best new games, with a special focus on the off-radar AAs, sleeper hits, and innovative indies," says Daniel Dawkins, content director of games video & events here at Future.

The new 'FGS Live from GDC' broadcast will feature more trailers as well as fresh news from GDC and interviews with devs from the show floor. So even if you can't go yourself, you'll be able to see some of what goes on at these events.

The Future Games Show has been running since 2020 and does three shows a year: one in March, one in June, and one in August. You can also expect some familiar faces on hosting duty. Back in 2022, the August show was hosted by none other than Christopher Judge, Kratos himself. As well as the hosts, you get interviews with developers who talk about the games on show, giving you a sneak peek behind the curtain.

Last year, we got a look at Spine, Sid Meier's Civilization VII, Exoborne, Atomfall, Retrieval, and more. You can watch the March show on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and right here on GamesRadar.

In the meantime, check out our 50 most-anticipated games coming out this year.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/the-future-games-show-spring-showcase-is-back-and-will-have-a-new-live-segment-from-the-gdc-event-floor/ VdfbFcGpeH5smheu74QSN6 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:29:04 +0000
<![CDATA[ Xbox Developer Direct 2025: date, time, and where to stream the showcase ]]> Xbox Developer Direct 2025 is nearly here, so you'll want to jot down the date, time, and where you can catch a stream of the show – be it YouTube, Twitch, or wherever you like to watch your live broadcasts.

As Microsoft previously revealed, we're getting in-depth looks from the developers themselves on the likes of Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and a mystery new game. While rumors of an Oblivion remake are doing the rounds, Xbox marketing VP Aaron Greenberg has confirmed we're seeing a brand-new game, which may disappoint some and delight others. For now, you can speculate what that'll be. 

Before all of that, though, you'll need the low-down of how to watch the Xbox Developer Direct 2025, from the day and time it kicks off to where you can catch a stream to watch it. For all of that, simply read on.

The Doom Slayer riding a demon dragon during the Doom: The Dark Ages trailer.

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Xbox Developer Direct 2025 time

This year's Xbox Developer Direct 2025 kicks off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT on January 23. While Microsoft hasn't confirmed how long this one is set to run for, these broadcasts typically last for 45 minutes, so we'd expect the same here. 

Xbox Developer Direct 2025 stream – how can I watch it?

You can find a stream for Xbox Developer Direct 2025 on YouTube, Twitch, and more. As always, if you turn up 10 minutes early, you'll likely find a countdown to the broadcast already live, so get your snacks and turn up with some time to spare to ensure you don't miss anything. 

And there you have it, everything you need to know to prepare for the Xbox Developer Direct 2025. A new Doom game is sure to grab attention, though you can't help but wonder what mystery game Xbox has up its sleeve.

Here are the best Xbox Series X games to experience on Microsoft's flagship console - we can only hope the showcase has something we'll be adding to that list real soon.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/xbox-developer-direct-2025-date-time-stream/ BAXhFWxCXCYXJHEjzkg8GP Wed, 22 Jan 2025 18:00:40 +0000
<![CDATA[ 18 years after Guitar Hero 2 released, a streamer has completed the hardest challenge there is - perfecting all 74 songs back-to-back without missing a single note ]]> You've seen no-hit runs in Pokemon and FromSoftware games, maybe even gotten bored of them by now, but I promise you've never seen anyone do a perfect run of Guitar Hero 2, starting over from scratch if they miss even a single note.

Streamer Acai completed a full 74 songs on Guitar Hero 2 perfectly this weekend, never missing a note, getting a full-game combo streak. Spotted by a ResetEra user, they've apparently become the first in the world to complete the challenge. 

Acai tweets an excited all-caps message, "GUITAR HERO 2 PERMADEATH COMPLETE. 74/74." The full run is over eight hours long and they're absolutely locked in throughout. Amazingly, it only took them just over a dozen attempts. Their stream says 15, but the congratulatory challenge screen reads 17, so maybe one or two were just trial runs to get a feel for how the challenge works.

The message reads: "Holy shit you did it! With no misses too? WOW." Wow indeed. I've played Guitar Hero at an arcade, and it's tough as nails. I did okay, but I can't imagine ever being good enough to play the entire game perfectly.

As Acai got to the last few songs, chatters in his stream were going wild. Before the final attempt, he'd only managed to get halfway, 37 songs out of 74. When he finally completes the last song he shouts: "I fucking did it! I fucking did it!" with a look of disbelief on his face.

To play, you'll need a modded Xbox 360, and TheGamer notes Acai used a modded guitar, too. So, it'll be hard for you to recreate this feat just on a technological level, but even if I had all the right tools I doubt I'd be able to pull it off.

If reading about Guitar Hero has got you in the mood for some great tunes, check out our list of the best gaming soundtracks.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/18-years-after-guitar-hero-2-released-a-streamer-has-completed-the-hardest-challenge-there-is-perfecting-all-74-songs-back-to-back-without-missing-a-single-note/ LGTBqZSx3eTgTE7D9zgSh3 Tue, 24 Dec 2024 19:00:01 +0000
<![CDATA[ How to watch the PC Gaming Show Most Wanted 2024 for another look at Avowed, The Thing: Remastered, and more ]]> It's nearly time for the PC Gaming Show Most Wanted once more, so here are a few handy stream links to bookmark before the big event.

This year, the PC Gaming Show Most Wanted takes place on December 5 at 12pm PST / 3pm EST / 8pm GMT / 9pm CET. You're spoiled for choice where to watch it, too, as you can tune into Twitch, YouTube, and more at the links provided. Dedicated streams with localized subtitles like Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and more will also be provided.

The PC Gaming Show Most Wanted is presented by regular host Frankie Ward and narrated by Baldur's Gate 3's Amelia Tyler. Expect new trailers, announcements, and behind-the-scenes visits to various studios across the globe. 

Highlights include a quick-fire question-and-answer session from Avowed game director Carrie Patel, more on sci-fi RPG Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, and much more, like another look at Killing Floor 3, The Thing: Remastered, and BioWare veteran Mike Laidlaw's next game Eternal Strands.

And then you've got the "Most Wanted" part, naturally. A group known as "The Council," which includes over 80 industry luminaries and content creators, is voting to decide what 25 PC games are worth your attention next year. On said council, you've got a range of well-known industry devs like Doom's John Romero, Fallout and Wasteland veteran Brian Fargo, and many more.

Who knows, maybe some of what you'll see will join our best PC games list in the not-so-distant future.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/how-to-watch-the-pc-gaming-show-most-wanted-2024-for-another-look-at-avowed-the-thing-remastered-and-more/ k56kMoucDhqRCJN7iCqLUA Thu, 05 Dec 2024 15:22:48 +0000
<![CDATA[ The best Cyber Monday gaming deals 2024: The best offers to get the most out of the day ]]>
Menu

Cyber Monday gaming deals with a DualSense, Xbox Wireless controller, and Nintendo Switch OLED

(Image credit: Future)

1. Quick links
2.
Today's best deals
3. FAQ

Cyber Monday gaming deals are still going strong, although we're now in the final couple of hours of the sale, so if there's something that catches your eye, you'd do well to consider pulling the trigger before it's too late.

We've been tracking incredible gaming deals across every platform - which means that whether you're looking for a bargain on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5 or Xbox Series X, we've got something for you below.

If you somehow missed it, 2024's Cyber Monday gaming deals begin today (December 2) and will likely carry over into the following week to some degree. The best offers are likely to only be available on Cyber Monday itself, but plenty of others should stick around.

Regardless, we're here to bring you the best offers as they surface. The GamesRadar+ team and I have been reporting on these events for years now, and even though Cyber Monday often isn't quite to the same scale as Black Friday gaming deals the weekend before, it still provides some of the best prices of the year. It's always worth a solid perusal, just in case.

Now that it's Cyber Monday, we've gathered some of the better deals that are already available. Some of these deals will likely stick around for a few days after the big event, though we'd still suggest pulling the trigger on anything that's really caught your eye.

Quick links

UK

Today's best Cyber Monday gaming deals

PS5 Pro with DualSense Controller in Galactic Purple | $849.99 $754.99 at Walmart
Save $95 - Walmart is holding onto its title of Cyber Monday king with a solid discount on the recently released PS5 Pro, complete with a second controller. This deal will likely sell out, so you might want to be swift.View Deal

Nintendo Switch OLED | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 12 months Nintendo Switch Online | $349 $274.99 at Walmart
Save $75 - The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch OLED bundle seems to be fluctuating in terms of availability, but it's a solid savings if you can grab it. The Nintendo Switch OLED model, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online make for a great combination.

Buy it if:

You mostly play handheld
You need multiplayer games
You want to race online

Don't buy it if:

❌ You already have a Nintendo Switch OLED

Price check: Best Buy: $349.99

UK: £339 at Currys (no Switch Online)
View Deal

Xbox Series S | $299.99 $248 at Walmart
Save - $50 - If you're shopping for the plain-ol' Xbox Series S, this is a decent deal, especially if you're looking for a basic console for keeping up with the latest games and casual gaming.

Buy it if:

✅ You want an affordable console
✅ You don't plan on playing physical games
✅ You don't play games often

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want to play physical games

Price check: Check stock at Amazon | $249.99 at Best Buy

UK: £294.98 with WD Black C50 1TB at Amazon View Deal

PS5 deals

PS5 Slim Digital Edition | $449.95 $374.99 at Walmart
Save $75 – Walmart has brought back its $75 discount on this PS5 Slim, but given this has already disappeared once, it's worth grabbing quickly if you're looking for a new console that's not the PS5 Pro.

Buy it if:

✅ You don't need to play physical games
✅ You're more interested in the PS Plus catalog
✅ You want to spend as little as possible

Don't buy it if:

❌ You have old PS4 games to play

Price check: Best Buy: $374.99 | $374 at Amazon

UK: £389.99 £309 at Amazon
View Deal

PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of The Mountain Bundle | $599.99 $349 at Amazon
Save over $250 - This deal isn't only one of the best Cyber Monday PS5 deals we've seen, but it's also a rare opportunity to get a PSVR2 with Horizon Call of the Mountain included for £349.99. In fact, it's only the second time it's happened, so you might want to act fast on this one.

UK: £529.99 £339 at AmazonView Deal

Silent Hill 2 Remake | $69.99 $30 at Amazon
Save $40 - This is by far the lowest price we've ever seen on Silent Hill 2 Remake. We saw it drop this low once in the early hours of Black Friday, but then it went up to $40 and then again up to $50 - which is still a great deal on the best horror game of 2024 - but we weren't expecting it drop all the way back down to $30 in the final hours of Cyber Monday. If you've had your eye on Silent Hill 2 Remake but want the absolute best price, now's the time to pull the trigger.

Buy it if:

✅ You want to be scared
✅ You like survival horror
✅ You aren't a sissy

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're sensitive to very heavy, depressing themes and subject matters

Price check: Best Buy: $49.99

UK: £44.99 at AmazonView Deal

Astro Bot | $59.99 $49.97 at Walmart
Save $10 - It feels like Astro Bot only just launched, but there's already a solid little discount on the game for anyone interested. If you missed what is arguably one of the best games of 2024, this might be your sign to jump in.

Buy it if:

You're a fan of PlayStation's first-party games
You like platformers
You liked Astro's Playroom

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't know PlayStation very well

Price check: Amazon (OOS) | Best Buy: $49.99

UK: £59.99 £43.99 at Amazon (out of stock)View Deal

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 | $69.99 $39.99 at Best Buy

Save $30 - Insomniac's latest superhero outing lets you play as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, and it makes for a fantastic time; swinging your way around New York has never been so fun. This particular deal has shown up at several vendors this week but quickly sold out. Act fast if your spidey senses are tingling.

Buy it if:

✅ You enjoyed the original
✅ You've played Miles Morales' game
✅ You're a Marvel fan

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want to catch up with Miles Morales first

Price check: $39.99 at Amazon (OOS)

UK: £69.99 £55.94 at Amazon (out of stock)View Deal

Sonic x Shadow Generations | $49.99 $29.99 at Amazon

Save $20 - Considering Sonic x Shadow Generations only launched in late October, this is a huge discount to be seeing so soon - don't expect this to get any lower just yet.

Buy it if:

✅ You enjoyed the original Sonic Generations
✅ You're a fan of Shadow
✅ You want to get in the mood for Sonic 3

Don't buy it if:

❌ You didn't like Sonic Generations

Price check: $32.68 at Walmart

UK: £49.99 £27.99 at AmazonView Deal

Metaphor: ReFantazio | $69.99 $49.99 at Amazon
Save $20 - Depending on who you asked on the GR+ team, you may hear some folks saying that Metaphor: ReFantazio is the best RPG of the year. Better still is this killer $20 saving, so don't sleep on this Cyber Monday sale.

Buy it if:

You have 100 spare hours
You love RPGS
You liked the Persona games

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't like games from Atlus

UK: £59.99 £34.49 at AmazonView Deal

Persona 3 Reload | $69.99 £24.97 at Amazon
Save $45 - If Metaphor isn't enough, Persona 3 Reload has a massive discount that makes the entry fee to Tatsumi Port Island very cheap indeed.

Buy it if:

You've already finished Metaphor
You love Persona or want to get into it
You have a lot of free time

Don't buy it if:

❌ You aren't an Atlus fan

UK: £59.99 £22.99 at AmazonView Deal

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth |$69.99 $39.99 at Best Buy
Save $30 -
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is undoubtedly one of the best PS5 games of the year, and you can now grab it for close to a historically low price. This is one adventure you won't want to miss, but you can read our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth review if you still need more convincing to grab this $30 saving.

Buy it if:

You love RPGs
You played FF7 Remake
You adore Final Fantasy

Don't buy it if:

❌ You didn't play Final Fantasy 7 Remake

UK: £69.99 £34 at Amazon (out of stock)View Deal

Star Wars Outlaws | $69.99 $39.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - One of the better Black Friday offerings has thankfully leaped to Cyber Monday. A discount of 30 bucks on a new Star Wars game is good, though Outlaws' post-launch support makes it a no-brainer. You're getting something better than it was at launch for much less.

UK: £64 at AmazonView Deal

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero | $69.99 $49.94 on Amazon
Save $20 - A good Dragon Ball fighter is, perhaps, as nostalgic as it comes when it comes to gaming diet over the past 20 years or so. Dragon Ball Sparking Zero follows that tradition, and that's why it's a great pickup for the holidays with a saving of 20 bucks.

UK: £69.99 £48.22 at AmazonView Deal

Sony DualSense | $74.99 $54 at Amazon
Save $20 -
Another controller is always handy for the holidays, especially if you have your sights on a few co-op games. Cyber Monday often pulls through on that, and it's no different with this $20 discount.

UK: £69.99 £39.19 at AmazonView Deal

Seagate PS5 5TB External HDD| $149.99 $129.99 at Amazon
Save $20 -
If you're looking to power up your storage, this HDD will stop you from uninstalling games for a while yet. It's truly a deal to snap up given the ballooning install sizes we've seen over the past few years.

UK: £135.14 at AmazonView Deal

Nintendo deals

Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + 12 months Nintendo Switch Online | $299 $249 at Walmart

Save $50 - The classic Nintendo Switch, discounted down to an excellent $249.99. If you've always wanted to try the console, this is the way to do it – especially as it includes the brilliant Mario Kart 8 and a 12 month subscription to the console's online service.

Buy it if:

✅ You prefer the OG Switch
✅ You aren't interested in OLED

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want an OLED screen

UK: £349 at Amazon (no Switch Online)View Deal

Super Mario Odyssey | $59.99 $46.53 at Walmart
Save $13 A discount on a Switch game is a rarity when it's developed by Nintendo, which makes this wee saving a treat. Super Mario Odyssey is one of our favorite Switch games as it captures the joy of a nostalgic platformer like few can, all with some new ideas to boot.

UK: £37.99 at AmazonView Deal

Just Dance 2025 | $49.99 $19.99 at Amazon
Save $30 This is the lowest we've seen the latest Just Dance on Amazon , so act fast if you want to move fast.

Buy it if:

✅ You're looking for a very active game
✅ You prefer a newer setlist

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't want to move from your chair

UK: £23.99 at AmazonView Deal

Sea of Stars | $39.99 $24.99 at Amazon
Save $15Our Sea of Stars review gave this magnificent praise, and it's just a few cents off Amazon's lowest-ever price - worth grabbing if you've got time to sink into a new RPG.

UK: £25.99 at AmazonView Deal

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | $69.99 $30 at Walmart
Save $29.99 - This is a record-low for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which is undoubtedly one of the best things you can play on Switch right now! It's rare to see this open-world adventure drop below $50, so don't miss out on this great saving.

Buy it if:

You loved Breath of the Wild
You want a new open-world game

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't like 3D Zelda games

UK: £59.99 £44.99 at AmazonView Deal

Pikmin 4 | $59.99 $30 at Walmart
Save $29.99 – We've had to wait for a new Pikmin game for a hot minute, but what a quirky treat it's been. With a solid saving of nearly 30 bucks to be had, there hasn't been a better time to give this one a go.

UK: £37.99 at AmazonView Deal

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | $49.99 $17.97 at Amazon
Save $32 -
The Prince of Persia's latest outing is one of this year's unsung gems, which is to say a low price of 20 bucks is an excellent deal to jump on.

UK: £41.21 £34.67 at AmazonView Deal

Hogwarts Legacy | $59.99 $29.99 at Walmart
Save $30 – If you've ever wanted to step into the Wizarding world then Hogwarts Legacy is the game for you. This massive $30 saving is a great price for the open-world RPG which lets you role-play as a wizard, attending Hogwarts long before Harry and friends joined the famed school.

Buy it if:

You love Harry Potter
You want to be a wizard
You like open-world RPGs

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't like Harry Potter

UK: £34.88 at AmazonView Deal

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller | $69.99 $49.99 at Walmart
Save $20We all could do with another controller, and thankfully Cyber Monday is on hand to deliver. While we've seen the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller go for less, you're still getting a solid saving of $20.View Deal

SanDisk 256GB microSDXC Card | $49.99 $22.49 at Amazon
Save $28A lack of storage is the bane of many consoles, especially the humble Nintendo Switch with 32GB of standard storage capacity. That's why I always watch storage deals over Cyber Monday, and this time is no different. For just over 20 bucks, this 256GB microSDXC card means you won't have to think about uninstalling games for a bit.

UK: £22.67 at AmazonView Deal

Joy-Con (Neon Red/Neon Blue) | $79.99 $59.99 at Walmart
Save $20 – There's never been a better time to grab yourself an extra set of Joy-Con controllers with this great Cyber Monday sale, regardless of whether you're looking for multiplayer fun or solve a stick-drift problem.

Buy it if:

You need new Joy-Cons
You like multiplayer games
You want to play with friends

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't like the colors

UK: £59.99 at ArgosView Deal

Xbox deals

Dragon Age: The Veilguard | $69.99 $49.99 at Amazon
Save $20 - This is a huge discount for a BioWare game that's barely a month out of the door, and our Dragon Age: The Veilguard review makes a very strong case for picking it up.

Buy it if:

✅ You like Dragon Age
✅ You aren't juggling another RPG right now
✅ You've missed BioWare

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want a more open world RPG

Price check: $49.99 at Walmart, $69.99 at Best Buy

UK: £69.99 at AmazonView Deal

Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 | $69.99 $49.99 at Amazon
Save $20 - This is the lowest Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 has been since its release this September, so don't waste any time – go grab one of the most outrageous shooters of the year, or go check out Space Marine 2 review if you still need convincing.

Buy it if:

✅ You enjoy third-person shooters
✅ You like hack-n-slashers
✅ You enjoy co-op

Don't buy it if:

❌ The Warhammer 40K universe doesn't appeal

Price check: $49.99 at Best Buy

UK: £37.95 at AmazonView Deal

Star Wars Outlaws Limited Edition | $69.99 $39.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - Star Wars Outlaws was only released a few months ago and is currently at a record-low price for Cyber Monday. It's a fun, open-world adventure that truly makes you feel a part of the Star Wars universe. Read our Star Wars Outlaws review, and then go grab this great game for yourself.

Buy it if:

✅ You like open-world games
✅ You're a fan of Star Wars

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want a short experience

Price check: Best Buy: $49.99 | Walmart: $45.03UK: £36.99 at AmazonView Deal

TEKKEN 8 | $69.99 $29.99 at Amazon
Save $34.99 - What are you waiting for, this record-low price for Tekken 8 simply can't be missed – it's one of the best fighting games of the generation, after all. We can't recommend this enough, but check out our Tekken 8 review to learn more about this great 3D fighter.

Buy it if:

✅ You like fighting games
✅ You haven't played Tekken before
✅ You've been waiting for a price drop

Don't buy it if:

❌ Fighting games frustrate you

Price check: $34.99 at Xbox

UK: £29.99 at ArgosView Deal

Xbox Core Wireless controller (carbon black) | $59.99 $39.99 at Amazon
Save $20 - The classic Xbox Series X controller is discounted by $20 right now, and it's an excellent saving on a key accessory. It'll work great with your Series X and Series s, as well as PC and mobile devices.

Buy it if:

✅ You want an official controller
✅ You like black peripherals

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want more options

Price check: $45 at Walmart

UK: £38.99 at Amazon

Xbox Series X controller in Robot White | $59.99 $39.99 at Best Buy
Save $20
- Want a Core Xbox Wireless controller but not interested in the boring black colorway? Then grab it with a $20 discount at Amazon right now, which will get you a great wireless controller for Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices for just $39.99 while stocks last.

Buy it if:

✅ You want a wireless controller
✅ You need a controller that's also PC compatible
✅ You want a new colorway

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want a Pro controller

Price check: Walmart: $45

UK: £38.99 at AmazonView Deal

Deep Pink Core Controller + Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K + 1 Month Game Pass Ultimate | $131.97 $74.99 at Amazon
Save $56.98 - If you're looking to play a bunch of games on the cheap without having to buy the console, this bundle lets you access a Game Pass Ultimate subscription to play Xbox games without the box.

Buy it if:

✅ You don't own an Xbox already
✅ Have good internet

Don't buy it if:

❌ You only want a controller

UK: £47.90 at Amazon
View Deal

WD Black C50 1TB | $157.99 $99 at Amazon
Save $58 - You don't need me to talk about the importance of storage again, but you may need me to talk about this lovely deal for extra storage. If you bought an Xbox before the fancy new storage variants came out, this one is at a record-low price and brings an extra 1TB of storage.

Buy it if:

✅ You want more storage space
✅ You want to be able to use Quick Resume
✅ 1TB is enough

Don't buy it if:

❌ You need more than 1TB

Price check: $198.10 at Best Buy

UK: £114.99 at AmazonView Deal

Cyber Monday gaming deals FAQ

When will Cyber Monday gaming deals end?

Cyber Monday gaming deals end at the very same that December 2 does, for the most part. While many retailers ensure that a deal ends once the clock strikes midnight, others let them linger for a few days, so you may get lucky if you don't pick up a deal today.

Where will I find the best Cyber Monday gaming deals?

You'll find a number of retailers offering Cyber Monday gaming deals, but there are a few that bring extra value and plenty of stock to the party. You'll find our favorite stores listed below.

USA

Amazon: Usually the best for gaming discounts overall
Dell: Sales on a good variety of accessories and hardware
Best Buy: Offers surprisingly good PC peripheral deals
Walmart: Great for game discounts
Microsoft: Save on PC and Xbox games and accessories
CDKeys: Regularly offers big savings on digital games
Newegg: Excellent for PC component deals
Gamestop: Great for merch, bundles, and games

UK

Amazon: Traditionally the most reliable for variety and price-cuts
Currys: A source of regular console bundle discounts
Dell: Good variety on accessories and gaming hardware
Very: Console bundles often stay in stock longer here
Argos: Best for budget accessories with same day delivery
The Game Collection: Physical games receive excellent discounts
CDKeys: Super cheap digital PC games
Game: Save on merch, pre-owned games, and accessories

Is Black Friday or Cyber Monday cheaper?

Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday are cheap, as retailers often run pretty much the same deals for both events. However, there's far more choice available on Black Friday - stock hasn't run out yet and retailers are attempting to compete in a much more cutthroat arena. The sale is far more popular, which means flash sales, bundle offers, and extra gift card temptations will be more widespread. That tends to make Black Friday the cheaper sale overall, even if many prices stay the same over Cyber Monday.

Are games discounted on Cyber Monday?

Video games themselves rule the roost on Cyber Monday. This is where you'll find the majority of download discounts and even some record low prices on physical copies as well. We've seen this time and time again, so while we don't recommend waiting past a record low price on a new release over Black Friday, you're likely going to have plenty to choose from if you do miss out on the main event.

Do consoles go on sale on Cyber Monday?

Consoles are a little trickier to predict than games. After all, this is the first year we're heading into Cyber Monday gaming deals with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X having already dropped to record low prices in the past. We would expect these consoles to go on sale for Black Friday, but we anticipate stock might not hold out for Cyber Monday.

What to expect from Cyber Monday gaming deals

SteelSeriesArctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

Cyber Monday can be a something of a whirlwind because everyone's rushing to secure the fast-evaporating deals left over from Black Friday. With that in mind, having an idea of what's to come will help give you an edge over the competition. Here's what we've found in our years covering the event:

⏰ Don't wait long
Because many of these offers will be leftovers from Black Friday, they'll start to dry up incredibly quickly as stock disappears. With that in mind, don't leave it to the last minute if something is in your basket - it may not be there anymore, or the price might have gone back up.View Deal

🎮 The best discounts will be on games
The easiest Cyber Monday gaming deals to find are usually games themselves, and even though a few old favorites are sure to be discounted again in 2024 (we're looking at you, God of War: Ragnarok), the best offers will be on titles a little less long in the tooth. Big hitters from this year like Helldivers 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will likely see some of their lowest prices yet.View Deal

🎁 Consoles will have their best deals on Black Friday
If you're after a new console, we'd recommend keeping a close eye on Black Friday PS5 deals and Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals. This is when we expect the larger offers to land, and they might not stick around for Cyber Monday. We're expecting PS5 deals to include similar bundles as last year with the Slim model offering a free recent release, and Nintendo Switch bundles to drop back to that $299 / £259 price point with free games and accessories included.

The Xbox Series X will likely take part in its own Cyber Monday Xbox deals as well, potentially dropping its MSRP to $439 / £429 with the Series S returning to last year's price of $219 / £189. View Deal

🎧 Premium headsets should get big reductions
If you're after Cyber Monday gaming headset deals, we'd recommend keeping an eye on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro and Razer BlackShark V2 models for the highest value discounts. The former usually runs at a hefty $349 / £329, but dropped to $299 in the US last year, giving us plenty of hope for a return to a record low $249 price. The BlackShark V2 is better suited to the everyday player looking to invest in a sturdy headset. It's a little older, but that $99.99 / £99.99 MSRP has been wavering for some time, even dropping as low as $59.99 / £54.99 in the past. This is where we're hoping to find it come Cyber Monday. View Deal

📺 Monitors could be the tech to watch
For Cyber Monday monitor deals, we'll be watching the Samsung CRG9 for some premium action, but MSI Optix, LG UltraGear, and Alienware ranges are known to offer up some good reductions as well. These brands are all responsible for some of the best gaming monitors on the market, and some of these displays have spent enough time on the shelves to be primed for heavier discounts.View Deal


We're also rounding up all the Cyber Monday gaming PC deals and Cyber Monday Meta Quest deals we expect to see, as well as everything we can anticipate from Cyber Monday gaming laptop deals as well.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/cyber-monday-gaming-deals/ i6Kex8vNmviokuq9WuDj3W Tue, 03 Dec 2024 05:21:55 +0000
<![CDATA[ Roblox gift cards are 15% off at Amazon - if you don't know what that means, ask your kids ]]> We've finally hit December which can only mean one thing - the holidays are coming! This can be a stressful time especially if you're struggling to buy the gaming fans in your life the perfect gift but may I offer you a Roblox gift card in this trying time? Gift cards may seem a bit impersonal, but nothing pleases me more than sneaking in a Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Network, or even a Roblox gift card into a loved one's Christmas Card and they always go down a treat.

Gift cards don't get deals too often but thanks to Cyber Monday you can now get 15% off Roblox ones right in time for the holiday season. If, like me, you want to sneak some Robux into a family member's card or stocking, you can now grab a $50 gift card for just $42.50 at Amazon, saving you $7.50 in the process, and the deals continue for the $75 and $100 cards too.

Don't expect to receive a small plastic card in the post if you pick up some of these discounted gift cards. Unlike the best Cyber Monday gaming deals, there's no physical element to be found here. Once purchased you'll receive a pin code in your inbox, which can be redeemed on the Roblox website. If you still want to personalize this on Christmas day, I recommend writing the redeemable code in a card, or even adding it to their account in secret on the big day.

Roblox gift card (4,500 Robux) | $50 $42.50 at Amazon
Save $7.50 -
This gift card gets you a huge 4,500 Robux to use in-game and comes with the added bonus of some Woodsy Forest Pauldrons for your avatar. Thanks to Cyber Monday, Amazon has knocked off 15% off this gift card so you can save $7.50 to put towards more Roblox goodies.

Buy it if:

✅ 4,500 Robux is more than enough
✅ You want to buy new outfits for your avatar
✅ You want the Woodsy Forest Pauldrons

Don't buy it if:

❌ You need more Robux
❌ You want a physical Roblox gift instead

Price check: Best Buy: $50

UK: £50 at AmazonView Deal

Roblox gift card (4,500 Robux) | $75 $63.75 at Amazon
Save $11.25 -
The next gift card up will net you 7,000 Robux in total to use in-game, along with the bonus Woodsy Forest Pauldrons item for just $63.75 thanks to Cyber Monday. That's a lot of Robux to try and spend but buying it from Amazon instead of in-game will save you $11.25 which could be set aside for even more Robux should you need any.

Buy it if:

✅ You want 7,000 Robux
✅ You want to buy multiple in-game game passes
✅ You want to use your remaining balance for a Roblox Premium subscription

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't play Roblox
❌ You'd prefer a physical in-store gift card

Price check: Walmart: $75

UK: £75 at AmazonView Deal

Roblox gift card (4,500 Robux) | $100 $85 at Amazon
Save $15 -
This gift card comes with a colossal 10,000 Robux to use in-game, along with the bonus Woodsy Forest Pauldrons item. While it may take a while to get spend all these robux up, this is one of the biggest savings to be had as there's $15 off thanks to Cyber Monday.

Buy it if:

✅ You want items to develop your own Robox games
✅ You want the perfect gift for a Roblox fan

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're never going to manage to spend 10,000 Robux

Price check: Best Buy: $100

UK: £100 at AmazonView Deal

How to redeem Amazon Robox gift cards

If you pick up any of these gift cards, you'll need to redeem them before you can go on a Roblox spending spree. Luckily the process is pretty simple, and I'm here to tell you how. (Feel free to share this valuable knowledge if you're gifting any of these gift cards to a loved one. I promise I won't take any credit so you can take all the glory for yourself.)

  • Receive your Robox gift card PIN code
  • Visit the Roblox website at Roblox.com/redeem
  • Enter your pin on the website
  • Click 'Redeem' to add Robux to your account

Check out our best Cyber Monday deals hub, where we've gathered all the best discounts on console bundles, brand-new games, controllers, and accessories, but be fast, as these deals won't be around for much longer.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/want-to-be-popular-this-christmas-pick-up-one-of-these-cyber-monday-roblox-gift-card-deals-while-you-still-can/ cPBkbwTUxkGZA9xX36YABd Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:31:51 +0000
<![CDATA[ Here's how to watch the Golden Joystick Awards 2024, hosted by Final Fantasy 16 favorite Ben Starr ]]> This year's Golden Joystick Awards isn't far away now, so you'll want to get your stream of choice bookmarked before the big event.

The Golden Joystick Awards 2024 will kick off on Thursday, November 21, at 8am PST / 11am EST / 4pm GMT / 5pm CEST. You can watch the showcase on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Steam, and more.

Watch the Golden Joystick Awards LIVE below

This year, over 125 games, studios, hardware, and TV shows are represented across 21 categories, with the winners decided by the public, such as Ultimate Game of the Year, Most Wanted, Best Gaming Hardware presented by EE Game Store, and Studio of the Year. Then you've got three categories decided by an expert panel of journalists and content creators: the Streamer's Choice Award, Breakthrough Award, and Critics' Choice.

There are also new awards to reflect the times, such as Still Playing - PC & Console and Still Playing - Mobile. You can also vote for the Best Game Adaption, which honors the best game adaptation to the silver screen that year.

So far, Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lead the shortlist with six nominations each, followed by Helldivers 2 with five nominations and Balatro with four nods.

As for who is presenting this year, Final Fantasy 16 Clive Rosfield actor Ben Starr is hosting, though you'll also see plenty of familiar faces such as Baldur's Gate 3 stars Neil Newbon and Samantha Béart and much much more. 

To break up the action, you've also got video game composers Lucia La Rezza and Mark Choi, who will perform music from several games featured in the award categories alongside some classics for good measure.

You can see all the Golden Joysticks 2024 award categories and nominees here.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/heres-how-to-watch-the-golden-joystick-awards-2024/ J9vGYn58wEFMSy7L2r7kf5 Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:00:36 +0000
<![CDATA[ The Game Awards nominees prove that 2024 is the year of the JRPG, with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Metaphor ReFantazio leading the field ]]> The Game Awards nominees for 2024 are in, and if you had any doubt this was the year of the JRPG, the numerous nominations for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Metaphor: ReFantazio should put that doubt to rest.

Leading the field with seven nominations apiece are PlayStation exclusives Astro Bot and FF7 Rebirth, narrowly ahead of Metaphor: ReFantazio with six nominations. Those three games are up for the big Game of the Year award, joined by Black Myth: Wukong, Balatro, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

The Game Awards have been around for a while now, though this year's nominees were always going to be a bit different. That's because, per the website FAQ page, "expansion packs, new game seasons, DLCs, remakes, and remasters" are eligible for a judge's consideration. Shadow of the Erdtree's position in the main GOTY award is testament to that, as are Silent Hill 2's various nods across the categories.

"The Game Awards aims to recognize the best creative and technical work each year, irrespective of the format of that content's release," the website reads. "Expansion packs, new game seasons, DLCs, remakes, and remasters are eligible in all categories, if the jury deems the new creative and technical work to be worthy of a nomination. Factors such as the newness of the content and its price/value should be taken into consideration."

The call makes enough sense, especially in a year where the likes of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Silent Hill 2 Remake have landed to critical acclaim. How many awards will either snag? You have just under a month to find out who will win what. The Game Awards kick off on December 12 and will be available to watch on YouTube and Twitch.

The Game Awards 2024 nominees

  • Game of the Year
    • Astro Bot
    • Balatro
    • Black Myth: Wukong
    • Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
    • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
    • Metaphor: ReFantazio
  • Best Game Direction
    • Astro Bot
    • Balatro
    • Black Myth: Wukong
    • Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
    • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
    • Metaphor: ReFantazio
  • Best Action/Adventure Game
    • Astro Bot
    • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
    • Silent Hill 2
    • Star Wars Outlaws
    • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
  • Best Role-Playing Game
    • Dragon's Dogma 2
    • Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
    • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
    • Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
    • Metaphor: ReFantazio
  • Best Fighting Game
    • Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
    • Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
    • Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
    • MultiVersus
    • Tekken 8
  • Best Action Game
    • Black Myth: Wukong
    • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
    • Helldivers 2
    • Stellar Blade
    • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
  • Innovation in Accessibility
    • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
    • Diablo 4
    • Dragon Age: The Veilguard
    • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
    • Star Wars Outlaws
  • Best Family Game
    • Astro Bot
    • Princess Peach Showtime!
    • Super Mario Party Jamboree
    • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
    • The Plucky Squire
  • Best Sim/Strategy Game
    • Age of Mythology Retold
    • Frostpunk 2
    • Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
    • Manor Lords
    • Unicorn Overlord
  • Best Sports/Racing Game
    • F1 24
    • EA Sports FC 25
    • NBA 2K25
    • TopSpin 2K25
    • WWE 2K24
  • Best Ongoing Game
    • Destiny 2
    • Diablo 4
    • Final Fantasy 14
    • Fortnite
    • Helldivers 2
  • Best Performance
    • Briana White (Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth)
    • Hannah Telle (Life is Strange: Double Exposure)
    • Humberly González (Star Wars Outlaws)
    • Luke Roberts (Silent Hill 2)
    • Melina Juergens (Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2)
  • Best mobile game
    • AFK Journey
    • Balatro
    • Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket
    • Wuthering Waves
    • Zenless Zone Zero
  • Best Art Direction
    • Astro Bot
    • Black Myth Wukong
    • Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
    • Metaphor: ReFantazio
    • Neva
  • Best Score & Music
    • Astro Bot
    • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
    • Metaphor: ReFantazio
    • Silent Hill 2
    • Stellar Blade
  • Best Audio Design
    • Astro Bot
    • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
    • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
    • Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
    • Silent Hill 2
  • Best Adaptation
    • Arcane: League of Legends
    • Fallout
    • Knuckles
    • Like a Dragon: Yakuza
    • Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
  • Best Narrative
    • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
    • Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
    • Metaphor: ReFantazio
    • Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
    • Silent Hill 2
  • Games for Impact
    • Closer the Distance
    • Indika
    • Neva
    • Life is Strange: Double Exposure
    • Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
    • Tales of Kenzera: Zau
  • Best Community Support
    • Baldur's Gate 3
    • Final Fantasy 14
    • Fortnite
    • Helldivers 2
    • No Man's Sky
  • Best Multiplayer
    • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
    • Helldivers 2
    • Super Mario Party Jamboree
    • Tekken 8
    • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
  • Best Independent Game
    • Animal Well
    • Balatro
    • Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
    • Neva
    • UFO 50
  • Best Debut Indie Game
    • Animal Well
    • Balatro
    • Manor Lords
    • Pacific Drive
    • The Plucky Squire
  • Best VR/AR Game
    • Arizona Sunshine Remake
    • Asgard's Wrath 2
    • Batman: Arkham Shadow
    • Metal Hellsinger VR
    • Metro Awakening VR
  • Content Creator of the Year
    • CaseOh
    • IlloJuan
    • Techno Gamerz
    • Typical Gamer
    • Usada Pekora
  • Most Anticipated
    • Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
    • Ghost of Yotei
    • Grand Theft Auto 6
    • Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
    • Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Best Esports Game
    • Counter-Strike 2
    • Dota 2
    • League of Legends
    • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
    • Valorant
  • Best Esports Athlete
    • 33
    • Aleksib
    • Chovy
    • Faker
    • ZywOo
    • ZmjjKK
  • Best Esports Team
    • Bilibili Gaming (League of Legends)
    • Gen.G (League of Legends)
    • Navi (Counter-Strike)
    • T1 (League of Legends)
    • Team Liquid (Dota 2)

The best games I've played in 2024 did not come out in 2024 – this is your sign to tend to that backlog.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/the-game-awards-nominees-prove-that-2024-is-the-year-of-the-jrpg-with-final-fantasy-7-rebirth-and-metaphor-refantazio-leading-the-field/ 5GVQkpercA7CNyqHk6QqWi Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:55:35 +0000
<![CDATA[ I hope you saved room after Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered because the Horizon MMO could be on its way as early as next year ]]> Although our bellies are currently full with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Guerrilla shows no signs of slowing down its projects as a new job listing suggests another Horizon game will be coming out next year.

Thanks to JorRaptor on Twitter, we know that Guerrilla is hiring a release QA intern. This role requires someone with "both theoretical knowledge and practical experience to ensure the game is prepared for launch." The candidate must also be "Available for an Internship during the first half of 2025," meaning a game would likely come out in the latter half of the year.

Before you rush off to apply, this job is only open to people "Currently enrolled in a Dutch school within a relevant field of study." In the true spirit of an internship, it seems aimed at young people with a passion for the industry.

The internship could focus on the rumored Horizon MMO being worked on by NCSoft. According to a report from South Korean outlet MTN, Sony and NCSoft have teamed up to work on an untitled game known as Project H.

There's also a chance the job opening at Guerrilla is for its own internal multiplayer Horizon game. Rather than a sequel or just a third single-player entry, Bloomberg's Jason Schrier says, "Horizon Online is their next product."

Guerrilla Games studio director Jan-Bart van Beek has spoken about the series of the future before, saying, "As people probably already know, we're also going to be working on a multiplayer game."

It's unclear whether Guerrilla and NCSoft are working together on one multiplayer Horizon game or if both studios are building different projects. Sony has repeatedly said it plans to go all-in on live-service games, but it might risk spreading Horizon too thin if players have to split their time. It's more likely NCSoft is being brought on for a mobile version of a game or Guerrilla is supportting it in a full MMO.

If you want to play with a friend, check out our list of the best co-op games of all time.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/i-hope-you-saved-room-after-horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-because-the-horizon-mmo-could-be-on-its-way-as-early-as-next-year/ Szgv8xhFJJaGiFj3CjbuWa Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:58:28 +0000
<![CDATA[ The best Amazon Big Deal Days gaming deals in Australia for October 2024: The sale is "officially" over, but here's what's left ]]> Amazon Prime Day in Australia went big back in July, and it went big in October too. It ran from October 8 through to the 13th, and while that means the deal event is officially over, there are still some lingering bargains.

We've been sifting through the multitude of deals for the bargains you've been dreaming of. Whether you're after PS5 games, rare Nintendo Switch first-party discounts, PC peripherals or a new Xbox controller, we've got only the best and most worthwhile offers listed below. We've been following all these events for years now, and we watch bundle, accessory, and game prices all year round. That means we can spot the deals that need your attention.

Keep in mind that Amazon Prime Day usually requires an Amazon Prime subscription to make the most of the best deals. If you're not already a member, you can sign up for a free trial.

Without further ado:

Amazon Prime | 30-day free trial
You will need an Amazon Prime membership to take part in this year's sale, but the retailer regularly offers free trials to get as many eyes on its site as possible. This 30 day offer will see you all the way through the sale without paying a cent!
View Deal

PS5

PS5 accessories on a table, including two DualSense controllers, a charging station and a headset

(Image credit: Future)

Save AU$81
This was down to AU$668 earlier, and while it's not as cheap now, it's still well below RRP. Sony didn't really show up for June's Prime Day event (probably thanks to its Days of Play promotion occurring only weeks before) so it's unlikely we'll see this go for cheaper between now and Black Friday.View Deal

Given GTA 5 has sold over 200 million copies, it's probably unlikely you don't already own it. But, in case you don't (or in case you do, but another another platform you don't wanna play it on) here it is for a tidy AU$24. It has sold very well and is obviously a very good videogame, so it obviously comes highly recommended. View Deal

This is the cheapest way we've found to play Armored Core VI on either PS4 or PS5. This is a UK import but keep in mind PS4 and PS5 is not region locked where games are concerned. This PS4 boxed edition will upgrade to the PS5 version too, unless you're pedantic about the platform displayed on the box (and fair enough: collectors might be!) this is a bargain for everyone's favourite game about blowing up massive robots.View Deal

Save AU$45.95
Nice price for a JRPG that'll keep you busy for a hundred or so hours, if you're being thorough. It's the second in the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga, and as a result it's probably wise to play the first before you tackle this one. But you can just not take my advice; that's fine too. Some of us are just in it for the Queen's Blood mini-game after all.View Deal

Save AU$65.95
This is a whole AU$4 cheaper than it was during the last Prime Day. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the most critically acclaimed Star Wars game for quite some time, and is the best fix you'll get this side of Star Wars Outlaws. In our Star Wars: Jedi Survivor review we gave the sequel 4.5 stars, writing that "Cal's new adventure is a mature, twisting narrative that establishes a new group of heroes and challenges what a modern Star Wars story can be."View Deal

Save AU$50
Despite being one of the busiest years for JRPGs in decades, Granblue Fantasy: Relink still manages to rival the likes of Persona 3 Reload, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and FF VII Rebirth. Don't be fooled by its relatively cheap RRP: this is a fully-featured fantasy RPG with gorgeously colourful anime stylings. Sure, it's not 100+ hours (expect around 10-20) but this fascinating splicing of Monster Hunter with the Tales Of series is worth diving into at this price, which has held pretty steady since close to launch.View Deal

Save AU$60.95
This is one of the most visually impressive games on PS5, and there's every chance it'll look even better on the forthcoming PS5 Pro. While it definitely takes the form of a Ubisoft open world adventure, it doubles down on some survival elements and is a tonne of fun to explore. For this price you basically can't go wrong.View Deal

Big Deal Days hasn't delivered strongly on the first-party PS5 front, but there's a lot of deep cuts that you might be tempted by at dramatically lowered prices. Such as:

Alone in the Dark | AU$99.95 AU$55
The Crew Motorfest | AU$29.89 AU$24.55
Dead Island 2 | AU$47 AU$39.95
Payday 3 | AU$59.95 AU$28
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | AU$33.99 AU$28.89
South Park: Snow Day | AU$59.95 AU$30.60
Teardown
| AU$59.95 AU$23.80View Deal

Xbox

Xbox Series X

(Image credit: Future)

Good news for Game Pass enthusiasts: Big Deal Days is offering 15% off most tiers, ranging both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, and taking in both Core and Ultimate access. Twelve month access to Ultimate is conspicuously absent (can a deal be too good?) but here's what Amazon is offering at time of writing:

Xbox Game Pass Core | 1 month | AU$10.95 AU$9.31
Xbox Game Pass Core | 3 months | AU$29.95 AU$25.46
Xbox Game Pass Core | 6 months | AU$49.95 AU$42.46
Xbox Game Pass Core | 12 months | AU$79.95 AU$67.96

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | 1 month | AU$18.95 AU$16.19
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | 3 months | AU$56.95 AU$48.41

Xbox PC Game Pass | 3 months | AU$32.95 AU$28.01View Deal

(Save up to AU$7.49)
Microsoft doesn't discount its perennial cash cow very often, so this is a good price for a game that'll keep you (or your kids) happy for hundreds of hours. This is a digital code that is sent by Amazon via email, so buying it will let you start straight away. Alternatively, there's a physical version for Xbox, but that's AU$39.95 and, given the predominantly online nature of Minecraft, it's not the kind of game worth owning physically.

Minecraft for Xbox | AU$29.95 AU$25.46
Minecraft Java & Bedrock for PC | AU$39.95 AU$33.96
Minecraft Java & Bedrock Deluxe Edition for PC | AU$49.95 AU$42.46View Deal

Save AU$83.83
This is a very steep discount on a massive Bethesda RPG, and it's an especially good time to grab it with the recent release of the Shattered Space expansion (which is sold separately). Sure, reviews were divisive (our own review was glowingly positive), but if you're fond of earlier Bethesda RPGs in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout series this is basically a must-play. Note that if you're a Game Pass member, this game comes included with that service.View Deal

Save AU$24.24
This is an affordable way to get drift-free hall effect analog sticks if you don't want to fork out for the Xbox Elite, or indeed te Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra. The other reason it's comparable to premium controllers is that it has P1 / P2 paddle buttons on the rear. A pretty good option for button-lovin' gamers.View Deal

Save AU$10.35
This wireless PC and Xbox gamepad has drift-free hall effect analog sticks and flexible connectivity: it'll work with the included wireless dongle, Bluetooth, and good ol' fashioned USB-C cable. If you're absolutely sick of stick drift, this is a super cheap way to eliminate that anxiety.View Deal

Save AU$24.96
Nintendo first-party games are a little thin on the ground this Prime Day, but Super Mario RPG is the pleasant exception. Originally released for SNES in 1996, this thoroughly revamped version maintains the source material's isometric turn-based gameplay but applies a thick coating of fresh paint. It's an "RPG for everyone", which means that even if you baulk at turn-based JRPGs, you'll probably get something out of this if you're a Mario fan.View Deal

There is a noticeable dearth of first-party Nintendo Switch discounts during this October Prime Day (so far, anyway), so here's a selection of choice discounts from the third-party world.

Hogwart's Legacy | AU$49 AU$41.65
Just Dance 2024 | AU$27.98 AU$23.78
Lego 2K Drive | AU$35.87 AU$21.50
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga | AU$44 AU$37.40
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 | AU$55.69 AU$31.14
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | AU$33.99 AU$28.89
Sega Mega Drive Classics | AU$38.61 AU$30.56
Sonic Forces | AU$39.81 AU$24.73
Sonic Origins Plus | AU$59.95 AU$34
Tetris 99 | AU$58.01 AU$40.02View Deal

PC

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 gaming laptop open on desktop screen sitting on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future)

Save AU$1,100
If you want a gaming laptop that won't look too conspicuous in an office environment, Razer's Blade lappies are pretty much among the best you'll find. It ain't affordable, even with a discount, but if you need an upgrade this may be a tempting price. It's a 2023 model, and its specs are still impressive: it boasts a 15.6-inch 240Hz 1440p display, an RTX 4070 graphics chip, and Razer's famously robust form factor.View Deal

Save AU$92.19
A little under 50% off this tenkeyless slab, which boasts optical-mechanical keys and the usual wealth of RGB and Corsair's distinctive brushed aluminium stylings. This one ships from North America.View Deal

Save AU$59.01
This wee lil thing has low profile optical switches and, just in case it gets lost among the things on your gaming desk, plenty of RGB. , this is a wireless 65 percenter with low profile optical switches. It has great switches, a rock solid build and lots of connectivity options.View Deal

Save AU$79.85
A nice 32% off this 75% size mechanical gaming keyboard. It has a nice pared back aesthetic but it rocks the boat when it comes to gaming performance, with hot-swappable pre-lubed caps and dual-layer sound dampening. View Deal

(save AU$40)
Another discounted Corsair slab, this one comes bearing pre-lubed MLX Red linear mechanical switches and a rugged weapon-like aluminium top plate. And even though it's a relatively entry-level affair, you get to enjoy the usual RGB lightworks.View Deal

Save AU$53.40
This budget wireless gaming mouse is worth an impulse buy at this price. With a 200 hour battery life on a single AA battery, it's a popular workhorse that you won't regret buying for both gaming and productivity.View Deal

(Save AU$72.36)
This Corsair model is designed for MMOs, but it'll come in handy to anyone who likes more complex games like RPGs or MOBAs. It has 16 programmable buttons and a 150 hour battery life, with both wireless and Bluetooth connectivity.View Deal

Save AU$87.48
This wireless affair is serious business: It has 11 programmable buttons, making it a good choice for MMO or MOBA players. It has a 26k DPI optical sensor and uses Corsair's own "Quickstrike" tech to eliminate any shred of latency in the mouse's optical switches. View Deal

(save AU$85.19)
This is a pleasantly lightweight wireless mouse with great responsiveness and unwavering wireless connectivity. Obviously, you're going to need to enjoy the look of the thing above all else: it may trigger trypophobia in some. Jacob rated it highly in his 2021 review.View Deal

Save AU$32.12
Glorious is hardly a household name but this is a mouse we can recommend: In Katie's review it's described as "the lightest RGB mouse around", and it better be, with all those holes. The ambidextrous affair is "optimized for competitive gaming", and has a 1000hz polling rate. At this price, it may be worth just getting one and filing it away as a back up to your main moues.  View Deal

Save AU$24.24 [DUPLICATE BLOCK FROM ABOVE]
This is an affordable way to get drift-free hall effect analog sticks if you don't want to fork out for the Xbox Elite, or indeed te Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra. The other reason it's comparable to premium controllers is that it has P1 / P2 paddle buttons on the rear. A pretty good option for button-lovin' gamers.View Deal

Save AU$10.35 [DUPLICATE BLOCK FROM ABOVE]
This wireless PC and Xbox gamepad has drift-free hall effect analog sticks and flexible connectivity: it'll work with the included wireless dongle, Bluetooth, and good ol' fashioned USB-C cable. If you're absolutely sick of stick drift, this is a super cheap way to eliminate that anxiety.View Deal

Save AU$723.45
This 5900X CPU is a powerful chip: 12 cores, 24 threads, and plenty of grunt for whatever gaming you want to throw at it. Our colleagues over at PC Gamer were well-impressed, writing that it's a "phenomenal processor that is as good in serious apps as it is games, no other 'mainstream' chip really comes close."View Deal

Save AU$126.48
This price safely beats all the competition, so if you're in the market for this particular chip now is definitely the time to bite. It's a solid all-rounder for gaming and productivity alike; Nick was impressed when he tested it in July, writing that "it might be just a Ryzen 7 5800X3D with slower clocks, but you're still getting great gaming performance for a lot less money."View Deal

Save AU$79.42
A nice chunk of cash off this premium PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD, with onboard heatsink. It has a lightning quick 7450MB/s read and 6900MB/s write speed, and rated well in our list of the best SSDs for PS5. In fact, it won top spot.View Deal

Save AU$41.85
If you're accustomed to running a browser with dozens of tabs open, then beefing your system up with 32GB of RAM will improve your system's responsiveness. It'll allow you to run more apps simultaneously, and it can help cut down on the time spent waiting on game loading screens or level transitions. For just $99, this Corsair DDR4-3200 kit is a cheap way to breathe some new life into an older DDR4 system.View Deal

Gaming headsets

Save AU$181.95
It's perfectly understandable if you don't want to fork out AU$450 for a gaming headset. You're not alone! But maybe this drastic reduction makes it a bit more doable. This is a pro-level headset with 50mm graphene drivers, DTS:X Headphone 2.0—7.1 Surround, Bluetooth, USB and 3.5mm connectivity, and support for PC, PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. Now discounted by 24% in Black, Magenta and White (Prices vary mildly between colours).View Deal

Save AU$74
The Cloud II was a go-to if you wanted a sturdy, mid-range wired gaming headset. This wireless follow-up is decently specced for its price, with angled 53mm drivers, a detachable "ultra-clear" mic, and DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio. This 25% discount applies to black while the red model is even cheaper at AU$199. Or, if you'd prefer the wired version of the Cloud III, that's down to AU$119 in black.View Deal

(save AU$80)
This is a great price for a wireless gaming headset with Dolby Audio 7.1, and best of all, it has both wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, making it very versatile. It's an over-air affair with an omni-directional mic, and compatibility across not only PC but all the consoles. It's also available in black.View Deal

PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle | AU$959.95 AU$739 (save AU$220.95)

If you happen to be in the market for the pricey PlayStation VR2, then you'll definitely want to snatch this up. It bundles Horizon Call of the Mountain in with the headset, and is currently considerably cheaper than the standalone model. Sure, it's still expensive, but if you're keen to have the VR experience at home, this is a good shoe-in.View Deal

FAQ

Asus ROG Ally, Nintendo Switch OLED, and Game Boy Color on grey mouse mat

(Image credit: Future)

When will Amazon Prime Day gaming deals begin in Australia?

We now know that the Prime Day gaming deals will land on Amazon between October 8-14, 2024. Despite the name, Prime Day events have started to run a full six days in Australia, presumably because plenty of overseas offers remain available throughout the week.

Do you need a membership for Prime Day gaming deals?

Yes, you will need a Prime membership to take advantage of the majority of this year's winter sale. You can easily pick up a free trial to comfortably see you through the event without spending a cent, though, and it's also worth noting plenty of other retailers are looking to compete.

Amazon Prime | 30-day free trial
You will need an Amazon Prime membership to take part in this year's sale, but the retailer regularly offers free trials to get as many eyes on its site as possible. This 30 day offer will see you all the way through the sale without paying a cent!
View Deal

EA Sports F1 24 (PlayStation 5) | AU$109.95 AU$59.20 at Amazon (save AU$50.75)

Codemasters' brilliant F1 annual was a touch controversial this year, and did lack the brilliant Breaking Point story mode. But if you're looking for the most advanced take on your favourite motorsport, there's nothing that comes as close to recreating the mood of race days.

Also available on Xbox Series X for AU$74 and on PlayStation 4 for AU$79.View Deal

Diablo 4 | AU$49 AU$39 at Amazon (save AU$10)

Everyone's favourite loot grind has never looked more gloriously goth than in Diablo IV, and it'll likely remain the benchmark ARPG until Path of Exile 2 arrives as challenger later this year. AU$57 is a great price to pay for this ever-expanding co-op adventure, which has improved immeasurably since its original 2023 release.View Deal

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (PlayStation 5) | AU$49 AU$45 at Amazon (save AU$4)

Frontiers of Pandora may not have been the most groundbreaking title from a gameplay perspective, but it's an absolute graphical powerhouse, with some of the lushest, most captivating open worlds available on PlayStation. In his review, Leon wrote that it's "a decent, if unspectacular take, on an alien Far Cry that uses its source material well to create an engaging world to explore."View Deal

Dragon's Dogma 2 Lenticular Edition | AU$99 AU$69 at Amazon (save AU$30)

Capcom's long-awaited follow-up to the cult PS3-era RPG was very well received upon release back in March, even if it did feel like a fairly safe modernisation on the original. If you're looking for an open world fantasy RPG that rewards quick thinking, improvisation, and (most importantly) dragon climbing, Dragon's Dogma 2 is probably the best thing going this side of Baldur's Gate 3.View Deal

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (PlayStation 5) | AU$119.95 AU$69 at Amazon (save AU$50.95)

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is a huge and gorgeous RPG of baffling size and scope. To put it more crudely: this AU$79 for around 100 hours of content means you're paying roughly 79 cents per hour. What a time to be alive. If you've yet to play the first in the trilogy (Rebirth is the second), that's currently going for AU$61.47.View Deal

Sand Land | AU$99.95 AU$59 at Amazon (save AU$40.95)

Set in a land of sand, Sand Land is an open world game adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga of the same name. The last Toriyama—best known for his work on Dragon Ball Z—also had a hand in the art direction and design of this RPG, which blends the usual on-foot scraps with vehicular combat and exploration. If you're looking for comfort food reminiscent of the PS2 glory days, it's worth a shot at this price.View Deal

Nintendo Switch OLED model | Neon Red and Blue | White | AU$539.95 AU$449 at Amazon

At this point in the Nintendo Switch's lifecycle, if you're going to buy one you're probably wise to go luxury. The OLED model isn't worth buying at its full RRP, mostly because Amazon generally sells it for around AU$479. That makes this AU$449 price—a saving of AU$85—well worth grabbing if you're in the market for a Switch and don't want to wait for the Switch 2... whenever that might release.View Deal

Nintendo Switch console | Neon Blue and Red | AU$397 at Amazon

The vanilla Switch model may be getting long in the tooth, but it has an undeniably brilliant library of literally thousands upon thousands of games. AU$397 is a decent price, though do double check the price on the OLED before committing, as the latter was available for as low as AU$449 during Prime Day, although OLED stock had run out when we last checked. View Deal

Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch) | AU$79.95 AU$49 (save AU$30.95)

This GameCube-era glow-up is the perfect way to get through a biting winter. If you've never played a Mario RPG, expect a light and whimsical take on the JRPG format, with familiar faces including Mario (of course), Peach, Bowser, and more. This modern Switch remake looks gorgeous, especially on the Nintendo Switch OLED.View Deal

Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo Switch) | AU$81.65 AU$57.58 at Amazon (save AU$24.07)

If you want a deep trove of fun mini-games to play with your friends, you won't get better than this on Nintendo Switch (nor only any other console, for that matter). Reviving over 100 minigames from Nintendo 64 and GameCube consoles, the real challenge is in keeping your friends afterwards.View Deal

Immortals Fenyx Rising for Nintendo Switch | AU$39.95 AU$18 at Amazon (save AU$21.95)

Ubisoft's take on the Breath of the Wild format definitely doesn't reach the heights of its inspiration, but it's still an enjoyable and breezy open world adventure. If you long for a modern Assassin's Creed with the happy-go-lucky colour schemes of ye olde 3D platformers, this is a real joy, and perfect for on-to-go handheld gaming.View Deal

Xbox Series X|S controller (black) | AU$89.95 AU$63.95 at Amazon (save AU$26)

Everyone knows it's wise to have a spare controller on the premises, whether because your main is suffering stick drift or because a friend wants to play some impromptu Diablo 4 local coop. This is a great price for Microsoft's work horse, though be aware that it only currently applies to the black model. View Deal

SCUF Instinct Pro controller | AU$379.99 AU$279.20 at Amazon (save AU$100.79)

This upmarket controller, compatible with both Xbox and PC, is designed for people who love to customise. It has remappable back paddles, instant triggers, and a solid build. The controller is also available in black, red and blue colour varieties with varying discounts.View Deal

Persona 3 Reload for Xbox | AU$109.95 AU$65 at Amazon (save AU$44.95)

Persona 5 may be the modern benchmark for Atlus JRPGs, but among a small niche of believers it'll never top Persona 3. This remake is not only gorgeous, but makes a deadset classic much more approachable for modern audiences. Expect to wring about 70 hours out of this, and you've always got the forthcoming Episode Aegis DLC to look forward to.View Deal

Assassin's Creed Mirage | AU$89 AU$23 at Amazon (save AU$66)

A nice price for this cozy Ass Creed adventure, which returns to the stealth format of Xbox 360 classics like Assassin's Creed 2 and Assassin's Creed: Revelations. In our four star review, Sam called it a "compact, stealth-focused adventure that punishes anyone trying to go in loud, and it does so in a world that's always a delight to explore."View Deal

Mortal Kombat 1 for Xbox | AU$49 AU$35 at Amazon (save AU$14)

This critically acclaimed fighter only released eight months ago, so AU$35 is a generous deal. As always it's both gratuitously gory and surprisingly strategic, with our five star review calling it "a superbly presented fighting game with something to offer players of all experience and familiarity with NetherRealm's sprawling MK universe".View Deal

The Callisto Protocol for Xbox | AU$59.95 AU$16 at Amazon (save AU$43.95)

This third-person survival horror by the creator of the Dead Space series proved divisive at launch, but for this price it's worth taking a punt on. While our own review criticised its often unforgiving combat, one undeniable strength here is the art design and atmosphere. This is still a technical showpiece two years on, and for AU$16 you probably can't go wrong.View Deal

20% off Riot Games gift cards redeemable in League of Legends, Valorant and more | AU$100 AU$80 at Amazon

If you're a fan of League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics or Legends of Runetera, Amazon is offering 20% off Riot Games virtual currencies, meaning you can get $100 for AU$80. That's the biggest saving, but the below are also available.

AU$50 Riot Games Gift Card is now AU$40
AU$25 Riot Games Gift Card is now
AU$20
AU$10 Riot Games Gift Card is now
AU$8View Deal

Samsung Odyssey Neo G75B curved 32 inch gaming monitor | AU$1,599 AU$849 at Amazon (save AU$750)

If you can afford a new AU$1,599 gaming monitor in 2024, then you're luckier than us. This Prime Day discount brings the price on this 32 inch UHD affair to well below the AU$1,000 mark, which doesn't exactly make it an impulse buy, but it's a much better story. It's a curved UHD affair with a 165Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro (it's also G-Sync compatible) and Quantum HDR 2000.View Deal

Corsair XENEON 315QHD165 32-Inch QHD gaming monitor | AU$599 AU$479 at Amazon (save AU$120)

This is a tempting price for a 32-inch QHD workhorse. This Xeneon model boasts an IPS panel, 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, AMD FreeSync Premium and an ultra-slim form factor. Our colleagues at PC Gamer thought highly of this panel in their 2021 review, praising its build quality and picture output. View Deal

ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile gaming keyboard | AU$279 AU$209 at Amazon (save AU$70.10)

A nice saving on this impressive, low footprint, low profile optical gaming keyboard, which most importantly looks stunning. This red switch model (there's also a Blue switch option for AU$279) can connect to up to three Bluetooth devices at a time, but there's also 2.5GHz wireless functionality and, of course, the option to plug it in. If you want your keyboard to take up minimal space on your desk but maximal room in your heart, well, uh, yeah. View Deal

ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 wireless gaming keyboard | AU$299 AU$235 at Amazon (save AU$65)

This mechanical slab is a sight to behold and, according to our sibling site PC Gamer, the very best gaming keyboard you can get. No small praise! It features lubed switches in both linear and clicky varieties, 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, and a lot of RGB. The linked model above is "NX Storm Refined Clicky Switch" model; the alternative is the "NX Snow Refined Linear Switch" model, which is also on sale for the same AU$235.View Deal

ASUS ROG Azoth gaming keyboard | AU$399 AU$298 at Amazon (save AU$98)

At RRP this slick mechanical keyboard is frightfully expensive, and while this AU$88 discount doesn't make it super affordable, it'll appeal to anyone who's had their eyes on this model. It has pre-lubed hot swappable switches, with every connectivity option catered for: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and USB-C wired. Most impressive of all is the two-tone OLED display at the top right of the RGB-bespeckled slab. View Deal

Lowest price

Corsair K100 Air Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard | AU$489 AU$331.56 at Amazon (save AU$151)

Geez louise, gaming keyboards do get pricey, don't they? Even shearing AU$151 off this ultra-thin gaming keyboard doesn't make it cheap, but it sure is better than the RRP. The K100 Air features CHERRY MX ultra low profile switches and super fast 1ms latency wireless connectivity. If you're after a matching mouse, the Corsair M75 Air wireless gaming mouse is also at an all time low of AU$99. View Deal

Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 Rapidfire gaming keyboard | AU$249 AU$142 at Amazon (save AU$107)

A big 'n' welcome discount on this premium low profile mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX low profile key switches boasting a 1.2mm actuation. And who can forget the "aircraft grade" anodized aluminium frame, which you could also probably call "weapons grade" if you wanted. The RGB is also strong with this one.View Deal

ASUS TUF Gaming M3 Gen II gaming mouse| AU$58 AU$19 at Amazon (save AU$39)

You simply cannot argue with a gaming mouse for under AU$20. This could make a great back-up mouse if ever your main craps the bed, or else. It doesn't offer competitive level DPIs or high-tech sensors, but unless you're an FPS pro you probably won't tell the difference. Weighing in at under 59 grams and with six programmable buttons, it's well-featured for its price.View Deal

Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse | AU$99.95 from AU$49.40 at Amazon (save up to AU$50.55)

Do not let the affordability of this Logitech rodent fool you: this is one of the best wireless gaming mice. It has a 12,000 DPI 'Hero' sensor, six programmable buttons, a 250-hour battery and on-board memory for your settings. It's discounted by a massive 51% and available in Black, Blue, Lilac, Mint and White. A great wireless gaming mouse for under AU$50? Wipe those tears away, it's real.View Deal

PDP PS Airlite Pro Wired headset | AU$59.46 AU$14.50 at Amazon (save AU$41.96)

This officially licensed PlayStation headset has copped a stunning 76% discount, making it the most affordable gaming headset we've seen for years (or ever). It's definitely a budget concern even at RRP, but if you just need a reliable headset for casual online multiplayer with mates, or something that you can give to a kid and not stress about, you can't really argue with AU$14.50. While it's PlayStation licensed, it'll work with any device with a 3.5mm jack.View Deal

ASUS ROG Delta gaming headset | AU$289 AU$239 at Amazon (save AU$49)

For most of us, spending AU$289 on a gaming headset means two-minute noodle dinners for a few weeks (we recommend Shin Ramen Black). But while AU$238.39 isn't as big a discount as we were hoping for, it's still well worth it if you value immersive surround sound. ASUS claims it's perfect for FPS games, and it's true spatial awareness matters in that genre, but honestly, it's a good unit for any game. Even Balatro.View Deal

Corsair HS80 Max Wireless Gaming Headset | AU$279 AU$168.99 at Amazon (save AU$110.01)

Compatible with basically everything, the Corsair HS80 Max Wireless Gaming Headset offers low-latency 2.4Ghz wireless audio and Bluetooth connectivity, along with high-fidelity 24bit/96kHz sound and support for Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio. Now discounted by up to 32% in Black and White.View Deal

HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset | AU$299 AU$239 at Amazon (save AU$60)

A good discount on this wireless Cloud Alpha, which we praised for its excellent battery life, audio quality and build, but criticised for its substandard mic. That may make it a tad unappealing for multiplayer-focused gamers, but for anyone else drawn to HyperX's robust headsets (seriously, they feel indestructible) and high standard audio, it's worth consideration.View Deal

HyperX Cloud III wireless gaming headset | AU$279 AU$209 at Amazon (save AU$70)

The Cloud II was a go-to if you wanted a sturdy, mid-range wired gaming headset. This wireless follow-up is decently specced for its price, with angled 53mm drivers, a detachable "ultra-clear" mic, and DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio. This 25% discount applies to both the black and red models. Or, if you'd prefer the wired version of the Cloud III, that's down to AU$119 at the moment.View Deal

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/the-best-prime-day-gaming-deals-in-australia-for-2024-everything-we-expect-to-see-this-year/ Tg8yzTYiq82ZfmJqg4MPkK Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:05:47 +0000
<![CDATA[ Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lead the shortlist for the Golden Joystick Awards 2024, nudging out Helldivers 2 and Balatro for the most nominations ]]> Have you ever disagreed with Game of the Year lists? Well, now is your chance to help shape them. GamesRadar+ is happy to confirm that voting is live for the 42nd Golden Joystick Awards – where your input will help create conversations around the best video games of the year. 

Voting is now live in 19 categories, including ‘Console Game of the Year,’ ‘PC Game of the Year,’ ‘Best Multiplayer Game,’ and more. If you want to have your say, you've got until Friday, November 1, to make your opinions heard. This year, new categories have been introduced, such as 'Best Soundtrack,' 'Best Audio Design,' and 'Best Indie Game – Self Published,' as we look to celebrate a wider range of releases from 2024. 

Click to vote in the Golden Joystick Awards 2024!

There's plenty to get through, but here are some highlights you might find interesting. Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lead the shortlist with five nominations each, followed by Helldivers 2 with four nominations and Balatro with three nominations. Naturally, Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree made the shortlist, as well as scores of other amazing games. 

If you're wondering where 'Ultimate Game of the Year' is, don't worry. That shortlist will go live on Monday, November 4, with voting in that category opening the same day. The winners for all the categories will be revealed in a star-studded award ceremony in central London and live-streamed globally on Thursday, November 21, 2024. 

You can check out the full Golden Joystick Awards 2024 categories and shortlists below, and then be sure to head over to the official page to cast your votes. It's well worth doing – not only will you make your voice heard in the world's longest-running public-voted games awards show, but you'll also be able to claim a free gaming ebook created by our friends here at Future. 

Golden Joystick Awards 2024 nominations

Golden Joystick Awards 2024

(Image credit: Future)

Best Storytelling

  • 1000xResist
  • Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club
  • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
  • Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
  • Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
  • Tactical Breach Wizards

Best Multiplayer Game

  • Abiotic Factor
  • EA Sports College Football 25
  • Helldivers 2 
  • Sons Of The Forest
  • Tekken 8
  • The Finals

Best Visual Design

  • Astro Bot
  • Black Myth: Wukong
  • Harold Halibut
  • Metaphor: ReFantazio
  • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
  • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Indie Game

  • Animal Well
  • Arco
  • Balatro
  • Beyond Galaxyland
  • Conscript
  • Indika
  • Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
  • Thank Goodness You’re Here!
  • The Plucky Squire
  • Ultros

Best Indie Game - Self Published

  • Arctic Eggs
  • Another Crab’s Treasure
  • Crow Country
  • Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
  • I Am Your Beast
  • Little Kitty, Big City 
  • Riven
  • Tactical Breach Wizards
  • Tiny Glade
  • UFO 50

Still Playing Award - PC and Console

  • Apex Legends
  • Counter-Strike 2
  • EA Sports FC 
  • Dota 2
  • Fortnite
  • GTA Online
  • Minecraft
  • Naraka: Bladepoint
  • Roblox
  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
  • Valorant
  • Warframe

Still Playing Award - Mobile

  • Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile
  • Free Fire
  • Honkai: Star Rail
  • Roblox
  • Marvel Snap
  • Monopoly Go!
  • Mini Motorways
  • PUBG: Battlegrounds
  • Squad Busters
  • Star Wars: Hunters
  • Subway Surfers
  • The Sims Mobile

Studio of the Year

  • 11 Bit Studios
  • Arrowhead Game Studios
  • Capcom 
  • Digital Eclipse
  • Team ASOBI
  • Visual Concepts

Best Game Expansion

  • Alan Wake 2 Expansion Pass
  • Destiny 2: The Final Shape
  • Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
  • Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
  • God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla
  • World of Warcraft: The War Within

Best Audio Design

  • Astro Bot
  • Balatro
  • Robobeat
  • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
  • Star Wars Outlaws
  • Still Wakes the Deep

Best Soundtrack

  • A Highland Song
  • Astro Bot
  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
  • Hauntii
  • Silent Hill 2 
  • Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance 

Best Lead Performer

  • Cody Christian as Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
  • Kaiji Tang as Ichiban Kasuga in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
  • Humberly Gonzalez as Kay Vess in Star Wars Outlaws
  • Luke Roberts as James Sunderland in Silent Hill 2
  • Melina Juergens as Senua in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
  • Sonequa Martin-Green as Alvilda in Asgard’s Wrath 2

Best Supporting Performer

  • Abbi Greenland & Helen Goalen as The Furies in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
  • Briana White as Aerith Gainsborough in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
  • Dawn M. Bennett as Aigis in Persona 3 Reload
  • Debra Wilson as Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad
  • Matt Berry as Herbert in Thank Goodness You’re Here!
  • Neve McIntosh as Suze in Still Wakes the Deep

PC Game of the Year

  • Animal Well
  • Balatro
  • Frostpunk 2
  • Satisfactory
  • Tactical Breach Wizards
  • UFO 50

Console Game of the Year

  • Astro Bot
  • Dragon’s Dogma 2
  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
  • Helldivers 2
  • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
  • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Best Early Access Game

  • Enshrouded
  • Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
  • Hades 2
  • Manor Lords
  • Lethal Company
  • Palworld

Best Gaming Hardware

  • Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
  • Backbone One (2nd Gen)
  • LG UltraGear 32GS95UE
  • Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super
  • Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra
  • Steam Deck OLED

Best Game Trailer

  • Caravan Sandwitch - Launch Trailer
  • Death Stranding 2 On The Beach - State of Play Announce Trailer
  • Helldivers 2 - “The Fight for Freedom Begins” Launch Trailer
  • Kingmakers - Official Announcement Trailer
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization VII - Narrator Reveal Trailer
  • The Plucky Squire - Launch Trailer

Most Wanted Game

  • Atomfall
  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Deadlock
  • Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
  • Doom: The Dark Ages
  • Exodus
  • Fable
  • Ghost of Yotei
  • Grand Theft Auto VI
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
  • Light No Fire
  • Mafia: The Old Country
  • Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Skate.
  • Slay the Spire 2
  • South of Midnight

Additional category winners – including 'Breakthrough Award' and 'Critics Choice Award' will be selected by a panel of journalists from brands including gamesradar.com, pcgamer.com, FGS, Edge magazine and Retro Gamer, plus Future’s trusted network of freelance writers. These winners will be revealed on the night. 

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/golden-joystick-awards-2024-shortlist-categories-revealed-vote-now/ KmAs46N95wAbuVjq2yEcbB Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:28:10 +0000
<![CDATA[ Black Friday gaming deals in Australia for 2024: save on PS5, Nintendo and more ]]> After weeks of build up and latherings of pre-deals, Black Friday has officially wrapped up – but the price cuts continue with Cyber Monday. Whether you're upgrading your console setup or springing for a whole new PC rig, we're seeing some of the year's biggest savings in this year's holiday period.

We've been tracking Black Friday gaming deals for years now, and we watch for PS5 deals, Xbox Series X deals and Nintendo Switch deals all year round. That means we've picked up a thing or two about the year's biggest sale season, and we're using all that intel to make sure we highlight only the most notable bargains.

We're rounding up a large variety of PS5, Xbox, Nintendo and PC gaming discounts in our dedicated Australian Cyber Monday gaming deals hub. Just want the best of the best? Here's our top six Black Friday gaming deals that are still on offer.

6 best Black Friday gaming deals still available

PlayStation 5 Slim (digital): was AU$679.95 now AU$529 on Amazon AU
Save AU$150.95

This is the digital version of the PS5 Slim, so keep a wide berth if you intend to keep using discs. If you're nowadays all-digital, this discount of more than AU$150 off the Slim is a great grab pre-Christmas, assuming you're not eyeing off the PS5 Pro.View Deal

PlayStation 5 Slim (disc): was AU$799.95 now AU$628 on eBay (EB Games)
Save AU$171.95

This eBay EB Games deal on the PS5 Slim (disc) was down to AU$558 for eBay Plus subscribers last week, but this AU$628 price is still great value, and as a bonus, you don't need to be an eBay Plus subscriber to enjoy it.View Deal

PlayStation 5 Slim (disc): was AU$799.95 now AU$629 on Amazon AU
Save AU$170.95

The eBay deal above probably won't last long, so the next best thing is this Amazon deal, which brings it marginally lower than the retailer's all-time low of AU$649. With the PS5 Pro out, it's finally time for the PS5 to receive decent discounts, and this is definitely a great price for a still powerful console.View Deal

Save AU$100

If you take advantage of a current eBay Plus promotion offering AU$100 off a bunch of items—including the PS5 Pro—at checkout if you sign up for the subscription, then you're getting what is probably the very first discount on the PS5 Pro in Australia. Sure, it doesn't exactly make this mid-gen refresh affordable, but if you're getting one anyway, this is a great deal. Of course, you've got to remember to cancel your eBay Plus subscription before the trial ends (unless you like it and want to keep it).View Deal

Save AU$51.80

Sony's brilliant yet exorbitantly priced premium DualSense is a fine piece of kit, and this AU$50 discount makes it ever more tempting. It has replaceable analog sticks, four back "paddle" buttons, changeable stick caps and a bunch of other lavish features that you'll regret not having once you've held one of these in hand.View Deal

Save AU$70.97

You don't hear much about these wireless buds made especially by Sony for PS5, but they exist, and our colleagues over at Techradar thought they were good. They're almost perfect for the PlayStation Portal, and can double as your commuting 'phones if you fancy the PlayStation branding. They feature multi-device connectivity, integrated mics (for both gaming and phone convos) and AI-enhanced "noise rejection".View Deal

Save AU$330.95

Wait, is this the PSVR 2 headset at a near affordable price? It's finally happened: If you've been reluctant to fork out nearly a grand for a brilliant-albeit-patchily supported peripheral, now is the time to bite. If you've already got a PS5 in the house, this is probably the best way to game in VR.View Deal

Save AU$380

PSVR 2 is not for the frugal, but the premium VR unit has seen the most dramatic price drops yet this Black Friday. While you can buy a standalone unit for AU$30 cheaper than this, the Horizon bundle is well worth forking out for if you want one of the best VR tech demos out there (it is also reportedly a good game).View Deal

Save AU$45.95

This brilliant action RPG has been very shy of discounts since launch, so while AU$80 is pretty steep as far as PS5 game discounts go, if you've had your eye on Stellar Blade you'll know this is a good price. It's one of the most visually dazzling PS5 exclusives to date, with a gorgeous K-Pop soundtrack and engrossing combat.View Deal

Save AU$40.95

A brilliant discount on this very recently released BioWare RPG, which we didn't expect to get this cheap so soon. According to our review it's "an approachable, expansive action-oriented RPG," and a "true end to whatever the franchise was before".View Deal

Save AU$34.30

The first major discount on this 2024 PS5 gem, which will almost certainly go down as the platform's best exclusive of the year. It's a big cheerful platformer with an astonishing amount of ideas. If you're a fan of PlayStation history, it's pretty much a must-own, and the same holds true if you love 3D platformers.View Deal

Save AU$46

This long-awaited sequel to the sleeper Xbox 360 / PS3 hit delivers on everything fans of that older game wanted. It's a blissfully fast-paced third-person shooter with some jaw-dropping crowd tech: watching many hundreds of baddies swarm through these colossal arenas is a sight to behold. This 39% discount is generous, since the game's only been out for a month or so.View Deal

AU$45.95

Save 48% on this PS5 tech showcase that also happens to be a pretty fun over world adventure. It doesn't reinvent the wheel after the success of its PS4 predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn, but as our review notes it has "super awesome robot dinosaurs", so there's that.View Deal

Save AU$32.56

It may be a remake of a PS2 game, but Persona 3 stands up immaculately in the modern day, proving that Atlus' social RPGs have been brilliant even before Persona 5's western mainstream breakthrough. This is a gorgeous and stylish reimagining of the 2006 original, with all the mandatory quality-of-life improvements and more than 80 hours of game to sink your teeth into.View Deal

Save AU$37.17

The price may seem steep at a glance, but this UK import of Elden Ring includes the critically acclaimed Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, which easily adds at least fifteen hours to the base game. And what to say about Elden Ring at this point? It's probably the very best RPG of this console generation, especially if the chatty Baldur's Gate 3 is too, well, chatty for you.View Deal

Save AU$48.47

This critically acclaimed but under-the-radar JRPG is a brilliant blend of traditional elements with an unorthodox sprinkling of Monster Hunter. If you're looking for a bright 'n' colourful JRPG to get you through the Christmas period, this is an easy recommendation.View Deal

Save AU$50.95

Dragon's Dogma 2 is arguably the best blockbuster RPG of the year (though Veilguard's right there). Capcom's fantasy lark has been available for well below RRP for months now, but this AU$59 price is a new low, down from the previous record of AU$69. Keep in mind that this deal is for the Lenticular Edition which is better than the standard edition, even though that's selling for more at the moment. Amazon, make it make sense.View Deal

Save AU$54.95
Nice price for a JRPG that'll keep you busy for a hundred or so hours, if you're being thorough. It's the second in the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga, and as a result it's probably wise to play the first before you tackle this one. But you can just not take my advice; that's fine too. Some of us are just in it for the Queen's Blood mini-game afterall.View Deal

Save AU$60.95

This year's sportsball videogame is definitely the most recent in the series. We called it "highly playable, yet naggingly familiar", which is the annualised sports series vibe in a nutshell. Still, AU$49 only a couple months since release is hard to argue with.View Deal

Save AU$65.95

It's not uncommon for 2K's NBA series to drop dramatically in price just months after release, and the most recent instalment isn't breaking the trend. That makes it a brilliant stocking stuffer, or else just a financially viable thing to buy for yourself (though as is usually the case with NBA 2K, expect to be pestered with in-game monetisation schemes; if you can ignore those, it's a brilliant series).View Deal

Save AU$67.55

A bonanza discount on this highly regarded horror remake, which was met with unanimous praise when it released in 2022 (though presumably not enough sales for EA to quickly issue a Dead Space 2 remake). This discount requires the coupon code BLKFR at checkout, otherwise it's a still-decent AU$28.View Deal

Save AU$20.95

Only Sony would publish a blockbuster roguelike, and no one can argue they made the wrong decision (at least, creatively): this is an utterly brilliant and more-ish third-person shooter with a rich sci-fi horror atmosphere. At this price, those who have ignored it because of the word "roguelike" might finally find the courage to give it a go.View Deal

Save AU$40.95

Considering this remake only released a matter of weeks ago, this 41% discount is very generous indeed. It's a brilliant and innovative platformer with a lot of old school Disney charm, and it's the kind of game that makes an easy Christmas gift for PS5 owners young and old.View Deal

Save AU$50

The lowest price yet for this epic ye olde fantasy take on the Final Fantasy formula, which we said " stands alongside the series' greats" in our review. It's a big 60+ hour adventure that is incredible value for money at this price, with some of the most bonkers boss fights this side of Asura's Wrath. Amazon was briefly price matching JB Hi-Fi but sold out; if JB Hi-Fi sells out it's worth checking Amazon for a stock replenishment.View Deal

Save AU$70

Respawn's dazzling sequel to 2019's Fallen Order has improved a lot since it launched earlier this year. Combine that with the 63% discount you're getting here, and you have a compelling argument for why one should never buy a game at launch. Not that, uh, there's anything wrong with that. Survivor has been steadily dropping in price since launch, but this is the best we've seen yet.View Deal

Save AU$29.95

It may be a PS4 game but Red Dead Redemption 2 still looks beautiful, even though it hasn't been updated to take advantage of the PS5 (not to mention the PS5 Pro). This is one of the most lavish videogame productions to date, with an epic 40+ hour narrative and a story that can rival the great westerns.View Deal

Save AU$110

While eBay was selling this bundle previously for an amazing AU$360, that was restricted to 400 units and sold out in a flash. This price isn't quite as good but on any normal day it'd be amazing. With this Switch OLED bundle you're getting the console, a copy of the criticially acclaimed Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and a 12 month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. It may be drawing to the end of its life, but the Switch has literally thousands of games, and will keep you (or a loved one) very busy for some time to come. You'll need to be an eBay Plus subscriber for this one. If you aren't, grab a free trial.View Deal

Save AU$21.35
This was down to AU$54.99 during Prime Day, so while this isn't a record breaking deal it's certainly worth jumping on if you missed out last time, because first-party Nintendo discounts aren't super common. Originally released for SNES in 1996, this thoroughly revamped version maintains the source material's isometric turn-based gameplay but applies a thick coating of fresh paint. It's an "RPG for everyone", which means that even if you baulk at turn-based JRPGs, you'll probably get something out of this if you're a Mario fan.View Deal

Save AU$56

This new 2024 edition of Shin Megami Tensei V adds a whole new "Vengeance" storyline, which is near unanimously considered better than the vanilla story. Not only that, but Vengeance adds a bunch of quality of life improvements too, so if you're wanting to dive into this brilliant JRPG by the creators of the Persona series, this is the very best way to do so.View Deal

Save AU$45.95

Another year, another FIFA FC game, and in keeping with the normal routine, it hasn't taken very long for the 2024 instalment to get a drastic discount. This 44% off order makes it a tempting proposition and a good possibility for early Christmas shopping.View Deal

Save AU$23

This co-op gem has sold over 20 million copies since its 2021 release, and for good reason: our reviewer described it as "a co-op experience unlike any other," awarding it a full five stars. If you've got a co-op buddy and are yet to play It Takes Two, this is a very strong price indeed.

Also available for PlayStation 4.View Deal

Save AU$20.95

Mario returns to the 2D plane with another brilliant platformer, this time introducing new power-up items in the form of Wonder Flowers, Bubble Flowers, Drill Mushrooms, and Elephant Fruit (the latter turns you into an elephant which is obviously amazing). You can team up with up to three friends locally or play online.View Deal

Save AU$20.95

There's only a slim chance you don't already own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, so it feels pointless bringing attention to this particular deal. But we'll do it anyway, just in case you've yet to experience the joy of being walloped by a blue shell right before the finish line in first place. That never gets old. View Deal

Save AU$135

A chunky discount on this chunky console. While changes to the Xbox Game Pass subscription model weren't well received earlier this year, it's still the best subs model in gaming. It's also the only place you're going to play the likes of Stalker 2, Starfield and Forza Horizon 5 on console. View Deal

Save AU$20.95

It's not rare to get these on sale, but if you're needing to stock up for some holiday season couch co-op, this is a good price. It's among the most dependable gamepads you can get. You can get white for AU$59 - most other colours are slightly higher priced.View Deal

At this point it's unlikely you don't already own Minecraft, but in case you're one of the few that doesn't, here's a tidy discount on one of the most popular games of all time. Once you've purchased this code, an email will arrive with a redemption coupon. View Deal

Save AU$5

If you're planning on spending AU$100 or more on digital Xbox goods in the near future, or perhaps a Game Pass subscription, this gift card presents an opportunity to save AU$5. It ain't much, but if you're a big digital spender it might make sense to stock up.View Deal

HP Omen 17 Gaming Laptop | i9 | RTX 4090 | 32GB | 2TB SSD: was AU $7,399 now AU$2,998.40 at HP eBay
Save AU$4,400.60 with code HP20SAVE

This gaming laptop is extraordinarily powerful, which explains its exorbitant RRP. This impressive Black Friday discount makes it about as affordable as you could possible want for a PC that'll play pretty much anything you can throw at it at highest settings. Get an extra 20% off using code HP20SAVE.View Deal

Save AU$300

The actual RRP on this is AU$1,899, but you'll usually find it for the more reasonable AU$1,299. That makes this AU$999 an especially good deal for an entry level gaming laptop, which will happily run most things at 1080p with a 60fps frame rate (or above). To get this price you need to be an eBay Plus member (or sign up for a free trial) and use code PLUS120 at checkout. View Deal

HP Victus 15 (15-fa1113TX) | i5 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | RTX 4050: was AU$2,499 now AU$958.40 at HP eBay
Save AU$1,540.60

This elegant, mid-range HP laptop is great if you want one device that serves as both work computer and gaming PC: It'll run games at 1080p with a smooth framerate, and it's smart enough to take to work for spreadsheets (and secret Balatro business). You can save an extra 20% on an already attractive discount by using code HP20SAVE, bringing it down to the price we have listed above.View Deal

Save AU$256

This much sought after premium set of wireless headphones work for PC, PlayStation and Switch, and always sell very well when they're drastically discounted. They boast both 2.4Ghz wireless capability and Bluetooth, as well as active noise cancellation and a ClearCast Gen 2 microphone.View Deal

Save AU$96.95

This 48% discount improves upon the AU$119 price offered during Amazon Big Deal Days, and is a great choice if you want a good wired set of cans (and who can deny the simplicity of plugging a headset straight into your DualSense and / or Xbox gamepad?). It comes with 7.1 surround sound, a detachable mic and a USB DAC.View Deal

Save AU$91.92

The battery in this 2.4Hz wireless Turtle Beach headset will keep you going for 48 hours of wireless gaming, but obviously longevity isn't its own advantage: it sounds good too. Inside there's 50mm drivers for booming audio, Spatial Audio support and a flip-to-mute mic. Will work on pretty much any platform save from the PS4 onwards.View Deal

save AU$96.10

Another new Corsair low (it was AU$139 during Amazon Prime Day), this classy wireless affair nets you Dolby Audio 7.1, an omni-direcitonal mic, and 2.4Ghz wireless connectivity in addition to Bluetooth. It'll work on PC, PS5, PS4 and Mac.View Deal

Save AU$188.95
This 42% discount gets you a respected high-level headset which we praised for its good battery life, decent audience and comfort. In our 72/100 review we criticised its price and "unspectacular" mic, but perhaps those shortcomings are a little easier to bear with this whopping price cut. Available in Black and Magenta.View Deal

Save AU$129
The Corsair HS80 Max Wireless Gaming Headset offers low-latency 2.4Ghz wireless audio and Bluetooth connectivity, along with high-fidelity 24bit/96kHz sound and support for Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio. Now discounted by 46% in Steel Grey and White.View Deal

Black Friday gaming deals - what to expect

Black Friday gaming deals

(Image credit: Future)

While video game deals themselves get plenty of airtime, accessories receive the lion's share. Headsets, hard drives, and more are typically cut by huge amounts during the sale, and that makes it the best time to grab any peripherals you've had your eye on.

The best offers often feature subscription services like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass, though. These always seem to get money off toward the end of November (as was the case again in 2023), and it's a great opportunity to renew your membership - or start a new one - ahead of the new year.

We've listed a few specifics based on platform below.

Nintendo

This could be a big one. While we've accepted now that we likely won't have a Nintendo Switch 2 until 2025, this could be the original model's final hurrah. That's not to say the standard, OLED, and Lite consoles won't stick around once the new release hits the shelves, but this is the last year they'll be top dogs. That means we could see a little extra wiggle room on the RRP itself.

2024 has been a pretty average year for Nintendo Switch console bargains, but you'll usually find both the OLED and vanilla models for less than the RRP in Australia. We're hoping to see more dramatic discounts (something like AU$450 for the OLED model would make us happy) but for the most part, it'll be software and accessories that'll get the more substantial cuts.

PS5

PS5 accessories on a table, including two DualSense controllers, a charging station and a headset

(Image credit: Future)

2024 was an excellent year for PS5 deals in general. Not only is stock no longer an issue, but we saw the very first price cuts ever on the full console over the summer and two day-one bundles on the new PS5 Slim over Black Friday. Straight discounts didn't hit during the event itself, but that could change this year. After all, we've got the PS5 Pro to contend with on November 7 - a particularly impressive mid-cycle refresh. No, we're not expecting that $699.99 price tag to waver on Black Friday itself, but we could be in with a shot at some bundle deals. Instead, the PS5 Slim could well drop to its own record-lows again, having previously been spotted at AU$650 this year so far.

If you have any gaps in your game library from the past year or so, Black Friday PS5 deals offer you a chance to catch up. Everything from hot new releases to old favorites are discounted throughout the event, but it's well worth keeping a close eye on games released in the first half of the year for the biggest savings. Last year Hogwarts Legacy, Dead Island, Final Fantasy XVI, and Resident Evil 4 Remake all saw record low prices for the first time during Black Friday gaming deals. Of course, the usual classics are generally discounted during this time as well.

Victrix Pro BFG review image showing close up of the front of the controller

(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)

Of course, if your library's all stocked up there are plenty of PS5 accessories to refresh your setup. The DualSense controller is likely to be a front runner this year, after enjoying low prices of AU$79 throughout 2024. We're expecting costs to settle back to this position come November as well. However, if you're after something a little out of the box we'd also recommend keeping a close eye on the Victrix Pro BFG. Our favorite PS5 controller of the lot, it's already cheaper than the DualSense Edge and could be primed for its first major discounts this Black Friday.

Xbox

Xbox Series X lying horizontally with an Xbox Wireless controller leaning up against it in a TV unit

(Image credit: Future)

We also saw the Xbox Series X take its own price cuts over the course of last year with AU$50 off the console. Discounts haven't been as abundant in 2024, but we're hoping for prices to hit around AU$699 during Black Friday, though the Xbox Series X tends to receive fewer discounts compared to its stablemate the Xbox Series S.

If you're already set for a console, though, we tend to see both first-party and third-party Xbox games go for very cheap during Black Friday. More reliable is the Xbox controller, which you can usually nab for AU$69 during big sale events.

PC

It's all about hardware for PC gamers. Keyboards, mice, headsets, and mics from across the spectrum get massive reductions of up to 60% or more, while prebuilt rigs also drop a few hundred dollars on the regular. In much the same way, laptops are worthy contenders for a saving. These machines receive some of the most noteworthy discounts of Black Friday, and those reductions are available everywhere from Amazon to Newegg. Considering the high price of the top gaming laptops to start with, Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to buy them as a result.

Black Friday gaming deals - FAQ

When will Black Friday gaming deals start in Australia?

The sales event of the year traditionally takes place toward the end of November - to be precise, the final Friday of the month. That means you can expect 2024's Black Friday gaming deals to occur on November 29.

However, they won't be limited to that one day. Black Friday kicks off much earlier than you might expect, and it continues into the following week as well (at which point the savings morph into Cyber Monday gaming deals). That means you should start keeping an eye out from mid-November - while the best discounts are reserved for Black Friday itself, lots of good ones will make an appearance before then.

Where will the best Black Friday gaming deals be?

Almost everyone tries to get in on Black Friday each year, so you can be sure that any retailer you visit will have price cuts of some description. Still, some are better than others. In our experience, these are the stores to prioritize:

Amazon: big variety of deals on consoles, games, toys and more

Dell: Find Alienware monitors, keyboards and gaming laptops

eBay: Coupons for extra discounts on peripherals and games

Fanatical: Steam keys, bundle game offers and more

Green Man Gaming: Variety of games for PC, Mac and console

HP: Peripherals and gaming laptops direct from HP

JB Hi-Fi: Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation consoles, games and more

JW Computers: PC parts, peripherals and monitors

Lego: Find a variety of sets including the Pac-Man Arcade

Lenovo: Find monitors, peripherals and more primed for gaming

Mighty Ape: Find collectables, games and more

Mwave: Controllers, gaming laptops, monitors and more

PB Tech: PC parts and accessories to upgrade your setup

Razer: Shop Razer peripherals and laptops straight from the source

Will there be PS5 and Xbox Series X Black Friday gaming deals?

Discounts on PS5 or Xbox Series X games and accessories are already there for the taking, while the Xbox Series S console has landed a saving of AU$100.

For the top-range next-gen consoles, it's a different story. Even though we were hoping we might see discounts on these ones, that was probably too much to hope for given the stock issues still aren't fully resolved. But that stock problem is one thing to note here, as the PS5 especially seems to have miraculously appeared with stock just in time for Black Friday. So if you've been waiting less for a discount and more for just opportunity, you could be in luck.

Should you wait for Black Friday gaming deals?

Yes, you should definitely hold fire on any purchases until Black Friday gaming deals kick off at the end of November. Like all tech, games get significant price cuts throughout the event and many items hit all-time lows. That includes everything from the latest PS5 titles to Xbox consoles, so there's little benefit to jumping the gun here.

However, on the flip-side of that, you'll need to be quick when the sales roll around. They can sell out quickly, and many form blink-and-you'll-miss-it 'Lightning Deals' on Amazon. In other words, stay alert throughout the week of Black Friday - getting the best reductions will depend on it.

The Black Friday gaming deals aren't going to be the only good offers for the rest of the year: make sure you check out our regularly updated best gaming deals in Australia page.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/black-friday-gaming-deals-in-Australia-2022/ wEQqjPBAD2iwb2DD2BaVna Mon, 30 Sep 2024 06:26:01 +0000
<![CDATA[ The Mobile Gaming Show is live – featuring updates from EVE developer CCP, Warframe's Digital Extremes, and more ]]> The inaugural Mobile Gaming Show, built in collaboration between GamesRadar+ and our friends at the Future Games Show, is set to air on Thursday, September 26. The showcase is looking at the upcoming mobile games that you should absolutely have on your radar right now, featuring fresh looks at titles from CCP, Coffee Stain Malmo, Digital Extremes, NetEase Games, The Game Kitchen, and more. 

Actor Ben Starr – best known for his wonderful performance as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16 – will be on hand to guide you through the Mobile Gaming Show. Starr says: "Great news folks! I am hosting the Mobile Gaming Show on September 26 when I will be bringing you exclusive reveals, developer interviews and all the latest news from the world of mobile. Join me then. I can’t wait!" 

The 30 minute broadcast will feature studio visits to some of the best mobile developers and exclusive interviews, new trailers, exciting reveals, and more as we explore the constantly expanding smartphone gaming space. You can watch the Mobile Gaming Show on YouTube, Twitch, X, Facebook, and right here on GamesRadar

How to tune into the Mobile Gaming Showcase 2024:

Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024
Time: 10am PT, 1pm ET, 6pm BST and 7pm CEST
Streaming on: Streaming on YouTube, Twitch, X, Facebook, GamesRadar


Mobile Gaming Show

(Image credit: Future)

As we gear up to the Mobile Gaming Show, GamesRadar+ has launched a dedicated Mobile Gaming Week which is designed to showcase some of the mobile games we can't stop playing, the best titles on Apple and Android, and some of the upcoming games you just can't ignore. We'll be launching new articles all week and collecting the in our dedicated Mobile Gaming Week coverage hub.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/mobile-gaming/how-to-watch-the-mobile-gaming-show-2024/ 5Hxm7Sj5LxHwQG5DMBdUdL Tue, 24 Sep 2024 13:00:18 +0000
<![CDATA[ The Mobile Gaming Show launches this September with exclusive reveals, trailers, developer interviews, and more ]]> GamesRadar+ is excited to announce the Mobile Gaming Show, a new collaboration with our friends at the Future Games Show, is set to air on September 26, 2024. This showcase will explore the latest and greatest in mobile gaming, the fastest-growing platform for play in the world. 

Hosted by actor Ben Starr, who turned in an incredible performance as Clive Rosfield in last year's Final Fantasy 16, the debut Mobile Gaming Show presented by Future Games Show will feature exclusive reveals, trailers, developer interviews, and deep dives into the most exciting mobile games of 2024. The digital showcase will run for 30 minutes, and include insight from publishers such as Digital Extremes, CCP Games, NetEase Games, and more. 

"Mobile is now the world's most popular gaming platform with billions of people playing games on their phone every day," says Jake Tucker, Editorial Director of the Mobile Gaming Show. "The Mobile Gaming Show will shine a spotlight on some of  the very best mobile games available and the people that make them. We'll also look at the most innovative and exciting titles coming soon that demand your attention. Join us on September 26 to discover the mobile games that everyone will be playing in 2024 and beyond!"

The Mobile Gaming Show will air on Thursday, September 26 at 10am PT, 1pm ET, 6pm BST and 7pm CEST on YouTube, Twitch, X, TikTok, and Facebook – you can also watch the show right here on GamesRadar+. 

The Mobile Gaming Show is presented by the Future Games Show, the world’s biggest quarterly video game showcase which brings viewers world premieres, exclusive game demos and new trailers from upcoming AAA and indie studios. Averaging around 40 million total views per show, with over 120 million views in 2023. The Future Games Show has featured more than 500 games, from big budget franchises such as Lords of the Fallen and Warframe, to acclaimed indies, including thrilling driving adventure Pacific Drive, and the world premiere of action racer Resistor.


For more information, please visit futuregamesshow.com. And for sponsorship and partnership inquiries, please email Melissa Makhmaltchi: melissa.makhmaltchi@futurenet.com.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/mobile-gaming-show-presented-by-future-games-show-announcement-host-september-26-2024/ G2hYX8bAtTRicF9y37pn3b Mon, 09 Sep 2024 13:00:11 +0000
<![CDATA[ How to watch The Future Game Show at Gamescom 2024 – and what to expect ]]> The Future Games Show at Gamescom isn't too far away now, so you'll want to ensure you know when it kicks off and bookmark your stream of choice so you're ready when the time comes.

This year's show features over 50 titles from various developers and publishers, including 2K, Tripwire Presents, Plaion, Nacon, and Rebellion. It's not just games, though. Prime Video is also jumping in to share an exclusive look at The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2. You won't just see the best upcoming games on PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC, but streaming too.

All of this wouldn't be complete without someone to oversee proceedings, so we're drafting in Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V actors Alex McKenna and Ned Luke.

Sound good? Read on to find out where to find your Future Games Show stream of choice and when it kicks off.

How to watch The Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

You can watch The Future Games Show at Gamescom on Twitch, YouTube, and more on August 21 at 1pm PT, 4pm ET, 9 pm BST, and 10pm CEST. The links are above, though we've also included an embed on this trusty page in case you want to bookmark it and come back later.

As for what games we'll see, highlights include two deep-dive interviews with the team behind Civilization 7, a look at Greedfall 2, and much more. Regular sections like Ones to Play are returning, featuring games with demos you can play once the show wraps up. You've also got the Indie Elevator Pitch that spotlights up-and-coming indies and another section called Ones to Watch that's all about games the FGS team reckon are, surprisingly, games to watch.

Once the show is done, the Future Games Show Expansion Pack returns once more to offer exclusive developer interviews, more surprise reveals, and a special guest or two may even pop up.


To keep up with all the latest Future Game Show updates, you can check in on this orange website or follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/the-future-games-show-at-gamescom-2024-stream-youtube-twitch-start-time/ w99dCMTNpEQBrnsS5Vaxxf Tue, 20 Aug 2024 20:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[ Acefast Desktop Power Station Z4 review: “I now use this charger for all gaming desk gadgets” ]]> Every so often, an accessory like the Acefast Desktop Power Station Z4 comes along to completely change my gaming desk setup for the better. Just like Mary Poppins, the Gallium Nitride (GaN) charger arrived just in the nick of time to save me from a domestic feud with my collection of adapters. Put it this way, I need to supply a lot of devices with plenty of juice every day, and the Z4 offers up four-way charging while dominating only one socket. 

Chargers like the Acefast Desktop Power Station Z4 are a testament to the benefits of Gallium Nitride (GaN) tech, and I honestly believe they make the best gaming desk even better. The last thing you want cluttering your picture-perfect setup is a spaghetti monster consisting of handheld and accessory chargers, and that’s inevitable if you’ve got a PC and need to juice upyour gaming handheld, smartphone, or anything else with a chonky battery. Up until now, I’ve been persevering with having multiple adapters at my feet, and thanks to the whopping 218W abilities of Acefact’s mighty GaN supply, I’ll never need to torment my tootsies ever again. 

Priced at $89.99, the Power Station Z4 isn’t remotely a cheap charging solution, and you’ll also need to pick up some USB-C cables for your devices. So, if merging all your chargers into something smaller than most Steam Deck docks isn’t a personal priority, then I won’t blame you for sticking with separate adapters. However, now that I’ve tested Acefast’s solution, this Power Delivery hub justifies its premium price tag through its versatile charging abilities, and it also understands the assignment when it comes to stylish subtlety. 

Specs

Image 1 of 2

Top down view of Acefast Desktop Powerstation Z4

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Image 2 of 2

Back view of Acefast Desktop Powerstation Z4 with power connector in view

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

The Power Station Z4 is an outright testament to the benefits of GaN chargers, not least because we’re talking about 218W via a single brick. I’m actually even hesitant to use old terms like “brick” since the hub itself isn’t remotely large, measuring in at around 3.5 inches wide and 4 inches deep.

Despite its incredibly compact size, Acefast has also managed to squeeze a 1.3-inch color TFT display onto the front of the device that serves as an incredibly useful visual aid when toggling between all the different wattage options this charger provides. There are multiple ways to divvy up the 218W this hub can pump out through its three USB-C ports and single USB-A port, in turn allowing it to be more efficient when bulk charging devices. 

Design

If I’m being honest, Acefast didn’t really need to make the Power Station Z4 pretty. I mean, the main goal of most chargers is to simply provide power to connected devices and blend into the background. Yet, this GaN hub makes sure to give you something eye-catching to look at if you happen to glance in its direction by pairing its grey housing with a transparent front panel. 

I’m a 90s child, so I inherently have an infinity for transparent tech. Don’t get me wrong, I also think making the entirety of a device translucent can result in tacky vibes, but the Z4 reveals just enough to put on an intriguing show. Even if you have no idea what the difference between a resistor, a capacitor, and an IC chip is, you’ll still have lots of fun peering within when connecting things to the front. I’m trying to resist referencing that video with Swedish pop sensation Bjork peering inside a TV, but I’m sure you get the idea.

Close up of Acefast Desktop Power Station Z4 transparent plastic front

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

Despite boasting its own aesthetic, sticking with grey also allows the Z4 to blend in with the vibe of your specific surface. I’ve currently got it parked on the Flexispot E7 Plus, and the small block looks like a natural inclusion rather than something out of place. If the small illuminated screen on the front feels visually disruptive to your setup, you can also switch it off by holding down the button on front, so you won’t even have to compromise on functionality to achieve your desired look.

The Z4 manages to keep just enough weight to keep it feeling sturdy and secure at 1.44 lbs (655g). That heft, combined with cross-bar rubber feet at the bottom, keeps it from skating around your desk whenever you move a cable – a pet peeve of mine that can make me feel too nervous to use hubs like this. I’m charging the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro using the hub as I write this, and having dropped my phone off of the desk with the cable attached just moments ago, I can confirm the Z4 barely moved an inch. Instead, it sort of just hung onto the device while it precariously dangled for a few seconds, saving it from clattering onto the floor. 

Features

Close up of Acefast Desktop Power Station Z4 TFT color screen

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

Naturally, the Power Station Z4’s main draw is multi-device charging, but it’s the way it supplies juice that’s the star feature. Rather than just sticking with fixed wattage for each port, you can toggle between four configurations that divide power up differently. Here’s a small table with each configuration to better illustrate what I mean before I dive into the “why” of it all:

Having the ability to decide output levels for each port is a huge win on the versatility front, as it increases your chances of providing exactly what your chosen devices require. For example, I charge my gaming laptop, Steam Deck OLED, phone, and wireless earbuds regularly, and ‘Mode A’ allows me to do all three at while meeting fast charging requirements. However, since I review handhelds, there have been instances when I’ve been looking to charge the Deck alongside two rivals and lower wattage accessories, which is where ‘Mode B’ comes into play. 

I could spend all day coming up with ridiculous charging examples that apply to me, but the core idea is that you won’t have to compromise on power to fast charge four devices. If, for whatever reason, you need to charge two laptops using power delivery, you will have to dial things back to three ports to hit 100W on the first two – hardly a compromise considering the outcome. 

Performance

Acefast Desktop Powerstation Z4 sitting on desk with Steam Deck OLED, Ayaneo Flip DS, and Asus wireless earbuds connected

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

When checking whether the Acefast Z4 Powerstation lives up to my performance standards, I set out in search of three things. The first was reliability, as fancy chargers are only worthwhile if they can consistently deliver what your device requires. Secondly, I wanted to ensure I couldn’t feel too much excess heat coming from the hub – something that might be harmless but could make players feel paranoid about leaving it on. Lastly, I considered whether the setup of the charger is actually handy in real life rather than just impressive on paper. 

I’m thrilled to report that the Z4 managed to impress me on all fronts, leaving no concerns or wants tied to the experience it provides. I was able to make good use of all four wattage modes on multiple occasions, and it’s something of a godsend for charging up everything before heading out for the day. The part that impresses me most is being able to satiate the needs of premium handhelds like the Ayaneo Flip DS while still charging other power-hungry devices like an Asus TUF Dash F15, as it feels like there’s got to be a catch somewhere.

In my spare time, I love to head out to the woodland near my house and go for short hikes. I originally started doing it as a way to escape screens when off-duty, but the escapade has turned into me often sitting on tree stumps with a handheld. Of course, using portable PCs in a realm devoid of power outlets means I have to rely on power banks, not to mention I also end up using earphones so as not to disturb the squirrels with game noise (or creep anyone out on the nearby path).

Simply put, my backpack ends up full of things that need charging, which used to mean having a whole power strip of chargers hooked up to various doodads. Those days are long gone thanks to the Z4, as I now just neatly place everything I need on my desk and neatly connect everything up. Sometimes the devices in question need a boost change, and being able to select one of those four aforementioned modes has completely eliminated the need to reach for any other adapters. 

Should you buy the Acefast Desktop Powerstation Z4? 

Acefast Desktop Powerstation Z4 with cables connected to USB ports

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

 I can think of multiple types of player that’ll benefit from what the Acefast Desktop Powerstation Z4 has to offer, especially those of you who now have a gaming handheld in their lives. At full price, it’s safe to say it’s not a casual purchase, but it can make all the difference to the way you charge your devices. Whether you’re a big advocate for desk cable management or just have plenty of gadgets thirsty for juice, this all-in-one charger will supply everything you need. 

In case it wasn’t obvious, I now use this charger for all gaming desk gadgets, and I don’t think I could go back to using separate adapters.

How I tested the Acefast Desktop Powerstation Z4 

For around two months, I used the Acefast Desktop Powerstation Z4 to charge all my devices at my desk. My shortlist of gadgets includes handhelds like the Steam Deck and Ayaneo Flip DS, laptops like the Asus TUF Dash F15, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, and other accessories like wireless earbuds. I used all those devices to assess the reliability and functionality of the charging hub while keeping a look out for any flaws or caveats related to usage.

For more information on how we test accessories, take a peek at our GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy


Looking to ditch your chair? Check out the best standing desk options for ways to game on your feet. Alternatively, swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck dock if you want more add-ons for your surface.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/acefast-desktop-powerstation-z4-review/ idPmQSxhJyzruwkX6CedcQ Tue, 13 Aug 2024 11:32:45 +0000
<![CDATA[ Subscribe to SFX and save up to 50%! ]]> There are so many benefits to having a subscription to SFX!

* Firstly, you make sure you never miss an issue!
* Secondly, you make a substantial saving on the price you'd pay in the shops.
* Thirdly, you save on shoe leather by having the mag delivered direct to your door.
* Fourthly, as well as receiving the print mag, you receive access to the digital issue, and a library of over 150 digital back issues.

Sign up for a print subscription now and you can pay just £17.87 every six months. With 13 issues of SFX a year, that works out at about £2.75 per mag – a big saving on the usual shop price of £5.50. 

Not a fan of paper? You can always choose a digital-only subscription, for £14.30 every six months. 

Tempted? Then why not join thousands of other loyal readers right now? Please note: these prices are only available to new UK subscribers. 


Terms and conditions
Offer closes 3 October 2024. Price is guaranteed for the first 6 months, please allow up to 6 weeks for the delivery of your first subscription issue (up to 8 weeks overseas) the subscription rate includes postage and packaging. Savings are based on the cover price. Payment is non-refundable after the 14-day cancellation period. Access to the digital library will end with your subscription. For full terms and conditions, visit www. magazinesdirect.com/terms. For enquiries and overseas rates please call: +44 (0) 330 333 1113. Lines are open Monday-Friday 8:30am-7pm, Saturday 10am-3pm UK Time (excluding Bank Holidays) or email: help@ magazinesdirect.com. Calls to 0330 numbers will be charged at no more than a national landline call, and may be included in your phone provider’s call bundle.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/subscribe-to-sfx/ UZSiVU5shfBPnhPqwLM9Dd Wed, 07 Aug 2024 12:40:03 +0000
<![CDATA[ GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 actors come together to host the next Future Games Show at Gamescom virtual showcase ]]> Grand Theft Auto 5's Ned Luke and Red Dead Redemption 2's Alex McKenna are teaming up to host the Future Games Show at Gamescom.

This year's virtual showcase, set to kick off on August 21 at 1pm PT, 4pm ET, 9pm BST, and 10pm CEST, highlights the best across PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC. That means you can expect to see over 50 games from developers and publishers such as 2K, Tripwire Presents, Plaion, Nacon, and Rebellion. 

Better yet, as the Civilization 7 team is helping present the showcase, you'll also get two deep-dive interviews with Firaxis Games itself, digging into the iconic 4X strategy series' latest entry. It's not all games, either, as Prime Video will be on hand to share an exclusive look at The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2.

When the time comes, the show will broadcast on Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, and more.

"I'm pumped up to announce that I'll be hosting the Future Games Show at Gamescom with Alex McKenna," Luke says. "We'll be showing off some world premieres and going hard on some of 2024's hottest new games. Check out Alex and me on August 21 for all the up-to-the-minute gaming intel. Let's Go!"

McKenna adds; "I am so pleased to reveal I’ll be joining Ned Luke to host the Future Games Show at Gamescom later this month. It’s going to be an exciting mix of games from indie to blockbusters you don’t want to miss.  Join us on Wednesday, August 21!"

To keep up with all the latest Future Game Show updates, you can check in on this orange website or follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/gta-5-and-red-dead-redemption-2-actors-come-together-to-host-the-next-future-games-show-at-gamescom/ 4tPc3UHRg6GjDUy7EYmNDW Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[ Best Prime Day gaming deals 2024, from PS5 to Nintendo Switch ]]>
Menu

Amazon Prime Day deals badge with gaming consoles and laptop surrounding

(Image credit: Future)

1. Quick links
2.
Today's best deals
3.
FAQ

The final day of 2024's Prime Day gaming deals are upon us, so it's time to start nabbing any tempting discounts you've had your eye on - you won't have much more time. Want to pick up a few games, accessories, or even a console? Time to get a groove on, because Amazon's Big Deal Days are coming to a close tonight on October 9.

GamesRadar+ is rounding up the very best Prime Day gaming deals as and when we find them to make sure you don't miss out. That includes some top-tier Prime Day PS5 deals alongside the very best Lego Prime Day deals on sets like Super Mario's Piranha Plant, killer Prime Day gaming laptop deals, and more. Just don't hang about now we're in the second day, because who knows when stocks will run out before the clock chimes midnight? 

I've made sure that you'll find loads of options below to consider before then, of course. Prime Day gaming deals traditionally see an array of savings that should give you something to get excited about regardless of your platform of choice. Want to know what you should prioritize? I've listed some hints and tips further down the page garnered from years of covering sales just like this, so lets get to all the top Prime Day gaming deals of Fall 2024.

Quick links

US

UK

Best Prime Day gaming deals

Nintendo Switch OLED + Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + 12 months Nintendo Switch Online | $458.98 $349 at Walmart
Save $109 - This kind of offer is usually reserved for Black Friday, so getting one before Prime Day has even begun is a big surprise. You're essentially getting a $60 game and $50 subscription for free.

Buy it if: 
You want multiplayer options
You've enjoyed previous Mario Karts
You generally play in handheld mode 

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You only play in docked mode

Price check:

💲 Amazon | OOS
💲 Best Buy | $349.99

UK price: UnavailableView Deal

Orzly Nintendo Switch case | $28.99 $15.19 at Amazon
Save $13 - With a few extra bucks shaved off its usual discount price of $19.99, this spacious yet slick Switch case is one of our favorite Prime Day gaming picks right now. It's just shy of its lowest Amazon sales price ever, so we don't expect this one to dip by much more ahead of Black Friday.

Buy it if: 

✅ You want hard-shell durability
✅ You have a Switch or Switch OLED
✅ You want plenty of accessory storage

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You wanted something with enough space to sore an extra Joy-Con

Price check:
💲 Walmart: OOS
💲 Best Buy: OOS

UK price: £14.99 £11.50 at Amazon
View Deal

PS5 Slim | $499 $449 at Amazon
Save $50 - The PS5 Slim is on offer right now at Amazon, making this a great Prime Day gaming deal for anyone on the hunt for a new Sony console. It's a record low price point for the disc drive version of the PS5, so don't expect stocks to last long.

Buy it if: 

✅ You want a PS5
✅ You want to be able to play physical games
✅ You've been waiting for a sale since the PS5 Pro was announced

Don't buy it if: 

❌ Most of your games are digital

Price check:
💲 Walmart: $449
💲 Best Buy: $449.99

UK price: £419.98 at Amazon
View Deal

GameSir G8 Galileo | $79.99 $61.59 at Amazon
Save $18 - This mobile controller is our best alternative to spending $200 on a PlayStation portal, and it's now sitting at its record low price in honor of Prime Day. 

Buy it if: 

✅ You want to play PS5 Remote Play
✅ You have larger hands
✅ You want back buttons

Don't buy it if: 

❌ Your phone does not support USB-C (sorry, iPhone users)

Price check:
💲 Walmart: $79.99
💲 Best Buy: $79.99

UK price: £59.99 at AmazonView Deal

PSVR 2 | $549.99 $494 at Walmart
Save $100 - Having ticked back up by about $70 over the course of the last two days, time might be running out to make the most of Walmart's attractive offer this Prime Day. It might not be as cheap as it was this time yesterday, but it's still a bargain offer not to be missed for any VR fan.


Buy it if: 
✅ You like VR gaming
✅ You have a gaming PC or PS5

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You can wait a month for a lower Black Friday offer

Price check:
💲
Amazon | $529
💲 Best Buy | $549.99

UK price: £529.99 £495 at AmazonView Deal

Meta Quest 3 512GB | $649 $499.99 at Amazon
Save $150 - The more powerful Meta Quest has had its price slashed for the 512GB model, and if you pick it up now you can get a free copy of Batman Arkham Shadow when it launches later this year.

Buy it if: 
✅ You want more storage space
✅ You want mixed reality features
✅ You're interested in playing SteamVR games 

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You already play games on a PS5

Price check:
💲
Best Buy | $499.99
💲 Walmart | $499

UK price: £619.99 £469 at AmazonView Deal

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom | $59.99 $53.80 at Amazon
Save $6 - Although this was cheaper at Woot before the weekend, that discount has been snapped up so this is the best alternative. It's still a respectable price, too despite ticking by by about 50 cents since yesterday.

Buy it if: 
You like dungeon crawling Zelda
You enjoyed Link's Awakening
You want a puzzle game 

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You only like open world Zelda

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $59.88
💲 Best Buy | $59.99

UK price: £49.99 £39 at AmazonView Deal

HP Victus 15.6-inch RTX 4050 | $1,099 $799.99 at Best Buy
Save $300 - We've never seen this HP gaming laptop cheaper than it is right now at Best Buy. You really can't get much better value for money if you're on the hunt for a bargain gaming laptop ahead of the holidays.

Specs: Intel Core i7 12650H | Nvidia RTX 4050 | 16GB RAM | 512 SSD | 144Hz FHD display

Buy it if: 

You're looking for a lighter-duty gaming laptop suited to Xbox Game Pass
You like to keep a few games stored at a time
You don't need the highest specs

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You'd like a larger display

Price check:
💲 Amazon| $989
💲 Walmart | OOS 

UK price: £1,129.99 £729.99 at Amazon
View Deal

ASUS ROG Strix G16 16-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,399.99 $1,099.99 at Amazon
Save $300 - The 2024 version of this small yet mighty gaming laptop is going for a steal this Prime Day, and what's more, it comes equipped with a free 90-day trial for Xbox Game Pass PC. It's a great choice for anyone looking to pack a lot of games into a smaller machine, even if the plasticky body might put some off.

Specs:  Intel Core i7-13650HX | GeForce RTX 4060 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 16:10 FHD 165Hz Display

Buy it if: 

✅ A funky LED-lit keyboard is your idea of beauty
✅ You want something lightweight to take on-the-go
✅ You'll be using the laptop for more than just gaming

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You need a heavier duty GPU

Price check:
💲 Walmart| $1,599

UK price: £1,349 at ASUSView Deal

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 16-inch RTX 4080 gaming laptop | $2,699.99 $2,299.99 at Best Buy
Save $400 - You're getting a hell of a lot of bang for your buck with this compact yet high-powered gaming laptop. It's such an all-rounder that it even makes a great pick for non-gaming activities, though with specs like these, you'll be able to plug in and play even the year's biggest CPU melters.

Specs: Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 1 | Nvidia RTX 4080 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 240Hz QHD+ OLED display

Buy it if: 

✅ You regularly travel with your laptop
✅ You don't want to sacrifice framerates
✅ You prioritize display quality 

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You only play lighter games

UK price: £2,599 £2,199.99 at Amazon
View Deal

Victrix Pro BFG wireless controller (White) | $179.99 $154.99 at Amazon
Save $25 - This is arguably the best pro controller for PS5, and it's seeing a tasty Prime Day discount at Amazon. It's gone up by about $10 over the last day from its lowest at Walmart , meaning it might not drop back down before the sales period is out.
Buy it if: 
✅ You want extra customization options
✅ You like to swap your components around
✅ You also want a controller for PC

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You won't make the most of the extras

Price check:
💲 Walmart| $158.49
💲 Best Buy | $179.99

UK price: £159.99 £129.99 at ArgosView Deal

Razer quick charging stand for PS5 DualSense | $39.99 $18.99 at Amazon
Save $21 - It's a new record low price for Razer's charging dock, making it a no-brainer Prime Day gaming offer if you're sick of your DualSense dying on you all the time. This is a PS5 only product, meaning Xbox owners will need to search elsewhere for a compatible charging stand.

Buy it if: 
✅ You like to play games wireless
✅ You've been searching for a good deal - because this is one of the best!
✅ You'd like to showcase your controller aesthetically as a display place

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You lack the shelf or table space to put it

Price check:
💲 Walmart| $39.99
💲 Best Buy |$39.99

UK price: £159.99 £129.99 at ArgosView Deal

Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden | $59.99 $39.99 at Amazon
Save $20 - Returning to its cheapest price yet, now's your chance to grab the spiritual successor to the underrated Vampyr. This PS5 game has never dropped lower than its current price at Amazon right now, making it an absolute steal when it comes to gaming deals this Prime Day.

Buy it if: 

✅ You want a captivating dark fantasy tale
✅ Are intrigued by ghostly gameplay
✅ Loved Vampyr

Don't buy it if: 

❌ Choice and consequence games aren't your bag

Price check: Walmart: $49.99

UK: £33.47 at AmazonView Deal

Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle & Grounds | $169.99 $135.95 at Amazon
Save $34 - Smaller and more financially kinder on the wallet, this Lego Harry Potter set has never been cheaper. It's an excellent Prime Day gaming deal for any Wizarding World fan looking for a screen-free bit of fun that won't take up as much space on the mantlepiece as its frankly massive older sibling.


Buy it if:
You're a Potter nerd through and through
✅ You want to save a little money off the bigger version

Don't buy it if:
You don't have much time to sit and build

Price check:
💲
Walmart | $135.95
💲 Lego | $169.99

UK price: £149.99 £199.99 at AmazonView Deal

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown  | $49.99 $19.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - 60% off one of the best new PS5 games of 2024? You heard me. The newest Prince of Persia game has been slashed to a record low discounted price, making it the perfect Prime Day gaming grab while it lasts.

Buy it if: 

✅ You like Metroidvania games
✅ You've been holding out for a sale

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You kinda suck at platformers

Price check: Best Buy: $24.99 | Walmart: $29.98

UK: £44.99 £18.99 at AmazonView Deal

Gigastone 1TB Nintendo Switch memory card | $139.98 $84.98 at Amazon
Save $54.99 - This massive 1TB Gigastone memory card is well below $100 right now at Amazon, sitting pretty at a whole five bucks less than last time sales season rolled around. That's a lot of storage for your little Switch, making this one of our favorite Prime Day gaming deals on the list. 

Buy it if: 

✅ You download all your games
✅ You want to future proof your system
✅ You have a large library 

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You mostly play from cards

Price check: Walmart: OOS | Best Buy: OOS

UK: £94.98 £89.98 at Amazon
View Deal

Prime Day gaming deals: FAQ

Asus ROG Ally, Nintendo Switch OLED, and Game Boy Color on grey mouse mat

(Image credit: Future)

When will Amazon Prime Day gaming deals end?

As a two-day event, this year's Prime Day gaming deals will run until midnight on October 9, 2024. Yes, I know it's confusing - despite the name, the Prime 'Day' event always lasts for 48 hours rather than 24. But on the plus side, you have a little extra time to find yourself some bargains.

Do you need a membership for Prime Day gaming deals?

Yes, you will need a Prime membership to take advantage of the majority of this year's summer sale. However, you can easily pick up a 30-day free trial to comfortably see you through the event without spending a penny (provided you cancel your subscription before the recurring payment). As well as that, it's also worth noting that many retailers like Best Buy and Walmart in the US (and Currys and Very in the UK) often attempt to price match Amazon's biggest Prime Day gaming deals. 

Amazon Prime | 30-day free trial
You will need an Amazon Prime membership to take part in this year's sale, but the retailer regularly offers free trials to get as many eyes on its site as possible. This 30 day offer will see you all the way through the sale without paying a cent!
View Deal

What to expect from Prime Day gaming deals 2024

Those on the hunt for Prime Day gaming deals are casting a wide net so to help you narrow your catch, we're rounding up everything we expect to see on a platform basis. You'll find our predictions for the biggest discounts in the worlds of PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC just below. 

PS5

PS5 accessories on a table, including two DualSense controllers, a charging station and a headset

(Image credit: Future)

The PS5 Slim has already seen some fantastic bundles in the first months of 2024, with a $50 discount and a free copy of Spider-Man 2 in the US and record-low bundle prices of £409 in the UK. Last year's Prime Day PS5 deals took place before we even saw any discounts on the previous model - so we've come a long way since then. We're hoping for these bundles to return to the shelves during Amazon's summer sale in 2024, so expect to see some solid savings up for grabs. 

But what about those who already have a console under their belts? Well, games are already looking strong as well. As we've seen in previous years, the biggest discounts are going to be reserved for those long-standing entries in the catalog, but we're excited to see some serious cash off the likes of Horizon: Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarok, Elden Ring, The Callisto Protocol, The Last of Us Part 1, and Dying Light 2. Older releases tend to do quite well in Prime Day gaming deals after all. 

However, if you're after something a little newer, it's well worth keeping a close eye on Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Resident Evil 4, Hogwarts Legacy, Dead Island 2, and Atomic Heart. We've already seen heavy discounts on these games in the first months of the year and there's likely more to come. 

Accessories like controllers and SSDs are always a Prime Day favorite and we often see the official DualSense on sale during larger holiday events. That $69.99 / £59.99 MSRP often gives way to a sale price of around $49.99 / £39.99 which is what we're hoping for this year. On the storage side, the 2TB Samsung 990 Pro is the one to watch. It's the best PS5 SSD on the market, and dropped as low as $139.99 / £129.99 over Black Friday last year. SSDs have been a little harder to discount in the first few months of 2024, but this is hopefully where we'll land in the summer. 

Watch List:

Xbox

Xbox Series X

(Image credit: Future)

We haven't seen too many Xbox Series X deals on the shelves in the last few months. Prime Day gaming deals might not be as kind to the flagship console as it will the cheaper S model, though. Over Black Friday last year we saw record low prices on this budget system, $219.99 in the US and £189.99 in the UK (was $299.99 / £249 respectively). This is where the bargain offers really come in handy, and where we're expecting both Amazon and Microsoft to place their discounts in the summer. Be sure to keep a close eye on other retailers here as well, last year we saw a $75 gift card available at Dell, which technically made it the best value on the shelves. 

That said, the majority of this year's Prime Day gaming deals for Xbox players will be focused on that magic Game Pass code. While discounts haven't been too appealing recently (the best we're generally able to find was $5 off a three-month subscription), these really are the holy grails of Xbox deals.

Thankfully, there's no shortage of kit. Official controllers are going to be the most interesting sellers here; the cheaper Xbox Wireless Controller, mid-range Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Controller, and premium Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller will likely be the stars of this year's show. The basic gamepad has been happy at a $39 / £35 sale price for a few events now, including Black Friday last year. Prime Day has never quite reached these discounts before, but we're hopeful that the age of these buttons might prevail. If you're looking to spend a bit more on one of the best Xbox Series X controllers on the market, the Elite Series 2 is where you should be looking. Unfortunately, it's not the best buy right now.

In previous years, the $179.99 / £159.99 customizable gamepad has actually raised its price from $140 to $150 over Prime Day sales. That's not a good look. Things have remained steady at $150 / £140 for some time now, and don't look likely to drop further - thanks to the new Core version with its $129.99 / £129.99 MSRP. We saw that Core controller shave $10 / £10 off its price in last year's offers but since then costs have dipped to $99 in the US so there should be more wiggle room come summer 2024.

Watchlist:

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

(Image credit: Future)

With neither Black Friday nor Prime Day offering substantial discounts on the Nintendo Switch last year, we're looking to bundles for the best value come this summer. After all, Black Friday's suite of bundle offers threw in free games and subscriptions - and they were all available for a considerable amount of time. 

The story's a little different over in the UK where we see discounts kick the OLED model down to £299 (was £309) with a lot more regularity. The best value is still found in bundles, though - and we see far more of them year-round than we do in the US.

Of course, Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals are a lot more reliable when it comes to games. While we generally don't see the kinds of discounts we would expect from Black Friday here, we're still expecting to see some $20 / £20 discounts on the likes of Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart, and Super Mario Odyssey. Newer games walk a finer line, but with more and more titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Wonder slowly shedding their price tags we could be in for a treat in the summer.

There's also Nintendo Switch accessories like Ring Fit Adventure, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, and other gadgets and gizmos to consider. The former options regularly come in at around $59.99 / £59.99 during these larger sales events, which is a price we would be aiming for ourselves. However, if you're after the best Nintendo Switch controllers on the market we'd recommend veering away from Amazon. We typically see far better Nintendo Switch Pro Controller prices at Walmart and additional bundle deals at Best Buy in the US, whereas Amazon has yet to drop $10 off the $69.99 MSRP. Over in the UK, things are a little kinder - we could see prices get closer to that £45 record low set during the summer last year.

Watchlist:

PC

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 gaming laptop open on desktop screen sitting on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future)

The world of the best gaming laptops is a little stagnant this year. Minor upgrades to Intel's 14th generation processors and no new GPUs mean last year's models are generally better value for money overall. Newer releases are upgrading their display tech, though - so if you're after an OLED panel make sure you're browsing 2024's roster. 

Gaming PCs are going to be a slightly different story. We rarely see too many high quality offers going on Amazon itself, however we'd heartily recommend anyone on the hunt for a permanent desktop take a look around the web in October. Retailers like Newegg and Microcenter in the US (and Ebuyer, CCL, and Overclockers in the UK) regularly look to compete during these sales. There, you'll find prebuilt machines and a range of components likely at some solid prices. Just be sure to price up a parts list before picking up an offer, just to double check you can't get it cheaper in another form. 

Asus ROG Azoth keyboard

(Image credit: Future)

We're anticipating some of the most tempting offers to come from accessories, though. If you're after a new set of keys, the Asus ROG Azoth is our top contender. It's the best gaming keyboard we've tested so far, and it's regularly spotted at under $200 these days. The keyboard dropped to $209 in last year's offers but has since sailed down as cheap as $189, and we're hopeful for a return to this price in July. If you're after something a little cheaper, the HyperX Alloy Elite 2 is always a solid $100 or less option in the sales. 

Those after a new rodent will likely find plenty of the best gaming mouse models on the shelves in this year's Prime Day gaming deals. We'll be keeping a close eye on the Razer Viper V2 Pro as it's our favorite pointer available, and it's just starting to dip down to $99 (usually $149). The Razer Basilisk V3 is also a fantastic all-rounder, which we expect to see at around $50, but actually dropped to $40 in last year's Prime Day gaming deals. 

There's one headset we watch out for every year, and that's the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. It's the best gaming headset on the market right now, and recent months have been kind to that hefty $349.99 / £329.99 MSRP. We're looking chiefly at the Xbox variant, as that's got the widest compatibility - you'll find the PlayStation model slightly cheaper. So far this year, prices have dropped to $299 at Amazon, but slightly lower to $279.99 at SteelSeries direct. This is where we hope to see things in the summer. 


Of course, we're also rounding up all the staples like the best Prime Day Kindle deals and Prime Day tablet deals as well. We're also getting you prepped for this year's Prime Day iPad deals and Prime Day TV deals as well. 

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/prime-day-gaming-deals/ 4xtgnjbwHTFLw86iJfbjSW Thu, 18 Jul 2024 01:58:16 +0000
<![CDATA[ Quick - this Prime Day lightning deal just hit a Nintendo Switch accessory I wouldn't dare play without ]]> I don't often tell people to rush for Prime Day offers, but there's a Nintendo Switch accessory lightning deal live right now that's well worth grabbing. If you use Ninty's hybrid handheld with a large 4K TV, I genuinely think you need to check this out, as the mClassic will help smooth out visuals with anti-aliasing capabilities and upscaling tricks. 

If you pop over to Amazon right now, you'll find the Marseille mClassic for $79.99, as a limited-time Prime Day gaming deal has slashed 20% off the HDMI dongle. Normally, you'd have to fork out just under $100 for this Nintendo Switch accessory, and while I do hesitate to recommend it to everyone for that price, taking $20 off sends it to the top of my add-on priority list.

This isn't the first time the mClassic has dipped to under $80, and it has received smaller discounts already in 2024. Still, it's the first time the dongle has returned to its lowest price since December last year, which is a long time to wait if you've been holding off for discounts. Just keep in mind that you'll have to sign up for the subscription service to bag this sweet Prime Day Nintendo Switch deal, not to mention there's one of those pesky percentage claimed bars filling up as we speak. 

Should you buy the mClassic?

mClassic HDMI upscaler sitting against Nintendo Switch running Super Mario Wonder on woodgrain desk

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

I've said this before, but I was hyper-skeptical about the Marseille mClassic before testing. For what it's worth, it feels like I wasn't the only one, as the idea of a small HDMI cable middleman magically giving your Nintendo Switch visuals a makeover sounds like a hardware snake oil pitch. However, once you get a feel for what the accessory can actually do graphically, it becomes clear that it's actually a clever way to ensure your favorite Ninty adventures don't look horrible on larger gaming TVs and high-spec monitors.

There are two main features at work when you connect the mClassic to your Switch. The first is a relatively standard upscaler that can ramp things up to 1440p if you use a compatible screen. As a main rule of thumb, I always try to avoid giving my TV big upscaling tasks, and this HDMI dongle is far more efficient in scaling lower resolutions than your big screen. 

Image 1 of 4

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom closeup of Link's face with mClassic switched off

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Image 2 of 4

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom closeup of Link's face with mClassic switched

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Image 3 of 4

Kirby and the Forgotten Kingdom with mClassic switched off

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Image 4 of 4

Kirby and the Forgotten Kingdom with mClassic switched on

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

The second is more interesting, as the mClassic uses an anti-aliasing algorithm to smooth Switch jaggies and weird effects with post-processing. It's important to note that it doesn't just make Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom look like it was made in Unreal Engine 5, but it does do a number on any unsightly edges and textures associated with the 2017 handheld. There's also a switch at the side you can toggle to apply the same processing to retro console visuals while maintaining an old-school 4:3 aspect ratio, but it does admittedly remove the pixelated charm from 8 and 16-bit systems.

The main question you'll likely be asking yourself is whether these enhancements are worth $80, and it's worth considering before clicking buy. Personally, I can't play the Switch in TV mode anymore on anything larger than a 32-inch screen without the mClassic, as my eyes instantly pick up on jagged edges and aliasing. All I'll say that is if you're never done wondering when the Nintendo Switch 2 is actually going to arrive, I'd try this gadget out as a short-term remedy.


Looking for more savings? Take a look at Prime Day TV deals and Prime Day monitor deals for excellent display discounts. Alternatively, swing by Prime Day Steam Deck deals for a bunch of portable PC price cuts.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/nintendo-switch/quick-this-prime-day-lightning-deal-just-hit-a-nintendo-switch-accessory-i-wouldnt-dare-play-without/ 75qCgZ3kaCWDGKBpnATLRB Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:10:11 +0000
<![CDATA[ I've slept on Assassin's Creed for years, but this record low price on the new game may bring me back ]]> I haven't gotten my teeth into an Assassin's Creed game in literal years, but this Prime Day gaming deal? It could bring me back on board.

You can currently pick up the latest entry in the series (Mirage) on PS5 for a heavily reduced $23.70 at Amazon instead of $49.99 as part of the Prime Day sale. Similarly, the Xbox version has also just dipped to $23.70 at Amazon rather than $50. So far as I can tell, that's the cheapest this Assassin's Creed game has ever been on either platform... and because it goes back to the franchise's roots with more focused, stealthier gameplay, I'm tempted.

UK Xbox players aren't enjoying the same offer, sadly, by PlayStation fans across the pond have an equally good discount. They can pick up Assassin's Creed Mirage on PS5 for £24.99 at Amazon instead of £49.99.

No matter where you're based, these are not the only offers worth keeping an eye on; there are plenty more Prime Day gaming deals where that came from.

Prime Day gaming deals at a glance

Assassin's Creed Mirage (PS5) | $49.99 $23.70 at Amazon
Save $26 - The most recent Assassin's Creed just made a leap of faith to a record low price in honor of the Prime Day deals. According to price-matching software, it's literally never been cheaper.

Buy it if: 
✅ You like classic stealth mechanics
✅ You prefer a smaller map
✅ You want that hidden blade back 

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You prefer AC's more action-oriented games 
❌ You like massive open-worlds 

Price check:
💲
Best Buy | $49.99
💲 Walmart | $38.99

⭐ UK price: £49.99 £24.99 at Amazon
View Deal

Assassin's Creed Mirage (Xbox) | $49.99 $23.70 at Amazon
Save $26 - In a surprise late addition, the Xbox version of Mirage has also dropped to the same price as its PlayStation equivalent.

Buy it if: 
✅ You love classic stealth
✅ You enjoy a more focused map
✅ You miss that hidden blade 

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You prefer newer, more action-oriented AC
❌ You prefer massive open-worlds 

Price check:
💲
Best Buy | $49.99
💲 Walmart | $39.88

⭐ UK price: £49.99 £26.95 at the Game Collection
View Deal

Should you buy Assassin's Creed Mirage?

Walking across a rope in Assassin's Creed Mirage

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

As we mention in our Assassin's Creed Mirage review, this is "a compact, stealth-focused adventure that punishes anyone trying to go in loud, and it does so in a world that's always a delight to explore (and be chased through)." That in itself is a good litmus test for whether you'll enjoy the experience or not. Do you miss the old games' focus on sneaking around, or are you more a fan of the series' bombastic action? If you fall into the latter camp and can think of nothing better than whaling on a camp of goons with your swords, Mirage might not be for you.

If you like to meticulously plan your attack and move like a shadow across the rooftops, however? It'll hit the spot. The aim here was always a back-to-basics revamp that honored the franchise's origins, and that means secrecy. Fortunately enough, modern advancements make that stealth gameplay better than ever.

It also narrows its focus to a single city with a few surrounding areas, so everything feels gorgeously hand-crafted. This is a sumptuous environment to explore that feels truly alive.

In short? Stealthy gamers, sneak your way up here to get your hands on Mirage - you won't regret it.


For more offers, don't forget to check out the latest Prime Day PS5 deals. You can also drop in on our guide to the current Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals that are impressing us.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/ive-slept-on-assassins-creed-for-years-but-this-record-low-price-on-the-new-game-may-bring-me-back/ QuK6Z3w93rn5VLMMBr3A6V Tue, 16 Jul 2024 11:09:54 +0000
<![CDATA[ Prime Day started early - these are the 8 gaming deals I'd grab now ]]> Prime Day was supposed to kick off today, but nobody seems to have told whoever's in charge of the Amazon gaming deals - some eye-catching bargains started to creep out from cover earlier this week. More importantly, they were actually good.

Don't get me wrong. I've been covering sales like Prime Day for a long time, and there are always gaming deals that test my resolve not to give in and buy all the shiny things. But this year looks particularly good as far as discounts go, so I've gathered a handful that I think are especially enticing. These are the ones I'm personally keeping an eye on.

For a better look at the sale as a whole, don't miss our guide to the full Prime Day gaming deals - it's regularly updated with all the latest offers.

Prime Day gaming deals at a glance

Assassin's Creed Mirage (PS5) | $49.99 $23.70 at Amazon
Save $26 - The latest Assassin's Creed has made a leap of faith to its lowest ever price as part of the Prime Day deals, and because I was always keener on the stealth-based original games, this offer immediately caught my eye. Would you rather play on Xbox? That version of the game has the same all-time low price at Amazon.

Buy it if: 
✅ You like classic stealth mechanics
✅ You prefer a smaller map
✅ You want that hidden blade back 

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You prefer AC's more action-oriented games 
❌ You like massive open-worlds 

Price check:
💲
Best Buy | $49.99
💲 Walmart | $38.99

⭐ UK price: £49.99 £24.99 at AmazonView Deal

Mansions of Madness | $109.99 $79.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - I've often heard that this game is like one of my all-time favorites, Betrayal at House on the Hill, so I'm definitely keeping an eye on it now that it's hit its lowest price in around seven months. From my experience, Mansions of Madness almost never goes this cheap either.

Buy it if:
✅ You want a spooky game
✅ You like horror and mysteries
✅ You're a fan of Arkham/Cthulhu

Don't buy it if:
❌ You aren't a fan of intense games
❌ You're OK to wait for a better discount

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $87.99
💲 Best Buy | Out of stock

UK price: £109.99 £78.95 at Chaos CardsView Deal

Meta Quest 3 128GB | $499.99 $429.99 at Amazon
Save $70 - This is the lowest price our team of bargain-hunters has been able to find on the new and improved headset. Because I'm a huge fan of VR and am looking enviously at those Meta Quest 3-only games on the horizon (like Batman: Arkham Shadow), this is at the top of my list for Prime Day.

Buy it if: 
✅ You want accessible VR
✅ You're OK with 12GB storage
✅ You're interested in mixed reality

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You're happy with the Quest 2
❌ You're not convinced it isn't a fad

Price check: 
💲
Best Buy | $449.99
💲 Walmart | $499.99

UK price: £479.99 £399.99 at VeryView Deal

WD Black SN850X  | $129.99 $88.11 at Amazon
Save $42 - I'm endlessly struggling for storage space on my PS5, so now I'm seriously considering an SSD. I've always resisted that temptation because they can be pretty spenny, but this Prime Day offer brings one of the most reliable options down to a reasonable level. It's not a record low price or anything, but seeing how poor SSD deals have been this year, it's probably the best I'll get until Black Friday.

Buy it if: 
✅ You need more storage space
✅ You want very fast loading times
✅ 1TB is enough

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You don't need a heatsink
❌ You need more storage than 1TB

Price check: 
💲
Best Buy | $103.99 
💲 Walmart | $92.75

UK price: £129.99 £78.83 at AmazonView Deal

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (PC + Xbox) | $349.99 $272 at Amazon
Save $75 - My manager maintains that this is the best gaming headset you can get right now, bar none... and considering how they cover tech for a living, that's quite the recommendation. Because we've never seen this one go for less, maybe now is the time to dive in.

Buy it if: 
You want best-in-class sound
✅ You have a PC and a console
You think wires are so last decade

Don't buy it if: 
You only play one platform
❌ You're happy with a cheap headset

Price check:
💲
Walmart | $329.95
💲 Best Buy | $349.99

UK: £329.99 £246.99 at AmazonView Deal

MTG Fallout Scrappy Survivors Commander Deck | $60 $45.45 at Amazon
Save $25 - I missed out on the Fallout crossover in Magic: The Gathering earlier this year, so have been keeping an eye out in case a discount on Commander decks ever appeared. Lo and behold, a reduction on the Dogmeat deck entered the ring ahead of Prime Day. This deck has only ever been a few dollars cheaper, and that was eight months ago - it's stubbornly hovered around the $56-mark ever since. As such, this is a pretty noteworthy offer.

Buy it if: 
✅ You love Fallout
✅ You already play MTG
✅ Commander is your format

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You're completely new to MTG
❌ You prefer Fallout's many monsters

Price check:
💲
Best Buy | $59.99
💲 Walmart | $44.99

UK price: £44.99 at Magic MadhouseView Deal

Razer Viper V2 Pro | $149.99 $99.99 at Amazon
Save $50 - I'm in the market for a new mouse that can replace my (beloved) old Naga Pro, and I always hear good things about the Viper V2 Pro (it's in our gaming mouse guide, after all). I've not seen it go for much less before now, so Prime Day is clearly the time to strike.

Buy it if: 
✅ You're looking for speed and precision
✅ You don't want anything heavy
✅ You play twitch shooters

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You want on-the-fly FPI shifting
❌ You prefer an ergonomic shape

Price check:
💲
Walmart | $132
💲 Best Buy | $104.99

⭐ UK price: £149.99 £94.99 at AmazonView Deal

Super Mario RPG (Switch) | $59.99 $39.78 at Amazon
Save $20 - I missed Super Mario RPG when it first arrived years ago, so I'm not gonna be left out a second time now that the remake is here. Prime Day has given us an impressive reduction that is just a dollar or so off the game's lowest ever price.

Buy it if: 
✅ You enjoy turn-based strategy
✅ You want something a bit different
✅ You missed the original release

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You want standard Mario platforming
❌ You didn't enjoy the original

Price check:
💲
Walmart | $39.98
💲 Best Buy | $39.99

UK price: £49.99 £37.99 at ArgosView Deal

Samsung Odyssey G55C (32-Inch) | $329.99 $219.99 at Amazon
Save $110 - My current work monitor is actually an old TV pulling double duty, so my setup could certainly benefit from a screen upgrade. As it so happens, this excellent panel with its speedy 165Hz response time and 1440p resolution means that it's an incredibly tempting Prime Day discount.

Buy it if: 
✅ You want a lightning-fast response time
✅ You're into competitive games
✅ You're planning some late-night marathon sessions

Don't buy it if: 
❌ You want to play in 4K
❌ You need a smaller size

Price check:  
💲 Best Buy | $259.99

UK price: £269.99 £219 at SamsungView Deal

For more specific discounts, be sure to drop in on our guides to the latest Prime Day PS5 deals, Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals, and Prime Day board game deals.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/prime-day-just-started-early-these-are-the-8-gaming-deals-id-grab-now/ f7pPGTZ9ujMYoXPgPZAmuU Mon, 15 Jul 2024 15:43:53 +0000
<![CDATA[ Microsoft confirms Xbox Live is down: "Some users have been disconnected" despite status website saying "all services up and running" ]]> Staring down the misery of how to solve Xbox high packet loss this afternoon or evening? You're not alone. Xbox Live is down for many users, it seems, and Microsoft's Xbox Status website has been of very little help so far.

"We are aware that some users have been disconnected from Xbox Live," the official Xbox Support Twitter account said at 11:55am PT / 2:55pm ET / 7:55pm BT. "We're investigating! Please follow here and on our status page for updates."

At the time of writing, that status page, purportedly updated three minutes ago, is showing green across the board for the US and UK. Account functionality, friends, streaming, cloud gaming, multiplayer – all A-okay. Except they aren't. That's why we're here. 

Hopefully this thing updates again soon and we can get some detail on what monkey wrench has been thrown where, and if we're lucky, how long it will take to fix. Down Detector suggests pretty significant problems with Xbox Live, starting with the ability to log in at all. 

Anecdotally, based on early reports from Twitter and forum users as well as some of our own writers, the problem seems to be UK-heavy for the time being, but reports of US troubles are beginning to crop up as well, most recently from me, as I can't log in either.  

In the meantime, if you've already reset your console, reset your internet connection, and tried the high packet loss troubleshooting linked above, your best bet right now is, unfortunately, probably patience. 

Xbox proudly claims "no console needed" in new partnership with Amazon, which brings Xbox Game Pass to Fire TV as a "low-cost, convenient, and portable option," which does of course open your service up to connection issues like this. 

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/microsoft-confirms-xbox-live-is-down-some-users-have-been-disconnected-despite-status-website-saying-all-services-up-and-running/ UrPVZntMLH2bmXbDnHmohB Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:27:47 +0000
<![CDATA[ Xbox proudly claims "no console needed" in new partnership with Amazon, which brings Xbox Game Pass to Fire TV as a "low-cost, convenient, and portable option" ]]> Xbox has unveiled its plans to launch the Xbox app on two different Amazon Fire TV Sticks, allowing players to use Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cloud streaming to play on their TV without a console. 

While Game Pass cloud streaming was already available on the likes of PC, Android, iPhone, and certain Samsung smart TVs, in a news post on Xbox Wire, Ashley McKissick, corporate vice president of Xbox experiences and platforms engineering, says the Fire Stick compatibility will offer a "great low-cost, convenient, and portable option to enjoy a huge library of incredible games." 

"Xbox Gaming Coming to Amazon Fire TV: Play More Games, No Console Needed," the post begins. If you don't have a compatible Samsung Smart TV, this is definitely going to be a solid alternative if you want to load up your games on a TV screen without actually owning an Xbox.

As far as affordability is concerned, it's been confirmed that the app will be available on the 2023 Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Stick 4K, which cost $59.99 and $49.99 dollars, respectively. You'll also need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription (unless you just want to play Fortnite, which can be streamed without one), as well as a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller to, y'know, actually play the games, which will add to the cost, too. All in all though, when compared to the price of buying a whole new console, it's definitely cheaper.

The portability also sounds like it could be a major selling point. Since you can just plug your Fire TV Stick into whatever TV you want, you can easily switch devices within your own home, take it over to a friend's, or even on vacation without having to carry a bulky console around, while maintaining access to your games. 

"Over the past several years, we have been on a journey to deliver cloud gaming to more devices and to more people around the globe," McKissick writes in the news post. "We are excited to add Fire TV to our growing family of cloud gaming devices and eager to welcome new players into this experience."

An additional post from Amazon confirms that Fire TV Stick compatibility will be rolled out at some point in July, so there's not too long to wait. Being tied to Game Pass, and specifically the cloud gaming section of it, the games available will fluctuate, but given the access to major releases like Starfield and Fallout 4, there should be plenty to play. 

Be sure to check out our roundup of the 25 best games on Game Pass for Xbox and PC.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/accessories/xbox-proudly-claims-no-console-needed-in-new-partnership-with-amazon-which-brings-xbox-game-pass-to-fire-tv-as-a-low-cost-convenient-and-portable-option/ XUFk7YxXDMniDuoGnbyESd Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:22:19 +0000
<![CDATA[ Future Games Show at Gamescom to broadcast on August 21 ]]> GamesRadar is thrilled to reveal that our flagship digital showcase, the Future Games Show, will return on August 21 during this year’s Gamescom event. 

The third outing for the Future Games Show in 2024 will offer illuminating deep dives on fall's most-anticipated games, exciting world premieres and updates concerning the best and brightest indies and AA sleeper hits.

Our Summer Showcase aired in June, featuring the latest news about a selection of scintillating titles, including exclusive insights from Once Human, The Casting of Frank Stone and Eternal Strands, plus nine world premieres.

Read on for information about how you can participate in this year’s Future Games Show at Gamescom, as well as details on how to join our co-streaming program.

Future Games Show Summer Showcase breaks records

The Future Games Show Summer Showcase reached a record-breaking 11 million live show and opening weekend views, growing over 20% year-on-year.

With over 300 co-streaming partners, we're delighted that so many creators are joining us in our mission to discover something new, sharing off-radar AA games and ingenious indies with their audiences and friends.

Roger Clark (Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2) and Britt Baron (Tifa Lockhart in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth) led viewers through a meaty lineup of trailers on June 8, covering over 50 games in just under 90 minutes. 

From a first-look at gorgeous adventure Bogdan's Cross, to Goat Simulator 3’s chaotic Multiverse of Nonsense DLC, those who tuned in were treated to nine world premieres and plenty of exclusive wishlist-expanding gameplay.

FGS Summer 2022 Stats

(Image credit: Future)

How to take part in the Future Games Show

Nobody Wants to Die appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

Nobody Wants to Die appeared in the FGS Summer Showcase, one of the most-wanted games of summer showcase season. (Image credit: Plaion)

The Future Games Show is the perfect venue to debut your unannounced game, share new information about an existing title, and reach new audiences.

The Future Games Show reaches around 11 million live viewers on each broadcast and over 50 million total views across all content per show, with many titles seeing huge increases in Steam wishlists from appearing in the event.

Indie or AAA, we want to showcase the most exciting and innovative games of 2024 and beyond, with all titles considered for broadcast.

Developers can nominate their game by filling in the Future Games Show 2024 nomination form  or getting in touch via the addresses below:

Developers can nominate their game by filling in the Future Games Show 2024 nomination form  or getting in touch via the addresses below:

Editorial:
james.jarvis@futurenet.com – Executive Producer
ben.malley@futurenet.com – Producer

Sponsorship:
melissa.makhmaltchi@futurenet.com – Commercial Lead (US) 
kevin.stoddart@futurenet.com – Commercial Lead (UK)

Pitch Your Game With The Indie Elevator Pitch

Are you a solo developer or small team hoping to get your game noticed?

The FGS Summer Showcase introduced an ambitious new initiative to increase the visibility of up-and-coming indies.

Developers worldwide were called upon to create their own Indie Elevator Pitches and share their games with the Future Games Show via a brand-new video submission form. Click below to share your upcoming project:

Regardless of where you’re at with your game’s development, if you’re working on an exciting project you’d like to share with the world, you can find out more information and send us your pitches above. Check out the video for some inspiration.

Our Humble Thank You For Raising $51k+ for Charity

Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Humble)

Our first Future Games Show Humble Bundle was also revealed during the Summer Showcase. The Future Games Show Discovery Bundle features a curated list of games that have popped up in our events over the years, including Gloomwood, The Entropy Centre and En Garde.

The FGS Discovery Pack is Humble's best-selling bundle of the summer gaming season, raising over $51k for charity. Sadly, the bundle has now finished, but look out for news of a fresh bundle during our Gamescom event on Aug 21.

A (Brief) History of the Future Games Show

The Future Games Show is GamesRadar's flagship games showcase, which has featured over 600 games from the industry’s leading developers and publishers, including Capcom, Private Division, Square Enix, Team17, Sony, Thunderful, Xbox, Sega, Frontier, Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, Paradox Interactive, Devolver, and many more leading developers.

The event is broadcast live on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and all major streaming platforms, and hosted by famous video-game voice actors. Our Summer Showcase was hosted by the rootin’-tootin’ duo of Roger Clark (Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2) and Britt Baron (Tifa Lockhart in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth), who sat down for an illuminating interview after the show, which you can watch here:

A selection of previous hosts include Nolan North and Emily Rose (Uncharted), Ben Starr and Samantha Béart (FFXVI & Baldur’s Gate 3), David Hayter and Debi Mae-West (Metal Gear Solid), and Troy Baker and Laura Bailey (The Last of Us 2).

If you’re keen for more details, check out everything you need to know about the  Future Games Show right here and watch highlights from previous shows.

How to watch the Future Games Show

Future Games Show Steam

The Future Games Show is broadcast on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and all major streaming platforms, including Steam. (Image credit: Future)

The Future Games Show will broadcast three events in 2024:

  • Future Games Show: Spring Showcase - March 21, 2024
  • Future Games Show Summer Showcase - June 8, 2023 
  • Future Games Show @Gamescom - August 21, 2024

You can watch future events by subscribing to the offical FGS YouTube and TikTok channels, GamesRadar's Twitch, our Facebook page, YouTube channel, Twitter, and the website, GamesRadar.com

Join the Future Games Show co-streamer program

Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Future)

The Future Games Show invites you to join our co-streamer program for 2024, joining a rapidly growing family of over 150+ creators, with benefits including:

  • Early access to show partner information and announcements
  • Special logos and co-streaming assets
  • A chance to enter VIP co-streamer programs with merchandise from featured partners, including the Future Creators program working with key partners

The official co-streamer program is open to anyone, whether you’re an established broadcaster, or starting to grow your community.

You can apply for the Future Games Show Official Co-Streamer Program right here. 

Future Games Show X channel

Don't forget to follow the Future Games Show Twitter channel to stay up to date with show announcements, and get in touch if you’d like to take part.

You can follow the GamesRadar Twitter channel for major FGS updates and check out exclusive previews and hands-on reports from the show.

Stay tuned to gamesradar.com for some exciting Future Games Show partner announcements and hosting details over the following weeks  

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/future-games-show-gamescom-2024/ d3Ad72vmMBV9kziLXSNoxJ Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:00:04 +0000
<![CDATA[ Everything announced at the Nintendo Direct June 2024 ]]> Summer Game Fest 2024 has essentially wrapped up with the new Nintendo Direct today having dropped in full to reveal and show off exactly what Mario and co. are up to for the rest of the year and into some of 2025. 

And what a set of reveals it was! Metroid Prime 4 is genuinely on the way, it seems like, and there's even an all-new Zelda game that's actually about Zelda. The 40-minute showcase delivered, though as previously announced there wasn't any "mention of the Nintendo Switch successor" during it. 

Below we've gathered all the important bits out of the Nintendo Direct while the blow-by-blow recap as it happened live remains underneath in case you'd like to see how it all unfolded as the Nintendo Direct was streamed.

Everything announced at the Nintendo Direct

First things first, if you'd like to watch the Nintendo Direct you'll want to head to YouTube just before 7am PT/ 10am ET/ 3pm BST. You've got 40 minutes of reveals ahead of you so bring a snack or two. 

We'll be covering the news as it happens, so don't fret if you need to step away or close a tab while watching on company time if your boss walks by.

Nintendo might not be talking about the Switch 2, but we can catch you up. After oodles of reports and rumors, Nintendo revealed on May 7 that, yes, the Switch successor is a thing and something that'll be shown off properly "within this fiscal year."

It all adds that sense of 'will they?' before each new showcase. Regarding this Direct, though, they will not. 

So what are we getting? As for first-party upcoming Switch games, it looks a tad light. Luigi's Mansion 2 HD and Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition are due this year, but we don't know of much else. Perhaps that means the Direct will be dominated by third-party games, or we could be in for some surprises. A selection of upgraded Zelda classics for Switch has been rumored for ages, after all.

One thing I'm sure many would like to see is Hollow Knight: Silksong. Mind you, the Microsoft Store recently stated that we'd have to wait another 7,974 years to play it, which is mean and perhaps a sign not to get those hopes up. Dare we dream, though?

Just under one hour to go until showtime, gang! Grab those snacks if you need 'em.

There's been some chatter online that we may see Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's throwback RPG Fantasian released beyond Apple Arcade. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be spending the next 40 mins trying to manifest the rumor into being.

And with just over 20 minutes to go until this thing really kicks off, you're now stuck with me, GamesRadar+ US Managing Editor Rollin Bishop, for the remainder of this flight.

How are we all? Hydrated? Ready for anything? I know I am.

Pokemon Legends

(Image credit: Nintendo)

It does seem worth noting that I still hold the same opinion that I did at the end of May: it really feels like Nintendo might just coast directly into the Switch 2. While I'd love for some big, huge surprises out of today's Nintendo Direct, I'm also pretty content with what I already have on my Switch. (I wouldn't turn my nose up at a surprise Unicorn Overlord expansion, however.)

That said, 40 minutes is an awfully long time. And this is Nintendo we're talking about; Directs have a history of being short, sweet, and to the point. If the company is spending this long in a Direct alone, that sounds like something particularly beefy is on the horizon.

We only have 10 minutes left until we all collectively find out what, exactly, that might be.

Metroid Samus

(Image credit: Nintendo)

And look, if this is the last truly significant Nintendo Direct during the OG Switch's time as the main attraction, it'd be lovely if this were a total blowout, wouldn't it? I'll ready my clown makeup, just as Mr. Harris did, but for me it'll be about Metroid Prime 4.

And here we go!

Promising start to see Luigi and Mario off the bat. A port or remake of one of the mobile RPGs, maybe?

Mario & Luigi it is! But in true-blue 3D. Looking good, fellas. How long has it been since a truly new one of these? Because that's what this actually looks like.

Gameplay here looking like a solid translation of how this worked on the handheld consoles.

Mario & Luigi Brothership is coming November 7, 2024.

First new entry and almost 9 years, according to Nintendo. Described as a seafaring adventure across multiple islands. And on to the next!

Seeing some gameplay from Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. We already knew this was coming, but it's interesting to see challenges in there.

Honestly I'm still thinking about Mario & Luigi Brothership. Look at my boys!

Mario & Luigi: Brothership trailer still

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Fairy Tail 2 from Koei Tecmo. Launching this winter. Big year for anime games, if that's your thing.

Fantasian! It's real! It's escaping Apple Arcade!

New name though. Fantasian Neo Dimension launching this holiday.

Basketball is being added as a free update to the Nintendo Switch Sports game. Two-on-two matches with motion controls, basket challenges solo or multiplayer. Online play for the two-on-two matches. So if you've really been gunning for more sports games, look forward to this summer.

Now what is this atmospheric lovely little thing. Some kind of robotic platformer and world. Weird sad robot alert.

Mio: Memories in Orbit coming 2025.

New Disney Illusion Island update available later today! Kind of an overlooked little fun title in my opinion.

Hello Kitty game also escaping mobile next year, and Looney Tunes Wacky World of Sports coming this fall.

New crewmate and impostor roles being added to Among Us! Why this is in the Nintendo Direct, I don't know, but it's coming out later today.

Another anime-looking game called Farmagia with designs from the creator of Fairy Tail. Seems like you grow monsters in the ground like produce? And then use them to fight. A little bit Stardew Valley, a little bit Monster Rancher. But without the CDs.

November 1, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is also coming to Nintendo Switch! It's Donkey Kong Country Returns but in high definition. That's... that's just what it is.

Two-player local co-op! 80 levels total, including those from the 3DS version. Releasing January 16, 2025.

The time is nigh... for the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. Looking good! But then HD-2D is basically made specifically for me.

This thing looks absolutely gorgeous, and I suspect many folks won't be familiar with the original, so they'll have plenty to look forward to when it releases for the Nintendo Switch on November 14, 2024.

Also! Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake set for 2025! Nice completion of the trilogy there.

It's just a bit of key slash concept art, but all my friends are here.

Dragon Quest concept art

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Funko Fusion is up. I... I'm sorry, the gameplay and puzzles and such all seem interesting but I can't get over my personal aversion to Funkos. September 13, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD! It's Luigi's Mansion 2 but in high definition. June 27, 2024, which we already new.

The New Denpa Men... This is one for our very own Dustin Bailey. Free to play, July 22, 2024 on Nintendo Switch. I'm not sure what I just saw, if I'm being honest.

Deckbuilding Metal Slug? Be still my heart. Metal Slug Attack Reloaded out on Nintendo Switch later today.

Darkest Dungeon 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch. It's Darkest Dungeon 2 on the Switch! July 15, 2024, pre-orders later today.

Zelda: A Link to the Past Four Swords is coming to Nintendo Switch Online! Metroid Zero Mission too! And N64 Mature titles are coming -- with Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. And Perfect Dark! If you can believe it!

With online multiplayer! My gods. All of this available later today.

A new Phantom Brave? What year is this?? Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is coming to Nintendo Switch. Coming 2025.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics is coming to Nintendo Switch this year. Whole mess (7?) of fighters and brawlers in here. That includes Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

It's a new Mario Party! Super Mario Party Jamboree. Lots of little minigames, as usual, across what appears to be new game board with some returning.

Over 100 minigames. That's a lot of ways to get mad at your friends. Up to 20 players can compete online in a specific mode (Koopathalon?). Launching October 17, 2024 for the Nintendo Switch.

And there it is, folks. They're officially doing more Zelda remakes in the style of the Link's Awakening one. Wait! No! A new game! The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom with playable Zelda.

Friendship ended with Link, now Zelda is new best friend.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The big mechanic here has Zelda creating "echoes" of various things previously encountered. Rocks you can throw, monsters that fight by your side. Different monsters are useful in different situations -- "wisdom is key after all."

With no Link, the fate of the kingdom is now in Zelda's hands. There are apparently a lot of echoes in the game to use that can be solved in different ways. (Briefly shown is making a bunch of beds to climb.)

September 26, 2024 launch for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom with a special Switch Lite as well.

And, after the reveal of a new Zelda, Just Dance 2025 Edition. Tough act to follow.

And here's Nintendo talking about Lego Horizon Adventures, which isn't exactly surprising. Locations inspired by the original game. Blast boots and gravity bombs can be used. Aloy rebuilds her home over time and can wear a bunch of outfits like... a hot dog. Two-player local or online co-op. Launching this holiday on Nintendo Switch.

Stray! On Nintendo Switch! I feel like we knew this was coming, but maybe that's just my brain making things up again. Cyberpunkish kitty platformer/puzzler on a new platform is always welcome, though. Holiday 2024 on Switch.

Tales of the Shire! It's Animal Crossing with Hobbits. Holiday 2024 on Nintendo Switch. Seems fine? Seems fine.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection! Including a title that wasn't released outside of Japan previously. New hand-drawn visuals, but you can also swap back to the sprites. A nice gallery of art and designs and music. Launching September 6, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.

Danganronpa-looking strategy RPG? Last Defense Academy?

The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy, launching early 2025 on Nintendo Switch. As expected, from the Danganronpa people.

Romancing Saga 2 remake, Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven, coming to Nintendo Switch as well. Turn-based battles "evolved" into timeline battles. Lots of decisions to be made that will change the story. Launching October 24, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.

Last announcement time! And it is...

It's real. It's really really. Metroid Prime 4 exists and they are showing it here and now. (No clown makeup for me, but apologies to Mr. Harris and his Silksong desire.)

Nothing terrible unexpected here, to be honest? It looks like a Metroid Prime game but on the Nintendo Switch. First-person camera and all.

Official title seems to be Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Coming 2025, seems like? "Please wait a little bit longer."

And that's it! We're all done here. Whew. That was a big one.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/nintendo-direct-june-2024-live-coverage-everything-announced/ SyyKW7GgXBm6WVXuoEZXEX Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:30:03 +0000
<![CDATA[ Between GTA 6 and Xbox's impressive line-up, 2025 is going to be a huge year for games ]]> The announcements from the various Summer Game Fest conferences have certainly bolstered the previously pretty barren latter half of 2024 with big releases. But, even with the addition of the likes of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Astro Bot, and the Silent Hill 2 remake to the already confirmed 2024 releases, the slate doesn't quite have the same impact as the almost unrelenting 2023 schedule. 2025 is clearly where it's at. 

Now, that's not to diminish any games that are set to release before the end of this year, because there are a lot of fantastic-looking new games en route. However, there's a certain gravitas to the broad strokes of next year's releases that means 2025 is going to be a huge year for the games industry. 

Xbox's sparkling 2025

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

(Image credit: MachineGames)

Let's start with Xbox. While its Xbox Games Showcase was impressive (despite the backdrop of the recent studio closures and layoffs), it strangely failed to date the two big exclusive Xbox games due to land this side of the Holidays - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Avowed. Of course, the Avowed release date has since leaked from Obsidian itself but was hastily deleted, suggesting that Microsoft has deliberately held back the duo of dates for another announcement beat. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 of course is another of Microsoft's big focuses for 2024, with the perks of the Activision buyout now in full swing, but despite coming to Xbox Game Pass Day One, it's still legally bound to keep COD a multiplatform release - or at least for the next five years at least.

However, the Xbox Games Showcase did give us a fantastic look at what Microsoft's plans are for next year, with so many of the Xbox first-party titles featured during the Xbox Games Showcase sporting loose 2025 launch windows. Doom: The Dark Ages, with its skull-crushing gun and dragon-riding is arriving sometime next year from id Software, as is the awesome-looking South of Midnight from We Happy Few developer Compulsion Games. My own personal wishlist-topper, Fable, is also now penciled in for 2025 with developer PlayGround Games absolutely nailing the series' brief with each hilarious, but seriously moreish, trailer. 

Fable

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

2025 is clearly the year where all of Microsoft's investments are going to pay off. Yes, there are still some AWOL titles - Everwild, Contraband, The Outer Worlds 2 - but with its 2025 slate coupled with long-awaited fresh looks at State of Decay 3 and the Perfect Dark reboot, it finally feels like we're getting the results of Microsoft's long-term release vision in 2025.  

Nintendo and PlayStation lining up

Astro Bot

(Image credit: Sony)

The same can probably be said for PlayStation too, which is having probably its quietest year since the PS5 launched back in 2020. As I wrote off the back of May's State of Play showcase, while Concord and Astro Bot look great, they are a symptom of the weird year PlayStation and the PS5 is having. PlayStation has always said that it wouldn't be releasing any "major existing franchise titles" before April 1, 2025, which suggests that 2025 is going to be a more traditional year for the platform holder - even if we have much less of a clear idea what the PS5's 2025 will look like. 

It's a similar story for Nintendo too. Although it has said it is doing some kind of Nintendo Direct in June, that's yet to be dated, so we're currently a little in the dark as to what both 2024 and 2025 look like for Nintendo Switch gamers. Well, with one rather large caveat - the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo says it will announce its next-gen Switch successor "within this fiscal year" – so before March 31, 2025 – with the launch expected to fall sometime in 2025. With such a huge stake in 2025 for Nintendo, you'd imagine that this next model Switch will need to be joined with some beefy launch titles. My money's on Metroid Prime 4 and Super Mario Odyssey 2. 

2025 at large

Monster Hunter Wilds

(Image credit: Capcom)

If you look outside the platform holders too, it's even clearer that 2025 is going to be a huge year for games. The newly announced Civilization 7 was immediately penciled in for 2025, with the highly-anticipated strategy game launching simultaneously on PC and consoles for the first time. Bound to be absolutely massive on PC in particular, it's certainly going to be one to watch. 

Capcom also delivered us two utterly gorgeous Monster Hunter Wilds trailers in the last few weeks, showcasing all kinds of new features, improved graphics, and even a new monster for its open-world title. It's certainly been one of the standouts of the show for me, and not just because your Palico can apparently talk now. Knowing how fervent the Monster Hunter community is, this huge series' entry is going to cause quite the stir.

GTA 6 trailer screenshots

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

And for the shooter fans, one that stands out already for 2025 is Marvel Rivals. With so many hero shooters currently on the books for this year and next, it'll be interesting to see how another attempt at a multiplayer Marvel game holds up. 

And that's before we've even addressed the mammoth-esque elephant in the room that is Rockstar's GTA 6. Knowing how colossally Rockstar's releases usually take over the year they're released in, I'd imagine that there's going to be quite the bum shuffle of developers desperately trying to get out of the way of the GTA 6 release date. Currently, it's just set to launch sometime in Fall 2025, which could well mean that the earlier months of next year are more jam-packed with AAA releases or at least there's less of a cluster around those holiday months. It could well be that 2025 becomes a year not unlike 2023, with the likes of Baldur's Gate 3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and Alan Wake 2 having been much more evenly spread throughout the year. 

For more confirmed release dates for this year and beyond, check out our comprehensive new games roundup.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/between-gta-6-and-xboxs-impressive-line-up-2025-is-going-to-be-a-huge-year-for-games/ q2vGUn4R4mv6gtC3GyZcoi Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:30:39 +0000
<![CDATA[ Everything announced at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024 ]]> The Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024 has come and gone, leaving a trail of video game news in its wake. Hosts Roger Clark (Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2) and Britt Baron (Tifa Lockhart in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth) led viewers through a jam-packed event full of world premieres, developer presentations and reveals concerning some of the most exciting games of 2024 and beyond. 

The Summer Showcase aired on June 8 and was streamed live across our GamesRadar+ and Future Games Show social channels. If you missed it, though, fret not, as we’ve got a list of every game that appeared in the show, as well as a description of its associated reveals. We’ll also cover all the news from the Future Games Show Expansion pack, our official post-show broadcast. 

If you want to add any games to your wishlists or check out the demos that dropped during the show, you can head to the Future Games Show Steam page. You can find it by searching ‘Future Games Show’ on Steam.

Future Games Show Summer Showcase

Bogdan’s Cross

Bogdan's Cross appearing in the FGS Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Federico Breser)

A world premiere trailer revealed Bogdan’s Cross, an action-adventure game starring a shepherd bear who embarks on a perilous journey to become a knight. It’s coming soon to Steam and the Epic Games Store.

First Dwarf

First Dwarf appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Star Drifters)

A gameplay trailer for First Dwarf revealed how the base-building, tower defence action works in this mech suit survival game. It’s coming to Steam Early Access on June 19th, but a demo is available right now. 

Nobody Wants To Die

Nobody Wants to Die appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Plaion)

Gameplay clips from the cyberpunk detective thriller Nobody Wants To Die were peppered throughout an interview with our friends at Critical Hit Games. Nobody Wants To Die is coming to PC and consoles in 2024.

Detective Dotson

Detective Dotson appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Masala Games)

A gameplay trailer for Detective Dotson gave viewers a sneak peek at how the titular sleuth will use parkour and disguise to unravel the mystery of his father’s murder. Detective Dotson is coming to PC in 2024, but there’s a demo available on Steam right now. 

Once Human

Once Human appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Starry Studio)

Once Human is a New Weird multiplayer survival shooter where players make their mark on a mutated apocalyptic landscape. The developers, Starry Studio, dropped by the Summer Showcase to provide a deep dive into the game. Once Human launches on July 10, but you can check out the Steam demo when it drops on June 10. 

In Sink

In Sink appearing at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Kwalee)

A world premiere trailer revealed In Sink, a cooperative puzzle-solving game where players need to synchronize their movements and communicate to succeed. It’s coming soon, but in the meantime, you can check out the free prologue on Steam.

Dredge: The Iron Rig

Dredge appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Team17)

A world premiere trailer revealed Dredge: The Iron Rig, the forthcoming DLC pack for Dredge, Black Salt Games’ horror-infused indie fishing adventure. The Iron Rig launches on August 15.

The Future Games Show Humble Bundle

FGS Humble Bundle

(Image credit: Humble Bundle)

During the Summer Showcase, Roger and Britt helped launch the Future Games Show’s very own Humble Bundle, a curated selection of games that have appeared in past shows. You can head over and check it out here: bit.ly/FGSDiscoveryBundle

Future Games Show Snapshot

A snapshot of several exciting upcoming games appeared during the Future Games Show Summer Showcase. This year’s FGS Snapshot featured Farlands, Drug Dealer Simulator 2, Diabolic Rogue, Clockwork Ambrosia, Antonblast, Starvaders, Big Boy Boxing and Sword of the Necromancer. Be sure to wishlist them on Steam. 

Parcel Corps

Parcel Corps appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Secret Mode)

Billy Goat Entertainment dropped the Release Date Trailer for Parcel Corps during this year’s Summer Showcase. The gig economy delivery driver simulator is coming to PC and consoles on September 3. 

Screenbound

Screenbound appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase

(Image credit: Crescent Moon Games)

A gameplay trailer for Screenbound provided viewers with a glimpse at how the inter-dimensional platforming works in this spellbinding indie game. It’s coming soon to PC, but you can wishlist it now on Steam. 

Netflix Games

Netflix Games logo

(Image credit: Netflix)

Our friends at Netflix sent over a montage revealing some of the new games coming to the Netflix Games platform later this year, including Tales of the Shire, Don’t Starve Together, Lab Rat, Rotwood, Harmonium: The Musical, The Dragon Prince: Xadia and more. 

Happy Bastards

Happy Bastards appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Clever Plays Studio)

A world premiere trailer revealed Happy Bastards, a tongue-in-cheek strategy game where you lead a band of fools to glory in gritty combat. It’s coming soon, but you can wishlist it now on Steam.

The Relic: First Guardian

The Relic: First Guardian appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Perp Games)

A gameplay trailer for The Relic: First Guardian showcased the game’s impressive combat system, varied biomes, and hulking enemies. It’s coming soon to PlayStation and PC. 

Hell of an Office

Hell of an Office appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Joystick Ventures)

Hell of an Office is a precision platformer set in a white-collar hellscape. A new trailer popped up during the Summer Showcase, reminding players to check it out in early access on Steam. 

The Operator

The Operator featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase

(Image credit: Bureau 81)

A new trailer for The Operator gave viewers a glimpse at how they will connect clues and unravel mysteries in this ‘FDI’ detective simulator. It’s coming later this year.

Deliver Us Home

Deliver Us Home debuting in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: KeokeN Interactive)

A world premiere teaser trailer revealed Deliver Us Home, the next game in Keoken Interactive’s space-faring adventure series. It’s coming to Kickstarter on the 11th of June, and you can find out more at deliverushome.com. 

The Precinct

The Precinct featuring at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Kwalee)

The Precinct is a sandbox rookie cop RPG where you clean up the city. A new gameplay trailer dropped during the Summer Showcase, revealing that the game is coming to PC, PlayStation and Xbox on August 15.

Ones to Play

Every game in the Summer Showcase Ones to Play montage featured a Steam demo that you can check out after the show. Here’s a list of all the games that popped up during this section:

  • Dystopika 
  • Wild Bastards
  • Servonauts
  • Guntouchables
  • Metal Suits
  • Motordoom
  • Angeline Era
  • 10 Dead Doves

Don't forget to head over to our Future Games Show Steam page to wishlist all of today's games and download some demos that you can play right now.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

Duck Detective featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase

(Image credit: Happy Broccoli Games)

The developers of Duck Detective: The Secret Salami dropped by the Summer Showcase to reveal that the game is coming to mobile platforms later this year. It’s out now on PC and Nintendo Switch.

SacriFire 

SacriFire appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Pixelated Milk)

A new gameplay trailer for the 90s-inspired pixel RPG SacriFire aired during the Summer Showcase. The big reveal was a playtest for the game, which is now live on Steam if you want to check it out. Sacrifice is coming soon. 

Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Focus Entertainment)

Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 entered the Future Games Show Ones To Watch Yearbook during our Summer Showcase. We covered everything you need to know about the game ahead of its September 9 launch date.

Goat Simulator 3: Multiverse of Nonsense

Goat Simulator 3 featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Coffee Stain Publishing)

A world premiere trailer revealed the Multiverse of Nonsense, the chaotic first DLC for Goat Simulator 3. It’s coming to PC, PlayStation and Xbox on June 19.. 

Indie Elevator Pitch

During the Summer Showcase, our hosts launched a new initiative to help increase the visibility of up-and-coming indie games. Game makers can submit their projects to the Future Games Show in a pitch-friendly 45-second format via our new video submission form. To kick off the project, we asked four teams to make their own indie elevator pitches, which aired during the show:

  • Schim - coming July 18
  • World’s Worst Handyman - launching September 2024
  • Judero - launching Autumn 2024
  • Hermit and Pig - Coming soon

You can find out more and submit your project to the Indie Elevator Pitch at bit.ly/fgs-pitch

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

Eriksholm featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Nordcurrent Labs)

A world premiere trailer revealed Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream, a top-down stealth adventure with a turn of the 20th Century aesthetic. It’s coming soon to PC and consoles.

Run from Mummies

Run from Mummies appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Lost Turnip)

A gameplay trailer for Run From Mummies revealed how players will work together to dodge traps and take down bosses in this tourism-themed dungeon crawler. It’s coming to PC and PlayStation 5 in Fall 2024, but there’s a demo available right now on Steam.

Mandragora

Mandragora featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Marvelous)

Primal Game Studio dropped by the Summer Showcase to provide an in-depth overview of Mandragora, the studio’s 2.5D soulslike sidescroller. It’s coming to PC and consoles later this year. 

Dustborn

Dustborn appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Spotlight by Quantic Dream)

Red Thread Games shared a brand new gameplay trailer for Dustborn during the Summer Showcase. The feature dug into how players will impact the narrative with their supernatural voice powers. Dustborn is coming to PC and consoles on August 20, 2024.

Enter the Chronosphere

Enter the Chronosphere featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Joystick Ventures)

A gameplay trailer for the turn-based bullet hell game Enter the Chronosphere aired during the Future Games Show Summer Showcase. It’s coming soon, so wishlist it now on Steam. 

Toy Tactics

Toy Tactics appearing at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Joystick Ventures)

Kraken Empire shared a new trailer for the studio’s physics-based RTS Toy Tactics, where you draw formations and command legions of endearing minifig soldiers into battle. It’s available now in early access on Steam.

Linkito

Linkito appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Playdigious Originals/Kimeria Games)

A story trailer for Linkito dug into the lore underpinning Kalinarm’s sandbox logic puzzle game. It’s coming to Steam on July 23rd, with a playable demo available now.

Pneumata

Pneumata featuring at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Perp Games)

A new gameplay trailer showcased the skin-crawling suburban survival horror of Pneumata, from Deadbolt Interactive. It’s coming to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox in Summer 2024.

Sonokuni

Sonokuni featuring at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Kakehashi Games)

From hip-hop artists turned indie developers Don Yasa Crew, Sonokuni is a top-down action game evocative of Hotline Miami and inspired by Japanese mythology. It’s coming soon to PC.

Eternal Strands

Eternal Strands appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

A story trailer for Eternal Strands dropped during the Summer Showcase. It gives players a glimpse at the narrative while showing off the dynamic gameplay, which blends melee and magic combat with monster climbing. Eternal Strands is coming soon. 

Unreal Showcase

The Future Games Show Summer Showcase saw the return of the Unreal Showcase, an eye-popping section featuring stunning vistas, game demos, and evolving projects at the cutting edge of fidelity.

Starship Troopers: Extermination

Starship Troopers: Extermination featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Offworld)

Starship Troopers: Extermination featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Offworld)

The Project Lead on Starship Troopers: Extermination dropped by the Future Games Show Summer Showcase to dish all the details on the game’s Carnage on Planet X-11 update, which introduces persistent bug bodies, among other exciting features. Starship Troopers Extermination is available now on Steam. 

The Casting of Frank Stone

The Casting of Frank Stone featuring at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Behaviour Interactive / Supermassive Games)

A collaboration between Supermassive Games and Behaviour Interactive, The Casting of Frank Stone is a cinematic horror adventure in the vein of Until Dawn, where players make choices and solve puzzles to survive. The developers dropped by the Summer Showcase to tell us more about this landmark collaboration, revealing more about how the game links to the expanded omniverse of Dead By Daylight. 

Nikoderiko

Nikodero  featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: VEA Games)

A world premiere trailer revealed Nikoderiko, an all-new mascot platformer with nostalgic side-scrolling sensibilities. It’s coming soon to PC and consoles. 

Bodycam

Bodycam appearing at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Reissad Studio)

A new trailer for Bodycam showcased the shooter’s hyper-realistic graphics and intense multiplayer action. It’s available on Steam right now. 

Woodrunner Games

Woodrunner Games' teaser for their upcoming project featuring in the Future Games Show

(Image credit: Woodrunner Games)

The Summer Showcase wrapped up with a taste of what’s to come from Woodrunner Games, an indie studio featuring developers who worked on Cuphead and Rick and Morty. The game will be fully revealed later this year, so keep your eye on the studio’s social channels and website for more. 


Future Games Show Summer Showcase Expansion Pack

Starship Troopers: Extermination

Starship Troopers: Extermination featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Offworld)

An interview feature with the developers of Starship Troopers: Extermination aired during the Summer Showcase Expansion Pack. Project Lead Peter Maurice, and Lead Game Designer Chaz Barker provided a deep dive on the latest update coming to the co-op FPS, which you can check out on Steam right now. 

Runout

Runout featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Waka Studio)

A new trailer for the adorable party game Runout aired during the Summer Showcase Expansion Pack. Runout is a chaotic online multiplayer obstacle adventure where you clamber over your fellow animals to reach the finish line. It’s coming soon, but you can wishlist it now on Steam. 

Eternal Strands

Eternal Strands appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

Mike Laidlaw and Fred St-Laurent from Yellow Brick Games dropped by the Summer Showcase to provide a deeper dive into Eternal Strands, the studio’s physics-based fantasy RPG. The overview focused on a boss fight from the game where the player tackles an enormous drake. Eternal Strands is coming soon to PC and consoles, but you can wishlist it now on Steam. 

Tamarindo’s Freaking Dinner

Tamarindo’s Freaking Dinner featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Celery Emblem)

Surprise! Tamarindo’s Freaking Dinner is a phantasmagorical horror adventure where you deliver pizza to a cannibal’s manor. And it’s out now on Steam, as the game launched during our Expansion Pack broadcast. 

Forgotten but Unbroken

Forgotten but Unbroken featuring at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: MicroProse Software)

Forgotten But Unbroken is an immersive WW2 strategy game where you lead the resistance against Axis forces. It’s coming later this year, and there’s a demo available on Steam.

Dystopika

Dystopika appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Voids Within)

An interview feature with Matt Marshall, the solo developer of Dystopika, aired during our Summer Showcase Expansion Pack. Dystopia is a cyberpunk city builder where you can craft moody, atmospheric worlds in a sandbox environment, and it’s coming to Steam on June 21.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/future-games-show-summer-showcase-2024-everything-announced/ 93wWqUt7DkttHwhmJp5KS4 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 20:52:07 +0000
<![CDATA[ Let us know what you think of the Future Games Show and you could win a brand-new PC with an NVIDIA 4070 graphics card ]]> We're now into our fourth year of hosting the Future Games Show, and while we're really proud of everything we've accomplished, we want to hear from you, beloved viewers, how we could make it even better. 

The survey will take about 5 minutes to complete, and we want to know what platforms you enjoy playing games on and whether you're an avid watcher of gaming events like the Future Games Show. But also all your thoughts on the Future Games Show itself, including why you watch, what you like about it, and what you think about our hosts and all sorts of other elements. 

If you're over 18 and living in the US you can also opt into our optional prize draw, which could see you winning either a brand-new PC. 

Our friends over at iBUYPOWER have given us the following prize to give away:

  • RDY Trace 7MP 009 PC, complete with a 12GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU

There will only be one winner, who'll take away this amazing prize. 

iBUYPOWER continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary, and they could not be more thrilled to partner with the Future Game Show once again to give away one of their top price-to-performance-oriented PCs. 

The RDY Trace 7MP 009 comes equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, a RTX 4070 - 12GB graphics card, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and comes equipped with 1 TB of storage. As part of their goal of ensuring customer excellence by offering the best value for discerning customers, iBUYPOWER has expanded its warranty and now offers an industry-leading warranty of three-years labor and two-years parts. 

iBUYPOWER is one of the longest-running system integrators in North America. As they celebrate their 25th anniversary, they are showcasing their extensive experience, their desire for continuous improvements to quality, and their efforts to increase value for their customers. Increasing their warranty is only one of the many steps they are taking to reflect their commitment to customer satisfaction.  iBUYPOWER want to ensure customers are thoroughly satisfied, both with their high-performance system, and the exceptional service they receive.

The survey and the competition will be live until September 4, so you've got until then to give us your thoughts and be in with a chance of winning! 

The survey and the associated competition closes on September 4, 2024. By taking part, you agree to be bound by the competition rules: http://www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/. Entries must be received by midnight on September 4, 2024 (UK time). Open to US residents aged 18 years and over. There will be one winner, entitled to a RDY Trace 7MP 009 PC. The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable. There is no cash alternative.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/fgs-survey/ 66G9QAg2QSd9MsxUmtY6r6 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 18:55:49 +0000
<![CDATA[ Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct stream – when it starts and how to watch it on YouTube, Twitch, and more ]]> Our first look at the next Call of Duty game, Black Ops 6, is fast approaching thanks to the dedicated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct taking place right after the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, which is likely to be one of the highlights of Summer Game Fest season for CoD fans everywhere.

The Black Ops 6 Direct is just one part of a packed lineup of gaming showcases taking place over this busy not-E3 season, with Summer Game Fest itself kicking things off for us as the first major broadcast yesterday, followed by Day of the Devs and the Devolver Direct. 

However, the Call of Duty stream is definitely one to keep an eye on if you're looking forward to the next Black Ops installment. Its global reveal is set to take place during the Xbox Games Showcase, but it'll then get a full deep-dive in its own section afterwards, showing us "all-new gameplay and product announcements." Basically, it'll work like last year's Xbox Games Showcase + Starfield Direct did, existing as its own dedicated broadcast, but attached onto the end of Xbox's own stream.

So, what time will it be taking place, and where can you watch it? You can scroll on down for all the details.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct start time

Since it's part of a double-feature broadcast, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct is set to begin immediately after the Xbox Games Showcase ends on Sunday, June 9, which itself is scheduled to begin at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST. Unfortunately, Xbox is being rather secretive and hasn't given away how long its own showcase is, which means it's not clear exactly what time the Black Ops Direct section will start. For comparison, though, last year's June Xbox Games Showcase lasted for just over an hour before heading into a 45-minute-long Starfield Direct, while the year before that, June's Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase ran for one and a half hours. 

However, the official Call of Duty website notes that fans should tune into the Xbox Games Showcase "for the worldwide reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, followed immediately by the Black Ops 6 Direct," so it sounds like some of the game will be shown even before Direct itself. Therefore, it definitely seems like it's worth tuning into the whole thing, even if Call of Duty is your sole focus.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct stream – how can I watch it?

You can tune into the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct as part of Xbox's double-feature broadcast across YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. There'll also be an American Sign Language stream running on Xbox's ASL Twitch channel


Keep up with all of the gaming streams happening over the coming days with our handy Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-direct-stream-twitch-youtube-start-time/ njwGQkieGi4Gfifxa9QTNX Sat, 08 Jun 2024 17:00:39 +0000
<![CDATA[ Xbox Games Showcase 2024 stream - when it starts and how to watch it on YouTube, Twitch, and more ]]> In what's likely to prove a highlight of the Summer Game Fest schedule, It's nearly time for the Xbox Games Showcase stream, so here's everything you need to know about it, including when and where you can watch it.

Microsoft is keeping its cards close to its chest, saying we can expect "a first look at new games from Xbox Game Studios, leading creators, and partners from around the globe." That, and we'll also see updates on previously revealed games and what's coming to Game Pass. 

As to what those games might be, your guess is as good as ours. Starfield’s Shattered Space expansion is due to release this fall, so a peep at that would make sense. There have also been reports of the next Gears of War game rearing its head, though we'll need to wait and see if that comes to be. 

Mind you, we do know that we're getting a good look at Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, though it doesn't quite count as that's getting a showcase to itself after the Xbox Games Showcase ends. Still, I rather think I prefer going into something totally blind, don't you? 

Thankfully, we do know when the Xbox Showcase stream kicks off and where you can watch it, so read on for those nuggets of information.

Xbox Games Showcase 2024 start time

The Xbox Games Showcase for 2024 starts at 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, and 6pm BST on June 9. Once it's wrapped up, the Black Ops 6-focused showcase is due to begin. While Microsoft hasn't confirmed how long the Xbox Games Showcase runs for, last year it was roughly one hour before we jumped into a Starfield Direct. That's not to say this year's showcase will be the same, but it's something to work with.

Xbox Games Showcase 2024 stream – how can I watch it?

You can find an Xbox Games Showcase stream on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook, where you can watch them, too. As always, each live stream will likely go up five to ten minutes before the broadcast is due to begin, so get your drinks and snacks and settle in.


For more, check out our Summer Game Fest 2024 predictions to see how much we get right (or very, very wrong.)

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/xbox-games-showcase-2024-stream-twitch-youtube-start-time/ bxbqjMfddJMtVQ3AFomEEZ Sat, 08 Jun 2024 17:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[ Everything announced at Summer Game Fest Live ]]> That's a wrap on Summer Game Fest 2024! Geoff Keighley's gaming extravaganza kicked off the full Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule with two hours of reveals, updates, and new trailers. 

Below you'll find a bullet point list of everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2024, and below that is the blow-by-blow of how it all happened. 

We'll keep this live blog updated with more tidbits out of Summer Game Fest so keep us bookmarked!

Everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2024

So let's count down to the big showcase by running through some of the things we expect to see, and some that we really hope make an appearance.

Monster Hunter Wilds

(Image credit: Capcom)

Let's start with what we do know is going to make an appearance. Monster Hunter Wilds got its full reveal at the latest PlayStation State of Play, but the second trailer is going to drop at Summer Game Fest live. 

The trailer is said to contain a "new monster reveal", with Capcom's Ryozo Tsujimoto taking to the stage to talk us through the new footage and reveal fresh details about the game. 

It's set to launch in 2025, so don't expect a release date but after that State of Play trailer we're definitely keen to see more. 

Here are series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, game director Yuya Tokuda & executive director/art director Kaname Fujioka to tell us a little bit more.

Dune Awakening

(Image credit: Funcom)

Another confirmed showing for Summer Game Fest is Dune Awakening. Currently without a release date, Dune Awakening is an open-world survival MMO set on Arrakis with all of its deserts and sandworms. 

At Summer Game Fest, we're going to get a "very special story cinematic reveal" from developer Funcom for Dune Awakening, so it'll be interesting to see what that looks like in the wake of Dune Part 2 hitting cinemas earlier this year. 

Dune Awakening

(Image credit: Funcom)

Our very own Dustin Bailey previewed the game earlier this year. After spending some time with the game, he said Dune Awakening aims to be a true survival MMO - first by making you survive Arrakis, then by making you survive politics

If you're excited for this one, definitely give that a read. 

Slitterhead

(Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio)

We also know that Summer Game Fest will play host to the world premiere of Slitterhead gameplay. That's the new horror game from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama and Bokeh Game Studio.

Unfortunately, the trailer leaked earlier today on Bokeh Games' own YouTube channel, confirming the November release date and showcasing some seriously horrific monsters.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

(Image credit: Warhorse Studios)

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is also getting a fresh trailer at Summer Game Fest. The sequel was only actually announced in April, so we've not seen that much of it yet. 

What we do know though, is that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is twice as big as the first game, has revamped combat "to make it more accessible," but stays "true to the core RPG experience".

in fact, the developer is confident enough in the game to say that it's everything the first RPG "was supposed to be in the beginning".

Metaphor Re Fantazio

(Image credit: Atlus)

Atlus's upcoming JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio will also be making an appearance during Summer Game Fest. The game, which is a medieval fantasy adventure from the Persona developers, takes place in a world where people have to fight their own anxiety.

While it's unclear what exactly might be shown during SGF Live, if anything significant, Atlus is hosting an extended showcase later tonight about Metaphor: ReFantazio at 6pm PDT / 9pm EDT / 2am BST.

Metaphor

(Image credit: Atlus)

Given everything we already know about Metaphor: ReFantazio, including the October 11, 2024 release date, it's hard to say what all we might learn today from any sort of appearance during the event or the showcase after.

One thing's for sure: Metaphor: ReFantazio director Katsura Hashino and Shigenori Soejima, known for many Atlus character designs and artwork, will be "taking the stage" during Summer Game Fest.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero

(Image credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment)

Speaking of Japanese games, it's also known that Bandai Namco is bringing the long-awaited revival of the Budokai Tenkaichi franchise, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, to Summer Game Fest. If you're not familiar with the fighting game, you might at least recall hearing about it having 164 different roster slot with at least 11 of those being different Gokus.

There's no release date for the new Dragon Ball title as of yet, so it seems fair to assume that we might get one today. Up until now, the various promotional beats have been tied to revealing new fighters, so that's somewhat of a gimme as well.

If you're more keen on indies and the like, there's good news: SGF Live basically backs right into Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition 2024. Day of the Devs will be live as part of the same stream after SGF Live and feature a whole bevy of different indie games that will likely resonate with folks that enjoy our regular news and feature coverage.

A small sample of what's expected to appear as part of Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition 2024: Afterlove EP, Koira, While Waiting, Tom the postgirl, Psychroma, Building Relationships, UFO 40, Karma: The Dark World, Zoochosis, Hello Again, Phoenix Springs, Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure, and Screenbound. You don't have to just take my word for it, either. There's a whole Steam page showcasing all of these if you'd like to know more.

Avowed new screenshot xbox series x

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

When it comes to possible unexpected showings at SGF Live, frankly your guess is as good as mine at this point.

Trying to figure out what might possible appear at SGF Live vs. Xbox's own showcase on Sunday, June 9, for example, feels a bit like trying to get blood from a stone. Could Xbox show Avowed? Sure. But why would it? And we already know BioWare and EA have a big Dragon Age showcase set for next week, so why would The Veilguard make an appearance here? Marketing plans are opaque and mysterious, though, so who even knows.

On the other hand, we don't have long to wait!

But, we're now just give minutes away from Summer Game Fest live!

What do we think is going to be up first?

Something Lego related is our first announcement of the evening.

Lego... Horizon???

As a massive Horizon fan, I am really not sure about Lego Horizon...

But, there's all the usual combat, but now with added... sharks?

Collectibles, co-op, base building.

Lego Horizon Adventures coming 2024.

Steam, PS5 and SWITCH.

"inspired by the world of Horizon, designed with 2-player in mind"

Developers behind Chivalry 2 up now. 

Lego Horizons Adventures

(Image credit: Sony)

Lego Horizons Adventures

(Image credit: Sony)

That was No Room in Hell 2. Coming this Halloween. Think PC only. 

Zombie shooter.

Harry Potter quidditch game reveal now. 

Quidditch Champions?

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions - out Sept 3 for consoles and PC. 

This one is from the developer of Choo Choo Charles and it is.. quite something

We're in a prison, looking at little mice showering, watching the security cameras.

It's cute but very, very violent. 

Jail outbreak. 

Cuffbust - coming 2025 "maybe, IDK"

Star Wars Outlaws up now with a new trailer. Don't forget we're seeing more of this on Monday at Ubisoft Forward.

Neva is up now, from Nomada Studio - behind the brilliant Gris, one of my favorite indie games of all time. 

This is the first gameplay we've seen for this, and it is very Gris but now with lots of combat. 

Coming this year. 

More today on that in Devolver Direct apparently. 

This one is a game reveal... is it Civ 7?

It is! Civilization 7 coming 2025. 

Coming day and date to PC and consoles next year. 

Full reveal coming later this summer. 

New trailer for Black Myth Wukong there and details on what looked like a new special edition of the game. 

This is Once Human from Starry Studio - release date confirmed for July 9, 2024. 

Metaphor: ReFantazio developers here now.

I'll admit my knowledge on this one / Persona generally is shocking, but we've got a brand new trailer here. 

Reconfirmation of October 11 release date.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is next - this is the Meta Quest 3 exclusive. 

Fall 2024. No gameplay there just some badassery. Gameplay coming at Gamescom. 

All about Batman vs The Rat King.

Street Fighter 6 Year 2 fighters confirmed. 

Street Fighter 6 Year 2 characters

(Image credit: Capcom)

Tears of Metal - a Scottish brawler? Wishlist on Steam now.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero up now with a new trailer. 

October 11, 2024 confirmed for Sparking! Zero's release date there. 

Now we've got Delta Force: Hawk Ops gameplay. Reminds me of old Rainbow 6, which is not a bad thing.

The game also has several missions mimicking Ridley Scott's movie Black Hawn Dawn, which is much more of a Call of Duty vibe. 

Global PC Alpha test coming July. 

Fatal Fury: City of Wolves. 

Coming 2025

That game was previously announced, but that was a good look at some of the fighters that will be coming to the game. 

Battle Crush early access coming in June. 

Mecha Break closed beta coming August 2024. 

Blumhouse Games is up now with a whole host of indie games that the horror movie studio is now publishing.

Crisol: Theaters of Idols, Fear the Spotlight, The Simulation, Project C from Sam Barlow, Sleep Awake.

Louise Blain creative lead at Blumhouse Games and Jason Blum himself on stage now. 

Fear the Spotlight is the first Blumhouse Game and it's coming later this year. 

From horror to... Mighty Morphing Power Ranger: Rita's Rewind...

Sad deer game alert. 

Little kid carrying an injured deer, in some kind of co-op style? Or just single player but you've got to help the deer. 

Deer and Boy. Deer becomes super majestic. 

Coming from first time developer! 

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 now with a brand new trailer. 

Slitterhead gameplay reveal now. 

This is a lot combat heavier than I imagined it being. 

Coming November 8, 2024. 

What is this, Bean Theft Auto?

They have butts everyone.

Killer Bean. 

Early Access coming summer 2024. 

Third person roguelike shooter, complete with bullet time. 

From someone who worked on the Matrix!

Climbing game called Cairn now. Looks bleak but beautiful. 

From the creator of Stanley Parable, is a game about a little witch?

Running a magical shop. 

Oh there's a layer of something else here with the little witch trying to convince herself she's happy. 

It's called Wanderstop. 

Unknown 9: Unawakening story trailer up now - the new action-adventure from Bandai Namco. 

Quick Monster Hunter montage here / a big Capcom sale. 

New trailer for Enotria: The Last Song here - a single-player Soulslike RPG. 

The First Descendant getting a release date and new trailer now. 

Good song choice here. 

The slick way the characters put on their armour looks very cool. This is a very impressive trailer. 

Coming July 2, 2024. 

Among Us developer now - but Outersloth rather than innersloth. 

"Our dream for a better, more sustainable industry".

It's their publishing arm. 

Using success from Among Us to fund more games. 

Mars First Logistics, Battle Suit Aces, Mossfield Archives, One BTN Bosses, Rogue Eclipse, Project Dosa (Thirsty Suitors dev)

Among US TV show sneak peek! 

that was quite the cast on the Among Us TV Show. 

Among Us TV show cast

(Image credit: innersloth)

Sonic X Shadow Generations got a new trailer and an October 25 release date. 

Dune Awakening up now with that story trailer that was promised. 

This is quite different from the movies.

No release date on that, but more coming at ONL at Gamescom. 

Battle Aces - another new game from a new studio. 

An RTS for everyone apparently.

"want to eliminate the tedious clicks as much as possible"

Beta test coming up very soon. 

David Kim was on the stage for that, former gameplay designer or lead on: Starcraft 2 and its DLC, Diablo 4, and WoW. That's some credentials. 

New arena for The Finals confirmed, along with new ranked mode, new loadouts, weekly tournaments.

June 13 for The Finals in Kyoto. 

Sam Lake in a dancing shirt doing a little dance. 

Sam Lake

(Image credit: Sam Lake)

Alan Wake 2: Night Springs DLC. 

Spooky and Quirky what if scenarios.

Playable in less than 24 hours - tomorrow. 

Parallel universe where you play as lots of different characters. including Jesse from Control, Rose from the diner. Three characters three episodes. 

New World: Aeturnum coming October 15 to PS5 and Xbox Series X. 

Honkai Star Rail there, new skin. 

Dark and Darker now live on Steam and Epic Games Store today.

Kunitsu-Gami coming July 19, 2024.

Hyper Light Breaker coming in early access later this summer.

Party Animals is getting a kart mode! 

Tim Robinson doing a tease for.... 

Skate! "We're still working on it"

Come Play with Us - console playtesting coming this fall. 

Palworld is getting a whole new island. New pals. 

Xbox dedicated servers. New subspecies. New raid. New base options. 

Sakurajima update coming June 27. 

Valorant coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X. Limited beta starts June 14.

We've got an Inside Out video game tie-in clip now. 

Summer Game Fest

(Image credit: Summer Game eEst)

I'll just leave this here. 

This ad also features Chris Hemsworth, Christina Ricci, Will Arnett. 

Squad Busters mobile game. Wow. 

Monster Hunter Wilds "very special trailer". Very mysterious monster near the end of the trailer is important 

First playable demo and another trailer coming at GamesCom. 

The glow up between this and Monster Hunter World is staggering. 

Phantom Blade 0 is the final game of the show. 

Hands-on available for the media coming at several events. 

And that's a wrap folks. 

We've pinned everything that was announced at Summer Game Fest 2024, but we'll be back here later with more news and opinions from Summer Game Fest. 

We're back - first up, a hot take on the best weapon to show up in SGF - the combination trident/blunderbuss that was the star of the show in the Enotria: The Last Song trailer. If you're looking for a soulslike to play later this year once the Shadow has settled over the Erdtree, you could certainly do worse.

In case you stuck around after the close of SGF, you might have seen an extra handful of games from Day of the Devs and Devolver Digital. One of those, which was almost guaranteed to catch our eye, was Tenjutsu, a martial roguelike from one of the developers behind the acclaimed Dead Cells.

One of the biggest games going into this show was Monster Hunter Wilds, which seems as though it could be even bigger than first thought. That's thanks to a double reveal during SGF - confirmation of series-first cross-play, and the debut of a couple of very important monsters.

Another big game coming in was Black Myth: Wukong - currently the most-wishlisted game on Steam. Sadly, it was bad news for some, as it was announced that the game's Xbox release would slip behind the PS5 and PC launch. Still, the game continues to look great.

Meanwhile, a whole bunch of smaller games were announced all at once, sort of, thanks to Among Us developer Innersloth, which has created its own indie game fund called Outersloth. It's already backed a bunch of games, including a slick spaceship roguelike.

That's all for today! Check back for more ongoing Summer Game Fest coverage tomorrow. We'll have hands-on impressions, interviews, and more coming in straight from the show floor. 

If you noticed that Xbox was conspicuously absent from Black Myth: Wukong's pre-order splash page last night, then well caught. Developer Game Science confirms that the game will now arrive on Xbox sometime after PS5 and PC users get it on August 20.

A press release from the dev says of the deluxe and collector's editions, "Note that a release date for the physical editions is pending," before adding that "release timing for the Xbox Series X|S version will be disclosed at a later time." 

If you're looking for more goodness from Atlus before Metaphor: ReFantazio releases on October 11, then you're in luck! A new trailer for Persona 3 Reload reveals that its biggest expansion yet, a game-sized DLC covering the JRPG's epilogue, is releasing on September 10. That ought to keep you busy for one month.

One of the more out-there moments of this year's event so far is the circulation of a billboard mourning the loss of the studios that have been closed over the past year, hovering near the SGF campus in Los Angeles. Although it doesn't really pull any punches, the five-figure display was nearly even more aggressive in its criticism - until its organizers realised it should be about the people who lost their jobs, not the execs who cut them.

While it's not directly related to SGF, Capcom's come out with a nugget of wisdom for those of you waiting for one of the most high-profile games of the show - Monster Hunter Wilds - but who aren't too keen on burning a Rathalos-sized hole in your wallet. During its recent financial results, the company suggested that fans who weren't keen to drop $70 on a new game need only wait five years for the price to drop - potentially as low as just five bucks.

We've touched on Black Myth: Wukong a couple of times already, but alongside all those people who've put in on their wishlists already, one very high-profile fan has announced their anticipation for the game. Hideo Kojima waded in to admit that Black Myth: Wukong has been on his mind for three years, and that he can't wait for its full release.

If you don't share Kojima's fondness for Chinese soulslikes, however, how's this for a change of pace: Grave Seasons combines Stardew Valley wholesomeness with a spooky, supernatural serial killer vibe, just to really ensure you don't know who to trust, even in the coziest of games.

Two more Summer Game Fest showcases down! Xbox Games Showcase was a stellar line-up particularly for 2025, and then we got a deep dive look into Black Ops 6 at its dedicated Direct. 

Everything announced at the Xbox Games Showcase
From updates on STALKER 2, State of Decay, Fable, and South of Midnight to the reveal of Doom: The Dark Ages and Gears of War: E-Day, there was a lot to take in.

Everything announced at the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct
The first look at this year's Call of Duty, including the story for the campaign, a focus on omnimovement, updated hit boxes, and round-based Zombies.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/summer-game-fest-2024-live-coverage-everything-announced/ 8y76tbQaZ29agLyE2bAtYC Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:25:19 +0000
<![CDATA[ 15 games we really want to see at Summer Game Fest ]]> It's Summer Game Fest season starting this week, which means it's time for updates, new announcements, reveals, and more from all the big players in the industry. With the Summer Game Fest schedule filled with showcases and presentations, we should get a tonne of fresh info on our hotly anticipated new games for 2024 and beyond. So, ahead of all the big showcases, here are the 15 games we're excited to see more of this Summer Game Fest.

BioShock 4

BioShock

(Image credit: 2K Games)

Release date: TBC
Platform(s): TBC

It's been five years since we heard anything about BioShock 4.  Would you kindly change that for us please 2K? We're expecting it to be open-world and first person, but that's only from job listings and vague teasers from the studio. It could be a prime candidate for a big Summer Game Fest reveal. 

Metaphor: ReFantazio

The main menu design seen in Metaphor: ReFantazio.

(Image credit: Atlus)

Release date: October 11, 2024
Platform(s): Xbox Series X, PC

This is Atlus' first original project and it's an RPG set in a dazzling medieval fantasy world. It's destined to turn some heads this year, just as it did at its original reveal at last year's Summer Game Fest. It's out this October too, so will no doubt definitely be part of Keighley's extravaganza. 

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree screenshot

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Release date: June 21, 2024
Platform(s): PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, Xbox One, PS4

With just a few weeks left to go until Elden Ring's big expansion, I'd be surprised if there wasn't one more WTF trailer left in FromSoft. A suitably chin-scratchy launch trailer full of mysteries and more questions than answers would be perfectly placed for a drop at Summer Game Fest.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

(Image credit: MachineGames)

Release date: TBC 2024
Platform(s): Xbox Series X, PC

Only officially revealed earlier a few months ago, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming out later this year. With Xbox and Bethesda poised to host their showcase on Sunday, June 9, Machine Games' next epic should take pride of place in the spotlight. Show me more of that whip in action, immediately. 

Slitterhead

Slitterhead

(Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio)

Release date: TBC
Platform(s): TBC

We've not seen Slitterhead since its reveal at the Game Awards back in 2021, so a full gameplay reveal could well be on the cards for SGF. It's the new title from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama and it's easily one of our most anticipated upcoming horror games. 

The Sims 5

The Sims 5 Project Rene

(Image credit: EA )

Release date: TBC
Platform(s): TBC

Okay, this is probably a long shot but EA and Maxis have been quiet on The Sims 5 - aka Project Rene - for over six months now. Initially we were getting a drip feed of early development progress, but there's been no fresh info since January. Is that because we're gearing up for a bigger reveal? Let's hope so.

Borderlands 4

Best Borderlands games

(Image credit: Gearbox)

Release date: TBC
Platform(s): TBC

We know that Summer Game Fest will reveal "the next iteration in one of 2K's biggest and most beloved franchises". In the year of the Borderlands movie, surely that can only be referring to Borderlands 4? Claptrap would approve. 

Assassin's Creed Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Release date: November 15, 2024
Platform(s): PS5, Xbox Series X, PC

We've only just seen Assassin's Creed Shadows emerge from its codename, but we're excited to see more of this samurai and shinobi duo. With Ubisoft Forward set for June 10, we'd expect to see a lot more of this Feudal-Japanese adventure very soon. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 key art

(Image credit: Activision)

Release date: TBC
Platform(s): TBC 

It's a pivotal year for Call of Duty, with Black Ops 6 being the first to launch post-Microsoft buying Activision. It's launching Day One on Game Pass, that we do know, but the full reveal of the next COD is getting its very own special stream directly after the Xbox Games Showcase.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf

Dragon Age Dreadwolf

(Image credit: BioWare)

Release date: TBC
Platform(s): TBC

We haven't had a new Dragon Age game for a decade, and now we know that EA and BioWare is going to do a full reveal of Dragon Age Dreadwolf at Summer Game Fest. All we've really had so far is some concept art and a very brief teaser trailer, so we're more than pumped to see what our next adventure across Thedas is going to entail. 

GTA 6

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Release date: Fall 2025
Platform(s): Xbox Series X, PC

Okay, okay we know this is far-fetched but we'd all be grateful for even a tiny slice of fresh GTA 6 footage. Rockstar notoriously just does its own thing when it comes to new trailers and reveals, so we'd imagine an SGF showcase is unlikely, but hey, we can dream right?

Star Wars Outlaws

Star Wars

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Release date: August 30, 2024
Platform(s): PS5, Xbox Series X, PC

Easily one of the most anticipated games of 2024, Star Wars Outlaws is going to share the main spotlight at the Ubisoft Forward with Assassin's Creed Shadows this year. We definitely want to see more gameplay, fresh info on our heroes Kay and Nix, and learn more about what to expect from Massive's ambitious open-world Star Wars game.

Fable 4

Fable 4

(Image credit: Playground Games)

Release date: TBC
Platform(s): Xbox Series X, PC

It's been a full year since we saw Richard Ayoade as a giant in the first official Fable 4 trailer. With no release date or even vague window, I'm not expecting it to launch this year, but I'd love to see more of what Playground Games is doing with this quintessentially British RPG. 

Starfield: Shattered Space

Bethesda Game Studios

(Image credit: Bethesda Game Studios)

Release date: Fall 2024
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox One

Starfield has been on a bit of a journey since its launch last year, but after the big May update all eyes are on the first major expansion - Shattered Space. With an expected release sometime later in the year, we should get to see more of it at SGF. 

Metroid Prime 4

Metroid Samus

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Release date: TBC
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

One last one for the tin hat speculation, but Metroid Prime 4, where are you? First revealed back in 2017, it's been rebooted, changed developers, and been utterly utterly AWOL. Nintendo's set to reveal something this SGF... will Metroid Prime 4 finally get some kind of reveal just in time for Nintendo to announce the Switch 2?

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/15-games-we-really-want-to-see-at-summer-game-fest/ w9FiA2JHtzqUeXihajAZ2F Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:00:25 +0000
<![CDATA[ Concord and Astro Bot look great, but are a symptom of the weird year PlayStation and the PS5 is having ]]> PlayStation's hotly anticipated May State of Play dropped with as little warning as we've grown accustomed to with showcases of this ilk. Honestly, I'm not sure what I was expecting from it, beyond my own selfish wants to see more titles like Marvel's Wolverine and whatever any of Sony's other major studios are working on. While it featured some fantastic-looking games, some release dates, and a handful of fresh reveals, the showcase at large felt symptomatic of the unusual year the PS5 and PlayStation is having. 

The showcase comes after PlayStation made some serious changes to its business, canceling several unannounced projects, making heavy layoffs, and closing the PlayStation London studio altogether. It followed that with making leadership changes, promoting two PlayStation veterans to the new SIE CEOs to replace the now long-departed Jim Ryan. With all of those changes, Sony vowed it would unveil its new "long-term vision" and the important role SIE will play in it, but so far, it feels like more of the same. 

Astro Bot

(Image credit: Sony)

Hermen Hulst, as part of the vision, said the plan is to have "at least one tentpole single-player launch during the holiday season" every year. If we go with the current confirmed dates from last night's State of Play and previous announcements, it feels bizarre that Astro Bot will potentially act as that single-player focus for 2024. While I'm a huge fan of the little fella and its whimsical platforming ways, it's not exactly reaching the same audience as the likes of God of War, Horizon Forbidden West, or any other of its core single-player IPs.  

A slower Sony year

Marvel's Wolverine

(Image credit: Insomniac Games)

That shouldn't really come as a surprise though, as PlayStation has been fairly upfront about its lineup for this year. Sony Group president Hiroki Totoki said back in February that Sony wouldn't be releasing any "major existing franchise titles" before April 1, 2025 (sorry Astro Bot). Instead, the focus was on giving studios time to develop the next wave, and a continued push into live service titles, which is clearly where Concord comes into play. 

The new IP from developer Firewalk Games marks a new FPS era for Sony, which hasn't really had its own first-party FPS series for some time now. Concord looks like it's Sony's answer to Overwatch - a 5v5 multiplayer FPS, complete with a roster of heroes to choose from and a weekly vignette drop to give more backstory to each of them. In fact, it's so unashamedly Overwatch that you'd imagine Blizzard's hackles were immediately raised.

The live service strategy was also echoed by the console release announcement for Marvel Rivals in the State of Play. Another PvP hero shooter, this time from NetEase rather than one of Sony's own studios, it's another tick in the live service box for this year on PS5. 

The full package

Concord

(Image credit: PlayStation)

Of course, that also helps reinforce that while the State of Play was more muted from Sony's side of the proceedings, it was balanced by good showings from its partners. Monster Hunter Worlds' full reveal was an impressive one, with Capcom's RE Engine making all the difference under the hood. We finally got the Silent Hill 2 Remake release date too, with the upcoming horror release nipping in just time for Halloween. Even Infinity Nikki got an excited rumble from the GamesRadar+ team thanks to its Pokemon Snap meets Breath of the Wild vibes. 

Sony also leaned into its repeated pledge to make PC releases a part of its strategy, by bringing God of War: Ragnarok to PC with all the appropriate bells and whistles this September. It remains part of the strategy to have a large gap between the original PS5 launch and the PC port though, with PlayStation's CEO thinking that PC gamers will buy a PS5 for exclusive sequels rather than just waiting for the inevitable PC-specific release. With games like Helldivers 2 proving that simultaneous releases aren't exactly damaging to the PlayStation brand, I'm still unconvinced that Sony's nailing the PC strategy when it's clearly an important part of their forward vision. 

God of War Ragnarok

(Image credit: Sony)

What is clear though is that PSVR 2 isn't exactly a priority for Sony. Over a year after launch, just two upcoming PSVR 2 games featured in the PlayStation State of Play. Behemoth from Skydance - responsible for brilliant virtual reality title The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners - looked impressive in the way it simultaneously channeled Skyrim and Shadow of the Colossus, but could only muster a 'Fall 2024' launch window. Alien: Rogue Incursion should have been a headliner as the first Alien VR game, but the 53-second 'gameplay trailer' wasn't dark, unimpressive, and didn't actually feature much gameplay. PlayStation's not exactly screaming 'You must buy this peripheral for the holidays' in the faces of its most engaged audience with that duo, especially not with PSVR 2 still retailing at almost full price, bar the occasional almost-tempting deal and the PSVR 2 games costing nearly as much as a AAA PS5 title.

So overall, a mixed bag for the PlayStation State of Play against a backdrop of a turbulent industry. It shouldn't have come as much of a surprise really, but with Concord and Astro Bot leading the way for first-party PlayStation's next six months it's certainly not the 2024 I expected. 

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/concord-and-astro-bot-look-great-but-are-a-symptom-of-the-weird-year-playstation-and-the-ps5-is-having/ kCRwd4Hd9NfwW2fC5FPi5i Fri, 31 May 2024 16:51:27 +0000
<![CDATA[ From the Xbox Games Showcase I'm hoping for a little less conversation and a little more action, please ]]> Xbox has endured another challenging period. In the last 12 months, the platform holder has experienced the highs of completing a $75.4 billion acquisition to the inevitable lows that follow such a show of force within challenging market conditions – mass layoffs at Activision, the severance of ties with Toys for Bob, the cancellation of a new survival game from Blizzard, and the disappointing closure of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. Forza Motorsport and Starfield launched after years of anticipation, and proved to be about as divisive as the decision to bring select first-party titles to PlayStation and Switch. Heading into Summer Game Fest, there's this prevailing sense that something needs to change at Xbox. 

The question which the Xbox Games Showcase needs to answer on June 9 is what, exactly, that might be. I've been writing summer prediction pieces about Xbox here at GamesRadar+ for coming up on six years now and I always seem to land in exactly the same place: the time has come for radical transparency. I still believe that this is true – Microsoft Gaming has struggled with messaging since the Xbox One era – but I'm not convinced that such an approach will be possible this time around. Not when you consider how increasingly muddled the wider strategy from Phil Spencer and the rest of the Xbox executive leadership team has become over time. 

Will the price of Game Pass subscription tiers rise to accommodate the new crown jewel of the platform? We know that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be the first video game in the franchise to land in the service from day one, we just don't know at what cost. Can the creative teams at innovative studios like Double Fine and inXile survive in an environment where the creators of genre-defining experiences like Prey and Hi-Fi Rush can not? Xbox Game Studios boss Matt Booty says he wants "smaller games that give us prestige and awards" but that doesn't necessarily seem rooted in all that much reality. Could big-impact titles like Starfield follow Sea of Thieves to PS5 in the future? Right now the multiplatform expansion strategy appears written in sand rather than etched in stone. 

The time has come for clarity

Perfect Dark

(Image credit: The Initiative )

Embracing a form of radical transparency would answer these questions. It would also work to assuage the uneasy feeling many in the Xbox community are feeling right now, and reaffirm Microsoft Gaming's core strategy and ethos as we transition past the halfway-line of the Xbox Series X generation and into the endgame – a successor could, after all, land as early as 2028, and Spencer has already committed to new hardware. The thing is, transparency could also detract (or otherwise distract) from what I imagine will be Xbox's primary goal during the Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule: seizing on a rare lull in the upcoming PS5 games calendar, with Sony currently lacking any key franchise pillars for the remainder of the financial year (although that could change after the May 2024 State of Play). 

When it's all said and done, the one thing I hope the Xbox Games Showcase delivers more so than anything else is clarity. Because the Xbox Game Studios group has the announcements and apparatus in place to once again enact a stranglehold over the biggest genres in the business. Looking at the lineup of upcoming Xbox Series X games, I find myself reconnecting with why I became so drawn to the Xbox platform in its halcyon years: the promise of PC-quality play on console; the framework to take online multiplayer to new, unassailable heights; and a commitment to delivering best-in-class experiences within the 'core' shooter, role-play, and racing niches. Sadly, that message became diluted over time as Xbox waged a war for input one and spent a generation-cycle dealing with the aftermath. 

Compulsion Games South of Midnight screenshot

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Xbox has an outrageous, exhaustive lineup of confirmed first-party projects in development that, frankly, is unrivaled

But Xbox should be in a position to make the case that it's the best place to play once again. We know that Playground and The Initiative are hard at work on reboots for Fable and Perfect Dark, respectively. 343 Industries, The Coalition, and id Software are rumored to be working on new installments to the Halo, Gears of War, and DOOM franchises. inXile, Compulsion, Obsidian, and Rare are investing in new IP through Clockwork Revolution, South of Midnight, Avowed, and Everwild. MachineGames is working on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Arkane Lyon has Marvel's Blade, Blizzard continues to tease the possibility of World of Warcraft lining up on console alongside Bethesda's Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online, and Call of Duty is about to hit shelves slathered in Xbox branding for the first time in a decade. Oh, and don't forget about the promise of The Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout 5, The Outer Worlds 2, and Project Mara. Am I forgetting anything? Oh yeah! Undead Labs' State of Decay 3. Honestly, there might be others. 

It's an outrageous, exhaustive lineup of confirmed first-party-developed projects that, frankly, is unrivaled – particularly when you factor in second- and third-party platform exclusives that are landing on Game Pass from day one – Hideo Kojima's OD, Avalanche's Contraband, or Studio Wildcard's ARK 2 bring prime examples. The problem here is that there's maybe two vague launch windows and no confirmed release dates between every single video game that I just mentioned. It's transparency that led Microsoft Gaming to unveil so many projects so early in their respective development journeys, but it's a lack of clarity that has left so many of them appearing as if they are trapped in limbo. 

Cut through the noise

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 key art

(Image credit: Activision)
Related

Summer Game Fest 2024 logo

(Image credit: Summer Game Fest)

For more of GamesRadar+ ongoing coverage of the summer events, be sure to bookmark our Summer Game Fest 2024 coverage hub

There's going to be a lot of noise generated by the Xbox Games Showcase and Black Ops 6 Direct, a double-bill event which I'm genuinely excited to sit through. Xbox will likely announce that scores of legendary Activision and Blizzard games are about to land on Game Pass. Perhaps King will be used as a lynchpin to launch a renewed mobile gaming initiative. There may be new details of Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, perhaps a look at whatever it is that Double Fine has been working on since it shipped Psychonauts 2 in 2021, and I wouldn't be shocked to see new hardware – a refined controller, or the long rumored Xbox Series X refresh. Ignoring all of that noise is going to be paramount. 

By the time things are all said and done, I hope that we all have clarity where it really matters: how are each of these announced video games shaping up in development, and what do the people creating them have to say about their projects. Rumors have persisted that Everwild, Perfect Dark, and State of Decay 3 have had tumultuous turns in pre-production, and the best way to shake off that perception is to get the teams out in front of a crowd – it's effectively been four years since we last received official updates on any of these titles, and a new trailer, statement of intent, or (whisper it) gameplay demonstration would go a long way to alleviate any perception of enduring problems. 

I hope that we leave the Xbox Games Showcase with a firmer understanding of when Avowed, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and World of Warcraft: The War Within will land this fall. I hope that titles a little further off get, at the very least, loose release windows and brief flashes on new gameplay too. That's what I hope for, more than anything else. Clarity that these video games are actually coming, and that the studios making them are secure as they look to deliver the world class experiences we know that they are capable of achieving. Xbox needs to prove that it is capable of delivering for the core who have stuck with Xbox so far, and that it has the release schedule capable of adding more players to those ranks. 


]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/xbox-game-showcase-2024-predictions-summer-game-fest/ 3tZ7WJLQTbviRvtzi9xNv5 Wed, 29 May 2024 17:35:52 +0000
<![CDATA[ Predicting the games of Summer Game Fest 2024: What we expect to see from each of the major publishers ]]> With Summer Game Fest 2024 set to begin on June 7, GamesRadar+ is kicking off its look ahead to all of the major press conferences and showcases on the near horizon. Even with E3 2024 cancelled, the Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule is already packed with dedicated showings from Xbox, Ubisoft, and plenty of others – major video game creators who want nothing more than to show the new games of 2024 (and beyond) that you should be getting excited to play. 

I've been covering the video game industry for over a decade now, and I know that it can be pretty difficult to get a clear sense of what may appear. That's why I have put together this guide to help you set some expectations, outlining what I expect to see from each of the major publishers this summer. The countdown to Summer Game Fest 2024 begins here.  


Summer Game Fest partners list

(Image credit: Summer Game Fest)

2K Games

Best Borderlands games

(Image credit: Gearbox)

Summer Game Fest will host the reveal of "the next iteration in one of 2K's biggest and most beloved franchises." While I wish this meant that a new Mafia game was ready from developer Hanger 13, I think there are some other likely candidates. For starters, it's been five years since we last heard anything about BioShock 4, and we know that Firaxis is working on the "the next iteration of the legendary Civilization franchise." But there's also Borderlands 4 to consider, more likely following Take-Two's acquisition of Gearbox Software earlier this year. 2K could also have other announcements to share, as rumors suggest that the publisher has acquired the FIFA license after EA ended its 30-year partnership with soccer's governing body. 

Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty screenshot showing magical combat

(Image credit: NCSoft)

I'd love to sit here and tell you that Amazon Games' confirmed attendance at Summer Game Fest means we're about to get a reveal for either the untitled Tomb Raider project it's developing in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics or for the untitled The Lord of the Rings MMO announced last year, but I just don't see it happening. Amazon does have three other projects in the works – one being developed in-house, one in partnership with Glowmade, and another with Disruptive Games – but I think it's more likely that the publisher shows off more of Throne and Liberty, the MMORPG which Amazon is helping NCSoft publish outside of Korea this year. 

Activision

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 key art

(Image credit: Activision)

If you're looking for big Activision news you should go ahead and mark June 9 on your calendar. The publisher has already revealed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is in development at Treyarch, with the worldwide reveal set to take place in a dedicated Black Ops 6 direct on June 9. I would anticipate that Microsoft Gaming will also detail which Activision games it plans to bring to Game Pass during the Xbox Games Showcase, but you shouldn't expect any additional video game announcements. The vast majority of the Activision-owned developers are cogs in the Call of Duty machinery, while  Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy developer Toys for Bob recently earned its independence

Annapurna Interactive

Bounty Star

(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)

Annapurna Interactive has hosted its own dedicated summer showcase for the past three years, although a 2024 edition is yet to be announced. It's expected that the publisher will instead route its biggest reveals through Summer Game Fest Live, although it's difficult to guess what they may be – given that so many of Annapurna's most ambitious titles (Cocoon and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes being two recent examples) often come out of nowhere. Personally, I'm keen to see more of Silent Hill: Townfall and Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth; oh, and Skin Deep, from the legends over at Blendo Games. At the very least you should expect gameplay reveals for the 2024 lineup: Bounty Star, Flock, and Ghost Bike. 

Atlus

Metaphor: ReFantazio

(Image credit: Atlus)

There's a very real chance that the video game which gets everybody talking out of Summer Game Fest Live is Metaphor: ReFantazio. When Persona 5 shipped in 2016, director and producer Katsura Hashino announced his intention to retire from the franchise (no surprise there, given that he also led development of Persona 3 and Persona 4), prompting Atlus to establish a new production division to let him explore other creative ideas. Metaphor: ReFantazio is the studio's first original project, an RPG set in a dazzling medieval fantasy world. It's been confirmed that Hashino will be in attendance, and I expect him to turn some heads with a new look at this upcoming RPG.

Bandai Namco

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree screenshot

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

I know that many of you will only care about one Bandai Namco offering at Summer Game Fest, and that is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. It's certainly possible that the showcase has been granted the worldwide gameplay reveal for the expansion, ahead of its release on June 20, but I honestly wonder whether Bandai Namco's potential involvement with SGF could hinge around other projects. For starters, there's Unknown 9: Awakening scheduled for release this year, and we're long overdue updates on Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020 (particularly after developer Supermassive Games recently suffered layoffs). 

Bethesda Softworks

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Microsoft Gaming recently enacted a significant restructure of Bethesda's operations, closing Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, so I expect the publisher will want to showcase what the rest of the group is working towards. While it's likely too early for Marvel's Blade, Elder Scrolls 6, or Fallout 5 reveals, I do expect Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Starfield: Shattered Space to appear during the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9. There's also unverified rumors circling that id Software will reveal Doom: The Dark Ages, and an open question to be answered on whether any other Bethesda titles will follow Hi-Fi Rush to other platforms – who knows, that Starfield on PS5 dream could finally come true. 

Bokeh Game Studio

Slitterhead

(Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio)

With Bokeh Game Studio confirmed as an official Summer Game Fest 2024 partner, it's almost guaranteed that we will get a full gameplay reveal of Slitterhead. Revealed back at the Game Awards in 2021, this new title from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama has long been one of GamesRadar's most anticipated upcoming horror games. The opportunity to see more of Slitterhead is exciting, particularly as any new look that does arrive will be just days after we get a look at some brand new Silent Hill games from Konami's special Transmission on May 30. 

Capcom

Monster Hunter Wilds screenshot showing combat

(Image credit: Capcom)

How big are you willing to dream? We know that Capcom will be a part of Summer Game Fest; will it show a new trailer for Monster Hunter Stories Collection in celebration of its release on June 14, or will we be treated to a blowout showcase of Monster Hunter Wilds? Hopefully the latter, given that 2025 will be here before you know it. While unverified rumors persist that Resident Evil 9 – along with Resident Evil Zero and Code: Veronica remakes, as Capcom desperately attempts to swerve the Resident Evil 5 hazard – are in active development, I'd be shocked to see any of them this summer.  

Devolver Digital

The Plucky Squire

(Image credit: Devolver Digital)

I'm no mind reader, but I suspect that the returning Devolver Digital summer showcase will be suitably unhinged. I think it's safe to assume that the roster of 2024 releases will get a good showing here, with particular attention paid to The Plucky Squire, Neva, and Skate Story – all of which look utterly delightful. I think it's also safe to assume that there will be a lot of nonsense involved in this presentation, between all of the video games with exceptionally silly premises – Anger Foot and Baby Steps, I'm looking at you – and as Devolver claims that the June 7 showcase is in actuality the 15th birthday party for the publisher's mascot, Volvy. 

Epic Games

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Epic Games has confirmed its involvement with Summer Game Fest and I'm torn. The dreamer in me would like to believe that the Alan Wake 2: Night Springs expansion will be given its debut, given that Epic published the landmark horror adventure and that creative director Sam Lake appears to be teasing a presence at SGF. But the realist in me knows that Epic Games will likely show up with a bounty of Fortnite news – nothing on the scale of Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival, but perhaps a new collaboration or live event as the battle royale pushes towards the end of Chapter 5 Season 3 this August. 

EA

Dragon Age 4

(Image credit: BioWare)

With EA confirming attendance at Summer Game Fest, now is the time for long-overdue updates. Reveals for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and Skate 4 are long overdue, and I do wonder whether EA Motive's untitled Iron Man game is ready to take flight. That isn't the only upcoming Marvel game EA is currently working on, but it's probably too early for more info on Cliffhanger Games' Black Panther game. The same is likely true for BioWare's Mass Effect 5, Respawn's Star Wars: Jedi Survivor sequel, Bit Reactor's Star Wars strategy game, and whatever DICE and Motive is doing with Battlefield beyond 2042. 

Focus Entertainment

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 exploration

(Image credit: Focus Entertainment)

If I were working at Focus Entertainment, I would be praying to whatever gods blessed our worlds with so much available waist-high-cover that Xbox don't reveal Gears of War 6 this year. That's because Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is likely to appear at one of the summer showcases and look pretty damn good while doing it. Set for release on September 9, 2024, it wouldn't be out of the realms of possibility for a flashy gameplay update. The publisher also needs to clarify whether John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is sticking with its vague 2024 release window.

Konami

Silent Hill 2 Remake screenshot

(Image credit: Konami)

Konami hasn't confirmed attendance at Summer Game Fest or IGN Live, although the publisher will host a Silent Hill Transmission broadcast on May 30. While that does mean we won't likely see more from the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake this summer, we are about to get a lot of updates surrounding the upcoming Silent Hill games. The Silent Hill 2 remake from Bloober Team could be given a release date, although I'd settle for a longer gameplay reveal. No Code's Silent Hill: Townfall is in desperate need of more detail, same goes for Silent Hill F – the ninth mainline game in the franchise. Not long to wait now. 

Nintendo

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD screenshot

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo isn't going to appear during Summer Game Fest. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has already announced an intention to hold a dedicated Nintendo Direct in June, although the company is yet to give that a firm date. Either way, we know that the incoming showcase won't include any news on Switch 2, and will instead focus on the upcoming Switch games library "for the latter half of 2024." Does that mean we might finally get a fresh look at Metroid Prime 4? It's more likely that we'll get some new HD remasters and delightful looking indie games.

PlayStation

Concord game ps5

(Image credit: SIE)

Many view PlayStation pulling out of E3 2019 as the beginning of the end for the annual trade convention. The publisher elected to go its own way, hosting its own digital showcases throughout the year as a vehicle for its biggest updates and announcements. It's been over a year since the last PlayStation Showcase (although we've had three smaller 'State of Play' broadcasts since) and no word yet on whether Sony has plans to hold one this summer. PlayStation is a confirmed Summer Game Fest partner although it is yet to reveal the extent of its involvement – it could be as small as a new trailer to celebrate the release of Destiny 2: The Final Shape on June 4, or could relate to upcoming PS5 games like Marvel's Wolverine, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, or Concord – the new shooter which is supposedly landing this year.

Private Division

Tales of the Shire teaser video

(Image credit: Wētā Workshop)

I was honestly a little surprised to see Private Division amongst the confirmed Summer Game Fest partners, particularly as the publisher deals with the aftermath of mass layoffs which forced the reported closure of Roll7 and Intercept Games. Private Division does have publishing deals in place with Weta Workshop for the delightful-looking Tales of the Shire, Bloober Team for an unannounced survival horror game, Game Freak for an unannounced action-adventure game, and Moon Studios' No Rest for the Wicked – which entered early access in April. Will we see any of these titles on June 7? It's hard to say, all things considered.

Rockstar Games

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Will a Rockstar Games reveal be the 'one last thing' surprise for Summer Game Fest Live? It's highly unlikely. The truth is, Rockstar is such a wild card in the video game industry that I could honestly see the studio opting instead to position a GTA 6 gameplay reveal seconds before the SGF showcase kicks off – just so that it can sit back and watch the internet burn itself to the ground in a frenzy. When Rockstar does show more of Grand Theft Auto 6 off, as we march towards the 'Fall 2025' release window, it will no doubt be a day to remember: I just don't think it'll be during Summer Game Fest. 

SEGA

Sonic x Shadow Generations

(Image credit: SEGA)

Given how challenging the current environment is for SEGA, I find it difficult to believe that new announcements are coming to SGF. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to sell Company of Heroes developer Relic Entertainment, and enacted mass layoffs at Creative Assembly (forcing the cancellation of Hyenas) – the latter is rumored to be working on Total War: Star Wars, but a reveal seems unlikely. So too does any further information surrounding the planned revivals of Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage. If any SEGA games appear at SGF, it'll likely be either Sonic X Shadow Generations or Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble.

SNK

Metal Slug Tactics screenshot

(Image credit: Dotemu)

SNK has been confirmed as a partner for Summer Game Fest 2024, most likely to showcase Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. This is the first new entry to the Fatal Fury franchise in 26 years, and the publisher has been steadily building anticipation around this new installment since its reveal at EVO 2023. I expect that we'll see new gameplay and a 2025 release date set in stone. In a dream world, we will also get a firm update on Leikir Studio and DotEmu's Metal Slug Tactics – the years-long wait for more information is, frankly, becoming unbearable. 

Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts 4 screenshot

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Square Enix is perhaps the largest absence from the confirmed Summer Game Fest partners list. Given that the publisher has Dragon Quest 12 and Kingdom Hearts 4 in development, that's certainly disappointing, although I wouldn't be surprised if Square Enix showed up in a summer showcase in some capacity. It's been recently teasing the release of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake online, a game which we've heard exceptionally little about since it was announced back in May 2021. Either way, expect Square Enix to have a quiet summer as it regroups following the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth earlier this year. 

Ubisoft

Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Ubisoft is hosting its own press conference in 2024, with Ubisoft Forward scheduled to air on Monday, June 10. You should expect to see the first Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay, as well as a fresh look at Star Wars Outlaws ahead of its release on August 30 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. I suspect that we'll also see Assassin's Creed Infinity, the interactive nexus tying upcoming Assassin's Creed games together, and teases for upcoming Ubisoft games like The Divison 3, Splinter Cell Remake, and Project U. Whether Beyond Good & Evil 2 resurfaces remains an open question.

Valve

A Team Fortress 2 player uses a machine gun against foes

(Image credit: Valve)

In an ordinary year, I wouldn't bother speculating on Valve appearing at Summer Game Fest Live. The publisher famously works to its own schedule, nor has it confirmed its attendance to the upcoming showcase. But the Half-Life developer finds itself in a strange position, as hundreds of gameplay videos have hit the internet for Deadlock – a new team-based hero shooter that hasn't actually been announced. Imagine third-person Overwatch with the style of Team Fortress and you should get some idea of how Deadlock is shaping up, and there's every possibility that Valve tries to get in front of the leaks at SGF.   

Warner Bros Games

MultiVersus screenshot of Finn and Velma

(Image credit: Player First Games)

WB Games has confirmed that it is a Summer Game Fest partner, but we don't yet have a strong sense of what the publisher may show. We know for certain that Batman: Arkham Shadows will get a gameplay reveal, the new VR experience from developer Camouflaj, but there could be more. I wouldn't be shocked to see Mortal Kombat 1, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and MultiVersus announce new DLC, while a gameplay reveal for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is long overdue. The big question is whether Monolith Productions' Wonder Woman will show, given that it's been three years since we last received an update on the mysterious action-adventure game.

Xbox

Perfect Dark

(Image credit: The Initiative )

Even if I were to discount the video games in development at Activision and Bethesda, and went ahead and removed all third-party exclusives out of the equation (the likes of Ark 2 and Stalker 2) then Xbox Game Studios still has 10 confirmed titles in active production that it could show at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9. That doesn't even take into account what studios like Double Fine, inXile, and The Coalition may be working on behind the scenes. Which is all to say that it's impossible to anticipate what Microsoft Gaming will reveal, although I'd be pretty surprised if upcoming Xbox Series X games like Fable 4, Perfect Dark, and State of Decay 3 were no-shows.  


For more of GamesRadar+ ongoing coverage of the summer events, be sure to bookmark our Summer Game Fest 2024 coverage hub

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/games-of-summer-game-fest-2024-publisher-predictions/ atv37aiyFLxhBmfdy79eRm Wed, 29 May 2024 15:48:59 +0000
<![CDATA[ This chonky power bank saves my Steam Deck during long trips, and it’s down to its lowest price for Memorial Day ]]> As someone who’s always got a Steam Deck within reach, I know too well the perils of leaving the house without a backup power bank. In many ways, roaming with the handheld is a bit like traveling with a kid, as it’ll be happier if you give it a juice box for the journey. While reliable options can be a little pricey, I’ve just stumbled across an early Memorial Day deal that will save you from worrying about on-the-go battery woes without breaking the bank.

If you wander over to Amazon right now, you’ll find the Baseus Blade 2 Power Bank down from $99 to $75.98. You’ll want to use the 5% off coupon on the page to snag that discount, as it brings the portable charger down to a new record low just in time for Memorial Day. Usually, you’ll see this accessory drop to just under $80, but the extra voucher makes all the difference this time around.

While I personally keep this Power Bank in my bag alongside other Steam Deck accessories, the fact it boasts 20,000mAh capacity and 100W capabilities means this offer doubles as a Memorial Day laptop deal. Just like the best gaming handhelds, many mobile rigs boast a USB-C port with Power Delivery abilities, enabling you to give your machine’s battery a boost without using its main adapter. 

Baseus Blade 20,00mAh Power Bank | $99.99 $75.98 at Amazon
Save $24.01 - This beefy power bank just reached a new record low thanks to a sneaky on-page coupon, with an extra 5% off knocking it below its lowest-ever price. The offer drops the 100W charger down to the same price as many 65W variants, meaning you’re gaining better specs without splashing out.

Buy it if:
You want a speedy portable charger
You travel with your Steam Deck
You like to carry multiple devices

Don't buy it if:
You need something lighter
You aren’t fussed about charging speed

Price check: Baseus $99.99 | Aliexpress $110.99 View Deal

Should you buy the Baseus Blade 2 Power Bank? 

Baseus Blade power bank with USB-C cable connected

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

Power banks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the Baseus Blade 2 is chonkier than some of its rivals. That’s largely thanks to its awesome 20,000mAh abilities and beefy 100W charging, and I’d argue it’s flat enough to comfortably fit inside a backpack. 

That said, If you’re aiming for something compact enough to accompany your Steam Deck on a semi-permanent basis, you’ll want to consider something like the Jsaux 20000mAh 65w power bank. It trades wattage for a smaller narrower footprint, making it ideal for attaching to the back of handhelds. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to contend with slower charging and less wiggle room for connecting additional devices, which could matter during long trips away from power outlets.  


Looking for more seasonal offers? We’ve got you covered with Memorial Day Switch deals and Memorial Day PS5 deals. If you’ve got big screens on your mind, swing by our Memorial Day TV sales round-up for our top picks this year.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/handhelds/this-chonky-power-bank-saves-my-steam-deck-during-long-trips-and-its-down-to-its-lowest-price-for-memorial-day/ c3wDFiTWqeC9i4b8DDK4r Thu, 23 May 2024 10:56:55 +0000
<![CDATA[ Summer Game Fest confirms GTA 6 publisher, Xbox, and PlayStation will all be in attendance during next month's show ]]> Summer Game Fest, the event that seems destined to fill the E3-shaped hole in our hearts, has confirmed a huge list of attendees for its show next month.

In a press release, SGF announced that "more than 55 of the world's leading video game companies" will converge in Los Angeles, starting with the Summer Game Fest showcase on June 7. You can get a full rundown of everything happening across the industry that week with our Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule, but for now, let's look at who's set to show up.

The first wave of partner announcements includes GTA 6 publisher 2K (with some fans speculating that some new details on Rockstar's next game might not be far away, even if we're far from guaranteed another look). There's also Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco, possibly looking to show off Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree ahead of its launch on June 21, and Capcom, who could be showing off Monster Hunter Wilds.

Ubisoft is making an appearance, as is Steam, HoYoverse, Warner Bros Games, and a host of other studios. In addition to all that, the juggernauts of PlayStation and Xbox will also be in attendance, with the latter planning its own substantial showcase alongside what is almost certainly a deep dive on the next Call of Duty game.

To catch the show itself, you can tune into the Summer Game Fest showcase, taking place at 14:00 PT/17:00 ET/22:00 BST on June 7 via YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Twitter, and Steam.

Keep an eye on the new hotness with our list of new games 2024.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/summer-games-fest-confirms-gta-6-publisher-xbox-and-playstation-will-all-be-in-attendance-during-next-months-show/ QZCqYaghZHhc6VSsb8Axrj Thu, 16 May 2024 16:23:07 +0000
<![CDATA[ Here are your Future Games Show Summer Showcase hosts and when you can tune in on June 8 ]]> The Future Games Show Summer Showcase hosts have been confirmed for our big June 8 event. 

We're delighted to announce that BAFTA Award nominee Roger Clark (Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2) and Britt Baron (Tifa Lockhart in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth) will be our double act this time around, taking the torch from our Spring Showcase duo of Ben Starr and Samantha Béart.

The Future Games Show Summer Showcase is streaming live on Saturday, June 8 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm BST as part of the Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule. you can tune in via Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and of course, right here on GamesRadar+

The Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024 will highlight some fantastic new games coming to Xbox Series X, PS5, Switch, and PC. With over 40 titles from a range of developers, expect fresh trailers, new updates, world premieres, and more besides. Our partners include Behaviour Interactive / Supermassive Games, Black Salt Games, NetEase, and Secret Mode. 

As always expect there to be demos that you can play right there and then to be announced during the show. Don't say we don't treat you. 

The Summer Showcase will also see the return of our brand new Future Games Show Expansion Pack post-show broadcast, featuring even more developer interviews, special guests, and surprise reveals. 

If you fancy co-streaming the Future Games Show and want to receive our streamer asset pack, head on over to our Streaming Partner form for more info. 

Future Games Show: Set A Reminder To Watch Below

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/here-are-your-future-games-show-summer-showcase-hosts-and-when-you-can-tune-in-on-june-8/ 3qu2FMfbrx3nT7yx685eVm Thu, 16 May 2024 15:00:17 +0000
<![CDATA[ Nintendo Direct coming next month, but don't expect any updates on the Switch successor that's finally been acknowledged ]]> A Nintendo Direct will be held in June, but it'll focus primarily on new Switch games instead of the newly announced Switch successor.

Earlier today, Nintendo dropped some of the biggest news of the year so far in the most casual way possible. The simple tweet below, a statement from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, reveals that the Nintendo Switch's successor will be announced in the current fiscal year, and a new Nintendo Direct will air next month in June.

Before you set sky-high expectations for that Direct, though, Furukawa states that the Direct will focus on upcoming Switch games, instead of the new Nintendo Switch successor itself. The company will presumably reveal new details about the hardware later this year or perhaps even early next year at some point in the first three months of 2025.

The Switch release schedule for the rest of the year looks incredibly vague in terms of first-party games, so it's not a huge surprise Nintendo is on the cusp of a new showcase. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door launches later this month on May 23, and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD arrives next month on June 27, but after that there are zero first-party Nintendo games slated for the rest of the year.

However, Nintendo did reveal last year that the Switch will continue to get new games until at least March 2025, so there are obviously unannounced games in the pipeline for the current hardware. 

We've still got plenty of time to get caught up on the best Switch games of the past seven years before the new hardware rolls around next year. 

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/nintendo/nintendo-direct-coming-next-month-but-dont-expect-any-updates-on-the-switch-successor-thats-finally-been-acknowledged/ YFRRVNzMCtCyL3zK7Sm4QJ Tue, 07 May 2024 09:36:36 +0000
<![CDATA[ The Xbox Games Showcase is returning June 9, along with a "special deep-dive into the next installment of a beloved franchise" ]]> Microsoft Gaming will host its annual Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, June 9, 2024. The publisher promises that the event will feature "games from our portfolio of studios across Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda and Xbox Game Studios, in addition to titles from our third-party partners," says a post on Xbox Wire

Xbox also confirms its plans to repeat the double-feature format which it introduced last year, where the main Xbox Games Showcase 2023 was immediately followed by a dedicated Starfield Direct livestream. While we don't know what Xbox exclusive will be given the special deep-dive treatment, Microsoft says it'll be the "the next installment of a beloved franchise." 

The Xbox Games Showcase will commence on June 9 at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST. It will be available to watch on demand at Xbox's YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook channels. 

This year's showcase will slot into the wider Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule, following the cancelation of E3, and will most likely focus on upcoming titles for Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass – no word yet on whether more titles will be unveiled as part of Microsoft's push of selected titles onto PS5 and Switch, following the release of Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Pentiment in recent weeks. 

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

In fact, Microsoft is yet to detail what exactly will be shown, but there's a huge amount of potential here. The upcoming Xbox Series X games from Xbox Game Studios includes a Perfect Dark reboot from The Initiative, Playground Games' Fable 4, Rare's Everwild, Compulsion Games' South of Midnight, inXile's Clockwork Revolution, Undead Labs' State of Decay 3, and Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed and The Outer Wilds 2

Bethesda also has plenty to tease, including Arkane's Marvel's Blade, MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, as well as The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield's Shattered Space DLC from Bethesda Game Studios. As for Activision Blizzard, there's the Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred expansion, World of Warcraft: The War Within, and the ever-present threat of a new Call of Duty.

Even with all of this on the cards, we still have no idea what 343 Industries, Double Fine, id Software, Tango Game Works, and The Coalition are currently working on. We'll know more in the coming weeks, but right now all signs are pointing to this being one of the most anticipated Xbox Games Showcases in years. 

Todd Howard says Starfield's Shattered Space DLC launches this fall.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/gaming/events-conferences/xbox-games-showcase-2024-announced-date-time-confirmed/ RMwoP6XMNggpxcxbGu3vd7 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:09:43 +0000
<![CDATA[ Nanoleaf Lines review: “Turns out I do enjoy RGB lighting after all” ]]> RGB lighting normally gives me the ick, but Nanoleaf’s Lines kit now has me convinced there’s a right way to go about it. The fact it feels as modular as a Lego set is a huge win in my book, but the stylish backlit glow produced by the ensemble is what ultimately won me over. To my surprise, I’m even hyped to permanently add the lighting system to my gaming desk setup and tune in some of its smart abilities, even though that’ll mean wrestling to remove it from the temporary white it's currently attached to. 

Admittedly, cheap reels of LEDs are to blame for my RGB lighting aversion. It’s perhaps a craze that’s now dying off but, for a while, many game rooms you’d see online featured a garish border of lighting tape with zero diffusion. I can’t even escape from it when staying at my partner’s house, as the kid across the street has a piercing perimeter of lights that haunt my peripheral vision. However, I just about managed to drop my experience-based bias to check out a set of Nanoleaf Lines, and guess what? Turns out I do enjoy RGB lighting after all.

Coming at a staggering $169.99 / £179.99 for a set of nine Nanoleaf strips and their accompanying connectors, this RGB kit is definitely on the pricey side. That MSRP makes it easier to understand why someone would choose to pick up a cheap reel of LEDs instead, especially if you’re not fussed about smart capabilities or easily designing patterns. Nevertheless, I’d still highly recommend this kit to anyone looking to invest in a gaming space glow-up, as you won’t find many options that can provide the same burst of color for less.

Assembly and setup

Nanoleaf Lines box sitting on desk

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

Before cracking open your own Nanoleaf Lines kit, I’d recommend clearing a bunch of floor space. Clicking together the set is fairly intuitive, but it’ll effectively feel like you’re laying out a Scalextric track, with each piece stemming from a core hexagon with all the main guts inside. 

Upon opening Nanoleaf’s compact package, I was immediately greeted with an array of lines, which lift out to reveal a bunch of hexagonal connectors and a power brick underneath. There’s also a sheet on top with a QR code to instructions. The minimalist cardboard rectangle does at least provide some layout inspiration, in turn demoing the core concept the company is going for.

In case it’s not apparent, Nanoleaf Lines are designed to accommodate custom vector patterns, and there are countless ways to put the kit together. If you download the app before assembly, you’ll be able to use it to visualize your design beforehand, something that’ll ensure you’ve got everything clicked together in the right order. That said, nothing is stopping you from free balling the whole affair, as it’s not easy to mess things up if you ensure the core hex module is connected.

Image 1 of 3

Nanoleaf Lines box sitting on desk with strips in view

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Image 2 of 3

Nanoleaf Lines box with connectors and power supply inside

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
Image 3 of 3

Nanoleaf Lines power button and receiver

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

For this review, I went with one of Nanoleaf’s recommended layouts, if for no other reason than the fact it looks a bit like Pac-Man. I started by clicking two starting lines into my core hexagon, which features buttons on its face and a tail that connects to the power supply. From there, I played a game of dot-to-dot until I had some sort of constellation before finally locking everything in with plastic covers that keep the strips in place. 

I’ve tested various RGB-clad accessories in my time, and Nanoleaf’s LEDs blow everything out of the water

Just like that, I had something that looked like Nanoleaf’s own suggestion, and the whole process was virtually painless. Before moving onto setup and sticking it onto your wall of choice, I’d advise plugging the power supply in to make sure there are no faults with the product or the way you’ve put it together. If you get a white glow, you’ll be good to charge on, so long as the design is actually what you wanted in the first place.

It’s up to you whether you’d prefer to set up the Nanoleaf app or fit the kit onto your wall first. I decided to make sure I could get the digital side all working first, just in case there was a non-physical issue that would later put a big spanner in the works. Thankfully, that didn’t happen, and I was satisfied with how simple the smart side of things was to set up.

Nanoleaf Lines set up sitting on floor with green lights

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

The process kicks off with downloading the Nanoleaf app from either Google Play or the Apple App Store. I used an Android gaming phone to do the former, so your experience may differ if you’re using a fruity device. The simplest way to link it up to your Lines kit is to use the QR code located on the power supply connector, which you’ll come across when connecting the brick to the core hexagon mentioned previously. 

Doing so prompts a setup wizard that’s easy to follow and presents no quirks during setup. As someone who’s wrestled with many cheap smart devices and their apps, this was a fabulous revelation, and everything ended up being alive and kicking within minutes. You will need to switch from your Wi-Fi connection to the one built into the Nanoleaf Lines kit at one stage in the process, and I know that can cause some issues from experience depending on the phone. Yet, I got off scot-free this time, so thank the tech gods for that.

At this stage, I’d say it’s safe to finally pop your Nanoleaf Lines design onto a wall. For this, you’ll want to pick a smooth, clean surface, as each hexagon uses a 3M-style adhesive pad. If you want to get things perfect, I’d also recommend using a small spirit level, as the last thing you want is a squinty set of lights taunting you from above your monitor. 

Nanoleaf Lines attached to white wall

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

The back of each hexagon actually spins, and I think this is a simple but ingenious solution when it comes to mounting. You’ll effectively be able to stick the first tab down and pivot things into place, meaning there’s less chance of accidentally sticking it down out of alignment. The approach will vary depending on your design choice, but that meant working from the top down in my case.

I’ve popped my Nanoleaf Lines kit onto a temporary wall for this review, as I’m planning on putting together a revamped setup shortly. However, I do have to comment that the adhesive used on each hexagon isn’t remotely renter-friendly, as carefully pulling one off took paint and plaster along for the ride. I would have preferred if the company provided alternative pads that are easier to detach, as while I respect the strength of this solution, it’s going to be a pain for anyone who likes to move things around.

Features

Nanoleaf Lines kit illuminated with app on screen

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

With my Nanoleaf faux Pac-Man now sitting pretty on the wall, I was ready to delve into the Lines kit’s many features. Some perks I’d consider par for the course, like being able to choose colors, patterns, and brightness levels. However, unlike most RGB strips out there, this set also has an app for your gaming PC, which enables it to dynamically mirror the lighting on your screen.

RGB lights that react to your screen have been around for a while, but they normally come with caveats. For example, I’ve set up more than one Govee Envisual set for family members in the past, and that uses a camera to keep track of color changes on your gaming TV. I also recently commended the Philips Evnia 42M2N8900 for its integrated Ambiglow system, and even though I think that approach is great, it requires picking up an expensive gaming monitor

In addition to screen mirroring, the Lines kit can also react to sound like a music visualizer. I grew up mesmerized by the swirls and patterns displayed when using the OG PlayStation as a CD player, so it’s needless to say I was ecstatic about this feature. You won’t even have to hook it up to any inputs or even your Spotify app, as it uses an integrated mic to listen to groovy beats and riffs. Of course, the kit comes with Google Home and Apple Homekit support for those of you who do like interconnectivity, providing your assistant of choice with power over your setup. 

Performance 

Nanoleaf Lines with screen mirroring activated synced to Horizon: Forbidden West gameplay

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

I’ve tested various RGB-clad accessories in my time, and Nanoleaf’s LEDs blow everything out of the water. Using a backlit approach certainly helps curb my usual gripes, and using a white wall brings out the absolute best in the kit’s color capabilities. However, the spectrum on offer goes above and beyond to cover more pallets and shades than anything else I’ve used, with exceptional brightness that adds a lot of oomph to the overall package. 

The kit is also super responsive, with patterns coming across as snappy and accurate. Even Nanoleaf’s reactive music and screen mirroring modes can keep up with ease, outperforming systems with physical tracking hardware. The sensation of watching beams of light pierce through above me while running around in enclosed spaces in Horizon: Forbidden West’s intro is nothing short of beautiful, and I’m excited to see what these lights can do for all genres in terms of immersion.

Visual praise aside, Nanoleaf’s whole infrastructure feels nice and robust, with minimal shenanigans during general use. Every action used via the app kicked in almost immediately, and firmware updates flowed through without a hitch. I certainly wouldn’t expect anything less from a kit at this price point, but I’ve sadly had too many janky software experiences in my time to count stability as a given.

Should you buy a Nanoleaf Lines kit? 

Nanoleaf Lines kit attached to wall next to gaming desk setup

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)

It may cost a pretty penny but if you’re looking for stylish RGB lighting, Nanoleaf’s Lines kit is worth every cent. For the money, you’re getting a system of exceptional quality that’s bursting with customization options and features, not to mention the core backlight experience is next-level. 

I do think Nanoleaf should include some renter-friendly mounting options with its package for the price. Even if you own your home, chances are you’ll want to move to switch things around at some point, as that’s the nature of gaming setups. Would I say this is a deal breaker? Hell no, but it’s important to plan ahead before splashing out on this fantastic RGB kit. 

How I tested the Nanoleaf Lines kit 

To put the above Nanoleaf Lines kit to the test, I mounted it above the desk I use for hardware reviews. This enabled me to check compatibility with my PC and smartphone while also assessing its visual performance as part of a typical setup. During the review, I used both the Windows and Android app to try out the lighting system’s smart features, and specifically played both Children of the Sun and Horizon: Forbidden West with screen mirroring switched on.

If you’d like to learn more about how we test accessories and peripherals, check out our GamesRadar+ hardware policy for a deeper dive.


Looking for more setup add-ons? Swing by our best gear for streaming guide for peripheral recommendations. If you’re craving more RGB, you’ll also want to peek at our best gaming keyboard and best gaming mouse picks for colorful desktop accessories.  

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/nanoleaf-lines-review/ jPhqqFeueHaauFtzWchVUT Mon, 22 Apr 2024 15:39:26 +0000
<![CDATA[ The PC Gaming Show returns in 2 months with over 50 games worth of world premieres, exclusive announcements, and dev interviews ]]> The PC Gaming Show returns in two months to celebrate what's ahead for PC gaming enthusiasts in 2024 and beyond. 

As revealed in a new press release, this year's show is set to feature over 50 games. You can expect world premieres, exclusive announcements, developer interviews, and much more.

If you're keen to save the date, The PC Gaming Show airs on June 9 at 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT / 9pm BST / 10pm CEST. As always, you're spoiled for choice regarding where to watch the stream. The show will be broadcast on Twitch, YouTube, X, Steam, and Bilibili, promising "a packed roster of reveals, celebrations, and surprises."

"A lot has changed in PC gaming since our first show in 2015," PC Gaming Show editorial director Jake Tucker says. "It's more mainstream and popular than ever, and each year brings new breakout hits. 

"I'm excited to take the helm on a show I've loved for years and can't wait to share a host of great games with our audience this summer. Expect some big reveals, new content for your favorite games, and a celebration of what's been a golden decade for PC games."

The latest installment of The PC Gaming Show follows the newly launched PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, which hit our screens last winter and was dedicated to counting down the most anticipated PC games as decided by a council of over 70 industry veterans, including Sid Meier of Civilization fame, Inxile Entertainment studio head Brian Fargo, and AbleGamers director Steven Spohn.

Until then, check out all of the upcoming PC games for 2024 and beyond if you're curious about what sort of games are on the horizon. You might see one of them sooner than you think.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/the-pc-gaming-show-returns-in-2-months-with-over-50-games-worth-of-world-premieres-exclusive-announcements-and-dev-interviews/ ZdStb5QxiSZDc43APSREKK Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[ Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024 to broadcast on Saturday June 8 ]]> GamesRadar+ is thrilled to confirm that our biggest digital showcase event of 2024, the Future Games Show Summer Showcase, will be broadcast on Saturday June 8.

Expect exciting updates on blockbuster games and deeper dives into anticipated indies. We made good on that promise in our March 2024 show, when titles like Dragon's Dogma 2 and Sand Land lined up alongside a special Still Wakes The Deep mini-doc.

Read on for details on how to take part in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase, and how to join our rapidly growing co-streaming program.

Future Games Show Spring Showcase breaks records

The Future Games Show is a multiformat games event with a mission to help viewers discover something new. Our first show of 2024, the Future Games Show Spring Showcase, debuted nine world premieres including city-builder-with-a-twist Worshippers of Cthulu, the genre-defying Blue Prince, and anticipated sequel Knights in Tight Spaces, plus many more.

The Future Games Show Spring Showcase reached a record 8.5 million live viewers (+46% year-on-year) and we anticipate our Summer Showcase to be our biggest, most varied, show yet. Expect the return of our post-show Expansion Pack, new demo drops in the Ones to Play section, and more surprises.

The Future Games Show accumulated over 120 million views in 2023 across all shows and platforms, and we’ve featured over 550 amazing games since the event’s inception in 2020.

How to take part in the Future Games Show

Dave the Diver

Dave the Diver appeared in the Spring Showcase 2023, which went on to become one of the year's most acclaimed games (Image credit: Mintrocket)

The Future Games Show is ideal for debuting your unannounced game, sharing new information about an existing title, and reaching new audiences.

The Future Games Show reaches around 8-10 million live viewers on each broadcast, and over 50 million total views across all content per show, with many titles seeing huge increases in Steam wishlists from appearing in the event.

Indie or AAA, we want to showcase the most exciting and innovative games of 2024 and beyond, with all titles considered for broadcast.

Developers can nominate their game by filling in the Future Games Show 2024 nomination form  or getting in touch via the addresses below:

Editorial:
james.jarvis@futurenet.com – Executive Producer
ben.malley@futurenet.com – Producer

Sponsorship:
melissa.makhmaltchi@futurenet.com – Commercial Lead (US) 
kevin.stoddart@futurenet.com – Commercial Lead (UK)

A (Brief) History of the Future Games Show

The Future Games Show is GamesRadar's flagship games showcase, which has featured over 550 games from the industry’s leading developers and publishers, including Capcom, Private Division, Square Enix, Team17, Sony, Thunderful, Xbox, Sega, Frontier, Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, Paradox Interactive, Devolver, and many more leading developers.

The event is broadcast live on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and all major streaming platforms, and hosted by famous video-game voice actors. Our Spring Showcase was hosted by the fabulous Ben Starr (Clive Rosfield, FFXVI) and Samantha Béart (Karlach, Baldur's Gate 3), who you can watch 'interviewing' each other below.

A selection of previous hosts include Nolan North and Emily Rose (Uncharted), Cody Christian and Briana White (Final Fantasy 7 Remake), David Hayter and Debi Mae-West (Metal Gear Solid), and Troy Baker and Laura Bailey (The Last of Us 2).

You can find out everything you need to know about the Future Games Show right here and watch highlights from previous shows.

How to watch the Future Games Show

Future Games Show Steam

The Future Games Show is broadcast on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and all major streaming platforms, including Steam. (Image credit: Future)

The Future Games Show will broadcast three events in 2024:

  • Future Games Show: Spring Showcase - March 21, 2024
  • Future Games Show Summer Showcase - June 8, 2023 
  • Future Games Show @Gamescom - August 22, 2024

You can watch future events by subscribing to the offical FGS YouTube and TikTok channels, GamesRadar's Twitch, our Facebook page, YouTube channel, Twitter, and the website, GamesRadar.com

Join the Future Games Show co-streamer program

Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Future)

The Future Games Show invites you to join our co-streamer program for 2024, joining a rapidly growing family of over 100+ creators, with benefits including:

  • Early access to show partner information and announcements
  • Special logos and co-streaming assets
  • A chance to enter VIP co-streamer programs with merchandise from featured partners, including the Future Creators program working with key partners

The official co-streamer program is open to anyone, whether you’re an established broadcaster, or starting to grow your community.

You can apply for the Future Games Show Official Co-Streamer Program right here. 

Future Games Show Twitter channel

Don't forget to follow the Future Games Show Twitter channel to stay up to date with show announcements, and get in touch if you’d like to take part.

You can follow the GamesRadar Twitter channel for major FGS updates and check out exclusive previews and hands-on reports from the show.

Stay tuned to gamesradar.com for some exciting Future Games Show partner announcements and hosting details over the following weeks  

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/future-games-show-summer-showcase-2024/ q6DtbtNkTf2GZnL7uAZGSL Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:00:04 +0000
<![CDATA[ Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2024 time – Here's how to watch the stream ]]> It's almost time for the 2024 Future Games Show Spring Showcase – a 90-minute show featuring over 50 different games, six of which are world premieres. There's a lot to be excited about, including the event's hosts Ben Starr (AKA Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16) and Samantha Béart (Baldur's Gate 3's Karlach).

Watch the Future Games Show Spring Showcase below

At the time of writing, we don't know everything that'll be shown off, but one major highlight to look forward to is a new trailer for Sand Land – the upcoming RPG based on Akira Toriyama's iconic manga series with the same name. Otherwise, we can expect new information about the action-RPG No Rest for the Wicked, which is being developed by the studio behind the Ori games, The Chinese Room's narrative horror Still Wakes the Deep, the bodycam horror game set in a zoo, Zoochosis, and many more.

As well as the new trailers, you can look forward to the "Ones to Play" section, which will feature games with demos that'll be available to download straight after the show. There's also the "Ones to Watch" section, which will include the games that the Future Games Show team is particularly hyped about. 

After the main show concludes, the 30-minute Future Games Show Expansion Pack will begin, which promises to provide some extra exclusive reveals, as well as more details on select games featured during the show. 

What time is the Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2024?

You'll be able to watch the Future Games Show Spring Showcase live from 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT / 8pm GMT on Thursday, March 21.

Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2024 countdown

Check out exactly how long there is to wait for the Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2024 with our handy countdown timer. It's like New Year's Eve, only with more games getting announced.

Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2024 stream

There are plenty of places to tune into the Future Games Show Spring Showcase when it goes live. It'll be streamed on YouTube via the Future Games Show, GamesRadar+, IGN Games and GameSpot channels, as well as on the PAX and Future Games Show Twitch channels. You'll also be able to catch it on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and BiliBili.

Alternatively, if you're attending PAX East, you'll also be able to watch the stream as it happens at the Albatross Theatre.

Keep up with the most exciting upcoming releases with our list of new games for 2024.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/future-game-show-march-2024-stream-time/ Wr3xRyBEUg7pnzi9Zi8gmh Wed, 20 Mar 2024 12:39:12 +0000
<![CDATA[ Summer Game Fest schedule 2024: Times, dates, streams, and where to watch ]]> The Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule is happening right now. Summer Game Fest Live kicks off things today with Day of the Devs and Devolver Digital following straight afterwards. 

The full Summer Game Fest schedule is below, from the big presentations including Summer Game Fest Live and the Xbox Games Showcase to other digital showcases such as the Future Games Show and the Wholesome Direct. Come and enjoy Summer Game Fest with us!

What is Summer Game Fest?

Summer Game Fest was once a competitor to the big E3 gaming conference held every year in June. The event, organized and presented by Geoff Keighley (of Game Awards fame), begins with a big live stream and then becomes host to exclusive game previews and other announcements. 

However, since E3 was officially confirmed completely, permanently dead, at the tail end of 2023 after a whopping 28 years by organizers ESA, Summer Game Fest has now become the de facto E3 replacement. 

The event is happening again this year, with companion events like Day of the Devs and our very own Future Games Show happening alongside Keighley's own live event. 

Summer Game Fest dates 2024

When is Summer Game Fest?

Summer Game Fest Live will be held on Thursday, June 7, with SGF Play Days, "an invite-only media and influence event", offering hands-on previews with new games scheduled for June 8-10. 

At a glance

Summer Game Fest showcases 2024

Below we'll gather together everyone who's confirmed that they're taking part in the Summer Game Fest schedule for 2024. We're still waiting to see if Ubisoft, Xbox, Bethesda, Nintendo and co. will take part this year, but we'll keep this page updated with all the latest as it happens.

Thursday, June 6

Guerrilla Collective

Guerrillla Collective

(Image credit: Guerrillla Collective)

WHEN: June 6 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST / 7pm CET

Guerrilla Collective returns delivering what it promises will be some 'incredible trailers' and world premieres from its partners. 

Catch up here - YouTube

Friday, June 7

Access-Ability Summer Showcase 2024

Access-Ability Summer Showcase 2024

(Image credit: Access-Ability Summer Showcase 2024)

WHEN: June 7 at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BST

The  Access-Ability Summer Showcase is returning for 2024 with a selection of recently released and new games created by disabled games and those featuring the very best in accessibility features. It aims to spotlight the games specifically targeting design choices that enabled more disabled gamers to play. we'll also get some release date reveals, fresh trailers, and more. 

Watch on: YouTube

Summer Game Fest Live

Summer Game Fest 2024 logo

(Image credit: Summer Game Fest)

WHEN: June 7 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST

Summer Game Fest Live 2024 is the first major showcase of the Summer Game Fest schedule 2024 with promises of new game announcements, first-looks, and trailers. The show will run for two hours, followed by Day of the Devs, and then straight into Devolver Digital. 

Watch on: YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and TikTok

Day of the Devs: SGF Edition

Day of the Devs Summer Game Fest Edition Logo

(Image credit: Double Fine)

WHEN: Straight after Summer Game Fest Live

This year's Day of the Devs: SGF Edition will feature more than a dozen indie titles that celebrate "the creativity, diversity and magic of video games". It'll air directly after the Summer Game Fest showcase, so just stay tuned for a dose of Double Fine and IAm8Bit presented goodness.

Watch on: YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and TikTok

Devolver Direct 

WHEN: June 7 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET / 1am BST / 2am CET

Devolver Digital is back with a Devolver Direct for the Summer Game Fest schedule. As you'd imagine, the announcement is as unhinged as prior showcases, with the event described as 'Volvy's 15th birthday party'. We'll be watching him open his presents, which apparently include new game reveals and hotly-anticipated updates. 

Watch on: YouTube and the Devolver Direct website

Saturday, June 8

Wholesome Direct

Wholesome Direct 2024 logo with timing details

(Image credit: Wholesome Games)

WHEN: June 8 at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST / 6pm CET

The Wholesome Direct from the folks over at Wholesome Games is coming back for 2024 too. It's a full-length showcase that'll feature over 70 games that are "artistic, uplifting, and emotionally resonant" from a collection of developers all over the world and publishers including Humble Games, Fellow Traveller, Secret Mode, Curve Games, and more. We'll also get updates on Usagi Shima and Minami Lane, the first two projects within the new Wholesome Games Presents publishing initiative.

Watch on: YouTube, Twitch

Latin American Games Showcase

Latin American Games Showcase Summer Game Fest time and date

(Image credit: LAG Showcase)

WHEN: June 8 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST / 7pm CET

The Latin America Games Showcase will feature over 70 games from the region, including world premieres and exclusive announcements to boot. It's being presented by Devolver Digital and Raw Fury. 

Watch on: YouTube and Twitch

Future of Play Direct

Future of Play Direct 2024

(Image credit: Future of Play )

WHEN: June 8 at 11am PT / 2pm ET / 7pm BST / 8pm CET

The 2024 Future of Play Direct will showcase new games, exclusive announcements from Tricket Studios, Texel Raptor, Mighty Yell, Studio Pixel Punk, and more. We'll also get info on new updates from games like Timberborn and Airborne Empire - among others. 

Watch on: YouTube

Women-Led Games Summer Game Fest Edition

Women-Led Games Summer Game Fest Edition logo

(Image credit: Women-Led Games)

WHEN: June 8 at 11.30am ET / 2.30pm ET / 7.30pm BST / 8.30pm CET

There's a Summer Game Fest edition of the Women-Led Games showcase happening on June 8. It's a celebration of the innovative games coming out of women-led and majority women-led studios.  There will be a Steam Sale alongside the showcase too!

Watch on: YouTube

Future Games Show Summer Showcase

Future Games Show Logo

(Image credit: Future)

WHEN: June 8 at 12pm ET / 3pm ET / 8pm BST / 9pm CET

Our own Future Games Show Summer Showcase is returning for 2024 on June 8. We'll be showcasing over 40 exciting upcoming games in our most ambitious showcase yet. Stay tuned for more info on our hosts, game reveals, and more!

Watch on: YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and TikTok

Sunday, June 9

Xbox Games Showcase + Black Ops 6 Direct

Xbox Games Showcase + Black Ops 6 Direct confirmation

(Image credit: Microsoft)

WHEN: June 9 at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST

Xbox has now revealed it's returning to the Summer Game Fest Schedule with a double whammy of live streams. The Xbox Games Showcase will kick things off and will feature "games from our portfolio of studios across Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, and Xbox Game Studios". We'd imagine that will of course include Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but there are a tonne of upcoming Xbox Series X games that could also get an update including Fable 4, the long-quiet Perfect Dark reboot, Marvel's Blade from Arkane, Elder Scrolls 6, and the Shattered Space DLC for Starfield

However, that will immediately be followed by the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct. Activision has said that this will be the place for the "first in-depth look at all-new gameplay and product announcements", but the full reveal of the game will seemingly happen before June 9.

Watch on: YouTubeTwitch, and Facebook

PC Gaming Show

The PC Gaming Show

(Image credit: Future)

WHEN: June 9 at 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT / 9pm BST / 10pm CEST

The PC Gaming Show, from our sister site PC Gamer, is also making a comeback for 2024 and it's also celebrating its 10th year. Happy Birthday, PC Gaming Show! The showcase will feature over 50 games, including some world premieres, exclusive announcements, developer interviews, and other such excitement. 

Watch on: YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and TikTok

Monday, June 10

Ubisoft Forward

Ubisoft Forward 2024 confirmation for June 10

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

WHEN: June 10 at 12pm PDT / 3pm EDT / 8pm BST / 9pm CEST

Ubisoft has confirmed that its Ubisoft Forward event is returning for 2024 on June 10. We'll definitely get extended looks at Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows (Red) there, along with XDefiant 'and more' teases Ubisoft. If you watch on Twitch there will be exclusive drops for different games you can unlock too. More info over on the Ubisoft Forward website.

Watch on: Ubisoft Forward website, YouTube,Twitch

Tuesday, June 11

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Dragon Age; The Veilguard logo

(Image credit: EA)

WHEN: June 11 at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BST

EA and BioWare have confirmed that a special Dragon Age showcase will debut on June 11, and with Dragon Age 4 sporting a new name. After two years, BioWare announced that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is now Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and we'll be getting a look at 15 minutes of gameplay "from the opening moments of the game that has you jumping back into Thedas on your new adventure". 

Watch on: YouTube

TBC Dates

Nintendo Direct

Paper Mario

(Image credit: Nintendo)

WHEN: Date and Time TBC

Nintendo has now confirmed that it will be hosting a Nintendo Direct this June, but there's currently no time or date attached to that. It will be focused on "the Nintendo Switch lineup for the latter half of 2024", but stresses that this even will not be used to talk about the Nintendo Switch 2 that the company has finally acknowledges actually exists. It has revealed that it will announce its next-gen Switch successor "within this fiscal year", but there are also no more details there either. Mysterious Nintendo. 

Watch on: YouTube

IGN Live

IGN Live logo

(Image credit: IGN)

WHEN: June 7-9, exact timings still TBC

This year, as another big name vying to replace E3, IGN is hosting IGN Live, which is what it's calling an in-person, three-day fan event. The site states it will feature "gaming and entertainment creators, developers, publishers, and enthusiasts," but hasn't yet confirmed its official exhibitors. It will include live IGN shows, tournaments, "first looks" at new releases, and some panels too though. 

Watch on: Youtube, Twitch, Twitter, TikTok

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/summer-game-fest-schedule-2024/ 8oDSEyjj5KQ5yP83LamajR Thu, 14 Mar 2024 18:16:34 +0000
<![CDATA[ The BAFTA Games Awards 2024 host has been announced ]]> The BAFTA Games Awards 2024 will be hosted by comedian, podcaster, and life-long gamer Phil Wang.

The academy announced the host for this year's show earlier today; the 2024 event will mark the awards' 20th anniversary. Wang, who grew up in Malaysia but has become a regular fixture of the UK comedy circuit thanks in no small part to his iconic Taskmaster outfit, has been playing games throughout those two decades, graduating from Windows 3.0 Freeware to legendary RTS games like Age of Empires and Rome: Total War to modern classics like Death Stranding and The Last of Us Part 2.

This year's ceremony will take place on April 11 in London, and will be available to stream on major platforms from 10:50 PT/ 13:50 ET/ 18:50 BST. BAFTA unveiled the nominees for the 2024 awards earlier this month - Baldur's Gate 3 will be hoping to extend its run of success, and is currently leading the pack with ten nominations. Just behind it is Marvel's Spider-Man 2 with nine nods, and Alan Wake with eight. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor both have six nominations.

The nominees for Best British Game are Dead Island 2, Disney Illusion Island, Football Manager 2024, Viewfinder, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin, and Cassette Beasts. As well as the games mentioned above, the Best Game category is rounded out by Dave the Diver and Super Mario Bros Wonder.

Find out what we thought with our list of the best games of 2023.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/the-bafta-games-awards-2024-host-has-been-announced/ bKbsqZ6pZMmTPTjXzYuqE8 Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:57:18 +0000
<![CDATA[ Future Games Show 2025: Watch the Spring Showcase on March 20 ]]> Our first digital broadcast of the year, Future Games Show Spring Showcase will take place on March 20 during the week of the Games Developer Conference (GDC), in San Francisco (March 17-21).

As an added bonus, we'll be bringing you TWO shows on the same day. The Future Games Show Spring Showcase will be directly followed by FGS Live From GDC. This new broadcast will be hosted by the FGS editorial team, bringing you even more new games and interviews from the GDC show floor.

FGS Live From logo

FGS Live From GDC will directly follow the Future Games Show Spring Showcase on March 20 (Image credit: Future)

The Future Games Show is one of the best way to discover new games, with our 2024 shows reaching over 150 million total views. We debuted exclusive trailers from AAA blockbusters including Black Myth: Wukong and Civilisation VII, as well as giving you advance notice of some of the year's greatest indie breakouts, such as Tiny Glade, Hauntii and Tenbris Somnia.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Future Games Show, including how to apply for the Future Games Show Spring Showcase on March 20, 2025.

How to watch

Watch the Future Games Show Spring Showcase

The Future Games Show Spring Showcase on March 20 will spotlight the most exciting games of 2025 and beyond, with amazing world premieres, exclusive videos from major upcoming titles and stealth demo drops in a 60 minute+ show. We look forward to sharing more details on featured games in due course, but it's safe to say we have some very exciting titles lined up.

Here's how to watch the event, which will be hosted by a pair of major video-game voice actors who you'll recognise from games both recent… and slightly further back. No more clues - for now - but we look forward to sharing more info on our hosts.

Our gamescom event in August 2024 was hosted by Ned Luke (Michael De Santa, GTA5) and Alex McKenna (Sadie Adler, Red Dead Redemption 2).

You can watch the Future Games Show Spring Showcase on March 20 by subscribing to FGS's YouTube channel, GamesRadar's Twitch channel, our Facebook page,  Twitter, and the website, GamesRadar.com

Watch:
Thursday, August 20
1pm PDT / 4pm EDT / 8pm GMT / 10pm CEST

You can also watch a selection of translated (via captions) feeds in Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portugese, Thai and English, by selecting your choice of live captions from our YouTube Live page. Simply choose the International Feed and make your choice of language.

We'll also add feeds for ASL and BSL translation which will be found on the FGS YouTube page on the Live tab.

What games did we see during Future Games Show at gamescom 2024?

Exoborne

(Image credit: Sharkmob)

Future Games Show at gamescom in August 2024 showcased over 50 games on PS5, Xbox, PC and Switch, plus revealed a handful of new Steam demo drops.

Ttitles included Black Myth: Wukong, Rebellion's hotly-anticipated BioShock-meets-Fallout-style Atomfall, and open-world RPG Greedfall 2.

FGS loves to help viewers discover something new, so look out for some dazzling indies and AA titles such as Caravan: SandWitch, Bionic Bay and PVKK.

In addition to these amazing games, we are excited to announce that Prime Video will be sharing an exclusive look at The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 during the show. 

Who hosted the Future Games Show at gamescom showcase?

Future Games Show at Gamescom hosts

(Image credit: Future)

The FGS @ gamescom will be hosted by Ned Luke (Michael De Santa, GTA5) and Alex McKenna (Sadie Adler, Red Dead Redemption 2).

You can follow Ned Luke and Alex McKenna on X / Twitter for more updates.

How to co-stream the Future Games Show

FGS Gamescom 2024 Streamers

(Image credit: Future)

We're thrilled to welcome new streamers and creators to our FGS Co-Streamer program and all you need to do is sign up via this short form. We give all partners an exclusive asset pack, and the occasional bonus, including game codes subject to the titles in each show.

Take Part

How to take part in the Future Games Show

Immortality, the third game from Sam Barlow

Sam Barlow's multiple award-winning interactive trilogy Immortality made its debut in the FGS E3 2021 event (Image credit: Sam Barlow / Half Mermaid)

Working on an exciting new game? Join a roster of exciting titles that debuted in the Future Games Show, including Immortality, En Garde,, The Case of The Golden Idol, Dustborn,, LEGO Bricktales and many more.

If you're interested in being part of the show, you can fill out our updated FGS Game Nomination form or contact the FGS team directly via email:

Please note, nominations have now closed for our FGS @Gamescom event on Aug 21 but you can share submissions for our Spring Showcase event in March 2025.

For editorial inquiries:
James Jarvis, Executive Producer (james.jarvis@futurenet.com)
Ben Malley, Producer (ben.malley@futurenet.com)

For sponsorship Inquiries:
Melissa Makhmaltchi, Commercial Lead (US), melissa.makhmaltchi@futurenet.com
Kevin Stoddart, Commercial Lead (UK) kevin.stoddart@futurenet.com

No title is too big – or too small – to take part: we're looking for cool, interesting games that will delight our audience.

Simply get in touch via our nomination form or through the email contacts above to be in consideration for our upcoming roster of digital showcase events.

Steam Page

Future Games Show Steam page

Future Games Show Steam

(Image credit: Future)

You can check out all the games from each Future Games Show broadcast by visiting our Future Games Show Steam sale page which is updated after each event.

Developers and partners can get in touch via the contact addresses above to discuss how you can appear in the Future Games Show and on the event's Steam page.

What is the Future Games Show?

A brief history of the Future Games Show

FGS 2023 Multiple Logos

(Image credit: Future)

The Future Games Show has reached over 400 million viewers since its debut in June 2020 with a mission to celebrate the most exciting, unusual and innovative upcoming games across all formats.

With previous show partners including Warner Bros. Entertainment, Team17, Koch Media, Konami, Sega and many, many more, you can expect diverse game genres - from puzzlers, to shooters, and beaver-led post-apocalyptic strategy games - with a focus on new gameplay footage and fresh developer insight.

The Future Games Show runs three shows a year, the Spring Showcase in March, a summer showcase event in June, and a Gamescom show in August.

We can't wait to partner with even more publishers and developers to share their exciting new games with the Future Games Show audience. 

Here's everything you need to know about the Future Games Show so far, including previous hosts, contact details for how to pitch and appear in the show, plus more on how how to wishlist and play games from our event, via the Future Games Show Steam page.

Future Games Show: Game Announcements Recap

If you want to dig into all of the reveals across the history of the Future Games Show, you can check out a list of our ‘everything announced’ articles below:

What is the Future Games Show?

Future Games Show Gamescom

(Image credit: Future)

GamesRadar Presents: Future Games Show (FGS) is our premier digital showcase event, which debuted in June 2020 at E3, originally hosted by Nolan North and Emily Rose from the Uncharted series. Our truly multiformat showcase has now debuted its ninth event - spanning PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and mobile platforms - focusing on the most exciting, quirky and original games of 2022 and beyond.

The Future Games Show's mission is to help fans discover something new with our carefully curated selection of games. We focus on bringing you gameplay clips, developer walkthroughs, and world premieres. The Future Games Spring Showcase 2022 featured a Virtual Show Floor exhibition, containing games that will have playable Steam demos available right after the event. Also returning was the 'Ones to Watch' montage of exciting upcoming games and quirky indies.

Future Games Show previous hosts

Christopher Judge and Danielle Bisutti

Christopher Judge and Danielle Bisutti from God of War hosted the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2022 (Image credit: Future Games Show)

The God of War stars Christopher Judge and Danielle Bisutti, aka Kratos and Freya, hosted the Future Games Show Powered by Mana on Wednesday, Aug 24.

The Future Games Show in June 2022 was hosted by Denise Gough and Doug Cockle from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Our Spring Showcase event was broadcast in March 2022 and hosted by Ashly Burch (Aloy, Horizon Zero Dawn and Tina, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands) and John MacMillan (Varl, Horizon Zero Dawn).

Future Games Show Gamescom

The FGS at Gamescom Powered by AMD in August 2021 was hosted by the stars of Resident Evil Village (Image credit: Future)

In our Gamescom 2020 event, the hosts were the iconic pairing David Hayter and Debi Mae West, who voiced Solid Snake and Meryl Silverburgh respectively. 

David Hayter, Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid, hosted the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2020.

David Hayter, Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid, hosted the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2020. (Image credit: Konami)

Hayter told GamesRadar: "Games… have changed. They’re no longer 8-bit side-scrollers, played under synthesized, electric-piano theme songs, but massive worlds of fantasy into which players can escape and explore for months at a time. In this era of the Foxdie Virus, we need these games more than ever. Which is why I’m teaming with my favourite former rookie, Meryl Silverburgh, to host the next episode of the Future Games Show. So grab your cardboard box, put on your stealth camo, and make sure that safety’s off… It’s showtime."

Debi Mae West, Meryl Silverburgh from Metal Gear Solid, co-hosted our Gamescom 2020 show with David Hayter.

Debi Mae West, Meryl Silverburgh from Metal Gear Solid, co-hosted our Gamescom 2020 show with David Hayter. (Image credit: Konami)

GamesRadar will bring you all the news and videos from the Future Games Show as the next-generation consoles enter their second wave of exciting new titles.

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/future-games-show/ qMRWhu94TEXCMgp9jCLXwb Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:39:07 +0000
<![CDATA[ I just scrolled Best Buy's entire Presidents Day sale - these are the 5 gaming deals I'd actually buy ]]> Best Buy's Presidents Day sale is here, and among the stacks of underwhelming savings there are some real gems on the shelves. Finding that gold takes some digging though, which is why I've been trawling those shelves all morning. 

There's a lot to go through here (not all of Best Buy's current sales are listed under its 'Presidents Day' menu page, so it's a sitewide scramble if you're keeping your options particularly open). It also doesn't help that the retailer will just chuck in some full-priced gadgets that are selling particularly well. 

I've searched the digital aisles and done the math to find all of my favorite games and accessories that are actually at record low (or are rarely discounted enough to be noteworthy). That leaves us with five Best Buy Presidents Day deals that gamers should be taking note of. These deals start at just $5.74, so you don't need to spend big to find excellent value this week. 

You'll find all my top picks from this year's sale just below, but if you're open to other retailers there are plenty more Presidents Day sales for gamers further down the page.

1. Insignia Silicone Bumper Case for Steam Deck | $14.99 $5.74 at Best Buy
Save $9.25 - We'll start off super cheap, because this $9 discount on the budget Insignia Steam Deck bumper case is spare change level right now. The rubber bumper is an affordable way to keep your Steam Deck in good shape - even if you've already got a clamshell case for it. I always keep a similar one for the Asus ROG Ally to hand, just in case. 

Buy it if: 

✅ You have a Steam Deck
✅ You want extra protection
✅ You want extra grip 

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You keep things as slimline as possible 

Price Check: Amazon: OOS | Walmart: OOSView Deal

2. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset | $349.99 $297.99 at Best Buy
Save $52 - The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the best gaming headset I've played with so far. Its hot-swappable battery system, super flexible DAC hub, and fantastic sound quality mean it's the gold standard by which I test every other headset that passes my desk. Some have come close to this top spot but none have been able to surpass it. 

Best Buy's Presidents Day sales have the wireless version down to $297.99 - a couple of bucks cheaper than we generally see it. That $299.99 position is rare though. Note that this is the PlayStation model.

Buy it if: 

✅ You play PS5 and PC
✅ You don't want to worry about charging
✅ Comfort is a priority 

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You play on Xbox 

Price Check: Amazon: $297.99 | Walmart: $339
View Deal

3. Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme | $699.99 $599.99 at Best Buy
Save $100 - I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the Asus ROG Ally completely changed the way I play PC games (when i'm not testing gaming laptops). I was always a console-first player, so I was happy to pick up a familiar set of thumbsticks and buttons when I first reviewed the handheld. After months of use, though, I couldn't live without it. 

You'll find the Z1 version available for even less ($399.99 at Best Buy), but I would only recommend downsizing if you tend to play lighter indie games. The Z1 Extreme is capable of running full Triple-A titles and doing it in a way I wouldn't have thought possible this time last year. 

Buy it if: 

✅ You want truly portable PC play
✅ You play heavier Triple-A games
✅ You want more power than a Steam Deck 

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You only play Steam games
❌ You only play lighter games

Price Check: Only available at Best Buy
View Deal

4. Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (Switch) | $59.99 $29.99 at Best Buy
Save $30 - No, it's not generally the best way to play Borderlands 3 but if you've only got a Switch it certainly is. The scientists at Gearbox and 2K managed to squeeze the latest Borderlands adventure onto a Switch cart  late last year and it's been a success. 

Of course your graphics suffer and framerates can drop during heavier scenes but I've been enjoying my time with this port overall and those technical limitations have never made anything unplayable. That $59.99 MSRP has never sat right with me. $29.99 on the other hand? That's a fantastic rate. 

Buy it if: 

✅ You want to play Borderlands 3 on the go
✅ You don't care about getting the best graphics
✅ You enjoy first person shooters 

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You have another platform to play it on 

Price Check: Amazon: $40.98 | Walmart: $38.99
View Deal

5. Assassin's Creed: Mirage (PS5) | $49.99 $29.99 at Best Buy
Save $20 - Assassin's Creed: Mirage is just a few months old, but the smaller entry in the franchise is already down to $29.99. This is only the second time I've ever seen that $29.99 sales price, with the previous being a quick drop right at the end of December. 

Buy it if: 

✅ You prefer more linear gameplay
✅ You're a fan of the franchise

Don't buy it if: 

❌ You want open world action 

Price Check: Amazon: $29.99 | Walmart: $36.99
View Deal

More of today's best Presidents Day sales

Of course, we're also rounding up all the latest Presidents Day PS5 deals and Presidents Day Newegg deals for more offers. Or, if you're after some PC tech check out the best Dell Presidents Day sales

]]>
https://www.gamesradar.com/i-just-scrolled-best-buys-entire-presidents-day-sale-these-are-the-5-gaming-deals-id-actually-buy/ J5FG8HxmQDansQUQtoihbC Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:18:16 +0000