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AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE review - a new mid-range graphics card champion

Edward Chester — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:18 +0000

Like previous Golden Rabbit Edition (GRE) launches, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE is a graphics card that first started out as a China-only release, but now AMD is making it available worldwide. A stripped-back version of the RX 9070, it features a GPU with slightly reduced core counts, and it's partnered with 12GB of VRAM instead of 16GB. With a healthy, if not huge, price drop, it's well-positioned to be a sensible mid-range choice for a lot of buyers. This set of features and pricing pits the RX 9070 GRE directly against the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, while above it sits the slightly more expensive RX 9070 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, and below it are the substantially cheaper RX 9060 XT and RTX 5060. Crucially, while the RX 9070 GRE does have less VRAM than more expensive options, it has the same amount as the RTX 5070. [site_jumplinks]

Balatro's latest crossover lets you design your very own deck of medieval Jimbo cards

Aaron Down — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:00:13 +0000

That Jimbo sure is getting about, isn't he? Last year, Balatro's starring fool took a dagger to Dying Light 2, and faced off against the legions of the night in Vampire Survivors. I'm starting to think he's better-traveled than Ben Starr at this point. Well, in Balatro's latest crossover with Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts, Jimbo is trading carnage for canvas, and he can now star in his own medieval margin doodles.

Former World of Warcraft Lead Combat Designer has joined Riot's League of Legends MMO

Matt Porter — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:30:40 +0000

News on Riot's upcoming League of Legends MMO has been thin on the ground, but things are definitely moving behind the scenes at the company, as former Lead Combat Designer for World of Warcraft Brian 'Swolinka' Holinka has joined up to become the Principal Game Designer of the project.

Baldur's Gate 2 remake is reportedly in the works at Wizards of the Coast

Matt Porter — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:13:01 +0000

While we all impatiently wait for Baldur's Gate 4, it seems that Hasbro is looking to its past before steamrolling into the future. According to new reports, Wizards of the Coast is working on a remake of Baldur's Gate 2, and there's also a chance that a remaster of the original is in the works, too, with the co-lead designer of the second installment returning for the project.

Phonk Clicker codes (June 2026)

Joshua Brown — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:17:30 +0000

Forget clicking for cookies or increasingly bulkier muscles; Phonk Clicker codes are here to both bring the phonk and make each click contribute a little more to the purchasing of premium, phonk-augmenting apparatus. Phonk Clicker is less about bringing the phonk than simply giving you something to do while you jive to phonk-imbued jams. Pick a song, then click to boost your income. We could assume it's all an allegory about rights holders and residuals, but it probably has more to do with vibes than volatile value.

Untitled Robot Boxing codes (June 2026)

Joshua Brown — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:11:49 +0000

Redeem these new Untitled Roblox Boxing codes, and you'll smack, bang, and wollop your way through the ranks of what could very well be a feasible sport this decade if tech giants ever decide to move away from having their bots pull out glocks or steal moves from the king of pop. Mixing a popular Roblox melee game with the undeniable joy of watching clankers rock and sock each other's heads into the stratosphere, Untitled Robot Boxing brings clunkiness back into a genre that was frankly getting a little too sophisticated. And with some chill jazz tunes playing over every canned sound of metal rebounding off the concrete, it's as close as we'll get to a new 90s Hallmark Christmas movie set within the Big Apple. Ah, nostalgia...

The Asus Xbox Ally X just got a massive screen upgrade, days after the Steam Deck OLED price rise

Matt Porter — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:31:00 +0000

Asus has announced a new special edition version of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, to celebrate 20 years of the Republic of Gamers brand. The Xbox Ally X20 comes with a new, slightly larger OLED display, a special translucent chassis, a gold internal structure, and comes bundled with the ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 Gaming AR glasses. While it may look a lot like an Xbox Ally X with a teardown skin, don't be fooled, as this new edition packs a major punch.

Nvidia RTX Spark Superchip could change the gaming PC landscape forever

Edward Chester — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:27:27 +0000

Nvidia RTX Spark is official. The long-rumored, single chip that will likely power many gaming PCs of the future is finally here. By combining an RTX 5000 series GPU and an Arm-based CPU on a single chip, the new RTX Spark N1X system on a chip (SoC) is set to power a host of gaming PCs and laptops launching later this year. Nvidia has worked with Arm to create SoCs before, such as for the auto industry, its Nvidia Shield streaming devices, and as used in the Nintendo Switch. However, this is the first time the company has fully swung for a gaming PC takeover with Windows-based PCs and laptops powered by this chip. There are going to be limitations in terms of raw GPU power, but these chips could seriously shake up our best gaming PC and best gaming laptop guides in the not-too-distant future.

Arc Raiders is finally getting a PvE mode, but only in China

Paul Kelly — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:52:49 +0000

Arc Raiders is reportedly trialling a pseudo-PvE mode on its co-Tencent-developed Chinese client. The multiplayer game recently acquired the ISBN licence required to operate in China, and the Eastern branch is wasting no time in shaking up the status quo, offering new game modes during its beta phase.

Best Minecraft seeds 2026 - updated for 26.1

Danielle Rose — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:44:58 +0000

Starting a new Minecraft world requires making plenty of tough decisions: in which direction to head, where to build, when to start mining, and more. Before any of that, though, do you allow Minecraft to pick your world generation for you, or do you improve your odds of survival with the best Minecraft seeds? Whether you're looking for the best Minecraft seeds for survival, somewhere truly beautiful to build your home, or the easiest way to mine diamonds fast, the world seeds we've listed here offer what you need. Once you've picked your favorite from the selection below, pop it into the advanced world options when creating a new game, and get ready to punch some trees.

Call of Duty doubles down, promises "no BS" or "clowny skins" in Modern Warfare 4

Matt Porter — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:41:04 +0000

Infinity Ward is determined that Modern Warfare 4's character skins will be realistic and authentic to Call of Duty, again promising that the days of "clowny skins" and bizarre collaborations are a thing of the past. Over the last few years, there have been endless complaints about skins and collabs that don't fit the aesthetic of the shooter, with players frustrated that the developers have chosen to focus on cosmetics that are either unrealistic in a war situation or are simply unrelated to the franchise.

Tekken 8 Game Director Kohei Ikeda leaves Bandai Namco after 20 years, marking yet another major dev departure

Aaron Down — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:21:43 +0000

Kohei Ikeda, Tekken 8's Game Director, has announced he has left Bandai Namco after over two decades with the developer-publisher. In a statement shared to social media, Ikeda reminisces fondly, offering his thanks to fans and his fellow Tekken developers.

AMD CPUs will now support socket AM5 motherboards until 2029, for long term easy CPU upgrades

Edward Chester — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:14:08 +0000

One of the main reasons AMD CPUs have proven so popular in recent years the company's policy to use the same CPU sockets across multiple generations. This has meant that a user could buy a motherboard and CPU one year, then still be able to drop in a newer, faster CPU, four, five, six, or more years later. For instance, AMD AM4 saw support for four generations of CPU, with new CPUs for the platform still available ten years later. Now, AMD has committed to making its current AM5 socket last until 2029, seven years after the first AMD AM5 CPU launched, and two years longer than it originally said. In recent years, AMD's 7000 series and 9000 series X3D chips have simply been the best gaming CPUs available, so many buyers have bought for that reason alone. However, AMD's commitment to long term support and an easy upgrade path has also been the foundation (or the cherry on top, depending which way you look at it) for many buyers considering their best options for longer term cost saving and ease of upgrade.

Genshin Impact codes (June 2026) Updated for livestream 6.6

Christian Vaz — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:58:57 +0000

Need new Genshin Impact codes? Gathering Primogems and Mora in Genshin Impact can be quite the grind. Fortunately, developer Hoyoverse occasionally sends out gifts in the form of redeem codes. Most codes only work for a limited time, so it's best to redeem them as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Codes are released periodically, frequently appearing in Hoyoverse special programs: regular video updates detailing future updates. Redeem codes can also drop to celebrate milestones or to coincide with new Genshin Impact events. You can find all the active Genshin codes below, including what they have to offer, how to redeem them, and where you can look for more.

Alienware dropped the single most desirable OLED gaming monitor on the planet

Edward Chester — Sun, 31 May 2026 23:00:49 +0000

Gaming monitors are getting ludicrous. Alienware has just announced the AW3926QW, which is a 39-inch OLED display with a massive 5K resolution and a refresh rate of 165Hz. Not only that, but it can also run at 330Hz in a reduced-resolution mode, and its RGB-stripe OLED tech pushes image quality to a new level. It might not be the best choice for every PC gamer, but the Alienware AW3926QW is likely to be one of the most desirable when it lands. Announced at the Computex tech trade show currently taking place in Taiwan, Alienware unveiled the new display alongside three other 30-inch+ displays, noting that the launch coincides with the company's 30th anniversary. As excuses go for justifying a gaming monitor upgrade, a 30th birthday seems as good as any. Anyone qualify?

Dell just took a huge swing at Apple and the Macbook Neo, with new Dell XPS 13 launching at $599

Edward Chester — Sun, 31 May 2026 23:00:37 +0000

Well, we didn't see this one coming. After all the talk of how Apple has completely changed the landscape of budget laptops with its MacBook Neo, Dell has come out fighting and is offering its new XPS 13 for the same $599 price, which is roughly half that of its predecessor. However, there is a catch, which is that this Dell XPS 13 price is only available to students. However, it's not that much of a catch; the Dell XPS's starting price is just $699 for non-students, too. What's more, the version available at this price still includes all the features that make the Dell XPS 13 one of the best laptops around. This includes a premium aluminium chassis, 2.5K touchscreen display, and impressive battery life.

The Witcher 3's Director wants to expand on its masterful side quests in his new RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker

Ken Allsop — Sun, 31 May 2026 16:15:52 +0000

He may no longer be part of CD Projekt Red, but The Witcher 3 Director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz is carrying its legacy forward into his new studio's debut outing, The Blood of Dawnwalker. Tomaszkiewicz isn't the only former CDPR dev who can now be found at Rebel Wolves, and that legacy is immediately visible in the core of its upcoming RPG. One of the most meaningful ways the team is expanding on the elements of player freedom and choice is in The Blood of Dawnwalker's quest system, which tosses out the concept of a 'main quest' almost entirely in favor of a much more freeform experience.

Ark Survival Ascended is about to unleash the kraken

Ken Allsop — Sun, 31 May 2026 13:27:31 +0000

Ark Survival Ascended is taking to the water in its next big update, which is coming as two pieces, arriving together on June 25. Genesis Ascended Part One will be free for all, adapting the fourth DLC from the original Survival Evolved for Studio Wildcard's modernized edition. Alongside it comes Tides of Fortune, a pirate adventure bringing new sailing ships and naval combat systems into the survival game. In addition to the developer's overhaul to Ark's water physics and the introduction of "a vast ocean playground," however, something much more terrifying lurks in the deep.

The team behind Turtle WoW is starting fresh with a new MMO: "We know this is an enormous undertaking"

Ken Allsop — Sun, 31 May 2026 10:54:00 +0000

Just two weeks on from the complete shutdown of Turtle WoW, the fan-run private server network for World of Warcraft, its creators have made a decision about what's next - and it's a big one. "This isn't the end of our journey together, but rather the beginning of a new one," the group of developers confirms. They're forging a new studio together, Moonwhisper Games, which will be building a new MMORPG of its very own. While that's inherently a very scary prospect, the team says it's "under no illusion" about the challenges that lie ahead.

A new Path of Exile 2 hotfix makes sure you won't run out of maps in the endgame

Ken Allsop — Sun, 31 May 2026 09:56:07 +0000

New Path of Exile 2 patch notes have landed, as GGG drops a hotfix aimed at ensuring you don't run out of Waystones in the endgame. As the most important item to keep progressing across the Atlas map, it's critical that you're able to keep your stock replenished, and being forced to drop down tiers because you aren't getting enough at your current rank can be a real momentum killer. Specifically, Grinding Gear Games is looking "to alleviate concerns about sustain of Waystones from map bosses, specifically when playing in higher tiers."

Warhammer 40k Dark Heresy's beta flexes the game's murder mystery muscles, but exposes its limits too

Alex Evans — Sun, 31 May 2026 09:01:18 +0000

With Warhammer behemoths like Dawn of War 4 and Total War 40k sitting on the horizon, sucking in all the attention, it's easy to overlook what a big deal (and a big risk) Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy is. Keeping up the high standard of lore-accurate writing and tactical CRPG battling from Rogue Trader is tough enough, but that's honestly the easy bit. The true gamble of Dark Heresy is that it's a detective game that actually makes you do the detective work, lets you get it wrong, and forces you to handle the consequences.

Amnesty International reports unprecedented AI data theft and VPNs are more popular than ever

Adam Randall — Sat, 30 May 2026 21:00:25 +0000

A new report from Amnesty International exposes the extent to which generative AI programs are stealing private data from people across the internet. OpenAI, Google Gemini, and Midjourney are all named as businesses that are specifically taking part in this "unlawful" data scraping. It's no wonder more people are looking for a VPN now than ever before.

The next Warframe update lets you control two Warframes at once - but they keep fighting each other

Ken Allsop — Sat, 30 May 2026 17:21:22 +0000

The next chapter of Warframe is almost upon us, and Digital Extremes has just given us a deep dive into everything coming with the Jade Shadows: Constellations update, from confirmation of its launch date through to a close look at the new two-in-one Warframes, Sirius and Orion. The cast for Warframe Devstream 196 is a familiar one: Creative Director Rebecca Ford, Community Director Megan Everett, Design Director Pablo Alonso, DE CEO Steve Sinclair, and Soulframe Director Geoff Crookes. Let's see what they had to say.

Minecraft reveals another beautiful new biome, and its next game drop promises exploration and adventure

Ken Allsop — Sat, 30 May 2026 15:58:57 +0000

Minecraft Live has just wrapped up, and Mojang's latest showcase from Twitchcon Rotterdam has delivered plenty of juicy new details about what's coming to the sandbox game in the next few months. The developer is just about ready to put a bow on Chaos Cubed, which launches very soon, and that means it's time to turn our attention to the game drop after it, which will take us to a new Minecraft biome, the Dappled Forest. There's also a cluck-filled Lego collab on the cards, and a special glimpse at Minecraft Dungeons 2.

The first Paralives update keeps an essential piece of The Sims alive: funny patch notes

Ken Allsop — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:50:11 +0000

The first Paralives update has arrived, bringing a laundry list of fixes to the long-awaited life game. With many other contenders to The Sims 4's throne not making it to the finish line, it's been great seeing this one get out into the world. The response to its launch has been a big one, with Lead Developer Alex Massé and the Paralives team reporting a quarter of a million sales in just the first eight hours alone. As we come to the end of its first week, the studio has dropped an initial set of patch notes, and we're already being treated to some delightfully Sims-like descriptions of fixes.

This weekend is your last chance to try explosive new FPS Hell Let Loose Vietnam for free ahead of launch

Ken Allsop — Sat, 30 May 2026 11:11:30 +0000

Expression Games has just kicked off its final open beta for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam. The intense, strategic, and teamwork-driven multiplayer FPS will be whisking us away to the jungles and battlefields of the Vietnam War in just a few weeks, promising a fresh twist on the 100-player battles that won our hearts in its predecessor. If you've been curious but want to get a feel for the experience before you slap down your cash, now is the ideal opportunity, as you can join the fray without spending a thing. Move fast, though, because it's not running for long.

You can win tickets to Diablo's Infernal Symphony, celebrating 30 years of Blizzard's ARPG

Lauren Bergin — Sat, 30 May 2026 10:30:32 +0000

Blizzard doesn't skimp when it comes to soundtracks. The triumphant feel of World of Warcraft's The Might of Zandalar, Mephisto's signature sting anytime he appears in Diablo 4; it's all a feast for the ears. It's something I'm reminded of anytime I play one of the developer's games. That final Vessel of Hatred cutscene where Mephisto's inky corruption reacts to the music, chilled and shivering. Music maketh the videogame, and Blizzard knows exactly how to create something special.

Inspired by Silksong, Mina the Hollower dev says its $20 price was an easy decision

Ken Allsop — Sat, 30 May 2026 09:57:40 +0000

Mina the Hollower has already all but secured its place among the ranks of the best indie games of the year, at the very least. Boasting a 92 average review score on Metacritic that puts it as 2026's highest-rated release of the year, beating out the likes of Resident Evil Requiem, 007 First Light, and Forza Horizon 6, the mousey action-platformer will only continue to grow as word of mouth spreads. But developer Yacht Club Games, best known as the creators of Shovel Knight, was adamant about sticking to a low cost of entry despite its previous game's legacy.

Modern Warfare 4's new movement tech makes my rusty old bones ache

Paul Kelly — Sat, 30 May 2026 09:00:43 +0000

In gaming terms, I'm way past the point of retirement. I'm what Infinity Ward would call a 'tactical player,' which I take to mean that my reflexes are shot, and I can't move like a person being electrocuted while no-scoping the entire map. According to the Modern Warfare 4 presentation I saw, the next Call of Duty wants to cater to me, but I'm not sure how it's going to do that.

Fable gets pushed back into 2027, but we're at least getting a "major new look" at it at the Xbox Games Showcase

Aaron Down — Fri, 29 May 2026 17:13:51 +0000

Fable has once again slipped out of our meaty grasps, as Playground Games' grand return to Albion has been met with yet another delay. Ahead of Summer Games Fest, Xbox has confirmed that we're going to be waiting until early next year to live out our worst morally-repugnant lives.

The Crimson Desert update streak continues with new skills, faster farming, and a wealth of extra pets

Ken Allsop — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:48:23 +0000

A new Crimson Desert update going into the weekend has become a staple feature at this point, but that doesn't mean that Pearl Abyss is letting off the gas. The open-world game continues to evolve with each subsequent set of patch notes, and this latest round is particularly good news for controller players and pet enthusiasts. There's also some extra assistance for farming, and a pair of new skills for Kliff's spotlight-sharing deuteragonist and tritagonist duo, Damiane and Oongka (I'll let you decide which is which).

New Fortnite map - All Chapter 7 Season 2 locations

Christian Vaz — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:31:21 +0000

What does the new Fortnite map look like? If you take weekly breaks between sessions of Fortnite, you'll come to find that the map changes frequently. From POIs being swapped in and out to the entire map being replaced - if you aren't keeping up to date with all the updates, it can be difficult to identify what has actually changed. Since the battle royale game is constantly in flux, the map, POIs, and information in this guide all change throughout each chapter and season. This also goes for the many Fortnite weapons and Fortnite NPCs across the map, and we'll update each of these guides to reflect those changes, too. For now, here's the current Fortnite map alongside descriptions of each named location and everything new in Chapter 7.

Counter-Strike's co-creator isn't worried about low player counts: "Those people are never going to play your game."

Christian Vaz — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:25:27 +0000

It's difficult to avoid the ongoing discourse surrounding concurrent player numbers on Steam. Hell, we're guilty of it ourselves. It's understandable why so many people are so fixated on this metric; it's one of the only numerical ways to identify how successful a game launch has been, after all. For indie developer Minh 'Gooseman' Le, the discussions surrounding his game, Alpha Response, feel like they're mostly being held in bad faith.

Deadlock's Urn chaos continues as Valve steps in again following tournament drama

Ken Allsop — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:24:23 +0000

It happened again. A new Deadlock update continues Valve's Soul Urn experiment, and this time it was a competitive tournament match that brought the MOBA's current balance concerns back into the spotlight. A showdown between Floormen and Melee Creeps in the NA finals of this week's Deadlock Night Shift was thrown off course when the latter team deployed an unconventional strategy combining the Urn's powerful bonus resist aura with the recently introduced Golden Egg item. In the wake of this, fresh patch notes from the developer have altered how the Urn works for the third time in the past week.

Warframe Twitch drops and how to claim

Gina Lees — Fri, 29 May 2026 13:14:16 +0000

How do you get Warframe Twitch drops? The open-world shooter still receives Twitch drops for a chance to win various rewards and there are a few channels and ways to claim them. Fortunately, the devs keep an updated Twitch schedule for upcoming streams, so you can tune in for Twitch drops. The main source of Warframe Twitch drops are Prime Time streams or Dev Streams, all of which can be found on the official Twitch channel, alongside the schedule. It's also worth keeping an eye out for sponsored community streams, which include Twitch drops. In addition to these regular drops, the developers announce drops for big updates or events, which we've included below. There could be items in these drops to help you craft the best Warframe builds or improve your aesthetic.

Old School Runescape's Summer Campfire reveals Blood Moon Rises launch date, and it's not the only new quest coming this year

Aaron Down — Fri, 29 May 2026 13:00:29 +0000

Jagex's annual summer roadmap update for Old School Runescape has arrived, and the rest of the year ahead is looking incredibly exciting. While the sheen of Leagues 6 has lost its luster, that's only to be expected considering how hard I've gone on it. Fortunately, Vampyrium calls, and next month we'll finally get to tackle OSRS' new grandmaster quest, Blood Moon Rises. This isn't the only new quest launching this year, however. There's also the annual Summer Sweep Up, which is bringing some much-needed improvements to antiquated or underloved aspects of the MMO. Beyond all that, we have our first proper look at new island Wyrmscraig, incoming mobile improvements, and a sneak peek at one of the upcoming The Fractured Archive raid's bosses - unfortunately, it's not Brocrag.

The next Terraria update "is not just about adjusting a few numbers"

Ken Allsop — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:49:23 +0000

A new Terraria State of the Game has just arrived for May 2026, and developer Re-Logic has made "a ton of progress on 1.4.5.7" in the past month, according to the studio's Head of Business Strategy Ted 'Loki' Murphy. He says the next Terraria update "is shaping up nicely, we think, and thank you for giving us the time to try and get it as right as possible on the first go - a big challenge with any balance-based task." As the latest spoilers reveal, however, the changes on the cards are more significant than simple numbers tweaks.

Intel just announced two powerful new gaming handheld CPUs, and the timing couldn't be better

Edward Chester — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:42:15 +0000

Intel has taken a big swing at AMD and its dominance of the gaming handheld market, as it is launching a new range of gaming CPUs exclusively for use in Steam Deck rivals. The new Intel Arc G3 range is designed to "set a new standard for handheld PC gaming" thanks to its powerful Arc B390 GPU and highly power-efficient CPU. Given Valve issued a Steam Deck price rise of as much as $300, the arrival of new Intel-powered gaming handhelds couldn't have come at a better time. Intel has previously tried to push into the handheld market, with devices like the MSI Claw 8 AI+ using an Intel Lunar Lake chip. However, it has failed to establish itself as a builder of CPUs for the best gaming handhelds, with top options such as the Steam Deck/Steam Deck OLED, Asus ROG Ally, Xbox Ally X, and Lenovo Legion Go sticking with AMD options.

Warframe Pride 2026 kicks off, and there are some dirt cheap cosmetics in it for you

Aaron Down — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:36:38 +0000

Pride month is upon us, and Warframe developer Digital Extremes has unveiled this year's celebratory in-game goodies, which will only set you back a few credits. Additionally, there's a line-up of featured creators who, in return for checking out their streams, will reward you with Warframe Twitch Drops.

Blizzard just dropped a game-changing Starcraft 2 update, a decade after its last expansion

Ken Allsop — Fri, 29 May 2026 10:16:22 +0000

I can't quite believe I'm writing this, but a new Starcraft 2 update has just fundamentally changed the game at its core. It's been more than ten years since Legacy of the Void wrapped up the main campaign, and while Blizzard has continued to sporadically support the RTS game with small tweaks to its co-op mode, it hasn't done anything quite like this in a long, long time. We're talking 'relearn your build orders' massive. It's not quite the Starcraft 3 I'll always dream of, but it might end up feeling like it by the time the dust settles.

Valuing Path of Exile 2 drops is now faster and simpler than ever, and so is planning your endgame

Ken Allsop — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:39:42 +0000

Path of Exile 2 Return of the Ancients is almost here, and while the focus is very much on overhauling the endgame, Grinding Gear Games has put a lot of work into making its action RPG flow more smoothly than ever across all aspects of play. Among the quality-of-life changes you can expect with PoE 2 patch 0.5 and the new Runes of Aldur league are a powerful search tool to help you plot your course across the Atlas map, an easy way to confirm the value of item drops in seconds, and one of the most generously sized stash tabs ever made.

This week's Epic Games freebies will let you open your dream cat cafe, and dive into a Queen's Blood-like space battler

Aaron Down — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:18:00 +0000

The Epic Games Store is back right on cue to offer up a delightful duo of indie games that won't cost you a penny. Calico is an incredibly cozy fur-filled community sim which puts you in charge of rebuilding the town's cat cafe. Lonestar, meanwhile, is a deckbuilding roguelike game that requires you to overpower and capture criminals across the known universe.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE leak hints at impending worldwide launch for the mid-range GPU

Edward Chester — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:35:59 +0000

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE could finally be about to get a worldwide release date, according to a new rumor. The currently China-only RX 9070 variant could represent a more affordable mid-range option for gamers looking to spend a little less than the ~$650 needed for an RX 9070 or RTX 5070, but without compromising too much on speed. The standard RX 9070 currently tops our best graphics card guide, as AMD's second-fastest RX 9000 series card offers the best frame rate to price ratio based on today's prices. If the RX 9070 GRE can come in at an even better price without dropping too many fps, it could be a new champion. That's, of course, assuming this rumor is true.

Krafton may have to pay Subnautica 2 devs the $250 million bill it tried to dodge

Matt Porter — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:33:50 +0000

Subnautica 2 has been such a resounding success for Unknown Worlds that publisher Krafton is going to have to pay $250 million to the game's developers. This comes after a year's worth of turbulence between the companies, which started with Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and members of the senior staff getting fired back in July 2025, and a judge ordering their reinstatement in March 2026.

Valorant Masters' anthem is a unique look for VCT, and it brings one of the UK's finest back to the stage

Lauren Bergin — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:19:54 +0000

Sure, Riot Games makes good games, but have you heard its music? K/DA. Imagine Dragons. Linkin Park. Riot has collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the world to create iconic anthems for both Valorant and League of Legends esports. But, while I'll defend the likes of Star Walkin' (and be lambasted in the comments for it), I often feel like LoL has taken too much of a step into the mainstream: I preferred the focus on homegrown talent over big names that look good in flashing lights. Valorant, by contrast, has retained that focus on grassroots talent: we kicked off the year with that spectacular Toxic cover, and now we're heading to Masters London with Che Lingo.

Modern Warfare 4 is sending us to North Korea, but its new bullet tech is perhaps its best bit

Paul Kelly — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:00:21 +0000

Infinity Ward dumped a metric ton of Modern Warfare 4 on me. In a secret briefing, I was given everything from a release date to campaign details, multiplayer improvements, and a lot more I can't talk about right now. I'd say I can barely move, but since it's adding a bunch of new movement tech to the FPS game as well, I'll probably be fine. Here's what you need to know about the next Call of Duty.

Now ten years old, dark fantasy ARPG Grim Dawn is still a must-play, and ready for one giant final adventure

Ken Allsop — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:00:34 +0000

While Diablo 3 and Path of Exile were battling for supremacy among the ARPG crowd, a dark fantasy contender snuck in to stake its claim - Grim Dawn. Built by Crate Entertainment, an indie studio founded by the lead gameplay designer of Titan Quest, it quickly established itself as an essential experience for fans of games like Diablo. Now a decade old, it remains well worth your time. To give it a proper send-off the studio has been building its third and final expansion, Fangs of Asterkarn, and it's finally almost finished, complete with a round of modern polish for the classic.

'90s Doom rival Witchaven is being pulled from Steam soon, but it's under $1 if you're quick

Ken Allsop — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:47:06 +0000

Doom and Quake were the heavy hitters among '90s FPS games, although I'm sure most know the likes of Duke Nukem 3D as well. Aficionados will remember other names: Heretic, Hexen, Blood, and so on. Unless you were there at the time, however, you might have missed Witchaven and its sequel. If you wanted to catch up on the Capstone Software classics, both have been available on Steam courtesy of publisher SNEG for several years - but they'll soon be going away. The good news is that you can grab them at less than a dollar each before they do.

Here's where to get the cheapest price for 007 First Light

Adam Randall — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:34 +0000

When Ian Fleming first created James Bond, he intentionally created a character who didn't have a huge amount of emotional depth - since then, there have been so many nuanced portrayals of the character, from Roger Moore's suave, almost untouchable portrayal, through to Daniel Craig's haunted, gritty version of the spy. 007 First Light gives us a new take: a young, more reckless, more vulnerable incarnation who's at the start of his career. It's a breath of fresh air both in terms of Bond storytelling and also Bond videogames. If you're planning to pick it up, Fanatical has it cheaper than anywhere else right now.

"Don't buy this game:" Final Sentence dev warns players to hold fire for now

Matt Porter — Thu, 28 May 2026 11:47:32 +0000

It's rare that you ever hear a game developer telling prospective buyers not to spend their hard-earned money on the game it built. However, Brusnika, the creator of the type-racing battle royale Final Sentence, has a different idea, and is telling potential customers to wait before buying the game so they can save some money.

League of Legends' best game mode is getting a revamp, and Ranked 5s is making its grand return, but with a catch

Aaron Down — Thu, 28 May 2026 11:35:31 +0000

Riot Games has released a new dev video, detailing everything coming with League of Legends Season 2 Act 2. Though the studio hasn't said much about new character Locke, it's been far more forthcoming with details surrounding major changes to ARAM Mayhem, as well as the long-awaited return of Ranked 5s. Of course, no dev update is complete without a cosmetics reveal, and the Sinful Shores skin line has News Ed Lauren and I gnawing at the bars of our cages.

Overwatch GM Walter Kong gives fans hope for a Cyberpunk Edgerunners-esque animated series

Matt Porter — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:47:25 +0000

Adapting videogames into movies and TV shows seems to be all the rage in Hollywood right now, and Overwatch General Manager Walter Kong knows that his game is ripe for the same treatment. While he hasn't gone as far as confirming it would happen, Blizzard's head of live games and mobile development does admit he knows that fans would be keen to see it, and doesn't close the door on the idea.

Marathon is having a free-to-play week to launch Season 2

Matt Porter — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:03:06 +0000

If you're a fan of extraction shooters but haven't given Marathon a go yet, then there's good news on the way, as Bungie has announced that it'll be making the game free-to-play for a full week. The move coincides with the launch of Marathon's second season, which features a host of new content aimed at not only maintaining the existing player base, but bringing new eyes to the title as well.

Valve's new-look Steam Workshop just made modding your games easier than ever

Ken Allsop — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:00:51 +0000

I'm a huge fan of the Steam Workshop. I've been PC gaming for long enough to know my way around using standalone launchers and installers, as well as the big third-party mod distribution sites. For sheer ease of use, however, it's impossible to beat just clicking a button on Steam and instantly adding new content to your favorite PC games, or fixing a frustration with help from a community-made solution. Valve has been working to overhaul its entire app in 2026, and has just released a new Steam Workshop update that makes modding even easier.

Steam Deck prices just jumped up $300 and stock still sold out

Edward Chester — Thu, 28 May 2026 09:56:57 +0000

Valve has just increased the Steam Deck price by as much as $300, making what has long been one of the lowest-cost and best-value gaming handhelds now more expensive than several more powerful alternatives. Despite what amounts to a 46% price increase, though, Steam Deck stock has already sold out again in some regions, making today doubly troubling for those who had been waiting to buy one. Steam Deck stock has been a constant source of strife for those looking to grab the best gaming handheld around. However, a huge part of the reason it so readily sold out appeared to be its low price compared to other gaming handhelds. What today has proven, at least in the US, is that, when it comes to the Steam Deck, price doesn't seem to matter.

Who is the new League of Legends champion? Release date, leaks, and latest news

Lauren Bergin — Thu, 28 May 2026 09:34:41 +0000

Locke is, perhaps, League of Legends' worst kept secret. The AP midlane assassin is set to release very, very soon, and while Riot has remained relatively tight-lipped about who champion 173 is, we've potentially seen flickers of him in recent lore videos. So here's a full roundup of everything we know about the new League of Legends champion, and when we can expect him to take to the Rift.

Even WWE legend Trish Stratus is throwing shade at GTA 6's delay

Matt Porter — Wed, 27 May 2026 16:11:51 +0000

In a perfect world, we'd all be sitting playing GTA 6 right now. The game would have launched on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, as it was originally supposed to. Alas, we don't live in that utopia, and GTA 6 has been delayed until the fall, much to the chagrin of gamers everywhere. Ever since, the memes have been flowing, and it isn't just confined to the world of gaming either, as now WWE Hall of Famer and seven-time Women's Champion Trish Stratus has laid the smackdown on Rockstar for the wait.

Rome has fallen and the gods are missing. Lead the rebuilding effort in new survival game Romestead

Ken Allsop — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:34:29 +0000

Rome has crumbled, the dead rise at night, and the gods have fallen silent. I've been waiting quite some time for Romestead to hit early access, and it's finally here. This gorgeous co-op survival game leans into the fantastical, tasking you with rebuilding civilization after the fall of Ancient Rome. Officially supporting up to eight players at once, but with the freedom to invite more, it most closely resembles the likes of Necesse (if you're not familiar with that, imagine the exploration and action of Terraria infused into a perspective that feels like Stardew Valley). It's out now in early access, with a discount to celebrate the launch.

Is Fortnite shutting down in 2026?

Jake Green — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:25:21 +0000

Is Fortnite shutting down? With price increases to V-Bucks, internal layoffs at Epic, and reports of unmet financial expectations and projections, all of these events paint a rather volatile picture for Fortnite. It may sound unthinkable, but the Fortnite community has begun to wonder whether the game could actually be shut down one day. Fortnite still receives updates on a biweekly schedule, with major changes introduced with each new Fortnite season. Nevertheless, recent news does have industry experts questioning whether the battle royale game has the legs to continue as a top dog in the online multiplayer space. Here's what you need to know about whether Fortnite is shutting down, based on up-to-date information.

New TFT patch brings some much-needed consistency to Arbiter and Psionic

Aaron Down — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:07:34 +0000

Teamfight Tactics patch 17.4 is upon us, and Riot looks to be rebalancing conditionality. While the one-cost reroll menace was finally defeated in 17.3, I feel like the playstyle itself has been overcorrected. We do have a decent spread of higher-cost boards now, but highly-conditional boards continue to dominate - Serpent Stargazer Xayah, Dark Star emblem vertical, and Yi with the correct Psionic item all come to mind. If you don't hit a narrow RNG chute, you're suddenly in a four-way battle to hit the only real default board: Corki-Riven. In the patch 17.4 rundown, Live Balance Lead Tim 'Truexy' Jiang has some thoughts on this, and I'm inclined to agree.

The Witcher 3 system requirements

Samuel Willetts — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:07:16 +0000

The Witcher 3 system requirements are very achievable, even for older or budget gaming PCs and laptops. However, both its next-gen update and its upcoming 10th anniversary DLC - called Songs of the Past - have seen the game's system requirements rise since the game initially released. Some of these changes include hard drives no longer being supported and Windows 11 being required, so you may need to upgrade if you want to jump in and experience the new DLC for one of the greatest games ever made. These changes also include updates to the minimum graphics card requirements, although most gamers won't suddenly need to upgrade to the best graphics card around - they're still very modest options. However, this is an area you'll want to consider upgrading even further if you want to experience the ray tracing and other upgrades available in the latest version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. On which, if you need a hand getting the best out of this game on your rig, be sure to check out our guide to the best Witcher 3 settings on PC.

Discord is adding Spatial Audio support so you can pretend you're in the same room

Matt Porter — Wed, 27 May 2026 14:25:52 +0000

If you're like me, you've spent countless hours in Discord calls with your friends. Whether you're grinding games or just shooting the breeze, Discord has become a hub for communication, especially with those who are in other countries or time zones. As great as being in those calls can be, it doesn't quite match the experience of sitting together and chatting, but the team is trying to change that, with news that they are adding Spatial Audio to the platform.

A new Cities Skylines 2 update makes traffic "smoother and less rage-inducing"

Ken Allsop — Wed, 27 May 2026 14:23:23 +0000

"Traffic jams can be incredibly frustrating, not only in real life, but also in Cities Skylines 2." Those are the words of developer Iceflake Studios, which took control of the struggling city builder sequel in late 2025, and I couldn't have put it better myself. Fortunately, such problems have been high on the priority list of changes, and new Cities Skylines 2 update 'Morning Dew' promises to make the flow of vehicles around your roads "smoother and less rage-inducing." The plan is to limit the rate of awkward congestion by teaching your Cims to make better decisions, sooner.

New Windows 11 update will actually make your PC faster

Matt Porter — Wed, 27 May 2026 13:25:35 +0000

Good news, gamers, Windows 11's latest update is actually designed to make your PC more efficient and run faster. The update, named "KB5089573," which is easy to remember, focuses on general performance gains, specifically aimed at app launches and what they call "core shell experiences," such as the Start menu, Search, and Action Center.

New No Man's Sky The Swarm update threatens the universe with a murderous, robotic hive - not the bees!

Aaron Down — Wed, 27 May 2026 13:00:27 +0000

It's hard to think that No Man's Sky is nearly ten years old. I remember being there in the glorious summer of 2016. Pokémon GO was all the rage, but I was even more excited for Hello Games' space game to drop. As we know, it was an underwhelming launch, and so would begin one of the best comeback stories in modern gaming. No longer the bland, isolated experience of yesteryear, No Man's Sky is now one of the genre's heaviest hitters. What better way is there to celebrate that than by pulling us all together and having us face off against a giant drone armada?

Valve just completely changed the Deadlock Urn again, days after its rework spawned a weekend of mayhem

Ken Allsop — Wed, 27 May 2026 12:03:35 +0000

Valve has just dropped an 'emergency' Deadlock update, and I hope you didn't get too used to the new Soul Urn, because it's all changing again. The most recent patch shook up the hero-shooter MOBA in a number of ways, but by far the most significant was its redesign of the way the Soul Urn worked. Dumping it right in the middle of the map, it quickly turned every match into a hyper-chaotic team fight. Making matters worse were incredibly tight timers and a gigantic 50% Bullet Resist and Spirit Resist aura if held by the losing team.

Overwatch tier list - the best heroes in Season 2

Christian Vaz — Wed, 27 May 2026 11:58:36 +0000

May 27, 2026: We made several changes to the Overwatch tier list following the mid-season update. Who are the best Overwatch heroes? With 51 heroes to pick from as of Season 2, knowing where to start in Blizzard's hero shooter can be pretty daunting. It's not always easy to tell how strong your chosen character is when you're constantly coming up against different counters and team comps. Of course, just because we say a hero is a must-pick doesn't mean you can't do a better job with your preferred Overwatch characters. That said, most players should be able to look at this Overwatch tier list for a quick snapshot of who to play and why. Join us as we rank every Overwatch hero in the free PC game, from the titanic tanks to squishy supports.

World of Warcraft housing expert recreates The Burning Crusade's iconic login screen on their in-game PC

Lauren Bergin — Wed, 27 May 2026 11:01:12 +0000

In my mind's eye, I can perfectly picture the cinematic where Sylvanas Windrunner burns Teldrassil in Battle for Azeroth. It's as clear as day: the World Tree ablaze, smog rising into the sky. Then, there's the first time you see the Temple of the Jade Serpent in Mists of Pandaria; one of the most beautiful videogame vistas ever made. But, if you're an OG OG World of Warcraft player, the login screen for The Burning Crusade is, perhaps, the MMO's most iconic piece of art. The Dark Portal beckons, flanked by its leering statues, guarded by the dragon-esque gargoyle that sits on top of it. We've seen it a hundred times before, and are likely to see it a hundred times again. I haven't, however, seen it like this.

Nvidia just killed Control Panel, ending 20 years of its driver interface

Edward Chester — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:42:06 +0000

Nvidia Control Panel is no more, or at least it won't be if you install the latest version of Nvidia's driver. After 20 years of being the slightly cumbersome interface for Nvidia GPU settings, the company is pulling the plug, replacing it with the new and shiny Nvidia App. Those lucky enough to have one of Nvidia's best graphics cards will still be able to continue using Control Panel by keeping their old driver installation or by only updating to the latest driver, rather than doing a fresh install. However, if you're starting from scratch or choose a fresh install, Control Panel will no longer appear.

007 First Light features both Jacksepticeye and Shroud, for some reason

Matt Porter — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:27:20 +0000

If you're playing 007 First Light you know that, when you're playing as James Bond, it's all about stealth. When you're trying to complete your missions, the last thing you want to be is noticed. Blend in with the crowd, stick to the shadows, and remain unseen. More important than that, however, is making sure you observe what's around you, and if you've been paying attention, you'll have spotted two legendary content creators hidden in plain sight: Seán 'Jacksepticeye' McLoughlin and Michael 'shroud' Grzesiek.

It's official, The Witcher 3 is getting new DLC, and it's a full-sized Geralt story

Ken Allsop — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:07:51 +0000

Can't wait for The Witcher 4? You won't have to. Long rumored and now confirmed, The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past is a new DLC for the all-conquering CD Projekt Red RPG. With the developer teasing an upcoming anniversary livestream celebrating ten years of the Blood and Wine expansion, we were expecting to hear something. In the end, CDPR decided to get out ahead of the moment and just announce it now.

Haunting new Marathon Season 2 trailer amps up the horror, and our sleep paralysis demons are coming for us

Aaron Down — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:02:11 +0000

Marathon Season 2: Nightfall is just around the corner, and as promised, Bungie's now revealing what's in store for us when it kicks off. In its latest cinematic, we get a thorough look at the new Night Marsh map, the Sentinel Runner shell, and what appears to be a fresh SMG addition. There is something very... off, about the trailer though, and I'm seeing a few extra limbs where they shouldn't be - nothing to worry about, I'm sure.

Arc Raiders Nomadic Envoys stock - what does the new trader have for sale this week?

Paul Kelly — Wed, 27 May 2026 09:33:05 +0000

With the news that Arc Raiders updates will be fewer and further between, it might be easy to think the game will suffer as a consequence, but thankfully, there's a new trader in town, and they're selling some pretty decent stuff. From legendary collectibles to skins and emotes, the Nomadic Envoys have a lot to offer for those with the coin to space. The Nomadic Envoys are an absolute godsend for those who struggle to pin down loot; the shop rotates weekly and offers some really powerful gear for those who need a leg up - or for those who are missing a few specific items from their collection. Here is what the new Arc Raiders trader has for sale this week.

Minecraft puts its Java multiplayer test on hold: "The experience wasn't what we wanted"

Ken Allsop — Wed, 27 May 2026 09:28:02 +0000

The first Minecraft 26.2 pre-release is here for Java Edition, but there's some bad news if you've been taking advantage of the sandbox game's new peer-to-peer multiplayer, which was implemented in a recent snapshot. Developer Mojang has pulled the plug on its work-in-progress feature after deciding that it isn't up to standard in its current form. The new Minecraft update also marks the move into pre-release, which typically means more regular rollouts are on the way as final adjustments and tweaks are made.

I miss Arkham, but this new Lego Batman game is the closest I've felt in years

Callum Self — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:27 +0000

Since Arkham Asylum's Scarecrow section freaked me out as a nine-year-old, the Batman Arkham games have been some of my favorite action games. Not only did they redefine what a superhero videogame experience should be, but they're well-written stories that respect fans and newcomers alike. Sadly, it's been almost 11 years since we last saw the Caped Crusader in the Arkhamverse (looks slyly at Suicide Squad). But let me tell you, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is an Arkham game without the name.