The biggest reveal at the Summer Game Fest show was undoubtedly Resident Evil 9, which is now officially titled Resident Evil Requiem. While we received a solid trailer that featured what seemed to be the new protagonist, new information and screenshots have now leaked.
Now, multiple screenshots of the game have leaked alongside info on what to expect from the series’ mainline ninth entry.
A considerable amount of time has passed since we last saw a new installment in the Just Cause series, with the last entry being released in 2018.
Before diving in, remember to take everything with a grain of salt for now unless otherwise specified by Capcom.
Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) First Screenshots Leak
The images reportedly came from a preview by Xboxera that went up earlier than intended, as the page now shows a 404 error. It’s titled “hands-off preview” which means Capcom showed this off to select press without letting them play it.
Some of the info from the preview mentions how the game can purportedly be played by either a first- or third-person perspective. There’s also said to be a second “fully-armed” playable character that hasn’t been announced yet.
While details surrounding the game are shrouded in mystery, reliable leaker DuskGolem has spilled the beans on some key details, such as that second playable character is said to be Leon Kennedy, the star of Resident Evil 4 and RE6.
Details surrounding the story hasn’t been revealed officially, outside of a few info from the press release:
Powered by RE ENGINE and harnessing the full power of modern consoles, Resident Evil Requiem delivers spine-chilling realism like never before, with complex character details like lifelike facial expressions, realistic skin textures, and even high-fidelity sweat droplets that aresure to keep players on the edge of their seats.
Raccoon City
A midwestern city in the United States and the headquarters for the former global pharmaceutical company, Umbrella.
In the face of the zombie outbreak in 1998, the government approved a sterilization operation, a missile strike on the city in an attempt to quickly bring the situation under control.
Lifelike Characters & Richer Emotional Depth
Gleaming eyes, subtle pores and fine hairs, the raw glisten of sweat, and silky hair. Cutting-edge visuals make characters feel real, like they’re straight out of a movie.
Their emotions hit harder too, with subtle tears in their eyes, flickering gazes, and lips that tremble just so.
Paired with addictive gameplay, you’ll immerse yourself in the story like never before.
Expect more info regarding Resident Evil Requiem to be surface once the preview embargo lifts, though we suspect there will be a lot of things left unanswered.
Resident Evil Requiem is expected to be released on Feb. 27, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
While we've already posted the complete PSN Store Summer Game Fest titles when the sale kicked off, it's hard to sift through the cheap games, given there are more than 3,500 entries in the entire promotion.
A considerable amount of time has passed since we last saw a new installment in the Just Cause series, with the last entry being released in 2018. While that title received a mixed reception from both critics and audiences, it was still enough to leave fans eager for more.
Unfortunately for these fans, Square Enix has remained largely quiet regarding the franchise’s future, only quietly confirming the development of a new game during a 2022 financial results briefing. A mobile game was also announced in 2020, though it was eventually cancelled in 2023.
To make matters worse, we have now discovered evidence indicating that this new title was cancelled, and quite a while ago.
Update: As expected, Capcom has unveiled "Resident Evil Requiem" and it features a new protagonist.
Just Cause 5: A Short-lived Project
The information comes from the profile of a former Sumo Digital employee, who worked as the Vehicles Feature Team Lead on the project from 2021 to 2023, before it was ultimately canceled.
The mention of Sumo Digital is particularly intriguing, as Avalanche Studios has traditionally been the primary developer for all main games in the series to date. This could suggest that Square Enix, being the owner of the IP, opted to outsource development to Sumo Digital. Alternatively, it could just indicate that Sumo Digital was collaborating with Avalanche or another studio on the project. However, given that Avalanche has been focused on developing the co-op title Contraband since 2021, their involvement in this new entry of the series seems unlikely, although this is purely speculative.
It’s worth noting that this information aligns perfectly with job listings posted by Sumo Digital in early 2021, where they were reportedly seeking staff for two projects, one particularly described as part of an “established AAA open-world action franchise.” Given this, it would be sensible to conclude that the project was indeed Just Cause.
It’s challenging to pinpoint the exact reasons for its potential cancellation, but if we speculate further, we might consider that Tencent’s acquisition of Sumo Group in 2022 could have impacted this development, as is often the case with other acquisitions affecting various projects.
On a positive note, at least we know Square Enix still considers the IP relevant. Just a few months ago, Aaron Rabin, a writer known for series like Jack Ryan, was confirmed to be involved in the film adaptation of Just Cause. Moreover, it’s unknown whether development on Just Cause 5 might have been reactivated after 2023, so there might still be hope for fans of Rico Rodriguez’s adventures.
Like many other big developers in the current landscape, Ubisoft is undergoing significant restructuring, largely driven by persistent financial challenges that have plagued the company for some time.
Mojang has released the Minecraft Preview update 1.74 download for players today, and this adds new features, bug fixes and more.
Current-gen players should see this as Minecraft Beta & Preview update version 1.057, while Mojang tags this as patch version 1.21.100.20.
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Read on for the complete patch notes straight from the developers.
Minecraft Beta and Preview Update for June 10 Brings It to Version 1.74/1.057
Features and Bug Fixes
Accessibility Features
Added screen narrator enumeration to UI buttons when adding a new server
Blocks
Leash Knots now immediately disappear when the block supporting them is destroyed (MCPE-163558)
Leashed mobs can no longer be attached to Walls (MCPE-187041)
Gameplay
Emoting players will no longer get stuck in a boat
General
Non-player entities transported from the End to the Overworld now correctly arrive at the world spawn (MCPE-157125)
Graphical
Fixed a bug where Caustics were not appearing for player hand and held items in First Person view.
The lead now correctly attaches to the player hand in first person with Vibrant Visuals enabled (MCPE-217597)
Fixed the Spyglass and fire effects in first person not receiving gamma calibration in Vibrant Visuals
Fixed a bug that caused Bottle o’ Enchanting not to glow when thrown in Vibrant Visuals
Fixed clusters of Mangrove Root blocks displaying a non-uniform color.
Fixed Chain blocks not being rendered with PBR properties defined by the texture set.
Fixed issue that caused Chain blocks to change PBR properties of surrounding blocks.
Fixed incorrect colors being displayed when render controllers used is_hurt_color along with on_fire_color (MCPE-220347)
Fixed render controllers displaying incorrect textures when using identically named Array.name values across geometry and texture expressions. (MCPE-220829)
Fixed flipbook textures not working with variations textures (MCPE-190531)
Mobs
Piglin Brutes will now despawn properly on peaceful difficulty (MCPE-88837)
Fixed a bug where Glow Squid would not act as leash anchor points
The ambient sound interval for Animals and the Ghast have been adjusted to 6 and 4 seconds, respectively, matching Java
Fixed bug that caused Happy Ghast to not rotate properly if dismounted while moving vertically
Character Creator
Fixed “Choose New Skin” button no longer working after pressing back button on Android. (MCPE-149587)
Stability and Performance
Fixed an issue where Xbox cloud saves would grow excessively in size with each save. (MCPE-197900)
Fixed rare crashes during the app suspension on Xbox
User Interface
Fixed the link text for the stacking add-ons banner in Create New World (MCPE-194268)
Removed trailing spaces from the Tears music disc description (MCPE-219554)
Recovering “Friends” and “Invite to Game” buttons when a scoreboard is visible (MCPE-218617)
Fixed an issue when clicking the world image in the world grid layout there was no click sound (MCPE-217667)
Player Dots on the Locator Bar now move smoothly when strafing near other Players
Touch Controls: Pick Block button is now available while inside scaffolding or powder snow (MCPE-190776)
Player Dot on the Locator Bar now stops 1 pixel before the edge of the bar
Touch Controls: The button to change camera perspective is now also available in Spectator mode (MCPE-190751)
Fixed a bug which could cause the bed screen to not be removed properly when being disconnected from a server.
The Owned/Download text now shows on items you own outside of the My Library page
The Marketplace Pass Chevron will now show on Items that the user owns while on normal Marketplace pages. Not on the Inventory. Owned/Download text moved to the right.
Updated Marketplace Pass chevron to show on items in the inventory. Moved Download/Owned text to right side.
The audio default volumes have been updated.
Audio Settings
Keep an eye out for some updates to the audio settings screen which will be rolling out soon!
Audio settings have been refreshed with a brand-new look!
Each setting now includes a helpful description, making it easier to understand what it does
Improved interaction with sliders that are now smoother and more responsive than before
Trees now generate more frequently in Snowy Plains
Mushrooms now properly generate under trees in Swamps and other biomes where they naturally occur
Seagrass no longer generates poking through ice in biomes with frozen water surfaces
Frozen Ocean surface is no longer entirely covered by ice, and now features patches of open water
Deep Frozen Ocean surface is no longer covered by ice and now consists entirely of open water
The color of water and underwater fog in Swamps when has been updated to match the intended look of the game (MCPE-63460)
This change only impacts Simple and Fancy Graphics, but not Vibrant Visuals
Mega Pines and Mega Spruces now always generate with Podzol beneath every block of their trunk, instead of appearing suspended over air (MCPE-140517)
Increased the size of the Podzol patch generated beneath Mega Pines and Mega Spruces
This change affects both world generation and trees grown by players
One-block-deep water puddles now generate in Swamps and Mangrove Swamps (MCPE-137029)
Grass blocks no longer generate at the bottom of carved terrain in Mushroom Fields biomes (MCPE-74983)
Mobs
Increase Squid and Glow Squid height offset, offset them slightly forward and decrease the size of their collision boxes to match Java (MCPE-114253)
Technical Updates
Add-Ons and Script Engine
Custom biome names are no longer implied by their filenames. Biome names are explicitly specified via the “identifier” property under the “description” sub-object of their JSON definition.
Biome identifiers must now be namespaced (ex: “minecraft:plains”). Client biomes with a format version lower than 1.21.90 will have their identifier automatically prefixed “minecraft:” when loaded if no namespace is already specified.
Updates biome documentation to match updated biome JSON formatting and requirements.
API
Fixed a bug where the includeLiquidBlocks property on BlockRaycastOptions would not correctly result in hits on liquids if it didn’t also reach a solid block afterward.
Fixing a crash with the DebugDrawer when used too early in the client joining a world (such as inside the playerSpawn event).
The message parameter of the setText method on BlockSignComponent no longer accepts a RawText as an option. This option was redundant as it is covered by the existing RawMessage option. This affects the setText method in all versions. .
Updated many error strings to use consistent punctuation.
The properties minValue and maxValue on the ArgumentOutOfBoundsError class are now optional. .
Updated several APIs to throw ArgumentOutOfBoundsError instead of Error where appropriate. .
This affects the following APIs in all versions:
Entity.addEffect for when the amplifier setting is out of bounds (0 – 255) or duration setting is out of bounds (1 – 20000000).
Entity.applyImpulse for when the vector parameter is out of bounds (-1000 – 1000 per axis).
ItemStack.setLore and ContainerSlot.setLore for when the loreList parameter is out of bounds (0 – 100 max lines, 0 – 1000 max length per line).
ItemStack.setAmount and ContainerSlot.setAmount for when the amount parameter is out of bounds (0 – 255).
Some existing errors that throw ArgumentOutOfBoundsError have been updated to use a standardized error message. .
This affects the following APIs in all versions:
ScreenDisplay.setTitle for when the fadeInDuration, stayDuration or fadeOutDuration settings are out of bounds (min value of 0).
StructureManager.placeStructure for when the integrity setting is out of bounds (0 – 1).
PlayerAimAssist.setAimAssistSettings for when the viewAngle setting is out of bounds (10 – 90) or distance setting is out of bounds (1 – 16).
ItemStack.setNameTag and ContainerSlot.setNameTag for when the nameTag parameter length is out of bounds (0 – 255).
Some existing errors that throw InvalidArgumentError have been updated to use a standardized error message. .
CustomSpawnRulesRegistry.registerObstructionCallback for when the predicate parameter is empty or a duplicate.
Released ‘DyeableItemComponent’ to stable
Block Components
Modified minecraft:geometry block component
Field uv_lock no longer requires UpcomingCreatorFeatures experiment to work, Json format_version still needs to be >= 1.19.80
Commands
Empty text for ‘/say’, ‘/me’ and ‘/tell’ commands now return ‘Invalid message length’ error (MCPE-185429)
/locate biome command now requires that the biome’s namespace is specified (ex: minecraft:plains instead of just plains). Auto-complete suggestions for this command will now include namespaces.
Components
Content warnings will log missing entity references in Spawn Rule JSON
Content warnings will log missing references in Client Biome JSON
The “minecraft:body_rotation_axis_aligned” component has been renamed to “minecraft:rotation_axis_aligned”
Creator Camera
Fixed an issue where projectiles were shot in the wrong direction when using touch controls and custom cameras (MCPE-201558)
Editor
Changed Cone and Cylinder Brush Shapes so that the origin is included in radius measurements. Fixed edge cases where values in X and Z dimensions would produce different results.
Fix a bug that ‘Multiplayer’ and ‘visible to LAN Players’ don’t effect in export
Fixes navigation and focus issues in the editor graph, fixed arrow key movement when the graph is locked. Improved handling of clicks outside of the graph
Fixed a bug where Realms panel was opening in an empty state
Added ability to specify directional placement of blocks for any brush operation using DirectionalPlacementMode enum and setDirectionalPlacementMode.
Added ability to toggle that “Ctrl” will either erase or add blocks with the addition of “setInverseEraseMode”.
Removed support for the SimpleTool framework API. Tools using this feature must now use IPlayerUISession controls instead.
Updated component tooltip property to support new TooltipContent type. TooltipContent allows for a custom title to be added to the tooltip.
Updated default brush shape and sizes for the terrain tool to apply smooth and roughen stronger on first use
Block Components
Modified minecraft:geometry block component
Field uv_lock no longer requires UpcomingCreatorFeatures experiment to work, Json format_version still needs to be >= 1.19.80
Commands
Empty text for ‘/say’, ‘/me’ and ‘/tell’ commands now return ‘Invalid message length’ error (MCPE-185429)
/locate biome command now requires that the biome’s namespace is specified (ex: minecraft:plains instead of just plains). Auto-complete suggestions for this command will now include namespaces.
Components
Content warnings will log missing entity references in Spawn Rule JSON
Content warnings will log missing references in Client Biome JSON
The “minecraft:body_rotation_axis_aligned” component has been renamed to “minecraft:rotation_axis_aligned”
Creator Camera
Fixed an issue where projectiles were shot in the wrong direction when using touch controls and custom cameras (MCPE-201558)
Editor
Changed Cone and Cylinder Brush Shapes so that the origin is included in radius measurements. Fixed edge cases where values in X and Z dimensions would produce different results.
Fix a bug that ‘Multiplayer’ and ‘visible to LAN Players’ don’t effect in export
Fixes navigation and focus issues in the editor graph, fixed arrow key movement when the graph is locked. Improved handling of clicks outside of the graph
Fixed a bug where Realms panel was opening in an empty state
Added ability to specify directional placement of blocks for any brush operation using DirectionalPlacementMode enum and setDirectionalPlacementMode.
Added ability to toggle that “Ctrl” will either erase or add blocks with the addition of “setInverseEraseMode”.
Removed support for the SimpleTool framework API. Tools using this feature must now use IPlayerUISession controls instead.
Updated component tooltip property to support new TooltipContent type. TooltipContent allows for a custom title to be added to the tooltip.
Updated default brush shape and sizes for the terrain tool to apply smooth and roughen stronger on first use
There are also Experimental changes by Mojang with detailed improvements listed too.
Avalanche Software has released a new Hogwarts Legacy update on PC, and this applies a significant amount of technical improvements related to older video cards and the Creation Kit.
Console owners, same as with the previous patches released, this is only for PC.
The Harry Potter reboot is a project that has been in the works for quite a while, being rumored during 2021 and finally confirmed in 2023 as a TV series for HBO.
Bungie’s latest patch for Destiny 2 is now available for download, and it will be displayed as version 3.63/1.158 on consoles, which Bungie refers to as 8.2.6.4.
Expect bug fixes related to The Rite of the Ninte, Triumphs and more.
While we've already posted the complete PSN Store Summer Game Fest titles when the sale kicked off, it's hard to sift through the cheap games, given there are more than 3,500 entries in the entire promotion.
While not as big as other Destiny 2 patches, this still brings a significant amount of improvements.
Destiny 2’s Latest Patch 3.63/1.158 Patch Notes for June 10
Activities
The Rite of the Nine
The Emissary should no longer randomly duplicate in the IX Realm.
Her will is not her own, yet…
Fixed an issue in the IX Realm where the lift to get to the Ghosts of the Deep chest would not activate if you did not complete Spire of the Watcher in the prior week.
All lifts will be active for the remainder of the event. Enjoy the changing landscape!
Removed the Navigator’s catalyst steps in Explorer Mode of Ghosts of the Deep, since the catalyst will not drop after completing the steps.
UI/UX
Fixed an issue where The Rite of the Nine Astrograph Shader was not appearing on item Appearance pages.
A new Bungie Name change token is now available for all players.
What have we done?!
Please try to behave yourselves 🙏
Gameplay and Investment
Armor
Fixed an issue where the Hunter’s Omnioculus Mask ornament was not displaying its special effect when wearing the Omnioculus Exotic chest piece with the Mechanopupil ornament equipped.
Triumphs
Progress has been added to the Seeker of the Nine Triumph for Spire of the Watcher and Ghosts of the Deep.
Fixed an issue where progress wasn’t being added to The Pale Heart Season Challenge after Overthrow completions.
Fixed an issue where progress toward completing The Whisper in the Moments of Triumph 2024 Title wasn’t counting if players had deleted the quest to complete it from Ada-1.
That’s it from Bungie. Once another patch is out, expect it here on MP1st.
The Destiny 2 servers are down once more on June 10, as maintenance is being conducted to allow guardians to download patch 8.2.6.4 once maintenance is complete. Same as in other maintenance periods, there are instances where it goes past the intended timeframe.
While we've already posted the complete PSN Store Summer Game Fest titles when the sale kicked off, it's hard to sift through the cheap games, given there are more than 3,500 entries in the entire promotion.
Destiny 2 Down on June 10? It’s Due to Maintenance
Sign-on and game integration features will be unavailable on web, mobile, third-party apps, and the Bungie Store.
Players who observe issues should report to the #Help forum.
8:35AM PDT
-7 UTC
Destiny 2 and all APIs will be brought offline for expected maintenance.
Players will be removed from activities.
Destiny 1 may be impacted.
10:00 AM PDT
-7 UTC
The latest Destiny 2 update will be available across all platforms and regions.
Players will be able to log back into Destiny 2.
Players logging into the game may be placed in a queue and may experience sign-on issues as background maintenance is still ongoing.
The Destiny 2 API will be brought online.
Clan features may remain offline until maintenance is complete.
12:00 PM PDT
-7 UTC
Destiny 2 maintenance is expected to conclude.
Console players who encounter issues updating should restart their console and try downloading the update.
Players who observe issues should report to the #Help forum.
Once the patch notes are up, we’ll link out to it within the article. As mentioned previously, don’t be surprised if the maintenance period goes past the targeted timeframe, as that happens more often than you think
It’s finally here! The long-awaited update to Rainbow Six Siege that brings it to Siege X is live on consoles and PC! Players should see this as Rainbow Six Siege update 3.00/1.000.105, and this ushers in the Y10S2.0 content.
This is the game’s biggest patch to date, and not only brings a new operator, but ushers in free access, the new 6v6 Dual Front mode and a lot more.
Last month, Xbox announced that it would raise the prices of its consoles, accessories, and even first-party games this year.
There’s a ton to take in, so read on for the complete patch notes below.
Rainbow Six Siege X Update Version 3.00/1.000.105 New Content
UNIQUE ABILITIES AND PLAYSTYLE
Reworked for greater mobility, Clash’s CCE Shield can anchor to the ground, letting her roam free and taser the enemy remotely to slow them down while she takes them out from a distance. While carrying the CCE Shield, Clash can use the same free look ability as other Operators, and benefit from her shield expanding and collapsing depending on the situation she finds herself in.
Rainbow Six Siege X – A New Era in Siege
FREE ACCESS
Starting with the launch of Year 10 Season 2, Siege X will be accessible for free to new players on all platforms. This includes access to the base game, featuring a variety of game modes such as Quick Match, Unranked, Deathmatch, Events, Tutorials, Training, Custom Game, and the new, permanent Dual Front mode. However, players with free access to Siege won’t be able to join the competitive game modes, Ranked and Siege Cup, unless they upgrade to a paid version of the game. Additionally, free access includes a selection of Operators unlocked by default, with others available after completing the tutorials and challenges designed for newcomers.
DUAL FRONT – NEW 6V6 GAME MODE
Dual Front is a new, permanent 6v6 mode where players field Attack and Defense Operators at the same time to secure the enemies’ sectors while defending their own. During the match, an Assignment takes place, granting an advantage to the team that completes it.
EXCLUSIVE MAP: DISTRICT
The setting of the Dual Front game mode is the District map. Located in an urban cityscape, this large map features mirrored areas: one derelict, filled with abandoned buildings and graffiti, and the other modern, clean, and corporate.
A unique characteristic of this map is the playable exteriors, making District a free-flowing and unpredictable battleground. At the center, the Neutral Sector is a crossroads of action where Operators can rotate at any time, and fight over Assignments when they come into play.
MODERNIZED MAPS
Bank, Clubhouse, Border, Chalet, and Kafe have been updated for Siege X. With modernized materials, an updated lighting system, and new destructible ingredients, new life has been breathed into these maps.
NEW DESCTRUCTIBLE INGREDIENTS
Destructible ingredients in the map environment provide a new way to control maps:
Fire extinguishers can be shot to concuss enemies and release a plume of smoke to obscure the vision of enemies.
Metal detectors make a loud noise when passed through and can be temporarily deactivated or destroyed.
Gas pipes can be shot, creating hazardous flame damage that blocks Operators from easily moving around them. After a short time, the shot gas pipe becomes destabilized and explodes, damaging any Operator in range.
ADVANCED RAPPEL
This season brings more freedom to how you climb buildings. Now, you sprint along walls and hop around corners, getting you where you need to go faster and more efficiently.
NEW PICK & BAN SYSTEM
The new Pick & Ban System transitions from a static structure where bans were decided before the match to a flexible one that allows both teams to adapt their strategy. Now, both teams simultaneously ban one enemy Operator per round, stacking up to six Operator bans in a match until team roles swap and the banned Operators reset. This means that the Operators you ban won’t affect you later on in the match, and you can focus on disrupting your enemies’ strategy without worrying about how that ban will affect you later. If the match goes to overtime, both teams will carry over their previous bans.
NEW COMMUNICATION WHEEL
The Communication Wheel adds new ways to communicate to your allies non-verbally so everyone can communicate more effectively. Preset pings grant the ability to relay specific information quickly.
WEAPON INSPECT
Whether you’re in the heat of a match or taking a tactical pause, take a moment to appreciate the fine details of your weapon skins, attachments, and charms, and show off your style!
VETERAN REWARDS
At the start of the new season, to reward your involvement in the game, we’ll be giving cumulative rewards according to the year in which you first launched the game from Y1 to Y10. In addition, you will receive a badge representing the year in which you launched the game from Y1 to Y9.
UNRANKED RETURN
Standard has been removed from the available playlists and Unranked has been brought back for all players above Clearance Level 20.
Unranked is an exact copy of Ranked in terms of rounds, timers, Pick & Ban, and general settings. Map filters will be kept in Unranked so players can have more map variety and play a specific map pool with Ranked settings.
AUDIO OVERHAUL
Sound has always been an important part of Rainbow Six Siege, which is why we’ve overhauled audio for Siege X. Reverb and propagation modifications help players pinpoint where and how far something could be, making auditory information more accurate. Banter between Operators has also been added, bringing life to the Operators and immersing players deeper into the Siege universe.
NEW ESPORTS TAB
This new section gives esports a home inside Siege for the first time ever, highlighting live matches and outlining the schedule so you can stay up to date without leaving the main menu. Releasing this season is only the first iteration, and the Esports Tab will continue to evolve throughout the year.
In May, we reported on a rumor suggesting that Call of Duty 2025 is Black Ops 7, which means we can expect back-to-back releases for Treyarch.
NEW PLAYER ONBOARDING
This season brings improvements to the AI system and removes the Versus AI playlist in favor of 2 new ones targeted to different player bases.
ENLISTED
This new AI playlist is designed for new players to experience Siege X and learn the basic flow of the game by going up against a team of enemy AI either solo or in a Squad. Once a player reaches Clearance Level 18, they’ll no longer have access to this playlist.
FIELD TRAINING
Similar to the Enlisted playlist, Field Training is where players can go up against a team of enemy AI either solo or in a Squad. However, this playlist offers customizable options such as AI difficulty, pre-setups, and map selection, in addition to being able to play the full roster of AI-supported Operators. Field Training is available to all players at Clearance Level 18 or higher.
CLEARANCE LEVEL REVAMP
In this new season, we’ve completely revamped the Clearance Level system to give more progression rewards and guide newcomers, so they experience the game at a better pace, helping them train their skills in the best possible setting.
Enlisted unlocked at CL2
Attack & Defense Tutorials unlocked at CL2
Shooting Range unlocked at CL3
Quick Match unlocked at CL3
Dual Front unlocked at CL5
Landmark Drill unlocked at CL5
Deathmatch unlocked CL7
Target Drill unlocked at CL10
Field Training unlocked at CL18
Unranked unlocked at CL20
Operator Specialties at CL20
Ranked unlocked at CL50
Siege Cup unlocked at CL50
In addition to unlocking playlists on their journey to Clearance Level 50, players will unlock various Operators and challenges to help them build up a roster and develop the skills worthy of the badges they’ll unlock along the way.
Due to the new system, current and returning players will have their Clearance Level adjusted. For any Operators already owned, you’ll be given their value in renown instead.
While we've already posted the complete PSN Store Summer Game Fest titles when the sale kicked off, it's hard to sift through the cheap games, given there are more than 3,500 entries in the entire promotion.
PLAYER COMFORT
FIRST-PERSON SHADOWS
This small, but crucial change adds a whole new layer to tactical awareness. With first-person shadows, it’ll be easier to give away your location when entering a room or passing through hallways, so make sure to stay vigilant and think twice about your positioning.
NEW OUTLINE SYSTEM
This change outlines enemies in your line of sight so they are clear, identifiable, and can no longer hide in the shadows. It’s a big change, but one that aims to make gameplay more fun and fair by putting an emphasis on how much noise a player makes rather than how visible they are. As always, we will keep listening to your feedback and adjust as needed.
MOMENTUM MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENT
Your momentum is now maintained when you step off short ledges, bringing more fluidity into how you move around the environment. Long drops will also force you out of aiming down your weapon sights. In addition, vault inputs are now buffered, meaning you can hold the vault button down and run into vaultable objects to vault without waiting for the prompt to appear.
TINNITUS FX
The new Tinnitus SFX option lets you customize the audio effect played when stunned in-game, be it from a Stun Grenade or another source. With this option, players who are sensitive to the ear-ringing sound of tinnitus can change it to a wave or mute the sound effect entirely.
NEW UI
The reworked and refreshed UI mixes classic Siege colors and easier-to-navigate menus. New art, textures, animations and layouts return to the classic, Siege special ops tone with a style focused on tactical elements and destruction gameplay.
BATTLE PASS NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENT
Navigating the Battle Pass Rewards Map is now more interactive and responsive. By removing the mini-map and adding different levels of zoom, you’ll enter the rewards map with a zoomed-out overview that helps you better identify and evaluate the rewards you want through the use of added filters. From there, you can zoom in and inspect the rewards in more detail.
Gears of War: Reloaded will be released in a few months, and it seems that Xbox is planning on hosting a few multiplayer betas ahead of release.
Rainbow Six Siege X Operator Balancing Changes
SLEDGE
Shield Operators will want to keep their distance from Sledge going forth: one swing of his hammer is now all he needs to get that shield out of the way and knock them to the ground.
JACKAL
This season brings multiple changes to Jackal to encourage more use of the headset and make things less frustrating for Defenders.
Hunter mark scans have been increased to 5 (from 3), but the pings have been reduced to only one, no matter how long ago the footprint was left. And, once a set of footprints has been scanned, they’ll be removed immediately—making it harder for Jackal to scan the same Operator’s footprints again. Old footprints now last longer, however, with an increase to 90 seconds from 120.
BLACKBEARD
The glass on the H.U.L.L. Adaptive Shield has been tinted to make it easier for players up against Blackbeard to see when the shield is down or still extended. Additionally, the sound effects of the glass panel moving up and down has been enhanced so you’ll know the state of Blackbeard’s shield without visual confirmation if you’re close enough.
ELECTRICITY EFFECT
As of Season 2, electricity is now a neutral element. Like fire, it no longer differentiates which team you’re on and will destroy any device that touches it, meaning players will need to be mindful of when and where they place their devices. In addition, electricity no longer injures Operators, but rather give them a temporary slow debuff.
Given the scope of the patch, don’t be surprised to see a follow-up title update be released soon by Ubisoft to address any major issues.
Arrowhead Game Studios has released Helldivers 2 update 1.003.101 for both PS5 and PC gamers. There is a stealth detection update in this patch that allows players to use stealth more easily.
As usual, this patch also comes with crash fixes, balancing, and several other gameplay improvements. Check out the patch notes down below.
Although Helldivers 2 was released over a year ago, the title remains strong, with the recent massive update, released just over two weeks ago, continuing to attract attention from fans.
Helldivers Update 1.003.101 Has Easier Stealth
Overview
Stealth Detection Update
Crash Fixes
Balancing
Mission fixes
Miscellaneous fixes
Balancing
General
The Ministry of Humanity has issued an amendment to its Combat Mobility Safety Guidelines, now permitting Helldivers to self-administer stims while in mid-dive, an act previously categorized in the same risk zone as “running with scissors” and “juggling live grenades”
Primary weapons
R-2 Amendment
Increased ergonomics from 35 to 50
Sidearms
P-2 Peacemaker
Increased starting magazines from 4 to 5
Increased max spare magazines from 6 to 8
Increased damage from 75 to 85
Increased durable damage from 15 to 25
Armor Passives
Integrated Explosives
Now also increases initial inventory and holding capacity of grenades by +2
Unflinching
This passive has been adjusted to better reflect the core doctrine of the Truth Enforcers Warbond—relentless pursuit, battlefield awareness, and overwhelming presence
Now also increases armor rating by 25
Markers placed on the map will generate a radar scan every 2.0s, revealing nearby hostiles
Enemies
General
Stealth Detection Update:
Enemies will no longer automatically detect you when you’re near Terminid spawners or spawners that generate flying enemies. Instead, these spawners will now only activate if an enemy has already identified you as a target.
Previously, simply being within 200 meters of certain spawner types—such as flying enemy spawners, Stalker lairs, or inside Terminid locations—would trigger immediate enemy spawns and reveal your location. This update shifts detection to a more logical, line-of-sight or alert-based system, reducing arbitrary auto-detection mechanics and improving stealth gameplay
As a result of these changes, Automaton Fabricators now spawn enemies more consistently, ensuring smoother pacing and engagement balance
Objectives
Take Down Overship
The Planetary Defense Cannon now causes an appropriate amount of damage when shooting at Leviathans
Illuminate
Harvester
Their health has been rebalanced to make them easier to destroy using anti-tank weapons, particularly when aiming at their head
Overseers
Reduced the frequency of Elevated Overseers spawning during Prevent Invasion Foothold missions
Overseers can now occasionally spawn from landed dropships at outposts, adding variety to their battlefield presence
Leviathan
Projectile damage was reduced from 1500 to 350. The intent is to ensure Helldivers are still eliminated on direct impact, while preventing instant destruction of Exosuits and FRVs
Explosion damage and radius from turret shots have been increased to maintain lethality through area denial
Automatons
Factory Strider
Slightly increased the health of its feet. It should no longer be destroyed by a single GR-8 Recoilless Rifle shot to the legs
Fixes
Crash Fixes, Hangs and Soft-locks:
Fixed a crash that could happen after any player disconnects
Fixed some crashes that were caused by browsing different weapon attachments
Weapons and Stratagems
Fixed RS-422 Railgun scope’s screen not displaying the heat level correctly
Entrenchment tool’s stamina cost now properly matches other melee weapons
Fixed an issue where melee attacks inside shield relays were not registering properly
Enemies
Fixed two cases where the Stingray enemy would appear to stop or teleport on death
Missions
Fixed an issue with the ‘Take Down Overship’ mission where the Overship explosion did not always trigger for client players
Fixed a rare issue in ‘Take Down Overship’ where the Overship could get destroyed and not trigger the objective completion
Fixed an issue with the ‘Deploy Seismic Probe’ mission that could make it incompletable if you completed a Lidar side objective while a seismic probe had been called down
Fixed an issue with the drill not falling correctly for clients on the ‘Nuke Nursery’ mission
Fixed an issue with super samples failing to spawn in cities
Miscellaneous Fixes
Fixed a bug that was causing Helldivers to slide while using the Lockstep march emote
Fixed an issue with friendly & enemy pathing around the Shuttlebay location
Fix a bug that was causing the Helldiver to hold pickups as weapons when switching between weapons right after picking up an item
Fixed missing attachments for SEAF soldiers
Game will now show error message if resources cannot be loaded correctly
Fixed a flickering issue that sometimes would occur in the loadout menu’s Helldiver previews
Fixed jitter while interacting with the Armory
MP1st will notify its readers when another Helldivers 2 update is out very soon.
FromSoftware has released Elden Ring Nightreign update 1.03 for patch 1.01.2. Read on to see the changes that have been made that focus primarily on bug fixes. Expect the download to be small, as this patch doesn’t contain any new content.
For the complete details, head on below for the official patch notes.
Fixed a bug where the Passive Effect “Add (Magic/Lightning/Holy) to Weapon”, when applied to a Bow, made the Physical attack power higher than expected.
Fixed a bug where some non-direct attacks of specific weapons’ skills would inflict the attribute attack power and status ailment of the weapon.
Fixed a bug where weapons with the “Projectile Damage Drop-Off Reduced” Passive Effect were not included in the loot pool of chests and felled enemies.
Fixed a bug where the Demon Merchant would not appear when some conditions were met during the Personal Objective “Find the Demon Merchant in Limveld” of Guardian’s Remembrance.
Fixed a bug where Libra, Creature of Night would repeatedly perform some actions.
Fixed a bug that caused the game to become unstable under some circumstances during the battle against Adel, Baron of Night.
Fixed a bug where it was not possible to rescue a player who was near death after being grabbed by Wormface’s grab attack.
NOTE: Although this update includes bugfixes, we are aware that similar issues may still occur under some conditions, and we are continuing to work on resolving them.
The version number of this update shown at the lower right corner of the Title Screen will be as follows:
App Ver. 1.01.2
Regulation Ver 1.01.3
Expect more updates for Elden Ring Nigthreign from FromSoftware in the future, and we’ll have it up here on MP1st.
Rebel Wolves’ brand new role-playing game, The Blood of Dawnwalker, is still quite a ways out, as the studio confirmed today during the Xbox Games Showcase that they are now targeting a 2026 window.
FromSoftware has released the second post-release patch for Elden Ring Nightreign today on all platforms. Those on current-gen consoles, this will show up as Elden Ring Nightreign update 1.001.0021/1.03, which the developers call as patch 1.01.2.
Players can expect bug fixes to be part of the roll out, and this was released during the game’s maintenance period today.
While we've already posted the complete PSN Store Summer Game Fest titles when the sale kicked off, it's hard to sift through the cheap games, given there are more than 3,500 entries in the entire promotion.
For the complete details, read on for the patch notes straight from FromSoftware.
Elden Ring Nightreign New Update Applies Adjustments and Fixes
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where the Passive Effect “Add (Magic/Lightning/Holy) to Weapon”, when applied to a Bow, made the Physical attack power higher than expected.
Fixed a bug where some non-direct attacks of specific weapons’ skills would inflict the attribute attack power and status ailment of the weapon.
Fixed a bug where weapons with the “Projectile Damage Drop-Off Reduced” Passive Effect were not included in the loot pool of chests and felled enemies.
Fixed a bug where the Demon Merchant would not appear when some conditions were met during the Personal Objective “Find the Demon Merchant in Limveld” of Guardian’s Remembrance.
Fixed a bug where Libra, Creature of Night would repeatedly perform some actions.
Fixed a bug that caused the game to become unstable under some circumstances during the battle against Adel, Baron of Night.
Fixed a bug where it was not possible to rescue a player who was near death after being grabbed by Wormface’s grab attack.
NOTE: Although this update includes bugfixes, we are aware that similar issues may still occur under some conditions, and we are continuing to work on resolving them.
The version number of this update shown at the lower right corner of the Title Screen will be as follows:
App Ver. 1.01.2
Regulation Ver 1.01.3
Expect more updates for Elden Ring Nigthreign from FromSoftware in the future, and we’ll have it up here on MP1st.
Rebel Wolves’ brand new role-playing game, The Blood of Dawnwalker, is still quite a ways out, as the studio confirmed today during the Xbox Games Showcase that they are now targeting a 2026 window.
Developer Tamsoft has released Bleach Rebirth of Souls update 1.010.000, and some new features are added. This update brings the much awaited ranked matchmaking mode into the game for the first time.
For Season Pass owners, they get access to a new DLC character. Read on for the Bleach Rebirth of Souls update 1.10 (PS4) patch notes below.
FromSoftware's Elden Ring Nightreign is upon us, with it, the studio's first multiplayer-centric Soulsborne.
Bleach Rebirth of Souls Update 1.010.000 Has DLC and Ranked Matchmaking
Tamsoft did not post any official patch notes for this update yet, but you can view the trailer and read the details down below.
Here’s the details of the DLC:
-This update includes ranked matchmaking.
-The DLC character of Ichigo Kurosaki (Thousand-Year Blood War Arc) is available now for Season Pass owners.
-The DLC is out June 17 for everyone else.
If Tamsoft releases actual patch notes, we will update this post as soon as possible. MP1st will update its readers when more patches for Bleach Rebirth of Souls is announced in the near future.
If you’re into fast-paced shooters and like the flexibility of playing solo or with friends, Abyssus by DoubleMoose Games might be worth keeping on your radar. We got the chance to preview an early build and explore what this underwater roguelite FPS adventure game has to offer.
Could this be one to dive into? Developed by DoubleMoose Games, Abyssus is about “fast-paced multiplayer shooting action. Fight through gorgeous hand-crafted levels in a roguelite adventure that will put your tactical skills to the ultimate test. Wield powerful brine-powered weapons and refit them with ancient technologies to gain an edge over your foes. Obtain divine blessings to enhance your firepower with elemental and mystic effects.”
Does it manage to pull its ambition off?
Straight to the Point
Abyssus wastes no time getting you into the thick of it. After a brief tutorial, you’re quickly thrown into combat — blasting enemies, tossing explosives, activating abilities, or swinging a hefty hammer. It’s a chaotic mix that feels a bit like DOOM (as mentioned in our previous Abyssus preview), but set in tight, dungeon-like corridors.
Combat is intense and satisfying, but not without its rough edges. Some enemy attacks have surprisingly long range or homing mechanics, so you’ll need to stay alert. Performance-wise, some issues need ironing out. Frame rates dropped to around 40–55 FPS during fights, even on a rig running an RTX 3080 on medium settings. That’s concerning and hopefully something the developers will address before launch. Movement and aiming can also feel sluggish. Not enough to ruin the experience, but enough to notice.
Runs in Abyssus are high-stakes. Falling off ledge’s chips away at your health, and healing options are limited. You get one potion per run, and while there’s a chance to recover some health through random drops, it’s not something you can rely on. This makes survival, especially in solo play, much more intense.
Clearing stages earns you loot like relics and blessings, which are essential for making progress. These upgrades can turn the tide in tough encounters, letting you deal more damage or survive longer as you descend deeper (each level essentially acting as its own stage).
Something to keep in mind with Abyssus is that failing in the expedition will end the entire run, so explore and proceed with that caution. As the deeper you go, the more challenging it gets.
Customize Your Deep-Sea Slayer
Want to stand out from your squad? Abyssus includes unlockable gear to change your character’s look and loadout. New weapons and cosmetic items are tied to specific challenges, and some of them won’t be easy. It’s a rewarding system, though, and adds an extra layer of motivation. If you’re struggling, co-op can make these objectives more manageable (and a lot more fun).
Stare into the Abyss and the Abyss Will Tear You to Pieces.
If you’re into fast-paced action, creative weapons, and teaming up with friends, Abyssus is absolutely worth keeping an eye on. It’s not quite finished yet, and there are a few rough spots that need some attention, but it shows a ton of promise even in its current state. With the developers clearly listening to feedback and an active community behind it, I really believe this could shape up to be one of the standout FPS titles of 2025. I’ve had a great time with it so far, and I’m genuinely excited to see where it goes.
Alexander Lataillade-Nguyen is a California-based cybersecurity professional and lifelong gamer with a passion for continuous learning. Outside of his work in ethical IT and digital security, he enjoys competitive pinball, miniature painting, and exploring new hobbies and cuisines.
One of the many uncertainties that come from Microsoft’s unclear communication on numbers is the current number of Xbox Game Pass subscribers, which hasn’t been updated for years. This leaves the evaluation of the service’s performance uncertain. However, a possible answer might have come from Linkedin, which shows a more accurate figure.
The source of this information is the online resume of Kevin K., a program manager at Microsoft responsible for subscription operations and performance analysis. This suggests that Kevin K. is a well-informed individual on the matter.
Many Xbox titles find success in terms of player engagement, with Game Pass offering a vast library for subscribers to explore.
How Many Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Are There?
The resume was discovered by Timur222, a user on X (formerly Twitter), who has become known for finding useful information hidden in online documents. These documents often contain interesting insights, as seen here.
While it’s not an exact figure, the resume mentions that the program manager helped manage the “live operations” of Xbox Game Pass, guiding the service’s subscriber growth from 0 to over 35 million worldwide.
This information cannot be seen as a precise number officially shared in financial documents, and we don’t know exactly how up-to-date it is, but it’s likely based on internal data from Microsoft.
So, according to this resume, Xbox Game Pass now has “over 35 million” subscribers, showing a growth compared to the last official number shared by Microsoft. In February 2024, the company stated there were 34 million subscribers.
The growth continues but has clearly slowed down compared to the massive rise Xbox Game Pass saw in its earlier years. This suggests that the service may be reaching its potential user limit, although we are still waiting for official updated numbers.
Beginning this week, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members will enjoy new benefits for some of their favorite free-to-play multiplayer games.
While we’ve already posted the complete PSN Store Summer Game Fest titles when the sale kicked off, it’s hard to sift through the cheap games, given there are more than 3,500 entries in the entire promotion.
MP1st is here to help the more budget-conscious gamers out there, as we’ve rounded up the best games that are priced $4.99 and below in the sale.
Note that tastes are subjective, so we might not include a game or two that you feel should be in it. We’ve tried to keep the list as varied as possible with AAA games and some smaller ones, too.
PSN Store Summer Game Fest Sale Best Deals Under $4.99 – Ends 6/18
Injustice 2 (-85%$2.99) – Store Link: Power up and build the ultimate version of your favorite DC legends in INJUSTICE 2.
Little Nightmares (-75%, $4.99) – Store Link: Take on the role of Six, a lone child lost in a massive metal vessel known as the Maw, surrounded by dangerous, distorted versions of adults. You’ll need to do your best to escape in one piece or your fate will be worse than you ever dared dream.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™ – Game of the Year Edition ( -75%, $4.99) – Store Link: Winner of over 50 “Best of 2014” Awards including Game of the Year, Best Action Game and Most Innovative Game.
DOOM 3 (-60%, $3.99) – Store Link: In this critically acclaimed action-horror re-telling of the original DOOM, players must battle their way through a demon-infested facility before entering the abyss to battle Hell’s mightiest warrior – and put an end to the invasion.
INDIGO PROPHECY (-80%, $2.99) – Store Link: Released as FAHRENHEIT in Europe in 2005, INDIGO PROPHECY is the first INTERACTIVE DRAMA created by QUANTIC DREAM, the makers of HEAVY RAIN and BEYOND: TWO SOULS.
Sine Mora EX (-75%, $4.99) – Store Link: Sine Mora is a side-scrolling shoot’em up that provides a unique challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing classic shooter sensibilities with contemporary presentation, Sine Mora is a gorgeous shoot’em up offering both a Story Mode that weaves an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode that provides deep, satisfying gameplay to challenge fans of the genre.
Tormented Souls (-75%, $4.99) – Store Link: Classic survival horror is back! Solve puzzles and face sinister enemies in deadly combat in this relentless nightmare as Caroline Walker hunts for missing twin girls in a cavernous abandoned mansion. Can you confront your fears and uncover the secrets of Winterlake… or will you die trying?
Don’t Starve: Console Edition (-75%, $3.74) – Store Link: Don’t Starve: Console Edition is an uncompromising wilderness survival game full of science and magic. You play as Wilson, an intrepid Gentleman Scientist who has been trapped by a demon and transported to a mysterious wilderness world. Wilson must learn to exploit his environment and its inhabitants if he ever hopes to escape and find his way back home.
Mortal Kombat 11 (-90%, $4.99) – Store Link: The all new Custom Character Variations give you unprecedented control of your fighters to make them your own. The new graphics engine showcases every skull-shattering, eye-popping moment, bringing you so close to the fight you can feel it. Featuring a roster of new and returning Klassic Fighters, Mortal Kombat’s best-in-class cinematic story mode continues the epic saga over 25 years in the making.
Harvest Moon: Back to Nature (-40%, $3.59) – Store Link: Experience Harvest Moon: Back to Nature originally released on the PlayStation® console, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.
GOD EATER: Resurrection (-75%, $4.99) – Store Link: Discover that in times of adversity, humans will go to any length to survive in GOD EATER: Resurrection.
Dead Rising 2 (-65%, $4.19) – Store Link: In the sequel to Dead Rising, players step into the shoes of Chuck Greene, professional motorcycle racer. Surrounded by a horde of hungry zombies in the spectacular casino town of Fortune City, Chuck finds himself in a race against time to find Zombrex, the one thing that can keep Katey, his young daughter, alive. Can he protect her and make it out of Fortune City alive?
Resident Evil 0 (-75%, $4.99) – Store Link: Resident Evil 0 reveals the truth behind the Mansion Incident, the catalyst for the entire storyline of the Resident Evil series. This remastered version takes the story and gameplay of the original and adds stunning HD graphics, 5.1 channel surround sound, optional modernised controls and widescreen TV compatibility. Get ready to discover the terrible secrets lurking in the origins of evil.
Resident Evil 5 (-75%, $4.99) – Store Link: One of the most popular Resident Evil titles comes to PlayStation®4 in full 1080p HD with an increased frame rate. Featuring single-player and co-op modes and a dramatic storyline, this fully-loaded release includes all previously released DLC (Lost in Nightmares and Desperate Escape story expansions, Versus mode, extra figures and 4 costumes), and the previously PC-exclusive No Mercy mode, as well as the new mode “The Mercenaries United” which combines the two fan-favorite modes, The Mercenaries and The Mercenaries Reunion for an even more intense experience.
Resident Evil 6 (-75%, $4.99) – Store Link: Blending action and survival horror, Resident Evil 6 is a dramatic horror experience that cannot be forgotten. Now in high definition, the game offers multiple characters, including fan favorites and new faces, along with solo and co-op modes and new challenges for players, different from any other in the Resident Evil franchise. This edition includes all DLC, along with two costumes per main character, originally exclusively unlockable through Residentevil.net, that are now unlockable through the game itself.
Visual Concepts has pushed out WWE 2K25 update 1.14 on consoles and PC, and this is a minor patch that brings fixes to specific issues. Given we just got a patch with ganeplay fixes two weeks ago, don’t expect anything significant from this new patch.
The patch improves stability and performance, and it also fixes certain issues with Create-a-Superstar..
Gears of War: Reloaded will be released in a few months, and it seems that Xbox is planning on hosting a few multiplayer betas ahead of release.
For details on the patch notes and the issues that persist, please head below.
WWE 2K25 New Patch 1.14 Now Live on All Platforms This June 9
Here’s what’s new per Visual Concepts:
General
Stability and performance improvements
Create
Addressed reported concerns with blank layers appearing in Create-a-Superstar
That’s about it when it comes to the fixes. In terms of bugs, there are still a fair amount that still hasn’t been resolved, which are listed below (via WhatTheStatus).
John Cena ’25 hair still bugged
CM Punk ’11 still missing chest tattoo (though might be intentional from Visual Concepts’ end?).
If any additional information becomes available about today’s patch, we’ll be sure to share it with our readers. The latest gameplay fixes released was on the last week of May, which included fixes to The Island and more..
It’s been a good year for Ninja Gaiden fans. First, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was released, followed by the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4, the long-awaited next entry in the franchise. It’s set to release later this year, but before that happens, there’s actually another Ninja Gaiden game coming out.
I’m talking Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a whole new adventure in the Ninja Gaiden universe that sees the franchise return to its classic 2D roots. With the help of Dotemu (TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge), the creators of the Blasphemous series, The Game Kitchen, set their eyes on delivering an experience much like the original games did, though with some modernized twists.
The next iteration in the long-running Ninja Gaiden franchise has a release date! Fans of the franchise will be able to enjoy the next
Not only that, but a brand-new gameplay to celebrate the Ninja Gaiden 4 release date was also released, along with details of what's included in the Deluxe Edition of the game.
With its release due next month, we had the opportunity to go hands-on with an early access demo, and let’s just say this is one entry in the franchise you won’t want to miss.
Ninja Gaiden Returns to Its 2D Roots
The tale of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound sees us taking on the role of Kenji Mozu, a disciple in training under Ryu Hayabusa, the main protagonist of the Ninja Gaiden franchise. As Ryu travels to America, Hayabusa Village is under siege by a demonic army after the barrier between our world and the demon world breaks. Thus, it’s up to Kenji to protect the village, though he’s not alone as he’s accompanied by Kumori, a member of the Black Spider Clan who comes in the form of a spirit since her physical body is trapped within the demon world. Though their clans’ past suggests they should be enemies, the two put their differences aside to stop the demonic forces threatening the village and the entire world.
I’ll keep the story details at that, but surprisingly, despite the demo being short, there appears to be a substantial amount of story in this smaller-scale adventure. Most of it did seem to be the dynamic and bond that is forming between our protagonists, Kenji and Kumori, both of whom are playable, but not in a character selection sense, but rather on the fly, dynamically shifting between the two and even combining attacks and combos.
Undoubtedly, the big focus will be on the gameplay, and for fans of the original 2D Ninja Gaidens or any classic 2D hack-and-slash games, you’ll love what The Game Kitchen has done with Ragebound.
First off, the game’s challenging. Fans of the franchise aren’t strangers to that, but it’s still nice to see that another studio understands the importance of keeping these games fairly challenging. There’s a ton of platforming that tests out your skills, with timing being everything, and the studio isn’t shy about throwing enemies and puzzles into the mix of it all.
The combat itself, though, is fast-paced, with Kenji playing like you would expect, jumping around and sword slashing like a bad ass ninja. Kumori is more on the range side, throwing daggers and such, though she’s pretty deadly when she has to get close and personal with enemies.
Because she is a spirit, though, this also presents some unique gameplay opportunities that allow the combat of both characters to blend. Ki energy can be gathered from defeated enemies, which Kenji can use to perform an ultimate attack. Kumori can also shoot through walls and such, which helps out when solving puzzles.
Sometimes you can summon Kumori into the world to play as her, though only temporarily, and in most instances tied to a puzzle that requires speed and precision to overcome. However, returning to the combat, it’s fast and superbly fluid. With the number of enemies thrown on the screen, it’s very challenging too. But most of all, it’s fun. The controls feel just right, and I love how Kenji’s and Kumori’s fighting styles are blended in seamlessly, allowing you to combine their powers during combat. It adds a layer of depth that will likely continue to expand throughout the game, keeping things fresh and exciting.
For those who may eventually outgrow the game’s difficulty, there is some good news: a hard mode is included that ups the challenge. From what I saw, it seems not only to make enemies more difficult to kill, but there also appears to be more of them, and obstacles to deal with. A much-welcomed addition, as the hardcore Ninja Gaiden fans will absolutely love the heightened challenge.
Boss fights seem pretty brutal too, on regular or hardcore difficulty, though that’s also the norm in the Ninja Gaiden franchise. They do have movesets that are learnable, as in, if you’re finding yourself having a hard time, you should pay close attention to what move the boss performs, as there’s always a way to counter them, be that dodging through them, jumping over them, or getting some distance between them. The demo sadly only had a single boss, with a second one teased for the full game, though they do seem like they’re going to be some very interesting and unique bosses to face that I cannot wait to see.
Overall, I’m left pretty impressed by Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. It may not be a full 3D experience like Ninja Gaiden 4 is going to be, but as a callback to the series’ roots, it’s pretty good, which is no surprise considering the studio and publisher behind it. Personally, I can’t wait for the full release, which is right around the corner as Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound launches on July 31 on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
A gamer at heart, James has been working for MP1st for the last decade to do exactly what he loves, writing about video games and having fun doing it. Growing up in the 90's gaming has been in his DNA since the days of NES. One day he hopes to develop his own game.
There’s a new WWE 2K25 patch available on all platforms today, June 9 and it’s a minor hotfix aimed at specific issues. Players can download it now as WWE 2K25 update 1.014/1.14, though don’t expect anything major from it.
The patch improves stability and performance, and it also fixes certain issues with Create-a-Superstar..
Gears of War: Reloaded will be released in a few months, and it seems that Xbox is planning on hosting a few multiplayer betas ahead of release.
For details on the patch notes and the issues that persist, please head below.
WWE 2K25 Latest Update Fixes Create-a-Superstar Issues via Update 1.014/1.14
Here’s what’s new per Visual Concepts:
General
Stability and performance improvements
Create
Addressed reported concerns with blank layers appearing in Create-a-Superstar
That’s about it when it comes to the fixes. In terms of bugs, there are still a fair amount that still hasn’t been resolved, which are listed below (via WhatTheStatus).
John Cena ’25 hair still bugged
CM Punk ’11 still missing chest tattoo (though might be intentional from Visual Concepts’ end?).
If any additional information becomes available about today’s patch, we’ll be sure to share it with our readers. The latest gameplay fixes released was on the last week of May, which included fixes to The Island and more..
Join me as I take my first steps into the world of Baby Steps, a new game developed by Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, and Bennett Foddy, about a middle-aged man learning to walk as he treks through perilous terrains in an attempt to find his way back home.
Sure, walking may sound easy to you. I mean, it’s probably second nature for many of us, but for our protagonist, walking is anything but easy.
Go Touch Grass, They Said. You’ll Be Fine, They Said
Baby Steps is a game about a guy named Nate, who is presumably a middle-aged man still living with his parents. Lying on his living room couch about to watch a new episode of One Piece (yes, the popular anime), Nate finds himself mysteriously transported to an unknown world. He doesn’t know how or even why he was teleported here, though he does know that he must find his way back home, which involves doing something he has seemingly never done before: walking.
It’s a straightforward premise that immediately suggests the story isn’t something to take seriously. It’s written in a more satirical way, as evident by the interactions you’ll have with some of the NPCs littered in the world. It’s pretty funny if you’re a fan of a certain humor, and I found it fitting for the world that developers Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, and Bennett Foddy created here. There are hints of a mystery and a grander story at play, though the focus of Baby Steps certainly wasn’t big on the story, at least in the demo.
No, that focus comes in the form of its gameplay, which is, for the short of it, a walking simulator. But before you write this off as another Death Stranding (a fantastic game by the way), Baby Steps isn’t solely about walking through a valley of gorgeous vistas. That’s part of it, but anyone familiar with developers’ past works (QWOP and Getting Over It) knows this isn’t a simple walking game.
As I mentioned earlier, Nate doesn’t know, or perhaps has barely walked in his life. We can assume that he mooches off his parents while comfortably living on the couch we see during the intro. So when he gets teleported into this strange new world, the first thing that happens to Nate is that he falls down a hill, with his body going into an uncontrollable ragdoll state. It’s pretty comical to see, and when he finally does get back up on his feet, you, the player, are ready to help Nate take his first steps.
The controls are simple: you have your camera, a stick for controlling the direction the characters move, and two trigger buttons, which correspond to the left and right feet. The layout is nothing too complicated, and your goal is to walk and figure out how to get back home. So let’s take a look to see how our first steps go.
Honestly, it’s about what I expected to happen, and I’m pretty confident this, or some other mishap, has happened to everyone else who has played this demo.
This is essentially the real premise of Baby Steps. A game about your struggle to get a man to walk properly. It sounds stupid, and it actually is pretty stupid, but sometimes the most stupid of things end up being the best things. Again, if you’ve played QWOP and/or Getting Over It, you already know exactly what you’re getting yourself into here. If you haven’t, well, QWOP is a free browser game, so there’s no excuse there. But to sum up my experience in one word: Frustrating.
Usually, that’s not a good thing. In any other situation, I would probably be ranting about how terrible a game is for making me feel like that. But that’s Baby Steps’ goal. It wants to break you down, it wants to try and make you so mad at it that you turn it off. Yet, in that frustration, you realize you’re not going to give up; you’re not going to back down just because the game tells you to. You’re gonna do it. You’re going to beat this game. Then you proceed to master and nail down every step, and have a perfect stretch of walk. You feel good, you feel confident, you feel invincible. Oh, what’s this, a tiny little rock? Ha, I eat rocks for breakfast, I’m just gonna step right over you…wait, no, what, no don’t please, no NATE. WHAT ARE YOUR LEGS DOING, NATE? WHY ARE YOU BENDING LIKE THAT! YOU SON OF A BITCH, DON’T YOU DO IT, DON’T YOU DARE DO IT. His legs then bend backwards, almost as if they’re about to snap in half, causing you to stumble and begin rolling down a hill where you first started. God, dammit, Nate, I hate you so much right now, but you know what, I’m going to try this again, and I will get it right this time. Cues the several hours of falling montage.
Now, some of that was exaggerated, because truth be told, it’s not entirely as punishing as, say, Getting Over It. That game can be beaten in less than an hour, yet it took me over 20 hours because I kept falling off the level. Baby Steps seems much more approachable, given its open-world-like design that allows players to approach things however they want. It’s still pretty hard when it wants to be, but players now have a ton of different avenues they can take to get to whatever destination they’re trying to reach. One such example was I wanted to avoid a pile of rocks going up a hill, because I knew I was going to fall from it and have to rewalk up everything again. So I decided to take another path that was on the other side of it. Still just as dangerous as it was, bringing me through a higher inclined slope, but it did give me that option to do that, and try to find easier ways to go about things.
Overall, although my time with Baby Steps was brief, I enjoyed what I played here, even if that enjoyment was often accompanied by plenty of yelling and anger. There’s no telling just how difficult Baby Steps will get, but based on some of the past trailers, I think fans of the games mentioned above will be in for something special here. Baby Steps seems to be the developer’s biggest, most ambitious title yet, as the world itself seems to offer some rather interesting things, but in terms of activities and narratively. I cannot wait to see how the final release ends; luckily, that wait won’t be long, as Baby Steps launches on the PS5 and PC on September 8, 2025.
A gamer at heart, James has been working for MP1st for the last decade to do exactly what he loves, writing about video games and having fun doing it. Growing up in the 90's gaming has been in his DNA since the days of NES. One day he hopes to develop his own game.
On June 9, Hello Games released No Man’s Sky update 5.071 (version 5.71), the first set of fixes for the Beacon content drop. While today’s No Man’s Sky update addresses a significant number of bugs, expect more updates to be released in the coming days and weeks.
The patch also contains console-specific fixes for PlayStation, Xbox and Switch 2 players. Read on for the complete patch notes below.
No Man’s Sky Update on June 9 Brings It to Version 5.071/5.71
Stellar Blade’s PC release on June 11 included new content that was set to be released to PS5 owners of the game via a new title update. Unfortunately for Shift Up, somebody seems to have missed the memo, and accidentally pushed the update out today.
Some players were alerted to the Stellar Blade update version 1.011 download, which housed the new content. In less than an hour, Shift Up pulled the patch, making it inaccessible to the rest of the people who had not downloaded it ahead of the June 11 release. If you attempt to download it manually now, it won’t work, and you’ll still see version 1.010.
Last month, Xbox announced that it would raise the prices of its consoles, accessories, and even first-party games this year.
Stellar Blade’s Content Update for June 11 Rolled Out Prematurely to Some Players
MP1st was notified of the game update version 1.011 download around 10:50 pm EDT/7:50 PDT/10:50 am HKT. In about 30 minutes, Shift Up rolled the game back to 1.010, which made it inaccessible to everyone else.
People from the Stellar Blade community confirmed it housed the new content by posting an image of the new Crimson Wings outfit for Eve:
However, it seems the update isn’t complete, as some users have reported that they’ve only gotten a “partial” part of it, which I presume doesn’t include all the improvements and new content.
Developer Shift Up then mentioned on X (formerly Twitter) how they were “really upset” at what happened. While the tweet has since been deleted, players managed to take a screenshot of it before Shift Up removed it from existence.
Shift Up mentioned some of the changes PS5 players can expect on June 11, which include Photo Mode improvements such as:
Photo mode improvements and new features will be added on the 11th
3 new facial expressions for EVE
4 new poses for EVE and Lily
Added preset saving function
Up to 6 lights can be used
In terms of new content, there is a new boss battle against Mann, the leader of the Sentinels. “He is a seasoned warrior, a master of weapons, the bodyguard of Orcal, and the guardian of Xion. Face his might in the Boss Challenge and prove why Eve is truly ‘worthy’,” claims Shift Up.
Aside from the Crimson Wings outfit, users are reporting that there are also other outfits added, such as one that players can obtain after defeating Mann.
For those who want to experience the new content, you’ll have to wait until June 11 to do so, when the PC version is officially released. Don’t be surprised to see this new update fall under a different version as well.
