Open-worldgaming is something that players can’t get enough of, with the idea of exploring massive sandboxes tantalizing fans to this day. For the most part, these games are welcoming and feel like a great stressbuster after a hard day’s work. However, someopen-worldgames immerse players by letting them explore a world where its residents are quite unfriendly. Most of these NPCs just need an excuse to start a fight and show the protagonist their place....

Summary Open-world games are often a blast to play through, as long as they do just enough to separate themselves from other titles in the genre. Any sandbox title that feels too generic is bound to become an afterthought, which is the last thing any gamer wants. An easy way to help these games stand out is by integrating elements of the survival genre into the mix, which adds to the tension and can give players a reason to engage with the game world....

Warning: Spoilers for Overwatch 2 “Lucky Man” short story below In a recentOverwatch 2short story, Soldier: 76 and Sombra discovered that Talon was not actually behind the destruction of the Swiss Headquarters of Overwatch. This unlikely duo solve one of the oldest mysteries in the franchise, while also discovering a connection to the “Eye,” another ofOverwatch 2’s oldest unanswered questions. The history of the Overwatch faction is one of the oldest and most important pieces of lore in the eponymous franchise....

Palworldcontinues to introduce new expansions whilst the game remains in open beta, with each of these new expansions bringing many new additions for players to explore and make the most of. This includes new islands with new Pal specimens to uncover, new Pal gear and base facilities, new weapons and other items, additional Skills and mechanics, and even new NPCs to locate and interact with. As part of the Feybreak expansion, a new type of Pal Boss was introduced, named Predator Pals....

Quick Links Hand of Wisdom and Action Furtive Wraps are among the priciest and most valuable uniques inPath of Exile 2, which can be a gamechanger for many different builds. Occupying the Gloves slot, the Hand of Wisdom and Action, colloquially referred to as HoWA, are as rare as they are coveted, and finding one is no easy ask. Players looking to get a pair to complete their endgame build for mapping or bossing will want to know where to get their hands on a decent pair of HoWA of their own....

Summary The CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, has recently said thatXboxis “evolving” rather than losing its identity amid the changes suffered by the brand.Xboxhas been increasingly pushing forward a multiplatform approach these days, and while some fans may argue that this could hurt the brand’s identity, Spencer believes otherwise. It seems clear that exclusivity is no longer a major concern for Xbox, asMicrosoft has been bringing more games to PlayStation and Nintendorecently....

Quick Links Pokemon GOdebuted Rookidee with the start of the Steeled Resolve event. Rookidee and its evolutions, Corvisquire and Corviknight, are released together. Many trainers are also wondering if Shiny Rookidee is also available. You can encounter aPokemon GORookidee with the start of the Steeled Resolve event onJanuary 21, 2025. There are different ways to encounter Rookidee; you can hatch it from Eggs or complete featured Research tasks. Events featuring the monster also increase the likelihood of Rookidee spawn....

Summary Pokemon TCG Pocketplayers have discovered several references to the games in the main series on some of the cards. Being aPokemon TCG-inspired game, severalPokemon TCG Pocketcards are reminiscent of the physical ones because they have the same artwork, such as Poke Flute, the Pikachu card released with the Mythical Island mini-set. However,Pokemon TCG Pocketalso has several references and Easter eggs, with some being more obvious, such as the Machamp ex and the Alakazam rare....

Summary ThePlayStation 5disc drive is back in stock at select U.S. retailers as of mid-January 2025. ButPS5owners may need to act fast because the device is unlikely to remain available for long, based on recent trends. Released in 2020, the PS5 Digital Edition was the first Sony console to launch without an optical disc drive. Thediscless PS5 Pro followed suitfour years later. Both the mid-gen upgrade and the new Slim models are somewhat modular, allowing users to install a disc drive that they’ve purchased separately....

Summary Ubisoft has confirmed thatRainbow Six Siegehas made some extremely important updates to its anti-cheat system, which should help the game become more cheater-free. The battle against cheaters in competitive FPS titles is never-ending, butRainbow Six Siegehas taken a big step forward with its latest update. Despite being initially released back in 2015,Rainbow Six Siegemaintains an extremely dedicated community thanks to Ubisoft’s long-term commitment to the game. Thecompetitive tactical shooterspace has a few big competitors with titles likeCounter-Strike 2andValorant, but it’s a testament to the quality ofRainbow Six Siegethat it has remained relevant for as long as it has....

Heavy spoilers ahead forRed Dead Redemption 2! Arthur Morgan encounters some really strange folk inRed Dead Redemption 2, and it seems that each state is brimming with more strangers than the last. Despite how much Arthur can have an impact on the lives of these strange people inRed Dead Redemption 2, players should leave a couple of them to time so that John Marston can interact with them years later in 1907....

Summary It’s hard to hate the fun and bubbly protagonist known as Claire Redfield from theResident Eviluniverse, though considering her line of work, it should come as no surprise that there are still a handful of characters who are less than fond of her. Though Claire is obviously a kind and caring individual at heart, not everyone sees it this way, with some viewing her as little more than an irritating troublemaker, a constant thorn in their side, or simply just someone who doesn’t deserve the recognition she receives from others....

Summary A new rumor has suggested that 343 Industries (now Halo Studios) moved away from the plot ofHalo 5: Guardiansafter receiving negative feedback from players. For fans who don’t read the books, the jump betweenHalo 5: GuardiansandInfinitewas jarring, but that was a price 343 Industries was willing to pay. The overarching narrative was always a common complaint about the343 IndustriesHalotrilogy. Plenty happens between games, where players must engage with other material, such as books, to keep up....