Star Warsvideo games are almost as old as the video game medium itself. Since the late 1970s, George Lucas’s iconic sci-fi series has received more than a hundred video game adaptations, many of which have come from a variety of different developers. EarlyStar Warsvideo games were fairly rudimentary in concept; the first officially licensed title based on the franchise was a side-scrolling shooter for the Atari 2600. Over the years, however,Star Warsvideo games expanded into an assortment of different genres, from RPGs and platformers to action-adventure games and RTS titles....

Quick Links Stadium Modeis a fast-pacedOverwatch 2game mode in which players lock in a character for the match and then participate in a series of mini rounds. During these mini-rounds, you will accumulate Cash that can be used to purchase various Items along with unique unlockable Hero Powers, enabling you to create a custom build. Because there are so many different Hero Powers that unlock every other round, as well as a huge array of different Items across three categories, creating a solid build can be overwhelming....

Mass Effect 4represents a critical turning point for BioWare. With the entire studio now focused on the next installment in the series (andDragon Age: The Veilguardbehind it), the stakes are high. This is not just a sequel but a shot at redemption afterMass Effect: Andromeda’s rocky reception. WhileAndromeda’s combat introduced welcome fluidity and verticality, it also leaned hard into speed and ability cooldowns, sometimes at the expense of control and squad tactics....

Summary If Platinum trophies were easy to obtain, it would defeat the point of grinding for them. That being said, some Platinums are much more manageable than others, especially for the survival-horror sub-genre, which relies more heavily on collectibles and specific gameplay objectives over any rigorous grinding mechanics. Many Platinums require hours' worth of striving to achieve,but for players looking to add a simple Platinum to their collection, some are surprisingly straightforward and require little more than a few hours of toil....

Quick Links WhileThe Sims 4boasts a robust set of visible skills like Cooking, Logic, and Painting, many players overlook the game’s extensive list of hidden skills. Hidden skills are lesser-known traits that don’t appear in the traditional skills panel but still influence gameplay in subtle, sometimes surprising ways. Understanding and unlocking hidden skills inThe Sims 4is essential for players eager to master every aspect of their Sims' lives. This guide teaches players how to unlock hidden skills through activities, careers, and DLC....

Summary Stephen King’swork has been adapted for decades, from his lengthy novels likeIt, which received a miniseries and two films, toCarrie, which was adapted in various forms. There have even been adaptations of stories likeRita Hayworth andShawshank Redemption, which became a beloved, award-winning classic inThe Shawshank Redemption. However, the secondStephen Kingnovel ever published, 1975’sSalem’s Lot, has been adapted into two miniseries as well as a feature film that came out just last year....

Summary Despite being hailed as one of the strongest entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,Thunderbolts*could only manage to outshine one Marvel movie at the box office domestically. Although it might feel like a small feat, the latest movie in the franchise is a good sign for the upcoming set of titles. Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has come to an end with the arrival ofThunderbolts*on the big screen. The movie tells the story of anti-heroes getting together and coming face-to-face with a menacing villain named Sentry....

PICO 4 Ultra Feature-Rich VR Underdog Pico 4 Ultra is a standalone VR/MR headset with Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, dual 32MP passthrough cameras, Wi-Fi 7, 4K+ displays, and precise 6DoF tracking. Meta Quest 3 Reigning Champ Meta Quest 3 is a standalone VR/MR headset featuring Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, 8GB RAM, 128GB/512GB storage, dual 2064x2208 LCDs, full-color passthrough, pancake lenses, and backward compatibility with 500+ apps....

Summary Battle for AzerothTimewalking is coming toWorld of Warcraftin Patch 11.1.7, bringing with it some stellar rewards, including missing transmogs and mounts like the Kul Tiran trenchcoats, the Dark Ranger and Sylvanas bows, and the Moonlit Nightsaber. These items and more will be available to purchase with Timewarped Badges onceBattle for AzerothTimewalking arrives in the Turbulent Timeways event during the nextWorld of Warcraftupdate. Timewalking is a periodic, week-long event where fans enter dungeons from old expansions to level up, collect gear, and earn Timewarped Badges, which are exchanged for rewards like mounts, toys, gear, and reputation....

Summary Tati Gabrielle, the star of Naughty Dog’s upcomingIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, is being trained by director Neil Druckmann to deal with online hate and negativity. Naughty Dog’s last big release -The Last of Us Part 2- stands as one of the most divisive games in history, and the studio seems to be preparing for a likely inevitable backlash toIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetas well. Following its impressive reveal at The Game Awards 2024,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetquickly secured a spot on many PlayStation fans' wishlists....

Summary Classic video game remakes and remasters have been popping up left and right, like Atlus’Persona3:Reloadand Bethesda’sTheElderScrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. These titles cash in on fans’ nostalgia by breathing new life into old but beloved games. They also help tide players over long periods between major title releases, which is the case forThe Elder ScrollsandPersonafranchises, whose sixth sequels are still in the works. It’s also a great way to test out new mechanics and see if they can be an established part of future titles, which Atlus can do for a possiblePersona 4remake....

Summary Activision targets the manufacturer of the Cronus Zen device as part of its ongoing effort to combat cheating in its most popular and recent titles, includingCall of Duty: Black Ops 6andWarzone. This is aimed at protecting the player’s experience inCall of Duty: Black Ops 6andWarzonefrom unfair advantages. Cheaters have appeared in multipleCall of Dutytitles, and Activision has been – and continues to be – engaged in an ongoing fight against the problem....

Summary Although video games are firmly in the 3D era today,The Legend of Zeldaseries included, there is, and always will be, an undeniable charm about the 2D, top-downZeldaformat. Although the power of portable consoles has allowed Nintendo to render all their games in 3D, they still continue to produceZeldagames where the camera is (for the most part) pointed down from above. For all the physics simulation ofOcarina of Time, the explorable open-world traversal ofTears of the Kingdom, or the immersion ofMajora’s Mask, the 2D games have mind-bending gameplay, tight level design, and a cozy aesthetic all of their own, and these games are worth celebrating....