I don’t believe in coincidences and after “global conditions” finally caught up with Valve’s handheld, today we have the first confirmation that we should be seeing the Steam Deck and Steam Steam Frame as soon as this Summer.

Now, summer is still a vague old time frame – it might even mean Australian summer, which is winter. Much like it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, the same seasonal theory applies to summer, but it’s odd that we now know that timeline, but still have no idea of the cost.

Sure, it could be that Valve is holding off trying to get the very best deal for us all, but that would suggest the RRP could fluctuate, when in reality it will only ever fluctuate upwards. More likely, it is allowing us all to acclimatize to the fact that the new gear is going to cost as much as your first car.

Even if you then decide you can afford one, you will still have to go through the annoyance of actually trying to cop one. If you are an experienced scalper, you will probably be fine; if not, it will be pot luck or maybe sending four times the RRP to the dude who’s put a screenshot of his receipt on eBay.

Leave it on the shelf

Or you could just not bother, which is currently my plan of attack.

If, as seems to be the case, Valve is suggesting that if your game worked fine on the Deck, you will be okay, and even if it didn’t, you might be, I’m even less interested in selling a kidney to fund this extravagance.

In a post announcing it was to expand its Verified programme to the Deck and the Frame, Valve said: “Long story short: If your game already runs well on Deck, it will also run well on Machine with no extra work required from you. And if it doesn’t run great on Deck because of CPU or GPU performance, it may still run great on Machine. If you have games like this, you don’t have to take any action: We’re already testing every title on Machine that fell below our performance requirements on Deck.”

This, to me at least, is bringing our expectations down via the medium of PR.

When the Steam Machine was first unveiled at the end of the year, it was like, “Oh, cool, that will be great to play games on in the lounge for around $500.” Not realistic. Now though, it seems like it will less be the gateway to a world of PC games for console owners, more a glorified Steam Deck in a cube and at the moment that means I am out.

Not all of this is Valve’s fault, obviously, but you could argue that announcing something that wasn’t clearly specified to garner attention was marketing dark arts. The problem now is that the landscape has shifted so much in such a short period that we no longer really need it. Certainly not at the price it is probably going to come in at.

The post Steam Machine is heading our way this summer – better start saving, or maybe just don’t bother appeared first on The Escapist.

Will God of War: Laufey come to PC? It’s looking unlikely

The honest answer is unknown. Based on Bloomberg’s reporting earlier this year, Jason Schreier revealed that Sony is looking to stop adding games to Steam and PC. The State of Play also only mentioned PlayStation, with no PC reference anywhere. So it seems Laufey is only coming to console as of right now.

That said, it does not necessarily mean it will never come to PC. Sony has not addressed the rumours yet, so there is a chance Jason could be off. Though that is unlikely given his recent track record is generally pretty sound.

The other issue is that Sony only really reveals God of War PC ports around two years or so after their console release. Ragnarok launched on PC in late 2024, with an announcement coming roughly earlier that year. God of War 2018 also released on PC in 2022, putting it at a four year gap between its console and PC debut. So even if Laufey is coming to PC, you likely will not find out for a few years anyway.

If you are invested in the series, it might be time to consider getting a PlayStation, as it seems uncertain whether it will come to PC at all, given the reporting and current trends. Console prices are also heading upward thanks to the AI boom, competing with hardware sourcing and costs. So it is better to get your hands on a PlayStation sooner rather than later, before prices climb further.

It is also worth noting how long GTA 6 is likely to take to reach PC as well. That too has no PC date yet. Sometimes the console players get a win over PC.

The post It’s unlikely that God of War: Laufey will come to PC, at least anytime soon appeared first on The Escapist.

Phasmophobia hotfixes aim at VR belt and other quirks

The VR belt has been reimplemented following player feedback, with players now also able to switch between having their Journal and Walkie Talkie on the belt or on their shoulder. The belt is only visible locally, with other players seeing equipment on the body instead. It is a direct response to complaints that the Player Character Update made VR feel clunkier than it was before.

The ghost speed line of sight acceleration introduced with the Player Character Update has also been fully reverted to its original state, restoring the movement behaviour that experienced players were used to before the overhaul.

Other fixes in v0.17.1.4 include a Spirit Box softlock when interacting before the Truck’s CCTV, two separate Kormos bugs allowing it to kill players through floors and from outside, a Tier 3 Firelight issue when placed while lit, jacket display errors in multiplayer lobbies, and a VR text input bug affecting the Spirit Box, Monkey Paw, and Ouija Board.

Hotfix v0.17.1.5 followed on June 3 with two further fixes: a controller-specific Spirit Box softlock and a Steam voice recognition bug. Players still having voice issues on PC are advised to check their default microphone matches the one set in Windows settings.

Kinetic Games is also aware that voice recognition and voice chat problems across all platforms remain a known issue and are still being worked on.

It comes as Kinetic Games is on a major fix-up effort following the overwhelmingly negative reception to the Character Update. The devs confirmed on Tuesday that they will be sharing plans for the rest of 2026 later in June, including a timeline of fixes and updates related to the Character Update and the general game. We’ll see if it affects the original 2026 roadmap as it gets closer to launch. Either way, it’s good that they are working on the mistakes that came through the big patch and get the game in a solid spot for Horror 2.0 and its release date.

The post Kinetic push two Phasmophobia updates to alleviate VR and other UX pains since Character Update appeared first on The Escapist.

According to Insider Gaming, the PC version is expected to be announced during the full College Football 27 reveal later today (June 4). EA has not officially confirmed the platform at the time of writing, though the report points to one clue already sitting in plain sight: EA’s own press release for College Football 27 mentions an EA Play Pro Edition, and EA Play Pro is a PC-only subscription tier.

And they would have got away with it if it wasn’t for you pesky kids.

If it turns out to be true, and not a mega-typo, It would also be a pretty big deal for a series that has historically lived on consoles. EA Sports College Football returned in 2024 after more than a decade away, but both College Football 25 and College Football 26 skipped PC entirely. If this report is accurate, College Football 27 will finally bring the revived series to a platform where sports games can live a very different life.

The most obvious reason this matters is the modding scene. PC sports games tend to attract communities that update presentation, equipment, uniforms, rosters, visuals, and all sorts of smaller details long after launch. That is normally a massive strength, but College Football is a trickier case because the game uses real college athletes through licensing agreements.

Insider Gaming reports that EA has been aware of those concerns, particularly around mods potentially adding or altering real players outside of the licensed roster structure. The report says EA has worked through the legal side and is now confident the PC version will not create major licensing issues.

Crossplay could also be part of the package. The report claims College Football 27 on PC was developed with PlayStation 5 and Xbox in mind, although it is not yet clear whether that feature will make the final cut. One source reportedly said they would be “surprised” if online play was not available across all platforms.

When is EA Sports College Football 27 released?

EA Sports College Football 27 is already confirmed for a worldwide launch on July 9, with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, and Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy on the Standard Edition cover. The Deluxe Edition adds Colin Simmons, Leonard Moore, Jayden Maiava, and Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti.

EA is set to reveal more during its June 4 showcase. If the PC version is confirmed there, it could be one of the more significant platform shifts for EA’s revived college football series so far.

The post EA Sports College Football 27 is reportedly coming to PC for the first time – everything you need to know appeared first on The Escapist.

Pre-orders are now live for both the Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition, bringing the brick-built Caped Crusader to Switch 2 a few months after its launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox and PC. All Switch 2 pre-orders will also include an in-game Batsuit based on Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns.

The same date will also see the release of the Mayhem Collection DLC across Switch 2, PS5, Xbox and PC for Deluxe Edition owners. That pack is built around a new Mayhem Mode starring The Joker and Harley Quinn as playable characters, meaning players will be able to stop protecting Gotham for a bit and start making a proper mess of it instead.

The Mayhem Collection also includes a new story mission, the Sinister Pack, seven new suits – one for each of the main game’s playable characters – five new Batcave items, and a new Batmobile for exploring the open world. Warner Bros. says the DLC will be available on the same day as the Switch 2 version, so Deluxe Edition owners on Nintendo’s system will not have to wait around for these villain-focused extras.

What is in the Switch 2 Deluxe Edition?

The Switch 2 Deluxe Edition includes the base game, access to the previously announced Legacy Collection DLC, and access to the Mayhem Collection. The Legacy Collection pulls from the wider Batman universe, with suits, vehicles, and Batcave items inspired by the Batman: Arkham games, Batman Beyond, and a party music-themed pack.

Physical Deluxe Edition buyers will also get a free Lego Retro Video Game Batman minifigure, although Warner Bros. notes that this is limited to the physical version and available only while supplies last.

The post Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Switch 2 release date confirmed, Joker and Harley DLC arrives same day appeared first on The Escapist.

The patch adds two limited-time events, Dreamlit Whispers and Isle of Rising Tides, opens another run of PlayStation Tournaments and Sky-high Racing, and makes a batch of hero, mode, and client-side changes across the battle royale.

Naruka Bladepoint June 5th patch highlights

The main new additions are the Match & Crush-style Dreamlit Whispers event and Isle of Rising Tides, which asks players to gather Drifting Bottles, Remnant Pages, and later Merfolk Scales for rewards.

On the balance side, Shayol Wei, Matari, Lannie, Kurumi, Xunhuan Li, Temulch, Akos Hu, and Zenda Wu all get tweaks, while The Evolution gets new Techniques and a mid-game Spirit Well. Rift Traversal gains downloadable match replays, new Amulets, tighter Celestia Armor rules, and equipment balance changes, while the PC client adds NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 and Intel XeSS 3 support. There is also a new Lucky Wheel, fresh Tessa, Lannie, Fan, and Tara Gan cosmetics, and a couple of hero bug fixes.

Naruka Bladepoint June 5th patch notes

Here are the patch notes in full:

Brand New Content

1. Limited-time Events:

1. Dreamlit Whispers
Whispered dreams dispel the long night, shadows tell tales of old.
Event Duration: Jun. 5th, 2026 Update – Jun. 24th, 2026 20:00 (UTC)
(1) During the event, visit the event daily to obtain the event item Stamina;

Each week, opening Stashes in the Survival modes, searching for supplies in Rift Traversal, playing Showdown or Casual Modes (except Bloodsport) can also earn Stamina. The weekly match output of Stamina is capped at 120 points, refreshing every Wednesday at 20:00 (UTC) (first refresh time is June 10th, 2026 at 20:00). Unlocking any one of the Outfits “Tessa – Mistveil Sorceress, Lannie – Strange Tales·Foxling, Kurumi – Blue Lantern’s Light, Wuchen – Golden Sanctuary” grants a one-time claim of 60 Stamina.

(2) Tap Obtain Anecdote Points to participate in “Match & Crush”: Tap to swap adjacent Spirit Stone icons so that 3 or more identical Spirit Stone icons align in a row or column to eliminate them and earn corresponding Anecdote Points; each elimination costs 1 Stamina. Eliminating 4 or more identical Spirit Stones in a single move automatically triggers a Weapon Move; for every 30 Spirit Stones of the same type eliminated, 1 corresponding Hero Ultimate is automatically triggered.
(3) Accumulate Anecdote Points to a certain amount to claim corresponding event rewards.

2. Isle of Rising Tides

An ancient island lost to slumber for ten thousand years slowly rises to the surface.

Event Duration: Jun. 4th, 2026 20:00 (UTC) – Jul. 1st, 2026 20:00 (UTC)

Event Rules

1. During the event, pick up Drifting Bottles on Tidewatch Shoal on the Fairyland Penglai daily for a chance to obtain Remnant Pages or Letter Adrift; up to 3 Remnant Pages can be obtained per day, with no limit on Letter Adrift.

2. Submitting 1 Remnant Page grants Tidebreak Welcome Gift*1. Collecting all Remnant Pages grants Serene Treasure Choice Gift*3. Collecting all Letter Adrift grants Spectral Silk*2000.

3. “The Isle Emerges” content will be unlocked after the next version update. By completing event tasks, you can obtain the item Merfolk Scale and Tidal Points. Submitting 1 Merfolk Scale grants an additional 20 Tidal Points. Submitting every 10 Merfolk Scales also grants Tidebreak Welcome Gift*1. When Tidal Points accumulate to a certain value, corresponding event rewards will be granted. After obtaining 4000 personal points, all rewards can be claimed.

4. Submitting 1 Merfolk Scale contributes 1 point to the server-wide score. When the server-wide score reaches its maximum, all players can claim Crimson Choice Gift*3.

3. 3rd PlayStation® Tournaments #6
With swords in hand, free and bold while exploring the world, unrestricted and unhampered. 3rd PlayStation® Tournaments #6 are available for a limited time!
Event Duration: Jun. 5th, 2026 20:00 (UTC) – Jul. 1st, 2026 20:00 (UTC)
Event Rules:
Complete weekly quests during the event to claim Cloud Medal – JUN. You can claim more Medals in the mail after advancing, and the quantity awarded for each rank is as follows:
1st place: 300 Medals
2nd place: 200 Medals
3rd-4th place: 100 Medals
5th-8th place: 50 Medals
Medals can be used for redeeming rewards and participating in rankings.

Time
Server
Monday – Friday (UTC)
Saturday – Sunday (UTC)
NA  03:00  23:00  03:00
AS  11:00  07:00  11:00
SEA 11:00  07:00  11:00
EU  19:00  15:00  19:00

First-Round Tournament Start Time (UTC):
NA: 2026.06.06 03:00
AS: 2026.06.06 11:00
SEA: 2026.06.06 11:00
EU: 2026.06.06 19:00

4. PlayStation Challenge:
Challenge the wind in this race! PlayStation Sky-high Racing #27 is now open!
Compete against players worldwide and ascend the rankings by achieving a place among the Top 100 fastest in Sky-high Racing mode.
How to participate:
Start Sky-high Racing on Fairyland Penglai to participate in the event.
Event Duration: Jun. 5th, 2026 00:00 (UTC) – Jul. 1st, 2026 23:59 (UTC)

II. Strange Turbulence

Artifacts adrift from distant seas have washed upon Fairyland Penglai; above Perdoria, a star array dormant for a millennium has reignited. Both anomalies may point to the same unknown land.

Hero Adjustments

I. Shayol Wei

1. After casting the [Shield Bash], Shayol can now perform a special dodge without consuming Stamina.

2. The Rage consumption for Ultimate [Justiciar’s Guard] and [Justiciar’s Guard: Pursuit] has been adjusted to: 55% is consumed immediately upon casting, and 15% is consumed each time [Black Tortoise Block] is triggered. The maximum number of blocks remains unchanged.

3. The counterattack move of Ultimate [Justiciar’s Guard: Pursuit] will no longer trigger [Black Tortoise Block].

II. Matari

1. Slightly increased the attack range of [Flash: Thrust] while in the Ultimate state.

III. Lannie

1. The airborne height of enemies hit by the Ultimate [Tricky Bounce: Leap] finisher move is slightly increased, while damage is reduced from 3.2 to 2.8.

//Dev Note: After adjustment, using this move to knock enemies airborne can be followed up with combos or Trick Ball, so damage has been slightly reduced for balance.

IV. Kurumi

1. Using the Skills [Healing Ray] and [Healing Ray: Defense] to cast links has been adjusted to a Golden Focus, excluding the hold-to-aim phase.

2. Optimized the position selection logic for summoning the Light Parasol of Skills [Healing Ray] and [Healing Ray: Defense].

V. Xunhuan Li

1. For the Ultimate [Untouched Leaf], the base damage multiplier range of Divine Intent-consuming Flying Knives has been adjusted from 2.1-4.2 to 1.8-3.6, and the maximum aiming duration has been adjusted from 6 sec to 4 sec.

VI. Temulch

1. In Solo mode, adjusted the cooldown time of Skill [Zephyr Wisp] from 18 sec to 21 sec. It remains unchanged in Duos/Trios.

VII. Akos Hu

1. In Solo mode, adjusted the damage dealt by the charged attack of skill [Roar: Blast] from 2.0 to 1.5. It remains unchanged in Duos/Trios.

VIII. Zenda Wu

1. Adjusted the visual effects when casting skill [Winged Assault: Summon].

The Evolution Adjustments

I. New Techniques

1. General Techniques
[Nine Lives] Every 5,000 hit damage dealt grants a [Mortal Defiance] Souljade.

[Aerobic Exercise] Every 1,500 hit damage dealt increases max Health by 100. Each time you are Countered, 40% of this bonus is deducted.

[​Charge Investment] ​Each time a Melee Weapon Charged Move hits, Charge Damage +4%. Each time you are Countered, 30% of the bonus is deducted.

[Hit a Brick Wall] ​​When an enemy clashes with you, they additionally lose 25 weapon durability.
[Strength Speaks] ​If the enemy’s durability is below 30% during a clash, they will be Stunned for 2 sec.

[Erudition·Treading the Void] Obtain Souljade [Erudition·Treading the Void], and one Rare “Spear”
[Tai-Chi Fan·Domain] Obtain Souljade [Tai-Chi Fan·Domain], and one Rare “Fan”
[Benthic Descent·Falling] Obtain Souljade [Benthic Descent·Falling], and one pair of Rare “Dual Halberds”
[Palm Lightning·Extension] Obtain Souljade [Palm Lightning·Extension], and one pair of Rare “Flying Knives”
[Tempest Kick·Biting Cold] Obtain Souljade [Tempest Kick·Biting Cold], and one pair of Rare “Fistblades”
[Jabbing·Pierce] Obtain Souljade [Jabbing·Pierce], and one Rare “Staff”
[Heartstopper Kick·Eternal] Obtain Souljade [Heartstopper Kick·Eternal], and one Rare “Spear”
[Pride’s Fall·Circling] Obtain Souljade [Pride’s Fall·Circling], and one Rare “Dagger”

2. Hero Techniques

[Fate Rewritten: Protect] Ultimate [Fate Rewritten]Triggering Rewind additionally grants a shield; when the Glyph remains untriggered, Recovery is increased.
[Fate Rewritten: Fierce] Ultimate [Fate Rewritten: Backtrack] Meteor inflicts Vulnerable on enemies it hits.

II. In-game Adjustments
1. A new [Spirit Well] has been added in the mid game; after capturing it, the entire team gains a huge amount of cultivation essence;
2. In Omens matches, you can open the Bag interface to view Omens Details.

III. Technique Adjustments
1. Removed Techniques [Counter Confidence] from The Evolution and Evolution·Capture the Spirit Well

2. In The Evolution, the Techniques [Shopping Voucher] and [Currency of Survival] have been removed.

3. Stats Adjustments

[Moonbane Control: Engage] Adjusted the stun duration of Moonbane’s Eye when triggered early from 2 sec to 3 sec.
[Moonbane Control: Attach] Adjusted the Damage Multiplier of Moonbane’s Eye from 1.0 to 1.8.
[Titan’s Call: Mighty Leap] Adjusted the stomp’s Damage Multiplier from 2.6 to 3.0.
[Mech Mayhem: Charge] Enabled automatic Charging for the Cannon and greatly reduced the cooldown for transforming into Cannon mode.
[Qilin Slash: Shadow] Adjusted the spirit’s additional slash Damage Multiplier from 0.5 to 1.0.
[Thunderforged: Thunder Core] Increased Energy Recovery speed by 12.5%.
[Arctic Wraith: Blizzard] Added additional Damage to Snowstorm with a 1.0 multiplier.
[Untouched Leaf: Rest] Increased Resolved Energy Recovery by 25%.
[General’s Call: Rejuvenation] Adjusted the second-stage Ultimate’s Damage Multiplier from 0.2 to 3.0 and the Recovery multiplier from 5.6 to 1.2.

4. Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue of Tianhai’s Technique [Titan’s Call: Mighty Leap] where Jumping and Stomping times are abnormally restored.

In-game Adjustments

I. Easy Battle

In The Survival modes, the [Full Pockets], [Rift Dealer Discount], [Souljade Expansion], and [Instant Upgrade] Omens have been removed, and the following 2 Omens have been added:

(1) [Unyielding]: Melee weapons have a relatively high chance not to consume durability when attacking.

(2) [Battle Ready]: Start with a random Common weapon, Rare Armor, and additional consumables

Rift Traversal Adjustments

New Amulets

1. Spirit Seal·The Wandering Monk

[Titan’s Call: Restore] Continuous Recovery duration is extended by 5 seconds, and Jump stomp Damage is increased

​During the [Titan’s Call: Restore], Jump-Stomp’s uses recharge over time. Hitting an enemy instantly grants another use immediately.

2. Spirit Seal·Yoto Hime

​[Demon Blade: Combo] After the final extra combo hit lands, you can press the Vertical Strike button to continue slashing

[Demon Blade: Combo] Ultimate Damage +25%

Amulet Adjustments

1. [Spirit Seal·Justice Vigilant]

· Each Black Tortoise Block now consumes 20% Rage when triggered.

· Using a counterattack consumes 20% Rage.

2. [Spirit Seal·Wuwei Marquis]

· New Effect: Increases [General’s Call] duration by 3 sec.

3. [Spirit Seal·Echoes of Qilin]

· New Effect: While [Qilin Slash: Rend] is active, Skill and Ultimate damage +10%

4. [Spirit Seal·The Loyal Drunk]

· New Effect: While [Fire Frenzy] is active, using Elbow Strike or Knee Strike restores damage dealt as Health or Armor for 5 seconds.

II. New Match Replay Function

1. Players can now download match replays for the Rift Traversal mode.

2. Match replays can be downloaded in [Match History] – [Rift Traversal]

· Only match replays within 7 days can be downloaded and viewed. After each game version update, old version match replays will expire and cannot be played.

· Replays are affected by network fluctuations and device specifics, and may not fully match the actual situation.

3. Currently only replays of your own team are available for viewing. You can view the spectated character’s status and bag contents at any time. The replay will end after your own team is eliminated.

4. Currently only replays of your own team in Rift Traversal mode are available for downloading, and Rift Traversal mode replays cannot be shared.

III. Equipment Balance Adjustments
1. Celestia Armor [Solid Bond Breastplate]: Adjusted the effective distance. Only teammates within 80 meters, when using Healing Berries or Armor Powder, will grant you 60% of their recovery effect.

//Dev Note: Previously, teammates could use recovery items at extremely long distances, providing healing to the holder. Now the distance is limited to 80 meters, requiring more reasonable positioning to provide a balanced battle experience.

2. Zero-Toughness Celestia Equipment Changes:

· When a Celestia equipment is brought into the match with depleted Toughness, its Forged attributes will become invalid.

· Zero-Toughness Celestia equipment picked up in the match also has its Forged attributes invalid.

· Celestia equipment that has its Toughness depleted during normal combat in the match is not affected, and its attributes still take effect.

//Dev Note: Although restrictions had been made to the zero-toughness equipment before, it still bring a negative experience in combat. This adjustment imposes further restrictions.

IV. In-Match Bug Fixes

1. Fixed an issue where drops in the original area could not be picked up after a new Lootable Container spawned.
2. Fixed an issue where the Alchemy Furnace could be interrupted during the Boost process.
3. Fixed incorrect description of the [Great Fortune] effect in Relic Mysteries.

Showdown Adjustments

I. Curio Update and Yama’s Abyss Leaderboard Settlement

Showdown is expected to launch new Curios on June 17th, along with balance adjustments to some Curios and Heroes.

1. New Curios can be directly crafted using Targeted Craft, but this will expire after the end of this season.

2. After the update, the challenge of Floor 10 will be temporarily suspended until the leaderboard is settled. At the same time, after Floor 10, we will increase monsters’ HP and Astral Aegis, and reduce Attack, to optimize the current combat experience.

Feature Adjustments

I. Client

1. Added NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, powered by the second-generation Transformer model, for further AI-enhanced improvements to both image quality and performance. All of these technologies are continuously refined by NVIDIA’s cloud-based AI supercomputers. Dynamic Frame Generation will be available in the next version—stay tuned!

2. Added Intel XeSS 3 integration, enabling Multi-Frame Generation on Intel graphics cards, with up to three AI-generated frames to further enhance game performance, smoothness, and visual quality.

Store Updates

I. Lucky Wheel
Event Duration: Jun. 5th, 2026 Update – Jul. 1st, 2026 at 20:00 (UTC)
Event Rules:

1. During the event, you can select desired rewards from each tier to create your own unique exclusive prize pool, consisting of 10 rewards.

Brand-new rewards: Tessa Extreme Outfit [Mistveil Sorceress], Lannie Legendary Outfit [Strange Tales·Foxling], Fan Legendary Skin [Ninefold Shadow], and more.
2. Use the corresponding number of [Fiend-Binding Seal] to draw. Prizes drawn are removed from the current round’s pool and will not be obtained again. A maximum of 10 draws guarantees all rewards in the pool.
3. When you draw the Extreme Grand Prize, all remaining rewards in your current selected prize pool will be automatically awarded, along with a Legendary Avatar Frame [Wraith Blossom] will be automatically granted.

4. After obtaining all rewards, you can tap the Recycle button on the event page to convert unused [Fiend-Binding Seal] into Free Gold. After the event ends, you can select the remaining [Fiend-Binding Seal] from your inventory and tap the Recycle button to access the Recycle interface. [Fiend-Binding Seal] purchased with limited-time Gold are not eligible for Recycle.

II. New Packs

1. Added Tara Gan exclusive Pack [Polaris], which contains Tara Gan exclusive Legendary Outfit [Spring Prelude·Polaris], Legendary Accessory [Spring Prelude·Starbyte], Legendary Hairstyle [Spring Prelude·Lightyear]. Standard price: 3,500 Gold; Now: 2,200 Gold. Individual cosmetics have their own discounts, but the Pack discount is even bigger!

1. Newly added Tessa’s Legendary Ultimate Accessory [Lantern’s Whisper] (Unlock to get a new appearance for Tessa’s Ultimate, “Enchant”). Standard price: 4,800 Gold; Now: 1,000 Gold. (Available in shop from a limited time from June 5th to July 2nd UTC+8)
2. Newly added Legendary Mark of Victory [Spectral Remnant]. Standard price: 2,000 Gold; Now: 720 Gold.
3. Newly added Tessa’s Legendary Background [Spiritbone]. Standard price: 600 Gold; Now: 400 Gold.
4. Newly added Tessa’s Legendary Base [Wraith Abode]. Standard price: 1,200 Gold; Now: 800 Gold.

Bug Fixes

I. Hero-related Bugs

1. Fixed abnormal buildup of Disengage when Zai uses Chain Link and Chain Link: Suppress while her Ultimate is active.

2. Fixed an issue where the derivative skill [Penetrating Arrows] for Zenda Wu’s Ultimate [Spiritbound Bow] and [Spiritbound Bow: Duskfall] would occasionally hit the same objective multiple times.

The post Naruka Bladepoint gets a huge new patch – here’s what’s new appeared first on The Escapist.

Best of Vancouver lists

We will order based on finishing position at the event, starting with RQ winner and two-time champion AlanZQ from Bologna, and his close rival SamdSherman, among other notable names.

We are missing a few legends, at least until Riot and UVS post their official post-tournament rundown. The ones shown below are the decks we’ve been able to verify so far, either through the stream gameplay, or through social media posts.

Note, during the finals, Riot previewed some more details about Set 4 and 5 too, with some new cards, legend teases, and other bits and pieces.

Best of Diana

AlanZQ took first place with the Diana deck, after scoring top 8 with a modified version of the deck from Sydney at the start of the set.

The notable change is the absence of Kha’Zix, which is gone entirely. Others in his group kept it in and it still performed very well. It is often great against Wuju Master Yi, as you have something that can fight against the defending alone builds that deck wants to run. It is also handy against low monster decks like Aurora, but there is enough fighting power with the aggro in Diana that it is not as needed any more.

Best of Rengar

Coming in second place is SamSherman’s list, which many have analysed could have won the entire event if a super niche moment in the final game had gone differently. So it is safe to argue this list is extremely playable and good enough to win the whole thing.

Note that the prompt for the deck only features the main deck from the stream. The sideboard has likely been analysed elsewhere online, or via Sam posting a guide on the deck on his own socials.

Best of Master Yi, Wuju Bladesmen

The TSS crew came through, with Housesarebig bagging third place with the Proving Grounds Yi deck. He shared the deck online too. It is a fairly standard Yi list, with the addition of a rogue Primal Fury from Set 1, then Set 3 cards like Grim Resolve, Scuttle Crabs, and Renegard added as upgrades.

Best of Azir

Rocklho is back with another best of earned for his Azir. The German travelled to Vancouver, among other international travellers making it into the top 8. His list is once again a typical Azir list, with some new Set 3 additions of Spirit Sword and Vi to make the deck more competitive. His deck was taken down in the top 8, losing to SamSherman’s Rengar, so maybe it could have gone to top 4 if the bracket had been a little different.

Best of Irelia

After Irelia won in Sydney, it was poised for a strong run, with even more Irelia hate heading into this RQ. And it seems it was indeed dethroned. Ariot did pull off a top 8 finish, bagging the best of through a one point difference against fellow top 8 representative BaoBaoaz, who finished 8th. Not bad Ariot, not bad.

Best of Sivir

An Aurora deck made it into the top 8, as many expected could be possible. That goes to Ali Elrazi, otherwise known as Swagyolo420 via his Riftbound ID. Yes, the casters had to say that in all its glory.

Best of Annie

In tenth place, former Set 2 champion Prismarticism finds his Annie taking the best of legend again. It is fairly similar to the Sydney version, albeit with a few small differences like a Kha’Zix and only one Grim Apothecary. If the core is not broken, why fix it?

Best of Fiora

In 12th place comes Ricemaster’s Fiora, which is an Aurora Fiora with some more early to mid game play, not entirely relying on the Aurora Elder Dragon combo.

Best of Kai’Sa

Many put her down as a much weaker legend in Set 3, and that is somewhat true. But a 15th-place finish for Kai’Sa is still very respectable, with Sinzara bagging that spot. We thankfully got a quick preview of their deck on stream on Day 1, which is why we at least know the mainboard.

Best of Pyke

Pyke had a rough time at the event, with a low Day 2 conversion. But one extremely good pilot with his toolkit deck managed to come up with some creative answers to the meta decks terrorising Vancouver, bagging himself a 23rd place finish.

Best of Kha’Zix

Another high tier appearance from a team, with CTCG’s Zrob bagging the best of Kha’Zix at 26th place, with some interesting tech. He has posted his deck online and even has some deeper thoughts on his socials that are worth checking out.

Best of Poppy

At 36th place, known name NoVeggies makes a return with the orange yellow Aurora deck with Poppy. He ran it at Sydney with decent success and has improved on it with this event.

Best of Lillia

The next confirmed list we have seen posted is for Lillia, who finished at 77th place. It comes from another team, with Chaelwinds from TSS piloting the aggro and fast-paced Lillia.

Best of Sett

While not as high up as the last few events, CTCG’s Colin K shows that his Sett is still the most consistent Sett in the world with a 79th place finish.

Best of Vi

Vi is certainly not a popular champion, especially with how she is countered in the meta right now. But there were still some pilots like Viloeteye who made it work. Well done on your 88th place finish.

Best of Lucian

Lucian has made an appearance with a faster non-combo Skyfall deck. Interesting. The deck wants to score but uses a faster, more aggressive version to match the pace of the meta. Well done to Blaedsounds on their 128th place finish.

Best of Darius

Dinobravo featured on stream in the early rounds with his rather interesting hybrid build against known player Randy. He finished 127th, which is not bad since many consider Darius to be a sleeper deck.

Best of Lee Sin

The next with a publicly available deck is Lee Sin, who finished 153rd and appeared on stream on Day 1, with TerryTheCactus piloting it.

Best of Renata

Another Day 1 feature stream put Renata Glasc on the stream, with the deck coming 162nd place piloted by YouKnowWho.

Best of Ivern

Thanks to social media, Boulevard posted his for-fun Ivern deck, which made it to 176th place and took the best of Ivern in the tournament.

Best of Volibear

Another win for the CTCG group, with Villionaire grabbing another Volibear best of in 249th place. The deck was running an Aurora dragon build with Kaldegrims, Elder Dragons, some added Ferrous Forerunners, Gem Dragons, and Renegard to allow for more midgame tempo. Not to mention Mighty bonuses to help Kaldegrim draw faster too.

Best of Rumble

The next best of we can find on Day 1 is Rumble, with the deck posted online by Nack, who came 384th place.

The post Best of Riftbound RQ Vancouver Deck Lists so far appeared first on The Escapist.

The biggest returning name is Persona 5 Royal, which joins Game Pass on June 9 across Cloud, Console, and PC. Atlus’ massively stylish RPG hardly needs much introduction at this point, but its return to the service gives anyone who somehow missed it another excuse to lose well over 100 hours to the Phantom Thieves.

Before that, June 4 brings two very different additions. Herdling arrives for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with Game Pass Premium added to its availability alongside Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. It is a mountain adventure about guiding a herd of strange, lovable creatures through an alpine landscape full of danger and mystery.

Total Chaos also lands on June 4 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. From the creator of Turbo Overkill, it shifts the mood sharply into first-person survival horror, with players scavenging materials, crafting improvised weapons, and trying not to get torn apart by whatever is lurking in the dark.

A busy mid-June

June 8 is another busy one. Solarpunk launches day one on Game Pass for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It is a survival game set across floating islands, with building, farming, crafting, and airship exploration. On the same day, boxing sim Undisputed joins Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC through Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass.

As mentioned, Persona 5 Royal follows on June 9, and then June 11 brings three more games. Beastro arrives for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC, mixing cosy life sim elements with deckbuilding and puppet adventure mechanics. It casts players as a magical meal provider for a party of heroes trying to stop monsters from destroying their home, which is at least a slightly more interesting pitch than “wooo another deckbuilder.”

Frog Sqwad (stop it) also joins on June 11 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This one is an eight-player co-op extraction puzzle-platformer about frogs storming the sewers, catapulting each other around, and growing into a giant Megafrog. It will need to go some to get me over that stupid spelling in the name.

The same day also sees Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions enter Game Preview on Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This is a new game set in the Astroneer universe, built around co-operative expeditions, space exploration, and completing large-scale objectives from the ESS Starseeker. As day-one Game Pass additions go, this is probably the one most worth keeping an eye on if you are into co-op exploration games.

Rounding out the announced June wave is Junkster, which arrives on June 16 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC. It is a 3D action platformer starring a small construction robot called UM-13, who crash-lands on a junkyard planet and has to repair its ship while recovering lost cargo.

Xbox also highlighted a couple of recent additions players may have missed. Batman: Arkham Knight is now available through Xbox on PC, while Escape the Backrooms joined Game Pass in late May across Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

There are also a few extras in the usual Game Pass admin pile. EA Sports UFC 6 is getting a 10-hour EA Play early access trial on console from June 12 for Game Pass Ultimate members, while Rainbow Six Siege players can claim the Blitz Bushido Set now.

As always, the arrival of new games means others are on the way out. Jurassic World Evolution 2, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge will all leave Game Pass on June 15.

It is not the flashiest Game Pass wave Xbox has ever had, but with Persona 5 Royal, Undisputed, Starseeker, and Solarpunk in the mix, there is enough here to fill the gap before Microsoft’s next big showcase.

The post Xbox Game Pass June 2026 wave 1 adds Persona 5 Royal, Undisputed, Starseeker, and more appeared first on The Escapist.

I will happily tell people I don’t have the time to put hundreds of hours into a single game any more, then remember my tally in Satisfactory sits at around 800.

There will be a point when Elon is building his continental-sized data centers where he will come to me for advice. So when a new update drops, it’s time to fake a sick day.

What’s new in Satisfactory 1.2?

Coffee Stain Studios has released Satisfactory Update 1.2 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox, marking the first time the studio has launched a major update simultaneously across all current platforms. For a game that began life as a PC factory-building obsession before making the jump to consoles, that is a fairly big milestone on its own. Console owners had to wait a good while to get a version they could play, and even then, cross-play is not a thing due to PC modding of the game

The update brings a long list of new features, systems, and quality-of-life changes, with the biggest headline being the return of weather. Rain is back in Satisfactory, and Coffee Stain says it has been heavily improved since its previous version. Buildings, the Pioneer suit, and the world itself now react with enhanced wetness effects, while wind, fog, thunder, and different rain intensities should make MASSAGE-2(A-B)b feel a bit less like a static toybox and leave you wonder if it is wise to leave all those power lines out in the open.

The new weather system also supports occlusion, meaning rain should now be blocked by many buildables, foundations, and walls. In practical terms, your factories should now feel more sheltered when you are indoors, with both visual and audio changes helping sell the effect. Players can also tweak weather frequency and intensity through the new world settings options, while a fog density slider has been added under the advanced video settings.

Satisfactory needed weather and even though it doesn’t really matter, it feels like a big addition to the world.

Transport has also had a major lick of paint. Vehicle path automation has been rebuilt from the ground up, allowing players to place vehicle paths directly from the build menu using the build gun. Vehicles can then be placed onto those routes in a way that sounds closer to how trains work with railways. Existing automated routes should still continue to function, but new routes should be easier to build, adjust, and understand. To those without hundreds of hours in the game, vehicles in general could be a right old PITA. Hopefully this fixes all that.

That vehicle work also feeds into one of Update 1.2’s more practical additions: fluid trucks and fluid stations. Thank the AI. These give players a new way to move liquids over long distances without relying entirely on pipes or trains. Both the truck and station have an internal capacity of 3,200m³, and they unlock in Tier 5 as part of the Logistics Mk.4 milestone.

Controller support has been improved as well. Dynamic Gamepad Swap now lets players move between mouse and keyboard and controller without manually changing input settings, and most controller bindings can now be rebound through the keybindings menu. That should be particularly welcome for console players, but it also helps anyone playing the PC version from a couch, handheld, or Steam Deck-style setup.

Elsewhere, the old Advanced Game Settings menu has been renamed Creative Mode, while a new Game Modes menu has been added when starting a new save. Unlike Creative Mode, these game mode options do not disable achievements. They include cost multipliers, power consumption multipliers, resource node randomisation, resource purity settings, and world seed support. In other words, Satisfactory now has more official ways to make a run easier, harder, stranger, or just different.

The multipliers mean less (or more if you are hardcore) grind and can make those trips to check the Space Elevator a bit less frequent.

There are also new toys for builders. Daisy chaining can now be unlocked through Caterium research, allowing two power connections to be made to the same building so power can flow from building to building rather than always needing the usual pole-to-building setup. SPWN, a new Alien Technology buildable, (it’s a portable toilet!) has also been added, alongside new build pieces including Pipeline T-Junctions and Cross Beams.

Photo Mode boost

Photo Mode has received new filters and hover pack pose variants, while a new Selfie Mode adds a closer camera option with its own poses, rotation tools, cropping settings, and filters. This is exactly the sort of thing nobody technically needs in Satisfactory, but also the sort of thing that will immediately be used to document the most cursed factory layouts known to humankind. Seeing your Pioneer as an influence made me chuckle at least.

Perhaps most importantly for anyone who has ever been mauled while answering the door to the Amazon dude, Satisfactory now has a real pause menu in single-player. Pressing ESC will pause the game logic too, so wildlife should no longer use your snack break as an opportunity to turn you into kibble.

Satisfactory Update 1.2 is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

The post Satisfactory 1.2 – One of our favorite games ever gets a huge update, so don’t expect any more from us today – here’s what’s new appeared first on The Escapist.

If you always wanted to live out a second life as Maverick but those pesky flight sims are just a bit too much like hard work for you to learn, then the Ace Combat series is your spirit animal.

The publisher has confirmed that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches on October 2, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox and PC. Players who pick up the Deluxe Edition will get early access from September 29, giving them a few extra days in the cockpit before the standard release,but, by now, you probably know our views on paying more for “extras” like that.

Developed by Bandai Namco Aces, the new entry is being pitched as the first mainline Ace Combat game in seven years, with the team using Unreal Engine 5 and its own Cloudly technology to push the series’ skies, cities, landscapes, and weather effects further than before.

Set once again in the fictional world of Strangereal, Wings of Theve follows a homeland under occupation after the Federation of Central Usea is attacked by the Republic of Sotoa. Players take on the role of a legendary pilot tied to Theve, the capital of the FCU, and become a symbol of resistance as the nation fights to reclaim itself.

Gooooooooooooooose

This time, players will be joined by three allied pilots — Baxter, Tasha, and Coster — who together form Joker Flight. Bandai Namco says the campaign will tell an “emotionally charged story of identity and duty,” while the newly released trailer shows off large-scale aerial battles and more of the squadron’s role in the story.

Multiplayer will also return, although Bandai Namco is keeping those details under wraps for now and says more will be revealed between now and launch.

Pre-orders are live now in both Standard and Deluxe Editions. All digital pre-orders include a digital copy of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, along with an unlocked playable F-14A aircraft available at launch. Ace Combat Zero originally released in 2006 and remains one of the most beloved entries in the series, particularly for its Ace Style gauge system, which changes depending on how players approach missions and engage in combat.

There is also a Bandai Namco Store-exclusive Joker Flight Pack, which includes everything in the Deluxe Edition, along with The Vinyl Collection. That package comes with two LP records from the soundtrack, a 200-page ACES at WAR HISTORY 2029 artbook, a collectible slipcase, and a slipmat.

Bandai Namco is also introducing the series’ first Premium Ace Pass. The pass can be purchased separately and is included with the Deluxe Edition’s Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher, which unlocks one post-launch season. It includes an instant unlock of 30 Ace Pass levels, as well as a season-long bonus reward track featuring aircraft skins, avatar costumes, and the playable ADFX-02 MORGAN – PIXY additional aircraft.

So yes, Ace Combat is back, and it is arriving with the sort of high-drama squadron shenanigans, impossible odds, and movie-standard skies that fans have been waiting years for. Literally years.

The post Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve release date confirmed for October – here’s what we know so far appeared first on The Escapist.

What To Expect From June’s PlayStation State of Play

I’m no oracle, and we’ve only been fed breadcrumbs but here’s what Sony has promised so far.

The broadcast will feature your typical updates, announcements, and gameplay reveals from studios around the world. The show will open with a closer look at Marvel’s Wolverine, Insomniac Games’ third-person action-adventure game starring Logan.

The new Wolverine segment will show more of the game’s combat and include new details. The game is currently set to launch for PS5 on September 15.

Beyond Marvel’s Wolverine, Sony has not published a full list of games appearing during the showcase, so any additional reveals will be a pleasant surprise. Saddle up, grab your popcorn (sweet and salty is the only correct answer, by the way) and a bucket of pic’n’mix and cross your fingers for some exciting new announcements.

Creators planning to co-stream or archive the presentation should note Sony’s warning that the stream may include copyrighted content, including licensed music, which could affect co-streams, VODs, or clips.

PlayStation Plus recently announced a price rise and we posited it’s because they know just how strong their market position is. So here’s hoping that’s backed up with plenty of big-game announcements tonight.

What time is Sony State of Play tonight?

Here are the confirmed regional start times for the June 2 PlayStation State of Play:

The show is scheduled to run for more than 60 minutes.

How to watch the Sony State of Play

The June 2026 PlayStation State of Play will stream live on PlayStation’s official YouTube and Twitch channels. Viewers do not need a PlayStation account to watch the broadcast through either platform.

Sony has confirmed that the presentation will be broadcast in English, with Japanese subtitles also available.

The post How to watch tonight’s PlayStation State of Play and what to expect appeared first on The Escapist.

The 2026 tournament begins on June 11 and runs until July 19, with matches taking place across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Wazdan’s release uses that wider football calendar as the backdrop for a slot centred on penalty-style mechanics, bonus triggers and jackpot play.

The game introduces a Penalty Kick feature (look away now, Arsenal fans), which can place a label on a random reel during the base game. The label can remain active for up to 15 spins. When the countdown reaches zero, any symbol that appears on the designated reel pays its corresponding prize. Whether or not Gabriel’s penalty will ever land on the reels is yet to be confirmed.

9 Balls also includes Wazdan’s Hold the Jackpot mechanic. The feature is triggered when three Bonus symbols land across the three middle reels. The bonus round then plays out across nine reels, with three respins awarded and newly landed symbols remaining in place for the duration of the feature.

Players can win the Champion Jackpot, worth up to 2,500x, by filling the full grid during the Hold the Jackpot round.

The release also includes Wazdan’s xG Chance Level mechanic, which gives players three selectable levels designed to increase the chance of activating the bonus round during base play.

Michal Imiolek, Chief Executive Officer at Wazdan, said: “9 Balls combines the excitement of football-inspired action with engaging bonus mechanics designed to keep anticipation high throughout gameplay.

“The new Penalty Kick feature introduces a fresh layer of suspense to every spin, while the Hold the Jackpot round and customisable gameplay options ensure the title delivers broad appeal for players and operators alike.”

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