Interestingly, it seems they’ll center on Edward Thatch’s fate, potentially intertwining with the new Blackbeard’s Treasure quest. “[These additional endgame missions] give us room to resolve that,” says Knight. “Like, ‘What happened there?’ Can we follow up those little plot threads so that you have kind of a more full experience, should you choose to go down that route? But, you can still play the same sort of epic Edward saga the way you did back then [because these endgame missions take place after Edward’s original story wraps up].”

But that’s not all, as there are also new side missions, according to creative director Paul Fu. Other “beloved characters” will receive “new ending missions” as well, potentially wrapping up any loose ends. How that will go down with longtime fans if they’re up to snuff is another matter entirely.

Regardless, coupled with the new officers, whose quests must be completed to earn their trust and recruit them to the Jackdaw, you’re looking at roughly six additional hours of game time. It doesn’t fully make up for the lack of Freedom Cry, Liberation and multiplayer, but this does ensure the focus remains on Edward and his crew.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on July 9th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and thanks to some hands-on time, we learned a lot about what you can expect from the remake. Head here for all the details, or check out what’s new with the naval combat, which is looking like it could steal the show.

It’s a perfect blend of familiar elements from an experience that continues to stand tall amongst its peers, and innovative flourishes that make the game even better than we remember it from around a decade ago. And while returning to the Caribbean was a great dose of nostalgia, it was getting to pilot the Jackdaw that really caught our fancy.

Granted, Edward’s brig was an important part of the original experience, and a memorable one at that. This time around, it’s a vehicle for the game to show off its revamped combat, both on the seas and on the decks of enemy ships. Our best moments from our time with Resynced came from the Jackdaw. Here’s how it all went down.

The Gentle Waves

We’re not going to spend too long gushing over the new visuals, however tempting that may be. Black Flag already brought gorgeous visuals to the table, bringing the seas and islands to life in a way that showed off what the PS4 and Xbox One could do at the time of its release. Resynced builds on that, using every current-gen trick in the book to make the seas stand out even among the genre’s heavy hitters like Valhalla on the visual front.

The water simulations are top-notch, and the open seas reflect light from the sun with near-perfect accuracy courtesy of ray tracing. Pick a fight with an enemy ship or building, and you’re going to see the warm glow of fires you create engulf the area, shadows flickering even as a raging battle unfolds around them. At night, the soft glow of the Jackdaw’s lanterns bounces gently off railings and pillars.

Of course, improved draw distances and a hitherto impossible level of detail make it all more immersive than it was in the past, while stylish touches like a visual representation of an island’s topography on your map, a new wagon wheel for you to get to your shanties even faster, and the Anvil Engine’s weather system taking over the seas at its whim are all great additions.

Your ship is now at the mercy of the weather, and its handling varies based on the kind of waters you’re sailing. That’s a change we immediately felt, and it is one that adds a tactical layer to combat encounters. Is it a good idea to take on that ship in the distance when storm clouds loom large over it? In Black Flag, we’d have probably chosen violence. In Resynced, we still chose violence, but we stopped to think about it first.

Of course, there’s a reason we chose violence, and that’s because picking fights with the Jackdaw continues to be a great way to have a blast with your crew and be an absolute menace on the high seas.

The Sound of Battle Horns

One of the more interesting changes we noticed right off the bat was that enemies on the sea were quite intelligent this time around, with fleets taking a more organized approach against the Jackdaw. Black Flag’s naval combat could get pretty easy once you got a few Jackdaw upgrades in, tearing through enemy hulls with reckless abandon. That’s not the case in Resynced, and you’re going to have to pay attention to where your enemies are in relation to your own vessel if you want to keep your own hull long enough to ensure you sail out of the battle in one piece.

While your weapons are going to be very familiar to those of you who dabbled in battles with the Jackdaw back in the day, their new secondary applications are sure to bring a new layer of strategy to the table, depending on how their use is implemented. We’d have loved to try out the new Shrapnel Barrels that decimate enemy sails and the 8-Pounder cannons that can open up more weak spots for you to exploit, but they were also not available to us in our curated glance at the game.

Equally exciting is the new twist of enemy ships coming with alliances and conflicts with other factions on the seas, which is sure to make naval battles unpredictable in ways that you can’t really predict. We would have liked the Spaniards to step in against a particularly nasty British fleet hell-bent on stopping our daring rescue of newly-added shipwright Lucy Baldwin, but alas, that’s one more thing we’re going to have to wait to check out.

We were able to take down any enemy ships or fortresses with ease, our muscle memory working very well with the new and improved framerates to make every fight smooth sailing from a technical standpoint, while our skills came from hours already spent in the Caribbean, the Jackdaw at our command. Naval combat isn’t fully reworked in Resynced, and that’s a good thing.

In an embodiment of the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, Resynced enhances an already solid system for fighting enemy ships with creative flourishes that add depth to each fight while retaining everything an Assassin needs to synchronise quite quickly with the Jackdaw even after nearly thirteen years on the shore. Of course, you still get to whittle down enemy ships to impede their mobility and then board them to take over.

And that’s where the naval combat in Resynced finds the last missing piece to make it an almost perfect part of the remake.

The Clashes of Blades

While the new combat system is great on land, it’s when you’re on an enemy ship that it truly begins to showcase how much has changed in Resynced. We’re going to be brutally honest here, but the combat in Black Flag was honestly too easy. All you had to do was attack one enemy with your combo while waiting for another one to come at you. Parry that attack with a very generous timing window, and all you had to do was point Edward to his next victim to take down large groups in mere seconds.

The sheer spectacle of it all, and the fact that it was a continuation of the genre’s combat formula over the years, may have let Black Flag get away with that simplistic approach; things have changed now. We’ve got every Assassin’s Creed title since Origins, coming with a more refined approach to fights, and it makes you earn those openings to get in some serious damage.

Resynced takes the middle ground, with Edward continuing to be a deadly threat on his way to becoming a legit scourge of the seas while the Assassins do their utmost to guide him towards his nobler disposition. Those parries we talked about? They’re now locked behind tighter timing windows, requiring you to carefully watch enemy animations and counter their attacks at the last possible moment.

That change alone makes fighting enemy crews a deadly dance of blades, one where missing a single beat could turn the tide of battle against you. However, get a perfect parry right, and Edward is still going to be able to chain takedowns between four enemies. However, with smoother framerates and revamped kill animations, fighting off enemy crews to bring down their morale requires a measured, careful approach that makes you use every tool in your arsenal to gain an advantage in the heat of battle.

You’re encouraged to use the environment to your advantage, thinning enemy numbers to make pulling off parry takedowns more manageable. We’re expecting to see the new gear system come into play in these battles, with buffs that can perhaps increase the number of takedowns you can chain, or bestow other advantages that can add further wrinkles to the system on offer.

Once again, Resynced isn’t reinventing the wheel, but adds a few new spokes that give it a layer of current-gen appeal that had us wishing we got more time with the game than we did.

Part of the Crew, Part of the Ship

With all of the changes we’ve seen, and the way they’re balanced against familiar elements from Black Flag, Resynced’s naval combat looks like it could make the Jackdaw even more integral to Edward’s adventure than it already was in the original game. Every sunny day in the Caribbean was a temptation to just hop onto its deck and ignore anything that wasn’t floating on the waves.

We can’t wait to get on to the seas with the entire map open when the game comes out, but until then, we’re going to be humming shanties under our breath while we tick the days away as we wait for a reunion with our second-favorite Assassin of them all. They don’t make them like old Edward anymore, but there’s always Hexe to remain hopeful about.

Unfortunately, there isn’t any further information or a release date – just the promise that it’s “coming soon.” Since launch, there have been two Legendary Warbonds for Killzone and Halo 3: ODST, which added armor sets, weapons, and cosmetics from both titles. The biggest difference from Premium Warbonds is that they cost 1,500 Super Credits instead of 1,000 ($10).

It’s almost a given that the Warhammer 40,000 Legendary Warbond will feature armor sets based on the Space Marines, but which Chapters? The Ultramarines are likely a shoo-in alongside the Blood Angels and the Space Wolves. You can also likely expect iconic weapons like the Boltgun and Chainsword, but once again, we’ll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, Helldivers 2 will receive a patch on May 27th to add support for AMD FSR, DLSS 4.5, XeSS 3.0, and PSSR support for PS5 Pro players. It’s also working on new Campaigns for Galactic War that last several weeks alongside improving the progression systems and much more. Head here for more details.

“For almost twelve years, we have had the joy and honor to explore the Destiny universe with you all. Through all the ups and downs, surprises and triumphs, building Destiny alongside our players has been a monumental privilege. While our love for Destiny 2 has not changed, it has become clear that after The Final Shape, we have reached the time for our shared worlds, and Destiny, to live beyond Destiny 2.”

What it essentially means is that “active development” on the title is ending. It will remain playable, just like the original Destiny, but you shouldn’t expect any significant new additions (or meaningful bug fixes, by the looks of it). What’s next for the studio? A “new beginning” as it begins “work incubating our next games.”

“We’re proud of Destiny 2, the places it took us, and the legacy it has created. Because of you all, our universe is vast, built on years of shared stories, adventures, and victories. From the Cosmodrome to the Pale Heart to the Lawless Frontier, we have forged lifelong memories and friendships with you all.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made that journey with us. From the deepest part of our hearts, thank you, and we’ll see you in the stars.”

While it may come as a shock for some, it’s also somewhat expected after The Final Shape. Despite strong critical acclaim, the expansion – which marked the end of the decade-long Light and Darkness Saga – reportedly sold less than the more maligned Lightfall.

Bungie would face layoffs and change its content strategy to accommodate two yearly expansions, while shifting focus towards a new narrative about The Nine. The Edge of Fate received some praise for the same, but many of its other additions, including the Portal, gear tiers, Matterspark and whatnot, faced extensive backlash.

Renegades was a better effort, especially with its introduction of the Praxic Blade and better story missions, but it failed to really push the looter shooter to new horizons. Whether this announcement means Bungie is now focusing on Destiny 3 remains to be seen. But for now, it’s good night and good luck to those that remain.

But let’s be real: expecting production and gameplay quality on the level of Saros, much less Returnal, is unrealistic and unfair. Besides Luna Abyss offers enough compelling elements, even if it doesn’t quite match the very best in either genre.

So to start with, no, the actual Moon isn’t haunted. Instead, there’s a mimic, known as Luna, that serves as a penitentiary for individuals like Fawkes, ostracised by her red eyes. She’s sentenced to serve thousands of days as a Scout, plunging into the mysterious and once-highly populated megastructure that has since fallen to the Scourge. Oh, and a giant snake-like head named Aylin serves as her prison guard, blankly looking around the cell when not electrocuting her for insubordination.

"Dialogue choices feel especially meaningless – the story is the story and will play out regardless – but the thought of portraying a Fawkes who can crack the odd joke here and there, despite decades of death-defying penal labor to serve, is endearing at times."

The rot emanating from the Scourge is only the tip of the mythical Abyss, and things only take a weirder turn when meeting the mysterious Urien. Transformed into something altogether different, Fawkes is then tasked with assassinating Urien while slowly piecing together the Collective’s fragmented past and the true purpose of her increasingly maddening expeditions.

Between its jargon, average production values and lack of compelling characters in the first hour or so, Luna Abyss has a hard time drawing you in. It doesn’t help that the actual gameplay feels slow-paced and one-note with a gun that overheats far too quickly, some unimaginative fodder and impromptu rot-cleaning. The maws and gaps in the megastructure lend to some intriguing platforming and exploration, yet for the most part, it feels like you’re barreling down corridors to get to the next uninspired “puzzle” and combat arena to progress.

First impressions matter. First impressions can also be extremely deceptive. And boy, does Luna Abyss ascend beyond its first impression.

The hunt for Urien requires heading to the abandoned city of Greymont, conveniently locked behind two seals. Unlocking those requires venturing to two reactors, all while the being in question bestows new skills to help you out. Why won’t he tell you what’s going on over the radio? Seeing is believing, but unironically, especially when witnessing the various ecosystems that govern the megastructure.

A giant head works the lift, and you’re encouraged not to listen to her poetry. Two spider-like Wardens roam the environment, offering good tidings to Fawkes. Giant beings with powerful, destructive capabilities have their own commune, seemingly in penance for failing to stop the corruption. Or the darkness, or whatever centuries of disinformation have wrought on their lives.

To the credit of the writing (and the voice acting), they feel like actual characters, but only a select few occasionally elicit sympathy, mostly depending on their screen time. Fawkes is also surprisingly amicable as someone trying to come to terms with this nightmarish sentence and empathising with the other “inmates,” even if she can’t fully understand their circumstances (and not for lack of trying). Dialogue choices feel especially meaningless in this context – the story is the story and will play out regardless – but the thought of portraying a Fawkes who can crack the odd joke here and there, despite decades of death-defying penal labor to serve, is endearing at times.

"I was initially apprehensive about this since it trivialises the initial encounters, but it helps to constantly adjust movement while dealing consistent damage (especially given the lack of immunity while dashing)."

Of course, there’s more to the plot, with some intriguing twists along the way. All of this to say that if it doesn’t initially grab, Luna Abyss will reward your patience beyond the seemingly cliched grim-dark setting. It may not win Best Narrative by any stretch, but it’s still surprisingly better than you would expect.

The same goes for the gunplay, especially after unlocking the shotgun and dash. The former is useful for breaking shields, and while the latter doesn’t grant invincibility frames, it’s useful when repositioning against tougher enemies. Yes, the variety of threats becomes more diverse, along with their tactics, be it in a spiralling beam or in expanding energy rings. Dashing can also be useful when dealing with hitscan beams, the telltale flash indicating the correct timing. Fawkes also gains the ability to execute foes on low health to recover her own, though this is less a visceral Glory Kill and more like a Thanos Snap (but more underwhelming and without any actual snapping). It does the job, though, and if you’re full on health, another option opens up later for dealing with crowds.

That said, the movement can feel floaty at first, and the gunplay can get repetitive. Despite the variety of enemies improving throughout your journey, you’ll still face the same randomly floating blobs that detonate when close, the same laser-shooting hedrons and the same fodder. Perhaps my biggest annoyance is with certain shielded foes who can become completely invulnerable during periods. Muscle memory dictates swapping to a specific weapon and letting rip, only to deal no damage before the corresponding colored shield appears. By then, you’ve only got another shot until cooldown, so better hope this one lands.

Which should be easy enough, thanks to the addition of a lock-on targeting mode. I was initially apprehensive about this since it trivialises the initial encounters, but it helps to constantly adjust movement while dealing consistent damage (especially given the lack of immunity while dashing). In the late-game sections, it fuels a ballet of flying around and quickly decimating targets while swapping to the next weapon in mid-air. But while each weapon has its unique function, they’re woefully low in number. The lack of alternate-firing modes or upgrades is also a bummer, even though I can see it increasing encounter complexity beyond what the developer may be capable of.

On the bright side, at least the traversal remains fresh, especially when the environments open up to accommodate all your different abilities. For all the air-dashing, double-jumping and other options that seamlessly chain together (and which I won’t spoil), you have the power of Possession. Fawkes can enter the bodies of different beings, and though it may seem gimmicky at first, it lends to several unique sequences, including possessing a Warden that can unleash devastating firepower, perfect for clearing out tons of rot.

"Luna Abyss isn’t what I expected, and even if the first hour didn’t exactly grab me, the slow, eventual descent into the mimic Moon’s ruins, mirroring Fawkes’ own journey as she attempts to make sense of the world, proved compelling enough."

It’s a shame then that this particular option isn’t available more often, but others often make up for it, especially when seamlessly interlinked with the rest of your traversal abilities. All that exploration eventually culminates in a boss, and each frames your most recently acquired ability as a linchpin for the encounter, mostly to survive hazardous projectiles or terrain. Their bullet patterns weren’t the most differentiating at times, but they still offer a decent enough challenge, especially on the highest difficulty.

All of this is backed by an aesthetic equal parts satisfyingly washed-out, grungy and tinged with scarlet. Alas, Luna Abyss can sometimes feel low-budget, whether it’s in the cutscenes, the lackluster facial animations, or select character portraits. Even the character models aren’t safe from this, especially Fawkes, whether in her regular form or when she inhabits the crimson veneer. And yet, it’s hard to deny some truly breathtaking sights, whether it’s finally laying eyes on Greymont from afar before taking in the remnants of panicked evacuation head-on or a later area with its vertigo-inducing heights.

Luna Abyss isn’t what I expected, and even if the first hour didn’t exactly grab me, the slow, eventual descent into the mimic Moon’s ruins, mirroring Fawkes’ own journey as she attempts to make sense of the world, proved compelling enough. There are moments where it feels like something beyond the sum of its disparate parts, even as those same shortcomings rear their mechanical heads more often than not. Again, it won’t reign over the very best that either genre – first-person shooter and bullet hell – has to offer, but it’s still a fun avant-garde mesh of the two, backed by some good traversal and an intriguing story.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

First up is the return of Crusade Mode, launching this Fall for free alongside a Map Pack. Billed as a “living campaign of conquest,” it offers multiple locations, occupied by different factions to attack (with each victory and loss promising ramifications on the overall war effort). Following this is Lord Ahmnok in Last Stand and another Map Pack, followed by a Mission Editor and yet another pack of maps in the Winter.

Around the same time, developer KING Art will release the first of two paid expansion packs – Blood Ravens, a story prologue where “ancient relics ignite deadly new conflicts.” Before Spring 2027, you can look forward to another Map Pack and the addition of Cuzutta in Last Stand. Around the same period comes AFTERMATH, which expands on the campaign and adds a brand new faction.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 will retail for $60 at launch, but those who pick up the Commander Edition can play three days early and access both paid expansions when available. That’s in addition to receiving a free digital soundtrack for the game.

So, what do we think? Is this one going to be worth the long wait and all the hype? We’d say yes, and say it without hesitation. Resynced balances the original title’s best features with innovative flourishes that change it for the better.

What’s made us as happy as we are to talk about this one? Let’s set sail and discover that together!

The Assassin and the Pirate

One of the issues we had with Black Flag was that its combat was too easy, focused on spectacle and bombast rather than depth. That’s probably the biggest change we noticed during our time with the game’s preview build. The developer hasn’t tried to reinvent the wheel here, but it has woven in the best features from its recent RPG-focused titles, refining them to make Edward an absolutely devastating combination of a pirate and an Assassin.

He’s as agile as you remember, but your foes are harder to stagger this time around. While you had fairly generous parry windows in Black Flag, Resynced tightens that part of the combat loop, making you earn those defence breaks that were otherwise so easy to pull off. A perfect parry comes with a visual cue, and a generous window to initiate a takedown, which you can then chain to other enemies in a combo, just like it was before.

The parry mechanic is a perfect showcase of how Resynced finds a very viable middle ground between the old and the new. It doesn’t diminish Edward’s ruthless efficiency with his dual cutlasses, but it does force you to pay close attention to the battlefield and be more cognizant of what your enemies are doing in relation to you.

The new animations for takedowns are top-notch, while the addition of environmental interactions throws another wrench into the mix, giving you more options in a way that’s both fresh and in line with what a pirate and scallywag like Edward would do in such situations. Of course, it’s all helped by the Anvil Engine handling everything you throw at it with ease, with silky smooth performance making the action very readable and easy to respond to.

Edward’s skills are brought out so darn well, and every time you draw swords is an opportunity to display his ferocity. Black Flag was quite solid on the former, and Resynced has built on that momentum by making the latter a crucial part of the equation.

Of course, you’re going to run into situations where going in all guns blazing isn’t a recommended approach, especially given the new skill-focused system. Thankfully, Edward’s stealth capabilities get a superb dose of player agency in Resynced. Crouching isn’t automatic anymore, and you can trigger it by clicking a button. It’s quite a nifty addition, given that it does reduce detection speed based on your proximity to an enemy.

But that leads us to the one gripe we have with the game. The enemy AI doesn’t seem to have improved at all, and whistling at a lone enemy to lure them into a trap is still going to be the bread and butter of stealthing in Resynced. Of course, your darts are a major part of that, and they’re still as useful as ever although nothing’s new on that front. As in the original, Edward can use his rope to pull enemies toward him and perform specific melee attacks to take down his foes.

Nevertheless, there’s enough that’s new about Resynced’s combat to make it the highlight of our time with it.

Let’s Set Sail, Lads!

We’ve gushed about how naval combat could steal the show this time around, and that was without the new additions that the developer is slated to add to the Jackdaw. Our preview build didn’t have the secondary applications of our default loadout, and the new Shrapnel Rounds and 8-Pounders weren’t around for us to test out.

But we were oddly fine with that, despite our excitement to see them in action. That’s because battles from your ship were always among the main draws in Black Flag, and getting to take on enemy ships was a very welcome blast from the past. However, we must comment on how boarding enemy ships has become a tad more challenging thanks to the new combat system and the sheer number of enemies you’re going to be dealing with.

Not too much has changed (yet) on the Jackdaw front but there’s enough there to keep us interested, and we believe Resynced could be a definitive pirate experience once all of its new bells and whistles make it to the naval combat system.

We must appreciate the new wagon wheel for shanties, though, since it makes getting to your favorite ones seamless and quick, letting you get back to enjoy the sights from the upper deck of your ship.

Speaking of the sights, it’s time to get to what’s changed the most around the Caribbean islands since our last visit nearly thirteen years ago!

Exploration Has Been Improved

The exploration aspect, essentially the free-roam portion of the game, is a blast. Just like in the original, you can use the Diving Bell to descend underwater for exploration, but these sections feel far more engaging now thanks to the added environmental detail beneath the surface. Another welcome improvement is the ability to place multiple markers on the map, which wasn’t possible in the original.

One of the coolest additions to exploration is the inclusion of micro-lore moments that can help uncover secrets or quest items. For example, overhearing a conversation between two soldiers might reveal extra information about a quest. Small details like these were absent in the original and add a lot more depth to the overall experience.

Some islands that previously felt empty now feature stores and NPCs, making the world feel more alive and serving as a nice quality-of-life improvement. Just like in the original, you can still hunt sharks, and you can also explore caves to uncover hidden lore or take on assassin contracts.

A Tropical Stunner

We’re going to just come out and say it: the visuals in Resynced are a marked upgrade from the already gorgeous take on the open seas that Black Flag brought to the table. The water is among the first things you’re going to notice (duh), and the way the waves gently reflect light from the skies, and move with such a natural rhythm is spellbinding. In storms, raindrops batter the Jackdaw’s deck, or hammer away at you while you’re on land, while the threat of storms is all the more pronounced in Resynced thanks to the new weather system.

A great touch is making the Jackdaw a tad harder to pilot in rough weather, making exploring the world more immersive thanks to the notion that the seas are as treacherous as they’ve ever been, and perhaps even more responsive to your presence on their waves. We’ve already seen how Shadows made great use of dynamic weather and Resynced is a great way to showcase all the learnings from that effort.

Of course, the star of the show is the new lighting system, and the way ray tracing gives every environment a layer of polish that’s such a joy to behold. Maybe that’s because Black Flag is the source of so many fond memories but seeing all those familiar scenes with their current-gen glow up had us grinning from ear to ear, a mix of nostalgia and excitement forming an almost palpable part of our time in the region.

The character models are another highlight, and it’s awesome to see what Edward looks like on current-gen systems. The draw distances and level of detail are also quite noticeable and we think that they’re going to do just fine even on lower-end systems with a bit of tweaking, and on the base PS5 and Xbox Series X. That said, certain areas are far too dark, to the point where it becomes difficult to see anything. This is definitely something that needs to be fixed.

Aside from a visual makeover, there are additions like a new pathfinding function for the Jackdaw that took us back to sailing along England’s rivers in Valhalla. You get to hang back and just watch the world speed by as you make your way to a map marker, and the fact that it’s quite effective just as it was in previous titles makes it something you’re going to default to just so that you can peer into the distance in your search for fame and fortune.

An Evolution, Not a Revolution

While you might think that Resynced is doing so much to change Black Flag for the better, we’d caution you against getting your expectations so high you miss out on the improvements that do turn up. It’s still Black Flag, but with enough to differentiate it from Edward’s original outing.

All of the changes we mentioned make the gameplay and core experience feel more refined and polished, but they’re nothing groundbreaking. Resynced takes a safer approach than that, but manages to make the entire thing look and feel like it belongs with the franchise’s crop of current-gen titles.

You’re likely going to love it if Edward is among your favorite Assassins, or if his story spoke to you in a way that even Ezio couldn’t manage. Overall Resycned feels more like a drastically refined version of the original, and it doesn’t switch up the core experience simply because it doesn’t have to. There’s still a lot for us to see on that front, though, and our opinion might change based on that but things are looking pretty good at this point.

Our hands-on time was a blast, and we will have to wait and see how the final version shapes up. So far, Resynced feels like an intelligent remake that brings weight to the parts of the game that matter.

This game was previewed on PC.

With the help of Nixxes, the PC version will soon offer AMD FSR 4.0.3 on supported GPUs alongside FSR 3.1.5, Nvidia DLSS 4.5 and Intel XeSS 3.0. On consoles, PS5 Pro players can look forward to PSSR support, while the base PS5 and Xbox Series X/S will support FSR 3.1. But that’s not all.

Available now for PlayStation players, Variable Refresh Rate will finally address screen-tearing and V-Sync stutters. Variable Rate Shading is also inbound to help with GPU load, while the base consoles and PC will be able to take advantage of Dynamic Resolution Scaling. Performance mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X is also being bumped up to 1440p, while the former Power Saving Mode will support Quality mode.

And if that’s not enough, Nvidia Reflex (available now) and AMD Anti-Lag 2 should improve the overall responsiveness. This isn’t the end either, with Arrowhead saying it will be “closely monitoring all platforms and hardware configurations, keeping a sharp eye out for anything that needs tuning, and deploying further adjustments as required. We’re also preparing a dedicated tech-focused update later this summer to push these improvements even further.

“We’ve been following your feedback over the past few days and seeing the conversations across the Helldivers 2 community. Helldivers 2 matters to all of us, and we want to be clearer about what we’re working on and what’s coming next.”

With the Galactic War set to receive new multi-week-long campaigns with more meaningful choices, an increased player cap, new red Stratagems, and more, it may be the best time to jump back into the battle for Super Earth. Stay tuned for more updates on other changes in the meantime.

Unfortunately, the decision may have ultimately been cancelled due to objections from XBOX’s partners. According to Corden, Electronic Arts was the main culprit here, and that it “hated” the idea of a family plan for Game Pass. The plan itself would have given up to four users the ability to share a Game Pass subscription.

Corden has noted that the decision to cancel the family plan “wasn’t actually Microsoft’s fault.” He went on to say that, since EA’s presence on Game Pass has been the “bare minimum” on PC, and since it doesn’t release many games these days anyway, he wouldn’t mind seeing the company removed from the subscription service if it means getting things like a family plan.

“I was told EA, who is a long-term contractee within the Xbox Game Pass ecosystem, fully hated the idea,” wrote Corden. “It sucks because EA does the absolute bare minimum with its Game Pass involvement, refusing to put Xbox PC native versions with Play Anywhere or Xbox achievements out.”

“If the above is indeed true, I would like to see EA get kicked out of the Xbox Game Pass ecosystem in exchange for a revival of the Xbox Game Pass Family Plan, personally. EA barely releases games anymore anyway. EA shouldn’t be allowed to hold back Xbox customers, given how anemic its contributions have been.”

Interestingly, a family plan for Game Pass is among the top-5 most requested features that XBOX players have been asking for since the launch of the company’s new Player Voice feedback system. Other player requests include exclusive games, a renewed focus on backwards compatibility, fully free online multiplayer, and a separation of Achievements for base games and their DLCs.

A report from last month had indicated that the company is still trying some new things with the service, and is even toying with the idea of introducing a “pick your own plan” system that would give subscribers more options for the games and services they would actually want.

“A sort of ‘pick your own plan’ formula for Xbox Game Pass is on the cards, essentially, where users can effectively decide what packages of content they want to see as part of their plan,” wrote Corden last month. “Microsoft has leaked ‘Duet’ and ‘Triton’ codenames for Xbox Game Pass via its back-end APIs recently, suggesting that packages of services are in the plan’s future. Don’t want Xbox Cloud Gaming? Remove it and lower the price. No need for Fortnite Crew? Ditch it and add day one Xbox games. Perhaps you can roll in World of Warcraft or Minecraft Realms subscriptions instead, or even other benefits like Netflix, per rumors, or the long-awaited Xbox Game Pass Family Plan.”

While no other details about the trademark are available through the filing aside from the fact that it is in the same category as “video game software”, “downloadable video game software”, and “recorded computer game software”, the title and categories hint that it could be a rebranding of Haven Studios’ first game, Fairgame$. Along with “Break In” being a well-suited name for the heist motifs in Fairgame$, there is also the fact that the game was originally announced for PC and PS5, and the trademark filing mentions “computer game software”.

Details about Fairgame$ have been sparse, with a report from last month indicating that its latest pre-alpha playtests have seen negative reactions. The playtest seemingly focused on a mansion-themed map, with four teams of three players tasked with taking each other on. Interestingly, the report also noted that, unlike its unveiling trailer, the color scheme of the playtest was more “grounded”. However, the playtesters had quite a bit of negative feedback for core gameplay elements like movement, classes, and NPCs.

Reports of the heist shooter getting an extraction shooter mode also came up last month. Dubbed Cargo Heist, the mode will involve players trying to hunt down a vault code to open a safe, which will reward players with cash that can then be used to upgrade their skills. The title is also rumored to include elements inspired by Fortnite and The Division 2.

Since the original unveiling of Fairgame$, Haven Studios has seen quite a few high-profile departures, including that of studio head and founder Jade Raymond. A PlayStation spokesperson confirmed this and thanked Raymond for the work she had done. Raymond has been succeeded by Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski, taking over as co-studio heads.

“Jade Raymond has been an incredible partner and visionary force in founding Haven Studios,” said the spokesperson. “We are deeply grateful for her leadership and contributions, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

Fairgame$ game director Daniel Drapeau also announced that he had left Haven Studios back in September 2025. The gaming industry veteran was a notable departure for the studio, especially since he was one of the first people to start working there.

If Sony does plan to officially re-unveil Fairgame$ with the new name of Break In during the upcoming State of Play, the title will be joined by other major games, including Marvel’s Wolverine. A recent report has also indicated that we might see more PS5-exclusive titles at the show, with rumors pointing to a new God of War, among others.

Insomniac Games’ upcoming title is expected to be a big part of the showcase, with Sony having promised a “closer look” at the game. The event itself is slated to feature more than 60 minutes of “updates, announcements, and gameplay reveals.”