Summary The Nintendo Switch’s successor will be peeking its head over the horizon any day now, and it’s clear that many developers are holding out until its release to drop their shiny new next-gen games. Thelatest Nintendo Directwas a pretty good showcase of this. Though there were enough third-party announcements to fill a 42-minute Partner Showcase, it felt as though many of those reveals were scraping the barrel. EA’sMySims: Cozy Bundlewas one such announcement....

The Simsis one of the definitive titles in the life sim genre. Since 2000, the EA series has allowed players to build an alternate life. That’s fun enough, but one surprising aspect ofThe Simsfranchise is that there is an unexpected amount of lore buried within the series. Now thatThe Sims 4is getting a brand-new expansion, questions have been arising about the lore of one character in particular. The newest expansion to come toThe Sims 4is calledLife and Death....

Summary Unityhas officially canceled its controversial Runtime Fee, which was originally implemented in September 2023. Released in 2005,Unityis still one of the most popular engines for indie developers and has been used to create many beloved games, such asHollow Knight,Cuphead,Subnautica,Among Us, and many others. Last year,Unity announced a new licensing model for its engine. Instead of using a simple subscription fee as the company did before, Unity started to charge developers depending on how many times their games were downloaded after they hit a certain milestone in revenue....

Summary Fans of theManaseries have been immersing themselves in the latest title in the series,Visions Of Mana, the first new story in the franchise in a decade. The action RPG series has been around since the mid-1990s and has maintained a loyal following thanks to its combination of memorable characters, gorgeous scenery, epic battles, and powerful storytelling. Visions Of Manabrings with ita new cast of characters, and the player has five different individuals to choose from....

Various rumors and theories about theNintendoSwitch’s successor have been swirling for the past few years. However, with new console generations usually arriving every 5 to 7 years and the Switch launching in 2017, late 2024 to early 2025 would make sense for the next-gen release that’s tentatively being called the Switch 2. Additionally, the recent announcement of thefirst game for the Switch 2gives more credibility to the various claims that an official announcement is imminent....

Summary This discount is no longer active. Baldur’s Gate 3is currently 20% off onSteam. This recently launched discount matches the award-winning game’s lowest-ever price on Valve’s storefront, butSteamusers need to act fast to take advantage of it. The PC version of Larian Studios' beloved RPG has previously received only four discounts since debuting in early August 2023. The latest of these was briefly available over the two-week period ending July 11,whenBaldur’s Gate 3was retailing at 20% off....

Summary An Xbox Game Pass subscription offers a gamut of benefits, from being able to play some games right when they launch to discounts on purchases to awesome perks like a free Discord Nitro membership. In addition to its rotating library of games, the service also regularly offers “Free Play Days,” when gamers can spend a fun weekend checking out titles they might otherwise not get to try. Riders Republicwas one game offered via Free Play Days back in September 2023, and now the title has beenadded to the Xbox Game Pass catalogso that players can enjoy it for longer than a weekend....

But that could be changing very soon, asa newSkategame is on the horizon, and the genre seems to be getting renewed interest from the gaming populace. The aforementionedSessionandSkater XLhelped remind both audiences and gaming companies of the power of skating games, particularly those leaning into complex mechanics rather than gimmicks or peripherals, and the remakes of the first twoTony Hawk Pro Skatergames were a nice shot in the arm as well....

Helldivers 2has recently received some interesting updates that suggest an underlying theme. One saw the buffs to flame-based weaponry, with the boosts to their power putting them in the spotlight. Another isthe Chemical Agents Warbond,showing the potential of equipment that deals damage via toxic gas. Based on what’s known, the next major update could have another theme of its own. However, there is no telling what it could be, but the probability of a particular one is high given what has already been covered by the game....

Quick Links The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis the newest addition to theZeldafranchise, and the first to featureZeldaherself in the role of playable protagonist. Created byNintendoandGrezzo,Echoes of Wisdomfeatures the “classic” Zelda format, and is visually similar to Grezzo’s previous entry into the franchise, theLink’s Awakening remake. With Zelda front and center,Echoes of Wisdommakes several interesting changes to the formula, most notably to combat. However, at its core, this still remains a classicZeldaexperience, one that bridges the gap between the “modern” and “classic” eras remarkably well....

With as many branching narrative decisions as it has,Baldur’s Gate 3has no shortage of imaginative potential plotlines to choose from. A stunning rendition of lore from theDungeons & Dragonsfranchise, the turn-based CRPG complements player agency and implements consequences to a degree worthy of its origins. The delicate nuance that interconnects the complex character relationships, player decision-making through action and dialogue, the regular setting changes, etc. makes a strong case for spin-off content using the game’s core strengths....

Summary The originalBeetlejuicewas released in 1988 as a horror comedy. It has since gone on to become a cult classic that mostTim Burton fans love. It got a cartoon adaptation in 1989, which is probably how most 90s kids got to know Lydia Deetz, Beetlejuice, and tons of other characters. There were also plenty of video game adaptations too. Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis finally here to give those late 80s and 90s fans some good old-fashioned nostalgia....

The hallmark of every form of entertainment is its ability to appeal to various audiences. Manhwa, like every other form of entertainment, possesses this same quality. However, despite its broad appeal,the number of manhwaoptions available to kids and children is somewhat limited. Their limitation in availability, regardless,these manhwa are perfectfor children, as they present lighthearted themes, simple-to-follow tropes, and relatable characters. Often exploring child-like relationships and general feel-good narratives, these manhwa produce thrilling and exciting escapes for children and spark their imaginations....