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Insomniac Games has revealed the launch window for Marvel's Wolverine, set for release in Fall 2026 on PlayStation 5. Read more View the full article

Claim your free Blade and Soul Heroes: Special Gift Key. Each pack unlocks: Hero Recruit Plaques x5 and Famed Hero's ... View the full article

Chronoscript: The Endless End is an upcoming Metroid-style 2D action game with a killer aesthetic. Players control an editor trapped inside the pages of a book, and must fight for his life to escape. The game comes from developer DeskWorks (makers of the similarly hand-drawn RPG Time: The Legend of Wright), and stars an editor who, after visiting a mysterious manor, becomes bound to the pages of his unfinished, never-ending manuscript. This story has been ongoing for a thousand years and refuses to end; it's up to us to find a way to end this long-running narrative once and for all. Chronoscript's hand-drawn pen art aesthetic looks great, and the gameplay plays with its premise by letting players traverse through pages and even swim through spilled ink to reach new areas. Chronoscript: The Endless End is set to launch in 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC. View the full article

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launches tomorrow, delivering arguably the best kart-racing experience of the year, but for fans of gaming crossovers, the main event starts post-launch. Developer Sonic Team has revealed extensive crossover DLC plans, including characters, vehicles, and stages from IPs such as Minecraft, Pac-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Avatar: Legends, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Today, Sega announced its next CrossWorlds collaboration: Capcom's Mega Man franchise. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds features a robust roster of characters from across the Sonic universe, including characters from the mainline games, Sonic Riders, and even Netflix's Sonic Prime. Additionally, characters from series like Persona, Like a Dragon, and Hatsune Miku also join the racing fun. Mega Man and Proto Man will join the roster of playable racers as part of the Season Pass, alongside a Mega Man-inspired course and a Rush vehicle. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC tomorrow, September 25. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is currently in development, with a launch expected this holiday season. Those who buy the Switch version will be able to upgrade to the Switch 2 version for $10. For more on Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, check out our review. View the full article

We're only a handful of months removed from Code Vein II's announcement during Summer Game Fest, but we already know when fans of the original can get their hands on it. Those looking to ring in the new year with style will be happy to know the upcoming Soulslike action game is coming on January 30. A new trailer was revealed during today's PlayStation State of Play, showing off protagonist Tokugawa Takechiyo, forced from the shogunate throne, who confronts his rebellious brother Tokugawa Kunimatsu in battle. The time-traveling adventure takes players across multiple eras to hunt monsters called Horrors, where players can change the fates of key characters as they slice and dice enemies using the game's unique blood-draining combat system. You can also join forces with various allies who lend unique abilities to the fight. Code Vein II will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on January 30. View the full article

Today’s State of Play offered some fresh looks at a number of games, but one of the most exciting appearances was for Insomniac’s hotly antipated Wolverine game. The newly revealed trailer offers plenty of action to sink one’s claws into, and also hints heavily at some of the characters and locations that will play a central role. The development studio that brought us the Marvel's Spider-Man games is clearly taking a very different direction with Wolverine as it relates to mature content. Specifically, Wolverine is, without a doubt, an M-rated title that includes some extreme levels of brutal violence. Logan is seen throughout the video using his claws to dismember, stab, and otherwise eviscerate his foes, and it’s clear that Insomniac has invested heavily in creating believable tech around the battles, including the lifelike appearance of blood. Evidently, the mutant warrior will be taking on a globe-trotting adventure, as we see locations as far-flung as a Japanese cityscape, the wilds of Canada, and the mysterious land of Madripoor – a fictional mainstay of Wolverine adventures in the comic books. We also see several familiar faces show up, including the likes of Omega Red and Mystique. After revealing the trailer, Insomniac introduced us to the man who’ll be voicing Wolverine this time around. Liam McIntyre is set to bring Logan’s gruff but emotionally fraught persona to your gaming screen. McIntyre is best known for his work on the Spartacus TV series, but he also has video game experience, having played JD Fenix in Gears of War 4 and 5. He’s also done voice work in various animated properties. Marvel’s Wolverine is still a good way off from its release on PlayStation 5 in the fall of 2026, roughly a year from now. However, Insomniac made a point to call out plans to share more about the game this spring. Until then, we’ll all have to be the best there is at what we do: waiting for more details. Check out the full trailer above, and a breakdown of what was shown in the "Behind the Claws" video below. View the full article

The 2000 action role-playing game, Deus Ex, is getting the remaster treatment for its 25th anniversary on PlayStation 5. The remaster is being handled by Eidos-Montréal (Eidos published the original game) and Aspyr (the developer of the recent Tomb Raider and Soul Reaver remasters). Deus Ex Remastered will feature improved visuals and controls, as well as some PlayStation 5-specific features like haptic controller feedback. The original game was renowned for how much agency it gives the player in terms of directing the story and how to tackle each encounter leading to many different ways to play through the game. Deus Ex Remastered releases February 5, 2026. Back in 2013, while promoting the then-upcoming release of Epic Mickey 2, Deus Ex's producer and project director, Warren Spector, joined us on an episode of Replay to play the original game and offer some commentary. You can check that out below. View the full article

In recent years, PlayStation has begun porting its precious exclusives to PC, and today, they revealed a peripheral that will theoretically enhance that experience: a pair of PlayStation-branded speakers. You can watch the Pulse Elevate speakers reveal trailer below. As the footage says, the speakers use Bluetooth, connecting to a PC or Mac using a USB-C dongle. They can also pair to a PlayStation Portal, presumably without a dongle, if you want to use them instead of the handheld's built-in speakers. The speakers are also able to make use of 3D audio if you're playing a PlayStation game that includes it as an optional feature. And like the DualSense, it also comes with a built-in mic with noise canceling, to allow you to voice chat while the game is playing. It's a bit of an odd product, to be honest – it's unlikely that people with gaming-capable PCs don't have speakers already, and it's quite a purchase to bring with a handheld like the Portal. With the rising costs of gaming hardware, including PlayStation's increases from August and Xbox's increases announced just last week, we're curious to see how much these speakers eventually retail for, though the price has yet to be revealed. The speakers will hit shelves some time next year in black and white models. For more from today's State of Play, check out the gameplay reveal of Saros or the first proper look at Marvel's Wolverine. View the full article

Crimson Desert, the long-awaited open-world action RPG from Black Desert studio Pearl Abyss, finally has a release date after years of delays. Look for it to arrive on March 16, 2026. A new trailer shows off a montage of out-of-context story clips and over-the-top fantastical action. Set in the fantasy land of Pywel, the game stars the warrior Kliff, a member of the Greymanes, who embarks on a quest to defend the land from an impending disaster. Check out the new trailer below. Crimson Desert is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. We played the game during Summer Games Fest this year, and you can read our impressions here. View the full article

Today’s State of Play event from Sony gave us a new look at Team Ninja’s Nioh 3. The new trailer seemed mostly focused on showing off hints at the story beats that are part of the game, including an apparent mix of different time periods, including jumps between 1190, 1572, 1622, alongside a lot of dramatic musing about the nature and desire to be Shogun. In addition to the flashy trailer, we also got news of when we can expect the game to arrive; Nioh 3 arrives on PlayStation 5 and PC on February 6, 2026. Check out the full trailer. View the full article

During today's PlayStation State of Play, Koei Tecmo announced it is remastering Dynasty Warriors 3 for PlayStation 5 with Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered. The game will include remastered versions of the original 2001 PlayStation 2 game, Dynasty Warriors 3, and Xtreme Legends, which was a re-release of Dynasty Warriors 3 with added content. Koei Tecmo cites this entry as the game that laid the groundwork for the entire series. Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is coming to PlayStation 5 on March 19, 2026. View the full article

Today’s State of Play provided a new trailer showing off the single-player campaign for Battlefield 6. The explosive trailer sets the stage for the single-player story, which centers on a squad of Marines known as Dagger 13 as they attempt to stop the terrorist group Pax Armata. The campaign takes players from Brooklyn to Gibraltar and features plenty of exploding vehicles, buildings, and anything not impervious to military weaponry. Check out the trailer below. Battlefield 6 launches on October 10 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. You can read our recent hands-on impressions of the game’s multiplayer gameplay here. View the full article

Embracer CEO Phil Rogers has called for a "smart implementation of generative AI in ethical and sustainable ways." Read more View the full article

Today's PlayStation State of Play was true to its word, kicking off with Saros, the new game from Housemarque Studios. Rather than the last trailer, which was purely a cinematic teaser, this was a proper gameplay reveal, showing us the protagonist, Arjun Devraj, in action. You can see the trailer for yourself below. The game takes place on Carcosa, a sandy, alien planet full of mind-bending visuals and creatures. It looks an awful lot like Housemarque's last game, Returnal (which is not a bad thing – we gave it a 9.5 in our review), complete with third-person sci-fi shooting action and a bullet hell-style barrage of lasers and multicolored explosions. In addition to his main weapons, Arjun comes equipped with a circular force field called the Soltari Shield. By pressing L2, players can equip the shield and absorb projectiles, which then fuel Arjun's Power Weapon, which looks to be a burst of lasers fired from his right arm. Later on in the trailer, he's struck by an enemy's blast and dies, but not before coming back to life with Second Chance, an ability that revives him upon death. A description under the trailer reads as follows: Arjun Devraj (Rahul Kohli), a Soltari enforcer, fights to survive on the lost colony of Carcosa under an ominous eclipse. Shape shifting biomes and hostile ruins set the stage for a fast-paced, cinematic action experience where every encounter demands precision and adaptability. Combat unfolds as a fluid dance of dodges, shields, and parries, paired with a high-tech arsenal built of human and alien weaponry. Master enemy patterns, evolve your strategy, and face off against spectacular bosses that push every skill to the edge. Death is not the end, with permanent upgrades, evolving equipment and the "Second Chance" system that allows you to always come back stronger. The game also got a release date: March 20, 2026, just under six months from now. If it's anything like Returnal – and it looks like it is – we're excited to get our hands on it soon. View the full article

During today's PlayStation State of Play presentation an unexpected game was announced as coming to PlayStation 5: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The game is coming to Sony's console on December 8. This is the first Microsoft Flight Simulator game to appear on a PlayStation console. The game originally released on Xbox platforms and PC in November of last year to high acclaim. We're crossing our fingers for some Sony-exclusive content like Warhawk planes. View the full article

Krafton has filed two further legal documents after the founders and former leadership team of Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds successfully blocked Krafton's request for a court-ordered protective order to force the founders to turn over their devices for a forensic inspection. Read more View the full article

Animula Nook is a stunning debut title from LilliLandia Games that sees players shrink to the size of a toy to explore a miniature world. Players control a shrunken, customizable character living on the desk of a bedroom. The upcoming free-to-play game follows the blueprint of titles such as Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley as players explore the room to collect resources, such as coins, buttons, raindrops, and sunlight, to build various structures. Animula Nook’s impressively rendered world, resembling a toy playset, looks fantastic both graphically and artistically. Everyday objects such as milk cartons and teacups can be turned into homes, restaurants, and shops. You can then decorate these structures with furniture and other types of decor. Although your settlement begins on top of a desk, it can be expanded to reach the windowsill, cabinets, and even a vivarium. LilliLandia Games promises the game features intuitive tools to make crafting and arranging objects as easy as possible. Gathering resources involves cute actions such as using a vacuum to suck up sunshine from flower patches, hugging creatures like ladybugs, or climbing flower stalks to shake resources from them. Animula Nook’s toy-like world is full of similarly tiny characters to meet and befriend, from other humanoid buddies to more whimsical creatures. You can grow bonds with residents, and if they like you enough, they may share their personal stories and even move to your town. Animula Nook can be played alone, but it will also feature online co-op and cross-platform multiplayer. “In this world, ordinary details can turn into extraordinary memories,” says LilliLandia Games in a Steam post. “The smallest things can tell the biggest stories. Animula Nook is about finding joy in little wonders and writing your own story — freely, in your own rhythm.” Unfortunately, Animula Nook has no release window, but it's coming to PlayStation 5, Switch 2, PC, and Mac. View the full article

Grab The Deed for free on Steam and keep it forever in your Steam library! The Deed is an indie 2... View the full article

Larian Games studio head Tara Saunders is continuing as chair of the BAFTA Games committee, the arts charity has confirmed. Read more View the full article

Lika A Dragon developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios held its RRG Summit livestream, where it announced that 2009’s Yakuza 3 is finally getting the Kiwami remake treatment. Not only that, but the game is getting a new story expansion called Dark Ties. The two experiences will be bundled together in a package dubbed Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties. Kiwami 3, like the previous titles, is a ground-up remake of Yakuza 3 that features improved graphics and reworked brawling gameplay, such as the ability to swap between two fighting styles. The first fighting style is Dragon of Dojima: Kiwami, a brawling style boasting the largest number of attack techniques in the series’ history. Second is Ryukyu Style, a new addition described as a technical weapon-based style that lets players unleash combos using eight different weapons. Kiwami 3 also features a new team battle mode called Legendary Baddie, Bad Boy Dragon. Players work together to build a biker gang to fight alongside the Ryukyu Gal Gang of female bikers to protect Okinawa. Dark Ties is a standalone story expansion starring Yakuza 3 antagonist Yoshitaka Mine. Set in Kamurocho, it serves as a prequel to Yakuza 3’s events that tells Mine’s origin story and how and why he joined the yakuza. Gameplay-wise, Mine’s combat centers on boxing and his Dark Awakening ability, a mode where he unleashes his inner darkness to wreak havoc on enemies with a ruthless assault. Dark Ties also features Hells Arena, an underground fight club where players can battle opponents under various rules. Survival Hell mode tasks players with fighting through an underground dungeon to reach a goal at the end. Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties launches on February 12, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, and PC. Pre-ordering either the digital or physical version rewards the exclusive Ryukyu Gal Gang – Ichiban Legendary Lad DLC that adds fan-favorite hero Ichiban Kasuga to the Ryukyu Gal Gang and Legendary Baddie modes. In addition to a standard version, Sega is offering a Digital Deluxe edition that includes the following bonuses: DLC Legendary Outfit PackDLC Legendary Lads & Gals PackDLC Ryukyu Gal Gang Customization PackDLC Flip Phone Customization PackDLC Legendary BGM CD SetIn more RGG news, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are slated to launch on Switch 2 on November 13. The formerly Switch 2 exclusive Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is also coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on December 8. View the full article

Starbreeze has launched a subscription service for Payday 2 on Steam as part of the franchise's 12th anniversary celebrations. Read more View the full article

Gamers play a higher number of titles on Xbox in an average month compared to PlayStation or Steam, new data has found. Read more View the full article

Despite launching on September 12 to a generally positive critical reception, Borderlands 4 has been plagued with performance issues on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. While the studio continues to iron out the kinks, it has decided to delay the Switch 2 launch of Borderlands 4 to an unspecified date. Since its launch on other platforms, players have reported technical issues with Borderlands 4, including unstable framerates, stuttering, and crashes, even on higher-end PCs. As a result of the latter, the game's Steam reviews currently stand at "Mixed." Borderlands 4 was scheduled to launch on Switch 2 on October 3, but Gearbox has pushed the date to ensure this version doesn't suffer a similar fate. As a result, Gearbox is canceling all digital pre-orders on the Nintendo eShop (though players can do this themselves or wait for it to occur automatically on Friday, September 26). The studio also states it plans to time the eventual release of this version to coincide with the arrival of cross-saves, a feature currently in development. Here is Gearbox’s full message, as shared on X: Greetings, Vault Hunters. We need to share that the release of Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 is being delayed. We do not take this decision lightly, but are committed to ensuring we deliver the best possible experience to our fans, and the game needs additional development and polish time to do that. Our hope is to also better align this release with the addition of cross-saves, which we are working on and recognize is very important. We will update you all on the new release timing once we’ve fully adjusted our plans. In accordance with Nintendo’s policy, all digital pre-orders to date will be cancelled. Customers can initiate that process themselves now, or it will happen automatically starting on Friday, September 26. For questions about the Nintendo eShop, contact [Nintendo]. For physical pre-orders, please reach out to the corresponding retailer. We greatly appreciate the feedback, support and patience of our fans and community. It’s truly what keeps us going. For more on Borderlands 4, you can watch our recent interview with the developers on this episode of The Game Informer Show podcast. You can read Game Informer's Borderlands 4 review by following the link. View the full article

Platform: Switch Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokémon Company Developer: Game Freak Release: October 16, 2025 Though I am a strong proponent that Pokémon Scarlet & Violet deserve a broad reevaluation now that they run well on Nintendo Switch 2, it's safe to say that my favorite Pokémon game of 2022 was Pokémon Legends: Arceus. That game, which told of the distant-past version of Gen IV's Sinnoh region, delivered Pokémon in a new wrapper; rather than embarking on a quest to pursue battling glory and catch as many Pokémon as possible, you were tasked with calming Frenzied Noble Pokémon and completing research to help build the region's first Pokédex. It was a refreshing spin on the tried-and-true Pokémon formula, which is why when I heard that the Legends follow-up was taking us to modern day and confining us to a city, I approached Pokémon Legends: Z-A with apprehension. Thankfully, after taking part in a guided tour of the various gameplay loops in Lumiose City itself – Paris, France – Pokémon Legends: Z-A has skyrocketed to become one of my most anticipated games of the remainder of 2025. Rather than exploring an uncharted Hisui Region as you did in Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Legends: Z-A puts you in the shoes of a new arrival to Lumiose City within the Kalos Region trainers explored in Pokémon X & Y. Set after the events of Pokémon X & Y, Legends: Z-A depicts a Lumiose City undergoing an urban redevelopment project led by a corporation called Quasartico Inc to create a city environment where both people and Pokémon can cohabitate. To accomplish this, Pokémon have special areas in Lumiose called Wild Zones. It's precisely in one of these that my Pokémon Legends: Z-A gameplay session begins. Before jumping in, an early cutscene plays, with the player character exiting a train into Lumiose. After being spotted on the streets by someone filming content about Lumiose tourism, the line of questioning is interrupted by a video ad from the Quasartico CEO, Jett. In the video, she lays out the corporation's plans for Lumiose, setting the stage for the adventure to come. Before I enter the Wild Zone that lies before me, I take a moment to customize my character. Using dedicated menus to alter the equipped shirt, pants, hat, glasses, gloves, socks, shoes, satchels, and earrings, I get my character looking just right. There's also a section for "all-in-one" full outfits, but unless I come across something super sleek in my adventure to come, I don't foresee myself using that. Pokémon has continued to improve the customization options at players' disposal, so I'm glad to see them leaning further and further into allowing more player expression. Catching OnAs I enter the Wild Zone, I begin tossing Poké Balls at nearby Buneary. I have a roster of Pokémon in this save file, but for low-level, docile creatures such as them, I can catch them without much hassle. As I turn the corner, however, the Houndour is a bit more rambunctious and requires me to use the new action-oriented battle system to weaken it; with positioning and timing playing essential roles in this system, you must strategically use your Pokémon's four available moves, each of which is mapped to a face button. Once you use the move, whether it hits or not, it goes into a cooldown. And it's not just the Pokémon you need to worry about, as your trainer can also get caught in the line of fire; if you take too much damage, the battle will end, and you'll be rushed to a Pokémon Center. This added another layer of action to my gameplay, as I constantly needed to reposition myself as the attacks blasted my way, and I had to be in a good spot when it finally came time to throw a Poké Ball at the wild creature. My Chikorita and Flabébé wouldn't stand a chance against the Houndour's fire attacks, so I sent out Gyarados to dampen its temper. After draining its HP with water-type moves from the Water/Flying-type, I toss a Poké Ball his way and add him to my roster. Since I added Buneary to my team at the start, Houndour is automatically sent to my box, which I can access at any point, thankfully. I heal up my team and move on. However, right around the corner is a new challenge: an Alpha Pokémon. This Alpha Houndoom is about 20 levels higher than the rest of the Pokémon I've encountered to this point, and the battle plays out that way. Even with my super-effective Gyarados, I'm no match for his concentrated fire blasts and devastating dark attacks. After taking out my Gyarados and Watchog, I'm only left with Pokémon weak to Houndoom, so I know my time in the battle is about to come to an end. Thankfully, the save file is well-stocked with healing items, so I revive my Gyarados while I sacrifice my Chikorita to the dark flames of the dog-shaped Pokémon. However, with my Gyarados back up in full force, I'm able to eek out a win and catch the Alpha Pokémon. After the intense battle, I decide I need to reconfigure my team. I go into the menu and swap out Vivillon for Houndour and add the Alpha Houndoom to my team. I also notice that my Chikorita can evolve into Bayleef, so I trigger that via the menu. After healing up once more, I find a way onto a nearby roof, where I find my next challenge: an Alpha Pikachu. Using my new Bayleef, the battle is much easier than the Houndoom, and I'm excited to add the powerful Pika to my team. Unfortunately, as I stumble upon the third and final Alpha Pokémon in this Wild Zone – an Alpha Binacle – having the Electric Mouse doesn't seem as beneficial as I once thought. Because Pikachu's level was so high, he won't obey me; I don't know if it's because of my trainer ranking in the Z-A Royale (more on that soon), or some other level-based reason, but I quickly recall Pikachu and sic Bayleef on this one as well. With several non-Alpha Binacle in the area, it starts to feel like uproarious water types are ganging up on me. They attack with a persistence not displayed by the other Alphas, and though it gets a bit hairy at times, I can catch the third Alpha Pokémon in this Wild Zone just before I move on from this session. Time to Rank UpI enjoyed the rush of catching wild Pokémon in rapid succession, but as nightfall begins, so too does my next session. Running around Lumiose and capturing Pokémon is a blast during the day, but the focus shifts to battling when the sun descends beyond the horizon. Entering a Battle Zone, I see that I now have a completely new team of Pokémon in this save file: Totodile, Fletchinder, Pikachu, Sylveon, Honedge, and Roselia. Exploring the Zone, I see trainers with their Pokémon out in the distance. I can explore, gathering items, Mega Shards, and cards that contain side missions, or I can challenge any of the trainers in this area. If you walk into their line of sight, they'll initiate a battle. Otherwise, you can try to sneak up and send your Pokémon to attack to get an early advantage. En route to my first adversary, I pick up some side missions like sneaking up with a Normal-type attack, knocking out a Pokémon with a Water-type attack, and KOing with a single blow against an unaware Pokémon. The side missions award Prize Medals, which can be exchanged for things like TMs. The real prize is Ticket Points, which grant you access to a Rank-Up Battle. In the Z-A Royale, you start at Rank Z and must ascend the ranks to reach Rank A through a series of battles in the tournament. In this save file, I'm a Rank W trying to reach Rank V, but before I can take on Rintaro to earn that status, I must first accumulate enough points. The first trainer I face sends out a Chespin, which I easily dispatch using Fletchinder. Then, I send out Honedge to take out her Pikachu and Ralts. The second trainer's Abra and Ralts are no match for my strong Fletchinder, while the final trainer's Beedrill got a crack at my Roselia since I was trying to complete a quest before it, and his subsequent Bellsprout felt the same aerial-fiery wrath of Fletchinder. As the sun comes up, I have enough points for a Rank-Up Battle against Rintaro, so I accept the challenge and take him on at his fancy restaurant. This battle takes place in yet another save file, so my starter for this fight is Tepig, and its supporting cast is also different. Rintaro is a pretty straightforward battle, featuring a team of the Elemental Monkeys from Gen V. Thankfully, I also have a stacked group of elemental Pokémon that perfectly counter the monkey Pokémon; Tepig annihilates Simisage, Pikachu and Weepinbell handle Simipour, and Simisear stands no chance against Staryu. For my efforts against the chef, I earn Rank V, and it's time for one final confrontation before I need to relinquish the controller. A Mega Match-UpThe final segment of my hands-on demo with Pokémon Legends: Z-A takes me to one of the game's boss battles against a Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon. These replace the Frenzied Noble Pokémon from Legends: Arceus as the arena-style boss fights, where you need to consider your positioning and place in the battle as you try to quell the rage causing this outburst. However, unlike the bosses in Legends: Arceus, you can take on the Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon alongside not only your own Pokémon, but also an NPC teammate. This battle occurs between Rogue Mega Victreebel (whose Mega-Evolved form debuts in Legends: Z-A) and the team of my trainer and Naveen, a fellow member of Team MZ. Naveen sends out his Ariados, which does little more than distract the Rogue Mega Victreebel. Anyone who has played a game like Borderlands or Elden Ring knows that any bit of aggro can help during boss battles, but for Rogue Mega Victreebel, it doesn't matter much since a lot of its attacks are area-of-effect, like poisonous puddles or wide-reaching projectiles. Though Naveen's Ariados doesn't do much, my team can make up the difference. My team of six on this save file consists of Absol, Meowstic, Gardevoir, Diggersby, Dedenne, and Houndoom. Three of them (Absol, Gardevoir, and Houndoom) can Mega Evolve, but first, I must collect orbs that the Rogue Mega Victreebel drops throughout the battle. I dodge its incoming attacks, keeping an eye on the cooldowns of Houndoom's fire attacks, and tick away at Victreebel's formidable health bar. Once I collect enough of these orbs to fill Houndoom's Mega Evolution gauge, I activate its Mega Evolution and really start unleashing damage on the boss. Even with those intense flames, it isn't enough, so I have to restart the process of getting my Houndoom back to its Mega-Evolved form. After minutes of chipping away at the Rogue Mega Victreebel, it finally succumbs to the attacks, and it reverts to its normal form. For my efforts, I'm awarded a Victreebel Mega Orb. I don't get to see much more, as my time is up and the demo comes to an end. My hands-on time with Pokémon Legends: Z-A answered a lot of my questions in the best ways possible, resulting in most of my doubts melting away and the game shooting up near the top of my most anticipated games for the rest of a crowded 2025. However, since the gameplay session (which was mostly smooth) was on a Switch 2, I'm curious how the game will run on Switch 1, as that's not something Pokémon has traditionally done well with. We likely won't have answers to that question until the game launches on October 16. But for now, I'm very much looking forward to revisiting Lumiose City. View the full article

The Scottish Game Developers Association (SGDA) has opened applications for the country's first games accelerator programme. Read more View the full article