Month: April 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to launch alongside The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, leading to a series of amusing comparisons on social media. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, Oblivion Remastered offers both standard and deluxe editions, the latter featuring additional content for enthusiasts. Both games will be available through Xbox Game Pass, allowing players to experience them without immediate purchase. Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, humorously noted the overlapping release dates in a social media post.

They drew parallels to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon that gained traction during the theatrical release of Barbie and Oppenheimer in July 2023. This lighthearted comparison highlighted the timing of their game alongside Oblivion Remastered, suggesting a playful rivalry. Released on April 22 by Bethesda and Microsoft, Oblivion Remastered includes a standard edition that features the base game along with expansion packs like The Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine. The Digital Deluxe Edition offers extra items such as exclusive armor, a digital art book, and the soundtrack.

This new version was developed alongside Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, further raising the stakes for both titles. To celebrate the upcoming release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Microsoft is even giving away a custom Xbox Series X. Despite both games providing different RPG experiences, the close release dates have caught the eye of Kepler Interactive. Their humorous social media post featured modified promotional artwork that swapped a character from Expedition 33 for an iconic Oblivion Gate, drawing attention to this unique gaming moment.

Fans eagerly commented on the proximity of both game launches, speculating whether Oblivion Remastered’s debut might overshadow Expedition 33’s April 24 release. While Oblivion Remastered offers an expansive open-world journey that can take 80 hours or more to complete, Expedition 33 provides a more condensed experience, with gameplay estimated between 30 to 60 hours.

The long-awaited release of Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has finally arrived, capturing the attention of over 120,000 players on Steam within just a few hours. The excitement surrounding this remastered classic from Bethesda has ignited a surge of creativity in the gaming community, particularly in the character creation aspects, where players are eager to build the most grotesque monsters imaginable.

This remaster includes all the downloadable content from the original version, though it currently lacks mod support. However, this absence may change in the future as the community continues to engage with the game.

As a first-party Xbox title, Oblivion Remastered is also available directly through Xbox Game Pass, making it accessible to even more players. The character creator in Oblivion has a long-standing reputation for allowing users to design bizarre and hideous avatars.

Historically, western RPGs have been playgrounds for these creative endeavors, with players often attempting to craft the ugliest characters possible. Bethesda’s games, including Fallout 4, have been particularly popular for this kind of creativity, and Oblivion is no exception.

Since its launch, players have already displayed some truly horrifying creations. For example, a user called DeadAimDino666 shared a character with an unusually wide face and unsettling teeth, while another player named DeCarn showcased a blue-skinned character with a similarly odd appearance.

These posts are garnering significant attention, with fans predicting a revival for the OblivionAbominations subreddit, which has over 13,000 members dedicated to appreciating these monstrous designs. As interest in Oblivion Remastered continues to grow, particularly with the inclusion of the original game’s DLC, many hope for the addition of mod support in the future.

In the meantime, the gaming community is thrilled to explore the creative possibilities and share their horrendous creature designs across various platforms.

Overwatch 2 has launched exciting opportunities for players to obtain the Ice Princess Symmetra skin through a Twitch Drop campaign for Season 16. Players can earn this exclusive cosmetic by simply watching any Overwatch 2 streamer on Twitch for a total of nine hours. The Ice Princess Symmetra skin is a vibrant recoloring of the Figure Skater Symmetra skin that was introduced in the original Overwatch in 2018. The campaign runs from now until May 6, allowing fans to collect not only the Ice Princess Symmetra Legendary skin but also a matching Spray and Player Icon.

As players watch streams, they will unlock the Ice Princess Jewel spray after two hours and the Player Icon after five hours, culminating in the Legendary skin after completing the full nine hours of viewing. In addition to the Twitch Drop event, Season 16 of Overwatch 2 has introduced various new features, including the Stadium game mode, Competitive Hero Bans, and Freja, a new damage hero. The season also adds numerous fresh cosmetics to the Battle Pass and shop, including royal skins for other heroes like Lifeweaver, Genji, Hanzo, and Mercy. To participate in the Twitch Drops, players need to connect their Battle.net and Twitch accounts.

After achieving the viewing requirements, they can claim their rewards from Twitch Drops inventory, which will be automatically unlocked in Overwatch 2. Besides the Twitch Drops, Overwatch 2 is hosting the Stadium: Initiation event, where players can earn additional rewards through matches and challenges. Fans will have over two months to gain various cosmetics, including Name Cards, Icons, and the exclusive Stadium Rookie Soldier: 76 skin. With more exciting collaborations, such as Gundam Wing, on the horizon, players can expect ample chances to earn free rewards in Season 16.

As a dynamic, free-to-play team-based action game, Overwatch 2 offers constant updates and daily challenges, ensuring endless excitement for players across iconic global locations.

Freddy Krueger emerged as the most formidable killer in Dead by Daylight from January to March 2025, with an impressive kill rate of 69%. Other notable killers during this timeframe included The Lich, The Twins, The Blight, and The Nurse.

Despite Freddy’s dominance in performance, he surprisingly did not rank among the top 10 most-picked killers, as players favored different choices such as The Mastermind and The Blight. Behaviour Interactive has shared insights regarding not only Freddy Krueger’s statistics but also the escape rates of survivors in Dead by Daylight.

The escape rates for survivors fluctuated between 41% to 48%, with higher escape rates being recorded among groups. This data, set for an updated release in July, continues to engage the player community, offering insight into current gameplay dynamics.

Dead by Daylight presents a unique asynchronous multiplayer experience where one player assumes the role of a killer while others strive to survive. The game draws inspiration from various horror media, introducing a range of killers like The Demogorgon, Albert Wesker, Pinhead, and Freddy Krueger.

The chilling atmosphere and diverse character roster contribute to the game’s enduring popularity. Following recent updates, Behaviour also noted upcoming adjustments, including balancing tweaks for The Ghoul and fixes related to the Blood Moon Event.

Freddy’s rise to dominance can be attributed to significant reworks that enhanced his capabilities, including the strategic ability to switch between Dream Snares and Dream Pallets, significantly improving his mobility. Initially regarded as weaker, these changes have made Freddy a compelling choice for players seeking an edge in gameplay—a testament to the developer’s commitment to continuous improvement and balance within the game.

Gamers on the Epic Games Store can now earn achievements in the popular action-adventure title, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Launched on March 20, 2025, the game has quickly become the second best-selling title of the year, only surpassed by Monster Hunter Wilds. It has garnered critical acclaim for its stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, currently holding a score of 81 on OpenCritic. Assassin’s Creed Shadows follows the journeys of its main protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, as players explore a vast open world, engage in stealth missions, and confront various enemies.

The recent update from the Epic Games Store that introduced achievements has delighted many players who previously expressed disappointment over their absence. This addition has provided a renewed motivation for players to dive back into the game, with some citing a stronger incentive to complete challenges. In addition to gameplay updates, there are intriguing rumors swirling about a possible port of Assassin’s Creed Shadows to the Nintendo Switch 2, which is set to launch on June 5. While official confirmation from Ubisoft is still pending, players who often find themselves commuting or away from home are excited at the prospect of taking the game on the go.

However, it remains uncertain whether achievements would be available on this potential new platform. Fans are also eagerly anticipating the upcoming Claws of Awaji DLC, scheduled to release sometime in 2025. This expansion will take place after the events of the main game and will feature Yasuke and Naoe as they confront new challenges on a mysterious island. Described by developers as “spookier” than the base game, this DLC will be free for those who pre-ordered the title.

With an expansive open world to explore and additional content on the horizon, players have much to look forward to in the future of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Overwatch 2 has kicked off a new Discord Quest that allows players to earn five free Loot Boxes simply by playing for 15 minutes. This initiative celebrates the launch of Season 16, which introduces exciting features such as the new Stadium game mode, the damage hero Freja, and Hero Bans in Competitive play, along with a revamped Battle Pass.

To take advantage of this Discord Quest, players need to play Overwatch 2 between now and April 29. The requirement is straightforward: just log into the game and play for a quarter of an hour.

Interestingly, this time commitment does not necessitate being in an active match; players can also accumulate time by idling in the menu or browsing the Hero Gallery. After meeting the time requirement, fans should head back to Discord, retrieve their rewards code, and enter it in the Battle.net launcher to receive their Loot Boxes.

For those interested in completing this quest, here’s a quick step-by-step guide. First, navigate to the Discover icon at the bottom of the Discord server list, then locate the Quests button at the bottom of the Discover list.

Quest alerts may pop up in the Quest Bar as well. Players can complete the quest on PC or console, as long as they have linked their Discord accounts to PlayStation or Xbox.

In addition to the current quest, players have a limited time to finish the previous Discord quest, which rewards the Frozen Seer Lifeweaver skin by watching a brief one-minute trailer related to the Overwatch 2 Mid-Season 15 update before April 24. Players can also earn the Ice Princess Symmetra Legendary skin as a Twitch Drop by watching any streamer for nine hours until May 7.

With this abundance of free rewards, Season 16 is turning out to be a treat for Overwatch 2 fans.

The Skyblivion team, tasked with creating an unofficial remake of Oblivion using the Skyrim engine, has received support from Bethesda in the form of game keys. These gifts coincide with the launch of Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda’s own recent project. This gesture highlights Bethesda’s generally positive approach towards fan-led initiatives, setting it apart from other gaming companies that often resort to cease-and-desist actions.

On April 22, Bethesda confirmed long-standing rumors regarding an official remaster of Oblivion, which came as a surprise to many. Meanwhile, Skyblivion has been under development in varying capacities since 2012. As Skyblivion aims for a 2025 release, coinciding with Oblivion Remastered, one might expect Bethesda to be less supportive.

However, an official announcement from the Skyblivion team expressed heartfelt gratitude for the complimentary game keys they received from Bethesda, showcasing a collaborative spirit. Historically, Bethesda has been friendly towards modding, encouraging the community’s creativity. In stark contrast, other developers, such as Take-Two Interactive and Nintendo, have actively pursued legal measures against similar fan projects.

Bethesda’s open stance towards modders recognizes the unique role they play in sustaining a game’s fanbase and extending its longevity, particularly when official support is lacking. The Skyblivion project has significantly evolved from its original concept, transitioning into a major overhaul of Oblivion that includes complete asset replacements and extensive landscape reconstruction. Prior to the official reveal of Oblivion Remastered, the Skyblivion team voiced their excitement for the new game, appreciating its potential to reach a broader audience, including console players.

As 2025 approaches, it looks promising for both official and fan-led Oblivion projects.

Overwatch 2 is set to introduce Freja to the Stadium game mode during the mid-Season 16 update. Both Freja and the Stadium mode debuted in the latest season, generating excitement as players anticipate taking the new bounty hunter into the arena. Stadium serves as the central feature of Season 16, allowing players to customize character abilities through Items and Powers, utilize a unique third-person camera, and engage in a specialized ranked progression system. The mode launched with 17 playable heroes, with plans to add more in future updates.

To celebrate Season 16’s launch, Overwatch 2 has introduced a straightforward new Discord Quest, which enables fans to earn complimentary in-game items. Interestingly, gamers will not have to wait until Season 17 for the addition of the 18th hero. In a recent developer update, senior game designer Dylan Snyder announced that Freja would join Stadium during the mid-Season 16 update, likely within the next month. Snyder revealed that additional information about Freja’s unique Items and Powers will be available soon.

Freja, a Danish search and rescue agent turned bounty hunter, is designed for high precision and skill, making her the first of three heroes slated for release in 2025. Players will be able to enhance her mobility and lethality, enhancing her capabilities as a bounty hunter in Stadium. For fans who anticipated the inclusion of other iconic characters like Winston or Tracer, Freja’s early arrival makes sense given the ongoing development of her character on the team. Looking forward, fans can expect the addition of more heroes to Stadium each season until the game aligns with the current roster of 43.

Given Freja’s quick entry, players should not be surprised to see Aqua or the enigmatic 45th hero join Stadium soon after their release. Overwatch 2, a dynamic free-to-play team-based action game, continuously offers new content and challenges in its vibrant world.

Xbox fans are in for a treat as they can now access a dynamic background featuring The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. This exciting development follows Bethesda’s announcement of a dedicated stream on April 22, where details about the remaster were finally shared. The collaboration between Microsoft and Bethesda has yielded successful titles, and Oblivion Remastered is the latest addition to their catalog.

For those who have been speculating about an official remaster of Oblivion, the wait is over. Despite previous rumors, Bethesda had remained fairly reserved about the project until the recent announcement. With the remaster now publicly available, Xbox players, in particular, have something special to enjoy.

In addition to the remaster itself, Xbox users can take advantage of a newly released dynamic background that pays homage to Oblivion. The dynamic background available for Xbox Series X/S showcases an armored soldier standing before the iconic symbol of Oblivion, which is surrounded by smoking ruins. The shimmering effect of the Oblivion symbol creates a striking visual, perfect for those looking to celebrate the game’s recent release on their consoles.

To set up the new dynamic background, Xbox owners can easily navigate through their console settings. By pressing the Xbox button on the controller and heading to the personalization options, users can select the dynamic background to enhance their console’s aesthetic. Given the positive reception of Oblivion Remastered, many Xbox users will likely be enjoying this dynamic addition for a while.

The game has already made a strong impact on platforms like Steam, while its day one availability on Game Pass has delighted subscribers who can access it without additional payment. The partnership between Microsoft and Bethesda continues to yield impressive results, setting a promising tone for future releases, including the upcoming launch of Doom: The Dark Ages on May 15.

Konami has issued a strong warning to fans about a fraudulent playtesting scam related to the highly anticipated game Silent Hill f. As is common with much-anticipated titles, these scams can be deceptive and may take advantage of eager fans looking for insider access. Given the game’s mysterious status and the lack of a confirmed release date, fans need to be particularly wary of false claims circulating online.

Silent Hill f is notable as the first fully original entry in the beloved franchise in many years, with excitement building around its unique setting in mid-1900s Japan and the chilling narrative involving the character Hinako. With so much anticipation around its release, misinformation is a significant concern.

Players desperate for details should carefully evaluate any claims they come across, as many could be attempts to exploit their curiosity for personal information. To emphasize the seriousness, Konami has made announcements on both its Japanese and English social media platforms, highlighting a specific account that falsely claims to host a closed beta for Silent Hill f. This scam not only has no relation to Konami but also seeks to obtain users’ personal data under the guise of a sign-up process.

Sadly, Silent Hill f is not alone in facing such scams. Just earlier this year, a similar situation occurred concerning a fake Elden Ring Nightreign playtest, which resulted in users facing security issues with their Steam accounts.

Scammers often target those with high levels of excitement, exploiting their eagerness to learn more about their favorite games. The best way for players to stay informed about official opportunities is by sticking to Konami’s verified channels.

Despite the recent release of a more detailed trailer for Silent Hill f, there are still many unanswered questions, including when players can expect its release. Although speculation suggests it might arrive sooner than predicted, Konami has yet to provide any confirmation.