Month: June 2025

Dead by Daylight has recently shattered its player count record following the highly anticipated update featuring Five Nights at Freddy’s. Released in 2016 by Behaviour Interactive, the game has seen ongoing support with regular updates, notably through exciting collaborations with various intellectual properties.

Among the most celebrated partnerships was with Stranger Things, where characters Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington became Survivors, while the fearsome Demogorgon served as a Killer. Another standout collaboration introduced elements from Silent Hill, bringing in Cheryl Mason and Pyramid Head as pivotal characters.

However, it was the latest crossover that pushed Dead by Daylight to new heights, marking a significant milestone for the game. Recent statistics reveal that Dead by Daylight reached a remarkable all-time high of 106,029 concurrent players on June 17, 2025, as reported by SteamDB.

This surge followed the introduction of Springtrap, the sinister animatronic from FNAF 3, who now stands as the newest Killer. Alongside Springtrap, the update brought exciting cosmetic items, including unique skins, banners, and badges, plus three new achievements for dedicated players to unlock.

This record-setting player count surpasses the previous milestone of 105,093, achieved in June 2021 during the Resident Evil crossover, where popular characters Leon and Jill Valentine, along with the Killer Nemesis, delighted fans. Following that, the additional content featuring Ada Wong and Rebecca Chambers was released in August 2022.

The endurance of Dead by Daylight in the dynamic video game industry speaks volumes. Continuous support from its developers has reinforced the game’s appeal and engagement within its community.

Furthermore, recent leaks suggest that players can expect even more thrilling content from the Resident Evil universe to be added in the near future.

The “It’s a Kind of Magic” update for RuneScape: Dragonwilds was launched on Steam on June 17, bringing the early-access survival crafting game developed by Jagex up to version 0.8. This update introduces new features, graphical improvements, and fresh content that players can explore. The last update was released on May 2 and made significant adjustments to the gameplay. Since its early access debut in April, RuneScape: Dragonwilds has made waves despite the franchise’s shift into the open-world survival crafting genre.

Although the game currently holds “Mixed” reviews on Steam, it maintains an overall “Very Positive” rating, with sales surpassing 600,000 copies shortly after launch. At peak, the game attracted more than 52,000 concurrent players. Development is set to continue through at least early 2026, ensuring consistent updates that enhance the player experience. Players should focus on unlocking essential skills in RuneScape: Dragonwilds as quickly as possible.

The new update introduces the Magic Skill, allowing players to level up to 50 and access two new Skill Spells. Additional gameplay improvements include adjustments to building health values and the introduction of a Coziness system, which slows down survival meter depletion when near a claimed bed. For those seeking a challenge, Hardcore difficulty has been implemented, upping the stakes by making enemies deal and take more damage. If players die without recovering their gravestone, they will lose all items and XP.

The update also introduces various build pieces for defense and equipment weight adjustments, creating a more dynamic crafting environment. While RuneScape: Dragonwilds diverges from the classic experience longtime fans know, Jagex continues to enhance the game incrementally. The introduction of the Magic Skill and Hardcore mode shows promise for future updates, suggesting that player feedback will guide the evolution of this exciting title.

On June 15, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet announced that Baxcalibur would be the next Seven-Star Tera Raid boss for trainers to encounter. This new addition breaks the previously established pattern from 2025, where pseudo-legendary Pokémon were featured in Tera Raids in generational order. Baxcalibur, known as the Ice Dragon Pokémon, serves as the pseudo-legendary of these games, evolving from Frigibax and Arctibax.

It boasts a unique Dragon and Ice typing, reminiscent of the legendary Kyurem from Pokémon Black and White. With high physical attack and HP stats, Baxcalibur utilizes its signature move, Glaive Rush, making it a formidable opponent. Players can typically capture Baxcalibur by catching Frigibax in the snowy regions of Paldea and evolving it through leveling.

The announcement also highlights a creative fan who crafted an impressive suit of armor resembling Garchomp, showcasing the enthusiasm within the Pokémon community. As trainers eagerly prepare for the upcoming challenge, the Tera Raid featuring Baxcalibur will commence on June 19 at 8:00 PM Eastern, concluding on June 22 at 7:59 PM Eastern. A follow-up event will take place from June 26 to June 29 during the same time frame.

Participants who successfully defeat Baxcalibur the Unrivaled will earn the coveted Mightiest Mark. Baxcalibur will showcase an Ice-type for its Tera type and will possess one of two abilities that will influence strategy for trainers. The first, Thermal Exchange, boosts Baxcalibur’s attack in response to Fire-type hits, despite its weakness to them.

The second ability, Ice Body, enables health regeneration under Snowscape conditions. This creates a dynamic strategy for players, as popular Fire-type Pokémon may become less effective. Conversely, trainers can turn to Fighting-type Pokémon like Zamazenta, utilizing moves like Body Press and Iron Defense to tackle Baxcalibur effectively.

With these options available, it will be intriguing to see how players will strategize in this upcoming challenge.

Recent developments suggest that Prototype 3 may be in development, thus supporting previous leaks about the game. The first two Prototype installments were launched in 2012 and 2019 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, followed by enhanced ports for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2015.

However, since then, the franchise has remained inactive, and there has been no official announcement regarding Prototype 3. The latest rumors about Prototype 3 originated from a Reddit post in April by a user named Bigbyy, who claimed to have participated in an Activision “study group.”

Although the user has since deleted their post and account, their claims gained attention after accurately predicting details about Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. According to Bigbyy, Prototype 3 would see the return of protagonist Alex Mercer and would take place once again in New York City.

Interestingly, the recent confirmation of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has fueled further speculation regarding other rumors, including the potential development of Prototype 3. Bigbyy’s post primarily focused on Black Ops 7, asserting that it would feature a co-op campaign—something that is rare for the series.

This revelation has lent credibility to their earlier claim about Prototype 3. Despite this intrigue, fans should remain cautious and temper their expectations.

There has been no formal announcement from Activision regarding Prototype 3, and it would be unusual for such a project to be shared with a study group. Nevertheless, the possibility of Prototype making a comeback is heightened, especially with Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, which could rekindle interest in previously dormant franchises.

While not yet officially confirmed by IO Interactive, it appears that Patrick Gibson is set to portray James Bond in their upcoming game, 007 First Light. Initially announced in 2020, the game has recently gained traction with its official title and first details. 007 First Light is expected to be a third-person action-adventure game, featuring the thrilling shooting, stealth, and explosive vehicle segments that fans have come to love from the James Bond franchise.

In a departure from traditional portrayals, 007 First Light will showcase a younger, rookie Bond in his mid-20s. This fresh take was highlighted in the reveal trailers, but the identity of the actor playing Bond remains unconfirmed. However, speculation has strongly leaned towards Patrick Gibson, renowned for his role in Dexter: Original Sin, as the voice behind this younger Bond.

Following the release of the game’s trailers, fans quickly recognized the striking resemblance between the new Bond character and Gibson. Adding fuel to the fire, Gibson recently hinted in an interview with Emmy magazine that he is involved in an undisclosed video game project. Given the visuals aligning closely with his likeness, coupled with Gibson’s lack of other video game engagements, it seems increasingly probable that he is indeed James Bond in 007 First Light.

Gibson’s rising fame has been largely attributed to his acclaimed performance as Dexter Morgan in the prequel series Dexter: Original Sin. Stepping into a role established by Michael C. Hall is no small feat, yet Gibson has received praise for his depiction of the early days of the iconic character. As he prepares to reprise his role in the confirmed Season 2 of Dexter: Original Sin on Paramount+, there are high hopes that 007 First Light will soon affirm his role as the new James Bond.

Fans have recently discovered that altering the default HDR setting on the Nintendo Switch 2 can enhance performance in various games. High Dynamic Range (HDR) has become increasingly standard in modern displays, and the Nintendo Switch 2 supports this feature. However, some players believe that HDR may actually detract from their gaming experience in certain titles. For those unfamiliar with HDR, it is a visual enhancement technology that offers a wider color range and greater bit depth.

Older Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) displays often struggle to differentiate between similar hues, especially in bright or dark scenes. HDR solves this issue by providing a broader spectrum of colors for more precise shading. Yet, despite its advantages, some users have reported problems with HDR on the Switch 2. Recently, discussions on Reddit have encouraged players to disable the automatic HDR feature on the Switch 2.

By default, the console applies HDR universally, including to titles that don’t support this feature, resulting in older games appearing glitchy or overexposed. Users can opt for the “Compatible Software Only” setting to avoid such issues. Those who have made this adjustment report noticeable improvements in the visuals of previous-generation games. Not only does disabling HDR for incompatible games enhance their appearance, but it can also lead to reduced battery consumption on the Switch 2.

In summary, limiting HDR to supported software can offer improved graphics and extended battery life. Critics have accused Nintendo of artificially enhancing the HDR experience on the Switch 2’s LED display, suggesting that the company simply modified existing SDR technology to simulate HDR outputs. They cite examples like Mario Kart World, claiming the visuals lack depth and highlights. In contrast, some argue that proper TV settings are crucial for optimal visual quality.

The HDR debate is not the only controversy regarding the Switch 2’s display. Before its release, fans voiced disappointment over Nintendo’s decision to use LCD instead of OLED technology. Nintendo defended its choice, asserting that its advanced LCD could surpass some OLEDs in performance. However, it remains uncertain how the company will respond to the increasing criticism over the Switch 2’s HDR functionality.