Category: Games

The recent update to Rainbow Six Siege X has led to a remarkable increase in player activity, with concurrent player counts on Steam reaching 142,000. This significant surge can be attributed to various gameplay changes, enhanced visuals, improved audio quality, and the introduction of new maps alongside balance tweaks for operators.

The newly launched free-to-play mode has also attracted a surge of new gamers, but there are ongoing concerns about whether these players will remain engaged in the long run. Launched on June 10, almost a decade following the original game released in December 2015, Rainbow Six Siege X marks the largest update for Ubisoft’s tactical shooter.

Over the years, the game has seen numerous adjustments, but this latest update introduces substantial enhancements that address long-standing player feedback. For instance, the update features five revamped maps, upgraded directional audio, a new communication wheel, and a range of balance adjustments for several operators.

Moreover, players can now enjoy a new 6v6 mode, additional operator dialogues, and new playlists such as Enlisted and Field Training. In a conversation with Game Rant, game director Joshua Mills discussed what inspired the major update and its direction going forward.

Following the update’s launch, the game’s player count skyrocketed from approximately 60,000 concurrent players to a peak of 142,025 within just 24 hours. With this leap, Rainbow Six Siege X has secured the fifth spot in Steam’s top 100 most-played games, trailing just behind Dune: Awakening.

While the introduction of a free-to-play model likely contributed significantly to this boost, Rainbow Six Siege X’s success remains uncertain. The free access tier limits players to 26 playable operators and specific game modes such as Unranked and Quick Play, leading to questions about long-term retention.

Historically, Rainbow Six Siege has had a reputation as a highly competitive shooter, which may intimidate newer players. However, the updated free tier might cater more to casual gamers than before, especially with features like the new communication wheel, potentially helping to sustain the influx of new participants.

The recently released 2.2.3 Update for Diablo 4 addresses several ongoing issues within the game, including problems with Lair Boss quests being assigned too early and Ensemble items in the Wardrobe failing to save correctly. This update comes amid Season 8 of the game, dubbed “Belial’s Return.” Players can automatically download the patch upon logging into Diablo 4, as it is currently available for PC users. Since its launch in 2023, Diablo 4 has featured multiple seasons, each introducing gameplay tweaks to keep the experience fresh.

Season 8 has introduced exciting new mechanics, such as Boss Powers and revamped endgame content involving Lair Bosses, along with new items to enhance gameplay. Most discussions about the game have focused on its character classes, leading gamers to compare their strengths and weaknesses in various tier lists. The 2.2.3 Update comprises 12 fixes aimed at both the base game and the Vessel of Hatred DLC. Notably, it corrects several gameplay glitches, including the improper spawning of the Speaker of Fel Flames and issues related to Aether visibility within Infernal Hordes.

Additionally, it resolves specific accessibility problems, ensuring a more inclusive gaming experience. Alongside this update, Blizzard has launched the second anniversary event for Diablo 4. Running until June 17, the event features incentives such as additional Gift of the Tree caches when players complete Grim Favors, as well as the Mother’s Blessing, which boosts both experience and gold drop rates. While Season 8 is still ongoing, speculation regarding Season 9 has begun to surface, with leaks hinting at new pets, including a free brown and white goat.

Despite the anticipation building for the future, there will be no major expansion until at least 2026. Nevertheless, Blizzard continues to refine Diablo 4, promising further updates and improvements in the years ahead.

Infold Games has confirmed that there are no immediate plans to release Infinity Nikki on the Nintendo Switch 2, even though future potential remains. The company is currently dealing with some significant challenges that complicate any expansion to new platforms. Players expressed their dissatisfaction with Version 1.5 due to the increased difficulty in obtaining outfits, leading to a boycott movement that has gained traction. Alongside this negative feedback, Infold Games faces other pressing concerns.

Reports of bugs on the PC version, disappearing in-game currency, and unfinished game zones have emerged, all of which require the company’s attention. Though Infinity Nikki was launched in December 2024 and is available on PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile devices, hopes were high among fans that it would also appear on the new Switch 2, especially following Nintendo’s console release on June 5. In response to fan queries, Infold Games has indicated that extending Infinity Nikki to new platforms is indeed a part of their business strategy. However, their primary focus remains on enhancing the gaming experience for players on existing platforms.

This includes plans for meaningful content updates, performance improvements, and bug fixes, particularly after the backlash from Version 1.5. Despite the challenges, players can anticipate new content in Version 1.6, featuring two exciting outfits as Infold works to restore its reputation following the controversy. Meanwhile, the community is closely monitoring developments, wondering when Infinity Nikki might transition to the Switch 2. Furthermore, to mitigate some of the backlash, Infold has offered players in-game currency as compensation for the issues faced, while some fans have continued to voice their concerns, creatively renaming the boycott to a “girlcott.”

Poppy Playtime Chapter 4 is set to launch on consoles on June 25, broadening its reach to a wider audience of gamers. This latest installment introduces new antagonists and discloses the fate of certain characters from earlier chapters.

Despite the game’s overall popularity, Chapter 4 has been met with mixed reviews due to bugs and various technical issues. Initially released for PC in January 2025, Poppy Playtime Chapter 4 will become available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles.

Players can now wishlist the title on the respective digital stores. Since its first chapter debuted in October 2021, the independently developed game by Mob Entertainment has garnered a substantial following, largely driven by the reactions of popular horror game streamers.

The game’s unique combination of horror elements and colorful, child-like characters has further captured the interest of the gaming community. The new chapter, titled “Safe Haven,” is priced at $19.99 across all platforms, aligning with the current price on Steam.

The story continues from a pivotal reveal made in Chapter 3, detailing the tragic events surrounding the Playtime Co. factory, where the workers faced a horrific fate at the hands of the very toys they created. Chapter 4 also clarifies the fate of Kissy Missy, who experienced a dramatic moment off-screen in the previous chapter.

First-time players will encounter new characters, including Yarnaby, a hostile, rainbow-hued lion-like yarn doll who poses significant danger, and Doey the Doughman, a capricious yet helpful resident of Safe Haven. Additionally, an antagonistic computer program known as The Doctor makes an appearance.

However, despite its growing popularity over the past three years, Chapter 4 has earned the least favorable reception. While earlier chapters maintain “Very Positive” ratings on Steam, Chapter 4 sits at a “Mixed” rating, with persistent technical issues affecting its overall reception.

Many players are hoping for improved stability when it arrives on consoles.

ChatGPT faced a significant challenge when it was pitted against the Atari 2600 in a chess match, resulting in a disappointing performance. This experiment revealed that, despite advancements in artificial intelligence, ChatGPT struggled to understand the game, leading to what observers described as it getting “absolutely wrecked” by the vintage console. Even with the Atari 2600 nearing its 50th anniversary, ChatGPT failed to navigate the chessboard effectively, barely making it through the match before ultimately forfeiting after 90 minutes of confusion. The difficulties of AI language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT extend beyond chess.

Users have experienced various issues, particularly with the phenomenon known as “hallucinations,” where AI generates incorrect information. In one instance, an apology for the game Lord of the Rings: Gollum was reportedly generated by ChatGPT without the consent of the development team, highlighting potential misuse of the technology. Robert Jr. Caruso, the engineer who conducted the chess match experiment, noted that ChatGPT itself suggested the challenge to display its skills. However, the AI frequently became confused about the placement of pieces and made questionable decisions, such as sacrificing knights for pawns.

Even after switching to standard chess notation, the AI continued to blunder, demonstrating significant limitations in its gameplay understanding. Similar struggles have been observed in other AI models. For example, a user attempted to engage OpenAI’s o3 model in Pokemon Red. While it has shown some progress, the AI’s speed in decision-making has proven to be much slower than that of human players, including young children.

After over 366 hours of gameplay, the AI still had not reached Victory Road. On a more positive note, some AI, such as Google’s Gemini, have fared better in gaming contexts, reportedly completing Pokemon Blue in 800 hours. This suggests that while some AIs face hurdles in gaming, others may be capable of performing better in these environments.

Game-key card games, which require downloads, are becoming increasingly similar to digital copies. This shift has raised concerns among gamers who fear that companies will cease producing physical versions of games.

Recently, Capcom announced that it counts the sales of Switch 2 game-key cards as digital sales, igniting a debate among fans who still prefer physical copies. These game-key cartridges are a new type of physical media for the Switch 2 that do not include the full game; instead, they require additional downloads for gameplay.

The introduction of game-key cards by Nintendo in May sparked a strong reaction from a segment of gamers, reigniting the long-standing debate between physical and digital media. Simultaneously, Xbox faced criticism when it was revealed that Doom: The Dark Ages lacked the base game on disk, indicating a possible trend towards less reliance on full physical releases.

In light of the controversy, Nintendo of America CEO Doug Bowser assured fans that physical games remain a priority for the company’s immediate future. Capcom’s recent financial briefing further stirred the discussion, as it classified physical game-key cartridges as digital copies in its sales reports.

Many in the gaming community quickly recognized the rationale behind this decision, noting that the mandatory downloads effectively equated the Switch 2’s game-key cards to digital copies. However, critics voiced concern that this could distort sales records in favor of digital media, potentially justifying a shift toward a more digital-centric future.

Despite Capcom’s stance, there are still prominent developers advocating for physical game ownership. CD Projekt Red, for example, ensured that the entire Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition was included on a 64GB cartridge for the Switch 2.

Additionally, Nintendo’s first-party games, like Mario Kart World, are confirmed to be fully available on their respective cartridges. The ongoing trend towards digital-only gaming, exemplified by the rise of disc-less consoles and subscription services, raises questions about true ownership and the preservation of games.

As Nintendo prepares to launch its Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, with notable titles, it will be interesting to see how the company navigates the evolving landscape of gaming and the expectations of its fanbase concerning physical and digital formats.

Hollow Knight: Silksong has recently updated its official website to include the PS4 and Switch 2 among its list of supported platforms. This development has sparked excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the game’s arrival, particularly since the release is anticipated in 2025. While no official release date has been set, the updates suggest that significant progress is being made towards the launch. First revealed in February 2019, Hollow Knight: Silksong has been on the radar of gamers for over six years.

In this sequel, players will control Hornet, a character from the original Hollow Knight, as they explore a new and vibrant kingdom. The visuals for this new world showcase significant differences from the original title, while fans can still expect the challenging boss battles that have become a hallmark of the series. Recently, information surfaced about updates on Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Steam page, alongside the website refresh. Although some speculated an announcement might occur at the Summer Game Fest, this did not materialize.

Nevertheless, insider comments, like those from leaker Nate the Hate, predict that the game could release before summer 2025. Team Cherry’s marketing manager, Matthew “Leth” Griffin, has also provided clarification on the release timeline, stating it would occur before the holiday season, specifically before Christmas. However, fans are advised to temper their expectations for any possible summer release until an official confirmation is received from the developers. As anticipation builds for Hollow Knight: Silksong, players will take on the role of Hornet, embarking on a deadly pilgrimage filled with fierce challenges and ancient secrets in a new kingdom governed by silk and song.

This epic sequel promises to build on the award-winning formula of its predecessor while introducing fresh adventures and gameplay elements.

The Xbox Series X/S has recently achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the sales of the Nintendo 64, with reported sales reaching 32.98 million units. Since their launch in 2020, the Xbox Series has earned a number of accolades, marking its presence in the gaming market.

The Nintendo 64, originally released in 1996, is known for its groundbreaking 3D gaming experiences, with iconic titles such as Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time driving its popularity. Over its lifetime, the N64 sold approximately 32.93 million units.

In terms of competitive standing, the Xbox Series X/S is now looking ahead to surpass the Sega Genesis, which sold 34.06 million units. The next challenge will be the Super Nintendo, with sales of 49.10 million.

However, while the sales figures may appear impressive, it is important to note that the N64 is one of Nintendo’s less successful consoles, surpassed by the NES, Switch, and others. Microsoft’s own Xbox 360 remains its best-selling console, with 85.73 million units sold, followed by the Xbox One at 57.96 million.

Interestingly, the Xbox Series X/S has also seen improved success in Japan compared to its predecessor, the Xbox One, which struggled with approximately 120,000 units sold in the region. The current generation has sold around 680,000 units in Japan, potentially boosted by an increase in available JRPGs on Xbox.

However, it still trails the Xbox 360’s sales in Japan, which totaled about 1.66 million units. Despite these gains, the PlayStation 2 remains the undisputed champion in console sales with a staggering worldwide total, far surpassing the best of both Xbox and PlayStation.

The PlayStation 4 and PS5 have sold 117 million and 76 million units, respectively, leaving the PS2’s record intact for the foreseeable future.

A former Sony executive has disclosed that the company had considered reviving the classic PlayStation 1 game, Jumping Flash. The game entered early development for a potential re-release on PlayStation VR but ultimately did not progress beyond this stage. Jumping Flash was a notable title that significantly contributed to defining the landscape of 3D gaming in the early days of the PlayStation.

Shuhei Yoshida, a former executive at Sony Interactive Entertainment, shared the insights regarding Jumping Flash. He mentioned that while the company had plans to bring back this quirky platformer, which holds historical significance, those plans were ultimately abandoned. Yoshida also touched on other franchises that have made the transition to PlayStation VR, highlighting the vast library of titles originating from the original PlayStation.

The PS1 is renowned for its extensive collection of games, many of which have evolved into major franchises over time. It played a crucial role in revolutionizing the video game industry and becoming a formidable competitor to Nintendo during an era when Nintendo was the dominant player in gaming. Notable franchises that emerged from the PS1 era include Gran Turismo, Silent Hill, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and Crash Bandicoot, among others.

Although many of these titles have had enduring success and multiple remakes, some significant games like Jumping Flash have remained largely forgotten. While fans were hopeful about the game’s revival, it appears Sony ultimately passed on the opportunity, as revealed by Yoshida. Jumping Flash, although not the most widely recognized PS1 title, was among the first true 3D platformers that allowed for full movement in a 3D world, predating the release of Super Mario 64.

Despite the long-standing appreciation for classic games, Jumping Flash did not make the final lineup for revival. In further developments, fans are looking forward to the arrival of Lumines Arise on the PS5 in 2025, which will include optional compatibility with PS VR2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has recently been compared to the Xbox Series S in terms of power and capabilities by a game developer, solidifying previous claims about its performance. Takuto Edagawa, a producer from Koei Tecmo, discussed the Switch 2’s raw computing power in an interview. While he noted that it’s challenging to make direct comparisons, he indicated that the Switch 2 is closer in power to the Xbox Series S than the PlayStation 4.

This insight is notable, especially given that Edagawa has experience developing a game specifically for the new system. Sales for the Nintendo Switch 2 have exceeded expectations, breaking a Nintendo record shortly after its launch. In less than a week, the console sold 3.5 million units, indicating its potential to match or even surpass the success of its predecessor.

With claims that the Switch 2 possesses ten times the graphics performance of the original model, it is clear that it represents a significant leap in technology for Nintendo. The technical specifications reveal some intriguing differences between the Switch 2 and the Xbox Series S. While the Xbox Series S boasts a faster CPU with almost one extra teraflop of performance and a GPU clock speed of 1565 MHz compared to the Switch 2’s 1007 MHz, the Switch 2 features 2GB more RAM, enhanced resolution when docked, and advanced Wi-Fi capabilities. Nintendo systems have historically been perceived as lagging behind their competitors in raw processing and graphical power.

Since the GameCube era, Nintendo consoles have relied on unique innovations, such as motion-sensing controls and portability, to capture players’ attention. With the Switch 2 showing it can stack up against a current-generation console from Microsoft, fans are likely to appreciate this newfound power and capability.