Category: News

Ben Hall, the world director for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, has recently shed light on a significant challenge that Ubisoft faces during the development of the franchise. The complexity of crafting immersive historical worlds is a key aspect of the series’ allure.

Players are drawn into meticulously designed landscapes that transport them to different eras, and even the less favored titles receive appreciation for their captivating environments. Each installment sparks discussions among fans about their favorite locations and settings they wish to explore in future games.

One beloved entry in the series is Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, released in 2013. Hall discussed in an interview with Edge Magazine the specific challenge of integrating verticality in settings like Ancient Greece, which lacks prominent tall structures.

He emphasized that “verticality is really important,” describing the gameplay as engaging players in climbing and navigating through varied landscapes. In contrast to the rich verticality of cities like Victorian London depicted in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Odyssey presented a different set of obstacles.

Hall noted that the smaller buildings in Ancient Greece made it more difficult to create the usual sense of elevation and exploration associated with the series. To address this, Hall and his team took innovative approaches, such as designing large statues rooted in mythological or historical accuracy.

These towering figures not only served as awe-inspiring landmarks but also encouraged players to explore the environment, offering moments of vertical gameplay while pursuing main quests. As the franchise continues to evolve, each title will grapple with the unique challenges posed by its setting.

While specific games may find it easier to incorporate verticality, the essence of the series relies on balancing exploration and heritage. Although whispers of a Black Flag remake circulate, the series remains committed to delivering dynamic worlds and engaging gameplay experiences.

Dave the Diver is making a splash in MapleStory with the launch of the Stargazer Patch 2 update on July 16. This collaboration introduces beloved characters Dave, Bancho, and Cobra from the indie sensation to the classic 2D MMORPG.

Released in 2023, Dave the Diver has gained popularity for its entertaining mix of restaurant management and underwater exploration. Both games are under the Nexon umbrella, which allows for this exciting crossover.

Nexon’s MapleStory frequently receives updates and collaborations to maintain its vast player base, including past crossovers with franchises like Godzilla and Yakuza. The confirmed collaboration was announced through a YouTube trailer and an official blog, detailing how the characters from Dave the Diver will find themselves in the MapleStory universe after falling through a whirlpool.

To adapt to their new environment, they will establish a new Bancho Sushi branch and begin diving for fish again, interacting with native players and NPCs. This crossover event, exclusive to MapleStory Global (GMS), is part of a significant update that includes the return of the Ride or Die boss challenge and a Hyper Burning Max event aimed at boosting player experience levels.

Additionally, the update introduces new mastery nodes for 3rd and 4th jobs, enhancing gameplay for all classes. However, it’s worth noting that this collaboration is a one-way affair, with only characters from Dave the Diver appearing in MapleStory.

Fans of the indie game will need to wait for the upcoming In the Jungle DLC, now expected to be released by 2026. With its engaging blend of gameplay elements, Dave the Diver remains a standout in the realm of casual RPGs.

Square Enix is reportedly working on a remake of Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, originally released in 2000. If these rumors are confirmed, it would continue the trend of the company revitalizing classic Dragon Quest games for contemporary platforms. The franchise has enjoyed significant longevity, with 11 mainline installments since its debut in 1986.

Over nearly four decades, Dragon Quest has been made available on numerous systems, from the NES to the PS5. The most recent release in the series was Dragon Quest 11 in 2017, while Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake launched in 2024. Additionally, a collection of the first two games is slated for the HD-2D Remake treatment in 2025.

The anticipated remake of Dragon Quest 7 is mentioned in internal documents as being distinct from mere graphical upgrades, suggesting a more thorough overhaul of the original game. The release window is projected for either late fiscal year 2026 or early fiscal year 2027, likely between January and March 2026 or shortly thereafter. Should the Dragon Quest 7 remake debut as expected, it would mark the third successive Dragon Quest release in three years by Square Enix.

However, the company’s immediate focus will be on launching the Dragon Quest 1 & 2 2D-HD Remake for PC and consoles on October 30, 2025. In this massive adventure, players join young Auster and his friends, Prince Kiefer and Maribel, on a quest to restore lost lands. Armed with mystical stone tablets, they travel back in time to assist struggling towns, solve intricate puzzles, and navigate turn-based battles against a myriad of unique monsters.

With over 50 vocations to choose from, players can customize their heroes and explore a world brimming with possibilities.

Yakuza 5 Remastered has recently introduced an exciting co-op mod developed by a talented solo creator. This new feature allows players to enjoy the game in a cooperative multiplayer format, even if they don’t have a friend to team up with.

Dubbed “Intertwined Fates,” this mod significantly enhances the gameplay experience of Yakuza 5, the fifth installment in the acclaimed franchise. The mod adds a second player who can control Ichiban Kasuga, the beloved protagonist from Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

While this choice doesn’t align chronologically—as Ichiban’s character was not introduced until eight years later—it highlights the developer’s affinity for him. Intertwined Fates enables cooperative play for the entire game’s storyline and revamps various mini-games like dance battles and hunting activities to suit a two-player dynamic.

Key features of the Intertwined Fates mod include full story accessibility in two-player mode. If a second player is absent, Ichiban can be controlled by AI during battles, although he won’t be present in free roam.

The adapted dance battles now have Haruka executing button inputs while Ichiban handles directional controls. Furthermore, cooperative play is supported in hunting activities, and Ichiban has been integrated into several mini-games, offering a visual presence without impacting game mechanics.

To maintain narrative continuity, cutscenes have been modified to accommodate the second player, with it leading to some humorous moments as Ichiban simply observes the scenes. Additionally, Ichiban comes with a unique moveset, which is disabled if other moveset mods are detected.

Though primarily designed for local co-op, the mod also offers options for online cooperation, making it more accessible for players who prefer playing solo with an AI companion.

Masahiro Sakurai, the director of Kirby Air Riders, recently shared updates on the highly anticipated kart racer and took a moment to honor the late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo President. At the recent Switch 2 Direct in April, several exciting first-party Nintendo games were announced, including a sequel to the beloved 2003 title, Kirby Air Ride. This new game is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025, with Bandai Namco collaborating with Sakurai on development, much like their involvement in the Super Smash Bros. series.

Rumors suggest that Sakurai was given the opportunity to work on Kirby Air Riders as a strategic move by Nintendo in exchange for developing the next installment in the Super Smash Bros. franchise, although there are no official announcements regarding that yet. After spending considerable time on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Kirby Air Riders has become a passion project for Sakurai.

This game marks his reunion with HAL Laboratory, the original developer of the Kirby series, for the first time since 2004’s Kirby and the Amazing Mirror. In a recent update via Twitter, Sakurai celebrated the anniversary of the original Kirby Air Ride by expressing enthusiasm about the project. He mentioned that Kirby Air Riders is “shaping up to be something great.” While details about the game are still sparse, fans are eagerly anticipating how it will expand on its predecessor by possibly introducing new playable characters and retaining beloved modes like City Trial.

As the gaming world looks toward 2025, the excitement for kart racers, including the upcoming Kirby Air Riders, Mario Kart World, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, continues to build. Directed by the visionary Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby Air Riders promises to deliver a delightful racing experience featuring the iconic pink hero.

Palworld’s save game corruption issues on PlayStation 5 are reportedly drawing to a close, as the development team at PocketPair has made strides in identifying the bugs and implementing fixes. Many players have experienced frustration due to lost progress, and while a solution appears to be on the horizon, some gamers may find little reason to celebrate just yet. Originally launched on Xbox consoles and PC in January 2024, Palworld’s PlayStation 5 version followed about eight months later.

The game enjoyed significant popularity upon release; however, reports of crashes on Xbox and the recent autosave corruption problem on PS5 highlight a troubling trend of technical difficulties affecting players. Although Palworld grapples with its auto-save bug, there are alternative games for players to explore temporarily. The autosave issue particularly impacts PS5 users, and the development team has been working diligently on a fix.

Recently, they shared an update acknowledging the problem’s source and outlining their solution strategy. It appears the backend error stems from having too many save files, leading to data corruption. PocketPair has taken responsibility for this oversight, apologizing to the players affected.

A potential fix is scheduled for a patch on July 10, which will introduce new save game protections. Unfortunately, this solution will restrict players to a maximum of 10 save files, causing concern among those with larger collections. While those with more than ten files will not lose their existing progress, they will be unable to create new saves.

Moreover, players encountering error codes CE-100022-5 or CE-100096-6 have been warned that they may continue experiencing issues. For those already affected, the only recourse offered is to delete all saved data. While some players appreciate PocketPair’s transparency, many express disappointment over the need to wipe their progress, bases, and collected Pals to keep playing.

Krafton, the publisher of Subnautica 2, has announced a significant delay for the game’s early access launch, pushing it back to 2026. This decision followed the controversial dismissal of the previous leadership team at Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the game’s developer. While Krafton has not provided specific reasons for this shake-up, reports suggest that a potential $250 million bonus for the team was at stake, contingent upon achieving certain development milestones. On July 2, Krafton replaced the three-person leadership team that co-founded Unknown Worlds in 2001.

Steve Papoutsis, now serving as the CEO of Unknown Worlds, also leads Striking Distance Studios, the creators of The Callisto Protocol. This leadership change has raised concerns among fans regarding the future of Subnautica 2, particularly as the game’s initial 2025 launch window is now off the table. Despite the upheaval, development is underway, and there is speculation about new directions for the game prompted by a leaked playtest. However, as per Krafton’s statements, players can expect Subnautica 2 to avoid microtransactions, battle passes, and loot boxes.

The current online feature will include co-op gameplay for up to four players. Following the leadership changes, former team member Charlie Cleveland expressed surprise at the decision, noting that the game was ready for early access and emphasizing that the launch is now dependent on Krafton’s choices. Although Subnautica 2’s development in Unreal Engine 5 holds promise, the community is left pondering the ultimate impact of these leadership shifts on the game’s trajectory. The delay to 2026 raises questions about when players will finally experience the long-awaited sequel.

A major revamp of the banking system in World of Warcraft may be on the horizon, potentially arriving with Patch 11.2. While details remain unconfirmed, indications suggest that significant adjustments could soon enhance item storage for players. The introduction of the Warband Bank in the WoW expansion, The War Within, represents a pivotal step aimed at improving how items are stored. This feature allows players to unlock shared storage space across their entire account, accessible by any character.

This facilitates easier item trading among alts. Additionally, Blizzard has indicated plans to incorporate the user interface and functionalities of the Warband Bank into personal banking systems in the future. As fans eagerly anticipate the release of Patch 11.2, titled Ghosts of K’aresh, insights have emerged on potential banking improvements. Observations from the public test realm by Wowhead reveal evidence of new features under development.

A new achievement, Safer Deposit, which involves purchasing six bank tabs, has surfaced, evoking memories of a previously removed achievement associated with the Warband Bank. Furthermore, references to bank tab naming, automatic sorting, mass reagent deposits, and the conversion process have been discovered. Current banking in World of Warcraft is outdated, with players initially limited to 28 items per character, requiring the purchase of additional slots filled with inventory bags. The addition of a 98-slot Reagent Bank in Warlords of Draenor attempted to improve this.

The anticipated changes in Patch 11.2 may introduce six customizable tabs without the need for bags. It’s important to note that Void Storage, designed for long-term item storage, also remains relevant, accommodating 160 items per character with associated fees. As these bank system updates unfold, the impact on Void Storage and other existing features is yet to be clarified. Players may expect more information following the Patch 11.2 release on August 5.

Borderlands is set to collaborate with Rainbow Six Siege X, much to the surprise of fans from both gaming franchises. This crossover highlights the ongoing trend of partnerships in the gaming industry, and Rainbow Six Siege X has embraced this concept with previous collaborations, including those with titles such as Dead by Daylight and Resident Evil, as well as media like The Boys.

Now, the game is expanding its repertoire by teaming up with Borderlands. Borderlands 4 is making significant strides by diverging from many longstanding series traditions, yet one aspect remains unchanged—the incorporation of iconic elements that fans have come to love.

Recently, Rainbow Six Siege X unveiled a teaser for their new collaboration with Borderlands. The teaser shows one of Borderlands’ notorious Psychos holding a lit lighter, which, upon dropping, reveals logos for both Rainbow Six Siege X and Borderlands.

Players from both communities are urged to stay alert for more details set to be disclosed on July 15. Mark your calendars, as July 15 promises to be an exciting day for Ubisoft fans.

The date also signifies the final opportunity to participate in Ubisoft’s Photomode contest, where competitors could win a trip to Ubisoft Montreal and other rewards for top entries. Additionally, The Division 2 and Payday 3 are launching a crossover on the same day, with a teaser showcasing Division agents donning masks synonymous with the Payday series.

While specifics about how Borderlands and Payday 3 will contribute to Ubisoft’s crossovers remain vague, Borderlands 4 players can expect a weapon skin ahead of its release. Given Rainbow Six Siege’s history with crossovers, it is likely that players will see Borderlands-themed cosmetics in the tactical shooter.

Fans eagerly await more information on this exciting collaboration on July 15.

In the recently released Patch 11.2 of World of Warcraft, titled “Ghosts of K’aresh,” players explore the homeworld of the Ethereals. These enigmatic energy beings, first introduced in The Burning Crusade, have players uncovering K’aresh’s history and facing their ancient enemy, Dimensius, the All-Devouring.

However, a surprising observation from fans is the noticeable lack of friendly Ethereals in the new zone. Despite the patch being branded as the “Ethereal Patch,” the majority of allied NPCs in K’aresh are actually Brokers.

Notable community members, such as Ian “The Red Shirt Guy” Bates and Saphras, pointed out that during their exploration on the Public Test Realm, the area was predominantly populated by Brokers. The K’aresh Trust, the Renown faction in this patch, comprises almost solely Brokers, as do many of the settlements.

Even the Eco-Domes, including the new Eco-Dome Al’dani dungeon, are operated by Brokers, a surprising shift from their association with Ethereals in past expansions. While there are some Ethereals present, such as Locus-Walker and a few new Wastelanders who have remained on K’aresh, they are outnumbered by the Brokers.

Moreover, many of the Ethereals we encounter are allied with the Shadowguard, a villainous faction led by Nexus-King Salhadaar, who aims to resurrect Dimensius. This imbalance makes sense within the game’s lore.

Brokers are natives of K’aresh, and previous factions of Ethereals, such as the Protectorate and the Consortium, have left the planet. Nevertheless, fans are left wondering why more Ethereals aren’t represented in a patch that centers around their culture.

Patch 11.2 will officially launch on August 5, with the Manaforge Omega raid opening a week later. Players will soon have the opportunity to explore K’aresh and evaluate the distribution of Ethereals versus Brokers for themselves.