It’s a little over a year since we brought Readwrite Gaming to life here at Readwrite.com. In the 13 months that have passed we have written thousands of pages and had millions and millions of views., breaking news stories, helpful and timely guides as well as the latest gossip from an industry that has, at times, seemed in real trouble for a second year running.

The year that was 2024

That we now accept swingeing layoffs as the norm is not right, because money is still being made by the bucketload by game’s publishers, let’s not kid ourselves. We, as game journalists, should not be held responsible for teams getting the boot, simply because of an average review score.

Nor has it been easy for the games journalism sides of things. Google has been Google and outright destroyed many good sites’ rankings, leading to plunging ad revenue and leading nervous boardrooms to chop entire workforces at a moment’s notice. And that’s before we talk about AI writers taking over the world. Enjoy that.

Hopefully, the 2025 version of this story will be a little different from this one (and indeed last year’s) but I am not holding my breath.

Despite the setbacks the games industry has still managed to crank out some amazing games this year and this article is a salute to the teams that worked and worked, often under stressful circumstances to produce something marvelous. Let’s have a look at some of those achievements before we give out our gongs for 2024.

2024’s worthy mentions

There have been some marvelous games in 2024 as well as games that caught the attention out of nowhere. Here’s a quick rundown of some that made us look twice.

Palworld

The year started with a surprise and controversy. Palworld’s carefree disregard of Nintendo and its Pokemon created havoc, with millions of sales and dubious mods, all while Nintendo’s legal eagles glared down from above, ultimately making their move later in the year, long after Palworld had raked in bazillions of dollars. Underneath that janky initial build was a game that PC players hadn’t been able to play before, never having really been treated to anything quite so like Pokemon before. To say Palworld was just PC Pokemon does it a great disservice though.

It took the best bits of Pokemon and mixed them with the best bits of PC Gaming (er, guns) and captured early 2024’s imagination.

Infinite Craft

At the same time as Pocketpair was making a fortune, a wacky web dev called Neal.fun was watching his Infinite Craft ‘game’ take over browsers all over the world. Dragging boxes onto boxes to make new boxes is an oversimplification, but such was the drive for people to be the first to make new discoveries, and also Donald Trump and Taylor Swift, people just couldn’t stop playing it. It was the ultimate time bandit. And it was plain weird.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

A real tail end Charlie for the end of 2024. The new Indy game made us hark back to the fantastic first couple of movies and, for some of us, remember our childhoods. Super gameplay, puzzles, and looks made the end of the year so much better.

Balatro

A card game? As a game-of-the-year contender? Baltro sold by the bucketload, got people out and out addicted (without the danger of losing money), and swept all before it when it came to just out-and-out playability. If Vampire Survivors took that crown last year, Balatro’s stunning success did it for 2024.

Readwrite’s Gaming’s Games of the Year

We have picked two to get the final gongs. The reason partly being because both games only appeared on their native formats so it seemed unfair to give a PC title game of the year when no console owner could play it. And vice versa with our console choice.

Somehow in all of this Xbox still got left out, but it kinda brought it on itself really with a very strange year.

Console Game of the Year – Astrobot

What a game. If there was a game you currently need to buy a PlayStation for it’s Astobot. It oozes developer love from the second you boot it up. It’s charming, cute, and oh-so-playable. Astrobot scooped the overall Game of the Year at The Game Awards and it’s hard to argue, even if it was slightly more contentious than 2023’s Baldur’s Gate III.

Astrobot is everything a truly great console game should be – including not being able to play it on PC. A remarkable game.

PC Game of the Year – Satisfactory

Boy, oh boy, what a game again. It had been in Early Access development for five years so you could argue it’s not new, but 2024 saw it release its V1 and it scooped the best PC Game at the Golden Joysticks and it just blew up from there.

Taking the genius of Factorio and making it accessible and great-looking was a huge undertaking. The story fit perfectly and the character of your trusty computer sidekick ADA was just perfect. I don’t get as much time to put into games as I once did but the 400 hours I have in Satisfactory in the last few months are a testament to how little attention I have paid my family.

Satisfactory is a magnificent PC game and deserves every ounce of its success.

And on to 2025. Happy New Year.

The post And… Readwrite’s Game of the Year is… appeared first on ReadWrite.

With Gladiator II doing the rounds in movie theatres at the moment, there is renewed interest in all things Ancient Rome. One aspect that remains of great interest to many is the city of Pompeii – buried in the aftermath of an eruption of Mount Vesuvius and now part of Roman legend due to the historical significance of the site.

Pompeii: The Legacy takes place 20 years after the eruption in AD79 and puts you in charge of the rebuilding of Pompeii – something that never happened of course in real life.

As the head of a Roman family, you will oversee the reconstruction of Pompeii over several generations, making critical decisions that shape the city’s future. Your city is a dynamic, living system. Construct buildings, manage resources, and ensure your citizens have everything they need to thrive. Every structure, road, and water supply plays a crucial role in keeping the city alive and prosperous.

Infamy, infamy – they’ve all got it infamy

The game looks and sounds like a solid city builder but one that gets me more interested due to the Pompeii angle and you must make old Pompers rise from the ashes again while creating your own Roman dynasty in the process.

The Zagreb. Croatia-based solo dev working on the project is preparing a gameplay trailer as we speak and we are expecting a demo at next year’s June Steam Fest. You can of course wishlist the game on Steam right now to follow progress before you get your hands on things in the middle of next year.

City builders are constantly popular but sometimes struggle to find that little niche that makes them different from all the rest. Taking the real-life disaster in Pompeii and making it great once again might just be that thing.

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The best TVs for Xbox Series X come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s no shortage of viable options to make the most of Microsoft’s most powerful home console.

We’ve narrowed our selection down to the five best offerings on the market across many different budgets and preferences, with considerations made towards panel tech, size, feature sets, and price so you can find the perfect TV for you.

Below, you’ll find that the top five TVs for Xbox Series X incorporate everything from flagship OLED displays and Mini-LEDs with 4K and even 8K resolutions, factoring in framerates from 120Hz to as high as 240Hz, including true HDR for the best image and sound quality possible.

There’s representation from all-star manufacturers such as LG, Samsung, and Sony, so you can buy with confidence without having to roll the dice on a lesser brand.

The best TVs for Xbox Series X in 2024

1. LG C4 OLED – The best TV for Xbox Series X overall

• Sizes available: 42 to 83 inches
• Refresh rate: 120Hz native (up to 144Hz overclocked)
• Panel type: OLED
• MSRP: $1,499 – $5,399

The LG C4 OLED is our number one pick for the best TV for Xbox Series X overall, and it’s clear to see why. The latest in the flagship line-up, the C4 features a stunning OLED panel for deep inky blacks and (seemingly) endless color contrast for vivid images, which will make the best Xbox Series X games pop. 

Speaking of gaming-specific features, the LG C4 OLED natively supports a 120Hz refresh rate. However, this can be bumped up to 144Hz when overclocking. Throw in genuine HDR modes, both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync, as well as the combination of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, and you have all the makings of an all-star gaming TV in 2024. 

Just keep in mind that the LG C4 OLED doesn’t come cheap. It’s been around a year since the top-end TV first hit the market, and sales are now more commonplace, but you should still expect to spend a fair amount. The starting MSRP for the 48-inch model is $1,499; however, regular sales have seen the model as cheap as $999.99, and you can sometimes find the 65-inch variant as low as $1,499, too. We advise waiting for a sale if you want a larger size.

2. Hisense Class U7 Series – The best budget TV for Xbox Series X

• Sizes available: 55 to 83 inches
• Refresh rate: 60Hz (native) up to 144Hz (overclocked)
• Panel type: OLED
• MSRP: $999 – $2,199

There’s no reason why the best TVs for Xbox Series X have to get up into the four-figure range, and that’s the philosophy behind the Hisense Class U7 series. Utilizing mini-LED panel tech (with local dimming zones and bright color contrast), this budget display is built for gamers with its 144Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, several different HDR modes, and VRR included. 

The best part is that the Hisense Class U7 Series is available from $999.99 for the 65-inch option, with sizes up to 85-inch if you want that wall-filling effect for less. With a peak brightness of up to 1,500 nits and IMAX-certified audio, the TV can be incredibly bright and loud as well, which means it will be perfect for accurately displaying all your Xbox Series X games as they should be played.

3. Samsung QN900D – The best premium TV for Xbox Series X

• Sizes available: 65 to 85 inches 
• Refresh rate: 120Hz (native) up to 240Hz (overclocked)
• Panel type: QLED
• MSRP: $3,299 – $5,799

If you’re looking for a future-proofed TV for the Xbox Series X, then you may want to consider the Samsung QN900D. This is Samsung’s latest 8K flagship panel, which is purpose-built for today’s games but fully equipped for what the near future may hold. Armed with Quantum Dot Mini-LED tech, it’s incredibly bright and benefits from advanced AI-upscaling tech (as well as automatic HDR remastering), which can make 4K games look even better on the TV. 

While 8K60 native is the selling point of the Samsung QN900D, the TV also natively supports not only 4K120 for gaming but also 4K at 240Hz through overclocking. As expected from a flagship 8K display, the QN900D is one of the pricier displays on the market; the starting MSRP is $3,299.99 for the 65-inch version and up to $5,799.99 for the 85-inch variant. However, regular sales have brought the starting price down to as low as $2,599.99.

4. LG G4 – The best big-screen TV for Xbox Series X

• Sizes available: 55 to 97 inches
• Refresh rate: 120Hz
• Panel type: OLED
• MSRP: $2,199 – $24,999

The LG G4 is one of the brightest OLED TVs on the market, with a reported peak brightness of 3,000 nits, being around double what many other flagships can typically do. Combine this with all the must-have features for Xbox Series X gaming: VRR, AMAD FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision, and true HDR support, and you have an encompassing panel for gaming and media playback. 

The LG G4 only comes in large sizes, with everything from 55 to 83 inches present and accounted for. However, should money allow, you can go up to a monstrous 97-inch display for an eye-watering $24,999 (although discounts have seen it lowered to $19,999). That’s going to be well out of the realm of feasibility for most people, but it is an option; we recommend either the 77 or 83-inch version for the best big-screen experience.

5. Sony Bravia 7 – The best mid-range TV for Xbox Series X

• Sizes available: 55 to 85 inches
• Refresh rate: 120Hz
• Panel type: Mini-LED
• MSRP: $1,899 – $3,499

If you’re looking to strike a delicate middle-ground between a budget and premium gaming TV, then the Sony Bravia 7 is more than up to the task. Armed with a 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, it’s ready to max out Xbox Series X games without breaking a sweat. One of Sony’s brightest TVs ever made, with Mini-LED panel tech for vivid colors and thousands of local dimming zones for dark blacks, you won’t quite be getting the same level of color contrast as with OLED, but the end results will certainly be comparable.

The Sony Bravia 7 starts at $1,899 for the 55-inch model and goes up to $3,499 for the largest 85-inch variant. However, frequent discounts have made this mid-range Xbox Series X far more affordable, as you can find it for as low as $1,299 for the smallest version and $2,499 when buying directly from the manufacturer. The XR processor inside is one of the best AI chips ever seen in a TV, too, for enhanced image quality, motion blur reduction, and HDR that’s optimized for gaming. Of course, there’s VRR and ALLM here for those higher framerates as well.

How to choose the right TV for your Xbox Series X

Investing in a TV for your Xbox Series X is one of the biggest gaming purchases that you’ll ever make, so you will need to do your research and consider a few crucial factors before putting money down. We understand that buying a TV can be challenging, and that’s why we’ve outlined the three biggest considerations when deciding between models: price, features, and size.

Price

Price will arguably be the biggest deciding factor when weighing up which Xbox Series X TV you buy. In an ideal world, we would all have the biggest and most expensive gaming TVs in our homes, but that’s simply not a possibility for most of us. There’s no minimum price you should aim for; however, be advised that 120Hz models generally start around the $700 mark from manufacturers such as Hisense, but some budget models may be cheaper than this. 

Going any cheaper can mean being stuck at 60Hz or having a weaker panel tech in the TV, such as an edge-lit LED, which can be blurry and dim. In our opinion, it’s worth spending a little more on a gaming TV that’s fast enough and maintains the image quality of today’s demanding games instead of limiting how they can look and play. 

Mini-LED TVs have come a long way in the past few years, becoming cheaper and available in larger panel sizes from trusted manufacturers. They are a viable alternative to OLED TVs in terms of color contrast, thanks to local dimming zones that can make the colors pop. However, this works differently from OLED, which has self-lit individual pixels, unlike much smaller LEDs that illuminate a backlight. OLED has the best blacks and the highest contrasts but far, but you’re typically going to pay double (or more) for the privilege. 

Some flagship OLED gaming TVs in higher sizes can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the size (typically from 43 inches and above). If possible, we recommend heading to a brick-and-mortar store and seeing Mini-LED TVs compared against similar-sized OLED versions to see what looks better and what’s in your budget. Unfortunately, watching videos of the TVs and reading the tech specs won’t always accurately convey the differences. 

Features

We’ve touched upon some features of Xbox Series X TVs above, but the most important you’ll want to look out for will be resolution, refresh rate, HDR support, and game-specific inclusions such as VRR and ALLM. The Xbox Series X supports resolutions of up to 8K. However, most people will be playing in 4K (either at 60fps or 120fps for the games that support this). We recommend a gaming TV with a minimum refresh rate of 120Hz, which will enable you to play at double the typical framerate of standard TVs (some cheaper panels are even locked to a sluggish 50Hz). 

The Xbox Series X supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), which sets an enhanced rate between the darkest and lightest that a game can go for a deeper, richer, and more detailed image. With that said, HDR is not created equal, as there are varying tiers tied to the panel’s peak brightness. DisplayHDR 400 is the lowest, with a 90% DCI-P3 coverage gamut and a 1,300:1 contrast ratio, with DisplayHDR 1400 being much higher, with 95% DCI-P3 coverage and a 50,000:1 contrast ratio. Then we get onto DisplayHDR True Black, a range between 400 and 600, which is made only for OLED TVs and monitors and has the deepest contrast. Before buying a gaming TV, look into which HDR tier it offers and keep what we’ve said in mind. 

Lastly, we need to talk about VRR and ALLM. The former stands for Variable Refresh Rate, and the latter means Auto Low Latency Mode; the two features are commonly found together on many gaming TVs and monitors. In short, VRR prevents screen tearing by dynamically scaling the resolution on the screen with no notable artifacts or blurriness. ALLM does what its title says and automatically reduces latency (and lag) for supported devices, such as an Xbox Series X. This means offering the lowest amount of input lag possible by the response time on a TV. Some OLED flagships have response times as low as 0.1ms.

Size

Most people play their Xbox Series X in the living room on a sofa from a fair distance away, meaning a larger gaming TV will be a better choice than a smaller gaming monitor. For this reason, we consider a 43-inch model to be the smallest you should go for when judging which model could fit in your living room. Larger displays will cost more but fill more space on your wall, and there’s a notable difference in sizing up to a 55-inch or 65-inch, which should accommodate most rooms. However, 75-inch and 85-inch variants will deliver that true home cinema experience for those who can afford it.

The post The best TV for Xbox Series X in 2024: Our recommendations appeared first on ReadWrite.

If you want to know how to use Discord on your PS5 console, then you’re in the right place. Fortunately, it’s easy and straightforward to enable and utilize the popular voice and text chat service on Sony’s latest console. We’ll be taking you through step-by-step instructions on how to link your Discord account, how to set it up, and then how to get the most out of it in 2024. 

How to use Discord on PS5

• Turn on your PS5
• Go to settings
• Go to Users and Accounts
• Find Discord
• Link with Discord via the QR code or the website
• Authorize your Discord account with your PlayStation account
• You’re now set up to use Discord voice chat on PS5

Setting Discord up on PS5 is easy and takes around 30 seconds to do. Firstly, you’ll want to head over to Settings in the top right-hand corner of the PlayStation 5 menu and then scroll down until you reach “Users and Accounts” which will display all available services, including Discord, which can be linked.

Once you press on Discord, you’ll be greeted with a “Link with Discord” screen, which will display both a QR code and a generated code for you to use. As can be seen in the image, you can also manually visit the web address on a different device (like your iOS or Android smartphone) or directly via the PS5’s web browser. To use this method, you can go to www.discord.com/active and then enter the code, which will appear on the right side of the screen.

Next, you’ll need to authorize your PlayStation Network account with your Discord account, which will be the same regardless of whether you use the Discord app or website. You’ll be greeted with a list of accesses that the PlayStation Network will have once your account is linked, including your username, avatar, banner, server history, and the information on your DMs. If you’re happy to authorize after this, then you’ll be ready to use Discord as a voice channel. 

How to use Discord voice chat on PS5

There is still no dedicated Discord application available for PS5. However, as of June 2024, you no longer need to transfer over an existing voice call from other platforms, as you can start calls (or join parties) straight from the Game Base. Once it’s opened up, you’ll see Friends, Party, and Messages as normal, but underneath will be the Discord logo, which then supersedes the chat. 

Previously, you needed to call in via your smartphone or computer. From your desktop, you can click on “Transfer to PlayStation” and then “Join on PlayStation,” which will transfer the call from computer audio to the console. You can speak via the DualSense’s built-in microphone if desired or use a PS5 gaming headset for better sound quality. 

Just as you would find a PlayStation voice chat party, the Discord Voice Chat and its list of members will be listed in its own menu. You’ll be able to use all the functionality of Discord’s voice calling, such as deafen, noise suppression, and non-video participants.

What’s the point of Discord on PS5?

Now that you know how to use Discord on PS5, you may be wondering why you would to or how it differs from the standard PlayStation Party chat we’re all so familiar with. On the surface, the two services seem to serve the same purpose, but Discord has some features you won’t find in the standard PlayStation chat experience. 

The most pressing reason to use Discord on PS5 is to enable crossplay chat with friends and family members who may be on PC, mobile, or Xbox Series X. Now, you’re able to talk with anyone on your Discord friends list (or in the same servers as you) directly from your PS5 console once you’ve set things up and have moved the conversation over to the platform. 

Then there’s the PlayStation party voice chat limit to consider. The standard app has a limit of 16 accounts in one chatroom; however, with Discord, you can speak with up to 100 people, all on the same server. That’s an increase of 525% and means you’ll be able to speak in games that can support such a large player base. 

It is debated whether or not the audio quality of a Discord call is superior to that of the PlayStation Party chat, but some users have argued in favor of the newer method. If you play with a lot of friends online or want to keep up with your various Discord servers all from one place, then using Discord voice chat is now much easier on PlayStation than it was when it first launched in early 2023.

The post How to use Discord on your PS5 console appeared first on ReadWrite.

Finding out how to use Discord on Xbox Series X is nice and easy and typically ready to go in around 30 seconds. We’re showing you how to get set up, the features available in Discord, and going over the advantages and (potential) disadvantages of the audio app when compared to the standard Xbox Live party chat in 2024.

How to use Discord on Xbox Series X

• Power on your Xbox Series X
• Press the Xbox button to open the guide
• Go to Profile & System, then Settings
• Open Account and find Linked social accounts
• Press Discord and then Link
• Authorize from the mobile app or web browser
• You’re now ready to use Discord on Xbox Series X

There are multiple ways to authorize Discord on Xbox Series X, such as linking accounts directly from the app without having to turn your console on. In order to do this, you just need to open the Discord app, Add a new connection, select Xbox, and then Authorize accounts, which will link the app to your Xbox account, too. The process is identical when opening up Discord on the website if you would rather not go through multiple platforms.

How to join a Discord call on Xbox Series X

Once you’ve set up Discord on Xbox Series X, you’ll be able to use the software as natively as you would with the standard Xbox Live party chat. To join (or start) a Discord call from the console, all you need to do is press the Xbox button on your controller, open the guide, go to Parties & chats, and then select Discord. From there, you’ll be able to jump into a server and then any relevant voice channels. Alternatively, you can call any of your friends (or people on the server) individually. 

Alternatively, you can transfer a Discord call from the desktop app, web browser, or mobile app onto the Xbox Series X if you want to keep an existing voice chat going. You’ll need to enable remote features in order to do this, but it only takes a moment too. Press the Xbox button to open the guide, go to Profile & system, find Settings, open Device & connections, then press Remote Features. Simply select Enable Remote Features and make sure your console is set to Sleep under the power options. If sleep mode isn’t enabled, you won’t be able to use the remote features when transferring Discord calls. 

Now that we’ve gone over how to join and transfer Discord calls from Xbox Series X, it’s time to learn how to leave a call or drop out from a voice channel, and this couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is press the Xbox button to open the guide, go to Parties & chats, open Discord, and then press Disconnect. It’s nice and straightforward and works seamlessly with the console. 

What can you do with Discord on Xbox Series X?

There are many advantages to using Discord on Xbox Series X over the in-built Xbox Live party chat that you need to know. For a start, you can only speak to up to 16 people at a time through the built-in chat; however, with Discord, that can increase to up to 100 people. That means if you’re playing a massively multiplayer game, you’ll be able to chat with more friends all in one place, too. 

As you may infer, Discord on Xbox allows you to join voice calls with your friends list and anyone from the servers you’ve joined, whereas the standard Xbox Party Chat limits you only to people who are playing on the same console ecosystem as you. For crossplay games, this can be a huge improvement as you can all talk together regardless of the platform. Considering more and more multiplayer Xbox games these days have crossplay (but not built-in cross-platform VOIP), Discord can be a big help. 

Additionally, you can use Discord on Xbox Series X to stream gameplay to your friends (or server-wide) straight from the console. All you need to do is select Stream your game from the server or DM, which will broadcast a video stream to the server if you all want to watch it together. The quality is respectable at 720p and 30fps for free users. However, Discord Nitro subscribers will be able to stream in 1080p at 60fps, which is much higher quality. With that said, you will need to be a paying member to have access to this upgrade. 

It is also argued that Discord has a higher audio call quality than the standard Xbox Party Chat with the controls you’ll be familiar with on the desktop and mobile app, including noise gates for the microphones to minimize background noise and more sophisticated settings for audio balancing users. We’ve gone over how to set Discord up on Xbox Series, why you should, and the benefits of it. It’s now easier than ever in 2024 to chat and stream with friends.

The post How to use Discord on your Xbox Series X console appeared first on ReadWrite.

While the PS5 doesn’t natively let you play PS3 games by inserting a disc or downloading versions from the PlayStation Store, you can play nearly 400 games via the PlayStation Plus Premium’s game streaming service.

There are some heavy hitters from the third-generation PlayStation console available to stream now, so deciding on just a handful isn’t easy. 

To cut through the confusion, we’ve rounded up the 10 best PS3 games you can play on your PS5 in 2024, which incorporates top-tier titles from PlayStation’s history. We have excluded games that have been remastered or remade for the PS4 and PS5 generations, as they are easier to play natively.

There’s no option to download the PS3 games, but you’re going to need a respectable internet connection to ensure smooth gameplay.

Best PS3 games to play on PS5 in 2024

10. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

The Castlevania series has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to the popular Netflix anime series, and you can play one of the best modern entries in the franchise on PlayStation Plus Premium right now. This Castlevania game puts you in the shoes of Gabriel Belmont, who must defeat the titular Lords of Shadow to bring back his dead wife. The melee combat here is the main focus, being more linear in nature than the sprawling adventure titles seen previously (such as Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood before it). 

The story of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is consistently entertaining, with good voice acting and a few surprising twists and turns which will keep you hooked. Set in an alternative timeline, this franchise entry isn’t afraid to mess with the established canon and show events from a new perspective for series veterans, too.

The bosses and character designs are amazing, too; you’ll never forget the first time you face off against Satan, Titan, or the Necromancer. These three encounters alone are worth playing through by themselves.

9. The Darkness

Loosely based on the comic book series of the same name, The Darkness is an absolutely brutal and thrilling first-person shooter that incorporates dark psychological powers into the mix. You play as Jackie Estacado, a young hitman for the Mafia who gets betrayed by members of his family and has his girlfriend die in front of his eyes. This unleashes his inner darkness powers, manifesting as two huge tentacles for him to seek revenge. 

While the narrative is simple and straightforward, the core enjoyment of playing The Darkness comes from the amount of destruction you can cause with your newfound power. Impaling people, ripping out hearts, and using black holes never gets old.

The game is a little clunky by today’s standards and fairly drab graphically, but it delivers an FPS experience that we just don’t get any more in 2024. A remaster has been rumored for years, but until then, this is the best way to play the original.

8. MotorStorm Apocalypse

MotorStorm Apocalypse is one of the best racing games on the PS3, and it’s such a shame it was the last mainline entry in the franchise before it went dormant in 2012.

The fourth game in the series dialed the extremity up to 11 with dozens of vehicles you could ride/drive, from dirt bikes, ATVs, buggies, rally cars, trucks, choppers, supercars, and superbikes. As the name implies, it’s (seemingly) the end of the world, and that’s reflected in how the tracks are handled. 

Destruction is all around you as the terrain breaks as you race on it. MotorStorm Apocalypse comprises 10 main tracks, such as BoardWalk, Good Herb, Terminus, and Skyline. However, there are two to four different versions of these maps that can show different variants; you could drive it in reverse, see new routes emerge borne of destruction, etc.

It’s a really fun and satisfying racer and one you should try out if you’re a PlayStation Plus Premium subscriber.

7. Mega Man 9

Mega Man 9 saw the series go back to its roots after years of so-so entries. It was released back in 2008 at a time when the Blue Bomber was primarily in handheld RPGs for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Coming a staggering 11 years after Mega Man 8, this game returned to the classic NES 8-bit inspired art style (complete with corresponding cover art) for one of the best adventures you can play through. 

Mega Man 9 features some of the best boss fights in the series and marks the first time a female antagonist was seen with Splash Woman making an appearance. There’s also the fearsome Magma Man, the stone-cold Concrete Man, and the mind-bending Galaxy Man to contend with, too.

The level design here is truly top-tier, and the music is thrilling and consistently memorable. It’s well worth booting up if you missed it when it first debuted.

6. Saint’s Row 2

Arguably the best open-world game on the PS3, Saint’s Row 2 was a massive improvement over its predecessor (a fairly straight-bat GTA clone), which leaned more into the over-the-top action without sacrificing the narrative grit. The game kicks out exactly where the previous entry’s ending cliffhanger left off; the recruit had become the boss and was then blown up and presumed dead. Well, they’re not, and it’s up to you to make up for lost time to reclaim your vice-like grip on Stilwater. 

Whereas Grand Theft Auto 4 had taken the open-world genre into gritty realism, Saint’s Row 2 wasn’t afraid to have fun with its formula.

This is evidenced by the abundance of side content you can partake in, including Demolition Derby, Crowd Control, Drag Trafficking, and the fan-favorite Insurance Fraud. That’s to say nothing of the gripping 20-hour story, as the Boss, alongside main stays Johnny Gat and Shaundi, build street cred to fight back against their rivals: The Brotherhood, Westside Rollerz, Vice Kings, and The Ronin.

5. The Sly Collection

Instead of a single game, the Sly Collection sees a trilogy of releases available to stream via PlayStation Plus Premium, and it’s definitely worth it.

The three games included are Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, Sly 2 Band of Thieves, and Sly 3 Honor Among Thieves, which were remastered in HD for the first time. Unfortunately, they still haven’t been re-released for either the PS4 or PS5, making this the best way to play the original series. 

It’s debated which is the best Sly Cooper game in the collection (some will argue it’s either the second or third entry), but with them all here in one package, you don’t have to choose.

There are around 35 hours of content here (combining the three games), which means you’ll have a full week (or more) to enjoy them. As with MotorStorm, the series has been on ice for over a decade, and Sony appears to have no plans to bring it back any time soon.

4. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time

There’s no shortage of amazing Ratchet & Clank games released on PlayStation hardware, with the franchise still going strong with the latest entry, Rift Apart, for the PS5.

It’s debated which is the series best, but A Crack in Time is frequently listed at (or near) the top of the pack. That’s for good reason, too. This entry features some of the best weapons and the most creative level design, as Insomniac Games (which would later make Marvel’s Spider-Man) was at its peak in 2009. 

The third game in the Ratchet & Clank Future spin-off series following Tools of Destruction and Quest for Booty, A Crack in Time, feels like an evolved form of everything that came before, with exciting combat and the most ambitious story seen at that point. It involves Clank being kidnapped by Zoni on the orders of Dr. Nefarious, as Ratchet must go on a galaxy-spanning adventure to find him.

3. Fallout: New Vegas

You’ll have Heartaches By The Number once the credits roll on Fallout: New Vegas for the first time. Obsidian’s 2010 masterpiece took the groundwork laid by Bethesda’s 2008 Fallout 3 and injected more of the off-kilter identity seen in the original InterPlay and Black Isle Studios games. You play as the Courier, on your knees overlooking a shallow grave in the middle of the Mojave just outside of New Vegas, and must recover the Platinum Chip that is stolen from you. 

With that said, you don’t necessarily have to do this, nor do you have to chase Benny (your executioner) down and take revenge. That’s the beauty of Fallout: New Vegas, and it has a level of player freedom that is simply not seen in many RPGs, even in 2024.

The story continues forth regardless of what you do, which alliances you make, who you kill, etc. If you’re sick and tired of having your hand held through an adventure, then you’ll want to give this classic a shot.

2. InFamous

Released at the start of the modern superhero boom, InFamous was a very different take to your usual story of good triumphing over evil. You play as Cole MacGrath, a courier who accidentally unleashes the power of the ray sphere and dooms Empire City as it plummets into crime. He awakes, realizing he is a conduit, able to control electricity, and must balance his morality to either become a force for good or flip the script and become a scourge on the city. 

The black-and-white morality system is at the heart of InFamous as you make choices throughout the story. Do you help people or use them as living, breathing batteries? It’s a novel concept, but it ties into the overarching themes of responsibility and heroism.

The game also features an incredible parkour system as you can climb buildings and run around the city; it’s not quite as fast or over-the-top as Prototype (released around the same time) but still very satisfying to do. The franchise continued with the equally good InFamous 2 on PS3 and the surprisingly dark expansion, Festival of Blood, too.

1. God of War HD

While God of War still exists on the PS4 and PS5 generations, the new version of Kratos (and the gameplay in general) is a radical departure from the series’ original identity.

Nowadays, the saga takes place in Norse mythology with cinematic action; the first game from 2005 was more of a spectacle fighter with puzzle-solving elements as the Ghost of Sparta must defeat Ares, the God of War, to get revenge on the deity for tricking him into killing his own family. 

It’s dark and regularly unflinching with some larger-than-life boss encounters, which makes the first God of War game stand out among the spectacle fighter crowd. Kratos isn’t the tender and caring soul we see in the 2018 game or its 2022 sequel, Ragnarok. Instead, he’s a brash and bullish man of sheer force who can (and will) destroy everything and everyone in his way.

The first game sees him tangle with not only Ares but also Hydra, Cerberus, and even Medusa. With remasters rumored for years yet to materialize, this is the best way to play the first game in 2024.

The post The best PS3 games to play on your PS5 in 2024 appeared first on ReadWrite.

Accessory manufacturers just couldn’t hold their horses, as the Nintendo Switch 2 leaks have flooded the internet. With no planned announcement date, it seems that we’re inching closer to seeing an official reveal as more accessories show more and more of the console.

Nintendo has kept its lips sealed around the Switch 2 since pressure from shareholders had them acknowledge that it exists. Originally, CEO Shuntaro Furukawa said that there’d be no reveal before April 2024, and with 2025 just around the corner, that’s remained true.

Nintendo Switch 2 More New Photos pic.twitter.com/Ik1f4yhUof

— Deck Wizard (@deckwizardyt) December 15, 2024

However, over the last month, a series of leaks have shown off the Switch 2 in unanticipated detail. The most recent stems from Switch 2 Joycon (the detachable controllers) accessories, like a wheel or grip.

The device is expected to be considerably bigger than the original Switch, with magnetic Joycons rather than a sliding rail. It’ll also have a U-shaped kickstand, rather than a large flap of plastic like the OLED model or a small flimsy stand on the original model.

Switch 2 leaks have already shown us everything

Of course, right now the images are potentially mock-ups by the manufacturer. However, with each leak, more and more is corroborated. We’ve seen a similar Switch 2-like device from multiple sources, including leading skin and case maker, dbrand.

dbrand has given the most “official” look at the Switch 2 so far, and again, even under the blurry 3D rendering of a case, it matches with the other leaks.

Nerd Nest on YouTube has shown off what is allegedly a finished reference model of the device. This again corroborates other images and mock-ups.

The Switch 2 has been leaking for quite some time now. Intrepid fans have tracked everything from the Nvidia chip it’ll harness, to what games might launch. A more recent leak hinted that Mario Kart 9 could be a launch title, with a potential special edition available. Another pegged the remake of Final Fantasy IX as a launch title too. However, it’s basically confirmed that the system will still support old games.

Current rumors swirling around position Nintendo as scrambling to get ahead of even more leaks. With manufacturers bleeding any surprise dry, it is now expected that Nintendo could announce something in January.

Featured image: DeckWizard, Pexels

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Fortnite’s annual seasonal event Winterfest will soon be back for 2024, and, after a rather flat 2023 which, let’s face it, was pretty poor compared to earlier events, it looks as though Epic Games is trying to make this year’s Winterfest one to remember.

So when is it, how long is it, what can you nab and, oh yes? That cabin? Really? Let’s find out.

When is Winterfest 2024?

We now have confirmed dates for Winterfest 2024 and as we speak all the goodness is being uploaded to the servers in the latest Fortnite update before it goes live.

Winterfest 2024 is scheduled to run from 20th December until 7th January which should give you a nice run of time to get all your quests completed.

All we have had officially from Epic Games so far is a few seconds of a roaring festive log fire (more of which is minute) with the dates at the top. No launch times at the mo but they will probably be announced soon as the whole shebang kicks off in just a couple of days anyway.

Get ready to cozy up

The cabin returns this week! pic.twitter.com/hi3hujoAEm

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) December 16, 2024

What’s included in Winterfest 2024?

Some of things that have been outed so far are listed below.

• Crashed Chiller Spray
• Choose Naughty Spray
• De-Rezz Tally Back Bling
• Llama Lightbulb Spray
• Run It Up Jam Track

We are also expecting festive sklns both free and paid (Merry Snoop Dogg anyone?) and ice skates, don’t forget the ice skates.

Update: Check out our page on all the leaked characters and emotes, including Master Chief and Mariah Carey and when they will become available in the Item Shop.

Winterfest 2024 map changes

Nothing has been said about the map yet, but, well assume snow everywhere and do the ice skates mean we can skates across any water? Or will there be a specific ice rink to gather at Central Park style?

Winterfest 2024 cabin

After a needless absence in 2024, the Cozy Cabin is back and this staple of Fortnite’s Winter events is a welcome return. So far, all we know is that the cabin is back and, we assume, will serve the same role as previously, as a hub to tie the whole Winterfest event together.

Only two more sleeps until we find out (at the time of writing of course!)

The post Fortnite Winterfest 2024 – when does it start, what’s included, and is the cabin really back? appeared first on ReadWrite.

It’s been a huge day for Fortnite news today even as the latest update wends its way down the pipes of the Interweb and players everywhere have to go and find something else to play during the downtime, the news continues to roill out.

So far today we have news of the Skibidee Toilet, which we now have pretty much confirmed will be later today, and also coverage of Winterfest 2024 and the return of the Cabin, but now, leaks are reaching us of what we can expect in the Item Shop over the holiday season, along with the dates we will get them.

Renowned Fortnite leaker HypeX is always on the money so there is absolutely no reason to believe that any of this is a a false flag.

ALL LEAKED FORTNITE SHOP DATES

• Skibidi Toilet – TONIGHT
• Starfire – TONIGHT
• OG Season Shop – TOMORROW
• Mariah Carey – DEC 20
• Ninja Batman & Harley – DEC 21
• Santa Shaq – DEC 22
• Lamborghini Urus SE – DEC 22
• The Nightmare Before Christmas – DEC 22
• Master… pic.twitter.com/ziTbAsnWJO

— HYPEX (@HYPEX) December 18, 2024

What it does tell us is that there is going to be a lot of cool stuff between now and Christmas day, just check out this list below:

• Skibidi Toilet – TONIGHT
• Starfire – TONIGHT
• OG Season Shop – TOMORROW
• Mariah Carey – DEC 20
• Ninja Batman & Harley – DEC 21
• Santa Shaq – DEC 22
• Lamborghini Urus SE – DEC 22
• The Nightmare Before Christmas – DEC 22
• Master Chief – DEC 23
• Cyberpunk 2077 – DEC 23

There was also a more recent post showing some of the leaked cosmetics. You better hope you get some V Bucks for Christmas folks.

If all you ever wanted for Christmas was Mariah performing an emote in Fortnite then 2024 is going to be a year. HypeX says ‘All I want for Christmas’ will be a free emote that you will earn by talking to Mariah Carey’s NPC after completing an event, although what that event is right now is a mystery.

If it is aliens in those drones, they must be watching on wondering if we are worth invading.

The post Fortnite winter leaks – Mariah Carey and Master Chief make up an unlikely Christmas duet in the Battle Royale appeared first on ReadWrite.

We covered the rather saddening arrival of the Skibidi Toilet meme into Fortnite earlier today along with how to get your hands on it, but if you are trying right now you won’t be able to get into the game as the Fortnite servers are currently down for maintenance. But when will it be back and what’s new in this last major change before the Holidays? Let’s find out.

When is Fortnite back up?

Downtime started at 7 AM ET / 12 PM GMT – so around an hour ago at the time of writing and as yet there is no indication of how long it will be offline. Previously when Epic has run into trouble downtime has run on longer than anybody would like, but fingers crossed things will be a bit more routine for update 33.11

This is an unusual time and date for a Fortnite update, we have no recollection of an early Wednesday morning patch before, so maybe it is just Epic trying something new at a lower traffic period, and it could become the norm going forward. We will have to wait and see.

Downtime for v33.11 begins at 7 AM ET with matchmaking ending shortly beforehand. pic.twitter.com/JjSzPEM3sM

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) December 17, 2024

What is in the new Fortnite patch?

In the absence of any real patch notes just yet we expect the aforementioned Skibidi Toilet stuff to arrive – can’t wait, no seriously. Also preparations for Winterfest this year which launches in a couple of days time are tucked away in there.

Indeed a lot of the new stuff won’t be instantly apparent and will wait until Winterfest 2024 starts before unlocking. We can expect to see new items such as wind grenades and ice skates as well as the usually free skins we get at this time of year.

We will update this page if the update takes longer than usual or when Epic Games releases the final patch notes for update 33.11

The post Fortnite is down for the last major maintenance update of the year – when will it be back and what’s in the new patch? appeared first on ReadWrite.

The Mythical Island packs are live in Pokemon TCG Pocket, bringing with them some fun new additions to collect.

With the introduction of fresh cards means the battling meta shifts, potentially toward the new exs that have now been made available.

This could certainly be said for Celebi ex which has an incredible attack that can take down even the strongest Pokemon in an instant.

Below, we’ll discuss what we think is the best Celebi ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket so you can take advantage of the new Mythical Island cards and win some battles.

Best Celebi ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket, explained

The best Celebi ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket is put together for one purpose – to get as many energies attached to Celebi as possible so that you have the maximum amount of coin flips.

This, in turn, should enable you to deal some serious damage, potentially destroying the likes of Charizard ex or Venusaur ex, which both have incredibly high HP, in one fell swoop.

To make this happen, you’ll need to use a combination of Celebi ex and Serperior, with the latter’s ability allowing you to add more and more energy to Celebi as the game progresses.

You will need other cards to form a well-rounded deck though so here is a full card list to form an incredible Celebi ex deck:

• Celebi ex (x2)
• Snivy (x2)
• Servine (x2)
• Serperior (x2)
• Dhelmise (x2)
• Poke Ball (x2)
• Professor’s Research (x2)
• Erica (x2)
• Sabrina (x2)
• Leaf (x1)
• X Speed (x1)

In addition to Celebi ex and the Serperior evolution line, we’ve also thrown in Dhelmise since it has high HP for a basic Pokemon as well as playing into the energy collection avenue this deck is all about.

As for the Supporter and Item cards, it’s a little bit down to preference but we’ve got the usuals in there – Sabrina, Poke Ball, and Professor’s Research – as well as specialized Trainers such as Erika for those health boosts.

We’ve also thrown in a Leaf card just in case your Dhelmise or Serperior is in your active slot and you’d rather hang on to their attached energy.

Other Pokemon TCG Pocket articles you may like

• Pokemon TCG Pocket Advance Ticket explained
• Pokemon TCG Pocket bent packs: Do they really make a difference?
• All Pokemon TCG Pocket card rarities explained
• All Promo-A cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket and how to get them
• When is trading coming to Pokemon TCG Pocket?

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Elden Ring Nightreign is taking the franchise in a slightly different direction, going all in on multiplayer elements, allowing you to get the squad together for some boss slaying.

With gaming being so multi-platform these days, you’ve likely got friends wanting to play Nightreign on a system that you don’t own, meaning crossplay needs to be a feature.

Here, we’ll reveal if Elden Ring Nightreign does have crossplay capabilities so you know if you need to band together on a specific device to take on the Night Lord.

Does Elden Ring have crossplay functionality?

If you’re wanting to experience the dark and gloomy vistas of Limveld with anyone and everyone, no matter what they’re on, you’re going to be left wanting.

Elden Ring Nightreign does not have a crossplay feature, meaning you’re stuck with those who are playing on the same platform as you.

This is incredibly unfortunate and something that is surprising in today’s gaming environment, where most titles have crossplay as standard.

Moreover, since you can only play as a solo or in a three, it just complicates things further, making it that bit more difficult to get a full party.

What might be the case is that the base Elden Ring game has been coded in a way where crossplay could never be a possibility and therefore, Nightreign never had a chance.

No Souls games have had crossplay so far so really it shouldn’t be too much of a shock that Nightreign shares this fate also.

However, since it is such a multiplayer focused experience, you might have thought FromSoft would have made the necessary changes to make an exception this time around.

Other Elden Ring Nightreign articles you may like

• Elden Ring Nightreign classes: What we know so far
• Is Elden Ring Nightreign a DLC?
• How to get Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test access
• All Elden Ring Nightreign bosses we know so far

The post Is Elden Ring Nightreign crossplay? appeared first on ReadWrite.

AI developers RPGGO have just announced a new groundbreaking mod that brings artificial intelligence into the world of Stardew Valley in the shape of the new Stardew Drama AI RPG.

Billed as a pivotal moment in gaming history as it’s the first successful integration of AI tech into an existing major, game title.

The mod integrates with the new Stardew Valley 1.6 and uses AI to create unique, dynamic experiences for players.

It will allow you to chat naturally with in-game characters about anything in the game and they will respond to you like real people and friends would, bringing unlimited dialog and offering unique perspectives to bring the game to life like never before.

“Stardew Drama marks a new era in gaming where AI becomes an integral part of the player experience,” said Jane, Operations Director at RPGGO. “We’re thrilled to offer this innovative technology to the Stardew Valley community at no cost.”

Stardew Drama’s API weaves stories into the Valley allowing you to create friendships and even romances should that be what you fancy!

“The NPCs can understand and respond to whatever you say, going way beyond scripted dialogue. While they stay true to their own personalities, routines, and quirks, they feel more like real friends than just game characters. You can share your daily adventures in the valley, discuss your latest harvest, and exchange local gossip about what’s happening around town”

The mod itself uses RPGGO’s AI engine which, outside of what we have here can be used if you sign up to create your own games and adventures.

Using AI to generate images and dialog the engine can be used to create pretty much any RPG idea you may have, without knowing any code at all. You can check out what RPGGO is doing on its website, and if you are a keen Stardew Valley fan, you can download the Stardew Drama mod over at Nexus.

The post Stardew Valley gets revolutionary new AI integration with free mod appeared first on ReadWrite.

After a solid reception following its debut on December 10th, 2024, the gaming-inspired series Secret Level has been greenlit for a second season by Amazon. Here’s what we know so far:

Season 1 of Secret Level received a pretty decent reception, and whilst the viewer numbers haven’t been dropped yet, Luminate has said that the series was watched for around 155.3 million minutes in the US during its first week, which equates to about 1.4m views, given that the whole series runs for 109 minutes. The animation anthology series, consisting of fifteen 10-20 minute episodes based on various video games, was made by the same creators of the 5-time Emmy-winning series, Love, Death + Robots. The latter has received three seasons thus far with a fourth in the works, though there’s no confirmed release date as of yet.

For Secret Level, there are no confirmed details on what’s in store for the second season yet, but the first season saw some pretty huge gaming collabs including Pac-Man, Spelunky, Dungeons and Dragons, and Warhammer, to name a few. You’ll spot some big voice actors too, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Laura Bailey, Kevin Hart and Keanu Reeves being amongst the biggest names to star in the series.

Their whole schtick is “producing ground-breaking stories inspired by your favorite games”, so with Season 2 we can definitely expect some more big names in the gaming industry. Fans have already begun wishlisting which games they’d like to see next, with Celeste, The Elder Scrolls, Terraria, Baldur’s Gate 3 and World of Warcraft being name dropped in a Reddit forum.

With the world of video gaming being a vast pit of fun stories and world-building, there’s no telling where Secret Level will go next. And hopefully, given the success of other video game adaptations like Amazon’s Fallout and Netflix’s Arcane, more and more video game IPs will be looking to have their franchises adapted for TV.

Featured images credited to: Secret Level.

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A recent update has sent the Zenless Zone Zero community into despair as the latest patch has removed the ability to look at the agents’ butts. Yep, you read that right…fans of the latest miHoYo action RPG game have been sent into a tailspin over no longer being able to upskirt their scantily-clad anime waifus.

The latest version 1.4 “A Storm of Falling Stars” now allows players to roam the world as any agent they have unlocked. However, along with this update, they’ve also implemented the following change:

“Adjusts the Agents’ display for certain angles: When viewed from specific angles, the Agent will appear faded.”

This is a similar mechanic to the other Hoyoverse franchise, Genshin Impact, and it essentially fades out the entire character if you lower the angle to peek under the women’s skirts. This has, unsurprisingly, sent the male gamer community of Zenless Zone Zero into a spiral and they’ve shown their upset over this change with a Reddit post titled “A worrying change in this patch”, which received 2.4k upvotes, over 350 comments and 5 awards in 9 hours.

Comments including “my day is ruined”, “GG. I’m uninstalling” and “I’m done, f** this. Paid for these characters to not see them”. Some people even try to mask their depravity stating, “I don’t even care about this from a horny angle, I just hate how having my character fade out whenever I want to look up at some scenery feels”. Sure, sure…

Those over on X have also expressed their profound disappointment, saying that “they’ve literally ruined one of the best features” and “I think it’s time to review bomb until they change it back”.

9/11 for gooners

— 優木 せつ菜 | Love Live Superstar S3 SZN (@Nljigakulive) December 18, 2024

Many gacha games of this sort tend to walk the line between overtly sexual and family-friendly, with jiggle mechanics and upskirting being quite common. The Hoyoverse franchises have been implementing some more changes such as this latest Zenless Zone Zero patch to strike a balance between “making sure kids can still play the game and making it sexy enough to appeal to the standard audience”, as one Reddit poster also noted. This doesn’t stop the wonderful male gamer community from loudly expressing their disappointment though. Just normal another day in the gaming community, ey?

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Fortnite is no stranger to weird and unexpected collabs, but this one really might take the cake. Reliable Fortnite Leakers have confirmed that there will be a Skibidi x Fortnite collab dropping on December 18th, 2024. Here’s everything we know about this *hotly anticipated* release, and how to get the new Skibidi content:

As an elder Gen-Z, I am far too aware of the Skibidi phenomenon. It’s the kind of meme that’s meant to make you feel old…do the Gen Alphas really find a man-head popping out of a toilet funny? Regardless of what you think of Skibidi Toilet, it really does have the younger kids and teens in a chokehold. The YouTuber who created Skibidi Toilet, Alexey Gerasimov, is estimated to have a net worth of over $130 million, with his channel raking in over $1 million a year. There’s Skibidi merch and a Skibidi Toilet tv show, and now a Skibidi x Fortnite collaboration that’ll surely please all those kids out there.

SKIBIDI TOILET x FORTNITE COMING TOMORROW

• Plungerman Skin (1,500 VB) & BUNDLE (2,200 VB)
• Skibidi Toilet Back Bling (600 VB)
• Plungerman’s Plunger Pickaxe (800 VB)
• Info by @SpushFNBR pic.twitter.com/UoV3GqLWrq

— HYPEX (@HYPEX) December 17, 2024

How to get the Skibidi Toilet Fortnite Skin

Leakers have confirmed that the following are coming to the Fortnite game:

• Plungerman Skin (1,500 V-Bucks)
• Skibidi Toilet Back Bling (600 V-Bucks)
• Plungerman’s Plunger Pickaxe (800 V-bucks)

You can also purchase these as a bundle for 2,200 V-bucks, if you’re a big fan of the Skibidi-verse. The bundle will save you 700 V-bucks than if you chose to buy them all separately too.

If you’re not in the market to purchase Skibidi-themed content for your Fortnite account, there are some other winter and holiday-themed skins currently on sale, as well as the opportunity to play as Godzilla in the latest Chapter 6 season. Whilst we might not understand the strange toilet man, at the end of the day, kids are a bottomless pit of gold and Fortnite’s collab with Skibidi Toilet will probably prove a hit with their younger demographic of players.

We cover a lot of Fortnite news here at ReadWrite Gaming, so make sure to stay tuned…we promise it’s not always about Skibidi Toilet!

The post Do you want the Skibidi Toilet Fortnite Skin? *sigh* Here’s how to get it appeared first on ReadWrite.

Elden Ring Nightreign is spicing things up in the Lands Between, taking you to new areas and providing fresh enemies to take on.

If you took a look at the trailer showcased at The Game Awards 2024, you will have also got a sneak peek at some of the bosses you’ll be coming up against in this fresh, standalone experience.

Here, we’ll be detailing all we know about the Elden Ring Nightreign bosses, compiling a list of who you might be coming up against.

Elden Ring Nightreign bosses: Everything we know

Elden Ring Nightreign is a boss rush of sorts, taking place over three days and three nights as you progress toward a final Night Lord boss to victory.

Even though Nightreign is set within the Elden Ring universe, apart from that of previous titles, some familiar ‘Souls’ faces have popped up in the first trailer for the game.

Based on this trailer and information from those who have played an early build, we’ve compiled a list of bosses that you’ll be facing, so you can do a bit of research and learn some movesets of the classic inclusions:

• Ancient Hero of Zamor
• Bell Bearing Hunter
• Centipede Demon
• Draconic Tree Sentinel
• Gladius
• Margit the Fell Omen
• Nameless King
• The Duke’s dear Freja

The above all appear to be ‘regular’ bosses that you will encounter during your travels, with the more powerful Night Lord being kept under wraps for now.

This ‘Night Lord’ could also be a returning boss from the Dark Souls series, potentially someone like Gravelord Nito or Nashandra (hopefully both with new mechanics), since they fit the theme.

However, FromSoft could also just go down the ‘difficult’ angle and have a pool of Night Lord bosses that are the final fights from previous games/DLCs.

If this comes to fruition, we could see fights against Gwyn, Lord Of Cinder, Soul Of Cinder, Slave Knight Gael, and even Manus, Father Of The Abyss, which would be pretty epic.

Other Elden Ring Nightreign articles you may like

• Elden Ring Nightreign classes: What we know so far
• Is Elden Ring Nightreign a DLC?
• How to get Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test access
• Can you play Elden Ring Nightreign solo or duo?

The post All Elden Ring Nightreign bosses we know so far appeared first on ReadWrite.

Gaijin Entertainment has released the Storm Warning update for War Thunder, bringing a host of new military vehicles and features to the game just in time for the end of the year

This latest major content update includes the 4.5-generation fighters Typhoon and Rafale, the advanced Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled gun, and the French light cruiser La Galissonnière. While we are at it we can also explore the new “Attica” map, inspired by the landscapes of Greece.

The Eurofighter Typhoon, developed by Germany, the UK, and Italy, is a standout addition (and one of my favorite pieces of military hardware in recent years fact fans). This modern fighter jet, also in service with several other countries, boasts an impressive arsenal of up to 10 air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM. With its helmet-mounted targeting system and advanced CAPTOR radar, the Typhoon is a force to be reckoned with in both close and long-range combat is is set to be extremely popular within War Thunder.

Not to be outdone, the Rafale F3-R, the latest French-produced fighter jet, makes its debut in War Thunder. Accepted into service in 2018, this aircraft is a powerhouse in long-range combat, thanks to its MICA-EM ARH missiles. It also features the AASM HAMMER precision weapons system, new to War Thunder, which includes a vast array of guided bombs for taking out ground targets.

The update also brings the Thai Air Force subtree to the Japanese aviation line, expanding tactical options for players. The F-5T SCU “Tigris” light jet fighter, equipped with Python 3 air-to-air missiles, is a notable addition to this branch and again will likely prove a popular fighter to start blowing people out of the sky with.

On the ground, the Panzerhaubitze 2000 stands out as one of the most advanced self-propelled howitzers in the world. Its 155 mm L52 gun can hit targets at distances of tens of kilometers, with a reload speed as low as 6 seconds. Despite its nearly 58-ton weight, this beast can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h on good roads, allowing for quick repositioning.

For more detailed information about the Storm Warning update, head over to the official War Thunder site.

The post There’s a Storm Warning in War Thunder as new massive content update incoming appeared first on ReadWrite.

Elden Ring Nightreign was a huge surprise at The Game Awards 2024 but one that was welcomed with open arms by most.

While the traditional ‘souls’ experience is one that is mainly a lonely experience, apart from the various NPCs you may cross paths with, this new iteration is not.

Since Nightreign is a different take on the formula, allowing you to team up with others, many are wondering if you’re locked into multiplayer or if you can play solo.

Here, we’ll reveal if you can slay bosses in Elden Ring Nightreign on your own or if you need to squad up.

Is Elden Ring Nightreign multiplayer only?

If you like the look of Elden Ring Nightreign but are worried about whether you can dive in on your own or not, we’ve got some good news for you.

Despite the trailer for the game showing off that it leans heavily into multiplayer, allowing you to play in a squad of three, you can in fact experience this new standalone title solo.

This is fantastic for those who are used to the traditional FromSoftware formula, taking on even the hardest enemies as a party of one if they so wish.

What is interesting though is that there are only two options – solo or squads of three – you cannot team up in a duo at all.

This seems like an odd choice by the developers since systems such as enemy scaling will be integrated already, because you can choose either solo or in a three, so why have duos been side-lined? Well, there’s no full explanation for this so far.

But, in an interview from IGN with game director Junya Ishizaki, he stated that the main reason for three-player squads is because “we wanted to retain that sense of accomplishment you get from battling a boss together or from conquering a map together” and “a three-player co-op experience would provide a brand new sense of accomplishment with it.”

As for whether two-player co-op will be added remains to be seen but based on Ishizaki’s comments, we don’t think it’s at the top of the agenda.

Other Elden Ring Nightreign articles you may like

• Elden Ring Nightreign classes: What we know so far
• Is Elden Ring Nightreign a DLC?
• How to get Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test access

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Farming Simulator 25 has been a huge success for Giants Software and while the devs probably always suspected it would be, given the remarkable success of previous games in the series, having the name alone is no guarantee the ball will not be dropped (we are looking at you Cities Skylines 2)

Earlier in the year, before Farming Simulator 25 game was out we reported on the annual gathering of Farm Sim enthusiasts known as Farmcon as excitement towards the new release built.

Now obviously with the success story in mind, there was going to be a Farmcon 25, and if you fancy finding yourself in picturesque Austria in July 2025 you too could be one of the attendees.

Tickets for the event at Kundl are available already and will see the family-friendly event held on the weekend of July 5th and 6th.

The annual event for fans, modders, and influencers to meet the team and creative minds behind Farming Simulator will take place at the Innovation Center of the renowned agricultural manufacturer and long-time partner Lindner in Kundl, Austria.

“We’re thrilled with the amazing reactions from the community to Farming Simulator 25! This enthusiasm motivates us every day, and we can’t wait to reveal more exciting updates at FarmCon” comments Christian Ammann, CEO at GIANTS Software. “We’re also incredibly grateful to Lindner for providing the venue for this year’s event. Their unwavering support and contributions truly elevate the experience for everyone. See you at FarmCon 25!”

The Farmcon event has been running since 2016 (minus the obvious pandemic break) and visitors will get the chance to meet the devs and perhaps influence the direction of the game in the future.

Visitors can also take factory tours and, if they’re quick enough, get a ride on Lindner’s iconic red tractors on the test track. Meanwhile, many fans catch up with old and new friends or meet some of their favorite influencers.

With each Farming Simulator game having a lifespan beyond the traditional yearly numbered release of many games, it will be exciting to see just what plans Giants has for the franchise going forward.

The post Farmcon 25 announced and you can meet the devs at a special celebration event appeared first on ReadWrite.