Gaming - Page 163

Nintendo has just wrapped up its Mario Kart World-focused Direct, and while the showcase did reveal some previously unseen features of the game, it still failed to answer one of the biggest questions about the upcoming title - what are players meant to do in the world?

Mario Kart World was first showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, where we got a brief overview of the upcoming title and a showcase of how it was going to differentiate itself from previous games in the series. The big factor in World, besides the new maps and driving mechanics, is the ability to drive between races and explore the world in a free roam mode. That immediately begged the question: What are players actually doing when driving around the world, and why would they want to select this feature over just doing a normal race?

Well, Nintendo touched on the feature during the recent Mario Kart World Direct, where it unveiled that players exploring in free roam will come across what are called "P" switches, and when triggered, they will begin a brief mission that's intended to "hone" a player's driving ability outside of races. There are "hundreds" of these switches located across the map. In addition to the switches, there are also larger coins and "?" panels. Unfortunately, Nintendo didn't explain more than that, leaving some quite disappointed.

If you're excited about the Oblivion remake, well, that's so yesterday now - it's time to get excited about the Fallout 3 remaster instead.

Cast your mind back a long way, to two years ago, in fact, when there was that major leak during Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, from which the existence of the Oblivion and Fallout 3 remasters was revealed.

Well, the chatter around the Oblivion remake recently grew to deafening levels - it now seems all but officially confirmed, with leaked screenshots spilled from the developer - and following that, some fresh curiosity has been stoked around the Fallout 3 revamp.

Oblivion Remastered has captured the attention of many gamers around the world when screenshots of the title leaked online, revealing a stunning upgrade compared to the original title released in 2006.

However, some of those leaked screenshots were blackened, or darker than initially intended, as they were used for backdrops on a store page or a banner on the website. But thanks to Reddit user James IV4, they have been restored, showcasing a new level of beauty. The above and below screenshots have had their brightness levels increased, displaying details that were once hidden, and in some cases, it shows quite a severe difference. Probably the biggest difference in detail is the Dock at Night image, which reveals a previously unseen body of water.

As for when Oblivion Remastered will be available to play, neither Microsoft nor Bethesda has commented on the rumored project, but gaming industry insiders and even the official Xbox Support account on X have pointed to a release sometime during the week of April 21. Rumors have also stated the title will be shadow dropped, meaning it won't receive any marketing before it becomes available on various platforms such as Xbox and PC via Game Pass, and the PS5, given Xbox's long-held stance of bringing its titles to as many platforms as possible.

Sony's upcoming PlayStation 6 portable is expected to be more powerful than an Xbox Series S, but less powerful than a standard PlayStation 5 console, and that's because of lower memory bandwidth in the PS6 portable according to new rumors.

In some new comments regarding the portable PlayStation 6, known leaker "Kepler_L2" posted on the NeoGAF forums saying that PS6 portable won't be as powerful as the current base-level PS5 system, and that it will run regular PS5 games but not at the same resolution and frame rate as the PS5 due to lower memory bandwidth (which is understandable, given it's a portable handheld).

The leaker said that the portable PlayStation 6 SoC will be a different chip than the one inside of the regular PS6 console, but it has been designed to run at really low voltages. We are looking at a lot less than 40 Compute Units, and with performance coming in slower than the standard PS5 -- which has 36 CUs -- we should expect 28-32 CUs inside of the PS6 portable.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now stream games that they have purchased directly to their Xbox consoles.

Cloud gaming isn't here just yet, but Microsoft is trying to help it along with Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly Project xCloud). Microsoft continues its cloud investment with a major new feature that's very cross-ecosystem friendly.

The selection of games that you can stream on Xbox Cloud Gaming has been limited--Microsoft does have to pay for those game licenses. But now Microsoft is expanding this selection of games to include (some) titles that you have purchased, which adds value to the entitlements that Xbox users are able to buy (when you buy a game, you don't own the game data itself, but an "entitlement" or "license" to access and play that game data).

FromSoftware releases another trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign's list of classes, and this time the Raider is spotlighted.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is a 3-player, online co-op standalone spin-off that emphasizes teamwork and ingenuity. We've already seen the other five Nightreign classes--Wylder, Guardian, Duchess, Iron Eye, and Recluse--and now there's a sixth class, the fearsome raider.

The Raider class doesn't have any info on Bandai Namco's official Nightreign class sheet, but we were able to glean some details from the footage. The Raider's special attack looks incredibly useful because it combines a form of crowd control and evasion in one.

Ubisoft is developing a new battle royale game that takes direct inspiration from Respawn's Apex Legends, sources have told Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson.

Ubisoft could be making another battle royale game--codenamed Scout, this new shooter is the latest in a long series of experimental projects. The new battle royale is reportedly based on Respawn's billion-dollar battle royale game Apex Legends, complete with Ubisoft's own takes on distinct Apex characters like Pathfinder, Wraith and Lifeline.

Scout is believed to have been in development for multiple years, but Ubisoft's current finance situation could see the game cancelled and written down.

Sony continues raising the prices of its products and services in response to a uncertain global economic landscape.

The games industry continues to respond to worldwide market volatility in the most direct way possible: Increasing prices.

Just days ago, Sony recently increased the MSRP of its PlayStation 5 consoles in major regions including Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Now Sony is doing the same for the PlayStation Plus subscription service across various regions.

Microsoft just revealed a trio of new spins on Xbox accessories, including a pair of Xbox controllers with a Doom: The Dark Ages theme.

Neowin noticed Microsoft showing off these new goodies on YouTube, and you can check out the controllers in all their gory glory in the above clip.

There's an Xbox Wireless Controller splattered appropriately with blood and decked out with Doom runes, as well as an Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 model. The former is a nifty mix of marine green and silver, and the latter goes darker, with a black and red color scheme, and a prominent 'Mark of the Slayer' right in the middle.

Gamers are patiently awaiting official confirmation from Xbox or Bethesda about the recently leaked Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered after screenshots of the title leaked online, and now we have the closest thing to an official word on the title.

An X user has asked the official Xbox Support account if the Oblivion Remastered will be launching on cloud gaming, which prompted a response that states, "Yes, the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will be available for cloud gaming." The official Xbox Support account didn't stop there as it went on to say the title is set to be released on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and will have access through Xbox Game Pass.

While those last points aren't particularly surprising considering Microsoft owns Bethesda, what was surprising is when the account was asked when the game will be "available to play". The account responded, "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is set to release on April 21, 2025." In a follow-up message, it wrote, "It is confirmed to be a day-one launch title on Xbox Game Pass, which strongly suggests that it will be available for cloud gaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming."

Following President Trump's tariffs that were introduced a day after Nintendo's Switch 2-dedicated Direct, Nintendo paused preorders on its new console over the tariffs potentially having an impact on Switch 2 pricing.

With preorders now paused, Nintendo fans are eagerly awaiting a new date for when preorders for the upcoming console, and according to a new leak from Dealabs Magazine reporter Billbil-kun, Nintendo is eyeing April 23 as the new preorder date in Canada for both the Switch 2 standard and bundle. Notably, the reporter warns the date is subject to change, meaning it isn't set in stone.

The illustrate how that date isn't set in stone more dates have been sourced from US retailers, which have pointed to both April 21 and April 30, with preorders for Nintendo Switch 2 accessories opening up on April 30. However, Billbil-kun has had a substantially healthy track record for video game leaks, making his claim hold much more weight than the latter two dates.

Bungie has unveiled its new extraction shooter Marathon and it has been received with mixed opinions from gamers, some calling it a project that's dead on arrival, and others saying it looks like an interesting take on the extraction shooter genre.

The contentious nature of the project has sparked a debate among gamers, with some comparing Marathon to Concord, the disastrous Sony title that launched to less than 2,000 concurrent players and failed to hit critical mass, resulting in Sony having to refund all buyers of the title and shelf the entire game. As a result, the developers of Concord, Firewalk Studios, were shut down.

Now, a former Concord developer has commented on the debate surrounding Marathon by taking to Reddit to plead with gamers not to judge Marathon too quickly without having first played it, while simultaneously saying not to punish Bungie for Concord's failure.

The impact of the Trump tariffs on the gaming market has already begun to be felt in select regions, as Sony has confirmed the price of its PlayStation 5 has increased by 25%.

Sony has officially raised the price of its PlayStation 5 console hardware in the following regions: UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, with the company saying it was a "tough decision," but cited "a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates." Sony manufactures its PlayStation 5 hardware in China, which is currently facing a 145% tariff on imports to the US, with the PS5 not being subjected to Trump's tariff exception that was announced on Friday.

The PS5 Digital Edition has been hit the hardest by the price increase, rising in all four of the previously stated markets to varying degrees depending on the region. Notably, the price of the PS5 standard edition is only increasing in Australia and New Zealand, and not by as much as the digital edition in other regions. Surprisingly, Sony has decreased the price of its add-on disc drive accessory. Below I have listed the all of the price increases, the percentage of which they have increased and the region.

The internet has been set ablaze by the leaks of Oblivion Remastered, especially since neither Microsoft nor Bethesda has officially recognized the title.

Despite the lack of official confirmation, the remaster of Oblivion is undoubtedly real, as the leaked images came from the developer of the game Virtuous's website. The images showed a side-by-side comparison between the old 2006 game and the upcoming remastered version. It should be noted this isn't a Remake, but a Remaster, meaning we can expect the same game with visual and performance upgrades, modernized combat, stealth, and many of the same original elements and engine quirks. That doesn't rule out the possibility of additional content, just makes it less likely.

So, where is Oblivion Remastered going to land when it launches? The leaks indicate it will be coming to PC, Xbox, and PS5. However, Bethesda hasn't confirmed that. But, we can assume it will at the very least be arriving on PC and Xbox via Game Pass, considering Microsoft now owns Bethesda.

Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II Remastered is available now on PC. It brings visual upgrades to the game alongside various optimizations for PC, including support for ultrawide displays and DLSS. It's one of the most impressive-looking titles out there, with incredible detail, art direction, and animation. However, as it's a port of the PlayStation 5 version of the game by Sony studio Nixxes, it doesn't feature any native ray-tracing features.

However, thanks to Beyond Dreams, we've got a look at the game with the 'Complete RT' ray-tracing mod. This mod, which uses screen-space lighting information to deliver ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion, offers an impressive look at what The Last of Us Part II Remastered with native ray-tracing might look like.

This custom ray-tracing mod looks stunning in the 8K gameplay video above, captured on a GeForce RTX 5090.

One of last year's most talked about and played games, Black Myth: Wukong, is finally adding DLSS 4 support. This includes the new transformer AI model for Super Resolution alongside Multi Frame Generation for the GeForce RTX 50 Series of cards. The update isn't available yet on Steam, though developer Game Science has noted that it will be rolling out to all storefronts in the coming days.

As part of its weekly DLSS article, NVIDIA has provided DLSS with Multi Frame Generation benchmark results captured at 4K, 1440p, and 1080p, covering the full GeForce RTX 50 Series line-up, including the new GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, which will launch tomorrow. With Full Ray Tracing and max settings, the new RTX 5060 Ti hits 149.2 FPS at 1080p and 99.7 FPS at 1440p.

Interestingly, the charts state that Multi Frame Generation was paired with the older CNN model for DLSS Super Resolution. This is a little strange, which probably means the performance we see here will be slightly lower with the new AI transformer model - as it's more computationally heavy than the CNN model.

One of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles is called Welcome Tour, a game designed to inform owners of Switch 2 how to utilize all of its features. While the game, or more accurately speaking, virtual manual was somewhat well-received during the presentation, the joy quickly turned to ash when Nintendo revealed it would cost $10.

Nintendo fans' uproar about the pricing of Welcome Tour has been anything but quiet. Many fans compare the launch title to Astro's Playroom from Sony, a free built-in game designed to essentially do the same thing - familiarize new system owners with all of the controls and its capabilities. Nintendo's decision to charge $10 for Welcome Tour has become a real point of contention for Nintendo fans, with many accusing the company of simply being greedy.

However, Nintendo has justified its decision to charge $10 for the title, with Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser saying Welcome Tour's mini-games have a lot of replayability. Below is the full quote from Bowser.

Rockstar Games has posted a new trailer to its YouTube channel, but it's unfortunately not the trailer everyone has been hoping for, which is, of course, the second Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer.

The developer behind the esteemed Grand Theft Auto franchise has announced GTA V Enhanced, a free update to all PC owners of the title that will come with a slew of technical improvements, including ray-traced shadows and reflections, and PC-only features such as ray-traced ambient occlusion and global illumination. Moreover, the enhanced version of GTA V will come with support for NVIDIA DLSS and AMD's FSR.

In addition to technical upgrades, GTA V Enhanced will include improvements to GTA Online, such as new vehicle upgrades, the ability to track progress and unlock rewards across all of GTA Online's updates with Career Progress, and more high-performance vehicles. Rockstar has also introduced Career Builder for new GTA Online players, which enables players to select from one of four different criminal career paths, such as "Executive, Gunrunner, Nightclub Owner, or Biker." More information on the GTA V Enhanced can be found here.

OneXPlayer has just introduced what could be the world's first gaming handheld with an Intel Core Ultra-H series processor, with the convertible debuting as the X1 Pro Gaming Tablet EVA Asuka Limited Edition.

Inside, we have the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor, with OneXPlayer introducing its new gaming tablet in the form of the X1 Pro Asuka Limited Edition with an anime-themed design on the exterior. Intel's new Core Ultra 7 255H processor features 16 cores, which is twice the amount of cores than Lunar Lake APUs, and a more powerful integrated GPU solution with Arc 140T graphics.

OneXPlayer is using a larger 10.95-inch LTPS display with a native 2560 x 1600 resolution and super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, with up to 540 nits of brightness. This is a convertible tablet, meaning it can be converted into 3 different setups: a gaming handheld with controllers on the side, a laptop, or a simple screen with a kickstand if you want to play with detatched controllers.

Jagex has surprised fans by releasing its new RuneScape spin-off into early access today.

RuneScape: Dragonwilds, the MMO-adjacent 4-player survival sim from Jagex, is now available in Steam Early Access for $30. The new RPG mixes magic, player creation, hack-and-slash combat, and third-person survival crafting mechanics together within a fantasy world filled with lore, danger, and loot. Jagex says Dragonwilds is built on three main pillars: Exploring, surviving, and thriving.

Jagex's recent developer deep dive video highlights what sets Dragonwilds apart from other survival games, with the devs saying that magic was a core component to the game's formula. There's several abilities in Dragonwilds that are inspired by Runescape magic and are meant to offer convenience and save time--for example, in the footage we see a player summon a spectral axe and cut down multiple trees at once.