For Resident Evil fans, Nick Apostolides has one of the franchise’s most recognizable voices. He recently revealed he is expanding his interests beyond voice acting, including a foray into gaming that isn’t entirely unexpected for anyone familiar with the survival horror franchise, though it’s an exciting new angle for Nick to explore. 

After first voicing Leon Kennedy in the Resident Evil 2 remake, Nick returned to the character in the Resident Evil 4 remake and Resident Evil 9: Requiem, the franchise’s most recent entry. He has also brought Leon to life on Netflix in the animated series Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness. In addition to voicing Leon, Nick also does motion capture for the character and others, including the truck driver in the opening cutscene of Resident Evil 2 (2019). 

His acting, including live-action work, and motion-capture credits go beyond the Resident Evil franchise. He has voiced Outer Wilds 2, the 2023 Dead Space remake, and one of his upcoming voice-acting projects is the pixel-art RPG Emberville. For motion capture and live-action roles, he worked on Madden NFL 2021 and the film Aftermath, where he played a character named Galotti. 

Now Nick is embarking on a new project, though details remain scarce. In a recent interview at IGN’s Fall Fan Fest, Nick said he’s developing a video game with his brother, Dave. He also shared that their father inspired the project. Nick has teased that zombies will feature heavily in the game, which isn’t exactly unfamiliar territory for him given his career highlights.

‘Resident Evil’ Star Nick Apostolides Teases a New Zombie Game With a Surprising Twist

Apart from the creepy creatures, Nick revealed only a few more hints. The game will likely be less intense than his Resident Evil past, and it seems like it will be a passion project created alongside his brother. He also described it as a “beat ’em up” game, meaning the gameplay could focus on the character, or characters, facing off against waves of enemies with melee combat or other weapons. 

He dropped another, especially interesting crumb when discussing the game with Angela Sant’Albano, his Requiem costar who voiced FBI agent Grace Ashcroft. He hinted that audiences might have to play as a “zombie animal”. With his previous work alone featuring a mutated alligator and vicious, bloodthirsty dogs, that could mean just about anything. 

Although Nick has a full schedule coming up, with convention appearances in London, Rhode Island, and Columbus on the docket alongside his acting work, hopefully fans will be able to learn more soon. Until then, they can always revisit that alligator. 

The post ‘Resident Evil’ Star Nick Apostolides Is Making His Own Zombie Video Game. Here’s Everything We Know. appeared first on VICE.

To say the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI game is highly anticipated is like saying water is wet. As of this month, estimated pre-orders have reached 6 million copies, with PS5 pre-orders accounting for 4.8 million alone. But is it possible that this latest addition to the Grand Theft Auto franchise could actually have a negative impact on the U.S. economy?

Waking up and going to work on GTA 6 release day might be a little difficult, knowing the game is sitting on the console or PC, ready to play and yet out of reach. Since the game has been in development in one stage or another for over ten years, impatience is understandable. And depending on a player’s schedule, both at work and at home, it’s possible that they may only eke out a few hours in the game before heading to bed. 

Those considerations might be at play as experts predict just how many people could call out of work on November 19. According to online reports, up to 1.5 million people might call in sick, utilize available vacation time, or cash in paid time off. Some companies, says the Wall Street Journal, have even incorporated the release date into their PTO packages. Either way, it seems that companies are bracing themselves for a weakened workforce, with swaths of employees taking the day off to dedicate themselves to this new Grand Theft Auto chapter. 

Experts predict millions could be calling out of work on ‘GTA 6’ release day

The first Grand Theft Auto game launched back in 1997, and since then the franchise has totaled billions of dollars in revenue and millions of copies sold. The most recent offering, Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013 and brought in almost $10 billion in revenue to Rockstar Games. Grand Theft Auto games offer players the opportunity to explore an open world, from Liberty City, to San Andreas, and the most recent location, Vice City. Alongside the main storyline, each game has a variety of missions and side quests to complete, meaning there is multiple hours of gameplay available. 

In Grand Theft Auto VI, the story takes its inspiration from infamous couple Bonnie and Clyde, with protagonists Jason and Lucia choosing to work together to create a new life for themselves. For anyone familiar with Grand Theft Auto – or even just the title – it’s not surprising that this includes turning to crime. When things get dangerous, the pair has to lean on each other to survive. Players take control of Jason and Lucia respectively as the story develops, and in addition to the main story, there are side quests to take on, missions to execute, and activities to discover. 

With all that in mind, it seems that anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI could have real economic consequences, and not just for the studio. But the enthusiasm is completely understandable, especially considering how long players have been waiting for the game to arrive. Add in an exciting new story, including Lucia in her unique role as a fully realized female protagonist, and players being eager to get started isn’t so surprising at all. 

The post ‘GTA 6’ Could Cause 1.5 Million Americans to Miss Work on Release Day, According to Experts appeared first on VICE.

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Looking for a way to try the haptics-equipped G Pro X2 Superstrike wireless gaming mouse without spending full price? You probably aren’t alone. Logitech’s now-last-gen right-handed mouse is a great PC gaming companion that mimics the feel of mechanical switches with nothing but haptics. You can grab it refurbished through Logitech’s official eBay store for $131.74 (usually $179.99), and for even less with the code PROXPRODUCTS15 applied at checkout. It drops the price to just under $117.

The G Pro X2 Superstrike came out earlier this year, and I went hands-on with it. Logitech’s companion software lets you customize the intensity of the haptics, from an extra punchy click to one that’s barely there. (You can also turn the click feel off completely, but that felt a bit strange.) The mouse also supports rapid trigger, and when used together with haptics, it lowers the click latency compared with other mice that have mechanical switches.

The company followed up recently with the X3 Superstrike, though its differences may not matter much to those who aren’t competitive gamers. The X3 features a more responsive sensor, better battery life, and improved weight distribution. There are some other somewhat small changes to the specs. That said, none of these improvements makes the X2 feel obsolete, and Logitech is continuing to support and sell the mouse. So, if you want to give it a try, now’s your chance to save quite a bit of money on the purchase.

Read our hands-on of the X2 Superstrike.

Magic: The Gathering’s upcoming Star Trek set brings a handful of new mechanics to the CCG like most sets do, but it will also be introducing two new Commander specific mechanics.

MAgic: The Gathering Star Trek’s Two Commander Specific Mechanics

Just about every Magic: The Gathering set features a handful of new and returning mechanics to shakeup the Limited and Constructed metagames, but not every set goes so far as to introduce new Commander mechanics.

Fans of the 100-card multiplayer format may be excited to learn that Magic: The Gathering – Star Trek is bringing two new mechanics to Commander this November.

Battlefront (Commander Only)
Battlefront is an ability word used to highlight abilities that care about the number of opponents you attacked this turn. This number will be used in different ways, depending on the specific battlefront ability. To attack an opponent means to declare one or more creatures as attacking that opponent. Creatures that enter the battlefield attacking won’t count. For example, if you attack a single opponent with a creature that has myriad, the number of opponents you attacked that turn is one, even though the token copies fanned out and went after each other opponent.

If there are multiple combats in a turn, battlefront abilities will remember who you’ve previously attacked. For example, say you’re in a game with three opponents, and in one combat phase you attack one opponent with Worf. Worf’s ability will trigger, and you’ll exile one card. If there’s another combat phase that turn and in that combat phase you attack the other two opponents, Worf’s ability will trigger again, this time exiling three cards
If instead in that additional combat you attack the same opponent you attacked in the first combat and one new opponent, Worf’s ability would exile two cards. Note that an opponent you attacked twice in a turn counts only once for battlefront abilities.

Seek Out (Commander Only)
Seek out is a new ability word that highlights triggered abilities that trigger whenever you draw your second card each turn. These abilities will trigger even if the permanent with the ability wasn’t under your control as you drew the first card.

So, if you draw Jean-Luc Picard, cast him, then draw a second card that turn, his seek out ability will trigger. Find a way to draw two cards during an opponent’s turn, and the ability will trigger again. Before you know it, your opponents will be left scrambling while you can relax behind a hand full of cards, a board full of colossal threats, and a nice cup of Earl Grey.

Once the full Commander decklists are revealed, it will be very exciting to see how Battlefront and Seek Out are put to use. Beyond the preconstructed decks, it will also be interesting to see how Commander players repurpose cards with these new mechanics into high-powered homebrew decks.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more Magic: The Gathering news and updates as the Star Trek set release date approaches.

Magic: The Gathering is available now at local game shops and digitally through Magic Arena. The Magic: The Gathering – Star Trek set releases November 13, 2026.

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Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch an Xbox "next-generation handheld device" for the holiday season of 2027. The Xbox next-gen console, codename Project Helix, would then launch in the holidays of 2028, according to a new report from Fortune.

The report doesn't make it clear whether the handheld would be made by a manufacturer like Asus, or by Microsoft itself. Xbox teamed up with Asus for its Xbox Ally devices, which ran a modified version of Windows 11 with an Xbox mode enabled. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has also described Project Helix as a "family of devices," suggesting that Microsoft's next Xbox console may not be just one piece of …

Read the full story at The Verge.

AMD has just revealed that it's bringing its latest upscaling technology, FSR 4.1, to the Xbox Series S and X consoles, as well as laptops, 6000-series GPUs, and handhelds like the Xbox Ally X devices. FSR 4.1 will start appearing for Radeon RX 6000-series GPUs today, as well as Ryzen AI Max 300 and 400 series devices, and Ryzen AI 9 300 and 400 series devices.

AMD launched its FSR 4.1 update for Radeon RX 9000-series graphics cards in March, and promised to bring the technology to older GPUs and handhelds this year. FSR 4.1 can improve performance in more than 300 supported games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Battlefield 6, and Assassin's Cre …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Dataminers have revealed the Obsession Fortnite skin early, giving us a preview of what Nikki looks like in the battle royale. Here is when Obsession comes to Fortnite, including release times, bundle items, and estimated cosmetic prices.

Obsession Fortnite Skin Revealed – First Look at Nikki

Back when the Obsession Fortnite collab was first announced, we only got a picture of the One Wish Willow in the Fortnitemares 2026 trailer. As a result, many players have been wondering when we would get to see what the Obsession Fortnite skin looks like. Well, thanks to datamine leaks, we don’t have to speculate anymore!

The Obsession Fortnite skin featuring Nikki has been fully revealed early by dataminers, who posted a showcase of the new cosmetics online. For your convenience, we have posted an HD image below to give you a first look at Nikki in-game:

Nikki Outfit

When Does Obsession Come to Fortnite? Release Date and Times

The Obsession Fortnite release date is Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The crossover only features one skin, which is Nikki. Just like the movie, the new Fortnite skin will recreate Nikki’s iconic frown animation and even features her “No No No” line as an emote.

The Nikki Fortnite skin will be available in the Item Shop at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET. Because of time zone differences, the crossover will arrive on October 22 in some regions. Here is a table showing when the Obsession Fortnite skin will be available in every major region:

Region	Release date	Release time
United States (Pacific)	Wednesday, October 21	5 PM PDT
United States (Eastern)	Wednesday, October 21	8 PM EDT
Brazil (Brasília)	Wednesday, October 21	9 PM BRT
United Kingdom	Thursday, October 22	1 AM BST
Central Europe	Thursday, October 22	2 AM CEST
South Africa	Thursday, October 22	2 AM SAST
United Arab Emirates	Thursday, October 22	4 AM GST
India	Thursday, October 22	5:30 AM IST
Singapore	Thursday, October 22	8 AM SGT
Japan	Thursday, October 22	9 AM JST
South Korea	Thursday, October 22	9 AM KST
Australia (Sydney)	Thursday, October 22	11 AM AEDT
New Zealand	Thursday, October 22	1 PM NZDT

Obsession Fortnite Bundle Items and Estimated Prices

Dataminers have also fully revealed everything included in the Obsession Fortnite bundle as well. The Fortnitemares 2026 crossover has many cosmetic references to the hit Curry Barker film, such as the One Wish Willow Back Bling and the broken bottle pickaxe.

In case you were wondering, no, Bear is not included, as the crossover only features one skin. Here is everything included in the Obsession Fortnite bundle and its estimated individual pricing:

Cosmetic	Item type	Estimated price
Nikki	Outfit	1,500 V-Bucks
One Wish Willow	Back Bling	800 V-Bucks
Nikki’s Broken Bottle	Pickaxe	400 V-Bucks
No No No…	Emote	500 V-Bucks

We estimate that the Obsession Fortnite bundle should cost between 1,600 to 2,000 V-Bucks with a the usual 40% discount new items get applied. That said, this is an estimate based on recent bundles, and not a final price.

The post Obsession Fortnite Skin Revealed – Release Date and Bundle Items Confirmed appeared first on VICE.

Last week over 200 packages of graded trading cards being shipped back to their owners were stolen from a FedEx truck parked outside the headquarters of Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) in Santa Ana, California, according to a report by The Athletic. PSA is one of the largest third-party sports and hobby card grading companies in the world and it reported to the Santa Ana Police Department that the majority of the stolen packages had an approximate value of over $963,000, but that amount could further increase as PSA continues the process of confirming exactly which cards included in the shipment were taken.

In a statement shared to …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Wii Sports holds an important place in Nintendo's history. It's the best-selling piece of software the company has ever made, one that permeated culture in surprising ways, and its success helped rejuvenate Nintendo after a period of steady decline. It also kicked off one of the company's most important and unassuming franchises. While subsequent sports titles from Nintendo never sold quite as well as the original Wii Sports, they've become a fixture for each new console, much like a new Mario Kart or Pokémon. And now the Switch 2 has its own version, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, and it's the best so far.

You'd be forgiven for not realizi …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Final Fantasy is a lot different than it used to be. While many of the early Final Fantasy titles look and play similarly to each other, the series has since grown to encompass blockbuster games like Final Fantasy XVI and the gargantuan Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, which don't play much like the classics. But there's still an audience for retro RPGs and old-school Final Fantasy games, especially thanks to the HD-2D style that mixes gorgeous pixel art with detailed 3D graphics to great effect. Square Enix has made a bunch of HD-2D games already, like the remakes of early Dragon Quest titles, but this week, it's launching the first HD-2D …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Game director Naoki Hamaguchi talks about scale and expectations for one of gaming’s most ambitious remakes.

Previews of the upcoming Fortnite Battle Pass skins for November 2026 have reportedly leaked early. According to users, marketing billboards in Tokyo and Madrid have revealed our first look at what could be the Fortnite Chapter 7 Mini Season Battle Pass cosmetics.

Fortnite November Battle Pass Leaks Reveal Five Rumored Skins

We are still weeks away from the end of Chapter 7 Season 4 on October 31, and we might already have our first preview of next season’s Battle Pass. Eagle-eyed fans walking around Madrid and Tokyo have spotted marketing billboards that are seemingly teasing the Fortnite Chapter 7 Mini Season, which launches on November 1.

Here is the current rumored lineup for the Fortnite Chapter 7 Mini Season Battle Pass:

Fortnite Chapter 7 Mini Season Battle Pass (Rumored)

• Jonesy (Anime/Pirate Remix)
• Hope (Anime/Pirate Remix)
• Syd (Anime/Pirate Remix)
• Evie (Anime/Pirate Remix)
• Oscar (Anime/Pirate Remix)

Fortnite Chapter 7 Mini Season Battle Pass Preview

More importantly, the billboards appear to confirm that the November Fortnite Battle Pass will feature five remix skins. According to several of the images, it looks like we could specifically be getting anime-style versions of Jonesy, Hope, Syd, and Evie.

Interestingly, the new artwork looks straight out of Persona 5, and even features a page-rip effect similar to those seen in the RPG’s cutscenes. For your convenience, here is a look at the four potential upcoming Fortnite Battle Pass skins. The names below are descriptive labels:

Anime Jonesy Skin

Anime Hope Skin

Anime Evie Skin

Anime Syd Skin

Note: Epic Games has not officially confirmed these as November Battle Pass skins. However, based on the promotional artwork, the cosmetics appear to feature an anime-inspired style.

Is Fortnite’s November Mini Season Anime-Themed?

Rumors about November’s Fortnite Chapter 7 Mini Season have been interesting, to say the least. In early October, several dataminers claimed that it would be a One Piece season. While that remains unconfirmed, the new marketing billboards suggest that it could feature both anime and pirate themes instead.

According to a rough translation of the ads the Fortnite Chapter 7 Mini Season description reads: “Have you seen the treasure? Join the hunt.” With the latest Battle Pass teasers, the anime side of those rumors is starting to look more likely as well, although the artwork alone doesn’t confirm any specific crossovers.

NEXT MINI SEASON's OFFICIAL TEASERS

"Have you seen the treasure? Join the hunt"

Seems to be an Anime Pirates Mini-Season, and Luffy to be the Captain – Spotted Spain (Madrid) by @KATARO333 pic.twitter.com/L6rZFXp5hP

— HYPEX (@HYPEX) October 20, 2026

Even the close-ups of the characters’ eyes look very similar to Atlus’ art style in Persona 5, particularly the animated portraits seen during cutscenes. If Jonesy and Hope are both getting anime-style skins, it could be our clearest hint yet at the look Epic is going for with November’s season.

For now, we will have to wait for Epic Games to reveal the full November Fortnite Battle Pass and explain how these characters fit into the Mini Season. With Chapter 7 Season 4 ending on October 31, there isn’t much longer to find out whether the pirate and anime rumors are connected.

The post Fortnite Battle Pass Skins Leaked for November 2026 appeared first on VICE.

Dungeons and Dragons players who want to lean into stealth and high damage attacks have some great options across the three World of Warcraft-inspired Rogue specializations.

Dungeons and Dragons Brings All Three WoW Rogue Specializations To The Tabletop

Dungeons and Dragons players have a ton of exciting classes and subclasses to pick from as they begin their adventures set in Azeroth. The upcoming World of Warcraft gameplay expansion for the TTRPG brings every class and specialization to the tabletop, including all the stealthy and deadly rogue options.

“Rogues in World of Warcraft are pretty similar to a classic Rogue in Dungeons & Dragons: skulking in the shadows, striking with deadly precision, then moving on to the next job. Nobody wants to see them on the enemy team—but then, you likely never will.”

Here is a breakdown of all three Rogue specializations and the corresponding subclasses that D&D players will use to bring them to life:

Assassination – Use poison extensively, often wielding a pair of daggers coated with deadly toxins.

• The Assassin Rogue will focus on poisons, hard and fast damage, high mobility, and will choose the Assassin subclass.

Outlaw – Use agility and guile to dominate in combat while standing toe-to-toe with your enemies.

• Outlaw Rogues will select the updated Swashbuckler subclass. Swashbucklers dance and flit across the battlefield, goading and awing (and infuriating) their opponents with equal ease.

Subtlety – Draw on the supernatural magic of the shadows to cloak yourself in darkness and form deadly blades.

• The Subtlety Rogue will prioritize the stealth ambush and will select the Soulknife subclass.

Of all the World of Warcraft classes, the Rogue is the one that most nearly maps to an existing Dungeons and Dragons class and existing subclasses. The only notable changes are the updates to the Swashbuckler subclass that will be used to reflect the Outlaw specialization.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more Dungeons and Dragons news and updates as the World of Warcraft gameplay expansion release date approaches.

Dungeons and Dragons is available now at local game shops and digitally through D&D Beyond, Roll20, and other similar online services. The Dungeons and Dragons: World of Warcraft gameplay expansion releases on November 17, 2026.

The post Dungeons and Dragons: World of Warcraft – How to Play An Assassination, Outlaw, or Subtlety Rogue appeared first on VICE.

When Square Enix announced earlier this year that it was making its first HD-2D Final Fantasy game, I was beyond excited. While I’m a massive fan of the 3D era of the series, as a child of the ’90s, I’ve been yearning for the franchise to return to its roots. Thankfully, I can say that Final Fantasy Resonance is not only one of the best JRPGs I’ve played in years, but it fully captures the magic of the early Square Enix games that many have been nostalgic for.

Final Fantasy Resonance Goes Beyond Its Mobile origins

One of my biggest questions going into Final Fantasy Resonance was how it would separate itself from Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. For those not in the know, Resonance is partly a reimagining of the 2015 mobile gacha game. However, my worries immediately melted away within the opening minutes of the game.

For starters, the new HD-2D graphics overhaul is a massive one. While Resonance largely follows Brave Exvius’ story, every scene has been completely re-created with new cinematic storytelling. So much so that the two games barely resemble each other visually or even narratively. As far as the graphics themselves go, I would actually go as far as to say this is Square Enix’s best-looking pixel game to date.

From the grand backdrops of massive cityscapes to dingy dungeons you explore throughout the region, Resonance is filled to the brim with gorgeously detailed levels that find a perfect balance between 3D and 2D retro graphics. It doesn’t just stop there, though. Square Enix has even crafted these new 3D-rendered, pixelated cutscenes that almost feel like early PlayStation-era CGI.

Suffice to say, if you missed the old-school Final Fantasy series, FF Resonance not only gives you that in spades, but it also presents it through a modern HD lens that is absolutely stunning.

Final Fantasy Resonance Recaptures the Magic of ’90s Turn-Based Combat

More importantly, though, Final Fantasy Resonance plays like a classic Square Enix JRPG from the ’90s with its return to turn-based combat. I know for many fans, this is specifically what they’ve been wanting from the franchise for over a decade now. And oh man, was it completely worth the wait.

In Resonance, you control a team of four party members on the battlefield at any given time. However, your team can actually expand to eight units, as each character can equip a Vision or Esper to join them in battle. Like classic Final Fantasy games, each encounter determines the attack order based on the player characters’ and enemies’ stats.

What adds a new twist is the action bar at the top that shows the attack order in real time. Because of this, players can strategically use elemental attacks to stagger enemies and prevent them from even having a turn. In Final Fantasy Resonance, the core gameplay loop centers around you filling up an enemy’s stagger meter. Staggering is based on enemy weaknesses, which you can exploit with elemental attacks.

On paper, this is all a pretty standard classic JRPG formula. However, Square Enix has gone to great lengths to really make the battles feel epic with the new Vision mechanic. Vision attacks trigger a powerful spell that is accompanied by a 3D-pixel cutscene that is mind-blowing every time you see it. Then there are Limit Burst attacks, which feature full HD-2D pixel cutscenes that are just as breathtaking.

A Familiar Story That Keeps You Hooked

There are times when you can feel the echoes of Final Fantasy Resonance’s mobile roots. Specifically, the main story, which is an adaptation of the first story arc in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. However, I actually love this aspect of the game.

If you’ve played a gacha title like Genshin Impact, you know the drill. You discover a new region, spend an entire chapter resolving the story, and then move on to the next region. But I feel like this formula works really well in Resonance, as it almost has a TV-series quality to it.

For example, when you reach the end of each chapter, you are always left on a cliffhanger or a tease for the upcoming region. Which, yeah, makes sense for live-service mobile games that release new content in patch updates. But in Resonance, I found that it kept the story engaging throughout each section, and every arc had me hooked from beginning to end.

Visions Are Final Fantasy Resonance’s Best Feature

Final Fantasy Resonance’s Vision mechanic is its best feature. Throughout the game’s map are Sanctum of Lights locations, which you can enter to recruit heroes from previous Final Fantasy games. From Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud Strife to Final Fantasy X’s Tidus, you can literally add some of the franchise’s biggest characters to your party.

Although Visions are technically summons of previous heroes, they are equipped to each party member through an equipment slot. Interestingly, though, each Vision has its own class. For example, Lightning and Clive Rosfield are both Breakers, which means they are good for staggering enemy defenses.

There are around 26 Visions in Final Fantasy Resonance you can collect. They not only look flashy and are a nostalgia lover’s dream, but they add a lot of strategy to the game. When you equip a Vision, you actually add their powers and moves to the character they are attached to. So if, let’s say, Rain doesn’t have any ice attacks, you can equip a certain Vision to expand his arsenal of moves.

A Massive World With Plenty to Explore

Thankfully, I can also say that Final Fantasy Resonance is a massive game. It took me around 45 hours just to beat the main story campaign. And I was missing a lot of side content. Square Enix has packed this game with a lot of interesting side quests that really flesh out the game’s lore and side characters.

For example, there is one quest that has you hunting down specific monster spawns across the entire map, which then lets you unlock new parts for a Chocobo mech that one character brings into battle. No, it’s seriously as awesome as it sounds.

Although the game is HD-2D, Final Fantasy Resonance has a sprawling map that can be explored on foot or by summoning your trusty Chocobo mount with the press of a button. However, without getting into spoilers, the JRPG opens up even further as you progress, once you unlock an airship that lets you fly around the entire overworld.

Final Fantasy Resonance Review Verdict

Final Fantasy Resonance is not only a return to Square Enix’s ’90s roots, it’s a beautiful reimagining of what a classic Final Fantasy game would look like in the modern age. This is the Final Fantasy project many fans have been desperately wanting for decades.

Verdict: Best In Its Class (10/10)

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Pros

• Final Fantasy Resonance brings the series back to turn-based combat, and it’s instantly addicting.
• Square Enix has pushed the HD-2D genre to the next level with incredible 3D CGI cutscenes, vision attacks, and pixel animated battle sequences that are jaw dropping.
• A massive map that features side quests, hidden items, and unlocks.
• Vison’s are an incredible feature that will have you geeking out over recruiting your favorite Final Fantasy hero.

Cons

• If you played Brave Exvius, some of the story beats might be too familiar. However, the levels of depth Square Enix has gone to reimagine the title, makes it stand out its own game.
• Enemy encounters that trigger when walking around the overworld map can sometimes get fatiguing. Especially if you are higher level and don’t need the XP, but then fail to escape the battle.

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Final Fantasy Resonance releases on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 24, 2026. A code was provided by Square Enix for the sake of review. Reviewed on PlayStation 5 Pro.

The post Final Fantasy Resonance Review: A Stunning Return to Square Enix’s JRPG Roots appeared first on VICE.

ARC Raiders players have had a chance to experience a PvE version of the game this month, but the testing window has come to a close and the extraction shooter is back to its original PvP tension for now.

ARC Raiders Team Will aNnounce Results of PvE Test in November

ARC Raiders launched nearly a year ago in late October 2025 and quickly became one of the biggest games of the year. The unique worldbuilding, emergent gameplay moments, and tension of the extraction shooter formula scratched an itch for many gamers.

That said, there are still plenty of players who love the world of ARC Raiders, but aren’t a fan of the constant threat of PvP violence. Embark Studios has been listening to that feedback carefully and recently tested out a PvE matchmaking toggle in the game.

More than 30 million rounds of PvE were played over the testing period, which gives the ARC Raiders team a huge amount of information to analyze. Due to the volume of data, the team is going to need a short period of time to dive into the numbers and draw out the insights.

“On a surface reading, we know that the test has been polarizing. As always, our decision on how to proceed will prioritize the overall health and enjoyability of the game… We don’t yet know what the outcome of the data analysis will be, but we expect to be able to follow up with further information in November.”

As ARC Raiders attempts to ensure that its dedicated fanbase is engaged enough to stick around and continue giving the game their attention, the team needs to strike a balance that will keep the highest percentage of fans and active players happy. It should be very interesting to find out what that looks like when they follow up with an announcement next month.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more ARC Raiders news and updates as the November announcement approaches.

ARC Raiders is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles.

The post ARC Raiders Concludes PvE Test Run and Confirms Next Steps appeared first on VICE.

Star Wars Battlefront 3 is reportedly in development, according to a new report. However, if accurate, there are several studios such as Bungie and Respawn that are rumored to be involved with the multiplayer’s revival.

Star Wars Battlefront 3 Reportedly in Development at DICE and Respawn

This latest rumor first kicked off when a report surfaced online claiming that Bungie and DICE were potentially the developers for Star Wars Battlefront 3. However, things got interesting quickly when Joe Brammer, CEO of WARDOGS developer Bulkhead, confirmed that he had heard that the leaked multiplayer game is in fact real.

Responding to a post on X about the rumor, Brammer wrote: “DICE and from what I’ve heard Respawn are working on Battlefront 3. Not sure what that means for Battlefield.” Interestingly, Brammer did not mention Bungie in his response, leaving its potential involvement unclear.

DICE and from what I’ve heard Respawn are working on Battlefront 3. Not sure what that means for Battlefield. https://t.co/1vOnaKeT85

— Joe Brammer (@Brammflakes) October 19, 2026

Now, it should be pointed out that Brammer qualified his claim with “from what I’ve heard.” Although his position as Bulkhead’s CEO adds some weight to his comments, this still isn’t official confirmation. That said, we should treat this latest rumor with a major grain of salt until an official announcement is made. Even if it is real, it’s unclear how far along the project might be.

Where Bungie Fits Into the Star Wars Battlefront 3 Rumors

Brammer’s comments follow an earlier rumor discussed by Jeff Grubb on Game Mess Mornings. Grubb shared claims from Electronic Gaming Monthly’s Quarterman rumor column suggesting that Lucasfilm was looking for a development partner for a new Star Wars Battlefront game, with DICE and Bungie named as potential candidates.

As far as how Bungie factors into this, its potential role remains unclear. With Brammer not mentioning the Destiny 2 studio at all, we don’t know whether it is involved or was simply being considered.

Then again, Brammer also pointed out that this was something he had heard. All this to say, there is a lot of smoke around this Star Wars Battlefront 3 development rumor. However, whether it leads to a new game—and how far away that project might be—is anyone’s guess.

While it might be too soon to celebrate, it does sound like an exciting update for fans of the Star Wars multiplayer series. Given the recent string of incredible Star Wars games, including Galactic Racer and Zero Company, who knows? Maybe Respawn and DICE can breathe some new life into the Battlefront series next.

The post Star Wars Battlefront 3 Reportedly Leaked appeared first on VICE.

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Challenges with production and shipping are hitting Magic: The Gathering once again and cause some delays for a highly-anticipated Secret Lair bundle.

Reality Fracture Secret Lair Bundle Delayed

Magic: The Gathering collectors have had a lot of exciting products to consider lately, including the Reality Fracture Secret Lair Bundle. This collection is part of the new Magic initiative to give every new set the Secret Lair treatment.

Starting with Reality Fracture, every Magic Multiverse set will feature a Secret Lair Bundle that combines the set’s most popular and powerful new cards with a bit of Secret Lair flair. That means there will be special alternate art that provides a unique touch different from what players would find in Play Boosters.

Unfortunately, this first Secret Lair Bundle has been hit with some familiar issues. Due to production and shipping issues, the Reality Fracture Secret Lair Bundle is delayed globally and may arrive shortly after the October 23 release date. Exact delay timing will vary locally.

Secret Lair Bundles purchased as part of Secret Lair Chaos Vault bundles will follow typical Secret Lair fulfillment based on drop availability and production timing.

The Secret Lair Bundle was announced alongside the Strange School and Duality Distorted products, but the official announcement did not mention any issues with the production or shipping of those products at this time.

Magic: The Gathering and Wizards of the Coast will make an announcement if there are additional changes to Secret Lair Bundle availability.

A few Magic: The Gathering products have had delays recently due to similar shipping and production issues, so this may feel a bit familiar to players who follow the game’s releases closely. Hopefully these issues can be resolved quickly and collectors can get their hands on the new Secret Lair Bundle before long.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more Magic: The Gathering news and updates.

Magic: The Gathering is available now at local game shops and digitally through Magic Arena.

The post New Magic: The Gathering Products Hit With More Shipping Delays appeared first on VICE.

CD Projekt Red has announced that Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 is dropping this week. The new patch is tied to the release of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. Here is the release date and everything we know about it.

Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 Release Date

The Cyberpunk 2077 Edgerunners 2 Update 2.5 release date is Thursday, October 22, 2026, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The free patch will arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 shortly afterward.

CD Projekt Red also shared new artwork for the update in a post on X, thanking the artists behind the illustration: “A huge thank you to Taisei Uchida (Original Art), Yukiko Kakita (Ink & Paint Check), and Yuichiro Tozawa (Special Effects) for their contributions to the Cyberpunk 2077 Edgerunners 2 Update (2.5) official illustration.”

// NEW UPDATE INCOMING…

[v.2.5][22.10.26] pic.twitter.com/unuZscBS6r

— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) October 20, 2026

CD Projekt Red confirmed that there will be a special Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 livestream broadcast on Wednesday, October 21. That means the studio will reveal more details about the surprise expansion in just 24 hours and what features will be included in it.

How to Watch the Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 REDstream

CD Projekt Red will reveal more about Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 during a special REDstreams broadcast on Wednesday, October 21, at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET / 5 PM CEST.

Players can watch the livestream on Twitch, YouTube, or Steam. According to the studio, the showcase will give us a closer look at the Edgerunners 2 Update, including cyberware customization and a new dual-wielding playstyle.

The Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 REDstreams broadcast goes live at the following times on October 21 or October 22, depending on your region:

\Region	Date	Stream start time
United States (Pacific)	Wednesday, October 21	8 AM PDT
United States (Eastern)	Wednesday, October 21	11 AM EDT
Brazil	Wednesday, October 21	12 PM BRT
United Kingdom	Wednesday, October 21	4 PM BST
Central Europe	Wednesday, October 21	5 PM CEST
South Africa	Wednesday, October 21	5 PM SAST
United Arab Emirates	Wednesday, October 21	7 PM GST
India	Wednesday, October 21	8:30 PM IST
Singapore / China	Wednesday, October 21	11 PM SGT / CST
Japan / South Korea	Thursday, October 22	12 AM JST / KST
Australia (Sydney)	Thursday, October 22	2 AM AEDT
New Zealand	Thursday, October 22	4 AM NZDT

What Is in Cyberpunk 2077’s Edgerunners 2 Update?

We currently do not know what new features are coming in the Cyberpunk 2077 Edgerunners 2 Update 2.5. However, CD Projekt Red has confirmed anime-inspired content alongside other new items and features.

This isn’t the first time Cyberpunk 2077 has received a major patch alongside the anime. Back on September 6, 2022, CD Projekt Red released the original Edgerunners Update, also known as Patch 1.6, ahead of the first series’ Netflix premiere.

That update went beyond adding a few references to the show. Players could find anime-inspired equipment in Night City, including a jacket and shotgun featured in the series. It also introduced the Wardrobe system, allowing players to change V’s appearance without changing their clothing stats.

For a better idea of what the original Edgerunners Update included, here are some of its biggest additions:

• Anime-inspired content: New equipment, secrets, and Photo Mode features.
• Wardrobe system: The ability to save up to six outfits and switch between them.
• Three new gigs: Concrete Cage Trap, Desperate Measures, and Nasty Hangover.
• New weapons: Six new firearms and five new melee weapons.
• Cross-progression: Support for carrying saves between platforms.
• Roach Race: A playable arcade minigame.
• Photo Mode additions: The option to take pictures with Nibbles.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Update 2.5 will deliver the same additions or be the same size. However, the original Edgerunners patch gives us an idea of how CD Projekt Red has previously brought the anime into the game. For now, we’ll have to wait for the full reveal to see what else is coming to Night City.

The post Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 Announced – Edgerunners 2 Content Arrives This Week appeared first on VICE.

As any clued-in gamer can tell you, the prospect of actually owning the video games you’ve purchased has never been shakier. Sony recently tried to convince customers that they don’t own any games digitally purchased from the PlayStation Store, gaslighting us into thinking we’ve merely been buying a limited, revocable software license. There’s a simmering sense that greedy corporate suits are trying to strip us of our right to own things so they can siphon money from our wallets in perpetuity with subscription models.

Is game ownership on the verge of death? Maybe not, if a new bill proposed by Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) actually makes it through Congress, as reported by Kotaku.

Dubbed the “Power to Players Act” (a nod to the old GameStop slogan), the bill would direct the FTC to enforce real digital ownership. Under the proposal, buying a game would grant full rights to own, play, and transfer it, rather than paying $70 for a glorified Blockbuster rental that disappears when the publisher decides the game no longer needs to exist. And these suits wonder why the piracy scene is thriving.

The ‘Power to Players Act’ Could Give Gamers More Control Over the Games They Buy

Torres is even picked as the poster child for the debate: NBA 2K25. It came out in late 2024, raked in millions by selling 11.5 million units as of August 2025, making it the fifth best-selling game of 2024 in the US and the 18^th best-selling game of 2025, and already its publisher, 2K Games, is delisting it and killing its servers, rendering major modes unplayable. Torres’ bill would force publishers to build offline modes for online-dependent games so players can keep using what they bought for $60-$70.

What we’re seeing here is the US version of a legislative push gaining steam worldwide as part of the broader “Stop Killing Games” movement. The movement reached the European Citizens’ Initiative with over 1.29 million signatures, but the European Commission declined to propose new binding laws in June 2026. Torres’s version will no doubt face some heavy pushback from lobbyists who will claim that offline modes are too expensive to build.

 Another issue is that most bills die before they reach a vote. But considering that just in the past month or so, AI-driven decompilation tools have so rapidly altered the landscape of the gaming industry, threatening to make every game released instantly open source and available to anyone, maybe there’s a chance that it lights a fire under the butt of some publishers to put some effort into preserving their games lest gamers permanently turn to AI decompilation.

The post Everything We Know About the ‘Power to Players Act,’ a New Bill That Could Change Gaming Forever appeared first on VICE.

Magic Arena is bringing making some updates to the Arena Powered Cube Draft selection of cards, including the addition of one of the game’s most iconic combo opportunities.

The Splinter Twin Combo Comes to Magic Arena in October POwered Cube Update

The Splinter Twin combo first rose to popularity way back in 2011 when it emerged in the Standard format and the early days of Modern. Since then, it has been a popular combo option in various paper cube draft formats over the years.

After lots of requests from combo fans, the pieces are now being added to Magic Arena in the latest Arena Powered Cube update, which adds 22 new-to-MTG Arena cards and another 16 pieces of new-to-MTG Arena artwork.

Splinter Twin is now on MTG Arena. The combo notably has a replacement component in Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, which the team has added to MTG Arena to double your chances at building your combo.

With Divining Duelist, Glamermite, Pestermite, Restoration Angel, and Zealous Conscripts, there are enough creatures that combo with it while also having applications elsewhere. While the team has added Deceiver Exarch to MTG Arena, they’ve decided not to include it in the cube list as it only works as a combo piece (Pestermite is mostly a combo piece but can be used in a tempo and/or ninjutsu shell in a pinch) and requires two to three times as many loops as the other creatures do in order to create a lethal number of tokens.

The Arena Powered Cube Draft will be available to play from October 20 through November 10, so it should be very interesting to see how popular the Splinter Twin combo becomes and how different players react to seeing it at the digital table.

In addition to Splinter Twin, the update is also taking the opportunity to infuse some Reality Fracture flare into the Arena Powered Cube with cards like Stingcaster Mage, Seasoned Cryomancer, and Simulacrum Shaper.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more Magic: The Gathering and Magic Arena news and updates soon.

Magic: The Gathering is available now at local game shops and digitally through Magic Arena.

The post Magic: The Gathering – Arena Finally Adds Splinter Twin Combo appeared first on VICE.