Nearly two decades ago, Redbox's ubiquitous movie rental kiosks helped put video rental stores out of business. Now, Redbox's parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, is facing bankruptcy and serious questions about its future.
Via Deadline, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week after the company was reportedly late paying its employees while also slashing medical benefits. According to a message sent to employees, Chicken Soup applied for a debtor in possession loan that will allow it to make payroll and reinstate the lost medical benefits.
The bankruptcy filing has been made public, and it reveals that Chicken Soup owes $970 million to its unsecured creditors including Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount, Universal Studios, Lionsgate, and Walmart. That's not counting the company's secured creditors, including the banks that lent money to Chicken Soup.
Like clockwork, Microsoft has announced what titles will soon be leaving Xbox Game Pass. On July 15, five games will exit the subscription service, headlined by Toem and Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion.
While they're vastly different experiences, both games garnered positive reviews from GameSpot. The Toem review noted that it's a "charming little photo adventure," while the Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion review describes it as "an excellent game."
The other three games leaving Game Pass in the middle of the month are Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly, Figment 2: Creed Valley, and The Wandering Village. Don't forget that Game Pass subscribers can buy all of these titles for 20% off until they're removed from the service on July 15.
When Ridley Scott's Alien hit theaters in 1979, it was only his second theatrical film and he had no idea it would become franchise. But as Alien celebrates its 45th anniversary this year, Scott regrets that he wasn't asked to direct Aliens or Alien 3, which were respectively helmed by James Cameron and David Fincher.
"I was slow out the starting gate," Scott told Vanity Fair. "I mean, I should have done the sequels to Alien and to Blade Runner. You change over the years. At that time, I didn't want to go through it again. So Jim Cameron came in--and then David Fincher--on [Alien 3]."
Scott eventually returned to the Alien franchise for the prequel film Prometheus in 2012, before helming its direct sequel, Alien: Covenant, in 2017. Regardless, Scott still seems a bit upset that 20th Century Fox didn't bring him back sooner.
On July 6, the next WWE PLE arrives on Peacock: Money in the Bank. This year's event will take place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The last time WWE held a PLE in Canada was 2023's Elimination Chamber in Quebec, and for Toronto, the last PLE was 2019's Summerslam. Needless to say, WWE fans in Toronto will be pumped for this event.
The majority of the matches will continue or wrap up storylines featured on Raw and Smackdown. However, the highlight of the evening will be the men's and women's Money in the Bank ladder matches. In each match, six wrestlers will have the opportunity to climb a ladder to grab a briefcase, which contains a World Championship match contract.
Aside from those two MITB matches, there is even more to be excited about. The new incarnation of The Bloodline, which we're calling The Bloodline V.2, has been a chaotic force in WWE, even without the star power of Roman Reigns and the Usos to keep them afloat. The only difference between this current incarnation of this Bloodline and the original version is that current members The Tongas (Formerly known as the Guerrillas of Destiny in NJPW) are not part of the Anoaʻi family. This team will be taking on some of WWE's biggest faces: Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes.
There's also Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defending his title against Bron Breakker, who is exceptionally good at running at people and smashing into them so hard that they are completely destroyed.
If you're looking for all the info you need to know about the upcoming PLE, then you've come to the right place. After you're done checking that out, why not revisit Money in the Bank 2020, one of the most unique and weird PLEs in the company's history.
How to watch Money in the Bank:
If you want to know who leave with the coveted Money in the Bank briefcases, then you'll have to subscribe to Peacock, which includes other WWE live events and costs $6 a month. There's also the $12 a month option which allows you to download content for offline viewing and watch movies or TV shows without ads. If you're a premium subscriber, what you'll get during WWE PLEs instead of commercials is video recaps of the various feuds leading into matches.
There are multiple ways to watch Peacock. Aside from watching it on mobile devices and PC, you can stream the service on Amazon Fire devices, Android TV, Apple TV, LG Smart TVs, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xfinity, and more.
Start time for Money in the Bank:
4 PM PT
6 PM CT
7 PM ET
12 AM BST (July 7)
9 PAM AEST (July 7)
WWE continues to host events in other countries. However, this time around, the start time is a lot better for people in North America. This year's MITB will be hosted by Toronto, Ontario in Canada. Like other WWE PLEs, there will be a Kickoff Show featuring a panel of familiar faces discussing the upcoming matches. For those who aren't caught up on Raw and Smackdown, it's actually a great way to catch up on the stories.
Match card for Money in the Bank:
Below, you'll find the match card for the WWE event. As of this writing, there are five bouts on the card. Don't expect much to change leading up to the PLE.
Jey Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade vs. Chad Gable vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre (Money in the Bank ladder match)
Iyo Sky vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Zoey Stark (Money in the Bank ladder match)
Damian Priest (c) vs. Seth Rollins (World Heavyweight Championship)
Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tanga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu)
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker (Intercontinental Championship)
Predictions
Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tanga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu)
This card feels stacked in favor of Rhodes, Orton, and Owens--some of the top faces in WWE. But considering they're facing a four-man group, someone else may be added to their team. However, Bloodline V.2 needs to establish itself as a credible force inside the ring. They've been great at being a disruptive force, but this major match needs to show the WWE locker room that they shouldn't be messed with. There's two ways that this can go: The Bloodline V.2 destroys the other team or someone from Bloodline V.1 pops in to get V.2 DQ'd. I think it's going to be the former.
Winners: The Bloodline V.2
Predictions
Iyo Sky vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Zoey Stark (Money in the Bank ladder match)
There are still wrestlers that have not been announced for this match, but it feels like there's still a good story that can come out of this. At Wrestlemania, Iyo Sky lost the WWE Women's Championship to Bayley. Shortly after, Damage Control was drafted to Raw. So while Bayley and Sky are on separate brands, if Sky wins, she could--in theory--challenge Bayley for the title, and that would be a fantastic moment for Summerslam. The last announced participants for the MITB match could change the prediction of this match, but as of this writing, I firmly believe Sky will win.
Without a generational divide, the PC gaming library just keeps growing. With such an ever-expanding list to choose from, we focused on the best PC games to play right now. Some of these games, like Balatro and Helldivers 2, are recently released gems. Others are live-service games or multiplayer favorites that have stood the test of time, like Destiny 2. Our list of the best PC games spans across a wide variety of genres, so at least a few of these games will pique your interest.
PC gaming is quite different from consoles, as your mileage with each game on this list will vary based on your rig. That said, many of the games on this list don't require the latest and greatest graphic cards--they merely help these great games look even better. And if you happen to have a Steam Deck, a lot of these games are playable on Valve's impressive handheld PC. We have a separate list of Steam Deck recommendations for games that play great there. We regularly reevaluate and update this list, so you can always use it as a resource to find some fresh recommendations.
We've linked to Steam listings where possible for these games, but it's worth noting that you can often find better deals on storefronts such as Fanatical and GOG. We've included links to those stores, too. Also, some of our picks are available on PC Game Pass, Microsoft's subscription service.
Another chapter in the mind-bending Remedy universe, Alan Wake 2 picks up right where the cult classic left off more than a decade ago. Alan is trapped in the Dark Place and his only way out is to write his own story. His campaign takes place alongside a concurrent one with FBI agent Saga Anderson, and the two complimentary campaigns can be played together in any order. The lightly spooky elements of the first game turn much darker here, for a horror experience full of unforgettable moments.
A deceptively simple concept with an incredible degree of replay value, Balatro is based around the familiar rules of poker. You'll build a hand of pairs or a flush and then accrue points based on it. But using that simple framework as a jumping pad, the roguelite card game lets you edit the rules of the game on the fly using special Joker cards, Arcane spells, and Planet cards that boost your multipliers. Building out a strategy as you work your way through increasingly difficult "blinds" with higher points requirements is satisfying for how it lets you feel like you're breaking the game in half, only to have the game come back at you that much harder the next time. When that inevitably happens, you need to think on your toes and modify your deck throughout the run to deal with new challenges. Jokers that may have seemed useless before can result in a sudden ah-ha moment of recognition as you take advantage of their unique strategies. And every time you make it to the end--or more likely, fail--it's hard not to start up another hand and do it all again.
The triumphant return of a legacy CRPG series is also one of the best games of 2023. While Baldur's Gate 3 is also available to play on PS5, the PC version is the clear leader thanks to its intuitive keyboard-and-mouse controls--and it's a welcome return to form for longtime Baldur's Gate fans. This fantasy tale is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, but the most incredible part is how it approximates actually playing a game of D&D, with all the freedom that entails. You can tackle problems and navigate the world with an almost overwhelming amount of choice and agency, making it easy to get lost for hours and then start all over again with a new character.
One of the most original games of recent memory, Before Your Eyes has a simple premise that hinges on your ocular organs controlling the entire experience through a webcam. It's a short jaunt of a game that chronicles the life of a recently deceased person that you play as, but the catch here is that every time you blink, time moves forward. It's a terrific idea, incredibly well-implemented, and ties in perfectly with themes of memories, life, and storing those precious moments within ourselves. Unusual but packing a heavyweight emotional punch, you won't want to take your eyes off of this game for a single instant.
The Case of the Golden Idol is a throwback to classic point-and-click adventure games and an exacting puzzle game. You investigate scenes and then piece together what happened in a linear story narrative by placing names and verbs in their proper places. And if the original release whets your appetite for more, developer Color Gray games has spun off additional "Golden Idol Mysteries" DLC--new stories and mysteries with the same narrative-building mechanic.
Children of the Sun is a dark, atmospheric puzzle game centered around a sniper with a single bullet. As you seek revenge on the cult who destroyed your life and attempt to track down their mysterious leader, you skulk around their compounds searching for an angle before taking your shot. The puzzle aspect comes from what happens next, as each shot that connects to a cultist or explosive object lets you choose its next path. Trial and error to find the right path gets increasingly complex as the game adds new magic bullet effects like the ability to slightly arc a shot as it travels, or even reverse direction in mid-air. Though the campaign is on the short side, it's very satisfying to meticulously plan your route through a stage, making a puzzle-shooter experience unlike any other.
Cyberpunk 2077 had a divisive launch that by all accounts failed to live up to the lofty expectations placed on it. But CD Projekt Red didn't abandon the game, instead issuing a steady stream of updates culminating in September 2023's massive 2.0 update that overhauls many major systems, while also integrating the new Phantom Liberty DLC. The Cyberpunk of today is a sharper, more focused action-RPG with a greater variety of skills that let you navigate Night City your own way. The Phantom Liberty expansion received a 10/10 in our review, adding new systems and a compelling new story featuring Idris Elba. Best of all, it's still a gorgeous showpiece for your PC rig.
Destiny 2 has been going strong for years, but with the release of The Final Shape, the first major story arc has reached its conclusion. That makes now the best time to play, since you can see the full story through with the closing chapter of this first saga. Even putting aside the narrative hooks, though, the game has constantly improving and polishing its modes to make a spectacular variety of things to do. You can explore the story, play cooperatively with friends, take parts in raids, compete in the Crucible, and more. The classes are well differentiated and offer plenty of opportunities to experiment and find your perfect build, and Bungie takes care to tweak and balance its weapons to make sure any of style of gunplay has a home. If you haven't checked out Destiny 2 in a while, now is a good time to give it another shot.
When it comes to writing, Disco Elysium is perhaps unrivaled. Developed and published by ZA/UM in 2019, Disco Elysium places you in the role of a detective suffering from amnesia and a serious bout of alcoholism. His quest to unravel a baffling murder and the details of his life that he's forgotten takes you on an absolutely stunning adventure that thrives on its choice-based gameplay and exquisite dialogue. Disco Elysium balances humor and serious life dilemmas with astounding grace, and the freedom it gives you to shape the narrative and your interactions with its many colorful characters you meet allows you to make this detective story your own. Its gorgeous world is teeming with life, and viewing it from the eyes of a nameless cop with memory issues makes it all the more immersive. It earned a rare 10/10 from GameSpot, and we can safely say there's nothing else exactly like it in modern PC gaming.
Elden Ring was our Game of the Year in 2022, and ever since we've been waiting to explore even more of The Lands Between. From Software delivered with Shadow of the Erdtree, a massive expansion that almost overwhelms with its sheer scope. Elden Ring's lore has been expanded in thoughtful and surprising ways, letting you dive as deep into the story as you care to by exploring a world rife with secrets to uncover. Combat is just as difficult as ever, with an inventive balance system that lets you continue to play with your current character without being immediately overpowered. That lets you experience the thrill of overcoming new obstacles all over again, with a wide array of new weapons to master.
It's true that since its release in 2012, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been ported to just about every platform that can play games, including Amazon Alexa speakers and smart refrigerators. But the king of all Skyrim versions is the one on PC, and it's not even close. That's because the PC version gives you access to years of mods created by the Skyrim community. From adding serious RPG story content to providing ridiculous possibilities like replacing all dragons with Thomas the Tank Engine, the PC version of Skyrim adds nearly endless options to an already expansive, enormous game. You absolutely should play Skyrim on PC if you haven't, and you absolutely should mod it to see how the game has become so much more than it was when it was released. Skyrim is also available with Xbox Game Pass for PC.
The Final Fantasy series is known for having a strong focus on storytelling with colorful characters who get into over-the-top battles, and the MMO Final Fantasy XIV manages to stay true to what the series is all about. Though you might assume the familiar Final Fantasy tenets of storytelling and strong character moments would be absent in an online game, FFXIV is one of the more story-driven MMOs out today. Final Fantasy XIV is the franchise's second crack at an MMO, and it features a sprawling story about rebellion, equality, and friendship that manages to hit the same highs of the franchise's best single-player games. Though MMOs have a reputation for being inaccessible and time-consuming, Final Fantasy XIV offers an excellent gateway for lapsed and new MMO players to jump into--and it's also a fantastic Final Fantasy game in its own right.
Few games get the absolute thrill of driving a ridiculously fast car the way that the Forza Horizon series does, and its latest chapter is another example of pure petrolhead bliss. Shifting to the warm climate of Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 sticks to its template and hits top gear right from the start with its selection of vehicles, activities, and a constant sense of reward for being a speed demon. Beyond its superb gameplay, Forza Horizon 5 also takes time to emphasize a personal connection between man and machine, as it balances epic showcase events with personal moments of reflection and car culture.
Even if it took a few years, the wait for one of the best PlayStation games on the market to hit PC was well worth it. While previous God of War games emphasized gratuitous violence and a character with the personality of a very angry cardboard box, Sony's reinvention of Kratos helped create a more nuanced and layered hero. That doesn't mean that there wasn't a satisfying amount of carnage to engage in, though, as developer Sony Santa Monica expanded on Kratos' brutal abilities in methodical ways and gave him plenty of new tools to play with in a Nordic sandbox.
Hades 2 is still in early access, and only available on PC so far. But out of the gate it's already a fantastic experience. Hades 2 builds on everything that Supergiant established in the first game, offering an experience that is both familiar and new at once. You play as Melinoe, brother of former protagonist Zagreus, as you attempt to destroy Chronos, the Titan of time. New weapons and abilities, combined with a new resource management system, make it a joy to experiment with new combinations as you attempt your runs over and over. The experience feels very close to complete already, but if you'd prefer, the original Hades is still available, usually inexpensive, and just as good as ever.
This follow-up from Arrowhead Game Studios was a surprising success, not least because it was so different from the original game that inspired it. Helldivers 2 takes the hordes of enemies from the top-down first game and makes it a third-person shooter, and the new perspective works beautifully. Squadding up with your friends leads to tense survival moments and hilarious mishaps in equal measure as you fulfill objectives and call down Stratagems on your foes. And like the first game, there's a galaxy-sprawling meta-game at play, as you and every other Helldiver fights to free territory controlled by vicious bugs and robots. This was also a rare Sony Interactive game published simultaneously on PC alongside its PS5 release, with optional cross-play, which likely helped it find and sustain an active player base.
IO Interactive's grand World of Assassination trilogy reached its final chapter in 2021, as Hitman 3 built on the efforts made by its predecessors to create a perfectly executed experience. Bigger, bolder, and more cunning than ever, Agent 47's journey around the world saw him explore an opulent Dubai skyscraper, solve a murder mystery in an ancient British mansion, and turn a train into a slaughterhouse as he worked his way through each cabin. Each destination offers not only some devilishly delicious ways to eliminate targets, but also plenty of room for experimentation that leads to hilarious and grim demises for anyone who gets in your way.
At first glance, Inscryption looks like a mixture of tabletop card games with a healthy dose of deckbuilding thrown in for good measure as you risk your very life in a high-stakes game of survival. Throw in some roguelite progression, mystery, and a creepy art direction, and you've got the perfect mix for a game that hides more mesmerizing content beneath its surface. Absolutely strange while it deals out its ideas, that weirdness makes Inscryption the type of game that'll stay in your head long after you've played your last card.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes defies easy categorization. While it is clearly a puzzle game, it frequently twists the medium on its head. It encourages you to use a notebook in real life to help track its many secrets and interlocking pieces, which all unfold into a marriage of design and narrative that need to be seen firsthand. The puzzles can be challenging, but they're consistently satisfying and help drive you forward to the next one. This is a can't miss.
If soaring through the air and flying around the world is a dream of yours, there's no better game than Microsoft Flight Simulator. You can fly out of almost any airport in the world, including smaller airports in quieter towns, and go literally anywhere on Earth--though landing may be difficult in places like the Grand Canyon and Mount Everest. Microsoft used satellite imagery to recreate the world in-game, and it's improving both the game and map all the time. If there was ever a reason to invest in a flight stick or yoke system, it's Microsoft Flight Simulator. The game is available via Xbox Game Pass for PC.
After Monster Hunter World set a new benchmark for what the Capcom series was capable of, Monster Hunter: Rise had some big dragon leather boots to fill. Monster Hunter Rise is a showcase of what happens when you take the lessons learned from something new and apply it to an older example of Monster Hunter greatness, as the newest game in the series expertly shifted back to all-out action. Originally designed for the Nintendo Switch, Rise's port to PC came with a ton of free post-launch content, graphical upgrades, and performance enhancements that make this version the definitive edition of an already fantastic game.
On the list of great PC games, Pacific Drive is both fairly new and quite weird, which is funny since it's also firmly planted in the New Weird genre alongside stuff like Welcome To Night Vale, The SCP Foundation, and Remedy's Control. Built as a rougelite at heart, Pacific Drive has you going on numerous runs through the Olympic Exclusion Zone, a sectioned-off mass of forest roads in the Pacific Northwest, all while you dodge head-scratching (and often spooky) supernatural elements like crash test dummies that move when you aren't looking at them and buzzsaws that skim the roads like the shark skims the waters in Jaws. Its super-deep systems, intoxicating atmosphere, and incredible audio design combine to create a one-of-a-kind survival game.
Capcom's venerable Resident Evil series has been progressively producing remakes of its classic library, but none of them held the expectations and weight of Resident Evil 4. It's long been regarded as one of the best survival-horror games of all time, and a trendsetter for the action-focused style of the genre. Capcom approached this remake especially cautiously, giving it a light touch of upgrades that make the whole experience feel modern without losing its soul. It's also never looked more beautiful, so you can see the horrific monstrosities of Las Plagas with newfound fidelity.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is a meticulous puzzle box revolving around a grisly scene. When a missing ship mysteriously reappears with all of its passengers and crew dead, you're dispatched as an insurance adjuster tasked with uncovering the causes of death for each one aboard. What follows is a massively connected logic puzzle as you uncover scenes of life aboard the ship alongside clues as to each of their identities and fatalities. This is all delivered in a stark lo-fi black-and-white presentation that remains perfectly readable in motion.
Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance
Shin Megami Tensei fans have needed a Nintendo Switch to play SMTV, until very recently. Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance is now available on other platforms including PC, but this is much more than a simple port. The enhanced version adds loads of new content, like additional story details and new narrative surprises to let you get the most out of your relationships with human and demons alike. It also includes better navigation tools to address one flaw of its original version. This is the definitive version of what was already a deep and engrossing narrative RPG.
Only The Stanley Parable, a nearly unexplainable game where things get regularly weird and meta, could get away with hiding what amounts to a sequel within the frame of an expanded re-release of the original game. Like the original title, the strange and hilariously distracted nature of The Stanley Parable is something that you have to experience for yourself, as words simply do not do it justice. With the Ultra Deluxe edition, you're getting an experience that feels like a game within a game, adding the illusion of freedom and other surprises along the way. It's nothing short of a clever and thought-provoking examination of video games and the relationship that we have with them.
It starts with an old broken-down farm and a handful of seeds. You clear out the weeds and rocks until you get tired, and then you do it again. You get into the rhythm of daily life--visiting friends, watering crops, occasional light spelunking. Before you know it, it's been 75 hours and you're mostly managing your complex irrigation system and planning for next season's harvest. Stardew Valley is a friendly, relaxing experience that also somehow manages to be endlessly addicting. Fans know the feeling of assuring themselves they'll play just one more day before bed. And while it's appeared on just about every platform, PC often gets the first chance to test all of the little quality-of-life tweaks and new features that come with patches. Most recently, the massive Stardew Valley 1.6 update put a nice bookend on the game while developer ConcernedApe prepares for the next project, The Haunted Chocolatier.
The follow-up to the philosophical first-person puzzle game is once again a contemplative experience that raises big questions even as you stay occupied with a series of clever puzzles. The philosophical underpinnings create a sense of expansive mystery as you explore deep existential questions and unravel the nature of the world. The first game was an unexpected treat but The Talos Principle 2 shows that developer Croteam can still create a delightful puzzle box even when we think we know what to expect.
Valorant
The initial response to Valorant was that it's basically a mashup where Overwatch meets Counter-Strike--and yeah, that's pretty accurate. That's also a good thing, because Valorant draws on many of the strengths of those games to make something unique. It focuses on the round-based demolition-style game mode with two teams of five (attackers and defenders) on balanced maps with specific lanes and sightlines and an extremely fast time-to-kill. However, each agent (or character) has their own unique abilities that add another strategic layer to combat. Team composition plays a major role, and each agent affects what the team is capable of in each high-stakes situation. It's intense and demanding, but so rewarding.
Valorant is still early in its lifespan. But we've seen content updates and changes in its first year and it's been quite successful, so you can expect the game to get more support moving forward. If a competitive FPS with layered tactics, precise gunplay, and intense moments is your thing, Valorant is worth a try.
One of the best RPGs of all time, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt brings the incredible story of Geralt of Rivia to a close. The Witcher 3 puts Geralt on a quest to find Ciri, a witcher in training who's like a daughter to him. He reconnects with old flames, friends, and adversaries as he searches far and wide for her. Of course, there's an abundance of side quests and characters to meet along the way, which will undoubtedly keep you busy for hours. Many of these quests require you to slay monsters, a witcher's main trade, and you'll have to prepare accordingly to defeat them by sword, witcher magic, and potions. All this--and we didn't even get into the two excellent expansions--makes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt an essential PC game.
In our effort to curate the very best in PC games, sometimes we trim older games to make room for our latest recommendations. We don't want to forget those entirely, so this is where you'll find all of our previously removed games. All of these come highly recommended as well.
5/7/2024: Cocoon, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Loop Hero, Pizza Tower, Project Zomboid, Viewfinder
7/1/2024: Apex Legends, Civilization 6, Control, Counter-Strike: GO, Deathloop, Dota 2, League of Legends, Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo Infinite, Minecraft, Portal 2, Rainbow Six Siege, Red Dead Redemption 2, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, Starfield, Tunic, XCOM 2
There's no shortage of exotic weapons in modern Call of Duty games, but a new "Extra Crispy" gun uncovered by dataminer RealityUK is easily the most absurd one yet for the franchise. The wonderfully silly trailer for the weapon shows off an operator dressed to kill in a chicken costume, unleashing extra-crispy rounds on opponents and transforming them into pieces of fried chicken.
Things get even sillier when the weapon is inspected, as it involves shoving a raw chicken on the barrel and cooking it up for a quick meal. For now, the gun is exclusive to Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile and will be an optional cosmetic. Is it weird? Absolutely. Is it slightly disturbing to think that a pile of crispy chicken nuggets that used to be a human being could look so delicious? We're trying not to think too hard about it.
Like several other live-service games, cosmetics like this have helped Call of Duty stand out from the pack. With Fortnite building a gigantic metaverse of pop-culture crossovers, Call of Duty has followed in its footsteps with several operator bundles, some of which have been focused on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Warhammer 40K, and Tomb Raider. The weapon skin bundles have even referenced games and anime, like Crash Bandicoot and Attack on Titan, so a gun that transforms enemies into the best lunchtime meal isn't too surprising.
With every flip of the month, Microsoft adds more titles to the Xbox Game Pass catalog, and that's no different for July.
Microsoft has announced the first set of additions to Game Pass in July, and there are eight games coming to the catalog soon. Some of the new additions for July include Journey to the Savage Planet, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, Cricket 24, and Neon White.
Microsoft typically releases titles in two waves, so fans can likely expect a second batch of additions for the second half of the month as well.
And as usual, Microsoft giveth and Microsoft taketh away, and there are five titles leaving the Game Pass library on July 15. These include Coffee Talk Episode 2, Figment 2: Creed Valley, Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion, Toem, and The Wandering Village.
Read on to see the full list of titles coming to Game Pass in the first half of July 2024.
Journey to the Savage Planet
Journey to the Savage Planet comes to Game Pass on July 3 for PC, console, and the cloud.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 comes to Game Pass on July 3 for console, PC, and the cloud.
Cricket 24
Cricket 24 comes to Game Pass on July 9 for PC, console, and the cloud.
The Case of the Golden Idol
The Case of the Golden Idol comes to Game Pass on July 9 for console, PC, and the cloud.
Neon White
Neon White comes to Game Pass on July 11 for PC, console, and the cloud.
Tchia
Tchia comes to Game Pass on July 11 for PC, cloud, and console.
Magical Delicacy
Magical Delicacy comes to Game Pass on July 16 for console, PC, and the cloud. It is a day-one new release.
Flock
Flock comes to Game Pass on July 16 for PC, console, and the cloud. It is a day-one new release.
Elden Ring's Lands Between isn't exactly a lighthearted fantasy realm, but the fan-created Graceborne mod makes things even darker by giving the game a Bloodborne-themed makeover. And since Bloodborne still isn't on PC nearly a decade after its release, Graceborne may be the closest thing to it that we're going to get.
Via GamesRadar, the Elden Ring Graceborne mod was created by a user going by corvianNoctis on Nexus Mods. Although Graceborne is still in an early stage of development, the accompanying trailer is very impressive.
Several characters in Elden Ring have gotten redesigns for Graceborne, including the playable character--the Tarnished--who is now reborn as Bloodborne's Hunter. But the changes are more than just cosmetic. This mod has added Bloodborne's gun-parrying and quick-step ability, while also reworking the way that the main character heals. There are also 22 sets of armor, 35 weapons, 17 trick weapons, and five firearms that have been added to the player's arsenal.
If you're struggling to defeat the tough bosses in Elden Ring, the creator and showrunner of the Star Wars TV series The Acolyte has some advice: be aggressive.
Speaking to Inverse, Leslye Headland brought up Elden Ring in a conversation about Manny Jacinto's character on The Acolyte. This story contains spoilers about The Acolyte.
Headland said Jacinto's character, Qimir AKA The Stranger, is so skilled at fighting that he doesn't wear armor. People pushed back on Headland's decision to do this, but she stood her ground and said, "Why would you wear armor if you're not going to get hit?" She said it's similar to how immensely skilled some people are at Elden Ring.
There are so many active Capcom franchises that it seems like a big deal whenever a new franchise is added to the lineup. Later this month, Capcom is dropping Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess on most of the major consoles and PC. But you don't have to wait long to play it, because the Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess demo is out right now. There's no limit on the playtime, so you can play it as often as you want. Capcom has also released a trailer for the demo, which you can see below.
The game puts players in control of Soh, a warrior who is driven to protect a divine maiden, Yoshiro, and the village she lives in from evil. It's an action game with some real-time strategy and tower-defense elements. During the day, Soh has to prepare the villages' defenses and utilize his resources at hand. By night, the enemy creatures attack and not even injuries can stop Soh from his sworn duties. Through Soh, players can still direct the village's defenses even when severely wounded.
Additionally, Capcom announced a collaboration between Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess and Okami, the classic 2006 video game that put players in control of the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu. Although Amaterasu doesn't appear in Path of the Goddess, Soh's costume is clearly inspired by her in the video below.
Guilty Gear fans can save big on the recently released Guilty Gear Strive 25th Anniversary Edition at Amazon. The limited-edition release, which celebrates 25 years of the fighting game franchise, is on sale for $91 at Amazon. Considering it released back in March for $110, this is a pretty solid deal thanks to both the physical goodies and the wealth of in-game content that comes with the collector's edition.
The game with the season passes (the Daredevil Edition) has a list price of $100 on its own ($60 for PC during Steam's Summer Sale). For PS5 owners, however, that means you're getting all the bonus goodies, including the art book, steelbook case, and soundtrack, for about nine bucks less than you'd pay for the Daredevil Edition on PS5.
While Nintendo hasn't yet revealed its Switch successor, the latest Nintendo Direct proved that it's not too late to buy your first Nintendo Switch. Especially when that system is on sale at a terrific price. Anyone looking to embrace the mobile gaming side of life can score a turquoise Nintendo Switch Lite for $169 at Amazon. This is one of lowest prices ever from a major retailer, so we wouldn't be surprised to see this sell out rather quickly. Alternatively, you can buy the Animal Crossing special-edition version of the turquoise console bundled with New Horizons for $199 at Walmart.
If you're not enamored with the turquoise model, Walmart has several deals on other Switch Lites, including the blue edition for $172.39, coral for $178, and yellow for $179. All three of those are sold by third-party sellers, but they are fulfilled and shipped by Walmart and come with a free 30-day return window.
Streaming services might be convenient, but in an age where there's no guarantee that films will always be accessible on them, purchasing a few Criterion Collection Blu-rays adds some cinematic security to your home. Right now, you can save big on these films, as Amazon and Barnes & Noble are offering 50% discounts on these cinematic treasures. It's worth noting that Amazon is still adding to its deals, while Barnes & Noble will offer everything in its online inventory of Criterion Collection films at 50% off. Amazon isn't likely to match all of Barnes & Noble's deals, but this promotion--which typically runs at least once each year--is the best time to pick up Criterion Collection releases.
Capcom has announced that Dead Rising Deluxe Remastered will launch on September 19 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
A faithful remaster of the first game, Dead Rising Deluxe Remastered will cost $50 and boasts a major graphical overhaul made possible using Capcom's proprietary RE Engine. Though its original gameplay mechanics remain intact, the company has confirmed that certain modern features--such as autosaves, revamped controls, and improved UI--have been added to improve the game's quality of life. It's also fully voiced, but it doesn't seem like the original voice actor, TJ Rotolo, will be reprising his role as protagonist Frank West.
Those who preorder the game will receive various costumes for Frank and some background music. They include Frank's original outfit and the Willamette Parkview Mall bee costume from the 2006 game, as well as the Chuck Greene outfit from Dead Rising 2. There will also be a physical release of the game coming in November.
In the aftermath of The Final Shape, Destiny 2 developer Bungie has taken a new approach to seasonal storytelling. The first "Act" of this new approach--Episodes comprised of three Acts each--has wrapped up its story, but players have noted that the new Episode-based structure doesn't feel all that different to seasons so far. According to Bungie, there's much more on the way, and the new setup is enabling it to build one of its biggest Exotic missions ever, which will release later in 2024.
"We're going to finish some threads off, but we're also going to start opening up some doors to new stories to be told," game director Robbie Stevens said to GamesRadar. According to Stevens, Act 2 will introduce "a completely new set of activities" on top of the new Breach Executable activity and will take players deeper into Nessus as the planet transforms. Act Three will see a new Exotic mission debut, one that Stevens described as being an ambitious step forward for Bungie.
"We have an Exotic mission coming in Echoes Act Three," Stevens said. "It is one of the biggest Exotic missions we've ever built, and it's only possible because of this new content cadence. The ability for us to build this massive Exotic mission--literally one of the biggest--it wouldn't have been possible in the past. This is where we see the [development] team taking the opportunity, their willingness to change, their willingness to adapt to this new cadence with us, and really seize the opportunity to expand Nessus, expand this world."
While he may be focused on Westeros, author George R.R. Martin might be looking at bringing The Lands Between to the silver screen in the future--or even the small screen. The man famously known for Game of Thrones had quite an intriguing reply about the scuttlebutt regarding an Elden Ring movie.
Spotted by IGN, Martin wrote on his personal blog about a possible Elden Ring film unprompted. "Oh, and about those rumors you may have heard about a feature film or television series based on ELDEN RING... I have nothing to say," he said. "Not a word, nope, not a thing, I know nothing, you never heard a peep from me, mum mum mum. What rumor?"
From Software president Hidetaka Miyazaki got the ball rolling when he said "there's interest" in making a film adaptation of Elden Ring. Miyazaki added that they would need a "very strong partner," and Martin definitely fits that criterion as a producer on HBO's Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Plus, for those who don't remember, Martin helped out on Elden Ring.
Hori's The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom-themed Split Pad Pro is on sale for $48 at Amazon. Normally $60, this special-edition iteration of Hori's Joy-Con alternative with superior ergonomics is part of Amazon's current slate of Lightning Deals. As such, quantities are very limited, so you shouldn't wait long to snag one if interested.
The Hori Split Pad Pro is GameSpot's current pick for best Switch controller for handheld-focused players, and for good reason: it gives you a full-sized, ergonomic controller experience in handheld mode. The buttons, the sticks, triggers, and D-pad are all much larger on the Split Pad Pro than they are on the stock Joy-Cons. So considering how cramped the standard Joy-Cons are, especially if you've got big hands, the ergonomics of the Split Pad Pro are a big relief.
On top of that you've got two remappable buttons on the back, and a turbo function. It lacks vibration and NFC support for Amiibo, though, and you can only use it in handheld mode--they don't work as motion controllers or as solo Joy-Con for multiplayer.
The first trailer for Hellboy: The Crooked Man has gone live, and this time, Mike Mignola's famed comic-book character is headed to the American South to take on sinister forces in the Appalachian mountains. 12 Strong's Jack Kesy dons the signature duster and right hand of doom for this new adventure starring Hellboy, and the first trailer teases a film much creepier than previous Hellboy movies.
Imagine if Hellboy and the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense wandered into one of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead movies, and you'll have a good idea of what to expect in the trailer following its reveal on Entertainment Weekly.
Set in the 1950s, Hellboy: The Crooked Man is based on the comic-book mini-series of the same name and sees the BPRD agent tracking down a dangerous demon collecting souls for the devil. This is the first Hellboy film since 2019's reboot bombed at the box office, ending any chances of a sequel being greenlit.
Conectar
