After a splashy debut as part of the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, more information about Diablo IV’s Necromancer class has been revealed, including a new unique class mechanic called Book of the Dead which will give players even more control over their undead minions.

As explained by Diablo IV lead class designer Adam Jackson in a new Blizzard blog post, the Book of the Dead is a feature unique to the Necromancer and is available from the very start of the game. Summons like Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and Golems can all be customized, with each type of minion sporting three specializations to choose from. The blog uses Skeletal Warriors as an example: They can have increased attack power or reduced health under the Skirmisher specialization, more health under the Defender specialization, or focus on slower, AOE attacks as the Reaper specialization. Each type of undead minion also has unique upgrades, allowing them to be further tailored for specific playstyles.

For players who don’t mind sacrificing their skeletal friends for more power, the Book of the Dead allows that too. Each type of minion can be sacrificed for personal buffs, with players able to mix and match which minions or buffs they may want to bring into battle.

As for how the Necromancer themselves play, they gain a resource called Essence from using basic attacks which can then be used to cast certain spells. Necromancers also utilize corpses from slain enemies to use signature abilities like Corpse Explosion, and players will have means to generate corpses all their own as well. Necromancers will be able to use swords, daggers, wands, focuses, and shields, and are the only class in the game able to use scythes.

There are a number of different playstyles for Necromancer players to choose from, many of which will be familiar to players of previous Diablo games. Blizzard states that the team spent “a considerable amount of time” ensuring that fans of previous versions of the Necromancer from Diablo II, Diablo III, and the newly released Diablo Immortal would find something familiar in the new version of the class.

Playing as a Bone-focused Necromancer means putting an emphasis on attacks that benefit heavily from critical strike and using Essence, with abilities like Bone Spirit and Bone Prison making their return. Darkness Necromancers will use spells to debuff and control enemies while inflicting damage-over-time effects. Necromancers who want to play more defensively may find themselves focusing on Blood spells, which can siphon life from enemies and turn it into power, like with the Blood Mist skill, which makes the Necromancer temporarily immune to damage while draining the life force of nearby enemies. Last but not least is the Army playstyle, which is all about summoning the undead to dish out death and destruction. Jackson states that Necromancers who want the maximum number of minions will only need to dedicate two buttons on their skill bar to summoning the undead, “leaving room for player expression in what additional skills they want to put on their bar.”

For more information about the Necromancer and how Diablo IV is shaping up, be sure to check out this interview with game director Joe Shely and Diablo franchise general manager Rod Fergusson.

A recent job listing for Diablo IV confirmed the game will have an in-game shop. Fergusson later confirmed that the plan is to sell optional cosmetics and expansions for Diablo IV, but the in-game shop will not include any way to purchase player power. Diablo IV is now slated to arrive in 2023, and will feature cross-play and cross-progression across consoles and PC. Diablo IV lost its previous game director following allegations revolving around various lawsuits and investigations related to an alleged “frat boy” workplace culture at Activision Blizzard, which is currently in the process of being acquired by Microsoft in a $69 billion deal.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

With the potential collapse of E3, which is set to return in 2023, more companies have introduced livestreams to speak more directly to a particular audience. In that spirit, the official Assassin’s Creed Twitter account announced a livestream to celebrate the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Below, you can find all of the details, including when and where to watch.

When is the Assassin’s Creed Celebration Livestream?

The Assassin’s Creed Celebration Livestream will premiere on June 13, at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET. Further regional times are listed below.

9 AM PT11 AM CT12 PM ET4 PM GMT1 AM JST (Wednesday, June 14)2 AM AEST (Wednesday, June 14)

How to Watch the Assassin’s Creed Celebration Livestream

You can virtually attend the livestream at Ubisoft’s official Twitch and YouTube channels. We will also stream the presentation here at Gamespot. You can watch it through the embed above.

What to Expect at the Assassin’s Creed Celebration Livestream

What announcements await, if any, is a matter of pure speculation. The Assassin’s Creed Twitter, where the stream was announced, did not elaborate on potential segments or reveals. The most recent Assassin’s Creed news was the arrival of Origins to Xbox Game Pass, nearly coinciding with its new-gen upgrade. Perhaps more news on updates and upgrades to past Assassin’s Creed titles will be presented. Whether any news will come concerning the long-rumored live-service game, Assassin’s Creed Infinity, is up in the air.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Sony’s revamped PS Plus has launched today in North and South America, breaking down the subscription service into three distinct entities. PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium all come with their own perks, with the biggest draw being an expansive library of games to dive into.

While PS Plus Essential is the current version with all of its online multiplayer access, exclusive discounts, cloud storage, free monthly games, and the PS Plus Collection intact, it’s PS Plus Extra and Premium where you’ll find a huge library of games to dive into. Combined, there are almost 400 games to access between the two tiers, as well as Ubisoft+ games that have been inherited from the now discontinued PS Now.

PS Plus Premium, the top tier, packs in all of the benefits of the two memberships below it and throws in extra games from the PS3, PS2, PSP, and PlayStation libraries. It’s worth noting that PS3 games will be available via streaming only and the rest of the library can be accessed through a mix of downloading and streaming options.

For those markets where streaming isn’t supported by PlayStation, they’ll be able to subscribe to PS Plus Deluxe instead. That service features everything from PS Plus Premium minus the streaming content and is offered at a lower price.

Another benefit to this tier are time-limited trials for available and current games, giving you a chunk of a game to explore before you decide to spend some money on it. We’ve rounded up all the games below that you’ll be able to play in the new PS Plus tiers.

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium game catalog

Death Stranding

PS Plus Extra and Essential’s main library is made up of hundreds of great PS4 and PS5 games that have been available on the consoles over the years. There’s a number of recent games available here–such as Insomniac’s Spider-Man titles and Ghost of Tsushima–and you can find some modern-day classics in the mix as well.

AbsolverABZUAce of SeafoodAdr1ftAgatha Christie – The ABC Murders*Age of Wonders: PlanetfallAgents of MayhemAlienationAkiba’s Beat*AO Tennis 2AragamiAsh of Gods RedemptionAshen*Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (PS4)Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (PS5)Assetto Corsa Competizione (PS4 and PS5)AstebreedAVICII InvectorBack to Bed*Bad NorthBalan Wonderworld (PS4)Balan Wonderworld (PS5)Batman: Arkham KnightBattle Chasers: NightwarBee SimulatorBlack MirrorBlasphemousBloodborneBloodstained: Ritual of the NightBomber CrewBoundBound by FlameBrawloutBrothers: A Tale of Two SonsBubsy: The Woolies Strike Backaladrius BlazeCall of CthulhuCarmageddon: Max DamageCartoon Network: Battle CrashersCar Mechanic SimulatorCelesteChess UltraChicken PoliceChild of LightChildren of MortaChocobo’s Mystery Dungeon Every BuddyChronos: Before the AshesCities: SkylinesClouds & Sheep 2Concrete GenieConcrete Genie: Digital Deluxe EditionConnecTankControl: Ultimate Edition (PS4 and PS5)Cris Tales (PS4)Cris Tales (PS5)*Croixleur SigmaDamascus Gear: Operation Tokyo HD EditionDanger ZoneDangerous GolfDandara: Trials of Fear EditionDark Rose ValkyrieDarksiders GenesisDarksiders IIIDays GoneDCL – The GameDead CellsDead or Alive 5: Last Round (PS4)Death end re;QuestDeath end re;Quest2Death SquaredDeath StrandingDeath Stranding: Director’s CutDefense Grid 2Deliver Us the Moon (PS4)Demon’s SoulsDetroit: Become HumanDescenders (PS4)Desperados IIIDestruction AllstarsDisaster Report 4 Plus: Summer MemoriesDisgaea 5: Alliance of VengeanceDoomDragon Star VarnirDreamfall ChaptersDungeons 2Dynasty Warriors 8 EmpiresEagle FlightEarth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New DespairElectronic Super JoyEl Hijo – A Wild West TaleElexEmbr (PS4)Empire of SinEnigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple CreekEnter the GungeonEntwinedEVERSPACEEverybody’s GolfEvil Genius 2: World Domination (PS4 and PS5)Fade to SilenceFallout 4Fallout 76Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon: Classic EditionFar Cry 3: Classic EditionFar Cry 4FIA European Truck Racing ChampionshipFighting Ex Layer: Standard VersionFinal Fantasy IXFinal Fantasy VIIFinal Fantasy VIII RemasteredFinal Fantasy X/X-2 HD RemasterFinal Fantasy XII The Zodiac AgeFinal Fantasy XV Royal EditionFire Pro Wrestling World*Flatout 4: Total Insanity*Fluster CluckForeclosed (PS4 and PS5)Friday the 13th: The GameFrostpunk: Console EditionFury UnleashedGabbuchiGal Gunvolt Blast*Get EvenGhost of a TaleGhost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut (PS4 and PS5)Ghostrunner (PS4 and PS5)Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Director’s CutGods will FallGolf with Your FriendsGod of WarGoosebumps: The GameGravity Rush 2Grand Ages: MedievalGraveyard KeeperGreedfall (PS4 and PS5)Grip: Combat RacingGunvolt Chronicles Luminous Avenger IXHarvest Moon: Light of Hope Special EditionHarvest Moon: Mad DashHarvest Moon: One WorldHello NeighborHollow Knight: Voidheart EditionHomefront: The RevolutionHorizon Zero Dawn Complete EditionHotline Miami 2: Wrong NumberHotshot RacingHow to Survive 2How to Survive: Storm Warning EditionHueHuman Fall Flat (PS4 and PS5)I am BreadI am Dead (PS4 and PS5)IndivisibleInfamous First LightInfamous Second SonInfinite MinigolfInjustice 2Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf: Console EditionJohn Wick HexJumpJet RexKillzone: Shadow Fall Intercept*Killzone Shadow FallKingdom Come: DeliveranceKingdom Two CrownsKingdom: New LandsKnackKona (PS4 and PS5)Last Day of JuneLast Stop (PS4 and PS5)Lawn Mowing Simulator (PS4 and PS5)Left Alive: Day One EditionLegendary FishingLegends of EthernalLego Batman 3: Beyond GothamLeo’s FortuneLittleBigPlanet 3Little Big WorkshopLittle NightmaresLost Words: Beyond the PageMafia III: Definitive EditionMagicka 2MahjongMalicious FallenManeater (PS4 and PS5)Marvel Puzzle QuestMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (PS4 and PS5)Marvel’s Spider-ManMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS4 and PS5)Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year EditionMasters of AnimaMatterfallMediEvilMegadimension Neptunia VIIMighty No. 9MinitMitsurugi Kamui HikaeMomodora: Reverie Under the MoonlightMonster Jam Steel Titans 2Monster Truck Championship (PS4 and PS5)MoonlighterMortal Kombat 11 (PS4 and PS5)Moving OutMudrunnerMX vs ATV All OutMXGP 2021 (PS4 and PS5)My Friend PedroMy Time at PortiaNaruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4NASCAR Heat 5NBA 2K Playgrounds 2NBA 2K22 (PS4 and PS5)Necromunda: Underhive WarsNidhoggNidhogg IINights of AzureNights of Azure 2: Bride of the New MoonNiohNo Straight RoadsObservationObserver: System Redux (PS4 and PS5)Observer: System Redux (PS5)Oddworld: New ‘n’ TastyOmega QuintetOuter WildsOvercooked! 2OverpassOverride 2: Super Mech League (PS4 and PS5)Party HardPathfinder: Kingmaker – Definitive EditionPayday 2: Crimewave EditionPGA Tour 2K21Pile Up! Box by BoxPillars of Eternity: Complete EditionPixel PiracyPortal KnightsPrison ArchitectPower Rangers: Battle For The GridPreyPure Farming 2018Pure Hold’em World Poker ChampionshipPure PoolRad RodgersRed Dead Redemption 2Redeemer – Enhanced EditionReel Fishing: Road Trip AdventureRaiden V: Director’s CutRapala Fishing: Pro SeriesRebel GalaxyResogunRelictaReturnalRez InfiniteRide 4 (PS4 and PS5)Risk Urban AssaultRock of Ages 3: Make & BreakRogue StormersRomance of The Three Kingdoms XIIIR-Type Final 2Saints Row: The Third Remastered (PS4 and PS5)Seasons After FallSecret NeighborShadow of the BeastShadow of the ColossusShadow Warrior 2Shadow Warrior 3Shenmue IIIShiness: The Lightning KingdomSniper Elite 4SOMASoulcalibur VISouth Park: The Fractured but WholeSouth Park: The Stick of TruthSpace Crew: Legendary EditionSpace Hulk: Deathwing – Enhanced EditionSpace Hulk: TacticsSpace JunkiesSparkle UnleashedSpitlingsStar Ocean First Departure RStar Trek: Bridge CrewStarlink: Battle for AtlasSteepStellaris: Console EditionStranded DeepSundered: Eldritch EditionSurgeon Simulator: Anniversary EditionSurviving MarsTelling LiesTennis World Tour 2 (PS4 and PS5)TerrariaTetris Effect: ConnectedTearaway UnfoldedThe Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel UnlimitedThe Last Tinker: City of ColorsThe Turing Test*The Vanishing of Ethan CarterThe Artful Escape (PS4 and PS5)The Book of Unwritten Tales 2The Caligula Effect: OverdoseThe Council – The Complete SeasonThe CrewThe Crew 2The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little HopeThe Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of MedanThe Fisherman – Fishing PlanetThe Last GuardianThe Lego Movie VideogameThe Long DarkThe MessengerThe Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of MemoriesThe SurgeThe Surge 2The TechnomancerThe Witch and the Hundred Knight: Revival EditionThe Wonderful 101: RemasteredThis is the PoliceThis is the Police 2This War of Mine: The Little OnesThomas was AloneThrough the Darkest of TimesTom Clancy’s The DivisionTorqueLTotally Reliable Delivery ServiceToukiden 2Tour de France 2021 (PS4 and PS5)TowerFall AscensionTownsmen – A Kingdom RebuiltTouhou Genso Rondo: Bullet BalletTricky TowersTropico 5Trackmania TurboTransferenceTrials FusionTrials of the Blood DragonTrials RisingTrine 4: The Nightmare PrinceTron Run/rTT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2Uncharted 4: A Thief’s EndUncharted: The Lost LegacyUntil DawnUnturnedValiant Hearts: The Great WarVampyrVelociboxVictor Vran Overkill EditionVikings – Wolves of MidgardVirginiaWarhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – MartyrWarhammer: Chaosbane – Slayer Edition (PS5)Warhammer: Chaosbane (PS4)Warhammer: Vermintide 2Warriors All-StarsWatch DogsWerewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood (PS4)Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood (PS5)Werewolves WithinWild Guns ReloadedWindboundWorld of Final FantasyWhispering WillowsWolfenstein: The New OrderWRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship (PS4 and PS5)Wreckfest (PS4 and PS5)Wytchwood (PS4 and PS5)XCOM 2Y School Heroes: Bustlin’ School lifeYet Another Zombie DefenseYonder: The Cloud Catcher ChroniclesYs IX: Monstrum NoxYs VIII: Lacrimosa of DanaZombiZombie Army 4: Dead War2Dark428: Shibuya Scramble8-Bit Armies9 Monkeys of Shaolin

For those games where availability may vary by region, we’ve marked them with an asterisk. You can see which of these games are available in your region by checking the PS Plus hub on your console.

PlayStation Plus Premium game trials

Cyberpunk 2077

This feature in the PS Plus Premium tier gives you access to some of the newest titles on PlayStation for a limited time with no obligation to buy them.

BiomutantCyberpunk 2077 (PS5)Elex 2 (PS5 and PS4)Farming Simulator 22 (PS5 and PS4)Horizon Forbidden West (PS5, PS4)Hot Wheels Unleashed (PS5 and PS4)Lego City Undercover (PS4)MotoGP 22 (PS5, PS4)The Cruel King and the Great Hero (PS4)Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (PS5, PS4)Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (PS5)WWE 2K22 (PS5, PS4)

PlayStation Plus classic games

Gravity Rush Remastered

For retro fans, the classic games catalog will be a big draw for them as it offers access to a healthy selection of iconic games from the past. Pulled from across multiple PlayStation generations, there’s plenty to discover and relive with this blast from the past.

AfrikaAir Conflicts: Pacific CarriersAir Conflicts: Secret WarsAir Conflicts: VietnamAKIBA’S TRIP: Undead & UndressedAlien RageAlien SpidyAll Zombies Must Die!Alone in the Dark: InfernoAnarchy: Rush HourAnna – Extended EditionAnomaly Warzone EarthApe EscapeApe Escape 2Aqua Panic!Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star*Arc the Lad: Twilight of the SpiritsArcana Heart 3 Love Max*Arcana Heart 3*Armageddon RidersAsura’s Wrath*Atari Flashback Classics Vol. 1Atari Flashback Classics Vol. 2Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk*Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~*Atelier Meruru – The Alchemist of Arland 3 -*Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland*Atelier Shallie ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sea~*Baja: Edge of Control HDBang Bang RacingBatman: Arkham Origins*Batman: Return to Arkham – Arkham AsylumBatman: Return to Arkham – Arkham CityBattle Fantasia*Battle of Tiles EXBattle Princess of ArcadiasBellator MMA OnslaughtBeyond: Two SoulsBig Sky InfinityBIOHAZARD: The Darkside Chronicles*Bionic Commando Rearmed 2*BIONIC COMMANDO REARMED*BioShock 2 RemasteredBioshock Infinite: The Complete EditionBioShock RemasteredBIT.TRIP Presents… Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien*Black Knight SwordBladestorm: Nightmare*Bladestorm: The Hundred Years’ War*BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger*BlazBlue: Continuum Shift ExtendBlood KnightsBloodrayne Crimson SlayerBolt*Borderlands: The Handsome CollectionBrinkBubsy: The Woolies Strike BackBulletstorm: Full Clip EditionBurn Zombie Burn!Capcom Arcade Cabinet: All-In-One PackCarmageddon: Max DamageCars Mater-National Championship*Cars Race-O-Rama*Castlevania: Harmony of Despair*Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate*Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2*Cel Damage HDChampion Jockey: G1 Jockey & Gallop Racer*Chime Super DeluxeClass of Heroes 2GComet Crash: Bionic BundleCrash CommandoCritter CrunchCrossing Thesis of Gods and Destiny AwakeningCrysis RemasteredCuboidCuboid Ultimate BundleDanger ZoneDangerous GolfDark CloudDark Cloud 2 (SIEE: Dark Chronicle)Dark MistDark Sector*Dark Void*Darksiders II Deathinitive EditionDarksiders Warmastered EditionDarkstalkers Resurrection*Dead Nation: Apocalypse EditionDead or Alive 5: Last RoundDead or Alive 5Deadliest Warrior: LegendsDeadliest Warrior: The GameDeadlight: Director´s CutDeath Track: ResurrectionDeception IV: Blood Ties*Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess*Demon’s SoulsDerrick the DeathfinDevil May Cry 4*Devil May Cry HD Collection*Disgaea 3: Absence of JusticeDisgaea 4: A Promise UnforgottenDisgaea D2: A Brighter DarknessDisney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two*Disney Universe*Disney·Pixar Brave*Disney·Pixar Cars 2: The Video Game (PS3)*Disney·Pixar Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue (PS1/PS4)*Disney·Pixar Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue (PS1/PS5)*Disney·Pixar Toy Story Mania!*DivekickDoc Clock: The Toasted Sandwich of TimeDogfight 1942Double Dragon NeonDragon Fin SoupDragon’s LairDragon’s Lair II: Time WarpDuke Nukem ForeverDynasty Warriors 6Dynasty Warriors 6 EmpiresDynasty Warriors 7 Empires*Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends*Dynasty Warriors 7*Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends*Dynasty Warriors 8*Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce*Earth Defense Force 2025 (SIEJ: Earth Defense Forces 4)*Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon*Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard*Eat Them!Echochrome (PSP/PS4)Echochrome (PSP/PS5)Echochrome: PreludeElefunkEnemy FrontEnslaved: Odyssey to the WestEscape Dead IslandEthan: Meteor HunterEufloriaF.E.A.R.Faery: Legends of AvalonFallout 3Fallout: New VegasFantaVisionFinal ExamFinal Fight: Double Impact*Frogger Returns*Fuel OverdoseG-ForceGarou: Mark of the Wolves*Genji: Days of the BladeGhostbusters: Sanctum of SlimeGo! Sports SkiGod of War HDGod of War II HDGod of War III RemasteredGod of War: AscensionGoosebumps: The GameGravity Rush RemasteredGreg Hastings Paintball 2Guilty Gear Xrd RevelatorHakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi*Hamilton’s Great AdventureHamsterballHeavy Fire: AfghanistanHeavy Fire: Shattered SpearHeavy RainHigh Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker EditionHoardHot Shots Golf (PS1/PS4)Hot Shots Golf (PS1/PS5)Hot Shots Golf: Out of BoundsHot Shots Golf: World InvitationalHot Shots TennisHotline MiamiHunted: The Demon’s ForgeHustle KingsI.Q: Intelligent Qube (PS1/PS4)ibb & obbICO Classics HDInfamousInfamous 2Infamous: Festival of BloodInjustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition*Interpol: The Trail of Dr. ChaosInvizimals: The Lost KingdomJak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy*Jak 3Jak IIJak X: Combat RacingJetpack Joyride DeluxeJimmie Johnson’s Anything With An EngineJoe Danger 2: The MovieJudge Dee – The City God CaseJumping Flash! (PS1/PS4)Jumping Flash! (PS1/PS5)JumpJet RexKaratekaKineticaKingdoms of Amalur: Re-ReckoningKnytt UndergroundKoei-Tecmo: The Best Majantaikai ⅣKung Fu RabbitLast RebellionLead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild WestLegasistaLego Batman 2: DC Super HeroesLego Batman: The VideogameLego Harry Potter CollectionLego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues*Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures*Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game*Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars*Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga*Leo’s FortuneLinger in ShadowsLock’s QuestLocoRoco 2 RemasteredLocoRoco Cocoreccho!LocoRoco RemasteredLost Planet 2*Lost Planet 3*Lost Planet*Lumines RemasteredMachinarium (PS3)Mafia II: Definitive EditionMafia: Definitive EditionMagic OrbzMagus*Majo to HyakkiheiMamorukun Curse!Mars: War LogsMatt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond*MEGA MAN 10*MEGA MAN 9*Meikyu touro LegasistaMETAL SLUG 3*Metro 2033 ReduxMetro: Last Light ReduxMonkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck’s RevengeMotorStorm ApocalypseMotorStorm RC Complete EditionMount & Blade: WarbandMr. Driller (PS1/PS4)Mr. Driller (PS1/PS5)MX vs ATV ReflexMX vs ATV: AliveMX VS ATV: UntamedNarco Terror*Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge*Ninja Gaiden 3*Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2*Ninja Gaiden Sigma*Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence*Not Harem Heaven, It’s Yandere HellNumblastOddworld: Abe’s OddyseeOddworld: Abe’s OddyseeOkabuOkage: Shadow KingOutcast – Second ContactPapo & YoParadox of Gods and Destiny RevolutionPatapon 2 RemasteredPatapon RemasteredPenny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode OnePenny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode TwoPhineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension*PidPirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End*PixelJunk Eden EncorePixelJunk MonstersPixelJunk Monsters EncorePixelJunk Racers 2nd LapPiyotamaPlanet MinigolfPlanets Under AttackPool NationPort Royale 3 Pirates & Merchants Gold EditionPrimalPrismatic SolidProteusPuppeteerPure Farming 2018Puzzle Agent*Q*Bert: RebootedQuantum Theory*R-Type DimensionsRag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of PlasticRageRagnarok Odyssey AceRaiden IV: OverKillRaiden V: Director’s CutrainRainbow MoonRatatouille*Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In TimeRatchet & Clank: All 4 OneRatchet & Clank: Full Frontal AssaultRatchet & Clank: NexusRatchet & Clank: Quest for BootyRealms Of Ancient WarRecord of Agarest War 2*Record of Agarest War Zero*Record of Agarest War*Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare*Red Dead Redemption*Red FactionRed Faction IIRed Faction: BattlegroundsRed Faction: Guerilla Re-MARS-teredRed Johnson’s ChroniclesRed Johnson’s Chronicles – One Against AllResident Evil 4*Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition (Alternative Edition)*Resident Evil 6*Resident Evil Code: Veronica X*Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City*Resident Evil Revelations 2 – Complete Edition*Resident Evil Revelations 2*Resident Evil Revelations*Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles*Resident Evil*Resistance 3Retro City Rampage DXRetro/GradeRicochet HDRise of the KasaiRocket Knight*Rocketbirds: Hardboiled ChickenRogue GalaxyRogue WarriorRotasticRune Factory: Tides of DestinySacred 3 GoldSacred CitadelSaikyoshogi Gekisashi 13Saints Row 2Sam & Max BTS: Episode 1 – Ice Station SantaSam & Max BTS: Episode 2 – Moai Better BluesSam & Max BTS: Episode 3 – Night of the Raving DeadSam & Max BTS: Episode 4 – Chariots of the DogsSam & Max BTS: Episode 5 – What’s New Beelzebub?Sam & Max The Devil’s Playhouse Episode 1: The Penal ZoneSam & Max The Devil’s Playhouse Episode 2 The Tomb of Sammun-MakSam & Max The Devil’s Playhouse Episode 3 They Stole Max’s BrainSam & Max The Devil’s Playhouse Episode 4: Beyond Alley of DollsSam & Max The Devil’s Playhouse Episode 5: The City That Dares Not SleepSamurai Warriors 2 Empires HD Version*Samurai Warriors 3 Empires*Samurai Warriors 4*Sanctum 2Savage MoonSerious Sam CollectionShatterShiki-teiSid Meier’s Civilization Revolution*SirenSiren: Blood CurseSkullgirls EncoreSky FighterSkydive: Proximity FlightSkyDriftSlender: The ArrivalSmash CarsSnakeballSniper Elite V2Soldner-X 2: Final PrototypeSoldner-X: HimmelssturmerSpace AceSpelunker CollectionSpelunker HDSplit/Second: VelocityStar RaidersStar Wars Racer RevengeStar Wars The Force Unleashed IIStar Wars: Bounty HunterStar Wars: Jedi StarfighterStar Wars: The Force Unleashed Ultimate Sith EditionStarDroneSTARWHALStreet Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition*StriderStrong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People Episode 1-5*Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix*Super Star WarsSuper Stardust HDSuper Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix*SyberiaSyphon Filter (PS1/PS4)Syphon Filter (PS1/PS5)Tales from Space: About a BlobTales from Space: Mutant Blobs AttackTekken 2 (PS1/PS4)Tekken 2 (PS1/PS5)The Awakened Fate UltimatumThe Darkness II*The Darkness*THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVIONThe Guided Fate Paradox Full GameThe King of Fighters XIIIThe Last GuyThe Last of Us RemasteredThe Last of Us: Left BehindThe Last Tinker: City of ColorsThe Legend of Heroes Sora No Kiseki FC: Kai HD EditionThe Legend of Heroes Sora No Kiseki SC: Kai HD EditionThe Legend of Heroes Sora No Kiseki The 3rd: Kai HD EditionThe Mark of KriThe Raven RemasteredThe Secret of Monkey Island: Special EditionThe UnderGardenThunder WolvesTokyo JungleTokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters*Toro to MorMoriToukiden: KiwamiToy HomeTrash PanicTrinity: Souls of Zill O’ll*Tron: Evolution*Truck RacerUmbrella CorpsUncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection*Urban Trial FreestyleVelociboxVelocityUltraVesselVoodoo Chronicles: The First SignWakeboarding HDWar of the MonstersWarlordsWarriors Orochi 3*Warriors: Legends of Troy*Way of the Samurai 3 PlusWay of the Samurai 4 PlusWhen Vikings Attack!Whispering WillowsWhite Knight ChroniclesWhite Knight Chronicles IIWild Arms (PS1/PS4)Wild Arms (PS1/PS5)Wild Arms 3WipEout: Omega CollectionWizardry: Labyrinth of Lost SoulsWorms Armageddon (PS1/PS4)Worms Armageddon (PS1/PS5)Worms World Party (PS1/PS4)Worms World Party (PS1/PS5)Xblaze Code:Embryo*XBlaze Lost: Memories*XCOM: Enemy Within*Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z*Z/XZack ZeroZen Pinball 2Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov’s Revenge

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

At first blush, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide appears to be very similar to previous games created by its developer, Fatshark. The gists of Darktide, Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, and Warhammer: Vermintide 2 are pretty much the same. All three games are cooperative multiplayer titles in which teams of four players take on Left 4 Dead-style objective-based missions and crush their way through hordes of enemies. And like its predecessors, Darktide makes great use of Fatshark’s approach to first-person melee combat, giving you ample opportunities to smash skulls with giant hammers and huge knives.

Where Darktide steps away from the Vermintide games is with the more sci-fi-oriented Warhammer 40k setting, which adds a few spins–most prominently, a greater prevalence of guns. Coming into Fatshark’s Warhammer games for the first time with a hands-on preview of about 30 minutes of Darktide, it was immediately clear how the game stands out from other cooperative multiplayer offerings like it. Mixing guns and melee play creates a variety of new and interesting combat scenarios for Darktide, where you have to simultaneously think about clearing out enemies, controlling the battlefield, and covering your teammates from sneaky, approaching threats.

In Darktide, you carry both a big melee weapon and a gun, and having the two types of weapons creates a distinct feel in the gameplay–you’re facing both hordes of zombie-like enemies wielding melee weapons, and soldiers with guns of their own. The mix of the two kinds of enemies means you need a mix of long-range and close-range tactics to deal with them, and the teamwork to match.

As Victor Magnuson, head of design at Fatshark, and lead level designer Joakim Setterberg explained in an interview with GameSpot, the studio knew it had melee combat under control. To fit the expectation of Warhammer 40k, though, it would have to up its ranged game.

“In Vermintide, we had ranged [combat], but it’s a medieval setting, so they were very basic weapons,” Magnuson said. “So we didn’t have to go as deep as readouts, all that stuff.”

“The opposition was melee-based as well, so that didn’t give you the full range of encounters and tactics,” Setterberg added. “But now you have a different balance that you have to adhere to.”

Mixing the two kinds of combat together meant that Fatshark had to think about how to add ranged enemies to scenarios without them feeling tacked on or unbalanced in various encounters. That meant creating a cover system that enemies could adhere to so, Magnuson said, so soldiers aren’t just standing around waiting for you to shoot them. Enemy soldiers are also designed to try to group together to create a unified front, he said, whereas melee enemies are likely to come from all over the place. That means that soldiers feel like they’re fighting you intelligently while helping prevent the mix of melee and ranged combat from becoming so chaotic that it’s confusing and unfun.

That approach to ranged enemies also means that savvy players have the opportunity to use tactics against them, like by sending a member of their team to flank soldiers behind cover. Other little additions add nuances to the shooter combat, Magnuson said, like the ability to run and slide under enemy fire while lining up a shot of your own. Each character also gets a recharging shield that Magnuson said helped bridge the gap between melee combat and ranged combat.

“We knew we wanted ranged combat, and to be able to get into melee combat from ranged, you have to not be afraid of running up to the enemy,” he said. “So we implemented this shield system so you can take two or three shots, to encourage people to still engage in the melee.”

Level design was also a major part of making Darktide’s fights fun without being unbalanced. Like the Vermintide games, Darktide uses an AI director behind the scenes, which dictates where and when enemies show up to fight players, and what types of enemies those forces include. But that means, as Magnuson explained, the developers never know exactly what will happen in a given battle.

“We have to design the spaces for our players as well as the enemies–the enemy is its own team, properly,” Setterberg said.

“We just have to make sure that, throughout the missions, there are all these possibilities that could happen, if the AI director system decides to adhere to it,” Magnuson added.

The mission we played had us working through a portion of the ravaged Hive city of Tertium, starting at the surface in what seemed like it might have been a residential district, before opening the way down into tighter maintenance tunnels below. Hordes of enemies occasionally would appear along the way, until we hit locations where we’d have to defend a computer console opening a way forward or complete a similar objective.

In addition to big groups of zombie-like melee enemies and gun-toting soldiers, there are plenty of opportunities to fight elite units that change up the battle. Trackers like to slip behind your group and hit players with net guns, disabling them and leaving them vulnerable until a teammate shows up to free them. Bombers try to dash toward your group and blow themselves up for huge damage, while Gunners wield large miniguns and sport extra armor so they’re tougher to take down. As we descended into maintenance tunnels beneath a subway, the AI director threw a huge Plague Ogryn miniboss at us. The narrow hallways were far less than ideal for taking on the huge enemy at first, but eventually our team managed to use the maze-like halls to surround and overwhelm it while it struggled with its attention divided.

Darktide differs from the Vermintide games in more than just setting and combat feel, as well. Where the Vermintide games let you choose from a handful of characters when creating a team, Darktide allows you to create your own characters, who fit in a series of classes. We saw four classes in our preview–the veteran, zealot, outsider, and ogryn–and each has their own stat differences and special abilities. For our mission, we tried the damage-focused zealot, whose role is generally to close distances quickly with the enemy and lay into them with melee strikes. The zealot’s special ability is a dash that seems to leave you temporarily invulnerable as you travel, making it possible to get in close without getting shot up along the way. The fast-paced approach was great for getting into the action quickly, although the zealot often has to rely on their teammates to avoid getting too overwhelmed, as it’s easy to dash your way into trouble if you’re not paying attention.

Magnuson said that classes differ from one another somewhat in their stats, and primarily in their special abilities and combat approaches. The ogryn, for instance, is about twice as big as the other characters, making it great for tanking damage, but also an enormous target. You can further customize your playstyle through a leveling system that opens up different perks. Every time you level up, you unlock a choice of one of three upgrades, Magnuson said. We didn’t see the system in action, but Magnuson said that choosing how you want to level your character is a big part of developing them over time as you play through Darktide’s missions.

The class and customization systems mean that, where two players on a team couldn’t both choose the same character in the Vermintide games, players have more freedom with how they create their teams in Darktide. You can have four veterans on a team if you want, Magnuson said, making team composition a part of your tactical planning when taking on a tough mission.

In fact, having two or more characters of the same class might create an interesting situation from a story standpoint. As with Vermintide, a lot of the story experience in Darktide is in the banter between the characters as you’re playing, and part of your customization options for creating your characters is determining their personalities. Two characters on a team might both be veterans, but with different personality options in play, they’ll have different conversations in missions, Setterberg said; an all-ogryn conversation would be different from a conversation between an ogryn, veteran, and zealot.

Not all the character customization options will have such a notable impact on your character–the home planet you choose or your character’s childhood, for instance, might not alter conversations, although some will offer different cosmetic options. But the breadth of options offer Warhammer 40k fans who like to roleplay more ways to define who they want their particular Darktide character to be. You can also create multiple characters, giving you opportunities to decide who you bring to a team, or even to spec different characters of the same class with different gameplay specializations or personalities.

Where you’ll control your particular playstyle most is with your weapons. An accurate, laser-firing lasgun plays differently from the faster firing auto gun, while a chainsword gives you some different options from a big, electrically charged hammer. Our damage-focused zealot used the auto gun alongside the hammer, gunning down waves of melee enemies quickly at a distance to create breathing room, and then dealing massive damage by charging up the hammer for a big, satisfying electrified strike. Alternatively, with a lasgun in hand, you might hang back and try to go for headshots, clearing out soldiers with guns and letting other players handle more of the melee fighting.

Magnuson said that Darktide is also taking a different tack on its loot and weapon system from the Vermintide games and going a bit deeper on those systems.

“In Vermintide, a sword was always a sword,” he explained. “Swords always had the same stats, the sort of same speed and so on. But here you can get a sword that has higher damage or a higher speed, and depending on the rarity of the weapon, there are more of those stats that are allowed to get a higher roll, so to speak. And if you find a weapon with the perfect roll that you want, you can then go to a crafting station and change the traits on it. If you find a weapon that you don’t like, you can salvage that trait, take it out and put it on the weapon that you actually want to use.”

You’ll mostly get random loot at the ends of missions, but Fatshark realized in Vermintide that randomness can be a pain for players who take on a mission over and over again and can’t seem to get the certain type of weapon they want to drop. To help combat that, Darktide’s hub area–which includes characters to talk to and a station to launch missions–includes vendors where you can purchase specific types of weapons, if that chainsword is just refusing to drop at the end of missions. You can also take on long-term “contracts” to earn yourself better weapons, fulfilling objectives to gather currency that you can then pay toward a piece of gear to eventually unlock it.

As for the missions you’ll face, Fatshark intends for Darktide to offer players as much replayability as possible, with the AI director’s variations on encounters and the deep loot system coupling with other possibilities that might change how missions play out over time. You’ll see those possible variations on the mission board, a location in Darktide’s hub area where you can jump into matches with other players.

“The mission board is used for matchmaking purposes mainly, and it also allows us to tell sort of what’s going on in the Hive right now, like what missions are they sending us on right now,” Magnuson said. “So there’s a bit of a narrative component. It will also allow us to have, like, weekends when we have something going on in the Hive, so maybe this mission is more prevalent or it keeps coming back. Let’s say the story is that this week there’s a blackout in the Hive. A lot of missions have what we call a ‘circumstance,’ like a mutator. So we could put a circumstance on a mission and have something like a blackout where it’s much darker than previously and you have to really rely on your flashlight to be able to play and stuff like that. So we can have those little sort of narrative things happening every once in a while when we want to do it.

“We know that our players play this game for a really long time, right? So we want it to feel fresh again and again and again,” he said.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is set to release on September 13 on PC and Xbox Series X|S.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

One of the big reveals from the Xbox/Bethesda showcase on Sunday was the news that Metal Gear and Death Stranding director Hideo Kojima is making a game with Xbox. In the wake of that announcement, developer Kojima Productions has now assured fans that it continues to have a “very good partnership” with PlayStation.

“After the announcement of our partnership with Microsoft using the cloud technology, many people have asked us about our collaboration with [Sony Interactive Entertainment]. Please be assured that we continue to have a very good partnership with PlayStation as well,” the statement said.

Kojima Productions is an independent game developer that now makes games, movies, and music, the Japanese studio said in another tweet. Being independent means the company is, in essence, a free agent that can make a deal with any company it wants to, including rivals like Sony and Microsoft.

Sony and Microsoft may compete in the same marketplace, but the companies are also working hand-in-hand. In 2019, the companies announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop future cloud solutions within Microsoft Azure.

As an independent creative studio, #KojimaProductions will continue pursuing work on creations for our fans. We will explore various possibilities with games, movies, and music through platforms that evolve with time and technology. We look forward to your continued support! pic.twitter.com/Q2Ww6exwGA

— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) June 13, 2022

According to a leak, Kojima is working on a horror game called Overdose, though whether or not this is the title his team is making for Xbox is unknown. The leak also stated that Overdose stars Margaret Qualley, who previously played Mama in Death Stranding.

Talking about his new game during the Xbox/Bethesda showcase, Kojima said, “Yes, there is a game I have always wanted to make. It’s a completely new game, one that no one has ever experienced or seen before. I’ve waited very long for the day when I could finally start to create it.”

He added: “With Microsoft’s cutting-edge cloud technology, and the change in the industry’s trend, it has now become possible to challenge myself to make this never-before-seen concept.”

Kojima cautioned that it may “take some time” for this new project to come to fruition.

It appears to be just one of multiple games that Kojima has in the works, with Norman Reedus recently saying that Death Stranding 2 is in development.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

There’s been no shortage of Street Fighter 6 news since the game was officially revealed, as Capcom has divulged more details on its core combat, revealed some familiar faces on its roster, and even showed how you can brutally mock Ryu. Expect news on Street Fighter 6’s development to slow down for a while though, as Capcom continues developing the fighting game so that it can make its 2023 launch date.

“We have had so much fun showing you what Street Fighter 6 is all about this past week and a half,” Capcom tweeted. “While we prepare to show you what’s next, we are going to be a bit more on the quiet side for a short while as we return to the development dojo. Thank you!”

We have had so much fun showing you what Street Fighter 6 is all about this past week and a half. While we prepare to show you what’s next, we are going to be a bit more on the quiet side for a short while as we return to the development dojo. Thank you!

— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) June 11, 2022

There’s still plenty of Street Fighter 6 news to dig into before Capcom provides a fresh update on development–and a few other games in today’s Capcom Showcase–such as Guile’s big reveal at Summer Game Fest Live and how the game will implement rollback netcode so that multiplayer matches can have as little lag as possible. GameSpot’s Tamoor Hussain also wents hands-on with Street Fighter 6, and has praised the game for feeling like it’s already in main event shape when it makes its debut next year.

“Capcom has clearly paid attention to what the community likes and dislikes about Street Fighter 5, as well as other entries in the series, and Street Fighter 6 feels like the result of carefully considering all of that,” Hussain wrote in his Street Fighter 6 preview.

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Taking place this week is the IEEE’s annual VLSI Symposium, one of the industry’s major events for disclosing and discussing new chip manufacturing techniques. One of the most anticipated presentations scheduled this year is from Intel, who is at the show to outline the physical and performance characteristics of their upcoming Intel 4 process, which will be used for products set to be released in 2023. The development of the Intel 4 process represents a critical milestone for Intel, as it’s the first Intel process to incorporate EUV, and it’s the first process to move past their troubled 10nm node – making it Intel’s first chance to get back on track to re-attaining fab supremacy.

Intel’s scheduled to deliver their Intel 4 presentation on Tuesday, in a talk/paper entitled “Intel 4 CMOS Technology Featuring Advanced FinFET Transistors optimized for High Density and High-Performance Computing”. But this morning, ahead of the show, they re publishing the paper and all of its relevant figures, giving us our first look at what kind of geometries Intel is attaining, as well as some more information about the materials being used.

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Fans have finally gotten their first significant look at Starfield, and in addition to new details about space exploration and combat, players now know how character creation and skills work in Bethesda’s new RPG.

As part of the Xbox and Bethesda showcase, Starfield game director Todd Howard described Starfield’s character creator as the studio’s “most flexible yet,” with nearly every element of a character, including how they walk, able to be customized.

When starting out, players will select from a list of character backgrounds that assign three starting skills. Starfield’s debut gameplay trailer showed well over a dozen backgrounds to choose from, ranging from Cyber Runner to Diplomat. The skills granted from these backgrounds can be as simple as dealing more damage against certain types of enemies to being more persuasive in speech challenges.

Players also have the ability to select up to three traits in addition to their background. Traits are optional and according to Howard grant unique advantages and disadvantages. Examples from the gameplay trailer showed traits like Spaced, which grants temporary health and endurance bonuses when the player is in space, but health and endurance debuffs when on a planet’s surface. Another trait called Starter Home grants players “small house on a peaceful little moon,” but comes with a $50,000 mortgage payment.

It wouldn’t be a RPG without skill trees, and Starfield has those too. The gameplay trailer shows five different skill trees to choose from: Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech. Each tree has a number of different skills to choose from. Howard said Starfield’s skill system “combines the best” of skill systems from previous Bethesda RPGs. New skills are unlocked by leveling up. Skills can then be ranked up by using that corresponding skill alongside completing associated challenges, further increasing the skill’s effectiveness.

Starfield is definitely a RPG, but will also include elements like base building and space combat. According to Howard, over 1,000 planets will be present in Starfield for players to explore.

Originally slated for a November 2022 release, Starfield was delayed and is now set to release in the first half of 2023 for Xbox Series X|S consoles and PC.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Many expected the heavily rumored GoldenEye remaster to be announced during the Xbox showcase today, but it wasn’t. James Bond fans weren’t entirely out of luck, however, as developer Replicate D6 released a new trailer for its GoldenEye-like title Agent 64 during the PC Gaming Show today.

The trailer shows off more of the game, which aims to be a “retro homage to 90s console shooters.” As you can see in the brand-new trailer, Agent 64 is clearly riffing on GoldenEye with its legally distinct but definitely similar music and gameplay mechanics, weapon models, and animations. The character models are also very similar in presentation to those from the iconic N64 game. Have a look for yourself:

Agent 64 also lets players make and share their own levels. The game is planned for release later in 2022, but a free Early Access demo is out now on Steam.

As for the rumored GoldenEye remaster, additional Achievements for the unannounced title recently leaked. A remaster of the N64 title was apparently originally in the works for Xbox 360 and has since then become the subject of many rumors. Xbox boss Phil Spencer clarified that GoldenEye not being on Xbox has “always been a rights issue, not a ‘getting code to run’ issue.”

2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the James Bond series, and it has been previously announced that a slew of news related to the property would be coming this year, which has led many to believe it may be announced soon.

Elsewhere in the world of James Bond games, IO Interactive, the developer behind the Hitman games, has been working on its own Bond game, which will feature a “completely original story” for the world’s most famous superspy.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Nightdive studio has been working on its remake of the landmark 1994 immersive sim System Shock for some time and today during the PC Gamer Show we got a thorough look at it.

The trailer showed lots of gameplay and featured voice-over from the game’s antagonist, SHODAN. The big and most noticeable element of the remake are its vastly improved visuals. The trailer showed footage from outside the Citadel space station, gunplay, an assortment of enemies, different locations on the station, as well as a little bit of cyberspace.

Warren Spector also called into the show to discuss the game. Spector is known predominantly as the director of the original Deus Ex, as well as the creator of the Epic Mickey series. Spector was a producer on the original System Shock and spoke about the the improved visuals of the remake. Spector said of the original game, “We did the best we could,” and “It was pretty primitive back then.” He also called out how cluttered the original game’s user interface was lamenting the fact that when you started the original game, it presented you with a screen full of text. Spector also said, “SHODAN far too close to reality right now,” but was hopeful that System Shock remains fiction, even in the year 2022.

Nightdive did not offer a release date for the remake, but a demo for the game is available on Steam.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News