Card Shark is a dizzying lesson in card manipulation. It pins Nicolai Troshinky’s admiration for the 1975 Stanley Kubrick film, Barry Lyndon, to Arnaud de Bock (Reigns, Pikuniku) and Nerial’s resume of designing intuitive puzzlers that embrace creative thinking. It follows a young runaway mute who gambles their life away in an alternate history of 18th century France and in a very Devolver way, sprinkles in pirates, powdered wigs, fencing duels, monoprinted paintings of French architecture and neighboring countrysides, and a hidden royal conspiracy called The Twelve Bottles Of Milk.

It’s out there for a game about card cheating, but that’s the point. Card Shark features over 20-plus different cheating techniques derived from real-life iterations of card marking and deck switching, and it balances its oddities with mini-games and three difficulty levels that test your memory and quick thinking in high stress scenarios. The tension can be deafening, so we’ve put together a quick guide on how to cheat your way through 18th century French society without getting caught.

Focus on cheating, not winning

Despite what you think, Card Shark isn’t about playing cards. It never really reveals what card game is being played across Agen, Espalion, Marseilles, and other quaint parts of southwestern France, and instead, it convinces you to minimize variables and focus on what matters most: the execution of a cheat. As an accomplice to the Comte de St-Germain, hand values are meaningless and players are responsible for executing the precise setup of new strategies in order to help him win the round and delay fellow gamblers from turning a simple trick into an unavoidable consequence.

Be smart (and careful) about betting

Timing is everything. Increasing a bet at any table has its positives (bigger payout, spicy gameplay), but doing so in the earlier rounds of a scene will only heighten your opponent’s suspicion meter. Max it out and the table will disband for the night. Or in some cases, call for your head. Upping the bet at farming areas (i.e. The Barn) can help with scenes that require a larger purse and entry fee, and with enough coin, you can fail at least once per scene and still progress the main story.

Nerial’s Card Shark is a romanticized glimpse into the art of cheating at cards.

Develop your own memory techniques

Card Shark’s cheating strategies vary from simple (The Three Card Monte) to absurdly complex (The Baby False Shuffle) and using pattern recognition and memorization can help anyone stuck in a bind. Techniques like The Bottle Of Cahors and The Indiscreet Fingers are used to signal an opponent’s strongest card suit and can benefit from applying a phrase to a specific suit and action (i.e. “hearts full” = wipe table clockwise) or creating an acronym for ranking individual cards (AKQJ = Ashton Kutcher’s Quinoa Jambalaya). The game uses its own patterns as The Stealthy Painter marks the backs of different high cards with an actual paintbrush, but it also leaves the door open for deck memorization and other advanced concepts with strategies that exploit stolen cards and duplicates.

Practice, practice, and practice

Since they’re not perfect 99.9% of the time, all new techniques can be rehearsed as often as possible before they’re performed at a table or in a scene. There are 28 strategies in total, with some card tricks being new variations of others, and it can be tedious to keep tabs on terminology like bottom drags, riffle shuffles, reverse cuts, and injogs–a card that is moved during an overhand shuffle to stick out from the inner end of a deck. Practicing scenarios can help with memorization habits-especially since scenes only use one trick per round–and they can also assist with the unique timing of Nerial’s thumbstick gestures and the rhythm of collecting, shuffling, and re-dealing a deck of cards.

The Stacked Shuffle arranges valuable cards on the bottom while holding the deck.

The pause button is your friend

Similar to other strategy titles and deckbuilders, Card Shark can throw the entire kitchen sink at you in a heartbeat and immediately follow it up with an endless charade of anxiety. So if you are feeling an immense amount of pressure, take a breather! Cheating isn’t exactly easy and taking a moment to pause the game during a complex technique can help you revise new signals, card values, and recognition skills, and even re-enact specific control schemes that are unique to a scene.

Always read the room

Troshinsky’s rewrite of France’s Age of Enlightenment is a gambler’s paradise full of personas who live and die by two things: riches and secrets. They–alongside the famed Comte himself–are willing to do whatever it takes to obtain knowledge of either, so always read the room and be prepared for an unexpected turn of events. Tables can attract unwanted guests (and modifiers) and an ordinary card game can spiral into a cliff side duel with Theodore von Neuhoff, the King of Corsica, or a romantic dinner party for two with an undead host who calls herself The Lady Of Bones.

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Activision will officially reveal Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on June 8, but ahead of that, the publisher released a teaser trailer that sets up some of what to expect. The live-action trailer shows a group of soldiers, Task Force 141, preparing to go behind enemy lines. Check it out below.

“The ultimate weapon is team,” Activision said in its description. It’s expected that Task Force 141, the main team from 2019’s Modern Warfare, is getting back together for the sequel.

Modern Warfare 2 launches on October 28 for PC and consoles. It’s developed by Infinity Ward and is rumored to be focused, at least in part, on Colombian drug cartels. Leaks have suggested that a beta is in the works, too, with PlayStation users getting in first.

In a blog post, Infinity Ward art director Joel Emslie said Modern Warfare 2 is one of the most “ambitious, beautiful, bombastic, melt-your-face-off game Infinity Ward has ever created.”

Emslie added that Modern Warfare 2 is “this studio’s magnum opus and it’s the type of game I’ve been waiting to be a part of my entire career.”

Microsoft is in the process of purchasing Activision Blizzard–including the Call of Duty franchise and all of its developers–but the series will continue to be released on PlayStation in the future. In a big shift, Activision will reportedly not release a new Call of Duty game in 2023.

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Fortnite continues to be one of the most popular games in the world. Since launching in 2017, the battle royale has seen no shortage of wild collaborations, and its player base continues to be one of the most passionate in all of gaming. And like any game that amasses legions of followers, there’s a bunch of awesome Fortnite merch up for grabs. We’ve rounded up the best Fortnite merch below, which includes items such as backpacks and action figures to throw blankets and plushies.

Fortnite Agent’s Room Action Figures (Agent Peely)

$23 (was $30)

Peely is one of the most iconic characters in Fortnite–after all, who doesn’t want to run around as a banana wearing a suit? This small action figure set includes Ghost and Shadow versions of Peely, along with a few weapons and a library playset.

Fortnite Legendary Series Brawlers Kit

$20 (was $25)

This action figure is built with more than 35 points of articulation, letting you capture the perfect pose or recreate iconic moments from the game. It also features a bunch of additional weapons and is officially licensed by Epic Games–so you know you’re getting an authentic product.

Fortnite The Chapter 1 Action Figure Collection

$80

Each figure in this collection offers at least 25 points of articulation. The officially licensed bundle features 10 action figures: Black Knight, Rust Lord, The Visitor, Drift, DJ Yonder, Ice King, Peely, Rox, Eternal Voyager, and Jonesy.

Fortnite Battle Bus Deluxe

$64

Once you’ve collected a bunch of Fortnite action figures, consider completing your collection with this gigantic, 14-inch Battle Bus. It’s not the cheapest product on this list (clocking in at $64), but it comes with two other action figures, light-up components, and the ability to play popular music from Fortnite.

Fortnite Peely Plush

$11

Love Peely so much that you want to give them a hug? Consider picking up this adorable, super-soft Peely plush. You’ll also find a similar plush of Durrr Burger up for grabs–although it’s a bit smaller than Peely at just five inches.

Fortnite Llama Loot Plush

$15 (was $17)

If you don’t mind dropping a few more bucks, you’ll find a colorful, seven-inch Llama Loot plush up for grabs. Officially licensed and built with high-quality materials, this makes a great gift or addition to your own game room.

Fortnite Nerf Guns

$10+

It should come as no surprise that Fortnite’s arsenal of weapons has received the Nerf treatment. There are several great models to choose from (including the Flare Dart Blaster and Heavy SR Blaster ), so be sure to peruse the full collection.

Fortnite Funko Pops

$8+

From Fishstick and Peely to Tomatohead and Rippley, it’s hard to find a Fortnite character that hasn’t been turned into a Funko. Some of these have become more elusive than others, but there’s still a wide selection of readily available Fortnite Funko Pops.

Fortnite Hoodies

$17+

Show your Fortnite love with one of these stylish hoodies. If you want to stand out in a crowd, consider picking up this bright yellow Peely Pullover. Or, you can wear something a bit more muted with this black hoodie featuring the Fortnite logo. If neither catch your eye, be sure to browse the full collection.

Fortnite Multiplier Backpack

$40

The gorgeous, colorful design is the highlight of the Multiplier Backpack, but you’ll also find adjustable shoulder straps, 100% polyester construction, and multiple zipper closures that let you easily organize your gear and keep it secure.

Fortnite Monopoly

$18

This version of Monopoly makes some big changes to the rulebook. Instead of accruing property and growing your wealth, you’ll need to survive the board’s hazards and be the last player standing. It’s a cool twist to the Monopoly formula, and the Fortnite aesthetic only makes it more appealing.

Fortnite Joy-Con

$90

This popular Joy-Con variant is more expensive than most, but no doubt it boasts one of the coolest designs on the market. Beyond the Peely-inspired paint job, you’ll also get the Fleet Force Bundle and 500 V-Bucks to spend as you wish.

Fortnite Stainless Steel Water Bottle

$19 (was $20)

Whether you’re in the middle of a game or out on a hike, this sleek water bottle is the perfect way for Fortnite fans to stay hydrated. It’s designed like an oversized, aluminum can, but the stainless-steel design actually features a flip-top cap that makes it easy to grab a drink before throwing it in your bag.

Fortnite Domez 4 Pack (Series 1)

$20

Black Knight, Elite Agent, Omega, and Raven are all featured in this Domez bundle. Built with a unique enclosure and stackable design, they’re the perfect centerpiece for your desk or game room.

Fortnite Totem T-Shirt

$23

Fortnite shirts are aplenty nowadays, but few are as stylish as this Totem T-shirt. The quirky design features a vertical Fortnite logo alongside four popular characters–and sizes from small to 3X-Large make it easy to find the right fit. There’s even a youth version that includes sizing for toddlers.

Fortnite Throw Blanket

$20

Not only will this Fortnite throw blanket keep you warm, but it’s also a colorful addition to your home. The fleece blanket comes in at 46 x 60 inches and is crafted with soft-touch materials. It also rolls up into a compact form factor, making it easy to bring with on a road trip or store when not in use.

Fortnite Turbo Builder Set

$19 (was $21)

Fortnite may have introduced its Zero Build mode, but crafting ridiculous structures will always remain a part of its identity. If you’re looking for a fun way to translate that to real life, consider picking up this unique bundle, which offers two action figures (Fable and Dire), several weapons and harvesting tools, and 82 wood building materials that let you construct a variety of ramps and towers.

Fortnite Late Game Survival Set

$40

Similar to the Turbo Builder Set, this bundle includes a variety of building materials, weapons, and other Fortnite accessories. However, the Late Game Survival Set ups the ante with a few unique pieces, such as spike traps, a launchpad, and roof and arch materials. It also features Crackshot and Leviathan figures.

Fortnite Battle Royale Collection Mega Fort Display Set

$37

With 28 building materials, Tricera Ops and Blue Squire figurines, and the ability to build three different configurations (Fortress, Blockade Barrier, and Watch Tower), this bundle is an affordable way to replicate the Fortnite experience in your living room.

Fortnite Supply Llama

$20

This action figure bundle comes with a 4-inch Fortnite Kit figure that features more than 25 points of articulation. You’ll also get a variety of accessories, including weapons, Back Bling, and more.

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Roller Champions did not launch with a Season 1 like many other live service games. Instead, Ubisoft Montreal’s roller derby-inspired game was released with a preseason, one that has a smaller battle pass and not many planned limited-time events. It’s essentially launched in early access, without actually being early access, giving the team the room to shift gears ahead of Season 1 if need be.

“We’re like 50% set in stone of where we want to go–the other 50% allows us to react, to be able to fix bugs on the fly,” Roller Champions live ops manager Naomi Barnes told GameSpot. “Currently anything that we need to fix on the client side we’ll throw into Season 1. If there’s anything we can fix that’s just a quick server update, we’ll do that, though.”

The Roller Champions team arrived at this plan of action after seeing how Ubisoft’s other live service games have faired over the years–both those that have gone on to be successful and ones that have quickly failed.

“So like Rainbow 6 Siege, For Honor–even Hyper Scape,” Barnes said. “We’ve taken learnings from all of them, including how to work as a dev team. We like to see what’s out there, take some learnings, see how we can work it into our team, and truly make it a roller experience.”

Going forward, the plan is to have Roller Champions continue to grow, adding more arenas to play on and cosmetics to earn. Unlike the month-long preseason, future seasons are currently aiming to be three months long.

“Every season, we will have new arenas,” game director Julia Goriounov said. “Since this game is launching in the summer, we wanted to get the summer vibes in there [at the start].”

“There’s planned content updates, and on the fly updates as well,” Barnes added. “Being a very heavy [live-service] game, it gives us the freedom to be able to do a lot of changes if we need to. That was very important to us to be able to react if we have to.”

Roller Champions is available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC. Preseason continues until June 21–at that point, Season 1 begins.

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