Remember when we all played Astro’s Playroom, which came pre-installed on every PlayStation 5, and enjoyed a collective nostalgia trip through Sony’s video game history, coupled with a great deal of hope for the future of our shiny new consoles? The platformer pays tribute to PlayStation’s past with cute little robot cameos representing nearly every video game hero from every era remotely associated with the brand. It was more or less a guided tour through the legacy of one of the big three, and after the PS4 solidified Sony as top dog in the console landscape, I was certainly in the mood to look back at how we got here when the PS5 launched in 2020. Now we have Astro Bot, the excellent follow-up that builds upon all the tight platforming, adorable robo aesthetics, and PlayStation nostalgia of that pack-in game. But it’s been four years since the PS5 launched with Astro’s Playroom installed and the new game also inadvertently spotlights the fact that, despite four trips around the sun, the system has remarkably little to show for it.

Astro Bot Is An Incredible Reminder That The PS5 Era Has Been A Huge Bummer

No Man’s Sky, the procedurally generated space survival game filled with thousands of planets has finally added the only worthwhile endeavor — fishing. As of today, August 5, developer Hello Games has released the Aquarius update, which doesn’t just add fishing to the game but does so with incredible depth and style. It’s just the latest in a string of major and minor fixes and additions the game has seen since its less-than-stellar launch in 2016.

8 Years Later, No Man's Sky Gets One Thing Every Game Needs: Fishing

Concord is shutting down its servers on September 6 and will not be playable after that as its developers “explore” other options for the sci-fi shooter released last month on PS5 and PC. The game struggled to find an audience—never cracking over 1,000 concurrent players on Steam—and quickly became a flop that was also derided by many critics and fans.

Concord Shutting Down 14 Days After Launch

Last week saw the surprise release of Castlevania Dominus Collection, a great compilation that (finally!) gives us a way to play the series’ three Nintendo DS releases on modern hardware. Castlevania fans have their strong opinions on which of these are the best, but the fact that Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia are now far more accessible is a win for everybody. Still, it was another inclusion in the collection that made my jaw drop when I saw the release trailer in last week’s Nintendo Direct: Haunted Castle Revisited, a brand new remake of a little-known Castlevania arcade game. And folks, it is absolutely gorgeous.

That New Castlevania DS Collection Includes A Terrific Bonus Game

Nintendo Switch owners have been waiting for upgraded hardware for years. They might finally get a glimpse of that later this month, as rumors continue pouring in about an imminent reveal of a Switch 2 console in September, including that it will boast backwards compatibility so that fans’ vast game collections can come along for the ride.

Switch 2 Rumors Are Hitting A Fever Pitch

Every generation has its signatures. A certain fashion trend, a popular artist, or a movie that most everyone has seen. They also have their own signature games, and even consoles. For example, my generation had quite a few great systems growing up, but none was ever more popular than the PlayStation 2, and few games were as beloved as its RPGs. It was, perhaps, the single greatest console for the genre, and many of its hits are still as acclaimed to this day, including numerous Final Fantasy games. For my generation, one of the defining RPGs of that era is none other than Kingdom Hearts. And right now, the whole lot can be bought for the price of a single new game.

You Can Get The Whole Kingdom Hearts Series For The Price Of One Game Right Now

It’s 1913 and young Nancy Maple, an amateur geologist, travels from Toronto to the remote Canadian town of Crimson to investigate the discovery of a large diamond. However, things are more perilous than they initially seem, and before long our plucky heroine finds herself investigating an apparent murder instead. Released on August 15, The Crimson Diamond is a brand-new adventure game from developer Julia Minamata, and it is exceptional. With its design, Minamata excavates a once-common element of early adventure games that has long fallen by the wayside, dismissed as if it were no longer of any value. However, The Crimson Diamond brilliantly demonstrates that, when used effectively, this device can actually enhance our connection to a game. Let me explain.

This Murder Mystery Is A Must-Play For Die-Hard Adventure Game Fans

Gamescom is something of an anomaly. The annual event, in the German city of Cologne (or Köln to the locals), is the largest, most visited gaming exhibition in the world, dwarfing its nearest rivals, and has outlasted many alternative public and industry events. It adapted rapidly to covid, and became a successful online event when others wilted. And it somehow seamlessly combines a massive-scale industry event with an even more enormous public convention. So why is Gamescom so successful, where others struggle?

Why Gamescom Dominates Where E3 Failed

Miriam’s Vanishing is a Sorcery that can only be found in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. This spell allows you to teleport in any direction you’re holding, giving you a new way to move around the battlefield and get the drop on your enemies. This makes it a fun spell to use in PVP, especially, so you won’t want to miss your chance to get it.

Where To Find Miriam's Vanishing Sorcery In Shadow Of The Erdtree

Concord, Sony’s latest live-service game, flopped and is now shutting down later this week. As a result, it seems some people think that their physical copy of Concord on PS5 might suddenly be worth a pretty penny and are trying to flip the game on eBay. Suggested Reading. Here's...

People Are Rushing To Sell Concord For Way Too Much Now That It's Shutting Down

If you are a fan of expansive RPGs with great stories and combat, then you need to run to the Steam storefront right now. Bandai Namco’s incredible Tales of games are currently on sale, but the amazing discounts on the nearly three decade old franchise end in under twenty four hours. The Tales of Franchise Sale 2024 concludes on September 5 at 1 p.m. EST. The sale includes five of the series’ seventeen mainline titles, with each title offering the best the series has to offer.

You Have One Day Left To Get These Amazing RPGs For Cheap

Let’s say, hypothetically, that you killed your husband on a cruise from the UK to New York. How would you get away with it and walk off a free woman when the boat arrives at port? That delightfully thrilling premise is only the start of 2021’s Overboard! It’s a murder mystery game that gives you the rare chance to take on the role of the murderer as you seek to throw an eccentric detective off your scent. Overboard!—and six other thrilling mystery games—are available as a package deal for ten dollars in the Humble Detectives Bundle, running until September 12th. If you’ve ever gotten a little too into true crime and detective stories, this is a can’t miss deal.

Get This Inventive Twist On The Murder Mystery Game In Humble’s Latest Bundle

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Emily Standley Allard

When your temper flares are you a raging bull? A vicious Virgo or a conniving Capricorn? Emotions are complex states that involve physiological, behavioral, and cognitive changes. They influence how we perceive the world around us, how we interact with others, and how we make decisions. However, our emotions are not the only factor that influences our behavior. Astrology can be a telling factor as well.

The Most Ruthless Zodiac Signs - Ranked from Most to Least

Over a decade after it became a gaming sensation, Minecraft’s big-screen debut is fast approaching, and now kids, long-time fans, and curious onlookers can gaze upon what the voxel crafting game’s transformation to green screen live action will actually look like. Welcome to the uncanny valley. Suggested Reading.

The First Minecraft Movie Trailer Is Here And It Looks Super Weird

Haliey Welch, better known online as the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” is launching a podcast called Talk Tuah on Betr, a sports gambling and media company owned by Jake Paul. In June 2024, a video was posted of Welch being asked, “What’s one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?” Her response, “You gotta give ‘em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang,” went viral online and quickly became a popular meme. It also led to a lot of discourse, backlash, discourse about the backlash, more backlash to all the discourse, and eventually meta-commentary about the entire situation. You know, the usual three-week cycle that viral memes have these days. But Welch isn’t done with her five minutes of internet fame and is now going to host a podcast.

Hawk Tuah Girl Launching Podcast With Jake Paul's Sports Betting Company

Every month, millions of people around the world take for granted the fact that they are probably members of Amazon Prime. A Prime subscription nets you a lot, including a streaming service and free shipping on online orders, but it also offers new free games every month through Prime Gaming. Sometimes, these offerings are a snooze, but this September, Amazon is throwing a lot at players, and the biggest draws are multiple Lord of the Rings games as well as most of the Borderlands series.

Borderlands And LotR Headline A Strong Lineup Of Free Amazon Prime Games This Month

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"They get more than us, Why nobody told me about this?". If you're looking for a tasty option that won't break the bank, a Chick-fil-A's kids' meal might be just what you're after. It seems like a great deal. In fact, some people argue it's a better deal than a regular adult meal. This TikToker took the audience through the ins and outs of this meal.

Chick-fil-A customer says they’ll never order a full meal again after seeing kids’ meal

In the mystical realm where astrology intersects with spiritual beliefs, certain zodiac signs are thought to possess inherent qualities that offer protection against malevolent entities and negative energies. This intriguing concept has roots in ancient astrology and cultural traditions worldwide, where the alignment of the stars at one's birth is believed to influence not only personality traits but also spiritual protection. This post delves into the 5 celestial shields of the zodiac, highlighting signs that are particularly noted for their protective aura against evil spirits.

5 Zodiac Signs That Possess a Protective Aura Against Evil Spirits

Despite its faults, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power remains a treasure trove of Tolkien lore for superfans of the fantasy franchise—and season two episode four succinctly showcases the Amazon Prime series’ love for its source material. From the debut of a fan-favorite character to a series of delightfully daft dialogues, the latest episode of Rings of Power is a strong one—something the wildly expensive (yet mostly middling) series could use right now.

The Rings Of Power Season 2 Episode 4 Introduces An Iconic Lord Of The Rings Character In The Best Way Possible

Star Wars Outlaws has been out for just about a week now, and I’m sure lots of folks are still poring over the details of its various worlds and wrapping up quests in Kay Vess’ adventure. However, if that game has left you wanting a more typical lightsaber-swinging odyssey across the stars, boy, have I got the games for you. Respawn Entertainment, which is best known for shooters like Apex Legends and the Titanfall series, has also spent the past several years developing the Star Wars Jedi third-person action-adventure games, and you can snag them on sale on PlayStation right now.

Get The Star Wars Jedi Games For Cheap If Outlaws Has Left You Wanting More

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One Of 2024's Best Games Is Coming To Your Phone This Month

Balatro, one of the best games released this year, is finally making the leap to mobile devices. The popular poker roguelike will be available on Android...

One Of 2024's Best Games Is Coming To Your Phone This Month

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