Ubisoft has yet to share further details on the mode. However, game director Richard Knight previously discussed the same last July, and how Shadows helped provide the foundation. That said, you shouldn’t expect a direct adaptation.

“We have different challenges in terms of how that works. We can’t skip to the hideout, necessarily. But we’re looking into it.” Whether it will include any additional rewards is also up in the air, especially given how much work goes into creating new items. We’d be shocked if there’s nothing at all, but as always, it’s best to wait and see.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out our review, where we scored it a 9. You can also learn why it’s better than the original in almost every way, though your mileage may vary somewhat on the new story elements.

After a little over two weeks, the remake sold over 3.5 million copies, and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stated the company was “very pleased” with the praise. Whether it gets any additional content or other new features besides New Game Plus remains to be seen, but at least players can hide the blowpipe for that extra dash of realism.

“We’ve seen your conversations and feedback over the last few months around our male Jun character model. We’ve been listening, and we take that feedback seriously. We’ve continued to refine Jun as we’ve worked on him and the rest of the game.” The trailer then cuts to Jun in various scenes from throughout Exodus, showcasing how the team has generally improved the character model in a number of ways.

In the meantime, it is worth noting that Archetype Entertainment hasn’t yet revealed what the female version of Jun will look like. However, considering how Robertson spoke about feedback being important in this regard, it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that the team has also been working hard to ensure that the female Jun doesn’t face similar types of complaints.

The quality of character models can be quite important for a game like Exodus, since the sci-fi RPG is set to have quite a bit of emphasis on its story. This means that the expressiveness of characters across various situations, from facing down world-ending threats to simply spending some time with companions, is important to get right.

Just last month, narrative director Drew Karpyshyn spoke about the relationship system in Exodus, and how the team has been working hard to make sure that the relationships between characters feel real. This means that players’ choices will also define how their companions see them, and as a result, might even affect their relationships.

“[M]aking their relationship with you grow, allowing it to evolve from the choices you’ve made, and realizing that the choices you make are going to bring some companions closer to you, but maybe push some companions farther away.”

“Without spoiling too much, we definitely want to have it impact how their storylines go,” he continued. “Depending on choices you make, by the end of the game, you might not have every companion with you that you started with. That’s about all I can say!”

Exodus is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on April 7th, 2027. The release date for the title was announced with a trailer that gave us a new look at one of the in-game characters – Salt the Octopus. The character has been described as being “Awakened” and capable of communication with the other characters. In combat situations, Salt can control a combat mech, giving her access to a variety of weapons and other tools that could turn the tide of battle.

Around the same time, the studio also provided details about Emrys – another party member that Jun can befriend. In combat, Emrys is able to weaken enemies and empower Jun through the use of Remnant Orbs, essentially making her a support character that could prove vital in the thick of battle.

Thanks to a new features trailer, we have a better idea of what to expect, and how exactly these influence the Greymanes’ lives. Let’s take a look at ten new details you need to know about Charting the Unknown, and why it could take a once-in-a-generation experience to an all-new level, starting with…

Building Your Own Ship

Previously, the developer revealed that Kliff gets his own ship, but exactly how – and whether it was inherited in some Edward Kenway-level of deception – was unknown. Until now, because as it turns out, you can build your own ship (after taking care of some pirates and commandeering their shipyard, of course). Design the bow (with draconic and lion decorations available), the stern (which can have a snazzy steamworks design), cannons, and even the sails. Go for pristine off-white fabrics, torn cloth or crimson sails befitting a certain reddish desert – the choice is yours, though how many resources all of this will require is the real question.

Naval Combat and Ghostly Enemy Ships

For those who thought cannons meant naval combat, well, good news. At first, we see Kliff’s ship ramming an enemy vessel, but at one point, he passes by and unleashes two volleys of cannon fire into the latter’s hull. It’s also worth noting the foe in question – a ghostly ship with tattered sails and evil energy. So while it remains to be seen which human crews (like those aforementioned pirates) will step up to the Greymanes, there are more than enough supernatural threats to go around. Can I board them and loot their stuff, though? Asking the real questions.

Dive Suit Crafting and the A.T.A.G. Submarine

Much like the ship, you won’t just get a dive suit and call it a day, but craft one. Several other underwater structures, like ruins, were revealed alongside new species that help with exploration, from stingrays and turtles to whales and even sunfish. But that’s not all, since the A.T.A.G., which didn’t have much use in the base game, can be modified into a pseudo-submarine. You might want to be careful while venturing underwater or mining new resources, though, as those jellyfish could prove a major stinging hazard.

New Enemy Factions and Precious Resources on Islands

New islands await your exploration, and while some are empty (save for the odd underwater statue), there are new enemy factions, with what appear to be new weapons. Based on one of the new bosses, which we’ll get to in a bit, they’re none too happy that Kliff and friends are encroaching on their turf. Though not every mass is occupied, they offer underwater caves to swim through, valuables like pearls and more. It’s also worth noting a sunken galleon, which could hold its own treasures

Establishing Your Own Strongholds

Remember when the developer showcased the ability to customize your own home, building it up however you’d like? As it turns out, that’s different from a new feature: Creating your own strongholds. By assigning different comrades and having the required resources, you can turn an ordinary campsite and dock into a bustling seaport fit for wagons, traders and more. If you lack inventory space for trade goods, don’t worry, as your new ship has its own cargo hold. With the potential to create multiple strongholds, you could create your own network of traders and goods, as you sail back and forth, offloading, selling and making money.

Creating Businesses From Liberated Strongholds in Pywel

What about the strongholds that you’ve already liberated on Pywel’s mainland? Are they destined to remain either stagnant or in a never-ending war of reblockading? As it turns out, this is the key to that previously announced bit about renting properties. You can essentially turn them into businesses, leasing facilities and assigning equipment and comrades to sell goods and offer different services. These include a Tailor’s Shop and a restaurant, and they’re each governed by Recognition, which unlocks certain manuals, outfits like the Architect’s Cloth Workwear, and even blueprints for carpets as you ascend higher in the ranks.

Decorating and Customizing Certain Liberated Castles

If it wasn’t enough to extensively customize your own home, build a stronghold from scratch or arrange everything in a new business until it’s perfect, you can also decorate certain castles once they’ve been liberated. Think of yourself as a new count or baron, rearranging the courtyard and its structures to your liking, creating lavish rooms laden with furniture and paintings, and much more. Surely the people won’t mind, given everything you’ve done for the world.

Special Guests at the Greymane Camp

A neat little detail that feels somewhat underrated is how trusted companions will drop by to spend time with you at the Greymane Camp. While I didn’t see anyone I recognized in the trailer (which is fine because it allows me to scream, “Who are you people?!” after a long day), watching them dance together, conversing, and even letting loose fireworks at night to celebrate certainly makes the standard camp feel more lively.

Boss Rush

Boss rematches in the base game, whether previously defeated foes at their original strength or scaled to your current level, could be a blast, but you know what was missing? A proper boss rush. Well, it seems one of the Abyss islands above Pywel has been repurposed to accommodate the same. Each set has you changing particular bosses one after another. We spotted two enemy mechs and Marni’s Clockwork Mantis in one instance. Another pits you against Antumbra Order bosses, though only the Spear was showcased. Defeating them is more than a test of your combat prowess, however, as you’ll earn some “valuable rewards” in the process.

Brand-New Bosses

It wouldn’t be a Crimson Desert trailer without a tease of new bosses that will make Kliff, Damiane and Oongka miserable. One has a skeleton-faced helm and gold armor, seemingly reanimated through dark magic. He uses a sick red blade to attack, cleaving through the air in a giant arc. And remember those new enemy factions we mentioned? One of their bosses has heavy-set armor and a hookshot arm which lets him dash all over the place to attack, creating spots for eruptions.

Despite the extensive information, remember this doesn’t account for potential new abilities, armor sets, weapons and much more that could shake up build-crafting as we know it. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if the naval combat is far deeper than expected or if certain underwater species could be used as mounts above water (though Blackstar is still very much available for transportation). Based on the Enhanced Edition’s impressive overhaul, the story could also offer a far more memorable questline.

Whatever the case may be, Charting the Unknown certainly marks a brave new beginning for Crimson Desert and one that the developer will hopefully expand on for months to come, even if it’s past the point of overkill.

While the title has managed to do relatively well despite being available on Game Pass, having reportedly sold around 230,000 copies and compelling around 700,000 users to subscribe to Game Pass’s higher tiers, its development budget being so high would mean that the title would still have to sell several million more copies before it could break even.

Lending further credence to Kotaku’s report about the game’s budget is Christopher Dring of The Game Business, who said, “Yes, so this, from what I’m told, is very true. $500 million. Unbelievable.” According to ResetEra user –R, Windows Central’s Jez Corden offered similar corroboration for Kotaku’s report. “They ain’t wrong on the figure, but seems to be some disagreement among my sources how that figure was allocated between E-Day and general TC operations/ATG contributions,” he wrote in a since-deleted tweet.

It also doesn’t help matters that Xbox hasn’t yet confirmed any details about how well Gears of War: E-Day may have sold, or even how many Game Pass subscriptions it contributed towards. It likely doesn’t help that not releasing Gears of War: E-Day on PS5 has likely led to several lost sales from the platform.

However, according to Kotaku, Xbox might end up seeing greater benefits from keeping Gears of War: E-Day exclusive to the platform in the long term, especially if it continues to hang on to its positive momentum and attracts a larger player base over time, possibly even bringing in more Game Pass subscribers in the process.

Whether it will convince more potential players to buy an Xbox console remains to be seen, especially in the current state of the industry where prices have skyrocketed owing to component shortages. Similarly, Xbox itself is also having trouble stocking store shelves with its consoles, which might lead more players to pick the game up on either PC or on the next-gen Project Helix several years later.

In the meantime, Xbox seems to be keen on doubling down on the idea of exclusives. While Clockwork Revolution – an RPG slated for release next year – will also be Xbox-exclusive, the company has reportedly sent out surveys about the possibility of future games being exclusive as well.

“Imagine it was announced that all future title releases from every Xbox-developed gaming franchise except Call of Duty will be console-exclusive to Xbox,” says the survey. “For Minecraft only, existing titles would no longer be available for purchase on PlayStation or Nintendo consoles, and would not receive any new content updates. However, there is no impact to any of the existing titles or content you already own. Nothing changes on PC in this announcement.”

Gears of War: E-Day studio head Mike Crump has also spoken about the title being a natural choice for Xbox’s exclusivity strategy. For more details on the shooter – available on PC and Xbox Series X/S – take a look at our review.

“The majority of people on a team the size of Veilguard’s had little or no say in the things you disliked about it,” he said. “Right up to the end, BioWare still had many people who worked on the games you loved. I also have my own issues with modern entertainment, especially when political messaging gets in the way of good storytelling.”

Ohlen spoke about his own time at the studio while working on Dragon Age: Origins, and noted that he was “responsible for the Broodmothers” in that game, as well as the one who pushed for Zevran’s player romance option to be a same-sex one.

“My favorite character is Conan the Barbarian, and I love the art of Frank Frazetta, Brom, and Chris Achilleos.

“What I’m trying to say is that it’s possible to hold views that don’t fit neatly into anyone’s political camp, and to love and respect people you disagree with. People are complicated. That includes the people who make the games you love or hate.”

It is worth noting that Dragon Age: The Veilguard came out to positive reviews, with many critics finding themselves enjoying the title. However, the title caught quite a bit of criticism from players and long-time fans of the Dragon Age franchise. A report from last year shed some light on the development troubles that the title went through that might explain some of the issues it ultimately suffered from when it came out.

While Dragon Age: The Veilguard was originally envisioned as a single-player game, the project was pivoted into being a multiplayer live-service title before facing another pivot back to being a single-player game with an emphasis on narrative. The first pivot came from EA executives wanting to emulate the success of other live-service games of the time like Overwatch and Destiny, and BioWare ultimately tried its hand at the genre with Anthem to little success.

The decision to make The Veilguard a single-player game again came about in 2020. However, this pivot came with one major caveat: rather than giving the team the time to figure out how the title would shape up by going back into pre-production, EA instead wanted the studio to make the changes on the fly without resetting development. This ultimately led to several issues being brought up by QA teams at the time.

Former lead writer David Gaider has also spoken about how EA had a preference for the Mass Effect franchise over Dragon Age. “It always seemed that, when the Mass Effect team made its demands in meetings with EA regarding the resources it needed, it got its way,” said Gaider. “But Dragon Age always had to fight against headwinds.”

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Check out our review for more details.

If you need a refresher, this is a truly unsettling co-op horror experience that we previously believed would have you and up to three other players working together to guide rejected dolls out of a hellish factory whose occupants are hell-bent on preventing your escape.

Well, that number has now gone up to eight, while new threats lurk in the shadows even as familiar ones from the open beta wait to challenge you again. New Critters are also a part of the game’s welcome additions, with some available off the bat and others unlocking as you progress. New cosmetics and useful items like the Sketch-A-Map also make their way to the game, offering more ways to enjoy wracking your nerves. Oh, and we’ve also got a glimpse of that roadmap that was promised. We’ve included it alongside the launch trailer in case you want to join in on the fun as early as you can.

Of course, his conversation with Polygon went on to elaborate on there being enough depth to the many experiences the studio is aiming to bring to the table, all of which are rooted in the eras they’re set in, which should feel eccentric enough.

“When we began researching the eras we wanted to depict in this title, we found that the world of several decades, or even a century, ago already felt striking and unusual. The differences in values and common sense from that time are, in themselves, surprising and fascinating. So rather than deliberately creating situations solely for laughs, we felt that simply allowing players to encounter the social norms and values of the era could be an incredibly surprising experience.”

That makes sense when you think about the game’s opening act sees Makoto stow away on a ship with a smuggler played by none other than Snoop Dogg before facing prejudice in Japan. We’re hoping to see more of those moments in a game whose cast is as intriguing as its premise. It’s nearing its January 15th, 2027 release on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, so we won’t have to wait long to find out.

Rain and Lasswell’s valiant fight against Umbra and the Sworn Six is a battle for the ages, thanks to the Visions system bringing so many of the series’ noble heroes to your aid. It’s a major part of why this one has been a pleasure to review, and the trailer below is proof of its potency as a title that could have you obsessing over it when you’re not actively under its spell.

There’s a free demo that lets you play up until the end of the game’s first chapter in case you’d like to try it before you pick up a copy. Of course, your progress carries over to the full game if you decide to see the story through to the end. In the meantime, check out one of the hidden bosses Final Fantasy 7 fans will recognise, especially with Final Fantasy 7 Revelation out next April.

AdHoc Studio has dropped a couple of welcome announcements to celebrate the milestone, starting with iOS and Android ports on December 9. Pre-registrations open soon, with the first four episodes free to all and the rest locked behind a $19.99 purchase.

But that’s not all, as Deluxe Edition have something to cheer about. A new update adds over 16 hours of cast and crew commentary in a new Commentary Mode, so you can hear what the likes of Laura Bailey, Aaron Paul, and many others thought about their time on set.

There’s also a new Storyboard Mode that lets you experience the game in its original “storyboard animatics”, which is a novel way to encourage another playthrough. For our part, we probably would have just agreed to one even without the new stuff.

That’s a testament to the lasting appeal of a game that left quite the impression on us when we reviewed it. The trailers below should highlight why.

While it’s hard to believe it’s already been more than three weeks since we joined Dylan in the franchise’s latest story, it has managed to sell one million copies as of October 15, 2026. That’s quite a milestone for Remedy, which has since pointed out that Resonant is the fastest-selling game in a history that spans thirty-one years. That’s no small achievement, and if you haven’t tried out Resonant for yourself yet, it’s possible you don’t see what the fuss is all about.

We can tell you it’s well-deserved, though, and that Manhattan’s streets are very adept at making you want to return to them anytime you get a moment to yourself. Here’s why we think so.

Pushing Boundaries

It’s probably a good idea to look at Resonant’s success through the lens of the game whose title it has just managed to take for itself. Alan Wake 2 was at 1 million sales in December 2023 and 1.3 million by February 2024. That’s about three months to get to its first million and another couple of months to get a further 300,000 copies.

Looking at that trajectory, it’s clear that Remedy’s previous heavy hitter had a reasonable number of takers, but it’s certainly among the more popular games out there. But pit that against a mere three weeks for Resonant to take its spot, and the assertion from CEO Jean-Charles Gaudechon that Remedy “always believed that Control deserved an even bigger audience”, and the milestone begins to bear more significance.

It showcases a plan to make Control more accessible and universal, giving it a sort of appeal that’s built for the long term. We’re going to revisit that a little later in this one, but for now it’s important to remember that Resonant is a title that’s aimed at bringing in new audiences even as it aims to retain existing fans of the franchise it represents.

That’s interesting enough, but the real fun is in how it goes about achieving that.

Bold Gambits

It’s probably a good idea to address the most obvious change between Resonant and its predecessor, a change of protagonist aside. Dylan’s skill set doesn’t involve guns in a new combat system that’s centered on giving you all the power you want against enemies that are going to have you getting creative in how you use it.

A melee-focused combat system is an immediate departure from the controlled chaos of Jess’s third-person shooter perspective, and it’s a welcome change for a number of reasons. Of course, Manhattan cannot be disregarded thanks to how well it serves its role as a stage that seems to evolve over the course of the game, responding to Dylan’s growing abilities with obstacles and threats that seem tailored to bringing out effort to stop the Hiss to a premature end.

Working in tandem, the combat, story, and Manhattan are pillars that prop up an experience that can be quite addictive irrespective of whether you’re a returning fan or a total newbie. As an entry point, it’s easy to pick up, although there is quite a bit of depth to its combat system once you really begin to engage with it.

The same can be said for the traversal system and the way Manhattan often feels like a world that’s testing your ability to navigate it as much as it tests your ability to deal with the many threats that stand between you and your next goal. It’s time to get into how each facet of the experience earns your attention and retains it with aplomb.

Many Paths To Progress

Dylan’s use of the Aberrant is certainly a big change, as we’ve established, but does it manage to justify its inclusion in Resonant? That’s a question we’re happy to answer with a yes, as this is a combat system that’s so wildly fun almost right off the bat.

It isn’t too long before you get access to one of three Primary and Secondary weapons in the game, and their drastically varying combat styles are an immediately enticing few hours of mixing and matching their moves until you find a combination that works. The Aberrant’s ability to weave itself into varying shapes is certainly a great addition to a game that needs Dylan to be a versatile presence on the battlefield.

We still stand by our opening choices of Strike and Extend, the dual blades and staff working well to keep us fast on our feet and able to keep our enemies at a distance from which we could strike from a position of strength. Of course, there’s something to be said in favor of using stone fists and a giant hammer to just pummel your enemies into oblivion. That both options are present and viable is a testament to a combat system that values a flexible approach and a fun one.

Having smooth animations flow into each other, and moves that encourage free-flowing combos are certainly strengths in Resonant, and the result is a combat system that makes you feel powerful almost instantly.

Dylan feels like a powerhouse, and that feeling is only exacerbated when the game pits you against any of its bosses. They’re formidable threats, yes, but that’s not because of the narrative merely framing them that way. They feel as imposing as they do on the virtue of Dylan having to work for control of the fight against them, which the game’s grunt enemies often feel ill-equipped to do once you get some momentum and a good build going.

With skill trees that are quite expansive, and the addition of finishers and more weapons in each category a little while later, Resonant is certainly addictive as far as its combat is concerned. You find yourself chasing that next upgrade just to see what it does, and whether it gives you enough reasons to work it into your combos from time to time aside from the visual reward that pulling off each move gives you by default.

But Dylan’s fancy moves are not the only reason Resonant is having its players return to it even as new ones step onto Manhattan’s streets.

A World Built To Entice and Enthrall

Our reasons for engaging with Manhattan can be summed up by a series of memorable firsts. We’re not going to forget that glowing vending machine that we had to chase down and beat up to get rewarded quite generously for the effort.

That first Fault, and the thrill of getting a new way to engage with the world and its many varied environments, was another one to remember. That both of these occurrences came at a time when something equally compelling already had our attention, and that it was pure curiosity that forced the detour, is an indicator of a world that’s good at reeling you in.

The franchise’s penchant for the unusual gets a whole new canvas to paint on, one that’s now the size of a city instead of a house where the walls seemed to limit the Hiss’s ability to get creative. Manhattan almost feels like the long-standing antagonist has also reached the pinnacle of its character arc, and the many levels that have you switching orientations, perspectives, and more are all ways in which the game can be quite spellbinding as far as its world is concerned.

Equally captivating is the way Dylan navigates it all. He runs on walls, or uses a sort of Glide to stay airborne and access areas that other FBC operatives might not be able to reach. His use of the Aberrant isn’t just tied to his fighting style; it’s woven so effectively into the way he navigates the world that it’s handled very deftly, and the result is a game in which getting around can be as fun as chasing down a new mystery and picking as many fights as you’d like on the way there.

The Beginnings Of Momentum

Dylan’s been great at giving the Control franchise stronger legs to stand on, but how far are they going to carry it? Selling a million copies as quickly as it has is no mean feat, but that has to be measured against whether it has helped the game recoup its costs, or at least come close to doing so.

Great combat, a solid world and story, and interesting ways to keep players engaged in their moment-to-moment gameplay are great things to have when you’re seeking to build a game that’s going to effectively grow your existing player base. On that front, it’s easy to see Resonant as being especially effective at that goal.

The story’s no slouch either, and while we did point out that the combat does take a while to open up in our review of the game, it remains potent enough to keep you invested in it up until that point. When you think of it as a complete package, Resonant is indeed off to a strong start, and might just help Remedy take control of a bigger audience later down the line.

As a first step, it’s given its makers a rather large one to work with. And it has done so by being an entertainer we find very easy to recommend if you’re looking for a title to get lost in.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.