A statement by Embracer Group CEO Phil Rogers noted that the major reason for this deal was so that the company could improve its cash flow while still hanging on to its main priorities of maintaining core IPs.

“This transaction supports our key priorities by strengthening our focus on strategic assets and core IPs in Embracer while improving profitability and free cash flow,” said Rogers. “The deal also allows online multiplayer game Fellowship, developed by a talented external team in Stockholm, to find a great home within Coffee Stain Group. I would like to thank the teams at Arc and Cryptic for their hard work over the past four years and wish them all the best as we are confident they will thrive and develop in the years ahead.”

The new owner of Arc Games – Project Golden Arc – is comprised of the company’s own management team. Among the games it has published are Remnant: From The Ashes and Remnant 2, Torchlight, Hyper Light Breaker, and most recently, Fellowship. Cryptic Studios has also worked with Arc Games in the past since it has worked on the Arc Games-published MMORPGs Star Trek Online and Neverwinter.

While the long-term fates of all of these games are currently unknown, one of the few titles to which Embracer Group is holding on to the rights for – Fellowship – will continue its development by studio Chief Rebel. The title, released as an Early Access game on Steam back in October, will see continued development under the stewardship of the studio, with its core development team numbering in at around 35 employees.

Embracer Group had announced that it would be spinning off Coffee Stain Group back in May. As a result of this spin-off, Embracer Group will see its name changed to Fellowship Entertainment. The spun off Coffee Stain Group will take with it 250 employees, along with a host of studios, including Tuxedo Labs, Ghost Ship, and Amplifier Game Investment. The spun-off company will also take quite a few IPs with it, including Deep Rock Galactic, Goat Simulator, and Satisfactory, among others.

Once Embracer Group officially turns into Fellowship Entertainment, the company plans on transforming its business into one that can handle game development and publishing, as well as the development of new IPs that can then be spun off into transmedia properties like merchandise, comics and film. The company will retain ownership of companies like 4A Games, Aspyr Media, Crystal Dynamics, Dambuster Studios, and Deca Games, among many others. In the meantime, also check out the company having announced earlier this year that co-founder Lars Wingefors was stepping down as CEO.

We’ve put together a list of some of the most memorable experiences we’ve had within that framework. Some of them really turn things up a notch, and you might want to keep a light on if you decide to dive in!

Let’s get started.

1. Elden Ring

Despite a more visually bright world in The Lands Between, Elden Ring squirrels away poignant, truly frightening tales in the backgrounds of its dungeons, or in plain sight for the Tarnished to uncover. The lore behind those in pots in any of Shadow of the Erdtree’s dungeons showcases a side to Queen Marika that makes her actions all the more terrifying to think about, while other instances of her kingdom’s trysts with monsters manifest in frightening ways.

Grotesque monstrosities accost you, sometimes in the most beautiful places, while the darkest corners of The Lands Between or the Shadow Tree’s cursed landscape hide melancholy secrets and enemies deadly enough to take out even the best builds. Bloodborne players might be all too familiar with that one and the Madness gauge.

And of course, there’s Mohg’s haunting story to uncover for those of you interested in some gruesome lore that has some far-reaching implications spread across the story.

2. Demon’s Souls (Remake)

One of the best things Bluepoint Studios did with the Demon’s Souls remake was to recreate its environments just as they were set up in the original game while adding a layer of realism to its oppressive levels and its many threats.

Each boss, although familiar, was now all the more terrifying, their new character models lending them an additional layer of imposing dread. That’s also true for many of the game’s grunt enemies as well, and the entire experience was definitely worth experiencing all of the tension between boss runs that comes with it all over again.

3. Lies of P

One of the things that Lies of P does so well is weave in its horror component into its narrative in subtle ways, with it being an important part of the background that underlines the bizarre puppet frenzy and its aftermath. We’re not going to forget fighting Andreus’ mutated form any time soon, or the battle against the Monster of the Swamp.

The DLC took things up a notch right off the bat, having us explore a zoo whose inhabitants were certainly a sight to behold, even as they tore us to shreds. Lies of P hides very morbid tales behind its lore and encourages you to learn more about how the Alchemists and those against them both went to extremes to achieve their goals. We’re not forgetting the results of Romeo’s time with Arlecchino in Overture anytime soon, and that tale alone is enough to earn this one a place on our list.

4. Control: Ultimate Edition

A supernatural realm existing outside time and space, being at the center of Altered World Events that distorted reality, should have been quite a giveaway, in hindsight. But Control cleverly hid its horror behind a layer of sci-fi that could be quite the surprise when the game decides to raise your hackles.

There is some SCP-style terror on offer here, and you’re soon going to be at the center of some very scary encounters in the role of the FBC’s new Director. Warped realities and whispered threats are among the many reasons that this one was a no-brainer for this list.

5. Death Stranding 2

We have two words for you: Beached Things. These monstrosities, called BTs for short, are nothing short of terrifying when you encounter them. These lost souls are not just terrifying to fight, but bring the risk of a Voidout to every encounter with a living being. That’s a sentiment that is right in the background with each one, and is scary enough with each of the BTs bringing unique attacks and horrendous appearances.

Their frequency makes every step through Death Stranding feel like it’s a trek through a world that continues to be haunted by the horrifying event that started it all.

6. Returnal

Housemarquee certainly did a great job of weaving in some brilliantly written psychological horror into Selene’s “time” at Atropos. Not only are the alien monsters she encounters quite menacing on their own, but every discovery of the time loop she is in adds a layer of subtle tension to the rest of the experience, slowly peeling back the layers of a timeline that could plague her for the rest of her life.

Returnal’s very premise sets the stage for a few truly frightening encounters and revelations, and is one that could stay with you long after you roll the credits on it.

7. Remnant II

Irrespective of where you end up at the start of your adventure, thanks to the procedurally generated experience, things get weird and scary quickly in this one. From the time loop in a burning house to tracking down the Nightweaver in the Tormented Asylum, this one can get quite hair-raising when it ups the ante in that direction.

Remnant II’s themes of desolation and a sort of decay in the worlds it takes you to blend very well with the lore and discovery around some of its more imposing bosses, each of which boasts a design that could give even the bravest Travelers.

8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

Folklore and monster contracts are a perfect recipe for some chilling stories and horrifying enemies in CD Projekt Red’s excellent take on the novels. Several missions in the franchise’s third instalment bring its many impressive monsters to life, partly through their designs but also via the journey of following their tracks and witnessing what they’re capable of firsthand.

It’s a sense of anticipation and dread that the game does well to capture, especially if you manage to uncover the second DLC’s deepest secrets. Or perhaps uncover a side quest with some truly haunting consequences in the Skellige Isles.

9. Metro Exodus (Enhanced Edition)

4A Games’ take on a post-apocalyptic shooter certainly packs in moments that can have you in sheer panic and trying to button-mash your way out of a situation without even thinking about it. In a world that has many inhospitable areas, and some very terrifying mutant creatures in areas that are, this is a level of gas-mask panic that’s quite memorable indeed.

We’d argue that it’s a survival horror game in disguise, given how challenging it is to brave the world it presents to us.

10. A Plague Tale: Innocence

Guiding your way through a take on a 14th-century setting with the Inquisition on your tale should be harrowing enough. But Asobo Studio certainly dialed things up by factoring in the Black Plague. But did they stop there? There was also a layer of supernatural entities and some horror elements thrown in, making this one a story that had us feeling both terror and awe at so many points.

Hugo’s journey alongside his sister and the erosion of his innocence as he battled his illness is a story that’s right up there with the most haunting ones we’ve seen. It’s made all the more haunting given his young age, the struggles of his sister to find a way out for both of them, and, of course, the sense of melancholy that a land falling victim to the Black Plague can bring if done correctly.

Bonus: Ghost of Yotei

While Atsu’s role as an onryo and the eventual terror she inspires in her enemies is great and all, Sucker Punch included a touch of the supernatural in this one. The Mythic Tale of the Spider Lily General involving his armor turns into a trek through an estate still haunted by his ghost.

He brutalises other bounty hunters ahead of you, he watches somberly as you attempt to navigate his puzzles, and his shadow passes ominously across the window as you enter his home. The eventual battle and the way it ends are as haunting as the journey through this character’s life story.

His story is hauntingly poignant, involving a morbid take on a father’s love that leads to some very interesting conversations with the general himself later down the line. We’d say that uncovering the tale is as unsettling as the premise itself, a sentiment that isn’t helped in the slightest by his estate’s general sense of neglect and suffocating atmosphere.

And that’s a wrap on some of the scariest experiences we’ve had outside of the horror genre. We’d argue that some of these games more than deserve a place among the genre’s finest, though!

With Yaesha and Losomn out of the way, it’s time to return to N’Erud, perhaps my favorite location from the base game despite criticisms of flatness. The Dark Horizon takes place in an unknown section of the Drzyr’s forlorn construct focused on agriculture, which either failed given the rotting and discolored nature of the crops or succeeded based on the sheer yield of these abominations. Regardless, not even a few minutes into the DLC, it hit me with one of the unintentionally best set-ups for a plotline – finding the culprit behind my destroyed lift.

"Gunfire Games shakes things up by separating some locations into floating landmasses, accessible only by glider."

I was to retrieve a prototype droid’s head, traipse across literal dark horizons and battle N’Erud horrors whose existence only just came to light… just because of a bumpy fall. This isn’t the best set-up for a DLC storyline, especially when it culminates in a space-defying battle. But damn, if the sheer insanity of the premise didn’t make me laugh.

To the writing team’s credit, the interactions were pretty fun. The enemy is convinced they could wipe me out, pushing the telepathic conversation to the potentially aneurysm-inducing brink, bringing up Cass and how I relegated her to the merchant life back in Ward 13 at the start.

Meanwhile, I’m mocking it for missing out on the human experience of suffering, sentimentality and inevitable futility while also threatening a beatdown. For all the emotional attachment that the rest of his new area inspired, this made for some fine banter.

The previous DLC was content to keep you relatively grounded when battling enemies in fancy hallways, trap-filled ruins, and discount Yharnam. Gunfire Games shakes things up by separating some locations into floating landmasses, accessible only by glider. Air drafts propel the player upward. Not only would you have to consider unexplored areas, but also how high said drafts could take you before the inevitable drift into the deathly sea of ooze below. Veer too much off course, and enemies will shoot you out of the air.

"Perhaps the worst new event involves breaking through deadly gas canisters and progressing through rooms before it can fully envelop them…"

Compared to N’Erud’s base desolate wastes, this is a decent change of pace for the exploration. The expired vegetation introduces a wrinkle or two, especially in events where activating a terminal would cause enemies to spawn, somewhat concealed in the weeds.

Having to drop down below to reach certain locations or navigating the crevasses and cliffs off to the sides also caused a rethink when desperately trying to fill in the map. Trying to navigate all this while progressing or exploring new areas can feel tedious without exact directions (and isn’t breaking any massive new ground mechanically). Furthermore, there are harrowing walkways and narrow corridors to uncover, just like in the base game’s version of N’Erud.

At times, certain sections can feel straight-up reused – the endlessly spiraling towers with desolate backgrounds evoke a strange sense of deja vu. Nevertheless, some of the mechanics of these locations can feel unique. A stealth section involves avoiding detection by robots to bypass the door ahead (where Hunter’s Mark is useful since it can sense them through walls).

Another centers on reaching the top of a spire while battling enemies, with platforms ascending and descending at brief intervals and enemies constantly spawning. Perhaps the worst of it involves breaking through deadly gas canisters and progressing through rooms before it can fully envelop them – not only is it difficult to see through the fumes, but your movement is severely limited. Hang around too much in it, and you die, with the checkpoints feeling too unforgiving.

"There is an impressive array of Amulets and Rings to play around with, especially when combined with the new Warden Archetype…"

On the bright side, enemy design is on point, especially the new foes. The Gardener is a grasshopper-like robot that can make massive jumps, slamming down and unleashing toxic gases before detonating them. Another new foe can either attack up close with blades and a barrier or hang back from afar to snipe you (breaking its shield will stagger it, providing a brief window of attack).

There’s also a hulking foe that bashes you with its mutated arm when it’s not trying to suck you in with a strange black hole attack. Some unbalanced spawn logic can still occur, resulting in overwhelming ambushes when trying to leave a specific area. Thankfully, these are fewer and farther between than previous DLC, with the new enemies feeling enjoyable to fight overall – not complete pushovers but manageable enough with their patterns and damage.

Some can appear as mid-bosses with modifiers and a few fresh attacks, as is tradition. The unique bosses can feel a bit on the low side. I haven’t discovered many weapons, but the Black Greatsword is fun with its charge mechanic. There is an impressive array of Amulets and Rings to play around with, especially when combined with the new Warden Archetype (which still feels annoying to unlock but significantly less so than The Forgotten Kingdom’s Invoker).

The latter’s drone would thrive in group play but provides some extensive synergy for several builds, whether you’re creating a set-up that stacks barriers and buffs you when they’re active or provides constant healing to make up for health drain in exchange for damage.

"Looking back on The Dark Horizon, I still feel significantly whelmed over what could have been in post-launch story-telling. However, it left me feeling somewhat more satisfied than the other DLC. "

It may not necessarily be the flashiest in terms of damage, but the utility and survivability feel outright broken sometimes. In the new Boss Rush mode, available to all players for free, it felt like I was dead to rights on multiple occasions but saved by the sheer amount of barriers provided, even with something as simple as activating the Ritualist’s Miasma in the middle of a crowd of enemies.

In terms of presentation, N’Erud’s aesthetic is still as appealing as it is somber, with the skyboxes and massive structures making you feel even more insignificant than ever (the dour color palette doesn’t help). There wasn’t too much noteworthy about the soundtrack, but the sound effects and sheer desolation of the atmosphere added to its immersion.

Looking back on The Dark Horizon, I still feel significantly whelmed over what could have been in post-launch story-telling. However, it left me feeling somewhat more satisfied than the other DLC. Maybe it was just being able to revisit N’Erud and see it in a new light, complete with new threats and challenges, even if one of the events is perhaps the worst currently in the game or the palette of new bosses doesn’t feel enough.

The DLC’s utterly ridiculous premise can’t be ignored, but I felt more satisfied than exasperated when it was all over. There was more enthusiasm to trawl through and uncover new secrets or accessories to tweak my build. If this is how Remnant 2’s DLC journey begins, then so be it, but at least it’s going out on a somewhat positive note with The Dark Horizon.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

The mode is accessible from the World Stone in Ward 13. Playable solo or with other players, it has three difficulties – Triple Threat, with three bosses to fight; Trial by Fire, with seven bosses; and The Gauntlet, with 19 bosses. Players will fight against enemies and an Aberration to challenge a boss, with temporary buffs and passives to acquire during the run.

But that’s not all. Gunfire Games is also introducing Prisms as part of changes to the Relic Fragment system. Players can level them up for more stat bonuses, though how impactful they’ll be is unknown. Stay tuned for further details.

Remnant 2 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

As you explore the new area, you’ll encounter robotic enemies while a mysterious entity looms overhead. In addition to new dungeons and bosses, there’s also a new glider system for traversing the overworld. It also seemingly plays a part in how you fight the new world boss, though it’s unclear how.

There’s also a new Archetype, The Warden, which fights with a Drone that can heal, shield from damage and attack enemies (with a dedicated reveal trailer coming next week). The usual new rings, Amulets, weapons, and mods are included alongside new characters to interact with.

Stay tuned for more details on The Dark Horizon in the coming weeks. Remnant 2 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out our review and thoughts on the previous DLC – The Awakened King and The Forgotten Kingdom.

Gunfire Games will reveal more details closer to launch, but The Dark Horizon promises to be the “most expansive DLC” for the title yet. The reason for pushing back the release is to ensure more time to deliver “the best possible experience that you deserve.”

Alongside the DLC, the developer is also working on a new game mode that will be free for all players. A new progression system is also in the works. While The Dark Horizon is the final paid DLC, it’s not confirmed whether it marks the end of support for the co-op shooter. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

Remnant 2 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out our review for the base game here. You can also read our thoughts on the first DLC, The Awakened King, and the second, The Forgotten Kingdom.

Of course, that’s not all. Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord, The Jackbox Party Pack 9, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, and No More Heroes 3 will be playable on PS4 and PS5. Previous-gen subscribers can avail of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition, Deadcraft, and Steep.

Premium-exclusive offerings include the VR title Job Simulator on PS VR2 alongside classics like Volition’s Summoner, a PS2 era RPG, and PlayStation Portable titles Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters and Jeanne d’Arc. All three classic titles will be playable on PS4 and PS5, with the PSP games supporting up-rendering, quick save, the option to rewind gameplay and more.

As per the report, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion, the remastered 2022 release of the acclaimed PSP action RPG, will be among the headlining additions that PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can look forward to this month. It will also be joined by Gunfire Games’ Remnant 2, while the leaker also claimed there’s a good chance that its predecessor, Remnant: From the Ashes, will be added as well- though this isn’t set in stone, they say.

In addition to the aforementioned titles, the report says, subscribers can also look forward to No More Heroes 3, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition, Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord, and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Enhanced Edition.

Allegedly, this month’s new additions will be available to subscribers starting July 17. Stay tuned for an official announcement from Sony, likely in the next day or so.

The Forgotten Kingdom is nearly the same but seemingly swaps around the areas it lacks. If The Awakened King’s overall story, such as it was, drew you in, then this will leave you baffled at its sudden conclusion.

"There’s very little else going on narratively. It almost makes me yearn for answers to the base game’s ending. Maybe even more clues on theories surrounding the Dran’s Dream from The Awakened King."

However, if the former’s levels didn’t impress you, maybe one or two of the dungeons here will. Regardless, it’s yet another set of “possibilities” to an established biome with a few new enemies, some decent boss fights, an excellent new Archetype that totally won’t get nerfed down the line, some solid weapons and gear, and – you guessed it – little else.

From what I could gather about the DLC’s story, you wander into a glowy version of Yaesha and attempt to unravel the “lost history” of a tribe while combating the constructs of Lydusa. The latter is a stone spirit who yearns to be free and suitably curses you to achieve this. There is a charming new NPC, Walt, who is a little more involved, and eventually, you learn more about Lydusa’s motivations. However, there’s very little else going on narratively. It almost makes me yearn for answers to the base game’s ending. Maybe even more clues on theories surrounding the Dran’s Dream from The Awakened King.

As for the enemies, at least one enemy type carries over from the base game, except they’re no longer Root-infested. Lydusa’s stone constructs can range from intriguing to annoying, especially the winged creature who dive-bombs three times before emitting a piercing scream that stuns you. The other enemies are fine, though some of their arrangements are questionable.

Taking on several stone soldiers and a killer plant in an open space isn’t too rough, but exiting from the Bloodless Throne and attempting to walk the bridge while being attacked from all directions is no fun. Such moments are few and far between but all the more irritating when they occur.

"The dungeons did somewhat impress me since they offered new ways to play. The Proving Grounds is full of dart traps, and its claustrophobic confines can make for some tense encounters."

The new bosses include Cinderclad Monolith and its bullet hell-esque projectiles and lasers, which I didn’t mind much, though it’s not exactly the most involved boss fight. The Stonewarden was arguably the most challenging due to the sheer barrage of attacks and an area-of-effect attack that could almost one-shot you. Still, the utter spectacle of watching it summon rows of stone constructs and push them forward before exploding them all like some demented chess game was fun.

Lydusa felt somewhat of a step-down and failed to really match the spectacle of the base game’s world bosses. She still had some interesting mechanics, like that second phase with the rapidly approaching stone walls. There’s an alternate ending which provides a happier fate of sorts for her but ultimately skips the boss battle that I sadly didn’t unlock.

Other bosses like The Emissary to The Charred Sentry are essentially Elite versions of established enemies. They’re not particularly inventive with their mechanics but can spice things up now and again. At least the Protector of the Grove puts a neat spin on the seemingly harmless animals running around in Yaesa. There are more Elite foes here than in The Awakened King, for what it’s worth.

The dungeons did somewhat impress me since they offered new ways to play. The Proving Grounds is full of dart traps, and its claustrophobic confines can make for some tense encounters. The Earthen Coliseum challenges you to find the right path to progress, lest you fall into its watery lower level and face an overwhelming foe. Both are fresh directions – it’s a shame that the rest of the biome is the usual forests, jumping over gaps, running through tree villages and whatnot that Yaesha already has to offer.

"Aesthetically, Yaesha looks nice, though the base game’s version had a more memorable foreboding air owing to the Root’s infestation. Still, the interior architecture and attention to detail are striking."

As noted earlier, the new Archetype, Invoker, is very fun. It’s hilarious to summon a Tidal Wave and either instagib enemies or watch it rain lightning bolts to take out anyone nearby. Pairing this with the Ritualist’s Miasma made for some hilarity, as you could sit back and watch enemies and bosses alike suffer multiple statuses while taking extensive damage from lighting. Having two uses for Miasma and four for Eruption is similarly entertaining. Add new items like the amulet, Fragrant of Thorn, or the Token of Favor ring for even more extensive damage, which should help make up for the nerfs to Ritualist.

Unfortunately, unlocking the Invoker is equivalent to watching paint dry. It involves finding a room with quicksand, standing in one spot for several minutes, “dying” and waking up in another area. You collect an item, take that back to Ward 13 and boom, you have the new Archetype. While I’m not asking for an extensive series of steps, I feel like the process could have been more involved than going AFK.

As far as the new weapons, I only got the chance to try out the Monolith, obtained from the final boss, and enjoyed the sandy laser (which inflicts Exposed for more damage) and sandstorm, which seeks out other targets. There are other items, including the latest “hidden” weapon, the Polygun – but my set-up from the base game worked for most of the DLC.

Aesthetically, Yaesha looks nice, though the base game’s version had a more memorable foreboding air owing to the Root’s infestation. Still, the interior architecture and attention to detail are striking. I encountered one instance of iffy performance, but things were solid for the most part. The addition of an FOV modifier on PS5 is also appreciated.

"Time will tell if the third DLC provides a decent conclusion to this whole “dreaming” storyline in the background or more of the same, but for now, The Forgotten Kingdom should satisfy the more amicable hardcore players."

It again goes back to the start of this review – if you’re a fan of Remnant 2, owning The Forgotten Kingdom is pretty much a given. The new content is short, but it’s finding all the new rings, unlocking new weapon mods and unearthing all the little secrets that will keep you busy over the long term. Maybe some potent new combinations to go with the Invoker, especially given how crit builds have been nerfed.

Maybe I’m just expecting more from the DLC experience on a narrative level. However, even on its own, The Forgotten Kingdom’s narrative leaves something to be desired. It’s more of a one-shot than The Awakened King, which at least ties into Losomn’s story in some ways. And while I enjoyed the new items, dungeons and some new bosses, the overall experience is not all that engaging.

Don’t get me wrong – the combat is still satisfying, and you still face challenges, even when playing on lower difficulties. It just feels like Remnant 2 needs something more than these minor DLC packs to expand on its narrative themes and mechanics. Time will tell if the third DLC provides a decent conclusion to this whole “dreaming” storyline in the background or more of the same, but for now, The Forgotten Kingdom should satisfy the more amicable hardcore players.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

The story revolves around the stone spirit Lydusa, who’s none too happy and sowing discord with her constructs. Such opponents include a giant pot-like structure with rotating layers and stone tendrils, and a decaying stone warrior who uses ice. Players will have new weapons and the Invoker Archetype to help out.

The latter allows players to channel the Nature Spirits of Yaesha for various benefits. Along with providing two charges for Skills and reducing overall Skill cooldown, you can send out Tidal Waves to slow opponents, roots to inflict Gloom and heal allies over time, and much more. It should be interesting to see how it interacts with other Archetypes, especially the Ritualist from The Awakened King.

Remnant 2: The Forgotten Kingdom is available for $9.99 standalone and included with the $24.99 DLC bundle on Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.