‘Xbox Tax’ is a theory that there is a bias againstXboxgames, particularly when it comes to awards. Some people feel that Xbox exclusives don’t get the appreciation that PlayStation and Nintendo ones do. It is a bit of a wild conspiracy theory, but some stand by it. Whether true or not, there have certainly been some Xbox titles over the years that haven’t got as much respect as they deserve. Several are great games that have received a mediocre response or decent titles that have been hated for some reason....

I fell in love with Moonlighter’s moreish mixture of dungeon-crawling, shop-management, and delightful pixel graphics when it first launched back in 2018. You could pick it up and play it for hours, or simply opt for a quick dungeon run or two on your lunch break. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault was unveiled last year. But, as I watched the announcement trailer, I immediately noticed the beloved pixel graphics I adored had been replaced with a new 3D aesthetic....

Earlier this year, Konami broke its silence regarding the mysteriousSilent Hill f, revealingit in full at a Silent Hill Transmission event. The first new Silent Hill game since 2012 will also be the first Silent Hill game to be set in Japan, and it’s being written by horror author, Ryukishi07. In the time since then,we’ve seen the game get banned and unbanned in Australia, itsESRB rating disclose just how violent the game will beand thelengthy content warning that is being provided to players before interacting with the game....

Mostshounen protagonistsare fresh-faced, typically young and approachable. Facial hair is the realm of grown-ups: mature characters meant to be intimidating. Beards signify wisdom as much as age inanime, with many mentors sporting whiskers. But this is anime, as absurd as it is entertaining. Much like hairstyles, beards provide artists the opportunity to go wild with their imaginations and bring us some truly stunning character designs. Not every beard needs to fill the room, of course, sometimes the simplest designs are the best ones....

Quick Links Call of Duty: Black Ops 6has been filled to the brim with pop-culture crossover events, and that doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Following in Fortnite’s footsteps, the game has featured appearances by Squid Game, Seth Rogen, Beavis and Butt-Head, and now American Dad. The animated show is the inspiration behind the new CODtoons event, where players can earn items and a blueprint completely for free. Thankfully, you’re able to progress through challenges while playing in all game modes, ensuring everyone has a chance to collect the new cosmetics....

If there’s one certainty in thePokemon Trading Card Game Pocketworld, it’s that players will use the brief teasers from the trailers for upcoming sets to plan their decks for the game’s next expansions and to predict its meta. We’ve seen it before with almost every expansion, with players most recently predictingEspeon and Umbreon from Eevee Grove would spell the end for DarkTina, that theUltra Beasts from Extradimensional Crisis would break the meta, andCelestial Guardians' Rare Candy would change things forever....

In a game where you’re able to quite literallyDate Everything!, knowing where to start is a challenge. With over a hundred stunning characters to choose from, you’ll have your hands full of tough choices, and not everyone will be found so easily. Even if you find everyone, not all of your household objects will want to date–some of them would prefer a hate ending. Regardless, these are the best romances you’ll find in the house while you’re on lockdown as a remote worker....

Quick Links Making your way to the top of the ladder inThe Precinctwill take time and effort, but there are many things you can do to make your ride much easier. Leveling up your rank will grant points you can use to unlock upgrades and skills that will help you in the field, and we’ll help you get the best ones first. From new ways to slow down perps to increasing your own defenses, here are our top picks for the best skills to unlock first....

The first of the month usually brings with it a whole host of newmoviesand TV shows being added to streaming platforms, and of course May is no exception. However, one of the most interesting additions is nota film unearthed from the archives,a flop given a new lease of life, or evena hit from earlier in the year we can finally watch at home. Today, all eyes are on a streaming original....

Summary In recent years, the review bomb has become the preferred choice of gamers to voice their frustrationsor thoughts on a particular product. In thecase of Helldivers 2, a review bomb was executed over the game’s PSN requirement. Elsewhere,fans review bombed Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 over “disappointing nerfs.” It’s a significant enough movement that evenTake-Two, the publisher of Grand Theft Auto, noted in a financial filing that a review bomb could have adverse consequences, including reputation harm and financial losses....

Summary Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has been a mega hit for Sandfall Interactive. The French studio’s debut game was so popular at launch thatits physical version sold out everywhere. It might seem wild for the devs behind the JRPG-inspired phenomenon to already be looking beyond Clair Obscur, but that’s exactly what they’re doing. Sandfall COO François Meurissespoke with Gamesindustry.bizthis week, revealing that some of the dev team that worked on Clair already have ideas for what they want to do next....

Summary Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is the kind ofsuccess storywe don’t nearly see enough of in the gaming industry. At a time when all the major studios arecontinuously laying off staff, it’s great to see a small French studio find worldwide success, and in a genre that is constantly underestimated. Due to this, there are nowa lot of eyes on Sandfall Interactive, withFrench President Emmanuel Macron among them. Now, the team has opened up about how the studio was formed, and it’s as unconventional as you’d expect....

There are so many commanders available inMagic: The Gathering. Every year, dozens, if not hundreds, of commanders are introduced, which is great for variety, not so great when it comes to deciding what you want to build. With how many commanders there are in the game, there are so many I’ve wanted to build, but for one reason or another, just haven’t. I’m sure I’m not alone in theory crafting a ton of cool ideas for a Commander deck, but never actually sitting down to build them....