video games
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Source: Xbox / Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass continues to add the hottest titles to its library to keep you picking up your Xbox controller.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers, listen up: some big day one releases and fan favorites are heading to the service to help it continue being the best value in gaming.
Available Right Now!
Journey to the Living Lands right now in one of the most anticipated games of the year, Avowed, from Obsidian Entertainment.
Per Xbox:
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
Coming Soon
Here are some titles you can look forward to playing on Xbox Game Pass, per Xbox.
EA Sports F1 24 (Cloud, Console, and PC) EA Play – February 20 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Join the grid and chase podium glory with unlimited access to EA Sports F1 24, coming soon to The Play List. Members can master every turn and feel at one with the car with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), PC Game Pass, or Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play. Plus, score in-game rewards including 5,000 XP monthly.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – February 20 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is an isometric RPG by Owlcat Games, set in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium. As a powerful Rogue Trader, you command a starship, assemble a crew, and explore the Imperium, making fateful decisions in tactical, turn-based combat.
Watch Dogs: Legion (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 25 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Explore a massive urban open world featuring London’s many iconic landmarks and fun side activities where you can recruit (and play as) anyone. Everyone you see has a unique backstory, personality, and skill set for unique situations. Team up with your friends to complete new four-player co-op missions and PvP matches online.
A Classic Returns
Ryse: Son of Rome Available with Cloud Gaming Game Pass Ultimate
Jump back in this immersive action-adventure story of struggle, brutality, and heroism with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). Amidst the chaos of the late Roman Empire, become soldier Marius Titus and embark on a perilous campaign to avenge the death of your family and defend the honor of Rome. In Gladiator Mode, step into the Colosseum and fight for the glory, spectacle, and entertainment of the crowds.
Games Leaving Xbox Game Pass February 28
With the arrival of new titles, some games are leaving, but don’t fret; you can use your Xbox Game Pass 20% discount to purchase these games and ensure they stay in your library.
F1 22 (Console and PC) EA Play
Gris (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Maneater (Cloud, Console, and PC)
PAW Patrol World (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Space Engineers (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Wo Long Fallen Dynasty (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Yakuza 3 Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Yakuza 4 Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC
DLC & Game Updates
Sea of Thieves: Season 15 – Starting February 20
Sea of Thieves is more exciting than ever as new life abounds across the waves. Set forth on new Voyages for The Hunter’s Call, grapple with wild boars and deadly sea monsters, master using hunting spears and more, with new features to enjoy each month.
Ark Survival Ascended: Astraeos DLC – Available Now
Game Pass members save 10%! Embark on your next epic odyssey within the world of Ark with Astraeos! Explore and immerse yourself in an elysian land of colossal proportions, steeped in Greek mythology. At over 260km², this massive new map is overflowing with stunning scenery, ancient ruins, and sacred temples. Face off against powerful new bosses, alpha dino variants with enhanced loot, and a fearsome miniboss lurking in mysterious caves.
Forza Motorsport: Update 17 – Available Now
Update 17 celebrates cars that are fun, compact, and performant. Race four new-to-Motorsport cars: 2023 Toyota Camry TRD, 2022 Hyundai i20N, 2022 Toyota GR86, and 2021 Hyundai #98 Elantra TCR. Get the 2021 Toyota Yaris GR and 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5N in the Challenge Hub.
Age of Mythology: Retold – Immortal Pillars Expansion – March 4
Game Pass members can save 10% on their pre-order of Immortal Pillars, the highly anticipated first expansion for Age of Mythology: Retold. Harness the power of ancient Chinese mythology and discover a world where gods, monsters, and legends collide in an epic new chapter of mythical strategy.
Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Madden NFL 25: EA Play Supercharge Pack – Available Now
Madden NFL 25 is now on The Play List. Get your Ultimate Team ready for the gridiron with the Supercharge Pack.
Minecraft: 1 Month Marketplace Pass – Available Now
Get access to the Marketplace Pass for 1 month! Discover 150+ pieces of content including worlds, skin packs, add-ons and more refreshed monthly. This Perk requires a payment instrument to redeem. Terms apply.
Monster Hunter Now: MH Now Bundle – Available Now
Claim 2 Ultra Hunting Tickets, 2 Paintballs, 2 Potions, a Wander Orb, and a Tigrex crafting material for weapons and armor. This Perk content requires Monster Hunter Now (mobile) to use. Valid only for iOS and Android versions of the game.
MultiVersus: MVP Pack 5 – Available Now
The MultiVersus MVP Pack offers in-game content to further customize and boost your play for Game Pass Ultimate members. MVP Pack 5 includes a Rare Banner – Bun Power and a Legendary Taunt – Treat Break.
Naruto 4-Movie Collection: Free movies – Available Now (US Only)
Claim four Anime classic movies including Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Blood Prison, Naruto Road to Ninja, Naruto The Last, and Boruto: The Naruto Movie. More Naruto titles are on sale during Anime month. Available in the US only.
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Source: Bryan Bedder / Getty / DJ Khaled
Out of all the rumors surrounding Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated video game GTA 6, gamers hope this one in particular is pure C A P.
Spotted on Gamespot, word on the video game streets is that you will reportedly be hearing DJ Khaled screaming “WE THE BEST” and dishing out major keys in GTA 6 because the music producer will host his own radio station in the game.
A prominent Call of Duty insider named The Ghost of Hope on X, formerly Twitter, shared some inside information on the GTA 6 and claims the “Wild Thoughts’ crafter will host an in-game station.
“DJ Khaled will feature in Grand Theft Auto 6 to host his very own music station that will also play his songs,” Hope wrote in a post. “There is potential for other real-life artists to be included as well on their own radio stations.”
This concept isn’t new to the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise. Music artists and their music have been featured on the game’s radio stations, which play a significant role in the gameplay. The game will be heading to Leonida, GTA’s hilarious take on the state of Florida—and its Miami-inspired Vice City.
Gamers Are Not Excited About DJ Khaled Being In GTA 6
Still, that doesn’t mean people have to be hyped about this news because, based on the reactions, gamers are not jumping for joy at the idea of DJ Khaled’s alleged involvement in GTA 6.
“Thanks to rockstar’s kindness they gave dj khaled his own radio channel, so his music doesn’t show up on the good stations,” one post on X read.
Another post stated, “No one asked for this.”
It’s clear DJ Khaled’s presence, voice, and likeness are not wanted in GTA 6, and we totally understand. If this news is true, we know which station will be the least popular of them all.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Lol, bruh
3. Howling
4. Now why would you say a thing like this?
5. Pretty much
6. HA HA HA
10. Nah chill
12. Nah chill
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Source: NetEase / Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals is one of the most popular games out at the moment, so it’s shocking to hear that its development team is experiencing layoffs.
Spotted on Insider Gaming, multiple social media reports state that NetEase has laid off Marvel Rivals’ entire development team. Marvel Rivals’ game director Thaddeus Sasser revealed the sad and surprising news in a post on LinkedIn he shared on Tuesday afternoon.
“This is such a weird industry…” Sasser wrote. “My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games…and were just laid off!”
According to Sasser, NetEase laid off the Seattle-based team that was tasked with “coming up with new level design mechanics, gameplay mechanics, and so on.”
Level designer Garry McGee, one of the affected developers, and level designer Jack Burrows, who confirmed the news via his post on LinkedIn, were among those who lost their jobs.
Social Media Is Stunned
According to Circana data from industry analyst Mat Piscatella, Marvel Rivals is one of the top five games with the most active users across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Steam, so it’s not surprising that social media is stunned by the news.
“Marvel Rivals is the hottest game out rn, just revealed 2 banger characters, and people still got laid off. The industry is cooked,” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Journalist Alyssa Mercante wrote, “Even successful game devs are not safe, because THE PROBLEMS ARE AT THE TOP.”
SpawnOnMe’s Kahlief Adams wrote on X, “Rivals a super popular and profitable game letting go their Game Director the same day as they debut new content seems like Bizzaro land and business as usual at the same time. Success is also in the upside down…”
As Adams mentioned, this tragic news came as Marvel Rivals announced that The Thing and Human Torch from The Fantastic 4 will be in the game this Friday. Blade, the vampire hunter, has also been teased.
Bruh, the video game industry is on one right now. You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
5. When all else fails blame Donald Trump
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Source: Sony / PlayStation 5
According to recent sales numbers, Sony isn’t having a problem moving PlayStation 5 consoles.
During its earnings release, Sony announced that it had its best holiday season yet with PlayStation 5 sales, moving 9.5 million consoles over the last three months (2024 Q3), selling 1.3 million more than it sold in the same quarter the previous year, raising all-time PS5 sales to 74.9 million.
The latest addition to the PS5 console family, the PS5 Pro, could have helped boost those numbers. Sony did not provide sales numbers for that console.
With that record quarter in the books, the PS5 is 1.5 million units behind the PS4 during its sales lifecycle. Sony also posted a profit of 469.3 billion yen ($3.05 billion), which was higher than expected.
Game sales were also up, reaching 95.9 million units sold in Q3 2024 compared to 89.7 million in the previous quarter despite a decline in first-party sales.
Sony’s game software revenue rose to 784 billion yen ($5.1 billion) in Q3 2023, compared to 733 billion yen in Q3 2023.
The company also acknowledged the success of Astro Bot, which took the video game award season by storm, and Helldivers 2, noting it intends to expand its live service offerings despite canceling several projects and Concord flopping before it even hit shelves.
Sony is very optimistic about the future. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Ghost of Yotei, and allegedly Grand Theft Auto 6 will all come in 2025, which could help more consoles fly off shelves.
While Sony reports console sales, it hasn’t been the same for Xbox. Although Xbox’s hardware sales have taken a hit and are down 29% since switching the company model, Game Pass has experienced record growth.
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Source: Sony / PlayStation Plus / PSN
PSN subscribers are still awaiting the compensation PlayStation promised them following a global service outage that left them staring at the PS5 and PS4 consoles instead of doing some intense weekend gaming.
Following last weekend’s global service outage, caused by an “operational issue” that took down PSN for about 24 hours, PlayStation broke its deafening silence and told gamers they would extend the PS Plus subscriptions by five days.
Those same gamers, many of whom thought PlayStation’s offer was weak, are still waiting for those five free days after their subscriptions expired.
Damn.
PlayStation’s favorability has taken a serious hit this past weekend due to what many believe is the company’s perceived lack of transparency about what happened.
It took almost a day following the initial interruption of service for them to get on X, formerly Twitter, to say that the global outage that made multiplayer games useless, took the PSN store down, and made some games in folks’ digital libraries inaccessible was the result of an “operational issue.”
Was PSN Hacked? Many Gamers Think So
Many gamers think there is more to this situation and believe PSN was hacked. PlayStation is doing a disservice to its subscribers by revealing this to them.
Some users even tell current subscribers to change their “passwords on everything” out of fear that this is more than just an “operational issue.”
“If you are a Playstation user make sure to change your passwords on everything. This is looking more and more like a giant hack by their lack of transparency,” one post on X read.
We hope it was just an “operational issue” and not a severe hack, as many people feel. We don’t need the ghosts of 2011’s massive attack on the PSN to return.
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Source: Patrick Smith / Getty / Kendrick Lamar / PlayStation
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance had more easter eggs than a Marvel Studios film. One in particular caught the attention of gamers who were tuned in.
You were absolutely correct if you thought Kendrick Lamar’s performance had a video gamey-feel. Super Bowl LIX halftime show art director Shelley Rodgers confirmed to Wired that Lamar uses PlayStation imagery, mainly the icons on the PlayStation controller.
In the interview, Rodgers revealed that K.Dot devised the video game-themed performance, adding that “each performance space was shaped like a button on a PlayStation-style controller, a performance intended to portray Lamar’s life as a video game.”
No one knows why Lamar chose PlayStation or decided to go that route while he bullied Drake again, but the art director did have some suggestions.
“I think the was symbolic, his way to reach young people,” Rodgers told Wired. “A lot of it is showing his journey, [showing him] traveling through the American dream.”
Creative Director Mike Carson added more insight, adding that Lamar and his production company, pgLang, are “really into keeping things clean and minimal.”
“We went with a monochromatic concrete look and allowed the video game motif to come alive through dialogue, lighting, choreography, and music.”
There is no word on whether PlayStation knew about Lamar’s vision, but if they did, do you think Drake would also be BIG MAD at the video company for being involved, or nah?
Fans Loved The PlayStation Inclusion
Fans also had plenty to say about the moment. “Kendrick Lamar brought out the PlayStation symbols and said,’ Game Over,’” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote following the performance.
Another user added, “Serena Williams, Samuel Jackson, PlayStation references, the GNX, the whole stadium yelling “AMINORR” ugh the dancers in red, white & blue, SZA?! Thank you Kendrick. The revolution will be televised.”
Kendrick Lamar did that! Debate your auntie.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
4. Still need an answer
6. So cool
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Source: Anadolu / Getty / PlayStation
Next to Kansas City Chiefs fans and Drake, no one had a crappier weekend than PlayStation console owners, thanks to a massive service outage. The company finally explained what happened, but gamers were not feeling it.
The AskPlayStation account on X, formerly Twitter, finally broke its silence on the massive service outage that kept PS5 and PS4 owners from playing multiplayer games, games that require online connectivity,y and even some games in their digital library for over 24 hours.
According to PlayStation, the outage that began on Friday, February 7, around 6 p.m. ET and ended at 6:58 p.m. ET on Saturday (February 8) was due to an “operational issue.” To compensate for ruining gamers’ weekends, PlayStation said it would offer subscribers additional days of service at no additional cost.
“Network services have fully recovered from an operational issue. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank the community for their patience. All PlayStation Plus members will automatically receive an additional 5 days of service.”
That’s all they had to say? Hmm
As you can imagine, gamers are not buying what PlayStation is selling, especially the “additional 5 days of service,” because it just feels cheap on their part.
“What was the reason behind Network failure? this is extremely shady and tone deaf communication. I lost my profile back in ps3 hack and this one of the reason why i don’t trust this Brand atleast security wise,” one post on X read in reply to AskPlayStation’s post.
Another post read, “5 days of PlayStation Plus as an apology? That’s like getting a small fry after they mess up your entire order.”
Listen, we understand that there has to be a better explanation for what happened. However, we still believe that it was Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s fault.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
7. Interesting
9. Howling
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Source: Anadolu / Getty / PlayStation Network
Gamers worldwide are screaming at their televisions because the PlayStation Network (PSN) is experiencing a major outage heading into the weekend when most people play video games.
PlayStation 5 and PS4 owners have taken to social media to voice their displeasure that they cannot connect to Sony’s online services, including multiplayer and the PlayStation Store.
While the US PlayStation account is still silent about the outage, the Ask PlayStation Japan account acknowledged the network’s current struggles in a post on X that Kotaku translated.
“At this time, the PlayStation Network (including PlayStation Store) may not be available,” the announcement reads that was posted at 7:12 p.m. ET on Friday, February 7. “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to our customers. We are currently investigating the issue and working to restore service, so please be patient.”
PlayStation has yet to provide a reason for the massive outage affecting gamers across the globe. All services are still down if you check the PlayStation status page.
The timing of the outage couldn’t have come at a worse time, with Monster Hunter Wilds currently holding a beta test weekend and Call of Duty having a double XP weekend.
Gamers Are Not Taking This Well
The reactions to the outage are pouring in on X, formerly Twitter. “Xbox mfs taking the chance to say “should’ve gotten an Xbox” while PlayStation network down. B***h f**k you & your shit box,” one post hilariously said.
Comedian Roy Wood Jr. came up with a gem, reminding gamers that there are games with single-player campaigns that do not require an online connection.
Welp.
You can listen to Roy Wood Jr. or turn on one of your Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch, PC, or Steam Deck. If you don’t have any of those other options, you’ll have to wait this out.
Hit the gallery below for more reactions to the PSN outage.
3. All of us right now
4. Felt this one
5. Uggghhhh
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Source: Rockstar Games / Grand Theft Auto 6
Take-Two Interactive is adamant that Grand Theft Auto 6, easily the most anticipated game of all time, is coming out this year.
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, shared its quarterly earnings results for October to December 2024 on Thursday but did not give a concrete release date for GTA 6.
But, the company made sure to reassure gamers that Grand Theft Auto 6 is still on track for it’s Fall 2025 release date. Also noted is that this year will be stacked for Tale-Two Interactive because of other notable releases.
Per Variety:
“We’ve announced a pretty narrow window. So I think our view is that right now, that’s fine,” Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick told Variety Thursday ahead of the video game company’s latest quarterly earnings results release. “And then when it’s appropriate, of course, Rockstar is going to have more to say.”
What has moved since the last time Take-Two reported earnings is the release date for “Borderlands 4,” which has switched from a slot in the company’s fiscal year 2026 (April 1, 2025-March 31, 2026) to within calendar 2025. On that front, Zelnick says “you will have a date soon, and then all will become clear,” in regards to how the title will slot in around “Mafia: The Old Country” releasing this summer and “GTA 6” coming in the fall.
Zelnick couldn’t contain his excitement, telling the website that the 2025 calendar is Take-Two’s “most extraordinarily exciting release schedule I think we’ve ever had.”
He continued, “Because we have our annualized titles, plus all these sequels coming from 2K, plus our live services, plus ‘Match Factory!’ and other titles from Zynga, plus ‘Borderlands 4,’ ‘Mafia,’ the list continues. So I’m not sure we’ve ever had a more exciting lineup. And of course, our expectations are that that’s going to be reflected in sequential growth and net bookings in Fiscal 26 and 27, as well as new records being set in both of those fiscal years.”
Gamers Are Both Excited & Still Skeptical
As expected with any news around GTA 6, gamers are always excited when they get updates. The energy is a mix of excitement that the game is still coming this year and skepticism that Rockstar Games can deliver on that.
https://x.com/GTASixInfo/status/1887611457841365385
https://x.com/vicious696/status/1887628467090694144
We get it.
Hopefully, this update from Take-Two Interactive means that Rockstar Games has another trailer for GTA 6 ready to release. Until then, you can see more reactions in the trailer below.
1. Heard you killa
3. Have some faith
4. We all did
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Source: Konami / Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
The PS Store has accidentally revealed when we can expect to experience Operation Snake Eater after accidentally revealing the release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta.
In what many assume was a mistake and possibly confirmed that the rumored February State of Play is indeed happening, the PS Store leaked the August 28, 2025 release date of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and a new trailer and confirmed it would be PS5 Pro Enhanced. However, it’s unclear whether those enhancements will be ready by launch.
https://x.com/DavidBHayter/status/1887574904356413896
According to the PS Store, Metal Gear Solid Delta’s Deluxe Edition will be released on August 25, while the Standard Edition will arrive on August 28. Basically, those who pony up the extra dollars get to play the game three days early.
After some more digging into the leak, players will be happy to learn that the Snake vs. Monkey game mode featured in the original game will be in the remake.
“In this mode, you’ll play as Snake and round up all the escaped apes running amok in each stage!” a description for the mode reads.
https://x.com/Wario64/status/1886796020304220436
Is Hideo Kojima Also Cooking Up Something For The February State of Play?
Even more interesting is that Metal Gear’s creator, Hideo Kojima, has also been stirring the State of Play pot by teasing people that he is back in the lab editing. This has left many wondering if he is cooking up a new trailer for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach or another look at his new tactical espionage game, Physint.
https://x.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/1887104251010404518
We need PlayStation to confirm this State of Play because it has become the company’s worst-kept secret of the month.
The sad part is that the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater release date leak is a buzzkill for the presentation, but don’t get it twisted—we are all still excited that this game will be released this year.