You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide For many, the best iteration of Call of Duty: Warzone was when the bustling metropolis of Verdansk was the main focus of the battle royale. Like other battle royale battlegrounds, the map featured a wide variety of different points of interest (POI) that encouraged players to adopt different styles of play to avoid a trip to the gulag.Since Verdansk departed Warzone in 2021, Raven Software has struggled to capture the same magic despite releasing some of the biggest and most unique maps ever seen in any Call of Duty game. In the Spring of 2025, Verdansk makes its long-awaited return to Warzone much to the delight of fans hoping to take a trip down memory lane.Activision often utilises nostalgia to spark interest in Call of Duty such as the return of Nuketown or Shipment every other year but in the case of Verdansks return, the familiar setting will only go so far. Once the initial hype has subsided, the return of the popular battlefield will not rescue Warzone from its most recent low point.Omnimovement allows players to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction. Original Verdansk only had the ability to slide, creating a one-dimensional system that was easy to predict. Combined with slide-cancelling and the double bunny hop, engagements were somewhat even and gave both players a chance to evade the dreaded gulag.With several methods to duck and dive out of harms way in rebirthed Verdansk, theres a high chance players will experience some questionable deaths due to the fluidity of the movement mechanics. The battle royale already has plenty of RNG-based elements and the last thing it needs is players moving in unnatural ways to gain the upper hand.Same map, different engineAlthough the layout of Verdansk will be exactly the same as the iteration that launched in 2020, the current version of Warzone operates on the IW 9 engine, an upgrade on the IW 8 engine that made its debut with the battle royale and 2019s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Widely regarded as one of the best Call of Duty engines, IW 8 enabled fast-paced and fluid movement which birthed the slide cancelling and double bunny-hop mechanics that remain popular methods of outplaying the opposition.To unify future releases starting with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games will continue to use IW 9 to ease the development process. While Call of Dutys development may be easier than ever before for those working on Activisions shooter series, the addition of Omnimovement and slower slide-cancelling speed means Verdansk will not feel anything like Warzone from five years ago.A paradise for hackersDespite the Black Ops 6 cycle launching with improvements to Ricochet anti-cheat, the measures havent been enough. Hackers have infested Warzone and are using all kinds of underhanded techniques to ruin the fun for everyone. While many still possess unnatural aim and the ability to see through walls, some cheaters have found the ability to crash game servers resulting in huge disruption for players. The issue has grown to uncontrollable levels with the biggest content creators ditching the battle royale for other games that are capable of dealing with cheaters.Although Activision has promised the Season 2 update will deliver further measures to curb the infestation of hackers, theres every chance some slip through the net and disrupt the return of the beloved battlefield. Infinity Ward managed to take a strict stance on hackers resulting in Verdansks debut being one that was much smoother than other integrations. Since then, the battle royale has been in the middle of its lowest point making the maps return hugely important in the success of Warzone in 2025.Memories only last so longVerdansk holds a special place in the hearts of Warzone players due to the timing of its launch. March 2020 was just as the world was locking down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving billions indoors and looking for ways to stay in touch with their friends. Verdansk played host to millions dropping into the actions to join forces with friends, creating memories that would last a lifetime. Everyone remembers that time landing on the Hospital roof, grabbing the helicopter, and eliminating any unarmed enemy in the blink of an eye.The map returning on a new engine and without any of the weaponry and exploits that made the map home for numerous memorable moments puts many at risk of tainting the fun times with gameplay that is unable to reach the high bar set by its predecessor. If youre able to acknowledge Verdansk in 2025 wont feel anything like it did five years ago, youll have a great time. If youre wanting the complete Warzone 1 experience, the return of the map wont be able to rescue Warzone from its self-inflicted trip to the gulag.Related TopicsCall of Durty Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Now that the holiday season has come and gone, its time to focus on gifting yourself what you really want. Grab your gift cards and get your wish list readyBrooklinen is kicking 2025 off with a comforter sale on a few of the brands cult-favorite products. Shoppers can save 20% off pillows and comforters from now through 1/20.Whether your bedding is overdue for an upgrade or your New Years resolution is to get better sleep, youre in luck. Brooklinens bedroom essentialsfrom cozy down comforters to luxurious memory foam pillowswill soon have you on your way to more restful nights. Weve rounded up our top picks from the sale below.Brooklinen Down ComforterIf you get one thing from this sale, let it be the brands signature down comforter. Designed with a soft cotton sateen shell and plush Hutterite down filling, its no wonder its an AD editor top pick and our choice for best down comforter.Brooklinen offers lightweight (650 fill power), all-season (700 fill power), and ultrawarm (750 fill power) variations of the comforter so theres an option for every type of sleeper. social media manager Rebecca Grambone initially thought the thickest style might be too warm for her, but she went on to rave about how breathable and cozy it is. It felt very high quality and luxurious and gave off strong hotel-bed vibes, she says.Brooklinen Down Alternative ComforterPrefer a more eco-friendly option? The down alternative comforter offers similar plushness but is filled with recycled PET fibers. Its a great solution for anyone looking for an organic or a hypoallergenic comforter. Similarly, you can pick from lightweight, all-season, or ultrawarm thicknesses depending on your sleeping preferences. No wonder its backed by hundreds of five-star reviews.Best Pillows at the Brooklinen Comforter SaleBrooklinen Down PillowThis Best Sleep Award winner offers unmatched comfort and will make your bedroom feel like a luxurious hotel. Depending on whether you are a stomach, back, or side sleeper, take your pick from three levels of support: plush, mid-plush, or firm. The plush pillow is filled with down clusters while the mid-plush and firm have a combination of down clusters and feathers.As someone who prefers ultrasoft pillows, Ive been using the plush version for the past three years. Even after consistent use, my pillow is still in great condition and hasnt gotten bent out of shape. Jacqueline Wladis, Cond Nasts former associate director of commerce, swears by the firm variation and would even 15 out of 10 recommend it.Brooklinen Down Alternative PillowThis organic pillow has a hypoallergenic fill thats designed to mimic the texture of down feathersbut its actually made from recycled plastic bottles. The result is a combination of cloud-like softness and support that will rock your head to sleep each night. Plus you can rest easy knowing its an eco-friendly option.Brooklinen Marlow PillowAny hot sleeper would benefit from the Marlow Pillow, which is made from cooling-infused memory foam. This pillow comes in standard or king sizes and features an adjustable design. Fully zipped, its firm to the touch, but as you unzip the pillow, it gets more plush, making it fully customizable to your preferences.

An aircraft helping to fight wildfires that are raging across Los Angeles was struck by a civilian drone on Thursday. The collision damaged the wing of the aircraft a CL-415 Super Scooper capable of scooping up 1,600 gallons of ocean water to drop onto nearby blazes according to a statement by the LA County Fire Department posted on X, putting it out of service until it can be repaired.Cal Fire spokesman Chris Thomas told The New York Times that grounding the aircraft will likely set back local firefighting efforts. Super Scoopers can typically refill in about five minutes. But even if it takes ten, thats six water drops that are lost each hour according to Thomas. So whose house is not going to get that water to protect it? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the Super Scooper landed safely after the drone impact, and that the incident is now under investigation. Temporary flight restrictions have been implemented in the Los Angeles area that prohibit drones and other aircraft from flying without FAA authorization in an effort to protect firefighting efforts.According to LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, the drone was not assigned to help tackle the Palisades fires, and was destroyed in the collision. Marrone told the LA Times that the FBI is now planning to implement so-called aerial armor in the area to prevent further interference from drones.Several people online have violated the FAA-enforced flight restrictions, posting viral drone photos and video footage across social media showing the devastation from what appears to be prohibited airspace. Fire response agencies are often forced to ground their own aircraft to avoid collisions when dummies fly drones near wildfires for online clout.Its a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands, the FAA said in a statement. Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations. The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses.

Cost of your actionsKingdom Come Deliverance 2's dedication to letting me be a drunk, boorish oaf is so committed, it honestly left me astounded - previewKingdom Come Deliverance 2 feels like a hobgoblin game; built for late nights, days off work, and to compliment your headiest rot days.Image credit: VG247 Article by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Jan. 10, 2025 I've not played an open world RPG as thoughtful, earnest, or funny as Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 since... well, The original Kingdom Come Deliverance. With the sequel, Warhorse Studios has managed to strike a fine balance between historical accuracy and deep-rooted seriousness, resulting in a tale packed to the gills with boozy, slapstick hijinks. Just like in real Medieval European history.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. For this preview, I was able to play up until a wedding set inside the first major region you get to explore. As of hitting this point,I have 25 hours on my save file, and I've completed all content on offer up to this point, save for one side-quest. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a rich well, packed full of engaging side content, smaller activities that demand your attention, and side quests that actually weave into the main story so that you feel rewarded not just through material goods, but narrative pay-off, too. Eat your heart out, Witcher 3.But - best of all - it's the finest open world RPG I've played that not only respects your decision to be a wanker, but has deep systems built around allowing you to be the most competent wanker you can be. You like robbing people? Getting drunk and punching random people on the road? Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 promotes unique progression paths for brawlers, burglars, and drunks. All whilst the people of Bohemia take note, muttering amongst themselves, leading to lasting and impactful consequences. I am left astounded.Many other previews will likely note how different styles of clothing impact your charisma, how (if you don't wash yourself often) you'll stink like p**s, and if you don't take a bath your clothes will remain dirty as a kind of permanent scruffbag debuff. Countless, I'm sure, will note how your dog is adorable. All of these are great depictions of Kingdom Come Deliverance's strengths, but allow me to summarise more succinctly: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 feels like a hobgoblin game. A game for late nights, sick days off work. A game you can obsess over. It's a wonderful historical romp for the average video game-enjoyer, if they have the constitution to munch on the occasional wave of tedium. Allow me to make a case for the game's merit by comparing it to the inevitable rival it'll have in the eyes of gamers: The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim for good measure. This might look similar to a lockpicking mini-game you know, but let me tell you, it's a lot harder. | Image credit: VG247Bethesda and Warhorse are on two polar opposites of the design philosophy spectrum when it comes to making open world RPGs. While Bethesda emphasises breaking down barriers between the player and a sense of joy and wunderlust, Warhorse embraces these barriers. In Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, this not only makes the experiences you encounter more special (without having to resort to ample bombast), but somehow manages to make mechanical roadblocks an integral part of the adventure, too. There is no better comparison point in my mind between the two approaches than thievery.In Skyrim, you're less a thief in the dark and more of a ghost haunting the chests and pockets of those around you. Lock-picking and pick-pocketing isn't hard. A stranger can walk into a town, everyone's gold and gems can vanish, and the townfolk will shrug and mourn their lost wealth as that same phantom stumbles out of town the next day, overencumbered and rich. The shop owner will stand stoic as a basket is placed on their head, as a voiceless rogue practically tears the floorboards from the ground. How on earth could this have happened, and who could possibly be to blame? If you are caught, you pay a fine. Not a huge fine, mind you, especially not if you've been selling off your stolen goods. The biggest problem for a thief in Skyrim is that the people of Skyrim often haven't got enough money to buy back their stolen wares.In Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, being a thief is a struggle. Lock-picking can be hard, and breaking a pick will make a loud noise that'll get you nabbed. If dogs see you snooping, they'll bark at you, chasing you off the premises. When you pickpocket someone, you've got to spend a few seconds digging through their pockets before you even get the chance to get loot, and most of that loot is hidden! On top of all of that, store owners can spot if goods you're selling are stolen, and refuse to buy them. You've often got to travel to another town to actually ditch your loot. Oh, and if you're over-encumbered, you can't mount up or fast travel. Get to walking, bud! Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is also a gloriously vulgar game. | Image credit: VG247But it gets even deeper. The game has a reputation system, so if you're caught stealing stuff or lurking around houses at night, people will treat you as a thief and act accordingly, even when you aren't doing crimes. Even if you aren't caught, they will piece together that you were in town while stuff went missing, and you'll gain reputation as a thief - even without spending time in a jail cell! Losing this reputation is incredibly costly, requiring you to empty your wallet or go on a time-consuming good-will mission. Just like real life, I suppose.The reason why this matters, and why I'm picking it out, is because the whole game is like this. So many playstyles are not only possible, but clearly taken into account by the devs. You wanna be a soldier, then there's a rich combo system for a hard-to-master melee system, a layered armour system, and weapons that excel against different types of protection. You wanna be a woodland ranger? Aside from the thieving business I've already talked about, you can do so well for yourself lurking around the forest, poaching game and picking herbs for poisons and other reagents. Don't wanna fight at all? Put on a nice outfit and talk your way out of almost everything. Or, get drunk every day and play dice. To hell with it, right? The more you drink, the more levels in drinking you get, which might sound useless until you see you can almost half fall damage you take while drunk. More than once, I've seen a sketchy drop, downed eight bottles of schnapps, and come away okay. Just like real life. No other game lets you do this. You've got to understand, seeing "shaggin" in a video game is rare. | Image credit: VG247There are going to be a lot of people who won't like Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. An inevitable cost of its deep roots in historical accuracy, and the drudgery that comes with it, is that occasionally you've got to carry six heavy sacks to a basement, or sit on a cart slowly rolling across the map. It means that some who want that Skyrim-style quick payoff and power fantasy will be left kicking their heels. Three guys can box you up (and with saves not exactly generous for the alchemy-averse among you) a fight gone wrong can set you back by 20 minutes, easy. Folks will fall off one hill, break their ankles, and uninstall the game. This is the sacrifice required for a game like this, though. It is what it is.Hitting the preview point of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 was, to me, like slamming the breaks on a moving train. I'm fiending to get back on it. If you're an open world RPG fan this looks to be an absolute banger, and well worth putting some money aside for when it releases on February 4, 2025.

Radahnmance Not DeadElden Ring Nightreign network test sign-ups open, as FromSoft makes safe bet its maidenless hardcores will battle through site outages to spaff away some of Valentine's DayHey, it's a perfectly romantic way to spend three hours, no doubt falling in love with some big bad bosses.Image credit: FromSoftware News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 10, 2025 You! The Elden Ring Nightreign network test is now open for you to register, as in putting your name down to be considered for a spot in it. Don't worry, you don't have to dive in right away to have a shot at being let in, and some of the folks who've tried to do just that have had to battle the Bandai Namco site momentarily crashing as people rush to put their names down.If you somehow missed Nightreign being announced, it's a co-op focussed title that will allow multiple players to take on bosses from the FromSofftverse in collaborative environments. So yup, Elden Ring with your mates in a form that's not just leaving each other cheeky notes and occasionally invading to help out with a particular fight or muck s**t up.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. This test was announced back in December, with sign-ups kicking off today, January 10, and staying open until January 20. To throw your name into the hat for the Elden Ring Nightreign network test, you'll want to head to this link.Only the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are eligible as platforms for the test though, which means you're outta luck if you're on PC or last-gen consoles, though you will still be able to play the full game when it comes out. That said, this hasn't stopped demand from being huge early doors, with several would-be sign-ups having responded to the Bandai tweet below with screenshots of the site having momentarily fallen over and died - or struggling to load up/register applications, if you want to be less dramatic. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.For those who get in, the network test is currently penned in to take place over five three hour sessions running from Februrary 14 to February 17, with times as follows:Feb 14 12:00 - 15:00 CETFeb 15 04:00 - 07:00 CETFeb 16 20:00 - 23:00 CETFeb 16 12:00 - 15:00 CETFeb 17 04:00 - 07:00 CETYep, the chance to spend three hours of your February 14 - that's Valentine's Day - playing Nightreign. As Orson Welles once said: "We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone." You go play that Elden Ring, here's hoping it fills your heart with love.And hey, if you don't get in, you can always just randomly decide you're going to go on a mission to kill FromSoft bosses every day until Nightreign comes out, as one fan already has.

Safety FirstSquare Enix enacts new anti-harassment policy to protect its staff from real world and online abuseIt offers protection against acts like trespassing, acts of violence, defamation and more. News by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Jan. 10, 2025 Square Enix has annoucned a new group customer harassment policy to protect its staff against harassment both online and in the real world. It announced this via a blog post in both Japanese and English, which you can read here.In this post, it acknowledges that while feedback from players is important, the acts of a certain subset of people far pass this line and venture into hostile action. It states these actions "not only prevent our employees and partners from engaging in their work with a sense of security but also causes disruptions to other customers" and that it'll not tolerate such actions.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. To combat such actions, Square Enix has stated it reserves the right to cease providing services to individuals found in breach of these guidelines, and in "egregious" cases, reserves the right to take legal action against those conducting such actions.Examples of harassment Square Enix provided in this policy include acts of violence or violent behavior, defamation, trespassing, unlawful restraint including via phone calls and online inquiries, discriminatory behavior, and more. Square Enix has also listed out examples of undue behavior, which includes unreasonable changes or exchange of product or request for monetary compensation, unreasonable response or request for apology, excessive requests for the provision of products and services, and the unreasonable and excessive demands for punishment of employees.This policy, original written and published in Japanese, applies to Square Enix staff across the world. It comes at a time where such actions seem particularly common, especially on social media. This has happened to Square Enix staff before, as last year FF14 director Naoki Yoshida asked fans to cease attacks against the voice actress of Wuk Lamat as well as the localization team.It's a important stance for Square Enix to take, and one that should provide some peace of mind to those working at hte company who fear such harassment coming their way. Let us know what you feel about this below, as well as your thoughts on the policy - does it go far enough?

Along with Flight Simulator.Known insider Nate the Hate has claimed in a new podcast that Microsoft will further its multiplatform ambitions in 2025 by bringing both Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Flight Simulator to the 'Switch 2' and the PS5.The insider who previously correctly claimed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would eventually come to PS5 in 2025 following its release on Xbox elaborated on his statement and said "any game that comes out this year will at some point find its way to PS5 and/or Switch 2, it's just a matter of when".Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Who got your vote?Monthly Splatfests are a thing of the past for Splatoon 3 these days, but Nintendo is still keeping the seasonal events coming. With Splatoween out the way, the next one to roll around is Frosty Fest, a festive celebration which will be heading to the Splatlands next month.As revealed in a tweet by @NintendoUK, the Frosty Fest Splatfest will get underway from 11th-12th January 2025 (depending on your region), with the theme this time asking 'What would make you happiest?' There are three gift-based teams to choose between, with Team Money, Experiences and Presents all vying for your support.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Chinese hackers have reportedly breached a key office within the U.S. Treasury tasked with reviewing foreign investments and transactions that could threaten U.S. national security.CNN reports, citing U.S. officials familiar with the incident, that the Chinese hackers targeted the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, which can approve or deny deals that present national security risks, such as corporate mergers and takeovers or deals that involve sensitive U.S. information.Treasury officials confirmed to TechCrunch last week that it was investigating a major cybersecurity incident following a breach at one of its security vendors, BeyondTrust. The Treasury said the hackers broke in using a stolen BeyondTrust key to remotely access employee workstations and documents on the departments unclassified network. It was later revealed that the Chinese hackers had also breached the departments office for international financial sanctions, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC.U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA said this week that there was no indication that the hackers had broken into any other U.S. government department as part of the campaign.Bloomberg reports that the hackers targeting the Treasury are known as Silk Typhoon (previously called Hafnium), an active China-backed hacking group known to carry out mass hacking operations aimed at stealing information.The cyberattack at the Treasury is the latest in a string of incidents identified in recent months and linked to the China-backed family of Typhoon hackers. These cyberattacks have included the targeting of private communications of U.S. government officials and prepositioning destructive malware in U.S. critical infrastructure to strike in the event of a future conflict between China and the United States.The Chinese government has repeatedly denied the accusations.

Explore the unique blend of humor and horror in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Redchillies VFX brings the story to life with their really cool visual effects, from eerie haunted settings to playful supernatural elements! Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025The post Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3: VFX Breakdown by Redchillies VFX appeared first on The Art of VFX.