Regardless of how well Doom: The Dark Ages maintains the formula of the series, there are new things for you to learn before diving in. Doom: The Dark Ages is a fast-paced, first-person action game where the golden rule is to shoot, punch, or explode anything that moves. Otherwise, you will probably die. Traversing the infernal maps to complete the campaign requires not only good reflexes — you also need to use everything at your disposal to survive the battlefield. Whether you’re a longtime Doom fan or this is your first time slashing hellspawns to the thrum of metal riffs, there’s plenty to learn. But we can help! Below, see our beginner’s tips for Doom: The Dark Ages. Your shield is more than just protection At first glance, your shield might not look like much in comparison to, say, a rocket launcher. It is, however, your strongest tool in Doom: The Dark Ages — and by mastering it, you can face legions of hellspawns without too much trouble. First, besides protecting yourself from incoming damage, you can use the shield to propel yourself toward a target. While this is initially introduced as an offensive maneuver, you can adapt it to quickly escape from a tight situation. When in danger, look for a faraway enemy and use your dash! You can also interrupt enemies with the shield by dashing at them as they charge their attack. Another option is to throw your shield once this option becomes available. When it hits large demons, the shield sticks to them, stunning them for a few seconds. Use this time to run or finish them. Parry everything You can do more with your shield than just dash and stun. Parrying is an important mechanic in Doom: The Dark Ages, which you should always do when you see attacks highlighted in green — called Hell Surge attacks — coming. A shockwave. A giant arrow of demonic energy. It doesn’t matter. If it’s green, you can parry and deflect it back to its source. The potential of parry Hell Surge attacks comes especially when you’re facing multiple enemies at the same time because the deflected Hell Surge projectile won’t hit only the source — it can kill whatever else is close to the source. And once you unlock some shield upgrades, this feature becomes stronger.Weak enemies make you stronger  If you’re new to the Doom universe, some fights might feel overwhelming, especially when facing big bad demon boys who are followed by small minions that’ll annoy you throughout the whole fight. You must learn that these little fellows are there to actually help you, though.  In Doom: The Dark Ages, you can only recover health by killing enemies. Brutal, right? But when fighting a boss, you need to stay alive long enough to put them down. That’s when the weak minions come in. You must use them to restore your health. Whenever you’re low on health, run around the arena and find some weakling to kill before getting back to the real target. Always check your map It won’t take you long to realize how straightforward Doom: The Dark Ages’ maps are. Even so, checking your map constantly is crucial in this game as it will highlight the location of objectives and collectibles. For collectibles to appear on the map, you must first open the area. Once you get close to them, their symbol will be shown on the automap.  Keeping track of what is around you by consistently checking the map is a good practice to not ignore secret rooms and weird corridors.In the worst-case scenario, you’ll grab a Life Sigil and some gold, which are still considerably rare in the game. Swap guns constantly The Doom games have always been about shooting demons and, although you have a cool shield now, this remains the main idea in Doom: The Dark Ages. However, regardless of how pumped you might get from the soundtrack, you can’t run toward every encounter and hope to survive by relying on a single gun.  Dark Ages has a large arsenal of different weapons, and each one is meant to respond to a specific kind of enemy. Accelerator is the one you want to switch to when enemies with shields appear, while Pulverizer should be your go-to option when a wave of enemies approaches. If you don’t change to a better weapon for each enemy and situation, death is the most likely result.  Your fists are as powerful as your guns  This is a simple but powerful mindset to have while playing the game. While it is totally possible to simply shred enemies shooting thousands of bullets at them, this is not the best way to kill them. If you hit enemies with melee attacks, they will drop ammo, giving you the chance to stay in the fight longer — and kill enemies faster! At the same time, if you can daze enemies, you can execute them. You just need to hit them hard enough to almost kill them for a purple circle to appear in front of the enemy. Then, use the execute command to gain more health than a regular kill, which can bring you back from near death. So, considering how much you gain from fighting with your bare hands, stop wasting bullets and go punch some demons! #beginners #tips #face #enemies #doom

“What. Is. THAT?” At Remedy HQ, me and two other writers getting a first hands-on with the forthcoming FBC: Firebreak have hit a problem. Namely, a strange, ever-changing black-grey mass, aimlessly and unnervingly stuttering around the Quarry we’re currently exploring. We have no idea what it is until we get close enough to recognize it—an Astral Spike from Firebreak’s ‘prequel,’ Control. But by then, it’s too late. Our screams that soon follow confirm it’s still just as deadly as ever. It’s not the only surprise I encountered in my extensive playthrough of the already slick and utterly engaging first-person squad-based shooter, launching June 17 on PlayStation 5. Here’s what I discovered from a fair few rounds of firefighting a paranatural invasion in the Oldest House. Live as a team or die alone repeatedly The focus on creating a team of three for the game’s player vs. environmentset-up is to hone in on the three classes of the game, known as Crisis Kits. I plumped for the Jump Kit, which specializes in crowd control and power management, while my two teammates went for the Fix Kitand Splash Kit. These Kits are designed to complement and collaborate in tasks and attacks, so trying to be a maverick only leads to death, likely yours. Communication is absolutely essential – especially as it’s easy to get caught in friendly fire – and taking full advantage of the Kits’ tools is the only way to survive the endless supply of rampaging hordes. And given that you possess a limited number of respawns between your team, reviving each other on the field is the best way to stay in the game, not always easy when dozens of Hiss beasties surround you. Crafting the perfect loadout In addition to the expected rifles, shotguns, and pistols, each Kit consists of three types of equipment: a tool, augment, and item. My Jump Kit’s initial loadout features an Electro-Kinetic Charge Impactor tool for shocking enemies, powering up generators, and even jumping long distances, and a BOOMbox item that distracts enemies once it’s charged. The systemic subtleties of each Kit’s equipment is where the teamwork comes into play. My Splash Kit comrade-in-arms uses his Crank-Operated Fluidic Ejector tool to wet the beasts, which maximizes my electrocution attack on them. At the same time, our Fix Kit buddy utilizes his Swivel Turret item that automatically tracks and unleashes a volley of rounds at any stragglers. Like the best co-op shooters, FBC: Firebreak encourages you to improvise under increasingly difficult odds, while not being afraid of the hilarity that comes with the chaos. There’s a mischievous glee from the Remedy staff when they unlock our Kits’ augments, and I soon see why. Once charged, my augment – named the AI19 Garden Gnome – fired out an unassuming gnome that unleashed a massive electrical storm that was far too close to my entire team and got us all electrocuted. My bad. Playing with piggy banks and paper Of course, it’s not all just fightingwith things like the enemy igniting AI44 Teapot or the incredibly significant damage of the ‘break on contact but reforming’ AI16 Piggy Bank. FBC’s director and Control’s protagonist, Jesse Faden, has given you specific tasks to ensure the invasion of Hiss is contained. In this build of the game, I have access to three of the five Jobs that will be present at launch. Hot Fix challenges you to repair a number of heat fans and ultimately reseal the Maintenance Sector’s paranatural Furnace. Paper Chase requires the destruction of a set number of sticky notes, as well as surviving the shuffling sticky note monsters. Ground Control drops you into Black Rock Quarry to kill Astral Leeches in order to uncover irradiated pearls that need to be collected into a shuttle and launched into orbit. Each well-designed level offers opportunities to use the Kits’ different abilities, such as the Fix Kit’s wrench providing quick repairs to broken fans that lets you sidestep the button matching sub-game other Kits might need to perform, or the Splash Kit’s Humidifier spraying healing water to wash off radiation. But the Jobs also bring their fair share of downright terrifying moments, such as the confrontation with the literally giant sticky note boss monster, Sticky Ricky, which requires you to power up surrounding generators before you can hurt it. Or the aforementioned nightmare-inducing Astral Spikes that haunt the Quarry. ​​ Customization and corruption keep you guessing With its satisfying gunplay and smooth controls that feel at home on the DualSense wireless controller, there’s a lot to look forward to with FBC: Firebreak. Plenty of extra tantalizing elements will be expanded for launch, too, such as the many unlockable customizable gears and cosmetics for weapons, equipment, armor, or level unlock perks, such as the chance for electrified bullets or the ability to shake off radiation or fire by jumping up and down. There’s even a Corruption Level modifier that introduces Corrupted Items that cause additional hazards, such as low gravity or—the horrifying one I encountered, which led to many deaths—super fast enemies. It’s all designed to make the most of movement and character status-based systems, creating unpredictable results that set up FBC: Firebreak to be a compelling and ever-evolving experience. The doors to the Oldest House reopen when FBC: Firebreak shoots onto PS5 on June 17, with day one availability for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members as part of PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. And for anyone who still has any doubts, don’t worry – Remedy has this all under Control. #fbc #firebreak #handson #report

Space Marine II now has official mod support baked into the base game, fresh from the devs’ hands to your eyeballs. This is big news, albeit for a very particular kind of fan. Allow me to give you some necessary context. Space Marine II is based in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Which, in terms of pop culture settings, is about as deep as it gets. Starting with a tabletop strategy game that was itself a spinoff, the setting has been going strong since the late 80s, with ten editions of the main game, all with deep accompanying lore; several alternate games; hundreds of novels; and dozens of video games. All of that is, to a greater or lesser degree, canon to the game’s story. A story that takes place across literally millions of planets and tens of millions of years, dozens of human and alien species, psychic magic, demons, and sci-fi tech, all rolled together in one miserable, glorious heap of grimdark fiction. Focus Entertainment It’s a lot. I think it’s very possible that Warhammer 40K might have the most information and lore of any media property, ever. It is so deep and so wide that it makes Star Trek look like Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys.And here’s the crazy thing: That’s just the official material. As a tabletop war game that also includes building, painting, and customizing your own incredibly delicate, tiny, and expensive army, 40K attracts the kind of fan who loves to literally get their hands dirty. You can spend thousands of hours and a small fortune painstakingly choosing your perfect fighting force, assembling them, and showing off your skills. And a lot of players aren’t content to simply go along with the game’s official story; they’d rather invent their own “chapters” or “factions” of the game’s various sci-fi legions. They do the same with the fiction itself. There are decades of fan content, an entire culture, surrounding this game, its stories and lore, and even its basic mechanics. I’m not exaggerating when I say you could spend the rest of your life obsessed with Warhammer 40,000 and still never see everything there is to see. Here’s one of my favorites, playing off the Ork’s latent psychic powers. 40K’s space Orks aren’t smart enough to make things like cars or spaceships, but because they believe a car-shaped thing should work like a car, it does. They also believe that painting a car red makes it go faster. For them, it actually does. Space Marine II knows this, knows that its most dedicated fans want to dive into all of that headfirst. While a single video game can only encapsulate a fraction of the full breadth of 40K’s official material and can’t even begin to accommodate all the unofficial stuff, it includes an impressive customization tool that lets you equip and “paint” your giant, grimdark supersoldier in an incredible variety of ways. It’s exactly the sort of thing that makes a 40K fan’s heart go pitter-patter. But for the most dedicated 40K fan, that’s still not enough. Which is why the game now has official, native support for player-created mods. It’s a formula that’s worked well for tons of PC games, from Skyrim to Cities Skylines to Baldur’s Gate III. But because of Warhammer 40K’s unique relationship with both its own medium and its fans, it’s inevitable that an explosion of user-generated content is coming. Within the first release of the official Integration Studio, modders will get access to tools for making new levels, new modes, new NPCs and enemy behavior, and even the base game’s logic. But that’s just the bones of what players can make. They can recreate essential moments from 40K fiction, like, say, the Fall of Cadia or the throne room battle of the Horus Heresy.They can add in iconic allies and enemies, from an Avatar of Khaine to Ciaphas Cain. They could bring in some Exodite Eldar and play as an alien elf riding a dinosaur, which Games Workshop has yet to give players in the real game. And again, that’s just emulating the stuff from the official fiction. Warhammer 40K fan content goes hard and crazy, often leaning into the setting’s most ridiculous elements or its largely forgotten satirical bent.I can’t wait to see Buzz Lightyear marines, or the Angry Marines, or the best unofficial chapter: the Space Maids, who go around in pink maid dresses giving aid and comfort to the armies of the Imperium. This is a joke. But also it isn’t. The Space Maids have semi-official lore, as official as fan content can get. They have divisions of their army with documented insignias, and they have a “Primarch” or founder like all the other Space Marine chapters/legions. They’re based on cutesy anime tropes, including lots of catgirls and baked goods. They’re wonderful. Space Maid Marines are coming to Space Marine II. It is inevitable, and it’s going to be glorious. #space #marine #about #wild #with

Bleak Sword takes the challenging combat of games like Dark Souls and distills it down to the essentials for a compelling adventure on iOS, macOS, and Apple TV. Learn how Unity developer more8bit kept streamlined the project with a clear vision and smart prototyping to launch this Apple Arcade hit.Mobile developer Luis Moreno Jimenezhas worked in the games industry for more than 20 years. “I started pretty early doing little 3D models and crude animations, and fantasizing about the games I would like to make,” he says.At 17 years old, he joined Enigma Software, where he spent three years working on different prototypes and the RTS-RPG hybrid Excalibug. His next role was at MercurySteam, first as an animator on games like Scrapland and Clive Barker’s Jericho, and then as lead in-game animator on Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and its sequel, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2.“Years working closely with gameplay programmers and gameplay designers has been very beneficial for me in the long run,” he says. “I got to see how they tackle gameplay specific problems from different points of view, understand what works and what doesn’t, and pick up little gameplay tricks here and there. I’ve also learned how to finish and close projects, which is something very important if you’re working solo.”Inspired by the growing number of indie innovators finding success outside large studios, Luis decided to pursue the dream of making his own game. He experimented with a couple of different engines before choosing Unity. “I felt that if I was going to learn a programming language, it would be better to learn a more established and general one like C#.”From the outset, Luis knew he wanted to make a mobile game, and he had a clear idea of what Bleak Sword would look like. The game features 2D sprites rendered in a 3D environment. All game assets use minimalistic pixel art, brought to life in a lo-fi, monochrome style.“The first thing I came up with was this aesthetic,” he explains. “From the very beginning, the main character was as you see in the final game. I thought this minimalistic style would look cool on a handheld or mobile screen, so I chose mobile as my first target platform.”Gameplay took several rounds of prototyping. “The first version of Bleak Sword was 2D,” says Luis. “Another was open world, like a mini-Witcher 3, but that idea soon proved to be too big for one person to do in reasonable time, even with minimalist graphics.”Eventually, Luis landed on the concept of “diorama-based arenas,” where each level is confined to a small square. “This was the structure I was looking for – the two ideas matched perfectly as both have a minimalistic design approach,” he says. “The great thing about Unity is how quickly you can put together a few assets and try out different ideas. It definitely saved me months of work in the experimental phase.”Bleak Sword’s base game contains nine different chapters, each containing 10 diorama-based arenas. Every chapter has new enemies to conquer and culminates in a unique boss encounter.“I knew from the start that I wanted to have very different settings. Because the game loop in the original game was designed specifically for short, quick, intense sessions, if the settings were too similar, it could bore the player,” says Luis.To keep the experience fresh, Luis created different types of terrain, obstacles, enemy types, and gameplay elements. “You have chapters with water, environmental traps, weather conditions that can affect gameplay, and so on,” says Luis. “Players can also hide behind trees or other objects when enemies throw projectiles at them. I tried to balance each arena together with the enemies, so each level is a little different and has the potential to create memorable moments.”One of the game’s most memorable chapters is the Northern Passage, where combat happens on horseback in a perpetually scrolling environment. Luis used Shader Graph to prevent enemies and objects from coming into view beyond the bounds of the scrolling diorama.“Enemies on that level have a script that changes their material. When they spawn, they are created outside the arena using the shader that hides pixels. When they enter the arena, the script changes the material and uses a normal shader, making them visible.”Going mobile gave Luis the opportunity to experiment with control schemes and create a uniquely challenging Soulslike, a genre not often seen on handheld devices. “I wanted to make an action game playable with one hand – no onscreen joysticks or buttons,” he says. “When people play mobile games on their commute, they’re usually holding onto the bar with one hand and playing with the other.”The controls are simple but effective: Players swipe to roll in a direction for movement, tap once to attack, and tap and hold to charge an attack or counter a blow from an enemy.In early prototypes, Luis used Unity’s built-in Input System because it was easy to set up and implement, but switched to Rewired from the Unity Asset Store later in production. “I was very happy in general with the plug-in – it helped a lot with the original Bleak Sword’s development, especially with the Apple TV controls.”more8bit’s publisher, Devolver Digital, pitched Bleak Sword to Apple, who added it to their library of Apple Arcade exclusives in 2019. The game was a hit, receiving praise for its fluid and responsive gameplay.“I’m very happy with how things went,” says Luis. “It definitely allowed me to continue on this indie adventure.”So, what’s next for Bleak Sword? This year, Devolver Digital announced Bleak Sword DX, an expanded and improved version of Bleak Sword for PC and Nintendo Switch™ with updated controls, visuals, and a brand-new campaign.“I can’t wait for players to try the new DX campaign mode, which I think is a lot of fun and pretty challenging, especially with the addition of two more difficult modes,” says Luis. “I’m also excited for players to try their hand at the new Boss Rush mode or see if anyone can get a crazy high number of rounds in Endless Arena. I put a lot of work into this game, and I hope players enjoy their time with it!”Check out the Bleak Sword DX case study to learn how more8bit brought his debut game as a solo developer to more platforms.*Nintendo Switch is a registered trademark of Nintendo. #more8bits #bleak #sword #showcases #minimalist

Aside from a more ambitious narrative scope, Doom: The Dark Ages also introduced semi open-world areas where you can take in the level at your own pace. “Ancestral Forge,” the ninth mission in the game, is the second of these, after “The Siege Part One.”Suggested ReadingFallout Season 2 Teaser Confirms Lucy and Ghoul are Heading to New Vegas Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingFallout Season 2 Teaser Confirms Lucy and Ghoul are Heading to New Vegas Share SubtitlesOffEnglishRead More: Throughout the game, you’ll come across many Sorcerer and Knight statues with jewel collectibles. Sorcerer statues hold Wraithstones while Knight statues hold Rubies. In these open-world segments, you’ll find these blocked off with a barrier surrounded by holographic lion statues. In order to fill these statues in, you’ll have to find three other lion statues scattered throughout the open-world mission and destroy them with your shield.1. Finding the Sorcerer state2. First lion statue3. Second lion statue4. Third lion statue5. Grabbing the jewelIn “Ancestral Forge,” there are three of these lion statues. This time around, the locations of the lion statues are a little more scattered and take more effort to get to.Screenshot: id Software / KotakuOnce you enter the open-world area, go towards the right of the Sentinel Shrine. Further down, go past the first Ancestral Heart and you should come across the Sorcerer statue holding a Wraithstone.Screenshot: id Software / KotakuThe first lion statue is directly above the area where you find the Sorcerer statue. There’s an enemy encounter here right in this area, so take care of the demons before throwing your shield at the first lion statue.Screenshot: id Software / KotakuFor this second Lion statue, you’ll need to grab the Pink Key. Your mission marker should take you to the first Ancestral Heart. After clearing out the enemies there, backtrack a little bit and go into the cliff area with a trail of gold. At the end of the trail is the Pink Key.After obtaining the Pink Key, head all the way back to the beginning of the level where you came out of. To your right, there’s a path that needs the Pink Key to unlock. After opening the gate, head inside and find the second Lion statue.Screenshot: id Software / KotakuThe third lion statue is all the way at the other side of the level, right before you reach the second Ancestral Heart. Clear out the enemies herefor the barrier around the Lion statue to disappear. Once all the demons are defeated, just throw your shield at the Lion statue.After shattering all three lion statues, the barrier surrounding the Sorcerer statue will disappear. You can then interact with the statue and grab the Wraithstone, which can be used to upgrade your weapons, shield, and melee capabilitiesFor more Doom: The Dark Ages, be sure to check out our review, as well as collectible guides for the first two missions of the game: “Village of Khalim” and “Hebeth.”. #you #need #smash #these #creepy

The Kids Online Safety Acthas been reintroduced into Congress. If passed into law, this bill could impose some of the most significant legislative changes that the internet has seen in the U.S. since the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Actof 1998. As it currently stands, KOSA would be able to hold social media platforms legally accountable if it’s proven that these companies aren’t doing enough to protect minors from harm. The bill includes a long list of possible harms, such as eating disorders, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, and suicide. Though it overwhelmingly passed through the Senate last year, the bill was stifled in the House. KOSA has faced much backlash since its introduction in 2022. Human rights groups like the ACLU raised concerns that the bill could be weaponized as a tool for censorship and surveillance. While amendments to KOSA have mitigated some of these concerns, groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Fight for the Future have remained against the bill. “The bill’s authors have claimed over and over that this bill doesn’t impact speech. But the Duty of Care is about speech: it’s about blocking speech that the government believes is bad for kids,” Fight for the Future wrote in a statement. “And the people who will be determining what speech is harmful? They are the same ones using every tool to silence marginalized communities and attack those they perceive as enemies.” However, KOSA has garnered support from companies like Microsoft, Snap, and X; X CEO Linda Yaccarino even worked with Senators Marsha Blackburnand Richard Blumenthalon the most recent draft of the bill. Google and Meta have remained opposed to the bill, but Apple announced today that it will support the legislation. “Apple is pleased to offer our support for the Kids Online Safety Act. Everyone has a part to play in keeping kids safe online, and we believelegislation will have a meaningful impact on children’s online safety,” Timothy Powderly, Apple’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, said in a statement. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW #kids #online #safety #act #back

Sony has announced the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog additions for May 2025, unveiling a list of titles that includes newcomers such as Sand Land, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy, Battlefield 5, and more.The full lineup of titles coming to its gaming subscription service was revealed in a PlayStation.Blog post today. It’s a collection of six games for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers that will all drop come May 20, delivering a variety of experiences for fans of different genres and eras of gaming.Those starting at the Extra tier can take advantage of a whopping nine new titles coming to the Game Catalog for May 2025. Headlining the list of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games is Sand Land, an action RPG adaptation of the Akira Toriyama manga of the same name.PlayOther PS4 and PS5 highlights include Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted – Full Time Edition and the three-in-one S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy. An enhanced version of the latter was announced for PS5just this morning and is also set to arrive May 20. Developer GSC Game World says those who own the original trilogy release on console will receive the Enhanced Edition for free, though it's unclear if this same offer is extended to those who play on PlayStation Plus.PlayStation Plus Premium members, meanwhile, get one new classic title in the form of Battle Engine Aquila. Available on PS4 and PS5, this sci-fi action game puts players in the cockpit of a mobile war vehicle that can fight off enemies from both the air and on the ground. You can see the full list of May 2025 PlayStation Plus Game Catalog titles below.PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Game Catalog Additions – May 2025Sand Land | PS4, PS5 Soul Hackers 2 | PS5 Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted – Full Time Edition | PS4, PS5 Battlefield 5 | PS4 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy | PS4, PS5 Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising | PS4, PS5 Humankind | PS4, PS5 Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life | PS5Gloomhaven Mercenaries Edition | PS4, PS5PlayStation Plus Premium Game Catalog Additions – May 2025Battle Engine Aquila | PS4, PS5While we wait to dive into this month’s PlayStation Plus additions, you can read up on which games joined the Essential tier’s monthly games for May 2025. You can also see Sony’s list of April 2025 Game Catalog additions here.Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Blueskyand Twitter. #playstation #plus #game #catalog #confirmed