Nightlords are arguably the hardest enemies in Elden Ring Nightreign — powerful, nerve-racking bosses who show up at the very end of your runs. All the preparation you go through during the first two days of a match in Elden Ring Nightreign — from farming runes to looking for ways to upgrade your weapons — is in service of one goal: getting strong enough to beat the Nightlord of your run. Each boss has their own dedicated mechanics and weaknesses, and you can tackle (most) of them in the order you see fit. In this Elden Ring Nightreign guide, we’ll go over our recommendation of the the best Nightlords order so you know which boss fights to prioritize.  Best Nightlords boss fight order in Elden Ring Nightreign  The best Nightlords order in Elden Ring Nightreign is a subjective matter, largely up to your individual class, equipment, and personal adeptness with each character. That said, we’ve assembled guide to present what would be, in our opinion, the fights you should focus on first to build up confidence and accumulate knowledge about the game. In general, the better-prepared you are for each fight, the better you’ll fare. But some Nightlords are less forgiving than others if you reach the final day under-leveled or under-equipped. Along the same lines, we consider bosses who can inflict detrimental effects more difficult to prepare for than those who you can defeat simply by mastering their mechanics. And then, of course, there’s the huge matter that all of this — as with all things Nightreign — is contingent on whether or not your teammates actually collaborate with you. With all this in mind, below, here’s our recommendation for the best Nightlords order in Elden Ring Nightreign, with their respective expedition names in parentheses. Gladius, Beast of Night (Tricephalos) Gnoster, Wisdom of Night (Sentient Pest) Maris, Fathom of Night (Augur) Adel, Baron of Night (Gaping Jaw) Caligo, Miasma of Night (Fissure in the Fog) Libra, Creature of Night (Equilibrious Beast) Fulghor, Champion of Nightglow (Darkdrift Knight) Heolstor the Nightlord (Night Aspect) Gladius, Beast of Night (Tricephalos) There isn’t much to say here because you can’t actually choose not to face Gladius, Beast of Night first. Tricephalos is the first expedition you have access to and the other expeditions won’t become available until you have defeated them. Use your first runs against this Nightlord to learn your way through Limveld. Gnoster, Wisdom of Night (Sentient Pest) It might sound contradictory to face a duo boss after beating Gladius, Beast of Night. Tracking two enemies is challenging and requires you to know the limits of your class. Even so, you should still pick Sentient Pest as your second expedition and fight Gnoster, Wisdom of Night. There are two main reasons for that. First, almost none of their attacks are capable of instantly killing you unless you’re under level 10. They don’t require you to have specific resistances or weapons either. If you’re playing a melee class, you just need to have patience until Gnoster gets closer and wait for a good window to attack.  The second reason is Gnoster’s weaknesses. Fire damage is extremely strong against it and it is easy to find a weapon that causes fire damage; throwing pots or Fire Grease, a consumable that makes your weapon cause elemental damage for a period of time. Maris, Fathom of Night (Augur) The only reason why we suggest tackling Maris, Fathom of Night (from the Augur expedition) after Gnoster is that this boss constantly applies sleep, dealing a lot of damage and leaving you exposed to follow-up attacks. Nevertheless, after enough matches, you’ll have obtained enough Relics, some of which can come with sleep resistance, removing a challenging factor of this fight.  When it comes to mechanics, there are just a couple of attacks to watch out for. Kill or dodge the small jellyfish the boss sends your way and run from the shining one, since it nukes a large area. Their main attacks are clearly telegraphed so there isn’t much to worry about on that front. Learn their patterns and defeat your third boss. Adel, Baron of Night (Gaping Jaw) Although the Gaping Jaw is the expedition Nightreign suggests tackling after Gladius, we’d suggest waiting to fight Adel, Baron of Night until you become more familiar with the game. Adel deals a lot of damage with their bite attack, which causes blood loss, a major threat if you don’t have a lot of health. In general, Adel’s attacks can really pin you down, but when the boss enters its second phase, it becomes a real nightmare. To make your life easier, you can use poison against the boss, but this is a type of elemental damage difficult to find weapons with or greases to apply. In other words, you will probably have to face the boss without relying on exploiting any weakness.  Caligo, Miasma of Night (Fissure in the Fog) Fighting a giant prehistoric dragon is never a good idea, but Caligo, Miasma of Night, the Nightlord you must fight in the Fissure in the Fog expedition, could be worse. To prepare for this fight, farm runes to reach level 12 or higher.  Once you know how to handle Caligo’s attacks, this gigantic dragon becomes less of a threat, but knowing the fight is not enough to survive. During the match, watch out for elemental resistances that might drop from minor bosses. Caligo’s attacks can inflict Frostbite and they cover large areas of the arena, so you’ll probably get hit by them. You also want to come with strong weapons capable of causing fire damage.  Libra, Creature of Night (Equilibrious Beast) The Equilibrious Beast expedition, where you must fight Libra, Creature of Night, is presents a notable step-up in difficulty compared to the previous fights. The most challenging aspect of this fight is in the preparation: Most of Libra’s attacks inflict madness and there aren’t many methods to prevent it. They are also weak to madness, but you’ll need to find the right incantation to cause that type of damage. Most importantly, there isn’t a safe spot to hide in this fight. Libra is fast, can teleport next to their target, and unleashes lengthy, quick sequences of attacks with their staff. Finding the right window to heal is difficult, because they can cast long-range area-of-effect attacks that hit many places in the arena. Beating Libra is a matter of farming, learning the fight, and luck. Fulghor, Champion of Nightglow (Darkdrift Knight) Among the bosses in Elden Ring Nightreign, very few are as punitive as Fulgor, Champion of Nightflow. This one-arm centaur is waiting for you in the Darkdrift Knight expedition and facing them will test all you’ve learned so far. Exploiting Fulghor’s weakness to lightning damage is a must, but the challenge here involves actually hitting them while avoiding their massive area attacks or quick thrusts.  You need to know how to farm well for this fight and memorize Fulghor’s attack pattern if you plan on completing this expedition. Fulghor causes a lot of damage, making you run out of flasks pretty fast if you don’t dodge at the right time. In addition, during the second phase, Fulghor becomes more brutal with a complex combination of short and long-distance attacks. Heolstor the Nightlord (Night Aspect) Just like Gladius had to go first, you can’t avoid saving the Night Aspect expedition for last since it is the last one you unlock and where you must fight Heolstor the Nightlord. Be sure to have sourced the best gear and achieved the highest level you can before facing this one. For more Elden Ring Nightreign guides, here’s how to change skins, what “memory fragment found” means, and a list of the best rune farming locations.

Technical Artist - Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA or Albany, NYBlizzard EntertainmentIrvine California 92618 United States of America1 hour agoApplyTeam Name:Unannounced ProjectJob Title:Technical Artist - Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA or Albany, NYRequisition ID:R025437Job Description:At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations -- only made possible by building a work environment that cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.We are looking for a Technical Artist to help us craft a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for supporting and optimizing art production through technical and artistic expertise. You understand how to effectively problem solve, innovate, and collaborate to monitor and address performance problems that arise. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose.This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work from home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA or Albany, NY.Responsibilities:Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:Directly contribute to establishing and improving artist workflows for performant content in Unreal engine.Demonstrate proficiency in one or more of the following areas: creation of dynamic systems such as water/wind/weather, VFX content and material optimization, building and maintaining pipelines, procedural approaches to world content generation.Collaborate with artists and engineers to monitor content and provide documentation on best practices.Be a force multiplier providing technical support for a small team of artists and designers.Remain current on industry trends including advancement in commercial game engines and workflow efficiencies.Experience5+ years of experience in AAA tech art game teams.Knowledge & SkillsIn-depth knowledge of AAA game engines with an understanding of art implementation and integration methods.Comprehensive understanding of art pipelines and good practice including proficiency in industry-standard 3D and 2D creation software (Houdini, Substance Designer, Maya, Gaea, etc).A portfolio with examples and detailed breakdowns showcasing your practical work.Strong understanding of physically -based rendering.A strong foundation in scripting (blueprints, Python, HLSL, C++).Key AttributesA team-oriented approach to your work, understanding the importance of collaboration and partnering with all departments.The ability to inspire others with an enthusiastic approach to game development and improving core skills.Self-motivated ability to solve problems proactively.Solid understanding of game development outside of technical art (e.g. lighting, VFX, characters, animation, audio, rendering, systems).Extra PointsExperience working through early development R&D phases of a project is a plus.Unreal Engine editor utility widgets, profiling, validatorsPassion for playing a wide variety of video games.Your PlatformBest known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.Our WorldActivision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.RewardsWe provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/ .In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $29.81 - $55.14 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

From the first moment you step into the brutal lands of Shu, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers makes one thing clear: survival isn’t gifted, it’s earned. Throughout your journey, you’ll need to master an arsenal of weapons, spells, and abilities to overcome the harrowing challenges of this Soulslike action-RPG set in the waning years of the Ming dynasty. With the July 24 launch fast approaching, we’re giving PlayStation players a closer look at some of the game’s most defining tools of survival, power, and identity. We’ll highlight just a few of the devastating weapons, arcane spells, and unique abilities you’ll wield as you carve your legacy through ruin and revelation. These tools don’t just shape your playstyle, they shape the legend of Wuchang herself. A diverse arsenal of blades and brutality Each weapon in Wuchang is tied to a piece of the game’s worldbuilding, from sacred relics to myth-imbued prototypes. Every blade tells a story, and every strike leaves a mark. The Dragoncoil Lance, a Deluxe Edition spear, is a striking silver-white weapon featuring a traditional design. A coiled dragon motif wraps around the junction of the shaft and spearhead, symbolizing the wielder’s courage and valor. Weapons in Wuchang each have their own unique skills, and with the Vortex Thrust skill for the Dragoncoil Lance, you can unleash shockwaves with devastating force, making it ideal for punishing multiple enemies at once. Abilities that shape the warrior Combat in Wuchang is fluid, fast, and fiercely deliberate, with a broad range of abilities that define how you approach each fight. One standout is Blade Dance, a whirling assault that slices through enemies while showcasing your mastery of dual blades. The Crescent Arc, a forward-lunging slash imbued with ethereal energy, closing distance and shifting momentum with measured precision. Prefer power over speed? Colossal Smash delivers a thunderous overhead strike that leaves a trail of destruction in its wake, ideal for breaking enemy posture or interrupting spellcasters mid-cast. Every ability in Wuchang evolves through skill trees and Red Mercury enhancements, adding layers of strategy beyond raw force. Spells drawn from myth and madness Wuchang’s spell system is one of the most visually striking elements of its design, drawing from Taoist ritual, ancient folklore, and operatic symbolism. These aren’t just tools of destruction. They’re storytelling vessels that bind your journey to the world’s unraveling lore. Infernal Flames casts a searing mask that torments enemies with divine rage, based on an ancient opera ritual meant to summon wrathful spirits. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Lotus Soulflame, a ritual spell used in spirit exorcisms that unleashes devastating elemental damage. Another standout is Echo of Liu Cheng’en, a chilling surge of ice named after a loyal Ming general. The spell can knock targets back with enough force to disrupt aggressive momentum and create space in critical encounters. Feathering, the price of power At the heart of Wuchang’s identity lies the Feathering system, a supernatural affliction that grants immense power at great personal cost. As Wuchang absorbs Red Mercury and defeats corrupted monstrosities, she unlocks devastating abilities and spells rooted in transformation. Feathering allows players to unleash deadly skills and spells mid-combat, turning the tide of battle in an instant. But each use chips away at stability, demanding tactical restraint. Do you risk transforming in the middle of a fight to deliver explosive damage, knowing it may leave you vulnerable? Or hold your strength in reserve until the moment you’re truly cornered? Pre-order bonuses and Deluxe Edition content Players who pre-order Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will receive two exclusive outfits, White Spectre and Night Spectre, offering ceremonial elegance steeped in decay. You’ll also unlock the Vermillion War Club, a brutal axe weapon with powerful combo potential, along with a Glistening Red Mercury Skill Upgrade to enhance your build from the very beginning. For those seeking even deeper customization, the Deluxe Edition adds four rare outfits: Soul Ritual Robe, Tiger of Fortune, Overlord’s Regalia, and Draconic Resurgence. It also includes powerful weapons such as the Moonlight Dragon, Watcher’s Gaze swords, Eternal Sovereignty, and Dragoncoil Lance. You’ll also receive the Blood of Changhong, a special Skill Upgrade Item designed to support diverse builds and encourage early experimentation. Prepare for launch Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is more than a battle for survival. It’s a meditation on power, sacrifice, and transformation. Every spell you cast, weapon you wield, and enemy you overcome deepens your understanding of Wuchang’s intricate lore. Mastery isn’t just rewarded, it’s essential to unlocking the truths buried in the land of Shu. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers launches July 24 on PlayStation 5. Pre-order now to unlock exclusive content and prepare for the journey that awaits.

Senior Environment Artist – Unannounced Game | Irvine, CABlizzard EntertainmentIrvine California 92618 United States of America50 minutes agoApplyTeam Name:Unannounced ProjectJob Title:Senior Environment Artist – Unannounced Game | Irvine, CARequisition ID:R025360Job Description:At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations - only made possible by building a work environment that nurtures the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.We are looking for a Senior Environment Artist to help us craft a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality environment artwork through artistic and technical knowledge. You understand how to effectively build, integrate, and optimize a variety of environment asset types as well as how to support the gameplay experience. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose.This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.Responsibilities:Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:Working closely with the art director, collaborate with designers, artists, code, materials, VFX and lighting departments to help deliver game environments to a world-class standard .Use your knowledge of environment art creation to deliver work from iterative prototyping to final execution.Create artifacts (content creation briefs, workflow techniques) to guide the work of internal and external artists.Remain current on industry trends including advancement in commercial game engines and workflow efficiencies.Be comfortable touching many aspects of environment work including asset creation, texture work, material creation, composition and set dressing, foliage, geology, roads, and terrain.Proactively identify risks and propose solutions within the area of environment art creation.Minimum RequirementsExperience7+ years of experience in AAA environment art.Proven experience, having shipped multiple major titles in a relevant role.Experience working with a AAA game engine with strong understanding of implementation and integration.Knowledge of many aspects of environment art creation including strong proficiency in industry-standard 3D workflows.A portfolio, with examples and detailed breakdowns, showcasing your practical work.Strong understanding of authoring PBR content.Experience collaborating to develop better workflows and technology.Key AttributesA team-oriented approach to your work, understanding the importance of collaboration, and partnering with all departments.The ability to Inspire others with an enthusiastic approach to game development and improving core skills.Self-motivated ability to push initiatives forward.Extra PointsExperienceExperience working through early development R&D phases of a project is a plus.Solid understanding of game art creation outside of environment art ( e.g. lighting, VFX, characters, animation, rendering).An interest in photography and cinema.Experience creating and handling photogrammetry data.Expertise in 3D composition, form, balance, and color theory.Your PlatformBest known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. ( www.blizzard.com ), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.Our WorldActivision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush ™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment . We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications ? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com . General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.RewardsWe provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/ .In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $80,800.00 - $149,400.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Following the release of Triumphant Light, The Pokémon Company has announced the fourth themed booster pack for Pokémon: Trading Card Game Pocket, Extradimensional Crisis, introducing Ultra Beasts to the mobile collectible card game. Ultra Beasts, first introduced in the Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon video games, are enigmatic creatures from another dimension. They arrive through Ultra Wormholes and emit a strange, otherworldly energy. Pokémon TCG Pocket introduces cards like Buzzwole ex, Blacephalon, Nihilego, and Guzzlord ex, including a few more Pokémon from the Alola region, such as the debut of Type: Null. To mark the Ultra Beasts’ debut in Pokémon TCG Pocket, a themed binder cover featuring these powerful creatures will be available in the Shop starting May 29, purchasable with shop tickets. Additionally, players can highlight their favorite card using a new floral display board, which can be obtained with event shop tickets earned during the upcoming Wonder Pick event, running June 11-28. There will be three events during June to coincide with the release. The first is the Ultra Beast Drop Event starting June 3-13, where players can take on special solo battles to earn new promo cards, including Ultra Necrozma ex. The Wonder Pick Event next starts June 11-21, where promo cards for Poipole and Stufful will be available to pick. Lastly, the Ultra Beast Mass Outbreak Event starts June 22-28, where Ultra Beast-related cards will have increased chances of appearing in rare picks and bonus picks. Collecting Pokémon cards through the app might be the safer — and less stressful — option right now. You don’t want to be competing against the scalpers who camp outside GameStop literally risking their lives to get Pokémon cards.

There’s a fresh wave of co-operative action-slash-shooters on the horizon, all vying for your squad’s attention and all looking decent, for the most part: ARC Raiders, FBC: Firebreak, Marathon, amongst others. It feels like we’re on the cusp of a new golden age in online co-op, so to pitch Elden Ring Nightreign as the cream of the crop, as one of 2025’s biggest games, we must be confident it has both the magic to entice players into its world and the power to make them stay.  We’ve between now and Nightreign’s worldwide release on 30th May to convince you this is the one to plump for if you’re on the fence as to which of 2025’s upcoming blockbuster co-ops to funnel your hours into. Straight off the bat, first thing to state with Elden Ring Nightreign is this is a standalone adventure. Not only do players require zero prior knowledge of Elden Ring’s expansive narrative and lore to get the best out of Nightreign but, unlike last year’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, players don’t even need to own the original title. This is a one-time purchase, not live service, no seasons, or battle passes – at least, there’s nothing officially announced at time of this feature’s creation. Instead, squads of three can jump right in and start battling away in a reimagined version of Elden Ring starting area Limgrave, rebranded here as Limveld. The premise is straightforward enough: Elden Ring Nightreign is an action survival adventure with roguelike structure. Three warriors find themselves castaway in a hostile realm, an environment lulling them in with its lush pastures and golden canopies, yet bandits, soldiers, and monsters – some cameoing out of Elden Ring, some brand-new creations cooked up by FromSoftware – stalk the landscape. The task is to kill and pillage, to scavenge the loot of your slain foe to level up during each run. Runs last three days, and this scavenging phase takes place during daytime. An ever-shrinking battle royale-style perimeter – confusingly dubbed the Night Rain, as in rain shower – channels players to the map’s centre where an end-of-day boss awaits. The clock is ticking, and as a result exploration is much less cerebral than FromSoft’s usual Souls style. Exploration is still critical mind, just done at a ramped-up pace. Supporting all the bandit slaying are subterranean caves dotted with treasure, guarded bastions harbouring documents, short environmental puzzles, and middling bosses. Should squads survive two nights in Lemveld then they’ll be transported to an arena known as the Spirit Shelter where they can put all their skills and upgrades to the test and take on one of eight pre-chosen mega bosses, known as Nightlords. If Elden Ring’s boss battles are anything to go by, these climactic showdowns at the end of a couple of days’ toil are sure to be a spectacle. Each run begins with players at level one but Nightreign’s upgrades, via discoverable runes, come quickly. In fact, levelling up in this Elden Ring spin-off is extremely fast, and to demonstrate Nightreign’s pick-up-and-play ethos adding XP to your character isn’t as arduous a task as it is in FromSoftware’s other titles. Spending runes here levels up your character whilst boosting their overall stats. There’s no time to labour over which ability to upgrade. Furthermore, each of the game’s playable heroes can wield just about every weapon; it’s their unique skills and abilities which distinguish them from each other. So, build customisation is a shade more limited compared to traditional RPG levelling up, but it is possible in the form of randomised loot which, of course, is dropped by downed enemies. Some of this loot functions passively – weapon stat buffs, elemental and physical affinities, and numerous other effects – and some is housed in breakable chests that usually contain some sort of consumable to upgrade weapon damage or similar. Progression outside of the action exists too in the form of advancing character stories. See, in between runs players return to an alternative version of the Roundtable Hold from Elden Ring and here, alongside affixing permanent runic upgrades, they’ll be able to experience a form of narrative progression for each of the game’s eight hero characters. Before we get into describing these characters in-depth, it’s worth pointing out that FromSoftware have stated that as each character’s story advances then the world of Limveld will re-shape and react in tandem. It’s incarnation upon starting the game is a mix of fixed structures and landmarks, but – to alleviate any staleness – there’ll be elements of variation in where enemies spawn and the like. As an aside, dramatic, unexpected changes can occur too: crashing meteorites, boss ambushes, and… uhm, sudden volcanoes. So, onto Elden Ring Nightreign’s cast of heroes and, yes, we’re calling them heroes as FromSoftware have clearly gone down the route that’s well established by Apex Legends and Overwatch, et cetera. Each hero in Elden Ring Nightreign is uniquely skilled, with their own abilities and combat style. Together with collectable loot and upgrades, this blend of skills across three-player teams is sure to create innumerably powerful synergies. Unlike FromSoft’s usual fayre, there isn’t ability to create or customise these characters beyond permanent upgrades and collectable outfits. As you’d expect, there’s breadth to the cast though. All info on their uniqueness is available on Bandai Namco’s website, but just know that each playable hero possesses distinct passive ability, character skill, and ultimate art, the latter being a powerful signature move. Wylder is an easy to learn tough to master hero who’s attacking and defensive capabilities are evenly balanced. Their passive ability – Sixth Sense – allows them one free respawn, presumably retaining runes that’d be dropped in any other death. Raider is tough as old boots, a powerful, armour-clad sea farer who wields humungous weapons. Ironeye is an archer with pinpoint accuracy, Recluse is the mage able to conjure powerful spells and cursed magic. Guardian is defensive, with a solid shield that can withstand the most ferocious attacks. Finally, Duchess is like the spy, nimble, swift, and evasive, with an ultimate art capable of making herself and the rest of the squad invisible. At face value, without considering any runic powerups, there’re clear strategies that Nightreign players can pursue. For example: Ironeye’s character skill marks enemy weakpoints, Raider’s retaliate skill pummels the marked enemy until they recoil, before Wylder unleashes their powerful character art onslaught stake to finish the stunned foe off. The fact that these situations will occur at breakneck speed is enticing. FromSoftware, as per reports of early demo players, haven’t reinvented the wheel when it comes to Elden Ring’s combat. Veterans of The Lands Between will feel right at home when the skirmishes commence. With scalable difficulties – another first in FromSoftware’s Souls canon – there’s the hope here that players with less finely-tuned reflexes will finally be able to enjoy the ravishing combat upon which FromSoft have made their name. Players cannot expect this to perform like a multi-player Soulslike though, no. Elden Ring Nightreign is very much its own thing, taking the macabre universe already established in its single player guises and translating it into an experience more akin to Apex Predators or – sacrilegiously perhaps – Fortnite. It’s a sure-fire winning combination, and one that has potential to elevate Elden Ring Nightreign above the pile of co-op games coming out before the end of the year.  Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

How to Play Cattle Crisis is an arcade shoot 'em up  game (Shmup). Pilot your fighter jet to defeat evil aliens and save our precious cows! Cattle Crisis is a short game and currently features one level. Arrow keys - Move the jet X or M or V - Shoot Z or N or C - Hyper / BombYou can also use a controller System As you shoot enemies or collect 🐄, your meter will fill. Once it passes the halfway point, you can activate Hyper Mode by pressing the Hyper button. While in Hyper Mode, the meter gradually depletes. Taking a hit will end Hyper Mode, but you won’t lose a life. Pressing the Hyper button again during Hyper Mode unleashes a devastating bomb, which consumes half of the remaining meter—if any is left. Scoring Shooting enemies at close range increases your score (up to 4×) and causes more 🐄 to drop, allowing you to charge the meter faster.While in Hyper Mode, enemies drop ⭐ instead of 🐄, which grant extra points. The value of each ⭐ is shown in the top-right corner during Hyper Mode.Each enemy defeated in Hyper Mode increases the ⭐ value.Activating a bomb turns all nearby bullets into additional ⭐. Video Series Cattle Crisis was created as part of a tutorial series on how to make an Advanced Shmup from scratch. If you also want to make a game like this check out the Lazy Devs Academy YouTube Channel! Credits This game was written and designed by Krystian Majewski, an Independent Developer and the host of the Lazy Devs Academy video channel. The music was composed by Sebastian Haßler, a music composer for film, TV and videogames. The cover illustration was created by Mag Draws. This project would have not been possible without the generous donations from my supporters on Ko-fi. Thank you! Special thanks also to all of the playtesters including: Aktane, Boghog, Indra_S, MasterCoding101, LokiStriker, Barend, TheGacko, SquidLight, Buster Ermy, mg1399, BrainOnOxygen, SkullDragger, Blixten, middleclassjoe, Chaz, otto: A Mush Man and others. Cattle Crisis was written entirely in Pico-8.More informationPurchaseBuy Now$5.00 USD or moreIn order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $5 USD. You will get access to the following files:Development logVersion 1 19 days ago

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube813k Sega has positioned itself as a staunch early supporter of the Switch 2, offering up three key titles on day one and three more to follow later on. While we've yet to experience the full lineup, Sega invited us to check out a trio of launch-period titles in what marked our first extended experience with the Switch 2 completely untethered from any kind of demo kiosk. Wild stuff! But we're not here to talk about the hardware; more on that will come soon enough. This is all about the games, so let's kick things off with Kiryu...Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube813kWatch on YouTube Yakuza 0: Director's Cut Image: Sega Upon booting up this Director’s Cut of this 2015 game, the first thing that strikes us is just how clean it looks. Sure, we’ve had some really great-looking games on the original Switch, but there was something about Yakuza 0 that screams premium. It may simply be because we've played the game extensively before, and usually when you move from PS4 to original Switch, you expect some pretty heavy visual compromises. On Switch 2, there’s nothing of the sort. Yakuza 0 looks exactly like it does on the PS4; perhaps even better, with razor-sharp image clarity and exceptionally smooth frame rate. It’s glorious. The single-player portion of the demo stars fan-favourite Goro Majima. The lengthy dialogue sequences within the main story gave us a good sense of how voice actor Matthew Mercer (Ganondorf, Leon Kennedy) comes across as the voice of Majima, and honestly, he’s pretty good! Ultimately, while we suspect many of you will stick to the original Japanese dub, we reckon you’ll be pretty happy with the English version, too. Images: Sega If you’ve played Yakuza Kiwami on Switch (or really any entry before the series shifted to a turn-based RPG setup with Yakuza: Like A Dragon), you’ll feel right at home here. Once we were let loose to explore the immediate environment of Sotenbori, we were free to take on gang members skulking in the shadows, chat to NPCs to initiate side quests, and – unfortunately – get absolutely annihilated in a shakedown fight. The aforementioned side quest in this case was the ‘Be My Boyfriend!’ mission, which sees Majima play the role of doting partner to a girl who just wants to impress her father. It’s a hilarious sequence completely devoid of any combat, but the dialogue really highlights just how funny the series can be. In fact, if you make the right dialogue choices, the father winds up begging you to be his daughter’s boyfriend for real! We also looked at the new multiplayer mode, Red Light Raid. It’s a pretty simple setup: you and up to four friends combine forces to take on hordes of enemies, and that’s really it. Once you complete the designated number of waves based on your chosen difficulty, you’ll face off against a boss character, which is usually one of the notable characters from the main game. It’s chaotic, it’s fun, but it’s also ultimately pretty shallow. Images: Sega The number of playable characters was quite limited in the demo, but in addition to the likes of Kiryu, Majima, Kuze, and Nishikiyama, you’ve also got deeper cuts like the utterly outrageous Ginger Chapman, whose slow, hulking frame is compensated for with a deadly melee weapon. It’s a neat little mode which you can also play solo if you desire, but we suspect most players will be sticking to the excellent story mode, which remains one of the very best in the Yakuza series. RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Image: Sega We have to admit, Raidou Remastered isn’t the best game to demo over the course of 20 minutes or so. That said, our time with it did at least give us a taste of what to expect in terms of exploration, interactions, and combat. The demo mostly took place within the town of Tsukudo-cho, home of the Narumi Detective Agency headquarters. We were free to explore and chat with the locals, but some of them didn’t have a whole lot to say. This is where you’re able to break out one of your demon companions and read characters’ minds. This way, you can get a sense of what it is they’re after and thus help them out accordingly. Moving around the town revealed that the camera was essentially fixed in place, shifting perspective whenever protagonist Raidou (pronounced ‘Ry-doo’, by the way) would turn onto a different street. There were a few instances where the change in camera angle felt a little off and it was quite difficult to judge which direction we had to go – it’s no classic Resident Evil, that’s for sure. Still, wandering about the town was fun, and the accompanying music was oddly serene and comforting. Images: Sega The action really kicks into gear when you deliver some wine to the ‘Big Tarrasque’ creature dwelling within the Daidouji Residence basement. Once this weird turtle/ape hybrid decides Raidou would be perfect pairing with the wine, a battle commences. Unlike most Shin Megami Tensei games, Raidou allows you to run around the arena and attack at will, with different moves mapped to the various Switch 2 face buttons. Actions such as attacking an enemy, exploiting weaknesses, or even healing will build up Spirit during the battle. Once you gain enough Spirit, you can unleash a powerful Spirit Slash attack with ‘A’ + ‘X’, hitting all enemies within the area. Initiating the move results in a brief, slick cutscene in which Raidou unleashes a wave of fire with a few quick strokes of his sword. It’s pretty awesome. Images: Sega All in all, the battle mechanics feel intuitive and responsive, and should appeal to those who are intrigued by the world of Shin Megami Tensei but otherwise put off by the often daunting turn-based mechanics. Here, the action feels a bit more akin to something you might find in a modern Final Fantasy game. It’s a nice change of pace, and we can’t wait to see how it develops and evolves as you proceed further into the game. While we barely scratched the surface of Raidou, we're really excited for this one. Yes, the graphics don't exactly scream next-gen, but this is nevertheless an extensive upgrade from the PS2 original. Definitely one to keep an eye on. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S Image: Sega We suspect that the biggest question mark for Sega fans might well be Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, a game that, on the surface at least, looks like more of the same for another £35 on Switch 2. What exactly is the point? Well, to be honest, this one is definitely more likely to appeal to those who have yet to dive into the series, but the chaos involved with the new Doubles Mode might just be enough to convince die-hard fans to double-dip. Doubles Mode essentially has you and a friend team up to take on your opponents. The twist, however, is that you’re not in charge of your own Puyo Puyo / Tetris board each, but rather you’re working together on a single board. This means that you have to actually communicate with each other to determine where each player will place their piece. Get it right, and you can accomplish some pretty devastating combos. It’s very easy to mess up, however, and this is down to friendly collision. Images: Sega You see, you’d think that you’d be able to move your pieces wherever you want, regardless of where your friend is positioned on the board. Not so. You actually have to move out of each other’s way, and if you happen to collide with each other, the resulting confusion will cost precious time. It’s pretty chaotic and we weren’t sure what to make of it at first, but as long as you maintain communication and decide who’s doing what, it’s certainly manageable and even quite enjoyable. What’s not enjoyable, however, are the optional mouse controls – emphasis on ‘optional’. Granted, we didn’t get a whole lot of time with the game (20 minutes or so), so there’s every chance that a bit more time will yield a more positive impression of the controls, but it just felt weird. Essentially, moving the Joy-Con around on a surface will cause the corresponding Tetris block or Puyo blob to move in the same direction – much like a desktop cursor on a PC. Clicking ‘R’ allows you to rotate your piece, but the real kicker is how you perform a hard drop. Normally, if you’re using a standard D-pad setup, this would be accomplished by tapping up; so you line up your piece with left and right and tap up to hard drop – easy. With the mouse mode, however, you have to twist your thumb around to rest on the analogue stick, then pull it down. Images: Sega It’s such a bizarre setup, we couldn’t properly get to grips with it in the time that we had, and ultimately we just switched back to standard controls so we could focus on the game itself. If we’re able to remap controls and have the hard drop function mapped to a face button or even ‘ZR’, this might prove a compelling control method. As it is, it’s not something we can recommend. Ultimately, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is more of the same, and we imagine there are fans out there just waiting to get this downloaded on the new console. Newcomers have a lot to dive into, including Adventure Mode, Skill Battle, and more, but for those more casual fans who already own Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 elsewhere, we get the impression you won't be missing out on too much if you skip this one at launch. Another one of those block-dropping feats So that's yer lot for now! Overall, we're pretty pleased with Sega's upcoming output for the Switch 2. None of these games will do much to convince the layman that the system is a massive step up from its predecessor in terms of raw power, but if you're someone who values a strong cadence of great games early in a console's lifespan, you'll like what Sega's got waiting in the wings. Huge thanks to Sega for the opportunity to check these out. Yakuza 0 and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S will be joined by Sonic X Shadow Generations on 5th June, while RAIDOU Remastered will launch shortly after on 19th June. Two Point Museum is "2025" and Virtua Fighter 5 REVO doesn't have a date yet. Which of these games currently takes your fancy? Will you be grabbing Yakuza or Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S on launch day? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below. It's close, though Switch information also revealed Related Games See Also Share:0 1 Nintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Switch 2 Final Tech Specs Have Been Confirmed GameChat has a "significant impact on system resources" Nintendo Apologises For "Error" With Mention Of Switch 2 VRR TV Support "The incorrect information was initially published" 12 Switch Games Are Getting Free Switch 2 Upgrades, Here's What You Can Expect Nintendo's free updates arrive next month Here's Your First Look At Pokémon Scarlet And Violet On Switch 2 What? ScaVi is evolving!