Action News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

The final story decision players will make in involves whether to kill or to spare their custom character's Blade Twin. While there are several choices that may affect the story, like choosing to be pro- or anti-shogunate in , the choice at the end of the Blade Twin boss fight is perhaps the most impactful in the game. As a result, players may want to know what's involved in this choice, and what implications it has for the ending they'll inevitably get.

Back in 2020, filmmaking partners Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss released Boys State, a startling, compulsively watchable documentary that packs all of America’s political flaws into one competitive event. Embedding themselves in the 2018 Texas edition of Boys State, an annual leadership event where a thousand teenage boys are brought together to form a mock U.S. government, McBaine and Moss tracked a handful of participants as they vied for public office, learned terrible lessons about American politics, and alternated between acting like jaded statesmen and acting like teenage boys. One of the most obvious questions coming out of that documentary was: What does the girls’ version of this same event look like?

For the average wrestling fan, turning to WWE’s games is a safer way to live out your sports entertainment fantasies than, say, jumping off the roof of your garage through a flaming table. Since the late 80s there’ve been well over 50 such games that have averted countless such ill-advised* attempts to be a pro wrestler at home, all wearing the WWF/E banner. And while it’s as difficult to parse out the incremental improvements from one year to the next as it is to kick out of a Tombstone, here’s an attempt at narrowing down the 10 best WWE games of all time.**

There's dramatic action in the world of Sims 4 sex speedrunning this week, as a longtime record-holder just retook the crown by a tenth of a second.

In a remarkable display of presence of mind, a 13-year-old girl from Basti, Uttar Pradesh, managed to fend off a potentially dangerous monkey attack using a rather unconventional method – Amazon's virtual voice assistant, Alexa.

Ever had a missed call from a number you don't recognise? Google Pixel users might soon have a solution to this problem. Google is reportedly working on a new tool called "Lookup" for its Phone app. This tool aims to help users identify unknown callers before deciding whether to call back.

The Stellar Blade demo is here - for real this time - and on top of offering satisfying parrying and dicing for action game fans, it's also turned out to deliver rock-solid technical performance that'll satisfy you no matter which side of the resolution versus frame rate divide you fall on.

Dev Patel looks great beating people up in a suit. In the moments before he springs into action in Monkey Man, his tall, elegant frame looms threateningly, limbs hanging loose and ready, eyes glowering under twisted locks of black hair. When he strikes, it’s with whipcrack fluidity and control, but also emotional conviction — there’s a plausible desperation or rage to the way he moves.

The internet is often accused of annihilating the personhood of other people, encouraging everyone on it to regard only themselves as whole, complex individuals worthy of empathy, and everyone else as pond scum. This is a dire read, but not an inaccurate one. Driving, however, should get some credit for doing the same first.

Pokémon EUIC 2024 is taking place in London this weekend, with a Pokémon Center pop-up shop being one of the main attractions.

Unicorn Overlord has been a surprising success in the strategy RPG realm, having completely sold out in some territories and shifted over 500,000 copies, but its roots stretch back to the developer’s sometimes-forgotten action RPG gem.

Twitch, the popular streaming platform, has announced a notable update to its policy concerning the viewing of content from banned streamers. In this latest development, Twitch has introduced a change to its Suspension Evasion policy, allowing streamers to engage with banned users' content without the risk of facing repercussions themselves.

Looking for a new way to soup up your Steam Deck? WWE superstar Xavier Woods has a unique portable setup you might want to try.

Stellar Blade is just a few weeks away from release, and will be developer Shift Up's first major console project. However, before this PS5 exclusive is even out, the studio has begun hiring for its next game — and it looks like it'll also be hitting consoles.

Stellar Blade is launching exclusively on PS5 at the end of the month, on 26th of April, and anticipation is high amongst enthusiasts for the appealing action RPG. We love what we've played so far. Still, not an insignificant amount of attention is directed at the game due to its more aesthetic attributes and the many eye-catching outfits on offer for protagonist Eve.

Recent leaks on social media provide a comprehensive glimpse into the purported designs of the upcoming iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. Shared by Sonny Dickson, these images showcase dummy units, offering insights into several anticipated changes.

A crafty data engineer put 14 AI bots against each other in Street Fighter III matches to see which model is the best.

BattleJuice Alchemist, an action RPG that combines the isometric combat of games like Diablo and Hades with the intense one-on-one battles popularized by JRPGs, puts an intense spin on the genre formula: instead of relying on weapons gathered from the world or looted from your foes, you'll have to make all your combat tools yourself.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Warzone Season 3 has arrived, and as usual, it’s packed with plenty of new content to keep players busy. The core CoD: Modern Warfare III multiplayer experience is getting a bunch of all-new maps, Warzone is bringing back the Rebirth Island Resurgence map with a bunch of updates, and more crossover content is on the way, including Godzilla x Kong cosmetics, and… Cheech and Chong as Operators? Sure, man, groovy. Check out the launch trailer for CoD: Modern Warfare III/Warzone Season 3, below.

Excitement for the upcoming PS5-exclusive Stellar Blade has been building following the game’s well-received, and refreshingly technically sound, demo dropped, but some folks may still have some questions about the stylish action game. Thankfully, Stellar Blade general director Kim Hyeong-tae and technical director Lee Dong-gi have been doing interviews for various Asian gaming publications that may clear up some of those queries.

Gameplay footage from Monolith Studios' cancelled Nolan-verse Batman game that was eventually turned into Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor has surfaced online.

Blockbuster action comedies are in a bit of a rough spot in modern Hollywood. (Fingers crossed that The Fall Guyrights the ship!) It can seem like the only options these days are quip-filled MCU movies, where the comedy potential is limited by some inevitable impending apocalypse; quip-filled MCU derivatives; or bleak action comedies where the humor is mostly dark and cruel. But there is another way: the way of the Baby Assassins.

Stellar Blade's director says you won't have to pay a dime for additional content—that is, unless the studio teams up with another developer to create crossover content. 

It’s shaping up to be a surprisingly busy year for pirate video games. Ubisoft finally released its long-delayed Skull & Bones (to middling reviews), while Sea of Thieves is setting its sails for PlayStation later this month. Both of those games are fine options for those looking to do some swashbuckling, but they’re also multiplayer-focused titles that are best enjoyed with a full crew. What options exist for solo players looking for a more story-driven single-player experience?

Even with Sea of Thieves and Skull and Bones out there, the pirate setting for video games still feels woefully underutilized. But now, another game aims to blend the big stakes and dangers on the high-seas conceit with a narrative-driven tactical RPG framework. The upcoming Flint: Treasure of Oblivion looks to bring that pirate fantasy to life in an interesting new way by leaning into the mystique and intrigue of living life on the high seas.

We love movie recommendations here at Polygon. Whether it’s horror, sci-fi, action, comedy, thrillers, or just the best of the year, we’re always trying to introduce readers to new and exciting movies they’ll love. But now we want to find the perfect movie for you. (That’s you.)

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 battle pass is here and it brings with it a ton of new content to unlock. There are a few battle pass options to choose from – free, full, and BlackCell.

It sounds like some Helldivers 2 players have been experiencing crashes with the game after the big update on Tuesday 2nd April, and the latest patch notes do offer some potential reasons for this.

Final Fantasy 7's lead characters have been turned into action figures of all descriptions, most of them selling out quickly without much controversy surrounding them. Cloud, Tifa, and Aertih's Bring Arts figures were the exception. The collectibles caused a stir when they went on sale in 2022 due to the NFT versions of the figures that came with their Digital Plus editions. Square Enix is now selling the Cloud and Tifa options again following Rebirth's release but has made the wise decision to do so without including any NFTs.

This console generation has been pretty short of “next-gen moments” — those dazzling, techy epiphanies when you see a game do things that were inconceivable on earlier hardware. You can make a case for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’s lightning-fast loading or Starfield’s potato physics, but there have been relatively few instances where you can watch the future arrive in real time.

Siren OTT release: Waiting to watch a thrilling and action-packed movie? The month of April has several OTT releases in store for the viewers. OTT films enable viewers to enjoy the action from the comfort of their homes. Recently, a Tamil action film named Siren made its theatrical debut on 16 February 2024, and received mixed reviews. Now, the film is set to make its  OTT debut as the release date has finally been announced. Know more about the Siren OTT release date, cast, plot, and more

Compile Heart has released the first information, opening movie, and screenshots for Neptunia VS Titan Dogoo, its newly announced “motorcycle action” game in the Neptunia series due out for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch on June 27 in Japan.

Garena Free Fire MAX Redeem Codes for April 4: Free Fire MAX, the popular gaming platform, has introduced a thrilling new feature called Evo Vault, along with its anticipated OB44 Update, on April 2, 2024. This Evo Vault event brings a golden chance for gamers to snag some of the coolest Evo gun skins through a special engagement.

A Easter egg is a perfect nod to one of Keanu Reeves' best characters. Reeves portrayed one of the major characters in the game, Johnny Silverhand, a Rockerboy who died in 2023 during an assault on Arasaka Tower, but lives on in a prototype Relic in V's head, appearing to comment on actions throughout the game, and even assuming control of V's body at certain points.

Shift Up, the South Korean studio responsible for the upcoming Stellar Blade, appears to be hiring for a new project in Unreal Engine.

Wuthering Waves, an upcoming open-world action game, will launch Wuthering Waves Closed Beta Test 3 to get feedback on how well the game is localized. This comes after their second closed beta test (CBT2), during which players complained about the translations.

The talented team at SHIFT UP is getting ready to launch their next game. You may know them as the creators of Stellar Blade, a PlayStation 5 title, and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE. A new “AAAA urban science-fiction action RPG” for platforms including Android may be in the works, as the studio has lately placed job opportunities on its website.

LUNARK developer Canari Games has announced Castaway, a 2D retro pixel art action adventure game coming to PC via Steam. A release date was not announced.

D3 Publisher has released the debut trailer for Run for Money: The Great Mission, its newly announced video game adaptation of the anime series of the same name.

Kibou Entertainment will release action platformer Timothy and the Tower of Mu for Switch, the developer announced. A release date was not announced.

Rockstar Games has revealed that GTA Online will be getting a "big" update later this year, and fans think that it's the perfect time for Michael de Santa to return.

Dead Cells developer Motion Twin has released the first gameplay trailer for Windblown, its upcoming roguelike action game due out in Early Access for PC via Steam later in 2024.

Dead Cells is officially finished after seven years of support, and based on what I've seen of it so far, developer Motion Twin's next game may quickly take its place in the hearts of many fans and join the ranks of the best roguelikes. Windblown is an isometric action roguelike with support for up to three-player co-op, it's hitting PC early access later this year, and it looks like a compelling mix of modern genre staples and Dead Cells DNA.

While most video games stick to t-shirts and maybe the odd action figure when it comes to merch, Pokemon is a different breed. It started with a trading card game and 25 years later, you can now get just about anything officially licensed by Pokemon. Despite that, The Pokemon Company continues to come up with new and unique products, the latest of which is a Venasaur statue mid-Solar Beam that you can plug in and use as a light.

Connections is the latest puzzle game from the New York Times. The game tasks you with categorizing a pool of 16 words into four secret (for now) groups by figuring out how the words relate to each other. The puzzle resets every night at midnight and each new puzzle has a varying degree of difficulty. Just like Wordle, you can keep track of your winning streak and compare your scores with friends.

Compile Heart has announced “motorcycle action game” Neptunia VS Titan Dogoo (final English title to be confirmed) for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch, the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu reveals. It will launch on June 28 in Japan for 3,080 yen. 4,180 yen and 10,780 yen editions will also be available.

SHIFT UP, the Seoul-based studio behind Stellar Blade and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, is hiring for a new “cross-platform next-gen project,” according to the company’s “New Project” recruitment page.

Having been in development for over four years at Quebec-based studio Yellow Brick, Eternal Strands has just been officially revealed. This is an ambitious-sounding action adventure game, with an emphasis on giant enemies and environmental gameplay.

Yellow Brick Games, the studio co-founded by Dragon Age creative director Mike Laidlaw, has finally announced its first project. Titled Eternal Strands, it looks like an incredible blend of Shadow of the Colossus with modern Zelda, and it's instantly shot to the top of my gaming wishlist.

If you’ve been looking to renew or extend your membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, one of the best deals in gaming, Target is currently offering a three-month subscription for just $39.99 (was $49.99). Discounts that bring this subscription below $40 are sometimes available, but this is currently the best deal happening.

Yellow Brick Games, an independent studio established by Dragon Age creator Mike Laidlaw and Ubisoft veterans back in November 2020, has officially announced Eternal Strands, its self-published single-player third-person fantasy action adventure game coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam. It will support English audio, and English and French text, with other languages to be announced. A release date was not announced.

D3 Publisher has announced Run for Money: The Great Mission for Switch, a game based on the anime series of the same name. It will launch on July 4 in Japan.

Dave the Diver is joining the PlayStation Plus catalog on April 16. If you’ve been on the fence about the ocean-faring adventure/restaurant sim, this is a good chance to check it out without spending any extra money, assuming your PS Plus membership hasn’t lapsed.

Baldur's Gate 3's multiplayer is chaotic. You've got to plan your fights together and decide how you're going to approach the various moral dilemmas the game throws at you. But as some players have discovered, you've also got to decide how to treat your campmates, because they might leave if they fall out with just one of you.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau will be available as part of the PS Plus Game Catalog from launch day, which is April 23rd. PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers will be able to get their hands of the 2.5D action game without having to wait. The game was first announced during The Game Awards on December 8th, 2023.

Microsoft has confirmed the games that will be added to the Xbox Game Pass library this month, with a variety of different titles to choose from. It all kicks off from today with Superhot: Mind Control Delete making its return to the library’s digital shelves. That leads the pack with seven other games following closely behind.

Nightdive Studios has announced that it is releasing PO’ed Definitive Edition for PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. PO’ed first released in 1995 and is essentially a DOOM clone, though the character in PO’ed is a chef who has crash landed on an alien planet. You can see the game in action in the announcement trailer below.

Piranha Games has released the first gameplay trailer and screenshots for MechWarrior 5: Clans, its September 2023-announced standalone tactical action game, as well as confirmed PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series as its previously announced “PlayStation” and “Xbox” platforms.

MINTROCKET will release DAVE THE DIVER for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on April 16, the developer announced. It will also be available as part of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog.

Global Dragon's Dogma 2 sales have surpassed 2.5 million units across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

I, a fool, created my Dragon's Dogma 2 character with the aim of being a wizened wizardly type, focused on the mysterious Trickster build. Since then, however, I've come to the conclusion that I should have been an archer, a decision cemented by the existence of one particular ability - the Martyr's Bolt.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a big hit for Capcom, selling 2.5 million copies across PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S in just 11 days.

No Rest for the Wicked, the Diablo-esque action RPG in the works at Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps studio Moon, won't be $70. CEO Thomas Mahler says the game's price point is down to the nature of the team, their shared stance on the rising price of games, and the notable lack of shareholders pawing at the company's books. 

Wuthering Waves, the open-world action RPG, has finally announced its start date! It will go live on May 22nd (PT)! Those who sign up early will be among the first to set foot in Wuthering Waves when it launches on May 22nd. The Wuthering Waves pre-registration is open on the main Wuthering Waves website, and Google Play.

Apple has been rumored to launch the iPhone SE 4 for a long time now with several leaks making their way to the internet. Now, a recent leak has surfaced on social media which suggests some major design changes with the upcoming iPhone SE 4. The design changes are being speculated based on shared images of iPhone SE 4 transparent cases which include an Action Button just like the iPhone 15 Pro models, single rear camera sensor, and more. Know what's coming with the Apple iPhone SE 4 ahead of the 2025 launch. 

Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE is currently under development, and the company has planned a major design overhaul for its budget iPhone. We have reported numerous times how the design of the device is being completely changed compared to the iPhone SE 3, as Apple moves away from the Home Button in favor of Touch ID and an all-screen outlook similar to recent releases. Now, images of the iPhone SE 4 cases have surfaced online, showcasing the design and size of the device.

Keeping track of all the latest video games coming out is an increasingly complex task, what with multiple PC storefronts, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, mobile, and more to keep track of, but don’t worry, I’m here to help. Every month I'll be running down the games you need to be keeping an eye on, from the big triple-A headliners, to the indies you might otherwise overlook.

Inti Creates has announced Divine Dynamo Flamefrit, a 2D action game and homage to 90s fantasy and robot anime. Platforms and a release date were not announced.

We have the solution to Wordle on March 31, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We’ve placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don’t ruin the surprise before you’ve had a chance to work through the clues. So let’s dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday’s answer.

Eden's Guardian is an upcoming Metroidvania that immediately had me hooked with its hand-drawn pixel art and teleporting action, but it seems I wasn't alone, as its Kickstarter campaign has been smashing its funding goals.

Wuthering Waves, an open-world action RPG title developed by Kuro Games, is reportedly launching on May 22, as revealed in the Special Program livestream by the developers.

Out now on PS5, the Stellar Blade demo offers up the first hour-and-a-bit of the Sony-published action title. As its April release date nears, it feels like anticipation for this flashy action game is at an all-time high — and first impressions have been positive pretty much across the board.

We're still waiting on a release date, but Visions of Mana still looks really promising in its latest gameplay trailer. It's a pretty short video — clocking in at just over a minute — but there's quite a lot of stuff on show. It's got a bit of traversal, some combo-based combat, and confirms that your party members will be able to master different character classes.

On the hunt for some shiny new games for your PS5? Well, you're certainly in the right place!

Nine Sols, the highly anticipated new title from Detention dev Red Candle, will launch on 29th May – but only on PC for now. The side-scrolling action game, which is heavily inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, has been in development for quite some time, and blew past its crowdfunding targets a few years ago.

Flintlock: Siege of Dawn is an upcoming PS5 action RPG from New Zealand developer A44 Games, best known for its 2018 Souls-Like, Ashen. Today, we were treated to an extended gameplay overview of the studio's next game, giving us our best look yet, with commentary from creative director Simon Dasan.