HomeNewsShashingo Shashingo, out today, helps you learn Japanese through photographyI think I’ll Leica this one I think I’ll Leica this one Image credit:Autumn Pioneer Image credit:Autumn Pioneer As someone who’s learning Japanese, I crave other methods of language acquisition that don’t feel like studying. Textbooks, flashcards, even watching Japanese media can all feel a bit too close to being back in a classroom.Shashingo, a game that helps you learn Japanese through taking cute photos, may be the study companion I’ve craved....

HomeHardwareFeaturesSons of the Forest Sons of the Forest 1.0 makes a big performance upgrade on early access, with or without FSR 3The new upscaler is nice, but this full release runs quicker regardless The new upscaler is nice, but this full release runs quicker regardless Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Endnight Games Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Endnight Games Since I’m apparently onsurvival gameduty for the rest of my days, and we’vejust had a firm reminderof how wobbly an early access launch can be, it seems like a good time to check in on that thereSons Of The Forest1....

HomeNews Sony announce 900 layoffs across Naughty Dog, Guerilla, Insomniac and PlayStation studios worldwideIt’s proposed that Sony London be closed It’s proposed that Sony London be closed Image credit:Sony Image credit:Sony Several well-known PlayStation studios are affected, including The Last Of Us developer Naughty Dog, Ratchet & Clank developer Insomniac Games, Horizon developer Guerilla Games and PlayStation VR specialists Firesprite. It’s also proposed that PlayStation close Sony London in their entirety, though the exact scale of the reductions remains to be seen....

HomeNewsStardew Valley Stardew Valley “thriving more than ever” as new mod-centric 1.6 update gets a March release dateThe farming sim is eight years old and has 30 million copies sold The farming sim is eight years old and has 30 million copies sold Image credit:ConcernedApe Image credit:ConcernedApe At that time, Barone also confirmed that 1.6 brings new game content but “much less” than 2020’s hefty 1.5 update (whichbrought the beach farm to Stardew Valley, along with some pretty wild endgame content)....

HomeNews The sequel to acclaimed Metroidvania Ender Lilies gets PC early access releasePreviously announced for the Switch, Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist also hits Steam in March Previously announced for the Switch, Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist also hits Steam in March Image credit:Binary Haze Interactive Image credit:Binary Haze Interactive Out of all the Nintendo Direct announcements last week, the one I was most sad to see notget a PC release datewas the sequel to the much beloved MetroidvaniaEnder Lilies....

HomeNews Age Of Mythology Retold tilts for the modern esports crowd with changed god power mechanicsA smattering of new info on the forthcoming Age retelling A smattering of new info on the forthcoming Age retelling Image credit:Microsoft Image credit:Microsoft When I did my undergrad degree in the nowadays-blissful-seeming early noughties, I swore off videogames entirely. I sternly and sorrowfully turned my back on such hit releases asShadow of the Colossus,Far Cryand yes, even, that PC gaming essentialHalf-Life 2, so as to spend 11-hour days boning up on Aeschylus and Samuel Johnson....

HomeNewsBalatro Balatro’s creator has barely played other deckbuilders, and thinks that’s partly why it succeededSpared genericism Spared genericism Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack LocalThunk explained that the game which game Balatro started out based on the Cantonese card gameBig Two. Then they encountered videos of Luck Be A Landlord and became, in GamesRadar+’s words, obsessed with it—but without playing it. Like Balatro, Luck Be A Landlord is a ‘make numbers do big’ game, only you’re building a wildly complex slot machine crammed full of synergies then hitting a button and watching random chance play out....

HomeNewsHelldivers 2 Helldivers 2 devs look ahead to future “improvements” after finally conquering multiplayer server issuesLast weekend was a smooth one for Arrowhead Last weekend was a smooth one for Arrowhead Image credit:PlayStation PC LLC Image credit:PlayStation PC LLC To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings Helldivers 2 released on February 8th and quickly rocketed to incredible player counts, overtaking the likes of God of War and Spider-Man to becomethe biggest PlayStation game released on PC to date- and bringing hundreds of thousands of concurrent players crashing into its multiplayer servers....

HomeNewsHonkai Impact 3rd Honkai Impact 3rd Part 2 out this week, overhauling combat and taking Honkai: Star Rail’s predecessor to MarsMac release confirmed Mac release confirmed Image credit:HoYoverse Image credit:HoYoverse Honkai: Star RailpredecessorHonkai Impact 3rdwill drop its massive Part 2 update later this week, shifting the hack-and-slash actionRPG’s story to the new planet of Mars, introducing a new main character and revamping its aerial combat.To see this content please enable targeting cookies....

HomeHardwareFeaturesNightingale Nightingale is “not officially supported” on the Steam Deck, and it showsMore time on the workbench required - but there’s still hope More time on the workbench required - but there’s still hope Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun Steam Deck Academybrings together all our guides and explainers on getting the most out of your Steam Deck, no student loans or sweaty dormitories required....

HomeNews Saltsea Chronicles and Mutazione studio Die Gute Fabrik is closing its doors due to lack of fundingThe team will be looking for new roles from mid-March The team will be looking for new roles from mid-March Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Die Gute Fabrik Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Die Gute Fabrik 2024 continues its efforts to be the worst year in my memory, as delightful indie development studio Die Gute Fabrik have halted work....

HomeDeals The 512GB Steam Deck (LCD) is down to £375 at Ebay thanks to a 20% off codeVersus £479 for the same-size Steam Deck OLED. Versus £479 for the same-size Steam Deck OLED. Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun If you’re after a Steam Deck at a bargain price, The Game Collection is selling 512GB LCD models for £375 with the codeLEAP20at Ebay, which takes 20% off the previous £450 price for these new models....

HomeGuidesHelldivers 2 The best stratagems in Helldivers 2These are the best stratagems to use in Helldivers 2 These are the best stratagems to use in Helldivers 2 Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/PlayStation Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/PlayStation What are the best stratagems in Helldivers 2?Before every mission inHelldivers 2you must select your stratagems, which range from airstrikes and orbital lasers to defensive fortifications and heavy weaponry. There are 47 different stratagems to unlock in total, so you have plenty of options, but to begin with, only a few will be available....