The Knight Witch, last year’s fun and frantic mash-up of bullet hell action and Metroidvania exploration, has just received a brand new update on Switch. Publisher Team17 has shared all of the details for the patch over on its blog.
Super Awesome Hyper Dimensional Mega Team’s fast-paced action game — in our own words — “mixes things up a bit” and is a refreshing take on the Metroidvania genre. But we did note some technical issues, including soft locks, in our review. But, with today’s update, it looks like a lot of those early issues may well be magicked away.
Battle through a demon invested castle, discover what secrets lie await in Savathûn’s Throne world, or try to survive as ordinary citizens against some of Dragon Balls biggest bad guys! Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, and Dragon Ball: The Breakers are available this weekend for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member to play from Thursday, February 23 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, February 26 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
How to Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep the Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discounts and percentages may vary by title and region.
Game Details
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Standard Edition ($39.99 SRP) at 65% off: $13.99(Free Play Days)
Experience the beautifully crafted gothic world filled with challenging enemies, powerful abilities, and fascinating characters. Play as Miriam, an orphan scarred by an alchemist curse, as she journeys through a demon-infested castle. With its beautiful 2D art style, challenging gameplay, and fantastic soundtrack, Bloodstained is a must-play for those seeking non-stop side scrolling action. You can buy Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S at a 65% discount during Xbox Free Play Days.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
The Witch Queen expansion will be open to all players until February 26, 2023. This is a great time to get your friends or the old fireteam together to explore the Throne World and earn Exotics that can be used after the free weekend is over or going into Destiny 2: Lightfall.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers
Dragon Ball: The Breakers is an online asymmetrical action game in which a team of seven ordinary citizens try to survive the Raider (a classic Dragon Ball rival such as Cell, Frieza, and Buu), who will hunt them down and evolve during the game into an unstoppable force. Escaping will not be so easy! Cooperate with others while there is still time, but the Raider or other Survivors’ decisions might force you to go at it alone. What will be your playstyle? Dragon Ball: The Breakers is 35% off during Xbox Anime Month in February!
Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
2023 might finally be the year where 2TB PS5 SSDs might actually be worth the upgrade. Last year, prices for 1TB PS5 SSDs averaged around $150, whereas 2TB SSDs hovered closer to $300. This year, we’re seeing 1TB SSDs trickle below the $100 price point and 2TB SSDs are under $200. The reason PS5 SSD upgrades are pricey is that you can’t use any old SSD and expect it to perform well on the PS5 console. You’ll want to pick up an PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid state drive with a rated 5,500MB/s read speed to match the PS5’s internal drive. That means, for better or for worse, picking a top-shelf SSD.
Note that Sony recommends a heatsink attached to your SSD. Not all SSDs listed here have pre-installed heatsinks. For the ones that do, we’ll be sure to mention it. For the ones that don’t, all you have to do is purchase your own heatsink (we recommend this one for $10) and install it yourself. It’s very easy.
Samsung 2TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink for $159.99
Samsung SSDs need no introduction. They’ve made some of the most popular and reliable PS5 SSDs on the market. The 980 Pro has been out for a while now, but it’s still one of Samsung’s fastest M.2 PCIe SSD, with only the newly released 990 Pro being faster. It is fully PS5 compatible in terms of form factor and performance, with blistering speeds of up to 7,100MB/s. It goes toe to toe with other well-known options like the WD Black SN850 and the Seagate Firecuda 530.
WD Black 2TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink for $169.99
Amazon has the newest WD Black Series SN850X M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD for the best price we’ve seen. In fact, this is lower than the price we saw on Black Friday. The SN850X is the successor to the SN850 SSD. It has newer flash chips (BiCS5 vs BiCS4) and an updated firmware, which combined offer improved sequential and random read/write speeds. For PC gamers, there’s also an updated Game Mode 2.0 utility that’s designed to tune the SSD for better performance during gaming sessions.
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 2TB “Optimized for PS5” SSD with Heatsink for Only $169.99
Corsair is a very well known brand for DIY PC builders. Corsair makes some of the best gaming products on the market, and that includes solid-state memory like RAM and SSDs. The MP600 Pro is the same super-fast M.2 NVMe PCIe x4 Gen4 SSD that’s marketed for enthusiast gaming PC builds. This one is “optimized for PS5” because it includes a rugged preinstalled heatsink that is slim enough to fit in the PS5 bay without any issues. Performance wise, the MP600 Pro matches the best SSDs out there with its 7,100MB/sec sequential read and 6,800MB/sec sequential write speeds.
More PS5 SSD Deals
There may be other SSD deals out there, but these are the PS5 SSDs we’ve tried ourselves and highly recommend. They also double up as outstanding boot drives for your gaming PC, in case you don’t need additional storage for your PS5 console.
How easy is it to install the SSD?
It’s extremely easy! Removing the case cover is completely toolless. In fact, the only screw you have to remove is the one that keeps the cover for the SSD bay in place. You don’t even put it back when you’re done. Sony has a quick and easy YouTube video guide.
What if the SSD I bought doesn’t have a heatsink?
Sony recommends you install an SSD that has an attached heatsink. If the SSD you purchase doesn’t include one, it’s simple enough to buy one for about $10 on Amazon and add it yourself. Most of these heatsinks are just attached using an adhesive like thermal tape.
For more deals, take a look at our daily deals for today.
vote for your favourite strategy games of all time to celebrate the launch (and glorious return) of several strategy classics this month, including Relic’s WW2 RTS Company Of Heroes 3, Blue Byte’s The Settlers: New Allies and Cyanide’s fantasy Warhamball Blood Bowl 3. And cor, I’ve never seen such love for individual expansions and total conversion mods among mainline RTS games and 4Xs. As with all strategy games, however, there can only be one victor – and you can find out what that single strategy game to rule them all is right here. Here are your 50 favourite strategy games of all time, as voted for by you, the RPS readership.
Battlefield’s next single-player campaign appears to be a big focus for EA DICE, as the company is reportedly building a new team to support Ridgeline Games in creating the franchise’s first single-player campaign since 2018’s Battlefield V.
Ridgeline games is a new studio led by Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto. The studio was established last fall to create a new narrative campaign set in the Battlefield universe. Reported by GI.biz, the new support team is a slight change of course in the previously-established plan for the Battlefield series.
EA tasked three studios with the future of Battlefield: DICE was handed the multiplayer aspect, Ridgeline Games was to work on the single-player campaign, and Ripple Effect is making a “completely different” Battlefield experience. Now, DICE is expanding to help Ridgeline Games on the campaign while continuing work on multiplayer.
We just heard last December that former Battlefield 4 producer David Sirland returned to DICE to lead development of Battlefield. In addition to producing Battlefield 4, Sirland’s long history with the franchise includes credits on Battlefield 2, Bad Company, 1, and V.
Battlefield’s last entry was 2021’s Battlefield 2042, which was met with lukewarm reception. Players were frustrated with the lack of features at launch, and the game failed to draw in the same playerbase as Battlefield 1, 4, and V. EA is still releasing new content for Battlefield 2042, with Season 4 set to kick off on February 28.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
Wild Hearts carves so liberally from Monster Hunter. After all, Monster Hunter is a series about an unknown newcomer toppling ancient beasts, chopping up their best bits to create weapons and armour. Forget sleeves, Wild Hearts wears its inspirations as a complete set of clothing crafted from the bones, fur, and teeth of Capcom’s increasingly popular series. Inevitably these materials may feel lesser than the whole from which they were harvested, but they are worn proudly and with confidence nevertheless.
Besides, as a rare challenger to Monster Hunter, Wild Hearts is clearly aware of the difficulties involved in trying to pull off something new. Perhaps this is why Omega Force’s monster battler is so welcoming to newcomers. Finally, here is a game that is willing to teach a player why this long-running genre is held in such high regard. Wild Hearts is the perfect entry point for anyone who has ever dreamed of being a Monster Hunter Liker. A bombastic, brilliant good time that’s held back by frequent, frustrating performance issues on PC.
Publisher The Arcade Crew has revealed that The Last Spell will be leaving Early Access on 9th March, and that means it’s also coming to consoles the same day — Switch included.
Developed by Ishtar Games, The Last Spell blends tactical RPG elements with procedurally generated gear and foes and tops it all off with a beautiful pixel art style and a heavy metal soundtrack. Definitely not a game for a quiet evening, then.
Discover the rugged Sierra Nueva and explore six new biomes including dramatic craters, an Abandoned Quarry and an entirely smashable Palm Forest.
Build your ultimate rally machine using all-new rally parts including anti-lag with spectacular flame effects and fire-cracker audio, as well as launch control for that perfect rally start!
Today on the Forza Horizon 5 Let’s ¡GO! livestream, we announced that rally is coming to Forza with Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure. Available on March 29 across Xbox consoles, PC on Windows and Steam, and Cloud Gaming (Beta), this new expansion will allow players to prove their mettle across three different rally teams; racing purpose-built rally monsters across the exciting new regions and biomes of Sierra Nueva.
Welcome to Sierra Nueva
Sierra Nueva features miles of our most extreme driving roads ever, full of unpredictable turns with steep inclines, blind crests and asphalt jumps. Drivers will kick up massive dust trails, and experience rugged deformable sand roads interwoven with pre-deformed tire tracks.
This all-new location features a range of biomes to explore including the town of Pueblo Artza, a huge Abandoned Quarry perfect for some Gymkhana action, epic Sand Dunes, the tight and twisting Desert Gorge, rolling Green Hills, and an entirely smashable Palm Forest.
Join a Team, Become A Rally Hero
To take full advantage of this incredible environment, we’ve created our most thrilling race routes in Forza Horizon history with the largest number of racing events featured in any Horizon expansion.
These events are brought together in our exciting new Campaign mode where you’ll get to join three rally teams and embark on timed Horizon Rally stages and multi-car Horizon Races. In these modes, compete across dirt, asphalt and challenging night-time scenarios to prove your mastery of all facets of rally driving.
An Authentic Rally Experience
Listen out for navigator callouts from your new co-driver, who follows every race from the dynamic Horizon Rally Helicopter and ensures your success in even the most challenging of routes thanks to a dramatic night-time spotlight. Rally drivers should also pay close attention to the new Horizon Rally HUD, which includes helpful on-screen information like a mini leaderboard, pace notes and position changes that can be toggled on or off.
We’re also expanding our roster of EventLab props with a selection of new objects including branded barriers, flags and civilian vehicles, allowing you to build new races which capture the look and feel of a Horizon Rally event! These will be available for all Forza Horizon 5 players, regardless of whether they own the new expansion.
Purpose-Built Rally Monsters
It wouldn’t be a new Forza expansion without cars, and not only do we have 10 incredible new off-road machines, but we’re also introducing all-new rally parts including an anti-lag system that delivers more power to turbocharged engines while featuring spectacular flame effects and fire-cracker audio! Everyone can also enjoy those perfect rally starts, regardless of skill level, thanks to launch control as a new assist for all cars.
As for the new vehicles, we’ve got the stunning, all-electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum, the incredible 1973 Hoonigan Volkswagen Baja Beetle Class 5/1600 ‘Scumbug’ and a rally legend in the 2001 Ford #4 Ford Focus RS. To learn more about these cars, as well as everything else that you can look forward to in Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure, check out the Forza.net blog.
Rock Out to Punk Tunes
To celebrate the release of Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure, we’ll be introducing new music for all players from fan-favorite Epitaph Radio with a punk soundtrack. It’s the perfect backing to compliment the dirtiest, dustiest races ever in a Forza Horizon game. This new station will be added to Forza Horizon 5 radio dials in a free update alongside the expansion’s release.
Get Prepared for the Dust
Players new to Forza Horizon 5 will unlock Sierra Nueva once they’ve completed the initial experience, which includes the first 15 minutes of gameplay, after which it can be accessed from either the Rally Adventure map icon or the pause menu for all expansion owners.
If you’re an Xbox Game Pass member (including Xbox Game Pass Ultimate), the Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-ons Bundle is the best value option for you. Not only will this upgrade your game to the Premium Edition and ensure you’re ready to jump into Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure from day one, but it’ll also provide immediate access to theForza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels expansion, VIP, Car Pass and the Welcome Pack.
Hello everyone, this is Masashi Takahashi, producer of Octopath Traveler. If you’re reading this article, it means that you have at least a bit of interest in Octopath Traveler II… and if that’s the case, I’m delighted!
This game marks the first time the series has been playable on PlayStation, so I thought I should introduce the series for those of you who haven’t encountered it before. So read on, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Octopath Traveler II.
It’s a completely standalone game
Firstly, don’t worry if you haven’t played the original Octopath Traveler – there’s no continuous narrative between that game and Octopath Traveler II!
This is an entirely standalone game set in an entirely new world with entirely new characters. Even if this is your first time with the series, you’ll be able to enjoy all of its elements.
It uses a beautiful HD-2D art style
Do you enjoy pixel art games? Many of you may find yourselves drawn to this game due to its graphics. Octopath Traveler II uses ‘HD-2D’ visuals – a unique graphic style that combines pixels with 3D CG. It looks good in screenshots and video, but it’s something you really have to experience first-hand by actually moving around the game with your own hands.
It creates a captivating effect that feels both modern and nostalgic at the same time! It’s particularly appealing on PlayStation, thanks to silky smooth 60FPS gameplay that makes it feel as good to play as it looks.
You can play as eight heroes
You don’t get to choose just one hero in Octopath Traveler II – you get to choose between eight!
Each of the Travelers is unique, and once you pick your first character, you’ll be able to encounter the others, add them to your party and experience their adventures too.
So, who are these brave adventurers?
Hikari the Warrior – a young prince with a kind heart. After a coup leads his kingdom down a warpath, he sets off to find a path to peace.
Agnea the Dancer – a talented dancer who delights the locals in her small village with her performances. But she dreams of bringing smiles to more people and inspired by her mama, sets out to become a star.
Partitio the Merchant – a young merchant with an uncanny nose for commerce. After experiencing the decline of his hometown, he’s determined to find a way to save people from the pain of poverty.
Osvald the Scholar – framed for the death of his wife and child, this brilliant magical mind is muzzled and sent to prison. He vows to escape and find the man responsible for his suffering.
Throné the Thief – a talented member of a thieves’ guild trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of crime and death. She sets out on a journey to find the leaders of the guild and break free from this life of misery.
Temenos the Cleric – a laid-back Inquisitor for the Order of the Sacred Flame. An investigation into tragedy in his church leads to an exploration that will change his life.
Ochette the Hunter – a talented young hunter living a peaceful life on a remote island. In order to prevent an incoming catastrophe, she sets out on a quest to find the three Creatures of Legend.
Castti the Apothecary – a mysterious healer found drifting at sea. With no memory of who she is, she embarks on a quest to recover her memory.
Each of these heroes has their own distinct personalities, motivations, talents, and abilities that help them in and out of battle. Speaking of which…
Break and Boost combat system
Octopath Traveler II’s world of Solistia is full of dangers as you’ll regularly have to face off against monstrous foes. Combat is fast-paced and deeply strategic thanks to the ‘Break and Boost’ system.
The key to success is ‘breaking’ enemies. By exploiting their weaknesses, you can reduce your foes’ Shield Points to zero and stun them for a turn. What’s more, all your attacks do critical damage!
Boosting adds another tactical edge to combat. Each turn you earn boost points, which can be spent to take multiple actions on a turn, strengthen attacks and more. Knowing when to use your points and when to save them is just one strategic decision you’ll have to think about as you fight.
Using these features, along with a massive range of attacks, magic spells, special abilities and more, makes combat feel consistently engaging and satisfying.
Path Actions let you interact with the world and its people
The eight travelers don’t just have awesome attacks to unleash in battle, they also have abilities that let them engage with people in towns and cities. These are called ‘Path Actions’ and they let you do some really fun things.
Every character has two Path Actions – one they use during the day, another at night, and there are often different ways to achieve the same objective. For example, if an NPC has an object you want, you could either use Partitio to splash the cash and buy it from them, or use Osvald at night to mug them and just take it.
And that highlights another key feature of Octopath Traveler 2 – it’s your adventure. It’s all about letting you explore the story and gameplay systems at your own pace and allowing players to discover their own unique experiences.
I hope this rundown makes you consider playing Octopath Traveler II. The game releases for PS5 and PS4 on February 24.
Playground Games has announced that the Rally Adventure expansion will be the second piece of major DLC for Forza Horizon 5.
Announced on Forza’s YouTube channel, the expansion arrives on March 29 and includes a whole new rally career mode. A brief trailer for the expansion (below) also showed off new gameplay and teased some features that players can enjoy in the Rally Adventure DLC.
Playground also revealed some new customisation options coming to Forza Horizon 5, promising that players can “build a rally monster”.
The first expansion was announced last June and reintroduced Hotwheels to the Forza Horizon world. The over the top toys were added to the game’s open world Mexico map and let players race through all sorts of ridiculous settings, like a loop-the-loop in a volcano.
In our 10/10 review of the base game, IGN said: “Forza Horizon 5 is the result of a racing studio at the peak of its craft and the best open-world racing game available.”
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
vote for your favourite strategy games of all time to celebrate the launch (and glorious return) of several strategy classics this month, including Relic’s WW2 RTS 
Wild Hearts carves so liberally from 
