Acer today announced the expansion of its mainstream Nitro gaming line with the launch of the new Acer Nitro AI laptops and the Nitro 20 desktop. The Nitro range brings a full-package gaming experience and great value for gamers and content creators, combining robust processing power, essential computing features, and more without breaking the bank. The addition of slim laptops and a compact Windows PC option also support users with limited space for their gaming set-ups.

The Nitro AI laptops are Copilot+ PCs, powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors and equipped with the game-changing NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs to make more powerful AI rendering capabilities more accessible. The Nitro 20 desktop also utilizes AI processors and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, focusing on better energy efficiency with a smaller footprint.

Intel's "Bartlett Lake-S" architecture, previously only offered for edge and networking deployment, may spawn a 12 P-core variant for gamers that eliminates efficiency cores entirely. This hopeful configuration would specifically target applications that benefit from consistent single-threaded performance and deterministic core behavior, addressing a market segment underserved since Intel's transition to hybrid architectures. Recent software support developments strengthen this speculation, with diagnostic utility AIDA64 explicitly adding "improved support for Intel Bartlett Lake-S CPU" in its 7.65.7404 beta release notes from April 13, 2025. This update precedes any consumer launch announcement, suggesting possible platform expansion. MSI-affiliated overclocker Toppc amplified these rumors by highlighting the AIDA64 changelog while referencing undisclosed developments under NDA, a pattern historically preceding consumer product launches.

The rumored gaming-oriented CPU would leverage the LGA 1700 platform compatibility, enabling drop-in upgrades for existing 600-series and 700-series motherboard owners. Unlike the current flagship Core 7 251E with its 8P+16E configuration, a pure performance-core implementation would eliminate the Windows scheduler complications that sometimes impact frame timing in latency-sensitive games. Current hybrid designs force game engines to navigate complex thread scheduling across heterogeneous cores, with performance-critical threads occasionally migrating to efficiency cores during intensive scenes. A homogeneous 12 P-core architecture would eliminate this behavior, providing stable thread assignment and potentially reducing the 99th percentile frame time variances that affect perceived smoothness in CPU-bound titles.

INNOCN, a leading innovator in monitor technology, announces the launch of the 25G2S, a 24.5-inch WQHD 240 Hz gaming monitor engineered for competitive gamers and performance enthusiasts alike. Designed with precision and purpose, this monitor delivers stunning visuals, ultra-responsive performance, and an immersive gaming experience—all wrapped in a sleek, modern design with an ultra-thin bezel. The INNOCN 24.5-Inch 2K 240 Hz IPS Gaming Monitor (25G2S) is available to purchase on Amazon US at an RRP of $299.99 (Currently only $169.99 (valid now until 18th April 23:59 PDT) when using code: 25G2S240HZ).

With a blisteringly fast 240 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms MPRT response time, the 25G2S ensures gameplay stays fluid and blur-free even in the most intense moments. The WQHD (2560×1440) resolution offers sharp, vibrant visuals, enhanced further by 100% sRGB and 93% DCI-P3 color coverage, bringing every game world to life with true-to-life color and depth. HDR support enhances contrast and brightness, pulling players deeper into every scene.

Welcome to Easter week and this week kicks off with a dark ARPG that offers six unique classes. This is followed by an open world MMORPG with retro vibes, a photography sim, a cute retro RPG, an escape room that's an entire world and finally a co-op survival game that involves a lot of flying, just not in planes.

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree / This week's major release / Thursday 17 April
Create your Inquisitor from one of six unique Classes, and wield blades and magic to battle nightmarish creatures. Craft hundreds of weapons and items, and learn powerful Talents to define your combat style. Explore a vast, interconnected world and unearth its secrets across 60 quests that will push your skills to their limits. Steam link

Corsair, a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gear and technology for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, proudly announces the continuation of its multi-year, cross-brand collaboration with the critically acclaimed and award-winning Call of Duty franchise with the Call of Duty: Warzone Collection. Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Call of Duty: Warzone and the highly anticipated return of Verdansk, Corsair and its family of leading brands are delivering an exclusive collection of high-performance gaming products for the Call of Duty community to fully engage with on their way to victory.

"We are thrilled to team up with Activision again as our world-class brands come together for the return of Verdansk," said Thi La, President and COO at Corsair. "This powerful collaboration extends across multiple product categories at Corsair including Drop, Elgato, ORIGIN PC and SCUF Gaming, bringing true high-performance to true Call of Duty: Warzone fans as they squad up and drop in."

EasySMX, the leading manufacturer of gaming peripherals, proudly announces the launch of the D10 Multiplatform Gaming Controller. Designed for gamers across PC, Switch, iOS, and Android, the D10 redefines competitive gaming by integrating breakthrough technologies that deliver lightning-fast response and ultra-precise control—all refined through valuable feedback from our gaming community.

Driven by Gamer Feedback
After analyzing reviews and customer insights from our entire product lineup, we discovered that gamers value the precision, tactile click feedback, and durability of the D-pad and analog sticks above all else. Taking this to heart, EasySMX has engineered the D10 with an improved EasyPos D-pad and next-gen TMR sticks, ensuring every input is registered with unmatched accuracy and longevity.

Stylish design, technically to the point, and always good to wear: The SKILLER SGH25 gaming headset features high-quality 50 mm drivers and easy control of the volume and microphone using the cable-integrated inline controller. And for optimal comfort, the fabric ear pads and an adjustable headband will always ensure a pleasant fit.

Whether for gaming or listening to music, the 50 mm drivers of the SKILLER SGH25 have been specially made for a clear and powerful audio. The SKILLER SGH25 is equipped with fabric ear pads for long-lasting comfort, no matter how heated the situation gets. The practical inline controller integrated into the cable of the SKILLER SGH25 allows easy volume and microphone control, even during the heat of the action.

AGON by AOC - world's leading gaming monitor brand - elevates performance-to-price expectations with two new G4 displays: the AOC GAMING CU34G4Z, a curved 34-inch (86.4 cm) ultrawide monitor with an impressive 240 Hz refresh rate, and the AOC GAMING 25G4SXU, a 24.5-inch (62.2 cm) esports-focussed screen featuring a lightning-fast 300 Hz panel (overclockable to 310 Hz). These new models deliver the high refresh rate advantage that competitive gamers demand, without the premium price tag typically associated with such performance.

Ultrawide meets ultra-fast: beyond the racing line
The CU34G4Z elevates gaming across multiple genres with its 34-inch curved (1500R) VA panel, UWQHD resolution (3440x1440), and exhilarating 240 Hz refresh rate. The expansive 21:9 aspect ratio provides significant advantages in various gaming scenarios - from the increased peripheral vision benefits in racing and flight simulators to the strategic overview in RTS and MOBA titles, and the cinematic immersion in open-world adventures. The high refresh rate ensures smooth motion in all fast-paced content, while response times of up to 1 ms GtG and 0.3 ms MPRT using Motion Blur Reduction mode maintain exceptional clarity during rapid on-screen movement.

Welcome to the first full week of April and this week should be a bit more exciting than last week when it comes to new game releases. In this week's major release, you take command of some isometric WWII commandos. This is followed by an existential dilemma, a folktale from the deep south, some very dark days, being a studio executive and an assault by not so wild animals.

Commandos: Origins / This week's major release / Wednesday 9 April
You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre. And to the days where Jack O'Hara, the Green Beret, and his five companions met to form the infamous unit sent to complete missions which no others would dare to accept. Steam link

It seems as though the high pricing and shortages surrounding NVIDIA's latest GeForce RTX 5000 series GPUs has resulted in gamers turning to previous GPU generations for salvation. According to the latest Newegg GPU bestseller charts, the $459.98 MSI Ventus NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB graphics card is currently the best-selling GPU. Curiously, the Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT OC 16 GB is close on its heels, with the Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT on its heels in third place. The first NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 series GPU on the Newegg bestseller list is the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5070 OC, which is in eighth place, behind several AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, RX 9070 XT, and RX 6600 models. It's unclear whether this is due to high pricing or simply a lack of stock to sell, although the RTX 5070 OC is currently available on Newegg for $739.99. Curiously, this is also the only in-stock RTX 5000 series card amongst the top 20 best-selling GPUs on Newegg. Granted, this is only one vendor, but the majority of the GPUs on the list are either AMD Radeon RX 7000 series or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs.

The most recent Steam Hardware & Software Survey, updated for March 2025, however, tells a more confusing story. While adoption rates for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 series GPUs is certainly slow, with the RTX 5080 being the only 5000 series GPU to even feature on the chart, with 0.19% growth over the last month, gamers seem to be moving away from the RTX 4000 series even faster. The GPU that showed the most growth during the last Steam Survey is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, which is already six years old. It's also interesting to note that most of the AMD GPUs in the Steam Survey results also saw minor upticks in adoption. Recent reports out of Japan show that AMD has garnered massive interest since the launch of the RX 9070 series GPUs, with claims of 45% market share coming as a surprise after NVIDIA reached 90% GPU market share in December last year. While NVIDIA's supply issues are likely at least partially to blame for AMD's increased popularity, there is also a growing sentiment amongst gamers, backed by some of our own testing, that NVIDIA is more interested in AI and simply isn't equipping its gaming graphics cards with enough VRAM for high-resolution and high-refresh rate gaming.

Samsung Electronics America today announced its plans to strengthen its presence in the U.S. gaming industry with the upcoming release of its latest gaming monitor, Odyssey 3D. From March 24-28, Samsung hosted "eXperience 2025," an exclusive event for key North American customers at Fairmont Austin in Texas. This year, the event brought together nearly 600 major clients, including MicroCenter, Best Buy, Amazon and Walmart.

The event served as a platform for Samsung to unveil its newest gaming monitor lineups in front of customers, including its 2025 flagship products—Odyssey 3D (G90XF), Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF) and Odyssey G9 (G91F) models.

As part of the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds Title 1 update, Capcom plans to introduce a new Arena Quests mode, a ranked, timed multiplayer mode with a competitive leaderboard and in-game cosmetic prizes. In anticipation of the new game mode, Capcom has issued a stern warning to would-be cheaters, and it will be following that up with punitive measures. According to a post on X and a recent blog post about the new game mode, any confirmed cheaters may face repercussions like removal of rewards, disqualification from further participation in Arena Quests, or even account restriction or outright suspension.

Curiously, Capcom seems to be relying on community reporting for its cheater detection, since Monster Hunter Wilds notably does not feature an anti-cheat system. While this means the AAA game runs well on Linux and the Steam Deck alike, it also makes it more difficult to catch cheating players. It also presents the unfortunate side effect of innocent players being caught in the cross fire. Addressing the latter, Capcom says the following: "Individuals who are mistakenly deemed to have committed a prohibited act will not be compensated later with participation and ranking rewards," and it encourages any players who suspect that they have been teamed up with a cheater to leave the quest immediately and report the offending player.

HP is expanding into the DIY gaming PC market with a new line of Omen-branded components, moving beyond its traditional prebuilt systems and laptops. The upcoming product lineup includes a single 120 mm RGB fan, a triple-pack of 120 mm modular RGB fans, a 1000 W modular power supply, a 240 mm LCD liquid cooling system, and a 360 mm aRGB liquid cooling system. HP confirms these components will work with non-Omen desktop systems, giving PC builders more flexibility.

The fans feature an annular design to help increase the airflow (up to 74 CFM) while reducing vibration through improved static pressure. Each fan includes aRGB LEDs that are customizable via HP's Omen Gaming Hub (OGH) software. They support HP's daisy chain system (up to 10 fans), or connect up to 16 fans through a single Omen Modular Hub. The AIO liquid cooling uses Asetek's 7th Gen pump with a built-in 2.1-inch IPS LCD (for the 240 mm model) and fans with aRGB Gen 2 lighting effects with OGH. HP is also offering the OMEN 1,000 W ATX 3.1 PSU with Cybernetics Platinum and 80 Plus Gold certification. The power supply is fully modular featuring 12 V-2×6 and 12VHPWR connectors with up to 600 W of power and a Zero RPM fan mode for quiet operation., While specific release dates and pricing haven't been announced, HP's website indicates these products are "coming soon."

Acer today introduces two new QD-OLED gaming monitors, the Predator X32 X2 and Predator X27U X1, expanding its offering of cutting-edge displays with the latest panel technology. By integrating quantum dot and OLED display technologies, these monitors produce stunning images with high color reproduction and contrast ratios, while consuming less power compared with traditional LCD options.

Veteran and casual gamers alike would appreciate what these Predator monitors have to offer, with up to 4K resolution, rapid refresh rates of up to 240 Hz, and instantaneous response times of just 0.03 ms. Additionally, these displays are equipped with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology to ensure smooth viewing experiences without stuttering when playing HDR games, watching movies, or enjoying other content.

Welcome to the first week of April and the month kicks off on the slow side. This week's major release is a remaster of a game that launched on the PS4 in 2020, which is why we decided to avoid calling it a AAA release, even though the original console game was. This is followed by some parkour, going on adventures with a puppy, some mechs, running a roman outpost and finally being in charge of some police officers.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered / This week's major release / Thursday 3 April
Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closure. Steam link

AYANEO today officially launched its latest retro-style Android handheld, the AYANEO Pocket ACE. Featuring a horizontal retro design, this handheld is exquisitely crafted, elegant, and portable, while being powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 gaming platform for top-tier performance that effortlessly handles both classic games and popular mobile titles. Upholding its philosophy of "Real Gamers, Know Gamers," AYANEO once again pushes the boundaries of retro horizontal handheld gaming with the Pocket ACE.

Honoring Classics, Reinventing Elegance - Inheriting the brand's aesthetic DNA, retro design meets modern craftsmanship. The AYANEO Pocket ACE continues the brand's design philosophy, paying homage to classic horizontal handhelds while incorporating modern manufacturing techniques to breathe new life into the form. Its sleek, flowing body and meticulously refined button layout deliver a comfortable grip, allowing players to experience the perfect fusion of retro charm and contemporary refinement in every gaming session.

Amazon Luna, the online game streaming service, has officially announced that it will be expanding further into Europe, introducing availability in Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Sweden. The launch includes both the free-to-play games available via Amazon Prime Gaming and the standalone Luna+ subscription service. Along with that announcement, it was also revealed that Amazon Luna has entered into a multi-year partnership with EA to bring some of the game studio's AAA hits to Luna+ members. EA joins GOG, Ubisoft, and Jackbox Games as publishers and game studios whose games are now available on Luna.

Kicking off the EA partnership are Star Ward: Jedi Survivor, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, and Dead Space. Unlike the Ubisoft and Jackbox games, which require an additional subscription tier to access, EA's games are available in the basic Luna+ subscription. Amazon says that more EA games will be coming to Luna soon, specifically mentioning the EA Sports portfolio, although it did not specify which games or say when they would be coming to the platform. With Luna's expansion into more European countries, Amazon is also increasing the availability of the Luna controller, which connects directly to the cloud game streaming servers for reduced latency. The Luna controller will now be available in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Sweden for €69.99 MSRP or 799.99 SEK, with introductory sales bringing prices down to €44.99 and 519.99 SEK, respectively. The Luna controller is not yet available in Portugal, but it will launch there later this year. Luna+ subscribers can play on a variety of devices, including Mac, Windows, iOS/iPadOS, Android, and ChromeOS devices (via Chrome or Safari web browsers), as well as Amazon Fire tablets and TVs and Samsung and LG TVs.

So far, AX Gaming has mainly released triple-fan cooled custom GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards under their "Rebel" product line. For example, TechPowerUp's GPU database lists a GeForce RTX 5070 X3W SKU—promo images showcase fairly straightforward white shroud and backplate designs; somewhat belying the family's namesake. Earlier today, VideoCardz put a spotlight on an extravagantly-decorated sibling—the X2W. TechPowerUp's news archive seems to lack in AX Gaming content, but a forumite correctly informed others about this sub-brand existing under the umbrella of Inno3D. The Singaporean AIB launched its AX Gaming off-shoot a few years ago; with its main market focus being China.

The freshly revealed AX Gaming Rebel GeForce RTX 5070 X2W 12 GB model sports a very busy shroud design; thus effortlessly distinguishing itself from nearby plain triple-fan products. Mayan civilization-inspired graffiti graphics are spreads across the card's front face. This funky aesthetic is also present on the model's retail packaging. Interestingly, the two cooling fans are adorned with a hand graphic; clutching a modern gamepad. Disappointingly, the manufacturer has not applied this loud patterning onto the X2W's backplate—we are looking at a mostly white landscape adorned with some sort of Rebel series emblem and "GeForce RTX" text. AX Gaming's specification sheet indicates that their X2W SKU sticks to NVIDIA's reference specifications. The manufacturer's "Punk 4.0" cooling system consists of two fans, paired with a heatsink that features five heatpipes. VideoCardz reckons that the housed PCB also exists within Inno3D's RTX 5070 TWIN X2 cards.

CD Projekt Red, the studio behind wildly popular The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 game franchises, is once again entering the mobile gaming scene, this time in partnership with Scopely, the massive publisher that recently made news for buying Niantic, developer behind Pokémon Go. CD Projekt Red announced the partnership in its 2024 financial earnings report, although the announcement is rather vague.

According to the earnings report, CDPR and Scopely will develop "a game set within one of CD PROJEKT's IPs," and nothing more than that. Currently, a Witcher or Cyberpunk spin-off seem equally likely, although with The Witcher 4 expected to launch within the next few years, CDPR may be looking to build up hype around the Witcher universe leading up to that launch. That said, there is also reportedly a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel in the works as well, so a Cyberpunk spin-off is also a possibility. CDPR has already released a number of iOS and Android games set in The Witcher IP, including Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, Gwent: Rogue Mage, The Witcher, Monster Slayer, The Witcher Battle Arena, The Witcher Adventure Game, and Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. Meanwhile, there has been but one mobile game based on the Cyberpunk universe—Roach Race—so it would not be surprising to see a Cyberpunk 2077 spin-off come out of the partnership.

Dreamhaven development studio Secret Door today announced Sunderfolk, a tactical co-op adventure inspired by a deep love of tabletop gaming, will launch on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on April 23, 2025, for $49.99 USD. Future heroes of the Sunderlands can wishlist the game now on Steam, the PlayStation Store, Xbox, and the Nintendo eShop. Players eager to try the game can play the free, exclusive First Look Demo on the NVIDIA GeForce NOW cloud gaming service, available today through April 7.

Sunderfolk's First Look Demo showcases the game's early experience with all playable characters unlocked. Players can replay the demo to experiment with different character combinations and gameplay strategies. Be among the first to try it with NVIDIA GeForce NOW. To access the demo, players can simply create a membership with NVIDIA GeForce NOW and launch Sunderfolk, along with the Sunderfolk mobile app to use as the game's controller. Signing up for an NVIDIA GeForce NOW membership is free-no paid membership is required to play Sunderfolk's First Look Demo.

It looks as though GeoGuessr, that browser-based geography puzzle game filling your YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, will finally get a Steam version, after 12 years as a browser game. According to a freshly launched Steam Store page and an announcement on said Steam Store page, GeoGuessr will launch on Steam in April, 2025. Until now, GoeGuessr has been a browser-based game with a monthly subscription, but it's not entirely clear what the monetization strategy will be when it launches to Steam next month. At launch, the Steam version of the game will feature two online gameplay modes: Ranked Solo Duels and unranked Team Duels.

GeoGuessr is a puzzle game that drops you in a random unknown location on a street view map, and you have to use visual clues to determine where you've been dropped. The more accurate you are and the quicker you guess, the higher your score. The GeoGuessr Steam Store page makes mention of a "Steam Pass" that will be needed to play in the ranked Solo Duels mode, but there is also mention of a free version that includes unlimited access to the Amateur Division for Solo gameplay and unranked Team Duels mode. While the subscriptions for the browser-based and Steam Edition versions of GeoGuessr will remain separate—buying one does not grant access to the other—there will be cross-play between browser and Steam gamers. Pricing for the Steam Edition is so far unclear, but the browser-based GeoGuessr costs between $3.99 and $9.99 per month, depending on which plan you opt for.

Pulsar Gaming Gears announced at the VALORANT Champion Tour (VCT) Americas Block Party the debut of an all-new premium gaming mouse crafted in partnership with, and personally designed by TenZ, the beloved streamer, ex-esports pro, and former VCT Masters winner and MVP. Pulsar is also thrilled to share that it is collaborating with iBUYPOWER, the Official PC Partner of VCT Americas, to sell a limited amount of the Pulsar TenZ Signature Edition wireless gaming mouse ahead of Pulsar's April launch starting today.

As a lifelong gamer, TenZ is known for his dynamic gameplay, exceptional aim, and incredible competitive play. After a lengthy career in professional gaming using multiple mice, TenZ is now able to bring a multi-year vision to life, applying his expertise towards crafting a gaming mouse catered to his particular playstyle. The mouse was created in collaboration with Pulsar Gaming Gears, allowing fans and aspiring competitive players to experience elite gaming performance with this new mouse validated by TenZ himself.

Ayaneo's AM01S is a mini PC with a built-in articulating touch-screen and a design inspired by '80s and '90s retro computing. For 2025, the AM01S has received a number of choice upgrades that make it both more powerful and more compatible. The headline feature updates for the AM01S are the new AMD Strix Point Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and the new display, which features a number of improvements over the Ayaneo AM02. The basic specifications also include DDR5-5600 RAM and an M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD for storage, with an SDXC card slot on the side for migrating files and expanding storage. Ayaneo has yet to announce pricing or expected availability for the AM01S, but the mini PC looks to be officially launching soon.

The 4-inch touchscreen in the Ayaneo AM01S is a native horizontal display, as opposed to the rotated vertical display from the AM02, which means it should present no compatibility issues similar to those that plagued some Lenovo Legion Go and Valve Steam users when those devices first launched. The tiny display also supports Windows extended mode, meaning you can operate the AM01S using only the small touchscreen—another improvement over the AM02, which could not use the built-in display as the primary screen. The display is attached to the retro-inspired case with a hinge that allows for 90° of articulation, so the mini PC can be used flat on its side or vertically, in which case it looks something like a CRT-equipped Macintosh computer. Ayaneo even cheekily uses a colored version of the cursive "hello" text often featured on the original Macintosh advertising materials. The idea seems to be that users will use the secondary touchscreen to display system information, run diagnostic apps or widgets, or simply as an aesthetic add-on. Ayaneo also pre-installs its AYASpace v2.5, which contains a custom control center for things like TDP control and performance monitoring.

With games like Ghost of Tsushima, and Assassin's Creed Shadows more recently, being set in various periods across historical Japan, the developers of the games upped the realism by including real-world locations in each of the games. While this has the added benefit of grounding the game and sharing some of Japan's cultural heritage with the gaming world, it has apparently also caused some controversy due to incidents involving vandalism at those very same culturally significant sites across Japan. According to Automaton, the Watazumi shrine featured in Ghost of Tsushima was forced to close its doors to tourists after an "unforgivable act of disrespect" was perpetrated at the site. No additional information about the site was provided by Japanese authorities, but it is assumed that some act of vandalism took place at the religious site.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of [Assassin's Creed Shadows] is now live]

This isn't the first time the shrine has banned visitors from its gates, but this time around, the shrine's officials report having had to contact the police on numerous occasions relating to vandalism and verbal and physical abuse of the management staff by visitors. The day after Ubisoft launched Assassin's Creed Shadows, the developer issued a patch removing destructible assets from religious shrines as a result of concern relating to vandalism of the religious sites. IGN reports that this concern came from none other than Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, who issued a very serious statement clarifying that "Defacing a shrine is out of the question - it is an insult to the nation itself. When the Self-Defense Forces were deployed to Samawah, Iraq, we ensured they studied Islamic customs beforehand. Respecting the culture and religion of a country is fundamental, and we must make it clear that we will not simply accept acts that disregard them." He also suggested that these issues may require legal attention. The Assassin's Creed Shadows update removing destructible assets from shrines also made it so that civilians in and around sites of religious significance would not bleed when attacked by the player, reducing bloodshed in the shrines.

Dune: Awakening, the multiplayer survival game inspired by Frank Herbert's legendary sci-fi novel and Legendary Entertainment's award-winning films, will launch on May 20th. Funcom is excited to share that pre-orders begin today, and gamers everywhere are now less than two months away from descending upon the most dangerous planet in the universe.

The standard edition, the Deluxe Edition, and the Ultimate Edition are now available for pre-order on Steam, with the latter including, among many other goodies, an incredible, 90-minute-long digital soundtrack. In celebration of this moment, Funcom has prepared a journey behind the scenes of the making of the music, giving viewers a unique glimpse at how award-winning composer Knut Avenstroup Haugen brought the album to life with a live orchestra at the legendary AIR Lyndhurst studio in London.