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beta

Battlefield 6: A soldier wearing a tan uniform, including a helmet, glasses, and mask, facing to the side with a sledgehammer over their shoulder while turning to look at the camera.

EA knows Battlefield 6’s settings menu was a mess in beta, and ‘it’s probably still going to be a little clunky when we launch’

by admin August 28, 2025

As simple and mundane as they are, there’s an art behind making a good menu, and sadly, the Battlefield 6 beta missed the mark in that regard. The menus felt designed for controllers over mouse and keyboard, though even that felt remarkably clunky. It’s a shame, considering the interface in previous Battlefield games has been just fine on both consoles and PC.

If you needed to tweak something during a match, you’d be faffing around for way longer than you’d have liked, thanks to the many layers and tabs you had to sift through. Having a lot of options to mess around with can be a good thing (I love the new Very Aggressive Listening setting), but it also makes it a pain to actually find what you’re looking for.

Likewise, the ‘Netflix UI’ style of the main menu and class customisation made simple things like searching for a specific mode or changing your weapon a chore. In fact, it even sparked some conspiracy theories during the beta, as players felt the classic closed-weapons playlists were being intentionally buried, which Battlefield Studios had to quickly shut down.

Fear not, though, as Battlefield 6’s menus are getting a touch-up prior to release. In an interview with PC Gamer, Battlefield Studios’ technical director Christian Bruhl explains that the team is “looking at [the] feedback” around the menus and making a few changes.

“I can’t say exactly what we’ll fix. You know, we’re not going to rebuild our menu from scratch, obviously, between now and launch, but we are looking to improve [based on] some of the biggest feedback.”

Bruhl goes on to admit that “it’s probably still going to be a little bit clunky when we launch, but we’re going to continue to improve it going forward.”

(Image credit: EA)

If I had to guess, it’ll likely be the settings menu that sees the biggest changes, with smaller (nonetheless welcome) tweaks elsewhere, as the main menus’ streaming service look seems very much baked-in and would surely require more extensive work. Nevertheless, I hope that’s something we see eventually, as I’d rather not struggle with UI just to change my loadout.

These improvements come alongside a number of other sweeping changes based on beta feedback that were revealed last week, such as nerfs to movement and tweaks to weapon handling, as well as fixes for key bugs like ‘super bullets’ that plagued the beta. All in all, I’d say it was a successful playtest for all involved: we got to play BF6 early and voice feedback, and EA got a massive win ahead of Black Ops 7’s deflating reveal.

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August 28, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Bunnyhop elsewhere, streamers: EA are making Battlefield 6 more strategic, less run-and-gun following the beta

by admin August 23, 2025

The Battlefield 6 beta is officially a Thing That Happened, and now comes the terrible ordeal of Learning From The Experience. Here is what developers DICE, Criterion, Motive and Ripple Effect have learned from the experience: you are all playing the game far too much like Call Of Duty. Goodness me, it’s like 2007 never ended.

Doing headshots in midair? That’s an updatin’. Doing a parkour while carrying a light machinegun? That’s an updatin’. Bunny-hopping with prejudice? You’d best believe that’s an updatin’. Never mind that those multiplayer reveal montages emphasised footloose quickdraw almost as much as they incited a murderous contempt for helicopters. It’s time to play Battlefield the way Battlefield should be played: lying in a hole praying that one of your team-mates spawns on you before a tank rolls over your head.

This, at least, is my addled Friday afternoon summary of EA’s just-announced post-beta plans, via Mecha-Hitler.com. Let’s squeeze into our thinking caps and break it all down.

Firstly, the developers are doing a “general pass on recoil and tap-fire characteristics across all weapons”, to make them feel more unique, especially in terms of range. They’re also making changes to encourage more controlled tap and burst-firing. In particular, the M87A1 shotgun has been defanged, and they’re “investigating the Time-to-Kill and Time-to-Death experiences”, with news of changes to follow.

As for movement, they want it to feel more “balanced and traditional” in the final version of Battlefield 6. There will be less carry-over of momentum and particularly horizontal speed from a slide to a jump. Jump height will also be lowered during consecutive jumps, and you’ll be less accurate while jumping or sliding.

“These changes are designed to make sliding and jumping more situational, so they are no longer ideal options for engaging in gunfights, and will contribute to a gameplay pace that rewards skillful movement without becoming too fast or unpredictable,” the devs comment. You won’t get as much acceleration when opening a parachute, either, “for more controlled aerial movement”. I hate being in control of my aerial movement. In practice, it just makes it easier for people on the ground to shoot me.

The game’s smaller maps are being tweaked to stop naughty people getting onto rooftops and venturing out of bounds. “This gameplay is not intended for these maps, and the upcoming ladder for the Assault class is also not designed to access these areas,” the devs sternly explain. Bad ladder! Down!

They’ll be testing two more maps in Battlefield Labs before release, a remake of Battlefield 3’s Operation Firestorm and another map set in Mirak Valley, both of which offer “the full complement of vehicles” and “a more vast combat space”. Vaster, EA, vaster! How am I supposed to trust you to fine-tune parachute physics when you can’t even optimise your sentences. Yes, I realise I have just held up a red cape to all the amateur copyeditors in the comments.

Modes? Well, they’ve found that Rush gets a bit smeary when there are too many players involved. Apparently, “when a player tries to arm the M-COM while more than 20 opponents are defending, the intended gameplay becomes less tangible”, presumably because the attacking player’s head and torso also become less tangible. As such, they’re lowering the player count for Rush “to improve the flow of combat and restore the tactical, methodical experience that defines the mode”.

Anticipating pushback on this front, the post points out that people can mess with the count as they please when playing Rush via the Portal editor. Breakthrough, meanwhile, will receive “map-by-map balance adjustments towards our goal of 50/50 win ratio for both Attackers and Defenders”.

In general, EA are taking an ad hoc approach to player counts based on the individual map and mode. “For example, at launch, some Breakthrough layouts will support 48 players, while others will have 64,” the post comments. “It’s the one of many factors we adjust to create the right balance and feel for each scenario. In Breakthrough higher player counts work well on open, dynamic maps, while smaller player-groups offer a more focused experience on denser maps.” They’ve found that “8v8 provides a solid starting point for small-scale, fast-paced modes like Team Death Match, Squad Death Match, Domination, and [King of the Hill]”. Again, you can jimmy the workings in Portal if you wish.

Some final bits: open and closed weapon playlists will continue to be available in Battlefield 6, “and we are looking for ways to keep them easily accessible”. I’m not sure why that would be difficult? They’re also trying to fix matchmaking so that you won’t have too much difficulty finding games in which to complete the Challenge of capturing sectors in Breakthrough or Rush.

Expect some of these improvements to materialise in forthcoming Battlefield Labs playtests. The game launches on 10th October. Our hardware editor James attended a preview event recently and came away with the verdict that it “looks like a Battlefield game”, thereby demonstrating the granular insight that got him promoted to CPU Wrangler First Class.

Even more granularistically, James noted that “there are also reasons to be optimistic that this is a series getting itself back on track, from its renewed emphasis on breaking shit to the replacement of show-off specialists with that old unspoken rule of ‘Stick with your squad or perish.'” Did you play the beta? How did you find it?

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Battlefield 6 is making some big changes from the beta to address slide/jump spam, weapon recoil, those playlist options

by admin August 22, 2025

The Battlefield 6 beta is well and truly behind us. By EA’s own admission, it had the most players in Battlefield history, for a beta or otherwise. There’s clearly significant interest in the game, but the beta also garnered a lot of criticism.

Following the beta’s conclusion, the developer promised that it would come back with an update on all the hottest topics coming out of the beta, and how it plans to address each concern. That day is now here.

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Battlefield Studios shared a response to a few key areas of feedback from the Battlefield 6 beta in a new blog post. The writeup addresses weapon mechanics, movement, modes, player counts, playlist options, and the variety of maps.

Starting off with weapons, the developer said recoil is getting a pass to make tap-firing and burst-firing more rewarding. The full game will also better represent the range characteristics for each weapon, which likely refers to how SMGs were unreasonably more accurate at range compared to ARs.

Of course, the ever-annoying M87A1 shotgun was touched upon in the post. At launch, getting a kill will require more pellets. While Battlefield Studios does touch on discrepancies between time-to-kill and time-to-death in some situations in the post, the issue remains under investigation.

Recon was the least popular class in the beta. | Image credit: Battlefield Studios, EA.

While movement in the beta was generally praised, some players attempted to push its limits in ways that try to resemble Call of Duty’s. In response, the full game will reduce horizontal momentum carried from a slide into a jump. Consecutive jumps are also being penalised with a lower height for each one. The inaccuracy gained by firing while jumping or sliding is also being increased. Finally, parachutes now have lower initial acceleration.

Map exploits are next on the list. You may have seen instances of players reaching out-of-bound spots (mainly rooftops) during the beta, and the developer is working on making them impossible in the final game.

Of course, the other complaint about maps is just how small they were, effectively making them all practically play the same. The blog post stresses that there’s going to be more variety at launch, but it also confirms that upcoming Battlefield Labs tests will feature Mirak Valley, and Operation Firestorm – two larger maps that will be available at launch.

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One of the most discussed modes in the beta has been Rush, and the post clarifies the developer’s intent with its implementation in Battlefield 6. The beta featured 12v12 matches that some said were too small, though mainly because of the map design.

While the post doesn’t touch specifically on the map sizes for Rush, it does confirm that it’s going to continue to be a mode with a (relatively) small player count, leaving Breakthrough to deliver that large Rush-ish experience.

One of the most interesting (and welcome) parts of the post is a discussion on the studio’s philosophy when it comes to player counts per mode/map. Battlefield Studios said that maps and modes are each designed to fit different player counts, which inevitably means these numbers are going to vary.

In essence, player counts aren’t set in stone, and instead vary based on what works for each situation. The blog post gives the example of Breakthrough, a mode that will be available on maps with 48 players, and others with the full 64.

Not hiding this time. | Image credit: Battlefield Studios, EA.

Another controversial topic from the beta has been the availability (and visibility) of playlists. The developer reiterates that Open and Closed Weapon playlists will continue to be options at launch, and that it’s “looking for ways” to make those options easily accessible.

The last takeaway from the post is that some of these changes – including the aforementioned larger maps – will be part of the next Labs sessions, which is exciting for those who have access to that.

For everyone else, Battlefield 6 will be available on October 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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August 22, 2025 0 comments

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Game Reviews

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta release countdown

by admin August 21, 2025

Screenshot via Activision

Arka Sarkar

and

Scott Duwe

Published: Aug 21, 2025 12:18 pm

Are you ready for some more Black Ops? Call of Duty sure hopes you are, because Black Ops 7 is launching in a short while, and a beta test is coming up first.

As usual, pre-ordering the game will give you some early access to the beta. But if you don’t mind waiting a few days, you can pick it up when the open beta arrives that same week if you’re looking to give BO7 a try without putting down any money just yet.

Let’s look at all the essential details about the BO7 beta from Activision.

When is the Black Ops 7 beta?

Image via Activision

The Call of Duty Black Ops 7 beta has two important dates to remember. The open beta kicks off officially on Oct. 5 on all available platforms. However, an early access period begins on Oct. 2. In short, those with early access will be able to hop in 72 hours early.

We will have to wait for Activision and their plans regarding the official starting times. The following countdown is based on when new seasons typically begin in Call of Duty titles, which will help you get a fair idea about when the open beta for Black Ops 7 could begin.

Once again, the timings aren’t from an official source and speculation for now. Once we get confirmation about the exact launch timings, we will update them on our countdown to help you stay on track.

How to play the BO7 beta

Image via Activision

The BO7 beta is available to all players on Oct. 5, but you can play as early as Oct. 2 if you pre-order the game.

The dates have been confirmed by Activision, so you can call in sick now if you want to play as soon as possible. If you decide to pre-order any of the available bundles of Black Ops 7, you’re guaranteed early access to the open beta. Additionally, you’ll also be entitled to the following benefits:

Reznov Challenge Pack – Immediately unlock the SOG Reznov Operator Skin in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty Warzone. Plus, get access to unlock the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins.

What’s included in the BO7 beta?

Full details about what’s to come in the BO7 beta will likely come on Sept. 30 at Call of Duty NEXT, a live streamed presentation about what’s to come in CoD. Recent CoD beta tests have included a small sampling of multiplayer maps and weapons, along with special unlocks that carry into the full game.

More details about BO7, its beta, multiplayer, Zombies, and even BO7’s integration into Warzone will be announced at CoD Next, which is just a few days before the early access beta begins.

This article will be updated with more information whenever necessary.

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August 21, 2025 0 comments

Operators and DAWG scorestreak in action in Black Ops 7 Multiplayer.

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Black Ops 7 release date, platforms, early access, open beta, and gameplay reveal

by admin August 20, 2025

The official Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date has finally been confirmed, giving fans a clear look at when they can jump into the next chapter of Treyarch’s iconic series. Alongside the launch date, Activision has revealed key details about supported platforms, early access opportunities, and what players can expect based on the gameplay showcase.

From Campaign and Multiplayer to the return of Round-Based Zombies, Black Ops 7 promises to be an exciting entry in the subseries. Whether you’re a veteran of the franchise or a newcomer eager to dive in, here’s everything you need to know about BO7.

Black Ops 7 release date and platforms

Plenty of time to gear up. Image via Activision

As confirmed during the Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, Black Ops 7 will officially launch on Nov. 14, 2025, marking the return of Treyarch and Raven’s collaborative development for the Black Ops subseries. The game will release across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox app). Players who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass will be able to play the title from day one as part of the subscription service.

While there has been speculation about a possible launch on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, Activision has confirmed that the game will not be available for the console at release. However, the company has not ruled out future support for Nintendo’s hardware.

Black Ops 7 early access and open beta dates

Players eager to try the game ahead of launch will get their chance during the early access and open beta sessions taking place in early October. The early access beta begins on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 12pm CT and runs through Sunday, Oct. 5, lasting 72 hours. Immediately after, the open beta kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 12pm CT and continues until Wednesday, Oct. 8, also spanning 72 hours.

Get a firsthand experience. Image via Activision

Early access is reserved for those who pre-ordered the game on any platform, console or PC, as well as eligible Game Pass subscribers. The open beta, on the other hand, will be completely free and available to everyone across all platforms.

This testing phase will mark the first opportunity for players to explore the new maps and experience the updated gameplay systems firsthand.

Black Ops 7 gameplay reveal highlights

BO7 Co-op Campaign

Set in 2035, Black Ops 7 pushes the series forward with its signature mix of near-future combat, political tension, and psychological twists. Players take on the role of David “Section” Mason (reportedly portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia), now at the helm of a JSOC unit tasked with dismantling a covert organization known as The Guild. Along the way, the campaign revisits familiar and new characters such as the notorious Raul Menéndez and The Guild’s CEO Emma Kagan, while missions span diverse backdrops including futuristic Japan, the sunlit Mediterranean coast, and mind-bending sequences that blur the line between reality and the human psyche.

Jump into the campaign with your friends. Image via Activision

For the first time in Black Ops history, the Campaign supports both solo play and drop-in co-op for up to four players. Every kill, completed objective, and milestone contributes to a unified global XP progression system that seamlessly carries over between Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, as well as Warzone, ensuring that all modes feel interconnected and rewarding.

The Co-op Campaign concludes with Endgame, a bold new mode that goes beyond a traditional final mission. Designed as a replayable experience, Endgame challenges squads to survive relentless encounters, adapt to unpredictable scenarios, and fully utilize the personalized abilities unlocked throughout the campaign. With each run offering fresh progression and surprises, players can also explore the wider world of Avalon beyond the structured missions.

BO7 Multiplayer

Multiplayer continues to be the core of CoD, and Black Ops 7 delivers with a robust lineup of 16 brand-new maps built for classic 6v6 action, complemented by two expansive 20v20 Skirmish maps.

Player movement has been overhauled with the enhanced Omnimovement system, giving matches a smoother, more responsive feel. While it avoids returning to the over-the-top sci-fi mechanics of past titles, like jetpacks and full wallrunning, it does include a wall jump mechanic for added mobility. Additionally, the removal of the default Tactical Sprint further refines pacing and balance on the battlefield.

You can also look forward to an arsenal of new weapons, scorestreaks, equipment, field upgrades, perks, and hybrid combat specialties designed to open up new strategies and ways to dominate Multiplayer.

BO7 Zombies

No Call of Duty entry feels whole without Zombies, and Black Ops 7 proudly revives the classic Round-Based Zombies format that first made the mode a fan favorite. Treyarch has teased this version as their most ambitious yet, promising larger, more intricate maps, hidden Easter eggs for dedicated hunters, and a narrative arc that runs deeper than ever before.

Beyond undead slaying, the game also reintroduces Survival maps and Dead Ops Arcade 4, while expanding customization with a wide arsenal of new weapons, attachments, and a robust camo progression system that seamlessly carries across every mode.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 open beta starts 2nd October

by admin August 19, 2025

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will have an open beta starting on 2nd October for those who pre-order the game or subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console. For those who don’t pre-order, the open beta begins on 5th October.

Pre-orders also include the Reznov Challenge Pack, which provides access to the SOG Reznov Operator Skin in Black Ops 6 and Warzone (this must be redeemed before 14th November 2026). You’ll also get the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins.

It’s worth noting the game is available as a cross-gen bundle, meaning if you buy it you’ll gain access to Black Ops 7 on the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Xbox PC. You might want to make sure you have an active Game Pass subscription going though, especially if you claim the game through Game Pass Ultimate.

Check out the latest Black Ops 7 trailer here.Watch on YouTube

This is a news-in-brief story. This is part of our vision to bring you all the big news as part of a daily live report.

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August 19, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Last Chance to Play Battlefield 6 Open Beta is This Weekend

by admin August 19, 2025

EA’s DICE studio has blown the lid off the multiplayer for its upcoming military shooter Battlefield 6 and held a beta to give players a taste of the game and generate feedback. Battlefield 6’s first public beta was available to everyone, but after an early release and two weekends of play, it has officially ended.

The Battlefield 6 open beta was the first chance for players to experience the game’s multiplayer before its full release on Oct. 10. Those with early access got a couple extra days to play and both of the open beta weekends were a rousing success, finally ending in the early hours of Monday, Aug. 18 (1 a.m. PT, to be precise).

Fans could visit Battlefield’s website to get info about the open beta, which required linking your EA account to your platform account. PC players also had to configure their system to Secure Boot as well (see below).

The beta was playable on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S.

When did the Battlefield 6 beta end? What were the dates and times?

The Battlefield 6 open beta ran through August 18 at 1am PT.

Aug. 7-8: Early access.
Aug. 9-10: First open beta weekend available to all.
Aug. 14-17: Second open beta weekend available to all, starting at 1 a.m. PT on Aug. 14 and closing Aug. 18 at 1 a.m. PT.

How to access the Battlefield 6 open beta

As this was an open beta, getting access was pretty easy. Players could simply download the Battlefield 6 beta client from their preferred platform, including the PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Steam, Epic Games Store or the EA app.

Preloading the Battlefield 6 beta started on Aug. 4. Doing a preload meant you’d be able to jump on the beta as soon as it was available instead of waiting for it to download on the day of access.

Battlefield 6 open beta download links

Here are the BF6 Beta download links for each platform:

Battlefield 6 beta maps

EA revealed the rotation of maps for the Battlefield 6 open beta weekends.

The maps for the upcoming Battlefield 6 open beta.

For the first weekend of Aug. 9-10, the maps were:

Liberation Peak: A large, mountainous desert with broad slopes and military forts, as well as ground and aerial vehicles.
Siege of Cairo: An urban battlefield in the heart of Egypt with tight buildings, wide boulevards and ground vehicles.
Iberian Offensive: A cluster of village buildings for tight squad combat while holding street squares for objectives.

The second weekend of Aug. 14-17 included the first weekend maps, plus:

Empire State: A close-quarters NYC map with fierce fighting in alleyways and room-to-room firefights in buildings under construction.

Battlefield 6 beta game modes

Just like with the maps, each weekend also featured certain game modes.

The modes for the first weekend were:

Conquest
Closed Weapons Conquest
Domination
King of the Hill
Breakthrough

Then on the second weekend of the beta, the previous modes were included along with:

Rush
Squad Deathmatch
Attack & Defend playlist (Breakthrough, Rush)
Close Quarters playlist (Domination, King of the Hill, Squad Deathmatch)
All-Out Warfare playlist (Conquest, Breakthrough, Rush)
Closed Weapons All-Out Warfare playlist (Conquest, Breakthrough)

PC-specific notice for Battlefield 6 beta

A special note if you haven’t played a Battlefield game on PC recently: Studio DICE and EA recently started requiring players to set their computers to Secure Boot when playing Battlefield games to combat cheaters, and Battlefield 6 is no different. To even play the open beta, you needed to delve into your BIOS and switch your PC to Secure Boot. Check EA’s guide for help.

Watch this: I Played Resident Evil 9 Requiem at Summer Game Fest, and It’s Extremely Messed Up

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August 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

18th August video games round-up: Battlefield 6 beta sadness, Shenmue 3, and a Nintendo Direct for Kirby

by admin August 19, 2025

Update: That was the world of video games today on 18th August. A full transcript of everything that occurred today is available below if you wish to digest it all at your leisure.

It’s 18th August, and we’re back with another daily live report. We’ll be running down all the day’s news and events, checking in with what you are up to, and providing some hopefully entertaining commentary on the world of video games.

Today we’ve got some great articles going live on the site, but we’ll also discuss Gamescom, which takes place this week, and look at the games releasing in September that you’ve got your eyes on.

Our live coverage of this event has finished.

Coverage
Comments

08:09 am
UTC

Morning everyone! I hope you’ll join us today as we look ahead to Gamescom, round up the day’s news and events, and think about the games we’re all looking forward to in September.

Tom Orry

08:15 am
UTC

Kane & Lynch 2 – remembering the most miserable game of all time

If you’re looking for something to read on a quiet Monday morning, and you missed what we published over the weekend, here’s a round-up:

Tom Orry

08:31 am
UTC

Tony Hawk on his life and his video games

Image credit: TonyHawk.com

Has a video games series had a bigger impact on people than the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series? Talk to anyone who was playing video games and growing up in the late 90s/early 00s and I bet most of them have fond memories of those early games.

Tom Orry

08:33 am
UTC

rmx87 says: It’s the 18th Tom! Morning!MarcusJ says: Flip your desk calendar over, Tom!

Looking forward to this week’s EG. Should be some good stuff.

Well done you two! Test passed. You both win a day of live reporting. Congratulations!

Tom Orry

09:00 am
UTC

New Pokémon Legends: Z-A trailer shows off Link Battles

If you are keen for every single morsel of Pokémon Legends: Z-A info, as some of the team at Eurogame are, then this new trailer and info released over the weekend will be of interest. This latest game update focuses on the game’s Link Battles.

Watch on YouTube

Tom Orry

09:16 am
UTC

Gamescom ONL, time to get hyped via a trailer?

We reserve the right not to get hyped about Gamescom ONL, the show taking place tomorrow evening (7pm BST in the UK), but that hasn’t stopped Geoff putting out a trailer designed to do just that.

Watch on YouTube

Tom Orry

09:50 am
UTC

2much says: Presumably _this_ is the night we’re gonna see the Bloodborne remaster

Thanks for this, 2much. I needed a good laugh this morning. ONL is tomorrow night, and I will be gobsmacked if anything near this level of game reveal is there.

Tom Orry

10:00 am
UTC

Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War is one of the greatest strategy games of all time

Image credit: Relic Entertainment

Chris is well into Space Marines and that, and he has a special place in his heart for the Dawn of War series. The original game was a little tricky to get running nicely on modern hardware, but the newly released Definitive Edition fixes all that and comes with a bunch of new refinements and tweaks.

To quote Chris, verbatim, from a definitely real conversation I had with him about Dawn of War: “It’s orksome.” What more do you need to be told?

Tom Orry

10:15 am
UTC

On the subject of games people are looking forward to in September (and end of August, if you want):

Danzig85 says: I’ve got my eye on Metal Gear this month and Hell Is Us next month. Plenty to finish before then though.

So many games, so little time.

Both potentially great games. We’ve got a MGS3 Delta review coming later this week, and Hell is Us has impressed at preview.

Tom Orry

11:02 am
UTC

These games are set to leave Xbox Game Pass at the end of August

Image credit: Sabotage / Eurogamer.

Xbox has revealed which games are leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of August. A few good ones in this list.

Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition
Sea of Stars
Paw Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay
This War of Mine: Final Cut
Ben 10: Power Trip

Tom Orry

11:39 am
UTC

chesterBox says: PS Store added a discount called “Gamescom 2025” and there’s Bloodborne… that must mean something, right? Right?! 😀

(99% it does not mean anything)

Don’t do this to yourself, Chester. It’ll just bring pain.

But… what if?

Tom Orry

11:44 am
UTC

A delve into the Eurogamer archive

Image credit: Valve

My brain can’t always go back far enough to bring out the real classics, but this superb article from Simon Parkin popped into my head this morning, so I’m sharing it with you all now.

At 6am on 7th May 2004, Axel Gembe awoke in the small German town of Schönau im Schwarzwald to find his bed surrounded by police officers. Automatic weapons were pointing at his head and the words, “Get out of bed. Do not touch the keyboard,” were ringing in his ears.

Get this read if you haven’t already, or maybe read it again.

Tom Orry

12:22 pm
UTC

Euro Truck Simulator 2 PS5 and Xbox versions spotted

Cult hit Euro Truck Simulator 2 is seemingly coming to PS5 and Xbox consoles. The news comes via PSN and Xbox store listings for the game, which is yet to be officially announced for the two consoles.

Tom Orry

13:17 pm
UTC

Surprise! Shenmue 3 is back

Image credit: Ys Net

Shenmue 3 is coming back for a second bite at success with the Enhanced Edition. This reworked and improved version of the original release will be available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series consoles, and Nintendo (presumably Switch 2). A full reveal is coming at Gamescom this week.

Tom Orry

13:21 pm
UTC

Kirby Air Riders Direct tomorrow

Tune in tomorrow Tuesday, August 19th at 2pm UK time for a livestreamed Kirby Air Riders Direct featuring about 45 minutes of information about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 game.

Boom! 45 minutes of Kirby tomorrow? What a treat.

Kirby Air Riders Direct is airing tomorrow at 2pm BST in the UK.

Tom Orry

13:42 pm
UTC

45 minutes of Kirby Air Riders? I love a bit of Kirby as much as the next fan of alien entities that take on the abilities of the objects they consume, but that’s a long time to spend on one game. I’m excited to see what Nintendo has cooked up, though.

Tom Orry

13:47 pm
UTC

Endling – Extinction dev reveals its next game

Image credit: Herobeat

Developer Herobeat has announced its next game, Rewilders: The Lost Spring, which has been inspired by the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films.

Tom Orry

13:54 pm
UTC

Any Shenmue fans in the comments today? I won’t pretend I’m a big fan. I played the original game on the Dreamcast and simply couldn’t get into it. And that is as a huge Sega fan who had grown up as a Sega kid. Just wasn’t for me.

Tom Orry

14:23 pm
UTC

The Battlefield 6 party continues in… Battlefield 2042

Connor has been on the blower to moan about how sad he is that the Battlefield 6 beta has finished. “Don’t worry,” I said in reply, cutting through his tears. “You can just play Battlefield 2042 and earn some stuff to use in Battlefield 6.”

He turned to me (not that I could see as we were on a phone call, not a video call), and he said: “Tom, you are so wise. I will play Battlefield 2042 as I am the exact target audience for this type of marketing campaign. I’ll also write up my thoughts on such an event in a story to publish on Eurogamer.net.”

Thanks, Connor. Here is that story:

Tom Orry

14:46 pm
UTC

Today’s Blast from the Past: Flights, Co-op Tomb Raiding, and more

Image credit: Xbox / Microsoft

Another day presents another opportunity for us to look back at gaming history. Here’s some milestone anniversaries for today, 18th August:

Microsoft Flight Simulator’s grand reboot leads the pack of gaming anniversaries today – the reimagining of the franchise first released five years ago. I recieved the coveted Eurogamer Essential, back when that was the parlance – and it sits alongside Animal Crossing as a perfect game for the then all-consuming pandemic, allowing a sort of digital tourism at a time when we were all trapped inside. It’s a shame that the much more content-rich 2024 edition has run into various troubles, but hopefully that team can eventually recapture the spirit of the 2020 edition over time.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is fifteen years old today. A cool, well-reviewed spin-off of the franchise inspired by the likes of Diablo and Gauntlet, it first launched for Xbox 360’s Live Arcade and then made its way to PS3, PC, and even mobile. It brings to mind that era when downloadables were always smaller, bite-sized games, which led to interesting spin-offs of big-name brands like this – something we now don’t see as often. A shame.
And here’s a trio of further recent anniversaries: Rogue Legacy 2, Mortal Shell, and Spiritfarer all hit on this day in 2020 – the same day as Flight Simulator! There was clearly something in the water on this day five years ago. I’m also now just realizing I can’t write “on that day five years ago”, or a variation thereof, without hearing this.

Alex Donaldson

15:04 pm
UTC

I actually really liked Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, not that I can remember a single thing about it – although I think you had to push a large ball around at one point?

Tom Orry

15:15 pm
UTC

Crazyreyn says: “Any Shenmue fans in the comments today?” hello

Here he is! The Shenmue fan has logged on.

Tom Orry

15:38 pm
UTC

Sword of the Sea review

Image credit: Giant Squid / Eurogamer

Liked this one quite a bit folks.

It’s the latest from Giant Squid, the developer behind Abzu and The Pathless, with creative director Matt Nava having also worked heavily on Journey as art director back in the day. He teams up again with renowned game composer Austin Wintory here. It’s a game that mixes a bit of light Zelda-ing with serene platforming, ludicrously pretty views and a sense of movement, mindfulness and flow that’s right up there with very best of ’em. Big fat five stars from me.

Chris Tapsell

15:44 pm
UTC

Mortal Kombat movie is 30 years old today

As the clock ticks ever closer to 5pm in the UK and I can see the fajitas I’m about to cook for my dinner drift into view, now is the perfect time to remember the original Mortal Kombat movie which turns 30 today. I know this film has gained a large following in the years since its release, but I never liked it that much. That said, it probably captured the video games better than the recent movie did. You can’t say anything negative about this music, though, which is superb.

Watch on YouTube

Tom Orry

16:03 pm
UTC

That’s your lot for today. Big day tomorrow, everyone, so don’t stay up too late tonight. Chances are there’ll be at least one good game shown during Gamescom ONL, which kicks off at 7pm BST tomorrow – although there is supposedly also a bit of a pre-show before that.

Thanks for joining us today. See you all tomorrow.

Tom Orry

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August 19, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

DICE lead responds to criticism that Battlefield 6 beta maps were ‘not how Battlefield should be,’ urges everyone to ‘go play some smaller/medium maps in BF3 and BF4 to get a good example of the intensity curve’

by admin August 18, 2025

By all reasonable metrics, the Battlefield 6 beta was a resounding hit. Not only is BF6 already very fun based on the handful of maps and modes we got our hands on, but the two-weekend playtest period broke records for the series on Steam.

The beta wound down this morning with players clamoring for its October 10 launch day, but not without reservations. Among longtime fans, the loudest criticism surrounded map size: The beta lacked a truly big map that captured classic Battlefield chaos.

DICE lead producer David Sirland has been the one to field these complaints over the last few weeks. After the first beta weekend, Sirland assured folks that ‘large maps exist’ in BF6, but the studio chose to test small ones to show it could handle the “full-octane” chaos of CoD.

Then, well, it added yet another small map in weekend two, reinforcing concerns that the full map pool of nine will prioritize CoD run ‘n gunning over Battlefield’s traditional spaced-out firefights.

“That’s not how Battlefield should be,” X user Blasts4Satan replied to Sirland on August 15. “Listen to the veteran players, not the CoD fanboys. This is y’all’s last chance and it’s already looking a little too much like the other game in the room.”

We are very much looking back at our past modern incarnations when it comes to pacing. I’d urge everyone to go and play some smaller/medium map BF3 and BF4 to get a good example of the intensity curve.It is slower and more deliberate on the larger maps, as it was in the past.August 18, 2025

Returning to the thread days later to reply, Sirland reaffirmed that BF6’s pacing is on the same trajectory as the games it’s most inspired by, Battlefield 3 and 4.

“We are very much looking back at our past modern incarnations when it comes to pacing. I’d urge everyone to go and play some smaller/medium maps in BF3 and BF4 to get a good example of the intensity curve,” Sirland wrote. “It is slower and more deliberate on the larger maps, as it was in the past.”

It’s true that close-quarters, high-intensity maps are nothing new for the series: BF3 and BF4 had loads of smaller, linear meat grinder maps that folks remember fondly. I remember the disappointment when the only map available in the 2011 BF3 console beta (the PC version got an extra, larger map) was Operation Metro, a cramped trek through grass and tunnels that was unfriendly to vehicles.

Battlefield 3: Operation Metro Multiplayer Gameplay Trailer (E3) – YouTube

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At the time, I thought BF3 didn’t feel much like Battlefield, but I warmed to it at launch after playing Caspian Border: a wide valley of rolling hills, military compounds, and jet runways that checked every Battlefield box.

Still, Sirland repeatedly saying “large maps exist” and pointing to a 14-year-old game for proof doesn’t inspire much confidence. If large maps were a focus of BF6, you’d think we’d know what they look like by now. It’s reasonable to conclude that the BF6 beta was BF Studios debuting the primary identity of the game: Pretty and destructible maps, cramped gunfights, and sometimes vehicles.

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August 18, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

I’m sad the Battlefield 6 beta is over, but this 2042 event keeps the party going even if the cool kids have already gone home

by admin August 18, 2025

Battlefield 6 has run its last open beta. This, obviously, is a tragedy. How else am I meant to spend my weekends? Where else can I drive around with four loads of C4 strapped to the boot, or engage in high-flying aerial duels? Well, there’s always Battlefield 2042.

But why go back? Well, it seems as though EA understands a widespread longing may have been on the cards with Battlefield 6’s absence, and has therefore introduced a limited-time event to the older title to keep folks engaged for the next few months. A celebration of sorts for 2042 before everyone leaps off towards greener pastures.

This new Battlefield 2042 update – which is straight up titled the “Road to Battlefield 6” update – includes a free battle pass full of little goodies, a revamp of the Iwo Jima map, and some prizes for those looking to jump into Battlefield 6 come October. Some of those battle pass rewards I mentioned earlier carry over, making 2042 a must-play for early-onset completionists.

Check out the Road to Battlefield update hereWatch on YouTube

It’s a clever ploy, offering permanent rewards for the new game. EA did it too for the Battlefield 6 beta, offering various cosmetics for hitting career levels or finishing challenges. It’s not like the Beta needed any help, but it surely would have brought folks back for the second beta even if they likely were fulfilled on the first beta alone. Battlefield 2042 offering such rewards will inevitably push those who never played the game – or maybe touched it only briefly – back into the fray.

Is this taking advantage of people’s FOMO? The voice in their heads that demands they need everything? Yeah absolutely, and as a former WoW mount collector that can be a real burden, but it’ll also inject a lot of life into Battlefield 2042 in its sunset period. For people who have stuck with Battlefield 2042 through thick and thin it’ll be like one last hurrah, and for Battlefield 6 refugees it’ll be a cool way of passing the time.

It does also help that Battlefield 2042 is a lot better now than it used to be. After years of updates, tweaks and changes, it’s really come into its own as of late. While a sizable number of players who’ll jump into Battlefield 2042 for its Road to Battlefield 6 event will be fair weather friends, there for a good time and not a long time, it may very well do wonders in remedying popular sentiment around the game that lingers from its troubled launch.

There have been some pretty cool crossovers in 2042, you’ve got to admit. | Image credit: EA

So yeah I’ll hop back into Battlefield 2042 – I too haven’t really touched it since its release. I’ll try out the new KFS2000, I’ll squad up with some friends, and hey, maybe I will crash some helicopters into people. The Battlefield 6 rewards are nice and I’ll take great joy in showing them off come October.

But honestly? I just think it’s a nice curtain call for a game that’ll inevitably be left largely behind when Battlefield 6 comes along. I do hope that for many people, it’ll leave a fond final memory of 2042 before the game is memory holed and thrown down the same well Hardline lives in.

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August 18, 2025 0 comments