Gaming has changed a lot over the years, but lately it feels like we’ve entered a new phase. Not just better graphics or bigger worlds, but a different way games are built, played, and experienced. Some people love it, some people hate it, but one thing is certain, the gaming landscape in 2026 is very different from what it used to be.

Bigger Worlds, But Also Busier Ones

One thing that stands out today is how massive modern games have become. Open worlds aren’t just big anymore, they’re filled with systems, events, and mechanics layered on top of each other. Sometimes it feels like developers are trying to build entire ecosystems rather than just a game.

For some players that’s exciting. There’s always something to do, somewhere to explore, and usually multiple ways to approach the same situation. But at the same time, it can also feel overwhelming. Not everyone wants to log in and feel like they need a checklist just to start playing.

There’s definitely a balance that developers are still trying to figure out.

Live Service Games Aren’t Going Anywhere

Love them or hate them, live service games are now a major part of the industry. Updates, seasons, new content drops, the idea that a game continues evolving after launch is now the norm rather than the exception.

When it works well, it keeps communities alive for years. Players come back for new events, new maps, and new content that keeps the experience fresh.

But when it doesn’t work, it can feel like games launch unfinished, with players essentially waiting months or years for features that should have been there on day one.

It’s a model that clearly isn’t disappearing anytime soon, but players are becoming more vocal about how it’s handled.

Graphics Are Incredible… But Gameplay Still Matters

It’s impossible not to notice how good games look now. Lighting, physics, facial animation, modern engines can create scenes that look almost cinematic. But there’s something interesting happening at the same time. Some of the most popular games right now aren’t chasing realism at all. Stylized graphics, indie titles, and smaller studios are producing games that don’t necessarily look “next-gen,” but they focus heavily on gameplay and creativity. And players are responding to that. In many cases, a fun idea beats ultra-realistic graphics every time.

Communities Are Driving Games More Than Ever

One of the biggest shifts in gaming today is how much influence communities now have. Between Discord, Twitch, YouTube, and forums, players aren’t just consuming games anymore, they’re shaping them. Developers watch feedback closely. Mods extend the life of games far beyond their original release. Streamers and content creators can suddenly push a game into massive popularity overnight. Sometimes a game becomes successful not because of marketing, but because the community simply decides it’s worth playing.

And honestly, that’s one of the most exciting parts of modern gaming.

So, Where Is Gaming Heading Next?

If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that gaming isn’t slowing down. New technology, new ideas, and new ways to play are constantly appearing.

But despite all the changes, the core of gaming hasn’t really moved.

People still play for the same reasons they always have:

• To explore new worlds
• To challenge themselves
• To relax after a long day
• To share experiences with others

Whether it’s a huge AAA release, a competitive online title, or a small indie game that suddenly explodes in popularity, the goal is still the same, have fun. And honestly, that part of gaming will probably never change.

What do you think?

Do modern games feel better or worse than they did 10 years ago? Join the discussion and share your thoughts below.

Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) has been a cornerstone of the flight simulation community for decades, continually pushing the boundaries of realism, immersion, and technical innovation. With the release of MSFS 2020, the franchise took a massive leap forward in terms of visual fidelity, world detail, and complex weather systems. As we look forward to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, expectations are sky-high, with enthusiasts and casual players alike eager to see how Asobo Studio will build on the success of its predecessor. In this blog, we'll explore the key features, improvements, and potential surprises that might be awaiting us in MSFS 2024.

1. Next-Level World Immersion

The hallmark of MSFS 2020 was its incredible depiction of the entire planet, made possible by satellite imagery, AI technology, and data from Bing Maps. In MSFS 2024, we can expect this to be taken to even greater heights. With more refined terrain modelling, enhanced photogrammetry, and improved AI-driven auto-generation, the virtual Earth is expected to feel even more alive and detailed.

The key improvement here is likely to come from deeper integration of real-time data. We may see dynamic updates that allow seasonal changes, vegetation growth, and urban developments to be represented in real time. For example, a new skyscraper being built in a city could appear in the simulator within a short period of being constructed in real life.

2. Advanced Weather and Environmental Effects

MSFS 2020 stunned users with its real-time weather systems, volumetric clouds, and dynamic lighting that responded to environmental changes. But MSFS 2024 promises to push the envelope further. Expect even more accurate and nuanced weather patterns, from thunderstorms and rain to fog and snow. Potentially, we could see improvements like localized storm systems, enhanced turbulence modelling, and advanced airflow simulations that affect the handling of aircraft more dynamically.

One of the rumoured features includes more in-depth atmospheric interactions like microbursts, updrafts, and complex wind systems that would impact takeoffs, landings, and cruising at altitude. Also, environmental effects such as icing and wind shear could be enhanced to provide a more challenging and immersive experience for pilots flying in extreme conditions.

3. Mission-Oriented Gameplay

MSFS 2024 is not just about flying for the sake of it; there will be a significant focus on mission-based gameplay. This feature could be a game-changer for those looking for more structure and purpose in their flights. While free-flight modes will remain a core element, the inclusion of diverse missions adds depth.

Expect missions ranging from search and rescue operations in remote locations to firefighting, humanitarian aid delivery, and military-style cargo drops. With MSFS 2024, you might be called upon to fly into a hurricane, evacuate civilians during an emergency, or land on a glacier with supplies. These missions will demand a mix of piloting skills, weather navigation, and aircraft management, creating a new level of challenge and excitement.

4. More Aircraft Variety and Realism

MSFS 2020 set a high bar with its wide array of detailed aircraft, ranging from light propeller planes to commercial airliners. However, MSFS 2024 is expected to expand this roster even further with new aircraft types that cater to a variety of interests. In addition to standard passenger planes and private jets, we may see helicopters, gliders, and even more military aircraft becoming available. Helicopters, in particular, will allow for a completely new style of flight, adding vertical takeoff and landing capabilities and missions that require intricate manoeuvring, such as medical evacuations or oil rig landings.

The physics and realism of flight models are also expected to improve significantly. Enhanced aerodynamics could make aircraft handling more responsive to different conditions, such as crosswinds or engine failures. Damage modelling could be another area of improvement, adding a layer of risk and realism for those wanting a more authentic flight experience.

5. Enhanced Multiplayer and Social Features

While MSFS 2020 offered multiplayer functionality, allowing users to see and fly alongside others in real time, it wasn’t always the most seamless or dynamic experience. MSFS 2024 is expected to improve upon this with more robust multiplayer systems, allowing for greater interaction between players. Whether it's cooperative missions, virtual airline events, or competitive challenges, the social element is expected to be taken to a new level.

Expect improved tools for organizing and managing multiplayer events, including the ability to easily set up virtual airshows, races, or even real-time global events like simulated airline operations. Additionally, new communication tools could allow for more immersive ATC (Air Traffic Control) interactions, making the multiplayer environment feel more like a living, breathing aviation ecosystem.

6. Virtual Reality and Controller Integration

MSFS 2020 introduced VR (Virtual Reality) support, which allowed users to fully immerse themselves in the cockpit. In MSFS 2024, expect VR to be even more integrated and  optimized. Improved VR performance could result in smoother frame rates, higher-resolution visuals, and better compatibility with a range of VR headsets.

Moreover, Asobo Studio is likely to focus on making the VR experience more accessible to casual players, perhaps with better in-game tutorials for VR users or improved interfaces that make interacting with complex cockpit controls more intuitive in a virtual environment.

Controller support is another area that may see enhancements. The next iteration could include improved support for flight sticks, yokes, rudder pedals, and throttle quadrants, allowing for a more authentic flight experience. There could even be better integration with haptic feedback devices to simulate engine vibrations, landing gear deployment, or turbulence.

7. AI Co-pilot and Improved ATC Systems

In MSFS 2020, the AI co-pilot feature was a helpful but somewhat limited tool for managing flights when players needed assistance. MSFS 2024 is likely to feature a more advanced AI co-pilot system capable of handling more complex tasks like radio communication, managing in-flight systems, and even reacting to emergencies like engine failures or unexpected weather conditions.

Improved ATC (Air Traffic Control) is another likely improvement. The ATC system in MSFS 2020, while functional, had its limitations in terms of realism and accuracy. MSFS 2024 may include smarter ATC with more lifelike responses, dynamic rerouting, and the ability to handle complex airspaces more efficiently. Real-time traffic integration could also make the skies busier and more challenging, adding to the realism of navigating in congested airspaces.

8. Continued Community and Modding Support

The modding community played a huge role in expanding the scope and capabilities of MSFS 2020, creating everything from highly detailed aircraft to custom airports and scenery. In MSFS 2024, this tradition will undoubtedly continue, with even more robust support for community-created content. Asobo Studio is likely to make it easier for modders to build and share content through the in-game marketplace, ensuring a steady stream of new airports, liveries, and aircraft for players to enjoy.

Conclusion

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is shaping up to be the next big leap in the world of flight simulation. With stunningly realistic visuals, advanced weather systems, diverse mission-based gameplay, and an even more expansive selection of aircraft, the upcoming version promises to cater to both casual players and hardcore aviation enthusiasts alike. Whether you're looking to fly casually over your hometown or challenge yourself with complex missions in hostile environments, MSFS 2024 looks set to deliver an unforgettable flight simulation experience.

Stay tuned as more details are released, and get ready to soar to new heights in MSFS 2024!

Once Human is a survival horror game that has captured the attention of gamers looking for a fresh experience in a crowded genre. Developed by Starry Studio and published by NetEase Games, this title has been making waves with its intriguing blend of open-world exploration, survival mechanics, and eerie, otherworldly aesthetics. But does Once Human live up to its hype, or is it just another addition to the pile of post-apocalyptic survival games? Let’s dive into the gritty details.

Setting and Atmosphere

The first thing that strikes you about Once Human is its bleak and haunting world. Set in a dystopian future where the boundaries between reality and nightmare have blurred, the game thrusts players into an environment teeming with grotesque creatures, mutated wildlife, and abandoned cities overrun by nature. The atmosphere is thick with tension, capturing a sense of isolation and dread that is crucial for any survival horror game. The visuals are impressive, with detailed environments that make you feel both awed and anxious as you explore.

Gameplay Mechanics

Survival is at the heart of Once Human, and the game does a commendable job of balancing the core mechanics. You’ll need to scavenge for resources, craft weapons, and build shelters to protect yourself from the horrors that lurk in the shadows. The crafting system is robust, allowing for a wide range of customization and upgrades, which is essential for surviving in the increasingly hostile world.

Combat in Once Human is intense and unforgiving. The creatures you encounter are not only terrifying in design but also challenging to defeat. The game forces you to think strategically about when to fight and when to flee, as ammo and resources are often scarce. This constant pressure adds a layer of realism to the survival experience, making every encounter feel meaningful.

Storyline and Narrative

The narrative of Once Human is intriguing but can feel somewhat fragmented at times. You play as a "Beyonder," a human who has undergone mysterious mutations, granting you unique abilities but also making you a target for both monsters and other humans. The story unfolds through environmental storytelling, scattered notes, and character interactions. While the lore is rich and deep, it can sometimes be challenging to piece together the full narrative, especially if you're not a fan of digging through every scrap of paper you find.

That said, the game does a great job of immersing you in its world, and the fragmented storytelling adds to the sense of mystery and discovery. Each new area you explore feels like a piece of a larger puzzle, and uncovering the truth behind the world’s downfall is a compelling drive to keep playing.

Multiplayer and Co-op Experience

One of the standout features of Once Human is its multiplayer component. The game allows you to team up with friends or strangers, adding a new layer of strategy to the survival experience. Cooperation is often necessary to tackle the game’s more challenging areas and enemies, but trust is a scarce resource in this world. The tension between cooperation and competition adds a unique dynamic, especially when resources are limited and players must decide whether to share or betray.

Visuals and Sound Design

Visually, Once Human is stunning. The use of lighting and shadows creates a foreboding atmosphere that is both beautiful and terrifying. The creature designs are particularly noteworthy, with each monster looking like something pulled straight from a nightmare. The sound design further enhances the experience, with eerie ambient noises and disturbing creature sounds that keep you on edge.

Challenges and Drawbacks

While Once Human offers a lot to love, it’s not without its flaws. The game’s difficulty can be punishing, especially for newcomers to the genre. The lack of a clear narrative direction might also frustrate some players, as the story can feel disjointed at times. Additionally, the game’s reliance on resource management can become tedious, particularly during extended play sessions.

There have also been reports of technical issues, such as frame rate drops and occasional bugs, which can detract from the overall experience. However, the developers have been active in releasing patches and updates, which suggests that these issues will be addressed over time.

Conclusion

Once Human is a bold and ambitious entry into the survival horror genre. Its atmospheric world, intense gameplay, and intriguing story make it a must-play for fans of the genre. However, its difficulty and narrative structure might not appeal to everyone. If you’re looking for a game that challenges you to survive in a nightmarish world while uncovering its dark secrets, Once Human is worth your time.

Final Verdict: 8/10

While not without its flaws, Once Human stands out as a unique and gripping experience that horror and survival fans should not miss. The game’s blend of survival mechanics, rich atmosphere, and multiplayer dynamics make it a thrilling, if at times frustrating, journey into the unknown.

Elden Ring  remains one of the most played games in the last 5 years. A game that was developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Elden Ring, an RPG based game, was developed after successes recorded by the studio when they made games such as Dark Souls, Sekiro:Shadows Die Twice, and Bloodborne This game, released in early 2022, became the household favourite as a result of its challenging gameplay and competitiveness. 

In the game, players take on the role of a fallen warrior assigned the role of reclaiming the Elden Ring in order to become the Elden Lord. Basically, the story unfolds in a non-linear manner, with lore pieces spread throughout the world, encouraging exploration and rewarding curiosity. 

Elden Ring retains the punishing difficulty characteristics of games created by FromSoftware and has an addition of more open-world approach. The lands are vast and give players freedom to explore. This also makes the combat to be fluid with a series of weapons, abilities, and spells at the player's disposal. 

Elden Ring has amazing graphics built-in and has challenges that even make the most seasoned players sit up with options for multplayers being competitive as well.

Succinctly, Elden Ring is a success in the RPG genre as a result of its challenging gameplay, interesting storyline, and a beautifully crafted open world. For these, one would agree with me that Elden Ring is a must play for fans of RPG type of games. A decision not to be regretted.

Check out the new GTA 6 trailer for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 game from Rockstar Games. The first GTA VI trailer gives us a peek at the next GTA game in the series. Get a look at the Grand Theft Auto 6 map locations, GTA 6 characters, and more in this exciting GTA 6 reveal. The GTA 6 release date is 2025.

It has been 10 years since we saw the release of GTA V and after much speculation, we finally have a confirmed announcement from Rockstar Games that GTA VI is coming and there will be a trailer very soon. This has been a long time coming, the last update we had regarding a new GTA game was in February 2022 when Rockstar confirmed they were working on the latest instalment of GTA. 

Rockstar is coming up to their 25th Anniversary so it would make sense for such a huge anniversary to announce a new game that fans of GTA have been waiting so long for. 

It would seem that December is a date so far that we have been given by Rockstar but no confirmation as to whether it will be the beginning, halfway through or towards the end. Quoted by Rockstar is the following:

Quote

We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto. We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you.

As previously reported by Rockstar Games, the newest GTA instalment will take place in Miami which is fictionalised. We will also be seeing the first female playable character in the game.

In 2022, early gameplay footage for the newest instalment in the series was leaked online after a hacker had managed to gain access to the Slack channel that Rockstar has. Due to this, the hacker threatened the developer Rockstar Games and was able to release 90 minutes of footage which showed two new locations coming to the game and also two protagonists. 

The hack was confirmed by Rockstar Games who made a post on social media saying the following as quoted below:

Quote

We recently suffered a network intrusion in which an unauthorised third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems, including early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto. At this time, we do not anticipate any disruption to our live game services nor any long-term effect on the development of our ongoing projects. We are extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way.

Rockstar Games handled the leak well and as much as a lot of footage was leaked, it was not enough to cause any serious issues for Rockstar Games or to even push them to announce the new game in the series before they were ready to. 

Very exciting times for those who are long-standing players of the GTA games and have been eagerly awaiting the next release. 10 years is a long time to wait to hear about a new game within a franchise and with many being somewhat burned out on GTA V, the news of GTA VI coming and an announcement being imminent with a trailer as well is every GTA fan's dream come true. 

Now we wait until the highly anticipated trailer is released! 

If you are someone who is either a fan of Fortnite or just likes to follow the news regarding Fortnite, you may be aware by now that it has pretty much been confirmed by Fortnite and Epic that we will be going back to Fortnite Chapter 1 and the original Chapter 1 map from season 5 will be coming with that update on November 3rd, 2023. 

As many will know, Fortnite has always been a game that is changing constantly through each chapter and season. Whether it be new skins in the item shop, a new battle pass for the new season or map changes in the game to keep things fresh, there is always something for Fortnite fans to be excited about. 

Over the last few weeks, we have been seeing leaks and reports coming in regarding the return of Chapter 1 along with the original Fortnite map where we all started. 

So far it would seem from the care packages that Fortnite content creators have been receiving, the old props from Chapter 1 appearing on the map at locations such as Frenzy Fields and also the location on Fortnite's official Twitter changing to July 18, 2018, and the addition of a time machine in-game with the same date, Fortnite fans will be getting their wish and we will get the original Chapter 1 map back.

As much as we will be getting the Chapter 1 map back from November 3rd, 2023, it would seem that we will only be getting the OG map for approximately 5 weeks before Chapter 4 Season 5 ends and we will be going straight into Chapter 5, making Chapter 4 Season 5 one of the shortest Fortnite seasons to date if that ends up being the case. 

Something fans need to know when we do go back to Chapter 1 is that we will not be starting from Chapter 1 Season 1. We will instead be going back to Chapter 1 Season 5 which launched on July, 18th 2018 and throughout November we will be seeing seasons 5 - 10 (X) over the 5 weeks before the season ends. 

So, what will cause Fortnite fans to go back in time to Chapter 1 Season 5? 

The current season at the moment Chapter 1 Season 4 sees a time-machine on the map which as we stated above, shows the date 12th July 2018. The time machine seems to have broken at the point of Chapter 1 Season 5 and that is what will result in players going back in time to that chapter and season. 

Of course, so far nothing has been announced by Epic Games regarding the original map returning and a lot of what we are hearing at the moment is from Fortnite leakers, the only indication Epic Games has given us so far is the change of their location to the specific date July 12th, 2018.

The current season Chapter 4 Season 4 is due to end on November, 3rd 2023 and we expect the game to go into downtime at 2 am EST (7 am Central Time) once the game goes down, we will not know anything else regarding Chapter 4 Season 5 until the game comes back up out of downtime. 

Very exciting times for Fortnite fans and players!

A roadmap has been leaked on a court document overnight that shows planned games from Bethesda from 2020 onwards.

Published online overnight, the list on the leaked court document shows what was part of an internal court document from Microsoft in July 2020 which shows their proposal to acquire ZeniMax Media which is Bethesda's parent company. This is an acquisition that was due to be announced two months later.

It seems the list is sourced from a ZeniMax presentation which lists numerous games and DLC for games planned up to the end of the financial year in 2024.
Games such as Ghostwire Tokyo, Starfield, Elder Scrolls 6 and the upcoming Indiana Jones game were listed within the leaked document.

Also seen on the list was Doom Year Zero which is the new Doom game. This game also seems to have plans to release DLC in the year of release as well as following the year of the release as well.

Another title that was seen on the list of games was Dishonoured 3 which has as of yet not been announced. This is a sequel to Ghostwire: Tokyo.
We also see remasters on the list such as Fallout 3 and The Edler Scrolls: Oblivion. 

Project Kestrel and Project Platinum are also on the list but we are not sure what these refer to at this time. 

We should be fully aware though that it is very likely that the list that has been leaked is more than likely a list that was created before the COVID-19 Pandemic which would have affected the work on AAA games. 

The forecast does go up to the year 2024 financial year, we are not quite there yet so it may be that most games listed will be ready and released after this.
Starfield was one game listed as being released by June 2021 and we know now that Starfield did not release until 2023 so that was almost a two-year delay. 

It's also wise to understand that even though games were listed as being planned three years ago, plans do change and there could also be some games that may not have survived the list and others could have been cancelled being that this list was created in July 2020.

Either way, it is looking promising for games being released by Bethesda between now and the next few years and I am sure we will have more confirmation soon from Bethesda regarding the leaked list and more details on what we will still be seeing and games that are no longer in the planning. 
 

For those of you who are fans of Call of Duty, you will know that the next instalment coming to the franchise will be Modern Warfare 3 later this year. We are hearing about November 10th at the moment for the release date and that it will be released on PlayStation, Xbox and PC!

Even though we know what the next game will be and when it will be released, aside from the trailer that has been released, we only have a small amount of information regarding what we will see in Modern Warfare 3 later this year.

It's looking as though, Modern Warfare 3 will be a direct sequel to Modern Warfare 2 from 2022 and not Modern Warfare 2 from 2009 which was to be expected as it would be a little weird to release a sequel to a game that was made around 14 years ago when you have one from last year to add to.

We are also hearing about a new perks system coming to the game as well and that one word I am guessing a lot of Call of Duty fans will be wanting to hear, zombies as well! 

We are also hearing that players of the 2022 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 will be able to bring over their weapon progression and inventory to Modern Warfare 3 which will be something many players will be happy about. 

Something else we are hearing about is that there have been talks about new Open Combat missions coming to Modern Warfare 3 and we are also hearing about new combat vests, after-market parts to use in the gunsmith for customization and we will also be seeing new Tac-Stance movement as well in the game. 

Now for the zombies! Activision has said that zombies will be returning in Modern Warfare 3 and Activision has described it as being " the largest Zombies offering to date."

This will without a doubt have fans of zombies within Call of Duty very excited for the release of the game in November and ready to jump into zombies as soon as they can.

We are also hearing that there will be a Modern Warfare 3 Vault Edition released as well which will contain

• Brand new operator skins
• Two new weapon vaults
• BlackCell will also return!

If you purchase the Vault Edition of Modern Warfare 3, you will also gain early access to the campaign and if you pre-order the game, you will also get early beta access. The dates for the beta access are yet to be announced! 

Of course, this plus the trailer we have posted below that was released on 17th August 2023, this is about all we know about Modern Warfare 3 at the moment but we are expecting more throughout the coming months before the initial release of the game in November. 

For now, it seems that Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is looking very promising and many players of the game do seem more excited now since the trailer was released as well. 

We have shared the official trailer for Modern Warfare 3 below! 

In honour of the upcoming anniversary, Has been good excited news to announce that all three games will be coming to current generation platforms later this year in (Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition) for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and the Rockstar Games Launcher on PC. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy  will feature across-the-board upgrades including graphical improvements and modern gameplay enhancements for all three titles, while still maintaining the classic look and feel of the originals. Extremely excited to share more about these ground breaking titles in the coming weeks.  

For years fans of the believed "PS2 Trilogy" of Grand Theft Auto titles have been begging for remakes or remasters of these classics for modern consoles with modern quality of life improvements. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition will be available digitally on November 11 through the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store on Xbox, Nintendo eShop, and the Rockstar Games Launcher, with a physical release for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 on December 7.

All Updates and discussion: 

Cyberpunk 2077 has been an insane release. While I don't play it myself, my husband plays the game and I have been riding along in the passenger's seat for this ride. It has been a wild ride so far and it is not anywhere near done. I do have my own opinions on the game as someone who is on the outside. I'll be going over those in this article.

First, why are there are only 3 boob sizes. There are women who are fit and have K-cups, why aren't they represented? My husband informed me that this was because of the feminists out there. I should have known when I learned that this game was going to be a shit-show, for lack of a better term. You can have 4-5 different sized penises but only 3 sizes of boobs that go from small to smaller? That just makes no sense. It is more insulting not seeing my breast size than seeing it and having people create ridiculous characters using it. I have bigger breasts and I am proud of them and I'm not being represented. If I did play, I would have stopped as soon as I saw that. I wish those feminist people would just go away.

Second, just because Keanu is in the game, doesn't redeem it for any of the glitches at all. I mean when my husband was playing cars were driving with the barriers in the middle of their cars and the cars were being destroyed. My husband also told me that if you aren't looking at an explosion, you won't hear it. It doesn't exist if you aren't looking directly at it. Like, what?

Third, the choices you make within the game, don't matter towards the storyline. You can make any choice and it doesn't matter. They advertised that it would matter but it doesn't, at all. They advertised this game as being amazing and it turns out it is a HUGE dud.

Overall, I think this game is a HUGE bust. They even removed the developer console in an update that was forced on my husband so he has a hard time even using mods. Mods are necessary for this game which is incredibly broken. Without mods this game is basically unplayable, like it is unplayable on console, which is another thing entirely.

DO NOT BUY CYBERPUNK 2077. Please avoid it. Unless it is on a 90% discount anytime in the future, it is NOT worth the money, AT ALL.

Counter-Strike is revived with Global Offensive! I seriously haven't had this much fun in any fps game. I was aware of this game for years but wasn't interested until it was on a good sale price of £8.95. Glad that I picked up my copy. The game objectives are simple but the gameplay is brilliantly balanced. Graphics are a bonus but the real emphasis is on teamwork and strategy. Every round feels tense, and there are no cheap deaths, only mistakes.

Counter-Strike Global Offensive is just a few bug fixes and features away from beating its predecessors. With 100s of hours on this game and previous installments, it is safe to say that CS GO is just as good as providing a competitive and fun experience

One thing I love about the Counter-Strike shooter genre at once is the sheer amount of skill required, you cant simply jump into a kill a wreck havoc, you must be able to learn spray patterns, smoke areas, and have a good amount of game sense, in most games the map doesn't make much of a difference towards the gameplay. But Counter-Strike: Global Offensive provides a substantial amount of game sense, map knowledge, and gun spray patterns in order to just get the simplest of objective done.

The ranks add more gameplay and less repetitive, not only is it fun to say but its also a good way to separate different skill groups. Ranging from the Beginning of Silver to all the way to Global Elite. One incredible feature that is new to Counter-Strike is the addition of the Workshop. You are able to download maps, game modes and also post skin ideas! Awesome way to add value and replayability to the game! The map balance is a bit screwed up on a few maps, but with a good team, you can achieve anything.

However not every game is perfect, especially Counter-Strike, unfortunately, valve really decided to start off with new micro-dlcs. With the recent CSGO Betting scandals. Valve's reputation has gone lower then it should be. However, there is a way to get these micro-dlcs without paying. The recent addition of spray cans is the worst of the worst. I hate seeing them in my drops as they have no value at all and could have been in the game since the beginning, worst way to charge players.

The verdict is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is just as fun, with new features to give it better replayability, I think this game shines out to be one of the most played and competitive and fun video games even after 4 years; And that's not easy to say, especially for shooters. The cons can be easily ignored, as they don't provide any substantial benefit in the game, and are just cosmetics. Overall I give CSGO a 9. It's fun and amazing with the exception of Micro-DLC.

A game certainly not meant for everyone but for the folks who like survival games; it's a must own. For people who have a CPU strong enough to handle this game on full visual; you won't be disappointed! The atmosphere and lighting effects are amazing!

The crafting system is good but not great; I wish with the updates they would add more things to craft. My main gripe is the fact that there really isn't much of a back story to drive you through the game. Whether or not this will come once the game is officially launched; I suppose we all wait and see. That last phrase has seemed to be on repeat for me with this game..."we'll wait and see".. there are alot of elements to this game that could be added to..but...we'll wait and see.

The Forest has been in "development" for a long time now. One thing that worries me is the fact that this game was picked up by consoles. Once that happened it seemed as though the devs stopped adding content to the PC version.

Because of the solitude this game exudes; I would strongly recommend playing online with a friend! Connectivity has always been strong with minimal to no lag or frame rate issues.

• The story is very complex (but incomplete in MP ), is like a puzzle to build the story. [Story: 9.1/10]  
• For an Indie Game, have a great and realistic graphics (Have also options for optimization, if you have a bad computer you can still play it!). [Graphics: 9.3/10]
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) are pretty good. [AI: 8.0]
• Map with a good size, resources are well distributed on map, complex cave system with lots of thing to explore, abandoned campsites, etc. [Map and Resources: 9.8/10]
• Good crafting and building system. [Crafting: 8.5/10]
• Good gameplay. Hunger, health, thirst and stamida works well and are a little complex (like, you need to know which plants are edible or which plants are medicinal, soda makes the health of the character bad...) [Gameplay: 8.9/10]
• Multiplayer // Co-op - such as more fun since you are playing with others . [MP/CO: 10/10]
• Enemies - Have a good variation: Animals (sharks, crocodiles, boar...), cannibals (There are different tribes and different types) and mutants (Armsy, Virginia, Cowman, Babies and BOSS). [Enemies: 9.6/10]
• "Chooses" - In the game you have several choices you can make. (Examples: You can play without enemies, you can survive without following the story, can select the difficulty...) [Variety: 9.9/10]
• Good to spend hours playing! (Infinite gameplay time) [Gameplay time: 8.7/10]

(There are more good things, but you can find them playing the game! Buy it, 100% recommended!)

Not a lot to say really, If your buying/ looking at this your likely to already have the boxed retail version from 2006, this is a download version of the famous Microsoft DVD rom flight simulator x. As suspected due to the huge amount of power it required back in its day of release, it has certainly stood the test of time, and this version was DOVETAIL GAMES until Microsoft bought the rights back in 2019. (by the way they have a new 64bit revamp of fsx called FSW or Flight Sim World, if you're lucky like me and bought Flight School which is also based on fsx from Dovetail you will be given FSW for free!, so far it's good, but needs a lot of work as time/season/weather are all locked to specific themes, we want real-world weather again and hopefully they will bring that back)

So what's different from the retail (Microsoft) version? Well, first thing to notice is you get ALL the planes that you'd get with the Gold and Deluxe versions of FSX, which is nice, oh and the extra cities. Secondly Dovetail have tweaked things slightly, DX10 preview actually increases framerates now rather than dropping them, the clouds have been replaced with better ones, the sky is better, they seemed to of ruined the Sun textures and now it appears very small in the sky however if you have a multi-monitor setup you will be using a much closer FOV or zoom setting so the sun might seem better then, also there's "Nicks Sun MOD" which is a good replacement of the default fsx sun. Addon scenery and aircraft dramatically enhance the basic flight simulator, pushing the limits nearer what current computer hardware is capable of. UK scenery based on real-world aerial photography, detailed 3d airports for the UK, both civil and military, finally, the pride of place, pmdg provide a fresh update, steam compatible of their procedural Boeing 737 800/900/600/700 ngx aircraft

Most of the difference is for steam edition to the old boxed edition there seems to be a pleasantly surprised at how many more fps your getting! It is noticeable too. It is still 32bit though. Multiplayer used to work but never tend to try it out since I use third party addon apps, but I hear it's mostly full of folk being silly, there are communities online that can give you access to their slightly more mature servers if realistic flying is your thing.
The only side to this which is showing its age a little are the physics, they are amazing even by today's standards, but there isn't much that can be done about that, other than buying premium quality plane addons from Carenado, etc, this often nullifies and quirks with the fsx physics as these addon companies really know their s***! But as mentioned FSW is basically the FSX core, but rebuilt from the ground up, and other than the many limitations it has right now, the flight model feels freakishly real. Highly recommend this download. it was released not long ago and many third-party developers are busy updating existing addons and creating more steam compatible addons from scratch. Microsoft no longer supports flight simulator, as they are busy working on there near 2020 version, this is an ideal way to explore the world of flight safely. crash as many aircraft as you like, you won't get hurt and you won't be hit with multimillion repair bills!

So, if you're new to this kind of thing, then FSX without any shadow of a doubt is the perfect place to start if your and actual airline pilot something like Xplane11 might suit you more, however!!! and that's a big fat loud, however! lol... I do a lot of flying many times on fsx, too much in my life and do come across real pilots who are working or retired. procedural means everything works, every switch, dial and system beautifully modeled in detail, so everything acts like the real thing, even if you do something silly! extensive documentation based on real-world counterparts helps you with the details with all this being available relatively cheaply Base game), a whole generation of new real-world flyers may have kick-started their career with software like this. But people who are mad like I am, who spent around £200 on addons and whatnot can make this into your dream job from home, just exciting, dive in, it's easy to start, but beware, once hooked the clock will spin away the hours rapidly as you try just once more landing a 747 jumbo jet or an airbus on a busy Heathrow airport.

"

It's just an amazing sim so realistic and generally fun to play, unlike most simulators! graphics are out of this world with Orbx and paid add-ons, even on a low-end computer. But you will find so much freeware available to download. It has a wide range of places to go to 24,000 airports in total. Great fun, no manual but I worked out the buttons. The flight sim is really realistic and is actually used by pilots. I have had it for about three years ' coming now and I reckon I could fly a real plane if they needed real-life help support.

10/10 MUST HAVE!

The interesting fact that does our day to day technology listen to any audio recordings of Xbox users speaking in their homes, from many reports that users have had revealed audio from Xbox One users was sometimes triggered and recorded by mistake when contractors were working to improve the console's voice command functions. 

Read from the Quote!

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The practise began at the beginning of the Xbox One's life cycle but was only meant to capture audio following voice commands like "Xbox" or "Hey Cortana." It's the latest example of contractors working on behalf of Microsoft to listen to audio captured by several of the company's products. An earlier Motherboard report revealed that human contractors were listening to some Skype calls and audio recorded by Microsoft's virtual assistant, Cortana.

 

"Xbox commands came up first as a bit of an outlier and then became about half of what we did before becoming most of what we did," one former contractor told Motherboard. "Most of the Xbox related stuff I can recall doing was obviously unintentional activations with people telling Cortana 'No' as they were obviously in the middle of a game and doing normal game chat," a current contractor said. Each contractor signed an NDA so Motherboard has kept them anonymous to protect their identities.

I l always thought at times that our privacy is very important and we have the right away to keep our life story to ourselves. But we're aren't alone.   

Minecraft

Why is Minecraft everyone’s favorite these days? What differentiates it from the rest, and why should you play it too?

Let’s take an in-depth look on the game itself, why it is on the top of children’s video games list along with some of its educational benefits. Yes, you heard that right. It does have educational benefits.

The Game

Minecraft was developed and founded by Markus Persson in 2011 and was released by Mojang. It is a sandbox video game that allows players to build structures in 3D, in whatever way they wish, making it exciting and indulging. Hence, it increases the creativity of the players. Minecraft also includes activities such as crafting and exploration, to name a few. So basically, players can roam freely or can do different activities. Singular and multiple players can play at a time, and there are various gameplay modes that they can be used

•  Survival mode: The mode in which players have to gather resources for their survival and maintenance of health.
• Creative mode: In this mode, players have an abundance of resources to build and can even fly.
• Adventure mode: Adventure mode is the most interesting one as the players can play custom maps that are made by other players. In a way, it allows players to challenge the other players. However, it has its limitations as well.
• Spectator mode: In this specific mode, players act like spectators. They don’t have to build or destroy anything and are allowed to roam, freely.
• Hardcore mode: In the hardcore mode, the difficulty level is fixed at hard, and the players have only one chance of survival. Means that if the players die, then they cannot play in the same world again.
   

Educational Benefits

Social media, merchandise, and Minecon have played a significant role in the up bring and popularity of the Minecraft. As Minecraft is forcing people to utilize their minds and increase their imagination, it also aides in different educational lessons such as mathematics, programming, and project planning. Along with these educational benefits, it also forces people to learn time management skill.

Conclusion

In short, we can say that Minecraft is a game that indulges in the instincts and aspirations of man and therefore, there is no need to worry about this new addiction in children given that it provides entertainment as well as educational skills

Over recent years Codemasters have annually released the latest iteration of their official F1 game promising that it would be bigger, better, brighter and more immersive than the ones which came before it. And for the most part at least over the last couple of outings that they’ve stayed true to that promise. But here we are in 2019 and once more the kings of racing are delivering their latest take on the glitz and glamour of the F1 circuit by pushing out a greater emphasis on visuals, realism, and driving opportunities. Does that mean they’ve developed the best F1 title of recent times? Well, I think they may just have. 

F1 2019's presentation is amazing to say the least, and the in game menus are clean and easy to navigate. There’s a dedicated area for F1 esports, and the showroom provides a reminding of the classic F1 cars of the past. I immediately notice F1 2019 is visually massively improved over its previous years entries from the overall graphical detail to the lighting. The presentation of race weekends are done to utter perfection just like you're on TV, with Davidson and Croft’s analysis readying you for the intense experience felt while driving on the track. For me the F1 games have always felt overly challenging as I tend to migrate to arcade style racers myself with lots of drifting and tight unrealistic control. I do have to say though this is the 1st game I truly felt the presentation effect the quality of my poor driving in a simulation style racer because I was busy looking at the eye candy rather than keeping my eyes on the road. After several failures at race weekends, I began to place better but still managed to find myself literally destroyed in the actual races, the AI may be a little overdone, or this is no fault of the game and I need more practice on simulation racers. This time around I really didn't mind getting beaten because the game is as I said before stunning eye candy and creates an immersive-ness like never before in the F1 series and makes you feel the speed and intensity of being behind the wheel of an actual F1. As I said the AI is intense and you truly feel as if you're racing against real drivers in their attempts to keep you in check on the track. The online races I come to find even more difficult than the AI races as you've got a battle of the best of the best online and well experienced in the F1 series games from the level of skill on display. There's also a championship mode this is basically a series of challenges with a theme involved. While there are still areas that can be improved upon the career mode has some nice improvements, however some of the newer features felt a little shallow and I can see them expanding upon them next year. In the end F1 2019 this is a great driving simulation experience, that will keep fans engrossed and newcomers on the edge of their seats from the beefed up presentation and immersion while battling it out on the track. If you are a huge F1 series fan F1 2019 is a must buy. As someone who has played all the Xbox One F1 releases, I can tell a huge leap this year and if you're like me and more of an arcade racer fan you'll probably struggle with the simulation of F1 2019 but still be blown away by the presentation like I was. In fact the game is so immersive, I am finding myself restarting my career and giving it a fresh go simply due to the bar being raised so substantially in this years F1 2019. Codemasters has more than made i's mark in this long running series on the Xbox One with this years installment

Build absurd stunt racing tracks in the skies above Los Santos.

Long the domain of mods, stunt racing in GTA Online became easier and more official last month with the rollout of the Cunning Stunts update. This introduced racing circuits with loop-de-loops, boost pads and tubes, turning the sky above Los Santos into a labyrinthine (and very dangerous) racing playground.

An impressive 27 circuits were included as part of that update, but now the possibilities are endless with the addition of the Stunt Race Creator, which is available now. According to the announcement you'll be able to "quickly snap and stack objects together, make branching tracks with split checkpoints" and use all elements found in Rockstar's own stunt tracks.

There are also 250 new stunt props (including bowling pins), as well as flaming rings, massive soccer balls and more. I give it five minutes before someone has mocked up a Rocket League tournament at the outskirts of Mount Chiliad. The studio also hinted at the arrival of a Rockstar Verified Stunt Race contest. 

Oh, and there's another new online game mode in the form of Entourage, which "requires tactical teamwork for Bodyguards to transport a well-armoured and armed Target to a designated Extraction Point, all the while battling a team of Assassins attempting to take down the Target."

The Division's new expansion, Underground, is live now as part of patch 1.3. As the name suggests, Underground owners will be heading down, down, far underground into the tunnels of New York—tunnels which lend themselves toprocedural generation and custom rulesets in the form of Directives.

Would-be spelunkers were reporting that The Division was failing to acknowledge their season passes, shutting them out of Underground, but Ubisoft appears to have resolved the issue. Now players just have to contend with Delta errors and extended queues. Both are under investigation.

If you're not planning to jump into Underground, patch 1.3 brings a wealth of changes, from new high-end weapons and gear, a new Dark Zone bracket and a massive overhaul to existing weapons (acquired after patch 1.3) that aims to make the likes of shotguns and LMGs more appealing.

Full patch notes here.

We chat with Julian Gerighty, the associate creative director for The Division, about why Ubisoft has decided to make the game a third-person shooter.

As one of the biggest games arriving in 2016, gamers are eager to see more of what Tom Clancy’s The Division has in store. Taking place in a virus-ridden New York City, the setting and narrative are unlike anything seen in a video game before, but it’s no secret that many parallels have been drawn between the forthcoming blockbuster and Bungie’s Destiny. While the loot-gathering qualities certainly seems reminiscent of Ubisoft’s new IP, one of the largest differences happens to be the the fact that The Division is a third-person shooter.

Given the success Destiny has experienced as a first-person affair, many may have thought that the genre would have lent itself quite well to The Division in lieu of the final third-person romp. According to a recent interview we conducted with the game’s associate creative director Julian Gerighty, however, it was explained that there was much thought put into how the game would play out. With plans to incorporate a number of different core gameplay mechanics, Gerighty explained that third-person seemed like the best way to go.

GR: Why did you opt to go third-person with The Division?

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“That’s a good question. I think it fits the cover-based gameplay so well, and that’s really what we wanted to do. If you close your eyes and think “Okay, we have this incredibly detailed real-world city, it’s open-world, it’s a cover-based shooter, there’s exploration, there are gadgets.” Would first-person make sense? Not particularly. It’s better suited to a third-person experience.”

Truthfully, had the game instead gone the first-person route, then the comparisons to Destiny would have been in record-setting numbers. Of course, it’s almost ridiculous to suggest that Ubisoft chose the third-person genre to simply avoid such lines being drawn by fans, as the aesthetic of the game as a whole seems perfectly suited to the gameplay mechanics that Gerighty and his team had in mind for the initial concepts of The Division.

Since the MMO-like software has been in development for quite a while now, it’s obvious that the execution on the third-person aspect of it took a while to nail down. That said, the team at Massive appears to have done a rather bang-up job based on our ample hands-on time with the game. Hopefully the beta-based experience is just a taste of what fans can expect from the finished title, but it won’t be much longer until dedicated followers will find out for themselves.

The Division arrives for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on March 8, 2016.