Yesterday, Ubisoft peeled back the curtains on Rainbow Six Siege X, a massive update coming to the wildly popular tactical FPS on June 10^th. As Siege hits 10 years since its original launch, Siege X (clever use of Roman numerals there) brings a facelift to the hit shooter on multiple fronts. This new version of Siege will be available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S when it launches, with players able to hop into a closed beta from now through March 19^th by nabbing an access code via Twitch drops.

The list of improvements in Siege X is extensive, including visual enhancements like 4K textures, an audio overhaul, enhanced environment destructibility, rappel movement upgrades (we can run horizontally like Mission Impossible now!), revamped maps, and a new 6v6 game mode.

Diving deeper, at launch, five current maps will sport the new upgrade – Clubhouse, Chalet, Border, Bank, and Kafe – with three more maps updated each season. Maps will get lighting and shadows overhauls, the 4K textures, and increased destruction. Gas pipes can now explode, fire extinguishers can be shot to concuss nearby operators, and more.

Dual Front is the new 6v6 game mode, which is what you can test out during the closed beta, and takes place on a new map called District. For the first time, teams can mix both attackers and defenders on the same team from a curated roster of operators that will rotate twice per season. During matches, two objective points are always live, requiring teams to plant a sabotage kit on the opposing team’s point while simultaneously defending your own.

Finally, Siege X will add “Free Access” to the Siege experience, allowing players to download and play for free with a roster of 10 operators and access to unranked game modes. The roster of operators can be upgraded to 26 strictly through in-game progression, or players can unlock them all by purchasing Premium Access, which will also unlock ranked mode and Siege Cup.

It all sounds good on paper, but how about a look at it in action? Check out the new gameplay teaser below, or watch 30 minutes of partnered Twitch streamers to gain access to the beta right now.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 was announced last week and this week they have announced "wave 1" of songs that will be on the Soundtrack. This is one of those series where I truly believe he soundtrack is just as important as the gameplay itself if you are going to do a remaster of this series. Much like "All I Want" from The Offspring in Crazy Taxi, songs like "Superman" by Goldfinger are just synonymous with the series. In terms of wave one we have a mix of old tracks and new with five of them returning from the old games and fifteen of them being new tracks.

Well we do have two more waves of announcements but I'm getting nervous with that classic to new song ratio. Tony Hawk 1+2 contained almost the entire soundtrack from Tony Hawk's 1 and 2 aside from maybe six or so songs. 

Anyways here is the list of confirmed songs for the game.... 

• Motorhead - Ace of Spades
• Alice in Chains - Them Bones
• Denzel Curry - Ultimate
• Gang of Four - Damaged Goods
• CKY - 96 Quite Bitter Beings
• Run the Jewels - Yankee and The Brave (ep4)
• Wavves - King of the Beach
• Turnstile - Real Thing
• Bodyjar - Not The Same
• End it - New Wage Slavery
• Jeff Rosenstock - Head
• Schoolboy Q Ft. Kendrick Lamar - Collared Greens
• KRS-ONE - Outta Here
• TCMF - Result
• Urethane - Dog Years
• Kittie - Charlotte
• Gang Starr - Mass Appeal
• H20 - Faster Than The World
• Starcrawler -Roadkill
• Adolescents - Amoeba

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 releases on July 11th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X, Switch and PC 

Today Konami released a new Silent Hill Transmission was all about Silent Hill f which was announced back in October 2022 and we hadn't heard much, if anything, since. Along with a new trailer we also learned more about the story of the game and about Silent Hill itself, that it's more than just the town. Silent Hill f is now available to wishlist and will be coming to the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Windows, and the Epic Games Store, though no release date has been announced yet.

Is it throwback Thursday? That depends on if you're reading this on a Thursday. Lend me your eyes, and bare with me for minute. I'm here to talk to you about a game that came out for the Nintendo Switch five years ago. I thought it was gimmicky, and I thought it was too expensive. I was right about the too expensive part, but I was dead wrong about the former. This game is amazing. I'm super late. 

Mario Kart: Home Circuit comes in a box almost the same size as the launch day Switch. Inside that box are four cardboard gates, two cardboard turn arrows, and an actual toy kart with a camera on it. You then download the game digitally, absolutely free. The game teaches you how to pair up the kart to your switch, and control it with your controller. Then you're off to the races, literally. 

The game tells you how to set up the gates, and you can set those gates up anywhere. The camera recognizes if the gates are facing the right way, and where you place the turns. The camera isn't the clearest, but it doesn't have to be. It's just broadcasting your home to your Switch, which is half the fun. The other half, is the AR versions of the other racers, and the environments. 

Different courses not only merit different versions of the Koopalings, but gives you different environmental hazards. Bowser's castle has firebars, and podoboos. And yes, of course you get power ups. It's Mario Kart. The power ups  are all encompassing. Shells, bombs, Bloopers, and even the Blue Shell. There are even different speeds to choose from. 

Making your own tracks, and watching the actual kart roll around your house is pretty awesome. It was pretty expensive when it came out, but I found one for $50. And you can play up to 4 players. There is even a Luigi Kart. If you can find one for cheap, I highly recommend it. The kiddo won't stop talking about it. I'll stream it someday. 

In the latest breaking news from the Sims universe, the team released an announcement about a collab with none other than recording artist Doja Cat. 

Within this collab you'll find 3 tattoos chosen by Doja herself. Utilizing the Create-A-Sim tool, the placement and size is customizable, so you're not restricted in usage. These three new tattoos include an image inspired by Renaissance statues, a sword motif, and a spider representing femininity and fearlessness, similar to the one Doja Cat herself sports. 

Along with the tattoo options, players will also get the chance to download and play as Doja Cat in The Sims 4 gallery.

The new release is a part of The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack.

Now go forth and Paint the Town Red.

The folks at sim specialist Astragon Entertainment have yet another sim cooking for this year, this time from the development team behind Construction Simulator. The new game is Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, and it’s launching this Fall for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite puts you in the boots of an American firefighter, utilizing authentic equipment and vehicles from licensed manufacturers to take on intense missions, including civilian rescues, electrical fires, and explosions. Teamwork is the key to fighting fires and Ignite features co-op multiplayer for up to four players, or you can stick to AI-controlled teammates as well.  Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, the game will feature realistic fire, heat, water, and smoke simulations, which sounds awesome.

Between missions, head back to the fire station where you will train and plan for the next emergency, or pet your Dalmatian fire dog (!!), which comes included with a deluxe edition of the game. Notably, modding support will be available on both PC and consoles, which is something we still don’t see a lot of on consoles.

Check out the reveal trailer if you’re not in a hurry. If you are, then I must ask – where’s the fire?

Hitman World of Assassination isn't an entirely new game from the ground up, rather a repackage and remaster of Hitman 1, 2 and 3. However, the fact that it is coming out in VR should more than tell you this isn't just some simple or lazy port. It's more of a "best of" game sticking together 22 locations and 100 weapons. It's been playable on console or PC in non-virtual form for nearly two years but the VR upgrade will add a specific layer of VR immersion such as lock-picking, ambidextrous weapon handling and reloading, as well as franchise mainstays like environmental distractions and fancy dress into disguises. So if you want to dual-wield a baseball and a soda can, this is the game for you. 

Hitman World of Assassination releases to PS VR2 on March 27th. If you already own the game on PS5 there is an upgrade pack to the VR content for $10. New players can just pick up the Hitman World of Assassination Part One – VR2 Edition bundle, opening access to Hitman Part One and the PS VR2 Upgrade Pack for $40. 

It’s a fool’s errand to underestimate the mind of Hideo Kojima, as the man never ceases to amaze, or at the very least, come up with the most eccentric, acid-trip of an idea, and then turn it into a video game. If you thought Death Stranding was a trip, wait until you get a load of this new 10-minute (yes, 10) trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. And if you think 10 minutes is long for a trailer, you’re absolutely right, but that’s nothing for a Kojima cutscene.

First off, the game is launching June 26^th for PlayStation 5 exclusively, with three different editions available for pre-order starting March 17^th. Both the Digital Deluxe and Collector’s Editions include two days of early access starting June 24^th and a smattering of other goodies.

Now, let’s talk about this trailer – Hideo Kojima is a mad man, or on something, or both. The trailer is 10 minutes of mind-melting goodness that makes anywhere from little to no sense whatsoever – and I love it. I must admit that I only watched a few minutes of it as to avoid spoilers. I’m heading for as much of a media blackout as possible while still covering Death Stranding 2 for Gaming Nexus. A normal person will probably watch this trailer and question why video games exist, but I watch this and think, “absolute cinema”. I can’t believe we only have to wait four months to play this game.

Tenshu, or castles, in Assassins Creed Shadows are enemy strongholds with a few key objectives: mainly kill any opposing Samurai, loot the chest, collect rewards like powerful new gear. One of many objectives in the upcoming game, completing tenshu will not only reward with gear from the chest, but also experience and mastery points to level up your character and resources to level up your hideout. The video below was recently released by the developers to show the many ways to take both stealth and combat approaches to solving the riddles of conquering a tenshu castle (as opposed to toppling a tenshu, maybe? I'm still workshopping it).

In addition to all the gameplay insight, Ubisoft also revealed the tech specs for the console versions of Assassins Creed Shadows. Basically the game is aiming for consistency across PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X while Series S is going to lag behind  a bit. There is "extended" ray tracing use in the PS5 Pro to set it a shade above the others but so long as the game shows consistency in performance as whichever setting in each of those beefier consoles it doesn't look like this is going to be your system seller, nor did it ever claim to be. So happy that most players can all enjoy the best Assassins Creed the studio can put out (except you Series S, sorry). 

Assassins Creed Shadows launches March 20th on PS5, Xbox, and PC. More info about the game and the gameplay can be found on the official site.

I'm sorry, can we just LIST the things that intrigue me about Spilled?

Number one, it was created by a female developer, Lente. Number two, it's a cozy game about the importance of a cleaner earth. Number three, the more you clean, the more aquatic wildlife you discover and rescue. Number four, Lente actually lives on a boat, which is an adorable example of life imitating art. I could probably keep going, but you want to learn about the game, huh?

Spilled! is a short satisfying indie game created by Lente, a solo game developer. In her debut commercial game, Lente takes the players on a journey as they simulate boat captains cleaning up oil spills and litter. The more water you clean, the more rewards you receive, and the more you can upgrade your boat to achieve greater success. 

This is a tiny game, with 8 areas to clean, with no time limits, so it can take as long or as short as the player wants, which is perfect for those who just need a short break from the mainland.

Spilled! is floating onto Steam on March 26th - check out the trailer here: