Latest news with #DeathStranding2
CNET
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Must-Play Games of 2025 So Far: Death Stranding 2, Expedition 33, Assassin's Creed Shadows and More
At the start of the year, 2025 was going to be all about Grand Theft Auto 6, which had so much hype that players were already expecting it to win Game of the Year. That changed last month when Rockstar Games announced that its highly anticipated game would be pushed to 2026. Though this year might not have what could be the biggest game of the decade, 2025 so far has some great games from the most unlikely places. With the launch of the Switch 2 and Summer Game Fest already happening in early June, the rest of 2025 is going to be a major games come out for the year is done. The midpoint of the year is a good time to look back at what has already come out and maybe try one of the games out during the low summer period before things start ramping up in the fall. Kojima Productions Death Stranding 2 Coming in right before the official midpoint of the year is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The sequel to the first project from famed video game developer Hideo Kojima after he left Konami, it made all the important improvements to elevate a quirky game into an amazing experience. From CNET's review: "If you had a twinge of interest in the original Death Stranding but found it a bit too awkward or maybe complicated with its mechanics, then Death Stranding 2 is going to suck you right in and will have you spending hours enjoying a peaceful journey of just delivering packages." Death Stranding 2 is exclusive to the PlayStation 5. Sandfall Interactive Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developed by Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has surprised everyone with just how good it is. The turn-based roleplaying game with French influences has wowed everyone who has played it. From CNET's review: "Expedition 33 will be celebrated for its many excellences, and deservedly so. But above all, it tells an adult story about what's left for us when the future is ripped away bit by bit -- and why it's worth fighting against the inevitable anyway." Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. It's also included on Xbox Game Pass. Hazelight Studios Split Fiction Co-op games are few and far between, but Hazelight Studios is the premier developer of them. Split Fiction is the latest title from the team, and its co-op play completely surpasses any other game out there to make for a unique experience. From CNET's review: "I think it's safe to say Split Fiction is a fun game for anyone who's got another player ready to try it out. Whimsical, lighthearted, action-packed and thoughtfully made, it feels ready for any co-op team, from strangers to best friends." Split Fiction is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Warhorse Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Developer Warhorse Studios is back with a sequel to its 2018 game Kingdom Come: Deliverance. In the follow-up, players again step into the role of swordsman Henry of Skalitz. He's still on his quest for revenge after his father died in the original game. What makes Kingdom Come so unique as an RPG is how true-to-life it is in its setting of Bohemia (now the modern-day Czech Republic) in the 1400s. Players don't use magic or have any fantastical abilities. Instead, they need to watch what they eat or else be struck with food poisoning, and they need to wash their clothes because townspeople won't talk to them if they stink. Aside from the protagonist, the locations, characters and events are accurate. Luckily, Warhorse Studios made some welcome improvements to the game to make life in the 1400s a lot of fun. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Dogubomb/Screenshot by CNET Blue Prince A puzzle game has to be unique to be considered one of the best games of the year, and Blue Prince is definitely unique. The premise is to fill a mansion with rooms in order to find a mysterious Room 46, though the mansion rearranges its layout every day, giving players a fresh chance to discover its secrets. What follows is a mystery that slowly unravels one room at a time. From CNET's review: "Blue Prince isn't for everyone. While most of the puzzles can be solved with whatever's in the room, there are some intricate solutions afoot that could elude casual players. The mansion's shifting layout and unpredictable room choices can make progress uneven -- or even bring it to a halt if luck isn't on your side. But it's by far one of the most unique games I've played in years, and a true treat for puzzle fiends and mystery fans." Blue Prince is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. It's also included on Xbox Game Pass. Capcom Monster Hunter Wilds Monster Hunter Wilds from Capcom is the latest in a long-running franchise of beloved third-person action games. As it says in the title, players need to hunt monsters, and those beasts come in all sizes. After more than two decades, Capcom may've developed the best Monster Hunter game ever. In this entry, players set foot in the Forbidden Lands, which is filled with unique creatures. Capcom made a slew of upgrades to the game's formula, from quality of life improvements, such as carrying a second weapon and being able to set up camps, to creating a huge open world where the monsters are bigger than ever. Monster Hunter Wilds is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. It's also included on Xbox Game Pass. id Software Doom: The Dark Ages The Doom franchise made its return in 2016, and it's back with the third game in this new era, Doom: The Dark Ages. The Doomslayer is back, and players will finally learn what happened to the hero when he left Earth to fight the hordes of demons in Hell. From CNET's review: "All the new additions Id Software introduced in Doom: The Dark Ages are welcome changes to keep a franchise that's been around for more than three decades feeling fresh." Doom: The Dark Ages is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. It's also included on Xbox Game Pass. Ubisoft Assassin's Creed Shadows Fans of the Assassin's Creed series have been demanding a game set in Japan, and they got it with Shadows. This time around there are two heroes who, to prevail in feudal Japan, will have to contend with military power and unseen forces pulling at the strings. From CNET's review: "Ubisoft has found what could be the new formula for the franchise, and it will hopefully retool this formula to keep future titles fresh for players. Some diehard fans may find Shadows to be a bit too action-oriented and less stealthy than previous games in the series, but I feel there's still enough of the original formula in this game to satisfy them, as well as those who want to just use a big ol' sword to chop some heads." Assassin's Creed Shadows is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Microsoft The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered A surprise game this year was the return of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. The remastered version of the game seemingly came out of nowhere, and with it came a flood of fond memories for gamers. Oblivion was released back in 2006, and the remastered version keeps all the important details in place, adding a fresh coat of paint with new graphics as well as more modern controls and quality of life improvements. It's visually impressive while also being faithful to the original, and new and old players simply love it. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. It's also included on Xbox Game Pass. Screenshot by David Lumb/CNET Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii The Yakuza franchise's spin-off, Like a Dragon, has its own spin-off. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a new adventure featuring a mainstay character for the franchise, Goro Majima, and it answers the age-old question, How do you make a Yakuza game even better? Just add pirates. From CNET's review: "Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is a fun, light jaunt that benefits from the idiosyncrasies of its specific setup. Rather than telling a story about modern piracy, the game brings cannon-firing pirate ships, crew-on-crew deck melees and buried treasure hunts into modernity without any pesky logical explanation. The game's bizarre mashup energy is its strength, amplified by Sega's Ryu Ga Gotoku studio's signature blend of sincere character moments and wacky hijinks." Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available on PS5, PC and Xbox Series consoles.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review – a hypnotising arthouse game with an A-list cast
What is Death Stranding 2 trying to say? It's a question you will ask yourself on many occasions during the second instalment of Hideo Kojima's hypnotising, mystifying, and provocatively slow-paced cargo management simulator series. First, because during the many long and uneventful treks across its supernatural vision of Mexico and Australia, you have all the headspace in the world to ponder its small details and decipher the perplexing things you just witnessed. And second, because the question so often reveals something profound. That it can stand up to such extended contemplation is a marker of the fine craftsmanship that went into this game. Nobody is scribbling down notes to uncover what Doom: The Dark Ages is getting at or poring over Marvel Rivals' cutscenes for clues, fantastic as those games are. It is rare for any game to invite this kind of scrutiny, let alone hold up to it. But Death Stranding 2 has the atmosphere and narrative delivery of arthouse cinema. It's light of touch in its storytelling but exhaustive in its gameplay systems, and the tension between the two makes it so compelling. At first you brave one for the other; then, over time, you savour both. For anyone who missed the first Death Stranding, yes, this really is the second in a series of games about moving cargo between waypoints, on foot or by vehicle; delivering packages of food, tech and luxury items, like a post-apocalyptic Amazon driver. A mysterious event fundamentally changed the world at the start of the first game, allowing the dead to return to the realm of the living as spectral entities known as Beached Things (BTs). When a BT kills a human, it creates a disastrous event called a 'voidout', a kind of supernatural nuclear bomb explosion that leaves behind nothing but a vast crater. With humanity fragmented and sequestered in underground bunkers, protagonist Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) was entrusted with connecting the remaining pockets of civilisation in the US to a global tech infrastructure called 'the chiral network', restoring hope for a better tomorrow. He managed it, too, making it across the entire continent with a sort of supernatural infant, Lou, carried in an artificial womb. As this sequel begins he is enjoying a secluded life in Mexico with Lou, now a toddler. And believe me, those are the scantest cliff notes possible. Death Stranding 2 begins with six solid minutes of cutscenes that attempt to convey the strange world of sci-fi and poetic metaphors that Kojima has constructed, and even that feels like a cursory summary. Decrypting the mysteries is half the fun here (the other half being the box-shifting) but even if you don't engage that deeply with the world, it follows its own kind of dreamlike logic and starts to make intuitive sense. It is not clear whether Death Stranding 2's Australian once looked like the one we know, for example, or whether it was always a patchwork of Icelandic tundra, snowcapped mountains and multicoloured desert. What matters is that it feels consistent. Meditative it may be, but this isn't a game about watching Sam enjoy retirement and fatherhood for 50 hours. He is inevitably called back into action, this time reconnecting the Mexican and Australian populations to the chiral network for an outfit called Drawbridge, a logistics company funded by an unknown benefactor and headed by returning character Fragile (Léa Seydoux). If that sounds a bit dry, what if I told you that Fragile wears a pair of long Greta Garbo gloves around her neck, which she can move like a second set of hands? A swashbuckling gang of assists Sam on his mission, following him around on the DHV Magellan, a ship with more A-listers on board than a Cannes red carpet. Seydoux, George Miller, Guillermo del Toro, Nicolas Winding Refn, Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna all give brilliant performances, as does veteran game actor Troy Baker as chief baddie Higgs. The major characters exist primarily as poetic devices and morbid metaphors: Rainy (Kutsuna) is an ostracised optimist who makes it rain whenever she goes outside; Tarman (Miller) lost a hand to supernatural tar, and can now use it to guide the ship through its currents; Heartman (Darren Jacobs) dies and is reborn every few minutes. By rights, they should all be simply too strange to invoke pathos, but there are rare moments when the allegory is dialled down and they interact in human and poignant ways. If you don't feel a lump in your throat watching Rainy and Tomorrow (Fanning) sing together, it's not just Deadman who is dead inside. Package delivery is, strangely, depicted to the highest of gameplay standards. It sounds boring, but you can't help get pulled in by the magnetic draw of these detailed systems. In the last game, combat felt like an afterthought, but there is more of it this time as missions bring you into conflict with both BTs and other humans, and it is supported by typically slick mechanics that make launching a grenade or snapping a neck feel equally gratifying. You can fabricate tools to take with you – ladders and climbing ropes for mountainous routes, assault rifles and grenades when a fight is likely. The pleasure is as much in the preparation as it is in the action; it feels good to impose some order on an otherwise chaotic and unknowable world. That's probably why we all baked so much banana bread during lockdown. Kojima had a draft for Death Stranding 2's story before the Covid-19 pandemic, but rewrote it from scratch after being locked down along with the rest of the world. You don't have to look too hard to see the influences – a population that is too scared to go outside, governments that promise to save you by putting an end to travel and physical contact, the profound loneliness of Sam's job as a porter travelling solo across barren landscapes. Fittingly, you can interact with other players, but only at a distance, sharing equipment, building structures and leaving holographic signs and likes for other players in their own games. This ends up being a biting piece of lockdown satire – as time goes by the world becomes clogged up with flickering icons, and as more structures appear you are confronted by constant 'like' symbols. It feels like the mind-numbing attention spam of social media, and there's no way this is an accident. The first game had the advantage of surprise. Death Stranding 2 does not. Much of what is good – and what is tedious – about this game was also true of the last, but at the same time it has refined each bizarre element. Combat feels punchier, the world map more hand-crafted, missions more varied. Asking you to do all of that schlepping about all over again in a whole new game should feel like a practical joke, but it is so mechanically rich and loaded with meaning, you just nod and don the backpack a second time. Of the many things Death Stranding 2 is trying to say, the message that comes to the fore is: you are never truly alone. Global disasters, big tech, even death itself – these things might abstract the way we connect to one another, but they can't sever the connection altogether. Not bad for a game about delivering boxes. Death Stranding 2 is released on 26 June, £69.99/US$69.99/A$124.95
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
How to charge your vehicles in Death Stranding 2?
(Image via Kojima) In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach , vehicles can be your best friends—or your worst nightmares—depending on how well you manage their battery life. Picture this: you're cruising through tar pits in your rugged ride and bam! Your battery dies in the middle of nowhere. Not fun. So, here's how you can charge your battery in Death Stranding 2. 1. Use Charging Stations and Garages The quickest way to restore a drained vehicle is by using an in-game garage or auto-repair station. These are typically located at larger UCA facilities and major hubs. Just drive into a garage bay and initiate the repair process. Your vehicle gets a full recharge and durability restoration at once. However, this only works for owned or crafted vehicles, not enemy-stolen ones. Think of garages as your go-to pit stops before long hauls. How To Recharge your vehicle battery in DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH 2. Stick to Power Zones While Driving Every major base and highway has power zones—invisible areas that pause battery drain while you're inside them. Power zones near settlements are marked by pylons and blue perimeter outlines. If you're within this field, the vehicle won't lose charge, even when boosting. Highways have dedicated energy lanes, too. Stay centred between the signs to conserve energy. If your battery is running low, rerouting through these zones can buy you precious kilometres. 3. Build Generators Using PCCs Out exploring the wild and nowhere near a garage? Time to bring out your Portable Chiral Constructor (PCC). Deploy a Generator using a PCC in any area connected to the Chiral Network. It will emit a constant power field that recharges any nearby vehicle. Great for placing near remote delivery routes, mountain slopes, or Mule camps. Pro-tip: Set up a network of generators along your common travel paths to avoid future battery anxiety. 4. Unlock Sam's Emergency Recharge Skill Later in the game, you can unlock a skill that lets Sam transfer his own battery power to a vehicle. Hold L3 while inside a dead vehicle to activate. Great for last-ditch scenarios when you're completely out of options. Does drain Sam's own battery gear, so use it wisely. Pair this with a good battery backpack or exoskeleton upgrade for better efficiency. 25 Things We Wish We Knew Earlier - Death Stranding 2 Beginners Guide (Tips & Tricks) 5. Use Battery Boost Perks As you progress, you'll gain access to perks that enhance how long your vehicle battery lasts: Battery Efficiency Boost : Reduces energy consumption by around 8%. Battery Unit Mod : Increases total battery capacity—can stack multiple units. High-tier versions are available as you unlock new facilities. These are passive perks, but they make a huge difference during long missions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sudoku Kingdom - Free Sudoku Puzzles Online Undo Use garages when nearby, rely on energy zones when possible, set up generators with PCCs for the long haul, and upgrade Sam's skills to stay ahead of any breakdown. With a little planning, your ride in Death Stranding 2 will always be ready to take on whatever the terrain throws at you. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
All Environmental Hazards and Effects in Death Stranding 2
Image via: Sony Interactive Entertainment While Death Stranding 2 may pick up Sam Porter Bridges' travels through these uncharted and dangerous terrain like Mexico to Australia, the game's environmental threats churning travel quickly begins to become more than a long subway ride to work, a primal race against death. Far from just setting the stage, these environmental hazards act as colorful puzzles, forcing players to predict, react, and creatively use their arsenal of weaponry to overcome them. Here's an exhaustive scenic tour of each ecological calamity in the video game, how they'll block your path, and the smartest methods to salvage those square-tiled travels. Timefall : The Rain That Ages All Perhaps the most well-known hazard returning from the original Death Stranding, Timefall is a rain that rapidly ages anything it comes into contact with cargo containers, equipment, even the terrain itself. Effect : Timefall slowly increases damage to cargo container health, risking the integrity of your precious contents inside and jeopardizing your precious S Rank delivery. In addition, when it comes into contact with rain, the damage multiplies if dropped or used incorrectly. Strategy : Make sure you always have a Container Repair Spray unlocked extremely early in the game and deploy it right after the rain stops. For demolition, construct a timefall shelter with PCC. Though these shelters only offer the benefits of standard cargo storage when vacant, once filled with repellant, they offer protection from BTs, making them a useful tool in dangerous areas. Death Stranding 2: 10 Things The Game DOESN'T TELL YOU Strong Winds : Sandstorms That Steal Your Balance Exploring far out across vast, arid, wilderness-like terrains exposes Sam to fast-moving, fierce sandstorms that come in the shape of Strong Winds. Effect : Strong winds resulting in impossible visibility from blowing snow make it deadly for walkers. When loaded with delicate freight, small impacts can create a dramatic chance of toppling or being upended by the breeze, causing large freight losses. Strategy : When you see the first wafts of sand dancing in the air far on the horizon, prepare for the storm. Look for natural cover, rock faces, structures, or walls and let Sam experience a bit of R&R by pressing Square to regain stamina. If the wind is at your back, this can work to your advantage on your journey, giving you a boost from the tailwind and reducing your travel time. Earthquakes : The Ground Beneath Unyielding and cataclysmic, an earthquake can level even the most experienced porter. Effect : Underbelly inequities Violent tremors cause cargo spills, as flammable container fires crossed the road, and risk of liquefaction-induced landslides. It's harder to move and stay balanced if the ground is shaking and rolling. You're more likely to fall and injure yourself. Strategy : Choosing impact categories When the big one hits, don't panic, find open ground and stay there until the shaking stops. If you do fall, having your cargo well tied down and as close to the ground as possible will guarantee that you cause as little loss as possible. Rising Waters: Nature's Sudden Barrier Frighteningly enough, crossing rivers has never been safe in Death Stranding. Death Stranding 2 raises that risk a hundredfold with surprise spikes in water depth. Effect : Sudden unexpected high tides can wash Sam and his precious cargo away, making some sections treacherous passages at times. Strategy : Carefully scout every road crossing ahead of time and look for alternate paths. Once water begins to enter, if it's flooding over the top, return to higher ground and ride the storm out. Whatever the cause, the attempt to cross a flood will just about always make for a tragic outcome. Things I Wish I Knew Earlier In Death Stranding 2 (Crucial Tips & Tricks) Tar Pits and Tar Seas : Death by Voidout These dark, treacherous pits are not just dangerous traps. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chrissy Metz Is So Skinny Now And Looks Gorgeous Undo They're deadly deathtraps. Effect : If your feet sink too deep in tar, you begin to sink, cargo becomes damaged, or even a Voidout occurs (a large explosion resulting from dying near BTs). Strategy : Run, don't walk to escape this one. If it's impossible to avoid tar zones, establish a route around tar zones or deploy equipment capable of reaching above dangerous areas. Where Death Stranding 2 really shines is in making its unique environments more than just window dressing. They're unpredictable, powerful, visceral risks that can upend even the best-laid plans to which we've worked so hard. Every hazard needs to be learned. Even more than the opportunity to build this world safe enough to survive, is this hope that we can bring from a healed and mended world—hope over a broken and splintered world. So pack smart, walk safe, and never underestimate the first wrath of Mother Nature. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How to carry more weight in Death Stranding 2?
(Image via Kojima) Struggling to carry all your loot, deliveries, and extra boots in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach? You're not alone. As Sam Porter Bridges, you'll constantly balance between staying light and being fully equipped. But don't worry — there are some smart and strategic ways to increase your carry weight and become a true delivery god. Let's break it down, the right way. 1. Level Up Sam's Strength Stat The most organic way to boost carry weight? Just keep on walking— heavily . Sam's Strength increases naturally the more weight he carries over long distances. This isn't a skill tree or a hidden perk. You'll notice gradual improvements in how much he can lug around as you take on heavier delivery loads. So don't always play it safe—push his limits (while keeping balance in mind). Pro Tip : Keep your load in the yellow zone (almost maxed out) during deliveries. That's the sweet spot for leveling strength without too much risk of toppling over. How To Increase Carry Capacity In Death Stranding 2 2. Use Chiral Crystals Wisely Chiral Crystals aren't just for crafting—they have a hidden weight-reducing trick. Carrying 1,000 cg of Chiral Crystals reduces 1 kg from your total load. These don't occupy backpack slots or weigh anything themselves. The crystals act like 'phantom support' in your inventory. So, keep a hefty stash on you, especially during longer hauls. Where to Get Them: Defeating BTs Scanning areas near tar pits Even showering in private rooms can reward you with some 3. Unlock the Chiral Antigravity Device This one's a game-changer but unlocks later in your journey. The Chiral Antigravity Device helps lift and distribute your cargo, significantly reducing the strain on Sam's back. It doesn't increase your 'raw' weight limit, but it makes weight feel lighter . Perfect for tall stacks or awkward terrain. Once you gain access, make it a core part of your loadout. 4. Cargo Management Tricks Don't just carry smart— carry creatively . Offload onto floating carriers when possible Strap cargo to suit strategically (center of gravity matters!) Use strands to tie crates together if they won't fit on Sam Even rearranging your backpack can help Sam walk straighter and avoid burnout. How to Equip a Skeleton in Death Stranding 2 On the Beach 5. Equip Exoskeletons You can use the Battle Skeletons that you get after mission 10 to increase load-bearing capacity significantly. Attach these to Sam, and you'll notice an immediate difference , especially on rocky terrain or while sprinting with stacked cargo. Increasing carry capacity in Death Stranding 2 is less about instant boosts and more about smart strategy and consistency. Carry more, carry often, and carry smartly. Mix natural stat progression with some Chiral Crystal efficiency, and round it out with tech like anti-grav gear. Before long, you'll be hauling mountains of cargo like it's just another stroll through the Timefall. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
