Latest news with #co-op
Geek Girl Authority
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
15 Co-Op Game Announcements From June 2025
15 Co-Op Game Announcements From June 2025 by Ciarra Crowe It's that time of year when we're flooded with game announcements from Summer Game Fest. However, of the 100-plus games announced, how many are co-op-friendly? We've got you covered with 15 local and online co-op games announced in June, plus a few honorable mentions. Wishlist any and all that catch your eye. Local Co-Op Grounded 2 – July 29, 2025 The Grounded crew is back on the ground with its sequel, Grounded 2 . You might be the size of an ant, but it's time to embark on a journey to build, fight and discover the truth that hides right under your feet. The park might be perilous, but with friends, you may manage to survive this open-world sandbox adventure. Wishlist Grounded 2 on Steam or Xbox. Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree – September 18, 2025 The story of Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree takes place in a magical land where ancient and evil influences are at play. Now, Towa and her fellow Guardians must conquer dungeons and find the courage to save their realm and bring back peace. With up to eight companions to choose from, local and online co-op will be an exciting experience with each unique guardian pair. Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is coming to console and PC. Wishlist on Steam. RELATED: Wholesome Games Direct 2025: 9 Games Release Today Lost Vulcan – 2025 Classic arcade game enthusiasts will want to check out Lost Vulcan , a roguelike platformer taking place on an abandoned spaceship. Playing as a treasure hunter, you must find treasure, evade traps and defeat enemies. You can search for the treasure alone or play with up to four people in local co-op. Wishlist Lost Vulcan on Steam or play the demo. Scott Pilgrim EX – 2026 The beloved Scott Pilgrim franchise is back with Scott Pilgrim EX as he battles through Toronto's fractured time and space. But Scott isn't alone; he's joined by Ramona Flowers and seven other playable characters. Players can meet new and old faces, and up to four players can share the fun in local or online co-op. Wishlist Scott Pilgrim EX on Steam. Blighted – 2026 Blighted is an action RPG with intense combat as you battle to reclaim the memories of your people as the lone survivor of a tragedy. This 3D psychedelic western nightmare will have players solving the mysteries of a complicated world alongside friends via drop-in/drop-out co-op multiplayer. Wishlist Blighted on Steam. RELATED: Summer Game Fest 2025: A New Era of Horror Begins With Resident Evil Requiem LEGO Voyagers – TBD Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to be a LEGO brick? If so, then you're in luck because LEGO Voyagers is a co-op adventure game where you'll set out to rescue an abandoned spaceship. Even with a non-verbal narrative, this game still has lots to say about friendship and play. You can play locally or invite a friend to play online for free with Friend's Plass. LEGO Voyagers is coming to console and PC. Wishlist on Steam. Sheepherds! – TBD Need a chill co-op party game? Look no further than Sheepherds! This game focuses on cooperation and playfulness as you play as customizable sheep herding dogs to guide flocks through breathtaking lands. Sheepherds! can be played with two to four players in local and online co-op. Wishlist Sheepherds! on Steam or play the demo. Haunted Paws – TBD If you want a spooky, yet cozy, game featuring puppies, then Haunted Paws is perfect for you. Haunted Paws is an eerie puzzle game where you'll play as two puppies attempting to rescue their human best friend from a haunted mansion. Your customizable pups will vanquish evil creatures in this heartwarming horror game and may even solve a few mysteries along the way. Wishlist Haunted Paws on Steam. RELATED: Switch 2 Doesn't Fix Pokémon 's Biggest Problem Castlebound – TBD Castlebound is a fast-paced roguelike where you'll defend your castle from countless enemies. It's a 2D platformer with a unique combination of castle defense and roguelike combat. Invite friends or family over to defend the castle together and choose from different heroes that suit your playstyle. Wishlist Castlebound on Steam or play the demo . Online Co-Op Voyagers of Nera – August 5, 2025 Voyagers of Nera lets up to 10 players explore a mystical ocean world as you survive together and fight lethal creatures, not only above water but also below it. When players aren't sailing the sea, they can build their own incredible bases or rescue spirits that will guide them along their journey. Early access begins August 5. Wishlist Voyagers of Nera on Steam or play the demo. Whisper Mountain Outbreak – August 11, 2025 Imagine it's 1998, and an old curse has trapped you and your friends on a mountain. Whisper Mountain Outbreak is just that. This intense co-op survival horror game not only requires you to solve puzzles and craft resources, but also to fight monsters. Whisper Mountain Outbreak allows up to four players to decipher clues and escape the horrors of the curse while utilizing voice chat to stay connected. Wishlist Whisper Mountain Outbreak on Steam, or play the demo. RELATED: Mobile Game Monday: Lost in Play ARC Raiders – October 30, 2025 In ARC Raiders , the Earth we know barely exists anymore — instead, mysterious mechs called ARC terrorize the world. Joining the fight as a Raider means hunting to survive, but you'll not only face off against the machines, but also other Raiders. This adventure extraction shooter supports crossplay across various platforms. ARC Raiders is coming to console and PC. Wishlist on Steam. Game of Thrones: War for Westeros – 2026 It's time to go back to the world of Westeros in the multiplayer real-time strategy game Game of Thrones: War for Westeros. Players will choose their banner and begin to change the very fate of the Seven Kingdoms. The battles will be brutal, and treacherous behavior is to be expected, because as Cersei Lannister once said, 'When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die… ' Wishlist Game of Thrones: War for Westeros on Steam. Let's Build a Dungeon – TBD Let's Build a Dungeon is a video about making video games. Don't worry, you'll get to play them too. Let's Build a Dungeon is a 2D management simulator where players will run a game studio that's tasked with developing an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), and with Just Build Mode, up to four players can create their dream world. Wishlist Let's Build a Dungeon on Steam or play the demo. RELATED: F2P Friday: Our Life: Beginnings and Always Gourdlets Together – TBD Fans of the colorful indie game Gourdlets can now share their passion for this cozy sandbox game with others through Gourdlets Together . This standalone game focuses on multiplayer gameplay like building an island with friends, fishing together and visiting your friends' island creations. Wishlist Gourdlets Together on Steam. Honorable Mentions You can never have too many co-op options, so here are a few honorable mentions: Game Review: PROJECTED DREAMS
New York Times
21-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Should I Keep Paying Rent Increases, or Dent My Savings With a Down Payment?
Q: I rent a one-bedroom in a high-rise doorman building with many amenities on the Upper West Side. The rent went up substantially in the second year of the lease, but I wasn't ready to move, so I renewed. Now I'm thinking it might be better to buy an alcove studio co-op apartment in the same neighborhood, rather than deal with rent increases. Even with monthly mortgage and maintenance, I'd probably save about $1,000 a month. But as a 65-year-old retiree, does it make sense to use a portion of my retirement savings as a down payment? Or should I keep the money in my investment account? A: You ask an age-old question: whether it's better to rent or to own. The answer will be different for everyone based on financial factors and lifestyle preferences. You said that you have calculated a $1,000-per-month savings with buying, but your analysis shouldn't stop there. Yes, your rent will likely go up every year, while your mortgage payments would be more stable. But co-op maintenance fees will rise and building assessments can arrive with little warning. 'When you own, everything is your problem,' said Ally Jane Ayers, co-founder of the investment firm Brooklyn Fi. Owning builds equity and can have tax benefits. But consider the lost investment income and mortgage interest payments. If you take money out of your retirement savings, be sure to account for the tax implications. If you need the money later, it will be tied up in your home. As an alternative, you could borrow against the value of your taxable brokerage accounts through a securities-backed line of credit, which keeps your portfolio intact and avoids the taxes generated by a withdrawal, Ms. Ayers said. Another consideration: How long will you live in a home that you purchase? It's difficult to recoup your costs if you won't be staying for seven to 10 years. The Upshot at The Times built a handy rent vs. buy calculator that adjusts based on your financial situation. There are other factors at play: If you are renting and have a bothersome neighbor, it will probably be easier to move than if you own your apartment. On the other hand, if you own and you don't like the kitchen, you can renovate. Finally, your move would diminish your living space, which shouldn't be overlooked, said Melissa Cohn, regional vice president at William Raveis Mortgage. 'If you're downsizing from a one-bedroom to a studio, you have to think about lifestyle and happiness in your home,' she said.
Digital Trends
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 new Game Pass games to play this weekend (June 20-22)
Today marks the first official day of summer, so what better way to beat the heat than with some cool new Game Pass games? The middle and end of the month tend to be a bit slower for new games, but this week has not just one, but two day one additions to sink your teeth into. What makes my job of picking the best ones even easier is the fact that I am spoiled for choice in terms of variety. I have a great new co-op shooter, a deliciously dark action roguelike, plus a throwback platformer that anyone can enjoy. Each one can dominate your weekend, so let's skip right to the good stuff and talk about the three Game Pass games I know you will love playing this weekend. FBC: Firebreak Let's begin with the big new multiplayer shooter on the block, FBC: Firebreak. This is a spinoff of the Control universe from Remedy and is set in The Oldest House. Instead of playing as a new Director, you and your friends are general workers sent in to deal with all the oddball paranormal events as best you can. It has some Left 4 Dead vibes in terms of requiring teamwork and moving through a map completing objectives, but has a lot more variety. You can choose between three specialties with their own utility in missions, plus a handful of weapons and a ton of ways to customize your look. It's not incredibly deep, and you will be able to see all the missions within the weekend if you and your team are committed, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. Recommended Videos FBC: Firebreak is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Lost in Random: The Eternal Die The first Lost in Random was a cult hit that took place on a game board and was based around rolling a dice and playing cards to move and attack. This ambitious sequel keeps the dark atmosphere and random elements, but makes the combat much more engaging. Now with roguelike elements, combat is done in real time and is fast, frenetic, and satisfying. The dice mechanic is reworked to keep every battle distinct across the four major biomes. There's plenty to unlock and discover, just like the best roguelikes, but the distinct art style and soundtrack make this one worth getting lost in. Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time Last up, who doesn't love a good revival? Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time packs a ton of meaning into its name. On one hand, it's been decades since the last numbered entry in the legendary platforming franchise. On the other hand, time manipulation is a core component this time around. The core mechanics still revolve around running through obstacle course-like levels across multiple worlds, collecting fruit, masks, and crystals. There's a ton to do here, and just because it looks family-friendly doesn't mean this game is easy. With the new Quantum Masks that allow you to alter levels in various ways, plus five playable characters with their own movesets, the platforming challenge on display is some of the toughest you can find. But, with that challenge comes immense satisfaction when you overcome. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.
The Verge
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
FBC: Firebreak is missing Control's weird charm
With FBC: Firebreak, Remedy Entertainment has entered the world of the first-person co-op shooter. Set in its Control universe — specifically the site of the first game, the brutalist nightmare office called the Oldest House — players control a member of the titular three-person team of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), tasked with addressing various containment breaches. Unfortunately, all the aspects that make Remedy's worlds so intriguing are completely absent in this bare-bones co-op shooter, which offers nothing for either longtime fans or those invested in existing shooters. Players in Firebreak are like firefighters or disaster responders, with each member occupying a different role: mechanic, water carrier, electrician. Across five recurring levels, teams must work to stop the spread of corruption, called the Hiss (a mysterious red entity that turns people into raging zombies and other types of creatures). Objectives vary from destroying Post-it notes to fixing fans, all while being assailed by swarms of various nightmare monsters. Control, the central foundation of Remedy's wider connected universe that also includes Alan Wake, is at its core weird. It's how Remedy developers have described it — to me and others — allowing for fluctuations between the terrifying, the quirky, the odd, and the hilarious. The Bureau itself is a government agency tasked with containing bizarre items and reacting to huge and strange world events: for example, a traffic light that, when it flashes red, sends people to different locations, or a fridge that eats people if you stop looking at it. In Remedy's universe, FBC workers document, monitor, and research these sorts of items with the gray-faced enthusiasm of every bored researcher. The number of times the toy duck teleports needs to be logged as much as how many coffee filters need to be replaced in the break room. That stone-faced reaction to the weird is only mildly present in Firebreak, with brief interactions with mission provider Hank Wilder, the security chief, detailing bizarre tasks in a slight monotone. Even player character barks demonstrate this. One of the player voice options is called 'Pencil Pusher,' who, when receiving friendly fire, screams that such actions 'violate office policy.' Health restoration involves characters huddling in a shower together; you can fix equipment by hitting it with a wrench. As someone obsessed with Control, I was eagerly anticipating a return — particularly in the shoes of ordinary personnel, rather than the almost godlike head of the agency, Jesse Faden (who you play in Control). But that sense of unease that plays off the quirkiness is not here. The Oldest House and its enemies feel like little more than an aesthetic, or even a kind of mod, for a generic co-op shooter. There is no sense of progression, no overarching goal to which you are working. Levels and tasks repeat. There aren't even creepy big-level bosses, like the terrors in Control, except in one area. You will have seen all the game has to offer within a few hours, since each level has only three or four stages (with each successive stage in the same level taking you further in), and some stages can be completed within three to four minutes. As an example, one stage involves destroying replicating Post-it notes. Once you have destroyed a sufficient number, you rush back to the elevator as a horde descends. The second stage requires the same objective, only this time you gain access to a second area to destroy more notes. The third stage repeats this, only you go further in and face a boss. All end with rushing back. While the game offers modifiers — such as harder enemies and corrupting anomalies that can slightly keep you on your toes — the core aspect wears out quickly. I do not feel I am making any headway in clearing out an entire level, since once cleared, there's no indicator our team made any difference. The only incentive is to obtain better gear. At least the game doesn't push microtransactions and is quite generous in its rewards, especially on harder difficulties. You also level up various roles independently: playing mainly as the mechanic, you will have to start from scratch if you switch to, for example, the electrician role. These roles do feel distinct, as you are given different gear and abilities. The mechanic can almost instantly repair broken equipment, a very useful skill given how many broken machines there are. But the game is filled with various hazards, such as fire and gunk, which the water soaker character — with their water cannon — can negate. Shooting feels good, but guns are standard: shotguns, machine guns, pistols. Don't expect weird weapons like the Service Weapon from Control. This is meat-and-potatoes destruction. That's precisely what disappointed me: ordinary workers in a world where fridges eat people is what made me love Control, and the idea of being able to play one of the lowly workers was exciting. Yet that charm is largely absent. I barely felt part of the FBC and it didn't seem like I was containing anything. In Control, you would clear rooms and see the game world change permanently. Obviously a co-op shooter can't do things in the exact same way. But why not tie something like this to the host player? If I have to see the same level three times, progressing further each level, why not show some permanent change from a previous run? There's no indication the world is reacting to the Firebreak team's efforts. In reality, Firebreak feels like one of the multiplayer modes that used to be tacked on to big-budget single-player games (think Mass Effect 3, for example). If players don't feel like they're making a difference as part of a team trying to stop an outbreak, why should we bother? The levels are akin to hero-shooter arenas, devoid of the deep lore of a Remedy game. At least with hero shooters, playing against other people keeps play constantly fresh. This felt like it was stale within a few hours, an avocado of a game. I genuinely don't know who Firebreak is for. Longtime fans of Control won't find collectibles, environmental storytelling, or anything to even read. And those looking for meaningful multiplayer shooters have plenty of options already. This is a strange dim light for a studio that usually produces brilliance. FBC: Firebreak is available now on the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X / S. It's also available for Game Pass and PlayStation Plus subscribers.
The Verge
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Posted Jun 17, 2025 at 10:46 AM EDT
Andrew Webster Firebreak with me. Remedy is working on a full sequel to Control, but in the meantime there's FBC: Firebreak, a co-op shooter set in the same universe that launches today. For more on what the studio is aiming for with Firebreak, you can check out this story I wrote in May.
