1994’s Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders and its 1995 sequel, Hexen: Beyond Heretic forged new frontiers in first-person shooter games. Experience these pivotal games today with Heretic + Hexen, a collaboration between id Software and Nightdive Studios bringing an enhanced re-release of Raven Software’s legendary games to a new generation of players.

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From demonic sci-fi to dark fantasy

“As one of the original developers back in the ’90s, it’s honestly kind of surreal to see Heretic and Hexen coming back like this,” says Brian Raffel, studio co-founder and co-head of Raven Software. “We built those games on a heavily modified Doom (1993) engine and tried to push the boundaries wherever we could, adding things like character classes, inventory systems, vertical aiming…stuff that was pretty wild for the time.  

“We were also lucky to be working with our friends at id Software, especially John Romero and John Carmack. Their support and engine tech gave us the chance to build something different. There’s something cool about knowing these worlds still mean something to people after all these years.” 

Players embark on a journey through monster-filled halls, trap-laden arenas and arcane realms in a unique blend of classic FPS combat with dungeon delving inspired by fantasy tabletop role-playing games. 

“Both Heretic and Hexen hail from the kind of fantasy that was common in 80s and 90s PC gaming but had yet to be explored much in a first-person shooter,” shares Mike Rubits, Senior Programmer at id Software. “There were a lot of shooters with war, sci-fi, and aliens, but not a lot of maces and wands.” 

“It was actually Romero’s idea to add character classes in Hexen—a move that really took the franchise to the next level,” says Raffel. “At the time, that kind of RPG element in an FPS was almost unheard of. Each class had its own weapons, stats, and playstyle – that blend of shooter mechanics with fantasy roleplaying was risky, but it worked. It helped set Hexen apart from everything else out there and made the world feel richer and more personal. I think that’s a big part of why people still remember it so fondly.” 

Hey everyone, this is Mike Tucker, Design Director and Programmer at Bitmap Bureau. We hope you’re all excited for Terminator 2D: No Fate, coming October 31, 2025. On behalf of everyone at the Bitmap team, we’re thrilled to reveal the new Gameplay Overview Trailer! The trailer gives an in-depth summary of T2D’s various gameplay systems, including info about game modes, pickups, the scoring system and more.

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Difficulty levels explained

Beyond what’s covered in the trailer, we thought this blog would be a great chance to delve into the game even further, specifically covering the different difficulty settings. Hopefully this overview will help you decide which difficulty to choose when picking up the game for the first time.

First things first, when you start the game, you’ll be asked to choose your preferred difficulty setting. From easiest to hardest, the difficulties are:

• Easy Money
• No Problemo
• Hasta La Vista
• Judgment Day (Unlocked only after completing Mother of the Future Mode. Completing Story Mode on Judgment Day unlocks the Cheats Menu.)

These difficulty settings are available for all game modes, but for Story Mode in particular, the choice means that the complete T2D story can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of skill level. We recommend first-time players start with the No Problemo difficulty setting for the most balanced experience, while those more experienced with the genre can try their hand at Hasta La Vista; that’s the one most of us here at Bitmap use as our Normal difficulty.

Broadly speaking, the differences between the difficulties revolve around enemy placement and damage output, the number of continues and whether the time limit is turned on. The Easy Money difficulty features no time limit (except for one level) and unlimited continues. However, there are more specific differences between the difficulties, affecting enemy placement, environmental trap timings and more. While it would be impossible to go over all of these changes in the span of this blog, below are a few examples to help you get a sense of the kind of differences you can expect between difficulties.

The Cyberdyne Factory level is a little different from the more run n’ gun levels in the game, testing players’ platforming and timing abilities with various

Ding ding! Time is up and we’re ready to pull our final party game creation out of the oven for a piping hot reveal. Cookie Haus is the fifth and final party game coming this fall in The Jackbox Party Pack 11.

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Welcome to Cookie Haus

Cookie Haus is a brand new drawing game that puts an emphasis on silliness and simplicity. In this game, you are a decorator at a bakery undergoing some creative chaos. Patrons come in to give you their decoration requests and you have a limited amount of time to design a cookie that fits their needs. Player designs are then pitted against each other while everyone votes for their favorite. 

It’s one of our most approachable drawing games yet. Players will be able to customize their icing tools and draw simple designs on pre-shaped cookies. Did we mention there will be sprinkles? Because, boy, do we have sprinkles! And the timer is ticking! You’ll need to get frosting on those cookies before the situation crumbles. 

“I can’t wait for folks to meet the ridiculous customers and check out the fresh, but familiar drawing tools,” says Chase McClure, Director of Cookie Haus. “But really, this is a simple drawing game about decorating cookies and I’m excited for people to see how fun, funny, and satisfying that is to do in this game.” 

Meet the rest of Party Pack 11

Cookie Haus is one of five entirely new party games in The Jackbox Party Pack 11. If you’re a fan of joke writing games like Quiplash or Survive the Internet, you’ll want to check out Doominate, a fast-paced, hilarious party game with killer style!

In Doominate, players are given a wholesome situation that they have to destroy with their response. Players work on both of their prompts for the round at the same time (as opposed to writing one and then tackling the next after you’re finished, like you do in Quiplash). This way, they can go back and edit before submitting. “We’ve found that it has led to some inspired answers and hopefully relieves some of the pressure that comes with those writing moments,” says Brooke Breit, Director of Doominate, “Players will also get a chance to save some scenarios from disaster in a heavenly final round.”   

NBA 2K26 tip-off on PlayStation 5 is less than a month away; bringing a host of exciting gameplay innovations and presentation enhancements in the latest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise. This year, the Visual Concepts development team made another Eurostep forward in lifelike animations and authenticity, with heightened player fidelity, palpable arena atmosphere, energetic commentary and captivating pageantry—let’s get into it.

Player fidelity

The weight of the moment combined with the wear and tear of each dribble, foul, and collision takes a physical toll over the course of a game. 

In NBA 2K26, the evolution of player fidelity is more noticeable thanks to a new shader that brings out the subtleties of each player’s skin. Get up close and see the sweat stream down the pores on players’ faces, the cracks in their lips from dehydration, and the improved muscle definition after a thunderous dunk. 

This new shading technology makes uniforms and shoes look even more detailed and stunning. The curvature of embroidered names on the back of jerseys boasts increased accuracy—you can even see the ultra-fine stitching. These minute details bring you closer to the action than ever before.

Arena visuals

Take in the grandeur of these larger-than-life NBA arenas with improved lighting, floor shading, and team-specific features in NBA 2K26.

Improved arena lighting

The lighting in NBA 2K26 has been redesigned to improve light intensity and color correction. Coupled with the new skin shader, the players shine and reflect like the stars they are as they dazzle under the bright lights of the arena.

Improved court floors

In addition to the new skin shaders, new floor shaders have been introduced to add more life and sheen to every court. The meticulously polished courts in 2K26 invite you to step on the hardwood and observe the uniqueness of each team’s home court. Depending on the camera angle you prefer, there’s a distinct contrast in wood grain color based on a higher or lower view.

Team-specific features

From the shape of each arena’s overhead spotlights to the Clippers’ towering “Wall,” all 30 arenas in NBA 2K26 have been designed to closely match their real-world counterparts. Teams around the league have different pregame rituals, like how they create

Some big new releases from last month included College Football 26, Abiotic Factor, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and Shadow Labyrinth. Which earns your vote for July 2025’s best new game?

How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. 

What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.

THQ Nordic’s 2025 Showcase just wrapped, debuting new details on Tides of Tomorrow, Spongebob Squarepants: Titans of the Tide, Gothic 1 Remake, and more.

Here is a breakdown of the upcoming titles. 

The team at Tarsier, creators of Little Nightmares I & II, are creating an all-new horror adventure -Reanimal. The showcase gameplay trailer features a first look at new gameplay environments and characters, including new monsters and friends of the orphaned siblings. Their relentless journey to survive a hellish gamescape features a rich narrative and online and couch co-op multiplayer so players can share the scare.

In more light-hearted gaming updates, the pre-order program for SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is now live. Confirmed for release on PS5 on November 18 of this year, this all-new adventure through Bikini Bottom allows players to play as both Patrick and SpongeBob to the song-stylings of the one and only David Hasselhoff. 

The ability to switch from SpongeBob to Patrick and back again has been a long-time request from SpongeBob gamers. Preorder any edition and receive the Natural Costume DLC free. The Ghostly Digital Edition includes the Tidal Season pass, also available separately.

For the SpongeBob Collector, get all SpongeBob games and DLC in the digital Bikini Bottom Bundle or head to your favorite retailer for the Ghostly Edition featuring an exclusive Steelbook, collectible patch, keychain & lenticular prints.

One genre we simply cannot get enough of at THQ Nordic is role-playing. Remaking the classic RPG Gothic is a true passion project for our Alkimia Interactive. Gothic 1 Remake is built for today’s most discerning RPG enthusiasts, including thoughtful expansions architected with Gothic veterans in mind. 

Starting today, gamers everywhere can return to the Valley of the Mines in the Gothic 1 Remake demo. Dive into the Nyras Prologue to experience the thrill of entering the Colony for the very first time — without encountering any spoilers. This demo will not be included in the final game. THQ Nordic will also release the Gothic Classics, 1, 2, and 3 for PS5 in 2026. 

Our all-new gameplay trailer for Eternal Life of Goldman reveals at least one life shattered by our protagonist Goldman. The vibrant yet dark platformer demands precision while encouraging exploration and a sense of discovery throughout the game world. Complex scenes and rich characters create The Eternal Life of Goldman’s layered story that is perfectly balanced to platform-style play.

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Silent Hill f, a standalone spin-off of the Silent Hill series from developer NeoBards, comes to PlayStation 5 on September 25. We recently had the chance to play the game at its world premiere event in Tokyo, Japan.

Psychological horror set in 1960s Japan

The story begins when Hinako leaves her home to escape from her upset father. Silent Hill f utilizes the same over-the-shoulder perspective as Bloober Team’s 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake, allowing players to move the camera with the right analog stick. Sharing a similar perspective to Hinako adds to the immersion and tension of the game. When you look around the forest surrounding her, you become acutely aware of the danger closing in and feel the overwhelming sense of isolation and entrapment.

Navigate the fog-enshrouded town and survive the deadly horrors from an over-the-shoulder perspective

The sky darkens as Hinako approaches a row of houses along the forestline, and a mysterious fog descends. The authentic 1960s Japanese town, depicted in vivid 4K visuals, evokes a sense of beauty and nostalgia. However, things take a turn after you meet Hinako’s childhood friends. The fog completely engulfs the town, and “higanbana” (red spider lilies) begin blooming from the ground. Worse yet, tentacle-like plants begin creeping and overflowing from the walls. The town’s dramatic transformation enthralled me.

Navigating the maddening, twisting streets of Ebisugaoka

Ebisugaoka features an array of narrow streets intertwining between clustered houses. Blind corners and varying verticality create a complex, maze-like layout. Unlike Silent Hill 2, there are no radios or items to warn you of approaching enemies, so you must remain vigilant and alert to every sound.

Puzzles closely tied to the story

Puzzles are a defining feature of the Silent Hill series, and they feature prominently in this title. During our playthrough, we were able to try out a variety of puzzles inspired by Japanese culture, such as locating the correct “ema” (small wooden prayer tablets) or finding scarecrows that matched certain criteria. Many of these puzzles are deeply connected to the story written by scriptwriter Ryukishi07, and it was intriguing to find out how they were linked to the characters’ emotions and identity.

Close-range combat demands quick-thinking and strategy

Hinako is an average Japanese teenager, so unlike previous titles in the series firearms aren’t an option here. Instead, Silent Hill f has a heavier focus on melee combat. During our demo we got our hands on an iron pipe, a sickle, a dagger, and a naginata polearm. 

Battlefield 6 has made its debut, with Electronic Arts providing the first big look at its sprawling first-person shooter, including hands-on with its often-enormous multiplayer mode. I engaged the enemy across four of the nine maps Battlefield 6 will include at launch, which took us through a range of battles: from the vehicle-filled All-Out Warfare modes, to smaller, close-quarters battles.

The franchise heads back to its roots with Battlefield 6, serving as a sort of spiritual successor to Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. It uses a modern setting of 2027 and, like the games it draws inspiration from, sees the return of character classes to the series—but with new twists on the old formulas.

Battlefield 6 hits PS5 on October 10, but you don’t have to wait that long—there are also open beta weekends this August  so you can try out the game’s new tricks yourself.

Here’s everything from my boots-on-the-ground experience in Battlefield 6.

Character classes

Battlefield 6 brings back the class system that players know and love, but with adjustments that let you further dial in your specialty. The new Training system is Battlefield 6’s take on subclasses, expanding on the Specializations of Battlefield 3 and Field Upgrades of Battlefield 4.

Classes also get buffs as you “level up” through a match by supporting teammates, defeating opponents, and playing objectives, which further amp up the things that make them unique. Eventually, they can charge up a special ability that’s specific to their Training.

Assault — The run-and-gun class wields an assault rifle and combat stims, and with the Frontliner training, gains faster health regeneration, more stimulants, and more accuracy while moving.

Recon — Best known for long-range shots and spotting enemy movement. The Sniper training marks enemies seen through your scope more quickly and for longer, while sniper shots stop enemy healing. Meanwhile, headshots drop enemies with a single round, without the possibility of being revived by a teammate.

Engineer — The only class that can repair vehicles can also be a real menace to them, as well as to other infantry. The Anti-Armor training lets you wreck vehicles with extra rockets that also reduce their repair effectiveness.

Support — The classic defensive class is a little more than a revive machine in Battlefield 6. Specializing in light machine guns, you can also place temporary cover and drop ammo for your teammates. The Combat Medic training also lets you dish out health for allies and regenerates health while you’re reviving teammates. 

Closed and open weapons — Classes get a signature weapon and specific gadgets, but whether weapons are open or closed depends on the playlist you’re playing. On closed playlists, you

Hi, everyone. I’m Matt Bozon, director of the Shantae series. Today I’d like to fill you in on some exciting news about Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, and share more details about the project!

If you’re familiar with the Shantae video game series, you might have heard that the original Shantae game had an unfinished sequel that never saw the light of day. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is that long-lost sequel. The original production ended in 2004, leaving the game only half finished – but the story didn’t end there.

A long-lost genie adventure

Twenty years later the original Shantae Advance team was reunited thanks to WayForward and Limited Run Games. We opened our archives, dove into old files, and set out to complete the project in its original code base using the tools of a bygone era. It was a labor of love, preservation, and improvisation. Now, the project is finally complete after over two decades, and will be “Ret-2-Go” on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

So, is Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution an old game or a new game? Is it game #2 in the series? Or game #6? Great questions. First and foremost, this is a brand-new, never-before-released Shantae game that was completed in 2025. But canonically, it’s the 2nd game in the series. The story takes place directly after the events of Shantae 1, but before Risky’s Revenge. The overall play style builds on lessons learned from all previous Shantae efforts. Combat and platforming are quick and snappy, writing and humor are on point, and quality-of-life elements are in line with the modern series.

As for features, the game contains three stand-alone experiences; First, there’s the modern version built for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, which contains high-resolution portrait artwork, UI, and cinematics. Second is Classic Mode, which preserves all of 2004-era pixel artwork in its original resolution, and can be played as a stand alone game – effectively bonus content. Third is Battle Mode, which is a two-to-four player local party game in which players try to clobber each other and collect power ups, while navigating a rotating arena. 

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Rogue Factor’s mysterious and brutal action adventure, Hell is Us, is clawing its way out of our darkest dreams and onto PlayStation 5 September 4. With an atmospheric new trailer fresh from the depths, the game’s Creative and Art Director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête took me through its secrets to reveal more about the game’s enemies, dungeons, and emotional commentary.

What was the inspiration behind the Hollow Walker enemy designs and the strange blue Haze (around 1 minute in)?

There’s no singular inspiration. I look more to creating themes that we want to explore. So we wanted the enemies to be a physical manifestation of human emotions, and I then started thinking about how those emotions behave. Hazes are expressions of the emotions, using Robert Plutchik’s emotion wheel as inspiration for their colours, and the Hollow Walkers are white and emotionless, acting as a sort of facsimile of a human being that is emotion’s anchor.

We could have just made regular monsters that were expressions of emotion, like a rage monster, but I thought it would have been a little cliché. What if it was more cosmic horror, something unexplainable?

How many types of Hollow Walkers can we expect in the game?

There are five types – the Primeval, the Feral, the Protector, the Artillery and the Negator – each having three tiers, so a total of 15 variants. And then there are the Hazes, which are four emotions – grief, ecstasy, rage and terror – each with three tiers as well, which makes 12. So that gives us 27 enemies in the game.

Which ones are you most fond of?

So the Primeval, which is kind of the more basic and humanoid one, is the most iconic. I quite like it because it looked really cool in the early concept art.

The Feral is cool too, because I’m always going to remember the motion capture sessions. They walk on these pointy, weird arms, so we hired dancers for them who literally had stilts on their hands for the mocap, which was really interesting.

The Negator also has these weird ears that are actually his legs, and the way that he attacks with them is quite clever, but yeah, I think the Primeval is our little baby Hollow Walker, so that’s my favourite.

Can you tell us a bit more about the Hollow Walker with multiple Hazes we see at the end of the trailer?

It’s definitely one of the most memorable moments of that specific dungeon. The game isn’t really ab