Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-17-2026, 06:05 AM - Forum: Lounge
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News - Everything Announced For Dead By Daylight During Its 10th Anniversary Stream
Dead by Daylight turns 10 years old today, and for its anniversary, the team at Behaviour Interactive has announced a ton of things coming to the game, both in the short and long term. We've rounded up all of those announcements in one place in case you missed the stream, and you can find that stream below, too. Combined with those announcements are additional insights from my recent interview with the team ahead of the anniversary showcase. Here's everything DBD fans need to know about what's coming to the game.
New killers: Jason Voorhees, Art the Clown, and Frank Stone
This one was actually previously announced, but the studio showed off more about Jason, who comes to the game on June 16 as its latest crossover killer. Executive producer Jose Ramos told me in a pre-stream interview that the conversation about finally bringing Jason to DBD "accelerated in the past couple of years," after the license was in limbo due to a well-documented Hollywood legal feud.
Jason's kit includes an ability that lets him quickly phase from one area of the map to another, meant to mimic the slasher's way of almost magically appearing in front of his near-future victims.
Additionally, DBD is crossing over with Terrifier, the ultra-violent indie horror series starring Art the Clown. This collaboration will follow later this year, as the team told me it likes to do four chapters annually, with half of them being licensed crossovers. Look for Art's unforgettable face to pop up in DBD this November.
In 2027, Frank Stone, the killer at the heart of DBD lore and the focus of Supermassive's DBD spin-off game, The Casting of Frank Stone, will also come to the game.
Chorus of Sin, a "community-driven" chapter, is coming on August 25, too.
New survivor: Shane Wiigwaas
DBD is also adding its first indigenous character. That character, Shane, was molded into form thanks to a "very, very precious collab" with a representative of the Anishinaabe tribe who helped Behaviour forge who Shane is "for specifically this community," creative director Dave Richard told me.
Shane will come to the game as part of DBD's next chapter, The Life Road, on June 25.
New map: mall
A new map is coming soon in the form of a mall that appeals to two of the most requested aesthetics players have clamored for. Ramos explained to me how the mall came to be.
"Every quarter, we run a survey and we open it to the community in game and on social media, and each time we have more than 100,000 respondents. [One] of our questions recently was about our map strategy, like, what are the themes that you would love to see eventually come into the game? And when we did that survey, number one was a mall, that's the one thing they wanted to see. Number two was Backrooms." The mall map is meant to appeal to both those who requested it specifically and those who wanted a liminal-space experience in DBD. Based on my Instagram algorithm, that's a perfectly reasonable fit.
Though Ramos noted that the map is not a true Backrooms-like maze of shifting, yellow corridors, neither as a collab nor a specific homage, it is meant to capture the vibe of liminal horror much as Backrooms content does. Richard also noted that, though the map is coming soon, it following on the heels of the Backrooms movie is merely a coincidence.
New collabs and cosmetics
In addition to the two new licensed killers coming to DBD, more cosmetics, including some other licensed crossovers, are on their way. This includes The Walking Dead outfits for the Rick Grimes survivor that will make him look like Glenn or Negan.
Cheryl from Silent Hill will also get a new look that transforms her into Silent Hill f's Shimizu Hinako, and The Spirit will get a new alternate skin that turns her into a nurse from Silent Hill.
Even more cosmetics will tie into things like Scooby-Doo survivor characters and Diablo clothing options, introducing those series into DBD for the first time, while The Huntress killer will get a new alternate style tied to Iron Maiden. Intriguingly, Ice Nine Kills, a band already represented in the upcoming Halloween game, will get its own cosmetics collection in DBD, too.
New game modes
Though the team isn't rolling out anything quite yet, it mentioned that a zombie mode is one of several ways DBD may change over time. Since Behaviour has no plans for a Dead by Daylight sequel, it prefers to grow DBD into new experiences over time. Ramos expanded on the team's thinking in this realm.
"We feel like we have barely scratched the surface of what [DBD] can be in terms of experiences, and bringing gameplay innovation, bringing new modes, is actually one of the core things that we want to bring in the future."
He mentioned a few specifically, like a 1v1 experience and a zombie mode, adding that these experiences are "just the beginning. We want to keep exploring game modes and options. We like the asymmetry, so usually speaking, we like to keep exploring that aspect, but there is so much we can do. So, of course, 4v1 is a staple, and we don't want to put it on the side, or whatever. It is the staple of what we do, and it is a core experience, but bringing in new modes, exploring new things, which potentially could be a good fit with new types of collaborations, as well, absolutely, 100% is something that is going to happen."
Ramos added that some of these things will take a while, but the team is sharing them sooner as part of a revised approach to transparency with the core DBD players, specifying that though things like the mall and several new characters will arrive before the end of the year, something like zombie mode is "probably years away."
Maybe most exciting of all is that DBD will be getting a new set of modding tools for the community to create custom content like their own maps and modes. These tools are meant to debut in 2027.
Revamped onboarding and visuals
In the absence of any sequel plans, the team knows it has to manage DBD to keep it appealing to players for many more years to come. To that end, DBD will be getting a visual overhaul, with new attention paid to character models, map details, and other aspects of the game's look.
This fresh coat of paint is targeting 2027 and will alter the minimum and recommended PC specs, though the team didn't have specific benchmarks to share just yet.
Additionally, the team says it understands that new players can sometimes feel overwhelmed by all there is to learn about the game when they're trying to catch up with the entrenched community. Behaviour is actively exploring ways to improve onboarding for new players, with Richard noting that the task is "one hell of a challenge." He said the game needs to better communicate that it can be fun well before players reach a mastery level, as some high-level streamers may showcase, and the team is approaching this in a few ways.
"There's obviously the first-time user experience. The 'here's what the game is about, here's what you should expect.' You know, expect that it's about the chaos, as well, that it's ever-changing, that it's about the horror, and you know, not necessarily about winning by killing everybody or escaping all the time, so how to find the fun in the game.
"And then through other steps in the future, through changes in the progression, to changes in how the perks are designed, and how we will transform the game, so that its density becomes more manageable."
Ramos added that one small step the team is taking as part of the bigger plan is to add something called the gameplay showcase, which will act as a way for players to see how killers' special abilities work in the menus before they jump into a game, removing the current issue of players needing to jump in cold and test them out in a live environment to understand how they work.
Dead by Daylight movie
The previously revealed DBD movie has officially landed its director, as the team announced Thordur Palsson will helm the project, with a script from Alexandre Aja and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. Palsson previously worked on The Damned.
Johnson-McGoldrick and Aja also come from a horror background, with the former having penned The Conjuring 2 and the latter working on things like High Tension and the remake of The Hills Have Eyes.
A few other announcements were made at the show, and you can find all of them organized chronologically in the image below.
News - Ben Starr Auditioned For James Bond In First Light, But He’s “So F**king
Actor Ben Starr, known for his roles in Final Fantasy XVI, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Hades 2, has revealed that he auditioned for the role of James Bond in 007: First Light. He didn't get the part, which ultimately went to Patrick Gibson, and Starr said he was "so f**king happy" to have not gotten the role.
"I never would have gotten it. I was terrible,” Starr told VGC. “I remember doing a self-tape for it. I did the GoldenEye scene, and I got recalled to meet the team.
“I was a couple of years into doing Final Fantasy at that point, and it hadn’t been released, so I was just a young actor who liked video games," he added.
Ben Starr.
Although Starr got a callback for the part, he said he "kind of crumbled under the pressure" and did not "deliver what they wanted."
"I’m so f**king happy I didn’t get anywhere near it, because my god, Patrick Gibson is so f**king good. He’s unbelievable,” Starr said.
First Light is expected to get a sequel, and we'd imagine that Gibson would come back for it. As for Starr, one of his upcoming projects is for the strategy game Stronghold 4.
News - September Is So Busy For Games That One Of Them Just Got Delayed To Avoid The
With GTA 6 launching in November, developers are trying to line up their releases in the months before and after it, and that's made September 2026 very busy. One September release is now shifting to October due to the pileup of September games.
Developer One More Level has announced that Valor Mortis is being delayed from September 24 to October 13 because "September has become absolutely stacked with incredible-looking games."
"We want to give Valor Mortis (and your wallet) some room to breathe," the statement went on.
The developer said it knew Valor Mortis could be delayed some time ago. However, because it was featured in the Xbox Games Showcase, the studio had to show a date it couldn't necessarily commit to because "dates get locked weeks in advance."
“When we picked September 24th, it looked like a very, very clear date,” Blake Rochkind, the head of Valor Mortis publisher Lyrical Games told Game File.
After Remedy announced during the June 2 State of Play that Control Resonant would also release on September 24, "We knew were were moving the date [for Valor Mortis]," he added.
Valor Mortis is a first-person action souls-like. You play as William, a former soldier of Napoleon's army, who rises for the dead to fight monsters. French actor Vincent Cassel plays Napoleon.
Valor Mortis is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It will also be on Xbox Game Pass at launch.
Here are some of the other games releasing in September 2026:
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-15-2026, 04:46 AM - Forum: Lounge
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[b]News - Halo Trailer Was Supposed To Be At State Of Play, Then Microsoft Pulled It ?/b]
A Halo trailer was supposed to air during the recent PlayStation State of Play event, but Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and her team decided to yank it, according to a report. This potentially damaged the relationship between Xbox and PlayStation, sources told Bloomberg.
The story didn't have any further information about the Halo trailer, but it was likely a video for Halo: Campaign Evolved, which releases this July. Microsoft and Sony subsequently released a trailer for the game featuring footage captured on PlayStation 5 Pro. Fans are theorizing that this was the trailer meant for State of Play, but that is not confirmed.
Campaign Evolved is still coming to PS5 because Microsoft already committed to releasing it there, and the company has said it will honor existing agreements. However, it remains to be seen if Microsoft will release whatever Halo game comes next on PlayStation, now that Sharma is leading Xbox and has promised at least two "signature" Xbox console exclusives each year.
The Bloomberg report also backed up the claim that a PS5 edition of Gears of War: E-Day was in the works and planned for release until Sharma decided to cancel it. The report added that "many" Xbox employees were surprised.
These details came to light as part of a wider report detailing layoffs at Xbox that are expected to come in July. It's also been reported that Microsoft might close at least one Xbox studio, but it remains to be seen which one.
In a memo to staff, Sharma alluded to forthcoming changes to the Xbox studio system.
"We expanded our studio system when we needed a pipeline of content to meet multiple strategies across subscription, streaming, and devices. In the process, we have found ourselves over extended as we executed on changing strategies in a landscape of more readily available content," she said.
These changes are coming as Sharma takes steps to "reset the business."
News - Yes, Resident Evil: Veronica Is A Third-Person Game
Just like (well, not just like) the original 2000 game, Resident Evil: Veronica will be played from a third-person perspective.
The news was shared with GameSpot during a group Q&A session at Summer Game Fest, which is also where Capcom officially announced the game to the public.
The original Resident Evil: Code Veronica was also played in third-person--just like most of the older Resident Evil games--but it utilized the clunkier "tank" controls of the PlayStation originals.
For Resident Evil: Veronica, GameSpot was told the closest gameplay corollary would be the Resident Evil 2 remake. Both games feature Claire Redfield in a playable role, and because Veronica only takes place a few months after Resident Evil 2, Claire is still not a combat expert--there will be a big focus on resource management, in classic Resident Evil fashion.
Though it was not a numbered, mainline entry when the original version launched, Resident Evil: Veronica is being treated closer to one this time around. The one-word subtitle was chosen to evoke the recent games like Requiem and Village, and as longtime fans know, much of the franchise's main story continued in Code Veronica.
Resident Evil Veronica launches in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and PC.
[b]News - Here’s Why Everyone Is Talking About Hideo Kojima And Geoff Keighley’s ?/b]
If there are two internet gaming celebrities folks love to be parasocial about, it's gotta be Hideo Kojima and Geoff Keighley. For decades, the two have publicly shared what many thought to be an unbreakable bond. Despite their different backgrounds, ages, and positions in the industry--Kojima being the beloved game director behind both the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding series, and Keighley, a long-time journalist and events-host-turned-founder of The Game Awards--their love of video games and entertainment seemingly served as the foundation for a long and fruitful relationship. Recently, however, internet onlookers had begun to suspect there was trouble in paradise.
Late last week, tweets began to circulate highlighting the fact that the pair had not been seen interacting since 2025's The Game Awards, during which Death Stranding 2 went home with zero awards despite securing seven nominations. As several of the clips and tweets circulating online reflect, this lack of (public) communication was not for lack of Keighley's trying; the host was frequently seen commenting on Kojima's posts only to be met with silence. Most recently, Keighley offered up a polite wave emoji on a recent photo Kojima shared standing next to actress Jodie Foster. Kojima, however, did not respond.
Fans of the duo began to refer to Kojima's "public shunning" of Keighley as indication that the pair were now "divorced." The cheeky jab at how close they once were--and how distant they now seemed--quickly gained traction and spawned videos like the following:
In an act that further intensified the rumors that there was tension between the pair, Keighley took to X to respond to one of the posts highlighting Kojima repeatedly leaving him on read. The incident took place just two days after Summer Game Fest Live--Keighley's annual showcase that shines a spotlight upcoming games and has essentially replaced E3 as the industry's biggest summer event--and saw the host respond to the above video with a GIF of Kojima looking briefly disappointed before clapping.
For a moment, it seemed as if there might be some validity to the pair having undisclosed issued. Shortly after the "divorce rumors" began to intensify, Gene Park, a reporter for The Washington Post, shared a photo alongside Kojima with the caption, "plz don't show this to geoff keighley." Kojima then retweeted that post not once, but twice.
Who was to blame for this falling out? Was is the developers behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the game that took home the most Game Awards in the show's history and (theoretically) prevented Death Stranding 2 from securing even one award? Perhaps it was Miss Piggy, fans began to speculate. After all, the pair had grown quite close. (Sorry, Kermit).
However, after a long, speculative, and frankly hilarious week, Kojima and Keighley have finally put an end to the rumors. Last night, the pair shared multiple posts across social media of their dramatic reunion. By the looks of it, the two picked up right where they left off, and spent the evening enjoying flutes of champagne and each other's company.
Ever the artist, Kojima also shared a black-and-white video of the two embracing. The clip ends with the two turning to the camera and offering two enthusiastic thumbs ups, just to ensure that we all move on with our lives and stop being a bunch of chronically online little weirdos. Friendship is truly magical.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-13-2026, 03:19 AM - Forum: Lounge
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News - Xbox Reportedly Planning Big Layoffs For Next Month
Microsoft is reportedly planning major layoffs at its Xbox division next month--a move that comes shortly after new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma admitted its business "isn't particularly healthy."
According to sources speaking to Bloomberg, the layoffs will come sometime after June 30, which is when Microsoft's fiscal year ends. In an email sent to employees on Wednesday, Sharma emphasized that annual revenue had declined "nearly half a billion" over the last five years despite more than $20 billion in investments across the Xbox brand, excluding Activision Blizzard King.
"We expanded our studio system when we needed a pipeline of content to meet multiple strategies across subscription, streaming, and devices," Sharma said. "In the process, we found ourselves overextended as we executed on changing strategies in a landscape of more readily available content."
Sharma also emphasized that Microsoft is in a "hardware component crisis," facing issues that have plagued much of the tech industry as more and more hardware is used for AI.
"When I joined as CEO in February, the price we paid for console storage components was over 2x as high as we paid last fall," Sharma said. "These costs have since doubled again. And as we plan for the 2027 holiday season, we expect another significant increase, taking us over 5x the prices we paid only two years earlier."
It remains to be seen exactly how drastic the steps will be, but Sharma's words suggest studio closures aren't out of the realm of possibility. Microsoft drastically increased its number of studios under previous Xbox boss Phil Spencer, acquiring developers like Compulsion Games, Undead Labs, and Ninja Theory alongside the behemoths Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.
The upcoming layoffs, if accurate, are unfortunately not shocking. In late May, Sharma reportedly told staff that "hard choices" were coming as the Xbox brand attempts a resurgence.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-12-2026, 10:45 AM - Forum: Lounge
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News - Players Think Kingdom Hearts’ New Art Is AI-Generated
Yesterday's Nintendo Direct certainly got Kingdom Hearts players talking--but it's not the kind of discourse Square Enix was probably hoping for after unveiling a new Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer and announcing that native versions of the entire Kingdom Hearts trilogy are coming to Switch 2 on October 8. Instead, eagle-eyed players are focused on what appears to be AI-generated key art, which Square Enix shared on X shortly after the announcement of the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III]
As pointed out by artist and Kingdom Hearts fan Vexmyx, the image appears to show Donald with four fingers on one hand, but five fingers on the other--it's well known at this point that generative AI tools tend to struggle with hands and fingers, frequently generating images with subjects either missing digits, or having too many. As of his most recent appearance in Kingdom Hearts 3, Donald Duck has only four fingers, and knowing how protective Disney is when it comes to legacy characters like Donald and Goofy, it's hard to imagine they'd hire an artist who doesn't know how many fingers he has. Donald's feet are also shaped rather strangely, though that could just be a matter of perspective, as he's floating (flying?) through the air with one foot (flipper?) forward and the other behind him.
Other details, like one of the zippers on Donald's coat and the chain on Sora's beloved Keyblade, are also rather wonky and oddly uneven looking, as if drawn by someone who isn't quite sure how zippers or chain links work. But the fashion faux pas don't end with zippers--the treads on the soles of Sora's shoes are also off, sporting a close-but-not-quite-right pattern of raised squares, when his shoe treads have historically featured tiny, raised crown motifs that match the crown-shaped pendant around his neck. Goofy appears to be wearing steel-toed boots, but his right foot looks much longer than his left foot, and appears to be missing the steel toe.
Again, this could simply be a matter of perspective due to the way the characters are posed, but given how beloved the franchise is--and how strict Disney is about sticking to character designs--many Kingdom Hearts fans are wondering if the image was at least partially AI-generated.
"Either fully generated or AI-enhanced, I'm not sure," Vexmyx said, sharing an image highlighting parts of the image that feature the most obvious AI fingerprints. "But I'm disappointed. This is unacceptable if [the AI claims are] true, and needs to be addressed."
While human error might explain some of the strange aspects of the image, it certainly doesn't explain why the face of the franchise's iconic clocktower has hands that appear to curve and bend.
GameSpot has reached out to Square Enix for comment, but did not receive a reply in time for publication.
