Action RPG
Ongoing coverage on Action RPG.
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Redfall Bosses Explain What Happened With The Failed Xbox Exclusive
Former Arkane directors Harvey Smith and Ben Horne, now heading Black Pony Immersive, discussed the challenges and missteps in the development of the Xbox exclusive Redfall. They cited the industry's focus on live-service games and external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the great resignation as contributing to the game's difficulties and poor reception. Despite the studio closure and layoffs, a small team returned to release a significant update, 1.4, which improved the game.
The road to Kingdom Hearts 4 goes through Melody of Memory
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory serves as a crucial story recap for players looking to catch up before Kingdom Hearts 4, which is slated for a late 2027 release. While the first half recaps the series' narrative from Kairi's perspective, the latter half reveals critical plot points about Sora's disappearance and the world of Quadratum, directly setting up the events of Kingdom Hearts 4. This rhythm game, exclusive to the Epic Games Store, is essential for understanding the upcoming sequel.
Hack ‘n’ Stack receives Nintendo Switch release date, new trailer
Hack 'n' Stack, a co-op party game from Dodo Tako, will launch digitally on Nintendo Switch on September 24, 2026. The game supports up to four players locally or online, featuring physics-driven combat where almost anything can be used as a weapon. It includes 24 levels across four biomes, customizable heroes, and various enemy types.
Dishonored Director Announces New Studio, And Fans Should Be Very Excited
Veteran game developers Harvey Smith and Ben Horne have announced the formation of Black Pony Immersive, a new studio focused on creating first-person action-RPGs in well-realized worlds. Smith, a co-creator of the Dishonored series, aims to continue the legacy of immersive sims, a genre that has seen fewer releases in recent years. The studio will be based in Austin, Texas, the same location as Arkane Studios.
STALKER 2: Cost of Hope review: An expanded Zone that begs to be explored, even as its faction war fizzles
The Cost of Hope expansion for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl revisits iconic locations like the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and introduces new areas such as the Iron Forest and the town of Lymansk. While the expansion excels in exploration, atmosphere, and tense combat scenarios, its faction conflict storyline feels underdeveloped and lacks meaningful player choice.
Review – Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Switch 2 Upgrade (Switch 2)
This review examines the upgrade for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the Switch 2, noting significant improvements in performance and resolution, aiming for 60FPS and 4K output. While occasional frame dips and minor graphical softness occur, the overall experience is transformed, making the Switch 2 the definitive platform for the game. New features include additional costumes, a new blade named Momo, and a Merc Assault mode.
Leaker claims Nintendo Switch 2 version of Diablo 4 will finally arrive two days after BlizzCon and include two…
A leaker claims that Diablo 4, along with its expansions Vessel of Hatred and Lord of Hatred, will be released on the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 15. This rumored 'Age of Hatred Collection' would include a code in the box for the physical edition and is expected to cost $69.99. The release date follows BlizzCon 2026, with pre-orders potentially starting during the event.
Three Decades In, Tomb Raider Is Swapping Genres for Good
The Tomb Raider franchise is undergoing a significant genre shift, moving away from its action-adventure roots towards RPG-inspired systems in the upcoming title, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. This reimagining introduces features like a skill tree, time-slowing combat mechanics, and a focus on enemy pattern study, diverging significantly from the original games. The development has also faced scrutiny regarding the use of generative AI.
The Blood of Dawnwalker – 15 Huge Details You Probably Missed
The Blood of Dawnwalker will feature a 50-70 hour playthrough with a consequence-based story and multiple ending conditions. The game will include dynamic weather affecting gameplay, advanced accessibility options, and quality-of-life features like manual saves. PC requirements are detailed, with no Denuvo, while the Xbox Series X will support 4K and ray tracing, with Xbox Play Anywhere functionality also confirmed.
Phantom Blade Zero Crushes Expectations Yet Again
Phantom Blade Zero was a standout at the recent PlayStation State of Play, showcasing extensive gameplay that highlighted its varied weapons, fluid combat, and intricate world design. Developer S-Game emphasized the game's Wuxia epic theme, with creative director Qiwei Liang detailing the exploration mechanics and challenging permadeath mode. The article suggests that the game's cohesive vision and depth of content exceed expectations, positioning it as a unique entry in the action RPG genre despite upcoming competition.
Phantom Blade Zero Pre-orders “Far Exceeded Expectations” in First Week, Says Director
Phantom Blade Zero's director, Qiwei Liang, announced that pre-orders for the upcoming action RPG have far exceeded expectations within the first week of availability. The game, which features Donnie Yen in a significant role, is set to launch on October 29th for PlayStation 5 and PC. It currently holds strong pre-order rankings on both Steam and the PlayStation Store.
Control Resonant’s Zones Level Up Over Time and Introduce New Challenges With Each Resonant Kill
Remedy Entertainment's Control Resonant features a unique progression system where zones, not the player character Dylan, gain experience and level up, unlocking zone improvements and new challenges. Defeating 'Resonants' grants abilities but also increases enemy difficulty and spawns new threats globally, requiring strategic decision-making. The game launches September 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, with a physical edition delayed to October 15th.
Nioh 3’s Hell Rising DLC is Out Now
The first major DLC for Nioh 3, titled Hell Rising, is now available on PC and PlayStation 5. Developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo, the expansion introduces new missions, enemies, weapon types, and a new difficulty mode set in Edo. A second DLC, Bloody Insurrection, is also confirmed to be in development.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Rebooted After “Negative Player Feedback” With “Far Smaller” Scope – Rumor
Horizon Hunters Gathering is reportedly being rebooted by Guerrilla Games due to negative player feedback from closed playtests, shifting away from a live-service model to a more traditional co-op experience with a smaller scope. This change follows Sony's reassessment of its live-service initiatives after the failure of Concord, with the future of Hunters Gathering dependent on impressing executives by December. The next single-player Horizon game is still years away and likely to skip the current console generation.
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida told Clair Obscur devs to not call it a 'turn-based RPG' so people…
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida advised developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to avoid marketing it as a 'turn-based RPG' due to the genre's perceived unpopularity. Despite this, the game has achieved significant success, selling over eight million copies and helping to revitalize interest in turn-based titles. Yoshida believes this success highlights the risks of solely chasing industry trends.
Control Resonant Still Comes Out Next Month, Unless You Want It On Disc
Remedy Entertainment has announced that Control Resonant has gone gold and will be released digitally on September 24. However, the physical edition has been delayed to October 15. The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with an option for two-day early access on PS5 via the digital deluxe edition.
The Expanse RPG gets even more Mass Effect with choices that “define the character you play,” devs say, but you only have “one chance to stay on everyone’s good side”
Owlcat Games has detailed the extensive player choice system in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, emphasizing how decisions will have long-lasting ripple effects on the narrative and characters. Choices made early on, such as defending a space station or allowing it to be raided, will impact combat encounters, character relationships, and even the fates of factions like Earth, Mars, and the Belt.
Where Winds Meet Version 2.0 Hidden Mountain Review – A Stunning but Buggy Expansion | Invision Game Community
The Version 2.0 Hidden Mountain expansion for Where Winds Meet introduces a visually stunning new region inspired by Mohist philosophy, featuring new combat styles, dungeons, and boss encounters. While the content offers exceptional value and elevates the game with its ambitious design, it is significantly hampered by numerous technical issues, including progression-breaking bugs and inconsistent performance, preventing it from reaching its full potential.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Nintendo Switch 2 “Gameplay Showcase” trailer
A "Gameplay Showcase" trailer has been released for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, ahead of its debut next week. This edition includes the base game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and new customization options. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is set to launch for the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28, 2026.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Vapor World: Over the Mind, Blood Dungeon, and More
Xbox Game Pass is adding several new titles to its library, including day-one releases like Vapor World: Over the Mind, Blood Dungeon, and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy. The service will also see new additions such as Egging On, BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, Relooted, Starsand Island, Aerial_Knight’s DropShot, Young Suns, and Shelldiver. Additionally, Wolfenstein 3D and Once Human are receiving in-game benefits for Game Pass subscribers, while several games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered Edition and NBA 2K26, will be leaving the service soon.
