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How to use the new feature to test DPS and builds
Destiny 2 players have been begging for a shooting range to test their builds ever since the Tribute Hall was removed back in Shadowkeep. Bungie has finally delivered in The Edge of Fate. It doesn’t disappoint either, offering everything you could want from such a feature, allowing you to damage test with your various builds to get just the right damage and rotations.

While impressive, the Shooting Range can be a little overwhelming at first. There’s a lot to it, and learning how to make the most of it all is essential to ensure you’re optimising all the information you can glean from it. However, if you can master it, it will make you an infinitely better player, so it’s well worth understanding. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Escapist recaps
- Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate was released on July 15th, 2025.
- The expansion kicks off a new saga for the Destiny narrative, called ‘the Fate Saga’.
- In Destiny, big damage numbers are what every self-respecting Guardian wants, and the Shooting Range lets you hone that process.
- This new feature is excellent for trying new ideas and putting your new builds to the test
- The Shooting Range is full of great options, but it can be overwhelming to get your head around all of it.
Rally Flag

This work just as you’d imagine any rally flag might. Image credit: Bungie

The first thing you’ll want to do is rally at the flag found on the right side of the Shooting Range. Doing so will refresh your abilities and give you max ammo for all of your weapons. Using this does not consume any Raid Banners, so feel free to rally as many times as you want.

Prismatic Wellspring

This is your one-stop to activate transcendence. Image credit: Bungie

While rallying resupplies almost everything, it won’t give you Transcendence. For that, you’ll need to stand in the Prismatic Wellspring on the left of the entrance to build up both Darkness and Light energy.

This can be utilized on both Prismatic builds and other subclasses, but the energy will decay rapidly unless you are using Prismatic. After entering Transcendence, you deal 5% more damage, take 20% less damage, gain access to a class-specific grenade, and have significantly increased ability regen.

Self-damaging Laser

In some instances, being low health can activate perks, so using this, you can test those numbers out. Image credit: Bungie

Directly opposite the Flag Rally, you’ll find a self-damaging laser that can be used to lower your health quickly. This is useful for testing the effects of perks or Exotics that are only relevant when you have reduced health, like Heal Clip and Mechaneer’s Tricksleeves.

Enemy Factions

Want to test your build against a specific enemy action? Here’s how you choose that. Image credit: Bungie

To the left of the Shooting Range, you’ll see a board with the symbols of eight different enemy factions. Shooting these symbols will spawn enemies from that faction, allowing you to test out your build against one of the following: Cabal, Dread, Fallen, Hive, Scorn, Taken, Vanguard Training, and Vex.

Notably, the bottom right symbol spawns Target Frames that have infinite health. This is ideal for DPS testing, as they can never die regardless of how much damage you deal. In contrast, most other enemy types have limited health and won’t be much use for figuring out what DPS rotation works best.

Enemy Options

This is excellent for using your build against enemies who actually want to hurt you. Image credit: Bungie

To the right of the Shooting Range, you’ll see a different board with three symbols. Activating these will trigger various effects, with the first symbol resetting your DPS Scoreboard, the second symbol activating enemy behaviour, and the third symbol clearing all combatants from the range.

Combatant Selection

Choosing the right enemy for the right test is important. Image credit: Bungie

There are five large plinths scattered throughout the Shooting Range that can be used to spawn specific types of enemies. To use these, interact with them after choosing any Enemy Faction except for Vanguard Training. For example, you could select Vex and then use these plinths to spawn in Goblins, Minotaurs, or Wyverns.

Not only does this let you test out your build against a range of combatants, but your damage dealt also takes into account each enemy’s unique traits. For example, most bosses take around 30% less damage from weapons, which is accurately reflected in the Shooting Range.

DPS Scoreboards

Knowing how much damage you’re doing is very important when it comes to finding your best builds. Image credit: Bungie

Hanging above the Shooting Range, there is a large scoreboard that tracks damage per second (DPS) and total damage (DMG). This is one of the most important features in this area, as it allows you to test and compare the potency of different builds, weapons, and perks against one another.

Additionally, there are six smaller boards found below the large board. These track DPS and DMG for up to six different Guardians in the Shooting Range. This is convenient for Fireteams looking to test their team damage and the specific impact of various buffs and debuffs that are more team-oriented.

Display Distance on Target

Sometimes distance matters to your damage, so this is a great way to put it to the test. Image credit: Bungie

This panel is found on the far left of the Shooting Range and can be toggled to show how far away an enemy is when you aim at them. The main use for this is for testing PvP weapons, as understanding damage fall-off in the Crucible is essential to becoming a better player.

Single Combatant

This is the panel you’ll want to hit if you want to go against one enemy. Image credit: Bungie

This panel is also found on the left of the Shooting Range, and activating it spawns in a single combatant of your choosing. More specifically, the enemy that spawns will always match the Enemy Faction and Combatant Selection previously set.

Combatant Wave

It’s not all boss damage; at times, you’re likely going to want to see if your build can deal with many enemies. Image credit: Bungie

Found on the right-hand side of the Shooting Range, this panel spawns in a wave of combatants of your choosing. Much like the Single Combatant panel, the enemies that spawn will match the Enemy Faction and Combatant Selection previously set.

Champion Combatant

Champions are always tough, so making sure you can deal with them goes a long way. Image credit: Bungie

This panel is located on the far right of the Shooting Range, and activating it will spawn a Champion based on whatever Enemy Faction is selected. Interacting with this panel multiple times cycles between Barrier, Overload, and Unstoppable Champions, with each faction having access to at least two of these.

More so than anything else, this can be used to figure out exactly what stuns you have access to on a given build. It’s especially handy for figuring out if Anti-Champion artifact mods work with whatever Exotic or weapon you want to use, which isn’t always as obvious as you would think.

Ask The Escapist

Is the Shooting Range free for everyone?

Yes. The Shooting Range is available to all players, whether they have paid for any content or not. It exists in the Tower and is selectable through that menu.

Is this the first Shooting Range in Destiny 2?

Sort of. Back in Season of Oppulance, there was the Tribute Hall, which had some use as a Shooting Range. This is a far more extensive feature now, though.

When will the next expansion launch?

After The Edge of Fate, the next expansion, Renegades, is expected to launch on December 2, 2025.

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02/08/2025
A new, free version of Rust has been revealed, but there’s a catch

Take a glance at Steam’s top ten most-played games on any given day, and there are a few names you’re almost guaranteed to see. Dota 2. Counter-Strike 2. PUBG. They’re all consistent big hitters. So too is Rust, arguably Steam’s biggest survival game, and a brand new version of Facepunch’s legendary game has just been fully revealed. Unfortunately for those on PC, this is not ‘Rust 2’ – it’s Rust Mobile.

We already knew that a mobile version of Rust was in development, but now it’s been fully unveiled to those who want to build and blow up bases on the go. It’s being developed by Level Infinite, the division of Tencent that’s also published the mobile version of PUBG and will help deliver the Assassin’s Creed Jade mobile spinoff as well. It’s promising to be a fully-fledged Rust experience – it’s fully licensed by Facepunch, and is retaining all of the hallmarks that make the original one of the best survival games ever made.

“Rust Mobile brings everything you love from the PC version: open-world exploration, tense PvP battles, base building, and that constant feeling of ‘trust no one,’” Level Infinite says in an announcement post. “It’s all here, now tailored for a mobile lifestyle. The game features a fully explorable sandbox world with dynamic weather, region-based biomes, and a real-time day-night cycle. All the core pillars of Rust remain intact – scavenging, crafting, raiding, and permadeath – so every decision counts.”

While details on monetization are limited at the moment, what I can tell you (after reaching out for clarification) is that Rust Mobile will be free-to-play. If it’s offering all the same thrills of the PC version, which has a retail price of $39.99 / $34.99, then great. But of course, there’s always the threat with free mobile games that there could be some time-gating and a heavy push towards microtransactions. Like I said, there’s nothing officially confirmed on that front yet, but just keep that in mind.

As well as dropping a new cinematic trailer, Level Infinite has also opened up pre-registration for anyone looking to give the game a go. If you’re heading out to Gamescom later this month, you’ll also find a hands-on demo of Rust Mobile waiting for you there.

If you’re a PC player looking for something new to play on a budget, check out our favorite free Steam games. Alternatively, look ahead to what’s on the horizon with our upcoming PC games guide.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

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01/08/2025
The best Destiny 2 Hunter build for The Edge of Fate
Destiny 2 didn’t make things easy for Hunter mains over the last year or so, but The Edge of Fate changes that with one meta build standing out thanks to the absurd levels of survivability it offers. This game-changing loadout has been made possible by the new armor tiers, which have been introduced in the new expansion, introducing a range of powerful effects.

The trade-off is that with buildcrafting being more complex than ever, it’s also more difficult to figure out what you should be using. So many systems have changed in The Edge of Fate, it can be a little overwhelming. To help you out, we’ve broken down the specifics of a build that excels in everything from entry-level content to the toughest Mythic missions.

The Escapist recaps
- Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate released on July 15th, 2025.
- The expansion kicks off a new saga for Destiny narrative, called ‘the Fate Saga’.
- Hunters has always been the nimble Guardians, able to do massive damage and jump around the battlefield in order to avoid damage
- While perhaps not as strong as Titans currently, there are still many viable Hunter builds that are well worth your time to consider.
- Last year, Prismatic released, which takes elements from all subclasses and mixes them. Since then, it’s been very meta across all three classes.
Best Destiny 2 Prismatic Hunter Build: Liar’s Handshake

Liar’s Handshake is a classic melee-based Hunter exotic. Image credit: Bungie

One of the biggest problems with a lot of Hunter builds in Edge of Fate is that they lack survivability, especially when compared to what Titans and Warlocks have to offer. This can make them tricky to take into harder content, something that you’ll need to do to get higher-tier loot.

This meta build looks to solve this by utilizing Liar’s Handshake, an incredibly strong Hunter Exotic that not only empowers Arc melee attacks but also heals you after scoring melee final blows. While this Exotic is powerful enough on Arc builds, it becomes even better when paired with Prismatic.

Not only does this combination work great for dealing with tanky combatants, but it also makes you incredibly durable. With the build detailed below, you’ll have access to a ton of healing, invisibility, Woven Mail, and even decoys, giving you endless options to stay alive and complete just about any content.

Abilities, Aspects, & Fragments

This build will give you survivability, which can be hard to come by on Hunter. Image credit: Bungie
Abilities

Subclass: Prismatic

Super: Silkstrike

Class Ability: Gambler’s Dodge

Movement: Triple Jump

Melee: Combination Blow

Grenade: Grapple
Aspects

Stylish Executioner: Defeating a target affected by any elemental debuff grants invisibility and Truesight. After a finisher, your next melee attack while invisible Weakens targets.

Threaded Specter: Activating your Class Ability leaves behind a decoy that draws the attention of nearby combatants. After taking enough damage, the decoy detonates, dealing damage and releasing Threadlings that seek out nearby foes.
Fragments

Facet of Blessing: Melee final blows start health regen. While transcendent, melee final blows start health regen for nearby allies too.

Facet of Dawn: Powered melee hits against targets make you and nearby allies Radiant.

Facet of Hope: While you have an elemental buff, your Class Ability regenerates more quickly.

Facet of Protection: While surrounded, you are more resistant to incoming damage. This effect is boosted if you are Transcendent.

Facet of Purpose: Picking up an Orb of Power grants various buffs based on the damage type of your equipped Super.
Weapons & Exotics

The Choir of One is an excellent, all around Exotic, that is almost always useful. Image credit: Bungie

Here’s our suggestion for every weapon you should consider using with this Hunter Build:

Kinetic: The ideal Kinetic weapon is a Strand primary that has access to Swashbuckler. For example, Better Devils, Breachlight, and Qua Nilus II will all get the job done. Alternatively, any Spread Shot Hand Cannon with One-Two Punch works great to empower Liar’s Handshake.

Energy: Choir of One is one of the best Exotic weapons and an exceptional fit on this build. It provides high damage, impressive versatility, good ammo economy, and grants a reliable source of Invisibility via Stylish Executioner if you have the Destabilizing Rounds catalyst unlocked.

Heavy: Any meta Void heavy weapon will suffice, as the only priority is to make the most of element-specific armor mods like Void Siphon, Void Ammo Generation, and Void Weapon Surge. Some strong options include Commemoration, Edge Transit, Falling Guillotine, and Mistral Lift.

Best Armor Set & Stat Priority
- Armor Set: Bushido (Brawler)
- Stat Priority: Melee > Class > Grenade > Weapons > Health > Super
The new set bonuses are really useful in The Edge of Fate. Image credit: Bungie

The Bushido armor set is excellent, with its Iaido set bonus healing you after any final blow with a freshly drawn or reloaded weapon. This provides an extra level of sustain that can be triggered at will, and it only requires two Bushido armor pieces.

While not as important, Unfaltering Focus can be useful too. Requiring four Bushido armor pieces, it reduces incoming damage after final blows using a Bow, Shotgun, or Sword. The main benefit of this becomes apparent when used alongside a Shotgun with One-Two Punch or with a Sword in activities like Crota’s End and Pit of Heresy.

As for stat priority, Melee is by far and away the most important stat on this build. A high melee stat shortens Combination Blow’s cooldown and increases its damage, allowing you to finish off targets and heal up with ease. For this reason, you’ll want to prioritize using armor pieces with the Brawler archetype where possible.

Otherwise, aim for a Class stat of at least 50 and then use any remaining stat points on Grenade. Having a reasonably high Class stat is essential, as it allows Focusing Strike to refresh Gambler’s Dodge’s cooldown after every final blow, which is essential to upkeep this build’s core gameplay loop.

Armor Mods

Here’s what the build looks like with all fragments. Image credit: Bungie
Helmet

+10 Class Mod (3)

Heavy Ammo Finder (3)

Void Siphon (3)

Harmonic Siphon (1)
Gauntlets

+10 Class Mod (3)

Heavy Handed (3)

Impact Induction (2)

Focusing Strike (2)
Chest

+10 Class Mod (3)

Void Ammo Generation (2)

Concussive Dampener (3)

Resistance Mod of choice (2)
Leg

+10 Class Mod (3)

Recuperation (1)

Void Weapon Surge (3)

Void Weapon Surge (3)
Class Item

+5 Class Mod (1)

Reaper (3)

Time Dilation (3)

Class Font (3)
Gameplay Loop

This build will have you tearing through enemies across difficulties. Image credit: Bungie

To make the most of this build, you’ll want to follow this gameplay loop, which aims to maximize survivability by making the most of the chosen Exotic, abilities, and weapons:
Use Choir of One as a jack of all trades Exotic to clear adds and take down tankier combatants.

When in danger, get a melee final blow to heal up and immediately activate Gambler’s Dodge to drop a decoy. This will refresh Combination Blow.

In most situations, you’ll then want to either destroy the decoy to deal damage or retreat to safety while the enemies are distracted. Alternatively, landing another melee final blow will refresh Gambler’s Dodge, allowing you to repeat this cycle.

As you play, collect Orbs of Power to heal up with Recuperation and become Invisible using either Choir of One or getting final blows with Grapple. Doing so grants Woven Mail, providing 45% damage reduction while active, which stacks with the 20% granted from Transcendence and the 15% from Facet of Protection.
By combining the healing benefits of Liar’s Handshake, Orbs of Power, and the Bushido armor set, you will be able to stay topped up on health. Throw in this build’s reliable source of Invisibility, Woven Mail, and the constant decoys, and you become an unkillable Guardian who can clear even the toughest content on offer.

What’s great about this build is that it is by no means reliant on the seasonal artifact. None of the available artifact mods are needed at all, although the likes of Shieldcrush, Shoulder to Shoulder, and Elemental Coalescence help make you even tankier.

Ask The Escapist

Are there other builds that are great for Hunters?

Yes. Solar Celestial Nighthawk Hunters are always going to be great when it comes to boss damage, and there are also several strong Arc builds that can provide some interesting utility.

Should you play as a Hunter over a Warlock or Titan?

What class you play as is very subjective. Hunters can provide a lot of damage and utility, so they are often useful in most situations, and their mobility undoubtedly makes them very fun to play.

When will the next expansion launch?

After The Edge of Fate, the next expansion, Renegades, is expected to launch on December 2, 2025.

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01/08/2025
Battlefield 6 release date, trailers, and latest news

What is the Battlefield 6 release date? When Battlefield is firing on all cylinders, it’s a thing to behold: tactical, dynamic, and immersive, there isn’t much else like it out there. Some games have tried to emulate the feel of Battlefield, admittedly with mixed results, so a brand new, numbered entry in one of the best FPS series is something to get excited about.

The last Battlefield game that graced our screens was 2042, and it left a bitter taste for some, having eschewed some of the core principles that made the multiplayer game great. Battlefield 6 looks to learn from those mistakes, hopefully capturing some of that early magic, gathering old players and, with any luck, a new audience in the process.

Battlefield 6 release date

The Battlefield 6 release date has been officially confirmed and will arrive on Friday, October 10, 2025. This was revealed at the end of a livestream showcasing its multiplayer gameplay.

This is the same date that was leaked in a legal disclaimer that was spotted just after the initial reveal of Battlefield 6 reveal. The game was shown to have a pre-order promotional offer that ended on October 10.

Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA, stated during this investors call: “We remain firmly on track for an FY ’26 release with a major global reveal later this summer.”

The summer reveal of BF6 put the game in good stead to be released this year – we assumed they would want to avoid a late March 2026 release, with other extremely high-profile games coming out around that time.

Battlefield 6 trailers

We finally got a glimpse of the future of Battlefield with the BF6 reveal trailer. It starts slow, with the usual political meandering that precedes violence, but once it gets going, it really gets going. Infantry combat, vehicle combat, huge mechanized assaults on fortified locations – this is what Battlefield is about. We even get a hint at the scope of destruction coming with the next installment, with dams bursting, skyscrapers toppling, and suspension bridges being totally decimated.

There is a Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal planned for July 31, and the link for that can be found right here. We’ll be waiting.

Battlefield 6 gameplay

From the looks of it, Battlefield 6 is heading back to its modern warfare roots, rather than the near-future version we got most recently. With a more grounded setting, it appears that BF6 is going for full realism, with destruction again taking center stage.

Various leaked videos show facades of buildings crumbling with a well-placed explosive, cover being destroyed, and on the flip side, being created with the debris of fallen buildings. The area of operation looks to be a dynamic, changing thing, being worn down over the course of prolonged firefights.

The level of destruction is being tweaked with each Battlefield Labs test, with the ultimate aim being to find a balance that offers a changing, dynamic playspace that doesn’t end up looking cluttered by the end of each match.

Some other additions have been hinted at, including the ability to drag downed teammates before reviving them. As a medic, you’re often putting yourself in harm’s way to save the life of another, so this small addition gives us the chance to be selfless, while also keeping our heads.

An artillery ability has also been hinted at, with the Recon class being able to call in a small barrage on a designated area. It looks like anyone caught within this area gets a warning before the bombs drop, so it’s unclear how powerful this will be if it’s implemented in the full game.

Speaking of classes, the universally hated Specialists are, thankfully, out of the picture this time. In the game’s current iteration, classes are still more freeform than Battlefields past, but certain ‘signature gadgets’ are class-locked. Additionally, each class offers a ‘signature weapon archetype’ bonus, encouraging specific playstyles without locking you into them.

Battlefield 6 Levelution

A term coined during a better time, perhaps; Levelution was how Battlefield evolved destruction, taking it to another level. It took huge landmarks on a map and, well, leveled them, changing the landscape mid-match and forcing players to change their approach. It was a spectacle, and a little canned for some players’ liking, but Levelution was something that was very Battlefield, and with the official reveal trailer, it looks like it may be returning.

While we know that there is an unprecedented amount of destruction coming with BF6, there are some structures that are surely too big to be eroded naturally by the tides of a battle. In the reveal trailer, we see a dam bursting, causing havoc for anything in the water’s path. An under-construction high-rise also comes toppling down in the same trailer. We would be extremely impressed if this were all occurring naturally, and would also still be kind of impressed if it turns out Levelution was back.

Battlefield 6 battle royale

Taking the next step from the ill-fated Firestorm, there are rumors that Battlefield 6 will host its very own battle royale mode. Getting in fairly early to the BR scene, BF5 tried to blaze the trail with its Firestorm mode, but a clunky user interface, slow pace, and ultimately a lack of support meant that the game mode was doomed to fail.

Many years have passed since then, and with any luck, many lessons have been learned. Warzone is going stronger than ever, showing that there is value in diversifying and offering a quality product with continued support. Nobody does scale like Battlefield, and it will be interesting to see if they can finally translate that to the battle royale genre.

That’s everything there is to know about the Battlefield 6 release date at the moment, but rest assured, we’re scanning the horizon for any and all BF6 news. For now, take a look at the best new PC games you can play right now, and the most exciting upcoming PC games for other things you can look forward to.

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01/08/2025
Brand new board game The Witcher: Legacy unveiled

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Published: Jul 31, 2025 11:38 am

The Witcher universe is a cool place to inhabit, and CD Projekt Red and Go On Board have both just jointly announced the next tabletop board game set within its realms.

The Witcher: Legacy is the third Witcher-world board game that the two companies have collabed on, and this latest adventure is a story-driven tale for 1-4 players.

In solo or cooperative modes, they take on the role of Wolf School witchers and hunt down those responsible for a brutal attack that left the school devastated, but not fully destroyed.

The blurb describes it thus: “The game takes place in the kingdom of Kaedwen, where players will explore vast lands, battle monsters, train their skills, and manage limited resources — all the while seeking to unravel a conspiracy that threatens the very existence of witchers.”

So, we aren’t actually getting too much information there about how things will play out, but it already has 1500 followers on its page, and the news has only been out for a mere flash in the eye of time.

The Gamefound page for The Witcher: Legacy is now live, and whoever follows the project now and later participates in the crowdfunding campaign will receive an exclusive Gorgon monster miniature, a creature that has never before appeared in any Witcher video game.

One of the previous Witcher board games, The Witcher: Old World, ranks in the top 10 biggest boardgame crowdfunding campaigns of all time and sold an incredible 192,000 copies.

Both parties will be hoping for a repeat of that success while we wait for more news on the next video game in the popular series.

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31/07/2025
Space Marine 2 drops new details about its brutal, mech-infused PvP mode

Last month, Saber Interactive confirmed that Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 would be getting a second year of post-launch support – hardly surprising, given it’s remained hugely popular and that Space Marine 3 is a long way off. Still, it was reassuring to hear that more content was on the way, and from what Saber initially revealed, it sounds pretty epic. When Year 2 and Patch 10 arrive in September, Space Marine 2’s delayed PvP mode, Helbrute Onslaught, will also hit the co-op shooter, and now we know how its mech-infused gameplay loop will work.

Fresh off of dropping Patch 9, the team behind Space Marine 2 has today released a new blog post that shares some more information about what’s coming in Patch 10, and Helbrute Onslaught is undoubtedly the highlight. Initially meant to be in players’ hands already before getting hit with a delay, it sounds like this new PvP mode will be worth the wait. Giving players plenty of unique experiences is one way to cement your status as one of the best co-op games, but giving them mechs will (in most cases) get you there even faster.

We already knew that Helbrute Onslaught would be a Chaos versus Chaos competitive mode, pitting two teams against each other in an objective-based battle for control of a Helbrute mech. Thanks to these new details from Saber, we now know how you’ll get the chance to pilot the monstrous machine.

“The first team to take control of an objective gets to control the Helbrute, until the opposite team takes it down,” Saber says. “One player gets to control the Helbrute at a time, and this player will be picked randomly among players who participated in securing the control point. To have the Helbrute on their side, the team that failed to secure the first control point will need to slay the Helbrute before securing a new designated control point. Controlling the Helbrute grants the team a strong advantage, but killing it will also reward points to the opposite team.”

But what use is stomping around in a mech if you haven’t got some ridiculous weaponry to use as well? Thankfully, the Helbrutes in this new mode come equipped with a Thunder Hammer for powerful melee attacks and a Plasma Cannon for ranged attacks. Delicious.

Away from Helbrute Onslaught, Saber also confirms a new PvP mode is arriving that will facilitate all of Space Marine 2’s competitive modes. While we haven’t got a name yet, the studio has shared some screenshots (including the one below), confirmed it’s set Avarax, and described it as having “a mix of close quarters and long hallways.”

Another brand new weapon has also been revealed. When the Year 2 news first broke a few weeks ago, Saber said that the Power Axe would be coming to Space Marine 2. Now we know that it’ll be joined by the fiery Pyrecannon.

On top of all this, we also get a first look at the new Majoris enemy, the Chaos Spawn, which will have “three different variations, each with their own moveset and abilities.”

Space Marine 2 Patch 10 will arrive in September as a free update, kicking off the game’s Year 2 content. There will also be a new premium Year 2 Season Pass, packed with cosmetics and exclusive items. If you want to read Saber’s blog in its entirety, head here.

Until then, go and see what Space Marine 2 already has to offer, or try out some of the other best Warhammer 40k games. If you want to leave the Warhammer universe for a bit, but still want to do some galactic stomping, head to our best space games list.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

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31/07/2025
3 of the best reality-warping horror games and where to get them
What makes a horror game truly frightening? Jumpscares or chase scenes can be unsettling, but for me, the scariest horror games are those that encourage a creeping sense of dread and make you question the world you’re interacting with.

If you’ve been hunting for some new skin-crawling titles to add to your library, I’ve got you covered with this list. One of the games is a cult-classic that I believe every horror enthusiast should have in their collection, while the other two are underrated gems that deserve more of a spotlight.

The Escapist recaps
- Flesh, Blood, & Concrete is an atmospheric, unsettling trawl through a seemingly occupied apartment building, filled with trinkets and chunks of meat.
- Ib is a cult-classic horror that starts in an art gallery and ends up in an alternate world, packed with fiendish monsters and enemies.
- Soul Void is a mysterious horror-adventure made in a Game Boy-esque style, with heavy themes of death, inner grief, and a reluctance to move on.
- All three games are must-plays for fans of horror games that rely on slow-burning fear, unsettling imagery, and rich narratives to frighten their players.
Flesh, Blood, & Concrete

This game is dark and atmospheric. Image credit: waxwing0

Flesh, Blood, & Concrete is just as weird as it sounds – and I’m so glad I found this game while mindlessly scrolling through the horror tab on Itch.io, as it’s utterly engrossing.

Made by waxwing0, this RPGMaker experience is short but impactful. It’s a story-driven horror that begins with a car accident, and the mechanics are best summarized as exploration with a small sprinkle of puzzles on top.

After the main character falls asleep at the wheel and drives her car through the courtyard of a block of apartments, she’s invited inside the apartment block by a mysterious but friendly girl who wants her to take shelter from the vicious snowstorm outside. The story unravels from there, getting increasingly surreal with every new room uncovered.

While there are some gross-out moments – particularly for folk who are upset by mold or rot – it’s not a jumpscare-heavy game. The world design is spectacularly eerie, and the music adds to the ambience perfectly, but the real horror is baked into the story instead of the visuals.

Flesh, Blood, & Concrete somehow manages to be creepy, beautiful, and melancholic all at the same time. It ended up bringing a tear to my eye, and I wish I could’ve spent longer learning more about the characters.

You can play this horror game for free on Itch.io – before downloading, it’s worth noting that it features heavy themes along with a fair amount of gore.

Ib

While Ib does have jumpscares, it relies on its tense atmosphere for frights. Image credit: Playism

Calling Ib an underground horror game at this point is a bit of a stretch – it’s a cult-classic, after all, with a dedicated community – but I’ll take any excuse to write about this incredible title. It came out in 2012, then got a remake in 2022.

As a long-time RPGMaker game fan, I can say with confidence that this is one of the best examples of an RPGMaker horror game. It’s gorgeous yet creepy, with an intriguing storyline and plenty of unsettling enemies to dodge as you explore.

Ib follows the story of a young girl by the same name as she visits an art gallery with her parents. Before the family can settle into their day trip, something changes drastically within the gallery, and Ib ends up alone, forced to explore a dark, ever-changing world within the paintings that line the walls of the gallery.

Exploration is a key part of Ib, with a plethora of dungeons and winding pathways to navigate. The world gets increasingly more surreal and twisted, with plenty of elaborate puzzles to unravel as the story unfolds.

Something that I love about this game is that there are multiple endings to uncover. It’s rewarding to play through multiple times and see how your choices affect the story, which is often the case for story-led horror.

You can check out the 2022 version of Ib on Steam and the Nintendo Store. The official Nintendo store page for the game notes that Ib is supported on Nintendo Switch 2.

Soul Void (Redux)

Soul Void’s artwork is truly impressive. Image credit: Kadabura

The first thing that I noticed about Soul Void is how utterly impressive its artwork is. Thankfully, it’s also got a stellar story and gameplay loop to match its quality aesthetic.

Created by Kadabura on Itch.io, Soul Void is a Game Boy-esque horror adventure that’ll take you through a variety of bewildering, hellish landscapes, packed with lost souls who need your help to move on to the next life. You wake up in another world, seemingly by mistake, and you’ll need to find your way home.

The story is left deliberately mysterious in places – to me, the main location in the game seemed like a representation of purgatory, but others may interpret it differently – yet it still manages to feel incredibly rich.

I dipped into this game thinking I’d check it out for 20 minutes, then move on to the next title on my list, but ended up becoming utterly engrossed for the next couple of hours.

With themes of loss, inner turmoil, and life beyond death, this is a horror adventure that’ll make you think – but it’ll also make you squirm with gnarly creature designs and gory landscapes, too. It is worth noting that Soul Void touches on some heavy themes.

You can check out Soul Void on Itch.io – while it is available to play in-browser for free, I’d strongly encourage you to support the creator with a paid download, as this is a truly mesmerizing game.

Ask The Escapist

Did Ib get a remake?

Yes, the version of Ib on Steam is the 2022 version of the 2012 release. It features updated graphics and quality-of-life improvements.

Do these games feature jumpscares?

There aren’t any notable jumpscares that I found in Flesh, Blood, & Concrete or Soul Void. Ib has a few smaller scares, but I wouldn’t describe it as a jumpscare-forward game.

Can any of these games be played in-browser?

Both Soul Void and Flesh, Blood, & Concrete can be played in-browser. I’d highly encourage you to download the games and support the developers via their Itch.io pages, though – these games are incredible pieces of work.

References
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31/07/2025
Grounded 2 breaks its predecessor’s Steam peak record after mere hours

Grounded is an excellent survival game that is absolutely deserving of a sequel – it’s just that I, and many others, didn’t expect it to get one so soon. Bogged down already this year with Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, I was shocked when Obsidian announced Grounded 2 a couple of months back, and was even more surprised to see a July 29 early access launch date too. Well, today’s the day, and despite Grounded 2’s inclusion in Game Pass, it’s performing very well on Steam – so well, in fact, that it’s already blasted past its predecessor’s all-time player peak on Valve’s platform.

Given that the original Grounded – a worthy inclusion on our list of the best survival games – only dropped in 2022 and was still being regularly updated and played, Grounded 2 is still a rather unexpected sequel. It follows the same four protagonists (albeit a couple of years on from the events of the first game) and still revolves around a very familiar gameplay loop of exploring, base building, bug battling, and ultimately uncovering the secrets of your shrinking.

However, Grounded 2 does make some innovations – could they have been big upgrades to the original game? Perhaps. But collectively, these changes will make for a sequel that feels noticeably different.

The new world of Brookhollow Park is bigger than the previous game’s and contains more biome variety. Dashing has been added as a new movement and combat mechanic, both for you and your insectile foes. Bugs can now be captured and turned into rideable mounts. The UI has been refreshed. It’s all aiming to bring the beloved gameplay of the original up to new heights, and even though it’s launching today in an early access state, it’s proving very popular.

On Steam, Grounded 2’s debut has resulted in a peak concurrent player count of just under 50,000. This is impressive, given it’s immediately available at no extra cost for millions of Game Pass subscribers. That peak player count is also well above the original Grounded’s all-time record, which sits at around 32,000.

While the player counts look healthy, it’s worth noting that on Steam its early user reviews sit on a 64% positive ‘mixed’ score. Most negative reviews are calling out its PC performance, but given it’s hours old and is in an early access state, Obsidian will likely get things running a lot smoother for everyone in no time at all. I’d be surprised if, over time, that review score didn’t improve by a significant margin.

If you want in, Grounded 2 is available right now on Steam and Windows Store for $29.99 / £24.99 or as part of your Xbox or PC Game Pass subscription.

If Grounded 2 is tempting you into picking up a sub, check out what else you’ll be able to play with our list of the best Game Pass games. If you are going to this new world in miniature, we’ve got loads of guides to help you out, such as this one on the Grounded 2 briefcase combinations.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

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30/07/2025
Everything you need to know
It’s that time of year when Europe’s premier video game convention is back. Gamescom 2025 is one of the most influential events in the gaming industry. With the promises of cinematic trailers, blockbuster reveals, and indie surprises. The excitement has already begun for the convention that kicks off in Cologne, Germany, on August 20, 2025.

If you need to stay on top of every Gamescom presentation that’s going on, this guide is for you. Where to watch, viewing options, and what to expect will be included to ensure you do not miss a thing. Strap yourself in for a full rundown of Gamescom 2025’s events.

The Escapist recaps
- Gamescom 2025 will run between August 20 – August 24, with some events around the show starting as early as August 1.
- The line-up includes THQ Nordic Digital Showcase, Future Games Show, and Gamescom Opening Night Live, with the addition of further partner streams that could still be announced.
- Every featured showcase will be streamed for free on Twitch and YouTube.
- During Gamescom, there are bound to be many previews, interviews, and news, so it’s worth being aware of the show, even after it’s finished.
- Livestreams and grassroots activations could occur closer to the show, so keep tabs on the social media accounts of big publishers.
How to Watch Every Gamescom 2025 Presentation

Below is an essential guide to every major Gamescom presentation this year, with everything you need to know so you do not miss a thing.

August 1 – THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2025

12 pm PT / 3 pm ET / 8 pm BST
Streaming on YouTube and Twitch

What to expect from the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase

THQ Nordic’s introduction to Gamescom 2025 is generally smaller, but the publisher always has the chance to surprise. THQ is well-known for its breadth of franchises under its roof, which extend pretty far these days. While not home to the biggest franchises in gaming, there is a host of recognisable franchises that could turn up here.

The trailer for the event gives some indication as to what will be shown, which you can watch to get some hints. It seems very likely Gothic will be there, alongside games like Wreckfest 2.

This is looking to be a strong kick-off to Gamescom, and going by the comments on the stream, players are very hopeful for Darksiders 4 to show up. Will it? We will have to wait and see.

August 19 – Gamescom Opening Night Live

Geoff Keighley, host for Opening Night Live 2025. Image credit: Gamescom

11 am PT / 2 pm ET / 7 pm BST
Streaming on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, X, and Facebook

What to Expect from Opening Night Live

This is considered to be the crown jewel of Gamescom 2025; Opening Night Live will be hosted by The Game Awards’ own Geoff Keighley. This is where we will get announcements from big-budget AAA studios that will make the biggest waves. If you intend to watch one show, make it this one.

As always, speculation is already running wild with the Fable reboot, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and Borderlands 4. We know that Blizzard will likely show off its next WoW expansion, Midnight here, so any players should be tuned in. Expect to hear news from Ubisoft, Capcom, Bandai Namco, and more here, as all the big publishers will be out.

This has been, and will probably continue to be, the “blockbuster moment” of Gamescom. You’re going to want to watch it. To find out what happens, be sure to check it out.

August 20 – Future Games Show @ Gamescom

The Future Games Show returns this year at Gamescom. Image credit: GamesRadar / Future PLC

11 am PT / 2 pm ET / 7 pm BST
Streaming on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, X, and Facebook

What to Expect from the Future Games Show

Publishing giant Future will be running back their mid-sided show over in Germany, too. Many creative AAA, AA, and indie games will be shown, bringing some games that might not get the spotlight into the foreground.

Generally, this show highlights interesting projects and AA games, so if you’re looking for something away from the big stuff, this is a great place to find it. Last year, games like Once Human, a Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 update, Goat Simulator 3, and more were shown off. So, it really can be a great place to scout interesting projects.

If you are looking for something new to delve into or you simply crave some unique design, this is the Gamescom showcase for you.

What is Gamescom?

Self-described as the “heart of gaming”, Gamescom was launched in 2009, succeeding the Games Convention, which was previously held in Leipzig, Germany. It has since become the largest gaming convention in the world, with over 335,000 visitors (and more than 32,000 trades) seeing over 1,400 exhibitions encompassing more than 60 countries as of last year. In other words, it’s the games convention, so we’re expecting big things from the presentations broadcast from the show floor this year.

Ask The Escapist

When is Gamescom?

Gamescom 2025 will start officially on August 20 until August 24, while digital events like THQ Nordic will occur earlier in the month.

What companies are going to be at Gamescom?

Participants that are confirmed include Sony, HoYoverse, Sega, CD Projekt, Capcom, Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, Blizzard, Microsoft/Xbox, THQ Nordic, and plenty more. Cologne’s halls will be filled with over 1,400 exhibitors, who will be represented through some form of announcement or stream.

References
1. https://www.gamescom.global/en/info/exhibitors/exhibit/facts-figures
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30/07/2025
Dataminer claims a new Assassin’s Creed game could be revealed soon

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already secured Ubisoft a much needed win, with the sprawling open-world game being one of this year’s best sellers. However, it seems a reveal (or maybe even a surprise drop) of a new Assassin’s Creed game is about to happen. A notable dataminer has uncovered what they believe to be evidence of an all-new AC experience, and it’s not the recently dated Claws of Awaji DLC for Shadows. The dataminer whittles the possibilities down to two potential suspects – the heavily rumored remake of my personal favorite in the series, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, or the upcoming multiplayer spinoff codenamed Assassin’s Creed Invictus.

That’s right, as well as reveling in this week’s huge AC Shadows update (which adds New Game Plus and an increased level cap) there may be another cause for excitement too. The beloved Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is, in my personal opinion, one of the best open-world games ever for the new direction it took the series in. Objectively, there are maybe a couple of AC games that are better, all things considered, but Black Flag is the one I look back on the most fondly. After months of rumors and leaks, it seems that a reveal of its rumored remaster could be right around the corner.

‘Playstation Game Size’ has made a name for themselves over the years for unearthing new products and game updates from the backend of the Playstation Network, and today they’re teasing something new in the world of Assassin’s Creed. In a post on X, they claim to have found a new product code tied to the series.

The dataminer assures that it’s nothing to do with Shadows’ imminent update or its Claws of Awaji DLC, and rules more distant projects like Assassin’s Creed Hexe and Jade, so the Black Flag remaster seems to be a leading candidate. There’s been a few teases and breadcrumbs that suggest this remaster is coming relatively soon, despite no official announcement from Ubisoft.

However, replying to Assassin’s Creed fans in their comments, Playstation Game Size speculates that this new product could also potentially be AC Invictus – a multiplayer project that was officially announced by Ubisoft many moons ago, but has never received a full reveal. Leakers claim that it will be an arcade-style, round-based game spanning a variety of game modes, and notable Ubisoft insider Tom Henderson has also claimed that Invictus could release this year.

As always with datamines and leaks, take all of the above with a grain of salt. Playstation Game Size has a decent track record, and I suspect they wouldn’t jump to the Assassin’s Creed conclusion without some solid evidence pointing towards it, but they may still be wide of the mark. If they’re correct, though, there could be good times ahead – whether it’s Invictus, the Black Flag remaster, or perhaps something completely new and unexpected, hopefully a reveal is not too far away.

To check out some new projects that are 100% confirmed to be on the way, head to our upcoming PC games list. If you think it’s time to give your rig a bit of a boost, take a look at our best graphics card guide.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

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29/07/2025