Say you have 2 keepers (Love and War for example), and the current rules allow you to play 2 cards. In your hand you have All you Need is Love (goal) and Trash a Keeper (action).
Can you trash your own War keeper, play the appropriate goal, and win? Trash a Keeper says you can trash any keeper; to me that includes your own.
Similar situations include when the goal is already played, and various configurations involving Peace (no War) and The Brain (no TV).
This came up in my hand in a game with my daughter the other night, I house-ruled against myself and she went on to win.
Supernova 2025 is one of the largest Super Smash Bros. events of the year and pros from all over the world are flying to Virginia to compete in stacked Melee and Ultimate tournaments. But if that’s what you came to watch, you’re missing the point.
The best thing to watch all weekend at Supernova is the Combo Contest.
What is the Combo Contest?
The Combo Contest is a Smash 64 event in which players compete to create the longest and most complex combos. It’s not a 1v1. Instead, players use Smash’s practice mode to set up various items and character placements in attempt to pull off some wild combos.
If they don’t hit the opponent or the opponent doesn’t land exactly right, the combo could be dropped. This means the combos require insane accuracy, timing, strategy, and planning. Players are given a few times to try and make the combo work but it’s obviously more impressive if the combo works on the first or second try.
There are a panel of judges, consisting of other Smash players, that will rate the combo a 1 through 10. Players are eliminated from a round if they score the lowest, leaving the top competitors to show off multiple combos to keep progressing.
The first-ever Combo Contest was held at Super Smash Con (the former name of Supernova) in 2016. Since then, many big names have emerged in this niche scene, including Prince, Taco, and Huntsman. They’ve become known for their over-the-top creative and high-tech strategies but also their dedication.
The Combo Contest is barely watched compared to games like Melee and Ultimate. It’s on a Thursday when some fans haven’t even arrived yet. The prize money isn’t anything to brag about and there’s only one tourney a year anyway. This is all about the love of the game, grinding all year to come up with these crazy combos that only a few people will see. But that’s what makes the Combo Contest so great — it’s solely for love of a game that came out in 1999.
Huntsman Uses High IQ Strats and Feet to Secure the Win
Image Credit: Supernova / @RELLFGC
When I went to Supernova in 2023, I was disappointed that Prince hadn’t returned. Often considered the best-of-the-best at combos, the Japanese N64 player had once signed my shirt at a past Supernova event, which, if anything, made the shirt even less valuable. But to me — priceless.
But I forgot all about Prince when Huntsman took out his grippers on stage and started using his toes to control a second character for a crazy combo the stream unfortunately didn’t catch. The past few years, players have been trying to make the combos more complex with gimmicks, but this was just next-world entertainment.
This year, Huntsman walked onto the stage and immediately took off his socks. But what made this even wilder? Huntsman was controlling three characters — one controller in his left hand, one in his right, and one on the ground with his toes. Would he pull it off?
Image Credit: VGBootcamp
The combo was so complex that the commentators couldn’t comprehend what Huntsman was even trying to accomplish. Why was Donkey Kong made invincible with a star? What was Samus going to do? In the end he almost accomplished what would have been one of the craziest combos ever attempted, but it didn’t quite land. (If you want to see it completed, check this video out.)
Luckily, Huntsman had one more chance to show off yet another combo and this one is now considered one of the best combos ever to be done. Once again, Huntsman took out the toes to have a 3v1. He used Yoshi, Samus, and Falco — and some well-placed items — to land a complex 13-hit combo on Link. It’s wild to think he was able to use one hand to throw two well-timed and well-aimed eggs along with everything else he pulled off perfectly.
Huntsman’s final combo was just as clean and complex, landing things that even the commentators couldn’t understand. The reaction times and extremely high IQ strats were just mind blowing to common folk like me. Otherworldly execution. It was a no-brainer that Huntsman took the title once again.
Honestly, it gives me chills to think of these guys grinding to perfect these insane combos throughout the year, perfecting a craft that almost nobody knows is even happening. This is what the FGC lives for. If you didn’t watch this year, you really should. These are the unsung heroes of the Smash community, keeping a game from the 90s alive and doing it just for the love of Smash.
This is the culture of Smash — and you’re not watching. But you should be.
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Well, who would have thought it? Huge server queue problems as Battlefield 6 launches its Early Access Open Beta, and the numbers are only going to get bigger by the time the rest of the world gets to join in in a couple of days.
Hopefully, by then, EA and Battlefield Studios will have added a bit more capacity, and the clamor to be first on board may have waned a little, but right now, for many, Battlefield 6’s first trial run is unplayable.
Images are scattered around X of players having 150,000 plus players ahead of them in line, and even when you get into the game, matchmaking is falling apart due to the volume of players.
Just under an hour ago, the official Battlefield account posted:
“A quick note about queues and Early Access / Open Beta.
Since this is Battlefield’s biggest Open Beta ever, we’re putting in the work to ensure that players have the best possible experience and servers remain stable.
To support this, we will use queues to protect the player experience but expect this impact to be minimal.
You may encounter this during high peak moments, such as the start of servers going live. The team is working constantly to reduce any queue that takes place.
Thank you for your continued excitement and patience. We’ll see you on the Battlefield!!
That last line may be a little hopeful for many, and it will be minutes away before the self-righteous start demanding that the beta time be extended, but this is a good first sign for the revamped Battlefield.
Better this in many ways than being able to jump right in and squad up with a load of bots.
How to beat the Battlefield 6 queues
For now, all you can do is wait it out. EA will doubtless be pushing extra resources in the direction of the game, and, much like trying to buy tickets for any big gig these days, people will soon get bored of waiting and drop out of the queue, causing it to drop more quickly.
We are confident that when you do eventually get in, it will be worth the wait.
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“At the beginning of your end step, if a land entered the battlefield under your control
this turn and you control a prime number of lands, create Primo, the
Indivisible, a legendary 0/0 green and blue Fractal creature token,
then put that many +1/+1 counters on it. (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19,
23, 29, and 31 are prime numbers.)”
Whenever a creature you control with power 4 or greater enters, draw a card.
Does Garruk’s Uprising (and other cards like it) see Primo when it is first created as a 0/0 or do they only see it after the +1/+1 counters are added to it?
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 withthe 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.
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I’m looking for the name of a certain solitaire game I remember from past, but never knew the name of. I’d like to find it.
The deck of cards is dealt face down into 4 rows of 12 cards each. You are left with four cards in your hand. When you reveal the first card in your hand, you place it on the tableau on its designated space, assuming the order: hearts 2 to K, diamonds 2 to K, spades 2 to K, clubs 2 to K. This is how you neatly swap cards one at a time in the whole tableau. When you hit an Ace, you discard it and take another card from your hand. Of course, this solitaire is very difficult to win because the last Ace would have to be the last card revealed, but I liked this game and I enjoyed arranging cards.
So, does anyone recognize this variant and know what it is called?
Oh Ubisoft, I have been dining out for over a year on quoting that throwaway comment from one of their execs that we need to get used to the idea of not owning our games anymore. Of course, we should merely enjoy them as a contract between equal partners that can be whipped away from one side (us, obviously) at any time (for backstory, check out the Stop Killing Games Movement).
I was concerned, though, that it might be getting stale, and I was worried I wouldn’t get any new meme-worthy material anytime soon.
Step forward the most unlikely of sources – the Ubisoft financial report. A PDF destined to be a dry read that nobody cares about, really. That is, until the MP1st website spotted a gem hiding away in all the numbers.
“Our monetization offer within premium games makes the player experience more fun by allowing them to personalize their avatars or progress more quickly, however, this is always optional.”
Oh, so it’s for us? Stupid. Of course. I shouldn’t expect an $80 purchase to be fun enough; I should expect to open my wallet further to make it more “fun”. Maybe I can keep the fun going by constantly paying more?
Do you want to Add Fun to basket?
Oh, come on. It’s fun to pay to change the clothes on my character. Everybody thinks that.
I think we would all have more respect for companies and their microtransaction tactics if they just came out and said, “Look, guys, we need to make more money to continue to make you games that you enjoy.”
I’d be relatively cool with that. Even though I don’t really believe there is a place for paid-for skins and the like in single-player games anyway, I think it’s ridiculous. At least we could stop dressing it up and move forward.
In a world where loot boxes are definitely not gambling, and don’t for one minute think they are – you can check out the fuss Blizzard has caused with Hearthstone’s gambling mechanics of late – companies continue to extract as much extra cash out of players as they can by upselling this nonsense, mainly to those who can afford it, but sometimes to those that can’t, and that is the concern.
While it might be true that the majority of microtransactions are all funded by people with more money than sense, I have had to have enough conversations with my kids to suspect that it’s not just mine that are being targeted with this stuff, and find it attractive.
Mecha Break is another game to fall foul lately of seeing the cash signs ahead of providing a game that could be amazing, and more and more games seem to set out to put things they know players will want behind extra purchases.
Fun is now a premium service
The constant drain on funds is going to become an issue as the asks keep getting bigger. It’s not just buying a game and maybe paying for skins for a little more “fun”; it’s that on top of the Netflix subs, the Prime subs, the Spotify subs, etc. Something has to eventually give.
In the same report, Ubisoft highlights that it believes Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet sales expectations due to a declining interest in the Star Wars franchise.
I somehow doubt it is anywhere close to being that simple. Maybe we are misunderstanding what the word “fun” actually means.
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So the general setup is as follows. Left hand opponent opens the bidding with 1 NT (strong, balanced, 15-17 HCP), partner doubles (for penalty, promising 16+ HCP), right hand opponent passes. Which kind of hands should make any non pass bid now?
Note that at least 31 HCP are already accounted for, so own hands is guaranteed to be fairly low in HCP and partner didn’t provide any information about shape or suit preferences.
Background, I recently played a hand on bridgebase where I did the doubling and my robot partner bid 2 hearts. I was fairly clueless what I should expect from partner there.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby, the latest gacha game import from Japan, has really struck a chord with fans. It currently sits at 35th place on iOS in the UK (amongst a lot of junk), and since its launch in 2021 in Japan, it has racked up $2.5 billion in revenue.
The combination of different anime horse girls, along with the typical sickly sweet idol aesthetics and addictive rogue-lite gameplay, probably has something to do with that. However, developers Cygames have had to put out a mild warning to the influx of new fans to please, please, be normal around the actual race horses the characters are based on.
It’s an obvious concern for stables that there could be a sudden tidal rain of gacha game fans suddenly descending on them. Especially with the notoriously calm animals, horses, it’s just a headache waiting to happen.
Umumusume politely requests you don’t smoke around the horses
Issued on the website and promoted through the in-game news feed, Cygames really wants players to take note of proper etiquette when making the pilgrimage.
The full message in-game reads:
“We’ve posted important guidelines on rules and etiquette for stable visits to our official site. It is thanks to the cooperation of racehorse owners and their respective stables that we’re able to share their stories in Umamusume: Pretty Derby.
“If you wish to visit a horse in person, please be sure to review the following guidelines in advance.
“We appreciate your cooperation in protecting the health, safety, and well-being of the horses, and hope you’ll continue to enjoy Umamusume: Pretty Derby.”
The guidelines themselves are pulled straight from the Kyousoba Furusato, a business dedicated to dealing with various ranches across Japan. It effectively breaks down into nine different rules to follow when visiting stables, including don’t smoke, no flash photography, and don’t spook the horses.
While it’s unlikely that most players would ever travel to see a horse in particular, modern fan bases tend to have obsessives lurking amongst them. Rather than wait for something to happen, Cygames has seen the writing on the wall (as have we with a brief glance over social media) and gotten in front of it. According to a post on X, formerly Twitter, “many Japanese players have visited, but issues have occasionally arisen.”
Pretty Derby brings fandom to horses, like Haru Urara, a loser
Umamusume’s roster of horse girls, which you acquire through its gacha system, has all quickly built little fanbases around them. One horse in particular, Haru Urara, has become a fan favourite thanks to her being a total loser who never gives up, much like in real life.
The real horse ran 113 races and lost them all. There’s a short documentary on Vimeo about her, aptly named “The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere”. However, she did recently run in a “soft horse race”, something the Japanese circuit does for retired horses, and reportedly, she actually won.
She’s also featured on an X account, where the owner has been surprised by the boom in attention. That and McDonald’s Samurai Mac burgers are upsetting his stomach.
What even is a gacha game?
Gacha games are a style of game originating from Japan that harkens back to gachapon. Pop a coin in the machine, twist the knob, and out pops a random toy. It’s now taken on new life since the very late 2000s and early 2010s, wherein the same concept is applied to multiple elements of the game. Instead of “pulling” for toys, you’re often trying to obtain different characters, skins, or items.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is available on iOS, Android, and PC through Steam.
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⚠️ This page mixes confirmed information with industry rumors and speculation. We’ll keep it updated as new details and leaks come to light.
007 First Light has to be the one upcoming game that I’m most excited for right now, with GTA 6 being a close second. Developed by IO Interactive, a studio we all know and love for its Hitman series, the game will explore an all-new story for James Bond.
Instead of following a storyline from one of the movies, IO Interactive reimagined Bond’s origin story, introducing us to the rebellious agent before he ever became a spy. 007 will be younger than we’ve ever seen him before, but you can bet that his charm and penchant for getting in (and out of) trouble will be just the same. It was originally known as Project 007.
The Escapist recaps
007 First Light, the new Bond game, is currently being developed by IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman franchise.
The game is shaping up to be a third-person action-adventure, featuring a blend of cinematics, dynamic combat scenes, stealthy action, and story-driven depth.
This is the first new James Bond game in over a decade, and IO Interactive is diving right in with its own, previously unseen storyline.
Players will meet familiar faces from the Bond universe, but also brand-new characters, such as a mysterious figure designated as 009.
Similar to the recent Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the game appears to be set in various locations around the globe.
When could 007 First Light be released?
IO InteractiveIO Interactive
While the 007 First Light release date has yet to be revealed, IO Interactive has confirmed the game will be coming sometime in 2026. The current development stage is still a mystery, so we don’t even have a ballpark as to whether 007 First Light will arrive in the first or the second half of the year. However, there are signs pointing to it being sooner rather than later.
While the 007 First Light release window seems vague, we can look to the studio’s previous work, Hitman 3, for a rough time frame of when the James Bond title could debut. Hitman 3 was announced in June 2020 before being released in January 2021, a gap of just seven months. Similarly, First Light was officially revealed in June 2025 and could come out early next year.
Expected 007 First Light price & pre-orders
While we still don’t know the confirmed007 First Light price, we can speculate given the state of the industry, as the game is likely to cost $70 / £70 / €70 in line with today’s AAA releases. The studio’s previous standalone release, Hitman 3, debuted at $60 / £60 / €60 back in 2021, which was then later replaced by the tiered monetization system of World of Assassination.
It’s also likely that we’ll see different 007 First Light editions alongside the standard version. For those who sign up at the game’s official website, they can unlock the “On Duty” outfit (a black turtleneck with holster inspired by Daniel Craig’s look in No Time To Die) and the Gilded Wrath golden Walther PPK. We could see a deluxe/premium edition including more cosmetics.
Considering the lack of a firm release window,007 First Light pre-orders aren’t open yet, but you can already wishlist the game on Steam. It’s possible that we could see a confirmed price and pre-order window available by the end of 2025, around the Holiday period, to gear fans up. However, as IO Interactive is privately owned, it could break away from genre conventions.
007 First Light platforms
Although 007 First Light was announced at Sony’s State of Play, the game is, fortunately, not a PS5 exclusive. The new James Bond game will be available on the PlayStation 5, but also on the Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via the Epic Games Store and Steam. However, PS5 Pro gamers will be able to enjoy PSSR and 60 fps in Quality Mode.
By the looks of it, we’re in for a treat. IO Interactive shared a three-minute trailer of 007 First Light, and the game appears to be fast-paced, action-packed, and rather story-driven.
The 007 First Light trailer starts by making us privy to a conversation involving M and Greenway, a new mentor figure for Bond. Bond appears to have made an impression during a mission in Iceland, but his recklessness and rebellious spirit have done him no favors with Greenway. M, however, is impressed.
“Always at the top of his class,” says M of young Bond. “Always at odds with authority,” counters Greenway. Bond fears nothing and relies on luck to keep him alive, and that makes him a “bullet without a target” in the eyes of his mentors. That’s not a bad thing—that’s exactly what MI6 wants to see.
We learn the origin story of James Bond, whose parents died to save his life, and he had to witness it firsthand. He’d been bouncing around all kinds of boarding schools ever since. When the game begins, Bond is 26, and he’s not a spy yet—he’s a Royal Navy air crewman, later recruited into MI6.
The 007 trailer sets the stage for a completely new story. 007 First Light is set in the modern day, long before any of the movies ever took place. Aside from new characters such as the mysterious antagonist referred to as 009, we’ll see familiar faces, such as M, Q, and Moneypenny.
Apart from giving us a glimpse into Bond’s dark story, the trailer shows us the kind of 007 First Light gameplay we can expect. Bond travels all over the globe, sneaks around, shoots his gun, and throws grenades, not to mention racing fancy-looking cars and looking death in the eye (on more than one occasion). It appears to be a more cinematic take on the studio’s previous work with the Hitman reboot trilogy.
Ask The Escapist
Is 007 First Light PlayStation exclusive?
Fortunately, 007 First Light is not a PlayStation exclusive. The game is confirmed for a broad multi-platform release in 2026, and will be available on the PS5, but also on the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S.
Who is playing James Bond in 007 First Light?
IO Interactive has yet to reveal who will play James Bond in 007 First Light, but the rumor mill is buzzing with just one name: Patrick Gibson. This widespread belief stems from his striking resemblance to the character shown in the reveal trailer.
Will 007 First Light be on PC?
Yes, 007 First Light will be available on PC in 2026. You’ll be able to buy the game through Steam and the Epic Games Store.
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Published: Aug 8, 2025 02:27 pm