The studio announced on social media that Phantom Blade Zero is nearing completion and in the final, crucial stages of development. They’re dedicating all their remaining resources to making the game as polished and impressive as possible.
IGN reports that the game didn’t perform as well as its developers expected. We’ll explore why this critically acclaimed soulslike title didn’t reach a wider audience, and what lessons smaller game studios can learn to thrive after the success of Elden Ring.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is in a strange situation. Nintendo has officially announced the game and lists it for release on the upcoming Switch 2 in 2026, and pre-orders are even open, but a specific release date hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Dark Horse Books will release a stunning 384-page art book, The Art of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, on September 15, 2026. The book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the development of KCD2, featuring hundreds of sketches, concepts, and insights. It details the creation of the game’s beautiful Bohemian landscapes and the historically accurate city of Kuttenberg. The hardcover edition is priced at $69.99 and will be available at various retailers and online bookstores.
The cutscene shows Miquella in the arena where you battle Malenia, at the base of the Haligtree. It seems to be a memory, depicting Miquella planting a young Haligtree. There are a couple of lines of dialogue associated with the scene – though their exact order is unknown – including Miquella encouraging the sapling to grow and offering it as a gift to Malenia. Interestingly, the sapling visibly grows and even bleeds during the cutscene – a pretty striking visual!
Four years after its release, a previously unseen cutscene from the game has been found. It shows Miquella, Malenia’s brother, creating the enormous Haligtree – the area where players battle Malenia. Lance McDonald, a data mining YouTuber, discovered the footage within the game’s files and shared it publicly for the first time.
Over the years, fans of Elden Ring have often wondered about content that was removed from the game. These cut questlines could have significantly altered our understanding of the Lands Between and the game’s overall story.
Bethesda Game Studios hasn’t been performing as strongly lately, and there are several contributing factors. These include losing skilled employees, problems with their game engine, and a sense of becoming too comfortable. A recent report also points to internal issues with the studio’s leadership, specifically raising concerns about creative director Todd Howard, a highly respected developer in the industry.
Capcom announced that after finishing the game, players can replay the final battle at a higher difficulty. Beating this harder version unlocks Royal Monsters, making almost all monsters in the game appear as tougher versions across all regions. This includes Royal Monster versions of Invasive Monsters and Elder Dragons, so players should get their monsters, tactics, and equipment ready for even more challenging fights!
Many online multiplayer games are now emphasizing features for players who prefer to play alone, offering ways to enjoy the game without needing to commit to a group or deal with the complexities of guilds. Some new games, like Don’t Lose Aggro, are even designed to feel like a multiplayer game but can be played entirely by yourself. Soon, the popular Elder Scrolls Online will also cater to solo players. With the release of Season 1 later this year, ESO will finally include dungeons that can be completed without a team, and that’s fantastic news!