It’s often said that couch co-op is dead these days, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Granted,split-screen multiplayer games are a lot less prevalent than they once were, but there are still plenty of great modern titles that offer local co-op modes, not to mention a rich back catalog of classic couch co-op titles that still hold up reasonably well today. The very bestcouch co-op gameshad a lasting effect on the industry, either by refining existing ideas and mechanics or introducing brand-new ones that would forever change their respective genres....

TheMass Effectseries is one of the most storied RPGs in the games industry. Its inventive universe and deep characters have found many fans, and the recent remaster of the first threeMass Effecttitles was very well received by critics and fans alike for how it helped preserve the classic games and update them for modern hardware. The release of the remaster also renewed the fan base’s interest in otherMass Effecttitles like the less positively receivedMass Effect: Andromedafrom 2017 and the still in developmentMass Effect 4....

The developers over at Paradox Interactive have released the seventh expansion toStellaris, adding even more content to a game already chock-full of it. TheOverlordexpansion is themed around being the one true ruler of space, and having the power and will to take it through a supreme and perfect empire. With it comes new megastructures, new factions to play, and a whole new way to control, or subjugate, the citizens of the galaxy....

Throughout 2020, almost every in-person video game event was canceled due to the worldwide effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This extended to even thebiggest industry events like E3, GDC, and Gamescom, which all either faced outright cancellation or hosted online events in their absence. As the world continues to struggle with the effects with the pandemic,Tokyo Game Showwill once again air online this September. Tokyo Game Show first started in August 1996 and has gone on to become the premier Japanese video game expo that has seen the reveal of hundreds of games fromJapanese video game publishers and developers....

TheValheimmodders seem to be enjoying creating fun new things for the community. Not only do their modificationsimprove the textures and visuals of the graphics, but they also add a more immersive in-game experience by allowing players to customize how they play the survival game. Recently, another fan produced and shared their own mod that provides a virtual reality experience to all interestedValheimplayers who own their own VR sets. It seems as if there is no limit to the creativity found within the hands and minds ofValheimfans....

Summary World of Warcraft ClassicSeason of Discovery might have a cameo from Xal’atath, the main antagonist fromThe War Within. There’s a good chance a certain Shadowy Figure that appears while crafting powerful Epic gear is the very same Harbinger from the upcomingWorld of Warcraftexpansion. Season of Discovery is a new type ofWorld of Warcraft Classicserver that introduces some twistson the original formula. Some of the most well-hidden secrets of Season of Discovery are the Void-Touched Armaments, a handful of powerful Epic items players can craft after following a trail of cryptic clues....

World of Warcraftjust shared a short video and blog post about the dracthyr Evoker. In the posts,World of Warcraftshared some facts, tips, and tricks players might want to know before making their own dracthyr Evokers once they become available in theDragonflightPre-Patch. The dracthyr Evoker is the new dragon-themed race and class combination being added inDragonflight. Starting on November 15,players who purchasedDragonflightwill be able to make a dracthyr Evoker and play through their unique starting area on the Forbidden Reach....

World of Warcraft: Shadowlandsis new expansion for the long-running MMORPG, arriving just afterWoW’s 16th birthday. The new expansion brings some big changes to Azeroth, including a “level squish.” This means that current max-level players will have their level reduced to 50, with 60 becoming the top level just as it was in vanillaWorld of Warcraft. However,World of Warcraft: Shadowlands’ level squish and the desire to get players to new content has missed a huge opportunity....

The reveal ofAlan Wake Remasteredhas fans of the Xbox 360 horror-thriller excited for more than just one reason. Obviously, they’re excited to once again revisit Bright Falls and relive the game’s story with higher graphical fidelity, but in recent years, the events of the story have been recontextualized with the release of Remedy Entertainment’sControl. There are a lot of things connectingAlan WaketoControl, but most of the connections are found in just a handful of the hundreds of collectible documents scattered throughout the different departments of the Oldest House....

It’s not a stretch to say that theAnimal Crossingfranchise has many loyal fans. While many fans are currently active inAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsand contributing to the community via design patterns, some have taken to a different approach. Before and afterNew Horizonswas released, fans have been expressing their love for the series via creating fan-games in honor of their favorite series. Some of these games fit more with the pureAnimal Crossingstyle, while others have taken a far darker approach....

Apex Legends’Season 6 arrives on August 18 and will bring with it anew Apex Legend named Rampart Parekh. She’ll be the first character introduced withApex Legends’Season 6, and in preparation for that, Respawn Entertainment —Apex Legends’developer — has been dropping small details related to who she is, such as threatening voicemails she’s received from otherApexcharacters. Today sees the release of Rampart’s biggest info dump so far, though. Ahead of her in-game debut,Apex Legendshas premiered Rampart’s “Story from the Outlands” trailer, revealing the character’s backstory....

Summary AnArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconplayer constructed a mech that is based off of Caterpillar Inc. equipment. The FromSoftware title gives gamers a ton of options when it comes to customizing their machines, ensuring no two builds will be the same.Armored Core 6players have made a number of unique mechs, showing how robust the customization system is in the game. Armored Core 6is the first mainline entry in the series to be released in over a decade....

Assassin’s Creed Valhallawas one of the most anticipated games shown off at yesterday’sUbisoft Forwardevent. After it was revealed that the next game in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise would be taking place in Viking Europe, players have been eager to jump into the new historical world. Now they will be able to dive even deeper into theAssassin’s Creed Valhallalandscape with the announcement of an official art book alongside the game’s release. Dark Horse Comics will be releasing the new art book forAssassin’s Creed Valhallain collaboration with Ubisoft....