If you’ve been waiting to see someone other than Sony show off the PlayStation 5 Slim or the PlayStation Portal, you’re in luck. While the two products aren’t available to buy just yet, reviewers have started to get their hands on both devices for our viewing pleasure.

First, let’s check out the PS5 Slim. Ahead of its official release later this month, The Verge has gotten their hands on the console. According to their first impressions, the new console is definitely smaller, but even though its volume shrank by “more than 30 percent,” it is still a “big boi!” They also describe its removable disc drive as a “strange growth” coming out of the side of the console.

Image source: The Verge

That said, the PS5 Slim has plenty going for it. Not only is it smaller, but its storage has been upgraded to the full 1TB rather than the 825GB that was previously available to users of the original version. The front of the console now also features two USB-C ports instead of one USB-C and one USB-A port. The removable disc drive, even if it does look like a “strange growth,” is a nice feature for those who buy a digital version and then decide to get back into Blu-ray in the future.

Next, let’s jump over to the PlayStation Portal. The Portal is set to release on November 15th, but ahead of its debut, technology Youtuber UrAvgConsumer got his hands on the new gaming handheld as well as the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds that go with them. While he didn’t turn the Portal on (I imagine that he’s not technically allowed to yet per Sony and the beloved embargo), you can get a sense of the size and comfort of the handheld.

You can watch Judnar’s video showing off the hardware on his YouTube channel below:

The Portal is still the device that really confuses me the most. From not supporting PlayStation’s cloud services to not supporting Bluetooth headphones and forcing you to buy the company’s $200 earbuds, it feels like an incomplete product. That said, for the diehard PS5 fan who wants to play some games in bed, it’s going to be exactly what they are looking for.

The PlayStation 5 Slim models will launch later this month, and the PlayStation Portal will launch on November 15th. The PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds and Pulse Elite headphones will launch on December 6th.

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Valve surprised fans of the Steam Deck on Thursday with the announcement of the new OLED model. According to Valve, the Steam Deck OLED not only features a new high-dynamic range OLED display, but also a larger battery, faster download speeds, and a bigger fan. Plus, it’s 30 grams lighter than the LCD model due to the OLED screen.

Valve says the HDR OLED display has “more colors, pure blacks, and amazing motion rendition” to improve upon the original LCD display. The upgraded display also draws less power, and that combined with its bigger battery means the Steam Deck OLED should last 30-50% longer than the LCD model. The OLED model also ships with Wifi 6E for increased bandwidth and lower latency. Downloads should be up to three times faster.

Going forward, there will be three Steam Deck models available: 256GB LCD for $399, 512 OLED for $549, and 1TB OLED for $649. Valve is retiring the 64GB and 512GB Steam Deck LCD models, but they are both permanently discounted to $349 and $449, respectively, until they’re out of stock. If you don’t care about an OLED display, those are great deals.

Steam Deck OLED will be available in the US, Canada, European Union, and United Kingdom, as well as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

In addition to the standard OLED models, Valve is also launching a Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED in a unique red colorway. The company says that quantities are highly limited and will only be available in the US and Canada while supplies last.

“Steam Deck Limited Edition is an experiment for our team, and we were only able to make a small quantity,” Valve explained. “That said, we hope this is a successful experiment and customers are excited – if we see there is a large demand for this kind of product, we will definitely continue to explore more colorways in the future.”

If Valve runs out of stock for any new models, it will switch to a reservation queue and customers will receive invitations to purchase in the order that they entered the queue. That said, the company doesn’t foresee supply constraints like the original launch suffered. Additionally, customers can only purchase one Steam Deck OLED per week at launch.

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We’ve been anxiously awaiting official news about the Switch 2, but while the Switch continues to sell like hotcakes, there’s not much incentive for Nintendo to rush its successor out. That said, there’s no stopping us from extrapolating hints about the Switch 2 from the company’s comment. For instance, in its financial briefing published on Wednesday, Nintendo was adamant that it will continue to support and release games for the Switch throughout 2024. But in doing so, it might have also hinted at a feature of the Switch 2.

We have countless unanswered questions about the Switch 2, but chief among them is whether or not it will be backward compatible with the Switch. Leaks have given us hope that this will be the case, but there are obviously no guarantees. That’s why this specific line from the financial briefing stood out to me when I saw it today:

“We will continue to release new titles and content for Nintendo Switch without being bound by the traditional concept of the platform lifecycle.”

There are a few potential implications here. One is that Nintendo isn’t worried about whether or not it launches a new console next year at all. As we discussed previously, Nintendo has never waited more than seven years to release a new home console. If all the leaks and rumors are wrong, it’s possible the Switch 2 will skip 2024 altogether.

That does not seem especially likely, so the other possible implication is that Nintendo will keep releasing new games for the Switch after the Switch 2 debuts.

If that does end up being the case, my guess is that those games will be playable on the Switch 2. After all, it would be quite a confusing strategy to continue launching new Switch games that are incompatible with the next-gen console after it goes on sale.

Assuming the Switch 2 is backward compatible with the Switch, it begs another question: How will Nintendo differentiate Switch games from Switch 2 games? It might look something like the jump from DS to 3DS, where the DS cartridges could fit in 3DS consoles, but not the other way around. Or maybe it will be more like disc-based consoles, where a PS4 console simply won’t recognize a PS5 disc (don’t try that at home, by the way).

Whatever the case, Nintendo’s recent comments have generated more questions than answers. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa even went as far as to dispute online rumors, which the company typically ignores. As we speculate, at least we can look forward to a GTA6 trailer.

The post Nintendo’s recent comments might spoil a Switch 2 secret appeared first on BGR.

We finally have an update to the Backbone One! I personally love my Backbone One controller, so I’m excited to see that the company is finally updating it after three years of — in my opinion — revolutionizing mobile gaming.

The Backbone One was originally launched in October 2020, so the controller has been on the market for quite a while now. The company did technically update the controller when it released the PlayStation edition back in July 2022. That controller came decked out with the same layout but buttons and coloring specific to the PlayStation brand.

So, while the design changed, the features of the controller remained the same. That changes today. In a blog post, Backbone announced a number of updates for the holidays, including an actual hardware update to the Backbone One controller. The new version, which is available today, includes an upgraded D-pad and magnetic adapters for “even better phone fit.” What that really means is that the new version can finally fit a phone with a case still on it — fixing one of the biggest complaints about the first generation.

These new controllers continue our commitment to impeccable design and further our position as the leader in mobile and cloud gaming devices. Magnetic adapters allow for even better phone fit and a reshaped D-pad enhances responsiveness, resulting in superior feel and control across multiple genres of gameplay–all while still maintaining the form factor and ergonomics that players know and love. When combined with the Backbone app–which puts all of gaming in one place–it’s our most accessible gaming experience ever. 

Personally, I’m a sucker for a good D-pad. It’s such a vital part of tons of games, and hardcore gamers hate a bad D-pad, so I’m glad the company improved that part of the controller. The magnetic adapters also look much more elegant than the 3D-printed ones that the company offered to users over the last couple of years. The 2nd generation of the Backbone One is available now and Backbone+ can get $30 off if they claim a discount through the Backbone app through November 17th.

The company also announced a refresh to the iOS and Android app, which it describes as a new “look and feel of the Backbone app for a rich and interactive experience when discovering games across all kinds of gaming: Remote Play, Cloud Gaming, and App Store.”

It also is releasing its first carrying case for the Backbone One controller. The carrying case will be available in black as well as a Playstation-branded white version. The carrying case costs $24.99 and is also available to order starting today. If you’re a Backbone+ subscriber, you’ll get a 20% discount on the carrying case if you order through the Backbone app.

For anyone who purchases one of the new Backbone One controllers between today and May 8, 2025, they’ll get three free months of Apple Arcade. In addition to the free trial, Backbone says that it is also “launching a new experience inside the Backbone app” that will “enable instant game launching and gameplay of the Apple Arcade titles.”

I’ve been a huge fan of Backbone since it launched back in 2020. It is easily the best controller I’ve ever used to play games on my iPhone. Whether it be games from the App Store, Apple Arcade, or from Xbox through Remote Play or Xbox Cloud Gaming, the Backbone has been a fantastic way to elevate those experiences.

I’ll be picking up the new version and the case for travel and storage. This is such a great gift idea for the gamers in your life for the holidays, so I might end up buying a few of these this year.

The post Backbone reveals an update to the best mobile gaming controller on the market appeared first on BGR.

Rockstar Games just revealed it has a Grand Theft Auto VI trailer to show in early December. The developer confirmed this in a blog post after months of rumors and a recent report by Bloomberg saying the company might have a formal announcement to make this week – which it did.

“Next month marks the 25th anniversary of Rockstar Games,” the developer writes. “In 1998, Rockstar Games was founded on the idea that video games could come to be as essential to culture as any other form of entertainment, and we hope that we have created games you love in our efforts to be part of that evolution. We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto.”

This announcement comes as GTA V just turned ten years old. The beloved franchise is said to return in a fictional Miami known as Vice City with two protagonists, a man and a woman, according to leaked footage of the game last year.

We have known for at least two years that Rockstar is developing Grand Theft Auto VI. In a previous statement, Rockstar said it was in “active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.”

With a trailer ready to be shown in early December, that means that Grand Theft Auto VI might have a release date revealed for 2024 for most console platforms.

The hype isn’t for nothing, as Grand Theft Auto V has sold more than 185 million copies, and it’s the second-best-selling video game in history, behind Minecraft. That said, a new entry to the series is long awaited for fans.

BGR will inform you about Grand Theft Auto VI as we learn more about this upcoing trailer and everything else Rockstar is ready to announce.

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Although a steady stream of leaks and rumors have painted a blurry picture of the Switch 2, we still have plenty of unanswered questions about Nintendo’s next console. The biggest questions concern its design and its performance. We still don’t know what the Nintendo Switch 2 will look like, but an extensive report from Digital Foundry about the console’s rumored chipset gives us an idea of what the Switch 2 might be able to run when it launches in 2024.

On June 10, 2021, Twitter (now X) user kopite7kimi shared a picture of Nvidia’s T234 processor. He claimed Nintendo would use a custom version of the chip dubbed T239. Over two years later, Digital Foundry is all but convinced this will be the chip that powers the Switch 2. If so, the next-gen console is shaping up to be a significant upgrade.

In the lengthy write-up, Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter explains that the T234 is a massive chip built for the automotive and robotics markets. As such, the T239 will likely be a significantly scaled-down version of the chip. Based on leaks, a hack of Nvidia, LinkedIn posts, and “common sense reasoning,” he suspects the T239 will feature 8 ARM A78C CPU cores, a 128-bit interface paired with LPDDR5 RAM, and a maximum memory bandwidth of 102GB/s.

Compare that to the Tegra X1 powering the Switch, which featured 4 Cortex-A57 CPU cores, 4 Cortex-A53 CPU cores, and 32-bit LPDDR4 RAM with a maximum bandwidth of just 25.6 GB/s. Plus, the Tegra X1 was built on TSMC’s 20nm process, while the T239 will likely be built on an 8nm process. These are all major leaps for the rumored Switch 2 processor.

Digital Foundry also notes that the T239 appears to contain a new File Decompression Engine (FDE), which is a component that could allow for similarly speedy decompression of assets as the PS5, leading to much faster load times on the Switch 2.

Whether or not any of that technical mumbo-jumbo went over your head, the next section of the report is the most exciting. Digital Foundry found a laptop that should come close to mimicking the performance of the Switch 2 based on its findings surrounding the T239. Dell’s Vostro 5640 is not an especially interesting laptop, but its RTX 2050 4GB GPU should perform somewhat similarly to the Switch 2’s GPU. And the results were fairly impressive.

Despite lacking decent memory bandwidth, CUDA cores, and clock speed, the laptop was able to deliver “convincing 1080p gameplay” for Control, Cyberpunk 2077, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and Death Stranding. Notably, the Switch 2 should ship with more than 4GB of RAM (possibly up to 12GB), and the games will be further optimized by developers for the console.

Obviously, none of this is confirmed yet. The Switch is still selling exceptionally well, and there are a few major first-party titles dropping in the coming months. We likely won’t hear anything official about the Nintendo Switch 2 until at least next spring, but the pieces are starting to come together ahead of the inevitable announcement.

Check out the video below to see the laptop mentioned above in action:

The post Nintendo Switch 2 chip leak hints at major performance gains appeared first on BGR.

With the holiday season fast approaching, Nintendo pulled back the curtain on all of the deals and discounts it plans to offer for Black Friday. Not only are some of the most popular Nintendo Switch games going on sale, but there’s also an enticing new bundle coming. Whether you own a Switch or plan to pick one up this fall, there’s something for everyone.

For those who don’t own a Switch, Nintendo announced a new Switch OLED Model bundle that comes with a copy of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, three months of Nintendo Switch Online, and exclusive Joy-Con controllers with a design inspired by Smash Bros. The bundle will retail for the same $349.99 as the original Switch OLED Model starting on November 19.

Nintendo Switch – OLED Model bundle with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Image source: Nintendo

If you already own a Switch but want to be prepared for multiplayer sessions over the holidays, the new Super Mario Party + Red & Blue Joy-Con bundle might be for you. This bundle features a colorful pair of Joy-Con controllers and a digital copy of Super Mario Party for $99.99, which is $39 cheaper than the two would cost on their own. It launches on November 10.

Nintendo is also discounting some of its biggest Switch games starting on November 19:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – $39.99 (was $59.99)
• Luigi’s Mansion 3 – $39.99 (was $59.99)
• Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – $39.99 (was $59.99)
• Super Mario Odyssey – $39.99 (was $59.99)
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – $29.99 (was $59.99)
• Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe – $29.99 (was $59.99)
• Minecraft Legends: Deluxe Edition – $29.99 (was $49.99)
• Everybody 1-2-Switch! – $19.99 (was $29.99)

You might notice that several of these games appear on our list of the 25 best Nintendo Switch games. If you can only pick one or two of the titles, Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild are two of the best games of the last ten years. You’ll also definitely get your money’s worth from Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which can take over 100 hours to beat.

Beyond the deals listed above, Nintendo will also reveal the Cyber Deals for even more games on the eShop starting on Monday, November 20.

The post Nintendo’s Black Friday deals include new Switch bundles and cheap games appeared first on BGR.

In many ways, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 feels like the culmination of decades of comic book video games. Aside from its own prequels, few other comic book games look as good, play as well, or are half as ambitious as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. But it’s far from the first great game based on a comic book. In fact, while there are plenty of stinkers throughout gaming history, there are many gems as well, and we’re highlighting some of our favorites below.

Batman: Arkham City

Screenshot from Batman: Arkham City. Image source: Rocksteady Studios

• Developer/Publisher: Rocksteady Studios/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Genre: Action, Open-World, Single-Player
• Where to buy: Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Amazon

Trying to pick the best entry in the Batman: Arkham series is tough, as everyone has a different favorite, but you can’t go wrong with Arkham City. In 2011, this open-world Batman game set a new high-water mark for comic book games. Gotham City was dark, dangerous, and as alive as any other open world in gaming. Plus, the combat was a step up from Arkham Asylum, the story was surprisingly engaging, and even the score was amazing.

The Walking Dead

Screenshot from The Walking Dead. Image source: Telltale Games

• Developer/Publisher: Telltale Games/Skybound Games
• Genre: Adventure, Point-and-Click, Narrative-Driven, Single-Player
• Where to buy: Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Amazon

To this day, only a handful of games have come close to landing the same emotional gut punch that the ending of Telltale’s The Walking Dead episodic adventure game did. Games often try to convince you that “your choices matter,” but they rarely do. In The Walking Dead, you’ll feel the weight of every decision, and you have to live with the consequences.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy video game. Image source: Eidos Montreal

• Developer/Publisher: Eidos-Montréal/Eidos Interactive Corp.
• Genre: Action-Adventure, Single-Player
• Where to buy: Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Amazon

Much like Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, Eidos-Montréal’s Guardians of the Galaxy game takes place in a different reality from the MCU. This third-person, single-player action-adventure game puts you in the jet boots of Star-Lord as he and the Guardians try to save the universe. It’s a fully original story, and if you’re a fan of these characters joking around with each other while saving each others’ lives, you’re going to find a lot to love here.

Injustice 2

Screenshot from Injustice 2. Image source: NetherRealm Studios

• Developer/Publisher: NetherRealm Studios, QLOC/WB Games
• Genre: Fighting, Multiplayer
• Where to buy: Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Amazon

You would be rather hard-pressed to beat the popular fighting game Injustice 2 when it comes to superheroes per dollar. There are 38 playable fighters in this fighter from the team behind Mortal Kombat, including The Joker, Batman, Superman, Blue Beetle, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, and Swamp Thing. Injustice 2 also introduced RPG mechanics with the Gear System, which rewards players with experience and character-specific costume pieces.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order for Switch. Image source: Koei Tecmo Games

• Developer/Publisher: KOEI TECMO GAMES, Team Ninja/Nintendo
• Genre: Action, RPG, Multiplayer
• Where to buy: Nintendo eShop, Amazon

Ten years after the launch of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, the series made its long-awaited return on the Nintendo Switch in 2019. In the top-down action RPG, you’ll put together a team of four heroes from a roster of dozens to stop Thanos and The Black Order from unleashing the power of the Infinity Stones. As you defeat enemies and bosses, your characters will level up and gain new skills. You can also play through the whole game with up to four players.

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Once you are done working your way through Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, another avalanche of video game releases is on the way in November. For many of you, the rest of the year will probably be dominated by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. For Switch owners, Nintendo has two more first-party titles set to launch: The latest WarioWare microgame collection and the Super Mario RPG remake.

Best new game releases of November 2023

The Talos Principle 2

• Release date: November 2
• Systems: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
• Where to buy: PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam, Epic Games Store

Picking up where the original game left off, The Talos Principle 2 is a first-person puzzle game featuring more than a dozen environments that players can explore, including “a city on the brink of a paradigm shift,” and “the varied landscapes of a mysterious island that holds the keys to the future.” To solve these puzzles, you’ll have access to a variety of abilities from the first game as well as new powers, such as gravity manipulation and mind transference.

WarioWare: Move It!

• Release date: November 3
• Systems: Switch
• Where to buy: Nintendo eShop, Amazon

Move It! is the second game in the WarioWare series for the Switch. As the name suggests, this entry will task players with physically moving around in order to complete over 200 microgames. Grab the Joy-Con controllers to “shake, punch, dance, wiggle, and curtsey” your way to victory. There’s a story mode, but you can also play with up to 4 players.

Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

• Release date: November 9
• Systems: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
• Where to buy: PlayStation Store, Steam

After the events of the original Yakuza games, Kazuma Kiryu faked his death and changed his name to protect his family. In The Man Who Erased His Name, Kiryu has to resurface against his will. The big difference between this and previous Yakuza games is that Kiryu can swap between two different fighting styles (Yakuza and Agent) as he battles foes. But despite the higher stakes, Kiryu still has time for karaoke, drinking, and toy car racing.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

• Release date: November 10
• Systems: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
• Where to buy: PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam, Battle.net, Amazon

Originally planned as an expansion pack, Modern Warfare 3 is a full sequel to the rebooted MW2, picking up in the immediate aftermath of the 2022 game. In the campaign, Captain Price and Task Force 141 will face off against ultranationalist Vladimir Makarov as his power and reach grow. Beyond the campaign, MW3 will also feature a multiplayer mode that includes all 16 MW2 maps at launch and a new open-world Zombies mode.

Super Mario RPG

• Release date: November 17
• Systems: Switch
• Where to buy: Nintendo eShop, Amazon

Super Mario RPG is a modern remake of the beloved Super Nintendo turn-based role-playing game with updated graphics and cinematics. Mario, Peach, and Bowser team up with original characters Geno and Mallow to save Star Road and take down the Smithy Gang. If you have played any of the Mario & Luigi games, you’ll be familiar with the semi-active battles, during which you can press a button at the right time to block or do extra damage.

Those are the highlights, but here are some other notable game releases in November:

• Alien Hominid Invasion | Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 1
• Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 1
• For The King II | PC | November 2
• RoboCop: Rogue City | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC | November 2
• Star Ocean: The Second Story R | PS5, PS4, Switch, PC | November 2
• The Smurfs 2 – The Prisoner of the Green Stone | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 2
• Thirsty Suitors | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 2
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice | PlayStation VR2, Quest | November 2
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 7
• Berzerk: Recharged | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 9
• The Day Before | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | November 10
• Invincible Presents: Atom Eve | PC | November 14
• Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 14
• The Last Faith | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 15
• Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR | Quest | November 16
• Flashback 2 | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 16
• NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch | November 16
• Persona 5 Tactica | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 17
• Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | November 22
• Gangs of Sherwood | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | November 30
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising | PS5, PS4, PC | November 30

We will be back next month with all of the biggest game releases for December 2023, including Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and SteamWorld Build.

The post All the biggest new video game releases of November 2023 appeared first on BGR.

Wow, Apple Arcade is looking like a great value this holiday season — even with the recent price hike. Today, Apple announced its holiday lineup for Apple Arcade. The company is launching eight new titles on the game subscription service throughout November and December. Alex Rofman, Apple’s senior director of Apple Arcade, said that the holiday launch will mean that the company has released almost 60 games on the service in 2023 alone.

“We’ve added nearly 60 new games to Apple Arcade this year, and subscribers and their families have been loving the breadth and depth of the catalog with hits like Hello Kitty Island Adventure, NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition, TMNT Splintered Fate, Cypher 007, and so many others. To wrap up a great year of new games for Arcade players, we’ve saved some of the best for last and will be launching Football Manager 2024 Touch, Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition, Sonic Dream Team, and Puzzle & Dragons Story.

Apple says that it is also launching new content on over 50 existing titles on the service over the next couple of months, including updates to Hello Kitty Island Adventure, NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition, Sneaky Sasquatch, Cut the Rope 3, Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go; Japanese Rural Life Adventure, and The Oregon Trail.

You can check out all of the games coming to Apple Arcade this holiday season below:

Knotwords+ (Zach Gage): November 3

Knotwords+ comes from indie game developer Zach Gage, the developer behind Card of Darkness, Good Sudoku+, and Flipflop Solitaire+.

Knotwords+ is a minimal and elegant logic puzzle with words. The rules are simple: Arrange the letters in each section so every word is complete, horizontally and vertically. Each puzzle may seem difficult at first, but gets easier as the player progresses, with each step guiding them naturally toward the solution.

Football Manager 2024 Touch (SEGA & Sports Interactive): November 6

With the new version of Football Manager 2024, Apple says that players get a new Save Game Compatibility feature that will allow “all existing Football Manager 2023 Touch players on Apple Arcade will be able to continue their careers in Football Manager 2024 Touch.”

New for this season, players can improve their performance with enhanced training; impact the action at both ends of the pitch with a refreshed Set Piece Creator powered by their backroom team; define the type of boss they want to be with new Manager Principles; make their voice heard with a new system for making requests to their owners; and have the best possible experience on iPhone with a new skin for smaller devices to help provide smoother navigation across the game. Progress never stops, with players being able to look forward to new tools that will empower them to elevate their team’s performance and shape a title-winning culture on the football world stage. 

Downwell+ (Devolver Digital): November 17

Downwell+ is a “curious game about a young boy venturing down a well in search of untold treasures with only his gunboots to protect him.”

Designed for mobile from the ground up, Downwell+ is presented with intuitive and elegant controls that allow for action-packed gameplay using just three buttons. Players make their way down into the darkness filled with creepy creatures and mysterious secrets to collect the spectacular red gems scattered about the rocks. Step into precariously placed shops and buy some helpful items, or level up between levels to battle well-dwelling monsters and uncover hidden caves filled with riches and relics. With procedurally generated levels, no two trips down the well are ever the same.

Delicious – Miracle of Life+ (GameHouse): November 24

Delicious – Miracle of Life is described as a time management cooking game that “invites players to join expectant mother Emily and her growing family as she navigates the challenges of pregnancy, while managing a bustling kitchen for her cooking video blog and preparing for the arrival of her new baby.”

With 60 engaging levels and 30 bonus challenges, players will immerse themselves in Emily’s world, exploring various locations and meeting a charming cast of characters. Design the perfect nursery, share in Emily’s ups and downs, and experience the miracle of life.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition (Gameloft): December 5

Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition is also debuting on Apple Arcade, a huge value since Disney recently announced that the base console game would be $39.99.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition also includes the expansion pass, Disney Dreamlight Valley: A Rift In Time, which includes a new storyline with secrets and treasures to uncover that have been lost in time. On Eternity Isle, a land far away from Dreamlight Valley, players will meet new Disney and Pixar friends and yield the power of a mysterious royal tool — the Hourglass — as they unravel the schemes of the nefarious Jafar.

Sonic Dream Team (SEGA): December 5

The company also announced Sonic Dream Team, a completely new Sonic game from SEGA, is coming exclusively to Apple Arcade.

The thrilling new 3D action platformer follows the evil Doctor Eggman who has discovered The Reverie — an ancient device with the power to manifest dreams in the real world. Join Sonic and friends as they navigate twisted dreamscapes, rescue their friends, and put a stop to Doctor Eggman’s quest for world domination. In the game, players will take command of six dynamic playable characters: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, Cream, and Rouge, each with unique abilities that match their own flair and personality.

Puzzle & Dragons Story (GungHo Online Entertainment): December 5

According to the press release, “the newest installment in the immensely popular and definitive puzzle RPG series takes players on a new epic fantasy adventure with Puzzle & Dragons Story, exclusively on Apple Arcade.”

The game combines match-three puzzles with creature-collecting RPG gameplay, where players will recruit allies, improve their teams, and conquer dungeons. Intuitive puzzle play will be familiar to fans but also draw in newcomers as they simply match orbs of the same color vertically or horizontally, chaining together exhilarating combos for higher awards. Matching and erasing orbs commands the player’s allies to attack enemy creatures, with skilled puzzle play and exhilarating combos that unleash even more powerful attacks. Players will also gather materials by defeating creatures in dungeons, allowing them to create and improve new allied team members. They’ll spend resources to improve their creatures and select their favorites to form unique teams. New dungeons and creatures will be added frequently as players further explore a vast and mysterious land.

Turmoil+ (Gamious): December 5

In Turmoil, gamers get to experience “a visually charming, tongue-in-cheek take on the simulation game genre inspired by the 19th-century oil rush in North America.”

As aspiring oil entrepreneurs, players must navigate cutthroat competition, strategically lease land, drill for oil, and maximize profits through shrewd business deals. With a rich campaign mode, a town full of colorful characters, dozens of upgrades, and procedurally generated levels, Turmoil+ is a wild ride through the oil boom era.

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