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Illustration: FromSoftware, Square Enix, FromSoftware, Image: BioWare, Screenshot: Bethesda / Claire Jackson / Kotaku, Bethesda / Kotaku, Bandai Namco, 343 Industries / Claire Jackson / Kotaku, Shaded Memory / Kotaku, Bethesda / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is almost here, so we’ll help you make sure you’re ready to access and conquer the DLC when it arrives. We’ve also got details on four new bosses who were recently added to Octopath Traveler II, as well as suggestions for those looking to get caught up on Dragon Age before The Veilguard lands later this year. And if you’re looking to improve your Starfield experience, look no further, we’ve got some mod recommendations to take your interstellar travels to the next level.

A figure on a horned horse with a sword slung over their shoulder in a graveyard looks at a massive tree in the distance in official Elden Ring artwork.

Illustration: FromSoftware

Elden Ring is known for its challenging combat and hazardous exploration, so it’s reasonable to expect its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion to be an ultra-difficult experience. With dozens of hours of new exploration and battle ahead, you’ll want to be certain you’re well-prepared for all of the horrors that await you. As such, you may be asking yourself what level you should be before starting Shadow of the Erdtree. - Billy Givens Read More

Official art for Octopath Traveler II shows the party members gathered around a fire.

Illustration: Square Enix

On June 6th, Square Enix announced that both Octopath Traveler games are now available on more platforms. Not only is Octopath Traveler available on PlayStation, but you can play Octopath Traveler 2 on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass. Square Enix released a trailer celebrating the new ports, but eagle-eyed RPG fans noticed something curious about the footage shown. Namely, why is there a shot of the protagonists from Octopath Traveler fighting the cast of Octopath Traveler 2? When did that ever happen in the games!? - Timothy Monbleau Read More

Official Elden Ring artwork shows a woman with long hair on a horse looking across empty fields at a massive tree in the distance.

Illustration: FromSoftware

Elden Ring’s first and only expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, features an exciting new storyline with dozens of hours of gameplay to experience—but accessing it isn’t a walk in the park, and data suggests that there are crucial steps many players haven’t yet taken. If you want to see what the challenging new DLC has to offer, you’ll have to find your way to a well-hidden section of the main game and defeat multiple optional bosses, including one of the toughest in the game: Mohg, Lord of Blood. - Billy Givens Read More

Rook, Davrin, and Bellara.

Image: BioWare

It’s been ten years since Dragon Age: Inquisition, the third entry in BioWare’s fantasy RPG series, and so it’s likely that a lot of people who are intrigued by the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard have never touched a game in the series before. If you were enticed by the early gameplay or quippy-ass cinematic trailer, you might be wondering if you can jump into the game without any prior knowledge. BioWare is adamant that you can play the game formerly known as Dragon Age: Dreadwolf without playing the three original games, but should you? Let’s unpack 15 years of lore and character development, and get to the meat of what you should probably actually play before The Veilguard arrives. - Kenneth Shepard Read More

An explorer wields a weapon as the sun sets.

Screenshot: Bethesda / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

Following June 9’s Xbox Showcase, Starfield finally got its Creation Kit and Creations suite, allowing PC and Xbox players to download official and community-built mods directly in-game. It’s still early days for sure, but there are already a number of great mods worth your time that you should check out ASAP. - Claire Jackson Read More

An explorer stands alone on a beach.

Screenshot: Bethesda / Kotaku

Soon after Xbox’s big (and quite good) showcase on June 9, 2024, Starfield got a nice healthy update that finally delivered on the promise of quick and easy access to mods. While Starfield has had many mods on PC, it hasn’t been the most approachable for folks who aren’t used to installing mods manually or using custom-made mod launchers. - Claire Jackson Read More

A stooped, tentacle-headed creature walks through dark woods.

Screenshot: Bandai Namco

It may have taken two years, but Elden Ring is finally receiving a highly anticipated expansion that is certain to take the world by storm all over again. Shadow of the Erdtree is landing on June 21, and it brings multiple editions and pre-order bonuses for players seeking to get the most out of their purchase. Here’s everything you need to know about pre-ordering Shadow of the Erdtree. - Billy Givens Read More

Sparatans open fire on an enemy off-screen.

Screenshot: 343 Industries / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

Last year, Halo Infinite saw the inclusion of campaign bots such as grunts, elites, brutes, and more into the game’s expansive and customizable multiplayer. Using the game’s map creator, Forge, fans have crafted a wide variety of different experiences such as original campaign ideas and recreations of old ones, like Halo CE’s “Assault on the Control Room.” - Claire Jackson Read More

Two bunnies sit side by side.

Screenshot: Shaded Memory / Kotaku

Animal Well, Shared Memory’s excellent metroidvania, is a natural conversation starter, thanks in no small part to its “layers” of progression. The term at least partially stems from this list of tips from the game’s developer Billy Basso, in which Basso discloses that “Animal Well is designed with three different layers.” Layers that lay over one another, revealing themselves as you play and your perspective grows. Confused? We’ve got you. - Timothy Monbleau Read More

The Starborn points a gun at someone off-camera.

Screenshot: Bethesda / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

Hey, do you remember that really neat Star Trek-esque quest in Starfield where you had to help some long-lost colonists find a new home, but the game thought killing children was an acceptable outcome, while doing the same to the corporate execs who have power over those children and their relatives was just out of the question? Yeah, it’s definitely one of those moments that made me realize Starfield was far more on rails than it should be. But there’s good news, as modder cognimancer has delivered a mod on the Creations’ suite. - Claire Jackson Read More