Laying waste to the zombie hordes seems to be more popular than ever, with a herd of gaming greats lumbering over the horizon, baiting us in their groaning masses. But which ones deserve your all-swinging, all-dicing attention?

To help you decide which ones to point your nailed baseball bat towards first, we’ve put together a list of the best zombie games out there right now, for surviving and thriving in the post-apocalypse. Abra cadaver! Here it is.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 first burst onto our screens back in 2005, and represented the first big departure for the series (following which, there have been roughly 137 further departures).

Casting away the static background, and the slightly isometric angle of the original three main games, Resident Evil 4 introduced a new over-the-shoulder look, a brand-new setting, and infected, rather than zombified enemies.

Rebuilt from the ground up, the Resident Evil 4 Remake launched in 2023, with vastly improved graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and new character designs.

Protagonist Leon S. Kennedy and his trademark center parting are assigned to rural Spain, to rescue the President’s daughter from the clutches of the rampaging Ganados, locals who have been infected with the deadly parasite, Las Plagas.

As you tentatively make your way through the village toward even more treacherous locations, you’ll be scrabbling for ammo and green herbs, as you shoot, stab, and spinny kick your way through the chattering hordes.

Improving on everything that made the original so memorable, the Resident Evil 4 Remake is horribly good fun.

The Last of Us Part 1

Yes, OK, technically the Cordyceps victims in The Last of Us aren’t zombies, per se. But they serve the same function, in that they’re gross, they can infect you, and you need to kill them quickly.

With the recent success of HBO’s The Last of Us, starring everybody’s favorite celebrity “Daddy”, Pedro Pascal, the player base for the remastered remake of the original game has soared. And it’s easy to see why.

Showcasing the same great story but in fancy next-gen wrapping, Naughty Dog’s award-winning classic The Last of Us Part 1 has never looked so good.

In addition to the gorgeous graphical overhaul that makes those character interactions between Joel and Ellie even more impactful, there’s an improved UI this time around, as well as extra difficulty levels – for those of you who like an extra dose of trauma with your gameplay.

7 Days to Die

7 Days to Die has been around for a solid decade already, but this zombie-infested survival sandbox isn’t going away anytime soon. Pitching you in a rolling day/night cycle, you must scavenge for materials to build shelters, hunt for food, and tool up to protect yourself from the undead legions.

By daylight, the zombies in 7 Days to Die are more Romero-esque, shuffling slow pokes who are slower to detect you, and easier to avoid. This changes when the sun goes down, as they become feral and far more dangerous.

On the seventh in-game day, a Blood Moon event occurs, where hordes of assailants will descend on your settlement in their droves. And if you haven’t reinforced your shelter enough and made adequate provisions to survive the onslaught, you’ll be in for the mother of bad nights.

Solidarity comes in the form of 7 Days to Die‘s multiplayer, where you can join up to three friends online, and hold each other’s virtual hands as the world turns to shit around you.

DayZ

DayZ is a multiplayer-only zombie survival game where players must scavenge for the usual mix of materials, food, water, and weapons, to keep their feeble human hearts ticking in the aftermath of a devastating plague that has transformed the less fortunate members of their species into violent, foaming infected.

Spawning at the edge of a gigantic 87-square-mile game world, armed with a pathetic array of close-to-useless equipment, there’s a palpable sense of urgency in scouring the landscape for better gear.

As well as the usual threats you’d expect, your character is also vulnerable to various infections and diseases, which can negatively impact your survivability if contracted and left untreated.

DayZ succeeds as a living, breathing multiplayer world, with player interactions being paramount. Features such as proximity voice chat, text chat, and gestures help to shape the player experience and help foster an engaging online community.

With base-building, a working horticulture system, cooking, crafting, and more to explore, the act of survival in DayZ is a veritable timesink.

State of Decay 2

Zombie survival game State of Decay 2 was first released in 2018 and features a sprawling open world where up to four players can play cooperatively to combat the forces of the undead.

With its gameplay emphasizing the survival aspect, players must choose a location to build their base, and then beg, borrow, and steal materials to reinforce their stronghold.

As part of the base building mechanics, you can bolster your outpost by installing watchtowers, workshops, medical bays, and more to improve your odds of not being eaten alive.

Character management is important too, as each survivor has different characteristics that will inform your gameplay style. Weaknesses must be worked around while strengths must be played to.

With each character sporting their own moral compass, events in the game will affect each character differently, and shape their behavior and attitude. This adds an interesting layer of depth to the gameplay, as your in-game decisions can have unexpected consequences for you and your squad.

Dying Light 2

If you like mixing up your zombie slaying with some first-person parkour action, then the Dying Light franchise is right up your sun-dappled alley.

Developed by the team behind Dead Island, Dying Light 2 (and Dying Light) blends that game’s visceral melee combat with the acrobatic movement of Mirror’s Edge.

Dying Light 2 is set in the huge virtual playground of Villedor, a vast fictional European city. Heavy with RPG elements, you are free to explore the city (and its rooftops) as you see fit, forming alliances, taking on missions, and crafting brand-new tools to cleave limbs from their undead owners.

With a map roughly four times the size of Dying Light‘s, with plenty of verticality to hop, skip, and jump across, Dying Light 2 gives you plenty of bang for your buck.

Dead Island 2

The long-awaited sequel to 2011’s Dead Island, Dead Island 2 takes place inside a quarantined Los Angeles, where a zombie outbreak has selfishly ruined the lives of the city’s inhabitants.

Choose from one of six slayers, each with their own unique characteristics and abilities, and set about putting bats to faces, as you explore each of the playable zones and meat out some punishment.

Substituting the usual skill tree style mechanic for a deck-building system where you can augment your character’s strengths (and weaknesses), gives Dead Island 2 a unique aspect.

Skill cards are sorted into four main categories; Survivor, Slayer, Numen, and Abilities, with each unlocking new gameplay perks and characteristics.

But the real joy in Dead Island 2 comes from using the environment to your advantage. For instance, tossing an electrified weapon into a puddle will electrify enemies unfortunate enough to be stood with their necrotic toes in the water.

Dead Island 2 is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to new and exotic ways to neutralize the enemy.

Left 4 Dead 2

On oldie but a goldie, Left 4 Dead 2 is proof that you can’t beat a classic. Still popular today, despite having been released back in 2009, this zombie-slaying first-person shooter is a ton of fun to play. With its emphasis on cooperative play, it’s also the perfect game to enjoy with your zom-bae.

Set (as these things invariably are) during the aftermath of a pandemic, you play as one of four main survivors, frantically fighting through legions of infected enemies across five main campaigns, each consisting of a handful of levels.

Up to four players can take on the Campaign mode together, with any non-player characters being computer-controlled.

Besides the main Campaign Mode, you’ll find a Versus Mode where “infected” players try to prevent survivors from completing each stage, a timed Survival Mode, and a four-on-four Scavenger Mode.

Left 4 Dead 2 also keeps things spicy with various enemy types, such as Witches, Hunters, and Tanks, who all require different attack strategies to bring down.

Let us know your favorite zombie games! Are there any that we’ve missed? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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With the exception of Dune (chapters 1 and 2), most of Tinseltown’s recent remakes have stunk like feet after a three-day hike. Admittedly, 2024’s Road House was entertaining enough, featuring plenty of Conor McGregor Conor McGregor-ing around the place. But it didn’t need to be made. 

Just as Moana doesn’t need a live-action remake, and The Crow doesn’t need to be dug up from its grave and reanimated with one of the Skarsgards at the helm, most of these movie-making endeavors seem creatively pointless at best.  

So, why do we love a video game remake? It could be because they contain the one thing that many Hollywood remakes don’t—soul.

Often passion projects for the developers, they tend to be crafted with a level of care and attention to detail that’s sadly lacking from the somewhat cynical remakes offered by the movie industry.  

Plus, there’s a genuine thrill among gamers to see a 20+-year-old game rebuilt from the ground up, with modern-day budgets and graphics slapped onto them.

2024 is a big year for gaming remakes, with some real doozies lined up for release, and one or two that are already out in the world, like some of the best PS5 exclusives.

The Last of Us Part 2

Hot on the heels of the current-gen remake of The Last of Us, and getting ahead of the imminent release of season two of HBO’s rather excellent The Last of Us, is this remake of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part Two. 

Courting its fair share of controversy upon its initial release owing to the treatment of one of its beloved characters, and a gameplay shift that confounded expectations, The Last of Us Part Two had a bit of a hill to climb. 

Arguably overlong, and with a frustrating climax (for many), it was still an incredibly effective slice of post-apocalyptic survival horror. Now that the dust has settled on the original, this gorgeously gory remake has all the right ingredients to wow audiences old and new alike.

The Last of Us Part Two was released on the PlayStation 5 on January 19, 2024.   

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered

In recent years we’ve seen an evolution in the Tomb Raider franchise, with a trio of 2000s Tomb Raider games that trod a similar path to the Uncharted series. With a couple of key elements from the original games drastically reduced, and the story elements expanded, gamers have got up close and personal with a less-rounded yet now more-rounded Lara Croft. 

The Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered collection goes back to basics. The original games put the gameplay emphasis heavily on the raiding of tombs, rather than the gunplay and crumbling ledge thrills and spills of the reimagined series. And this is a faithful remaking of those fantastic originals, with (slightly) improved graphics. 

With this collection, you can experience the classic games once again, with a visual spit and shine, rather than a full-on remastering. Crystal Dynamics has included all expansions and secret levels from the originals with this remake and has chucked in a photo mode too for good measure. 

The Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered collection hit virtual shelves on February 14 and is ready and waiting to be discovered.   

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster

A long time ago (1995) in a galaxy not so far, far away, Star Wars: Dark Forces was released to a jubilant gaming population. The Force was strong with this one, so strong that now almost 30 years later a remake clone has spawned, to tempt the will of seasoned Jedi Knights and Padawan younglings alike. 

Relive the adventures of Kyle Katarn as he joins forces with the Rebel Alliance and attempts to infiltrate the Empire. With support for 4K and 120 FPS, this remake boasts a visual upgrade with enhanced lighting and a slew of gameplay improvements.   

The Star Wars: Dark Forces remaster made the jump through hyperspace on February 28 and is available to buy now.   

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Fans of the Final Fantasy series know that it’s never the Final Fantasy because its global popularity all but guarantees the franchise will keep going and keep evolving, ad infinitum. But some fantasies are worth revisiting and embellishing with sumptuous new detail. 

That’s the thought behind the lavish remake of Final Fantasy VII, and 2024 saw the release of this, the second installment of the multi-game-of-a-game remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. 

Focusing on the second act of the 1997 original, Rebirth introduces an expanded open-world environment in the shape of the Forgotten Capital and retains the dazzling real-time combat overhaul first introduced in act one of the remake. 

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was released by Square Enix on February 29.  

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Back in the days before every single action-adventure game featured stealth elements, there was only one place to go if you wanted to indulge in some tactical espionage action. From its cinematic 12-hour long cut-scenes to the gut-wrenching “Snake? SNAAAAAAAAAAKKE!!!” of the Codec screen, the Metal Gear Solid series gave good stealth. 

Well, now fans of the MGS franchise can rejoice, as Metal Gear Solid 3 (which features the origin story of Big Boss) is getting the remake treatment. Rebuilt and renamed as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, the 2004 classic is to be spruced up with “cutting-edge graphics and 3D audio” which promises to bring the jungle-based setting vividly to life. 

It’s unlikely that this remake will tinker too much with the original story of MGS3. And seeing as the core gameplay of the original was fairly (forgive us) solid, don’t expect this to be changed drastically, if at all. All signs point to this being a faithful recreation of the beloved classic, with a fancy new (Snake?) skin slapped onto it for good measure.     

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam later this year.  

Silent Hill 2

Originally launched on the PlayStation 2 way back in 2001, Silent Hill 2 pushed the boundaries of psychological horror in video games.

Set in gaming’s foggiest town (coal mine fires, tsk!), Silent Hill 2 followed the story of recently widowed Harry Mason. Harry is drawn to the eponymous town in search of his expired spouse, whom he has somehow received a mysterious letter from. The letter asks him to find her there. 

Bloober Team, the creative minds behind Layers of Fear, are remaking the survival horror classic from the ground up. With updated graphics and gameplay mechanics, and more reasons to shit yourself over the sound of radio static than we care to count, this remake is a sure-fire hit waiting to happen.    

There’s no official launch date for Silent Hill 2 as yet, but it has been heavily tipped for a 2024 release, at some point. Expected to be a PS5 exclusive on launch, it will be heading to PC the year after. 

Until Dawn 

Playing out like one of the best five-chumps-in-a-creepy-old-cabin slasher movies, Until Dawn was effectively an interactive movie where your every decision carried big implications for each of the principal characters.

Using a combo of decision-making and quick-time events, it was possible to save or sacrifice every character in each playthrough. 

Hard to believe but it’s now 10 years since Until Dawn graced our PlayStation 4s, which means it’s long overdue for the remake treatment. Being remade with Unreal Engine 5, you can expect a full graphical overhaul for current-gen, some frame-rate fixes, and (presumably) something to be done about the weird, creepy thing that used to happen with everyone’s teeth during cut scenes.        

The Until Dawn remake will be clawing its way onto PS5 and PC later this year.

Splinter Cell 

Sam Fisher might sound like the name of a regular Joe who works in Accounts, but he is actually the ultra-cool, super stealthy Black Ops agent from the Splinter Cell series. Originally released way back in 2002, Splinter Cell has been hiding in the shadows for a good few years now, maintaining radio silence.

With the Splinter Cell remake mission having been officially given the green light, Ubisoft has confirmed that it will include a “rewriting and updating of the story for a modern-day audience”. Exactly what that means is anyone’s guess and additional details are still sketchy for now, but it’s hard not to get excited about this one. 

We’ll keep our fingers crossed that the core stealth gameplay remains intact, and look forward to performing split jumps, killing the lights with our EMP pistol, and silently suppressing the enemy, when this undercover mission eventually goes live.        

Rumored to be released during the latter part of 2024 but with no concrete date, news regarding Ubisoft’s Splinter Cell remake remains as elusive as Mr Fisher himself.  

What game are you most looking forward to playing this year? Let us know your favorites below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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For any of you scurvy dogs who have yet to bask in the open waters of Dredge‘s wonderous world, this 2023 fishing sim sees you trawling the seas around Greater Marrow, in hopes of landing the catch of the day.

What is Dredge?

Setting sail from port in your modest sailboat, Dredge‘s gameplay sees you following a rolling day/night cycle of fishing, selling your stock at the market, crafting upgrades for your vessel, and pursuing ever more exotic species for more money.

This is in itself a great way to spend some time. But, as with all good fishing puns, there’s a catch.

You see, the waters around Greater Marrow’s archipelago are far more treacherous than they first appear, as skulking in the deep depths are monstrous creatures who come out when the sun goes down. And when these behemoths take to the surface, it’s not a good idea to be out on the open seas.

Dredge is a unique game unlike any other. Part chilled-out fishing sim, part Lovecraftian nightmare, it brings the perils of the open sea to life. Making deft use of creepy hallucinatory effects, it has you second-guessing yourself constantly. The intertwining of the mundane and the supernatural makes Dredge a very special type of horror game.

And now, it seems that Hollywood has snagged Dredge on its line, reeled it in, and plans to serve it up on a platter, as a horror movie in its own right.

Dredging the silver screen

Dredge developer Black Salt Games is reportedly working with Story Kitchen, the production company behind the Sonic the Hedgehog movies to bring the eldritch horror of Dredge to life. Tipped to carry a “Sixth Sense on the Water” type vibe, Dredge the movie sounds very promising.

With Black Salt Games committed to working closely with the movie’s production company, we can expect Dredge‘s tense, eerie atmosphere to be preserved. Representatives from Black Salt Games have confirmed the developers are “excited to collaborate with such an experienced studio to bring the world we have created to life and activate the imaginations of audiences worldwide.”

Given that sales of Dredge far exceeded expectations during 2023, with over 1,000,000 copies being sold, this big-screen adaptation seems to have a ready-made audience to lap it up as soon as it lands. And if Story Kitchen manages to nail the atmosphere of the game, Dredge‘s big screen conversion could share the same level of success.

When can we expect Dredge… the movie?

No details have been released yet as to who’s been cast in the movie, or when this particular ship might reach the shore. So for now, we can only speculate who might land the role of Dredge‘s grizzled old sea dog of a protagonist.

But the fact that this indie hit has scored big by hauling in its own movie adaptation is reason enough to celebrate.

And there’s even more good news for gamers who have yet to plunder Dredge‘s treasures, as the base game is currently available with a whopper of a discount. Hoist your mainsail and head across to Steam to hook your copy and enjoy a 30% discount.

Plus, for completionists, you can pick up both Dredge and its DLC, The Pale Reach, in a discounted bundle pack with 33% off the RRP.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Quick Answer: The Xbox Series X|S features tons of customizable parental control settings, enabling you to create a safe place for your kids to enjoy their game time. You can access them via your console’s settings, by navigating to Account > Family Settings > Manage Family Members.

You can’t beat a bit of good, clean fun, and introducing your kids to the wonderful world of gaming is a rite of passage.

However, with the amount of mature content liberally sprinkled into today’s games, you might want to take advantage of your Xbox Series X|S’s parental controls, to stop your younglings from seeing things they’re not supposed to.

Luckily, your Xbox Series X|S comes with some fairly robust parental control settings that can be tailored to your needs. Allowing you to put your virtual foot down, these controls can help you censor any content you feel isn’t age-appropriate, leaving your kids free to browse in safety, without you having to watch them like a hawk.

Getting started with Xbox family settings

With Xbox’s family settings, you have access to a suite of parental control options that put you firmly in the driver’s seat. You can set up a user account for your child, change the online and privacy settings, set limits on screen time, and restrict any online purchases as you see fit.

The first step is to log in to your Microsoft account (either on your console or on your computer) and set up a family group there.

Once you have logged in to your account page:

• Select the View your family option
• From there, select the Add a family member icon

You can add up to six members to your family (on your Microsoft account, that is. How many members you choose to add in real life is none of our business).

Each child or family member will need their own account to log into. So if you haven’t done so already, you’ll need to Create an account for each member. You will need to use a valid email address for each account addition.

When you have added an account for each of your offspring, you will see them listed on your Microsoft account homepage. There will be three dots to the right of every profile which you can click on to view any recent activity or change the profile picture.

Select the Go to Overview option to access the parental control options. But before you do so, you will first need to ensure your child has been added to your Xbox Series X|S console.

How to add your child to your Xbox Series X|S console

• Select the Settings menu from your Xbox Series X|S home screen
• Select Account > Family Settings
• Select Manage family members, choose the person you want to add, and then select Add to this Xbox console
• Enter the password for that account
• Follow the on-screen prompts to sign in to your own account to complete the process

Follow these simple steps to add your child/children to your Xbox console, and you will find that all the parental control options have now been activated.

How to manage parental controls on your Xbox Series X|S console

Once activated, you can manage most of the parental controls directly through your console. However, some additional features can be accessed independently via the Microsoft Family Safety App for iOS or Android, such as the ability to set screen time limits.

To access your Xbox Series X|S’s parental control settings, open the Settings menu from your home screen. Then select Account > Family Settings > Manage Family Members. Select the account you want to amend, and you’ll see a list of options to peruse.

These include the following:

• Access to content – this is where you can set age restrictions on content, including games and movies
• Web filtering – use this to set restrictions on what your child can and cannot access via the Xbox’s web browser.
• Privacy & online safety > message safety – use this if you want to filter (or block) any content from the Xbox internal messaging service
• Privacy & online safety > Xbox privacy – this is where you’ll find the rest of the parental control options

While using the Xbox privacy features, you can select from some default settings (child, teen, or adult) if you want to set things up quickly, or choose the View Details & customize option to get a bit more specific with the parental controls.

How to customize parental control settings on your Xbox Series X|S console

So what can be customized via this additional menu?

Well, it’s a fairly comprehensive list of things, actually. It covers many things you’ve probably already thought of, and a few which you may not have. Here are the options you can access from this sub-menu:

• Online status & history – allows you to restrict who can see that your child is online, and lets you keep tabs on the games they’ve been playing
• Profile – set restrictions on who can see your child’s real name and/or profile picture
• Friends & clubs – use this to select whether or not your child can add friends, or join other players or clubs when online
• Communication & multiplayer – set or limit access to multiplayer activity, and control the amount of freedom your child has with voice or text communication while online
• Game content – allow or disallow the sharing of screenshots
• Sharing outside of Xbox – set restrictions on content sharing on other platforms, such as social media
• Buy & download – allows you to set restrictions on what your child can buy and download through the Xbox

The advantages of setting parental controls on your Xbox Series X|S console

The main reason to set up parental controls on your Xbox Series X|S is peace of mind. With parental controls in force, you can set up a safe space for your children to enjoy their games without the worry of outside influences spoiling things.

It’s easy to adjust settings, as well. As your child gets a little older, you might want to relax some controls to give them a bit more freedom. This could include easing the restrictions on gaming titles or allowing them more latitude while online gaming with their pals.

And with a metric ton of fun, family-friendly titles available on Xbox Game Pass, the whole family can enjoy browsing content to stuff into their Xbox library.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Quick Answer: No, these consoles don’t need additional cooling because they’re already well-equipped. However, you can do things to prevent overheating.

Like people, machines can struggle to take care of their business when they’re feeling hot under the collar. Cooling them down effectively is essential to keep them ticking over.  

Sony’s PS5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S are no strangers to this. Both consoles have been known to overheat. But is additional cooling for the PS5 or Xbox really needed?

Naturally, both these gaming juggernauts come equipped with cooling fans that work overtime to keep the core temperature down. But, if you don’t maintain your console properly, your console could run into performance issues.

If you do experience any issues or notice your console is feeling a little too close to molten lava, there are some things you can do before kicking your PS5 or Xbox to the curb.

Check the vents

This is an obvious one, but dust build-up on the vents is one of the main causes of overheating, so it’s a good place to start.

If the vents are blocked with dust, guess what? The heat has no way of escaping and will continue to build up inside your console, whittling down its HP. 

Switch your console off and allow it to cool down. Take a microfiber cloth to the vents and wipe away any dust you find.

Allow your PS5 or Xbox to fully cool before attempting to switch it back on, and you may find this simple bit of maintenance has made a big difference. 

Move it to a well-ventilated area

The better you’re able to control the temperature around your console, the better the chance it’ll continue to work in a tip-top fashion.

Make sure it’s situated away from any other heat sources (radiators, etc.), and away from the path of direct sunlight. 

Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S work better in an upright position, as this helps to increase the air circulation running in and out of the console.

So if possible, resist the temptation to lie them flat inside a TV cabinet, as the cramped conditions won’t be a fun time for your favorite gaming buddy. 

Another top tip is to keep your console elevated off the floor, so it’s not standing or lying on a carpet. For one thing, this will help ease some of the stress on the fans, and for another, it’ll keep them away from the gross dust particles and pet hairs that love to live on your carpet.  

Clear the cache

If a general spring clean and a cool place to live aren’t stopping the overheating, it could be a software issue that’s causing the Venusian temperatures to build up inside your console. In this case, it might be time to clear the cache. 

This option won’t harm your console or wipe any of your saved data and is easy to navigate on both Xbox and PS5. Follow the steps below to clear the cache on your console of choice.

Clearing the cache on Xbox Series X/S

• Press the big old Xbox button in the center of your controller
• Select Settings
• Then select Devices and Connections > Blu-Ray
• Finally, select Persistent Storage followed by Clear Persistent Storage

Clearing the cache on PlayStation 5

• Ensure your PS5 is switched off
• Press and hold the power button until you hear a beep
• Make sure your DualSense controller is connected to the USB cable
• Press the PS button on the controller
• On-screen, navigate through the available options until you get to Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. Select this option
• Then, select the option to Clear System Software Cache
• Select OK

Regardless of which console you’re using, clearing the cache can be a good way to help improve the overall performance.

Clearing the cache removes temporary files and data from your console, which may have become corrupted over time. 

Temporary files such as these have been known to cause several gameplay issues, such as screen freeze, connectivity issues, or prolonged load times.

By clearing out the cache, you’re streamlining your console and should see a noticeable improvement in its stability and performance as a result. 

Perform a factory reset 

If none of the tips above have worked and your console is still overheating with the power of a thousand suns, your last chance saloon is to perform a factory reset. This is a hard refresh that will delete all your user data and remove your console’s system data, and should be used as a last resort. 

Fair warning, this option will completely remove all your personalized data and settings from your console, essentially reverting it to the default factory settings.

It is therefore highly recommended that you back up all your saved data first, either to the manufacturer’s cloud storage or to a separate USB drive (or drives).

Once you have double and triple-checked that all your game data has been safely backed up, you’re ready to initiate the factory reset. 

How to reset your Xbox Series X/S

• Press the Xbox button
• Select Profile and System > Settings
• Select System > Console Info > Reset Console 
• Select Reset and remove everything to wipe everything from your console, including games, apps, and saved data, to restore it to factory settings
• Alternatively, select Reset and keep my games and apps as a less drastic option that resets the OS and deletes any potentially corrupted data, without deleting your games or apps (recommended in the first instance). 

How to reset your PS5

• Navigate to the Settings menu from the main dashboard
• Open up the System section and select System Software
• Select Reset Options from here
• Select Reset the Console to delete everything from your PS5 and restore it to factory settings

There is another option to Restore Default Settings, but this only removes any changes you have made to the console’s default settings and is not the hard refresh you’re looking for. 

Your console still keeps overheating

You’ve tried everything, including prayer, but it’s just not responding to any of the treatments. It may be time to put it out of its misery, switch the machine off forever, and let it drift peacefully away to console heaven. 

You had some good times together. Good times that you’ll never forget. Like the first time you took on Starscourge Radhan in Elden Ring or that time you booted up Diablo IV, warped to Kyovashad, and then realized no one else was playing anymore.  

Treasure the memories. Consider a small, yet intimate burial service in the backyard. That way, you can visit the grave and remember the good times you shared. It’s better to burn out than to fade away, after all. 

Once you’ve paid your respects, you’ll want to get online and order yourself a replacement ASAP, as there are far too many good games coming out this year to miss out on!  

Is your Xbox Series X|S or PS5 overheating? Did the tips in this article help? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Quick Answer: Capcom has argued that all DD2 microtransactions are for items that can be found in-game, if players would prefer not to pay for DLC items. It also cites a number of inbound improvements to improve the overall player experience.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 was released alongside 21 downloadable items, which included some of its rarest in-game artifacts. Can Capcom justify such a high volume of microtransactions, or will all this mud just stick?

Dragon’s Dogma 2 was one of the most hotly anticipated titles of 2024. It is a long-overdue sequel to the 2012 original that many players fondly regarded as a flawed masterpiece.

The original blended a sprawling fantasy RPG landscape, diverse character classes, cool mythical beasts to fight, and an innovative yet occasionally infuriating pawn system.

Yet the release of Dragon’s Dogma 2 hasn’t quite been the slam dunk Capcom anticipated. In addition to some performance issues on the PC, further controversy has been stirred by the surprising number of microtransactions that were released without warning alongside the main game.

DLC, DLC, and more DLC

At the time of writing, there are 21 individual DLC items for Dragon’s Dogma 2, including some of the rarest items in the game. These dropped onto Steam without warning, like a Griffin ambushing your party of adventurers, causing mayhem among the gaming community.

Preying on less hardy and more impatient questers, Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s microtransactions make rare commodities like Portcrystals (which allow you to create in-game fast travel points) easily available if you’re prepared to part with some coin. So far so cash-grabby, right?

But the real controversy with DD2‘s microtransactions is that a number of the DLC items grant access to features that should already be part of the main game.

They’re microtransactions all, you can’t go wrong

Bartering for items and gear is par for the course in RPGs, and the lure of better equipment is a big part of this game’s appeal, as you level up and take on bigger and badder enemies.

Generally, the purchase of in-game items isn’t quite the blight that it’s made out to be. Yes, there are DLC items for sale with most games that can offer you cosmetic improvements, more in-game currency, and a plethora of items that can offer you an easier time with some aspects of the game.

This is, to a large extent, what Capcom has offered with its microtransactions for Dragon’s Dogma 2. You can buy items to help you get out of jail (or gaol, in this case), Wakestones that can resurrect deceased companions, or Rift Crystal packs that allow you to shop for more powerful party members at one of the game’s many (ahem) pawn hubs.

All this stuff is completely optional and can be found in-game through general exploration and questing. And as with any other optional purchase, you can choose not to buy it. Easy.

However, what about changing your character’s appearance? How about paying for this privilege, after you’ve already forked out $60 for the main games? Stings like a Chimera’s tail, doesn’t it?

Changing your character’s appearance? That’ll be $1.99, please

In Dragon’s Dogma 2, if you want to change your character’s appearance, you’ll need an Art of Metamorphosis Tome. And in terms of in-game currency, one of these bad boys will set you back 500 Rift Crystals.

Rift Crystals can be hard to come by, particularly in the early game (unless you choose to buy some in a DLC pack!), and the in-game Art of Metamorphosis Tomes are few and far between.

You can find two Tomes available for sale from the vendor in Vernworth, but (currently) these two Tomes don’t appear to restock after being bought. So for the time being at least, you’ll have to offer up some real-life coin for the chance to change up your character’s appearance in the game.

Thanks to Capcom microtransactions you can buy an Art of Metamorphosis for $1.99. And there’s the rub. By monetizing a function that’s usually available for free in the game (even without in-game currency), Dragon’s Dogma 2 has invited a fierce backlash from would-be players.

The reaction to this particular microtransaction plus some less-than-enthusiastic reviews on Steam has prompted some damage limitation by Capcom.

Responding to the criticism, Capcom decided to increase the number of Art of Metamorphosis tomes that are available in-game. These will be available at all Pawn Guilds, which will be stocked with 99 single-use tomes.

Free Dragon’s Dogma 2 character creator DLC on Steam

Another main criticism of Dragon’s Dogma 2 was the inability to start a new game when you already had saved data. This was a baffling decision that prevented players from running two separate campaigns alongside one another, due to the single save file that was granted.

Previously, starting a campaign meant that you were stuck with the character (and pawn) that you created, whether you liked it or not, and were actively prevented from creating a new character.

With the now-released Dragon’s Dogma 2 Character Creator and Storage DLC, players can store up to five custom characters and five main pawns, so you can chop and change between playthroughs as you please.

It’s a step in the right direction and one that seems more in keeping with Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s emphasis on freedom and exploration.

The choice to buy in-game items as a shortcut to progression always comes down to individual choice. If you don’t like the grind, they’re there to be used. Don’t like it? Don’t buy it.

However, cutting out features and functions that should always be included as part of the main game (character customization, starting a new game at will), is a bad look.

Thankfully, it seems that Capcom is listening to the fans. With free DLC already in place to smooth over some of the damage, and more on the way, it’s a relief to see the shadows cast by microtransactions won’t eclipse Dragon’s Dogma 2.

Here’s hoping we all get to experience the very best of Dragon’s Dogma 2, an enthralling action RPG that is equal parts ridiculous and brilliant, and quite unlike anything else out there.

Are you frustrated by the microtransactions in Dragon’s Dogma 2? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Quick Answer: Ensure your discs are clean and smudge-free, and change your Xbox settings to Energy-Saving Mode to make them as readable as possible.

If your Xbox Series X isn’t playing ball, you can try a few simple things to get those discs spinning and get yourself back in the game.

Has your Xbox Series X unexpectedly hit the pause button on your game time? If your console is struggling to read your game discs and is locking you out of the action, here are some simple tips and tricks that could boost your Xbox’s disc reading literacy levels.

Make sure your discs are properly aligned

Let’s get this one out of the way first. It may seem too obvious to bother mentioning, but you may kick yourself if you’ve not been aligning your discs correctly.

The Xbox Series X is as comfortable standing upright as it is lying on its side. If you favor standing your console in the upright position, you may inadvertently be putting the game disc in the wrong way around (don’t come at me, absent-mindedness affects us all from time to time!).

If your Xbox is standing upright, ensure the game label is facing to the left when inserting the disc, with the shiny side facing to the right.

Assuming you’ve been correctly aligning your discs before pushing them in (we never doubted you for a second, btw), the root cause probably lies elsewhere.

Ensure your Xbox Series X discs are squeaky clean

There are things in life that we probably all wish could be a little dirtier, but a game disc is not one of them. If your game discs are dirty, smudged, or scratched, this will affect your console’s ability to read them.

Dirty game discs can be gently and effectively cleaned with a soft microfiber cloth, to remove grubby fingerprints or specks of dirt. Cleaning your discs in a circular motion will minimize the chances of scratching the surface, and should shine them up a treat.

If your disc looks grubbier than Leatherface after a day at the abattoir, you can try using some rubbing alcohol to add a bit of extra elbow grease.

However, you should avoid using harsh chemicals, as this will damage the disc.

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03/26/2024 06:04 pm GMT

Change your Xbox Series X settings to Energy Saving Mode

If you’ve made your Xbox Series X discs lovely and shiny, you’ve been inserting them the right way round, and your Xbox is still struggling to read them, a quick trip to the Settings menu could sort things out.

Your Xbox Series X console has two power modes, Sleep Mode and Shutdown (Energy Saving Mode), which can be accessed via the Settings menu. According to Xbox Support, the settings for Sleep Mode can render a minority of Xbox consoles unable to read discs.

Therefore, it’s worth checking whether your console is set to Sleep Mode. If so, you may want to consider using the Xbox Energy Saving Mode instead.

Switching your Xbox Series X to Energy Saving Mode

Switching your Xbox from Sleep Mode to Energy Saving Mode is nice and easy, and can be done thusly:

• Press and hold the Xbox button on your controller to open the options menu
• Select Profile & System > Settings > General > Power Options
• Select Shut-Down (Energy Saving) Mode
• Reset your console by holding down the Xbox button. Once it has powered off, switch it back on using the Xbox button
• Try loading your game disc again

Consider sending your Xbox Series X for repair

If you’ve tried all of the above and you still haven’t had any luck, it may be time to send your Series X off to be repaired.

Before you do so, check out the Xbox support page and make sure you have exhausted the available options. Once you’re satisfied that no other stones have been left unturned, it’s time to refer to the experts.

Contact Xbox Support to check your device’s warranty status and to register a service order request to diagnose and hopefully fix the problem.

Keep those discs on ice, and get ready to make up for lost time once that precious cargo is returned to you.

Is your Xbox able to read discs now? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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