Previews
20 article(s)Hands-on previews and first impressions of upcoming games.
Hosting the Perfect Halo 3 LAN Party With Friends: A Complete Guide
Halo 3 on Xbox, a dozen players, and a whole night ahead: that's the ideal scenario to rediscover why Bungie defined split-screen multiplayer for a decade. But running a proper LAN session with Xbox consoles requires preparation. What hardware do you need, which modes should you prioritize, and how do you structure the night so nobody gets bored? A practical guide to a gaming format that deserves a comeback.
007 First Light: IO Interactive Reinvents Bond Before Launch — Our Hands-On
IO Interactive has dropped the first playable footage of 007 First Light, and it's a surprise: the studio behind the World of Assassination trilogy isn't just recycling its Hitman formula. This new entry attempts to build a credible origin story for James Bond, balancing surgical infiltration with unrestrained action. After several hours with the game, here's what stands out — and what still gives us pause.
007 First Light Preview: IO Interactive Finally Shows Its Hand, and It's Solid
Less than a month before launch, IO Interactive finally let journalists play 007 First Light for over three hours. First takeaway: the studio clearly knows what it's doing with Bond. The formula is accessible, readable, effective — perhaps a bit too cautious in places, but the foundation is there. Here's what stood out from this preview that raises as many questions as it answers.
007 First Light: IO Interactive Reveals Its Assassin Sandbox — And It's Ambitious
IO Interactive isn't recycling its Hitman playbook: 007 First Light shapes up as a complete overhaul of the spy sandbox, with gameplay mechanics built around a young, impulsive Bond—still learning the ropes. Infiltration, hand-to-hand combat, gadgets, freedom of approach—everything seems in place. But between a polished trailer and a game that delivers on its promises, there's a gap only launch day will close. A close look at what IO is showing, and what it's still holding back.
007 First Light: Opening Sequence Revealed at BAFTAs, and It Impresses
IO Interactive used the BAFTA Game Awards to unveil the opening sequence of 007 First Light, featuring a theme by Lana Del Rey and David Arnold. A bold choice that immediately sets the title apart from typical licensed games. First impressions on what could be the most ambitious Bond game since GoldenEye 007 in 1997.
Phasmophobia x Alan Wake: Remedy Shines a Light on Ghost Hunting
Phasmophobia finally emerges from early access limbo with an unexpected collaboration: Remedy Entertainment lends Alan Wake's universe to Kinetic Games' cooperative ghost-hunting experience. A crossover blending psychological horror and paranormal investigation for a limited time. On paper, the partnership is enticing. But how worthwhile is this venture into Bright Falls' darkness for a game still struggling to find its footing?
Metro 2039 Is Real — First Impressions of 4A's Next Underground Epic
After years of rumors and radio silence, 4A Games has made it official: Metro 2039 is coming, and an Xbox-hosted reveal stream is set to drop later this week. We break down everything we know about the next chapter in one of gaming's most atmospheric franchises — what the announcement signals, what the setting might mean, and whether 4A can recapture the suffocating tension that made Exodus a modern classic.
Fable: Playground Games Nails It — Albion Is Back
Two hours of gameplay previewed at Cambridge. British humor, a generous open world, and a Fable that remembers why we loved the series in the first place.