Previews
14 article(s)Hands-on previews and first impressions of upcoming games.
Xbox at a Crossroads: Halo French Dub, Fable, The Wolf Among Us 2, and Mara
This past gaming week sent mixed signals about Xbox's platform health: a controversial French dub for Halo Campaign Evolved, Fable still struggling to prove itself, The Wolf Among Us 2 resurfacing, and the mysterious Mara emerging. Behind these scattered updates lies a fundamental question: does Microsoft still know where it's headed?
Halo Campaign Evolved: A Reassuring Grip on a Remake That's Found Its Way Back
Two missions played in advance, and already the impression that Halo Studios understood what Infinite missed. The Silent Cartographer and the control room command regain their original tension in a remake that goes far beyond a fresh coat of paint. The question is no longer whether Halo can return — it's already happening. What remains is verifying that the promise holds up over time, because a few hours don't make a full review.
Halo Campaign Evolved: Hands-On with a Sequel Unlike Anything Else
Twenty-five years after Combat Evolved, Microsoft and Halo Studios are back with a title that carries the legendary name without being a simple remaster. Arriving July 28 on Xbox Series, PS5, and PC, Halo Campaign Evolved has been placed in the hands of the press. First impression verdict: the project is ambitious, occasionally surprising, and carries a genuine gameplay proposition—but also raises some questions worth asking before launch.
Hitman Classic Trilogy Remastered: What the Original Three Games Teach Modern Assassins
Saber Interactive resurrects the first three Hitman games in a remastered collection arriving at the perfect moment. With IO Interactive riding high on 007 First Light's success and World of Assassination's Freelancer Mode still evolving, it's time to look back. What did Codename 47, Silent Assassin, and Contracts invent that the World of Assassination trilogy sometimes left behind? An in-depth preview of a collection that deserves far more than just nostalgia.
Ragnarok Console Project: The Multiplayer Roguelite Hits All Platforms
A surprise from Japan: Ragnarok Console Project launches simultaneously on PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Behind this rebooted title lies a multiplayer roguelite built for group sessions, drawing from the Norse mythology of the Ragnarok Online franchise while carving its own identity. First impressions on a project that could shake up cooperative action-RPGs.
007 First Light: IO Interactive Invents Bond Before Bond — First Impressions
IO Interactive temporarily leaves the sterile corridors of a luxury hotel for the slippery terrain of espionage in training. 007 First Light promises to tell a story no one had dared tackle seriously: the genesis of a cold killer, before the tuxedo, before the martini, before the legend. Does the studio behind Hitman have what it takes to carry James Bond without betraying either the franchise or its own DNA? First impressions on an editorial gamble as ambitious as it is risky.
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?