Gaming
State of Play 2024: Death Stranding 2, Judas, Rise of the Ronin
And a lot more!
Right as January ends, Sony has hosted its first State of Play for the year. As always, the PlayStation has a lot teases for its upcoming games. If you missed the showcase, here’s a quick rundown of the biggest trailers from the event.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Though the new title was the last one announced during the event, it took center stage, taking up 10 minutes of the approximately 45-minute event. The long trailer gave the most comprehensive look at the upcoming sequel.
Humanity is still in danger. Sam (Norman Reedus) is back to undertake a new expedition beyond the United Cities of America. With him are new companions, starring Léa Seydoux, Elle Fanning, and Troy Baker.
There’s not much else to say about the game. As always, Death Stranding 2 is… unusual, to say the least. The trailer features another baby, a talking doll, new enemies, and the wackiest battle scene featuring a Joker-like enemy with an electric guitar as a weapon.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to launch in 2025.
Silent Hill: The Short Message
Surprise, surprise. As soon as State of Play ended, Konami released a new Silent Hill game absolutely free to play. The short-form title, Silent Hill: The Short Message features a new protagonist navigating through a terrifying building. A beacon in the light in the darkness, she has a phone which constantly buzzes her with text messages.
Again, it’s free and available now. Besides the new title, Konami also teased new footage for the upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake.
Until Dawn Remake
Horror seems like the main focus of this January’s State of Play. Sony announced that it is developing a remake of the popular horror title Until Dawn. Featuring branching choices and multiple endings, players are faced with tough decisions on who gets to live or die.
A bright spot in 2015, the original title had stellar performances from Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere. It will be rebuilt for the PlayStation 5 and PC later this year.
Metro Awakening
Capping off the event’s horror section, Metro Awakening brings players back to post-apocalyptic Moscow. Featuring a new story set before the events of Metro 2033, Awakening will set players into the shoes of Serdar, a doctor in search of his missing wife.
As usual, the title will have human and otherworldly enemies. Adding to the horror, the game will be available through PS VR2. It’s coming later this year.
Judas
It’s been a while since the Bioshock series. Though Irrational Games has since been rebranded to Ghost Story Games, the studio has not forgotten its roots. In Judas, players are once again trapped in an experimental city. This time, it’s the Mayflower, a seafaring city where social boundaries are frayed by constant snooping on one another.
Plus, rather than focus on plain shoot-em-ups, Judas will feature more character work. Through their actions, players can influence whom they get close to. It also has a similar power system like the Bioshock series.
Judas is scheduled to launch in 2025.
Rise of the Ronin
Sekiro, Nioh, Ghost of Tsushima. These three games brought medieval Japan to life on modern systems. Now, the creators of Nioh, Team Ninja is back with Rise of the Ronin. The game is set in 19th-century Japan, a time when the historically isolated country started opening its borders to Western trade.
As such, besides just the normal fare of Japanese tools, players will also have access to Western-influenced tools such as a flamethrower-esque Fire Pipe. Traversal is likewise augmented with a grappling rope and the Avicula, an air glider.
Rise of the Ronin launches on March 22.
Dave the Diver x Godzilla
Dave the Diver was one of the standout titles of 2023. The fishing-slash-restaurant simulator is back with a new partnership to add more content to the game. Coming in May, the game will host Japan’s favorite kaiju, Godzilla. The kaiju will join the forces from Dredge as welcome additions to the small title.
And one other thing…
Before the State of Play ended, Hideo Kojima appeared in the flesh to deliver exciting news from Kojima Productions. To celebrate the developer’s 40th anniversary of his game production work, Kojima is returning to the action-espionage genre.
Sounds familiar? For the first time since Metal Gear Solid V, Kojima is revisiting the genre that earned him so much popularity. Naturally, Kojima can’t use the Metal Gear Solid franchise itself. As such, the upcoming game, currently named PHYSINT, will be an original IP.
Kojima also teases that the title will be a massive bridge between film and video games. He also says that it is the “culmination of my work.”
Gaming setups don’t have to look like dedicated gaming rooms. IKEA and Xbox are making that easier with their new YXSTABY collection.
The nine-piece collection combines IKEA’s furniture design expertise with Xbox’s understanding of gaming. It brings together functional furniture and playful accessories inspired by Xbox controllers.
IKEA launched the collection in the Philippines on November 4 at its Pasay showroom. The event featured interactive room setups that demonstrated how the furniture fits into everyday homes.
The launch also included a cosplay runway inspired by IKEA’s iconic blue and yellow FRAKTA bag. Guests explored immersive gaming stations and experienced the collection firsthand.
Gaming furniture designed for everyday homes
YXSTABY addresses the challenges of fitting gaming setups into shared living spaces. Its furniture supports different gaming positions while keeping accessories organized.
The gaming lounge chair accommodates both forward-leaning gameplay and relaxed reclining positions. A rolling side table keeps gaming accessories within reach.
The collection also includes flexible storage for cables and accessories. Its felt inserts protect stored items, while its foldable design doubles as a laptop stand.
Families can also move their gaming setups between rooms. A TV stand with castors makes it easier to relocate equipment without dedicating an entire room to gaming.
Xbox controller-inspired accessories
Xbox’s influence extends beyond the collection’s gaming furniture. Several accessories take inspiration from familiar controller elements.
The Gaming D-pad cushion recreates the controller’s distinctive directional button. A stainless steel platter also borrows its design from the D-pad.
Another standout is the tilting thumbstick stool, which takes inspiration from an Xbox controller’s analog stick. A mirrored display box gives collectors a dedicated space for controllers and other gaming memorabilia.
Bringing gaming into Filipino homes
IKEA Philippines Sales Leader May Castillo highlighted the collection’s relevance to local households.
She pointed to the Philippines’ strong gaming culture and the country’s high engagement with video games across different devices.
IKEA Philippines Selling Manager Sarah Cox said the collection draws inspiration from Xbox controllers and how gamers actually play. It also incorporates IKEA’s playful approach to furniture design.
The collaboration brings together two brands with different strengths. IKEA understands how people use their living spaces, while Xbox understands what players need from their gaming setups.
The result is furniture that makes gaming more convenient without making the rest of the home feel like a gaming room.
Can you believe that it’s been over eight years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI. Since then, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the upcoming title. Today, the studio has mercifully revealed a tiny bit more about the game including its title and setting.
Historically, the Elder Scrolls franchise is not known for its numbering. It’s not The Elder Scrolls III, IV, and V; it’s Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Now, we know what The Elder Scrolls VI will be called — Sentinel.
The name is also a huge clue as to where the game will take place. Besides being the name of the game itself, Sentinel is also the capital of Hammerfell, a region in northwest Tamriel. The teaser, which shows a sword being uncovered from a pile of sand, confirms this. After all, the Alik’r Desert is one of the region’s highlights.
Now, Hammerfell is not a new region for players. The region, especially the titular Sentinel, was previously featured in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. Obviously, not a lot of gamers would have played this classic game before, so a return will introduce the region to a lot more modern players.
Unfortunately, despite throwing us a bone with the name and the setting, Bethesda did not reveal when the title is coming. Given that Grand Theft Auto VI is launching very soon, the time is ripe for the launch of another much-awaited title.
SEE ALSO: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is out now
Riot Games is celebrating the return of virtual K-pop group K/DA with new music, exclusive skins, and major gameplay updates in League of Legends: Wild Rift Patch 7.3.
After a six-year hiatus, K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER, the group’s newest track and the title track of an EP featuring three additional songs. The release marks a new chapter for the virtual group, which brings its latest musical era to the mobile MOBA through the new HEATBRINGER skinline.
To celebrate the comeback, Riot Games hosted FIRE IT UP: The K/DA Comeback Party in the Philippines. The event brought fans together for a listening party featuring music from across Riot Games’ virtual acts, live Wild Rift gameplay, community activities, and exclusive photo opportunities.
Attendees also experienced live AAA ARAM matches featuring gameplay disruptions and augments inspired by Riot Games’ musical universe, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.
K/DA returns with new HEATBRINGER skins
The K/DA comeback introduces the HEATBRINGER skinline, featuring new looks for the group’s four original members: Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa.
The skins give the champions a new visual identity inspired by K/DA’s latest musical era, with fiery red and white elements that bring their stage presence to the Rift.
The collection also includes Prestige K/DA HEATBRINGER Evelynn.
The new skins are exclusive to Wild Rift and are scheduled to launch on November 4, 2026.
The comeback extends beyond the cosmetics. With FIRESTARTER and its accompanying EP now available on major music streaming platforms, K/DA’s return brings together Riot Games’ music and gaming communities.
Wild Rift Patch 7.3 overhauls marksmen and item builds
Beyond the K/DA celebration, Patch 7.3 introduces significant gameplay changes that reshape champion builds, jungle strategies, and objective control.
One of the biggest changes targets marksmen, giving critical-strike builds more room to scale. Base critical-strike damage increases from 175% to 200%, while the attack-speed cap rises from 2.5 to 3 attacks per second.
Several marksmen also receive individual adjustments, including Ezreal, Kai’Sa, Twitch, Lucian, Caitlyn, Draven, Miss Fortune, Samira, Zeri, Jinx, Vayne, and Ashe.
The item system gets an overhaul to support these changes. Players can explore new or redesigned options, including Hexoptics, Yun Tal Wildarrows, Fiendhuler Bolts, Stormrazor, Rapid Firecannon, and Immortal Shieldbow.
Lifesteal also receives changes intended to support basic attacks, on-hit damage, and abilities treated as basic attacks.
Support items are part of the update, too. Echoes of Helia is positioned toward offensive supports who want to convert damage into healing, while Ardent Censer, Staff of Flowing Water, and Harmonic Echo also receive changes.
Jungle changes reward efficient farming
Patch 7.3 also changes how junglers approach the early and mid-game.
The updated jungle system rewards consistent camp clearing with bonus gold and introduces a catch-up mechanic for junglers who fall behind. This reduces the pressure to constantly gank and encourages players to balance farming with opportunities to assist their teammates.
Clearing camps also progresses Ecosystem Protection stacks, allowing Smite to scale from 600 to 1,000 and eventually 1,400 true damage.
These changes make efficient farming more important when preparing to secure major objectives such as Baron Nashor, Rift Herald, and Dragons.
Epic monsters also adjust to the pace of each match, scaling according to the average player level rather than simply growing stronger as time passes.
Turrets receive substantial changes as well. Plating now extends to outer, inner, and inhibitor turrets and remains permanently. The new Crystalline Overgrowth mechanic lets turrets accumulate crystals that champions can detonate with their first basic attack.
Together, these changes place greater emphasis on lane pressure, defensive positioning, and coordinated pushes. Winning team fights remains important, but teams must also turn their advantages into meaningful objective damage.
Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai join the roster
Patch 7.3 expands the champion roster with three additions: Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai.
Hwei, the Visionary, brings a flexible set of abilities to the mid lane. His Subject: Disaster, Subject: Serenity, and Subject: Torment ability groups give him tools for dealing damage, supporting allies, and controlling opponents.
Sylas offers explosive damage and crowd control. His kit includes an ability that pulls enemies into a stun-to-knock-up combination, while Kingslayer restores health based on his missing health. His ultimate lets him steal an enemy champion’s ultimate ability.
Rek’Sai brings another approach to initiating team fights. Her Unburrow ability knocks up nearby champions, while her ultimate helps her track nearby enemies before striking.
These additions give players more options for adapting their team compositions and strategies.
Ranked play and game modes get updates
Competitive players also get changes to Ranked and Legendary Ranked.
The S/A and MVP scoring systems now evaluate performance according to a player’s lane and champion role instead of relying on a single universal metric. Strong performances can also yield more Ranked energy.
Legendary Ranked receives adjustments to its seasonal entry requirements for former Grand Masters, alongside a new trial format designed to help top performers advance from Legendary Commander Rank.
Players looking for something different can also try Rift Rumble, a new 3v3 mode played on a symmetrical map. Teams battle for kills and compete to capture ultimate stones that can change how their champions secure eliminations.
Meanwhile, AAA Realm continues to evolve with a music-themed season and new augment cards. These include Sonic Waves, which draws inspiration from Riot Games’ musical acts, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.
A new era for K/DA and Wild Rift
With FIRESTARTER, the HEATBRINGER skins, and a sweeping gameplay update, Patch 7.3 connects Riot Games’ music and gaming communities through a shared celebration.
K/DA’s return gives fans a new soundtrack and fresh looks for their favorite champions, while the gameplay changes introduce new ways to approach champion builds, jungle farming, and map control.
Players can follow Wild Rift Philippines’ official social media channels for updates on the latest patch, champion releases, and in-game content.
K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER.
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