Gaming

State of Play 2024: Death Stranding 2, Judas, Rise of the Ronin

And a lot more!

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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

The Blood of Dawnwalker launches September 3

With new gameplay, story details

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The Blood of Dawnwalker

Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco Entertainment have revealed a fresh wave of details for The Blood of Dawnwalker, confirming its release on September 3, 2026.

The upcoming dark fantasy open-world action RPG is headed to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with pre-orders now live across digital storefronts and retail. The announcement came alongside the game’s “Road to Launch” event, which packed in new gameplay footage, story reveals, and system requirements.

Story, gameplay, and a deeper look at Vale Sangora

A new story trailer introduces key characters surrounding protagonist Coen, a Dawnwalker caught between humanity and vampirism. Set in the fictional Vale Sangora in the Carpathian Mountains, the game leans heavily into choice-driven storytelling, where allies, enemies, and outcomes shift depending on player decisions.

Rebel Wolves also showcased over 10 minutes of gameplay captured from a recent PC build. The footage highlights narrative-driven exploration, where uncovering secrets and completing activities can unlock abilities or alter how events unfold. The core idea is simple: every action carries consequences, shaping both the story and the state of the world.

Developers including Piotr Kucharski, Daria Bury-Zawada, Maciej Wiśniewski, and Dorota Rutkowska also broke down key systems and design philosophies in a new dev diary.

Motion capture, editions, and system requirements revealed

A behind-the-scenes segment featured former UFC champion Jan Błachowicz, who contributed motion capture work for Bakir, one of the game’s antagonists. His involvement adds a layer of realism to combat, with a focus on weight and impact in every strike.

Rebel Wolves also detailed multiple editions of the game. Alongside the standard digital version and retail Day One Edition, players can opt for the Eclipse Edition, which includes bonuses like a world compendium, soundtrack, and comic book. A Collector’s Edition will also be available in limited quantities.

Official PC system requirements were likewise shared during the event, giving players a clearer idea of what hardware they’ll need to run the game.

A dark fantasy journey shaped by choice

Set in 14th-century Europe during a time of war and plague, The Blood of Dawnwalker follows Coen’s struggle against Brencis, a powerful vampire lord ruling over Vale Sangora. As a Dawnwalker, Coen walks a fine line between two worlds, gaining unique abilities while dealing with the cost that comes with them.

Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game emphasizes player agency, blending open-world exploration with branching narrative paths. Whether forming alliances or facing off against enemies, every decision feeds back into how the story unfolds.

The Blood of Dawnwalker launches September 3 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

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Gaming

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo out now on Switch 2 and Xbox

Free demo now live

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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is making its way to more players, and you can jump in right now.

Square Enix has released a free playable demo for the acclaimed RPG on Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox on PC. Better yet, your progress carries over to the full game when it launches on June 3, 2026.

The demo includes Chapters 1 and 2, giving players a substantial slice of the experience right from the start.

A look at the opening chapters

Chapter 1 revisits one of the most pivotal moments in the story — the Nibelheim incident. You take control of a younger Cloud alongside Sephiroth as they investigate a mysterious outbreak of monsters. It’s a story beat longtime fans will recognize, but still hits hard with its modern presentation.

Chapter 2 opens things up. Cloud and the crew step into the Grasslands, where the game starts to flex its scale. Expect a mix of combat encounters, exploration, side activities, and even the in-game card battler Queen’s Blood.

Combat blends real-time action with command-based strategy, now enhanced with Synergy Abilities. The demo also introduces “Streamlined Progression” options like unlimited HP/MP and faster ability unlocks, letting players focus more on the story if they choose.

Pre-orders and physical bonuses

Pre-orders are now open across platforms, with a 20% discount available until June 10, 2026.

Digital editions come with in-game bonuses like Summoning Materia, armor sets, and accessories. Meanwhile, early buyers of the Nintendo Switch 2 physical edition get a little extra — a collectible Magic: The Gathering–Final Fantasy Zack Fair card featuring variant art by Tetsuya Nomura, available while supplies last.

Preparing for the final chapter

Set beyond Midgar, Rebirth follows Cloud and his allies — including Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and Red XIII — as they pursue Sephiroth across a wider world. New companions like Yuffie and Cait Sith join the journey, adding more personality and dynamics to the party.

Already released on PlayStation 5 and PC, the game has racked up over 125 perfect review scores and more than 40 Game of the Year awards. With its arrival on Switch 2 and Xbox, the remake trilogy is now nearly fully playable across modern platforms.

That puts more players in position for what’s next: the third and final installment, which is currently in development.

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Gaming

Level Infinite launches Gangstar Mirage City exclusively in PH

A blend of high-speed street racing, exploration, more

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Level Infinite has launched a brand new mobile title exclusively available in the Philippines: Gangstar Mirage City.

Players can enjoy a blend of freedom, action, and dynamic gameplay in the free-to-play multiplayer open-world mobile game.

It is set in a near-future metropolis of Rooklyn, where thrilling action, player choice, and unpredictable moments collide.

Mirage City is the latest chapter in Gameloft’s renowned Gangstar franchise, with more than 250 million registered users.

It brings an expansive open-world gameplay to mobile, powered by high-fidelity graphics and detailed environments tailored for mobile play.

At its core, Mirage City is about freedom. As such, players can alternate between story-driven content and free-form exploration. They can navigate the city, build an empire, and define a personal journey.

There’s high-speed street racing, explosive encounters, and dynamic city events. Moreover, there is deep customization across vehicles, properties, and lifestyle, plus a wide range of activities in-game.

Being a Philippines-exclusive, title, the open-world RPG supports Tagalog text as well to bring the experience closer to its audience.

For now, the game is available for download via Google Play for Android devices.

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