Gaming

Until Dawn PS5 review

A thrilling, interactive horror experience

Published

November 14, 2024

Bernard Rivera

Story. That’s the strongest point of Until Dawn. If there’s any reason to play this game, it’s for the masterful storytelling. Imagine watching an A-rated horror/suspense flick where you control the fate of every character. The game consists of ten chapters, a prologue, and intermissions between each chapter.

The quick prologue serves as a tutorial, introducing the characters, controls, and how decisions impact the story. It sets the tone and establishes the stakes.

Chapter by chapter

The first chapter does a great job of introducing the characters and their relationships. I could see how everyone is distinct from each other; their unique perspectives and insights guided my choices. Whenever I faced a major decision, I’d think about what this character would do, rather than what I would do, which I think was exactly what the developers intended. My first playthrough made me feel biased toward some characters, naturally affecting my decisions.

Chapters two and three build suspense with jealousy, threats, abductions, loss, and deception, one after another. Questions start piling up—who did this, why did that happen, and what’s going on? This is also where I began to form my own theories, constantly trying to piece things together.

Chapters four to six are the most gripping parts of the story. Some questions are answered through notes, evidence, and clues scattered around, though each answer often brings more questions. The pacing between different characters’ stories is exceptionally done, keeping the tension high.

The final chapters are amazing. They wrap up the story satisfyingly, answering my questions and debunking my theories. Although I was disappointed, I couldn’t save one particular character at the end, the conclusion felt rewarding.

Overall, I enjoyed the emotional highs and lows of the story. The jump scares were intense—my wife, watching beside me, would slap my arm every time one popped up. It’s like an interactive mix of Cabin in the Woods, IT, and Saw.

Visually haunting

I played the PS5 remastered version and it’s gorgeous. The breathtaking views of Blackwood Mountain left me in awe, and the attention to detail throughout the game is incredible. From falling snow particles to drenched clothing and realistic footprints in the snow, every element adds to the atmosphere.

The character redesigns are especially well done. Bloody cuts, scratches, and dirt accumulate realistically, and even their clothes become tattered, stained, and soaked over time, which is a great touch. I was particularly impressed by the finer details, like how blood interacts with characters’ hair, the misty fog that you see when the character breathes in and out the cold air, the visible veins on their hands, and even the subtle fuzz on the fabric. Each of these small details really enhances the sense of realism.

In one memorable scene, a character is taking a bath, and the water effects on their skin are surreal. When the scene transitioned to gameplay, I was surprised to see that effect persist, with the light catching droplets on their skin, making them glimmer. This level of detail is truly commendable.

Sound’s scary

The audio in this game is incredible. The voice acting is top-notch; Rami Malek’s portrayal of Josh is impressive, Hayden Panettiere performance is noteworthy, and Peter Stormare is iconic. The casting is spot-on.

The music does a great job of setting the mood and intensifying the atmosphere of each scene. It may not be memorable in terms of a traditional soundtrack, but it certainly makes your heart pound.

The sound effects—screeches, footsteps, gusting wind—all enhance the game’s polish.

Each decision carries weight

If you’ve never played an interactive novel before, you might wonder: did I really play the game, or did I just watch it while occasionally pressing buttons?

Until Dawn’s gameplay combines QTE (quick-time event) cutscenes and third-person exploration. It might sound a bit dull, but when you realize that every decision you make impacts the story, even small choices feel significant. The weight of each button press is intense when a single decision could mean life or death for a character.

Sure, the game may only ask you to press L2 or R2, but when L2 could kill your love interest and R2 could kill your childhood best friend, those buttons start to feel pretty meaningful.

This is where the game truly shines. The decisions you have to make feel important. Sometimes you have ample time to consider your choice, but other times you only have seconds. Then there are moments when the only real choice is not to choose at all.

Premonition totems

One feature I’m not entirely a fan of is the premonition totems. These collectible totems are scattered throughout the game, showing you premonitions of future events—death, fortune, and other significant outcomes. While I enjoy collectibles in games, knowing a potential death scene in a game where decisions matter feels like it influences my choices or pushes me to avoid certain outcomes. Plus, the characters don’t react to these visions, making me think the premonitions are shown only to the player.

For instance, there’s a death totem where a character is shot, and when I reached that decision, I was torn. The totem seemed to suggest I should shoot her, but I still had the choice not to. Even though I disliked the character and wanted her to die, the premonition made me feel as though her fate was already sealed.

Is this your GameMatch?

Until Dawn isn’t just a game; it’s a thrilling, interactive horror experience that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story, graphics, and audio all come together to create an intense journey where every decision matters. If you’re a fan of horror, this game is well worth your time.

Gaming

Valve unveils price of the Steam Frame

The VR headset starts at US$ 1,059.

Published

September 15, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The trifecta is complete. Almost a year after announcing their new hardware, Valve has finally unveiled the price tag of the Steam Frame, complementing the Steam Machine and Steam Controller revealed a few months ago.

Whereas the Steam Machine is a console of its own, the Steam Frame is a traditional VR headset with a pair of controllers for both hands. Unfortunately, despite being in a different segment, the headset is not immune to the rising prices of technology. The Steam Frame will start at US$ 1,059 for a 256GB model and can go up to US$ 1,299 for the 1TB model. On the plus side, each box will come Half-Life: Alyx packaged along with the headset.

Here’s a more detailed rundown of what you’re getting. The Steam Frame will ship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 16GB of RAM. Each eye comes with a 2160 x 2160 LCD screen, putting out images at up t0 a 144Hz experimental refresh rate. As mentioned above, the headset will start with 256GB of storage but can go up to 2TB. It will come packaged with SteamOS 3 and a rechargeable 21.6Wh battery.

This might be a hard buy for some. The industry currently has more affordable options, for one. Also, virtual reality isn’t the most thriving segment of gaming today.

If you’re still decided on buying one, however, Valve is using its lottery system. Interested customers can sign up from now until September 17. The company will then randomize the purchasing order. Those who draw the first ones in the lottery can get a purchase email as soon as September 18. Meanwhile, anyone who registers after September 17 will automatically be put at the back of the queue.

Gaming

BlizzCon 2026 announces World of Warcraft: Forever and Diablo V

StarCraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more also get news

Published

September 14, 2026

GadgetMatch

Blizzard Entertainment kicked off BlizzCon 2026 with a packed Opening Ceremony featuring new games, major expansions, updates, and other announcements across its biggest franchises.

Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries opened the event at the Anaheim Convention Center, celebrating the community behind the company’s games and the teams that bring its worlds to life.

World of Warcraft: Forever and Diablo V

The biggest announcement was World of Warcraft: Forever, a new World of Warcraft experience launching November 5 AEDT, with its beta beginning September 18 AEST. The new experience will feature three zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids, and a new Skyborne race.

Blizzard also officially announced Diablo V, marking the next era of the franchise. The game is set to launch in North America in Spring 2029, with Sanctuary having fallen and Diablo having won.

StarCraft is also returning with a new story-driven, open-world shooter. The game is currently planned for a Spring 2030 release in North America.

Beyond games, Blizzard revealed that an animated series set in the Diablo universe is in development with Netflix. The company says this is only the beginning of its plans to expand its universes beyond gaming.

For Warcraft III Reforged, the new Forsaken Kingdom campaign is available today. It marks the Warcraft RTS series’ first new storyline in more than 23 years and explores the fall of Lordaeron and the origins of the Undercity. The accompanying 3.0 update also brings graphical improvements and a revamped World Editor.

Heroes of the Storm is adding Xal’atath as its newest Hero. She arrives in the Nexus on September 29 AEST, with her PTR release scheduled for September 15 AEST.

Existing games updates

Meanwhile, Diablo IV is preparing for its next major content drop. Season of Hell’s Legacy begins September 16 AEST and celebrates the franchise’s 30-year history with the return of the Prime Evils and Deckard Cain, alongside themed rewards and gear.

The legendary Amazon class will also arrive in the first half of 2027 as part of Diablo IV’s first class pack. The Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection is additionally coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 16 AEST with cross-platform play and cross-progression.

For World of Warcraft, Blizzard teased the next major update for Midnight. Eclipse (12.2) will see Xal’atath move closer to her goal of claiming Azeroth’s Worldsoul. Blizzard also offered another look at The Last Titan, the next expansion in the Worldsoul Saga and a major culmination of more than two decades of Warcraft storytelling. More information is coming early next year.

Overwatch is getting a major update with Season 5. The season introduces new Support Hero Doctrine, reworks for Sombra and Roadhog, and the new Watchpoint: Grimsvötn map. It will also conclude The Reign of Talon, Overwatch’s first year-long narrative arc.

LE SSERAFIM & YOASABI

BlizzCon also featured performances from YOASOBI and LE SSERAFIM. YOASOBI will perform during the first-ever esports halftime show at BlizzCon, while LE SSERAFIM will return to the Main Stage to close the weekend. A new LE SSERAFIM in-game collaboration is available now, with another Overwatch Spotlight scheduled for February 2027.

Finally, Hearthstone is getting its first new class in more than six years. The Monk arrives in 2027, while the upcoming Reign of the Black Empire expansion takes players back to the earliest age of Azeroth. It introduces the Assemble keyword, which combines two cards into a new one. Battlegrounds is also adding Aberrations as a new minion type.

BlizzCon 2026 is now underway, with Blizzard promising more announcements and details throughout the weekend.

Gaming

Xbox saves Kojima’s PHYSINT after PlayStation drops support

PlayStation says the separation was mutual, but Kojima hints otherwise.

Published

September 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Things aren’t going well in the PlayStation camp. After two months of frankly questionable decisions, the company adds another to the pile by dropping support for Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT.

For a while now, Kojima and PlayStation were in a very productive relationship with the Death Stranding duology, a critically acclaimed collection of titles for the platform. When things looked like they were going well, Kojima announced PHYSINT, an espionage-themed game which reminded fans way too much of Metal Gear Solid.

If you were investing in a PlayStation 5 to play Kojima’s latest thriller, you might want to move your chips elsewhere now. PlayStation has just dropped support for the espionage game, meaning PHYSINT will no longer be a first-party title for the platform.

Though PlayStation claims that the decision came after “careful consideration,” Kojima himself has said that the move was “unexpected,” going against PlayStation’s assurance of a mutual separation.

Very quickly, Xbox has announced that their platform will support PHYSINT instead. It’s a big get for the competing brand because Xbox Game Studios is already supporting OD, Kojima’s other upcoming horror project starring Sophia Lillis.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say more. As is tradition, Kojima will not explain much more about his upcoming titles. In fact, OD’s trailer barely says anything. One thing’s for sure, though: we’re all in for quite a ride.