Gaming

Assassin’s Creed remake made a huge mistake cutting the best part of Black Flag

• Black Flag remake Resynced cuts the original's modern-day Abstergo storyline.
• The writer says this removes the game's sharpest satire.
• Ubisoft may have cut it as it now resembles Abstergo.

A Polygon writer argues that Ubisoft's new remake, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, undermines the 2013 original by removing its present-day storyline. While praising the remake's respectful gameplay touch-ups — from naval battles to island treasure hunting — the author contends that stripping out the modern-day sequences leaves…

Black Flag Resynced’s tough combat reminds me of a very unexpected other Assassin’s Creed game

• Black Flag Resynced features demanding parry-and-dodge combat that modernises the original whilst keeping its hitbox-based roots
• The hidden blade execution system remains satisfying, and the overall combat difficulty now rivals or exceeds other Assassin's Creed entries including Unity

Now Playing | Close enough – welcome back, Assassin's Creed Unity

Rhythm-based Nintendo Switch game as quiet gaming week rounded up

• Nintendo Life's weekend feature recaps a quiet gaming week.
• Original Switch sales to end in Europe from 2027 over battery laws.
• Rhythm Heaven Groove sold nearly 400,000 copies in Japan.

Nintendo Life's regular "What Are You Playing This Weekend?" feature (11th July) rounds up a relatively quiet week in gaming, noting that the wider industry is still adjusting to recent moves by Sony and Microsoft. Alongside the light-hearted commentary, the piece flags several notable Nintendo developments before the…

Donkey Kong Arcade Set Surfaces In New LEGO Leak, Here’s A First Look

• LEGO announces Donkey Kong Arcade construction set with 1,367 pieces
• Priced at $200 USD with August launch date
• Continues LEGO's expansion into Nintendo gaming properties

It's on like Donkey Kong! Last month, Nintendo teased a brand-new Lego Donkey Kong set via the Nintendo Today app. In an update, it seems we've now got our first look via a leak. According to a photo doing the rounds online, this new set is based on…

Sony Santa Monica confirms “God of War Laufey will be available on disc” despite PlayStation’s war on physical

• Sony Santa Monica confirmed God of War Laufey will release on physical disc
• Significant because PlayStation is phasing out disc production and PS6 will be digital-only
• Implies the game launches before next-gen console, appealing to physical media collectors

Save a PS5 game case-sized spot for God of War Laufey on your shelf

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sells 2 million copies in 1 day and achieves the ‘highest concurrent player count ever recorded for an Assassin’s Creed title’ on Steam

• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sold 2 million copies in its first 24 hours
• The remastered 13-year-old title achieved record Steam player counts, exceeding newer franchise entries like Assassin's Creed Shadows

The kids love Kenway.

10 Best Metroidvania Video Games of All Time

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Metroid Prime, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night are all among the best Metroidvania games of all time.

Microsoft rejects claims H-1B visas drove Xbox job cuts

• Microsoft denies H-1B visas were behind its Xbox layoffs.
• Cited visa numbers were routine renewals, not new hires.
• Cuts total 1,600 now, around 3,200 within a year.

Microsoft has denied that H-1B foreign-worker visa approvals played any role in its recent Xbox job cuts, with communications chief Frank X. Shaw dismissing reports linking the two as "bad information". The clarification counters a widely circulated narrative suggesting the company was cutting domestic staff in order to…