Steam Deck Related News
Steam Deck Related News
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Final Fantasy VII Remake Feels Comfortable on Switch 2
Final Fantasy VII Remake Feels Comfortable on Switch 2 With Final Fantasy VII Remake , deciding on the Switch 2 version of the game isn’t as simple as it coming down to the best way to go portable with the JRPG. The PC version runs pretty well on a Steam Deck! Instead, other factors come together with that element to making this release feel valuable. The handheld option is a small part. There is it being a fully complete package, due to the Intergrade Intermission DLC inclusion and Streamlined Progression launching alongside it. It’s getting to play this updated version on a Nintendo console. So when everything is pulled together, FFVII Remake feels like an early showcase of what Square Enix can do on a Switch 2 with a game I absolutely loved . It feels worth playing on this system too. As a quick refresher, Final Fantasy VII Remake acts as a retelling of a slice of the original FFVII, with the Switch 2 and other versions focusing on Cloud Strife’s return to Midgar after being away for five years, reuniting with childhood friend Tifa Lockheart, joining her in the revolutionary group Avalanche against Shinra, and dealing with the realization that Sephiroth, the SOLDIER who was his former commander that went rogue, is still alive. This also leads to him meeting the last Ancient, a Cetra named Aerith Gainsborough, and acting as her bodyguard. While in the original game this was probably about 1/6 of the overall adventure, it’s significantly more fleshed out here, and this being the Intergrade release means access to an additional DLC campaign following Wutai ninja and agent Yuffie Kisaragi and her ally Sonon Kusakabe working with another Avalanche branch during that same time period to strike Shinra.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe4TOM6bbL8 One of the first reasons Final Fantasy VII Remake feels like such a success on the Switch 2 is the fact that it looks and runs well on the system. It is at a stable 30fps, which I felt worked really well in handheld mode and stayed consistent. Docked, it seemed to be at 1080p, which isn’t as impressive as the PS5 or PC releases, but I think it still looks good. I primarily chose the portable option when playing, and I didn’t notice any lag freezes, or issues running things. In fact, the battery life seemed comparable to other Switch 2 releases post-launch patches, so it seemed like I’d get a few hours before needing to recharge. Visually, I noticed the downgrade from higher-power platforms to here seems most noticeable when looking at certain textures or elements of character models. Like look at a character’s hair or their face when you’re outside an event scene and in photo mode, and you’ll see it. But in action, it seems more forgivable in action and when in handheld mode due to the resolution and movement.  In that respect, I actually think it performs better on the go than a Steam Deck version of the JRPG. I’d usually only get under two hours before needing to plug in and recharge. With the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake , it seemed like I’d be okay for about three hours. Perhaps it was just luck or the decisions I’d made on a system level with regard to brightness and installations (I installed on the console itself and not a microSD card), but it worked for me. So even though it might not be the sharpest and best looking version of Final Fantasy VII Remake , it looking and running as well as it does on the Switch 2 with this FFVII not being as terrible a battery-drainer does feel like it helps. Screenshots by Siliconera The Streamlined Progression also feels like a positive, though I suspect it might be so more for returning players like myself. These tend to fall into two categories, and each have their merits. As Square Enix mentioned ahead of launch , you can set constant max HP, constant max MP, Limit Gauge always full, ATB gauge always full, and constant max damage as options to speed through situations. I honestly used it both to test how it works and to get through a few sections that would normally take a bit longer so I could try out more of the game ahead of covering it. So, for example, all of Chapter 1, getting through the shortcut in Chapter 9, and heading through the sewers and train graveyard in Chapters 10-11 so I could get back into the more substantial areas.  Meanwhile, the other Streamlined Progression elements added in the Switch 2 version of FFVII Remake and showing up in the PS5 and PC the same date sort of feel like head-start or better position options. Constant max recovery items and constant max gil are both things I turned on as I started the game to ensure I had things, then turned off once I started. Why? So I didn’t need to scour for every chest and could focus on mainlining the story. I could see that being helpful for others too. 2x EXP and 3x AP gain could be good for newcomers or people who, again, want to not worry about any grinding. I found Max Materia Levels helpful once I got to Chapter 11, as by then I had a full party, a good selection of Materia, and wanted to be sure people had what they needed and it was in the best position for my movesets without grinding. Again, it felt like a nice option. Screenshot by Siliconera There are only a handful of things that do make me feel like Final Fantasy VII Remake isn’t as optimal on Switch as it is on the PS5 or PC. The first is an issue that I think could be fixed with a patch, and I’m hoping we see it adjusted. After I hopped into the game, the options already had the game at optimal brightness, 10 out of 10, no wiggle room for HDR Luminence, HDR Brightness, and UI Brightness, and… it all still looked pretty dark at times. I suspect this is something that was unintentional and we could see a post-launch patch address it. Because it did feel like I could have used a little more “brightness” rather than going even darker.  Screenshot by Siliconera The file size issue on Switch 2 is also a big problem for Final Fantasy VII Remake . It’s starting out at needing a ton of space. Even ahead of launch, Square Enix said 95GB minimum is required . This is before any patches. Given this is also a game-key card and not a standard Switch 2 cartridge, it’s a bummer. I would love to leave this on my system for a while and really take my time revisiting and enjoying elements of it. I can’t, because it is huge. And there's no way to fix this, barring Square Enix hopefully realizing that it needs to go with a regular cartridge when Rebirth 's time comes. Final Fantasy VII Remake is a take on FFVII that I really loved and, while the Switch 2 version isn’t the most powerful, it’s still impressive. It works so well on the handheld. The battery doesn’t drain as swiftly as I expected. It looks good in handheld mode. The Streamlined Progression options can make it a walk in the park, but can also offer just a bit of a boost to eliminate grind. It’s handled very well and leaves me feeling encouraged about what Square Enix is capable of when it comes to the Switch 2. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade  will appear on the Switch 2 and Xbox Series X on January 22, 2026, and it is already available on the PS4, PS5, and PC worldwide. The post Final Fantasy VII Remake Feels Comfortable on Switch 2 appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraJan 21
Life is Strange: Reunion Follows Life is Strange: Double Exposure in March
Life is Strange: Reunion Follows Life is Strange: Double Exposure in March Square Enix and Deck Nine confirmed there will be a new Life is Strange game set after Double Exposure . Life is Strange: Reunion will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on March 26, 2026. A $39.99 standard, $49.99 deluxe, and $99.99 collector’s edition will be available, and it will also be possible to get a twin pack that includes the second and third games in the Max Caulfield storyline. Deck Nine also confirmed that both Max and Chloe Price will be playable characters in this entry. Editor’s Note: There will be some spoilers for Life is Strange: Double Exposure in the Reunion announcement below. Life is Strange: Reunion will take place after the events of Double Exposure and take into account both the events of the merged timeline there and the original game. The latest mystery involves an adult Max working as a photography professor at Caledon University as she deals with a fire burning the school to the ground and killing many innocent people. She uses her Rewind ability to undo things and have a chance to solve the mystery so that future never takes place. However, she won’t just be trying to figure out what happened with the three days of borrowed time. Chloe shows up after the rewind and reveals she now is remembering things she shouldn’t and is aware of other timeline events because of the sequel’s events. The two of them together will need to figure out what is going on. Here’s the full Life is Strange: Reunion livestream and reveal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2eHeCKYHJc The most basic versions of the games are both found in the standard and double pack. That gives you either this newest installment alone or it with Double Exposure. If someone gets the Deluxe Edition, it comes with a documentary that features the voice actresses behind Max and Chloe, Hannah Telle and Rhianna DeVries. It also includes a digital art book, comic, and soundtrack. The collector’s edition at the Square Enix Store comes with three art cards of Max and Chloe designed to look like Polaroids, three guitar plectrums, a rewind slipmat for a record player, a Drugstore Makeup poster, and a vinyl soundtrack with 12 songs from the game.  Life is Strange: Reunion will appear on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on March 26, 2026 The post Life is Strange: Reunion Follows Life is Strange: Double Exposure in March appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraJan 20
Review: Heart of Crown Online Is a Faithful Adaptation of the Deck-Building Game
Review: Heart of Crown Online Is a Faithful Adaptation of the Deck-Building Game The Heart of Crown deck-building strategy game is pretty well-established, as the Dominion style drafting title’s been around since 2011 and multiple editions exist . This version, which entered early access in April 2024, is even based on the second edition . If you are familiar with its idea of constantly investing to build up your deck to acquire territory, currency, individuals, and of course a princess to get succession points, then you’re all set. If not, it’s honestly a really good place to start. Heart of Crown Online is set in a world where the line of succession is in question due to the emperor’s death. Because it happened so quickly, he didn’t say which of his seven daughters he’d want to become queen. As an individual in a position to help determine who rules next, you need to build up territory and support to ensure Bergamotte, Flamaria, Klam Klam, Laolily, Lulunasaika, Ohka, or the twins Lain & Shion become the next ruler. If you’re playing a free or ranked match, it’ll be a competition to determine which princess you are able to get and support, but the Scenario Mode involves solo campaigns that help you learn how to play and support each princess.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXrq2xynvVo Scenario Mode is a good place to start, honestly. In standard Heart of Crown Online games, much like similar titles like Dominion and Tanto Cuore , you essentially all start in the same position and your deck-building determines what your cards and strategy looks like. You then build around your princess. For these campaigns, you end up with decks more specifically designed to work with and grow around the princess. It plays in the same way, but I really appreciate how the approach is designed to help introduce you to the princesses you could support as your pick for the kingdom’s new ruler. I will say that an extra editing pass could be used to ensure card effects sound a little less awkward. Things are clear, but I came into Heart of Crown Online having extensively played Tanto Cuore and being familiar with the Dominion formula, and I could see things being a bit confusing for other newcomers. In terms of gameplay, things follow the stable second edition format and make a lot of sense. Your first task in Heart of Crown Online is to get Territories and play them. So you’ll be getting these from the Market at the start to get things like Cities, Towns, and Villages to get currency. When you have enough coins in your realm (6) to nominate one of the princesses, you choose one of the ones available as your potential ruler. In each phase you’ll play cards to your Realm to build up money (lands) or Succession Points (via cards like dukes) to win. You can also take actions against other princesses and the players backing them depending on certain action and Curse cards acquired. If you hit 20 Succession Points or have the most after all of certain types of cards like senators and dukes run out, then you win.  Part of the thing that sets Heart of Crown Online apart is that each princess (or the pair of twin princesses) possesses an ability that affects certain actions in-game. As she’s the oldest princess, Lulunasaika’s ability is that you start with six Succession Points right away and only need 14 to win. Lain & Shion can be especially handy, since you could get tokens that let you take another turn. Bergamotte lets you tap into the discarded cards to get another action card to reuse it. But there are some princesses that are more situational and rely on lucky pulls from your deck, like Laolily and Ohka, which does make picking a royal more challenging in the casual and ranked online matches.  Images via Playism But I will say that aside from some descriptions perhaps needing another pass over to ensure clarity since this is a complex game, this adaptation of Heart of Crown works very well. The UI is clear and the cards are easy to read. Matches worked well, and I didn’t have too much trouble finding someone to play with. It worked well on a handheld gaming PC too.  If you enjoy Dominion, Tanto Cuore, and other kinds of strategic deck-building games, then Heart of Crown Online should be in your library. If the genre is new to you, it’s a good place to start! The concept is entertaining, and the single-player Scenario Mode is a helpful way to learn how to play. Since it also spent time in Steam Early Access, it feels really solid at launch too. Heart of Crown Online is available on PCs, and it will also come to the Switch.  The post Review: Heart of Crown Online Is a Faithful Adaptation of the Deck-Building Game appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraJan 17
Hololive Dreams Mobile Game Will Appear Everywhere Worldwide
Hololive Dreams Mobile Game Will Appear Everywhere Worldwide Cover held a Hololive Dreams Special Reveal Show for its mobile rhythm game project with Vtubers Hoshimachi Suisei, IRyS, Tokino Sora, and Yukihana Lamy, and it revealed the title will be available worldwide in multiple languages like Japanese and English. It also showed off gameplay, shared multiple trailers, and confirmed further details about the free-to-play game release will come up at the Hololive Super Expo in March 2026.  In Hololive Dreams , you will set one of the Vtubers as a Leader, then aid their abilities and your progress with five Members in your deck. These characters will all interact and help increase your scores for tracks. 50 members of the company will be represented at launch from all branches. An original story is present in the game. There will also be Solo or in a multiplayer mode. It’s also possible to enter Create Chart Mode to go into one of the 150 included songs to customize the note patterns. (Each track could have a music video or “concert” performance.) There will also be a new official theme song for the game featuring all 50 Vtubers in the game. An auto-play function will also be present in songs for beginners. Here’s the official teaser , which primarily focuses on Tokino Sora and teases other Vtubers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWWmKvYcjB4 There’s also a longer trailer that shows how the rhythm gameplay will work and shows some of the performers and songs. That features official English subtitles if you turn on closed captions. The custom song maps function shows up toward the end too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGKxCTMnl78 You can see the official English watch-along of the latest stream for the game with Hakos Baelz and Kaela Kovalskia below: https://www.youtube.com/live/uWg-R02c4mM Hololive Dreams will come to mobile devices, and more details about the worldwide rhythm game will appear at Hololive Super Expo between March 6-8, 2026.  The post Hololive Dreams Mobile Game Will Appear Everywhere Worldwide appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraJan 8
These 5 games turn 5 this year, and I can prove it’s not too late to enjoy them
These 5 games turn 5 this year, and I can prove it’s not too late to enjoy them Remember that five years ago, many of us were finally transitioning out of the COVID-19 lockdown? We were learning again how to talk to each other outside laggy Zoom calls with the resolution of a 2009 webcam—and enjoyed some really great games, too. While we had industry-defining hits like Hades and Forza Horizon 5 , many other games that didn't have such a huge impact became so relevant that they are still worth playing after five years of new game releases with flashier graphics and new mechanics. And we'd better start getting used to playing older games. The artificial intelligence apocalypse leading to RAM shortages and rising computer costs (via IDC ) has been so relentless that I believe most of us will soon be unable to afford a PC upgrade. Doomspeak aside, I've played this list of new games and new editions released in 2021 and can attest that they're timeless and absolutely worth playing today. And if you don't take my word for it, their latest Steam reviews back me up. Disco Elysium - The Final Cut Disco Elysium gives you full control of the narrative. Image via ZA/UM. If you've played Baldur's Gate 3 and enjoyed the narrative possibilities and how the world reacted to your choices, you will love Disco Elysium . This noir, story-first detective RPG prioritizes role-playing and campaign construction through a complex skill tree where each trait affects how you respond to dialogues and solve puzzles. They're also affected by the political alignment mechanic that your character can navigate between communism, fascism, ultraliberalism, and moralism. Disco Elysium presents text in a vertical, smartphone-shaped box, which already felt more natural in 2021 than reading the traditional horizontal boxes of other games. I wish every other developer had made that change, but it didn't happen. I'm not a completionist, but those who are will have a lot to work toward in Disco Elysium . I've finished it in a little over 27 hours and got only six out of 45 achievements, so there is a lot more to explore in future runs. The Final Cut edition was released in 2021 and received 88 percent positive reviews on Steam over the last 30 days, showing that new players also like the game. Inscryption Inscryption will keep you hooked. Image via Devolver Digital Inscryption is a tense, spooky deckbuilder with escape-room mechanics. You start the game as if you were booting another game inside it, which leaves you trapped in a poorly-lit cabin with a mysterious figure. You have to defeat it in a card game for a chance to escape, which is just the beginning of this meta-adventure. Inscryption has mechanical and narrative twists that make it the best title for a deep and engaging story in a card game. It's the highest-rated game on this list because its dark narrative is incredible and ties well with the many gameplay mechanics, which feel like part of the story. If you're looking for a challenging one-shot deckbuilder, Inscryption is a great choice. But if you want a story that will keep surprising you... well, Inscryption is a great choice. Building overpowered cards and getting through the story in the process is amazing, even if you're not into card games. Inscryption got 96 percent positive reviews on Steam in the last 30 days. The game has an ending, so you don't have to keep playing it over and over to unlock new challenges like in roguelike deck builders. Griftlands Griftlands makes a card game the best way to build its narrative. Image via Klei. Griftlands is a roguelike deckbuilder with role-playing that's above average for the genre. I recommend you first see the game as a story-driven title and think of the cards as your way of interacting with the world. You have Battle and Negotiation decks that represent combat and persuasion story choices, so you have some freedom to explore the world in different ways across runs to unlock slightly different storylines. Slay the Spire and Monster Train fans like me will have fun with Griftlands for a couple of dozen hours. Just don't jump into it expecting endless gameplay, because the story gets stale after you explore it enough times. Still, I have 33 hours of playtime on it because I've played it late into their beta and early into their release, so I'm sure you can also have a very long playing history in it as well. Griftlands has 91 percent positive reviews from recent Steam reviews despite having a low player count today. Loop Hero Loop Hero will demand a lot from you. Screenshot by Destructoid. Loop Hero is a roguelike RPG that blends automatic battles, deck building, and tile placement. Your character is stuck in a looped road, and you can modify tiles in this path to add monsters, buildings, and resources to interact with when you pass through that area again. As in many roguelikes, you have to find a character build and a combination of tiles that will give you a run long enough to advance to the next stage and eventually win. I've logged 57 hours in Loop Hero and got all 50 achievements, which is more than I remember. I swear I'm really not a completionist, but the gameplay of unlocking new tiles, getting new gear, and making the best combination of tiles is so interesting and addictive that it's easy to commit to exploring the game in full. Running my save from five years ago reminded me that Loop Hero is complex even outside of the main gameplay systems. It features alchemy, crafting, and base-building elements that all affect your future runs. I'm not surprised it got 88 percent positive reviews on Steam in the last 30 days. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition A great game to start playing if you like sci-fi. Image via EA. I've just finished playing the first game in the Mass Effect series through the Legendary Edition and loved it, like 90 percent of the people who played it in the last 30 days on Steam. This sci-fi RPG has great character customization and many role-playing options, which were the main reasons I enjoyed it so much, despite not being a big fan of science fiction. I admit adding a 19-year-old game on this list is cheating, but this edition was released on Steam in 2021, and it's thanks to it that I've played a Mass Effect game for the first time. It comes with full Steam Deck support, which was a big reason I got the game. The original Mass Effect runs well on the Deck and is a great introduction to the franchise. In this universe, humanity can travel to distant planets and galaxies thanks to the special mass relay technology it discovered on Mars. As the protagonist, you have to solve intergalactic problems with different beings like the Geth and Reapers while maintaining relationships with allied and neutral races. I had never played a BioWare game in full, and now I understand that the role-playing and freedom to be good, neutral, or evil, and building your character accordingly, is part of why players love old-school games the developer published, like the first Mass Effect . The Legendary Edition is the ideal version to commit to if you end up loving the first game, since it also comes with the rest of the original trilogy. The post These 5 games turn 5 this year, and I can prove it’s not too late to enjoy them appeared first on Destructoid .
Steam Archives – DestructoidJan 7
One Piece Grandline Journey Nami and Boa Hancock Figures Return
One Piece Grandline Journey Nami and Boa Hancock Figures Return A few years after their original release, Bandai Namco announced the One Piece Grandline figures of Nami and Boa Hancock are now back again in Japan starting on January 8, 2026. This pair can be displayed alone or together and are once again showing up first as prize figures in Japanese arcades. Taito crane games already offer them. Since the Banpresto Amazon storefront sold the originals, we should see these two worldwide eventually as well. Like the original release, both debuted at the same time. Nami and Boa are each wearing outfits from after the series’ timeskip. Both of them also feature a similar metallic paint job. This means Nami’s blue jeans are shiny, as is Boa’s purple dress. The deck stands can interlock, and one example photo offers an idea of scale when placed alongside each other. Boa is taller at almost eight inches (20cm), due to the way she sits on the railing. Since Nami is standing and leaning on it, she is only just over six and a half inches tall.  Here are the latest photos showing how both the Nami and Boa Hancock One Piece Grandline figures look. Both of them can be displayed with their ship deck stand parts, though someone could also remove them to have them leaning or sitting on books or a shelf on their desk.  Images via Shueisha and Bandai Namco Prior to this, Bandai Namco shared another figure based on a character from the series. A new SH Figuarts one of Monkey D. Luffy puts him in an LA Lakers uniform . That will appear in 2026. The One Piece Grandline figures of Nami and Boa Hancock are back in Japan as of January 8, 2026. The original anime is on Crunchyroll and Netflix. Viz Media handles the manga in English. The  live-action adaptation  is on Netflix. The post One Piece Grandline Journey Nami and Boa Hancock Figures Return appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraJan 7
Don’t Stop Smiling Horror Game Requires You to Smile
Don’t Stop Smiling Horror Game Requires You to Smile Smiley dog announced it will release Don’t Stop Smiling , a new horror game about exploring an abandoned, haunted school that also tracks if the player is smiling, in Q2 2026. The game will appear on PCs and require someone to play on a device with a camera. As such, a Steam Deck wouldn’t be compatible. [Thanks, Famitsu !] Don’t Stop Smiling will be a short horror game, as the product page on Steam suggests it will last for an hour at most. Your character will go through a haunted school, needing to explore and investigate in order to survive and escape. However, as you do, you’ll encounter various entities and situations. The game will use a camera to ensure the person playing has a smile showing. If someone stops smiling, due to shock or perhaps screaming, then their character will die and the run will end.  A first trailer is available. It shows what the exploration element is like and also highlights how an indicator in the upper left corner will monitor your current facial expression based on camera input. It also offers an example of what happens if the player’s expression falters. It seems the on-screen indicator will also be of our avatar, so we’ll see our character crying and hear their sobs as we play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Yb7upnq1k Don’t Stop Smiling will come to PCs in Q2 2026 worldwide, and it will be playable in 10 other languages in addition to English and Japanese. The post Don’t Stop Smiling Horror Game Requires You to Smile appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraJan 6
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Switch 2 Version Needs More Time
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Switch 2 Version Needs More Time Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is one of those situations in which we know this is a good game and story , but we need to give it a few weeks or months to get to that point. Owlcat Games brought the turn-based strategy game to the Switch 2 just before 2025 ended, making it the company’s first title on the system. Just like the launch on other platforms , it wasn’t entirely smooth! But since one major patch is already out and we did see updates on the original releases, I think we could eventually hit a point after a substantial period of time when Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader could worth playing on the Switch 2.   After creating our character in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (don’t worry, as a bug that kept me from actually doing that a few times due to a crash is gone now), we learn we inherited the ability to become a Rogue Trader for the Imperium of Man. After a bit of a kerfuffle when actually claiming the legacy of the Von Valancius family and getting the Warrant of Trade, we soon wind up with the right to explore and trade in the Koronus Expanse. For those unfamiliar with the series, it’s an opportunity to go through an over 60-hour, turn-based RPG with recruitable characters, choices that actually matter, and even an opportunity to romance some of the companions you recruit.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWBf_Nk9TfE Since the first patch for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is already on the Switch 2, I’m only going to be going over what’s making it worthwhile and what needs improvement. Know that it is an essential update. When I first played, the game crashed as I was going through character creation. After downloading the patch, I tried going through that again and didn’t encounter the bug. That’s not an issue anymore! But there are both some benefits and lingering issues that come up and suggest it’s worth maybe waiting another month. One of the biggest benefits to the latest adjustments is that Owlcat added mouse support for the Switch 2 version of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader . It’s genuinely a godsend for some strategic games on the system, and using a Joy-Con 2 in that way is quite helpful here. It’s okay with traditional controls as well, especially if you’re in handheld mode. I would say handheld mode isn’t the optimal way to play, at least not now. Which is unfortunate, as that should be one of the draws when coming to Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader on a Switch 2 due to issues with it running on a Steam Deck. One part of the problem is it just doesn’t look great. The resolution is really bad, especially on character models, though that is supposedly something on Owlcat’s to-do list in terms of future updates. It also could use some framerate adjustments. Some did already come through with the patch back on December 18, 2025! It did make a difference and result in a more playable game, but it still feels like I’m hitting 15-30fps instead of a stable 30fps. But then, this is an issue even when docked, as is an issue with long load times, so I suppose we can’t blame it all on Handheld Mode. Images via Owlcat However, maybe the biggest issue I’ve seen firsthand aside from an occasional crash is that the Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader has major menu problems at the moment. Aside from them being slow to navigate, I can’t even move and make selections unless I use the mouse controls. But not being able to actually use controls to navigate the in-game menus is a pretty big problem, and I was surprised a hotfix didn’t come in ahead of a more major patch even with the holiday season.  We already know Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a great game on other platforms, but it is not there yet on the Switch 2. Will it eventually be ready? I think at one point in a few months we could see it being preferable to trying to play it on a handheld gaming PC. But things like menu navigation problems, framerate issues, character model resolutions, the loading situation, and crashes need to be fixed first. I’d recommend stalking the official subreddit and waiting for at least another two updates before considering a purchase. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is now available on the Switch 2, and it can also be found on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.  The post Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Switch 2 Version Needs More Time appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraJan 6
Moonstone Island Dev’s New Game Is Moonstone Academy
Moonstone Island Dev’s New Game Is Moonstone Academy Studio Supersoft, the developer behind Moonstone Island, announced on social media and Reddit that the team is working on a new game called Moonstone Academy . This will be an entirely new title, but it is set in the same world. The studio also confirmed that it is ending development on the original game and there will be no further DLC or free updates. As a note, the first game is on sale on various platforms for the holidays, with the price ranging from $7.99 (PC) to $11.99 (Switch) . The new teaser for Moonstone Academy doesn’t show gameplay. Rather, it seems to highlight a new avatar and location. We see someone in a mage’s uniform ascending a tower at what looks like a school. They then wind up at a runway at the top. They board a bike with a propeller and take off into the sky. (In the series, players go between sky islands to visit different places and biomes.)  Here’s how that looks: https://twitter.com/Moonstone_game/status/2006744230786707762 The Reddit announcement from Studio Supersoft confirmed this will still be a creature collecting game, like the original. In the first, each character had its own “deck” of cards that detailed actions possible that would be used in turn-based battles. That reveal confirmed this will have new characters and improvements, but returning developers.  Throughout 2025, we saw a number of free updates to Moonstone Island that added new features to the game. In June 2025, 28 existing Spirits got new evolutions. Then in September 2025, we got the ability to customize our avatar .  Moonstone Academy is in development, and the original Moonstone Island game is on the Switch, PC, and mobile devices . The post Moonstone Island Dev’s New Game Is Moonstone Academy appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraJan 2
Drywall Eating Simulator Gets Frustrating
Drywall Eating Simulator Gets Frustrating Life is frustrating, and Drywall Eating Simulator is an attempt to capture that while also being funny and driving you to gnawing through walls when your anger hits its peak. It’s relatable! However, the unfortunate part is that this simulation does still feel like a work in progress. While patches did make things easier to deal with along the way, it’s still a bit buggy. Drywall Eating Simulator is about dealing with everything annoying about life. Dealing with an apartment complex where you’re trapped inside, encountering annoying neighbors, and can’t get out. The stress builds until you explore and encounter enough irritants that the Stress Buddy shows you’re about to lose it. At this point, you’ll see glowing red segments of walls. These can be eaten to make new paths and reduce stress.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Nj3y8PQKo So the first really frustrating thing about Drywall Eating Simulator is the speed of the camera. While moving forward and backward is fine, as is strafing, actually moving the camera felt shockingly sluggish and slow on a handheld gaming PC. This meant actually turning and exploring felt like a chore. This persisted even after the patches that fixed some softlock situations, which is annoying. I tried messing with the settings as well and didn’t encounter the issue when playing on a laptop, so it must be tied to the Steam Deck sort of experience. Also troublesome is the fact that sometimes Drywall Eating Simulator stages don’t work well. The first and second levels are working reasonably well as of time of writing, with the recent patches up to this point making it possible to see which parts of walls are susceptible and the Questlog.txt tracker keeping accurate notes on what needs to be done. But I experienced issues with the mission list not updating and the fourth level still locked up on me.  Images via Peripheral Playbox But even when Drywall Eating Simulator is working well, the way in which you progress can get a bit irritating. That’s because it’s essentially an “explore everywhere and click on everyone” type of experience. There are times when the commentary from NPCs can be funny! The idea is hilarious. The situations are perfect examples of irritating moments of life. But actually getting to the progression points can be difficult in some stages. This felt most noticeable in the first stage, but it also happened to me in the fourth as well.  The idea behind Drywall Eating Simulator is amusing and captures the frustrations encountered at work or in society. Unfortunately, I feel like this is a game in need of another few patches. Some Steam Deck optimization would be great too. Peripheral Playbox did already release one patch on Steam and seems responsive, so this could be a situation where it’s in a much better place in a few weeks. Drywall Eating Simulator is available for PCs.  The post Drywall Eating Simulator Gets Frustrating appeared first on Siliconera .
SiliconeraDec 26