During the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 showcase, Fallout 76 appeared with a trailer for a content update called 'The Slasher' where players are tasked with hunting down the titular serial killer in a new questline.

However, this newly implemented update has a massive, Fatman Nuke-sized bombshell feature that Fallout fans have been waiting for for years: native Xbox Series X|S support.

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That's right, you can run Fallout 76 on modern Xbox consoles (and PlayStation 5) and take full advantage of their hardware to play the game at 60fps and 4K resolution on compatible TVs.

Slasher villains and next-gen support aren't the only new pieces of content in this update. The Fallout 76 'The Slasher' update also includes:

• Improved weapon crafting so that Unique weapons and armor can have their Legendary Mods changed and have a 4th Legendary Mod added to them.
• Legacy Seasons, which will bring back one past season to run alongside a current one for players who missed out on it. The first Legacy Season will be 'Armor Ace and the Power Patrol in Cold Steel' and will last for the entirety of Season 26.
• Season 26: Beware the Blood Moon, which will reward Halloween-themed items.
• New Seasonal fish will appear on September 22, 2026 (visit Captain Raymond for clues on where to find them).

On top of that, the update has a ton of bug fixes and balance change patch notes which you can read in their entirety on the Fallout 76 website.

Windows Central's take

I don't play Fallout 76, but I do remember my friends playing it when it first came out in 2018 and bemoaning that it didn't receive Xbox Series X|S support as the consoles were released shortly after Fallout 76 did in 2020.

So I'm betting they're pretty stoked to see this game finally get smooth 60fps with 4K resolution on Xbox Series X|S so they don't have to dodge Super Mutants and Deathclaws with sub-30fps anymore.

What do you readers think? Are you happy Fallout 76 can finally be played at a smooth 60fps with 4K resolution? Are you still playing Fallout 76 after all these years?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know in the comments section, poll, or through our Reddit page linked below.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Prices for NVIDIA's RTX graphics cards continue to rise. The price hikes have gotten so bad that they now cost as much as regular mid-range laptops, and sometimes even more online.

Fortunately, the ASUS ROG Strix G16, one of our favorite AMD gaming laptops equipped with an RTX 5070 graphics card, is currently 18% off at Walmart for $1,549.99 (was $1999.99) to help you get a more affordable means of enriching your PC gaming experience.

Why buy the ASUS ROG Strix G16?

RTX 5000 series graphics cards are getting more and more expensive, and sometimes disappearing from online retailers altogether, like the RTX 5090. For example, results at PCPartPicker show that RTX 5070 graphics run at around $850-$1000 and that RTX 5070 Ti graphics cost somewhere between $1170-$1838.

While finding RTX graphics in pre-built gaming laptops isn't the cheapest method, it's better than trying to find them alone at official retailers that will charge nearly $1000 for an RTX graphics card alone, or worse, at 3rd-party retailers that will charge you thousands of dollars for them.

That being said, you will totally get your money's worth when taking advantage of this 18% discount for the ASUS ROG G16 pre-built with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, as it's one of the best gaming laptops we've come across.

Thanks to its RTX 5070 GPU coupled with an AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, the ASUS ROG G16 can easily run titles like Forza Horizon 5 at 120fps/1600p or Cyberpunk 2077 at 60fps/1600p (with ray tracing enabled) with no framerate issues for smoother gameplay experiences.

Plus, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 sports a FHD+ display with a 165Hz/3ms refresh rate to enhance gameplay resolution and framerate stability, and an ACR film to enhance contrast while reducing glare.

On top of that, this gaming laptop features a state-of-the-art cooling system to stop it from throttling when running intensive games, and a three-month subscription code to Xbox Game Pass so players can enjoy the full benefits of Xbox on PC with the ASUS ROG Strix G16.

FAQ

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The Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 showcase has just wrapped up, and it showed off a mountain's worth of trailers for some highly anticipated Xbox games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Persona 4 Revival.

It also debuted some original and artistically creative Xbox titles coming soon with Xbox Play Anywhere support.

Here are all the announcements made during the show.

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Gachiakuta: Breakout

The first new game revealed is Gachiakuta: Breakout, an action-RPG with survival elements set in the world of the popular anime series Gachiakuta.

This game will be released in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Crazy Taxi: World Tour

Next up, we have a new gameplay trailer for Crazy Taxi: World Tour, which showcases a level set in Japan.

This upcoming revival of SEGA's classic Crazy Taxi series is set to release in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 showed up with a new cinematic trailer for its single-player campaign mode, which will involve a brutal war on the Korean Peninsula.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to release on October 23, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Persona 4 Revival

Persona 4 Revival gives players a glimpse of Naoto, one of the most popular characters from the original Persona 4. She is a private detective seeking to uncover the murder mysteries of Inaba, and eventually gains the power of Persona to aid the player in battle.

Persona 4 Revival is set to launch on February 18, 2027, for Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Play Anywhere), Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and PC.

It will also release for Nintendo Switch 2 on May 20, 2027.

Shape of Dreams

Shape of Dreams was an action-roguelike released in 2025 on PC, but it's available right now on Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Play Anywhere), Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Xbox Game Pass.

Play as one of eight travelers and fight your way through a nightmare world filled with never-ending monsters, each wave more deadly than the last. You can take on these foes alone or with friends in 4-player co-op.

Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember

Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja revealed a short gameplay deep dive into the upcoming action-Soulslike, Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember. It featured a look at a massive, humanoid boar/monkey boss named Zuochi and a brief description of the new Insight Skills mechanic.

Insight Skills enhance the player's actions if they perfectly parry or dodge an enemy's attack at the last second. For example, using Insight Skills to deflect an enemy's attack will knock them back into the environment for extra damage while briefly stunning them.

Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember is set to launch on March 4, 2027, for Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Play Anywhere), Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Hope in the City

Hope in the City is a new narrative-adventure game where you play as a young teenager looking for her missing parents after their apartment was ransacked.

Hope in the City is set to release on November 10, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass with Xbox Play Anywhere.

Bloomwalker

Bloomwalker is an upcoming crafting adventure game where you play as the titular Bloomwalker on a journey to bring nature back to life in a world ravaged by pollution.

Bloomwalker is coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Faraday Blues

Faraday Blues is a visual novel/strategy card game where you determine people's fates through the cards you play, with 64 endings to unlock across three dramatic storylines.

Faraday Blues is set to release in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom & the Guide of Memories

Atelier Karia showed off a new trailer showcasing the personalities and abilities of Rutger & Lenja, two playable party members originally from Atelier Yumia.

Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom & the Guide of Memories is set to release on February 25, 2027, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Raji: Kaliyuga

Next, we have a developer commentary trailer for Raji: Kaliyuga. This is an action-adventure title where two sibling warriors, Raji and Darsh, are on a quest to stop the evil warlord Mahabalasura from unsealing the heavens and waging war throughout the cosmos.

Raji: Kaliyuga is set to release sometime in the future for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Once Human: Isles of Abyss

The free-to-play survival game, Once Human, has announced a new expansion called "Isles of Abyss," which will let players explore the seas to uncover the riddles of a mysterious journal. But beware, foul sea monsters will be lurking around every corner of the sea, waiting to sink your ship.

The Once Human: Isles of Abyss expansion will launch on October 22, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Edge of Memories

Edge of Memories has at last revealed its release date with a new gameplay and cinematic montage trailer.

This upcoming action-RPG, where you fight to save the world from corruption while risking turning into a monster, will be released on November 5, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Genigods Nezha 

Next, we have a developer behind-the-scenes look at an upcoming action-RPG called Genigods Nezha. This game has you play as a powerful demigod known as the Spirit Pearl and embark on a journey to save the world from reality-warping spacetime rifts while battling colossal beasts and gods inspired by Chinese mythology.

Genigods Nezha is set to be released sometime in the future for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Fallout 76

Fallout 76, the open-world, MMO-like spin-off of Fallout, has just received a Halloween-themed update called "The Slasher". It will have players explore a crooked home and struggle to survive while fighting the update's titular serial killer.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement 

From the creators of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night comes a new trailer for Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, the long-awaited sequel to the beloved 2019 indie Metroidvania game, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.

This game tasks you with tearing through armies of demons, vampires, and more to free 16th-century England from the tyrannical reign of the Demon Lord, Elias.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement is set to be released in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and PC.

OD and Physint

The Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 showcase closes with a video of Hideo Kojima announcing that development for his upcoming horror game, OD, is progressing smoothly.

Plus, Hideo Kojima has revealed that Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård will be voicing the main character in his upcoming stealth-action game, Physint.

Both OD and Physint will be released on Xbox and PC at a later date.

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Xbox Game Pass has been through a somewhat controversial year, with its price hike in 2025 before being reversed by current Xbox CEO Asha Sharma later on.

Microsoft has been on the defensive somewhat with the service, removing Call of Duty earlier this year on rumors that it's simply "too generous" and potentially unsustainable.

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Furthermore, even more rumors have been circulating online that Xbox Game Pass may be undergoing a massive restructuring in 2027, with changes that purportedly include:

• The inclusion of "ads" in Xbox Game Pass with different versions. One version of Xbox Game Pass with ads will cost $12.99 per month, and one without ads will cost $19.99 per month or $239.99 annually.
• New Xbox games will no longer release day one" for Xbox Game Pass "starting somewhere between February and April 2027," in exchange for reducing the cost of Xbox Game Pass by $3.
• The claim "cloud streaming will no longer be a part of Xbox Game Pass."
• Cloud Streaming will be "an add-on bundle" that costs $5.99 for 25 hours.
• Here's one I would actually like: "Xbox Game Pass' Family plan will be included, as a $5.99 addon."
• And more bits and bobs.

However, the truth is perhaps not so clear.

Forbes journalist Paul Tassi recently interviewed an Xbox spokesperson about what they thought of these rumors, and they had this to say:

"We regularly test different Game Pass offerings and look at what works best for players in different markets. We don’t have any changes to announce today or plans that have been finalized. There are no changes to previously announced games coming to Game Pass Ultimate on day one.”

Additionally, we've been doing some digging of our own and can confirm that the list of "changes" outlined by the above forum aren't based on any current plans within Microsoft and amount to "speculation or guesswork," trusted sources suggest.

However, it's no secret that Microsoft is actively exploring "changes" to Xbox Game Pass, which could include some of the guessed ideas outlined in the forum post.

Our sources say that there's no current plan to remove "day one" games as a feature of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in totality, but like the statement to Paul Tassi says, changes are coming. But, 100% speculatively and analytically: I think it's probably worth expecting that more franchises like Call of Duty may be pulled from day one access even on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Perhaps bigger franchises might be moved onto an even more expensive tier, or come with some kind of "addon" bundle like a cable TV package.

In short, Xbox is effectively denying these specific rumors, while acknowledging that changes are coming. Like Paul Tassi spotted, the mention of "previously announced games" in Xbox's quote is interesting, as the wording increases the likelihood that future Xbox Game Pass game additions could be altered or paired back.

Anonymous forum rumors should be always be taken with a huge grain of salt. However, with the recent changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming getting monthly restrictions, I have a feeling some of the suggestions in the thread could materialize in a worst case scenario.

Xbox Game Pass is a huge revenue stream for Microsoft today, but balancing that against retail sales and cash flow back to studios (particularly first-party studios) has been a subject of debate for some time.

However, we will have to wait until 2027 to find out if these rumors of Xbox Game Pass changing are true or false.

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Koei Tecmo has released a gameplay trailer that confirms its upcoming action-soulslike, Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember, will be released on March 4, 2027, for Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Play Anywhere), Xbox on PC, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam.

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Additionally, Koei Tecmo has released a free playable Alpha demo available to download on all the aforementioned platforms (except Nintendo Switch 2) and has opened pre-orders for the game.

Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember is a sequel to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. It will take the player on a bloody and brutal journey across a dark fantasy version of China's Three Kingdoms period and battle many challenging foes, including iconic warriors from that era along with towering demons.

The game aims to top its predecessor with new weapons, magic, and techniques to master, more epic combat scenarios to survive in, and more challenging bosses to overcome.

You can get a taste of the early portions of Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember through its public Alpha Demo. It's free to download and play until September 30, 2026, and if you complete it, you will unlock a special Fledging Phoenix Helmet that can be used in the full game.

If you pre-order Wo Long 2: Wings of Ruin, you can get exclusive access to the Creator Goddess Garb armor set and early purchase access to the Harvest God Armor set.

The game will come in a standard edition (which only contains the base game) or a Digital Deluxe Edition, the latter of which features:

• Season pass that grants access to two future DLC expansions (the first will release on August 31, 2027, and the second on October 31, 2027), plus the Creator God Armor set as a Season Pass Bonus.
• Digital Mini Soundtrack
• Digital Artbook
• Shietieshou Hat.

Can't wait to dive back into this grim dark Soulslike take on the Three Kingdoms era

The original Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty was an immensely fun, underrated Soulslike that we gave a 4.5/5 star review for its in-depth combat system and nail-bitingly tough bosses that were so satisfying to beat.

So I can't wait to see if its sequel has what it takes to top the first game when Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember launches next year on March 4, 2027.

In the meantime, I'll be playing the Alpha demo, as it's been a long while since I played a Soulslike, so I'll need to shake off the rust before the full game arrives.

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Amazon has announced 17 new games for Luna, its cloud gaming service packed within Prime that allows subscribers to stream video games on PCs, Amazon Fire TV Sticks, and mobile devices without the need for a home console (although you will still need a compatible controller).

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This lineup for Amazon Prime Luna includes some heavy hitters like Doom: Eternal, Star Wars: Outlaws, High on Life, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, to name a few.

Here's the full list of games coming to Amazon Prime Luna throughout September 2026, and when you can expect them to arrive.

• War Hospital (September 3, 2026)
• Just Die Already (September 3, 2026)
• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (September 10, 2026)
• Star Wars: Outlaws (September 10, 2026)
• Drop Duchy (September 10, 2026)
• DOOM + DOOM II (September 10, 2026)
• Botany Manor (September 10, 2026)
• King of Tokyo (September 10, 2026)
• It’s Quiz Time: Guinness World Records (September 10, 2026)
• DOOM Eternal (September 17, 2026)
• Rims Racing (September 17, 2026)
• Wall World 2 (September 17, 2026)
• Hue (September 24, 2026)
• The Da Vinci Cryptex (September 24, 2026)
• High on Life (September 24, 2026)
• Bowling Mayhem (coming soon)
• Cranium Planet (coming soon)

We can play DOOM Eternal on the Cloud again for as long as we want, thanks to Amazon Luna

Out of all the games on this list, the best addition is without a doubt Doom Eternal. This game is one of the greatest first-person shooters ever for its adrenaline-pumping gunplay, challenging and deliciously evil boss fights, and wide variety of weapons that keep its ultra-violent gameplay fresh.

So, if you can't afford to play DOOM Eternal on Xbox Series X|S or PC these days due to these platforms being price-hiked by the RAM crisis, or you want to play it on the go without Xbox Cloud Gaming's newly imposed monthly limits, signing up for Amazon Luna with a Prime membership may be your next best Cloud Gaming option to experience the best DOOM game ever made.

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After two weeks, we've reached the end of Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance's weapon showcase series, and it's closing out with a new trailer for the Longsword.

Ever since Monster Hunter World, the Longsword has been one of the most popular and dominant weapon types in Monster Hunter games for its insane damage output and various counter moves that make fighting bosses a cakewalk.

In Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, the Longsword is getting even crazier thanks to the new Boost Bracer, granting it a plethora of new moves, speed buffs, and more.

First of all, Longsword has a new Boost Driver attack that sheathes the weapon and lets you move about before unleashing an offset counterattack that can be followed by a literal, gut-wrenching slash attack when successfully toppling an attacking monster.

While Boost Gauge is active, the Longsword gets access to new combo attacks so quickly they're on par with Dual Blade attacks; you get a new combo ender where you dash back and forth in the blink of an eye to slice monsters, and you get access to the Sacred Sheath Stance from Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak that lets you pull off chargeable heavy attacks.

Additionally, while activating the Boost Gauge, the Longsword's Foresight Slash counter now deals additional damage.

Now we wait for the Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance Tokyo Game Show 2026 showcase

While I am slightly annoyed at Capcom's blatant favoritism in making Longsword, objectively, the best weapon type for the third Monster Hunter game in a row, I do like the more aggressive attacks and faster combos it's getting in Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, as they feel like they were ripped straight out of Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

Plus, these changes look like they're trying to make Longsword lean into a more berserker playstyle, which I prefer over its old, defensive playstyle of waiting for monsters to attack and countering them, as I'm getting burnt out on parry mechanics in games lately.

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That being said, out of the newly improved weapons, I'll be maining Gunlance again in Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance because the changes it's receiving are cool and LONG overdue.

Though I'll also dabble in Sword & Shield, Hunting Horn, Hammer, and Dual Blades when Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance launches in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

However, for all we know, Capcom could be hiding some new mechanics and secret balance changes for each weapon type not shown in these trailers. Will players discover these potential secret changes for each weapon type when they play Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance's first playable demo at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2026?

Tune in this week to find out when Tokyo Game Show 2026 commences on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

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Over the last couple of months, I've been salivating at the chance to play Final Fantasy Resonance, the first 'HD-2D' RPG in the Final Fantasy franchise.

It aims to bring back turn-based combat to the series after being absent for decades, while taking players on a grand adventure with gorgeous pixel-art graphics, lovable characters, and a fun story that pays tribute to the entire Final Fantasy legacy.

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As someone who grew up playing turn-based Final Fantasy games ever since the original PlayStation One version of Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Resonance wowed me with its nostalgic-yet-fresh presentation and gameplay.

Yet, I can't be worried. Square Enix hadn't made a home console Final Fantasy game with turn-based combat since Final Fantasy X-2 in 2003. It has spent many years trying to turn this series into an action-RPG franchise, which made me worry the developers had forgotten how to do turn-based combat for a Final Fantasy game.

Fortunately, after having played the recently released Final Fantasy Resonance demo on Xbox, my fears were crushed harder than a falling Meteor because this game is AWESOME so far.

Here's why I'm looking forward to playing Final Fantasy Resonance and why you should to if you're an old-school Final Fantasy fan or turn-based RPGs in general.

What is it?

Final Fantasy Resonance follows the story of Rain, a Knight of Grandshelt tasked with saving the world's life-giving Crystals from being destroyed by an evil group of dark knights known as the Sworn Six.

Along the way, you will meet heroic companions with intriguing backstories, explore a vibrant and colorful world rendered in nostalgic yet richly detailed pixel-art graphics, and call forth spiritual manifestations called 'Visions' to aid you in turn-based combat against deadly foes.

Story and Presentation

What I like about the story so far is how simple yet effective and easy to follow it is.

After dealing with shoehorned alternate timelines and 'Plot Ghosts' in the Final Fantasy VII Remake series and Final Fantasy XVI's library's worth of exposition and introspection, it feels so nice to play a Final Fantasy game where the premise is "Evil knights want to burn the world because they felt it wronged them; go stop them."

What also helps elevate the story from what I've played so far is the myriad of side-quests that go into detail on the characters' backstories, the vibrant worldbuilding and charming characters, and the stunning way Square Enix presents it.

This game takes 'HD-2D' graphics (a graphical style that blends 2D-pixel art with 3D backgrounds and atmospheric lighting) and perfects it with gusto.

The cinematic cutscenes, environments, and turn-based battles are so gorgeously animated and detailed that they make the world feel more alive than games rendered in Unreal Engine, and make something as mundane as fighting low-level goblins feel like the most epic battle in the world.

Not to mention, the pixel-art animation breathes so much life and personality into the characters through their facial expressions and actions that it makes me feel nostalgic for old PlayStation One JRPGs like the underrated classic, Grandia.

On a side note, the story has plenty of funny gags and heartwarming moments that will please long-time Final Fantasy fans while bringing levity after some pretty brutal moments.

Classic Final Fantasy turn-based combat returns with a modern twist

Now, of course, Square Enix wastes no expense when it comes to their games' presentation, but what about gameplay?

Well, Final Fantasy Resonance follows the old-school Final Fantasy gameplay loop of exploring a world map to progress the plot, visiting towns to shop for equipment, and exploring dungeons filled with deadly enemies and bosses that must be defeated in turn-based combat.

Turn-based combat was my biggest draw to Final Fantasy Resonance, and I'm pleased to report that Square Enix still knows how to make it, and it feels SO GOOD.

At first, it plays the combat system seen in Final Fantasy X, where you take turns smacking each other with weapons and spells until one side is defeated. However, Final Fantasy Resonance quickly introduced me to new mechanics to spice things up.

These include breaking an enemy's Stagger gauge to stun them, like in Final Fantasy VII Remake, and gaining extra turns where you can unleash a storm of attacks to batter them while they're down.

Combat takes things a step further with Visions. This mechanic allows your party to embody the traits and abilities of heroes from past Final Fantasy games or original heroes exclusive to this game.

These Visions can turn party members into tanks that draw aggro from enemies, healers to keep the party alive, damage dealers that focus on breaking an enemy's stagger meter, and much more. What's more is that these Visions can perform powerful super moves (with pre-rendered cinematics) when you manage to stagger all enemies on-screen at once.

As you use and level up Visions, you can even permanently learn their passive traits and mix and match them to suit your playstyle to create the ultimate party of heroes. I got so hooked on the Visions system that I spent hours trying to learn the few abilities that were available from the demo just to see what kind of party members I could create.

It felt so rewarding when I managed to cobble a team together to take this game's brutal optional bosses and obtain some loot for my efforts, especially on Hard Mode when breaking Stagger meters became harder to do with just brute force alone.

On side note, thank goodness this game allows you to play the hardest difficulty immediately instead of making us beat the whole game on 'Normal/Easy' Mode first like many Final Fantasy games seem to these days. It makes the story's high notes feel more worth it when we're given the option to tackle it's hardest difficulty.

Here's hoping the full version of Final Fantasy Resonance lives up to its name and 'resonates' with gamers

Overall, I'm liking what I'm seeing in Final Fantasy Resonance so far after completing the demo.

It nailed the retro vibe of the early 2D-era Final Fantasy games while being fresh with its beautiful HD-2D art style. The combat system and Visions system are so addictive; there are hints of plenty of side content to partake in, and it's chock-full of fan service for Final Fantasy fans while being accessible enough for newcomers to enjoy without making them do homework.

Hopefully, if the full version of Final Fantasy Resonance is good and sells well enough with gamers, it will convince Square Enix to make more turn-based Final Fantasy games in the future once it's finished with Final Fantasy VII: Revelation.

Either way, I can't wait to play the full version of Final Fantasy Resonance when it launches on October 22, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Play Anywhere support), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, and PC via Steam.

If you want to check out Final Fantasy Resonance for yourself before then, the playable demo is available to download on digital storefronts.

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It's been a wild ride, but we've nearly reached the end of Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance's weapon trailer series showcasing all the changes this DLC expansion is bringing for Monster Hunter Wilds' fourteen weapon types.

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The latest batch of trailers for this series covers all the changes coming for Heavy Bowgun, Lance, and Switch Axe weapon types.

I've barely used these weapons in the base game of Monster Hunter Wilds because, in my personal opinion, they hardly felt any different (and in some cases worse) from how they played in Monster Hunter World.

However, after watching these trailers, I think it's time I give them a shot because the changes the DLC expansion is bringing could provide the innovation they lacked in the base game.

First off, we have a trailer for the Heavy Bowgun, the hefty counterpart to the Light Bowgun that sacrifices mobility for heavy artillery.

The trailer shows that the Heavy Bowgun will gain a new Boost Driver attack that fires a laser beam, an Overcharge mechanic that allows the user to fire all their gun's ammo clip in one enhanced shot, and a special mode that charges the gun to fire a close-range plasma shot similar to Capcom's Mega Man series.

While Boost Mode is active, the Heavy Bowgun can reload ammo while dodging incoming attacks (which can also cancel the Boost Driver attack so you're not vulnerable during it), and reduce recoil on certain ammo types.

The trailer also shows that Adhesive Ammo from the base game has changed so that it fires multiple sticky explosive pellets immediately, instead of firing a single pellet that splits into multiple smaller pellets (which could be nullified if it was shot too close to a monster, hence why it was changed in the DLC).

The next trailer covers the Lance, the original defensive weapon type, which focuses purely on blocking every attack thrown at it while counterattacking (at least until Capcom decided to give every weapon type counter moves and parries in modern Monster Hunter games anyway).

In Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, the Lance has given some very subtle but potentially potent changes if you look hard enough. First off, the Lance has a new Boost Driver attack where the user slams the weapon onto a monster's face. This attack also acts as an Offset counter move, which can be used to parry an incoming attack.

Once you fill up the Boost Gauge with Boost Driver attacks and activate it, the Lance gains the ability to stab enemies a dozen times in a single combo (which has more chances to trigger status ailment build-up with status-effect Lances), and the Lance's running charge attack has its speed doubled, with an enhanced finishing strike.

Additionally, the Boost Gauge allows the Lance to perform a new regular counterattack where the user pokes with the lance before smashing enemies with a shield bash attack so hard it creates a short-range shockwave that can deal tons of stun damage.

Lastly, you can now block attacks with the shield while performing the running charge attack.

Finally, we come to today's trailer, which showcases all the changes coming for Switch Axe. The Switch Axe is a complicated weapon that attacks with a giant axe that can transform into a giant sword that causes explosions with every hit.

In most Monster Hunter games, most of the damage lies in Switch Axe's Sword Mode, while Axe Mode tends to act as a filler/defensive playstyle while waiting for Sword Mode to recharge. However, Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance is looking to improve Axe Mode's damage potential with new cool moves while adding new tricks that will get you to Sword Mode faster.

The first is a new Boost Driver attack in Axe Mode that instantly fills up the Switch Axe's Sword Mode resource gauge so you can transform into it immediately. The Sword Mode also gets a new Boost Driver attack that instantly fills its Phial energy resource so it can deal additional damage.

Once you activate the Boost Gauge, the Switch Axe's Sword Mode will let you perform a charging stab attack that lets you latch onto a monster and perform its devastating Zero Sum Discharge attack. After being knocked back from the Zero Sum Discharge, you can follow it up with an aerial dive attack in Axe Mode.

Additionally, the Boost Gauge will unlock new combo attack paths and enhance the speed of Switch Axe's counterattack.

Windows Central's take

Out of all the weapons shown, I'm the most hyped to try out Switch Axe in Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance.

It looks so much more stylish than before; I like all the new moves they're giving to Axe Mode to make it more viable, and the fact that Capcom has given Switch Axe the charging stab attack from Devil May Cry (most famously known as the Stinger) that leads into the Zero Sum Discharge attack is just 'chef's kiss' magnificent.

Heavy Bowgun's new laser move looks pretty cool (which I hope deals good damage so we can get away from using boring regular ammo), and the Lance appears to be hinting at getting more offensive capabilities that will be useful in group play (even if the new moves aren't as flashy compared to Switch Axe's).

But will all these slick-looking changes make the Heavy Bowgun, Lance, and Switch Axe more fun to play in execution? Join the hunt next year to find out when Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance launches in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

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