Firaxis, the developers behindXCOM,CivilizationandMarvel’s Midnight Suns, has reportedly been hit with layoffs, with a reported 30 employees being let go from the company. Despite being the developers behind some of the most beloved strategy games in the past few console generations, the last few months have been rather rough for Firaxis, who is perhaps best known for XCOM but most recently also delivered the excellent Marvel strategy game, Marvel’s Midnight Suns....

Netflix’sThe Witcherisn’t very good. It looks cheap, has wonky CGI, is filled with jokes that don’t land and dialogue that doesn’t fit, and struggles to build up its world in any meaningful way. It’s hard to care about the politics Geralt gets swept up in. To top it off, thespin-offs are diluting a pretty basic premise, stretching a world ill-designed for stretching too thin. I can’t see the show lasting more than another season....

The Legend of Zeldais a nearly 40-year-old series, withTears of the Kingdomtaking the spot of being the 20th mainline game. However, anyone could safely bet that we haven’t seen the end of things yet, and there will be more Zelda games to come. RELATED:The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom - Things To Do Instead Of Saving Hyrule Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, and though it does a lot differently and takes new steps, it also treads dangerously close to its predecessor - so close in fact, that it loses some of that magic and instead offers new toys in this familiar sandbox....

I recently got intoDungeons & Dragonsfor the first time. I don’t really know what I’m doing as all the skills, feats, and character-building statistics go over my head. But rarely understanding the mechanical sophistication of the game world doesn’t matter when the act of playing is so much fun. Our dungeon master (Editor-in-Chief Stacey Henley) has created a compelling world and all I’m asked to do is sit back, listen, and use my imagination....

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfaretook the games industry by storm, captivating players with its intense multiplayer modes and iconic maps, most notably the beloved Shipment. Something which may have escaped the notice of many players, on the other hand, is that Shipment only made it into the game by accident. Shipment quickly became a fan favorite, even despite its tight, winding structure consisting primarily of shipping containers. The chaos that ensued when players raced through its shortcuts and cramped corridors turned the map into an almost legendary arena, but if developerInfinity Wardhad paid somewhat closer attention, Shipment might have remained hidden after launch....

Quick Links Diablo 4’sBarbarian can be tricky to level, with most builds requiring endgame talents and skills to become fully optimal. The Whirlwind build is not only the strongest choice once maxed out, but it also gives Barbarian the best chance at quickly leveling up to max. RELATED:Diablo 4: Which Class Should You Play? Focusing on dishing out constant AoE damage while maintaining a variety of powerful buffs, Whirlwind Barbarian is easy to play and fun to progress with....

DisneyPrincesses andBarbiego together like peanut butter and jelly. However, even though today’s Disney Princess dolls look like Barbies and are made by Mattel, the same experienced toymakers who make Barbie dolls, they are not one and the same. That said, there are some terrific Disney Princess dolls that look a lot like they share Barbie’s DNA available right now and certainly won’t look out of place in your Barbie collection....

The gaming industry can be unforgiving; maintaining relevancy in today’s “newer is better,” market is becoming all the more difficult. Many titles have fallen prey to becoming borderline obsolete over years of advancement and innovation. Yet, there still exists a select group of sandbox games that never seem to lose their appeal. Related:Biggest Open-World RPGs Ever These titles possess the right blend of nostalgia coupled with gameplay components that seem to transcend time....

Infants are a welcome addition to the world ofThe Sims 4. They are little bundles of personality, bringing joy, exhaustion, and laughter everywhere they go. In a game that’s constantly evolving, infants bring a whole new level of realism to the world of your sims. RELATED:The Sims 4: All Infant Traits And What They Mean Still, they can be a bit of a handful sometimes — for you and your Sims....

Turn-based games allow you to pause the world around you and contemplate your next move during combat. This method of combat lets you take your time when making decisions in battle instead of having to take quick, in-the-moment actions in games that use real-time mechanics. The most well-known games that use this combat style are typically strategy titles and RPGs, such as big-name games likeSid Meier’s Civilizationseries and theDragon Questseries....

Things are going from bad to worse for theBorderlandsmovie, or perhaps more accurately, from ‘oh, I forgot about that’ to ‘wait, that doesn’t sound good’. Recently, it was the news that Craig Mazin, writer of Chernobyl andThe Last of Us, hastaken his name off the project and will now go by a pseudonym. Obviously, this is not good news, but I also think it’s being slightly overblown. Mazin is credited as a writer on Scary Movies 3 and 4, as well as Superhero Movie, but that doesn’t mean Borderlands is worse....

Quick Links No support class performs as well as the Cleric inBaldur’s Gate 3. Sure, you have your Druids, Paladins, and Bards, but when it comes to consistent and reliable heals and buffs, you’ll definitely want a Cleric on your side. This spellcasting class assists both on and off the battlefield. RELATED:Baldur’s Gate 3 Pre-Order Guide With their proficiencies in Religion, History, and Medicine, these knowledgeable individuals will be a great asset to have beyond their spellcasting talents....

Quick Links If stealthy and smooth are two words you’d use to describe your playstyle when choosing a class forBaldur’s Gate 3, then look no further than your tried-and-true Rogue. A powerful class hogging all the Bonus Actions and turn economy for themselves, Rogues make Fighters jealous and Clerics weep. RELATED:Baldur’s Gate 3 Pre-Order Guide These dextrous mischief-makers are a staple for any stealth operation or under-the-table dealings, and they make for one of the best ranged-support characters in the game....