Microsoft's backwards compatibility team created a system called FPS Boost, and it does just that--it increases the frames per second for Xbox games on Xbox Series X and S. In some cases, frame rates can be doubled, which in turn can make games look and run smoother to provide a better experience overall. Not every game Xbox game uses FPS Boost, but plenty do--close to 100 as of September 2021--and we're rounding them all up here.Another important thing to know is that, to unlock higher frame rates, some games make a compromise that brings down the resolution to accommodate this. In these cases, which Microsoft says only make up "select" group of titles, FPS Boost is not automatically toggled on for Xbox Series X specifically. However, if you do what to experience higher frame rates at the tradeoff of lower resolution, you can toggle it on manually. Here's a video explaining how:There is also a new guide overlay located in the upper right corner when you tap the Xbox button on your controller that lets you know if FPS Boost is enabled or not. An extensive breakdown of FPS Boost and troubleshooting support can be found on Microsoft's website.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Phasmophobia developer Kinetic Games celebrated the horror investigative game's one-year anniversary and announced an "anniversary update."The most significant tweak in the update was the Journal's makeover. The Journal is an information resource in Phasmophobia, providing investigative clues, photos, ghost info, and more. Now it's a little less clunky to use: You can cross off clues on the ghost evidence page, access the pause menu in the journal, and change all settings using the journal.Other changes are small edits like being able to see what the ghost type was when you fail a mission and no longer getting $10 for failing a contract, instead receiving insurance depending on the difficulty setting.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Not long ago, your chosen PSN username was locked in and unchangeable. That was bad news for anyone who chose a name that was embarrassing or too complicated to remember or otherwise just unwieldy. Fortunately, Sony has shifted that policy now, allowing you to change your username as many times as you wish--if you're willing to pay. Here is everything you need to know about changing your PSN ID.The cost of changing your PSN nameSony allows you to change your password for free once, allowing you to correct an old username easily as long as you're certain what you want to change it to. Any further changes beyond that point, though, and you'll have to pay for the privilege. Subsequent instances will cost cost $10 per change for standard PlayStation Network members, or $5 per change if you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber.But there are some costs to changing your PSN ID that go beyond the standard dollars and cents calculations. Sony warns that some PS4 games could experience issues after you've changed your ID. PlayStation put together a list of PS4 games that could be impacted by a name change, including problems like losing your Trophies or even loss of paid currency. PS3, Vita, and PS/TV games and apps don't support the name change as well. Sony also warns that there may be other games that experience issues that didn't arise during its testing, so it's a slight gamble either way.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Diablo 2: Resurrected releases this week, and unlike the original PC-exclusive game, the remade version is coming to everything from PC to PS5 and Nintendo Switch. It also supports cross-progression, allowing you to keep your game progress if you decide to switch from one platform to another or want to jump back and forth between a few. But how does Diablo 2: Resurrected cross-progression work? We'll give you the rundown.What Is Diablo 2: Resurrected's Cross-Progression?Cross-progression is a feature distinct from cross-play--it doesn't mean you can play with your friend on PC if you are playing on Xbox Series X. Instead, what cross-progression allows you to do is play your character on one platform and then pick up where you left off on another. This way, if your friend only plays on PlayStation and you prefer PC, you can still temporarily jump to PlayStation in order to play cooperatively with them. This feature was not included in Diablo 3--nor was cross-play--so you could only play on people with the same system as you. You do still have to buy the game separately on all platforms you'll be using.How To Enable Diablo 2: Resurrected Cross-ProgressionTo do this, you just need to have a Battle.net account that is linked to the platform in question. If you've played Diablo 3 or Overwatch on a console already, there is a pretty good chance you've already done this.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Xbox Game Pass started as an impressive value offering for Xbox console owners, and it still is. But as Microsoft has built up the service, it has made great strides in offering a PC version of the service as well. Xbox Game Pass for PC has its own library of games separate from the console service, with a good deal of overlap. Like the console service, it includes all of Microsoft's new first-party games on day-of-release. At this point, the Xbox Game Pass for PC service includes a library of hundreds of games for a monthly subscription rate. A combined Game Pass Ultimate subscription includes the console version of the service as well, along with access to cloud gaming. Given that Xbox cloud gaming recently launched for testers on PC, that expands the offerings even further.Below you'll find a current list of everything on-tap through the Xbox Game Pass for PC service. For more, check out all the Xbox Game Pass games and our picks for the best PC games to play right now.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Twitch has struck a deal with the National Music Publishers Association after months of animosity between the music industry and the Amazon-owned streaming giant. As reported by Variety, the arrangement is not a full-on licensing agreement, but instead looks to be the basis for a partnership between Twitch and music publishers.The announcement states that Twitch has created “a new process that participating music rights holders can opt into to report certain uses of their music, to address when creators inadvertently or incidentally use music in their streams.”Based on the announcement, it seems like the deal between the NMPA and Twitch will make it easier for music publishers to track down and report streamers who use their music. The deal does not appear to change the rules regarding music usage for streamers immediately, who have had to deal with an onslaught of DMCA takedowns in the past year.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Disney has announced that the Marvel blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will hit Disney+ on November 12, which the studio is designating as Disney+ Day. According to a tweet sent out by the studio, Shang-Chi and tons more content will be landing on the streaming service that day.Disney's Jungle Cruise is easily the other headliner alongside Shang-Chi coming to Disney+ this fall. Also worth a mention are "special looks" at upcoming Star Wars and Marvel content, a new short from The Simpsons, and Season 2 of The World According to Jeff Goldblum. Check out the full initial list below, which indicates there will be further upcoming announcements.Your #DisneyPlusDay lineup has arrived (with more to come)💥🌴🚢☃🛵👓🌏➕ What are you most excited to stream on November 12? pic.twitter.com/bz8V82vFzl — Disney+ (@disneyplus) September 21, 2021Shang-Chi recently became the fastest film to make $100 million in the US this year, and also became the biggest grossest movie ever released on Labor Day Weekend. Marvel's previous release, Black Widow, was the previous film to hit $100 million--though it had a steep second-weekend drop and, unlike Shang-Chi, was also available as a Disney+ Premium Access title.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a surprisingly challenging game (if you need any advice, we've got 13 essential tips and tricks that should prove helpful). And that challenge isn't just tied to combat. Bridge of Spirits has a few head-scratching puzzles too.Of note, early into Bridge of Spirits, you'll be tasked with travelling to the game's first major area, the Forgotten Woods, and encounter a series of puzzles following your conversation with Rusu at his house. In order to help Taru, you need to recover three items related to his trauma--one of which is locked behind a door.The door can only be opened by activating four different shrines. Though most are combat-focused or a hybrid of platform puzzle and combat, one in particular is solely a puzzle: the Fishing Shrine. It's not obvious what you're supposed to do in order to activate the shrine--this is the first mandatory puzzle in Bridge of Spirits that encourages you to really pay attention to the world around you.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Aside from October being the spookiest month of the year, it's also one of the most violent for WWE. October is the home for the Extreme Rules PPV. This is an event where numerous matches have interesting stipulations attached, many of which involve weapons in one form or another.This year's Extreme Rules event will take place in the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday, September 26. This event will see the in-ring return of Finn Bálor as his persona "The Demon" as he takes on Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. Bálor has been on NXT for the past two years, and while "The Demon" has appeared on Smackdown, Bálor hasn't wrestled as that character since Super Showdown in 2019.It's an EXTREME RULES Match this Sunday with the #UniversalTitle on the line!@WWERomanReigns defends against The Demon @FinnBalor at #ExtremeRules. pic.twitter.com/ht6WfHRRUX — WWE Network (@WWENetwork) September 21, 2021Start Time:Of course, because it's a live event, the show will air at different times around the world. Check out the handy chart below to see when the WWE PPV will air in your neck of the woods.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The island of Blackreef is full of people just itching for the chance to kill you and bring your looping day to a premature end. Of course, you likely have other plans, but you’re going to need the tools to help stave off the heat of an intense firefight when stealth isn’t an option. That’s where Deathloop’s many visually distinct and brutally effective weapons come into play, and you’ll want to pick up some of the game’s best to give yourself a fighting chance at breaking the loop.Truth be told, you don’t need the best weapons that Deathloop has to offer to beat the game. The same goes for the supernatural powers offered up by items called Slabs, which we’ve already rounded up. But even though you can get around Blackreef without the best firepower in your pocket, the truth is that Arkane’s latest game is a fantastic shooter, so why not treat yourself to some of the best blasters that the game has to offer?Many of Deathloop’s best weapons are found on the cold, dead bodies of its Visionary bosses, but there are a handful that you can only find through careful examination of some districts at specific times of the day. Whether you want to enhance your ability to execute from the shadows or just further the game’s power fantasy when going load, each one of these rare firearms are great options to infuse and keep with you between runs.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Blizzard's chief legal officer has left the company amid its ongoing legal troubles. Former Blizzard chief legal officer Claire Hart announced on Linkedin that she has departed from the company as of Friday, September 17 after three years with the company."The past three years have been full of unexpected twists and turns, but I feel honored to have worked with and met so many great people at Blizzard and across the Activision Blizzard businesses," Hart wrote.Hart said she would be taking a short break before moving on to whatever is next. Hart did not state the reason she left the company. An Activision Blizzard spokesperson confirmed to GameSpot that Hart has departed the company.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

When you finally confront Taro's spirit in Kena: Bridge of Spirits, you'll discover that the trauma of injuring himself, losing track of his younger siblings, and becoming lost in the Forgotten Woods has transformed him into Corrupt Taro, an aggressive werewolf-like beast with a glowing sword. This is Bridge of Spirits' first significant difficulty spike--prepare yourself for a fight that's a lot more challenging than anything you've faced up to this point.Like most boss fights in Bridge of Spirits, Corrupt Taro has two phases--the battle will go into the second phase when you reduce Taro's health to roughly half. The boss fight takes place in a fairly circular arena, with two of the healing flowers located on the outer edges, opposite each other. That means you'll only be able to heal twice for the entire fight. Ideally, you'll want both flowers for Phase 2 (especially on the harder difficulty modes), so try to beat the boss' first phase without getting hit too much so you don't have to heal.Abilities You Should Unlock Beforehand: Sprint Attack Heavy, Perfect Charge, Parry Counter, Parry Courage, Focus, Rot Hammer, Enter the FrayContinue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, everyday items are imbued with new, unseen emotional significance. A wooden mask is a link to the spirit of the person for whom it was made. Objects like a construction hammer or a box filled with food are tied to memories of people who have been lost. Locations that were once the sites of vibrant and happy times are scarred with the pain and trauma suffered within them.Looking at common things with new eyes is a running theme of Kena, and that theme often applies to its gameplay as well. Though the game is filled with some fairly common action-adventure genre tropes--it has melee combat that feels akin to titles such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order or even Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, climbing sections similar to Uncharted or Tomb Raider, platforming that recalls games such as Ratchet and Clank, and puzzles like what you might see in The Legend of Zelda--it manages to combine a familiar approachability with some fresh spins on the ideas. Combined with emotional, character-driven storytelling, some tough-but-excellent fights, and mechanics that make the world feel alive around you, Kena is an exciting, often heartbreaking journey that will make you want to explore every corner and crevice to see all that you can.Gallery The story and world of Kena: Bridge of Spirits center on a village beset by tragedy. Its inhabitants are all gone, wiped out by misfortune, and their pain has physically poisoned the once-vibrant land around it. That pain has drawn Kena, a young spirit guide, to seek out the trauma at its center and heal it. Her link to the spirit realm allows her to help the ghosts of the village find peace, and in so doing, she's able to push back the corruption that has gripped the land, restoring it to its former glory.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Ahead of its release this week, developer Ember Labs has released a launch trailer for Kena: Bridge of Spirits. In case you missed out on its debut during Sony's June 2020 Future of Gaming PS5 event, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an adventure game that mixes exploration and puzzle-solving with combat. As the protagonist Kena embarks on a quest to restore balance to an ancient village in a once-thriving environment, she'll befriend tiny creatures known as Rot in her journey.Not just cute critters, the Rot can disarm adversaries, unlock new skills, uncover secrets, and restore the beauty of the land as Kena fulfills her Spirit Guide duties. If players get attached to any of their Rot comrades, they'll be able to grab a selfie with them in the game's Photo Mode. Players can pause the game to set the characters up for a photography session, which includes outfitting the Rot with a wardrobe of optional hats before a snapshot is taken."We're very excited to share the 'Cheese!' function in Photo Mode," Ember Lab's animation director Hunter Schmidt explained in a press release. "When players have set up their perfect photo angle, they’ll have the option to have the characters in the photo say 'CHEESE!' and strike a pose. Many characters have multiple poses, so you can snap a great variety of fun shots in the same location. I'm very excited to see what kinds of photos players will capture!"Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Mobile players will soon be headed back to a classic as Zynga has released a new teaser trailer for FarmVille 3.The short teaser showcases some of the new farming landscapes found in the new game, as well as a few of the different animal species that can be raised in this new installment, including goats, cows, alpaca, and more. Farmhands can also be seen interacting with the animals, in one instance feeding a calf.Baby animals like the cow being fed feature heavily in the teaser, a nod to FarmVille 3's brand-new breeding mechanic. Over 150 animals will feature in the game according to the official release, with horses, pigs, and arctic foxes also among the Farmville 3 fauna.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com