It’s rare for video games to offer choices that truly matter and change the story, for better or worse, so when they do, it’s something special. These games require extra effort from developers, but they’re incredibly engaging and memorable. Whether it’s a well-known role-playing game famous for its impactful decisions, or a lesser-known spy thriller, these choice-driven games are ideal for players who want to shape their own narrative.
Calling this a ‘new’ mission isn’t quite right – it’s essentially the same one shown during the State of Play Deep Dive, specifically the part where Bond sneaks into an airport, is discovered, and battles his way through enemies to reach 009’s plane. Beyond the smoother frame rate and reduced motion blur, the improvements to animations and the heads-up display are noticeable. The ‘License to Kill’ mode, which triggers intense action, now appears at the top of the screen, offering a less obstructed view.
In Directive 8020, you control five different characters aboard the colony ship Cassiopeia after it crash-lands on the planet Tau Ceti f. The crew wakes up to find a dangerous, shape-shifting creature hunting them. This organism can copy anyone on board, so you’ll have to figure out who is still human and make choices that impact the fate of those in cryo-sleep.
I really love both of those movies, and the thought of having to figure out if a teammate is secretly a dangerous alien—and then dealing with the fallout if I guess wrong—felt like an amazing story concept.
As a huge fan of the Fast & Furious franchise, I was really excited to hear the news at the NBCUniversal Upfronts! Jimmy Fallon had Vin Diesel on stage, and Vin announced they’re expanding the universe onto Peacock with four new shows. Apparently, we’re going to get even more Fast & Furious content, which is amazing! Vin’s going to be an executive producer, and while it’s not confirmed yet, he hinted that he might reprise his role as Dom Toretto too, because he said fans are really wanting to see more of the original characters. Fingers crossed!
At its heart, Call of the Elder Gods is a puzzle game, and thankfully, the puzzles are its strongest feature. Each puzzle offers a good-sized area to investigate, with clues and notes scattered around. These clues not only help solve the puzzles, but also reveal the game’s story, encouraging players to explore and uncover the mysteries within.
To mark the launch of the full-cast audio edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, we’ve partnered with Audible to share a special sneak peek. The clip, which is over two minutes long, revisits the Battle of Hogwarts, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione try to destroy Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes while he attacks the school with his forces. Fans will also hear something missing from the original films – Peeves the Poltergeist helping the students and staff fight the Death Eaters, mischievously dropping exploding pods on their heads! You can listen to the exclusive clip here:
It’s common for superhero stories to pair heroes with villains who are their perfect match, but the most compelling stories go a step further – they link the villain to the hero’s past. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the best villains often heavily influence their heroic counterparts, either by shaping their origins or significantly impacting their development. The MCU has successfully done this many times, creating heroes whose stories are powerfully defined by the villains they face.
Open-world games still have some kinks to work out. Many feel too big, overwhelming, and filled with unnecessary content – essentially, they need to be more concise. Developers often assume players want massive worlds, believing bigger is always better, but that’s not necessarily true. A smaller, more focused world can actually be much more enjoyable to explore. A great example is the 2025 RPG Atomfall, a fantastic and often overlooked game that I highly recommend.
A24 is launching its new prequel series, Crystal Lake, which will be available to stream on Peacock. The show features Linda Cardellini (known for her roles in Avengers: Age of Ultron and DTF St. Louis) as Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother. It explores the events before a devastating accident at the Crystal Lake summer camp that turned the Voorhees family into killers. Fans have been eager to find out when Crystal Lake would debut on Peacock, and the premiere date has now been announced.