After installing the update, digital titles and DLC you've purchased will now be converted to Virtual Game Cards. These function similarly to physical game cards. You can load and share your digital games between two Switch systems, making it easier to manage your digital library. You can also loan out digital games temporarily to other users within your family group.

As mentioned, the new system update also adds support for GameShare. This feature will allow Switch 2 owners to virtually share compatible games with Switch 1 players, similar to the Download Play function the DS offered, giving you the ability to set up or join a multiplayer session even if only one player owns the game.

Some of the most enticing deals are those for Square Enix's flagship franchise, Final Fantasy. Nearly every game in the mainline numbered series is on sale, as are several spin-offs. If you're looking to catch up on the latest entries in the long-running series, fans can grab the PC versions of the most recent numbered game, Final Fantasy XVI, in a Complete Edition that includes the base game and all DLC for $37.30 (was $70), or the latest entry in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, for $40.17 (was $70). If you haven't played part 1, you can grab both Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth in a two-pack bundle for $57.39 (was $100).

If you're looking to play the earliest games in the series, the Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Bundle is a great place to start, especially while it's on sale for $43 (was $75). If you just want to pick up a few of these Pixel Remaster versions instead of the whole pack, you can grab them a la cart as well. GMG's sale is also a great chance to grab several Final Fantasy spin-off titles, including the Nioh-style action-RPG Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, the Final Fantasy fighting game Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, and World of Final Fantasy Complete Edition, which is a monster catching RPG filled with fun homages to the entire series. Check the list below to see all the best Final Fantasy deals at GMG.

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Volume 2

$120 | Releases August 7

Preorder at the CrunchyRoll Store

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Volume One

$120

See at the CrunchyRoll Store

Nier: Automata continues to resonate with its fans several years after it first hit consoles and PC. Since then, the tale of the humanoid androids 2B, 9S, and A2, has been adapted to multiple other versions, including the acclaimed anime, Nier: Automata Ver1.1a. While the anime concluded back in 2024, fans can soon add the second half of the animated adaptation to their Blu-ray collection with NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Volume 2, which includes the final 12 episodes of the series plus a selection of collectible prints, an artbook, and more. The exclusive Blu-ray collector's set is available to preorder for $120 at Crunchyroll's online store ahead of its August 7 release. If you're looking to grab the full series, NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Volume 1 launched last year and is also available for $120 at Cruncyroll.

NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Volume Two

$120 | Releases August 7

The second volume comes with some nice extras, like illustration cards, booklets that contain exclusive interviews with the crew behind the show, reference material on the game's world, and a replica disc designed to match the one included in the first volume. You'll also find clean opening and closing credit sequences, a collection of trailers, and both of the English and Japanese audio tracks. The main cover of the three-disc slipcase also features a new illustration of 9S on the cover.

In case you missed it, the anime adaptation of Nier:Automata largely sticks to the same story as the games/ Set in the year 11,945, the show charts follows android soldiers 2B and 9S on their journey across Earth, millennia after the planet was devastated in an alien invasion. Encountering mysterious phenomena along the way, 2B and 9S uncover new truths and are pushed to their mechanical limits as they fight strange threats along the way.

Lego Botanicals: Tiny Wildflower Bouquet (95 pieces)

$18 (was $20) | Releases June 3

This small Lego set features plants like lavender, larkspur, Gerber daisy, Welsh poppies, and other colorful wildflowers. All the flowers are held inside a sleek black vase, and its tiny frame makes it a good choice for your desk, nightstand, or bookcase. A 32-page hardcover book can be displayed next to it, as it’s filled with fun facts about the set’s many flowers.

Preorder at Amazon

Lego Botanicals: Tiny Desert Garden (54 pieces)

$18.59 (was $20) | Releases June 3

Bring some Southwest flair into your home with the Tiny Desert Garden. With tiny cacti and succulents housed inside a white planter, it’s a fun little set that shouldn’t take long to complete. There’s even a mini ladybug that can be placed among the plants. Like the other Tiny Build, this one is bundled with a 32-page hardcover book highlighting interesting facts about the drought-resistant vegetation.

Preorder at Amazon

The company responsible for these collections has launched several other bundles over the years, including ones featuring Batman, Jurassic World, and Ninjago. All of these are quite affordable, and some even include multiple books or a chance to use their blocks to make multiple different creations. For example, the Robots: Build and Stick Set gives you the option to build one of three different models. It also includes over 200 stickers and is currently on sale for $11.76 (was $17).

Looking for a Mother’s Day gift? The colorful Lego Botanicals Petite Sunny Bouquet Flower Set arrives on May 1--just in time for Mother’s Day on May 11. It’s much larger than these Tiny Builds at 373 pieces, though it’s still quite affordable at $30.

Lego Botanicals: Petite Sunny Bouquet (373 pieces)

$30 | Releases May 1

This 573-piece set features an assortment of Lego flowers and foliage to build, including Billy buttons, bluebells, Cleopatra ferns, yellow yarrow, gerbera, peony, and tulips. The colorful bouquet is a cool alternative to traditional flowers, and if you want to place them in a vase, the final product measures 8.5 inches tall.

Preorder at Amazon

This is just the latest addition to the Lego Botanicals lineup, which features plenty of other buildable flowers and plants that could make great Mother's Day gifts. The Succulents Set is on sale for $40 (was $50). It features nine different plants housed in a minimalist black frame. It's a larger set at 771 pieces, but the building process is broken up into digestible stages, making it easier than expected. It’s also a great way for two or more people to work together, as each can tackle their own plant.

Other great Lego Botanticals sets include the Orchid for $40 (was $50), Plum Blossom for $24 (was $30), and Chrysanthemum for $24 (was $30). Looking for another bouquet? Check out the Wildflower Bouquet for $48 (was $60). This is another larger kit at 939 pieces, and its colorful arrangement makes for a stylish centerpiece. There’s also a Kingfisher bird set that lets you piece together a blocky scene of the bird perched among cattails. Several more Lego Botanicals sets are discounted right now, and we've rounded up all the deals into the list below.

The massively popular Stardew Valley has a bustling mod scene, with tons of passionate fans creating content or adjusting the farming game's mechanics. While mods for some games, like Skyrim and Fallout, feature a lot of wacky content, the Stardew Valley mods are primarily focused on quality-of-life changes and art overhauls.

While developer ConcernedApe has put out several content updates since the launch of Stardew Valley, the passionate mod community on sites like Nexus Mods has been working hard on new content too. Some modders have gone the extra mile to make new areas and NPCs, but many of them have chosen to focus on changing the art style or fixing small inconveniences in the game. Many of the small mods focus on refining some divisive aspects of the game, such as the fishing minigame. If other games like Stardew Valley aren't doing it for you, adding mods can give you a new experience. All of the mods in this list can be found on Nexus Mods, with direct links to their pages. We've included instructions on how to mod Stardew Valley, but if you're facing errors, each individual mod page has its own instructions and troubleshooting sections. Here are the best Stardew Valley mods to install right now.

Skip Fishing Minigame

Created by: DewMods

The Skip Fishing Minigame does exactly what the title says: If you don't enjoy the fishing minigame in Stardew Valley, this mod will just skip it, automatically catching whatever you hooked. It also has some nice options to fully automate the process, or set a minimum catch amount before the mod kicks in, forcing you to at least catch each type of fish once before the minigame gets automated.

Canon-Friendly Dialogue Expansion

Created by: Ben and Witchweed

A very popular mod, the Canon-Friendly Dialogue Expansion adds a massive amount of new dialogue for every character in multiple scenarios. There are roughly 4,200 new lines across day-to-day interactions, festivals, and marriage. These new lines don't replace any existing dialogue, and all of them are meant to fit in with the tone of Stardew Valley. They are also all in-line with the same level of vulgarity as the rest of the game, so there won't be anything in there to spoil the cozy vibe.

Seasonal Outfits - Slightly Cuter Aesthetic

Created by: Poltergeister, Agent Lyoko, Pathoschild, Hopewashere, Alvadea, Ailin, IronZelly, Geckobud, Tanpoponoko, Airyn, Seyph, Jaksha, Seusmothesaurus, PKpixel, Periera1495, Longevity, Schrodingers Kit, DaniAlbrtSancEs, Medinaquirin, ParadigmNomad, daftpatiance

This artwork mod combines a couple of different mods to create Seasonal Outfits - Slightly Cuter Aesthetic. It gives all of the NPCs new outfits for each season and changes the portraits to reflect these new outfits. It also includes some minor tweaks to the normal portraits and some festival outfits to bring the overall aesthetic together into a cuter look, for anyone that isn't in love with the Stardew Valley style.

1oxnes and talkohlooeys' Seasonal Portraits

Created by: talkohlooeys, 1oxnes, and fuzzlepuzzle

Created to go along with the Seasonal Outfits mod, the Seasonal Portraits mod offers a complete overhaul of the in-game portraits to have a more hand-drawn and cuter art style. Not only are the base game portraits redone, but there are also versions to match the seasonal outfits from the other mod, helping to bring a cute vibe to the game.

Gift Taste Helper Continued X2

Created by: JoXW

This helpful tool adds a list of loved gifts to each villager when you view either their birthday on the in-game calendar or the relationship tab in the menu, so you don't have to create a spreadsheet or keep a guide open. The Gift Taste Helper Continued X2 can have all gifts listed from the start, or it can add them as you give loved gifts for the first time, if you still want to discover them on your own.

NPC Map Locations

Created by: Bouhm and Pathoschild

NPC Map Locations fixes one of the most frustrating, although incredibly small, issues with Stardew Valley: It adds icons to the map to show the current location of every NPC in the game. Without this mod, you have to memorize NPC schedules or spend time searching around town for them if you want to turn in a quest or give them a gift.

Stardew Valley Expanded

Created by: FlashShifter, Poltergeister, iKeychain, EscaMMC, spacechase0, Mouse, Jessie#4755, xNytax, HopeWasHere, CherrySymphony, Coldazrael, halloikbenzander

There are a few different mods that add more content to Stardew Valley, but the standout choice is Stardew Valley Expanded. This mod adds more areas, NPCs, character events, festivals, fish, crops, and so much more. As the name implies, it truly does expand Stardew Valley, so if you just need more Stardew content in your life, this mod will deliver on that front.

Stardew and Chill

Created by: Haphestia

While the name might make you think it does something else, Stardew and Chill is a music mod that changes out the in-game music for a lo-fi hip-hop Stardew Valley-inspired album. It takes music from the Stardew and Chill album made by DJ Cutman and Coffee Date and uses it as replacement tracks throughout Stardew Valley. The album is also on YouTube, so you can check out the music before installing the mod.

Skull Cavern Elevator

Created by: Lestoph

If you've ever found yourself frustrated that Stardew Valley's endgame dungeon didn't have an elevator in it, the Skull Cavern Elevator mod fixes that. Now, the Skull Cavern has an elevator just like the regular mine, checkpointing your progress every five floors so you can return to the furthest depth you previously reached. This can save a ton of time and resources since you no longer have to start from the top each time.

Wildflower Grass Field

Created by: Hesper

The Wildflower Grass Field mod changes the appearance of grass fields to have more variety and to fit whatever season you are in. It adds a ton of flowers and grass for each season, providing a cuter aesthetic as well, if you would prefer that over the default look. The flowers in each season are mixed together randomly, creating unique patches of grass throughout the game.

DaisyNiko's Earthy Recolor

Created by: DaisyNiko

Another visual mod, DaisyNiko's Earthy Recolor changes the visual look of both the environment of Stardew Valley and the exterior of buildings in town to have a warmer, earth-colored aesthetic. It's not a massive change, but it's a bit easier on the eyes and matches the relaxed vibes of the game.

DaisyNiko's Earthy Recolor Interiors

Created by: DaisyNiko

A sister mod to the previous entry, DaisyNiko's Earthy Recolor Interiors applies the warmed and cozier visual color palette to the interior of buildings across the game. If you enjoy the look of the Earthy Recolor on the outdoors, it only makes sense to apply it to the inside of buildings as well.

Custom Kissing Mod

Created by: Digus

Stardew Valley does let you kiss someone once you're married, but if you ever felt disappointed you couldn't kiss your partner prior to marriage, you aren't alone. The Custom Kissing Mod allows you to initiate a kiss with an NPC once you have seen their 10-heart event. It cures exhaustion and provides some relationship points just like the marriage kiss.

Oasis Greenhouse

Created by: DaisyNiko

The Oasis Greenhouse mod overhauls the Greenhouse to make it bigger and add a bunch of additional features, like a Spa that can restore energy and a cellar that can hold casks. The biggest bonus is the additional space, as the Oasis Greenhouse has space for six iridium sprinkler fields and enough space to have two of each kind of tree. If you have found the Greenhouse in Stardew Valley lackluster, this version has a bit of everything.

Wear More Rings

Created by: bcmpinc

The Wear More Rings mod allows you to equip more rings than normal in Stardew Valley. If you have spent a ton of time in either the mines or Skull Cavern, you probably have far more than the two rings you are allowed to wear. This allows you to increase the limit up to 20 rings, letting you utilize as many special powers and bonuses as possible.

Visible Fish

Created by: shekurika

The Visible Fish mod adds, well, visible fish. Now you can spot which fish are currently catchable at your current location by seeing them in the water. This doesn't affect how the fishing minigame works, and the fish won't be visible while biting your line, but it's nice to know what's available when you cast. It also works with other location and fishing mods.

Better Ranching

Created by: Urbanyeti

The Better Ranching mod makes a few small tweaks to the ranching system in Stardew Valley. It adds visual indicators for every animal to show if they can be either milked or sheared, along with an indicator showing if you have pet them yet that day. It also removes failure for both activities, making the overall process of caring for your animals and making money from them much easier.

Part of the Community

Created by: Space Baby

Friendship points in Stardew Valley are typically only gained by interacting with that villager directly, but the Part of the Community mod adds in passive boost to friendship points. Shipping new items, talking with a villager near other villagers, and visiting shops are just a few of the new ways to earn friendship points with the mod, which rewards players for interacting with the community in any capacity.

Immersive Family

Created by: xiaoleiwen

Having a family in Stardew Valley has always felt a bit tacked-on, but the Immersive Family mod aims to fix that. It adds 35 new events for your children, along with a ton of NPC dialogue based around your children. This is meant to make the children feel like an important part of the game, where the NPCs actually acknowledge their existence.

Medieval Buildings

Created by: Gweniaczek

The Medieval Buildings mod changes the design of all of your farm buildings to have a more old-timey feel. Instead of the modern wooden look, buildings are instead made from bricks. While the name implies they will look like castles, they look more like a regal hamlet located just outside of a castle.

Farmer Helper

Created by: aedenthorn

The Farmer Helper mod is a simple tool that helps you not only remember everything you need to do each day, but also prevents you from making simple mistakes while farming. It does two main things, the first of which is to either warn you or prevent you completely from planting seeds too late in a season to actually harvest them. The second is a warning that pops up as you go to bed for the night if you forgot to tend to either crops or animals.

Do Not Eat My Crops

Created by: u_u__w

Do Not Eat My Crops is a very specific mod that does one thing, which is prevent crows from eating your crops if you don't have scarecrows protecting them. This mod takes away the stress of placing scarecrows in the proper places by making it so crows never eat your crops, regardless of scarecrow placement.

Automate

Created by: Pathoschild

If you find yourself tiring of checking your furnaces, crab pots, and other machines every day in Stardew Valley, the Automate mod allows you to create automated machines to do it all for you. By connecting a chest to different machines, it will automatically collect finished products and place more raw materials into machines. You can even connect multiple machines to make an assembly line.

Save Anywhere

Created by: Aredjay and Sweet Panda

The Save Anywhere mod allows you to save (almost) anywhere. Normally, Stardew Valley only saves when you go to sleep at the end of a day, but the mod allows you to save wherever you are, although certain events can prevent you from doing so. Still, it's better than having to either waste a day by cutting it early or lose any progress you have already made that day.

Elle's New Barn Animals

Created by: Elle

If you have ever thought to yourself, "I wish these animals were cuter," when looking at your cows and pigs, Elle's New Barn Animals mod overhauls the barn animals design to be much cuter in design. There are multiple options to choose from for each one, including the option to fully replace some, like having deer instead of cows.

Polyamory Sweet

Created by: ApryllForever

Sometimes you just can't decide which Stardew Valley character to marry. It's a struggle, right? How do you choose from such a variety of fun NPCs? With the Polyamory Sweet mod, you no longer need to make any difficult decisions. The mod allows for multiple spouses or roommates, you can even marry multiple people in one wedding. For the affectionately-inclined, unlimited hugging and kissing is also included. Remember that, unless you're using something like the Friends Forevermod, relationship decay is still a thing so you'll need to pay plenty of attention to your spouses of choice or risk upsetting them. You can mirror real-life too, and select a primary partner by gifting them the Aine Flower, which you can buy at Pierre's or plant with seeds. You can even change bed order or size in the configuration file, so everyone is comfortable.

Elle's Seasonal Buildings

Created by: junimods

Have you ever been wandering around Stardew Valley wishing the building aesthetics had more options? With Elle's Seasonal Buildings, there are seven different color palettes and three building themes, including more colorful, full brick, and all-white. There are eight different farmhouse styles too, whether you want it to be made entirely of stained glass, or you're going for a cottagecore look. Upgraded farmhouses can even benefit from configurable external wall colors, and there's optional holiday or festival-themed decor for farmhouse and cabin exteriors. The mod even gets into the finer details, allowing for the adjustment of fence, mailbox, shipping bin, and fish pond recoloring.

Automatic Gates

Created by: Rakiin aka ScheKaa

How much time do you think you've wasted manually opening and closing gates in Stardew? Well, we've not been keeping count, but trust us when we say it's a lot. Probably. Waste no more time! Installing the Automatic Gates mod does exactly what it says on the tin. It opens and closes gates automatically for players. Animals won't be affected, so you don't need to worry about your herd getting loose. If you don't want all gates to be automatic, there are options to exclude some too.

Bigger Backpack

Created by: spacechase0, bcmpinc

We've addressed the issue of not being able to access your chests anywhere on the map, but what about the increasing frustration of having a limited inventory on your person? Sure, you could move things between chests using the Chests Anywhere mod above, but the Bigger Backpack mod goes one further. Simply head to Pierre's and part with 50,000g to get a backpack with 48 slots. While your inventory starts at 12 slots, it can be upgraded in the vanilla game to 36. But what good is 36? We want 48!

Baldur's Village

Created by: BV

This Baldur's Gate 3-inspired mod adds your favorite BG3 characters to Stardew Valley, with more than 20 new NPCs. There are six new locations straight from the turn-based RPG, and everyone's favorite undead vampire, Astarion, has a romanceable questline. Bumping into Karlach or Wyll isn't unheard of in Baldur's Village, and the art style lovingly brings the beloved NPCs to Stardew in an adorable pixel style. It's a must-download mod for fans of both games.

Custom Companions

Created by: PeacefulEnd

Have you ever found yourself running around Stardew Valley and dreaming of a cute little cow following you around? A bat? A crazed spinning girl? Okay, so the latter might not be super desirable, but it is possible thanks to the Custom Companions mod. After installing it, you can create custom animals, people, or strange entities that can spawn on the map, or follow you around. This is a mod aimed at people who create other mods, or who may want to try their hand at creating custom content.

Chests Anywhere

Created by: Pathoschild

The Chests Anywhere mod removes the frustration of forgetting an item in a chest at home. You can access not just your chests, but fridges, dressers, shipping bins, and Junimo huts from anywhere in the game, and organize their contents. You can move items from one place to another without needing to run across the map. If you've found yourself with a full inventory on a mining expedition, you can now transfer your items to your chest on your farm and continue digging deeper.

Ridgeside Village

Created by: Rafseazz, Mamaesh

The massive Ridgeside Village mod introduces more than 50 new NPCs, a brand-new location, new items, shops, festivals, music, quests, and more. It's an incomprehensibly massive mod which introduces tons of new content while not being intrusive to the base game. 22 of the 50+ new NPCs can be befriended or romanced, and the late game challenges provide a test for even the most seasoned Stardew veterans. There's even the Ridgeside Village Seasonal Outfits mod, which introduces new aesthetics for characters in the mod. There are new quests and festivals if you're bored of the Night Market, and even hotel rooms to stay overnight, and the odd jobs service to hire assistants on your farm. If you've been playing Stardew for years like the rest of us, installing the Ridgeside Village mod is truly like playing a brand-new version of the same farming sim we know and love.

Tractor

Created by: Pathoschild

Vehicles in Stardew Valley? While characters like Lewis have a truck, it's never seen moving around the village, probably because of the incomprehensible scale of the thing. It's almost the size of his house! You can join in on the motoring fun now too, with the Tractor mod by Pathoschild. You can buy a tractor, as well as a garage to put it in, to help you be more efficient with crops, as well as clearing twigs and rocks on the farm. With the mod installed, you'll buy the tractor and garage from Robin who will come over and build it. Then, just get on the tractor and select a tool, seeds, or fertilizer from the toolbar. Pressing the backspace key will also summon the tractor to your current location. The tractor even has a melee weapon to break open mine containers or attack monsters.

Mod Config Menu

Created by: spacechase0

The Generic Mod Config Menu allows you to add a menu option in-game which views all mod settings at once. If you're finding yourself working through our mods list and installing almost all of them, this could be a helpful addition that enables you to manage all of your mods in one place. To find it in Stardew Valley, just use the cog icon either in the title screen or during your playthrough. Note that not all mods support Generic Mod Config Menu, so if some you've installed are missing from the settings page, don't panic.

How To Mod Stardew Valley

While some games make use of the Steam Workshop feature to install and manage mods, Stardew Valley has its own process. You'll need to alter the game files, but if that sounds scary, fear not. It's more simple than it sounds, and we've got instructions on how to install mods, whether they're XNB files or mods that utilize the Stardew Modding API. If you're tinkering with game files, remember to keep a vanilla backup somewhere, just in case undesirable side effects start coming into play.

For XNB files:

• Locate the content file at C:/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley/Content
• Find the folder that represents the mod you're trying to install. For example, if you want to add a new cow variant, head to the Animals subfolder.
• Replace the "cow.xnb" file with your replacement file.
• Restart the game to apply the mod's effects.

To use the Stardew Modding API, download SMAPI from Nexus Mods. This open-source software will allow you to install DLL files with ease, and also regularly checks for new updates. SMAPI will also help to make mods compatible with future Stardew Valley updates. All you need to do, when your DLL file is downloaded, is move it into the SMAPI mod folder.

While that's it for the best mods to install in Stardew Valley, take note of the house upgrades, and recipes list for your next playthrough. They may be vanilla inclusions, but there's far more on offer than you'd expect.

8BitDo has announced it is temporarily pausing shipments to the US due to tariffs. The popular third-party controller manufacturer is based in China, the country that has been hit with the highest tariffs by the Trump administration. 8BitDo is one of the largest gaming manufacturers to take this step, but it's demonstrative of what could become a trend.

Here is the full statement posted on 8BitDo's website: "Due to U.S. tariffs, only products from our U.S. warehouse are available for shipping to the United States. China warehouse shipping is temporarily paused."

US tariffs on products exported from China now sit at roughly 124%. Rather than asking US consumers to cover cost increases that, in some cases, would more than double the price of goods, 8BitDo and other manufacturers have made the decision to suspend shipments. This isn't really surprising. 8BitDo, for instance, is known for making great controllers for Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox, and mobile devices for budget-friendly prices. If a controller that has sold for $50 for years is suddenly $100 or more, the number of buyers would plummet and 8BitDo's brand identity would be damaged, perhaps irrevocably. Blaze Entertainment, creator of the Evercade retro handhelds and consoles, also recently paused shipments due to tariffs.

In the US, 8BitDo accessories are primarily sold on Amazon. As such, we've rounded up some of the company's best controllers, keyboards, arcade sticks, and other products that are still in stock for retail price or less. There are still deals to be found on 8BitDo products, but keep in mind that depending on how long the shipment pause lasts, accessories are likely to start selling out.

8BitDo's notable recent releases include the flagship Ultimate 2 Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Controllers and the Xbox Edition Retro Keyboard and Mouse. It's worth noting that while you can still currently preorder the matching Xbox Edition 3-Mode Ultimate Controller, 8BitDo's NES-themed Retro R8 Gaming Mouse is no longer available to preorder and unlikely to return before its May launch.

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Quick look: 8BitDo Notable Products & Deals at Amazon

• 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC)
  • White -- $63 ($70) | Click coupon box
  • Black -- $63 ($70) | Click coupon box
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Controller (PC, Android)
  • Black-- $50 ($60)
  • White -- $50 ($60)
  • Purple -- $50 ($60)
• 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Controller (Xbox, PC, mobile)
  • Transparent Green -- $70 | Releases May 15
  • White -- $63 ($70)
  • Black -- $62 ($70)
• 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC, mobile) -- $49 ($60)
• 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller + Carrying Case -- $55 ($70)
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Controller - Black Myth: Wukong -- $29.72 ($35)
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2.4GHz Controller - Genshin Impact -- $50 ($60)
• 8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC, mobile) -- $40.49 ($45)
• 8BitDo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC, mobile) -- $38.75 ($50)
• 8BitDo Xbox Edition TKL Mechanical Keyboard -- $100 ($120)
• 8BitDo Retro R8 Wireless Mouse - Xbox Edition -- $60
• 8BitDo N Edition Full-Size Mechanical Keyboard -- $96 ($120)

8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC)

$63 ($70)

8BitDo's newest flagship controller, the Ultimate 2, offers meaningful upgrades for Nintendo and PC users. The controller features two remappable back buttons and two extra top bumpers, essentially combining the layout of the original Ultimate Bluetooth and the Ultimate 2C.

The Ultimate 2 is also the first 8BitDo controller to use TMR electromagnetic analog sticks, which are similar to Hall Effect sticks but feel smoother and are a bit more precise, in our experience. Another first for 8BitDo is the use of adjustable trigger locks with two settings. It's also the first 8BitDo controller to use a USB-C dongle for its optional 2.4GHz wireless connection. It remains to be seen whether the dongle will be compatible with Switch 2, but you should have no problem syncing the controller via Bluetooth with Nintendo's new console.

Along with the normal internal customization features found in 8BitDo's Ultimate controllers, the Ultimate 2 uses the V2 software--which is only available on PC, Android, and Mac--which has a section for customizing the joystick lighting rings.

The Ultimate 2 Bluetooth is available in white or black and comes with a matching charging dock. It released a few weeks ago and is up for grabs for 10% off at Amazon.

See at Amazon

8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless 2.4GHz Controller (PC, Android)

$50 ($60)

Prior to the release of the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth, 8BitDo debuted the new design with the Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller for PC and Android. Like its predecessor, the PC edition lacks Bluetooth and retails for $10 less than the Switch/PC edition. This controller launched in February in three different colors--white, black, and purple--and is currently available for $10 off.

See at Amazon

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard - Xbox Edition (PC, Mac, Steam Deck, Android)

$100 ($120)

The Xbox Edition of 8BitDo's Retro Mechanical Keyboard has all of the same features as the tenkeyless models released before it, but it has a transparent green design inspired by the original Xbox's special-edition console of the same color. The Xbox Edition--which doesn't actually work on Xbox--is on sale for $100 for a limited time at Amazon.

The keyboard can connect wirelessly via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth to PC, Mac, and Android. It comes with a matching Super Button module featuring a pair of large microswitch buttons.

See at Amazon

8BitDo Retro R8 Wireless Mouse - Xbox Edition (PC, Mac, Android)

$60

The matching transparent green Retro R8 Wireless Mouse is an all-new product from 8BitDo. This ambidextrous wireless mouse supports Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connections on PC, Mac, and Android. It has four remappable side buttons (two on each side) and comes with a matching charging dock.

See at Amazon

• 8BitDo Retro R8 Wireless Mouse - Xbox Edition -- $60
• 8BitDo N30 Wireless Mouse -- $21 ($30)

8BitDo previously released a 2.4GHz wireless mouse themed around the NES that features a D-pad on the side and a touchpad for scrolling. The Retro R8 Mouse is a big step up, but the peculiar N30 is available for only $21 right now.

8BitDo Full-Sized Retro Mechanical Keyboard (PC, Mac, Steam Deck, Mobile)

$96 ($120)

8BitDo released full-sized versions of the N and Fami Edition keyboards in late 2024. Both models add a numpad and are available for 20% off at Amazon.

• 8BitDo N Edition Full-Size Mechanical Keyboard -- $96 ($120)
• 8BitDo Fami Edition Full-Size Mechanical Keyboard -- $96 ($120)

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If you already have one of the 87-key TKL models, you can pair it with one of 8BitDo's wireless numpads instead.

• 8BitDo NES Mechanical Numpad -- $37.86 ($45)
• 8BitDo C64 Mechanical Numpad -- $38.25 ($45) | Click coupon box
• 8BitDo M Mechanical Numpad -- $38.25 ($45) | Click coupon box
• 8BitDo Fami Mechanical Numpad -- $45

8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller - Black Myth: Wukong (PC, Android)

$29.72 ($35)

• 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller (Black Myth: Wukong Edition) -- $29.72 ($35)
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wired Controller (Black Myth: Wukong Edition) -- $21 ($25)

8BitDo's Ultimate 2C is the budget version of the company's flagship controller for PC and Android. This special-edition version is officially licensed and themed around Black Myth: Wukong.

The controller's pro-style features include Hall Effect analog sticks and a pair of remappable top bumpers. Unlike the main Ultimate and Ultimate 2 Controllers, the 2C does not support 8BitDo's customization software. The extra remappable buttons are assigned using a button on the controller.

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8BitDo Ultimate 2.4GHz Wireless Controller (PC, Android, iOS)

$50 ($60)

This Genshin Impact-themed version of the Ultimate connects via a 2.4GHz wireless adapter. Like its Bluetooth counterpart, you're getting a charging dock, Hall Effect joysticks, and pro-style back buttons for added accessibility. You can also use the Ultimate Software on your PC to further modify its performance.

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8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Controller (Xbox, PC, Android)

• Transparent Green -- $70 | Releases May 15
• White -- $63 ($70)
• Black -- $62 ($70)

8BitDo's Ultimate 3-Mode Controller is a bit confusing from a compatibility perspective. Although it's officially licensed by Xbox, it only works with a wired connection via the included USB-C cable. The other two "modes" are wireless: 2.4GHz on PC and Bluetooth on Android.

The Ultimate 3-Mode supports 8BitDo's Ultimate software on PC, mobile, and Xbox. The controller has Hall Effect sticks and a pair of remappable back buttons. It also comes with a charging dock, though the upcoming transparent green edition includes a black charging dock rather than the usual matching one.

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8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller + Carrying Case (Switch, PC, Mobile)

$55 ($70)

The original Ultimate Bluetooth Controller is still an excellent gamepad thanks to Hall Effect sticks, a pair of remappable back buttons, and the ability to customize trigger, rumble, and stick sensitivity via 8BitDo's Ultimate Software. This discounted bundle comes with a carrying case and charging dock for the controller.

Alternatively, you can save six bucks by ditching the carrying case.

• 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC, mobile) -- $49 ($60)
• 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller + Carrying Case -- $55 ($70)

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8BitDo Arcade Fight Stick

$88 ($90) for Switch/PC | $108 ($120) for Xbox/PC

8BitDo's budget-friendly wireless arcade sticks offer terrific performance for the price. Available in Nintendo Switch and Xbox editions--both of which work wirelessly on PC--these fight sticks feature great, accurate sticks as well as eight, satisfyingly clicky buttons. Both editions are moddable with third-party parts and are compatible with 8BitDo's Ultimate software, allowing you to set up macros and customize other settings. The Switch edition supports Bluetooth wireless, while the Xbox version utilizes a 2.4GHz wireless dongle.

See at Amazon (Switch)

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8BitDo Pro 2 Wireless Controller (Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile)

$36 ($50)

The 8BitDo Pro 2 is retro-style Switch and PC controller that takes inspiration from the SNES controller while also offering all of the inputs found on modern gamepads and ergonomic handles. It includes a pair of remappable back buttons and is compatible with 8BitDo's Ultimate Software. Just like the flagship Ultimate series, the Pro 2 lets you customize settings such as stick sensitivity and configure up to three custom profiles.

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8Bitdo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth Controller (Switch)

$27 ($30)

One of the best Nintendo Switch controllers for $30 or less, the Ultimate 2C Bluetooth edition supports motion controls, rumble, and has great battery life. Just like the 2.4GHz edition of the 2C, it has a pair of remappable top bumpers.

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8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC, Android)

$40.49 ($45)

The SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller is modeled after the Super Nintendo controller but has two analog sticks as well as the triggers and shoulder buttons found on modern gamepads. Unlike the Pro 2, however, it doesn't support 8BitDo's customization app, and it doesn't have remappable back buttons. But if you want a retro controller for modern platforms that also happens to include turbo functionality, motion controls, and rumble, the SN30 Pro is one of the best and most versatile.

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8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard (PC, Mac, Steam Deck, Android)

$86 ($100) for NES Edition

Besides the transparent green edition, there are four TKL 8BitDo keyboards themed around the NES, Famicom, Commodore 64, and old IBM computers. All four of these wireless keyboards connect via 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and USB-C wired. Unlike the Xbox Edition, these work on iOS because they utilize 8BitDo's original Ultimate Software instead of the V2 version. Each keyboard comes with a pair of detachable Super Buttons, while the C64 Edition also includes the Super Stick (detachable arcade stick).

• 8BitDo Fami Edition TKL Mechanical Keyboard -- $90 ($100)
• 8BitDo N Edition TKL Mechanical Keyboard -- $86 ($100) | Click coupon box
• 8BitDo M Edition TKL Mechanical Keyboard -- $92 ($100)
• 8BitDo C64 Edition TKL Mechanical Keyboard -- $99 ($110) | Click coupon box

See at Amazon

8BitDo M30 Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC, Android)

$30

Fans of the Sega Genesis should check out 8BitDo's M30 Bluetooth Controller for Switch, PC, and Android. This wireless controller is modeled after the six-button Genesis controller and is great for playing retro games on Nintendo Switch Online.

See at Amazon

As shown in the trailer below, there is an in-depth look at all three maps for Season 3 Reloaded. This includes Haven, a brand-new core map set in a large KGB safehouse, and Signal, which is a brand-new Strike map that takes place inside the close-quarters of a submarine bay.

The third map for Season 3 Reloaded is Blazetown, a stoner-themed rebrand of the iconic Nuketown map. The trailer shows off so many little details for Blazetown. The houses have colorful new paint jobs, the truck at the center of Nuketown is wrapped in octopus art, and most of the mannequins are dressed in clothing covered with pot leaves. Even the cars are decked out with pinstripes and pot leaves.

How To Find And Start The Chess Puzzle

The En Passant Triumph has six steps, the first of which is to complete five chess puzzles in the Unknown Space. To start with, you'll need to find the puzzle. Navigate to Eris Morn's Flat from the HELM and go through the green portal to her Throne World. Then, head to the northwest edge of the platform and drop down. This hidden room has a chess board in the center of it, and as you move closer you'll see the prompt reading 'Pick up the King?' Interacting with this prompt loads you into the Unknown Antechamber. After finding it for the first time, you can immediately return to the area from a new navigation option in the Last City.

Inside the Unknown Antechamber you'll find yourself faced with a large chessboard. You'll need to move the chess pieces to specific positions and interact with different plates to add, remove, or change pieces on the board. You begin each puzzle with a limited number of actions allowed, and you can check those actions in the on-screen message that appears when you stand on a plate. Each plate has a label, marked by a glowing green symbol, and different function as follows:

As part of the Star Wars-themed Fortnite: Galactic Battle season, Epic and Disney will launch the Star Wars Watch Party island on May 2 at 10am ET/7am PT. Fans who attend the in-game event will be able to watch the first two episodes of Tales of the Underworld. They will also have the chance to battle waves of stormtroopers using blasters and lightsabers. The island will be visible in the row of experiences after players login to Fortnite, or by entering the code 2124-6713-8076. Players who watch both episodes will get a free Asajj Ventress loading screen in Fortnite.

That's only part of the greater integration between Star Wars and Fortnite in May. Players will also be able to link their Epic Accounts with their MyDisney Accounts. As a reward for that, players will get a new First Order stormtrooper skin as seen in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Kirkhope chatted with Eurogamer about the chances of a new Banjo-Kazooie. "I just think it's unlikely," said Kirkhope. He sees a couple of obstacles to the franchise returning, such as finding the right developer (since Rare is unlikely in his estimation) and the size of the fanbase. "If you think I've got a hundred and something thousand followers on my Twitter, and that's the Banjo bubble, if that's all it is then that's not going to make any money," Kirkhope said. "You need millions of people to buy the game, and you've got to sell it to a whole new generation of kids."

If Rare is out of the picture, Crash Bandicoot 4 and Spyro Reignited Trilogy developer Toys For Bob has expressed interest in bringing back Banjo-Kazooie. Kirkhope is aware of this but still questions Microsoft signing off on the project. "Whether Microsoft would give the OK, I don't know," the composer said. "... Zero [hope] is probably a bit of a heavy estimate. It's probably better than zero but not much."

The Jet Li Collection (4K Blu-ray)

$130 | Releases July 29

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If there was a Mount Rushmore of action stars, then you can bet that Jet Li's face would be on it. He could probably chiseled into the rock with his bare hands. A legend of Hong Kong's golden age of filmmaking and the star of several cult-classic Hollywood movies, several of Li's best adventures are being collected into a new 4K Blu-ray package. Simply titled The Jet Li Collection, this five-film collection is up for preorder for $130 at Amazon and Walmart ahead of its July 29 release.

The Jet Li Collection (4K Blu-ray)

$130 | Releases July 29

This collection is part of Shout Factory's new Hong Kong Cinema Classics line, and inside, you'll find the following movies on 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray.

• Fist of Legend
• Tai Chi Master
• Fong Sai Yuk AKA The Legend
• Fong Sai Yuk 2 AKA The Legend 2
• The Bodyguard from Beijing

Each movie is a new 4K restoration from the original film negatives, and they all come with brand-new extras. Not every movie here offers a massive number of bonus materials, but there's still a lot to dive into overall. You can check out all of the special features at the end of this story.

Preorder at Amazon

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These movies are essentially a highlight reel of Li's career during the '90s, with three of them being filmed in 1993 alone. Earlier films like Once Upon a Time in China and Swordsman 2 helped turn him into a rising star thanks to his talent and well-choreographed fight scenes, and the Fong Sai Yuk movies--known as The Legend and The Legend 2 in the US--alongside Tai Chi Master showcased more of his graceful ability to smash faces. Fast-forward to 1994, and Li's work on The Bodyguard from Beijing and Fist of Legend were two more instant classics that garnered international praise.

Fist of Legend is arguably one of his most influential movies, as this was a remake of the 1972 action extravaganza Fist of Fury. Since Fist of Fury starred Bruce Lee, Li had some big shoes to fill, but Fist of Legend more than delivered thanks to iconic fight sequences choreographed by Yuen Woo-Ping.

One of the most popular features in any Bethesda RPG is the ability to have companions follow you around during your adventure. If you played the original Oblivion, then you know that companions also play a role in Cyrodiil. The feature is also a part of the remaster, but if this is your first time playing the game, then you'll likely have little to no idea how to recruit companions to follow you.

Fortunately, there are multiple ways to get companions in Oblivion Remastered, meaning you can have a fleet of followers ready to go to war with you. Unfortunately, companions are a time investment that don't come to you within a few hours of playing. Below, you can see exactly how to get companions and a list of all the current ones you can have in Oblivion Remastered.

For a more general look at Oblivion Remastered, including some build ideas, skill explanations, and main story quests, check out our full, detailed walkthrough of the game.

All ways to get companions in Oblivion Remastered

Companions can be split up into two categories: permanent followers and quest partners. Permanent followers are companions that you choose to accompany you after accomplishing a task and can be given certain directives after you agree to let them follow you. Quest partners are companions who are assigned to you at the start or during a specific quest in Oblivion Remastered. For example, during the "Weynon Priory" main story quest, Brother Martin follows you until you deliver him to Jauffre.

While quest partners aren't a permanent kind of companion, they technically can be if you simply never complete the quest that they're a part of. Continuing with the example of the Weynon Priory quest, if you never deliver Martin to Jauffre, then Brother Martin will stay by your side as a companion until that quest is marked complete. The same goes for other quests where you're assigned a quest partner. This is especially useful if you get a companion during a side quest, as those quests aren't mandatory to complete, and you can basically keep that follower for the rest of the game with no consequences.

As for permanent followers, these are companions that you can recruit to stay by your side until you direct them to leave your party. There aren't many permanent follower options in Oblivion Remastered, but here's the list of the ones we've found so far:

• Adoring Fan
• Mage Apprentice
• Knights of the Nine

Again, it's important not to mix up permanent followers and quest partners. There are a plethora of quest partners available in Oblivion Remastered that will follow you around during specific quests. However, after that quest is complete, the follower leaves you. Permanent followers are specific companions you recruit yourself and have some dominion over. You're unable to tell a quest partner to leave you alone, while you can speak to a permanent follower and tell them to go away.

You're able to have as many companions as you can find, but you can only have one of each type in your party at a time. There's no limit to the quest partners you can have, but you can't have more than one Mage Apprentice or Knights of the Nine, for example.

Below, we'll go over how to get all three types of permanent followers in Oblivion Remastered.

How to get the Adoring Fan companion

First up is the most famous companion in any Bethesda RPG: the Adoring Fan. The Adoring Fan requires some legwork to acquire as a companion in Oblivion Remastered, as he doesn't just run up to you randomly.

To get the chance to add the Adoring Fan to your party, you need to ascend the ladder in the Imperial City Arena and reach the rank of Grand Champion. This rank is only bestowed upon you after you've beaten Agronak gro-Malog, which requires you to battle and win nearly two dozen fights in the Arena. You can visit the Imperial City Arena on the eastern side of the city at any time, as the fast travel option is available by default. From the fast travel location, head down a floor to speak with Owyn and get started with your Arena journey. The Arena sharpens your combat skills and is also a decent way to make some gold in Oblivion Remastered.

Once you have defeated Agronak gro-Malog in the Arena, head back out into the Imperial City, and after a short while, the yellow-haired Adoring Fan will rush up to you and ask to accompany you along your journey. If you say yes, the Adoring Fan follows you around, holds a torch in the darkness, and says some encouraging, yet annoying, catchphrases as he watches you battle enemies from the sidelines.

How to get the Mage Apprentice companion

Next up is the Mage Apprentice, which is arguably the most difficult type of companion to acquire in Oblivion Remastered. In order to recruit a Mage Apprentice, you need to hold the title of Arch-Mage in the Mages Guild.

To get this title, you need to complete every recommendation quest for the Mages Guild and be admitted to the Arcane University. This requires visiting all seven cities' Mages Guild, speaking to the guild master, and completing a quest for them.

Once you are admitted to the Arcane University, speak with Raminus Polus, who is one of your first stops upon entering the university. Polus has a series of quests you need to complete, including:

• A Mage's Staff
• Ulterior Motives
• Vahtacen's Secret
• Necromancer's Moon

After those are complete, speak to Hannibal Traven, the Arch-Mage currently stationed at the university. Traven has a new batch of quests for you to complete, including:

• Liberation or Apprehension?
• Information at a Price
• A Plot Revealed
• The Necromancer's Amulet
• The Bloodworm Helm
• Ambush
• Confront the King

Once those quests are done, you become the Arch-Mage and can now recruit Mage Apprentices, which you can find roaming the halls of the university. Simply speak to one, recruit them, and they'll begin to follow you.

How to get the Knights of the Nine companion

Finally, the last permanent follower in Oblivion Remastered is the Knights of the Nine. These are soldiers a part of a religious faction, which is currently inactive in Cyrodiil. However, you can re-establish the faction by completing a series of quests, the first of which is "Pilgrimage." This quest begins outside the church in Anvil, where there has been a murder. You can speak to the Prophet outside the church and learn about why the murder was committed. Long story short, you need to visit nine wayshrines along the "Pilgrim's Way" and pray at each one.

After you visit all nine wayshrines and complete the Pilgrimage quest, you have to complete a laundry list of quests to get the Knights of the Nine faction up and running. Those quests are:

• The Shrine of the Crusader
• Nature's Fury
• The Path of the Righteous
• Wisdom of the Ages
• Stendarr's Mercy
• Nature's Fury
• The Faithful Squire
• The Sword of the Crusader
• The Blessing of Talos
• Umaril the Unfeathered

The final quest sees you battle and defeat Umaril, the deity responsible for the murder in the church and everything else you've had to go through in this questline. After Umaril is defeated, the Knights of the Nine are re-established in Cyrodiil, and you can now recruit one of the soldiers for your party in Oblivion Remastered.

How companions work in Oblivion Remastered

Now that you know the different ways of acquiring companions and followers in Oblivion Remastered, how exactly do they work?

Well, quest partners are sort of their own entity. They fight alongside you, follow you to any location you visit, and can even go ahead of you to fight other enemies if you're lagging behind. However, you can't tell them what to do or speak to them outside of their quest dialogue. Quest partners can be knocked unconscious during a fight, but they get back up after a brief moment.

With permanent followers, though, you have a little more command over them. You can direct them to stay put in their current location, invite them to join you, or tell them to leave your party. You can also speak to them to bring up a small list of dialogue options. Unfortunately, that's about all you can do with them. Unlike other Bethesda RPGs, companions can't hold your extra loot, and you can't affect what the companion wears or wields. Companions can die, but this is unlikely, as they have a ton of health and even some healing spells. Also, if one of your Mage Apprentices or Knights of the Nine dies, you can always just go and recruit another one.

Hopefully, Oblivion Remastered sees some mods added in the future that expand upon the companion system currently in the game. Older Oblivion mods featured a plethora of follower mods that gave you in-depth companions with their own storylines, dialogue, and weapons. While those mods aren't available yet, check out our list of the best mods you can currently download in Oblivion Remastered.

Call of Duty's Season 3 Reloaded update arrives in Black Ops 6 and Warzone on May 1, bringing new multiplayer maps, a stoner-themed event with Seth Rogen, and major updates to Warzone's Verdansk map. Ranked Play also arrives for battle royale.

The Season 3 details can be found below, including a look at all the new content and the event rewards for the "Blaze of Glory" 4/20 event. While the stoner content seems oddly placed, it's worth noting Season 3 was initially delayed, and the midseason content was pushed back, making this year's 4/20 celebration later in Call of Duty.

High Art event featuring Seth Rogen

This is Call of Duty's latest XP event that features both free and premium tracks. Free event rewards include the season's new Ladra submachine gun, while the paid pass unlocks two operator skins for actor and known stoner Seth Rogen. This event will be live from May 1-15.

Blaze of Glory event

The Blaze of Glory 4/20 event runs from May 6-15. For this event, players collect Blaze Bucks dropped by eliminated enemies in Black Ops 6 and found in supply caches Warzone. These Blaze Bucks are used to unlock event rewards, including the "Highly Decorated" weapon camo.

New multiplayer maps

Season 3 Reloaded adds two new maps and a Nuketown variant.

• Haven: A brand-new 6v6 map set in a KGB safehouse
• Signal: A brand-new strike map for 2v2 and 6v6 playlists, and this takes place inside a submarine bay
• Blazetown: This is a vibrant Nuketown variant themed around weed and the recent 4/20 holiday

Joint Operations limited-time MP game mode

Joint Operations is a gauntlet that challenges players across a series of multiplayer mode variants, including Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Order, and Kill Confirmed.

These classic CoD modes have modifiers that affect every player, including a +420 score bonus, a switch to third-person perspective, visual impairment, double health, hardcore, paranoia sounds, low gravity, double jump, and increased movement speed.

Players will compete in 6v6 matches across all five modes. These are short matches of only two minutes per mode, and they'll end when one team reaches the score or time limit of all five modes. The team with the most points accumulated wins the game.

New multiplayer perk

Season 3 Reloaded adds the Vendetta perk. This is added to slot 2 as a Recon category perk. On respawn, this perk allows players to mark their killer's last known position for a short duration. They also get a bonus score for eliminating that enemy.

Zombies Snacks limited-time Zombies mode

The Zombie Snacks limited-time mode that replaces the health bar with an energy meter, challenging players to eat snacks to stay alive while they slay the undead.

The player's health bar is replaced with an energy meter, which depletes when taking damage or moving. The energy meter does not passively recharge, so you'll constantly need to eat food to survive.

Food items can be scavenged throughout the map as well dropped randomly when killing enemies. Consuming perk drinks, Gobblegum, and health-based items in the game will also refill the energy bar. The mode adds a Refrigerator Power-Up, and when activated, all eliminated zombies will drop food items for a short period of time.

This Zombies Snacks mode can be played on all five maps in the game.

New Zombies field upgrade and augments

The Frost Blast field upgrade returns to Zombies in Black Ops 6. This field upgrade creates a blizzard that deals lethal frost damage on activation and slows enemies that enter it. Six new augments can be unlocked for Frost Blast, including three major and three minor augments.

Shattered Veil Director Mode

Director Mode arrives for Season 3's new Shattered Veil map. Director Mode walks players through the otherwise hidden steps for completing the map's story quest, making the process much easier with a maximum round cap of 15.

The train arrives to Verdansk

The moving Train POI from the original Verdansk map returns in this midseason update. This is a loot-filled train with multiple access points that loops around Verdansk. The Train Station interior also opens up as a playable area.

New features for Verdansk

New map features for Verdansk include the addition of High-Value loot zones, Warzone's Big Game Bounty contract, and the Triumph TF 250-X dirt bike.

Warzone Ranked Play

Ranked Play mode returns to Warzone with Season 3 Reloaded. This competitive mode is designed for trios in 150-player matches on Verdansk.

Players can earn seasonal rewards shown above for reaching milestones in the remainder of Season 3.

Limited-Time Warzone modes

Two limited-time modes are added for Verdansk.

High Trip Resurgence is Call of Duty's 4/20-themed mode, where players can scavenge items from supply boxes to earn various boosts, including faster reloads, super speed, and no fall damage.

Massive Resurgence is Call of Duty's respawn mode for big maps. This mode will support 120 players on Verdansk. Players simply need to stay alive to redeploy fallen squadmates.