Technology

• The Outer Worlds 2 is launching in 2025 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC
• Obsidian unveiled the first gameplay trailer at The Game Awards 2024
• The studio calls the sequel a "fresh adventure" set in a brand-new colony

Obsidian Entertainment has officially announced The Outer Worlds 2, a sequel to its 2019 hit.

During The Game Awards 2024, the studio unveiled the first look with an action-packed gameplay trailer, confirming a 2025 release for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. It will also be a day-one release for Xbox Game Pass.

"The call to go beyond the stars is here once again, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more unpredictable than ever," Obsidian said.

The studio was also able to share some extra details about the game's story and direction, calling it a "fresh adventure" set in a brand-new colony.

"In true Obsidian Entertainment fashion, you carve your path through Arcadia, a colony teeming with factions, intrigue, and chaos. It’s also home of skip drive technology and where the fate of the entire colony - and the galaxy - rests.

"As a daring, undeniably good-looking, and questionably competent Earth Directorate agent, you’re tasked with uncovering the source of devastating rifts threatening the entire galaxy... The choice of how to deal with the rifts is up to you."

"Are the rifts the only thing threatening Arcadia? Of course not! That would be too easy," the game description continues. "A factional war between the 'benevolent rulers' known as the Protectorate, a rebellious scientific religious order, and a corporate mega power has the colony torn apart. Each is trying to close or control the rifts for their own good/monetarily profitable needs..."

Obsidian adds that this first-person action-adventure game will lean heavily on role-playing game (RPG) mechanics, confirming it will feature ability points, skill checks in conversations, and crew companions that you can enlist.

You can now wishlist The Outer Worlds 2 on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app, Steam, and PlayStation 5.

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• A new rumor has corroborated prior speculation that the iPhone 17 lineup will have 120Hz displays across the board
• This is a crucial – some would say overdue – upgrade for the iPhone
• Separate rumors point to a new connectivity chip and camera module design

We've been hearing for some time that Apple could finally consign 60Hz phone displays to history with next year’s iPhone 17 lineup, and a new rumor has lent further weight to this claim.

According to a report by Korean news outlet Digital Times (via notable tipster Jukanlosreve on Twitter), LG Display is considering upgrading its LTPO OLED production capability in anticipation of increased orders from Apple in 2025.

For reference, LTPO refers to low temperature polycrystalline oxide, a type of display technology that allows higher and variable refresh rates than a typical OLED or LCD. In smartphones, these displays almost always top out at 120Hz, though some phones (see the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro) have pushed this figure up to 144Hz and beyond.

Apple brands its LTPO panels as ProMotion displays, which offer a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. This technology has been used in every Pro-level iPhone since the iPhone 13 Pro, as well as the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro lines.

Whether the base iPhone 17 and rumored iPhone 17 Air will receive ProMotion or instead utilize a fixed 120Hz refresh rate isn’t yet clear. The latter option would almost certainly be cheaper, though the new iPhone Air is expected to be marketed as something of a premium product.

The report adds that the share of iPhones using LG panels could rise from the present 30% to 40% next year, possibly due to rival display manufacturer BOE’s inability to keep up with LTPO demand. In the comments of their Twitter post sharing the story, Jukanlosreve suggests that the majority of iPhone 17 displays will continue to be made by Samsung.

Furthermore, the report quotes market research from UBI Research, which also corroborates the rumored transition to LTPO for all iPhones.

Late to the party

The iPhone 16 uses a 60Hz display (Image credit: Apple)

Apple is the last major phone manufacturer to produce a flagship device with a 60Hz display, having shipped every base-model and Plus iPhone with a 60Hz panel since the very first iPhone in 2007 – an era this latest rumor suggests may be coming to a close.

I, for one, welcome the rumored change with open arms, having repeatedly chastised Apple for saddling the supposedly premium iPhone 16 with a 60Hz refresh rate (an example of the company's worst habit).

In fact, the upcoming iPhone generation seems to be bringing with it a slew of design changes, both external and internal.

For instance, we recently heard rumors of a new camera module design for the iPhone 17 Pro and even the base iPhone 17, with three cameras mounted in a horizontal bar configuration not dissimilar to that on the Google Pixel lineup.

And a new rumor has surfaced that suggests the iPhone’s internal WiFi and Bluetooth chip, currently produced by Broadcom, will be replaced by a proprietary Apple design with the iPhone 17 lineup.

This may prove to be a double-edged sword, however: as Android Authority notes, the new connectivity chip could offer better efficiency over time at the cost of connection strength and capabilities.

It’s very unlikely that we’ll hear anything official about the iPhone 17 lineup until late next year, when we expect Apple to reveal its next crop of iPhones. Until then, be sure to keep up with our iPhone coverage for the latest updates – and why not check out our list of the best iPhones for a refresher on the top Apple handsets currently available?

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• A new suggestion from a reliable leaker hints at Qualcomm's new CPU heading to desktop PCs
• The 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite processor codenamed 'Project Glymur' was tested with liquid cooling AIO
• The chip likely be unveiled at CES 2025 in a few weeks

Both Intel and AMD have dominated the desktop PC scene when it comes to providing powerful processors for productivity and gaming - and now, Qualcomm could be joining the party, with 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite processors potentially making their way to desktop PCs.

As highlighted by Notebookcheck, reliable leaker Roland Quandt has hinted at Qualcomm's new processor coming to desktop PCs as the brand is reportedly testing the SC8480XP (Project Glymur chip codename) with a 120 mm liquid cooling AIO. This assumption comes from the fact that AIOs as such being used for gaming desktop configurations, unlike the cooling mechanisms that would be required in lightweight laptops.

With CES 2025 now only weeks away, we could soon see what Qualcomm has to offer and whether Quandt's prediction is accurate. The 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite processors may take advantage of Oryon V3 cores according to Quandt (based on Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon's 'next-gen' CPU statements), so there could be a lot to get excited about here.

(Image credit: Qualcomm) Could 2025's CES event be one of the best in years?

Considering AMD and Nvidia's presence at CES 2025 and their inevitable reveals of the Radeon RX 8000 series and RTX 5000 series GPUs, Qualcomm's inclusion could easily make this one of the more interesting CES events in years.

While a potential new Snapdragon X Elite processor for desktop PCs could be beneficial for gamers with tight budgets (especially as a second-gen version of the existing X Elite), it's still a little too early to suggest this. On laptops such as the Lenovo Yoga 7x Slim, gaming is possible but certainly not comparable to gaming laptops or handheld gaming PCs, and Qualcomm itself has stated that the X Elite chips are not targeted at serious gamers.

Nonetheless, the Yoga 7x Slim and fellow X Elite laptops come without discrete GPUs - for a desktop gaming PC that has a discrete GPU, a new Snapdragon chip could be promising depending on the improvements made with the new processors; potentially adding to the list of surprises I hope to see at CES 2025. Mind you, I don't want to have to buy a new motherboard...

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• Microsoft is deprecating Windows 11’s “Suggested Actions” menu, introduced in 2022
• A new AI-powered tool, “Click to Do,” will replace it on newer Copilot+ PCs, but older devices won’t get a replacement
• Microsoft continues streamlining Windows 11 by retiring underused features

Windows 11’s “suggested actions” menu will soon be a thing of the past, as it’s apparently due to be axed in a future update.

The “suggested actions” menu was introduced to Windows 11 back 2022 and it was designed to provide helpful quick shortcuts and suggested actions when copying information like a phone number or a date. For instance, copying a phone number might suggest apps to make a call, while copying a date could show options to set a reminder or create a calendar event.

This feature now tops the list in Microsoft’s deprecated features documentation, reading:

“Suggested actions that appear when you copy a phone number or future date in Windows 11 are deprecated and will be removed in a future Windows 11 update.”

When Microsoft deprecates a feature, that means it won’t continue to develop it and is (probably) headed towards removing the feature altogether.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Why is "suggested actions" getting cut?

The reason for the removal of “suggested actions” that’s speculated by Windows Central is that it probably doesn’t see a lot of use. Not only that, but it appears as if Microsoft already has a replacement feature lined up - a newer tool called ‘Click to Do,’ which will offer suggestions for actions based on context and be powered by AI. ‘Click to Do’ will, however, only be available for newer Copilot+ PCs that have modern hardware for AI capabilities.

If you’re on an older computer, you won’t get a replacement feature in place of “suggested actions” and I imagine the feature will just be removed.

Windows 11 has been on a journey of its own, having had a grand total of 16 features retired from the OS in 2023 alone, often targeting tools that were outdated or saw little use. The year is not quite over yet, but 2024 has had fewer features removed by comparison.

If you feel like you’re going to be impacted by the removal of “suggested actions,” you can get in touch with Microsoft using the Feedback Hub app. My bet is most people won’t notice this change, and, if anything, it’s encouraging to see Microsoft continue to try and streamline Windows 11’s user experience.

You can check out the Microsoft Graveyard, an online project that documents and explains deprecated Microsoft features throughout its history, to see which other features have seen a similar fate.

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• The next Apple TV could land in 2025 with a custom Wi-Fi chip
• It would replace the existing chip, which is made by Broadcomm
• It’s a risky move, but could bring big benefits to your devices

The third-generation Apple TV 4K landed over two years ago, but a successor is finally in the works according to new rumors – and it's likely to benefit from a new Apple-made Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip.

The new report from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is on the brink of launching its own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, replacing those made by Broadcom that can be found in many Apple devices today. This chip will first find its way into the Apple TV 4K set-top box and the HomePod mini, Gurman claims, which will apparently both launch at some point in 2025.

This type of component is vital to the Apple TV. Wi-Fi allows you to connect the set-top box to the internet in order to download shows, play games, and more. The Bluetooth connection, meanwhile, lets you pair accessories such as remotes and controllers. If successful, the new chip will enable Apple’s smart home devices to “work more closely together and potentially synchronize data more quickly,” Gurman believes.

What other new features could a next-gen Apple TV get? Previous rumors have pointed to an upgraded processor like the A17 Pro (which it'd need for Apple Intelligence features). Respected analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo have also previously suggested that a new Apple TV could also hit a lower price point than the current 64GB model's $129 / £149 / AU$219 tag.

More outlandish rumors in April suggested that Apple could be planning to give a future Apple TV a built-in camera for gesture controls. That would certainly make losing its remote less annoying, but those rumors (also from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman) didn't specify whether or not the tech might be for the next Apple TV or a future version.

Full steam ahead

(Image credit: Future)

The Apple TV and the HomePod mini are not the only devices set for this new chip. Gurman says it will also come to the iPhone in 2025 and the iPad and the Mac in 2026.

Apple is making a major push into the smart home arena and will launch new products next year, Gurman says, including a home hub with a built-in display and a home security camera, so it makes sense for it to debut a new chip for these products in the coming months.

Apple has long sought more control over the components that go into its devices. This mindset contributed to its drive to develop the chips that became known as Apple silicon, and it’s behind the company’s long-rumored switch away from Qualcomm modems in its iPhones.

But the chip will bring another benefit, Gurman believes: it will be able to power “thinner iPhones and wearable technology” made by Apple. That suggests that the slimline iPhone 17 Air rumored for 2025 could be a direct beneficiary of Apple’s own chip.

It’s not without its risks, though. As with the move away from Qualcomm modems, Apple will have to rely on its own largely untested technology for a critical component in its devices. The iPhone 4’s Antennagate provides ample warnings of what can happen when the wireless technology in people’s devices is disrupted.

But that’s unlikely to slow Apple down. With new devices powered by Apple’s wireless chips just around the corner, we won’t have long to wait to see if they can pass muster.

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• Security flaws were found affecting Skoda Superb III cars
• Over 1.4 million cars could be affected
• The same model car was found to have similar vulnerabilities last year

Experts have revealed a discovery of 12 new security vulnerabilities affecting the Skoda Superb III sedan, including flaws which could allow a threat actor to access the vehicle's GPS and speed information, as well as remotely record conversations and access the infotainment screen.

Cybersecurity researchers from PCAutomotive revealed they were able to exploit the vulnerabilities to inject malware into the vehicle without authentication. The security flaws allowed them to to achieve unrestricted code execution and to run malicious code when the unit starts.

In turn, a malicious actor could have taken screenshots of the in-car infotainment screen, or recorded conversations through the microphone - and access live GPS coordinates. This was achieved through a Bluetooth connection with the system, so researchers could not access safety-critical controls like brakes, steering, or accelerators.

Deja Vu

If this sounds a little familiar, that's because the group who discovered the vulnerabilities, PCAutomative, were also responsible for the discovery of nine other security flaws which affected the same model of car in November 2023 - also affecting the car’s infotainment unit.

The most recent Skoda vulnerabilities could affect over 1.4 million vehicles, and could affect an even higher number of people if their data was not properly erased before they sold their car on to a second-hand buyer.

Although it’s not difficult to imagine how this could be used to exploit victims in a normal setting, it's even more worrying when you find out that Skoda is a huge supplier for law enforcement vehicles across the globe.

Another manufacturer which supplies police vehicles, Kia, was found earlier this year to have a software flaw that meant hackers could unlock and start any Kia vehicle built after 2013, and could have had similarly wide-reaching consequences.

Via TechCrunch

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• The Witcher 4 has been officially revealed
• CD Projekt Red debuted a cinematic trailer at The Game Awards 2024
• The Witcher 3's Ciri will return as the playable protagonist in the upcoming

In a surprise turn of events, CD Projekt Red has unveiled the first official look at The Witcher 4 at The Game Awards 2024, and yes, Ciri is the playable protagonist.

As the first big game announcement of the night, the studio debuted a stunning, six-minute cinematic trailer depicting a short story from the eyes of a now older Ciri as she takes on a witcher contract in a remote village, terrorized for generations by a monster demanding ritual sacrifice.

Previously codenamed Project Polaris, The Witcher 4 is being developed using customized Unreal Engine 5 technology and will mark the beginning of a new Witcher saga starring Ciri.

"We're kicking off a brand-new Witcher saga, this time with Ciri as the heart of the story!” said game director Sebastian Kalemba. "It feels so good to finally be able to say those words - for the longest time we knew that we wanted Ciri to be the protagonist of The Witcher 4; it just felt natural to us and we believe that Ciri deserves it.

"In this game we want to explore what it means to truly become a witcher by following Ciri on her Path. This trailer is a taste of both that, and just how dark and grounded the world of The Witcher can be."

If you're unfamiliar, Ciri is the adopted daughter of Geralt of Rivia, the protagonist of the first three Witcher games. Interestingly, it seems CDPR has canonized The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's ending, which would see Ciri become a witcher or the Empress of Nilfgaard depending on the player's choices.

Speaking in a recent interview with IGN about the decision to make her the star of the new saga, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga said that this is a "continuation", and that Ciri was "the very organic, logical choice" as the story has always been about her.

Kalemba expanded on this, saying that choosing Ciri as the main character "was far from roulette. It wasn't random" and that the idea came about in discussions nine years ago.

In terms of what we can expect from the story, Kalemba explained that since Ciri is younger than Geralt, players will be allowed more freedom to shape her character in The Witcher 4.

"She's actually about to become the Witcher,” the director said. “She's about to actually form her own codex, but on her own terms. The way she actually deals with the monsters, the way she deals with quests, the adventures, it's her own unique way. And also I think that she gives more room to be able to tell different stories here and there.

"Of course, we want to give the opportunity for the player to explore more nuance because this is what we do. But she deserves that.”

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• Artificial intelligence is threatening the security and integrity of APIs
• Three in four are worried, but most are now taking action
• Businesses need to understand the entire threat landscape

A growing number of companies are now facing AI-accentuated security threats as the technology becomes more widespread, new research has claimed.

A report from Kong found one-quarter of firms claiming they have encountered AI-enhanced security threats, but as many as three-quarters say they’re seriously concerned about them in the future.

Furthermore, more than half (55%) have experienced an API security incident in the past year despite the majority (85%) stating that they’re confident in their organization’s security capabilities.

AI is adding to security threats

With the prominence of AI security threats rising, so is the devastation caused by them. One-fifth said their organization has experienced an API security incident in the past year than cost them more than half a million dollars.

Around nine in 10 (88%) say that API security is now a top priority, with a similar number (92%) saying they’re taking measures to counter AI-enhanced attacks, however 84% believe that AI and LLMs will make securing APIs more difficult.

Kong CTO Marco Palladino offered some optimism: “The report showcases that API security is being taken seriously as part of overall cybersecurity strategy, but there are still some blind spots that can open an organisation up to threats.”

Speaking about future advancements in artificial intelligence, Palladino said that companies are likely to continue creating vulnerabilities for themselves, therefore understanding the full threat landscape has become paramount for a well-rounded approach.

Many companies are already starting to see success from added investment – nearly half (45%) dedicate at least 20% of their cybersecurity budgets to API security, with API monitoring and anomaly detection tools (63%), API gateway solutions (61%) and API encryption and tokenization (58%) leading the way.

As businesses face increasing AI threats exposing their APIs, it’s clear that prioritizing API security before we lose grip of the issue is a must, with modern principles like zero-trust security set to play an important role in the years to come.

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• Many STEM, IT and engineering graduates are considering careers in AI
• AI-related courses saw 866% more signups this year than last
• More prioritize compensation than work-life balance and opportunities

New research from Sopra Steria has claimed nearly half (46%) of the 3,200 STEM, IT and engineering graduates surveyed say they want to work in artificial intelligence, with emerging tech like quantum computing and hot topics like cloud and green IT also emerging as key aspirations.

Seperate date from Coursera shows this trend seems legitimate; the company revealed new data showing enrollments in AI-related courses have surged 866% year-over-year, making AI the fastest-growing skill globally.

Alarmingly, Coursera found only 28% of courses were taken by women, highlighting an emerging AI-induced disparity despite reported efforts to boost female participation in STEM.

The future of jobs is in AI, cloud, security

Beyond AI’s abilities to enhance productivity, we’ve also seen surges in AI-powered attacks, and a 71% year-over-year rise in cyberattacks overall. Cloudera noted that six of its top 10 fastest-growing tech skills were related to cybersecurity and risk management.

Cloudera found one in five (22%) workers have already updated their job descriptions to reflect their use of generative AI tools, including keywords like prompt engineering and ChatGPT.

“With proliferation of, and advancements in, foundational models, GenAI will continue to reshape jobs and industries at an unprecedented rate," noted Coursera EMEA Managing Director Nikolaz Foucaud.

Geographically, Sopra Steria found that France is the most AI-centric nation, with 55% of graduates aspiring to work with the tech. This correlates with the country’s general attitude towards artificial intelligence and the growing number of AI startups coming out of the country.

However, it might not be interest in artificial intelligence that’s driving graduates’ focus on the tech as they seek jobs. Half (47%) prioritize compensation and pay when searching for a job – more than the 36% each that prioritize work-life balance and career opportunities – suggesting that many believe working in this domain with in-demand skills could net them more cash.

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• Nvidia has teased revelations about ‘GeForce at CES 2025’
• This must surely be next-gen GPUs, likely the RTX 5090 and 5080
• Witcher 4 trailer also drops a big clue the RTX 5090 may be imminent

Nvidia has finally discarded what’s been one of the worst kept secrets in the tech world this year – alongside Apple’s M4 Macs – and teased that it is indeed about to reveal new GeForce products at CES 2025.

The teaser (highlighted by VideoCardz) stops short of mentioning RTX 5000, or RTX 50 series, or Blackwell, or any specific name at all, and just mentions ‘GeForce at CES 2025’ – but of course, this must surely be the launch of the next-gen graphics cards.

Previously, Nvidia has let us know about its CES 2025 keynote – which CEO Jensen Huang will give – but not what it’ll be about. Now we know it’s GeForce-related, and will surely consist of an RTX 5090 reveal, and probably other GPUs too (the RTX 5080 is another strong possibility, going by the rumors – and likely next-gen Blackwell laptop GPUs, as well).

Backing this up is the fact that the Witcher 4 has seen its first cinematic trailer aired at The Game Awards, and interestingly, there’s a mention of this footage being “pre-rendered in Unreal Engine 5 on an unannounced Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU.”

That must surely be the flagship RTX 5090, and this represents another weighty hint that said graphics card is about to be announced at CES, which is only a few weeks away now.

(Image credit: Nvidia / VideoCardz) Analysis: Exciting times just around the corner

At this point, the RTX 5000 reveal is as confirmed as it’s going to be – without mentioning any product names – until Jensen takes the stage on January 6, at CES 2025, and actually unveils the RTX 5090 and probably RTX 5080 too. There’s further chatter about the possibility of the RTX 5070 turning up alongside them, but that GPU might be saved for a bit later – though it’s still expected to arrive early in 2025, going by the grapevine.

I certainly hope that the RTX 5070 is in the mix for an early launch, as this is the GPU that I’m most interested in regarding a near-future upgrade for my gaming PC. On the Nvidia side, that is – I’m also very keen to see how the rumored RX 8800 XT shapes up in comparison, particularly in terms of pricing (or whatever RDNA 4 products are revealed by AMD, also at CES 2025, as they’re almost certainly going to be strong mid-range offerings).

The worries for Nvidia’s next-gen GeForce graphics cards are that pricing might be pushed harder again (groan), and that VRAM loadouts could be thin, with perhaps only 16GB for the RTX 5080 and 12GB for the RTX 5070. That said, there may be mitigating circumstances to some extent with VRAM performance, but still, those video RAM allocations look distinctly shaky in terms of future-proofing – add seasoning appropriately, as all these specs are still rumors.

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• Apple has updated its iWork suite of productivity tools to version 14.3
• The new version brings support for Apple Intelligence on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• Users can use Writing Tools and Image Playground within Keynote, Pages, and Numbers

Apple has updated its iWork suite of productivity tools including Keynote, Pages, and Numbers to include Apple Intelligence, a major free AI update.

The 14.3 update brings AI benefits to Apple's equivalent to Microsoft Office, including Writing Tools, which allows you to proofread, summarize, and compose text for your documents. Writing Tools has been available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac since September, but now you can easily access it via the Apple Intelligence button in iWork.

Writing Tools also lets you reword your writing with preset tones, as well as give prompts to nudge Apple Intelligence in a certain direction. For example, you could tell it 'Make this text more exciting' and Apple will work its magic.

Writing Tools isn't the only new Apple Intelligence feature available for Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Image Playground, Apple's take on the best AI image generator, is also included, enabling you to quickly add images to your documents for a touch of color and creativity.

Apple Intelligence in iWork is compatible with all M-series Macs, M-series iPads, the A17 Pro iPad mini, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.

Power up your workflow with Apple Intelligence

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Intelligence in iWork isn't the only big new AI update for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Apple's release of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 is a huge step forward for the rollout of the company's AI tools.

With new features like Genmoji, ChatGPT integration in Siri, and Mail categorization, there's plenty to help you improve your workflow alongside iWork's new Writing Tools and Image Playground features.

Apple Intelligence is still not complete, however – we'll need to wait until March or April 2025 to see Siri get personal context and on-screen awareness, which should help tie all of these AI tools together. As it stands, Apple hopes you'll use Apple Intelligence when you need it, peppering AI features throughout the operating system. This approach lets you use Apple Intelligence only if you choose to do so, which is a far less intrusive approach than is the case with some other AI products.

Whether or not Apple Intelligence can significantly improve your productivity will depend on how you use your Apple devices; but adding proofreading and image generation to iWork is a great place to start.

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• Elden Ring Nightreign was one of The Game Awards 2024's biggest surprises
• It's a roguelite co-op experience for up to three players
• It'll release sometime in 2025, with a network test happening next year

One of the biggest surprises from The Game Awards 2024 was the announcement of FromSoftware's next game: Elden Ring Nightreign.

While certainly not a full-blown sequel to the 2022 game of the year, Nightreign instead brings a bespoke co-op experience for up to three players. The game's official landing page describes it as: "a standalone adventure within the Elden Ring universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game's core design."

The 'reimagining' part seems pretty accurate there, as the announcement trailer was largely gameplay focused and showed off abilities that looked like they'd otherwise be straight out of a fanmade mod pack. We see playable characters fly long distances by holding onto a hawk's talons. Another ability sees us slamming down on a group of enemies from above. There's even a Sekiro-style mantle that honestly would've been a godsend in the base game.

Elden Ring Nightreign seems to be adopting a 'roguelite' style of progression. One key phrase on the landing page strongly hints at this, saying: "Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!"

It also notes that we'll get to play as "uniquely skilled heroes," indicating a shift away from player-created characters to more tailor-made builds. It'll be interesting to see how these heroes synergize with one another during co-op play, though I imagine it'll be perfectly playable solo should one prefer.

Otherwise, there's plenty for FromSoftware heads to mull over in this announcement trailer alone. For instance, a newly revealed NPC appears to be the Gloam-Eyed Queen, an important figure often spoken about in Elden Ring's lore that has yet to make an in-game appearance.

Oh, and Dark Souls 3's Nameless King shows up as a boss fight. No, really, it's literally the Nameless King - dragon, massive spear, lightning and all. FromSoftware is known to re-use its assets from project to project (which I'm not saying is a bad thing, mind), but it's never quite been this blatant. I'm pretty sure Dark Souls' Centipede Demon made a cheeky appearance, too.

(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

A PC Gamer hands-on preview managed to get a few more details about the upcoming game. Director Junya Ishizaki states that players will need to keep ahead of a "battle royale-style wall of deadly rain" and that an average run - including the concluding boss fight - will take around 30 minutes to complete.

If you're at all worried about the prospect of Elden Ring Nightreign being a live service title, don't fret. Ishizaki explains: "We wanted to have a game that felt like a complete package out of the box on the day of purchase, so everything is unlockable... it's not what we'd consider a live-service game."

Elden Ring Nightreign is slated to release sometime in 2025 and is coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC. Good news for those eager to play the game, too, as PC Gamer reports a network test will also be coming next year.

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