For over a decade, sports games didn’t really come close to matching reality. They were blocky, pixelated products that only offered the bare minimum when it came to giving a true virtual sports experience. Nowadays, when you play Madden, MLB The Show, or any other major sports franchise, you feel more in the game than ever before, and that’s not just because the graphics have improved, albeit marginally year over year.

Naturally, at some point, the tide had to change, with sports games feeling like an arcade-style experience to the more realistic version we know today. While there’s no single date we can point to that changed the direction of sports games, we’ll argue that the arrival of NBA 2K7 marked the true beginning of a new age for the video game genre we all love.

Why NBA 2K7 Was Such A Big Deal

Released on September 25, 2006, NBA 2K7 was the first game in the franchise developed for both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. While it was also released for the Xbox and PS2, it was marketed as more of a modern-generation experience that truly utilized the new consoles’ technology.

This was 2K Sports’ second basketball game, with NBA 2K6 being the first. However, that game and all of the other ESPN NBA games before it weren’t necessarily well received. Many players thought they were all too similar to the games that came before them, as the developers never really expanded upon the gameplay, graphics, or features that the games shipped with.

Of course, with NBA 2K7, all of that changed. Regarded as one of the best 2K games in the franchise, 2K7 marked a monumental shift for the entire sports-games genre. It looked far superior graphically to any other basketball game released in the years prior, and it innovated in several ways to provide a much more in-depth experience for the average player.

Previously, if you played a 2K game, you only bought the new one for the updated rosters and some very marginal improvements. However, playing 2K7 for the first time felt like you entered a whole other world, as everything in the game felt new and exciting.

How NBA 2K7 Changed Sports Games Forever

There are plenty of innovations we could talk about in 2K7, but let’s focus on the ones that really made the entire industry take notice.

For starters, 2K7 completely changed the way sports games were presented. Before its launch, many sports games simply took you through the motions of a gameday experience. You heard some pre-game talk from the announcers, the teams entered, you started playing, and the game ended.

With 2K7, though, we saw the introduction of halftime shows, where you actually got to experience a break in the game with something enjoyable to watch. Announcers were also given more lines and felt less robotic throughout a game, which is an aspect that developers are still trying to perfect to this day. Games also felt more alive in 2K7, as you could see better fan animations and the in-game replays looked more like they do on TV in real NBA games. It was simply a better product overall, and other developers copied it and made it their own in the following years.

However, perhaps the most innovative aspect of 2K7 was the player-specific animations. If you go back and play a sports game from before 2K7, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between two players unless you look at their face or the number on their back. Whether it was in Madden, 2K, or another game, all players had identical animations when performing the same action.

With 2K7, though, the developers introduced animations that were specifically designed for individual players. This was a revelation for fans, as it felt like you were actually controlling the player you wanted rather than controlling the same player over and over again. Naturally, other sports game developers implemented this feature as well, and in 2026, we now have player-specific celebrations, warm-ups, and more.

The player animations also led to arguably the best part of 2K7 for fans: the Signature Style feature. Signature Styles were implemented by around half of all NBA players, but you really saw them shine with stars such as Steve Nash, Yao Ming, and others. If a player had a Signature Style, they could perform their signature move, such as a jump shot, dribble move, or dunk.

Every team was guaranteed to have one player with a signature move, giving you a 100% chance to make use of it during a game. You could then find different ways to take advantage of the move, and some of them paired extremely nicely between certain teammates. This truly made it feel like you were controlling your own real NBA game, as your players looked just like their real counterparts on your screen.

We could list several more aspects of 2K7 that made it so special, but the overall point is that developer Visual Concepts and 2K Sports spun magic with this early installment of the franchise. They chose to innovate, take the player’s experience into deep consideration, and tried to make the best game possible. In today’s age of copy-and-paste sports games, it certainly feels like some developers could take a few notes from 2K7 so that maybe we could enter the next era of the genre.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is now a playable character in WWE 2K26. I have some questions. 

Principally, of course, I’d like to know why 2K added one of gaming’s most AI-confused, money-hungry executives at all. I mean, it’s not like he has some enormous cult of personality beyond his position at Take-Two and the odd vaguely spicy interview quote. He did release a fitness book and go around promoting it by showing off shirtless pictures of himself with eight percent body fat, but that was back in 2018. Plus, he’s not even shirtless in the game. 

Beyond that, I’m also curious as to why he was added to WWE 2K26 with essentially no fanfare. 2K just published a blog about the game’s new season spotlighting four other new wrestlers—complete with a splashy trailer—but Zelnick, added at the same time, received no such red carpet. He’s not even mentioned in the patch notes! (He’s also not listed on the game’s official roster page, but neither are the other new additions.) Did 2K want this to function as an easter egg? Because easter eggs are supposed to feel almost intimate, like a secret shared between friends. A multimillionaire CEO is… not that.

And why are Zelnick’s stats high enough that he’s above some well-respected real-life wrestlers? I mean, I guess you can’t portray the boss as a hapless, bumbling clown—and it’s better than the time UFC president Dana White got added to EA UFC with inexplicably god-tier stats—but still.   

Most of all, why is “My Way” by Frank Sinatra Zelnick’s entrance theme? Does it hold some special significance to him personally? Or did the developers just pick it because of his whole vibe? And why does it appear to be confined only to Zelnick, meaning that it can’t be applied to other characters? 

WWE 2K26’s player base is as confused as I am. Oh well, at least Zelnick—the character, not the man—isn’t costing anyone any money.

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Did May 26, the day that Grand Theft Auto 6 was supposed to release, leave you feeling frustrated? Is the thought of waiting until November 19 getting you angry? Well, don't hold onto those emotions; install WWE 2K26 and lay the smackdown on Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, who has been added as a playable character in the game, for some reason.

I have a vivid memory of watching my dad play Civilization 2 on the PlayStation as a kid. It looked impenetrable from the outside with a sea of menus, tiny units, and decisions I couldn't begin to parse, but it has never billed itself as a spectator sport. My own entry came years later when Civilization 5 dropped to a fiver in a sale, cheap enough to rope a few friends in. It clicked immediately, being more forgiving than real-time strategy games with no rush strategies, no unit spam, and simultaneous turns that respected everyone's time. Perhaps Civilization 7 could be your entry point, with a 40% discount at Fanatical right now, bringing the price down to $41.99 / £35.99.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Civilization 7's biggest free update is almost here and, with a 40% discount, now is the ideal time to buy

New Borderlands 4 DLC Legend of the Stone Demon is coming in less than a week, and it's the springboard I've been wanting ahead of its upcoming story expansion. Gearbox has just unveiled the full details for Borderlands 4 Bounty Pack 2, which is set to arrive on Thursday February 26 alongside the long-awaited addition of Pearlescent loot drops. With Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned, which introduces fifth Vault Hunter C4SH, set for March, the next month is positioned to become a defining moment in how the looter-shooter is remembered.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: New Borderlands 4 DLC Legend of the Stone Demon is the springboard the looter shooter needs into its first expansion

NBA 2K26 is an AAA game, but if you buy PS5 sports games, you cannot do better than this one, and you cannot leave it any year behind - I always upgrade. It is full of gameplay moments that are Instagram-worthy.

1. The First Possession Where Footwork Actually Mattered

The first time NBA 2K26 felt different wasn’t a poster dunk or a green release. It was a half-court possession where I couldn’t just turbo past my defender.

I was running a slashing guard build in MyCareer, used to bullying weaker AI with speed boosts and a well-timed snatchback. In 2K26, defenders slide less and plant more. When I tried my usual crossover into a blow-by, the on-ball defender cut off the angle, forced me into a gather animation, and suddenly I was picking up my dribble near the elbow with nowhere to go.

It forced me to slow down.

The new foot planting and momentum system makes size and weight feel more tangible. Bigger wings don’t recover as quickly. Smaller guards feel twitchier but can get bumped off their line if you mistime your drive. It’s subtle, but over a full game it adds up. You can’t spam left-right cheese and expect the same bailout animations.

That first possession ended in a reset to the top of the key and a kick-out assist. Not flashy. But it felt earned.

2. A Fourth-Quarter Run That Swung on Fatigue

Fatigue systems have been in 2K forever, but in 2K26 they’re more visible in how players move, not just in a shrinking stamina bar.

I was playing a tight MyNBA game, tied heading into the fourth. I’d ridden my starting five hard in the third to claw back from a deficit. By the eight-minute mark of the fourth, I noticed something: my star wing’s first step wasn’t exploding the same way. His defensive closeouts were a half-beat late. Shots that had been automatic from the corners started rimming out.

It wasn’t RNG. It was wear.

Meanwhile, the CPU subbed in a fresh bench unit and started pushing pace. Transition buckets piled up. I had to call a timeout, adjust my rotation, and actually trust my second unit for a few minutes instead of squeezing every second out of my 92 overall.

That swing felt organic. Not scripted. Not cheesy.

2K26 finally makes rotation management matter beyond just avoiding injuries. If you’re playing on higher difficulties and ignoring stamina, you’ll feel it in the final stretch. And when you sub smart, stagger minutes, and see your starters close strong, it’s satisfying in a way older entries didn’t quite capture.

3. A Green Window That Wasn’t Guaranteed

Shooting always defines the meta in 2K. And in 2K26, the green window feels tighter—especially off movement.

I had a moment in Rec where I came off a high screen, created what looked like clean separation, and pulled up from the hash. Timing felt perfect. Release animation was smooth. I expected that familiar splash.

Clank.

The shot feedback showed slight movement penalty and light contest influence, even though visually it looked open. That forced me to reassess how I was hunting threes. You can still shoot lights out, but you need to be more deliberate about your feet being set and your stamina bar being healthy.

Standstill catch-and-shoot attempts feel more reliable. Off-dribble fades and deep pull-ups are riskier unless your build is specialized for it. That shift changes how offenses flow in both MyCareer and online modes. Ball movement matters more because pure iso into stepback three isn’t as forgiving.

When I finally hit a deep green in crunch time after working the ball around and forcing a defensive scramble, it felt earned. Less arcade, more simulation.

Not everyone will love that. But it’s a noticeable change.

4. A Defensive Stop That Didn’t Rely on a Steal Animation

Defense in 2K often devolves into fishing for steal animations. You spam reach, hope for a bump steal, and live with the foul calls.

In 2K26, one of my favorite moments was a stop that had nothing to do with a highlight.

I was guarding a shot-creating forward who’d been cooking all game. Instead of gambling, I focused on cutting off his preferred drive side and shading him toward help. The improved body-up interactions made it harder for him to phase through me. He tried to spin baseline, got forced into a pickup, and had to throw a bailout pass late in the clock.

Shot clock violation.

No flashy block. No intercepted pass. Just positional defense.

It felt like the game finally respected staying in front of your man as a skill. Lateral movement ratings, strength, and timing on contests all matter more now. If you’re disciplined, you’re rewarded. If you mash steal and miss, you’re out of position and cooked.

That balance makes multiplayer less chaotic and more strategic—at least when you’re running with teammates who actually rotate.

Conclusion

NBA 2K26 shines in small but meaningful gameplay shifts and gets even better now than before: footwork and momentum that punish reckless dribble spam, fatigue that visibly impacts fourth-quarter performance, a tighter green window that rewards set shots over wild pull-ups, and defensive systems that value positioning over steal fishing.

It’s not a total overhaul. The core 2K formula is intact. But the edges are sharper, and the simulation lean is stronger this year. If you’re the kind of player who enjoys managing rotations, building specialized archetypes, and winning possessions through discipline rather than animation hunting, 2K26 has moments that genuinely feel a step forward. And if you just want highlight plays every trip down, you can still get them—you’ll just have to work a little harder to earn them.

Jake Solomon, a decorated game designer known for his work at Firaxis on games like XCOM and Marvel Midnight Suns, has announced that his studio Midsummer is going to close. In doing so, he also shared a pre-alpha look at the "Life Sims + The Truman Show" game the studio was making, called Burbank.

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Wrestling fans and 2K diehards gear up as WWE 2K26 hype builds on. If you’re deep into Universe mode or building your MyGM dynasty, you already know how much those ratings matter.

After months of speculation, we finally have a confirmed date for the ratings reveal of WWE 2K26. Smacktalk posted on X, announcing the date of the reveal. Here is everything you need to know so you don’t miss out on the big reveal and see where your favorite superstars end up on the ratings leaderboard

WWE 2K26 Ratings Reveal Details

According to the announcement by Smacktalk, ESPN2 will be hosting the full WWE 2K26 ratings special on February 27, 2026, at 1 AM ET. That’s perfect timing, right before SmackDown kicks off, so expect some action on live TV. 

For those who can’t tune in to the broadcast, 2K will post all the details online right after, just like they have done in the past. For previous games, YouTube was the platform for the ratings reveal, but this time around, ESPN2 will be hosting the event. It’s part of WWE’s new broadcast deal and a smart way to put the spotlight on the game’s biggest names, just like we saw in 2K25.

Early Ratings Teases

We’ve already seen some leaks from the latest Ringside Report. Stephanie Vaquer and Liv Morgan both sit at 94-OVR. Liv jumped up by three points, Tiffany Stratton shot up by six to 91 OVR, and Naomi climbed four to hit 91 as well. Randy Orton holds steady at 92, while Drew McIntyre lands at 91.

These are just previews, not final numbers. Roman Reigns likely owns a 99-OVR range again, with CM Punk as World Champ at 94; his cover star energy could push him even higher. On February 27th, we will finally get the ratings for all WWE stars and see where our favorite superstars end up.

Why It Matters And What to Watch For

It matters because ratings decide who dominates in your matches. Big upgrades reflect real-life runs, like Liv’s title chase. With over 400 superstars to choose from, including legends and NXT, expect a few surprises. The game is set to launch on March 23, and if you grab the deluxe edition, you can jump in early on March 6 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

So tune in, hit the forums, and get ready to argue over snubs and surprises. The reveal sets the stage for yet another WWE action-packed year in the digital ring. Eyes on your favorite 99 OVR pick this year.

WWE 2K26 will feature a massive 400+ wrestler roster, from Wrestlemania headliners all the way to fresh NXT debuts. Of course, there are still going to be a ton of mode-specific unlockables, with MyRise offering a boatload of unique rewards. The mode is set to bring about quite a few surprises, including the return of The Archetype. The presence of more recent characters in the story gives it a more contemporary feel than previous versions.

This time around, the potential for character-driven branching is higher than ever. Interactions with Paul Heyman’s new clients, Breaker and Grace, dictate your career trajectory. The characters have a purpose; they introduce Division-based storylines where your reputation can help unlock unique arenas and legendary arenas. The game mode seems really interesting, and the unlockable character list is just as interesting. Let’s take a quick look at some of the WWE 2K26 MyRise characters.

What To Expect From MyRise

MyRise has a lot to offer this time around, and that starts with its amazing story premise. Players control a custom Superstar dubbed “The Archetype”, returning to WWE after an absence of two years. The story kicks off with a major setback, which you later recover from. The mode also includes separate Men’s and Women’s paths with unique rivalries, cinematics, and championship pursuits. 

Paul Heyman is the main manipulative advisor booking your path. Other foes include Jey Uso, Jacob Fatu, Naomi, and Roxanne Perez. MyRise has fully integrated the expansion of WWE 2K25’s Live Events. You can complete them to advance your career, earn rewards, and track performance through star ratings. The overall experience emphasizes choice-driven replayability with reduced grind, voice-acted cinematics, and authentic WWE drama. So far, the game mode looks to be really exciting. If you want to learn more, read our coverage on the MyRise Story details.

All Confirmed WWE 2K26 MyRise Characters

Here’s the full list of all the MyRise characters in WWE 2K26:

• Bronze Breakker
• Buzz
• Carly Prime
• Chase
• Chosen
• Cole Quinn
• EL Mago Jr
• El Ordinario
• Gabriel Slade
• Josie Jane
• Juggernaut Grace
• La Cangrejita Loca
• LJ
• Moreno
• Odyssey Rift
• Paragon Jay Pierce
• Red
• Tavish
• MyRise 2K22 Male Player
• MyRise 2k22 Female Player
• The Dark Horse
• The Lock
• TRE

According to reports, the return of the characters from the WWE 2K22 story (specifically the MyRise 2K22 Male/Female Player) hints that they’ll potentially act as rivals or allies in a meta narrative. All the character are pure unlockeable rewards, and won’t appear in the main “The Comeback” storyline when you first play through it. They are unlocked after completing RISE Matches and progressing through story arcs/milestones. Bronze Breakker and Juggernaut Grace are special variants of Bron Breakker and Jordynn Grace, respectively.

Cole Quinn, The Dark Horse, The Lock, MyRISE 2K22 Male/Female Player, Paragon Jay Pierce, Gabriel Slade, etc are Returning Legacy MyRise Originals. These are fan-favourite created characters returning from 2K19–2K25.

Carly Prime, Buzz, Chase, Chosen, El Mago Jr, La Congreita Loca, Odyssey Rift, Red, Tavish, Tre, LJ, Moreno, Josie Jane, and El Ordinario are all Brand New Originals. These characters add variety to your roster with unique looks, movesets, and potential future story use in later games.

A New Era of Realism

I have been playing NBA 2K for several years, and my primary complaint was not with the proficiency of the offensive gameplay. It was more with the rather rudimentary and monotonous shooter capabilities, or the painfully slow ball handling, which, throughout the years, tended to annoy me more. It is also how, with the passage of time, defending in the game seemed a lot more like an afterthought.

Last year's edition was good, and I wrote a review of NBA 2K25 if you are interested, but like all previous releases, it did not have the features I will talk about. I have witnessed countless instances when defenders skated around the court like, in an attempt to position themselves into a stream of an offensive player, simply and came to an augmented reality conclusion. The defenders in these instances do not position themselves based on the game logic, and unfortunately, the basketball game 2K2, like its predecessor from a long time back, 2032, simply does not contest the points put forward.

ProPLAY Movement Engine: Defending Using Actual Steps

No longer will I stand by these remarks, as with the introduction of ProPLAY Motion Engine, I have recognized and felt the change. I distinctly remember the time when 5 out of 7 match points in most games depended purely on the offensive gameplay. And I was not the only player of the game to think that this was a painful arrangement. IT was a while back, I also heard 97-98% of the player base of this game, from my sources, had agreed on the statement that this change is the most profound and biggest leap forward we have had since version 15 of 2K.

ProPLAY is much more than a marketing buzzword – it is the reason for NBA 2K26’s difference. One of the first things you see when you step onto the court in NBA 2K26 is the movement of the players. Gone is the era of defenders ‘sliding’ on the court as if they were magically tethered to the offensive players. ProPLAY has introduced actual foot moves, which in itself is a gigantic step forward. Defenders in basketball now shift, settle, and adjust their positions in a more realistic fashion. When you cut off a driving lane, you notice how different it is from just the animation – it’s in the timing and accuracy of the position.

This both makes on-ball defense easier and harder at the same time. In previous games, “cheating” was possible through using sluggish movements and strong defense assists. Now, you’re forced to pay attention, determining the ballhandler’s intentions, and responding with your stick moves. The responsiveness is unmatched, and the feeling of shutting down a quick guard or forcing a bad shot is phenomenal.

Collision Detection: Physical Play That Finally Makes Sense

NBA 2K has consistently disappointed me when it comes to how bad collisions are. Players on the offense tend to glide through defenders like they are invisible. Defenders tend to get trapped in bad animations where they look useless. Finally, fellow basketball fans who buy PS5 games, things have changed because NBA 2K26, in collision detection, the change is monumental.

Now, when you bump up against an opponent in the paint, you can actually feel the physicality. Players of larger stature do batter and move in, but it is not unstoppable—defenders of some skill can hold their ground, and position themselves properly to contest the shot without getting into foul trouble. Distant, ‘perimeter’ players wannabe, and bump animations feel less and less random. It has something to do with momentum, position, and the timer. You are able to cut off drives, redirect slashers, and contest post-up attempts with a level of control that has not been achieved in this series before.

The most impressive part of this system is how it works with ProPLAY’s motion capture. The collisions do not resemble canned sequences; they are seamlessly integrated into the gameplay. A bump leads into a recovery, a contest into a battle for the rebound. Every single one of their interactions seems to be in the moment and not something that has been added afterward. To me, this is one of the most important things that draws the line between NBA 2K26 and sticks to its predecessors, and why it feels more ‘alive’.

Defensive AI: Smarter Help, Real Rotations

Like movement and collisions, in basketball, there is more to a defense than individual matchups to consider; simpler elements such as rotations, help defense, and team schematics. This is also one of the areas in which NBA 2K26 has done remarkably better than previous ones. AI has improved significantly, and now, the game mimics a team sport more than in the past, when it resembled a game of pickup.

Help defenders anticipate driving threats more and more and, as a result, shift to position more convincingly. Closeouts feel better: they’re sharper and more purposeful, and players have more discipline in staying with their assignments. When you double-team, teammates recover, and, instead of leaving the corner threes wide open, players are positioned to guard the shooters. Fans who buy PS5 sports games should know that it is a work in progress, no doubt, but there is no question that running a team-centric style of play is now more achievable than ever.

The most interesting thing to me is how it still rewards basketball IQ. If you make the correct reads offensively, you can still beat the defense, but it won’t be a free-for-all like the previous years, vice versa. If you’re savvy on defense, positioning your players well, predicting passes, and rotating on time, you’ll actually get results. That blend of user control and AI makes the game feel like real basketball more than ever.

Contests That Feel Earned

In older NBA 2K titles, the most frustrating thing was how inconsistent contests could be. You’d put your hand right in a shooter’s face, yet still watch them drain the jumper like you weren’t there. More frustrating, you’d be barely in the play, yet somehow register as a heavy contest. NBA 2K26 fixes this with contest logic that feels fair and responsive.

The ProPLAY engine integrates contest animations in positioning and timing. If you’re late, you’re late—you’ll see it and feel it in the result. But if you rotate, get a hand up, and time it properly, you are respected. Shooters still can make tough shots, but they feel like exceptions instead of the norm. This level of fairness, in my opinion, is critical. It aligns with how I believe the game should reward offense and defense, smart basketball.

Off-Ball Defense: Finally Engaging

Another area that’s been overlooked is off-ball defense. Way too often, it felt like a waiting game while having little control and little satisfaction aside from spamming the passing lanes. In NBA 2K26, off-ball defense seems to actually matter. ProPLAY gives defenders more believable movement when fighting through screens or shadowing their man.

This changes off-ball defense from a merely passive undertaking, placing it at the center of a strategic chess game. For someone like me, who buys cheap PS4 games and appreciates the game’s rhythm and not just the highlight moments, this is fantastic news.

How Defense Influences The Game

Improved footwork and collision systems, better artificial intelligence, improved shot contests, engagement off-ball, and other aspects do not simply make defense better. They alter the pulse of the game itself. NBA 2K26 feels quicker and more competitive because every possession is vital. Scoring is still enjoyable and rewarding, but it now feels more justifiable. You can’t just isolate over and over and expect to be successful. That is the type of basketball I enjoy, and that is the reason this year’s game feels like a real comeback.

The shooting is more accurate, dribbles feel crisper, and all animations improve because the defense can hold its own. The equilibrium makes every match a competition of skill and basketball IQ, not simply who can find the newest exploit in the gameplay. For the first time since NBA 2K15, I find myself smiling at the game for how natural it feels on both sides of the court.

Final Thoughts: Defense Finally Gets Its Due.

More than a shiny new feature, NBA 2K26’s ProPLAY motion engine is the center of a fundamental shift in gameplay. Coupled with the redefined movements and collisions and the newly designed AI, for the first time, the development team has achieved a defensive experience that is just as satisfying as the offense. The first footwork to get in front of the opponent, the satisfaction of being the defender in the paint, the smart help defense, and the generous contests all combine to something that we have wished for, for years.

Defense used to be a chore; now it’s a full-on basketball experience. That alone makes NBA 2K26 special. I have been itching for the refined return to core aspects of NBA 2K15; this is the payoff I’ve been looking for. If realistic, well-rounded, and cooperative gameplay is what you are looking for, NBA 2K26’s defense will leave you speechless. It’s ProPLAY beyond the green window that has truly reshaped everything.

The Humble Bundle Black Friday sale has rolled into town once again, bringing with it a stellar selection of PC game deals. This isn't just a bunch of titles from ten years ago on sale either (like you see a lot in sales events), but recent hits like Oblivion Remastered and Civilization 7. It's a good opportunity to fill some gaps in your Steam library.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: From Oblivion Remastered to Civ 7, here are the best deals in the Humble Bundle Black Friday sale

As someone whose job involves keeping track of how well games are doing and what everyone's playing, I'm very used to watching player counts bump up and down as updates and expansions arrive. It's all part of the natural flow. Yet despite Gearbox dropping a free Borderlands 4 DLC on us this week, there's been absolutely no change in its Steam numbers. Even as someone who's really enjoyed my time with it so far, I'm finding it difficult to pluck up the motivation to return for the new story event, and it seems the community is feeling much the same.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Borderlands 4's new, free DLC hasn't moved the needle at all, and I think I know why

Mafia: The Old Country‘s depiction of 1900s Sicily is teeming with immersive detail and dangerous encounters. With the new Free Ride Update, the developers at Hangar 13 are giving players even more freedom to explore and survive the Valle Dorata’s criminal underworld.

See all the additions included in the Free Ride Update via the trailer below, then read on for insights from Associate Design Director Josh Zammit about this free update for owners of Mafia: The Old Country.

Play Video

How does Mafia: The Old Country’s Free Ride mode call back to, or differ from, past Free Ride modes?

Free Ride is a callback to the original Mafia’s Free Ride Extreme, as well as the Free Ride mode we shipped in Mafia: Definitive Edition. It’s a collection of Challenges separate from the main story that give players chances to revisit the world in a more self-guided way. Mafia: The Old Country’s Free Ride mode will be slightly different from previous titles, yet familiar to returning fans all the same.

This time, we’ve constructed several kinds of repeatable Challenges—including combat, stealth, and different race types—in a variety of new and familiar locations. Completing Challenges will earn you the Dinari in-game currency to spend on the new outfits, charms, weapons, and vehicles unlocked by progressing through this content (as well as on items unlocked via the campaign). We’ve also included a number of other fresh and exciting features for players to sink their teeth into, and I hope fans enjoy them.

What’s the first thing you’d suggest players to do when they enter Free Ride mode?

There’s a lot to explore in this update, so players will have plenty of potential starting points. But I’m excited for them to experience the Valle Dorata in the most immersive way possible, and to me, that’s First-Person Driving. The first thing I’d do is spawn my fastest car from the garage, turn on the First-Person Driving camera, and just joyride. The new Photo Mode is another much-requested feature I think players are going to love. So get out there, find some action and beautiful vistas, and take amazing screenshots to share with friends.

Which pieces of content are you personally most excited about?

We’re super proud of everything the team has achieved, so I find it hard to pick one that I’m most excited about. I love the races; it’s a ton of fun to drive around our world at high speed in the amazing old cars. There’s loads of technical corners, and the better you get, the more satisfying they are to navigate.

The Combat Challenges are great as well. Standoffs push your limits when it comes to openly engaging enemies, and Assassinations are fun to experiment with until you nail that perfect run. There is one piece of content I think players are going to find especially intriguing and unexpected, though I don’t want to spoil it. Keep an eye out for notes in Enzo’s apartment—one may end up revealing something cool to investigate.

Beyond extra Challenges and other added content, how does this update enhance one’s experience of the main campaign?

I’ve already mentioned First-Person Driving because it really hits differently, and that’s equally true during the story. Driving around with Cesare in first person is great fun, especially in Chapter 7. It adds to the immersion and feels like living in that moment with your best friend.

Cinema Siciliano is another fantastic way to experience Mafia: The Old Country. We’ve gone out of our way to make it feel like you’re playing a genuine piece of classic Italian cinema. The visual treatment is stunning and it feels like you’re experiencing a black-and-white movie shot on an old-school sound stage, while the vintage-sounding audio convincingly brings the whole thing together.

We’ve also added Classic Difficulty, adding a new degree of challenge and raising the stakes higher, making for even more reason to take another crack at Enzo’s journey.

On top of that, all the new items you can earn by playing Free Ride will be usable in the main story campaign.

For new players, all of these elements will be present from the start, and having them as options throughout the game is going to be awesome. I’d recommend playing through on one of the original difficulties first, but if you’re confident in your skills—or just want to get punished—Classic puts them to the ultimate test.

How does First-Person Driving change the feel of exploration?

Though it’s something the team always wanted to include, this is the first time we’ve officially supported first-person driving in the franchise. We’re massive driving fans, so it was important to get the details in the cars right.

In terms of how it impacts exploration, it obviously changes the way you see things as you drive around immersed more firmly in Enzo’s shoes. I’ve spent many hours traversing the Valle Dorata with it now, and still stop to marvel at details I rarely noticed while zooming around in our classic third-person view. Tackling races in first person offers another new way to test your abilities, as dust and smoke from other cars add an intense and exhilarating perspective that the detached camera can’t easily convey.

How does Free Ride mode make use of the game’s map in ways that the main game didn’t or couldn’t?

We want players to explore the world in a freeform way, and Free Ride turns it into an expansive hub where you’ll find and access various Challenges by travelling around, unlocking Hitching Posts, and meeting contacts. Challenges are instanced and accessed via these contacts, and doing so will place you into a combat location or special world state.

These combat encounters reuse mission locations, so once you’ve played the corresponding story chapter and unlocked a Challenge in Free Ride, you’ll get to re-experience areas in new ways. Races happen out in the world and we’ve placed them along less-traveled paths, so it should be fun seeing parts of the map you may have previously passed by.

Of course, there may be new places to explore too, but that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself…

Mafia: The Old Country’s Free Ride Update is available November 20, free for all PlayStation 5 players. If you haven’t picked up the game yet, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can try it via a Game Trial beginning Friday, November 21.