Nearly seven years after the release of the original Code Vein, Bandai Namco Studios has returned to the series with Code Vein 2. Designed as an evolution of the anime-styled, Souls-like-inspired combat and exploration that defined its predecessor, Code Vein 2 builds upon the foundations of the original while pushing the formula forward in meaningful ways. From expanded combat systems to reworked world design, the sequel aims to stand as both a worthy continuation of a cult favourite and a substantial action-RPG experience in its own right.

Be sure to keep this Code Vein 2 guide bookmarked to stay up to date with everything from the release date, story so far, and gameplay details, through to trailers, pre-order bonuses, special editions, and more.

Code Vein II Release Date

Code Vein 2 is officially scheduled for release on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on January 29, 2026. At present, the game has not been confirmed for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Similarly, while there has been no official announcement regarding a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 release, future platform expansions remain a possibility.

Code Vein II Pre-Order Bonuses

Players who choose to pre-order Code Vein 2 can access a selection of bonus items, including the following:

• Stylized Forma Set
  • Forma Face Paint: A cosmetic item that applies a forma design to the corner of your eyes.
  • Twin Fangs of the Lone Wolf (Weapon): Twin blades engraved with a special forma, delivering a powerful lunging slice attack inspired by a wolf’s ferocity.

Additionally, those who pre-order the Deluxe or Ultimate Editions receive early access to the game up to 72 hours ahead of the standard launch.

Code Vein II Special Editions

In addition to the Standard Edition, Code Vein 2 is available in Deluxe and Ultimate Editions. Each version includes a range of digital bonuses aimed at players looking for additional content beyond the base game.

Deluxe Edition

• Code Vein II base game
• Custom Outfit Pack: Contains three costume sets and one weapon
• Expansion DLC: Mask of Idris (available by January 2027)

Ultimate Edition

• Code Vein II base game
• Custom Outfit Pack: Contains three costume sets and one weapon
• Expansion DLC: Mask of Idris (available by January 2027)
• Code Vein Character Costume Set: Six costumes inspired by characters from the original Code Vein
• Code Vein II Digital Mini Artbook & Soundtrack

Code Vein II – The Story So Far

The original Code Vein is set within the quarantined ruins of Vein, a post-apocalyptic zone sealed off by a supernatural barrier known as the Red Mist. Far more than simple fog, the Red Mist protects the inhabitants within from the dangers beyond. These inhabitants, known as Revenants, are resurrected remnants of humanity—immortal soldiers who must consume blood, or Blood Beads, to retain their sanity. Without it, they risk devolving into feral creatures known as the Lost.

Players take on the role of a uniquely gifted Revenant capable of cleansing corruption and exploring memories. As Blood Beads begin to disappear, the survival of the Revenants is thrown into jeopardy. The situation worsens with the revelation of Cruz Silva, a Revenant Queen whose failed attempt to save humanity resulted in catastrophic consequences.

To prevent her resurrection, Cruz Silva’s immortal form is split into powerful relics that must be recovered and contained. In the canon ‘True Ending’, companion Io sacrifices herself by transforming into an immense Amber Blood Bead tree, ensuring a stable supply of Blood Beads for the future. With the Queen’s relics stabilised within them, the protagonist ultimately ventures beyond the Red Mist into the unknown.

Code Vein II Gameplay – What’s New?

Code Vein 2 retains the core Souls-like combat and exploration of the original while introducing several notable changes. New weapon types, such as Dual Swords and Rune Blades, expand combat variety, while the new Assimilation system allows players to directly command partner abilities, offering greater tactical control during battles.

World design has also seen a significant overhaul. Rather than relying heavily on linear, corridor-based environments, Code Vein 2 features larger open areas and a broader selection of distinct dungeons. A time-shifting mechanic allows players to travel 100 years into the past, altering environments and unlocking new routes in the present, adding a puzzle-oriented layer to exploration.

Further enhancements include an expanded character creator and a reworked progression system that supports more detailed build customisation. One of the sequel’s most significant changes is the removal of multiplayer co-op, placing a stronger emphasis on a refined single-player experience with improved balance, pacing, and AI partner behaviour.

Where Can I Watch The Latest Trailer?

The most recent Code Vein 2 trailer can be viewed above. With a strong focus on character presentation, it highlights Lyle McLeish, also known as ‘the solitary swordsman’. A stoic yet principled Revenant, Lyle showcases precise sabre techniques alongside a powerful array of spells. The trailer also features extended combat footage, offering a clear look at how Code Vein 2’s systems and visual style come together in action.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Code Vein II appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

With Octopath Traveler I and II carving out a reputation as opulent strategy RPGs with style to spare, it’s also true that this success leaves Octopath Traveler 0 carrying a substantial weight of expectation. A deeply evolved expansion of mobile entry Champions of the Continent, Octopath Traveler 0 is shaping up to be every bit the essential tactical JRPG that genre fans have hungered for all year.

Be sure to keep this Octopath Traveler 0 guide bookmarked to stay across everything, from the release date, story so far and gameplay details, through to the latest trailer and PC specifications.

Octopath Traveler 0 Release Date

Octopath Traveler 0 has been confirmed for release on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on December 4, 2025. A last-gen Xbox One release remains unconfirmed.

Octopath Traveler 0 Gameplay

While Octopath Traveler 0 draws inspiration from mobile spin-off Champions of the Continent, expanding its story with new characters, scenes and dialogue, plus full voice acting—it also confidently forges its own gameplay identity, revisiting the series’ defining mechanics with the polish and attention to detail long associated with the franchise.

Starting with the iconic HD-2D art style, popularised by the first Octopath Traveler, this new entry raises the bar yet again with increased texture resolution, upgraded lighting and reworked particle effects. Simply put, HD-2D has never looked quite this good.

Beyond presentation, Octopath Traveler 0 rethinks the protagonist setup entirely. Rather than selecting from eight predefined travellers, players craft a fully customisable main hero who can explore the world and recruit 30+ travellers, deploying up to eight in any one battle. So yeah, calling this a change in scope would be underselling it by quite some margin.

That shift extends to narrative structure, too. Instead of eight loosely connected personal tales – which could feel disjointed at times – Octopath Traveler 0 unifies its cast under an overarching story. Here, the player’s hero seeks revenge for the destruction of their hometown, Wishvale, while working to rebuild it into something that echoes its former glory.

Town building itself becomes a key pillar of progression. New to the series, these systems capture some of that Stardew Valley magic by letting players gradually restore Wishvale by completing story events and other turning points. The recruited travellers’ personal arcs now feed directly into this larger tale of revenge and restoration, rather than existing orbitally as they often did before.

In combat, Octopath Traveler 0 preserves the series’ essence while adding real mechanical muscle. The familiar Break and Boost fundamentals return, but now sit alongside a brand-new Action Skill system, allowing characters to learn certain skills and share a selection of them with allies. Add to that new Ultimate Techniques for every character, plus special Ultimates that unlock as Wishvale grows, and it becomes obvious that the series’ combat is evolving with intent, not imitation, refreshing the formula without losing the spark.

Octopath Traveler 0 – The Story So Far

The original Octopath Traveler chronicled the journeys of eight heroes across Orsterra, each confronting personal trials while ultimately uniting to prevent the rise of the dark god Galdera. Octopath Traveler II shifted to the industrial continent of Solisita with a new cast, battling the Moonshade Order (an unhinged cult chasing the nothing-god Videm), telling a story deliberately detached from the first. Built with similar motifs and the same eight-traveller framing, the sequel leaned into anthology, not continuity.

As a prequel, Octopath Traveler 0 predictably shares more DNA with the original. Set in Orsterra, it works to define the foundations of the first game and may even include familiar faces whose paths could diverge wildly from established canon.

PC Specifications

Though Octopath Traveler 0 proudly carries the stunning 2D-HD visual signature seen across Square-Enix’s HD-2D catalogue, it runs remarkably well across a huge range of PC configs. Even rigs approaching a decade old meet its notably generous minimum specification, giving older hardware more than a shot at a satisfyingly playable experience. The confirmed minimum and recommended PC specs appear below.

MINIMUM:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 11
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 2300X / Intel® Core i3-8100
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 470 / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 10 GB available space
• Additional Notes: 1920 × 1080, Graphics Preset “Low”, 30FPS

RECOMMENDED:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 11
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 / Intel® Core i5-8400
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5600XT / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 / Intel® Arc A580
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 10 GB available space
• Additional Notes: 1920×1080, Graphics Preset “Ultra”, 60FPS

Where Can I Watch The Latest Trailer?

The latest Octopath Traveler 0 trailer is available to watch now, and you can catch it above. Acting as a comprehensive gameplay showcase, it offers extended looks at the returning Break and Boost system, eight-character battles, world map traversal and much more besides. It also brings its retina-searing 2D-HD presentation roaring back into view again. Which is nice.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Octopath Traveller 0 appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

Featuring larger-than-life anime-styled characters, fast and ferocious melee combat, towering boss encounters and a sweeping story drawn from the acclaimed webtoon, Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE aims to deliver spectacle and intensity in equal measure. This guide brings together all the essential details, making it a one-stop resource for newcomers and fans alike.

Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, as it covers the game’s release platforms, editions, core gameplay systems, PC requirements and the latest official trailer.

Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE Release Date

Solo Levelling: Arise Overdrive has been officially confirmed for a full release on Xbox PC and Steam on November 24, 2025. Meanwhile, the game is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026, though a specific date has yet to be announced. At this stage, there is also no confirmation that Solo Levelling: Arise Overdrive will arrive on the Nintendo Switch or its successor.

Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE Deluxe Edition and Early Access

Alongside the Standard Edition, developer Netmarble Neo has confirmed a Deluxe Edition, which includes a range of bonuses and grants 72 hours of early access. Wondering what those bonuses actually are? You can find the full list of Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE Deluxe Edition goodies below:

• Deluxe Edition-exclusive Sung Jinwoo costume
• 1 Face Accessory for Sung Jinwoo
• 2 New Hairstyles for Sung Jinwoo
• Cha Hae-In Emoji Set (8 total)
• Yaruru ‘Predator Tank
• 1 New Profile Card
• 1 New Profile Frame
• 1 New Icon
• 1 New Profile Background

Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE Overdrive Gameplay

First things first, it’s worth clearing up a common misconception. Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE, a third-person action RPG built around melee combat, should not be confused with Solo Levelling: Arise, the earlier free-to-play gacha-based mobile and PC title. Now that’s settled, we can get down to the essentials.

The game features two core modes. The first is a sprawling single-player campaign where players take control of Sung Jinwoo, a rising Hunter who must carve through a growing tide of powerful beasts. The story draws from the Solo Levelling webtoon while also introducing new chapters created specifically for the game. The second mode is a cooperative raid experience that lets up to four players join forces to tackle exceptionally strong monsters, each choosing from various characters and Hunters across the Solo Levelling universe.

At its core, Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is a third-person action RPG inspired by titles like Devil May Cry and Lost Soul Aside. Players can chain together attacks, skills, special moves and more, while a wide selection of weapons gives Solo Levellers the freedom to shape their combat style.

As you might expect, the game also emphasises evasion and parrying, echoing the mechanics found in many Soulslike titles of the past fifteen years. This includes an “Extreme Evasion” that triggers when players dodge at the last possible moment, and a familiar perfect parry, which allows for a last-second deflection followed by a devastating counterattack.

Beyond combos, evasions, parries, special attacks and an arsenal of weapons, players can tap into the titular Arise ability, summoning shadow soldiers to fight alongside them. You’ll need every tool available – skills, parries, summons and more – to bring down the game’s titanic, screen-filling bosses, which stand as centrepieces of Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE’s core combat design.

Progression is equally robust. A deep skill tree can be tailored through eight distinct job advancements, while a weapon-crafting system lets players forge new gear using materials harvested from defeated monsters. Iconic weapons from the webtoon, including the Demon King’s Daggers and Kasaka’s Venom Fang, also make an appearance.

PC Specifications

With its sharp cel-shaded characters and environments, you might assume Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE demands a high-end PC to run well. Fortunately, that isn’t the case. The game can still deliver impressive visual and technical performance even on hardware more than five years old. You can compare your setup to the minimum and recommended PC specifications below.

MINIMUM:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• Processor: i5 4460 3.2 GHz Over or AMD equivalent
• Memory: 12 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 1050 or better
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 40 GB available space
• Additional Notes: SSD recommended

RECOMMENDED:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 11 (64-bit Required)
• Processor: i5-9400 2.9 GHz Over or AMD equivalent
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 2060 or better
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 40 GB available space
• Additional Notes: SSD recommended

Where Can I Watch the Latest Trailer?

The latest trailer for Solo Levelling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is available to watch right now, and you can view it above. Focused on gameplay, it showcases the game’s striking cel-shaded visuals and highlights many of the screen-filling bosses players can expect to take on.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

In early access since 2017, the tactical multiplayer extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov finally takes the spotlight with its version 1.0 release and debut on Steam. Unapologetically hardcore and ultra-gritty, the game is shaping up to be a standout in the extraction-shooter genre.

Bookmark this guide: below you’ll find everything you need to know about Escape from Tarkov on Steam, including the release date, gameplay details, editions, the 1.0 update changes, latest trailer, and PC specs.

Escape from Tarkov Steam Release Date

Escape from Tarkov’s full release on Steam is officially scheduled for 15 November 2025. At this time, no release has been announced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, or Nintendo Switch 2 – but reaching version 1.0 typically precedes a console launch, so a port may be on the horizon.

Escape from Tarkov Steam Editions

When you purchase Escape from Tarkov via Steam, you’ll select from multiple edition tiers — each offering progressively more starting gear, stash space and bonuses. Here are the details:

Standard Edition

• Base game of Escape From Tarkov

Left Behind Edition

• Base game of Escape From Tarkov
• Secure container (2×2 cells);
• Expanded stash (10×40 cells);
• Left Behind Edition gear and skills set.

Prepare for Escape Edition

• Base game of Escape From Tarkov
• Secure container (3×2 cells);
• Expanded stash (10×50 cells);
• Prepare for Escape Edition gear and skills set;
• Increased standing.

Important for existing players: If you already own the game via the official launcher and want to use the Steam version, you will still have to purchase any edition on Steam to play via Steam. Your account and progress can be linked, but you cannot bypass buying the game on Steam. In some positive news, however, if you have a higher-tier edition already on the original launcher and buy a lower tier on Steam, the system will grant you the higher edition automatically when launching via Steam.

Escape from Tarkov Gameplay

While extraction shooters have been around for some time, few execute the formula quite like Escape from Tarkov. Set in the fictional Russian city of Tarkov, locked in endless conflict and lawlessness, you join one of the warring PMCs (private military companies) and find yourself cut off behind a blockade, surrounded by enemy PMCs and hostile locals.

Your goal isn’t just to survive, it’s to escape with valuable loot. What sets Tarkov apart is the risk: any gear you bring into a raid can be lost if you don’t make it out. That high-stakes tension is harder to find in many of its peers.

Beyond that, you’ll also encounter a variety of quests that diversify the gameplay, offering rewards and progression. One of your key hubs is the hideout—a base you can upgrade to craft gear, boost stats, and generate passive income.

The gunplay is intense and detailed. The injury system is highly realistic: a shot to your leg will hamper your movement, serious bleeding requires a tourniquet, broken bones need a splint – just popping a standard medkit won’t always cut it.

Overall, Tarkov favours careful, methodical play. With a minimalist UI, strong 3D audio and environmental cues, every footstep, gunshot and ambient sound matters. Charge in blindly and you’re likely to be eliminated quickly.

On the weapons side, customisation is incredibly deep. Every component of a gun—from optics and stocks to muzzle brakes and grips—affects handling, recoil and accuracy. Ballistics are sophisticated too: different rounds penetrate differently, and physics matter. The creative scope for firearm tuning is one of Tarkov’s biggest draws.

Escape from Tarkov 1.0 Update Changes

With version 1.0 arriving, the developers have confirmed several significant changes and milestones to mark this full release. Some of the key features and updates include:

• A major wipe of player levels and stashes for PvP mode as part of version 1.0’s launch.
• Major updates to PvE mode, including a refreshed PvE experience and new content designed to broaden the game beyond just hardcore multiplayer raids.
• Performance and anti-cheat improvements: The devs have emphasised fixes for long-standing performance issues, cheating mitigation, and better stability underlying version 1.0.
• Integration with Steam’s features for the first time (achievements, friends list etc) while retaining server-wide compatibility (Steam and non-Steam players share servers).

These changes mean the game is not only getting a marketing push via Steam, but also a structural maturation: better defined release status, improved systems, and broader accessibility for new players — even if the hardcore loop remains the same.

PC Specifications

Powered by the versatile Unity engine, Escape from Tarkov scales well across hardware (from mid-range rigs to high-end setups) with the specs below giving a good guideline.

MINIMUM:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 10
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or similar
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: GTX 1660 or similar
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 80 GB available space

RECOMMENDED:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 11
• Processor: Intel Core i7-14700F or better
• Memory: 64 GB RAM
• Graphics: RTX 4070 or better
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 80 GB available space

Where Can I Watch The Latest Trailer?

The latest trailer for Escape from Tarkov is available to watch right now, and you can catch it above. Celebrating the highly anticipated version 1.0 release of Escape from Tarkov, this new trailer is packed with gameplay footage designed to excite existing players and introduce the world of Tarkov to newcomers alike. 

The post Everything You Need To Know About Escape From Tarkov on Steam appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.