Eventually, Naughty Dog would bring its craft to perfection with the Last of Us games, building on everything that had worked in the Uncharted games to a polished sheen, and delivering some of the greatest titles in the history of the medium in the process. But for as great as the Last of Us games are – and I say this as someone who legitimately feels The Last of Us Part 2 is one of the greatest games of all time – they are also fundamentally very different in the mood, tone, and aesthetic they strike as compared to Uncharted. For all the similarities that the two franchises share, if you wanted that globetrotting, swashbuckling, treasure hunting adventure, filled with some great action set pieces, some great historical fiction, and maybe a supernatural twist or two? The Last of Us is very decidedly not it.

Very few things are, as it turns out. Earlier, I mentioned Tomb Raider as an inspiration for Uncharted, and within the video games medium, at least, Tomb Raider absolutely is the best equivalent. And for what it’s worth, fans of Uncharted do have potentially three other games they might like a lot to check out in the new Tomb Raider trilogy, if they haven’t checked them out already. Those games rebooted the franchise, taking inspiration from Uncharted liberally (how the tables turn, and what have you). And while none of the new Tomb Raider games ever match Uncharted’s brilliance, they are still really good in their own right. If you want more games along those lines, they are well worth checking out.

But those games themselves are old now, and the Tomb Raider franchise has itself been inactive in terms of new releases for almost as long as Uncharted has. Inherently, it’s not unreasonable to assume that if there was any Uncharted fan who wanted more games along those lines, the seven years that have passed since the release of the final game in the modern Tomb Raider trilogy have provided more than enough time for them to look into those games for their fix. So pointing to Tomb Raider hardly helps here.

Where hope comes from for Uncharted fans in these cases ends up being a very, very unlikely game– in more ways than one. This month, Microsoft will release MachineGames’ fantastic Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5. The game, which launched in December last year for Xbox Series X/S and PC to great acclaim, is being brought over to the PS5 as part of Microsoft’s continued multiplatform publishing push. Admittedly, the idea of a Microsoft game acting as a stand in for a flagship PlayStation franchise is hilarious, as is the idea that Indiana Jones, the granddaddy of Uncharted and Tomb Raider to begin with, has come in with an eleventh hour win here- but the game’s quality speaks for itself. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a marvelous single player action adventure game that really hits the perfect tone and aesthetic, takes players to multiple locations around the world on a globetrotting treasure hunting story, has a great historical fiction infused central plot and mystery, and has some really strong storytelling- which, of course, is typical for MachineGames.

They are obviously not perfect equivalents. Indiana Jones is largely a first person game, for starters, which creates a fundamental change to the flow of the moment to moment gameplay. It is also far less focused on combat than the Uncharted games. Naughty Dog’s franchise is, of course, so combat focused that it has given rise to a whole class of memes about how the series’ protagonist Nathan Drake is a mass murderer (and even led to the rise in awareness of ludonarrative dissonance, and what it may mean when it comes to video games). Anyone who has seen the Indiana Jones movies, of course, knows that that level of killing and violence isn’t exactly what the eponymous main character is known for. And so it makes sense that The Great Circle de-emphasizes action.

Instead, the game is designed almost like an immersive sim. Rather than guiding players through linear areas interspersing light platforming and puzzle solving with heavy combat encounters, The Great Circle moves players into small sandbox style semi open areas, giving players objectives but mostly leaving it to them to figure out how to go about them. In other words, it almost plays like an immersive sim lite. In any area, in any part of the game, Indiana Jones will have to contend with a lot of armed opponents, but he will rarely be shooting them away in grand shootouts. Instead, The Great Circle emphasizes stealth and melee combat, it emphasizes puzzles, and it emphasizes exploration and discovery within its areas for players to figure out how to progress.

This is a fundamentally different type of game than Uncharted in that sense. If you were in it purely for linear and high octane action packed gameplay, and the roller coaster style set pieces and combat encounters that Uncharted is known for, then little in The Great Circle would scratch that itch (though it does admittedly have some excellent set pieces). At the end of the day, it’s not really going for that sort of experience, so if that’s the sort of Uncharted-style game you’re looking for, your search for something new that fills that niche is sadly going to have to continue.

However, for other fans, who primarily want Uncharted’s pulpy, high octane, swashbuckling tone, its globe trotting adventure stories blending fact and fiction, for those fans who want Uncharted’s vibes more than anything, The Great Circle is a fantastic pick, one that carves out a very comfortable place for itself in the pantheon that Naughty Dog and Uncharted had monopolized for the better part of two decades now. That’s an amazing feat, and hopefully, MachineGames gets the chance to build on that with the follow up to this game.

As for Uncharted? Hopefully, a new one of those is on the horizon as well. Thankfully we have something great and new that has a lot of the same vibes– but MachineGames’ take on Indy is ultimately its own thing (which is arguably one of the reasons it’s so good, and doesn’t just suffer from a knock-off syndrome). It’s not the exact alchemy that led Uncharted to becoming one of the most beloved brands in the industry. When the next one of those is coming is anyone’s guess– in a couple of years, it will have been a whole ten years since the last time the franchise was active. Hopefully there’s a new release well before then.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

As reported by Deadline, on Sunday, episode 1 of The Last of Us’ second season had over 5.3 million viewers in the US across all platforms that the show streamed on. That’s up from the Season 1 premiere in 2023 – which drew 4.7 million US viewers on day one – by 10 percent. The latter went on to amass over 32 million total viewers, so it should be interesting to see how Season 2’s debut fares.

Interestingly, Deadline also reports that viewership for Season 1 also increased by 150 percent in the week leading up to Season 2’s premiere.

The Last of Us Season 2 has six more episodes left, with the next coming on April 20. Check out a new trailer for the upcoming episodes through here. HBO has also officially greenlit a third season.

Capcom has announced it will go live with a new title update for the arcade fighter compilation this Wednesday, April 16. Chief among the new additions is an offline Versus option across all titles in the collection, while an increased resolution option will also be available to players on Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes.

Interestingly, the update will also allow players to choose between X-Men vs. Street Fighter’s versions 960910, 961004, and 961023 with a new version select option. Additional improvements include a game reset option, bonus remixed tracks, new artwork, and more. Check out the trailer below for the title update’s highlights.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. 

Journalist Jeff Grubb spoke about The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion’s rumoured remake on a recent episode of his daily Giant Bomb news podcast, GameBreaking News, where he claimed it’s scheduled to release sometime during the week of April 21- i.e., the final week of the month. An exact release date is still unknown, but the window’s certainly narrowed down, and it looks like it won’t be long before the game releases. 

Prior leaks have claimed that the Oblivion remake will be a fully overhauled version of the game, built on Unreal Engine 5 and featuring a reworked stamina system, new UI, reworked archery and blocking mechanics, and more. Read more on that through here.

From tense encounters with different types of Infected and personal drama between Ellie, Joel, and others to explosive conflict between the WLF and the Seraphites in Seattle and more, plenty is coming up that fans of the source material will be familiar with. As the season’s first episode indicated, however, the show will seemingly continue to expand on The Last of Us Part 2’scontent with its own additions. Check out the trailer below. 

Season 2 of The Last of Us has six more episodes left in its ongoing second season, with the next set to premiere on April 20. A third season has also already been officially greenlit.

Spotted by Twitter user @Genki_JPN, speaking recently during the official Kojima Productions podcast, Kojima revealed that Death Stranding 2’s development is roughly at the 95 percent mark. Likening the project to a 24-hour cycle, Kojima went on to say that it is currently at 10 PM, which means it’s within touching distance of the finish line. Of course, given how close to launch the game is, this is what most would have expected (or at least hoped for), but it’s good to have confirmation nonetheless, especially for those who may have been concerned about potential delays.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches exclusively for the PS5 on June 26.

Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding 2 is currently 95% complete while speaking on his Koji10 radio show! #DS2

“It’s at about 95% now…
It feels like it is 10 o’clock (PM), speaking of 24 hours, Koji Pro’s DS2 is at 10 o’clock (PM), there are 2 hours left”

via @koji10_tbs pic.twitter.com/sOZjY7ZLg7

— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) April 10, 2025

The action RPG’s Xbox launch has been penned in for June, though a specific launch date has yet to be confirmed. On Xbox Series X, the game will feature support for 4K and 60 FPS, HDR, and ray tracing. In addition to the two current-gen titles, Zenless Zone Zero will also be available via Xbox Cloud Gaming, which means Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to play the game without having to download anything (as long as you have a good enough internet connection, that is). 

Alongside its Xbox launch, Zenless Zone Zero will also get its 2.0 update in June, which will bring new story content, a new area called Waifei Peninsula, and more. 

Zenless Zone Zero is currently available for PS5, PC, iOS, and Android.

At launch, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will also tout exclusive PS5 Pro features, including native 4K and 60 FPS support, advanced ray tracing, and more. 

MachineGames recently also released a new update for the game on Xbox Series X/S and PC, which brings additional progression options with new Adventure Books, new quality-of-life features, various bug fixes, and more. 

In our review of the game’s original release, we awarded it a score of 9/10, saying, “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle captures its source material’s vibe down to a T, delivering an authentic, swashbuckling Indiana Jones adventure that can stand toe-to-toe with the original trilogy, while strong level design, compelling exploration, smartly designed puzzles, and enjoyable stealth and combat also combine in a well-crafted gameplay experience that might just be MachineGames’ best outing to date.” Read the full review through here.

The game, which is available for pre-orders now, will tout 4K support, a remastered soundtrack, and three expansions in the form of Lords of the West, Dynasties of India, and Dawn of the Dukes. Additionally, Microsoft has also unveiled another new expansion, The Three Kingdoms, which will launch the same day as the PS5 version and will be available on all platforms. The expansion will be based on the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as its name suggests, and will bring five new civilizations, three new campaigns (totaling 15 missions), and more.

A Premium Edition of Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition is also available on PS5. On top of the base game and all of its expansions (including The Three Kingdoms), it will also include five days of advanced access, and 24 bonus in-game animated profile icons.

SCREEN

Let’s get started with the basics- the screen, which brings several upgrades. For starters, the Switch 2’s screen is larger than the base Switch model’s by a noticeable margin, going from 6.2 inches to 7.9 inches. Meanwhile, where the Switch 1’s screen outputs at 720p at most, the Switch 2 will be capable of 1080p output. It also touts support for VRR and 120 FPS gameplay.

MAGNETIC JOY-CONS

We’ve gotten used to how the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons detach and slot back in over the last several years, but Nintendo is changing things up with the Switch 2. Unlike the Switch 1’s Joy-Cons, which would slide into (and out of) rails on either side of the tablet, the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons will attach to the tablet magnetically. To detach them, players will have to hold down a new button close to the trigger, with Nintendo providing assurances that the magnetic controllers won’t just separate and fall off by themselves.

MOUSE FUNCTIONALITY

Here’s another major change you can expect with the Joy-Con 2 controllers, and one that leaks had actually talked about for a while. The new controllers feature sensors on their side, which will allow you to simply turn either Joy-Con sideways and use it like a mouse on a flat surface. The Switch 1 boasted three different play styles in handheld mode, console mode, and tabletop mode, allowing you to seamlessly and instantly swap between them. The Switch 2 is adding mouse mode to that list.

C BUTTON AND GAMECHAT

Another major (according to Nintendo, at least) new feature being introduced with the Switch 2 is the new C button, which is tied to the new GameChat feature. Pressing the button will bring up the GameChat menu, which will let you voice chat (or video chat, if you have the requisite accessory) with other players while playing your own game. Sadly, GameChat will be available exclusively to NSO subscribers past its open access period (which runs until March next year).

MORE JOY-CON CHANGES

Nintendo has improved the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons in other areas as well. One of the most common criticisms for the original controllers continues to be the tiny size of the SL and SR buttons, which Nintendo has directly addressed by expanding their dimensions a tad. The Switch 2’s analog sticks are also larger, while the company has also offered assurances that stick drift issues – a major problem with the Switch 1 – will be less of a concern with the new console.

PRO CONTROLLER CHANGES

As you would expect, the Switch 2 will also have its own new Pro Controller for players to purchase as an accessory, and it, too, will come with several changes. The aforementioned C button will of course be featured, in addition to an audio jack, something that is glaringly missing in the otherwise excellent Switch Pro Controller. Additional, the Switch 2’s Pro Controller will also feature new GL and GR buttons on the grip that you’ll be able to program and assign to whatever inputs you wish.

4K CAPABLE

From a tech and hardware perspective, the Switch 2 is going to be Nintendo’s biggest generational leap since the GameCube. The Switch 1 was an outdated piece of kit even back when it launched in 2017, but the Switch 2 is going to be a completely different story. Nintendo has, for instance, confirmed that the console will be capable of outputting games at a 4K resolution, something that is completely impossible on the Switch.

SUPPORTS RAY TRACING AND DLSS

That the Switch 2 will use Nvidia’s DLSS is something that rumours have been claiming for several years, going back far enough that they were initially tied to the fabled and nonexistent Switch Pro. That is now officially confirmed, in case you were wondering how the Switch 2 is 4K capable after all, given that its specs would put it below even the Xbox Series S in terms of pure, raw numbers. Meanwhile, in addition to DLSS, the Switch 2 also features ray tracing support.

3D AUDIO

We’ve spoken plenty about the many visual enhancements we can look forward to with the Switch 2, but its upgrades don’t end there. On the audio side of things, on top of louder and higher-quality speakers, the Switch 2 also touts support for 3D audio in both console and handheld mode.

SWITCH 2 EDITION GAMES

The upcoming next-gen console’s greater hardware capabilities will obviously mean better looking new games, but even existing existing Switch 1 titles are going to benefit. It’ll ultimately be up to each publisher’s discretion, but for several, you can expect what are being called Nintendo Switch 2 Edition releases, which are basically Switch 2-enhanced versions of Switch 1 titles. The upgrades, pricing, and what have you will obviously vary from game to game and developer to developer.

STORAGE

As you’d expect, the Switch 2’s internal storage is also significantly more substantial than the Switch 1. The latter launched in 2017 with 32 GB of internal storage, but its successor will tout as much as 256 GB- though Switch 2 titles are, of course, going to weigh more than Switch 1 games. The console’s storage will also be expandable, but regular microSD cards will no longer be supported, with new microSD Express cards instead being required.

BATTERY

Given the more powerful hardware of the Switch 2, it comes as no surprise that the console’s battery life is taking a hit. Where the Switch 1 can last anywhere between 4-10 hours on a full charge depending on your usage, according to Nintendo, the Switch 2’s battery life will range between 2 to six-and-a-half hours. In terms of charging time, however, Nintendo estimates three hours for a full charge, which is about the same as the Switch 1.

DOCK

Similar to the tablet itself, the Switch 2’s dock will also be different from the Switch 1’s. At 4.5 inches tall, 7.9 inches wide, and 2 inches thick, it’s somewhat larger the the Switch 1’s dock, which is 4.1 inches tall, 6.8 inches wide, and 2.12 inches thick. Unlike the original base dock, the new one will will also have an ethernet port for those who wish to directly plug in a LAN cable.

GAMECUBE TITLES ON NINTENDO SWITCH ONLJNE

Fans have been hoping to see GameCube titles being added to NSO’s library for a while now, and that is finally set to happen starting June 5- but only for the Switch 2. Switch 1’s Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription includes games for the NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. On the Switch 2, on top of all of that, subscribers will also get GameCube games, with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX set to be there day one, and more (including Luigi’s Mansion, Super Mario Sunshin, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and many others) arriving later.

PRICING CHANGES

This is the big one, and unfortunately, not for the right reasons. The original Switch launched in the US at a price of $299, but the Switch 2 is bringing about a steep increase. Nintendo has announced a price of $449 for the console, though with the tariff-shaped clouds looming large, there’s a good chance that thar price is going to increase before the console has launched, at least in the US.