The first episode of Don't Nod's narrative adventure, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, ended with a hell of a cliffhanger: a massive discovery of something unknown, possibly malevolent, and a devastating revelation about one of the story's central figures. As the second episode, or tape, of this player-choice-driven, nostalgia-powered story aims to draw things to their conclusion when Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 launches today (April 15), players have been left wondering what to expect. To dig deeper into the game's ambitions and get some further insight on what to expect from Swann, Nora, Autumn, and Kat's next escapade, we (at PlayStation Blog) sat down for a chat with Michel Koch, Creative Director at Don't Nod's Montreal studio.

You Oughta Know
Koch was eager to tell us how this experience would differ from the first. "The first Tape, 'Bloom,' is the nice and sunny part of the beginning of the summer, of you meeting and bonding with those girls. The second half is called 'Rage,' which is mostly the aftermath of the cliffhanger at the end of Tape 1. We wanted Tape 1 to let the player find their own space within the group of friends, getting a feeling of a summer where you meet friends, but also giving hints of weird things. They're finding the clearing. They're finding the abyss. It's a very natural story of four girls having a fun summer together before Swann moves away. But Tape 2 will focus more on this weirder part of the story. We know what happened at the end of the summer. We still don't know why, but we know that they promise not to see each other again. We know about the weird box, we know about Kat, but we don't know the consequences of this revelation. How do you continue to have a normal summer with your friends? And, of course, the continuation of what's happening with those weird things they found in the forest."

Fireshine Games is delighted to introduce Duskfade, an all-new 3D action-platformer inspired by classic platformers of times gone by, coming to the PlayStation 5 (PS5) system, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2026.

Embark on an unforgettable adventure as Zirian, a young workshop apprentice, as he sets out to restore time itself in a world enshrouded by eternal night. Shatter the shackles of time as you jump, swing, and slash through a vibrant clockpunk world, blending nostalgia with modern gameplay in this timeless love letter to action-platformer classics.

This month, 21 games are joining the cloud gaming library of over 2,000 titles. Whether chasing epic adventures, testing skills in competitive battles or diving into immersive worlds, members can dive into April's adventures arrivals, which are truly no joke. Get ready to stream, play and conquer the eight games available this week. Members can also get ahead of the pack with advanced access to South of Midnight, streaming soon before launch.

Unleash the Magic
South of Midnight, an action-adventure game developed by Compulsion Games, offers advanced access for gamers who purchase its Premium Edition. Dive into the title's hauntingly beautiful world before launch, exploring its rich Southern gothic setting and unique magical combat system while balancing magic with melee attacks.

AYANEO today officially launched its latest retro-style Android handheld, the AYANEO Pocket ACE. Featuring a horizontal retro design, this handheld is exquisitely crafted, elegant, and portable, while being powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 gaming platform for top-tier performance that effortlessly handles both classic games and popular mobile titles. Upholding its philosophy of "Real Gamers, Know Gamers," AYANEO once again pushes the boundaries of retro horizontal handheld gaming with the Pocket ACE.

Honoring Classics, Reinventing Elegance - Inheriting the brand's aesthetic DNA, retro design meets modern craftsmanship. The AYANEO Pocket ACE continues the brand's design philosophy, paying homage to classic horizontal handhelds while incorporating modern manufacturing techniques to breathe new life into the form. Its sleek, flowing body and meticulously refined button layout deliver a comfortable grip, allowing players to experience the perfect fusion of retro charm and contemporary refinement in every gaming session.

Analogue's modern reimagining of Nintendo's N64 home console has hit another pre-release obstacle. Their Analogue 3D model was first revealed in 2023, with a projected 2024 launch on the cards. The system has experienced a series of setbacks—prior to the latest official announcement, customers were expecting to receive finalized hardware by now (first quarter of 2025). Once again, the company has revised release timeframes for its $249.99 FPGA-powered console—according to an official "3D Preorder FAQ": "Analogue 3D was originally available for pre-order at the end of 2024, (and) scheduled to ship Q1 2025. Shipping is delayed (as of March 18th, 2025) and is now shipping by July 2025. We are working hard to get your 3D order in hands ASAP, and appreciate your patience. If you have an open pre-order no action is needed. As always, if you'd like to cancel your pre-order at any time, Analogue has always had a no questions asked, 100% refund policy for pre-orders."

Analogue's promotional materials showcase a very slick-looking premium reinterpretation (in black or white) of the classic N64 system. The R&D team spent: "nearly four years engineering it in FPGA. No more incompatibilities found in software emulation like input lag, graphic/audio inaccuracies, timing/frame rate issues and more. For the first time, you can re-experience the N64 exactly as it was meant to be, without compromise." According to product pages, a controller is not bundled in with the Analogue 3D package. Authentic front panel connectors indicate customers having to reuse original "trident-shaped" N64 (NUS-005) controllers, or third-party equivalents. Certain promo shots show off 8BitDo's recently introduced 64 Bluetooth Controller. Given Analogue's revised schedule, this wireless gamepad is expected to arrive weeks ahead of its natural partner piece.

The wait is nearly over! We're thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated remaster of Croc Legend of the Gobbos is launching April 2, 2025! Wishlists are open for PC on GOG.com—with Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox digital storefronts following soon. Croc's back and he's still got the moves! Croc Legend of the Gobbos is the heartwarming journey of an endearing, humble little crocodile equipped with only his iconic backpack and a wiggly butt as he platforms his way across a series of unique worlds by running, jumping, climbing, swimming and tail spinning on his quest to rescue his adopted family of Gobbos from the grasp of the evil sorcerer Baron Dante and his impish Dantini hordes.

With its broad appeal and groundbreaking creativity, the original game quickly became a multi-million selling platforming classic, and while the Croc Legend of the Gobbos remaster delivers an authentic gameplay experience that transports players back to the golden age of gaming, it also introduces a roster of modern updates including enhanced HD graphics, modern control mechanics with an updated camera, and retro video modes to recreate the gaming experience that charmed us in the 1990s.

Many hardcore fans of the Roccat brand will lament last year's absorption of designs/IPs into the Turtle Beach product portfolio. Five years earlier, the German PC gaming accessory maker was acquired by the larger North American organization—at the time, mouse enthusiasts expressed worries regarding a sudden cut-off of popular models. The long-running Kone series was a main topic of conversation. Pleasingly, Roccat's engineering department continued to deliver new designs and refreshes of old favorites well into the early 2020s. The Kone Pure Air and Pure SEL were the team's last models to emerge under the banner of Roccat, prior to 2024's full Turtle Beach takeover. Confusingly, this somewhat unfaithful Kone design was only made available to a South Korean customer base.

Kone Pure models—in wireless (Air) and wired (SEL) forms—eventually trickled out to wider global market regions, albeit with Turtle Beach logos printed on their outer shells and packaging. A lukewarm reception from the gaming mouse community prompted further speculation—would the Kone lineage end in 2024? Chinese gaming mouse manufacturers have often "brazenly" cloned the designs of many Western-developed models. Loyal fans and brand purists would normally decry the emergence of a throwback to classic Roccat Pure times, but KYSONA's recently unveiled rendition is being celebrated. Their Uranus Pro wireless gaming mouse offering has gained traction in the West, thanks to a prominent YouTuber's recommendation and positive feedback from owners of early import units. KYSONA is hardly a big name, but they are involved in the contract manufacturing of peripherals for "visible" brands—including AJAZZ, Attack Shark, and DELUX.

Bringing classic games back to life is not easy. With obsolete technology, complex IP rights, and challenging business cases, our Team tackles these hurdles daily. That's where our Community Wishlist used to come in. It was an open tool where you got to tell us which classics deserve a comeback and vote on the games you want to see revived. It wasn't just a list—more often than not, it was the fuel for our actions. When talks with IP owners hit a wall, the Wishlist kept the conversation going—as you could see with Dino Crisis.

But now we are launching the next generation of this tool: the GOG Dreamlist. With the brand-new design, it's easier than ever to cast your vote, add a game and contribute to Video Game Preservation.

SilverStone's iconic GD09 HTPC chassis has been a beloved industry favorite since its debut in 2012. Even with technological advancements that have led to larger components and increased heat output to support more demanding tasks, the GD09 remains celebrated as the top choice for HTPC setups.

At Computex 2023, SilverStone delighted attendees by showcasing the GD09 in a retro-inspired design. Taking cues from the NEC PC-9800—a Japanese PC introduced in 1982—the chassis was reimagined with a beige cream aesthetic, evoking nostalgia while seamlessly blending into any living room environment.

LUNAR fans, mark your calendars! The epic adventure to save the world from the forces of evil with old friends Alex, Hiro, and more, begins April 18, 2025. Wishlist it on Steam right now! Dive into the enchanting worlds of LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete, two beloved JRPGs that have captured the hearts of gamers for generations. LUNAR: Silver Star Story introduces Alex, an aspiring Dragonmaster who bands together with his friends to combat the perilous emergence of the Magic Emperor and stop him from taking over the world.

LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue picks up a thousand years later, and follows Hiro and his friends as they set out in search of the Goddess Althena alongside an enigmatic girl named Lucia. On this grand quest, fend off enemies like Borgan and White Knight Leo, who hunt down the group to eradicate what they deem to be the "Destroyer of Lunar." This definitive remastered edition features enhanced graphics, audio, and quality-of-life improvements that will satiate that hunger for 90s nostalgia--better than you remember! Embark on these two adventures with updated language support, now available in English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, French, and German.

PLAION, a global leader in video games, and Retro Games Ltd. (RGL), the premier producer of reimagined home computers, proudly announce the launch of The Spectrum. This modern recreation of Sir Clive Sinclair's legendary ZX Spectrum retains its original design while incorporating today's technology, delivering nostalgia and innovation in one package.

Unlike previous emulations, The Spectrum is the first to faithfully replicate the design of the iconic 48k ZX Spectrum while including 48 pre-installed games. The design of the original machine was seen as unique. While machines like the Commodore 64, BBC Micro and ATARI 800XL shared a common aesthetic that became synonymous with home computers, the ZX Spectrum had a look and feel that had not been seen before, or indeed since. The Spectrum aims to bring back that nostalgic feeling to retro fans with an authentic looking, sleek, minimalist design worthy of any display cabinet.

Nearly 42 years after the original ColecoVision console revolutionized home gaming, ColecoVision is proud to announce the launch of the ColecoVision Full-Size Stand-Up Arcade Unit. This new product, developed in partnership with American Gear, combines the classic charm of the iconic 1982 console with cutting-edge technology, offering nostalgia and innovation to retro gaming enthusiasts and modern gamers alike.

First released in August 1982, the ColecoVision console set new standards for home video game systems with its near-arcade-quality graphics and expansive game library. It quickly became a beloved platform, selling over 2 million units and introducing gamers to unforgettable titles like Donkey Kong, Zaxxon, and Venture. The console's innovative design and expansion capabilities, such as the ability to play Atari 2600 cartridges, solidified its place in gaming history.

As fearsome invaders from another world threaten the peace, Azeroth calls for a hero to lead its human defenders in battle…or conquer this realm in the name of the orcish Horde! The very first game in the Warcraft franchise, 1994's Warcraft: Orcs and Humans is now available in the Battle.net Shop. If you've ever wondered what it was like to fight the real-time strategy battles at the dawn of the Warcraft saga, this is your chance to see for yourself how it all began.

This release includes:

• Two dozen missions across two separate campaigns: Help the humans defend their home world against the orcish invaders, or lead the Horde in their relentless conquest.
• Custom games to hone your skills: Select from 21 bonus maps and play against a computer-controlled opponent to learn how to lead your forces more effectively.
• Two-player versus mode: Go head-to-head with another human and prove who is the master strategist in highly customizable multiplayer matches.

Command the battlefield, outflank your enemies, and gain victory, or suffer crushing defeat and be forgotten forever.

With his long silver hair, enormous odachi blade and epic theme song composed by legendary Nobuo Uematsu himself - Sephiroth is one of the most recognizable antagonists in RPG's history. The one-winged angel debuted in the original Final Fantasy VII in 1997 as a once-loved war hero and first-class SOLDIER who descended into madness and promised to destroy the planet upon learning of his unnatural creation. But there is much more to Sephiroth than just that. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, Sephiroth appears sporadically, mainly as a haunting memory, as the story focuses on Cloud and his friends trying to stop the evil corporation Shinra from killing the planet by using its life essence, mako, as an energy source.

In the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, however, we will see Sephiroth in his full glory. We asked Producer Yoshinori Kitase to discuss reimagining this iconic character in the Remakes: "The story in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth starts after the team has escaped Midgar and continues all the way up to the Forgotten Capital. In the original game, Sephiroth barely appeared during this section, but in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, he is the driving force that pulls the story along to fill that void. He is depicted in even more depth than in the original game, and I think this makes him an even more charismatic and appealing antagonist than before."

We are proud to announce that THE400 Mini—a modern day mini recreation of the pioneering home computer that first appeared in 1979, will be launching worldwide on 28th March 2024. Retro Games Ltd., one of the world's leading producers of re-imagined home computers, is proud to reveal that our modern day mini recreation of a pioneering home computer is now available to pre-order.

For those looking to relive the gameplay experiences of the 1970s and 1980s, included with THE400 Mini is our THECXSTICK, an enhanced, updated recreation of the iconic CX40 Atari joystick for that added touch of nostalgia. This new controller comes with an additional seven seamlessly integrated function buttons and USB, making it compatible with a wide range of platforms.

PLAION, a global leading publisher and developer of video games, and Atari, one of the world's most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers, are proud to announce today that the Atari 2600+ - a modern day faithful recreation of the pioneering console that first appeared in 1980 - will be launching worldwide on 17th November 2023 and available to pre-order for $129.99 (€119.99 / £99.99).

Launching with ten of the most recognized video games in Atari's history, including Adventure and Missile Command, the Atari 2600+ has been created using modern technology to authentically replicate the original 4-switch Atari 2600 Video Game System. For those looking to relive the gameplay experiences of the '70s and '80s, included with the Atari 2600+ is the CX40+ Joystick Controller, recreated with the same size and layout as the original 2600 Joystick Controller for that added touch of nostalgia.

Secure a time machine to 2005. The Xenon is a replica of the official Xbox 360 Controller - licensed with Designed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10|11 PCs, priced at $49.99. Pre-orders begin at MIDNIGHT PDT / May 5th via HyperkinStore.com. Announced in November of last year, the Xenon is a replica of the official Xbox 360 Controller. The Xenon is named after the codename of the Xbox 360's first console iteration. Although a replica of the official Xbox 360 controller, the Xenon will include some modern amenities for the Xbox Series X|S. It will initially come in four colors: black, white, pink and red.

Hyperkin has recreated the Xbox 360 Controller as an officially Xbox-licensed controller. The Xenon features precision analog triggers, a share button for Xbox Series X|S, vibration feedback for realistic experiences, a 3.5 mm headset jack, and a detachable 10 ft. Type-C cable. The Xenon takes you back to 2005, when you and your buds spent nights filled with fun, competition, and bonds that last to this day. You've come full circle.