The best Star Wars games are…

10. Star Wars Battlefront 2

If you’re looking to feel like you’re actually amidst a battle in a galaxy far, far away there are few better places to turn than Star Wars Battlefront 2. (opens in new tab)While the story campaign is short and somewhat underwhelming, and there’s no longer dev support for it (RIP), what you’re really here for is glorious multiplayer that’s as polished as Darth Vader’s helmet. The star of the show this time around is the Starfighter Assault mode that sees you taking the ‘attack and defend’ mantra from the original Star Wars Battlefront (opens in new tab)‘s Walker Assault and firing it into space. Hurtling through space above Endor is thrilling business, dodging the debris of the ruined Deathstar, and makes for constantly cinematic, if chaotic entertainment. Galactic Assault too stuns with its enormous 32 player battles. After a rockier launch than the cliffs of Ahch-To, Battlefront 2 has evolved since it’s launch to become of one of the most accessible shooters for Star Wars fans. 

9. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

After 17 years perfecting its formula, developer Traveller’s Tales has returned to the game that started it all and decided to redo LEGO Star Wars. But ‘redo’ doesn’t do justice to the ambition here. This is a completely new game, recreating not only the original trilogy of films in LEGO form, but all nine films from the yellow text of A New Hope, through the “I am the senate” posturing of the prequel trilogy to the final shot from The Rise of Skywalker (complete with a brilliantly cutting sight gag). It’s all here. Not just the action sequences you know and love, but the towns, forests, and swamps around them, all bustling with LEGO-ised life and absolutely packed with Star Wars lore, puzzles, and challenges. When a game goes all-in like this, Yoda was right. It’s do, or do not; there is no try. And Traveller’s Tales really, really did it.

8. Star Wars: Squadrons

If you thought you couldn’t get a great starfighter game after Star Wars: TIE Fighter (and the excellent X-Wing series), you were wrong. Star Wars: Squadrons is a wildly fun space combat game from EA that is even better in VR. You’ll be able to get into the cockpit of a complex starfighter, turning knobs and pressing buttons like a real pilot as you take part in space battles across the galaxy. Multiplayer matches are a ton of fun, and a fairly engaging story lets you choose sides in the war for the galaxy’s soul: do you go for the New Republic or side with the Empire? Whatever you choose, Star Wars: Squadrons is a spectacle you’ll never forget.

7. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

This action-adventure puzzler may be targeted at a younger audience, but there’s no shortage of references and gags that appeal to grown-ups, too. Swinging our lightsaber haphazardly and breaking things is a blast, especially with the movie-authentic sound effects and music contrasting with the brilliant slapstick action. Inadvertently smacking our co-op partner and watching them explode into Lego bits is always pretty damn entertaining too. Don’t want to play as Luke Skywalker? Fine, swap over to one of the other 50-odd characters and mess around with their own unique abilities. Lego Star Wars 2 satisfies our eternal hunger for flashy lightsaber battles, and our equally eternal need to build Lego contraptions, all in one go. The Complete Saga takes you through the events of all six movies, allowing you to relive everything from the dramatic dual of the fates, to the destruction of the second Death Star. It doesn’t get much better than that.

6. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

If there’s a moment that sums up the simple appeal of this excellent Star Wars adventure, it’s when you first discover you can force pull enemies onto the hot end of Cal’s lightsaber. Few Star Wars games have really embodied the raw power of being a Jedi, but Fallen Order manages it. Add on intricate level design that makes exploring the game’s collection of planets a joy, and this is EA’s best Star Wars game since they started making them. We can’t wait for the sequel.

5. Star Wars: Republic Commando

This Xbox exclusive is one of the gems in the Star Wars games library. It’s a great shooter, which is a solid foundation, but LucasArts injects some much-needed variety into the action by allowing all four members of the squad their own individual voices and personalities. All have their particular quirks, skill sets, and preferred positions. In brief, these boys (and their often excellent AI) know exactly how to get the job done. Add in a number of clever design decisions and quality visual flourishes (that windshield cleaner) and you have one of the few Star Wars titles to truly excel in its own right.

4. Star Wars: The Old Republic

Thousands of years before the Emperor and Darth Vader ruled the galaxy with an iron fist, the Old Republic stood for over a thousand generations. That rich, rarely used history serves as the perfect setting for an ever-expanding MMO. BioWare jumped headfirst into this intriguing timeline with Star Wars: The Old Republic, giving players a vast, ancient galaxy to explore, unhindered by Star Wars movie canon. In SWTOR, you choose what type of hero or villain you want to be. You can take roles like a Jedi Knight struggling to maintain peace and justice, a shady Bounty Hunter looking to cash in on their next big contract, or a dedicated Imperial agent. Between the intricate storytelling of the main story (which is entirely unique to each class), abundant side-quests, and getting to know your ever-growing crew, The Old Republic lets you build your own space adventure one encounter at a time. It’s free-to-play if you’re feeling frugal, but subscribing lets you stick solely to main story quests, effectively offering eight epic BioWare stories in one place.

And there’s a whole new host of fun to be had with the Legacy of the Sith expansion that just dropped. We talked to BioWare about it ahead of its launch, and it only got us more excited to jump back into SWTOR. 

3. Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast

This is the ultimate Jedi fantasy. The game that lets you run around the galaxy fighting the Empire, cutting off stormtroopers’ limbs with a lightsaber, and using all of the Force powers seen in the movies. Jedi Outcast makes you feel like a powerful Jedi Knight – something that plenty of games have tried to do but just didn’t get quite right. Everything here is spot on, from the lightsaber clashes with your red-bladed, Reborn enemies, to the memorable encounters with powerful enemies and famous allies like Luke and Lando. Multiplayer is a treat, too. Players can still be found online engaging in the usual swath of online multiplayer modes. But you can also find more dedicated groups of players taking part in movie-like, one-on-one lightsaber duels as spectators calmly look on. Yeah, that really happens. People get serious when it comes to lightsaber duels.

2. Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2

A Star Wars game was the Gamecube’s best launch title. Seriously. Rogue Leader is that good. Dropping players into the cockpits of a number of different ships from the Star Wars universe, amid some of the most memorable parts of the films (and some other battles, too), its as complete a Star Wars air-combat experience as you could want. Death Star trench run? Its in there. The Its a trap! battle above Endor? It has it. Hoth? Not only is it in the game, but its done better than any other Hoth level in any other game before. Even today, the game looks beautiful, taking you to new and classic locations that range from the Cloud City of Bespin to hidden Imperial bases. Rogue Leader is a blast to play giving you a chance to take on the Empire as you engage in dangerous frontal attacks on massive Star Destroyers and blast your way through innumerable enemy TIEs. This is the ultimate star fighter pilot experience.

1. Knights of the Old Republic

BioWare delivers one of the most compelling Star Wars narratives ever with its RPG, Knights of the Old Republic. The universe – which is set during a completely different time period, thousands of years before the events of the movies – fleshes out the Universe in ways you’d never expect. You get to explore the galaxy when the Jedi Knights numbered in the thousands, discover the secrets of the ancient Sith, and even discover things like why Sandpeople hate outsiders so much. As you progress through the story, you’ll meet some fascinating and unforgettable characters, and in typical BioWare fashion, discover their deep backstories. The Assassin Droid HK-47 holds a special place in our hearts for his degrading and threatening comments towards organic meatbags, but steadfast loyalty to his master. The malleability of the story makes playing through the game multiple times vital to the full experience, and you’ll always be happy to oblige. Knights of the Old Republic is the definitive game for Star Wars fanatics. It has everything: witty characters, good versus evil, bucket-of-bolts starships and a plot twist that will blow your reverse power flux coupling.

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 Horizon Forbidden West

We’ve had quite the wait for Horizon Zero Dawn’s sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, and the game itself is just as massive. Hitting both PS5 and PS4, it’s on the former it really shines. Guerrilla’s Decima engine is a technical marvel, and if you want to see some of the most detailed and amazing environments and models around you’ll want to grab this. As for the rest of the game? It’s a bit more of the same. But we get into what that means and why that might still excite you in our huge review.

 Elden Ring

Like Horizon, the other huge release in this issue is also an open world. But in quite a different way. Evolving Dark Souls into a wider environment results in a very different beast, and while it’s rougher around the edges than Horizon, its ambition makes it feel like little else before it. Journeying across the dark fantasy world (which George RR Martin contributed towards), it’s a brutal quest that feels like your own. Also, I love the screenshot that’s the main image here taken by yours truly. The visuals in this series are always on point in times like these.

 GhostWire: Tokyo

As for full-on PS5 console exclusives, next on the menu is GhostWire Tokyo, from some of the same developers behind Resident Evil. We perform a séance on this issue to explore the world of ghosts and yokai, and tell you just why these action-packed exorcisms throughout modern day Tokyo are so compelling. And yes, ghost cats sell you food. ’nuff said.

Moss Book 2

Don’t worry, there will be plenty of news about PSVR2 to come, but as we wait the release of the beefed up new hardware there’s no reason to let your older PSVR gather dust. Moss Book II is giving more than enough reason to strap it back onto your face, and we talk to the developers about how they’re continuing to push the technology that powers their immersive, mousey quest.

 Granblue Fantasy Relink (and more previews too)

With PlatinumGames having handed off development duty, Granblue Fantasy Relink has returned from the shadows with a hefty new update (and a 2022 release date target). Based on the mobile sensation that boasts some former Final Fantasy talent, this console hack and slash version looks like plenty of fun, especially in co-op. We also bring you hands-on impressions across the likes of Mina The Hollower, Mask Of The Rose, Rumbleverse, and beyond.

Bizarre but brilliant big Bungie buyout

We never thought we’d see the day when PlayStation would acquire the Halo devs (especially considering they shrugged off previous deals with both Microsoft and Activision), but here we are. Just as Destiny 2’s huge Witch Queen expansion lands, we analyse just what the new partnership means for both companies, and why the two seem to be set on continuing to operate mostly independently.

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The awards show will once again be a virtual one and, as part of our celebrations of 50 years of games, will include two brand new categories: Ultimate Game of All Time and Best Gaming Hardware of All Time. 

Pretty big awards, right? Well, here’s where you come in. The Golden Joystick Awards are voted for by fans, so as well as having your say in the usual categories – such as Most Wanted, Best Studio, and Best Storytelling to name a few – you’ll be voting for the hardware and game you think towers above all the others throughout the past five decades. No pressure.

Daniel Dawkins, Content Director of Games and Film, explains: “We’re inviting players to celebrate ‘50 Years of Games’ with us in a landmark moment for the gaming industry and the Golden Joystick Awards. The world’s first commercially available video game: Computer Space, released in November 1971. As the first coin-operated arcade machine, it represented the first time a videogame was ever played in exchange for money: the birth of videogames as a commercial industry.”

Voting for this year’s awards will begin in October, where we’ll be announcing all the categories alongside nominees for this year’s awards. You can then see which games, studios, and developers will be taking home prizes on Tuesday, November 23. Be sure to head back to GamesRadar for more details on how to watch this year’s Golden Joystick Awards. 

Keep up-to-date by following The Golden Joysticks Awards on Twitter and Facebook.

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However, Resident Evil Village – whose core story mode can be completed within 10 to 12 hours – makes the case against the ‘more is more’ theory of value using deeper gameplay systems and reward items to transform the experience. Smashed that first play-through? Now try speed-running the game in under three hours for the elusive Dashing Dad silver trophy. It’s a completely different challenge, requiring a fresh approach to your map navigation and weapon usage. Thought the last boss was a breeze? Try completing the entire game using only melee weapons. We know that Resident Evil Village DLC (opens in new tab) is coming… but the New Game Plus mode makes a compelling argument that value-for-money rests in multiple replays.

Adrift on a sea of content

As great a time as we have with open-world epics like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Just Cause or Spider-Man, something can grate about the way they’re stuffed with content. A huge, beautiful world can turn to white noise as we traipse across it for the thousandth time to reach a new objective, almost like it’s become a glorified loading screen. We begin to realise that many outposts repeat similar content; and we enter a zen-like state of opening chests without caring what’s inside, just delighting in the serotonin buzz that comes from another task done.

Repetition is at the core of almost all video-games, of course. Tetris Effect is one of the most repetitive games on the planet, but the core of the series is so strong that we could play it forever. We’d like to see more games that test – and deepen – your understanding of a game’s core mechanics, rather than your ability to listen to podcasts / stare out of the window / tape your controller in a fixed position, while you traipse across a broadly tedious archipelago of content.

Village gets closer to home

Resident Evil Village is a fantastic game. Its RRP is a slightly more reasonable $59.99, but it also takes a darn sight less time to hit the credits in it than in a huge open-world game. But you can put just as many joyous hours into Capcom’s latest action-focused survival horror as you can an Assassin’s Creed game. Once finished, you can play Resident Evil Village through again and keep things like weapon upgrades, as well as unlock new special items (like infinite ammo) that make subsequent playthroughs more interesting, or even significantly harder.

In earlier eras of gaming, when many of us were dependent on pocket money, we had to make do with a smaller selection of games, and we didn’t have sprawling open worlds to occupy our time. Metal Gear Solid on PS1 had a similar system of unlocks and replays, and the original Resident Evil was great to revisit to see if you could get a faster time. You don’t always need fresh material to enjoy returning to a game either. You don’t want to know how many times I’ve collected all the dragon eggs in Spyro: Year Of The Dragon.

In fact, for as long as it might take you to complete them to the last mission and collectible, huge open-world games can actually feel less encouraging to revisit. Every time I think about going back to Egypt to enjoy Bayek’s story in Assassin’s Creed Origins once again, I remember just how spread-apart the interesting bits are, and wish I had a mission select to get straight to the good bits. In fact, you could make the case for earlier open-world titles – like the smaller, more compact Assassin’s Creed 2 – feeling more welcoming to returning players.

Hopefully the likes of Resident Evil Village prove that games can offer better value for money – and provide a better investment for our time – using a lick of jam, not a tub of butter. A truly great game will always entice us back for another taste, no matter how long the first play-through.

For more exclusive interviews, previews, and deep-dives, you can subscribe to Official PlayStation magazine right here (opens in new tab). 

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In Official PlayStation Magazine 182 (opens in new tab) this past week, developer Jonas Husges offered some hints at how Gollum will work in tandem with the new tech on Sony’s next-gen console. “Gollum’s actions become more tangible and his physical struggle when he runs out of stamina translates directly to the way the game is played,” says Husges.

The comment from Husges points to the DualSense controller reacting in some way to Gollum’s depleted stamina. NBA 2K21 boasts this feature through the PS5 DualSense controller, with more resistance being applied to the triggers when a player is tired and fatigued.

Husges then praises the PS5’s SSD component, saying that it allows for vastly detailed, open areas to be fully explorable. The SSD also drastically decreases the loading times throughout The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, meaning it’s a quick trip back to the latest checkpoint whenever Gollum meets an untimely end.

“Clean, ray-traced shadows allow for maximum effect in player guidance in building stealth passages while dynamic and moving light sources bring in the extra challenge when Gollum is roaming through the darkness,” says Daedalic art director Mathias Fischer of the PS5’s ray-tracing capabilities. “All these things, of course, have the nice side-effect of making the game feel vast, and such free roaming environments we are creating look as spectacular as Middle-earth deserves.”

For some added information from Daedalic themselves on why they decided to go with Gollum as the protagonist for their new game, check out our Lord of the Rings: Gollum interview with Daedalic for more.

If you’re still trying to reserve Sony’s next-gen console after a hectic launch period, check out our PS5 deals guide for detailed information on predicted stock from various retailers.

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“It set a new standard for cinematic storytelling at the time. It made quite a statement about the kinds of stories that can be told in games,” says Alex Cox, game director at Hangar 13. The 1930s prohibition-era city was a backdrop to an engaging filmic flow as we followed the rise and fall of Thomas ‘Tommy’ Angelo from taxi driver to mobster. The open world setting was “an advanced roleplaying feature,” says Cox.

The freedom to explore enabled us to feel like we were living in the moment. It led to some unusual design choices – for example, there was no minimap (you needed to hold a map and drive). “You have to look around and learn the city […] you as the player weren’t given much assistance,” says Cox. Revisiting the original “was a really interesting journey back into a different era of gaming and put into perspective how some of those things have changed.”

The gamefather

Read more

“Bad games don’t go to the Baftas”: Looking back at the highs and lows of Mafia 3 with Hangar 13 (opens in new tab)

This ground-up remake, from many of the original Mafia team, isn’t altering the classic formula. The goal is still to scratch beneath the surface of the American Dream and offer some of the sharpest third-person shooting on PlayStation. But taking inspiration from the remake of Resident Evil 2, the developer is refining, adding to, and enhancing the original game and its systems.

As we chat to Cox he describes how everything was on the whiteboard at one time, including making protagonist Tommy’s girlfriend Maggie a playable character. “To see the story from a different perspective,” he qualifies. The team even considered using this remake to introduce co-op and multiplayer. But anything that threatened the core experience of the game, or could derail returning fans’ enjoyment, was left behind, and this includes online modes. “There’s no multiplayer,” confirms Cox.

“What we want to do is rejuvenate the game, make it relevant to modern players, but keep the spirit of the original. We have made changes, it’s not a one-to-one copy of the original game,” explains Cox, revealing new collectibles, for example, will be in the remake. “Anything which we could add in to expand the game outside of the regular design [has been done]. We’ve done everything we can to embellish, enlarge, and enhance [the game].”

An example offered by Cox is the moments when we drive between missions. In the original game these were, ironically given the 1930s setting, completely silent. The banter we expect, a standard feature of open-world storytelling, a sophistication of modern gaming, wasn’t in the original Mafia, but it is now. “So we’ve enhanced the story, we’ve added new experiences that weren’t there before.”

This attention to detail, and adding new context to events, stretches into missions which are being refreshed to include visual and gameplay refinements and new pacing. An early mission where you need to walk Tommy’s girlfriend home safely has a new melee fighting system. The route you take has been embellished with incidental events happening around the characters to bring the world to life. “Fundamentally, it’s the same mission. You escort her home, you get accosted by some thugs, you have a cinematic melee encounter with them, and she takes you home to tend to Angelo’s wounds,” says Cox.

Likewise the shooting mechanics are being completely overhauled, meaning there’s no noughties squatting and crabbing behind cover. As Cox explains, Mafia: Definitive Edition (opens in new tab) offers an “evolution of the systems used in Mafia 3 (opens in new tab) – it’s a cover shooter and it’s got significantly cinematic experiences to shoot through.”

Re-made man

Comical shooting aside, the original Mafia was a technical marvel when it released in 2002. The physics and car handling in particular felt realistic, ensuring some cars such as the Ford Model T were snail-like but others speedier, and heavy cars hitting lighter vehicles would do more damage. It’s a part of Mafia’s history Cox is proud of.

“The driving system in Mafia is one of the features that has carried through. It has been reworked and it’s been iterated on in Mafia 2 and Mafia 3, but fundamentally, I mean it’s not like it’s the same code, it has been reworked because we’re using a different engine now, but it’s similar developers, similar philosophy, similar outcome – so we’ve still got quite a realistic driving model.”

There are options to tweak the driving handling, so you can play with the default, accessible, arcade-style handling or embrace the simulation mode and choose to have manual gear shifting, fuel economy, and various other realistic settings. Such simulation extends to the cars; we remember the Model T being slow and you don’t want to go near a hill in this classic. Cox reveals the narrative’s Golden Path always gives you good cars to drive, but in the heat of a chase you may need to find alternate wheels, and knowing the world and its vehicles, hijacking the wrong getaway vehicle can lead to comical failure.

“We’ve expanded the list slightly in some areas, we’ve taken some of those original models and updated them,” explains Cox. “We’ve added a few more where we feel that there’s some reason to add some extra variety or interests or extra utility vehicles. We’ve added new vehicle types; you drive motorcycles now which were not in the original game […] That’s actually new to the franchise.”

The addition of motorbikes isn’t just a fun gimmick, it taps into the developer’s desire to enhance the original experience. One of the Resident Evil 2-scale changes Cox shares is that in one mission the original car has been replaced with a motorbike, and Tommy must speed through the city in hot pursuit of a rival mobster.

Cox says: “It’s an example of how we’ve tweaked the content to include some new mechanics. It’s the same story intro, the same story outro, but the gameplay in the middle is that you’re chasing the guy on a motorcycle; guys are shooting Tommy guns out of the back window [of the rival car] and you’re having to dodge around to avoid the bullets. The whole thing is just an entirely different experience.”

Likewise Mission 5’s notoriously difficult grand prix race event has been reworked to be more playable, but to also ooze 1930s glamour and spectacle. “Our target for this was the pod racer scene from Star Wars: Episode I, to try and make you feel like you’re at a 1930s race event,” says Cox.

That desire to craft a new more believable world that can help tell Mafia’s story is one of the main new changes Hangar 13 is proud of achieving. The game spans eight years, beginning during Prohibition in the early 1930s and ending in 1938 with the threat of World War 2 hanging over the city. Each mission has been embellished and tailored to depict the events of the narrative in more thoughtful ways. This, says Cox, has meant changing the time of day a mission is set, using new weather effects to build an emotional resonance to what’s happening on screen, and using newly recorded dialogue to create a patchwork of audio atmosphere to enhance the visuals.

Cox explains: “Most of the missions in the original Mafia begin and end at the Salieri bar hideout. In the original it was pretty much the same every time you went there. So now we evolve it over the course of time. You feel that time is moving forward, you can interact with the other story characters, they’re commenting on the meta stories, you’re hearing little anecdotes and seeing moments of the gang’s life.”

We can talk and interact with these characters now, and they’ll comment on events in the world and the story. We can hear about their lives and it all aids the idea that this is a living place and we’re roleplaying the life of a gangster.

Bases loaded

Reflecting on Tommy’s girlfriend, Cox reveals how this character has been fleshed out in a similar way in Mafia: Definitive Edition. She’s an undeveloped character in the original, despite being a motivation for many of the things you do, so the team now wants to give their relationship more weight.

“We see her interacting with Tommy more,” reflects Cox. “We see their romances, how they cross paths and they’re flirtatious interactions […] She is much more frequently in the game and you’re aware of the character the way you weren’t in the original game. You get more insight into that character and actually, hopefully, as a player, you’re going to feel more strongly about her and you’re going to understand Tommy’s motivations.”

Every mission has got a distinctive look and feel “much more so than in the original,” says Cox, as he explains how one mission set around a baseball game has been reworked to include more atmosphere and narrative details. “The mission is made distinctive because everybody’s talking about the big game and you’re hearing it on the radio and it’s in the incidental detail in the background. You’re picking up newspapers and reading about it. These are all things that weren’t in the original; this expanded narrative design. These are areas where we expand the story without changing it.”

We’ve been discussing planned changes, but remaking Mafia in a new game engine on PS4 (and, yes, PS4 Pro will receive enhanced features) has resulted in some accidental wonders. Cox explains how the original game suffered from fogging to hide the draw distance, which even on a PC in 2002 felt like the world was kept at a social distance, but on PS4 that’s been jettisoned. 

The city of Lost Heaven has never looked like it does now – for one thing you can actually see all of it from afar. “We’ve based the city on the original and it has revealed a whole new vista on the game’s world that no one has ever seen before. I’m driving over this bridge and I’m seeing a skyline I never knew existed, because you just couldn’t see it,” laughs Cox.

The upshot is the new engine grants Mafia’s cinematic spectacle a new lease of life. When we ask which missions Cox is particularly fond of, he mentions A Trip To The Country, in which Tommy and his gang head to a barn outside of the city in the middle of the night for a whisky deal. It’s pure prohibition gangster fantasy. It’s The Untouchables and Miller’s Crossing; everyone’s dressed in trench coats on a stormy night.

“It has a horror-movie vibe, [Tommy] is looking for his injured friends lost in this deserted, ramshackle farm and enemies are popping out from the windows above you and around you,” says Cox. “We’ve recreated this mission in a way that I think, again, is taking it to a new level in terms of presentation quality, but it’s still kept that very memorable vibe, you know. Sneaking around this farm with lightning striking and the storm swirling, it’s super, super-cool.”

Stay up to date with all of the latest releases with our upcoming games 2020 (opens in new tab) list, or watch the video below for our latest episode of Dialogue Options. 

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Given that you’re on GamesRadar, I’m going to guess that you came here for the games. Maybe, you’re a fan of the film section. Either way, you were looking for escapism, and instead, you found the opposite.

But here’s why: on May 25, George Floyd was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. On March 13, Breonna Taylor died after being shot eight times by police, who had illegally raided the wrong house. On February 23, Ahmaud Arbery was shot dead while jogging, by two white men. Despite clear video of the killing, it took 74 days to arrest his murderers.

Something needs to change.

Of course, facing such a huge issue can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to assume that one person can’t do much to tackle deep-rooted, systemic racism, when in fact, there’s a huge range of practical steps you can take, and all of them make a difference – even reading this article. So, here’s your guide to fighting racism, supporting the black community, and standing up to police brutality. It’s not quite as much fun as Modern Warfare season 4, or a PS5 reveal, but let’s face it – it’s a lot more important.

Everyday Activities

Everyday activities 

You might be feeling paralysed by the news lately, and unsure of what to do next. That’s why I’m starting with a few straightforward ideas that everyone can incorporate into their day-to-day life – no excuses.

1. Social media support

Something simple anybody can do is post support for Black Lives Matter on social media. It might not seem like much, but public support helps black people know they aren’t fighting alone, reminds racists that others oppose them, and pushes government officials to make a change. If you’re not sure what to say, it’s okay to just say that, or share helpful resources instead – actions speak louder than words.

2. Sign petitions

Another easy way to help is to sign, or start, relevant petitions. It only takes a few seconds, but with enough voices, you can send a powerful statement to power. Here are some important petitions currently open: 

Justice for George Floyd
George Floyd was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin, after a routine call to investigate a counterfeit banknote. Legally, the police were simply required to question the holder, to try and trace the source of the note; instead, Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes. This petition successfully pushed for charges to be filed against Chauvin, and now seeks the same for the three other officers involved.

https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd (opens in new tab)

Justice for Breonna Taylor
On March 13, Kentucky nurse Breonna Taylor was killed by Louisville police as they illegally executed a drug raid in the middle of the night at the wrong address, despite having already arrested the correct individual earlier that day. So far, no police officers have been fired, and investigation has been slow – this petition aims to change that. 

https://www.standwithbre.com (opens in new tab)

Start your own petition
In the United Kingdom, you can also start your own petition to the UK Government; if it reaches 10,000 signatures, the government is required to respond, and if it reaches 100,000 signatures, your petition will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/new (opens in new tab)

Be aware of UK government consultations
Similarly, keep an eye on UK government consultations, particularly those labelled “Police powers”, or to do with issues affecting black people. These consultations are how the government weighs up public opinion, so take the time to send in a response.

https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations?content_store_document_type=open_consultations&page=1 (opens in new tab)

3. Confront everyday racism

If you witness racism in your daily life, calmly and carefully speak up. If it’s happening in public and you don’t feel safe to step in, document it with your phone, and crucially, offer help afterwards. One of the hardest things about hearing racist comments, or being abused in public, is watching the people around you pretend it isn’t happening. Yes, it can feel awkward to confront friends and family about racist language or opinions, but if you’ve ever suffered through a surprise sex scene with your parents in the room, you can cope with an uncomfortable conversation. After all, if you let racist behaviour go unchecked, you’re allowing it flourish.

4. Be careful about content

Graphic videos and photos of black people being killed are shared so frequently that many people of colour are traumatised; psychologists have documented a rise in PTSD symptoms, including anxiety, feelings of dread, and depression. If you’re sharing explicit content, like a police shooting, make sure you post a clear warning, so people can choose not to watch. Similarly, be careful in conversation – not everyone can cope with talking about police brutality, so don’t dive straight in with distressing details. Most importantly, check in with the black people in your life. There’s a constant stream of incredibly upsetting content right now, so reach out and let them know you’re there if they need support.

Donate

Where to donate

Let’s be honest – one of the most helpful things you can do is just donate money, so here’s a number of black causes that are actively fighting racism, or police brutality. 

The Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
This fund was started by Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, to help cover funeral expenses, and provide financial care for his children. However, in addition to supporting a bereaved family, you’re also supporting their fight for justice, as funds will be set aside to cover legal expenses.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd (opens in new tab)

Black Lives Matter
Started six years ago by a coalition of campaigners, Black Lives Matter has gone on to become a global movement. It works to end white supremacy, and violence against black people, by mounting demonstrations, providing resources, and supporting black communities.

US: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 (opens in new tab)
UK: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund (opens in new tab)

Civil liberty organisations
The ACLU in the US, and Liberty in the UK, are both advocacy groups which fight for civil liberties, and protect your human rights. They challenge dangerous police powers in court, in addition to representing people who have been mistreated by police officers, and are important voices in the fight to end police brutality.

UK: Liberty: https://liberty.netdonor.net/page/57463/donate/1 (opens in new tab)
US: ACLU: https://action.aclu.org/give/now (opens in new tab)

Police accountability organisations
The National Police Accountability Project (NPAP) in the US, and StopWatch in the UK, are two organisations which campaign for fair policing, and police accountability – particularly when it comes to racial disparities in treatment.

UK: StopWatch: https://www.gofundme.com/f/StopWatch-Campaign-for-Fair-Accountable-Policing (opens in new tab)
US: The National Police Accountability Project: https://www.nlg-npap.org/donate/ (opens in new tab)

The Stephen Lawrence Trust
In 1993, 18 year-old Stephen Lawrence was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. The initial police investigation failed to gain any convictions, and a public inquiry into how the police handled Stephen’s case led to significant cultural changes in attitudes to racism and police practice. The Stephen Lawrence Trust was founded to work with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well encourage everyone to work towards a fairer society.

UK: https://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/support-us/donate/ (opens in new tab)

Bail funds
Donating to a bail fund allows people from communities historically targeted by police to exercise their right to protest, safe in the knowledge that they won’t be trapped in jail if arrested. Here’s a comprehensive collection of all the US bail funds currently seeking donations.

https://bailfunds.github.io/ (opens in new tab)

Other organisations
Feeling particularly generous? Here’s a huge list of organisations that need support in the fight for equality. 

https://lifehacker.com/where-to-donate-to-help-people-fighting-for-racial-just-1843852418 (opens in new tab)

How to hold the police accountable

How can I hold the police accountable? 

A significant step towards racial equality is ensuring that the police treat people fairly and equally – something we can aim for by holding them accountable. 

Document police interactions
As we’ve seen from videos going viral, filming police interactions is an effective way to raise awareness of mistreatment or brutality. If you see a worrying situation involving the police and a black person, document it without obstructing the police – film with your phone, and if safe, declare your presence. In addition, if you can, make a note of the badge numbers of officers involved, and their licence plates. Hopefully, having witnesses will ensure police behave legally. If not, there’s footage.

Make official complaints
If you have witnessed, or been subject to, police misconduct, always make a complaint. It doesn’t guarantee change, or even justice, but does remind the police that people are prepared to take action against unfair policing.

Always begin by making a complaint directly to the local force – here’s a guide on how to do that, and the process you’ll need to follow.

UK: https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/advice_information/how-do-i-make-a-complaint-against-the-police/ (opens in new tab)
US: https://www.usa.gov/report-crime#item-35887 (opens in new tab)

Once you’ve made a complaint, you should also contact one of the police accountability or civil liberty organisations I mentioned above. They’ll be able to help you ensure you’ve followed legal procedure, and if necessary, can even help you bring legal action. You can also contact the media, if you’re comfortable having your story and identity made public.

Contact your elected representatives
In the UK, we have Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), who are elected to make sure that local police meet the needs of the community. That means that, as a constituent, you can contact them to express concern about the way black communities are treated by the police. 

You can find your local PCC here: https://www.apccs.police.uk/find-your-pcc/ (opens in new tab)

Of course, you can also contact your local elected government officials to denounce police brutality against black people, and call for change. Try not to use websites that let you send a pre-written template; you’re more likely to make an impact with a polite, honest, and personal email or phone call. Plus, many organisations / government bodies have blocks in place that will filter out any pre-written templates too. Don’t know who your representatives are? Find out here:

UK: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/ (opens in new tab)
US: https://myreps.datamade.us/ (opens in new tab)

Know your rights
It’s a simple step, but probably the most important one: know your rights when dealing with the police.

In the UK, Y-Stop is an incredible resource. Part of campaign group StopWatch, Y-Stop has created an app that can inform you of your rights, record police, send a complaint, and even contact lawyers for you: www.y-stop.org/complaints (opens in new tab)

Don’t want to download an app? Their website has a range of PDF guides on what to do if you’re stopped by police, which you can download to your phone instead.

www.y-stop.org/ (opens in new tab)

In the US, the ACLU has your back, with this step by step guide of what to do in a range of police interactions, from being pulled over, to being arrested.

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/stopped-by-police/ (opens in new tab)

They also have an app that can record police misconduct, and immediately store it on ACLU servers, meaning it can’t be destroyed or removed from your phone.

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/aclu-apps-record-police-conduct (opens in new tab)

In addition, there’s an independent app called Legal Equalizer which can show you your rights, and contact your friends or family if you’re stopped by police. 

https://www.legaleqapp.com/ (opens in new tab)

Fight facial recognition
If you’re serious about fair policing, oppose facial recognition technology. A NIST study showed it’s up to 100 times more likely to incorrectly target ethnic minorities than white men, and in the UK, a police-organised independent review found it’s wrong 81% of the time – but they’re using it anyway. If facial recognition becomes a standard police tool, black people will become even more likely to be incorrectly targeted or arrested.

Reconsider when to call the police
Lastly, be careful when calling the police. Thanks to viral videos, we’ve watched the police being summoned by white people because a black man asked a woman to leash her dog (opens in new tab). Because black men were using their work gym (opens in new tab). Because a black mother and child used their community pool (opens in new tab). Because a black student at Yale used the common room (opens in new tab). Because a black family barbequed in the barbecue section of the park (opens in new tab). I could go on.

Given how dangerous police interaction can be for black people, think hard before calling the police. Ask yourself: is this an issue that genuinely requires immediate police assistance, and most significantly, are you sure of the facts, or being blinded by bias?

Want to protest?

Want to protest?

Protesting is one of the most powerful ways to call for change, as well as a fundamental right in any democratic society. That said, don’t forget we’re in the middle of a pandemic, and one which is disproportionately affecting back people. Recent research has shown that people of African or Caribbean descent are almost twice as likely to die from Covid-19, so don’t feel ashamed about protecting your health, and the health of those around you, by staying at home. However, if you still want to demonstrate publicly, or even set up your own march, here’s what you need to know – and how to do it safely during a pandemic.

Organising a protest isn’t just about making an instagrammable sign and hoping it doesn’t rain. If you want to run a public demonstration, you have to follow legal guidelines, and that includes informing the police. If you’re in the UK, Liberty have a great guide: www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/advice_information/how-to-organise-a-protest/ (opens in new tab), and if you’re in the US, so do the ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/ (opens in new tab)

You’ll also need to think about practicalities, like inviting press, choosing a location, and getting the word out – all covered in this quick, helpful checklist: www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/how-to-protest.pdf (opens in new tab)

Whether you’re organising a protest, or just attending, it’s important to stay as safe as possible. In particular, as we’ve seen over the last few days, the police often respond disproportionately to protestors, using weaponry like tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, Tasers, and guns. Protecting yourself requires both preparation, and an on-site contingency plan. Here’s a brilliant guide from Wired on what to know before you go: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-protest-safely-gear-tips/ (opens in new tab)

Once you’re at the protest, here’s what to do during a police interaction – if you’re from the US: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/#i-was-stopped-by-the-police-while-protesting (opens in new tab), or the UK: https://greenandblackcross.org/bustcard/ (opens in new tab)

Learn more

Want to learn more? 

If you’re really keen to learn more, and explore some of the fantastic resources on race, history, and society, here’s a month long programme of content that lets you choose how much time you want to dedicate: 10, 25, or 45 minutes per day.  (opens in new tab)

You can also take advantage of this extensive list of articles, podcasts, shows, and books, designed to help you become actively anti-racist (opens in new tab).

However, if you want a more curated selection, here are a few educational essentials.

Books

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, by Reni Eddo-Lodge (opens in new tab)
A blistering exploration of how racist structures were created, and how we can dismantle them.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo (opens in new tab)
A thought-provoking investigation of what it means to be white in a systemically racist world.

So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo (opens in new tab)
A brilliant first step, this book gives you the tools to begin discussing topics like racism and privilege.

Articles

America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us (opens in new tab)
A powerful essay on which lives society considers valuable

The racist roots of American policing, by Connie Hassett-Walker (opens in new tab)
A short but important read, that explains how the US police system was built on racism

The Case for Reparations, by Ta-Nehisi Coates (opens in new tab)
A moving piece, which showcases personal experiences of racism 

For children or students

BBC Bitesize on racism (opens in new tab)
An insightful video lesson, with an appearance from the wonderful Benjamin Zephaniah

BBC Newsround – Why are there huge protests in the US? (opens in new tab)
A child-appropriate article covering the recent protests, and Black Lives Matter

Parental toolkit on racism (opens in new tab)
A guide for parents who want to talk to their children about racism

Show Racism The Red Card (opens in new tab)
Educational factsheets and films on different types of discrimination

Thinking exercises 

Examining privilege
One of the most straightforward ways to learn more is simply to think about how you’re privileged. This is a tough one for many people – after all, who really feels like they’ve led a privileged life? However, white privilege doesn’t mean your life is easy; instead, it means that your race hasn’t made it harder. You might be surprised just how much of your everyday life benefits from racist societal structures – here are a few examples from a helpful checklist (opens in new tab) Boise State University put together:

• People know how to pronounce my name; I am never mocked or perceived as a threat because of my name.
• I know that the police and other state authorities are there to protect me.
• People of my race are widely represented in media, positively as well as negatively.
• I do not often have to think about my race or ethnicity – in fact, I don’t really notice it.
• People do not assume that I am unintelligent or lazy based on my race.
• My race or ethnicity will not make people around me uncomfortable.
• I can go to a store or spend money knowing that no one will be suspicious of me.
• I am seen as an individual; I am never held personally responsible for the actions of other people of my race or ethnicity.

One simple question
If you aren’t black, watch this video, and ask yourself the same, simple question.

Support for Black people

Where can black people find support? 

It’s a particularly distressing time for black people at the moment, and many people of colour will be under intense stress. So, whether you need help, or want to be able to offer help, here’s a list of self-care resources. However, when Black Lives Matter is no longer a trending topic, please don’t forget that black people experience this level of racism and dehumanisation every single day, so don’t stop checking in.

Firstly, if you need immediate support with suicidal thoughts, here’s a list of global numbers you can call for urgent help: faq.whatsapp.com/en/28030010 (opens in new tab)

Next, turn off video autoplay on Twitter. You don’t need to be repeatedly bombarded with graphic depictions of black death, or police brutality, and continual exposure is linked to poor mental health: www.help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/twitter-videos (opens in new tab)

In the UK, black people can take advantage of free therapy services, as well as a network of BAME therapists: www.baatn.org.uk/free-services/ (opens in new tab)

There’s also a free meditation app called Liberate (opens in new tab), which has been specifically designed by and for people of colour. It’s the ideal way to switch off, with guided sessions on every aspect of the black experience. 

In addition, online organisations like HealHaus (opens in new tab) and Ethel’s Club (opens in new tab) are offering free online sessions for black people, exploring topics like grief, meditation, and healing.

Finally, if you want to understand more about how racial trauma can affect you physically and mentally, PBS has this in-depth piece (opens in new tab), and The Conversation put together a list of eight things you should do to support yourself (opens in new tab).

The post Black Lives Matter: Heres what you can do to help appeared first on Game News.

The award winning narrative game, which first released on PC and mobile devices last August, is now going to be available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in a week’s time. 

The unique thriller, which won a Golden Joystick Award last year for Logan Marshall-Green’s performance, sees you searching through video clips on a desktop computer, trying to piece together the story that connects the four people featured prominently in said videos.

You can watch the launch trailer for the console ports here (opens in new tab). 

In the latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine (opens in new tab), which you can buy here (opens in new tab), creative director Sam Barlow spoke to the magazine about how replaying on controllers helped the game feel fresh for him.

Speaking to OPM’s Oscar Taylor-Kent, Barlow said: “The first time I played it on console, and this was like after I’d played the game for four hundred [hours]… I was done with the game. But I sat down in my living room and for three hours played the game just because it was fun to discover it again.

When I played it in my living room, and obviously this depends on the size of your telly, but it pretty much worked out that like, the characters were real scale essentially. And with the pacing of it being more realistic and not compressed, it became interestingly more intimate to be in my living room, having these characters just talk to me through the screen.”

Barlow also spoke about how he was aware of people trying to play the game in a more communal setting already. He continued: “I know like a bunch of people who go to lengths to get the iPhone version to play on their TV or use their Steam Machine or whatever, so they can play it with friends and family and stuff. So it’s really neat that it will be on a screen without people having to actually do any of the clever stuff.”

If you haven’t got around to Telling Lies, it’s one of our favourite games from last year, with Sam Loveridge describing it in her review as: “a game that stays with you, and through the medium of its storytelling manages to make you as much a part of the voyeuristic, privacy-invading problem as the entire game tries to take apart.” 

Want to make sure you don’t miss out on any issues of Official PlayStation Magazine? Subscribe here today. (opens in new tab)

The post Telling Lies coming to consoles this April appeared first on Game News.

As a result, the sequel will be able to make use of those system’s next-gen specs, including ray-tracing, and – speaking in a new interview with Official PlayStation Magazine – Techland’s rendering director Tomasz Szałkowski explains exactly how this avant-garde technology will elevate Dying Light 2 above its contemporaries. 

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This feature first appeared in Official PlayStation Magazine. Get the latest in PlayStation on doorstep early and for a better price! Subscribe to OPM here (opens in new tab).

“Dying Light 2 is the largest game created using our in-house C-engine,” says Szałkowski. “It is very important for us to achieve our ambitions in terms of graphics, which is why this will be the first Techland production to support ray tracing. We are implementing it in cooperation with Nvidia [on PC] and using the latest achievements in this domain.”

Thanks to this technology, our shadows in sunny weather look like they really would (among other reasons, because they take into account the size of the sun in the sky). Ambient occlusion effects have gained spatial stability and no longer suffer from compromises tied to the specifics of effects affecting screen space (they operate only on what is visible on the screen, meaning the floor under a table doesn’t affect the displayed image when we look down at the table top).”

As an open world riddled with zombies, of course, Dying Light 2 hits hard on the horror front, and Szałkowski tells OPM that ray-tracing enables the game to be even scarier as a result: “Dark Zones are an important element of our game, which is why we are experimenting with secondary illumination (reflected off surfaces) from artificial light sources (such as the player’s flashlight), which will make the experience of exploring these regions even more intense.”

You can read the full interview with Szałkowski in the latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine, which is out today in both digital and physical formats. Plus, you can take advantage of My Favourite Magazine’s fantastic 5 issues for £5 offer (opens in new tab), for both Print and Digital subscriptions. 

To read more about PS5 and the hottest upcoming PS4 games (opens in new tab), check out the latest Official PlayStation Magazine subscription offers (opens in new tab).

The post Next-gen ray-tracing helps Dying Light 2 feel “even more intense”, says Techland appeared first on Game News.

Ghost Of Tsushima (opens in new tab) is shaping into one of the best upcoming open world games. Blending together aspects of Assassin’s Creed and Red Dead Redemption, this could be PS4’s best new game. Coming just ahead of PlayStation 5’s release date it also raises questions over Sony’s approach to cross-generation releases.

We pose the question this issue: “It’s launching quite close to PS5’s ‘holiday 2020’ release date. If The Last Of Us’ PS3-to-PS4 remaster is anything to go by, might this be one of the earlier experiences we can try out again on the new hardware?”

Doom Eternal: We’ve played it!

Going hands-on with Doom Eternal ahead of release proves this sequel is far more than a rehash of the original’s best ideas. Adding platform puzzles, multiple locations from Hell to Heaven and in between reveals a shooter at the peak of its game. Read the full hands-on preview in the latest issue of OPM, on sale now.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink – inside Japan’s biggest RPG

It could be the biggest RPG you’ve never played, as Granblue racks up over 25 million players in Japan. The phenomenon is heading to PS4 this year as Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and we’re convinced it’s a game everyone should scribble on their must-play lists. Co-developed by Platinum Games this action-RPG is shaping into a beautifully crafted, colourful adventure. Read our first-play preview in issue 172, on sale now.

Nier: Automata creator Yoko Toro interviewed

The creator of Nier: Automata, Yoko Taro, speaks exclusively to Official PlayStation Magazine this month. Issue 172 sees Yoko Taro sit down with FFXIV’s producer and director, Naoki Yoshida to chat about bringing the two worlds together in YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse.

Taro reveals his how he felt the first time he met the Final Fantasy legend: “I didn’t know what kind of person Yoshida-san was until this project, so I was a little scared. After meeting him in person, I could see that he was a hard-working and powerful person. He’d be my choice for a future president of Square Enix”

You can read the full interview in OPM issue 172, on sale now.

Subscribe today

For more unrivalled developer access to the hottest PS4 and PS VR games, why not subscribe to Official PlayStation Magazine (opens in new tab)? You’ll save on the cover price and have your copy delivered to your door (or device) each month, complete with exclusive subscriber covers – such as this month’s alternative Ghost Of Tsushima design.

You can subscribe to the print edition, digital version, or save even more with the print/digital bundle – whatever you choose, you can rest easy in the knowledge you’re getting the full story before anyone else. 

If you want more from OPM, be sure to check out all of the subscription offers at MyFavouriteMagazines (opens in new tab).

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