Panettiere challenged herself even further when she accepted the lead role in Supermassive’s hit horror game Until Dawn. In it, Panettiere plays Sam, a kind and intelligent young woman who serves as the game's "final girl" after she and her friends are hunted down by supernatural forces during a strained trip to the mountains. An interactive title, the game used high tech motion capture technology to capture performances of real life Hollywood actors and implant them into a video game. This allowed Panettiere to not only voice Sam, but to physically portray her as well, more closely emulating her work in films and television.
Although Until Dawn is packed with well-known actors and solid performances, it's easy to identify Panettiere’s performance as Sam as one of its strongest. Despite the game's melodrama--and the fact that games were still fighting the battle to be seen as artistic and meaningful--Panettiere approached the role with the same verve as she approached her roles in film and television. Her attachment, and to a greater extent, her commitment, arguably leant a lot credibility to the title.
Her charming performance also offered a new spin on the “final girl” typically seen in horror films, as Sam doesn’t have any emotional baggage and tends to get along with every character in a relatively drama-free manner. Yet the biggest spin is that she can be killed in the story just as any other character can, and the narrative shifts to work around this major change. This means that, depending on your decisions, you may only see part of her performance, or only one version of it. Panettiere had to deliver multiple takes of the same material, which is probably best equated to an actor using every single take they film for a movie--it’s not an easy process.
The game was remade in 2024, and added an entirely new epilogue end scene that brought back Panettiere’s character. With the recent announcement of a sequel in full production, one can’t help but wonder if there were plans to somehow bring her character back into the fold.
Although Until Dawn is packed with well-known actors and solid performances, it's easy to identify Panettiere’s performance as Sam as one of its strongest. Despite the game's melodrama--and the fact that games were still fighting the battle to be seen as artistic and meaningful--Panettiere approached the role with the same verve as she approached her roles in film and television. Her attachment, and to a greater extent, her commitment, arguably leant a lot credibility to the title.
Her charming performance also offered a new spin on the “final girl” typically seen in horror films, as Sam doesn’t have any emotional baggage and tends to get along with every character in a relatively drama-free manner. Yet the biggest spin is that she can be killed in the story just as any other character can, and the narrative shifts to work around this major change. This means that, depending on your decisions, you may only see part of her performance, or only one version of it. Panettiere had to deliver multiple takes of the same material, which is probably best equated to an actor using every single take they film for a movie--it’s not an easy process.
The game was remade in 2024, and added an entirely new epilogue end scene that brought back Panettiere’s character. With the recent announcement of a sequel in full production, one can’t help but wonder if there were plans to somehow bring her character back into the fold.
Hayden Panettiere was a once in a lifetime talent. Though she got started at an early age as a child actor in various projects, she remained untethered to any one role, instead carving out a niche as a versatile actress. Though it could have been easy to stay in “girl next door” type roles, such as her work in I Love You Beth Cooper, she found ways to branch out into unconventional roles for “pretty” girls--her career in video games is but one example of this.
Panettiere's work in video games gave the titles emotional weight, and a level of professionalism that was carried over from her work on the big and small screens. She also carried with her a deep sense of empathy that was reflected in her activism for marine life, her campaigns against domestic violence, and her willingness to discuss mental health struggles, such as post-partum depression. In an industry where authenticity is a rarity, she remained vulnerable. Her passing is a great loss not only to films and television, but to video games as well, as she leaves behind a legacy of roles that will live on and be cherished for generations to come.
Panettiere's work in video games gave the titles emotional weight, and a level of professionalism that was carried over from her work on the big and small screens. She also carried with her a deep sense of empathy that was reflected in her activism for marine life, her campaigns against domestic violence, and her willingness to discuss mental health struggles, such as post-partum depression. In an industry where authenticity is a rarity, she remained vulnerable. Her passing is a great loss not only to films and television, but to video games as well, as she leaves behind a legacy of roles that will live on and be cherished for generations to come.
Coco Opens Kingdom Hearts 4 To These Potential Disney Worlds
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/coco-opens-kingdom-hearts-4-to-these-potential-disney-worlds/
In the middle of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Lea--well before he becomes fan-favorite character Axel--makes a brief appearance, leaving a big impression on protagonist Ventus with his rather boisterous behavior. At the end of this scene, Lea makes a declaration that outlines his outlook in life.
"I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people's memories, I can live forever."
In what might seem like a coincidence at first, the D23 trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 begins with a remarkably similar moment. Recreating a scene from Coco, the character Héctor loses a friend to “the Final Death,” which occurs to anyone in the Land of the Dead once they are forgotten in the living world. The scene is essential to the film’s world-building and more than fitting with the larger Kingdom Hearts franchise, which heavily emphasizes memory as a central component of the heart.
We’re still at least a year away from the release of Kingdom Hearts 4, but based on what we know about the game and its story, the world of Coco already seems like a perfect thematic fit for the game and the series as a whole. Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura said as much (https://www.gamesradar.com/games/kingdom-hearts/kingdom-hearts-4-features-pixars-coco-because-tetsuya-nomura-thought-it-would-be-the-best-world-for-soras-story/), stating that he considers how Disney worlds “synergize with the overall main story progression with Sora.” And through the reveal of Coco, we might have a better sense of what other Disney worlds are to come.
Another reason why the Land of the Dead makes perfect sense for Kingdom Hearts 4 is Sora’s … “situation,” let’s call it. After fading away at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3, presumably due to his abuse of the Power of Waking, the game’s secret ending and subsequent KH4 trailers show that Sora is now in Quadratum, a world that appears to be a simulacrum of our own real world. But as Strelitzia explains to Sora in KH4’s debut trailer, Quadratum is “similar to an afterworld.”
It’s also known that Donald Duck and Goofy are trying to track Sora down, searching in the Underworld as depicted in Hercules, only to be informed by Hades that our favorite keyblade wielder isn’t there. Judging from the extended D23 trailer, their search eventually takes them to the Land of the Dead.
It’s evident that Sora has “moved on” in some fashion, but he isn’t necessarily dead. The inhabitants of Quadratum appear to be very much alive, and Sora’s Land of the Dead look includes skeleton paint, similar to what the still-living Coco protagonist Miguel dons in that world. With how focused our early looks at Kingdom Hearts 4 are on the living, dead, and in between, I’m left thinking that other Disney worlds featured in the game could continue that narrative throughline.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/coco-opens-kingdom-hearts-4-to-these-potential-disney-worlds/
In the middle of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Lea--well before he becomes fan-favorite character Axel--makes a brief appearance, leaving a big impression on protagonist Ventus with his rather boisterous behavior. At the end of this scene, Lea makes a declaration that outlines his outlook in life.
"I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people's memories, I can live forever."
In what might seem like a coincidence at first, the D23 trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 begins with a remarkably similar moment. Recreating a scene from Coco, the character Héctor loses a friend to “the Final Death,” which occurs to anyone in the Land of the Dead once they are forgotten in the living world. The scene is essential to the film’s world-building and more than fitting with the larger Kingdom Hearts franchise, which heavily emphasizes memory as a central component of the heart.
We’re still at least a year away from the release of Kingdom Hearts 4, but based on what we know about the game and its story, the world of Coco already seems like a perfect thematic fit for the game and the series as a whole. Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura said as much (https://www.gamesradar.com/games/kingdom-hearts/kingdom-hearts-4-features-pixars-coco-because-tetsuya-nomura-thought-it-would-be-the-best-world-for-soras-story/), stating that he considers how Disney worlds “synergize with the overall main story progression with Sora.” And through the reveal of Coco, we might have a better sense of what other Disney worlds are to come.
Another reason why the Land of the Dead makes perfect sense for Kingdom Hearts 4 is Sora’s … “situation,” let’s call it. After fading away at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3, presumably due to his abuse of the Power of Waking, the game’s secret ending and subsequent KH4 trailers show that Sora is now in Quadratum, a world that appears to be a simulacrum of our own real world. But as Strelitzia explains to Sora in KH4’s debut trailer, Quadratum is “similar to an afterworld.”
It’s also known that Donald Duck and Goofy are trying to track Sora down, searching in the Underworld as depicted in Hercules, only to be informed by Hades that our favorite keyblade wielder isn’t there. Judging from the extended D23 trailer, their search eventually takes them to the Land of the Dead.
It’s evident that Sora has “moved on” in some fashion, but he isn’t necessarily dead. The inhabitants of Quadratum appear to be very much alive, and Sora’s Land of the Dead look includes skeleton paint, similar to what the still-living Coco protagonist Miguel dons in that world. With how focused our early looks at Kingdom Hearts 4 are on the living, dead, and in between, I’m left thinking that other Disney worlds featured in the game could continue that narrative throughline.
A strong candidate for a Disney world would be another Pixar gem: 2020’s Soul. While Coco interprets Mexican folklore, Soul presents an original concept on, well, souls--specifically, how they gain their personality traits and passions, and what happens to a soul after death. The film follows a jazz musician named Joe Gardner, who, after accidentally falling down a manhole, becomes a disembodied soul. Determined to avoid the “Great Beyond,” the film’s version of an afterlife, he ends up in the “Great Before,” where nascent souls prepare for life in the living world. With Sora being in a strange status between life and death, the scenario of Soul seems like the perfect adventure for him to get tangled in.
Meanwhile, Kingdom Hearts fans seem convinced that KH4 will finally include a Star Wars world, based on what appear to be walker footprints (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kingdom-hearts-4-trailer-might-be-teasing-a-star-wars-crossover/1100-6502360/) in a forest world that resembles Endor from Return of the Jedi. One can definitely find overlaps between the metaphysical concepts from Kingdom Hearts and the Force from Star Wars, which connects all living beings. And when a being dies, they become one with the Force--with certain individuals gaining new life as a Force ghost after death. It’d be fun to see Sora swinging a lightsaber Keyblade around, but him learning about the nature of the Force and potentially communing with those who have moved on could prove to be narrative gold for Kingdom Hearts.
Meanwhile, Kingdom Hearts fans seem convinced that KH4 will finally include a Star Wars world, based on what appear to be walker footprints (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kingdom-hearts-4-trailer-might-be-teasing-a-star-wars-crossover/1100-6502360/) in a forest world that resembles Endor from Return of the Jedi. One can definitely find overlaps between the metaphysical concepts from Kingdom Hearts and the Force from Star Wars, which connects all living beings. And when a being dies, they become one with the Force--with certain individuals gaining new life as a Force ghost after death. It’d be fun to see Sora swinging a lightsaber Keyblade around, but him learning about the nature of the Force and potentially communing with those who have moved on could prove to be narrative gold for Kingdom Hearts.
And while it might be fun to see Spider-Man or the Avengers join the fray, I wonder if Black Panther would actually be the best Marvel representation, if Kingdom Hearts 4 were to include any. Black Panther is a standout property after the 2018 film became a phenomenon, and better yet, using the MCU movie as a Disney world gives Kingdom Hearts access to the Ancestral Plane. It’s an astral dimension that acts as the afterlife for Wakandans--a space that the Black Panther, after consuming the Heart-Shaped Herb--can enter to speak with their ancestors. It would probably be cultural taboo for Sora to enter that plane, but the movie’s themes of connecting with departed family members would still make for good story fodder.
We’ll have to wait until late 2027 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kingdom-hearts-4-delay-you-say-no-way-series-co-creator-states/) to see if any of these Disney worlds made the cut, and how the worlds included fit with Kingdom Hearts 4’s grand narrative. For now, remember our predictions, and get them memorized (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g1rJp-ca6M&pp=ygUQZ290IGl0IG1lbW9yaXplZA%3D%3D).
We’ll have to wait until late 2027 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kingdom-hearts-4-delay-you-say-no-way-series-co-creator-states/) to see if any of these Disney worlds made the cut, and how the worlds included fit with Kingdom Hearts 4’s grand narrative. For now, remember our predictions, and get them memorized (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g1rJp-ca6M&pp=ygUQZ290IGl0IG1lbW9yaXplZA%3D%3D).
The Best Games To Play When Your PC Is Basically A Potato
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-best-games-to-play-when-your-pc-is-basically-a-potato/
Gaming has never been more expensive. We’re here to investigate why, and help you play more while spending less. Welcome to GameSpot Cheap Week (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/welcome-to-gamespot-cheap-week/).
It's no secret that PC gaming has gotten extraordinarily expensive in recent years, with components reaching record-high prices due to a perfect storm of factors. The days of solid-state drives and RAM being sold for reasonable prices feel well and truly over, but the good news is you don't need a monster rig to enjoy some of the best PC games out there. A good game is a good game, even if it doesn't make your PC cooling system emit gusts of air hot enough to melt the skin on your hands.
For GameSpot's first-ever Cheap Week, we're looking at experiences that can entertain you for hours on end and don't require cutting-edge hardware. If you've been rocking the same mid-range laptop since 2016 or you recently got an entry-level PC before prices went through the roof, these games should run just fine on your system.
What's our baseline?
For this list, we looked at games that can comfortably be played with zero or few graphical concessions. We're talking games that run fine at 1080p--preferably at 60fps--are compatible with a wide range of configurations, and are contemporary. Ideally, if you have 4GB of RAM, an old-school GPU like the Nvidia 1060, or an onboard chipset that you'd find in most laptops, these games should work just fine on them.
Balatro
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-best-games-to-play-when-your-pc-is-basically-a-potato/
Gaming has never been more expensive. We’re here to investigate why, and help you play more while spending less. Welcome to GameSpot Cheap Week (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/welcome-to-gamespot-cheap-week/).
It's no secret that PC gaming has gotten extraordinarily expensive in recent years, with components reaching record-high prices due to a perfect storm of factors. The days of solid-state drives and RAM being sold for reasonable prices feel well and truly over, but the good news is you don't need a monster rig to enjoy some of the best PC games out there. A good game is a good game, even if it doesn't make your PC cooling system emit gusts of air hot enough to melt the skin on your hands.
For GameSpot's first-ever Cheap Week, we're looking at experiences that can entertain you for hours on end and don't require cutting-edge hardware. If you've been rocking the same mid-range laptop since 2016 or you recently got an entry-level PC before prices went through the roof, these games should run just fine on your system.
What's our baseline?
For this list, we looked at games that can comfortably be played with zero or few graphical concessions. We're talking games that run fine at 1080p--preferably at 60fps--are compatible with a wide range of configurations, and are contemporary. Ideally, if you have 4GB of RAM, an old-school GPU like the Nvidia 1060, or an onboard chipset that you'd find in most laptops, these games should work just fine on them.
Balatro
It's just a game of poker--how engaging could it be? Several hours later, you find yourself still glued to your screen in Balatro, wondering where all the time has gone as you boot up yet another hand in this poker roguelike. Balatro is game design perfected, a gauntlet of cards where every run tasks you with obtaining an ever-increasing score while various hurdles are thrown in your way. A deckbuilder with teeth, you'll use special Joker cards to sidestep the rules of poker, and every win feels immensely satisfying. Considering that the PC requirements are incredibly low, this is one game where you get the most bang for your buck.
See on Fanatical (https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/balatro)
Note: Integrated Media Company–the group that owns GameSpot’s parent company Fandom–has proposed to acquire a majority ownership of Balatro publisher Playstack.
Slay the Spire 1 and 2
See on Fanatical (https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/balatro)
Note: Integrated Media Company–the group that owns GameSpot’s parent company Fandom–has proposed to acquire a majority ownership of Balatro publisher Playstack.
Slay the Spire 1 and 2
Even though Slay the Spire 2 has usurped its place as the go-to deckbuilding roguelike, there's still plenty of magic in the original Slay the Spire. Setting a benchmark for its genre, Slay the Spire is a delicious tactical puzzle that rewards players who think several steps ahead to outwit enemies. A pioneer of its time, the game still looks fantastic thanks to its signature art direction, and those eye-catching visuals won't tax your PC too much.
And if you fall in love with that game? Then you'll want to check out its sequel (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/slay-the-spire-2s-next-level-co-op-makes-it-an-early-goty-contender/1100-6538638/), which doubles down on all of its best ideas, throws in innovative multiplayer, and has low PC requirements to boot.
See on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/)
Hades
And if you fall in love with that game? Then you'll want to check out its sequel (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/slay-the-spire-2s-next-level-co-op-makes-it-an-early-goty-contender/1100-6538638/), which doubles down on all of its best ideas, throws in innovative multiplayer, and has low PC requirements to boot.
See on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/)
Hades
Supergiant Games made a name for itself with story-driven games, and Hades is often considered to be one of its best-ever projects. Marrying the idea of roguelike action with a narrative that expands with each new run, Hades also features gorgeous, hand-drawn art that complements its fast and fluid action. The game's emphasis on failing upward also makes it feel consistently rewarding to play, while its soundtrack is a combo of wicked and divine beats that'll push you to escape the bowels of the underworld.
See on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145360/Hades/)
Dave the Diver
See on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145360/Hades/)
Dave the Diver
With a nostalgic pixel-art style that's easy on the ol' CPU, Dave the Diver offers two distinctive gameplay experiences that are perfectly fused together. Half of the game tasks you with exploring an ocean full of delectable fish and monsters, and once you've secured your deadly catch, it's time to whip up some meals inside a busy sushi kitchen. It's quirky, full of fun storylines, and the cycle of progression makes it hard to put down once it gets its hooks into you.
See on Fanatical (https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/dave-the-diver)
Factorio
See on Fanatical (https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/dave-the-diver)
Factorio
Another great PC game that's all about the gameplay loop, Factorio is an endlessly satisfying grind to build optimized machines. As a crash-landed survivor saddled with mining resources, Factorio quickly teaches you about its interconnected gameplay systems, from factory lines to power grids, and in the years since it was released, the game's community has released numerous mods to improve on an already fantastic experience. The low-res visuals are also a treat, allowing for the game to run on extremely modest setups while you marvel at the sprawling network of conveyor belts that you've built.
See on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/Factorio/)
Dredge
See on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/Factorio/)
Dredge
Call Of Duty’s Most Controversial Item Is Back In Modern Warfare 4, But With Some Major Changes
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-dutys-most-controversial-item-is-back-in-modern-warfare-4-but-with-some-major-changes/
One of the most infamous and controversial items in Call of Duty is the Riot Shield. Some love it. Some hate it. Well, it's back in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but with a few key changes.
With MW4's beta now live, we're seeing the game in action and learning more about it. This includes new details on the Riot Shield, including how it's now destructible. Not only that, but the new Riot Shield can be placed on the ground to allow players to create their own cover, wherever they are. What's more, the Riot Shield is now unlocked as a field upgrade as opposed to occupying a weapon slot.
https://twitter.com/InfinityWard/status/2090852829409763502
"In use, the shield provides frontal protection while advancing or holding a position. It can also be used offensively, with a new heavy melee attack that knocks enemies down and creates space in close quarters," Activision said. (https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2026/08/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-next-highlights-multiplayer-gameplay-systems#Shield)
When planted in the ground, players can mount their weapons to it for improved stability. The Riot Shield can also be used strategically in MW4's objective-based modes where players hunker down in one particular spot.
To balance things out, Activision made the Riot Shield destructible in MW4. In the past, it could soak up bullets like a sponge, and people loved and hated that. In MW4, it's "durable enough to support a push or cover a retreat." However, it will eventually break, and Activision said that should encourage players to use it strategically as opposed to opting for "sustained use."
The MW4 beta (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cod-modern-warfare-4-beta-preload-and-pc-spec-requirements/) is going on now for people who preordered the game. An open beta, meanwhile, runs August 28-September 1, and that doesn't require any preorder. The beta includes not just multiplayer, but also a campaign mission, Entrenched, and a glimpse at the future of Call of Duty: Warzone.
MW4 launches in full on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2. It's the first game since 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts to be released on a Nintendo platform.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-dutys-most-controversial-item-is-back-in-modern-warfare-4-but-with-some-major-changes/
One of the most infamous and controversial items in Call of Duty is the Riot Shield. Some love it. Some hate it. Well, it's back in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but with a few key changes.
With MW4's beta now live, we're seeing the game in action and learning more about it. This includes new details on the Riot Shield, including how it's now destructible. Not only that, but the new Riot Shield can be placed on the ground to allow players to create their own cover, wherever they are. What's more, the Riot Shield is now unlocked as a field upgrade as opposed to occupying a weapon slot.
https://twitter.com/InfinityWard/status/2090852829409763502
"In use, the shield provides frontal protection while advancing or holding a position. It can also be used offensively, with a new heavy melee attack that knocks enemies down and creates space in close quarters," Activision said. (https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2026/08/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-next-highlights-multiplayer-gameplay-systems#Shield)
When planted in the ground, players can mount their weapons to it for improved stability. The Riot Shield can also be used strategically in MW4's objective-based modes where players hunker down in one particular spot.
To balance things out, Activision made the Riot Shield destructible in MW4. In the past, it could soak up bullets like a sponge, and people loved and hated that. In MW4, it's "durable enough to support a push or cover a retreat." However, it will eventually break, and Activision said that should encourage players to use it strategically as opposed to opting for "sustained use."
The MW4 beta (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cod-modern-warfare-4-beta-preload-and-pc-spec-requirements/) is going on now for people who preordered the game. An open beta, meanwhile, runs August 28-September 1, and that doesn't require any preorder. The beta includes not just multiplayer, but also a campaign mission, Entrenched, and a glimpse at the future of Call of Duty: Warzone.
MW4 launches in full on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2. It's the first game since 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts to be released on a Nintendo platform.