Borderlands 3 is free to play this weekend, but PS4 players need Plus to take part
Gearbox has started a free weekend for Borderlands 3 across all platforms, which includes PS4, Xbox One, PC via Steam, and Stadia. You can access the game on any of these platforms for no extra cost. Well, except on PS4 where the free to play weekend is limited to PS Plus subscribers. If you do not have Plus then you are not getting that chance to play. To access the free weekend players will need to find the Standard edition of Borderlands 3 on the platform of choice, and download that. You cannot access the free content through the deluxe editions.
The times for when the free play weekend will take place is divided by platform below.
XBOX ONE FREE PLAY
Starts: August 6, 12:00 AM PT / 3:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM BST / 3:00 PM UTC+8 / 5:00 PM AEDT
Ends: August 9, 11:59 PM PT / August 10, 2:59 AM ET / 7:59 AM BST / 2:59 PM UTC+8 / 4:59 PM AEDTPLAYSTATION®4 FREE PLAY (PLAYSTATION®PLUS REQUIRED)
Starts: August 6, 9:00 AM PT (SIE America) / 5:00 PM BST (SIE Europe)
Ends: August 9, 9:00 AM PT (SIE America) / 5:00 PM BST (SIE Europe)STEAM FREE PLAY
Starts: August 6, 8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM BST / 11:00 PM UTC+8 / August 7, 1:00 AM AEDT
Ends: August 12, 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST / August 13, 1:00 AM UTC+8 / 3:00 AM AEDTSTADIA FREE PLAY
Starts: August 6, 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM BST / August 7, 12:00 AM UTC+8 / 2:00 AM AEDT
Ends: August 10, 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM BST / August 11, 12:00 AM UTC+8 / 2:00 AM AEDT
In our review for Borderlands 3, Jason wrote:
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Review
If you haven't heard of Fall Guys by now, then you've been living under a rock for the past week. With millions of people grabbing the game free on PlayStation Plus and it shooting up the Twitch viewership table, this family friendly battle royale contender has been getting a lot of attention since launch. So, is it worth all the server troubles, or is Takeshi's spirit waiting for you in another castle?
The Fall Guys themselves look like less terrifying little Mr Blobbys. Rotund and jellybean-shaped, there's a squidginess to their appearance that makes all their arm waving runs and clumsy stumbling through the levels look adorable. Add to that the ability to slap a patterned skin on them, change the two-tone colours of their design and then dress them up in all manner of costumes, and you have the recipe for the kinds of quirky unlockable cosmetics that every battle royale seems to need.
Don't worry though. While Fall Guys is a battle royale, weeding out the weak/unlucky round by round until one player is crowned the champion, this is not a blood sport. The endless comparisons to Takeshi's Castle and Total Wipeout have already been made, and they stick. The presentation feels like a slapstick TV show with each round finishing by punting the losers off the screen.
You really only need to know a few basic controls in order to play: movement, jumping and diving, and grabbing. On an even more fundamental level, you just need to be able to run and jump for the vast majority of the game modes.
Each Episode (as Fall Guys calls its matches) starts off with sixty players, whittling them down across five rounds to find the winner. There's a fairly wide set of modes to do so, from obstacle course races that throw boulders at you and make you try to avoid spinning hammers, to puzzle rounds that test your memory or task you with finding the safe route across a bunch of wobbly platforms – easier said than done when there's 20 other players all jostling for a qualifying place! Those that survive or cross the finish line in time move on to the next round.
Then there are the team games, splitting everyone up into two or three groups and giving some players the lurgy to spread to the other team, eggs to frantically hoard in your corner of the map, or a game of giant football. They act as a kind of leveller in Fall Guys, throwing in an element of randomness and taking away the benefit that individual memorising of the game modes and skill can provide. Of course, that can also make them feel unfair and frustrating if you're on the losing team, but a new game after a loss is always only moments away.
It doesn't take long for a bit of repetition to kick in. The randomisation of how rounds are picked in Fall Guys does mean that there's still new modes to see after a few hours, but you'll have seen the see-saws several times, got to know the obstacles courses and more. Some of the original spiciness disappears at that point. Once you'e learnt the trick for how to quite painlessly get across the see-saws, for example, you can regularly get through in the top 10 (so long as you aren't bumped off in the early rush!).
Cross the finish line and you'll be waiting and watching other players as they bungle their way through, and if you're playing with friends you'll be cheering them on, but on your lonesome you'll likely be reaching for your phone to scroll through social media in silence until the next round has loaded. The absence of local split-screen multiplayer feels notable as well, with the game's atmosphere feeling perfect for some couch play.
Thankfully, there's some bonus replay incentive beyond simply hunting that coveted number one spot. Fall Guys touts a battle pass like system with players unlocking new cosmetics, emotes, and other items as they earn Fame (XP) from matches and level up. Currently there are some sixty-odd days left in season one with the promise of more to follow complete with new levels, features, and ways to dress up your Fall Guy. You never know, we might even see a Geralt skin from The Witcher III or V from Cyberpunk 2077.
Unfortunately, Mediatonic have struggled with the popularity that Fall Guys has (rightly) seen over its first few days. Their servers have struggled to keep up with demand, which isn't terribly surprising when the game has been dropped into the laps of millions of PlayStation 4 players as part of PlayStation Plus. When it works though, we've found it to be pretty solid and robust.
There's a little bit of lag at times, most noticeable in the football team game and a degree of imprecision when grabbing another player in other modes, but the bounciness of the game's visuals and physics help diminish that factor. Unless, that is, you're on the receiving end of a last gasp defeat, as someone grabs your tail to knock you out with seconds to go, or you think you've managed to leap and grab the game winning crown, only to smack your head and watch someone else take the win.
Dreams update 2.17 addresses some crash and complex parent issues, read the patch notes here
Media Molecule has released update 2.17 for Dreams, and it is a small update. This one addresses issues such as incorrect thumbnails and photo being shown for creations, sorting the publishing element failed error situation, and reducing instances of crashes when certain unexpected events happen during Dreams, like not being able to access your own content. The rather brief notes can be read below.
Updates & Improvements
- Fixed: Addressed an issue where the incorrect thumbnail or photo for creation was displayed.
- Fixed: Addressed an issue where, in complex parent creations, the user was required to manually release certain elements the creation contained, even if you had permission to release them. This would display an error message "Publishing element failed".
- Fixed: Stopped crashes happening following unexpected behaviour, such as vanishing imps and players being unable to access their own content.
This update follows 2.15 and 2.16 which added VR support for Dreams. You can read some of the patch notes for those updates below, or follow this link for the full patch.
Dreams 2.15/2.16 patch notes
- All Aboard VR – An introduction to VR in Dreams, highlighting the different settings and controls used to play in VR.
- VR How Tos – Four new How To videos, featuring tips for creating VR experiences and exploring the new gadgets you'll find in Edit Mode.
- 10 Top Tips: Creating VR Dreams – 10 great best-practices tips to think about when designing VR experiences in Dreams.
- How To… Use the Head/Camera Tracker – Learn how to use the new Head/Camera Tracker, a brand new gadget which, in combination with the Look Cursor Sensor, allows you to track a player's head movements to get even more out of your logic.
- How To… Use the Hand/Imp Tracker – Learn how to use the new Hand/Imp Tracker, which lets you keep track of the location of your player's imp, what it's pointing at and what it grabs. You can even replace the imp with something else!
- How To… Create 3D Audio in VR – Learn how to use 3D sound within VR, to make your games feel even more immersive, when playing with headphones plugged into the VR headset.
- Head/Camera Tracker – A gadget that makes it easy to track, and attach objects to, the game camera.
- Hand/Imp Tracker – A gadget that makes it easy to track, and attach objects to, the imp.
- Look Cursor Sensor – A sensor gadget that detects where a player is looking, with associated tweaks on supporting gadgets.
- Dreamiverse Screen Size – Control how large Dreamiverse screens appear when in VR.
- Allow Low Frame Rate in VR – Control what happens when frame rate drops below our performance standards.
- VR Filtering Options – Specify whether you want to see VR content in the Dreamiverse.
- Flip Menu Buttons – If using the left-handed setting and swapping often between motion controllers and wireless controller, turning this on keeps the ordering of buttons in the create menus consistent.
- Comfort Mode – For VR users. When enabled, camera motion is reduced or removed.
- VR Experience Ratings – Allows players to rate the level of VR experience for which they feel creations are suitable. This rating will appear on a creation's thumbnail in search.
- 1 – For those new to VR
- 2 – For those with some experience of VR
- 3 – For those experienced in VR
- VR Compatibility Labels – Allows creators to specify the suitability of creations for VR.
- Non-VR: Only enterable in non-VR; not visible to VR players with default filters.
- Not Sure: Enterable in non-VR or VR, but will issue a warning for VR players upon entry; not visible to VR players with default filters.
- VR Compatible: Enterable in VR or non-VR.
- VR Only: Only enterable in VR; not visible to non-VR players with default filters.
- Imp Beam – Allows player to interact with objects from a distance in VR.
- Reel – Once you've grabbed onto something with your imp beam, you can use Reel to easily move it toward or away from you.
- Camera Change – VR only: Right stick moves the camera up and down, rather than rotating it. Useful for VR players to preserve the horizon line for orientation.
Other Improvements
- Grab Sensor – New tweak for existing gadget: Set Grab Point. Used along with Follow Grabbed Item on the Hand/Imp Tracker, this means you can specify exactly where an item is grabbed.
- Imps – No longer transparent when cover pages are used as background.
- Paintings – New tweak for paintings: Stretch. Stretches flecks in the direction they are pointing.
- Ambisonic Panning – New tweak for channel gadgets: Audio will sound like it's above/below and in front/behind the player (headphones must be plugged into VR headset).
- Blank Puppets – New tweak for puppets: Camera follows the puppet when sliding down a surface.
- Updates to Zip – Zip allows users to zoom in to objects in edit mode. In VR it can be used multiple times on the same object to get progressively closer to it. It can also be used on open space to teleport forwards by a fixed amount.
- Directional Button Controls – These controls are disabled when in VR.
- Menu (Wireless Controller) – In VR, instead of the menu opening at the top of the screen, it opens in front of the player. It can be dragged up and down to a position where they find it most comfortable. Some elements of the UI, such as the contextual buttons on the right hand side, or the mode icon/thermometer on the left, are now docked onto panels to the left/right of the player, which can also be dragged in/out.
- Various other additions, fixes and improvements to support VR in Dreams.
Source: Media Molecule
Fall Guys servers back online! Added capacity & crowns hacking fixed [updated]
Update 12:55PM: Fall Guys' server maintenance has finally ended after over seven hours! It sounds like it's been a big job for Mediatonic as they've added capacity and enhanced the servers ahead of the weekend, while also fixing a few exploits with regard to Steam player names and hacking crowns and kudos from the store. However, note that the servers are "slowly" coming back online, so be patient while trying to matchmake for the next hour or so.
Slowly coming back online…
Changes:
Optimisations and enhancements to the servers for the weekend!
— Fall Guys
(@FallGuysGame) August 7, 2020
The original post follows.
Mediatonic have taken the Fall Guys servers offline this morning to perform maintenance and add capacity ahead of the game's first weekend after launch.
Trying to play the game this morning will see the following message pop up.
The Matchmaker is currently down for maintenance whilst we add more capacity, please check back soon for updates.
There's no word on when they expect to have the servers back online – Update 12:30PM: maintenance has been ongoing for over 7 hours at this point – but in the meantime, they've been having more social media fun times with a few polls.
While the main Fall Guys twitter account has been keeping people updated, there's also the Fall Guys Server Owl account, which has no less silly nonsense on it, despite supposedly being more technical and informative.
HOOT! We're still working on the server maintenance.
We'll tweet as soon as we have an update.
What do you think to see-saw?
— Fall Guys Server Owl (@FallGuysOwl) August 7, 2020
So, what do you think to see-saw?
As you can see, very little has changed in their social media approach since yesterday's The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 love in, where they teased or joked about some kind of future collaboration.
On Wednesday, Mediatonic revealed that the first 24 hours had seen over 1.5 million players ran headlong into walls of doors, spinny hammer and swinging balls, and it's this sheer demand that overwhelmed the company's servers. That was obviously helped by the game being dropped in the laps of PlayStation Plus subscribers as one of August's free games, but it was always going to be a streaming darling, and shot to the top of Twitch as well.
It's no surprise that the game has been struggling, and with all of that attention, this weekend is sure to be peak Fall Guys time, and therefore quite critical for the game's servers to hold up.
We posted our Fall Guys review today, saying:
Full of cute and cuddly jellybean dude bumbling into each other in a race for the crown, Fall Guys is just about the most wholesome battle royale imaginable, and a whole lot of fun.
Ghost of Tsushima collectibles guide – using the Traveler's Attire
Ghost of Tsushima isn't exactly a short video game. Like many of Sony's recent heavy hitters, this is another PS4 exclusive that will take some 30+ hours to beat, perhaps double that if you really want to get stuck in an explore Tsushima. There's also the platinum trophy to consider.
Developer Sucker Punch Productions (who also brought us the Sly Raccoon and inFamous series) have been very proactive in responding to the Ghost of Tsushima player community. We've already see a string of post-launch patches bringing new features to the game.
In Ghost of Tsushima update 1.06, the team added a particularly useful tool for those who are currently hunting down the game's gallery of collectibles. We've put together a quick guide explaining the changes and how they could help in tracking down those trophies quicker.
Thankfully, the game's trophy list doesn't task you with collecting every item in the game. You'll only need to uncover 5 Singing Crickets, 20 Mongol Artifacts, and 20 Records – the Sashimono banners don't contribute to a particular trophy though you can get new cosmetic items the more you collect.
Even if you aren't a trophy hunter there's value in seeking out these items as they help fill in some of the game's backstory and historic setting. Here's the easiest way of tracking them down without reaching for a guide.
You won't need to have played much Ghost of Tsushima in order to unlock the Traveler's Attire, your first armour set. Like all armours, this one comes tagged with some perks – specifically, the ability to clear more fog of war shrouding the world map, as well as getting a prompt when collectibles are close by.
Before update 1.06, this would work by triggering the vibration function of your DualShock 4 controller, the time between vibrations shortening as you draw closer. Now, Sucker Punch have made it even clearer with a visual aid (which can also help those gamers with certain accessibility needs). A firefly will now hover slowly towards a collectible within your proximity, its green light pulsing quicker as you approach.
The images above show Jin stumbling upon the firefly, then following it into a hut where he finds a Records scroll on the floor. The visual prompt won't highlight exactly where a collectible is hidden though it definitely helps.
Ghost of Tsushima Guides from TheSixthAxis
- Ghost of Tsushima combat stance guide
- The real world history behind Ghost of Tsushima
- Is Ghost of Tsushima historically accurate? We ask a samurai expert
- Ghost of Tsushima trophy list
- Where to find the grappling hook in Ghost of Tsushima
- Ghost of Tsushima Samurai techniques upgrade guide
- Ghost of Tsushima Ghost techniques upgrade guide
- Ghost of Tsushima full Charms list
We've all experienced guilt in our lives. That feeling of remorse and responsibility over events that we may or may not have caused. Some of us have moments in our memory, tangible flashes that recall those moments of guilt and grief, when you first realise that your actions had consequences, ones that weren't always necessarily good. Neversong is a game built on that feeling of consequence, and that loss of innocence.
The backstory for Neversong is initially told through a nursery rhyme, which is revisited throughout the game as a way to advance the narrative.When the protagonist's best friend, Wren, is kidnapped, you fall into a coma from the sheer shock. Upon waking, you find that a fair amount of time has passed, discovering that the parents and adults of your town left to look for Wren, but never returned. It's up to you to rescue everyone and save your town.
The artwork in Neversong is undeniably gorgeous, and reminiscent of Tim Burton's style, with muted, warm tones inviting you into the world, only to shock you with the darker storyline and the creepy main antagonist Dr Smile. This is complimented by the soundtrack, with its mellow and somewhat calming vibes that can lull you into a false sense of security within the narrative.
Throughout the game you meet the other children that were left behind when the adults went in search of Wren. Each has a distinct personality and is voiced, creating a depth to NPC's that I rarely find within games. I thoroughly enjoyed talking through every option with all of them, not only to ensure I completed the narrative as best as I could, but also to enjoy the childish insults they threw my way. As you can imagine, with the parents all out of town, the children take over, creating a Lord of the Flies-esque atmosphere where chaos reigns.
Throughout this dystopia, you can find a collection of trading 'Coma Cards' that can be equipped, giving you elements of other characters or your environment to help you along the game. These can also affect your appearance, adding a certain hairstyle from a character and giving you a trait of theirs, for example. Some of these cards also directly aid you in progressing throughout the world, making it easier to jump from platform to platform, or completely unlocking areas that were previously inaccessible.
The world of Neversong is 2D, and explored through puzzles, platforms, and adjacent rooms, creating what can feel like a maze. Without a map to aid you, it relies on memory for areas that require backtracking. There are four main boss battles, however these are fairly easy to overcome. Most enemies take between two and five hits to defeat, and the all of bosses can easily be defeated within five minutes.
The gameplay greatly remind me of The Legend of Zelda series, especially within the world exploration. Each boss battle leaves you with a song, which once played on the piano in Wren's house unlocks a new piece of equipment that allows you to explore the next area. This includes a skateboard that allows you to skate and jump between platforms of greater distance, and a pair of magnetic gloves that enable you to swing to higher areas.
Another element greatly reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda is Bird, a sarcastic fairy that accompanies and aids you on your quest. While Bird is certainly useful for the progression of the game, I loved them mostly for their sarcastic nature and commentary, bringing an element of light to this otherwise dark world.
The game is fairly accessible, with controls that are easy to master. This simplicity makes it very easy to progress in the game, however some of the puzzles can be finicky, leaving the possibility to need to repeat the same platforming tasks several times before getting it. Furthermore, the game had moments of the screen lagging on Switch, starting to jump forward every few seconds. This was easily remedied by saving and restarting the game, however was frustrating that I had to it at all, as it interrupted the flow of the gameplay.
Auto Chess is coming to PS4 this year
One of the more surprising announcements to come from Sony's latest State of Play broadcast was a PlayStation 4 edition of Auto Chess.
Launching later this year on October 31st, it will be the first game from this strategy subgenre to make its way onto a PlayStation console.
Developed by Chinese studio, Dragonest, Auto Chess was originally a mod for the mega popular MOBA Dota 2 before becoming its own standalone game.
For those completely new to Auto Chess, it's a tough one to explain. Eight players go head to head, spending resources on units during prep phases, then watching them auto battle NPCs and the warbands of other players that spawn onto your chess board.
As players go from round to round they'll earn more money from their victories, purchasing more units as well as combining pairs and triples to create upgraded versions of these characters. Auto Chess units come tagged with certain colour-coded abilities, adding plenty of strategic depth for those who enjoy tactical competitive play.
Auto Chess is a huge deal, in case you didn't already know. Although it hasn't eclipsed the MOBA genre, Auto Chess now has plenty of imitators looking to muscle in on its turf. Funnily enough, Valve were quick to launch their own take on the game – Dota Underlords – which continues to receive regular updates.
Leaping on PlayStation 4 is a strange choice. It's likely that Dragonest will make this version free-to-play as with the mobile and PC editions with microtransactions enabled. However, Auto Chess lends itself to touchscreen and mouse controls though a gamepad could definitely work.
That said, many play Auto Chess passively, quickly purchasing their units then opening a tab/looking away from their phone as battles commence before they go to the next prep phase. Again, there's nothing stopping this from taking off on PlayStation 4, it just seems like a strange pairing.
DOOM Eternal update 1.06 enables weapon quick switch, full patch notes here
A new update for DOOM Eternal has arrived with update 2.1 (aka 1.06) bringing back weapon quick switch for both the campaign and battlemode. There have also been a number of new fixes which includes issues where enemies would not lose health while staggered, and zombies rag dolling incorrectly. There are a ton of changes and you can view all of the patch notes below for DOOM Eternal update 2.1 below.
DOOM Eternal 2.1 update patch notes
New Game Improvements for ALL platforms
- Weapon Quick Switch has been enabled again in both Campaign and BATTLEMODE (Thanks again for all of your passionate community feedback!)
- Made further improvements to networking latency in BATTLEMODE
- Added the ability for the Mancubus to shoot after starting a double jump in BATTLEMODE
- Maykr Drones have been added back in to some loadouts in BATTLEMODE bonus loot drops have been removed from headshots against the Maykr Drone in BATTLEMODE
New BATTLEMODE Balance Updates for PC Only
- Reduced The Slayer's Precision Bolt damage in BATTLEMODE against player demons from 400 damage to 300 damage
- Reduced The Slayer's starting bullet ammo in BATTLEMODE from 84 bullets to 72 bullets
Fixes for ALL platforms
Campaign
- Fixed an issue with the Gladiator failing to drop health while staggered
- Fixed an issue with the Khan Maykr failing to drop health when Blood Punched
- Fixed a rare issue where AI became invulnerable after a failed Glory Kill
- Fixed an issue with Zombies ragdolling incorrectly when killed
- Fixed Baron of Hell leg animations displaying incorrectly in certain circumstances
- Fixed a graphics issue with the gibs that display when Glory Killing the Archvile from the front
- Fixed an issue in Extra Life Mode that caused extra lives to be removed during the Revenant gameplay sequence in Cultist Base
- Fixed an issue causing notifications for rewards to display repeatedly
- Fixed an issue where challenges would display on screen for an extended period if another challenge was completed while being displayed
BATTLEMODE
- Fixed a crash in BATTLEMODE when backing out of a private match
- Fixed a crash in BATTLEMODE on the Round Upgrade menu
- Fixed an issue in BATTLEMODE where selecting a demon simultaneously would display podiums incorrectly
- Fixed an issue in BATTLEMODE where the Marauder's wolf didn't always deal damage and explode when attacking The Slayer
- Fixed an issue in BATTLEMODE with the Damage Report displaying incorrect damage numbers
- Fixed an issue in BATTLEMODE that would cause health/ammo loot visuals to persist when Loot Block was used while the slayer was chainsawing AI
- Fixed several descriptions for BATTLEMODE Round Upgrades to more accurately reflect current functionality
- Fixed an issue in BATTLEMODE where level progress would sometimes display incorrectly to other players in the lobby
BATTLEMODE Fixes for PC Only
- Fixed an issue in BATTLEMODE that would cause the title to crash when loading into a match with HDR enabled on some graphics cards
- Fixed a rare crash when the Archvile teleported while the BFG was equipped in BATTLEMODE
- Fixed an issue in BATTLEMODE where enemy hit sound effects would revert to default after installing a new game patch
Known Issues
- Demon Players may fall through the floor at round start in BATTLEMODE in rare circumstances (Players are teleported back into the map after the countdown timer ends or if a new round begins)
- Demon Players may observe a dark screen in BATTLEMODE persisting during the countdown timer on the Torment map
- The Demon Player HUD only displays the first two digits of the cooldown timer for instant resurrect and team heal
- Unlock notifications for event and series unlock content only display when entering the Rewards menu or when restarting the title
Source: Bethesda
Bugsnax gameplay trailer gives a tour of Snaktooth Island
Young Horses has released the first look gameplay trailer for Bugsnax and it gives a quick tour of the home of the creatures, which is Snaktooth Island. On top of that it the trailer shows some gameplay which includes being told off by the newspaper editor who is threatening your job, finding Bugsnax, and getting to know the team that has travelled to Snaktooth Island. They are known as Grumpuses. There will be quite a lot of things to do in the game and you can check out some of them in the trailer.
We recently spoke to Young Horses about Bugsnax and learned some more details about the game. Here's Young Horses' John Murphy about eating those Bugsnax and why the strawberry was eaten:
So the characters in the game are these sort of like fuzzy, Muppet-like creatures called Grumpus', and when you feed a Grumpus a Bugsnak, part of their body turns into the food that Bugsnak was made of. In the trailer, someone eats a Strabby, which is the name of the strawberry Bugsnak, and her arm turns into the strawberries.
It's mostly narrative and aesthetic like it's just like fun and silly to transform them. It's kind of like a dress up mechanic, there's just like billions of combinations of these transformations that you can get, and a lot of them are just very funny. That ties into the narrative in ways that I don't want to get into yet, but there's some interesting surprises related to that.
I don't know if the strawberry had to die; I guess the answer is because it's irresistibly delicious. I guess it's the same reason that animals die in real life, that people can't help but eat them.
Bugsnax will be released later this year for PS4, PS5, and PC via the Epic Games Store. You can stream the catchy theme tune now too.
Source: Press Release
Control's second expansion AWE will release on August 27th
Remedy has confirmed during Sony's State of Play that Control's second expansion AWE will be released on August 27th, and there is a warning to stay in the light. Hmm, I wonder what other Remedy game had light as a key focus? AWE stands for Altered World Events but there is a lot of speculation that it will have some focus on Alan Wake. There is already in game confirmation that the events of Alan Wake are part of the same universe as Control and there is more than a little bit of evidence that the Bureau had some interest in Alan.
The description reads:
"As Director of the Federal Bureau of Control, Jesse Faden must enter the Investigations Sector and confront the creature lurking within this long-abandoned part of the Bureau. This threat has haunted the sector for years, waiting on the other side of the sealed Firebreak. In order to reclaim the Investigations Sector from its clutches, Jesse will need to explore the numerous Altered World Events investigated here, including one from the town of Bright Falls."
For those keen observers you will remember that Bright Falls is where the events of Alan Wake took place. Basically, expect Alan to pop up in AWE when it launches on August 27th. In our review for Control I wrote:
Godfall combat trailer gives an extended look at the game running on PS5
Capping off the State of Play stream was another look at the upcoming PlayStation 5 console exclusive Godfall. Sharing nine minutes of footage, they covered a lot of ground and showed off a boss fight from this brand new fantasy IP.
Set in an high fantasy world, there are five realms of Apeiron to venture through in Godfall and, which have been split between Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Spirit. Coincidentally, there's also five weapon classes, with the trailer showing off the full movesets of Longswords and Dual Blades – the Polearm, Two-Handed Warhammer and Two-Handed Greatsword will be revealed later. Regardless of the weapon, you have a quick shield that you can use to block, parry and even to throw and stun enemies.
Through the game, there's definitely been some influence and crossover from looter shooters and action RPGs, with a main goal being to find loot and continually upgrade your character build. However, that will not be the only factor in how well you do in battle. There's also plenty of Dark Souls to see in the combat, with tense battles that require positioning and timing to succeed, though it emphasises offence over defence. If you dominate the combat space, you'll be much more likely to succeed.
There's plenty more to reveal of the game, with future gameplay videos sure to reveal the other three weapons, as well as diving into more details of the world and how you'll loot your way through to success.
Temtem monster-battling MMO coming to PlayStation 5 in 2021
Crema's Pokémon-like MMO monster battler will be coming to PlayStation 5 in 2021, it was revealed during today's State of Play stream.
Currently in Early Access on PC, the game has been building since its early release at the start of this year. There's a long roadmap of content that has been coming to the game, with 25 new Temtem this summer and 25 more planned for this autumn. In this same time frame Tamers will also unlock two new islands to explore while Crema strengthens the overall game with new features such as in-game chat, clubs, a spectator mode, and in-game housing.
There's a lot for the team to do between now and a full 1.0 release, with Crema targeting Q3 2021. It's likely at this point that the game will be coming to PlayStation 5, but there's always the possibility of some beta testing and perhaps even an early access release of some sort.
Miguel previewed Temtem for us in January, discussing its potential for greatness:
Temtem has some promising ideas at its core, with a uniquely challenging combat system and a beautiful world to explore. Unfortunately, so many other elements of the game fall flat for this initial release. A harsh economy, a lack of multiplayer content, underwhelming character and monster designs and more plague the title, while minor issues like server caps and constant maintenance add another layer of frustration to the experience. With a projected final release date of Q3 2021, there's plenty of time for Crema to evolve and grow their game, and I only hope Temtem manages to become the ambitious, multiplayer monster-catching adventure it so desperately wants to be.
Some growing pains then, but that's be expected with an ambitious style of game such as this. We look forward to seeing more of the game as it gets closer to its full feature set and release next year.
Hood: Outlaws & Legends announced for PS5, PS4, XSX, XBO, and PC in 2021
Have you ever wanted to steal from the rich and give to the poor? Maybe you have also wanted to live out the tale of Robin Hood? Well, it looks like you can as Hood: Outlaws & Legends was revealed in the State of Play stream. The game will be coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in 2021.
Following the legend of Robin Hood, you will create your own character and assemble a team of outlaws to steal from the oppressive State. You aren't alone, however, with this PvPvE game pitting two teams of 4 Outlaws against each other in an attempt to pull of a heist in a world filled with enemy AI guards.
The official description reads:
Faced with a merciless, unchecked state, rebels and rogues from every corner battle to claim their place among legends. To win influence with an oppressed people, rival gangs now compete in daring heists to hit the wealthy where it hurts. Folk hero or gold-hungry outlaw, only the best will escape with hard-earned riches. Gather your team of outlaws and attempt to steal treasure from an oppressive government in a dark and violent, medieval world. Two teams of players compete to execute the perfect heist, in environments patrolled by deadly AI guards. Utilise the unique skills and mystical abilities of each character, moving in stealth to steal treasures unseen or dominating through loud and brutal combat.
Announced in the State of Play stream and featured on the PS Blog, they're naturally going to praise the advantages of the next-gen hardware. The game will make use of the DualSense controllers improve haptic feedback, and given the setting, plenty of emphasis will be put on how drawing back on a bow and arrow will feel compared to a DualShock 4. However, they also say, "we'll have more details to share later on how the game will be optimised for each platform," and that will include plenty of optimisations for Xbox Series X.
Hood: Outlaws & Legends game will be out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in 2021, but expect to see more about the game later this year.
via PS Blog
New Vader Immortal trailer confirms August PSVR release date
A new trailer for PSVR game Vader Immortal has dropped in today's State of Play, showcasing more than a little lightsaber combat and plenty of force powers. The game will be out for PlayStation VR on 25th August.
The gane series consists of three episodes and a dojo to train your lightsaber skills in. While it's got his name on the cover, you do not play as Darth Vader himself but instead are cast in the role of a smuggler operating near Mustafar. It seems Darth Vader has heard of your exploits and decides to have a talk with you about carrying out a job for him. Of course, nothing is that simple and (as luck would have it) you have an affinity with the Force giving you powers and the chance to wield a lightsaber.
As with all recent Star Wars content Vader Immortal does belong in the official canon of the franchise. Vader Immortal has already been released on Oculus Quest, and has recently been awarded the Best AV/VR Game at the 2020 GDC Awards, so it seems like this could be a decent experience for PSVR owners.
The Vader Immortal reveal for PSVR is not the only Star Wars related news to hit over the last week. There are rumours that there will be no follow up to Star Wars Battlefront II, and that came via the site Bespin Bulletin which posts all kinds of news related to the franchise. In a post it said:
Right now there is no plans for a Battlefront III. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but here we are. Enjoy The Battle of Scarif update, share some kind messages to the team at DICE who worked ever so hard on Battlefront II, and maybe the force be with you.
However, if you do fancy something to itch that Star Wars multiplayer want but don't want to play the recent Battlefront games you can hop onto Steam and get the original Battlefront from 2004. That was recently updated to include online multiplayer on Steam.
Spelunky 2 release date has been set for September 15th
It has been a long time coming but Spelunky 2 has a release date, and that date is September 15th. The date was announced during Sony's State of Play in which new footage of Spelunky 2 was shown. The new footage shows larger areas to explore, new ways to interact with shops, new characters to interact with, new items including a shotgun and a pug gun by the looks of it. The game will feature secret passages, branching paths that will lead to different areas, and the ability to ride turkeys!
Spelunky 2 was announced in 2017 and was confirmed for PC and PS4. Spelunky 2 has players take on the role of Ana Spelunky who follows in her father's footsteps to head underground and make discoveries. The game was originally meant to release in 2019, but was delayed. At the time Mossmouth wrote:
Hey, Spelunky fans! Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to get to release Spelunky 2 this year. Development is still going well and we're not far off target, but the density and detail of the game is demanding more time. Thank you for your patience.
Also, apologies for the lack of updates! It can be tough balancing communication and dev time (and not spoiling too much). When things are quiet, we're just working away. :) There will be more updates coming, but for now we're focusing on development!
Also, I took in the feedback about the environments from the trailer, and while I still love the overall style, we've been adding more detail, as well as increasing the contrast to make existing details pop (some were pretty subtle and compression wasn't friendly to them)!
As soon as we have a release date for Spelunky 2, we'll make sure everyone knows! We can't wait to show you more, although of course the best way is for you to experience it for yourself at launch. All the crazy stuff we're adding makes me buzz with excitement. :)
At least the wait is almost over.
Source: State of Play
Genshin Impact trailer confirms that it's coming to PS4 this autumn
We got a fresh look at the stunning anime adventure Genshin Impact today, showcasing some of the incredible Breath of the Wild-esque vistas and the action RPG battling.
While we knew that the game was planned for this year, only the October release window for iOS, Android and PC had previously been revealed for the game. The new trailer from today's State of Play confirms that it will be coming to PlayStation 4 this Autumn. The Xbox One and Nintendo Switch are still waiting for a release window.
We've loved what we've seen of the game so far. Miguel went hands on with the game's closed beta at the start of this July, coming away very impressed with what he saw. He said in our Genshin Impact preview:
"Genshin Impact is the kind of game I've been craving for a long time. I obsess over collecting the characters and upgrades in all sorts of free-to-play mobile games, but their insistence on repetitive short-form missions and minimal downtime always burns me out. Genshin Impact steps in a completely opposite direction, providing an immersive and zen world full of natural beauty to explore at your own pace, while also delivering a heaping helping of characters, skill points, missions, equipment and more that is sure to keep me glued to the full game for ages."
Developing…
A gorgeous new gameplay trailer for The Pathless is here
We got a new overview of The Pathless in today's State of Play, the game coming from Giant Squid, the creators of ABZÛ. The game will be out for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC via the Epic Games Store later this year.
I'll hand over to Creative Director Matt Nava talks through a decent chunk of the game, showcasing the game running on PlayStation 5.
The Pathless is an open world adventure set in a mythical forest. You're cast as the Hunter, a master of archery who can bound across the open spaces, filling her dash meter by shooting little talismans. It looks fantastic and is all about timing instead of accuracy.
You have an eagle companion who can help you fly and glide, with its abilities augmented by finding and collecting crystals. You'll have to care for the eagle in order to keep it in good condition. Also, give it a hug, cos it's adorable. Be nice to your eagle.
Intriguingly, there's no map for the open world, but instead the ability to look into the spirit world and see landmarks. This allows you to see where some of the cursed spirits that are the game's enemies reside. They'll try to separate you from your eagle pal, which is obviously quite despicable. You can avoid them as they hunt for you simply by staying still as they look at you. To fight them, you must return light to the obelisks of the land, making them vulnerable and allowing you to chase them through the forest and vanquish them in tense battles.
The Pathless debuted at the Video Game Awards in 2018, originally planned for release in 2019. Obviously that release date slipped, but good things take time, and it's clearly allowed Giant Squid to refine their concept and push the game's visuals further on the next-gen console. It looks quite incredible and we can't wait to see more.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time gameplay shown in new footage
During Sony's State of Play a brand new gameplay overview for Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. In the new footage you can see a much more modern version of Insanity Beach. In the game players can play as either Crash or Coco throughout the entire game, and there are some moments you can play as Cortex and Dingodile as well. The Inverted mode was also shown where Beenox helped out. This is like a mirror mode and perspective shift, along with different ways to play. Crash will have the ability to wall run, rope swing, rail grind, and use ziplines.
The game will ignore all the stories from the PlayStation 2 games, setting itself after the events of Crash Bandicoot: Warped. The year is 1998, and Crash is just happily maxing and relaxing on his island when he stumbles upon one of the Quantum Masks that seems to know Crash's mask friend Aku-Aku! With the four Quantum Masks returning and a bit Quantum Rift appearing, Crash and chums dive in to explore different times and dimensions to stop Neo Cortex, Dr. N. Tropy and Uka Uka, who've returned from exile.
There was also confirmation that there will be no microtransactions for Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, though there will be a lot of costumes. These costumes will be purely cosmetic and will not have any impact on gameplay. All of the costumes will be unlockable through playing Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time likely through completing challenges and finding secret areas across the game's levels.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time launches on October 2nd.
Source: State of Play
Hitman 3 will have free PSVR support for the whole trilogy
IO Interactive revealed that Hitman 3 will feature a new PlayStation VR mode, included as part of the game. It will let you play through, not just the new levels in Hitman 3, but all of the old levels from the entire World of Assassination trilogy, which have been adapted for PSVR play and can be imported into the game.
Playing in VR shifts the game from a third person view to first person, really immersing you in the world. You'll have to try and blend in from Agent 47's viewpoint, dramatically altering how you can perceive the world and plan out your actions.
However, it will also add some big advantages to how you can interact with the game. You could pick up a frying pan and then use it to hit guards in a particular direction, then use the same frying pan to deflect bullets while trying to make an escape. Oh, and you'll actually have to quite physically garrotte someone, so that's sure to be lovely…
The final game in the World of Assassination trilogy that IOI kicked off in 2016, Hitman 3 game will be out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One and PC in January 2021. Obviously you'll only have PSVR support on PlayStation, and it seems to be a PSVR exclusive mode at this time.
Source: IOI
Brawlhalla has now launched on Apple and Android devices, features cross play
Ubisoft has announced that its free to play brawler Brawlhalla is now available on Apple and Android devices, with both versions featuring cross play with the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch versions of the game. According to Ubisoft, Brawlhalla has over 40 million players in total. So mobile players should have no problem finding matches with other players. All players will be getting a free skin as long as they log in within the next 2 weeks on any platform. To download the correct version of Brawlhalla just click on the applicable link below.
Brawhalla recently switched the Battle Pass route. The Season One battle pass will send players to Demon Island where Valhalla Legend Hattori, the Demon Bride, takes on her ultimate form. The battle pass will have 85 tiers to it and it is accessible to all players through free tiers, though there is also a Gold paid tier that unlocks premium loot and accessories, while free players will miss out on those. Once tier 85 is reached players will unlock Hattori's Epic Skin.
To progress through the battle pass players will need to earn Gems through General, Daily and Weekly challenges. Everyone is given one daily challenge, though three of these can be stacked if you do not log in to play everyday. If a daily challenge is not to your liking you can recycle it for a new one, though that is limited to once per day.
Source: Press Release
Xbox Game Pass August additions includes Darksiders Genesis and Final Fantasy VII
Microsoft has confirmed the additions for Xbox Game Pass this month, and there is quite a variety. Starting off the line up for console only additions are Darksiders Genesis, and that is joined by The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan. The rest of the games will be available on both PC and Xbox One. Those games are It Lurks Below, Xenocrisis, Trailmakers, Undermine, and Final Fantasy VII HD. The majority of the games are available today. Final Fantasy VII HD will be added to the service on August 11th.
While some games are being added others are being removed. Those games are:
- Devil May Cry 5 (Console)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Console & PC)
- Space Hulk: Tactics (PC)
- Where the Water Tastes Like Wine (PC)
- Yoku's Island Express (Console & PC)
In our review for Darksiders Genesis, Dom wrote:
"Despite the fundamental changes to the series' viewpoint, Darksiders Genesis feels like a true Darksiders game, and banishes any memory of the lacklustre third entry."
New Super Lucky's Tale PS4 and Xbox One release date has been confirmed
PQube has confirmed the release date for the PS4 and Xbox One editions of New Super Lucky's Tale, with the game coming to both platforms on August 21st. The game will have both a digital and physical release. New Super Lucky's Tale brings back some classic platforming action for players to jump in to, along with collectibles to find and secrets to discover across the game's levels. You can see some gameplay in the trailer below.
Though it's got "new" in the title, New Super Lucky's Tale isn't really a new game, but rather a mixture of expansion and remake of Super Lucky's Tale. It will follow the story of Lucky as he seeks to recover the Book of Ages from Jinx and his Kitty Litter minions, going off on a family friendly platforming adventure. The game originally released for Nintendo Switch in November.
In our review for New Super Lucky's Tale, Reuben wrote:
Cyberpunk 2077's second Night City Wire will be streamed on Monday
CD Projekt RED has announced that there will be a second Night City Wire, and this one will be taking place on Monday, August 10th at 6PM CEST. This second episode of the in-depth look at Cyberpunk 2077 will explore character lifepaths, the various weapons that will be usable in the game, and how Samurai came to be. The stream will be shown on CD Projekt RED's official Twitch channel. The announcement came via a Tweet and you can see that below.
Join us on Monday, August 10 at 6PM CEST, at https://t.co/y8iUIM0gBv for episode 2 of Night City Wire! This time we'll share details about lifepaths, show you the types of weapons you will be using in the game, and discuss Refused's transformation into SAMURAI! #Cyberpunk2077 pic.twitter.com/n3LFFocbVI
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) August 6, 2020
Some of the details from the first Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire stream included:
- The Mox was revealed as a gang in the game. Based out of a brothel and set up by a former sex worker.
- Heading out of the city, the Badlands are seen as the seventh district, the wildlands inhabited by Nomads. This can only really be traversed by car.
- Adam Smasher is a big fully converted cyborg in the game that we see in the trailer.
- Ripperdocs, such as Viktor, are where you'll go for enhancing your body. They're more than just vendors, and can play an integral part in the story as NPCs.
- Studio Trigger and Netflix working with CD Projekt RED to create a standalone anime series, Cyberpunk 2077 – Edgerunners, set to debut in 2022.
You can watch some gameplay from the first Night City Wire here. Cyberpunk 2077 is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on 19th november, with day one support and free upgrades for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 (though meaningful enhancements will come at a later date).
Cyberpunk 2077 has gone through a string of late delays in its development process. It was first pinned down for March 2020 at last year's E3, before CD Projekt Red announced that they were delaying the multiplayer side of the game a few months later. At the turn of 2020, the hype for the game was picking up, but in mid-January, they dropped the bombshell that they would delay the game until September so that they could polish and refine it further. That was then pushed back further to November.
The delays naturally had fans and pundits speculating about next-gen versions of the game, and CD Projekt Red initially confirmed Cyberpunk 2077 as the first third party game to confirmed for the Xbox Smart Delivery scheme. This month, that was expanded to also include free upgrade from PS4 to PS5.
Source: Twitter
NBA 2K21 gameplay trailer shows how the game looks on PS4 and Xbox One
2K Games has released the first gameplay trailer for NBA 2K21, and this one shows the game running on the current-gen systems, with Stormzy's Audacity chosen as the trailer's song. In the trailer, the likes of Damien Lillard and James Harden show some of their skills on the court. The trailer is full of cuts jumping to different players and different locations including Los Angeles, Berlin, Barcelona, and Melbourne. Watch it below.
If you were hoping that there would be some kind of free upgrade path through something like Xbox's Smart Delivery, where there is no extra charge for upgrading to the next gen then that hope is dashed. While Cyberpunk 2077 or with EA's Madden 21 will have a free upgrade, NBA 2K21 will not. 2K is charging for the upgrade through the Mamba Forever edition of NBA 2K21 which will cost £84.99, and that will grant access to current-gen and next-gen versions of the game. While there is a cost to access both versions all progression will be shared across platform families, so you will not need to start again should start NBA 2K21 on PS4/Xbox One and then migrate to PS5/Xbox Series X.
The cover stars will be Damian Lillard for the PS4 and Xbox One versions, while Zion Williamson will be the cover star for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. The Mamba Forever will have Kobe Bryant who passed away in a helicopter crash earlier this year along with his daughter and seven others.
NBA 2K21 will be available for PS4 and Xbox One on September 4th, with the next gen version to be available when the PS5 and Xbox Seris X release.
Source: Press Release
Fast & Furious Crossroads PS4 trophies revealed
Despite being one of the most enduring names in modern cinema, there's not much hubbub surrounding the video game launch of Fast & Furious Crossroads.
Well, it's out tomorrow on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. If you want to get a heads up on the trophies (or achievements) you'll be able to unlock then you can check the full list below.
Based on the series of vehicular blockbusters – and featuring a number of prominent cast members including Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez – Fast & Furious Crossroads looks to be a blend of arcade racing and cinematic action from Project Cars developer, Slight Mad Studios.
Crossroads with debuted at last year's Game Awards. Although it's set to launch within mere hours from now, there are no reviews for the game which… isn't a great sign.
| THE FAST SAGA EARNED ALL OTHER TROPHIES |  | Platinum | ||
| TADAKHUL UNCOVERED A NEW MYSTERY | | Bronze | ||
| SPEEDY RECOVERY REACHED THE RECOVERY SITE BEFORE A RIVAL FIRM GOT THERE | | Bronze | ||
| PLAYING INTO PARANOIA IGNORED ALL OF SEBASTIAN'S DELUSIONS | | Bronze | ||
| PERFECT PREPARATION DELIVERED THE RACE FUEL | | Bronze | ||
| THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS WON MAURICIO'S DOUBLE-OR-NOTHING OFFER | | Bronze | ||
| SCRAMBLE ESCAPED THE COPS WITH LESS THAN 50% DAMAGE | | Bronze | ||
| MRS ALPHA CALLED UPON AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE | | Bronze | ||
| SOLID SURVEILLANCE FOLLOWED THE TRUCK WITHOUT BEING SPOTTED | Bronze | |||
| EXTREME PREJUDICE STOLE THE CARS AND TOOK DOWN THE DIRTY COPS | | Bronze | ||
| MOSQUITO STARTED DOWN A PATH FOR REVENGE | | Bronze | ||
| CANYON CHAOS CAUSED, AND THEN ESCAPED, AN AVALANCHE | | Bronze | ||
| NEEDS OF THE MANY RECOVERED THE E.C.L.P.S. DEVICE – AT A COST | | Bronze | ||
| A LINK TO THE PAST UNEARTHED A LARGER CONSPIRACY | Bronze | |||
| EVASIVE MANEUVERS FOLLOWED SALOME'S INSTRUCTIONS BUT NO COPS GOT KILLED | | Bronze | ||
| SNAKE FIGHT DISCOVERED THE LINK BETWEEN KAI AND ORMSTRID | | Bronze | ||
| RACE THE FUTURE WON THE NEW ORLEANS RALLY WITHOUT TAKING ANY SHORTCUTS | | Bronze | ||
| ONE STEP AHEAD DELIVERED THE SECOND E.C.L.P.S. DEVICE TO ORMSTRID | | Bronze | ||
| CAUSEWAY CHASE STOPPED THE CAR TRANSPORTER PURELY USING DOM | | Bronze | ||
| RESCUE RESCUED ROMAN | | Bronze | ||
| KINETIC TRIGGER REACHED CAM WITH MORE THAN 120 SECONDS LEFT ON THE TIMER | | Silver | ||
| SAFETY NET DISCOVERED THE TRUE NATURE OF E.C.L.P.S. | | Silver | ||
| JUSTICE SERVED MADE AN IMPORTANT DECISION | | Silver | ||
| TUNNEL RUN ESCAPED THE CAVE-IN | Silver | |||
| TAKEDOWN FACED OFF AGAINST ORMSTRID | | Silver | ||
| WELCOME TO THE FAMILY PREVENTED THE E.C.L.P.S. SATELLITE FROM LAUNCHING | | Gold | ||
| THE ROAD AHEAD FINISHED YOUR FIRST ONLINE OP | | Bronze | ||
| ALL SIDES OF THE LAW COMPLETED AN ONLINE OP AS A HERO, A VILLAIN, AND A COP | | Bronze | ||
| ONE WORLD COMPLETED AN ONLINE OP AT ALL LOCATIONS IN THE BASE GAME | Bronze | |||
| WINGMAN ASSISTED 40 TEAMMATES | | Bronze | ||
| GHOST COMPLETED 3 ONLINE OPS IN A ROW WITHOUT BEING TAKEN DOWN | | Bronze | ||
| IRON MAN WON 3 ONLINE OPS IN A ROW | | Bronze | ||
| ROOKIE PLAYED 25 ONLINE OPS | | Bronze | ||
| SEMI-PRO PLAYED 100 ONLINE OPS | | Bronze | ||
| PRO PLAYED 225 ONLINE OPS | | Bronze | ||
| VETERAN PLAYED 400 ONLINE OPS | | Silver | ||
| MVP I BECAME THE MVP | | Bronze | ||
| MVP II BEEN MVP 10 TIMES | | Bronze | ||
| MVP III BEEN MVP 25 TIMES | | Bronze | ||
| MVP IV BEEN MVP 50 TIMES | | Bronze | ||
| MVP V BEEN MVP 100 TIMES | | Silver | ||
| TAKEDOWN KING I COMPLETED 50 TAKEDOWNS IN ONLINE OPS | | Bronze | ||
| TAKEDOWN KING II COMPLETED 100 TAKEDOWNS IN ONLINE OPS | | Bronze | ||
| TAKEDOWN KING III COMPLETED 150 TAKEDOWNS IN ONLINE OPS | | Silver | ||
| TAKEDOWN KING IV COMPLETED 200 TAKEDOWNS IN ONLINE OPS | | Gold | ||
| UNSTOPPABLE I EARNED A TAKEDOWN STREAK OF 5 IN ONLINE OPS | Bronze | |||
| UNSTOPPABLE II EARNED A TAKEDOWN STREAK OF 10 IN ONLINE OPS | | Bronze | ||
| UNSTOPPABLE III EARNED A TAKEDOWN STREAK OF 20 IN ONLINE OPS | | Silver | ||
| OFFICER COMPLETED 50 BUSTS IN ONLINE OPS | | Bronze | ||
| CHIEF COMPLETED 125 BUSTS IN ONLINE OPS | | Bronze | ||
| ENFORCER COMPLETED 200 BUSTS IN ONLINE OPS | | Silver |
Source: PSN Profiles
Resident Evil 3 update 1.09 adds Resistance multiplayer content
Capcom have been brewing up a new title update for their survival horror remake, Resident Evil 3.
While we didn't see too many post-launch updates for last year's incredible Resident Evil 2, the sequel features an original online multiplayer mode – Resistance – which has once again been expanded with new content.
Resident Evil 3 update 1.09 introduces two new maps with loads of bonus equipment and cosmetics to unlock. You can catch the full list of additions below as well as the various gameplay changes and bug fixes made in this latest patch.
Resident Evil 3 update 1.09 patch notes
The following additions and adjustments have been implemented for all platforms.
New features:
Maps
- ・Added the new Uptown map.
- ・Added the new Bemusement Park map.
Equipment
- ・Added 12 new equipment items for Survivors.
- ・Added 13 new equipment items for the Mastermind.
Cosmetics
- ・Added 21 new Survivor skins (including 7 available for purchase).
- ・Added 5 new Survivor gestures.
- ・Added 15 new sprays.
- ・Added 5 new creature skins.
- ・Added 2 new zombie gestures.
Skill Cards
- ・Added the Converter Mod – Creatures skill card.While in hand, using Creature Cards will lower the cost of this mod. Using this mod will add an Ivy card to your hand.
- ・Added the Converter Mod – Traps skill card.While in hand, using Trap Cards will lower the cost of this mod. Using this mod will add a Teleportation Trap card to your hand.
- ・Added the Converter Mod – Firearms skill card.While in hand, using Firearm Cards will lower the cost of this mod. Using this mod will add a Grenade Launcher card to your hand.
Adjustments and Fixes
Time Bonuses
- ・Reduced the amount of time added to the timer when Survivors defeat zombie dogs.
System Changes
- ・Adjusted the rules that determine Supply Zombie spawn location, making it less likely to spawn close to the Survivors' locations.
- ・Adjusted the items dropped by the Supply Zombie such that it can no longer drop multiple special weapons.
- ・Changed some items granted to Survivors from the slot machine in the Casino map.
- ・Added a guide message when Survivors are defeated near the exit to clarify the conditions needed for their revival.
- ・Reduced the difficulty of daily missions overall.
- ・Resolved an issue where the upper-left Bio Core in area 3 of the Abandoned Park could be attacked from the entrance using a Rocket Launcher or ATM-4.
- ・Addressed an issue were the Signal Jammer's effective range was not displayed on area 3 lifts.
- ・Added the ability to check daily mission progress while waiting for matchmaking to complete.
- ・Adjusted the formula for RP reward calculations when the Mastermind wins in area 1.
- ・Resolved an issue where moving to the next area while a Survivor was incapacitated by Yateveo's Devour ability could leave that Survivor unable to move in the following area.
- ・Resolved an issue where Samuel could not complete the requirements for "Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru" with certain passive skill variants equipped.
- ・Resolved an issue where sound would occasionally stop playing during extended gameplay sessions.
Survivors
- ・Adjusted maximum ranks for all Survivor characters, and changed skill unlock requirements such that all skill variants are obtained by rank 16.
- ・Increased the amount of Ammo held at the start of the match for Valerie, Jan, Martin, Becca, and Jill.
- ・Enabled the purchase of Ammo x 50 from the Armory in area 1.
- ・Either MQ 11 or W-870 (determined at random) will be available in area 1.
- ・Increased the base damage of the MUP.
- ・Increased the base damage of the Matilda.
- ・Increased the base damage of the Quickdraw Army.
- ・Adjusted the hit detection for the W-870, making it less likely to deal extremely small amounts of damage when attacking creatures.
- ・Adjusted the effects of the Batting Glove and High-Grade Ammo series equipment.
- ・Adjusted the lines spoken by the Mastermind on the Survivors' result screen in the event of a match ending due to the Mastermind disconnecting.
Mastermind
- ・Adjusted maximum ranks for all Mastermind characters, and changed skill unlock requirements such that all skill variants are obtained by rank 15.
- ・Adjusted ranks at which additional skill cards are unlocked such that all skill cards are obtained by rank 14.
- ・When releasing control of a creature, there will now be a 5-second cooldown before that same creature can be controlled again. (Other creatures may be controlled immediately.)
- ・Reduced the health of the Supply Zombie.
- ・Reduced the amount of time it takes for zombie dogs to become mobile after being spawned.
- ・Improved pathing for zombie dogs such that they should not repeatedly run into walls as often.
- ・Turret – Rifle and Turret – High Caliber Rifle will now take time to reacquire targets after firing.
- ・Reduced the base damage of Turret – Rifle, Turret – High Caliber Rifle, and Turret – Machine Gun.
- ・Added a cooldown to the E.I.S. when turning off the lights.
- ・The Imposter Zombie's claw attack will now perform a three-hit combo.
- ・Hits to Ivy will no longer increase its stagger value unless they strike its head or its buds.
- ・Adjusted the amount by which Sturdy Materials, High-Tech Materials, and Steel Pressure Plate series equipment affects Martin's trap disarm speed.
- ・Reduced the maximum range of camera-mounted firearms.
Martin
- ・Updated the description of Makeshift Mine's "Signal Jammer" skill variant to include its 15-second duration.
- ・Reduced the effects of Life Hacks' "Bulletproof" skill variant.
- ・To address the issue where flash effects did not always work correctly at certain low angles, Flash Baton will now emanate from the center of the character model for the purposes of hit detection.
- ・Disarming traps with Martin's fever skill and interacting with traps will now always award RP.
- ・Reduced the base amount of time required to disarm traps. (Time require with the Nimble skill variant equipped remains unchanged.)
January
- ・EMP effects are no longer disabled by Electromagnetic Shield.
Jill
- ・Unlocking doors with Master Key will now always award RP.
- ・The effect of Delta Force's "Marksman" skill variant will now also apply to Bio Cores.
Daniel
- ・Increased the duration of the invincibility effect granted by Puppeteer's "Invincible" skill variant.
- ・The effects of Puppeteer's "Invincible" skill variant are now removed immediately upon releasing control of a creature.
- ・Reduced the time it takes for the Tyrant to become active when spawned.
- ・Made it more difficult to accidentally end the Tyrant's Bull Rush ability immediately after activation.
- ・Increased the Tyrant's movement speed.
Alex
- ・Increased the base damage of the Machine Gun – Infection area 3 exclusive card.
- ・Reduced the amount of time for which Yateveo cannot take new commands after performing Slime Shot.
- ・Adjusted the effects of Residence of Evil's "Mechanic" skill variant on Martin's trap-disarming abilities.
Spencer
- ・Reduced the speed at which Disintegration Field is deployed when using the "Refract" skill variant.
Source: Capcom
Nioh 2 update 1.13 makes balance changes and bug fixes
It's been a busy several days for fans of Team Ninja's samurai slashing sequel, Nioh 2 having already been bolstered by two back-to-back title updates.
Now the developer and Koei Tecmo have dropped a new patch players will need to download and install. Nioh 2 update 1.13 is now available for the PlayStation exclusive action RPG, making a few minor changes on top of various bug fixes.
This follows last week's launch of Nioh 2's first of three DLC expansions titled "The Tengu's Disciple". For more on Nioh 2, make sure you read Jason's review where he scores the popular PS4 sequel a demonic 9/10.
Nioh 2 update 1.13 patch notes
- Increased the drop rate of sacred weapons in the "Emaki Mission" of "Sura no Yumeji" and "Hyakki Yayuki Emaki/Shura"
- Adjusted the enemy's physical strength and increased the enemy's attack power when playing Tokuyo accompanied by 3 players *When played by 2 people, there is no change from Ver 1.12.
- Adjusted the physical strength of the following bosses in "Shura no Yumeji"
- Sickle weasel
- Princess Nagabe
- Adjusted the damage when hitting a weak point in "Shura no Yumeji"
- Decreased the number of enemies appearing at the same time, enemy species, and timing in some "Emaki missions"
- Changed to be able to get "Hyakuya no Kaori" with a certain probability if you can not get a picture scroll when you participate as a guest in the "Emaki Mission"
- Adjusted the damage increase amount in the 1-2 stage of special effect "multi-talented and versatile", and adjusted the damage increase amount in the 4-9 stage upward
- The following adjustments have been made for the "prepared stick"
- Adjusted the homing of the martial arts "Olymaki"
- Adjusted the knockback so that it is easier to hit consecutively when using the martial arts "Sweeping Judge"
- Adjusted the damage of the martial arts "Sweeping Judge"
- When using the martial arts "Touhou Soumei", extend the timing for deriving derivative works
- Adjusted knockback so that the martial arts "Ssanryu Ranbu" can easily hit the enemy
- Adjusted knockback so that the martial arts "Bounce Fishing Bottle" can easily hit the enemy
- Adjusted the homing and attack occurrence of the martial arts "Bounce Fishing Bottle"
- Adjusted so that the martial arts "Kozukiki" can easily hit the enemy
- Adjusted the damage and attack occurrence of the martial arts "Side Attack"
- Adjusted the power of the martial arts "Shibagiri" upward, adjusted the energy damage downward
- Adjusted the forward distance of the martial arts "Shibaragi 2" and the damage when just input was successful
- Adjusted the martial arts "Ryukai" to make it easier to hit the enemy, and adjusted the damage upward
- Adjusted to quickly generate an attack when you receive an enemy attack with the martial arts "Kotei"
- Adjusted the forward distance so that it is easier to catch the enemy's attack with the martial arts "small hand stop"
- Adjusted the martial arts "Kokukuki" damage and energy damage upward. Reduces rigidity after attack
- Adjusted the damage of martial arts "Kasashita"
- Adjusted the energy damage of normal attacks upward
- Increased the damage of strong attacks in the middle row
- Adjusted the damage and advance amount of the fast attack in the lower row upward
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- Fixed a bug that the player may reposition unnaturally at the end of the action of the training crawling martial arts "Ryubanki"
- Fixed a bug that the martial arts did not appear when performing a specific action when using the training crawling martial arts "Ssanryu Ranbu"
- Fixed a bug that the way to reduce energy was different from the expected when using the training skill "Ssanryu Ranbu"
- Fixed a bug that you can cancel before the attack power increase effect is added when using the training skill "Ssanryu Ranbu 2"
- Fixed a bug that the shock wave of the Yokai weapon's demon activation state may not occur when using a strong attack after avoiding with a charging shank
- Fixed a bug that the number of hits did not increase when using the training cue martial arts "Tourou Feng Shuange" "Kotei" with the mystery "Circle continuous method" set
- Fixed a bug that some attacks may not hit when using the training crawling martial arts "Ryoranki" with the mystery "dragon snake crawling method" set when equipped with a training crawler
- Fixed a bug that the hit timing of some attacks of the training martial arts "Ryoranki" was different from the appearance
- Fixed a bug that the secret mystery is wrong with the fast attack of the middle and upper tiers
- Fixed a bug where Zanshin could not be activated when the martial arts "Houmei Sword" was activated by pressing and holding the button.
- Fixed a bug that the martial arts customization skill of "Zanshin When" was lost when loading save data.
- Fixed a bug that parrying martial arts would be established against the martial arts of the "Career" used by the enemy
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- Fixed a bug that "Blue Dragon" does not move up and down even if the player moves in a place where there is a difference in height while the guardian spirit "Blue Dragon" is active
- Fixed a bug in which "Blue Dragon" may follow different players when calling the guardian spirit of "Blue Dragon" in multiplayer.
- Fixed a bug that damage caused to the enemy is reduced if you perform another action such as moving after activating the following Yokai technique
- Warrior
- Night sword god
- Daedalaboch
- Tree spirit
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- Corrected the position of the Ushiwaka Senki's main mission "Arashi Calm Whistle" so that you can get items placed in places that you can not get
- Fixed a bug in the Ushiwaka Senki main mission "Arashi Calm Whistle" that caused the boss to be unable to progress when he died in the sea
- Fixed a bug where Sukebit did not attack the boss in the Ushiwaka Senki main mission "Arashi calm whistle"
- Fixed a bug in the Ushiwaka Senki main mission "Arashi calm whistle" that the boss might remain down in certain steps
- Fixed a bug that an application error might occur when defeating the boss in the main mission "Hitoyokatsu no Hate" of Ushiwaka Senki
- Fixed a bug in the Ushiwaka Senki Submission "Beyond the White Blade" that could cause the boss to be unable to proceed while riding on the lantern
- Fixed an issue where the attack on "Date Asamune" would not be hit if you started accompanying "Date Asamune" in the Ushiwaka Senki's submission "Reishiishi no Hoshizoku"
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- Fixed a bug that the item of Sacred Rarity might be dropped due to the destruction of some enemies with "Shards of Difficulty"
- Fixed a bug that when the initial weapon after "NEW GAME" is selected, the "heart" is actually raised even though "Spell+1" is displayed when "Career" is selected. *The parameters do not change even if Ver1.13 is applied. If you use the Rokudou Rinsho, the original parameter increase will be reflected.
- Fixed a bug that "Built-in" can be obtained in Garakuta City when the additional content "Ushiwaka Senki" is not applied. * If you save data without applying the additional content "Ushiwaka Senki", all the prepared sticks acquired in Garakuta City will be lost.
- Fixed a bug that the special effect of equipment sold in "Kiraku no Garakuta City" of "Shura no Yumeji" changes when going in and out of "Kiraku no Garakuta City"
- Fixed a bug that illegal characters were added to the end of "Picture scroll discoverer" in "Hyakki Yayuki picture scroll"
- Fixed a bug that the "Grace" special effect is not added to the following spear weapons
- Bi 々 Luo Mu no Eight Searching Spears
- Swan spear
- Fixed a bug that illegal effects are displayed in "Effect icon list"
- Fixed a bug that the special effect of "Grace" cannot be filtered
- Other minor bugs fixed
Source: Gamecity
UFC 4 trophy list strikes out ahead of release date
Next week EA will be inviting UFC fans back to the Octagon for the next instalment in their licensed MMA fighting game series. A trophy list for UFC 4 has now been found online.
UFC 4 will be launching on August 14th for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, bringing with it a raft of new content and features. The team at EA Sports have been refining every asset of the core gameplay form more dynamic clinch control to an improved submission system and, of course, enhanced visuals.
On top of that, fans can expect new fighters and venues to appear in UFC 4. Those who pre-order the game can unlock big-time boxing champions, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, at launch.
In the meantime, let's take a look at the game's trophy list. At a glance, there seems to be a abundance of silvers up for grabs here mainly tied to the singleplayer Career mode. There are some gameplay specific bronze trophies in there as well as a couple of achievements tied to online play. Here's the list in full.
| The Collector | Unlock all other trophies in EA SPORTS UFC® 4. | Platinum |
| Hidden Trophy | Continue playing to unlock this trophy. | Bronze |
| Risky Offer | Accept an Amateur fight against a high level Wrestler. | Silver |
| Hidden Trophy | Continue playing to unlock this trophy. | Silver |
| Unleashed on Cam | Knockout your training partner during a streamed session in your Career. | Silver |
| Employee of the Month | Complete an optional Contract Bonus in your Career. | Silver |
| No Pain No Gain | Receive a major injury and win the match in your Career. | Silver |
| I'm Back! | Use Evolution Points to recover a lost attribute point in your Career. | Silver |
| Rubbing Shoulders with the Best | Invite a top 5 fighter and learn a new move in your Career. | Silver |
| Did My Homework | Unlock all gameplans for a Fighter in your Career. | Silver |
| Overachiever | Complete all optional challenges from a sparring session in your Career. | Silver |
| Undefeated | Defend the belt 12 consecutive times in your Career. | Gold |
| The Specialist | Unlock 5 perks in a single category through Evolution Points in your Career. | Silver |
| The Apprentice | Upgrade a move during a fight or training in your Career. | Bronze |
| The Master | Prestige a move in your Career by knocking out or knocking down opponents with a 5-Star Move. | Silver |
| Hidden Trophy | Continue playing to unlock this trophy. | Gold |
| Facebreaker | Finish a fight by ground & pound. | Bronze |
| Sleepy Time | Finish a fight by choke submission. | Bronze |
| Bend to my Will | Finish a fight by Joint Submission. | Bronze |
| Stay Down! | Perform 5 successful takedowns in a fight. | Bronze |
| High Impact | KO your opponent from clinch. | Bronze |
| This is Me | Edit all categories from your Player Card. | Silver |
| Wear'em with Pride | Equip 5 accolades in your Player Card. | Gold |
| Show the Flag | Equip a Legendary Background on your Player Card. | Silver |
| Words of Wisdom | Add flair text to your Player Card. | Bronze |
| Back to the Arcades | Play a match of KO Mode. | Silver |
| Undisputed | Become champion and defend the title once in Online World Championships. | Gold |
| There Can Be Only One | Achieve Ultimate Victory in Blitz Battles. | Gold |
This latest entry comes more than two and a half years after the launch of UFC 3 which kicked, punched, and grappled its way to a knock-out 8/10 in our review.
Source: True Trophies
Doom Eternal and Elder Scrolls Online will get free PS5 & Xbox Series X upgrades
Bethesda have announced that Doom Eternal and Elder Scrolls Online will both be receiving an enhanced release for the next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles, and will offer free upgrades from current gen consoles. So if you own either game on PlayStation 4, you'll upgrade for free to PlayStation 5, and from Xbox One to Xbox Series X.
The timing of these upgrades is not set in stone, but will come after the new consoles launch. Bethesda are working to ensure they work correctly via backward compatibility, and will announce the expected release windows and list of enhancements in the coming weeks and months.
Beyond these two games, Bethesda don't currently have anything to say, but if they decide to enhance a game for next-gen, they are "committed to offer free upgrades for current generation console owners of existing Bethesda titles we bring forward into the next generation of consoles."
This quite heavily implies that if when Todd Howard decides to crank out Skyrim onto yet another set of platforms, it'll be a free upgrade.
Doom Eternal is one of the early frontrunners for Game of the Year in 2020, with Miguel saying in our review:
Doom Eternal doesn't just set the bar, it breaks it. Many of the best games of the FPS genre do what has already been done, and can do it really, really well, but Doom Eternal does what no other game has done before, crafting a fast-paced power fantasy that sets your brain cells on fire. It's an addictive exploration of the mythic Doomslayer character that delivers hours of blood-drenched fun, dozens of memorable collectibles, and a fan-pleasing story book-ended with gorgeous worlds and unforgettable music. Doom Eternal is a ripping, tearing masterpiece.
Meanwhile, The Elder Scrolls Online has been going from strength to strength over the years. The latest expansion was Greymoor, where Dom said, it "deserves its position as one of the premier MMORPG experiences, and Greymoor upholds that, even if it doesn't quite do justice to Skyrim's vast legacy."
Source: Bethesda
Fall Guys, The Witcher & Cyberpunk 2077 tease a very silly collab on social media
Can you guess who's a fan of Fall Guys? Well, if you guessed The Witcher and Mr. Cyberpunk (not his actual name), then you guessed right. The social media gangs for the three games have spent a good part of today joking around and teasing some kind of future collaboration on some kind of Fall Guys shenanigans in future.
Hi @CyberpunkGame how many retweets would we need to get for you to collab with us?
— Fall Guys
Hi, please can we get one retweet on this tweet and then @CyberpunkGame will collab with us
Pls, I need this
Just one retweet
And then it's confirmed
100%
Fall Guys and Cyberpunk 2077 to do a collab
1 RT pleeeeaase https://t.co/CyMmBG49t1
— Fall Guys
Just one retweet? Oh, that'll be eas…. Oh…
Okay, I've just been on the phone with CD PROJEKT RED Legal Department
They said we literally need to do a tweet that gets EXACTLY ONE retweet… and then they will do the collab
PLEASE
ONLY
ONE
RETWEET
Nobody else https://t.co/PRluYk3xqp
— Fall Guys
So the Cyberpunk collab is off the table, but who's this handsome white-haired fellow? Obviously Geralt wanted in the fun.
OMG I'M CRYING
FALL GUYS AND WITCHER COLLAB?!?!?!?
SHALL WE DM?!?!? https://t.co/wLVW6V305C
— Fall Guys
We do not know if they DM'd.
Obviously, there's tons of potential for silly skins and costumes to be dropped into Fall Guys. The default jellybean-like character is made for covering in funky colourful patterns and dressing up, and there's plenty in the game already. On day one, that's been accompanied by a fast food themed costume pack, but I'm sure we can all imaging the Cyberpunk jackets and Roach heads.
I'm just wondering why Mediatonic don't plumb the depths of publisher Devolver Digital's catalogue first? A bit of Serious Sam, an Enter the Gungeon bullet costume or My Friend Pedro banana, maybe even a Genital Jousting get up? Hmm?
The game came out earlier this week, with over 1.5 million people rushing to download it and play in the first 24 hours – it's free on PS+, after all. That, obviously, led to the servers falling over, which got so bad that the social media team got all in a flutter and set up an owl-based Twitter account for the game's servers!
We were playing the game last weekend in the last technical beta test before release and had an absolute ball. Read our Fall Guys preview here, where Jim said:
Tied up in such a cheeky, vibrant package, Fall Guys has the makings of a true multiplayer marvel and one that touts slapstick silliness over a constant barrage of blood and bullets. We'll be throwing ourselves into this mad little game on launch day and we'll surely be grinning from ear to ear as we do.
We'll have our review some time soon, I'm sure.