KonoSuba ADV: Opening Sequence, Theme Songs, Aqua Being Useless
We're back with more details on the KonoSuba ADV (what people outside Japan call visual novels) game by Mages. You know, that game whose full name is Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! -Kono Yokubou no Ishou ni Chouai wo!
We previously detailed the various routes of each of the KonoSuba Heroines. Now we'll take a look at the new details on the Limited edition, the bonus game included in first print copies, new screenshots, and the game's opening animation sequence.
Be sure to read the previous details if you have no idea what's happening in the screenshots above.
First print copies of the KonoSuba game will include a Space Harrier lookalike scrolling action game. The arcade game by Yu Suzuki is originally a Space Adventure Cobra reference. So in a way, this is the closest thing to a Cobra x KonoSuba collab in existence.
The pixel art mini game has six stages and multiple playable characters: Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, Darkness, Yunyun, and Chris. The story is kinda based on the anime's second season and the movie, and the characters are voiced.
There's also an oldschool stereoscopic 3d mode, with those red and blue glasses included. You probably have no idea what the hell I'm talking about if you were born later than early nineties.
Photos for the game's Limited Edition were revealed too:
As we previously explained, the PS4 version has a Megumin cheerleader SD figure, while the Switch version as an Aqua nurse SD figure.
New shop-specific pre-order goods were also revealed:
Next, we have the game's opening animation sequence, and a new trailer:
KonoSuba Mages Game Trailer, Opening Animation Sequence
The opening theme song is titled It's so fine! and is sung by Machico. The ending theme song is titled Ame Yadori and is sung by Aqua (Sora Amamiya), Mgumin (Rie Takahashi), and Darkness (Ai Kayano). A Single with both songs will be releasing on October 21 in Japan.
乙女顔研究
PHOTOby@AzusaTadokoro#Machicohttps://t.co/EUDsKrJ6Dj pic.twitter.com/IiSGNubZUB
— Machico Official (@MachicoOfficial) August 10, 2020
Machico is pretty cool.
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! is a light novel part of the Isekai boom, written by Natsume Akatsuki and illustrated by Kurone Mishima. It's among the most popular isekai stories. Natsume Akatsuki also writes another novels titled Sentouin, Hakenshimasu!
Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! -Kono Yokubou no Ishou ni Chouai wo! (official site) launches on PS4, Switch, September 24 in Japan.
The post KonoSuba ADV: Opening Sequence, Theme Songs, Aqua Being Useless by Iyane Agossah appeared first on DualShockers.
Aquaplus revealed a bunch more of details and screenshots on Dokapon Up Mugen no Roulette, the new Utawarerumono board game. We detailed everything below.
The Dokapon series features Sugoroku with RPG elements and started on Super Famicom in 1993. It's nicknamed by some in Japan "Destroy Your Friendships: The Game".
Dokanpon Up Mugen no Roulette is a joint venture between Aquaplus who makes the Utawarerumono series, and Sting who develops the Dokapon series.
Dokanpon Up Mugen no Roulette's main story mode will be fully voiced, and multiple characters artwork have been revealed so far:
The official site includes profiles for the characters too, though it doesn't say anything particularly interesting if you already know the Utawarerumono series and clicked on this article in the first place. So we won't be translating them. It's basic info on how the characters met each other and their initial relationship at the beginning of the respective games they're from.
What's important to note is Haku will be voiced in the game by Keiji Fujiwara, who sadly passed away in April 2020. Japanese games record their dubbing very early in development, so this isn't surprising. He also voiced a character in the freshly released Fairy Tail RPG by Gust.
Over on Twitter, Aquaplus President Naoya Shimokawa confirmed this will be the final time Keiji Fujiwara voices Haku, meaning future Utawarerumono related games will replace him with a new seiyuu:
「うたわれるもの 偽りの仮面」以降、藤原啓治さんにはハクへ命を吹き込んでいただきました。
「ドカポンUP!」はハク役として最後の収録作品となります。
ハクが多くの人々に愛されているのは、ひとえに啓治さんのおかげにほかなりません。
本当に、本当にありがとうございました。
— 下川 直哉 Aquaplus (@AP_shimokawa) August 5, 2020
Seeing Dokapon Up Mugen no Roulette launches on December 10, 2020, it's likely it'll be the final posthumous work of Keiji Fujiwara overall. Another iconic personality tied with the Utawarerumono series, composer Michio Kinugasa, also passed away recently.
Dokapon Up Mugen no Roulette has a story mode, will let you play against friends and family offline, and most notably has an online battle mode, a first for the Dokapon series on consoles.
A Limited Edition will be releasing as well, including an artbook, an OST CD, 2 acrylic key chains (Haku and Kuon), and a DLC code to unlock Anju Battle Version a a playable character.
This DLC code will be included in first-print copies too. It'll also be distributed to those who buy the game digitally during a certain time-frame after release.
Additional screenshots from the game are included below. It looks like a typical Dokapon game or any board game from Mario Party to Dragon Quest x Final Fantasy Itadaki Street. Except it's Utawarerumono and includes RPG elements.
Lastly, the game's shop-specific preorder bonuses were revealed. As usual these are sexual fanservice oriented so be careful. We included those with original artwork in the gallery below. Note that some of these bonuses are also alternative costume colors as DLC codes. There are accessories to decorate the playable characters with too. You can check the shop's full list on the official site. If you're planning to import I'm sure you're grown-up enough to handle all that yourself.
The remake of the first game, Utawarerumono Prelude to The Fallen, is currently available in English on PS4 and PS Vita. Its supposed to release on Steam at some point. The second and third games, Utawarerumono Mask of Deception, and Utawarerumono Mask of Truth, are available in English on the same platforms. There's also the action RPG spinoff Utawarerumono Zan, which is loosely based on Mask of Deception. It's only in English on PS4 for now.
All the Utawarerumono main games are localized now. However, this is a niche within a niche so it's likely Dokapon Up Mugen no Roulette will stay in Japan. That would be a huge shame though seeing how cute the game looks.
Dokapon Up Mugen no Roulette is coming to PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on December 10, 2020 in Japan. This Utawarerumono party game was first announced in early August via Famitsu.
Aquaplus previously mentioned multiple Utawarerumono console games are in development following the launch of mobile gacha game Utawarerumono Lost Flag.
The post Dokapon Up Mugen no Roulette Showcases Its Utawarerumono Characters, Preorder Bonuses, Limited Edition by Iyane Agossah appeared first on DualShockers.
Halo Infinite X Monster Energy Promotion Campaign Starting September 1
The Halo franchise is once again teaming up with a popular drink brand to promote its next game. This time though, it's not mountain dew that folks will be chugging for some extra in-game loot, it's Monster.
This promotion is rather dense and has a few different offers for potential Halo Infinite players. Starting today, you'll be able to find limited-edition Halo Infinite cans of Monster Energy, each with a code on them. Scan three of these codes every month, beginning in September and stretching to the end of the year, and you'll snag yourself an "exclusive in-game weapon."
But wait, there's more. Starting September 1, you can also use your receipts from buying some Monster to earn double XP in Halo Infinite, using what Monster calls a "Bank Now/Play Later" system. By taking a photo of your receipt, going to this link, and submitting photos of your receipts, you can earn points. These points can be used to purchase rewards, although the only reward currently mentioned is double XP in Infinite. From there, players will have to log into their Waypoint account to redeem their double XP. Again, it's not clear what form the point boost will come in, whether it's for an amount earned over a set period of time or for a certain number of games. If this all sounds very confusing, you can check out the rules and an FAQ for the promotion here.
If double XP and exclusive in-game weapons aren't really your thing, there's one last piece of the Halo x Monster promotion – a paid trip to Paris for you and a guest. This is more of a sweepstake, with entries being made every time you send a receipt over to Monster. In the end, ten grand prize winners will receive a seven day, six night trip to France. The entire trip includes round trip airfare, a standard hotel room, and two tickets to a Zero-G Flight Experience. But if all of that's boring and you were hoping for cash, don't worry, you still get a $1000 check. 100 first prize winners will also be selected as part of the sweepstake and will receive a copy of Halo Infinite when it launches, along with an Xbox Series X.
Once again, the Halo X Monster promotion officially begins September 1, and isn't going to be affected by the delay of Halo Infinite.
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Fall Guys is Teaming Up With Team Fortress 2 for New Cosmetics
Since its launch on PS4 and PC earlier this month, Fall Guys has taken off as a big hit. The indie battle royale game has already reached over 2 million players on Steam in nearly two weeks, and developer Mediatonic doesn't seem to be letting up any time soon on finding some creative crossovers for players to enjoy.
The game's official Twitter account has revealed that the next crossover cosmetic item that players can work their way towards earning is the Scout from Team Fortress 2. Complete with his signature hat and outfit, you can earn both parts of the Scout's outfit in the Fall Guys store right now for a total of 10 Crowns.
BONK!
Guess who's coming to the in-game Steam store in a few hours?!?
Better start getting in the dubs so you can save up enough
Thanks @valvesoftware @TeamFortress
https://t.co/tzLe6zEg5O pic.twitter.com/Beq5aro4Be
— Fall Guys
(@FallGuysGame) August 13, 2020
The Scout outfit is hopefully the sign of more crossover cosmetics to come from Team Fortress 2, but we'll have to see if any of the other signature characters from the game will make their way over. Of course, this isn't the first time that Fall Guys has crossed over with other franchises, as we saw with its Half-Life-inspired Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance outfits, and the Jacket cosmetic from Devolver Digital's Hotline Miami. Of course, plenty of fans of the game have been making their own creations online with some fan-made crossovers.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is available now on PS4 and PC.
The post Fall Guys is Teaming Up With Team Fortress 2 for New Cosmetics by Ryan Meitzler appeared first on DualShockers.
Ghost of Tsushima is the Highest Selling First Party PS4 Title in Japan
Sony has put out some absolute banger first-party exclusive titles during this generation of consoles. Their latest, Ghost of Tsushima is the last to join the list and will send the console off in style. The game has continued to sell incredibly well. It has gone on to be the best selling game of July and has broken records in Japan.
Per Famitsu, (via Benji-Sales) Ghost of Tsushima is now the highest-selling first-party PS4 exclusive in Japan. The game reached the status in just over 3 weeks.
Ghost of Tsushima recorded over 330k physical sales in Japan. This passed up the previous record holder Spider-Man from Insomniac.
I loved my time with the game and it certainly deserves credit where credit is due. It has some typical open-world stereotypes you would find in many games of the genre, however, the storyline, gameplay, and overall visuals of the game certainly make up for it. The combat is snappy and switching between different stances makes the player change up certain playstyles. The narrative dives deep into sacrifice, honor, and plenty of other emotions that will tug on your heartstrings. Finally, the visuals. Oh, man. Don't even get me started on the visuals. All I have to say is that you are really missing out on an experience if you do not own a 4K HDR compatible tv and a PS4 pro.
Ghost of Tsushima is currently available on PS4. For those who want to do a little research before picking the game up, make sure to check out DualShockers' official review of the game right here.
Ghost of Tsushima is now the highest selling first party PlayStation 4 exclusive in Japan via Famitsu
It only took a little over 3 weeks
It reached 330k+ physical sales in Japan surpassing the previous record holder Spider-Man from Insomniac. Congrats to @SuckerPunchProd pic.twitter.com/sw0ucaShZU
— Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) August 13, 2020
The post Ghost of Tsushima is the Highest Selling First Party PS4 Title in Japan by Grant Huff appeared first on DualShockers.
Oxenfree Devs' New Game 'Next Stop Nowhere' Hits Apple Arcade Today
Night School Studios, the studio behind Oxenfree and Afterparty, just released their latest story-driven game on Apple Arcade. Revealed last week, Next Stop Nowhere got a brief teaser trailer and then Night School dropped more information about the game in a Twitter thread featuring the characters from the game and a few details about them.
Today, following the game's launch on Apple's exclusive gaming platform, Night School finally released a trailer for their sci-fi road trip. Showcasing a lot of the hallmarks of a game by Night School Studios, like branching dialogue trees and small interactive elements to discover throughout the world, the trailer delivers a strong showing for Next Stop Nowhere.
The launch trailer already had me personally very excited for the game (and hopeful that it'll come to a platform that I have access to), but then, Sean Krankel, the founder and creative director at Night School took to Twitter to talk about the various inspirations that he drew for the game. Based on what he said, the trailer's talk about a bounty and its high stakes are only half the story.
Based on a lot of the inspirations he and his team drew, the game is sure to be tinged with comedic and classic feel-good road trip goodness.
inspirations include:
– Grosse Point Blank
– Pineapple Express
– the Millenium Falcon
– Designer Republic circa '96
– sticking your arm out the window on a road trip https://t.co/ZDMzyRgNjT— sean krankel (@seankrankel) August 14, 2020
While Apple Arcade games don't usually release on Andriod, it's not uncommon for them to find their way to PC and consoles, like What the Golf? However, at this point, Night School hasn't said anything about a release on other platforms for Next Stop Nowhere, so if you're looking for a fun, short, text-based adventure game on consoles or PC, you might want to look at some of the studio's other games, like Oxenfree.
The post Oxenfree Devs' New Game 'Next Stop Nowhere' Hits Apple Arcade Today by Charlie Wacholz appeared first on DualShockers.
Final Fantasy and Hiroyasu Shoji, two names I never expected to see together. It's been four months since Final Fantasy VII Remake launched on PS4 now. Unless you're an extremely busy person, you've probably finished the game now. I'm sure even the most implicated health workers or anti-racism activists, quite busy for obvious reasons for a few months now, must have at least tried the game by now. Most of them are definitely gamers and into Japanese games, seeing these are full of political themes developing your empathy and critical thinking of society.
As you played FF7R, you might have been in awe with some of the interior design when exploring buildings. The Shinra Headquarters in particular. You might have wondered what an actual specialist in this field would think about it. Well, now you can get an idea of it. (And a full analysis assuming you understand Japanese).
Japanese news site Livedoor recently published a video featuring internationally popular Japanese Lighting Designer Hiroyasu Shoji, analyzing Final Fantasy VII Remake. The video, for around 20 minutes, goes through some of the biggest environments in Shinra HQ, starting from the underground parking lot.
Overall, Hiroyasu Shoji mentioned that the lighting is done realistically well, and that the designers at Square Enix did their homework.
Elevators and Automatic Doors
One thing Hiroyasu Shoji pointed out multiple times are Welcome Mats. These are floor oriented lighting which gives off a friendly atmosphere, placed in front of elevators and automatic doors. They're everywhere in places such as shopping malls or hotels IRL. He most notably explained it's also in order to make the female customers' jewelry sparkle.
He also pointed out the light which goes all the way of the elevator is a recent thing you see everywhere. "Recent" as in in the last ten years, and it wasn't the case when he was younger. Basically, Hiroyasu Shoji explained Square Enix properly made 2010s stylized elevators for the Shinra HQ in Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Shell-like Lighting, Misalignment
Hiroyasu Shoji didn't only have words of praise though, and mentioned this part in particular, seen in the screenshot above, was done sloppily. The shell shaped like lighting there near the ceiling, it's considered lame. He also mentioned that by taking a look at the marks pointing to the center of each concrete block of the wall, you can see that the blocks are misaligned with the lights. He added that in a sense this could be considered "2020-like" though, as nowadays making everything look clean and fitting in perfectly is considered old-school.
Shinra-Developed Vehicles Expo
Another segment focuses on the vehicles expo floor. In a nutshell, Hiroyasu Shoji explained that to make vehicles look cool, you need to avoid lighting them directly, but reflect a lot of light, and Final Fantasy VII Remake doesn't follow that rule well. All the cars have light directly shining on them.
Midgar at Night
Another segment has a view of Midgar at night. Hiroyasu Shoji explained Midgar in Final Fantasy VII Remake looks more like Tokyo than New York, because there are a lot of white and green-like lights, and few orange-like lights. Most highly developed cities nowadays are fully switching to LED, which increases the amount of white light. In the past, we mainly used natrium lamp, which looks orange instead.
Shoji explained the cheapest way to illuminate a city as much as possible these days are white LED. He added Tokyo uses a lot because Japan used lights such as mercury lamps a lot in the past, and always had a preference for white looking lighting rather than natrium lamps. It's also because white makes the atmosphere look less hot during summer nights. I'm also guessing Tokyo has more LED because it has a much higher building turnover rate than New York.
Hiroyasu Shoji: Final Fantasy VII Remake Barely Has Any Lights Coming From Above
One of the most interesting points Hiroyasu Shoji brought up is the overall abundant use of light from the floor instead of light from the ceiling emulating the sun. He explained why that's important using the classic SF movie 2001: A Space Odyseey as a reference. During the scenes in the space station, there's light coming from the side, and when they get to Mars, there's light coming from bottom. It's like it's symbolizing they're getting further from earth, and further from our "normal" relationship with sunlight.
Hiroyasu Shoji explained Shinra HQ in Final Fantasy VII Remake using light coming from the floor always give us this feeling that Shinra is doing something unnatural and should be stopped. This was both hilarious and amazing to see because Hiroyasu Shoji pretty much managed to guess everything Final Fantasy VII is about only from the lighting. When the Livedoor News journalists pointed that out, he explained he never played the Remake nor the original game.
Shoji added you can also feel this with how there are few shadows reflected on the floor, since there's no light coming from above. No shadows diminishes the presence of living beings. Everything feels lifeless.
Lastly, he also praised the lighting in the room showing President Shinra's statue.
Livedoor News: Hiroyasu Shoji Analyses Shinra HQ in Final Fantasy VII Remake
Livedoor News regularly does these kind of videos with highly popular AAA games. A similar one happened months ago with a Japanese castle architecture specialist analyzing the castles in Sekiro. I'd have written about it too if time permitted. I'm not paid enough for this.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is currently a PlayStation exclusive, but will loose that exclusivity in April 2021. The game will most notably get a new cool guidebook in Japan later this year. You can read more on the game with our past coverage, most notably our review.
The post Final Fantasy VII Remake: Lighting Designer Hiroyasu Shoji Analyses Shinra Headquarters, Figures Out The Whole Game by Iyane Agossah appeared first on DualShockers.
Metroid Prime 4 Is Still Very Far Away Suggests New Retro Studios Job Listing
Metroid Prime 4 is seemingly bordering on Duke Nukem Forever territory. The sequel to 2007's Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was announced during Nintendo's E3 presentation in 2017 and has hit roadblock after roadblock in its development ever since. In January 2019, Nintendo released a video titled "Metroid Prime 4 Development Update," in which they announced that the game was restarting development and being given to Retro Studios.
In the time since then, a new job opening of some kind appears on Retro Studios' website seemingly every few weeks, sending fan speculation (and fear) out of control. Today, Retro Tweeted that they were looking for Lead Producer for Metroid Prime 4.
We are looking for a to join us on our journey to develop Metroid Prime 4! #GameJobs #GameDev #GameDevJobshttps://t.co/NWVPLGel3E pic.twitter.com/4hpOgw0Byg
— Retro Studios (@RetroStudios) August 14, 2020
According to the listing, some of the lead producer's roles would be maintaining the pace of development, working with the various departments at Retro, and work with staffing to maintain a full team to work on the game.
Lead producer is far from the only opening for developers at Retro, however. The studio is hiring several project leads, like a lead graphics engineer, a senior level designer, and a lead animator. These openings and other openings, like a concept artist opening suggest that the game likely still has a ways to go before we see anything resembling gameplay.
Even the most optimistic Metroid fans are becoming worried about the game's future, considering it's had such a troubled development period. Since Nintendo canceled the game because it wasn't up to snuff before and because Retro Studios has a very strong track record, the fact that they're making sure they do Metroid Prime 4 right is reassuring, to say the least.
It would have been a great surprise to see Metroid Prime 4 as part of Nintendo's holiday lineup, but considering the game is likely a year away at the very least, here's hoping they have something to show off in the coming months to help the Switch keep up its miraculous sales numbers, like the very heavily-rumored 3D Mario collection.
The post Metroid Prime 4 Is Still Very Far Away Suggests New Retro Studios Job Listing by Charlie Wacholz appeared first on DualShockers.
Xbox Ultimate Game Sale Discounts Over 500 Games on Xbox One and PC
With the next-generation consoles on the horizon, and official confirmation that the Xbox Series X is arriving this November, that gives a solid three-month window for gamers to enjoy some current-gen experiences. Thankfully, Microsoft is offering a ton of gaming discounts across Xbox and PC with the return of the Ultimate Gaming Sale for the next two weeks.
The Xbox Ultimate Game Sale has kicked off starting today by Microsoft, with the sale featuring over 500 games across Xbox One and PC. With discounts up to 65% off (and more for Xbox Live Gold and Ultimate members), the Ultimate Game Sale features a ton of variety that should give a little bit of something for everyone on the cheap.
These games are ready to have a new loving home
We know you'll take great care of them.
Up to 65% off. Gold and Ultimate members save even MORE
Plus, get 4000 Microsoft Rewards points when you spend $40: https://t.co/pzktdmH43d pic.twitter.com/vzp7zsofHD
— Xbox (@Xbox) August 14, 2020
Overall you'll be able to find discounts ranging from recent hits from this year such as Resident Evil 3 and Maneater to old favorites like Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2. For a full look at the games available in the Ultimate Game Sale, you can check out Microsoft's store page for the sale right here.
Aside from just digital games, the Ultimate Game Sale is also featuring some limited time sales on accessories and hardware. Specifically, some of the featured discounts include $5 off the PowerA MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip that is compatible with the Xbox One controller, and ideal for using with the upcoming xCloud. Other featured deals include Western Digital's WD_Black P10 external hard drive for the Xbox One at a discount, and Razer's BlackWidow Elite mechanical keyboard with a free DeathAdder V2 gaming mouse.
The Xbox Ultimate Game Sale is running now through Monday, August 24, 2020.
The post Xbox Ultimate Game Sale Discounts Over 500 Games on Xbox One and PC by Ryan Meitzler appeared first on DualShockers.
The Best Phones for Xbox Game Pass and xCloud (for Every Budget)
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with its xCloud game streaming will not be heading to the iOS app store, leaving many iPhone-carrying Xbox players out in the cold. According to Statista, in the US alone, over 45% of smartphone owners are using an iteration of Apple's iPhone. At almost 50% market share, chances are that just about half of Xbox owners are likely using Apple's best selling product. This means that a good portion of people picking up Xbox Series X, will not get to enjoy what's slated to be a tent-pole service for Xbox and their larger strategy moving forward as a company.
This latest spat between the Microsoft Xbox and Apple App Store policy is leaving Xbox players (who use iPhones) in a precarious position. Do they stay in Apple's blue iMessage bubble? Or do they venture out to green(er?) Android pastures and enjoy Xbox Game Pass Ultimate streaming when it launches this fall?
If you're currently an iPhone user who's thinking of making the switch to Android, we're setting you up with what we think are the very best Android phones for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate regardless of your budget.
1. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G || Starting at $1,299.99
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's cloud gaming had its official coming-out party during Samsung's Unpacked alongside the Note 20 Ultra 5G debut. This marketing move made it the default "go-to" device to usher in the new service. For those unfamiliar, Samsung's Galaxy Note line is the tech giant's yearly "everything but the kitchen sink" device. With an annual fall release cadence, Samsung's Note line historically enhances or iterates on most features from it's "little brother" the 'Galaxy S' while tossing in the largest displays, fastest processors available, largest batteries (usually), and even a stylus (because, why not?).
This year, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G features the Snapdragon 865+ processor, 12gb of ram, 128gb of storage (which is also expandable), both sub-6 and millimeter-wave 5G radios for all US carriers, a 4,500 mAh battery, and a 6.9″ AMOLED 2X display that supports dynamic 120hz refresh rates. It definitely leads the pack with its audacious price tag, but if we're being honest, you're probably not finding another Android phone that checks as many boxes as the Note 20 Ultra 5g.
2. Samsung Galaxy S 20 || Starting at $999.99
The Galaxy S line is Samsung's annual iPhone competitor. Like the iPhone, Samsung's Galaxy S is made in various sizes, configurations, and price points in hopes of its phones finding a home in as many pockets as possible. This year's phone, the 'S 20' made a gamble on 5G by placing Qualcomm's pricier 5G radios in its entire line up. This move drove up the price of its entry model significantly. This price jump brought it up to a thousand bucks or right in line with Apple's 'Pro' offering, and a whole $300 more than 2020's best selling phone (globally) the iPhone 11.
Like it's Note 20 big brother, the S 20 is no slouch on paper. It features a Snapdragon 865 processor, 12gb of ram, 128gb of storage, sub-6 5G, a 4,000 mAh battery, and a 6.2″ AMOLED display with support of 120hz at 1080p. Also, like the Note, it's price tag will have most thinking twice before purchasing; however, with the device approaching the 6th-month mark since release, you can (usually) find reasonable offers and discounts from the various US carriers, especially if you're switching.
3. OnePlus 8 5G || Starting at $699.99
OnePlus made a name for itself among Android enthusiasts who were looking for a no-frills and no-compromise experience, without having to shell out half of a mortgage payment to get one. In its early days, OnePlus was among the first OEMs to sell phones with AMOLED displays, coupled with the latest processors, running a bloatware-free version of Android, and keeping all of that below $400. Going the route of becoming the value smartphone champion created an army of raving OnePlus fans and Android faithfuls.
While the company has shown no signs of slowing down, sometimes going as far as releasing 2 flagship devices per year, its prices have almost caught up to the Apples and Samsungs of the world. Again, they're still the value player here. But unfortunately 'value' in the world of smartphones now floats around a little over half a grand. For that much green, what do you get? The OnePlus 8 5G features a Snapdragon 865 processor, 8gb of ram, sub-6 5G, a 4,300 mAh battery, and a 6.5″ AMOLED display with a 120hz refresh rate. You might have just experienced some déjà vu, reading about the S20 before this phone and that's a good thing considering the savings between the two.
4. Google Pixel 4a || Starting at $349.99
Android needed it's own iPhone SE and Google delivered it with the Pixel 4a. Let's be crystal clear here: like the SE, this phone is not going to win any arms race. But what it lacks in horsepower, it will deliver in overall user experience. And that's not just for this year and next — like most Android phones — but it's a 3rd (and maybe/hopefully even a 4th) year as Google treats all of its Pixel phones to a minimum of 36 months of software support and updates. It's an unheard-of feat in the Android ecosystem that can make purchasers of even the most high-end Samsung phones jealous.
If you plan on using your phone for real-life things like photos of your pets and your food, then you should know that you're also getting Google's (arguably) unmatched camera with all of the computational photography software tricks found in high-end Pixel phones. At $349 this phone might be a better buy than a dedicated point and shoot camera, that's how confident I am with Google's top-notch photography software. Luckily, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's magic mostly happens in the cloud, so while the Pixel 4a will not be the snappiest of the bunch on this list, it will still get the job done. So what's under the hood? The Pixel 4a features a Snapdragon 730 processor (sorry, no 5G here folks), 6gb of ram, 128gb of storage, and a 5.8″ display. Oh right, and again, it's only $349.
There are many more Android phones to choose from but the list above is comprised of what we think are the very best phones at their given price points. If you're already an Android user, you probably already had your mindset on your next phone before you clicked through to see our list. If you're an iPhone user who was looking forward to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's game streaming you have another important decision to make before you even entertain this list of phones mentioned here.
Here's what it all boils down to: are you ready to venture away from iMessage, Facetime, (and maybe even the Apple watch you're presently wearing) to enjoy some video games on the go? While to most — a phone, is a phone, is a phone — to others, there's serious 'green bubble' shaming out there in the world and the FOMO of not having those Apple iPhone-only services like iMessage and Facetime can (unfortunately) be another burden altogether.
Project xCloud is officially being unveiled on September 15th, and anyone with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will have a front-row seat. If you haven't picked up a subscription already, you can grab it on Amazon to help support DualShockers.
The post The Best Phones for Xbox Game Pass and xCloud (for Every Budget) by Joel Taveras appeared first on DualShockers.