Rainbow Six Siege is Set to Add Aruni, Full Reveal This Sunday

Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft

Rainbow Six Siege is about to get some brand new blood. Aruni will be the newest defender coming to the multiplayer shooter. We don't know too much about the new character just yet, but that will change very soon. At the EU Major on November 8, players can expect a full breakdown. Plus, there will probably be some solid pro Siege gameplay, if you're interested in that. Check out Aruni's teaser trailer below.

As mentioned above, we know virtually nothing about the next Rainbow Six Siege operator. The short teaser shows Aruni putting what looks to be a laser trap over an open doorway. Without knowing for sure, I can only speculate this is going to function just like the laser grid in the first Resident Evil movie. You know the scene. It's pretty much the only salvageable thing about the entire movie franchise. If Aruni's arsenal can be that cool, the Siege team is going to have something awesome on their hands.

Outside of that speculation, all I can tell you for now is that Aruni is a defender class character with a gnarly scar, and some type of flower perched delicately in their hair. Does the flower stay there in the middle of combat? If so, is it held in place with super glue or something? These are kinds of questions I expect to be answered later this week. Make sure to tune into the stream so you can hear more about the latest character coming to the game.

Rainbow Six Siege is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The game is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X.

The post Rainbow Six Siege is Set to Add Aruni, Full Reveal This Sunday by Ricky Frech appeared first on DualShockers.

Dirt 5 Review — Refreshing the Series in a Good Way

Dirt 5

This year was quite a busy one for all the teams at Codemasters. Earlier in July, Codemasters Birmingham launched F1 2020–arguably one of the best simulation racing of this year–and one of the best entries within the franchise. Later in August, one of Codemasters' new acquisitions delivered its latest project: Project CARS 3. And now, the time has almost come for the launch of Dirt 5 — Codemasters' first cross-gen title and the company's biggest game of 2020.

Like Project CARS 3, Dirt 5 was developed with a specific purpose in mind: specifically, the development team looked to expand to a new audience with arcade controls and a lower barrier to entry. Unlike some shortcomings from Project CARS 3, Codemasters Cheshire found some exciting answers to the matter that suits Dirt's heritage and opens up a wide variety of new options for Codemasters to expand the series' future.

Dirt 5 isn't that kind of game that keeps you on the tip of your couch from the very beginning. Due to nuanced controls and broader skillsets, it needs a little bit of time to start to show off all its incredible potential. Almost from Chapter 2 on, you will enjoy every race that you choose to take part in. Varied locations, a fair number of vehicles, different tracks, and dynamic weather all work together to make Dirt 5 a living, refreshing experience.

However, if you want to enjoy this game, you have to be open-minded about changes in the series — especially changes that target a bigger audience. Dirt 5 won't be your type of game if you are seeking an experience like Dirt 4. It's not even similar to Dirt 3 in many aspects, though you would like the game if you've had some good times with the third installment of the series. Simply put, launching Dirt 5 as a sequel to Dirt 4 is like announcing Forza Horizon 4 as a sequel to Forza Motorsport 7. You wouldn't find it cool at first; but if you accept its change in direction, the game will pay off for that kindness.

Dirt 5

Dirt 5 doesn't go into the details of anything, and that's the most significant difference between the new Dirt and the previous games. You can't even upgrade your cars. But it provides a diverse playground for you to have a taste of every off-road tournament in the world that you may find exhilarating. Every racing segment in the game has its own class of cars and track conditions. As you progress more in the game, you will find some parts that host two or three kinds of car classes.

Dirt 5 has the best track design I've seen in a racing game since Forza Horizon 4. The game offers many different tracks located in multiple countries around the world, and each one has its own identity. Tracks are designed precisely enough that you first need to learn every corner of them before focusing on winning the race. As you can imagine, point-to-point tracks (where the race starts at point A and finishes at point B, and you never go through the same road twice) are the most challenging, and they can ruin all your efforts at the very end of the road with a sudden turn.

Dirt 5

Not only is the selection of roads superb in Dirt 5, but also the developers have done an incredible job designing the visuals of each track. Even without ray-tracing on the current-gen consoles, the game's world looks gorgeous enough to drive home the franchise's graphical power.

Dynamic weather is a real beast in Dirt 5 that affects races in multiple ways. First of all, there is nothing that gets your heart pounding as much as the unexpected shifts in weather during each tournament. Secondly, the challenge dynamic can shift entirely due to environmental hazards — for example, low visibility due to a sudden sandstorm. This is the loveliest feature of the game that really took me by storm (*ba dum tss*).

In the case of vehicle variation, Dirt 5 isn't as rich as Forza Horizon 4 or Need For Speed Heat. Each class, depending on the type, has over six cars at most — some of them only featuring a single model. If you do like each class, you will enjoy your time with Dirt 5 without worrying about the number of cars, since you wouldn't be stuck in a single segment for a long time in the game.

Dirt 5

This is likely the spot that the most recent series changes in Dirt 5 hurt it the most. If the game would allow you to tweak your car with new parts or adjust its various parameters, players could keep using vehicles for longer. But now that you can't customize your car except for drawing a new livery, you could get tired of your car sooner than expected.

Another thing that adds up to the low-car availability issue is the game's unbalanced progression system. While the skill and reputation points that you get for each race seem reasonable, the money you earn after winning each competition appears to be too high, and it generates some problems in the game. More often than not, you already have the money to buy the best and fastest car in a specific class even before unlocking it. More importantly, when you have the best car in a class, why should you spend money on a lower-tier vehicle of the same group when you can win more easily with what you already have?

The AI of your opponents in Dirt 5 is precisely the same as the name of the difficulty level. If you choose "Very Hard," then get yourself ready for a competition that would be really hard to win. Even with its initial unbalanced phase before the first update, it was challenging to win most of the game's races in the highest difficulty level, though some tournaments like Pathfinder were so easy to beat — and they still are.

Dirt 5

Technically, the developers still have a lot on their plate before the game could be considered "polished." During my playthrough, I faced significant frame drops in crowded scenes, even though I'd set the performance level to "Better Frame Rates." On top of that, I couldn't test out Photo Mode due to a bug that threw me out of the game every time that I attempted to capture a shot using the feature.

That being said, the visuals in Dirt 5 are still incredible. Sometimes, regardless of my position, I just stared at the mud on the ground and its realistic physics every time a car passed over it. As mentioned previously, the game doesn't have any ray tracing effect yet on the current-gen consoles, but reflections on the ice and water are stunning. Even the outside of the tracks have a gorgeous design at every location. As I said before, Dirt 5 feels like a living experience, and that's a brilliant achievement. Alongside that, the sound design of Dirt 5 and the taste in music of its developers are fantastic. You can find any kind of rock music from various bands worldwide in the game's soundtrack, and it feels exciting when those music tracks are combined with the roars of the in-game car engines.

Dirt 5

As may know, Troy Baker and Nolan North both are voice acting two characters in Dirt 5. They represent an off-road-focused radio show that provides some info about each racing tournament and some funny pieces of advice on how to win. For me, it was a little bit disappointing how they are incorporated into the game as I had my fingers crossed for a bigger storyline starring ‌Baker and North, but the radio idea isn't that bad after all — just a bit underwhelming.

Putting it all together, Dirt 5 is a content-rich, diverse arcade racing game that is unlike anything else among racing titles of this year. Codemasters' new direction in the Dirt franchise might not be what veteran off-road enthusiasts would've expected. Still, Dirt 5 accomplishes its mission of expanding to a broader audience with engaging arcade-y gameplay, and sets the series off on an exciting new path.

The post Dirt 5 Review — Refreshing the Series in a Good Way by Mehrdad Khayyat appeared first on DualShockers.

DualShockers Definitives — The Top 10 Essential PS4 Games

Welcome to the first official DualShockers Definitives list! This week has been a hard one for DualShockers staff, thanks to much arguing and nit-picking over which games in the amazing PS4 library make the Top 10.

If you missed the original post, here is a quick TLDR on what this is all about:

The DualShockers Definitives series is a living list, updated annually, where we hash out which ten essential games are must-buys for each platform — the ones we would put in a time capsule today if we were making one. The list is intended to grow over time as new releases take the spotlight or older games age like fine wine.

With all of the introduction out of the way, here are the Top 10 Essential games for the PS4 (as of Fall 2020):

10. NieR: Automata

Yoko Taro's NieR: Automata is an exceptional title, with Platinum Games creating a masterclass work with both exceptional story, a memorable cast of characters, and tight hack-and-slash gameplay to tie everything together. Even if you are a newcomer to the NieR universe, you will without a doubt be pulled in by the game's soundtrack, visuals, and the multiple endings that create an emotional roller-coaster.

Check out the DualShockers review of NieR: Automata or grab your copy from Amazon.

9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3

While not being a PS4 exclusive title, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt set the bar early this generation on what Western RPGs should be. Filled to the brim with gameplay, story, and heart, it isn't out of the question to spend over a hundred hours in the Continent. However, the game is still unsurpassed by RPGs that have come after it, mainly thanks to CD Projekt Red's dedication to world-building, fleshed-out side stories, and open-world game design.

Check out the DualShockers review of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or grab your copy from Amazon.

8. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 PC

Red Dead Redemption 2 may have been divisive for some when it released in 2018, but what can't be denied is just how impressive the game is in nearly every way. Rockstar created a world in RDR2 that felt more lived-in and real than perhaps any other video game in history. While it has a slower pace at times, that more methodical approach has allowed it to become one of the more unique titles in the PS4 generation. This is one world and story that are more than worth your time to get lost within. Outlaws to the end.

Check out the DualShockers review of Red Dead Redemption 2 or grab your copy from Amazon.

7. Horizon Zero Dawn

While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt may take top honors for the best Western RPG this generation, developer Guerrilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn is a must-play experience on the PS4. Pairing the novel futuristic, pre-historic setting along with fantastic characters like Aloy bolsters a title that already leads the fray when it comes to impeccable visuals and addictive and satisfying gameplay. Like other games on this list, Horizon Zero Dawn is a technical powerhouse and an essential pick-up for the PS4.

Check out the DualShockers review of Horizon Zero Dawn or grab your copy from Amazon.

6. Final Fantasy VII Remake

Final Fantasy 7 Remake sales 3.5 million copies worldwide

There are few projects more ambitious or more anticipated than Final Fantasy VII Remake — and it's even more surprising that Square Enix was able to meet (if not beat) expectations. Even more important, there is something about this game that feels so uniquely central to the PlayStation identity, it is easily a must play for anyone making a jump to PS4 or PS5.

Check out the DualShockers review of Final Fantasy VII Remake or grab your copy from Amazon.

5. Bloodborne

There is something magical about Bloodborne — sure, Souls-like games have become a trend this generation with many excellent copycats coming from developers that aren't from Software. However, Bloodborne hits a rare nerve, offering both thoughtful gameplay, novel environmental storytelling, and chilling scenery that is unlike anything else on PS4. Sure, a Souls-like game may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Bloodborne is a title you need to play, regardless. As far as the subgenre goes, it's very likely the best of the bunch.

Check out the DualShockers review of Bloodborne or grab your copy from Amazon.

4. Marvel's Spider-Man

Marvel's Spider-Man

You heard it here — the latest PS4 exclusive is one of our chart-topping must-buy games on the PS4. Marvel's Spider-Man already has a ton of huge names behind it: Sony, Marvel, Disney, and Insomniac Games. Thankfully, the super-powered team has managed to craft a masterpiece title that sets a benchmark for not only super-hero games, but open-world titles as a whole. Whether or not you consider yourself a Spidey fan, Marvel's Spider-Man is an essential pick-up on the PS4.

Check out the DualShockers review of Marvel's Spider-Man or grab your copy from Amazon.

3. Persona 5 / Persona 5 Royal

No Top 10 PS4 list would ever be complete without mentioning Persona 5 — arguably the best Persona game in an amazing franchise. Whether you are a series veteran or this is your first time hearing of the Velvet Room, everything about Persona 5 oozes style, finesse, and charm in a way unmatchable by most JRPGs. Whether you are living out your life as a Japanese high schooler or fighting to steal the hearts of monsters, you are going to love this 100-hour story.

Check out the DualShockers review of Persona 5 or grab your copy from Amazon. Meanwhile, check out the review of Persona 5 Royal to see our take on the new content.

2. The Last of Us: Part II

The Last of Us Part II

The Last of Us franchise has become something of a swansong for PlayStation generations, with The Last of Us: Part II capping off an excellent few years with the PS4. Despite some controversy that stirred among select audiences, it's hard to see this adventure as anything less than another feather in the Sony narrative camp. Naughty Dog continues to be unmatched in much of their skill and character development, and it shows.

Check out the DualShockers review of The Last of Us: Part II or grab your copy from Amazon.

1. God of War

Last but not least, the DualShockers staff near-unanimously thought that God of War is the top game to grab on the PS4. Sure, both Sony Santa Monica and the series itself has a strong lineage to draw from. But more important than that, Kratos' new adventure is both a revolution and improvement of the God of War franchise, inserting both emotional depth and combat nuance in a beautiful Nordic backdrop. God of War is far from the longest game on the list with a nearly 20-hour story; however, you will be mesmerized through your entire time with Kratos and Atreus.

Check out the DualShockers review of God of War or grab your copy from Amazon.

As it stands, that is our current DualShockers Definitives ranking of the Top 10 games for PS4; for an extended rankings chart, make sure to check out our dedicated page.

Changes to the List

November 4, 2020: Both DOOM (17th) and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (13th) fall out of the Top 10 list, and onto the Extended list. The Last of Us: Part II (2nd) and Final Fantasy VII Remake (6th) are new additions to the list.

Bloodborne moves down the list to 5th (from 2nd); Marvel's Spider-Man moves down the list to 4th (from 3rd); Red Dead Redemption 2 moves down the list to 8th (from 5th); The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt moves down the list to 9th (from 6th); NieR: Automata moves down the list to 10th (from 7th).

Horizon: Zero Dawn has moved up the list to 7th (from 8th); Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal have collectively moved up the list to 3rd (from 5th).

November 1, 2019: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age fell out of the top 10 and Red Dead Redemption 2 joined the list at number five.

Bloodborne moved up from fifth to second; Marvel's Spider-Man fell from second to third; Persona 5 went from third to fourth; Uncharted 4 went from fourth to tenth; Horizon: Zero Dawn fell from sixth to eighth; NieR: Automata moved up from ninth to seventh; The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt moved up from seventh to sixth; DOOM moved back from eighth to ninth.

The post DualShockers Definitives — The Top 10 Essential PS4 Games by Lou Contaldi appeared first on DualShockers.

Star Renegades Set For Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One This Month

Star Renegades

Star Renegades is a highly tactical strategy RPG from developers Massive Damage. The game released on PC in early September, with a console release loosely scheduled for some point later this year.

While up until now, news on the console launch had been fairly quiet, the game's publisher Raw Fury has now confirmed that the title will be hitting consoles in just a couple of weeks. Star Renegades is launching first on both the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on November 19, before coming to the PS4 a week later on November 25. The game is confirmed to be coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one, as it did with Xbox Game Pass for PC.

Alongside the announcement, the game also got a new trailer, showcasing its beautiful pixel-art graphics and funky techno music.

Star Renegades sees players assemble a ragtag band of rebels to stop invading forces called The Imperium. Moving across a map, players encounter foes in a "deterministic combat system". This system allows players to choose when to attack across a timeline at the top of the screen. Earlier hits are likely to be less powerful but have the opportunity to stop the enemies attacks, whereas later hits will likely be more powerful, but are more likely to place the attacker in the line of fire.

Here at DualShockers, we really enjoyed the game, scoring it a 9/10 in our review. We said:

"Star Renegades is, at its core, a tactical rogue-lite RPG that's laden with well thought out systems, a varied cast and a beautiful world. It's an addictive foray across a range of planets in which you lead a bunch of misfits into battle against malevolent enemy forces. It's a thinker's game; a game where you need meticulous planning and a well considered approach in each battle, and I had a blast with it."

Star Renegades will be available digitally for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One from November 19 and is available for purchase on PC via Steam right now.

The post Star Renegades Set For Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One This Month by Sam Woods appeared first on DualShockers.

The Best 4K TVs to Buy for PS5 and Xbox Series X

The PS5 and Xbox Series X are almost here, and with them comes the beginning of a brand new generation of console gaming. Alongside reduced loading times and other highly-touted technical features, both Sony and Microsoft's new next-gen consoles will push even further into offering players 4K visuals, higher frame rates, and more visually stunning game experiences.

If you're looking to get the most out of the upcoming next-gen consoles, you'll likely want to invest in a 4K TV that is truly capable of the new hardware and that will take full advantage of their technical features. There are obviously quite a lot of options between different TV manufacturers and the capabilities of each individual set, along with new TVs entering the market as the holiday season approaches.

However, if you're in the market to upgrade your TV alongside your new PS5 or Xbox Series X, here are our picks for which sets can take full advantage of the next-gen hardware. For ease of reading, we'll go down by manufacturer and highlight a high-end, intermediate, and budget pick to accommodate different price ranges, along with the footnotes for each TV's specific features and capabilities.

Just a few additional notes before we get into our 4K TV picks: obviously, both the PS5 and Xbox Series X have touted their capabilities of reaching 8K resolution. However, given that the vast majority of TVs that support 8K resolution are extremely hard to come by (and outrageously expensive), we're focusing our picks to the best 4K TV sets that are currently (and more widely) available. Also note that the prices for these TVs may fluctuate as of the time of this writing, especially with the holidays and Black Friday around the corner.

Also worth noting: our picks are meant with the PS5 and Xbox Series X in mind versus the Xbox Series S. While the Series S is capable of scaling up to 4K resolution, it's more ideal for those with a 1080p TV (or 1440p capable display or monitor) compared to the native 4K output from the Series X.

The Basics for Picking Your 4K TV

Before we get into the specific picks for the best TVs for the PS5 and Xbox Series X, it's important to note the key features that you'll want to look for when choosing the right 4K TV to go alongside the next-gen consoles. Mainly, you'll want to look for a TV with low latency options (especially a dedicated Game Mode), support for HDMI 2.1, HDR (High Dynamic Range) settings, and features for 120Hz refresh rates and/or VRR.

HDMI 2.1, 120Hz, and VRR

If you're looking for the most ideal TV that will be capable of 4K resolution and support for 120fps, you'll want to look for a set with HDMI 2.1 connectivity, which is starting to arrive with newer TV models. While you'll be able to play games on the PS5 and Xbox Series X just fine on an older TV with HDMI 2.0 support, the relatively new HDMI 2.1 standard offers the best of both worlds for up to 4K resolution output and 120Hz refresh rates. Additionally, you'll also want to make sure that you have compatible HDMI 2.1 cables to connect between both the consoles and TV — thankfully, both the PS5 and Xbox Series X will ship with HDMI 2.1 standard cables included.

Mainly, HDMI 2.1 will most beneficial to give players access to up to 120fps while playing games, as several titles like Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition, Gears 5, Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War, and more have confirmed support for the higher framerate. Likewise, you'll also want to look for a TV set that can support VRR (variable refresh rate), which adjusts the refresh rate of your TV to match the frame rate of the game that you are playing. This feature is vital to reduce screen-tearing and stuttering that may occur if you're playing a game at a framerate that doesn't line up correctly with your display's refresh rate, as VRR will help significantly to smooth out what's being displayed on-screen.

Low Latency and ALLM

Like with any TV, you'll ideally want a set that minimizes input lag between your system and the TV itself. These days, most TVs come with a dedicated Game Mode that can be enabled to reduce lag that may occur while playing. The prime range for input lag is 10ms or under, ideally getting as close to 0 as possible, otherwise you'll get a much choppier experience while playing.

For those with an HDMI 2.1 capable set, you'll also likely have the added benefit of using Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM), which can automatically detect and adjust when your display should switch to a lower-latency. For the most part, this feature helps take some of the redundancy out of having to manually adjust your TV depending on the console or device that you're using, and automatically scales your 4K TV based on its input.

HDR

Finally, HDR is another important element to consider when picking out a 4K TV, which drastically expands the range of your TV's display and its color gamut, especially between whites and blacks. Mainly, HDR will boost the contrast and vibrancy of how colors are displayed, making for bolder, richer colors and lighting in the games you play.

There are different standards and varieties of HDR support on 4K TVs such as HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and more, but by and large most 4K TVs on the market now will feature some flavor of HDR. HDR10 in particular is one of the most common standards across most 4K TVs, giving a boost to next-gen visuals when playing games or watching 4K media, whether that is through 4K Blu-ray discs or streaming movies or TV.

The Best 4K TV Picks for PS5 and Xbox Series X

 

LG 4K TVs

High-end: LG OLED CXP Series

  • Size: Available in 48″, 55″, 65″, and 75″ configurations
  • Display Type: OLED
  • Price Range: $1,500-$3,500
  • Features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1, HDR, GSync/FreeSync, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Amazon

Intermediate: LG NanoCell 90 Series

  • Size: Available in 55″, 65″, 75″, and 86″ configurations
  • Display Type: LED
  • Price Range: $900-$2,700
  • Features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1, HDR, FreeSync, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Amazon

Budget: LG UHD 73 Series

  • Size: Available in 43″, 50″, 55″, and 65″ configurations
  • Display Type: LED
  • Price Range: $325-$700
  • Features: 4K/60Hz, HDR, 3 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Amazon

Samsung 4K TVs

High-end: Samsung Q90T Series

  • Size: Available in 55″, 65″, 75″, and 85″ configurations
  • Display Type: QLED
  • Price Range: $1,600-$4,500
  • Features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1, HDR, FreeSync, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Amazon

Intermediate: Samsung Frame QLED LS03 Series

  • Size: Available in 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″, and 75″ configurations
  • Display Type: QLED
  • Price Range: $1,000-$3,000
  • Features: 4K/60Hz (43″/50″), 4K/120Hz (55″/65″/75″), VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1, HDR, FreeSync, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Amazon

Budget: Samsung Crystal UHD TU-8000 Series

  • Size: Available in 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″, 75″, and 85″ configurations
  • Display Type: LCD
  • Price Range: $350-$2,000
  • Features: 4K/60Hz, HDR, 2 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Amazon

Sony 4K TVs

High-end: Sony Bravia OLED A9G Master Series 

  • Size: Available in 55″, 65″, and 75″ configurations
  • Display Type: OLED
  • Price Range: $2,300-$4,500
  • Features: 4K/120Hz, HDR, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet, eARC
  • Amazon

Intermediate: Sony X900H Series

  • Size: Available in 55″, 65″, 75″, and 85″ configurations
  • Display Type: LED
  • Price Range: $1,000-$2,600
  • Features*: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1, HDR, FreeSync, 4 HDMI ports (*A future firmware update will add support for VRR/ALLM/120Hz refresh rate)
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Amazon

Budget: Sony X800H Series

  • Size: Available in 43″, 49″, 55″, 65″, 75″, and 85″ configurations
  • Display Type: LED
  • Price Range: $600-$2,000
  • Features: 4K/60Hz, HDR, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Amazon

TCL 4K TVs

Budget: TCL 6-Series 

  • Size: Available in 55″, 65″, and 75″ configurations
  • Display Type: Mini-QLED
  • Price Range: $700-$1,400
  • Features: 4K/60Hz, HDR, VRR, ALLM, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, USB, Ethernet, eARC
  • Amazon

Vizio 4K TVs

High-end: Vizio OLED Series

  • Size: Available in 55″ and 65″ configurations
  • Display Type: QLED
  • Price Range:  $1,300-$2,000
  • Features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1, HDR, FreeSync, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Best Buy

Intermediate: Vizio P-Series Quantum 

  • Size: Available in 65″ and 75″ configurations
  • Display Type: LED
  • Price Range: $1,200-$1,700
  • Features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1, HDR, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Best Buy

Budget: Vizio M-Series Quantum

  • Size: Available in 55″ and 65″ configurations
  • Display Type: LED
  • Price Range: $550-$750
  • Features: 4K/60Hz, HDR, 4 HDMI ports
  • Additional Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet
  • Best Buy

The post The Best 4K TVs to Buy for PS5 and Xbox Series X by Ryan Meitzler appeared first on DualShockers.

NBA 2K21 Moves Out of the Neighborhood and Into The City for Next-Gen

NBA 2K21, 2K Sports

NBA 2K21 is already putting in quite a few upgrades for its next-gen versions. We've seen updated gameplay and a new women's version of MyPlayer. However, the updates aren't stopping there. Today, the team at 2K Sports announced an update to The Neighborhood. First introduced as The Park back in 2K14, it's grown into the fan-favorite place it is today. However, with next-gen, the team is exploding the area out into its own gigantic city. Check it out below.

https://twitter.com/NBA2K/status/1324003532991684609

The City in NBA 2K21 sounds absolutely massive. There are tons of buildings and areas for you to explore. From Rookieville to the Event Center there is so much to see. They even have quest-giving NPCs to give The City a bit of RPG flair. It's quite the spectacle that I'm sure fans will love to check out next week.

NBA 2K21 also brings back Affiliations to The City. These are four different factions that players can join in the journey to the top of the basketball heap. Each Affiliation has its own borough for you to ball in and, if you become popular enough in your faction, you can become the mayor.

This position gets to decide things like your team's court design and uniform selection. Plus, they can create custom playlists for your faction. It's not a permanent position though, as you'll need to win a vote every six weeks to stay in power.

There is a ton of info to take in about The City. Thankfully, 2K Sports has a very detailed blog post on everything coming next week. NBA 2K21 is already out on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It hits Xbox Series X on November 10 and PS5 on November 12.

The post NBA 2K21 Moves Out of the Neighborhood and Into The City for Next-Gen by Ricky Frech appeared first on DualShockers.

Pokimane Implements $5 Cap on Tips, Urges Fans to Support Others

pokimane uci scholarship

Twitch streamer, Imane 'Pokimane' Anys, has announced that she has now issued a data cap of $5 on her channel, meaning that those wanting to donate more than that will be unable to. According to the streamer, she says that anything over $5 is "unnecessary". She made the announcement on November 2, 2020, and says that she worked with Streamlabs to implement the cap.

Pokimane, who has over 6.2 million followers on Twitch and earlier this year announced a Twitch Exclusivity deal, has worked with Streamlabs to introduce a maximum amount that viewers can tip directly to the streamer on her Streamlabs tip page. She encouraged fans in her tweet to "please support growing channels, charities, and treat yourselves."

Last month, she made the news after telling her Twitch audience "Ya'll need to stop giving people who got money free shit. Like influencers, actors, people you recognize."  She added "You should say, "Hey, I'm a really big fan!" and ask them to tip you extra. Okay?".

This move appears to only be through using her Streamlabs tip feature which doesn't appear to be linked or visible on her Twitch channels About page. However, despite limiting the maximum donation to $5, those looking to subscribe to her Twitch channel can still subscribe with a Tier 1 subscription for GBP £4.99 through to a Tier 3 subscription for £24.99 a month. Benefits for the Tier 3 subscription includes benefits from the lower tiers, some emotes, and badges, and more perks.

Pokimane joined New York state representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in an Among Us stream last month and has even got her own Fortnite dance in Epic Games' Battle Royale. What are your thoughts on this move to offer fans the incentive to go and support others?

The post Pokimane Implements $5 Cap on Tips, Urges Fans to Support Others by Ben Bayliss appeared first on DualShockers.

Xbox Series S Usable Storage Is Reportedly 364 GB

Xbox Series S Official

Next generation of consoles will be arriving with SSDs instead of the low-speed HDDs, but still, they both share a similar problem: the amount of space that is not usable for customers. Recently, it was revealed that Xbox Series X users will only be able to use over 650 GB of the SSD for their gaming purposes. Now, a new rumor suggests that the number for Xbox Series S is 364 GB.

One of the Reddit users, who apparently has received an Xbox Series S recently, claimed that the available storage on the console is 364 GB which is equal to 71% of the total storage. Of course, it's yet to be confirmed with Microsoft, but it doesn't seem unreasonable, knowing that Xbox Series X will also share nearly 70% of its total storage for apps and games.

For now, Series S has only one available model in the market, and it's yet to be seen whether there would be a 1 TB version of the console in the future. However, 364 GB doesn't sound like a satisfying number for the next-gen games. Activision recently revealed that Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War will require at least 175 GB of free space on PC, which can be up to 250 GB if you want to play it on 4K resolution with RTX on. Now imagine how much space would be left for you when you install Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty Warzone on your console?

That being said, some believe that the volume of games on Xbox Series S will be lower than usual as it will download the low-resolution assets, unlike Xbox Series X.

Even if that turns out to be true, 364 GB still doesn't seem to be enough with the volume of games growing dramatically since the start of the current generation of consoles.

The post Xbox Series S Usable Storage Is Reportedly 364 GB by Mehrdad Khayyat appeared first on DualShockers.

Friday The 13th: The Game Closes its Dedicated Servers in Final Patch

The lifespan of an online game varies from case to case. If the game is a massive hit, then the team who made it are much more likely to continue updating, supporting, and adding to it than if its success was niche or not quite as big. Friday the 13th: The Game released in 2017 and found success initially when it launched but has had a dwindling player base ever since. As of yesterday, developer Gun Media announced that dedicated servers for the game would be shut down with the final November 2020 patch.

In a blog post to the official Friday the 13th: The Game forums, mattshotcha, the lead community developer for the game, announced that "all things must come to an end, eventually," and that the servers would be shut down. However, worry not if you're still playing the asymmetric multiplayer with your friends because quickplay and private matches will still be available.

The November 2020 patch will be the game's final one with the team "hard at work completing fixes for a long list of player issues." The post goes on to say that the forums will be locked and archived after the patch goes live for any future players who need to reference old patch notes or FAQs.

While it might seem like the game is dead, it will still be available for purchase everywhere. Additionally, JasonKillsBugs.com will continue to be a resource for troubleshooting and for tracking bugs.

The developers reassure players that the update from the start of the pandemic which gave players double XP, CP, and Tape Drop Rates will be left active indefinitely.

For more on Friday the 13th: The Game, make sure to check out this article on the lawsuit between the game and the IP owners. If you're still looking for a copy of the game, you can pick one up right here and help support DualShockers.

The post Friday The 13th: The Game Closes its Dedicated Servers in Final Patch by Peter Hunt Szpytek appeared first on DualShockers.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review-In-Progress — Ichiban is Number One!

Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review

At the time of writing, I still have yet to finish Yakuza: Like a Dragon. That's not for lack of trying, mind you: I am currently on Chapter 13 (out of no more than 15) with about 50 hours of playtime. Despite my attempt to focus on the main story, it's a Yakuza game, so getting swept up in exploring and engaging with the side content is inevitable. It's a small but densely packed open-world game, and every part builds to the greater whole. And what an experience it builds up to in its entirety thus far!

Still, for a narrative-heavy game like this one, I'm disinclined to complete the full review until I've seen the full story. It's possible to make a comfortable conclusion for some games prior to reaching the credits, but not for something so focused on a story. For now, this review-in-progress is largely an expansion of my thoughts from the preview build. If you haven't read that, I'd recommend starting there and coming back.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon (or Yakuza 7) is a first for the franchise in many ways. It's the first game to not star the iconic Kiryu Kazuma in a lead role. The action/brawler combat of old has been benched in favour of an over-exaggerated turn-based JRPG system. It's the first game in the series (excluding Judgment) to feature an English dub since the original Yakuza on PS2. Any three of these could really have let the game down if implemented poorly; thankfully, it absolutely delivers on all of these aspects.

Afro-sporting leading man Ichiban Kasuga is, to put it simply, a fantastic protagonist. He's as charming and likable as any Yakuza protagonist to this point, if not more so. Ye,t when push comes to shove, Kasuga is as determined and principled as it comes. He'll happily take a stand for what he believes in, risking his life without a second thought to protect people and look out for his friends. He's blunt, he's goofy, and he epitomises the low intelligence/high wisdom character archetype. But combine all this with excellent writing, an equally deep and enjoyable cast of characters for Kasuga to interact with, and a fantastic delivery of the English dub by Kaiji Tang? I hadn't even finished the first chapter before I was in love with this wild-haired vagabond with a heart of gold. It's only gotten more pronounced since then, and I've long since stopped questioning my decision to stick with the dub.

Kasuga's story begins 18 years prior to the narrative's key events. He's a low-level grunt for the Arakawa Family, which itself is a low-level family within the Tojo Clan. Nonetheless, he shares a strong rapport with the titular family patriarch. After a higher-ranked member kills a yakuza from another family and threatens a clan war, Arakawa requests that Kasuga go to prison in their place to prevent it. Driven by his loyalty for his boss, Kasuga willingly accepts and ends up serving a full eighteen years.

When he finally emerges, expecting to be greeted by Arakawa, he instead finds that the yakuza world has changed dramatically in his absence. The Tojo Clan is seemingly no more, having been wiped out and replaced by the Omi Alliance, and Arakawa is the traitor who let them in. Trying to find answers as to why, Kasuga ends up shot and his body dumped in the city of Yokohama, barely alive. What follows is Kasuga's struggle to find answers and a meaning to his life… not to mention a means of not starving on the streets.

Like Kamurocho and other cities in prior Yakuza games, Yokohama is dense with content and detail. The blocks and districts within are loaded with restaurants to eat at, minigames to play, or side jobs to pick up. Yakuza: Like a Dragon continues the franchise's trend of marrying the serious and stylised crime drama with the borderline ridiculous substories, and the selection on offer this time is pretty hefty. I've helped a masochist feel pain again, gotten a lesson in fatherhood from a yakuza patriarch in a diaper, and hired mercenaries under the assumption that a sex-line was being phoned. The game rarely keeps me waiting long before I'm back to grinning like an idiot.

Of course, when I'm not grinning like an idiot, I'm engaging in a fantastically written drama with a complex mystery woven amidst in-depth worldbuilding. Yokohama's underworld has its own flavour and power balance compared to Kamurocho, and learning all about this while interacting with the varied factions was the real highlight of the story to me thus far. When I wasn't unraveling this mystery and learning all the connections between the players on the field? I was probably at a bar, drinking with my party members, and learning about their rich backstories. Whatever the tone, Kasuga's earnestness and determination are infectious and always drives the story onwards. And then, moments later, he'll bust out another Dragon Quest reference and shift the moment right back to the other tonal extreme as if it was completely natural.

The Dragon Quest references are quite fitting, given Yakuza: Like a Dragon's genre shift to JRPG. All aspects of the system are framed as Kasuga's imagination being dominated by his love of that series, to the point that even the mechanics play quite similarly. Compared to other JRPGs of the year such as Persona 5 Royal or my personal favourite Trails of Cold Steel 4, Yakuza 7 is somewhat simplistic. It's borrowed many of the core mechanics from Dragon Quest, sometimes to a fault. You'll gain a selection of abilities as you level up, and it's largely a choice between using those skills, attacking regularly, using items, or guarding. Enemies will have weaknesses and resistances, but beyond dictating what moves you should be using, it's largely just fire and forget.

The complexity and unique spin of the system comes mostly through positioning. Battles take place on the streets much like in previous Yakuza games, and both allies and enemies will move around and position themselves on their own as you wait. Though you can't directly move, these positions do have an impact. Area of effect abilities can strike enemies around or between you and the target. Choosing to attack an enemy regularly may see others in their path block the attack and interrupt it. Attacking someone on the ground before they can get up will net you a guaranteed critical hit. Items or hazards on the ground might be kicked or picked up in order to empower attacks. A lot of effort went into making these turn-based battles have some of the energy of the Yakuza franchise's fights, albeit slower.

Most of your power in battles comes from your Jobs, however. The job system of Yakuza: Like a Dragon is unlocked in chapter 5 and lets you choose from a selection of different classes that your characters qualify for. Compared to some systems that really let you build your dream characters out of it, however, Yakuza 7 is a little more straightforward. Your job rank levels up separately to your character, unlocking more abilities and permanent stat ups as you reach thresholds. Many of these skills can't be used unless that job is equipped, however. They'll typically have two "character skills" that can be used regardless of what class you have equipped, but it can take quite a while to get to them.

I found that this meant I wasn't really changing my combinations too much. Every character has their own unique class, and while these aren't specifically the best job, they did help create useful niches for the cast. Usually, I'd find one or two classes that I liked for that character, get them a few ranks in each, and then settle on what seemed best. Job rank experience also takes a while to get doled out, with most of the biggest jumps coming after beating bosses (in some cases, so much so that I thought it was a balance bug). It wasn't until I was reaching later chapters that I felt I could really start experimenting. That said, the challenge does ramp up as the story progresses, and so eventually I really did start considering more idealised team combinations and setups out of necessity. Better late than never, but I can't say that the system was the most engaging job system I've experienced in JRPGs.

Still, this is ultimately a minor gripe. The battles themselves are still entertaining, and the way they're contextualised is frequently hilarious. Seeing how Kasuga will let his imagination run wild with enemy designs is fantastic, and really gives the game a unique charm that other JRPGs might lack. The game also isn't a pushover, with some of Yakuza 7's enemies and bosses really making me work for a victory. Chapter 12 in particular had one boss that halted my progression for a while and really made me re-evaluate my strategy and prepare. As such, I imagine some of the late-game content will really test me.

Regardless, I'm immensely keen to experience it. Perhaps the biggest hindrance to writing this review was simply that I wanted to keep on playing. At its best, Yakuza: Like a Dragon has had as much heart and character as any of the strongest games in the franchise. At its worst, it's still been a game that I just can't get enough of. The team's writing has continued to improve with each installment since Yakuza 0. Barring a sudden poor ending, Yakuza 7 is well on its way to letting Kasuga rub shoulders with Kiryu's greatest adventures. It'll take quite the last-minute fall from grace to net anything less than a 9/10 once I score this thing in the coming days.

Should you never hear anything more from me about it, then know that Yakuza: Like a Dragon is excellent. Everything about the heart and soul of the Yakuza series is here in full force, and the only time it ever really makes me stop smiling is to shed manly tears. Ichiban Kasuga is a fantastic protagonist, and his party is full of fascinating characters in their own right. The PC port seems bereft of most issues that've affected the series, and it's run fairly smoothly on my mid-to-high tier system. It all just serves as another reminder that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios are still at the top of their game, and that the Yakuza franchise is really something special. Seriously, play Yakuza 7.

The post Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review-In-Progress — Ichiban is Number One! by Kris Cornelisse appeared first on DualShockers.