Super Mario 64 Plus is a fan-enhanced port of the classic with permadeath
Will I ever get sick of Mario 64 fan projects? Probably not.
It's an absolute classic. You know it. Nintendo knows it. It has a banger of a soundtrack and timeless level design, in a digestible format. From launch to the current era, it's one of the easiest 3D Mario games to just pick up and play "for a few stars."
The modding community knows all of this too, which is why they try and keep the spirit of the game alive on a constant basis. Take this project from Mors for example, which aims to provide a 60 FPS PC port of Mario 64 with the added wrinkle of permadeath.
Mors also promises "more responsive controls, an improved camera, extended moveset, and the ability to continue a level after getting a star (!)." The permadeath mode is incredibly intriguing, as it's such an easy way to issue a blanket gauntlet challenge to your childhood friends.
"How many stars can you get before you die?" It's so simple, yet compelling. Given that I own the Nintendo 64 version, the DS edition, and now the Switch collection: you know I'm always down for a good Mario 64 challenge. It's one of my most-raced games with friends.
Resident Evil Re:Verse is getting a third open beta tomorrow
If you're yet to check out Resident Evil Re: Verse - the multiplayer side-title accompanying the upcoming Resident Evil Village - then you're going to have another opportunity real soon. Capcom has announced a third beta test for the crossover shooter, scheduled to kick off on all platforms tonight/tomorrow.
If you want to check out the action for yourself, all you need do is download the client on your platform of choice, sign up for a Capcom account, and then you'll be set to go once the servers go live tonight at 23:00 PT and tomorrow at 02:00 ET / 07:00 BST. The beta will run for 24 hours and is open to all players, it does not require a Resident Evil Village pre-order.
Resident Evil Re:Verse is a celebration of the legendary survival horror, and lets up to six players partake in a variety of deathmatch-style modes. Packed out with characters, locations, and weapons cherry-picked from across the entire franchise, Re:Verse will let you finally see who would win in a battle royale between, say, Jack Baker and Ada Wong. The previous beta test, unfortunately, ran into numerous technical issues, but hopefully Capcom has ironed some of these problems out. After all, that's what a beta is for.
Magic: Arena has a code for free levels as an apology for recent bugs
Magic: Arena launched a big expansion in the form of its Strixhaven set, and naturally, there's some bugs.
It's not uncommon to see bugs at the start of a huge patch (Fallout 76, ho!), but Magic: Arena has become sort of known for it, especially day one. But a few bugs lingered for nearly a week before being fixed, and Wizards of the Coast is giving players a little something for their trouble.
In short, a lot of players (myself included) found that their quest bar at the bottom of their main menu was missing. This prevented players from seeing XP-boosting quests properly, and thus halting progress for the Mastery (season) Pass. Other players reported problems seeing their friends list, which is a mighty big issue if you play socially often.
So a hotfix just launched last night, and fixed both of those problems. Wizards is "sorry for the confusion," and decided to launch a code to provide some compensation. To unlock it, just use the code "RestorativeBurst" in the storefront (itself a card reference) to grab two free Mastery Pass levels.
That brings me up to level 18 of 90! The next set is due in July, so I have some time left.
Magic Arena [Twitter]
In a fascinating and quirky revelation, a modder has discovered that a full build of Sega's Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown is housed inside action-RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon, as well as its predecessor, Yakuza 6.
While hero Ichiban Kasuga has always been able to enjoy a few rounds of the excellent fighter by simply entering one of the cityscape's arcades and parking himself in front of a cabinet, PC modder "Silent" was able to unlock the full Xbox 360 edition of VF5: FS in its entirety - complete with training mode, challenge mode, arcade mode settings, and more.
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is just as good as I remember
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is criminally unloved. I mean, the real ones know, but as a whole, it's one of the more forgotten JRPGs, with projects like Persona 4 Golden taking the spotlight away from, well, most of Atlus' back catalog.
With Atlus' new HD remaster, I think a lot of people are going to realize they've been sleeping on a classic.
Void Terrarium's PS5 content will be available on Switch and PS4 as DLC
Void Terrarium is a game that will stick with me for a very long time. It's a rather sad affair with a bleak outlook on mankind's future, but with a kick-ass gameplay loop that totally hooked me last year. It's really worth a playthrough, even if I can't guarantee you'll be all that happy when you watch the credits roll.
If you missed out on the title in 2020, NIS America is re-releasing the game next month for PlayStation 5 as Void Terrarium++. This new version of the game will include everything from the original and adds new emotes, hairstyles, diseases, and a new environment to traverse.
(Update) Amazon China leaks Luigi expansion kit for LEGO Super Mario
[Update: And just like that, the set has been officially announced! The LEGO Luigi Starter Pack launches August 1, priced at $59.99/£59.99. Pre-orders are live at the official LEGO store.]
A since-removed listing from retailer Amazon China has leaked the existence of a new LEGO Super Mario expansion set that will see Mario reunite with his slippery-footed brother, Luigi. The set was originally spotted by dedicated LEGO site The Brick Fan.
Titled "LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Luigi", the new set will add a Luigi variant of the interactive LEGO Super Mario figurine, along with a brand new Starter Course. The kit includes platforms, warp pipes and question blocks, alongside LEGO figurines of Pink Yoshi, Bone Goomba, and Boom Boom. The kit contains 280 pieces in all, and had a listed launch date of July 9, although no price was specified.
(Update) Eustace arrives in Granblue Fantasy: Versus April 20 and is it hot in here or...?
[Update: Version 2.51 is now live in Granblue Fantasy: Versus, bringing a glut of fixes as well as numerous character balance tweaks. You can check out the full patch notes for the update over on the official website.]
CyGames has announced a release date for the next fighter headed to its stylish one-on-one slugfest Granblue Fantasy: Versus. As teased back in early March, literal lone wolf Eustace will be joining GF:V's stupidly stylish roster of fighters on April 20.
Master marksman Eustace patrols Skydom as a wandering vigilante, delivering judgment to the wicked via the business end of his ornate custom rifle "Flamek Thunder" and a handful of explosive devices. Afforded heightened senses thanks to his raw... animalistic... untamed... wolf-like nature, Eustace is a fearsome opponent, equally dangerous at both long-range and in close proximity.
As with all previous Granblue Fantasy: Versus DLC characters, Eustace comes complete with a custom lobby avatar, star character icon, and RPG quest chapter. Be sure to check out the Japanese GF:V Twitter account for a selection of short videos showing off Eustace's moveset as we see our fuzzy boy locked, cocked, and ready to unload... Ok, I'm calling this article right now.
It's time to claim Horizon Zero Dawn for free on the PlayStation Store
Sony's next free game for Play At Home 2021 is Horizon Zero Dawn, the trap-laying, robot-beast-hunting adventure from Guerrilla Games. If you need it — specifically the Complete Edition — it's time to add it to your library. You can claim HZD from the PlayStation Store until May 14 at 8:00 p.m. Pacific.
Of course! That's what we're here for. And if you act before April 22, there's still time to grab nine other free games including Subnautica. Sony also says it'll have "another Play at Home update to share soon."
Apart from the substantial base game, Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition also comes with The Frozen Wilds (an expansion quite a few of us missed), some miscellaneous outfit and gear packs, a digital art book, and a PS4 theme. Normally, Sony charges $20 for this version, so it's a pretty nice giveaway.
As a sort of refresher, here's a clip of someone going to town on a Thunderjaw:
A Seasoned Hunter VS A Mighty Thunderjaw from r/horizon
I'm not sure what else needs to be said about this game — you all know it well enough by now. You've either played through it already, you've chipped away at it but never finished Aloy's journey because the open world distracted you (same here), or you've needed a nudge like this giveaway. Or you don't care.
By all means, claim away. It's no accident that HZD has a strong fan following and people are generally feeling good about the sequel's potential. You might end up loving it. And with Horizon Forbidden West staying essentially silent lately, there should be plenty of time to get situated. No rush at all.
I'd consider giving Horizon Zero Dawn another spin from scratch if there was 60FPS support on PS5, but as is, I'm leaning toward trying out Days Gone the next time I have wiggle room in my backlog. Maybe. I'm very much in a pick-up-and-play mood right now and neither of them resonate with me that way.
After seeing it in action, Resident Evil Village looks like a natural evolution from RE7
Resident Evil Village is one of my most anticipated games.
I mean, some of you know I've played every Resident Evil entry in existence (even the lightgun ones, with the accessories!), but coming off of Resident Evil 7, I really want to see how Capcom is going to follow it up. RE7 set a huge bar for what the series has now become.
Existing on a different plan entirely than say, the complete fumble that is RE6, the newest mainline entry brought folks back to basics with horror at the forefront. Based on what I've seen of Village so far, it looks like they're going to nail it again.
Dota: Dragon's Blood is getting a second season
Netflix's Dota 2 series premiered fairly recently, and it's already been locked in for another season. The Dota 2 Twitter account has confirmed that Book 2 of Dota: Dragon's Blood is on the way.
A tweet today says the second season of Dota: Dragon's Blood is in the works. No more details have been provided, though it also notes that Free to Play—a documentary following several professional Dota 2 players through the first International—is now on Netflix as well, with an updated end credit sequence.
Book 2 is coming! The second season of DOTA: Dragon's Blood is in the works.
— DOTA 2 (@DOTA2) April 19, 2021
While you wait, revisit the story of the tournament that started it all â€" FREE TO PLAY is now available on @netflix with an updated end credit sequence. pic.twitter.com/CINeVNlheM
I'm pretty pumped about this news. The first season of Dota: Dragon's Blood was solid, and it left some threads hanging that I'd love to see tied off. Also, there are a ton of weird Dota characters that would be a blast to see animated. I know Pudge and Rubick are obvious favorites, but I would love to see what Storm Spirit or Enigma would look like in a series like this.
This also adds to the pile for Netflix's video game adaptations. Castlevania's final season airs next month, even more Witcher is in the works, and Resident Evil's CGI movie lands in July. There doesn't seem to be a shortage of video game series, and now that includes some more Dota.
What did you think of the Resident Evil Village demo?
Capcom didn't make things simple with the new Resident Evil Village demo that can only be played for a certain amount of time on certain days and certain platforms. It's enough to justify an explainer.
I'm not here to recap all of that nonsense again, but after playing the first slice of the demo on Saturday on my PS5 — a quick 30 minutes in the village area — I wanted to talk about the rollout. Will Capcom try this stunt again with another game, or is this a one-off experiment? Either way, it needs tweaks.
The whole "8 Hours in Village" branding only makes the demo schedule more confusing at a glance.
A bit of background. If you were in the right time and place on April 17, you could've spent half an hour with Resident Evil Village on a PS4 or PS5 during an early-access phase that lasted only eight hours.
I happened to be around, and I'm stoked for Village, so I pre-loaded the demo and was ready to go. Except when 5:00 p.m. Pacific rolled around, I didn't immediately start playing — instead, I began watching someone else's playthrough in a YouTube live stream. I wasn't going to waste my demo!
As silly as that sounds, it felt warranted. By watching another playthrough, I knew to turn off ray tracing in the main menu (not in the pause menu!) so the game would run at 60 frames per second. I also learned the demo was cutscene-heavy, and that the timer didn't stop during cutscenes. You can skip them to save time, and for several minor scenes, once I got the gist, I totally did. It felt bad.
If you were hoping for Twisted Metal III to be mediocre, your wish is granted
Twisted Metal was an institution on the PlayStation. Much like the landmark titles Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Resident Evil, it exploded its genre, resulting in a bevy of pretenders. For Twisted Metal, it was vehicular combat; average, everyday cars with guns taped to them battling it out for supremacy. Games like Interstate '76 and Carmageddon would step up to try and take the throne over the next decade.
It was followed up a year later with Twisted Metal 2, a game that had a significant impact on my childhood. It was creepy, edgy, and the right amount of goofy. Discomforting cutscenes, creepy characters, lots of fire; it fit with the mid to late '90s theme of pushing the limits of taste. It was also really, stupidly fun.
But then developer Singletrac got bought up and the rights to Twisted Metal stayed with Sony. They passed development onto 989 Studios, a division of theirs that normally just acted as a publisher. Their first result was Twisted Metal III, and we're going to need the jaws of life to get through this wreckage.
Earthblade is the next 2D action game from the Celeste team
After TowerFall and Celeste, you better believe I'll keep tabs on Earthblade, the next 2D game from Extremely OK Games. The team shared a "vibe reveal" today alongside a preview of Lena Raine's soundtrack, the logo and a teaser poster by Pedro Medeiros, and a studio check-in from Maddy Thorson. Put another way, we're still in for a bit of a wait here, but they've landed on a direction.
Earthblade 🌷 Vibe reveal! (ðŸ"Šsound on!)
— Extremely OK Games (@exok_games) April 19, 2021
A 2D explor-action game in a seamless pixel art world. The next release from the Celeste team, coming 20XX. pic.twitter.com/ceAM80PEaG
The developers are calling Earthblade a "2D explor-action game in a seamless pixel art world." I'm immediately picturing what it'll be like to wield a sword given how fantastic Celeste and TowerFell felt.
Here's the full poster (is that a castle tower, a giant sword, or both?):
"Finding the right project is hard," Thorson wrote in a blog post. "It has to hit that tiny sweet spot between the unknown and the comfort zone. The unknown is exciting, but scary and difficult. The comfort zone is safe and easy, but boring. It's tempting as an artist to push yourself too far into the unknown, into a project that's not going to get finished given the constraints of your circumstances."
The team didn't strike the right balance on its first, second, or even third try. In the time since Celeste — can you believe it's been three years? — they built a few game prototypes that didn't pan out.
"Prototypes EXOK1–3 taught us a lot, but ultimately we ventured way too far from our comfort zone for them to realistically ever get finished," the designer continued. "It took a while, but we feel like we've settled on the right compromise between the two with Earthblade."
"I am so excited about this project," Thorson said. "I can see the whole thing in my head. Not perfectly, mind you — most of the details are still pretty blurry in my mental image, and I'm sure a lot will change along the way. But I can see the general shape of it, and I feel really good about where it's going."
Unlike Celeste, which had very public-facing updates on Twitter ("we basically tweeted out whatever interesting-looking thing we were working on day-to-day"), Earthblade will be more secretive — at least for now. Extremely OK Games believes "an air of mystery lends itself particularly well to this project, so we've opted to save it all up for a big reveal that will hopefully blow your socks off."
They know how to make great-feeling games, so vague or not, no matter how long it takes, I'm in.
Hitman developer IO Interactive expands with new Barcelona studio
IO Interactive, developer of the popular and critically acclaimed Hitman franchise, continues to flourish since stepping away from Square Enix to go independent. The Danish developer has recently announced that it is expanding its operations with a brand new studio, opening in beautiful Barcelona, Spain.
"There are exciting times ahead at IO Interactive and I am proud to announce the next step in our plans for the most desirable game company in Europe," said IO CEO Hakan Abrak in an official statement. "IOI Barcelona will become the third studio to join our efforts to create phenomenal experiences for our players and communities."
"All three of our studios have extremely talented developers who are passionate and driven towards making an impact in our industry. A core part of our philosophy is that everyone at IOI has a significant and impactful role to play in realizing our dreams, regardless of where they're located. Think of it as one studio, in multiple locations."
IOI Barcelona joins the developer's previous two studios IOI Copenhagen and IOI Malmo, and will be used for the development of IO's current and future releases. This is expected to include Hitman, the exciting James Bond title "Project 007" and a third, unannounced IP. IO notes that all three of its studios should be recognized as "elite," as all will be equally focused on the developer's releases going forward.
In choosing to leave Square Enix to go it alone in both development and publishing, IO Interactive took an enormous risk at a fragile time in the industry. But having since bagged the sought-after James Bond license, delivered an excellent release in the form of Hitman 3, and the opening of its new Spanish studio, it seems that this risk has paid off - IO's future is looking sunnier than ever.
Apex Legends Mobile will begin beta tests later this month
It has been a hot minute since we last talked about EA bringing its wildly successful battle royale Apex Legends to mobile. The console and PC versions of the shooter recently surpassed 100 million players worldwide, but if the success of PUBG Mobile is any indication, its greatest successes may still be yet to come. After keeping quiet on the game for the better part of two years, Chad Grenier, game director on Apex Legends, has pulled back the curtain on the mobile, free-to-play shooter.
Designed in-house at Respawn, Apex Legends Mobile takes its battle royale formula and reworks it for the touchscreen controls at the forefront of the mobile experience. As such, there will be no cross-play with the console and PC versions, and Apex Legends Mobile will have its own unique battle passes, cosmetics, and unlockables.
Closed beta tests on Android platforms will begin soon. However, Respawn is initially limiting these to a few thousand players in India and the Philippines. I can't wait to see these tests come to our shores, and I'm quite interested in seeing if my phone will be able to run this game or if it'll be time for me to upgrade to the newest Pixel.
Apex Legends Mobile Regional Betas [EA]
Amazon cancels Lord of the Rings MMO after dispute with Tencent-acquired partner
Amazon Game Studios' ambitious MMO set within the Lord of the Rings universe has hit the bricks, following failed negotiations between Amazon and its development partner's new owner, Tencent.
According to a new report from Bloomberg, the project was a joint development between Amazon Game Studios and holding company Leyou Technologies. The latter company was acquired by Chinese conglomerate Tencent in 2020, forcing new contract negotiations. But it seems that Amazon and Tencent failed to find common ground on the new terms, which has led to Amazon canning the LOTR project altogether.
"We love the Lord of the Rings IP, and are disappointed that we won't be bringing this game to customers," an Amazon spokesperson told Bloomberg. "We have been unable to secure terms to proceed with this title at this time."
The Lord of the Rings will now go in Amazon's storage closet alongside previously canned releases Crucible and Breakaway. Sandbox MMO New World remains in development for PC, with a tentative launch date of August 31. Since it officially announced it was entering video game development back in 2014, Amazon Game Studios is yet to see a successful release. Having just opened new digs in Montreal, Canada, it seems that the retail giant is still all-in on its digital endeavors.
Apex Legends' 'Northstar' cinematic is a blast from Titanfall's past
Apex Legends has always been set in the Titanfall universe, utilizing many of the series' weaponry and linking characters into the broader narrative. The latest story cinematic for the free-to-play battle royale is a serious gut-punch for Titanfall 2 fans, though.
The newest Stories from the Outlands, titled "Northstar," premiered earlier today. Right away, we see some Titanfall imagery: specifically, a Pilot's helmet. After a deal goes south, our main character Kairi Imahara even meets up with Titanfall 2 antagonist Kuben Blisk. But then she pulls out a card—an Apex card, similar to one held by the members of Blisk's pack in Titanfall 2—and it becomes clear this isn't just a quick cameo spot.
It's revealed that Kairi is the daughter of Viper, one of the Titan Pilots that Titanfall 2 protagonist Jack takes down over the course of the campaign. Viper piloted the high-flying Northstar configuration, and you face off against him on top of a ship near the end of the campaign.
While Viper certainly makes an impression in Titanfall 2, "Northstar" is here to not only flesh both this character and Kairi—who's joining the Apex Legends lineup as Valkyrie—but to make me feel pretty bad about winning that boss fight. Viper was cool as heck and has one of my favorite Pilot intros in Titanfall 2. Dang.
It's nice to see the worlds collide, however. And the resolution it arrives at, with Kairi choosing to forego vengeance and forge her own path, even repurposing the Northstar wreckage to craft her own weapons (seemingly with the help of fellow Legend Rampart), is a solid one. Definitely makes me want to hop back into Apex Legends after a long time away.
Some Respawn devs had previously said that this upcoming season would have some Titanfall content in it, so we're already off to a good start. It's still not a new Titanfall, but since it seems iffy on when or if that will ever happen, these neat side stories that expand on the broader universe are pretty great, too.
Double Fine reaffirms Psychonauts 2 is coming this year
There might be some delays already this year, but Double Fine has reassured it's still aiming for 2021. The studio tweeted today that yes, Psychonauts 2 is still slated for this year.
The statement reaffirms what the company's Twitter account has said a few times before: that Psychonauts 2 is "this year." No specific date has been set yet, "but it is real. It is playable. It is coming."
And yes, Psychonauts 2 is this year and yes I've been mentioning that here and elsewhere for a while but no I can't tell you when because someone from THE COMPANY would arrange for a mysterious "cactus accident" to happen to me...
— Double Fine (@DoubleFine) April 19, 2021
But it is real. It is playable. It is coming.
Even if it's been said before, some confirmation is nice to have. Games like Deathloop and Guilty Gear Strive have already had their release date pushed back, and the effects of the pandemic have resulted in a number of game delays over the last year or so.
Psychonauts 2 hasn't been immune to delays either. Some confirmation that work's progressing is reaffirming at the least. The company also recently put out a trailer for its next Amnesia Fortnight game jam documentary, which will premiere later this month on April 29.
The Japanese commercial for Magic: Arena mobile is wild
Magic: The Gathering Arena just launched wide on mobile, and Wizards of the Coast wants people to know about it: with a Japanese commercial.
Like many commercials in the region, it starts with a bored salaryman at work dreaming of something more. He looks at the clock, and it says "MTG" as he falls asleep standing up. Suddenly his boss turns into a Danny Devito-esque troll and a bunch of big Magic: The Gathering lore characters start appearing to inspire him to play more video games at work. Classic. Chandra and Jace in the workplace!
Oh, and it has subtitles! And it's sort of a musical! And has some actual gameplay. It kind of has it all, given that it clocks in at just under 1:49. Love the glowing Jace eyes.
Enjoy the ride and smile on a potentially busy and rote Monday.
PlayStation reverses course on PS3, Vita store closure
Last month, Sony confirmed a report that it would be closing the online storefront for PlayStation 3, Vita, and PSP. Today, the company announced it would no longer be closing two of those stores.
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan said in a statement on the PlayStation Blog that while Sony had recently planned to close the stores this summer, upon further reflection it was clear that it made the wrong decision. The PlayStation Store for PS3 and Vita will stay operational, though PSP commerce functionality will still retire on July 2, 2021 as planned.
"When we initially came to the decision to end purchasing support for PS3 and PS Vita, it was born out of a number of factors, including commerce support challenges for older devices and the ability for us to focus more of our resources on newer devices where a majority of our games are playing on," said Ryan.
"We see now that many of you are incredibly passionate about being able to continue purchasing classic games on PS3 and PS Vita for the foreseeable future, so I'm glad we were able to find a solution to continue operations."
This is certainly a positive for people who want to hold onto their old games, or might want to explore what they missed out on at some point in the future. Getting old games backed up was already proving to be a bit of a slog too, so having two of these storefronts stay online and operational is rad. (Sorry for those holding out hope for the PSP, though.)
Nintendo files new suit against alleged Team Xecuter hacker Bowser
Nintendo of America has filed a new lawsuit against an associate of long-time hack-maker Team Xecuter.
Following an F.B.I. investigation, Canadian Gary Bowser was arrested in the Dominican Republic in September 2020, before being extradited to the U.S. to face felony charges for the alleged creation and distribution of Nintendo Switch "jailbreak" devices such as the SX Core and SX Lite.
As reported by Polygon, Nintendo served a new lawsuit in a Seattle court last week, alleging that Bowser infringed on Nintendo's copyright by creating and distributing the hacking devices. The lawsuit demands restitution in the amount of $2,500 USD for each trafficked device, and $150,000 for each copyright violation, as well as the complete shutdown of Bowser's mod-making operations.
Bowser is one of a trio of Team Xecuter members facing felony charges for their part in alleged Switch hacking operations. French National Max Louarn was also arrested in September in Canada, with authorities still seeking U.S. extradition. A third associate, Chinese national Yuanning Chen, is still being sought by authorities.
The Team Xecuter arrests are part of an ongoing investigation and crackdown by Nintendo on the makers and distributors of hacking devices. Earlier in September 2020, Ohio-based hack-maker Uberchips was directed by the courts to pay $2 million USD in damages to Nintendo for its part in the distribution of Team Xecuter's products.
Bethesda is ready to share more details for Fallout 76 Season 4, and another roadmap update
The big news in Fallout 76 is the impending release of the "Locked and Loaded" update, which brings in a ton of quality of life upgrades for Daily Ops, among other facets of the game.
But it's also heralding a brand new season: one of Bethesda's many monetization tools for Fallout 76. We're up to Season 4 now, and it's called "Armor Ace and the Power Patrol in Cold Steel," going along with the classic sci-fi b-movie/'90s cheese feel of the older seasons. It's a shame one of Fallout 76's most charismatic elements is locked behind a time-gated monetization system, but that's more of a sign of the times than anything.
Anyway, Season 4 is happening on April 27, and will feature 100 ranks to climb, as well as mannequin rewards, power armor, weapon skins, CAMP objects, backpack flairs, badges, and a Nukashine. Oh, and a "carry weight booster" that lets you carry 50 extra pounds for 30 minutes. Yeah, the art team knocks it out of the park for seasons, but the monetization intent is scummy.
Oh, and Bethesda also just put out a new community calendar that's a bit more immediate than the giant "end of 2021" infographic they released recently. In May the team is focusing on CAMP creations with an event every weekend, then the "Summer Heat" Moleminers focus, then the July Steel Reign 2 update that also has a big emphasis on legendary items and crafting.
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
I'm so excited to reunite with Rose in Street Fighter V today
Street Fighter V: Champion Edition gets a much-needed dose of class today, as franchise veteran Rose returns to the roster as Season 5's second DLC character. The Italian psychic - who made her series debut in 1995's Street Fighter Alpha - returns to the ring armed with a whole new deck of tricks.
Joining an arsenal of trademark Rose attacks such as Soul Spiral, Soul Piede, and Soul Satellite are a new airborne projectile, an optional teleport ability, and a deep, strategic V-Skill based on our good lady's mastery of the Tarot. Overall, this looks like it could prove to be the most interesting and exciting iteration of Rose the franchise has ever seen. Not to mention her attractive character model and an awesome array of launch costumes - check out her amazing war outfit and that floppy hat/swimsuit combo!
The full Monster Hunter Rise loading screen art is a sight to behold
Monster Hunter Rise has some amazing art.
That's partly why it's won the favor of the gaming community these past few weeks, all told. The universe is so full of life, and the Wirebug mechanic allows players to explore that to the fullest, unlike any prior Monster Hunter game. We get to bask in it on a constant basis.
Reddit user Surrealz knows this, and managed to create a gigantic rendition of the game's scrolling loading screen. So basically, remember the art you see when the game loads between hunts? The ukiyo-e style monster images? Well, Surrealz screenshotted all of that and pasted it together with Photoshop.
The result is stunning, and tells a story. I love how you start at the lowliest archer, then slowly rise (ha) up and witness the townsfolk fighting off an entire invasion; not unlike the Tower Defense-esque Rampage mode in the game. Also seeing the Magnamalo at the end is glorious.
Now I just want to play again.
Surrealz [Reddit]
Mario Kart 8 has beaten Mario Kart Wii to become the best-selling racer of all time
So Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been doing swimmingly for Nintendo. So good, in fact, that it's the top-selling Switch game of all time.
You thought it was Zelda? No, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is actually three whole spots ahead of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with a whopping 12 million more units sold. It's a complete powerhouse of a series on pretty much every platform it's on. It even sold on Wii U!
Speaking of, those legacy Wii U sales have come in handy, because with the combined numbers from the original version of Mario Kart 8 with the Switch Deluxe edition, the game has now taken the spot of the best-selling racing game in US history.
Taking to Twitter, the NPD group's Mat Piscatella shared the latest data, and explains that so far year to date in all of 2021, Mario Kart 8 is the sixth ranked game in terms of sales: right above Minecraft! And they made sure to point out that Mario Kart 8 just surpassed Mario Kart Wii for the top spot.
For a (now) four-year-old port of a seven-year-old game, that's not too shabby. It's crazy that Nintendo hasn't capitalized on it in any way in recent years, even with some free DLC to get people talking again. But that's Nintendo for you.
Mat Piscatella [Twitter]
NieR Replicant releases PS4 gameplay video and details extra content in new trailer
This week sees the long awaited arrival of Square Enix' NieR Replicant. For those of you who simply cannot wait those final few days, PlayStation Underground has your back, delivering 15 minutes of gameplay captured directly from the PS4 edition of the remaster. In addition, Publisher Square Enix has released a new "extra content" trailer just this morning, showcasing some of the cool new features being added to the updated edition of the action-RPG.
Tekken 7 celebrates seven million sales with updated artwork
Bandai Namco has announced that its premier 3D fighter Tekken 7 has officially surpassed seven million global sales on PS4, PC, and Xbox One. The impressive number had been teased earlier by series producer Katsuhiro Harada, with the milestone officially declared this past weekend.
Speaking on Twitter, Harada-san also took the opportunity to post an updated version of the title's recurring "party" artwork, which shows the entire Tekken 7 roster chilling at a swanky gathering. The image has been expanded to include the sequel's recent DLC characters, including Kunimitsu II and Polish prime minister Lidia Sobieska.
Tekken 7 hit the Japanese arcade scene back in 2015 and took a long two years to finally make the leap to home consoles. Given that six million sales were reached in September 2020, Tekken 7 has shifted a further one million copies despite being six years into its lifespan, an astounding achievement for a fighting game of that age. Tekken 7 is now the second best-selling release in the long-running franchise, sitting just behind 1998 PlayStation classic Tekken 3.
Stunning art shows the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster recreated in classic 'Cuphead' style
Artist Daniel Cortes (@Dannycortoons) has completed a painstaking project to depict the entire roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in an aesthetic reminiscent of 1930s animation, perhaps more commonly known as the "Rubber Hose" style, and recently popularized by Studio MDHR's platformer, Cuphead.
"After many months, and over 120 characters drawn, here's every single #SmashBrosUltimate character in a style inspired by #Cuphead #Rubberhose #1930sCartoons! Everyone is Here!" announced Cortes on Twitter. "Thank you guys so much for support throughout this project, can't wait to share more in the future!"
The incredible image features well over 100 characters, representing the entirety of the roster from Nintendo's popular fighting title, including alternate skins and Mii cosplay characters. From Mario to Jigglypuff, Sans to Solid Snake, Joker to Wii Fit Trainer, "Everyone is Here" in this colorful and lively banner - a real who's who of gaming.
Cortes has noted that they will update their artwork with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's two remaining DLC characters once they are finally revealed. In the meantime, enjoy picking out your favorite characters in the full image. Everyone looks fantastic, but I think Wendy O. is my favorite here... or Fox McCloud... or Bayonetta... Or...
Travel to the 32th zone in Sunsoft's Atlantis no Nazo
Part of what draws me to Famicom games is the fact that I missed out entirely on the culture around it. Not only am I of an age that would have given the Super Famicom more significance, but -- and this may shock you -- I'm not Japanese.
One of my biggest windows into the Famicom culture is Game Center CX, a Japanese show that involves a guy, Shinya Arino, in an office playing video games for hours at a time in an attempt to beat them. There are segments that celebrate the games of yore and explore the many arcades that still exist scattered across the country, and bit by bit, you're given insight into the Japanese perspective.
Among the things I've learned is that there was a period in the mid-'80s where players seemed to be obsessed with "secrets." This would sometimes merely be the presence of a warp zone, a concept that was grasped by Western audiences as well. Other times it would be a cameo appearance by characters from another game. But developers would occasionally go overboard. The most high-profile example of this in the West is probably Milon's Secret Castle or Super Pitfall, impenetrable games that are almost impossible to topple without some sort of guide. We'd also be spared from the true Super Mario Bros. 2, which equally enjoyed screwing with the player unless they knew what they were doing.
Dig deep enough, and you'll find quite a few examples of this, but one of my favorites is the absolutely stupid Atlantis no Nazo.
PlayStation 3 games sure have gotten expensive
PlayStation 3 games have gotten expensive lately — as have a lot of other old games that are either rare, genuinely desirable as something an adult would play and enjoy in 2021, or heaven forbid, both.
I'm not about to sell off anything, but it's to the point where I've found myself re-checking all of my collections in astonishment after seeing the prices games are fetching right now. In some cases, especially my DS library, these are titles I haven't touched (much less thought about touching) in years. I know myself well enough to know that ditching them would end in eventual regret, but it's tempting.
It's a similar story on other consoles, including my bestie, the GameCube, and while it's not necessarily a new trend — the pandemic has done a number on retro game prices — the PS3 is worth watching.
In the wake of Sony announcing its plan to remove the ability to purchase digital PS3, Vita, and PSP games later this year, I've been on a mad dash to catalog my existing purchases, figure out my longstanding gaps, and begin buying up digital copies (so far mostly PS1 Classics) before the store shutdown in July. I was so fixated on this initial goal that I hadn't looked that much into stocking up on physical copies of PS3 games. In retrospect, that was a mistake. It's probably too late for me.
Millions of California residents like myself are bracing for what could be a very dry year for our state. Water conservation may have to make a comeback in 2021 as our snowpack is below the yearly average, and I honestly can't remember the last time it rained where I live. While I guess I should be thankful to reside somewhere that's bright and sunny nearly every day of the year, I could sure go for some clouds right about now. Especially a jerk cloud, like the one in Rain on Your Parade.
Life is stressful, which is a phrase I hate saying because it reminds me of all the stressful things in my life. We're living in crappy times, and many of us are in crappy situations. Thankfully, things are starting to improve for me, but every day is a constant battle. I'm not trying to turn this into a competition, though. You all know how it is.
Given that video games are my hobby of choice, it seems natural that I use them to relax. But not every title is fit for this purpose. For example, I wouldn't want to play Overcooked with my parents as a way to unwind. I'd probably only use that if I wanted to give myself a reason to be disappointed in them for a change. Likewise, I don't use games for escapism. Some people can get lost in World of Warcraft for days at a time, but my mind doesn't work that way. I just need something calming that sets my mind on the right track and slows my heart rate.
So, what games do I use to max and relax? That depends on what kind of stress I'm under, but here's a few examples:
Animal Crossing fans, this one's for you.
Let's relive the unspeakable horrors of high school with Mary-Kate and Ashley: Crush Course
There's a method to my madness when picking kusoge. A lot of the time, I go by reputation. I may not have played Carmageddon 64 or BMX XXX until I chose them as subjects for articles, but they're generally understood to be crap games. This helps in two ways; the first is that I'm not going to be stepping all over someone's favorite game, and the second is that more people will recognize it off the hop.
But I'm not always going to do that, and this is one of those times.
This is a time where I'm going to look at a game because it's an easy target. Its relevance is long past stale, I'm not even in the same area code as its target audience, and I'm completely detached from its source material. It's a game that I'm completely divorced from, and I know I'm going to hate it, so let's dive into Mary-Kate and Ashley: Crush Course.
Frisky Tom is laying pipe in this week's Arcade Archives release
One of the most amusing aspects of old-school game development is the WGAF? mentality when it came to naming video games. While today's publishers pour hours and hours into titling their wares - wringing hands over the amount of words or letters used, and holding focus groups over where the chosen title plays in multiple territories - gaming's formative publishers seemingly slapped a name on the design document, then broke for lunch.
Case in point, Nichibutsu's 1981 release, Frisky Tom, now available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as this week's Arcade Archives release. The bizarrely named puzzle-platformer put players in the role of a bowler hat-sporting plumber, who must dash along a fragile piping system fixing joins, repairing punctures, and staying one step ahead of a gang of mischievous mice who attempt to thwart his efforts by literally bombing his fine work.
Should Tom succeed in his efforts to keep the drainage system flowing smoothly, then he - and we - get to ogle a bodacious 8-bit babe taking a simultaneous bath and shower... I guess this scene is supposed to represent the "Frisky" part of "Frisky Tom"... maybe? Obviously dated today, Frisky Tom is a fun enough title, and while it would never see home release (aside from a mostly forgotten Game Boy port in 1995), it would inspire an array of suspiciously similar titles, such as the C64 classic Super Pipeline.
Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Old Classic Retro Gaming.
As Apex Legends surpasses 100 million players, have you given it a shot yet?
Cblogs of 4/10 to 4/6/2021
-Siflox Gaming reviews Apex Legends in its current 2021 form.
-Aurachad shares their thoughts on Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.
-Lord Spencer reviews SaGa Frontier 2 as part of his PS1 REVIEWS blogging series.
-Exber reviews all the games they played in the first quarter of 2021.
-Siflox Gaming reviews Rouge Company.
-Gamingnerd rants on Sony and the future of gaming.
-Black Red Gaming reviews Ghost of Tsushima on the PS4.
-TheBlondeBass's Awards now have their [Epilogue].
-Boxed Swine discusses the Netflix show, Disenchantment.
-Spazzzh20 shares their thoughts on how to fix Evangelion 3.0+1.0.
-Taterchimp will do a charity stream of Final Fantasy VI, so check it out.
-ChronoLynxx opens this week's TGIF open community forum.
Path of Exile: Ultimatum's launch marred because of...page sizes?
As any avid Path of Exile player can now tell you, yesterday sucked. We are used to some day-one server issues, as all online-only playerbases are, but holy cow was yesterday an absolute mess. After a very slow-moving player queue, Path of Exile finally let people in only to be disconnected five minutes later. Maybe this would have been more tolerable if it also didn't come with rollbacks, essentially wiping the last 1-3 minutes of progress off the board.
I must have hit level 13 about four times before I eventually gave up for the day. The Path of Exile Twitter account recognized these issues, but provided little comfort to those anticipating a fix, even updating late at night (on the east coast of the US) simply to mention that they have no new information.
Eventually, the developers put up an official announcement detailing everything to the users. While they avoid getting too technical, they do a good job of explaining their moves behind the scenes that caused a lot of the issues. As of now, the servers seem to be running mostly fine, and the only real information they have mentioned is for other developers to "be careful with your database page sizes," whatever that means!
This behind-the-scenes look at Fantasian shows how part of its world was pieced together
Fantasian has really proven itself to be an Apple Arcade title worth paying attention to. Not only is it a blast to play with a few great twists on the JRPG formula, but it employs an art direction we really haven't seen in the industry. The 150 dioramas created for the title look absolutely spectacular, and in the video below, you can see a small sample of just how much work went into putting this world together.
Limited Run Games to release physical edition of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1
Purveyor of fine physical media, Limited Run Games, has announced that it will be releasing a hard copy of SNK's upcoming Nintendo Switch compendium Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1.
The compilation of handheld classics from the early '00s handheld will be available to pre-order in a limited four-week window, which opens on Thursday, April 22. Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 will be available in standard boxed cartridge form, while a special edition will feature steelbook casing, a double-sided poster, and a short retrospective booklet taking a look at every game in the compilation, housed in NGPC-style reproduction packaging. A price was not announced.
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
Hello folks and welcome to the weekend. This week was a crazy fast one for me, accelerated by a lot of work and legitimate efforts to have earlier nights. I'm getting old and I need the extra strength - although whether I get 11 hours or four, I wake up with the same level of exhaustion regardless. I think we're all feeling a little extra exhaustion at the moment. For many of us diet and exercise have taken a bit of a backseat lately. But these remain strange days, and as such we should all cut ourselves a bit of break. At least until things return to a sense of normalcy... Boy, that's some quality enabling. You're welcome.
I bounced between a bunch of games this week. I made sure to get my quota of having the tar kicked out of me on a variety of fighting games, before making myself feel like a Big Man by rat-a-tat-tatting through Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. I also finally got around to putting a few more hours into the PC edition of Persona 4 Golden - a title I am still yet to complete despite having owned it on multiple platforms. There's only so many hours in the day, right? and Persona 4 eats up a hell of a lot of them. JU-NE-SU.
I'm not sure how all of you manage to squeeze in all of your gaming, but I'm nevertheless consistently impressed by the number of games, old and new, that you report back on each and every week. I hope it's been a good week of gaming for all of you, (as well as a fine week in general). Be sure to jump into the comments and let us know what you've either been playing, or have lined up for the weekend. This article continues to hit staggering numbers of comments each week, and I love y'all for it. Thank you.
Have a wonderful weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
Destructoid community stream night is live on Twitch
Hi everyone! I'm Anabela, your weekly super duper variety streamer extraordinaire! Tonight I'm streaming Magic: The Gathering Arena on Destructoid's Twitch channel starting at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
With the release of Strixhaven (Magic: The Gathering's Harry Potter-esque themed set), we have a lot of new cards and a brand new evolving meta to experience. I used to play only standard ranked, but lately I've gotten into drafting and learning new cards on the fly, which is incredibly fun — it adds spice to the gameplay which standard so often lacks.
Today I'll be unpacking 90 Strixhaven booster packs in MTG: Arena and I hope you'll join me in what I find! Can't wait to craft both standard and limited decks! PS: Limited players beware of the Golgari.
*****
A bit about me: As I was growing up, my older brother shaped my interests in games and fantasy culture. We were obsessed with dragons, fantasy books, world and creature building, you name it. Most of our time was spent hanging out and chattily imagining things. We dipped into Pokémon when I was six with trading cards, figurines, and books, but even our very first video games on our Dad's computer were split right down to the controls; he would do movements and I'd do action buttons. Over time we tried dozens of games, however RuneScape, D&D, and Pokémon always stuck with me the most.
It's been almost two years since I first started streaming. I tend to stream all sorts of games now, but my favorite genres came to be RPGs, puzzles, adventure, and strategy -- bonus if it's fantasy-themed or an MMO that I can play with my friends and an instant favorite if the atmosphere is just right! Alongside trying new games together, my heart is in our bubbly banter while we all talk it up in chat. I'm so happy to have met people who have the same passion as I do for all these games and cool hobbies.
But how did I get here? A while back, Destructoid hosted its "So You Think You Can Stream?" contest. It was my first time entering any type of serious contest, but I still wanted to shoot my shot and really get out there. Although I didn't win, I was elated to hear that my audition stood out and there was an opportunity for me to come on board to stream alongside Dreezy on the Dtoid channel.
Come catch me live at Destructoid's Twitch channel every Friday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern! Let's chat it up about anything and everything while playing cool games! I hope to meet you there. :)
Social media nostalgia trip Emily is Away <3 is out today
The Emily is Away series has been two-for-two for both resurfacing fond memories of long-gone messenger days and also tugging directly on my heartstrings. Today, the third game arrives on Steam and Itch to, presumably, attempt the same.
Emily is Away <3 is a brand-new story, once again set purely online. The difference now is, rather than the old faux AOL Instant Messenger application, Emily is Away <3 takes place in the halcyon days of Facebook (excuse me, Facenook), circa 2008.
You can still chat of course, only it's over the Facenook messenger interface. There are also wall posts, tagged photos, and poke fights. It is, much like previous Emily is Away games, a concentrated blast of aught-nostalgia.
And of course, there are branching paths and conversation choices that will result in different endings. Will the conversations you hold online reinforce real-life relationships, or burn them to the ground? Will you, true to real-life, start a fight over answering an event invite with a "Maybe" instead of Yes or No? God, I hope so.
While these games are definitely a laser-targeted, heart-rending nostalgia blast for a certain generation (read: mine), Emily is Away <3 is probably worth a look for anyone who enjoys narrative storytelling done in unique interfaces. It's not like many stories are told in Facenook messenger, y'know. You can find it on Steam and Itch.io.
I'll never get tired of Bloodborne players destroying Micolash before he can run away
I'm in the "not actively playing but still watching clips" phase of Bloodborne, and it's a beautiful place to be. I get to feel all of the highs and none of the lows. I'll return, of course, but I'm chilling for now.
This clip of a player putting Micolash out of his misery sure is a fun one — they stop him before he can run circles in his nightmarish maze and endlessly spout off his numerous grating-as-hell lines.
When you're sick of Micolash's shit from r/bloodborne
It's heartwarming to watch such a pesky boss get bodied with a calculated setup.
Reddit user godoflemmings had just enough ammo for their Augur of Ebrietas to catch Micolash in an endless cycle, which is the perfect taste of his own medicine. The clip is made even better with an impromptu HP-refueling "One of your notes was rated 'fine'" pop-up message during the fight.
Boss-stomping clips have become my go-to way to fondly remember tricky action-RPGs. Between Souls, Bloodborne, and Nioh, there's an endless supply. People can't seem to put these games down. After having my fill of all three — for the time being, anyway — I'm happy to cheer from the sidelines.
On that note, I also love the sheer disrespect of dodging Micolash's bullshit while emoting.
Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero's Bonds is as beautiful as it is formulaic
If you've never heard of Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai, I wouldn't blame you. The manga series started in the pages of Weekly ShÅnen Jump back in 1989, following the exploits of the titular Dai and his friends as they embarked on a quest for revenge in a world full of humans, demons, and the classic monsters of the Dragon Quest series. The comic ran until 1996 and was also adapted into an anime, as well as a few theatrical films, back in the '90s.
After lying dormant for a few decades, Square Enix has revived the property with a new manga series, a new anime adaptation of the original manga, and a trio of games that were announced last spring. A Hero's Bonds is the first of those games to make it outside of Japan. It's a free-to-play RPG developed by DeNA and published by Square Enix. DeNA is a developer you probably most associate with Nintendo's mobile output, but it's worked with Square Enix before on the hit title Final Fantasy: Record Keeper.
A Hero's Bonds represents the developer's first crack at the Dragon Quest franchise, but rather than doing something bold with it to make the title stand out in a ruthlessly competitive field, DeNA has chosen to play it disappointingly safe.
Netflix's Castlevania airs its final season next month, but new series could be coming
Netflix's Castlevania series is set to air its next season in May, and it will also be its finale. One report indicates that it might not be the end for the Castlevania universe on the service, however.
Following a promo art reveal, Netflix posted a new trailer on Twitter, saying the final season of Castlevania will arrive on May 13.
This is where it all started. The final season of Castlevania arrives May 13. pic.twitter.com/sLqWjJxjoA
— NX (@NXOnNetflix) April 16, 2021
Though the story of Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard may be coming to a close, Netflix may not be done with Castlevania as a whole. Deadline reports that it hears Netflix is eyeing a "new series set in the same Castlevania universe with an entirely new cast of characters."
There's certainly no shortage of Belmonts to pull from, or even other games in the series without a Belmont in the lead. (Soma Cruz, anyone?) Hopefully this report means Castlevania will continue on in some manner, though. The series has been pretty great so far, and as Netflix continues to pick up more video game adaptations like The Witcher, Dota: Dragon's Blood, and Resident Evil, it'd be nice to still see one of the series that laid the groundwork keep going.
For now though, I just hope the heroic trio of Castlevania protagonists gets a happy ending. After what happened to Alucard at the end of season three, he could use a reprieve.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition will have a photo mode
Mass Effect is getting a number of tweaks, both in gameplay and graphics, with the Legendary Edition. That's not the end of the list though, as a tweet from project director Mac Walters confirmed the addition of a photo mode.
On Twitter, Walters posted a screenshot of Mass Effect Legendary Edition's photo mode, replete with tabs and options like Focal Length and Tilt. Further details are scarce for now, though technical design director Brenon Holmes confirmed in the replies that this photo mode will work across all three games and is accessible through the mission computer, so it's available any time you can pause.
We were just calibrating, but #MassEffect Legendary Edition will have a photo mode. https://t.co/QghTqwS4Ah pic.twitter.com/tfNKcgyplu
— Mac Walters (@macwalterslives) April 15, 2021
Tuning the gameplay of Mass Effect and refreshing textures can all help to modernize, but the photo mode has swiftly become one of my most anticipated features. Getting to explore the cosmos and spend that time snapping pics with pals like Garrus, Liara, Tali, and Wrex sounds fantastic. I am absolutely going to try and get a selfie with a Reaper, strike a pose next to a flipped-over Mako, and fill my camera roll with cool pics of the Normandy crew.
Hopefully there are plenty of knobs and dials to turn, too. Seeing the Milky Way in a whole new light is exactly the sort of thing that gets me even more excited to play back through this trilogy again. It won't be long, either, as Mass Effect Legendary Edition will launch for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One (with forward compatibility for newer consoles) on May 14.
Resident Evil x Dead by Daylight event coming this June
As part of the myriad news dropped by Capcom during yesterday's Resident Evil Showcase, the publisher announced that it would be partnering with Behavior Interactive to develop a Resi-themed chapter for the latter's asymmetrical horror title, Dead by Daylight.
"We are excited to be working with the legendary studio Capcom to create the next Dead by Daylight chapter," said Behavior's creative director Dave Richard. It is an honor and an absolute joy to welcome the original survival horror game Resident Evil in The Entity's universe. The result is fantastic and will surprise new players and veterans alike. Players can expect a chapter packed with iconic content and novel ways to sacrifice or survive inspired by the renowned franchise."
A short teaser trailer sees a hapless survivor hooked onto a tree in classic Dead by Daylight style, with a blood-spattered Umbrella Corp. symbol hitting the damp forest floor. We do not see who the killer is, but the Resident Evil franchise has more than its fair share of professional hunters. Could it be Mr. X? Maybe, I'm thinking it might be Resident Evil 3's Nemesis - his mutated visage would fit well within The Entity.
It's like that Dead by Daylight players can also expect a new survivor to join the roster as part of this crossover event. I wouldn't be surprised if it were Jill Valentine, who is basically Resident Evil's crossover queen at this point. If it were up to me, it would be that reporter with the lame ponytail in Resident Evil 2, but then, I have a lot of growing up to do.
If the beta is any indication, FFXIV on PS5 is going to be a big upgrade
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is going to be a tri-platform game again.
Well, it kind of already is now! The PS5 beta just launched and everyone who owns the full version of the PS4 edition has access If you own a PS5, get in on this and grab the upgrade now from the PlayStation Store.
The new Strixhaven set is out in Magic: Arena, and you can get three free packs now
Magic: The Gathering Arena is back with another set, which is kinda sorta in early access form in Arena before it hits stores.
The entire theme of Strixhaven is "magical schools," including factions that resurrect life to study it, or essentially rap battle to showcase their wit. And naturally, a ton of new cards are coming with it. It's not just a mechanical change though, as Wizards is now altering how the mastery (season) pass works.
Track rewards are mostly the same as before, but mastery rewards (given out periodically) also offer avatars on top of card styles. It's a very small change in the context of card mechanics, but rather large when it comes to the cosmetic layer of the game. I hope it sticks around.
You can benefit from the new launch with a classic free pack promo. To get the three free packs, just enter the code "PLAYSTRIXHAVEN."
Also, don't forget the free Strixhaven-themed sleeves. You can find the codes below.
