Dec 23, 09:00


Kotaku Thursday, December 23, 2021 6:34 AM
    

Do you like video games? Are you going to be a high school student in Japan? If you answered "yes" to both, have I got an academic institution for you.

This April, as junior high school students across Japan enter high school, a new type of specialty institution will open its doors. Dubbed "Esport High School" in…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 23, 2021 5:30 AM
    

The whole Earth has been shaken up by the global pandemic, many things have changed, but worry not, Japan is still building giant Gundams. Thank goodness for that.

That latest one-to-one scale recreation is the RX-93FF ν (Nu) Gundam, a revamped version of the Nu Gundam everyone knows and loves. This giant, 24.8-meter…

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PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 8:35 AM
     Best Warzone Pacific loadout drop: top setups for Season 1

On the lookout for the best Warzone Pacific loadout? With the addition of Caldera, the new Warzone map, and Vanguard's recent integration with Call of Duty's popular battle royale game, Vanguard and Warzone Season 1 is off to a strong start. There are plenty of new loadouts to consider while you're trekking across the tropical forests of the new Warzone map.

Despite the plentiful ground loot in Caldera's hot zones, you'll want a reliable build to help you take out the opposition as you try to outrun the encroaching gas cloud. Using create-a-class loadouts from Vanguard's multiplayer mode in Warzone, you can customise your weapons with the best Warzone attachments, tactical equipment, and perks.

Our best Warzone Pacific setups differ from our favourite builds for Vanguard's multiplayer mode as they're optimised for Caldera's vast environments. Not only do the weapons in Warzone Pacific feature tweaked stats, we also have to take into consideration Warzone's armour plates and the additional player count. We've used our extensive knowledge of Warzone to pass on our victory prowess to you - use our best loadouts for Warzone Pacific to dominate the competition.


PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 8:19 AM
     The

If you've been keeping a close eye on Total War: Warhammer 3 news, you'll have seen the Chaos God reveals pouring out over the past few months like daemonic Nurgle slime, ahead of the strategy game's arrival in February next year. We've seen the Nurgle, Slaansesh, Tzeentch, and Khorne factions make their gruesome pre-launch debuts - but it seems they won't be the chief architects of the game's chaos (heh). Instead, the "real villain" will be some mysterious other being.

That's according to principal writer Andy Hall, who we spoke to about the game's narrative and lore now that the veil's been lifted on the four main Chaos Gods. As long-time fans of the tabletop game will know, these gods rallied behind their 'Everchosen', Archaon, to destroy the setting on which Total Warhammer is based in a big event called the End Times. Since we know Warhammer III will also feature the gods, fans have been wondering if it'll tell a similar story - Creative Assembly has been clear that it isn't doing the End Times, but has kept other details under wraps. We took the chance to probe Andy about the key differences.

"Well, the End Times was the grand design of the Chaos Gods and their direct scions," he tells us. "For once they stopped playing the Great Game against each other and focussed their servants on all-out annihilation.

RELATED LINKS: Total War: Warhammer 3 release date, Total War: Warhammer 3 races, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 8:07 AM
     The best NZ-41 loadout in Warzone Pacific

Looking for the best NZ-41 loadout in Warzone Pacific? The NZ-41 is a full-auto assault rifle, and is one of the Vanguard guns that was recently imported to the battle royale game. It's one of the best Warzone assault rifles, though it suffers from lack of recoil control, particularly after a post-launch weapon adjustment patch that introduced additional recoil to the AR.

The right attachments, however, mitigate this additional recoil and can almost eliminate it entirely. The result is a powerful and precise AR that's good at all ranges, and particularly excels in mid-to-long range engagements. The best NZ-41 loadout allows you to down enemies in four hits, or two headshots if you can land them.

You unlock the NZ-41 at level 41, so if you're not quite there yet, we recommend getting to grips with the STG 44 - we have the best STG 44 loadout to help you out. Once you've got your hands on the NZ-41, though, here are the best attachments and perks we recommend - with a few alternatives, depending on personal preference.


PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 8:38 AM
     Best sniper Warzone Pacific: the best sniper rifle in Season 1

Want to know what the best sniper rifle is in Warzone Pacific? There are plenty of options to pick from in the battle royale game, but there's nothing quite as satisfying as a sniper rifle. While this weapon class used to be a certain pick for players back when Verdansk was around, that hasn't been the case since Caldera was introduced.

The new Warzone map is roughly the same size as Verdansk, but it fills the space with more points of interest. As a result, there aren't as many places to set up a sniper's nest as Caldera primarily focuses on close to medium range combat. That's not to say sniping is dead, far from it, but you do have to think carefully about your surroundings before calling in the best Warzone loadouts.

There are a lot of factors to consider, including which attachments you choose to equip your chosen Warzone sniper with, how confident you are at judging travel time, and what your peeking skills are like. We've analysed the lot to give you the definitive answer on which Warzone Pacific sniper is best for your playing style. You'll want to pair your sniper rifle with a powerful secondary weapon, such as the PPSh-41, the Cooper Carbine, or the best STG 44 loadout


PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 8:37 AM
     GTA Online's Christmas update brings snow, new cars, and festive freebies

It's the most wonderful time of the year for the citizens of GTA Online. Not only are the streets of Los Santos now caked in snow, but there are heaps of discounts and freebies to check out when you next log in. You've even got some new cars to stick in your garage if your wallet is fat enough (thanks, Tez2).

Snow is a bit of a tradition in GTA Online and Red Dead Online. Not only does it give Los Santos a festive vibe, but you're free to run around the streets and toss snowballs at other players. GTA Online has been going for a few years now, so snow also brings about a hint of nostalgia, too, as we all get older.

If you fancy a garage filler, the Overflod Zeno is now available for $2,820,000 GTA bucks from Legendary Motorsport. The car was introduced in the recent Contract update and is a two-door hypercar. The Gallivanter Baller ST is also here, and it's free between now and December 30. Rockstar introduced the luxury four-door SUV during GTA Online's latest update, featuring it prominently in a few missions with Dr Dre.

RELATED LINKS: GTA 5 mods, GTA 6, Buy GTA V

PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 7:40 AM
     LG put a flexible OLED panel on a rotating chair and it looks like a great gaming setup

We're less than two weeks away from CES 2022, but some companies simply can't help themselves and are already teasing what they'll bring to the show. LG might have something special on its hands with its absurd answer to the equally ridiculous question: what if someone stuck best gaming monitor onto best gaming chair?

Introducing the LG Media Chair, a reclining seat that comes with a flexible 55-inch LG OLED TV built-in to the curved frame. The screen features a 1,500R curve and Cinematic Sound OLED tech that vibrates the display's glass to create sound rather than relying on a set of speakers.

As you might expect, the chair isn't ordinary, either. At the touch of a button on the armrest, you can switch the display between a horizontal and vertical orientation. Combine this with the ability to rotate the screen in tandem with the chair so it's always eye-level, and you have an even deeper immersion that could genuinely be one of the best ways to experience classic arcade rail shooters, driving games, and flight simulators.

RELATED LINKS: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 7:39 AM
     Call of Duty Warzone Pacific Contracts: every Contract explained

Call of Duty Warzone Pacific Contracts add a little extra incentive to taking early fights and exploring busy areas in the Call of Duty battle royale game. They come in all kinds of different flavours and when you complete them you can earn everything from a tidy XP boost to learning the location of the next zone well in advance of it appearing.

Contracts will get trios of Warzone players branching away from their ordinary tactics in order to secure some more in-game cash to use at Buy Stations, learn the rough location of a bounty target, or just get some advanced recon. The most basic Contracts include tasks as menial as checking a set amount of caches, but for those seeking bigger rewards you can even initiate manhunts on other players.

You'll find the different types of Contracts across the map and thankfully they're all marked clearly on the in-game map for you to seek out. The Contracts system hasn't changed in Warzone Pacific - seek out the Contracts on Caldera to speed up the weapon leveling process.


PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 7:33 AM
     The best Volk loadout in Warzone Pacific

There are plenty of assault rifles in Call of Duty Vanguard that have made it into the Warzone Pacific battle royale meta. This fully-automatic gun is perfect for taking the fight to your foes and getting the drop on them.

The Volk works very well as an SMG-esque weapon, particularly at close and medium range. When paired with a weapon more suited to long-range engagements like the Kar98k or STG44, the Volk is perfect for having on hand to push up on enemies camping in a building.

So here you go - the best Volk loadouts in Warzone Pacific. It shouldn't take you too long to get used to this gun, especially if you remember the days of the FFAR 1 dominating the meta. The only thing you should keep an eye on is your ammo count - if you're using an AR or LMG as your ranged option, you'll drain the ammo for both guns at the same time. With that, here's the best Volk loadout for Warzone Pacific.


PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 6:36 AM
     Disco Elysium gets a bunch of new mysteries and a big discount on Steam

Disco Elysium puts you in the shoes of a troubled detective on a path to crack a murder case, so naturally there's a whole lot of mystery to grapple with - and now developer ZA/UM has added even more to the beloved RPG. The studio has just launched a new patch called the Jamais Vu ('never seen') update to coincide with the holiday season and a big Steam-y discount on the Final Cut of the game which adds a batch of new mysteries to solve.

The announcement aptly comes heaped with plenty of mystery. "The static hisses in your ears as you slowly spin the dial," it teases. "Nothing but warbling data from a planar anomaly. Is there anything at all? A small sadness creeps in. '...' Wait! Go back. Between your finger and thumb the hiss becomes a hum and your hairs stand to their end. You hear the sounds of waves roaring; a formidable chorus of water.

"A small splash, and then... '... or weaker… now ... dying is an art,' it continues. "The static returns. But there is no doubt. A man's voice, one you've never heard before, telling secrets from a place that could be anywhere and nowhere at all." Hmm. Mysterious indeed.

RELATED LINKS: Disco Elysium review, Best RPGs on PC, The best PC games

PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 7:02 AM
     The best DP27 loadout in Warzone Pacific

With Warzone Pacific taking its battle royale journey to the new Warzone map, Caldera, a lot of Call of Duty Vanguard weapons are along for the ride. If you've been playing the WWII shooter, you'll be more than familiar with them, but if you're a Warzone purist, it's about time you became acquainted with the DP27 - a unique and powerful LMG.

It's an unorthodox-looking gun, the DP27. With a hefty barrel and a whole lot of range, this light machine gun is a fantastic option for loadouts where you're using a close range SMG like the PPSh-41.

With your medium to long ranged encounters covered by the DP27, and anything closer than that shredded by your SMG, this loadout can utterly dominate in Caldera. There aren't many better options, and the attachments we've picked offer a great deal of power for some surprisingly negligible downsides.


PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 5:28 AM
     The best MG42 loadout in Warzone Pacific

Want to know what the best Warzone MG42 loadout is? If you're looking for a Call of Duty Vanguard weapon to bring something unique into Call of Duty's battle royale mode, look no further. The MG42 is less of an LMG and more a terrifying monster with one of the most ludicrous rates of fire in the game. Best used at medium ranges, the MG42 is definitely one to try out.

You should look to use the MG42 on whole squads of baddies that are fairly close to you, so we suggest you bring a sniper rifle along for long range enemies - maybe the 3-Line Rifle if you're feeling like busting heads from miles away. With this MG42 loadout, we want to balance the extreme fire rate and damage with a decent level of accuracy.

Don't grab this weapon thinking you'll be laser beaming enemies like it's a Stoner 63. The MG42 is a whole different ball game that might take a bit of getting used to. It's well worth the effort though, and before long you'll win games with our best MG42 loadout for Warzone Pacific.


PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 6:55 AM
     GTA podium car: here's what vehicle you can win in GTA Online

What is the GTA 5 podium car this week? GTA Online vehicles are expensive things, so we're happy to take a spin on the Diamond Casino's Lucky Wheel to get a discount. Winning isn't guaranteed, sure, but it isn't out of the question either. Look, we don't have a problem - leave it alone.

You can spin the Diamond Casino's Lucky Wheel once a day, and each Podium Car refreshes after seven days on a Thursday. Basically, you have seven shots to get the vehicle of that given week. If you own a Penthouse, you can spin it for free, but if you don't it's $500 a spin. Don't fret if you don't win, though, as you can win something else. You have a one in 20 chance of getting the podium vehicle, a car discount, or a mystery prize. There's a four in 20 chance of getting clothes, chips, and cash. Finally, there's a five in 20 chance of getting RP.

Keeping tabs on the GTA Online podium car can be a bother, though, so we're going to keep this GTA 5 guide updated so you have somewhere to check back on. On that note, here's the GTA 5 podium car for this week.

RELATED LINKS: GTA 5 mods, GTA 6, Buy GTA V

PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 6:56 AM
     GTA Prize Ride challenge – what is the Prize Ride this week?

The GTA Online Los Santos Tuners update introduced plenty of new content, all focused on the city's underground tuner scene. There's a new 'social space', called the LS Car Meet, where you can show off your souped-up cars, race with fellow gearheads, and take on jobs - here's how to join the LS Car Meet in the Los Santos Tuners update.

Throughout your time spent in the Car Meet, you can level up your reputation and unlock new benefits as you progress. There's also a huge Test Track inside the warehouse, where you can try out Test Rides - a great opportunity to take different vehicles for a spin.

Becoming an LS Car Meet member sets you back $50,000 in-game bucks, but it grants you access to a bunch of underground shops - the Merch Shop, Tattoo Shop, and a Modding Area where you can tweak your car in real time. At higher levels, you can create your own customised area in the Car Meet, called a Private Takeover. LS Car Meet members can also compete in Prize Ride challenges, in order to be in with a chance to win a Prize Ride.

RELATED LINKS: GTA 5 mods, GTA 6, Buy GTA V

PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 5:49 AM
     Grab these last-minute gifts for gamers before Christmas arrives

It's crunch time. Even though you started thinking about it months ago, and planned to get all your holiday shopping done in good time, you've found yourself with mere days to go until December 25th, and you've still not ticked everyone off your list. Well, don't worry. We know how it is. We're not here to judge - in fact, we're here to help. Though time is ticking, we've got a number of last-minute gamer gift suggestions which should still arrive in time for the big day to help you out of your pickle.

Of course, the tastes of PC gamers is as broad as the variety in PC games themselves. With this in mind, we've rounded up a selection of gift ideas that will appeal to as many gamers as possible. If they still can't get enough of Skyrim, perhaps they'd like something from the game's line of Funko Pop vinyl figures. If you're tired of listening to their rattly mic each time you play co-op, a new headset could be in order. Buying for an Assassin's Creed fan? They'd probably love an Assassin's Creed hoodie to keep them warm and channel their inner Eivor. We've gone for variety here and we hope that it helps.

If you want to give yourself a little more breathing room to decide, you may want to invest in an Amazon Prime membership. With Prime delivery, it's possible to place an order on Christmas Eve and have it arrive later that day (depending on stock availability and your location, of course). Even though it should still be fine to order normally today, doing so with Prime can help to give you a little more peace of mind.

RELATED LINKS: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Thursday, December 23, 2021 5:47 AM
     Minecraft Christmas: the best festive Minecraft mods, skins, and seeds

There's no better time than Christmas to play Minecraft. Settling down with a cup of hot cocoa and loading up a new Minecraft map or generating some festive Minecraft seeds to explore is the perfect way to spend the holidays.

We've all got our Christmas traditions, waking up early to get in some hours of gaming in before the onslaught of presents and food, or curling up to play games with the family that definitely don't end in arguments. Or maybe your tradition is watching the Minecraft Christmas movie, or putting on the Minecraft Christmas song, we can already hear the cynical intro…

Whatever it is, we can all agree that Christmas is a magical time in Minecraft. If you install the right Minecraft mod, the villages are iced in snow and candy canes sprout from the ground, and even the villagers seem to be in a good mood. If you're looking to really immerse yourself in a Minecraft Christmas, then here's our holiday gift to you, all the best Minecraft Christmas shaders, mods, seeds, and more. No need to thank us, just have a happy Minecraft Christmas!

RELATED LINKS: Minecraft console commands, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 23, 2021 8:00 AM
    

As you approach this door of the Calendar you get a feeling of déjà vu. "Oh no," you mutter. "It's going to be another bloody time loop." You're right reader, it is! But this one will kick hard enough to start the day again, and really puts the writing on the wall.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 23, 2021 7:52 AM
    

Embracer Group are continuining to do their part in attempts to merge the entire video games industry into one megacorp, this week announcing another five intended acquisitions. Among these are Perfect World, the publishers of Star Trek Online and Torchlight, and the studio behind Scribblenauts Showdown, Shiver Entertainment. They're also going transmedia, buying comics and TV company Dark Horse as well as an animation company and a video-on-demand network. Now they just need to get into food and housing, then our dystopian dreams of one corp owning our entire lives can come true.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 23, 2021 7:04 AM
    

A recent round of BIOS updates for Dell and Alienware systems has turned out to be something of a bad batch. As first spotted by Bleeding Computer, multiple owners of Dell-made PCs – including the Alienware Aurora R8 and Inspiron 5680 gaming desktops, as well as the Latitude 5320 and 5520 business laptops – started developing big problems after installing the new BIOS versions. Failed boots, mainly, which of course makes it harder to apply potential fixes.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 23, 2021 6:51 AM
    

Finally, catboys and catgirls have invaded Halo Infinite. Yes, you can now outfit your Spartan with cat ears in multiplayer and transform your serious Spartan into a feisty kitty. Move over John Halo, we now have Felix, who is much cuter and loves scritches. Hello mister! Pspspspspsps.

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Twinfinite Thursday, December 23, 2021 7:48 AM
    

Telltale Games has revealed a bunch of new details pertaining to its much-anticipated The Wolf Among Us 2 follow-up season. That's right, thanks to an exclusive preview in the latest issue of Game Informer, we now have some fresh tidbits to pore over. (H/T, @shinobi602.) Go ahead and check out a brief roundup of the […]

The post New The Wolf Among Us 2 Details Shed Light on Story and Setting appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Thursday, December 23, 2021 8:00 AM
    

The Babylon's Fall soundtrack CD set will appear worldwide shortly after the game is released in March 2022.

The post Babylon's Fall Soundtrack Will Be Out in March appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 23, 2021 7:00 AM
    

The Canadian cyborg soldier will still stick with his closest friend.

The post KOF XV Maxima Trailer Confirms Team K's Formation appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 23, 2021 6:00 AM
    

The collaboration event will start at the beginning of 2022.

The post Knives Out Jujutsu Kaisen Collaboration Includes Yuta Okkotsu Costume appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Thursday, December 23, 2021 6:00 AM
    

I didn't see this coming Top-tier leaker "billbil-kun" is at it again. Not content with having accurately predicted the PlayStation...

The post PlayStation Plus January offerings reportedly include Persona 5 Strikers and Dirt 5 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 23, 2021 4:00 AM
    

Dust off your Pac-Man baseball cap [Update: More fuel for the rumor fire, as this week Bandai Namco trademarked "Klonoa...

The post (Update) New Bandai Namco trademarks suggest potential Klonoa remaster appeared first on Destructoid.


Pivotal Gamers Thursday, December 23, 2021 3:06 AM
     Hello folks. Giveaway Of The Day holds a new giveaway for Quick puzzles. Let's hear them out. Quick puzzles is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Quick puzzles A new kind of puzzles in which you do not have to drag and drop elements, but just swap them by clicking on them. The game has 15 levels, each puzzle consis...