Dec 31, 14:00


Kotaku Friday, December 31, 2021 1:50 PM
    

It's funny to think how, just seven short years ago, we were sketching out our video game resolutions for 2021. Now we're back at it, planning our hopes and dreams for how we'll play and think about games in 2022.

Read more...


PCGamesN Friday, December 31, 2021 12:36 PM
     2021's Mod of the Year is an epic open-world Gothic II total conversion

Players have voted an open-world mod for a 16-year-old RPG as Mod of the Year 2021 on ModDB. The epic Gothic II Chronicles Of Myrtana total conversion only released this month but has been selected as the best mod of the year by the community - beating out the likes of Black Mesa: Blue Shift.

Gothic II was released back in 2005 as the latest well-received action RPG from Piranha Bytes - who would go on to create the similar Risen series and is currently working on ELEX II for a March release date. The Chronicles Of Myrtana mod is a huge total conversion for Gothic II that features a new open-world, skills, mechanics, story, and even voice acting.

It's available on both ModDB and Steam and only released in full on December 10 - and players loved it immediately. On Steam it's currently rated as 'Overwhelmingly Positive' from over 5000 reviews - by comparison, Gothic II itself is rated as merely 'Very Positive' from around 6500 reviews.


PCGamesN Friday, December 31, 2021 11:37 AM
     Yae Miko has been confirmed as the next Genshin Impact character

It's long been rumoured but has now finally been confirmed that the next Genshin Impact character after 2.4 will indeed be Yae Miko. Developer Mihoyo had already included her in the game, but now it's likely that a Genshin Impact Yae Miko banner is surely coming soon in 2022 - and we've got some new character details too.

Yae Miko is one of the main NPCs that Genshin Impact players meet as part of the Inazuma storyline and is the chief priest or Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine on Mt. Yougou, Narukami Island. In a tweet from Mihoyo last new year's eve, Ayaka was Yae's first guest of the year.

It was very clear that she was being set up as a proper future playable character and now Mihoyo has finally confirmed it. She won't appear in version 2.4, which drops next week, as that will focus on new characters Shenhe and Yun Jin - but Yae Miko is instead strongly rumoured for Genshin Impact 2.5, which may hit around February.

RELATED LINKS: Play Genshin Impact for free, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Friday, December 31, 2021 10:55 AM
     Destiny 2 streamer UhMaayyze talks rapping, mindset, and Dragon Ball

It's another day of Destiny 2 streaming for Detrick 'UhMaayyze' Houchens, and he and his team have zone advantage in The Dead Cliffs. Uhmaayyze is rocking a sniper rifle/hand cannon combo with a sword in his back pocket, and as he's pushing with his team toward point A, he's rapping the action on the screen, an old-school beat backing up his flow.

"'Maayyze, what's your favourite move?' I call it Dawnblade," he rhymes as he pops his Warlock super. "Hey, don't run from me, I'm too fast, I be moving like he's moving now, I'm too fabulous!" He slices an enemy who's fled around a doorway into the Depot area, and takes out another with a fiery Dawnblade swing for a double play.

The clips Houchens shares on Twitter of his live Destiny 2 freestyle sessions are almost frustrating to watch: it seems like it should be impossible to be an effective Crucible player while simultaneously composing and performing rhymes that describe exactly what's happening in the game. But he says that combining his love of freestyling with Destiny, which he's been playing since the 2014 beta, has resulted in getting better at both.


PCGamesN Friday, December 31, 2021 10:24 AM
     Sea of Thieves devs' Everwild

It's looking basically certain that Everwild - the next game from Sea of Thieves developer Rare - has suffered from a troubled development since it was announced all the way back in 2019. It's been rebooted once, apparently, and a new rumour suggests that Everwild is "a real mess" and even its developers "don't really know what's going on".

As mentioned, Everwild was announced back in X019 in November 2019 with a slightly nebulous trailer showing a cel-shaded world - with obvious influence from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokemon, and James Cameron's Avatar. Rare admitted the game was "still early in development", and an update in July 2020 sounded promising, but a report in January 2021 suggested that Everwild had been completely rebooted from scratch - as well as lacking "clear direction for the title".

Jeff Grubb of GamesBeat was one of the journalists backing that report, and now in the latest XboxEra podcast he says that Everwild "is a real mess" and that "the people working on that game don't really know what's going on with it, that's how much of a mess it is right now."


PCGamesN Friday, December 31, 2021 9:17 AM
     HyperX Pulsefire Dart review – a weighted wireless gaming mouse

Following its release two years ago, the Pulsefire Dart remains HyperX's only contender in the race for the best wireless gaming mouse. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to this rodent, and features like Qi wireless charging simply aren't enough to keep it from falling behind its competition.

This isn't to say that you shouldn't at least consider the Pulsefire Dart or that it's a bad gaming mouse, because it isn't. In fact, there's a good deal that HyperX has done right with it, starting with a good, solid build quality. A combination of premium plastics and leatherette side grips make this clicker feel solid and tight in your hands, and the split-button design for the left and right mouse buttons should help keep any misinputs at bay.

You'll find six programmable buttons on the Pulsefire Dart's chassis, all of which are programmable via HyperX's Ngenuity software (which we'll discuss more later). The mouse's Omron switches produce a satisfying click without a trace of wobble or flimsiness, and I had no issues whatsoever with input recognition in either wired or wireless mode. They're also rated for up to 50 million clicks, so there's no reason to be concerned about durability.

RELATED LINKS: HyperX Cloud Alpha review, Best Gaming Headset, Best Gaming Keyboard

PCGamesN Friday, December 31, 2021 8:03 AM
     She-Hulk could be coming to Marvel's Avengers

It's been a long time since Marvel's Avengers received an update with a new character - especially PC players, who missed out on Spider-Man - but now it looks like developer Crystal Dynamics is planning the next DLC hero to be She-Hulk, at least according to a leaker.

Things have been quiet on the Marvel's Avengers front since the PS4/PS5-exclusive drop of Spider-Man last month, so fans are undoubtedly wondering whether the live-service game will get another character drop like War For Wakanda - and which Marvel hero will be joining the Avengers next.

Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk has long been rumoured as the next DLC character for Avengers following Black Panther after details were datamined earlier this year. Now, prolific Avengers leaker Miller has seemingly revealed that not only is She-Hulk coming next, she'll be played by veteran voice actor Krizia Bajos - who recently appeared in the League of Legends Arcane animated series as Ximena and the upcoming Gotham Knights as Renee Montoya.

RELATED LINKS: Marvel's Avengers review, Best action-adventure games on PC, The best open-world games on PC

PCGamesN Friday, December 31, 2021 7:04 AM
     Haunted Chocolatier will have Stardew Valley-like relationships, done

This year it was finally revealed that Haunted Chocolatier would be the next game from Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, and fans of his previous title are undoubtedly wondering how similar the games may be. Rest assured though, one element coming back from Stardew is relationships - although they may be done "differently this time around".

After many months of teasing, the latest game from the creator of Stardew Valley was revealed as Haunted Chocolatier back in October - and we still don't know too much about it, other than it involves running a chocolate shop from within a haunted castle. It has a similar look to Stardew Valley but it's unknown so far how similar they will play - we already know it will have a "greater focus on combat" than Stardew Valley.

In a new interview with Vgkami, Eric Barone was asked the thing Stardew Valley players probably care about most - having relationships between the game's characters. Barone confirms that "there will be relationships like in Stardew Valley" but they may not work the same way.

RELATED LINKS: Upcoming PC Games

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 31, 2021 8:00 AM
    

Ghost Time Games' Tux And Fanny, from co-developers Albert Birney and Gabriel Koenig, is not only the game I think you may have missed this year, but it is also my Game Of The Year for 2021. This game sends two best friends (alongside a courageous flea and a mischievous cat) through adventures great, small, and absurd to stunning effect – and you owe it to yourself to give this little marvel a play before the year is well and truly out.

Read more


Twinfinite Friday, December 31, 2021 12:00 PM
    

At the end of the New Year livestream dedicated to the Muv-Luv series, aNCHOR revealed "Duty Lost Arcadia" with a new trailer.

The post Muv-Luv Developers Announce "Duty Lost Arcadia" Bringing the War to the European Front appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Friday, December 31, 2021 11:29 AM
    

During the New Year livestream dedicated to the Muv-Luv series, aNCHOR revealed new image boards of the upcoming game Muv-Luv Resonative.

The post Muv-Luv Resonative Reveals New Images Showing Familiar Characters & More appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Friday, December 31, 2021 11:10 AM
    

Today, during the New Year livestream dedicated to the Muv-Luv series, aNCHOR revealed the prototype of a new Muv-Luv Alternative plastic model kit.

The post Muv-Luv Alternative Anime Fubuki Mecha Plastic Model Kit Prototype Revealed appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Friday, December 31, 2021 10:38 AM
    

Type-Moon revealed a brand new character that will be added via DLC to its 2D fighting game Melty Blood: Type Lumina.

The post Melty Blood: Type Lumina Reveals New DLC Character Aoko Aozaki appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Friday, December 31, 2021 9:55 AM
    

Today Type-Moon announced that the legendary visual novel Mahoutsukai no Yoru will return on modern platforms.

The post Legendary Visual Novel Mahoutsukai no Yoru by Type-Moon Coming to PS4 and Nintendo Switch appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Friday, December 31, 2021 7:09 AM
    

Developer and publisher Aeternum Game Studios has announced that its 2D Blasphemous-esque Metroidvania, Aeterna Noctis, will be getting a large patch that helps to make the game more accessible for less experienced players, while adding a handful of quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes as well. Specifically, the Spanish team has added a brand new game […]

The post Hand-Drawn Action-Platformer, Aeterna Noctis, Gets Free Major Update appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Friday, December 31, 2021 12:00 PM
    

The PS5 hosts a lot of marquee Japanese releases, and sometimes those games even live up to the many months of anticipation!

The post Siliconera's PlayStation 5 Game of the Year 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, December 31, 2021 9:00 AM
    

Just because our Xbox Series X Game of the Year 2021 honorees feel familiar doesn't mean they're not stellar in their own right.

The post Siliconera's Xbox Series X Game of the Year 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Friday, December 31, 2021 1:30 PM
    

I'm really interested in seeing how Ryu Ga Gotoku fares long term Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, better known to some...

The post The Yakuza studio just underwent a leadership change, but has 'truly surprising announcements' in store for the future appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 31, 2021 12:30 PM
    

Port La Pucelle: Tactics and Rhapsody again, thanks NIS 2022 plans include new games, sequels, and ports, as the company...

The post NIS promises 'new games, sequels, and ports' for 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 31, 2021 12:00 PM
    

Alone in the Dark Nippon Ichi Software, also up for a good haunt jaunt, has released a new gameplay trailer...

The post Yomawari 3 coming to put the willies up you appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 31, 2021 11:00 AM
    

Just hook it to my gunveins NGDEV, the independent studio behind ballistic '90s classics Razion and Gunlord, has announced that...

The post Gunvein is a new shmup headed to PC and consoles in 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 31, 2021 10:00 AM
    

You have until December 31 at 3:59PM PT If you want to grab Tsareena for free in Pokemon Unite, make...

The post PSA: Today is the last day to get Tsareena for free in Pokemon Unite appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 31, 2021 8:00 AM
    

As if it won't just be fucking Scorpion Warner Bros. Interactive continues to beaver away at its upcoming fighter MultiVersus,...

The post MultiVersus director asks fans which Mortal Kombat stars they dig appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, December 31, 2021 9:00 AM
     diablo iii best season 25 buildsBlizzard Entertainment's Diablo franchise celebrates its 25th Anniversary today, December 31. There's no better way to observe the occasion than to create some builds and return to those hallowed halls and fiery depths in Diablo III's Season 25 – The Lords of Hell. This latest season spices things up with the addition of Soul Shards — a new type of powerful, socketable item. You can learn more about their effects and mechanics in this detailed guide to Soul Shards in Diablo III's Season 25. Whether you're a hardened veteran looking to dominate yet another Season, or if this is your first visit to Sanctuary altogether, we've put together this list of the best builds for each class so you can dive right in and start raising some Hell. The seasoned Nephalem at Icy Veins, PCI's sister site, have put countless hours into theorycrafting and in-game testing to determine the best performing builds for Diablo III's various endgame content.   Be sure to also...

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Friday, December 31, 2021 1:36 PM
     In Supergiant Games' Hades, the gods of Olympus or Olympians will help Zagreus in his quest to escape the Underworld because they believe he aspires to join them on Olympus. Little do they know that is not Zagreus' plan at all, and the reason he wants to leave the Underworld is to find his mother. […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Friday, December 31, 2021 11:09 AM
     Ostriches are the world's largest birds, and they have a pretty deadly kick to boot. They may look terrifying to some in real life, but in Stardew Valley, Ostriches are brimming with beauty. Any rancher would love to have them on their farm. However, getting Ostriches in this game can be a real head-scratcher, so […]

Level Up Friday, December 31, 2021 12:01 PM
     This year was a great one for Koei Tecmo, which was behind several releases by…

Level Up Friday, December 31, 2021 9:40 AM
     Remakes and remasters continue to become more common with each passing year and as Mortal…

Level Up Friday, December 31, 2021 8:25 AM
     Riot Games' Joe Ziegler is saying goodbye to his role as Valorant's game director to…