The Sniper Ghost Warrior series has undergone a few transformations over the course of its life. When Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 went down the open world road, it turned out to be too ambitious for its own good. With 2019's Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts, CI Games recalibrated, delivering a mission-based game that put the focus on sniping and surveying and exploring large open sandboxes. It was a successful switch, if not one completely without issues, and building on that success, CI Games have made a sequel that does more of the same. Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is still not a perfect game, but it shows, just like its immediate predecessor did, that the series can deliver great content when it sticks to what it's good at.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is set in a fictional Middle-Eastern city being run by a couple of despotic rulers. When one of them dies, his wife takes over, but now, the region is caught in turmoil, which threatens to have an impact on the rest of the world as well, mostly because the conflict might inflate oil prices around the globe. You play as elite sniper Raven, who is sent in to dismantle the tyrannical regime by taking out its most high profile players one after the other. If that all sounds utterly boring and generic- well, that's because it is. Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2's story feels like it was written by an AI bot that was designed to craft generic plot setups for modern military shooters and keep pumping them out by the hundreds on a conveyor belt. The plot is boring, the characters are dull, and writing is passable at best, and laughably bad at worst.
"Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is still not a perfect game, but it shows, just like its immediate predecessor did, that the series can deliver great content when it sticks to what it's good at."
But you're not here for the story. You're here for the sniping. Luckily enough, Contracts 2 knows that, and that's the part the game is best at. Like its direct predecessor, Contracts 2 is mission based. There are areas, each one a large sandbox, and each populated with targets to kill and objectives to complete, while each area also has optional challenges and contracts to take on. But most of that is broth- the meat and potatoes of this dish is the sniping, and the missions where you'll be taking out targets by firing off shots from distances that are even longer than the game's name.
Sniping in Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 feels empowering and nuanced. Wind, gravity, things in the environment, whether or not a target is moving- all of these and more are things that you have to consider as you're making shots, and the further away you are from your target, the trickier things get. Often, you'll be sniping enemies from a distance of over 1 kilometer, and adjusting your scope in a number of ways to ensure that you've got the target lined up perfectly. What's laudable is that not only does Contracts 2 have this level of complexity and nuance, it also manages to do all of that without becoming opaque or inaccessible.
On easier difficulties, the game has handy assists to help you even with the trickiest of shots, but even on harder difficulties, overcoming all of these obstacles doesn't feel like a chore, but a challenge to be smartly tackled. And once you do fire off a shot, watching it fly for seconds through the air and then causing a morbidly beautiful explosion of blood and chunks is oh-so-satisfying. It makes you feel like an absolute badass to think that you've taken out a target from such an impossible distance, and that's no coincidence- Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 has ways of making you feel really clever.
"Sniping in Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 feels empowering and nuanced."
That's because of how well designed its main missions and objectives are. Like a cross between Sniper Elite and Hitman, with a little bit of Splinter Cell thrown in for good measure, Contracts 2 places its target in reactive, dynamic sandboxes. Each of these presents you with a variety of things to interact with, a number of ways to take out your targets, and gives you the freedom to proceed however you please. Your target might be constantly moving, might be indoors and blocked from view. You could distract enemies by creating a ruckus, you could shoot a container and make it drop right on a target's head. You could shoot a fuse box to open a door a target is standing behind, you could find ways to make a target get close to an explosive barrel and then snipe that for a fiery victory. Hell, you can find ways to line up your shot so that you can take out two targets with a single bullet.
Surveying these dense and dynamic killboxes from a distance with your binoculars, spotting important details, and puzzling out how to make them work to your advantage. Executing on your plan and killing off perfectly strategized and perfectly timed kills feels even better. And adapting on the fly when things go wrong and managing to find a way to still succeed? That's just fun. Completing objectives – optional and otherwise – also lets you upgrade weapons and purchase new skills, and though the progression mechanics aren't anything to write home about, they're decent enough investments.
As I mentioned earlier though, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is not a perfect game. Visually, this is a pretty solid looking game, and audio design is also quite impressive, especially for percussive sniper shots that echo loudly in large, open space. That said, there are some technical issues and animation bugs- not major ones, thankfully, but enough that they couldn't be ignored. But Contracts 2's biggest issues are with the close range combat. Sniping is what this game is best at, but every so often, it forces you into up-close encounters and shootouts. Close-range shooting in Contracts 2 is quite lackluster, and the weapons don't feel nearly as good to shoot as the sniper rifles do, so these sections are, without fail, slogs to get through. Meanwhile, stealth is also pretty basic in the game, and it doesn't help that enemy AI can be incompetently dumb. Given how important a role stealth players in Contracts 2, that feels like a particularly glaring flaw.
"All in all, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is, by and large, a solid game. Purely as a sniping game, it's perhaps one of the better ones of its kind, at least in recent memory, and it builds on the strengths of the first Contracts in smart ways."
All in all, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is, by and large, a solid game. Purely as a sniping game, it's perhaps one of the better ones of its kind, at least in recent memory, and it builds on the strengths of the first Contracts in smart ways. A dull story, bland close-range combat, and disappointing stealth sections bring down the experience in some ways, but for the most part, Contracts 2 knows what it's good at, and in those areas, it almost always flies high.
If you've exhausted the content currently in Valheim, then there's good news – Norsfell's Tribes of Midgard may scratch that base-building survival RPG itch. A new trailer was revealed at the Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live show which offered a look at all the different Giants. Check it out below.
The story focuses on a Viking clan that must protect the Seed of Yggdrasil from all manner of evil. Venture out during the day to gather resources, craft or discover new weapons and locate Artifacts to gain an edge. Outfit your settlement with walls and other defenses because at night, Hel's forces will eventually attack. It also won't be long before the Giants arrive to trigger Ragnarok.
Of course, you can either go it solo or team with up to ten other players in co-op. Tribes of Midgard will release on July 27th and is coming to PS4, PS5 and PC. Pre-orders are currently available and net some free cosmetics.
Developer Endflame and publisher PM Studios announced Ikai, a first-person psychological horror game, today. The game will draw inspiration from traditional Japanese folklore. It is schedule to launch this October.
According to the publisher, "Ikai embodies the spirit of the classical psychological horror genre with a defenseless main character incapable of attacking the evil creatures. However, it explores a new sense of horror by making the player face the threats directly neither fleeing nor attacking."
Every mechanic in Ikai is designed to make the player feel helpless and create tension. Players take on the role of Naoko, a priestess trying to make it from her shrine to the river before dark. Unfortunately, strange occurrences have been happening in the village as of late, and while Naoko doesn't believe the rumors of demons and spirits, she's about to find out she's wrong firsthand. The game will task players with exploring, drawing protective seals, solving puzzles, and running or hiding to try and stay alive.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 will take place after the events of the film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Dinosaurs are out in the world now, and you will be leading the efforts to "control, conserve, and contain" them in the wild. Throughout all of it, you'll be working with characters such as Dr. Ian Malcolm and Claire Dearing, voiced by Jeff Goldblum and Bryce Dallas Howard respectively, reprising their roles from the films (and the first game).
In addition to the campaign, the Challenge and Sandbox modes are also returning. Meanwhile, Jurassic World Evolution 2 will also have a new Chaos Theory mode, in which you will get to "relive iconic film moments from across the Jurassic World and Jurassic Park films in 'what-if' scenarios."
"Immerse yourself at the heart of the Jurassic World franchise and see how things turn out when you are put at the helm of managing new challenges with unpredictable outcomes," Woods explains.
And what about the dinosaurs? Jurassic World Evolution will have over 75 species of dinos, and these will include flying and aquatic animals as well, fans of the first game should be glad to know. There will be a mix of new and familiar species, including some that have been made for this game entirely from scratch and haven't been featured in the movies either. One such dino is the Amargasaurus, which is "a smaller sauropod featuring twin rows of distinctive parallel spines down its back."
Other improvements include being able to deploy park teams, the ability to customize guest buildings, and several new biomes, each of which will have "their own unique set of conditions, terrain and environmental challenges, ranging from dense forests to rocky deserts."
Jurassic World Evolution 2 will launch later this year on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A specific release date hasn't yet been announced.
Axiom Verge 2 was initially announced as a Nintendo Switch console exclusive, and though developer Thomas Happ said he wanted to eventually bring the game to all platforms, he chose to focus his efforts on a smaller selection of them at launch. That's changing, though. In an update recently published on the PlayStation Blog, Happ has confirmed that at launch, Axiom Verge 2 will also be available on PS5 and PS4.
"As I was working on Axiom Verge 2, I felt I owed it both to Sony and all of the earliest fans of Axiom Verge to bring it to PS4 and PS5," Happ wrote. "I can't imagine launching any other way. I am excited to confirm here and now that the PS4 version will be available on day one. I am going to try my best to get the PS5 version ready for launch, but that might take a bit longer since I really want to take advantage of that in-game hints system!"
In the same update, Happ also provided new details on the game- more specifically, it's difficulty, and how he has attempted to address some issues with the upcoming sequel. "Although I try to put on my blinders with respect to other people's opinions about my games and stay true to my original vision, one common theme came up when I watched people play," Happ wrote. "here were some people who wished the game were a lot harder, and there were those who wanted it to be easier. Some loved the exploration but just got to a boss they couldn't get past. That's happened to me. I can't tell you how many times I've had to stop playing a game because of a choke point."
For starters, Axiom Verge 2 is going to have customizable difficulty options. Rather than choosing specific difficulty options, players will instead be able to decide how much damage they will do, and how much damage they will incur. Interestingly enough, Happ also confirms that all bosses are going to be optional in the game- though players will be rewarded for beating bosses, that will no longer be required to progress the story. It's an interesting choice, and I'm curious to see how it will work out in a Metroidvania game, which is a genre that traditionally places so much emphasis on boss fights as progression gates.
Finally, Happ also gave brief details on weapons, and how protagonist Indra's weaponry is going to differ from what fans of the first game will remember, owing to its more close-range nature. "She starts off with a pickaxe and does a lot of her fighting up close and personal," Happ explained. "Fortunately for her, it's a question of brains over brawn, and she can use her technical skills as a tech genius to hack her enemies."
Following its gameplay trailer and release date reveal, FromSoftware's Elden Ring has received numerous new details courtesy of Bandai Namco's official site. It notes the "fantastical landscapes" that players will explore and that connect seamlessly with the "shadowy, complex dungeons." Though one could travel on foot, they'll also have the benefit of horseback as they venture across "grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, foreboding castles and other sites of grandeur."
Most notable is the confirmation of online play, allowing players to venture the world with their friends much like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Those bummed by the options in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice can also rejoice – Elden Ring will provide a "wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills." These can be found as players journey throughout The Lands Between. If you're keen on charging headfirst or using stealth to fight foes, the gameplay promises plenty of options for both exploration and combat.
Elden Ring is set to release on January 21st 2022 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and PC. Those purchasing the game on previous-gen platforms can avail of free upgrades to the Xbox Series X/S (via Smart Delivery) and PS5 versions. For more details on the story, head here.
FromSoftware's Elden Ring received its long-awaited gameplay trailer and release date at the recent Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live. For those confused by what they were witnessing, the official site has been updated with new details on the story. Set in The Lands Between ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal, the Elden Ring has been shattered into pieces.
Since this is the source of the Erdtree, various entities – demigods, Marika's offspring, and so on – have laid claim to the Elden Ring's shards. Referred to as the Great Runes, these shards would trigger a war called The Shattering. This also led to "abandonment by the Greater Will" which could be a higher power that players will encounter at some point. As the Tarnished, one must stand before the Elden Ring, become the Elden Lord and ideally, put an end to the conflict.
As the "dead who yet live", it seems that the protagonist will have much in common with Dark Souls' Undead. Along with learning more about the Elden Ring's power, players will also come across "characters with their own unique motivations" that can either help or hinder you, overwhelming creatures and "adversaries with profound backgrounds." Elden Ring is slated to release on January 21st 2022 for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Xbox One. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.
At long last, the long-awaited gameplay reveal for Elden Ringfinally arrived at Summer Game Fest's kickoff stream, and it looks exactly like the sort of grueling dark fantasy adventure that you'd expect, complete with the style that is so strongly associated with FromSoftware. Information on the game is likely to keep flooding in ahead of its launch early next year, but with it having been confirmed as a cross-gen game, what does that mean for whether or not next-gen upgrades will be supported?
Well, they will be. Publisher Bandai Namco has confirmed that those who purchase Elden Ring on PS4 will have the option to upgrade to the game's PS5 version at no additional cost. Meanwhile, Smart Delivery will be supported on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S as well, so you're not going to have to buy the game twice there either.
Elden Ring launches on January 21, 2022 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more details on the game in the meantime.
One of the many new indie titles revealed at the Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live was Planet of Lana. Developed by Wishfully and published by Thunderful, it takes place on an alien world with Lana and her companion Mui being the main characters. As a side-scrolling adventure, the title promises a cinematic approach with gorgeous environments and strange creatures to encounter.
Along with platforming and puzzle solving, Lana and Mui will also be doing some sneaking. The two can also use their abilities together which should open up some interesting new gameplay avenues. Those on Xbox Series X and PC can also bask in the game's visuals at 4K with 60 FPS support.
Planet of Lana will be releasing in 2022 and is also coming to Xbox One along with Xbox Series X/S and PC. More details on how it plays on other Xbox platforms along with its story – which apparently stretches across "galaxies and centuries – and gameplay will be coming later. Stay tuned in the meantime.
As promised, Saber Interactive debuted a new gameplay trailer for Evil Dead: The Game at Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live, and it's looking brutal in all the ways you'd expect. Plenty of gameplay is shown off in the over 2-minute long trailer, with commentary from none other than Bruce Campbell (Ash Williams) himself. Take a look below.
In Evil Dead: The Game, every match will see players teaming up and playing as classic Evil Dead heroes, each with their own unique weapon and attributes. On the opposing side, players will play as the Kandarian Demon, and with the powers of possession, can take control of all sorts of monstrosities and horrors. There's plenty of brutality, several weapons to us, vehicles to drive, collect artifacts and tapes, and all of it on maps based on locations that Evil Dead fans will recognize. It's looking quite interesting, to say the least.
Evil Dead: The Game launches some time in 2021 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Recently, Valorant developers revealed some exciting details about the upcoming agent, and here's everything you need to know about it.
Riot Games' Valorant is one of the most popular first-person shooter games. The competitive esports title boasts several maps along with unique agents. Every agent in Valorant flaunts different abilities that are crucial to the gameplay.
Riot promised to release a new agent in each Act; however, there wasn't any new agent in Episode 2: Act 3. Fortunately, the devs confirmed that we'd definitely get a new agent in the Episode 3 update.
More:Valorant New Agent 'Grenadier' Codename Potentially Leaked
Episode 2 Act III Gameplay Trailer – VALORANT
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Episode 2 Act III Gameplay Trailer – VALORANT
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Valorant New Agent Abilities
Recently, Valorant released a post to talk about the State of the Agents. Besides talking about future balances for the existing agents, devs dropped some interesting information about the upcoming agent.
Apparently, the agent's abilities will feel familiar to players who love playing traditional FPS games. That's because, according to the developers, the new agent will create "moments where you must rely on your gunplay."
Of course, it's still too soon to assume anything based on that statement; however, we think that a new agent might be able to pause other agent's abilities for a few seconds.
Nevertheless, this is only a prediction after reading the above statement from Riot, so take it with a pinch of salt.
Besides that, Valorant devs also revealed a teaser image for the new agent. And thanks to Floxay on Twitter, we know that the image is titled "Data Transfer." The data miner also revealed a spray from the previous Battlepass, which might be teasing the upcoming agent's look.
The teaser image is called "Data Transfer", and I just got reminded the other day about this Spray from the previous Battlepass pic.twitter.com/0B2DCadZ7e
Besides teasing some abilities, Riot confirmed that the new agent would arrive with Patch 3.0.
The next major update will kick off Valorant Episode 3, and it is expected to come out around June 22nd, 2021. So, tighten your seatbelt because we'll definitely get more leaks for Episode 3 in a couple of days.
Destiny 2 players have been having plenty of stuff to do lately, as an all-new season kicked off in the game a few days ago. With the Vault of Glass making a comeback and various other new weapons and changes making their way into the game, the game is filled with loads of new content.
MORE: Where Is Destiny 2 Xur Location Today (May 28) – What does he sell, Release Time
Despite the plethora of new stuff available, the Trials of Osiris is still something fans eagerly look forward to every week. For those who are unaware, Trials of Osiris is a 3v3 match in which players get rewards at 3,5, and 7 wins. You lose three, and you start all over again. With such high stakes, the rewards are also high.
Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer – Season Pass Trailer
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Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer – Season Pass Trailer
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Destiny 2 Trials of Osiris Reward This Week (May 28, 2021) – Map, Loot
The Trials of Osiris Rewards and map for this week hasn't been revealed yet. Trials of Osiris goes live at 5PM GMT every Friday, so you have to wait until then to get more information. For now, you can check out the rewards and map for last week.
Map
Midtown
Rewards
3 Wins (Powerful): Exile's Curse (Fusion Rifle)
5 Wins (Powerful): Pyrrhic Boots (Legendary Leg Armor)
Destiny 2 was released quite a while ago but frequent updates have made sure that the game maintains its dominance in the looter shooter genre. Recently, the Season of Splicer kicked off in the game, adding tons of new weapons as well as the fan-favorite Vault of Glass.
MORE:Destiny 2 Oracle Locations – How to complete Vault of Glass Raid
If you are a veteran Destiny 2 player you might be well aware of Xur. The popular merchant arrives every week in the game and gives players a chance to buy some exotic weapons, armors, and a lot of other stuff.
Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer – Vault of Glass Trailer
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Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer – Vault of Glass Trailer
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Who is Xur?
Xur is the Agent of Nine and like we mentioned earlier, players can buy a plethora of items from him using Legendary Shards. There is a new set of weapons and armor available for sale every week.
However, there is a catch. Xur's location changes every week, so players need to know where he will be spawning before they are able to buy items from him. Xur appears in either The Tower, European Dead Zone, Titan, Nessus, or IO.
WHERE IS DESTINY 2 XUR LOCATION TODAY (MAY 28, 2021)? – WHAT DOES HE SELL, RELEASE TIME?
Bungie hasn't released Xur's location for this week yet. Do note that Xur arrives in the game every Friday at 5 pm GMT/1 pm EST. He is available until Tuesday, so players have a bit of time to be able to buy their items from him. For now, you can check out Xur's offerings for last week.
Recently, Bandai Namco has come forward to announce multiple Mobile Suit Gundam SEED projects, and here's everything you need to know about it.
Directed by Mitsuo Fukuda, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is a popular Japanese anime. The series was broadcasted between 2002 and 2003, and then a sequel of the anime aired from 2004-2005. Since then, we've seen three films, manga, and light novels based on the anime franchise.
Well, it looks Bandai Namco is all set to bring the series back to fans through multiple new projects.
More:Overlord Season 4: Is There An Official Release Date Yet?
"Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway" Trailer 2 (EN sub)
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"Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway" Trailer 2 (EN sub)
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New Gundam SEED Manga, Anime, and Game
To celebrate the upcoming 20th anniversary of 2002's Gundam SEED anime, Bandai Namco announced the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Ignited.
As part of the new initiative, the studio announced three new projects centered around the legendary anime; a new manga, a film, and a mobile game.
The new manga, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Eclipse, will release worldwide in July. As reported by Anime News Network, the upcoming manga's story is set between the "missing two years between the two wars."
A new Gundam SEED movie is also in the making, which was initially announced back in 2006. The movie is supposed to serve as a sequel to the TV series.
For some reason, we didn't hear anything about the movie since the announcement. But fortunately, now it's confirmed that the new movie is in production.
However, there's no official release window for the movie, and we'll hear more about the project in the future.
Finally, Bandai Namco also announced a Gundam SEED mobile game. Of course, we don't have any details on the upcoming game, and it's too soon to assume that the game is already in development.
Anyway, Bandai Namco confirmed that they'd release more information on the upcoming mobile game pretty soon. So, let's wait and get back to seeing the original anime to be ready for what's ahead.
Oscar Isaac is going to play the questionably great and but extremely powerful Moon Knight for his upcoming MCU series for Disney+, and here are his powers.
Another week, another A-tier actor joins the MCU. This time it's Oscar Isaac of Star Wars fame playing Moon Knight.
This hero is among the more unconventional superheroes out there in the MCU.
Moon Knight suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder and the fact that he derives his powers from an Egyptian Moon god further aggravates the problem.
Read more to learn about Moon Knight and what his powers are.
MORE MCU: Moon Knight MCU Details and His Relationship With The Avengers
Marvel Studios' Eternals | Official Teaser
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Marvel Studios' Eternals | Official Teaser
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How Did Moon Knight Get His Powers?
Moon Knight, born as Marc Spector, was a former US Marine-turned-C.I.A. agent. He later left both the organisations with disgrace and became a soldier-for-hire.
During one of his missions in Egypt at a Pharoah's tomb, a scuffle in the crew ensured. Spector was mortally wounded and the crew on his side placed him beneath the idol of the Egyptian god Khonshu. There, his spirit ascended and met Khonshu himself who promised to save his life in exchange of his service.
He returned with his friend Frenchie and now his lover Marlene to New York. They helped him develop the costume and persona of Moon Knight to fight crime.
What Are Moon Knight's Powers?
Spector attributing his powers and abilities to Khonshu are often in question. He himself isn't a reliable source for himself due to his state of mind. Nevertheless, the Moon Knight has superhuman powers such as:
Enhancement of strength, endurance, and reflexes depending upon the phases of the moon. The fuller the moon, the more strength he gains. It isn't known whether his strength is mystical or simply self-hypnosis due to psychological instability.
Resistance to some psychic attacks due to multiple personalities. Also receives prophetic visions sometimes.
High tolerance for pain either as a result of a spiritual gift or simply being numb from years of damage.
MORE MCU: Are The Eternals Part of The MCU or The Avengers?
Moon Knight also has general human powers that greatly aid him in his conquest such as:
Expert hand-to-hand combat with expertise in various Martial Arts from Krav Maga to Muay Thai. Also an Olympic-level athlete and a skilled acrobat and gymnast.
Expert detective and private investigator with top knowledge about the criminal underworld.
Expert interrogator who doesn't shy from using military secrets of torture.
Pinpoint accuracy as a sharpshooter and can slice a bullet in half with a crescent disc.
Mastery over various weapons such as combat knives, chains, brass, knuckles, shurikens, and boomerangs and all types of firearms from pistols to Gatling guns.
MORE MCU: Is Venom In The MCU, Or Will He Be Coming To It?
What Is Moon Knight's Relation With Dracula?
It is currently rumoured that Moon Knight faces off against Dracula in the upcoming Disney+ series. The two know and mention each other in the comics but their relation skyrocketed in popularity after popular memes around them.
Dracula isn't exactly among the main antagonists faced by Moon Knight in the past, bringing speculations about a tie-in with the upcoming Blade reboot featuring Mahershala Ali given Blade's history with Dracula.
Moon Knight features Oscar Isaac as the titular protagonist and releases in 2022 on Disney+.
The release date for Inazuma, one of the seven regions of Teyvat, is one of the most anticipated announcement for Genshin Impact fans. We compiled all the major hints so far that could help us pinpoint the Inazuma release date, along all the major story, lore, and character elements revealed in Genshin Impact so far.
Note that this piece contains spoilers if you haven't finished all of the main story quests available in Genshin Impact as of April 2021.
Version 1.6 "Midsummer Island Adventure" Trailer | Genshin Impact
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Version 1.6 "Midsummer Island Adventure" Trailer | Genshin Impact
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Genshin Impact 1.6 Livestream – More Inazuma concept artwork, May 28, 2021 update
miHoYo revealed more concept artwork for Inazuma during the Version 1.6 livestream. A short segment at the end of the stream, with an SD version of Ayaka, revealed six new pieces of artwork:
The areas' names are:
Watatsumi Island (artwork 1)
Seirai Island (2)
Tsurumi Island (3)
Unknown location (4)
Unknown location in somewhere in Narukami Island: "The plant life here has grown gnarled and unnatural from growing in uttermost darkness. Something twisted seems to be sealed here" (5)
Narukami Island Grand Narukami Shrine (6)
New Inazuma artwork and lore, April 16, 2021 Update
miHoYo, on the livestream for Genshin Impact 1.5 Beneath The Light of Jadeite, revealed six new artwork for Inazuma. Revealing several areas. We have Narukami Island ith its tall mounains. Then we have the Tatarasuna, Kannazuka area, with two artworks of two different locations. The first one with sakura raining like snow, and the second one showing the Mikage Furnace.
Next, we have two artwork for Yashiori island and its snake skeleton cavern. Lastly, we have the Tenshu castle, or Tenshukaku, in Inazuma City. Where Electron Archon Baal should be residing.
CODES – Genshin Impact redeemable codes for free Primogems
Narukami Island
Tatarasuna, Kannazuka
Mikage Furnace Tatarasuna, Kannazuka
Yashiori Island 1
Yashiori Island 2
Tenshukaku, Inazuma City
Official lore (April 16, 2021 update)
Narukami Island: A sight witnessed by al inbound travelers to Inazuma. The Grand Narukami Shrine and Sacred Sakura on the mountain, and the city of Inazuma on the coast.
Yashiori Island: The skeleton of a great snake rests on this island. The presence of evil is palpable here.
Tatarasuna, Kannazuka: The mountain surrounding the Mikage Furnace. Blossoms continue to bloom here, impervious to the effects of war.
Mikage Furnace at Tatarasuna, Kannazuka: The largest smelting facility in all the islands of Inazuma, surrounded by jagged, rocky terrain. War has brought production to a halt.
Tenshukaku, Inazuma City: The residence of the most exalted one in all of Inazuma. Standing tall on the highest point in the city, it watches over all under the Electro Archon's dominion.
The versions of the artwork shown on stream, and published by the Japanese Twitter, also teased a new character from Inazuma. In SD form.
Note that while her identity wasn't officially confirmed, this teased character is definitely not Baal seeing the lore we know (see further below). Moreover, according to several Chinese speakers, this new pink character was described as a "fox" by Zhongli, and was described as a friend of Zhongli and Baal. Lastly, she doesn't look like Mei from Honkai, but more like Yae Sakura.
Inazuma is one of the seven regions of Teyvat, and the Electro region. Just like how Mondstadt is based on western medieval Europe, and Liyue is based on China, Inazuma will be based on Japan. It'll be an island region located somewhere east of Liyue Harbor on the world map. Main story wise, Inazuma is currently the next destination of the Traveler, and Act II of the Teyvat story.
In the past, miHoYo listed the upcoming regions and story chapters in Genshin Impact:
Act Prologue: The Outlander Who Caught The Wind. Region: Mondstadt (Anemo / wind element). Featured character: Diluc
First off, it's important to note miHoYo did not publish a release date for Inazuma yet. However, it's likely we could hear about a release date estimate soon.
Back when Genshin Impact released, miHoYo published a roadmap for the updates, up to Ver 1.3. In other words, we already knew from the start Dragonspine would be added in 1.2. And that the Lantern Festival was coming in 1.3, Which strongly hinted at Xiao's banner, for example.
However, since the launch of 1.3, miHoYo has yet to publish a new roadmap for future updates. This means we could hear about Inazuma and its release very soon. Once miHoYo decides to publish a new roadmap.
Currently, Genshin Impact is at Ver 1.5, released on April 28. The 1.6 livestream confirmed Inazuma will not be added to the game. So far, the game's updates have happened every six weeks. Assuming this release pace stays identical, it means we'll wait till Version 1.7 on July 21, 2021, at earliest, for Inazuma to release.
Biggest hints, characters, and lore elements revealed on Inazuma so far
miHoYo hinted Inazuma is coming multiple times in the past.
The first Beta Test and Ayaka.Genshin Impact had over three Closed Beta Tests before release. While players were handpicked and selected by miHoYo, any participating player could freely share information, screenshots, and gameplay. Unlike the current Private Beta Tests for future versions, where it's strictly forbidden by NDA to share anything.
The first Beta included Ayaka Kamisato as a playable character. A Sword user and Cryo user from Inazuma. It's likely she will be added to the main game with a banner with the release of Inazuma.
Voiced by Saori Hayami, Ayaka was also in one of the very first trailers for Genshin Impact in September 2019, back when few cared about the game.
AYAKA – Latest official teaser for the Inazuma character
Inazuma map leaks
Some players, by datamining content from the first Beta Test, made a possible map of Teyvat judging from that data. Needless to say, the full map will be completely different. And we won't see it anytime soon, it'll probably take years. However, this can give you an idea of where Inazuma is located. Again, we can see it's at the east of Liyue Harbor.
The above mentioned list, listing the regions and their order. This was revealed right after the release of Genshin Impact on September 28, 2020.
DualShockers' interview with miHoYo. Simultaneously with the release of Genshin Impact, back in September 2020, the studio told us regarding the release date of Inazuma:
miHoYo: "Perceptive players will have already noticed the hints that we dropped about the new city in development. We are working hard to bring it to players as soon as we can".
Zhongli's answers at the end of the Liyue Archon quest. With the release of Ver 1.1 in November 2020, miHoYo confirmed in-game for the first time that the Traveler will head next to Inazuma.
Unreconciled Stars event and Scaramouche
With Ver 1.1 and this event, players were introduced to the 6th Fatui Harbinger, Scaramouche, who is likely to be from Inazuma. This is speculation from his clothes and physical features, as miHoYo technically never officially confirmed it.
Seeing Childe was made playable, it's likely Scaramouche, voiced by Tetsuya Kakihara, will get his own banner at some point despite being an antagonist. If he plays a key role during the Inazuma story chapter, he could be added then. Otherwise, Scaramouche might be made playable in a much further update.
The Drifting Bottles and Uyuu restaurant. Dragonspine, which was added with Ver 1.2 in December 2020, included new hints pointing out at Inazuma. If you've explored the whole mountain, you'd have found drifting bottles sent from Inazuma. The bottles most notably mention Uyuu restaurant, which is seemingly one of the key locations in Inazuma we'll be visiting.
Genshin Impact Inazuma release date – How the Electro, Inazuma Archon is linked to it
Baal, the Electro Archon, will be playing a key role in the Inazuma storyline, most probably as the main antagonist. We've learned quite a lot about her in-game, and her different titles: God of Eternity Raiden Shogun, and Immortal Shogun.
However, miHoYo did not reveal any artwork or screenshot of Baal yet. The one thing to note however, is that Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact, another miHoYo game, have several lore links. Several Genshin Impact characters look similar to Honkai characters, or are named after them. And from what we know so far, it's highly likely Electro Archon Baal will look similar to raiden Mei from Honkai.
That's all we have so far. Keep this in your bookmarks as we we'll keep adding more and more details, and tell you as soon as possible once we have a release date for Inazuma. Genshin Impactis available on PC, PS4, PS5 via backward compatibility, and Mobile. The game was also announced on Switch, but has no release date on the platform yet. If you'd like to discuss Inazuma lore, you can always reach out to me on Twitter @A_iyane07.
miHoYo regularly releases new Genshin Impact codes, to redeem for free Primogems and items. You can find below the latest codes revealed, along with how to redeem the codes, whether you play Genshin Impact on PC, PS4, PS5, or Mobile.
Version 1.6 "Midsummer Island Adventure" Trailer | Genshin Impact
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Version 1.6 "Midsummer Island Adventure" Trailer | Genshin Impact
Still no new codes and it doesn't seem like we'll get any till the Genshin Impact 1.6 livestream codes. Usually there are one or two codes revealed during the six weeks interval between two updates, shared by YouTubers affiliated with miHoYo. However, no codes like this have been shared since the release of 1.5.
While you can find several new code videos on YouTube every day, none of them have actual new codes. We'll keep this page updated, so keep it in your bookmarks. Lastly, remember these two codes from March are still valid if you haven't used them yet: GS6ACJ775KNV (60 Primogems), SBNBUK67M37Z (30 Primogems, x5 Adventurer's Experience).
Initially, these codes would expire on April 17, midnight ET. However, several players encountered issues when logging in on the site. The official Genshin Impact Twitter account has as such announced an extension. The codes now expire on April 18, midnight ET / April 17, 9 PM PT / April 18, 05:00 GMT.Click here for other time zones, and here for a countdown.
YAE SAKURA – Everything about the Honkai, Genshin character
How to redeem Genshin Impact codes on PC and Mobile?
Players can redeem the codes on the official Genshin site's gift page. Make sure to login with your correct information. Then, make sure to pick the right server you're playing on, or else you will be redeeming the codes on another server. Save progress is not shared between servers. If you pick the wrong server, you will be unable to transfer the rewards from one server to another.
You can also access the redeem function in-game, by entering the Settings menu, then the Account menu, and select Redeem Code.
How to redeem Genshin Impact codes on PS4 and PS5?
PS4 and PS5 Genshin Impact players can only access the redeem function directly in-game. As we explained above, it's located in the Settings menu, in the Account section.
Keep this post in your bookmarks as we will regularly update it whenever new free Primegems redeem codes are available. miHoYo regularly publishes codes, with the biggest Primogem giveaways being during the live streams once per month. Keeping track of these codes is another way to save Primos for your favorite characters such as Venti.
Be sure to check our guide and fix if you encounter the Connection Failed issue and are unable to play Genshin Impact.
March 6 live stream codes – 300 Primogems (Expired)
Following the Version 1.4 stream of Genshin Impact, miHoYo revealed several new codes to redeem for free Primogems. If you missed it, we covered everything you should know from the Genshin Impact 1.4 livestream and the new update Invitation of Windblume.
KTNSCQWW922M – 100 Primogems
ET7ADQFF8KJR – 100 Primogems
PSNTC8FEQK4D – 100 Primogems, 50,000 Mora
These Genshin codes will be working until March 6 11 PM ET. If you're in PT, that's March 6 8 PM PT. Lastly, for GMT players, that's Sunday March 7 at 4 AM. This is the same time limit worldwide, regardless on which server you play. If you don't live in either ET, PT, and GMT, click here for a time zone conversion table.
Genshin Impactis a free-to-play open world action JRPG, available on PC, PS4, PS5 via backward compatibility, and Mobile. The game was also announced on Switch, but has no release date on the platform yet. Lastly, if you found codes we didn't share yet, you can always reach out to me directly on Twitter @A_iyane07.
miHoYo held on May 28 the Genshin Impact 1.6 livestream, officially revealing the release date for the Midsummer Island Adventure update with Klee and Kazuha – we have all the details below, including the boat system and costumes (skins) pricing.
NEW CODES – Primogem codes from the 1.6 livestream
Genshin Impact 1.6 release date, trailer
The 1.6 update of Genshin Impact, Midsummer Island Adventure, will be launching on June 9, 2021 (June 8 ET). The specific maintenance schedule and launch time will, as always, be revealed a few days before June 9.
New character – Kaedehara Kazuha, support role, voice actor
Kazuha is a Sword and Anemo 5* character from Inazuma. An intro trailer and screenshots from Kazuha's Story Quest were shared. Klee's banner will launch on June 9 with 1.6, and Kazuha's banner will be coming three weeks after it on June 30.
In the official press release, Kazuha is described as a Support character by miHoYo. Explaining how with his Elemental Skill and Burst. Kazuha can buff party members, and crowd control hordes of enemies.
Kazuha's skills, like Venti or Sucrose's Anemo Skills, deal additional Elemental damage if they come into contact with Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, or Electro. Lastly, by triggering a Swirl reaction, Kazuha can further buff his teammates with an Elemental Damage Bonus for their corresponding Element.
Kazuha will appear in a new Archon quest (main story quest). He is traveling with Beidou and her Crux Fleet, and will give the Traveler clues about the way to the closed-off Inazuma.
In Japanese, Kazuha is voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki (Yuki inFruits Basket remake).
Maguu Kenki uses Cryo and Anemo attacks, and can summon phantoms of itself. miHoYo stated in the press release that "it can only be taken down while in close-range combat" perhaps insinuating that it can nullify long-range attacks to a certain degree.
INAZUMA – All the artwork and official hints so far
How to get the new Costumes (Skins) for Barbara and Jean, Price
The Barbara summer costume, Summertime Sparkle, will be available for free as you clear its event, Echoing Tales. Once the Echoing Tales event ends, Summertime Sparkle will then be available in the Shop for 1680 Genesis Crystals.
The Jean summer skin, Sea Breeze Dandelion, will only be available through the Shop, for 1350 Genesis Crystals for a limited time during 1.6, and then permanently for 1680 Genesis Crystals:
The update's story begins with Klee receiving a mysterious letter from "Dodo-King" threatening to take her doll Dodoco away from her. Searching for Dodo-King, players will explore a new, secluded achipelago using boats called Waverider, in search of the mysterious "Dodoland."
By completing all the events, we'll get a brand-new four-star catalyst, Dodoco Tales, and all the materials to fully refine it.
Here's the gameplay trailer for all the new events, including the Waverider (boat event), "Whirlpool off to Starboard" (new Gliding challenge with the Waverider), the Bom Bom tennis mini-game with Klee, and a new event similar to the Contending Tides battle event.
It looks like the boat system is an event-only limited addition.
Serenitea Pot update – Place characters in Housing mode
Genshin Impact 1.6 will let players place their characters inside the Serenitea Pot. miHoYo has previously stated this is only available for characters you actually own.
Characters in your realm will gradually accumulate Character Companionship Experience over time. The increase rate depends of your Adeptal Energy Rank.
That's all the details from the 1.6 livestream. Most of it had leaked beforehand, but I'm personally still looking forward to the boat event. How do you feel about the update so far? You can always reach out to me directly to chat on Twitter @A_iyane07.
Genshin Impactis available on PS4, PS5, PC, iOS, and Android.
Last year, Marvel announced that the Moon Knight series was in the works for Disney Plus last year. But we had heard very little about it until the recent announcement which confirmed that Oscar Isaac will be playing the role of Moon Knight in the series.
This announcement signifies the arrival of more content for the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the next few years as the franchise continues to expand on streaming platforms.
Marvel's Moon Knight is one of those characters who seem to be inspired by DC Comics' Batman and is certainly more of a weird character.
The role of Moon Knight will be player by Oscar Isaac in the upcoming series on Disney Plus.
This was confirmed in a tweet by both Marvel and Isaac with the same line — "We are Moon Knight," which is a direct reference to the character's complex psychology.
In the comics, Moon Knight has fought alongside the Avengers, the Defenders, and other known Marvel hero teams.
It is rumored that Marvel plans to capitalize on the success of Avengers by creating more super-team crossover movies. This includes not only Young Avengers and Dark Avengers/Thunderbolts but also a Midnight Sons movie.
The Midnight Sons will have more supernatural heroes in the MCU joining hands to face the world's darkest and most unsettling threats.
This Midnight Sons movie will probably feature both existing and new MCU characters – including Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Blade, and Moon Knight.
Moon Knight MCU Phase 4
It is already confirmed that Moon Knight will be a part of MCU Phase 4.
Back in February, Kevin Feige, the President of Marvel Studios gave a vague timeline for the production of Moon Knight.
According to his statement, it was suspected that the production would begin somewhere between the end of March and the beginning of June 2021.
If we take Marvel Studios' latest tweet into consideration, this timeline seems about right. And Moon Knight will most likely be released after Ms. Marvel which is scheduled for a late 2021 release on Disney Plus.
Moon Knight Release Date
Currently, there's no word on a release date, but taking the above information into consideration, we will most likely get to see the Moon Knight series on Disney Plus in the first half 2022.
Meanwhile, there are several other Marvel shows on their way soon to Disney Plus. Loki is set to premiere on June 9th and both Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye are scheduled for the later half of 2021.
Todd Phillips will be returning as co-writer for Joker 2, but will the sequel finally let Arthur Fleck come face to face with Batman?
The 2019 film presented a darker version of the Clown Prince of Crime through Phillips' unique vision and Joaquin Phoenix's stellar performance.
Joker stood independently from the DCEU and many believed it would remain as a one-off show, but whispers of a sequel with Phoenix on board soon surfaced.
Arthur Fleck had a triumphant finale after his descent into madness, where Robert De Niro's Murray Franklin met a shocking end. After Arthur became somewhat of a god in the eyes of Gotham rioters, he was quickly incarcerated within the iconic Arkham Asylum during Joker's conclusion.
With Arthur now locked up – a familiar position for the Joker to be in – questions are now being asked about how Joker 2 will continue his story behind bars. We know that the Joker rarely stays imprisoned for long, but will Phillips lean on the source material this time around?
Could Phillips follow a comic book arc?
Credit: Dark Knight News
If Phillips takes the Grant Morrison and Dave McKean comic Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth into account, we could see chaos outbreak in Arkham. The comic follows the Arkham Knight as he attempts to diffuse a riot within the asylum involving many DC villains, including Two-Face, Killer Croc, and the Joker.
If Joker 2 began before the riot, we could see a continuation of Arthur's internal struggle during his time at Arkham, where he would eventually provoke another riot that could end with his first confrontation with Batman.
Will Joker 2 have a time jump?
Credit: neon_beatdown / Reddit
Joker offered a momentous scene between Arthur and a young Bruce Wayne which was beautifully haunting and set up the characters' rivalry. But in order for Arthur to face Bruce as Batman in Joker 2, there would need to be a significant time jump.
Bruce's earliest donning of the cowl was during his late 20s, according to the comics, meaning Joker 2's narrative would need to exist at least 15 years after the events of Joker. This would make Arthur around 55 years old.
Of course, there's a good chance that Phillips will choose to follow his own narrative again, which will only add to the character's original adaptation. But perhaps he'll allow old enemies to meet in his own way, much to the delight of fans.
