Dec 20, 18:00


Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 5:20 PM
    

I assumed getting murdered by Krampus at the end of a hotly contested Call of Duty match would be objectively funny, but it seems players are less than pleased with the mythological creature's ability to affect online competition so dramatically.

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Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 5:05 PM
    

Game director Masahiro Sakurai has said there are no plans for a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sequel, despite claiming it might not totally end the series. Either way, we know Kingdom Hearts' Sora was the crossover fighter's last DLC, meaning no other newcomers are joining the roster. As disappointing as that sounds,

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Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 3:30 PM
    

A new trailer for the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Chainsaw Man dropped this weekend, and it looks like the series could take the anime community by storm next year.

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Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 1:40 PM
    

Well, damn, I guess it's my turn to write about these dumb Ubisoft NFTs. The publisher's first virtual items on the blockchain, unique numbered items for players of Ghost Recon Breakpoint, are not exactly in high demand. Nope, not even that helmet with the 600-hour playtime requirement.

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Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 11:45 AM
    

As I make a last-ditch effort to catch up on some of 2021's most beloved games, there's no shortage of sights that impress me. Halo Infinite's open world has a captivating natural beauty. The colorful planets and aliens of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy are refreshingly imaginative and unconventional, revealing how…

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Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 11:25 AM
    

The monkey's paw curled hard on this one. Players have been waiting for the fantastic Final Fantasy VII Remake to hit PC for nearly two years now, but not like this. The PC version has stuttering issues and barely any settings options, despite a premium price tag of $70.

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PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 1:20 PM
     Super powers, super fun, Super People

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a super soldier soaring above you, ready to pour hard lead down on your head. Seeing the success of the battle royale format, South Korean developer Wonder People proudly presents their own take on the genre – a game that incorporates realistic weapons and arms, immersive superpowers, and an RPG-influenced crafting system.

A big emphasis is placed on exploration in Super People. Naturally, you'll need to loot the environment for weapons and gear, but the diverse setting of Orb Island makes this process far more rewarding than in similar games. There are no barren post-apocalyptic landscapes here. While looting, you can admire the beautiful cherry blossoms in Hazleton, marvel at the Sanctuary's stained glass windows, or drink in Triville's modernist architecture. Even the standard houses are full of detail, from your average suburban home to a fully-decked-out fast-food joint.

The unique environment is made all the more immersive due to the game's high graphical fidelity and unique design. Cutting edge technologies such as ray-tracing are being implemented in Super People to make its graphics stand above competitors in the genre.


PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 12:27 PM
     Project Zomboid's huge Update 41 is out now and

It's a big day for one of the PC's best zombie games. Project Zomboid's Update 41 has arrived, and with it comes new visuals, remastered audio, improved netcode, and remastered audio. The developers say this update "feels more like a sequel than a patch update," and they're not wrong.

Since the test branch for Update 41 was released last week, developer The Indie Stone says "the truth is next to no one" is playing Build 40, with almost the entire player base having moved to the experimental branch. It was time to move on, the developers say, adding that "we feel strongly that Build 4,1 even with the remaining bugs and issues that need weeding out, casts a far superior first impression for new players."

There's far more in this update than we can feasibly list here, but some of the big ones include a huge overhaul on animation and character visuals, which now show torn clothing and the gear you're carrying, as well as any backpacks and bags you've brought along. There are new animations now for sneaking, sprinting, jogging, climbing over fences, falling over, reloading, and more.


PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 11:55 AM
     Vote for the most surprising game of the year in the Fanatical Game of the Year Awards

We all have our favourite gaming franchises that we can rely on for a great time. Heck, this year has seen some fantastic additions to long-running series like Halo, Resident Evil, Hitman and more – but there's no greater feeling for a gamer than coming across an undiscovered gem.

And this year has certainly delivered in this regard with brilliant games in every genre coming out of nowhere to surprise us. Now, in partnership with Fanatical, we want to hear from you. Which games took you by surprise this year? Will it be a high-octane shooter or an indie puzzler?

Before we get to the nominees, a quick word from our sponsor. Fanatical is an online retailer and as such is operating a massive sale this winter, with discounts all across its store. To stay in the loop on the latest deals, you can sign up for their newsletter via the widget below:


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 12:03 PM
    

This year had us stuck in many video game time loops, but one of my absolute favourites was Loop Hero. I never thought an autobattler RPG would hook me the way it did, but I spent hours upon hours helping a little knight circle a seemingly endless void, and had a wonderful time doing it. If you didn't have a chance to play it earlier this year, it's now free on the Epic Game Store until tomorrow. I heartily encourage you to pick this one up, it's one of our favourite games of 2021.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 12:00 PM
    

The great thing about traditions is: you can just make them up. While some traditions feel more real because they're embedded deeper in our culture, you can start your own whenever you want, and jettison any you don't care for. Anything can be imbued with special meaning and, over time, grow into a tradition you cherish and come to anticipate. So here I am, approaching Christmas, so ready for my annual play of Skeal. Join me, reader dear.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 11:39 AM
    

There's no single, solitary reason why it's been so hard to buy certain PC components over the past year and a bit – it's more like a perfect storm of multiple circumstances, unfortunate coincidences and unforseen annoyances. That said, one of the biggest underlying causes of MIA CPU and graphics card stock has been a shortage of the chips needed to make them, and it's a shortage that Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has warned could likely continue into 2023.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 11:33 AM
    

Household object handling hitmen rejoice! Video maker "Kommander Karl" is at your service to demonstrate, just how your everyday objects can be held like a deadly weapon. If you have ever held the urge to scoop up your cat and cock them like a hand cannon, or the desire to pop saucy meat bullets in their mouth and pretend to open fire across the kitchen, then Karl has the reload videos for you.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 11:30 AM
    

Oslain Brante tried to be a decent guy. Kind to his relatives except the one who murdered him. Resolutely loyal to his friends, even dying for one. Willing to die once again rather than betray his revolutionary allies. But it just kept going wrong for reasons that felt utterly artificial and sometimes deeply dissatisfying.

I'd have given up on the game if it weren't so interesting. For one thing, none of those deaths were final. He died as a child and came back. He died as a teenager and came back. These were not saved games, but ordinary occurrences. It's an interesting world made infuriating by awkward design choices.

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Twinfinite Monday, December 20, 2021 4:16 PM
    

Earlier today, Blizzard released its final Diablo 4 blog of the year, detailing a variety of quality of life improvements and changes to gameplay that will be implemented. Chief amongst those changes is a brand-new endgame progression system called the Paragon Board. The Paragon Board is a new feature that will help improve the endgame of Diablo […]

The post Diablo 4 Update Adds New Endgame Paragon Board Progression System appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Monday, December 20, 2021 3:39 PM
    

Earlier today via their official Twitter account, Backbone revealed that a new Backbone game would be arriving in 2022, though they commented that they can't tell fans whether it's a sequel or prequel just yet. You can check out the teaser trailer for yourself here: Backbone was originally released back in June 2021, telling the […]

The post A New Backbone Game Has Been Announced for 2022 appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Monday, December 20, 2021 2:00 PM
    

You're out scouring the internet the other day when a Letterkenny quiz pops up. Yes, that is right, it is time to gather around and grab a Puppers and a bottle of Gus N' Brew in order to test your knowledge regarding everyone's favorite group of Canadian good old boys. Ever since Letterkenny got its […]

The post Only True Letterkenny Fans Can Name These 10 Side Characters appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Monday, December 20, 2021 1:23 PM
    

Third-party developers have provided new assets about upcoming add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator alongside a new release.

The post Microsoft Flight Simulator Twin Otter & Freeware Boeing 777 Get New Screenshots; Las Vegas Airport Released appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Monday, December 20, 2021 12:19 PM
    

Today Square Enix released a bunch of new trailers of the upcoming mobile JRPG Bravely Default Brilliant Lights.

The post Bravely Default Brilliant Lights Gets New Trailers Introducing Gloria, Seth, Adelle, & Elvis appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Monday, December 20, 2021 11:57 AM
    

Square Enix is ramping up the promotion for Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade with a giant 3D Red XIII that has appeared in Tokyo.

The post Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Advertised With Massive 3D Red XIII in Tokyo appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 4:00 PM
    

As part of the Jump Festa 2022 announcements, MegaHobby showed off a painted version of its Naruto Shippuden GALS DX Sakura ver 3 figure.

The post Naruto Shippuden GALS DX Sakura ver.3 Figure Shown appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 3:00 PM
    

Let's Play! Oink Games packages four of the company's analog gems in one Switch package, with handy extras and online play.

The post Review: Let's Play! Oink Games Does Justice to Japanese Tabletop Gems appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 2:00 PM
    

Kairosoft issued its first Game Dev Story update in 13 years, and it brings new content and a leaderboard to the Apple Arcade version.

The post Game Dev Story Apple Arcade Version Update is the First in 13 Years appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 1:30 PM
    

The next Build-a-Bear Eevee evolutions Pokemon plush is Glaceon, and people can get it immediately. A bundle is also available.

The post Next Build-a-Bear Eevee Evolutions Plush is Glaceon appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 1:00 PM
    

Kawaki will appear as Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker DLC, and now there are some screenshots showing him in action.

The post Here's how Kawaki Looks in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 12:30 PM
    

Funimation revealed part of its Winter 2022 anime lineup, and it offers Attack on Titan Final Season and The Irregular at Magic High School.

The post Funimation Winter 2022 Lineup Includes Attack on Titan and The Irregular at Magic High School appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 12:00 PM
    

MiHoYo revealed the Honkai Impact 3rd 2021 Christmas event, and this year the holiday activity will be XMas Cottage.

The post Honkai Impact 3rd Christmas Cottage Holiday Event Begins appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 11:30 AM
    

A free Tales of Arise Cookbook Recipes digital copy will be available in North America and Europe, following a contest for physical copies.

The post Tales of Arise Cookbook Recipes Will Be Shared Digitally appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 11:00 AM
    

On the 34th anniversary of the original Final Fantasy, creator Hironobu Sakaguchi talked about the game and Garland.

The post Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi Talked About Garland appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 5:00 PM
    

Psychonauts 2 The game that's winning our Xbox award this year was a long time coming for Double Fine. Psychonauts 2 has...

The post Destructoid's award for Best Xbox Game of 2021 goes to… appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 4:00 PM
    

Smashing Drive was one of those games that tricked me in my younger days. The cover makes it looks like...

The post Smashing Drive is an uncomfortable but memorable ride appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 3:00 PM
    

The gift that keeps on giving (buying) This year sees Christmas Day fall on a Saturday, the same day the...

The post UK Charts reveals FIFA 22 as this year's Christmas No.1 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 3:00 PM
    

Take it to the streets Publisher Microids has announced that it has signed to distribute a physical release of Sloclap's...

The post Sifu will be getting a physical release on PlayStation in spring 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 1:30 PM
    

First loop's free If you are reading this today, December 20 of 2021, then you've got less than 24 hours...

The post Loop Hero is today's Epic Games Store free game appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 1:00 PM
    

Metroid Dread Was there ever any doubt as to who would win our Best Switch Game 2021 award? Okay, I...

The post Destructoid's award for Best Switch Game of 2021 goes to… appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 12:30 PM
    

420 cars, 90 tracks Gran Turismo 7 has been in the works for a long time, and just like the...

The post Gran Turismo 7 track and car count revealed appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 12:00 PM
    

Misfits of Science Dragon Ball FighterZ might be pushing a meaty four years old, but that hasn't stopped developer Arc...

The post Android 21 is getting a cool 'Lab Coat' variant in Dragon Ball FighterZ appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 11:30 AM
    

Another statue mystery gift promo If you want another mystery gift promo in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you have...

The post There's another Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl mystery gift promo appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 11:00 AM
    

He's a totally outrageous paradigm While nobody raised an eyebrow that Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and other big bucks...

The post Could Square Enix Collective have a new Gex in the works? appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 20, 2021 5:30 PM
     Endwalker The Dead EndsYou've made it. You're at the final dungeon of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (ignoring the post-MSQ ones, anyway). Naturally, this means there are big spoilers ahead in terms of screenshots and bosses, so if you haven't yet unlocked the dungeon, then this Endwalker — The Dead Ends guide is not for you. Turn away, ye who fear spoilers.   Alright, I'm assuming everyone present is queueing for the dungeon now. Much like Amaurot in Shadowbringers, this is a pretty rough dungeon. Mobs hit hard, random AoEs go off in trash pulls, and some of the bosses can be… problematic. But it's a hell of a cool dungeon. Here's how to make it through The Dead Ends in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. Endwalker — The Dead Ends guide Caustic Grebuloff Attacks Blowing Wind — A message on screen will say "A southward wind begins to blow," or something similar, with a visual wind cue. Pay attention to the direction. Miasmata — Unavoidable AoE. After that...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 20, 2021 5:00 PM
     Final Fantasy Xiv Endwalker The Mothercrystal 08Considering we're talking about Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's level 89 trial, I don't think I need to give this warning. But nonetheless: spoilers ahead in this Mothercrystal guide. No, really. The title itself is potentially a bit spoiler-y, but not as spoiler-heavy as a full description of what you're fighting and how the fight works.   Have they gone? Right. It's time to take the fight to Hydaelyn Herself in this Trial and get some "Answers." Endwalker — The Mothercrystal guide: the short version As you'd expect from the game's 89 trial — especially since it's against Hydaelyn herself — there's quite a lot going on here. It's technically a four-phase fight, although that's not as bad as it sounds. Phase one is "here's your chance to learn the attacks." Phase two is pretty much your standard add phase and is kind of a breather, while phases three and four add extra attacks and mec...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 20, 2021 4:45 PM
     Android 21 Lab CoatOver the weekend was the Top 8 for the Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour in Japan. Throughout the year, different regions competed to represent their country in the World Championship. There were four players from the USA, Europe, and Japan, with one player each from the Middle East, South America, and Australia. Fenrich was able to take it for Japan, beating the young up-and-comer Oblivion, resetting the bracket and winning 3-0. Then, after the award ceremony, we got a surprise as it was revealed that a new character would be joining the game: Android 21 (Lab Coat). It was pretty much assumed that SSJ4 Gogeta would be the last character added to the game. He takes up the center slot on the character select screen, after all. This very short trailer, as is sadly the standard for Arc System Works games, gives no gameplay details or release date. However, it was said that we will see more soon, most likely at the next Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour, which was also announced after Japan&#...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 20, 2021 3:00 PM
     Hades holiday games 2021There are many great reasons to celebrate the holiday season: hot cocoa, giving and receiving gifts, the world seems slightly less horrible for a few weeks. We don't count Christmas music in stores, though. But the one thing we believe all PC players will agree on, is that the break is a great time to play some video games. Your PC Invasion writers got together to share what games they plan on idling the 2021 holiday break playing. So, finish wrapping your gifts, grab yourself a hot cup of cocoa, and turn off that lousy Christmas music. Let's talk about games.   Logan Broadley I really should have played Hades by now. I love isometric action combat, Supergiant Games, and Greek mythology. Hades has all three. Plus, the art style is gorgeous. I was feeling burnout from roguelikes. So, that probably explains why I have put off playing this gem. But I love how intricately Supergiant weaves the repetitive and challenging nature of a roguelike into the game's narrative. S...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 20, 2021 1:30 PM
     12th Generation Intel Alder Lake CPU best gaming saleThe holiday buying season is in full force at this point, and it's nearly time once again to bask in the glow of RGB lighting adorned on evergreen conifers. If you'd rather bask in the glow of a spruced up gaming PC, we certainly don't blame you. This time of year is when most tend to treat themselves to upgrades and the like, and we've found some amazing deals on the best gaming CPUs at prices that'll make you jump in your sleigh and rush to your nearest retailer. If you've had your eyes on Intel's latest and greatest Alder Lake CPUs, now's your first major chance to get one on a steep discount. Micro Center is already selling the i5-12600K for just $229 (MSRP $320) and the i7-12700K for $299 (MSRP $450). Intel's i5-12600K sports six big cores plus four small cores and gaming performance that generally competes with older eight-core CPUs. Likewise, the i7-12700K hangs with previous generation i9s with its eight big cores and fou...

Tabletop Gaming News Monday, December 20, 2021 1:00 PM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Monday, December 20, 2021 12:00 PM
    

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Monday, December 20, 2021 3:32 PM
     You have finally settled on an island of your choice, but the island has a pre-set layout where hills and rivers have been laid out before you even step foot on it. Good thing is that you are able to craft and use tools to cross rivers and climb hills to completely explore the entire […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Monday, December 20, 2021 12:30 PM
     Explore a new biome and discover the wonders that await you in this Minecraft guide on how to find a Lush Cave. For new players, exploring the underground world can be a terrifying experience. There are so many things that could go potentially wrong while mining resources. Not to mention you could encounter tough, hostile […]

Pivotal Gamers Monday, December 20, 2021 4:51 PM
     Hello folks. itch.io holds a new giveaway for Baba Yaga. Their message follows. Get Baba Yaga for FREE! A few words about Baba Yaga A first person narrative horror game, based on the myths and legends of Baba Yaga Last minute notes Login with your itch.io account, follow the on-screen instructions to add it to your library. Isn't that great news or what? Click on the button below to get you ...

Pivotal Gamers Monday, December 20, 2021 2:25 PM
     What's up all? itch.io is giving all the opportunity to win on ELEVATOR. Read on for their offering. Get ELEVATOR for FREE! A few words about ELEVATOR A first person narrative inspired by Portal 2 and The Stanley parable. Get Benjamin to his job interview! Last minute notes Login with your itch.io account, follow the on-screen instructions to add it to your library. So hustle. Click on the b...

Level Up Monday, December 20, 2021 12:15 PM
     Mass Effect 2's final moments carry the potential for death. Commander Shepard is tasked to…

Level Up Monday, December 20, 2021 11:45 AM
     In the midst of its initial open beta, DNF Duel received another trailer, showing off…

Level Up Monday, December 20, 2021 11:01 AM
     If you're anything like me, I want to apologize in advance because you're really about…

Dec 20, 11:00


Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 7:00 AM
    

On Saturday, Japanese actress Sayaka Kanda was discovered dead after at around 1 p.m. in Sapporo, Japan. That day, Kanda had been scheduled to perform the role of Eliza Doolittle in a matinée performance of My Fair Lady, but citing an illness, her stand-in assumed the role.

Warning: This article contains a mention of

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Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 6:30 AM
    

My Hero Academia debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump back in July 2014, and has become one of Japan's most popular manga. This weekend, creator Kohei Horikoshi announced that the manga was entering its home stretch.

Horikoshi issued an official statement during a stage presentation at the Jump Festa event held at Makuhari…

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Kotaku Monday, December 20, 2021 5:30 AM
    

Japanese police have arrested 40-year-old manga creator Kenya Suzuki on suspicion of importing child pornography, violating the country's laws about importing banned goods.

Read more...


PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 10:33 AM
     The best XCOM 2 mods

Firaxis is a big supporter of XCOM 2 mods, and while the studio has now left the community to their own devices, it has also made it so easy for modders to change the whole game. Showing its commitment to the fans, Firaxis actually teamed up with Pavonis Interactive (the creators of the original Long War mod for Enemy Unknown) to make sure that the modding tools were as streamlined as they could be before releasing them into the wild.

Below is a selection of some of our favourite mods from the venerable turn-based strategy game, although it's worth pointing out this is a slightly fragmented list due to the slightly weird nature of the XCOM 2 DLC library.

The difference between vanilla XCOM 2 and War of the Chosen is a little bit like night and day, so the modding objectives for both versions of the game can be quite different. A mod for one won't necessarily work for the other without some tinkering. Some mods on our list have versions available for both, and we've marked them where relevant.

RELATED LINKS: XCOM 2 Tips, XCOM 2 DLC guide, Play XCOM 2

PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 10:23 AM
     Total War: Warhammer 3 races – everything you need to know

So, you want to know about Total War: Warhammer III races? While this was one of the biggest causes for speculation during the months immediately after Warhammer III's announcement, plenty of information has been released since, so we can answer the question with some certainty at this point.

Developer Creative Assembly previously promised to include all 15 of Warhammer Fantasy's eighth edition core races in its Warhammer Total War games, which at the time prior to the third game's announcement left only Ogre Kingdoms and Deamons of Chaos. The latter was confirmed pretty much straight away, with the Chaos faction divided into four seperate sub-races, one for each Chaos God.

The Ogre Kingdoms were then announced and confirmed as the pre-order bonus race in November 2021, fulfilling the prophecy. We were also treated to the surprise that Grand Cathay, the most enigmatic of Warhammer race of them all, would be brought to life for the very first time in partnership with Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy revival. We've laid out a quick summary of all of the confirmed races below, along with some additional speculation regarding future Warhammer III races we think might turn up as DLC.

 

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

PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 7:48 AM
     Political games – the best political simulation games on PC

So, you want to know about political games? Political simulations often have the same alluring attraction as war games and strategy games. The average person likes to test their mental prowess to see if they can do better than their real-world counterparts, or perhaps exert some control over a digital space that resembles their own situation as a way of coping with life's trials.

Either way, there is an addictive quality to them that's unlike the rush you get from shooters or RPGs, although the escapism is no less real. Whether you're setting economic and trade policies, standing strong on the international stage, or leading a nation through a war or some other crises, there's plenty of things to keep an eye on in a genre that attempts to model every facet of what goes into running a nation.

For our list of top political game picks, we've more or less focused on government simulation games rather than games that instead try to recreate or push a specific political agenda - there's plenty of really interesting options in that latter category, such as Papers Please or America's Army, but they deserve a dedicated piece. That said, we have included one or two exceptions that really stand-out. Enjoy!


PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 9:57 AM
     Stellaris Enigmatic Fortress – a quick guide

So you want to know about the Stellaris Enigmatic Fortress? In this sci-fi grand strategy game, there are many powerful entities that can spawn known as 'guardians'. These were first introduced in the Stellaris DLC Leviathans, although Distant Stars and Ancient Relics have introduced more since. Some are giant spaceborne aliens, but the Enigmatic Fortress is ancient abandoned stronghold.

This massive space station is guarded by many unique defense platforms that can spawn in any random class A star system. The defenses use regular components and weaponry, and so can be countered like anything else, there's just a lot to get through! If you defeat the fortress, there's then an event chain you need to work through to actually get the rewards.

If you let the timer expire at any point, or if you choose the wrong option during the chain, the defences will reactivate and you have to defeat them all over again - so it's better to get things right the first time. That's where we come in! We've put together a quick guide on the fortress, its defences, and the event chain itself - hopefully it should arm you with everything you need. Note that you will need the Leviathans expansion for this one to spawn in your game.

RELATED LINKS: Stellaris review, Stellaris mods, Stellaris DLC guide

PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 6:55 AM
     Cyberpunk 2077 modder adds a metro system with 19 explorable stations

Cyberpunk 2077's fast-travel system never did feel as fleshed out as it could be. Terminal points teleport you where you need to go, but players soon wondered what it would be like to take it slow and ride the metro after someone found what looked like remains of a train system not long after release. One year later, we now have a mod for that.

KeanuWheeze's Metro System mod adds an entirely usable NCART system to the game. There are 19 stations for you to explore, and you can switch between first and third-person views while your futuristic metro cart plods along its track. Essentially, you can now roleplay as that train guy on TikTok but cyberpunk-style.

Once you have the mod downloaded, you can enter a metro station by interacting with a fast travel gate. Text on the bottom of the screen will tell you where the next train is going, though a marker on the map will do that, too. While you're on the train you can flip between visual perspectives by using the same buttons you would in your car. You're free to enjoy the silence on the metro, or you can tune into your favourite radio station.

RELATED LINKS: Cyberpunk 2077 review, Cyberpunk 2077 lore & universe, Buy Cyberpunk 2077

PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 6:28 AM
     AMD Ryzen Threadripper 5000 Pro CPUs will reportedly launch in March next year

Since the release of its Ryzen processors, AMD continues to snatch swathes of CPU market share from Intel in both the gaming PC and workstation sectors. However, the company has not yet made the decision to release a Ryzen Threadripper chip on its latest Zen 3 microarchitecture, with previous reports indicating they would appear sometime next year. New information has since come to light that has helped to narrow down the release date.

According to a Videocardz source, we can expect five new Ryzen 5000 Threadripper Pro processors on March 8, 2022. These CPUs will succeed the current Zen 2 based Ryzen 3000 Threadripper Pro lineup, but it's currently unclear whether AMD plans to release standard Ryzen 5000 Threadripper chips at all.

Given how late these processors will be to the market, it's possible that AMD has opted to skip ahead to the Pro skew. This appears to be corroborated by conversations Videocardz has conducted with board partners, which "all say the same thing, Threadripper Zen 3 simply arrives too late."

RELATED LINKS: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X review, AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT review, Best CPU for gaming

PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 6:14 AM
     Free card game Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel will have cross-play and cross-save at launch

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, a free-to-play card game headed to Steam sometime this winter, has just got a new showing at this year's Jump Festa anime event. That means a fresh look at gameplay and more details about the game's features - including news that it'll offer cross-platform support when it launches.

Alongside the new gameplay trailer (in Japanese; included below) Konami has revealed that Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel will let players battle against others across the world regardless of which platform they're on, with this feature being available from the get-go. Given the game's launching on Steam for PC, Nintendo Switch, both current and last-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, iOS, and Android, that means a pretty big pool of players to take on through cross-play.

Additionally, there'll be a cross-save feature available across the various platforms. Konami explains in a press release that players will be able to link their Master Duel game data across platforms, which means you'll get to carry over your progress between PC, console, and mobile if you fancy hopping between them and picking up from where you left off.

RELATED LINKS: Upcoming PC Games, The best card games on PC

PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 4:23 AM
     League of Legends patch 12.1 notes – Elderwood skins, Janna changes

The first patch of the League of Legends 2022 season has hit the PBE. League of Legends patch 11.24 has headed to live servers to make its debut on the Rift and, following a bunch of teases from Riot Games on social media, the latest batch of new content has begun trickling onto the testing grounds ready for patch 12.1's arrival in the live game soon. Let's take a look.

First up, we've got some new Elderwood skins on the way, this time for lucky champions Gnar and Rek'Sai. Riot also revealed a new skin for Ekko called Firelight Ekko, which is inspired by his style in the tremendously successful LoL spin-off Netflix show Arcane. However, this now won't be shipping with 12.1 as "an unfortunate mistake on [the studio's] part due to a miscommunication internally" means that the skin wasn't given new special effects, which the team now wants to make sure it adds. So, the skin has been taken off the PBE for now and will return in a few patches' time.

As is is very often the case when a patch has only just hit the PBE, we don't have many balance changes to check out just yet. However, there are some pretty big changes coming to champion Janna, which you can see below - and you can probably expect a batch of wider changes soon.

RELATED LINKS: Best LoL Champions , League of Legends patch 12.1, LoL tier list

PCGamesN Monday, December 20, 2021 10:42 AM
     The best games like RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress

So, you want some games like RimWorld? As Charles Caleb Colton said back in the days of the Commodore 64: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". But what must also be remembered is that without imitation we wouldn't have innovation, and without innovation we wouldn't have variety.

Dwarf Fortress, iconic for its deep, emergent gameplay and ASCII graphics, actually innovated on games like King of Dragon Pass. That older but just as classic text-based clan manager is near unrecognisable to our modern town-builders, but its influence is still felt. Dwarf Fortress has since gone on to inspire its own new generation of city-builders and narrative management games.

While the free version of Dwarf Fortress is great, it's arcane UI and losing-is-fun design does turn off a lot of would be players. So the design was innovated and along came Rimworld. But now Rimworld has been around for years and it's time to see what new innovations have come along since. Let us present to you our top picks of games that are like Rimworld and Dwarf Fortress for those who are wanting more, but are struggling to know where to look.

RELATED LINKS: The best Rimworld mods, The best games like Rimworld and Dwarf Fortress, RimWorld multiplayer guide

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 10:35 AM
    

A new Cyberpunk 2077 mod makes the dystopian RPG's decorative monorails functional, adding a metro system with cute wee trains you can ride. For all the game's flaws, I did greatly enjoy wondering Night City's streets, cooing at giant buildings and bright colours, and today I was glad to continue that tourism on rail. How lovely to see the megacity from a new perspective, looking down on rooftops and being buzzed by hovercars. See a wee bit of my journey in a video below.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 10:04 AM
    

Valve are working to upgrade a number of their more popular games for the Steam Deck, optimising controls and interfaces to play better on their upcoming portable powerhouse, the Steam Deck. The Half-Life series, Dota 2, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive, either already have or will receive upgrades designed to make them "better experiences".

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 9:30 AM
    

I'm rubbish at the building component of Minecraft; it's much easier to simply download a map and wander around in the splendour of someone else's creation. And if you've got the ray tracing beta version of Minecraft for Windows installed, I can heartily recommend you too take a wander through the Nvidia RTX Winter World: a vast, Christmassy and very, very pretty custom map that has you helping Santa throw a festive shindig while you trade sweets with his elves.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 8:00 AM
    

The twentieth door on the RPS Advent Calendar this year is very small. In fact, it almost looks small enough to attach to someone's head, if you were the kind of weirdo who'd do that kind of thing.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 7:52 AM
    

Supergiant Games' gay, Greek gallivant, Hades, is the first video game to receive a Hugo Award. The awards which celebrate literary works in the science-fiction and fantasy genres, added a special one-off 'Best Video Game' category this year, which is where old Zagreus picked up his accolade. Our short king's battle out of the underworld beat out its closest competition, cosy escapism simulator, Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the polls by almost fourfold.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 7:06 AM
    

Have you ever wanted to use your friends as literal pawns to help you solve puzzles? Well now you can! Superliminal has added co-op, letting four of you jump into the world-bending puzzler together. The update dropped on Friday, and it seems that even your pals aren't safe from the game's forced perspective. They'll appear in the world as little chess pieces, and from the looks of things you can pick them up to use as puzzle solving items.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 20, 2021 5:38 AM
    

Once the most prestigious of luxury tech, VR headsets have become both cheaper and more popular over the last few years. A combination of competitive pricing, more user-friendly devices, and more fleshed-out VR games like Half-Life Alyx has seen headsets push deeper into the mainstream within the last 12 to 24 months.

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Twinfinite Monday, December 20, 2021 9:43 AM
    

Anyone who has ever played a video game knows that completing a title to its fullest extent is no easy task, as getting 100% usually means hours of side missions and collectibles that aren't necessary to beat the main story. Only true madmen go out of their way to do this AND take no damage, […]

The post Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Player Finishes 100% No-Damage Run appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 10:30 AM
    

MiHoYo announced it will release Genshin Impact calendar images throughout 2022, and the first one stars Thoma.

The post Genshin Impact 2022 Calendar Images Feature Characters appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 10:05 AM
    

A Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2022 event will be held in February 2022 online worldwide, and Dragon Ball: The Breakers will appear at it.

The post Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2022 Will Include Dragon Ball: The Breakers appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 9:30 AM
    

The next DLC character in Dragon Ball FighterZ will be a variant of Android 21. For this version, she'll be wearing her lab coat.

The post New Dragon Ball FighterZ DLC Puts Android 21 in her Lab Coat appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 9:00 AM
    

The company has also started hiring new game developers who will join the transfer.

The post DelightWorks COO Yoshinori Ono Will Move To Aniplex's New Company appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 8:30 AM
    

Koei Tecmo made a new story in the game by creating a custom character based on the ROTK character.

The post Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires Wutugu Diary Tells a New Story appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 8:00 AM
    

This album will feature versions of iconic NieR Replicant songs inspired by text from Yoko Taro.

The post NieR Replicant Arrangement Choir Album Pre-Orders Open appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 7:30 AM
    

The company advises people to make new accounts and necessary purchases ahead of the major holiday.

The post Nintendo Expects Servers to Overload Again on Christmas 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 7:00 AM
    

Players will be able to create their own characters, and adventures, within the world of Octopath Traveler.

The post Octopath Traveler Tabletop Rulebook Now Available to Pre-Order appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 6:30 AM
    

This new wallpaper features Liyue as a backdrop.

The post Genshin Impact Keqing Live Wallpaper Now Available for PC appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 6:00 AM
    

The set was originally introduced in the Monster Hunter World Iceborne expansion.

The post Monster Hunter World Iceborne Orion Armor Set is Coming to Monster Hunter Rise appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, December 20, 2021 5:30 AM
    

The ad featured Red XIII looking down at pedestrians, taking a nap, and running from Shinra helicopters.

The post Final Fantasy VII Remake Red XIII 3D Ad Appears in Tokyo appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 9:00 AM
    

First video game to receive literary honor Supergiant Games' Hades, not content with already being the sexiest video game in...

The post Hades adds a literary Hugo Award to its jam-packed trophy case appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 7:19 AM
    

The Persona 5 crossover lasts until January 31 It's weird to think that Disney style, eventually, a lot of the...

The post Persona 5 is crossing over into Final Fantasy War of the Visions appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, December 20, 2021 4:00 AM
    

Who is your favorite duelist? Following on from this past weekend's open beta, publisher Nexon announced that its spin-off fighter...

The post DNF Duel launches on PlayStation and PC summer 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 20, 2021 10:00 AM
     Scarf Review 1I feel like I've been seeing a lot of short, 3D puzzle platformers lately. And I feel that way because I have. Scarf is the latest one to grace us with its presence and, while it is only four hours or so long, it boasts an interesting narrative, a solid amount of variety, and surprisingly good world design that all add up to an experience that's worth undertaking if you're looking to blow an evening while learning about a star boy and his sentient scarf-thing. Just don't expect a collectathon platformer, which is what I had initially hoped it was. Scarf begins when the boy, known as a Nomad, is conceived and brought into the universe. He's a small blue thing, but there's a hole in the center of his chest. At the start, he meets the titular scarf, a living, red creature that rests about his neck. The scarf is but one small part of a main body, but that body is inactive now. Therefore, it enlists the boy into helping it find and reclaim pieces of th...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 20, 2021 9:00 AM
     Neo The World Ends With You Epic Games Store streetsNEO: The World Ends with You is a huge, unique game that fans have really been enjoying since its release on both consoles and PC. I got to field some questions to various members of NEO's team, and they were gracious enough to fill us in on the process of making the game. These members include the game's Producer Tomohiko Hirano, Series Director Tatsuya Kando, and Game Director Hiroyuki Ito. On the translation front, three of the game's English translators explained all about the demanding endeavor to translate and localize the title. They're Matt Furda, the lead English translator, who is joined by the translators Christopher Orr and Katherine Ellerhorst. Without further ado, let's jump in.     NEO: The World Ends With You — On game design and localization interview PCI: What were the hardest parts about creating a sequel to a game that came out nearly a decade and a half prior? Hirano: I believe both Mr. Kando and Mr. Ito will talk ab...

Tabletop Gaming News Monday, December 20, 2021 10:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Monday, December 20, 2021 9:00 AM
    

MonsterVine Monday, December 20, 2021 9:00 AM
    

Yeah, yeah, yeah, VR can change society blah blah blah Metaverse blah blah Zuckerberg 6G vaccinations. Everyone knows the real point of the Oculus Quest–I will NOT call it that stupid Meta name–and other VR platformsis shooting the hell out of things in VR. The benchmark so far has been Arizona Sunshine, which is about…look, […]

The post After The Fall Review: I Tried So Hard and I Fell So Far appeared first on MonsterVine.