Dec 22, 19:00


Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 5:20 PM
    

Yes, Gamers, it is that time of year again—time for the Steam Winter Sale, which becomes more of a normal seasonal sale and less of a gamified mess with every year that passes (for better and for worse). 2021 was a pretty great, albeit odd, year for video games, so I wanted to bring that strange, messy energy into my…

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Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 5:00 PM
    

We all know The Joker has lost it. He goes around performing heinous acts of violence, all in an effort to prove life has perennial comedic potential. But how many of us knew he was a *gulp* gamer? I didn't. That is until a twin set of advertisements for the idle figurine RPG Figure Fantasy started popping up around…

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Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 3:20 PM
    

Wasn't I just commending Halo Infinite a couple of weeks ago for letting me wear cutesy stuff like sunflowers and roses? Now I'm back to sing its praises for a different type of armor attachment that will be a familiar sight to egirls and weebs alike. Yes, Master Chief can now wear cat ears. This is the future Alex…

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Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 3:00 PM
    

Writing up a "Top X Games Of X Year" list is always a slog, but all the ups and downs of 2021—both personal and global—made it even harder. Frankly, there were points over the last 12 months where the last thing I wanted to do was sit down and play a video game.

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Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1:20 PM
    

In a year which began with memes helping to propel GameStop's junk stock price into the stratosphere, it's only fitting that the shrinking video game retailer should cap the frivolities off by cozying up to cryptocurrencies. Last week, GameStop apparently joined Flexa, a payment network that lets you pay for…

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Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1:00 PM
    

Ready or Not, the tactical first-person shooter from developer Void Interactive which entered Early Access just days ago, will no longer be published by Team17. On Twitter, Void Interactive said the "mutually agreed" upon decision for the two to part ways is "the right path for the future" of the game. Notably, this…

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PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:49 PM
     2022 will be

Warframe's big, story-driven New War update landed earlier this month, and it's been a hit so far. The devs at Digital Extremes are heading out for the holidays, but not without offering a few ideas on what to expect from the game as we head into the new year. We're going to see a lot more than the "clean-up and lead-up" that defined Warframe's 2021, including new ways to play with the stuff that's been introduced in New War.

"I saw a lot of 'wish this gameplay stayed' and we share that feeling as well, so there will be some exciting experiments in bringing those change ups into the game in other ways that aren't purely Quest driven," director Steve Sinclair explains in a message to players. "We dedicated our Update 31: The New War to the Quest alone given its scope, and we dedicate 2022 to what comes next: a year full of doing the right things for Warframe.

"2021 was all about clean-up and lead-up to The New War. We did our revisits of Railjack, Arsenals, tied together the Proxima & Ground with Liches & Sisters. But now, we have never felt more energized to work on Warframe, and we owe it to you to make 2022 our best year yet."


PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:11 PM
     Sea of Thieves celebrates five million Steam sales with a limited-time giveaway

Rare's pirate sandbox has proven an enduring success, as Sea of Thieves reached 25 million players earlier this year, celebrating by giving players free gold. Now the game's hit another major milestone, with five million units sold on Steam alone. Not bad, considering it only hit Valve's platform last year. And, yes, there's another giveaway to celebrate the sales threshold.

"With Sea of Thieves being our first game developed in-house for PC as well as Xbox," the devs say in the announcement, "we're absolutely delighted to see such a huge influx of new pirates starting their adventures since the game made it to Steam in June last year. No matter which platform you play Sea of Thieves on, it would never have had this success without the support of you, the players – so all we can say is thank you!"

If you log into Sea of Thieves anytime between now and December 29 at 3:59pm PST / 6:59pm EST / 11:59pm GMT, you'll get the All Together Now emote, letting you keep your spirits bright in a suitably pirate-ish way.

RELATED LINKS: Sea of Thieves tips, Sea of Thieves quests, guilds, and raids, Sea of Thieves endgame

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 5:06 PM
    

Nier creative director Yoko Taro has a Christmas message for fans: "the Nier series is now finished!" Yes, folks, never mind the success of Nier Automata and Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139, it's all over. In a special holiday video from some of the series' key developers, Yoko Taro says in very serious, not-at-all joking terms that Nier is done. (Unless he gets paid.)

In the video, producer Yosuke Saito asks if there's anything new Yoko would like to do with Nier in the future. "Something I would like to do relating to the Nier series, eh?" Yoko asks in return. "Nah, nothing! That's right. We announced it here today, folks. The Nier series is now finished!"

Saito then reminds Yoko "that may well be proved a lie, you know?" Yoko responds "I guess so. But… you never know… I might do more if I get a big ole pile of money…" Saito is happy to oblige. "A crazy amount of money it is, then… I'll just go and sort that out!"


PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 4:19 PM
     Boba Fett officially comes to Fortnite on Christmas Eve

We've had the Mandalorian, and now it's time for the Mandalorian to make his way to Fortnite. Epic's crossover with The Book of Boba Fett lands a few days ahead of the show, and since the publisher officially confirmed the details over a month ago, it seems it's all locked in stone. Here's when you can expect Boba Fett to arrive on the island.

The Boba Fett crossover will hit Fortnite on December 24, 2021 at 4pm PST / 7pm EST, or December 25 at midnight GMT. In the original announcement, Epic simply said that "Boba Fett will be making his arrival on the island" on that day. The safe bet is new item shop skins (dataminers have already been digging up sets labeled 'Book of Boba Fett'), but given the hero's welcome for Naruto earlier this year, there's a decent chance we'll see something more substantial in the game itself, too.

The Book of Boba Fett release date is set for December 29, but that's more a topic for our friends at The Digital Fix.

RELATED LINKS: Fortnite V-Bucks, Fortnite Skins, Fortnite Creative Codes

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 2:08 PM
     Dishonored meets Diablo-like Weird West has been delayed

Weird West is the first game from WolfEye, an indie studio led by Arkane founder and Dishonored co-creator Raphaël Colantonio. It's effectively a blend of Dishonored-style immersive sim mechanics and Diablo-like action RPG controls, and it's looked impressive every time we've seen it. Weird West was initially scheduled to launch in just a few weeks' time, but the devs have just announced that they're pushing the game back to the end of March.

"As we were playing our own game, on one hand we realised that the game was really great," Colantonio says in a message to fans. "On the other hand, we realised it's not quite ready yet. The game is being tested in a private beta, and they're having a blast. However, we want to iron out a few things, because we are committed to delivering the best experience. We have a long history of making immersive sims, and we all know how great those games can be when it all comes together."

Or, as publisher Devolver Digital puts it, the game "needs some wonky moments ironed out".


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1:34 PM
    

Everyone knows there are two conditions that must be met before Christmas can officially begin. The first is playing Skeal. The second is the arrival of Steam's Winter Sale. Blissfully, we can now tick both of these objectives off our to-do list, as Valve have finally unleashed their flurry of seasonal deals. Between now and January 5th, thousands of games will be discounted across Steam, and you'll also be able to claim a free sticker every day as well, for those of you who enjoy that sort of thing.

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Twinfinite Wednesday, December 22, 2021 5:00 PM
    

Square Enix released a bunch of TV commercials War of The Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, mostly focusing on the Persona 5 Royal crossover.

The post War of The Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius X Persona 5 Royal Crossover Gets New TV Commercials appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, December 22, 2021 4:14 PM
    

Today third-party developers announced new add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator, on to of showcasing more screenshots for a couple we already knew.

The post Microsoft Flight Simulator FS Traffic & Mount Cook Region Announced; F-35 & Twin Otter Get New Screenshots appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, December 22, 2021 2:53 PM
    

Today we hear that another popular anime that aired during the fall season is getting a second cour, and it's Komi Can't Communicate.

The post Komi Can't Communicate Season 2 Announced For April 2022 Debut appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, December 22, 2021 2:18 PM
    

Developer WolfEye Studios and publisher Devolver Digital have announced that their upcoming Spaghetti Western-themed action-RPG, Weird West, will be arriving a little later than expected. Yes, the game has received a slight delay and is now scheduled to launch on March 31 for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Weird West's Creative Director Raphaël Colantonio was the […]

The post Weird West Launch Date Pushed Back to March 31 appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1:01 PM
    

Twinfinite interviews the developers currently working on the Muv-Luv franchise about its future, the early access of Project Mikhail, and more.

The post Muv-Luv Interview: Developers Discuss Mikhail, Future, Possible New Platforms, Remakes, & Much More appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, December 22, 2021 12:30 PM
    

Earlier today on the Marvel Entertainment YouTube channel, the official teaser trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was released. The trailer features many returning characters from the first Doctor Strange film, Wanda Maximoff, and a sort of brand-new character. Right off the bat, it's important to note that this is the exact […]

The post Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Teaser Trailer Released appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 4:00 PM
    

Komi Can't Communicate season 2 is heading to Japan in April 2022, and Netflix also confirmed part 2 will arrive in other regions in 2022.

The post Komi Can't Communicate Season 2 Coming in 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 3:00 PM
    

With food this good, I'm surprised the residents of Hydaelyn aren't taking more afternoon naps.

The post The Official Final Fantasy XIV Cookbook is Good Eats appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 2:30 PM
    

Capcom shared Monster Hunter Rise Christmas art, and it showed a Hunter, Palamute, Palico, and Sunbreak's new Lunagaron monster.

The post Monster Hunter Rise Christmas Art Shows Sunbreak's Lunagaron appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 2:00 PM
    

Meet Hedo, Carmine, and Magenta.

The post Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Red Ribbon Army Cast Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1:30 PM
    

The Calm of Bahamut!

The post Rage of Bahamut to Halt New Update Additions in Early 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1:00 PM
    

SaGa Series General Director Akitoshi Kawazu said he wants to develop "something related to the SaGa series that isn't an RPG."

The post SaGa Series General Director Wants to Make an Entry 'That Isn't an RPG' appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 12:30 PM
    

Square Enix is offering a discount and free items to thank fans for their support.

The post Bravely Default II Sales Surpass a Million Units Worldwide appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 12:00 PM
    

Consumers can choose to purchase play tickets or pay a subscription to play the game.

The post Bombergirl PC Version Launches in Japan appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:00 PM
    

'Tis the season for adding to the Steam backlog The 2021 Steam Winter Sale starts today, with the usual bout...

The post The Steam Winter Sale 2021 is live with awards, goodies, and deals appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 5:00 PM
    

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… While many video game brands have a strong global fanbase from the very beginning, it sometimes takes...

The post Destructoid's award for Best Remaster/Remake of 2021 goes to… appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 4:00 PM
    

The wild, wild West will have to wait to get Weird The immersive sim mixing Western and weirdness is taking...

The post Weird West pushes its launch back to the end of March 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 3:00 PM
    

Buckle in, folks I don't know about you, but I'm a bit of an anxious flyer. There's something about being...

The post Gaming through your holiday travels: a guide appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 2:00 PM
    

Just a heads up if you need some threatening holiday cheer Holiday stories are sort of a thing in the Batman...

The post Batman: Arkham Origins is flawed, but it's one of the few Christmas games appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1:00 PM
    

Resident Evil Village Some games feel like they're worth playing through once, and only once. They might be riveting in...

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


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 12:00 PM
    

Stock up on the year's heaviest hitters for PlayStation We're finally here, at the tail end of the year 2021....

The post The PlayStation Holiday Sale kicks off today with deals on Deathloop, Village, True Colors, and more appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:00 PM
     Pc Invasion Games Of 2021 Inscryption Forza Horizon 5 House Of Ashes Deathloop Hitman 3We don't have some sort of Best Games of 2021 awards in PC Invasion (at least in terms of a site-wide consensus). Each writer, however, can list down the titles that they truly enjoyed in a given year. As such, here are my personal faves for 2021. I've arranged them in chronological order based on their release dates. Granted, most of my picks are the games that I've reviewed. Still, a select few went ahead of the pack after I decided to write guides for them. I experienced their gameplay first-hand even though a different writer handled the review. You can also take a look at my Most Anticipated Games of 2022 if you feel like it.   Genshin Impact I know what you're thinking. Yes, Genshin Impact came out in 2020. But, it's a live-service game that's receiving a lot of content in subsequent updates. Arguably, its biggest updates were introduced in 2021. First, the Golden Apple Archipelago was added during the version 1.6 update in June. Then, ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, December 22, 2021 3:00 PM
     favorite pc games 2021 andrewWell, 2021 has been a year, and it's about to be a different one. Picking my favorites this year was actually kind of tough, but it's a pretty even split between indies and larger studio affairs. I've changed things up a bit this time, so I actually picked a runner-up and GOTY. Here's the list of my favorite PC games of 2021. Without further ado, let's get into it.   Cyber Shadow Cyber Shadow really surprised me. I don't typically go for level-based NES throwbacks. When I reviewed it, I gave it a 9.5. I loved it so much, it's easily one of my favorite PC games of 2021. Once the dust cleared, I was shocked to see that my feelings weren't universal. But it's a marvelous game with incredible level design and gameplay. It plays kind of like the NES Ninja Gaiden games, but way more fair. It's challenging, but so well balanced that individual segments never took me all that long. Save for the final boss fight, which I though...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1:00 PM
     Path of Champions legends of runeterra details art enemiesMany digital card games have come and gone since the genre's inception. One of the most long lasting and successful is Legends of Runeterra. The world of Riot's League of Legends has exploded in recent months. From the smash-hit Netflix series Arcane, to the upcoming fighting game Project L, the sky is the limit for the juggernaut franchise. Yet despite all of the crossovers, spin-offs, and other new franchise projects, the core game continues to grow. One of the latest and most exciting additions to Legends of Runeterra is a new PVE mode titled Path of Champions. We spoke with Shawn Main, the Principal Designer of the new mode, to learn what Path of Champions is all about, what went into making the new mode, and how it stands apart from the myriad of features already in Legends of Runeterra.   PCI: When first developing this new mode, what key aspects did the team want to focus on to keep the Legends of Runeterra feel in a PvE setting? Main: Inside Legends of Runet...

Dec 22, 12:00


Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:55 AM
    

The good news about 2021 is the world's governments have all agreed that it's been so bad it doesn't count, and no one has to add the past year to their age. Sucks for American 20-year-olds, for sure, but it's a small price to pay. The other good news is that, despite a weird-ass year for gaming, there were still a…

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Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:30 AM
    

There was, I would argue, no genre-defining role-playing game this year, but there were still a hell of a lot of good ones. So many, in fact, that I had a hard time keeping this list from ballooning even larger than it already is. I tried my best, and even knocked off some of my personal favorites. If you were…

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Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:10 AM
    

This year was the worst of times and...no, wait. I'm hearing it was just the worst of times. But games have helped a lot of us through it, especially ones that lean more relaxing than punishing.

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:00 AM
    

Pour out some pixelated wine for Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker's purple grapes. The latest update—Patch 6.01—has smoothed out their angular edges and made them far less blocky.

In the Patch 6.01 notes, Square Enix noted the following under "Resolved Issues":

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PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:48 AM
     The best Genshin Impact Jean build

Looking for the best Genshin Impact Jean build? The leader of the Knights of Favonius is probably the second best Anemo character in the game, only outclassed by Venti (here are the best Venti builds in case you're interested). You meet her as an NPC quite early into the game, but will need to spend money via the gacha mechanic to unlock her as a playable character.

Some heroes in Genshin Impact do one thing very well, but Jean has at least a couple of ways to help the party. Not only can she dish out the damage and inflict debuffs with her Anemo powers, but she can also keep the team nice and healthy. This ensures that they can take more risks when attacking more formidable enemies.

So no matter if you're looking for a support build or a physical DPS build, Jean's main job is to heal all of the other characters in the party. This Genshin Impact Jean guide will have two builds that achieve both a DPS and utility role and explain all of Jean's abilities and skills that she uses in combat.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:41 AM
     EA cancelled a Harry Potter MMO, says former director

Electronic Arts was toying with the idea of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on Harry Potter at one point but ultimately scrapped it because higher-ups were not sure if the IP had a shelf life "longer than a year or two".

That comes from former director of product marketing Kimberly Salzer, who was asked by Original Gamer Life if there was ever an exciting project she was working on that didn't get made or shelved. Salzer says that the Potter MMO had a beta and was a combination of an offline and online experience where you'd get mailed things like "prizes and ribbons". While the team were "very confident" in the pitch, it didn't work out. "It was killed, for lack of a better term, because EA was going through some changes at that time, and [it] just didn't know or believe enough that the IP would have a shelf life longer than a year or two," she says.

While Salzer didn't share when this happened exactly, her LinkedIn profile has her down as working at EA from 2000 to 2003. To put that into perspective, the first two Harry Potter films were released during that time, and World of Warcraft wasn't even out yet. That said, EA did release a few Harry Potter action-adventure games during that time to coincide with the theatrical releases of The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets.

RELATED LINKS: Upcoming PC Games, Best PC RPGs

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:15 AM
     The best Genshin Impact Lisa build

Looking for the best Genshin Impact Lisa build? The chief librarian of the Knights of Favonius is one of the free characters you can unlock early into the game. She's primarily a support character who specialises in Electro skills and abilities, while inflicting a status ailment that boosts the damage enemies take when hit by subsequent lightning damage.

Compared to the rest of the Electro characters, Lisa isn't one of the best characters in Genshin Impact. Still, the important distinction here is that she is also free to unlock, meaning you won't have to use shop purchases to unlock her. When compared against the rest of the free Genshin Impact characters, she is probably one of the better ones, and her Electro skills are a big part of that.

If you're looking for a decent way to support your team, this is the best Genshin Impact Lisa build. It's primarily focused on stunning enemies using her skills, while bolstering either her attack or how much energy she can regain. So let's get to the build then, shall we?

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:59 AM
     Today's free game from Epic is about a duck with a crossbow

We're a day closer to Christmas, and that means it's time for yet another free game giveaway at the Epic Games Store. Today's free PC game blends the turn-based squad tactics of XCOM with stealth-based exploration, adding a crossbow-wielding duck and a pig with a shotgun in for good measure - it's Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden.

The anthropomorphic animals who make up your squad in Mutant Year Zero add some lovely colour to the affair, but at its core it's a disarmingly smart strategy game that unfolds in two distinct phases. In the first, which plays out in real time, you'll cautiously move your units into position for an ambush, using cover and audio cues to avoid detection. This phase is reminiscent of the Hitman series, in that you're challenged with setting up the perfect trap.

Phase two, of course, is when you spring that trap - and potentially watch as your carefully laid plans go to ruin, if you weren't careful. There's usually some enemy that escaped notice, or perhaps an unplanned event that forces you to improvise. Not to worry, though: your animal companions have upgradeable mutant abilities to take back the edge once combat begins.

RELATED LINKS: Mutant Year Zero hands-on, Mutant Year Zero impressions, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:48 AM
     Intel Arc Alchemist GPUs – release date, price, specs, and benchmarks

When it comes to discussing which company produces the best graphics card for your gaming PC, Intel probably wouldn't even cross your mind, but that could all change in 2022. The company is set to take on both AMD and Nvidia next year, with its first generation Arc Alchemist GPUs.

Intel has managed to keep its Alchemist cards mostly under wraps, but this hasn't stopped benchmarks and spec sheets leaking ahead of the official launch date. First revealed in August, we're expecting team blue to pull back the curtain on its Xe-HPG based graphics cards during CES 2022.

Alchemist GPUs face stiff competition from the likes of Nvidia's RTX 3000 and AMD's RX 6000 cards, but the rumoured 2022 launches of RTX 4000 and RDNA 3 loom large on the horizon. Regardless of how they end up performing, XeSS should help spice up proceedings against competing upscaling technologies like Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR.

RELATED LINKS: Intel Core i9 9900K review, Intel Core i7 9700K review, Best CPU for gaming

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:11 AM
     Best SMG Warzone Pacific: which submachine gun to use in Season 1

Looking for the best SMGs in Warzone Pacific? Caldera, the new Warzone map, has completely changed the way the battle royale game is played. Compared to Verdansk's large open spaces spread throughout the map, Caldera is much tighter overall, packing each area with unique points of interest to keep things interesting. As a result, long range battles aren't as prevalent, causing weapons like the best assault rifles and SMGs to dominate the meta.

Compared to the rest of the weapon classes in Warzone Pacific, there aren't as many viable options when picking from the first batch of Vanguard SMGs. That being said, the devs add new weapons every season, so we fully expect this to change as time goes on. If you're still trying to pick off enemies from a distance using the best snipers in Warzone, you need to have a reliable secondary weapon to immediately blast any flankers away.

The candidates for the best SMGs in Warzone Pacific are set in stone, but it's important to know what the next best weapon is in case a balance update drops unexpectedly. Don't forget to check out our best Warzone loadout guide to see which attachments you need to build these game-breaking setups.


PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 9:43 AM
     The best Genshin Impact Ganyu build

Looking for the best build for Ganyu in Genshin Impact? This five-star character specialises in ranged combat, making her effective in a DPS or support role. Ganyu is a Cryo archer, allowing her to keep enemies at bay by freezing them while staying safe at a distance. Despite being released back in January, Ganyu has maintained her spot at the top of our Genshin Impact tier list.

Ganyu was introduced in the 1.2 update alongside the Dragonspine region, an icy location filled with plenty of frosty minions. Ganyu's abilities work well against the enemies in this region, but you'll find that Pyro characters fare significantly better against Cryo minions. Be sure to check out our best Genshin Impact builds guide to find the optimal artifacts and weapon sets for every Pyro character in the game.

Whether you want to focus on a high DPS build revolving around critical hits, or you prefer to play it safe by turning Ganyu into a support character, Ganyu can truly do it all. Here's what you'll need for the best build for Ganyu in Genshin Impact.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 9:30 AM
     Where to ram a snowman with a vehicle in Fortnite

Want to know how to ram a snowman with a vehicle? Fortnite's festive event brings yet another Fortnite present to open and another Winterfest challenge for you to complete. Though the act of driving a car into a snowman is relatively simple, finding these frosty fellows in the first place is another matter entirely.

You could do this the hard way and drive around until you spot an enemy player using a Sneaky Snowman, but fortunately, there are far easier ways to complete this challenge. To help you finish this challenge quickly, we've found the best Fortnite snowman locations so you can easily run them down..

After finishing this Winterfest challenge, you may wish to know how to dance in front of Crackpot's Cabin and Sgt. Winter's Workshop or how to warm yourself by the Yule log in Cozy Cabin. Completing these challenges give you XP to put towards unlocking some Fortnite skins, and seasonal cosmetics like the Snowmando Board and Ffrosty back bling.

RELATED LINKS: Fortnite V-Bucks, Fortnite Skins, Fortnite Creative Codes

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 7:47 AM
     Grab 40% off this Razer wireless gaming mouse just in time for Christmas

To quote The Muppet Christmas Carol, there are only a few more sleeps till Christmas, and most gifts are sitting under the tree by now. However, some shoppers prefer to leave things till the last minute, especially if they can't decide what to buy the gamer in their life. If you're struggling to pick a gift for a gaming PC enthusiast, you might want to consider the Razer Viper Ultimate gaming mouse, as it's currently 40% off and should arrive before the big day.

Over on Amazon, Razer's premium wireless mouse is down from $149.99 to $89.88, thanks to the storefront's festive 40% discount. UK shoppers can also grab 35% off, but the reliable rodent won't be stirring in your house the night before Christmas, as it'll arrive after the 25th of December.

The Viper Ultimate boasts a 20K DPI optical sensor, eye-catching Chroma RGB lighting, and eight programmable buttons that pair perfectly with MMOs like Final Fantasy XIV.

RELATED LINKS: Razer Thresher Ultimate review, Razer Blade review, Best gaming headset

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 7:22 AM
     The best Oculus Quest 2 games

The best Oculus Quest 2 games are the ones that draws you into the world and lets you swim in the joys of VR. There are a staggering amount of games on the Oculus Quest 2, and it's also one of the best VR headsets when it comes to the cost to performance ratio. When you factor in the lack of wires, it's easy to understand why so many people have been delving into digital worlds using this device.

However, as there is so much choice, navigating the store to find the best Oculus Quest 2 games can be a bit of a chore. It helps to have a rough idea of what you should be looking for whenever you're in the mood to buy a new game, whether that be FPS games or a story-driven adventure.

Thankfully for you, we've made a list of the best Oculus Quest 2 games. We've covered a lot of bases with these ten games, and it should mean that you'll be able to experience the most exciting games VR has to offer.


PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 7:04 AM
     New World update resets faction cooldown time for all players

Earlier this week, New World developer Amazon Games announced that it would be deploying a "one-time reset of the faction change cooldown for everyone" to help alleviate some faction imbalance and address hiccups with players "in a bad state with their faction reset timer" as part of a wider rollout of server merges. Now, the studio has set update 1.2.1 live, which brings this reset among a handful of other adjustments and fixes.

"To enable a level playing field for players, we reset the faction cooldown time for all players," the devs explain in the patch notes for today's update, which also clarify the duration of the cooldown timer when players have chosen or changed their faction going forward, which will "be set to 60 days". In their initial post earlier this week, the devs said that they're "hopeful the reset will allow sets with lower populations post-merge to use game modes such as war and PVP while we work toward a better solution for how to get them to a more populated world".

Elsewhere, the handful of changes introduced in today's update look to address issues that have cropped up following the MMORPG's hefty December update.

RELATED LINKS: New World system requirements, New World beginner's guide, New World review

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:52 AM
     Vote for the most satisfying gameplay of 2021 in the PCGamesN users choice awards, powered by Fanatical

Although 'most satisfying gameplay' may seem hard to quantify, anyone who has played one of our shortlisted games knows exactly what we mean. It's all about the tactile experience of gaming, the bosses that seem impossible right up to that last crucial swing of the blade - the mouthfeel of gaming, if you will. Sometimes a game just strikes the right chord and gives you a proper feeling of accomplishment, and that's what this award looks to celebrate.

We've partnered with Fanatical for our users' choice awards this year, which not only means you can nab some of the games on this list for a reduced price in their Winter Sale, but also that once you've voted and given your email address, you'll get a free gift. This can be anything from a discount in their store to an entire game, so get voting!

Fanatical also provides an invaluable discount-hunting service with their Fanatical Assistant, a Chrome extension that takes all the work out of checking for a deal on your favourite game.


PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:46 AM
     Age of Empires 4 cheats – what you need to know

So, you want some Age of Empires 4 cheat codes? Cheats are a strong staple of strategy games, and the Age of Empires series is known for some great ones. From magical bears to cars that can fire lasers, you've been able to do some weird and wonderful things via the command console. Check out our guides to Age of Empires 3 cheats or Age of Empires 2 cheats if you want an idea of what past RTS games have done.

Does Age of Empires 4 have cheats? No - but it will. World's Edge creative director Adam Isgreen confirmed in an interview with Rock,Paper,Shotgun that cheats would be coming post-launch, but they're not in the game currently. We still don't have a timetable for when this will be, but we know at least it won't be until after spring 2022.

In an updated roadmap, World's Edge outlined the plan for the next few updates, starting with the recently released winter patch, through to the next big patch in spring. The blog post ends with a look at what else the team want to work on in the long-term and cheats get a specific mention. Unfortunately this means we may have to wait a while, but it's good to know they're still coming, at least.

RELATED LINKS: Age of Empires 4 release date, Age of Empires 4 review, The best RTS games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:55 AM
     Genshin Impact 2.4 release date, livestream, and rumours

The Genshin Impact 2.4 update is due to arrive in early 2022 and will coincide with the anniversary of last February's Lantern Rite festival, an extensive celebration with plenty of activities and rewards. Genshin Impact fans have uncovered information indicating that the Lantern Rite festival will return during 2.4, and may include a rerun of the immensely popular Windtrace event.

In addition to Lantern Rite, 2.4 may also introduce a new area called Enkanomiya. According to information from the 2.4 beta, this mysterious region is accessed from Inazuma, although it has its own separate map. Reportedly, Enkanomiya operates on a unique day/night cycle, and players can manually switch between Evernight and Whitenight in order to solve puzzles and modify the environment.

Genshin Impact 2.4 could also include two new characters - Yun Jin and Shenhe - and dataminers have uncovered new skins for Keqing and Ningguang, in addition to hangout events and new weapons, and new furnishings for the Genshin Impact Serenitea Pot. This information is based on beta gameplay and has not been officially confirmed by Mihoyo. With that in mind, here's everything we know about the next Genshin Impact update ahead of the Genshin Impact 2.4 release date.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 5:21 AM
     Halo Infinite weekly challenge and reward

Want to know how to complete the Halo Infinite weekly challenges? Every week you can unlock a free cosmetic for your Spartan. To get this new look, you have to complete a list of challenges, and play a lot of matches. These challenges also give you experience points you use to level up the Halo Infinite battle pass.

Challenges can be found in the battle pass menu and it lists the current active challenges and upcoming challenges. Each challenge is colour-coded by difficulty, so bright grey challenges are the easiest, the bluish-grey challenges are of medium difficulty, and the bright blue ones are the most challenging. One of the upcoming challenges will take its place when you complete a challenge, though which challenge it is, is random.

Once you've completed each challenge, you're given one more challenge before you can claim your weekly reward. This challenge is the same for everyone. In this guide, we'll give you tips on how to complete the Halo Infinite weekly challenges in your queue, explain what the weekly ultimate challenge is, and what the weekly ultimate challenge reward is for this week.

RELATED LINKS: Halo Infinite release date, Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite ranks

PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:04 AM
     Upcoming PC games 2022 and beyond

What are the best upcoming games to keep an eye on this year and the next? Hope, anticipation, agony, and elation - it's the endless cycle of emotions we go through during the annual PC release schedule.

Year in, year out, games - via Steam and otherwise - are produced in such varying degrees of quality that not a single one of them is destined for certain success. Masterpieces are released alongside utter disasters, series are born while others dwindle and, occasionally, a game actually lives up to our expectations.

So how can we possibly navigate the dizzying number of announcements, trailers, and teases to find which of the upcoming PC games we should devote our finite supply of hype to? Us old PCGamesN sages have been round the videogame block plenty of times already, so we're perfectly placed to tell you about the titles you should be saving your pennies up for. Below you'll find the upcoming PC games you should keep on your radar, as well as their expected release dates.


PCGamesN Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:20 AM
     The best new PC games 2022

What are the best new PC games 2022? Perhaps you have just been paid, bank account fat with virtual dosh, or you simply want to get caught up with the latest PC games because they are, well, new and shiny.

It is all well and good starting another daring round of PUBG, taking on a new 100-hour Football Manager save, or yet another The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim adventure but, as much as we love setting mammoths ablaze, there are plenty of the latest PC games that will more than supply your gaming fix. You don't want to be the person who isn't In The Know now, do you?

These days, new PC games pour onto Steam at a frankly dizzying rate, making it impossible to keep up with them all. Thankfully, us kind folk at PCGamesN have separated the wheat from the chaff when it comes to recent PC releases. So, below you will find every new PC games for which you should be saving up your pennies. This list is updated regularly to include the latest releases.

RELATED LINKS: Valheim system requirements, Valheim building tips, Valheim progression guide

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:00 AM
    

As that age-old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. As we prepare to put a full stop on the year and see out 2021 from our cocoon of Christmas chocolate wrappers, we must also sadly bid farewell to our news writer Imogen Beckhelling, who is heading off for a new adventure in the games industry in the New Year. Today is Imogen's last day at RPS, so come and say goodbye.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:30 AM
    

It struck me recently that I've not played as much of Halo Infinite's multiplayer as I thought I would. I envisaged myself wiling away most evenings with my mates, playing Oddball and Slayer and laughing like someone from those video game adverts, swaying violently with a controller in hand.

I now know the reason why and I hate to admit it. Infinite doesn't have a battle royale mode, which I've come to realise is the perfect FPS template for gaming with my mates. Something about it just works, you know? Listen, let me explain.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:00 AM
    

I know almost nothing about Alfred Hitchcock. He's the kind of archetypal director whose work I've been exposed to in bits and pieces without ever actually sitting down to watch one of his films in full. All of that is to say that, upon starting Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo the game, I was in no position to judge whether it was a faithful adaptation of the film or to recognize all but the most obvious illusions to Hitchcock's body of work (look, birds!). That's okay, though, because as it turns out, Vertigo is an original story based on a collage of Hitchcockian concepts, not a direct adaption of the 1958 film by the same name.

Vertigo the game follows author Ed Miller as he grapples with a debilitating case of vertigo–a condition that leaves him unable to stand as the world appears to spin around him–and paralyzing guilt over the death of his daughter and her mother, Faye, after their car falls off a bridge into a ravine below. With Ed bed ridden, it's up to Dr. Julia Lomas, psychologist and psychiatrist, and Sheriff Nick Reyes to unravel the mystery of what really happened, and whether Faye and his daughter even exist. My thoughts on how Vertigo goes about telling this story are... complicated.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, December 22, 2021 8:09 AM
    

Final Fantasy XIV players haven't had it easy these last few weeks. The sheer success of its Endwalker expansion resulted in lengthy login queues and server errors. It's become so popular that Square Enix have temporarily stopped selling the game, taking its Starter and Complete Editions off sale. All the while, some low-poly grapes stayed static in the breeze. Jagged, delicious, minding their own business. Until their blockiness was papped and thrust into the public eye. Memes ensued and the grapes became the talk of the town, so much so that they've been smoothed out in the latest patch, much to everyone's dismay.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, December 22, 2021 8:00 AM
    

Gather round, readers, and I'll tell you the tale of the time I opened the 22nd door on the RPS Advent Calendar. I was with three friends, and we'd been adventuring together for years at this point - two of us were lovers, and yet a third had made a strange pact with a wolf God. We could do anything together, we four. And then we stumbled upon this door...

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:54 AM
    

Book Of Travels is what developers Might And Delight call a TMORPG - a "tiny" multiplayer online role playing game, as opposed to a "massive" one. It's a gorgeous-looking adventure that came out in early access back in October, but unfortunately the launch didn't go as well as the devs had hoped it would. Yesterday, they announced that they've had to lay off around 25 employees to keep the studio going. They add that development will continue, albeit at an understandably slower pace.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:28 AM
    

Square Enix have drip-fed us Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters over the past year, with the first five having launched already. And now we know the remastered version of Final Fantasy VI, aka, the final dribble, arrives in February 2022.

Read more


Twinfinite Wednesday, December 22, 2021 9:06 AM
    

Niantic is celebrating another impressive year for its still-popular Pokemon Go AR mobile game. So incredible, in fact, that revenue estimations put 2021 as the game's most successful year yet five years after its launch and despite COVID-19 stay-at-home measures in many countries. An infographic highlights some interesting facts and figures, including a whopping 7 […]

The post Pokemon Go 2021 Recap Infographic Reminds Us How Popular it Still Is appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:49 AM
    

Calling all fans of CD Projekt Red's Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, we bring you good news. Yes, with the festive season well and truly underway, the season of giving has now made its way to the Polish company's popular card-based strategy game. That's right, The Witcher spin-off's latest annual winter event has just kicked […]

The post Gwent: The Witcher Card Game's Annual Winter Event Is Now Live appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:30 AM
    

Over Christmas and New Year's, Genshin Impact players can take part in the Energy Amplifier Fruition event for Primogems and rewards.

The post Genshin Impact Energy Amplifier Fruition Event Will Run Over Christmas and New Year's appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:00 AM
    

Capcom will also sell physical versions of this character gathering art in Japan.

The post New Ace Attorney 20th Anniversary Image Gathers Many Characters appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:30 AM
    

In a holiday message with Yosuke Saito and Keiichi Okabe, Yoko Taro joked that "The NieR series is now finished."

The post Yoko Taro Jokes 'NieR Series is Now Finished' in Holiday Video appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:00 AM
    

These earrings will grant the handy Auto-Life ability to the character wearing them.

The post FFVII Remake PS5 Seraphic Earrings DLC Released appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 9:30 AM
    

Atlus may add the much-requested netcode with an update patch.

The post Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Rollback Patch Is Under Consideration appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 9:00 AM
    

The new DLC character will also come with a new stage.

The post First Melty Blood Type Lumina DLC Character is Dead Apostle Noel appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 8:00 AM
    

This time, places like Ra'Kaznar Inner Court, Valley of Sorrows, and Western Adoulin appear.

The post More FFXI Zones Showcased in New Virtual Backgrounds appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 7:00 AM
    

Good Smile Company announced its Re:Zero Ram and Rem Harmonia humming dolls are both on the way, with Rem appearing ahead of her sister.

The post Re:Zero Ram and Rem Harmonia Humming Dolls Cost $300 Each appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:00 AM
    

The 1/7 scale Asuna Crystal Dress figure will be available to order until March 10, 2022.

The post SAO Progressive Asuna Crystal Dress Figure Coming in 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, December 22, 2021 5:00 AM
    

In an interview, NEO TWEWY Producer Tomohiko Hirano noted that Square Enix has "no current plans" for a new TWEWY game following the sequel.

The post NEO TWEWY Producer Says No 'Current Plans' for New Game appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:00 AM
    

Dig this portable shmup machine German publisher United Games Entertainment, (parent company of ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games), has...

The post Taito EGRET II Mini coming in 2022, packed with 40 arcade classics appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, December 22, 2021 9:00 AM
    

By comparing it to the original If you remotely like the Final Fantasy series, this breakdown of Stranger of Paradise:...

The post Square Enix breaks down Final Fantasy Origin's NES roots in a fascinating way appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, December 22, 2021 9:00 AM
     2022 pc games Martynas PicksThe future is dark and full of terrors, but maybe there will be some good video games in there as well. As every year, we turn our faces to the uncertain release schedules shrouded in the mists of time-yet-to-come and, quivering, whisper the Game Reviewer's Prayer: "Please don't suck. Please don't suck. Please don't suck." Here are my top PC games I want in 2022. Let's get started.   Warhammer 40,000: Darktide I could cheat and just copy the stuff I wrote for this entry last year, but yes, I'm still waiting for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Yes, it won't be perfect, no co-op shooter that hews too closely to Vermintide's gameplay will ever be. I'd like for enemies to be less trash and less mob, but my voice is drowned out by a million others. However, I'm still looking forward to being a Guardsman and kicking heretical ass. And with Dan Abnett at the helm as the writer, the story might even turn out to be cool in the end. Granted, there's not a lot of information to go...

Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, December 22, 2021 11:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, December 22, 2021 9:00 AM
    

Pivotal Gamers Wednesday, December 22, 2021 10:15 AM
     Hello fellow gamers. itch.io is giving all the chance to win on Slow Mole for the Dreamcast. Their message follows. Get Slow Mole for the Dreamcast for FREE! A few words about Slow Mole for the Dreamcast An 8-bit game, now playable on Sega Dreamcast! 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? ...