Dec 30, 23:00


Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 5:00 PM
    

Games rooted in abstract systems or that see you controlling vast armies of faceless soldiers can be great, but sometimes you want something that feels a little more intimate and human. Something where the characters are so lively, playing the game almost feels like hanging out with friends, or maybe an experience…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 4:30 PM
    

The video game industry went on a shopping spree in 2021. Throughout the year, a handful of larger companies consistently bought up a boatload of smaller ones, at a rate where it seemed a new acquisition was announced every few weeks.

Read more...


Twinfinite Thursday, December 30, 2021 7:22 PM
    

Today NIS America released a new trailer of the Nintendo Switch version of the upcoming JRPG Crystar introducing Nanana.

The post Crystar For Nintendo Switch Gets New Trailer Introducing Nanana appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Thursday, December 30, 2021 7:03 PM
    

Today THQ Nordic and Logic Artists released another trailer of their upcoming turn-based tactical RPG Expeditions: Rome.

The post Expeditions: Rome Gets New Trailer Focusing on the Music appeared first on Twinfinite.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 5:00 PM
    

A community blog by BRAVO F1VE [2021 was another year of fine video games with equally fine soundtracks. In this...

The post 20 great music tracks that celebrate 2021 in gaming appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 4:00 PM
    

A purchase for the ultimate fan It seems like there are more Collector's Editions than ever these days. Just in...

The post How much are you willing to drop on Collector's Editions? appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 30, 2021 4:30 PM
     Tomb Raider Epic Games Store free Lara2021 will officially come to a close two days from now, and with that comes one final offer from the Epic Games Store. This time, the Epic Games Store has made all three games in the rebooted Tomb Raider series free to claim from today until January 6 at 10:00 a.m. Specifically, the deal offers Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. A deal like this during any time feels significant, but this one seems particularly appropriate, as 2021 marked Tomb Raider's 25th anniversary.   A treasure trove of content So, what do these special editions add on top of their original versions? In the case of Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition, it includes an extra tomb initially only available for those who pre-ordered the original release, as well as six multiplayer weapons, six single-player outfits, four extra characters, and eight multiplayer maps. Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive E...

Dec 30, 16:01


Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 3:51 PM
    

If you've been on Twitter recently, you may have noticed people posting a bunch of differently colored squares. No, this is not a psy-op you are being unfairly excluded from, rather it's the Twitter manifestation of Wordle, a daily word-guessing game that is currently picking up steam in the world of Online.

Read more...


Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 3:10 PM
    

2021 was a year, wasn't it? The pandemic is still causing unnecessary disruptions despite the widespread availability of vaccines. The semiconductor shortage is whipping the economy's ass. Black and queer people are still dying. It was hard playing games this year, especially when I didn't have a PS5 or Xbox Series…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 2:45 PM
    

Legendary NFL coach John Madden died on the morning of Tuesday, December 28. While many took the occasion of his passing to celebrate the man's coaching, broadcasting, and video game legacy, others used it as an opportunity to call Madden out for his part in turning "brain injuries into a video game." The takes were…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 1:05 PM
    

Last Friday, Amy Schneider became the highest-earning woman in the history of the quiz show Jeopardy! That makes her the fourth-highest-earning contestant overall for regular season games, and fifth for overall winnings. After her latest game yesterday, she's tied with Julia Collins, who had a 20-day win streak in…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 11:55 AM
    

Christmas may be over, but the Epic Games Store isn't done handing out free gifts just yet. Its latest free game is actually three free games in one. Until January 6, you can head over there and grab the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, its 2016 sequel Rise of The Tomb Raider, and its 2019 follow-up, Shadow of The Tomb Raider

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Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 11:46 AM
    

Talk about redefining "unfriggenbelievable." A Halo Infinite player recently went 100-and-0 during an impressive spree of free-for-all matches in 343 Industries' popular multiplayer shooter.

Read more...


PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 2:08 PM
     Eve wants to make the first glossy 4K gaming monitor with LG's new panel

While gaming PCs often lead the charge with new technology, monitors still lag behind. High dynamic range (HDR) is only just becoming the norm for Windows users despite existing for more than half a decade and OLED panels are (somewhat understandably) still absent out of fear of permanent screen burn. Eve, however, believes we're missing out on yet another trick: glossy screens.

Even the best gaming monitors in 2021 still use matte coatings, despite smart TVs, smartphones, smart watches, and even some gaming laptops all going the glossy route. It makes sense since we sit so close to our screens and want to stave off reflections, but the anti-glare techniques they're often paired with means you're more than likely sacrificing contrast, brightness, colour accuracy, or sharpness.

Now that Eve has a new glossy polariser on its hands, courtesy of LG, it's showcasing the benefits of the shiny new finish. And if there's enough interest, we might see the very first glossy 4K gaming monitor hit the market in the near future.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 2:13 PM
     Forget your gaming PC, XPG wants to stick an SSD inside your mouse

Unlike the chonkiness of hard drives, the beauty of solid state drives (SSDs) is that they're small enough to fit just about anywhere. And in true CES fashion, XPG is now looking outside of your gaming PC to house its next set of storage, with its XPG Vault gaming mouse concept.

Mice are no strangers to built-in storage, with most packing just enough to remember your DPI sensitivity, macros, and RGB lighting without software running in the background. As The Verge points out, rodents like the Mini-Memory Mouse also pioneered flash drives within mice over 14 years ago, although the idea never really made it into the mainstream.

With the Vault, XPG wants to go a step further with speeds great enough to play games on, letting you take your Steam library on-the-go without the need for an external SSD. It's not just an idea that exists in the ether, either, with an existing prototype already capable of up to 1TB at 985MB/s through USB Type-C.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 12:18 PM
     Oxenfree 2 may be out in five weeks

It's been nearly six years since the release of the original mind-bending spooky adventure game Oxenfree and we may finally know the exact Oxenfree II release date - which may actually be very soon. According to a leak from the PlayStation database, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals will launch on February 8th, 2022.

The first Oxenfree released on PC on January 15, 2016, and was immediately lauded for its unique adventure game mechanics, naturalistic choice-based dialogue system, creepy atmosphere, and imaginative storytelling. After tackling the Hell-based Afterparty and being bought by Netflix, developer Night School Studio is returning to the world of its debut title Oxenfree - and it may be out in just a few weeks.

According to PlayStation Game Size on Twitter, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is listed on PlayStation's own release database with a launch date of February 8 - around five weeks from now. Night School Studio hasn't confirmed anything and the date could easily be a placeholder, but given the amount of time it takes to approve console versions of games, a date this close is hopefully a good sign that it's accurate.

 

RELATED LINKS: The best indie games on PC, The best adventure games on PC, The best story games on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 11:07 AM
     Final Fantasy 7 Remake PC review – Cloud nine

Midgar is less a city and more a vast reactor network that people happen to live around. The curvature of pipes and chimneys that forms its silhouette looks nothing like New York, Paris, or Altissia. Streets wind their way in awkward lines around its structure, most dwellings simply propped against its foundations in a haphazard shanty town. It's a giant wheel of heavy industry, all ungainly girders and exhausts around a central tower.

This is the first thing you see in Final Fantasy VII, realised in greatly more detail in Remake Intergrade. Even though Square Enix leaves nothing to chance with hours of opening cutscene exposition, if you skipped it all you'd still understand by the look of Midgar alone that this is an unhappy place. A place where corporate megalomania has gone unchecked for long enough to manifest itself physically, where Shinra doesn't give a Gil for the denizens living in squalid conditions around its eight Mako reactors. You'd understand why a terrorist group called Avalanche has formed to take the energy conglomerate down.

What you wouldn't understand, certainly without the benefit of a treasure trove of PlayStation 1 memories to frame this remake's context, is why Cloud Strife has signed up. The young former SOLDIER mopes about with an otherwise passionate group of Avalanche activists, harrumphing at every juncture, stonewalling any attempt at camaraderie and still, somehow, proving utterly irresistible to every woman in Gaia. Apparently a sleeveless turtleneck and improbably coiffured hair go a long way, but what once came across as typical heroic stoicism seems churlish now upon second visit. It's like saving the world with Christian Bale.


PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 10:49 AM
     Doom could be coming to Fortnite

A possible Fortnite Doom crossover has been rumoured, suggesting that a Doom Slayer skin could soon join the armoured likes of Boba Fett and Master Chief in Epic's battle royale - and other Bethesda/Microsoft properties could follow, too.

Fortnite is well known for its frequent collaborations with many wild gaming and non-gaming properties at this point, but out of the three major console platform holders Microsoft is proving the most amenable to crossovers - Halo's Master Chief has been in the game for a while and Gears of War was the first gaming crossover of Chapter 3 earlier this month.

Now, according to journalists Nick and Jeff Grubb on the XboxEra podcast, more "Microsoft/Bethesda characters" are coming to Fortnite. While Nick "doesn't want to spoil" all of them, the one series he does confirm as coming is Doom. "The Doom Slayer will be coming to Fortnite," Nick says but is unable to confirm a specific release date for the skin due to the IP specifics needing to be worked out.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 11:03 AM
     Today's free Epic game is the entire Tomb Raider trilogy, gasp

December 30, 2021: As strongly rumoured, the full Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy is now available for free on the Epic Games Store - and not just for 24 hours.

The entire Tomb Raider survivor trilogy is the free Epic Games Store title for today, December 30 - meaning that anyone with an Epic account can claim three of the finest action-adventure games on PC for nothing, an excellent way to cap off the year.

While yesterday's free game on Epic was the Dark Souls meets Metroidvania title Salt & Sanctuary, today's offering is a much more substantial present - the entire Tomb Raider trilogy. No, not that one, the reboot trilogy. No, not that one either, the new reboot trilogy, a.k.a. the Tomb Raider Survivor Trilogy - and it's available from now until January 6, 2022.

This news was leaked earlier this week on the Epic Games Store Reddit and was confirmed earlier today by German site MyDealz.de. Furthermore, the tease on the store itself for the next free game showed a present with what clearly seems to be Lara Croft's climbing pickaxe.

RELATED LINKS: Shadow of the Tomb Raider hands-on, Making of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Big changes in Shadow of the Tomb Raider

PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 9:40 AM
     Elden Ring will be devs'

According to director Hidetaka Miyazaki in a new interview, Elden Ring will be better than Dark Souls, Sekiro, and Bloodborne - in fact, Miyazaki suggests it will be From Software's "best game to date" and calls it a "culmination" of everything the studio has done up to this point.

As the latest and potentially greatest game from renowned developer From Software, there is a lot of excitement for Elden Ring - justifiably so, just from what little of the game we've played of the game so far. Now a new interview between Edge magazine and Elden Ring's director Hidetaka Miyazaki threatens to build those excitement levels even higher.

In the interview, Miyazaki calls Elden Ring "a culmination of everything we've done with the Dark Souls series and with our games so far", with the experience of creating those games helping to shape and improve it - creating "a brand-new whole that wouldn't have been possible before." Edge then asked the killer question, whether Miyazaki believed Elden Ring was From Software's best game ever.

RELATED LINKS: Elden Ring system requirements, Elden Ring has the best demo, Elden Ring's four pre-order editions

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 30, 2021 12:04 PM
    

It's pretty difficult to quantify which games actually whip ass, mostly because it's a little subjective. That being said, if barrelling through the streets of a futuristic, neon-glazed Detroit, hopping over pursuing cop cars and racing through business offices and factories to the tune of an engrossing soundtrack doesn't whip ass, I don't know what does.

Read more


Twinfinite Thursday, December 30, 2021 1:10 PM
    

Monster Hunter Rise will soon be released for PC, and among other things, it'll support resolution up to 4K. Today we get to see a character wearing the classic Kamura armor on PC, showing the level of detail players can expect for the port as long as they have a rig and a monitor able to […]

The post Monster Hunter Rise for PC Gets New Video Showing Kamura Armor in 4K Resolution appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Thursday, December 30, 2021 9:56 AM
    

Today, developer Ghost Ship Games released a new PlayStation launch trailer for its sci-fi mine-'em-up, Deep Rock Galactic, which launches on Jan. 4 for PS4 and PS5. For those on PC and Xbox One, worry not, as the game is already available there as well. For those unaware, what makes Deep Rock Galactic's launch on […]

The post Deep Rock Galactic Gets New PlayStation Launch Trailer appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Thursday, December 30, 2021 3:00 PM
    

2021 was packed for the Nintendo Switch, in quantity and quality. There are too many worthy Switch releases to honor! But we'll do our best.

The post Siliconera's Nintendo Switch Game of the Year 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 30, 2021 1:30 PM
    

The latest brief prequel story going over KOF XV team roots looks at how Antonov, King of Dinosaurs, and Ramon got together for Team GAW.

The post New KOF XV Story Features King of Dinosaurs, Ramon, and Antonov appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 30, 2021 12:00 PM
    

The PC is full of early access, expansions, and older titles holding on well beyond their release. But special new games still break through!

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


Siliconera Thursday, December 30, 2021 10:30 AM
    

A freezy demon warms your feet.

The post SMT V Jack Frost Slippers Open for Pre-Order at Animo appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 3:30 PM
    

It runs through January 5 As a heads-up, Atlus just put up a ton of 3DS games for sale through...

The post PSA: Atlus has some killer 3DS games for sale for under $10 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 2:30 PM
    

'OK I think I got it…nope!' Frame-perfect puzzles are so hit and miss! Sometimes they can be exhilarating if done...

The post I totally missed this annoying Zelda: Breath of the Wild treasure chest appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 2:00 PM
    

Set off on a Tomb Raider adventure for free The new adventures of Lara Croft are on a pretty good...

The post The Tomb Raider reboot trilogy is the latest Epic freebie appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 1:30 PM
    

Happy new year! Go rest 2021 has been a tiring year. Maybe 2022 will be better? Ha! I don't want...

The post Nintendo Download: Only three games! appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 1:00 PM
    

This is what you can order off the secret menu It's sort of my role here at Destructoid to look...

The post Six awesome games you might have missed in 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 12:30 PM
    

I'll take it over a few of the 3D mainline games Sega has done its best to bury some of Sonic's...

The post The full intro for the forgotten Sonic Chronicles slaps appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 11:30 AM
    

'The Panda Controller' If you backed the Kickstarter for the new GameCube controller, you may want to check your email:...

The post That nearly two million dollar Kickstarter for a new GameCube controller was canceled appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 30, 2021 10:00 AM
    

Rest! Masahiro Sakurai has earned his rest. And that's likely what's he's going to be doing for a while: resting....

The post Sakurai is laying low for a while, and I hope he lives his best life appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 30, 2021 3:30 PM
     Valorant next agent role SentinelsIt's hard to remember a time when Valorant wasn't a constant feature in my gaming repertoire. But Riot Games' first-person tactical shooter has only been out for a year and a half. Since then, it's only gotten better by releasing new agents, new maps, and ensuring the competitive integrity of the game has never wavered. All of this has been done under the watchful eye of Game Director Joe Ziegler, who has just announced he is leaving Valorant. Although the hero-based shooter has been with us for just a year and a half, it has been part of Ziegler's life for eight years. That's a substantial chunk of time in anyone's career, and understandably, he might be looking for new challenges.   Passing the mantle Ziegler, along with the team of developers, built Valorant from the ground up. One of those developers was Andy Ho. In his announcement, Ziegler revealed that the mantle of Game Director will pass to Ho. Ho was previously the Senior Director for Game Direction, and Ziegler had h...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 30, 2021 1:15 PM
     Tastethetvscreen lickable tvImagine you're sitting down to play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on your 32nd different platform, but instead of traveling and fighting you just want to cook. You decide to make all of these different meals for your character, but you have no idea if they're good or not. Sure, you know they help you in some way within the game, but are they actually tasty meals? Well, one person has a way to solve that great mystery with a lickable – yes, lickable – TV screen. As spotted by PC Gamer, Homei Miyashita, a professor at Japan's Meiji University, has developed a prototype to help create that experience for users.    Named 'Taste the TV' (TTTV), the screen utilizes 10 flavor canisters that are used to create various combinations of taste to match a specific food item. The created flavor then comes out on a film over top of the screen, potentially allowing you to finally try what you've been making your character eat all these years. Lickable TV screens for when you need to ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 30, 2021 12:30 PM
     Call Of Duty 2023 LeakCall of Duty: Vanguard was released less than two months ago. However, fans have been looking forward to what the future titles in the Call of Duty franchise could offer. Previously, it was leaked that Modern Warfare 2, developed by Infinity Ward, will allegedly launch in 2022. Thanks to a new leak, fans of the Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise could be getting a look at what Treyarch's next game could entail, which is expected to launch in 2023. A post appeared on Reddit with a user claiming to have images from Call of Duty 2023. Although the source is unknown, it was said that they were posted in a private Discord server. There are a total of 12 images, which could give fans something to be excited about.   From the images, it is clear that mostly Black Ops Cold War assets are being used. Despite this, the leaker explains that using old assets is usually the case when a Call of Duty game is in an alpha state. According to the leak, the game will have a campaign, multipl...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 30, 2021 10:45 AM
     Warzone Pacific best Double Barrel Shotgun ClassThe roll out of Call of Duty: Vanguard Season One saw the debut of Warzone Pacific, bringing along a new map and Vanguard weapons. As players have been experimenting with the new weapons, the power of the shotguns has become apparent. In particular, a Double Barrel shotgun class is standing out as one of the best in Warzone Pacific. The Double Barrel shotgun can take over the battlefield due to its high stopping power. This class will mainly improve your speed, while bumping up the damage even further. As a result, you will have a class that has a two-shot potential. It is the perfect weapon for earning quick kills and for players who love getting up close and personal with the enemy.   Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific best Double Barrel class Muzzle: M97 Full Choke Barrel: Sawed-Off Stock: Removed Stock Rear Grip: Fabric Grip Ammunition: Packed Powder Perk 1: Akimbo Perk 2: Quick Let's begin by breaking down the class before you take it into your next match. Firstly, the ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 30, 2021 9:37 AM
     John MaddenThere are some names in sports that are so well known, no matter whether you watch sports or not, you know who they are. Names like Michael Jordon, Tom Brady, and Wayne Gretzky are seemingly etched in stone. One of those names was John Madden, who sadly passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 85. Even for someone like me who doesn't watch sports, I knew who John Madden was. Of course, that's in no short part to the series of EA's Madden NFL games that bear his namesake. Let's not mince words: before Madden, sports games, well, kind of sucked. When Madden first got into the football video game scene in the '80s, his desire was first and foremost on quality. He refused to lend his name to the game if it had fewer than 11 players per team. Madden was one of the most beloved and respected coaches in NFL history, where his tenure for the (then) Oakland Raiders was the stuff of legends.   After retiring from coaching, Madden moved to the field that wou...

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, December 30, 2021 1:39 PM
     The Ree Dahee Shrine or the Timing is Critical is one of the many shrines in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. As the title of the shrine suggests, the Timing is Critical, and the shrine requires Link to traverse the shrine by putting the glowing orbs in their sockets through timing. This […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, December 30, 2021 11:45 AM
     If you are searching for the unique mushroom fields biome, this guide will show you how to find it in Minecraft. Minecraft is a sandbox game where biomes—regions with unique geography—play a major role in a player's game progression. There are more than a dozen biomes for players to venture, explore, and discover. And while […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, December 30, 2021 9:52 AM
     In Team Cherry's Hollow Knight, once the Knight reaches the entrance to the Cast-Off Shell in Kingdom's Edge, the Knight will face Hornet once again to test their drive and strength to save Hallownest, but this time she will go full strength and use all her tools with her Sentinel form. Hornet Sentinel is Hornet's […]

Pivotal Gamers Thursday, December 30, 2021 1:30 PM
     What's up folks? Epic Games is giving all the opportunity to win on Tomb Raider GOTY. This is what they say. Get Tomb Raider GOTY for FREE! A few words about Tomb Raider GOTY Download and play Tomb Raider GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION at the Epic Games Store. Check for platform availability and price! Last minute notes Login with your Epic Games account, follow the on-screen instructions to add i...

Pivotal Gamers Thursday, December 30, 2021 12:30 PM
     Hello folks. Epic Games holds a new giveaway for Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration. Let's hear them out. Get Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration for FREE! A few words about Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Download and play Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration at the Epic Games Store. Check for platform availability and price! Last minute notes Login w...

Pivotal Gamers Thursday, December 30, 2021 12:30 PM
     Hello all. We have another great giveaway from Epic Games for Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Read on for their offering. Get Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for FREE! A few words about Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Download and play Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition at the Epic Games Store. Check for platform availability and price! Last mi...

Level Up Thursday, December 30, 2021 11:38 AM
     The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the greatest game ever made, according…

Gaming on PC Thursday, December 30, 2021 9:48 AM
     Supra Games recently revealed that Supraland Six Inches Under will launch on January 14, 2022. Read more after the jump.

Dec 30, 09:00


Kotaku Thursday, December 30, 2021 5:30 AM
    

Bauhutte, the folks behind the gaming bed and the gaming mattress, are back with another interesting product: A hand massager for gamers.

Read more...


PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 8:02 AM
     Hearts of Iron 4's Kaiserreich mod is the best historical strategy sandbox

Hearts of Iron IV is currently Paradox Interactive's most popular strategy game, and that's thanks in large part to its vibrant library of Hearts of Iron 4 mods. Kaiserreich is one of the most popular mods around, and I implore you to get it downloaded and installed over the festive break. The sweeping, back-of-the-box feature list includes inventive revisions of some of the game's problematic core systems, production values you'd expect from a blockbuster war movie, and plenty of alt-history for amateur historians to fantasise over.

Whatever angle you approach it from, Kaiserreich uplifts Hearts of Iron IV from a pretty good WW2 strategy game, to the ultimate strategy sandbox. The premise is simple enough: what if Germany had won the First World War? It's an easy question to ask, but the mod team has ensured that all the possibilities it throws up feel complex and nuanced, as if it was based on real events.

Britain and France are now beacons of socialism (Google 'syndicalism' if you want some fun reading), the Ottoman Empire dominates the Middle East, and a massive German colonial empire spans most of Africa and East Asia. Every part of the globe is recognisable and yet completely alien even to someone with only a passing understanding of mid-20th century geopolitics.

RELATED LINKS: The best Hearts of Iron 4 mods, The best WW2 games on PC, The best grand strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 7:50 AM
     Square Enix claims Stranger of Paradise's DLC missions

Square Enix has claimed that the three previously announced Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin DLC missions will actually be exclusive to the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game and "won't be available separately". However, the good news is that this claim may be inaccurate - or at least, very poorly worded.

If there's one sure way to annoy a fanbase, it's by saying that DLC is exclusively available as either a pre-order bonus or with some specific version of a game - and won't be available to buy or access outside of those versions. Square Enix did this earlier this year with Spider-Man being exclusive to Avengers on PS4/PS5, now it says that Stranger of Paradise's DLC missions will be exclusive to the Digital Deluxe Edition.

In the tweet below, the publisher suggests that the Final Fantasy Origin missions Trials of the Dragon King, Wanderer of the Rift, and Different Future will only be available in this version, and even throw in "pre-order" to rub salt in the wound harder. "These missions won't be available separately", the tweet states.

RELATED LINKS: Upcoming PC games, Best fantasy games, Best RPGs on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, December 30, 2021 6:11 AM
     Today's free Epic game may be the entire Tomb Raider trilogy, gasp

It's looking likely that the entire Tomb Raider trilogy will be the free Epic Games Store title for today, December 30 - meaning that anyone with an Epic account will soon be able to claim three of the finest action-adventure games on PC for nothing, an excellent way to cap off the year.

While yesterday's free game on Epic was the Dark Souls meets Metroidvania title Salt & Sanctuary, today's offering is rumoured to be a much more substantial present - the entire Tomb Raider trilogy. No, not that one, the reboot trilogy. No, not that one either, the new reboot trilogy, a.k.a. the Tomb Raider Survivor Trilogy.

While it hasn't been confirmed yet, this was supposedly leaked earlier this week on the Epic Games Store Reddit and has now been seemingly confirmed by German site MyDealz.de. Furthermore, the current tease on the store itself for the next free game shows a present with what clearly seems to be Lara Croft's climbing pickaxe.

RELATED LINKS: Shadow of the Tomb Raider hands-on, Making of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Big changes in Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 30, 2021 4:00 AM
    

Every year our clone forms degrade, and Katharine spends the winter break copying each consciousness into a new body. Don't worry: we can't feel a thing! Since our new forms are still coming online from their time spent in the primordial flesh soup vat of the RPS Treehouse, we can't post over Christmas, so we've prepared some Christmas Cracker jokes instead! You can help fund the research into longer-lasting clone bodies with the RPS supporter program.

Now, time to enjoy your nice joke!

Q: What horrible smell travels around corners really fast?

Read more


Twinfinite Thursday, December 30, 2021 6:17 AM
    

While 2021 certainly had its ups and downs, one game that came out of nowhere and resonated well with audiences around the globe was 1047 Games' free-to-play sci-fi shooter, Splitgate. Blending Portal-like traversal mechanics with the snappy first-person shooting of the Halo series, the Nevada-based studio's debut title is a rivetingly fun good time. Don't […]

The post Splitgate's End-of-Year Infographic Reveals a Strong 2021 for the Popular Shooter appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Thursday, December 30, 2021 4:49 AM
    

Following the reveal of Version 2.4 of Genshin Impact, developer MiHoYo released a new trailer featuring one of the new characters.

The post Genshin Impact Gets New Trailer All About New Character Shenhe appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Thursday, December 30, 2021 7:30 AM
    

The latest Genshin Impact trailer focuses on Shenhe, showing her at home with her mentor Cloud Retainer and hinting at her troubled past.

The post Genshin Impact Shenhe Trailer Shows Her With Cloud Retainer appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 30, 2021 6:00 AM
    

The episodes will be uploaded on a weekly basis.

The post Tales of the Abyss Anime Episodes to Appear on YouTube appeared first on Siliconera.


Pivotal Gamers Thursday, December 30, 2021 3:08 AM
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LG has a major OLED TV upgrade to show off

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December 30, 2021
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Phones
The Galaxy S22 Ultra could go up to 1TB of storage
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is due a successor. (Future)
The premium Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra could go on sale with the option of a massive 1TB of internal storage in February, if the latest from the rumor mill is to be believed – that's up from a maximum of 512GB with the Galaxy S21 Ultra.  READ MORE
Smart Home
Samsung is launching some colorful fridges at CES 2022
Samsung has some kitchen appliances to show you. (Samsung)
Samsung makes refrigerators as well as phones, and we've got an early preview of what it'll be showing off at CES 2022 in January, including a variety of custom color options and fridges with integrated cameras for scanning their contents.  READ MORE
Gaming
God of War: Ragnarok's release date may have just leaked
God of War: Ragnarok will launch on the PS4 and PS5. (Sony)
We're waiting on quite a few major video game releases in 2022, including the much-anticipated God of War: Ragnarok – and Based on a listing on the PlayStation Network database, the game could be with us on September 30.  READ MORE
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    Entertainment
    The Book of Boba Fett episode 1 is here (spoilers within)
    Disney Plus now has even more Star Wars content for you to enjoy. (Lucasfilm Ltd)
    The latest Star Wars spin-off show has now arrived on Disney Plus for your streaming pleasure, and we've got some (spoiler-filled) thoughts to share with you – check out our considered verdict on the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett.  READ MORE
    TVs
    LG is pushing out a major upgrade with its new OLED TVs
    LG's latest OLED tech significantly ups the brightness. (LG)
    Back to CES 2022, and LG will be showing off a variety of new televisions, some of which feature the company's latest OLED.EX screen technology, which promises 30% more display brightness than standard OLED panels.  READ MORE
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