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Jan 05, 17:00


Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 4:20 PM
    

As a big fan of Jet Set Radio, an early-aughts action-rollerblading game publisher Sega still has yet to officially reboot, I was stoked to see developer Team Reptile unveil its spiritual successor, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, in 2020. Here is a game that serves as a Jet Set Radio sequel in all but name alone. However, a new

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 3:05 PM
    

Having been born and raised in one of the "white brick" buildings in Chicago's now-demolished public housing projects in the Cabrini-Green neighborhood, I'd often find myself fantasizing about what scenarios led my family to live in what is now an empty lot in the shadow of a Target building. A large part of that…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:40 PM
    

Ubisoft's first major release of the year, Rainbow Six Extraction, is launching on Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft announced in a blog post today. It'll be available starting January 20, and will no doubt send a drove of players to the multiplayer cooperative shooter.

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:15 PM
    

Call of Duty publisher Activision is kicking off 2022 by asking a court to shut down Warzone cheat maker EngineOwning, opening up a new legal front in its never-ending war against the hackers plaguing its popular online battle royale. In addition to lost revenue, the company currently under fire for widespread…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:00 PM
    

What if your gaming computer could breathe, opening its "mouths" wide to gulp in air when it got too hot, or shuttering its orifices to keep out dust and reduce noise? That's the idea behind CyberPowerPC's somewhat unsettling Kinetic series PC case.

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:43 PM
    

Source of over 2.9 percent of human disappointment, Logan Paul, may have spent $3.5 million on a pile of fake Pokémon cards. After suspicions were raised by PokéBeach, the former YouTuber has announced he's off to Chicago to get the case of first edition base set boosters properly verified.

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:30 PM
    

Sony's next virtual reality headset is about to exist in non-virtual reality. Last night, at CES 2022, Sony formally announced PlayStation VR2 in a brief segment that offered no info about pricing, availability, or a release date. Still, there's enough swirling abound to glean a picture of the thing. Here's everything…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:10 PM
    

Fans of the 1974 horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre know that its famed antagonist, Leatherface (aka the Cannibal), has a gruesome penchant for wearing the faces of his victims as masks, a detail that developer Behaviour Interactive incorporated when it introduced him to Dead By Daylight as one of the game's…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:35 AM
    

Sony's Uncharted movie has been in the works since 2008, but the star of next month's theatrical release didn't play the games until 2016. During last night's Sony CES keynote event, actor Tom Holland took the stage, where he talked about discovering Naughty Dog's acclaimed adventure series while hanging out in his…

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PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 2:27 PM
     Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Yule Festival is finally getting fixed

If you've tried to get into Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Yule Festival this year, you might've noticed something: you can't. Ever since the event launched on December 16, players who'd already checked it out in the previous year reported being unable to even start it this time. Now that everyone's back from the holiday break Ubisoft is finally able to deploy a fix.

"We will be deploying Title Update 1.4.1.2 tomorrow, January 6th to resolve issues blocking players from progressing in the Yule Festival," Ubisoft says in a tweet. "Thank you for your patience! Note that the festival will end on January 27th." The event had previously been scheduled to conclude on January 6, but an extension was announced in December due to the issues.

Valhalla's live event rollout has caused a number of bugs. The last Yule Festival, for example, had Eivor waking up drunk every time you loaded the game, no matter the current situation. As we head into year two of Valhalla's continued support, here's hoping things get a bit more stable from here on out.

RELATED LINKS: Assassin's Creed Valhalla review, How long is Assassin's Creed Valhalla?, Buy Assassin's Creed Valhalla

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:11 PM
     Final Fantasy X-2 producer was afraid you'd think it was Final Fantasy XII

It turns out that naming Final Fantasy X's sequel was a bigger headache than you might think. In a blog post for PlayStation, Final Fantasy X-2 producer Yoshinori Kitase recalls that Square Enix initially rejected the name as players might have mistaken it for Final Fantasy XII.

"It may sound odd, but one of the biggest challenges we faced when making Final Fantasy X-2 was what to call it," he says. "Having a sequel to a mainline game was unheard of, and when we suggested 'X-2' the company was initially worried that it would be mistaken for Final Fantasy XII and turned it down. Since then, they've grown fond of it of course."

Kitase goes on to say that FFX-2 proved more divisive than other Final Fantasy games partly because of its more "bright and poppy direction", which gives it a very different vibe to other entries in the series. "But I think the way that Final Fantasy games try to break away from preconceived ideas is something truly wonderful about the series – and Final Fantasy X-2 is a perfect example of that," he says.


PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:10 PM
     Razer's modular gaming desk concept belongs in Minority Report

Once you've plonked your gaming monitors down and arranged your keyboard and mouse, gaming desks aren't usually something that's on the upgrade radar. Razer believes your table could offer much more, however, and its Project Sophia concept envisions a fully modular desk with something for everyone.

The Secretlab Magnus might take issue with Razer's claim that Project Sophia is the "world's first true gaming desk concept," but it certainly looks like the most technical. Adorned with touchscreens and displays, it's designed with a whole host of functionality, such as monitoring tools to keep an eye on your system temperatures, hotkeys that take a cue from the Elgato Stream Deck, a streamer panel to swap scenes or check chat, and even a graphics tablet when paired with a stylus.

On the hardware side of things, everything's swappable. The monitor slips into place, THX-powered computer speakers magnetically clip onto the side, and it even makes it easy to attach your gaming microphone, webcam, and lighting.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:12 PM
     The Razer Smart Home App aims to sync all RGB lights regardless of brand

The best RGB LED kits are a bit of a double-edged sword. You might be able to give your household a new lease of life with a splash of colour, but dare to mix and match your brands and you'll end up juggling several different applications just to control them. Fortunately, Razer has the solution with its Razer Smart Home App, which will hopefully one day act as a one-stop-shop to control all your gizmos and gadgets.

Since many brands already integrate Razer Chroma support, there are more than 50 hardware partners that will work with the app at launch, including Nanoleaf, Yeelight, and LIFX. Govee is a notable absentee, but that could very well change, as Razer has an open invitation to its Chroma Smart Home Program and teases that more partners are signing up.

The smartphone app's homepage doesn't look too different from individual alternatives, with devices split between rooms, households, and routines. The only exception is that you'll finally be able to synchronise supported devices regardless of manufacturer, including your gaming PC.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:15 PM
     Razer's first vibrating gaming chair is the Enki Pro Hypersense

Following the release of the Razer Iskur, the company went big with its vision for gaming chairs in CES 2021. Now, we might not get Project Brooklyn's retractable folding screens, RGB lighting, or built-in desk for your mouse and keyboard any time soon, but its new Razer Enki Pro Hypersense does include haptic feedback thanks to its partnership with D-Box.

Razer originally teased the concept of its vibrating seat even earlier, way back at IFA 2018, when Hypersense technology first debuted in the Razer Nari Ultimate gaming headset. Since then, the company has fine-tuned its haptic feedback to be a much more elegant solution, with the Razer Kraken 3 Hypersense proving that it can be a good thing to give your head a wobble every now and then.

Baked into a chair, the aim is to improve immersion as the seat responds to your entertainment. So far, there are currently over 2,200 supported songs, movies, and games, including Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Forza Horizon 5, and F1 2021. And if your favourite games aren't supported, you can lean on Direct Input Haptics to generate physical feedback from your controller, keyboard, and mouse clicks.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:48 PM
     PC Game Pass adds both Rainbow Six Siege and Rainbow Six Extraction

Ubisoft has its own subscription gaming service going, but that's not stopping the publisher from supporting Xbox's Game Pass. Rainbow Six Siege is already available for the console version of the service, and it's soon to join PC Game Pass, alongside Rainbow Six Extraction, which will hit both versions of Game Pass on day one.

On the Rainbow Six Extraction release date of January 20, both Extraction and Siege will be available on PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass. Playing both games will still get you the United Front bundle, which includes new gear for Lion and Ela in Extraction and Smoke and Pulse in Siege.

Ubisoft has also announced that Ubisoft Plus, its formerly PC-exclusive subscription service, will be coming to Xbox consoles in the future. Unlike Game Pass, Ubisoft Plus includes all DLC released for its included games, so even if games like Extraction are available on both services, it seems the publisher is betting you'll still want to grab Ubisoft Plus on top of Game Pass.

RELATED LINKS: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Upcoming PC games

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:28 PM
     Now NFTs are ruining TVs, as Samsung announces future compatibility

Whether you're on board or not, NFTs are everywhere, and it seems like every company wants a piece of the blockchain pie. Even the likes of Square Enix and Ubisoft are eager to embrace the tech, meaning even our gaming experiences could soon come with a non-fungible twist. Sure, you could simply shut down your gaming PC and go watch some TV to escape those pesky cryptographic assets. However, thanks to Samsung, your next living soon display could come loaded with NFT gubbins.

According to Samsung, the company is planning extensive support for NFTs as part of its 2022 lineup. In a press release, the tech giant revealed that it would introduce "the world's first TV screen-based NFT explorer and marketplace aggregator", something that will let asset owners share their weird monkey art with the world and act as a blockchain storefront.

Samsung also says its new TV sets will come with specific smart calibration features designed to help portray your apes accurately. In other words, if you've forked out a fortune for a non-fungible piece of art, you can rest assured that will look as good as it should.

RELATED LINKS: Samsung 970 EVO 1TB review, Best SSD for gaming, Best gaming monitor

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:43 PM
     League of Legends patch 12.2 notes – New Champion Zeri, Crystal and Withered Rose skins

2022 is here, League of Legends fans, which means another year packed with gameplay updates, new champions to welcome to the MOBA game, and plenty of new skins. League of Legends patch 12.1 has headed to live servers, bringing a handful of item and champ changes and some snazzy new Elderwood skins. Now, it's time to see what the second patch of the Season 12 League of Legends patch schedule will bring.

The big news for 12.2 is the arrival of brand-new champion, Zeri. It seems she might have made a slightly premature debut as her universe and biography pages (which went live January 4) appear to have now been taken down, though we have an idea of what she's all about from the details that were offered in these when live. As reported by Surrenderat20, Zeri will be known as The Spark of Zaun, and will be a marksman champ who "channels her electric magic to charge herself and her custom-crafted gun". We don't know anything about her abilities beyond a few hints in the bio and universe info, but you can check out a fuller description in Zeri's section below.

Patch 12.2 also brings a whole bunch of new champion skins. Akshan and Janna are getting Crystal Rose skins, while Elise is getting a Withered Rose style. Then there are plenty of Porcelain and Firecracker skins to go around for others. You can take a look at all of these in the notes below.

RELATED LINKS: Best LoL Champions , League of Legends patch 12.2, LoL tier list

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:21 PM
     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, team blue was expected to pull back the curtain on its Xe-HPG based graphics cards during CES 2022 but unfortunately didn't share even a crumb of new details.

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, January 5, 2022 12:15 PM
     Everything's bigger in American Truck Simulator's Texas, including the cities

American Truck Simulator's Texas DLC is set to be the game's biggest expansion yet - only natural, given that Texas itself is absolutely massive. To kick off the new year, developer SCS Software has provided a substantial look at some of the state's most notable cities, as they're rendered in-game. And, to my constant delight, they've also provided another dollop of historical and cultural background on these towns.

"You know, everything is bigger in Texas," the devs say in the blog post. "At least that's what they say. And while the term itself probably originates from the state's enormous geographical area, Texas used to have six of the fifteen fastest-growing cities in America up until the year 2015. Perhaps, thanks to this, there are bigger populated areas filled to the brim as well."

There's still no word on when we can expect the Texas DLC release date, though it's closing in on a full year since the expansion was first announced. Since then, the Wyoming expansion has launched, and sometime after Texas we're heading to Montana. It's a long, slow ride across the US of A, but at least it's a pretty journey.


PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:17 PM
     AMD Ryzen Zen 4 CPUs – release date, price, specs, and benchmarks

2022 is shaping up to be an exciting year in the battle between AMD and Intel for the title of best gaming CPU, with both companies releasing new processors towards the end of the year. While Ryzen 5000 Zen 3 chips continue to perform well in gaming PCs and for AMD, everyone is waiting to see how the company's next generation Ryzen 7000 Zen 4 CPUs will compete with Intel's upcoming Raptor Lake processors.

When Zen 4 releases in H2 2022, we will finally see support for PCIe Gen5 and DDR5 gaming RAM on AMD's Ryzen CPUs. This will bring the company's processor offerings in line with Intel, which has supported both technologies since Alder Lake's release in 2021.

However, a combination of 3D V-Cache and a 5nm manufacturing process could see team red's chips outclass those from team blue by a significant margin, making Ryzen Zen 4 CPUs the ideal partner to the best graphics cards such as the Nvidia RTX 4000 GPU lineup.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:01 PM
     Genshin Impact events – all current and upcoming events

Want to know more about the upcoming Genshin Impact events? A new version of Genshin Impact arrives every six weeks, complete with new characters, quests, and events. It's difficult to keep track of which events are currently running and if there are any new ones coming soon, so here's a schedule for all current and upcoming Genshin Impact events.

Genshin Impact has a number of events running simultaneously, and they aren't just in-game events. When a new Genshin Impact character joins the game, the devs launch a web event at the same time - players learn about the latest characters through an interactive story told through a web browser. The rewards for completing different events range from in-game items like primogems and mora, to real life prizes like mouse mats and plushies.

Just like the Genshin Impact banners, most events are only available for a limited time, so it's worth participating as soon as you can. New events are usually added to Genshin Impact after an update, but it's worth keeping an eye out on this page as the devs do like to surprise the community.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:03 PM
     Best Minecraft texture packs for Java Edition 1.18

Looking for the best Minecraft texture packs for the Java Edition? Minecraft's low-fi charms were predictably the first thing modders took to 'fixing'. The ruddy textures, while distinctive, are an obvious target for an upgrade if you stare at them long enough. While Mojang has been gradually revamping the aesthetic appeal of Minecraft, particularly with the introduction of Minecraft Ray Tracing, if you're chasing a specific look then texture packs are your best bet.

We've included our favourite Minecraft texture packs in one handy location. There's nothing too crazy in here, as massive visual overhauls tend to be part of larger Minecraft mods that fundamentally change the game, but that's another article entirely.

One thing to note is that this list of the best Minecraft texture packs is directed at the Java Edition of Minecraft, so if you're using the newer Bedrock Edition you're likely to run into some issues as they're very different versions of the game. It's also worth mentioning these Minecraft texture packs will work on the PC Game Pass version - just make sure you select the Java Edition in the new PC launcherWhat we have below is a fantastic selection of texture packs that give Minecraft altered visual styles, from the ultra-realistic to the cartoonish, to far out sci-fi and subtle makeovers.

RELATED LINKS: Minecraft console commands, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:50 AM
     Skull & Bones' associate game director has left Ubisoft Singapore

Ubisoft's upcoming pirate game, Skull & Bones, has lost an associate game director. Long-time staffer Antoine Henry reveals on LinkedIn that he left the publisher at the end of the year, and that he's "on to new exciting adventures very soon".

As Henry documents on LinkedIn, he initially joined Ubisoft in France back in 2007 as a game designer. He worked on projects such as Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 and Just Dance 4 for over five years before working on a cancelled project for close to two years as a senior game designer. He then jumped to Ubisoft Singapore to work on Skull & Bones for three years as a lead game designer before becoming associate game director in 2017. Henry also worked on Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and played a role in creating the Isu's language.

Skull & Bones was initially revealed at E3 in 2017. While Ubisoft originally pencilled it in for a 2018 release, it's been delayed numerous times. Creative director Elisabeth Pellen confirmed in 2020 that development on a new version was in "full swing" before Ubisoft bosses explained in a 2021 financial call that the game would release during the fiscal year beginning in April 2022.

RELATED LINKS: Skull & Bones release date, Best pirate games, Best open-world games

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:43 AM
     Call of Duty: Warzone publisher sues popular cheat developer

Activision, the publisher of popular battle royale Call of Duty: Warzone, has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a popular cheat software site, EngineOwning. The lawsuit alleges that the cheats sold by EngineOwning have caused "irreparable damage" to Call of Duty and Activision's reputation, and asks the court to issue an immediate and permanent injunction against the site, preventing it from operating in the United States.

The suit, filed January 4 in US District Court in California, alleges that EngineOwning develops, sells, distributes, markets, and supports "malicious cheats" that include aimbots, triggerbots, and wallhacks, as well as software that claims to make the cheat software undetectable by Activision's anti-cheat technology.

Activision's suit points out that EngineOwning sells cheats for a range of its games, including several Call of Duty titles like Warzone, Black Ops III, and Modern Warfare III. The site is currently developing similar cheats for Overwatch, which falls under Activision Blizzard's umbrella, and the site itself offers cheat 'services' for non-Activision games such as Battlefield V, Halo Infinite, and Splitgate.


PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:13 PM
     Razer and Fossil's smartwatch only has RGB on the screen

Razer's plastered its logo just about everywhere at this point, from the inside of your gaming PC to masks and even a cute environmentally-aware cartoon led by its snake mascot. Now, it's after your wrist, partnering with Fossil to launch a limited edition smartwatch called the Razer X Fossil Gen 6.

Responsible for the aesthetics, you'll notice Razer's influence across its user interface. You'll be able to swap between a 22mm black or a Razer green-coloured silicone strap whenever the mood strikes you. And, most notably, the wearable comes with three "exclusive" watch faces, including analogue, text, and its signature RGB Chroma.

The Razer X Fossil is also the first smartwatch to feature a Snapdragon Wear4100+ at its core, making it both more efficient and faster than previous smartwatches in Fossil's line-up. It charges up pretty swift, too, with up to 80% in just over 30 minutes. Specs are rounded off with 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:41 AM
     Alienware and Samsung partner to create the first QD-OLED gaming monitor

Despite OLED displays becoming so prolific in the smart TV market, the best gaming monitors of today are stuck with the same tried and tested IPS or VA LCD panels of old. However, Alienware is looking to shake things up. Through a partnership with Samsung, it has created the AW3423DW: the world's first QD-OLED gaming monitor.

QD-OLED, in a nutshell, is an innovation conjured up by Samsung that boasts all the advantages of OLED but uses quantum dot layers to improve colour accuracy and vibrancy. As a result, the AW3423DW has fantastic panel uniformity and a theoretically infinite contrast ratio, which should lead to image quality that rivals flagship smart televisions.

In terms of gaming-related specs, the monitor has a 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide panel that's capable of producing resolutions up to 3440×1440. As sharp and expansive as games will look on it, the display's biggest strength is its 175Hz refresh rate and ultra-low 0.1ms response time. It also comes with Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate certification, which should save you from any instances of screen tearing.

RELATED LINKS: Samsung 970 EVO 1TB review, Best SSD for gaming, Best gaming monitor

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:28 AM
     Best Warzone Pacific guns: the top weapons for Season 1

Want to know what the best Warzone Pacific guns are? The Warzone integration with Vanguard introduces drastic changes to the game, including a new Warzone map set in the Pacific, and over 30 Vanguard weapons to play with. While Verdansk may not be around anymore, the guns from Modern Warfare and Black Ops Cold War remain in the battle royale game, but they're only accessible in specific modes.

The Cold War to Warzone integration had a number of teething problems when it launched back in December 2020. As a result, some of the weapon attachments featured incorrect stats which caused balancing issues. Each Cold War weapon needed tuning before they launched in Warzone - for several seasons, Cold War guns were either far too powerful or completely unusable.

Warzone Pacific is currently split into two types of mode which feature Vanguard weapons only, or every weapon ever released in Warzone. We've split the list of the best Warzone Pacific guns into two sections - this should make things easier for players interested in both modes.


PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:59 AM
     Dell's chonky concept box transforms your house into a seamless gaming PC hub

Gaming on the go is more prominent than ever, with devices like the Steam Deck on the horizon that promise a portable gaming PC experience. However, if you're a sucker for high-specs and the best graphics cards on the market, you'll have to deal with being tethered to a few square meters of desk space. While it might seem like there's no way to break these shackles, Dell is cooking up something called Alienware Concept Nyx, and it could transform your entire home into a gaming hub.

Teased at CES 2022, the Alienware Concept Nyx is essentially a server that can transmit PC games to numerous devices within your home via WIFI. In theory, the tech should emulate the action of physically picking up your hefty rig and lugging it to a different room, as you can pick up exactly where you left off in-game without having to restart or load.

Concept Nyx also embraces the idea of unifying platforms, as it would allow you to stream games from traditional storefronts like Steam and the Epic Game Store, alongside cloud gaming services like GeForce Now. It also negates the need to switch between libraries, as access will be facilitated via a singular app. Better still, Dell says it's also looking into ways to stream four games at once, meaning the bold box could fill in for multiple PCs.


PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:57 AM
     The best Volk loadout in Warzone Pacific

There are plenty of assault rifles in Call of Duty Vanguard that have made it into the Warzone Pacific battle royale meta. This fully-automatic gun is perfect for taking the fight to your foes and getting the drop on them.

The Volk works very well as an SMG-esque weapon, particularly at close and medium range. When paired with a weapon more suited to long-range engagements like the Kar98k or STG44, the Volk is perfect for having on hand to push up on enemies camping in a building.

So here you go - the best Volk loadouts in Warzone Pacific. It shouldn't take you too long to get used to this gun, especially if you remember the days of the FFAR 1 dominating the meta. The only thing you should keep an eye on is your ammo count - if you're using an AR or LMG as your ranged option, you'll drain the ammo for both guns at the same time. With that, here's the best Volk loadout for Warzone Pacific.


PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:31 AM
     The best Western games on PC in 2022

What are the best Western games on PC that you should be playing? It's not an easy decision to make. The Wild West is a time of lawlessness, striking gold, and perilous shootouts - no wonder it's the subject of many top cowboy games.

Western games are inspired heavily by the cowboy media that has come before them. Over in TV land, there are the likes of Westworld and Deadwood while cinema throws its hat into the ring with classics of the genre including Unforgiven, The Magnificent Seven, and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

It's fair to say that the humble Western is a cornerstone of American culture. The game studios that decide to take on the challenge of bringing the American Frontier into our lives have a lot of pressure to get it right. Luckily, a number of them have absolutely nailed what being a cowboy is all about. And, fortunately for you, we've done the hard work of corralling the varmints right here.

RELATED LINKS: Fallout: New Vegas mods, Fallout 5 release date, Play Fallout: New Vegas

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:20 AM
     The best MG42 loadout in Warzone Pacific

Want to know what the best Warzone MG42 loadout is? If you're looking for a Call of Duty Vanguard weapon to bring something unique into Call of Duty's battle royale mode, look no further. The MG42 is less of an LMG and more a terrifying monster with one of the most ludicrous rates of fire in the game. Best used at medium ranges, the MG42 is definitely one to try out.

You should look to use the MG42 on whole squads of baddies that are fairly close to you, so we suggest you bring a sniper rifle along for long range enemies - maybe the best 3-Line Rifle loadout if you're feeling like busting heads from miles away. With this MG42 loadout, we want to balance the extreme fire rate and damage with a decent level of accuracy.

Don't grab this weapon thinking you'll be laser beaming enemies like it's a Stoner 63. The MG42 is a whole different ball game that might take a bit of getting used to. It's well worth the effort though, and before long you'll win games with our best MG42 loadout for Warzone Pacific.


PCGamesN Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:20 AM
     League of Legends' next champion is Zeri, a Zaun marksman with

League of Legends patch 12.2 is now taking its turn on the MOBA game's testing servers ahead of its live debut in a fortnight, and it seems we've got a brand-new champion on the way. Yesterday, Riot Games unveiled Zeri, a marksman from Zaun who wields a "custom-crafted gun" charged with "electric magic", on the game's universe and biography web pages. It seems she might have appeared a little early, as the info's now been taken down, but we've got a good idea of what she'll bring from the details offered when the pages were live.

While there are no abilities to check out just yet, it sounds from her description like Zeri, The Spark of Zaun, will be something of a sprightly ADC who boasts rapid, quickfire movement along with this electric element. "A headstrong, spirited young woman from Zaun's working-class, Zeri channels her electric magic to charge herself and her custom-crafted gun," her short bio reads, as captured by Surrenderat20 (you can also check out her longer backstory there).

"Her volatile power mirrors her emotions, its sparks reflecting her lightning-fast approach to life. Deeply compassionate toward others, Zeri carries the love of her family and her home into every fight. Though her eagerness to help can sometimes backfire, Zeri believes one truth to be certain: stand up for your community, and it will stand up with you."

RELATED LINKS: Best LoL Champions , League of Legends patch 12.2, LoL tier list

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 5, 2022 2:02 PM
    

Following the colourful luchador metroidvania violence of the Guacamelee! series, developers Drinkbox Studios are returning to punch up fantasy in an action-RPG. Today they announced a release date of January 18th for Nobody Saves The World, a top-down ARPG with where players can transform into everything from a rogue to a rat, and customise them to be even weirder. It will be on Game Pass, too.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:25 PM
    

Ubisoft today announced a surprising upcoming addition to Game Pass: Rainbow Six Extraction will be available on Microsoft's subscription service right from the start when it launches later this month. The monster-mashing spin-off from R6 Siege isn't one of their full-price games, coming at a slightly cheaper £34, but still, damn, that's a good get. And exactly the sort of game I likely wouldn't buy new but would try on Game Pass.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:31 AM
    

In a serious of coordinated raids, Turkish police have detained 40 people suspected of involvement with a money laundering ring which allegedly used Twitch for money laundering. Supposedly they were using stolen credit card info to buy Bits (Twitch's virtuacurrency), which they would then donate to Twitch streamers who had agreed to give money in return in exchange for keeping a portion for themselves. This first came to light following Twitch's big data leak last year.

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Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 2:14 PM
    

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk took the Nintendo Indie World Showcase by storm when it debuted back in August 2022, as fans couldn't help but be dazzled by its Jet Set Radio-inspired look and groove. In order to keep fans happy until its release, developer Team Reptile are providing plenty of teaser trailers that show off all […]

The post Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Gets a Gnarly New Movestyle Teaser Trailer appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:56 PM
    

Earlier today on Twitter, Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge revealed that everyone's favorite unintelligent teenage delinquent couch potatoes from the 90s would be returning this year. In the tweet below, he also showed off some preliminary drawings of what the two would look like in the upcoming movie, which confirms that they will be […]

The post Beavis & Butt-Head Return to Paramount+ in a New Movie This Year appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:51 PM
    

Riot Games has today revealed its latest Agent, Neon, who will be launching in tandem with the game's fourth episode next week. Much anticipated as a new duelist that could shift the meta with her fast movement, Neon's abilities are given a decent gameplay showcase in today's trailer, and they do indeed look pretty OP. […]

The post New Valorant Agent Neon Revealed in First Trailer; Abilities Include Laser Beam Ult appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:27 PM
    

Today ZeniMax and Bethesda released a new teaser trailer of The Elder Scrolls Online focusing on the content coming across 2022.

The post The Elder Scrolls Online Teases 2022's Adventures With New Trailer; Reveal Event Coming appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:27 PM
    

In 2021, Sony delivered plenty of things fans can be happy about, including lots of exclusive content, console improvements, and, of course, amazing games. Just like with anything related to entertainment, though, the company will need to continue to improve the quality of its product in order to stay relevant in 2022. To help them […]

The post 5 New Year's Resolutions Sony Needs to Keep in 2022 appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:33 PM
    

Today, Xbox announced that Rainbow Six Extraction, a co-op survival spin-off game of Rainbox Six Siege, will be a day one Game Pass release. In other words, if you're an Xbox or PC Game Pass subscriber, you'll be able to download Rainbow Six Extraction for free when it comes out on Jan. 20. On top […]

The post Rainbow Six Extraction Will Be a Day One Xbox/PC Game Pass Release; Ubisoft+ Coming to Xbox Platforms appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:47 AM
    

Today Developer SimulaM released a new trailer of its upcoming Jesus simulator I am Jesus Christ, celebrating two years in development.

The post I am Jesus Christ Celebrates 2 Years in Development With Trailer Showing Progress appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:19 AM
    

Today Nihon Falcom opened a teaser website to announce The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki II – Crimson Sin and showcase the first screenshots and details. More images about this sequel of The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki were also showcased in the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, and you can see them […]

The post The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki II – Crimson Sin for PS5 & PS4 Announced With First Screenshots appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:46 AM
    

Techland's final episode of its Dying 2 Know series of videos, which take a deep dive into different aspects of its upcoming sequel title, is set to premiere next week, Jan 13, the developer as today announced. Throughout 2021, this behind-the-scenes web series diving deep into the world of Dying Light 2 has stunned fans with reveal […]

The post Final Dying 2 Know Episode Premiers Next Week Ahead of Dying Light 2's Release appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:32 AM
    

Netflix has today continued the rollout of its inside look mini-series of The Witcher featurettes, this time revealing some of the actor/writer's thoughts on one of season two's most exciting scenes, dubbed the "monster mash." Fair warning, this is a big spoiler to those who have not yet seen the whole series yet. For those […]

The post The Witcher Netflix's Monster Mash Scene Gets Inside Look In Latest Mini-Featurette appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 5, 2022 3:00 PM
    

The FFXI January 2022 update is on the way next week and will bring new Ambuscade changes, but won't continue The Voracious Resurgence yet.

The post FFXI January 2022 Update Doesn't Add More of The Voracious Resurgence appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 5, 2022 2:00 PM
    

Sega announced that Nvidia DLSS support will come to PSO2 New Genesis in February 2022, allowing for higher FPS while playing.

The post PSO2 New Genesis FPS Will Increase With Nvidia DLSS appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:30 PM
    

The River City Girls PS5 version will be out this month with some exclusive features, and existing PS4 owners get to upgrade for free.

The post River City Girls PS5 Dated, is a Free Upgrade for PS4 Owners appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:00 PM
    

After years of silence, the second season of the KanColle anime will release in Fall 2022.

The post KanColle Season 2 to Arrive in Fall 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Cross-platform play and cross-save aren't planned "at the moment."

The post Interview: No Dragon Ball: The Breakers Cross-Platform Play Planned 'at the Moment' appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:35 AM
    

Square Enix and Panasonic announced that there will be a SoundSlayer Wearable Immersive Gaming Speaker System with a FFXIV design.

The post FFXIV SoundSlayer WIGSS Speaker System Will Appear in February appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:00 AM
    

People will be able to hear Triangle Strategy music while not playing the game, as Square Enix announced it will sell its soundtrack.

The post Triangle Strategy Soundtrack Includes 4 Discs Worth of Music appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 4:30 PM
    

Parent. Momo still wants to play I've started this new year in a fog of depression. A common problem, I...

The post Momotype is a cute way to loosen your grip on reality appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 4:00 PM
    

Game licensing 'freeze' set to continue in 2022 The past two years have seen China's government impose stricter and stricter...

The post An estimated 14,000 Chinese dev studios have closed since licensing 'freeze' appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 3:30 PM
    

It's also a day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass The latest game from Drinkbox Studios has a release date, and...

The post Drinkbox's Nobody Saves the World arrives later this month appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 3:00 PM
    

Bad year, great games Hey kids! I hope you had a fun and frisky 2021. I guess it's possible that...

The post Jonathan Holmes' favorite games of 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 2:00 PM
    

Get the acetone ready This is one of those collaborations I wouldn't have seen coming a few years ago, but...

The post Xbox's collab with OPI nail polish comes with Halo and Forza skins appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:00 PM
    

Ubisoft+ is also coming to the Xbox in the future One of the year's first big releases will be launching...

The post Rainbow Six Extraction is coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass at launch appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:30 PM
    

Including digital too Koei Tecmo has a pretty sweet deal going on with all their Musou/Warriors collaborations. They basically just...

The post Musou still sells: Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity ships four million appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Director's Cut encourages fresh sales spike During its CES 2022 conference, Sony noted that Sucker Punch's excellent samurai adventure Ghost...

The post Ghost of Tsushima has smashed eight million sales appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:30 AM
    

Sonic is king of the merch As soon as it became evident that my daughter loved Sonic, I had zero...

The post Sonic Prime is getting toys in 2023, after the 2022 premiere appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Call of Duty publisher takes (auto) aim Publisher Activision has filed a lawsuit at German website EngineOwning for the alleged...

The post Activision files lawsuit against Call of Duty 'cheat site' EngineOwning appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:00 AM
    

It's been a month, which is an eternity in internet time If, for whatever reason, you're interested in FFXIV Endwalker's story...

The post Square Enix just lifted the soft FFXIV Endwalker spoiler ban, so watch out appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 5, 2022 4:30 PM
     Razer Enki Pro HypersenseAt CES 2022, Razer revealed its new gaming chair dubbed the Enki Pro Hypersense, which adds to its existing line-up of gaming chairs. On the surface, the design of the Enki Pro Hypersense is very similar to the Razer Enki X. Except now, there's the addition of haptic feedback that reacts to what you do in-game. Gaming chairs don't tend to come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but Razer has tried to change things here and there. Haptic feedback, in particular, is a feature that hasn't really been applied to many gaming chairs. In a way, it's easy to see why so few brands have experimented with the tech. It's an expensive feature to add, and one that many may not use. But, Razer being Razer, it found a way to add it to one of its chairs.   Razer's mission for immersion The source of the Enki Pro Hypersense's haptic feedback sits beneath the seat, and it's hard to miss. The haptics engine is housed inside a big compartment right nex...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 5, 2022 4:00 PM
     Pagan Min Far Cry DlcFar Cry 6 has taken an interesting approach in regards to its first season pass. Rather than focus on unlockable skins or expansions that further explore the main story, this initial season pass has instead centered around brief DLC episodes starring villains from past entries in the Far Cry series. So far, only the Vaas: Insanity DLC episode has come out, which centers around Vaas Montenegro, one of the main antagonists of Far Cry 3. But once January 11 comes around, fans of Far Cry 6 can experience the game's second DLC episode titled Pagan: Control, which sees Far Cry 4's central antagonist Pagan Min taking the spotlight.   What is the DLC about? The previous DLC episode placed Far Cry 6's mechanics within a rogue-lite structure, and Pagan: Control will do much the same. According to a press release, this DLC will serve as "a brand-new experience inspired by the roguelite genre taking place in the depths of [Pagan's] troubled psyche." It a...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 5, 2022 3:00 PM
     Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Movestyle Movement Trailer Bmx SkatesAt first glance, Bomb Rush Cyberpunk is nearly indistinguishable from Jet Set Radio, the game it aspires to ape. That line, however, will be blurred even more after you check out its latest gameplay trailer covering the game's stylish movement. Notably, I'm referring to the fact that you don't just traverse the game's world on foot. Oh, no. Movement in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk ranges from sneakers, to skateboards, BMX bikes, and, naturally, inline skates. I mean, what kind of spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio wouldn't have skates? Clearly, not this particular spiritual successor. The 'movestyle teaser' trailer for the game shows off a plethora of options. It starts off with a character on foot, pausing for just a moment to do some impressive flips. Hitting the rail, he pulls a skateboard from the funk dimension and continues on, grinding and pulling off tricks. Next up, we see a new character riding on a BMX bike, showing off his skills while ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 5, 2022 3:00 PM
     Alternative Awards Blade 2021Hello, and welcome to PC Invasion's Alternative Awards 2021. This is our annual tradition where we give out very silly "awards" to games that may or may not deserve them. And yes, awards is in quotation marks for a reason. You may have noticed, but around here we don't go in for "Best RPG of 2021" or any of that nonsense. We'd never be able to get all the writers to agree on it, and that aside these things are intensely subjective. So instead, you get awards that are definitely not specifically tailored for individual games. Ahem. More seriously, this article is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the year in gaming, reminding you of a bunch of things that came out which you may have missed or forgotten while trying to forget about the actual horrors of the year. You'll see awards given to big games and small games. Some will be genuinely positive awards, some will be negative, and almost all of them will be backhanded compliments. But if you've ever wonde...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 5, 2022 2:00 PM
     Rainbow Six Extraction Game PassRainbow Six Extraction is making its way to PC Game Pass on day one when it releases January 20. Ubisoft made the announcement earlier today, and went further in-depth about this decision, and the addition of Ubisoft+ to Xbox, on its official website. The decision stemmed from wanting the community to "look forward to playing together, no matter where they play," said Ubisoft's Sarah Bond. Chris Early from Ubisoft also stated that it demonstrates "the value and choice that game subscriptions offer to players." Rainbow Six Extraction isn't the only co-op shooter that's made its way over to Xbox Game Pass recently, either. Back 4 Blood is another title that made use of the platform back in October 2021.   Time to assemble the squad Rainbow Six Extraction has seen its fair share of problems. Unfortunate timing led to a name change, and delays forced let to the game's eventual delay. Considering that the game was first announced in 20...

Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:00 PM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 5, 2022 3:47 PM
     Every 15th of Winter, Pelican Town opens its local Beach to vendors coming from different towns to set up their shops in the Night Market. Citizens flock over the docks to see all the festival's shops and attractions, and there's a good reason why everyone is looking forward to this event every year. What are […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 5, 2022 2:55 PM
     Battling, either locally or online, is one of the main and most fun components of playing Pokemon games, and it is still a feature in Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu or Eevee. Through battling, you and your friends can prove who is the very best like no one ever was! In this guide, you will learn […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:45 PM
     In Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links, players face off against each other on a digital platform, a far cry from the original card game. As such, the cards in Duel Links are virtual objects for decks in the game. In addition to buying cards, you can get them using Tickets. The best Tickets to aim for are […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:55 PM
     In RimWorld, you control three survivors of a spacecraft that crash-landed on a planet far away from civilization. It's up to you to help them survive on this planet full of uncertainties. As with many game plots, the survivors have to restart civilization from scratch. One of the essential resources in the game is Cloth, […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:23 AM
     Zagreus can build and deepen relationships with other NPCs in Supergiant Games' Hades. One of these is Zagreus' relationship with Megaera. At the beginning of the game, Zag and Meg had already broken up after she learns Zag wants to leave the Underworld as, in her perspective, Zag is avoiding his family and responsibilities. Whether […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:17 AM
     In Nioh 2, players get to choose their character's appearance and gender as they see fit. However, the developers have also enabled character creation codes. These codes are easy ways to replicate hours of character customization instantly. If you're looking into playing Nioh 2 and wish to slot your favorite character into the game, you're […]

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 5, 2022 4:15 PM
    

Ubisoft's upcoming 4-player co-op game is set to launch day one on Xbox Game Pass

The post Rainbow Six: Extraction Launching On Game Pass appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:25 PM
    

The next generation of the PlayStation VR has officially been announced.

The post PlayStation VR2 Announced Ahead of CES 2022 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Pivotal Gamers Wednesday, January 5, 2022 1:41 PM
     What's up folks? GrabTheGames is giving all the opportunity to win on Red Riding Hood. Their message follows. Get Red Riding Hood for FREE! Last minute notes Use your email to enter this giveaway, follow the on-screen instructions to get and use your key. Isn't that great news or what? Just click on the button below and follow the listed instuctions. It couldn't be any easier! Li...

MonsterVine Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Outside of some strange mechanical choices, Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale!! is a pleasant return to story-based Yu-Gi-Oh! RPGs. The new Rush Duel system is incredibly fun and innovative, and the amount of customization is the best I've seen in a card game. If you can look past a few missteps, Rush […]

The post Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale!! Review – Gotta Duel Fast! appeared first on MonsterVine.


Level Up Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:16 PM
     Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction is launching on January 20 and today, Ubisoft announced that…

Level Up Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:13 PM
     The musou genre is a long-spanning one with dozens of entries in it, but despite…

Level Up Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:36 AM
     Update 2, 1/05/2021: Epic Games has revealed the rewards players will be getting after Fortnite went down…

Level Up Wednesday, January 5, 2022 11:02 AM
     It is important to keep in mind what is going on within Activision Blizzard at…

Level Up Wednesday, January 5, 2022 10:14 AM
     Skull & Bones has lost a co-director.  First reported by Video Games Chronicle, Antoine Henry…