Jan 18, 22:00


Kotaku Tuesday, January 18, 2022 8:45 PM
    

Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard has been momentous news today, as much for the scale of the deal as its shock value. But we shouldn't be too surprised. This was inevitable. A handful of companies have always wanted to own everything, and nothing is going to stop them.

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Kotaku Tuesday, January 18, 2022 6:55 PM
    

Earlier today the American Twitter account for storied manga anthology Shonen Jump got very excited about some upcoming news. Problem being, they phrased it in a way that got fans very upset, very quickly.

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Kotaku Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:35 PM
    

In an unnecessary turn of events, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins is threatening fellow streamer Imane "Pokimane" Anys with defamation of character charges. Welcome to 2022, yall. Things are about to get wild from here on out.

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Kotaku Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3:50 PM
    

Every time I feel like my relatively newfound passion for Fortnite is starting to wane, Epic Games drops some cool new thing that I instantly fall in love with. For example, now the battle royale game features dinosaur-like beasts that suck up scenery and shoot rare weapons out of their mighty blowholes. They are…

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Kotaku Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3:35 PM
    

Halo Infinite's "Cyber Showdown" event kicks off today, adding a new mode called Attrition, plus a raft of neon-soaked cosmetic options, many available by way of a free 10-level battle pass. It's all pretty cool. It's also not quite what (some) players expected.

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PCGamesN Tuesday, January 18, 2022 6:23 PM
     Norland aims to be RimWorld meets Crusader Kings, a medieval political city-builder

City-building games tend to focus on the broad strokes of town management, basically letting you be more of a hand of god than a proper mayor. Norland aims to make things a little more personal, letting you take control of a noble family that's in power over a medieval city, dealing with all the crime, religious uprisings, and social stratification that come along.

The devs bill Norland as a "medieval kingdom sim that generates stories", inspired by RimWorld, Crusader Kings, and Caesar. Each citizen in your town, from peasants and slaves to soldiers and criminals, have behaviours based on their status and personality, which can result in anything from happy marriages to bloody riots.

While your citizens go about their lives - or while you're in between quelling riots - you can build up armies, upgrade your village, and look to a global map to start expanding your power. You can fight or ally with your neighboring kingdoms, and work through a host of political events on the wider map.


PCGamesN Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:37 PM
     Sims 4 devs show how fully customisable pronouns will work

The devs behind The Sims 4 announced plans to introduce non-binary and gender neutral pronouns last year, and as part of a new devstream, they've unveiled how the feature will work. Or, rather, they've unveiled how the feature may work. It's all still work-in-progress, but as it stands now, the pronoun selection feature would let you select pronouns, including non-binary ones, independently of your sim's sex, and set custom pronouns, too.

The new Create-A-Sim screen (which, again, is a work in progress) now opens with the line "hello, my name and pronouns are". You can open the usual name interface, where you'll find a new drop-down menu for pronouns, including 'they/them/their', 'she/her/hers', 'he/him/his', and 'custom'. The 'custom' option will allow you to set all three grammatical forms of your pronouns. The devs also say that in-game filters, like the existing profanity filter, will help prevent custom pronouns from being abused.

There's still no word on exactly when this feature will launch, but the first iteration will be for the English version of the sandbox game. The Sims 4 is available in 18 different languages, many of which have rules about how gendered pronouns work. That means additional development work beyond that required for the English implementation.

RELATED LINKS: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, Play The Sims 4

PCGamesN Tuesday, January 18, 2022 4:02 PM
     Age of Empires 4's next patch speeds up matchmaking, slows down scouts

The next patch for real-time strategy game Age of Empires IV will be available January 19, and it's making some small but impactful changes. In addition to a balance pass on most of the strategy game's civilizations, it's also reducing the amount of time you'll have to wait for a multiplayer game by making its matchmaking system a bit less picky.

The developers at Relic and World's Edge say they've been keeping an eye on matchmaking queue times, and they've found that the system is a bit too discriminating - it can take a few minutes before it settles on another evenly-skilled player. In the upcoming patch, the developers have sped up the time it takes for the matchmaking system to broaden its search to a wider pool of players by 67%.

Not everything is speeding up, however. Scouts across the board are going to be 35% slower while carrying animal carcasses, and the Rus' warrior monks are getting slowed by 25% whilst carrying relics. The devs say this should open up more counter-play options, and it should at least have the effect of making scouts less reliable as a source for food in the early game - they'll be vulnerable if used for this task.

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

Twinfinite Tuesday, January 18, 2022 8:18 PM
    

Last month, we learned that Banjo-Kazooie would be the next game to arrive on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack library of games, and today, it was announced that the N64 game will release on the service later this week on Jan. 20. If you're not familiar with Banjo-Kazooie or have never played it […]

The post Banjo-Kazooie Is Coming to Nintendo Switch Online This Week appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Tuesday, January 18, 2022 8:18 PM
    

Nexon and Arc System Works released a video focusing on one of the music tracks included in their upcoming fighting game DNF Duel.

The post DNF Duel's Music Track "Upward" Will Rock Your Evening appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Tuesday, January 18, 2022 8:05 PM
    

SuperGroupies is a popular fashion brand that's known for partnering up with major franchises and IPs to put out simple and elegant fashion items and apparel themed around that franchise. Last year, we got a glimpse of some of the Avatar-themed backpacks and keychains from the company, and this year, they're partnering up with Ubisoft […]

The post Watch Dogs Collaborates With SuperGroupies to Release Themed Apparel Items Later this Year appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Tuesday, January 18, 2022 7:45 PM
    

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

The post Expeditions: Rome Gets Gameplay Trailer Showing Siege Missions appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Tuesday, January 18, 2022 7:33 PM
    

Motion Twin released their third major expansion for Dead Cells at the end of the year, titled The Queen and the Sea. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but this game truly is the gift that just keeps on giving. Motion Twin is still pushing out updates for Dead Cells, and as […]

The post Motion Twin Looking to Improve Accessibility in Dead Cells While Seeking Player Feedback appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Tuesday, January 18, 2022 4:50 PM
    

Earlier this week, the first two episodes of Hulu's spinoff series to How I Met Your Mother, titled How I Met Your Father, were released. At the end of the second episode, the show paid tribute to the late Bob Saget, who was responsible for narrating the original CBS comedy, playing an older Ted Mosby. […]

The post How I Met Your Father Pays Touching Tribute to Bob Saget appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3:00 PM
    

The wait is over: the Switch release SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash brings one of the best card RPGs to modern players.

The post SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash Switch Release Revives One of the Best Card RPGs appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Tuesday, January 18, 2022 8:50 PM
    

Rare's jolly 3D platformer returns on January 20 Ever since Nintendo teased that Banjo-Kazooie was coming to Nintendo Switch in...

The post N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie joins Nintendo Switch Online this week appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, January 18, 2022 6:00 PM
    

New cosmetics, plus a new Slayer mode It's a new year, and that means some new styles for Halo Infinite. The first Halo season,...

The post Halo Infinite's neon-infused Cyber Showdown event adds new mode, sick mohawks appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:30 PM
    

I wish this was a joke Over the course of the pandemic, Zoom has been both a blessing and a...

The post So, some Final Fantasy porn just played during an Italian Senate meeting appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:00 PM
    

Super Auto Pets was robbed Another trip around the sun has been completed and so we conclude our year-end look...

The post The 2021 Destructoid Community Game of the Year winners are… appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, January 18, 2022 4:15 PM
    

Flip the Switch and let the music Play(Station) The Artful Escape, a musical adventure from publisher Annapurna Interactive, is bringing...

The post The Artful Escape shreds onto Switch and PlayStation next week appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3:30 PM
    

Graffiti Man is stoked Publisher Ziggurat Interactive has announced that it has acquired the back catalog of legendary Commodore Amiga...

The post Ziggurat acquires catalog of Amiga legends Rainbow Arts appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, January 18, 2022 7:30 PM
     Shadow Warrior 3 release grappling hookIn July 0f 2020, publisher Devolver Digital unveiled Shadow Warrior 3, the latest in developer Flying Wild Hog's first-person shooter reboot series. Initially, both companies intended to release the game sometime during 2021, but they chose to wait until early 2022 so they could polish the game further. Up to this point, neither company mentioned a specific release date. But thanks to recent listings on the Microsoft and PlayStation stores, we now finally know when the game will apparently drop. According to these listings, Shadow Warrior 3 will get a release on March 1 — a mere six weeks from now. Both listings state that "Shadow Warrior 3 launches the offbeat first-person shooter series to the next level with a seamless blend of fast-paced gunplay, razor-sharp melee combat, and a spectacular free-running movement system." This new installment sees series protagonist Lo Wang returning to "embark on an improbable mission to recapture an ancient dragon&#...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, January 18, 2022 7:15 PM
     Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course Dlc Delayed Until 2020 With ReasonIt's not every day that a challenging boss rush game made in the style of 1930s cartoons gets a trailer. In fact, before today, that isn't a thing that has ever happened before. Netflix's upcoming The Cuphead Show, which is based on the beloved game Cuphead, has gotten a two-minute official trailer, finally giving us a good look at what the show will deliver when it hits the service next month. The new show launches ahead of the game's upcoming DLC, The Delicious Last Course, later this year. I can't imagine it was easy to cook up an entire show based on a game about careful pattern memorization and split-second reflexes, but it's great to finally see it come together. The official trailer starts with Cuphead and his brother Mugman painting a fence, as the former laments his boredom. His solution is for the two of them to go to a nearby carnival known as Carn-evil. What could go wrong? The trailer rapidly cuts between a variety of sequences, showi...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, January 18, 2022 7:00 PM
     kotick leave activision blizzard reportA whirlwind of news has followed Microsoft's behemoth acquisition announcement of Activision Blizzard, one priced at nearly $70 billion USD. It's a staggering deal, and Microsoft will bring in a long list of triple-A franchises, as well as a company bathed in workplace concerns. Activision Blizzard has broiled in controversy in the past six months, with claims of sexual misconduct and frat boy culture run rampant. Many have called out the company due to the shameful issues, and stockholders have repeatedly encouraged CEO Bobby Kotick to step down. Kotick didn't seem eager to budge. But according to The Wall Street Journal, Kotick will reportedly leave Activision Blizzard once the acquisition is complete. This is, however, not what Microsoft communicated in a press release on Tuesday morning. According to a press release: "Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to furt...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:30 PM
     Halo Infinite Cyber Showdown Event cheaper Shop Prices 1Halo Infinite received two major updates today. A new event is underway, and the shop has seen some much needed changes. For fans, this just might be enough to bring players back around to the ailing game. Today, the Cyber Showdown event begins in Halo Infinite, bringing some bright, neon colors and other cosmetics to the field. But if a glowing blue and purple mohawk doesn't do it for you, the Halo Infinite shop is now cheaper. For the latter, it's the news players have been waiting for since the game's multiplayer launched into beta. Halo fans and, hell, even members of the 343 Industries team have bemoaned the awful cost of in-shop cosmetics. Last week, Jerry Hook, head of design at 343, took to Twitter to tease pricing changes. Beginning today, the company is making cosmetics cheaper to purchase in Halo Infinite's in-game shop. If you mosey over to the store now, you can note how much of a difference it really is.   A couple of months ago, the store ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, January 18, 2022 4:00 PM
     Agdq 2022 Donations HaloLast week, the latest Awesome Games Done Quick speedrunning charity marathon took place, and it predictably turned out a huge success. With only a few exceptions, each AGDQ event has raised more money than the last, and AGDQ 2022 Online managed to continue that tradition. By the time AGDQ 2022 came to a close, the event successfully accrued a whopping $3.4 million in donations and then some. That's a new record not just for AGDQ, but Games Done Quick as a whole. According to a press release, AGDQ 2022, which streamed live on Twitch from January 9 to January 16, "continues the organization's pledge to safely continue fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic with online-only events." And much like prior online events, "AGDQ 2022 maintained the same kind of excitement and community spirit that viewers have come to expect from the speedrunning event."   A new record on multiple accounts Alongside the record donation total, AGDQ 2022 achieved anot...

Gamer Empire Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:34 PM
    

One of the many ways to increase the power of champions in RAID: Shadow Legends is to rank them up. Before you can rank up a champion, you need to have either champions of the same rank or chickens of the same rank. Chickens can be used as a substitute to champions when ranking up […]

The post RAID: Shadow Legends – How to Get Chickens: Use, Etc. appeared first on Gamer Empire.


Tabletop Gaming News Tuesday, January 18, 2022 6:00 PM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:00 PM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Tuesday, January 18, 2022 4:00 PM
    

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:44 PM
     Forza Horizon 5 features a variety of races in a myriad of environments and road conditions. In the Horizon, you will find yourself racing on either dry pavement or a dirt track. You might even race in tracks with a combination of both. If you have ever wondered which cars make up the Top 10 […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, January 18, 2022 4:40 PM
     Trading Pokemon is one of the most fun aspects of playing Pokemon games, and it is still a feature in Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu or Eevee. With trading, you can help your friends complete their Pokedex or vice versa! In this guide, you will learn how to do just that! Let's Go Trade! Before starting […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3:33 PM
     To help players of State of Survival figure out their strength, the developers introduced the Battle Power system. It measures everyone's combat potential based on various factors, and you can increase your ratings to score higher. Even so, not everyone knows how that's done. Whether you're new to State of Survival or want a refresher, […]

Pivotal Gamers Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3:02 PM
     Hello folks. We have another great giveaway from MMOBomb for Neverwinter. This is what they say. To celebrate the PC launch of Neverwinter Dragonbone Vale, MMOBomb and Perfect World Entertainment have partnered up to score YOU a Special Pack which includes an exclusive Heavy Mystic Nightmare mount! A few words about Neverwinter Neverwinter is a mythical name for every RPG fan, a place where legend...

MonsterVine Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3:46 PM
    

We're only a few weeks away from the release of OlliOlli World and I got the chance to check out a second preview build of the game. In case you've been out of the loop, OlliOlli is a side scrolling skateboarding game from Roll7, and OlliOlli World is not only the third entry in the […]

The post OlliOlli World Preview – Steezy Lyfe appeared first on MonsterVine.