Kotaku Saturday, February 19, 2022 2:00 PM  On November 16, 2021, a report was published that claimed Activision CEO Bobby Kotick was well aware of harassment happening within his company. It also alleged that he himself mistreated women, both inside and outside work. Now, new docs reveal that three days later, Xbox head Phil Spencer called Kotick and began… |
Kotaku Saturday, February 19, 2022 10:45 AM  Breakout PC action MMORPG Lost Ark was first released in South Korea all the way back in 2019. Only earlier this month was it finally released in the U.S. and Europe. It's quickly become one of the most popular games in the entire history of Steam, with over 1.3 million active players last weekend. It's currently the… |
PCGamesN Saturday, February 19, 2022 1:00 PM  The latest Cyberpunk 2077 player count is great news for the RPG as it rose this weekend to the highest it's been in over a year, thanks to the announcement and release of the game's big next-gen 1.5 patch. Nevertheless, it's only 4.5% of Cyberpunk 2077's concurrent player count peak from launch. Back in December 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 became the first single-player game ever on Steam to hit over a million concurrent players - a title the great cyberpunk game still holds, despite being knocked down to only the fifth-highest Steam player count peak by Lost Ark last week. That concurrent player count record still stands at 1,054,388, but those players quickly dropped off from Cyberpunk 2077 as they either completed it or got tired of it. Just a month later in January 2021, the game was under 50,000 players and still falling. Now, thanks to the 1.5 patch news, Cyberpunk is finally approaching these numbers again, hitting 48,202 players in the last 24 hours - or, 4.5% of its concurrent player count record. RELATED LINKS: Cyberpunk 2077 review, Cyberpunk 2077 lore & universe, Buy Cyberpunk 2077 |
PCGamesN Saturday, February 19, 2022 11:55 AM  Ubisoft is kicking off the seventh year of seasonal updates for Rainbow Six Siege with some of the most substantial additions the tactical shooter has received in years. There's the usual new operator - a Japanese defender called Azami - the first brand-new map since 2019, a new permanent game mode, a couple of operator reworks, and some long-awaited quality of life changes. We'll start with the new operator, Azami. Her unique gadget is the Kiba Barrier, a throwable kunai that releases a substance after impact, which then hardens to form a bulletproof disc with a radius that's more than big enough. She gets four of these, but they operate on a cooldown so you can't just throw them all at once in a last-ditch effort to deny the attacking team access to the bomb site. And, while these barriers are bulletproof, they can be destroyed with explosives and a few melee strikes. Azami is the first operator in Rainbow Six Siege who can repair or patch surfaces up after they've been breached, so her arrival is bound to usher in plenty of new tactics for the shooter's seemingly endless playbook. RELATED LINKS: Rainbow Six Siege Year 5 operators, Best Rainbow Six Siege operators, Play Rainbow Six Siege |
PCGamesN Saturday, February 19, 2022 11:48 AM  It seems like every day there's a new Doom mod that completely blows away our understanding of what Doom mods can achieve - from open-world apocalypse to Golden Axe. Now the Doom Shinobi mod threatens to add Doom to the best sword games on PC, as it turns the shooter into basically Ninja Gaiden 4. The new Doom Shinobi mod is out now and can be downloaded from ModDB. Creator edypagaza says they aimed "to bring and experience a new gameplay style for players" and they have definitely done just that. While there is some similarity to the third-person melee combat mod for Doom II, that's based more on weaponless hand-to-hand combat. Doom Shinobi, on the other hand, is all about awesome and ridiculous swordplay. The mod adds a traditional ninja blade, a ridiculous Final Fantasy VII-like broadsword, and throwing weapons like shurikens and kunai knives. Players can unleash multiple combo types and even magic powers against the demons. It really is quite insane. |
PCGamesN Saturday, February 19, 2022 10:05 AM  Warstride Challenges is a new FPS game with platformer and racer elements that the developer describes as a deliberate cross between Doom, Trackmania, and Super Meat Boy. Think that sounds too mad? You'll be able to find out for yourself on Monday. This combination of demon-slaying FPS with quick-thinking platformer and intense racing game is planned to be out this year in Steam Early Access. You may have come across it as Warcry Challenges, but developer Dream Powered Games recently decided to rebrand so there wouldn't be any confusion with the Warhammer series of the same name. The developer has revealed that the first public demo of the rechristened Warstride Challenges will be available as part of Steam Next Fest on Monday, February 21. This will consist of 10 of the game's 180+ challenges over eight unique levels, with asynchronous multiplayer that allows players to compete against each other for better times. Dream Powered even promises prizes for those that post the best time on the demo's challenger map. |
PCGamesN Saturday, February 19, 2022 9:43 AM  Amazon Games' newest action MMORPG, Lost Ark, features an array of exciting combat options and a complex class system that gives way to many specialities and unique abilities. Many of the challenges you'll face on your journey through Arkesia will rely on your ability to wield these skills, so we're taking a quick look at how to maximise your combat potential early on in the game. There's plenty to do in Lost Ark - from collecting pets to taking down enormous demons - but combat is something you'll want to have a handle on pretty early on, as it shapes your entire experience and progression through the game. You'll find yourself slashing through plenty of dungeons in the main quest, but even side stories can have their own battles to overcome. Combat can also reward you handsomely for your skills, with loot drops and gear upgrades available following the demise of most bosses. Here, we take a quick look at combat from all the main angles, and give you a few tips to keep your edge. RELATED LINKS: Best MMOS and MMORPGs on PC, Upcoming PC games, Best fantasy games on PC |
Twinfinite Saturday, February 19, 2022 3:51 PM FromSoftware is close to finally releasing the massively anticipated Elden Ring, and today an extensive new trailer was released. The post Elden Ring Gets Extensive Overview Trailer Showing Gameplay, Features, & Plenty of Monsters appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Saturday, February 19, 2022 2:59 PM Today Ubisoft revealed the next operation coming to Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege titled "Demon Veil" and featuring a Japanese operator. The post Rainbow Six Siege Operator Azami Revealed With Operation Demon Veil to Kick Off Year 7 appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Saturday, February 19, 2022 2:29 PM Today Atlus hosted a livestream bound to the mysterious "Soul Hackers" teaser revealed a few days ago showcasing a few interesting pictures. The post Mysterious "Soul Hackers" Stream by Atlus Teases Character, Tokyo, and R1 Button appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Siliconera Saturday, February 19, 2022 3:00 PM
The Sword & Shield: Brilliant Stars expansion of the Pokemon Trading Card Game brings together a lot of experiments and ideas into one set. So what Brilliant Stars cards are most enticing? Here are our picks for the coolest, cutest, and most interesting of the bunch! (As well as a few that might see serious play.) The coolest Brilliant Stars cardsIt's hard not to bring up the new VSTAR cards, as they're flashy and powerful! Like previous efforts in the card game to bring evolution back to powerful two-prize creatures, VSTAR pals really ramp up the damage. The special thing: a one-time-use attack or ability. Their most recent counterpart, VMAX, show up here too. Cards like Kingler VMAX really do look… I mean impressive, though sometimes in a way that's hard to decipher what's going on. Still! When they're played, they get a "whooooa" before the "wait, huh?" As for the premium stuff? Yeah, gold Arceus VSTAR is cool, but the ultra-rare Single Strike Urshifu VMAX and Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX are our favorites. The yellow-and-black color scheme and cool outlines really make them stand out. The most interesting Brilliant Stars cardsWhile the Pokemon Trading Card Game remains plagued with balance issues that make most cards forever unplayable, it's nice to see efforts to mitigate that when they happen. The latest? Double Turbo Energy. Double Colorless has been a staple of the game for years, largely because it was so good! Too good, some might say? So this new version adds a cost: reduced damage. It mirrors the "agile style" in Pokemon Legends Arceus, so it works from a flavor perspective! And it still might be situationally useful, when you can catch an opponent off-guard by attacking one turn earlier. The new Empoleon is a fun way to play a Stage 2 card without, you know, the usual hassle. If it's in the discard pile and your hand's empty, you can put it on the bench and draw three cards. It could be fun for decks designed to sift through cards quickly.
The cutest Brilliant Stars cardsThere are a ton of Trainer Gallery cards with really impressive art. Our favorites? Eevee romping around Bill's place is fun, and each of its evolutions are fairly charming too. But cards don't have to be rare to be cute! Like Piplup building a little snow-pal, or Minccino doing some dusting. Shinx playing with its tail is also quite charming. And since the Bidoof's Big Stand short, we're especially susceptible to the cuteness of the new Bidoof card. The most meta-relevant Brilliant Stars cardsEntei V might see some competitive play! The fire legendary lets you draw an extra card every turn while it's in the lead spot, and a decent low-energy attack makes it a solid early-game option. And if you're not running Fire? Raikou V does the same thing in Electric. (Looking for the Suicune to complete the set? It appeared in Evolving Skies.) As always, creatures that can use a bench slot to replace a trainer for the turn are nice! So Lumineon V letting you search for the Supporter you need could see some use. Similarly, you do have to evolve it, but Bibarel lets you draw up to five cards every turn and could be worth the effort to protect it. Tornadus rounds out the set with an ability that forces the opponent to swap their Active Pokemon. The latest Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion, Sword & Shield: Brilliant Stars, launches February 25, 2022. The post Pokemon TCG: The Best Brilliant Stars Cards appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, February 19, 2022 1:30 PM
Jolyne Cujoh will join the roster of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Last Survivor on March 9, 2022. That is the same date that the Stone Ocean challenge event will start. Fairouz Ai will reprise her role as the sixth Jojo for the game iteration. [Thanks, Famitsu!] In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Last Survivor, Jolyne will be a close-quarters combatant. Her Stand, Stone Free, will attack from a distance, as well as use its strings like a grappling hook. Jolyne can use her Stone Hook ability to attach her string to a building or object and jump towards them. This will help her to cover long distances very quickly, which is helpful for either escaping or going on the offensive. String Jail creates a web of strings in front of her. Enemies who touch the strings will become temporarily immobile. Additionally, it stuns enemies so you can use String Jail to cancel any activated skills. Due to these powerful effects, Jolyne can only deploy String Jail twice per match. You can see Jolyne's skills in action below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In7FfauHWLs JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Last Survivor is available to play in Japanese arcades. Jolyne Cujoh will appear in the game starting March 9, 2022. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean is out now on Netflix. The post Jolyne Strings Up Opponents in JJBA: Last Survivor appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, February 19, 2022 12:00 PM
Square Enix will allow users to once again register for the Final Fantasy XIV free trial very soon. Users will be able to register starting February 22, 2022, according to the official Final Fantasy XIV Twitter account. The trial grants users access to A Realm Reborn and the Heavensward expansion up to level 60. Registration for the free trial was temporarily suspended in December 2021. This was due to congestion issues following the release of the Endwalker expansion. In July 2020, FFXIV Producer Naoki Yoshida revealed changes to the original free trial. This included the addition of the Heavensward expansion, and for players to reach level 60. Additionally, the inclusion of the Heavensward expansion into the free trial opened up several Job Classes to players. With the addition, players could pick from the Dark Knight, Machinist and Astrologian Job Classes upon reaching the Heavensward area. Players can also make an Au Ra character through the free trial. However, Square Enix has not announced any plans to add further expansions beyond Heavensward into the free trial. Final Fantasy XIV is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. The Final Fantasy XIV free trial will return on February 22, 2022. Information regarding Final Fantasy XIV Patch 6.1 will appear through a Letter from the Producer Live on March 4, 2022. The post Final Fantasy XIV Free Trial to Resume Soon appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, February 19, 2022 11:00 AM
Both parts of the Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Goku Experience is out now. The new footage features cutscenes from the series' Frieza arc, recreating iconic moments from the original anime in 3D CG. The video also gives fans a look at some of the arc's main battles, as well as the game's map traversal mechanics. The full video appeared today, during the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2022 live stream. The footage starts off with the arrival of Frieza and the Ginyu Force, followed by Goku himself. The first part focuses on Goku and his friends battling against the members of the Ginyu Force. The second part covers their battles against Frieza and his various transformations. The Frieza arc was playable upon release back in 2020. Both videos are available to watch on the official Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour YouTube channel with English subtitles. You can check out the two Dragon Ball Z Kakarot Goku Experience videos below. https://youtu.be/R7PPTtX16Bc https://youtu.be/Qly2u14EEbM In addition to the gameplay footage, the live stream also featured information about various other titles in the Dragon Ball series such as Dragon Ball: The Breakers and Dragon Ball FighterZ. Furthermore, it also showcased merchandise such as figures. Bandai Namco also hosted battle events in-game and showed game producers playing older games such as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is immediately available on the Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The post Dragon Ball Z Kakarot Goku Experience Revisits Frieza Arc appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, February 19, 2022 10:00 AM
During a Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live broadcast, Producer Naoki Yoshida addressed the ongoing development of the female Hrothgar. And while there's no exact timetable for when players will be able to play a female Hrothgar in FFXIV, he said that the team has made some progress. As it stands, the art team has drawn a plethora of concepts, and two have been selected. However, Yoshida stated that it will be some time before the female Hrothgar will be playable in FFXIV. Additionally, Yoshida reminded viewers that he had initially stated that the female Viera and male Hrothgar were intended to be the final races added into Final Fantasy XIV. He stated that the female Hrothgar is the final race he would like to do. Square Enix also shared other information during the Letter from the Producer Live. This included information on a major graphics update that will appear sometime during Patch 7.0. Yoshida also confirmed that the team has no plans to drop PlayStation 4 support. He guaranteed support through the 7.0 expansion. Additionally, there will be some updates coming to the Trust system. Through Patch 6.1, players will be able to utilize the Trust system in A Realm Reborn duties. Final Fantasy XIV is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. The post FFXIV Female Hrothgar Development Progressing, But Will Take Time appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, February 19, 2022 9:00 AM
Square Enix released a roadmap for the upcoming FFXIV patch 6.1 to 6.5 updates. In addition to the main scenario updates, Square Enix plans to release a new adventure featuring Hildibrand. Also planned are the Crystalline Conflict PvP mode, alliance raids, tribe quests, and more. Further information about the 6.1 update will appear in an upcoming stream in March. The company outlined the planned roadmap for each patch during the Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer LXVIII stream. Major content includes main scenario updates, the "Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures", and a new "Tataru's Grand Endeavor" side quest series. All three updates will span across patches 6.1 to 6.5. While not listed during the stream, Glamour-related updates will also appear starting patch 6.1. Furthermore, each patch will feature various other patch-specific additions. On the topic of release timing, Producer Naoki Yoshida said that there will be four months between major patches; two weeks longer than previous updates. There will also be one extra week added for releases in the summer and New Year's holidays. You can check out the details on each patch via the list below. Patch 6.1
Patch 6.2 will feature the continued implementation of the Trust system to other main scenario dungeons. Notably, the patch will also include the addition of Island Sanctuary content. Yoshida said that the Island content will be "quite large-scale". Additionally, the "Criterion" dungeon will feature varying difficulties depending on how many players are participating. Patch 6.2
Patch 6.3
As Patches 6.4 and 6.5 are still in development, Yoshida noted that the team will likely add more content as plans are solidified. Square Enix will provide more information and updates in the near future. Patch 6.4/6.5
You can also check out the patch details in the screenshots below. [gallery ids="917323,917326,917324,917325,917321,917322" link="file"] Final Fantasy XIV is immediately available on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. The post FFXIV Patch 6.1 to 6.5 Roadmap Released appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Saturday, February 19, 2022 1:00 PM Call the robo-exterminator! Here's a literal blast from the past — This week's Arcade Archives entry is quite the memory... The post Beware the robo-spiders in Namco classic Dangerous Seed appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Saturday, February 19, 2022 11:00 AM This is my Whip. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Vampire Survivors has really taken 2022 by... The post What your favorite Vampire Survivors weapon says about you appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Saturday, February 19, 2022 9:00 AM Out of the ashes of my youth We're now in the era where April Fools jokes can become real. And... The post Review: Sol Cresta appeared first on Destructoid. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, February 19, 2022 1:00 PM Here are our thoughts on Triangle Strategy's latest demo The post Triangle Strategy Prologue Demo- Hands On Preview appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |