May 05, 14:00


Kotaku Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:48 PM
    

A studio best known for blockbuster games about shooting aliens now increasingly has a reputation for not taking shit from the people who play them. Creator of Halo and Destiny 2, Bungie, took fire from angry gamers this week, for coming out in support of abortion rights. Instead of flinching like so many other gaming…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:50 PM
    

Five years after its release, the Nintendo Switch is still dutifully chugging along. Compared to its supercomputer competitors, Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Sony's PlayStation 5, it's by no means the most powerful place to play games today. But it's still the most versatile, allowing you to play console-quality games…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:25 PM
    

The Stanley Parable was a cultural phenomenon. It was an overnight hit, turning its two primary developers, William Pugh and Davey Wreden, into indie millionaires, almost driving them apart, and feeling like an ending to the so-called Indiepocalypse of the preceding few years. But this was 2013, almost a decade ago.…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:10 AM
    

Hangar 13 studio head Haden Blackman is leaving the Mafia III maker after seven years, 2K Games announced Wednesday. The publisher wrote in an email to staff that the former LucasArts veteran is going to "pursue his passion at a new endeavor." Kotaku understands that the move comes with a new Mafia game very early in…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:45 AM
    

When you hear the air alerts in the capital city of Ukraine, game developer Oleksandr Sienin told Kotaku, you make a judgment call. Maybe you wait in a safe place for the suggested 30 to 60 minutes minutes after the alerts go off, because you know that they denote missiles that could potentially hit Kyiv.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:15 AM
    

Busted challenges. A dysfunctional battle pass. A bunch of ultimately ineffectual "fixes." A cacophonous uproar of player feedback, much of which isn't positive. It may sound like the launch-window era of Halo Infinite, but no: This is Halo Infinite today, six months after its launch, during the first week of its…

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PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:14 PM
     New Valorant classes aren't off the table, Riot says

Riot may consider adding new classes in Valorant, but only if the development team believes they have anything useful to add. Agent designer Jay Watford (u/TheAeroplane13) made the comments during a Reddit ask-me-anything session Riot held a few days after Episode 4 Act III launched. Don't expect new classes to start popping up in the near future, though. Watford says the team takes a number of factors into consideration before deciding on any changes to the game.

"We're definitely open to finding new classes in Valorant, but we want to make sure that those classes are both healthy for the game and contribute to the tactical space in unique and meaningful ways," he says. " If / when we find an agent that expands what's possible and checks those boxes, we wouldn't want them to be restricted to fit into the classes they currently exists [sic]."

Watford went on to ask fans what they would want from a new class, and while some suggested new tanks – an idea which others quickly shot down – and support classes, one of the more popular suggestions was an 'Infiltrator' class built around stealth.

RELATED LINKS: Valorant characters: all agents and abilities, Valorant tier list, Valorant crosshair codes

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:12 PM
     MMO survival game The Day Before delayed to 2023

It currently sits atop Steam's most wishlisted games chart, but an engine change has now seen survival game The Day Before delayed to March 2023. Developer Fntastic say via IGN that its open-world MMO will be moving to Epic's new Unreal Engine 5 tech, but that this will mean a delay from the previously planned June 21 release date. The Day Before is set in a post-pandemic America and pits players against zombie-like infected humans and other survivors.

Fntastic's statement mentions its appreciation for the fan support for the game, and speaks to its desire to fulfil expectations with Unreal Engine 5's newer technology. The devs say that "the transition to a more advanced and adapted open worlds engine will make the gameplay of The Day Before even more fantastic." Given the already impressive looks of the game's preview trailers, which include a 4K showcase with ray tracing, players will be eager to see how the transition to Unreal Engine 5 can benefit the visuals too.

The survival MMO game tasks players with surviving among the ruins of a post-pandemic America. They must scavenge for resources, weapons, ammunition, and vehicles among the abandoned houses, skyscrapers, and malls. The Day Before leans into realistic weapon designs, and offers a range of player weapon customisation options through crafting systems and attachments.

RELATED LINKS: Best PC survival games, Best PC open-world games, Best PC MMOs

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:43 PM
     Minecraft fan makes amazing Star Wars build, wins contest

Minecraft builds are a large part of the community experience in everyone's favourite game about punching down trees. There are many incredible things to see, from the functional, like this YouTuber who turned Pac-Man into a horror show, to the more traditional, like these stunning Civilisation VI cutscene replications. While a lot of these are simply unbound creativity, sometimes Mojang runs competitions to help inspire players.

The latest build challenge was all about Star Wars, with Mojang tasking players to recreate incredible things from the universe of Jar Jar Binks with blocks. The winner of this competition is someone called Ashwood, who recreated the Vuutun Palaa, a Lucrehulk-Class battleship that was in charge of the droids during the Naboo invasion in Episode 1: secretly the best Star Wars film.

Ashwood, who goes by Gumliii on Reddit, explains that the build doesn't currently have an interior, but they are considering it. Gumliii has made a few Star Wars-themed builds that you can see on their Planet Minecraft page. They also commented saying that they'll be uploading this one there so that you can download it and mess around with it. Just be aware that it has a diameter of around 1,300 blocks and uses the full height limit of 383 blocks too. It's big.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:55 PM
     The best webcams in 2022

Investing in the best webcam you can is a sure-fire way to improve your streaming or home office setup. While they're often viewed as a gaming PC peripheral, a standalone camera will often run circles around the built-in offerings found in the best gaming laptop.

Whatever the best webcam for your needs is, there are plenty of options available to you. While cameras from big-name brands like Elgato, Razer, and Logitech will typically offer the best specs such as high resolution and frame rates, there's great value picks to be had from lesser-known boutique manufacturers.

If you've money to spare, a DSLR camera will offer the highest quality experience, but for everyone else a webcam capable of 1080p video capture at 60 frames per second will do wonderfully and be decidedly cheaper. Some devices even support HDR, but the only streaming service that currently supports high-dynamic range is YouTube Gaming, so keep that in mind if you're looking for something for Twitch or Zoom calls.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:17 PM
     Grab 37% off the Razer Iskur X gaming chair on Amazon

The Razer Iskur X is one of the best gaming chairs on the market, and it proves the company can do more than just peripherals. Sure, repurposing old dining room furniture as a gaming PC throne is cheaper, but it won't save you from back strain after lengthy gaming sessions. Thankfully, it is possible to pick up a premium gaming chair without breaking the bank, as the Iskur X is currently under $250 on Amazon.

Over on Amazon US, the Razer Iskur X gaming chair is down from $399 to $249.99, thanks to a 37% discount. Whether you're upgrading your old seat or just finally deciding not to sit on something that isn't even furniture, this chair's ergonomic boons should make a difference. Fully adjustable fully recline, tilt, and height settings help promote better posture, and high-density foam cushions ensure comfort levels that will help keep you in the game for longer.

If your gaming chairs tend to retire early, then the durability of the Razer Iskur X's multi-layered leatherette may surprise you, and its steel frame will help keep it away from the local scrapyard. Of course, the seat's substance is also matched with style, as the chair's green stitching and bold logo stand out without having to add racing stripes and other gamer gear tropes.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:05 PM
     Ayaneo OLED handheld gaming PC blends Steam Deck with Switch

05/05/2022 - The Ayaneo Air will release "mid-May", and the company has now shared some game performance expectations.

Ayaneo has announced yet another portable gaming PC, and the company claims it to be the "world's first ultra-thin OLED Windows handheld". Announced via Twitter, the Ayaneo Air is set to be cheaper and lighter than its predecessors, meaning it could compete with both the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.

According to a new blog post, the Ayaneo Air handheld gaming PC will aim to weigh less than the Nintendo Switch OLED model, which comes in at 420g. The device is also set to match the versatile console in size, with the company expressing it'll be "light and easy to carry." The portable's own organic screen boasts an NTSC 109% colour gamut, bringing the vibrancy of the screen tech to a Windows machine without hooking up the best gaming monitor.

Ayaneo hasn't given too much away about its handheld gaming PC's innards just yet, but it does say it'll use an AMD APU. The device's "more beautiful price" suggests it might use a Zen 3 chip, rather than a Ryzen 6000 solution. That said, we don't actually know how cheap the Ayaneo Air will be, so perhaps we'll see a spec and price combo that place it in a different league.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:48 AM
     Genshin Impact free primogems as compensation for 2.7 delay

Hoyoverse has announced a compensation package for Genshin Impact free primogems along with fragile resin, hero's wit, mystic enhancement ore, and mora to all players as compensation for the delay of the upcoming Genshin Impact 2.7 update. The next major update for the free-to-play game currently has no set release date, and Hoyoverse has already implemented a Genshin Impact Ayaka banner extension in the meantime.

Travellers who have reached adventure rank five or above by May 11 will be eligible for this compensation package, which will be handed out every Wednesday at 4am server time. The package will be sent through the in-game mail system, and must be claimed within 30 days and before the end of version 2.6.

Each weekly compensation package includes a fairly sizeable amount of currency and items. The bundle consists of 400 primogems, one fragile resin, seven hero's wit, 16 mystic enchantment ore, and 120,000 mora for each week of the delay period. Hoyoverse notes that this weekly compensation will be adjusted for the final week if the 2.7 version update launches less than a week after the previous weekly compensation.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:07 AM
     One of the next free games from Epic Games is a grand Viking adventure

It's Thursday, and you know what that means – another round of free PC games from the Epic Games Store. This week, you can grab the turn-based strategy game Terraforming Mars, and as ever, Epic has revealed next week's freebies, too. Jotun: Valhalla Edition is a gorgeous, hand-drawn Viking game about Norse mythology. Prey, on the other hand, is a sci-fi thriller from Arkane Studios.

You'll be able to grab Jotun and Prey from the usual Epic Games Store promotion page on Thursday, May 12 at 8am PDT / 11am EDT / 4pm BST. They'll be there for one full week, at which point they'll be replaced by another freebie. As always, you'll 'purchase' the games at a price of zero dollars, and they'll remain in your library just like any game you might pay money for.

The store page describes Jotun as "a hand-drawn action-exploration game set in Norse mythology. In Jotun, you play Thora, a Viking warrior who died an inglorious death and must prove herself to the Gods to enter Valhalla. Impress the Gods!"


PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:01 AM
     Nvidia RTX 3090 Ti might fall behind Radeon RX 6950 XT GPU

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti may be one of the best graphics cards, but the AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT could potentially snatch its crown. Leaked benchmarks shared by Wccftech suggest that the red team's RX 6000 refresh can outpace the current-gen titan, and its 6750 XT and 6650 XT counterparts also pack a punch.

According to the benchmarks, the RTX 3090 Ti falls behind the Radeon RX 6950 XT, as the AMD GPU achieves a Time Spy graphics score of 22,209. Nvidia's frontrunner achieves 20,855 when put through the same test, while the 6900 XT only manages to hit 18,463 points. In theory, this means the AMD newcomer is 6% faster than the green team's flagship, but we'll have to wait for additional benchmarks to surface before knowing if this is truly the case.

The early benchmarking tests also put AMD's 6750 XT and 6650 XT through their paces, giving us an idea of what to expect from the RX 6000 series refresh. The 6750 XT seemingly sits somewhere between the RTX 3070 and RTX 3070 Ti in terms of performance, while the 6650 XT ranks above the RTX 3090 Ti. However, it's worth noting that in 3DMark Port Royal tests, Nvidia manages to come out top across the board, something that's attributed to the RTX 3000 range's ray tracing cores.

RELATED LINKS: RTX 4000 - everything we know, GeForce Now RTX 3080 review, Best graphics card

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 AM
     Apex Legends' Newcastle is a

The Apex Legends Season 13 release date is just around the corner, and while we've already gotten a pretty good idea of what incoming legend Newcastle is capable of in combat, developer Respawn has now pulled back the curtain to reveal more about the battle royale game's new support hero, who has led a bit of a double life.

EA confirmed leaked rumours that Newcastle is Bangalore's long-lost brother Jackson, a former IMC pilot who was shot down and presumed dead. Since then, Jackson has hidden his identity, starting a new life and a family in a quiet town called Harris Valley. The thing is, Jackson isn't the real Newcastle - he's assumed the mantle of Harris Valley's hometown hero after a fateful night in which Jackson discovered some shady loan sharks roughing up the real Newcastle, who never could quite make it into the games as a true legend.

Newcastle's design reflects his layered past - there's the knight-style armour to reflect his gallant role as the defender of his hometown, explains Cristina Ferez, a lead concept artist at Respawn. "We wanted to lean heavily into the superhero aspects, but as the process started, we started doing some sketches with some more medieval references, and we wanted to keep some of those there."

RELATED LINKS: Apex Legends characters guide, Apex Legends skins, Apex Legends map guide

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:37 AM
     Dota 2 7.31c patch: new update nerfs Primal Beast before Major

Dota 2's new patch is live, and includes several hero buffs and nerfs ahead of the MOBA game's upcoming Stockholm Major tournament. Dota 2 7.31c update nerfs the new hero Primal Beast and long-time favourite Tiny among several other meta-dominant characters. This update will be used for the tournament in Stockholm, which is the first major of Dota 2's pro circuit season.

A total of 41 heroes have seen tweaks in 7.31c, with a focus on nerfs to some of the heroes who have looked strongest in the recent meta. First and foremost is recent arrival Primal Beast, who, along with nerfs to his Uproar and Trample abilities, has also most notably had a sound queue added to his Onslaught ability that can be heard through fog of war. This should give enemy players ample warning that he is channelling his devastating charge attack from the shadows.

Also heavily impacted is rock giant Tiny, who has been one of the game's hardest hitters. His Tree Grab now deals less damage to buildings, his Grow damage multiplier has been scaled back slightly, and his 'grow damage with tree' talent has been moved from level 15 to level 20. These changes should make him a little less impactful overall and slightly slower to reach his full potential.

RELATED LINKS: Dota 2 heroes, Dota 2 custom games, Which MOBA is best?

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:20 AM
     Genshin Impact 2.7 release date, delay, and livestream

Want to know about the Genshin Impact 2.7 release date? Despite the delay, we already have enough information on the next update to give a brief overview of what's coming up next. The devs at Hoyoverse have even officially confirmed two new Genshin Impact characters, both of which are rumoured to join the open-world game whenever the new update lands.

Datamined information for Genshin Impact 2.7 update has already appeared online, giving us a glimpse of Yelan and Kuki Shinobu's abilities. We also know what Yelan's ascension materials are likely to be - check out our guide to gather everything you need ahead of time to level up her talents immediately.

Most of the leaks in the Genshin Impact 2.7 update focus on the new characters, with more information to come over the next few weeks. We've put together a guide on everything that's being talked about currently, and we'll update it as more information comes to light. Here's everything we know about the Genshin Impact 2.7 update so far.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:15 AM
     Overwatch 2 tier list May 2022: top meta picks for every role

If you're looking for an Overwatch 2 tier list to help you gain a competitive edge in the multiplayer game's beta, then we've got you covered. With 33 heroes to pick from across three Overwatch 2 roles, starting out in Blizzard's FPS game can be pretty daunting, and it's not always easy to tell how strong your chosen character is when you're constantly coming up against different counters and team comps.

First off, some housekeeping. Our Overwatch 2 tier list isn't divided up into specific roles, but we will have a hero from each role represented in every bracket. S tier is the highest category, it represents heroes who are at the pinnacle of Overwatch 2's meta and don't require specific team comps or strategies to dominate with. A tier picks aren't necessarily worse than their S tier counterparts, but they're generally harder to use and get the best out of. B, C, and D tier follow suit, representing the lower echelons of Overwatch's roster.

Of course, just because we say a hero is a must-pick, it doesn't mean you can't do a better job with your preferred main character, but most players should be able to look at this tier list for a quick snapshot of who to play and why. Join us we rank every hero in the game, from the titanic tanks to squishy supports.

RELATED LINKS: Overwatch 2 heroes, Overwatch 2 release date, Overwatch 2 tier list

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:21 AM
     Best free Steam games

What are the best free Steam games? If you are bored and penniless, you don't need to fear a gaming drought. Steam is full of games to play without spending a penny (no, not like that). What's more, many of them are very good indeed: games that are just as much fun to play as their full-price, wallet-destroying siblings.

In recent years, free games have become the norm, with some even overtaking paid-for triple-A tiles as the leaders of the PC gaming hobby. Take a quick look at Steam's most-played list and you'll see that a significant proportion of the biggest games in the world happen to be free-to-play.

So, because we desperately care about the health of your bank account - and honestly worry about how much money you're spending on your nasty gaming habit - we want to help you find all the free games worth your time. Below you'll find a bounty of free Steam games, all available to download and play right now. What are you waiting for?

RELATED LINKS: Play War Thunder for free, Tank games, Best WW2 games

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:50 AM
     What is the current and next Genshin Impact banner?

Genshin Impact banners adhere to a pretty regular schedule. Each update arrives with a new banner that lasts around three weeks, and after it expires, it's followed by a second banner which also lasts roughly three weeks, at which point it's update time once again.

Wondering what the next Genshin Impact banner is? Even though we hear rumours of new Genshin Impact characters arriving in forthcoming updates, we won't know their exact release date until we know which banner they will be a part of, and whether it'll be the first or second banner in the update. Occasionally, banners don't stick to this schedule - most notably, update 1.3 had three two-week banners, so that Hu Tao's banner didn't cross over with the Chinese New Year.

Typically, each limited character banner - or Event Wish - contains a five-star character, and three four-star characters. There's also a Weapon banner - Epitome Invocation - which runs alongside each character banner, and features different weapons each time. Here's everything you need to know about the current and upcoming Genshin Impact banners.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:56 AM
     Starfield cities – all known locations

So you want to know about Starfield's cities? If there's one thing we do know about Bethesda's highly anticipated RPG game - and to be honest, we know very little right now - is that there will be cities. How many exactly is something we won't find out until closer to the Starfield release date, but there have been some official drips of information on three potential locations so far.

Neon, Akila, and New Atlantis are three Starfield cities that have all been given 'location insight' developer videos. These short vignettes are light on in-game footage, but do feature Starfield design director Emil Pagliarulo giving viewers some insight into each city, what the settlement's primary purpose is, along with some backstory.

These three videos were all released on August 27, 2021, and there hasn't been any other official information regarding additional Starfield locations - cities or otherwise - since then. We're hoping we might hear more during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase on June 12. For now, here's everything we know about Starfield cities.

RELATED LINKS: Starfield release date, Best space games, Elder Scrolls 6 release date

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:42 AM
     AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT – release date, price, specs, and benchmarks

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT will likely rank among the best graphics cards, and the flagship RDNA 3 GPU is set to compete with Nvidia's next-gen frontrunner, the RTX 4090. While both the RTX 4000 series and the new Intel Arc Alchemist graphics range will also occupy the gaming PC battlefield this year, the red team's contender may still come out swinging, especially if you're planning on upgrading your AMD Radeon RX 6900 build.

The prospect of a new enthusiast-grade Radeon RX 7900 XT graphics card is exciting, but ongoing component shortages continue to make PC gaming expensive as a hobby. Despite this, industry data suggests that both Nvidia and AMD GPUs are getting cheaper, meaning we could see a return to normal pricing by the time top tier RDNA 3 cards enter the fold.

It's set to be an exciting year for gaming PC tech, but wading through an endless sea of leaks and predictions isn't to everyone's taste. So, to help make the next-gen graphics card situation clearer, we've gathered everything we know about the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, including its potential release date, price, specs, and benchmarks.

RELATED LINKS: Zen 4 CPUs - everything we know, RDNA 3 GPUs - everything we know, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:35 AM
     AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT might be the first PCIe 5.0 GPU

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT could be the first next-gen graphics card to use PCIe 5.0, something that might give the red team an edge against the RTX 4090. The information was discovered within GFX11 architecture patches by Kepler_L2, which indicates the flagship RDNA 3 GPU will arrive with support for the new standard.

According to Kepler_L2's findings, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT should pack PCIe 5.0 x16 lane compatibility, meaning it can take full advantage of the best gaming motherboards on the market. The upcoming GPU connector features twice the bandwidth of the PCIe 4.0, a boon that may enhance the capabilities of the RDNA 3 graphics card.

AMD hasn't officially announced its RDNA 3 PCIe 5.0 compatibility, but a recent earnings call revealed that the standard is coming to its AMD Zen 4 CPUs. Providing the company's next best graphics card ends up supporting the tech, it'll mean that both the upcoming Ryzen 7000 series processors and Radeon GPUs will push the gaming PC scene forward in late 2022.

RELATED LINKS: Zen 4 CPUs - everything we know, RDNA 3 GPUs - everything we know, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:28 AM
     How to unlock the H4 Blixen in Warzone Pacific

Want to unlock the H4 Blixen in Warzone Pacific? Last season saw the introduction of the Armaguerra 43 to the bulging roster of the best SMGs in Warzone Pacific, but it wasn't good enough to pip either the MP40 or Welgun off the top spots. However, that's all in the past, as the start of Call of Duty Vanguard and Warzone Season 3 means new guns for the popular battle royale game.

So far, players have got their grubby mitts on the Nikita AVT assault rifle and M1916 marksman rifle, and they will soon be able to unlock the H4 Blixen in Warzone Pacific. Sadly, we don't know much about the new SMG, with the only source being an official Call of Duty blog post. It describes the H4 Blixen as a "blowback SMG" that uses "a 9 x 19 mm cartridge", sharing "some design techniques with the Sten and PPSh-41".

Like the Armaguerra 43, we'll have to wait for the H4 Blixen until the mid-season update. However, there's still plenty to look forward to until then, namely the introduction of Godzilla and King Kong during the Warzone Operation Monarch limited-time event, which is coming very soon.


PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:25 AM
     GTA Online weekly update boosts business battles

It's Thursday, which means the GTA Online weekly update is upon us once again. Rockstar Games will be posting the official patch notes later today, but as the update is already live we have all the key details for you right here.

The go-to event for money and reputation this week is the business battles, which are offering triple the usual in-game cash and reputation point rewards. These take place in freemode, and see players competing to steal cargo for their nightclub warehouses. Players can also net double the normal cash and reputation rewards for completing RC time trials, RC bandito races, and Ron missions.

Those looking to party will benefit from a 30% discount on nightclubs, along with both storage and garage space. You can also get your crew there in style with 50% off the festival bus. Players after a new set of wheels can net this week's GTA Online Prize Ride, the Itali GTB sports car, for finishing first in street races five days in a row. If you're feeling especially lucky, you can instead try to win the GTA Online podium car, the Comet Safari.

RELATED LINKS: GTA 5 mods, GTA 6, Buy GTA V

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:24 AM
     Warhammer 40k: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters review – slick strategy

Warhammer 40k: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters is a grand, detail-rich take on turn-based strategy in the magisterial nihilism of Games Workshop's grimdark universe. It's a game of stoic post-humans in preposterous shoulder pads - the Grey Knights. Like the seminal aggro-rave troupe The Prodigy, the Grey Knights are absolutely always outnumbered, but somehow emerge victorious from a wash of corrupted viscera and chaos all the same. That really is where the comparisons with Liam Howlett & co end, though.

Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters is a strategy game that's just as much about repelling vast waves of a corrupting plague, as it is about careful resource management and Chapter politicking. There's a lot of XCOM to it, and more recently Gears Tactics, but truthfully it dives so deep into the minutiae of Dreadnoughts, Inquisitors, and a culture built around religious zealotry and cybernetics that it can't help but feel distinct.

So the story goes, a Chaos plague known as the Bloom is ravaging nearby planets, the work of Nurgle himself, and that proves enough for an Inquisitor named Vakir to commandeer your ship and start calling the shots. And after a few battles, you'll probably have no complaints with that. This Bloom can do one.


PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:56 PM
     Best VR headset in 2022

The future is now, or at least it feels like it when donning one of the best VR headsets on the market today. Despite the infancy of the technology, games like Half-Life: Alyx, Beat Saber, and Rez Infinite are proving that virtual reality experiences can confident sit among the best PC games.

Choosing the best VR headset seems simple on the surface, but there are industry changes in motion that could complicate venturing into virtual reality. For starters, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has ditched its iconic Oculus Quest branding in favour of a new Meta Quest label. This means upcoming devices like the Oculus Quest 3 will likely with a metaverse themed name, rather than the moniker we've come to love.

Of course, Meta isn't the only player within the VR space, as HTC and Valve are also in the running. Each headset contributes to immersive gaming in its own way, so it's important to consider the specs, price, and drawbacks of each device. To help you get on your virtual feet, we've tested a bunch of PC VR headsets in an attempt to make the murky waters of the metaverse a little clearer.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 7:45 AM
     Fortnite tank locations – how to disable them

Want to know where to find the Fortnite tank locations? Chapter 3 Season 2 is all about the full-scale Imagined Order invasion. They mean business, bringing an arsenal of new technology to the battle royale game, including siege cannons and airships. They've also got tanks, a new type of vehicle capable of unleashing salvos of high-velocity shells. To make matters worse, we're prevented from building structures - at least for the time being - so any opponent driving a tank is a deadly adversary.

So where do Tanks spawn in Fortnite, and how do you disable them? The tank spawn locations are easy to find throughout the Fortnite map, and the best place to look for them is inside territory controlled by the Imagined Order, within the red lines. Once you've found a tank, you'll want to know how to use it; the UI that appears when you enter the tank is slightly confusing at first, and it'll take some time to get used to.

If you're having trouble controlling a Fortnite tank, you've come to the right place. We jumped into the hot seat to get to grips with the Fortnite tank's controls, so think of us as your driving instructor for these colossal war machines. We'll also tell you how to eliminate an opponent driving a tank to level the playing field as quickly as possible.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 7:19 AM
     Windows 11 preview could break your Microsoft Store apps

If you're a proud member of the Windows Insider Program, you might want to hang fire on the latest Windows 11 preview update. Spotted by Bleedingcomputer, Microsoft warns that installing KB5012643 OS build is causing hiccups for .NET Framework 3.5 store apps, and some programs could fail to open after updating.

Microsoft confirmed the Windows 11 preview update stumbles on its health dashboard, stating that "some .NET Framework 3.5 apps might have issues or might fail to open," after installing KB5012643, the latest early access build available to Windows Insiders. To mitigate any potential problems and disruption, the company suggests uninstalling the build using "view update history" on the operating system.

If you're hellbent on using the latest Windows 11 preview build, Microsoft also suggests re-enabling .NET Framework 3.5 features using a workaround. Opting for this fix rather than a rollback should enable you to use the latest beta version of the OS like normal. However, if you'd prefer to avoid any potential gaming PC performance issues, you might still want to jump back a step, especially if you regularly use Microsoft Store apps.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:05 AM
     Genshin Impact Ayaka banner extended after 2.7 update delay

Hoyoverse has posted an update on the Genshin Impact 2.6 events schedule which sees the Genshin Impact Ayaka banner extended indefinitely. Genshin Impact 2.7 still has no set release date after the open-world game's next update cycle was recently delayed. No official reason has been given for the delay, although COVID-19 restrictions in Shanghai, where Hoyoverse is based, could be causing issues. In the meantime, players will have more chances to wish for the sword-wielding five-star Cryo character Kamisato Ayaka.

There is currently no set end date for the current Genshin Impact banner 'The Heron's Court,' which also increases the chances of the four-star characters Rosaria, Razor, and Sayu. Hoyoverse says that the in-game countdown (which at the time of writing lists the banner lasting for 240 days) is not the definitive end date and that players should wait for future announcements for the banner's end.

The 'Epitome Invocation' weapon banner will be running for the same period as well, having also been extended indefinitely. This allows players the chance to wish for the event exclusive five-star weapons Mistsplitter Reforged and The Unforged. Much like The Heron's Court banner, this banner's end date will likely be adjusted once a fixed release date for Genshin Impact 2.7 is announced.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:08 PM
    

As a dedicated reader of readme files, I am delighted to learn of a Morrowind modder who added the family cat to comfort their children, who were afraid of mudcrabs. Stripes the cat arrives in Bethesda's fantasy RPG as a fierce protector to help fight those horrible creatures, and assure everyone that everything is okay. What a lovely little tale, and a lovely little cat. I downloaded the mod and took Stripes along on my own adventure, have a look.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:07 PM
    

LudoNarraCon returns from today until Monday for its fourth year of showcasing games that focus on story, story, story. The whole thing is being hosted digitally on Steam, and features 12 live panels, along with 'fireside chats' with some of the devs behind the festival's line-up. Some of those are games you might be familiar with, like Inkle's Overboard, Anomaly Games' The Fermi Paradox and Silverstring Media's Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between. Panelists and fireside chatters include Sam Barlow of Telling Lies renown, 80 Days' writer Meghna Jayanth, and Lucas "Return Of The Obra Dinn" Pope.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:02 PM
    

My friends and I have come full circle. We've gone from aggressively dunking on Fortnite to actively enjoying Fortnite. Why? Desperation. And its No Build mode. We sought a lighthearted battle royale having tried loads of others, and were suckered in by the prospect of a Fortnite that didn't feature people erecting defensive fortresses in milliseconds.

Incredibly, the game has delivered. I'm having fun - albeit with a tinge of unease. Not only does the game act like a blaring reminder that I've lost touch with the Top 40, it's also a bizarre metaverse where nothing is sacred.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Nate returns, and with him the suspicious smell of eggs and salt water. But also highjinks! We discuss toilet meals, revenge, and content theft of "It's me, Blorko!" and other instances of stolen Twitter valour. If valour exists on Twitter. This is, of course, all prelude to us talking about some of our favourite dungeons in video games - there are a lot! Shout out to Zelda, which Nate hasn't played, but also Hades, Elden Ring and - of course - Dungeon Keeper. And many more!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:37 AM
    

You may not have heard of the open-world survival MMO The Day Before, but somehow it's made it to the top of Steam's most wishlisted games list, ahead of games such as Starfield and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Originally due for release on June 21st, developers Fntastic have now told IGN that the game will arrive on March 1st 2023 due to development shifting over to Unreal Engine 5.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Trek To Yomi is a stylish side-scroller of a samurai slasher, with an aesthetic that'll have you mashing the print screen key at every corner. Like a seasoned ronin, the combat is clean and refined. The story is simple and elegant. The visuals are straight out of a classic samurai flick. But while it gets a lot of things right, it's also a literal trek to the underworld: the scenery is stunning, but your legs hurt, and your arms ache from killing all the bandits. So many bandits! The lack of enemy variety hurts what could've been a sensational hike - but it's still a trek worth embarking on if you break it up with a few pitstops.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 5, 2022 8:27 AM
    

Some Activision Blizzard shareholders want to rake through the company's records to investigate whether CEO Bobby Kotick pushed through the takeover by Microsoft to prevent himself being found liable for alleged misconduct, according to a recently filed complaint. The '220 complaint' – a legal recourse for shareholders to seek access to company books and records – was filed in Delaware by New York City Employees' Retirement System and pension funds for teachers, police and firefighters on April 26th. It's since been shared with Axios.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 5, 2022 7:03 AM
    

In a curious bit of historical preservation, Microsoft have released the source code for 3D Movie Maker, a fondly remembered piece of software from 1995. You might best know it from Jerma985's oft-memed Rat Movie (pictured ↑ above). This comes amidst a wave of source code releases for Argonaut Games' BRender engine, which was also used by games including Carmageddon 1 & 2, Star Fox, Privateer 2: The Darkening, Queen: The eYe, and and Croc. This could lead to fan-updated versions which are easier to run on modern computers.

Read more


Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:15 PM
     Microsoft has added another major element to its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, and it's the ability to play Fortnite for free.

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:16 PM
     If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be live at the old E3 (before its self-immolation) watching gaming's biggest announcement on the big screen around a live crowd, then does Geoff Keighly has good news for you today. Today he announced that his team and IMAX, purveyor of really big screens, are […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:05 PM
     Today Avex released a new trailer for the previously-announced MF Ghost anime series, which is a sequel to the ultra-popular series Initial D.

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:46 AM
     While collecting controllers has always been a big hobby for video game enthusiasts, the Nintendo Switch might have the most unique market for it. Not only can you get a variety of cool and distinct colors, but they can also be swapped out and used together to make for some interesting combos.  To celebrate this, […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:21 AM
     Today, HBO Max revealed an official teaser trailer for its Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon. In the video, fans get their first look at what they can expect from the series, which looks to include plenty of fire and blood. You can check out the trailer for yourself and an official […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:21 AM
     Today EA Sports and Codemasters released a new trailer and screenshots of the upcoming F1 racing simulator F1 22.

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:06 AM
     The new season is fast-approaching, so, as usual, Respawn is dropping trailers left and right. This one breaks down Newcastle's abilities so that players can learn more about his abilities before Apex Legends Season 13: Saviors goes live on May 10. Newcastle is the ultimate defensive Legend and his main goal is to keep your […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 AM
     This season is bringing some big gameplay changes through significant character balancing, changes to Storm Point, and, of course, the addition of another new Legend. Before you start jumping into matches, here's everything you need to know about what's new in Apex Legends Season 13: Saviors. New Legend: Newcastle Everything New in Apex Legends Season […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 AM
     A couple of weeks ago we learned a sequel to The Batman is coming, with Robert Pattinson returning to the cowl. The Batman is currently available to stream on HBO Max, so be sure to watch that and come back if you haven't seen it, as this is certain to get spoiler-y. Without further ado, […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:58 AM
     Today NIS America announced the release dates for NIS Classics Volume 3: La Pucelle: Ragnarok / Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure.

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:39 AM
     Total War: Warhammer 3 is the definition of an ambitious video game. The third title in a sprawling trilogy taking place in the grim-dark Warhammer universe, the setting is the perfect accompaniment to the grand scale strategy that is synonymous with the Total War franchise. Released back in February to critical acclaim, Warhammer 3 mostly […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:40 AM
     Today, a brand new trailer for the highly anticipated second season of Made in Abyss was revealed by Sentai Filmworks. In the video, we follow Riko and her companions as they continue their deadly adventure. The short trailer also gives a preview of the opening song "Katachi" by Riko Azuna and reveals MYTH & ROID […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:00 AM
     Trek to Yomi on PC Trek to Yomi brought me moments of sheer joy and deep-seated frustration, all wrapped up in its cinematic art style inspired by the Japanese movies of the 50s and 60s. After playing through the game for about 7-8 hours and having completed two playthroughs, I was left with one word […]

Twinfinite Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:00 AM
     The GameCube was a great little console with some truly exceptional games. While its design may have been divisive, the library of games that was released on it blended a truly strong third-party lineup with Nintendo's stellar first-party titles. Alas, for whatever reason, some of these absolute gems never got the sequel they truly deserved, […]

Siliconera Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
    

Genshin Impact 2.7 Delay Compensation Includes Free Primogems and Fragile Resin

When miHoYo announced the 2.7 Genshin Impact update would be delayed, it also said there would be compensation for players. This means a selection of in-game items to make playing easier. Now we know exactly what people over Adventure Rank 5 will get on a weekly-basis. As expected, the rewards will include Genshin Impact staples like free Primogems and Fragile Resin.

Each week, people will get an in-game mail with an assortment of free items. So on May 11, 2022, the first round will go out. After that, until the 2.7 arrives, people will get an in-game delivery each Wednesday. So that would mean on May 18, 2022, May 25, 2022, and so on, freebies would be doled out. Each time, a Genshin Impact player will get a Fragile Resin, 7 Hero's Wits, 16 Mystic Enhancement Ores, 400 Primogems, and 120,000 Mora for free. Each one of these mails must be claimed within 30 days of getting it. So the May 11, 2022 mail would expire on June 10, 2022.

As a reminder, all of these items provide different perks in-game. The free Fragile Resin lets you restore your Original Resin, which is needed to get rewards from things like Challenge and Trounce Domains or Leylines. The free Primogems let you pull on various banners. Hero's Wit is the top tier item used to level up characters. Likewise, Mystic Enhancement Ore is the top tier item to level up weapons. Mora is needed to buy from in-game merchants and level up things like artifacts, characters, and weapons.

This isn't the only update on what to expect during the extended 2.6 period. MiHoYo also offered some other details on what to expect. For example, the Ayaka rerun banner's end date is extended. It will still be around after May 10, 2022. It also brought up the Spices from the West event people can experience in-game.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices. It will also eventually come to the Nintendo Switch.

The post Genshin Impact 2.7 Delay Compensation Includes Free Primogems and Fragile Resin appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Grookey Plush Swings into the Build-a-Bear Pokemon Collection

The grass monkey, that funky monkey, is available as a stuffed animal again. Build-a-Bear added a Grookey plush to its Pokemon collection. People can now find it both on the US and UK websites. It should also be showing up in retail stores as well. Online, it is only available in a $65/£52 bundle. However, if you get the stuffed to separately in a store, it will be $40/£32.

As is common with these releases, the online bundle includes some additional, exclusive items. First, you get a Grookey plush that has a 5-in-1 sound chip inside of it. Pressing it makes it make its cries from the game and series. You also get two pieces of clothing to dress the character up. Both are nods to its nature as a grass-type Pokemon. There is a Leaf Shirt, as well as a Leaf Cape. If sold separately, each clothing item would cost $12.50/£10.

Here's a closer look at the new Build-a-Bear plush. The character is wearing the leaf shirt in the image.
Grookey Swings into the Build-a-Bear Pokemon Collection

This marks the second Build-a-Bear Pokemon Sword and Shield starter plush. The first one was Scorbunny. Coincidentally, that also appeared in May. The fire-type showed up in stores in May 2021. The only one not represented at the moment is Sobble, the water-type.

People can get the Grookey plush at Build-a-Bear in North America and Europe immediately.

The post Grookey Swings into the Build-a-Bear Pokemon Collection appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Genshin Impact Ayaka Rerun Banner End Date Extended

There's a new update on the Genshin Impact Ayaka rerun banner, and it seems it will be around for quite some time. It and the Epitome Invocation weapon banner with Mistsplitter Reforged and The Unforged were supposed to end on May 10, 2022. Now, there's no announced end date and the in-game notifications offer a vague "before 2.6 ends" expiration.

As a reminder, Ayaka is a five-star Cryo character. She wields a sword, and the five-star Mistsplitter Reforged is designed to be her signature weapon. Her banner also includes three familiar four-stars. The Anemo claymore-user Saya, Cryo polearm-wielder Rosaria, and Electro claymore-bearer Razor all are focus units too.

Here's a picture of the changed in-game banner.
Genshin Impact Ayaka Rerun Banner End Date Extended

This also means the Character Trial Event for all four characters will be around longer. How this works is someone is given a preset party that includes the focus unit. They can try using them in a fight against a handful of enemies. After the trial is complete, they get rewards like Primogems, Hero's Wit, Mystic Enhancement Ore, Mora, and character ascension materials for the unit they used.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices. A Nintendo Switch version is in development. The Ayaka rerun banner will now be available in Genshin Impact until

The post Genshin Impact Ayaka Rerun Banner End Date Extended appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:00 AM
    

NIS Classics Vol 3 La Pucelle and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure Release Date Shared

NIS America announced a release date for NIS Classics Vol 3, its latest volume of games that includes La Pucelle Ragnarok and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. People will be able to get it in North America first on August 30, 2022. A few days later, it will appear in Europe on September 2, 2022. Finally on September 9, 2022, people in Australia and New Zealand will be able to pick it up.

As a reminder, both titles are strategy games. In the case of La Pucelle, it is the PSP version with extra content that never appeared outside of Japan. In addition to the main game, people are able to recruit crossover characters like Disgaea's Laharl, Flonne, Etna, and a Prinny or Disgaea 2 and Rhapsody characters like Cornet and Rozalin. It also added a new Overlord Prier storyline.

As for Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, this is the PS1 version of the game. As a reminder, the DS port features a turn-based battle system, instead of one with strategic elements. This one will have optional CRT filters.

Here's a new NIS Classics Vol 3 release date trailer.

NIS Classics Vol 3, which contains La Pucelle Ragnarok and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, will show up on the Nintendo Switch and PC in North America on August 30, 2022, Europe on September 2, 2022, and Australia on September 9, 2022. On PCs, the two games will be sold separately. There will be a Switch physical limited edition as well.

The post NIS Classics Vol 3 La Pucelle and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure Release Date Shared appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:01 AM
    

Trek to Yomi

Game trailers can be deceptive at times. Even when no lies are told, a series of clips edited with an eye to impress potential customers can elide some of a game's truth. Trek to Yomi, however, is one game very well captured by its trailers. They ask the prospective player, "Do you want to journey through a beautifully realized action-game homage to the chambara samurai films of the 1950s and 60s?" And if your answer to that question after viewing one of the many trailers out now is "Yes" ...well, there you go. You can probably skip the rest of the review.

If you're still on the fence, though, the time I spent in the sandals and kimono of a young samurai on the worst day of his life -- and death -- left me with some thoughts to share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Dyrl7dVbo

Trek to Yomi is the brainchild of director Leonard Menchiari, working with Shadow Warrior developer Flying Wild Hog Rzeszów. Set in a nonspecific era of medieval Japan, it focuses on the journey of Hiroki, a young samurai and designated protector of his village. The game begins in the dojo. Hiroki is a former orphan taken in by his master Sanjuro. Lessons in kenjutsu double up as a control tutorial, teaching players the basics of combat they'll use for the next five to eight hours. Sanjuro is called away with some urgency, and a stroll through the village with Hiroki's sweetheart Aiko serves as the last moment of peace players will experience for the rest of the game.

Soon, Sanjuro is dead on the ground, slain by the bandit Kagerou, leaving Hiroki and Aiko weeping over his corpse. They vow to carry on the master's legacy as a protector of the people, and everything flashes forward some years to the beginning of the game proper. Hiroki and Aiko are husband and wife. Aiko is the village head, and Hiroki the samurai commander. More bandits approach, and Hiroki resolves to take the fight to the enemy this time.

Trek to Yomi

To say any more beyond this point would be something of a spoiler, but truth be told, Trek to Yomi doesn't tell an especially complex story. The plot's pretty much in the title! For your information, "Yomi" is the term for the underworld in Japan's creation myth. Hiroki sets off on a journey to win honor and glory, encounters unimaginable tragedy as a result, and in seeking retribution, travels further and deeper into the shadows.

The narrative is actually surprisingly straightforward about certain things. Until about halfway through my first run, I was assuming the references to Yomi were more metaphorical than anything else. More the fool me. As it turns out, Flying Wild Hog isn't one to shy away from evoking the supernatural in its quest to give players new vistas to behold.

Trek to Yomi

And behold them they shall, in glorious black-and-white. That monochrome palette is a constant of Trek to Yomi's most potent tool: its visuals. I won't mince words. The game is beautiful. Playing mainly as a side-scrolling adventure, with occasional breaks for more cinematic cutscenes, Trek to Yomi never lets itself look plain. Any given screenshot from the game that's not a menu could easily be mistaken for a carefully framed snippet from some lost archive of world cinema.

A subtle film grain effect and detailed attention to lighting and shadows ensure that even the most mundane moments carry a powerful, dramatic aura. In fact, the developers are so happy to take advantage of opportunities to make some striking images that in retrospect, it can even come across as funny in its contrivance. Hiroki's route certainly passes by a suspicious number of picturesque waterfalls, for one.

Trek to Yomi

Jokes aside, Trek to Yomi displays a single-minded focus on sending up the look of the classics. It's tightly structured and never lets up in its sense of momentum. There are no sidequests to dawdle on or secondary systems to be distracted by. Even collectibles and secrets serve to emphasize the narrative. Their descriptive flavor text is written as a combination of informative trivia about Japanese myth and the darkest broodings of Hiroki as he contemplates his situation. Again, there's some unintentional comedy to be found here, if one pictures Hiroki himself writing out these elaborate item descriptions between cutting up thugs with his sword and witnessing the bloody murder of all he loves and cares for.

This intense focus also serves the game well, by helping it avoid some of the complaints directed at other prominent, Japanese cinema-inspired games like Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima. Whereas Tsushima often felt like a mainstream, open-world title dressed in samurai cosplay, Trek to Yomi feels like a more coherent tribute to its inspirations.

The personal quality of Hiroki's ordeal avoids feeding too deeply some of the unfortunate Orientalism common in media set in Japan, but produced by outsiders to Japan's history, politics, and culture. Trek to Yomi's story operates on a small, individual scale. In doing so, it sidesteps the trap of inflating ahistorical and politicized pop cultural myths about samurai.

Kagerou

In fact, the narrative only really falls short in the spots it attempts to broaden and add a sense of expansiveness to this cozy revenge tale. The game has multiple endings, but these endings, save for one, feel somewhat unearned and unsupported by the relatively spare character development in the game itself. They feel like they were added in as an excuse to get players to replay the game and expand its potential playtime. Also, in the review build I played, there was no way to explore alternate endings without replaying the game from the beginning, as the checkpoint-based saving system prevented me from going back to a late-game checkpoint.

Further, beyond these alternate endings and perhaps grabbing all the collectibles, Trek to Yomi feels like a game you'll play and then put down once the credits are finished rolling. The combat system is fairly simple and doesn't change much over the course of the game. Hiroki only ever fights with his sword, and gets no other options for melee weapons. His basic combos expand, and new techniques can be unlocked by progress and collectibles, but the additions don't add enough variety to make truly mastering the system feel like a challenge worth the while.

Trek to Yomi also has three ranged weapon options, but all are simply different flavors of "interrupt an enemy's animation to create an opening". Enemy variety is also fairly low. Over half the game is spent chopping up three or four types of bandit, each with a unique, if simple attack pattern. Staying safe is mainly about knowing these variations and being patient. Baiting an enemy into an attack that can be parried is the go-to strategy for 9 of every 10 fights. Enemies will also politely attack one at a time, and are easily handled, so long as you don't try to button-mash (most of the combos require deliberate spacing on inputs to register).

In the end, while Trek to Yomi is a small and deliberately limited affair, its taut structure and evocative visuals carry it well through its short lifespan. That's no fault, mind you. In an era filled with broad, overstuffed games aiming to monopolize all one's free time, it's refreshing to be able to brighten one's weekend with a short jaunt into the underworld.

Trek to Yomi is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.

The post Review: Trek to Yomi is a Starkly Striking Trip Into Darkness appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 5, 2022 8:00 AM
    

Genshin Impact Spices from the West Event

miHoYo has shared information regarding the Spices from the West event in Genshin Impact. This includes the event duration and rewards players can obtain through participation. Additionally, there are some stipulations to joining the event, which include completing a certain quest. The Genshin Impact Spices from the West event will be held from May 14 to June 7, 2022. Rewards include Primogems, Mora, Hero's Wit, and other enhancement materials.

In order to participate in the event, players must be Adventure Rank 20, which will allow them to create seasonings for the event. However, to cook dishes, players will need to be at least Adventure Rank 28 and have completed the "Idle Teapot Talk" quest. Those players will also be able to invite characters to taste-test the dishes they've created.

[embed]https://twitter.com/GenshinImpact/status/1522048438820646917[/embed]

The Spices from the West event was teased in March 2022 during a Genshin Impact Special Program. It revealed several events that would appear through Genshin Impact Version 2.6. Other events that have appeared throughout the update include the Vibro-Crystal Research event. This event saw players participating in a series of trials while using Vibro-Crystals to activate different kinds of buffs. The event was largely combat-focused, with players splitting characters into teams to tackle the various challenges.

Genshin Impact is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Android and iOS devices. It is in development for Nintendo Switch.

The post Genshin Impact Spices from the West Event Detailed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 5, 2022 7:00 AM
    

Genshin Impact Animated Emoji

miHoYo has released a Genshin Impact animated emoji pack based on the New Adventure? Let's Go! event. A total of 12 new animated emojis are available to use. The Genshin Impact animated emoji pack includes Paimon, the Traveler, a Hilichurl, a Dendro Slime, and a cat. The emojis can be saved externally to use outside of the HoYoLAB website as well. A total of 6 emojis are available for the Traveler, which includes both versions of the character, with 3 animated Paimon emojis available in the pack. The last 3 emojis are dedicated to the mentioned Hilichurl, Dendro Slime, and cat.

The Genshin Impact New Adventure? Let's Go! event featured a board players could traverse using dice rolls. Additional dice rolls were available to acquire every day to increase the distance traveled over the board. Acquiring Adventure Coins by traversing the board yielded rewards like Primogems and level-up materials for weapons and characters.

Additionally, the Genshin Impact Marvelous Merchandise event is set to appear soon. This event will have players collecting Boxes o' Marvels to reap various rewards, which will sometimes be based on how far they have progressed in the game. Players can obtain Primogems, Mora, Hero's Wit, and Mystic Enhancement Ore through event participation.

Genshin Impact is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Android and iOS devices. It is in development for Nintendo Switch.

The post Genshin Impact Animated Emoji Pack Features Paimon and the Traveler appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:30 PM
    

Keep it in The Family In a timeline where a wide variety of studios and publishers appear to be selling...

The post The Guillemot family is considering purchasing Ubisoft appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
    

Shipping off to Ambrose Island There's more to do in the World of Assassination. IO Interactive updated its future Hitman...

The post Hitman 3 gets a new map in July, Freelancer mode pushed back appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:30 PM
    

Also, Citizen Sleeper Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is the big game this week for the Nintendo Switch. Or should I say:...

The post Nintendo Download: Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:00 PM
    

The big reveals showcase is airing in IMAX This year's Summer Games Fest kickoff date has been locked in. Summer...

The post Summer Game Fest Live 2022 airs on June 9 appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:30 AM
    

Live on Saturday, May 7 at a Centre for Computing History event This amazing GoldenEye 64 anti-screen-cheating setup from the...

The post This GoldenEye 64 setup is anti-screen-cheating by splitting all four screens appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 AM
    

You Know What That Means Publisher AEW Games has dropped some new development footage for its upcoming All Elite Wrestling...

The post AEW Fight Forever dev footage stars Nyla Rose and Kris Statlander appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:00 AM
    

It bombed at $250, then saw an uptick with the price cut How Nintendo at large and how former Nintendo...

The post Reggie Fils-Aime asked Nintendo to launch the 3DS for $199, but they said no appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Like Kurosawa I make mad films, 'kay I don't make films Yomi is a concept that is so depressing, that...

The post Review: Trek to Yomi appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
     Rogue Legacy 2 Chef Class Guide FeatureThe Chef is the first unconventional class available in Rogue Legacy 2. While most other classes use blades, bows, and guns, the Chef sticks to their trusty kitchen tools. Even so, this cook shouldn't be messed with. Despite the Chef's below-average health, the class more than makes up for it in other areas. One of these areas is its huge Mana pool that is comparable to even the Mage. The Chef class is certainly unusual, but our guide will help you maximize its potential in Rogue Legacy 2. Unlocking the Chef requires your castle to be at level 18. Depending on which order you unlock Castle Upgrades you may reach the Chef before this level. If so it is advised to upgrade Strength through Arsenal which is an upgrade that becomes available after unlocking the Valkyrie class. You'll want to maximize Arsenal out in the future anyway so it doesn't hurt to gain some extra Strength early on. Be sure to spend at least one point on Study Hall though as this is necessary to unlock...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:30 PM
     Hitman 3 Freelancer delayedHitman 3's Freelancer mode has been delayed and will now release sometime in the "second half of 2022." This was confirmed in a recent update outlining the content roadmap for Year 2. IO Interactive says that the mode is "quite expansive and involving." With that, the developer hopes that the delay can make the mode "as close to [its] ambitions as possible." We last heard about the Freelancer mode in January when IO Interactive laid out its plans for Hitman 3 for the rest of 2022. The new mode will add a roguelike element to the game, where players can take down criminal organizations. It's a big mode. So much so that IO Interactive has been thoroughly testing it to make sure it's ready for release. While it's disappointing to see Freelancer get delayed, it's nice to see the developer continue to work hard on Hitman 3.   There's plenty to do in spring That isn't all for the update, as we also have a road...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:00 PM
     Rogue Legacy 2 Duelist Class Guide FeatureThe Duelist is one of the most fun classes to play in Rogue Legacy 2. It is a highly mobile melee class that can output a lot of burst damage. Its combination of great damage output and mobility makes the Duelist perfect for attacking and then quickly retreating to a safe distance. Duelist can be the perfect choice for those that like to stay on the move. This class has average health and above average mana. We put together this handy guide to help you get the most out of the Duelist class while playing Rogue Legacy 2. Unlocking the Duelist class requires your castle to be at level 18. Depending on which order you unlock Castle upgrades, you may reach the Duelist before this level. If so, it is advised to upgrade Strength through Arsenal, a castle upgrade that becomes available after unlocking the Valkyrie class. You'll want to maximize Arsenal out in the future anyway, so it doesn't hurt to gain some extra Strength early on.   Saber The Saber is a straight blade that ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:00 PM
     Hard West 2 Preview (13)When Weird West came out, I was very confused. While "Wild West But Spooky" isn't a new genre, the game looked very similar to 2015's Hard West. The biggest difference was that it didn't care much for turn-based combat. I guess this stirred the fans of turn-based tactics, because I had a preview copy of Hard West 2 land in my lap not long after. As far as I understand, Hard West 2 isn't a continuation of the old one — it just exists in the same setting. A colorful gang of outlaws decide to attack a "ghost train" carrying cash at night. Things turn sour really fast as the "ghost" part becomes a lot more literal, and the gang is confronted by a devil. They lose, and the goal now is to get back at him and return what was taken.   Oregon Trail with infinite bullets Just like the original of yore, Hard West 2 is split into campaign map and battle sections. The campaign map part is easy: you wander around, interacting with spots of interest. But the...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:00 AM
     Razer Laptop Oled Blade 15If you're the type who likes to take your PC gaming on the go, you're certainly familiar with Razer. The company is known for its flashy products which often lead the market with world's first implementations. This time, new display tech is on the menu. Razer announced that the Blade 15 will feature OLED display options, provided you've got the cash to pony up. The Blade series is known for being ultra compact and ultra powerful. Razer packs the best tech into these little machines, and expects top dollar for it. In this case, OLED is on the menu, and it will set you back $3,500 USD to look and feel this good.   The display is on display The 15.6″ OLED screen on the Blade 15 offers exceptional color quality and brightness for a laptop. The 240Hz framerate capability and 1ms peak response time is what sells it as a pure gamer offering though. You'll not only get 400 nits of peak brightness and deep black tones for striking imagery, you'll e...

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
    

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Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 AM
    

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Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, May 5, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, May 5, 2022 2:00 PM
     The Grave Warden Duelist and Putrid Grave Warden Duelist are two notorious optional bosses in Elden Ring that leave quite the impression on the player, owing to their uniqueness and striking difficulty to beat. Both Grave Warden Duelists serve to protect the secrets of the ancients, but the corruption of the land has affected them, […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
     Follow these simple steps to Fix Social Club Error 1 when launching GTA 5. Antivirus software or a recent patch can alter, corrupt, or even completely delete a crucial game file that could stop your favorite games from working correctly. A complete reinstall is all it takes to resolve these issues most of the time. […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:00 PM
     The sheer number of bosses to encounter and, hopefully, defeat in Elden Ring is simply astonishing. And the variety and detail of each boss are a great testament to the care and attention afforded to creating these bosses, be it optional or not. One of the said optional bosses is Beastman of Farum Azula, a […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 AM
     Minecraft is a popular game with almost endless possibilities. However, a day might come when a player believes that they've already done everything there is to do in the game and built everything they could build. To keep players entertained and forget boredom, we've listed down some of the best things that players can do, […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, May 5, 2022 7:54 AM
     A lot of people were excited when it was announced last month that Ron Gilbert would be working on another Monkey Island game. While some expect this to be in the same old school vein as the remakes, Glbert himself has explained that he wanted to push the series forward rather than embrace the past […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, May 5, 2022 7:42 AM
     We've had several games about killing zombies, but what about a game where you can craft them. Just in, Marvelous Inc. has given a look at their post-apocalyptic zombie game, Deadcraft. Watch this: Here's the official description: Stare in wild wonder as the half-human, half-zombie protagonist Reid slices through foes on a quest for righteous […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, May 5, 2022 7:27 AM
     Overwatch today isn't the same game that launched four years ago. While a lot of things remained the same, there are multiple elements that have been changed in order to give everyone an equally enjoyable experience. With the closed beta currently ongoing, the developer's blog has confirmed that Quick Play classic will be returned to […]

MonsterVine Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
     Beacon Pines is an adventure game set within a book being featured as part of LudoNarraCon. It's planned for release later this year and has a demo available now. Beacon Pines is set within a book, with a narrator narrating key events. However, you control the main character, Luka, directly to explore small, diorama-like areas. […]

MonsterVine Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
     Nine Noir Lives is an upcoming point-and-click adventure game being featured among the games at LudoNarraCon, and it has a demo currently available. It is a noir detective game in which you play as the feline private investigator Cuddles Nutterbutter investigating a new case that could lead to conflict with the powerful crime families the […]

MonsterVine Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
     Mindhack is an upcoming visual novel with a demo available as part of LudoNarraCon. The full game is expected to release later this year. One thing that stands out about Mindhack right away is its art style. Most scenes in the demo have a limited palette, except for the brightly-colored flowers that the main character […]

MonsterVine Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
     Arctic Awakening is an upcoming first-person narrative adventure game set to be released later this year, and a demo is currently available as part of LudoNarraCon. Set in the year 2062 after an unspecified disaster, you play a man named Kai who is flying in rations to a town in Alaska when a sudden storm […]

MonsterVine Thursday, May 5, 2022 1:00 PM
     Set in the same universe as Sunless Sea and the other Fallen London games, Mask of the Rose is a romance visual novel planned for this October/November and included among the titles featured at LudoNarraCon. A demo is available now. The first thing you do is customize some basic traits about your character. You can […]

MonsterVine Thursday, May 5, 2022 12:34 PM
     It's a hard life out there in the west, and a ghost train that's controlled by a devil who took your souls doesn't help things either. Hard West 2, a sequel to the incredibly fun 2015 game Hard West, opens with the appropriately gruff sounding Gin Carter who, with his posse of questionable outlaws, seeks […]