Jul 28, 14:00


Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:50 PM
    

Earlier this week, The Sims 4 received a big, free update that added curved walls, body hair, and new wants and fears. It also seems to have accidentally added incestual relationships. Oh, and people are aging much faster, too. It's a weird time to be a Sim, that's for sure.

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Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:50 PM
    

Nintendo just unveiled details for the second wave of Mario Kart 8 updates, and fans got a sweet surprise: an original race track. Sky-High Sundae will be available as part of the next installment of Mario Kart 8 DLC, and it looks incredibly edible—pretty. I meant pretty.

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Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:45 PM
    

Yesterday, Square Enix launched the English version of its new online manga service, Manga Up!. But within 24 hours of its release, users have voiced outrage over the app's aggressive censorship bars and monetization practices.

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Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:07 PM
    

It's been a very bad year so far for Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, in ways extremely unique to being one of the biggest tech companies in the world. Despite still making almost $7 billion in profit in recent months, TikTok is eating its lunch, the stock price is in shambles, and even the Kardashians…

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Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Well, that was fast. Nier: Automata's secret door—the very same one that's fractured the game's fandom into factions—went from an amusing little secret to a viral meme in three days flat.

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Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:00 AM
    

This morning, Sony announced that it would be rolling out a beta to test a collection of fan-requested new features for the PlayStation 5. These features include curatable gamelists, the ability to play games in 1440p output, and small quality-of-life features for those who enjoy playing games with their friends.

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Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:35 AM
    

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Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:45 AM
    

VRChat's had a hell of a week. On Monday, the wildly popular virtual reality social game announced that its next update would implement Epic Games' Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) technology, prompting immediate outrage from a large portion of its playerbase. That update landed Tuesday, and since then, VRChat's struggled to…

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Kotaku Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:30 AM
    

Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead. In other words, the player-hated, troll-approved Oppressor Mk. II jetbike in Grand Theft Auto Online has finally been nerfed following nearly half a decade of terror. While many players are happy about the change, others have shared concerns that it has made the expensive vehicle…

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PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:29 PM
     Darktide has been delayed, but you can sign up to playtest it

Vermintide 2 developer Fatshark has announced that its forthcoming co-op game, Warhammer 40K: Darktide, has been delayed. Scheduled for a release date of September 13, plans now are to launch Darktide November 30 on PC, with an Xbox Series S|X launch to follow some time later. However, some fans will be able to jump in early, as Fatshark plans to run some technical tests and betas prior to release.

RELATED LINKS: Darktide reveal trailer, Darktide release date, Warhammer: Darktide writer interview

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:18 PM
     Elden Ring mod adds DnD style classes with powerful perks

If you love the classic fantasy archetypes of traditional RPG games, a new Elden Ring mod that adds a DnD style class system complete with unique perks might be just the thing you're looking for. The mod adds eleven custom talismans to the open-world game, each tuned with balance changes and passive talents that emulate the flavour of a different traditional fantasy class.

The Rings of Talent mod, created by Maxilos33 and Chelarino, adds eleven of the titular rings - although they are treated in-game as talismans - each of which represents a different classical archetype inspired by settings such as Dungeons & Dragons. Currently on offer are Assassin, Barbarian, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Ranger, Spellblade, Swashbuckler, Tank, and Vampire.

Each of the classes features its own unique benefits and detriments, and in most cases comes with a specific talent that causes the class to stand out. They also have their own lovingly-written spot of lore to help emphasise the spirit and identity of the class.

RELATED LINKS: The best Elden Ring builds, Elden Ring bosses, The best Elden Ring classes

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:38 PM
     Robloxians are hosting a funeral for the

A dedicated group of Robloxians will soon host a funeral for the sandbox game's iconic 'oof' sound in the metaverse. The OOF Funeral will kick off at 12pm PDT / 3pm EDT/ 8pm BST / 9pm CEST July 28 and will remain on Roblox permanently as a way to pay homage to the famous audio effect.

RELATED LINKS: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:35 PM
     Cities: Skylines and BioShock are together in sci-fi building sim

Cities: Skylines has the mechanics, the rigour, the detail – it feels like you're an architect and a city planner. But it lacks, if you like, the flavour. Laying roads and digging foundations is all well and good, but it's not exciting like lasers, robots, and a flying city – like BioShock. So this is where Sphere – Flying Cities comes in, a dystopian, sci-fi building sim which effortlessly combines those seemingly disparate games, and now has a new trailer and confirmed release date on Steam.


PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:32 PM
     Genshin Impact 3.0 leak takes us inside the Sumeru tavern

If you've managed to avoid all Genshin Impact version 3.0 leaks by this point, you're some sort of expert at dodging spoilers. They're everywhere. And for those who are actively seeking them out, we've got more to share. Another leaked gameplay clip has surfaced from the closed 3.0 beta that shows off the inside of Sumeru's tavern, and we're quite impressed with just how good it looks.

RELATED LINKS: Genshin Impact 2.8 release date, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:20 PM
     YouTuber details Starfield Creation Engine 2 improvements

It looks like Starfield Creation Engine 2 improvements are set to make the mammoth space game a showcase for Bethesda's overhauled engine. Creation Engine 2, which is set to be further expanded on for future titles including The Elder Scrolls 6, has been much anticipated after a decade of games built on its predecessor. Now, one Starfield fan has highlighted some of the key advancements the new technology offers.

YouTuber Colt Eastwood digs into the wealth of Starfield footage Bethesday showed off and compares it to that of Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76 - the games Bethesda built on the previous Creation Engine. The engine was built from a fork of the prior Gamebryo engine used for the likes of Morrowind, Oblivion, and Fallout 3.

While the team at Bethesda developed and improved on the engine over the years alongside each new release, its distinct visual style has often been the butt of jokes - especially its rather stiff animations and the so-called "Bethesda face" effect of characters staring awkwardly into the camera during one-on-one conversations.

RELATED LINKS: Starfield release date, Starfield ship design, Starfield Game Pass

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:10 PM
     Best Multiversus Finn perks and combos

Want to know what the best Multiversus Finn perks and combos are? He's an assassin-type character, specialising in zipping in to deal damage at opportune moments before dashing out to safety. His move set also gives him plenty of relentless ground-based combos, a trait usually found in bruisers. As a result, he's one of the best characters in the Multiversus tier list.

Using the best Multiversus Finn perks and combos, you can launch enemies high into the sky, making them vulnerable to follow-up juggle attacks. However, he's also a glass cannon and relatively light, so if you're not careful or well-prepared, you may suffer a ring-out due to an exceptionally hard-hitting blow.

RELATED LINKS: Multiversus impressions, Multiversus tier list, The best Multiversus mods

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:00 PM
     Sweet Transit, a train game with Factorio roots, hits Early Access

Sweet Transit, the deceptively cosy-looking train game from one of the developers of Factorio, has arrived at Steam Early Access station today, ready to take us all on a cross-country voyage of industry and invention.


PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:54 AM
     WoW Shadowlands season 4 blog overlooks one big thing

WoW Shadowlands Season 4 is set to arrive on August 2 in North America (August 3 in Europe), and Blizzard have set about enlightening World of Warcraft players about what the new update entails - or more specifically in this case, what it seemingly doesn't entail.

RELATED LINKS: Best MMORPGs on PC, The best WoW addons, WoW Classic leveling guide

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:42 AM
     Star Citizen update doubles server size, game still isn't out yet

Star Citizen update 3.17.2 launches today, introducing a host of changes to the ambitious, long-gestating space sim, including a new vehicle, extra missions and dynamic events, and servers that can now host twice the amount of players.

Previously, Star Citizen could carry 50 players to a server, but the new update doubles that amount to 100. It brings the space trading and combat sim closer to its original vision -- a vast, populated galaxy where you could barter and fight with myriad other players -- as well as adding greater opportunities for large-scale battles and races. Developer Cloud Imperium eventually wants to mesh Star Citizen's servers together, creating a fully interconnected star system, and this is definitely brings the game closer to that goal.

RELATED LINKS: Star Citizen development, Squadron 42 trailer, The best space games on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:21 AM
     This gaming PC mod blasts heat out of a custom exhaust pipe

A gaming PC modder has come up with a creative way to expel heat and dust from a PC case, and it involves using a custom chonky exhaust pipe. The creator in question says the part helps circulate air around graphics cards and PCIe slots, but its angled design also means you can sit your tower up against a wall.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:00 AM
     Next week's free game from Epic is Overcooked with trains

Start assembling a team of your most level-headed friends, because next week's free PC game from the Epic Games Store is Unrailed!, an endless co-op game about continuously building a set of train tracks through a procedurally generated wilderness.

RELATED LINKS: Best Train Games, Best Indie Games

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:03 PM
     Minecraft Mangrove trees – how to plant propagules

Want to know everything about the mangrove tree in Minecraft? While Mojang Studios teased a swamp update in a Minecraft biome community vote at MineCon 2019, we instead got an entirely new swamp biome in the Minecraft 1.19 Wild update. The Mangrove swamp introduces a range of cool new things, from the addition of adorable Minecraft frogs to the ability to craft houses with Minecraft mud blocks.

The main new feature of the Mangrove swamp, though, are mangrove trees. Adding a seventh overworld wood to the building blocks in your arsenal, mangrove trees can be grown from propagules, a unique type of sapling. The distinctive traits of mangrove trees don't stop there, though, as they also grow atop tall, winding roots through which you can navigate a boat with a chest, taking in the mysterious and beautiful swamp atmosphere. So, here's everything you need to know about these water-dwelling trees, the swamp that surrounds them, and how to cultivate your own mangroves from scratch.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:43 AM
     How to find an Ancient City in Minecraft: tips, seeds and more

Wondering how to find a Minecraft Ancient City? Sadly, they can be very elusive, but once you know what you're looking for and where, it's a lot easier to dig up this marvellous metropolis. Ancient Cities are spectacular structures buried deep below ground - one of the first underground monuments except for Strongholds, in fact - so now you've got something to look out for while you're digging for diamonds in Minecraft.

Be wary though, because Ancient Cities hold a dangerous mob within their walls - the Warden. This blind but brutal creature is the toughest foe in Minecraft history, but it guards some exciting loot. Here's what you need to know about how to find a Minecraft Ancient City, what to expect when you get there, and some of the best Ancient City seeds if you want to skip the hard part.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:14 AM
     Diablo Immortal microtransactions make over $100 million

Diablo Immortal microtransactions have raised over $100 million in global player spending in the two months since the RPG game launched, according to a report from digital analytics platform SensorTower. The free-to-play game launched on mobile and PC on June 1, and has just arrived in the Chinese market following an initial delay.

SensorTower reports that Diablo Immortal has made $100 million across the App Store and Google Play store, which means that this figure only takes mobile spending into account. The actual figure, then, is likely even higher when factoring in purchases made on Blizzard's Battle.net shop for PC.

Unfortunately, Blizzard hasn't put out official numbers saying how much money the game has made overall, although they did announce that the game recently reached 20 million players, which happened prior to the game's release in China.

RELATED LINKS: Diablo Immortal tier list, Diablo Immortal system requirements, Best Diablo Immortal builds

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:17 AM
     Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 and AMD RDNA 3 pop up as EEC trademarks

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 and AMD RDNA 3 are on the horizon, and both companies have registered their next-gen GPUs as European Economic Community trademarks. The move bolsters rumours that new graphics cards will arrive in a few months' time, but there's reason to believe the green team isn't quite done with its previous lineups.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:02 AM
     Prime Gaming Warzone rewards available during CDL

Prime Gaming rewards for Call of Duty: Warzone will be on offer throughout the entirety of the CDL, including double XP bonuses, calling cards, and weapon blueprints. All you need to do is watch the Call of Duty League Championships live on YouTube or the CoD companion app, and you can bag a whole host of freebies and gear. Here's how.

The CDL Championship weekend runs from August 4 through to August 7, and the more you watch, the more double XP you can earn. Watch for an hour, and you get a 30-minute double XP token. Watch for two hours, you get a 30-minute token for double weapon XP, and so it continues in alternating order – three hours gives you another 30-minute token for general XP, four hours gives you a weapon XP token, and so on, until you reach 16 hours, after which you will have earned all the possible watch time XP rewards.

RELATED LINKS: Warzone loadouts, Best AR in Warzone , The best guns in Warzone

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:25 AM
     Nvidia RTX 4000 – release date, price, specs, and benchmark rumours

Nvidia RTX 4000 graphics cards will likely replace current-gen GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs later this year, and more information about the coveted components is emerging by the day as we get closer to launch. To help you navigate the convoluted waters of leaks and rumours, we've compiled everything we know so far about team green's next-generation pixel pushers.

We expect that RTX 4000 will be available in three form factors: desktop GPUs, laptop graphics cards, and as part of the Nvidia GeForce Now streaming service. Each will probably release at different points, but they should all benefit from technologies like Nvidia DLSS and Nvidia Reflex.

As much as RTX 4000 GPUs will undoubtedly offer a high level of performance, these next-generation graphics cards may face stiff competition from the likes of AMD RDNA 3 and Intel Arc Alchemist. Thankfully, we shouldn't have to wait much longer to find out how the RTX 4090, RTX 4080, RTX 4070, and RTX 4060 stack up against their rivals.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:00 AM
     StarCraft: Remastered is free with Prime Gaming in August

It's been a hot summer in many parts of the world, but Amazon Prime members will have a chance to cool off in August with another round of games and in-game content, including the classic sci-fi RTS game StarCraft: Remastered, free with their membership.

RELATED LINKS: Best strategy games, Best space games, StarCraft: Remastered system reqs

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:01 AM
     Half-Life 2 mod is a full-blown sequel to Opposing Force

Half-Life 2 mod Through the City now has a trailer and playable demo, showcasing a full sequel to Opposing Force, including the return of Adrian Shepard and G-Man -- something to keep you busy while you wait for Half-Life 3.

It's been 23 years since Gearbox Software abandoned Shepard on that galactic V-22 Osprey, leaving him suspended in time – much like the Half-Life series itself – as we scrabble around for clues, hints, or the vaguest possibility of his return. Well Kajlo, over at Mod DB, clearly wasn't prepared to wait any longer, and alongside a team of collaborators has quietly been creating a fully-fledged Opposing Force sequel, Through the City. The first 40 minutes are available to play now, with a full release slated for 2023. The story focuses on Shepard who, after being awakened by G-Man, is dispatched to City 17 just ahead of the events of Half-Life 2. All the weapons from Opposing Force make a return, including the beloved Desert Eagle and wrench, and Through the City also retains that striking, bright-green HUD from the original, only now streamlined and upscaled courtesy of Source.


PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:47 AM
     Tower of Fantasy challenges Genshin Impact with 3 million pre-regs

Tower of Fantasy, a Genshin Impact-style animated adventure, is set to release in the West on August 11, but it has already lured in over three million pre-registrations from beta tests alone.


PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:57 AM
     League of Legends streamer held hostage in-game for over 3 hours

Popular Korean League of Legends streamer, Kkyuahri, has recently received their account back from Riot after their 14-day ban. The account suspension came after the streamer was held hostage in a game of League for over three hours - stream snipers made up both the allied and opposing teams, and were determined to prolong the match for as long as possible.

RELATED LINKS: Best LoL Champions , League of Legends patch 12.12 notes, LoL tier list

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:25 AM
     The best Cooper Carbine loadout in Warzone

The best Warzone Cooper Carbine loadout is an assault rifle that was introduced way back in Season 1 when Vanguard launched, and with the right attachments, it's a force to be reckoned with in this battle royale game.

It saw some buffs in season three that made it truly deadly, and one of the top choices to go with the best snipers in Warzone. The best Warzone Cooper Carbine loadout focuses on a few key upgrades: giving you a boost in accuracy and recoil control, as well as an extended magazine with improved bullet penetration. If the Cooper Carbine isn't for you, other options are available for the assault rifle. So do check out the best STG loadout to see how it stacks up and if it might be the better gun for you.

RELATED LINKS: Warzone loadouts, Best AR in Warzone , The best guns in Warzone

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:22 AM
     Valorant ranks in order, distribution, and ranking system explained

Want to know about Valorant ranks and how the ranking system works? Like all competitive FPS games, Riot's Valorant has an ascending ladder of titles to sort the player base by ability. Whether you're starting out as a lowly Iron or maintaining your dominance as a mighty Immortal, if you play Valorant competitively your life is governed by the ranking system.

Valorant has a couple of different ways it measures ranking progress and the overall rating of players against each other. Each player has an overall Valorant rank, but there's also a dedicated 'Act rank' for each act. On top of that, there's also a concept called 'rank rating', which is connected to MMR. Here is everything you need to know about Valorant ranks, the current rank distribution, and competitive play.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:06 AM
     Not every Intel Arc Alchemist GPU will support HDMI 2.1

The Intel Arc Alchemist GPU launch has already been plagued with delays and stifled release schedules, but new information has come to light that may make picking one up even more complicated. While you might expect that team blue would implement the latest display standards found on the best graphics card from its competitors, this is sadly not the case.

RELATED LINKS: Arc Alchemist GPUs - everything we know, Raptor Lake CPUs - everything we know, Best gaming CPU

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:23 PM
    

SATA SSDs are getting increasingly affordable, with even capacious 2TB models going down in price rapidly as NVMe drives approach parity with the slower SATA drives. This makes it a good time to pick up a SATA drive for desktops or laptops that can't accommodate another M.2 drive, especially for media or game storage where the speed difference between SATA and NVMe is minimal.

Today, Teamgroup's imaginatively-named T-Force Vulcan Z drive is down to $128 for a 2TB model, the lowest price we can find for this size at present.

Note that to get this price, you do need to be an Amazon Prime member - normal folk you like and me will see a price of $160 instead, alongside a reminder to 'join Prime to save $32 on this item'. You should be able to join Prime under a free trial, order the item and then cancel your Prime status to avoid a charge.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:07 PM
    

Dell's G15 is one of the most affordable gaming laptops on the market, thanks to modest specs and Dell's willingness for aggressive discounts, but today we're seeing an RTX 3050 model go for an astoundingly low £441.

To get this price, select the Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS operating system and use VOUCHERCODES8 at checkout. Linux is a completely free operating system, unlike Windows, so you can knock £50 off the purchase price just by ticking this box - and of course, you're free to install Windows 10 or 11 afterwards. Keys for Windows 7/8/10 work on Windows 11 too, so you probably already have a key lying around - or you can pick up a new one for less than £50 online. The whole process, from using the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool to prepare a USB install drive to reaching the desktop, only takes around 20 to 30 minutes - well worth it!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Goats. Why do they exist, and what makes them so loud? Goat Simulator 3 might not answer these deep questions when it bursts onto PC on November 17th, but you can bet it'll make a lot of noise anyway. Watch the trailer below for a sneaky peek at what's next for the wacky even-toed ungulates.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Alice is away this week, leaving the lads to their own devices to discuss the best nice blokes in video games. A coincidence? Who can say. What isn't a coincidence is the lateness of this here podcast post, which is a week late. That's my bad, folks, which I think automatically disqualifies me from any kind of 'nice' list from here on out. Ah well. You win some, you lose some.

The winners in this week's edition of The Electronic Wireless Show, however, are numerous. Taking that nice engineer chap from Metro Exodus as the absolute pinnacle of 'best nice bloke-ness', Nate and Matthew have framed this week's episode as the four people they'd most like to invite to an afternoon pub trip. Who will make the cut? Listen to find out.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:50 AM
    

A lot of people love cats, as cyberpunk moggy sim Stray showed us when it launched last week. Now, you can enjoy Stray together with some buddies and/or pals thanks to a new multiplayer mod for the game. This is classic stuff people, because we're talking splitscreen local co-op.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:30 AM
    

I've been excited to play Exoprimal, Capcom's upcoming multiplayer dino shooter, ever since it used the phrase "unstoppable raptor horde" in one of its trailers. It is a completely unhinged combination of words that makes me giddy just thinking about them. I'll often find myself muttering them out loud when I'm unloading the dishwasher or folding laundry. "Unstoppable raptor horde". It's like the season finale of language. It's perfect.

Admittedly, prior to the existence of that phrase, I was feeling a little sceptical about Exoprimal's existence. Not only does Capcom have - let's say - a less than favourable track record when it comes to multiplayer titles, but as a long-term fan of Dino Crisis I was a bit miffed to see them creating a game featuring prehistoric creatures that wasn't some kind of lavish remake of my beloved PS1 series.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:09 AM
    

The world's greatest detective who isn't Batman will once again tangle with the many-tentacled forces of darkness in an upcoming remake of Frogwares' Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened. It serves as a sequel of sorts to Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, although they're calling it a "full remake and substantial rewrite" of the original. There isn't a trailer just yet, so feel free to anticipate that while you refresh your memory of exactly who Sherlock Holmes is by watching one for Chapter One below.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:02 AM
    

The Sims 4 High School Years is launching today, but its release looks set to be overshadowed by a couple of major bugs introduced by its supporting update, Patch 132. The patch came out on Tuesday and, if you've played The Sims 4 since then, you'll have automatically downloaded it unless you've been playing offline. While the patch's release coincides with the High School Years expansion and supports a number of its features, it also added several new elements to the ever-evolving base game. These include long-time fan requests like sexual orientation customisation, body hair options, and the return of a wants and fears system in the style of The Sims 2.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:00 AM
    

I really appreciate when games don't hold your hand. They don't waste time insulting your intelligence, they just set you loose in their playground. They let you strike out on your own, figure things out for yourself, and create something valuable with your own two paws.

Bear And Breakfast doesn't hold your hand. It wraps you up in a gigantic bear hug, and refuses to let you out of its smothering embrace until long after your enthusiasm has evaporated.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 8:53 AM
    

Flux is the first of cyberpunk thought-poser Citizen Sleeper's free DLCs, and it launches into the game today. It's the start of a series of three free episodes coming to the game, and features a new story that should last players around 1 or 2 hours. Catch a glimpse of what to expect when you watch the trailer below.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 8:13 AM
    

The first ever Life Is Strange tie-in novel, subtitled Steph's Story, has been announced for next year. The novel will be a prequel to last year's Life Is Strange: True Colors, and will follow recurring character Steph Gingrich and her bandmate-slash-girlfriend Izzie on the tour that will eventually lead them to Haven Springs, the game's setting.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, July 28, 2022 6:46 AM
    

An update to Minecraft: Java Edition is causing frustration among players over the possibility of being kicked out of their own private servers. Minecraft's 1.19.1 update released yesterday, but its introduction of a player reporting tool has been worrying players since the update went into pre-release in June. While you're pondering the future of Minecraft, you can watch a really awkwardly timed, tongue-in-cheek video from Mojang below.

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Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:29 PM
     Warhammer 40,000: Dark Tide has been delayed to November to allow more time for development.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:23 PM
     Today Level Infinite and Hotta Studio revealed another trailer of the upcoming online RPG Tower of Fantasy.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:01 PM
     Today Sega announced the beginning of the celebrations for the 15th anniversary of the beloved strategy JRPG Valkyria Chronicles.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:28 PM
     Is Guillermo de la Cruz gay?

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:21 PM
     How to solve this frustrating Warzone error.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:11 PM
     Vantage earns her place on the Apex Legends roster in the launch trailer for the highly anticipated Hunted update.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:54 AM
     Better subtitles is always the answer.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:37 AM
     Looking to build a deck that won't break the bank? We've got you covered. Here are the top 5 best Pokemon TCG Standard format budget decks.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:23 AM
     Microsoft revealed the games that will be granted in August 2022 to Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:54 AM
     Today Square Enix released an announcement about the previously-revealed expansion of the Final Fantasy XIV North American Data Center.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:44 AM
     Are Jesse and Walter returning?

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:56 AM
     Today Square Enix released the key artwork of the upcoming patch 6.2 for its super-popular MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:44 AM
     New features for PS5 beta users.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:20 AM
     Today Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium Games is launching the new major update for its space simulator in ongoing development.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:20 AM
     The highly anticipated second wave of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass is arriving next week. It includes eight new courses.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 8:54 AM
     Bandai Namco just released one more character trailer of its upcoming fighting game JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R.

Twinfinite Thursday, July 28, 2022 8:11 AM
     Shroud is in it for the long haul!

Siliconera Thursday, July 28, 2022 2:00 PM
    

Guilty Gear Strive perfumes - Sol Ky Ramlethal Jack-O

More perfumes inspired by Guilty Gear Strive characters have appeared in Japan. Fairytail Parfum has released a new wave of eau de parfum bottles in the country. The new perfume lineup consists of Sol Badguy, Ky Kiske, Ramlethal Valentine, and Jack-O.

This is not the first time Fairytail created perfumes for Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske. The perfume producer released their perfumes in 30ml bottles in July 2021. While it still uses the same ingredients as before, it packs the new perfumes in larger 50ml bottles.

In the meantime, Fairytail also created new combinations to produce Ramlethal's and Jack-O's perfumes. Here are the ingredients used in the new Guilty Gear Strive perfumes:

  • Ramlethal's perfume: Red thyme, jasmine, and peony at the top; powder, white freesia, and lily of the valley in the middle; white musk, suede, and spice at the bottom.
  • Jack-O's perfume: Fragrant olive, yuzu, and jasmine at the top; iris, apricot, and magnolia in the middle; musk and cedarwood at the bottom.

Fairytail Parfum did not limit its product lineup to Guilty Gear Strive's playable roster. It also released a couple of perfumes inspired by Dizzy and Elphelt Valentine. Both of them appeared as playable characters in the preceding Guilty Gear Xrd series, but Arc System Works has yet to add either of them to Strive.

Guilty Gear Strive is available on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, and arcades. In June 2022, Arc System Works released a large update patch that adjusted the gameplay balance for existing players. It is now working on a cross-play patch that connects PC players with PlayStation users and the second Season Pass that adds more playable characters.

The post Ramlethal and Jack-O Join Guilty Gear Strive Perfume Lineup appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:00 PM
    

Yakuza series PS Plus

A new Yakuza saga began with Yakuza: Like A Dragon, but Sony wants to let PS Plus subscribers have a chance at seeing the whole series. The Yakuza series will join PS Plus at the Extra and Premium tiers in 2022. That means 8 games, including Yakuza: Like A Dragon, will be available to PS Plus subscribers.

The one wrinkle is that the exact selection of the Yakuza series on PS Plus varies depending on the subscription tier. The offering starts in August 2022, with Yakuza: Like A Dragon. It's part of the PS Plus August 2022 slate, and is available to all PS Plus members from Essential tier up. The rest of the games in the Yakuza series are split across PS Plus Extra and Premium tiers.

Extra tier subscribers gain access to Yakuza 0Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2, and Yakuza 6: The Song of LifeYakuza 0 is a prequel to the series, taking place in the 1980s and showing how Kazuma Kiryu earned his reputation. Yakuza Kiwami is an enhanced remaster of the original PS2-era Yakuza, using tech and gameplay based on Yakuza 0Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of Yakuza 2, but based on the gameplay and graphics of Yakuza 6Yakuza 6 is the last game in the Kazuma Kiryu saga, and sees the Dragon of Dojima become a foster father.

Subscribers at the Premium tier of PS Plus get the remaining Yakuza series games in remastered form later in 2022. Yakuza 3 Remastered, Yakuza 4 Remastered, and Yakuza 5 Remastered are all exclusive to the PS Plus Premium tier. Unlike the Kiwami titles, the Remastered Yakuza games are more straight ports, and don't incorporate significant changes to gameplay or story. Yakuza 3 Remastered, though, features all the content that was cut from the original localized release of Yakuza 3 on PS3. Back then, the Yakuza series was unpopular and Sega deemed it infeasible to localize a number of activities and substories, opting to cut them to bring the project to a more manageable size.

Here's a full listing of the games per tier. Each tier includes the offerings for the tier below.

  • PS Plus Essential
    • Yakuza: Like A Dragon (PS4, PS5)
  • PS Plus Extra
    • Yakuza 0 (PS4)
    • Yakuza Kiwami (PS4)
    • Yakuza Kiwami 2 (PS4)
    • Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (PS4)
  • PS Plus Premium
    • Yakuza 3 Remastered (PS4)
    • Yakuza 4 Remastered (PS4)
    • Yakuza 5 Remastered (PS4)

The Yakuza series joins PS Plus starting in August. The games are all available sold separately, and the Yakuza Remastered titles are available as a bundle.

The post Yakuza Series Joins PS Plus Extra and Premium in 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:00 PM
    

PS Plus August 2022 games

"Ichiban" might mean "first" in Japanese, but he's coming to PlayStation fans' libraries in the "eighth" month. Sony is leading the PS Plus August 2022 games with Yakuza: Like A Dragon. The strategy RPG is part of PlayStation game offering for the month*. Alongside it are Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, and Little Nightmares.

*The selection reflects the North American PSN. Other regions may have different offerings.

All three PS Plus August 2022 games are available to all PS Plus subscribers, from the basic Essential tier up through Premium. They'll go up for download on August 2, 2022.

Also known as Yakuza 7, Yakuza: Like A Dragon begins a new saga in the Yakuza series. Ichiban Kasuga is a low-ranking gangster thug, fresh out of prison after serving 18 years for a crime he didn't commit. Players will see him uncover the truth behind the betrayal as they rise to power. Both the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game are available.

Also added to the PS Plus August 2022 slate is the remake of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2. Arguably the most iconic skateboarding games of all time, THPS 1 and first appeared on the PlayStation 1. Now they've been remastered for current platforms, including most of the original soundtrack and roster. Both PS4 and PS5 versions are available.

Horror-themed PS4 adventure game Little Nightmares rounds out the  selection. Players control a character named Six and help them escape The Maw, a vast vessel inhabited by corrupted souls.

The PS Plus August 2022 games become available on August 2, 2022. The current July 2022 PS Plus games are still available to add to the library. July's offerings include Crash Bandicoot 4, The Man of Medan, and Arcadegeddon. 

The post PS Plus August 2022 Games Add Yakuza: Like A Dragon appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Selvaria Bles in Valkyria Chronicles exhibit for 15th anniversary

A new Valkyria Chronicles exhibit will appear in Japan ahead of the series' 15th anniversary. A pre-opening of the Raita Honjou & Valkyria Chronicles Exhibit will take place at Phrase Gallery Akihabara from July 31 to September 4, 2022.

This exhibit will primarily feature illustrations from the Valkyria Chronicles series. There will be a focus on Valkyria Chronicles Duel, the mobile and PC browser card game that ran from 2012 to 2015. A shop selling merchandise related to the series will appear for the duration of the event. The venue will also double as Raita Honjou's personal art exhibit. Raita Honjou provided character designs for the Valkyria games, as well as for other titles like Fate/Grand Order. As such, the venue will also feature art and products other than Valkyria Chronicles and Sega-owned IPs.

The exhibit will be open five days a week. People in Japan will be able to visit the venue on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 14:00 to 18:00 JST, and Fridays to Sundays from 12:00 to 20:00 JST. The venue will not be available on Mondays and Thursdays.

The Valkyria Chronicles series' 15th anniversary will fall in April 2023. Sega released the first game in Japan on April 24, 2008. The series' latest entry, Valkyria Chronicles 4, came out in 2018 for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The first Valkyria Chronicles originally appeared on the PlayStation 3. The strategy RPG is also available on PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Valkyria Chronicles Exhibit Will Appear Ahead of 15th Anniversary appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:00 AM
    

T.M. Revolution Touhou Arcadia Record

Takanori Nishikawa, also known for their solo act T.M. Revolution, appeared in a commercial for Touhou Arcadia Record. Nishikawa dressed as popular Touhou Project character Reimu Hakurei. The commercial aired on Japanese televisions and is also available to watch on YouTube. [Thanks, Inside Games!]

The 30-second commercial initially features Nishikawa dressed as a Japanese high schooler. When his teacher catches him sleeping during class and throws a piece of chalk at him, Nishikawa transforms into Reimu Hakurei. Fittingly, Nishikawa's character is named "Nishikawa Reimu".

The transformation has Nishikawa fit snugly into a midriff-exposing outfit and full makeup, mimicking Reimu's appearance in the game.  Nishikawa then dodges an array of pink chalk, a la Touhou Arcadia Record's side-scrolling shoot-em-up game mechanics.

You can check out the full commercial in the video below:

https://youtu.be/Prsd0DKxa3o

The J-Pop musician is no stranger to the video game industry. Last year, miHoYo revealed that Nishikawa would voice the character Arataki Itto in Genshin Impact. He has also collaborated with games such as Azur Lane. Furthermore, Nishikawa has also voiced characters in several anime, including Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Sengoku Basara: End of Judgement. As T.M. Revolution, Nishikawa is best known for his song "Hot Limit".

Touhou Arcadia Record is available to play on iOS and Android devices in Japan. There is no official English release.

The post T.M. Revolution Cosplays Reimu for Touhou Arcadia Record appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Gundam Evolution surveys

The fans of Gundam Evolution have spoken. According to Gundam Evolution rankings taken by Bandai Namco, Gundam Unicorn is the most popular Gundam work. The data was gathered via surveys sent to participants in the Gundam Evolution closed network tests. Among other questions, Bandai Namco polled players on their favorite Gundam movies and series. Collected from players in both the North American and Japanese tests, they form a picture of which series are Gundam Evolution players' favorites, at least in those territories.

Bandai Namco shared the collated Gundam Evolution rankings via its official Twitter account. They're divided between Japan, North America, and a combined result for both territories.

https://twitter.com/gundamevolution/status/1552351959008497664

On the Japanese side, the Gundam Evolution rankings placed Gundam Unicorn in first place, followed by the Char's Counter Attack film. Gundam 00, Gundam Hathaway, and the original Gundam series made up the rest of the top 5. Universal Century series dominated the top rankings overall, making up 7 of the top 10 places. Zeta Gundam, The 08th MS Team, and Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory all placed. Of the original settings, Iron-Blooded Orphans and Gundam Seed joined 00 for the top spots.

On the North American side, Gundam Evolution rankings also favored the Universal Century. Mobile Suit Gundam placed highest among North American players. Unicorn and Char's Counter Attack still placed 3rd and 5th, respectively, while 08th MS Team and Zeta all made it into the top 10. That being said, there was more room in the North American top list for original settings. Iron-Blooded Orphans ranked 2nd, while Gundam Wing ranked 4th. Mobile Fighter G Gundam and Gundam Thunderbolt also proved popular in North America.

Finally, the consolidated Gundam Evolution rankings placed Gundam Unicorn, Mobile Suit Gundam and Char's Counter Attack in the top three entries. Though Bandai Namco didn't give the absolute number of respondents, the rankings were almost evenly split between North American and Japanese players.

Gundam Evolution is in development, with a target release window in 2022. It'll appear on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Check out Siliconera's impressions of the game from a previous test period.

The post Gundam Unicorn Leads Gundam Evolution Rankings appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, July 28, 2022 8:00 AM
    

Fuga Melodies of Steel 2 trailer

Fuga: Melodies of Steel is known for having a cutesy, furry-adjacent aesthetic that belies the tension in its gameplay and drama in its story. CyberConnect2 appears to be continuing in that mold, going by its new trailer for Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2.

The company uploaded a new video laying out the story on July 28, 2022. You can see it below.

Note: The Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2  trailer and the rest of the article may spoil elements of the first game.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OolRShEoq9I

 

The Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 trailer recalls a "secret movie" from the first game. That movie unlocks when players turn all the white gears on the title screen to orange. It previews the continuation of Fuga's story in Fuga 2, along with some rough concept art and voice acting. The new trailer follows most of the same beats, but uses more complete, colored art instead of rough sketches.

As in the secret movie, the trailer's story picks up after the conclusion of the first game's true ending. It also confirms earlier leaks about the premise. The Taranis, the giant tank from the first game, has gone berserk, taking some of the children hostage. To fight it and rescue their friends, the remaining children board the Tarascus, the tank piloted by Shvein Hax to make war upon those responsible. The trailer closes with Malt vowing revenge against his enemy, promising to find them and kill them.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is in development for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox X|S.
It launches in 2023.

The post Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 Trailer Teases Dark Moments appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, July 28, 2022 7:00 AM
    

digimon survive ch 5

The Twitter account for Digimon games Tweeted out a request for players to avoid posting about story content past Chapter 5 of Digimon Survive. Players will be free to talk about events past Chapter 5 two months after the release of Digimon Survive. That means you will be able to freely post about the whole game from September 29, 2022. This is so all players will have an equal opportunity to enjoy Digimon Survive for the first time.

That is not to say players are completely unable to talk about the entirety of the game. The Twitter account says they are free to do so if they make it clear their post contains spoilers, such as with hashtags. Spoiler hashtags on social media are often used by spoiler-averse players to filter that sort of content from their feeds. Bandai Namco didn't specify if it would take any enforcement action against spoilers (such as via takedown requests).

https://twitter.com/digimon_games/status/1552338028353437696

Requests like this are not new in the game industry. For example, Spike Chunsoft has requested that streamers and those posting on social media to avoid posting videos showing what happens after Chapter 1 of the Danganronpa games. The game also automatically prevents players from taking screenshots or videos past Chapter 1.

Digimon Survive is an upcoming story-focused turn-based strategy game, with an affinity system and visual novel-like narrative segments. Your choices will affect how Agumon will evolve, as well as the direction of the story. The development team noted that the game has an adult target audience in mind and thus the story will explore "darker" themes such as self-harm.

Digimon Survive will come out on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Windows PC on July 29, 2022.

The post Players Requested to Avoid Posting Digimon Survive Spoilers appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:30 PM
     Vrchat Mods Banned Due To Easy Anti Cheat Being AddedVRChat developer VRChat Inc. has announced plans to introduce anti-cheat detection. The next update will add support for Easy Anti-Cheat, a popular cheat detection tool used in a variety of games. The addition of anti-cheat is usually a good thing, but in this instance, it's causing a problematic side effect. Once Easy Anti-Cheat is live, using mods on VRChat will be a bannable offense. Mods are an important part of VRChat that have been used for years. Some of these mods are just for fun, but others are essential for players to enjoy the game. For example, one of the mods affected is VRC-CC. This mod adds closed captions to movie worlds so people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing can still enjoy movies with their friends. It's an essential accessibility mod that was created because the vanilla game doesn't offer an equivalent.   It isn't just accessibility that will be reduced due to VRChat receiving Easy Anti-cheat support. A lot of quality-of-life mods wi...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:15 AM
     Warzone Pacific best Vargo-S classThe Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific Season Four Reloaded update has arrived. Fans have been introduced to new game modes, an upcoming Terminator crossover and much more. As always, the mid-season update means that a new weapon has made its debut. This time, an assault rifle has been added to Vanguard and Warzone Pacific named the Vargo-S. This guide will take you through the attachments needed to build the best Vargo-S class in Warzone Pacific. Before you can use the Vargo-S, you must unlock it first. Luckily, you are tasked with the easiest unlock challenge to date: get 15 close-range kills. If challenges aren't your thing, you can always get your hands on the weapon straight away by purchasing the Vargo-S blueprint in the store. This class will focus on improving the fire rate, accuracy, and overall control of the weapon to improve its strength in long range gunfights and make sure you come out on top.   Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific best Vargo-S class Muzzle: Recoil Booste...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:00 AM
     Tower Of Fantasy Motorbikes And Release DateTower of Fantasy is a new shared open-world RPG being created by developer Hotta Studio and published by Level Infinite. Revealed last year, its anime-inspired art style instantly brings to mind games like Genshin Impact. Given that Tower of Fantasy also has an emphasis on multiplayer and gacha mechanics, that comparison makes even more sense. We now know that Tower of Fantasy will release on PC on August 10. Tower of Fantasy's anime-inspired art style is eye-catching. But, while that is a natural reason to compare it to Genshin Impact, its sci-fi premise should hopefully be enough to set it apart from similar games in this crowd.   "In Tower of Fantasy, dwindling resources and a lack of energy have forced mankind to leave earth and migrate to Aida, a lush and habitable alien world," reads the game description. "There, they observed the comet Mara and discovered an unknown but powerful energy called 'Omnium' contained in it. They built the Omnium Tower ...

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:00 PM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, July 28, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, July 28, 2022 2:00 PM
     One of the Shrines in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the Daqa Koh Shrine or the Stalled Flight. This Shrine requires Link to connect the power source on top of a large concrete cube in the middle of the room to the switch on the ceiling of the room to open […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:00 PM
     One of the Shrines in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the Mo'a Keet Shrine, or the Metal Makes a Path. This shrine requires Link to traverse through a few ramps with large spheres rolling through them to reach the altar and the monk. This shrine may seem confusing and intimidating, but […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:00 PM
     You get to play Golf and drive around a Caddy in GTA 5. Golf is one of only a handful of sports-related activities you can engage in around Los Santos (the other sport being Tennis). However, you can't fault Rockstar Games for including just a few sports activities in GTA 5, as the execution and […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:00 AM
     Yae Miko is the head shrine maiden or the Lady Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. She is not just the descendant of Hakushin Kitsune's lineage but also Eternity's servant and friend. She has as many nicknames as her changeable moods. Lady Yae is undoubtedly gorgeous, but hidden under her beautiful appearance are unimaginable intelligence […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, July 28, 2022 6:59 AM
     Grand Theft Auto has always been more of a boy's game, and even if the game has always been filled with all kinds of women, the latest entry is said to be finally giving players a woman protagonist for the first time. According to a report from Bloomberg (via Kotaku) one of the co-leads of […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, July 28, 2022 6:13 AM
     Brawlhalla has managed to crossover with several huge properties in the past like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, and Adventure Time; but now they've announced incoming characters from one of Ubisoft's most successful franchises. Check out Ezio and Eivor from Assassin's Creed duking it out in Brawlhalla: AC's Ezio and Eivor Join Brawlhalla! […]