Sep 01, 12:00


Kotaku Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:30 AM
    

Sony just announced its September lineup of games for its subscription service yesterday, and it's pretty loaded. PS Plus members will be able to download Arkane's stylish immersive sim Deathloop, as well as older crowd-pleasers such as Assassin's Creed Origins and Watch Dogs 2. At the other end of the budget…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:20 AM
    

The Pokémon Company has revealed the latest new rascally little monster to appear in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and it's quite the scamp. Grafaiai, as the name somewhat implies, is a graffiti artist, and it's tagging your trees.

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Kotaku Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:30 AM
    

"This video may be inappropriate for some users," YouTube warns me after I select a video posted by 28-year-old Texan Kaitlyn Siragusa, who is better known online as the hot tub tsarina of Twitch, Amouranth.

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Kotaku Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:00 AM
    

It's rare for a dating simulator to let players revel in their sexcapades while dishing out hard truths about the consequences of their actions, but this queer visual novel made by a development team composed entirely by people of color is built different.

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Kotaku Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:45 AM
    

Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer has taken to his blog this morning to assuage fears that this year's Call Of Duty may not come to PlayStation, in light of Microsoft's ongoing attempted merger with Activision Blizzard. In the same breath, he says franchises like Diablo and Overwatch are headed to Game Pass, though it's…

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PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:26 AM
     AMD confirms

AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs are less than a month a way, with the processor series being the first from team red to support PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM. With there being so many memory sticks to choose from, each with different speeds and price points, the company has helpfully shared what the "sweet spot" spec most users should opt for.

RELATED LINKS: Ryzen 7000 CPUs - everything we know, RDNA 3 GPUs - everything we know, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:14 AM
     Trivium's Matt Heafy on Metal Hellsinger:

Trivium singer Matt Heafy has very much cemented himself as not just a metal icon, but a gaming sensation, making his involvement in Funcom's rhythm-based FPS game Metal Hellsinger a perfect match. The performer and Twitch streamer has scored guest spots in The Elder Scrolls and Martial Arts Tycoon, but he calls his Hellsinger debut truly "special".

RELATED LINKS: Best FPS games, Metal Hellsinger system requirements, Best gaming headset

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:05 AM
     Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Diablo planned for Game Pass

Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Diablo will eventually be added to Microsoft's subscription service Game Pass, says Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer, who describes how the company's merger with Activision Blizzard will eventually affect the World of Warcraft maker's game library.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:04 AM
     Stardew Valley tribute Grimoire Groves is a roguelike with plant pals

Stardew Valley has reinvented the life game genre, directly inspiring Stardust's roguelike dungeon crawler, Grimoire Groves. The premise, however, is much lighter than a typical dark and dreary hack roguelike, instead tasking players with feeding plants and befriending woodland creatures.

RELATED LINKS: Best roguelikes on PC, Best life games, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:11 AM
     League of Legends skin preview: Zenith Games

League of Legends skins line Zenith Games is due for release soon, celebrating the highest of athletic achievements. The back-end of 2022 is filled with sporting goodness; from the highly-popular MOBAs Worlds tournament to the football World Cup, there's a lot to like for anyone who's even remotely into high-level competition.

RELATED LINKS: Best LoL Champions , League of Legends patch 12.16 notes, LoL tier list

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:48 AM
     Multiversus tier list September 2022: best characters ranked

Are you looking for a Multiversus tier list? The Warner Bros fighting game is now in its first season, with players gaining access to some brand new characters. Soon, we will know how the likes of Morty compare to the most powerful characters on the roster, from DC Superheroes such as Batman and Wonder Woman to Cartoon Network favourites like Finn the Human and Steven Universe. Of course, we can't discount those throwback characters from Warner Bros' back catalogue of shows acquired over the years, including Shaggy and Velma from Scooby Doo.

With such an illustrious gathering of fighters, a Multiversus tier list was inevitable. Judging by other competitive multiplayer games, ranking these fighters goes beyond looking at their individual abilities. Multiversus focuses on team-based combat, with each fighter broken down into roles such as Bruiser and Tank.

In order to create the definitive Multiversus tier list, we looked at how easy that character is to learn, how well each fighter interacts with their partner, and how good they are on their own. If your roster is looking a little thin, take a look at our guide to unlock characters in Multiversus, so you can be sure to spend your hard-won currency on the best fighters in the game.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:49 AM
     Current Multiversus free characters, rotation, and schedule

Want to know which Multiversus free characters are on rotation? If you're starting the fighting game for the first time, you don't have access to the entire roster right away unless you cough up the cash for a Founder's Pack. Fortunately, Multiversus gives players access to a number of free characters which appear on a biweekly basis.

The current batch of free characters in Multiversus includes Harley Quinn, Bugs Bunny, Shaggy, and Velma. It's important to note that any progress made using these characters carries over once you unlock them, allowing you to carry on where you left off. Your progress always carries over regardless of how you end up unlocking the characters, whether that be with in-game gold, by spending Gleamium, or using character tokens from the Founder's Pack.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:44 AM
     Minecraft mod YouTuber insists you be hit by an anvil

Minecraft mod YouTubers are all getting into comedy instead of just making useful things. In fact, we'd argue that a lot of the more recent videos like the one that adds in chicken hats and the one that turns swords into helicopters, are more just the YouTubers flexing than anything else.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:28 AM
     Fortnite Brie Larson character could be coming soon

So Fortnite and Brie Larson could well be joining up soon. This wouldn't be the first time we've seen a big celebrity in the game, thanks to the introduction of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, not to mention things like the Fortnite Icon Series and in-game concerts too.

RELATED LINKS: Fortnite Refer a Friend, Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 4 speculation, Fortnite Dragon Ball event details

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:56 AM
     All Genshin Impact Phantasmal Seed Strange Arch locations

If you're looking for Genshin Impact Phantasmal Seed locations, you're already deep into the anime game's Sumeru region, released during the 3.0 update. The region is home to Arana, an NPC based in Vanarana, who will help you awaken Strange Arches, otherwise known as Phantasmal Gates.

During the World of Aranara quest, you obtain a Vintage Lyre before discovering Vanarana, the home of the Tree of Dreams. Playing the Lyre when you arrive on the outskirts of Vanarana opens the first Strange Arch, and sets you on your first challenge collecting these Phantasmal Seeds. Knowing the locations of the rest of these gates will help you when gathering all Genshin Impact Phantasmal Seeds, making it easy to complete the quest.

RELATED LINKS: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:51 AM
     The best Tower of Fantasy Frigg build

On the hunt for the best Tower of Fantasy Frigg build? An SSR simulacrum and a prominent antagonist in the Tower of Fantasy storyline, Frigg has been available to play in China for quite some time, and her global release makes her one of the most highly anticipated Tower of Fantasy characters to date. Wielding her deadly ice katana, Balmung, her moveset is geared towards hack-and-slash combat, dashing forwards to unleash a devastating attack combo and then dodging out of the enemy's reach before they can respond.

Before we get into our best Frigg build, it's important to note that Tower of Fantasy's character equipment differs slightly from that of similar titles such as Genshin Impact, as each character is irrevocably tied to their unique Tower of Fantasy weapon. Consequently, our best Tower of Fantasy Frigg build will focus on the core skill you should prioritise in your rotation, along with the best team composition and matrices to optimise it. If you're still new to the world of Aida, take a look at our Tower of Fantasy leveling guide, as well as our Tower of Fantasy beginners guide for some helpful hints and tips to get you up to speed with Hotta Studio's breakout anime game. That said, here is our best Tower of Fantasy Frigg build.

RELATED LINKS: Tower of Fantasy codes, Tower of Fantasy characters, How to level up in Tower of Fantasy

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:34 AM
     Halo Infinite Forge mode used to recreate Andy's room in Toy Story

The Halo Infinite Forge mode has already been used to create a variety of imaginative and inventive builds, including a reimagining of the cancelled Silent Hill horror game PT, but now one visionary player is creating a full-scale recreation of Andy's iconic bedroom from Toy Story.

RELATED LINKS: Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite Bosses, Halo Infinite ranks

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:28 AM
     Best Japan VPN services for 2022

Which are the best Japan VPN services available in 2022? This is a question that many gamers will ask themselves, since Japan is such a hub for video game development, and there's a long list of iconic games that never make the journey to the west.

For all the gamers with a fondness for Japan's finest developers, we have picked out a selection of the best Japan VPN services. We should clarify, however, that these are not VPN businesses that are located in Japan, but rather, VPN services which provide VPN servers within Japan, allowing you to connect with a Japanese IP address.

Our top pick is ExpressVPN (and we'll explain why below), but we understand that it might not be for everybody, so we also have four other options too, including our choice of the fastest VPN, and the best cheap VPN. Regardless of your needs or your budget, we're sure that we'll have a VPN recommendation that's just right for you.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:24 AM
     Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Shift codes – September 2022

Looking for Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Shift codes? A chance to get even better loot returns, something fans of previous Borderlands games will be familiar with. Shift codes can be used to obtain Skeleton Keys which unlock premium in-game loot such as Tiny Tina's Wonderlands legendary weapons to suit your chosen Tiny Tina's Wonderlands class and playstyle.

You can redeem Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Shift codes either through the Shift tab in the in-game social menu or at the Shift Gearbox Software website - you need to navigate to the mail section to redeem the key. Redeeming a Shift code rewards you with a Skeleton Key, which you can use to unlock the Skeleton Chest for rewards. This chest can be found at the foot of the castle underneath the statue in Brighthoof.

Here are all the active Shift codes in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. New Shift codes will become available through Tiny Tina's Wonderlands social accounts, so keep an eye on Gearbox accounts, but we'll be sure to keep this guide updated with the latest Shift codes as they're announced.

RELATED LINKS: Tiny Tina's Wonderlands review, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands legendary weapons, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands best builds

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:12 AM
     The best Minecraft seeds 2022

What are the best Minecraft seeds? These seeds are codes that the game uses to generate worlds for you - worlds full of exciting landscapes and key landmarks ripe for exploration. They cover everything from jaw-dropping vistas and landscapes to thrilling dungeons bursting with loot.

Your job is simple: pick the one you want to play around in, whether that's an ideal spawn location for gathering the best loot or exploring an idyllic landscape. In order to get the best Minecraft seeds up and running, you have to grab the seed code and enter it into the seed field when you're next creating your next Minecraft world. The game does all the heavy lifting, leaving you to survey your new surroundings to your heart's content.

Regardless of whether you're a professional miner or someone about to load up their first world, there's something you can't control in Minecraft: the terrain itself. So while your mind may be brimming with possibilities, all too frequently, you'll spawn in a bland, uninspiring world full of flat grassland and the odd chicken. Hardly the canvas for your masterpiece. Hence this collection of the best Minecraft seeds, from the inspiring to the functional and everything in between.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:04 AM
     Roblox music codes September 2022 – the best song IDs

Looking for Roblox music codes? There are thousands of popular songs available to listen to in Roblox, simply by entering music ID codes into your boombox or the radio. Using song IDs, you can play your favourite TikTok songs in games with your friends.

So how do you play music in Roblox? The method varies depending on which game you want to blast your tunes in. Some games allow you free access to the boombox - simply equip and press it to bring up a text box in which you can enter a song ID code. Catalog Heaven is a great place to test the Roblox music codes you find, as it allows you to equip any boombox in the shop and try it out.

In most games, however, you'll need to use the radio to play music. This is usually part of a paid Game Pass - the price of a Game Pass is set by each game developer individually. Once you have access to the radio, you can use it in the same way as the boombox - simply enter the song ID code and press play. Occasionally, tracks are taken down by Roblox, so if a code stops working, you'll have to look for a replacement. Here are the best radio music codes in Roblox that work in September 2022:

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:02 AM
     Return to Monkey Island system requirements – no GPU needed?

Return to Monkey Island system requirements feel a bit retro, as you can play the point-and-click adventure using a twelve-year-old GPU. Naturally, that means you won't need the best graphics card to experience Ron Gilbert's swashbuckling romp, and there's a chance you won't even need a machine with dedicated graphics.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:59 AM
     Red Dead Redemption 2 player punished by Rockstar for reporting cheats

A Red Dead Redemption 2 player has had his Red Dead Online character reset to level 1, after he submitted multiple cheater reports to Rockstar complaining of hackers and griefers in the open-world western.

RELATED LINKS: Red Dead Redemption 2 PC review, RDR2 PC legendary animal hunts, RDR2 money guide

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:51 AM
     Intel Arc GPUs could beat Nvidia RTX ray tracing performance

Not one to be deterred by a troublesome launch, Intel is now claiming that its Arc GPUs will be able to match or exceed the performance of Nvidia GeForce RTX cards. Team blue continues to drum up excitement for its Intel Arc A series graphics cards, despite the fact we're yet to see more than one model materialise let alone be widely available.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:51 AM
     Roblox promo codes list September 2022 – how to redeem

Looking for Roblox promo codes? There are all sorts of promo codes from Roblox events and giveaways out there, that grant you free virtual goods like clothes and items. No need to fork out cash for accessories; new codes are added all the time, so you can keep your Roblox character looking fresh.

Roblox promo codes won't hang around forever, though - they're only valid for a limited time, so be sure to redeem them as soon as you discover one you haven't used yet. Redeeming them is simple - log in to the Roblox website and navigate to their promo codes page, where you can enter your code, and the item will automatically be added to your account straight away.

Promo codes aren't the only source of free items, though; you can also find free Roblox stuff in the avatar shop. There are far too many to list, but there are hundreds of items available for nothing: simply click the 'get' button next to their catalog listing to add them to your account. Be sure to check back here regularly, as we'll update this page whenever new Roblox promo codes are released.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:41 AM
     Genshin Impact codes September 2022 – redeem free primogems

Looking for Genshin Impact codes? MiHoYo's charming open-world game is notoriously easy to lose yourself in, and if you're like us, you're constantly looking out for more Genshin Impact primogems and other handy consumables.

Gathering currency in Genshin Impact can be quite the grind - while you can earn mora and primogems by completing quests such as daily commissions, an injection of extra funds will always be gratefully received. Fortunately, the developers MiHoYo occasionally send out free gifts in the form of Genshin Impact codes that can be redeemed online.

These Genshin Impact codes are released periodically, frequently appearring in MiHoYo's special programs that reveal information about future updates coming to the game soon, but also to celebrate milestones or to coincide with new Genshin Impact events. Most codes also only work for a limited time - so it's a good idea to redeem them as soon as possible in case you miss out. Codes can only be redeemed once per account. Here are all the current Genshin Impact codes for September 2022, and how to redeem them.

RELATED LINKS: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:33 AM
     Red Dead Redemption 2 is 50% off in the Humble Bundle summer sale

Red Dead Redemption 2, the Bethesda-published action adventure game which came to PC in 2019, is now available in the Humble Bundle sale at a huge 50% discount. If you haven't yet taken this classic game for a spin, now would be the ideal time to do so, as it doesn't go on offer very often

Red Dead 2 certainly has a lot to offer too, with it's massive interpretation of the Wild West giving you so much to see and explore. At the heart of it all, there's a deeply emotive and compelling storyline driving things along. But if you prefer to spend your time playing poker, hunting animals, or encountering random strangers, then you can do that as well. It's a game that offers many possibilities.

Of course, Red Dead Redemption 2 is just one of the many games that you can get at a hefty discount in the Humble Bundle summer sale. You can also get Batman: Arkham Collection at 85% off, Cuphead at 30% off, Saints Row: The Ultimate Franchise Pack at 69% off, and countless others. It's a great opportunity to fill your library with any games you might be missing.

RELATED LINKS: Red Dead Redemption 2 PC review, RDR2 PC legendary animal hunts, RDR2 money guide

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:23 AM
     The best Minecraft texture packs

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

We've compiled this list of the best Minecraft texture packs in one handy location. There's nothing too crazy here, as massive visual overhauls tend to be part of more extensive Minecraft mods that fundamentally change the game, but that's another article entirely.

One thing to note is that this list of the best Minecraft texture packs is for the Java Edition of Minecraft, which you can access via the new PC launcher, so if you're using the Bedrock Edition, you're likely to run into some issues. However, it's worth mentioning these Minecraft texture packs will work on the Java version you can find in the PC Game Pass version. Below is a fantastic selection of texture packs that give Minecraft altered visual styles, from the ultra-realistic to the cartoonish, to far-out sci-fi and subtle makeovers.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:19 AM
     GTA Online weekly update adds new car the Declasse Vigero ZX

The GTA Online weekly update for September 1 is upon us, bringing another new car to the online multiplayer game as part of the rollout of vehicles introduced in the GTA 5 Criminal Enterprises expansion. Official patch notes from Rockstar should arrive shortly, but we have all the key details for the week right here. The main highlight for the week of September 1 is the stylish new Declasse Vigero ZX.

The new Declasse Vigero ZX is a 2-door 'pony car' (for the uninitiated, think a souped-up, sporty coupé) based on the Chevrolet Camaro Gen 6. It's a very snazzy addition to your roster of vehicles, and can be yours for a cool $1,970,000 worth of your in-game GTA money. It's available from the Southern San Andreas Super Autos store or at Simeon's Auto Shop, if you're ready and willing to drop the big bucks to ride around in style.

In terms of the newly opened car dealerships for the week of September 1, the Luxury Autos car dealership is offering the Annis S80RR and the Overflod Imorgon. Meanwhile, Simeon's Auto Shop has a slightly more expansive range on offer, with the Canis Mesa, Imponte Beater Dukes, Dundreary Landstalker XL, Bravado Banshee, and the aforementioned Declasse Vigero ZX. In celebration of the addition of Sprunk as a consumable in the online mode, you can pick up all five of these in a tasteful Sprunk green. You can also net yourself some lovely green tint oversize shades just for logging in.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:07 AM
     Genshin Impact events – all current and upcoming events

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

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

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

RELATED LINKS: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:47 AM
    

If you thought things could get awkward and tense in Crusader Kings 3 then just wait for the arrival of its Friends And Foes pack on September 8th. There's also the upcoming free Bastion update, which introduces memory maps for characters, the loyal and disloyal traits, and revamps childhood events. Have a watch of the trailer for Friends And Foes below, old buddy, old pal.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:18 AM
    

Last week HyperX announced their first-ever gaming monitors, the Armada 25 and Armada 27, and within a couple of days I was being led into their Gamescom booth to try each of them for myself. After a disappointingly uncomfortable preview of the Samsung Odyssey Ark, it was nice to get to grips with a far more utilitarian pair of monitors – albeit not without a party trick of their own, namely HyperX's Armada Gaming Mount.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:11 AM
    

Standing on the shoulders of giants (Brendy and Pip and everyone else who did the podcast before us) means we have reached episode 200 of The Electronic Show podcast! Wowzer! Thanks for being with us for this record-breaking feat. We asked for suggestions and received many excellent ones, but in the end we went with a suggestion from Jonathon which, at the time we recorded, I did not realise would be instantly revealed by the episode title. Cheers to you all!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:40 AM
    

Further investigation of Microsoft's $68.7 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard is needed by the UK's competition regulator, a statement on the government's website confirmed today. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began the preliminary stage of their investigation at the beginning of July, with a deadline set for September 1st. That initial stage of investigation found that the deal could "substantially lessen competition in gaming consoles, multi-game subscription services, and cloud gaming services".

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
    

What looks like promotional material for an unreleased Assassin's Creed game is being shared online today, starring someone in assassin garb for the first time in seven years. The images show what's purported to be artwork of something called The Forty Thieves Quest for the rumoured Assassin's Creed: Mirage, also known by the development name of Rift.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 8:08 AM
    

Stories always came first for the team at NOVECT. The critical and commercial success of The House In Fata Morgana surprised many upon the title's international release, including the developers themselves. Headlines were made when the game shot temporarily to the spot of most critically-acclaimed game of all time on Metacritic, despite being still relatively under the radar beforehand. Fata Morgana first released to the public in Japan in 2012, and gained a cult following before its eventual successful international release. The reason for it's acclaim? Storytelling. Every single review praised Fata Morgana's surprising and enthralling twists and turns as what made this visual novel a must-play title, even for non-fans of the genre.

At the time development started, NOVECT were less a development studio, and more of a group of univeristy friends with minimal coding experience but a love for telling stories; a hobby project run by friends on the side of university and normal jobs inside and out of the games industry, only becoming a fully-fledged studio later down the line. Fast forward to today, NOVECT are a firmly-established indie developer with games and multimedia adaptations of their work under their belt, and new project still mysteriously known as "Project Code Name 'M'" now in the works. Originally starting development in 2019 and announced earlier this year, Project M had its first public demo at this month's Bitsummit indie gaming showcasing in Kyoto.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:39 AM
    

Futuristic cel-shaded skate 'em up Bomb Rush Cyberfunk has seen its release window pushed back. The spiritual successor to classic Dreamcast skateathon Jet Set Radio had been scheduled to arrive sometime this year. You can now expect to play it in summer 2023.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:00 AM
    

There were high expectations going into Buried Memory, patch 6.2 for Final Fantasy XIV - new raids, new story, and, most importantly, a new mode called Island Sanctuary to fulfil all of your farming dreams. There were Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing memes aplenty in the run up to release, with players hungry to customise their own cosy piece of Hydaelyn.

Meant as a casual mode to relax away from dungeons and grinding levels, Island Sanctuary has no Job level limitations and can be enjoyed by anyone. Even though you can craft your own buildings and gather materials, you don't need to have played any gathering or crafting classes. With a base to customise, crops to tend to and a pasture full of animals to pet, it's easy to see why comparisons were drawn to other farming games such as Stardew Valley.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 1, 2022 5:56 AM
    

Today was due to be the day when some older Ubisoft games would see their online services decommissioned, but the company is granting them a temporary reprieve. You now have until October 1st to cram in some multiplayer for several early Assassin's Creeds, the original version of Far Cry 3, Driver: San Francisco and others. Ubisoft say they've been "exploring what is possible to reduce disruption" over the last month, hence the shuffled date for decommissioning.

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Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:56 AM
     Halo Infinite further delaying campaign co-op looks pretty bad.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:33 AM
     Party with DJ KK and Deep Cut when they perform live in Japan this October.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:30 AM
     Co-op makes everything better!

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:24 AM
     Goddess of Victory: NIKKE's release date may not be far off.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:43 AM
     GTA Online adds a bunch of new stuff in this week's update.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:33 AM
     The latest new Pokemon for Scarlet and Violet has been revealed.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:12 AM
     It's finally happening: Twitter is adding an edit button... but there's a catch!

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:03 AM
     The latest Flintlock gameplay looks excellent in its new Gamescom trailer.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:38 AM
     A hint at what's to come in Fortnite's future!

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Here's how to get even more Ooblets in Ooblets.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Find out how Ooblets 1.0 fares in our official review.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Here's how to win dance battles in Ooblets.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Here's how to change clothes and get outfits in Ooblets.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Don't sleep on these new 2022 shows on Apple TV+.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Here's how to repair Gimble's hot air balloon in Ooblets.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Here's how to get Mamoonia Ooblets in Ooblets.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Here's how to restore energy in Ooblets.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 8:14 AM
     2010's Monsters is dominating Hulu right now.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 8:00 AM
     Microsoft's big merger deal with Activision is raising eyebrows.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:45 AM
     Don't be stumped by 5-letter words starting with F and ending with I for Wordle, let us help.

Siliconera Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:15 AM
    

Japan tourism

After years of strict restrictions on tourism in Japan, it may soon become easier for people to travel to the country from abroad. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on August 31st that the Japanese government would begin allowing "nonescorted visitors" into the country starting from September 7, 2022. It would also raise the cap on daily arrivals from overseas to 50,000. Further loosening of Japan tourism controls would be considered based on prevailing conditions [Thanks, Japan Times!].

Since the outbreak of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Japan has maintained particularly strict controls on entry from other countries, especially for tourism. In 2019, Japan saw almost 32 million visitors from overseas. But after the imposition of border restrictions, travel and tourism dropped to a trickle. In 2021 less than 250,000 people entered the country from overseas for any reason. In June 2022 the government began allowing foreign tourists back in, but only under strict, guided tour programs. Just 252 tourists entered in June, with 7,903 in July 2022.

Now the country will loosen things a little further, allowing nonescorted visitors as long as they're on "package tours". It isn't clear at this time how the Japanese government defines a "package tour". Considering the use of "nonescorted", though, that seems to suggest that at least a planned itinerary for would-be visitors. Tourists will need "sponsors", travel agencies or other contacts in Japan to contact in case of infection with COVID-19. Backpackers and solo travelers without a local contact might not be allowed in. Prime Minister Kishida also mentioned that the requirement for a pre-arrival PCR coronavirus test would also be dropped for travelers with at least three doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

Japanese tourism restrictions will ease from September 7, 2022. The Tokyo Game Show is set to kick off on September 15, 2022. It'll happen both online and at Tokyo's Makuhari Messe venue. Check out more on how to watch the online portion of the show here.

The post Japan to Relax Tourism Controls From September 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:15 AM
    

PS Plus September 2022 Games

More games are coming this month for PS Plus subscribers. In a blog post, Sony outlined the PS Plus September 2022 Games coming to the service. Leading the charge at the basic Essential tier of service are Ghost Games' Need for Speed Heat, Cygames and Arc System Works' Granblue Fantasy Versus, and Something We Made's BAFTA Award-winning TOEM.

Meanwhile, the PS Plus September 2022 games for the pricier Extra and Premium tiers include some hits both new and older. These include Deathloop, Chicory: A Colorful TaleRayman Legends, and Assassin's Creed Origins. Premium tier subscribers will also gain more additions to the Classic Games Catalog. Of particular note is Sucker Punch's Sly Cooper series. The Extra and Premium games arrive on September 20, 2022.

Players have until September 6, 2022 to claim the games from the August 2022 Essential-tier offering, which include Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2, and Little Nightmares.

Here's the full list of PS Plus September 2022 games, separated by tier. Higher tiers are entitled to all of the titles in the lower tiers. Note that these are the games for North American PS Plus subscriptions. Other regions' offerings may vary.

  • PS Plus Essential
    • Need for Speed Heat (PS4)
    • Granblue Fantasy Versus (PS4)
    • TOEM (PS5)
  • PS Plus Extra
    • Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX (PS4, PS5)
    • Assassin's Creed Origins (PS4)
    • Chicory: A Colorful Tale (PS4)
    • Deathloop (PS5)
    • Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (PS4)
    • Monster Energy Supercross 5 (PS4, PS5)
    • Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show (PS4)
    • Rayman Legends (PS4)
    • Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition (PS4)
    • Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition (PS4)
    • Watch Dogs 2 (PS4)
  • PS Plus Premium
    • Syphon Filter 2 (PS1)
    • The Sly Collection (PS3)
    • Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3)
    • Bentley's Hackpack (PS3)
    • Toy Story 3 (PSP)
    • Kingdom of Paradise (PSP)

The PS Plus September 2022 games debut on September 6 and 20, 2022.

The post PS Plus September 2022 Games Include Deathloop, Granblue appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Quantic Dream NetEase

Quantic Dream is now a part of NetEase Games. The companies announced the move on August 31, 2022. The France-based studio represents NetEase Games' first and largest European developer acquisition. According to the press release, Quantic Dream will continue to operate independently, "focusing on creating and publishing its video games on all platforms," and "supporting third-party developed titles". NetEase previously acquired a minority stake in Quantic Dream in 2019. The cost of the acquisition was not revealed.

In recent years, major China-based game companies like NetEase and Tencent (which alongside Sony grabbed a chunk of Dark Souls developer From Software) have gone on investment and acquisition sprees. Individual developers like Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and Suda51's Grasshopper Manufacture have all joined up with the publisher.

Based in Paris, France, Quantic Dream is headed by David Cage and Guillaume de Fondaumière, and created well-known adventure games like Indigo Prophecy (a.k.a. Fahrenheit), Omikron: The Nomad SoulHeavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human. Its titles became associated with cinematic focus, choice-based branching narratives, and Quick Time Event-like action prompts. It's currently working with Lucasfilm Games on Star Wars Eclipse. An announcement at Gamescom 2022 revealed that it's also working with developer Parallel Studio to produce Under the Waves, an underwater diving-based adventure game. In a blog post, the company expressed hope that the investment by NetEase would allow it to focus on further building its technology and infrastructure, develop several projects simultaneously, and expand its team to tackle next-generation games.

Quantic Dream also ran into legal trouble in the last few years. A joint investigation by French newspapers Le Monde, Mediaparte, and Canard PC published in 2018 alleged that the company fostered a toxic corporate culture and encouraged racist and sexist behavior, as well as labor violations such as excessive "crunch time" and wrongful termination. Some of the cases went to court as former employees filed suit, while Quantic Dream sued the media outlets for libel. The suits went to trial, resulting in a mix of results, though the libel charges against the papers were cleared.

Star Wars Eclipse and Under the Waves are in development, with the latter set for release in 2023 on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Star Wars Eclipse does not have a release window or platforms, and is said to be in the "early stages" of production.

The post Detroit: Become Human Dev Quantic Dream Acquired by NetEase appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 1, 2022 8:00 AM
    

It's Miku's birthday, and Good Smile Company is celebrating with a scale figure of the 15th Anniversary Version of Hatsune Miku. Pre-orders are open from August 31 to October 13, 2022. The scale figure costs 43,329 JPY, or $309.99. She will come out in December 2023 for those in Japan, and February 2024 for those in North America.

The 15th Anniversary Version of Miku has a strawberry and spring theme. The base of the figure is a plate, which has a macaron on it as well. She holds in her hand a strawberry-themed fork, as well as a strawberry. Her long pigtails have flowers in the strands, and there are strawberry-themed ribbons near the ends. You cannot detach the fork from her body.

Here are some more pictures of the 15th Anniversary Version Hatsune Miku 1/7 scale figure:

[gallery columns="5" ids="934689,934688,934687,934686,934685" link="file"]

There is also a Nendoroid version that opened for pre-order on August 5, 2022. Pre-orders are available while supplies last. However, the North American Good Smile Company website notes that the pre-order period will end on October 12, 2022. The 15th Anniversary Hatsune Miku Nendoroid figure will come out in December 2022.

Good Smile Company first teased this Miku figure during Smile Fest 2022. Back then, it displayed a painted prototype for the figure in its gallery. Other scale figures Good Smile Company showed during Smile Fest 2022 include ones of Sophie from Atelier Sophie, Arcueid Brunestud from Tsukihime, and Chisato Nishikigi from Lycoris Recoil.

You can pre-order the 15th Anniversary Version Hatsune Miku scale figure from Good Smile Company until October 13, 2022. She will ship out in December 2023 for Japan and February 2024 for North America.

The post Hatsune Miku 15th Anniversary Figure Costs Over $300 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:00 AM
    

new genesis one piece

The main theme for One Piece Film: Red, "New Genesis," has entered the Top 5 of Apple Music's Top 100: Global daily chart. As of the time of writing in Canada, "New Genesis" is in fourth place, while in Japan, it is number one. Three of the eight songs in Ado's One Piece Film: Red album are in the Top 100 as well. [Thanks, Famitsu]

Aside from "New Genesis," the songs in the Top 100 are "I'm Invincible," "Backlight," and "Fleeting Lullaby." That means that half of the One Piece Film: Red album from Ado has ranked in Apple Music's Top 100 list. This list shows what the most-played songs around the world are, and it update every day.

"New Genesis" marks the first time that a Japanese song has been number one on this list. As well, the entire album has broken weekly streaming records on Apple Music for the entire J-Pop genre. Ado sang all of the songs, though she has a different collaborator for each one. Yasutaka Nakata worked with her on "New Genesis," for example, while Mrs. Green Apple wrote "I'm Invincible."

Check out the official music video for the song below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FliVTcX8bQ

The music of One Piece Film: Red is not the only award-winning aspect of it. Within ten days of its official debut, it already made over 7.06 billion JPY (or $53 million). It has already become the most successful One Piece movie in the entire franchise.

One Piece Film: Red is available in theaters in Japan, and it will appear on Crunchyroll in Fall 2022. Uta's songs is available for streaming via Apple Music and other similar services.

The post One Piece Film Red New Genesis Song Hits #1 on Apple Music Charts appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:00 AM
     Torchlight Infinite closed beta Lean Phantom tentaclesFans looking for one last opportunity to test out developer XD Game's upcoming loot-based action RPG Torchlight: Infinite can attend its third closed beta in a few days. This beta will begin on September 4 at 10 PM EST and end on September 18 at10 PM EST. So, you should get quite a bit of time to grow accustomed to the game's various features. Even though its "closed beta" label may suggest otherwise, the test will be open for everyone to try, which means players can jump in simply by downloading it. Naturally, this upcoming beta will feature quite of bit of additional content over the previous betas. For instance, you will have access to a new hero named Oracle Thea, and several additional story levels and bosses await for you to tackle. These story levels contain "new geographical features and monster populations," and the final chapter specifically will throw quite a few challenging bosses to overcome at the very end.   Experimentation is ke...

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:00 AM
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Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:34 AM
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Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, September 1, 2022 5:51 AM
     Rick and Morty may be coming back this September, but Justin Roiland has another project that fans are curious about. High on Life is a shooter which has players take control of these talking, sentient alien guns, and we have a look at some gameplay thanks to gamescom 2022. Watch this video courtesy of GameSpot: […]

Pivotal Gamers Thursday, September 1, 2022 4:05 AM
     Hello folks. We have another great giveaway from Giveaway Of The Day for Car Drive. This is what they say. Car Drive is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Car Drive Car Drive is a game where you need to get to the finish line by transport. http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/256828178/movie480_vp9.webm Informati...

MonsterVine Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:00 AM
     Fishing: It's the sport on everyone's lips. All the TikToks, which are definitely things I watch, are saying it's the hot sensation that's sweeping the nation. Kids are asking questions like "Bro, are you a smallmouth bass right now?" Maybe you have been thinking of getting in on this cool new trend. Fortunately for you, […]