Feb 15, 18:00


GamersHeroes Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:29 PM
    

An open world awaits in Morning Shift Studios' Hike Trip, a walking simulator that has players exploring a forest less traveled. Should players pack their bags for this adventure, or is this rural adventure a bit too slow?

The post Hike Trip Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 5:28 PM
    

MultiVersus, Warner Bros. popular online fighting game that made the phrase "LeBron James frame data" a real thing you can say, has experienced a significant drop in its daily player count on Steam.

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 5:15 PM
    

Toaplan's Zero Wing is the game that spawned the classic (ancient, even) meme of "All your base are belong to us." And it's now out on Steam, easily accessible on modern hardware. As you might expect, the game's store page references the beloved memes Zero Wing spawned decades ago. However, this release doesn't…

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 2:50 PM
    

Just in time to celebrate its fourth anniversary, Respawn Entertainment's popular free-to-play hero shooter Apex Legends has hit a new peak concurrent player count on Steam.

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 2:35 PM
    

An online virtual reality sex worker was left confused and frustrated when, after applying for a United States tourist visa, she said she received a letter explaining she was "permanently ineligible" for admission to the U.S. The reason given was "prostitution."

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:25 PM
    

Have you ever found yourself waking up in the middle of the night shouting "no more kings, no more queens, no more mageseekers!"? If so, The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story aims to satisfy that sudden midnight urge to violently alter the political landscape of a fantasy realm. Hey, it's a lot easier than…

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:10 PM
    

A Reddit user recently posted a brief, bombshell documentation of how they accomplished something they claim has never been done before: arrive at World of Warcraft's newbie starting area, Exile's Reach, at the highest possible character level 70. Initially noticed by Games Radar, user Cheatcho's post is happy…

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:55 AM
    

The composer for Doom and Wolfenstein II recently announced that he would be donating the fee from his work on Atomic Heart to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal of the Australian Red Cross. This decision comes weeks after the studio Mundfish was embroiled in controversy over its connections to Russia.

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:45 AM
    

The last decade of anime has brought about a bunch of new names and faces to recognize than the early aughts did, thanks in part to the exponential growth of the industry. And while not all of those shows made are hits, many have left an unquestionable impact on both pop culture and the anime industry at large. I'll…

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:20 AM
    

Do you ever wish you could reacquire the games you once had? And not just copies of the same ones, but the very discs or cartridges you used? Well, the Named Cassette Museum in Tokyo is making that very thing a reality for many gamers: reuniting those who once wrote their names, addresses, or other personal…

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:15 AM
    

Returnal is an incredibly good game, and I am incredibly bad at Returnal. What makes it such a joy, whether in its original form on PlayStation or in this new PC version, is that being bad at it barely dents at its incredible appeal and overwhelming replayability.

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Kotaku Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:05 AM
    

PlayStation Plus subscribers are getting some heat this month, including games such as Horizon Forbidden West and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, following Sony's confirmation of a leaked line-up of games.

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PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 4:33 PM
     There are bears in PUBG now

Update 22.1 is now live on PC for PUBG Battlegrounds, and the original battle royale game has some new tricks up its sleeve: bears. Yes, there are actual, literal polar bears in PUBG now, and you can find them guarding loot caches on the snowy reaches of Vikendi. If going toe-to-toe with bears sounds a bit too au naturel, you're in luck: update 22.1 also reintroduces the urban Deston map to the rotation.

Continue reading There are bears in PUBG now
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best battle royale games, PUBG 2 release date, Best PC games you can play on mobile

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 3:13 PM
     Age of Empires 4 season 4 adds a magic biome and enchanted stag

Historical RTS game Age of Empire 4 is getting a touch of magic in season four, which begins February 16. The new season introduces a unique new biome called the Enchanted Grove, which holds a mystical secret in its eerily lit forests. There are also three new maps, a new ranked season, a new game mode called Nomad, and some welcome improvements to the mod browser.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Age of Empires 4 release date, Age of Empires 4 review, The best RTS games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:20 PM
     Destiny 2 Lightfall interactive trailer recaps pivotal story moments

Destiny 2 Lightfall interactive trailer highlights key narrative elements leading up to the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date, recapping the relationship between Savathun, The Witness, and the Traveler. The video trailer, which also contains interactive components viewers can trigger via clicks or button presses, provides a solid overview of story beats leading to the present-day events in the popular FPS game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 exotics, Destiny 2 builds

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:41 PM
     Minecraft cherry blossom biome, trees, and how to play snapshot 23w07a

A new Minecraft cherry blossom biome and a gorgeous pink wood set are here - and of course they're beautiful. As gorgeous as the blocky sandbox game can be, the overworld is pretty much just varying shades of green. Well, until now, that is. Even better, you can dive into this pink dreamworld right now with the latest Minecraft 23w07a snapshot.

The pink-petalled tree has long since been a fan favourite of Minecraft players, having appeared in many of the most popular Minecraft mods, so it's no surprise that Mojang Studios has finally decided to add it to the vanilla game itself. All features coming with the Minecraft 1.20 release date have now been announced, with the new biome just the cherry on top of an update including the Minecraft Live mob vote winner the Sniffer, new bamboo building blocks, a Minecraft camel, armor trims, and the long-awaited Minecraft archeology system. Enough about those though, here's everything you need to know about Minecraft cherry wood, the Cherry Grove biome, and everything else pink!

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:34 PM
     Is there Wild Hearts crossplay?

Are you wondering if you can play Wild Hearts crossplay? Gaming on PC with those who choose to play on consoles instead is one of the more convenient improvements in the past few years, and slowly we're seeing more and more developers take advantage of the technology. After all, when there are players around the world of your game, the last thing you want is to isolate them to their platform of choice.

The potential of Wild Hearts crossplay means that players can hunt the massive Wild Hearts monsters together with the best Wild Hearts weapons in co-op. This is the most significant missed opportunity that Monster Hunter fans have experienced over the years, especially when new versions of Monster Hunter Rise required players to start their progress again and play the RPG game with a different community of hunters. So does Wild Hearts do what Monster Hunter hasn't yet?

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best PC RPGs, Best co-op games on PC, Best games like Monster Hunter

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:34 PM
     Best Wild Hearts weapons

The best Wild Hearts weapons are the main monster-slaying tools that a Kemono hunter feels the most comfortable with. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the traditional katana and bows to more obscure contraptions such as the Blade Wagasa or the Karakuri Staff. Weapons in this Monster Hunter-like game have their own quirks that make them unlike anything we've seen before, such as swords that get alternative forms or umbrellas that get a huge bonus to damage if you parry enemy attacks.

Unlike other games like Monster Hunter, you don't get access to all Wild Hearts weapons immediately. You start with the katana for your first hunt and only gain access to a selection of the rest of the weapons when the blacksmith recovers from her injuries. Even then, you don't get access to all of them in the RPG game until a little later after that. Once you unlock a weapon, you can use monster parts or items found throughout the world to upgrade them and give you new skills. We'll go over all of the best Wild Hearts weapons you can use to slay the Wild Hearts monsters, as well as when you can unlock new weapon types.

Continue reading Best Wild Hearts weapons
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best PC RPGs, Best co-op games on PC, Best games like Monster Hunter

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:32 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy main and side quests list

Use our Hogwarts Legacy quests list to determine how far you are into the game, though you do need to be careful as you could spoil some elements of the story for yourself. This guide doesn't contain any spoilers, but it does mention the name of each quest which might help you piece together what could happen in the main quest.

Unless you're only trying to complete main quests in Hogwarts Legacy, you might find that your playtime doesn't line up with our how long is Hogwarts Legacy guide. This RPG game takes a while to get through, so it's worth checking in on our Hogwarts Legacy quest list to see what's coming up next. Here's the full Hogwarts Legacy quest list, including the main and side quests.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:18 PM
     Kerbal Space Program 2 release date, new planets, and more

Want to know more about Kerbal Space Program 2's release date? Kerbal Space Program is a cute space exploration sim, officially released back in 2015 after spending almost four years in beta. Its sequel, Kerbal Space Program 2 (KSP2), has also been in the works for some time now, with an initial release date set back in 2021. While we've used the word "cute" - and Kerbals most certainly are - don't be fooled. Kerbal Space Program is one of the most realistic and well-researched space exploration games in existence.

Developer Intercept has been keen to point out that KSP2 is a real attempt at visualising what the future of space games has in store for us. The team has been working with actual astrophysicists for accuracy - right down to Metallic Hydrogen fuel and its very factually-correct pink exhaust. Moreover, Intercept has taken some of the known frustrations with KSP1 and ironed them out for its follow-up. Here's a summary of what we know so far about Kerbal Space Program 2's release date.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best space games on PC, The best simulation games on PC, Kerbal Space Program 2 system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:30 PM
     The best football games on PC 2023

What are the best football games on PC in 2023? It can seem tough to scratch that footballing itch, especially when there are only a few mainstream games that usually spring to mind. Sure, FM is the undisputed king of the football management genre, and if you're interested in a more player-controlled affair, it's hard to argue with FIFA's excellent game-day presentation.

Whether it's an under-the-radar studio, an indie title, or a mash-up of different sports, there's a football game for every fan. In order to shine a light on these underappreciated classics, we've compiled the best PC games for football fans.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: FIFA 23 career mode guide, FIFA 23 ratings, FIFA 23 Icons

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:10 PM
     Warzone 2 Season 2 Reloaded is already getting loads of great content

An official look at Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2's future has been revealed, including what we can expect from the mid-season 2 Reloaded update and Season 3 as well. The FPS game is set to add fan-favourite modes, a new map, raid, and lots more over the next few months.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Modern Warfare 2 guns, Best loadouts in Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 2 maps

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:19 PM
     How to get the Destiny 2 Hawkmoon exotic hand cannon

As with other rare weapons, the Destiny 2 Hawkmoon exotic hand cannon has a certain air of regality to it. Returning from the first game, this hand cannon can pack a serious punch, especially if you land precise hits or kill enemies with it. Then there's the final shot in the chamber which gets a cumulative bonus that can deal well over 20,000 points of damage with one shot if you're skilled enough.

To help you get this powerful gun, we will be going over the step you need to take to get the Hawkmoon hand cannon, as well as details about what this Exotic weapon is, the perks associated with it, and the best places to farm for challenge requirements.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 exotics, Destiny 2 builds

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:01 PM
     The best rhythm games on PC 2023

Looking for the best rhythm games on PC? There are few things in life better than music, so obviously there are even fewer things in life better than music and rhythm games. Music evokes more emotional responses than any other and usually does so within a few short minutes. Games can make us feel things over time, but music is often much more immediate. With that in mind, we've put together a list of the best rhythm games around, that are guaranteed to stay with you long after the last note plays.

From 2D indie games with a solid beat to lightsaber-wielding VR games, the best rhythm games come in all genres, shapes, and sizes. Some can teach your how to play a particular instrument, while others allow you to repurpose your own music library. We should also mention that Tetris Effect was considered for the list but arguably doesn't make rhythm its focus, so it misses out. In any case, you really should play Tetris Effect. Seriously.


PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:42 AM
     How to climb the battlements in Hogwarts Legacy The High Keep

If you need to climb the battlements in Hogwarts Legacy to complete The High Keep quest, you've come to the right place. This is a quest that comes at around the midpoint of the story, and it has players stumped.

The quest begins when you meet Natty near Falbarton Castle on the Hogwarts Legacy map and she asks for your help to retrieve a letter. As the main gate is locked, you need to climb the walls of the battlements and enter the Gatehouse. It's the first objective in The High Keep quest in Hogwarts Legacy, so here's how to do it.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:39 AM
     MW2 ranked play skill divisions, ranks, and rewards

MW2 ranked play launches with Modern Warfare 2 season 2, marking the first time an Infinity Ward-developed Call of Duty game has featured an extensive ranked mode. Developed alongside Treyarch and the Call of Duty League, Modern Warfare 2 ranked play is set to offer players a unique competitive experience with rewards for the most dedicated players.

There are a number of improvements made to the rank system last seen in the FPS game Call of Duty Vanguard, including the introduction of forgiveness, demotion protection, and skill rating (SR). Here's everything you need to know about MW2 ranked play, including what level you need to be to play, what the skill divisions are, and more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Modern Warfare 2 guns, Best loadouts in Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 2 maps

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:34 AM
     Genshin Impact ads reference events that new players may never see

Certain Genshin Impact ads are so dated that they depict limited-time events new players may never get to enjoy. As a newcomer, it must be an oddly disappointing feeling to try the anime game because of an interesting ad, only to find out that the advertised Genshin Impact event no longer exists in-game, in any form. The Genshin community often raises this issue when speaking on the anime game's major flagship events - it's currently impossible to replay them.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:31 AM
     Live on a space whale in new Steam city builder Beyond These Stars

If you've ever wanted to live atop a giant space whale (and who hasn't), Beyond These Stars is here to fulfil that fantasy. The new Steam city building game from indie strategy publisher Hooded Horse and developer Balancing Monkey Games promises a galaxy-spanning adventure as you ride the colossal cetacean across the stars in search of new planets packed with resources, alien life, and adventure.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best city builders, Best strategy games, Best space games

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:24 AM
     Apex Legends just saw its highest Steam player count ever

The launch of Apex Legends season 16 has drawn a record number of Steam players to Respawn's free-to-play battle royale game. Apex Legends players have been swarming to the game on Steam, reaching a record-smashing 610,433 concurrent players February 15.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Apex Legends characters guide, Apex Legends skins, Apex Legends map guide

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:19 AM
     How to fill Hogwarts Legacy empty paintings with Lumos moths

Wondering where the Hogwarts Legacy empty paintings are? During your first year at the famed School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, you'll get the chance to make friends with your fellow students. One of them is Lenora Everleigh, a Hufflepuff student who you can find next to a seemingly blank painting. However, she believes there is more to it than meets the eye.

After completing her quest, you're free to find more Hogwarts Legacy empty paintings and their corresponding Lumos Moths across the Hogwarts campus and some of the other locations in this massive open-world game. Each one you locate gives you more experience and progress towards the Hogwarts Legacy challenges. Luckily, completing the side quest for Lenora is simple, and learning to find the Lumos Moths will put you in good stead to complete more of these paintings when you discover them.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:16 AM
     How to get Hogwarts Legacy Shrivelfig fruit and seeds

Wondering how to get Hogwarts Legacy Shrivelfig fruit? It sounds pretty tasty, but while you can't consume it raw, you do need it to make Thunderbrew potion, which damages opponents with a storm. Ok, maybe we wouldn't want to eat it.

You first come across Shrivelfig fruit during one of Professor Sharp's assignments. The Hogwarts Legacy potions professor will task you with making Thunderbrew, and will reward you with the Diffindo spell, so of course you need to locate the necessary ingredients. As with other plants and fruits in Hogwarts Legacy, there's a specific Hogsmeade shopkeeper who can help you out, or you can grow your own Shrivelfig in the Hogwarts Legacy Room of Requirement. Here's everything you need to know about finding, buying, or growing Hogwarts Legacy Shrivelfig fruit.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:06 AM
     Does Returnal run on Steam Deck?

Does Returnal run on Steam Deck? Valve's handheld PC feels particularly suited to roguelike games, allowing you to continue your current run or start another one (or perhaps thirty) on the move. As such, Returnal looks like a perfect fit for the portable powerhouse on paper, but in reality this, unfortunately, isn't quite the case.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:05 AM
     Best Returnal settings and PC options

Using the best Returnal settings for your gaming PC will improve your odds of beating the roguelike game, as they'll help keep your frame rate stable during clutch moments. With Returnal already proving to be a demanding experience for us players, there's no reason our systems should be unnecessarily sweating (and potentially buckling) alongside us.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:39 AM
     The best Tycoon games to play 2023

Looking for some of the best tycoon games to add to your collection? Whether you're looking for classic park management, or taking charge of a complex, nuanced business, there are plenty of great options to choose from right now, across a range of themes. This is a classic genre that's had plenty of love since its early days, with sequels and new blood galore.

While there are plenty of classic tycoon games we could talk about - many of which are some of the best PC games available - we've decided to focus on modern highlights, as this is a genre that's constantly getting new releases and new ideas. We've also kept the definition relatively broad, as there are plenty of management games that you may not consider strictly 'tycoon' games, but have strong business or economic themes with the mechanics to back them up.


PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:34 AM
     Overwatch 2 season 3 release date, events, mythic skins, and changes

Believe it or not, the Overwatch 2 season 3 release date is already here. It might seem like only a hop, skip, and a jump since season 2 kicked off at the beginning of December, but a new year means a new season, and more content to go with it.

Now that the Overwatch 2 Lunar New Year has concluded, we've begun to turn our sights to the near future and what we can expect from Overwatch 2 season 3. Blizzard has recently issued a new roadmap after its initial launch schedule tailed off after Overwatch 2 season 2, so we have plenty to talk about in terms of new heroes, maps, and events. That said, here's everything confirmed for the latest season in one of the best PC games so far, with a dash of speculation for luck.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: All Overwatch 2 characters, Best Overwatch 2 settings, Overwatch 2 tier list

PCGamesN Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:43 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy Diricawl locations and where to find dens

Struggling to find Hogwarts Legacy Diricawls? You need this flighty bird to complete an assignment from Professor Howin to obtain the powerful Bombarda spell, but as they can be slightly aloof, here's where to find Diricawl dens quickly.

Diricawls are one of the many Hogwarts Legacy beasts in the open-world game, and can be used to make money in Hogwarts Legacy or to complete quests. You can also house them in the Room of Requirements once you unlock the Vivarium in Hogwarts Legacy, but you need to catch them first. Here's where you can find the Hogwarts Legacy Diricawl locations.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:56 PM
    

It's rare to see a double discount deal on Amazon, but today that's exactly what's happened with this promotion on the Irongear Single Monitor Arm. It normally retails for $75.99, but you can tick a 50% off coupon on the product page and use code 2YXE4T73 to knock the price down to just $22.79 - an incredibly low asking price for a solid budget option that can handle even ultrawide monitors up to 26.4lbs/12kg.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:39 PM
    

SanDisk's Ultra line of Micro SD memory cards has long been one of the most popular memory card options for Switch and Steam Deck, and now you can pick one up for just £40 at MyMemory - compared to £52 for the same model at Amazon UK. This makes it an awesome time to upgrade your gaming handheld, or your smartphone, or whatever cool gadget you have with Micro SD or full-size SD slots.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:10 PM
    

It's no secret that there a ton of low-cost, high-speed drives out there in the world. We like to call them SSDs, and nowadays you can pick them up for extremely tiny prices. For example, this 240GB SSD from Netac is down to just £14, making it an essential upgrade for any old laptops or desktops sitting around still using mechanical hard drives.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:00 PM
    

It's probably not a huge surprise to say that Pentiment, Obsidian Entertainment's visually intriguing mystery set in 16th century Bavaria, required a lot of historical research during development. What may surprise you, however, is how deep these historical details run throughout Pentinment's DNA, right down the game's text fonts. Obsidian design director Josh Sawyer told me all about how the team revived long-dead historical fonts, to give them a new life in a modern format.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:13 PM
    

Last time, you decided that throwing knives are better than active reload. I enjoyed the spirited discussion over which throwing knives are good and which are bad. I can't help but feel active reload didn't get a fair shake because so few games do it outside Gears Of War, but the results are science and we must continue. This week, I suppose our choices are both about architecture, but in very different ways. What's better: funicular fights or elaborate corridor architecture?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:00 PM
    

I've never had much of a desire for "I'm attending school" sims, because I hated attending school and not having to do it is one of the prime benefits of growing out of your teens. Running a school though? That's a challenge I don't mind taking on. Twopoint Campus does a great plate-spinning take on a school admin sim, but if you want something with cards, a dark lord, and the option for organic school meals, then... well, then you're making a very specific request. But it's one I can fulfil with Spellcaster University. And it's bloody difficult.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:39 AM
    

Returnal is here on PC and lo and behold, it's not as scary as it looked. In a hardware demanding, recommended spec kind of way, at least – those lanky alien tree-man enemies are greying what little hair I have left.

Like previous Playstation port Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered, it's not the most easygoing game either, but I've cycled through my share of deaths and rebirths and can report that Returnal will make do with older graphics cards and middling RAM counts. It's a mostly well-considered porting job too, with optional ray tracing, various upscaling tools, ultrawide support for 21:9 and 32:9 monitors, and pages upon pages of customisable display and control settings.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, February 15, 2023 11:15 AM
    

Developer Pixel Hunt's track record of delivering intriguing visual novels began with the optimistic, heartrending refugee story of Bury Me, My Love. They're now returning with the similarly unique The Wreck, a memory-hopping, 3D visual novel unpacking themes of trauma, recovery, and motherhood, and it's releasing on March 14th for PC.

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Twinfinite Wednesday, February 15, 2023 5:22 PM
     Machines and monsters and jets, oh my!

Twinfinite Wednesday, February 15, 2023 4:45 PM
     Go beyond, Plus Ultra!

Twinfinite Wednesday, February 15, 2023 3:34 PM
     May the odds be in your favor.

Twinfinite Wednesday, February 15, 2023 3:03 PM
     Letterkenny has had its time in the sun; now it is time for Shoresy to shine.

Twinfinite Wednesday, February 15, 2023 2:18 PM
     Kemono are both casual and hardcore.

Twinfinite Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:00 PM
     Best girl Makima arrives in NIKKE.

Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 5:00 PM
    

Chainsaw Man Kotobukiya Power Figure

Kotobukiya revealed a new figure from the ARTFX J range featuring Power, the Blood Devil from Chainsaw Man. She is the third member of the Public Safety Devil Hunters to get a figure in the range, after Makima and the Chainsaw Man himself. She'll launch in August 2023.

The Power figure is sculpted in 1/8 scale from and will stand approx. 290mm tall, featuring her leaping from a pile of rubble brandishing her blood blades. Her Public Safety uniform is worn in her usual rebellious style, with a half-tucked shirt, rolled up pants and red sneakers. Also visible are her patterned eyes, sharp horns and distinctively sharp teeth, which are all features that mark her as a Fiend.

You can get a look at the figure below, courtesy of photos from the product listing on Kotobukiya's site.

[gallery columns="4" size="full" ids="951338,951339,951340,951341" link="file"]

The Chainsaw Man anime adaptation by Studio MAPPA finished airing in December of last year, and is available on Crunchyroll. The manga is published in the west by Viz media and is available from them physically or from their app or Shueisha's Manga Plus. The series was recently highlighted by BTS member Jungkook singing an impromptu cover of the anime's theme song and rumours indicate an incoming collaboration with a popular game.

The Chainsaw Man Power ARTFX J figure is available for pre-order from Kotobukiya's Japanese site, costing ¥18,480 with tax and expected to release in August 2023. You can find other Chainsaw Man merchandise, including ARTFX J figures for Chainsaw Man and Makima, at Kotobukiya.

The post ARTFX J Chainsaw Man Power Figure Leaps Some Rubble appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 4:30 PM
    

Pluto Netflix Anime

A legendary manga will soon get an animated adaptation. Streaming giant Netflix announced Pluto, a new anime series based on the manga of the same name. The manga was created by Monster and 20th Century Boys creator Naoki Urasawa.

A four-minute preview clip of Pluto on Netflix was also uploaded to the company's YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuUhYOyJn78

The sneak peek shows off the visuals from the series, which blend 2D characters and 3D CGI for objects and backgrounds. The clips, which have dialog muted in favor of the background music, feature humanoid robot inspector Gesicht. Gesicht is on the trail of a series of murders, which seem to be connected to the world's "Seven Great Robots," some of which are advanced enough to become weapons of mass destruction. Clues from the scenes suggest that the murderer may in fact be a robot themselves.

Pluto is actually based on Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy, and reimagines a specific story arc from the series titled "The Greatest Robot on Earth." In the original 1964 story, a foreign Sultan creates a robot called Pluto, and orders it to challenge the seven strongest robots on the planet to earn the title of "King of All Robots." Astro Boy (or Atom) is on that hit list.

Pluto on Netflix is being produced by studios GENCO and M2. The confirmed voice cast so far includes:

  • Gesicht - Shinshu Fuji (Joseph in Blade Runner, Black Lotus, Kanetsugu in Wave, Listen to Me!)
  • Atom - Yoko Hisaka (Kal'tsit in Arknights, Kyoko Kirigiri in Danganronpa)
  • Uran - Minori Suzuki (Angie Yonaga in Danganronpa V3, Freyja Wion in Macross Delta)

The Pluto Netflix anime will air on the service in 2023. The original manga is published in English by Viz Media under the title Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka. Netflix is also set to debut a mini-series based on classic kaiju Gamera.

The post Naoki Urasawa's Pluto Gets Netflix Anime Adaptation appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 4:00 PM
    

final fantasy 35th anniversary parco header

For the 35th anniversary of Final Fantasy, Parco will release merchandise that use motifs and designs from the long-running JRPG series. While they will be available in physical Parco stores, Parco does offer international online shipping as well. A total of 16 stores are part of this collaboration, and you can view all of their items from the Final Fantasy page on Parco's website.

The 16 stores participating in the Final Fantasy 35th anniversary campaign at Parco are likely to correspond with the 16 mainline Final Fantasy games. The campaign starts from March 1, 2023, and if you spend over 3000 JPY per purchase, you will be able to get a random Final Fantasy rubber coaster while supplies last.

The brands, as well as what they sell are:

  • Angelic Pretty: Jumper skirt, tote bag
  • B3Labo: Leather bags, charms,
  • Candy Stripper: Sweaters
  • Disk Union/Union Record: Pixel Remaster anti-slip mat
  • ForSomeone: T-shirts
  • Hipshop: Boxers
  • KanaKichi: Cutlery
  • Milkfed: T-shirts
  • Ojaga Design: Keyholders
  • Parco Booster: Lamp cover, glass pen, chitin glass cup
  • Samantha Thavasa Petit Choice: Wallets, clutches, bag charms
  • Samantha Vega: Bags, charms, wallets
  • Silas: T-shirt
  • Yoshida Yasuri: Nail file

[gallery columns="7" ids="951274,951275,951276,951277,951278,951279,951280,951281,951282,951283,951284,951285,951286,951287" link="file"]

Some brands, such as Fathom, do not yet have items available. They will likely announce them closer to the campaign date.

The Final Fantasy 35th anniversary merchandise campaign at Parco will start from March 1, 2023.

The post Final Fantasy 35th Anniversary Campaign at Parco Includes Brotherhood Pen appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 3:30 PM
    

Harada Says Demand Could Result in a Full Tekken 7 Leroy Smith Song

Bandai Namco General Manager and Tekken 7 Director Katsuhiro Harada brought up the possibility of a full Leroy Smith announcement video theme song on Twitter. Harada often answers fans' questions and discusses requests. When asked about the track from Leroy's debut trailer, he noted that it isn't actually a full song. This is why it hasn't appeared in-game or in a soundtrack yet. However, he also noted fan requests could make a full track appear.

Here's Harada's explanation going over how the Leroy Tekken 7 announcement trailer song came to be.

As a reminder, this is the official reveal trailer for the DLC character.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SbGlUyFZIA&ab_channel=PlayStation

And here is the Long Necked Giraffe Mom Leroy Smith Tekken 7 reveal trailer song fan edit mentioned by ZFX on Twitter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLaTYUkR7SY&ab_channel=LongNeckedGiraffeMom

So far, Leroy only appeared in one Tekken game. However, he also showed up in the Tekken: Bloodline anime.

Tekken 7 is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

The post Harada Says Demand Could Result in a Full Tekken 7 Leroy Smith Song appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 3:00 PM
    

For a game with "engage" in the title, it's shocking how light Fire Emblem Engage is on the romance, what with limiting S-rank pairings to Alear and characters in their army. Likewise, that means the absence of another series staple. For years, Fire Emblem offered paired endings in which certain folks end up together, in some cases even platonically. But all of that's gone, and it's disheartening given the sorts of interactions between people and in ending scene imagery.

Editor's Note: There will be Fire Emblem Engage ending spoilers below.

Here's how these sorts of paired endings normally work in Fire Emblem games. After reaching maxed out support with an ally, you "lock in" a paired ending for them. Then, ahead of the credits, you get to see what happened next for these people. In some cases, these can be romantic segments. For example, we see how the romance between Eirika and Seth turned out in Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. And we do get some of these kinds of paired endings endings in Fire Emblem Engage, but only between Alear and the other characters in an S-rank relationship with them.

It's a Shame Fire Emblem Engage Lacks Character S-Rank Pairings and Endings

If it served some greater good and a canon ending, perhaps it would make sense. However, there's no "after" or epilogue to consider. The ending scenes show Alear succeeding Lumera as the Divine Dragon and in the same regalia, with the royal leaders from the various nations showing up to celebrate their shared victory. There's nothing locked in that says, "Hey, since Bunet and Chloe had a shared love of food in their Fire Emblem Engage support conversations, these two characters went on to continue to swap recipes and meet up for meals after the war was over." We see Lapis' crush on Alcryst come through in their support conversations, so a paired ending between the two worked.

Even if this was a desire by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems to avoid "romance," especially as some of the characters aren't adults, there are other options. Past games featured a number of platonic paired endings for characters, and the developers could have taken that route with Fire Emblem Engage. Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade included platonic ones between Marcus and Merlinus, as well as ones between siblings like Nils and Ninian. Given how many siblings we have in this latest Switch release, that could have worked quite well. For example, Alfred can "survive" his illness in Fire Emblem Engage, if he ends up in an S-rank relationship with Alear. However, his sickness resurfacing comes up in his A-rank with his sister, Celine. Given her nature as a healer in-game and support of him, it feels like a paired ending between the two could have served as a means of also keeping him alive.

As for the credit images, the Fire Emblem Engage character art over the end roll even suggests certain pairings and relationships between characters. Seadall and Yunaka are a good example. During their Support conversations, he sees her potential as an entertainer. In their shared ending credits image, the two are performing together for people in some unknown city. It seems like there would have been potential for something there! Likewise, Jean and Anna appear together in the same ending art and, well, that also seems like a missed opportunity. (The two can't even support each other in-game, despite being the two youngest in the army.) An option to help explain that once the fighting was done, his family temporarily took her in while waiting for her sisters would have been nice. We also know that Pandreo and Panette both end up involved with the Divine Dragon religion and church, and acknowledging the siblings working together seems like it'd only make sense.

It's a Shame Fire Emblem Engage Lacks Character S-Rank Pairings and Endings

It isn't even about the lack of romance in Fire Emblem Engage, but rather the absence of any pay-off when we clearly see chances for characters to become friends and influence each others' lives in their support conversations. These games are often about the tactics, the stories, and the characters, and omitting this element feels like the punch is being taken out of one of these elements a bit. I felt disappointed to get to the end and find none of these people influenced each other enough to stay in "touch" in their epilogues, and I can only hope future games bring that feature back.

Fire Emblem Engage is available for the Nintendo Switch.

The post It's a Shame Fire Emblem Engage Lacks Paired Character Endings appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 2:30 PM
    

Hololive Vtubers Sakura Miko and Himemori Luna Teased for Asphalt 9 Legends

Gameloft teased a Hololive Asphalt 9 Legends collaboration is on the way. On February 20, 2023, two Vtubers will appear in the racing game in some form. It is unknown if there will be themed cars or they will show up. Their identities weren't "officially" announced. However, the silhouettes for the two characters are very obviously Himemori Luna and Sakura Miko.

First, here's the announcement tweet. On the left is the Himemori Luna silhouette in her signature color, which is pink. On the right is the Sakura Miko silhouette in a shade of red. The tweet's text is in English and Japanese, signaling this will be a worldwide event.

For reference, here is the official art for both Himemori Luna and Sakura Miko from Hololive's site for both Vtubers. While the art for Sakura's is slightly different, the hairstyle makes it obvious it is her. As for Luna, her silhouette directly uses her official art.
[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="951331,951332" link="file"]

As a reminder, Sakura Miko was recently named a Tokyo Tourism Ambassador alongside Hololive EN Myth members.

Asphalt 9: Legends is available on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices, and the Hololive event will begin in-game on February 20, 2023.

The post Hololive Vtubers Sakura Miko and Himemori Luna Teased for Asphalt 9 Legends appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 2:00 PM
    

See the Full FFXIV Anime Commercial

Back at the beginning of February 2023, the Korean YouTube channel for FFXIV shared a brief, anime commercial for the game. It was basically a 15 second teaser rendering characters like the Warrior of Light and people like a Lalafell and Hrothgar in a different style. Now the full almost two minute long video is available.

The FFXIV anime commercial begins with a scene teased in the original video. A Warrior of Light Paladin and other allies are about to enter into the Final Coil of Bahamut. From there, a bit of a flashback appears. It shows the Lalafell miner and Hrothgar blacksmith from the initial teaser using ore and crafting to forge the sword the Paladin will use in the encounter. During the fight, we see other classes join in the fight, like a Red Mage and Black Mage. After it ends, a Mithra member of the raid team appears to return to their Free Company housing to celebrate the win with their guild members. From there, a major fireworks show is held amidst images from activities like an Island Sanctuary visit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf3cCkM9M84&ab_channel=%ED%8C%8C%EC%9D%B4%EB%84%90%ED%8C%90%ED%83%80%EC%A7%8014

While there's no official FFXIV anime, there is a manga. There's the seven-chapter Final Fantasy XIV Eorzea Private Academy, which features major characters in an alternate reality where they all attend a school.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC worldwide.

The post See the Full FFXIV Anime Commercial appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:45 PM
    

Song of Nunu League of Legends details revealed

Riot revealed new details about Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story as part of the 2023 Year Ahead trailer. First revealed in November 2021, Song of Nunu is one of several titles releasing under Riot Forge, an initiative that sees Champions from League of Legends star in their own third-party developed games. It will appear in Fall 2023.

Song of Nunu is a narrative adventure game that focuses on Nunu, a young boy, and his yeti, Willump, as they venture across the frozen tundra to find Nunu's mother. Much of the gameplay will revolve around Nunu playing his magical flute to solve puzzles as they venture through the wilderness. Nunu and Willump will also be able to interact with one another through the game, such as Willump throwing snowballs at Nunu if he plays the flute badly.

Song of Nunu is being developed by Tequila Works, a studio that specialises in narrative-driven adventure games, such as Rime or the Stadia exclusive Gylt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n66QyujLXyg

This reveal came alongside new details about Convergence and the reveal of The Mageseeker, also under the Riot Forge label. It also follows the previously released titles Ruined King and Hextech Mayhem.

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story is set to release in Fall 2023 for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox and PC via Steam, GOG and Epic Games Store.

The post Song of Nunu: A League of Legend Story Details Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu Academy Story Anime Now on Crunchyroll

People can see the more lighthearted Demon Slayer anime now. Crunchyroll announced it added the Demon Slayer spin-off Junior High and High School!! Kimetsu Academy Story to its library. Both the original Japanese version with subtitles and an English dub are available.

As this is an alternate reality show, Tanjiro, Nezuko, Inosuke, and Zenitsu are all ordinary high school students. Some of their allies and Hashira appear as fellow students and teachers. However, while it is separate from the main storyline and there are no demons, some elements remain present. For example, rather than the bamboo muzzle Nezuko usually wears, she's constantly eating bread from her family's bakery. Each of these seven anime episodes are shorts and are less than three minutes long.

Here's a trailer from Junior High and High School!! Kimetsu Academy Story. On Crunchyroll proper, English, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles are available.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH_MZ9UAWZU&ab_channel=AniplexUSA

This won't be the only way people can see Tanjiro and his friends' school days adventures. Viz Media announced it will localize the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu Academy manga adaptation as well. Volumes of it will begin appearing in Fall 2023.

Both the regular Demon Slayer anime adaptation and Junior High and High School!! Kimetsu Academy Story are streaming on Crunchyroll. Viz Media handles the localization and publishing of the manga for both in English.

The post Demon Slayer: Kimetsu Academy Story Anime Now on Crunchyroll appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:15 PM
    

Riot revealed new details about Convergence: A League of Legends Story as part of the 2023 Year Ahead trailer. First revealed at The Game Awards 2019, Convergence is releasing under the Riot Forge publishing arm, where third-party studios develop unique games focused on League of Legends Champions.

Convergence stars Ekko as the playable character, a Champion best known for his time manipulation abilities. It's a 2D platformer in which players traverse through the technologically advanced cities of Piltover and Zaun, previously seen in Netflix's Arcane adaptation. Gameplay is set to have an emphasis on combat, and both combat and traversal will make heavy use of Ekko's unique abilities, such as the ability to rewind time. The story will feature Ekko uncovering a plot by an organized crime syndicate that requires him to use to his powers to save his home city.

Convergence is being developed by Double Stallion Games, who previously developed Speed Brawl, a platformer and brawler hybrid with a focus on fast movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n66QyujLXyg

This announcement came alongside new details on Song of Nunu and the reveal of The Mageseeker, also under the Riot Forge label. It follows the previously released titles Ruined King and Hextech Mayhem.

Convergence: A League of Legends Story is set to release in Summer 2023 for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox and PC via Steam, GOG and Epic.

The post Convergence: A League of Legends Story Details Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.