Feb 21, 16:00


Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 3:25 PM
    

There are many Call of Duty games. Some might say too many! I wouldn't though, because while the franchise has become popular to hate, I think it can still offer up some exciting multiplayer action and big, fun single-player campaigns. Heck, if you like zombies, some Call of Duty games even have that covered. But with…

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 3:20 PM
    

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 2:15 PM
    

Bungie's two-year legal battle against a Destiny 2 cheat maker finally concluded last week. The judge agreed that cheat maker AimJunkies had violated Bungie's copyright and ordered it to pay over $3.6 million in damages and $700,000 in legal expenses.

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:55 PM
    

Every episode of HBO's The Last of Us has had something emotionally devastating (some good and bad) to sit with, but episode seven, "Left Behind," is probably going to be one of the hardest to deal with in the show's nine-episode run. That's because, as the title suggests, it looks like we're going to experience the…

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:21 PM
    

Anime and manga enjoyers often come across the odd joke or pun in their favorite series that lands in Japanese but doesn't translate well into English. While English translators do their damnedest to provide context behind either cultural or phonetic puns in editor's notes (typically within a manga panel's margins or…

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:19 PM
    

Ubisoft has placed sanctions on nearly 19,000 accounts for using an unspecified exploit, the Rainbow Six Siege developer revealed rather cryptically on Twitter earlier today.

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:45 PM
    

Last week, the world (specifically Japanese citizens) read the latest installment of Hirohiko Araki's mega-popular manga series, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The JOJOLands. While I was uneasy about whether or not Araki should continue the series with yet another saga since its previous part, JoJolion, ended so suddenly,…

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:41 PM
    

I've been having a blast playing Wild Hearts, a Monster Hunter-style action-RPG from the studio behind Dynasty Warriors, and I've learned a ton about how to survive its beautiful but brutal Kemono beats in my time with it so far. I've come to impart that wisdom to you, dear reader, so that you can avoid some of my…

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:28 PM
    

Announced earlier today, Blumhouse—the Hollywood production company behind hit horror films like Megan and Get Out—is launching its own video game studio led by some game dev vets. The new studio, like its parent company, will focus on scary games with smaller budgets.

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:25 PM
    

Some of our posts include links to retailers. If you buy something from clicking on one, G/O Media may earn a commission. Because editorial staff is independent of commerce, affiliate linking does not influence our editorial content.

If you're taking a moral stand and not playing Hogwarts Legacy but still have a bit of FOMO for not being able to fly around the Scottish highlands on broom-back, cast deadly spells at 11-year-olds, and uphold a status quo rooted in centuries-old anti-Semitism, don't fret. There's an Elden Ring mod that will scratch…

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:17 PM
    

Microsoft's president and vice chairman Brad Smith announced today that the company signed a 10-year contract to bring Xbox games to Nintendo consoles.

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:30 AM
    

Given its history of experimental hardware, its infamously vague responses when asked about what games its working on, its failure to produce much-desired sequels to beloved games, and the smashing success of its recent surprise handheld, the Steam Deck, Valve's moves are tough to predict.

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:00 AM
    

A brief appearance of a girl curiously watching Ellie eat during this week's episode of The Last of Us had fans of the games excited. And fans of just the show were likely left a little confused as to what all the fuss is about. If you're here wondering who the hell this "Dina" the internet is yelling about is and…

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Kotaku Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:40 AM
    

The Pokémon Company not-so-surprisingly announced its latest Pokémon Presents livestream, scheduled for the series' anniversary, Pokémon Day, or February 27, just like it was last year (and the year before that).

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PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 3:32 PM
     Genshin Impact to add third banner phase in Fontaine, leak suggests

This Genshin Impact leak suggests that HoYoverse will be adding a third character banner phase to its anime game. This would raise the number of available five-star banner characters to nine per update, providing more options to pull for in each version. It's likely a necessary change when looking at the ever-expanding roster - characters like Eula haven't been on a banner since late 2021 because there just isn't enough space.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 2:38 PM
     Destiny 2 Nightfall weapons – what is the Nightfall weapon this week?

Want to know what this week's Destiny 2 Nightfall weapon is? Each week you've got a chance at a different weapon for completing Nightfall Strikes, and ever since Season of the Lost, fan-favourite legacy weapons from the original Destiny has been added to the rotation. New seasons often introduce new weapons into the rotation, so it's more important than ever to know in advance the Nightfall weapon schedule.

Nightfall: The Ordeal is a playlist available in the Vanguard menu, alongside the basic Strike playlist in the free PC game. Each week, a different Strike is chosen as the Nightfall, and offered in five escalating difficulties, with harder enemies, challenging modifiers, and enemy power levels cranking up. The coveted Nightfall weapons have a chance to drop from any Nightfall Strike difficulty, but it's far more likely at higher levels, which is something you'll want to maximise your chances for with the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date on the horizon. Your best bet for farming each week's Nightfall weapon is to set the Strike to Master difficulty, or to Grandmaster difficulty when such strikes are available if you have a fireteam up to the task. Note that there's no automatic matchmaking above Hero difficulty, however, so you'll need to get a squad together.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:00 PM
     Meet the Fortnite streamer using battle royales to teach fifth grade

In the world of battle royale games, where killstreaks, competition, and fighting over XP are the central mechanical drives, it's difficult to imagine a group of patient fifth-grade children, diligently learning about manners and fair play. Colourful and friendly-looking, Fortnite at its core is still about slaughtering all your rivals and grabbing what you can for yourself. They play it by the millions, but if you want to teach kids how to be a good sport, Epic's shooter might not be the best classroom. Enter Lori Weber, perhaps better known as Fortnite streamer 'Slytrue48.'

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite Chapter 4 map - key locations, Free PC games, All Fortnite Chapter 4 weapons

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:44 PM
     How to fast travel in Atomic Heart

Want to know how to fast travel in Atomic Heart? The open world of this alternate history Soviet Union is chock-full of hostile robots wanting to slaughter you on sight, so being able to hop between locations you've already visited would be a welcome feature indeed, not to mention saving you time and health.

The Atomic Heart map has plenty of landmarks despite not being too big, along with red cars you can hop in to drive wherever you'd like. Permitted you don't run into too many robots in this open-world game, anyway. But is there an Atomic Heart fast travel mechanic?

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Atomic Heart weapons, Atomic Heart bosses, Atomic Heart review

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:37 PM
     How to get the Hogwarts Legacy Cursed Tomb treasure

Want to know how to get the Hogwarts Legacy Cursed Tomb treasure? As one of the side quests requiring you to enter a secret dungeon, this is a gauntlet of puzzles and fights against nefarious villains, culminating in a cryptic puzzle that has you galavanting across the Scottish Highlands for your prize.

In a very similar fashion to the Hogwarts Legacy Solved by the Bell side quest, you need to grab a map to reveal a cryptic puzzle. You must search across the Hogwarts Legacy map to get it, but thankfully we have its location for you. To start this RPG game's side quest, you need to reach level 24, complete the main story quest 'The Helm of Urtkot', and grab as many Demiguise Statues as you need to advance your ability to unlock doors and chests with Alohomora level three. You also need Flipendo, but more on that later. Then, from the Manor Cape Floo Flame, head to the manor on top of the hill and descend the stairs inside its ruins. Unlock the level three lock to enter the dungeon and start the Hogwarts Legacy Cursed Tomb treasure side quest.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 2:47 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy Depulso Puzzle Room 1 and 2 solutions

Hogwarts Legacy Depulso Puzzle Room 1 and 2 are hidden on the school campus. This is not to be confused with the puzzles you will complete during the Hall of Herodiana side quest but work in the same way. Finishing these challenges requires you to master manipulating blocks in order to reach treasure chests filled with valuable gear.

Since these buttons only appear once you have finished the Hogwarts Legacy Hall of Herodiana side quest, it's required that you finish that quest first to give you an idea of how to manoeuvre the blocks across the room, how using reset blocks helps solve the puzzles, and how combining blocks works. Your first job will be to find each of the two rooms in the open-world game, but once you do, you need to work your way through these rooms with the help of two vital Hogwarts Legacy spells: Accio and Depulso. Here are all of the solutions to the two optional Hogwarts Legacy Depulso Puzzle Rooms.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:30 PM
     Sons of the Forest system requirements

What are the Sons of the Forest system requirements? Ready up your gaming PC for the horror open-world survival game. Suggestions provided by Endnight Games for Sons of the Forest aren't that gruelling, but a setup with limited gaming RAM and older storage may fall short. Still, your PC should still be able to run the long-awaited sequel to The Forest, even if it's a few years old.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:33 PM
     Best Atomic Heart skills and skill trees explained

Atomic Heart skills take inspiration from the likes of Bioshock or Fallout, bolstering various aspects of your loadout. While melee and ranged weapons can be upgraded via crafting machine NORA, your character utility and polymer glove abilities can only be enhanced by unlocking skills in the relevant skill trees. Not only can Atomic Heart skills strengthen the core elements of your kit, they can also open up new synergies, making build experimentation viable as you battle through Sechenov's synthetic creations.

You can unlock Atomic Heart skills by spending Neuropolymer, though the amount you'll need for each upgrade differs. Starting from the middle of each skill tree, you can unlock more skills whenever you like, provided you have the requisite Neuropolymer in the RPG game. Here's everything you need to know about the best Atomic Heart skills.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Atomic Heart weapons, Atomic Heart bosses, Atomic Heart review

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:19 PM
     The best dinosaur games for PC 2023

Looking for a list of the best dinosaur games on PC? Whether you're looking to hunt the Mesozoic monsters or want to stomp and chomp humans while playing as them, the appeal of dinosaurs in gaming is endless.

What is not endless, however, is the number of dino games that successfully realise that fantasy. Let's be honest: until recently, fans of dinosaurs and big guns haven't exactly walked the primrose path. It's been a long hard road, marked by velociraptors that look like lumpy dogs, rifles that feel as satisfying as lobbing a bullet by hand, and jeeps that seem to magnetically roll themselves into a nearby ditch, no matter what keys you press. Fortunately, dino games like Monster Hunter: World have managed to reach a point where they have earned a place on our best PC games list. If dino thrills are what you're looking for, here are the best dinosaur games on PC.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: MHW: Iceborne release date, MHW: Iceborne Banbaro guide, Monster Hunter World review

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:15 PM
     The best management games on PC 2023

The best management games are all about being the one in charge, and we all think we'd do better in charge. Whether it's yelling at the England manager, cursing those clowns in Congress for doing it again, or laughing at Bryce Dallas Howard for running away from dinosaurs in high heels, we all want our shot at being in the hot seat, and the best management games let us do just that.

This explains why the genre remains one of the most enduring and popular in PC gaming. It helps that managing balance sheets, planning cities, and bossing staff around is so easily translated to the keyboard and mouse. From the early days of city-building games like SimCity to refining tactics in Championship Manager, through to the more recent classics we've got below, the humble management sim accounts for some of the best PC games of all time - not to mention the most addictive, so here's our pick of the best management games right now.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities: Skylines mods, Cities: Skylines system requirements, The best management games on PC 2022

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:37 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy Hall of Herodiana puzzle solution

The Hogwarts Legacy Hall of Herodiana side quest introduces the concept of some rather cruel block-moving puzzles, more of which can be found throughout the school. Starting this quest requires you to know the Depulso spell. Once you do, you should be able to speak to Sophronia Franklin, a Ravenclaw student obsessed with Herodiana, and who wishes to see her fabled robes. Unfortunately, she is a third-year student, and Depulso is a fifth-year spell, so she requires your help to find them.

After promising to retrieve the robes from the Hall of Herodiana for her, you'll have a waypoint to the bottom of the Defence Against the Dark Arts tower. You can use the Hogwarts Legacy map and Floo Flames to reach your destination if you get lost. You'll need to equip two Hogwarts Legacy spells to complete these puzzles: Accio and Depulso. At the bottom is a wall with a conspicuous brass button engraved in the middle. Casting Depulso will shift the wall, revealing the entrance to the Hogwarts Legacy Hall of Herodiana. This is also how you unveil Hogwarts Legacy Depulso Puzzle Room 1 and 2, which this quest acts as a tutorial for.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:02 PM
     Stellaris DLC incoming, as Steam strategy game adds surprise new tech

It's the classic B-movie image. Alien ship crash lands on Earth. Farmer comes out with his dungarees and shotgun. There's a tense moment, where the fate of both species seems suddenly on a knife edge - terrified by the extraterrestrial's sci-fi get up, will the Earthling shoot, and thrust everyone into war, or will the two lifeforms somehow get along? First Contact, the new Stellaris DLC set to hit the Steam strategy game next month, throws you headlong into this dilemma. With new origin stories, interactions, and a tasty slice of unexpected tech, either you'll win the hearts of less-advanced societies, or terrify them into violent panic.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Stellaris review, Stellaris mods, Stellaris DLC guide

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:14 PM
     Destiny 2 system requirements 2023

What are the Destiny 2 system requirements? Aspiring and veteran Guardians alike continue to flock to Bungie's FPS game, likely in part because of how easy it is to run on PC. While is it possible to play Destiny 2 on ageing hardware, an upgrade here or there can greatly improve your experience with it.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:10 PM
     The best old games and PC classics to play 2023

Looking for the best old PC games? There are many perks to being a PC gamer, but we will save extolling them all for a day when we are feeling particularly inflammatory. For now, we will focus on just one: the best old games remain forever playable. Sometimes it takes a little more work, but it's a lot easier than digging through your parent's attic for an ancient console you think they still have.

Yes, even on the highest-end multi-cored rigs with the latest X-Titan Turbo Hydra Fulcrum Mk.III GPU, you can still boot up veteran strategy games, majestic ancient RPG games, trusty ol' point-and-clicks, and other legendary games of yore. Below you will find a testament to those PC stalwarts that prove the best old games are truly timeless and deserve space on your SSD even to this day.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Play Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:45 PM
     Atomic Heart map and how to open it

How big is the Atomic Heart map? That's a much more difficult question to answer than it may seem at first, because Atomic Heart doesn't have just one big open world - it's split into lots of different regions and you can't just high-tail it from one place to the next willy-nilly.

So while Atomic Heart is technically an open world game, you'll soon learn that you won't be doing much exploration off the beaten track - though there are some things to find if you do venture away from the usual Atomic Heart bosses. Here's what you need to know about the Atomic Heart map, along with whether there's an Atomic Heart fast travel mechanic.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Atomic Heart weapons, Atomic Heart bosses, Atomic Heart review

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:39 AM
     The best online games for PC with no download

Looking for some of the best online games with no downloads to play right now? Publishers like Steam and Epic Games are busy locking horns over their digital storefronts and platforms, but there's a rich world of fun browser games that can be accessed directly through the web. No launchers or two-factor authentication, no agonising downloads or hard drive space juggling, just instant, free online games.

Impressively, despite the obvious tech constraints developers have also managed to craft free online games to cover any genre you can imagine, so yes, you can play Cookie Clicker in your browser. That being said, if you do have some hard drive space, you may want to check out our free PC games list instead. So whether you're looking for something to sink a few minutes into or your next gaming habit, there's a free online game for you. We've tried to ensure this list caters to all sorts - from RPGs, to massive multiplayer strategy games - all at the enviably low price of free.


PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:31 AM
     Need an Atomic Heart FOV fix? We've got one right here

If you've been playing Atomic Heart on your PC, the newest sci-fi FPS game on the Game Pass subscription service and Steam, you're likely wondering what settings you can change. In fact, the biggest setting most of us are curious about is an Atomic Heart FOV fix, and if it can actually be changed in the game's options. Sadly, there's no native FOV fix in the game, but there is a workaround.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Atomic Heart weapons, Atomic Heart bosses, Atomic Heart review

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:26 AM
     Secretlab footrests are coming to enhance your gaming chair comfort

Not one, but two Secretlab footrests are en route to complement the comfort and ergonomic support offered by the company's gaming chairs. As you might expect, these places of rest for your feet both look to offer a premium feeling refuge from your floors, and one can even warm up your toesies.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:27 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy map size and locations

The Hogwarts Legacy map allows fans to visit many of their favourite locations around the wizarding world. Whether you want to explore every mystery the castle holds, grab a drink in Hogsmeade, or just wander the gorgeous mountainous landscape, there's something for you.

In such a massive open-world game, the map is crucial to your exploration, and Hogwarts Legacy is no different. With plenty of locations to explore within the school's halls and the Scottish Highlands, you need to know how to read this mammoth map, especially since it can get quite overwhelming as we explore in our Hogwarts Legacy review. Here's everything you need to know about the Hogwarts Legacy map including all the regions and major landmarks you can explore.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:16 AM
     Atomic Heart ballerina puzzle – how to open the gate in the Theatre

The Atomic Heart ballerina puzzle comes at the culmination of your time at the Theatre, and serves as the final barrier standing between you and Petrov. Specifically, you must solve it in order to progress past the 'Ascending the (Gallows) Stage' objective, which challenges you to find a way to open the gate.

Starring some thematically appropriate shadow puppetry, the Atomic Heart ballerina puzzle is markedly different from the usual brand of puzzles you'll come across in the FPS game, and its environmental signposting can easily go overlooked. Here's how to solve it and progress through Facility 3826.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Atomic Heart weapons, Atomic Heart bosses, Atomic Heart review

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:17 AM
     All Hogwarts Legacy characters

Want to know which Hogwarts Legacy characters will be attending school alongside you, teaching you the ways of the wizarding world, or leading you to trouble in Diagon Alley?

With so many iconic characters from the Harry Potter series to pick from like the Niffler from Fantastic Beasts, to heroes such as Cedric Diggory, and even the villainous Lucius Malfoy - but do any of them appear in the open-world game? Is Harry Potter in Hogwarts Legacy, for example? Or Hagrid? We've compiled a list of every character in Hogwarts Legacy featuring both new and returning characters from the Harry Potter series.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:05 AM
     The best Minecraft skins 2023

The best Minecraft skins are a great way of making yourself stand out when playing on multiplayer servers. That's why one of the most important and popular aspects of Minecraft is your avatar skin - use it to represent yourself inside and outside the game, for screenshots, videos, multiplayer, and more… and just to feel that little bit less generic.

There are now more default Minecraft skins than ever with seven new characters added in 2022: Noor, Sunny, Ari, Zuri, Makena, Kai, and Efe. The new additions join Steve and Alex in an effort to make the game more representative, which is crucial when loading up any of the best PC games for the first time. However, once you're a few days in, you might prefer to shed your default skin in exchange for something a little more individual. If you aren't confident enough to make your own completely custom avatar, there are thousands of cool Minecraft skins that have been ready-made for you to download and apply in minutes, here's just a few of the best. Take note that all of these cool Minecraft skins are available to download right now on NameMC.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:15 AM
     Destiny 2 Iron Banner dates, start time, rewards, and quest

Destiny 2 Iron Banner is always an exciting time for PvP aficionados, with the most skillful of players being rewarded handsomely with exotic armour, weapons, and unique shaders. Iron Banner doesn't come around often, so it's important to know exactly when you'll be able to compete with the best of the best in the fiercely competitive multiplayer mode.

Iron Banner is a staple of the FPS game, celebrating Destiny 2's PvP activities at their most chaotic. Although it operates similarly to Crucible, this special timed event offers a limited set of rewards that players can only get by completing Iron Banner activities. It's available to all players in the free PC game, regardless of whether they own in-game expansions or seasonal DLC.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:25 AM
     Destiny 2 classes and subclasses guide

Looking for a breakdown of all the Destiny 2 classes? The class system behind Bungie's hit looter shooter has changed a lot in the many years since Destiny 2 players first took on the Red Legion in the fight for the Light. Though Destiny 2 still includes its Warlock, Titan, and Hunter classes - the same ones that first appeared in the original Destiny game - the once-simple Arc, Solar, and Void elemental subclasses have grown to include Aspects, and Fragments. The game also now includes the Darkness-based subclasses Stasis and Strand.

Each of the Destiny 2 classes has a unique kit that leverages one of the game's four elements to allow players to develop builds that suit their specific style of play. The team at Bungie is constantly iterating to keep the game fun and fresh in what many say is one of the best free PC games out there. While this is great for Destiny 2's most active players, casual players, and newcomers may struggle to keep up with the game's evolving subclass systems and how they differ from other FPS games, especially with the arrival of the Destiny 2 Strand subclass.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, February 21, 2023 9:53 AM
     Dota 2 supporters club is 75% off, so get ready to represent

Ahead of the upcoming Lima Major, Valve has slashed the price of Dota 2 supporters club cosmetics by a whopping 75%, with 50% of the proceeds going to the esports squads who will be duking it out for one of the MOBA's premier prizes.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dota 2 heroes, Dota 2 custom games, Which MOBA is best?

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:44 AM
    

You've likely seen Blumhouse's logo in front of horror films like Halloween and Get Out, and now you're going to see that blue-tinged dirty wall at the start of some horror games. The film production company is launching Blumhouse Games, a division that will fund, publish, and produce horror games primarily by indie devs. The company say they're looking for "original" content, so don't expect any M3GAN spin-offs for a while.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:41 AM
    

Time is flying by a little too fast in 2023, although it's not all bad news as a new month means new Game Pass additions. Microsoft have announced the next four games hitting the service before March 3rd, alongside Atomic Heart which releases today. I was interested in the steely Soviet shooter until I read James' review and saw that the protagonist yells "Crispy critters," more than once - I think I'll skip.

Here are the next batch of Game Pass titles:

  • Merge & Blade (Feb 28th)
  • Soul Hackers 2 (Feb 28th)
  • F1 22 (March 2nd)
  • Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (March 3rd)

This is my first time hearing of Merge & Blade, not to be confused with Mount & Blade which is also on Game Pass. Merge & Blade is a hybrid between puzzle games and auto-battlers. Rounds will start with a Tetris-like mini-game, but instead of shapes, you're guiding different unit types and merging them together. You then use your completed party to raid castles and kill monsters. Mixing - or merging - Tetris into a new genre is a recipe for success, so I'll definitely be downloading this one.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, February 21, 2023 9:39 AM
    

Survival sequel Sons Of The Forest is only a few days away as it launches into early access on February 23rd, and the team is celebrating with a final pre-release trailer, exposing us to some nasty sights. Sons Of The Forest was originally going to launch into a full 1.0 release this month, but the team ultimately decided on an early access release since it worked so well for the game's predecessor The Forest.

Read more


Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 3:50 PM
     Microsoft faces major controversy in the meantime.

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:46 PM
     Taking you for every Mon and Ryo you're worth.

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:15 PM
     Realism is only half the battle with these courses.

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:28 PM
     What is this, a story for ants?

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:03 PM
     NO CHEATS!

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:10 AM
     They've terrorized moviegoers; now it's gamers' turn

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:06 AM
     It's making me dizzy.

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:58 AM
     A gory samurai epic unfolds.

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:51 AM
     Who said it? Chandler Bing? Or Barney Stinson? You decide.

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:16 AM
     More Scarlet and Violet news?

Twinfinite Tuesday, February 21, 2023 9:56 AM
     Get your goggles on because there's some PSVR2 games you need to play!

Siliconera Tuesday, February 21, 2023 3:30 PM
    

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Anniversary Celebrated with Character Art

PlatinumGames and a number of artists connected to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance's development celebrated the game's 10th anniversary with character art. Different pieces appeared showing off people like Raiden appeared. In addition, Director Kenji Saito also released a message thanking people for their support and mentioning the joy at "seeing Armstrong and Sam appear in so many memes globally."

First, here's a picture of Raiden by PlatinumGames' Tomoko Nishii, who also worked on Babylon's Fall, NieR Automata, and Astral Chain in addition to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.

Next is a piece from Kana Yamamoto, who worked on games like NieR Automata and Bayonetta 2.

Akiteru Naka, who worked on Astral Chain and The Wonderful 101, included the Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Dwarf Gekkos characters alongside Raiden.

The Jun Seung Jin piece focuses on Senator Steven Armstrong.

Ryoko Konami's piece only shows Raiden.

Kenichirou Yoshimura, who worked on games like Resident Evil, Bayonetta, and Okami alongside Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, drew multiple characters from the game's cast.

Finally, the last piece shared came from Yuya Inoue.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance can be found on the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and NVidia Shield.

The post Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Anniversary Celebrated with Character Art appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, February 21, 2023 2:30 PM
    

Bleach Ichigo SH Figuarts Figure Dated, Renji Announced

There's an update on the SH Figuarts Bleach Ichigo Kurosaki figure, and it turns out he'll eventually be accompanied by Renji Abarai. Bandai Namco announced the first one back in December 2022. Now, we know it will launch in July 2023.

Here's the official update. As Ichigo's figure is based on his Bleach Thousand Year Blood War appearance, the same could be true for Renji. Ichigo is in his full Bankai: Tensa Zangetsu form. The latest teaser shows him in the same pose as the official reveal back at Jump Festa 2023. There's no silhouette or teaser for Renji yet.

People won't need to wait too long to see how this Bleach Renji SH Figuarts character will look. The announcement noted it will appear on February 28, 2023.

People can watch the first season of the new Bleach Thousand Year Blood War anime and past seasons of the show on Disney+ and Hulu. The manga is handled by Viz Media. The Ichigo SH Figuarts will appear in July 2023, and the Renji figure will follow in August 2023.

The post Bleach Ichigo SH Figuarts Figure Dated, Renji Announced appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, February 21, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Splatoon 3 New Stage Umami Ruins

Nintendo revealed a bunch of new details on upcoming Splatoon 3 content. This means new additions, as well as a change to how you'll play with others. The latest updates included details on a new stage and new weapons. There's also the addition of Pools for Splatoon 3 multiplayer, which let you play together without being Switch friends..

First up, here's the new stage. While it's been glimpsed in previous trailers and reveals, the stage has now been confirmed to be called Um'ami Ruins. It is a dig site with an Ancient Egyptian feel. Nintendo released a fly-by of its various features.

https://twitter.com/SplatoonNA/status/1628031981257629696

It's not the only Splatoon announcement, however, as two new weapons were revealed. Both are new variations on previous weapons. The L-3 Nozzlenose D is a version of the L-3 Nozzlenose, which replaces the Curling Bomb sub-weapon and Crab Tank special with Burst Bombs and Ultra Stamp, respectively. Similarly, the Rapid Blaster Deco is a variant of the Rapid Blaster that replaces Ink Mine and Triple Inkstrike with Torpedo and Ink Jet.

Finally, a new feature will be added that will allow Splatoon 3 players to join matches with player Pools, allowing for more custom multiplayer with specific people. This will be done via unique letter and character combinations, with Nintendo's description sounding similar to the titles players can apply to their profiles.

https://twitter.com/SplatoonNA/status/1628032144588042240

All these new additions will be part of the Fresh Season, which begins on March 1, 2023. Splatoon 3 is out now on Nintendo Switch.

The post New Splatoon 3 Multiplayer Pools, Stage, and Weapons Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Genshin Impact Chili-Mince Cornbread Buns Gourmet Tour Food Video Shared

HoYoVerse added a new video to its Gourmet Tour line. This is a series of Genshin Impact videos showing its food recipes being made in the real world, and now Chili-Mince Cornbread Buns are a part of it. The four minute video features an animated introduction and ending featuring the Wangshu Inn and suggesting Smiley Yanxiao is taking part in the dish's creation.

After the animated opening, the third "Gourmet Tour: Liyue's Cuisine Collection" shows the dish being prepared in the real world. The cornbread bun dough is made first. Then, a little clay Guoba, Xiangling's companion, is made. While the buns cook, long thing pepper, pickled pepper, meat, and other ingredients are put together with fried rice to create the chili-mince.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Urt7SZeUE&ab_channel=GenshinImpact

In Genshin Impact, players could get the Chili-Mince Cornbread Buns food recipe during Moonlight Merriment in September 2021. It was one of the rewards for helping Xiangling during the cooking competition with Smiley Yanxiao. To make it, you need to bring two cabbages, two Jueyun Chilis, three bags of flour, and four cuts of raw meet to a cooking station in-game. After you eat it, it will increase the entire party's defense and shield strength for a limited time.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices. One of the last Gourmet Tour videos involved Bamboo Shoot Soup.

The post Genshin Impact Chili-Mince Cornbread Buns Gourmet Tour Food Video Shared appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Tekken 8 Kazuya Mishima Gameplay Trailer

Bandai Namco released a new trailer for Tekken 8 showing off an extended look at Kazuya Mishima's gameplay. It's the latest look at footage we've seen from the latest entry in the company's long-running fighting game franchise, following a reveal at Sony's State of Play in 2022 and an extended trailer at the Game Awards 2022.

The trailer shows off a bunch of his moves, including his Rage Art and an extensive amount of him fighting in his devil form. However, no details have been provided on how this form will factor into his move set. It also showed off quite a bit more of a new city stage, previously glimpsed at The Game Awards. It is full of neon signs and screens that show off its new Unreal Engine powered visuals.

https://twitter.com/TEKKEN/status/1627951400620806144

Although this is the first time we've seen an in-depth look on his moves, Kazuya was one of the first characters revealed alongside Tekken 8 itself. He showed up along with the return of Jin Kazama, King, Lars Alexandersson, Marshall Law and Paul Phoenix. As a reminder, the past announcements also included a new Jack model, Jun Kazama's first canonical appearance in the series since Tekken 2, and the recent reveal of Nina Williams.

Tekken 8 will be released for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam, although no release date has been confirmed yet.

The post New Tekken 8 Trailer Shows Off Kazuya Mishima's Gameplay appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:45 PM
    

February 2023 State of Play Will Cover PS4, PS5, and PSVR 2 Games, Suicide Squad

Not only is a Pokemon Presents coming in February 2023, but Sony announced a February 23, 2023 State of Play. The presentation will appear at 1pm PT/4pm ET. and 10pm CET. (That's 6am JST on February 24, 2023.) As usual, PS4, PS5, and PSVR games will all show up. However, Sony also confirmed there will be an extended look at the upcoming Rocksteady and Warner Bros third-person, multiplayer game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

People will be able to watch the February 2023 State of Play on both YouTube and Twitch, as usual. Co-streaming will be allowed. The US announcement didn't offer a set time, but the Japanese announcement said it will last 45 minutes. The English PlayStation Blog reveal did note that the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League segment will last for 15 minutes. It will also come at the end of the event, so people can spend the first 30 minutes seeing new PS4, PS5, and PSVR 2 announcements.

The next State of Play will appear at 1pm PT/4pm ET. and 10pm CET on February 23, 2023 and is expected to be 45 minutes long. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will show up on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on May 26, 2023.

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Siliconera Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:30 PM
    

Original Rovio Classics: Angry Birds Game Being Delisted

Rovio Classics: Angry Bird, the original game that inspired the series and its spin-offs, will be delisted on Android devices. Rovio announced it will be removed from Google Play on February 23, 2023. If somebody already owns the game, they will still have access to it. On the App Store, the game will become Red's First Flight.

Rovio didn't provide an exact reason as to why Rovio Classics: Angry Birds is being removed. In the official statement, it cited the "impact" on other games. Twitter user BeforeThatCold also shared a statement from Rovio Senior Brand and Community Development Manager Shawn "Buck" Buckelew from Discord that clarified that and said "it is negatively impacting our other games."

The most recent mainline game is Angry Birds Journey. It appeared on mobile devices. As usual, it tasked people with sending birds careening into structures to defeat pigs and collect items.

Rovio Classics: Angry Bird is available on Android and Apple iOS devices until February 23, 2023, at which point the Google Play version will be delisted and it will become Red's First Flight on the App Store.

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