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Mar 01, 10:00


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:36 AM
     Skyrim mods top 100 million monthly downloads, and it's 12 years old

In news that may come as a shock, Skyrim mods are more popular than ever, with some new stats for 2023 showing a record number of creators and creations for the Bethesda RPG game. With Skyrim itself over a decade old, and multiple mod-supported versions available to choose from, the fact that it's more popular with mods than ever is astonishing.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Skyrim mods, Play Skyrim, Games like Skyrim

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:20 AM
     Best MW2 Expedite 12 loadout

Our MW2 Expedite 12 loadout increases its hip-fire accuracy to blast away enemies before they know what has hit them. Land kill after kill in the FPS game by stealthily sneaking around smaller multiplayer maps, and even diving between buildings in larger Ground War game modes.

The best shotguns are an excellent choice as one of your two weapons, specifically with Overkill equipped, one of the best Modern Warfare 2 perks in the multiplayer game. Alongside one of the best assault rifles or the Modern Warfare 2 sniper rifles, the Expedite 12 will flesh out your loadout with the ultimate short-range killing machine.

Continue reading Best MW2 Expedite 12 loadout
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Modern Warfare 2 guns, Best loadouts in Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 2 maps

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:11 AM
     Destiny 2 Strand subclass guide, how to unlock, and upgrade

The Destiny 2 Strand subclass has piqued fans' interest with the release of the Lightfall DLC. It's been a while since Guardians have gotten their hands on a new set of abilities, so prepare to be bombarded with time and space now that the new subclass is unleashed on the Destiny 2 community.

Bungie enticed fans with a first look at the Destiny 2 Strand subclass when it teased Destiny 2 Lightfall. The new Darkness power joins the ranks of Arc, Solar, Void, and Stasis, giving players even more diversity in how they set up their favourite Destiny 2 classes. While the Lightfall preview gave us a first look at the new subclass, more details arose in the following weeks. Here's everything you need to know about Destiny 2's Strand subclass, including how to unlock it in the free PC game.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:05 AM
     You can apply for FFXIV Fanfest 2023 tickets now, but it's a lottery

You can now register your interest in FFXIV Fanfest 2023 tickets if you're looking to visit the celebration of the critically acclaimed MMORPG, but there's sadly no guarantee that you'll be able to secure your spot. With demand as high as ever and Square Enix eager to clamp down on scalpers and ticket resellers, you'll need to enter into a FFXIV housing-style lottery if you want to attend the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival 2023 in London.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMOs on PC, FFXIV Island Sanctuary guide, FFXIV Island Sanctuary animals list

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:55 AM
     Divisive Scars Above is already on a Steam sale, so get it quick

If you're intrigued by Mad Head Games' all-new sci-fi soulslike Scars Above, now's the time to pick it up, as the action-packed FPS game is on sale during its first week in the wild.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best space games, Best FPS games, Best games like Dark Souls

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:54 AM
     Next Valorant Night Market 2023 dates

The next Valorant Night Market has just ended, and whether you were pleased or disappointed by your Night Market selection, hopefully some of your long sought-after weapon skins have now been added to your collection. If not, it's understandable that you might be looking ahead to the next Valorant Night Market dates.

Of course, Valorant weapon skins don't offer any competitive advantage, but looking cool and giving your opponents something pretty to look at as you dominate them in the FPS game offers its own benefits. With anything from seasonal skins, to colourful patterns and intimidating designs for most Valorant guns and blades, there's bound to be something you like in the next Valorant Night Market.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Valorant Night Market dates, Valorant ranks order, distribution, and ranking system explained, Valorant crosshair codes

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:40 AM
     Lost Ark's Tulubik Battlefield is all-out, 96-player PvP warfare

The Lost Ark Tulubik Battlefield update is almost upon us, so developer Smilegate and publisher Amazon Games have detailed what to expect from the colossal clash of factions in the large-scale PvP mode for the fantasy RPG game. A blend of co-op missions, boss fights, and 96-player Realm versus Realm matches promise to give players plenty of reasons to stick with Lost Ark as news of the Diablo 4 beta looms.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPG – top MMOs you should play, Lost Ark class tier list, All Lost Ark Mokoko Seeds locations

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:34 AM
     Best free Steam games 2023

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

In recent years, free Steam games have become the norm, with some even overtaking paid-for triple-A tiles as the leaders of the PC gaming hobby. Take a quick look at the platform's most-played list and you'll see that a significant proportion of the most popular and best PC games on the platform happen to be free-to-play. So, because we desperately care about the health of your bank account - and honestly worry about how much money you're spending on your nasty gaming habit - we want to help you find all the best free PC games worth your time.

Continue reading Best free Steam games 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Play War Thunder for free, Tank games, Best WW2 games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:36 AM
     All Overwatch 2 characters and abilities detailed

Want to know the abilities of all the Overwatch 2 characters? The sequel to Blizzard's hero-based FPS game features a mixture of returning characters and new faces. The current Overwatch 2 roster boasts 36 characters, with the most recent hero being Ramattra in Season 2.

Unlike the first FPS game where all heroes were available to all players, you now have to unlock future Overwatch 2 heroes from the game's seasonal battle pass. The new characters are featured on the free track, but you need to reach rank 55 in the free PC game to unlock them. The next Overwatch 2 character is expected to launch every other season, starting from Season 2.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:45 AM
     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 that just passed. 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.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:27 AM
     The best games like Fall Guys on PC 2023

Looking for some games like Fall Guys? Equal parts infuriating and addictive, Fall Guys is the brightest, bounciest battle royale game we've ever failed repeatedly at - and we have failed at a lot of battle royales. Even though Fall Guys itself is now free to play, after one too many gleeful hours toddling around and bouncing out of the competition, you may be wondering what other fun-yet-competitive party games you can pick up and play with friends, family, or even strangers. Well, wonder no more, my wobbly bean.

As we gush about in our Fall Guys review, the 'original' - as it were- is a fun, mindless jaunt through colourful rounds, and it's as enjoyable as it sounds. Thanks to that flawless formula, a couple of controversial games have tried to directly imitate the aesthetic and Takeshi's Castle-esque gameplay of Fall Guys. This list, though, encompasses a variety of multiplayer games - from those with a similar eye-burning colour scheme, to rage-inducing battle royale games, and strategic puzzle games with hilarious and mind-bending limb physics, rather than exact rip-offs. So, whatever aspect of the Mediatonic battle royale you find most appealing, there's sure to be something in this list of games like Fall Guys that you'll love just as much.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fall Guys review, The best battle royale games, Play Fall Guys

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:19 AM
     Dead by Daylight codes March 2023

DBD codes can actually be quite hard to keep up with, since they are given out pretty regularly - but of course that's no bad thing. We're never going to complain about in-game giveaways, and Dead By Daylight codes can give you anything from outfits to charms, and even Bloodpoints and Iridescent Shards.

Whether you want your favourite DBD killers to get a stylish new look, or you want to add to your survivors' wardrobes, be sure to redeem the codes below before it's too late, which are accompanied by some other ongoing codes to snap up if you haven't already.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:07 AM
     How much have I spent on League of Legends?

Ever ask yourself "How much have I spent on League of Legends?"? Riot Games' hugely successful MOBA is technically a free game, but if you ask any avid fan if that's the case, you'll no doubt receive a wry laugh in response. The 160-strong champion pool is diverse and wonderful; each character can be purchased with currency earned while playing - the premium cosmetics, however, are bought with real-world money.

These cosmetics - skins, mainly - can be purchased directly using an in-game currency called RP. This itself is purchasable using your own hard-earned cash, though. LoL skins change the base look of the character you're playing, with premium cosmetics adding completely new effects, voice lines, and animations. There's also a battle pass that can be bought using RP which rewards you the more you play, so may seem like the most efficient way to spend your money. So, while the MOBA is technically one of the best free PC games right now, you can see just how easily it can sway you into parting with your money. This guide will give you the information needed to find out exactly how much you've spent in League of Legends.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: How much have I spent on League of Legends?, League of Legends patch 13.3, League of Legends tier list

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:07 AM
     Diablo 4 system requirements

What are the Diablo 4 system requirements? It won't be long now until Blizzard unleashes the upcoming RPG game and hordes of demons upon the gaming space. You'd best act quickly if you want to prepare your system for Diablo 4 and its throngs of hellspawn.

Continue reading Diablo 4 system requirements
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 release date, Diablo 4 system requirements, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:23 AM
     Run your own medieval smithy in new Steam game Blacksmith Master

If you love PC simulation games like PowerWash Simulator, or Steam games with management elements that have a similar aesthetic to Old School RuneScape, then Blacksmith Master is absolutely the game for you. We at PCGamesN have plenty of exclusive screenshots and details to share with you (including a shiny new trailer), as well as some insight from the game's developers.


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:02 AM
     All The Sims 4 cheats

Looking for a list of Sims 4 cheats? Whether you're after that all-important Sims 4 money cheat, some fresh items to add to your catalog, or even just zapping a Sim from one place to another, there are heaps of handy shortcuts to make the lives of your virtual family much, much easier.

Cheats are by no means new to The Sims, but if you've never played past entries in one of the best PC games series of all time, or worry that the cheats of previous Sims games won't work here, then allow us to step in with a dedicated list of Sims 4 cheats. We'll walk you through how to enter Sims 4 cheats, give you a list of the very best ones to use, and explain exactly what each offers you.

Continue reading All The Sims 4 cheats
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, Play The Sims 4 free

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 6:46 AM
     The best zombie games on PC 2023

What are the best zombie games on PC? You can hardly take a step on Steam without these clutching at your ankle, so it's a valid question. Popular culture's fascination with the undead has given us many gifts - and many memes - so you must get your bearings and know where to find the best zombie games out there on PC.

Luckily, our list of dead-good hits has everything a zombie enthusiast could ask for, ranging from free PC games, to co-op games like DayZ that are more Lovecraftian period pieces. If you like, you can take a shambling detour through tower defense games and post-apocalypse parkour. Come with us now to find the ones worth playing right now as we wade through the hordes of shambling corpses.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Does DayZ have crossplay?, DayZ system requirements, DayZ base building tips

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:06 AM
     The best cooking games on PC 2023

What are the best cooking games on PC? If you want to relax and create mouth-watering masterpieces or challenge your friends to some kitchen chaos, the wonderful world of cooking and restaurant games doesn't disappoint.

You don't have to be a dab hand in the kitchen to work your way around these chef specials, as the best PC games for the budding restauranteur don't always have to appeal to the chef in us; they can be colourful management games, be as much about farming as preparing, or require some serious recipe grinding. They can also be a relaxing way to pass the time, whether that's by throwing tomatoes at your friend to chop in Overcooked or dragging a monster home for your evening meal in Battle Chef Brigade. Whatever cooking experience you're after look no further, as we've collated a list of the best cooking games on PC.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Disney games, What's the next Dreamlight Valley update?, Disney Dreamlight Valley guide

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 6:40 AM
     Destiny 2 Lightfall mission list

If you're after a Destiny 2 Lightfall mission list, then you're in the right place. Early on in the Destiny 2 Lightfall campaign, you find yourself taking down a Cabal capital ship, catapulted to an eerily empty futuristic Neptunian city, and are, of course, tasked with saving all humanity as we know it. A standard day in the life of a Guardian.

The expansion to the free PC game starts with a bang, and never really lets up. The Destiny 2 legendary campaign adds a lot of spice to the proceedings, requiring teamwork if you're in a fire team, and extreme caution if you are not. But how many missions are there in the Destiny 2 Lightfall story? Here is the complete mission list for Destiny 2 Lightfall.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 6:45 AM
     Official Steam Deck compatible list now features over 8000 games

Not every game will run on Steam Deck, but Valve says 8,000 games are now officially classed as compatible. The number of games with the storefront giant's handheld seal of approval has doubled since July 2021, and the milestone just about lines up with the portable's release date anniversary.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 6:08 AM
     How to get Virginia in Sons of the Forest

If you want to know how to get Virginia in Sons of the Forest, you'll need to know how to put your weapons away and tread carefully or you can scare her away. You can frighten off, ignore, or befriend the three-legged mutant lady, but the latter is going to be your best choice as you'll have an extra pair of hands on your side against the hordes of cannibals. You can even give Virginia clothes to help her withstand the elements of the great outdoors.

Recruit Virginia in Sons of the Forest and you can give her a gun and put her to use in combat against Sons of the Forest mutants, making her an excellent substitute companion if Kelvin dies. Neither of these NPCs is completely forced on you in the survival game, though, so you can go it alone if you want. That said, if you could do with an extra pair of hands - and legs - here's how to get Virginia in Sons of the Forest without scaring her away, as well as where to find her clothes.


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 6:03 AM
     WoW Dragonflight patch drops huge Death Knight, Paladin, Shaman buffs

As World of Warcraft hurtles towards its new big content patch, the latest round of WoW Dragonflight hotfixes give some of the MMORPG's least powerful classes some much-needed TLC - and yes, as a Shaman main, I am very happy.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: WoW Dragonflight tier list, The best WoW addons, WoW Dragonflight review

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 5:55 AM
     Sons of the Forest hotkeys update makes survival a breeze

Good news - Sons of the Forest hotkeys are here, as developer Endnight Games addresses one of the most glaring omissions from the hugely popular horror survival game on Steam in a new patch. If you've been struggling to manage your inventory in the sequel to The Forest, then this small but crucial change will make it much easier to survive in Sons of the Forest.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Sons of the Forest system requirements, Sons of the Forest release date, Best horror games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 4:56 AM
     Gears of War might be coming back, based on Microsoft listing

It's been a pretty long time since we last heard from Gears of War. But a new job listing from publisher Microsoft and developer The Coalition, which took the GoW reins from Epic Games back in 2014, offers hope of a return for Marcus Fenix and crew, and potentially the long-rumoured Gears of War 6. One of the greatest co-op games ever, and a stalwart PC shooter back in the day, maybe, just maybe, it's time for Gears of War to re-emerge.


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 1, 2023 5:06 AM
     Is Sons of the Forest Steam Deck compatible?

Is Sons of the Forest Steam Deck compatible? If you regularly use Valve's portable powerhouse, you're likely itching to find out whether the survival horror sequel works on the handheld. To save you from any frame rate frights, we've put the cannibal caper to the test using the mini monster, but you might want to hold off before playing on the go.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:45 AM
    

Last time, you decided that elaborate corridor architecture is better than funicular fights. I wholeheartedly agree with you, but needed to check because the number of video game funicular fights compared to real-world funicular fights did suggest they might be wildly popular. Now we know. As we continue the mission, this week I ask you to choose between the evils of violence and money. What's better: Quake 2's railgun or the currency 'Gold'?

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 1, 2023 7:07 AM
    

It's 2023 and Cyberpunk 2077 finally works… on the Steam Deck, I mean (it's worked elsewhere for a while now.) The open-world RPG has always been playable on the portable machine, but it's now Steam Deck verified - meaning Valve have tested it and used their almighty wisdom to determine it'll run without a hitch.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 1, 2023 6:04 AM
    

On Tuesday, EA abruptly laid off over 200 quality assurance testers at their LA office Baton Rouge, who were primarily working on their free-to-play battle royale Apex Legends. This news comes from a report by Kotaku which says the layoffs happened over a last-minute Zoom call, according to three of their sources. EA later confirmed the news, calling the layoffs part of their "ongoing global strategy" to expand the "distribution of our Apex Legends testing team."

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 1, 2023 5:30 AM
    

One of the best things a survival game can do is make you want to share your latest experiences with your family and friends At this, Sons Of The Forest succeeds in grand fashion. Often I found myself pausing the game so I could go find my brother and tell him about the latest Big Thing that had just happened. Some of the time, it's even for the right reasons. Perhaps I'd spotted a group of cannibals adopting some startlingly intelligent behaviour. Or maybe one of my NPC companions had just done something particularly endearing in front of me.

Or, more likely, I'd witnessed another example of the incredible jankiness which, like the island's flesh-nibbling denizens, loves to raid and pillage its way through nearly every aspect of the game. Perhaps I'd just cut down a tree and watched it soar high into the air, glitching all over the place like some demonic new type of tree mutant. Maybe Kelvin had just taken my instruction to gather logs a bit too literally, and deconstructed the entire west side of my house while I wasn't looking.

Sons Of The Forest's great strength is its ability to utterly transport you into its threatening, unsettling, but genuinely beautiful world. It quickly builds up the player's trust until they're ready to wholeheartedly buy into what at times feels like the next generation of open-world survival and crafting games. But then, at least in its current Early Access state, it breaks that trust just as quickly with a melange of unintuitive systems, game-breaking bugs, and a painful lack of content that makes one of the most gorgeous environments in games feel awfully hollow after a while.

Read more


Twinfinite Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:00 AM
     Look out for the little guy.

Twinfinite Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:00 AM
     Buzz buzz buzz!

Twinfinite Wednesday, March 1, 2023 8:25 AM
     The Swordsmith Village Arc has received a heaping helping of new promotional material.

Siliconera Wednesday, March 1, 2023 10:00 AM
    

demon slayer season 3 release date

The next adventure for the Demon Slayer Corps is coming soon. The Demon Slayer Season 3 release date is April 9, 2023 in Japan. The announcement came via a special broadcast held on March 1, 2023. There's a new trailer and key visual as well.

The official Twitter account for the series hosted the second promotional trailer for Demon Slayer Season 3. It can be seen via YouTube in some regions, as well.

https://twitter.com/kimetsu_off/status/1630896916677681152

Ufotable also uploaded a key visual poster for the season, showing Tanjiro, Muichiro, Genya, Mitsuri, and various demons.

[gallery columns="1" size="medium" ids="953290" link="file"]

Produced by studio Ufotable, Demon Slayer Season 3 will cover the Swordsmith Village story arc of the Demon Slayer manga. In the arc, Tanjiro must journey to the titular village to have his sword repaired. He must also explain just how his sword was so badly damaged to its maker, the smith Hotaru Haganezuka. Tanjiro will also interact with the Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, and Genya, a fellow Demon Slayer who first debuted during the Final Selection arc in Season 1.

The first episode of the season was released in an early viewing preview via theaters. Aniplex called it the Demon Slayer: To The Swordsmith Village tour. Viewers were able to purchase tickets and see the a rerun of the last two episodes of Season 2 (the Entertainment District arc) and the first episode of season 3. The television debut of Season 3 will also have a one-hour premiere. It's scheduled to broadcast on April 9, 2023 at 11:15 PM Japan time, via Fuji Television.

The Demon Slayer Season 3 release date in Japan is April 9, 2023. The series streams legally on Crunchyroll and other services like Netflix.

The post Demon Slayer Season 3 Release Date Set for April 2023 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:30 AM
    

Spy x Family Loid Yor Figures

Mom and Dad are ready to take a seat. Megahouse announced details about new Spy x Family Yor and Loid figures.

The Spy x Family Yor and Loid figures are part of the G.E.M. series "Tenohira" line (meaning "palm"), and will join the existing G.E.M. Tenohira Anya for a full Forger family sitting session.

The figures are just large enough to sit on an adult's palm, and sculpted to scale accurately with the Anya figure.

The Loid figure is dressed in his trademark green three-piece suit. He usually wears the suit when conducting spy duties or otherwise not working his cover job as a psychologist in Berlint.

Similarly, the Yor figure is dressed for home, wearing her red knitted casual outfit. Rather than a single large sweater, the outfit is actually a two-piece dress that opens in the back. Yor also wears a knitted skirt in the same color to give the impression of a one-piece dress. She also wears black tights and khaki boots, with her hair fastened up with a hairband.

[gallery columns="4" size="medium" ids="953265,953266,953267,953268" orderby="rand" link="file"]

All three figures are designed to sit together, though they're sold separately. Both Spy x Family Yor and Loid figures sell for 8,030 Yen each (about $59 USD). Orders for the figures are taken through the Megahobby Online Store in Japan, and will ship in late September 2023. The Anya Tenohira figure, which began shipping in September 2022, costs 6,380 Yen (about $47 USD).

The Megahouse G.E.M. Tenohira Spy x Family Yor and Loid figures are open for pre-orders in Japan.

The post Spy x Family Yor and Loid Figures Complete the Trio appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:00 AM
    

paranormasight preview

Paranormasight is a chilling, but intriguing horror and mystery adventure game that focuses on various protagonists in a layered story. At the center of it all is the Rite of Resurrection, a ceremony that can bring back the dead. But how far will everyone go in order to revive their loved one? Paranormasight seeks to answer that question.

The prologue, or Chapter 1, centers around Okiie Shogo. Soon after his introduction, he gets a mysterious curse stone that kills people when they walk away from them. He has to use this curse to collect Soul Dregs, which are the key to the Rite of Resurrection. Like a combination of Ace Attorney and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Curse Bearers such as Shogo use items and conversation in order to activate the conditions of their curse to collect Soul Dregs from each other. There are several characters and conversation topics that pop up throughout Shogo's chapter without much development. These future plot points bring a new level of intrigue to the story, which makes me want to keep on playing to see what's up with them.

All of the curses draw inspiration from the Seven Mysteries of Honjo. These are actual urban legends and superstitions within Japan and Paranormasight uses real ukiyo-e paintings of the "Seven Wonders of Honjo" from Kuniteru Utagawa III in its files. The setting of the Sumida ward has also been lovingly recreated. Obviously, as a horror game, there are a few jump scares here and there but nothing that bad. The whole game is more tense than scary. The true horrors in this game come from the characters' actions and willingness to kill people on the off-chance to bring back a loved one. Even so, there is some light humor here and there to keep it from being too intense. Kai's entire existence is a riot (thus far). As well, I especially enjoyed the scene of Shogo knocking Namigaki down a peg.

[gallery columns="2" ids="952868,952869" link="file"]

Something I was always interested in is the usage of multiple protagonists in Paranormasight. This is a story-telling technique that, when executed properly, adds such a layer of mystery to a plot. The three that you get after you complete the prologue got very little in way of their characterization so I would love to see how they found themselves involved in all of this. There is an interesting twist near the end of Shogo's story that had me scratching my head even hours after playing it. Just what happened that night? Aside from the multilayered approach to story-telling, there is a over-arching narrator: the Storyteller. He adds a wonderful meta-horror touch to the whole tale without being overbearing. I like the balance between his parts and the actual story a lot so far.

paranormasight aesthetics

Paranormasight is visually a treat in its early hours. It combines the retro showa era setting in its creative usage of a color TV as its main interface (with satisfying buzzing sound effects to boot) with the more soft and modern art style of Gen Kobayashi's art style. Kobayashi previously worked as a character art designer for the The World Ends With You series. The characters are a lot less anime-proportioned in this though. From what I saw at the start of Shogo's route, the character designs are fairly plain. But it lends a sense of grounded realism in a story that is otherwise fraught with supernatural twists and turns. With its beautiful looks and enticing tale, Paranormasight promises to be a new favorite for mystery and J-horror fans alike.

Paranormasight will appear on the Windows PC via Steam on March 8, 2023 and the Nintendo Switch on March 9, 2023.

The post Preview: Paranormasight is an Intriguing Horror Mystery appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 1, 2023 8:30 AM
    

Resident Evil 7 Cloud

Those who wish to play their rented Switch versions of Resident Evil 7 Cloud in Japan should do so soon. Capcom will cut off access to the rental version of the game by May 29, 2023. The unlimited-access version is still available for purchase.

The Resident Evil Cloud games are versions of the recent Resident Evil titles , including Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, and the Resident Evil and 3 remakes. They're exclusive to the Switch. Players who purchase access can play the games streamed to the Switch via online servers. As the game data isn't hosted or run locally, they require a persistent internet connection.

Until December 1, 2022, Resident Evil 7 Cloud was sold with a form of timed access. Players could obtain a 180-day rental pass that allowed access to the game for a roughly three-month period. New sales of the rental pass version were closed, but customers who already had a pass could redeem theirs and access the game at any point, until now.

Thanks to the announcement, players in Japan who do have a 180-day rental pass for the game will need to redeem theirs right away. After May 29th, they won't be able to play. Capcom stated that those who have a 180-day rental ticket in their purchase history will get a discount on the unlimited-access version of the game. That version's discount will be set at 1,995 Yen (about $14 USD), and qualifying players can avail of it until August 31, 2023.

Resident Evil 7 Cloud is available on the Nintendo Switch. The 180-day pass in Japan will expire on May 29, 2023.

The post Resident Evil 7 Cloud Switch Rental Version Expires in May 2023 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 1, 2023 8:00 AM
    

Blue Protocol Benchmark

Though the planned network test for MMORPG Blue Protocol has yet to take place, you can now find out if the game will run on your rig. Bandai Namco officially released a Blue Protocol benchmark program for all those who are interested. You can download the program from the official site. [[Thanks Inside Games!]

The Blue Protocol benchmark program was announced during a livestream news broadcast that took place on February 28, 2023. It became available to download for the general public on March 1, 2023. It's entirely in Japanese, but those who wish are free to install it to test their systems in advance of the network test and full release. The benchmark's character creation data can also be exported, making it available for use in the network test and final release.

As a benchmarking program, the software is not designed to show gameplay. Instead, it will display an approximation of the graphical and processor load expected of the game, to give players an idea of how Blue Protocol will perform on their particular PC hardware setup. The Blue Protocol benchmark will allow players to create a new custom character, and then display the character in various scenes taken from the game. Following the benchmark, the system will assigned the player's hardware a performance score. Players can also adjust their graphical settings in the Blue Protocol benchmark to try to achieve better scores and performance. Finally, the benchmark will support the creation of multiple characters, as well as displaying them in different locations for screenshots.

According to the blog post detailing the benchmark test, players should expect the game to be considered "playable" at scores of about 6,000 and above, with "smooth" gameplay above 8,000. Scores between 6,000 and 4,000 will likely need to have their settings adjusted to play smoothly, and scores below 4,000 are considered "below minimum requirements."

Blue Protocol is in development for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. It has a release window in Japan on PC of Spring 2023. The planned network test in Japan will take place in late March 2023.

The post Blue Protocol Benchmark Program Released appeared first on Siliconera.


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