Mar 16, 18:00


Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:48 PM
    

Last year, Steam Deck modders discovered how with a little file modding you could swap out the generic intro video that plays when booting up the console with your own video. Now, in time for the Steam Deck's one-year launch anniversary, Valve has released official boot-up videos and made it easier to customize what…

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:40 PM
    

Brandon "Atrioc" Ewing—the Twitch streamer who in January accidentally revealed he was viewing explicit deepfake content featuring women streamers he's friends with IRL, setting off a massive controversy—recently returned to the platform to update his fans.

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:15 PM
    

Twitch streamer Limcube has gone to great lengths to get all the hoes he can—wait, we're talking about the Breath of the Wild gardening tool. You know, the ones used to cultivate soil and remove weeds. Get your head out of the gutter.

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 4:20 PM
    

Fire Emblem is a lot like Pokémon: After you've played one main title, you've more or less played them all. But some anime chess simulators are more robust experiences than others.

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:33 PM
    

I spent most of my childhood fixated on free dress-up games and Animal Crossing so, now, when I play something someone older than me swears is the best game ever, I feel like I've already missed out on its magic. It can be hard to swallow outdated plot points and vintage polygons when modern gaming tries to spoil us

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:18 PM
    

TikTok isn't just an algorithmic time waster for discovering viral dances and new memes. It's also full of new niche genres like grindset grifting, chefs doing cooking commentary, and ASMR deep cleaning. Oh, and challenge-based trends like dudes playing with cups of water.

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:50 PM
    

Players have discovered a new skin in WWE 2K23 that turns world-famous wrestler and movie star John Cena into a plastic action figure, complete with a stiff, non-moving face and smile. And yes, if you were wondering, it's pretty creepy!

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:25 PM
    

I just watched a guy build a fully functional Game Boy Advance SP out of Lego bricks, and you should too. The machine already looked great, but it became truly magical when its creator booted up a copy of Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2. It's a tragedy this was never an officially licensed product because I…

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:15 PM
    

Emmett Shear is no longer the boss of Twitch. After 16 long punctuated by various controversies, the co-founder and only CEO the Amazon-owned streaming platform has ever known announced he's stepping down to spend more time with his family.

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:10 PM
    

While The Last of Us' haunting emotional beats and turbulent moral themes can sometimes be fodder for a more hopeful, reparative perspective, that's not always the case. The Last of Us is heavy as hell, but fortunately, if the HBO series finale has left you in a dour mood, the outtakes and bloopers are starting to…

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:57 PM
    

According to a report from Axios, Vince McMahon will be a playable character in WWE's upcoming video game, WWE 2K23. This news comes after the former WWE CEO's scandal-riddled retirement last year, when The Wall Street Journal unearthed that McMahon paid four women $12 million in "hush money" over the past 16 years,…

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:55 AM
    

One of the judges at the official regional tournament for the Pokémon Trading Card Game that took place in Vancouver this weekend received a lifetime ban after he allegedly harassed transgender competitors.

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:49 AM
    

This will be the first year since 1993 that there won't be a new FIFA game after Electronic Arts abandoned the exclusive license once negotiations reportedly broke down over the renewal price. FIFA President Gianni Infantino swears the FIFA series will return, however, promising "FIFA 25, 26, 27 and so on - will…

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Kotaku Thursday, March 16, 2023 10:55 AM
    

Unless you consider watching people get up and go to work every morning to be a horrifying sight, you probably wouldn't classify The Sims 4 as a horror game. However, its latest update brings infants to the game for the first time ever, and while they may look cute when you first load up your save file, players have…

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PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:48 PM
     FFXIV deep dungeon expert shares their Eureka Orthos tips and thoughts

The arrival of new FFXIV deep dungeon Eureka Orthos is one of the most exciting parts of FFXIV patch 6.35, as the roguelike-inspired twist on the MMORPG offers some of the most unique experiences to be found in Final Fantasy 14. While it can be quite intimidating, one of the mode's best players has shared some helpful Eureka Orthos tips and tricks to help you take on one of FFXIV's most challenging dungeons.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:06 PM
     Forget games, the Steam Deck just got the Valve sale treatment

It's a little hard to believe, but the Steam Deck has been powering many a handheld gaming session across the globe for just a little over a year. Now, as part of a belated celebration of its anniversary, Valve has dropped the price of its device for the first time ever.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:34 PM
     Best MW2 Tempus Torrent loadout for Season 2 Reloaded

Get your hands on the best Tempus Torrent loadout with all the attachments it needs to dominate the battlefield. The Tempus Torrent is the latest marksman rifle to join Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2, giving players a brand new option to take down enemies from medium range.

If you're returning to the FPS game after a short break, you'll be pleased to discover that the Tempus Torrent is built upon the M4 weapon platform. This means if you've used the best Warzone 2 AR in the past, you should automatically have a number of attachments available to slap on the Tempus Torrent right away. Whether you're using the marksman rifle in the free PC game or the multiplayer game, you can blast your enemies away while keeping your distance.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:29 PM
     Far Cry 5 will temporarily be a free game, followed by an 85% discount

If you like free games, and the opportunity to try some of the biggest triple-A releases before you buy, Far Cry 5, the expansive open-world shooter from Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six creator Ubisoft, will soon be available for absolutely nothing, with a hefty 85% discount following once the limited-time free period comes to a close.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Far Cry 5 review, Far Cry 5 perks and skills, Far Cry 5 guns and fangs for hire

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:11 PM
     Diablo 4 Rogue class, skills, and imbue system explained

Looking to find out more about the Diablo 4 Rogue class? Look no further. Created to fulfil a dexterity role, Rogue is a truly hybrid character who combines her excellence in both range and melee attacks with impressive speed and mobility stats. As such, Rogue is set to be one of the most flexible characters available.

One of the Diablo 4 classes, Rogue is a throwback to the origins of the RPG game series. Blizzard has said that this Rogue is a whole new look though, encompassing elements of other popular characters such as Diablo 3's Demon Hunter and Diablo 2's Assassin. And, although originally from the Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye, players can reportedly take on either a female or male Rogue class role. Here's everything you need to know about the Diablo 4 Rogue ahead of the Diablo 4 release date.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:05 PM
     Genshin Impact events – all current and upcoming events

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

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

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:02 PM
     Get ready, the Spring Steam Sale is here with cheap games galore

If you've been saving up for the Spring Steam Sale, your wait is almost over. Just when your wallet thought it was safe to go back on the Steam store, Valve has outlined its next Steam sale dates along with a glimpse at some of the many cheap games you'll be able to grab while it's live. The sale is imminent, and it looks like some of the best PC games are already lined up to feature in the bargain bonanza.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ, Steam family sharing, Steam in-home streaming

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:07 PM
     The best war games on PC

Which are the best war games on PC? It's a tricky question to answer since war is sort of the default here in the world of PC gaming. It never changes, whether you're re-fighting WW2 or blowing planes out of the sky in Battlefield. We've chosen some highlights from quality war games on PC for your perusal, from calmer free-to-play options to serious strategy games that cover some of history's most serious conflicts.

This is a living list where we try to keep things fresh by rotating games in and out, so make sure you check back regularly. The free PC games are up top by default, so if you're looking for something to play with zero financial commitment, that's where to look. Check out our sister website Wargamer for plenty more dedicated coverage of the world of war games.

Continue reading The best war games on PC
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Play Enlisted for free, The best free PC games , The best WW2 PC games

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:42 PM
     Here's the best deal to buy The Last of Us PC

If you want to find the best deal for The Last of Us PC, and you're tired of scouring Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG, then look no further. As we draw closer to The Last of Us PC release date and the Naughty Dog survival game prepares to wow players all over again, we've found a tidy TLOU discount that you can claim and pre-order right now.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Last of Us PC release date, Best action adventure games, Naughty Dog's new fantasy game

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:42 PM
     Best educational games on PC 2023

So you want to know what the best educational games are? Well, good for you. Educational videogames can provide fun and unique learning experiences, and we're not afraid to say that they can actually be pretty entertaining too.


PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:43 PM
     Diablo 4 Sorceress class – the best stats, skills, and talents

Want to know about the Diablo 4 Sorceress? The Sorceress/Sorcerer has been in every Diablo game since the beginning of the series, and there's a good reason for that. Sure, playing as a Barbarian capable of wielding four weapons at once is pretty cool, but the Sorceress has mastered control over fire, ice, and lightning. Let's be honest, that is infinitely more impressive than being able to hold a sword and axe at the same time.

The Sorceress has always been a difficult class to master in the RPG game as her low health pool makes it difficult to stay alive in the heat of battle. If you learn how to control the elements, even the largest swarms of enemies become no match for the Sorceress. Given Blizzard's track record with the Diablo series, we can see Diablo 4 becoming one of the best PC games of the year. Here's everything you need to know about the Sorceress in Diablo 4.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:30 PM
     Redfall trailer reveals the bloodsucking business behind the vampires

Vampires galore stalk the streets of Redfall, but there's even more sinister bloodsuckers lurking in the shadows of Bethesda and Arkane Austin's upcoming co-op game. A new Redfall story trailer digs into the nefarious Aevum Therapeutics corporation responsible for the initial outbreak, giving us a glimpse of what we'll be uncovering when the Redfall release date arrives.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Redfall release date, Redfall open world more like Far Cry than L4D, The best co-op games on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:24 PM
     Genshin Impact 3.5 brings back Fungi friends and Ley Line Overflow

The Genshin Impact 3.5 update will be bringing another monster-taming Fungi event, Fungus Mechanicus, along with double mora and level-up book rewards from Ley Line Overflow. The second half of the anime game's version 3.5 update is right around the corner, and that's when these events, among others, will be going live. The timing is great, as we'll finally be getting the long-awaited reruns for Ayaka and Shenhe, alongside the release of newcomer Mika.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:09 PM
     Diablo 4 Necromancer class, skills, and summons explained

Want to know more about the Diablo 4 Necromancer class? Of course you do! The fifth and final class of Diablo 4 has finally been revealed, and we're delighted to see the Diablo 2 fan-favourite again join the campfire.

As in previous RPG games in Blizzard's long-standing series, the Diablo 4 Necromancer class is primarily a summoner specialising in raising a skeletal militia and hulking golems to overpower every enemy. Blizzard has confirmed that this iteration of the Necromancer will be the most customisable in the series. We've compiled everything we know so far for you to decide if this ghoulish spellcaster is right for you.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:05 PM
     Dinky Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card pops up in leaked photos

We're still waiting for an Nvidia RTX 4060 release date announcement, but leaked photos of the GeForce graphics card are already making the rounds online. While the images give nothing away regarding specs, they reveal that'll be potentially much smaller than existing RTX 4000 cards.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia RTX 4080 review, Nvidia RTX 4070 rumours, Best graphics card in 2022

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:27 PM
     Nightingale release date, gameplay, story, and more

Excited to learn about the Nightingale release date? Nightingale is an upcoming open-world survival game from Inflexion Games. Like other games in its genre, it involves plenty of gathering and building. What sets Nightingale apart is its Victorian-inspired assortment of procedurally-generated magical realms and roguelite card system, supported by a post-apocalyptic origin story set in a parallel universe.

Although Nightingale's early access release has been delayed, there's already a new release window on the horizon. Meanwhile, the developers have been generous in their information supply, providing us with a ton of blog posts and videos on Nightingale's progress. There's so much to learn about the Victorian survival game, so here's an overview of everything we know about Nightingale, which could eventually be one of the best PC games.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games on PC, Best crafting games on PC, Best fantasy games on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:54 AM
     Should you steal a Fwooper feather in Hogwarts Legacy?

Knowing whether to steal the Hogwarts Legacy Fwooper feather for Garreth in Potions class is a tricky one because, on one hand, you want to give a good first impression to Professor Sharp as the new fifth-year student. On the other hand, Garreth's "spectacular" potion is sure to be excellent, and you want to make friends and allies during your time at Hogwarts.

This isn't the only decision you'll need to make in Hogwarts Legacy, but it is one of the earliest, and Garreth does make a good case for himself in the RPG game. It's fairly simple to steal the feather - all you need to do is pick it up when you enter Sharp's office, alongside the ingredients you're actually in there for - but will you get in trouble? Here are the two outcomes of the Potions class decision on whether to steal the Fwooper feather in Hogwarts Legacy or not.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:32 AM
     All Last of Us Firefly Pendants locations

Looking for the locations of all The Last of Us Firefly Pendants? We've got your back. The Fireflies are a militia faction that Joel and Ellie are searching for in The Last of Us. Along the way, you'll find mementos and keepsakes of organization members that have met an untimely end.

There are 30 Firefly Pendants for you to find in The Last of Us, and if you manage to loot them all, you'll earn the 'Look For The Light' achievement. Apart from these, you can also acquire other collectibles and utility functions, such as training manuals, workbench tools, and safe code combinations. In any case, here's our The Last of Us Firefly Pendants guide to help you obtain all 30 of these mementos.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Last of Us PC release date, Best action adventure games, Naughty Dog's new fantasy game

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:31 AM
     The Last of Us safe codes and locations

The Last of Us safe codes provide you with the right combinations to open a particular repository. Each code consists of three numbers, which you can input in a nearby safe. Once you've keyed in the correct code, you'll find goodies, such as parts/gears for weapons, supplies for passive buffs, and, in one particular instance, a Training Manual.

You'll need to take advantage of everything you can in order to survive the unforgiving world of The Last of Us, so ransacking every safe you come across is a must. Likewise, do take note that unlocking all of these containers nets you the 'Sticky Fingers' achievement. Here is our The Last of Us safe codes guide to help you locate all of these combinations so you can grab more resources.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Last of Us PC release date, Best action adventure games, Naughty Dog's new fantasy game

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:31 AM
     The Last of Us workbench tool locations

If you're looking for The Last of Us workbench tool locations, you're in luck. The workbench tools are collectibles that allow you to enhance your weapons - each tool you collect raises your tool level, offering enhanced upgrades whenever you're at a workbench.

You'll need to collect all five The Last of Us workbench tools in order to gain access to every upgrade - which can include increased rate-of-fire, extra clips in the magazine, improved draw times, wider spread, and more. Moreover, once all five tools are in your inventory, you'll also earn the 'Sharpest Tool in the Shed' achievement. Here's every The Last of Us workbench tool location to help you fully level the workbench and unlock all weapon upgrades.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Last of Us PC release date, Best action adventure games, Naughty Dog's new fantasy game

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:31 AM
     The Last of Us training manuals locations

The Last of Us training manuals are an invaluable tool when it comes to surviving harsh post-outbreak environments. During your travels, you'll make use of various items to stay alive or keep hostiles at bay. Naturally, you'll want to find the means to increase their effectiveness. Thankfully, The Last of Us Training Manuals are collectibles that can do just that.

The Last of Us training manuals are collectibles that give specific item upgrades once you pick them up, like increasing the effectiveness of health kits, giving your shivs an extra use, etc. The first Training Manual you discover nets you the 'Self Help' achievement. Later, once you've found all 12, you'll receive the 'Something to Fight For' achievement. Here's our The Last of Us training manuals guide to help you acquire all these upgrades.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Last of Us PC release date, Best action adventure games, Naughty Dog's new fantasy game

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:48 AM
     How to change appearance in Hogwarts Legacy

If you're wondering how to change appearance in Hogwarts Legacy, wonder no more. There's plenty of opportunity to refresh your wardrobe to ensure you're flaunting the best stats and style, but when it comes to changing your character itself, there's only one place to go.

After so many hours spent in the RPG game, it may be time to change appearance in Hogwarts Legacy to better reflect your character as they develop during their time at Hogwarts with their companions. Having the freedom to change your appearance in a sprawling open-world game is a foregone conclusion, and you don't have to stray far from Hogwarts to make it happen.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:23 AM
     Texas Chainsaw Massacre release date confirmed, Steam demo incoming

Pull on your aprons and sharpen your meat hooks - the Texas Chainsaw Massacre release date has finally been confirmed, with the multiplayer horror game and rival to Dead by Daylight also heading for a new Steam demo in the near future, followed by a full launch on PC Game Pass. Based on the 1974 movie of the same name and considered an official part of the series' canon, we'll finally get our hands on Texas Chainsaw Massacre later this year.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games, Best multiplayer games, Best survival games

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:10 AM
     Top FPS streamers Shroud and Sacriel team up to make new survival game

Developer Splash Damage is teaming up with two of the biggest names in FPS streaming to create a new open-world survival game, currently known as Project Astrid. Michael 'Shroud' Grzesiek and Chris 'Sacriel' Ball are best known for excelling in games like CSGO, Valorant, Battlefield, DayZ, CoD Warzone, and PUBG Battlegrounds. Now they're turning their hands to game development in collaboration with the developer behind classic multiplayer FPS Enemy Territory Quake Wars and spinoff Gears Tactics.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Best multiplayer games, Best upcoming games

PCGamesN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:06 PM
     Disco Elysium has a new game mode, and you can play it free right now

There's a new game mode in Disco Elysium, and it's available to play right now. Collage mode - free for anyone who owns the base game - is a creative endeavor from developers ZA/UM that gives you access to nearly every asset in the game, and allows you to create scenes, and even dialogue for characters.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Disco Elysium review, Best RPGs on PC, The best PC games

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:52 PM
    

Dwarf Fortress has long had babies, but if you're using the recent Steam release and its sprite art, they look like adults. That's going to change soon in what Kitfox call their "cutest update ever", which will add baby sprites for every creature in-game, from aarvarks to dwarves to troglodytes.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:11 PM
    

We already knew that Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly was arriving on April 20th. Now we know that it'll launch on Game Pass on day one.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:10 PM
    

The Wandering Village is about building a town on the back of a walking colossus. It's quite lovely even in early access, and its success has apparently enabled developers Stray Fawn Studio to become a publisher.

Their first project is publishing Earth Of Oryn, a fellow citybuilder with a medieval setting which is taking inspiration from both Banished, Age Of Empires and RimWorld.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:50 PM
    

Physics-based bridge-building indie Poly Bridge is coming back for a third entry, developer Dry Cactus have announced. Poly Bridge 3 is releasing on May 30th for PC and it'll continue the series' tradition of unstable bridge construction, with a hint of Trials Fusion's topsy-turvy physics. Your goal here is to get your vehicle from one side of the level to the next, hoping to dear god that your recently-built bridge doesn't collapse.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:44 PM
    

Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin will launch on Steam next month, and it's now available at a "new, affordable price", according to Square Enix. Not more affordable, just "affordable", which kind of implies that the old price for the Team Ninja action game was unaffordable.

As of today, Stranger Of Paradise therefore costs £35/$40 from the Epic Games Store, down from £50/$60. Nobody tell them that a bunch of their other games still cost $70.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:02 PM
    

Dodgy reseller listings aside, the Steam Deck has spent its entire life thus far without even a temporary price drop. That ends today, as the Steam Spring Sale has launched with the first official Steam Deck savings - a 10% cut across the range - alongside the more expected dealsplosion of discounted games.

What's more, this sale could also be the last time that the Steam Deck joins in a Steam sale, at least for a very long time. Lawrence Yang, a Valve designer who recently spoke to us about the Deck's first year in the wild, has also told me that the company are "looking at this as a one-time deal in celebration of Steam Deck's anniversary." You'll therefore have until March 23rd, when the Spring Sale ends, to seize a saving on the handheld PC before it returns to base pricing – maybe for good.

All three Steam Deck versions are part of the sale, shedding exactly 10% apiece. The 64GB model is down from £349 / $399 to £314.10 / $359.10, the 256GB model drops from £459 / $529 to £413.10 / $476.10, and the top 512GB model falls from £569 / $649 to £512.10 / $584.10. Unlike the sad old days of 2022, there's no lengthy waiting period once you put your order in, though I wouldn't be surprised if it takes the full two weeks of Valve's one-to-two week delivery estimate, what with the likely surge in demand.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:00 PM
    

We had a couple of juicy news bits this week about disappoint - nay, heartbreaking - launch woes, so we thought we'd engage in every dev's nightmare by talking about bad launches on The Electronic Wireless Show podcast. What are some of the bad launches we remember? What part do we play in this ecosystem? Are we just doomed to get bad PC ports for the next few years, or is this going to happen forever now.

Plus, a terrifying Tower Of Jocularity that challenges us to know when games came out (we do quite well, I think), the games we've been playing right now, and a trio of movie recommendations.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:32 AM
    

Developer IO Interactive recently put their stealthy Hitman series on hiatus after adding a roguelike mode to the combined World Of Assassination package. Since then, the studio have been tight-lipped about their current projects, an "online fantasy RPG" and their mysterious James Bond game - until now. Speaking with Eurogamer, IO co-owners Christian Elverdam and Hakan Abrak shed some light on the Bond project, letting us know that it's an origin story and that it'll follow a brand-new 007.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:30 AM
    

I'm not a big fan of fighting for my survival while being chased by a horde of mutant cannibals in games, so I basically wrote off Sons Of The Forest as not really my thing and moved on with my life. Cut to a couple of weeks after release and I'm having an absolute whale of a time in Endnight Games' survival horror - and it's all thanks to sweet, succulent blueberries.

It all started when I learned that Sons Of The Forest has a peaceful mode, which completely removes all the gross, yucky cannibals, leaving you to grapple with survival in relative peace and quiet. The first time I met up with Kelvin and we got to work, casually making our shitty shelter and stick storage, I perused the guidebook to see what's next, and I spotted a planter. A planter? Okay, so I assume you can plant seeds and grow food, then? That's really co-WAIT, wait, wait. You're telling me this is basically a farming sim?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Despite lawsuits and other messy goings-on at Disco Elysium studio ZA/UM recently, things are starting to look a little sunnier for this troubled RPG maker. Three of its lawsuits with former employees have been resolved this week, and today marks the arrival of a new mode in the game called Collage Mode, a daft and very entertaining screenshotting and diorama tool that lets you arrange Revachol's many, many inhabitants in all sorts of weird scenes, poses and sizes. And yes, that is a giant Kim and Kuno up top there tormenting your tiny detective protagonist. What of it?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, March 16, 2023 10:36 AM
    

Modders are having fun with Resident Evil 4's Chainsaw demo. Earlier in the week, they replaced Leon's gun and knife combo with a banana and a spoon - optimal zombie-slaying tools, but now some more, err, drastic mods have been created for the horror action revival. By drastic, I mean modder IvenXIII has replaced the chainsaw-wielding Salvador with Shrek.

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Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:28 PM
     This is the way (of cuteness).

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 4:34 PM
     Knock knock. Penny quiz. Knock knock. Penny quiz. Knock knock. Penny quiz.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 4:11 PM
     Our GotY 2019 is only $9.99.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:57 PM
     Time to REfresh your memory.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:50 PM
     We'd like to play Metroid Prime 2 and 3 to pass the time, too.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:10 PM
     The fateful return to Silent Hill draws ever closer.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:19 PM
     The Last Dose is as final as the name sounds

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:21 PM
     Techland are going hard with this one.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:56 PM
     These boots are made for skating.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:41 PM
     Ted Lasso is so good it could keep a goldfish's attention for three seasons.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:25 PM
     Playing with the sandbox.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:13 PM
     The project remains somewhat shrouded in secrecy.

Twinfinite Thursday, March 16, 2023 10:36 AM
     It's time to bite back!

Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:30 PM
    

The World Ends with You Music Joins Theatrhythm Final Bar Line Song List DLC

New music DLC is here for Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, and this The World Ends with You pack adds music from the original game and NEO TWEWY. It includes six songs total. Among them are some of the more notable and recognizable tracks, like "Calling" and "Twister." People can buy the pack alone for $4.49. It is also a part of the $14.99 season pass.

Here's the full list of songs available in the add-on. The song it originated in appears after the track.

  • "Breaking Free" from NEO TWEWY
  • "Calling" from TWEWY
  • "Someday" from TWEWY
  • "Twister" from TWEWY
  • "World is Yours" from NEO TWEWY
  • "Your Ocean" from NEO TWEWY

There's also a launch trailer for the Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC that shows some of the new songs being added to the overall list. In each case, the background is the Shibuya Scramble from TWEWY. It starts with "Someday," then moves on to "Breaking Free" and "World is Yours."

As a reminder, the first season pass volume gives people songs from Live a Live, NieR Automata, and SaGa Frontier as well. Square Enix hasn't said anything about a second volume yet.

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is available for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, and the song list now includes a The World Ends with You music pack.

The post The World Ends with You Songs Join Theatrhythm Final Bar Line appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:00 PM
    

Carddass Mini

Bandai is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its "Carddass" card vending machine line. To commemorate the occasion, it opened pre-orders for a special set of Carddass Mini replica vending machines. The line consists of three specially designed machines based on Dragon Ball, SD Gundamand Battle Spirits cards. The machines are sold separately via the Premium Bandai website in Japan, and each costs 8,800 Yen (about $67 USD). [Thanks, Famitsu!]

The 35th Anniversary Carddass Mini machines are small, desktop-scale replicas of the original Carddass 20 machine. Each is decorated with art based on its series. Buyers actually need to put two 10 Yen coins (or two of the special 10 Yen-sized coins included in the set) in order to turn the handle and extrude a card. Each machine comes with a set of blank white cards. The cards can be decorated or used as the buyer wishes, such as for parties or fortune-telling.

[gallery size="medium" ids="955821,955822,955823" link="file"]

Each Carddass Mini machine also includes an exclusive card replicating a rare or popular card once served by the original device. The Dragon Ball machine includes a card showing Son Gohan learning the Kamehameha. The SD Gundam machine includes a card of the RX-93 ν Gundam. The Battle Spirits machine includes a copy of The DragonEmperor Siegfried, the game's very first X-Rare card.

[gallery size="medium" ids="955824,955825,955826" link="file"]

Bandai first created Carddass in 1988 with the "Carddass 20" machine. The name of the line was originally inspired by the AMeDAS, the Japan Meteorological Agency's weather data gathering system. Just as AMeDAS was a "source" of weather info, Bandai wanted its card vending system to be a source of character info. It also reworked the name into a portmanteau of the English "card" and the Japanese word "dasu" ("to put out"). The machines were used to sell trading and collectible cards akin to baseball cards overseas. They also sold cards for use in collectible card games, including Bandai's own Battle Spirits game.

The 35th Anniversary Carddass Mini machines are available for pre-order in Japan.

The post SD Gundam, Dragon Ball Lead Bandai Carddass Mini 35th Anniversary Machines appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 4:30 PM
    

Aksys Switch Otome Game Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo Launches in May

The next Aksys Switch otome game is upon us. It announced a release date for Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo, which appeared in Japan as Kimi wa Yukima ni Koinegau. The visual novel will appear on the eShop on May 18, 2023. It also showed a teaser of the seven character art cards that will appear in the first-run physical copies.

First, here's the preliminary look at what the cards will look like. Each one features the character's official art and a chibi version of them set against their signature color. Their name appears at the bottom. The protagonist Suzuno appears on the top. Below her is the love interest Tomonari Takamura. If it follows that pattern, the remaining five cards should be the other romance options Kunitaka Tojo, Yoichi, Genjuro Kuga, Kinji, and Ohtaro.
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="955920" orderby="rand" link="file"]
As a reminder of how the art style looks, here's a trailer showing off its opening movie and characters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2WjVtKHvI&ab_channel=AksysGamesOfficial

Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo is a historical and supernatural Switch otome game set in the Kyoho era. Suzuno, the heroine, can see when bad things are about to happen via "black Threads." After she's exiled, Tokugawa shogunate's Oniwaban bring her to Edo to aid in their efforts to fight monsters.

Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo will come to the Nintendo Switch on May 18, 2023.

The post Aksys Switch Otome Game Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo Launches in May appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 4:00 PM
    

ryugukoku metaverse

On Facebook, Hajime Tabata once again reiterated his interest in the Metaverse. This appeared after the announcement that several major Japanese corporations came together to work on Metaverse project Ryugukoku. He stated that this has been something that JP Games thought about ever since its creation. It will be a project in which users can coexist with corporations within a new-generation RPG (a Metaverse). [Thanks, Resetera!]

Tabata stated that he hopes for everyone's support as he continues to work on expanding the possibilities of games. As for Ryugukoku, it appears to be a combination of multiple Metaverse services. A flying castle of sorts would contain all the different Metaverses. As players would traverse through the various worlds, they would be able to experience a wide variety of content and services.

The second half of Tabata's explanation on Ryugukoku is as follows:

"Additionally, Ryugukoku (TBD) will deliver an open and secure Metaverse infrastructure that enables safe and stable use of identity authentication, various payments, data infrastructure, insurance, etc., through collaboration with leading Japanese financial institutions, major corporations, and TBT Lab Group. Furthermore, by providing this infrastructure to companies and government agencies outside of Japan, we will be able to expand the 'Japan Metaverse Economic Zone' globally."

Several major Japanese corporations, including Mitsubishi and Fujitsu, announced in late February 2023 that they would create an "open metaverse infrastructure from a role-playing game perspective." In other words, this is the Japanese Metaverse Economic Zone project that Tabata mentioned. TBT Lab, which Tabata is the representative of, was part of this agreement. An open Metaverse and social infrastructure would supposedly let people acquire personalized through a digital avatar.

The Ryugukoku Metaverse project is in development. Square Enix, which Tabata formerly worked at, is also interested in NFTs and the Metaverse, as shown with Symbiogenesis.

The post Hajime Tabata Discusses Ryugukoku Metaverse Project appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:30 PM
    

Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2 Battle

Bandai Namco announced the game Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2 was downloaded five million times and is celebrating with a variety of bonuses. Gun Cannon Aqua [TB] is joining the roster, for one. Also, to commemorate the occasion, players will be given a variety of mobile suits and other items for logging in. The event is live now.

The following items can be gained by logging in during the event period.

  • 200 Mechanics Tickers 2 stars
  • 200 Mechanics Tickets 3 stars
  • 300 Recycle Tickers
  • 50 DP
  • Ex-S Gundam Level 1
  • Ripple Pattern HG
  • The-O Level 1
  • Zeta Gundam [HML] Level 1

The celebration also runs alongside the addition of Gun Cannon Aqua [TB] to Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2. This new mobile suit can be deployed on the ground and is an aquatic variation of the existing Gun Cannon mobile suit. It has a deployment cost of 350. Until March 23, 2023 the Gun Cannon Aqua will have a boosted chance of appearing in supply drops.

https://twitter.com/GBO2EN/status/1636232082878869504

Once per day until March 28th, 2023, players are given one free supply drop for a total of a maximum of 14 across the duration of the event. This particular supply drop will guarantee a two-star or higher mobile suit, with the possibility of a four-star mobile suit appearing.

A special step-up supply drop will also be available during the celebration. For 30 tokens ten consecutive supply drops will have a bonus mobile suit as the 11th drop. This can be done a total of three times.

The following mobile suits can be obtained at the 11th drop:

  • Baund Doc Level 1
  • Delta Plus Level 1
  • Geara Zulu (Angelo) Level 1
  • Rebawoo Level 1
  • Silver Bullet Level 1

A new player experience also will run alongside the five million download event. These include a seven-day log-in campaign that gives too 30 tokens to spend on supply drops, increased drops and more rewards for missions for seven days, and directive missions to teach new players the game while giving rewards.

The event also features a three-part new player step-up supply drop banner with bonuses for each step. The first step is free and guarantees a one-star mobile suit, while the second does the same with a two-star mobile suit plus 150 two-star mechanic tickets, and finally the third gives a three-star mobile suit and 200 three-star mechanic tickers.

You can play Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2 on PlayStation 4 and 5 now and on PC via Steam later in 2023. The five million downloads event runs until March 29, 2023.

The post Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2 Hits 5 Million Downloads appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:00 PM
    

Oni Review Starting Area

The story of Momotaro is a famous one in Japanese folklore. It's the tale of the boy born from a peach who travelled to the demon land of Onigashima to fight the evil that lies there. However, history tends to be written by the victors, so we don't really get to hear how the oni felt about this boy and his animal friends arriving and slaughtering them all. Indie adventure title ONI: Road to Be the Mightiest Oni sets out to address this imbalance in the accepted narrative.

You play as Kuuta, an oni who travelled from his home of Onigashima to the island of Kisejima. This island is a training ground for oni, where they can gain power and strength if they can pass a series of trials. The challenges are not easy and many oni have fallen in their efforts, but Kuuta is determined to try.

The game begins as soon as Kuuta arrives on Kisejima. You are free to wander the island at your leisure, although wandering too far makes it clear that certain areas are blocked off by magic barriers that must be broken down. This is achieved by completing combat challenges that progressively unlock across the island. In these challenges, the perspective shifts, Kuuta throws off his backpack, and you beat down a series of enemies with your club.

Oni Review Combat

Combat is standard fare, with a single combo attack available to you. However, the game adds the conceit that enemies can only be truly defeated by destroying their souls. Souls will appear when an enemy is knocked out. If you fail to destroy them in time, they return to their body, undoing all your hard work. If you manage to knock out multiple enemies at once, Kuuta has access to a chain ability where he can zip around bashing souls in a ruthless combo.

Adding to the combat mechanics is Kuuta's ghost buddy Kazemaru, who you can control independently by holding down a shoulder button and moving the right stick. Kazemaru has the power to draw souls out of enemies, and later gains the ability to teleport Kuuta around and heal him.

The use of two characters in combat sounds complicated, and yet it works surprisingly well. Kuuta's simple combat mechanics coupled with all of Kazemaru's moves being tied to shoulder buttons mean it's easy to wrap your head around. Once you've gotten the hang of it, you can quickly find yourself in a vast field of souls waiting to be bonked. Activating the chain combo on huge numbers of souls at once is incredibly satisfying, always ending in a dramatic slow-motion zoom.

Oni Review Kuuta Kazemaru

When not in combat, Kisejima is free for you to explore, where you can take in the game's atmosphere at your leisure. Visually, ONI: Road to Be the Mightiest Oni is simple, yet effective. Character designs are expressive and charming, all coupled with some excellent animation. Kuuta running around the island on his little legs as he lugs all his possessions on his back is adorable. In cutscenes, he'll typically express himself with exaggerated movements and expressions that make him extremely likable. The environment is interesting too, with rolling hills and forests combined with magical floating rocks and other strange elements that add a lot of visual flair.

It's such a shame that there's so little to do in the exploration parts of the game. You can pick up collectibles, including mushrooms that act as currency, or diary entries from previous visitors to the island. You can also obtain spirits, which can increase your health if you can get them back to a save point without being taken out by aggressive oni. However, that's often all there is to find, and the game quickly falls into repetition as you find yourself picking these things up over and over again with no real variation.

Oni Review Combat

The combat being separated into its own pocket dimension adds to this feeling too, as you can't just stumble into a combat encounter while exploring. You have to deliberately enter it. Progression relies on completing these encounters, which also tend to recycle a lot of the same fight styles. The game does present a welcome break with a unique boss fight or two, but this is an occasional treat rather than the norm.

There are also times when combat encounters can feel dragged out with moments where you simply have to wait for an enemy to do something for you to respond to. One boss, for instance, turned invincible and ran around in circles a lot, while all I could do was watch and wait for it to eventually reveal its weak spot.

The repetitive feeling isn't helped by the soundtrack. There's nothing specifically wrong with the tracks themselves, it's just that they rarely belong to this game or they're used in a context where they quickly wear out their welcome. It often sounds like the Tetris Effect soundtrack got lost and wandered in by mistake. Now, I love the Tetris Effect soundtrack, but it suits trippy puzzle landscapes much better than it fits a series of combat encounters, and that's obvious here.

Oni Kuuta and Kanna

It's a real shame that ONI: Road to Be the Mightiest Oni is riddled with these problems, as there's clearly a lot of love and care that's been put into this game. The storyline is generally excellent, as Kuuta meets a human woman named Kanna wandering the island, unsure how she got there. They befriend each other despite the differences between humans and oni. These scenes are always delivered beautifully, with interesting visual effects using large text representing Kuuta's thoughts.

The game is definitely aiming to put an interesting new spin on an old familiar tale, and it mostly succeeds. It has a lot to say about the nature of struggle and hatred, sprinkled in as you explore Kisejima. Some of the notes left by previous fallen oni include simple everyday things like shopping lists, and small touches like this highlight the pain that this supposed legendary hero has caused. All this is then contrasted with Kanna, who is kind and friendly, and the opposite of how Kuuta has come to view humans.

ONI: Road to Be the Mightiest Oni is a messy, yet clearly heartfelt, experience. There is a lot that's worthwhile here, between the gorgeous visuals, interesting mechanics, and superb storytelling, you just have to wade through a lot of samey content to get to it all. Might be best experienced in short bursts.

ONI: Road to Be the Mightiest Oni is available for Nintendo Switch, PC and PlayStation 4 and 5.

The post Review: ONI: The Road to Be the Mightiest Oni is Flawed, but Beautiful appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:30 PM
    

Dead by Daylight Mobile Kicks Off with The Ring's Sadako

A new Android and iOS version of Dead by Daylight, appropriately called Dead by Daylight Mobile, is now live, and it kicked off with the addition of the Sadako Rising event that brings The Ring (Ringu) character to the game. Her event runs until March 28, 2023. In addition, NetEase and Behaviour Interactive went over the migration process and what people can expect.

The Sadako Rising Dead by Daylight Mobile update adds The Ring's Sadako as a Killer and Yoichi Asakawa as a Survivor. While the special event marking its debut runs, people can earn a Sadako Sleeping Blossom costume and Paranormal Investigator Yoichi one. People can also earn player customization items like [Portrait] The Onryo and the Portrait Frame: The Onryo and character shirts for logging in and participating.
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="955914" link="file"]

As for migration, there are different methods depending on your account type. Players who used a third-party account will need to download the new version of the game and log in with the same account method as they did before. They then need to choose Standard Migration after tapping Account Migration. If someone used a guest account, they will need to retrieve their Player Cloud ID in the old version of the game, then use a third-party account and the Account Migration function and use that code to do so.

Dead by Daylight Mobile is now available on Android and Apple iOS devices, with the Sadako Rising The Ring event celebrating the addition of the character going until March 28, 2023. Dead by Daylight is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post Dead by Daylight Mobile Kicks Off with The Ring's Sadako appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:00 PM
    

People Can Buy One Piece Film Red Digital Copies to Watch in March

It will soon be possible to buy and watch digital copies of One Piece Film Red Crunchyroll announced that the newest One Piece movie will show up on three outlets in United States, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America on March 28, 2023. However, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube won't be among the initial storefronts to get it. There's no news on the Blu-ray or DVD release yet.

The three storefronts that will offer One Piece Film Red digital copies to buy will be iTunes, Microsoft, and Vudu. Crunchyroll didn't note a launch price for it or mention if there will be any special features with this version. It also did confirm that the One Piece movie will eventually show up on Amazon, Google Play and YouTube.

As a reminder, One Piece Film Red ended up being quite well-received in Japan. As of January 2023, it earned over 19 billion yen. It wound up nominated for a Japan Film Prize alongside Suzume as well. One of its leads, Uta, ended up starring in a Christmas special. An Uta song also appeared during the 2022 Kohaku Uta Gassen.

People can buy and watch a digital copy of One Piece Film Red starting on March 28, 2023 in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.

The post People Can Buy One Piece Film Red Digital Copies to Watch in March appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Hololive's Axel Syrios Adds Regis and Nijisanji's Selen to Apex Legends Team

Axel Syrios revealed his full team for the upcoming Vtuber Apex Legends tournament. It will actually involve people from outside the company. In addition to his fellow Hololive Tempus genmate Regis Altare, Nijisanji English member Selen Tatsuki will round out the three person squad.

Here's the official announcement.

For those unaware, V-Saikyo refers to the Apex Legends Vtuber Most Cooperative Tournament. This is the fifth installment of the Japanese competition, which only involves Vtubers. It will be held on April 15, 2023. Axel Syrios is not only the sole team leader from outside Japan who is part of an English branch of a company. His team including Nijisanji's Selen and Hololive's Regis is the only one with any English branch members.

The captains for the 2023 V-Saikyo tournament are:

  • Astel Leda
  • Axel Syrios
  • Hanabusa Lisa
  • Honma Himawari
  • Ichinose Uruha
  • Kaga Sumire
  • Kurumi Noah
  • Natsuiro Matsuri
  • Nekota Tsuna
  • Pakael
  • Shinomiya Runa
  • Shirayuki Reid
  • Shishigami Leona
  • Tachibana Hinano
  • Virtual Gorilla

As a note, it isn't unusual for Vtubers from different companies to play together on the same team for the V-Saikyo Apex Legends tournament. For example, Hololive Vtuber Natsuiro Matsuri's team includes Hololive's Elu and Virtual eSports Project's Aizawa Ema.

The post Hololive's Axel Syrios Adds Regis and Nijisanji's Selen to Apex Legends Team appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Shuhei Yoshida Awarded BAFTA Fellowship

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment President and current PlayStation Independent Developer Initiative Shuhei Yoshida will be receiving the BAFTA Games Fellowship. The award, handed out by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, is a lifetime achievement honor for major figures within the industry.

Shuhei Yoshida is one of the more prominent faces of PlayStation and a beloved figure in the industry. He joined Sony's team at its inception and now serving as head of the Independent Developer Initiative that helps indie projects release on the system. He was also head of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios from 2008 to 2019, overseeing many of Sony's best-known titles.

As head of the Independent Developer Initiative, he acts as a champion for smaller titles. This also applies to social media. Jane Millichop, CEO of BAFTA, stated this was the primary reason for awarding Shuhei Yoshida the fellowship, along with his long career with the company.

https://twitter.com/BAFTAGames/status/1636310563016912900

The BAFTA Fellowship Award was originally introduced in the UK in 1971, honoring figures in film such as Alfred Hitchcock, its first winner. The BAFTA Games Awards were introduced in 2003, and the Fellowship award was carried over for influential figures in gaming in 2007. The first winner was Will Wright, creator of The Sims, while other winners include Shigeru Miyamoto and Hideo Kojima.

Shuhei Yoshida will receive his BAFTA Fellowship at the BAFTA Games Awards ceremony on March 30, 2023. The ceremony will be streamed live on Twitch.

The post Former Former Sony Interactive Entertainment President Shuhei Yoshida Gets BAFTA Award appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:30 PM
    

Splatoon 3 April Splatfest

Nintendo announced the April Splatfest for Splatoon 3. This one has a cryptid theme, asking players to indulge their inner conspiracy theorist to decide on which one is most likely to be real. It will begin on April 1, 2023.

The three cryptids the Splatfest is asking players to debate are the Loch Ness Monster ("Nessie"), aliens and Bigfoot. As always, each member of Deep Cut will be representing a team, with Shiver repping Nessie, Frye arguing for aliens, and Big Man appropriately standing for Bigfoot.

https://twitter.com/SplatoonNA/status/1636351618881822720

Splatoon 3's April Splatfest will run for 48 hours from midnight UTC on April 1, 2023 until midnight UTC on April 3, 2023. The sneak peek event begins on March 24, 2023 so players can prepare. Here, players can start earning conch shells from the Shell-Out Machine as a well as choose their teams in the plaza.

This marks the fifth Splatfest since the release of Splatoon 3 in September 2022. Previous themes included what players would bring to a desert island, Pokémon types, preferred flavors and types of chocolate. There was also a Splatfest prior to the release of the game, released as a time limited demo, the Splatoon 3 World Premiere. The theme of that Splatfest was rock-paper-scissors.

Splatoon 3 is out now for Nintendo Switch. The April Splatfest takes place April 1-2, 2023.

The post April 2023 Splatoon 3 Splatfest Involves Nessie, Aliens and Bigfoot appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:01 PM
    

New Persona Games Trailer Appears Along Sale on 3, 4, and 5 Royal

The most recent Persona game ports of 3 Portable, 4 Golden, and 5 Royal are going on sale on multiple platforms this week. As such, Atlus shared a trailer and details about each deal. Essentially, the Switch versions are the only ones that won't be reduced during March 2023. However, due to the PlayStation Essential Picks Sale, Steam Spring Sale, and Xbox Publisher Spotlight Series, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC versions are reduced where applicable.

The discounts are largely the same on every front. Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden are on sale for $15.99 each and Persona 5 Royal is $41.99 until March 29, 2023. On the Microsoft Store, the 3 and 4 bundle is $29.61, and 5 Royal is $41.99 until March 27, 2023. During the Steam sale, 3 and 4 will be $15.99 each and 5 Royal will be $38.99 until March 23, 2023.

Here's the new trailer to accompany the Persona games sale. As usual, it's one of the "accolades" trailers during which Atlus shares positive remarks about Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNTl9FhykBw

For reference, the Switch versions of the

Persona 3 Portable can be found on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and PlayStation Portable. Persona 4 Golden released on the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Vita. Persona 5 Royal is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post New Persona Games Trailer Appears Along Sale on 3, 4, and 5 Royal appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:30 AM
    

tales of asteria end

After around nine years, Tales of Asteria will end service on May 18, 2023. However, Bandai Namco will release items such as a memorial book for players to keep their memories of the game alive. In addition, Tales of Asteria players who also play Tales of the Rays, or those who will move onto that game, will also be able to transfer some data over. [Thanks, Inside!]

Bandai Namco has not stated the reason behind why Tales of Asteria will end. In the tweet announcing it, it thanked the fans for their long years of support and playing since 2014. Because the game went on for so long, the staff came up with several ways to immortalize it. It will release a memorial book, stream music from the game, and allow you to put illustrations from Astaria as your home window in The Rays. You will have until June 19, 2023 to transfer your data to The Rays.

As for the memorial book, it will cost 8,000 JPY ($60.20). The Asobi Store version will cost 9,800 ($73.80) JPY. It contains full illustrations of characters 4-star and above, with some exceptions. The Asobi Store version will come with a 160-page book of the costume designs. The memorial book, which is B5-size, will have 540 pages. Pre-orders are open until June 25, 2023 and the book will ship out after Summer 2023.

Tales of Asteria is a turn-based mobile game focusing on characters from the Tales series. Unlike ones such as Tales of the Rays, it mostly centers on established characters. Like the Radiant Mythology games, they have different backgrounds from their canon ones. This is so that them all sharing the same universe feels natural. Each chapter focuses on separate key characters, and you can choose whose POV you wish to experience the story from. The current story will conclude at the end of April 2023 and the Finale Scenario will start from May.

Tales of Asteria will end on May 18, 2023. Until then, it is available on mobile devices in Japan.

The post Tales of Asteria Will End Service After Around 9 Years appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Stranger of Paradise Steam Release and Price Drop Announced

A Square Enix game's Epic Games Store exclusivity is about to end. The company announced Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is coming PCs via Steam at the same time as a price drop across all platforms. The new price for the game, which was originally $59.99, hasn't been announced as of 10am ET on March 16, 2023. However, the Steam version will debut on April 6, 2023.

Here's the official announcement, which is accompanied by a new trailer. As a reminder, this is an alternate take on the original Final Fantasy story, with Jack and his allies setting off to defeat Chaos. Rather than a turn-based RPG, it is more like a Soulslike. Jack is able to take on different classes to augment his abilities.

Note that if you're unfamiliar with the game, there will be spoilers in the new video below. It doesn't mention the new Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin price either.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. Tetsuya Nomura previously discussed the possibility of a sequel.

The post Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Steam Release and Price Drop Announced appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, March 16, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Final Fantasy XIV: Eorzea Academy English Localization Announced

The Final Fantasy XIV: Eorzea Academy manga will get an English localization. Square Enix announced it will release the title outside Japan on September 19, 2023. There's no exact release date yet for the alternate reality tale. However, the company did share a teaser for the cover art, which shows the twins Alisaie and Alphinaud Leveilleur in their school uniforms. It isn't the final art, however, as it is essentially the Japanese one.

For those unfamiliar, the Final Fantasy XIV: Eorzea Academy manga is set in an alternate reality. In it, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and other major characters are all students and teachers at a high school. They go through more slice-of-life sorts of affairs, though their personalities tend to remain intact from the MMORPG. However, there's some conflict, as the new academy ended up merging the Academy of Light and the Academy of Darkness students together with the expectation everyone would get along.

The manga first started to appear in December 2021 in Japan. Back in December 2022, Square Enix announced the chapters would be collected in a physical volume. That launched in Japan in February 2023.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC. The Final Fantasy XIV: Eorzea Academy manga will appear in English in September 2023.

The post Final Fantasy XIV: Eorzea Academy Manga English Localization Coming appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:53 PM
     How to get the Tempus Torrent in MW2 and Warzone 2 featuredSeason 02 Reloaded for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 has just begun and has brought many changes, improvements, and additions to the standard multiplayer and battle royale. One of the most exciting additions this time around is a brand-new Marksman Rifle, the Tempus Torrent. Like most new weapons, you can't just dive in and play with the new toys. You need to earn them first; fortunately, it's not too difficult. Let me show you how to get the Tempus Torrent in MW2 and Warzone 2. How to unlock the Tempus Torrent Marksman Rifle in MW2 and Warzone 2 To get the Tempus Torrent in MW2 and Warzone 2, you must get 25 double kills with Marksman Rifles. You can complete this task in whatever mode you wish, and you'll have a much easier time if you own MW2. Shipment is the perfect map for the task as it's manic, chaotic, and crowded. If you play aggressively and rush the center of the map, you'll get the kills you need in no time. Screenshot by PC I...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:52 PM
     Quicksilver Storm CatalystThe loyal among us who preordered Destiny 2: Lightfall were rewarded with an exclusive Exotic weapon: the Quicksilver Storm. This beast of an Auto Rifle not only looks good but slaps to boot. With a 50-round magazine, homing rockets every few shots, and a chargeable alt-fire mode of grenades, it is a true crowd-clearing weapon. Obviously, it was a fan favorite from the get-go and can only be made better with a little work. Once you get the Catalyst for Quicksilver Storm in Destiny 2, it becomes a weapon of mass destruction. Destiny 2 – Steps to get the Catalyst for Quicksilver Storm If you're lucky enough to own the gun, on picking it up you will find a new mission available in the holoprojector by Nimbus. He can be found on Neomuna. Clear out enemies with Auto Rifles, grenades, and rockets This step is rather fitting, knowing what the Auto Rifle is capable of. Get out there and start mowing down foes with any of these three weapon types. In this case, you get extra progress fo...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:45 PM
     Farming Simulator 22 Platinum (5)Giants Software has rolled out patch 1.9 for Farming Simulator 22. Coming ahead of the release of the Göweil Pack, this patch includes a storage facility for all players to house their bales. This will not be locked behind a paywall. Of course, this patch has more to offer as well. Farming Simulator 22 patch 1.9 squashes bugs, adds content The developer added a new option to the graphics settings menu called "Screenspace Shading Rate." This should help to improve performance, particularly on low-end machines. Beyond this, the patch notes indicate a small number of changes and additions that have been made, including some bug fixes and minor tweaks. Modders might be particularly interested to find that there is now support for 64 fruit types in mod maps. The aforementioned Göweil Pack releases very soon on March 22. It's the first bit of major new content that's in the stack of the Year 2 roadmap for Farming Simulator 22. It's dedicated to bailing, provi...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:38 PM
     Cities Skylines Plazas Promenades Sc3Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive just sent shockwaves throughout the Cities: Skylines community when the next-gen sequel to the near-decade old city builder was recently revealed. Though a proper release date ahs yet to be announced, the two companies have now outlined the plans to sunset the original Cities: Skylines with the final rollout of new content coming in 2023. Sunset over the skyline In the eight years since Cities: Skylines originally hit the market, Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive have released a wide variety of additional content, coming to a total of 50 pieces in all. This ranges from small additions like new radio stations, to major expansions that added new gameplay elements. The latest, as of the time of publication, is the Financial Districts expansion. Cities: Skylines now formally enters its twilight phase. The plan from its creators is to give it a respectful send off with three more Content Creator Packs and Radio Stations that will be released in ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:30 PM
     Blizzard shares spawn times for the first Diablo IV beta World Boss featured imageAs the first Open Beta weekend approaches quickly for Diablo 4, you'll get a taste of what the game has to offer firsthand. Not only will you be able to experience the opening acts of Diablo 4, but you'll be participating in events available during the weekend. Perhaps the most interesting events are the World Bosses. These are massive monsters that need to be taken down by multiple groups of players. Ahead of the Early Access weekend, Blizzard Entertainment has revealed when these beasts will drop in the beta. So, what are the spawn times for the first Diablo 4 Open Beta World Boss? Diablo 4 – Open Beta World Boss spawn times If you and your friends want to go up against the nightmarish creature, Ashava, you'll need to play at specific times. In a tweet, Blizzard shared what times she will spawn during the beta weekend, so you should be able to plan ahead that way. Ashava will spawn four times throughout the weekend, with Saturday having the most slots. The Diablo I...

Gamer Empire Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:43 PM
     Survival games have started standardizing server wipes all across the board. Rust is no exception to this. Veteran players actually find the wipes one of the main enjoyments in Rust. However, some players might be confused as to what we refer to when we talk about these server wipes. You might think that it means to delete everything on the server and you would be very close to the truth. Recommended Read: How to Fish in Rust When a server gets a wipe in Rust it means that all the player buildings, loot, weapons, armor, and everything they obtained during […]

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:00 PM
     Roll for Combat has announced the return of the highly-anticipated Tabletop RPG design contest, RPG Superstar, for its 2023 edition. Head judge Mark Seifter revealed the theme for this year's competition, titled "Elemental Storm," and opened up submissions for aspiring designers to submit up to three monsters written for Pathfinder 2nd Edition. The contest will …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:00 PM
     Games Workshop has announced the release of a new miniature for the Blood Angels, featuring the legendary Commander Dante crossing the Rubicon Primaris. The new miniature is a stunning representation of one of the oldest living Space Marines, who has been a vengeful vision of gold on battlefields across the galaxy for over 1,500 years. …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, March 16, 2023 10:32 AM
     Battle Systems' latest offering, Maladum: Dungeons of Enveron, has already surpassed its Kickstarter funding goal by over 500% within hours of launching. With almost £300,000 in pledges, the long-awaited fantasy dungeon crawler has proven to be a hit with gamers. Maladum is a fully self-contained game that comes with a 2′ / 60cm neoprene mat …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, March 16, 2023 10:17 AM
     Role-playing games (RPGs) have been popular for decades. However, not everyone has the time or the inclination to devote themselves to an ongoing campaign with a dedicated group of players. Thankfully, there are now board games that offer the immersive experience of an RPG in a more condensed format. Here are some of the best …

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:52 PM
     Everyone is excited for Bethesda projects like Starfield and the next Elder Scrolls game, but the studio does have one other IP launching this may that puts together sci-fi and fantasy. Check out the story trailer for Redfall: Here's the official description for the game: Redfall is an open-world, single player and co-op FPS from […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:40 PM
     Almost every big IP seems to have its Mario Kart clone from Sonic the Hedgehog to Crash Bandicoot, and Disney has been teasing their own version called Disney Speedstorm which will have classic Disney characters racing for supremacy in Disney-themed tracks. What's great is, the game is launching on early access next month on April […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:26 PM
     The promotion tour has started for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and the stars have been making the talk show rounds here and there. Thanks to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, we have a fun number where the cast of the film including Chris Pratt, Jack Black, and Anya Taylor-Joy a cappella the iconic […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:00 PM
     One last Battle Pass track to bid Apex Legends Mobile farewell. Apex Legends Mobile enjoyed more than four seasons of success since its release last year, but despite the popular Battle Royale's success on the mobile platform, EA and Respawn Entertainment have decided to sunset their popular mobile game on May 1st this year. Season […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:17 PM
     Michael risks his life and crew to pay off Madrazo. Most heist missions in GTA 5's story mode offer one or more 'approaches' you can take to complete the mission. The Jewel Store Job is no different – you can enter the jewelry store by putting the staff to sleep (Smart Approach) or simply enter […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:00 PM
     Unveil the secrets of Sanctuary through the pages of the Horadric Bestiary. The Horadrim, mighty mages that fought quell Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal, left behind a book called the Horadric Bestiary which lists all the monsters travelers can expect to see within the Sanctuary. In Diablo Immortal, the Horadric Bestiary is a tome system that […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, March 16, 2023 11:00 AM
     Turn in those Aspire Points for some awesome rewards. Apex Legends Mobile Season 4 is every Apex Legends Mobile fan's last chance to enjoy their favorite Battle Royale game on mobile. The game will shut down on May 1st, meaning players only have a few months to complete events and collect rewards. The Season 4 […]

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:16 PM
    

Reveals more of the game's narrative details

The post Redfall Gets New Story Trailer Showcasing Higher Vampires appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, March 16, 2023 4:25 PM
    

A new "The Journey Ends" Trailer was also released. 

The post Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Comes to Steam on April 6 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:59 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, March 16, 2023 3:20 PM
    

Introducing the Handler Archetype which specializes in canine combat

The post Remnant 2 Gets New 'Best Friends' Trailer Highlighting Handler Archetype appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Level Up Thursday, March 16, 2023 1:36 PM
     Fireshine Games, the publisher behind titles like <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/lies-of-p" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lies of P</a> and <a…

Level Up Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:18 PM
     Publisher Bethesda Softworks and developer Arkane Studios have released a new story trailer for Redfall,…

Level Up Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:03 PM
     Developer Sumo Digital and publisher Gun Interactive announced its <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2021/2021/12/09/multiplayer-texas-chain-saw-massacre-game-announced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asymmetric multiplayer game,…