Mar 22, 16:00


Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 3:51 PM
    

Filing taxes suck. If it weren't for the sweet reward of a tax refund, many of us probably wouldn't be filing our taxes (which are due on April 18th) at all this year to avoid the headache of leafing through physical and electronic paperwork. Luckily, there's a new dating simulator that'll help folks figure out how to…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 3:40 PM
    

Starting back in 2004, Far Cry has become one of Ubisoft's biggest and most successful franchises of all time. Sure, the first game was technically developed by Crytek, the same folks who would later go on to make the Crysis series, but after that initial game, the rest have been handled by Ubisoft. These open-world…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 3:35 PM
    

I don't have time to travel extensively, and New York City (where I live) is made of pigeon feathers and concrete, so I need to rely on video games to transport me somewhere fantastic, like a castle.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 2:17 PM
    

Twitch is shedding employees and talent. Conversations about the platform are mired in scandals about deepfake porn and gambling. It's the perfect time, in other words, for the Amazon-owned streaming platform to go on the offensive and pretend things have never been better.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 2:00 PM
    

The spring anime season is jammed packed with 50 more shows for your to watch and backlog.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:50 PM
    

It recently became clear that Xbox and Arkane's upcoming shooter, Redfall, would require an always-online internet connection. This isn't great for a host of reasons and people, predictably and understandably, cried foul, launching a barrage of complaints. Now, it seems Arkane has heard the backlash and is planning to…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:45 PM
    

Perhaps one of the most faithful and successful video game adaptations of all time, HBO's TV treatment of The Last of Us has had a number of wonderful nods to the game, including various easter eggs, and cameos. One of the most profound, however, was a flashback scene in the final episode, showing Ellie's birth and

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:35 PM
    

Valve is notoriously stingy with sequels, but hit multiplayer shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is finally getting one. Counter-Strike 2 is set to come out sometime this summer as a free update to the existing game, with a limited player test that starts Wednesday. The Steam maker is calling it the "largest…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:20 PM
    

Roadhog's love for the Pachimari character is well-documented throughout Overwatch 2. It's a love that shines so bright that the Overwatch 2 team crafted an entire game mode and event surrounding it, allowing players to kill their enemies and plunder their Pachimari plush toys in a twisted "kill-confirmed" esque…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:15 PM
    

Final Fantasy XVI is coming out this summer, and Square Enix just dropped a new teaser for its gritty fantasy RPG. While showing us more previews of its real-time battle system, new wolf buddy and stills of its gorgeous landscapes, the publisher served fans a real gem: The walls that you'll be forced to squeeze…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:11 PM
    

Diablo IV, Blizzard's upcoming loot-grinding RPG, featured a plethora of difficult bosses and trash mobs to kill during its early access beta last weekend. While players were stoked to jump back into the depraved world of Sanctuary to quell some demons, myself included, one jerk that the community is shooketh to face…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 11:15 AM
    

Roadhog is one of Overwatch 2's quieter heroes. Where some characters like Tracer and Junkrat are real chatterboxes, the chain-slinging, shotgun-toting Tank is a man of few words. That changes with the game's latest limited-time mode, which makes him the announcer. Not only is he the one to declare your team the…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 10:50 AM
    

Gamers have finally had a chance to test drive the highly anticipated next entry in Blizzard's action RPG series, Diablo IV. While the game offers up some contentious changes and sees balance concerns that will be debated furiously in the days to come, first impressions reveal a game that's perfect to zone out to,…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 22, 2023 10:45 AM
    

GameStop shocked investors, and anyone else who's been paying attention to the meme stock video game retailer, when earlier this week it reported its first profitable quarter in over two years. It's all the more surprising considering that everything else about the business, from botched pre-orders to employees just

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PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 3:49 PM
     Diablo 4 beta – what to expect from Druid and Necromancer

As Lilith's minions crawl out of the shadows, Blizzard's Diablo 4 beta has proven that you'll need to muster all of your strength to send them back to the burning hells. Two new Diablo 4 classes will be added as part of the RPG game's next test phase: the Druid and Necromancer. Ahead of their release, PCGamesN spoke to Diablo 4 game director Joe Shely, and franchise VP Rod Fergusson about what to expect.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 3:00 PM
     Genshin Impact Dehya banner sales are as low as you'd expect

The Genshin Impact Dehya and Cyno banners have performed about as well as you'd expect. Looking at their low total sales estimates from the first half of the anime game's version 3.5 update, it seems neither has proven a favourite among fans. This is the expected outcome, given the fact that Dehya fans started a #FixDehya hashtag to bring awareness to how underwhelming she is for a five-star character.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 2:08 PM
     Forget ray tracing, Cyberpunk 2077 path tracing is coming to PC

Ray tracing is all the rage, but Cyberpunk 2077 could help make path tracing a viable gaming PC feature. While you'll need one of the best graphics card options around to take full advantage of the rendering technique, CD Projekt Red says it's working with Nvidia to make the method a mainstream setting.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cyberpunk 2077 review, Cyberpunk 2077 lore & universe, Buy Cyberpunk 2077

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:43 PM
     Counter-Strike 2 release date window, skins, trailers, and leaks

Want to know the Counter-Strike 2 release date? After weeks of countless rumours, Valve has finally confirmed Counter-Strike 2 is real and is coming a lot sooner than you might expect.

CSGO may be considered among the best PC games for some, but it is a decade old now, and there haven't been any significant updates for a while. Is this because they've been working on Counter-Strike 2 to try and take the crown of the best FPS games? Quite possibly. Here's everything we know about the Counter-Strike 2 release date, leaks, skins, news, and more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Counter-Strike 2 release date, Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:30 PM
     Diablo 4 release date, beta, trailers, gameplay, and features

Want to know the Diablo 4 release date and all the latest news? The upcoming entry in the demon-slaying action RPG series has many teasers and trailers. They showcase the various classes we can use to take on the hordes of monsters that block the way between the horned lord of the underworld and, well, us.

The roster of playable Diablo 4 classes includes transforming druids, spell-flinging wizards, and somersaulting rogues. Each class has unique combat skills to weave through every shambling zombie, skittering demon, and colossal terror that awaits you in these dank, hallowed halls. So far, so familiar, but that's hardly going to upset the series' devoted fans. One thing is for certain; when the RPG does release, it's bound to be making a push for our best PC games list.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:32 PM
     Diablo 4 beta release dates, how to preload, and end times

Looking for the Diablo 4 beta release date? Well, you're in luck, because the early access period for the Diablo 4 beta is live now. Don't worry if you haven't got a code to play just yet though, as next weekend, the beta will be live for everyone to download. These beta weekends will give players a chance to see both early, and end-game content of Diablo 4.

The full Diablo 4 release date has been confirmed for June 2023, but before it lands in our demon-slaying laps, Blizzard has announced the plans for the beta with players who pre-order the game to get early access to the beta. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Diablo 4 beta release date, how to sign up for the closed beta, what the beta will contain, and more.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:12 PM
     Halo Infinite now blocks graphics cards with under 4GB VRAM

Are you a Halo Infinite fan with an ageing graphics card? You might have to now upgrade your GPU to play, as the game seemingly won't run with less than 4GB VRAM. While Halo Infinite system requirements haven't necessarily changed, you'll now be blocked from launching the game without meeting minimum memory specs.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite Bosses, Halo Infinite ranks

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 12:53 PM
     Civ 6 DLC Rulers of England gets release date on Steam and Epic

Firaxis announces the Civ 6 DLC Rulers of England release date, as the final part of the Civilization 6 Leader Pass aims to round out the 4X strategy game in March. The upcoming expansion is the sixth and last of the Leader Pass mini-bundles, and introduces two new leaders for England along with another for Norway.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Civ 6 mods, The best Civ 6 civs, Play Civilization VI

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:23 PM
     Counter-Strike 2 announced by Valve with playable test, launch window

It's here. It's finally here. The Counter-Strike 2 release date is upon us. FPS game and Steam creator Valve has just released the first Counter-Strike 2 trailer, showcasing maps, features, and our initial glimpses of the rebranded CSGO Source 2. You can check it out below.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Counter-Strike 2 release date, Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 12:33 PM
     The best Genshin Impact Kaveh build

Looking for the best Genshin Impact Kaveh build? This Dendro claymore user is hopefully arriving in the next update, here's everything we know about how to get the most from his abilities.

Kaveh's banner may not be far off, we could see him as soon as the 3.6 update in April, though whether he'll appear on the next Genshin Impact banner remains to be seen. Kaveh is a four-star character and relies on his Elemental Burst as well as dealing Dendro damage. So far his leaked abilities via Honey Hunter, suggest he's a support character and works best as an on-field driver for Bloom teams, though this could change.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 11:07 AM
     Atomic Heart now has jiggle physics because of course it does

As in life, so in videogames - there are, like death and taxes, but two certainties: a new Call of Duty will be released every year, and if there's even a fraction of an opportunity for jiggle physics to be added to a game, then to that game, jiggle physics will be added. Atomic Heart, the Mundfish FPS game that recently topped Game Pass, becomes the latest in the long and implausibly wobbly history of videogames to receive jiggle technology - or 'jigtech' as we call it in the biz.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 10:00 AM
     Redfall gameplay preview – Far Cry 2, but with vampires

Bethesda was kind enough to invite PCGamesN down to its London studio to take Arkane's new FPS game, Redfall, for a spin. As the doors swing open I am greeted by pools of blood-red light - everything is bathed in crimson but for the recesses it fails to reach, where ominous shadows lurk. Some of the best gaming PCs in the business purr menacingly as huge virtual vampires examine me from the projector screen across the room. It sets quite the tone.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Redfall release date, Redfall gameplay preview, The best co-op games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 12:57 PM
     Is The Last of Us Steam Deck compatible?

Is The Last of Us Steam Deck compatible? If you've peeved that the PS Vita isn't a thing anymore, you're likely wondering whether Valve's handheld PC can run one of the best PlayStation games ever instead. Thankfully, while we're still waiting to find other whether The Last of Us will make the 'Great on Deck' list, it looks like you'll be able to take the Naughty Dog survival horror story out and about once it arrives.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:29 AM
     GTA 5 cheats and console commands

GTA 5 cheats can make your adventures in Los Santos a thrill ride in the fastest vehicles, or a chaotic and explosive time, quite literally so if you use the explosive ammo code. Entering these console commands can add some cool effects to the game, including invincibility and moon-style gravity.

So even if you're embarking on your 90th playthrough of one of the best PC games, some time-saving options like the Usain Bolt-style fast running are also pretty handy. And, crikey, if that wasn't enough, we've got codes below to help those who want to use the open-world game as a virtual photography project. All you need to do is whip out your in-game smartphone, and you can manipulate the time of day, weather settings, and more. So here is the definitive list of the best GTA 5 cheats.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best GTA 5 RP servers, GTA 6 release date speculation, GTA 5 system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:19 AM
     The best games like Stardew Valley 2023

Looking for PC games like Stardew Valley? There are few fantasies as enticing as the idea of simply leaving the world of work and offices behind and moving out to the country to do something simpler and more rewarding. It's one of the things that makes Stardew Valley such an extraordinarily enjoyable game - it's not just well made, it's the perfect escapism.

Possibly one of the best PC games of recent years for it's cute combination of romance, relaxation, and retail, you'd be forgiven for wanting more games like Stardew Valley. There are different aspects to the games below, so none are direct clones: some are among the best management games, while others might be more focused on farming. They all have something in common with Stardew Valley, though, so you'll enjoy at least one or two.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Stardew Valley multiplayer, Stardew Valley realism, The best Stardew Valley mods

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:08 AM
     Best multiplayer games on PC 2023

So you want to know about the best multiplayer games? Intricate gameplay and glistening visuals only go so far; humans often provide the biggest surprises with schemes that transform even the most average game into an unforgettable experience you'll be talking about until the end of time.

Fast and frantic or tense and calculated, the best multiplayer games come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it's vying for control of the payload in an FPS game or fighting for survival in a co-op game with your friends, these experiences wouldn't be the same without a bunch of real people running around killing, maiming or, occasionally, helping each other out in some of the best PC games.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:05 AM
     Best VR games on PC 2023

What are the best VR games? We have tested several of them across the major headsets, ranging from the good, the bad, and the downright nausea-inducing – and we will endeavour to seek out new, strange, and challenging content for this burgeoning platform in the name of science... or something.

While there are a lot of experiences out there, we're going to be more choosy, handpicking the top ones to play using the best VR headset options. After all, we only have room for the best VR games, and there've been some fantastic ones in the past year alone. If you'd rather keep your face in front of a traditional monitor, we'd point you towards the best PC games, which need just a simple old PC and none of this fancy goggles business.

Continue reading Best VR games on PC 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best VR headsets, Best VR games, Half-Life 3 news

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:03 AM
     Dead by Daylight's new terror radius is a big boost for accessibility

In a victory for accessibility, the terror radius in Dead by Daylight will soon become visible as well as audible, with a fresh DBD update aiming to improve the horror game experience for people who may be hard of hearing. Until now, if you wanted to know when Dead by Daylight killers were closing in, you mostly had to rely on sound, but BHVR is changing that entirely with a whole-new visual option.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:20 PM
    

Ubisoft revealed Ghostwriter yesterday, marketed as an AI development tool (really just machine learning) that generates first drafts of NPC barks, which are the offhand remarks you might hear when running past NPCs. Skyrim's "I used to be an adventurer like you" is probably the most famous example of a bark. Ubisoft Ghostwriter has been met with passionately negative responses from some narrative designers, while others have been arguing for its use cases.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 22, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Storyteller is a make-your-own drama puzzle game, taking place on the pages of a book and within empty comic-ish panels on those pages. For each puzzle you're given a set of characters and scenarios (the Baron, the Knight, the Queen; a wedding, a kidnap, an execution) and are tasked with arranging them in a combination that fits the story title you're given (The Queen Marries). It's playful and cute, with surprising depth that draws inspiration from classic stories. It's also very short. I'd wager you'll have hunnerpercented Storyteller in two hours max, which will sound like mana from heaven to some, but may disappoint you if you've been waiting for Storyteller for over a decade.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 22, 2023 11:53 AM
    

Arkane's upcoming co-op shooter found itself in hot water when fans heard of Redfall's always-online requirement, even when playing alone. This deflated some longtime Arkane fans since their other immersive sims - between Dishonoured, Prey, and Deathloop - had either no online functionality or were still playable offline. Thankfully, in an interview with Eurogamer, game director Harvey Smith said the team are now working to U-turn the decision.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 22, 2023 10:40 AM
    

Netflix's take on chonky soldiers vs. equally chonky underground aliens is, excuse me, gearing up. Last November, the streaming service announced plans to adapt Gears Of War's chainsaw-swinging into an animated series and a live-action film. The latter has now tapped a writer. Jon Spaihts is the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind Dune, Prometheus, and Doctor Strange, and he's now writing the Gears Of War film, Netflix announced today.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 22, 2023 10:39 AM
    

Hi-Fi Rush, our inaugural RPS Game Club game, sets its on-the-beat beatdowns in some pretty interesting places. Glistening sci-fi skyscrapers. An underground volcano lair. A Smaug-pleasing gold hoard, conveniently adjacent to a finance executive's office. Who'd have guessed, then, that its absolute best fight – not just a thrilling brawl in itself, but the point at which a stumbling adventure plants its feet back in greatness – would take place in a canteen?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 22, 2023 10:00 AM
    

Remember when Arkane said their co-op vampire 'em up Redfall is more akin to Far Cry than Left 4 Dead? I do! I remember a chill ran down my spine as I cast my mind back to Far Cry 6, where the tutorial island itself was longer than anything else I'd played that year. I was scared Redfall might succumb to a similar fate. I imagined it filling my head with map markers until my head swelled, popped like a balloon, and dropped grey rarity brain matter.

Well, having given Redfall a go for 90 minutes I was, perhaps, being a bit dramatic. The game may be open world, and may have some slightly jarring open world-isms, but I felt like Arkane's magic wasn't diluted by it all. Their talent for storytelling and level design bubbled to the surface constantly, making exploration a genuine joy. Sure, I have some reservations, but I can't deny that I'm itching to play it again.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:24 AM
    

Resident Evil 4 Remake is just over the horizon - coming March 24th - but Capcom are remaking the action-horror classic in a cheerier form, too. Over the past few days, Capcom have released two 1-minute episodes of the Resident Evil 4 anime Masterpiece Theatre called Leon And The Mysterious Village, a childlike take on the classic gothic journey. It's beautifully animated and hilarious, even without context for Resi4. The only problem? These shorts are too damn short!

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Siliconera Wednesday, March 22, 2023 3:30 PM
    

Hololive Art Book

Vtuber agency Hololive Production is teasing a new art book with art from Yom (Ganbare Douki-chan) and Katsu Somehira. Titled hololive production Art Collection, the book features 196 pages of A4 sized, full-color art work, plus four cover pages. Pre-orders opened on March 18, 2023 and will run while stock lasts. The book will cost ¥4,500 or $32 (plus fees) and is expected to ship in June 2023.

Yom's piece features Hololive members Sakura Miko and Hoshimachi Suisei against a blue sky with cherry blossoms. The piece by Katsu Somehira features Sakamata Chloe and Laplus Darkness from HoloX, as well as Shishiro Botan and Yukihana Lamy from Hololive's 5th generation. You can see both samples in the tweet below:

[embed]https://twitter.com/hololive_En/status/1638359842724417536?s=20[/embed]

Also available are made-to-order print replicas of the 4 cover pages, including the art featured in the samples. They will cost ¥15,400 or $108 each and come with a wood frame and an aluminum plate. Orders including made-to-order items are expected to ship between August and September 2023.

You can get a look at the pieces available below:
[gallery link="file" columns="2" ids="956717,956718,956719,956720"]

Hololive recently held its fourth annual HoloFes, featuring live performances by many of the agency's talents. Following the Fes, Nanashi Mumei from Hololive EN and Akai 'Haachama' Haato from Hololive JP both announced that they would be taking breaks for health reasons.

The hololive production Art Collection and the made-to-order prints are both available from the Hololive store.

The post New Hololive Art Book Teased with Sample Pieces appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 22, 2023 3:00 PM
    

Witch From Mercury Season 2

Gundam is one of Anime's most enduring and influential franchises, but that length also makes it intimidating for newcomers. A given entry could require context from anywhere in the 40 year history of the franchise, making getting into the series a lot harder than simply watching the latest big release. Luckily, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury is one of the most accessible entries yet.

Taking place in the "Ad Stella" timeline, The Witch from Mercury (or G-Witch) requires no context from previous entries and, at a very digestible size of 12 episodes and a prologue, it can make for a great introduction to the kinds of themes and motifs of the Gundam franchise. So whether you've been intrigued by some of the Gunpla kits, been charmed by some of the voiced date scenes, or have been wanting to get into the series for a while, here's how to catch up on Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury ahead of its second season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGW2JRxWUU&ab_channel=GundamInfo

How to watch the Gundam: The Witch from Mercury prologue

Easily available on the official Gundam Youtube channel, the prologue episode not only lays out all the context you'll need going in to G-Witch, but also serves as a great taster for the rest of the series. If you enjoy the mix of action, intrigue and tragedy on display here, you should be in for a good time with season 1. You can watch the prologue for free on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IehG5wd8YfY&ab_channel=GundamInfo

How to watch Gundam: The Witch from Mercury season 1

The international distribution of G-Witch is being handled by Crunchyroll, but you will need to subscribe to the premium service to have access. It is available in both sub and dub formats, and episodes from season 2 will appear on there as well.

Those wanting just a little more before they decide to commit can watch up to episode 10 on the Gundam YouTube channel. These appear to be subtitle-only, but they do have a wide range of languages available.

Distribution in Asia is handled by a variety of different providers, including Bilibili, Netflix and LINE TV. You can find a full list of providers on the official G-Witch website.

gundam witch from mercury side story characters

How to read the Gundam: The Witch from Mercury side stories

There are 2 light novels for G-Witch. The first is titled Cradle Planet by Ichiro Ohkouchi, and that is told from the perspective of the Gundam Aeriel itself. You can read it for free on the official site.

The second is a novelization written by Yuuya Takashima for Gundam Ace magazine. Unfortunately, it is not available in English as of yet.

The third is a spin-off manga, also for Gundam Ace magazine. It is set several years after the event of the prologue and is mostly unrelated to Suletta's story. It is slated for a late March 2023 release, with no word on an English translation yet.

The second season of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury is set to air on April 2, 2023 and will be available on Crunchyroll.

The post How to Catch Up on Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Before Season 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 22, 2023 2:30 PM
    

ubisoft ghostwriter

Ubisoft developed Ghostwriter, which is an AI writer tool that will specialize in writing dialogue for NPCs. The reason the developer provided for the development is a goal to lessen work for the writing staff, as they will no longer have to manually come up with lines for NPCs in a video game. There is also a video introducing how Ghostwriter will work. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

Similar to the MTPE (machine translation post-editing) process, there will still be a human behind the scenes. At this point in time, Ubisoft does not seem to plan on completely replacing scriptwriters with Ghostwriter when it comes to NPC dialogue in games. You can input information such as the NPC's situation and background, and then Ghostwriter will create several lines. The scriptwriter team will then use the lines as drafts and then edit them to create the NPC's dialog.

You can check out the Ghostwriter introduction video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OeSOXHBvCI&t=1s

As you can see from the above video, the scriptwriter will input a situation and then decide how the character will say the line. The situation in the example is the famous "arrow in the knee" line from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

AI is a controversial technology, as in copyright and creativity issues regarding AI art. However, Ubisoft repeatedly mentioned that it will only use Ghostwriter for NPC "barks" and as a way to alleviate the workload of its scriptwriters. NPC barks are the random lines you get when you walk past NPCs in the field. Writers might also use it for shorter lines that non-essential NPCs say when you talk to them. So far, it seems there are no plans to fully replace video game writers with this program.

Ghostwriter is an AI tool for scriptwriters that Ubisoft will use in-house for its games.

The post Ubisoft Creates Ghostwriter AI Writer Tool for NPC Dialogue appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 22, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Nier Automata Octopath Traveler crossover

Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent is hosting a Nier: Automata crossover event. From March 22, 2023 to April 5, 2023, the characters 2B, 9S and A2 are available to summon. In addition, a guaranteed 5-star 9S will be available in the Guide 10 for free.

The crossover event features new playable content. This includes limited time Otherworld Hunts and Special Tasks that will reward the player with 9S's Guidestones, Traveler's Sacred Seals and Rubies.

The Nier: Automata characters will also get their own Octopath Traveler Memoir events. Individual Memoirs will be permanently available as soon as players unlock the characters. However, crossover Memoirs are limited to the end of the event.

The crossover event also features extra daily gifts and login bonuses. Guidestones for 2B, 9S and A2 will be daily login bonuses, along with Tasty Experience Nuts (L) and Silver and Gold Guidestones. Players can also gain up to 30 Rubies a day, with the number increasing on March 22 and April 4, 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkVo9ZQK86o

The Nier: Automata event is the third crossover event for Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Contient. Previous events saw crossovers with Bravely Default and Triangle Strategy.

Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent is available now for iOS and Android. Nier: Automata is available on PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

The post Nier: Automata Crossover Event Starts in Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:30 PM
    

The Sand Land movie will air in Japan on August 18, 2023. Sunrise, Kamikaze Douga, and Anima are collaborating to bring Akira Toriyama's manga to life. To coincide with World Water Day (considering water's importance in the work), the Sand Land Twitter account also revealed the first character visuals for the movie.

When Bandai Namco Entertainment first released a trailer for Sand Land, it was unclear what it was going to be. The trailer had referred to it as a "visual adaptation." However, Bandai Namco had also expressed interest in developing it into a "full IP," so the movie might not be the only new Sand Land content.

You can check out the new character visuals via the official Sand Land website. So far, they've released ones for Beelzebub, Thief, and Rao:

[gallery ids="956618,956617,956616" link="file"]

Sand Land focuses on the story of young demon Beelzebub in a desert world. Considering the climate and the drought affecting the planet, water is the most precious resource. However, a king has monopolized that supply. In order to get water, Sheriff Rao asked for help from the king of demons but the "help" came in the form of the king's son Beelzebub, along with his assistant Thief. The manga was a short series that ran from May to August 2000 and there is a single book volume. Viz is the English distributor.

Sand Land will air in theaters on August 18, 2023. More information in regards to an international release will come out later.

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