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Apr 03, 14:00


Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 1:50 PM
    

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Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 1:45 PM
    

There's no shortage of ways to beat FromSoftware's Elden Ring. You could play it straight and face all the mandatory bosses waiting to kick your teeth in. Maybe you're keen on playing with a banana controller or running two separate instances simultaneously. Or, as in the case of Souls YouTuber ymfah, you could skip…

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Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 12:45 PM
    

The stars of The Super Mario Bros. Movie were out Saturday night for the film's premiere in Los Angeles, with some of them sporting outfits inspired by their video game characters. Sadly, not all of the A-list celebrities' fits were created equal, so we'll be ranking each actor by how well their clothes personified…

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Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 12:41 PM
    

YouTuber Olajide "KSI" Olatunji and the Sidemen group have apologized after mining a racial slur for comedy during their parody of the Countdown game show. "There's no excuse, no matter the circumstances, I shouldn't have said it and I'm sorry," the rapper and amateur boxer tweeted after the group published the…

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Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 11:20 AM
    

Seth Rogen joined Chris Pratt in the Super Mario Bros. shame corner last week during an interview. He revealed that he wouldn't be "doing any voices" for his upcoming role as Donkey Kong, the gorilla antagonist who has been throwing barrels at Mario and kidnapping his girlfriend since 1981.

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Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 11:05 AM
    

Ark: Survival Evolved was humming along mostly fine until, just like that, the open-world survival crafting game was thrown into chaos with delays, server shutdowns, and an incredibly confusing "next-gen" upgrade bundle. Now fans will basically have to purchase the game all over again if they want to stay current with…

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Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 11:00 AM
    

At first, things weren't going so well with EA and Star Wars: A decade of exclusivity seemed destined to be known as the Horsemen of the Loot Boxalypse. But in 2019, Respawn's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order saved the day just before the fade to credits. The deal between the two is pretty much over, but Respawn's moment…

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Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 9:30 AM
    

Welcome to Exp. Share, Kotaku's weekly Pokémon column in which we dive deep to explore notable characters, urban legends, communities, and just plain weird quirks from throughout the Pokémon franchise. This week, we're going to attempt to rank all the starters from Red and Blue to Scarlet and Violet.

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Kotaku Monday, April 3, 2023 9:30 AM
    

We've known since January 2023 that Crystal Dynamics' failed live-service superhero RPG Marvel's Avengers would have its life support plug pulled on September 30. At that time, developer Crystal Dynamics announced that all cosmetics "will be made available to all players for free" once the game's final update rolls…

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PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 1:44 PM
     Genshin Impact Ayaka and Shenhe sales defy expectations after week two

The Genshin Impact Ayaka and Shenhe banner sales are hitting unexpected highs in the second half of version 3.5, looking at recent sales estimates. Both Cryo users are popular, but Ayaka once took full control of the anime game's character banners and was available for well over a month when COVID-19 affected development. As a result, players had many opportunities to get her. And Shenhe, on the other hand, is very niche in her role as a Cryo support.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 12:26 PM
     Is The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog Steam Deck compatible?

Is The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog Steam Deck compatible? Sega just killed off everyone's favourite blue mascot using a visual novel, and you can download it for free on Steam. However, just like an Agatha Christie book, you're probably wondering whether you can enjoy The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog while on a train, and we've got great news for handheld PC players.


PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 12:11 PM
     Destiny 2 PC player count nears records despite Lightfall criticism

The Destiny 2 monthly PC player count is at its highest since the game's Shadowkeep content launch that included a swath of new content for free-to-play players, according to data from Steam Charts. This high count may be surprising given the mixed reception to the FPS game's recent Lightfall expansion, which debuted just over a month ago.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 Lightfall review, Destiny 2 builds

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 12:17 PM
     LoL tier list 13.6 – the best League of Legends champions 2023

Metas change, the LoL tier list will fluctuate, and your favourite champion might not be in a great place right now. While you can absolutely win games and climb the ranked ladder with nearly anyone in the lower ranks, the changes that come via champion and item balancing can tip the scales enough that some picks are almost mandatory, regardless of which ELO you play in.

We've put together a few picks for each lane that have become especially overpowered recently in League of Legends. Whether it's due to a buff, kit change, or item change, these are safe picks if you're looking to climb the solo queue ranks in the free PC game. If you do want to play something other than what's on this list, keep these champions in mind for your ban, as they all have the potential to go on and dominate Summoner's Rift in one of the best MOBAs you can play right now.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: How much have I spent on League of Legends?, League of Legends patch 13.6, League of Legends tier list

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 11:40 AM
     Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom release date, new class, trial, and more

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom release date was announced on as part of the Xbox Bethesda showcase, when the new expansion, and its class, were revealed in full.

The Elder Scrolls Online has been going for years now, with its regular content updates keeping it fresh for old and new players alike, and cementing it as one of the best PC games in recent years. One thing that ESO players have been desperate for, though, is a new playable class, with just two having been added since the game's initial release. Those prayers have been answered, with a third new playable class coming with the Necrom release date: The Arcanist. We've got all the details on that, and everything else Necrom, down below.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: ESO Elsweyr release date, ESO Necromancer skills, ESO Elsweyr Skyshard locations

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 11:15 AM
     FFXIV patch notes – 6.38 update removes weekly Abyssos restrictions

With all eyes on FFXIV 6.4, Square Enix's preceding patch is, as you'd imagine, a lot slimmer than the ones we can expect to see accompanying Final Fantasy XIV The Dark Throne. There's still a slew of PvP job updates, though, as well as changes to the MMORPG's Abyssos dungeon, so here's everything you need to know.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 11:17 AM
     Final Fantasy 16 release date, trailers, story, and gameplay

Want to know the Final Fantasy 16 release date? We're fast approaching seven years since we last had a new mainline Final Fantasy title, but fans won't have to wait much longer for the next one.

Following its main character, Clive Rosfield, the JRPG game takes place in Valisthea, a land divided between six powerful nations. Peace is threatened between the nations as Valisthea learns to deal with the mysterious threat known only as the Blight. So with all that out of the way, it's time to look at everything we know about Final Fantasy 16, including trailers, news, story, and gameplay.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best action-adventure games on PC 2022, Final Fantasy 16 release date, Best Final Fantasy games on PC

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 11:49 AM
     Elden Ring becomes an amazing FPS game with new mod available now

Despite only being out for a year, there are already some great Elden Ring mods out there. Talented modders are making FromSoftware's biggest game even bigger, and now you can even take a trip back in time to one of the developer's proto-Souls games, King's Field, by turning Elden Ring into an FPS game - no, I'm not joking.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Elden Ring builds, Elden Ring bosses, The best Elden Ring classes

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 11:04 AM
     Steam Deck alternative by Asus isn't actually an April Fools gag

Turns out the Asus Rog Ally is a real Steam Deck alternative, as the component giant just confirmed it's not an April Fools' gag. Not only will the handheld gaming PC boast Windows 11 support, but you'll be able to hook it up to one of the best graphics card options to give it a true desktop boost.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review, Asus ROG Strix X470-I Gaming review, Best gaming motherboard

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 11:01 AM
     Upcoming DnD-style RPG Dragonheir gets even more Dungeons and Dragons

Marvel Snap publisher Nuverse is fully embracing Dungeons and Dragons with its next big game, as Dragonheir: Silent Gods is putting the role-playing in RPG game by crossing over with DnD when it releases later this year.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best fantasy games, Best dragon games

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 11:18 AM
     Star Wars Jedi: Survivor gameplay preview – a comfortable ride

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of a scruffy ginger fellow and his little mechanical mate. PCGamesN recently got the opportunity to travel to LA to play a chunk of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - the sequel to the cinematic, if in places underwhelming, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Our hands-on session took place around an hour into the main story, and began, as many things do, with Cal Kestis in a spot of bother.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Star Wars games, Star Wars Jedi Survivor release date, Star Wars Jedi Survivor system requirements

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:56 AM
     Minecraft Warden – drops, biome, and how to spawn

Want to know how to get the Minecraft Warden to spawn? Or even where? What it drops, and how to avoid or fight it? Lucky for you, we've got the answers to those questions and more in our guide to one of the most terrifying-but-cute mobs in the sandbox game.

Most Minecraft mobs are pretty cute, let's be honest - even if they are trying to kill you. With that in mind, it might be difficult to keep your distance from the glowing Warden if you see one in it's Ancient City home, but get too close and it could well be the last thing you see. It won't see you, however, as the poor thing has no sight and instead sniffs and sounds you out, so you might be able to get up close and personal if you stay quiet enough. Knowing how to do that is key to your survival, so here's everything you need to know about surviving the Minecraft Warden.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:56 AM
     All Counter-Strike 2 maps confirmed so far

The Counter-Strike 2 maps have been truly transformed with the implementation of the Source 2 engine, resulting in a variety of visually stunning environments. After weeks of speculation, Valve has peeled back the curtain on its hotly anticipated FPS that has been under development for three years.

Counter-Strike 2 is a free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, reusing a number of important elements that fans know and love such as CSGO console commands and the CSGO ranks system. While the free PC game retains the same competitive energy, Valve has put a fresh coat of paint on maps and visuals. Here are the confirmed Counter-Strike 2 maps we know about so far.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:38 AM
     Disney Dreamlight Valley codes April 2023

If you're looking for Disney Dreamlight Valley codes to redeem in game, then you've come to the right place. Codes weren't available in the Dreamlight Valley during its first few months, but we've now had a couple, with one quest item and one avatar item presumably confirming there's lots more to come from Dreamlight Valley codes.

The Dreamlight Valley golden potato code was the first to come to the Disney game, and gives you just that, a golden potato. It doesn't even do anything yet, but the exciting news is that it appears to be part of a future quest, so you'd better redeem this code while you can. The 16-letter code was discovered by eagle-eyed fans of the game hidden in a Halloween marketing image, so we'll keep an eye on other marketing images going forward in the hopes that similar puzzles might give us more Dreamlight Valley codes.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:35 AM
     Current Multiversus free characters April 2023

Want to know which Multiversus free characters are on rotation? If you're starting for the first time, you don't have access to the entire roster immediately unless you cough up the cash for a Founder's Pack. Fortunately, Multiversus gives players access to some free characters which appear every two weeks.

The current batch of free characters in Multiversus includes Shaggy, Taz, Jake, and Harley Quinn. It's important to note that any progress made using these characters carries over once you unlock them in the fighting game, allowing you to carry on where you left off. Your progress always carries over regardless of how you end up unlocking the characters, whether with in-game gold, by spending Gleamium, or using character tokens from the Founder's Pack.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Multiversus impressions, Multiversus tier list, The best Multiversus mods

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:34 AM
     Destiny 2 emblem codes April 2023

Who doesn't love Destiny 2 emblem codes? Emblems are essential to authentic Guardian flair. They offer an opportunity for expression among your fireteam, the random Guardians you encounter in the tower, and your opponents in activities such as Crucible. Each emblem has a specific meaning, some being ubiquitous seasonal emblems and others so rare that only a fraction of a percent of players own them.

Whether you're a hardcore collector or someone who appreciates the opportunity to express yourself through your Guardian, there's never a good reason to say no to a free Destiny 2 emblem. Here, we have several emblem codes, including some Bungie is offering simply as rewards for players looking forward to Destiny 2 season 20 and the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date. We've compiled them all in a list that we'll update periodically as Bungie makes more emblems available in the FPS game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 Lightfall review, Destiny 2 builds

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:33 AM
     All upcoming Tower of Fantasy banners April 2023

The upcoming Tower of Fantasy banners shed some light on which characters are set to make their debut, and which fan favourites are making a welcome return to the gacha system. Tower of Fantasy has been out for quite some time in China already, so we have some idea of who we can expect to join the roster of playable simulacra, and how often they rotate.

The best upcoming Tower of Fantasy banners require red nuclei, which are extremely rare in comparison to the other nucleus currencies available. The most reliable way to acquire red nuclei is via the 'HOT' shop. A single Red Nucleus costs 150 Dark Crystals, so be prepared to save up 1,500 Dark Crystals for a ten-stack of Special Orders. Here are all the Tower of Fantasy banners you can spend that hard-earned currency on in one of the best free PC games currently available.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Tower of Fantasy codes, Tower of Fantasy characters, How to level up in Tower of Fantasy

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:30 AM
     Genshin Impact tier list April 2023: the best characters in 3.5

Looking for a Genshin Impact tier list? There are currently 66 Genshin Impact characters available, so there's no shortage of candidates for your dream team. But with so many different weapons, elementals, talents, ascension bonuses, and constellation upgrades, finding your favourites can be challenging.

Don't let the placement of the characters on our Genshin Impact tier list deter you from pulling on the next character banner. While base stats and elemental abilities are important, the value of a character also depends on personal playstyle, available weapons and artifacts, and team composition. That being said, if your favourite Genshin Impact character is in C tier or below, you may struggle to get past some of the more challenging Spiral Abyss floors. Don't worry too much if your favourite Genshin Impact character is on one of the lower tiers; you can still make it work with our recommended Genshin Impact builds. Being on a lower tier in the free PC game means that there are better alternatives, or the character needs a very specific build or team to shine.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:37 AM
     Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Shift codes – April 2023

Looking for Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Shift codes? Redeeming one of these Shift codes rewards you with a Skeleton Key, which you can use to unlock the Skeleton Chest for rewards. This chest can be found at the foot of the castle underneath the statue in Brighthoof.

The Skeleton Keys you get for entering the code unlock premium in-game loot for the FPS game, such as Tiny Tina's Wonderlands legendary weapons to suit your chosen Tiny Tina's Wonderlands class and playstyle. You can redeem Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Shift codes either through the Shift tab in the in-game social menu or at the Shift Gearbox Software website - you need to navigate to the mail section to redeem the code.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Tiny Tina's Wonderlands review, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands legendary weapons, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands best builds

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:18 AM
     Counter-Strike 2 release date window, skins, trailers, 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.

We've gathered up every scrap of information about Counter-Strike 2 on the internet, from Valve's official trailers and announcements to patent filings and even datamines of the limited test build itself. In this guide we'll lay it all out for you in a clearly categorised way so you too will know everything there is to know right now about the sequel to one of the best PC games of all time. 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 Monday, April 3, 2023 10:29 AM
     Overwatch 2 tier list and best characters April 2023

If you're looking for an Overwatch 2 tier list to help you gain a competitive edge in the meta, then we've got you covered. With 36 heroes to pick from, starting out in Blizzard's hero shooter can be pretty daunting, and it's not always easy to tell how strong your chosen character is when you're constantly coming up against different counters and team comps.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 9:58 AM
     Cyberpunk meets Max Payne in new multiplayer FPS blowing up on Steam

After a certain number of years in gaming criticism, you develop a kind of pseudo-scientific method for determining if a new game will be a hit. You check out the developer. You compare it mentally to other, similar games that have come and gone in the past. There's a process. But then other times, you don't even need to think - you just know. Between Twitter, YouTube, and now Steam, every time I look at Out of Action, a new multiplayer FPS game with hints of Cyberpunk 2077, Max Payne, CSGO, Call of Duty, and even old favourites like XIII and FEAR, it's obvious:  this one's gonna be big.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 10:36 AM
     Multiversus tier list April 2023: best characters ranked

Are you looking for a Multiversus tier list? The Warner Bros fighting game is now in its second season, with players gaining access to some brand new characters. Soon, we'll know how the likes of Black Adam will compare to the most powerful characters on the roster, from DC Superheroes such as Batman and Wonder Woman to Cartoon Network favourites like Finn the Human and Steven Universe. Of course, we can't discount those throwback characters from Warner Bros' back catalogue of shows acquired over the years, including Shaggy and Velma from Scooby Doo.

With such an illustrious gathering of fighters, a Multiversus tier list was inevitable. Judging by other competitive fighting games, ranking which of these fighters are the best characters goes beyond looking at their individual abilities. Multiversus focuses on team-based combat, with each fighter broken down into roles such as Bruiser and Tank.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Multiversus impressions, Multiversus tier list, The best Multiversus mods

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 9:42 AM
     One of WoW Dragonflight patch 10.0.7's smallest changes is its best

As World of Warcraft Dragonflight continues to evolve, one of the changes that accompanied MMORPG's latest update - WoW Dragonflight patch 10.0.7 - may seem incredibly small, but has been a hit with fans across Azeroth.

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

PCGamesN Monday, April 3, 2023 9:17 AM
     All Overwatch 2 maps and game modes

If you're looking for a list of all Overwatch 2 maps, then we've got you covered. Overwatch 2 brings back many of the maps from the previous game, several of which have been adjusted to give them a different feel.

Alongside all the new Overwatch 2 characters and its fresh-look 5v5 gameplay, we've got details on the Overwatch 2 battle pass rewards that can ensure you're navigating the Overwatch 2 maps in style. If you're just jumping in and getting your bearings in the free PC game, we've collected every new and returning map, plus what game modes can be played on each of them.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 12:34 PM
    

There's a kind of game that we all have a fondness for. It transcends genre, even if it doesn't particularly push the boat out. It's not the first game that comes to mind as a favourite or recommendation, but it's a plain good time. Raidborn is one of those.

It doesn't try to take over your life, or be the Everything Game that invariably becomes the Nothing Game. It's just a neat little thing to have some harmless fun with. Sometimes that's what you want.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Storybook strategy sim Six Ages: Ride Like The Wind was a spiritual successor to 1999's cult classic King Of Dragon Pass, created by some of that game's former developers. Six Ages is now receiving its own proper successor later this summer, developer A Sharp and publisher Kitfox have announced. Just like its predecessor, Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out is a blend of tribal management and choose your own adventure drills, all wrapped up in some gorgeous fantasy illustrations.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 11:54 AM
    

Liam and I played a lot of games at PAX East, like a lot. Most of them we managed to make videos for, but there were many more that we just didn't have the time to cover, and that were also very good! So here's a quick list of five more games I wanted to spotlight in written form while Liam's busy in the editing mines working on all the community videos we filmed (the first of which is out right now, chronicling the PAX Facebook group that takes a community photo every single year). It's very wholesome. We've got more community videos coming out this week, plus an article listing our absolute favourite games we played throughout the entire event, so keep your eyes peeled for those, too. For now, though, let's dive into some more indie highlights.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 11:25 AM
    

Solitaire has been a constant fixture for professional procrastinators since time immemorial. Many households, including mine, used the casual card game to kill time - dragging cards, dropping them, and planning sets ahead of time, all in an effort to catch the final fireworks. I was never much good at Solitaire, but as an adult I do understand Word Solitaire, a remixed version of the classic from indie dev Petri Purho.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 11:00 AM
    

There's a lot to be said for being consistent these days. After playing four hours of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor last week, I can tell you it is exactly what you probably already thought it would be: a competent, big-budget action-adventure sequel, well made by talented people, that isn't breaking the mould but expands upon the first game in the areas you liked best. If, like myself, you enjoyed Jedi: Fallen Order, this will probably be a solid follow-up for you. But if you were less well disposed towards that first game, you'd probably want to swap "consistent" for the word "predictable".

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Graham (RPS in peace) text me yesterday and, with little warning, launched into what were clearly pre-prepared paragraphs of complaints about games he'd tried playing in his free time at the weekend and not enjoyed. I shall draw a veil of discretion over the names of the actual games, but his chief complaint was that none of them had, actually, very robust design or tutorialising fit for purpose (i.e. teaching you how to play the game), especially for people who aren't able to give games their singular attention for hours at at time. I agree with him, although his attention is divided by, e.g., having a child in need of stimulation, and mine is divided by, e.g., being a child in need of stimulation.

It's probably turning my brain into cottage cheese, but I often do things at the same time as playing a game, like listening to music or a podcast. I understand that podcast games are sort of a genre now, but I've started doing it with regular games. Is this a me problem? Sure. Does it mean I want games to bring back that thing where NPC quest givers will just explain the quest again to you if you ask? 100% also yes.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 10:20 AM
    

Every weekend, indie devs show off current work on Twitter's #screenshotsaturday tag. And every Monday, I bring you a selection of these snaps and clips. This week, we have immersive sims spraying perfume and hurling fluorscent tube bulbs, motorbike murders, and several journeys with animal friends. Plus, I've been away a few weeks for various reasons, so this Monday I have a little catch-up on some bits and pieces I made notes of last month. Look!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 7:32 AM
    

April is the time for foolish jokes, seasonal showers, and World Rat Day. But another month also means another batch of Game Pass leavers. This time we wave goodbye to summertime fishing escapades and cold treks through frozen wildlands - truly mirroring April's zig-zagging weather.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, April 3, 2023 6:23 AM
    

Developer Landfall - the studio behind wobbly strategy game Totally Accurate Battle Simulator - have released its next game, although game (singular) might be inaccurate. Landfall Archives is a digital museum of sorts, compiling 23 playable prototypes and demos from unreleased projects that never crossed the finish line. It's out now, and best of all, it's free.

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Twinfinite Monday, April 3, 2023 9:00 AM
     Let's be honest, Cuff was obnoxious.

Twinfinite Monday, April 3, 2023 9:00 AM
     Endure the framerate hitches, survive the crashes.

Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Nintendo Joy-Con Repairs

Nintendo Europe are now offering free Joy-Con repairs if they're experiencing "drift" issues. This new policy applies to all countries within the European Economic Area (EEA), UK and Switzerland. These repairs will also apply if the controllers are outside of the warranty.

Nintendo posted an update on their European website where users can book a repair if necessary. The page also offers suggestions on methods to try before sending them in to be fixed. The site also notes that the repairs only apply specifically to what they call responsiveness syndrome, known to most players as "drift." It does not apply to Joy-Cons broken in other ways.

While Nintendo's free Joy-Con repair policy has already been in place in France and Belgium, this is the first time the policy has been rolled out across the whole region.

The change in policy follows calls from consumer advocacy groups within Europe around the widespread issue with Joy-Cons. In 2021, the European consumer group BEUC called on the EU Commission to launch an investigation into the issue, which they have continued to raise as an issue as recently as July 2022.

In June 2022, UK consumer advocacy group Which? found that 40% of UK Switch owners had experience Joy-Con issues. Their subsequent investigation in December 2022 determined there was a mechanical fault with the Joy-Cons that Nintendo had to address.

A similar policy change was previously made in North America after class action lawsuits in both the US and Canada.

The post Nintendo Offering Free Joy-Con Repairs Across Europe appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 1:00 PM
    

nintendo systems

A website for Nintendo Systems, a new subsidiary between Nintendo and DeNA, has gone live. According to the announcement on the official Nintendo webpage, it will develop new systems and services to bring Nintendo's entertainment to its customers. It will innovate new and creative ways to have fun by combining Nintendo and DeNA's unique skillsets and values.

Nintendo Systems will open up job positions in June 2023. It has offices in both Tokyo (Shibuya) and Kyoto. Nintendo noted that its strengths in these technologically innovative times are its originality and flexibility. It also has a space for its employees and members to discuss their ideas, as well as work together. It is unknown at this point what kinds of games or services this division will create.

Services that DeNA offered include mobile and browser games, as well as live streaming apps. While not related to video games, it also had several services focusing on healthcare, peer-to-peer car sharing, and NFT collection. Because of DeNA's history, Nintendo Systems may be a subsidiary that will focus entirely on breaking into the mobage market. Nintendo Systems would not be the first time Nintendo created a subsidiary for a specific purpose. In late 2022, Nintendo revealed Nintendo Pictures, which is its visual media production company.

Nintendo Systems was created in April 2023 and it will start taking job applications in June 2023. Interested parties can sign up for a mailing list; the company will contact you when it starts to hire employees.

The post Nintendo and DeNA's New Joint Venture is Nintendo Systems appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 12:30 PM
    

See Clive and Ifrit Fight in Final Fantasy XVI Footage

See Clive and Ifrit Fight in Final Fantasy XVI Footage

Now that Final Fantasy XVI's release is drawing nearer, Square Enix is regularly sharing details and gameplay footage on the official Twitter account. Many of these new clips focus on major characters. For example, the last two Final Fantasy XVI videos showed fights involving Clive and Ifrit.

The first bit of footage appeared on April Fools' Day. That involved Clive fighting the Final Fantasy XVI version of a Salamander. The clip began with him using the Megaflare attack against it. This chained into a Zantetsuken, which finished off the opponent.

Next, here's another peek at Ifrit fighting an Eikon in Final Fantasy XVI. This time, it's an attack on Titan. The footage begins with Ifrit using a Precision Dodge to avoid Titan's Geocrush attack, then performing a Precision Counter. Ifrit then uses Fireball Burst with a Burst Finish, then dodges another attack and counters again. The footage ends with a Combination Stomp and Pyrosault.


This is the second recent look at a fight involving Ifrit in the game. At the end of March 2023, Square Enix showed another match that involved attacking Typhon.

Final Fantasy XVI will come to the PS5 on June 22, 2023. There will be a six-month exclusivity period. Square Enix announced the game went gold at the end of March 2023, meaning that it is ready to ship.

The post See Clive and Ifrit Fight in Final Fantasy XVI Footage appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 12:00 PM
    

legend of zelda shield

Shields will be able to do more than just defend Link in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom via "Fuse." In a video shown on the official Japanese Twitter account for the franchise, Nintendo demonstrated a shield that can double as a smokescreen. This will be one of many different special shields that you will be able to craft in the game.

In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you will be able to attach objects to your shields through the "Fuse" ability. This will grant the shield numerous extra effects. In the video, Link attached a "Smokeshroom" onto the shield, which will let out smoke when an enemy's hit lands on it. This will then cause the enemy to lose sight of Link. Link will then be able to either make his escape or one-sidedly destroy his target.

You can see the smokescreen shield in action here:

https://twitter.com/ZeldaOfficialJP/status/1642815452626952194

Previously, Nintendo showed off Link using a flamethrower shield. Other features we've seen thus far in Tears of the Kingdom include Link's Recall, Ultrahand, and Ascend. These are all abilities that will help him on his adventure through post-apocalyptic Hyrule.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will come out on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. It will cost $69.99 as opposed to the usual $59.99.

The post Link Can Fuse a Smokescreen Shield in Tears of the Kingdom appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 11:30 AM
    

ikeda shuichi gundam mercury recap

Shuichi Ikeda was the narrator for the recap episode of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury. Ikeda is the voice actor for Char Aznable in all of his appearances in Gundam and beyond. He also provided the voice of Gilbert Durandal in the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny.

You can actually watch the Shuichi Ikeda recap, as well as another Season 1 special, via the official Japanese Gundam YouTube channel. However, it is restricted to those within Japan. In order to watch it, you must physically be in the country or have a VPN. Ikeda's recap goes over everything from the first episode to the last one of Season 1, so it obviously contains spoilers for what's out so far in Gundam: The Witch From Mercury.

You can watch the recap here:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCnuf9GB9OI[/embed]

The other special on YouTube is the "Mobile Suit Gundam Witch From Mercury Special Alongside Season 1." Mafia Kajita is the emcee. His guests are Yohei Azakami (Guel) and Shiori Izawa (Sophie). The special is a talk show in which the three of them discuss points from the show, as well as answer questions that fans sent in.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury is the newest mainline entry in the long-running Gundam series. It differs from its predecessors thanks to its female protagonist and how the majority of its setting actually takes place in school. The story centers around Suletta Mercury, who originates from Mercury, and her attempts to make friends at Asticassia School of Technology. However, her Gundam being illegal technology and her engagement with Miorine Rembran paint a target on her back.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury is streaming on Crunchyroll. Season 2 will start on April 9, 2023.

The post Char Voice Actor Narrates Gundam: Witch from Mercury Recap appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Next Hololive Valkyrie Connect Collab Event Includes Houshou Marine

Back in May 2022, Ateam announced it would hold a second Hololive collab event in Valkyrie Connect. Now a new stream involved additional details about it. While we don't know all four of the performers who will appear, one did come up. The developers showed how Houshou Marine will look as a Valkyrie Connect character. In total, there will be two new characters based on VTubers from the Japanese branch and two based on Hololive English members.

First, here's the Houshou Marine Valkyrie Connect official art. Rather than a traditional pirate outfit, she has a new design and wields a lance.

Next, here's the full stream, with Usada Pekora as a guest star, going over her character and past characters who appeared in Valkyrie Connect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsXClZP1kWk&ab_channel=MarineCh.%E5%AE%9D%E9%90%98%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3

The first Valkyrie Connect collab event involved Hololive Fantasy's Usada Pekora, Secret Society holoX's La+ Darknesss, and English Myth members Takanashi Kiara and Ninomae Ina'nis. All four eventually ended up getting Awakened forms in 2023 when that first event returned.

Valkyrie Connect is available for PCs and mobile devices.

The post Next Hololive Valkyrie Connect Collab Event Includes Houshou Marine appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 10:30 AM
    

6.38 Final Fantasy XIV Patch Notes Focus on PvP Adjustments, Crystalline Conflict

Square Enix shared the 6.38 Final Fantasy XIV patch notes. This update isn't as extensive as the earlier Gods Revel, Lands Tremble updates. It primarily focuses on PvP and Crystalline Conflict updates. However, there are also some raid updates and general fixes as well.

The PvP Final Fantasy XIV patch notes for 6.38 apply to 11 jobs. The Astrologian, Black Mage, Dancer, Dragoon, Monk, Ninja, Paladin, Reaper, Red Mage, Scholar, and Warrior actions are all being adjusted. The biggest changes came to the Ninja and Red Mage.

Here are those changes from the official patch notes:

Paladin

Action Adjustment
Phalanx Reduced damage taken has been changed from 50% to 33%.

Warrior

Action Adjustment
Blota Heavy effect duration has been reduced from 5 to 3 seconds.

Monk

Action Adjustment
Phantom Rush Potency has been increased from 10,000 to 12,000.

Dragoon

Action Adjustment
Sky Shatter Potency has been reduced from 20,000 to 18,000.
Potency increase when targets are within 5 yalms has been changed from 30,000 to 32,000.
Barrier strength has been changed from absorbing damage totaling 25% of maximum HP to absorbing damage equivalent to a heal of 24,000 potency.

Ninja

Action Adjustment
Fuma Shuriken Range has been reduced from 25 to 20 yalms.
Hyosho Ranryu Range has been reduced from 25 to 20 yalms.
Goka Mekkyaku Range has been reduced from 25 to 20 yalms.

Reaper

Action Adjustment
Plentiful Harvest Maximum potency has been increased from 20,000 to 24,000.

Dancer

Action Adjustment
Curing Waltz Healing potency has been increased from 8,000 to 10,000.

Black Mage

Action Adjustment
Burst Barrier strength has been increased from 12,000 to 16,000.

Red Mage

Action Adjustment
Magick Barrier Effect duration has been increased from 8 to 10 seconds.
Frazzle Effect duration has been increased from 8 to 10 seconds.
Southern Cross Healing potency has been increased from 6,000 to 8,000.
Damage potency has been increased from 6,000 to 8,000.
Cure potency increase from White Shift has been reduced from 100% to 50%.
Damage potency increase from Black Shift has been reduced from 100% to 50%.

Scholar

Action Adjustment
Adloquium Cure potency has been reduced from 4,000 to 3,000.
Barrier strength has been increased from 4,000 to 6,000.

Astrologian

Action Adjustment
Fall Malefic The recast time reduction granted by the additional effect "Reduces the recast time of Double Cast" has been changed from 7.5 to 10 seconds.

As for the Crystalline Conflict updates, there are some minor adjustments and preparations for the end of season five and beginning of season six. It will be easier for a second Clockwork Castletown pneumatic parade to begin. Also, it will only take 20 seconds for a tactical crystal to be unbound.

There are changes to some other raids and such too. There is no Unsung Blades of Abyssos from Abyssos: The Eighth Circle and Pandæmonium: Abyssos (Savage) weekly restriction anymore. Pandæmonium: Abyssos (Savage) also doesn't have a weekly entrance restriction and will offer two treasure coffers. Nesvaaz, Radz-at-Han at X:10.6 Y:10.0 will weapon enhancement items for Aglaia Coin and Euphrosyne Coin. Those items could then be taken to Khaldeen in Radz-at-Han at X:10.9 Y:10.4 for gear.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC, and the patch notes for 6.38 are out ahead of the update's April 4, 2023 debut. 6.4 will release in late May 2023.

The post 6.38 Final Fantasy XIV Patch Notes Focus on PvP Adjustments, Crystalline Conflict appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 10:00 AM
    

You Can Keep Fell Xenologue DLC Characters in Fire Emblem Engage

After players complete the Fell Xenologue DLC in Fire Emblem Engage, Nintendo noted they will be able to use their new characters in the main story. As a reminder, the Fell Xenologue chapters will not take place in the Elyos we are familiar with. Not only will you be able to recruit them into your army, they will also appear in Somniel and act like other units.

Somniel is the main hub of Fire Emblem Engage. You will be able to gift your characters items or speak with them. If you wish, you can also gift them new accessories or outfits that they will wear. This means that characters such as Lady Nel and Nil, who will be guest characters in the Fire Emblem Engage Fell Xenologue, will be at the mercy of your fashion sense. The official Twitter account has not yet clarified whether or not you will need to complete a particular chapter in the main story yet in order to access the DLC units.

The Fell Xenologue DLC will be part of Wave 4 of the Fire Emblem Engage Expansion Pass. You will be able to play as the Four Hounds (or the Four Winds). Your units will have their own starting levels and classes separate from however you've built them in-game. You will be able to level them up though as normal as you progress through the maps.

Fire Emblem Engage is available on the Nintendo Switch. The Fell Xenologue DLC will come out on April 5, 2023.

The post You Can Keep Fell Xenologue DLC Characters in Fire Emblem Engage appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 9:30 AM
    

sand land voice actors

A new trailer for Sand Land came out, revealing for the first time the voice actor for some of our protagonists. The trailer is sixty minutes long and you can watch it from the official Sand Land YouTube channel. It introduces Beelzebub, the strongest and most evil prince of the underworld, who's so bad that he would stay up late and go to sleep without brushing his teeth. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

The cast for Sand Land will include:

  • Beezelbub: Mutsumi Tamura (Okino in 13 Sentinels: Aigis Rim; Hiro Amanokawa in Digimon Ghost Game)
  • General Are: Satoshi Tsuruoka (Arash, Spartacus, Caligula, and Gilles de Rais in Fate/Grand Order; M. Bison in Street Fighter IV)
  • General Zeu: Nobuo Tobita (Kamille Bidan in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam; Kazami in Detective Conan)
  • Rao: Kazuhiro Yamaji (Todo in Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga; Makoto Date in Yakuza series)
  • Thief: Cho (Jaken in Inuyasha series; Ramon Salazar in Resident Evil 4 Remake)

You can watch the voiced trailer for Sand Land here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvf84dACGZ0&

Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame is the author of Sand Land. It revolves around the young demon Beelzebub who, along with his assistant Thief, helps the human Sheriff Rao to search for water. It's the most precious resource on their desert planet, and the recent drought is not helping  matter. The manga ran from May to August 2000, and Viz distributes it for an English audience.

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

The post New Sand Land Trailer Introduces Voice Actors appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 9:00 AM
    

ensemble stars fight

A fist fight broke out during an advance showing of Ensemble Stars Tsuioku Selection Element. The reason behind the fight is unknown, though some spectators suggested it had to do with doutan kyohi. Not only did the fighters use their fists, but they also pulled each others' hair and threw items like other fans' binoculars. [Thanks, Matomebu!]

There are no pictures or videos of the incident. However, many people who went to the Ensemble Stars Tsuioku Selection Element showing reported what happened via Twitter. Some Twitter users guessed that the fight started after one of them told the other not to cross their legs. Others stated that it was because they were doutan kyohi over Rei Sakuma. Doutan kyohi is a Japanese fandom term in which fans of a character dislike others who also love that same character.

This act of public misdemeanor caught the attention of the voice actors on stage. Several Twitter users noted that Toshiki Masuda (Rei Sakuma) started staring in the direction of the fight. Hikaru Midorikawa (Eichi Tenshouin) also acted unnaturally, such as suddenly raising his voice.

Ensemble Stars Tsuioku Selection Element will debut on YouTube on April 6, 2023. It will adapt the "Element" story from the "Reminiscence*Gathering of the Three Magicians" event. Ensemble Stars is available on mobile devices.

The post Fight Broke Out at Ensemble Stars Element Advance Screening appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 8:30 AM
    

ditto tera raid

From April 7-10, 2023, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players will be able to participate in a new Tera Raid featuring Ditto. The Dittos that you can get during this event will have a large variety of Tera Types. However, what makes this Ditto stand apart from the rest is in its EVs. Players will be able to get Dittos with five max Individual Values from these raids. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

This Tera Raid event will be useful for players who wish to breed strong Pokemon. If you use a Destiny Knot, you can pass down whatever perfect IVs your Ditto has. These Pokemon only know Transform. This means that your Raids will be as easy or as hard as whatever Pokemon your host brings.

In Pokemon, IVs determine the stats of your Pokemon. A Pokemon's IV can have an effects on its gender and whether or not it's a Shiny. For some Pokemon, it can also have to do with more species-specific differences, such as what letter your Unown is or what pattern your Smeargle is. They do not matter so much in game play if all you wish to do is beat the story. But competitive Pokemon players often pick and choose Pokemon to breed using IVs as one of their deciding factors.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on the Nintendo Switch, and the perfect IVs Ditto Tera Raid will run from April 7-10, 2023. It will run on the same days as the 7-star Samurott Tera Raid.

The post New Pokemon SV Tera Raid Will Give Perfect IVs Ditto appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, April 3, 2023 8:00 AM
    

fgo event servants

Lasengle will introduce a new Evocation Leaf item in Fate/Grand Order (FGO) that will let players get event-exclusive Servants they might have missed out on. You will be able to collect Evocation Leaves in limited Evocation Celebration events. The first of these Evocation Celebration events is happening right now on the Japanese server, and it will run from April 2-16, 2023.

The first three Servants that will appear in Da Vinci's Workshop are Sakata Kintoki (Rider), Shuten-Douji (Caster), and Quetzalcoatl Santa (Ruler). More Servants will appear in Da Vinci's Workshop later. As well, there is no time limit on when you can get them. Even after this Evocation Celebration ends, they, as well as their Ascension Materials and Servant Coins, will be in the store. You can get Evocation Leaves as log-in bonuses and as awards for completing Master Missions.

Some limited-time events in FGO hand out free SR Servants that you can keep so long as you finish the story. While events re-run on occasion to allow players who missed the original run to try again, many events are too old to re-run. The Rider form of Sakata Kintoki, for example, came out during the Onigashima Event. Onigashima debuted in 2016, making it much too old at this point to re-run.

FGO is available on mobile devices. The Evocation Leaf, as well as the opportunity to purchase past event Servants, is only on the Japanese server of Fate/Grand Order for now.

The post FGO Will Let Players Get Limited Event Servants Again appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, April 3, 2023 7:30 AM
     Dredge Review Featured ImageThe sea is a cruel mistress. Her ways, and her waves, are unknowable, running on a logic that still escapes the mortal mind of man. Her creatures, her precious children of the dark, take forms we can scarcely imagine, nor forget, should we have the misfortune of glimpsing them. She is, in many ways, the greatest of nature's mysteries: a darkness that goes on and on, beckoning us with the siren song of new discovery, tempting us toward our self-wrought ruin. This was the muse from which HP Lovecraft drew much of his famed horror mythos, leveraging his own deeply held fear of the sea to lay the foundations for modern horror as a whole. His stories, tales of fragmented psyches and creatures beyond comprehension, have inspired generations of art across all mediums. The latest in this shadow-soaked line of succession is Dredge, Black Salt Games' "single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent." No safe harbor While an excellent pun, "undercurrent" doesn't feel qu...

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, April 3, 2023 2:00 PM
     WizKids, a leading producer of board games and miniatures, has recently announced the release of a new game called Unboxed. This game allows players to step into the shoes of archeology interns at a dig site, where they are tasked with deciphering the rules for ten ancient board games. With incomplete rulebooks and centuries of …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, April 3, 2023 12:17 PM
     Maladum: Dungeons of Enveron, the highly-anticipated fantasy miniatures board game by Battle Systems, is nearing the end of its Kickstarter campaign. With only 48 hours left until the campaign ends on April 6th, backers have raised over £647,000, surpassing the initial £50,000 goal. The game, based on Battle System's bestselling sci-fi game Core Space, takes …

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, April 3, 2023 1:26 PM
    

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the latest addition to the Legend of Zelda series on the Nintendo Switch. The game might have some mixed reviews but fans were excited to be receiving a new game after Breath of the Wild was first announced. During the anticipation for the next Zelda game, Nintendo gave us […]

The post Here's Why Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Feels Like a DLC and Not A True Sequel appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, April 3, 2023 12:38 PM
    

The Last of Us Part 3: 5 Things We Want

The post Top 5 Things We Want From Last of Us Part 3 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.